RAISING MERIDIAN

Sorry I've been away for a while. There's been a worm in my computer. And not in a good tequila-type way either…review responses in a chapter or so, I promise!

Syvia: *shakes her head and goes back to "Restoring Balance"*

While all this excitement is kicking off at Vladimir's, on the other side of town, another young vampire picks himself off the grass on which he's inexplicably found himself laying and brushes off his black pants and vivid red shirt-coat.

Faustus: *puts his hands to his temples* Gods, what a headache. That is the last time I use a warp gate, whether I'm tracking Kain or not... let Sebastian follow him. I can only imagine what that fool will say. *mimicking a disdainful, static-muffled voice* You should have called for backup when you found Kain. *in his own voice* As if I needed help to kill that imbecile.

The flamboyantly-dressed vampire feels over his head, grimacing at the bumps in his formerly smoothly-pulled-back tail of hair. He lets the wave of ebony down from its confines, pulls out a small wide-toothed comb and begins grooming himself. A young man in a studded leather coat with facial hair the color of cotton-candy slows as he walks past the vampire, staring.

Faustus: *noticing him* Does it look well? *he pats the tail a little*

The young man nods, his expression oddly strained, and continues walking.

Faustus: Good enough. Now... dinner.





Three blocks away from the disoriented vampire, the Earth gate flares into life and, as gates do when they're working more or less in order, opens smoothly, admits a single passenger, and closes after the traveller has moved a few steps away. She walks straight to a bench and sits down, pulling her voluminous skirts just high enough to slip off the small brown heeled boot on her foot and massages it.

Celia: Never again. They can beg, plead, Tybalt can send the sylphs and mix all my paints, I don't care! They will not truss me up in this straight-jacket ensemble ever again.

She pulls out a pair of tennis-shoes which are completely incongruous with the flower-print valise in which they've been stored, as well as the brown nineteen-twenty something skirt and shirtwaist she wears.

Celia: *pulling on the shoes* It's oddly dark for eight p.m. ... I can never manage to get used to Nexus time.... *shrugs, looking around* Well, so long as I don't have to walk home.

The young woman stands, tossing her boots into the bag and hefting it in one hand. The skirt drops over her shoes, hiding them from sight. She scans the busy streets and parked cars, looking for something, or someone. By her steadily darkening expression, it is apparent that she doesn't see them.

The smile that replaces it bore more than a passing resemblance to a wolf baring her teeth.

Celia: I am going to kill him.



Five minutes later, Celia is walking down the street, a light blush on her cheeks and a determined look on her face. Several people give her a wide berth. Faustus is not one of these people.

Faustus: *flashing the widest smile he can without showing his fangs* Milady! It is far too late at night for such an attractive woman to walk about unescorted. Please, allow me to help you to your destination and keep the ruffians at bay.

Celia: *warming only slightly to Faustus' good looks* You are too kind, sir, but truly, I will be well on my own. *tries to walk around him*

Faustus: *steps in her way* Please? I would be worried about you out in the night. *offers her his arm*

Celia: You offer to help me without knowing where I wish to go or if it is on the way to your destination?

Faustus: *turns up the charm, still smiling* Gladly.

Celia: *finally smiles* Then you are a true gentleman. *loops her arm with his*

Faustus: What brings you here to... *looks up at the street sign* Dark Star Street? (*grins* Nexus roads tend to have names rather than numbers…this may have to change if it expands any further!!!)

Celia: *chuckles* I was supposed to meet a friend at the world gate, but it seems I have been forgotten.

Faustus: *indignant expression* How could anyone forget you?

Celia: *rolls her eyes* Easily, considering my friend.

Faustus stifles a gleeful smile at the thought that she isn't likely to be missed for some time and they continue to walk.

Faustus: Have you lived here long?

Celia: Your first time in the Nexus?

Faustus: *chagrined smirk* How did you guess?

Celia: You have the look of a child in a candy store every time someone walks by; you've never seen the like and you're wondering how close you can get before a store keeper slaps your hand for taking without intent to buy. ... Or is that simply because you're a vampire?

Faustus: *flinches* What do you mean?

Celia: You've been eyeing my collar and mentally undressing my neck. I have met vampires before.

Faustus: *steering the distracted woman down an alleyway* I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about!

Celia halts by a dripping downspout and the puddle of water that has collected beneath it. Faustus stops as well, still holding her arm.

Celia: Alabaster two-forty-six. *smiles at Faustus' baffled expression* That's the name of a paint color that is so white I never use it for flesh-tone when I do portraits. *runs her index finger down his cheek and he smiles again* It is the exact color of your skin. *shrugs* Aside from that, there is your conspicuous lack of pulse....

Faustus grabs her by her upper arms and pins her back against the wall.

Faustus: Beauty and observational skills... both very dangerous qualities to have.

Celia: *raising an eyebrow* You're going to drain me based on looks alone? How rude... you never even asked about my family or what I do for a living-

Faustus: Sweetling, it's only a one-night drink, I've had a thousand girls like you. *leans forward*

Celia: *mockingly curious* You've had a thousand Watermasters? I'm impressed...

Faustus: *furrowing his brow* Water- whats?

Celia: *smiling dangerously* Masters.

Faustus hears a noise behind him and turns. An inch from his nose, large as life and twice as wet, is a girl constructed wholly out of water, smirking cruelly at him from under seaweed locks of hair. She leans forward, parting her lips sensuously and kisses him. Faustus screams like a little girl and pulls away, scrubbing at his burning lips. The creature reaches for him, swishing her hips. The vampire slips in another puddle and falls to the ground.

Celia: I think she likes you. Undines are known for their *clears her throat, amusedly* lusty natures. A few more seconds and she'll have her hands all over you.

The Undine seems to roll down the street and over Faustus' jacket, staining the lovely red cloth of his jacket to a deep maroon. Faustus doesn't actually notice this, (straining as he is to lean away from the Undine's searching lips) until the water soaks through his coat and into his skin. He screams again, rolling away from the water-being and ripping off his coat. Celia grins in appreciation at the (slightly red and burning) but still impressive expanse of white flesh.

Celia: No eating and all running, vampy-boy?

Faustus spares a growl at the watermage and jumps up, and up to the top of the near-by building. Celia walks over to the shirt-coat and holds it up towards the fleeing vampire.

Celia: *smirking* You forgot your jacket!

The brunette shakes out said article of clothing as the Undine wanders back to her, growing smaller as she flows over the cobblestone street. Celia uses her magic on the jacket and water begins to drip steadily from the hem. When it is dry, she pulls on the vermilion trophy and grins at the water-girl.

Celia: That was wonderful. *sighs* I guess you'd better keep close. I've got a feeling that is not the last we'll see of him.

The Undine, now the height of Celia's ankle, sniffs primly and follows her mistress back onto the main street. The Watermaster, wearing emerald-green sneakers, a crimson jacket two sizes too big for her, and a lace-trimmed antique of a dress, continues her walk with a significant bounce in her step.