Renovations [Invite Only]

[Jesse Fforde]

There’s an arch of a brow as Marjani gestures to the darkness in the gym. It takes only a few seconds for the gesture to connect, to form meaning in Jesse’s mind. His mind had gone into a kind of semi-overdrive trying to figure out what could be wrong and how he could fix it, and the release of the pressure creates a confusion that takes time to dissipate.

Jesse laughs. He shouldn’t, but he does. It’s ironic, that a vampire should be afraid of the dark. A creature forced to live in perpetual darkness, how did she expect to escape it? Does she go to sleep with the lights blazing? Has she got a small torch hidden in a pocket somewhere? How unfortunate, that she should have become a nocturnal creature. How cruel, even. Unless it is a recent development, which Jesse presumes isn’t too far to leap, given the Fadebeasts that lumber out of the shadows regularly. They show up in restaurants and bars, on the streets or in the sewers. There seems no place that a Fadebeast cannot breach. And they are born of shadows, are they not?

But still.

Jesse isn’t an entirely unfeeling man but he makes no attempt to hide his laughter or apologise for it. If she cannot see the humour in a vampire being afraid of the dark then she will think him an asshole And that is okay by Jesse, in his newer frame of mind. That is okay. It had always been okay, and it will remain okay. The mask has been redrawn and it will remain secured in place. A mask to cover any insecurities that he may have.

A psychiatrist could have a field day with Jesse’s psyche. And it would seem they might have a field day with Marjani’s, too.

He leads the way into the storeroom and grabs the first box he sees; two dozen of the local’s favourite beer. Start small, he thinks, and then work one’s way up to the more expensive, and the more specialized. He holds the box out for Marjani to take, while he himself takes hold of two kegs which he can hook up to the taps.

”Lead the way, Queen of Darkness,” he says with a smirk, gesturing to the staircase beyond.

[Marjani (DELETED 5749)]

Jesse laughs and seems to take what she suggests at face value. Which was fine with her, because trying to explain the real reason might insult him. And Mari wasn't usually the type to insult someone, even if she couldn't talk. Especially someone that was 'family.' That didn't mean that she didn't think things in her mind sometimes about people. There were some people she just flat out didn't like or couldn't tolerate in Andras and Mari doubted that would change any time soon. She could only tolerate so much stupid from some people.

He gives her a box and it seems everyone is happy-or at least content with her momentary psyche lapse. The woman shifts the weight of the box in her arms and then even cracks a smile at Jesse when he makes a comment about her being the 'Queen of Darkness.' Mari had a decent sense of humor and could appreciate the man trying to lighten the mood in the room and even possibly between the two of them. She nods, places the box on a curvy hip of hers and takes to the stairs.

Her gait is quick as Mari takes the stairs, wanting to get up them quickly so that her small 'freak-out' would be forgotten. He would probably think she was eager to avoid the darkness, but she was eager to move past that all. Mari puts the case she was given on the first surface she sees, grabs her phone and then texts the question, 'When does this place open?' to him before turning the phone in Jesse's direction to read the message.

[Jesse Fforde]

Jesse collects two boxes, stacked one on top of the other. He follows Marjani up the stairs, keeping an eye on his feet and the boxes and where they are in comparison to the wall. The last thing he wants to do is accidentally trip and drop them. Even one of them. It would be a waste, and the clean-up would be tedious, all that glass and sticky beer. They get to the top and into the bar, and Jesse pushes his boxes onto the nearest bench space, too. The fridges are behind the bar, all gleaming and empty, but they had been turned on for some time and are now all crispy and cold. The three boxes that have been brought up are three different kinds, and he figures they should line them all up in one fridge.

He collects one of the boxes and props the fridge door open with it, tearing into the top of it while Marjani types something into her phone. Jesse squints at the question before shrugging his shoulders.

”Not too long, I hope. It depends on contractors. It’s hard to get them in at night time. Grey and I do the rest of the work ourselves,” he says. It’s a slow process, but he’s enjoying it, regardless. He’s enjoying spending the time with Grey; and it’s a good distraction. It’s something to help occupy his time, and keep his mind off other things.

”A month, maybe? Maybe less. Do you think you’ll swing by?” he asks. It might not be Marjani’s cup of tea. She might not want to come learn parkour, or get a tattoo. She might be one of the many that can’t drink alcohol. ”We’ll have some of Ariadne’s blood stocked,” he says, his voice quiet even though there’s probably no one to overhear. It’s a habit, to keep their secrets close to his chest. ‘Their’, meaning vampire-kind.

He’s crouched on the floor, now, sliding the bottles of beer into the fridge, lining them up with the front of the labels facing forward. Sometimes, the tattooist could be a little bit OCD.