Exotic Import

[Arabella Balfour]

Warm brown eyes peered back from their own sullen reflection. Pale slender fingers slid across a window, as lights from the world below became more distinctive shapes. Buildings. Runways. Airport vehicles scurrying about collecting baggage and conveying technicians to and fro. The flight from Charles de Gaulle to Logan had been considerable in comparison to the jaunt from Boston to the international airport at O'Hare. The inclement December weather had kept them all circling for a bit longer than was necessary. She was certain that passengers from the coach section were becoming restless, children hungry and adults anxious. The delay gave Arabella the time she needed to reflect on the circumstances that had brought her here.

She had left Paris for the first time, in more years than she cared to recollect. It made her nervous. In the end she didn't know how long she would be gone either. A part of this trip was to visit with Fiona and Michele, but she was also being sent, at the behest of her own physician, to see a blood disorder specialist at the University of Chicago Hospital. The medications that she was taking to strengthen her blood were no longer helping her. She thought that she had been ready to make a final decision, to live or to die.. Once again though, she had been wrong. She just could not commit to the cost. It scared her. Leaving Paris and her companies there in the hands of her assistant, Rose, she had taken a much required leave.

The voice of the captain quietly informed them that they had been cleared to land. Arabella handed over her, now empty, wine glass to the flight attendant and accepted the freshly warmed towel, pressing it's comfort against her pale cheeks. Sliding on a bit of gloss so that she had a bit of color, she prepared to be enveloped in Fiona's world. It would be a welcome change.

After a bumpy landing, she collected her lone handbag and moved on shakey heels down the ramp and into the bustling airport.

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona arrived at the airport alone. Michele was busily preparing her 'Big Suprise' for Bella, to be unveiled at just the right moment.

She was dressed very bohemian. High boots, long coat, and a floppy hat on her cropped red head. A long knit scarf completed the outfit ::

"Bella!!!" she waved, grinning like a mad pixie.

[Arabella Balfour]

Letting her fingers slide loose from their white knuckled grip on her stylish black woolen coat, Arabella lifted her fingers in greeting from afar. Her face lit up to see Fiona's familiar smile, her own grin slightly crooked to see what her friend had done to her hair.

The hat, clothes, and crop made the ageless beauty look like a waif. Somehow though, it totally worked on her with an adorable effect. 'Bella's own attire of a straight-lined, knee-length grey dress over black knit stockings and heels was almost drab in comparison. She shook her head, silky dark locks swishing, just knowing that she would have a new wardrobe before this trip was over.

Closing the distance, Arabella leaned in and gave Fiona a quick hug and a sisterly kiss on each smooth cheek. She stepped back and lifted a hand, gently tugging on Fiona's much shorter hair. "What have you gone and done now?"

With a small laugh she relented. "It's charming. Suits you perfect."

[Fiona Devlin]

"I did it for Michele." she gushed. "I'm glad you like it."

:: She caught her friend's hands and held them ::

"Is everything squared away in Paris?"

[Arabella Balfour]

Her gaze dropped down briefly, as if she wasn't quite committed to the answer. "Everything will be just fine without me. Keep reminding me of that fact, will you?"

She smiled and tucked her arm into Fiona's, heading out of the gate, toward the baggage claim and exit doors. "It's a well oiled machine over there. I can't keep using the excuse that I have to be present at all times. I need to take care of myself for a while I suppose."

[Fiona Devlin]

"Aye, and you have us to look after you."

:: She silently noticed they were being followed, but kept it to herself for the moment ::

[Arabella Balfour]

"Yes, well. It won't be the first time you've taken care of me. You are the best, Fi'. I truly mean that."

As she walked she adjusted the strap on her shoulder, happening to glance out the foggy windows they were passing.

"The cold makes it worse.", she said softly, refering to her illness.

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona gave her arm a squeeze ::

"We've got alot to talk about. Let's get you home first."

:: She led Arabella to the car, a white Lotus Esprit Turbo, and held the door for her with a gallant bow. Her eyes narrowed at the man in the gray sedan as Arabella got in. One of Tyler's lackeys ::

[Arabella Balfour]

Sliding her legs gracefully into the car, Arabella turned in the seat, her knees rotating to face the driver's side. As she watched Fiona approach, she caught a quick view of her friends eyes narrowing slightly, and the cause.

