Erik glanced out the window as he realized Alexi was leaving again. As conflicted as his feelings were about the man, he realized that he rather wished the eccentric human was not going anywhere. It was not so much that the vampire enjoyed his presence, as that he was a distraction from this irritating imprisonment. It was not in the vampire leader's nature to laze around and read all day. A Commander's life was incredibly busy, with meetings, planning, reading reports, and then trying to keep up with his own chores and training. While the break might have been relaxing, having nothing at all to work on was driving him mad.

Taking a deep breath, he stood and glanced over at the eccentric billionaire.

“Two more questions before you go. First, why buy more slaves if you are just going to free them all in a few weeks? And, on a more personal note, how much longer are you going to imprison me here? I'd like to at least be able to walk around the house. I'm going stir-crazy in here with nothing to work on and nothing to do besides reading and swimming. I can't even use the Internet! I'm used to being constantly busy, but here I'm completely useless.”

Alexi is at the door when Erik speaks up. In an almost choreographed motion Alexi spins on his heel and turns to face the vampire, his back settling on the door. His soft smile stays in place as he waves a hand before crossing his arms. “If I change my behavior all of a sudden, it would make those who keep tabs on my life, a surprising many I may add, very suspicious and I would rather not risk a more critical eye turned towards me at the moment. Do not need my side projects discovered.” 

He lights up a little as he goes on. “As to your need to be doing something, I have been contemplating several ideas. Since I no longer have to pretend to be some evil overlord, I can provide you with other things to do than what I originally planned.” He smile becomes a little wicked. “How would you like the blueprints to all the homes with chemically broken slaves as well as maps of their locations, and secret caches of weapons the military have all over the city? I can also provide other information, however these are the ones I had on hand and ready for you once the plan reached it's climax, so they are easier to get to you.” 

He waves a hand again. “I can also get you the news and my brother's private research into the cells current locations. Perhaps you are more knowledgeable in those matters, however for the time you are here things may change. You may see patterns Mois does not.” He tilts his head, tugging at his sleeve to make sure as much skin as possible is covered since many newcomers are less than enthusiastic to be added to the household.

The vampire nodded, for as much as he hated to admit it, Alexi's explanation made a lot of sense. [i]'Well, you certainly did a good job of acting evil. But... it's not – Why? Wait, if you'd been kind from the start, I would have never believed a word you said. I thought of you as a despicable, evil human being, and anything else would have seemed to be a lie. The only way you could have convinced me was to essentially do exactly what you did, to show me that you weren't that horrid with one tiny act at a time. Gorrammit Alexi, you've basically played me like a violin.'[/i] 

As he continued to listen, his eyes widened and his jaw dropped. The offer was nearly unbelievable. So much so that it took him a few seconds before answering.

“You'd give me that information? All of it? Seriously?! Alexi, I could kiss you!” he finally replied excitedly, his agape mouth turning into a grin. “I would need some notebooks and scratch paper as well, and preferably a cheap computer with Internet access, for ancillary research. You can disable all outgoing communication functions and track my activities, if you like.” 

Though he was still grinning, the gravity of what he had just said dawned on him. [i]'Did I really just say that? Give him permission to track me and restrict my communication? I despise such privacy invasions. Apart from that, I'm even willing to avoid complaining about being trapped here, so long as I can be useful. God, I hope I'm not losing my mind. Raelani, Nirale, the other officers, even Pyrra... they would all kill me or throw me in a padded room if they could see the kind of trust I'm putting in the likes of Alexi Vandros.'[/i]

The look on Erik's face is priceless and Alexi take a moment to just drink it in. [i]'He is so adorably happy. It makes me feel good that I can bring a smile to his lips rather than all that frowning and anger'[/i] At the comment about kissing the man can't help but envision it, prompting a very light flush, however he looks down quickly to deflect his thoughts. “I shall get it all to you as soon as I can. . .As for the Internet access, I shall see what Elaria can come up with for you. The rest is easy. Joseph will bring it to you while I am dealing with the newcomers.” 

