[[with Ascendancy]]

Elke stripped her table of the sheets and dropped them in the soiled basket. She wiped her brow with the back of her hand for a bit of rest, and twisted off the cap of a water bottle for a drink. Her arms and back were tired, and as she rubbed her own shoulders with weak hands. She wished she could make herself as refreshed as old Mrs. Pavlova, who practically hopped off the table and skipped out of the room. The old lady was kind enough, and pretty funny to boot, and she tipped well. Really well, Elke thought as she stuffed the money left behind into her bag, pulled out a change of clothes and hurried into her uniform. She finished tidying the space afterward and went out front to clock out. Her shift at the parlor was over.

It was evening outside. The tattoo shop next door was just opening up for the night, and she waved at the worker through the windows as she passed. He gave her a lopsided grin and a wave to come inside, but Elke tapped at her own belly and gave a little twirl in her scrubs. She was starving and needed to eat, and she had to get on.

She bought a wrap from a cart vendor on the street corner, and downed it as she walked. Only then she checked the time and skipped forward, hurrying. She hadn’t realized she’d been loitering, and was only barely going to make it.

The housekeepers business was just opening up for the night at 9 pm on the dot. She barely slipped through the back door in time.

With a loud whoosh, she clocked in and stowed her belongings in a locker. Her scrubs were already on, so no need to change again. Her hair was already tied back in double braids and pinned close to her scalp. She wore the braids long her first shift and was really grossed out by the blood she got her hair. The other girls laughed and told her to wear a hair-net next time, but Elke thought they were ugly and decided to wear them up high and tight. She wrapped a black scarf around her skull just to keep the splatter out, and stuck out her tongue at the girls the next night. When they asked for the link she used to order them from a site, she shared though. She wasn’t petty.

She left the locker room to go down the hall and check their assignments for the evening and get her gear. Every night was a different location. She never really knew what kind of thing the housekeepers would be called to clean. It took a good month of orientation to learn all the tools and chemicals, though. It wasn’t fun work. It was gross and hard, but the real fun was in the places they went and in the money she made. She had never seen so much in all her life as what was on her first paycheck. Sadly, most of that went to rent, but still.

She scrolled her finger through the screens until she came to her name. There was nothing yet, but jobs usually came in last minute. So she had a few minutes to kill, she figured. So she grabbed a pager, and went to the break room to find a snack. On the way there, though, she heard raised voices coming out of the manager’s office. So she stopped to listen.

His wallet blinked a message from his father.  Dorian stared at the flashing light for a good hour while he sipped at the red wine he'd pulled from his wine cooler.  He'd have to see what was available in Madrid and have it shipped here.  Cruz didn't need to keep all the fine wine if he wasn't even going to be there.  And his father wouldn't miss it.

He sighed and hit the play button.

"Dorian,  We have to talk.  It's about Cruz.  I'll be in Moscow this Thursday.  I will have my people arrange a meeting.  Be there."

For once he wasn't pissed at him.  Which made him smile, but that it was about Cruz could only mean that he'd noticed his sons sorta rebellion.  Gone was the day of the good kid who always did what granddad wanted.  He was showing his spine -- something Nox had taught him.  Something Cruz disparately had needed, but his grandfather was not a man who would go gently into the night any time soon and he still had his obligations. Obligations Dorian knew should have been his, but he hadn't wanted them.  Cruz did.  He had actual plans for Jivana.  But right now he needed a break from it all.  It was time his grandfather let go.

But he wouldn't do that well either.

Christian Costa

Age: 33
Origin: Madrid Spain
Occupation: Head of the Vega Household in Moscow

Personality:  Christian is a pretty no-nonsense guy with a big heart and the tolerance of a saint.  He's proper at all times as he's hiding many secrets -- none of them are his own. 

Description:  Classic Spanish male with dark hair and eyes.  He wears expensive suits that he shouldn't be able to afford as JUST another servant.  But the Vega's pay well.  He does not speak in a broken accent, though he can preform it on cue if asked.  Christian in casual clothes could fit in anywhere any place and look as if he belonged.

History:

Christian was born, raised and grew up in the slums of Madrid.  Parents weren't homeless but they were only one step up from losing their house or car at any point in his childhood.

Christian didn't graduate high school, never went much past the middle grades as he spent most of his teenage years trying to help take care of his three younger siblings, mother and keep his two older brothers ones out of trouble.  He is a natural care giver.

He took odd jobs wherever he could take them and had spent many years floating through some of the gardening units that catered to the rich and famous.  A lot of the estate wives would oggle him so when Dorian Vega approached him to become his pool boy it came as no shock.  There were plenty of shocks that followed afterwards.

Christian spent the summer in a speedo and nothing much else as he lived on the Vega's estate in their pool house.  He was the eye candy for one Anastasia Vega, wife to a cop and the heir to Jivana.  A job Dorian Vega did not want.

It was not uncommon for the women of the estates he worked at to proposition him and in most cases he said no.  But there were hints from the master of the home and when Ana corralled him one evening he couldn't say no.  Word got around the estate and instead of getting fired, Dorian Vega handed him keys to the car and his new job was the personal attendant to Mrs. Vega.  He was to be at her beckon call.  And he has been ever since.

Christian learned many secrets over the years.  Too many to count, and more than enough to continue receiving a pay check for years after the senior Vega dies.  But there is no true need for the payday, Christian loves the Vegas, including Dorian, despite what you'd think should be animosity now that he's openly bedding Vega's now ex-wife.

Christian proposed to Ana shortly after Dorian left the Vega Estate in Moscow due to his betrayal of those Ana and Cruz  considered family -- Christian too, but he had no say in any of the matters.  They will never get married otherwise legally Ana would lose the Vega Estates and money that she is promised in alimony.  Ana and Dorian insist that it wouldn't come to legal matters and Dorian says he'd never take it away, but why risk it.  They've been happy all these years just the way things were.  Why change it.

But now that Christian runs his own house, things are different, he's a bit lost and listless not knowing what really to do since they've now hired a new head of household and he no longer 'runs the house.'  At least not in the same way though he still tries.


(face: Luciano Costa cause I'll forget and have to google 'Kaidan Alenko model' again)

Hey Jaxen,  

Yes, I blame you for this.  If you hadn't made the show this glitz and glamour thing it would never have happened.  If the show hadn't gone viral I wouldn't be "forced" to hunt down my favorite character.  Nor would I have to kill Sly in the end of it all.

*throws sparkles in Jaxen's direction* Thanks! (honestly, thanks!  Love it went off the rails by one simple declaration.  Hey, ain't that how Aria's darkness started...  Yes, I blame you.  Thank you.)

((This is an old thread that I am reposting so that the end of it can work into other 3rd Age plots)).