What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."
Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar…
Part LXVII…
Nandor in his crypt, seated by coffin in battle uniform sans armor, sword at the ready, to camera…
"Yes, I am troubled by the plight of this foolish young lady, granddaughter times who knows to our natural foe. I cannot conceive why Van Helsing has not possessed her and made her flee or better yet, had her kill Devious or summoned his people to rescue her from his clutches. I suppose it could be a clever stratagem?" he ponders. "She deceiving Simon to gain his confidence, though why wait to kill him? But if this is for our Redemption, please, Doctor..." anxious cry to the walls. "Do not risk your dear granddaughter of many times for us…Or rather, our souls." Eyes camera, shrugging. "We met them the other night by the way, purely by accident involving our dearly beloved gypsy slut and her ancient ghost boyfriend with whom she has cheated on Laszlo, with his awareness, it seems, for centuries." Rolling eyes…Modern couples…In my day, if one of my thirty-seven wives had made the whoopie with another fellow…The divorce, permanent style…(Cut to shot of sword swooshing down).
Slight sly smile… "Well, perhaps not all of them…Irena could always get around me. And it could get very boring for them, awaiting my return from battle and mass slaughter."
"Anyway, the Souls manifested and each claimed unfinished business but made no mention of Redemption or Van Helsing or why they have been appearing to us in various objects such as mirrors and windows. Nadja has persuaded hers to stay on, claiming to wish to talk, but secretly to learn more from them." Sigh… "I know it's assumed souls are your innocent and trustworthy side but in fact they can be deceptive and all are very confusing as well as multidimensional, so concerned with more than the earthly plane…Though we seemed to be meeting the more earthly plane aspect the other night. Laszlo's was strictly concerned with self-gratification…" frown. "As I might have expected…Jen and Miss Jacqueline, our new maid/enthrallee, poor girls, have been spending hours cleaning his 'mess' from the ceiling. Exoplasm, my ass." Glare. "Still, it is strange they would not give us mention of Van Helsing. Nadja believes they are afraid we would intervene to stop Redemption and that they wished to lull us into the untrue sense of security."
Frown… "One's soul should be honest with one. Still it was a delight to meet mine and to see our horse, John, again." Sudden blink.
My dear…OW!... "Damn! I was only thinking the word, G…OWW!" he cries. "Hmmmn…Anyway, this could be important. My John manifesting now…He always used to come charging riderless into the battle when he sensed me in danger, after I would go on on foot to share the danger with my infantry. They like that, you know…The general showing he is willing to march on foot with them. It can be risky if they think you've been killed rather than fallen or stopped to take a piss, even fatal of course and was, to me, once, but…Yes, John is here to rescue me and my Soul. He senses the danger…Hmmn? Oh, I don't know…Eternal Damnation of Soul and Essence, perhaps?" ponders.
"Yes, our Souls were feeling us out…Laszlo's quite literally." Frown. "Still, our Laszlo Cravensworth agrees with me. We must learn more from them and from the Devious One about his negotiations with our enemy…Frienemy? Is that how they say it? Friend/enemy? Yes."
"I wish Guillermo were here. He may be poorly educated and rather slow but his mind is open to possibilities and he has the vivid imagination. I should call him in Mexico today. I can just say I am his project, old geratric man patient Nandor Relentless, calling for him because I cannot find my senility medications." Smiles. "I hope he and Miss Susan are enjoying beautiful Mexico…I was never there, no, but I saw that on a poster in a movie in the 1940s. I should go speak to Nadja and see if her soul in doll has confessed anything important. Excuse me, always very nice talking with you. Make sure Jacqueline serves you coffees and teas." He rises straight up, then heads out of crypt, walking.
Colin, smiling thinly as he passes in the hall. "Hey buddy."
"Colin Robinson." Bow.
"If I didn't know him for an idiot…" Colin muses to self.
