tampered | Log, Completed

Log, Completed

When; Friday afternoon 12/5
Rating; G
Characters; Abby (

notapreacher) and some dogs
Summary; Showing off the new place.
Log; The beach is arguably the favorite spot in all the City for Horatio and Apolline. It doesn't matter how cold it is or whether or not it's raining or snowing; the dogs love it. Since Abby moved to the beach it's not just the dogs who like to go there. For three years in Blue Crow, Gren kept to himself, avoided getting too close to anybody. Proximity meant explaining things and he really didn't want to have to explain them. They were too fresh, too acute, and needed to stay buried for a while longer. In all his years there he only did the explaining to two people: Julia and Faye. Both happened to be in the City when he got here. Faye is gone now, but Julia's still here, still his closest friend.

Abby's the first real friend he made here, the first one in the City he explained things to. As always he was vague with the details, but she knows enough about him and his past.

She also knows a lot about his partner. More than he did for a long time and maybe still; he doesn't know. Out of all the people he knows here, she's probably the most likely to be curious about the new living environment and that's why he's invited her ostensibly to help him move a few things over. He doesn't need help moving anything; that will take its sweet time and he's not giving up his own apartment yet. As he told Lestat, he wants to keep it until he doesn't need to have it any more and that seems fair. But to make this an official moving trip as advertised, he does have one item in his hands. It's the guitar Lin left for him and he thinks -- vaguely -- that maybe Lin should have left him his comb instead, but he shrugs the thought away. This is a far more fitting memorial.

He'll think about that later. Right now he knocks at Abby's door, a dog seated patiently on either side of him. He's got the feeling that if the dogs could ring the doorbell, they would. They'd invite Jethro Junior out to play, and they'd do it every single day.

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He's not an angel. He's a musician, an escaped prisoner, a bounty head, a drug dealer, and a murderer. He hasn't met an angel yet who can claim all of that, but he'll keep it to himself. Now, though, he turns to Abby. "I'd like to see a picture like that."

If she manages to get one, it can join the others on the wall and won't that be sweet? "I'm not sure how you manage to take pictures of him without him knowing, but keep it up. It's great."

Ahead of them, Horatio doubles back to be petted: he knows they're close to home. He gets a treat for his effort -- all three dogs do -- and then the big Newfoundland is off again, leading the way.

"Look at them. They're like school kids at recess."

She should start calling them the three amigos. Those three dogs are the best of friends and the name would suit them well. Plus, they all demand affection. Another thing that connects them to each other. It's a Kodak moment.

"They are. I need a picture of the three of them at some point. It'll be perfect. Put it in a nice frame. And then give them to the two of you as Christmas presents!"

That's a really good idea. It can go along with the taking Gren out somewhere to eat and paying for an expensive meal.

"You know what? That would be a perfect Christmas present." He doesn't need things that cost a lot of money; heaven knows he doesn't have a lot to spend on his friends. But something like that is easy and better still, it's from the heart. To him, that makes all the difference.

As they move into the Square, he takes the turn toward Building 8. Clearly, Horatio and Apolline know they're near home and will probably get fed once they arrive. "How's Jethro with cats?"

He's so used to Lestat's dogs who would no sooner mess with Luce and Watt than they would leap out a window, but he's not sure about Jethro. They'll work it out, though: the bookshelves are nice and high and out of reach.

"Don't know. He's never been around one before. But if one kicks his ass that's okay. Then he'll learn."

She shrugs. Jethro is still a puppy no matter his size. So there is some weird psychological thing where puppy look up to older animals. Maybe that's what will happen. She really doesn't have a clue.

"I guess we'll find out?"

Not that they have a choice really.

"Katan won't come out. He doesn't even do that for me. But Luce and Watt might be curious." Either of them is entirely capable of teaching Jethro a lesson, although he hopes it doesn't come to that. If anything, Watt will ride on his shoulders, out of reach, and Luce will be the queen she is from a nice safe spot.

Or not. They'll find out, as Abby says.

"Horatio. Apolline. Lestat's asleep, and you know what that means. Quietly." As the door to the building opens, Apolline gives him a look that says as if we didn't know that, silly human and leads the way down the hall in an entirely dignified manner. They're patient, though, and Jethro seems to take on their expectant mood.

"All right, Abby. Ever been to a vampire's home before? Don't forget to duck to avoid the bats." Key in the lock, he turns the door to the middle apartment.

