れモ尺工ちち丹 (serpentined) wrote in summerview, @ 2018-12-26 11:55:00 |
|
|||
Lenore was a little nervous about having another person over, but her training with Graham was only getting better. Goodness, she’d be so lost without him...but he gave her the confidence and knowledge she needed. Enough to even adopt a scaled mutant kitten! Lenore adored animals so much and even taking up more time with the unusual characteristics to name him. But he kept her company, and Lenore thought what a better way to control not feeding then on one’s pet whom they loved? She’d cleaned the living room and kitchen area, the rest of the flat was adorned with her paintings, sketches, and works in progress. There were many. Some commissions, some for the gallery in town, and others just explorations. Among the few was the completed painting for Nerissa of the Gargoyle on her home. Lenore took the liberty to use watercolors, turning the stone into a more sand toned color. She hoped the serpent liked what she’d done. Right. Now to play hostess. And not eat her guest. “Alright Monet, we’ve got water, champagne, cheeses, meatballs, and chocolates. The perfect assortment for a ladies’ get together.” Or such as Pinterest said. Good thing the baby vampire didn’t need sleep. While she was a social butterfly it was Lenore who always had visited and done the traveling. She pet the scaley kitten with a hint of nervousness before jumping up to catch the door. “Nerissa? Please come in!” She let her enter, fangs and smile brimming brightly with perhaps too much enthusiasm to have a guest. She smelled of the sea no doubt and..venom? Oh dear. Well, Lenore was merely thankful she didn’t feel the least bit hungry. She locked the door behind them, bubbling with immense energy for a dead woman. “You’re so beautiful! I’m sorry for the art mess in the back, I don’t get...many guests but please make yourself at home.” Well, damn, that was some greeting. “Points for telling me I’m beautiful right away - you may just get into my pants on the first date with that kinda talk,” Nerissa quipped, stepping into the apartment on chunky-heeled boots. She carried her bag o’tricks, all the manicure supplies she would need, and was dressed pretty casual - black leggings, a ‘Weekends are for Waffles’ tee, those tall black boots, a cardigan thrown over her shirt. Nothing that screamed ‘professional esthetician’ but trust that she knew her shit. “Nice place,” she added, taking a look around. Obviously, she wasn’t particularly unnerved by being in the den of a relatively newborn creature of the night - as Lenore noted, the serpent was quite venomous. The more sensitive sniffers like baby vampire’s might note the syrupy scent to her venom too, slight as it was - deceptively sweet. But it was anything but sweet, when she got her fangs into prey. She did smell like the sea as well - but it was also probably her perfume. She was totally in love with this Moonlight in Heaven scent from Sephora, even though buying shit from Sephora was usually like ‘thanks for the fifty grand, here’s a cotton ball.’ But whatevs, she splurged. Treat yo’self. “Where do ya want me, boo?” The vampire gave a nervous laugh, but could appreciate the humor. She supposed she was a little too outgoing for personal visits. Though it was only Lenore’s good nature and genuine excitement because she didn’t get many visits at all, save for delivieries and the sort. “You’re very lovely, you’ll have to let me paint you one day.” Though she had an incredible memory. Lenore loved painting from it. She led Nerissa into the open kitchen/dining/living space. “I didn’t know what you liked to eat so I prepared something of a smorgusboaord...I hope you like it? Sorry. I haven’t had normal food in quite some time so you’ll have to enjoy it for me.” Graham had said they could eat and drink yet...it only made her sad. There was nothing to satiate her anymore. Not even the lovely flavors of food in home cooking or the scents in the kitchen. Tea was still calming. At least she could feel some warmth there...something she had missed very much. “Set up wherever you’d like and get cozy.” “Like cover me in paint - oh, you mean a picture? Yeah, sure,” Nerissa grinned brightly, stooping to pet the weird-ass kitten. Man, what an eyesore - she could only imagine what other bizarre shit Percy was concocting in her science lab - but the more you looked at it, it was actually...cute. In an ugly way. “I’m down with that. You’re lovely too, by the by. A total ten.” She began to set up her manicure supplies on the coffee table. Then before she slid down to settle on the floor with some pillows, she bopped right the fuck back up because food. “It looks delicious, don’t worry,” she assured, helping herself to some meat (delicious meat) and cheese. And a glass of champagne, of course. The bubbly went down easy, tickling her nose. “Here, come on, I’ll stop stuffing my face and pamper you. It sounds like you could use some of that.” Could vampires blush? Where did all of that blood go? But it certainly made Lenore smile all the more, pulling her face harder than it had in awhile. “That's sweet of you. I’m glad death hasn’t made me look as awful as I feel on the inside.” Oh dear that was solemn. Quickly! Back to positive fun things. “I’ve never done skin painting before but it is an art. It could be fun!” Lenore made to grab some champagne for herself. It might be fun to pretend and maybe enjoy the bubbles in her mouth. Making her way over to the comfortable setup that Nerissa made, she tucked her feet and bottom of her dress to the side. She was already so settled and happy once again with the company. The manicure would just be par for the course. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve had one of these. It’s so fun to watch the nail art..please have fun and do what you will. Perhaps nothing dangerous.” She didn’t need any acrylic pointy nails after all. She had her own. “Nah, no worries, I won’t give you demon claws,” Nerissa laughed, taking Lenore’s hands and studying them - she was an artist, so she worked with these puppies a lot and needed them to be in top condition. Hmmm. “Or fake nails at all. Probably just French tips, or if you want, pick a color from my world of wonders here.” The selection of nail polish shades was passed over in a wooden box, everything organized by its place on the color wheel and and its correct compartment. “How do you feel about hot stones?” she asked. “They relieve strain and relax your muscles - which might be good, since you paint a lot. I’d have to heat the stones up first, of course, but I promise it feels amaaaazing.” While Lenore decided, Ness at least got started with the filing - it was usually the first step on any manicurist’s agenga. Gotta get everything all uniform and neat. Yes well, there may have been a few paint chips or ink stains in between cuticles here and there. Lenore did her best to keep her hands clean at all times so it wouldn’t ruin a new piece as she went from one to the next. But it was just inevitable that while her hands were soft and well taken care of...there would be residue of paint somewhere. She hoped Nerissa’s setup was tough enough to make it through her painting. Or she could always just wear gloves….the vampire was messy though and liked touching her work. “You had me at relax and relieve strain.” It was tempting to flex her fingers but Nerissa had free range of them just then. While Lenore was certain she no longer had to worry about arthritis she knew she still had to take care of her hands. “That sounds perfect. And the french tips go with anything...So I hope you aren’t upset that I can’t make it to your party? I would love to but even just small interactions like this make me nervous. I promise I’ll make it up to you once I get a better control.” “Awesome,” Nerissa beamed, popping up again to boil the water and drop the stones in - they were basalt stones, smooth and flat and when she was done with everything, Lenore’s hands would have a beautiful and polished look. Plus all the relief from damaged cuticles, staving off gross things like brittle nails and fungus. She was all about this treatment. Then she was back with a container of warm water - a few drops of essential oils were added to it, just a bit of chamomile which was mild (with such a sensitive nose, Nerissa didn’t want anything too overpowering for her vampy client here). “There we go, the stones will be ready in a bit. Soak your hands here first,” she instructed, placing those babies into the warm water. “Then I’ll give them a gentle cleaning because giiiiirl, that paint. Woof. And nah, I’m not upset. I’d like to say there will be other parties but that would be a lie,” she grinned playfully. Yeah, she kind of hated people? For the most part? Her goal with this clambake was to get everyone talking, set the standard for parties, and then never fucking do it again. “Maybe in a decade or so. But hey, I’m all for hanging out when you feel like venturing into public spaces.” Lenore did as her serpent friend instructed, humming lightly at the feel of warm water. Oh, sweet warmth for the dead was just delectable. “I have to admit I didn’t take you for the sort of party goer—maybe one to crash it?” She gave a gentle chuckle, teeth brimming. Not that Nerissa wasn’t a catch or couldn’t be an opulent woman, she just certainly did not give off that aura. “Then we will plan for adventure because I love to travel. And I don’t believe I’ve stopped in an area long enough to make some close friends—May as well take advantage of my predicament.” The baby vampire took a little sip of her champagne and enjoyed the sensation of what something lovey still felt like. “But you should pamper yourself and demand all the attention for your birthday. You pamper and take care of everyone else.. Do you get tired of it?” Nerissa definitely wasn’t a party girl - in the sense that she’d lavishly throw them and then clean up after her guests. She liked attending, and had experienced her fair share of living it up during the height of her clubbing days and rolling on ecstasy. But that was awhile ago (like, so 90s, oh my god) and she had important shit going on here. The bright lights of Atlantic City didn’t tempt too much. She also didn’t think she did a great job at taking care of everyone else - the thought made