Going Down

[Marisol Ramirez]

"Yes, Mistress," Zel said with a happy smile, and then she backed up and dropped an elegant little curtsy. There, see? She did know how to behave.

Kind of.

She turned and walked back into her room, carefully closing the door behind her, and then made her way softly to the bathroom, where she proceeded to take a simply wonderful bath. The tub was big and the water delightfully warm and everything smelled ever so pretty and... well, it was very nice. And when that was over she wrapped herself in a HUGE towel (or it seemed huge to her, at least) and stepped out delicately, meticulously drying herself as she selected clothing for herself - and that was a bit of an operation right there. Whatever should she wear?

Still, everything finally got done to satisfaction and so she set off for the parlor, wondering what Mistress had meant. Whatever it was must be good - she was Mistress!

[Emile Fawkes]

Alisoun left her Pet to bathe and dress. In a few days and a few more baths, the scent of Ivy would be completely gone. Alisoun had gotten rid of Zel's old toys, as well, not wanting any reminder of the other vampire in Zel's mind or presence. Everything in Zel's life must revolve around her new, true Mistress. Ivy had simply been a pathetic stand-in.

While Zel got herself clean, Alisoun returned to the parlor and sorted through the catalogues Philip had brought in the meantime. They had the stench of resentment on them, and that made her smile.

Clean scents preceeded Zel entering the parlor. Alisoun looked up from the booklets and examined her Pet's clothes and hair. She had chosen Zel's wardrobe perfectly, as she'd known she would, and she was pleased by how well the colors and the cut of fabric brought out the little girl's hair, skin and mismatched eyes. She smiled at Zel and motioned for her to join her. "I had something brought in for you," she said, held out a small wrapped box. "A welcome home gift, one could say."

[Marisol Ramirez]

Zel paused in the doorway to the room, fidgiting a little as Mistress looked her over. She hoped she'd approve, Zel had been trying hard....

She smiled, and then motioned the girl across the room. Zel smiled back, and came.

"I had something brought in for you. A welcome home gift, one could say."

And at those words the little fox looked up at her Mistress with wide eyes. Something else? For her? But just look at how much she'd already been given! How could it be that she'd earned something else already? Things were so strange here.

"Really?" she asked reverently, slowly reaching out and taking the pretty little box with a kind of awe. There was a ribbon on top, a sparkly ribbon that flashed and caught the light in wonderful ways. "Thank you." She glanced back down again. "Can I open it now?" At the nod from Alisoun, she sat down and unwrapped it with much more care then children normally showed wrapped gifts. She didn't want to ruin the paper, after all, it was so pretty!"

[Emile Fawkes]

Alisoun could see she would not have to work hard to earn Zel's favor. Despite having demonstrated thoughts and emotions of loyalty to her previous owner, the little fox reacted well to shows of kindness. Alisoun had never had such a devoted pet before. At least, not one this happy. In her recovery period since Fallon, the pets she had taken while under Agni's tutelage had been mirror images of herself or Philip. Tortured, conflicted, scrambling after every crumb of affection thrown their way. Thanks to Agni and Alisoun, Philip had stayed that way, while Alisoun had risen above it and become a Mistress of her own. Still, she had never taken such a Pet as Zel - a toy for simple pleasures and entertainment. This was completely different than Philip, whose only purpose in life was to hate himself for Alisoun's amusement and cater to her more sadistic hobbies. Zel was not the right temperament for such a station; it would destroy her, and the purpose of Alisoun's torture games was not to destroy. She much preferred to see her victim's blood run, and then hear him beg for more.

She watched Zel carefully peel away at the paper down to the box, then open the box just as gently. Inside was a trinket, a ball that could fit in Zel's little palm, or a little fox's delicate mouth. It was a mosaic of two colors, blue and green, to match Zel's eyes.

"Do you like it?" Alisoun asked, her tone deceptively hopeful as if she honestly wasn't sure. "It was only on short notice, though you will certainly have more in the future."

[Marisol Ramirez]

Did she like it? Did she like it? It was BEAUTIFUL! ... and fine, beautiful might not be the most common adjective used to describe a little ball of blue and green, but it WAS!

She took it out of the little box with the same care she'd used in handing the gift from the beginning - this was a presant from Mistress, it deserved to be treated well - and then just looked at it for what seemed a long time. Then she looked back up at her kind, beautiful Mistress, and smiled joyfully, utterly sincerly. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" She practically wiggled, the way a little kid will when they have too much energy and aren't sure what to do with it. Ah well.

