Form and Perspective (Astrid)

[Alexandrea]

Looking out the windows of the DQFA, the fine arts gallery and studio that she shared ownership of with Monique, Alexandrea Quartermaine smiled. It was only a view of a part of the park behind West University, with the woods behind, but it was tranquil and relaxing. Sure a view of the town’s modest skyline or the main river with all it’s hustle and bustle might be more inspiring for a young student’s imagination, but when Alex was teaching a class she preferred less stimulation as a distraction.

The one pipe that the repair crew had never quite gotten repaired correctly after the earthquake still leaked, and the Allurist sent off an email in her mind right then and there to maintenance. But thankfully, thanks to the large Bamboo plant the blonde had placed under the water, no one ever noticed. And the southern exposure was doing great things for the plant. It was much more healthy here at work than it ever had been at home. Not that most plants would do well living in a Mausoleum.

Sure, she had the right lamps and thanks to hydroponics, she had a nice little ‘garden’ going next to her panic room. But just some flowers were one thing. The plant in question had gotten too tall and had too many offshoots to do well in a small space with artificial lighting. So it was a ‘win-win’. Until the University was able to repair basic plumbing (and even afterwards as it would end up) Mr. Bamboo Plant was going to live at the West University.

A part of Alex was still displeased about the shoddy repair job however, and she chewed her bottom list in frustration. Even if she did break down and call Odin for his help AND he had the time to step in and do the job right? Chances were he couldn’t help anyway due to some silly rules the University was likely to have about who was allowed to maintain school property.

She shook her head to clear it as she gave the plant an extra drink. The slow but steady drip drip drip from the pipe wasn’t enough water to help keep the Bamboo growing. And speaking of growing. Alex would have been long gone by now, the last class had ended almost 10 minutes ago. But she had asked tonight’s model to stop by after she was ready for the night to leave to discuss more employment opportunities.

Astrid had caught the vampire’s eye. She was smart and had a good head on her shoulders. Plus she was at her ‘peak’, the Allurist could tell. That young human was in great shape and her mind was bright. She was sharp and eager to learn. But even more importantly? Astrid was seeing a Paladin that seemed to be extremely fond of her… and that hated vampires. She had caught the young human’s eyes when he had seen Alexandrea in the halls once, and the gaze the male had given the blonde was clearly that of a Vampire Hater.

And although the job offer that Alex would make the human female was sincere, it would allow also afford Alexandrea the opportunity to further evaluate Astrid. However the blonde was already planning the justifications for turning the human in her head. Now it was just a matter of time. The Allurist kept herself busy making the classroom tidy as she awaited the young redhead’s arrival.

[Astrid (DELETED 6933)]

Thank goodness for Kailen, if it were not for him, she would have been eating nothing but Ramen noodles most nights. At least one of them had a steady income coming in to their apartment. Well, really it was his apartment. She just sort of slowly became a permanent fixture. After a few months of dating, he had given her a drawer to keep a few things there. After four months, a place on his bathroom counter for her toothbrush and other personal items. It went from those few things, to her having half the side of the closet and the full time of being there.

Some had said that they moved too fast with their relationship and that they should have waited for at least a year. They proved them wrong, it had been two years since they had met at the coffee shop.

The opinions of others didn’t matter to either of them, they were in love. Their relationship was so easy and uncomplicated. They never had fights and they were each other’s best friend. There wasn’t anything that Astrid couldn’t say to Kailen. If she was having a bad day, she could walk into the apartment and he would know without her having to say anything. On those days, he would insist on her taking a bath while he got dinner prepared. Often times he would show up in the bathroom with a glass of red wine.

Yes, they had the type of relationship that most thought only existed in movies or books. She knew she was lucky and she wouldn’t do anything to mess it up.

Even though she knew she could count on Kailen to keep the pantry full, Astrid still felt as though she needed to contribute, as well. So when she could, between classes, she would pick up odd jobs and do what she had available to her to get money. One of those things was selling her blood at the blood bank. Her’s was the type that they always wanted, 0+, the universal of blood types.