her snort softly, as she used a small brush with firm bristles to gently scrub at Lenore’s fingers and nails. Killin’ those germs and nasty microorganisms, bleh (also removing the paint residue, a bonus). “I don’t get tired of it,” she shrugged. “It’s my job. I mean, most of my spa products are handmade with ingredients from the sea. So I know my shit. I guess I just like passing that along?” Hell if she knew. Maybe a small part of her did enjoy ensuring others were pampered. Not like she’d outwardly admit it though - she’d just say she was in it to hear the spilled tea and that was all. Speaking of... “People usually gossip during spa treatments, you know,” she shared, pausing to go grab the hot stones which were ready. “Got anything good?” Lenore had been out of touch when it came to one on ones. Normally the traveling artist was just a bristling conversationalist, spending her time learning the ways of the world, painting its beauty and sharing the view with the others who lived there. No she was some..dead thing who could only communicate via electronic devices and had but few friendly companions to help ease her loneliness. At least she had them at all. “Gossip? Oh. Well. I don’t get out very much or have to many friends, but I will say that I’m becoming a touch concerned with the nudes a woman keeps purchasing over in Spain.” She glanced back at her many works in progress, running her tongue over her lower lip. “She says they’re for her husband and the naked form is the best to paint but..how many nudes does one need? I can’t help but picturing their entire mansion walls covered in her painted candids. No escape. But what a gallery that would be!” Lenore of course didn’t judge. It was just always hard not to wonder what was on the clients mind sometimes..”What about you? You see more of the outside world than I do! Tell me everything I’m missing.” Now that she had the stones (not too hot, not too cold, Goldilocks said the temperature was just right), Nerissa began using them to massage Lenore’s hands and her arms - the stones stimulated pressure points in the body, and just felt so wonderful with the heat. Mostly she focused on the vampire’s palms though, the muscles hardly ever getting a good stretch in - when attention was applied here, it should be a heavenly experience for anyone, but especially someone who used their hands more than the average person. “Nudes, huh?” she laughed. “Maybe she lives at a nude camp and doesn’t believe in clothes. Or she’s just a perv.” Yeah, Ness would be apt to believe that. “I’m not sure if I’d do any nude portraits for Zander - he might just be like, ‘what the fuck am I supposed to do with this?’” And that was said with an accent like her gargoyle had, or rather, it probably didn’t sound the same coming from her. She glided the stones over Lenore’s arms, up the belly of her wrists, continuing her work. “Hmm - I dunno, actually? I haven’t been off the island in awhile. I usually just return to the salt water before coming back here. I think I need a vacation.” Figure paintings would always be a popular subject. Humans did after all enjoy looking at the human form, shape, and depiction. The masters didn’t make a living painting anything but portraits for the longest time. Or for the church of course. “Those stones are amazing. I want to leave my hands in here forever.” Lenore chuckled a bit, “You’d be surprised, a lot of people commission them as gifts and try to return them when the receiver turns them down. There are those who would cover their walls with themselves and others who are a bit more modest.” She definitely wouldn’t like a bunch of pictures of herself. “Well I hope he doesn’t mind the one of himself at least. Even if it is yours, technically.” It made her wonder if Graham would actually like the painting she was making for him or if he were just being kind. No, he would have said so. He was kind to her but he was always honest. “A vacation,” she sighed hopefully. “You should definitely take one. Where would you go?” Where did sea creatures like to roam? There was no telling how old Nerissa was and Lenore certainly wasn’t going to ask. “I’m sure he’d be modest about the painting, maybe think his ass looks big or something - but I love it, so hey, it goes on my wall,” Nerissa grinned confidently. She liked Lenore’s style, so she’d thought her artist gal pal was the perfect person to capture Zander in all of his stone form glory - in a dark sort of way, he was beautiful to look at in that form too. Or at least Ness certainly thought so. Gargoyles were terrifying and lovely all at once. The stones really did inspire the desire to leave them on forever. But eventually she had to cease, and not just because they got cold - but because it was time for the sea salt scrub exfoliation, then the moisturizer. She brought her scrub with her, and began applying it to her vampy client’s hands, massaging it in so she’d get all the dead skin cells sloughed off. Maybe her whole self was technically a walking corpse but exfoliation was still important, okay? “Vacation, hmm - “ She hummed thoughtfully. “I’d need someplace close to the water depending on how long it was. But