"Nope. I'm a vampire home virgin."

As soon as the door is open, she's leaning forward so that way she can get her first look inside. And it's...extremely nice. That's beyond impressive. It's like walking through a rich person's home. Highly quality stereo, fantastic art...

"Wow."

What else is someone supposed to say to that? She doesn't have anything else. Even someone as talkative as she is.

"Just wow."

"Come on in. Make yourself comfortable. Just don't open that set of doors, and you won't be responsible for burning up my boyfriend." He nods to the bedroom doors, then sets Lin's guitar down against the wall near his sax case. He doesn't know how to play it, but he'll either figure it out or get someone to teach him.

He feels he owes Lin at least that much.

"Music room and library. And the kitchen, guest bedroom, bathroom, and sitting room are through there. Want to see?" He nods to his left; the sitting room area's visible through the opening.

The dogs, of course, are already heading that way: that's where treats lie and the secondary sucker of a human with them always feeds them treats after a walk. But first...

"That gorgeous creature on the top of the bookshelf is Watt, and the princess on the chair there is Luce. Excuse me, not princess. Queen."

This like the mini-hub. It's big. Really spacious. She wants to know who Lestat hired to do all of this. She just can't picture the vampire doing hard labor. Like removing bathrooms and building walls and tearing walls down.

Well, whoever did it is amazing.

Looking at the cats, she smiles at them. Those are gorgeous animals. Not only does Lestat have great taste in a place to live but in animals too.

"They definitely rule this place. Especially the queen, I bet."

And they know this place well.

"Okay. Show me the rest of the place. I totally want a tour."

"You can totally have one." He drapes their jackets over the back of one of the chairs for now: he's not about to open the bedroom door to put them in the closet... although he could always use the one in the guest bedroom. Quick thinking; he shakes his head at himself. "Follow me, Miss Sciuto."

The first thing they see when they move through the open archway is the sitting area and dining table. "Oh, look. It's the scene of the crime for movie-watching." With a laugh, he keeps moving into the kitchen. "This is where the dogs and I keep our food. I don't have this fridge stocked with Caf-Pow for you yet; it's still over at my other place. Okay if I let Jethro in on the food, though?"

Already, he's got bowls out and the cans of dog food ready. "They're so happy they get fed during the day now. Is there anything I can get for you?"

She's so busy looking around that she almost doesn't hear him. "Sure. He'd like that." This place is amazing. She definitely couldn't have pictured this.

Wandering into the kitchen she looks at the dog food...and stares. That's some expensive food! It's actual chunks of meat and everything. "Does Lestat pay any attention to how much money he spends?"

Sure, she freely spends her money. But she always knows just how much she's spent so she knows what she can afford.

"This is spoiling the animals to the max."

She completely missed the last question she was asked due to the distraction.

A third bowl joins the other two and he pulls out one more can of food. Abby's question makes him laugh. "No, he doesn't ever pay any attention to money. And I can't afford not to. He's impossible about it -- there's no reasoning with him when it comes to money -- and I love him dearly for it."

Three cans go into three bowls; they're set down on the floor for three very happy dogs.

"Now. Is there anything I can get for you? Or... you're welcome to look around and see what's here." Abby's the curious sort; that might suit her best. "You can satisfy every question you ever had about what's stocked in a vampire's kitchen."

Of course, it's all stuff he's brought in. There is no human food in a vampire's kitchen: they don't need it. Or if there is, he imagines it would just be for show.

He's no vampire, though, and slowly, he's adding things he likes to the cupboards.

"I can look through the cupboards?" Someone would think she'd been told that Caf-Pow was now being put into a larger size. Isn't something like that personal? Oh, she doesn't care. She just wants an answer.

Now.

"Really?"

"Really. Knock yourself out."

It's just a kitchen, and there's nothing particularly interesting in it. At least he doesn't think so.

In the meantime, he pours himself a glass of water: it's about all he needs.

Well, if he's going to give her permission...

She instantly starts going through all of the cupboards as well as the fridge. A bunch of human things (clearly for Gren) and supplies for the animals. However, one thing catches her eyes.

"Champagne?"

"You found me out. I drink the stuff sometimes."

The details of champagne consumption aren't hers to know, though. "Are you surprised?"

Gren gets eyed very carefully for several long moments. Then her face brightens.

"Nope. Not really."

And then it's back to discovering what else is in there.

