A new City ((Wrym, invite))

[Mary]

Humans aren't meant to live forever.
And that creates some problems for Jack, since he can't really move on his own. That's probably why he choose me to take care of him.
As long as he remains 'alive' on all the paperwork, his nocturnal lifestyle is in danger, the longer he stays in one place without proper 'care'.
But I can't just go moving him anywhere. Or no.
It's time to go scouting.
I started on Craig's list. If you're good enough, and you read between the lines, you can tell Vampire adds, from regular human's.
Finding a vampire outside of this area, is possible to find one of those 'vampire' cities.
Vampire 'Cities' are not what's known as human Cities. They generally range bigger than one 'city' into a HUGE area with lots of subdivisions and things.
Hell, Jack has told me the first 'City' was an entire continent.
Fascinating really. I learn so much from Jack.
After going back and forth a bit online for info, a deal is made.
This deal gets me an address.
Now, I'm making a complete legit deal here. I'm going to sell the guy the blood he wants, and I'll go on my merry way.
BUT, that will give me a location to scout, to see if it's good enough to move Jack to.
So, with the special ordered, and triple processed blood in tow, I head on over in the blood van.
I check the city out as I go through, my print out of yahoo maps as general and misleading as usual.
Place doesn't look bad, on the surface.
Definitely worth a deeper look.
I go to the desk of the apartment building I have the address for, and they do their thing, and let me through.
With a rather large briefcase in hand, I head on up the stairs, and hit the door bell.
It's not often I've gone to a vampire's actual home... usually they want to meet me somewhere... this isn't so bad.
If the guy turns out to be a punk, luring me in for a snack, I'm prepared. Got a dagger in my garter, right up against my thigh.
Gotta love the feel of cold steel...
Dressed in regular cloths, my nurse outfit left behind, just in case. I usually only use the uniform for collecting the stuff, not for delivery.

[Wyrm]

Blood. Blood. Blood.

Its always there, always dripping. Sticking to the back of my hand, sticking to my clothes. It stinks like rust, always in my nose, in my eyes, in my mouth.

I feel nausia just thinking about that. About the blood. Sheryl, John, and Marcus have been good for a good six monthes now. Providing me with all I need, nicely cleaned and very pure. Sheryl was a single mom, John was a doctor, All I know about Marcus was that he did time. Doesn't matter.

Blood doesn't lie. Their's is clean. Thats enough.

Not the only source though. Not the only one. Other sources. Ghouls. One found on Craig's list. Promising. Needed to provide address to her. Not a good idea. Sire warned abotu that. About giving up havens. Losing the secret of it. Don't give up much. Only to Primogen, and Wade. Didn't give to Wade. Wade found me. Always lurking in shadows. Popping out at random times. Covered in blood. Stinks of it. Of the rust. Cosmic rust. Blood of gods.

Doorbell rings. Ignore it. No, wait. Don't ignore. Front desk called. She's here. Meet? Don't want to. Better to stay safe. Ignore bells. Need new blood though. Donors going down on levels. Losing value. Not good. One will die soon. Maybe Marcus. Need new blood. Hate the blood. HATE IT!

Squirting, spilling, sloshing. Tastes like a little bit of god. Like rust.

Is God blood?

Doorbell rings again. Need to answer. No. Yes. No.

Yes!

Unlock door five times, five clicks, open with chain, gazing out. Girl on other side not nurse, but height right. Weight about same. Why do women lie about weight? Not matter if look is good. Doesn't make sense.

She has suitcase. Blood? Guns? Don't know.

Consider her for a long moment, carefully before speaking.

"What is password?"

[Mary]

I hear more than a couple locks, and then the door opens on a chain, eyes peeking out at me, asking for a password.
I give a look of surprise a moment, not expecting that at all. But then I get a little exasperated.

Password? There isn't any stinkin' password!
Come on buddy, we had a deal!
Properly screened and cleaned medical grade isn't easy to come by you know!

I look up and down the hallway, making sure there's no one around, and I pull the briefcase up, briefly flashing the blood bags at him.
I know Internet deals are really not the best ways to conduct business, and most customers are easier to deal with when you meet them in person before sealing the deal, but if this guy stiffs me, I'm gonna be pissed.
It took allot of work getting that blood through Dialysis 3 times!
I've had Ventrue special orders that took less care than this.

[Wyrm]

Deal? Deal? Yes, a deal. We had a deal. We have a deal. Blood for money. Money for blood. Lots and lots of freshly cleaned blood. Very clean, very pure. Three times infact. Pure as it gets.

