World of Darkness World of Darkness: Attrition - Meet the Parents [Finished]

[Adrian Moss]

January 16th 2009

For not the first time, I grapple with any excuse to dodge tonight’s meeting. What was I going to say; ‘Nice to meet you. Sorry I ghouled your daughter.’?

Maybe they wouldn’t understand ghouling. Perhaps he should keep it simple and say ‘enslaved’.

Gwen smiles at me as we drive the mustang up through Bel Air. The top is down and the wind is blowing in her hair. It is in the sixties, but a warm breeze is coming off the ocean. Gwen’s not beautiful, but she is kind of pretty in her own way, or so I tell myself. It sounds silly, but what attracts me to her is her brain. She’s smart – really smart and she can think her way around problems that really vex me. I love that about her and it’s why I chose her.

What I chose for her was to make her immortal, even if it is a borrowed immortality. I would like to think that she will be with me forever, but I know that now to be a lie. Everything changes and I have to accept that no matter how much I hate it, we are not forever. It makes me want to make the most of every minute, every day I spend with her. I think that helps somewhat with the guilt I will, I hope, always feel. It’s the reason I’m going to meet her parents. She wants me to. I’m that important a part of her life, so she can’t help but tell her folks about me. Now they want to meet the man who is such an important part of their little girl’s life.

As I pull into their driveway I realize it’s too late to run for it. Sure, I could make myself invisible to mortal eyes, but Gwen would cry. I can’t have that happening, but Gwen’s weakness makes me think of Erika. It’s a selfish thought, because I’ve had a hand in making Gwen this way. I guess I’m here to see what else made her the way she did tonight – her parents. I steel myself to learn and study as well as be interrogated.

I come around the car and open Gwen’s door. She is nervous about this meeting. As much as she wants this to happen, she is aware of my many shortcomings. I’m not the educated and cultured man that her kind of parents would want for their daughter. From the look of the house, her parents have done well for themselves and I’m betting they are expecting the same for their daughter. Worse, I have no good excuse as to where my money comes from. I can’t explain that I can really keep their daughter safer than most men she’s likely to meet. Damn the rules.

As I said, the house is pretty nice; as nice as my own. It figures, since they are both lawyers. The mother, Eleanor, is a tax lawyer, while her father, Gus, is a criminal defense attorney. Both are doing well in their fields according to Gwen. Her brother Bob (Robert) is not going to be at dinner tonight, but guess what? He’s also a lawyer. He does Entertainment law as a junior associate for one of the biggest firms in LA. It is going to be bad enough, two on one. Having a Bob breathing down my neck would be too much.

Gwen steps up and rings the bell. I reach out and hold her hand. When she turns and smiles at me, I give her hand a squeeze. She’s about to kiss me, but I can hear someone coming to the door. She’s not going to make it. I turn somewhat away from her and face the door, bringing her up short. The door opens and it’s Gus. Either that, or Eleanor is the ugliest woman I’ve ever seen.

[Adrian Moss]

I bring the blush of life to my features as I stop forward. Gus cuts me off. He looks through me then to his daughter,

“Come in Honey,” he says with a grin. He pulls her close and kisses her on the cheek. I wait my turn. I extend my hand and he separates from his daughter. He looks from my hand to my face with some distain.

“Andy is it?” His grip is strong; strong enough to cause me so pain, but I don’t let on.

He’s dressed in a nice white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, olive silk slacks and expensive Italian shoes. He’s speaks to me of expensive while not be fabulously so.

“No sir, it’s Adrian,” and he’s already let go of my hand. He turns to block me while escorting his daughter into her home/house/family’s place. I follow reluctantly and shut the door behind me. I catch the Old Man looking back my way over his shoulder, like he’s worried I might steal a painting off the hallway wall. This is sweet!

My sense of smell picks up various foods coming from the kitchen and my stomach tightens. It tightens not because it’s hungry – which I am – but because it knows what I’m going to demand of it soon. My stomach is a dead thing and I’m trying to trick it to acting alive. It’s a game that will only last so long and then what’s gone in comes back out – fun.

Gus is saying something to me and I have to focus away from the smells.

“Sir?”

Gwen looks nervous and her father gives me an evil, evil grin.

“I said it is nice of you to fit us into your busy schedule.”

I grin back. I can send ‘hate you’ vibes right back at him if he’s going to be this way.

“Well, I’m on call twenty-four/seven. It’s the price of my lifestyle and it’s given me multiple opportunities … like meeting your lovely daughter.”

