Chronicles of The Omniverse Archived Lutetia City: Caer Manor Ruins

Tiko

Draconic Administrator/Mentor
Administrator
Mentor
Nexus GM
As written by Emperor Jester

The shattered remained of his family's legacy was all Nox had that really mattered to him. Everything he was doing was to honor that legacy, that legend, that whisper. He wanted to make them all proud. Even in this run down, trash infested district, time had not been kind on his kindred's home. It had been gutted, by vagrants and vandalism alike, parts of it even being set to the torch. In different, far off parts of the house, his spawn were busy at work, repairing minor damages, as much as their mental capacity could allow. They were few, and the work was slow going, and he rarely saw them.

The halls held so many memories. It had the hate and rage inside him churning. He could still smell the church's presence here. It made him angry! They'd taken his entire way of life away from him! He was a Caer! They should kiss the ground on which he walked and died for his pleasure, his entertainment, his boredom! Gods damn those filthy cattle, trying to rise above their station...

Nox had almost lashed out against the spawn who had approached, a sentry. It told him of an approaching individual. With a smile, Nox told it to resume its duty, and to make the entry hall somewhat...presentable.
 
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As written by Krysis

It was 4am, and past time for even bad little girls to be in bed, but Pierette Hogan was still wandering. Foutainebleu head no horrors for her. She'd been a denizen of the place for years already, when she wasn't welcome on any of the couches she occasionally called home. Tonight, she wanted a shower so badly that she had tried to find a place with a little privacy instead of just the back of her car in a public parking lot.

Most of the abandoned houses had known her steps at least once, but she hadn't had an opportunity to invade one that was usually filled with more dangerous acquaintances, but since the worst of them had been found in a ditch a couple of weeks ago, she had been thinking of risking it. Seemed like the right night for it, high on something that took away all her fear and made her feel like every step barely kept her on the ground instead of leaping into the sky. It also made her skin twitch and crawl and she carried a half-case of bottled water along with a bag of clean-ish clothes after parking her car in a mass of untrimmed forsythia bushes and weeds.

Even loaded down, a fence was no real obstacle to the resourceful woman. If the back door wasn't already busted down, and was actually locked, well, that would be the work of minutes too. In fact the hardest thing she expected was to find the right soundtrack on her cellphone while she looked for a bathtub or something she could stand in to splash water on herself. Or maybe the twitching would stop if she gave into it and started breaking things or running around, or some other vigorous activity. Shower first, to see if it worked.
 
As written by Emperor Jester

Nox stood there waiting for a long time. Given the spawn's description, the girl, as was confirmed, was a run down, washed out tramp. Lovely. At least his lovelies would get a little snack for the night. Still, a Lord should meet the house's master as soon as they entered the manner.

"Never keep guests waiting. Treat them the way you'd treat any other visitor. Destroy them, in a way that fits their crime. If they are invited inside, or made an appointment, than perhaps they will leave with their lives. This is the lair of the Caeruleum, son. No other creatures are permitted into the lion's den."

His father's words, spilling over Nox's lips. The spawn watched on in confusion, when one of them snapped to attention, looking towards the back of the house.

Nox frowned. "Bring her to me. You may have her later, but I still refuse to be impolite." The creatures trilled and darted off, into the darkened ruin halls.
 
As written by Krysis

Pierette was actually humming as she strolled in as if she had every right to be in the kitchen. Then the quality of the place made it past the haze in her head and she looked at the mostly clean surfaces with alarm. A clean house meant someone was staying there. Someone staying there, even semi-permanently, would be territorial.

"Well hell. Someone is setting up housekeeping?" She asked the air what was obvious so that anyone listening would know she figured it out and was on the retreat. It was only good manners in the homeless classes.

When she reached behind her for the door, her hand brushed cold flesh instead and she gave a bellow of alarm as a hand, of sorts, closed on her wrist. All the blood drained from her face and she hastily checked the swing of the half-case of water rather than hitting that creature over the head with it. Swallowing hard, she tried talking to it, in hopes that it would be able to listen. At that point, she had nothing else to loose.

"Okay. I get it. You guys are staying here. Didn't mean to intrude." She tried for calm, but then gave a hiss of alarm when another one ran past and scratched her other arm. It hurt enough that she dropped her luggage, and bottles of water went rolling everywhere.

