What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."
Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar...
Part LXXXXV…
[Note-Naturally we are diverging from the new season storyline into AU territory]
The new residence…The grand dining room…
"Quite the party…" Jacqueline/the Soul Doll smiles at camera… "Nadja's taking her friend Char and Miss Martha on the grand tour and I managed to beg off, to keep an eye on things here, I said…"
Hmmn…Eyes group.
"No, I don't expect troubles…Right, thank you, trouble, but I want to be sure there is none. Also, best to keep my distance from my Lady Nadja, she might sense my presence here and get upset, fearing worse. Don't worry, I will keep my word to let you people know when things I know of are starting to happen. Oh, there is Nandor with the Count Doctor…They seem to be getting on very well, but they were friends as long as they were enemies. Hmmn?" she eyes.
"Oh, I have heard a few things…Really? His wife?" Looks over to where Acura and Nandor were observing the chandelier and Nandor was waving arms to describe the grounds. Althea smiling at the two...
"Yes. Well, that was hundreds of years ago and surely Dracula…" Lowering voice… "Has done much he must regret. Besides, he is reunited with her now, to an extent. A bit like me and Laszlo. Isn't his daughter a lovely thing? She ought to lose the glasses, though. Must be quite a life, being the Slayer and the adopted daughter of Count Dracula." Smile. Looking at her hands a moment.
"This girl is quite lovely…I hope she finds peace when all is done, I can feel great turmoil within her. What?" pauses. "Oh, no…Not so much the 'mind control'…That is rather a help to her…Restful, you know? No, it's her own problems and regrets…I sense she has many, poor thing. This modern world of yours is so complex, so many opportunities to stumble and fall." Rueful look… "As I have known too well in my own time…" Sighing.
"Hmmn?" to a question…Glancing about just in case of being overheard. "No…Though I am careful, it is rather the addictive to be here…" smiles. "But I have my own option for permanance…" shrugging. Slight move of hand for silence as Erika approaches.
"Jackie? How are you?"
"Oh, very well…Erika, thank you. Just sorry I can't be of more use here. You look lovely."
"Thanks. Well, remember, we're guests here…" Erika cautions.
"It's very kind of the Cravensworths and Mr. Relentless to have us." Jacqueline, nodding.
"Everything copacetic, guys?" Eloise had come over, bearing a glass of champagne.
"Just fine…Wonderful party, eh?" Erika smiles.
"Real soiree…As they say." Eloise nods. "You look good, Jackie. Like you got a little rest."
"Thanks, Eloise…" gentle smile. "You look great, lovely gown, very chic. So, everything is well? No problems?"
"Thanks…And smooth as silken fur…" grin. "I'm gonna have me a look at the grounds from that foyer, the view at night to the water's something. You should eat something, Jacks."
"I'll take her over…See you later, Ellie." Erika nods. "Jackie? Lets go get something to eat. I'm dying to try a few of the things I can't pronounce."
"Sure…" smile. "I've not eaten in quite a while." Wry grin to camera…
"But I am quite all right, Erika…" smiling whisper to her companion as they moved to the huge dining room table. "I understand how I'm to act tonight, don't worry."
…
Guillermo with the newly returned Phyllis…
"Yes, it's still me, boy." She smiled at him. "And your lady friend Miss Susan is safely deposited in a bedroom."
"Great…" nervous stare… "Should I be worried? Is something up? I thought tonight wouldn't be…"
"So far as I am aware, it won't." Phyllis nods. "But I felt it best to be here, in the flesh as it were, may the young lady here pardon me the presumption of borrowing her body."
"Ok…Just let me know…"
"Of course…" she looks about. "My, quite a grand place…Your friends have done well. Without too many crimes, I hope." Grin to his worried look. "Just teasing, my boy. It wouldn't affect their hopes of salvation, I promise."
"Great…Though most of this wasn't done by crime…Just good investments."
"In my day, that was often the definition of crime." Smile. "What you people called 'The Gilded Age', at least in America."
"Oh…"
"Yes…? Guillermo?" Phyllis eyeing his questioning look.
"I was just wondering…Is it kinda…Weird? Sometimes?"
"Very." Smile. "But when you've done it many times…" shrug.
"You have? Uh, Granduncle…" peering about.
"Over the decades, yes. I've been rather active in the living world for a non-corporeal. It goes with the territory, being founder of the Hunter Corps. Could we get something to eat? Your friend here is rather hungry. And to be honest, I'd love to taste good food again...And perhaps a nice glass of wine." Eyes him, offering arm.
"Oh, sure…Phyllis." Takes arm.
"I'm sure Miss Susan won't mind." She grins.
"Yeah…" sigh.
"I'm sorry, my boy. It's a bit cruel to tease you on that subject." As they walked. "But it's a part of the price, the guilt you feel."
"I know…" shrug.
"So, Guillermo…?" she suddenly changed tone as they neared Laszlo, Shaun, Dr. Devers, and Jacqueta, all in rather deep conversation, Jacqueta having a bent toward History herself. "Are you really planning to leave Mr. Relentless' employ?"
"Uh…Well…" he stammered a bit as they passed the group.
"What's that, Gizmo?" Laszlo looked over. "You aren't coming with us, on our travels?"
Phyllis pausing with smile to face Laszlo, forcing Guillermo to halt as well.
"Ummn…Well, I've been thinking…"
"Guillermo…Has been considering his options, sir. I've trying to persuade him to stay around." Phyllis smiles.
"I see…Yes, well…You are an heir now. Guillermo's…" smile at Guillermo, with emphasis on the corrected name. "…Inherited a rather nice fortune recently." To the others, Laszlo smiling at him. "Though we'd hate to lose him…I was hoping at least you'd help keep this place going for a bit? Have you told Nandor this?"
