OOM: Iceland

[onceaviking]

The trip ended up being rather uneventful. That is often the case when you spend the actual time traveling in a sleek coffin, as you do when you are a vampire traveling with Anubis Air during daytime.

They'd arrived in Keflavík Airport just before sundown, and the coffins had been taken by to Reykjavik, a 45 minute drive on a good day. Or night. As it were.

The hotel was of the big, boxy and shiny variety, although the windows had obviously been blinded once it had been bought up by Carmilla, a hotel chain catering to vampires across the globe.
The concierge was an attractive, lithe blond female vampire who spoke perfect English and matched the Nordic decor. Everything was light and airy and minimalistic with designer furniture, a futuristic fireplace and elegantly draped sheepskins atop the couches.

"We have your suite ready. It is the Presidential Suite on the top floor and it is annexed by an additional bedroom. Will you be using coffins or beds?"

There was discreet posters advertising the spa, harnessing the magic and might of a natural, thermal spring. Vampires and a few humans were scattered about the lobby. Two of the humans were acting as pre-dinner drinks in a way that would not have flown back in Louisiana. Not in a place with windows this size at ground level.

Comments

[lazy_but_loyal]

Pam takes in everything about the lobby with her usual air of detached discernment. The decor is expectedly minimalistic in that Nordic way that she's gotten used to, living with Eric and all, right down to the animal pelts. (The only things she didn't want in their home were sheep, goat, and reindeer skins; or at least Eric could put them where she didn't have to see them.)

She does, however, like to see feeding out in the open. Just one of the little freedoms of life outside the backwoods of Louisiana.

"Beds," she tells the concierge, glancing up at Eric. "How big are they?"

Because they'll obviously be having guests over.

[onceaviking]

The concierge's eyes briefly travel all the way up to Eric's face, then down again and back to Pam.

"They are very big. Extra wide and extra long."
She smiles. Professionally.

"You have a choice between silk, Egyptien Cotten, and linen bedding."

Eric is looking at the brochure stand (a staple of hotels everywhere) and is seemingly not paying attention. Pam is likely the one with the strongest opinions on fabric in the bedroom.

[lazy_but_loyal]

Pam appreciates when the furniture is large enough for Eric. Small furniture annoys him, and she isn't going to spend all this time with him if he's grumpy.

"We'll take the silk," she replies almost immediately. "And make mine pink."

She can't resist a few familiar comforts herself.

[onceaviking]

The concierge nods and this time her eyes make their way up Pam''s body (a much shorter trip), as she asks, "Will there be anything else? "

Eric turns his attention back to the exchange.
"We'll be dining out," he says. "I've arranged to meet with the local Sheriff at one of the restaurants downtown."

A subtle power display.

[lazy_but_loyal]

Pam also appreciates being looked up and down, especially by attractive, blonde concierges.

But when Eric says they'll be dining out, her attention shifts back to him. That was unexpected. In a restaurant? She'll have to think about what to wear now. And what to make Eric wear.

[onceaviking]

The concierge nods and sets about making sure the rooms will be set up the way they want it.
Efficiently.

"There's a new place that opened up a couple of months ago. It draws a progressive crowd and I figured it'd be a nicer place to deal with the formalities of announcing our presence than a random office," Eric tells Pam.

Progressive.
Jeans.

Right, Pam?

[lazy_but_loyal]

Right. Eric is going to have to change into a suit.

"I'm starting to like this whole progressive thing," she says, looking around the lobby and seeing those other vampires finishing up with their humans and sending them on their way. The humans walk away, pretty, dignified, and nonchalant, not even bothering to wipe away the streaks of blood on their necks, as if leaving a calling card for other hungry customers.

"Just goes to show what kind of a backwards shithole we've been living in."

[onceaviking]

"I couldn't agree more," Eric says as the concierge returns with the key cards.
She runs through the standard info, meal time, access to the hot spring and spa in the basement (complimentary), eating in the rooms (allowed), and how to operate the shades (with the keycard and a code - which should prevent any daytime accidents).

She points them to their elevator and a bellhop gathers their luggage.
Well, Pam's luggage.

"The spa will have to wait till later though. I said we'd stop by first thing."

After dropping off their stuff.
And maybe a quick shower.

[lazy_but_loyal]

"Definitely looking forward to the spa, but business before pleasure, I suppose," she says, as they cross the lobby toward the elevators.

The bellhop follows shortly, pushing along a cart bearing their luggage. Well, Pam's luggage.

"Have you met this Sheriff before?"

[onceaviking]

"Once or twice," Eric says. "He's alright."
Which, coming from Eric is high praise indeed.

The elevator is almost silent. And fast. The door slides open.

The top floor is held in cool shades with lots of pale wood and copper details. The mood music is vaguely jazzy and very discreet and the carpet is dark. You don't go with white or beige when you are hosting vampires.


The doors to their rooms are visible from the elevator. As are the other four doors on this floor.


Eric unlocks his door and says, "Half an hour?" to Pam.

[lazy_but_loyal]

So, Eric doesn't need to make a good first impression since he's met the Sheriff already, but that doesn't mean she won't.

And half an hour is a ridiculously short amount of time for her to get ready.

