(no subject)

[maderr]

Speaking of creepy things (because that's what I'm thinking about), I keep meaning to mention that we went out to see the Village this past Saturday. Won't say much now, save that overall I liked it, though it was a trifle predictable. We also went to the Melting Pot, which was as yummy as ever. I love fondue. And we played the world's worst game of miniature golf. No rules were followed at all, it was fun. And good grief the sexual innuendo does not *stop* with miniature golf. Definitely fun.

Thanks to the efforts of my Approvers and the marvelous kiyoshi_chan, Embrace Chapter Two is up (and I'll add it to the site in a little bit, along with the latest challenge submission).

Chapter Two

"This is really going to take some getting used to." Aubrey closed his eyes, shoulders tense where Ruthven lightly gripped them as he fastened his teeth to the Aubrey's neck.

A servant had opened his bedroom window, letting in fresh air and the chirping of early birds. Aubrey slowly opened his moss green eyes to stare outside, desperately trying to ignore the eerie sensation of a man drinking his blood. Such a strange feeling, the bite of those hard teeth, a warm mouth pressed to his throat for such a cold purpose.

He didn't much like being breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Wasn't much choice in the matter, really. At least for now.

Ruthven slowly withdrew his teeth, flicking the small wounds with his tongue before pulling away completely. His arms slid from Aubrey's shoulders down his arms before he dropped his hold entirely. "Thank you, Master."

"I told you not to call me Master." Aubrey sighed and turned to face the vampire. "I am going first to breakfast and then to see my sister. Would you like to come with me or amuse yourself elsewhere?"

Already that slow smile was becoming terribly familiar, "I will stay with you…Master."

"Right," Aubrey sighed again and adjusted the collar of his shirt, fastening it into place before shrugging into a deep red jacket. "Come on then." Without a backward glance he left and headed for the dining room.

Stregoni greeted him cheerfully from the far end of the table. Smiling Aubrey returned the greeting and after filling a plate took a seat directly across from him. He glanced at the stack of papers his friend was perusing, "What is that?"

"Some notes I've been making on your sister. I've been periodically trying different medicines with her. But for the most part it just seems that no medicine works best."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean she does best when she isn't taking medicine. It's more painful in some ways, but she generally is stronger and more able to move around." He flipped thoughtfully through several pages. "I just need to find one that dulls the pain without dulling everything else." Shrugging he shoved the papers away. "I'll find one eventually. And she doesn't seem to mind the experimentation in the meantime. Have you seen her yet?"

"No," Aubrey shook his head, "I was going to wait until after breakfast."

"Excellent. We can go see her together. She's most excited you're home."

"That reminds me…" Aubrey rang the small bell nearby. A servant appeared a moment later, "The box I brought home, with the flowers in it?"

The servant nodded, "It has been taken care of, Master Aubrey. We have it waiting in the garden for you to present to Mistress Carmilla."

Aubrey nodded, "Thank you."

"Of course." The servant vanished.

Stregoni laughed, "What did you bring her this time?"

"Dog roses, white and pink in color. I think it's one of the few roses she does not yet have."

"Excellent choice," his friend nodded. "The garden grows increasingly impressive. Only your sister could get so many different kinds of flowers to grow so well together. In fact I've been using several of those flowers to create some of her medicines. As well as others - she's become something of a supplier for me."

Aubrey smiled "That must make her happy. Is that what the poppy is for?" He nodded toward the flowers that had been set to the far edge of the table, near Stregoni.

Picking them up, Stregoni started to reply.

"How cute," a snide voice spoke up, "The little boys are talking about flowers."

Hand clenching tightly around the bundle of poppy, Stregoni glared at Gille, "Look who's up before suppertime. I'm impressed Gille, one might almost think you weren't lazy. What in the world has you up this early?"

"Silence, carrot. It's too early in the morning to be forced to endure your damnable voice. Go pretend you're useful by playing doctor."

