RAISING MERIDIAN

HUGS AND PUPPIES (and KITTIES)

VladimirsAngel and Syvia's World-Class Disclaimer (which the Angel should really have cut&pasted somewhere) LOK belongs to Eidos, Krobelus to Volition, Kurt to Marvel Comics, Celia and her magic are derivative of Mercedes Lackey, and the rest is Syvia and VladimirsAngel's own faults.

The story so far: Vladimir, Celia and Lupa are on the run from Magnus and have plunged through a gate: The two Kains, Raziel and Krobelus are on their way to waylay Faustus at the mall, and Marcus is still suffering at the hands of the Order. Review Responses next chapter!

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Marcus puts his feet up on the table at the back of the volunteer area and sips blood which some excessively happy Acolyte has heated for him. He watches the crowds through narrowed eyelids as they trickle past, looking at shops and talking happily.

Marcus: Damned fairy-child. Damned happy volunteer soup kitchen…How dare she block my power.... Before I leave this dimension, I swear to the Dark Gods that I am going to kill her.

He smiles darkly and continues to watch the crowd. The smile fades into astonishment, then turns evil as he spots a familiar form. The clothes are different, but he knows who it is by the hair- there is no mistaking that hair.... Marcus sets down his mug and rushes forward. The vampire in front of him begins to turn, sensing someone approach, but before he can Marcus has him in a tight hug - effectively pinning his arms.

Marcus: *falsely cheerful* Here's a Healthy Hug from the Order of Happy Contact!

Faustus tries to get a look at his fellow vampire guardian, but can't.

Faustus: *confused* Marcus?! Is that you?

Marcus squeezes him painfully tight for saying his name aloud.

Marcus: I'm Brother Flutey, hugless wanderer, I never had another name.

Faustus: What the- are you mad?

Marcus: *interrupting* Will you join me for a cup of blood?

Faustus: ...if you let go of me. What the hell is going on?

Marcus sits back down at the table, motioning with visible frustration to Faustus, who is frozen in shock, his expression one of amusement at Marcus' attire.

Marcus: *cheerfully* Laugh and I will rip your ponytail off with my bare hands.

Faustus: *sitting down, ironically* I would if your 'new look' didn't inspire such terror in me. What on Nosgoth are you doing here?

Marcus: Keep your voice down. Sebastian sent me to find you, you moronic, hair-obsessed fledgling. Now that you're here, we can find the gate to Nosgoth and go back to Meridian.

Faustus: *pouting* I'm not ready to go back. *softly* This is one hell of a world, Marcus, I killed the most delightful human! Instead of running, they're actually helpful and accomodating here- they're plump, well-fed, warm-bodied-

Marcus punches Faustus in the stomach and hides it from the Acolytes by clapping his arm around the other vampire's shoulders as Faustus doubles over.

Faustus: *hissing* You bas-

Marcus interrupts him with an overly loud false laugh.

Marcus: *softly* There's a law against killing anyone in this dimension, you idiot! Did you even notice that mage by the pillar was following you?! Don't look!

Faustus: I don't care. Some bitch stole my shirt and I want it back.

Marcus: One of your females got too rough for you? *smirks*

Faustus: *growls* And what of your new attire? What is that supposed to be?

Marcus: My disguise. I have infiltrated this group of... creatures in order to seem as if I belong here. *Faustus looks at him skeptically* Well it worked, didn't it?! I found you.

Faustus: But why aren't you making these humans work for you? They should be doing your bidding right now.

Marcus: *grumbles* They have shields over their minds. I don't care about your clothing, Faustus, I want to leave and you're my ticket out!

Faustus: Then why don't you just take over my mind and make me go?

Marcus: ......

Faustus: *wide eyes* You can't! They put a shield on you too! *laughing* Oh, this is priceless!

Marcus: Faustus... either you stop talking right now or-

Faustus: *slyly* Poor Marcus, whatever are you going to do since Kain is here?

Marcus: ...what?

Faustus: Kain. Couldn't you smell him?

Marcus: *growling* I can't smell a bloody thing besides their happy-happy incense!

Faustus: *pats him on the shoulder* I'm going to retrieve my shirt.

Marcus: *grabs his arms* Don't leave me here!

Faustus: Marcus - I looked right at you and I didn't realize it was you. I'll find my shirt, come back and get you, then we can go kill Kain. Or, if you happen to see Kain in the meanwhile, then you get to kill him all by yourself!

Marcus: *meaningfully* The Mandate. No more killing. Not here.

Faustus' only answer is a cocky 'bye-bye' wave and a smirk. Marcus growls low in his throat, glaring as he leaves.

Acolyte Chirpton: *clapping Marcus on the shoulder cheerily* Ah, Brother Flutey! Another satisfied convert I presume?