"Man, karma is a bitch. Guys, really, I'm not a threat." she would go where the one that had her arm started pulling her, but was staring in fascination at the one that had scratched her and was licking its fingers. When it was out of sight, she jogged a few paces to catch up to the one that had hold of her, one hand bracing on its cold flesh as she did her best to not fall on any of the tight corners in the servants' halls.

Then it stopped hard and flung her up and into a wall hard enough that she bounced back with a bloody nose, and left a hole with her elbow in the plaster. Pierette was a bit dazed and easily flung at Nox's feet in the entrance hall, but not enough to keep her from looking up at him.

One hand over her bloody nose, she still gave a wicked smile when she recognized the very tall man, and reached with her free hand as if he would help her up. "Hey! I know you. The rave, a couple of weeks ago. You were being pawed by my sister. Did you get caught by these goblins too?"
 
As written by Emperor Jester

The creatures were snarl and hiss, a high pitched screech ringing out like ice grinding against cold steel. They'd snap at her, claw at her feet, like dogs waiting to be let off the leash. Nox would bark out, his beautiful cold eyes hot with disgust. "Ah, its you. Yes, yes, I remember you." The drugged harlot from the party, the sister of the girl who, in one night, had both made him feel on edge and practically molest him. Not that he had minded really. The Caer's mind had been so riddled with drugs and pheromones that he'd actually enjoyed it.

"Why is it you sneak into my home, girl? Surely you know its history, who this house belonged to." The handsome giant would finally lean down to assist her up, if setting her onto her feet somewhat roughly. "Be at ease. They won't harm you as long as you don't irritate me. Is that understood?"
 
As written by Krysis

She had squirmed a bit and jerked at the way they clawed at her slightly ragged boots, but didn't seem to mind being manhandled too much. The night was turning out even more fun than she had thought it would be. First off, she stuck her bloodied right hand into Nox's grip and gave him a firm handshake. "I'm pretty sure your name isn't 'Mouthwash', even though that is what Legs called you. It's still nice to officially meet you. My name is Perilous Pierette."

Then she looked around at the place and gave him a puzzled look, "Your house? Look, this place used to 'belong' to some really scary dudes that had a hard-on to bomb the fuck out of Lupaix. Before that, it was a crack house, that's why you'll find sleeping bags and shit like that everywhere."

About then she paused and gave a thoughtful look to the things she had dubbed 'goblins' before giving the tall man before her a considering look. "Before That, well, way back when it was Legally owned, the fucking church took it from the most terrifying vampires to ever stalk the city. So yeah, I know the history of the place. I've slept here a time or two myself. I favor the little gray bedroom on the second story at the back. Kinda cozy there."

She paused to swipe at her face again, then pinched her nose and leaned her head back as if a nose bleed was common and no cause for concern, as long as she could get it to stop. "Being a fine gentleman, you probably never had to deal with the rules of the underworld, the dregs of society, but your home has been a playground for vagrants for almost fifty years. You don't have a courtesy mark of any sort out, so it looks like the house is fair game for anyone that needs a place to crash. Considering how hungry they seem, that's probably a convenient thing for your pack of-- What are they?"
 
As written by Emperor Jester

"My children, of sorts. And yes, I never had had to deal with the likes of your company before coming back home, even living in the Phantom Quarter for as long as I did." He meant the druggies, the degenerates who didn't respect raw power. The invaders here were uppity, and tasted awful to boot. With curious eyes, he gave Pierette a long look over, rubbing his chin.

"Feel free to stay the night if you wish. Of course, you'll want a bath and refreshments of course. I don't have much in way of food you could consume, but you can rest here and be revitalized. You'll keep me company tonight, or sleep in your own bed, the one you prefer of course." He'd fold his arms behind his back, simply waiting for a response.

He had ideas of what to do with her, but he'd let her decide what kind of fate she'd have tonight.
 
As written by Krysis

Pierette blinked a few times at him calling those things 'children', and then with a deadpan expression only partly ruined with the rusty smears drying on her cheeks and chin, "They're adorable."

Then she pointed to the one that had tasted her blood earlier, though it might be usually impossible for a human to tell the spawn apart. "Watch out for that one. He sampled me and there is no telling what the stuff in my system will do to him. They're cold to the touch, so I am guessing their metabolism is kinda slow?"

