*Note: This would be taking place the same night we are to finish playing things out.
Petra had noted a text from Jett after waking up, asking her to talk. She was up a little earlier than usual, but after double checking when the sun had set, she figured she was fine to venture out of her room and look for him. After not finding him in the main part of the suite initially, she inquired his whereabouts of Emilio, who informed her that he was in his room. She thanked the man, then went to Jett’s room, knocking on the door lightly before entering. What she found surprised her.
Jett was laying on the bed, not quite asleep, but not all there, either. He normally would have noticed her presence, but didn’t seem to notice anything at all. Concernedly, she stepped into the room, closing the door behind her, and moved over to take his wrist and check his pulse. Thankfully, he was fine, but he still seemed oblivious.
She scanned the room, on high alert in the off chance of an intruder. She saw no signs of one, however, she noted that on the bedside table just behind where she had sat to check his vitals were a small packet containing trace amounts of powder, a tourniquet, and a used needle. With obvious distaste, she delicately placed the needle and tourniquet into a nearby empty box. Picking up the baggie, she dipped a pinkie inside to get a taste of the powder and try to figure out what it was. After tasting, she leaned over and spit it out into a wastebasket. It tasted familiar, and after a moment she deduced it was heroin.
She placed the baggie into the box, then called Emilio, and kindly asked him to dispose of it, warning him of the danger of what was inside. He promised to be cautious and dispose of it properly, but she stopped him before he could vanish.
“Emilio, please don’t tell Brandon.”
“Miss?”
She looked at Jett. “I’ll inform him. For now I’d like to sober Jett up and try to figure out his reasons.” Emilio nodded, and then disappeared. She looked over at Jett, her eyes wandering over him, taking a few minutes to try and understand. Inside, she was near seething. Somehow, she felt hurt and betrayed that he would do something like this, but she kept her Beast at bay. Still, shock might work best to snap him out of it, so she slapped him. Hard enough to make him snap to, but not enough to break anything.
She didn’t account for Jett to act on instinct and try to attack her out of a sense of paranoia. He didn’t hurt her, however. She pinned him easily enough, and dragged him to the nearby bathroom, where she tossed him into the tub and ran the shower, making sure the water was cold. There was some yelling and swearing, but he sobered up quick and shut the water off before taking a real good look around.
“So you’re aware, I’m not happy” she said, placing her hands on her hips; eyes slightly narrowed. “I want an answer.”
“About what?” he asked, still in shock.
“The heroin.”
“Oh.” he sighed and slowly pulled himself up. He stripped out of most of his wet clothes and grabbed a towel to dry off, trying to act quick so as not to strain her patience any more than he already had. “It’s been the stress.” he answered.
“What stress?”
“The stress of not knowing when the other show is going to drop.”
“Explain.”
He sighed. “Marcus passes me off frequently to people he knows. Sometimes a short time, sometimes for an extended period of time, always reappearing in enough time to reaffirm my bond to him. I can count on less than one hand the amount of times I’ve been treated with any degree of kindness.”
“You’ve been treated with nothing but here.” she pointed out.
“Sure. For now. How long will that last? how long until Marcus wants me back?”
“Well aren’t we Mr. Pessimistic.”
“It’s happened too much for me not to be.” he said, then turned his wrists over. “Most people can’t see, but I know you can.”
She eyed him, but looked down. She had to heighten her senses for a little, since they were very faded, but she saw the scars. She looked back at him, and he dropped his hands.
“It never worked, obviously” he said. “So I had to find other coping methods. It’s worse when I don’t have access to music or instruments, like I do here. But there are times I panic.”
“Don’t do it again.” she pleaded.
“I can’t promise that. I can only promise I’ll try, but I’m not sure I can keep it.”
She sighed. “Brandon needs to know.” she shook her head when a look of fear passed across his face for a moment. “Jett, it’s not something I am going to keep from him. Emilio will tell him soon if I don’t.”
He sat down, putting his head in his hands. She rested a hand on his shoulder. “It might be better coming from you.” she said gently. All he did was shake his head. “Shower. Get dressed, and take your time. I’m going to have Emilio look for any vices you might have hidden while you do. I’ll tell Brandon in the meantime.”
He nodded. “I just don’t think I can.”
“Why?”
“It hearkens back to Marcus, and other domitors. It’s a fear of bringing up my failing for fear of what might happen.”
She hugged him. “I’ve got your back. We’re friends. I’ll express my desire to make sure he’s not harsh on you, alright?”
