)(( Seeking a Practice )( Open )((

[Arcadia Caughey]

Slightly after sunset was Arcadia's time of day, the time of day she usually referred to as the time to take care of her 'nightly business'. Business - or potential business - is what brought her here to the Tel'ranaemyn tonight and for that reason her usual nightly business could wait. She'd been what she was for long enough now that the thirst when she first woke each night had died down from a burning need to an irritating itch. With an iron will such as hers, irritations could be handled and endured.

Stepping through the front door, any who knew Arcadia from times of yore would essentially see the same woman. Age hadn't touched her even before the blood had been forced on her, so she appeared no more than twenty as ever. Her hair was still its mess of thick indigo black waves, and tonight they were pulled up into a haphazard ponytail. Her violet eyes were deep, the captivation in them one of the few things that she couldn't control no matter how neutral her gaze outwardly appeared.

If anything, her manner of dress had changed from the days of long ago - less sloppy, and more…feminine, is what Arcadia would reluctantly call it if questioned. Archer had other choice words for how she dressed that when spoken aloud got him smacked on the back of the head. Tonight she wore a dark red dress. It had a rounded collar trimmed in black lace, and the ends of the short and slightly puffed sleeves had the same trimming, as did the button down front of the dress and the hem of the skirt. The buttons were big and round, the waistline high, and the dress reached to her mid-thigh. The whole of it was rather doll-like, youthful, maybe slightly lolita of her. In other words, good for her kind of hunting. She wore an ankle-length dark grey sweater coat over the dress, and black fishnets on her legs. Her black knee-high lace-up boots were a staple as always, reliable for stomping around on smooth or rough terrain.

She sought Epiphany, but as Arcadia didn't reside here she did the polite thing and went to the front desk. As she drew close to it, the currently invisible tendrils of wind that always surrounded her 'struck' something. Whatever her wind 'felt' at any given time, so Arcadia felt. She'd been bonded to Wind when she was a little girl, and the bond had only grown and deepened over the centuries. As for what the wind struck? Energy, what felt to her like devoted, placed energy. While her wandering violet eyes saw nothing at first glance, she suspected she didn't have to worry about knocking, ringing, or calling out to get attention. Instead she'd follow her instinct and simply wait.

Clever, is what she thought to herself while she stood there in the front lobby. If it was what she thought it was it was a very clever system. She always respected practical, well orchestrated uses of magical energy.

[Epiphany]

Those That Would Be was turning out to be a harder book than Epiphany first thought. She had made the mistake of telling Sister Mary-Marks that she knew of a few people who were trying to be what they were not and the trouble it was causing. The answer to her ramblings came in the form of the old leather bound book that she thought was an easy ten pounds. The weight wasn't the problem, what was is that the book was in Latin and Epiphany abhorred Latin. This book had to be republished somewhere and in plan Common, they just loved to give her books in Latin because she hardly knew any more of it than when she first stepped foot in that church. So Epiphany was in the Lounge laboring over that book, a Latin-Common Dictionary, and a notepad when she felt an itch and her hand reached up to scratch the back of her neck. Someone more preferable of the night had entered the Inn.

Common sense told her that she should see who it was and what they wanted, besides, it was better than her studies. Nevertheless, as she stood up and shook the side of her long shirt she scooped the book up in her arms - she knew what would happen to her if it got lost or damaged. Her hair was in two pig-tails and she draped them on either side of her neck before exiting the room. Epiphany prepared herself for seeing someone there, but she didn't expect it to be who it actually was.

"Arcadia?" There was a bit of disbelief in her voice for the lsat time she had seen Arcadia - granted it was a few years ago and many things can happen in that time - this side that Epiphany now felt from her did not exist.