She grinned at the mention of a bath though, and scratched at her nose, only then realizing that the piercing had come out and apparently been lost in the trek from the kitchen. "Honestly, I brought my own dinner and bath. I was expecting an empty house, or maybe people like myself. When you have no home, you learn to be self sufficient quickly, or you die. I must be pretty good at it since I'm way past the point where most girls have gone to the cardboard box in the sky."

She licked her lips as she considered the other half of his offer, then shook her head. "I can't tell if you are just being polite or are really interested in slumming with me. That's really weird for me. Usually I can tell at least part of what people are thinking, but you are only giving me a few things. Mostly that I am dirt beneath your feet, just in a pattern you haven't seen before?"
 
As written by Emperor Jester

"...No, not quite. See, I desire intimate company, and while you are not normally my...type, no fault of your own, mind you, but you are not out right rejectable. And given your talks at the rave as well as tonight, I'll assume you aren't unfamiliar with carnal pleasures, so I won't have to take it easy on you, which would be better for both of us really."

The spawn in question tilted its head strangely, seeming to wipe its tongue against the stone floor every now and again, as if trying to remove a foul taste from its mouth.

"Don't worry about them. They are honestly used to much fouler fare. And they won't be sampling you any more. I've told them to stay away unless your require some kind of assistance."
 
As written by Krysis

She laughed outright at his explanation, then grinned up at him, "Very well, high and mighty lord of this slumbering castle, I accept your very gracious offer and would be glad to do my best to fuck you senseless. For the moment, my dinner awaits back in the kitchen where I dropped it, and I think you'd prefer that I washed before the festivities commence."

Honestly she hoped that this gorgeous and dangerous creature could silence her own demons for an hour or two at least, and wear her out enough that she could sleep. Sleep had been elusive when she was young, and had become increasingly difficult as the years had passed. At the moment, she was lucky to scrape three hours unless she took something to force it. Too bad she was developing such a resistance to exactly those sorts of pills.
 
As written by Emperor Jester

"Very well. Please, do as you wish for now. I'll be awaiting in the master bedroom. Sibal!" Nox would bark, calling one of the spawn over. It wore a ragged, sequin dress and still had remains of its hair, an artificially dyed hot pink, with blonde roots. "Watch her and escort her to the master bath once shes had her fill."

His eyes would narrow sharply as he moved towards the stairs. "By all means, take your time. Of course, if you try to leave the house, then I'll know. And then so will they." He indicated to the still snarling creatures, almost circling around her legs, if a considerable distance away.
 
As written by Krysis

"I'm looking forward to this, my lord. It's been weeks since I've had this much fun. You could get rid of me, of course, but I have no intention of leaving." Pierette smiled up at Nox, letting him see that he had found himself another predator, though it was like comparing a stray cat to a man-eating tiger.

"Come on, Sibal. You guys too. To the kitchen! Help me gather up those damn bottles I dropped." The tall, skinny woman seemed utterly comfortable with the spawn around her, even when they got close and she had to yank her hands or legs out of reach. The fear of them was burning out the urges for violence actually, which had her skin settled more firmly on her muscles, and her muscles no longer trying to twitch off her bones. Besides, she figured if she impressed tall dark and menacing, he would be less likely to want to get rid of her. Or make her into one of them. That seemed like a fate worse than death, actually, and something to be avoided at all costs.

The kitchen would get filled with music of an eclectic mix, from old jazz, to the hottest dance beats, to something sentimental (which got skipped almost immediately). Pierette's dinner ended up being a sandwich and an apple, with a bottle of water, and she has the deplorable habit of walking around while eating. Probably because she very rarely got to eat at a table. The music would follow her, since it was coming from her phone, so all the vampires in the house would know exactly where she was without having to follow her.

Eventually she would make it to the master bathroom, and then to the master bedroom. She'd put on nicest clothes she owned, and had asked one of the spawn to fetch out of her car for her. The sleek, pink, sheath dress showed every rib, and was short enough to not hide the circle of purple roses tattooed on her thigh. The plastic jewelry had been taken out, but she didn't have anything metal to replace the piercings with. Pierette gave an uncomfortable smile as she walked towards Nox, clean and smelling good, and holding a chrome choke collar that she'd offer to him. "Usually I wear this with this dress, but I thought it'd give the wrong impression."
 
