Countdown February 24
I was doing dishes with Violet in the parlor waiting for the arrival of our Vampires. I had made a big beef roast and we had chowed down in short order. We were 14 ½ weeks from our next adventure and the word that Colonel Flood had been found was exciting news indeed. The pack master’s presence in the tale signaled the beginning of the Werewolves in our story and the further complications for our Vampires and their telepathic friend.
I got four bottles of Tru:Blood out of the fridge and set them on the counter to be heated when they made their appearance. Bill had made sure there were fresh flowers in the parlor and Eric had sent additional bottles of wine and Jessica, in a fit of wanting to contribute to the pleasant atmosphere, sent us a huge box of hand dipped chocolates from Godiva’s of New York. I went over and poured myself a cup of coffee with a heaping helping of Irish Nevermind and placed a square of chocolate on the saucer beside it.
Scarlett was at the computer, looking at the screen observing the forum and Dude and GS were playing poker with Sal at the supper table. Butter and Linzy and Lina and Fairy were thick as thieves, moaning rapturously over the Viking Vampire soon to be in their midst. Night Rose, Blue Belle and Renee were sitting together, sister wives with Vi and me. We went and joined them.
“Aslinn, when Bill is kidnapped, will he be here for our meetings?” they asked.
“I don’t know, “I said. “He may not, and we will just have to be strong for him and keep his house for him and be patient. This will be a tough time for him.”
“I hope he is okay,” said Fairy. “I don’t want anything to happen to him.”
“I think he will be okay,” I said. “I will just be happy when Lorena gets staked finally.”
“Finally,” said Fairy. “She was so brutal to him.”
We chatted and waited, enjoying the lovely parlor and its roaring fire as a cold February rain continued to fall outside. We had found one or another of the Vampires asleep on the couch through the week and had covered them up and left them be to sleep unmolested.
Finally though, as the light began to go out on the day, we began to get ready for the meeting. In no time, Eric Northman, the Sheriff of Area Five, came into the room. He leaned down and kissed Butter on the cheek and rubbed her honey bun. He stopped and kissed Westexan and asked after the Kaiser. I got up and heated the Tru:Blood and Fairy came over to get Eric’s bottle. When the timer went off, I handed her the warm bottle and she appeared at his side. He took the bottle and kissed her on the mouth by way of thanks.
Pam came in, dressed like a fashion plate in a moss green skirt and white silk blouse and matching green silk pumps. Her hair hung in soft curls on her shoulders. I brought her a bottle of Tru:Blood and was chatting with her when there was an eruption of loud voices between God Speed and Sal.
“Okay, that is enough, you two roosters knew what would happen if you insisted on being ill tempered,” I said.
“Ah Aslinn,” said Sal.
“Hands!” I said, my fists on my hips and my toe tapping. Pam was grinning, watching the action. Eric was standing in the little galley kitchen, his mouth hitched up on one side in his trademark lopsided grin.
Sal and GS clasped hands and I know they were clenching each other’s hands as hard as they could.
“Oh well done Aslinn,” said Pam, her lips in a small grin.”Eric is right, you have a twisted sense of humor.”
“I learned it from you, Pam,” I said. About that time Jessica came in. “Hey Jess, where is Bill?”
“He’s coming,” she said. “Why are God Speed and Sal holding hands?”
“They were fussing again,” I said.
“You warned them,” she said. Dude brought her a warm bottle of Tru:Blood. She reached up and kissed the Dude on the cheek by way of thanks and you could see the steam coming out of GS and Sal’s ears. Mrs. GS just grinned broadly at GS and his predicament.
Bill came in and closed the door behind him and was met by Renee with a bottle of TB. He kissed her lips sweetly. Rene had needed a little extra attention from our “husband” and I was glad to see she was getting it. He came over to me and kissed my cheek.
“How are you sweetheart?” he asked.
“I am fine,” I said.
“We should begin our meeting,” said Eric. We settled into our places and looked at the sheriff.
“The pack master has been found,” he began with no preamble. We nodded. Linzy had found the news and alerted us. We were excited for the new adventures to begin.
“What do you think his role will be in the coming adventures?” asked Val.
“He will be involved in the situation concerning Bill, but I also see Sam going to him for help with the situation in Bon Temps and the wolf pack which has descended on the town,” said Eric.
“Will Sam have access to you Sheriff, during the adventures?” I asked.
“I have no interest in the weres as long as they don’t affect my business either in Shreveport or Bon Temps,” said the Viking.
“Bill, will Colonel Flood have a connection to the King of Mississippi?” asked GS.
“I am not sure,” he said. “The Pack Master is an influential person among his kind. He may well be involved with the King in a business way, but not where it applies to me, except that Alcide is involved.”
“He would be far more interested in his own over what happens to you,” said Lina. “When the adventures begin, will you be absent from us?”
The Vampire thought about it for a moment. “I may very well be absent for a while during our gatherings,” he confirmed. “But I assure you, everything will be fine.”
“Thank you for your assurance Bill,” said the Sheriff. “You know how I worry about you.”
I bristled at the Viking’s harsh words. Bill must have felt our anxiety and he gently allowed his fingers skate over my hair. I looked at him briefly.
“Ooo, I like it when I can raise Aslinn’s hackles,” said the Viking. Right now I wanted to propel myself at the Viking and claw out those lovely greenish grey eyes twinkling merrily at me. Only Bill’s cool hand on my shoulder stayed me from doing what I wanted. “Don’t worry Bill, I shall take care of your little spirit wives while you are way.”
“Fat chance,” muttered Renee. Eric laughed his lusty laugh.
“What I want to know,” said Night Rose, “Is why is the King of Mississippi doing this? Does he owe Lorena money?”
“Well, in the world of CH, he does it because he has known Lorena for a long time,” said Jen. “But in AB’s world, the situation seems to be a bit different.” I shivered at the cruel treatment Bill suffered at the hands of his maker, the very stakable Lorena.
“I hate her so much,” said Bella. We all nodded in agreement. Even among the Eric girls and the other devotees to the fanged set, we all agreed that Lorena was going to be on our short list for most hated.
“I have been thinking about Tara,” said Karalee. “We know that Tara hooks up with a very bad Vampire, I think we call them backward thinking. What will you guys be doing about Franklin Mott and is he a friend of the King of Mississippi?”
“Don’t worry too much about Merlotte’s bartender, we shall deal with him,” said Pam. “He may do a little damage, but he will be held into account. We have our laws and being backward thinking is dangerous.”
“Will we be seeing more of the Magister and the charming Louisa?” which I suppose was Scarlett’s way of touching on something we dare not talk about. Our youngest counselor and friend was possibly in trouble and we hated to talk about it, especially in front of her and GS and Sal.
“We don’t know,” said Eric. “We shall have to do the best we can to dodge that bullet.”
“Fourteen and a half weeks is such a long time,” I said, unhappily.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
A Congregation of Heretics
I walked into Fangtasia dressed in short skirt of chocolate suede and matching knee high boots and a soft mustard yellow sweater that hung off one shoulder. I wore my large copper earrings with Celtic knots on the edges. It was early. Pam was standing at the souvenir stand, folding Fangtasia tee shirts.
"Aslinn, what brings you here looking so pretty," she asked. I put my purse on the counter and began helping her, sorting the shirts by size and color.
"We are celebrating, a few of us," I said, following Pam's lead and folding the tee shirts the same way she did.
"And what are you celebrating?" she asked.
"Being banned from Nameless," I said.
"How did you do that dearest?" asked a low deep voice. I glanced at Eric, the sheriff of area five and owner of Fangtasia.
"I took your name in vain," I said. "I spammed the site with pictures of you in pink spandex with your gracious plenty on display. I knew you would come in handy sometime or other." Eric laughed.
"Who else is banned?" asked Pam.
"Renee and the Kid, Aolani, Raki, Butter, God Speed, and Jen," I said. "And we decided to get dressed up and come and celebrate our excommunication."
"Heretics, I like it," said the Viking Vampire. "And you look lovely."
"Can I get a drink?" I asked, folding the last tee shirt.
"Certainly," he said. In voice no louder than a murmur, Eric ordered me a Guinness. He put his hand on the small of my back and guided me to the owner's booth. I sat down and Eric sat down opposite me. Ginger brought me a Guinness and her master a Tru:Blood.
"How are you enjoying the new forum?" he asked.
"We are enjoying it very much thank you," I said. I think I have found something you fanged folks will enjoy every much," I said, sipping my beer and lighting a cigarette.
"Yes? and what is that?" he asked.
You will have to wait to see it. I am having some refurbishment done on it. It was quite a hat trick to find just the thing," I said.
"I shall be excited to see what you have come up with," he said. "You have a very creative mind."
"Um," I said.
"Are you still upset for my little visit?" he asked
"Why didn't you just glamour me," I said.
"Because I want you to remember," said Eric. "How did Bill react when you told him...if you told him."
"I told him. You know, you are not a gentleman," I said.
"I never presented myself as a gentleman," he said casually, his greenish grey eyes twinkling at me from his flawless pale face. "But you didn't seem to mind the savage between your sheets...Between your..."
"God Speed!!!" I said, interrupting the Viking's reminiscing. I moved over to accommodate my partner in crime. Jen followed him and shot a dazzling smile at the Big Viking. Ginger appeared as if by magik to take the God Speed's order.
"Well, you little heretics enjoy the bar this evening," said the Sheriff. "Jen, save me a dance dearest."
"I will," she said.
Soon all of us were there, the heretics and non heretics alike. We were by far the loudest table at the bar and Eric seemed to enjoy our revelries livening up the usually boring fang bangers and fellow Vampires.
Later, Bill and Jessica joined the partiers and it was a real party with dancing and drinking. Eric watched Scarlett dancing with Jessica and Pam dancing with Dude. Aslinn was leaned against Bill rather cozily in the booth, making the usually stoic Vampire smile with something she was saying to him. Vi was on the other side of him, chatting with a young Vampire who had simply joined their table out of curiosity.
He stood up from his throne and went and claimed the Kid for a dance. It was a fast dance and he twirled her and spun her around. Renee kept an eye on the Viking but so far he was behaving himself.