Now she was simply trying not to stare. Epiphany continued to the desk, hefting the books from one arm to the next as she dragged her hand along the inside of the front desk. She wasn't going to go behind it but she knew where the other Ward was and since she was here there wasn't any need for another to come unless they wanted to. But it was a casual motion and she added it to it by putting the book on the desk. "So, what brings you here""

[Arcadia Caughey]

Epiphany's tone wasn't one that Arcadia didn't question, nor think twice on. She was very actually used to hearing that tone of voice from those from the Alliance, or the Society, who didn't see her with regularity. When Fallon ran around both of those places calling her 'the hermit' every chance he got, by her last days in the Alliance people seemed surprised to even have her answer her own door when they knocked. So when she heard anyone address her like that in her mind it translated to, …are you a mirage?

Which was fine, really. She didn't mind being considered a mirage.

What Epiphany's tone did do was crook the corner of her lips into one of her wry, cryptic little smiles. "Evenin', Epiphany." The kind, calm, but faintly distant manner in which Arcadia spoke was same as it always had been. Her brogue was smooth and musical on the ear, but a trained listener could hear the caution in her voice - her attempt to downplay the thrall that vampires' syllables were coated with to better help them ensnare prey. There was no need to unleash such a thing on Epiphany, especially for the matter which brought her here today.

A purpose which she was about to speak, until she was distracted by Epiphany's action. Like a set of light, invisible dominoes Arcadia felt the well-worked shift of energy. It was enough to make her violet eyes wander away again on a path of calm exploration. Unlike the first bit of devoted energy she'd encountered, she didn't have a strong guess at what Epiphany had just put into motion. Hopefully it wasn't setting the hounds on her. At any rate, Arcadia was a big believer in not sticking her nose in other people's business, and that would include the stirring that had just transpired.

So her gaze returned to Epiphany. Eyes as deep as they were violet, light reflected in them in a way that it seemed like distant stars. Inviting stars to boot - sometimes her eyes were hard to look away from, and that was something Arcadia just couldn't help. "I came here t' see you, actually. That is if m' understandin' is correct, and you are one o' the proprietors o' this place?" She paused, letting that question hang in the silence of her look. "And if that's the case, I was wonderin' if I could have a word with ye in private."

[Epiphany]

Epiphany wouldn't send the dogs after Arcadia, someone else sure but not her. This went without saying that some of the current inhabitants of the Inn might get a bit upset if she suddenly knocked on their door and asked them to run Arcadia out of the Inn, although it did make for an interesting visual image. Dogs. Funny.

Though why the two of them were meeting was also interesting. Epiphany continued her lean against the Front Desk though she brought her hand out from behind it to drum her fingers on that large book. "Mmm you could say that I'm the proprietor," she nearly drew out that whole sentence as she was thinking on whether or not that statement was correct. She owned it as she was the one who's money had bought it, but she didn't manage the place, she left that up to De'Ryanna.

"Looking to buy me out?" That bit was a joke and she said it with a grin on her face. It made sense to ask that since it was something that she wanted to discuss in private. Epiphany hadn't made a lot of business deals in her life, even in buying this place she had basically found the seller, gave him the goods, shook hands and it was a done deal. She never understood the need for a lot of paperwork and multiple meetings when it came to buying a place or taking care of it, that's why she didn't bother with the latter.

Pulling on the books she gathered them in her arms as she pushed off of the desk. "We can talk in the Meeting Hall. Aside from my room - which is okay - this would be the next best." Saying that as she went around the desk and pointed to the room with the door across the hall and even scooting in the door. "It is for meetings afterall."

Talk about stating the obvious.

[Arcadia Caughey]

When Epiphany asked her the question about purchasing, there was no mistaking the knowing, bemused smile on Arcadia's lips. As usual, the smile was tamed enough that she showed none of her teeth, but that didn't mean that flirtation couldn't be conveyed just as well. "The depends. Are ye for sale?" Such is what happens to Arcadia when she's kept to her own devices for too long. The stoically polite nature she assumed to keep things proper between herself and the people surrounding her at guilds where she always held some sort of position of responsibility, it faded, unneeded. And Arcadia's truer colors shone through.

