RP Log with naysowee, histhornedrose & obscuritenoire

[gr8muppetyodin]

[Follows THIS | Word count is epic...]

Juliette would have never expressed any sort of shock when the security team alerted her to the fact that there was a Rory Buchanan and Buffy Summers waiting at the front gates. She had honestly wondered if she would ever see the Scotsman again, and the fact that the ex-cheerleader now Slayer was here was all the more interesting. She had gone to check on Blaise but given his worsening condition he really hadn't been in the mood to discuss the new arrivals. She'd just taken his silent glowering as consent for the guests to be invited in and made her way down to the foyer in order to welcome them.

Juliette had barely left Blaise's side unless it was for business, watching over her mate like a hawk. She'd never seen him like this and if she were completely honest she still thought it had something to do with claiming the young woman that he had dismissed from his presence so readily when she'd insulted him yet again. Not to mention the fact that he had to return home to France. The distance would have taken its toll, and she was more than interested to see how the Slayer was physically. She had to at least be up and walking to have made it here.

She smoothed down the red silk blouse she was wearing along with a tight black pencil skirt to make sure there were no creases. Her dark hair was loose and framing her beautiful features as her green eyes flashed silver very briefly at the idea of being near Rory. She knew it was too much to expect him to be happy to see her, but he hoped he was at least a little pleased to be in her presence again. Juliette wasn't so easily deterred now she'd made up her mind. She would get the Scotsman in her bed again. Even without Persuasion.


Buffy had been almost impossible to deal with on the drive up and the worst part of it was that she even knew she was being stupid. Her and Rory really had been bickering like an old married couple and all she could do was apologise. It wasn't until they hit Paris that something inside her started to shift, and she was beginning to realise that maybe Rory wasn't as crazy as she thought with the whole pining for Blaise thing. Paris was his city. She didn't really know why, but she could feel it. She could feel him in each and every street. In all the buildings, the statues, the people...

She had finally shut up, a tingling creeping its way through every nerve until her whole body was buzzing with the idea of seeing Blaise. She wasn't going to let Rory delay it for too long, even if she'd been the one pushing at the beginning of the trip to stop and see the sights. They could just admire the Eiffel Tower from the car.

And even now as they waited at the front gate, the tiny blonde bounced on the balls of her feet. She suddenly felt under dressed even if she'd tried to shoot for sophisticated. She was wearing a blue halter and grey slacks with knee-high boots so she could at least pretend to be taller than she was. As soon as the gates opened for them, Buffy gripped Rory's hand tightly as if to stop herself from bolting up the pathway. It was like she was a little kid waiting to get a hold of the latest toy that she just could not live without.

Juliette didn't move until the guards opened the front door of Blaise's home to admit the two travellers. As soon as she saw Rory she smiled warmly and came forward to kiss him on both cheeks. "Welcome, mon amour. This is a pleasant surprise, non? I hope the trip was not too uncomfortable. And Buffy..." Juliette greeted her the same way as she kissed both cheeks and took the blonde's hand to give it a squeeze. "Mon dieu, is it possible you glow? And yet there is something else..."

Buffy arched an eyebrow at the woman she knew now to be Blaise's mate. She wasn't sure why but she hadn't quite expected the woman to be smiling at her. She was also about three seconds from blurting out a request for the brunette to just taste her blood so she could find out once and for all if she was the reason Blaise was sick. "I don't have food in my teeth, do I? I brushed them in the car... Just ask Rory." She gave them both a sheepish smile before she ran her teeth over her tongue just in case. "You have a beautiful home by the way. Very big."

Rory just pulled a face and pretended he was extremely interested in the extensively ornate interior of the foyer. It really was a small palace. Well, not even small. The estate was huge. They had to drive up a huge drive to even reach the security gates. It definitely wasn't visible from the streets and could be missed by anyone passing by. The home was set in the middle of beautiful gardens, even if it was getting dark outside. No one just had fountains in their garden for the fuck of it. There were paintings lining the walls of the room and the carpet on the huge staircase was plush and deep blood red. How ironic. The artwork were originals, too. Rory's artist eye wouldn't miss that. He was still pissed from the encounter in the car that had just made him miss his family. Unlike Buffy, he was still trying to figure out if being in France was a good idea. He swore he was already homesick... unless it was just fear of the unknown. "Of course it's big, they're fecking rich," he pointed out bluntly, looking back at the two women who couldn't be more opposite if they tried.

Juliette tilted her head as she meet Rory's gaze, studying him quietly for a moment as she kept a hold of Buffy's hand. She still hadn't forgotten that it was when Blaise had claimed her, and fed on the Slayer's bad blood that he had gotten sick. It could have been a result of being apart from the blonde, but it could have just as easily been a result of the blood. She wasn't about to let the little girl out of her sight for a second. Not until she was sure what had happened. "I don't think rich is even the best word for it, darling. But oui, we are rich. It is what happens when you have centuries to grow your fortune and a decent amount of wealth to begin with." She gestured with her free hands at the paintings as she smiled. "Do you like them? I think there is a lot here that you might actually enjoy, Rory. You might be surprised."

Buffy looked down at her hand in Juliette's and tried to fight an urge to just start a fight to get free and go running up the stairs to find Blaise. He was even closer now, her body practically screaming to be with him. She hardly had eyes for her surroundings, let alone the paintings but she clenched her jaw and forced herself to stay still and look at them. "I was never good at art. Big surprise. I only know that the one near the end is a Van Gogh, right? He's the guy that cut of his ear, or something..."

