It was no use. She tried to listen, but it was as if there was a heavy weight attached to her consciousness, and it was pulling her under, hard. The best she could do was pick up snatches of the conversation, words mostly.
'Wine, amnesia, cues, mother...' before she knew it she had fallen into a dream, and was now playing pool, shooting the ball into wine glasses suspended beneath the holes on the table. Ginnie stood on a stool nearby, shouting instructions on the shots to Shay, and Dayle sat in a rocking chair nearby, knitting.
After making a glorious shot, in which she cleared the table of all the balls, Alec jumped on top of the felt and began to dance around. He was also singing a song, but Shay couldn't understand it. That she was able to make sense of the remaining goings on was no small feat either.
While everyone began to celebrate, the scene before her changed, and the people dissolved away. Soon she was sitting in a forest, and all manner of creatures frolicked at her feet. Bunnies, and deer, and squirrels...
(shay out)
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
Alec Devereaux
18 years ago
Holding up his bottle of Mountain Dew, he smiled.
"All set, love."
Heading to the table, he declined the chair, leaning on it. Looking down on his hand on the edge of the table, he contemplated the job the next evening. He envisioned the way that his fingers would interplay delicately, caressingly with his tools, coaxing gently the electrical responses he would need to be rewarded. At the sound of his name, he was suddenly back - Dayle was telling him he was taking an even greater role in training new recruits.
The only local vampire who didn't remember being human would be coaching another vampire down a path that he had forsaken and ultimately run from. The blind leading the blind, indeed. Still, if he could spare her that pain it would certainly be worth the time. Humans were nothing but trouble and snack packs. Shay was better off on this side of the line, memory or no.
Laughing a bit uncomfortably, Alec shook his head slightly.
"I'm sorry...nothing is funny. I just am not sure how to handle...all this. Kind of an identity shift going from an art thief to Ward Cleaver with fangs over the course of an evening. Hopefully she'll learn more from Ginnie than from me."
Taking a sip from the Mountain Dew, he looked with disgust at the bottle afterward. Swinging himself forward, he headed back into the kitchen and swapped the soda for some bourbon. Taking a heavy slug, he exhaled heavily and returned to his spot against the table. Best case scenario he was looking like a film noir private eye...but he suspected he was closer to looking like a depressive starving artist tonight.
"Also...I'm...not sure how wise it would be leaving her with Carol...or any of the humans, for that matter. From what I can tell, I don't...empathize...with them at all. They're just food, really. I've taken to studying them like a biologist would study other herd animals, to understand their behaviors and whatnot...but ultimately I don't have that connection. She doesn't anymore, either. It might be awhile before she'll be safe alone in the company of a familiar. Of course, she's a lot more stable than I was when I came over, so she'll probably progress faster than I did. Hell, I could barely communicate."
Taking another swig, Alec closed his eyes and savored the burn. Every now and then he missed being that pure predator, in the darkest corners of his thoughts. Ultimately, that was what brought him to high stakes theft. The closest he could get to that rush again. Staring at the floor, he hoped someone would change the subject. He didn't enjoy digging in his past, and it looked like he'd be doing it a lot in the coming weeks.
"All set, love."
Heading to the table, he declined the chair, leaning on it. Looking down on his hand on the edge of the table, he contemplated the job the next evening. He envisioned the way that his fingers would interplay delicately, caressingly with his tools, coaxing gently the electrical responses he would need to be rewarded. At the sound of his name, he was suddenly back - Dayle was telling him he was taking an even greater role in training new recruits.
The only local vampire who didn't remember being human would be coaching another vampire down a path that he had forsaken and ultimately run from. The blind leading the blind, indeed. Still, if he could spare her that pain it would certainly be worth the time. Humans were nothing but trouble and snack packs. Shay was better off on this side of the line, memory or no.
Laughing a bit uncomfortably, Alec shook his head slightly.
"I'm sorry...nothing is funny. I just am not sure how to handle...all this. Kind of an identity shift going from an art thief to Ward Cleaver with fangs over the course of an evening. Hopefully she'll learn more from Ginnie than from me."
Taking a sip from the Mountain Dew, he looked with disgust at the bottle afterward. Swinging himself forward, he headed back into the kitchen and swapped the soda for some bourbon. Taking a heavy slug, he exhaled heavily and returned to his spot against the table. Best case scenario he was looking like a film noir private eye...but he suspected he was closer to looking like a depressive starving artist tonight.