Marcus: *gritted teeth* Yes, he's very…self-satisfied…

Acolyte Chirpton: It's time for your shift in the soup kitchen. I'll take you in to get your Official Apron.

Marcus: *sighs* Of course. There's an official apron…there WOULD be….

A very large, curvacious Sister with three horns on the top of her head bundles him into a full-length blue and paisley apron with ugly anthropomorphic kittens plastered over the front. Marcus yelps in surprise when she pinches his rear end before pushing him towards the soup counter. The vampire raises an eyebrow at her, which she smiles at, revealing two gleaming rows of razor sharp teeth. Another Acolyte at the soup counter smiles at him.

Acolyte: That would be Sister Dantea from the Azghuliath dimension. Their sect of the order is a bit more... lascivious with their contact.

Marcus: *speculative look* Oh really?

Acolyte: Yes. But she agreed to be more gentle with the people here in the Nexus. We wouldn't want anyone to die of happiness! *girlish laugh*

Marcus grits his teeth again at the Acolyte's laughter, but answers calmly enough.

Marcus: No... we wouldn't want that....

A few minutes later while Marcus sourly ladles out soup and submits to giving a tall lynx-girl a hug, an unfamiliar acolyte approaches him.


Unfamiliar Acolyte: Ah, Brother Flutey! I am Brother Dribbley! Sister Mattie sent me. She said you would be tired and would appreciate the touch of divinity to aid you in your good works. *holds out arms wide and makes kissy-kissy lips*

Marcus: Aah! No! Thankyou!

He splashes the ladle down in a hurry.

Marcus: *an idea dawning* Actually though – you can help me. In my…um…personal piety on Agoran, I took it upon myself to spread the message of the order to all vampires. I would be honoured if you and your fellow…ugh….hugging folk would aid me in my mission.

Brother Dribbley: *puffs out his chest piously* We shall begin immediately Brother!

Marcus: *warming to his role* Ah, for us vampires are sorely abandoned in the realm of happy contact…*aside,under his breath* …shouldn't think anyone's hugged the miserable bastard in centuries…

Brother Dribbley: How should we aid you?

Marcus: *overacting for all he is worth* Alas, there is a particular vampire, poor soul, who has not experienced the joy of the order…find him for me, for I wish to cleanse his pain in….*steels himself*…love.

Brother Dribbley: *clasping hands above his heart in delight* Love! How very dedicated of you, Brother Flutey.

Marcus: *getting annoyed* Yes, yes, I'm completely single-minded about this one…his name is Kain. You can't miss him. Tall, muscular, long white hair, permanently annoyed expression….

Brother Dribbley: We will find him and bring the joy of the Order into his life.

He runs off and can be seen leaving with a group of other acolytes. One of them is holding a flower garland and a selection of happy-face stickers. Marcus grins nastily to himself, feeling better for the very first time since he got here.

Marcus: *to himself* It may not be traditional vampire revenge, but at least I can be sure he's going to suffer…and if I'm really lucky he'll be so embarrassed he'll massacre the entire Order for me. *ladles out more soup with an almost cheerful flourish* And then I can kill him.

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At the East End of the Mall, Old Kain leads his group into the shopping precinct. Young Kain notes an appalling lack of reaction to the sight of his older self walking through the mall with a blue demon by his side, and would have been grabbing passersby and demanding they abase themselves before him had Raziel not been digging warning claws into his shoulders. In fact, the vampires and vampire wraith are getting the least attention. Far more eyes and whispers are being directed at Krobelus, who smiles a bit to himself at the attention and pushes ahead. As they walk past a cheerful little café, an employee calls out to the elder vampire politely.

Employee: Mr. Kain! How are you on this fine evening? Want your usual?

Old Kain:  *looking embarrassed* Urgent business to take care of - maybe some other time...

Young Kain: *curiously* Your usual?

Raziel: *smirking* A double hot chocolate with a shot of blood.

Young Kain: *horrified look* I grow up to be a pansy?

Raziel: *shrugs* You have a blood bath every week or so.

Young Kain: *mollified* That's fairly evil...

Older Kain: *warningly* Raziel...

Raziel: In a porcelain tub... with a rubber ducky.

Young Kain looks as if he's about to kill himself out of mortification and Old Kain looks ready to pummel Raziel, but Krobelus comes up to them with another mage.

Krobelus: He's already gone. Headed for Third Circle & District.

Security Mage: Should I call for backup, sir?

Krobelus: *a flare of ugly purple magic curls about his fingers* No, I think I can handle one vampire…

Young Kain: *desperate not to be left out* We. We can handle him.

Raziel: *shoving the young vampire unkindly in the back* Yes, all right, Boy Wonder…

In Circle & District, The Circle Gate glimmers abruptly like starlight, and flares: then it opens fully and Vladimir, Lupa and Celia pile out, out of breath from running.

