A Business Proposition Who: Ezra and Ava Where: Cherryblossom Place, Ava's apartment When: Late afternoon
The only time one was at least relatively certain to find a vampire at home was during the day. The only time it was relatively certain to find a vampire home and not asleep was shortly before sundown. So, though Ezra had received notice of the new Gabriel House Elohim vampire's fairly recent arrival in town at midday, he waited until after five in the afternoon to visit. It was only proper to introduce himself to a potential employer, after all.
Dressed incongruously in black slacks and buttondown with a long, brown, old-fashioned duster that looked like it belonged in the old West, Ezra took the elevator to the fancy apartment she had taken out at the Cherryblossom Place. As he was fairly new to Gabriel House-- and as he hadn't paid any attention to the media, so hadn't seen any of her movies-- he didn't recognize her name. But that was all right. He knew how to be polite to anyone, whether he meant it or not. He headed down the hallway, two invisible spirits following along and silently marveling at the décor, and rapped lightly on her door when he reached it.
Ava had spent most of her first night in Scarlet Oaks unpacking (or rather, directing the movers and decorator while they unpacked and placed her belongings.) She'd had the painters come a few days before moving in, so the place was fume-free and ready for wall hangings. She'd driven her hirelings hard, but had managed to get everything set to her specifications and was able to retire in peace after a quick meal.
She'd slept well, waking around four and taking her time going through her wake-up routine - shower, hair, clothing. There was no point to makeup, really - she wasn't out to impress anyone, and she looked fine without it. Or rather, she looked sort of ridiculous with it, a child playing dress up. She dressed herself simply but fashionably - jeans tucked into brown boots, a white button-down with a blue and green plaid blazer and an adorable leopard print hat for when she went out later. She was just about to check her email when she heard the knock on her door. Curious as to who would come calling, she checked the peephole (with the help of a stepladder) before pulling open the door.
"Yes?" she inquired, looking the man up and down briefly before meeting his eyes. No one she knew; curious.
They make kid vampires? the spirit Eduardo exclaimed at the sight, thankfully inaudible to Ava. The other ghost, a matronly-looking old woman named Donna, just stared down at the little girl. The two of them actually saw her before Ezra did, who had been looking at about eye level, expecting a woman.
When he looked down at the sound of the voice, Ezra blinked a couple times in surprise. He hadn't expected a child. But then, who would? A hair belatedly, he regained his composure and dropped his shoulders into a half-bow. "Ava Carlisle?" he asked. "Elohim of Gabriel House?"
Ava was familiar with his confusion - he wasn't the first person to look up before thinking to glance down. It never failed to irritate, but the respectful half-bow went a long way towards soothing ruffled feathers. "I am," she acknowledged. "Though I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage." Likely he was someone sent by the family, but there was always the chance that he was a hunter. The building here had security that met all her requirements, but one could never be too careful. As a result, she didn't invite him in quite yet, but neither did she slam the door in his face. She really should have people for this, she reflected thoughtfully, and added it to her to-do list.
Child, child. What vampire of the Gabriel House would choose to turn a child? She couldn't have been more than seven or eight, at most. His mind was working even as he straightened, considered a moment, then settled down onto one knee in front of her, so they could be at a level. It would hardly be appropriate to tower over one's potential employer.
And oh, how rarely he towered over anyone he might consider in a position of authority. It was almost disconcerting.
"My name," he said formally, "is Ezra Ramas. I am employed by your family, in a function not wise to mention in a hallway, and I wished to introduce myself and offer my services if, at any time in the future, you need them."
Ava couldn't decide if it was consideration he showed by kneeling or if she was being patronized; she left him crouched there for a long moment while she debated, gaze fixed unblinkingly on him. Her eyes unsettled more than a few, set in a child's face and yet strangely old. Sent by the family, was he? She had a fair inkling what it was he couldn't say in the hall, and it was always to her benefit to hear him out.
Decision made, she stepped back and opened the door wider to allow him entrance. "Please, do come in," she invited, hand sweeping out to indicate the elegantly decorated living room at the end of her short entrance hall.
