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Post by Nina Giles on May 16, 2010 12:39:59 GMT -5
Nina watched the moving van go back down the drive and turned to look up at the house. Her house. Her house that was admittedly a bit of a disaster. She supposed that the long-dead climbing vines were once the height of home fashion, as were the ornamental shrubs and hedgerows, also now dead.
"Nina, you have certainly bought yourself one hell of a job here," she said to herself. The vines, she decided would have to be the first thing to go. She supposed she needed to go into town, find the local hardware store, and buy the things she was going to need in order to rip them down. Groceries might not be a bad idea either.
It did occur to her to wonder briefly just how many vampires were currently in residence in Mystic Falls, but she figured she'd find that out soon enough.
She got back into her vintage 1958 Corvette and headed into the downtown core, eventually parking in front of the local hardware store.
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Post by seedian on Jul 6, 2010 21:00:47 GMT -5
Gabriel pulled in with his 67 Chevy Impala. It was his baby, his girl, his life. With his money he could have nearly any car he wanted and he chose her. His parents loathed the car and tried so hard to talk him out of it but he adored the beautiful classic yet powerful old school car more than most things. He fixed her up good and well practically turned her from a old piece of scrap to a brand new car. One night, during a full moon, he was pushing it with his time. He was suppose to come home early but he got caught up with a puzzle he almost couldn't figure out. Speeding home he almost made it, but not quite. He began to transform and crashed the car. He then proceded to tear the car apart from the inside out until he broke free. He father rushed out to suppress him and bring him into a holding chamber they had in their basement but the car looked damn near done. Gabriel spent months fixing her back up ignoring his parents to just get a new one. Gabriel got out of the car wearing some faded jeans, worn black timberland boots, and a simple black t-shirt. His blond hair styled nicely, not exactly spiked, but in a similar manner. He walked around his car noticing the corvette and a women he seen in the neighborhood briefly. There was a moving truck where he saw her so he assumed she had just moved to the neighborhood though at the time he wasn't given much thought to it. Perhaps he could learn more now that she caught his interest. "Excuse me Ma am. Good evening, my names Gabriel Nikopol, I am one of the residence here, I'm actually am a senior in school right now but I saw you as I was driving by you had a moving van at your house. I am assuming you just arrived." Gabriel said respectfully. His eyes processed her reactions, movements, facial expressions all the many details to help him create a mental profile of the individual in from of him and a base line. It was almost a automatic process at this point completely out of control. He continued in the same polite manner "I can guess you are here to pick up some things to help get your house together. Without any intrusion I simply wanted to let you know if you need help with anything I am more than happy to help you out with what ever you may need whether it be a extra helping hand, information about anything, or what ever." Gabriel
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Post by Nina Giles on Jul 7, 2010 1:04:24 GMT -5
Nina looked up at Gabriel with a smile and extended her hand. "Nina Giles," she replied, her voice accented with the decades she had spent in Europe. She kept her tone light and friendly, but ensured that her shields were locked down. "New owner of the Mystic Falls Library and taking over from Mrs. Fauville as librarian at the high school next week. I purchased the old Parsons estate, although I suppose you and everyone else in town already knows that."
She studied him briefly as she spoke and decided that she hadn't imagined the intensity with which he seemed to be judging her actions and words. Not a vampire, she thought, but there was something about him that seemed not quite the norm. Something that brushed the edges of her shields, but not in a way that screamed immediate danger. She didn't immediately recognize anything about him, so if he was someone she had run afoul of in her past it had been a very long time ago.
"The house itself is fairly well sorted, considering it hasn't been occupied in a few decades, but the exterior..." she grinned and shrugged. "I refuse to live in a vine-shrouded masoleum, which means I have my work cut out for me. I was rather hoping I might round up a few able-bodied youngsters to help me tear the dead foliage off the place."
She couldn't help herself, she had seen the Impala out of the corner of her eye and now she turned to admire the neat lines of the classic beauty. "That is truly a work of art. Did you undertake the restoration yourself?"
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Post by seedian on Jul 7, 2010 13:49:36 GMT -5
Gabriel took note of her accent, he wasn't sure if it was because she was from Europe or simply spent a great deal of time there but he was able to distinguish it fairly easy. Gabriel looked to her hand, no ring, no noticeable mark of a ring, Gabriel safely assumed her to be currently unmarried thus replying in a friendly manner "Well Miss Giles it is a pleasure to meet you. And you may be surprised at how oblivious some of the other students are to changes like this, its a shame, but some of them probably don't even know the school has a library." Gabriel finished jokingly knowing very well who actually read or used the library for research and who would much rather watch a movie. Gabriel continued though "Well you are in luck, I happened to be a bit more than a able-bodied youngster if I do say so myself and though they might not be able to keep on par with me I do know a few friends that would be more than willing to help." Gabriel said showing a slight cockier side though in a joking manner.