So they were being watched. Interesting.

When Fiona got in and they pulled into airport traffic, Arabella lifted her eyes to the rearview mirror. "Friends of yours..?"

[Fiona Devlin]

:: She half-smiled, half-growled ::

"They work for Tyler. She owns the airport."

:: She smirked as the traffic cleared enough for her to cut loose, and the chase began ::

[Arabella Balfour]

Fiona didn't seem overly concerned, but something about the name that she mentioned set off warning bells in Arabella's mind. She couldn't recall the specifics, but she thought maybe it was an alias. Someone she had heard of..

"It's always exciting to see you, mon cher." She grinned.

"So where am I staying?"

Arabella had protested but Fiona had won the battle. She was making the arrangements for the visit and Arabella was 'not to worry' about it. It was a lesson in torment for Arabella to just let go and not be in control of everything..

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona smiled at Bella and looked into the rearview mirror ::

"Hold on, let's lose these pests first."

:: She accelerated and shifted lanes like a professional race car driver, losing the sedan in the traffic ::

[Arabella Balfour]

Beneath her fringe of dark hair, 'Bella smirked. "If you must.." She settled deeper into the seat and crossed her legs, wrapping her fingers around the door to keep her person steady..

She had driven with Fiona before..

"They are always so friendly..?"

[Fiona Devlin]

"Stupid is more accurate."

:: Fiona had that look in her eye, the one Arabella remembered when she kicked the stuffing out of some highwaymen back in France ::

[Arabella Balfour]

"Not that I am not always game for a trouncing, love...." Arabella winced, "..but I did not think to come armed. Airport security and all.."

It was a jest. Fiona had taught Arabella to look after herself with or without a blade. She glanced in the rearview, they were still being tailed, and the other car was gaining, by creating chaos in the lanes behind them.

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona growled ::

"I'm really sorry about this, Bella."

:: She picked up the cellphone as they sped along ::

"Macushla, we're going to be a few minutes late. We're in a bit of a jam."

:: She swerved onto a backstreet and turned onto another backstreet before stopping the car ::

[Arabella Balfour]

As the car stopped, 'Bella's eyes closed while she inwardly weighed their options. Fiona, irked as she was, was all for action. Arabella though, was not at her best. Still, weak as she was, Byron's blood was still pumping through her and she was very resourceful.

Her breath had already fogged the car window. The night air was frigid. She hated the cold..

Her eyes opened, watching the mirror. They had not lost the other car. It turned onto their side street, slowing when it spotted them. The car passed beyond the halogen glow of a street light, parking beneath the shadow of a brick building.

"Chocolate on my pillow for this. You hear..?"

[Fiona Devlin]

"I promise." she smiled.

:: The smile faded as she rose up out of the Lotus, and power walked towards the Sedan ::

[Arabella Balfour]

Arabella followed, but at a more leisurely pace, her hips rolling with the perfected walk of a courtesan, her hand folded behind the small of her back. She approached the other side of the car and watched Fiona for signals, half suspecting there wouldn't be any.. It may get very nasty.

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona reached down and picked up an empty beer bottle without breaking stride ::

"You @#%*@#!!!! Get out of the car, you @#%*&@#s!!!"

:: The bottle exploded against the windshield of the sedan, and Fiona charged the lead ghoul as he hopped out of the car to make a run for it ::

[Arabella Balfour]

The sheltered girl she'd once been, bristled at the display, but was once more drowned out by the ghoul she had become. The passenger door opened and another ghoul spilled out, but did not run. Apparently he thought he could take her without difficulty.

Arabella delicately stepped one foot after the other out of her high heels. She stepped backward, barefoot onto the pavement, watching.. waiting. When he moved to tackle her, she hooked her toe into one discarded shoe and flipped it upward with a savage kick, the heel sticking into his shoulder. She smiled sweetly..

"First blood, mon sucrée.."