it’d be cool to visit someplace cold. I’ve always wanted to go to Norway, or Finland - maybe see the Northern Lights.” Another hearty chuckle from the vampire, pleased both that Nerissa enjoyed her commission and just in the general facade in which she spoke of her dear Gargoyle. “It’s just a step up from having his picture in your wallet.” Did she have living skin anymore? Lenore wasn’t sure, and she didn’t want to think about it. She just enjoyed watching Nerissa's tedious work with her elegant fingers. Such was her very own art, and she appreciated watching how she worked. “I’ve always wanted to see them too. Before I..before when I was able to travel, I hadn’t been able to get that far North. Or South.” And what a sight those countries would be. “Does temperature matter when it comes to needing water? If you don’t mind my asking.” Ever the curious bird she was. She could tell that Lenore hadn’t taken to vampire life like a duck to water - but that made sense, it was one hell of an adjustment and not in all good ways. In fact, it was probably more bad than good. Nerissa didn’t know what it was like, so she wouldn’t ever preach about it - instead she’d just be here to provide some snippets of the good. You know, to counterbalance some of that shit. It was the least she could do. With her hands nice and moisturized, and hopefully relaxed, Ness began applying the polish - which was the final step of the manicure. The polish she used would give more of a pink color to her nail beds, and also whiten the tips all in one step. “Nah, as long as it’s salt water, I’m good,” she said. “We can appear any time, in any temperature - though I think in general serpents tend to prefer warmer water. I certainly do.” Cold would do in a pinch, if it was all that available. She’d adapt, she always did. “You definitely should go someplace awesome once you feel more comfortable with things,” she encouraged. “I guess the positive side of it is that you’re not pressed for time to travel now? You can go whenever you want, stay as long as you want, and paint all sorts of pretty pictures of what you see.” Lenore was sincerely just happy with the company. She missed sharing time with people, sharing stories, life experiences, tools and tricks of life. She loved interaction as much as she did her work. People of course were her muse. Being a vampire was just so dark and lonely. Getting her nails done was about the most normal thing she’d done since turning. Other than painting. “The cold definitely takes some getting used to, that’s for sure. I couldn’t imagine how much more chilly the water is in the arctic regions.” Then again, temperature didn’t really affect her anymore, did it? She tried to smile at the bright side Nerissa was trying to point out. “Maybe. But what made life so precious was all you got to experience with the time you had, the sun on your skin and the warmth of others. Now I have all the time in the world to feel...nothing.” Oh dear, and there she was, somber again. She forced a halfhearted chuckle. “I wish someone had turned me into a serpent instead. Is that even possible?” “Sorry, babe, you’ve gotta be born a serpent,” Nerissa shook her head, her tone sympathetic. “It’s pretty great, but I feel like every species has its bad points too. Nothing’s perfect.” She, for instance, had to strike the perfect balance of land life and sea life otherwise risk her health. She was sixty feet long as a serpent, but given the way humans were destroying the ocean it was possible she wouldn’t have much of a home left soon, and then she’d be hosed because where would she go? Carefully, she applied the nail polish - a true are-teest in her element here, for sure. “Maybe you don’t have the sun anymore but I don’t see why you can’t still enjoy the warmth of others. I mean, why not, right? You got friends who become family and we’re not going anywhere - like, literally, I’m gonna live a long-ass time. Unless they’re setting you on fire, then I wouldn’t be enjoying that warmth.” Such a funny gal she was. “Well! What do you think of your hands now, miss?” Nothing was perfect indeed. Yet there seemed to be some silver lining to everything. Lenore used to believe that. Nerissa was right though, she had Graham to guide her and the opportunity of a new..after life? With new friends that posed a new world of different sorts of adventures. “I’ll have to just come ask for your lovely stone treatment then when I’m missing the sun.” Lenore glanced over her nails and how flawless and quickly her new serpent friend had done them. “They look amazing. You’re a miracle worker.” They did look amazing, didn’t they? Nerissa was proud of her handiwork. “Anytime,” she winked. “Because I’m sure you’ll get paint on those babies soon enough.” Of course she was teasing, since she hardly expected an artist to work cleanly - but hey, as long as Lenore needed special hand pampering? Her serpent friend in the human meatsuit would be around to provide. “And you didn’t eat me! Be proud of yourself!” It was the little things sometimes and really, when everything seemed so down in the dumps all the time, those little things definitely deserved recognition. |