[Remy]

Being short held so many disadvantages, Remy was tempted to scream. Eyes alert, she bit the inside of her cheek as she moved with the crowd, trying very hard not to jostle the box in her hand. Not even touching four feet, the best she could do was stay close to the walls and hope there were enough gaps to find and read the signs. In hindsight, it would have been wiser to enter the marketplace later on in the day, when it wasn't so busy. But how was she supposed to know? She wasn't from around here.

“Excuse me!” she spoke loudly as she held the box closer to herself and moved through the crowd to cross the street. Lifting the notecard in between her index and middle finger, Remy referenced Penny's map before turning into a narrower road. The road led to a web of smaller ones, and eventually, Remy came across the designated neighborhood.

The buildings here were squished tightly beside each other, and each had such tiny front yards. Locating a red brick building with a wooden wolf as the doorknocker, Remy went up the steps and knocked upon the door. The Corner Bakery was a relatively young and small store, and it rarely delivered outside of Espur. This customer was a friend of Penny's, though, so they made an exception. Smiling brightly, she made light conversation with Penny's friend before accepting payment and leaving the porch.

Her plan had been to deliver the cake and duck out of New Alexandria. Backtracking along the roads, she paused when she finally reached a quieter part of the market. She'd packed a cream puff into her messenger bag, so she leaned against a lamppost and pulled out the creampuff from its wrapper. Biting into the pastry and savoring the vanilla cream filling, the young vampire did not notice the trio of teens until too late. None of the kids seemed a day over fifteen, and they were dressed in clothes that were far too large for them. They swaggered and stomped, and as one shouldered his way past Remy, squelch!

“Hey!” She yelped as her creampuff fell onto the floor.

“Hey kid, what's wrong with you?” The group had stopped walking, and the killer of her cream puff was picking at the cream on his black leather jacket. Glowering at her in the most unpleasant way, he said through gritted teeth, “You ruined my jacket!”

She'd had enough of being bumped around for today. Bristling, her hazel eyes narrowed and she glowered with equal force. “And you ruined my cream puff! Can't you walk properly?” And before she knew it, a beefy hand was clamped over her arm, and she was being dragged into an alleyway.

“Piece of taroch crap!” She heard the snarl as she feebly collided against the wall. Taroch dung. She knew she'd messed up, and it would be folly to pick another fight in New Alexandria.“If you know what's best for you, you're gonna hand over all the money that your mommy's been givin' ya, and pay for my new jacket.”

Eyeing the bulky bully, Remy tried to mask her angry expression and stare neutrally at the older boy. “Okay, I'm sorry.” She definitely did not mean it--she was just biding her time. Quickly, her gaze shifted toward the other two boys, gauging their minds. Virtually nobody else was here, and she could easily run a quick hypnosis and memory wipe of their encounter. It would be easy to try it on these airheads.

[Kazuma]

If things worked well, she hopefully wouldn't be.

“Excuse me,” came the sound of a smooth voice and had been enough to merit the gaze of the three young men and the fright of that one farthest from him as the boy stumbled backwards, eyes wide.

Kazuma had been on his way back home from the marketplace, basket of goods along with three root stalks peeking out of it, and would have ignored the scenario in the alleyway if an old woman hadn't been peeking inside and murmuring to herself about "what those boys are up to, again" before glancing at Kazuma, frowning at him, then walking away. This was when the good vampire decided he might try and see what, indeed, the young teens were up to again. If they had a knife, what could he lose? Perhaps this was the kind of ending he had been wondering about, as insignificant as it might be...

He took his time to approach them, ignoring the less than happy welcome one of the boys had given him. “Beg your pardon, sirs, but I can't help but notice that you seem to be up to no good, again.” No better way to put it than that! “If I may intru--”

“No, you may not intrude, Intruder,” the captain of the trio with a bad jacket shoved his presence towards Kazuma who instantly edged backwards, looking stunned by the reaction, and held a right hand out to the younger man in a peaceful gesture, obviously eying the white stain on his clothes. “And I don't remember seeing your face, if I might add--”

“D, Donner, I don't think you should be--”

“Shut up, Blitzen!” the captain whipped his head back to hiss at his cowardly friend, the kind that only Therians knew how to make.