Since it had only been a couple of days that she had been to the blood bank, Astrid wouldn’t be able to return there for at least a week. So, she was thankful for when she was approached in the art hall of West University, where she attended. The person that approached her had introduced herself as Alexandrea. She was the professor of art there at the University. She had offered Astrid a chance to be a model for an art class; they were learning about the human form.

She had heard about such things and had even seen movies where they had a naked woman posing for the class to draw her form. Her cheeks warmed a bit as she blushed, thinking of being naked in front of so many strangers. It’s for art, Astrid, she thought to herself. Besides, she could use the money.

As Astrid stood in the center of the room, she did her best to hold still. She knew that it was important not to move while the students drew her. Thankful that she wasn’t asked to stand in some awkward position, Astrid was already starting to get tired. She had only twenty minutes left of standing there. It hadn’t been as bad as she thought it would have been. There were about fifteen students and each of them were positioned behind an easel and a canvas. They would look around their canvases and glance at Astrid as she stood there.

The first moment she had dropped the robe that had been provided to her, she was a bit embarrassed and felt very shy. She had to keep telling herself that they weren’t painting her for some pornographic scene, but that this was for the study of human form, just as it was written on the syllabus. After a while, she had almost forgotten that she was naked and the awkwardness seemed to disappear, a little.

Not only was Astrid thankful for the easy position, but she was thankful that Alexandrea had thought to keep the room a little warmer than usual. If she hadn’t have done that, Astrid knew she would have been cold.

After the twenty minutes finally ticked away on the face of the clock that hung on the wall over the door, Astrid let out a soft sigh. The pretty blonde professor told everyone it was time for them to start packing up their things. Relaxing a bit, Astrid walked over to the desk that held the robe that she had been previously wearing. She slipped into it and tied the ties around her slight waist. As she started to turn to head back to the restroom in the hallway, in which she had undressed, she was stopped by Alexandrea. She was asked to come back to the classroom after she finished dressing. She needed to pay her, but she also wanted to ask her a question. Astrid agreed.


Once she was finished tying her sneakers, she took one last look in the mirror. Her hair was neatly pulled back in a ponytail and her white button up was tucked into her jeans. Her style was more of a casual type. She much preferred comfort over fashion.

After getting dressed, she made her way from the restroom and headed back for the art room. Wondering what it was that the woman wanted to ask her, she thought maybe she was going to ask her to model for her again, which she knew she would be okay with. The money was good and it wasn’t as hard as she had originally thought it would be. Maybe she wasn’t as modest as she thought of herself being.

Opening the door, she peeked her head around spotting Alexandrea. “Hello.” She spoke up, announcing her admittance into the room.

[Alexandrea]

Setting down the book that she had been looking at, ‘He's Just Not That Into You’; Alexandrea looked up when Astrid came in. With a warm smile she gave the pretty redhead a friendly nod.

“Thank you for taking the time and stopping by, Astrid. I can appreciate how busy a young woman like yourself can be. I’ll try to not waste too much of your time getting to the point and came right out and ask you if you would consider a full time job. And I don’t mean modeling. I need someone smart to work in the office at my retail location.”

Alex pulled out a chair from behind her deck, which was loaded up with half finished projects, one of her cats looked up at her and yawned. The blonde just pushed the chair back and returned to leaning casually against one of the desk's front corners. She had forgot Penny had beaten her to the seat.

“There would be future modeling jobs as well, I always need people who don’t mind sitting still. You wouldn’t always need to be naked either; but for the study this class is doing right now, it was necessary. I’d be very grateful if you sit nude for them at least once more. But not until later on during the semester. I want them to work from memory and then compare how they saw you in their mind’s eye with how they see you with their… human ones.”

The pause before Alex said the word ‘human’ was intentional and she watched the human female’s eyes closely even as Alexandrea continued to speak. “I looked you up on the computer, I admit. And I need someone smart… who is also pleasing to the eyes.”

The blonde gave Astrid a small wink before she explained; “The job might call you to greet some clients on occasion and if you can help with sales that would rock. Looking good is never a bad thing when you want people to buy something from you. So before I talk your ears off, what do you think so far? Are you interested in making more money?”

