Faline

After Avina finished eating, she hightailed it back to Lady's door. Guessing that's where she went anyway. The five Were-animals stick around, chatting and eating.

Rafael comes back up with another wolf and I have to do a double-take at his face. The new wolf’s eyes are a color I've never seen on anyone before. Dark violet. Even niftier? He's English. Meaning United Kingdom English. The accent is a dead give-away. The amount of politeness from him is almost annoying. Why the hell is he here? Why are any of them here if they're all so...good?

The Brit also looks in his mid-twenties, few inches over six-foot, and just like his buddy when it comes to looking like a football player. He's introduced as Zaaz. When he sticks out his hand, I take it automatically, not really thinking about it. His blushing has me almost frowning.

"Uh, no offense, but what are you guys doing here? You all seem so...young. And way too friendly. Don't get me wrong, it's starting to grow on me in a good way, but it's so different than what the usual is around here."

They both smile while Zaaz's multicolored hair draws my gaze. Browns, cream, and black, really long in the front and short in the back. Reminds me of 'scene hair'. Seems to be a rising thing.

"Good a place as any. Can be ourselves without the worry of exposure. Have to say though, I think you're the first Vamp to actually talk to any of us without your nose stuck in the air."

Guess he has a point. It really gets the gears going in my head. This place is a safe house as well as a brothel but more and more it comes across as a hotel to me. Hotel for the weird and 'unnatural'. I smile a bit absently, answering openly.

"Could partially be due to the fact that my sister is a Werewolf."

The look on their faces is priceless. My lazy smile turns into friendly laughter. Not just their faces but the young lion as well seems surprised. Guess he missed that part.

"You mean like a sister?"

Zaaz's question has me looking at him again, dark purple eyes confused but interested. I've heard it was possible to have eyes that color, I've just never seen it, it being super rare and all. I shake my head, amusement clear on my face.

"Nope. Born blood sister. It's a long story."

I shrug while keeping up with the food line my crew and I have going. Not an actual line where you get a plate and all, but food prep. Down a few people, it makes it a little easier on the others.

Leidolf steps on my foot, reminding me he's still there. Looking down, I can see the question in his eyes as well. To possibly save some time, I just point up at the painting. The one Kierra had done years ago, sold, and ended up here before I ever showed up. Almost a foretelling of current events, if you believe in that stuff. When I first saw it, I was amazed by it even being here, but after spending time with Lady, it really isn't so surprising.

They look up at it, and while Zaaz doesn't seem to understand, Rafael's eyes start to glitter. Just how young are these guys? One of their friends back at the table seems to understand, having looked up when I pointed. When he looks back to me with wide eyes, I just nod and smile. He then turns to the others and seems to be explaining to them. Glancing over to Orion, he's talking to his nephew, Alastor.

The two get called back to their friends, which works out just fine for me, means I can focus better on what I'm doing. Prep line goes on for a few more minutes before everyone splits and goes to their separate stations. Lex and Scarlett get birds into the rotisserie ovens, Joey works on the fryers, and Salem takes up at the regular ovens.

Not too much time passes before Marie comes back in, folded clothes in her hands. Smiling at her, I usher her over where I slip my knife between the layers. Whispering close to her face as I tell her to take them to my pack.

Her head inclines before she slips back out. I'll be so glad when the new uniforms come in, the current ones have to go. I barely notice them anymore, but others notice the skin they fail to cover.

Group of Weres have wandering eyes, but I'm glad to see it's just curious looks and not crazed lust or the like. Rafael and Zaaz are wolves, but the other three are still a mystery. Guessing the one who got what I was saying when pointing at the painting is one, but I'm not sure. Too many smells in here.

Several people come in at the same time I send Trisha and Danica out to do whatever it is they usually do. Turns out it’s schooling for the girl - time to hit the books. I'm glad to see that the girl looks forward to it instead of bored or uninterested.

Kerry, Milo, Avina, and Marie all come in as they leave. Marie still has my clothes, so I know something isn't going to be good news, while Avina looks downright bouncy in her poorly contained excitement. The servals are the calmest ones, talking to each other as they walk in.

I wash my hands and try to prepare myself for bad news as two of the four come right to me. Avina and Marie had come in through different doorways, but when Avina sees Marie with my clothes, her bounciness falters. Gre-at.

Drying off, I turn just as they both reach me. Looking from one to the other, I try to make a joke.

"Okay, so who has the good news and who has the bad?"

They look at each other before the human speaks up first.

"I think that my task also goes with Marie's. Please don't be upset with me."

Bad news. Lovely. I hate it when people say that. How can you not react to something, when you don't know what it is that they don't want you to react a certain way to? Taking a deep unneeded breath, I nod to her.

