What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."
Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar...
Part LXXXIX…
The new residence, next morning…
Martha in business suit, humming a bit, setting down the last of several bags on a protective pad on the lovely and quite authentic marble top of the kitchen's large island…
"Hi, folks." She beams to camera. "Just dropping by a few special items for tonight's festivities…Some wine and cheese…And a couple of corkscrews. And the Overlords didn't have any good cutlery, so I picked that up. Nice, huh?" she opens one of three boxes to reveal a fine set of said cutlery.
"Jackie?! You up?!" she calls.
"Coming…" Jacqueline, in a bedroom on second floor just assigned to her, adjusting her maid's cap and smoothing apron. "Hmmn?" she eyes camera. "No, I'm very well, sirs…Miss…" she beams. "I was rather tired last night but I slept well. Is the Mistress, or any of our Masters, up still?" Hearing Martha's call.
"Oh, she should be a little quieter. She'll disturb them, the stupid…" she blinks. "No, I mustn't be rude. That's not the proper way to behave to my sisters." Wan smile to camera. "I'm very sorry. I will do better. Well, let me get down to her before anyone's disturbed. Can I get you coffee and any breakfast? Oh, well…Yes, I'll have some coffee too, then…If you like…There." Pats cap. "I'm so excited about tonight's reception. I hope I won't disappoint the Mistress in my service. Will you folks let me know if I'm making any mistakes? I haven't been in service long…" troubled, vague look. "I couldn't bear it if I embarrassed Lady Nadja and Lord Laszlo and Lord Nandor. But I am resolved to work as hard as I can to do well and serve them. Well, I better get moving, huh?" smile.
Pause at door to stare at camera… "Resentments? What a strange question…" eyes the director. "Why would I resent anyone? I adore my Mistress and the other Overlords and my sisters are…Well, my sisters…Helpmates of our Lady and Lords." Looking away briefly. "I suppose…In my past life I was a rather angry person. Discontented, you know?" smile. "But I'm over all that now…Oh, I really should hurry and help Martha. Come and I'll get you that coffee." Waves them on, heading out door.
"Hey…" Martha at foot of stairs, lowered voice now…She having realized her voice may awaken her…Their…Master Nandor…And the others.
"Hi…" Jacqueline beams. "Glad you could stop by. Were you able to get everything?"
"All set…" Martha nods. "House looks great by the way."
"Thanks." Warm smile, descending stairs to her. "Hows about some coffee? And maybe some breakfast? I'm getting some for the folks here." Indicates camera.
"Coffee, sure." Nod. "Say do you know if they need…Anything?" eyeing her.
"Ginny was donor last night. She had two pints dropped off. With the stuff from me and Jen before in the fridge downstairs they're fine." Jacqueline nods. "Don't get yourself run down they'll need us on our toes tonight and you should sparkle as one of their guests." Warm smile…
"Thanks…" Martha beams, slight nervous fidget. "But I was really thinking I ought to ask to serve tonight. I'm not really 'guest' material for them."
"Jen and Ginny arranged some help." Shrug. "I guess it's good to have some bright young folks around so long as we watch them…We do get a little worn out. But Master Nandor wants you as his guest, Martha." Patting her… "He'd be disappointed if he couldn't play host to you."
Martha, blushing involuntarily… "Really?" slight squeak. "He's so kind. But I really don't have the clothes…And I'm not…"
"He's the best, next to my Mistress. And he's seen to that, as to clothes." Jacqueline nods.
Martha staring…
"He and Jen picked out a gown, it'll be at your house when you get home." Smile.
Oh…Martha blinked.
"Come on, let me get that coffee going and see what's to be done. We should make sure we don't need anything else before you go. The caterers come at twelve…"
…
Guillermo, at his hotel room…Same time…
"So, Ms. Acura…Dracula…Nice girl, really. Very sweet kid for someone who's lived so many lives… She wanted to assure me she'd let me know if she can when things get critical and that probably…Probably but never definitely…Tonight's reception is not it. Though she will be on alert just in case things go wrong and she'd like me there, just in case. So…I will be going. Slayer's orders." Shrug.
"Well, she didn't put it like that. She doesn't seem the type to…Just that it was important, in case, you know, something comes down. I tole Sue, who I'm sure tole Phyllis…Sue came by after Althea left…" slightest of smiles. "Said she was jealous…She was kidding, I think…So I tole her Althea assured me there'd be no trouble at the reception. It would just be a get-together." Pause. "I think she's actually looking forward to seeing her dad and Nandor together, hanging out a bit. I guess Dr. Acura…Dracula…Talks a lot about Nandor, so she's eager to really meet him. The meeting at her place was a bit short, of course, with Nandor flying off and all. What?" at question.
"Well…She didn't give me details, but she mentioned a few things. I would…" he paused at curious follow-up question… "But she asked me to keep one or two things under my hat. Nothing major, just personal. Sorry."
Like she begged me to look out for one of the Hunters if he managed to come tonight or to the final round…He did not say.
Though I really thought Derek bit the big one…Or got bit by a big one. Guess he's better than I thought. And her ancient mate, likewise reincarnated? Very confusing but I'll do my best to look out for him…
She was so sweet the way she asked…And she's promised to look out for Sue and the others.
