10. Armand's such a dead fuck.

[no_nanomites]

Silly little barge. I swear, I don't know what I'm going to do with you.

[Private to Claudia]

My brother asked me to have a word with you about our mutual enemy. I was wondering if I might borrow your nose?

Comments

[Private]

[killyourownkind]

How did you intend to do that?

[Private]

[no_nanomites]

I'm going use some stuff to remove my smell, then shower with Rex's stuff and wear his clothes and I need to know if I smell like him enough to pass if I did something like enter his room.

Are you willing to do that, darling?

[Private] - Just because she agrees doesn't mean she's helpful, unfortunately.

[killyourownkind]

I can certainly try.

[Private]

[no_nanomites]

Will you meet me in my room in an hour? Level 8 room 2.

[Private] Spam?

[killyourownkind]

Very well.

[Private] Spam!

[no_nanomites]

Thank you.

[Ana had made the most use of her time. She'd gone back into Rex's room and borrowed some of the cleanest dirty laundry that he'd had, hoping to find the things that smelled like him. In the end she'd showered three times using his soap, and vowed that she was going to get him back for her hair later on. In the end she tucked it up in one of his hats and waited by Rex's snake for Claudia, stroking it a bit.]

Spam!

[killyourownkind]

[Claudia let herself in instead of knocking. It felt more like a business matter than a social call, and she knew she was expected. That, and she really just didn't think to. She'd fed -- meagerly -- over the last few days, and owing to her size and particular appetites she was almost never sated on a normal day to begin with.]

Hello.

Spam!

[no_nanomites]

[When Ana heard the door open behind her, she quickly turned. Of course she had known who Claudia was; she'd been watching everyone on board the barge since her arrival, but this was the first time she was actually interacting with her. The little vampire seemed smaller and more dainty close up, and at the same time she also seemed a fair bit more dangerous. Ana liked danger, so she grinned and inclined her head.]

Hello Claudia, darling.

[She walked over and extended her hand to the vampire, not wearing gloves for the first time in quite a while. She had a pair of Rex's but they were ill fitting and she didn't want to wear them until she had too.]

Thank you for agreeing to help us.

Spam!

[killyourownkind]

[Already she could detect a familiarity between the woman and Rex, so she was hopeful.]

Your brother and I have a common enemy; naturally, I am happy to help.

[She glanced at her up and down briefly. Claudia targeted beautiful women when she was able to hunt. There was something very different about Ana's body language, though, that she was unaccustomed to seeing in women in her own time, but it made her no less appealing a meal.]

Not without payment however. A favor, at least.

Spam!

[no_nanomites]

Any enemy of Rex is an enemy of mine. [Ana said the word quickly, and with total conviction.] So I think that makes you an ally of mine.

[In this at least, Ana tended to see these things in the moment and then reassess in the long term. The look was noted, and Ana doubted that she was being checked out. Well, not for the usual as well. At the mention of the favor, Ana nodded; she'd been expecting something like this and was prepared for it. Quickly, Ana dropped down onto one knee so that her height was more equal to Claudia.]

I assumed you'd want to feed, darling, but some ground rules first all right? [Everything was negotiation, especially something like this.]

Spam!

[killyourownkind]

[Claudia's eyes widened, minutely however, with decided anticipation. This was the only outward indication she gave of her hunger.]

What rules?

Spam!

[no_nanomites]

[When Claudia asked what rules, Ana grinned quickly. Yes, definitely negotiation.]

First rule: this isn't a regular thing. I'm not going to be a pin cushion. Second rule: you can't take enough to make me too weak to fight right now, if I end up needing to do that. Later, after I get out of Armand's room then I'll come to you and let you feed again. Third rule: not an obvious place for a bite. I don't care if it hurts more, but I don't want scars on my body. My skin is part of my trade.

[Part of her trade and part of her trap. She didn't know if she would scar, what with the nanomites (they'd protected her skin so far) but at the same time who knew what would happen with the vampire bites and the nanomites being decreased?]

Spam!

[killyourownkind]

[Claudia smiled.] You may choose where. [She inhaled a little.] Whatever you use to cover your scent, just be certain that you act immediately afterward. Perfumes and colognes and soaps and bath oils are more pungent if they were recently applied. Drinking alcohol might help too. And wear layers. [She paused to reflect.] Breathe through your nose in his quarters, also.

Spam!

[no_nanomites]

[Ana considered that. Now, where to let her bite was rather difficult indeed. She took a deep breath and then tapped her hand over her arm. She did always wear gloves, and if all else failed it would be be a habit that could just become more permeant. She did not after what advice Claudia had given her. Should be simple enough, and Ana knew how to be quick and careful in these situations; the smell just added a new element of danger that Ana had been missing.]

All right Claudia, you've got a deal.

[Her left wrist was extended carefully.]

Here, remember not so much that it's gonna make me weak.

Spam!

[killyourownkind]

I remember.

[Claudia shot her a devious glance before taking her wrist in her tiny hands and bending her mouth to the underside. When she was not completely desperate, as she had been on previous occasions, she was actually remarkably gentle, sinking her fangs in carefully, testing the give and tear of skin and never wanting to make more of a mess or mark than was necessary. Feeding on a place given to bleed heavily when cut, all she needed was a brief puncture made by the canines before she rolled her lips over her teeth to keep from further biting, drinking delicately from the tiny incisions she'd made.]

Re: Spam!

[no_nanomites]

[When Claudia's fangs pierced the delicate underside of her wrist, Ana didn't flinch. The mark was barely felt, distant and far away. Really, there was surprise on her face, because she had expected it to be something horrible and painful, and it wasn't like that at all. Granted, the judging of how much was going to be difficult, especially considering the nature of the area where it was and well... she didn't really know all that much about the vampires. Oh, she knew what she'd read and she knew what she'd seen on board the barge, but she didn't know Claudia, so she just figured she'd wait and see.]