Disclaimer: I own nothing… I'm merely borrowing the moonlight characters to play with… they will be returned when I'm thru with them… (didn't say when I'd be thru with them… but I'll eventually return them… like, when we get a second season!)
On with the story and Enjoy!
Sleeping Beauty
Chapter 3 - Shopping and Dining Out
15 Feb 2008 - Sarah's Brownstone - NYC - 2:30pm
"Oh please Charles? Can I go shopping?" Sarah asked.
"Not without me. You've not been around many humans at once and Beth cannot control you," Josef said. "Besides my credit cards will not be put in the hands of two shop-a-holic women!" Josef laughed, "I know from that gleam in Beth's eye she has devious plans of trying to max out all my cards, and I can remember how you spent your father's money!"
"Okay, but can we go now?" Sarah begged. "I want to see this new world for myself, not have everybody tell me about it while I sit here in this stuffy old nightgown."
"Are you sure you're feeling well enough to go shopping?" Josef asked gently, "You have been in a coma for 53 years..."
"I know, but I'm a vampire. I heal quickly, you should know that." Sarah laughed, "Mostly it's just a little disorienting and I think the quickest way for me to overcome that is to go out and see this new world I find myself in."
"If you're sure..."
"I am... I just need something to wear that doesn't look like I stepped out of a time capsule." Sarah giggled.
"I think we're about the same size… You can borrow something of mine to shop in," Beth offered. "My luggage is in the living room." She added, pushing Josef aside, grabbing Sarah's hand to help her up. The two women ran off giggling to the living room.
Mick looked up in surprise as they saw Beth and Sarah come into the living room, Josef following behind. Both women plopped down in front of Beth's suitcases and began rifling through them, talking a mile a minute about what Sarah should wear her first day out in 2008.
Josef sat down next to Mick and watched the girls go through Beth's things. Josef and Mick, despite their vampire abilities, were having a hard time following their conversation. "Do you think talking that fast is just in their DNA?" Mick asked, astounded that either girl could understand each other.
"In all my years, I've noticed things about women, human or vampire. One thing that I have seen since I was a young kid, if you put a couple or more women together, they will gossip and talk so fast your head will spin trying to keep up." Josef laughed.
"I think this shirt, with these jeans, and these shoes," Beth said holding up a red collared v-neck empire waist ¾ sleeve cotton shirt, a pair of straight leg dark wash low rider jeans and a pair of red patent leather Manolo Blahnik pointed toe pumps. "Just to let you know, these shoes are my babies. They are Manolo Blahnik and were a splurge for me. I will let you wear these as long as you promise to take good care of them," Beth said seriously. "And let me borrow some of your clothes we buy together!" Beth laughed.
"Of course!" Sarah agreed. "And you're sure that's normal attire?" she asked.
"Yes. I promise. You'll see lots of women in clothes like this," Beth said. "In fact, this is conservative. You'll see teens and young 20 something year olds wear extremely revealing clothes. Very short skirts, very skimpy shirts."
"Really? Then I think I'll wear this… but…" Sarah agreed, then hesitated, glancing at Mick and Josef, "Lady's undergarments?" she whispered.
"Oh! Um… these jeans sit low on your hips… not skanky low, but below the belly button… you probably don't have anything… appropriate to wear on your lower half… I have new panties I brought with me, you can have a pair." Beth whispered back, "As for bras, not much has changed. You probably have some here still…" She added, "You boys just stay out here and NO peaking!" Beth laughed, scooping up the clothes and shoes, then pulled Sarah along behind her, back to the bedroom.
Beth looked through Sarah's dressers and found a bra for her. "Here, put these on," Beth said, handing the clothes to Sarah.
"Okay," Sarah said, stripping out of her night clothes. She dressed in the clothes they picked out then put on the heels Beth had picked out.
"Hold on, let me go get my makeup and hair goodies!" Beth said before dashing out of the room, making sure to close the door behind her. Beth ran to the living room and grabbed her purse and carry on bag with all her hair products then ran back to the bedroom.
"What are they doing now?" Josef asked, baffled by Beth's sudden appearance and disappearance.
"Who knows? They're probably doing whatever it is women do that takes them forever to get ready!" Mick laughed.
