things that go BUMP in the night ; |OPEN|

[VIVIAN JOSEPHINE BENVIOLET.]

She knew she risked her reputation as a good seamstress, a good person, simply by stepping foot near the building. She knew what the gossiping ladies would say behind her back. She knew, perhaps, what the people inside the forbidden building would expect her to ask for, to have come for, and she knew they would be wrong, and they would likely not believe her unless Alessandra was truly present. Even if she was risking this reputation for her sister, simply because the vampire had not visited her in three weeks—twenty one days today—she would do so. Although Alessandra was the older twin, Vivian felt she was the older sister. She worried for the pale copy of herself more than she worried for their brother: for several reason she supposed, but in the end, she hoped with all her heart that Alessandra would not be present, no matter the blow to her reputation.

Ducking her head in the hopes her hair might hide her identity from anyone passing by on the actually deserted street, she pushed the door into the brothel open, entering a sensuous warmth thick with a perfume of some sort—although not too think as to hinder breathing capability, or even be too thick in general. Rather, the heady scent was pleasant, to a degree, and she could not help but appreciate the warmth tempting her to remove her scarlet cloak. She refrained form it however, refusing to allow herself comfort in a situation that certainly called for a calm caution and yet almost inexplicably demanded she be scared as well. She was in unfamiliar territory, and she was sure that, had this not been Alessandra, she would have refused to come here.

She almost turned around once again and exited the building.

Instead, she brushed her gloved hands across one another, in a hope to grasp something steady—instead, the digits trembled slightly, betraying her anxiety. Vivian breath in more of the heady perfume—the warmth mixed with the strangely comforting scent was making her sleepy. Surely the scent wasn’t drugged? She hoped not—if it were, she would never find Alessandra. If it were, Alessandra would be asleep, and would not be ear to her calls. If it were, she might not be strong enough to resist the soothing lull, the slight tug and pull, ever so gentle, of sleep at the edge of her mind. And yet, ever the optimist, Viv found herself with a smile placed upon her lips. Surely human drugs had no affect on a vampire? Surely she could resist if she wished to. Surely she was simply tired due to the late hour; it must’ve been past midnight by far. And surely the scent wasn’t drugged. It would be absolutely preposperous if it were!

Having found a sun so late at night, she kept the small smile, even hummed slightly, as she looked around and soon found a doorway leading into a corridor. She’d lose her way easily enough, she knew, for she could imagine countless identical doors beyond this one. When she found Alessandra, however, the other could assist her in escaping this building. For an escape it would be… despite the cheerful attitude, the witch cloaked in red felt the sight of anyone would frighten her beyond words. Even if it was Alessandra she happened to see. In an attempt to distract herself from the hesitant thoughts, she began humming an unfamiliar tune, a bit loudly for the late hour she suppose, but ti reassured her in a way thoughts alone could not.

[CHARLOTTE 'LOTTIE' MARIE CARR]

Diamonds are a girls best friend.

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If the girl had asked if the air was drugged, Charlotte would have laughed in her face. Of course it wasn't! It was just inviting. And being a peculiar fan of decorating, Charlotte used different perfumes to make an inviting aroma. Glad to see it did the trick.

Now Charlotte was a lady of many hobbies. But anything involved with money was her biggest. Which was one reason she became Headmistress at such a prominent brothel. The lady was moving swiftly though the hallways. Her dark red dress was so completely predictable of her, too. She was just the sort of woman to buy such clothes in such colors. The dress was made to be tight at the top and flowy at the bottom. A seamstress like Vivian would understand such trends, yes? That dress hardly made a sound as she turned the many corners, leaving her sort of office behind her. She had heard the door shut softly moments before. That in itself was not unheard of, but then Charlotte looked out her door and noticed Johnathan had not been there. Not she suspected a non-paying customer. The sneak! With quick thinking and a thin temper, Lottie headed gracefully in the direction she suspected the guilty to go. As she got closer, she heard humming. Interesting thing to hear in the hallways, that was for sure, and it didn't sound like drunk humming, you know how some people get so detached that the song in their heat needs to escape by means of hiccuping and out of tune humming? No no, this humming was good enough.

Finally Ms Charlotte turned and saw the person she was after. She was quite surprised to see it be a young girl of whom she had never seen surely not one of her own. Perhaps in want of a job? Charlotte slyly slid up upon the girl and placed and arm around her. "Why, how did a girl like you end up here, dear? Looking for something?" Her voice sounded masked. On the outside it seemed gentle and sweet, but behind the mask and trying to break through was an angry and taunting voice. The girl surely had some reason to be right there right now. If she was a thief like Lottie suspected, consequences would be paid. If she was not, perhaps Lottie ought to take her to Lucius for a job interview? Whatever it be, Charlotte would soon find out. She was good at finding things out. Very good.

Notes: Sorry it was short dear!!! Bah!
Muse: Meh.
Character mood: Harboring anger.

[VIVIAN JOSEPHINE BENVIOLET.]

Laughter, in most forms, was a healthy thing, a good thing, reassuring. If there was laughter, surely there was some amusement to be found, and if there was amusement to be found, surely the situation wasn’t so dire. She wanted to laugh, but found she was too scared to do so without feeling like she was acting. She didn’t hold much respect for actors, pretending to be people they were not, putting on a nonsensical show for people, exploiting themselves and their talents. And yet, all the same, she still loved going to the theater.

No acting skills could have stifled her pounding heart when she felt someone reach an arm around her, speak to her. Her breath shot out of her lungs. Her heart jumped into her throat, where it decided to take residence, not allowing her to swallow it back down, making breathing even more difficult. She should have expected someone to be lurking along the corridors, but honestly, the idea hadn’t occurred to her. She had hoped everyone was asleep. It was late, after all, past midnight, and even these people needed rest, right? Dear God, she had hoped so.

Vivian peeked up at the woman, trying and failing miserably to hide her surprise, her fear. The dress she wore was beautiful, though, even if she would never wear the style herself. The color worked well for the blonde, even how the fabric clung to her curves did. If she had seen the woman anywhere in this outfit, she would, as people were wont to do, assume where she worked, and it would be a brothel, or a similar such place. Whether this would offend her she did not know. She could only hope it wouldn’t.

“Actually, yes,” she replied in small, scared gasps when she finally found the sense to speak. “I am looking for someone.”