Nightly Lessons Book I: The Book of Beginnings

[Peeker]

It was all Aleksandr could do to stand up.

With a deep breath, a burst of magic flowed forth from him... his final one for the night, thankfully.... and the exhausted man turned to his glass of blood, refilling and draining it in one motion.

"....enough, old man...." He scolded himself, bending down to pick up Alice. The teenager found herself leaned atop his shoulder, like one would put a napping child, and Alek carefully brought her back upstairs... tucked her in... and let her sleep.

No words. To speak, to think, would make falling asleep far more difficult.

...and it had been a hard night already. Very hard.

God, he loved that girl.


Aleksandr's room was quiet. He'd lived here for centuries, and it was rare that it felt so... still... so... empty.

The moon was hidden behind clouds. There was nothing here but darkness.

Tugged by something he really didn't know how to describe - an impulse, a childish urge - Aleksandr knelt down by his bed, and cradled his head in his hands.

"...oh...." The sound was soft. The sound was exhausted.

There is so much I don't know anymore....

How old he was... his wife's name... his little girl's laughter...

...whether or not his God still heard him, now that he was nosferatu.

...whether he'd ever see them again. Any of them.

"...oh.... oh God... that... that beautiful girl. ...why... why did he have to do it? Why, Valentine?"

A silent vigil eventually fell into fitful dreams, as the exhausted man surrendered to sleep, and stopped his fearful prayers in exchange for a warm bed, and silence.

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

In London, the young and currently sleeping Janus Bell found himself suddenly licked by a long, wet, and foul smelling tongue that belonged to Lucy. The bitch stood over the sleeping form of the fifteen-year-old, her tail wagging happily as he sputtered and whipped off her drool from her good morning kiss.

"Ahh... I see you're awake," Mikeal had stood leaning against the doorway, the lap top in hand for Janus to have back. "Glad to see you're up. We have a busy day today. After a your history and Latin lessons we have to go down to Lupus and get you a new suit for the Blood Festival. Come on now, breakfast is waiting for you."

[Peeker]

The boy's groan was long and rather zombie-like: it carried him right out of bed (after pushing Lucy), past Mikeal (and his laptop) and into the bathroom.

The shower went on, and the boy vanished under the hot current until dog spit AND sleepiness were vanquished.

....Janus had been taken out by his father for a suit once before, and remembered what a pain it was... so he figured he'd might as well prepare the same way he had then, so he wouldn't have to fuss about it later... black dress socks, jeans, an undershirt, and a long-sleeved button-up, since he'd need that kind of 'base' on top for the suit to fit over.

Then he plugged his laptop back into the charger, and went to breakfast.

"...g'morning Mikeal... sorry about not saying hi before... Lucy... was sort of.... being Lucy." He yawned again. "I guess I didn't get enough sleep last night... whenever Bruja did something like that, I always laughed..."

He petted Lucy's ears, not wanting her to think he was angry at her. The dog's tail wagged. Good. They were still friends.

Janus grinned.

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

Mikeal merely shook his head and smiled. He understood perfectly that Janus was having a hard morning start. He hadn't been happy the first few times Caboose and Lucy had awoken him in the same way. He placed a plate of waffles in front of Janus and sat down, pointing towards the pups.

"Lu, go on," He commanded and smiled at Janus. "Sit down Janus. Now about the suit. I'm afraid tradition calls for old fashioned dress codes. It's to help the elders feel that the world isn't leaving them behind."

[Peeker]

The boy nodded as Lucy left his side. "I lived with Razziel... I'm pretty used to it." He smirked, and dug into his waffles. "...that's gotta be the one good thing about having been there - almost nothing you can ask me to do is that bad... I've probably done it already... with a sore ass!"

The boy blinked, and covered his mouth. "Oh! Jeez.... um... sorry, Mikeal! It.. it slipped." He winced. "...please... I ...I won't do it again-" He looked at the waffles longingly. "...these are really good! Please don't make me change the taste?"

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

Mikeal scowled a little but allowed it to pass. It was too early in the morning to be crossed with Janus and knowing Lupus, it was going to be trying.

Lupus Fairbrook was Lady Lucy's counter part. Where she favored in the tailoring of young ladies and rich mortals interests, Lupus tailored the finest suits known in the world. to vampires. Unlike Lucy though, Lupus was... famboyent in nature and offer nik picked at fledglings the first time around. Like most of the vampires, he knew of the young Harker and Bell, famous as they were. He would most likely be gitty like a school boy when they would arrive.

"It's alright, but don't do it again," Mikeal warned and set about eating his own meal. "I don't want any slip ups when we go to Lupus. He's a bit... different."

Different was putting it lightly.

[Peeker]

"I won't. Thank you, S-sire... er.. Mikeal.." The boy paled, and straightened in his chair, continuing to eat his waffles.

"....different?" He blinked up at the man, before raising his blood to his lips. "...what do you mean?" He used his napkin, and went back to his waffles.

Mmm. Waffles.

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

Mikeal mussed over his words, thinking about how to best explain Lupus without worrying the boy. He figured it was best to let him learn on his own.

"You'll see. For now, worry about your history lesson. I can't imagine Razziel giving you too much peace on it when he gets here so you'd best memories it. Otherwise he'll be wanting both our heads."

[Peeker]

"Okay... you say so." The boy finished his waffles, and brought his plate to the sink, rinsing off his fingers and drying them before heading across the flat to get his history books.

"Hey Mikeal?!" The boy called across the apartment, hands full of the day's work. "...when is Razziel coming again? ...and why would he want me to know this stuff?"

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

Mikeal sipped his tea calmly, enjoying the wonderous aroma of the Earl Grey in his cup. He knew the visit of his past Sire would be less then pleasent, and with Mathew would probably calm along as well. Honestly, Mikeal would rather repeat his first two years as a fledgling then have that man in his home. Even if he was being educated and reliving his fledgling years, Rouges were infamous in the civil courts. They were a discrase and like any parent or protective older brother, Mikeal didn't want Janus spending any time around him.

'A sense of first time jitters for the fledglings will be nothing compaired to the isolation Seth will feel come the Festival,' Mikeal thought bitterly before looking towards Janus. "Some time during this week. He's... not good at annoucing he's arrivals with family. As for the history. It is because it is now your history was well."