Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar...
Part XXX...
Laszlo, in the, more or less, living room of the old residence...
"Such a lovely evening, Jen reading to us...Dickens, very fine modern writer...And look what a nice job she did with my socks..." holds feet up.
"That girl is a wonder and a treasure. Imagine her going to all the trouble of learning the art of darning for us. Well, of course, if I asked her to murder her own child and then stab herself repeatedly, she'd do it but still in her normal day's course she has rather recovered a measure of her independence...The balancing act all long-term enthrallees must do to keep their sanity. But once they do, you can see the differences and what basic character contributes." nod.
"Now Ginny, she's a fine slave and all, don't get me wrong. Utterly devoted to the lady wife and working herself very hard to get our new residence secured...Quite willing to let us take anyone of her staff, even her daughters if we so choose. But you can sense she's recovered a bit of her old business acumen, which of course for us right now is all to the good, and is tending to focus on what she likes to do, in our service, certainly but...I would guess if Nadja asked her to say, bake bread, while she'd do it and burn her hands off trying if it came to that, it wouldn't quite be with the real zest Jen puts into such things."
Deprecating smile...
"Well...Everyone has their favorites in the family...Daughters, familiars. I mean, for Nandor, much as I think he's enjoying having a couple of adoring females in his crew, Gizmo is still the familiar he's fondest of, in his own way." Smile...Then slight frown...
"Perhaps I was a bit abrupt with the boy the other evening. I was distracted, sensing that bastard Gregor reincarnated and about...I mean the lad didn't mean to annoy...Well..." shrug... "Terrify...Me with those Amazonian stakes. I'll say something to him to put it right tonight. I know he means well." Wave of hand.
"But let me tell you how much I enjoyed the session with the professor from the Historical Society..." he begins, beaming.
Cut to Nadja, frowning...
"Dullsville, as they say on the television. Two hours of those two in the office going on about how wonderful it was that the grounds were so well preserved...And how important it is to preserve the place for Posterity...And then they go off discussing the Roman Empire? Eh..." wave of hand. "I was ready to rip both their heads off after one hour. Still, it went well, I suppose it is good they got on. Ginny tells me this sort of group can make life hell for a homeowner if you get them on their wrong side. And far too many to kill easily. Though whatever little plans Laszlo and Nandor are making for playing soldier in these what?...Reenactments of battles? I will put my foot down and my fangs out over having my nice new home overrun with dirty soldiers, even pretend ones." Sigh...Faint smile...
"Still, it was so beautiful the other night, to hear that Laszlo has been destroying Gregor all these centuries out of jealousy and the devoted husband thing...I mean, not that I want Gregor eternally or constantly destroyed, poor lamb. It's just, after all these centuries...Well...It's the feeling as that Irish guy Joyce has his wife character say in that long book? Yes." Smile. "I am a lucky girl. No word of that to Laszlo, you know." Cautioning finger raised.
"Oh, this is the color I've picked with Ginny and Jen for the new curtain blinds in the living room and bedrooms." She pulls over a bookof fabric samples. "Aren't they lovely? We are all so excited now, I just hope Colin Robinson doesn't screw things up with the finances just to get us frustrated. But he's been stuffing himself at Ginny's office all week and he likes the new pool at our new home, so...I think we're ok there."
She holds out nails, newly manicured. "I had a manicure and pedicure the othernight, at a place Jen uses...I've not had one for years. Didn't they do a fine job? She works such a tight schedule she's found such late open places to keep up her appearance for work. Very hard working girl, she is, though I hope she'll be taking it easier now that these sales are bringing her so much. Her little one needs her, and she has such a nice husband in David, from what she's told us of him." Thoughtful nod...
"Now I need to help Ginny find a good fellow. The professor, Roy, is not seeming a bad man,even a little more colorful than I expected, though not when he and Laszlo get talking. Ginny says she is rather fond of him but not sure if he's right for her..." shrug. "I suspect she's hesitant after her dreadful ex-husband who will one day answer to me." grim look.
"Hard to know if I should push her in this. Well, Laszlo does like him and it would give him some interesting evenings allowing me a little free time. I should question him...I just hope he's not married or seeing someone else. That I would not be happy about. Though Ginny is so lovely, he would be fool to pass on her." Slight impish grin.
