What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."
Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar…
Part XII…
Saturday, 5:30pm…
"It's really neat to be included in the Cravensworths' documentary like this…" Jen beams at camera as she drives. "You guys really get into your work I see. I wouldn't have expected to be important enough for you to follow around but I think I get that you want to trace my development as a familiar, right?" Nod, adjusting sunglasses.
"I'm headed over to our office to get the keys to the property I was showing to the guys on my phone yesterday. I promised I'd either bring Ginny over to discuss things or get the keys. She was a little reluctant but after she reviewed Mr. Cravensworth's credit info this morning after I called her, she was pretty willing to go ahead. I wonder how he managed such a great credit history and bank account info? Is it from his family? He did tell me his family had owned a castle in England but they were all gone so far as he knew after he died." She eyes camera. "Well, he has been around a long time, maybe Gui can tell me more. We will have to be sure after all the transactions will hold up so I need to know if anything's faked. Ginny does want to meet them but she's got some family things so will come by on Monday evening." Sigh. "Think, between us, her daughter's in trouble again at school and she's driving out to lay down the law to her. Elsie is a good kid but she tends to think she can get away with murder…And she's not a vampire…" teasing smile.
"Suzette had such a nice time today at the park with us." fond beam. "They had this arts and crafts fair? Annual thing… So we took her and she got her face painted and got to finger paint a little. She's very talented if a mom may said so herself…" smile. "I promised David I'd only be out two hours as he's cooking a nice meal for us. Northern Italian, actually." Grin. "His dad's mom's side."
"I think I can let the guys in and let them wander round and lock up later. Though I have to remind them there is a security team and they shouldn't kill any of them. I'll clear them with the guard booth when we go in." she pulled into the Zeller Properties lot and up to the door ramp, hopping out quickly, dressed rather casually in sundress, hair bound up in band, sunglasses perched.
….
Inside office doorway, camera sweeping around the cubicles and offices…
"Well, this is Zeller Properties…Uh, I have to ask you not to film in here, I don't think Ginny would like it and until she's enthralled probably best not to get her riled. Ah, there's the keys…" Camera cuts out.
….
6 pm…The community manor…Just outside Laszlo and Nadja's crypt…
"I am bursting with anticipation…" Laszlo, decked out in the black suit he'd worn to the club a few days earlier. "I think it's safe to say we all are, really. A new place, modern, nicely isolated with some acreage. I think even Baron Afanas will be impressed, a clear testament to our rising dominion. Nadja?! Jen will be coming soon! Are you nearly ready, darling?!"
"Yes, I'm nearly ready! You've been asking for the last hour!" Nadja's voice from within the crypt.
"Sorry! Just don't want to keep Jen waiting, she'll need to get back home soon."
Cut to Nadja, prepping within crypt…
"So now we can't keep our familiars 'waiting'?" frown as she works on eyelashes with heavy mascara. "I knew that whore would have Laszlo wrapped around her little finger, just like Milly all over again, except for the child…And the husband…" sneer. "I can guess what he's like. Another Laszlo, running about, waiting on her hand and foot, utterly humiliated." Eyes us. "I don't do that, myself, of course."
"Still, I am eager to see the new place…It looked so very nice on her phone cell window. I hope it will be as nice in real life." Sigh.
"I hope she is not neglecting her child for us. I understood today she was to take her girl for an outing. She promised to bring pictures…"
…
"I just have to stop for one second here, see if I can get a signature…" Jen, putting car in park after pulling into a rather large driveway to a rather large house. "Troy?!" she calls, waving, to large, heavy-set man in suit coming down stone walkway to her car, pausing to eye the documentary team.
"To be honest…I'm glad you guys are here. That should keep this short. But I'm supposed to continue with my job to avoid suspicion and this is a pretty big deal with the Meisters. Hey, Troy…! Don't mind the guys here. It's something for one of my other guys… Fellas, can you cut it a mo?" she turns to us. "But don't go anywhere? Thanks."
"What's with this, Jen?" Troy Meister, said heavy-set man eyes camera suspiciously as camera cuts out.
"They're doing some documentary work for a writer client of mine…" Jen notes. "Sorry, they get a little enthusiastic."
"Yeah, I want anything of me they filmed." Meister frowns. "And keep that camera out of my face…Take your van outta here!" he addresses the crew members with Jen.
"Troy, I'm sorry, we'll be right outta your hair. I just need your John Hancock pressed down right here." She offered a carboned form. "I would have emailed this but I know you wanted a hard copy."
