InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "But we had good times-"

Justine Baptiste (savageallure) wrote in haunted_roads,
@ 2008-02-10 14:26:00

Entry tags:

justine, nikolaos

Week One: Thursday
Who: Justine and Nikolaos
Where: Chroma
When: The evening, of course
What: Nik seeks out the infamous vamp

Chroma was already open and buzzing with quite the crowd by the time Justine arrived. Just after dusk she'd taken a meeting with a local artist, one whose work she'd spotted in a local publication and had had an interest in displaying. Her current gallery was filled for another month but then it would be time to ship off the pieces she had now and hang a new display. She'd wanted something a bit different than usual, something bound to provoke some emotion from her patrons and the artist whose studio she had seen could supply her with that very type of work. No deal was set in stone yet, but promising headway had been made. Another post-sunset meeting was scheduled for the following week and she was sure that during that session she could surely cement an agreement into place. She paused to leave word with her assistant that, should said artist call, he was to be patched through to Justine's cell phone immediately. There was no need to run the risk of losing a potential display because she was unreachable.

As usual, she took to strolling through the spacious establishment, checking out each of the lounge areas to ensure that things were running smoothly. She had dressed for the evening in a pair of sand colored wool trousers, a wide-leg style that flowed easily down over the open-toed heels she wore. Her top was a cream color and nearly sleeveless, baring elegant shoulders and contrasting sharply with her dark hair, left curly and pinned at the crown of her head. As always her make-up was light, used only to enhance features instead of mask them. A few slender bracelets from Chloe's boutique jingled gently on one wrist as she greeted some of her more regular patrons, pausing to briefly converse with them as she spotted them in their usual haunts. Over all the crowd was a bit small for a Thursday evening, though the place was definitely still crowded. It tended to be a favorite hangout for those who sought to have a few cocktails with friends but wanted to avoid the typical bar atmosphere as much as possible.

Each lounge bore a name somehow related to art - after all, Chroma itself meant 'the intensity of color' - carrying on the naming theme was only appropriate. Cobalt was the lounge at the farthest end of the gallery, dimly lit and specializing in dark, rich red wines. It was popular among vampires especially, serving one of the finest vintages of bloodwine that she'd been able to get her hands on. It tended to be relatively drama-free and so Justine generally just strolled past, glancing in to make sure things stayed that way. It was calm tonight as well and so she walked on, bypassing a number of loungers where everything was under control. Her final stop was Crimson, a red-walled lounge towards the heart of the place, the most popular amongst her customers as a whole. It featured the most complete wine bar of any of the rooms and had an extensive art display. It was here that Justine tended to spend most of her evening, keeping on eye on those who came and left as passing through the Crimson lounge was necessary to get to any others. She stepped behind the bar to do a quick reading on the register, a brief check of the evening's take so far. Everything was running smoothly so far and so she settled into her usual station, watching over the crowd, on hand should anything require her attention.

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from_the_depths
2008-02-11 01:48 am UTC (link)

Chroma...

The name had fallen from quite a few tongues when Nik questioned on just where he should go in this city. The name at first had meant little to him, dismissed as too tame for his tastes. Truly everything in this city was beginning to seem that way. But as always Nik had not forgotten why he was here and though that urge to explore the depths of the city for something more tugged at his thoughts he had done a bit of....digging. Digging that put Chroma in another light for the demon. Justine Baptiste. Oh yes Nik knew that particular family was in the city. His father might not but Nik was well aware, told by his mother and grandfather before Nik had even arrived.

"Watch out for that bitch..." a hiss to the ear of her son as Nik had left hell to accompany his father on the surface. Nik, like his mother, knew that should Mikkos come to know of Justine's presence in the city things would become...complicated. It was only a matter of time however; Nikolaos knew that his father was no foolish man. He was digging for information on Dorian and in doing so he'd come upon more then just that. It was only logical truly. Nik wanted the time to do a bit of...watching...before that news came to light for his father though.

He wanted to see first hand the woman that had drawn his father away from Hell where they all belonged. The vampire that had caught his eye. The thought still brought disdain to Nik. All other races were weaker, inferior, worth to play with but not to keep. Vampires were too breakable, their cold skin breaking under powerful demon hands. They'd never be able to appreciate hell or that fiery heat. Nikolaos respected his father, he thought him a great man. But in this....in this he thought him weak.