[Fiona Devlin]

:: The lead ghoul summoned up courage, realizing he wasn't going to outrun Fiona, and turned to throw a punch at her. She parried with her left hand, and turned it into a grab as she hit him in the nose with a straight lead punch. Behind her, two more ghouls hopped out of the sedan ::

[Arabella Balfour]

From the look of fury on his face, Arabella would wager the money she'd spent on those heels was well worth it. The enraged, but wounded ghoul advanced on her. She tip-toed gracefully backward up on to the sidewalk, always watching. He called her a filthy name and swung a backhanded strike at her, which she ducked under at the last minute, almost pittying him the sound of his bare knuckles ripping across brick.

She stepped under his arm, kicking once more at his chest, sending the heel of her shoe, which he had yet to remove, deeper into his body. She felt it hit bone as he screamed.

Two more ghouls had emerged from the car. They ignored her and went directly after Fiona. Arabella removed the lid of a metal trash can, drew it back to shoulder level sighting the skull of one of the pair. She let it fly, smiling as it hit and the ghoul went down facefirst.

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona was distracted by the metallic clang as one of the two ghouls behind her fell. She caught a right hook in the jaw, and the one behind her gave her a nasty dose of pepper spray ::

[Arabella Balfour]

She cursed.. They were not all as stupid as the one still howling behind her. Fiona was temporarily blinded and in pain, two ghouls against her. Still, before Arabella could help her friend, she had to deal with 'Ugly.' One of his shoulders had been rendered useless, and his opposite hand was dripping thick red blood onto the dirty slush of the sidewalk, but he was still coming..

She managed to avoid several more quicker hits from the ghoul, before his bloody hand closed around her throat, yanking her off her feet to him.. He slammed her onto her back on the hood of their car. She was hurt, and weakening quickly, the cold was making her symptoms worse.. Arabella wheezed..

As she lay there, apparently helpless, she turned her face to the side, looking up at her tormentor. Her brown eyes becoming, beseeching.. beguiling.. Her body going soft and pliant.. All the fight leaving her.

"Please...", she whispered softly..

He stopped long enough to take a good long look at the pretty piece of flesh he was about to kill.

It was all she needed, Arabella snapped upright, grabbing the back of his neck and slamming his face into the windsheild repeatedly. He didn't move again..

She did. Gaining her feet she climbed up onto the hood of the car.

"Hey!", she yelled at the two ghouls kicking and hitting Fiona.

They stopped and looked at her and she dove off the roof of the car taking one down onto the slush covered street.

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona felt for the other, still blind with pain. Feeling a leg, she tackled the ghoul. The air filled with a shrill rasp of profanity as she bit, clawed, and pounded the stuffing out of him in a red haze ::

[Arabella Balfour]

Despite her best attempt at grace, 'Bella hit the pavement on her knees, the heavy, patterned wool stockings not entirely saving her skin from road burn. Without waiting, she slammed her forehead into the bridge of the stunned ghouls nose, breaking it in a spurt of blood. She rolled off him onto her back, reaching out blindly with her hand, patting around for the can of pepper spray she had just seen go rolling.

She was really getting filthy..

It was despairly cold...

The ghoul was getting up, wiping his face and coming straight for her..

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona's state of grace had disappeared first, and a final smack against the pavement finished off the cause of it. She yelled at the last ghoul, and kicked him in the mouth as he turned ::

[Arabella Balfour]

Her hand moved more frantically looking for the can, and as an accident, it the side, rolling it further away. She dug her bare heels into the pavement and shoved backward, her fingertips reaching, grasping the can at last.

Just as the ghoul crawled over her reaching for her throat, 'Bella brought the can of pepper spray straight up. She discharged the contents at close range into his eyes and at the same time shoved him up. Kicking hard, she caught him in the exposed throat, while he clawed at his face. She had knocked the wind from his trachea and probably crushed part of it, the way he went down after that.

Rising up to her hands and knees, she looked to Fiona.

[Fiona Devlin]

:: They were both disheveled and slush covered, and Fiona walked over to help Bella to her feet ::

[Arabella Balfour]

'Bella accepted the hand up, wincing as her split knee began to feel sensation.