It was harder than he'd imagined to treat the child as the adult she obviously was inside, but Ezra could manage. Acting was one of his better skills, after all. As was adapting. He pushed himself up from his knee and inclined his head, as if she were a cultivated lady rather than a seven year old, before following her inside. "You have set up a lovely place," he commented, looking around, "especially in such a short time."
And for a kid, Eduardo commented. Ezra resisted the urge to shoot him a warning look; if the ghosts kept bringing up her outward age, he'd have even more trouble treating her properly. But he didn't want to alert her to their presence; not even his employers knew about his "aces in the hole".
"Thank you. One becomes accustomed to dismantling and reassembling a household quickly when one moves as often as I have," Ava replied. She closed and locked the door behind him, then slid easily to the front again to lead the way to her living room. She took a seat in her favorite chair, a contemporary piece in a pale grayish tweed that was, contrary to the actual texture of tweed, luxuriously soft and cushioned despite its clean lines. She crossed her legs at the knee, hands folded in her lap demurely. The picture was ruined only by the way her feet dangled a good foot off the floor.
"I'd offer refreshments, Mr. Ramas," she began, "but I'm afraid I have nothing on hand that you would find particularly... palatable. I do not typically entertain at home. There is, however, plenty of water if you'd like. Otherwise, by all means continue with your proposal."
At least she sounded like a cultivated lady, even if her voice was far too young. Like a child pretending to be a lady. Ezra considered briefly between formality and a more casual approach; formality would be easier to maintain the proper level of respect, but she had sat down and offered him a drink, indicating that she was taking a slightly more casual stance, herself, as if he were a guest rather than a potential hunter for hire.
He settled on formality after a beat, and did not sit down when she did, but stood with his hands clasped loosely in front of him, the ghosts automatically flanking him, though she couldn't see them. He launched, politely of course, into his position and terms. "Miss Carlisle, to speak plain, I am a hunter in the employ of Gabriel House. I am provided a modest salary to be on call for any member of the family in my assigned region-- or without it, should someone happen to call on me-- at any time. For specific hunts, I take commissions on a sliding scale based on difficulty of location and length of tracking, but I believe you will find my rates very competitive, even among your family's kept hunters."
He smiled a bit under his mustache. "I also believe it fair to let you know I am a blood mage, and when I collect, with the permission of whoever I am collecting for, I may take a portion of the blood for myself to work with. Only with the permission of whoever I am collecting for."
So it had been what she'd guessed. She certainly appreciated his promptness in presenting himself; though she assumed he was instructed to meet newly arriving vampires within a certain amount of time, she had only been here a single day. Impressive. "I appreciate your brevity, Mr. Ramas," she said, when it was evident he'd delivered the entirety of his pitch. "Rarely do I employ a hunter for most meals," she added, "as I prefer to do my own hunting - a small amusement, but I value it all the same. I do, however, occasionally develop the taste for something a little more exotic in my diet. For those such desires, I believe I would be quite happy to partake of your services.."
She found it interesting that he was a blood mage, and wondered if those particular skills gave him an edge above other hunters when on the job. If so, she could only commend her family for their choice in retainers. "I am particularly fond of my own former blood type, an affinity I'm sure you're aware the entire species shares. Mine, however, has proved particularly difficult to find in the past in its entirety, and so I make do with bits and pieces as I find them. If you feel up to the task, I would be delighted to partake of your services as soon as you're available. As for sharing the blood, I believe that would be dependent on the amount you require. I typically prefer to leave my specialized donors alive, as finding replacements can prove tricky. That, of course, cuts into the amount I am able to consume in one sitting."
"The amount depends on the spell," Ezra explained. Yes, her tone of voice and vocabulary were helping, a lot.
Damn freaky, she is, Eduardo muttered.
Hush, Donna scolded him. Some folks would call you damn freaky.