"You didn't need to bring the whole crew for that…" he glared. "And I was hopin' you could go over things, in the house. I'm still not clear on everything."
"Oh, I just have a couple of minutes, Troy. Can we do that next week? I need to be here on Tuesday anyway to oversee the repairs to the roof."
"Yeah, but you'll be busy then…Can you go?" annoyed, he turns to face us, pointing to documentary crew van.
"Guys, just wait by your van a second, ok?" Jen, smiling warmly. Giving eye suggesting she'd prefer the crew stay out of the van.
"Yeah, just give me a few of your precious time, ok? I have a few questions." Troy insists, sweating running a bit on large face.
"Really tight, Troy? Shouldn't we hold off on this till Tuesday?" she asks.
"What, a million-dollar deal I throw your way and you can't spare me five minutes for a question or two?" he fumed. "Just come in for a minute…"
"Hetty around?" she asked.
"She's at her sister's. Come on, this'll take five or ten minutes. Fifteen at the outside."
She looks around…Sighing…
"Sure…" wan smile.
"You look great, Jen…" he notes, taking her arm as he leads her up walkway to house…
….
Thirty minutes later…
"Well…That's over…" Jen, adjusting hair, brushing and smoothing sundress. "Not much more to do with this one, thank God. I'll call the Master and explain the delay...Fortunately we'll be there soon. " she pulls up phone. "Do you guys have a soda or water, I need to get a bad taste out of my mouth?" Dialing…
….
"Guillermo, the telephone device is ringing..." Nandor's voice from his crypt where he is dressing.
Guillermo, by ringing landline phone… "Yes, I have it, Master. Hello...Relentless residence?"
Holds phone… "Master Nandor had no last name per se so he's used 'Relentless' as his last name for his social security and bank account...Hi, Jen? This is Gui, yes. What? Oh, ok...Fifteen, maybe ten. Great. No, everyone's still getting ready and it's not quite dark enough yet. Oh, yeah...They're all excited. How was the park? Did Suzie have a nice time? Great...Well, we only have the landline here so I'll go and let Master Laszlo know. See ya soon, Jen. Oh, yeah...I'm good, thanks. Yes, I'm taking my Advil. Ok, see ya." he hangs up.
"She is always so nice, asking how I'm doing." he waves cast-wrapped arm. "Well, let me go tell them she's just a little delayed." he jumps to find the Baron's familiar at the entrance to the little anteroom where the telephone is kept. Nadja disliking the ringing, it's kept out of the living room and "fancy room".
"Hello. Sorry, you startled me. I have to go now, bye." he slips nervously past her and proceeds down hall.
"Who was that, Guillermo?" Nandor's voice from his crypt.
"Jen was calling, Master. She's on her way but was delayed a few minutes. She'll be here soon!" he calls.
"Good. Bring me my hat, please."
"I'll get it, Master. I just want to tell the others, if I may."
"All right! She's not driving too fast, is she? The driving is very dangerous the television newspeople say."
"I don't think so, Master!" Guillermo calls. "She drives a lot for her work, I think she's very careful."
"Good! Ok."
"I think everyone is getting fond of Jen." Guillermo notes, pleased. "I hope we keep her a long time without dying."
…...
"Colin Robinson...We've not yet formally met. I'm the daywalking energy vampire of the group." Colin notes to Jen who smiles. Nandor, frowning as he and Guillermo stand with Colin, Jen, and Laszlo in the "fancy room". Waiting for the still-prepping Nadja...
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Robinson..." Jen nods. "I'd shake hands but the Master says I'm not to get too near to you?"
"He'd drain you." Nandor frowns. "And we have a strict agreement that he is not to drain our familiars from now on."
"Yes, no draining, Colin..." Laszlo insists.
"As long as I get the room I want, in the basement..." Colin, firmly. "Is there a room in the basement...Like a storage room or something?"
"Well, the basement is finished, mostly...There are some nice rooms that could make a stand-alone apartment..." Jen nods.
"But no storage areas, drab and lifeless, no windows?" he eyes her.
"Yes, there is storage there, a couple of rooms, cement, without windows. But I thought you were able to go out in the sun?"
"Yes, but I don't like sun. We'll see...It might do. Is there a pool?"
"Yes...A nice one." Jen nods.
"That's good. I like pools." Colin, reassured.
"What would you do with a pool? Swim?" Laszlo stares.
"Oh, yes. I love to do a dead man's float." Colin nods.