As written by Emperor Jester

Nox would be waiting for her, as he had said he would, though he hadn't made any effort to change in or out of anything. The room was lavish, having pulled and recollected many of the lesser family antiques from the salvageable parts of the manor. The room had been his own, he wouldn't dare despoil his Father's, and though he had only been thirdboy, his quarters were...expansive. Easily larger than most high end luxury suites. The bed itself was a marvel to behold, absolutely massive, obviously a custom. How is had been this well preserved was anyone's guess.

"Its good to see you're a willing participant in this. You smell much better now, and I must admit, cleaned up you are far more attractive than you are when you make yourself so...gaudy."

Blunt and honest, it was meant as a genuine criticism. "Make yourself comfortable." Nox would almost command. "Do as you wish for now. I'll join you soon, I promise." He stood with his back to Pierette, staring out a large, somewhat chipped antebellum window, the glass frosting around the edges as it struggled to catch his reflection. "I"m watching over the children in the yard. Trying to hunt down some kind of rodent or the like. Its amazing that weeks ago, they were the same as you, more or less."

"Living. Weak. Doing whatever I said to save their souls. Poor creatures."
 
As written by Krysis

"I'd rather be dead than like that. Dead doesn't bother me, but being pathetic would." She answered simply as she walked around restlessly. The collar got draped over her shoulder carelessly as she prowled, all the world like a cat exploring a new room. She actually did smell some things, and moved one of the pieces of furniture out from the wall a few inches to see if the graffiti was still on the back before heaving it back into place with surprising strength.

"The 'gaudy' stuff is a mask you know. People look at that and think they know everything about me. Saves time. Plus if I am a known quantity, they can forget me just as fast, which is what I actually want." Pierette finally sat on the edge of the bed, though she was still twitchy and would rub her arms as if she were cold. If Nox continued to look out the window, she would get up again and prowl some more, starting to get frustrated with the length of the reaction to whatever someone slipped her along with the usual pills she normally took.

"Well, except the tattoos. I actually like the way the needle feels, and if I am going to endure it, I might as well get the ink to show for it." She gave a harsh bark of laughter, as if she found her own mannerisms a little strange.
 
As written by Emperor Jester
As she wondered about, Nox would slowly disrobe, gracefully gliding across the floor, almost appearing behind her with his arms draped about her shoulders, hands already busy exploring the street girl's body. "Interesting. You would endure purposeful pain in return for art. What about for power and freedom? What would you do if I gave you the greatest gift any mortal could ask for?"

His head would snap forward, downward, stopping just a hair's breadth from her neck.

His breath was cold.

His voice was a whisper.

His fangs scraped her skin lightly as he spoke.

"What would you give me for such a boon, Perilous?"
 
As written by Krysis

"That is a heady boon indeed. There are many things I would love to do if I had the strength for it. Let's see. What could I possibly offer someone as powerful as you?" Pierette asked rhetorically, leaning back against Nox as if she were comfortable there, absently moving so that his hands chased the worst of the twitches of her body. She leaned her head just far enough away from his lips that he wouldn't accidentally pierce her skin as she seemed to honestly think about it.

"You don't need devotion, you have that from your children. You don't need power, because you are a terrible storm already and I am a mere raindrop beside you. Oh, there please, that spot aches. I'm street smart, but there are many who are. I probably taste nasty with all the horrible things I've done to my body too, so just satisfying your hunger wouldn't be sufficient either. Seems like the thing you need most is someone to fix up your home, back to the glory of days gone by. Which means shopping and maybe schmoozing with contractors. In the daytime." Pierette considers it, then twists to look up at Nox with a wicked little smile.

"Kinda defeats the purpose, doesn't it, my lord Caer."
 
As written by Emperor Jester

He'd smile in return. "Perhaps you're more interesting that I thought." The girl was clearly no where near as dumb as he'd first assumed. She was cunning, and tried to make sure every word was as effective as possible. She was an able liar, and knew how to tease him back, despite the obvious disadvantage she was in, in pretty much every department. And though he'd never said it, she'd even managed to figure out his surname, though he'd hardly been subtle about it.

"I suppose you're right. Go on to bed. I think this might turn out far better than I expected. And you'll even get to keep your life. I like your idea of doing the shopping and whatnot for me. I think I'll use you as a bed maid as well as my secretary."