And such a thought did not sit well with Nikolaos. As the weakness of one of the family was weakness to all of the family. That was why Dorian was to be found, to be brought back.

After night had fallen Nikolaos made his way to the infamous bar. As always he was dressed well, his suit fine pressed and complimenting in every fashion. A smile was given by some cute little thing as he stepped inside but the reeking scent of human blood all too quickly was noticed as she was left to watch him walk away. He did not know the vampiress on sight no...but he had a feeling he'd know who she was once he saw her.

Easily he blended in, moving smoothly from one room to another. Darkness kept him from notice of roaming eyes but it did not shroud him in such a way as to make a human take notice. Many rooms but Nik found himself to the most populated. The one where an owner was sure to visit. A seat to the back, a dark wine had been brought over some time ago but Nik had scarcely taken a sip. he was watching...and smirked when he saw her arrive. Who she was confirmed by the whispered conversation of a group of woman near by. So this was Justine...

Strong yes...beautiful perhaps...but she compared not at all to his mother.

Would she recognize his blood? Only one way to know. Nik picked up his glass, walking straight to where she lingered. “It looks as though you’re the one I should speak to about finding something much…stronger…then this.” He mused with a smirk upon the lips as his glass was dismissed to the table.

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savageallure
2008-02-11 02:24 am UTC (link)

Movement in her peripheral drew Justine's gaze to the young man that approached now from the depths of the Crimson lounge. There was no mistaking the expensive cut of his suit or the movement of such pricey fabrics. On the surface, he looked like so many of the other patrons that she dealt with nightly - if only she'd had any idea just how wrong she was to think such a thing. Nikolaos was definitely a step ahead in that department, knowing full well of her identity and what it meant long before she had so much as his name.

His blood carried only the faintest hint of a familiar scent, one that tickled at the farthest corners of an old memory but couldn't be pulled forward into the light to be recognized. Perhaps he'd been here before or she'd met him in passing - she was unaware that it was something vastly more complicated than that. Masking the concern was a brilliant way to approach the establishment's owner and not rouse suspicion and surely that was one of his goals for the evening - or perhaps he wanted his identity known. Only time would tell, really.

"I'm sorry to hear that it isn't to your liking," ever the professional, Justine gave both him and his concern her full attention, "perhaps you could tell me what you mean by stronger?" A whiff of the wine he'd set aside assure her it was a 2000 vintage merlot - an award winner, as a matter of fact. If he was looking for something richer, dryer, she could find either though reds of that caliber were certainly costly. "I'm sure whatever it is you seek in a vintage, we have something here to satisfy you."

Up close she was more striking than she ever could have been from a distance - pale nearly porcelain-like skin stretching as far as the eye could see, a striking sight when placed against the rich chocolate of the lush bangs that swept sleekly across her forehead. Her eyes were a startling shade of green, almost jade in their hue and shaded by thick black lashes. There was an almost regal air about her, helped in part by high-set cheekbones and pale, petal pink lips. Surely the polar opposite to the mother he so 'adored,' but stunning in her own right.

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from_the_depths
2008-02-12 03:01 pm UTC (link)

Nikolaos watched her as he approached, awaiting some tell to give idea if she recognized anything about him or not. Though Nik had not been to the surface long that did not mean he was unable to read people well. Young years did not make him excel in such a practice as his father but to think simply because his years were fewer that he'd not hold any skill...was a wrong thought to hold. Nik was trained well from the moment he was born, his mother was a harsh teacher and his father was much the same. Nik, unlike many however, did not speak such things in anger but in pure pride. His blood and their ways meant much to him. As they should.

But in watching her it seemed that she'd not caught who he was or more...who he was related to. Good, he had hoped that she would not. Things were more interesting that way. After all it wasn't as though he wanted to get into some debate about where his father was and what they were doing here. That wasn't her concern or business regardless. No...he was simply here to get a feel for the vampire. Test if she was really a threat. His mother believed her so and so Nik knew to keep that in mind.

