It was two in the afternoon. At least, it was two in the afternoon in- Theo pulled out her map- Shreveport. It was two in the afternoon at Shreveport and she wasn't due to the club called- she pulled out her notes- Fangtasis (really was that the name of the bar?) until at least ten, in the evening.
"God, this is really going to make my body-clock go wild," Theo murmured as she checked into the hotel.
"Hello Ms James, we've got you up for a single bed, would you like to upgrade?" Single, they got me a freaking SINGLE Theo's thoughts went wild at this. She would have been content with a double and happy with a queen, but a single just pissed her off.
"Ah, yes please, could I get a king size?" That'll teach them, she thought with a devilish smirk.
"Sure thing." The muggle woman typed into the computer briefly before she nodded and directed her to a bellhop. The bellhop picked up her suitcase and led her down a cream-carpeted hallway- passed the dark mahogany doors until they reached a gold-painted (because it couldn't be that posh of a hotel) elevator.
"I'm Theodora," she said in a gentle greeting to the bellhop. Her mother had taught her to be polite to everyone, even if said person seemed to want to avoid eye contact.
"Matt," he replied simply, his eyes on the doors of the elevator as they waited in silence for them to open. People exited the elevator before Matt the bellhop entered, turned around and once again face the door as Theo benignantly followed, trying to set a good impression onto the staff of the hotel. Though really- it didn't last long.
Before long, they finally entered the third floor. Like a good staff member, Matt led Theo silently and a bit coldly to her room. He unlocked the door and placed the bag at the end of the king-sized white and gold bed before briefly departing with a "Have a good evening Ms James," and a courteous nod before he left. Theo began to realise by this time that a lot of the 'customers' here at the hotel preferred their privacy.
With a sigh she unpacked her clothes and gave a once over at the room. There was a bedroom, a bathroom with 'an awesome-as spa that I'll totally use' (as Theo simply put it), and a nice closet space that made her clothes look neat and tidy.
With all this, Theo began to wonder if the reason they gave her a single bed was because of the cost of the hotel. Shrugging, she realised she didn't really care all that much, after all, they had sent her here on a suicide mission; the least they could do was give her a room that she would die happy in. Well… at least close to happy.
After a long relaxing shower (that was long for the reason that it was the best shower she had ever had), a change of hairstyle (she decided to put it up in a French roll), make-up (she had to have make-up that looked both nice and professional) and clothes (a navy blue suit that brought out her eyes, and a pale shirt that made her skin look somewhat less pale) and a light dinner (regardless of the fact that she didn't like vampires, she wasn't going to offend them with garlic- that could possibly get her killed or fired, either way, both were bad outcomes), she was ready to begin the interview with the Shreveport Vampires.
Her heels clicked as she climbed into the taxi with her handbag containing all the utensils she would need for the interview. If they'd allow her to write that is, if all else failed, Theo had a good memory, not a perfect one, but one that was pretty damn good- even at the worst of times.
She could tell that the instant she said the name of the Vampire Bar that the cab driver almost stopped and kicked her out. "I'm sorry, I don't want to go- but my boss wants an interview with the blood-sucking freaks," Theo sighed, "God I hate my job."
"Sweetheart, if your boss is making you do this, I suggest you quit before you get killed, because those vampire's only start trouble- I have a cousin in Bon Temps and he told me plain and clear that two of them fang-bangers have been found dead." The man's eyes met Theo's in the mirror, "It was not a pretty sight."
"That's what you get for flirting with danger like that, no one deserves to die like that of course, that's unfair to anyone, but when you play with fire, someday you are going to get burned, and vampire's are the mother of all fires." The man nodded in agreement, "Don't worry about me though, I'm strictly there on business and if I get killed in their bar a law suit will follow and they'll lose everything." Theo grinned but it wavered slightly as a butterfly began to flutter in her stomach. The butterfly's name was fear and doubt at her own statement.
"Well, keep yourself safe sweetie." He said as he pulled up to the curb.
After paying her fair, Theodora climbed out and fixed any wrinkled that might be on her clothes, or any problems with her stockings. After giving herself a once over, she headed to the front of the bar where a muggle stood carding people.
She was given a once over and a nod to enter inside after she showed her card to the young man. Theo- like most of the supernatural creatures- could tell the difference between a muggle and anything supernatural (also known as a 'supe')- though not necessarily know what the supe may be- especially if they were a were. There affinity to turn into a certain type of animal threw Theo off completely at times.