Gabriel turned towards his car grinning helplessly like a school boy in love for the first time. "Yes ma am, twice actually, heh, funny story really but thats something for another time. My parents hate it with a passion, they tried so hard talking me out of getting it, then tried so hard to sabotage it. I had to learn everything about her on my own. Read a few manuals but mostly just figured it out as I went. Since then I have been keeping a mutual agreement, she keeps me happy by driving like heaven and I keep her happy by taking care of her like a angel." Gabriel said exposing his perhaps in-ordinary affection for his car. Gabriel turned back to Nina and then to the store "I can only guess that your here for tools to help around the house. I have to pick some things up myself I'd be more than happy to help you, I am pretty good friends with the people who work here, might even be able to get you some free things, certainly a discount."
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Post by Nina Giles on Jul 7, 2010 15:58:32 GMT -5
Nina could certainly appreciate someone having that much passion for a car, she had owned the 'Vette since the day it came off the assembly line and had spent years and an inordinate amount of money keeping her looking the way she had that day. "I believe that ever since the invent of the automobile there have been parents who held strong opposition to their children's choice of one." Not that her parents had been around when the car was invented, mind you, but they had wrung their hands in worry over the wild, bad-tempered horses she preferred over the tame ponies they wanted her to ride.
"Well, Mr. Nikopol, it is my pleasure to meet you, and I would certainly appreciate any help you and your friends would care to offer. It's going to be difficult hard labor I'm afraid, but I am more than willing to pay good workers a reasonable wage." She laughed. "And knowing the appetites of teenagers I will also provide lunch each day worked and keep coolers stocked with cold drinks. I spoke with my neighbor earlier and she offered to gather a few friends as well to help me out on the weekend. Erika Mirazdia, she attends the high school as well and is definitely one of the students I'm sure will turn up in the library from time to time."
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Post by seedian on Jul 7, 2010 19:03:47 GMT -5
Gabriel chuckled faintly as Nina offered to pay for his and his friends services. "With all due respect Ma am, I wouldn't feel comfortable accepting any money for mine or my friends help with your house. But I'll make you a deal, if you provide those drinks and snacks for us, I will be more than happy to do what it takes to get the job done." Gabriel said respectfully not wanting to sound rejecting or unappreciative of her offer it was just in his nature to help people not any other motives. Though his hidden agenda one could say was his interest in learning exactly who Nina Giles was as he did most of the people in his town. Strictly curiosity, he was soon to be great detective, there was no bigger force that drew to him than a puzzle or mystery.
"Erika Mirazdia hmm, yes I know her quite well. Her intentions are always well, I personally believe she has a kind heart, no more problems than the next girl." Gabriel said partially correct. He knew Erika had a few bigger perhaps more major flaws and issues than your average girl and the fact she wasn't an average girl at all but a immortal though Gabriel knew it wasn't his place to speak about her as such. "I don't spend much time in the library but I am all for taking out any books that presents a challenge particular any sort of puzzle or good mystery. Though I never have been able to finish a mystery novel without figuring out long before the end exactly what was going on before they even tell you. It's not as much fun when you know how the book is going to end before you finish reading it but if you see anything I might like feel free to drop it by me and I am always eager to check them out."
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Post by Nina Giles on Jul 8, 2010 23:43:27 GMT -5
"I get the sense that you're an unusually complicated young man, Mr. Nikopol." Nina replied after a moment, a smile still playing at the edge of her mouth. "Not many would turn down an honest wage for honest work at any age and offer to help out a stranger with no expectations of payment." Complicated, she mused, was probably an understatement. It was no surprise he was a fan of mysteries; she wondered if he knew how much of an enigma he was himself.
The smile won out, as it generally did with Nina. "Regardless, I thank you for the offer and accept wholeheartedly. If you and your friends could arrange to be at my home Saturday morning, say around ten if that suits, I will be more than happy to put you all to work. And if any of you happen to have a pickup truck we can throw dead foliage into for carting to the dump that would be brilliant. The 'Vette is a delightful little thing, but she's a touch impractical. The house isn't hard to find, it's the abandoned-looking property to the west of the Salvatore Mansion."