“And, oh… that reminds me. Here’s you check for tonight’s class. If you don’t have a bank account… and for heaven's sake why don’t you if you don’t… you can also cash it in at my store at the mall.”

Picking back up the book, she opened it up to the place holder. Inside the book was also a check, which Alexandrea handed out to Astrid with a grin. It was almost double what the young human would be expecting, which was typical of the generous Allurist.

[Astrid (DELETED 6933)]

The affirming nod was all that was needed to serve as an invitation for Astrid to make her way fully into the emptied classroom. The cheerful blonde, Alexandrea, efficient as well as friendly, went straight to the point and started right off into the pitch of a fulltime job opening. Not having expected such, the surprise of it wasn’t lost, when going by the look on the young student’s face. Her smile only served as a small cover up as she rocked nervously forward onto her toes and then back again to her heels.

Astrid licked her lips in readiness to speak, when she witnessed the act of Alexandrea giving up her seat to a cat. She watched the Professor of art pull a chair from behind a cluttered desk, only to find it was already occupied by a sleepy and unyielding ball of fur. The student couldn’t help but find that to be an endearing quality of the woman

Was she for real? Did she really mean to help her in such a way. There was no denying, especially after an inspection of her bank deposit slip, that Astrid was definitely in need of a job. When Alexandrea gave more detail of what the job would entail, the question was no longer there; she was indeed offering her a job.

The things she needed for her to do seemed easy enough, though, when she mentioned the part of Astrid being “pleasing to the eyes,” she couldn’t hide the blush that had risen to the alabaster surface of her cheeks. That wasn’t how she saw herself. If the truth be known, she had a lower opinion of her looks. That might have been the direct result of the childhood bullying she had received, due to the red hair that hung around her shoulders. Either way, she was definitely up for the challenge of the job.

Just as Astrid was about to accept, the mention of her pay for that night’s work (if you would call that) pulled her attention away from that for the moment. It seems that money had a way of doing such things. Her eyes followed the blonde as she reached for a book. The title He's Just Not That Into you was noticed and tucked away into Astrid’s memory. Indeed, this Professor was an interesting person. Again, Astrid started to speak to answer at least one of the many questions that had been posed to her, when once again, her words were stolen away as her eyes settled on the number that had been written down on the check. It was definitely wasn't the amount that she would have figured she would be getting. Her blue eyes flickered and she looked back up at Alex.

“Excuse me. “ Her voice was a bit lower then usual. “I think there is a mistake.” The young redhead looked up, holding out her check. “This can’t be what you meant to pay me.” As much as Astrid wanted to run it to the bank, she knew that she had to do the right thing, and point out the obvious.

[Alexandrea]

Alexandrea blinked in surprise. Was the young woman complaining that the amount on the check wasn't enough?? Penny distracted the Allurist just then by sneak attacking the laces of her boots, a new pair of Gipsey Dharma's. The blonde hadn't even noticed the small cat until it was clinging to her foot with all claws.

The offending foot, complete with it's unwelcome rider, lifted up in the air at an angle that most humans couldn't do and the blonde locked eyes with the feline. A silent battle of will played between the two until the vampire lowered her leg and the cat jumped lightly off and began washing her paw as if nothing had happened.

More focused after winning the staring contest, Alex chuckled and shook her head. Blonde hair falling into her eye as she grinned at Astrid. "Penny knows her place. Mainly. She just needs to be reminded." The fact that the Allurist had a gift with animals was something she took for granted.

"Now about your pay, Astrid. Just exactly how what were you expecting?"

A slim eyebrow was slightly raised as Alexandrea awaited the young redhead's response. Perhaps it was a misunderstanding and the young human felt overpaid, not under. And if that was the case, then Alexandrea knew she had picked the right girl. If not the human was greedy and thought the pay should be higher than the already generous amount? Alex would know she misjudged the young woman and wouldn't continue to 'groom' her for turning.

