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Constance looked very stressed, as she ran fingers through her shining black hair, looking at Mason and Nick who were eating breakfast on the floor in the livingroom. Her sleep had been disturbed by unassailable cravings yet she felt horribly guilty for them. She'd lain in bed trying to fight them down but it had been no use. Mason looked up at her, chewing a mouthful of bagel. "Good morning Constance... want some breakfast?" she said. Nick looked up at Constance too reading the need plain in her ... he stood fluidly, going to his 'stash' but then, glanced at Mason, unsure. Mason saw the look in Nick's eyes and turned to Constance in partial realization. "Sit down," said Mason softly to Constance. Constance sat next to Mason, legs folded to one side, leaning slightly toward Mason, subtly appeasing. Blue eyes met grey and held. Nicholas remained standing, waiting on a signal that would decide his course of action.
"Tell me," Mason said, her voice still soft. "I need... I need," Constance trailed off, almost inaudibly. Mason nodded once. "The cocaine?" "Yes." "Constance.. you can't go on... " Tears held back with difficulty formed in Constance's eyes. "I know ... I went as long as I could.. I really can't go... go on without..." She struggled to form the words, unwilling to let them form themselves on her behalf - humiliation and stubbornness warred with one another.
"Not even... one more day?" Constance thought a moment, giving it true consideration though she already knew the answer. She shook her head. Mason thought hard, trying to think of something... anything... that would help. An idea flowered and she blinked at her own audacity. "What about.... your..... our other addiction? Would ... would vitae satisfy the craving enough?"
Constance said, "No -- I can't face her right now to ask, not like this." Mason shook her head. "I didn't mean that... I know... but... I have some in my lab? I have extra. We could .... like raiding the kitchen you know?"
Constance relaxed a bit, and even smiled wanly. She hesitated, then nodded. "Okay. I think so."
"Oh... good. Okay." Mason felt her heart thudding, trying to calm herself she carefully rationalized her plan. Lucille didn't want Constance to slip up, needed to see progress, and had left the use of the 'supplies' to Mason's discretion. Mason could even view this as an experiment of sorts.... okay. She calmed herself, all this happening in brief moments, and looked at Nick. "It's okay, Nick," she said. "Finish your breakfast... we'll be back in a little while..."
Mason hurriedly ate the rest of her bagel while putting on her shoes and coat. When she was finished, Constance was waiting by the door ready to leave, seeming brighter somehow to Mason, almost as if she had already taken cocaine and had that stimulated glow. Brutis was sleeping but they took Caspian with them for company and protection. The dog seemed pleased to be going out, lolling her tongue in the cool winter morning, her blue eyes bright.
It was a short drive and soon they were inside the lab. Mason turned on the lights, though a bit of daylight came into the room through the windows high along the outer wall. Noting this, Mason closed the shades, the vitae was sensitive to sunlight of course. She went to her refrigeration and pulled out a glassine bag labeled LSv, one of several in the case. Glancing around, she pulled out another one with MWv on it, and poured each into a beaker, carrying them like drinking glasses over to Constance. She handed Constance the first, keeping the one with her own vitae.
Constance had hopped up onto a clear counter space and was surveying the lab with interest from her perch. She smiled at Mason as Mason handed her the beaker full of dark red liquid. Mason giggled softly and clinked her beaker to Constance's. "Cheers," she said, and hid her face behind the glass as she sipped.
From behind her beaker Mason watched Constance drinking, feeling a sense of relief that Constance didn't seem to be as stressed at the action as she had been the one time Mason had previously seen her, or rather, had left to give her privacy, to consume this same rich drink. Instead Constance seemed to be enjoying it very much. Mason finished half the blood in her beaker and set it down for a moment, smiling. "It's good?" she asked.
"Mmm hmm," Constance murmured, leaning over the beaker for a moment, then pulling hair aside out of her face as she straightened up again. "This is much nicer...."
Mason felt happy - though tinged with other, mixed emotions - but mostly pleased that it had worked. It would still be a long time, she thought, before Constance could really control her cravings... but... it was good to feel she'd made progress... and was doing better... she looked over at her, showing some of her pleasure, and Constance felt warmed by the look. She hopped off the counter, setting her now empty beaker on it as she stood, and went over to Mason, putting an arm around her. "Thank you."