Kazuma was frowning at this boy's mannerism. Clearly his presence was not so offensive? Not after he dressed well to suit the spring, after all! He opened his mouth to speak, perhaps say a word or two about discipline but Donner's position had opened up the little secret he had been keeping from the vampire and he gasped, eyes moving instantly from the face of the child they captured to the hand that was enough to split her arm in two if the holder so wished it.

“W, why, it's a girl!” Kazuma said in shock, alarmed now by the presence of a sudden friend in the city and he eyed the frowning Donner with the gaze of disapproval. “A little girl perhaps five years your junior. Whatever has she done to you?”

“She soiled my presence,” the Therian spat at Kazuma and the vampire stepped back, again. How odd the situation. Donner was baring his teeth at him as he continued, “And she talked back to her elder -- me! Why are you so concerned, anyway? I don't even know who you are--”

“Well, do you know who she is?” Kazuma gestured wildly at Remy's direction.

Donner looked strangely at him. “No,” he said simply.

“Well then, you shouldn't be treating her this way, then.” Kazuma concluded before he turned to his friend and asked her, “Little miss, have they hurt you?”

But this only frustrated Donner. “Enough!” he said and shoved Kazuma back, the vampire stumbling to its direction with shock.

[Remy]

As she considered digging her metaphorical nails into these dimwits' minds, a new voice announced its presence to the group. Frowning, Remy withdrew and backed further into the wall. The three towering teens were in the way, so she couldn't see the newcomer. She hoped, however, that he knew what he was doing. If it came to a fight, she wanted no part in it. It was difficult enough to mindwipe three people, though she doubted there was much in their brains to be wiped. A fourth person would be too complicated, and she couldn't risk having a complication in New Alexandria.

To her distaste, the buttface still had a strong grip on her arm, and she tried to shake him away. He only tightened the grip further. Meanwhile, the stranger was uselessly trying to reason with Donner and Blitzen. They were as belligerent as ever, and as Donner whirled upon his friend, Remy caught a glimpse of the one that had come to her aid.

Her eyes widened with equal shock, but she quickly lowered her gaze. There was definitely no way for her to try anything...not with him here. She wasn't sure if this was truly his city or not. Still, she was pleased to see a friend in this hellish place. It a shame that they were meeting under these circumstances though. Feigning the look of a worried child, Remy shook her head to show that she was unhurt.

But Donner had grown impatient, and he let go of Remy to shove at Kazuma. “Hey watch it!” She yelped on behalf of her friend, though she knew Kazuma was quite old and could take care of himself.

Emboldened by his previous action, Donner ignored Remy and advanced toward the older-looking vampire. “We were gonna take the kid's money,” he sneered at Kazuma before looking conspiratorially at his buddies. Tilting his neck from side, Donner cracked his knuckles emphatically. “But I think your stuff's better.”

“You've got to be kidding me. Didn't your mommas teach you better?” Remy muttered more to herself than to the trio, but it was enough to elicit a response from goon #3, who jabbed an angry finger at her direction.

“Shaddup, you runt!” Upperlip curled in a snarl, he hissed and bared canines that were unique to the therians. “You should run while we're still feeling nice.”

Oh, she could just scoff at the irony. Frowning, she crossed her arms and glanced at the other vampire. This was nice?

[Kazuma]

On the other end of the squabble, Blitzen was standing on the imaginary line separating staying and running away although if it hadn't been for the third goon Vixen, he would have probably turned to escape with his tail in-between his legs -- literally. Vixen had been glaring at him, see, while taking Donner's place beside the little girl in case the leader of their merry troop still wanted her lunch money or something.

Kazuma, however, was busy dusting his deep blue blazer of the Therian's fingertips and he looked up to the cocky man with a frown and a slitted gaze, clearly displeased. That blazer was fresh off ironing, didn't he know! “How terrible that you must confuse me, though, Mr. Donner,” he started with a curt tone. “As any man my stature would, I must commend you for your eyesight for having recognizing the good quality of the clothes I wear, however...should I really?” he took a calm step forward.