Aubrey chopped the air with his arm, "That's enough. It's too early to listen to either one of you. Gille, if you can't sit and play nice then just go away."

Sneering his cousin fixed a plate of food and slid into a seat next to Stregoni. "So what are you useless fools up to today?"

"More than you, no doubt." Aubrey said shortly. "And none of your business anyway."

"Oh, I doubt you're up to more than me. After all, I help your father run the estates. What do you do besides read your books and complain?" Gille took a leisurely swallow of tea, jade green eyes smug over the rim of the cup.

Aubrey did not reply, focusing on his food in an effort to ignore his cousin. He instead resumed the discussion on flowers, "So what is the poppy for?"

"Poisoning him, if I had anything to say about it." Stregoni glared blackly at the man beside him. "But really it's to make a medicine that should dull pain. The downside is that it will put the patient to sleep."

"That and you'll get her addicted to it," Gille interjected. "But I guess that wouldn't matter in the name of science."

"How…how the hell do you know that?" Stregoni frowned in consternation. "And I would never let her get addicted to it. I'm not stupid. I know my profession quite well, thank you! Besides, it's not for Carmilla. It's for another patient of mine."

"Whatever. Go play doctor and take the bookworm with you. I prefer to eat my breakfast in a pleasant atmosphere." He pause suddenly, looking at Ruthven as if he'd only just noticed him. The blonde vampire nodded politely. "Oh? Are you so attached to your Pet already?"

"Shut up, cousin. We were having a pleasant breakfast until you showed up. And Ruthven is none of you concern. Worry about your own Pet and leave mine alone."

"How cute, he's already possessive. And I needn't worry about my Pet, I know exactly where he is. Still recovering in my bed."

Beside him Stregoni abruptly shot to his feet, "We're not interested in hearing how you treat your Pet, waste of space." In his hand the poppies were all but crushed. "Brey, I'll be in the garden with 'Milla."

"I'll come with you." Rising Aubrey followed him out, Ruthven close behind them.

He latched onto Stregoni's wrist. "What the hell was that about, Streg'?"

"What was what about?" his friend froze.

"I know you and Gille like each other even less than I and Gille…but why did you get that upset with him? You usually just brush his comments aside. " He held on firmly when Stregoni tried to pull away, voice stubborn. "What do you care?"

"I don't care," Stregoni snarled. This time he did crush the poppies, staring at them with an angry frown as he realized what he'd done. "I don't care," he said more forcefully.

Aubrey let him go, walking past him and toward the gardens that took up the better portion of the field behind the mansion. He took a long, deep breath, immediately soothed by the air heavy with the scent of flowers. Everywhere one looked, there was a different flower or tree. They grew together in carefully arranged chaos, a whirl of color and scent. The only spaces void of living color were the small stone footpath that wove its way through the garden and the large marble fountain in the center.

The sound of voices was just barely audible over the bubbling and murmuring of the large fountain, water spilling from oversized bouquets of marble flowers. Aubrey allowed himself to smile and relax, making his way along the path toward the back of the garden.

A large goldfish pond took up the back corner, half covered by the hanging branches of a delicate weeping willow. On a small wooden bench sat a young woman of no more than sixteen years. Her hair and eyes were an exact duplicate of Aubrey's own, save for her hair, which was wavy and long, bound in a thick rope and falling over her left shoulder. She was too thin and somewhat pale, but her eyes were bright and happy as she spied her brother.

"Brey! You're finally home!" She stretched up her arms as he bent to embrace her, twining them around his neck. Aubrey frowned briefly at how weak her hold was, but shook off his concern as he pulled away and kissed her cheek affectionately.

"How are you doing, 'Milla?"

Carmilla smiled, the expression doing a great deal to soften the exhaustion and pain that were ever present on her face. "Well enough. Much better now that you are home. So you're finally done with school?"

"Yes. Finished and home for good. Oh - I brought you a present." Aubrey accepted the box that Vlad handed him, immediately turning it over to his sister. "I didn't think you had this one yet."