"Also...I'm...not sure how wise it would be leaving her with Carol...or any of the humans, for that matter. From what I can tell, I don't...empathize...with them at all. They're just food, really. I've taken to studying them like a biologist would study other herd animals, to understand their behaviors and whatnot...but ultimately I don't have that connection. She doesn't anymore, either. It might be awhile before she'll be safe alone in the company of a familiar. Of course, she's a lot more stable than I was when I came over, so she'll probably progress faster than I did. Hell, I could barely communicate."
Taking another swig, Alec closed his eyes and savored the burn. Every now and then he missed being that pure predator, in the darkest corners of his thoughts. Ultimately, that was what brought him to high stakes theft. The closest he could get to that rush again. Staring at the floor, he hoped someone would change the subject. He didn't enjoy digging in his past, and it looked like he'd be doing it a lot in the coming weeks.
Ginnie
18 years ago
Ginnie slipped into the kitchen and pulled a bottle of white zinfandel from the wine fridge she'd installed in one of the cabinets recently. She liked the new addition and gave the counter a little pat over the spot where it sat. She put the corkscrew in place and removed the small obstruction. Two glasses and the bottle were taken with her into the dining area. They should count themselves lucky that she had recently cleaned off the surface as she was between ops at the moment.
"I'm rather inclined to agree. One of us will need to be with her when ever she is with a human in any capacity."
She set the glasses on the table and gave Alec's shoulder a brief caress before pouring the rose colored liquid into the glasses. It was from the Barefoot vineyards and had a wonderful citrusy flavor and she found it relaxing. She gave one of the glasses to Dayle and took the seat next to Alec.
"I'm rather hoping she gets something more useful than Glamour Dayle. It has it's good points but I'm not sure it will do her much good with no concept of humanity to back it up."
Ginnie sipped her wine and then rubbed her hands down her denim clad legs. "Why am I so...anxious. I feel like I'm about to present some new invention to Simon."
She sighed softly and took a bigger sip of wine. Her brain began to go over her schedule for the next month and there were only a few things that couldn't be moved around to day time hours. She'd have to sit down with Alec and get them settled.
"It is amazing how children change your life, no?" She was sure Alec and Dayle would think she was nuts moving from subject to subject, but her brain just would not settle on one thing.
"...but ultimately I don't have that connection. She doesn't anymore, either. It might be awhile before she'll be safe alone in the company of a familiar. Of course, she's a lot more stable than I was when I came over, so she'll probably progress faster than I did. Hell, I could barely communicate."
"I'm rather inclined to agree. One of us will need to be with her when ever she is with a human in any capacity."
She set the glasses on the table and gave Alec's shoulder a brief caress before pouring the rose colored liquid into the glasses. It was from the Barefoot vineyards and had a wonderful citrusy flavor and she found it relaxing. She gave one of the glasses to Dayle and took the seat next to Alec.
"I'm rather hoping she gets something more useful than Glamour Dayle. It has it's good points but I'm not sure it will do her much good with no concept of humanity to back it up."
Ginnie sipped her wine and then rubbed her hands down her denim clad legs. "Why am I so...anxious. I feel like I'm about to present some new invention to Simon."
She sighed softly and took a bigger sip of wine. Her brain began to go over her schedule for the next month and there were only a few things that couldn't be moved around to day time hours. She'd have to sit down with Alec and get them settled.
"It is amazing how children change your life, no?" She was sure Alec and Dayle would think she was nuts moving from subject to subject, but her brain just would not settle on one thing.
Dayle
18 years ago
"I think that, with the skill and ease you both seem to have with training new recruits, teaching Shay our ways will be a doddle for you." She went to sip her wine, and reiterated, "Easy peasy."
She sipped of her wine, and smiled at Ginnie after swallowing. "It's very good. I'll have to get the label from you... I'm not much of a wine drinker but in this glass I could make an exception." She sipped again, and looked at the two lovers across the table from her. "My offer to 'babysit' her stands, though you are correct, I'm such a dullard sometimes. Interacting with Carol on a regular basis, with the things she knows about vampires, sometimes my brain is pretty duff. Er, useless. I tend to forget she's not fully..." Dayle let her voice trail off as she sipped again. "And her room is set up, and a new phone and car should be easy. You took her dog to a shelter? I hope she filled out the licensing papers, from our records he seemed to be a new pup and perhaps he can be placed instead of destroyed."
She looked over at Shay again, lying on the couch. The new vampire seemed to be completely asleep, even after Dayle focused her perceptions on the woman. Retreating to her 'normal' sensing mode she returned her attention to the table. "I won't trouble you any longer tonight. You both have my info if you need to contact me. I'll probably stay in my suite here at the Domicile for a few days or so to see how this all plays out."
She took a steady pull of the wine, wishing to leave her Clanmates to their solitude and child, but not give the impression that she wanted to be out quickly; rather, just efficiently.