Donner clicked his tongue and the sound almost echoed as he stared bored at the ticked man's face. He himself took a step closer and even snorted through his nostrils as he tilted his chin up high and mighty. “You don't scare me, Intruder.”

“D, D, D, Donner--” Blitzen turned to his other friend in alarm, “Vixen! Let's go, let's just go!”

Vixen glared at Blitzen's lack of courage and loyalty. “What are you yapping about, Moron?”

“He...he...he...h, he's a v...he's a v-- v...v...!!”

Kazuma ignored that leg of the conversation. He only wrinkled his brows at Donner curiously as he lowered his basket to the ground and straightened up after. “I don't scare you? Why,” he chuckled slightly, “Why, you're no better than the Therian before you!”

“Theria-- what--” Donner was displeased by this. “How under Hel did you know I was a Therian? Do you really know who I am?”

“Must I?” Kazuma feigned some shock. “I simply have a knack of discovering Therians off the bat, see.” He looked away to glance at Remy, make sure she was safe, before he looked up to find Blitzen and gestured at the frozen man. “Your good friend seems to have a better grasp of things, however. I'd ask him if I were you.”

[Remy]

Hearing the stutters of the coltish Blitzen, Remy shifted her gaze away from Vixen and stared at Blitzen in surprise. Considering how oblivious the two other knuckleheads were, she hadn't expected Blitzen to catch that. It wasn't as if Kazuma walk walking around baring his fangs at anyone.

She had no clue how the vampire thing turned out in New Alexandria, but it seemed like things were likely to go bad. Blitzen and Vixen held very therian traits, and therians held a particular dislike--even hatred--for vampires. Cautiously, Remy glanced at Kazuma, for she wasn't sure if he'd take her actions kindly. He was still talking calmly to Donner, so Remy made her move. It was too risky to hypnotize Blitzen, so she pried his mind directly. With his anxiety, it was easy to locate the source of his worry and amplify it with a whispered thought. He's a vampire. Leave him alone...

Donner was greatly disconcerted at how confident this stranger presumed to be. As far as he knew, only another therian would be able to know what he was, so...his eyes grew wary as he realized this. If this busybody were really therian, then he and his friends were in deep taroch crap. The therians were very adamant about respect and elders, and this elder might be powerful enough to tear them to pieces. But nothing in this guy seemed therian at all.

With a warning glare at the dark-haired man, Donner saw that he was looking at Blitzen. What the Hel did his friend have to do with anything? “Blitzen! Do you know this guy?”

Blitzen jolted and shook his head fervently. “N-n-no way. But he's a-a-vampire!” Still shaking his head, he backed away from the group, desperately trying to ignore the glares that Vixen was sending his way. “Please, let's just go!”

Shaking her head as if she were surprised by all this, Remy stared with wide eyes at Kazuma. With a small “eep”, she bent her knees and sat on her heels, as if she were afraid of the big bad vampire.

As a finishing touch, she lightly pushed Blitzen into action. And with that, the kid bolted.

“taroch crap!” Vixen growled and looked from the fast-disappearing Blitzen to his fearless leader. Vampires were bad news, but he'd back Donner without hesitation.

[Kazuma]

Donner was gaping at the taller, older man before him who turned from watching Blitzen flee to facing him, looking knowingly. His color might have dropped a shade lighter and there was nothing that could come out of his mouth but a few uttered noises in spite of Vixen calling at him, “Donner! Donner, Donner!” Kazuma knew they weren't going to get anywhere if he just kept at it so he sighed through his nostrils and opened his mouth to speak--

A fist flew to the corner of his eye and in the next breath, a stunned Kazuma would be stepping back and leaning aside as a bigger right slapped itself around the Therian's hand and dragged it down to his side and Donner yelped when his arm was twisted uncomfortably. He was at an awkward position as he struggled to reclaim his fist but the vampire's grip was firm and steady.

