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[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

Ne, it seemed like a fine idea. I didn't mind working for someone they asked me to work with, and I thought that at least it wouldn't be a problem, but no, of course not. Arnould Rousseaux--just an angry, bitter old man. A rude, angry and bitter old man.

{Diva is lugging...well, luggage out of her mansion on the Plane. She has recently relocated herself, so instead of paying to have luggage shipped overseas, she did the smart thing and just decided to keep it on the Plane! But now she's taking all of it out of the house so that she can take it back to her reality with her all at once. That's the easiest thing to do, anyways.

The only problem is, she's feeling a bit peckish, so she sits on her suitcase after it's safely out of the mansion.}

It's such a boring little town, though, Verzenay. I know that I said I wanted to live somewhere where I wouldn't be recognized, but I wanted somewhere with its own hospital, at least...But I guess it's good that I'm finally somewhere else. It is really pretty...

{After a pause, she half-whines} Ne, would anyone here mind letting me have some of their blood? I promise I won't take a lot. It's just that taking a plane was a really bad idea after all. I hate flying!

Comments

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

Just anything laying out, really. Just be careful. Some of them are really valuable.

{Like that necklace just laying on the dresser looks like it costs as much as a small car}

[poshmouthytart.livejournal.com]

[... Which is precisely the item Alex fixates on, and she goes over to take a closer look.]

I would think so, seeing as you have had so many years to acquire so many things. I can't imagine what some of these items would be worth where I am from.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

Some of them are priceless. I have jewels from the Russian Royal family, clothing from Auschwitz, and letters from lots of famous people. I've lived lots of places, and Amshel has always been really influential.

[poshmouthytart.livejournal.com]

[She moves to look at some other things; she's really not doing well with the whole "helping pack" thing.]

So, why keep all these things? Is there some kind of pattern to things you collect? Things that mean something to you in of themselves?

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

They're all things that remind me of people that I've met. Friends, lovers, things like that. Most people usually aren't very happy with the second one, but it doesn't bother me.

[poshmouthytart.livejournal.com]

Sometimes it's best to hang onto things that remind us of something we once loved. It reminds us of what we had once, and what we learned about ourselves once it was lost to us.

[She's speaking quietly, almost as if she's talking to herself more than Diva.]

I have a daughter. Molly. Her father's a creep, but you know, I wouldn't give her up even if it meant forgetting all of the things he did that hurt me. Sometimes it's worth remembering.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

{She laughs lightly} I understand what you mean. My Chevalier are--were...mostly the same way.

[poshmouthytart.livejournal.com]

[Alex recognizes the word as the general French meaning, and not, precisely, as it was intended.]

Was that your lover as well? Though I can't imagine how many you've had in your life. So many memories from so many lifetimes must be quite a lot to keep up with.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

Well, all my Chevalier were my lovers, but they're something more than that. They're humans that gave up their humanity to be immortal and have my power. They're...not really nice people, most people say, but they're the only people that have stayed with me forever.

[poshmouthytart.livejournal.com]

Oh... So they became vampires, too, to be with you?

I can understand that, you know. In terms of... knowing the people you love will just fade one day, and wanting to cling to them as long as you can. It must be a such a comfort to know there's a way for some of them to stay with you.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

{She laughs} That wasn't really it at all. They became vampires for the power and were stuck with me. My dearest Amshel was involved with everything. Two of my Chevalier were quite famous, actually. Rasputin and Bormann both were mine.

[poshmouthytart.livejournal.com]

Rasputin? The Russian mystic? You can't be serious. As for Bormann, there are a couple who come to mind, so you may have to elaborate. I can't imagine ever wanting to give up my family and the life I had for power. Immortality isn't all that appealing to me.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

My Bormann is probably the one you're thinking of. Martin Bormann, Hitler's private secretary.

{She makes a sour face}

I really hated Martin, though.

{She's been digging through her closet, but she pauses as she gets to one thing. She half-laughs and pulls it out. It's a woman's Nazi uniform.}

Ah, I won't be taking this with me, of course, but it's one of the things Amshel kept for me to remember.

[poshmouthytart.livejournal.com]

[Alex is just sort of standing there giving Diva a really, really strange look.]

I can't imagine you would want to remember being associated with any of that. I mean that, well...

[How does she put this without it sounding awful either way?]

Being what - who - you are, you seem to actually care.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

I care now. I never did, before I met Sam. I've killed lots and lots of people myself, and Amshel and my Chevalier, we've done things that have killed many more. My Amshel loved being powerful, so we were always where wars were.

{She puts the uniform back}

That's what Sam did for me. He took me away from all of that.

[poshmouthytart.livejournal.com]

[Alex gives her this look that says, in a way, she knows exactly how Diva feels.]

It's no wonder you loved him so much.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

{She nods} He was the most important person in the world to me. But to be honest, now I would give anything to have my Chevalier back. They were all terrible, but they were the only people I cared about before I met Sam.

[poshmouthytart.livejournal.com]

Sometimes we get to make our home. And sometimes we make do with the home we're given.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

I'm learning that. But it's hard. And lonely.

[poshmouthytart.livejournal.com]

I know we didn't get off to a particularly good start but... I'm willing to help you, Diva. I think we share quite a bit of experience when it comes down to it.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

Oh? And how would you think to do that?

[poshmouthytart.livejournal.com]

I don't know. Maybe we could be... friends?

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

{She's quiet for several moments as she continues packing}

But...you'll leave too, right?

[poshmouthytart.livejournal.com]

[Alex doesn't respond for a while, and instead picks up some random, shiny object to take over to Diva before speaking.]

You know, after I was shot, and all that time I spent in the 1980s, I always promised myself - promised Molly - that I would get back. And I thought I did, but the first thing I did once I was out of hospital was send her away because... It doesn't feel real, when I'm there. Not like how it feels here, or how it felt in 1982. And I can't help but think, after all the promises I made, that I lied to her. I didn't mean to, but I think I lied.

I don't want to lie to you, too, Diva.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

{She takes it, smiling softly}

You know, you're a lot more open about where you came from than Sam ever was.

{She turns it over in her hands before looking up at Alex} Then I guess we can be. Ne, thank you, Alex.