"Or when a Queen gives birth to you," Rory added. He had been Googling Blaise's mother and father, and his family. He had discovered that Blaise's birth name apparently wasn't Blaise, and Rory wasn't sure why he had been surprised at that, but of course one would feel the urge for a new name when, you know, you got killed by a vampire and made into an undead. It just wasn't something he had revealed to Buffy. It wasn't really relevant who he had been before, just who and what he was now. His eyes came to rest on an old looking portrait of said undead dude. It was oddly eerie to see that all the stuff they had learnt in Edinburgh wasn't just talk. This was his home, his realm, and they had been invited into it. It was huge, and he glanced at Buffy to see if she realised the enormity of it. He was still on guard, though. It was a habit he couldn't shake. Time would tell how he coped being here, or how it felt for him to be in Juliette's comfort zone and out of his. He could see a desperate glint in Buffy's eyes. It was interesting for him. That claiming really was something, but there was more to it than that. "So, do we get welcome scones and a cuppa, or is that off the menu? You know, for obvious reasons."

Juliette moved to stand between her two guests so she could hook her arms through each of theirs. Her grip was more relaxed on Rory's than it was on Buffy, and she turned her head to smile at the Scotsman again before kissing his cheek in a chaste gesture. He would have made her stomach flutter if she was still capable of such a feeling. He really did make her feel oddly young again, even if he seemed to have taken a liking for rubbing her true age into her face. "You can have anything you like, mon petit chou-chou. We are used to have guests here once in a while. We always make sure there is something here for them even if it is not scones." She started to lead them through the mansion towards the kitchen area, maybe just taking a little pleasure in prolonging Buffy's reunion with Blaise. She wasn't so beyond petty games as to not toy with the poor woman just a little. "You seem distracted, cherie. Something wrong?"

Buffy shook her head as she glanced at the stairs they were now passing, almost sure that they should have been going up them and not right by them. "No, no. Everything's just peachy keen, jelly bean. I'm aces... Never been better. Where's Blaise, by the way?" she tried to ask as casually as possible. Of course she cringed the moment the words left her mouth realising her casual sounded a lot like desperate. She forced herself to take another look at their surroundings and this time it really was starting to hit her just how amazing the place was. "Wow... Giles would have a wet dream over this place. Not literally because ew... and sticky. I just mean he'd love to see it. Big into the history. Me? I'm just in awe. And very appreciative. Definitely appreciative. Blaise is here though, right?"

Rory snorted with a snigger. Buffy was about as subtle as a fart in the face. She couldn't have sounded less casual if she tried, and of course he was amused by that. He was curious as to where the other Kindred was, more than expecting the guy to be at least be looming menacingly at new blood in his midst. He had claimed Buffy, it would make sense he would at least try to put himself in her presence, yet... nothing. Juliette had mentioned he had been ill, something along the lines. Rory was just now wondering if there was more to that story than met the eye. Also nothing like bringing up her Vampire Slayer Watcher type person in the presence of vampires. He didn't think this Giles would be getting an invite to view the interior any time soon. Buffy herself was lucky to even be there. "Probably should answer the lassie," he told Juliette with a shrug. "She's a pain in the fecking arse when she doesnae shut up aboot something."

"So I'm beginning to learn," Juliette murmured as she turned her gaze on Buffy. She was still wondering what it was Blaise saw in her to drive him to claim the Slayer. It couldn't just have been the fact that another vampire's signature had caught his attention. She pressed her lips together with discontent at the mention of Giles, her mind automatically connecting the dots with the very British name. Kindred knew of Slayers and of Watchers. Juliette had met one of the Watchers in her past, but lucky for her she was very good at the Masquerade. She still was even if someone Rory could manage to pick at the tiny holes. It was part of what made him special. He was more perceptive than he probably even realised. "He is here, but he is up in his bedroom. You don't need to fret, cherie, I will take you to him soon. I just want to make sure you feel welcome and comfortable."

Buffy sighed as she kept following their Kindred host. "I'd be welcome and comfortable if I was with Blaise. Look, I'm sorry, and you're being really nice and everything, and your home is really, really beautiful but I know he's sick. There's no point denying it, so please just let me see him. I want to know if he's okay. I need to see him."

Juliette released Rory and had Buffy up against the wall in the blink of an eye. Juliette's calm demeanour was gone, and her eyes flashed silver as she let out a low growl. "Listen very carefully, Slayer. I'm being nice because I know he would want it. Even if he will not admit it. What I don't have to be is tolerant of you if it turns out to be true that your blood is poisoned. So for now we will play the game, oui? You and I will do a little dance and when I am satisfied that you will not do him more harm than good, I will let you see him." She retreated to let Buffy stand on her own two feet again, and took Rory's arm as she swept her hair over her shoulder and smiled again. "Would some tea be alright, or do you need something stronger?"

Rory had been watching the scene, his tongue resting between his lips with keen interest. What could he say? It was hot. He had still been entertaining himself with fantasies of them getting it on together, and this was just a nice treat. He held out his hand with a smirk and waved his finger. "This is where you two kiss and Buffy gropes Juliette's titties a wee bit," he revealed. "Tea's good. So is a shot of Glenfinnan's finest, if you have it."