Ezra continued, ignoring them. "Though if all you're looking for is your own blood type, I really don't have much need for the angel-blooded." He hitched a shoulder and smiled. "Every Gabriel House vampire wants one, now and again, so I have little trouble finding more when I need it. If you send me after a simple angel-blooded, I won't request any of what I take. If you wanted demon-blooded or fae-blooded, or if you ask for an elemental, perhaps, I would ask." The statement was half an assurance and half an invitation to share her blood type, so he'd know for certain if he'd want any of it.
"Angel-blooded, yes," Ava said with a smile that was eerily sweet and childlike, lending an innocence to her face that had been missing a moment ago. "A-negative, to be precise. I've had the type, I've had angel blood, but rarely do I find the two together. I am also particularly partial to fire and water elementals." The sensation of drinking water, being able to feel warmth, both were simple pleasures she typically didn't experience unless she chose one by chance on a hunt. "Those, however, I don't mind sharing." She smiled again, though this one was smaller, colder. "I'm sure I don't need to remind you that discretion is of the utmost importance," she added. "I have a particular image that must be maintained in order to continue working in today's society, and I try to be good to my donors." Unless she'd selected them to participate in her other hobby, in which case they were never seen again.
That first expression was admittedly disconcerting, and Ezra blinked briefly before he found his mental balance again. The second smile helped; that was an expression he was more used to seeing on employers. He filed away the information on elementals, and her specific blood-type. "My silence and your standing is completely assured," he promised her. "Do you prefer capture, then, for your donors? Or selective, partial draining and delivery of the blood in a discrete manner?" Since she did say she didn't like to kill, lest she lose a source. "I am capable of both without risk to your image in society."
"Capture," Ava said without hesitation. "I prefer to take nourishment directly from the source, as it were." She was skilled enough mentally to stun her 'donors', and typically fed from behind to prevent being seen. "Not here, of course; I'll have a safe rendezvous for delivery where I can feed. You may also then take whatever portion you require for yourself before we turn him or her loose. Circumstances may require draining and delivery, of course," she added, "but I will always let you know prior to the beginning of your hunt."
He could do that. He could also provide her with a version of his spell to shield his face, but he didn't think it would do much good; the rest of her was simply too unforgettable, and his spell wasn't strong enough to make people think she was an adult. So he merely nodded, taking in stride what she already was comfortable with. "Would you like me to keep an eye out for your preferred blood types and contact you if I find them, or wait on your call?" he asked, tilting his head to one side curiously.
"By all means, advise me as you come upon them," Ava was quick to decide. Better to know he had what she wanted in stock, so to speak, than to wait until her desire had grown and waiting became tedious. "The angel blood I'd like you to search for immediately," she added. "The others can be found at your leisure." She didn't bother asking about his rates; she could afford them. Child actress she may be, but she was certainly not receiving a child's wages. And when one had a century to save and invest, well... suffice to say it wouldn't be an issue.
The lack of questioning about price had been noted. If price had been an issue, surely it would have come up by now. They'd covered a number of much lesser concerns. So, she probably didn't care about his price. Interesting. Given her cultured words and demeanor, he could believe it wasn't an issue for her, too. "It seems, unless you have any other questions or concerns, that we have a bargain. I have two things I need of you, now: a means of contacting you from a distance, and a couple drops of your blood." He arched his brows at her, waiting for the aforementioned questions or concerns, a protest of his second requirement, or an acceptance.
"And the necessity of the blood would be...?" Ava asked, raising an eyebrow as she slid off the chair to go to her purse where it sat on the entryway table. Removing a business card, she returned and handed it over. It was stark black cardstock, a phone number printed in elegant silver script on the otherwise blank surface. No name, title, address, simply the number. "My personal line," she explained shortly. "Though you'll reach an answering service during daylight hours." Nothing made her crankier than being woken up during the day by a ringing phone, and when she was cranky she tended to snap necks.