"A new flower!" Eagerly she accepted and opened the box, exclaiming delightedly over the small dog rose plant inside. "These are lovely! Oh, I can't wait to see them planted." She looked up at Vlad, who smiled fondly at her. "Do you think in the third quadrant? There aren't many roses there, and these would look perfect."

"I shall see it's done."

Carmilla nodded, "Wait until after lunch, and I'll come to help out as best I can."

"Now, Mistress, " Vlad said firmly. "Doctor's orders are that you do no strenuous work."

Laughing Carmilla shrugged, "What if I don't want to listen to my stodgy old doctor?"

"Hey!" Stregoni protested with a laugh. "Be nice or doctor will order you to stay in bed for an entire month."

Wrinkling her nose and laughing again, she laughed. "You wouldn't dare. Besides, Aubrey would just help me sneak out."

Sighing, the doctor agreed with her. "He does spoil you absolutely rotten."

"Doesn't everyone?" Aubrey returned dryly. He sat down next to his sister, "Now, tell me what you've been up to. I hear you are helping Streg with his medicines."

Nodding enthusiastically, Carmilla launched into a discussion of all the flowers and herbs they used to create potions and elixirs for the various patients under Stregoni's care. She paused as she mentioned the painkiller they were currently working with, staring at the mangled flowers still in the doctor's grasp. "What happened to the poppies? We just picked those this morning."

Stregoni grimaced as he examined the flowers, "My apologies. I let Gille get to me again." He sighed, "You'd think I'd learn."

"Streg…" she frowned in concern.

He smiled tightly, shaking his head. "Don't worry about it. Do you suppose I could pick more?"

"Of course."

"Then I believe I will do that and leave the two of you to catch up. I'll be back in a bit." Turning he sauntered down the path to deeper parts of the garden.

Aubrey watched him go, frowning. "Am I missing something?"

"Those two have been worse than ever since the summer festival."

"Why is that?"

Carmilla shook her head, "It's not my place to say. I'm sure Stregoni will tell you about it, when he's able. Until then I suggest you work hard to keep them apart. But I've been horribly rude," she looked up at Ruthven, standing patiently quiet a few feet from them. "I was so excited to see you I failed to notice Ruthven."

"You've met him?" Aubrey asked in surprise. He glanced at his Pet. "When did the two of you meet?"

"Shortly after he arrived yesterday. Not long before I went to bed. I am sorry I did not wait up for you."

"Do not be. I should have arrived home sooner."

"I can imagine why you would not. I am sorry they bought you a Pet. I wanted to protest but you know how well father listens to me…"

"Not at all. Same as he listens to me." Aubrey shrugged it off and smiled. He waved Ruthven forward, "At least I did not get a Francois."

Ruthven bowed and took Carmilla's hand. "A pleasure to see you again, lovely one."

Giggling Carmilla shook her head, "I can see why some people want to keep Pets. Would you like to sit down?"

"I am fine, thank you." Ruthven moved to stand just behind Aubrey, fingers dancing lightly over light brown hair before he settled a hand on Master's shoulder.

Aubrey tensed but did not shrug it off, refusing to make a scene of it in front of his sister and Vlad. "So what else do you do with your time, Milla?"

"Vlad, my book?" She had barely asked the question before the servant had handed over the requested book.

Looking at it as she flipped it open, Aubrey realized it was a sketchbook. "You've been sketching the garden?" Impressed he examined all the images. "These are amazing, Milla."

"Thank you" his sister beamed, "I was actually trying to compose a book, on how I manage to get everything to grow so well. Stregoni suggested the idea; he says he mentions the garden all the time to people and they are dying to know my secrets. It is a way to pass the time," her eyes turned sad for a moment, but she fought it off. "Anyway, I was hoping you would read it when I was finished. And tell me if it is good enough to seek publishing?"

"I already know it will be, lovely. Of course I will read it."

