[sub] in collaboration with [@Kingfisher][/sub] [hr] [color=9227f8]"Where are we going Shaun?"[/color] Lorelai's head rested against the window of her car. The people and sights of Santa Somabra flashed by. Each sight seemed spotlighted by the street lamps, standing resplendant in its gritty glory against the grey concrete of this man-made jungle of flesh and sin. "To meet Madame Bloodbloom, as I said Mi'lady." Lorelai was excited. Her smile of late had seemed almost carved into her dead flesh, as if nothing could remove it. She'd collected her blade, and her finest thralls for this meeting. Clad in a blood red dress complete with black frills and hints of lace she was looking to make a good first impression. Shaun had said something about the juxtaposition of her appearance and her predatory gaze being 'striking', and had helped her pick the ensemble. The car came to a halt in front of a large building. It stretched into the sky as a behemoth of glass and steel. Ensconced inside the towering ediface was her new would-be liege. Lorelai paused on the steet while Shaun fixed her bow and smoothed her dress and hair. "You are truly terrible to behold Mi'lady, are you ready?" Lorelai stepped towards the pair of gatemen outside the building. [color=9227f8]"Lorelai Von'Strauss, here for a meeting."[/color] "Weapons check." The men gave her a thorough but respectful pat down before ensuring her thralls were unarmed. "We'll hold on to these, and return them to you on the way out." They'd taken up a small collection of auto-pistols and combat knives. [color=9227f8]"In the interest of transparency I'll have you keep this as well."[/color] Lorelai handed one of the men the long attache containing her sword. He nearly dropped it due to the surprising weight of the thing. Lorelai's blade was composed of an imminently dense adamantine alloy fully capable of splitting most modern metals with ease. "Have a seat in the lobby, someone will collect you when the boss is ready to meet with you." They gestured into the building. Lorelai was a little disappointed that she'd have to wait, but took her seat in the lavish lobby anyway. She paged through various magazines while she waited. "Ma'am, please relax. It'll be here soon enough." Shaun's brow was wrinkled with worry as she looked up. [color=9227f8]"I'm quite alright Shaun. this isn't anger dear, it's anticipation."[/color] Some time later, a trim Faerie with slicked back reddish brown hair came striding into the lobby, all done up in bright black shoes and a hand-tailored suit. "Miss Von'Strauss?" The man regarded Lorelai with a sharp smile "Mister Vladimir called ahead. Miss Bloodbloom is ready to see you now." The Faerie gestures behind him with one delicate, almost feminine hand. "My employer is in the steam room. We can provided a change of clothes if you and your companion don't have a bathing suit handy." [color=92278f]"Clever!""[/color] Lorelai stood, grinning ear to ear. [color=92278f]"Yet another layer of protection, see Shaun? Much wiser than...whatever his name was."[/color] "Indeed Mi'lady." Shaun said simply as he turned to the Faerie. "We'll have to avail ourselves of your offer then, thank you." The two stepped into the small locker room that the attendant showed them. Sure enough two simple bathing suits awaited, a one-piece for Lorelai, and a set of swimming shorts for Shaun. They quickly changed into the articles before allowing themselves to be led to the steam room. "Ma'am, if you'd allow me to announce you when we see her." Shaun pushed the door to the steam room open. "Madam Bloodbloom, I'm pleased to present Lady Lorelai Von'Strauss." Shaun offered a small bow as his mistress entered behind him. Nyxie was spread out across the humid stone backbench which ran across one side of the room; her gigantic form squeezed into a designer two-piece that was just about managing to hold everything in. "Miss Von'Strauss." The Faerie smiled warmly by way of greeting, tilting her head in an act of casual inclination. "Please," she gave a slight wave of one hand "have a seat." The steam room itself resembled a small cave of smooth blue stone, with multi-coloured lights bouncing off of the walls and breaking through the thick veil of cloud-like vapour which wafted over the room. The temperature of the room was tailored exactly to the Faerie's personal preferences, whilst also taking into consideration Vampire's inherent vulnerability to heat. "Now," Nyxvira clasped her fat hands together, giving her knuckles a sharp crack "what is it that I can do for the pair of you?" Lorelai offered a small bow before taking a seat on one of the benches. She hated steam rooms, but at least the rotund Faerie had been considerate enough to keep the heat low enough to only be annoying as opposed to insufferable. [color=92278f]"This is about what I'd like to do for you."[/color] Lorelai spoke cheerily. [color=92278f]"You see I'm a bit into my old age now, and have found my unlife growing tedious."[/color] Lorelai's laugh echoed off the walls of the room. [color=92278f]"I've decided that my life has become to comfortable, and was hoping you might serve to remedy that."[/color] She made a broad gesture with one arm. [color=92278f]"I'm here to offer my service, and promise to see you at the top of this city on a throne of the broken bodies of your enemies. For the right price of course."[/color] Nyxvira considered this for a moment, her theatrical smile never losing its warmth. She knew Lorelai's type. Women like her weren't interested in financial gain. What she craved was excitement; the kind that only the queen of Santa Somabra could offer her. Why else would the childe of Vladimir be on her doorstep? There was a reason she'd refrained from shackling herself to the Nyctari, after all. "You've not been in the city long." The Faerie stated bluntly. This was not a question. "I'll assume you're not versed in some of the cities more...clandestine passtimes. The snuff industry, for example, is something which Concetto Nyctari gets a HUGE chunk of his business from." Nyxie spread her arms apart for emphasis. "He employs people with all sorts of interesting connections to scour the streets for him, and find the freshest meat possible to use in his little home movies. His most recent 'talent scout' was a man named Jamie, who seems to have gone missing all of a sudden." The Faerie cocked her head ever-so-slightly, shooting Lorelai a sly wink. "With him out of the picture, Concetto will be looking for a new recruiter. My people inside the Nyctari can whisper in all the right ears, and get something solid set up. What I need is someone who can get inside Concetto's operation, and find out how everything works, so that we can start tearing it all apart." She shifted her bulk about, sending ripples through her gigantic form. "There's an abandoned casino the Nyctari use for filming and the like. If you can play that part I need of you and start feeding me information, then I'll reward you with more excitement than you can handle. It'll be very James Bond." Once she'd finished, Nyxie pressed her thumb against a button in the side of the wall; turning to speak into the well-disguised intercom. "Have Engstrom make me a rack of spare ribs with Hoisin sauce...and a couple portions of chips." She turned back to the pair who sat across from her. "Can I get you guys anything?" [color=92278f]"An elven red if you have it, otherwise we're fine thank you."[/color] Lorelai was excited at the prospect of infiltraton. Shaun meanwhile began fanning his mistress. [color=92278f]"So you'd like me to play the part of this recruiter then? Finding people to die for my own enjoyment has never been a problem, I don't imagine finding them for the enjoyment of others will be all that difficult."[/color] She let out a decidedly demented giggle. [color=92278f]"I think I could handle that yes."[/color] Lorelai flashed her new patron a bright, malevolent grin "A bottle of elven red, for the lady." Nyxvira said into the intercom, before taking her thumb off of the button. "So, it looks like we're at an agreement, then." She grinned darkly "Who knows what sort of crazy bat-shit fun we'll get up to together?"