"We've talked. I may try to sort of watch over the place while you're all gone."
"Ah, that's a relief." Laszlo beams. "I'd feel much safer about leaving with you keeping an eye on things. Though it's a shame you won't be coming along. Damned good fellow in any rough situations, our Guillermo here." He notes to Dr. Devers who nods pleasantly, he and Jacqueta smiling at Guillermo.
"Oh…We'd all miss him too much, sir." Phyllis beams at Guillermo who blushes.
"Ah…" Laszlo wagging a finger. "Staying for the ladies…I understand." Grin to the others. "Well, good to know you'll still be around for them. You know in that case the lady wife will be charging you to keep them safe, eh?" careful eyeing.
"I kinda figured…" Guillermo nods.
"We take a great interest in the well-being of the staff of our Ginny's agency, you see." Laszlo notes to Professor Devers and Jacqueta who beams. "I hope you know my dear, your mother and her people and their families…Including you and your sister…" fond smile. "Have become very dear family to us."
Looks at bell ringing to see one of the wait staff opening door to Jennifer in gown, followed by David in his quite remarkable uniform, she carrying Suzette, in cute black and white dress, in her arms.
"And speaking of family, there's our Jen…" he beams. "Jen!" wave.
"Master Cravensworth!" she returns wave…
Uh…Turning to the amused, if puzzled, David. "It's the way they say it in England, you know."
Wow…Shaun looking over from where he stood by Dr. Devers… That's one hell of an outfit…
And the Chinese uniform on the guy there's not bad either… "Hi ya!" he waves.
Guillermo turning to look.
Oh, boy…Slight gulp on seeing Suzette…He turns to Phyllis, pulling her arm slightly as the others move to greet the new arrivals to lead her to a reasonable isolation. She amusedly allowing…
"You've got to tell if anything is going on tonight. The baby can't be at risk." He hisses.
"Guillermo?" Phyllis stares. "What's at risk? Is something wrong? What should I do, honey?" concerned look.
Guillermo eyeing her…Granduncle…Sighing.
"Guillermo?" Nandor, startling him from behind. Dr. Acura and Althea just behind him…
"I was wondering…? Oh, pardon me, dear Miss Phyllis…I don't mean to intrude."
"Ma…Mister Relentless…Hi. Lovely party." Phyllis, wan smile. "Guillermo was…Taking me to the dining table, yes…" a bit vague. "I was helping Susan…" distant tone. "Yes…"
"Oh? Is she well?" Nandor, looking round.
"She was a bit tired. We were busy yesterday and today…Plus she gave blood recently." Guillermo notes. "Phyllis helped her upstairs to lie down for a minute or two."
"Yes…I was…" Phyllis, trying to brush her confusion away.
Yes, right…I took her up…But…
"Ah, good. The dear girl works too hard. And being your fiancée must keep her quite busy as well, Guillermo…" Nandor, teasing tone. "Though perhaps you more than she…Eh, eh?" poking him as Phyllis tries to smile.
"Anyway, I was wondering if you'd care to accompany us downstairs into the basement to see my little display for my ole friend Philippe here." Turning to Dracula who beams. "I think you'll be impressed by I've done…One my own…Well…With help from our Martha and Miss Erika." Shrugging grin.
"Oh, sure…Uh…Just let me get Phyllis something to eat…" indicating the huge set table…Where now Erika and Eloise were loading their plates from various platters, along with Ginny and Ellie just ahead of them.
"Certainly, enjoy my dear…I hope the food is as good as it looks." Nandor smiles. "Miss Althea, can I perhaps get you something?"
"I wouldn't say no, sir." She grins, pushing up glasses and peering at the table. "It looks fantastic…"
"Ah, good. Always nice to see a girl with a healthy appetite… I remember my own daughters had quite healthy appetites in their day." Fond smile… "Come…And you, Philippe…I understand from Guillermo you've become quite the gourmand again."
"Guilty as charged, old friend." Acura smiles. "Thank you, it looks splendid."
"We can bring our plates down with us…" Nandor beams. "I really think you'll like my little presentation, Philippe."
"Sorry, my boy…I felt it best to vacate a moment when Nandor and Laszlo were close by…" Phyllis whispered to Guillermo as they near the dining table. "But I've kept the lady in a fairly rational state of awareness, should I have to leave again quickly."
"They can sense you…?"
"Possibly, possibly not…Depends on the situation and how much they focus on me. Why don't you get us something and I'll go quickly check on Miss Susan upstairs…That should be a good excuse for my brief departure." Nodding to Guillermo.
"Gui!" Jennifer happily calling, from where she stands with Suzette in arms, waving… "Come and meet the family!"
"Dear Jennifer, you look lovely…" Laszlo beaming. "And you must be Dr. Chu?" greeting David… "How very nice to meet you at last, sir. My, that's quite a uniform."
"I'll definitely take that curried chicken…" Phyllis smiles at Guillermo.
"Just a minute!" Guillermo, waving back to Jen…As Phyllis hurries off to the stairs.
"I take it you do drink…Wine?" Nandor, smiling at Acura who grins as they reach the dining table.
"These days? Unquestionably."
Holy…Guillermo stares now at the wait staff by the door…Getting his first look at them. Particularly two new arrivals since his own entrance with Susan and Phyllis.
Claude and Derek?
"Ah, what a lovely child…Hello, there, darling." Laszlo beaming at Suzette in Jen's arms.
"Say hello to the man who paid for your college, honey." Jennifer, grinning to Laszlo and David, lifting Suzette for a better view.
…
