Jonathan held the cigarette firmly between his teeth; one hand protected the small flame of the lighter from the bitter wind as he waited for the paper to take light. Damn the Romanians. He would never blame them for finally taking action after being forced into hiding, (it was funny how quickly and drastically the tables turned) but it was most inconvenient for him. The Volturi had been a fine client, what with the trade being under their regime and all, but now they've gone under the radar. Jonathan wouldn't mind catering to the Romanians, but it was still a pain that they were the cause of the minor chaos in the vampire world. Status quo should never be disrupted. The population was split by loyalty, and so few had care in purchasing slaves right now. Much like luxury spa days are ignored when the humans suffer from a deteriorating economy, the trade was certain to endure hardships in the near future. That did not sit well with Jonathan.

He blew a ring of smoke. It was frosty out tonight; whatever humans strolled the sidewalks huddled close together, pulling their jackets tight. Their steps were quickened, eager to escape into their heated apartments. Jonathan watched them with mild disinterest. They'd be an easy snatch and turn, but newborns were so hard to control. Not even including the possibility that they could end up with unexpected powers he couldn't handle. It just wasn't worth his time. However he hadn't brought in fresh merchandise in a while, and it was nagging at him. Perhaps it was good for him, the trade had consumed the majority of his thoughts, a break couldn't have done much harm. He drew in one more breath from the cigarette before flicking it to the pavement and snuffing out the embers with the sole of his shoe. Hands took shelter in the pockets of his jacket, mimicking the chill the humans experienced. The break had been long enough. It was time to hunt.

Walking with no direction or destination in mind, Jonathan waited to pick up on anything, either smell or sound, that would lead him to what he wanted. Vampires were surprisingly commonplace as of late. Yet like I Spy or Where's Waldo, when you're looking for something specific it seems impossible to find. Now his standards weren't that high when he was on the hunt. During Jonathan's �off time� he's much more picky, choosing vampires for distinctive powers or personality traits. Right now though, anything will do. Sweeping floors and dusting televisions didn't require much expertise. His eyes were a bright crimson, having fed less than an hour ago, but still his throat suffered slight irritation at the distinct smell of blood. And where there's blood...

It was but a chance of course. The blood could be the result of some unfortunate mugging victim or other similar scenario, not the handiwork of one of his kind. Yet still, there was that chance. As he drew nearer, he picked up on the scent of a vampire, shrouded by the much more appealing, aforementioned aroma. His smile was soon followed by a cheery whistled tune.

Oh, how he missed this.

Jonathan's job was fairly easy if you thought about it. Most vampires kept low profiles due to their blood lust, and as a result could disappear at a moment's notice. The golden eyed ones were trickier. Often, their desire for immersion into human life is what compelled them to pursue such an unnatural diet. They are usually missed, but Jonathan had no fear of the authorities. No vampire did. The Volturi served that role for the vampires, and now that they were gone... It's a free world. He hadn't thought of that. They were their own masters now, weren't they? Immortal children shall run rampant, and a drive-thru will be installed in every local hospital. Jonathan chuckled at the thought. He supposed the Volturi's lay low law was somewhat useful. If there was nothing stopping them, the vampires would probably overfeed and add to their numbers on a whim. Eventually, their food supply would diminish. Then what? What happens to a starved vampire when there is no blood available?

The scent of blood was much stronger now. It lingered in the air, even though he knew the blood itself was probably wholly diminished by now. As he rounded the corner, Jonathan found the reason behind the unusually potent aroma. There were two bodies at the feet of the vampire. Now that was interesting. Their kind was easily satisfied (at least temporarily) with one human. Unless of course, actual thirst wasn't the issue. Some had more difficulty with control, especially the ones so unaccustomed to that special allure of fresh blood. Jonathan may have just stumbled upon a newborn. Though it wasn't preferred, it would have to do for now. He really didn't like newborns. They were like children, never following the rules and doing whatever the hell they wanted. Disrespectful too, but that could be forgiven slightly. Age is nigh impossible to determine amongst vampires. However, there was no reason to be rude.