She clapped her hands, "Thank you!" Setting her sketchbook aside, she leaned eagerly forward. "Now tell me all about school. Did you learn anything interesting? You never wrote much about your classes in your letters."

"Only because I did not think you would be very interested."

His sister rolled her eyes, "Of course I would be interested. As much as I love my garden, I would like to know about life outside it."

"Someday you will. Stregoni and I will see to that."

"Of a certainty." Stregoni said firmly as he returned, fresh poppy in his hand.

Carmilla smiled at them both, "I have the best brothers in the world. I just wish I could help more."

"None of that, Milla." Stregoni's voice was firm.

She merely shrugged and changed the subject. "So what are you planning to do now that you are home, brother?"

Aubrey was pensive, "Not sure really. Well, for now I am going to go unpack and sort the books I brought back. I need to catalogue and place them in the library. I suppose I could just let the servants do it." He shrugged, "But I prefer to do it myself. So unless you require my presence, darling sister, I will take my leave and see you at lunch."

Giggling Carmilla waved him off, "Go. Sort your precious books. I will see you and Ruthven in a few hours. Vlad? If it is not too much trouble, could we go ahead and take a look at where we are planting the dog roses?"

A discussion of roses and Stregoni's firm but gentle reminder to take her medicine followed Aubrey as he and Ruthven made their way back toward the house.

Aubrey barely spared Francois a glance as they passed him in the narrow hallway, and he missed completely the vampire's gleaming, speculative stare. Ruthven, however, did not. His eyes flashed a warning to the darker vampire, who only smirked. Ruthven turned his head to watch him go, frowning. "Master…"

"What is it, Ruthven?"

"You should take care with that one."

"With what? Oh, you mean Francois? I do not take your meaning. He can not do me any harm."

Ruthven only continued to frown, "Take care, Master." His voice was firm.

"Let it be." Aubrey gently shoved open the library door, all tension draining from his body as he eagerly drank in the sight of the hundreds upon hundreds of books in his family's private library. Stacked in the center of the room were several small crates, filled with books that Brey had acquired at school. The servants had already removed the lids from the crates, and he immediately began sorting them.

Ruthven examined the books as he set them on the table, murmuring the titles quietly to himself. He picked up a neatly written list from the desk, noting it was a list of books and authors. "What exactly are you doing, Master?"

"You are never going to stop calling me that are you?" Aubrey blew out an annoyed huff of air, "I am cataloguing the books." He pointed to the list Ruthven was holding. "If you like, you may help me. Just check off the books we pull out, and then divide them up according to where in the library they should go. And I," he flipped open a massive ledger set in the center of the desk, "will catalogue them here. And then we can put them away."

The vampire nodded, "As you wish, Master."

Aubrey stared at him, "You need not help, if you do not want to."

"No, Master. It sounds interesting." Ruthven smiled.

"Very well then," Aubrey turned firmly away from the smile, which he found somewhat…distracting.

They worked in an easy silence, broken only occasionally as they consulted one another on this or that title, Ruthven occasionally questioning the most appropriate section for certain books. A fire kept the room warm, and combined with a few lamps, created a soothing atmosphere. For the first time since arriving home, Aubrey began to relax and enjoy himself.

"You like that one?" he asked Ruthven, who had ceased sorting and was flipping through a small volume Brey recognized as a tome on folklore. He was perched on the edge of the desk, opposite Aubrey who was seated at it.

Ruthven looked up, face apologetic. "It reminds me of home."

"I'm not concerned. I told you, I don't like all this 'master' and 'pet' business. I was just curious - not many people would linger over a book of old folk tales. They remind you of home, you said? Did you not always live at the Cage?"

The vampire shook his head, "No, Master. I used to live in the country. It was only two years ago that I was taken to the Cage."

"Interesting. I suppose you lived off of animals? How rare, a vampire raised outside the Cage." Aubrey had ceased writing completely.