Vladimir: *once he realises where they are* Oh, thank Goddess. Safe.

Celia: *sadly* I lost my sketchbook.

Lupa: You've lost your marbles if you think we're going back for it.

Celia: *exasperated* I could have taken that vampire- we were right by the fountain!

Lupa: You had the opportunity, he was right there!

Celia: *angrily* I wasn't prepared - I'm sorry!

Vladimir: *interrupting* We'd better go back to my house. We can regroup, try to think of a plan –

Lupa: - hide under the bureau til it's over?


Vladimir: Damn you, woman, you know me too well.

Lupa: *sighs* Well if we're going home, we may as well make use of our location.

Celia: What? *looks up at the street sign* Oh. Wonderful. *sighs*

Lupa: *making shooing motions* Get out there and act like bait.

An instinctive growl rumbles in the back of the Mage's throat, which is returned by a louder and more menacing growl from Lupa. Vladimir swats them both and Celia subsides, turning up the sidewalk. Shivering at the chill, she unties Faustus' jacket from her waist and pulls it on.

They set off down towards Third, walking briskly. Circle is not one of the best Nexus districts to be in at night, even without the foreknowledge of mad vampires on the loose. Celia does a slightly off-key rendition of the Andy of Mayberry theme music as she walks.

The water master can see tiny pairs of eyes- her Undine- peering at her from every street puddle and knows that Vladimir and Lupa are walking behind her, arguing. She is still nervous. Celia grows even more anxious as she watches the puddles grow smaller as they proceed into a more well-managed part of the area. The watermage instinctively begins to draw water into a shield and breathes a bit easier with the feeling of her native element about her.

Although she is almost expecting it, she still yelps in fear when a dark form lands gracefully on the walkway before her. The form straightens and it is, of course, Faustus, smiling pleasantly at her. Celia raises an eyebrow, smirks, and hunches deeper into his jacket.

Faustus: At last we meet again.

Celia: *laughs* What a line.

Faustus: *smirking* You surprised me with your odd little power the first time - but I'm ready for you now.

Celia: Do you always sound like a Fractured Fairytales villain?

Faustus: ...What? *glares* You sounded just as cliche as I when we first met. *looks at her* You're not wearing a dress…

Celia: The last time we met, I had just come from a costume party.

Celia smiles confidently at him, but her hands, hidden in the folds of the vampire's jacket, are shaking. For all her experience, the dangers of being a Water mage on earth are few, and there is no lack of metaphysical backup. She wonders angrily where Vladimir and Lupa are, and then realizes they will not interfere until Faustus actually threatens her, which means he has to get close. Slowly, Celia takes down her shield, pouring the magic into a few spells in the back of her mind, realizing that all in all it's a pitiful amount of magic.

Celia: So did you want something, *insultingly* or did you come back because you like to get burnt?

Faustus smirks and rushes her, dodging the sphere of water she instantly casts towards him. He grabs her around the waist and rolls, dragging her to the sidewalk. Celia twists on the ground, flings a larger sphere, but Faustus leaps up, momentarily grabbing a lamppost before coming back down and grabbing for her hands. There is a lack of ready water nearby- a fact that Faustus was counting on, but before he can take advantage of Celia's handicap, he hears the sound of running paws behind him, and a silver-haired wolf bowls him over - neatly pinning him under its massive paws. Lupa (for of course it is she) nuzzles into the vampire's neck and licks his face with a long wet tongue.

Vladimir: *calling out* Lupa! I've warned you about this before! Stop flirting with him and kill him!

Faustus: *disbelief* This is her idea of flirting?!

Celia: *getting up and preparing another water-spell* Yeah, and just wait until you see mine…

She hurls the sphere and it bursts all over Lupa's back. The wolf yelps, dripping, but her body has shielded Faustus from the worst of the water. Celia staggers and clutches her head, having tapped into her personal energy to make up for the lack of available water.

Faustus: *smirking at Celia as he scratches Lupa behind the ears…Lupa whines happily and her leg twitches* Nice puppy…

While she is distracted, he pushes her off, and leaps right over Celia as she tries to summon enough water for another blast. He lands instead right beside Vladimir, who shrieks. Faustus grabs Vladimir by the throat and twists an arm up behind his back, then stands poised to bite. Lupa growls, low and warningly, and Celia glares. Vladimir stands very still, eyes huge with terror and ears laid flat to his skull. Celia begins drawing up the remnants of the spell still coating Lupa's back and attempts to boost it with the meager amount of water in the air around them. It takes her only a second to realize this won't be enough.

Celia: *under her breath* Damnit...

Faustus: *smiling nicely* Back off, ladies…or he's lunch.