With a single motion, he'd lift her into one arm like she weighed nothing, carrying her across the threshold.
 
As written by Krysis

Pierette laughed in undisguised delight as she was hefted. She really did weigh much less than her height would have suggested, like she was a bundle of twigs in his grip, but of course that wouldn't matter to him. More so, it didn't matter to Pierette. Even if she 'lost' the game she was playing in the next five minutes, she had 'won' a round and it felt very good. Especially when the opponent across the mental chess table was someone as impressive as the creature that was taking her to his bed.

She'd be able to sleep for once, contented and peaceful in the secret knowledge of her victory. Her last thought before slipping into the oblivion of dreams was This is what the devil feels like, when he has claimed another soul.
 
As written by Emperor Jester and Krysis

It wasn't exactly morning, though sunlight shown threw the tattered curtains in the bedroom when Nox "awoke". He'd never truly been asleep, instead, in a deep state of thought, practically catatonic. The Caer had made many plans, and for the most part, everything was working exactly as he had planned them out to. Rising from his bed, caring little if he disturbed his company from the night before or not, he'd move across the cold, almost stone-like room towards the window, brazen in his nudity, especially once opening the blinds.
Nox would almost hiss. The sunlight...how it stung. The longer he let himself bask in its light, the more animalistic his features would become. The pain was almost exquisite, and just as annoying to boot. Once his skin began to peel, blacken, crack, and smoke however, he'd throw the curtains back to their original position before turning back towards Pierette. "Are you awake yet, girl?"

Pierette was awake and staring at him. She gritted her teeth as she massaged her leg to try to work out the cramp that had her muscle standing out in sharp relief on her calf. When it let go, she groaned in relief and laid back. "Not a good look for you, m'lord. Sunlight will ruin your complexion."

She'd examine her limbs and body next, checking to see how much damage remained, brushing her fingers over the cuts he had made in her skin to brush away any dried blood that remained. Lastly she touched her throat, this time almost gingerly. She had a hard time breathing anyway, and the bruises from his hands would probably make that even more difficult.

He'd watched her as the burnt patches of his skin quickly peeled and feel away, turning to dust before hitting to floor. Soon enough, Nox looked as he had the night before, if not seconds. "I realize that. The sun however, will hold no sway over me eventually. Every day it hurts less and less."

A cold glance over her body. "So frail. I forget your kind has trouble dealing with my...specific tastes, and that your physical limits tire you out. I only stopped once I'd realized you'd lost consciousness." A knife, resting delicately on a bedside table would find its way into his hands as he moved across the room. It was expensive looking to say the least, and looked to be something from an era long past. A bladed heirloom of his family. Nox took it everywhere, or at least one made to look like it. "You exceeded my expectations though. I'm impressed, Perilous."

She smiled at him using her nickname, "Normally I enjoy a little rough sex, but you exceeded my expectations as well, my lord. I find myself in need of my bag and of a bathroom, if you wouldn't mind taking a short break."

She'd groan as she forced herself up, standing with only a little trembling in her limbs, though she did favor the leg that had cramped so dramatically. She had only made one request when he had first shown her the knife, and that was to avoid her tattoos. The art would have been marred by even the thinest of scars. Other than that, she had thrown herself willingly into his desires. What she hadn't told him was that the painkillers she had taken earlier in the evening had helped alot with how eagerly she had greeted his plans.

"Of course, in due time. First, I can't have my guest walking around as if the master of the house had harmed her. I have a public image to keep." Whether or not that was an attempt at a joke or not, was uncertain, though it was for a purpose.

The knife would flash in his hands, slicing his own arm open. His skin would sizzle, and almost bubble, a thick, almost black liquid rising to the surface of his skin. One simple command as the Caer locked eyes with his guest. "Drink it."

Pierette bit her lip when he cut himself, inhaling sharply and automatically taking a step towards the Caer. Not to help, oh no, but turned on by the sight of blood on him, just as she had been when he had hurt her and the red had smeared on his white skin. She would touch his arm to either side of the wound almost shyly as she looked up at him, her fingers cupping to keep the liquid from being wasted on the floor.