Just as he wasn't about to let Dorian threaten the strength and power of their blood he could not let his father do the same...as much as it was a thought Nik did not like to have. Justine was...a key to all of that. One best left thrown away and forgotten in Nik's opinion.

Looks were far from all of it. The vampire was pale, striking to some perhaps, but Nik could only really shrug to that. He did not see the draw in her that his father did. Not to say she had no looks, but more she had nothing beyond that of a true demoness. A real warrior, one worth holding such...affections to. Of course such a word was...off...in the ways their world worked. Marriage wasn't about affection or love. None the less so far...he didn't see the point. Didn't get why his father had fallen so far for this...one. Made his lips nearly want to curl.

"Something with a bit more...kick perhaps. Something unique." mused Nik, leaning against the table a bit with an award winning charming smirk upon his lips. Lucky for him he knew how to make such a thing look boyish and teasing almost more so then cheesy or over done. He kept his tone friendly, calm, managing to bite back all those desires to simply sneer. "I'm sure you can think of something that might appeal more..." a tip of his head, a certain knowing look that she might be able to take a guess to what a demon might be more interested in.

Award winning just didn't quite cut it. Then again Nik really wasn't much of a wine guy...but for here tonight it worked.

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savageallure
2008-02-12 05:56 pm UTC (link)

The closer he came, the more the scent of his blood tickled at her memory. Why she felt a certain familiarity with it gained no more clarity though and soon the quest through those hundreds of years of archived experiences was set aside as Nikolaos stood before her. It would be rude to be lost in one's head with a patron stood before you, of course, and so her attention was turned to his 'issue' instead.

It would take someone lifetimes younger than Justine to miss what that smirk hinted towards. Had her memory been more locked onto why she felt as though they had met before, it might have picked up on the similarities between his cavalier attitude and a certain pirate in her past that had created this carbon copy. He truly was his father's son, if only she was aware of it.

Of course, such a revelation was likely to end their little exchange right then and there. Unaware of whatever might have happened on Mikkos' end, things between them had ended badly and she surely had no desire to put herself through the emotional ringer by re-visiting their shared past.

"There are several places in town that can satisfy even the most voracious of appetites, perhaps Chroma simply isn't what you are looking for," she smirked lightly. Whatever he sought beyond wine, he wouldn't get it here....or at least not from the establishment's owner. Surely there were more than a few serving girls that would be happy to fulfill any little wish he might have.

"And if it is truly wine and art you came for, then I suggest you spend your time in the Cobalt lounge. It might be more your speed," nearly anything went in the mainly vampire lounge. Sealed off from most of the rest of the place, it tended to be a more hedonistic setting, though she doubted Nikolaos had truly come seeking either of things Chroma was so known for. He was charming, of course, and obviously handsome, but there was something...off...something a bit unsettling about him, not that Justine let such things show, of course. Something about him assured her that her brain would be working on overtime to place exactly why she might know him, bound to be unsatisfied until whatever memory it was that held the key was unearthed.

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from_the_depths
2008-02-13 03:01 pm UTC (link)

A compliment were it coming from another…and perhaps, in a way, even from this one. Mikkos was proud to be his fathers son…so long as moments of his fathers less then wise points weren’t thrown in his face for it. No Nikolaos was none to happy with his fathers ways and the family did hope they had…broken him…of the habits of lingering for more then just play with non demon blood. Nik’s dear mother had little faith in her husband however…and that worry, that distrust, was put upon Nik to uphold now. Hopefully his father would be wise enough to keep to the task at hand.

It would save them all a bit of trouble.

The terms in which the two had parted ways was only briefly known by NIk. After all he wasn’t alive at the time and the tale was given to him by biased angry sources. Mikkos didn’t talk of it…but he had no need to when others were. Wife and father both…displeased. Nik at first had not wished to believe the story. None of their blood would be foolish enough to marry a non demon would they? Yes…one had nearly been. Others had tried. They all ended the same way…none seemed to learn.

There was little worry when it came to Nik at the least. Love was not something he sought and he knew well that no non demon bride would ever understand their blood or what drove them. He played with many but when the time came it was a demoness that would be at his side. Not that he was…eager for that moment. Nik enjoyed his play a bit too much for all of that. Not that marriage would truly stop him regardless.

