literature

The Best Kind of Business

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"Monsieur Baudine, I do seem to have a question on the duties of this organization." Alicio looked around the lavish ballroom and its occupants. There were people of the highest class dancing and socializing with one another. The good majority of them were of human species, but he could pick out the handful who were just like him-vampire.
He looked to the blond vampire next to him with a curious expression, only to find him grinning back.
"Why Mister Lesteur, we are doing the duties right this instant."
Alico frowned. "Attending a ball is a duty?"
Gilbert Baudine patted Alicio's shoulder. "Of course. We are here on business." His keen eyes wandered from the crowd to a brunette beauty walking past the two of them. "The best kind of business, Lesteur, if you ask me."
"What kind of business are we supposed to be here for, Baudine? This is trying my patience." Alicio closed his eyes and tried to ignore the hundreds of heartbeats humming in his ears. The only kind of business he wanted to get to was the kind that would take him out of this place before he did something he regretted. Or something that proved Baudine right.
The thought made him scowl. Despite being what he called "natural instinct", Alicio would rather be staked through the heart than to sneak off with a lady to the coat room to get to know her better. Precisely the things that were running through his partner's mind at the moment.
"We are not here for recreational endeavors, I am sure." He dusted off his waistcoat. "The Council would not appreciate our interference with the social circles of humans."
Speaking just low enough for Alicio to hear, Baudine turned to him with a level gaze. "What are you? Human? No, you are a vampire, Alicio. You must let go of your heart-it beats no more. It is in your nature to take what you want. To seduce, to kill. If you want to go far in this organization, you must be what you are and you must regret nothing."
Turning from the new vampire, he sighed. "You were not yet ready to be taken from the chamber. The old fools have no idea…"
At the mention of the chamber, Alicio swiftly and discreetly shoved Baudine into the wall. "I could not spend another year in that hell." He hissed, fangs gleaming. "I could not remain in the dark, just waiting for some poor fool to be tossed in with me like a piece of meat. I could not keep my sanity."
"No, you did not." Baudine shrugged himself free from Alicio's grip. "You have traded it for your monstrosity. At least you have potential. But if you wish to excel, you must learn to keep your temper. It is quite suspicious when two males are at a close proximity of one another in public." Apathetically, he glanced around the ballroom. "I am afraid that delectable brunette must have been snatched up by another. Ah well. We must get to work."
Sighing, Alicio followed his partner into the crowd of dancers, narrowly avoiding ladies twirling with their elegant dresses and men holding their hands delicately. He couldn't help but watch one woman, not as a spectator, but as what Baudine had said-a vampire.
He could hear the excited beat of her heart as one gentleman took her hand and she whirled with him on the dance floor. Her breath whooshed from her lungs and hit his ears, almost as if she were standing right next to him. The scent of her perfume lingered in the air around him like a cloud. The intricate steps had her waltzing past him and Alicio had to fight the urge to reach out and touch her skin.
Most alarming of all, he could feel his fangs pricking at the soft muscle of his tongue.
Once the music stopped, she walked quickly to her friends and began a conversation. Alicio strained his ears to hear the sound of her voice, but she was lost like a ship in a tempest among hundreds of other sounds. One thing he did pick up on-at a higher frequency-was Baudine.
"What happened to 'the business we were supposed to be here for', hm?" He chuckled. "Unless you wanted a snack before we begin?"
Alicio snorted in disgust and followed him through the crowd towards a secluded room towards the back of the ballroom. "Baudine, I hope this excursion is meaningful. If you arranged to meet a lady in this closet, I shall not go with you inside. I do not wish to bear witness to your outrageous acts."
Rolling his eyes, Baudine turned toward him. "Perhaps you should keep your mouth shut, hm? Quite honestly, I do not know what this Council saw in you." And with one twist of the knob, he held the door open. "After you, O' Future Leader."
Once Alicio stepped through the threshold of the assumed closet only to find himself completely wrong.
Instead of a small room full of cloaks and hats, he stood in front of a dank chamber room with a winding corridor. Even with his superhuman vision, he could not see where it led to. The moment Baudine closed the door behind them, he could barely hear sounds of the ball. "Where does this lead?"
A sigh came from Baudine's lips. "Down to the belly of the beast, I am afraid." His footsteps were already faint. "I do suppose I should tell you what we are doing here, before your mouth gets us torn to pieces. Which would be a pity, I don't believe I haven't indulged myself with enough female company to last an eternity."
Alicio rolled his eyes.
"One would assume after a hundred years with their companionship, the ways of their affection would become repetitive." He let out a laugh. "Oh that is not the case, Lesteur. Women are more willing in the ways of love as time goes on."
Clearing his throat, Alicio shook his head. "As much as I would love to hear of your conquests," It took every ounce of self-control he had not to gag. "you were telling me of the task at hand?"