The party went on forever it seemed. Aslinn kissed Bill goodbye and waved at Vi who would spend the rest of the evening with him. Fairy came up for a kiss and hug before she had to leave. They had a special evening planned for her birthday but she knew she would see him before then.
Aslinn, the first to come in, was the last to leave. She was chatting with chow and placing a rather hefty tip into his brandy glass. Eric came up to her.
"So, do you really want me to glamour you?" he said. "Help you forget all about me?"
"I'll tell you in the morning Eric," she said, walking away, out the door and into the barest glimmer of dawn. Eric smiled his lopsided smile and went to go to his day time rest in his office.
"Aslinn, what brings you here looking so pretty," she asked. I put my purse on the counter and began helping her, sorting the shirts by size and color.
"We are celebrating, a few of us," I said, following Pam's lead and folding the tee shirts the same way she did.
"And what are you celebrating?" she asked.
"Being banned from Nameless," I said.
"How did you do that dearest?" asked a low deep voice. I glanced at Eric, the sheriff of area five and owner of Fangtasia.
"I took your name in vain," I said. "I spammed the site with pictures of you in pink spandex with your gracious plenty on display. I knew you would come in handy sometime or other." Eric laughed.
"Who else is banned?" asked Pam.
"Renee and the Kid, Aolani, Raki, Butter, God Speed, and Jen," I said. "And we decided to get dressed up and come and celebrate our excommunication."
"Heretics, I like it," said the Viking Vampire. "And you look lovely."
"Can I get a drink?" I asked, folding the last tee shirt.
"Certainly," he said. In voice no louder than a murmur, Eric ordered me a Guinness. He put his hand on the small of my back and guided me to the owner's booth. I sat down and Eric sat down opposite me. Ginger brought me a Guinness and her master a Tru:Blood.
"How are you enjoying the new forum?" he asked.
"We are enjoying it very much thank you," I said. I think I have found something you fanged folks will enjoy every much," I said, sipping my beer and lighting a cigarette.
"Yes? and what is that?" he asked.
You will have to wait to see it. I am having some refurbishment done on it. It was quite a hat trick to find just the thing," I said.
"I shall be excited to see what you have come up with," he said. "You have a very creative mind."
"Um," I said.
"Are you still upset for my little visit?" he asked
"Why didn't you just glamour me," I said.
"Because I want you to remember," said Eric. "How did Bill react when you told him...if you told him."
"I told him. You know, you are not a gentleman," I said.
"I never presented myself as a gentleman," he said casually, his greenish grey eyes twinkling at me from his flawless pale face. "But you didn't seem to mind the savage between your sheets...Between your..."
"God Speed!!!" I said, interrupting the Viking's reminiscing. I moved over to accommodate my partner in crime. Jen followed him and shot a dazzling smile at the Big Viking. Ginger appeared as if by magik to take the God Speed's order.
"Well, you little heretics enjoy the bar this evening," said the Sheriff. "Jen, save me a dance dearest."
"I will," she said.
Soon all of us were there, the heretics and non heretics alike. We were by far the loudest table at the bar and Eric seemed to enjoy our revelries livening up the usually boring fang bangers and fellow Vampires.
Later, Bill and Jessica joined the partiers and it was a real party with dancing and drinking. Eric watched Scarlett dancing with Jessica and Pam dancing with Dude. Aslinn was leaned against Bill rather cozily in the booth, making the usually stoic Vampire smile with something she was saying to him. Vi was on the other side of him, chatting with a young Vampire who had simply joined their table out of curiosity.
He stood up from his throne and went and claimed the Kid for a dance. It was a fast dance and he twirled her and spun her around. Renee kept an eye on the Viking but so far he was behaving himself.
The party went on forever it seemed. Aslinn kissed Bill goodbye and waved at Vi who would spend the rest of the evening with him. Fairy came up for a kiss and hug before she had to leave. They had a special evening planned for her birthday but she knew she would see him before then.
Aslinn, the first to come in, was the last to leave. She was chatting with chow and placing a rather hefty tip into his brandy glass. Eric came up to her.
"So, do you really want me to glamour you?" he said. "Help you forget all about me?"
"I'll tell you in the morning Eric," she said, walking away, out the door and into the barest glimmer of dawn. Eric smiled his lopsided smile and went to go to his day time rest in his office.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Wednesday Feb 17
Wednesday February 17
It was three hours before sundown and I was sitting in the parlor curled up on one of the chairs by the fire. God Speed was at the computer working on the forum and Scarlett Harlot was reading the Bon Temps Herald. A Vampire was asleep on the couch. God Speed found him at his day time rest this morning when he came in. I covered him with a throw.
“Why cover him up? He doesn’t know he is being covered up,” said God Speed looking at Eric lying there on his back, his eyes closed and still.
“It makes me feel better to think he is just having a nap and not….” I said.
“Dead?” he finished.
“Yeah,” I answered. “But confess God Speed, if your Jessica was here you would throw a blanket over her.”
“I would,” he agreed. About that time, Val came in.
“OOooooo a Vampire!!” she said. She lifted the corner of the throw and frowned. “Dang, he has clothes on.”
“Leave him alone,” I said, swatting at her.
“Why is he sleeping here? Why isn’t he home?” she asked.
“I have no idea,” I said.
“What are you guys doing?” said Val.
“I am working on some stuff for the forum,” said GS
“And I am doing some research,” I said.
“And I am hiding out from work,” said Scarlett.
“Think he would mind if I made a pot of coffee?” asked Val.
“I don’t think he would mind if water buffaloes tap danced on the coffee table beside him,” I said. “I dropped my tea kettle a little while ago and he didn’t even flinch.”
Val set the coffee to perking and she ambled over to read the paper over Scarlett’s shoulder. “Where did you get the paper?”
“It was on the coffee table,” she said. “Eric must have brought it in.”
“Anything interesting?” she asked. Scarlett nodded.
“There was an article about a gang moving into Bon Temps,” she said. “Recon they are the Weres we have been hearing about?”
“Could be,” she said.
About that time Jen came in and flopped down on the couch. She must have just come in from a shift at the hospital. She looked over at the man asleep on the couch. “What is he doing here? Why isn’t he sleeping at home?” she asked.
“No idea,” said Val. “God Speed found him there.”
Lina came bustling in with grocery bags. “Why is it dark in here? Open up these shutters!”
“NO!!!” was the resounding chorus. “We have a guest sleeping here,” said Jen nodding her head at the sleeping Sheriff.
“Why is he here?” she asked. “Is he hurt? Is he wounded?”
“Not that I could tell,” said God Speed. “He’s just asleep.”
“Good,” she said. “Well, I thought I would make something for the meeting, some goulash.”
“Sounds good,” I said. I closed the book and gathered up all my note cards for the mythology essay I was working on and grabbed the small pile of books and began to replace them in the shelves. I put the cards on the computer table to be typed up later.
Folks came in and out of the meeting room all day. Some for a cup of coffee, some for a bit of conversation, some came just to look at the Sheriff sleeping on the couch. It was 15 ½ weeks til the new adventures and we were getting more and more antsy. Each person who came in was startled initially by the Sheriff’s sleeping presence in the room, but he was soon forgotten or at the very least left alone. It was hard to pry Fairy from the Big Viking when she noticed him and I noticed that she checked on him as if he were a baby.
“Checking to see if he is breathing?” asked God Speed.
“That is not funny God Speed,” said Fairy, miffed. “He can’t help it if he doesn’t breathe.”
“It is a little funny,” said GS. Fairy frowned at him.
Soon we were gathered around the table and the bar and scattered around on the chairs and couches except for one. (Really, they should keep a coffin here if they plan to sleep over from time to time.) The food was good and there was very little discussion except for grunting requests for condiments or another glass of wine. I looked at the clock. It was nearly sundown and that is when the Sheriff of Area Five decided to raise up and stretch.
“Well, look who’s up, it’s Sleeping Beauty,” I said sarcastically to Eric. He smiled at me.
“Good evening Aslinn,” he said, ignoring my barb.
“Peckish?” I asked.
“I could sup a little dinner,” he said. Fairy appeared as if by magik with a bottle of warm True Blood for the Sheriff. He grabbed her hand and pulled her down and kissed her on the mouth.
“Ozzie and Harriet,” said God Speed grinning.
“Whatever,” I said. “What are you doing so far from home?”
“I was doing a bit of reconnaissance work and got caught out. I figured I was safe in your keeping,” he said.
“Well, you were safe from being staked or exposed to sunlight, but your dignity was in danger of being violated,” said Renee.
“How do you mean?” asked Eric. Damn him, he knew what she means, the Vampire just wanted his ego stroked.
“Well, let’s just say there were a lot of ladies here who were disappointed that you sleep fully clothed,” said Linzy, one of the disgruntled peepers.
“I shall have to remedy that,” said Eric, leering at Linzy. I rolled my eyes.
“Oh no you won’t!!!” said Renee. “You may be heap big Vampire Boss man out there, but we have a young girl in our group and it would not do for her to come in here with innocent intentions of doing her homework or fixing a cup of tea and find you all laid out like a Christmas turkey without the dressing.”
“Oh mother,” said the Kid. “Really.”
“Your mother is correct dearest,” he said. “But our time will come.”
Before Renee could leave and get that all important ash stake, Pam slowed down just in time for us to see her close the door of the room. “Eric, really, you should have left a voice message telling me where you are if you are sleeping away from home.”
“I couldn’t help it Pam, I was caught out and this was the safest place for me,” he said. He looked over at GS and me. “You were here the whole time, defend me.”
I stood up to put my plate and Renee’s plate in the kitchen. “Yeah, whatever,” I said.
“Yeah, yeah, he was safe,” said GS.
“True Blood, Pam?” I asked.
“Thank you Aslinn,” she said.
“Any particular flavor?” I asked.
“O neg, please,” she said.
The next to come in were Bill Compton and Jessica Hamby. In tow was Sal, holding the young Vampire’s hand. She came in and leaned over and kissed God Speed’s cheek. I had decided to heat a second bottle of O neg and brought it with me. I gave Pam her drink and brought Bill’s bottle.