He's not quite sure what the long look was for, but his answer was honest if incomplete. "Lucky I didn't hide your Christmas present in the cupboard, isn't it."

Black roses wouldn't do well in there anyway.

"Are you finding any surprises? Discovering anything you couldn't have imagined would be there? For the record, the dog biscuits aren't for me."

Abby's so cute: he wishes Lestat was awake to see this.

Gren has a point there. The only person she's ever seen do that is Gibbs. And he somehow managed to hide the gift in plain sight.

"I knew that! And I'm finding out what you like to eat mostly. And that Lestat doesn't own anything that's cheap." That's not surprising though.

"Okay. I want a closer look at the rest of the house please."

"No, all the cheap stuff is mine. I like to play for sympathy with the whole starving artist thing. It works wonders." Grinning, closing cabinet doors behind her curiosity, he leads her into the dining and sitting area.

"We haven't used the table once, but I haven't been here very long." Still, it's a beautiful wooden table, finely wrought, with seating for eight because Lestat never does anything by half. "And over here -- I know it will shock you -- is the scene of much relaxation." He nods to the long sectional sofa facing the television. "There's probably still some popcorn around from throwing it at the screen; Lestat had never done that and I had to teach him it's appropriate behavior when the movie stinks."

Of course there's no leftover food; if the dogs don't clean that stuff up he does. He's always been more comfortable in a place without a whole lot of debris hanging around. Even on Callisto, his apartment was tidy.

"Anything you want to peek into here? Look under the couch cushions for hidden treasure?" Now he's smiling very widely.

Why is there something under them? From what she can see there isn't. Unless he hid a surprise there for Lestat? It would have to be flat though. Or small.

"He didn't know he's supposed to throw popcorn at terrible movies? Wow. That's shocking. Don't know why but it is. And what would be under the cushions? Did you get him something? I can't tell if you're smiling at that or at me wanting to explore everywhere."

It really could mean either.

"Or maybe he hid something there for you?"

"No, no." Now he's really laughing. "You were just having so much fun poking around in the kitchen. I thought you might want to give the rest of the place the same level of investigation."

At the moment, his computer -- the one she gave him -- is sitting on the coffee table; he's been looking up a little bit of stuff about Paris in the era when Lestat lived there. He has a small idea percolating about that, although he's not sure he'll ever have the chance to do anything with it.

"Given the fact that there really better not be anything lurking under the cushions, you want to sit and visit or do you want to see the spare bedroom first?" There used to be two bedrooms over here, two bathrooms, a somewhat larger kitchen, a living room. He never spent much time in this third of the apartment when Anita and Cloud lived here. In fact, the only time he was over here was when he helped Lestat clean the place up. And that was a mess.

Hopefully, that won't be happening with any real frequency. He's a much bigger fan of harmony than of discord.

"Can I look at the bedroom first? Then we can visit?"

Her voice is just like a hopeful child trying to get a treat for being good. And she has been good. She's carefully avoided anything too personal without permission. She hasn't really pried into anything that she knows of.

"Please?"

"Of course you can. It's right through that door."

It's the room he's spent the least amount of time in: why should he be in there? The only reason was to put Polly the platypus in there next to the other stuffed animal which -- for reasons Lestat has kept to himself -- is a penguin. It's got something to do with Anita, and that's fine; it's between the two of them. But Abby will find Polly in there, holding court by the pillows.

"Come on." It's pretty straightforward: there's a queen-sized bed, a closet with a built-in bureau, and a private bathroom. It really is the least attended room in the house, he thinks, but that doesn't mean it's any less opulently appointed than the rest of the place.

How could it be? Lestat designed and decorated it.

Walking through the door, the first thing she spots is Polly.

"Polly's here!" The excitement is written all over her body language as she goes over to the stuffed animal with a big smile. "Aw. You're still so cute!" Poking it, she looks at the penguin curiously then starts looking around the room. Everything in here is just as expensive.

"He doesn't do anything half way. Even a bedroom he doesn't even use."

Impressive.

"He likes things the way he likes them. It's not my place to tell him to be frugal. Imagine that conversation." Just thinking about it makes him shake his head wryly. "Besides, I don't want to change him. I love him just the way he is."

This room needs a chair. Somewhere. And a bedside table. This whole apartment is pretty much an organic work in progress, he thinks.

"I do have a request to make, though. For a little bit of help with a Christmas present for him."

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