[Emile Fawkes]

Alisoun was pleased with Zel's reaction. She let a small smile touched with relief show on her lips. "You are welcome."

Somewhere, in the place where she had been listening for Cynthia's return, she became aware that the little vampire had returned with a Pet in tow. Good. She didn't doubt that the Pet would soon be brought here to be shown to her, which she wouldn't mind. Cynthia would adore Zel.

"We might have company soon," she informed her Pet. "However, I believe there is enough time for us to play a game with your present before our guests arrive." Alisoun had gleaned from Zel's memories that the fox loved to chase things. There were other things she might have found without asking outright questions, but a Pet's repetative, obedient interaction with its Mistress promoted obedience, and so there was very little reason for Alisoun to pass up an opportunity now. She would teach Zel that speaking with her Mistress was not only an easy task on her part, but rewarding as well.

"The game is this," Alisoun said, maintaining the light and airy smile. "I would like to get to know some things about you, and so I am going to ask you a few questions. Answer, and I shall throw your ball for you. If you do not know the answer, or believe that your answer may be unsatisfactory, tell me. I promise I shall not be angry." The smile deepened. "My only wish is that you feel safe here, and confident in your place at my side. Now, would you like to play?"

[Marisol Ramirez]

Ask her questions? Her Mistress wanted to get to know her better? And, even better, it was a game? Zel would have answered any questions that Alisoun had to the very best of her ability anyway (she was, after all, her Mistress - she certainly deserved that) but.... Mistress was telling her that it would be a game, answers to questions that she would have tried to answer anyway and then a chance to play with her lovely little blue-and-green ball....

"Yes, Mistress!" she chirruped. "Thank you!"

[Emile Fawkes]

"Wonderful," the vampire smiled. Getting to know Zel wasn't the priority she had in mind. First and foremost, this gave her the chance to identify problems with her new Pet before they surfaced unexpectedly. Also, it was training. Zel already seemed willing to comply with every request Alisoun presented, and she also appeared to be utterly devoted without prompting from her Mistress, but if there was one thing Alisoun had learned in her extended life, it was that an intelligent Mistress never settled for anything, not even apparent perfection. It would be folly to accept Zel's loyalty without testing, and careless to drop the simpering act so soon.

Maybe in a few weeks or months, depending on how well Zel did during that time, Alisoun would show her more demanding side. The side that didn't pay attention to Pets all the time. Zel was, after all, a toy, and Alisoun wouldn't feel like playing at every turn. At those times, Zel would have to amuse herself, either in or out of her Mistress's presence.

Her first question was simple and harmless. But then, wouldn't they all be so? "Let us begin. How old are you?" She held up the ball, poised the throw it when she recieved an answer. Because she would, and it would be the right one.

[Marisol Ramirez]

"I..." Zel said, her expression falling a little. "I'm not sure, Mistress. I think I'm 15." Zel didn't know exactly - she had been raised without knowing. Her first question and already she was disappointing her. But she knew that she'd been born in the spring, if little beyond that - her mother had told her that much.

She wanted to please her, even if it was only mostly the way that she'd been raised - Zel had been part of a fox den for most of her life, after all. But even so, already she was failing....

[Emile Fawkes]

My, my, first question in and already Zel was stumbling and uncertain! Alisoun didn't mind, because the little fox had given the best answer she could. She had given an answer at all. What Alisoun wouldn't have liked was mumbling or a lie. Zel had done neither, so she was given a smile of approval.

"Then you are 15. I am glad that you gave me your best guess. Very good, Zel!" And with a flick of the wrist, Alisoun sent the little ball flying and tumbling across the floor, sure to draw the attention of a little creature like a fox.

[Marisol Ramirez]

Zel was still rather unhappy about the whole thing - she'd wanted to be able to give a good answer! - until, at least, Alisoun proclaimed that answer to be good anyway. She was so nice! Zel smiled, and Mistress had said that she was 15, so now she even knew how old she was in a way that was better than a guess. She still wished that she knew more - but Zel always had her nose into everything, and Alisoun managed to distract her quite well when she flicked her hand elegantly and sent her toy soaring and bouncing and rolling across the room. And, since it was a game and this was what she was supposed to do, Zel reacted before thinking. She was a fox before she hit the ground and after the little thingie, catching it by jumping when it bounced off the wall. It was quite a leap, and she spent a few moments chewing on it in triumph before trotting back over and giving it back.

Zel liked her fox form - it was small and soft and safe and a bit easier to hide in if she needed to, but Mistress didn't want her in her second form.

She slipped back to being a girl.