“Thank you Sweet heart,” he said, kissing my cheek.
“Did you and Violet have a good Valentine’s Day?” I asked.
“It was lovely, we enjoyed everything,” he said.
“That’s what she said,” I said winking at him. He went over and sat down next to Renee, whom he kissed on the lips. She smiled at our “husband”. It was all a very cozy relationship.
Val came over and got the throw from the floor where the sheriff had tossed it and folded it up and laid across the end of the couch and sat down next to him. He was bracketed by both she and Fairy. Westexan, Butter, Jen and Scarlett Harlot and anyone else in attendance sat down and got ready for the meeting to begin.
“What did you learn Sheriff? On your mission?” she asked.
“The Weres are here. They are all out of towners, but some are here for Bill’s bit of bother and some seem to be here for trouble with our saloon keeper, Sam Merlotte,” said Eric.
“How bad do you expect it to be?” asked Dude.
“Pretty bad,” said Eric. “Unfortunately, I will be gone for some part of the adventure, helping Sookie,” said the Sheriff. Bill looked uncomfortable.
“Sam will have to brave things out on his own for a while,” said Sal. “That and deal with some whiskey tango elements of his family.”
“The whiskey tango elements, as you call them, are of no concern of mine,” said Eric, using the military expression for white trash as if he said the words every day of his life. “But I do not like trouble in my area.”
“Particularly when you have so many other irons in the fire, with the queen and whatever you are up to with her,” said Bill.
“Are you picking a fight?” asked Eric. Surprisingly, Pam and I exchanged identical eye rolling expressions at the male Vampire posturing before us.
“At any rate,” I said, interrupting the gracious plenty waving going on in the room. “What do you think will have to be done?”
“The Pack Master will have to be brought in,” said Bill.
“Has he been found yet?” asked GS.
“Unknown,” said Bill. “We, the Vampires, cannot have a supernatural war in this town. We already dodged the bullet with Godric and with the Maenad.”
“It was not Godric’s fault,” said Eric.
“I don’t think he meant it like that,” said Val. Eric’s hackles smoothed for the moment.
“How organized are the shifters and the Were’s,” asked Jen
“Not as well organized as we are,” said Eric. “You all know something of the organization we have and this organization you know is just the tip of the iceberg.”
“I tell you who I really worry about and that is Arlene,” said Scarlett. “She was so anti-Vampire and she will become increasingly so.”
“I care less for the waitress except where it concerns mine and Bill’s mutual friend in Bon Temps,” said Eric. Bill stiffened at the mention of the other woman in his life.
“If you guys are going to hiss and spit all the time, you guys need to go outside and work it out,” said Westexan.
“Very well, I will behave myself,” said Eric, though he didn’t look very sincere.
“I concur,” said Bill, looking only a little more sincere.
I sighed. This was going to be a very long 15 ½ weeks.
It was three hours before sundown and I was sitting in the parlor curled up on one of the chairs by the fire. God Speed was at the computer working on the forum and Scarlett Harlot was reading the Bon Temps Herald. A Vampire was asleep on the couch. God Speed found him at his day time rest this morning when he came in. I covered him with a throw.
“Why cover him up? He doesn’t know he is being covered up,” said God Speed looking at Eric lying there on his back, his eyes closed and still.
“It makes me feel better to think he is just having a nap and not….” I said.
“Dead?” he finished.
“Yeah,” I answered. “But confess God Speed, if your Jessica was here you would throw a blanket over her.”
“I would,” he agreed. About that time, Val came in.
“OOooooo a Vampire!!” she said. She lifted the corner of the throw and frowned. “Dang, he has clothes on.”
“Leave him alone,” I said, swatting at her.
“Why is he sleeping here? Why isn’t he home?” she asked.
“I have no idea,” I said.
“What are you guys doing?” said Val.
“I am working on some stuff for the forum,” said GS
“And I am doing some research,” I said.
“And I am hiding out from work,” said Scarlett.
“Think he would mind if I made a pot of coffee?” asked Val.
“I don’t think he would mind if water buffaloes tap danced on the coffee table beside him,” I said. “I dropped my tea kettle a little while ago and he didn’t even flinch.”
Val set the coffee to perking and she ambled over to read the paper over Scarlett’s shoulder. “Where did you get the paper?”
“It was on the coffee table,” she said. “Eric must have brought it in.”
“Anything interesting?” she asked. Scarlett nodded.
“There was an article about a gang moving into Bon Temps,” she said. “Recon they are the Weres we have been hearing about?”
“Could be,” she said.
About that time Jen came in and flopped down on the couch. She must have just come in from a shift at the hospital. She looked over at the man asleep on the couch. “What is he doing here? Why isn’t he sleeping at home?” she asked.
“No idea,” said Val. “God Speed found him there.”
Lina came bustling in with grocery bags. “Why is it dark in here? Open up these shutters!”
“NO!!!” was the resounding chorus. “We have a guest sleeping here,” said Jen nodding her head at the sleeping Sheriff.
“Why is he here?” she asked. “Is he hurt? Is he wounded?”
“Not that I could tell,” said God Speed. “He’s just asleep.”
“Good,” she said. “Well, I thought I would make something for the meeting, some goulash.”
“Sounds good,” I said. I closed the book and gathered up all my note cards for the mythology essay I was working on and grabbed the small pile of books and began to replace them in the shelves. I put the cards on the computer table to be typed up later.
Folks came in and out of the meeting room all day. Some for a cup of coffee, some for a bit of conversation, some came just to look at the Sheriff sleeping on the couch. It was 15 ½ weeks til the new adventures and we were getting more and more antsy. Each person who came in was startled initially by the Sheriff’s sleeping presence in the room, but he was soon forgotten or at the very least left alone. It was hard to pry Fairy from the Big Viking when she noticed him and I noticed that she checked on him as if he were a baby.
“Checking to see if he is breathing?” asked God Speed.
“That is not funny God Speed,” said Fairy, miffed. “He can’t help it if he doesn’t breathe.”
“It is a little funny,” said GS. Fairy frowned at him.
Soon we were gathered around the table and the bar and scattered around on the chairs and couches except for one. (Really, they should keep a coffin here if they plan to sleep over from time to time.) The food was good and there was very little discussion except for grunting requests for condiments or another glass of wine. I looked at the clock. It was nearly sundown and that is when the Sheriff of Area Five decided to raise up and stretch.
“Well, look who’s up, it’s Sleeping Beauty,” I said sarcastically to Eric. He smiled at me.
“Good evening Aslinn,” he said, ignoring my barb.
“Peckish?” I asked.
“I could sup a little dinner,” he said. Fairy appeared as if by magik with a bottle of warm True Blood for the Sheriff. He grabbed her hand and pulled her down and kissed her on the mouth.
“Ozzie and Harriet,” said God Speed grinning.
“Whatever,” I said. “What are you doing so far from home?”
“I was doing a bit of reconnaissance work and got caught out. I figured I was safe in your keeping,” he said.
“Well, you were safe from being staked or exposed to sunlight, but your dignity was in danger of being violated,” said Renee.
“How do you mean?” asked Eric. Damn him, he knew what she means, the Vampire just wanted his ego stroked.
“Well, let’s just say there were a lot of ladies here who were disappointed that you sleep fully clothed,” said Linzy, one of the disgruntled peepers.
“I shall have to remedy that,” said Eric, leering at Linzy. I rolled my eyes.
“Oh no you won’t!!!” said Renee. “You may be heap big Vampire Boss man out there, but we have a young girl in our group and it would not do for her to come in here with innocent intentions of doing her homework or fixing a cup of tea and find you all laid out like a Christmas turkey without the dressing.”
“Oh mother,” said the Kid. “Really.”
“Your mother is correct dearest,” he said. “But our time will come.”
Before Renee could leave and get that all important ash stake, Pam slowed down just in time for us to see her close the door of the room. “Eric, really, you should have left a voice message telling me where you are if you are sleeping away from home.”
“I couldn’t help it Pam, I was caught out and this was the safest place for me,” he said. He looked over at GS and me. “You were here the whole time, defend me.”
I stood up to put my plate and Renee’s plate in the kitchen. “Yeah, whatever,” I said.
“Yeah, yeah, he was safe,” said GS.
“True Blood, Pam?” I asked.
“Thank you Aslinn,” she said.
“Any particular flavor?” I asked.
“O neg, please,” she said.
The next to come in were Bill Compton and Jessica Hamby. In tow was Sal, holding the young Vampire’s hand. She came in and leaned over and kissed God Speed’s cheek. I had decided to heat a second bottle of O neg and brought it with me. I gave Pam her drink and brought Bill’s bottle.
“Thank you Sweet heart,” he said, kissing my cheek.
“Did you and Violet have a good Valentine’s Day?” I asked.
“It was lovely, we enjoyed everything,” he said.
“That’s what she said,” I said winking at him. He went over and sat down next to Renee, whom he kissed on the lips. She smiled at our “husband”. It was all a very cozy relationship.
Val came over and got the throw from the floor where the sheriff had tossed it and folded it up and laid across the end of the couch and sat down next to him. He was bracketed by both she and Fairy. Westexan, Butter, Jen and Scarlett Harlot and anyone else in attendance sat down and got ready for the meeting to begin.
“What did you learn Sheriff? On your mission?” she asked.
“The Weres are here. They are all out of towners, but some are here for Bill’s bit of bother and some seem to be here for trouble with our saloon keeper, Sam Merlotte,” said Eric.
“How bad do you expect it to be?” asked Dude.
“Pretty bad,” said Eric. “Unfortunately, I will be gone for some part of the adventure, helping Sookie,” said the Sheriff. Bill looked uncomfortable.
“Sam will have to brave things out on his own for a while,” said Sal. “That and deal with some whiskey tango elements of his family.”
“The whiskey tango elements, as you call them, are of no concern of mine,” said Eric, using the military expression for white trash as if he said the words every day of his life. “But I do not like trouble in my area.”
“Particularly when you have so many other irons in the fire, with the queen and whatever you are up to with her,” said Bill.