She doesn't look too convinced, but she plows ahead. Brave girl. Can't be too bad though if she was all excited about whatever it is, right? I'm a bit confused.

"My Mistress had me gather your things and take them to a certain room..."

My eyes must have flickered because her eyes drop instantly.

"Not hers. Please hear me out."

Soon as she says 'not hers' I calm instantly, so I have relatively no problem with her continuing. She keeps her head down as she keeps going.

"It is near hers, however. She said everything you need is within it to do your job. She wishes you see it for yourself as soon as possible."

She raises her head slightly to look back at the other Vamps, and I catch on pretty quick. She doesn't want to say too much more in front of the others and cause a problem. Nodding, I touch her arm.

Not happy that I’m near that woman, but at least I'm not in her damn rooms. Have a feeling it's to keep an eye on me though and make it so I have no excuse to give on not being in her bed.

Given gift wrapped in barbed wire.

"I'm not mad at you Avina. I don't blame you for doing what you're told."

She relaxes and looks up at me, eyes all shiny with gratitude. Hate to say it, but it's pretty sickening that she has to show it at all. Looking over to Marie, she also looks a little relieved.

The female Werewolf had come returning my clothes because what I told her to put them in, is no longer there. Nodding to them both, I have Avina show her where the rest of my things are so they aren't put somewhere or just carried around. Have to hide my real reaction from them, but I honestly know it isn't any of their faults.

Kerry and Milo come forward next, he having somewhere retrieved the loincloth the rest of them wear, as well as the collar that he seems right at home in. Then again, probably is. Lady had told them they were all to get one and put it on immediately, so I guess that got brought up at some point.

Glad they remembered because I hadn't. Hope the others do, but even if they don't, it can be dealt with easily enough. Even though he's decked out and looking ready to be put on the floor, he still has some healing to do.

They were given a grace period, I fully intend for them to take advantage of it. Seems he has fallen to the glamour of the place, just hope reality doesn't hurt too much when it crashes into him. Literally in some cases.

"I'd like to look around more, if possible."

"It's possible, but let me find you another, I need Kerry here in the kitchen. Things might change up a bit soon, but those working in here are usually found in here unless sleeping, as far as I know."

Looking to the female serval, she nods her head, looking a bit nervous at my mention of change. I give her and the others a reassuring smile which has them looking relieved. I'd like to keep them all here, but if they wish to do something else then that's their choice.

To be honest, I am curious about the room that is named mine. More than likely one of those that looks like a failed library, but that's fine. As long as it holds what I need.

The others that had been sent out are steadily filing back in, so I wait till everyone's back. Don't want Skeet assuming I went back on my word and thinking he was left here. Orion is still keeping an eye on the group of Weres, but he seems to be fine with them. A couple of them have even engaged Alastor in their conversations.

Really taking a step back and looking at it, it would be pretty awesome if that could be the atmosphere of the whole place and not just in here. I can try for it, but there’s no guarantee it would ever happen.

I scoff to myself. Not like I have anything else better to do, and I have loads of time. Long as no one gets uppity and ganks me before my time, anyway.

Body is letting me know that the sun is rising or already up, the tiny prickles along my skin causing goosebumps for a moment. Diego is still curled up on the bench, looks like he'd been napping before everyone came back in. If they work anything like humans, the more rest he gets the better.

Healing four busted legs with multiple breaks takes quite a bit of energy. He should do just fine with Kierra and the others she has now. Just have to keep telling myself that she isn't running a halfway house and I can't send everyone to her.

Granted those staying, for the most part, want to be here, so no worries there. Only one on the fence seems to be Rika. She doesn't decide before they leave though and I'll send her out with them. Too young to be here in the first place.

Doesn't seem like a problem though, since her face on coming in seems to tell me what I need to know. She doesn't look too thrilled, and Moon, who escorted her, inclines his head towards me. If I remember right, Moon is one of the older animals here, not the oldest, but one that's actually way older than what he looks.

A WereHyena in his seventies but only looks to be in his late twenties. Oriental looking, I've no idea where he came from before he ended up here. Doesn't really feel right to ask just out of curiosity, not with some of the scars on him.

He seemed to catch on though that I think her too young, maybe even agrees, so I'd take a guess that he showed her some of the darker sides of the place. Not lying, but showing her some of the more serious things that go on here. I return his gesture, thankful that I can send her away as well.

"I would like to leave with the others if the offer is still open. I don't consider myself too young like you guys do, but I'm not very comfortable with how some of the things here go."

Not about to tell her that I plan on changing things so it isn't such a horror show, so I just nod to her. Ty and Thessily are the last ones to come in, he gives me a small smile and leads her to the table to sit again. She seems to be more aware of her surroundings and not such an automaton. Good.