Not to mention she was feeling a bit peckish, Epiphany was attractive, and Arcadia's habit was to feed mostly on women. Her hunger was only an itch but an itch is still an itch.

The coy moment passed, and Arcadia treated Epiphany to a more serious answer. "M' interested in takin' up residence here, but not as a resident. I've come t' inquire if this place is capable and willin' to house a business, o' sorts." As she followed behind Epiphany into the meeting room she grimaced, displeased with her own choice of words. "More like a service. M' a rather close friend o' Donald's," she knew she only had to mention the man by his first name because she'd been in the bar before and seen for herself that Epiphany and Donald knew each other, "and he and I have been speakin' of foundin' a private practice together."

She paused there, realizing who she was taking to. Epiphany was a healer herself, a well-trained one, and considering what she was asking of the Tel'Ranaemyn Arcadia felt it behooved her to add, "one y' could join, if ye were so inclined and not busied in other affairs." There. That seemed like it was the right thing to do. And if Arcadia didn't mean what she said, she wouldn't of said it. Lip service simply wasn't her way.

[Epiphany]

Now, she couldn't help but chuckle, who wouldn't at the thought of being bought and sold? It simply had to be answered and she would do so after Arcadia had entered into the room. As she had wanted the meeting to be private Epiphany kicked away the triangle wedge that held the door open and helped to ease it shut.

"I might be for sale." The door made an audible *click* as it latched. "But my owner sets a pretty high price. Especially when there's blood involved." Ha, that made her laugh. She didn't think that Damon would really sell her outside of doing it for some beastly joke. She was sure of it.

The door closed and the room as private as she could get it, Epiphany went to on of the tables and set her books down before she sat on the table herself. "I think I remember Blake talking about his own practice a long while back." Her memory wasn't all bad, she did remember a few things here and there. "So it's actually going to happen huh?"

That was a bit of exciting news, though the thought of the promised construction work was an even better bit of exciting news to her. "So you think you'll be needing a large space? What type of ventilation will you need? Windows? You like the ground level or above? Course you may want ground level so they can come in and out without necessarily having to enter into the Inn." She had gotten on the table only to get off for as she started to spout off those questions she went to one of the drawers and pulled out a few sheets of paper and a couple of pencils. Setting those on the table she stuck one pencil behind her ear and used the other to draw out a rectangle on the paper. Epiphany liked to draw - amongst other art things - so it was no surprise that she was starting to sketch out ideas as she leaned over that sheet of paper.

"Private offices? One? Two? We can even put it in the basement!" That was a novel idea to her. Sure they'd have to expand it more but that meant underground digging and what was more fun than that?

Before she got too ahead of herself she stopped and grinned to Arcadia.

[Arcadia Caughey]

Arcadia's amused smile briefly teetered into grin territory. Enough to show her front teeth, and the very tips of her two predatory canines. Epiphany was being cheeky by talking ownership, how else would she react? "Smart 'owner'," she replied with a wry purse of her lips as Epiphany sat. She would choose to remain standing for now. Old habits die hard, and to this day Arcadia still kept to the teachings of the Elders and she didn't sit on couches, chairs and the like. "I'd feel much the same way if someone was suggestin' puttin' their teeth into Donald." Too much information, perhaps, but true. Some from the past would be shocked to hear Arcadia refer to her personal affairs so bluntly.

Well, she did already say her and Donald were rather close friends. While that was part of the reason they'd work well together at a private practice, it certainly had nothing to do with the nuts and bolts that Epiphany segued to which is why Arcadia mercifully said nothing more on the subject.

She looked over Epiphany's shoulder as the woman drew the rectangle, raising her eyebrow. "How large o' a space can ye manage?" Not that Arcadia was the sort who felt she needed a vast stretch of space in order to treat a patient, this Inn seemed of an average size and she doubted that they had enough space to realize the full of her requirements. But since Epiphany wished for specifics, Arcadia could oblige.

