No Place Like Midnight

[Emile Fawkes]

This thread is tagged to Cynthia, but any Midnight residents (Masters and Pets) who might be wandering and wish to meet the lovely ladies are welcome to stop by.

Alisoun remembered the last time she had been to Midnight. From the moment she stepped in the door, it had felt like home. There was an aura to this place, a scent of blood and power and luxury that whispered to anyone who crossed its threshold. It had been destroyed and rebuilt since Alisoun's time here, and thus was different in design and make. But it still held that air of importance, of granduer and power. It was still the stuff of legends.

Agni had been welcomed by his brood and in turn welcomed Alisoun into Midnight's fold. She didn't know if any of her old acquaintences would be here, if any of them had even survived Midnight's burning. She hoped so; it would be nice to see a familiar face. But if there wasn't, and everyone she had known here was dead, she would have no problem settling in. This was her place. She belonged here. Having traveled the world, she knew for a fact that there was no place like Midnight.

When the shopping was finished (for now) and Cynthia's belongings retrieved, Alisoun directed her Pet to Midnight. When they arrived she left the car and showed her little doll vampire inside. The Lobby was different then she remembered, but no less grand. Alisoun's heels made clean clacking sounds on the tile as she strode to the center of the room and spread her arms, inhaling deeply the lingering scents of blood, pain and power as if to take them into herself. She turned to Cynthia. "This, my dear, is Midnight." She dropped her arms. "Nothing else can compare, and nothing ever will. Welcome home."


((And so it begins. As always, let me know if anything needs changing.))

[Cynthia]

And Cynthia, in her doll-like appearance, had chosen to dress the part, wearing a darling satin and lace gown that only a mother could have doled upon her only child. Or father, in this case, as Cynthia's last suitor had given his petite little lover. She smoothed her fingers across the perfect shade of peacock blue the dress' fabric boasted, tips touching at the ivory lace. It was not gaudy - nay, but elegant, slimming, with a cream-coloured shawl at her shoulders to keep away the chill. She held a Christian Dior clutch in her small hands, and nearly dropped it as the blast of warm energy slid across her.

Perfect blonde strainds of hair were kept neatly in place by an invisible hold as she looked around her, and only until the small laugh, like silver bells, did the strands move, dancing upon her darling little blushing keeps.

'Oh, Alisoun, it is everything I could have ever possibly dreamed," she purred, her voice so youthful and amazed. "I can feel it on my skin; I can inhale the deep saturation of energy," she breathed, taking a pointed breath. As her small chest fell against the taught fabric, she placed a finger to her lips.

"This is simply amazing," she exclaimed. She giggled to herself, walking in a circle as her small heels made miniature click-clicking sounds, mimicking Alisoun's as they had only moments ago. Cynthia seemed so much more like an animated ceramic figurine than a real live girl, it was amazing that a pedophile or other nasty had never snatched her up ages ago. Or maybe they had tried, and Cynthia had shown them what happens when you make little girls angry.

[Emile Fawkes]

((*pictures Claudia from Interview w/ the Vampire* ))


Alisoun lowered her arms and watched her little doll revel in Midnight's welcome. Now that they were here, Alisoun was wondering how she might like to situate their accomodations. Should she give Cynthia a room of her own, or a section of Alisoun's own chambers in order to keep the girl close by? Cynthia was no more a Pet to Alisoun than Alisoun had been to Agni, but Alisoun still felt a stirring of ownership and possession when she looked at the vampire girl. Were Alisoun the sort to be maternal, she might have called the feeling that. But children were a dead hope, a desire she was long rid of and glad to be. Cynthia was... a project. Alisoun would take this immortal doll and teach her everything she knew.

"This is simply amazing."

"This is merely the beginning." She felt in her mind that Phillip had found someone to take their belongings to Alisoun's new rooms. Good. She called to him to join her and escort them through the building; it wouldn't be right to explore Midnight without her Pet at her side. Cynthia, on the other hand, must be bought a Pet, and quickly. Alisoun wouldn't have her doll wandering the vampire palace without a protector.

Phillip entered the lobby and came to her, kissing her cheek when it was held out expectantly. He was calm, but there was an underlying restlessness that she recognized, and it made her grin. He wanted her attentions, badly, though he knew better than to ask. Fortune smiled on him, however; Alisoun was in the mood to cause him some pleasurable pain. Perhaps Cynthia could even join in.

"Shall we continue? I admit, I have not been here since Midnight was burned to the ground, and things are different since I was last here. Better, but different. I recall a courtyard, however. Perhaps we might seek it out?" The courtyard had also been a place of communion, where it was almost assured that one might meet another Midnight resident. Alisoun was interested in what new vampires had come to Midnight since its old days, and would be disappointed if they did not meet her standards.