He looks back up, a half smile on his face. “Once you have it however I must ask you restrict yourself to pencil and paper while I am sleeping the sound of a keyboard grates on my ears and is likely to keep me awake at night. Even madmen like myself need sleep.” He chuckles. Pushing off the door he rests one hand on the door handle. “Anything else? Perhaps a snack before dinner?” He sways back and forth a bit, still quite pleased with himself over dropping Erik's jaw.

Erik shook his head slightly. It was still difficult to believe that only four days ago the same man that had threatened him and treated him like a pet was now offering him the single greatest repository of information he had likely ever had access to. 

“No thanks. I appreciate it, Alexi. Sorry for keeping you. Good luck,” he replied, nodding his head a little, and still grinning like an adolescent lover.

Alexi chuckles softly and nods. Slipping out of the room he wanders down the hall, feeling a lot lighter than he did before he entered. He can still feel the pain gnawing at him, however the long list of things to get done, and the prospect of new slaves to welcome home have him distracted enough to ignore the feeling. [i]'I shall check in with the cooks, ask for something with some fish, nothing too fancy, then wait in the windowless parlor for the incoming slaves. . .'[/i] Pulling out his phone he checks for a message from Joseph. Not seeing one yet he tucks it away and wonders what he'll need for them. 

In the kitchens the slaves go into a mild panic at the sight of him, however after he drops his request they all calm a bit. “Yes sir Master Alexi. We can add a fish dish. We just got in some fresh trout from the hatchery. Would you like that sauce you enjoy along with it?” Alexi smiles at the aging dwarf lady and nods. She chuckles at his almost childish grin and waves as he leaves. 

“Sauce ma'am?” one of the newer ones inquires. 

She chuckles again. “It's just ketchup and miracle whip mixed together. Something simple and common, but I made it for my own son one day, and Master Alexi wanted to try it. Ever since he always has it with his fish.” The older kitchen staff let out light laughs while the newbies look to one another, wondering about this new master.
~*~*~

The beast flies around the back of the cage, hissing and snarling as the handlers move in closer and closer. Orion stands back with a disinterested expression. His attention is caught by a beep on his palm pal and after pulling it up he smiles wide. [i]'Very good boys. . .This will have the boobs upstairs drooling in no time'[/i] Signing off on the capture of a siren in one of the remote districts he looks up in time to see the M'Tinak his with a dart. After a few seconds it falls to the ground. 

Though the sedative does its work properly the beast is still hissing and snapping. The men look out at Orion with questioning glances. With a smirk he responds, “The client likes them feisty, and with one as rare as this, anything more than minimal sedation would not be wise.” They nod, moving in and carefully binding the creatures hands behind him. Once he is properly bound the two pick him up and Orion leads the way to where he needs to be delivered. The beast keeps thrashing feebly, but the expert handlers are not bothered by the weak movements.

Joseph suffered his way through the auction, drinking a hot tea from the bar. He successfully ignored the usual stares, and even the few whispers of conversation he heard remarking on the “strange,” “offensive,” or “downright dangerous” presence of unaccompanied slaves at the auction. Of course, all of that was simple compared to the actual bidding itself, as he was forced to watch all of these beautiful creatures chained and led across the stage, to be sold as property. 

Several times, he found himself checking his platinum pocket watch to see just how much longer this nightmare would last. The watch itself was ornately crafted, with an etching of a beautiful phoenix, flames emerging from its wings and tail. Inside the watch were his initials, JM. It had been a Christmas present from Master Alexi when he was merely twenty years old. Joseph had very nearly rejected the gift, on the grounds that he had not given his Master a present in return. But somehow the youth had convinced him to take it, citing some point about how it could not be returned with the personalized engraving.