When Vixen abandoned Remy in favor of delivering his own punch, Kazuma said to him boldly, “I would not do that if I were you.” It seemed as though his voice had come out in a notable blow, bounced among the walls that the Therian was dissuaded from his attack and stumbled back to Remy's side. Turning disapprovingly to the wincing Donner, he said to the young man's face, “Now see how doltish your overconfidence has made of you. Take the items of a vampire, will you? Not only do you disrespect me for your impudence, you put your mother and the rest of your brothers to shame, Therian. And to think they would have raised you to heed the clues of danger! Now this is how you act in front of me, boy? Why you do them a great deal of embarrassment. At this rate, it would not even take a vampire for you to lose your half-witted head!”

“Now you're just mocking me,” Donner hissed at the frowning vampire. “You say I'm brainless when you're even more brainless than me! That's all you ever are -- all of you! A gang of mindless bullies preying for the sake of gluttony--”

For the first time in ages, Kazuma bared his fangs on a stranger. He stretched his lips and opened his mouth wide so that his sharpened canines flashed before the eyes of the Therian who disappeared along with his fist, the vampire needing turn around just to see him and Vixen at the end of the alley. His gaze seethed at the glaring Therian, his friend tugging him back to move and when he wouldn't, the vampire took a step forward and commanded, “Walk away! Before I find your and your friend's mothers.” And if his voice was not enough to push them away, his threat had and they were soon gone, using Blitzen's disappearance to excuse their leave.

He snarled under his breath, but soon enough, everything would disappear in favor of concern as he turned and approached Remy's small figure, bending towards her to hold his right hand out to her. “Are you all right, Ms. Remy?” he asked softly.

[Remy]

With much satisfaction, Remy watched the youngest kid dash away. From what little she found in his mind, Blitzen was a decent kid who just had really stupid friends. It would have been a shame to involve him in a vampire fight--not that there would be one, of course. The Black Rose would forcefeed her own fangs to her.

A pained yelp drew her attention toward Donner, who was struggling to free his arm from Kazuma's grip. With a determined grimace, Vixen moved to help his friend, but hesitated when Kazuma warned him against it. Confidence deflating, Vixen almost slouched with shame under Kazuma's words.

Donner, however, only became more belligerent. His slander of the vampire nature made Remy want to render him senseless, but Kazuma beat her to it. She'd never seen the older vampire show that much emotion as he bared his fangs in a violent snarl. The expression he took was so intimidating--so deadly--that Remy was instantly reminded of just how feral a true vampire could be.

Breath caught in her throat, she watched as the two teens ran for the streets. They were scared out of their wits, and they deserved to be. As if he was ignoring the teens, Kazuma turned and walked toward Remy. Watching him, she wondered briefly if she should be worried about her presence in New Alexandria. But his expression showed nothing but concern for her, and she knew that she was fine.

She'd kept the scared child act so the boys wouldn't think that she was affiliated with the other vampire. But now that they were gone, she grinned widely and tilted her head upward. “Thank you, Mr. Kazuma, I'm okay. Hey, you really kicked butt!” That came out as a surprise, considering all his talk of peace and compromise from their last encounter. Uncurling her legs, she grabbed Kazuma's hand and pulled herself up. “Those spineless imbeciles,” she muttered as she patted the dirt off her behind, “there's a ferocious vampire here, and they leave a kid like me behind. Jerks.”

Quickly, she checked the pocket of her messenger bag to see if anything had fallen out. Then her smile took the expression of somebody up to no good, and she asked, “Hey, what would you have done to the kid and his friends' mothers, anyway?”

[Kazuma]

“Why, thank you,” Kazuma said pleasantly as he bowed to the rising Remy, seemingly having returned to his peace-loving nature. “It wasn't something I had been counting on with those stubborn boys but I had to make an exception this time around.”

He was pulling out his handkerchief from his coat pocket when Remy mentioned the Therians' lack of concern for an innocent little girl and he laughed, fangs and all, throwing his head back as he offered the white square of cloth to his friend. “If you had been anyone else, I would have severely restrained myself from threatening them like that. Alas you weren't and,” he made sure he looked her in the eyes as he said, “You're quite the actress if I should say so myself, Ms. Remy. Fantastic of you to put up a play with me, it was most appreciated.”