…
Residence kitchen…
Jen, in work jeans and old blouse, putting away cleaning bucket and mop and sponges as she talks to camera. Jacqueline, in maid's outfit, hair bunned, the picture of a proper old-style housemaid, happily serving coffee to her and camera crew.
"So, weird one…The guys' souls appeared to them last night. And in Master Laszlo's case left a little calling card. Eehew." Wincing smile.
"Though, frankly…Well, I shouldn't get into that, you know my orders from him and Lady Nadja regards sex. And much as I would so love to…" sigh, wistful smile. "I'm ok, just find myself day-dreaming at times." Mock frown. "God, I'm gonna have to soak in bleach and shower ten times to get this smell off me before I go home."
"Can I get you anything else, Miss Jen?" Jacqueline asks politely.
Jen eyeing her content and beaming face…
Whoa…
She has really taken to this new career…
"No, thanks, Jackie. It's great coffee by the way." Taking sip.
"Thank you, ma'am. Ummn, Sirs, miss…?" Jacqueline addresses the crew, demure smile. "Would you folks like anything else? I'll be making lunch about noon, my Lady requested that I ask you if there's anything special you'd like?"
Jen eyeing camera crew as two offered requests…
"That'll be fine. I'll see to it." Jacqueline nodded. "Let me know if I can get any of you anything. I'll be cleaning upstairs till I go out at eleven for some groceries. Miss Jen? Just let me know if you need any help?"
"Uh, sure, Jacks. It's just Jen, though."
"My Lady regards you as almost a daughter, Miss." Jacqueline carefully. "It wouldn't be right for me to be so casual."
"I see…Well, fine…Ok. Whatever the Mistress wants." Jen agrees.
"Yes, Miss." Jacqueline turns to grab a bag of cleaning items and heads out of the kitchen, Jen staring after her.
"Wow. That is not Jackie Williams, the one I knew." Shakes head. "Quite an improvement, I have to say. Real Downton Abbey style. But I don't want to be mean." Jen sighs.
"Maybe she always wanted to be a servant, deep down…Who knows?" shrug.
"Nice of Lady Nadja to call me a daughter…Though really, she didn't have to urge Jacks to treat me so formally. Sweet of her, though. I guess I'm really in with her in spite of a rocky start. That's so nice." Warm beam.
Pause. "So…We still don't know what the souls were really up to last night, they said nothing about Dr. Van Helsing or why they've been appearing round the house…And there's no new word from Gui or Sue in Mexico. They found his aunt pretty sick but still able to talk with him, no suggestion as yet that there's anything really 'secret instructions' or mission beyond that, though Sue is promising to keep a close watch on Gui, and that strange doctor, to be sure he's safe. I mean…" she sighs. "I wouldn't think the Overlords would lie to us unless it was to protect us or them. And neither Gin nor I nor any of us would dream of interfering in some plan of theirs. It's just, we can't help being concerned that this is something Gui's up to on his own or that he volunteered or something and we just want to know if we can help in any way." Wan smile… "Hey, maybe that suggests we're not total zombies, right? We still think a bit independent, like Gin did the other day with Devious."
"The romance ain't moving much either there…Poor Gui…He just can't accept that Sue loves him, yes, as a result of thrall, but still, there's gotta be more attracting her. I mean, yes, I love Gui…And yes, if he'd asked or encouraged me…Well…Who knows? But I'm not the one following him to Mexico and for me right now, he's more like my sweet big brother, my best bud." Fond smile. "I'd so love to see them get together…But let things take their course. Anyway, I may as well tell you what happened yesterday, in Poughkeepsie…" She takes seat, sipping coffee.
"This really is good, isn't it? Who knew Jackie Williams, homemaker type."
Slight wince at camera person's remark…
"That's a bit…Mean? Stepford Wife? Miss, I know you think we've just slaves but… No, you don't have to apologize. I get how it looks from your pov. But haven't you ever loved anyone so much you'd do anything for them? Including trying to lead a better…"
Stare… "I appreciate that." Stern tone. "But if you're so concerned about women being mistreated and abused, which I can tell you I personally am not, you probably should be toting a stake and in Van Helsing's crew." Sigh. "Sorry, really…Just, lets not get all censorious, after all, aren't you people exploiting us too? For profit, I understand?" eyeing the woman firmly.