[Cynthia]

"Oh, yes," she beamed, tapping her small feet against the flooring as she tried to decide what she wanted to explore first. The courtyard sounded as good as any.

"Is there anyone notable I should meet?" she asked. "Anyone you deem worthy of our audiance?" The question was so innocent and yet so totally conceited - she was so very precious. Cynthia smiled again, dark lashes fluttering as she ran fingers against the fabric of the shawl.

She watched Phillip interact with Alisoun and sighed wistfully, the sound useless against her glossy, dead lips. She needed a pet of her own, and soon. She would grow to restless.

[Emile Fawkes]

Alisoun smiled at Cynthia's self-inclusion of "our". Not five minutes within Midnight, and already acting like a little Mistress. "The Master of Midnight, Ian; I would like for us to meet him personally." Alisoun wanted to know exactly what kind of new management her paradise was under, whether it was as she remembered or drastically new. Changes were not bad, unless they were. She had heard mixed things about the new Midnight, Jaguar, and Ian.

She lead them down the hall, Phillip at her arm like a gentleman. "Outside of him, those whom I think you should meet will depend on how many of us from the old days are still here. The number of us who survived Midnight's destruction were... few." There were a certain few old friends she was hoping to see, but only time would tell if her hopes were in vain.

There was a sigh from Cynthia as Phillip kissed Alisoun's cheek, one that the older vampire understood. She stroked a hand down Phillip's cheek and lingered minute attention on his pulse, a silent promise for later that night. "Do not fret, my lovely. We will find you a Pet soon enough. I will not have you go unattended."

[Cynthia]

"Where shall we find the Master, then?" she inquired, hoping that Alisoun would help her find a suitible companion. She was so envious of how devoted Phillip was, but she did not reserve her jealousy for Alisoun, or even her Pet, but rather hid it for a while, promising to turn it into constructive energy later, on her very own Pet.

She came to pause by Alisoun's side, a small version of the larger female vampire, and only glanced at the occasional passerby, lashes like a China Doll, fluttering at this and that. She awaited Alisoun's instructions, not because she was "obediant" to her, nay, but because she reguarded the woman as a teacher, or a mentor, or even a bigger sister.

She could not be jealous of someone as lovely and as close to perfection as herself, after all, Alisoun only deserved what Cynthia did: The very, very best. She smiled up at the taller vampire, and there was something darkly wicked in the eyes of the child-like demon as she managed a little giggle.

[Ian]

As it happened to be, that master was heading for the courtyard himself, and ran into the two ladies in time to overhear their last few lines.

He paused, aware that it was good to maintain pleasant relations with the residents of Midnight.

"Good evening, ladies," he said with a smile. He vaguely remembered one of them from before the fall of Old Midnight, but couldn't quite place her name. In a way, he hoped that she didn't remember him.

"I happened to hear you were looking for me?" he then inquired.

[Emile Fawkes]

Well, if this wasn't just a stroke of luck. Alisoun was patient and could wait to meet the Master if need be, but why wait then the man himself strode up to them in no time at all?

She released her physical hold on her Pet and came to stand with Cynthia. Her smile was light and beaming, full of delight. "It would seem we will meet him right here. Good evening, Master Ian," she greeted him with a respectful half-curtsey and a nod. "Yes, we were looking forward to meeting you. It is good to be back at Midnight." His face touched a faded memory, one that came attached to a more prominant picture of Jeshickah. Did he remember her? Whether he did or not did not matter. If they had no memory of each other, there was no reason not to let the present be a clean slate.

A hand went behind Cynthia, not touching, but to draw attention to the petite angel at her side. "May I present my honored guest, the lovely Cynthia?"

[Cynthia]

Cynthia turned to gaze upon the new Master of Midnight. She cocked her head slightly, blonde waves falling just so, the china-doll child smling as she met his steps and held out her hand.

"Master Ian, then, it is a pleasure," she said most graciously. Ah, but Cynthia was evil, like a sour candy on the inside - and out? She was just a sweet as honey. She seemed almost joyful, and that light pink blush on her cheeks that cast some life into the otherwise palid countinence was betraying much of a real live girl.

"Pray, I am without a Pet of my own.. but I have never been to a place that had a system such as this. Could you tell me where to find one? Are they here, or must I contact a seller?" Cynthia asked with both interest and great curiosity, aching deeply to find someone to care for her and adore her.

If they were worthy, of course.

[Ian]

Goodness gracious, she was bringing a new one into this. Ian wanted to bash his head into a wall, but instead he smiled.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Cynthia. Please, both of you. Ian's fine enough."

