"Well, considering your common sense is in working order, which it seems to be..."

He palmed the bill, helped himself to a seat, and attempted the lightest of touches on her mind, trying to figure out what sort of creature she was, what reason she would have to be so steeped in time that it seemed to cram itself between the stitches of her clothes and seeped from her with every blink.

"We're only open to a handful of clients on the new moon since a few specific folks moved to town. So if you find yourself a bit thirsty those nights, you're out of luck."