"Will you walk into my parlour?” said the Spider to the Fly. Date: January 18th, 2013 Time: 8:15 PM, sharp. Location: At the domicile of one, Eleanor Nichols. Characters: Valerian Alexander, Eleanor Nichols Description: Valerian is summoned to the Queen's home. Status: Private, in progress
Valerian had received the black envelope in the mail, approximately a week ago. He recognized the paper with the wax seal on the back. He appreciated the small details as such. It was theatrical, and he was theatrical. He doubted that she had actually sent it, or had anything to do with it's actual sending, nonetheless, he loved it. Inside the envelope was a formal invitation written in foil type in the loveliest of crimson blood hue. What does one do when they are formally summoned by the "Queen"? He had never been summoned by her before, but wasn't terribly worried. He was certain that if she was displeased with him that she would simply send her guard to take him. Not that he thought that they actually could. He had Takeshi, after all, and people tended to not mess with him. Valerian wasn't a natural fighter, but he was decently talented with a sword in his own right.
One thing he hated was leaving the Banyan on someone else's accord. He would have much rather spent the evening boozing with his customers and counting his hefty profit at the end of the night. Alas, it could not be helped. He didn't intend to show up by himself either. He informed Takeshi, and Abbadon. His bodyguard, and adviser. Valerian had a way with words, and quite the silver tongue, but he had only dealt with her on a few occasions, so Abbadon having been alive for a little over three-thousand years would no doubt help temper Valerian's intense dislike of their Queen. Takeshi was only there to make sure Valerian stayed safe. No sane vampire walked into another vampire's nest without some sort of exit strategy. Takeshi was their exit strategy.
At 7:45 sharp, Valerian and his two guards stepped into a solid black limousine. "To the Nichols Estate, please." He said as he secured a black box wrapped in a black and red metallic damask paper. It was adorned with a single black satin ribbon. Inside was a most exquisite crystal penguin. Valerian loved penguins, and Eleanor loved crystal animals. He had it on good authority that she lacked a penguin. The gift meant nothing, it was a formality, but she was lucky he didn't try to find a turd shaped crystal.
"Sir, we are going to be late." The driver said quietly through the partition. Valerian simply responded with a roll of his eyes. Valerian knew he was going to be late. He had timed it as such. She could summon him, but she couldn't force him to arrive on time. "Unforseeable circumstances." He said with a wry grin, as their ride ended at the front door of the Queen's humble abode. Why she chose to live in such a tacky domicile, he would never understand. Although to be fair, she probably wouldn't much care for his home if she were to visit.
Valerian stepped out of the limousine, along with Takeshi and Abbadon. Before he could say anything, a very interesting looking vampire asked them to surrender their weapons. Not going to happen. Takeshi grabbed the little imp of a vampire and threw him across the sidewalk. "Vermin." He said as he opened the door and walked inside with Valerian behind him, and Abbadon behind Valerian. Abbadon was not pleased with his display of stupidity. Takeshi was not the type to suffer idiots. Surely Eleanor wouldn't expect them to hand over anything. It was considered bad manners, and if nothing, she did seem to have manners.
Abbadon walked to a vampire standing alert near them. "Please inform your mistress that the Alexander party has arrived." Before he walked back to Valerian's side. The beautiful package was held in his hand as he waited for her to show. They were 15 minutes late, so really he couldn't be mad at her if she was late in turn.
The alert vampire bowed politely before responding. "Actually, she is on the rooftop waiting for you. Right this way, please." The vampire said as he led them to the stairway that led them to the roof where they were told that she would be waiting. The door was opened and they stepped onto the concrete roof, and the moonlight bathed them in a beautiful white glow. It made his elegantly anachronistic outfit shimmer ever so slightly.
Valerian bent forward ever so slightly, which surprised his companions. They had never seen him bow to anyone. Ever. Takeshi copied Valerian, and Abbadon went for a more traditional bow. "Eleanor." He said simply as he stood erect again and waited for her greeting.