But Ruthven only shrugged and set the book aside, "It was a quiet life, not worth boring you with. But the old man I lived with told me stories all the time. I was surprised to see so many of them in that book."

"The book was probably compiled from his stories; the man who wrote it spent over a decade talking to people and recording their old stories. I wouldn't doubt he spoke to your old man."

"I see," Ruthven replied. He set the book aside and moved to pick up another and set back to work.

Aubrey hesitated and then gave a minute shrug. "You can keep it, if you like."

"Master?" Ruthven looked startled.

Discomfited, Aubrey turned his attention to his papers. "Keep it, if you like. It is not as if I do not know where to find it, should I need it."

Soft fingers briefly touched his cheek, "Thank you, Master." Ruthven once more picked up the book of folk tales.

"Stop calling me that," Aubrey responded, but without heat.

Ruthven smiled, but his reply was cut off as the library door flew open. Gille quirked a brow and smiled mockingly at them. "Well, what a surprise we have here. Aubrey, my dear cousin, I had no idea know you liked books. What do you in the library?"

"Go away."

"Did they not teach you manners at that school of yours?"

"Of course. But they also taught us that manners are pointless when it comes to ill bred swine like yourself."

Gille laughed. "I am not the one whose father thinks me too incompetent to inherit am I?" He laughed even harder as Aubrey's face went flat. He was distracted by Ruthven, "And how is your Pet? Letting him look at your books, are you?"

"He is helping me sort them. Now go away and leave us to continue our task."

Instead of leaving, his cousin frowned. "What do you mean helping you?"

Aubrey looked up, annoyed. "What did I say that has you so utterly confused? He is helping me sort and catalogue the books. Rather simple, I should think."

"…Cousin, Pets are not allowed to read." Gille's voice was lacking in his usual mockery. He stalked over to Ruthven, grabbing the book he held and yanking the vampire to his feet. "How is it you understand letters, Pet? Where did you acquire such a skill?"

"Enough!" Aubrey shot to his feet. "He is my Pet, not yours, and I will thank you to remove you hands this instant!"

Gille did so, shoving Ruthven back down. "If I were you, dear cousin, I would have him put down and a new Pet acquired. A smart Pet is not a good Pet."

"He is not an animal to be put down. Get out!"

Sniffing contemptuously, Gille obeyed. The door slammed shut behind him.

Ruthven smiled, "Thank you, Master."

"I assume you learned to read from the old man who cared for you? Before the Cage?"

"Yes, Master."

Aubrey sighed, rubbing his face with his hands. "I am an idiot. It completely escaped me that you were doing something that is traditionally forbidden to Pets." He looked ruefully at Ruthven, "You are sly, I think."

"No, Master. " the vampire tilted his head, eyes glinting with mischief. "But I am hungry."

"Oh? My impression was that you did not need to…eat that often."

"Eventually I will no need to eat more than once every few days. But I have had nothing but animal blood, which is not very filling. It is not much better than starving if done for too long."

"So it will take time for you to get back up to strength and so forth." Aubrey sighed, "Very well. Shall we--" but his sentence was cut off by surprise, as Ruthven twisted and slid across the desk, sliding down until his feet were on the floor, one on either side of Aubrey's legs. Fingers went to his stiff collar, unfastening it and setting it on the desk. Ruthven smiled again, fingers running through Aubrey's hair before he tilted his head back and gently sank his teeth into the still healing wounds at his throat. "You are forward," Aubrey managed to gasp before the pain and odd sensation of Ruthven drinking his blood drove him to silence.

Several minutes later Ruthven finished, lapping briefly at his throat before sitting up. His familiar smile appeared, "Not forward, Master. Merely eager." He touched Aubrey's hands, still clenched tightly against the armrests. "I like the way you taste."

Unable to form a reply for that, Aubrey settled on a reprimand. "Well see that you do not just spring like that. And it really is unsuitable to do--that in the library."

"Of course, Master."