Juliette held out her other hand towards Buffy. It was a test to see if the Slayer was willing to cooperate without Juliette forcing her to. When the blonde took her hand she looked at Rory and couldn't help but smile at him wickedly as her red lips curved sinfully. "Ah, non, non, non. This is the part where you enjoy your drink while I take a sip of California's finest," she told him. "If you really do want to see us together you really will enjoy the show."

"Show?" Buffy asked quietly as she swallowed. She wasn't lost as to Rory's fantasises but apparently Juliette really did have it in her head to bite her and Buffy wasn't sure how she felt about that. She remembered exactly how it felt to have Blaise bite her, but was that how it felt with any Kindred? How was it going to feel special if he ever got to bite her again? Then again, it was what she wanted, wasn't it? To be given the Kindred seal of approval by Juliette. "I think I'll need whatever he said before there's any sort of show."

Rory shrugged. "Sorry, lassie. You booze up, and she'll still be wondering how much poison you are. I think they prefer their dramn straight, anyway." He was watching them closely. He knew Buffy had to be wondering if it was a good idea to let another Kindred feed on her... how it would feel, if it would take the other bloke's place. But Juliette was Blaise's mate. There had been some sort of claiming going on there, just in a different sense. Buffy had no fucking hope of getting near Blaise if Juliette didn't give her permission. Juliette feeding on Buffy wasn't just a test of the purity of the blood, but more a seal of approval. Like royalty had royal tasters of their food to check for poison before it passed the lips of the monarchs. This was very similar, only a lot more hot. He did find himself wondering again what Blaise would be making of this scenario. "Should I get my phone oot? Film this? The dude might want to see it, too. Hardly seems fair he gets to miss out. Us lads have gotta stick together. Bros before hos."

Juliette ran her tongue over her lips just as they approached another flight of stairs, and she turned her head to find one of the guards still following them. She spoke rapidly in French before he took them over and disappeared into the kitchen before Juliette steered the two mortals towards the stairs. Rory was right, it really would be a shame if Blaise missed out. A recording on a phone was hardly going to live up to the real thing, and she did so desperately want to see him smile again. Not only that, but this way he would see for himself whether or not Buffy was poisoned. Then he could always taste her blood diluted through Juliette. She could act as a filter for him. "You really do have the most amusing ways of putting things, mon amour, but also some of the most wonderful of ideas. Vincent will get your refreshments while we go and see Blaise. That will put a smile back on this young lady's face, non?"

"Oui!" Buffy said as a smile had already appeared. Even her heartbeat had kicked up a notch at the idea of finally getting to see Blaise. And if she had any idea where she was going she would have dragged them all with her if she could have taken the lead. Again, though, it was beginning to sink in just how much she needed Juliette's approval, and to pass the all important bite test. She held her hand against her stomach as the butterflies started up. "Definitely a smile on this girl's face. Also wondering if we should be getting the guys a couple of raincoats so they can really sink into their pervey natures."

"You say pervey, I say natural," Rory threw back. At least, it was as natural as it could be with two vampires involved. That really wasn't natural, but it didn't stop his dick being hard, which it was. It was just a comfortable hardness. One that one got after watching a porno that turned out to be quite a good one. "The dude isnae in the nick, is he? I have to draw the line if he is and wait out in the hall. That really isnae a sight I want to see, even if he has you two lassies creaming your panties on a regular basis. All the more for you. I'll just... linger. And maybe find a bathroom."

Juliette laughed, the sound carrying through the hall as they reached the second level. "He's not naked, Monsieur Buchanan. He is most definitely clothed. I do have to prepare you for the fact that he is not as... well as he usually is. He has lost his colour, and his eyes are a little dull. I have to admit I've never seen him like it. Kindred do not often get sick, in fact there is very little that affects us." She glanced at Buffy. "Apparently our hearts are still very much an Achilles heel."

Buffy just bit down on her lip as she held onto Juliette's hand tightly and managed to follow the Frenchwoman's brisk pace easily. Her heels clicked on the wooden floor and it suddenly occurred to her that she was in about to be in the presence of a Prince. "Oh my god, I should have worn a skirt. Or a dress... Am I supposed to curtsy? Do I look okay? Have I got car butt? Rory, you'd tell me if I looked stupid, right? On second thoughts don't answer that," she said to him as she shot him a look.

"Dinnae know about looking, but you sound stupid," Rory offered without hesitation, once again smirking at her. The whole thing was quite amusing to him, and a lot of why he hadn't let Juliette feed on him. He needed to know he was still in a position to call the shots. It was the only way he could effectively and sanely function. He had already lost so much, he needed to make sure he still had himself somewhere in that mix. "Even if I do wanna see you curtsy to him. Then watch him wonder if you're insulting him again. Wasnae the whole point of all this was him showing you he put you on his level, or have I just missed a whole chapter in this fecking confusing book?"

Juliette just smirked in amusement as she listened to the other two. No wonder there was nothing serious between them. There really would have been a bloodbath otherwise. They approached Blaise's room and she let go of Rory and Buffy so that she could push open the door and wave them inside. She was watching to see if Buffy really would curtsy but the blonde didn't. She just stood motionless as she looked at the figure on the bed. Juliette came up behind her, lightly resting her hand on the small of Buffy's back as she looked at Blaise. "Wake up, mon loup. I have someone here who is very keen to see you."

