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

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

Part L…

Nadja, in her Victorian nightgown, sitting up in the Cravensworths' crypt, at dressing table by her coffin…

"I haven't slept all the while, the remaining night and day to noon now….Laszlo!" call…

"Yes, what?" his faint return from down the hall to his post by the locked crypt door…

"Just checking…"

"Right…" faint return, barest of sighs audible…

"I was so fearful…Not even so much that he would be dead, with me to follow shortly…But…" Carefully lowering…

"What if Death brings him release? From me, I mean." Tears running now. "I never meant to harm him, I love him, even above my occasional lover, Gregor, and not a thought worry on my casuals. But what if his soul has been crying out to Van Helsing and the Slayer, begging for release?…And he blames me? So unfair…" sigh.

"All right, it would only be fair." Shrug. "I took him…Yes. I murdered him, to the human points of view." Frown. "And it was in part, selfish…I was lonely and afraid. Immortality can really suck when you are mostly alone…" shrug...

"You people may think your little spells of loneliness, isolation, and poverty are rough…Try 500 years of it. But I loved him then and I do now. Must I lose him? Not only lose physically, in this world, but with all that religious hype about an afterlife…Even in that version of eternity, when his soul rejects me as his murderess? Oh…" she put hand to mouth. "This thought torments me so…That his soul has hated me…Blames me. What?" she looks over.

"My soul? Loves him, no doubt." offhand wave. "How do I know?" frown, then ponders. "Well…I just do. Yes?" vague, wistful smile at the comment made by one of the crew, the director.

"You are very kind to say that, thank you. Perhaps he does know how his soul feels…Perhaps…" smile. "But he is very kind…And afraid of my temper. He might conceal his soul's dislike of me. But it is very kind of you to say so…" she hushes on hearing Laszlo's approach from his post by the crypt entrance…

"Hello all…" Laszlo waves. "Good morrow, here we all are, still alive and/or Undead." He moves to a cabinet against the crypt wall and opening drawer removes a metal flask and drinks…Wiping mouth.

"Well, a long night and day's journey but as yet no horde of Hunters or Slayers. Lady wife, you all alright?"

"Of course…" Nadja frowns. "Do you think I was sitting here trembling in fear like some little snit of a human, non-Gypsy woman?" Accepts flask offered by him and drains it in a nervous gulp…

Hmmn...His quick sidelong glance to camera, taking the flask as she waves it for him to take back and returning it to drawer...

"I should hope not, My Lady Cravensworth…Even if I never inherited the title officially…Hardly the stuff for a lady of your standing." Closing drawer, with fond smile her way.

"Bug off…" she glares…With sly little smile…

"Much too tired for bug, bat, or even mist…Well, I'm to bed." Laszlo groans, stretching…

"You're leaving me alone?" Nadja, annoyed but some clear fear…

"Lady wife. The place is locked tight. The new alarm system Jen had installed is on...Colin Robinson being kind enough in his sneering way to demonstrate again this morning as he left that it works just fine…."

Asshole...They eye each other, shaking heads. Just lucky Ginny came just twenty minutes later to shut it off and dealt with police.

Of course you had insisted after that first time yesterday that you understood how to shut it off over your cell phone...Laszlo naturally did not say...

"Ginny and Erika are patrolling the place like guard dogs. Martha will be here when Ginny has to leave…No doubt your Phyllis and Miss Jackie are hurrying over even now to do you service and homage. Nandor should be up soon. I really think we're well protected."

"Martha is a bit small and middle-aged, if devoted. The others must work a bit first...And Jacqueline will still be weak. Perhaps that werewolf…? She is earning her share of Jen's and Ginny's commission, right?"

"A werewolf? Guarding vampires?" Laszlo, amused at picturing the thought. "Well, I can speak to Ginny to speak to her…Eloise, right?" he turns to camera.

"Well, she ought to earn her share properly…" Nadja, insistent.

"I'll go right now and see about it…" he patted her arm.

"Ok. Then you should rest. I'll guard with the ladies and Nandor. Laszlo...?" as he turns to go. A plaintive, but sincerely wounded note…

"Ah…Of course…Sorry, dearest." Kisses her cheek.

"I love you. Truly." She pulls him back for another quick kiss. "Make sure you remind the girls to be careful. And remind Ginny that my order not to kill Van Helsing possessed enthallees stands if he should wish to speak again through one of the girls!"

"Righto and Righto! Back in a mo…"

Laszlo, camera following him down hallway of crypt…

"She's terrified, I know…Poor dear thing." He sighs.