“Are you picking a fight?” asked Eric. Surprisingly, Pam and I exchanged identical eye rolling expressions at the male Vampire posturing before us.
“At any rate,” I said, interrupting the gracious plenty waving going on in the room. “What do you think will have to be done?”
“The Pack Master will have to be brought in,” said Bill.
“Has he been found yet?” asked GS.
“Unknown,” said Bill. “We, the Vampires, cannot have a supernatural war in this town. We already dodged the bullet with Godric and with the Maenad.”
“It was not Godric’s fault,” said Eric.
“I don’t think he meant it like that,” said Val. Eric’s hackles smoothed for the moment.
“How organized are the shifters and the Were’s,” asked Jen
“Not as well organized as we are,” said Eric. “You all know something of the organization we have and this organization you know is just the tip of the iceberg.”
“I tell you who I really worry about and that is Arlene,” said Scarlett. “She was so anti-Vampire and she will become increasingly so.”
“I care less for the waitress except where it concerns mine and Bill’s mutual friend in Bon Temps,” said Eric. Bill stiffened at the mention of the other woman in his life.
“If you guys are going to hiss and spit all the time, you guys need to go outside and work it out,” said Westexan.
“Very well, I will behave myself,” said Eric, though he didn’t look very sincere.
“I concur,” said Bill, looking only a little more sincere.
I sighed. This was going to be a very long 15 ½ weeks.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Butter's Valentine's Date
Angel, known as Butter on the forum, was nervous and excited. Eric had called and asked her to accompany on this wonderful Valentine’s night. He told her to dress warmly and comfortably that he would pick her up at sundown.
The luxurious suv pulled up in front of her house and he stepped out, all 6’4” blond gloriousness of him. He was wearing a long leather coat lined in some sort of lamb’s wool. He was wearing jeans and a dark green sweater. He seemed to glow in the moon light, not that faint sparkle of the creatures designed for the younger girls. He was all man, and all there, and he was coming for her. She tried to picture him as he had been before, a rough but proud noble man, with his own idea of virtues. He stepped up onto her front porch, filling the space with his presence. It would make no difference to Angel whether Eric was in a great auditorium or a broom closet; he would take up space with not just his beautiful body, but his magnificent presence.
“Good evening Angel,” he purred, kissing her lips and putting his hand gently on her belly where her child lay. The Viking loved signs of fertility. It was a part of his lingering human masculinity and his ingrained Viking culture a thousand years in the making of this particular man. She may call herself Angel but to him, she was the Goddess.
He carefully led her down the steps of her own porch and handed her into the suv and shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side and got in. He started the vehicle and began to drive.
“Where are we going?” asked Angel.
“Somewhere where there is less artificial light. I have a fondness for star gazing and I wanted to take you to a place so we could gaze at them together,” he said.
“I didn’t know you knew anything about the stars,” she said.
“Oh yes, dearest, my people used the stars to navigate the four corners and to understand the fates of each child born under them. I remembered something, that the people always said I had been born under an auspicious star,” he said. “Apparently they were right.”
“What is your sign?’ she asked.
“In the Roman astrology I am a Capricorn, I was born in very early January, though I am not sure of the day. In my people’s culture, I was born in the sign of Iss. Ironically, they have the same attributes of leadership and discipline. But not tonight…tonight I am just a lover, under the stars with his Angel,” he said, looking at her. He took her hand and kissed it and placed it high on his leg, so he could feel the warm pressure of her hand there as he drove.
They drove for some time and finally he pulled over and parked and got out of the car. He stopped momentarily and opened the back and got something and came around and opened her door. He carefully handed her out and took her hand and began to walk her into the forest. They heard a wolf howl briefly.
“Weres,” muttered Angel.
“No, real wolves, but do not worry dearest, they are far away,” he said.
“Were you really upset with us when we got excited over the Were?” she asked.
“I was,” he said. “But I am very jealous of my friends. My lady friends especially.”
“Oh…” she said a loss for words.
“But don’t trouble yourself right now lover,” he said.
They walked into the clearing. The moon was in her crone aspect, gloaming and dark and the stars were brilliant. Eric led her out into the meadow and shook out the thick blanket and laid it on the grass. He handed her down onto the blanket and then took off his coat and covered her with it. It smelled of him, that smell of rich history and otherness and his expensive cologne. He lay down beside her and turned on his side. He was very close to her. He turned his face to look at the cloudless sky. She studied the face. He was thoughtful and brooding but strangely at peace, restful.
“I feel your eyes on me like a caress Angel,” he said. “Did you know that you can see the gates of Valhalla from here?”
“No,” she said.
“There is a story about a Valkyrie who fell in love with a mortal man. Valkyries are our Angels,” he explained. “This Valkyrie fell in love with a man and she would follow him. She was with him through every battle and while she longed for him to die so she could collect him to go to Valhalla, she could not bear the thought of him dying.”
“What did she do?” she asked. Eric’s hand was gently rubbing her belly in slow gentle circles that soothed her. He continued to look at the stars, as if the legend was being reenacted for him there.
“Eventually he did die, but before he died, the Angel who loved him came down and claimed him and stole away his last breath,” he said. He turned to Angel and lightly brushed his lips against hers. “If I breathed, my last breath would be yours to claim.”
“Oh, Eric,” sighed Angel.
Happy Valentines Chere, hope you enjoyed it.
The luxurious suv pulled up in front of her house and he stepped out, all 6’4” blond gloriousness of him. He was wearing a long leather coat lined in some sort of lamb’s wool. He was wearing jeans and a dark green sweater. He seemed to glow in the moon light, not that faint sparkle of the creatures designed for the younger girls. He was all man, and all there, and he was coming for her. She tried to picture him as he had been before, a rough but proud noble man, with his own idea of virtues. He stepped up onto her front porch, filling the space with his presence. It would make no difference to Angel whether Eric was in a great auditorium or a broom closet; he would take up space with not just his beautiful body, but his magnificent presence.
“Good evening Angel,” he purred, kissing her lips and putting his hand gently on her belly where her child lay. The Viking loved signs of fertility. It was a part of his lingering human masculinity and his ingrained Viking culture a thousand years in the making of this particular man. She may call herself Angel but to him, she was the Goddess.
He carefully led her down the steps of her own porch and handed her into the suv and shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side and got in. He started the vehicle and began to drive.
“Where are we going?” asked Angel.
“Somewhere where there is less artificial light. I have a fondness for star gazing and I wanted to take you to a place so we could gaze at them together,” he said.
“I didn’t know you knew anything about the stars,” she said.
“Oh yes, dearest, my people used the stars to navigate the four corners and to understand the fates of each child born under them. I remembered something, that the people always said I had been born under an auspicious star,” he said. “Apparently they were right.”
“What is your sign?’ she asked.
“In the Roman astrology I am a Capricorn, I was born in very early January, though I am not sure of the day. In my people’s culture, I was born in the sign of Iss. Ironically, they have the same attributes of leadership and discipline. But not tonight…tonight I am just a lover, under the stars with his Angel,” he said, looking at her. He took her hand and kissed it and placed it high on his leg, so he could feel the warm pressure of her hand there as he drove.
They drove for some time and finally he pulled over and parked and got out of the car. He stopped momentarily and opened the back and got something and came around and opened her door. He carefully handed her out and took her hand and began to walk her into the forest. They heard a wolf howl briefly.
“Weres,” muttered Angel.
“No, real wolves, but do not worry dearest, they are far away,” he said.
“Were you really upset with us when we got excited over the Were?” she asked.
“I was,” he said. “But I am very jealous of my friends. My lady friends especially.”
“Oh…” she said a loss for words.
“But don’t trouble yourself right now lover,” he said.
They walked into the clearing. The moon was in her crone aspect, gloaming and dark and the stars were brilliant. Eric led her out into the meadow and shook out the thick blanket and laid it on the grass. He handed her down onto the blanket and then took off his coat and covered her with it. It smelled of him, that smell of rich history and otherness and his expensive cologne. He lay down beside her and turned on his side. He was very close to her. He turned his face to look at the cloudless sky. She studied the face. He was thoughtful and brooding but strangely at peace, restful.
“I feel your eyes on me like a caress Angel,” he said. “Did you know that you can see the gates of Valhalla from here?”
“No,” she said.
“There is a story about a Valkyrie who fell in love with a mortal man. Valkyries are our Angels,” he explained. “This Valkyrie fell in love with a man and she would follow him. She was with him through every battle and while she longed for him to die so she could collect him to go to Valhalla, she could not bear the thought of him dying.”
“What did she do?” she asked. Eric’s hand was gently rubbing her belly in slow gentle circles that soothed her. He continued to look at the stars, as if the legend was being reenacted for him there.
“Eventually he did die, but before he died, the Angel who loved him came down and claimed him and stole away his last breath,” he said. He turned to Angel and lightly brushed his lips against hers. “If I breathed, my last breath would be yours to claim.”
“Oh, Eric,” sighed Angel.
Happy Valentines Chere, hope you enjoyed it.
Violet's Valentine's Date
Violet sat in the passenger seat of Bill’s big black Mercedes. He had picked her up at sun down and he looked over the beautiful black dress she was wearing. He had been looking forward to Valentine’s Day and had planned something wonderful for her.
All Violet knew was to dress up and bring her appetite. That had all sorts of connotations, but she simply decided to relax. Since he loved her glossy black hair, she left it straight and natural. She did have her nails done and went for a facial and massage, all a gift arranged for her by the man driving the car.
Bill was dressed in a dark slate blue suit, which made more of his coloring and he smelled of Grey Flannel. He glanced at her as he drove.
“You look beautiful tonight Violetta,” he said, his voice caressing her name.
“Thank you, Bill, you look great too,” she said. “I love the suit. The color suits you.”
“Have you ever had Creole food? I have arranged a lovely Creole meal for you,” he said.
“I have had Creole food,” she said. “I love shrimp etouffee.”
“And of course I thought we would go dancing,” he suggested. Violet loved to dance with Bill. She often thought about dancing with him at Yule and at GS’s house party for the Autumnal Solstice. He was a wonderful dancer. “I think about dancing with you all the time.” It was as though he was reading her mind.