Buffy wasn't even sure it was the same Blaise at first. She thought for a moment that she was being tricked, but then he opened his eyes and met her gaze and she just knew. Suddenly she didn't feel so restless, or like she was missing a piece of herself. They were together again. "Blaise," she said softly, still looking at him even as she felt Juliette come up behind her.

Rory stood back and scratched the edge of his thumb across his temple. It was pretty out there. The dude looked half dead. Nothing like he had the times Rory had seen him before. He only knew of Kindred to look like this when they didn't feed, but maybe he hadn't been if he was ill. He had no idea if there was such a thing as Kindred illness. He just assumed there wasn't when Airlie's Sire hadn't offered the information. He offered so much, but illness didn't come into the picture. But obviously the bloke couldn't tolerate certain blood and now he was here all looking like a rather hot corpse, but still on that side of dead, nonetheless. In fact, Rory only just caught himself before offering the guy a Tylenol... or something. What he wasn't going to offer, however, was a vein.

"Bonjour, mes amis..." Blaise greeted them quietly. He watched Buffy closely, but he looked behind her and Juliette to Rory indeed looking like he was lingering. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to make of their presence. He was weak and it was difficult to understand much of anything. His feeding had been limited, and he really had been struggling with it. He had taken to his bed a few days ago, but at least the pillows behind his back had him sitting up a little to get a better view right now. He folded his hands across his stomach. "À quoi dois-je le plaisir?" he asked dryly, maybe even with a hint of sarcasm. As far as he was concerned, there wasn't a lot of pleasure in this, considering how his last meeting with Buffy had gone down.

Buffy cleared her throat as she tried not to feel like she was being picked apart from the inside out by his gaze. She couldn't help it. Even half dead he still was looking at her like he could see into her soul. "I wanted to see you," she started as she kept her voice low. She knew he'd be able to hear her. "I needed to see you. I've been going crazy. You could have warned me that 'claim' really meant 'marriage'. I didn't even get to have a Hens' night. I'm also here because... I want to prove to you that it's not me that's poison." She turned her head to catch Juliette's eye and gave a small nod.

The brunette vampire smiled as she slipped one arm around Buffy's waist before tugging the neck of the halter free so the blue material slipped down Buffy's chest. She smiled at Blaise. "The Scotsman had a lovely idea. Rather than me tasting your beauty downstairs I'd taste her in front of you. Give you both a little show, oui? Apparently he's been dreaming of this moment..." Juliette brushed her hand over Buffy's breast, still looking at Blaise before Rory moved to get a better view. She held the Scotsman's gaze as she made a small cut into Buffy's flesh. The scent of her blood was hard for Juliette to resist. Unlike Blaise she wasn't picky when it came to her life source and Buffy really did smell appetising. She dipped her head as she licked along the cut, humming with pleasure at the taste. Before Buffy had a chance to change her mind Juliette's fangs were exposed and she bit down as she started to drink from the Slayer.

Rory's brain demanded to stop on the whole 'tasting your beauty downstairs' comment, only it had a way different meaning to what Juliette intended. He would have wondered where his popcorn was for a show like this, only he was figuring he more needed lube and some tissues, with a smoke to follow. There was a moment Blaise glanced away from the two women to lock eyes on Rory. Damnit, that look was back... like Rory was a double Quarter Pounder with cheese, or something. He wasn't gonna be the guy's vampire Pepto Bismol, though. Rory just saluted the Kindred Prince and fought the urge to unzip, shove his hands down his jeans and have a good, furious wank. It was just taking a hell of a lot of willpower. "I just wanted them to fuck, dude. This is all for your benefit, nay mine," he offered with a small shrug.

It was a raging jealousy that hit Blaise above all else. His reason for looking at Rory was pure reactionary, like he wanted to pounce on the Scotsman and drain him in retaliation just for seeing what Juliette was doing to Buffy. It was probably a fortunate thing that he was weak and didn't have the strength to move from the bed unaided. His eyes flashed silver as he drew them from Rory back to Juliette feeding from Buffy. His apparent illness had been affecting his responses for days. There was very little control, and in normal circumstances, it would have been quite the erotic rush to watch his mate feeding from the one he claimed. His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched before he sharply snapped, "Stop. Arrêter! What is this? An attempt to distract me from the fact that you, cherie," he said directly to Buffy, "made a choice to walk away from me?"

Juliette gripped Buffy tightly as she found the willpower to move away. There really was something extra in Slayer blood. She didn't feel sick, didn't feel like she was about to throw up. She licked at the wound she had made so that it healed and even readjusted Buffy's top so that she was all covered up again. Juliette stepped away from the blonde and moved over to where Rory was to take his hand quietly. She certainly did not miss the fact that he was aroused, and she had every intention of giving him a helping hand with it as soon as she was satisfied that Blaise could be left alone with Buffy. She was still waiting for some sort of adverse affect to the Slayer's blood to make her fall violently ill but there was nothing. Her body was not rejecting the blood.

Buffy's cheeks were flushed as she looked at Blaise and despite the fact she'd just had some of her blood drained her heart was racing a million miles an hour with little stars appearing at the edges of her vision. She dared to move closer to the Kindred Prince and sat down next to where his feet were in the bed as she took a minute to compose herself. It really was like having the greatest orgasm on Earth when you got fed on and Buffy still didn't know how she was supposed to feel about it. It shouldn't feel good. It shouldn't be something she wanted. She wet her lips as she took a deep breath and fought back a stupid grin as her body sang in ecstasy. Still, it wasn't the same as having Blaise feed on her. She knew that. "I made a mistake," she finally said. "I was scared. Confused... You rejected my blood, but hadn't rejected me. I didn't know what that was supposed to mean. So I thought I had to be the one to walk away because I wasn't sure at first what I had to offer. Rory told me that you were sick and I had to come. I had to be with you. I want to take care of you." Buffy reached out to touch his leg, her fingers resting on it lightly. "You claimed me. There is no walking away, Blaise."