"Then let us see if we can finish this crate before lunch."

He thought he heard Ruthven laugh, but a suspicious glance showed that the vampire's face was blank as he bent once more over his stack of books. Then the vampire looked at him, and smiled in a way that displayed his fangs. "Yes, Master."

Comments

[lemmus-egregius.livejournal.com]

mmmmmmmmrrrrrrrrrrrryumvampires.
dlkfasjlhdfaskdfkjlhjh

Hmm. I'm sure I had something coherent to say. O yeah.
I *love* chaotic gardens. They're... happyness.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

*giggles* I'm sorry you don't like it. I'll try to do better next time XP

I hadn't expected comments on the garden. Cool!

[lemmus-egregius.livejournal.com]

muahahaa. I am more coherent now, methinks. Look, actual words! I love Ruthven and Aubrey! SO CUTE!
Now they must solve crimes!! ACK, Jessie's right, I am obsessed...
Um... So much for coherency.
Iwantohaveyourbabies.
BYE

[maderr.livejournal.com]

*dissolves into laughter* You rock.

Crime solving? There's a genre I haven't tackled yet...

[lemmus-egregius.livejournal.com]

Crimesolving is very chic right now. Hhahahahaguffawhehehehe
<.< Don't mind me. My own personal inside joke with myself.
Wow. Maybe I need some friends or something....
Nah.

[raielchan.livejournal.com]

Ah, and here I was feeling guilty for feeling the need to match pace with hayama's sexual innuendo. I suppose if it was definitely fun I shouldn't worry!

[miikarin.livejournal.com]

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEE~!

I loved this chapter... hmm... I'm hooked; I want to read more. XD.

Love the colour scheme by the way.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

heh, thankee! I had no idea a vampire story would be met with this much enthusiasm. Glad it is though.

Thank you!

[jadis31.livejournal.com]

My day was just made. Thank you.

I love them. All of them. I would take a 'pet' like Ruthven any day!

Love and JOY,
Jo

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Hee. Always happy to oblige ^_^

[mailechan.livejournal.com]

Oh my, that was nice. I'm not much for vampires, but the idea of one being a pet is, to say the least, interesting.

On a side note, I have to ask you something--is the miniature golf course you went to right next to the Melting Pot? The Melting Pot here in DC has a miniature golf course right next to it, and I wonder if this is a frequent phenomenon.

"Why yes, let's do fondue and golf again today."

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Vampires is one of my least fav genres. I'm trying to create a vamp story that's interesting.

Nope, we actually were trying to kill time after we saw a movie. It's a good twenty minutes away from the Melting Pot.

[mailechan.livejournal.com]

I hadn't realized that the Melting Pot was a chain. I went to it once with several friends. Yummy! We had some time to kill before our reservation, so we went to the miniature golf place right next to it, which was a lot of fun. I placed last out of seven people, but oh well.

[inklacedfeather.livejournal.com]

::happy giggles:: My oh my do I love Ruthven! I mean I love Aubrey too, and Stregoni, I love Stregoni.

But Ruthven is the best!!! Mmmm yummy forward vampire. This was just what I needed to make me feel better.

::glomps:: Thank you!

[maderr.livejournal.com]

*laughs*

I don't really get why everyone like Ruthven so much, though I'm utterly thrilled they do. It confounds me when people go spazzy over certain chars, b/c it's never the ones I expect. ^_^ Glad it helped cheer you up!

[inklacedfeather.livejournal.com]

LoL Silly lil' M'der. You shall always have your favorites. But how oh how do you expect us not to fall for the Strong, Forward, Sexy, Blood Sucking, Silent Type!?! ^-^

You should do a lil memy type thing. Ask everyone who their favorite character is from each of your stories and have em tell you why. I'd do it. ^__^

[maderr.livejournal.com]

LOL! Well when you put it that way.

Oh! You think people would go for it? That sounds like fun!

[inklacedfeather.livejournal.com]

Totally I say do it!