Sigh. "Sorry, that was mean, I guess. But lets not go there on how we should rise up, so long as you're not quite ready to go to bat for us, huh? You're doing your job and documenting all this, we're living ours and doing what we can for the people we love."
Nod to remark…
"I'm sure you would, if you really thought us in danger…" Jen staring at the suddenly weeping woman.
"What? I'm sorry…What did I…?"
The crew director briefly explains the terms of their agreement with the Overlords…
"Yeah, I'd heard from Master Laszlo…Very Star Trek with the non-interference…Oh, honey…" Jen shakes head at the once again teary female crew member. "Well, maybe this will save lives, you know? I didn't mean to jump on you. Is is all right if I give her a hug?" she rises.
Hugging woman… "Really, none of this is your fault. You'd all be dead if you'd interfered. And really, it might save other people one day. Don't worry about it." Patting.
"Thanks…" nod to the director. "I promise not to step out of bounds again. Where were we?"
She nods to the director's reply… "Right, Poughkeepsie…The Souls…And what they may want. Hard to believe souls might lie, huh? But they probably were concealing things from the Overlords. Though why they showed last night at all…? Neither Ginny nor I nor any of the Masters and Mistress could figure it, except it seemed to have to do with that fellow…The guy Master Laszlo has been killing..." Proud gleam… "Who tries to make time with Lady Nadja every so often over the eons…Strange."
Smile… "I mean strange they showed, not strange a guy might try for Lady Nadja. But my Las…Lord…Doesn't allow that. David would be the same, I'm sure." Somewhat distraught look away… "And I'll never take a chance like that again…David being mortal." She breathes hard.
"I guess I should thank you know who for Master Laszlo being so kind and so in love with our Lady. Anyone else, no problem, I'm off that kick even for business, though I think Davy and Laszlo don't mind that I'm kind to guys, nice ones…Shy ones. But never again with the rest…" a tear running. "Sorry, excuse me…" she rises. "I'll be back in a second. No, no…Nothing you did…" wan smile. "Just me…"
…
"And I'm back…" Jen, smiling, seated again. "Sorry, I got a bit emotional…What? Oh, thank you." Warm smile. "That's really sweet. But it was me and I can't even use thrall to excuse before… Yeah, I hope I would've, in time. I really was anxious to do well for them. Just maybe a little too anxious." Sheepish grin. "Honestly, thanks, Evie…"
Oh…As director insists on restoring the modified fourth wall…
"It's not her fault, it's mine. I shouldn't have stepped over the line. I really won't do it again, I promise. But thanks, really guys. So, Poughkeepsie. I went up yesterday afternoon to Dr. Acura's place. Nice but nothing special, really…I could do something for him in Manhattan, I'm sure. Anyway, the girl was there, the adopted daughter, Althea? Nice kid, about sixteen, I think, very pretty, very bright…Told her I was a friend of a friend of her dad's, Guillermo, namely, and he'd referred me if they should ever be considering moving, etc, etc. I think she'd like to live closer to school, but she loves Poughkeepsie, she said…Near the FD Roosevelt place and all, she's a history buff. I didn't press for an invite in, she seemed the type warned on strangers and I agree for a teen girl, though there was a housekeeper there. Now, she was the real person of interest…She knew there was something about me, gave me quite the evil eye. I think she had a crucifix under her blouse and was holding it ready if I'd tried to come in. It's pretty clear she's some sort of guardian for the girl and maybe the doctor dad too. She gave me the once-over and let Althea talk to me but she knew something. Sensed I wasn't quite right, you know?" smile. "Say, you think…She didn't quite give the familiar vibe but…Anyway, that's the other news…Though now, I can't believe we didn't catch on…" shakes head.
