Welcome to Gaia! ::

Richard's face relaxed in a wide smile. "W-welcome! C-c-cyril, the master, is sleeping right now, and won't b-b-be up 't-til nightf-fall. He a-asked me t-to tell you that S-s-steph went to g-get her things and won't b-b-b-be back until that t-time as well."

He opened the door wider to allow her to enter.

"I-I was also asked t-to let you know th-that you c-can have any r-room you choose, unless it is already t-t-t-taken. And tha-that you not enter the t-t-tower. W-would you like t-to be shown around, or d-do you want to g-g-get settled by yourself?"

Richard motioned for Abby to follow him.

"I-i'm afraid that th-there is only one r-room next to M-m-miss Vamp open right now..." He looked to the floor and muttered sadly, "Un-unless Miss N-nite d-d-didn't escape."

He lead her down the long way around, neglecting to show her the secret passage which he was still wary of, due to events the night before.

He pushed open the door carefully, and peeked inside to make sure nothing was in it.

Richard jumped, startled. "AH, y-y-y-yes, I'm fine."

Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he let the door swing wide open. "I was only t-that I w-w-was checking for anything... ha-harmful. S-s-s-strange things happen a-around here sometimes. A-and I hope you en-enjoy your stay w-with us."

Richard jerks back away from the door as a loud pounding reverberated through the manor house.

"A-ah! U-u-um, I-i've got to answer that. P-p-please make yourself at home, M-m-miss Kingston!" With that, he dashed off to the front of the manor.

Panting heavily, he yanked open the heavy front door to see a person standing outside.

"M-m-may I help you? I'm R-r-r-r-richard Bernard."

Ricard immediately felt wary, but he opened the door wide for her anyways.

"W-well.. this isn't m-m-my manor, not in a manner of s-s-speaking. It.. it belongs to my..my ancestor, Cyril.
Cyril's r-r-r-rules of hospitality st-state that nobody m-m-must be turned away. W-would you like me t-t-t-to show you to you r-room, or w-would you rather f-fi-find your way b-by yourself?"

Richard gestured her through to stand in the dusty, broken down, but still vaguely elegant foyer.

"Cy-cyril is a- I-i mean, he always sleeps d-during the day. He isn't... well, he likes n-n-night b-better. " He seemed reluctant to divulge the true nature of his ancestor.

"Oh!" He said, covering his mouth with his hand, eyes wide. "I-i-i q-quite forgot t-to warn you about th-the tower. Y-you aren't s-supposed to go up there. 'T-t-tis forbidden."

Richard startled a little at that.

"Ah.. I-i-i guess so. Yeah.. h-he is exactly l-l-l-like a v-vam-vampire."

He looked to the ground, scuffing his shoe on the floor.

"S-s-so, what kind of ro-room d-d-do you want, Miss N'sela? W-we've got ones further up, o-o-on the t-top fl-floors, or we have ones underground, in-in case y-y-you prefer not to deal with t-the sun."

Richard shuddered, bad memories assaulting him, and turned away to begin leading her down the long descent into the underground chambers.

"F-funny," Richard said nervously. "S-so many people here at-at one t-t-time who prefer th-the dark.." He stopped and snatched an unlit candelabra sitting on a side-table and fumbled with the matches in his pocket. He lit one, but burned his fingers.

"Eeek!" He dropped it, then stooped to retrieve it.