"Speaking of lovely girls...Guillermo seems to be attracting several of our new minions. Of course, naturally as we have given him authority from us over them, they can't help but see him as invested with some of our power but I think Susan and my Phyllis are very fond of him." Smile, then slight sigh...
"Poor Phyllis, I did really botch the job there, though she has been settling down somewhat." wave of hands...Ah, well... "I've asked Jen and Ginny to keep reminding her that maintain a normal attitude is essential to serving me well and it seems to have helped calm her. I do think Susan a better match for Guillermo, they are closer in age, though normally, to be frank...She's far too beautiful for him. I say that only with concern for their future. Though, with some help from us, he could be a modern prince or mogul type, in terms of wealth or position, easy. And after all, I went with Laszlo, a handsome man but not the most handsome in the world, to be frank again...Never say that to him." Grim look. "But the most loving...And that makes him the most handsome..." fond beam.
"Perhaps that's all that's required and as long as Susan is enthralled for life, well, she should be able to appreciate him. Although...Jen does insist she is the type who can appreciate a good guy. Anyway, is difficult. And with the other hand, I do think he could be good for Phyllis, he is the sweet and insecure type who would be grateful for her devotion, yet she is older and might be better with a more experienced man. Well, I will have Ginny and Jen watch them all and see how things go. Perhaps the boy will choose experience over young beauty and Phyllis is lovely in any case." Sly smile... "Poor boy, he must be out of his wits with these lovely girls all pursuing him. Even Jen considered offering herself to him, she told me. But chose to be his friend once she settled down in her new life." Pondering... "I really should have Laszlo counsel him. And warn him not to hurt any of them." Hard stare. "But he is sweet boy, really, in heart, he'll be fine." Pulls fabric book back...
"Now see what I'm thinking of for the bedsheets and coverslets..."
...
Evening, the Fieldersen estate...
"Well, Eloise and I are here to see how things are at night, before we move to close." Jen explains as she walks, with flashlight, over grounds, Eloise beside her. Both casually dressed, Jen in sweatshirt and jeans, Eloise in "The SI Rules" t-shirt, jeans, dungaree jacket. Jen carrying extra large open purse.
"We've taken the precautions to make sure I'll be seen as family when Ellie does her transformation thing, if the moon does come out, given the clouds...So I should be fine." Applying a shot of spray then returning the bottle to her bag.
"Oh, yeah...It's cool there." Eloise notes. "I'll protect her against anything we come across as well."
"And the fence will protect the security guards who only patrol around it on the outside...And we gave them instructions not to come inside for any reason tonight." Jen nods. "Should be ok. And I have a stake, crucifix, wolfbane...And silver cross. And a pistol and crowbar for any vagrants or zombies, just in case we get separated while Ellie's patrolling round." wry shrug. "Look at me, a couple of weeks ago the big menace for me was some client getting closer than I'd like and getting Susie's spinach off my blouse. Now I'm Jen the Zombie Slayer/Vampire's Minion. But that's life, right?"
Fond smile... "Master Laszlo was so sweet to be so concerned for me. He wanted to come actually, but we persuaded him it would be better if I could carry implements against any rogue vampires hanging around on the grounds. I couldn't bear it if some accident happened or if he got harmed in a fight."
"And she has me, the best protection you can get..." Eloise chimes in. "Though so far, so good...Not even a human scent and I can pick em up miles away."
"I really hope though we don't run into any vampires." Jen sighs. "I mean, yes, no rogue groups should be encroaching on the Master's property, say some of Simon Devious' people? But to kill the Master's kind would be...Well, a little hard. Say,Ellie...?"
Eloise, looking over to her...
"You ever run into aliens? There's been a lot of talk about UFOs being real recently. I wonder how we'd handle them...?"
"Nope. But I'm thinkin'...Barbeque sauce if they give us any trouble." Smile.
"Uh, guys...?" to camera. "I wanna go start markin' our territory here, so as to warn off any other werewolf groups pokin' in later on? A girl likes a little privacy?" Coy smile.