“Are you reading my thoughts?” she asked.
“I heard your heart beating faster when I mentioned the dancing,” he said. His hand slid between the short breech between them and took her small hand in his and twined his fingers with hers.
“Is nothing a secret for you?” she asked.
“I have only begun to explore your mysteries sweetheart,” he said, pulling her hand up to his lips and kissing it, enjoying the warmth of her skin on his cool lips. Her heart skipped a beat and he smiled.
The restaurant was one of those exclusive places with a high end menu written in French. Ma Cherie had been catering to the needs of Vampires and their human companions for a long time. It was said the woman who owned the restaurant was made Vampire when Bill’s grandfather was a twinkle in his mother’s eye. Since then she had catered to the needs of Vampires and their human friends. Of course before the time of Tru:Blood, there had been willing blood meals for the Vampires to partake in private dining rooms, and this was still available but now, they could sit back, relax and have a bottle of Blood while their dates ate their meal. They also stocked premium Royalty and Royalty Blend for the connoisseur. But these were things Violet need not know a lot about. This was a magikal night and Bill wanted nothing to discomfort her.
Violet knew at once the hostess was a Vampire and she nodded at the woman as she greeted Bill and then led them to a discrete area. All the tables were carefully shielded for privacy. She handed Bill a short card, like a wine list. He looked at it. “Royalty, premium,” he said. And then she handed him what Violet knew was a wine list and he pointed to a vintage and she asked “Bottle or glass?” He confirmed that it would be a bottle and she nodded and headed away to the bar.
A few minutes later a waiter came to the table and he handed Violet a menu. It was written in French.
“Uh oh,” she said, scanning the menu.
“What is it?” asked Bill.
“I don’t know what I am ordering, I can’t read the menu,” she said. Bill extended his hand and began to explain the dishes to her. She chose the broiled tilapia with the sweet potato crust and Bill, in a throatier voice than she had ever heard him use, ordered the meal for her in French. She looked amazed.
“You speak French?” she said.
“Yes,” he said. “I have acquired just enough French to have a conversation. Of course they laugh at my formal speech, but, it serves me.”
“I think it was beautiful,” she said. The hostess came back with the wine and poured Violet a sip to taste it. It was a lovely red wine, cool and sweet, Madeira. She nodded her approval and extended her glass and the hostess poured it and set the bottle on the table and left. She took another sip and he leaned forward and took her hand and pulled her to him. He leaned closer and he smelled the wine on her lips. He kissed her gently, his lips tasting hers with the slightest flicker of his tongue.
“Now that was beautiful, chere,” he said.
Violet thought she would be uncomfortable to eat while her companion sat there, sipping from his wine glass, but he chatted with her so easily while she ate she scarcely paid attention to the fact that he simply sat there drinking his meal. After supper, they brought her a cup of the famous Creole Cit Git coffee, rich, thick and sweet and a plate of Bananas Foster, butter and rum sautéed bananas on a slice of pound cake, topped with ice cream and the rum caramel.
After she finished her supper, Bill paid the tab, tipping very generously and they stepped out into the night. He unlocked the door for her and opened it for her to slide in. Vampire he may be, but she noted that he looked at her legs as she slid carefully into the seat. He shut the door and went around the car and got in.
They drove to a place on the water. It was very likely something that had been a Juke Joint in the 20’s and perhaps Bill had been there then. Now it was a lit up little dance hall. Bill parked and got out, and opened the door for Violet and led her down a short gang plank to the screened in dance area, illuminated with fairy lights and paper lanterns.
“We must be early, there is no one here,” said Violet.
“Well, actually, no one will be here tonight except for us. Look sweetheart,” he extended his hand and there was a small table. On the table was a bouquet of tea roses. “Now I know the scent you were wearing the first time you came to see me. I was in a flower shop and I smelled these little roses. Now, whenever I smell them, I will think of you.”
The small Arcadian band began playing. There was one man with a small hand accordion. Another played a fiddle and third played a guitar. As they began to play, Bill pulled Violet against him, pressing her firmly against him. As they danced, the guitarist began to sing a love song in French that spoke of an endless passion and a night of passionate love and how she must forgive him when he must disappear with the first light of dawn but there would always be another night. Bill carefully breathed the lyrics of the song to her in her ear so she would understand the words. Vampire love songs.
“What is going to happen tonight, Bill?” she finally asked the Vampire holding her in his arms. He smiled that sweet shy smile, which still managed to be sweet despite the fact his fangs had run out some.
“Everything,” he said, lowering his head.
Happy Valentine’s Day Violet….Hope you enjoyed…Everything.
All Violet knew was to dress up and bring her appetite. That had all sorts of connotations, but she simply decided to relax. Since he loved her glossy black hair, she left it straight and natural. She did have her nails done and went for a facial and massage, all a gift arranged for her by the man driving the car.
Bill was dressed in a dark slate blue suit, which made more of his coloring and he smelled of Grey Flannel. He glanced at her as he drove.
“You look beautiful tonight Violetta,” he said, his voice caressing her name.
“Thank you, Bill, you look great too,” she said. “I love the suit. The color suits you.”
“Have you ever had Creole food? I have arranged a lovely Creole meal for you,” he said.
“I have had Creole food,” she said. “I love shrimp etouffee.”
“And of course I thought we would go dancing,” he suggested. Violet loved to dance with Bill. She often thought about dancing with him at Yule and at GS’s house party for the Autumnal Solstice. He was a wonderful dancer. “I think about dancing with you all the time.” It was as though he was reading her mind.
“Are you reading my thoughts?” she asked.
“I heard your heart beating faster when I mentioned the dancing,” he said. His hand slid between the short breech between them and took her small hand in his and twined his fingers with hers.
“Is nothing a secret for you?” she asked.
“I have only begun to explore your mysteries sweetheart,” he said, pulling her hand up to his lips and kissing it, enjoying the warmth of her skin on his cool lips. Her heart skipped a beat and he smiled.
The restaurant was one of those exclusive places with a high end menu written in French. Ma Cherie had been catering to the needs of Vampires and their human companions for a long time. It was said the woman who owned the restaurant was made Vampire when Bill’s grandfather was a twinkle in his mother’s eye. Since then she had catered to the needs of Vampires and their human friends. Of course before the time of Tru:Blood, there had been willing blood meals for the Vampires to partake in private dining rooms, and this was still available but now, they could sit back, relax and have a bottle of Blood while their dates ate their meal. They also stocked premium Royalty and Royalty Blend for the connoisseur. But these were things Violet need not know a lot about. This was a magikal night and Bill wanted nothing to discomfort her.
Violet knew at once the hostess was a Vampire and she nodded at the woman as she greeted Bill and then led them to a discrete area. All the tables were carefully shielded for privacy. She handed Bill a short card, like a wine list. He looked at it. “Royalty, premium,” he said. And then she handed him what Violet knew was a wine list and he pointed to a vintage and she asked “Bottle or glass?” He confirmed that it would be a bottle and she nodded and headed away to the bar.
A few minutes later a waiter came to the table and he handed Violet a menu. It was written in French.
“Uh oh,” she said, scanning the menu.
“What is it?” asked Bill.
“I don’t know what I am ordering, I can’t read the menu,” she said. Bill extended his hand and began to explain the dishes to her. She chose the broiled tilapia with the sweet potato crust and Bill, in a throatier voice than she had ever heard him use, ordered the meal for her in French. She looked amazed.
“You speak French?” she said.
“Yes,” he said. “I have acquired just enough French to have a conversation. Of course they laugh at my formal speech, but, it serves me.”
“I think it was beautiful,” she said. The hostess came back with the wine and poured Violet a sip to taste it. It was a lovely red wine, cool and sweet, Madeira. She nodded her approval and extended her glass and the hostess poured it and set the bottle on the table and left. She took another sip and he leaned forward and took her hand and pulled her to him. He leaned closer and he smelled the wine on her lips. He kissed her gently, his lips tasting hers with the slightest flicker of his tongue.
“Now that was beautiful, chere,” he said.
Violet thought she would be uncomfortable to eat while her companion sat there, sipping from his wine glass, but he chatted with her so easily while she ate she scarcely paid attention to the fact that he simply sat there drinking his meal. After supper, they brought her a cup of the famous Creole Cit Git coffee, rich, thick and sweet and a plate of Bananas Foster, butter and rum sautéed bananas on a slice of pound cake, topped with ice cream and the rum caramel.
After she finished her supper, Bill paid the tab, tipping very generously and they stepped out into the night. He unlocked the door for her and opened it for her to slide in. Vampire he may be, but she noted that he looked at her legs as she slid carefully into the seat. He shut the door and went around the car and got in.
They drove to a place on the water. It was very likely something that had been a Juke Joint in the 20’s and perhaps Bill had been there then. Now it was a lit up little dance hall. Bill parked and got out, and opened the door for Violet and led her down a short gang plank to the screened in dance area, illuminated with fairy lights and paper lanterns.
“We must be early, there is no one here,” said Violet.
“Well, actually, no one will be here tonight except for us. Look sweetheart,” he extended his hand and there was a small table. On the table was a bouquet of tea roses. “Now I know the scent you were wearing the first time you came to see me. I was in a flower shop and I smelled these little roses. Now, whenever I smell them, I will think of you.”
The small Arcadian band began playing. There was one man with a small hand accordion. Another played a fiddle and third played a guitar. As they began to play, Bill pulled Violet against him, pressing her firmly against him. As they danced, the guitarist began to sing a love song in French that spoke of an endless passion and a night of passionate love and how she must forgive him when he must disappear with the first light of dawn but there would always be another night. Bill carefully breathed the lyrics of the song to her in her ear so she would understand the words. Vampire love songs.
“What is going to happen tonight, Bill?” she finally asked the Vampire holding her in his arms. He smiled that sweet shy smile, which still managed to be sweet despite the fact his fangs had run out some.
“Everything,” he said, lowering his head.
