[OPEN] The sun don't ever want to shine

[vampire_barbie_girl]

1. Singing @ Rhapsody in Red (a night club in Hackney) - Sept 4, evening

Singing at the club was quickly becoming Caroline's favourite thing. She'd always love to sing and was very proud of herself for being able to job doing it - and all without turning to mind control to land it. And sure, the place wasn't the nicest club in the world but the money was good and the customers generally behaved themselves. But most of all, on this little stage she was able to just put her emotions out there and not feel self conscious about it.

So far, London had not been what she'd hoped. Instead of feeling free in her life, she felt more trapped than ever. Trying to figure out just what was going on in the Nest from one day to another was exhausting - let alone dealing with any of the other factions and their politics. Plus, she missed everyone back home desperately. She had expected to be a little homesick but it was hitting harder than she'd anticipated.

All these feelings somehow led to her singing better than she ever had before.

She was singing the last song of her first set, an original rather than yet another cover, called Why Don't You Stay. It was a fairly standard break-up song, but there were a few lines that just had extra resonance now ...

I never thought it'd be so hard to let go.

When it was over, she was definitely read for a break. And a drink.




2. Outside Guilty Pleasures - Sept 5, evening

Soon after arriving in London, Caroline had decided to spend her nights off exploring Nest territory. She'd done a pretty good survey of Hackney by this point, so tonight it was time to go to Tower Hamlets. She's already done the tourist thing and checked out the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge, so tonight she was hoping to find places of "local colour."

She's pretty sure it doesn't get more uh, colourful, than Guilty Pleasures. She was pretty sure she'd heard the name before, though right now she couldn't remember why. She also couldn't decide if she wanted to brave going inside or not. It was about as far from her usual scene as you could get. But that was old, Mystic Falls Caroline. New, London Caroline was still figuring out her scene.

She was out there thinking about it for awhile.



3. Wildcard (must be @ night in Nest territory)

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[vampire_barbie_girl]

A stein was placed in front of her and Caroline took a long drink. It was pretty good, definitely something she'd order again.

"That sounds nice," she said. "I've always wanted to travel more but so far, London's been about it. Of course, I have lots of time on my hands."

[freelife]

"Well, I highly recommend you travel as much as you can." She gives her a warm smile over the top of her pint. Granted, she did a lot of traveling for work, but that was one thing. This was another.

"Travel, and invest."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline nodded. "I've heard that advice before and definitely plan to follow it. At least from here, I can get to the rest of Europe pretty easily."

Investing wasn't a bad idea either, except that it involved having money. Which wasn't something Caroline was super flush with at the moment. Her singing job, while something she enjoyed, wasn't exactly lining her pockets.

[freelife]

The money would come. Honestly, vampires had nothing but time on their hands, which was why so many of them happened to have very deep pockets. Evie was one of these, but she also happened to have the backing of a powerful shadow organization.

But she hadn't been raised in wealth, and preferred to keep herself humble, unlike some of the vampires around.

"Exactly. Just a few hours by train and you can be nearly anywhere, it feels like." Evie used to have a train.

Evie wanted her train back.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

"It's weird how somehow the world seems much smaller over here, even though my actual world back home was pretty made up of one small town."

She stared into her cup for moment, just thinking. There were more questions she wanted to ask but it was hard to tell if it was safe. Then she remembered something.

"You said you were an associate of the owner, right? Does that mean you can access somewhere where we can talk a little more ... privately?"

[freelife]

evie hune, not in agreement but rather acknowledgement.

"I'm sure I could work something out. Just a moment." Evie stands and makes her way across the club. a few minutes later she's got a smile when she walks across back to Caroline.

"One private room secured. Follow me." And she leads her up a staircase into a small room that's clearly not for talking.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline followed, her heart beginning to race a bit. There was so much she wanted to ask about but she also wasn't sure what she should ask about. She was pretty sure Evie was much older than her - sometimes it sucked being a baby vampire, no pun intended.

[freelife]

Evie can hear the other woman's heart race, even over the music. Once the door is shut, it's a bit quieter but still loud enough that eaves dropping is going to be difficult.

Evie takes a seat, beer in hand. "So, what's the reason for the private audience?" she doesn't beat around the bush.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Evie was direct. Caroline liked that - it seemed like the two of them would get along well.

"I wanted to ask you more about the Islington Nest," she replied. "I don't feel like I really know enough about it yet."

Particularly how it used to be ... Caroline had the feeling Evie might prefer those days to how it was now, which was a relief. She knew not every vampire in London could be happy with the current chaos.

[freelife]

Evie nods, leaning back on the couch. "I see." She gestures with an open palm towards Caroline. "By all means, ask away. I'll do you the favor of responding honestly, so that you can form your own opinion."

Form the right one, she hoped.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

"Okay ..."

Caroline had so many questions that she hardly knew where to start. But Evie was waiting, so she just picked one. "How did you become a countess in the nest?"