Tongue toying with the tip of one of her sharp teeth, she took a few thoughtful paces away from Epiphany, folding her arms and turing her attention inward to visualize her ideal. "Two small offices - three if another healer should wish to join the endeavor," that offer to Epiphany was still on the table, after all, "One single patient room and one four patient room should there be need for being held overnight, two - or three - examination rooms, a waitin' room and reception area, a decent sized storage room, a machine room for all that nonsense modern equipment that Donald uses at times, and a laboratory, and a small library, if space affords. O' course that's an ideal that can be modified based on the limitations here," she added with haste.

Then Arcadia turned to face Epiphany, giving her one of her ghostly little smiles. "If y' have no other need for your basement I've no complaint, t' do that would only make it easier for me t' work durin' daylight hours. Though I would ask for a small window near the ceilin' o' me office and one o' the examination rooms, so m' plants can have enough sunlight t' grow." Ironic that she wanted the windows in her spaces, but that's why curtains were invented.

[Epiphany]

Someone would have thought that Arcadia had just told Epiphany the secret of life or some grand thing she had been waiting all of her life to hear. As Arcadia was going on about what would be needed Epiphany was eagerly scribbling away with her pencil on the paper, and then another sheet, and then another, she was was making rough sketches of the rooms she was being told about and adding notations here and there in her own form of quick-hand that many people would be hard pressed to understand. She understood her own writing, right? It was hoped although a person could never tell when it came to Epiphany.

"Okay!" Finishing up a last few lines on the paper she picked up her pencil and looked up at Arcadia with bright eyes that may as well have been sparkling. "This is going to be awesome. I haven't' really had to do much underground tunneling work in a few years!" That's right, she did say underground and when she said underground she meant underground. Moving around the table she shuffled those paper sheets and pulled up the one that showed a sketch on how to get to this clinic and held it for the other to see.

"You see this?" the sketch showed a top layer of ground with a tunnel going down and the words '20 feet', marked along it. At the end there was another box and a door. "We'll tunnel down , put some steps or what have you so easy going and we'll have this whole underground lab thing going on. People won't be able to tell that they are underground. Course we can have some levels that are closer to the surface, maybe like the offices or what have you, that way sunlight tunnels for your plants to get light will be easier to make." Nodding all the way at it she left her went that and pulled up the other three sheets.

"It's all right here! Course....if I do this.. what can you do for me? And by me I mean the Inn." She had to see if she could get something out of the deal or De'Ryanna would more than likely be less than happy about the construction.

[Arcadia Caughey]

Epiphany's talk of underground made Arcadia's mind wander back to the labyrinth of tunnels and the underground springs of the Alliance. A place she still frequented, now and then. "Restroom and shower facilities," she added on a more logical note as Epiphany continued her drawings, "And a steam room, if one can be fashioned naturally by the resources found by the diggin'." Steam had amazing health capabilities, especially when herbs were added to the steam and their medicinal properties were taken in through the pores and lungs as vapor.

When Epiphany asked her if she saw the fruits of her drawing labors, Arcadia drew closer and came to stand next to her. She figured it was more polite than looking over Epiphany's shoulder. When a person was close to Arcadia sometimes they felt a light breeze, even when indoors. It was just part and parcel of Arcadia, her wind followed her wherever she went and while it was very mild most of the time, it was never completely still. She wasn't an artist or architect by any means, but looking at what Epiphany rendered she had a good enough idea of what the woman was planning. "I've no qualms with that." Unless Epiphany started talking of adding things like water slides and pony rides, Arcadia would most likely not object to what was suggested. She was fairly easy going when it came to working with whatever was provided.