Happy Valentine’s Day Violet….Hope you enjoyed…Everything.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A New World in My View
I’ve got a New World in My View
I got the new world in my view
On my journey I pursue
I said I’m running, running for the city
I got the new world in my view
Britt King
I had to hand it to Eric Northman. He really knew how to get things done. I had called Fangtasia on Friday afternoon, angry and betrayed, and I spoke to Ginger. I could have kicked myself. Of course he would not be there; he was in his daytime rest. But I told the sweet but slightly dizzy blond to get a piece of paper and a pencil and write down what I had to tell her.
Eric,
We are adrift. We need a safe place to be. Please contact me at your earliest.
Aslinn.
I also called my counselor, Bill Compton. I shivered at the sound of his soft voice on the voice mail of his cell phone. I left him pretty much the same message, though I was a bit more upset. I was packing up everything, all the best things, all the things that best represented our work at the other place and I packed them up, sadly, and then sat down to write the final tale. Well, in that place.
Later that evening as I was online with the others who had left with us, us being God Speed and me, I got a call from the Sheriff of Area Five.
“Aslinn, what has happened,” he said. To say that the Viking is direct is an understatement. I explained everything. He muttered something in his native tongue and said, “Aslinn, don’t worry about anything. I will call God Speed now and talk to him.” He clicked off. A few minutes later my counselor called, his soft voice soothed me. It had been a tough day.
We had refugeed before, but now, GS and I had a purpose. On Saturday, we began the process of contacting our friends and fellow junkies. We were astonished at the support we were given. There were sometimes I actually prayed in the chat room with Renee and Scarlett Harlot. We began to build our site and we held our first board meeting and went to work on rules and the basic philosophy about our home. Anyone coming to live here would be given room to have free expression and creative outlet while fostering the notion that respectful conversation and debate and fun would be our foundation. There was a lot of laughing, but that was good too.
They say Sunday is the day of miracles and God Speed performed several. With me at his side in IM, we began the tedious process of building our home. I know nothing of technology, but I do know other things, details, like choosing fabrics and furnishings, and together we worked. I was excited. I could not wait to show the house to the others. And we were collecting them at a phenomenal rate. Fairy and Burke, Lina and Linzy, Vi and Westexan, Scarlett Harlot and Butter, Renee and KaraLee, Jen and Tiff, Minnie and Night Rose, Sweet and Wild and Nicky, Imagine and Pandora , Dude and Aolani, and of course, GS, Mrs. GS and me. Kid would be join us a little later but her mom was already posting her art and I told her to join us in the meetings. Others would join us soon.
So, through a series of those miracles and God Speed, our site was up and running and Monday, we unveiled it to the rest. Mondays no longer gave me the blues, unless, of course, you wanted to count the lovely cobalt blue of our forum, the color of my counselor’s eyes as the end of a “blue Monday”. Posts and threads appeared as if by magik. News, season episodes, essays, creative writing efforts, announcements and a live chat created a wonderful atmosphere.
And finally, it was time to have our first True Blood Anonymous meeting. This was the one place Eric Northman demanded absolute control over. “Allow me dearest to design this place,” he said in his reasonable voice. I agreed.
So, 16 ½ weeks into the hiatus, three days after the opening of the forum, we stepped into the new meeting room and were astonished. God Speed, Jen and I were the first to walk in. The room was huge. It looked like the main room of a great house. The same ebony wood floors Eric had in his house graced the room and there were huge reindeer hide floor coverings interspersed with rich wool rugs. The room was dominated by a large fire place, a merry fire burning there. A huge hammer was hanging on the stone façade. The walls were papered in the same cobalt blue of our forum, embellished with gold fleur de lis imprint, much like the once elegant wall paper in Bill’s bed room. There were four sofas and chairs in warm prints with throw pillows and large stacks of four floor pillows in strategic places. There was a huge wooden coffee table in the center. On one side of the room was a large dining table with chairs. A small galley kitchen with a bar graced a corner and the owner of Fangtasia had provided us with fine wines and whiskies and in the fridge was something we had never provided for the counselors: True Blood, in different types, waiting to be opened and warmed for any of the counseling group.
We looked around, drinking in the luxurious room. We then went to work, setting up the food we had brought and Jen was making the coffee.
It did not take long for the rest of us to begin arriving. Westexan and Scarlett Harlot, Lina, Linzy and Fairy came in, Renee, Kara and the Kid, Tiff Tiff, oh just the whole gang of us, began filing in, bringing some covered plate. I loved the sounds of their exclamations over the beautiful room.
“My Lord,” said Minnie reverently. “Did you guys do that?”
“Eric did,” said GS. “He said ‘Leave the meeting room to me’ and so I did.”
Soon we were comfortably seated and awaited the entrance of the counselors. We knew we would no longer be separated by the shadows of anonymity with the counselors anymore. But would they sit by the doors and be physically apart from them?
We would know that answer very soon because in walked the Sheriff of Area Five, Eric Northman. He leaned over and kissed my cheek, shook hands with God Speed, kissed the Mrs briefly on the lips, walked behind Westexan and squeezed her shoulder and motioned for Lina and Linzy to make a space, and sat down between them to their delight. Pam Ravenscroft came in behind him, speaking and nodding at us and sat on one of the many ottomans around the space. Bill Compton, came in, sliding out of his leather jacket, and came and sat on the end one couch with Vi, kissing her on the cheek. I was sitting by the couch, on a stack of cushions. He reached out and grabbed my hand and kissed it. Renee, sitting by me, was graced with his sweet shy smile.
The last counselor, and the youngest of the group, Jessica Hamby, came in and sat down on the ottoman Scarlett was sitting on. Impulsively she hugged Scarlett. “Isn’t this exciting,” she said. Scarlett nodded at her and smiled.
“It is so wonderful to see all our friends,” said the Viking.
“And so nice to see you, now, out in the open,” said Burke, dazzled by the presence of the blond Vampire in her view.
“Yes,” said Bill. “We felt we should show our solidarity with you by being more open, without the glamours we have been forced to use and the solace of Aslinn’s shadows. This way we can be more open, speak face to face.”
“Do you like the room?” asked Pam.
“We do,” said Butter. “It is so beautiful.”
“Should you wish anything, you need only ask. And use the room at will, there is computer access, as you can see there is an extensive library, it is yours. You deserve this place for being so loyal, such good friends,” said Eric. “And we will stop in from time to time, just to visit.”
“Aslinn once observed that we need each other. The Source creates one world, the Connection another, and you create the third, where we live til the summer,” said Bill Compton.
We talked together for a long time. Violet, source of all things Kleenex, often passed tissues around. Even Jessica held her hand out for tissues to blot her crimson tears. They discussed our hopes and dreams and ideas for the new forum. We were in no hurry now, we could settle in for the little more than four month wait.
Finally, we took a break. I was pouring a cup of coffee with a gracious plenty measure of Irish Nevermind when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned. It was Eric.
“Would you warm me a bottle of True Blood dearest?” he asked.
“Sure, which type?” I asked.
“A positive I think,” he said. I got the bottle out of the fridge and took off the cap and popped it in the microwave. “So, I asked you a question once dearest.”
“Yes,” I said.
“And do you trust me now Aslinn?” he asked. I turned to look at the Viking.
“Yes, Eric, I do trust you,” I said.
16 ½ weeks and counting.
I got the new world in my view
On my journey I pursue
I said I’m running, running for the city
I got the new world in my view
Britt King
I had to hand it to Eric Northman. He really knew how to get things done. I had called Fangtasia on Friday afternoon, angry and betrayed, and I spoke to Ginger. I could have kicked myself. Of course he would not be there; he was in his daytime rest. But I told the sweet but slightly dizzy blond to get a piece of paper and a pencil and write down what I had to tell her.
Eric,
We are adrift. We need a safe place to be. Please contact me at your earliest.
Aslinn.
I also called my counselor, Bill Compton. I shivered at the sound of his soft voice on the voice mail of his cell phone. I left him pretty much the same message, though I was a bit more upset. I was packing up everything, all the best things, all the things that best represented our work at the other place and I packed them up, sadly, and then sat down to write the final tale. Well, in that place.
Later that evening as I was online with the others who had left with us, us being God Speed and me, I got a call from the Sheriff of Area Five.
“Aslinn, what has happened,” he said. To say that the Viking is direct is an understatement. I explained everything. He muttered something in his native tongue and said, “Aslinn, don’t worry about anything. I will call God Speed now and talk to him.” He clicked off. A few minutes later my counselor called, his soft voice soothed me. It had been a tough day.
We had refugeed before, but now, GS and I had a purpose. On Saturday, we began the process of contacting our friends and fellow junkies. We were astonished at the support we were given. There were sometimes I actually prayed in the chat room with Renee and Scarlett Harlot. We began to build our site and we held our first board meeting and went to work on rules and the basic philosophy about our home. Anyone coming to live here would be given room to have free expression and creative outlet while fostering the notion that respectful conversation and debate and fun would be our foundation. There was a lot of laughing, but that was good too.
They say Sunday is the day of miracles and God Speed performed several. With me at his side in IM, we began the tedious process of building our home. I know nothing of technology, but I do know other things, details, like choosing fabrics and furnishings, and together we worked. I was excited. I could not wait to show the house to the others. And we were collecting them at a phenomenal rate. Fairy and Burke, Lina and Linzy, Vi and Westexan, Scarlett Harlot and Butter, Renee and KaraLee, Jen and Tiff, Minnie and Night Rose, Sweet and Wild and Nicky, Imagine and Pandora , Dude and Aolani, and of course, GS, Mrs. GS and me. Kid would be join us a little later but her mom was already posting her art and I told her to join us in the meetings. Others would join us soon.
So, through a series of those miracles and God Speed, our site was up and running and Monday, we unveiled it to the rest. Mondays no longer gave me the blues, unless, of course, you wanted to count the lovely cobalt blue of our forum, the color of my counselor’s eyes as the end of a “blue Monday”. Posts and threads appeared as if by magik. News, season episodes, essays, creative writing efforts, announcements and a live chat created a wonderful atmosphere.
And finally, it was time to have our first True Blood Anonymous meeting. This was the one place Eric Northman demanded absolute control over. “Allow me dearest to design this place,” he said in his reasonable voice. I agreed.