"The hospitality of this place leaves much to be desired.."

She hugged her friend around the neck, filthy as they were. "Eyes ok..?"

[Fiona Devlin]

"They hurt."

:: She walked a bit shakily ::

"I need a bath." she groaned.

[Arabella Balfour]

Tucking her friend's arm around her shoulder, and favoring her own injured leg a bit, they made their way toward Fiona's still shiny and unsullied vehicle.

"Well.. at least we trashed their car." 'Bella's kicked one of the felled bodies to emphasize the fact that she was not pleased at being attacked not twenty minutes after landing..

Filthy, wet and cold, she stopped just short of the car, leaning her head against Fiona's. "I'd be sending the detailing bill to your friend at the airport. Short of us stripping, I see no way of avoiding a mess..."

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona pouted, and began to strip ::

(BACK HOME)

:: The two stood in the doorway, and Fiona tried to look inscrutable as Michele greeted them ::

[Arabella Balfour]

Oh this was going to be grand..

It was snowing again.

'Bella was in a slip, carrying her dress. Her shoes were gone. She had blood smeared across her throat, not her own. A sticky thick trail of it had started to drip out from the thick wool stockings, so she had just removed them, and tied them around the cut. She was also wet and smeared gray from street slush. Not exactly the normal standard for the ghoulish beauty..

"Michele is not going to let us in.", she sighed, forlorn...

"I wouldn't..."

[Michele Hawkins]

I hear a knock at the door and I gleefully dart off the couch. I've been worrying about my girls since I got that phone call. A bit of a jam could mean traffic or someone trying to kill them. Ya never know with Fiona.

So I quickly unlock the door and swing it open to find ... Well, um. How to describe it. Two people, who I think I knew, were standing outside like ragged wet animals that got into a cat fight. They were also half naked.

"Ok, I have but one question." I say this with the utmost serious voice I can muster. "Who started the fight?"

Leave it to me to make a funny! :D

[Fiona Devlin]

"Tyler's goons were following us. I got mad." she sniffed.

:: She scampered inside, hurrying straight to the master bath ::

[Arabella Balfour]

'Bella just stood there, weary and slightly dazed echoing Fiona.

"She.. got mad..", confirming the story.

Letting out a sigh and the remainder of the adrenaline, Arabella finally shook off the attack and tried for some normal behavior.

"The good news is, that they look much worse."

[Michele Hawkins]

"Well, that's good to hear." I step aside and escort Arabella inside. I grab a coat and wrap it around her. "While Fi goes and drowns herself, you can get cleaned up in the other bathroom."

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona showered off first, then sank into a hot bubble bath to relax ::

[Arabella Balfour]

Being extremely careful not to touch anything, 'Bella followed Michele to the guest bathroom, with a grateful bit of thanks. The first thing she did upon closing the door, was lay her coat down on the floor. Then one by one, divested herself of the filthy clothes and tossed the lot onto her coat. It all had to go.

After a lengthy shower, thrice soaped and scrubbed, she donned a fluffy white robe, that was left on a hook, scopped up her clothes and without a word took them straight out to the trash.

[Michele Hawkins]

Michele practiced at the piano, working on writing her concerto when a wave of silliness took over.

She began to play a the tune from the Tick cartoon. It popped into her head when she thought about how horribly trashed Fiona and Arabella were!

We're filth, we're filth!
We come from filth, we're going to filth!
We're filth!

:D

[Fiona Devlin]

"Very funny." pouted Fiona as she entered the room in a towel. She gave Michele's head a push.

[Arabella Balfour]

Padding barefoot over to her girls, Arabella leaned a hip against the wall and smiled. Tipping her head upside down, she removed the turban wrapped towel from her head and used it to dry her still wet ends..

"Most amusing, Michele.." She wiped a streak of water down Michele's cheek playfully then stuck out her tongue. :p

[Michele Hawkins]

I get the water off with the back of my hand and stick my tongue out in retaliation! :D

"Bien, avez-vous demandes que je peux exécuter plutôt? (Well, do you have any requests that I can perform instead?)" I ask in perfect French. Silas was the first Immortal I killed, and it not only protected me and Fiona, but all his knowledge helped me to become a little more worldly in the way of things. Learning different languages, knowing how to sail a boat, and every now and then, I crave Molson. No idea what the hell's that about.

