What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."

Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar…

Part XXVI…

Ginny's office-midafternoon…

"Awwwwh…Sorry, I'm not used to these hours." Laszlo notes, stretching a bit as he yawns.

"Anyway, alls gone reasonably well. The initial offer by us was accepted, for eight point seven millions, and now just a matter of having the place inspected and hoping all transactions hold up well. Also there's a bit of to do with the Staten Island Historical Preservation Society who want to have a representative meet with us to discuss the obligations we'd be taking on with the place, keeping it up properly and all that. Nadja finds it irritating to be told what she can do with house and grounds but as Ginny says they aren't much interested in the interior of the house as it's fairly modern construction, I say, why not keep up standards? I mean who better to respect History than Immortals, right? Nandor feels the same way, expect he wants to reserve the right to carry out military maneuver exercises on the grounds should he ever wish to gather an army, at least for practice, keep up his skills as a general, that sort of thing. Now that he has the land for it. Fine by me as long as it doesn't mess the grounds up too much. Jen suggested we could ask about Revolutionary War reenactments, the Society might actually be pleased to help us do some of those here. I didn't know about that one, I'd assumed Britain let these colonies go. Might be interesting to read up on it." Shrug.

"Interesting how my quest for one familiar has wound up giving us a brace of them…Nandor now has three, Susan, Martha, Guillermo. Though of course Susan and Martha were not volunteers, though they seem very devoted to him. I rather think they fancy him and even Nadja is behaving a bit annoyingly ever since he donned that new suit Jen got him. Mine suits me far better, I don't know why she's suddenly finding him so attractive…" frown.

"Nadja may complain about me but she seems rather pleased to have two familiars herself now, Ginny of course, our hostess today, who made this deal possible, and Phyllis, rather a botched job if you ask me. Nadja just lacks the instinctive touch with enthrallment, she ought to go with Nandor's way of measuring out a proper amount of blood to feed. Still, she did do a fine job with Miss Virginia, our Ginny. And my Jen does feel Phyllis' current emotional disturbances are playing a role. Seems the poor woman's had a rough time with men…A couple of divorces…Somewhat abusive boyfriends…Nadja's quite upset with the latest, bad luck for him if she catches up with him, all I'll say there. But the woman's just a bit too obsessive and clinging, not to mention she doesn't seem to care for me much…Overly jealous of her mistress, it seems. But at least she's not gone totally daft and started eating rats or bugs or something." Wry smile.

"Of course Nadja, for all her 'You must never threaten my husband' and all, is relishing it. But it won't be too comfortable for me if dear Phyl takes up any householding duties. I've seen minions like her before. I'll be worrying about 'accidents' ('Oh, sorry Master Laszlo's blackened ashes, I didn't realize I'd left the window open') all the time, and no doubt she'll be forever spying, trying to get some dirt on me. One minor flirtation and it'll go right back to the lady wife with dire consequences. Hardly fair, really. Does Jen ever spy for me on her? Never…" sigh. "Well, lets hope Phyllis remains strictly an office drudge slave. Frankly none of us wants too many humans cluttering up the place, no offense."

"And of course I now have dear Jen and Erika. Erika, a very nice girl, taken rather by accident while feeding. But she seems very content with her new lot and really, as I keep pointing out to the lady wife, as Jen had asked her to help with the sale of our place, we'd likely have had to take her at some point. She's quite suitable, a European of Bavarian extraction, here since college fifteen years and long divorced from her husband, a college romance that sadly did not go well long run. Since she recently broke with her latest boyfriend and had been living along anyway, a perfect choice." Nods.

"So quite the little human family already…" smile. "If we can just keep most of them off doing their own business, should be rather nice at parties and such. Extra help and all that. Though I doubt Nadja would like me having Jen and Erika and Ginny dress up as French maids…" reflecting, a bit downcast.

"And then there's this matter of this 'Gregor' fellow, whoever he may be or have been. I know I can't grudge Nadja having fond memories of some former lover…But he sounds rather up front and living from the tone of her cries in that well when we were facing bitter death by dawn."

Pondering… "I wonder if I should ask Jen to see what she can learn. A very capable girl at getting things out of people and so very discreet even Nadja would have trouble guessing what Jen was up to."

"I was a little nervous, I have to say, at seeing all these new familiars joining Jen and me, at one time…" Guillermo eyes camera while standing watching with serious air, Susan and Martha at their respective cubicle and receptionist's desk in the outer office area. "But Mistress Nadja and Master Laszlo agreed with Master Nandor that I should be in charge of the human staff. So, here I am, in charge." Beaming smile.