“Hey, what would you have done to the kid and his friends' mothers, anyway?” she asked him after.

“Ah, well,” Kazuma straightened up a little as he glanced behind him to where the boys took off. “I had it in mind to have a word with them about their sons' most unfortunate manners. They should only be concerned, after all.” He looked back to Remy. “However, I don't think I'll actually do that,” he chuckled. “I really just meant to scare them away although perhaps, that would not have been possible if that other Therian had not runaway...”

[Remy]

“Hey, so you don't care about manners when it's just me?” She spoke with an air of bewilderment, except her eyes were still glittering with amusement. After a moment, she laughed and accepted the handkerchief from Kazuma with a chirp of thanks. “Okay fine. You are too generous, Mr. Kazuma, and thank you for your splendid performance.” They had matched each other's acting quite well, she thought. It reminded her of the days when she and Sidney used to con people. Shaking the handkerchief loose, Remy used it to pat the cream puff from her dress. Some of it had smudged over the fabric when the bullies bumped into her.

As Kazuma explained what he would have reported about the teens, Remy nodded in agreement, as if she had played no part in Blitzen's cowardice. “Yeah, you really scared that first kid away. He was even stuttering! But then again, you nearly had me fooled into thinking that you'd really attack those kids, with your fangs bared and all.”

“There was this kid in school, and I used to shove mud into his face whenever he was being an asshole. His mom would tattle to my mom, and I'd get tons of crap for it. If their moms were half as fierce and scary as my mom, I'd totally love to see you talk with them.” She rocked back and forth on her heels in excitement, although she knew that Kazuma would never dream of doing such a thing.

“Anyway, you really saved my butt back there, so thanks again.” If he hadn't shown up when he did, Remy would have had to go through so much trouble to cover up her tracks. With an impish grin, she continued, “For some reason, I don't think my words were getting through to them.” Quickly, she folded the handkerchief bank into a square and held it toward the older vampire, unsure what to do with it. Nobody had ever taught her the proper etiquette with these sort of things, so she asked bluntly, “Do I give this back to you? Or can I wash it first?”

[Kazuma]

If Kazuma would be honest, he would admit that now, the thought of baring has fangs actually embarrass him so he decided to just keep mum about it when Remy mentioned it.

“If their mothers were even just half of yours, I should imagine that they would not be as ill-mannered as they are,” Kazuma said. “Anyhow, about that,” he did a graceful shoo-ing motion with both his hands to Remy's direction, a small smile on his face, “you may do whatever you wish with it.” It wasn't his only white handkerchief, after all.

“I'm glad I came in time, then,” he said as he started back to his basket of goods and picked it up. “I was on my way back from the market when I saw this old lady peering in, see, and I thought I might see it for myself. Perhaps a guardian angel pulled me in, don't you think?” he smiled more brightly as he said this. Not that he believed in one but sometimes, it was a nice thought to think about and anyway, he did know of people who believed in them.

“I wish your visit to the city had been more pleasant, however. Beyond these rowdy Therians, it's actually not so bad. Anyhow,” spreading his arms a little, he said, “Welcome to New Alexandria, Ms. Remy.” He wouldn't have dreamt of saying that to her the way he did during his first interview with her.

[Remy]

Score! She got a new handkerchief. Though honest to Xanth, Remy had not-a-clue what she'd do with it. But she nodded in thanks and pocketed the thing in her right jacket pocket. As she did so, she paused momentarily at his comment about guardian angels. It was an uncommon term. But oh--back in Earth, there were plenty of people who threw that term around. With that realization, she fought the urge to chuckle. She knew the distinction between guardian angels and anyeli, but it was still funny to imagine an anyeli doing the same work as a guardian angel. It just wasn't in the anyeli nature.

