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Difficult Beginnings

Ginnie watched as Shay thrashed and cried out in the throes of The Change. Her personal change had not been so violent, but perhaps that was because her's had not taken place in the midst of violence. Unable to watch ay longer, Ginnie retreated to the kitchen and pulled a bag of blood from the drawer of the fridge. She poured it into her favorite mug, and warmed it in the microwave. It was such a mundane task ad it soothed her. Shay's cried continued in the other room, as Ginnie took her first sips from the mug. She'd made it halfway through when a crash followed by a thud had her running into the living room.

Shay lay on the couch, but her end table, and lamp were in pieces on the floor. Sighing softly she began to pick up the small pieces of class and place them into the large unbroken bottom of the lamp. Shay whimpered, moaned and gave the occasional shudder, and Ginnie wondered if she was nearing the end and would need to be fed again.

She carted the lamp into the kitchen and dumped it into the garbage. Passing back through the living room, she righted the end table then pulled the vacuum from the closet. With out much thought to her actions she vacuumed the area around the couch, and because it covered the piteous noises of her new child...'Oh God, she's my child now. I don't want this.' She vacuumed the entire room, hot tears streaming down her cheeks to make dark blotches on her shirt.

When there was no more places to vacuum Ginnie put the machine away and returned to the living room. Shay lay quietly now, and Ginnie took up a place on the coffee table, close enough to help, far enough away to protect herself, from what she was unsure, but it helped calm her nerves.

Shay 18 years ago
Taking a few seconds to consider his description of her, she realized she did feel a bit...peckish? There was a slight gnawing in her belly, and a cold clamminess to her skin. A slight pounding in her head completed what she now assumed must be evidence of her vampirism, and a signal that she was in need of...blood. With the dissipation of her earlier terrors, she now found herself quite in control, or at least no longer feeling the need to dissolve into tears.

"Again I must defer to your experience in such matters, and in that vein - pardon the pun - a little more...nourishment might be welcome. I don't suppose I'll know for sure if that's what my body is telling me until I try it."

Yet the more she remained sequestered away in the bedroom, the more she wanted to know what was going on out in the other room, with the other women.

"I must impress upon you, I feel very strongly that I be allowed to participate in whatever fate is being planned for my life." And pausing for emphasis, she reiterated. "Very strongly."

Something else she just now noticed about her, was she seemed to have a determined will. Was that something she had before, or a new trait? Not that it mattered, but she could see herself having that conversation on a regular basis for the immediate future. Every action done, or word spoken could have a link to her past. Again, however, it didn't seem to matter. Not now anyway.
Alec Devereaux 18 years ago
Stepping closer to the bed, he gave a small smirk and nodded.

"I doubt that anything beyond where your room will be s being planned for you. But I don't see why we can't move you out to the couch while we get something in your belly. As long as you promise not to bite anyone on the way."

Winking, he offered a hand to help her up.

"If there is any dizziness, discomfort, loss of balance...take it as slow as you need to. I don't remember much of the physical aspects of the change, and as far as I can gather it is very different for each of us. Take your time - we've got plenty of it."
Carol 18 years ago
Carol took the papers from Ginnie and read them over. Yeah, good times, she sighed to herself. It wasn't anything she or Dayle couldn't handle, it's just a pain in the ass to deal with especially now that the turning had wiped her memory. She was about to mumble that it could be worse, but she stopped herself from saying it, just in case.

'You know for someone who woke up a vampire and can't remember how it happened - she's taking this rather well.' The issue of her own turning had yet to be an topic of discussion with Simon, although she assumed the rest of the clan thought it would come now, especially being his companion. She just hoped now that her turning was nothing like Shay's...to not know who you are or who you love, that would be a fate worse than death.

Carol listened to Dayle's bit of information and nodded.
'Technically she was listed as a familiar, held to the same rules and regulations as the rest of us. Emotionally she wasn't though - they were a couple in a love.' She shrugged, 'Hell I'm not Simon's familiar but I'm listed as his in the database. I don't know, we'll figure it out, let's just find him.'
Shay 18 years ago
It seemed odd to her that Ginnie would need the assistance of two other women, if all that was being discussed was Shay's living arrangements. But for now she really had no reason not to trust what she was being told. Something deep inside her urged her to trust these people, and from what she'd seen, they only appeared concerned for her welfare.