[freelife]

"Hard work, really." Was the simplest answer. "Take a seat, will you?" It would make her feel just a little bit better.

"I've been an active participant in the nest since I returned from my travels. I've been present at territory claims, as well. The title was just bestowed upon me, perhaps Raymond is trying to ensure my loyalty, I do not know his exact motivations. If anything, it's a sign of respect." She takes a drink. "It doesn't mean anything outside the nest, and our little community, really. "

Then, just to be sure:

"You don't address any of us by our titles, generally. And if you were going to do that, I'd insist on you using my proper title of dame." She kind of wanted to show off a little bit, that she'd been knighted once upon a time.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline sat down quickly, then nodded slightly as she took all that information in. Clearly, Evie was someone to be reckoned with, which again made Caroline believe that she was fairly old by vampire standards. Even Raymond respected her, though it didn't sound like they were close - which was probably a good thing.

And she was a dame, which was pretty cool.

"Are there many countesses or uh ... counts?"

[freelife]

Honestly, she's not that old at all. She was turned in the late 1800s, making her only 167.

"There are a lot of us," she admits, unsure what a proper example would be. "We're each in charge of a district. Districts are part of boroughs, and all the Countesses and Earls," casually correcting her, without making it into a thing, "report to the Marquess' that run them. Usually the duke sits on the Night Council, but Harris has seen fit to forfeit the position."

And the security of the supernatural community.

God what a dick.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline was a bit disappointed that Counts wasn't the right term. Then again, it wouldn't be the first time pop culture lied to her about vampires.

"Yeah," she said when Raymond Harris was brought up, "I knew about the Night Council thing."

She paused, still wondering if it was safe to mention that she thought Raymond seemed crazy. She decided to test the waters a bit more. "So, has anything like that happened before? It seems pretty extreme to me."

[freelife]

That's probably why they went with Earl instead of Count, truthfully. Though she'd lie if she hadn't started counting something at one point and promptly laughed in a terrible Transylvanian accent. Just don't tell anyone.

"So you were here for that." Alright, fair enough. "Not to my knowledge, no. We had rules in place to keep our existence quiet, and to protect the people of our city. Before we could feed on tourists alone, no locals, unless we had their permission." A few prostitutes offered their blood, she knew. Blood workers, they were called.

"You're not the only person to feel that way." There's a knowing look- she agrees with you, Caroline, she really does.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

"Yes, lucky me, arriving just in time for some supernatural upheaval." Caroline laughed, though it really wasn't that funny.

She caught Evie's glance and it was another relief. "So ... are most of vampires in town just okay feeding on anyone? I was taught to be much more careful than that."

[freelife]

"A tale for the ages, I'm sure." Evie isn't smiling, either, though there's a light in her eyes. Her joke wasn't exactly that funny, either.

"No- a few vampires don't necessarily agree with Raymond's policies. But it's nothing to speak about openly- he dislikes those that don't value his contribution to our society. But a vast majority seem happy with the way the outside world has chosen to cover up their dealings with tales of gang wars. But it's safest to assume that all agree with his edicts."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

That was not the answer Caroline had been hoping for. It meant that not only did she have to watch out for members of other factions who hated vampires on principle but she also couldn't necessarily trust her own kind.

"So, do you have any advice for a ..." What was it that Cooper had called her? Oh yes, a "baby vampire trying not to, well, stay alive?"

[freelife]

Evie lets out a small chuckle.

"Be careful. Be smart. And-" she reached inside of her jacket, and pulled out a business card. "-call me, if you have any questions. I know it can be hard. to move to a new place, to become a new creature. I'd like to help you make it a bit easier, if you would continue to let me."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline took the card eagerly, putting it safe in her own pocket. "I definitely will."

She looked around the room, then smiled. "I really wasn't sure about this place but I'm glad I came. Though I expect that this isn't exactly the normal customer experience."

[freelife]

"I wouldn't be able to tell you- I've never come here as a customer." And she intended to keep it that way, truthfully. She had plenty of respect for strippers and sex-workers. But that didn't mean this was her preferred sort of entertainment.

"I hope you don't hold this as a standard."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

"I won't," Caroline said with a grin, "not unless I go back downstairs and actually partake of some entertainment, at least. And I might do that, since I'm not in a rush tonight."

She suddenly realized something. "Oh my god, I hope I didn't interupt any important business you had to take care of."

[freelife]

Well, she'd wanted to speak with JC in regards to seeking potential allies within Hillingdon, so, just a bit. But Evie wasn't going to say that. It was clear that Caroline needed some guidance, and she was happy to offer it. Better her than someone that believed what Harris was saying.

"It's quite alright," she says warmly. "JC can wait a few minutes. Go take in the entertainment. I've heard that Francois is quite a hit with the ladies."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

That was a relief then. So far, this was definitely ranking as one of Caroline's best nights so far in London. It would have sucked for it to come at the expense of someone else's important plans.

"Which one's Francois?" she asked with a grin.