lt_safe_house | Werewolf hunting for a job

Entry tags:

Werewolf hunting for a job

Date: April 10, 2003
Status: Public (Rose, Adam, War) - Complete
Setting: At the entrance door
Summary: Rose Heerkens comes to Lower Tadfield

Rose scrunched up her nose when she entered the town. It wasn't a large town, but the cars stank. How she longed to turn around and run, back to the hollow tree that had been her sleeping place last night. Or anywhere else that didn't stink. She'd never understand how humans could live with it.

She had to remind herself rather forcefully that she had no choice. If she didn't want to roam England on two or four legs for the rest of her life, without a pack, then she'd need money. A lot more than the few pounds her backpack held.

She missed her twin terribly, had missed him since the moment she'd had to leave the farm. So she wanted to get back to her real pack, and that meant she needed enough money for a flight to Canada. And she wouldn't get that money hunting in the woods, sleeping under bushes or in caves.

With a small sigh, Rose began walking down the road, keeping her eyes open for a restaurant or something similar. Unlike her brother Colin, who was with the police at home, she didn't have any experience with jobs, but she was pretty sure she could work as a waitress in a restaurant. Or maybe a chambermaid in a hotel, if she found one. Both jobs shouldn't be too hard if she could just ignore the smell of the town. And she would ignore it if that was her ticket back to Peter.

She didn't find what she was looking for in town and was already resigned to having to travel to the next town when she saw a rather large house at some distance to the town. It stood on a hill and maybe she could find work there. She didn't know if it was a hotel or a restaurant or maybe belonged to a wealthy family, but she hoped they could use an aide there.

So Rose started walking again and followed the road to that house. She took a look at her clothes to make sure they weren't too dirty. Not that she herself cared about that but she'd found out some time ago that humans made a huge fuss about dirty or crumpled clothes and she didn't want to be turned away from a potential job because of something minor like this. She decided the state of her jeans, sweater and sneakers was acceptable - as in 'not overly mud-spattered and totally crumpled' - and cautiously walked the last few meters up to the door.

Before she knocked, she eagerly and curiously sniffed the air. The scents she got were strange to say the least. Humans, yes, but different from any human smell she'd encountered so far. Rose decided to be on her guard when she met the inhabitants and then knocked resolutely on the door.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Rose listened to everything Adam said. It didn't sound too bad. He didn't mention anything about her having to worship any of those Gods. And the not-hurting-anybody-rule sounded just fine to her. But being nice needed clarification in her opinion.

"'Being nice to one another' as in always hugging each other, smiling and never arguing, or as in not attacking each other, but arguing and bantering allowed? And I thought the sphinx was a tall statue in Egypt?"

That had her thinking for a moment because they couldn't have that big statue she had read about here. Had that statue been created after the model of a living being? Then the rest of what Adam had said caught up with her.

"War? As in apocalyptic horseman War? The lady with the flashing eyes?"

War opened the door and invited me in? War offered me a meal and a drink? Rose was slightly shocked at that. Knowing supernatural beings existed and meeting them personally really where two completely different things. It certainly explains her feeling dominant and challenging

"Nah, not hugging and stuff. Just nice. Not trying to kill each other and stuff. You know." He'd phrased it better before but his mind wasn't that focussed on things right now.

"And I've not met the sphinx yet. Not been round that much. I think there are stories about the sphinx telling riddles and then killing people when they get it wrong. Which they usually did. Apart from one guy who didn't. I forget how it ended though. And yeah, War. Not sure what she'd think of being called a horse*man* though."

Adam was glad that Rose looked like she was going to hang around. It would be good to have somebody a bit more normal around here of nearer his age. Sister mary didn't really count...

Rose certainly didn't have problems with the rule not to kill anyone. I hope those angels abide by this rule. The sphinx sounded somewhat dangerous but again, a slong as she followede the rule... And yes, she could see that it hadn't been polite to refer to War as an apocalyptic horseman. Apocalyptic horsewoman or not, that glass of water and the promised meal would be nice now that I know I can stay.

"Alright. Could you tell me which room in this house I can use? I mean, War invited me for a meal, so I'd like to stay right here for the moment, but afterwards I should probably get settled in, take a shower and go find this Sister Mary to ask what to do. Could you describe her to me? Is she a nun?"

Rose longed to stretch her legs - preferably her four legs in fur-form - before she moved into a room here, but it was too risky. If she didn't want these people to know what she was, she couldn't change anywhere near the house. You can stretch your legs as much as you want as soon as you have enough money to go back to Canada.

War crossed the room carrying her whiskey - the bottle and a glass - and a glass of water for the girl.

"Here," she said. "I went ahead and ordered steak for us both - you didn't look much like a leaf-eater." She had a dim view of vegetarians. People who couldn't kill animals didn't tend to be much fun in battles.