In fact, Alec seemed almost overly worried about her. After the initial pain and fear she had gone through, she hadn't felt any more discomfort than the off and on feeling of strangeness, and the slowly growing hunger.


"While I don't expect to be entering any marathons, I really don't feel bad at all." Running her tongue over the sharp points of her teeth,it occurred to her that she hadn't looked at them yet. Taking Alec's hand, Shay rose and moved to the mirror again, and smiled. Her normal smile revealed nothing, but when she pulled her lips back in a bit of a sneer, the fangs were pretty visible. Turning to Alec she showed him. "You too?" While talking to him she hadn't noticed whether or not he had them, and decided a little more reassurance was required.

And then his comment about time sunk in and she giggled.


"Do you want to check with Ginnie, to make sure it's alright if I sit in on the living arrangement discussion?"

Shay had moved to the door and stood waiting.
Alec Devereaux 18 years ago
Chuckling at her hint of fang, Alec nodded. Flashing his pearly whites, he quipped

"Sure, sure. I'll show you mine since you showed me yours. Just don't tell Ginnie."

At Shay's question about heading in, Alec figured a little showing off might be in order. It would also help reestablish trust. Pausing for a moment, Alec angled his head more to the door and focused on his hearing. The doors in the Domicile were quite good, but there was also internal ventilation. Either way, he eavesdropped on the tail end of Carol's commentary. Judging that they were likely past the sticky bits of the conversation, Alec nodded.

"It sounds like Carol is going to take care of some of the particulars, Dayle the others. It is probably safe to be out on the couch. I'll get that blood for you."

Opening the door, he gestured, indicating that she should walk first. He wanted to be at a good grabbing angle in case she had a bout of cramps, weakness, or hunger at the sight of Carol's human and tasty looking neck. Got to cover all of the bases.
Shay 18 years ago
Odd how seeing his teeth gave her a reassurance his words hadn't completely provided. None the less, they did, and she felt even more relaxed now. She laughed at his little joke, and nodded.

"Our secret, I promise." It seemed a little strange to be thinking about men, and sex, at this junction of her life, when everything else was so twisted about, but the more she talked to Alec, and watched him, the more attractive he became. Ginnie's voice startled her out of her lascivious day dreams, and she remembered Alec belonged to someone else.

Forcing a small cough, Shay blinked away thoughts of hot, writhing bodies, and concentrated on what was going on in the other room. She could hear snatches of words, but apparently not anywhere near as well as Alec could. Maybe with time she could hone those skills, or find others equally useful. There was a lot for her to consider in the near future, and while a bit of apprehension hung around her like a faint fog, the challenges also excited her.

Moving through the doorway, tentatively, but without hesitation, Shay looked at the three women in the room, and sat down on the couch she had occupied earlier. Though she felt more secure at Alec's side, she couldn't tether herself to him, and needed to get herself to the point where she felt that same security in her own company. She was alone now, and the sooner she understood, accepted that, and became at ease with the knowledge, the quicker she would be able to function fully again. The fact that she was a part of this Tacharan clan only offered her a small amount of comfort. While she had the understanding of the word 'family', and what it stood for, she didn't trust it. At least not in the strictest sense. At least not until she saw that family in action, and could use experience to support the theory of what it stood for.


"So...what now?"
Carol 18 years ago
Carol looked up at Shay's question. 'Well, that's really up to you now. You've got some choices to make - both of which involve you not utter a word about what you are or what we are. You've got a human family you're leaving behind or you can choose to bring them in, but again - once in, there is no leaving.'

Just then her bedazzled PDA vibrated against her hip. Checking its message, she saw a message from Simon asking if he was needed. Carol replied that it wasn't necessary now, but she'd fill him in later. She had paperwork to do and she hated paperwork.
Dayle 18 years ago
"We can provide you with a smidgen of information about your old life, but like Carol said," Dayle hoped she was being clear on the 'may not be a good idea' front, "it's up to you to bring that line about. You are a clean slate," she reminded Shay in her slightly nasal British lilt, "and can start completely over. I do not envy you, but can only offer you a shoulder or an ear should you need it."

She amended, "I've also opened the suite next to this one, rather, across the corridor, since it's a single-occupant suite, unless you want a double-occupant apartment, for your use, and to keep you near Ginnie and Alec." Dayle nodded to Shay's new 'family.' "Unless they've agreed to avail you of their sofa. We'll probably want to get you a new cell phone and car... That is, if you want a completely blank slate." Brushing back a lock of hair, she completed her thoughts, "While we certainly do not wish to rush you with decisions, considering your... condition... you do need to make them, and soon. I'll give you my number and contact information before we leave..."

A sudden thought occurred to Dayle and she stepped forward, offering her hand to Shay. "Dayle Yolgrave, at your service."
Shay 18 years ago
Shay regarded the woman speaking, and wondered which one she was. Not that it mattered one way or the other, but it would have been nice to put a name to the face.

She nodded when told she was not to reveal anything about what she had become, as well as what she supposed was clan information. Some of Alec's words came back at the mention of family, and she decided right then that there was no reason to go down that road now. If she had family and couldn't remember them, what would come of seeing them? It would probably only bring hurt to them, and she didn't think it would open up any doors for her. Besides, how could she force them into the commitment the woman was talking about?

When the other woman picked up the conversation, Shay noticed the difference in her voice. She sounded British, or Shay thought that was what her accent was. She imagined for a while there would be many things she would question, if for no other reason than she figured it was appropriate. That this woman was honest enough to say she didn't envy Shay, made her like her right off. Who in their right mind would envy someone with no grasp of their self. Having no memories of the past were one thing, and she understood how that might be enviable, but in addition to that, Shay didn't even know if she liked brussle sprouts.


"I'm sure Ginnie and Alec will enjoy having their privacy back, so anywhere else I can stay will be fine, as will a new cell phone, and car. I...think I know how to drive." Yes...she wasn't sure how she knew, but she did know she could drive a car. Now...about those brussle sprouts.

"If I haven't indicated it, I am thankful to you all. I've no idea what to do with myself at this point, but appreciate having you around to offer support and suggestions. I assume you've all been through a similar version of this...at least from the turning into a vampire part, and in that respect I will be happy to listen to your thoughts and experiences, at least until I have my own to trust."

Looking to the two blond women, Shay was about to ask which one was Carol, since Alec had said she wasn't a vampire. Why a familiar would be involved in all this was a question to be answered, yet Shay's connection to that position wasn't anything she needed to be concerned with anymore. If she was a vampire, and it appeared pretty evident she was, she was more interested in getting that nature down.
Looking towards Alec, the emptiness in her stomach began to grow into more than an annoyance now, and she again looked at the two blond women and wondered which one would make for a nice snack. Funny how she didn't feel at all repulsed by sating her need with the blood of another.


"Thank you Dayle, and again, I appreciate the offer." Shay shook the one woman's hand, while she then looked beyond to the woman who now bore the name Carol, and the distinction of being the only human in the room.
Ginnie 18 years ago
Ginnie's entire body relaxed at the complete acceptance of this turn of events, and its lack of retaliation from with in the clan, well save Mathias, but he was a worry for another night. She smiled at her child as she entered the room, and with out thinking about it went to sit with her. She gave her attention to each speaking person in turn, but her eyes kept roving back to Shay. When Dayle finished speaking, Shay's eyes seemed to lock onto Carol. 'Oh, that's not good, and I'm out of the bagged stuff.'

She was at a bit of a loss for a moment. The best thing to do would be to get Carol out of the apartment, the Ginnie or Alec could feed Shay for now, and the other could go replenish their supply. Or they could take Shay out to hunt...no that wouldn't be a good idea tonight, dawn wasn't that far off.


"Shay, I think you should stay here tonight, then we can get you settled tomorrow, take you to your old home and get clothes and things, or we can go shopping and buy you new things. But I don't know if it is a good idea to be alone, just yet."

She looked up at Alec for support, there was no way to protect Shay if she left for the rest of the night and the next day. At least here they could keep her and those around her safe. A new vampire, just did not have control. Ginnie remembered the first human her sire/husband had given her, that poor girl had not lived through it, and it had not been a clean death.








((sorry it took so long, it has been a crappy week))
Alec Devereaux 18 years ago
Walking to the kitchen while others talked, Alec rummaged a bit to confirm that they were all out of the "take out". Frowning, he glanced around, as if some might have been left on the painting on the wall, or behind the vase, or perhaps on the counter in front of him. Realizing he was stalling and that he didn't want to leave, he smiled at himself. At least he was aware of the uselessness of his activities. That made him a procrastinator rather than an idiot. With that established, he wandered back into the living room.

Looking to Carol, he smiled. Then he realized that Shay was looking at Carol, and...not quite smiling, but looking...a bit too much. Another situation that required easy defusing. Give folks an excuse to leave, and get the fledgling a source of nourishment outside of the Boss's Wife.


"Carol? If you could be so kind as to have someone send up some units of blood to replace our supply, I would appreciate it. It won't do to have a young one about in the day without anything tasty for her to snack on. Ginnie's probably a bit tapped out and I ate early tonight. And thank you both for taking care of so many of the details. We all appreciate it."

Looking to Ginnie, he smiled, nodding. He didn't add that there was no way in hell that he was letting Shay leave tonight. Stable or not, something could surface later, or things could take a turn for the worse. She wouldn't know what to do, necessarily. As for the home goods, there would be strange technicalities to handle there. He'd have to let Simon...well, duh.

"Oh, and...one more thing, Carol? I will leave you alone after this, I swear. Can you let Simon know that I'll be entering Matthias' Nachton residence to procure items that I suspect belong to Shay tomorrow night? Clothing, personals and things I know for certain, nothing more. Anything marginal I will leave behind."

The last thing on the list was caffeine. He wouldn't be sleeping, but both of them should. He wanted to be as alert and functional as possible if anything came up. Returning to the kitchen, he reached into the fridge, replacing his water with Mountain Dew. Frowning, he wondered if caffeine worked on vampires. He honestly didn't know. Was it psychological? He'd ask Nova.
Carol 18 years ago
'Alright, seeing how Shay is looking at me like a piece of prime rib, I'm going to let Simon know the situation. Get that girl something to eat, sheesh and clue her in on the who not to touchie slash bitie bits please?'

With a smile over her shoulder, Carol exited - stage right.

((ooc out))
Shay 18 years ago
"Uh huh..." Shay was fixated on the human woman now, as the hunger inside her seemed to be expanding exponentially. Licking her lips, she was only marginally aware of Ginnie sitting next to her, and really had little idea as to what she was being told.

She didn't care what she was wearing, or where she slept. If Ginnie and Alec didn't mind her staying there, as long as she had a place to sleep she didn't mind. And when the pangs in her stomach grew to be more than minor annoyances, Shay stood. The matter of survival was apparently not something her body had forgotten, as it obviously began directing her actions.

Without thought, Shay felt drawn to the slightly smaller human, but managed to stop herself from flying across the space between them. Running her tongue caressingly around her fangs, her hands clenched at her sides, and she tried to focus her mind.


"I don't want to appear rude, but someone better tell me how to take care of this rapidly increasing hunger, before I take matters into my own hands."

Funny how she found the ability to announce her concerns with a relative calmness she really didn't feel at all.

To emphasize her seriousness, she looked over her shoulder at Ginnie, and then Alec, and gave them both a look that brooked no need for discussion. If they couldn't tell by the fire in her eyes that she needed to feed, she feared they would not be adequate as caretakers, much less teachers.

Alec seemed aware of the issue and began making preparations to assuage Shay's hunger. She was feeling a lot more secure in his presence, seeing how adept and readily able he was to take charge of matters. Yet watching the woman, Carol, leave, she admitted to herself that she was more than a little disappointed. Besides the hunger, Shay felt the urge to really sink her teeth into something soft, and fleshy. A plastic bag seemed a poor substitute.

Because it didn't look like anyone was going to offer up a vein, Shay leaned back into the couch, and rested her head on the back, eyes closed. She suddenly felt tired, and knew once she filled her stomach she'd want to sleep. How long would it take to get some blood up to her, from wherever it was they kept it? Worrying about clothes, and cars, and sleeping arrangements was starting to sound pretty damn silly when the only thing that really mattered was quieting the belly rumblings growing louder even faster now.