As for Epiphany's final question, Arcadia didn't seem the least bit surprised to be asked that. It was a matter she took into consideration even before coming here today, so she already had an answer prepared. "M' prepared t' pay for the cost o' all this construction, o' course. I'd never dream o' expectin' the Inn t' pay for somethin' that I'm askin' after." To this day Arcadia still didn't have a true working knowledge of money, but she had Adrian to deal with that for her. The Count said time and again that it was her right to embark on any endeavors she wished and that he would provide for any expense. Now it was her turn to recline against the table top, and as she did so she made sure she didn't sit her arse on any of Epiphany's papers. After rubbing the tip of one of her sharp teeth in thought she added, "And there's a cost for inhabitin' the space as well, aye? As a boarder would have for boardin' in a room?"

But when she reviewed those things in her mind earlier, it just didn't seem like enough. To give this Inn only money alone…well, to Arcadia money was something cold and impersonal, and as aloof as she came off as a person she wished to give the inn something more proactive. "Also I think it only right that for the residents o' the inn, it should operate as a clinic would. If they wish t' pay, they pay what they feel they are able. If they wish t' pay but cannot do so monetarily, they can work off their care when they are well. And should any o' them wish t' receive trainin' in first-aid or somethin' o' the like, as they're a resident o' the Inn I'd be happy t' provide that service for them."

[Epiphany]

Water slides and pony rides were things for the surface even if an underwater slide was possible. Good thing Arcadia did not voice those thoughts out loud or else they would have bee prickling thoughts in the back of Epiphany's mind and she wouldn't be able to help but think of the possibility.

Such things would have been lost for the moment when she felt the 'wind' that the other produced. Not only that, but when Arcadia moved closer to her Epiphany felt her skin prickle once before settling. She's a Healer. A Healer. A Healer. Keeping hold to the good things about the lady she was making a business deal with helped to settle things in her own mind and ignore other things. This, too, was probably the reason why Epiphany was keeping herself busy.

Hearing approval for the design and smiled and began to roll up those papers. "These are rough, rough, sketches; destined to change a few handful of times but keep the basic concept." Her construction crew could attest to the fact that Epiphany was sometimes prone to changing a design halfway through the build process.

"It's great to hear that your'e going to pay for all the supplies that will help you to feel a part of everything. Feels good to contribute." Would she have to wait on the supplies? Maybe she could give Arcadia a list of stores that she... oh. Right. Epiphany didn't deal like many people when it came to getting supplies but the money couldn't hurt. If anything she could use it to pay the workers.

"Things like how much you need to pay for having the place and maybe even how to give us the money for the supplies, you need to talk to De'Ryanna about as she handles the money." a small lean in Arcadia's direction that was followed up with a nod. "She already knows you're here so if you really wanted to talk to her right away about this whole thing you only have to stand back at the desk."

Arcadia was a smart woman and Epiphany didn't think that she needed to say anything more for her to know what she was talking about.

"I just do all the dirty work. This'll be fun."

[Arcadia Caughey]

Epiphany wasn't the only one who had to put effort forth to quiet her instincts. Just as she had to remind herself that Arcadia was a healer, the vampire standing next to her was doing the due diligence required to ignore the fact that she was standing so close to a warm, living being with an inviting scent and a strong heartbeat. Because she'd known Epiphany for years and still considered most of the people that she knew from guilds as off-limits when it came to sharing that side of her with others, quelling the hunger was a simplier matter than it was in other circumstances.

"Rough or no they do their duty well enough, as I know what t' convey in order t' bring Donald up t' speed. Unless ye have plans t' share the drawings with him before ye set t' work?" As she asked the question, Arcadia's violet eyes landed expectantly on Epiphany. There was no 'right' answer that she expected from the woman. Whatever Epiphany's preference was on the matter, it was fine with her.