Beth dumped out her makeup on the bed then picked out colors that would best complement Sarah. After Beth finished with Sarah's makeup, she went to work on giving Sarah a modern hair style.
"There! I think you look beautiful!" Beth complimented.
"You think so?" Sarah asked, looking in the mirror at herself.
"Yep. Now, lets go shop till we drop or until the stores close, because you know we won't run out of money if we use Josef's credit cards!" Beth laughed.
Sarah grinned, "Let's go shopping!"
"Okay!" Beth agreed, "But first, we introduce the 21st century Sarah to Josef. Wait here, and when you hear me say your name, come out okay?"
"Okay!" Sarah giggled as Beth ran back out to the living room.
"Are you girls ready? Where's Sarah?" Josef asked.
Beth cleared her throat. "I would like to introduce you both to the newly made over, Sarah Whitley!"
Sarah ran into the room and did a little twirl and curtsy before speaking. "So… what do you think Char… uh… Josef?" Sarah smiled.
"Beautiful, as always Doll-face." Josef grinned. "Although the clothes just scream Blondilocks and you my dear are not blond."
"Well… it's just to go shopping in and I like it!" Sarah grinned. "I feel so scandalous wearing pants, and I'm about to walk outside in them!"
"So… do you want Josef to call the limo, or since you're a born and bred New Yorker, do you wanna take a taxi?" Beth asked.
"Hmmm… I've taken taxis before… have they changed much?" Sarah asked, "I remember them to be yellow cars, with the taxi light on the roof, driven by smelly old men."
"Not much has changed, except now they're smelly old men who might not speak the best English."
"Hmm… I'd rather a limo."
"Oooh… Josef, can we get a hummer stretch limo?" Beth suggested, "I bet she's never seen a limo like that before!"
"Sure," Josef agreed. "Might as well… But if I'm getting the stretch, then that means you are coming with us!" He told Mick before dialing up his limo service and asked for a hummer stretch limo. Soon the driver knocked on the door to the brownstone. Josef and Mick helped to shield Sarah's sensitive skin from the sunlight as all 4 of them walked outside until she got in the limo.
"So, where to?" The driver asked.
"We're going shopping! So take us to places like Niemen Marcus, Saks, Bloomingdale's, Barney's, Bergdorf, Donna Karen, Dolce and Gabbana, and Louis Vuitton!" Beth exclaimed, excited to be spending money in places she never dreamed of shopping in. The driver smirked as he drove off towards the stores Beth listed.
"Mr. Kostan, you and your friend are brave men going shopping with a woman that excited about shopping." The driver said, "I would never go to those places with my wife, I'm not that brave."
"Yes, well… I think she's most excited that it's my money she'll be helping to spend, so she's not as limited as if it were her own money."
"Yeah, that's why I would not be going with a woman that hyped to shop."
Niemen Marcus - NYC - 4:15pm
Soon they arrived at Niemen Marcus. They all filed out of the limo, Josef and Mick protecting Sarah from the sun again, and went into the store. Beth and Sarah went through the racks at a speed the men could only marvel at. The two vampires would have sworn both women were moving at speeds only a vampire could achieve if it weren't for Beth being very mortal. Once the girls found a bunch of different outfits, in a couple different sizes, they went to the dressing room so Sarah could figure out what size she was and what looked good on her. All the while, Beth, Mick and Josef helped answer any questions Sarah had about the things and people around her, like people talking on cell phones and Bluetooth headsets. A couple hours later, Beth and Sarah each had an armful of clothes and shoes ready to buy.
"Josef! We're ready!" Beth exclaimed.
"Oh good. Finally," Josef sighed, as he stood up and stretched. He went over to the cashier and waited for the total.
"That will be 2,847 dollars and 68 cents." the cashier told him.
"Oh is that all?" Josef asked sarcastically, looking at Beth and Sarah. "I would have expected more."
"We have other places to shop… can't spend all your money in one place!" Beth laughed.
"Hopefully not all my money. I do need some money to support myself and Sarah."
"Well… not all your money… but a good chunk of it!" Beth laughed again.
Josef paid as the cashier bagged the clothes and shoes. "Thank you for shopping at Niemen Marcus, have a good day!" She smiled.