Vladimir: *desperately* You wouldn't want to eat me. I'm tasteless. Honestly. Last year I tried to go vegan for a month. It will have ruined the taste of my blood. And besides, anaemia runs in my family.

Faustus: *exasperated* Shut up, pussy.

Stormclouds gather in unnatural haste above their heads and Celia hurriedly pulls the building rain towards her. Lupa growls and Celia takes a step forward. Faustus tightens the hand on Vladimir's neck in response.

Faustus: *angrily* Mage…I said Back. Off.

Krobelus: *loudly, from the opposite end of the street* But you didn't specify which one.

Power flares around him like rogue electricity: from the dark sky fork lightning strikes the street in six different places around Faustus, who snarls in confusion and fright. Using the opportunity, Celia casts a puddle onto the ground at Faustus' feet. Her Undine fountains out of it, catching one of Krobelus' lightning bolts, which ripples dangerously about her lithe form. The water elemental smiles and surges forward, only to stop as Faustus pulls Vladimir in front of him as a shield.

Faustus: *whispers in Vladimir's ear* You're coming with me.

Vladimir: *miserably* Oh, you're going to regret this. I get verbal diarrhea when I'm frightened. You're going to drown in adjectives, and it will NOT be pretty…

Faustus leaps straight up the side of the nearest building and takes off across the rooves, dragging Vladimir with him. The lion-man's yells of terror can be heard long after they have disappeared from view. Raziel and the two Kains run in from around the corner.

Raziel: *staring upwards* I'll get him.

He makes to give chase, digging his talons into the crumbling brickwork, but Celia stops him with a hand on his arm.

Celia: No. He might hurt Vladimir.

Lupa: *coming out of the shadows, adjusting her halter* Hurting Vladimir is not an option.

She turns a glittering smile on Young Kain.

Lupa: *coquettishly*  …not that a little pain can't be fun sometimes, I always say…

Young Kain gives a surprised and happy smirk, taking a small but noticeable step closer to the wolf-girl, and Old Kain rolls his eyes in disgust.

Old Kain: Excuse me for interrupting this impromptu edition of Blind Date, but I don't think we really have time…Vladimir needs our help.

Krobelus snorts, as if to say "he always does" and Celia glares at him.

Celia: Let's go back to the house.

She rubs the fabric of the jacket between her fingers.

Celia: *thoughtful* At least I know I have something he wants.

Krobelus: *snippily* Well, he's not going to be drawn in by your ability to make puddles, is he?

Celia: *sarcastically, turning on him* Gee, Krobelus, six lightning bolts and not one of them hit Faustus?

Celia's Undine rolls up to Krobelus from behind as the mage opens his mouth to retort, rears up and pounces in a crashing wave. Krobelus gasps and staggers as the power of his lightning spell washes back into his body. He glowers, soaking wet and furious, and says something jaw-cracking in an Ancient dialect. The remains of the Undine freeze solid within seconds. Celia scowls.

Old Kain: *warning tone* Children…play nicely.

Raziel pushes off Young Kain, who has scrambled up onto the wraith's back in order to escape the dissipating Undine, and shakes his head in irritation. Lupa pulls him up forcefully and Young Kain nearly falls into her, which they both seem to enjoy.

Raziel: All this for a shirt? He's a fool.

Lupa: Oh, come on, Raz. Like you never went halfway across Nosgoth because someone told you they were having a sale on leather straps and piercing equipment?

Old Kain: *clears his throat* Vladimir? In trouble? Focus, everyone.

He stalks off down Circle, and the rest of them look at him in surprise for a moment before following him down the street.

Raziel: Concern, from you? I'm impressed. I didn't even think you liked him.

Old Kain: Come now, Raziel, you know how difficult it is to find an apartment in this dimension. I doubt our next landlord will be anywhere near as understanding.

Lupa: Since that next landlord would be Vervain, it's a guarantee.

Far away, the Neon Gate flares into ugly activation once again…Sebastian steps calmly out of the arch with fifteen Glyph Knights the Sarafan Lord has sent to 'help' him trailing behind. He stands in the darkness, illuminated from the back by the soft glow of the gate and the softer illumination of the glyph knights in their vampire-detecting armor. He looks around, then inhales deeply through his nose.

Sebastian: *eyes closed, testing the air* Ten of you go and round up Magnus... He should be somewhere in that direction. *points* As for the rest of you... go and find Kain.

Glyph Knight: What are you going to do?

Sebastian glowers, walks towards the fountain and stoops gracefully to pick up Celia's fallen sketchbook. The Glyph Knights shudder a bit as they watch him smell it. Sebastian flips through the pages and his eyes narrow dangerously at the sight of one sketch.

Sebastian: *breathes in the scent of the sketchbook again* I have other quarry to pursue... *walks off with the book in hand*

The Glyph Knights shrug and walk off to do what they've been told.