So, 16 ½ weeks into the hiatus, three days after the opening of the forum, we stepped into the new meeting room and were astonished. God Speed, Jen and I were the first to walk in. The room was huge. It looked like the main room of a great house. The same ebony wood floors Eric had in his house graced the room and there were huge reindeer hide floor coverings interspersed with rich wool rugs. The room was dominated by a large fire place, a merry fire burning there. A huge hammer was hanging on the stone façade. The walls were papered in the same cobalt blue of our forum, embellished with gold fleur de lis imprint, much like the once elegant wall paper in Bill’s bed room. There were four sofas and chairs in warm prints with throw pillows and large stacks of four floor pillows in strategic places. There was a huge wooden coffee table in the center. On one side of the room was a large dining table with chairs. A small galley kitchen with a bar graced a corner and the owner of Fangtasia had provided us with fine wines and whiskies and in the fridge was something we had never provided for the counselors: True Blood, in different types, waiting to be opened and warmed for any of the counseling group.
We looked around, drinking in the luxurious room. We then went to work, setting up the food we had brought and Jen was making the coffee.
It did not take long for the rest of us to begin arriving. Westexan and Scarlett Harlot, Lina, Linzy and Fairy came in, Renee, Kara and the Kid, Tiff Tiff, oh just the whole gang of us, began filing in, bringing some covered plate. I loved the sounds of their exclamations over the beautiful room.
“My Lord,” said Minnie reverently. “Did you guys do that?”
“Eric did,” said GS. “He said ‘Leave the meeting room to me’ and so I did.”
Soon we were comfortably seated and awaited the entrance of the counselors. We knew we would no longer be separated by the shadows of anonymity with the counselors anymore. But would they sit by the doors and be physically apart from them?
We would know that answer very soon because in walked the Sheriff of Area Five, Eric Northman. He leaned over and kissed my cheek, shook hands with God Speed, kissed the Mrs briefly on the lips, walked behind Westexan and squeezed her shoulder and motioned for Lina and Linzy to make a space, and sat down between them to their delight. Pam Ravenscroft came in behind him, speaking and nodding at us and sat on one of the many ottomans around the space. Bill Compton, came in, sliding out of his leather jacket, and came and sat on the end one couch with Vi, kissing her on the cheek. I was sitting by the couch, on a stack of cushions. He reached out and grabbed my hand and kissed it. Renee, sitting by me, was graced with his sweet shy smile.
The last counselor, and the youngest of the group, Jessica Hamby, came in and sat down on the ottoman Scarlett was sitting on. Impulsively she hugged Scarlett. “Isn’t this exciting,” she said. Scarlett nodded at her and smiled.
“It is so wonderful to see all our friends,” said the Viking.
“And so nice to see you, now, out in the open,” said Burke, dazzled by the presence of the blond Vampire in her view.
“Yes,” said Bill. “We felt we should show our solidarity with you by being more open, without the glamours we have been forced to use and the solace of Aslinn’s shadows. This way we can be more open, speak face to face.”
“Do you like the room?” asked Pam.
“We do,” said Butter. “It is so beautiful.”
“Should you wish anything, you need only ask. And use the room at will, there is computer access, as you can see there is an extensive library, it is yours. You deserve this place for being so loyal, such good friends,” said Eric. “And we will stop in from time to time, just to visit.”
“Aslinn once observed that we need each other. The Source creates one world, the Connection another, and you create the third, where we live til the summer,” said Bill Compton.
We talked together for a long time. Violet, source of all things Kleenex, often passed tissues around. Even Jessica held her hand out for tissues to blot her crimson tears. They discussed our hopes and dreams and ideas for the new forum. We were in no hurry now, we could settle in for the little more than four month wait.
Finally, we took a break. I was pouring a cup of coffee with a gracious plenty measure of Irish Nevermind when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned. It was Eric.
“Would you warm me a bottle of True Blood dearest?” he asked.
“Sure, which type?” I asked.
“A positive I think,” he said. I got the bottle out of the fridge and took off the cap and popped it in the microwave. “So, I asked you a question once dearest.”
“Yes,” I said.
“And do you trust me now Aslinn?” he asked. I turned to look at the Viking.
“Yes, Eric, I do trust you,” I said.
16 ½ weeks and counting.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Good Bye
I walked around in the empty bar. The call I received, not from my counselor, but from the bartender, worried me until I got a call from GS saying he’d gotten a similar call. I lit another smoke and Ginger poured me another soda. GS came in and sat down.
“Do you know what this is about?” he asked.
“It is about you and Aslinn joining us on a little adventure,” said the lead counselor. About that time, my counselor and the lady counselor and the young counselor and the bartender came to stand together.
“What adventure?” I asked.
“It will require you to become as we are,” said my counselor.
“But,” I said. “We would have to separate? I wouldn’t want to do that?”
“And what about my family?” asked God Speed.
“Aslinn, I would be your maker,” said the lead counselor. “After we go to our rest, you will join your counselor, his forever, if you wish it.”
“I do,” I said, walking over to him. He slid his arm around me and kissed my hair.
“And God Speed, you will be the first family of your kind, A married Vampire with a Vampire wife, raising human children,” said the lady counselor. “When they come of age, you can then give them the choice.”
“The only negative about this whole thing,” said the bartender. “Is you will have to go, you will have to discover another territory, another safe place.”
GS and I looked at each other. We had been friends for so long, but we met here, in this place. I was sad to think of leaving it.
“Where ever you decide to go, that will be your territory together,” said the lead counselor.
“Wanna? Recon GS?” I asked.
“Just let me call Jen and explain it to her,” he said.
“Tell her to come if she will. I will be taking care of both of you,” said the lady counselor.
“Ready Aslinn? More adventures await you,” said the lead counselor.
“Will it hurt?” I asked.
“The process of separation, perhaps, but not what I will do to you,” he said.
“What about our friends?” asked GS.
“Some of them, well, they have been turned already, and we have even purchased you a nest,” said my counselor.
“Really? Where?” I asked.
“Remember the place where you had the lovely fete for Samhain?” he asked. I nodded.
“That will be your new home, you and all your friends,” he said.
“Okay,” I said, taking the lead counselor’s hand. “I am ready.”
“Me, too,” said GS.
“See you tomorrow night God Speed,” I said.
“See you Aslinn,” he said.
Good Bye every one
“Do you know what this is about?” he asked.
“It is about you and Aslinn joining us on a little adventure,” said the lead counselor. About that time, my counselor and the lady counselor and the young counselor and the bartender came to stand together.
“What adventure?” I asked.
“It will require you to become as we are,” said my counselor.
“But,” I said. “We would have to separate? I wouldn’t want to do that?”
“And what about my family?” asked God Speed.
“Aslinn, I would be your maker,” said the lead counselor. “After we go to our rest, you will join your counselor, his forever, if you wish it.”
“I do,” I said, walking over to him. He slid his arm around me and kissed my hair.
“And God Speed, you will be the first family of your kind, A married Vampire with a Vampire wife, raising human children,” said the lady counselor. “When they come of age, you can then give them the choice.”
“The only negative about this whole thing,” said the bartender. “Is you will have to go, you will have to discover another territory, another safe place.”
GS and I looked at each other. We had been friends for so long, but we met here, in this place. I was sad to think of leaving it.
“Where ever you decide to go, that will be your territory together,” said the lead counselor.
“Wanna? Recon GS?” I asked.
“Just let me call Jen and explain it to her,” he said.
“Tell her to come if she will. I will be taking care of both of you,” said the lady counselor.
“Ready Aslinn? More adventures await you,” said the lead counselor.
“Will it hurt?” I asked.
“The process of separation, perhaps, but not what I will do to you,” he said.
“What about our friends?” asked GS.
“Some of them, well, they have been turned already, and we have even purchased you a nest,” said my counselor.
“Really? Where?” I asked.
“Remember the place where you had the lovely fete for Samhain?” he asked. I nodded.
“That will be your new home, you and all your friends,” he said.
“Okay,” I said, taking the lead counselor’s hand. “I am ready.”
“Me, too,” said GS.
“See you tomorrow night God Speed,” I said.
“See you Aslinn,” he said.
Good Bye every one
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Meeting Feb 3
Wednesday February 3, 2010
The meeting room was abuzz with the new news and all that implied for the new season and how eerily close it came to mirroring our conjectures and speculations of last week’s meeting. I was standing in corner chatting with GS and Mikeylikesit and Flux, a newbie to our little group and Scarlett Harlot and SweetandWild and Linzy and Lina and Bella were in a little group.
Renee came in, bringing in some little cloudberry tarts and some little chocolate trifle. Westexan was waiting for the coffee to finish brewing. Butter, pretty and full of honey bun, Vi and Minnie Mouse were chatting with Westexan and brooding over pictures and other assorted yumminess of the Teacup kind. Fairy and Burke and Nick33, also here for her first meeting were talking furiously. Aolani and Raki had just come in with Night Rose to round out our gathering.
Slowly but surely we began to seat ourselves in our usual places. We waited patiently for the counselors to make their usual appearance in the meeting room. I loved to watch new junkies when they joined us for their first meeting. The extinguishing of the lights except for our illuminating circle always made them gasp a little and look around.
Finally, it happened and as I expected there was much craning of neck and squirming around as the counselors took their accustomed places.
“My, we are a lively bunch this evening,” said the lady counselor.
“Yes, what has our friends in such a flurry of discussion?” asked the southern counselor.
“Have you seen the news? The Source is looking for a few people,” Linzy announced happily.
“How do you know of this?” asked the lead counselor. We knew the counselors had strictly forbidden us to have direct contact with the Source or the Connection. His voice was tense. Linzy must have heard it for she answered him quickly.
“It was in the news,” she said.
“Who is he looking for?” I asked.
“Colonel Flood, a man named Ulfric, Astrid, and a girl named Summer,” she said.
“Whom did you say?” said the lead counselor. His voice was excited. “The man Ulfric.”