Rory had been standing back just watching the scene play out. Even sick, the dude managed to look scary when he was pissed off. Of course, he had five hundred odd years to hone that done, so it wasn't particularly surprising. Also, he was a scary bastard. He was one of the most powerful Kindred in the world. There was a reason people didn't make a habit of fucking with him. It had become obvious that there were suspicions that Buffy's blood had poisoned the guy, and granted, it was a fair concern. But he wasn't so sure how convincing it would be having Juliette feed off Buffy anymore. For one, the guy could only drink a certain sort of blood, where Juliette had more varied tastes. Surely it had to have something to do with the claiming? Still, Rory didn't have a clue why the guy wanted to claim someone who he couldn't feed off. Now he had to sit here and watch Juliette have what he couldn't. If Rory was in his shoes, he would probably be a little bit pissed too. Only it wasn't watching Juliette feed off Buffy that was pissing him off, it was that Buffy was here at all. Oops. Maybe coming to France wasn't the best move afterall. Somewhere in his head, Rory could hear a little voice taunting 'I told you so' at him.

Blaise watched her hand on his leg and then his eyes rose to meet hers again. He was still tired, and the urge to just sleep continuously was still there. It had been prominently what he had been doing since he returned from Scotland. It had been so many years since he had been ill as a mortal that he had forgotten how taxing it could be. He didn't like it at all. He never liked feeling weak. He didn't answer at first, instead taking a few moments to process her words as he pressed his lips together lightly. "One of the first things I told you was that I could only feed on a particular type of blood. However, contrary to what you have may taken it upon yourself to deduce about me, I do not interact with others simply because of what blood is within them. I am not that shallow and the fact that you have thought I was indicates that my first deductions - that time was needed - were correct. I did not expect you to understand everything in one night, yet you never afforded me the same luxury. You wanted it all within a few hours and when you did not understand, you went off in a tantrum and blantantly insulted me and my actions. You do not believe it, belle, but I believe you are spoilt. You are spoilt as to information. You have had people feed you information and teach you and train you until you are ready to go out and face what you have been chosen for. Oui, I know of Slayers and Watchers. I have for many years. Deep down, you did not like knowing of our existence without understanding it. You wanted to know everything and understand me and my Kind all in one night. That was not going to happen and all I requested of you was time. You walked away and did not even want to give me that. I asked nothing else of you, Buffy. Why you expected I wanted to take so much else is beyond me. I claimed you to rid you of the hold the other Kind had over you, because with it, you would never be able to truly give your heart to anyone. Ultimately, you gave it to him, but he could not give you the same in return. True love is a two-way street. A claim is not a marriage, it is a bond. I would remain a presence within you, but that is all it could have remained to be. You could still love others wholly and completely. I returned your ability to gift your heart. That is something you should experience... and not live cursed."

Juliette started to pull Rory towards the door, intent on leaving Blaise to be with Buffy. She wasn't going to apologise for feeding on the young woman even if she knew that Blaise wasn't as happy with it as she assumed he would be. She held a finger up to her lips to indicate Rory should be quiet as she linked their fingers. "This is not for us, mon amour," she whispered in his ear before kissing the spot just behind his ear that she had taken a liking to. She was planning on leading Rory to her wing of the house. Blaise could always call for her if he needed her.

Buffy didn't even notice Juliette and Rory slip out, her attention solely on Blaise. Her fingers curled lightly around his leg as she shifted forward a little more. "Can't you have time if I'm here? I don't mean here in this house, but in Scotland? Your presence wasn't so presencey just so you know. I was so freaking restless it's not even funny. I pined for you, Blaise. Maybe you think you were removing Angel's hold on my heart but I don't exactly have much of a choice in who I learn to love now. I don't think you do either," she added softly as she stood up and then took a few steps closer to sit down by Blaise's waist. She touched his torso as she brushed her fingers over it before moving them higher up his chest. "We both need time. Time alone, time with each other... Time to learn. I know I was stupid that night, okay? I do. Rory's more than given me a talking to about it, but he also made me realise something else. You weren't going to come to me. And not because I think you're shallow, or I think I know you. But because I did insult you and I did walk away. Why would you chase that? This is me coming to apologise and coming to let you know that I'm not running from this, and I'm not asking you for anything right now. I'm here for you. I'm just here."

"Juliette," Blaise stated, glancing up at his mate before she left the room with the Scotsman. He curled his finger at her, requesting she come back over to him. He didn't miss the annoyed passing glare he got shot, and he only just managed not to smirk at her in response. Rory, on the other hand, was watching for a moment before he got entranced by a painting on the wall of a gorgeous woman in period dress. Blaise wondered how long it would take the Scot to realise it was Juliette. As asked, however, Juliette drew her gaze from the blond man and sauntered back over to the bed. Blaise hooked his finger in her low cut blouse, his fingertips brushing across her cleavage and he pulled her close, and then into a chaste kiss. He felt her smile in relief against his lips and then he moved on to kiss her throat. In a heartbeat, his fangs had descended and he bit down on her slender throat. He needed some strength to get through any sort of conversation with Buffy, or the outcome would certainly be none either of them would welcome. Without strength, Blaise's anger seemed to continuously bubble under the surface when he had no control over it.