"You look very nice. Did you have a good day with your daughter?" Nandor to Jen who beams, nodding.
"Thanks, yes. Suzette had a wonderful day. Would you like to see a picture?" she holds up phone.
"Oh, let me see too..." Laszlo steps over. "Oh, she's a very lovely child. Look at that? Is that blood?"
"Facepaint. She was doing arts and crafts and got a little messy." Jen grins.
"Well, she is a delightful child. You should bring her and your husband over for dinner some evening. I give you my solemn promise they will be under my protection." Nandor nods regally. Jen beaming…
"And mine..." Laszlo, firmly.
Lets remember who the Master is here…
Jen bowing to him… "Thank you, Master. You're so kind." fond beam.
"Well, it's nothing...Gizmo will see to the human food...Right?" he turns to Guillermo…
"Guillermo, Master Laszlo...Yes, I'd be glad to. We could have it catered."
"Yes...Say, why don't we do it to celebrate the new place?" Laszlo suggests eagerly. "I mean, if all works out and I'm sure it will, with Jen handling things."
"Oh, thank you, Master." she beams.
"That sounds very good, Laszlo." Nandor, graciously. "It will be a fitting dedication of our new home...You and your very nice family will be our guests, Jen. We will have a formal reception...I will wear my old uniform of the Empire. Very colorful." he nods to her.
"That sounds wonderful..." Jen, happily. "I just hope you all like the place and we can get Ginny enthralled and working on it with me soon. But first, lets have you see it for real. I think you'll really like it."
"Ah, Nadja..." Laszlo greets the entering Nadja, clearly having worked to make an impression...Regally decked out in formal dress.
At last...He does not dare say…
"Good evening, all. Mrs. Steinecke..." gracious nod. "How is your daughter and husband?"
"Oh, they're both very well, Mistress." Jen bows. "You look lovely. Forgive me for not dressing up but I wanted to get over here quickly and it was a bit casual for us today."
"Not at all, child" gracious smile and offer of hand which Jen takes and kisses, rather pleasing Laszlo...Girl knows the proper form, unusual nowadays... "You are always very lovely. Laszlo?! Has Jennifer had something to drink or eat? She looks a bit tired."
Guillermo eyeing us with smile…
She's in…Concealed thumb's up. Wonder where she learned to do the hand kissing thing? Of course she is kinda French.
"Oh, I'm fine...Thank you so much, Mistress. You're very kind."
"I should have thought of it...Jennifer, what would you like? Gizmo?"
"Guillermo, Master Laszlo..." Guillermo corrects with sigh… "We have soda, water, wine, juice...And some snacks I keep in the kitchen fridge for...Guests."
"Well, just some juice if it's no trouble. I should go with you, Gui. He's still pretty banged up there., I don't want him hurting himself. We'll just be a minute, Master...Mistress...Master Nandor." she notes to the group, bowing slightly as she leads Guillermo out to the hallway.
"Charming girl..." Laszlo notes. "I mean, you don't see many Americans who do the proper form with aristocrats."
"She is whore. But nice whore..." Nadja waves hand. "The kissing of the hand is clever, must be that she is French."
"I agree with Laszlo...You do not see many now who know the ways of polite society." Nandor nods solemnly. "I will enjoy giving this reception in the new house with all due ceremonies befitting a general of the Ottoman Empire. I understand Mr. David, the husband, is a former military man?"
"Yes, Jen said he was a captain in the American army for a bit...Something like that." Laszlo notes.
"That is wonderful...I can discuss military affairs with him. And learn from him the strengths of the human military in this country to help secure our dominion."
…..
Jen with Guillermo in kitchen, she having fetched juice for them both…
"It's going pretty well, you think, Gui? I think Mistress Nadja is warming up to me. I mean as warm as a dead person can..." wry grin.
Guillermo, shyly smiling… "I think so. She really liked the hand kissing. Where'd you learn that?"
"Old movies...Ma grandmere was big on old movies about aristocrats...Greta Garbo and all that. They did that sort of thing and when I ask her, Grandmere Eloise said that's how the royalty and aristocracy did it, before people like her tore them down and cut their heads off."
Guillermo, a bit nervous… "You wouldn't..."
"Gui? My Master and Mistress? I'm enthralled, how could I?" she shakes head. "Don't be silly." she pats him.
"David could, if he ever found out. He's small but fierce." she notes. Guillermo staring, blinking a bit.
"Say…Gui?" she eyes him sidelong, sipping juice. "Have you ever had a girl?"