[Fiona Devlin]

<a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiHjT0LMdTk>"Bonnie & Clyde!"</a> grinned Fiona. She looked at Bella for approval.

[Arabella Balfour]

"Oui.." , she grinned, sitting beside Michele on the bench, showing off a dramatic bit of leg from beneath the robe, wiggling her toes.

"Although it's going to call for a bottle of wine.." :p

[Michele Hawkins]

"Ummm .... " I blink and start to look sheepish. "I've never played and drank at the same time. I don't think my fingers could keep up with my head!"

Hmm. "Or would it be the other way around?"

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona sat down next to Michele, nudging her with a hip to more over a bit. She started playing the song on her own to get things started ::

[Arabella Balfour]

Feeling slightly ridiculous, but comfortable doing so in present company 'Bella sang along.

"Moi Bonnie, Je tremble pour Clyde Barrow.." , making dramatic little gestures as she did so, and ultimately bursting into laughter. She must be beyond tired, after that flight, the fight and now the extreme relaxation of feeling safe again.

"I want to tremble. It's been far too long..." :p

[Michele Hawkins]

"Hey!" I hip Fiona outta the way and start playing. "I can't sing worth a damn and you know it!"

[Fiona Devlin]

"I don't want you to sing, my chick. I want you to play!" :mneh

:: She slid off the stool and did a strip tease with the towel, treating them to a few flashes ::

[Arabella Balfour]

"Ooo La La.. darling.", she purred with a fond grin.

"You call to mind the days when we danced like that with nothing more than a pair of ridiculous feathered fans to cover our wicked selves.."

Arabella covered a yawn, patting her lips with a dainty gesture.

[Michele Hawkins]

My hands hit the keys in a way that made a loud BOOM that echoed. Not this crap again! I plug my ears. "Lalalalalala! I am not hearing this!!!"

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona's eyes crossed at the sudden discord, and she lost her towel ::

[Arabella Balfour]

"Oh my.."

There was an awkward silence, which was quickly broken by a quiet snicker. The snicker was followed by hysterical laughter, and Arabella dropped down onto her knees. She covered her mouth, wiping her eyes which were now leaking and picked up the towel and held it up in two fingers.

"Here you go.."

[Michele Hawkins]

I'm still not hearing this and now I'm not seeing this. I'm the money that sees no evil!

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona snatched the towel and kissed Michele on the forehead. Then went back to the bedroom to dress. It would give Michele the chance to give Arabella her suprise ::

[Arabella Balfour]

Too tired to get up, Arabella just leaned an arm on the bench next to Michele and lay her head down. Her knee was succumbing to a dull throb, made worse by her fit of giggles that brought her down onto the recent scrape. She yawned again, poking Michele in the the hip softly.

"Fret not, mon petit amour." Smiling up at a flustered Michele, 'Bella grinned.

"It was never like that with us. You know that. Fiona is a big sister, to me."

[Michele Hawkins]

I pout, "Yeah, yeah. I know."

You'd think I wasn't secure in our relationship still, but it happens from time to time.

[Arabella Balfour]

Another yawn..

God, I'm tired..

She was certain that if she fell over right there, she could snuggle up in the robe on the floor and go right to sleep. Jet lag central.. Trying to stay awake, 'Bella scrambled up to her feet and perched beside Michele on the bench.

"You are good for her. She wasn't always so.. happy.", she smiled wistfully..

[Michele Hawkins]

That brightened my mood and my curiosity. The more I learn about Fiona, the more I realize I know so little. It's like trying to understand ones faith. You seek understanding, but the more answers you receive to questions asked, you come to understand that the world has about a dozen or so more questions that are left unanswered.

That would be my Fiona in a nutshell. "She has told me there were dark times of hers. That and she was always searching. For what she didn't know."

[Arabella Balfour]

"She was searching for you, petite. She just did not know it."