"Am I permitted to ask what this will do to me? In the heat of the moment, I wouldn't have hesitated, but after seeing your children, you must forgive me for being leery of your gifts." She'd bend towards that black fluid though, breathing in the scent as if she could hardly resist despite her caution. Knowing it had hurt him to offer her this made it all the more intoxicating, though the taste of blood wasn't normally one of her desires.

"I noticed how you breath, child. And your current physical state may impede the plans I have for you. This is merely a means to help alleviate some of those symptoms." If she touched the goop, it would seem to stick to her, and its aroma was cloyingly sweet, almost harshly so. It smelled of overly ripe berries, with dark, rich, earthy undertones. Already, the wound was closing and the "blood" was beginning to cool against his icy flesh, small flakes appearing on its surface, slowly spreading.

"I'm trusting you." She murmured before her soft pink tongue was lapping at the edges of the liquid. She breathed warmth against the flakes of ice as she worked, determined not to let a single drop go to waste. Of course, she was usually fearless when it came to substance abuse, and if not for the terror of becoming one of his spawn, she would not have hesitated at all. Death held no horror, but those things-- Well, Perilous had finally found something to fear.

She'd even slurp at the wound if it was still open, perhaps hoping to provoke a sound from Nox. After all, she had made plenty of sounds for him, in some strange way, she felt he owed her at least a little reaction.

Despite her desires, Nox would remain stoic, watching her tongue work. A cold would spread throughout her body as she consumed part of his, numbing the wound's he'd inflicted on her earlier that night. An icy fire ignited in his body, filling her with energy and power. A rush of physical delight, a complete body high.

Though the important part were her lungs. It was as if she could breath normally, if she could even remember what that felt like. No pain, no wheezing, no rumbling in her chest. On a molecular level, the fel magic in his blood was repairing the dying and scarred tissue inside her body, everywhere. As he'd watch her inevitable reaction, a thin smile would form on his lips. "Consider this repayment for entertaining me so much last night."

Perilous gave a low cry when those sensations hit her, and would fall to her knees. Her nails dug into his arm to make sure she didn't loose hold until his flesh was clean. When it was over, she stayed on the floor, panting and folding her arms tightly around her chest as she could actually feel her lungs getting better. It itched and burned as well as feeling good, and the quickly improving quality of the oxygen getting into her blood.

A little dizzy at the feeling, she slowly lifted her head, dashing back the short tendrils of pink and blue hair that had straggled into her face as she gave the man before her a stunned and happy smile. "Seems like I owe you now, and I always repay my debts. Hell, you could make a fortune bottling that, and even the highest members of society would gladly pay any price you asked."

"Yes, I suppose I could. It hardly interest me however. Something as mundane as money worries my thoughts little. You however, will have need of it." Nox would lift her to her feet, running his hands over her, completely, to make sure she was more or less presentable. "Good. I'm glad you didn't have an adverse reaction to it. Its been known to happen. Now, get dressed or bath, or whatever it is you wished to do."

Almost tenderly, he'd kiss her forehead before moving towards his wardrobe, lost in thought. Today did not feel like a day for white. Today felt like a day for black. It would suit his mood perfectly. "I'll be giving you a list of chores later, and funds in which to complete them. If you do well enough, you'll receive another...substantial reward, akin to last night."

Pierette bit her lip again, this time in amusement at how innocent such a statement was, though she would not point it out to him. Money was hardly the only thing he could get for healing the terminally ill, after all. She turned in his grip so he could check all of her if he desired, and then gave a bark of laughter when he mentioned 'adverse reaction', her eyes lit with pleasure and joy.

The kiss on her forehead made her giggle and she would pick up her little pink sheath dress while he talked. The high was fading slowly and she didn't want to loose it completely before having to face a mirror, so she'd hurry off to get herself cleaned up and dressed. Unfortunately, the feeling couldn't last forever, and by the time she was wiping the steam off the mirror in the bathroom, grim reality was weighing down on her again.

She leaned close to the glass as she applied her make-up and whispered her daily mantra to her reflection. "No one cares. No one wants you. You're going to die and no one will miss you."

She gave her reflection a nod of approval before returning to Nox, once more dressed in the sort of ragged punk style she preferred: ragged blue denim and stray bits of plastic and metal, some of which were in her flesh.

When she returned, she'd find the master of the house in a rather detailed, tailored suit. Black with navy blue pinstripes up the pants legs, which would hug his sides tightly. A pressed jacket, ironed to have many hard edges and corners, and he'd just finish tying his tie in an trinity knot when Pierette opened the door. "Good. I was hoping you hadn't gotten lost or misled."