"But it didn't hit me till I was reading the mailbox after I gave the kid my card and headed out with ole…Well, the woman couldn't have been more than thirty-five, but she was still giving me the ole gimlet-eyes… 'Dr. Phillipe Acura'."
Guys? Grinning stare.
"Dracula…He just dropped the L. Now the books say his name was Vlad or Volgode or something Romanian like that but he must have just changed it. Unless of course he's a descendant like that Lesley of Van Helsing's family. Ginny nearly fell on her face when I told her, it was so right in front of us. She wasn't quite sold right away but I called Master Laszlo and he agreed immediately. Master Nandor's ole frienemy, the most famous vampire ever…" sigh.
"Of course then Ginny was all… 'Why didn't you grab the kid and make her talk, she's probably his cow or his real descendant or the real Drac's reincarnated wife or something'…Well, Gin, I said…First, the kid's black so probably not his real daughter or descendant, though I guess she could be his wife reborn. Master Laszlo liked that." Smile. " 'Yes, the Count might be a hero of Redemption, but he's still perverse old Vlad'. He's going to tell Nandor tonight, I guess he's planning to make it a practical joke." Wince. "I hope he knows what he's doing…I mean I know he does but…" sigh. "Then too we agreed we should get a report from Guillermo as to what Dracula is doing down there in Mexico." Sigh again.
"And of course Gin was all 'Oh, geesh, the guy's gone to free Sue and use her to kill the Mistress and our Lords and poor Gui. We'd better catch the first flight south.' But Master Laszlo and I calmed her down and pointed out he could really just be a friend of Aunt Rosa…Oh, by the way, Sue texted that the poor lady passed this afternoon…I'm so sorry for Gui, she says he was ok, they're staying for the funeral tomorrow and some legal things now. I told her about Dracula and Sue the smart ass was all 'Well, duh, I figured him for a vamp the first day.'" Grin.
"But a vamp who can walk about in daylight, Susie…Who so far as our guys know was never a daywalker like Colin Robinson. And one who really is an MD, is respected in his profession, and has a nice teenaged daughter and a house in Poughkeepsie?"
Shrug…
"I think Master Laszlo was almost a bit disappointed. He's being reading up on 'Dracula' too, the book and the movies. And here's our Count, unless he is just a descendant, a nice doc with a kid and a house and all that." Smile, then serious…
"But he's obviously up to something in cahoots with Dr. Van Helsing his ole pal, the man who helped him redeem himself. Probably owes him and wants to see the work done or is acting to clear his ancestor's debt. Makes sense, right? Ginny agrees but of course she thinks Mexico might be where the action is. I persuaded her though it might be a deception to get us to leave…After all, with most of us, the enthrallees, gone off to Mexico, the Overlords could be attacked by Van Helsing's people with less fear they'd have to harm us." Shrewd look, nod.
"We know they're concerned in part for us, though Master Laszlo says Vampire Hunters rarely worry a lot about human familiars and minions except as sources of intelligence on their prey. Still, the Doctor appeared to be concerned for us and I think we'll be wise to hang close with the Masters and Mistress. Sort of human shields, you know?"
She put up hands… "It probably won't come to that. I'm just saying."
…
Laszlo, pacing crypt, in new modern suit and old waistcoat…The new cloth's wonderful but I rather like a good ole waistcoat underneath.
He thinks it hides his stomach…Nadja interjects, later, in the living room, with smile, from her seat on couch, a large doll with black hair beside her. "Oh, I think his girth makes him look very substantial…" the doll notes, with smile.
Hmmn…Nadja frowning… My Soul is getting rather too fond of my…My, the Vampire Essence's husband.
Back to Laszlo, previous… "So, thanks once again to my dear Jen…" warm smile… "We have another piece of the puzzle. Dracula…Or possibly his descendant but I would say the Unman himself…Is working with Van Helsing to destroy us. Well… 'Help' us from your pov and probably his. Though I would imagine it amuses the old boy."