I reach out for Gwen possessively and she hurries to my side. I glare at the old bastard.

“Daddy, Adrian’s work is very time consuming, but it is good work. We’ve worked on a few reports for his client – interesting stuff.”

“Like what?” said Gus. He had latched onto Gwen’s slip up like a cobra going after the mongoose.

I let her dig her way out of this. I give her a squeeze to let her know she has my confidence. She leans into me.

“Oh, one report was on a murder and how it was reported in the press. The other concerned a property that he was looking into. See, Adrian is multi-talented and his work is dependable.”

“Oh … I see,” when it was clear that wasn’t the case. He had no idea what I did, and that was good. Gwen was going to be a good lawyer.

“Honey, Bunny?” called out someone who had to be Eleanor, Gwen’s mom. I saw her moving up behind Gus and she looked very much like an older version of Gwen. A version we would both be lucky to never see. Gwen wouldn’t be growing older for a very, very long time. She was dressed in a very nice brown-grey weave that had to be Italian silk. Her blouse is beige and I can tell she’s wearing a black bra underneath. I wonder if she tastes like Gwen in more ways than one.

[Adrian Moss]

Eleanor smiles at me and stretches out her hand in greeting as she crosses the floor of what looks like a living room. Her heels click on the wood floor. Her eyes are alive and intelligent. Her hand is warm to the touch and her handshake is firm without being challenging. I like her right off the bat.

“Adrian, I’m Eleanor. Welcome to our house.”

Okay, she’s bookishly hot – down right sexy in my eyes. I’ve got to stop thinking about the whole Mother-Daughter thing too. I’m here as a guest in their house. I should be observing some rules, ya know?

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Eleanor.” I release her hand but keep eye contact. “I can see were Gwen gets her attractiveness from.”

Eleanor gives me another smile, but her eyes look over Gwen quickly. Gus glares at me like I’m some lump of garbage that has reached up and touched first his daughter and now his wife. I feel the Beast rise up in me and I beat it back in strained silence. There is no place for even a growl here; not if I’m going to make a good impression.

Eleanor separates from us and walks further down the corridor. She stops at the door and looks into what smells to me like a kitchen. I can hear someone moving around in there and humming a Spanish song that’s been on the radio a lot recently. I can smell the pork chops, the peppers, the beans, and … squash? It smells good. I imagine we’ll have a salad soon.

“Inez, how is the meal coming along,” Eleanor asks the unseen kitchen worker.

“Okay, Ms. Eleanor. It is ready when you are,” says the definitely accented Inez. Eleanor turns around, comes back to us and leads us across the hallway to the dining room. There is seating for six and I can see the looks going between Eleanor and Gus. Gus has Gwen by the arm and is acting like he’s going to lead her around the table to the other side, and away from me, but Eleanor is giving him such a glacial stare down that he hesitates.

I find my moment and take it.

“Eleanor, were do you want us to sit?”

See, I used us to indicate that Gwen and I should be sitting together. I’m so clever.

“Gwen will sit next to her Father,” Gus interrupts us, indicating across the table from were we are currently standing. “You can sit there,” indicating the seat, on this side of the table, next to his wife.

Eleanor recovers nicely. I’d bet she’d handle a Beast pretty well too. I’ve got to stop thinking of her like that!

“Adrian,” she takes me by the arm, “you can sit here, next to Gwen.”

She pulls me around and I brush up against her. She pretends not to nice and I really try not to give her ass a nice pat. I make it around her, presence of mind intact and find myself looking down the table at Gus. It takes a great deal of control to not send the bastard a gloating look. Instead I look at Gwen. She wants this. She needs this. I give her a comforting, goofy grin and we hold hands.

[Adrian Moss]

We are all seated around the table, Gwen next to her Father; me next to her Mother –fighting temptation. Inez is bringing the food in and serving us. She is even in a grey maid’s outfit, which sits tightly on her little, yet beefy five foot-nothing frame. He has the look of an Indian about her – an American Indian that is. Her hair is tied back in a pony tail that bobs around when she stops to put food on our plates. For a brief second I contemplate having a domestic then I realize I’ll never serve food and having someone clean my rooms is … unwise. Maybe Gwen would like nice in a maid’s outfit; probably in black though.

Gus is talking about his work and occasionally giving Gwen a law-quiz question for her to consider. If this is how she grew up, I can see were she got her keen legal mind from. As it stand, I’m at a total loss of what to say or do except to make sure Inez gives me the smallest portions allowable. She frowns slightly at me, possibly thinking I don’t like her food. I can’t tell her that what goes down must come up.