She sipped of her wine, and smiled at Ginnie after swallowing. "It's very good. I'll have to get the label from you... I'm not much of a wine drinker but in this glass I could make an exception." She sipped again, and looked at the two lovers across the table from her. "My offer to 'babysit' her stands, though you are correct, I'm such a dullard sometimes. Interacting with Carol on a regular basis, with the things she knows about vampires, sometimes my brain is pretty duff. Er, useless. I tend to forget she's not fully..." Dayle let her voice trail off as she sipped again. "And her room is set up, and a new phone and car should be easy. You took her dog to a shelter? I hope she filled out the licensing papers, from our records he seemed to be a new pup and perhaps he can be placed instead of destroyed."
She looked over at Shay again, lying on the couch. The new vampire seemed to be completely asleep, even after Dayle focused her perceptions on the woman. Retreating to her 'normal' sensing mode she returned her attention to the table. "I won't trouble you any longer tonight. You both have my info if you need to contact me. I'll probably stay in my suite here at the Domicile for a few days or so to see how this all plays out."
She took a steady pull of the wine, wishing to leave her Clanmates to their solitude and child, but not give the impression that she wanted to be out quickly; rather, just efficiently.
Ginnie
18 years ago
Ginnie longed to be asleep, as sitting down had completely drained her body of it's pent up energy. One could only use adrenaline for so long. She listened carefully to Dayle, nodding along when she agreed with her words.
"I appreciate all of your help tonight Dayle. I am sure I will be calling on your services as I work out my schedule for the next few weeks. I have a couple of urgent matters to attend to, but most of my lab work can be carried on with out me for a few days."
Ginnie stood and moved into the kitchen, catching her foot briefly on the carpeting. She was indeed tired if she was tripping on nothing. Sighing softly she retrieved the cork for the wine and took it back to the table. She tucked the small piece of wood into the bottle.
"Please take the bottle with you. It is a wine to be drunk slowly and enjoyed. I fear I will not have the time to do it justice and I would hate for it to go to waste."
Her accent was heavy and she had reverted to a much more ancient way of speech than she normally used. Ginnie offered Dayle a tired smile and put her hand on Alec's upper arm.
"Love will you show Dayle out. I need to find my bed before I fall to sleep upon my feet."
She offered Dayle one more smile and turned to go into her room. Once there she toed off her shoes, promising herself she'd put them away when she woke, and peeled off her blood stained and sweat ripe clothing. She wanted to shower, but didn't think she had the strength to stand that long and didn't care to drown herself in the bathtub, so she crawled into the sheets wear only what God gave her. Three deep breaths and she was asleep, pulled under by sheer exhaustion.
((Ginnie Out))
((sorry for the crappy post, the flu monster has attacked and left me for dead))
"I appreciate all of your help tonight Dayle. I am sure I will be calling on your services as I work out my schedule for the next few weeks. I have a couple of urgent matters to attend to, but most of my lab work can be carried on with out me for a few days."
Ginnie stood and moved into the kitchen, catching her foot briefly on the carpeting. She was indeed tired if she was tripping on nothing. Sighing softly she retrieved the cork for the wine and took it back to the table. She tucked the small piece of wood into the bottle.
"Please take the bottle with you. It is a wine to be drunk slowly and enjoyed. I fear I will not have the time to do it justice and I would hate for it to go to waste."
Her accent was heavy and she had reverted to a much more ancient way of speech than she normally used. Ginnie offered Dayle a tired smile and put her hand on Alec's upper arm.
"Love will you show Dayle out. I need to find my bed before I fall to sleep upon my feet."
She offered Dayle one more smile and turned to go into her room. Once there she toed off her shoes, promising herself she'd put them away when she woke, and peeled off her blood stained and sweat ripe clothing. She wanted to shower, but didn't think she had the strength to stand that long and didn't care to drown herself in the bathtub, so she crawled into the sheets wear only what God gave her. Three deep breaths and she was asleep, pulled under by sheer exhaustion.
((Ginnie Out))
((sorry for the crappy post, the flu monster has attacked and left me for dead))
Alec Devereaux
18 years ago
Slugging back the second half of his drink, he smiled suddenly. They had been talking, but he'd been elsewhere. He'd let his thoughts wander for a bit, apparently, back through the earliest nights of his memory...for what they were. Fragmented shards as his mind pulled itself back together from whatever strangeness that had caused the fragmenting. Still, there was a bit left to do before zoning out.