“Now there's a thought. I wonder what I've done to warrant the attraction of a guardian.” Holy crap, she'd be really worried if she had one. It was creepy to imagine something watching over her. Not that she believed in those guardians, of course, but other people did. 'Guardian angels'...Remy looked thoughtfully toward the older vampire. Has he been to Earth? Something to ask about in the future. Right now, she had to figure out what to do! No dilly dallying.

“Don't worry, Mr. Kazuma, I enjoyed the market a bit before I met those boys. So my trip wasn't entirely ruined,” she nodded cheerily. Besides, Remy had expected some hostility, but just not from some therian kids. “I'm happy to be here, I think. The city's so big and there are so many more stores and stuff! I'd check them out but I'd totally get lost.” Briefly, she glanced toward the main street and wondered if she'd be able to find the portal. She really wanted to chat longer with Kazuma, but she was also getting antsy. Other than Earth, she's never really been outside of Espur, and her brief visits to New Alexandria have never ended well.

[Kazuma]

“With your permission, I might be of some help,” Kazuma suggested to his little friend with a smile on his face as he returned to her and offered her his free left hand. Now, he didn't know what her real age was yet but she did mention getting lost in the body of a child so it was the first action that came to his mind. He just hoped it wouldn't be taken as something bad...

“I can think of perhaps a place or two you might be interested in,” he went on to say, “ A bookstore and a boutique but I'm pretty sure there should be many others. For now, though, would you be interested with a new dress and a new snack? That stain looks absolutely dreadful on you.” Although it was only dreadful because he couldn't help but look at the tainted patch on her and grimace...internally. It was just such a tragic sight to see.

[Remy]

She glanced briefly at the hand that was offered to her before she raised her own over it. Lightly slapping at the open palm, she chuckled before stuffing her hands into her pockets. For an instant, she'd nearly taken the hand like a child would. How silly. “Permission granted! I would love to tour the city with you!” Truly, she still felt iffy about prolonging her stay in New Alexandria, but Kazuma said he'd show her around, so that counted for something, right? Now she wouldn't get lost.

Remy was already walking slightly ahead of Kazuma in order to get back to the main streets. “You're definitely right. Hellhounds, this thing is ruined, and I look like a slob.” She wrinkled her nose as she examined the mess on her sleeve. Seemed like her attempts to clean it had only made it worse. “Let's go shopping then! You can be my stylist for the day!” But crap...could she afford the stuff he wore? She still remembered the fancy aristocratic jacket from their first meeting, and here she was wearing a plain black jacket over a simple purple sundress. “Maybe the Quadrangle too if we have time? I hear they've got a really pretty Xanth statue.”

“Are you sure you have time though?” As she walked, she remembered that Kazuma was a busy person who had many matters to attend to. That had been her first impression of him when she followed him around in Espur.

[Kazuma]

Time. Again. Kazuma almost laughed at this but he was outside the alley now and really, the joke could get old.

“But of course,” he assured Remy with a deep nod as he caught up beside her, keeping her to his right so that she wouldn't have to smell his basket of goods. “In fact, I even managed to spend a little of my day in the market. Which reminds me -- we must drop by my house for these.” He gave a little sigh at this. Oh how inconvenient!

But perhaps she wouldn't mind?

Glancing down at Remy beside him, he asked her gently, “Ms. Remy, may I be a bother and ask for a detour to my residence? I will just need to put this down and we can be on our way for your dress and Xanth's statue. And souvenirs and snacks if you should so please. It won't even take a while.”

[Remy]

“Of course! I can wait for my souvenirs and snacks, I'm not that hungry. Anyway I don't think it would be fun at all to walk around the city with that stuff. Especially in a clothes store. They'd stare daggers at you, wouldn't they?” She waved her arm vaguely toward the basket of stuff, not really paying attention to it. It was just groceries afterall.

Kazuma was already doing her a favor by showing her the city. If anybody was being a bother, it was Remy, so she didn't care that they were making a stop by his house. Still, she was curious enough to ask about it. “So your place is pretty close by! Do you keep pets? Or have roommates? I bet it's all neat and fancy-decorated, isn't it?”