"T' be frank I feel like offerin' services is the greater contribution, but that's because m' head is hollow when it comes t' money. So it's best that Adrian speaks with De'Ryanna about the financial matters. Or Adrian's people." Of which he had several. She knew more about Adrian's financial staff than she ever wanted to know, thanks to the process of building the hospital in Wallachia. While the ground breaking facility was making press for its blend of scientific, herbal and energy medical practices, standing at the helm of such a large insitution was not Arcadia's style. She was best in the trenches, getting her hands dirty in the process of healing.

Perhaps she hoped the private practice would help her reconnect. On multiple levels.

Momentarily distracted by her own thoughs, Arcadia gave Epiphany a briefly sheepish little smile before stepping back to give the woman some space. "At any rate, I'll tell Adrian of the plans and he'll set the business affairs in motion. And I'll be present, o' course, on the occasions it's required." If there were any. Which, naturally, she was hoping their wouldn't be. "Nothing against De'Ryanna, o' course, but I think she'd get quickly frustrated by m' lack o' understandin' with that sort o' thing." Monetary matters would never be a part of Arcadia's world so long as she had a say in it.

[Epiphany]

Maybe she and Arcadia were on the same page as far as contributions went. Money was nice, it could look pretty and glitter, but she preferred barter and trade with items and services because those were more beneficial. It was part of the reason why a person didn't have to have money to be able to stay at the Inn but could pay for their room and board in other ways.

"Have your people call my people?" If De'Ryanna had heard Epiphany refer to her that way she might have given one of those stares. The ones that Epiphany did her best to ignore. "That will work out well as it leaves you and I to do better things. Concerning the build." adding in that last part to hopefully push aside any other implications in her words.

Putting all her papers in an order that made sense to her Epiphany looked back over at Arcadia. "Since you're working with Blake on the Clinic you can tell him that it's going to be built. Unless he has any specific needs, like you with the plants getting sunlight, I don't think he needs to see the plans. I mean he can, if he wants, I'm just use to go all full force gun-ho, but we can make this work." As optimistic as always when it came to starting something.

She tapped her rolled up plans on one of the tables. "De'Ryanna won't mind talking over the money with another as long as it gets settled." Speaking as she made her way to the closed door to open it. "So, if we're done here I'd like to take these sketches to my crew and start see about what we'll need." Epiphany wasn't dismissing her, if there was more to talk about concerning the plans she was for it.

[Arcadia Caughey]

(doing this one first to have the beauty of a finished thread! =D )

"Aye." From the knowing little grin, perhaps it was evident that Arcadia was thinking much the same when it came to Adrian being referred to as 'her people'. Goddess as he told her constantly that she was, 'Count' was more than just a title when it came to Adrian. It was his very blood and being and words like 'pride' and 'regal' didn't even cover the half of it. How it was that the anti-materialistic, vagabond Arcadia and the lordly Wallachian Count had fallen into such deep bond and attaction, well...sometimes the most illogical things are the longest lasting.

At any rate, Arcadia knew she could confidently say this. "Adrian is nothing if not prompt with his affairs, m' sure De'ryanna will be contacted in a matter of days. As for Donald, m' sure he's not goin' t' want t' get into the thick of buildin'." She thought Donald was much like herself in that way. Though while Arcadia couldn't picture him in the trenches with a shovel in hand and a hard hat on his head, she could be wrong? Time would tell.

Arcadia didn't see Epiphany's actions as a dismissal. Far from it, she admired that there was someone else who seemed to treat time as succinctly as was her own habit. "We're done," was her agreement, making her way to the door once Epiphany had time to pass through it. "I'll send ye correspondence within the next day or so that has means o' contactin' me should ye have need. And me healin' services are yours if needed durin' the buildin' process." Not that she wished ill on any of the workers, but one never knew. Sometimes when engaged in hard labor a deep massage was just what the doctor ordered, and Arcadia knew her way around that skill as well.

Once out of the meeting hall Arcadia was immediately on her way to the front door. Now she could take care of her more usual nightly business. Perhaps a visit to Donald's current clinic was in order. "Gods give y' good evenin', Epiphany."

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