"I wish I could tell you guys more, sorry. Really." Looks to door at knock.
"Gui!" Sue's voice, cheery. "Come on, open up, and lets get breakfast, honey!"
"I'll miss that. I admit it." He sighs. "But I deserve to lose it, I know."
Eyes group… "Couldn't you guys lie to me once in a while?"
…
"I mean…" Ginny addresses assembled staff, thralled and not, standing in her suit in front of her office at Zeller… "No one has to come tonight, naturally. But it will be a great time, I'm sure and the Cravensworths and Ma….Mr. Relentless want to show their appreciation for all our hard work, so…I hope everyone who can, will come."
Various replies from Erika's eager nod of assent to a weary one from the newly returned to work, Gwen.
Colin opportunely away for the day on what Ginny had noted as important research…Though Gwen had registered sincere if wearily muted enthusiasm at hearing he'd be staying on for now, even with the Fieldersen settled.
"Just hope I'll be fancy enough…" Billie smiles. "I even got a new dress for this. Thanks for the bonus, boss."
"Thank them. And really…It's fine…Business casual or elegant if you like…They don't stand on ceremony." Ginny smiles.
"You goin'?" Angie asks Eloise as they watch, standing by their cubicles…
"Wild horses couldn't keep me…It should be great. The Fieldersen's an amazing place and they're neat folks." Eloise smiles.
Said horses actually could tonight…No full moon…She notes to camera in whisper after Angie returns to cubicle as Ginny dismisses the clustered group.
"Yeah, should be neat. I even considered bringing my kids…" Eloise shrugs to camera. "But it's gonna be a bit late for them and it's hard to arrange a ride home early, since I do think I should stay till the end. Sorta just in case, ya know? I mean…" wave of hands… "Ya never know. I don't think we'll have any trouble but… I did promise a take-home plate for each of them, though." Grin.
Anne the intern, at her desk, looks up a question from the camera team director…
"Hmmn? Oh, sure…I'll go. Long as we don't have to be too fancy. I can't wait to see the place and I'd like to really talk to the Cravensworths and that Mr. Relentless. Gotta thank them, after all…That was quite nice of them to give everyone that bonus." Nod. "I sure can use it…" smile. "Cuse me…" as Martha comes over, bearing a pile of papers.
"Copies and collate…" setting stack on desk. "I'll go over the rest to be done after you finish." Pause.
"Sure…" Noting Martha's shy look…
"Uh…Anne? You think you could help me later, with my dress? Ginny's gonna let me go pick it up at lunch and I think I'll need some help getting it together." Martha notes.
"Really? That fancy?" Anne eyes her.
"Fancier than I'm used to…Anyway, if you could help me out…?"
"Sure." Nod. Grin as Martha heads off.
"I think our Martha likes Mr. Relentless. A lot. And I'd say the feeling may be mutual...From what I've heard and seen." Anne notes. "Wouldn't that be terrific? And it couldn't hurt that he's loaded as well."
"God, it sure has been an interesting month here." Grin.
…
Ginny, in office, at desk, to camera…
"I'm sure everything will go well tonight, though naturally I'm just a bit nervous about having the Slayer and Dracula near my Mistress and the Masters. But they seem eager to meet them, especially Master Nandor, regards his old pal…And it will be a way to judge what's going down." Shrug. "I'm ordered, as we all are, to keep it cool and not get too defensive, as in trying to kill Miss Acura on sight and all. And I will…So long as they respect tonight's truce and all." Relaxing a bit… "Really should be a nice evening…I'm bringing my girls. Jacqueta's fascinated by what I've told her about the Cravensworths and I'm so eager to offer…Present…My girls to them." Nervous folding of hands. "And I've told both Jackie and Ellie about our plan to housesit the place for a year or so while Mr. Cravensworth and his wife and friend travel. They were a little puzzled but Jackie's pleased that I said I wanted Richard to come live with us. But after all, it's a great deal. I rent out my place and stay at an estate for free? Hard to argue against that." Smile.
"Just pray to the Mistress all goes well tonight and we get them safely away. It's hard to imagine life without them, maybe for years…" wiping cheek briefly. "But we're saving them and others, if those jerks following Van Helsing would just realize that." Grim tone at end, then smile.
"I've sounded Rich out on living with me and I think…" arch smile. "He could manage having me and living at the Fieldersen." Coy shrug. "I honestly believe I can be happy with him and I'll do my best to make him happy." Pause. "I'm sure sooner or later we'd've got together regardless. The Mistress just sped things along…And maybe helped me to be a better person on the way. I mean…I'm much better regards my staff…Not pressing them on pleasing clients in ways I never should've…" slight reddening… " I wouldn't have wanted him to find me doing that." Brightening… "And I'm, easier going, overall. I think unthralled as well as thralled would say this is a much nicer place to work…"
She eyes the director who'd offered a somewhat guilty word of comfort…The rest of his crew looking a bit uncomfortable themselves.
"Thanks…That's nice of you." Careful look. "It's not your fault, either." Wan smile.