Thanks to the vampire's centuries of training, and a few small miracles, he managed to keep his calm throughout the entire auction, and managed to make some fine deals on a few slaves. There were two terrified children, a male and a female, siblings nymphs, and no older than fifteen by their looks. Joseph had bought them both because he hated the idea of them being separated, especially with the war coming. He also purchased two more slaves, a female fae and a male of a species he did not recognize. The fae had a soft face and long flowing purple hair, matching her eyes. But what fascinated Joseph was the twinkle in those eyes as though she were simply laughing at the stupidity of all of these humans around her, almost as if she knew how pointless this auction was. The male looked completely human in this form, with deep brown skin, dark brown hair, and bright green eyes. He looked upon the proceedings with a dignified righteous anger, not openly violent, but almost regally disapproving, and almost as though he were waiting for the perfect moment to escape. Joseph resolved to keep an eye on him, as he would have to with all three of the others.

An hour later, Joseph strolled out to Alexi's car and greeted Elaria. He quickly gave her a run down of their new guests and warned her of the flight risks. It was then that he received the text from Master Alexi. Sighing, he responded as Elaria drove them to the pick up point, -Glad to hear that you are feeling better, Master Alexi. I found two nymph children who are siblings, a female fae who I suspect might have prophetic ability, and a male whose species is unknown and has not turned from his human form. I will make a full financial report within 24 hours."

The auction had sapped Joseph of his energy, and as such, he was quite thankful that none of the slaves put up a fuss getting into the car. Of course, that was because the M'Tinak was drugged, and the unknown creature appeared to have been dosed with something as well. All of them were bound, but the fae seemed not to care. The children were terrified, but too afraid of punishment to harm anyone. They all fit easily into the back of the car, and Joseph greeted the group.

“My name is Joseph Moreau, and I serve Master Alexi Vandros, CEO of EleCon Industries. I am the head slave to his household, and manage the day-to-day affairs. Provided you behave, you will be treated well, with comfortable living arrangements, good food, and some manner of choice in your chores. Master Vandros will greet all of you when we arrive, but afterwards, you will primarily report to me. Before all of you introduce yourselves, are there any questions?”

As soon as the big guys are no longer holding him the M'Tinak falls silent and begins looking around the best he can. Spotting the one from before, and feeling quite tired after all the drugged thrashing, he proceeds to fall asleep on the confident one's lap. He stretches a bit on Joseph's legs before passing out. The two children see this, and stare at the one who bought them wondering if he'll be mad at the action. The fae also seems a little curious, but the large male simply stares towards the driver seat with such concentration you could swear he recognizes Elaria. She however keeps all her attention on the road.

Joseph smiled slightly as the young M'Tinak fell asleep in his lap, placing a comforting hand on the child's shoulder. The nymph children seemed to relax after this, and the young female was the first to offer her name. “I am called Sayiph,” she replied, her voice sounding meek but determined. Her older brother chimed in as well, “I'm Enodai.” The fae also smiled, seeming to decide that she slightly approved of Joseph, “I am called Amithi. I am pleased to meet you, Joseph Moreau.” 

Once everyone has given their names, all save for the dark skinned male, the fae looks at him curiously, and a moment later the children look up at him too. However, it's Elaria who speaks up first. “Joseph, that big guy's not gonna talk. In fact, he probably doesn't even know how to say his own name in English yet.” Glancing over he shoulder she says softly, “He's a drake, I can smell it, and a youth too. Just about ten years younger than me. I intimidate the hell out of him, and talking in front of me won't be possible for a while.” The fae raises an eyebrow at this, looking between the two drakes. The large male simply continues to watch her, not confirming or denying anything she said.

Joseph nodded, grateful for Elaria's knowledge, as he had been growing wary of the young man's silence. He would not have punished or scolded the drake for it, but it was good to have a reasoning. 

“Thanks for the information, Elaria. Do you have any advice on how to communicate with him? Or how to proceed in general?” he asked curiously, knowing that he was clearly out of his element. The drakes were a highly secretive species, so despite all of his knowledge and experience, Joseph had no idea how to deal with them. 

"Sure." Elaria calls over her shoulder. A few seconds later they stop at a red light and a click can be heard from the front seat. Suddenly Elarias face appears between the seats. Looking right at the younger drake she says quite clearly, "You do what he says." She points at Joseph and as soon as she does he nods and drops his gaze. She smiles and says, "There ya go hun." patting Joseph on the arm before slipping back into her seat just in time for the light to turn green.