Rory only just cottoned on to the fact the painting was Juliette and he had been staring at it, entranced. His attention was inevitably broken though when he caught Blaise's roaming hand out the corner of his eye and he turned to watch what was going on. He wouldn't be an average human bloke if some jealously didn't spike up inside him. The thing was, though, he knew this was something he was going to have to get used to, and he bit down on the inside of his cheek to stop himself making some arseholey comment. He was good at those, and this wasn't the time for them. He watched as the ailing Kindred sunk his teeth into Juliette's throat, and in a turn of surprise for Rory, he actually found the scene to be extremely hot and arousing. "They so should make a porno," was coming out of his mouth quietly before he could stop it and he cleared his throat to adjust himself in his jeans.

Buffy at first was trying hard to look away just as much. She turned to glance over at Rory before she looked back at the scene that was hard to avoid when it was right in front of her face. It really was arousing and she even crossed her legs to try and ignore the sudden pang and hunger to feel as close to Blaise as Juliette so obviously was. Maybe Blaise was going to convince her that it wasn't about the blood but it had to be a part of it. Even Rory had said that feeding and orgasms went hand in hand for Kindred. How could Blaise not want that from her? He just couldn't get it until she was in love. Buffy bit back a sigh, and turned her gaze away again when she started to feel that restless discontent settle in.

Juliette's fingers were threaded through Blaise's dark hair and she just about purred as he fed from her. She was more than relieved that he was now willingly taking the time to gather his strength instead of her trying to force him to eat something. When she felt his tongue soothe over the wound she moaned softly and pressed a kiss to his forehead before she stepped back again. Their eyes met for a moment and she winked at him before she turned to kiss Buffy, her lips brushing the corner of the other woman's mouth. "Be gentle, mon cherie. And for the record, you really do taste lovely." She made her way back to Rory, glancing up at the painting before smirking at him. "I still have the dress if that's what you like."

Rory blinked in surprise, watching as Juliette pulled back and found Blaise's complexion already changing to a more healthy and less dead look. Rory had never seen Airlie get to a point where she was starved for blood, so he didn't know how quick it all worked. For some reason, he figured it would be like a human constitution with medication or something. Like, it would take a few hours for them to recharge. But nope. It was instantaneous, and he was already looking a lot more powerful all over again. Amazing what sucking on a lover's throat could do, really. "Uh..." he began stupidly, not really following what she meant at first before he looked away and back up at the painting. "Oh... aye. Aye? Fuck, hey. There I was thinking you lassies were all aboot new clothes and shoes."

Blaise quirked an eyebrow as he watched Juliette and the Scot, giving his hand a small dissmissive wave for Juliette to take him wherever she was intending to drag him to. He still had no idea how Juliette had taken to a man that was so dry and crass a lot of the time, although Juliette had indicated he was an artist. The Toreador in her was probably drawn to that. Blaise just would never have picked the Scot as an artist at all. But his eyes were soon back on Buffy and he waited until the door was closed in Juliette's wake before he said anything. He still didn't feel completely well, but the weakness had been catered to so he didn't feel so drained. He ran his tongue slowly over his lips, realising that it was maybe even going to take some time for him to really have the capacity to feed properly. He didn't know how long what he just had would sustain him and he wasn't savouring the taste as he usually would. Something was still missing. "You believe I did it to prevent you falling in love with anyone else, cherie?" he finally asked Buffy quietly. He shook his head. "That is not how I work."

"That part I do actually understand," Buffy murmured as she reached up to push her fingers through her hair and tried to ignore the way her cheeks were still warm and her breathing had quickened. Arousal could be a bitch when it wanted to be. She deftly climbed over Blaise to make herself comfortable next to him, even unzipping her boots to get them off so she didn't wreck his sheets. "I know it wasn't what you intended, but do you even remember what it's like to be claimed? Have you ever been claimed by someone? Did you feel my presence?"

Blaise shook his head slowly and looked at her momentarily before he broke the eye contact and looked down at the plush quilt cover. "Non, amour. I am not able to be claimed. My position and age means I am above most other of my kind. That is not indicating you are below me. You are not Kindred, it does not count. It is merely a bloodline trait. The only person who ever had any claim over me was my Sire and he has long since departed our world. At the hands of others. He was discovered in Embracing too many against their will and he was punished for it, not long after I was Embraced myself. Buffy, you are not the only one I have claimed. There are many others. Some are still important factors in my life, but I do not love them all. This is where you are skewing the bond of a claim. It does not always equal love. It can, and it often it does, but it does not have to. People choose to keep others in their lives for many reasons that are not love."

Buffy reached up to touch Blaise's hair before she ran her fingers through it, her green eyes studying his features now that there was some life back in them. It really was something to see the recovery. "Well, it's nice to know you're a claim slut. And I mean that as a joke. Really. Somehow I never really pictured you as the monogamous claiming type. And especially when it meant you picking me over anyone else. Not gonna happen. You're just way too beautiful. Too... lusty. So these other people you've claimed are they here in Paris? How do they not go crazy from the feeling? How do you not go crazy? Or is it really just me?"