She tapped her foot, laced her fingers and cracked her knuckles in an attempt to pull back some of her earlier short lived peace.
Alec Devereaux 18 years ago
Having not known if he had been a father, Alec failed to recognize the nearly parental concern for a hungry child. Glancing at his watch, he calculated the time to dawn, and frowned. It looked like they were limited to take-out for the time being, but no need to let things get dire. Heading back into the kitchen, Alec grabbed an empty mug with a kitten on it before heading to the bathroom. He didn't want anyone to have to watch.

Biting his tongue hard with his fang, he held it over the cup, filling it slowly. Any time the flow slowed, he reapplied the fang in the same spot. Mouth and head cuts bled plenty. Normally he'd have taken from a vein, but he had a job tomorrow and needed to be sure that nothing would slip out of place. Glancing in the mirror revealed a strange sight, and he managed not to laugh and spray the sink with blood.

Looking down, Alec smiled. A mug would do until the delivery arrived. Problem solved for the short term. Getting their allotment up while he and Ginnie were "nursing" was another thing to add to the list. And that put him over. Laughing, he just let it all out - all of the tension, nervousness, panic, worry, all of it came out in a bout of laughter.

Wiping up the bit of mess he'd made, he brought with him out from the mug out from the bathroom and placed it on the coffee table. Plopping down next to Ginnie on the couch, he leaned against her slightly.


"This'll tide you over until the take out arrives."
Shay 18 years ago
Shay had seen Alec leave the room, taking a cup of coffee with him, and was mildly curious what he might be doing in the bedroom. The growing hunger made it difficult to think about anything else for long though. As each minuted ticked away, she considered the way her body felt, and hoped it wouldn't get any worse, and yet when the next, even stronger pang of hunger squeezed through her insides, she began getting scared again.

Surely these people knew how important it was that she feed. Surely they wouldn't just sit by and watch her go mad from hunger.

When she heard laughter coming from the other room, Shay noticed she was now sitting on the edge of the couch, gripping her hands so hard her nails were nearly cutting through her skin. Yet anger temporarily nudged out her fear, to think Alec could just go off and have himself a merry old time, while she was close to starving to death in the next room!

As he came back into the living room, coffee cup in hand, Shay perked up. It wasn't coffee she smelled in the cup, and the salivatory glands began going haywire even before she picked up the offering, and almost inhaled it. There was no polite pinky extended, or timid sips taken, but huge gulps of the liquid, and even a tongue washing once the cup was empty.

Not ungrateful, but also not fully sated, Shay turned slightly confused eyes on Alec, and then Ginnie, and lastly Dayle. But once a minute or two had passed, Shay licked her lips she smiled. She wasn't hungry anymore. Deciding there must be a slight delay between when she drank and when her body understood it had been fed, she decided from now on she'd take her meals a bit slower. Though the idea of biting someone still intrigued her, she had no burning desire to kill anyone. She could see how that could happen though, if she wasn't able to appease her hunger in time. She didn't like feeling out of control like that, and hoped between the people there around her, they would give her the information necessary to avoid it.


"Thank you Alec. Thank you everyone. I don't imagine this situation is anymore pleasant for you, than me, but knowing I couldn't do it without you, I am grateful for your help."

Yawning, Shay leaned back on the couch again. She wanted to think about the evening, and what had happened, and would need to happen in the immediate future, as well as down the road a bit, but as her hunger faded it was replaced with the need for sleep. Scooting over into the corner opposite from her two saviours, she curled up into a fetal position, and got comfortable.

"I'm...afraid..." Yawn. "I'm very tired."
Ginnie 18 years ago
Ginnie watched Shay become more ad more agitated in her hunger. She's watched her love leave with the mug and knew exactly what he had been up to. She was thankful to him for his ability to adapt to the situation so readily. When he leaned against her she turned her body toward him slightly so that he rested half on her chest. It was comforting, and she needed just a little of that right then. Later when Shay was settled for the evening, would she let go and have a good long cry, and perhaps breakdown just a little. She was missing her sire, her children, Alec, live as she knew it and she knew peace would not be her's again for some time. She needed to mourn a life that was gone and she would do so, but not just yet.