Pause, shrewd look…
"Still, we know he is Mexico, with Gizmo and Susan. Why being the question? Now Ginny, a very clear-eyed, clever girl, wondered if it might be a deception to get our human minions lured away, chasing after the Big Bad (Good, yes from your pov, I know), while Van Helsing's Hunter Corps strikes." He ponders.
"Not a bad thing and Jen agrees it would be dangerous to send away our people. They might indeed wish to get our girls away and hit us without danger to them. Which I will say is very kind to them and we do appreciate it. I would never…And I mean that…Allow our ladies to be at risk, even to save our Unlives. It could be the good/bad doctor VH is counting on that." Nod.
"But…" raising forefinger, very shrewd smile. "We now know Dracula has a vulnerability. A young daughter of sorts…Possibly a cow but she doesn't seem so, by Jen's account."
Slight wistful look… "Seems ole Drac has made a nice life for himself…A doctor of sterling reputation by all accounts, a fine young daughter of sorts…Able to move about in daylight…Yet probably still immortal. Not too shabby, this Redemption of his. Jen wondered, as do we all, if she could be the wife, the famed Elisabete, reincarnated." Smile.
"Kinky, eh? To be honest, I've always wondered what Nadja looked like as a teenaged girl. What a beauty she must have been." Fond smile. "Nubile and sexually just beginning to seeth with possibilities, oh…" wiggling fingers. "Pity they hadn't invented photography then, though she probably couldn't've afforded it. Anyway, it may be time to take offensive action. Not saying we take her per se." wave of hand. "But perhaps while Papa Dracula is away, Nandor and I could try a bit of hypnosis and get the truth out of her. Decked out in our modern gear here…" displays suit. "We should have no problem infiltrating this town of 'Poughkeipee'? Poughkeepsie, oh…Thanks. It will have to be done carefully. We don't want to enrage ole Drac, not knowing just how powerful he is nowadays but I think Nandor and I have oft displayed our rather fine technique in hypnosis."
Frown… "Now as to our Souls. That was an interesting if not particularly useful encounter. Mine was quite the gentleman, much as I remember myself…" nod. "With perhaps some of my own nature, naturally. But none of them was quite willing to fully reveal why they'd come or anything about why they've being appearing to us earlier. It's clear they don't trust us, understandably. And that they are in some sort of communication with Van Helsing. A pity you can't hold a Soul captive outside of linking them to the earthly plane via a demonic essence…But that's not a way to dominating them and getting answers out of them. In short, they were all real smart asses when one comes to think of it. Rubbing our noses in their freedom and our likely doom if we can't prevent this disaster. Nadja, my clever girl, did find a way to hold hers here, at least voluntarily…And she is trying to learn what she can. I hope it proves useful. But contrary to all the sentimental Romanticism, souls are no more noble than any other aspect of a personality. Ours seem especially duplicitous. I had thought I'd established a rapport with mine, but after using me for his own gratification…" indignant frown…. "He vanished without providing even the smallest clue, rather unfair of him, I must say. Though I suppose from his point of view, necessary, if we are to be sacrificed on the Altar of Redemption."
Slight wistful pause… "I wonder…If it did happen…Would there be a chance we could be here still, like Dracula? Would we be able to live, like humans again? In that nice new place of ours? Without even needing our new technology to skirt the daytime sun? Could we, Nadja and I…You know I've never asked her about children per se, though frankly yes, I did take that baby with an eye that she might, just possibly…" shrug. "But she was more horrified than interested…And we've never discussed it in any way since. It might be rather nice, to have a daughter. A bit like my Jen or Milly… But that's neither here nor there right now. I wonder what she's like, Dracula's daughter? Jen says she's a nice girl, very bright…Black, very pretty. Say? I remember a movie about Dracula's daughter, yes… titled 'Dracula's Daughter. Probably nothing like her, though."