Ezra took the card with a brief glance over it, and nodded to her comment. No calling during the daytime if it was urgent, then-- no needing to make urgent phone calls during the daytime. If he had an opportunity, he would either have to mark the person for later or let it go by. "I am working on a spell," Ezra explained in answer to her question, slipping the business card into his coat pocket, "to alert me to people near me with matching bloodtypes to a type built into the spell. It will save me much time in researching and reduce my need to rely on chance meetings. If I have your blood, I can tie it to the spell and find those most compatible to your type." The only other Gabriel vampire he'd been alerted to in the area had flatly refused, so he did hope Ava wasn't so paranoid.
"Intriguing," Ava remarked idly. "By 'working', do you mean to say you are still experimenting with its efficacy, or have you finished working out the kinks?" Not that it mattered; Ava was a fan of efficiency, and if it required a few drops of blood, so be it. It was a small enough amount; she doubted he could do any true harm with it. It wasn't even enough to give him a good buzz if he were to drink it instead. And if he somehow did manage to do anything nefarious with her blood, she could always kill him. Or have him killed. "Have you a vial?"
"Well, I do have a working version, I just need to perfect it a bit." He gave her a smile that was actually a bit sheepish. "Right now, it causes the proper person to light up like a Christmas tree. It's a bit obvious. I'm working on something more subtle." He did, indeed, have a vial, and he pulled it from his other coat pocket, approaching her on the couch with it and, again, going down on one knee in front of her. This time is was merely efficiency, since sitting she was even shorter. Donna followed, but squeamish Eduardo hung back, looking around the room pointedly.
"Do you need a blade?" he asked politely, though he was sure her own fangs would be perfectly adequate even if she didn't have any knives on her.
Ava laughed, a surprisingly sweet little sound. "I imagine your intended target is rather surprised, as well," she said, chuckling. "No blade, thank you." She didn't need the knife, merely brought her hand to her mouth and bit down on the meaty part of her thumb, making a good enough tear to get the few drops he required, which she let fall into the vial with neat precision. She licked the excess off, though it gave her no nutrition. The wound was healing as she watched; she'd be good as new in a moment. "Is that sufficient?"
"That will be plenty, thank you." He neatly capped the vial and tucked it back into his coat pocket, not quite rising yet and trying not to marvel-- again-- at how small and young she was. That even bothered him, a little, though he wouldn't let it show again. "Do you have any questions or comments for me, miss Carlisle? Anything you feel I should know before I leave you to your evening?" He had all he needed, after all, now.
"I believe I have sufficient information, thank you," Ava replied. "Save a contact number. If you have a card...?" She was in the middle of lining up a new project to work on, but shooting didn't start for quite a while, and she had nothing but leisure time. She was looking forward to Ezra finding a match for her. Until then, she was curious to see what sorts of entertainments the town had to offer. Perhaps she would go to Heme later...
This time he pulled his own card from a different pocket in the coat, on his chest. It was actually the only pocket of any clothing he owned that he magically protected; he was the only one who could reach into it-- when it had cards betraying his other occupation on it, it behooved him to keep it close and safe. He offered it to her with a faint smile. "For you, miss Carlisle. I look forward to meeting again." Only not as much as he could be. He'd thought he'd gotten used to all vampires had to offer; perhaps not quite.
Ava took the card, sliding it into her wallet with a little nod. "It was an unexpected pleasure, Mr. Ramas," she said politely, showing him to the door. She smiled, showing adorable little dimples that were the main reason she rarely smiled widely when not playing the part of a child or hamming it up for the press. "I hope to hear from you soon. If you require any additional information, please don't hesitate to call."
"I won't, thank you." Wouldn't hesitate, that was. He stepped outside and turned, giving her another little half-bow. Formality was good. Formality kept him from acting strangely to this woman trapped in a child's body. The temptation to try and free the poor spirit from such a miserable existence was there, but since there was nothing he could do-- and he'd probably wind up hunted by all of Gabriel House, if he tried, anyway-- he merely kept to his formality, gave her a smile, and waited for her to close the door before he turned to go.
Ava merely nodded, closing and locking the door behind him. An interesting beginning to her day - or night, as it were. Now, to see what entertainments the rest of Scarlet Oaks had in store.