“Alright. I trust you.”
She kissed his forehead. “Good. Now soak in a hot shower.”
He got up and followed her advice while she spoke with Emilio again, before inquiring as to Brandon’s whereabouts, then heading to speak with him.
================
*Note: This would be taking place the same night we are to finish playing things out.
Chris didn’t like the position he now found himself in, but at least now he had the answers he sought. There was still the matter of four more questions to be asked of that guy his sister had called Vince, but there was no time limit, and he didn’t want to waste and opportunity where he could be given precious information.
He hadn’t been expecting to be called into service right away. When she called and told him he needed to come to a specific address, he didn’t hesitate, if only because there was still some fear over what might happen to him if he chose not to listen. He’d arrived at a interestingly designed manor, was met by a man who tuned out to be a servant, and was led into the basement of the building. Here he found his sister, and a good-looking but older man he’d learned was his sister’s maker. He was ignored for a bit, and then tasked to help her.
He didn’t know what was going on, but he paid attention and did what she asked. It was small adjustments, here and there, of a drawn circle, or collection of some materials. He quantified it as a science experiment, but soon learned it was more esoteric than that. It was really fascinating, in a way, and he even listened as the man, Endrik, taught his sister what she was doing incorrectly. Endrik seemed a patient teacher, and observation told him that his sister strove to be a patient student, but couldn’t help it when she wasn’t.
Her biggest failing seemed to be to fall into what he might have termed a singing trance. If it distracted her too much, she was gently corrected and steered back on track. Chris remained quiet throughout the lesson entire, unless he needed to respond to one of them. Part of him wanted to ask questions about the process, but he couldn’t think of where to even start with questions.
When Mandy had had enough for the night, she made this known. She wasn’t as rude about it as he might have guessed from her exhausted, exasperated look. Clearly, what her maker said mattered to her, so some measure of restraint was put in. When she was finally dismissed, she gestured for him to follow her, and he did so, without hesitation.
“I want you to check out of your hotel.” she said quietly, as they headed through the house tot he front door.
“Where am I supposed to stay then?”
“With me.”
“Is this one of those ‘no questions asked’ things?”
She nodded, but spoke. “I just want you closer at hand, in case I need your help.” she said. “Unfortunately. I don’t have a lot of room right now, as I only have a two-bedroom apartment. I need to look into getting a bigger place.”
“You got a couch?” he said, as they stepped outside.
“Yes, but it’s occupied by a disabled friend right now for a few nights. We’ll have to pick up an air mattress or something.”
“Won’t your friend protest?”
“Michael doesn’t get a choice in the matter, and Chance is only there a few nights.” she said, unlocking her car. “I’m going to follow you back to the hotel. You’re going to get your things, check out, then head to return your rental. We’ll drive back to my place after, making a stop to pick up an air mattress and anything else you might need on the way. Fair enough?”
“Yeah, sounds pretty generous.” he said, climbing into the rental. He waited for her to get her car started, then drove off. The motel wasn’t far from the airport itself, and as such was near to the car rental place, so he was able to take care of both things in one fell swoop just about. As promised, she took him shopping to pick up some needed things, and didn’t specify he had to stick to specific brands or anything. When shopping was done, they headed back to her place. On the drive, he decided to ask some questions.
“Are you alright?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You look utterly exhausted.”
“Magic can be draining.” she replied. “And I’m hungry.”
“Oh. Are you -?”
“I’m not going to eat you.”
“I wasn’t going to ask that.”
“Maybe, maybe not. But I’m not. And no, it doesn’t hurt. I’m going to get you home, and then order a pizza for you and Michael, and nibble on the delivery guy or just head out for a bit.”
“Can’t you just skip a night?”
She shrugged. “I can, but it distracts me a lot if I don’t eat when I feel hungry. Older vamps can seemingly go days. I might get there one day, I dunno. It wouldn’t bother me so much if I weren’t so tired, probably.”
“Why go through the ruse of a pizza guy? Why not go for me, or Michael? We’d be most readily available, and less hassle for you. Besides, you said it wouldn’t hurt.”
“I’d offer a more delicate answer, but I’m cranky right now, so to be blunt, more often than not, I tend to get really horny after feeding.”
He cleared his throat, a little uncomfortable at the bluntness. “Oh. I can see how that might be awkward then.”
“And for the record, yes, Michael and I have been an occasional thing.”
“I thought he was gay?”