"Sure...I'll take care of it. Thanks for the offer, Dayle...just please double check to make sure the blood gets here sooner than later. Oh, I had the car totally sanitized, so with new plates it should be all good. Saved the old in case we needed them. All of the sundries are here, so if you need any of it, just let me know. We may have to take you up on that in the very near future - I have one job I'm fully booked on that I won't be able to move. Beyond that, well...hopefully we'll be ok."
Checking the security settings, he paused. He'd have to leave them off today since he hadn't explained the living situation fully to Shay before she zonked out. Altering the internal alarm to a frequency above Ginnie's range of hearing, Alec smiled. Well, at least one of them would wake up if something went down today. Tonight he'd get Shay all oriented on the basics of the security and input into their personal system for the time being. Popping the door for Dayle as he heard Ginnie on her way to fading out quick, he shook his head.
"Let us know if anything comes up, or...hell, if we're doing anything stupid, wrong, out of order or forgetting anything. I'm pretty sure Ginnie'll have it covered, but I know I'm a bit out of my element here."
"Sure...I'll take care of it. Thanks for the offer, Dayle...just please double check to make sure the blood gets here sooner than later. Oh, I had the car totally sanitized, so with new plates it should be all good. Saved the old in case we needed them. All of the sundries are here, so if you need any of it, just let me know. We may have to take you up on that in the very near future - I have one job I'm fully booked on that I won't be able to move. Beyond that, well...hopefully we'll be ok."
Checking the security settings, he paused. He'd have to leave them off today since he hadn't explained the living situation fully to Shay before she zonked out. Altering the internal alarm to a frequency above Ginnie's range of hearing, Alec smiled. Well, at least one of them would wake up if something went down today. Tonight he'd get Shay all oriented on the basics of the security and input into their personal system for the time being. Popping the door for Dayle as he heard Ginnie on her way to fading out quick, he shook his head.
"Let us know if anything comes up, or...hell, if we're doing anything stupid, wrong, out of order or forgetting anything. I'm pretty sure Ginnie'll have it covered, but I know I'm a bit out of my element here."
Dayle
18 years ago
"Good idea that, with the car. Perhaps we should at least let her choose, give her the illusion of choice in that."
Dayle recognized a subtle "time for you to leave" as well as the next guest, and graciously picked up the bottle of wine that Ginnie had gifted her. "I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to thank her before she retired, but I'll remember to do so. You've got my number if you need it. I think you'll do wonderfully, Alec, as a father. Good night, Alec."
With a last glance towards the vampire-burdened sofa and the general direction Ginnie had disappeared, Dayle smiled at her gracious host and exited the suite.
With a sigh as she heard the door close, she figured she should find Carol... They'd have a lot of paperwork to do.
(( Dayle out. ))
Dayle recognized a subtle "time for you to leave" as well as the next guest, and graciously picked up the bottle of wine that Ginnie had gifted her. "I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to thank her before she retired, but I'll remember to do so. You've got my number if you need it. I think you'll do wonderfully, Alec, as a father. Good night, Alec."
With a last glance towards the vampire-burdened sofa and the general direction Ginnie had disappeared, Dayle smiled at her gracious host and exited the suite.
With a sigh as she heard the door close, she figured she should find Carol... They'd have a lot of paperwork to do.
(( Dayle out. ))
Alec Devereaux
18 years ago
Letting the door close and security reengage behind Dayle, Alec wandered back into the center of their living space. That "F" word was getting thrown around a lot...but was that really what he was? He supposed that it would be a reasonably close human parallel, but inapplicable due to the differences in age. Either way, he wanted Shay's transition to continue as smoothly and painlessly as it had thus far. That was a fairly fatherly outlook, but would also be true of a mentor, and without all of the disciplinary considerations.
Mentor. He liked that word better, but didn't quite understand why. The lack of direct biological tie and the fact that Shay wasn't a real child probably were what was setting his brain to niggling.
At a high pitched whine, Alec turned toward the monitor - he'd been zoning out again. It looked like the ladies had done well by them - first blood drop-off. Switching off the sensors, he went to the door, brought in the parcel and stored it appropriately. He'd wait for Shay to wake naturally, give her the instructions and coach her through the first prep, then get some shuteye himself.
Strange night.
((Alec out pending any response))
Mentor. He liked that word better, but didn't quite understand why. The lack of direct biological tie and the fact that Shay wasn't a real child probably were what was setting his brain to niggling.
At a high pitched whine, Alec turned toward the monitor - he'd been zoning out again. It looked like the ladies had done well by them - first blood drop-off. Switching off the sensors, he went to the door, brought in the parcel and stored it appropriately. He'd wait for Shay to wake naturally, give her the instructions and coach her through the first prep, then get some shuteye himself.
Strange night.
((Alec out pending any response))