Cut to Nandor…

"I told Martha and Susan to heed Guillermo in the office earlier when Jennifer suggested it, but quietly, to check with me on any serious matters. Guillermo can get confused very easily, I've noticed, so I warned them to be ready to step in for him. Truly thoughtful girl, Miss Jen…So many familiars get obsessive and jealous of their owners and in a larger family, such as ours has become, it can lead to problems…But she seems very unegotistical and sincerely caring for others. She has worked hard to build up Guillermo's self-confidence and to defer to him. Very warm-hearted of her…Even if induced under mind-control…"

…..

"The Mistress says I should speak with you and tell you of the joy and wonder I feel at becoming her familiar and absolutely devoted slave…" Phyllis, a trifle wild-eyed as she sits in her cubicle in the outer office, nervously glancing to see Nadja with Laszlo and Ginny.

"That bastard…No, I must not speak of my Lady's husband that way, she ordered it so…But I know the type, like my ex-s, girls all over the place, think they're God's gift to women or female vampires." Frown. "But I must learn to love Master Laszlo, and I will…I will…" she insists.

"Master Nandor seems kinda nice, a bit shy, really…Erika says he's Eastern European or further East, maybe from Turkey or Iran." Smile. "Very gentlemanly guy, it was really nice the way he was worried about Susie. I wonder if the Mistress would consider taking him for a husband and letting me expose Master Laszlo to the sun or something. Does the staking thing really work, like on 'Buffy'?" pauses at seeing a few drops of blood on sleeve of blouse.

"I should really get some spot remover on that…"

….

Susan, from her cubicle eyeing Guillermo up at the front of the outer office…

"So I guess he's our new boss, sorta…I mean under the Master and when we're not here, workin' under Ginny. Though I should point we're more or less private contractors here…Naturally Zeller takes its share from our commissions."

Carefully looking Guillermo over…

"He does seem nice. Jen says he can teach us a lot about vampiral servicing and all that. Naturally I want to do all I can, the right way. I truly love Master Nandor…" fond expression on her lovely face. "He was so kind when I took ill after he drained me. He was really worried, I could tell. And Jen says he's very kind to Gui… So, I wasn't quite clear on things…Do I need to start the process of breaking my lease and planning to move in with my Master and overlords? I guess when it's quiet I can check with Gui. Thank God I'm not in any serious relationship right now. I don't think I'd take losing Dick very hard even if I weren't so fond of the Master. I don't know how Jen does it, I don't see how you can bear to be living with some ordinary guy when you're the adoring slave of a powerful creature like the Master or Master Laszlo. Still, she seems to feel she serves him better this way…And David is a nice guy and Suzette's the sweetest lil' thing." She pauses, looking wan. "Think I better drink some more water…" takes swig from bottle on desk.

"I mean it will be a hard place to maintain without a good-sized staff and in college I waited tables and did cleaning work, so I could be a bang-up maid when not needed here. Oh, better do this later…" As Gwen, looking a bit less wan, comes over.

"Are you guys doing this with everybody or what?" she asks, staring at camera.

"They just wanted to ask about how things were going with the deal on Fieldersen since Jen went out to deliver the papers."

"Why doesn't she just scan em and send?" Gwen shrugs.

"This is such a big one, Gwen." Susan, solemnly. "So important to the Ma…Cravensworths, I think she felt she had to be sure things keep moving."

"Grass never did grow under her feet, that girl." Gwen, shaking head. "Well, I'd better get back and see if that temp Colin's reconfigured my computer."

"He seems nice…" Susan, slight smile, a bit wan…Taking another swig of water.

"Yeah…A little on the beige side, though…But nice enough. We can work together…" nod.

"Maybe more…You ought to ask him out." Susan, urging…

"Please…Though if he should suggest goin' for coffee, I might not say no." pause. "You ok, Sue? You look tired."

"Kinda…" sigh. "I even had to rescheldule my three o'clock. I'm just not up to it. Probably a bit of cold plus my anemia. Mr. Relentless was really sweet about noticing I wasn't feeling too well. And Ginny too." Nod.

"Really…He does seem nice. Say what's up with Phyl? She's getting a piece of one of these now? And Angie said she nearly bit her head off when she brought some papers in to Ginny."

"Phyl…" shrug. "You know… Probably trouble with that last jerk…Or her kid."

"Lets hope the drama ends soon. Though if she's getting anything, I should have as much right…I've worked like a dog on these transfers. And feeling it too."

"I'm sure they'll take care of you, Gwen." Susan smiles.

"Lets hope so…Awwh…" yawn. "Maybe I'm catching what you got." Gwen notes.

"Something like it, I'm sure. I think it's going round the office."