She wasn't certain exactly how much of Fiona's, often sordid, past had been relived and she did not have any desire to stir up any bad memories. To be sure, the worst of it had been before Arabella's time in the company of the lovely Immortal. They created some scandals and had some fun, but in her heart 'Bella had always been a bit sheltered and had never gotten into any of the extremes that Fiona had often been inclined toward..

Maybe she'd been good for her too, in her own way..

Arabella smiled, happy with the thought and plunked a few random keys. A pianist she was not, the sound was abrasive compared to Michele's talent..

[Michele Hawkins]

I blush gratefully. "Fi said something similar."

Bella is sweet but not that tuned into the notes of the piano. I take her fingers and fix her placement. I mimic her on the other end of the piano and we start tapping away at the keys. "It's nice to hear someone else say it. Ya know? I mean, I believe it in my heart but sometimes you wonder if you've made the right choices."

Married to an Immortal. Gives new meaning till death do you part. The notion frightens me, but I think that's a good sign, because if I wasn't nervous, that would mean something was wrong, hidden, from view or I was ignoring the insanity of it all!

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona padded back in with some clothes on ::

"Fi speaks great wisdom, whatever she said." ;)

[Arabella Balfour]

"She said once that 'matters of the heart' were not for her, as I recall..", Arabella smirked.

It had once been their credo, to never fall in love. Bad for business! Those days were long since past though and it was good to see her friend settled.

"..But we have been proven wrong it seems, and very well so.", she smiled.

[Michele Hawkins]

I grew sheepishly quiet because my cheeks felt like there was a 4 alarm fire going on! So instead, I pluck at the keys and start the first few chords of A Song For You by the Carpenters instead.

Let them talk amongst themselves as I hide behind my notes and use them as shields to hide my embarrassment.

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona spotted the blushies instantly and dropped to her knees, hugging Michele from behind with a mad grin and squeezing her waist in glee ::

:glomp

"MACUSHLA!!!"

:D

[Arabella Balfour]

"Alright lovebirds.. This little birdie needs to go to bed before she falls on the floor like some wasted tavern wench."

At her core, she was a lady, and knew when to make a timely exit. Besides, it was the truth, she was dead on her feet, to put it crudely..

[Michele Hawkins]

"Heh!" ^_^; Damn Fiona for making me even MORE embarrassed now! Geesh!

"Okay crazy lady." I pry her hands off of me as I stand up and twirl around so now her arms and mine have her caught! "How about bed too? You're probably pretty wiped."

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona squirmed against Michele, but it was useless and she laughed ::

"Alright, let's show her your surprise then."

[Michele Hawkins]

"Awesome!" :D

I let Fiona go and now lace an arm around Arabella. "The surprise is that you can't sleep here!" I say as serious as I can. Yeah right. My eyes are smiling though my lips aren't.

[Arabella Balfour]

She could have groaned.. At this point she was seriously considering just curling up on the floor like a cat. Her face drooped.

"Oh bother.. I knew I still smelled like a sewer."

She peeked up and stuck her tongue out.

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona sat on the floor and chuckled at them, glomping Perceval into her lap as he tried to slip by ::

[Michele Hawkins]

"Well, you do smell like a sewer," I kid and start leading her out the door and down the hall, "But we figured that instead of staying at our place and making it rancid ..."

I unlock the door and open it to the last penthouse on the top floor that was unoccupied. "... You can make your place rancid!" :D

[Arabella Balfour]

Fiona was a sneak, that's all there was to it. Arabella turned and hugged Michele without a word. They really were the best, both of them.

"Sewer hug.." she laughed..

[Michele Hawkins]

"Well," I scrunch my nose up and glare over at Arabella, but I can't be mean looking for that long! So I huggle her up tightly. But when I look at Fiona, it dawns on me that she just took a bath!!!

I point and laugh, "You're gonna have to take a shower again!" :lol

[Fiona Devlin]

:: She pouted in protest, but then she smiled ::

"Only if you come with me." :p

[Arabella Balfour]

"I'm going...now!" she announced, sticking her tongue out.

"Love you, girls!"

They really were the best. She would tell them so, right now she just wanted to pass out, but.. after another shower.