"Well, this mansion belongs to a wealthy coven leader called Geroux. He controls this portion of Paris and all of the businesses on this side of town. Most importantly, he is one of the most influential vampires in all of France." Baudine made a face as he narrowly avoided stepping on a rat. "Moreau wants him to join our council and it is our duty to issue an invitation as well as persuade him."
"Persuade him?"
"At the very least, avoid making enemies. With the size of our organization, it is impossible to be in everyone's good graces. But it is imperative to be allies with as many covens as we can."
By the time Baudine fell silent again, the corridor led down into the depths of the foundation until there was no telling which direction led back to the surface. It was only a minute or two before they came upon an ornate, wooden door. Torches lit the entryway and Alicio couldn't help but wonder what the result of this encounter might be.
His eyes traveled to Baudine, who raised his fist to knock. But before his knuckles even touched the wood, the door opened.
"Ah, bonjour, Mademoiselle." He bowed, straightening with a beaming smile. "We are of the Frères de Sang la Vie. Perhaps you could invite us inside?"
Alicio bowed slightly when the woman's gaze moved over him. There was something about her blank expression that seemed odd to him. Without a glance to Baudine, he knew the other vampire was tense. All of his muscles seemed wound tight, as if he was ready to strike at a moments notice.
The woman nodded and invited them inside spoken in soft French.
As the door shut behind them, Alicio barely had time to look around before another figure was in front of them.
He looked to be as young as Baudine, with the same gleaming eyes and crooked smile. Oily black hair was slicked down into place and his fangs seemed to stand out from his cracked lips.
"Friends," His smile grew as he held his arms up. "Moreau had told me you were coming to speak business. But I do hope you will join me. We were just about to eat."
We?
Alicio became aware of the occupants of the chamber then. At least a dozen vampires-all male-coupled with female humans. Some were perched in provocative positions while others simply stared at him with wide, soulless eyes. Some never took their eyes from him, as if he were an unwanted guest.
Baudine shook his head with a jovial smile. "Many thanks, Geroux. I'm hoping this will take but a moment." He eyed the other nobles and their meals. "If you could control the thirst long enough."
There was a murmur of protests among the room, but Geroux smiled genially. "Of course. Before we begin, I would like to know whom it is I am consulting with. That way, if the two of you do not see eye to eye with me, I can tell Moreau which of his followers I had to kill." In attempt to disguise his threat, he laughed.
Alicio felt his own body tense, but still he looked to Baudine who appeared unconcerned.
"My name is Gilbert Baudine." He said grandly to Geroux and the nobles. "I come here to represent Frères de Sang la Vie." His dark irises moved to Alicio. "And this is the future coven leader of Sang la Vie."
"Alicio Lesteur, Monsieur Geroux." He bowed his head respectfully. The mutterings of the nobles became louder until Geroux spoke up.
"Ah I see." He eyed Alicio with sudden interest. "They chose you." He paced slowly, like a cat toying with a mouse before it pounced. Stopping in front of him, he sneered. "You smell…" Closing his eyes, Geroux breathed in Alicio's scent. "…new. How long have you been immortal, hm? Wait, do not answer." He circled him, never removing his eyes from the younger vampire. "Hm… three years. I am certain of it."
He threw his head back, laughing. "Moreau sent the future coven leader here to me. And he is nothing but a newborn. How amusing. Killing you would be a simple task."
As if on cue, Baudine stepped forward in front of Alicio, fangs exposed. "The only thing we will be killing, Geroux, is time." The nobles were beside their leader in a blur. "We have a duty to do and we would appreciate if you listened to our proposition."
"Ah," the vampire sighed. "Go on."
Baudine cleared his throat. "Moreau and the Freres de Sang la Vie invite you and your coven to become our allies. In the event either one of us is under attack or in need, we would come to the aid of one another."
"Hm…" Geroux looked to his followers. "That is a most interesting proposition, Monsieur Baudine. Please forgive me if I do not accept right away. But the question is, can I trust Sang la Vie enough to become allies and not dictators." Baring his fangs, Geroux hissed. "Because I will not idly sign my coven over to the likes of some newborn who can barely defend himself!"
Alicio lurched forward to spring at the leader, before Baudine clasped him on the shoulder. Ignoring the nobles who seemed to want to tear him apart limb by limb, he clenched his teeth. "This has nothing to do with me, Geroux. This is simply an extended hand for the future. Whether it be tomorrow or centuries from tomorrow. Sang la Vie has no interest in your estate nor your leadership. If you refuse this offer because of my position, you are sealing your fate."
Geroux looked from Alicio, Baudine, and into the blank eyes of his supper. "And you swear to it you will not seize my coven's land, their food supply, and revenue?"
"You have my word." He held out his hand.
Taking his hand, Geroux gave Alicio a hard look. "If you do anything to break this treaty, I'll have you know you would be unleashing the worst war France or the entire world would ever bear witness to. Do not forget, Monsieur Lesteur. The choice is yours."

