Nickolas’s last few nights were boringly average. After getting bloomhill college as his domain his nights have been pretty repetitive: waking up, patrolling the domain, feeding, and then going home and reading in his study. It wasn’t a bad routine but it was very much more of the same.
He was doing his normal routine of waking up from his day sleep, getting dressed and washed as to be proper. Giving the ghouls their tasks for the day. And he had set out for the day's tasks which included patrolling, talking to the kine to ensure no poaching had happened and sending a letter to his sire, Pleasance the toreador primogen who had gifted him this domain.
It was warm and students were looking around looking lost, it makes sense it being early September right now. They are likely new freshmen trying to navigate it for the first time. He smiles thinking of being so young and new to the world.
But while he was patrolling, he saw a young looking kindred in his domain. He was almost more amused than mad; this was certainly interesting. He had moved towards the young looking kindred, looks to have been embraced in his early twenties?
It had surprised him when the young kindred ran for his life. Now Nicholas will admit that being caught in another domain is troubling for most but he didn’t even look like he had hunted in the domain. Was he planning to and got caught before he could? Likely, but he would have to look into this young kindred more to know for sure. Besides, he could use some entertainment during these long nights.
He never does mention the young kindred in his letter. He doesn’t want his sire to know about this scared little kindred who he had found in his domain. No, he wants to keep this one to himself if he can. He just needs to find them.
The next time he sees the young kindred he is more carefully, approaching like he is approaching a wild animal. The man seems worried, oddly so. His eyes darting between Nickolas and the rest of the college, looking for an escape.
He seemed new, definitely a fledgling, which begs the question as to why he's out here? He was wearing an ill-fitting black jacket, and his dark almost black hair looked like it hadn't been brushed or washed for a long time, at least a few weeks. He will have to fix this.
But as he tried to get closer the childe panicked running off again. Nickolas considers running after, but they are in public and he has appearances to keep up. Besides, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. He goes back to his haven to get ready.
In preparation for the next night nickolas gets some blood, human blood from the college students blood drive they had done two weeks ago, mixed with a small amount of vitae. This should be pungent enough for the fledgling to smell from a while away. And help with him trusting him at least a little bit.Now it's just a matter of time.
The next night he sets the trap at an old abandoned bar and waits nearby hiding so as to not scare the young one away again. And right on time the young kindred takes the bait, smelling and inspecting the blood for poison before drinking it in one go. As he does nickolas uncovers himself and walks up to the young kindred. “Why hello, now don’t worry I won’t hurt you.” he puts his hands up to prove that point. “I just want to know what you're doing here?”
The young kindred seems hesitant but after several minutes of waiting he says, “I wanted to get some…stuff, besides the people here are closer to my age then most so it's nice to talk to them…” Nickolas wonders if talking is all he was doing or if he had fed here too, but he says nothing of the sort as to not scare the wary kindred. He thinks about what to ask before going with introductions, “Well young one I am Nickolas, can you tell me your name?”
The younger kindred looks warily at nickolas but eventually answers “...I’m Arachnid” he pulls his sleeves over his arms, holding the hoodie close as if it would protect him.
Nickolas smiles, that's a strange name but it's likely something he picked after the embrace. “Well nice to properly be introduced, Arachnid.” The young kindred, Arachnid, seems scared of him still but less so than the days before (maybe in part to him adding his blood to the bowl).
Nickolas was going to say something but Arachnid got up before he could say anything. “I need to go.” nickolas is slightly disappointed but still, he says, “very well then, but come back tomorrow and I will give you blood you need to eat right?”
Arachnis looks shocked and he says, "What's the catch?” Nickolas gets a playful smile and he says, “Well just talk truly. You see, my new domain can be so boring and having someone to talk to might be good for me. Besides, it means less messes to clean up if your fed.” Arachnid looks confused but still takes off.
As promised Nickolas waits in the same spot the next night. with a big bowl of, just, human blood for Arachnid, this time. When Arachnid comes he seems surprised to see him there, as if he thought he was lying about this arrangement. Nickolas offers the blood to the childe who gladly drinks the blood to the last drop, Nickolas decides to talk after Arachnid finishes. “Well how about a question, what clan are you from?”
The childe pushes the bowl to him and says, “Tell me your clan first, then I’ll tell you.” Nickolas wonders how such an anxious childe can be so bold. But he does answer, “I am from clan toreador, the clan of the roses.” He says, very proud of his own clan. Arachnid stays quiet for a moment before saying, “I’m from the malkavians, the clan of crazy people.”
Nickolas looks at the childe, they don’t seem happy with their origin. Nickolas speaks again attempting to comfort him, “Well they are truly the clan of profits, the clan of seers. Don’t be sad about being from them, Arachnid, I have met some great malkavians." Arachnid looks very surprised and almost happy before shaking his head and saying, “You're just saying that to make me feel better…” Nickolas is about to talk about the malkavians he met but Arachnid goes to leave but not before saying "Tomorrow night?” to which Nickolas nods and smiles.
For the next two weeks Nicholas brings blood to the young kindred and Arachnid answers simple questions each night.
He asks him questions and sometimes Arachnid will ask him some. For a few examples: Where are you from? Another city. Did you have friends there, in this life? No, not kindred anyway. Do you have a sire? no. Do you have a haven? Not really, but it's a place to sleep I guess.
And during these two weeks Nickolas starts liking Arachnid more and more and he wants to give him an offer, so after one of their late night talks he asks him, "Oh and arachnid, would you like our next meeting to be inside a more proper buliding?” Arachnid looks surprised and a little worried. “Why would we do that?” Nickolas gives a smile and says, “Well I want to give you an offer, besides it's much nicer then out here, at least I would hope so.”
With that he gives him his address and leaves.The next night is very anxiety-inducing waiting, wondering if it was too fast. But Arachnid does come to the house. Nickolas jumps up and makes sure he is presentable before going to answer the door. “Well I’m glad you came childe, come in I'll show you to my parlor so we can talk.” he gestures to him to go inside.
After that he does go inside. He seems to be looking around in wonder at the place. Has he never been in a proper home before? Nickolas leads him past the living and dining rooms to the parlor. He shows him into a very pretty room with a light blue color scheme, there is a fireplace and four plush chairs facing a table and each other.
After looking around the very fancy room, he sits with Nickolas at his table. Nickolas offers him some warmed blood, which Arachnid happily takes. Nickolas speaks first, “Well I am glad that you enjoy my home, for I wish to share it with you.” Arachnid almost spits out the blood and says, “what do you mean ‘share it with me’, why, what's the catch?” he looks around anxiously looking like he wants to run.
Nickolas only collects himself before saying, “I do not wish to run this domain alone, and I know that you need a place to stay. So I have an offer: you will do some chores here, and in return you may hunt and live here for as long as needed.” nickolas waits for his response with anticipation.
Arachnid seems to be weighing his options but ultimately responds with, “Yes, I’ll do it.” He looks up at Nickolas as he says this, seeming more confident then he had seen him for the entire time he's met him.
Nickolas is very happy to hear that, and he decides to bring the childe along on a tour of the house before bringing him to where he may sleep, revealing a secret door behind a wall where his bedroom will be. And if he looks too happy bringing him around his, very well decorated house then, so be it.
