Enter the Lion's Den [Diana]

[CRISPIN THOMAS MERCIA]

It was an obscure item so it was no surprise that the Crypt would be the place to have it. Crispin had been trying to find it for a while now and finally the work he had put into the search had paid off.

As it turns out, the very item he had been hunting down, had been right under his nose this whole time.

Unfortunately, the Crypt was not a place that Crispin would to to willingly. He had tried other methods of procuring the item of course. He had tried getting his secretary to pick it up for him but then came the questions about why it was so important and then pointing to the fact that this was not part of her job description and then it was back to the broken kettle in the break room which he had no authority over. It really wasn't even worth it to try after 10 minutes of sitting through that. He knew he should replace her but good help was so hard to find these days.

Crispin had even trying paying someone to pick it up for him buy apparently movies made people think twice these days when they were offered money to do something that appeared to be mundane. Apparently most seemed to think they might get into trouble with the law so that idea failed as well.

Crispin almost wished they had some sort of online catalog which he could order from. He had been a bit iffy about technology when it first got going. Something about it was just too impersonal and mechanical but now that was exactly what he needed and he couldn't have it.

This left the lycan with only one viable option, going in there himself. It was at least three hours after sunset and he had just enjoyed a nice dinner before deciding to go to the Crypt and try his luck there. He hoped that it would all happen with as much ease and as little drama as possible. He hated the idea of going there because it was their territory and they would have the upper hand and that was just more than a little off putting.

He had prepared himself for being diplomatic about it in hopes that the transaction would be carried out as smoothly as possible but the man really didn't know what to expect. He kept his dealings with vampires to a minimum and he hadn't even met the one that owned this place so who knew what she might be like.

Standing in front of the store for a second, Crispin started to have doubts about this, wondering again if there was a way around it but there just wasn't. He could already smell that vampiric scent from where he was standing. With no other options, Crispin pushed the door open and entered the establishment.

[DIANA EVELYN AMBROSE]

"Finally decided to enter did we lycan?" purred the vampire behind the counter. Diana had been watching for him for awhile now. She was dressed impeccably again today, cream-colored trousers tucked into knee high boots was topped with a crisp, white shirt with feminine ruffles. At her throat her opal brooch, from the pocket of her tailored black vest, an antique silver watch chair. She drew this chain out languidly, checked the time and reinserted it back into the pocket. "I should begin this inevitable transaction by informing you that business is business, no matter with whom, so please don't be so nervous, I find it rather insulting." she told him as she stepped off her sitting stool behind the counter and came out to meet him.

"Since I am the shop keeper and you are my customer what is it that I can help you find today?" she asked with a very crisp and business-like tone. Her hands were folded politely in front of her as she waited, back impossibly straight and proud. Despite the heels of her boots however she remained just below eye level. While it was true that she did not often tolerate foolish lycans running about her store causing messes, when one had business with her she conducted it as neutrally as possible. She offered fair prices for items and did not attempt to raise an objects value in order to extract more. For humans unwitting enough to incur her wrath this was a different story, but humans couldn't kill her with their bare hands, lycan's however, might.

There were times she wished she owned a smart-looking pair of reading glasses she could wear when she wanted to look older, however she could never find a style she liked. Waiting for the lycan to tell her his needs her mind wandered next door where she wondered what Howl was doing. But she was quick to pay attention to the customer again, being well aware that he was not the type of person to tolerate her inattention, lycan's rarely were.