Eleanor draws me suddenly into a conversation about being a PI.

“I’m not one yet, but I’m working toward it. Part of my hours at work qualifies me for my license plus the courses I’m taking will get my certifications.”

“Well, the community college system is just fine, but do you think you will keep making the kind of money you are making now … doing what ever it is you do?”

I nod between a bite full of beans. My stomach jumps in my belly. It’s trying to rebel but I stop it. I’m going to really need to feed when we get out of here.

“It will make me more capable. Once I have my license I can do a wider range of services for my client base. It will also allow me to do what I want, which is investigating cases for free.”

I grin at her because this is the truth. It’s what I really want to do and she smiles back. Yes.

“Will you be going for your certification, or for the associate’s degree in Justice?”

Man, she’s on the ball. She probably Googled that and did some digging.

“I will go for my certificate first, but a degree isn’t out of the question. Is a matter of time. I’ve only go so much in a day.”

Eleanor nods and takes a slice of meat up to her delicate lips and takes it into her mouth. He chewing is gracious and refined. Her lips are thin, like Gwen’s, but she knows how to apply makeup, were Gwen does not. Even though I can see every line upon her face, it only adds to her aura of intelligence and confidence. I look down at my plate because I don’t want to stare. It doesn’t help much; I can smell her perfume, her deodorant, her shampoo, and even her body wash.

I look to Gwen and she smiles at me. Apparently me hitting it off with Mom has her approval. I’m glad she can’t read my thoughts.

[Adrian Moss]

“You haven’t eaten much,” Gus says. His words are like an accusation, which is pretty much what they are, I guess.

I don’t know what to say about it. The truth is out … or maybe a certain spin on the truth is out.

“Well sir, I’m nervous about being here.” My gaze goes between Gus and Eleanor. Gus’ gaze is like a laser beam while Eleanor is more akin to a cool moonlit night.

“After all, you are both lawyers, Gwen is going to be a lawyer, and I’m just a kid from the streets of Los Angeles. I can tell you this though – I’m going to do write by Gwen and make her life better for knowing me.”

“That’s right,” Gwen says a bit too dreamily. She takes my hand and gives it a squeeze.

Gus guffaws and I can almost see Eleanor taking in the situation. Maybe she approves and maybe she doesn’t. I shouldn’t take my eyes off Gwen to check. I give her a wink, her hand a squeeze, and then I get back to eating. I hate it, but it gets my head back in the game. I need to have these people liking me in order to make Gwen happy. Gus is a lost cause. I’m always going to be as street kid in his eyes. Eleanor is another matter.

“Frankly Boy I think you are a criminal!”

Okay, that was abrupt. I’m still working out my reply …and stomping my Beast back down in it’s hole instead of letting it turn Ole Gus into so much red, meaty chunks when,

“Daddy! That’s not fair,” says Gwen, followed by,

“Gus damnit!”

“Damn Elle, you’ve been thinking it too. The boy works for some unnamed person, who pays him some obscene amount of cash to do what? He won’t tell us. Confidential! Ha!”

Gwen’s about to say something when I beat her to the punch.

“Mr. Brooke’s, I play by the same rules you play by. I don’t let out the name of my employer because that’s one of the conditions I agreed to when I took this job. You don’t give out information on your clients to just anybody and neither do I.”

My words are calm, but my demeanor is seething. The Beast is far to close to the surface. Gus still glares at me. The guy has courage.

Gwen stands up, throws her napkin on the plate and stares down at her Father. About the same time Eleanor takes my arm.

“Adrian,” she tells me, “I’m sorry. I …” her voice trails off.

Out of revenge I want to pick up Eleanor, throw her over my shoulder and take her with me. That’s just a pipe dream and I know it, but still, I hate this guy. Instead I take Gwen’s hand and address her.

“Love, it is time for us to go.”

Gus is about to say something, but Gwen cuts him off with a nod.

“Sure thing Adrian,” she adds.

Gus holds his ground. He doesn’t ‘Gwen honey,’ or anything like that. He’s got a serious hate on for me and a belly full of pride.

I walk around the table, Gwen trailing behind me. As I’m passing Eleanor and catching half of what the two women are communicating, I keep my eyes firmly on Gus. I’m not going to back down and I’m not going to be the first to look away. Gwen is mine now and I’m not going to bow down to some mortal, dominating dick of a Dad.