When Shay curled up on her half of the couch Ginnie gently extricated herself from Alec and went into the bedroom. From the closet she retrieved a blanket, sheets and an extra pillow ad case. She took them into the living room and when Alec stood, she tucked the sheet around the unoccupied half, then gently helped Shay move on to that portion before making up the rest of the couch. She put the case on the pillow and got that under Shay's head before covering her with the blanket.

Finished with the simple task she stood and stretched out aching muscles, her eyes falling on Dayle.
"Thank you for staying with us, Dayle."

She smiled gently at the brit, before bending over backward to stretch her back.
Dayle 18 years ago
When Alec disappeared into the kitchen, Dayle realized she was still standing, and sat on an empty chair.

When the mug was brought to the woman who now knew herself as Shay, her eyes widened as she watched the new vampire practically chew through the glass to get at the blood inside. She made a mental note to make sure Ginnie and Alec were supplied with plenty of fresh blood over the next few months.

A twinge of longing erupted inside her when she saw Ginnie snuggle into Alec... But it was quickly set aside. She watched the matronly action of the Scotswoman covering her 'daughter' and simply nodded at the American's accented thanks.
"We should talk somewhere with a bit more privicy," she suggested, her accent striking a soft chord as she pronounced the last word 'stereotypically', nodding towards the dining room.
Shay 18 years ago
As sleepy as she was, Shay didn't fall under right away. She was aware of the movements around her, but too lethargic to do much in the way of assisting. It was another odd feeling, much like floating in a vat of chocolate pudding...dark, and thick, and encumbering. Fortunately it didn't hamper her ability to hear...merely to react.

Curling her arms around the pillow now beneath her head, Shay tried to let go of the external sounds, wanting to let oblivion take over for awhile. But her attempts were foiled when she heard someone mention 'privicy'. She wasn't sure if it was a matter of concern for her, and not wanting to disturb her sleep, or if there were things they didn't want her to hear, but all it took to grab Shay's attention was that one word.

Yet she didn't stir, as to do so would have required an energy she didn't want to dig up at the moment. And she wanted to test her hearing further, to see how acute it really was. Not to mention, there was so much more she needed to know, both about herself, and this world she had found herself in now. Understanding she was, in some ways, nothing more than an infant, it seemed natural she would be spending a lot of time learning in the future. And with well-meaning people, she could see they might feel it necessary to try and shelter her from some truths for the time being.

But Shay didn't want to be sheltered. Memory loss or not, she was an adult, and needed to be treated as one.
Ginnie 18 years ago
Ginnie straightened and looked at Dayle curiously then down at Shay. The woman's eyes were closed and she had settled down around her pillow. She looked asleep, and since her chest was moving in a slow even rhythm, Ginnie could only assume it wasn't an act. Not that she would suspect it of Shay, she had not been conscious of life long enough to be duplicitous, or was she strong enough to resist the call of sleep just yet.

"Can't have much more privacy than a sleeping person, but since there isn't enough space over here, we can sit at the table. I'm going to have a glass of wine. Can I get you anything Dayle, Alec?"
Dayle 18 years ago
"A glass of wine sounds jolly good right about now," Dayle assented.

She sat at the table in an empty chair and leaned her forearms against the edge, turning her head enough to focus her perceptions on Shay.
"A new vampire is a strain on all of us," she began sympathetically, "But I think even more so due to her amnesia. Alec," she noted, looking at the gentleman, "I think she'll take most of her cues from you in regards to that, in rebuilding herself, but Ginnie," she continued as the taller woman returned, "You're her mother. Everything else... she'll likely garner from you. If she happens to pick up your talent for glamour, I hope you teach her how to use it or at least observe her as she does so. Other than that... I know the burden a new child can put on parents, so I'll offer my services to you as a babysitter of sorts for her. I won't be able to devote a whole lot of time, unfortunately, but maybe one or two nights a week, help her as far as the Clan is concerned, and so on. Carol too may request such duties, I don't know, but I'm sure she will let you know."