As the day went on, the number of stores visited and the number of shopping bags increased. Beth and Sarah ripped through each store at a whirlwind pace, until both girls were tired and hungry. By the time they got to the last store, the sun was beginning to set, and Beth and Sarah had spent a grand total of 15,000 dollars.
All day, Sarah had been able to control herself around humans, but in the last store, now that she was getting hungry every human she saw looked like a walking buffet to her. Josef sensed Sarah's mood changing and she was getting more jittery around humans. Before he had a chance to ask her if she was okay, Sarah came to him, clinging to his arm.
"I'm hungry Josef," Sarah whimpered, her eyes darting all around looking at every human.
"I think we've done enough shopping for today then. I'm sure Beth is getting hungry as well."
"Yeah I haven't had anything to eat since the flight over," Beth said.
"I know of a restaurant that caters to everybody's dietary needs. We'll go there," Josef said, wrapping an arm around Sarah. Sarah wrapped her arms around Josef's waist, afraid to let go. She didn't want to hurt anybody and she knew Josef wouldn't let her. As they walked out of the store, the sun was almost completely gone from the sky but Mick still helped to shield Sarah from the harmful rays of the sun with his jacket. Mick could remember what the sun felt like for the first time as a fledgling and even at sunset, it could be painful for a new vampire.
Once they were all inside, Josef told the driver the name of the restaurant. By the time the limo pulled up to the doors of the restaurant, the sun was completely gone from the sky. Mick put his coat back on as they all stepped out of the limo. Sarah still clung to Josef as the group walked inside, stopping at the maître d'.
"Do you have a reservation, Sir?" the maître d' asked politely.
"No. I need a table for 4 in one of your private dining rooms," Josef told the man.
"You need a reservation for our private dining rooms, Sir."
"No. Others might, but I don't. My name is Josef Kostan."
"Josef Kostan…" the maître d' repeated as he looked on his list of names he was required to seat immediately, "Ah, Mr. Kostan. You've not been here in quite some time I see. Welcome back. Right this way. We have a private dining room available for you and your guests."
"I thought you might," Josef said, as the group followed the maître d' to the private dining room.
"A waiter will be with you shortly. How many guests will need our special menu?"
"Three of us."
"I'll go fetch your waiter."
Soon a young man, obviously the waiter, came in with the menus. "Which of you will be dining from the special menus?" He asked. Josef, Mick, and Sarah raised their hands to indicate themselves. The waiter handed them the special vampire menus and gave Beth the regular menu, "I'll give you all a moment to look over the menu and decide what you want." He said before leaving.
"So, what blood type do you think you want to try?" Josef asked Sarah.
"I don't know… what sounds good to you?"
"I prefer AB-… but you can choose whatever you like," Josef said. "Janette was AB- and Liz was B+."
"Um… maybe A?"
"Positive or Negative?" Josef asked.
"What's the difference?"
"Negative has a lingering after taste. Personally, I like it but other vamps don't. Positive is smoother, doesn't have any after taste," Josef answered.
"Yeah… I noticed that about Janette, and then Liz didn't…"
"That's why… which did you prefer?"
"I liked the Positive."
"Well then I suggest the A+." Mick said. "I like it, although O+ has a smoother finish than the A+… at least according my friend it does," he added.
"Hmm… maybe I'll try the A+ and if I'm still hungry, try the O+?" Sarah said, unsure if she could have both.
"Sure."
As Beth looked over her menu, she listened to the discussion about different blood types. The waiter came back, ready to take the orders.
"I'll start with you Madam." the waiter said, looking to Beth, "What would you like?"
"I'd like the Chicken Marsala and a glass of white wine."
"Soup or salad?"
"Salad, Italian vinaigrette and if I could also have some cheese sprinkled on top?"
"Of course," The waiter wrote down her order, and then went to each vampire.
"I'll have AB-," Josef ordered. "Fresh, female."
"And your name?"
"Josef."
"Um…I'm Sarah… I think I'd like to try… um… A+." Sarah ordered.
"Fresh or in a glass?" The waiter asked.
"She'll take it fresh. She's a fledgling, however, so if it could be somebody with experience?" Josef answered for her.
"Of course. Would she prefer male or female?"