Let her in though? Don't want to let her in. Don't like having people inside. She might move something. She might touch something. Have to clean again when she's gone. Did I clean this evening? Yes I did. I cleaned this morning, I certainly did. Will need to clean again in morning before bed. Clean three times? Didn't I use to clean three times aday? Why don't I now?

Girl is still waiting. Doesn't know password. Was there a password? Can't recall. Should have done a password. Will do next time. Passwords are good ideas. Won't tell Wade the password, so he can't come in. Wade will come in anyway. Wade is always here. Stinking of blood.

Password? Oh yes, she needs the password. Speak again, making self clear. Careful not to upset her. Sounded angry. Rules is rules though. She needs the password.

"Password is 'Blood Red Roses'."

Slam door. Rebolt. Pace about a bit. She'll know it now, or will she? Maybe They took it from her. Maybe she works for Them. They all work for Them. Except Wade...Wade works for Dita. Dita can be nice...sometimes. Mostly not. Does Dita work for Them? Always claims to work for Prince. Met her only once. Terrifying. Don't want to meet again. Why stay in apartment. Don't want terror anymore. Don't want to be afraid.

Always afraid though.

Girl still outside. Open door again on chain, speak again. Less nervous now. A bit angry. Why can't she just say the password? Why need ask for it again? Is bitch stupid or something?

"What is password?"

Did I leave the door unlocked while paced? Not good. Slipping. No room for mistakes. Stupid mistakes make stupid people. Smart mistakes make dead people.

[Mary]

This guy seems like he's either one sandwich short of a picnic basket, or he's on something...
He TELLS me 'the password' and then shuts the door.
I tap my foot a bit impatiently, the urge to act weird back to him very tempting.
But a deal's a deal, and I've jumped through hoops before, this should get me a good bit of cash to finish scoping out this City, so I play along, no matter how pathetic it seems.
When he opens the door again, asking for the password, I repeat what he said,

Blood Red Roses.

And wait just a little longer for him to either open the door, or send me away.
Sometimes I wonder why I bother with shit like this... But then I remember poor comatose Jack, and how much he needs me to get this done, and my resolves back.
For him, I would go through worse.
It's all for him.

[Wyrm]

She said the password. Said it right. No mistakes this time. Definitely knows the password. What was the password? Blood Red Roses. Why blood? Why always blood. Why is there always this fucking blood. Dripping, pouring. Gets everywhere. Disgusting. Can't get rid of it. Need it. Need the blood. Blood is the life. Can't be denied.

Blood is the life. Where is that from?

No matter. She knew the password. She gets in. Didn't I tell her the password? Yes. No. Well yes, second time. First time no. If I didn't tell her the password should I really let in? No. No choice though. Need blood. Hungry. Need it now. Tasty, salty, sweet, coppery...Disgusting.

Move up to door, carefully clicking the lock back, back and forth. 3 times. Five times. More than enough. Door unlocked now. Slide chain out, loosen second deadbolt. Pull down manual bar. Open door. Just enough. Stand behind as door swings open. Don't want to be seen. Never want to be seen. Maintain Maquerade always. ALWAYS. Don't want Wade looking for. Wade probably knows password by now. Probably. Need to change next time.

Give time girl enough time to slip through crack, and then slam closed. Relocking carefully. Slowly. Back to her. Don't like looking at people. Allways afraid of what will see. What will be shown. Darkness in people........Lots of darkness. Spills out red as blood, brown as shit, clear as tears. Still dark though. Always dark.

Finally turn. Face her. Dress nice. Skin pale. Don't know her. Oh My God! Person I don't know in apartment! In apartment now! Trapped with her! No way out except door. Trapped behind locks. Need less locks.

Wait! Blood. Need blood. She has blood. Need to buy. Gesture for her to sit down, cats will move from chair. Like cats. Lots in apartment. Very clean. Keep mice down. Hate mice. Hate insects too. Cats eat those. Started with one. Then two. Two made seven in year. Seven now up to Fifteen. Need to get rid of some. too many...far too many. Can't though. Need cats. Keep mice away.

Nervously move over to counter, taking briefcase. Place on coffee table. Open. Money inside. Neatly presssed. Just little bit of starch. Just a smidge. Keeps money crisp. Pretty. Don't usually use money. Prefer credit. Debit. More easily acquired. Stolen. This took some doing. Got it though. Just takes time.

Probably need to say something. Girl probably uncomfortable. Don't want her upset. Women upset is bad thing. Dad hated when Mom was upset. Did I even have parents? Were they real? Planted maybe. Anyway, need to say something.

"Nice dress. Want coffee? Only have decaf. Caffiene bad for you. Causes brain cancer. Strokes. Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Rashes. Bad. Very bad. You want coffee?"