He listened to Cynthia's request with well-mannered interest, and thought for a moment before answering. This was, after all, one of the trickier questions. He knew he couldn't stop Cynthia and her mentor from getting a pet, and if he tried, he'd just make a mess for himself.
|(You can't save them all,)| he told himself.

"There are slaves who work here at Midnight, yes, but they're hardly good enough for a lady such as you," he smiled. "I suppose it depends a lot on whether you want one who is already trained, or if you want to train them yourself."
He thought for a while. Hadn't he heard...
"I know that..." Oh, what was his name again? Ah, right. "I know Zillah has a few for sale at the moment. Perhaps you might find something to suit your taste there?"

[Cynthia]

"I would prefer one already tamed, but the training of others does not interest me. Most of them are far too violent and their Pets end up scared and confused. I want someone whom I can take care of, who can take care of me, as I deserve," she said simply, smiling up at him.

"Where might I find Zillah, then, Ma - Ian?" My, but Cynthia was so very mannered and polite, it was hard to -dislike- her, not unless you knew her personally. But even then, she was only very rotten when someone got in the way of her *true love*, whatever poor man that happened to be at the time.

She smiled over at Alisoun gleefully, and clapped her hands in the child-like body she had. "Maybe I can find one today!" she said, excited.

[Ian]

Well, at least she wasn't one who'd use fear to control her pets. That was a partway relief at least. That meant a pet might actually get a good life with her -- well, as good a life as a pet could have.

"I believe Zillah has some of those too," he told Cynthia. "I heard he recently came into possession of quite a few unbroken slaves and pets, and decided to sell them on rather than take them on himself."
And thank whichever god was listening for that.

He gave the directions to Zillah's quarters.

[Emile Fawkes]

Alisoun stayed silent and observing through the conversation, pleased by what she saw of both Ian and Cynthia. The Master was different from Midnight's old Mistress. His manner was more politely hospitable, whereas Jeshickah's tone tended to hold an edge that reminded its listener who was in charge. Alisoun had not been bothered by that- she had no desire to rule Midnight or anywhere. The only thing that mattered was that the vampire in charge did not limit her within its walls. That, above all else, would be intolerable.

"Maybe I can find one today!"

The light in Cynthia's eyes was bright and sparkling. Alisoun smiled back at her. "Let us cross our fingers, then. Your first night here should be with company, and not just mine." Cynthia should have her own companion to help her explore her new home. Alisoun would escort her and keep her company, of course, but she was planning on cristening her own room tonight with some of Philip's blood.

Turning back to Ian, she gave him a smile as well. "Thank you. We appreciate your help. It has been so long since I have been in Midnight's circles, I would not know who to ask, and I want the best for Cynthia." The smile deepened. "Perhaps I might  even find another Pet, myself."

There was a small flicker of jealousy from Philip at this comment.

[Cynthia]

Cynthia caught the subtlest of movements from Philip, and smirked suddenly, looking at Alisoun. "Oh, but won't he be jealous?" she asked, pointing at him in a rude way. She did it on purpose, but only because she felt like being cruel for the moment.

She smiled glibly at him past Alisoun, and then looked back up to her - oh, Alisoun had to know what she was doing, but Cynthia didn't care. A Pet should always want what its Mistress wants, period.

[Emile Fawkes]

Alisoun had ignored Philip's feelings on the subject, but she didn't mind Cynthia pointing them out. On the contrary, it made her smile and turn her attention to her brother and Pet.

"Now why would that be?" she asked sweetly, more to Philip than Cynthia, even though this was for Cynthia's benefit as well. Playing with Philip's emotions was the least she could do to repay Cynthia for giving her the excuse. "He knows he's all mine. He knows I won't ever give him away." She tilted her head at him, walking forward. "Does he think I will love him less if my love is shared?" Now close enough, she traced a gentle finger down his jaw. "Does he think I will no longer play with him, if there is someone else to capture my attention?" Her finger and fingernail went down the other side of his face. Gently, tenderly- and then a sharp flick of the wrist cut a red line across his cheek. Blood trickled down his face like little red tears.

"Go to our rooms and help the other slaves unpack, Pet. If I can't trust you to trust in my love and my affection, how could I ever trust you to escort me and lovely Cynthia through these halls?"

Philip swallowed and bowed. His blood dripped to the floor. "Yes, Mistress. I'm sorry."

"Your obedience will be your apology."

Phillip left. Alisoun sighed, turning back to Ian and Cynthia as she licked the blood from her finger. "I am sorry you had to see that, Ian," she said. "I expect better from my Pets, especially in your presence."