“Oh…I think it is.” Mused Nik in response with a brief glance about the place. “At the least…something interesting to keep my time.” Interesting…that was one way of putting it. Interesting. Infuriating. All the same thing when it was picked apart…it all kept ones attention.

Another slight smirk as he turned his attention back to her. “Ah, is that where ones of my kind should linger….” Words without words, the way of living among those human fools. Though likely he could say demon outright and none would even blink an eye. Automatically dismissing such words as something else…never seeing what was right in front of them.

“Can’t say I’ve had the chance to see it, perhaps a tour?” an arch of the brow and flash of a smile. Never mind the fact that he’d been in that room, that he’d staked out as much of the place as he could get into before settling to one spot.

None of that was really the point now was it?

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savageallure
2008-02-14 03:33 am UTC (link)

"Cobalt Lounge tends to be the main haunt of those with more adventurous appetites," she informed him with a slight smile. Perhaps he wasn't willing to admit it - perhaps he was - but Justine had been alive long enough to realize when ulterior motives were at work. She may not have known what exactly motivated his visit, but she was positive it was neither wine nor art - no matter how extensive the selection of either.

"A tour?" a slender brow arched gracefully, "That's quite easy to arrange. I have a number of lovely hostesses that would be quite happy to show you around the rather winding halls that make up Chroma." She folded her arms across the front of her blouse for a moment, considering him, "Though something tells me you're the type to be more inclined to be shown around by the owner." It was less that she'd caught on to his little 'mission' and more that he wreaked of the type of patron who wasn't quick to settle for less than the best.

"If that's the case, follow me..." she tilted her head in the direction in which their tour would start. Should he follow, she'd begin with the closest lounge and work their way further and further from the heart of the bar. Should he choose to stay behind and wait for a hostess, she'd simply head to her office to get some much needed paperwork done.

She assumed he'd follow of course, it seemed to be what he was after, so Justine started down that main hall, going over each and every lounge that they passed. They left Crimson, made their way by Coral, Cerulean, Ivory, Shell, a countless amount of others all named after different hues within that wide stretched rainbow. At the end of the building, sealed behind a light safe door was the illustrious Cobalt lounge. "And this is the lounge I mentioned, one that you might feel more at home in. Of course it also nearly concludes our tour, unless there's an area that we've bypassed that you might like to see." It was only the smaller, the more low key of the lounges that she hadn't bothered to stop by - they didn't seem up to par for him anyway.

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from_the_depths
2008-02-15 03:00 pm UTC (link)

“Ah and those are the sorts of appetites I enjoy.” He’d admit if asked that there was more to all of this then a desire for a good wine. But why go letting the cat out of the bag if not point blank asked about it? Sometimes the game of dancing about could be rather entertaining. Not that he had any plans to really say why he was there, only that there was a reason. No he wasn’t interested in informing her who was on the surface no more then he was interesting in telling dear old day that she was here. They’d likely both come to know eventually. But then wasn’t now, now was it?

“Am I so transparent?” a good natured almost boyish laugh came to follow and that glint held his eyes. Yes he was he was certain. Why? Because he allowed himself to be. He had no need to really be all that sly here and now…she had no idea who he was or why he was there. He could let some of what those grins meant slip through, make her feel like she’d know enough about him, or could guess enough, to be somewhat…comfortable. It was all a part of the game. One he’d played many times with many people.

It was always interesting to let them think they’d gotten everything figured out when it came to you…and then surprising them with something they never would have guessed. Shocked gasps of disbelief were like music to his ears.

“Your guess would be right mademoiselle; I quite prefer the first hand experience of an owner to that of a host.” Who better to know all those finer details of an establishment. Plus if it was a human host…they’d know very little at all about what he was interested in.

The subpar wine was left forgotten on the table as he followed after her. Dark eyes trailed along the bar, catching the eyes of a few pleasing sorts as they walked. One or two he might go back to…take home for some play that would likely leave them unable to attend such nights as these again if they were human. So fragile…so breakable…nothing like the crunch of bones.

