You look to the man off in the distance out of the corner of your eye, while still mainly being focused on the bartender going about his business as if you didn't even exist.
"Excuse me sir... could you tell me what the deal is with the guy over there in the corner?" You ask with curiosity in your voice, never truly able to resist any sort of danger.
The bartender stopped what he was doing, looked up and raised a brow. "Do you mean Luke over there?"
"If that's the gentleman's name in the corner... then yes!" You say enthused
"Yeah, that's one of my best customers over there. His name is Luke, but he likes going by Lucas for some reason. Anyway... he is in here every night. Never causes any sort of trouble. Leaves and minds his own business for the most part." The bartender said as he wiped down the bar.
"What do you mean about him minding his own business for the most part?" You ask sounding a bit puzzled and confused at the same time.
"Well... he minds his business until strangers, like yourself, start talking to him. He's a nice guy and he doesn't want to cause any trouble. Honestly, I think the guy is pretty lonely and is actually looking for attention." He quips as you notice something in his body language while he was talking. It was as if he knew more than what he was saying and trying to entice a stranger, such as yourself, to get involved with him for some reason.
"Well... I am lonely, he is lonely... I might as well end our mutual loneliness. Thanks!" You say smiling as you get up from the stood, walking away with a beer in hand, making your way over to Lucas.
Slowly you walk up to him, pull the chair away from the table and then sit down while resting your beer on the table as he looks up to you quizzically. You knew by the way that he was looking at you, Lucas wondered what you were up to.
"Can I help you?" Lucas asked, staring at you, looking directly into your eyes as if he were looking directly into your soul.
"I am not sure to be honest. I came in here originally for a place to stay for the night, especially as a lonely man and according to your bartender friend... you are lonely as well. So, I took it upon myself to roll the dice and see what would happen, hoping to cure both of us of our mutual loneliness." You explain calmly.
"Oh... is that so? Gary told you about me eh?" Lucas said.
"Yeah... he did honestly. So... can we help each other in this matter?" You asked as you took a sip of your beer.
"Hmm... we might be able to accomplish that. Sure..." Lucas said with a toothy, feral and fanged grin as his eyes flashed crimson.
You keep looking at him while trying to play off that you didn't see what you thought you just saw. Then, you take another gulp of your beer smiling as a swell of nervous energy filled you down to the core.
"So... what brings you to the inn?" You ask trying to generate a general conversation.
"Oh... well... I like coming here for the food and the ale. Have you tried 'Wolf's Ale'? It's one of the best drinks here!" He said, sounding a bit like an advertisement for the beverage.
"No... no I have not. How does it taste?" You ask as you try to take your mind off of the oddity you recently witnessed.
"It has a nice, rich, earthen taste. It's full flavored and definitely on the robust side. In fact, if you'd like, you can have a sip of it because that's what I am drinking now." Lucas said smiling, handing the mug outward to you to take if you desired.
You look at him, then at the beverage and think about it for a second. You shrug your shoulders thinking "what the hell" and grasp the beer. Slowly, you bring the golden liquid to your lips and let some of the liquid flow gently over your lips. As you imbibe on the beverage, you couldn't help but to agree with what Lucas said about the beer. It was pretty tasty and as you drink, you fail to notice his physical features changing while his eyes constantly glowed crimson. Lucas grinned to himself happy that he not only had some new prey, but another male to turn and enjoy what came after!