“Yes, that is right, Eric’s father Ulfric and his mother, Astrid,” she repeated carefully, looking troubled. I could see the lead counselor; he was no longer leaned against the door. He was standing up straight, advancing a step or two towards her, but her back was turned to the lead counselor. “Did I say something wrong?” He relaxed his posture and stepped back to lean once again against the door.
“Not at all dearest,” he said.
“You know, I think we are hitting on things too close to home in our speculations. I think we are going to see something awful happen to Eric’s people,” I said.
“The Grudge,” said GS. “I think you are right.”
“It has to be,” said Renee.” What else could possibly have affected Eric so strongly to have a thousand year old grudge against someone?”
“I wonder what Sookie’s reaction will be?” said Burke. “Will she know about this part of the story from Eric? Will she be able to put things in perspective?”
“Well,” said Mikeylikesit. “She will see that vengeance is something that is a part of Vampire psyche, especially after someone they love has been done an injustice. It might put Bill’s killing of Uncle Bartlett in perspective. It may also help her understand her feelings of having killed someone. She did protect herself and get vengeance for her grandmother when she killed Rene.”
“True,” said Lina. “And she will see Eric in a whole new light. She will see that he is the way he is from centuries of experience and survival. You don’t live as long as Eric has unless you are strong, a survivalist, and smart.”
“She will also see he has a love that has spanned centuries along with a hate,” I said. “You don’t hold on to that sort of hate without the same strong feelings of love.”
“Who are the other two?” asked my counselor.
“Well,” said Linzy. “Colonel Flood is the Pack Master and Summer is a friend of Hoyt’s,” she said.
There was a hiss and a low murmured “Friend, right,” from the young counselor. The lady counselor clucked in disapproval.
“How complicated will this be with Hoyt and Jessica?” asked God Speed
“Pretty damned complicated..the same thing sort of happens with Jessica, though he may not know she is Vampire,” said Lina. “Right away.”
We all sort of laughed.
“I think we should leave this where it is for now,” said the lady counselor.
We gathered our things to go. I took one more backwards glance and I went out.
“Are you well?” asked the lady counselor.
“I am fine,” said the lead counselor.
“Don’t let this trouble you,” said the southern counselor.
“That remains to be seen,” he said.
The meeting room was abuzz with the new news and all that implied for the new season and how eerily close it came to mirroring our conjectures and speculations of last week’s meeting. I was standing in corner chatting with GS and Mikeylikesit and Flux, a newbie to our little group and Scarlett Harlot and SweetandWild and Linzy and Lina and Bella were in a little group.
Renee came in, bringing in some little cloudberry tarts and some little chocolate trifle. Westexan was waiting for the coffee to finish brewing. Butter, pretty and full of honey bun, Vi and Minnie Mouse were chatting with Westexan and brooding over pictures and other assorted yumminess of the Teacup kind. Fairy and Burke and Nick33, also here for her first meeting were talking furiously. Aolani and Raki had just come in with Night Rose to round out our gathering.
Slowly but surely we began to seat ourselves in our usual places. We waited patiently for the counselors to make their usual appearance in the meeting room. I loved to watch new junkies when they joined us for their first meeting. The extinguishing of the lights except for our illuminating circle always made them gasp a little and look around.
Finally, it happened and as I expected there was much craning of neck and squirming around as the counselors took their accustomed places.
“My, we are a lively bunch this evening,” said the lady counselor.
“Yes, what has our friends in such a flurry of discussion?” asked the southern counselor.
“Have you seen the news? The Source is looking for a few people,” Linzy announced happily.
“How do you know of this?” asked the lead counselor. We knew the counselors had strictly forbidden us to have direct contact with the Source or the Connection. His voice was tense. Linzy must have heard it for she answered him quickly.
“It was in the news,” she said.
“Who is he looking for?” I asked.
“Colonel Flood, a man named Ulfric, Astrid, and a girl named Summer,” she said.
“Whom did you say?” said the lead counselor. His voice was excited. “The man Ulfric.”
“Yes, that is right, Eric’s father Ulfric and his mother, Astrid,” she repeated carefully, looking troubled. I could see the lead counselor; he was no longer leaned against the door. He was standing up straight, advancing a step or two towards her, but her back was turned to the lead counselor. “Did I say something wrong?” He relaxed his posture and stepped back to lean once again against the door.
“Not at all dearest,” he said.
“You know, I think we are hitting on things too close to home in our speculations. I think we are going to see something awful happen to Eric’s people,” I said.
“The Grudge,” said GS. “I think you are right.”
“It has to be,” said Renee.” What else could possibly have affected Eric so strongly to have a thousand year old grudge against someone?”
“I wonder what Sookie’s reaction will be?” said Burke. “Will she know about this part of the story from Eric? Will she be able to put things in perspective?”
“Well,” said Mikeylikesit. “She will see that vengeance is something that is a part of Vampire psyche, especially after someone they love has been done an injustice. It might put Bill’s killing of Uncle Bartlett in perspective. It may also help her understand her feelings of having killed someone. She did protect herself and get vengeance for her grandmother when she killed Rene.”
“True,” said Lina. “And she will see Eric in a whole new light. She will see that he is the way he is from centuries of experience and survival. You don’t live as long as Eric has unless you are strong, a survivalist, and smart.”
“She will also see he has a love that has spanned centuries along with a hate,” I said. “You don’t hold on to that sort of hate without the same strong feelings of love.”
“Who are the other two?” asked my counselor.
“Well,” said Linzy. “Colonel Flood is the Pack Master and Summer is a friend of Hoyt’s,” she said.
There was a hiss and a low murmured “Friend, right,” from the young counselor. The lady counselor clucked in disapproval.
“How complicated will this be with Hoyt and Jessica?” asked God Speed
“Pretty damned complicated..the same thing sort of happens with Jessica, though he may not know she is Vampire,” said Lina. “Right away.”
We all sort of laughed.
“I think we should leave this where it is for now,” said the lady counselor.
We gathered our things to go. I took one more backwards glance and I went out.
“Are you well?” asked the lady counselor.
“I am fine,” said the lead counselor.
“Don’t let this trouble you,” said the southern counselor.
“That remains to be seen,” he said.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
10,000 Miles is a Long Way to Whisper
10,000 Miles is a Long Way to Whisper
I padded barefoot from my counselor's small kitchen with a fresh glass of wine. My counselor was crouched, adding a piece of wood to the fire, the glow of the flames turning him golden. I sat down beside him and he sat down, too. I stared into the flames.
"Do you ever feel misunderstood?" I asked. He looked at me and laughed, his rusty unused laugh. I looked at him.
"Of course," he said, straightening up his face in a serious frame. That is when I realized what I had said and to whom I had said it. "But go on with your thought sweetheart."
"I don't know. Sometimes things just seem so simple and then the world collapses and it is like you are whispering in a whirlwind. From ten thousand miles away. And it is like everyone is speaking a million different languages at once and no one is listening. No one," I said. He reached out and stroked my hair.
"With whom did you argue?" he asked, his voice was soft.
"It's just a thought in general," I said.
"Um....you are being obtuse...but I will accept what you say," he said.
"You sound like the lead counselor," I said.
"Well, he and I have a lot in common," he said. That sent me to laughing. He waited until I calmed.
"Sorry," I said.
"No, I suppose you would not see our complicated relationship. W really do depend on one another in a million little ways, little insignificant things that add up to a final big picture. A lucrative picture," he said.
"But you don't trust each other," I said.
"Well, we do, on the important things. You, your friends, your adventures," he said. "We have only wanted your happiness. That is why we have our meetings, our one on sessions, our little adventures."
"So you collaborate?" I said, a little doubtful.
"We do, we depend on one another. There are times we don't like each other very much....but we do depend on each other," he said, poking at the fire with the old cast iron toaster. "And of course we have others we answer to, and we have to depend on them too."
"Do you take it personally?" I asked.
"Everything a person does should begin by being personal. It effects everyone differently, sometimes in unseen ways," he said, pulling me against him as he lay back against the couch. "But it can still work out, if everyone stops to listen."
"10,000 miles away is a long way to whisper," I said.
"But eventually the sound travels and the people it is meant for receive it sweetheart," he said.
We watched the fire burn for a long time.
I padded barefoot from my counselor's small kitchen with a fresh glass of wine. My counselor was crouched, adding a piece of wood to the fire, the glow of the flames turning him golden. I sat down beside him and he sat down, too. I stared into the flames.
"Do you ever feel misunderstood?" I asked. He looked at me and laughed, his rusty unused laugh. I looked at him.
"Of course," he said, straightening up his face in a serious frame. That is when I realized what I had said and to whom I had said it. "But go on with your thought sweetheart."
"I don't know. Sometimes things just seem so simple and then the world collapses and it is like you are whispering in a whirlwind. From ten thousand miles away. And it is like everyone is speaking a million different languages at once and no one is listening. No one," I said. He reached out and stroked my hair.
"With whom did you argue?" he asked, his voice was soft.
"It's just a thought in general," I said.
"Um....you are being obtuse...but I will accept what you say," he said.
"You sound like the lead counselor," I said.
"Well, he and I have a lot in common," he said. That sent me to laughing. He waited until I calmed.
"Sorry," I said.
"No, I suppose you would not see our complicated relationship. W really do depend on one another in a million little ways, little insignificant things that add up to a final big picture. A lucrative picture," he said.
"But you don't trust each other," I said.
"Well, we do, on the important things. You, your friends, your adventures," he said. "We have only wanted your happiness. That is why we have our meetings, our one on sessions, our little adventures."
"So you collaborate?" I said, a little doubtful.
"We do, we depend on one another. There are times we don't like each other very much....but we do depend on each other," he said, poking at the fire with the old cast iron toaster. "And of course we have others we answer to, and we have to depend on them too."
"Do you take it personally?" I asked.
"Everything a person does should begin by being personal. It effects everyone differently, sometimes in unseen ways," he said, pulling me against him as he lay back against the couch. "But it can still work out, if everyone stops to listen."
"10,000 miles away is a long way to whisper," I said.
"But eventually the sound travels and the people it is meant for receive it sweetheart," he said.
We watched the fire burn for a long time.
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