[i]'Well, that was simpler than expected'[/i], the vampire servant thought as he smiled graciously. “Thank you kindly, Elaria,” he responded. Though he did not ask the younger drake for his name, he was glad that the creature would not cause any problems.

After a few moments, Sayiph found the courage to ask a question. “What will Mr. Vandros have us do, sir?” she inquired, looking up at the vampire.

“That will depend on what jobs we have available, and on your own personal skill sets and preferences,” he answered, looking down into her eyes. Amithi merely smiled knowingly, looking out the window.

The ride passed without further incident, and Joseph exited the car and held the door for the others. The M'Tinak was still asleep, so he lifted him out of the car and carried him in his arms.

“Elaria, after you park, please come inside. I'm sure that Master Alexi will want to consult with you regarding the new drake.”

The drake in the front seat watches as the slaves exit, giving the little ones a small wave when they glance her way. She gives Joseph a nod and as soon as the door is closed she drives off towards the garage. [i]'They won't be slaves long, but I hope they are grateful for the kindness they receive here before they are freed. After all, if they know that humans can be kind, they will think twice before slaughtering innocents. . .'[/i] Her thoughts turn to the large male. [i]'Bronze, only a year or two into this stage of his life. . .This should be fun'[/i] Smiling she parks, tossing the keys to Uwin as he runs up. “Gotta go see Master Alexi. Check it out for me?” Uwin nods, understanding. With her naturally graceful swiftness she makes her way towards the house proper.

Joseph guided the new slaves into the house and through the foyer, hiding a smirk from his facial features. Leaving off the information about the M'Tinak had been quite intentional, as he wanted to see the look on his Master's face upon the surprise of such a rare and adorable creature. He guided the group into Alexi's drawing room and unbound their wrists, for he decided that no one was going to resist at this point. 

The slaves all look around as they are lead into the smallish room, even the drake is curious now that he is no longer in the presence of the female. Alexi watches them from his place in the chair, a light smile on his lips. Spotting the unusual sight of Joseph carrying someone he eyes the figure closely and nearly jumps out of his skin in joy as he recognizes it. [i]'This must be what Orion said he would have for me that would have me crying in joy!'[/i] Careful not to express the collector's grade happiness he stands slowly and all eyes go to him. “Joseph, the box is by the door, please see to it.” 

Before he can move away though Alexi gently takes the precious bundle in his arms and rests it on the high back chair. The creature makes small protest noises before curling up and settling. His smile warms and as he turns back to the new slaves they note the difference. 

Naturally, Joseph saw to the work immediately, placing the electronic shackles on the male drake, and the suppression tiara on the fae, all the while wearing an expressionless face that hid his distaste at the actions. Though Master Alexi hid it well, he knew that the man was quite pleased with the new acquisitions, especially his surprise. 

As Joseph goes about his work Alexi looks over the group, careful to keep his mind on the moment until the nymph is wearing her tiara. Before he can say anything however Elaria slips into the room and the large male's eyes go to her. Alexi notes this, but goes on with his intro. “Hello, I am Alexi Vandros, I am the lord of the manor. I am sure you already know that you will report mostly to Joseph, however I would like to learn a bit more about you before I place you in his capable hands.” 

Moving slowly at so not startle them Alexi steps over to the children and drops to a knee. They flinch back slightly, the female dropping her hands from where she'd be tugging at her collar. He smiles at them and tilts his head towards the back yard. Though they can't see anything but wall the look anyways, then back to him as he starts speaking. “You two are water nymphs, right?” The boy nods, holding tighter to his sister. “We have a lovely pond out pack I am sure you two will find quite comfortable. There are a couple other nymphs and a water lizard who I am sure will make you feel at home.” They stare at him, unsure of his sincerity, but not willing to question it now. 