Gus follows the three of us to the door. I can see it in his eyes as he muscles past Eleanor that he has to have the last word.

“Boy, I’m going to make it my business to show Gwen what you really are … you punk.”

Something comes over me and it isn’t the Beast. It’s pure, primitive brained anger. I get back in his face and speak my words harshly and succinctly.

“Gus, Gwen knows exactly who I am and what I do. You don’t and that’s killing you. Get a grip and grow old gracefully or you will find yourself growing old without her. That’s the real choice you have. It’s the only choice you have.”

I want to drill a finger into his chest with that last point, but one hands on the door knob and the other is being held by Gwen.”

“Eleanor,” I say as I turn to the Lady of the House. Her breath has quickened. Isn’t that nice? “Eleanor, thank you for having me over tonight. Maybe next time we can do it in a more neutral setting.”

“Gus,” I say with a smile, but not offering him a hand. “Thank you for letting me know were you stand. I’ll keep that in mind.” The knob turns under my pressure and the door swings open. I let Gwen’s hand go, but only to usher her past me outside. I follow her. With an effort I don’t let my eyes linger on Eleanor and then Gus slams the door in my face.

[Adrian Moss]

I have the car down the street and around a corner when I pull up the curb (on the wrong side of the street) and puke my guts out. Literally, it feels like something has come loose in my belly and I’m trying to expel it out my mouth. Not an experience I can really recommend. It doesn’t help that Gwen is about to cry and at the same time comforting me. I look back on tonight’s accomplishments and I’m pretty distraught. I pissed off the Father – okay, he was already pissed with little old criminal me.

I take a bottle of water out of the back seat. I take a swig, swish it around my mouth to get out the taste and any particles left in there, and spit it out on my vomit. I wish I had remembered to tone down my sense of taste, because now I can still feel everything went down, coming back up again. It’s morally discouraging.

Gwen’s quiet sobbing reminds me that I’m not alone. I feel selfish despite the fact that what I’ve just done is a perfectly normal function for an unnatural being.

“It’s okay babe. I’ll stay away from your Father is all. Your Mom seems cool with me. Maybe she can go out with us some night … like when your Dad has a late night case.”

Gwen smiles weakly with a tear-streaked face.

“We could have her over to your place. It’s so nice. She could see how well you are doing and how conservative your home is. You’re no gangster.”

“No,” I say with more force than intended, “she’s not coming to my haven. That’s forbidden.” My voice calms down.

“Honey, it’s too dangerous … for her and for me. I have enemies and I’m vulnerable during the day.”

Gwen looks sad,

“Well if you let me move in …”

“And we’ve discussed that too. I want you on campus, working on your degree, with minimal distractions. That includes worrying over my while I sleep.”

I touch her cheek, push back a lock of hair, and smear a tear while trying to dry her face.

“You will become a big lawyer and we will be able to work closer together then. You work during the day fighting crime, and me during the night working for justice – just like we talked about.”

“Just like you planned,” she pouts. She’s a smart cookie and doesn’t let me get away with much.

“What,” I say crossly and she shrinks slightly (I hate myself), “you told me is that you wanted to finish your degree and work for the District Attorney’s office. I said I could help you do your job better. You agreed.”

We drive a few minutes in silence. I feel like a heel because I can push her around when I feel like it. Finally, it gets to be too much.

“I care for you, Gwen.” I don’t use the love word. It hurts me too much to use it, because of Erica. When it comes to love I’m like most guys – confused. Why can’t I be happy with the one I’ve got?

“If you want to do something else, tell me?”

Gwen sidles across the seat, bending her delicate neck to put her head on my shoulder.

“Love, I hadn’t decided what I was going to do with my degree before you came along. Sure I thought about the DA’s office, but I also thought about working as a defense attorney like Dad. That’s probably a lost cause now.”

“Anyway, you confuse me at times, Adrian. It’s like I can’t tell were you end and I begin. You are such a crucial element in my life.”

She runs a warm hand across my chilled chest. The warmth is hypnotic.

“Gwen, I will try to never hurt you. I want a future for us.”

“Let me be a bigger part of your life. Let me know more about you and what you do when you go out at night. Let me know more.”

I shake my head. We’ve been over this before.

“I’ve told you why I don’t want that. I deal with dangerous people. I go out and hunt down women to feed upon. It is the same most nights.”

Then I get an idea. I’ll have to get Gwen a better wardrobe. Pity I don’t know any woman I can trust to help. Francisca would hold it over me. Amber and Sarah are just hopeless. Damn, do I know so few women?