"Yes…" sigh at comment from one of the crew… "I guessed that too. I wish I could set her fears at rest. But frankly, I've never known much about my soul, assuming I have one and it's not a lot of religious cant. I could swear I commune with myself constantly but she'd know I was lying. All I can say regards that is, so far as I know, I love her with all my Undead being, such as it is. I would think any hatred the soul might feel must bleed through, in some form I could feel, right? Unless of course it manifests itself as occasional frustration..." he ponders.

Unlocks and opens crypt door…

"Mein Master!" Erika, in her business suit, hair well-coiffed, standing by door, snapping to attention…

"Dear? You haven't been standing here all the time since we last spoke?" he eyes her.

"No, Master…" shake of lovely head… "Ginny and I have been on patrol…And I did a little cleaning and straightening up for Ms. Reynolds. And the family, when we're all out this evening…"

Uh…

"I mean the family and servants, of course, Master." Quick bow of head.

"Not at all…Not at all, dear." He beams, patting her arm. "I'm pleased if you're starting to think of us all as one family. That's lovely." She rapturously moving at his touch…

Uh…

"Sorry…I don't think I should encourage such feelings. Your lady Mistress, you know…" hasty pull back.

"Thank you, Master." She smiles a bit wistfully. "I know I mustn't cross any sexual lines, on your orders…Und the Mistress', but I do love you so. All of you, of course…But especially…" fond beam at him, eyes fixed on his.

"I'm truly flattered, Erika. Thank you." He nods. Yawning…

"You have been up all night and into today…You must rest, Master." She noted anxiously.

"In a bit, yes. But I needed to speak to Virginia for a moment. Is she upstairs...?"

"Ginny?!" Erika had already speed-dialed. "Master Laszlo needs to speak with you! Should she come?" she turned to Laszlo, phone to ear.

"No, just let me have the phone a mo…Thank you, dear. Virginia? Good morning! Hope you got a bit of rest last night? Oh, good. Busy times, eh? Yes…Uh…Mistress Nadja was wondering if you might possibly speak to Eloise? Our werewolf friend in your employ? Yes, we just wondered if she might be able to come over and assist a bit in guarding the place today. Just till we know what's what with Professor Van Helsing and co. Right. Good, good. Tell her of course I'll see something extra winds up in her account. Thank you, dear heart, but leave it to me, it's only fair she be properly compensated by us. And tell her, thanks, it's appreciated. Oh, yes…I'm off to bed and your Mistress is sitting up, arranging her toilet for the day's activities. She and Nandor will be on hand if you need them. Oh, and what is the situation with our friend the Devious one? Ah…Well, Ginny. Be very careful with him. I think it might be well to wait on meeting till one of us can be there. Ginny…" sigh. "Now, I appreciate your devotion, girl." Stern tone… "But you know how hurt Nadja would be if anything happened to you… And if we lost you now…And Simon somehow gained you…The deal is put off and we could be in serious trouble, you might even become an instrument of our destruction or even sell our fine place to him. Yes?" nod to Erika who gave anxious look… ("Oh, no…Just trying to make things clear, dear." To Erika, hand over phone.)

"Yes, Ginny. Alright, then. Good. Listen, come and sit with Nadja in a bit, would you? She's a bit anxious…Don't tell her that, just say you missed her and want to guard her closely, eh? Good, that's wonderful. Thank you so much, dear. See you this evening." He hands phone back to Erika.

"Make sure Miss Ginny doesn't too anything rash with Simon Devious. I've asked her to wait on meeting with him for one of us to be available."

"Yes, Master." Erika nodded. "That's very kind of you to be so concerned for her."

"Well…We're all family now, eh?" he smiled. "Good day, Erika. You girls or Nadja just bang on my lid if you need me…I must get myself to bed. Oh, and see Nandor gets something to drink. He's in guardian mode and probably trying to fast and all that to do his duty as commander...That sort of thing. No good to us if he's so weak he can't stand up, eh?" smile.

"I will, Master. Rest well." She beamed as he went back to crypt door.

"Lovely man…" she sighs to camera as he enters and then closes door, locking after him from the inside. "I'm truly blessed to be in his service. Tell me, you have known him some time? Is he fond of historical artifacts? I got the impression he is… I have some things of my grandfather's, from Europe, that might interest him. Hmmn…?" Frown… "No. Not everything in German history involves the Nazis you know… Unless he's very into Nazi things? I could take a quick trip and look around...There were some neoNazis in my home town...I'm sure I could obtain a few things one way or another…?"

"Erika?" Ginny, in suit, hair a bit askew, hurrying to the crypt…Clearly eager to obey Laszlo's suggestion to sit up with her Mistress…

"Can you go watch the main door? I'll stay with the Mistress and Master Laszlo. He's asked me to." Eager smile.

"Of course…Let me call the Mistress' cell to let you in…But did you speak with Eloise? And what about the office?"

"Martha and Jen know to call me on anything special…I'll check in later. Eloise said she'd come by after her 11am. I told her she could have another 50,000 from my percentage if that would help. What?" eyeing Erika's smile.

"Just a bit weird to hear you so willing to put off business and giving away money, Gin. No offense intended." Wave of hand, warm smile. "I know the feeling…"

"I've never been so happy, Erika…" brushing hair back, eager beam… "I could care less about the office, except that's it's useful to them. Of course I still expect you guys to do your jobs right. Even more so, now…" Stern look. "Though of course, you're not to ever let clients take advantage, you know…It was so wrong of me to ever let you guys think..." her weary features anxious...

"Sure, boss." reassuring smile. "Boss?" as Ginny paled and wobbled.

"I'm fine…A little tired."

"Did you eat since yesterday?"

"Not yet…There's been a lot going on…No time." Ginny shook head.

"You'd best eat something…I'll get something from the kitchen, Gui has stuff there. You can't help and your Mistress would be unhappy if you took ill from overdoing it, Gin." Erika, sternly to Ginny's attempt to wave her off.

"Fine…Just a salad or something…If my Lady doesn't mind my eating in there…"

"I'm sure it'll be fine. Just a mo and I'll go. Hello, Mistress Nadja…" she put the buzzing phone to ear… "No, nothing ist wrong, my lady. Ginny is here to stay with you and we need the door unlocked. Well, she seems rather tired, to me. And I would like to bring her some food. Yes, ma'am. I'll do that. Thanks, Mistress." Closes phone.

"She'll open up in a minute…But she wants us both to eat. That's an order, she says." Eyeing Ginny.

"She ist so sweet." Beam.

"Yeah…" Ginny, wistfully. Glancing at her companion, sidelong as they waited…"Erika?" hesistant.

"Hmmn….What?"

"You ever done the distaff?" nervously casual... "Lesbian I mean? I know European girls are a little more open to experimentation…"

Erika, eyeing her…

"I don't mean you and..." Ginny, hurriedly.

Oh...Slight blink, distressed look… "Not since college, and then only once, just to try…"

"Oh...Well, I was just…It's just…Jen said…And the Mistress kinda hinted...Well, she and Master Laszlo have kinda…Played around, within their wonderful marriage." Ginny noted, shrugging. "I know I'm not as young as she might like…But I'm not too shabby…And she and Master Laszlo never ordered me to avoid being with her. Like she did you and Jen and Master Laszlo…" careful look at Erika's stare. "So, seeing she's been so worried and distressed, I was just thinkin'...Maybe it would relax her…?"

"Ginny, I would not want to see any chance mein Master be hurt by such things." Erika, sternly. "I mean unless the Mistress has asked you…? Und he has given his approval?"

Which I had better hear from his own lips...Fixed stare, arms crossed.

"He wouldn't have to know…If he's sleeping? And only if she needs it…And wants me." Ginny, earnestly. "It'd be my duty...And pleasure..." beam, frowning at Erika's grim stare.

"If it means my Lord hurt...I will kill you right now." Erika hissed angrily. The two tensing...Then backing off at the sound of the crypt door being unlocked.

Nadja opening, eyeing the two, clearly ready for a fight to the death in their suits… "Girls? Is there something wrong?" slight nervous tone. "Tell me...Ginny?" stern tone...But glancing about anxiously.

"Erika threatened me if I tried to...Ease your nerves, Mistress." frown at Erika, Ginny brushing hair back and giving slight move to enhance her figure under her suit.

"Ma'am...I cannot let Master Laszlo be hurt." Erika, sternly. "With all respect to you, Mistress. He loves you so...I could not let him suffer pain."

"What?" Nadja eyes the two… "Why would Laszlo be…? Ah..." nod, eyeing the eagerly staring Ginny. Smile to Erika…

Loves me, eh? And his slave would know….