Jonathan shook his head when the newborn growled. �Like a bloody animal,� he murmured. He rested his shoulder against the bricks of the alleyway. In response to the vampire's gruff question, Jonathan raised a finger as a call for silence. �You may want to watch your manners with me,� he said sternly, �And stop the growling, you sound like a mutt.� He gave the vampire a quick glance over. Well built, but not so much as to be imposing. Perfect. Jonathan could have sworn he had seen this particular vampire before though. Then again, the recognition was so small, there was nothing to suggest he couldn't be someone Jonathan had simply passed by in the streets earlier that day.

Noticing the tense posture the young vampire held, an amused Jonathan smiled. �You can relax. I have no interest in hurting you. My name's Jonathan.� As is customary, he offered his hand. �Pardon my asking, but how long have you been a vampire? You're feeding habits are rather...� he paused, searching for the right word, �Sordid.�

You could call it a pet peeve of his. Their reliance on blood didn't mean the whole lot had to turn into beasts. They should be moving away from their animalistic urges, showing at least an ounce of self-control. Honestly. Growling? Baring your teeth? It bothered him to the core. He never expected the populace to go around sipping tea with their little fingers high in the air, but they could maintain some semblance of proper conduct. This behavior would get them locked up in an asylum if they were human. Going around like a wild animal let loose from its cage. He scoffed. Jonathan thought they were above that. Granted, he fully intended on putting this vampire back in a cage, so it was slightly fitting. Poetic justice, one might say. Maybe it would do this animal some good, being locked up for a while. At least as a slave you would learn some respect. If you don't, you get put down. It was the course of life, and one Jonathan was particularly fond of.

His smile was a false one, much like his reassurances. The vampire couldn't help but notice the blood thinly coating the other's teeth. Like a mouth full of rubies, he thought. Someone ought to pluck those rubies out, and if it weren't for his aversion to unnecessary violence he would do it himself. Sadly, he couldn't give into anger. It never ended well. �Wouldn't you like to know.� he replied curtly. Jonathan noted the tone of his new friend's voice, and his posture, and the way he clenched his fists. In fact, Jonathan was honing in onto every detail of this vampire, and he could feel his power creep into the air. It required a lot of focus, but the pay off was excellent. As long as he kept the boy talking, and by extension breathing in his scent, then tonight would be a success. Sure he could just use brute force, but this method was more discreet and didn't ruin his suits.

Jonathan reluctantly withdrew his hand. Above all else, he did not tolerate disrespect. He respected others, he was kind to others as best as he could be within the limitations of his job, and all he asked in return was a little common courtesy. Considering the opinions of his coworkers on their merchandise, he thought anyone should be so lucky as to be caught by him. He at least acknowledged they were human (well, vampire) beings and treated them as such, up until the moment he put them behind bars. Nevertheless, it took effort on his part. You would think people would be a little more grateful. This vampire had yet to learn; he would be excused for now. But Jonathan itched to drop his facade, to teach the brat a lesson. Overreacting? Perhaps. Maybe it was a bit much to get so worked up over an introduction, but anyone who would say that about Jonathan clearly had no idea who they were dealing with.

�Why are you so tense?� he asked, leaning his head to one side. Jonathan would love to close the distance between them, uncomfortably so, just to see what the other vampire would do. Whether he would lash out or run. It would be a fun experiment, but not a wise one. Whether the younger vampire leaned more heavily to fight or flight didn't matter much. Either way, Jonathan's job would only be that much more difficult. �Have you done something wrong?� He leaned forward only a little, and said more quietly, �Broken one of the V-dogs' rules?� He grinned, continuing, �If so, let's just say they aren't in a position to go around slapping peoples' wrists anymore. If it isn't that, then you really have no reason to be acting so guarded. Unless it's me, which is a ridiculous notion at best. Like I said, I'm not going to hurt you.� Jonathan turned, so that he was leaning parallel to the wall. Perhaps it would calm the other, if he seemed less like he was blocking the nearest exit. He still was, and would catch his prey easily if the boy chose to run that way, but its the thought that counts. �But if you keep acting like a prick, eventually you will run into the wrong person and they will put you in your place.