He offers them a reassuring smile before moving on to the fae. Now that her tiara is on he feels more comfortable talking to her. “Welcome. I heard you may have some mental acuity there that can be put to good use. Sorry, I have to keep you out of my mind however.” She raises an eyebrow, staring at him for a moment, then rolls her eyes. [i]'Indeed, I like her, and the little ones are cute. But this guy. . .'[/i] As soon as he moves over to address the large man Elaria steps forward and speaks softly as not to frighten him further. 

“Master Alexi, this one here is a very young drake, relatively speaking. He probably does not know how to say his name yet. If you like, I can take care of him until he learns the house rules at least. He's . . .” She looks at him with a faintly hungry expression. “Let's just say he's strong. . .” 

It is easy to read her undertones, and a he glances at the five point restraints, wrist ankles and neck, he gives her a nod. “You are in charge of him.” Elaria nods and the drake male looks to the floor. Though his fear is not obvious, the fae can sense it and for a moment wonders what this female slave plans for the big guy. 

Risking reprimand she asks the human, “So, what use do you have for us in this large manor. . .Master Alexi?” She almost doesn't add on the title, however she senses the vampire is very loyal and does not want to offend her new “Boss”. 
 
Alexi smiles and motions towards Joseph. “He will fill you in on the specifics, however I know your kind enjoys the outdoors. The grounds are quite large, just got bigger in fact, I purchased the lot next to mine a few weeks ago. However, it is up to your skills and aptitude. I am sure you will find something to keep your mind occupied.” She nods, looking down at the children who seem to be relaxing ever so slightly at the soft voice of their new owner. Looking back to Joseph, Alexi motions towards the door. “Please, show them to their new accommodations.” Glancing at Elaria she adds, “You may house the drake with you if you like. I know he would likely seek you out anyways.” She nods and smiles. Looking back to Joseph he says softly, “And please lock the door behind you Joseph.” Looking at the sleeping boy the man's eyes almost seem to gleam, but in a kind way. “Leave this little one. I wish to speak with him. . .”

Joseph nodded simply and herded the water nymphs out to the pond. When they all reached it, he began to speak. “You may also use one of our family apartments, if you wish, but we do not have any of those with natural water sources. Master Alexi and I figured that you would probably be happier out here, where you can remain in your natural state, and among your own kind,” he explained.

“Thank you, sir. This will be fine,” the older male, Enodai, replied finally. He had been silent throughout most of the exchange, but now he seemed to decide that he could approve of his new masters. 

“You will be given three days to become accustomed to your new surroundings, and meet your living mates and fellow slaves. Please report any dietary preferences or restrictions to the kitchens, and take some time to say hello. They like the company. Think about your skills and what you would like to work on. Ask around for any supervisors you find available, to see if they have any openings for jobs you might be interested in. At 3pm on Sunday, I'd like you to make your way to that drawing room to meet with me on your assignments. Is that alright?” 

Both siblings looked shocked and perplexed that their new supervisor was giving them a choice in the matter. This arrangement seemed incredibly fair, for slavery at least. They had heard horror stories among the captured slaves, of cruel masters who would work them to the bone. But both Mr. Joseph and Master Alexi seemed completely reasonable to them. It was Sayiph who spoke up this time.

“That sounds fine, Mr. Joseph,” she replied, smiling brightly. With that, they both jumped into the water. Joseph watched them for a moment, a fond expression on his face. [i]'They will soon be truly free, and probably can find a place away from the danger. Master Alexi and I need to find safe houses. I wonder how much work he has already done on that? After he... he never told me how he's going to accomplish it. But I should have seen it sooner....'[/i] For a moment, he thought back to the last twelve years. [i]'It's obvious. How could I have not seen it? Even before he told me! The company policies, the devices themselves. He's spent years making sure that he was the only manufacturer, even when doing so cost him money. All he has to do is turn them off... and Erik... the perfect connections to distribute the breaking antidote. How could I have not seen it sooner! Damnit Master, I raised you, and you still managed to hide your true nature, even from me. I should have never doubted you. Even after he told me, it still took me four days... though, admittedly, I've been slightly stressed... I wonder what the kill mechanism is...'[/i] With a jolt, the vampire pulled himself back to the present, thankful for the tiara that the fae wore. 