Through the establishment he moved, tracing her steps, following paths he’d previously already walked. No matter really, he could learn it all again through another’s perspective. Each lounge was just like the rest in Nik’s opinion. Filled with those that liked to think themselves elite. Sipping upon their fine wines talking about the idle news of the world when most were clueless to the real world in which they lived.

The cobalt lounge was the one that had mildly intrigued him before and now he let that subtle intrigue show. “I’m sure you’ve managed to touch upon all places of interest.” Nik responded, leaning against the frame of the door to the lounge. “But touched little upon yourself. What of the woman behind the lounge hmmm? Always a bit of ones self in the establishments they run…”

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savageallure
2008-02-16 02:34 am UTC (link)

"Is there?" a dark arched in question - so that was his theory, that Chroma somehow reflected the inner workings of her brain? Perhaps that was true in more aspects that even his base assumption could have known. Surely Justine was just as layered as the diversity of the lounges might suggest and wrapped in a similarly love and seemingly harmless package.

Of course even she had desires and perhaps some of those were reflected in the existence of the Cobalt lounge, or perhaps it was all a rouse and she was simply smart enough to know that her true success would only come from offering something for every patron.

Though Chroma was highly successful, it was its underground workings that truly brought in the money. There was a high price on a new identity these days and only those that could afford such a service to begin with would even know who to ask for or where to look.

There were several 'orders' set to be picked up that very night and a nice price tag was attached to each and every document. Such hidden workings were more truly reflective of the very core of Chroma's owners than any number of paintings on display could ever show.

"And what do you think it is that Chroma can tell you about me?" she was curious as to what he might think he knew. His views were undoubtedly biased, given the sources of whatever information he might already have or think he had. She wasn't aware of course that anything he knew of her would have come instead from his mother, his grandfather or his own father and now interpreted simply from taking in the business that she had successfully built.

"I'd rather hear your interpretation than try for one myself." Justine wasn't the type to so openly analyze herself or to unravel those many layers to grant some revelation beneath the otherwise icy exterior. If he wanted to venture a guess, fine, but she wouldn't supply any ammo.

She left ample time for a response before leaving him there to lean coolly against the door frame that would grant him entrance to the place's most infamous lounge. She started off back down the hallway towards the center of her little establishment, content to let him follow her back or entertain himself for the rest of the night.

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from_the_depths
2008-02-17 05:16 am UTC (link)

A theory, or truth? Each business had to come from the mind of the owner somehow. The need, the design, aspects appealed to them first and then were molded to fit to the broader clientele. For one that knew how to pick apart the place to see those inner workings it could say a lot about the own that created it. Nik already had his guesses on this one....by words of others and by what he'd seen.

But Nik wasn't naive enough to believe that this "darker" lounge was just for others. No she could have made a profit simply by offering wine of the blood variety. Vampires didn't need the dark to have a good time. But part of her knew she'd enjoy it as well. That she'd find...appeal in such surroundings. If she didn't would she really have been with a demon? Would she have taken that time to be shrouded in the darkness breed of hell?

Oh there was likely more then just a well mannered business woman. Bite he was certain. But it wasn't bite enough to compare to the real drive of a demoness. It wasn't enough to compare to his mothers own strength. Yet his father would throw all of them aside for this? For this...world. None of it had so fully impressed him that he thought it worth forsaking all they’d worked for.

No...not in the least.

Lips that wished to sneer kept a friendly smile instead. "I think the business speaks for itself when it comes to you." Nik responded to that, lips curling just enough to make that smile a smirk. "And by the look in your eyes I'd say you know already what I mean." variety, never just what was seen. Any that showed it all was a pathetically weak individual. Layers, everyone had them. She showed a bit of her own here in this place.

"You've already told me." he remarked dismissively. No he'd not follow. Nik had no need or reason to chase her down. He'd managed to get what he needed out of this. Confirmation to what he'd already believed, to what he'd already known.

His father would not pick this one over their bloodline again. Nik would see to that.

Dramatically he bowed as she so carelessly walked away from a curious patron. "Goodnight, Justine" the way the name was slightly slithered and vaguely rumbled would likely be all too familiar to those so buried memories. But if she turned, if she recognized it, it did not matter. By the time she could turn Nik was gone, lost to the shadows and soon from the building all together.

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