Inside Fangtasia, three colours stood out, red, black and the random splatters of pure white. It was meant to look like a gothic b-rated movie 'vampire' club scene. Though Theo knew for a fact that most vampires dressed and acted however they wanted to, and this could include anything from fashionably chic or over-the top glamour to jeans and a t-shirt. Though some, especially the fledglings (newbies) preferred to dress like a b-rate movie extra until they found them selves again.
As she looked around, she immediately knew where to go. A tall- even though he was sitting down she could tell- man with blond hair sat upon his 'throne' looking at her with hungry blue eyes. Though he'd been expecting her and she expecting to see him, Theo did not expect the casual- almost bored- look that near suffocated the hunger in the blue.
Swallowing, she took a few steps towards him as a woman appeared next to her. "Eric requires your presence in his office," the woman whispered close to Theo's ear, "come with me witch." The word "witch" was spoken sarcastically, there was no love lost between her and the vampire. Theodora was guided to an office where the vampire "Eric"- the tall man she had seen siting in a throne- was awaiting her.
She almost went to ask how he was there, until a 'duh' moment overcame her senses and she realised that he was a vampire meaning he was quick, fast, speedy or whatever the desired word you wish to use was.
"Good evening Ms James, you've come a long way to talk to a vampire like me."
"Yes," she acknowledge whilst sitting down. The woman, who was also blond, that had directed her here into the office, now stood beside her boss- no wait- Master.
"I'm Eric, and this is Pam," He said in a more formal way of greeting. Though the use of hands directing from him to Pam made Theo wonder if he was silently making fun of her.
"Pleasure," Pam said, curling her lips, proving the sarcasm in her voice was to be heard by Theo. As had been said earlier; there was no love lost between the witch and the vamp. "I do like witches," Theo was definitely sure that Pam was talking about blood, but blood and sex were always blurred together with vampires and looking into the woman's eyes she was unsure which she was talking about suddenly.
She herself knew all to well that you didn't have to like, let alone love, someone to have a good time with them.
"Pam, she is our guest," the statement was meant to be a warning to the female blonde, and a peace offering to herself, though Theo could see quite clearly, that his mind too was thinking about her blood. Theodora coughed nervously, and tensed her hands to stop from shaking. Fear was not an option. "So you have questions for your paper?" Silently, she could tell, they were laughing at her.
"Ah… yes, the Daily Prophet." She reached into her handbag and pulled out the paper and pen- there was no point bringing a quill and ink. "We wanted to hear what you had to say on the ah- 'coming out of the coffin'" She glanced at her notes, "And we also have some personal questions if that's alright."
"Depends on the questions." She laughed nervously as Eric smirked at her.
"Ok then," She took a deep breath, "what's your opinion on vampires mainstreaming." Theo listened as Eric answered her question, furiously writing notes as quickly as she could, taking direct quotes at times and asking him to repeat at others. Though some comments she left out due to knowing that the public would be… disturbed by the answer.
"I understand Ms James that you'll be returning tomorrow night."
"Yes Mr Northman." Eric's eyes met with Pam's for a brief moment, and Theo watched as silently, the two vampires shared a conversation. Were they talking telepathically, or were they just incredibly good at reading each other? Theodora could not tell, and decided that she'd rather not write on that quite yet.
Soon enough though, they were speaking another language. Theo's eyes furrowed in confusion at the strange language, though it seemed oddly familiar- was it Marcus' natural tongue?
Marcus being her on-again off-again boyfriend she met on a trip to Sweden. He sweet talked her and followed her back to England. Every now and again they would get together and have a wild time, but something about each other clashed and they always broke apart. No. Not 'something clashed' more like- Theo got scared, started to see each and every little fault about him and decide to point them out. There was a fight and then he left her in her apartment, alone, once more.
It wasn't that she didn't like him, just that… well, she wasn't really sure on that.
"How about we meet up elsewhere aside form my bar, perhaps a park or somewhere you would feel more comfortable?" Eric Northman asked her, awaking Theo out of her thoughts.
"Ah, yeah, that'd be good." He smiled.
"We'll contact you by morning Ms James, until then, good night, and don't let the bed bugs bite." He laughed- bringing chills down Theo's spine with the tone he used, as she stood up and was ushered by Pam out of the bar and back to the street.
"You're alright for a witch," Pam said standing in the doorway of the back door.
"Wish I could say the same." Theo muttered, briefly forgetting the enhanced vampiric hearing. She heard Pam's laugh as the door shut and wondered exactly what she had accepted when she took the job on.