At one point during her chain of questions, she realized that he had a house here, in New Alexandria. That meant that he was from here! Or maybe he was simply filthy rich and had houses everywhere that he regularly stocked food in...

...Whatever. Now was not the proper time to confirm her assumptions. Nevertheless, Remy couldn't help but quirk her lips in a secret smile. From her last meeting with Kazuma, her biggest impression of him (other than his fancy clothing) was how dodgy he was to say where he came from. Now she knew! Or thought she did. It was a happy feeling, like she just won something.

[Kazuma]

“Ahhh not by much yet,” Kazuma said honestly, glancing down at his friend. “I had just recently moved in, see? And have not spent as much time setting it up just yet but I hope to have it fully furnished before the next month ends.” Because that was a very generous time. “When I do get it prim and proper, however, perhaps you should come and visit me. Won't you join me in my housewarming party, Ms. Remy?”

His house, however, was not what Remy had guessed. As it was propped up conveniently in one of the wealthier suburbs of the east bank, they'd had to cross the bridge over the River Cora and then locate it in the almost labyrinthine landscape of the the New Alexandrian residential area. Often, when he had no time to waste, Kazuma hired a coach but on his days off, he liked to walk around the city and watch life go by him -- very much like the old man he was. Sometimes, he even made off with one, two new pieces of luxury that would amuse him. Remy's presence made some difference, however -- as she was new to the city, he thought she might enjoy to take the time to look around but he made sure to put her comfort at his priority, making sure to offer her a coach should she find the need for one. For the rest of the trip, though, Kazuma made sure to decorate it with stories -- there was no time for a lot of them but he did manage to tell her of his plans for his house, the furniture he'd like, the wood, the stone...as if he actually knew what he was talking about when he was just pretty much repeating what he'd read from that real estate magazine he bought once.

Eventually, anyhow, they did arrive to his doorstep -- mid-story -- and Kazuma had began to abandon Remy in favor of unlocking his door when lo and behold, just in front of it was a rather stout woman...or really more petite than anything. She was perhaps a good inch shorter than the male vampire's shoulders but she definitely knew how to display her curves well. The woman had blonde-reddish hair and on a burgundy office attire from Earth.

She was also a friend of Kazuma. “Vera,” he greeted with some shock. When Vera turned around to regard him with raised brows and her arms crossed over her chest, he continued to say, “I'm surprised you're actually here in Elysia.”

Vera shrugged at him sharply by her shoulders. “And where else should I be?” she asked him as she approached, heels clicking. “You, on the other hand--” she might have said something that presented Kazuma in a lesser light until she saw the new face just close to Kazuma and she regarded the girl with a round stare. “A child?” she asked, unshy, arms still crossed.

“Hardly,” Kazuma laughed and gestured for Remy to step beside him. “If Ms. Remy were still a child, she'd be quite the intelligent one, I assure you. Ms. Remy, I'd like for you to meet my friend Vera Mukhina.”

Vera gave her a shallow nod. “Pleasure to meet, little lady.”

OOC: Hope it's okay I threw her in! Also, you decide whether they took the coach or not.

[Remy]

Contrary to Kazuma's promises, it did take a while to reach his home. However, it was partially Remy's fault, for she chose to walk instead of taking the coach. Afterall, the weather was pleasant and they both had enough time to spare. So she listened to his housing plans and simply nodded as her imagination supplied the home that Kazuma described. All the while, she looked around at the New Alexandrian landscape. When they crossed the Cora, she made sure to peer over the side of the bridge and admire the scenery (secretly, she thought that River Espira was prettier).

After walking through a maze of streets and houses, Kazuma finally indicated that they were close to his house, and they walked up the pathway of a modest-sized building. Seeing the woman at the door, Remy immediately wondered if the woman was a housemate, since he hadn't revealed anything about that. But he seemed just as shocked as Remy was.

Stepping to Kazuma's side, Remy looked curiously at Vera. The woman was definitely well-endowed, dressed just as neatly as Kazuma, and held an air of authority. Remy wondered about the woman's relationship to Kazuma. As she tucked her hands into the pockets of her cardigan, Remy nodded slightly toward the older woman. “Nice to meet you as well. I'd ask if you were a relative, but...” she glanced slyly toward Kazuma, “I don't think you two look alike at all.”

((zOMG it's Vera! What an honor. >w< ))

[Kazuma]

If Kazuma had been with a different company, he would not have been so vulgar with his actions but as no one was around save for these two fine ladies, he let out a laugh -- a big laugh that showcased the sharpness of his fangs. Anyhow, he couldn't help it -- him and Vera as relatives? It was simply too hilarious to pass up.

For the sake of appearances, Vera followed along, however. Hers was a laugh a little more controlled and refined although just as bold (but minus the fangs). After sharing a cheer with her good friend, however, one can say that she was ready to send Kazuma to the moon with her 3-inch heels. “Not quite. We're simply good friends.”

“That's true,” Kazuma said in agreement, chuckling from his bout of amusement before he finally got it in him to unlock his door. “Anyhow, let's talk inside where there are chairs and wine.”

Vera allowed her friend to open the entrance for both of them, showing them a little of his living room as he pushed the door open but she stayed beside Remy while he was busy. “I'm surprised that Kazu has found a friend in you. I hope you didn't find him too odd.”

Kazuma invited them in and entered ahead of them. Vera began to walk.

[Remy]

Hearing their laughter, Remy found herself grinning with them as well. Out of curiousity, she glanced discreetly toward Vera for a hint of fangs. While the older woman could just as well be human, therian, or nymph, Remy just couldn't imagine her being anything else but a vampire. But Vera's laughter was conservative, and seeing nothing, Remy simply smiled slightly and looked toward the door. Compared to some other vampires, it was a pity that her sense of smell was crap.

With a click, the door opened and Kazuma invited them into the house. She peered inside and murmured to the man, “Well, you weren't kidding when you said you just moved in.” Comparing Kazuma's furniture plans to what she saw now, the interior looked quite simplistic. Like he said, he still had a lot of moving in to do.

“I'm surprised that Kazu has found a friend in you. I hope you didn't find him too odd.”

Hearing Vera, Remy started to giggle at the older woman's implication. If Kazuma was weird, it was only due to his overly polite behavior. Or perhaps she just didn't know him well enough, since they'd only met twice. “Not at all, though I'm a horrible judge of oddities. Maybe we're friends because we're both so odd.” And then with a conspiratorial smile to Vera, “Or maybe I just don't know him well enough. Do tell, how is he odd?”

((Wasn't sure how to describe the interior design...lemme know if I should change it? ^__^
Also, I have a handful of midterms and papers due in the next two week, so my posting's gonna lag. Sorry. D:))

[Kazuma]

“How odd, hmm...” Vera made a show of actually thinking about his oddness even if it was clear that she already knew how to back her answer. “Well, I wouldn't say he's too odd to the point of madness but quite unique still in this day and age...I'll give him a 7 in a scale of 10.” She smiled pleasantly to the girl beside her. “I'm sure you'll find out the rest about him yourself. He seems fond of you.”

The house was spacious, theme in cream, peach, brown, black and white. The lounge set, which was what welcomed them, had two double couches facing each other and a bigger, more royal single seat -- much like a wealthy man's throne -- parted them in the middle and faced a low, rectangular coffee table made of mahogany, burgundy and polished brilliantly. Clearly the seat was Kazuma's to occupy. They were covered in a pale yellow-ish cloth with floral vines embroidered all throughout. The stairs were to the left of the lounge and diagonal from it was the quaint dining area and behind it the kitchen. Sounds from the last room betrayed the host's presence.

“Please have a seat! I shall be with you in a few,” he called from the kitchen.

“It won't take him long,” the older vampiress said to the younger one. Vera seemed to know her way around the new place, however. She gestured for Remy to join her in the lounge although gestured for the girl to take the couch farthest from the door while she took the one closest to it. She fell back to a comfortable sit, crossed her legs and said to the little girl, “Well! Let's have some women-chatting while the man is out of the room, shall we? How did you two meet, again?”