Blaise rested his head back against the pillow and watched her for a few moments. She still wasn't really getting it, but he wasn't going to keep throwing points at her. Hopefully one day she would understand it in essence. "They are in my presence a lot. Most of them, anyway. Many have lovers of their own, some are homosexual, not generally to my taste but I still admire a beautiful person. They are my friends, my trusted companions. People who make my life happy when it otherwise has a lot of potential to be dark and dangerous. It is only when love is involved that a claim can become precarious and risky. It can fuel uncontrollable jealousy, rage, a yearning to not let the other person interact with others. And here I am talking in the extreme. Love in a claim can also lead to pining, depression, a feeling of great loss when it is unfulfilled. But it is here..." He placed his hand on her chest to indicate her heart. "Here that decides what the claim really means."

Buffy bit her lip to stop herself trying to answer before she had fully absorbed Blaise's point. She couldn't help it if she was struggling to grasp the concept. She'd gone from feeling like she had been under Angel's claim for years to feeling like she was no under a new one. How could she not be wondering what it meant. Especially when it was meant to be an everlasting bond and Blaise probably didn't even really want her in his life all that much. She'd trampled over every good thing he had ever tried to do for her. She let out a slow breath through her nose. "I missed you a lot. I missed you more than was humanly possible."

"That is a feeling that will pass," Blaise assured her quietly. It was difficult for him to understand what she wanted. It felt like everytime he tried to breach her gap with her, she just shoved it back in his face. When he had claimed her, it had been without any intentions for her to remain in his life. He really had only wanted to set her free. Now he wasn't sure what she was trying to ask of him or why she was even here if she didn't really want it, or didn't believe they were compatible, whether it was because she wasn't like him or whatever other reason. He might have lived hundreds of years and been in high position of power, but that didn't mean he ceased to ever feel vulnerable. He did, quite often. There just weren't many people who saw it. "It is always extremely intense for a mortal to cope with a Kindred feeding from them for the first time."

"You're telling me." Buffy's fingers slipped from Blaise's hair down the side of his face as she traced his cheekbone and jaw. "I'm not sure I want the feeling to pass," she admitted softly. "I know you don't want me tied to your apron strings, and I get that. I just... I want to be one of those people. I want to be able to make your life happy. I want to know about your life. I just know that it'll take time for you to trust me, and I can deal with that. Just like I need time to still figure out what the hell it is I'm doing, but that's not what I want from you. I don't need you to tell me what to do, to give me a reason to be. I just want a chance to show you I'm not who you think I am. Because that much I am sure of. I just seriously got off on the wrong foot."

Blaise looked at her with a slight air of suspicion. "To tell you what to do? Did I ever indicate I wanted to tell you what to do? I though it was the quite the opposite, in fact," he admitted as he tried to follow her train of thought. He shifted a little in the bed and straightened the covers around him. "I also never wished to supply you with a reason to be. The only person capable of doing that is you, mon cherie. I have no interest in owning you, in controlling you, or forcing you into anything you do not wish. You seem to have this imagery of what the claim is that is not entirely accurate. It does not mean I own you. It merely means you are connected to me. It was never my intention to use it for ill-will. In fact, considering you were located in Scotland and I cannot be away from my city for too long, it was never even my intention for you to remain in my presence. Apron strings..." He shook his head a little and then smirked. "I think you more than got off on the wrong foot. Tell me, chaton, what you actually envisaged by coming here. What you have been envisaging this whole claim to mean. What you thought that made you to me. Who do you think I am, Buffy?"

Buffy huffed in frustration as she gestured with her hands helplessly. "That's what I just said! I don't want you to do that for me. I don't need you to do that for me. I'm just trying to explain that I'm in this phase of my life where maybe the cookie recipe's changing, and it's possible I'm going to turn out more like choc chip than butternut or something. Which, again... Totally the wrong metaphor here. Okay, so I mean I might be more... Alternative Rock than Classical. Or Indie and not Country. But I'm still Buffy. And I'm really not making sense at all, am I?" Buffy asked as she drew her eyebrows together and looked at him. "I just mean I'm not done becoming whatever it is I'm gonna be. I have a chance to not be the Slayer, and maybe I'm gonna take it. Maybe I won't. But I'm still Buffy. Just like you're the Kindred Prince but there's still things that are just you - just Blaise." She pointed herself. "Well, I woulda asked about the claim if I hadn't walked off instead. Then Rory was talking about it since he's my only Kindred source and he was the one making it sound like a Kindred version of marriage. Clearly I was barking up the wrong tree there, and again, I'm sorry. But I'm kinda stumbling my way through this here, okay? I'm the newbie and you're just gonna have to put up with the stupid questions for a while and the fact that I'll be putting the pickles and cheese on in the wrong order or whatever. When I thought about coming here, all I wanted was to see you. I wanted a chance just to try and get off on the right foot. I just wanted to... be with you. I was maybe a little stupid in thinking the claim meant I'd mean something to you... That I wasn't just the crazy lady annoying you to undeath. I think you're this insanely gorgeous, powerful guy that I can't seem to get enough of, but I keep being stupid in front of you. You get me all tongue-tied."