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Post by seedian on Jul 9, 2010 19:51:46 GMT -5
Gabriel humored at her comments on his persona and chosen actions. He spoke in a joking manner again though his statement was true "I am afraid to have to be the one to tell you this but once you realize the amount of food and drinks us growing teens go through you'll realize you might actually be over paying for us to help heh heh!" Gabriel held a grin and replied casually "Saturday, ten, with a truck of some sort for hauling, consider it already done. And don't worry about the house because by the time I am finished with it the Salvatore family will be begging to trade their precious mansion for your soon to be breathtakingly lovely new home." Gabriel said cheerfully confident and optimistic then adding quickly "But as it stands right now, would you like any help in the store?"
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Post by Nina Giles on Jul 10, 2010 22:44:35 GMT -5
Despite her initial misgivings, Nina found that she liked this young man. He seemed friendly and helpful, with a strong spirit and an infectious good humor about him. For some reason he reminded her of a puppy she had once rescued, a Golden Retriever that was all energy and eager to please.
"Well if you have any idea how many of you I can expect, I do need work gloves for each of you at the very least. I might as well just go ahead and buy gardening shears, a couple of hand saws and a long tree blade since I have no idea whatsoever where mine might be hiding in the boxes and crates. The only thing I've managed to unearth so far are a few clothes, my iPod, my laptop and the twenty-seven boxes of books for my library!"
She laughed a little self-consciously. "I suppose some people would think that there are a number of things that were more urgent to get into the right rooms than my books, but the written word is my passion, my life. I couldn't bear to leave them in crates in the garage until I got through everything else." She gestured to the door of the hardware. "And although the Salvatore Mansion is a lovely old home, I wouldn't trade them for the world. I like my miniature castle. The library is wonderful and there's actually a room that is going to be absolutely perfect for housing my arms and armor collection!"
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Post by seedian on Jul 11, 2010 18:12:55 GMT -5
Gabriel thought for a moment as he headed towards the door of the hardware store. He could get just about anyone to help him from school. "I could get probably five other kids to come help me. If you don't think that will be enough I am confident I can persuade some more to come by." Gabriel said now holding the door open for Nina to enter the hardware store. Gabriel then commented on her admiration towards her books understanding how she felt as it was like wise the same for him and his investigations. "And I understand completely the passion you have for your books. Its not too hard to believe they would be among the first things you would want unpacked and settled in your new home. I sometimes wonder where our society would be without novels. So much knowledge, adventure, and fantasy we would be lost I think without them." Gabriel shoved his hands in his pockets and awaited directions as he embarrassingly forgot why he had come to the hardware store. He forgot what he had been told to get. He however was not all that concerned it wouldn't be the first time he had gotten distracted.
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Post by Nina Giles on Jul 13, 2010 0:27:19 GMT -5
Nina thought for a moment, then nodded in satisfaction. "That would be perfect, then, since Erika promised half a dozen helpers as well. Of course the volunteers she rounded up might have more to do with the picture of me leaning on the hood of the 'Vette that she texted all over town than an actual desire to help, but I'm hardly going to argue with her methods!"
She found that she liked Mystic Falls, almost as much as she had liked it back in the 1860s, although that particular experience had ended on a rather sour note. Still, she had promised herself she'd be back, and here she was. The mansion was hers again, and this time she owned the library as well. "Well, I'll get what we're going to need to get started, and then I believe a trip to the grocery store is definitely going to be in order." She walked into the store and looked around.
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Post by seedian on Jul 13, 2010 20:16:39 GMT -5
Gabriel thought deeply still quite curious about Nina Giles. Gabriels eyes focused intently on her face which was where the initial signs would show if she was lying to him or not. He was aware still though of his peripherals as other signs such as fiddling with your hands, hands tightly in pockets, grabbing your clothing and so on and so fourth while talking would help determine if what she was saying or talking about was a topic that angered, scared, made uneasy, made her nervous ect ect. Gabriel was quite gifted with this skill which took most people years to learn under the proper training and classes. He couldn't tell what people were thinking or tell the future or past though in the right situations he could make it seem as though he could, however he sure as hell could accurately determine if someone was lying or telling the truth. Gabriel was not going to press a matter that Nina may not want to talk about but he had to know if their was something more to her than a simple librarian replacement.