“I apologize, madam. I lost my train of thought for the moment. Perhaps I am getting a little old. Let us visit your quarters as well,” he commented. For Amithi's part, she did not seem to care one way or another, as she simply enjoyed the outdoors and being near the large pond, watching the water creatures play. 

“I understand, Joseph. I would never interrupt your thoughts. The thoughts of any being are miracles that neither magic nor science can completely comprehend,” she replied brightly, flipping back her purple hair. 

The vampire merely nodded and motioned for her to follow as he led the way to the main slaves' apartments. He found a lovely one bedroom on the side of the house, with several windows that looked out into the gardens.

“Will this be acceptable, Ms. Amathi?” he inquired, bowing slightly.

“Yes, of course. I'm not terribly picky. It's not for long, anyway,” the fae replied, grinning.

“What makes you say that?” Joseph asked, his tone turning serious, as his suspicions were confirmed. He had, after all, purchased the woman because he was curious to see how much she knew of Master Alexi's plans, and because he knew such power could be useful on their side. 

“Nothing in particular. I just... sense a great change coming into the universe. It's much weaker now, with this tiara on, but I already Saw it before. There will be great chaos, and much bloodshed, but we will all be free. And is it not better to die free than to live as a slave?” she replied, looking back into Joseph's eyes.

“Do you know how?” he asked curiously, keeping the urgency from his voice.

“No, I do not. I know that it will happen quickly, and now that I am here I sense that this house is a focal point. But I cannot See beyond that, especially not while wearing this device.”

“I understand, and I apologize for the devices.”

“I do not mind terribly. Sometimes it is pleasant to take a break from the Sight,” she commented, sounding almost completely at peace. Joseph merely nodded,

“You will be given two days to acclimate yourself to the household and everything. I'll send you a Let the kitchens know about your dietary restrictions and preferences. Zinar will put them into the computer. I would also appreciate it if you would think about your skills and job preferences. I'll send you a list of our openings tonight. The children get a little more and flexibility time due to their age, but we try to accommodate everyone. No one, human or magical, who hates their job, will do a particularly good job at it. Can you report to me around 6pm on Saturday to discuss your work?” he asked, turning the conversation back to business.

“Certainly.”

“My apartment is just down the hall, and you're welcome to meet me in my office there. I wish you well, Ms. Amathi.” The vampire bowed slightly in respect and turned to leave, but the fae looked back at him.

“Just Amathi, if you don't mind. My clan despises titles.” She hesitated slightly. “And... you should know, you have been long cleansed of the filth you never should have carried.” The fae knew that Joseph would never believe her, not in this state, but she had felt such pain within him that she felt the need to try. The vampire turned back.

“What do you mean?”

“Your pain. There is no need for it.”

“There is, my friend, most certainly. But I appreciate the sentiment,” Joseph replied, turning and leaving. Amathi just sighed. The vampire's scars ran far too deep for her to solve. She prayed that he would one day come to know that her Sight was correct. [i]'The age old Seer's curse. Even those that know you have the Sight do not believe you if the Truth contradicts their own reality.'[/i]

~*~*~

Elaria snaps her finger, eying Alexi as he kneels down, looking at the sleeping boy like he's a kitten or something. As the drake male strides over to stand by her she muses, [i]'Careful Master Alexi, that kitten’s got fangs. . . .'[/i] before heading out. The male follows close behind her, too awed by her presence to do anything more than watch her move. Despite her current appearance he can see her true form and he has never seen such beauty before. Though drakes are naturally the wild cousins of dragons, far less intelligent than their larger cousins, they still have the capacity for learning and growing smarter than those who are too young to change their form. He'd listens to everything said, smelled the changes, used his instincts to make sense of it all, however with only her to focus on now he can feel his instincts coming to the fore.