Nox had arranged several "goods" on the same bedside table on which the knife had rested. A thick looking, white leather pocketbook. A cellphone. A key. A simple silver-sapphire necklace, etched with his house crest, though that was only visible if you looked at it in a certain light. "Come. I've prepared a small employment package for you."

"Nah, you're my favorite person at the moment. You are looking scrumptious today, m'lord. Is that what I am supposed to call you, by the way?" Though Perilous thought of people more like toys or games, it seemed like it would be prudent to keep that to herself as well. She prowled around Nox slowly, admiring his suit and tugging the back seams straight for him.

"Wow. More presents? And it isn't anywhere near my birthday." Pierette would pick up the pocketbook first, if he seemed to want her to examine the items instead of letting him give them to her individually.

"You may call me whatever you wish, though I prefer my name to all other titles when I am being informal. Right now, I am talking as your employer however, since we've entered an agreement of services for rewards." The pocketbook would feel heavy, as if it were filled with paper. Inside would be, roughly, ten thousand dollars. "Half of that is yours to do with as you wish."

A pause, to gauge her reaction before continuing. "The other half is to find a discreet, tight-lipped salesman who deals in furniture and another who is gifted at electrical and plumbing repair. Small companies who won't attract attention. Is that understood?"

She checked the contents before nodding thoughtfully. Pierette sat on the edge of the bed then, as if her knees were not happy about supporting her. "I know just the person to ask. Well, about the construction work at least. My darling brother will know who to get for furniture too. I'm guessing this cellphone is 'work' only, huh? Only you and the people you want to be able to reach me will have the number?"

"Correct. It can hold up to five numbers, and has a pre-set amount of minutes. Its what people these days are calling a...burner?" The slang was new to him, as was all this technology. Though it certainly had its uses, and the Caer found himself embracing the new age more than he thought he would've. Nox refused to become stuck to the past and miss out on the resources and advantages that time had created in his hibernation.

"The key is to the kitchen door. Always use the kitchen door. Tell those you hire for me the same thing as well. Never the front door, under any circumstances, unless instructed otherwise. As for the necklace, well, that is simply a gift. Feel free to do with it what you wish."

The wallet gets put in her shoulder bag, along with the cellphone (though that got put in with her personal cellphone). The key is added to the loop chain with her car keys and the keys to various other residences in the city. The necklace though, Pierette touched it lightly, then shook her head, "It's too pretty to wear. Especially the sort of places I go. Will you keep it for me? Maybe I'll wear it here?"

Then she shook her head to dislodge the silly romantic fancies that flittered about her thoughts before she focused on business once more. "Do you want me to do a title search? Find out who actually owns this place legally? It's probably a state owned propety by now, and if we play it right, we can get it back. Then you could fix it up openly, call it a museum home, or a historical residence or some shit like that. Remy would know how to do that."

"An interesting idea. Yes, do look into that." He hadn't thought about mortals and their perceptions of ownerships. Though with the terror he and his family had caused, it was doubtful anyone had even looked into buying the old Caer property. "You are more resourceful than I would've taken you for. After all is said and done, I may very well re-ask you if you'd like to live for eternity."

No matter what she was feeling, Nox had no room for romance in his heart for this girl. She was merely a tool, though already her personality made him crack a smile. She was useful without him having to direct her every action and movement, and she certainly wasn't stupid. Perilous was capable of picking up on his train of thought after only a few moments. And there was one other thing he needed her for. Her sister. He still remembered the shiver Celeste had caused in the back of his mind when he first held eyes on her at the rave. "Once all is said and done, your tasks complete, take as much time as you desire, to do whatever you wish. Return here at least once a week. Never bring anyone else with you, unless instructed otherwise."

Nox had said those three words more times today than he cared to admit. The Caer hated repeating himself.

Pierette gave him a surprised look at being sent away for a week apparently. At least, that was what she heard when he told her to come back once a week. Then she gave a bitter smile and stood up to give a bow, more self mocking than anything. She had let herself forget, even for a moment, that she was unwanted, and was immediately reminded of that fact. "As you wish. Good bye, sir."