"No, child...That is not necessary. Nor fair to Master Laszlo since he foreswore sex with his own servants. Though I appreciate the offer." gracious nod. "The order on no sex applies to you too, with me, all right?"

"Yes, Mistress..." sigh. "If it be your will..." Ginny, regretfully. "Thank you Mistress..." Erika, pleased. "I know the Master will appreciate it."

"It does be… Though I am sure I would have enjoyed it." Nadja patted Ginny who cooed and stretched a bit at her touch. Erika frowning again...

Hmmn… Poor girl seems a bit...

"Virginia? When was the last time you had the sex?" Nadja, carefully eyeing her. "I think you should see your boyfriend the professor this evening….Have him over to dinner."

Zeller Properties…

Colin at his cubicle desk, eyeing the computer screen before him…

"Everything seems to have gone through ok..." he notes to a weary-looking Gwen, seated across from him. As yet unthralled, mainly due to his steady draining imperiling her life if bled...

"Good...Nice work." she smiled wanly.

"Thanks...Just a matter of having the paper in place. Keeping good records… Knowledge is power, they say." thin smile.

"Yeah..." nod. "I think I'll get some coffee, I'm still kinda pooped." she noted.

"Oh, let me...But maybe you should go home, Gwen? You look all in. There's some flu or something going around the office, the other girls say." he smiled at her.

"I'm ok...Thanks..." as he rose.

She really should...He notes to camera. "Getting a bit overdrained...I'm trying to pace myself but I can't help feeling all this young energy pulsing and it's hard to hold back. I'll speak to Jen and see if she can't get her to take a sick day. In the meantime..." he looks over to where a rather bright and energetic Billie was seated in her cubicle.

Nothing like a spunky red-head to top oneself off...

"Billie? Did you consider that spreadsheet upgrade I mentioned last week?" he smiles at her, pausing…

Jen, in Ginny's office…

"Had some things to catch up on...And I think Gin wanted a chance to watch over Mistress Nadja today..." she noted. "Confidentially...I think she was a little spooked by Dr. Van Helsing's possession the other night..." pause, wan smile, brushing back her long blonde hair. "I get it, it was a little unnerving...Though I really don't remember any of it, much as I try."

"Anyway, nothing new on the Vampire Hunter front...The deal on the new place is just about set, though we still need a buyer for the old. Hopefully Ms. Reynolds will decide on it today or tomorrow...Frankly I kinda dislike the idea of trying to sell it to Mr. Devious. He sounds dangerous plus I don't like the idea he might desecrate the Master's old home. Chop down his topiary garden or worse..." sigh. "I know Gin wants to just kill him but devoted as we enthrallees all are, I dunno if we're up to taking a vampire and his guys. Adrenalin rush and all that's great but..." shrug. "Still, we'll do anything to protect our Overlords, natch. One sec..." she puts up a finger, taking buzzing phone. "Yeah, Jen Steinecke here...Hi, yeah….Ginny's with a client but I can deal with anything..."

Eloise in her cubicle, reviewing some notes and entering to her keyboard…

"Hey...Just one min...Ok..." she swings round.

"Yeah, Gin asked me to do some guard duty at the Cravensworth place today and I'll be heading over in a sec..." smile… "Guess they need the super in supernatural, huh? Gin offered me another 50G on top of what Mr. C is throwing my way, but I won't take advantage of a colleague in thrall...10000 maybe, but that'll cover a week till they move. I think that's fair, given I am a single mom and all. Hmmn?..." she eyes camera…

"Well, true...No moon...But if it's a do-or-die, I'll be riled enough to flip over. After all the moon is out somewhere at any time of day...Just like the sun, huh? So our vamp guys can get around by day, they just have to keep in the dark. With us, it's more a hormones, adrenalin sort of thing. Flight or fight, ya know? I'll be up for it if things get rough. Say, have you guys seen Phyllis? She missed an appointment this morning, canceled almost at the last min. Not like her, though I suppose these days..." shrug. "But I thought she might have gone to the place to watch over Mrs. C. Mistress and all..." frown. "Catch me groveling before some vamp, no way...Though don't get me wrong..." hand raised. "I've gotten to like them, nice bunch of folks more or less, for the vamp sort. Well, I'll get moving...Want to earn my kids' college fund, eh?" smile. "But if you happen to see Phyl in her travels, just remind her she still has a job here to do? And you know, we have a rep to maintain here. Thanks." beam. Coy smile, pausing… "Say, maybe you'll get a chance to see the K-girl in action, huh? I am impressive when I get goin'...Business or battle."