"Well I think that went rather well." Baudine raised his arms over his head to stretch, before twisting the knob on the door leading to the ballroom. "You could play an interesting role in this negotiating business, Lesteur."
Alicio sighed and shook his head. "I am not so certain."
Baudine shrugged. "You will learn. As for now, I believe I shall find a quick bite to… eat?" Just as the door swung open, a familiar brunette nearly collided into his chest. Putting on his gentlemanly smile, Baudine bowed extravagantly. "Bonjour, Mademoiselle." He brought the back of her hand to his lips. "Perhaps I may interest you in a dance?"
Watching him walk towards the ballroom floor with his hand around the woman's waist, Alicio shook his head. He would let him have his fun. Just as he turned to find the exit, there was another familiar, feminine face standing before him.
"Bonjour, Monsieur. I… I had seen you earlier tonight and I was hoping… you would walk me home?"
Alicio glanced up in time to see Baudine give him an audacious wink before vanishing into the crowd of dancers again.
"Oui." He heard himself say. "Nothing shall happen to you as long as you are with me." If only that were true…
Hello all! This is a little clip I wrote with my two French vampires, Alicio and Gilbert. This takes place when Alicio starts out as a new vampire to their organization, so he and Gilbert aren't as close friends yet. I tried using the last names to make them seem distanced at the moment. But we all know they're the best of friends. ;p

There is an awful lot of vampire politics that takes place in their actual story, so please bear with me.

If you have any comments, questions, I'd love to hear them!

Gilbert Baudine and Alicio Lesteur (c) ~flowerpower09
© 2011 - 2024 flowerpower09
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InnocentDayDreamer's avatar
This cliiiippp is like waayyy in the beginning. Aww when Alicio was a little newborn vampire. X3 So cuuuute. LOL just kidding. But like I said before I like! See? You can write this stuff. Just takes some getting use to. Of course, as the writing world and our good ol' society would tell us... practice practice practice.

P.S. Gilbert's serious side is HAWT! :D But we love his crazy hilarious side just as much! :blowkiss:

Nice job, Lynn!