She gives Eric a Look as she unlocks her door.

"An hour," she says flatly. "At least."

She enters her room and the bellboy follows with the cart of luggage.

[onceaviking]

Eric sighs and heads through his own door.

That means they probably won't be going anywhere for at least two hours.
Oh well. More time to shower.

Getting dressed will take him all of thirty seconds after all.

[lazy_but_loyal]

After the bellboy lays out her bags the way she wants, she sends him to Eric's room for his tip.

As soon as he's gone, she searches through a few garment bags. A charcoal gray sport jacket and slacks. A black silk shirt. Black Italian leather shoes.

Clothes over her arm and shoes in hand, she finds the door that connects her room to the rest of the suite.

"Wear these," she says, flatly again, as she crosses the spacious room to deposit the clothing neatly on Eric's bed.

[onceaviking]

Eric is just closing the door after having tipped the bellboy.
He'd managed to get as far as removing his boots, leather jacket, and t-shirt before he was interrupted, and now turns, barefooted, to face Pam.

He knows that tone.

He looks up at the ceiling and sighs with a look on his face that is likely more defeated teenagers than ancient and powerful vampire.

"Fine."

[lazy_but_loyal]

"Oh, don't give me that," Pam says, sounding more like a long-suffering mother as she smooths out the slacks. "I didn't come all the way to Iceland to be seen with you in jeans and a t-shirt, especially not when we're meeting with the Sheriff in public."

She comes up to him, unmoved by his state of undress.

"Besides, you'll look nice. I like it when you look nice."

[onceaviking]

"You do?"

He knows she does.

He looks down at her and moves a lock of hair away from her face with the tip of a finger.

"If you put the corset on, you can get your present before we leave."

[lazy_but_loyal]

Silly vampire, of course she does.

She tips her head toward his touch. "I was planning to," she murmurs with a slow smile.

Stepping back, she turns and heads back toward her room.

"See you in an hour."

As she closes the door, it's then that she blatantly, and appreciatively, eyes Eric's body. And then she's gone.

[onceaviking]

He sees that.

And runs a hand down his chest and abdomen as he walks toward the bathroom. Smiling a little.

The shower is magnificent and he stays there for a very long time.
Then he gets dressed.
And makes sure his hair looks good.

And then he waits.

And waits.

And waits.

[lazy_but_loyal]

More than an hour passes.

Well, it takes time for Pam to look as flawlessly fashionable as she does. So when she finally emerges from her room, it's worth it.

The corset, black satin overlaid with intricate black floral lace, is sleek and sophisticated, effectively accentuating her ample bosom and tiny waist. A knee-length pencil skirt with a generous slit up the side hugs her hips and thighs, while strappy stiletto heels adds several inches to her height. A chandelier necklace of glittering black beads stands out against her alabaster skin. Her hair is done up in a French roll, pinned up with a cluster of small flowers made of black satin.

Her eyeshadow is her favorite shade of lavender; her lips are her favorite shade of pink.

She strides up to Eric, looking him up and down. She sweeps her hands over his jacket lapels, and undoes one more button on his shirt before adjusting his collar.

"There. Told you you'd look nice."

[onceaviking]

He hums in reply, letting his hands move as well, down her sides, following the curve of her hips.

Then he takes a small step back and hands her the gift.
Small, delicate, and beautifully wrapped.

(He had Bar do it)

[lazy_but_loyal]

Pam takes the slim object, curious as to what it might be. She pulls the ribbon loose and peels the delicate paper aside.

It's...a fan.

She unfolds it with a light snap. Her eyes brighten at the painted image revealed: a reclining woman, nude, in her boudoir. Pam stares at it for a moment, admiring the details.

"It's lovely, Eric," she murmurs,before looking up at him with a smile.

[onceaviking]

His lips twitches a little.

"I figured you'd like it," he says. "I had it commissioned. At Milliways."

So not just something he had someone go get.

[lazy_but_loyal]

Eric actually...put thought into this.

Not that he never puts any thought into the gifts he gives her, but the gifts aren't as frequent anymore, so one that he made an effort to get custom designed for her is something special. So she's pretty impressed. The only gifts that mean anything to her come from him anyway.

"I do like it. I like it a lot. Thank you."

She comes close to him, leans in, and gives him a light peck on the cheek, her lips almost touching the corner of his mouth.

[onceaviking]

She'll be able to feel his smile.

"Right," he says. "Let's go dazzle the locals."



On the way down in the elevator, he tells her about the local Sheriff. Fairly young, but ambitious. And really, really keen on Vikings. "There aren't that many of us around, so he is quite - taken with me," as Eric puts it. Smugly. "He's only 500 years old or something like that, but he's running a smooth operation up here, so by and large it's my impression that he gets to do as he pleases. And the laws are quite accommodating here as well. As you have noticed."

[lazy_but_loyal]

She loves those nearly invisible, barely-there smiles of his that are only for her. When Pam is happy, Eric is happy.

And from what he's telling her about the Sheriff, it should shape up to be a good night.

"It always helps when someone in an important position is a fan of yours," she says wryly.

"But why are the laws so lax? Is it like this in all Nordic countries?"