Gabriel held his polite demeanor as he usually did except during full moons when he became quite aggressive towards people. He spoke though unable to hide his intrigued expression on his face. He had not yet mastered being able to read someone without being conspicuous. "Miss Giles if you don't mind me asking, what made you come here to Mystic Falls? What made you take the job here? I am sure there were perhaps better opportunities at maybe better schools or was this your only option? Or was they a separate reason besides the job that attracted you to this place? I am not trying to be as nosy as it may seem its just I was forced to move here three years ago and though this place has many fascinating aspects to it I see no significance to this place at all. I am quite eager to travel the world actually when I graduate finally and as home as this place is for me now I don't see myself ever returning. So is there something special here that perhaps I am missing or was it simply a series of random events that landed you here like your job?"
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Post by Nina Giles on Jul 15, 2010 23:00:26 GMT -5
“Are you always this curious and intense?” Nina asked, but a smile took whatever edge there may have been out of her words. “I don’t mind, actually, I generally encourage my students and patrons of the library to ask questions, although I must admit I don’t usually find myself under such close scrutiny!” She still had the feeling that she was being sized up for some reason, but what that reason could be she couldn’t determine. “I know that I don’t exactly fit the usual small town librarian persona, and I am definitely no Mrs. Fauville! She is such a lovely woman, and what a treasure she’s been for local history and legend.”
Why had she returned to Mystic Falls after all these years? It was a good question, really, and there were several answers to it that made up the whole, including one that she wasn’t willing to admit to, even to herself. “There were better job opportunities, definitely, in larger centres that lacked the charm of Mystic Falls. The job at the school is actually more or less icing on the cake. I wanted an old mansion that I could fix up and restore to its original glory. I found others, of course, in several different states, but the Parsons Estate here came with the added bonus of the town library being up for sale as well. I am what I suppose you could call ‘independently wealthy’, which simply means that I don’t actually have to work. However, being surrounded by books in an environment that allows me to expose young minds to a love of reading was irresistible, so when the school board approached me about taking on the duties as school librarian I truly couldn’t say no.”
She walked through the store, picking up the items she wanted as she spoke. “Also, I do have some history here, in fact a distantly related ancestor was a maidservant in the Parsons Mansion around the turn of the century before the place was abandoned to its memories. I was so pleased to learn that it was still standing, I had expected to hear that the lot had reverted to the town and the site leveled. This town has a rich history liberally laced with hints of the supernatural, Mr. Nikopol, and it’s own share of mystery and intrigue. I suppose in a way it just called to me.”
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Post by seedian on Jul 15, 2010 23:20:18 GMT -5
Gabriel listened carefully, watched carefully, then took what answers she presented and opened a curiosity to more that came up as she explained her reasons to him. An ancestor? Perhaps there were records of her in town. Gabriel heard enough to look into some things on his own. He was a bit confident he could ask her but he did not want her to feel like he was interrogating her or insinuating she had some unethical ulterior motive for moving to Mystic Falls. Gabriel chuckled faintly than replied humorously "Supernatural eh? If there were any supernatural events occurring in this place I assure you I would be the one who would know about it. I had a short period of interest in such things, there is quite a bit I could tell you about cursed beings, vampires, magically gifted folk..........especially werewolves. *clears throat* Yeah uhmm I did allot of research on them awhile back I guess I hit some sort of phase or something. I guess the most important thing is to remember what exactly is real and what is still fiction." Gabriel finished quite cleverly sounding as though he was saying the supernatural didn't exist but never actually saying they did or didn't only that he would know about them if they did which he did. He however equally clever less put too much emphasis on werewolves which he did well to keep hidden not wanting any attention to that area of his life.
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Post by Nina Giles on Jul 16, 2010 0:07:17 GMT -5
Nina frowned a little to herself at his words, surprised at his assertion that he would know about anything paranormal in the area. Her first thought was that he held seriously misguided and potentially dangerous beliefs, since she had always been a firm believer in the power that knowledge alone could hold. Shut yourself off to new possibilities, believe that you know everything there was to know about something, and you were woefully unprepared for whatever may be around the next curve. Her second thought, and much more troubling on a lot of fronts, was that he was speaking the truth.
“So I should stop searching in the journals I’ve uncovered in both the town and my new personal libraries and just come to you for the rundown on how many vampires are currently taking up residence here?” she asked bluntly, but her voice held a light, teasing tone, making it a joke if he chose to interpret it that way.
Her mind was racing as she spoke, though, since she now needed to decide whether he was potentially ally or enemy. She hadn’t forgotten that initial, featherlight warning that her shields had given her when she had first seen him outside. “Cursed beings and practitioners of the dark arts aside, I don’t recall too many werewolf legends in this territory. Assuming, of course, that you speak of the true werewolf rather than the currently held popular belief that they’re really no more than huge, trained lapdogs!” she added with a grin.
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