Blaise was smirking at her again. "I believe you have an unhealthy obsession with food, amour," he teased her. He had his head resting back against the pillow as he listened to her speak, making no move to interrupt her in any way. He rubbed his eyes slowly for a few moments and then dropped his hand back down. "I would not have remained in your presence for a very long time if you did not mean something to me. In saying that, we hardly know each other, so I am not sure why you would think I would enter into some psuedo-Kindred marriage with you, no matter how animalistic my responses became back at that restaurant. I have a lot more extreme reactions than a human, but even I would not risk the Masquerade for something like that. Even if I fell completely, totally and unwaveringly in love with you at first sight, I still would not have done anything like that. This is what you have to understand. Feelings and emotions do not die with a Kindred when we are Embraced. We keep those, we keep our personalities, our memories. I do not want to experience the sensation of a broken heart anymore than mortal does, and I am not reckless with my feelings either. There is no reason why meeting you and forging some sort of connection with you should be fast-tracked more than any other average couple just because I am Kindred. I will not lie to you, chaton. I have the ability to destroy you. I have the ability to do a lot of things, many of them very dangerous. But you already know all that. Of course you do. You are not naive. I do indeed have the ability to wholly claim you, to Embrace you, to make you feel like you could never, ever live without me removed from your presence. But I would never do that to you. And why? Because contrary to belief, I want to retain as much normalcy as I possibly can. I might be undead, but I still want to feel alive. I want to experience normal relationships, friendships, love... Every single minute of ever single day I am more than aware I am a monster. We all are. But that doesn't mean we always like it."

Buffy nodded. "And that's all I want too. I just want to be taken for Buffy. I'm not interested in you because you're a monster. You being Kindred maybe is nice because you're awake of the world I walk in; have walked in. Just like I have an idea of yours, even if I still have things to learn." She brushed her hand back down his torso before she pulled it away and tucked her arms around her middle. "Can we at least try the date thing again? It's all part of getting to know each other, right?"

"Unfortunately, I cannot offer long walks on the beach at sunset," Blaise joked, watching her in amusement. But he sobered up and looked at her seriously. "There is a chance I might be at my end, mon cherie. It is not a possibility we can just ignore, even if Juliette has been doing a good job of refusing to listen to me when I say it."

"At your..." Buffy frowned as she considered the euphemism before it sunk in and her lips formed a tiny 'o' of realisation. "You're... You're dying? Is that why you're so sick?"

Blaise rested his tongue between his lips momentarily and raised his eyebrows a little. "I am already dead, mon belle. Kindred are not immortal. We can reach an age where natural causes claim us. We just survive a lot longer than humans. I am, indeed, ill. I have been ill since returning from Scotland and it has been gradually getting worse to cause me to be predominently bedridden. I do not know what is occuring. I am still awaiting advice from Elders who may be aware what the ailment is. Feeding and sustaining strength has been close to impossible lately. I am nearly five hundred years old, cherie. It could be my time."

Buffy stuck out her thumb towards the door that she realised Juliette and Rory had actually left out of at some point. "But you just fed then. In fact, you seemed hungry. And you look better now. There's some colour and a whole less dead look. I remember what you said about the natural causes, but I just didn't think that your time would be up now." She bit down on her lip as she looked over him, her green eyes filled with concern. "So no date... Maybe I could just sit with you for a while. I won't even mention food, or talk. We can just... be."

"That was survival. I needed strength to talk to you," Blaise explained. "Feeding always stops the dead look. It's how we pull off our facade so well. I do not really remember what it feels like to be ill as a human. Maybe a little. Juliette maybe moreso than I do. She nearly died from the Black Death. It is probably a prominent sensation within her when she lets herself stop on it. We do not forget how it feels at our death, or just prior to it. If I do not survive, Buffy, you will be released from my claim. Keep that in mind as to my trust for you. I have just handed a Vampire Slayer a very honourable reason to take my life. It could set you free. The pain for you would eventually stop."

Buffy sighed as she gave a shake of her head. "I'm not here to kill you, Blaise. I don't want to end your life. Not until you give me reason to and simply being Kindred isn't enough. It sucks to be sick. That's one part of being human I really wouldn't miss. And you know what? The claim can stay. If it's just your presence that's gonna be inside me, then so be it. I'll deal. Even if I can't stop thinking about something else of yours being inside me," she revealed honestly as she smirked just a little. "Come on, talking to me isn't really that hard is it?"

Blaise raised an eyebrow at her, but he was smirking in return. "And what makes you think I am capable of sex, amour? We do not produce bodily fluids." But he just laughed quietly and rested his head back again. "Ew bodily fluids. Don't all those in a vampire turn to blood? What happens when a man ejaculates and a woman gets aroused? Easy. We are Kindred... now I bet you are even more curious..." He challenged and wrapped his hand around her wrist, drawing her hand close to him. He softly kissed the backs of her knuckles and then her palm before he pushed her hand under the covers to press it against his groin, watching how she was going to react.

Buffy's eyes were wide again as she tried to keep her eyes from going to Blaise's lower body, but it was hard and she just stared at the covers. He felt big and that was even without being fully aroused. He said he was sick, but Buffy really had to wonder if it was that impossible for the blood to be pumping down south when they were talking about sex. She'd felt him dig into her hip the first night they met, and again at the restaurant but this was different. Now she actually had an idea of just how many inches he was packing. Buffy ran her tongue over her lips before she leaned in to catch his lips in a kiss. She'd been burning to feel his mouth against hers ever since she'd gotten into Rory's car back in Edinburgh. Blaise would forgive her for taking just a little advantage of him while he was sick... right?