"Patron"
A whirl of memories, ideals and ideas stormed through Meri's mind.
Patron; Father; Guardian; Master.Mistress. Sire.
Bargain; Pact; Debt; Contract; Repercussions.
Decisons. Destiny. Fate. Happenstance. Probability. Permutation. Outcome.
Different meanings, different levels of meaning within those meanings.
Soul; Spirit ; Sword; Honor.
And one word before, behind, in front of, above and below it all:
Blood.
Not just the liquid of life, but the blood that must be spilled to maintain both life and unlife, make pacts and contracts, break them - and to bind the immortal to eternity, be they alive or unalive.
A distant light on teh horizon of her awareness gave Merovingia pause; it was bright grreen and blinding, yet also red-pink and soft. A bonding, of magic, spirit, and soul.
As above, so below.
Literally.
-----------
Meri broke out of her reverie and found herself looking into the eyes of the young foxwoman, whose gold-red tail had slipped free and now swished full and lovely behind her, and her ears stood erect atop her head, as she gazed into Meri's eyes. There was a feeling that surrounded the group and their immediate vicinity that gave the impression that although the bar was as loud as it had been all along, they themselves resided within a cocoon of privacy; the sweat on the bartender's forehead explained why.
"My veins?" The young woman asked, pulling aside her hair and showing her neck.
A brief urge to lunge forward - and then control asserted itself; The vampiress checked herself before her muscles could even twitch to betray her bloodlust. Instead of pouncing to feed, as her mind and the beast within whined and raged for her so to do, Meri smiled both lovingly and sadly. "No, young one, that is for your proposed patron. I am not the demon you should contract with."
"I will accept your offer to regain my Foster-Father's sword, weighty though the responsibility may be for both of us. But tell me, what shall be the price of this boon?"
"That you will protect this station and both human and supernatural for a decade."
"Only a decade?" Meri was surprised.
"bargains must have limits, else they are nothing but endentures." The young woman responded practically.
Wisdom from one so young, Meri mused. Out loud, she said, "I accept your offer, and your price. I do not accept lightly, however; if you will reconsider, I shall be happier. Though I am happy as I am, I can tell you from the tale of my own life that it is a long and hard road to become either a servant or an ally of the left hand. Do what you will, but consider the consequences first.
"I will, and have."
"Then, go."
Suddenly, the noise around them surged, and the coccoon of privacy melted away as the fox twins seemed suddenly to melt into the throng and disappear. After a moment, Madame Lee spoke.
"Friends of Merovingia," the Proprietress said, although she was somewhat nonplussed by the exchange between Meri and the aspiring smith (though she'd be damned herself before she'd willingly show it) "If you you will follow me, I will show you to our new 'storage facilities.' "
She means the Gate," Al whispered in Jaces ear, as he slipped an arm arond her.