[Astrid (DELETED 6933)]

The young student's smile was concealed by the back of her hand. The scene of the blonde's boot being attacked by the cat had caused her to giggle, a little. Though her light amusement quickly turned to being impressed, as she watched the skillful and quick movement of Alexandrea; she had the cat eye to eye, balanced on her leg.

After a what seemed to be a staring contest, Astrid watched the woman lower the cat down just as easily as she had lifted her up. There seemed to be some type of understanding between the feline and its owner. The curve of Astrid's brow and the tilt of her head, gave away the slight perplexity she felt over what she had just witnessed.

Her puzzlement didn't last long though, for when the blonde turned her attention back toward the student, she cut right to it and asked the girl what it was she had expected, in regards to her pay.

Astrid's eyes rounded and she shook her head slightly. Her front teeth dragged over her bottom lip, before she answered. "I. It's just that...Well, Ma'am. I think you paid me too much." As she spoke, she cleared the distance between the two and pointed at the numbers printed on the check. "See. This really can't be right. But in regards to the job offer and future modeling..." Her blue eyes lifted from the check and into the woman's pretty face. "It would be a life saver, of sorts. I definitely accept." The young student had already accepted the job, the moment the offer had left the lips of Alexandrea. She didn't even consider that maybe she should have asked how much the job would pay.

[Alexandrea]

For a long moment Alexandrea just grinned at Astrid and thought about how much she really did like the young woman.

Alex looked at being a vampire as a gift and the side effect of striking a blow against a hater of her own kind was just a bonus. The Allurist had lots of human friends and a even a few that were Paladins but they all knew what she was and accepted her.

Not all Paladins were haters. But the look that Astrid's boyfriend had given Alexandrea in the hall that one day was plain as a pineapple in the middle of a bowl full of tomatoes.

But what had started on a whim to get a hold over on one of the threats to her own kind had changed the more that Alex grew to know and like Astrid. The blonde really did think highly of her and wanted to give to her what to the Allurist was the best of all gifts. Immortality and eternal youth. Astrid would be a great Vampire, Alexandrea was even more sure of it after the young woman's lack of greed.

"No, that's the exactly right amount." The blonde said gently as she peeked at the check following the direction of the young woman's finger. "Perhaps you underestimate just how much you really are worth."

Alex laughed softly, a kind laughter that was warm and full of lightheartedness. "I'm so glad you accept my offer, Astrid. I see great potential in you and I hope we'll become good friends."

Penny had been dancing in figure eights around Alexandrea's ankles for the last couple of minutes but as Alex reached out a hand towards Astrid, offering a handshake, the young cat changed directions to start winding around the redhead's feet.

"Oh, I hope you don't mind cats..." The blonde asked belatedly, as the feline reached up a paw to tap on Astrid's leg and try and get some attention.

[Astrid (DELETED 6933)]

Thank goodness for the smile that dressed Alexandrea's lips, otherwise the long pause would have caused her skin to itch with worry. As the moment seemed to strech, Astrid remained steadfast and held her position, holding up the check for the blonde to see. Then the silence was broken as Alexandrea settled the question by letting her know that the amount was indeed correct.

The muscles in Astrid's cheeks lifted, stretching the pink flesh of her lips across her face, forming a smile. She was pleasantly surprised by the answer and that which followed behind it; Alexandrea had suggested the possibility that Astrid may have underestimated her worth. This caused the redhead's shoulders to push back slightly and her spine to straighten in pride. The confidence that Alexandrea had in her was felt in the compliments.

Before she could tell the blonde that she hoped that they became good friends too, the woman had extended her hand toward her to shake. As Astrid's long slender fingers curled around the other woman's hand, Alexandrea's cat started to coil through and around her feet, rubbing it's lithe body against her ankles and shins. She looked down and couldn't help but smile. As the cat stretched upward, tapping it's furry paw against her leg, Astrid leaned down and stroked down the back of the feline.

"I don't mind them at all. In fact my boyfriend and I have one of our own, though we hadn't planned on it." Her thoughts went to Balls and she rubbed the back of Penny's ears, which caused the cat to purr. She obviously approved.

"So when do you want me to start? " She looked up from the cat and back at Alex.