by Millie
The little Malkavian sneaks onto the grounds of the Toreador Primogen’s estate, disabling a sensor with a pair of pliers. She then creeps across the lawn, looking for shadows in the windows. Inside, the Primogen, Claudius Van Buren, goes over some of the books in his library, reading ancient notes by candlelight. He slams the book together after a while and proceeds to put it away and heads upstairs to a sitting room overlooking the lawn.
Outside, Millie, The little urchin Malkavian, grimaces as the sprinkler system comes on in the cool air, soaking her completely.
Claudius stretches and ponders the hour. Looking out the large window, he sees a mousy girl outside on his lawn and squints his eyes. "Can it be… ?"
Silently, Millie slinks closer to the estate. Claudius walks upstairs and over to the front door. He opens it and steps outside in the cold night and walks out onto the lawn, looking for… someone… He feels the sprinklers, their cleansing cold. The waifish vampire presses herself against the mansion, only her eyes moving.
Claudius thinks: ‘A phantasm..’ He looks around a little, than looks down. He walks through the wet grass, turning around and heading back. Millie scoots along the edge of the wall, following the Toreador Primogen as he reaches the front door again, slipping slowly inside. Claudius lets the door slam slowly behind him then he walks into the large warm room to the right and starts to unbutton his wet shirt. His shadower hugs the walls, watching him with unblinking eyes as he removes the top layer of wet clothes and heads toward the main staircase. He runs a hand through his wet hair as he ascends to the top. Reaching a door, he opens it and steps into a dark room. He flicks on the light switch in the room, walls lined with clothes cupboards.
The Malkavian closes her eyes tightly for a moment against the light. She steps behind the door and slowly pushes it closed, leaning her back on it softly as it clicks.
Claudius puts the wet clothes down on the well-made bed in the middle of the room, then pauses at the click, turning slowly. His eyes light up. His smile lights up even more, though slightly embarrassed at his state of undress.
Millie looks down and speaks softly, "Hi."
"My eyes did not deceive me after all… hello" , he quietly greets in return. Millie smirks, still looking down. Droplets of water fall to the floor from her hair,.the resonance of the tiny splatters sounding like dreamlike tinkling of crystal to both supernaturally perceptive kindred. "It’s been a while." Millie nods faintly as Claudius walks up to her slowly, smiling gently. Millie ‘s eyes rise to meet Claudius’ as he nears. "Are you alright?"
The street urchin/kindred whispers with an edge to her voice. "What do you think?"
The striking Toreador furrows his brow and looks at the wall. "I think not then. Is there anything I can do to help?" Millie narrows her eyes at the question, "I guess not." She reaches behind herself to open the door. Claudius swallows. "I am glad you came here. Please…" He takes a few steps forward, then stops. Millie closes her eyes, composing herself as Claudius sits down, leaning against the cabinets. "Would you like to talk?"
Millie untenses a bit at the conciliatory posture. Claudius sits quietly, waiting for her to speak, and she does. "Would you?"
Claudius smiles gently, "I would. If you do."
The Malkavian leans back on the door a bit more, "I am pretty boring. Never much up with me." She looks around the room, taking everything in.
"Maybe that’s what I like about talking to you. Is there anything you would like to talk about?" Claudius asks her, the idle chatter of the situation obvious. She wraps her arms around herself. Claudius tilts his head, looking at her damp clothes. "Maybe you would like to change?"
"Change?" She looks down remorsefully. "I should change, yes. I should not be here…" She starts to leave again.
"You are more wet than I. There is plenty of clothes in here, I’ll go outside… please. You are my guest now."
Millie stays her departure again, and looks down in embarrassment. "Oh… change… change my clothes you mean." Claudius gets up and steps towards her, smiling. "I am… fine." she hugs herself more tightly. "It’s warm in here. Warmer than… some places."
"Very well…" Claudius steps back. "Yes… I suppose it is. My home is your home." He looks down. "The… warmth is yours."
Millie grits her teeth, eyes closed. Claudius looks to the window in the corner of the room. Lines of red trace her eyelids as he looks away for a moment. Claudius takes a slow, barely audible breath. She then speaks through gritted teeth "Why would you offer me this? You have no idea how vile I am."
"Maybe I know you better than you think. Maybe I just wish to. In any case, it is my choice to make, no?" He pauses for an instant, "It is my privilege… to offer you my hospitality." Millie fidgets at his enchanting grace. Claudius lowers his head.
"You are too." she stops the sentence, "I mean… why?" Claudius turns his head, looking at her wet hair and slender hands. "You could be with… have with you… anyone you want. Why am I here alone, with you? You should be with pretty, happy people…" Her small form seems to shrink even further.
"I think you can answer that better yourself than I ever could," Claudius answers still looking down.
"Then I think I should go." Millie gets another glimmer of resolution.
"Please don’t." Claudius sighs. She stops at his words, standing perfectly still. "You… I…"
Millie expression becomes pained. "Oh god… I… I did not come here to hurt you…"
"If there is anyone I would help in the world, it would be you. It is my fondest wish." Millie melts, sliding down the door, curling up into a tiny ball. "I am glad you came. Very." His small visitor wraps her arms around her knees, grabbing her arms, digging her small nails in slightly.
Claudius steps forward, lowering his knees until he sits kneeling in front of her. She breathes out, looking down, "I could hurt you so much…."
Claudius continues despite her words, "Please stay. Let my assets be of use for once. I will be here when you wake in the evening. I would never leave you. I would do all in my power to keep you safe." The Malkavian digs her thin nails deeper into her arms, blood filling in between the cuticle and nail, trickling. Claudius reaches out a hand, almost touching her reddening fingers. Still through gritted teeth, Millie implores, "But how can you trust me? *I* don’t trust me."
Claudius lets an unspoken wave of sympathy be the silent answer, not knowing what else to say, but tenderly trying. "Let me… let me ease your hurt if, if there is any way I can." He exhales, pure emotion rather than need. "Will you let me try? Please?" Millie nods in answer almost invisibly, looking down at the floor through her legs. "I am at your service. Please let me accommodate you for the day. It would be my honor and pleasure." Millie stands and nods again, looking down at him. Claudius looks up at her, an unchanged look of pain and joy on his face and stands up in front of her slowly, regally, causing her to reel a bit from his overpowering presence so close. He slides his arm around her to reach the doorknob behind her. "Would you like to remain in this room? I can arrange it."
Claudius opens the door with a quiet click, and smiles in subtle surprise, a ghostlike answer heard in his mind: "Yes…" He tries faintly to step behind her and out through the door, while whispering the words "Don’t go away" reassuringly through his lips, but something keeps his feet from moving away from her, this wet girl beside him. Claudius cannot help but look at her, trying to catch her eyes. She glances at him sideways, drawn in by his attentions. His mind finds hers this time. ”Would you like me to stay?" Her nod is like a shudder in slow motion, but there nonetheless. Hecloses the door as quietly as he opened it. Millie grows almost fearful at the closing of the door, and then looks down, not able to deny or dismiss the offers of the charming Toreador Primogen tonight.