Once in the shack for the garage staff his gaze falters, the close proximity of so many other bodies making him a little edgy. However with a soft snap she brings his attention back to her. The others in the shack watch the exchange, giggling a little. They like having Elaria housed with them. They feel safer with her around, and when she shows off her teeth it looks more cute to them than terrifying. Once at the hole in the back his eyes widens as she shifts into her natural form and slides down into it. He hesitates for only a moment before shifting and following her down. Soon the shack is empty as the staff decide to give the two of them privacy.

~*~*~*~*~

Once the door is locked, the sound of the bolt clicking into place, the M'Tinak stirs. [i]'That one is gone, but there is another. Why am I. . .?'[/i] The sedatives have worn off completely and when he opens his eyes to see a human so close the little critter lets out a shriek hiss and launches himself at Alexi. The man remains calm as the beast two thirds his size knocks him on his back and proceeds to sink his fangs into his cloth covered shoulder. He lets out a light gasp as those long fangs go right through the tough fabric, drawing blood. However instead of responding Alexi waits quietly for the beast to calm down.

Sensing nothing overtly hostile from the pinned human the M'Tinak pulls back. He snarls, his fangs still stained with Alexi's blood as he looks down at the pale face beneath him. He begins sniffing at the human, his wings fluttering lightly as he goes from angry to curious in the matter of seconds. He growls ever once in a while, but becomes far too interested in clawing at Alexi's clothes to be bothered with being upset. Once he’s sure the M'Tinak is distracted Alexi reaches up to touch the boys arm gently. In an instant the youth latches on to Alexi's arm, biting down hard. Once more Alexi can feel his blood flowing, however he is use to stuff like this so without complaining he sits up slowly, earning some yelping snarls from between those tightly clamped jaws.

With soft shushing noises Alexi reach up with his other hand and begins petting the little one's hair. It flinches, trying to shake the hand off, and in the process tearing at Alexi's flesh, however Alexi does not react, simply continues in his soft voice and gentle touches. Eventually it calms down a bit and on one pass of the hand atop his head he lets go of Alexi's arm to sniff at and examine the petting hand. Alexi chuckles and waits for the boy to speak first. He's done his research, he knows that M'Tinak learn to speak very young, many languages in fact, and that acting like animals is more a defense mechanism than anything else.

It isn't long before the boy lets his hand go and once more sniffs at Alexi's face. After a few more snarls and snaps he finally calms and sits cross legged between Alexi's bent legs, facing the man like a judge ready to lay down his verdict. “You. . .You collect things. You. . You like shiny things. Like a crow. You hoard.”

The little M'Tinak's voice is deep for his size, but still adorably cute and light. Alexi nods slowly, his warm smile still in place. “Yes, I collect things. I like rare and valuable thi-”

The boy interrupts. “I'm a shiny thing. You're collecting me!”

At this Alexi shakes his head. The boy raises an eyebrow disbelievingly. “You are not a thing, though I have collected you. I took you so no one else could have you, or hurt you.”

The M'Tinak looks very hard at him, wondering if he's lying. Reaching out he scratches Alexi's face. Not deep enough to scar with treatment, but enough to draw blood. Alexi flinches but otherwise doesn't respond. This seems to be enough to convince the boy for know, though his decision was made with factors the human can not even begin to comprehend. Like a large dog he licks Alexi's face clean before bouncing around the room looking for something to do. Alexi laughs and climbs to his feet, only to be knocked to a knee as the boy lands on his back and shoulder. Trying again Alexi uses a nearby shelf as leverage to pick both he and the boy up.

Once on his feet he looks over to see the youth chewing on his suit. His collector soul knows he can't leave the room without at the least a sleep collar on the boy so he flips open his phone and sends a text.

-Joseph, I need a sleep collar and a room prepared for the little one. One on my floor, make sure it has no ways out but the door. Also, I need a first aid kit, so maybe get the room ready after the collar delivery. Thanks.-

The critter reads what he wrote over his shoulder before he sends it and with a whine licks the cuts on his face a few more times before springing off his beck to scramble all over the desk, scattering things everywhere as he plays with the inkwell. Looking not unlike a large cat Alexi can't help but giggle at the boy as he settles back in his chair. He lets out a grunt as the youth lands on him and looks his straight in the eyes.

