a Knock on the Door - Frogman's Lilypad

There came a knocking at the door.  It was quiet, but firm.

Jim, hearing the knock, came out of the den where he had been reading and approached the front door. Seeing the pickup parked out front, took a look through the small window to verify before opening the door.

"Hi there stranger..." He said. "What brings you to my doorstep on a quiet sunday night..."

She smiled.

"Thought I'd visit. Maybe get to know you outside work."

"Sure thing," he said as he held the door open for her to enter. "Please... welcome to my humble abode."

Once she was inside, Jim closed the door and went into the living room with her. "Its not a huge place like some have around here but its a home in a decent neighborhood... not many of us do that. Can I get you a drink?"

She looked around with interest.

"I'm not that far from here, actually. And I'd love a drink."

Jim went into the kitchen and pulled a bottle of wine out of the wine-chest. Two glasses pulled and half-filled, he brought them into the living room and handed one over to her. "Madame..." he said.

"So whats cooking?" He said. "I would think you got enough of me at the shop..." A grin followed the statement as he sipped his wine.

There weren't many lights on; with one small one in the living room and a brighter one coming from the Den.

She chuckled and took a sip. She nodded in appreciation.

"Nah. And more practice with people is always good."

"Not a people person... I'm shocked," Jim replied. "You have a really easygoing way about you... almost screams Cool Person about as loud as your hair. Just sayin'..."

She shrugs.

"Faked it for a year."

A chuckle as he motioned to the Den where the lights were on. "Well... for a fraud, you are quite convincing..." he said with a twinkle in his eyes. "But then, we all became such when entering this stage of existence."


Leading the way to the Den, Jim would motion for her to precede him into the room. "Since you wanna learn about me outside of work, may as well be comfortable... as long as you are willing to go a bit of tit for tat..." He said. "Though you got an advantage- lots of clues around here..."

She chuckled and moved to a comfortable chair, curling up in it.

"Nah. I'm ignoring most of it. Want to learn from you. And I'm good with tit for tat. I think we're about the same age."

"Maybe," He said. "Depends on when you were born. I made it to 34 before embrace day... You?"

She chuckled.

"My years total 27. But I've been dead for five of them."

A nod as he sipped his wine. "Add eight to my age and you got me total. Been a interesting few, believe me," He said. "Being tremere not withstanding."

A soft "God damn it." came from the kitchen where Shauna had been working on something. The clatter of a metal object following shortly thereafter. The crunch crunch crunch of the hand held can opener a moment later. "Hang on there you." again said softly as she worked. When you talked to animals it was always soft even if you were being pissy with getting food out.

She nodded.

"Any time spent as a ghoul?"

Then she chuckled as she heard Shauna talking to one of the animals in the kitchen.

"Yep... a few," he said. "Helped at least twice in my profession at the time too. I am guessing you didn't get that opportunity?"


He called out to Shauna. "Everything alright in there?"

"Yeah. They usual." She replied louder. "I'm never fast enough."

Dishes were placed on the floor. "Many mouths saying feed me first. You with someone? I thought I heard another voice."

She chuckled.

"A very nice year and a half, thank you."

Then she called out.

"Hey Shauna. Forgot you were here. Would have brought Ein."

"Prism!" The voice couldn't have been happier. "Hang on I'll be right out in a few."

She smiled.

"My Corgi pup."

Shauna's footsteps could be heard quickly moving away from the kitchen.

"Cool...," Jim said. "I've had dogs before but not like I am now. Having Cinder and the cats here has been nice... and makes me miss Frankie my old Dobie."

She nodded.

"Then you should get one."