“I’m his experiment.”
“Oh.”
“And you?” he asked as they pulled into the parking lot of her complex.
“And me what?” she parked, getting out of the car to get the things they’d bought.
“Are you gay?”
“No, I’m straight.” They headed towards the building.
“Many partners?”
She side-eyed him. “Why does it even matter to you?”
“Curiosity.”
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “A few. Four or five, before you get to that question. So uno reverse time, same question.”
“More than that. But I’ve dated more. Probably because I’m a few years older.” he paused, noting a slight hitch in her expression. He was about to ask more about it, but they arrived at her apartment and she unlocked the door. He could ask later, or interrogate Michael. Right now he suspected if he pressed, he’d upset her, and with her being a vampire, he wasn’t sure what she was capable of.
================
*Note: This would be taking place the day after we are to finish playing things out.
Aislinn was giddy with excitement. She was finally getting out of her parents house! She couldn’t be happier. Her father was happy for her, her mother predicted doom and gloom, and her Aunt was already conspiring to take over her room. Her Aunt had been hovering after the announcement, purportedly wanting to help her pack. Ash had overheard her mentioning to someone how she wanted to see what she could skim off the top for her kids, and Ash wasn’t about to let all she’d worked hard to pay for for herself go to some ungrateful brats.
Ash had sweetly suggested her Aunt go out and pick up some things before they get started, purposefully giving her a little too much money to buy things with, figuring shed take the kids and go spend it all on them – she wasn’t wrong. She’d called not long after leaving, telling Ash she’d forgotten she had promised to take the kids to Centreville Amusement Park. Ash rolled her eyes but promised her Aunt it was okay. Knowing they’d likely be all day at the park, especially since it also was a water park, she took the time to carefully pack the things important to her, then put them into some footlockers she locked with padlocks, just in case.
By dinner her Aunt still wasn’t back, so she relented and let her mother help her, despite knowing that her mom only had bad things to say about the whole endeavor. She knew it came from a place of love and worry, however, so didn’t mind it much. By night they were all packed, and she had confirmation of her flight. Luca had been considerate enough to book her the earliest flight he could, as well as send a moving service to collect her things and drive them down. She balked when she saw the reservation. A first class ticket! Holy hell what kind of job and boss did Luca have?
She could barely sleep that night due to giddiness. She must have gotten up to double check her luggage and carry-on at least six times due to her excited state, and worry over the fact that she would be without her things for two or three days while it was being driven down, and then likely put into storage until she were able to find a more permanent place to stay. Ultimately, she made herself stick to having packed a weeks worth of summer clothes, swimsuit, laptop, and other minor varying essentials.
In the morning, she checked her email, and found her hotel reservation had been sent to her at some point. It wasn’t an ultra-fancy place, but it was better than what she had honestly expected. She had it stuck in her head for some reason that Luca was footing the bill himself, even though she knew he had said his boss was considering it a business expense. Shortly after lunch, the truck came, and the movers loaded her belongings onto it as she watched, making sure things were treated with care, and made sure that they had a number for both herself and Luca.
By three she was in the car with luggage and carry-on, having said goodbye to her mother, aunt and cousins. Her father was taking her to the airport, and she said her goodbyes to him after picking up her ticket and checking her bag, then went off to find her gate. As she sat and waited, she texted Luca, letting him know she had picked up the ticket just fine and was at the airport, waiting for her flight. They chit-chatted until they called for passengers to start boarding. The flight itself was going to be about five hours and change. She was supposed to call when she landed, since she still technically had to go through customs, and who knew how long that would take.
The flight itself was uneventful, unless you counted the questionable looking meal. Even though it was theoretically maybe better quality than coach, she still only picked at it, not finding it very appetizing. She’d just have to get Luca to get her some food after she cleared customs. It had been a while since she had seen him last. They’d been net friends since middle school, and she had the fantastic chance to actually meet him when he’d been able to qualify as an exchange student. While her family hadn’t hosted him, she and Lucas saw each other frequently, and he often said it had been his only truly happy school year.
She was so impatient about wanting to see him again, she kept silently urging the plane to go faster. During the exchange year, they had gotten close. She’d known he was gay, and while she sometimes wondered where they might be if he weren’t, she didn’t see the point in dwelling on things that would never happen. Instead, she focused on being his biggest non-family supporter, and he’d seemed to benefit from it, though she knew his home life had seemed worse after he had gotten back. Faster, faster faster! she silently urged.