“What's my name? Your kind use names, and you can smell mine, so what is it?” Alexi blinks at the suddenness but without much thought he replies.

“I would say you are a Riley, since you like riling things up.” The boy thinks about it for a moment before nodding and lunching himself towards the ceiling where he vanishes.

~*~*~

Joseph stepped out of the apartment and looked down at his phone. [i]'Good grief. I can't leave him alone for five minutes! I thought he had the good sense to be careful around that M'Tinak![/i] Taking a deep breath and rolling his eyes, he grabbed a first aid kit and a sleep collar and sprinted back to the drawing room. As he entered and looked over at the bleeding Master Alexi, and the creature who seemed to have disappeared, he stifled another groan. Noting that the eccentric human was mostly intact, he decided to focus on subduing the creature first.

“Did he disappear again?” he asked. Calling out to the M'Tinak, he said, “My friend, please show yourself.”
Alexi smiles and waves as Joseph enters, a little childishly happy to see the vampire worried about him. Glancing up at the ceiling he watches the faint movement at Joseph's request and after a moment a body comes falling down directly on to the vampire. Landing squarely on Joseph's head and shoulders Riley wraps around the head and looks the male in the eyes before scuttling around to his back to begin chewing on his hair. Alexi begins laughing, holding his wounds as the laughter jolts them every so often. Hearing the laughter Riley launches on to Alexi's lap and curls up like a tiger waiting for a meal. Alexi flinches at the sudden landing but continues laughing and patting Riley's back.

Joseph staggered and nearly fell to his hands and knees. Most humans would have, but the vampire was able to catch himself. He even smiled at the M'Tinak as the creature eyed him and then jumped back into Master Alexi's arms. Taking the collar out of its box, he inched towards the creature with slow and careful steps, trying not to frighten him.

Spotting the device the M'Tinak nearly launches himself off of Alexi again, wanting to flee from it. However Alexi once more begins shushing him and finds a really good spot near the base of his wings that causes him to go limp, growling only vaguely at the collar.

Thankfully, the head slave was able to place the device onto the creature without any problems.

“It's already synched into your household system,” he commented. The master knew that he could basically control all of these devices from his phone, for a while at least. “What did you decide to call him, Master?”

As soon as the collar snaps into place Riley's back legs come up all the way to his neck and he begins scratching and pulling at the device. Alexi lets him attack it all he wants while he answers Joseph's question. "His name is Riley, and thank you for settting the collar up." The newly names Riley flops over on the floor like a dead weight and with a chuckle Alexi reaches down and pats him gently before carfully removng his jacket. The left arm of his shirt is almost completely stained red as the shoulder wound combines with the actual arm wound.

With a little grin he waves the apendage, wincing at the motion a moment later. Rolling his eyes at himself he carefully begins removing his shirt so Joseph can treat him Meanwhile Riley regains his feet and begins bouncing around the room as if nothing has changed.

Joseph tensed slightly at the sight of the wounds, but began cleaning, disinfecting, and bandaging them.

“You really ought to be more careful, Master Alexi,” he commented as he worked. 

"I know. I am sorry Joseph. I just did not want to do anything to endager such a rare find." He says softly. Riley stops and sniffs at this bot as he once more spots the ink well he decides it would look better in pieces. Alexi smiles at the little one's antics.

Once he was finished with Master Alexi's bandages, Joseph helped him put his slightly ripped shirt and jacket back on, and then walked over to the child M'Tinak.

“Time to show you where your room will be, Riley,” he remarked, lifting the creature up into his arms. Thankfully, Riley did not really struggle, and Joseph was able to bring him over to a large guest bedroom without too much difficulty. The room itself was only down the hall from the lord's, which worried Joseph slightly. But it could be locked from the outside, if necessary. Master Alexi followed along.

“I'll have the report as soon as I can, and I'll be sure to get someone to fix up the drawing room,” he said to the lord, preparing to leave and check on Erik just as soon as he was dismissed.