He could sense her sudden bitterness in the air and snapped his eyes towards her with a sudden fury. "Is there something wrong, Perilous? Was something I said in the wrong, or hurtful? Or were my gifts not to your liking? If you feel like I am casting you out, let me make something perfectly clear."

Nox would grab her by the throat, his breath and words a cold hiss. "You belong to me now. This is your home. You may chose to live here, share a bed with me every night, do my bidding so I may continue to move in secret, and live a life much better than the one you live right now. I will give you all you desire if I feel like you've earned it. But cross me, betray me, or over step the boundaries of this relationship, and I WILL feed you to my pets, or make you one of them myself. Is that clear?"

She flinched for once when he grabbed for her throat, lifting her chin haughtily until the import of his words hit her. One hand would hold her bag back, so it didn't swing between them, but the other rested delicately on his wrist. Being told that she belonged made tears stand in her eyes despite her best effort to not let emotion show. His threats made her smile though, and she whispered, "Are you surprised that I feared being cast away? I want to stay. This is indeed better than the life I live on my own. I just know that I am unworthy and the dream must end, sooner or later."

Nox would sigh audibly before letting her go. "As you say. Now, you and I both have work to do. I'll choose my words better this time. Return here when you wish to." He would leave the room then, without her, moving unnaturally fast to leave her alone with her thoughts.

'Trouble. She could be too much trouble to keep in the long wrong. But I won't need her for that long, will I?' The thought brought a grim smile to his lips.
 
As written by Script

The half-moon hung watchfully in the sky as Jamie made his way along the street leading up to the old Caer manor. His breath misted in the cool night air. Breathing was a habit he'd gotten into since coming to Lutetia City. It was better to get into the habit of doing it, he reasoned, than risk forgetting about it when in human company.

Though he wore the hood of his black jumper up, shrouding his face, he made no effort to be stealthy as he approached the building. His footfalls were quiet - again, by force of habit - but not as inaudible as he could have made them if he chose to, and he let the yellow glow of the street-lights illuminate him as he passed beneath each of them.

No, sneaking was pointless. If there was anyone there to notice him, then he wanted to be noticed.

He stopped in front of the gate, eyeing the rusted metal and the run-down manor beyond dubiously. It didn't look inhabited. Perhaps, with a kill order given to his name, Nox had actually gone to ground to avoid pursuit.

Somehow, he doubted it. If he had, Jamie would be ... disappointed. He wasn't looking for a man that ran away from trouble.

The young vampire reached up and lowered his hood, letting a short mop of mussed black hair spill out. His crimson eyes glinted with anticipation in the moonlight.

The gate gave a long, pained screech of neglected hinges as he pushed it open and stepped onto the pathway. Hands stuffed nonchalantly into his pockets, he began to advance towards the front door. As he walked, he hummed quietly to himself. The theme tune to a cartoon he occasionally watched, about a little witch girl and her talking cat familiar. It was rather catchy.The half-moon hung watchfully in the sky as Jamie made his way along the street leading up to the old Caer manor. His breath misted in the cool night air. Breathing was a habit he'd gotten into since coming to Lutetia City. It was better to get into the habit of doing it, he reasoned, than risk forgetting about it when in human company.

Though he wore the hood of his black jumper up, shrouding his face, he made no effort to be stealthy as he approached the building. His footfalls were quiet - again, by force of habit - but not as inaudible as he could have made them if he chose to, and he let the yellow glow of the street-lights illuminate him as he passed beneath each of them.

No, sneaking was pointless. If there was anyone there to notice him, then he wanted to be noticed.

He stopped in front of the gate, eyeing the rusted metal and the run-down manor beyond dubiously. It didn't look inhabited. Perhaps, with a kill order given to his name, Nox had actually gone to ground to avoid pursuit.

Somehow, he doubted it. If he had, Jamie would be ... disappointed. He wasn't looking for a man that ran away from trouble.

The young vampire reached up and lowered his hood, letting a short mop of mussed black hair spill out. His crimson eyes glinted with anticipation in the moonlight.

The gate gave a long, pained screech of neglected hinges as he pushed it open and stepped onto the pathway. Hands stuffed nonchalantly into his pockets, he began to advance towards the front door. As he walked, he hummed quietly to himself. The theme tune to a cartoon he occasionally watched, about a little witch girl and her talking cat familiar. It was rather catchy.
 
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