"Um… I think female for now," Sarah answered.
"And for you, Sir?" the waiter asked Mick.
"I'd also like A+ but I'll take mine in a glass… and if I could have the bottle it comes in as well."
"Of course. I'll send your orders in shortly." the waiter said, "It'll be a little longer wait for you, madam."
"That's fine." Beth smiled.
"Um… I have a question… if you don't mind Mick." Sarah started.
"Go ahead."
"Um… why are you not eating fresh like Josef and me?"
"Oh… um… I… um…" Mick didn't know quite how to answer. Fledglings were like children, you didn't want to influence their choices just because you don't like something. "It's just a personal choice that I've made. I… um… I didn't know about vampires until I was one, so I wasn't prepared for any of it like you were."
"Oh. That must have been a traumatic thing," Sarah guessed, knowing how different things were for her and how shocking that would be if somebody didn't know before.
"Yes, it was," Mick confirmed simply. Just then two women walked in, a brunette and a blonde. The blonde was carrying a glass and a crystal decanter filled with blood.
"Who ordered in a glass?" she asked.
"I did." Mick said, taking the glass and bottle from her.
"Which one of you ladies is Sarah?" the brunette asked warmly.
"That would be me." Sarah answered.
"I hear you're a fledgling?"
"Yes… I'm rather new at this… Today is my first day… I've only done this twice before," Sarah admitted nervously.
"Well don't worry, I've done this lots of times." the woman smiled, "Is this your Sire?" She asked, looking to Josef.
"Yes, he is."
"Well, I'm sure he'll keep watch and make sure you do okay."
"Okay…" Sarah smiled, looking to Josef.
"Take her arm and bite into her wrist in the same area as other bite marks." Josef prompted, "See where the scars are?"
"Yeah…" Sarah said, lifting the woman's wrist to her mouth. She bit into the woman's wrist, concentrating on how much she was taking and the heartbeat. With a hand on her shoulder from Josef, she stopped, licking the wound clean. The woman passed out and Sarah was unsure what to do.
"Go lay her down on that couch over there," Josef instructed.
"I don't know if I can lift her… I'm not that strong."
"Yes you are. Go ahead; lift her up, one arm under her back, the other under her knees."
"Okay," Sarah said, lifting the woman up bridal style, surprised at her own strength. Sarah gently laid the woman out on one of the couches then sat back down next to Josef.
"You did very well." Josef smiled, then reached out for his freshie, helping her to sit on his lap. Josef tilted her head and brushed her hair to the side, off her neck. He vamped out then sank his fangs into her neck and drank. Sarah watched him as he drank from the woman's neck and how the woman reacted to his bite. Sarah felt a twinge of jealousy. Mick sensed her jealousy and put a hand on her shoulder, to get her attention.
"It's called enthralling. We do it so the pain is numbed and replaced with a feeling of pleasure. It takes practice," Mick explained gently.
"Oh…So, it's not… it's not what it looks like?" Sarah asked as Josef removed his fangs and licked the wound clean. The girl didn't pass out, but she was very weak against him. Josef picked her up and set her down on one of the large couches.
"No. With practice you'll be able to do the same… although it is one of the reasons why vampire men tend to drink from female freshies and why vampire women drink from male freshies." Mick said.
"Oh. I see." Sarah smiled. "Thank you for explaining."
"Are you still hungry, Sarah?" Josef asked, sitting back down next to Sarah.
"Um… I don't think so…" She said. Josef pulled Sarah over to him, sitting her on his lap. Sarah snuggled up to Josef, burying her head into the crook of his neck and wrapping her arms around his waist. Josef wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead.
Soon Beth's food arrived and she began to eat. Two waiters came in and took the freshies out of the room. The waiter who brought in the food asked if any of the vampires were still hungry, then left when everybody said no. Once Beth was finished eating, Josef paid the bill, then the group of four left the restaurant. They all piled into the limo and went back to the brownstone.
A/N: and that's it for chapter 3! More to come soon! Read and Review please, it makes JosefMuse very happy when you do!
As Always… Take What Ye Can… Give Nothin' Back!
VAMPIRE SOLIDARITY, RAH RAH RAH! (and all that!)
Mrs. Capt. Jack Sparrows