"Adam," she said, with an acknowledging nod in his direction. "Whiskey?"

She was wary around him, in some senses, but if he'd drink whiskey it'd be a point in his favour.

Rose took the offered glass of water and smiled at War, still minding her teeth. She really didn't want to get into a fight with War. She didn't think her chances of winning were very high.

"Thank you, ma'am. Will the steak be rare? That's the way I like it best. And do I address you simply as 'War' or would you prefer something else?"

Something else came to her mind all of a sudden and she looked back at Adam.

"Wait a moment. If you really have Gods, angels, demons, mythological beasts and so on here and you are still the one in charge, then who or what are you?"

Adam looked embarrassed at Rose's question. And answered war first, "Yeah, alright. Don't suppose you fancy grabbing me a glass while you're up do you? Or I guess I could drink whiskey from a pint glass..."

He looked back at Rose hoping that she'd have lost interest in her question but it seemed she didn't have the midn of a goldfish and 4 seconds later she still seemed to want an answer to the question.

"I'm Adam Young. I'm human. I'm..." He hesitated, slightly tongue twisted. It wasn't something he had to explain often. He didn't want to tell he that technically he was the son of lucifer and given a unique roll by heaven and hell to start the apocalypse. It was things like that that made somebody not want to talk to you any more.

"I'm umm... well, I was meant to bring about the end of the world. But I decided I liked it so didn't." He glanced sideways at war, hoping it wasn't going to bring any bad memories back that would agitate her. "So yeah, I still got the power. 'specialy here in Lower Tadfield. Its, like, my place so nobody can challenge me here."

He looked at her, hoping not to see any sings of fear, horror or anything else. He hadn't given some of the more awkward details. She'd probably find out eventually but first impressions were important and he didn't want to give her *too* bad a first impression...

Looks like I found the alpha male was Rose's first thought at Adam's explanation. She had to swallow again. Then she shrugged. If he'd wanted to kill her, he could have already done - if he really was as powerful as he claimed to be. And he still seemed nice for a human.

"I suppose I should hope you keep liking the world. I'm rather fond of living."

She smiled again and finally sat down at his table, keeping her backpack firmly next to her right leg.

"I hope you don't mind?" she asked.

"What about a room I could use? And what does this Sister Mary look like? Is she a nun?"

She repeated her earlier questions as those still weren't answered.

Adam grinned. "Can't imagine the world will ever get boring. There's so much wicked stuff in it."

"There's not really people here except the special sort so just find yourself a room you like. Might need to change you round if it gets really packed. Course, you might need to clean it up a bit first."

"As for sister mary..." Adam described what she looked like for Rose. "Probably near reception somewhere. Maybe in the office. Dunno. And she's sort of an ex-nun. She's not really that religious though I don't think. More just inherited religion really.

"I'm sure she'll tell you about it though. She does like to talk."

War came back and slid a glass across the table towards Adam. "Help yourself," she said, pouring whiskey into her glass.

She hooked a chair out with a foot and settled into it. "Steak shouldn't take too long," she said to the girl, nodding towards the kitchen door.

"Heard he" - she gestured at Adam with her glass, the whiskey slopping up against the side - "told you a bit about us here. Any questions?"

Rose looked at war and still had to make an effort not to growl. She didn't know yet how she'd live in this house without getting in a fight with the woman some day, but she would try her hardest.

"Thank you," she addressed War. "Yes, Adam told me about some of the residents. Would you prefer 'ma'am' or 'War' when I address you?"

"Huh." War knocked back her whiskey.

"Go for Scarlett. Not everyone round here's been introduced yet."

"Alright, Scarlett it is."

Rose took a small gulp of water before she put her glass down again.

"Will the steaks be brought to the table as soon as they're ready or do we have to go into the kitchen to get them?"

War gestured towards the kitchen door with her head. "They'll bring them when they're ready. Shouldn't be long now."

"Alright."

A small grumbling noise could be heard from the direction of Rose's stomach, and the girl blushed slightly. Really, couldn't her stomach have waited those few more minutes till the steaks were here?

She tried to cover the awkwardness with another question.

"Is there a particular reason why there are several - I don't know, which word would cover angels, demons, gods, mythological beasts and apocalyptical horsewomen all at once? Is there a particular reason for them to be here, now?"

"Dunno. There weren't any invites or anything. People just turn up and I try to make them welcome. Near enough anyway. Now they're here maybe they'll learn tolerance and stuff."

Adam was a little uncertain about why they were all here. He'd set the hotel up as a kind of sanctuary and a kind of neutral territory. He'd been thinking about people like aziraphale and crowley when he'd done it. He really hadn't expected half of the people that had turned up and certainly not as rapidly...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Werewolf hunting for a job

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject