[O] Little Lost Child

Stepping forward to view the buildling illuminated in moonlight, it was just as large and grand as she expected it to be. The young child hesitated for only a moment before making her first steps up to the vestibule. No older than ten in appearance, she stood lost and confused, unsure on how to proceed. Way of her surroundings she continued forward with nothing on her person but the clothes on her back and a naive understanding of the world.

If not for this safe haven, the child would have left the country. But as sheltered as she had been, she doubted her own survival. Thoughts of her sire came to mind. It was through him she had learned of the coven and its silly ideals of safety and shelter. It didn't seem so silly now.

The quite stillness of the coven, the serenity of it's gardens and the calm of the mansion were completely broken in and instant.

Tuzik had gotten loose when Alyosha had attempted to get him in the bathtub. The hound had fled and the Necromancer was foolish enough to chase him, that had quickly escalated into a full blown game of catch-me.

The hound skidded across the floor, his bare feet losing traction due to the fact that they were wet.

Thankfully his bottom half was still fully clothed as he bounded down the hall on all fours.

The man barked mischievously as he entered the vestibule, his scarlet eyes going wide as he saw the girl, a moment too late as he tried to apply the breaks, slipping on the tiles and sliding across the floor, gently colliding with the small girl with a yelp.

Alyosha had made a dumb decision.

He hadn't locked the door when herding Tuzik into the bath. Now he was chasing him through the halls, muttering breathlessly to himself in Russian.

His feet slapped against the wooden floor as he chased the Demon.

The Necromancer had the sense to slow as the vestibule came closer.

He winced as he looked at the tangle of limbs that was his Hound and the girl.

"Are you okay?" he asked, jogging towards the two.

Mialina must have gotten the wrong mansion. Seems this was instead an insane asylum for half naked men that act like dogs! She tried to side step him but was much too late, losing her footing and falling over. Eyes wide, she stared up at the crazy man that hovered over her. Trying to compute the sudden changes happening around her, she was slow in reacting.

Blinking back to reality at the sound of the other man's voice, she leaned her head back to get a good look at him. They were all so tall! Must they all remind her of her childish appearance?

"No, I...yes." she stumbled, trying to understand the absurdity of the situation. Scooting herself back from the oddly tattooed male, she forced herself onto her feet, giving a tug on her jacket to fit it more nicely to her frame. "I am fine."

Tuzik's head tilted in Alyosha's direction, a sad, guilty look coming onto his face as the man neared, he knew he was going to be told off.

The hound gave a soft whimper and slowly crawled to hide behind the girl, nuzzling up against her side, rubbing his cheek against her hand to try and coax her into petting him.

He hadn't meant to knock her over, when Lyo drew closer he ducked behind her, as if her tiny frame would be able to hide him from view.

Alyosha held out a hand to help the girl up when he was close enough.

"I am sorry for him. He is clumsy."

His gaze turned down to the Hound and he arched a brow.

He didn't need to tell Tuzik off for the Hound to know that he had done something bad.

"Tuzik," he murmured in a soft warning. The Hound needed to apologise to the poor girl for knocking her over like he did.

The young girl tensed, feeling very uncomfortable as the stranger took liberties with her person. Yes, he was indeed acting like a domesticated animal. Is it normal, was she the crazy one? Feeling obligated for some unknown reason, she gave a stiff pat onto the top of his head before quickly withdrawing her hand, holding it to her chest. "This is...normal, then?" she asked, wanting to be reassured.

Tuzik gave a happy murmur as she petted him, she forgave him then, at least, that's the conclusion his mind made.

The Hound gave a soft whimper as Lyo gave him the warning, he didn't like that tone.

Slowly with his belly to the ground he crawled back over to the man and sat at his feet, resting his head up against the side of Lyo's thigh and looking up at him with large, apologetic eyes.

His tongue lapped out to lick the man's hand, nuzzling against it, Lyo had to forgive him too.

Alyosha stared down at Tuzik firmly.

His adorable gaze and affectionate manners wouldn't get him out of trouble this time.

"Apologise to her," he repeated, his head tilting towards Mia. His blond hair jerked with the movement.

Her. His blue gaze turned to the girl. "I am Alyosha and this is Tuzik," he introduced with his thick Russian accent.

Not getting a spoken answer, she had to assume that it was; for the man-dog--Tuzik, he had said, for Tuzik was being forced to apologize. Wait, could he speak? For someone reason Tuzik being able to speak was just as shocking as him acting like a dog. Normally dogs didn't speak, but Mialina needed to relearn her definition of normal.

Forcing herself to stop staring at the overly affection man on the floor, she straightened before giving a stiff and quick curtsy. "Mialina. Missy, if you'd like." The nickname should have been discarded as soon as she had come to this mansion, but she couldn't find it in herself to depart with it.

The Hound gave a whine as he looked up at Lyo, the man still wasn't happy with him.

His scarlet gaze then turned to the girl, a small frown on his lips, he knew when he was being scolded.

"Tuzik, sorry."

He muttered, his tone was low and gruff, sounding more like a growl than a proper human voice.

He gave another soft whine before looking back a Lyo, was he still in trouble?

Alyosha pet Tuzik gently on the head when he apologised to the girl.

"Good dog."

He was happier with the Hound now he'd apologised.

"Still have bath later," he chuckled softly, ruffling Tuz's long red hair with a small grin.

Tuz wouldn't be able to escape the dreaded bath.

"He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"Oh, no, of course not." She tried to reassure the two, glancing between them. Considering her question slowly, her hands moved to tug on a ruffle on her dress. "Do you both...live here?" How often will she see men-dogs running about? What other strange beings would she be forced to interact with?

Tuzik pouted and gave a whimper as he looked up at the man.

"Alyosha, no, no bath."

He muttered, his English wasn't very good, but he was getting there, what he had accomplished so far was amazing considering that he was a Hound.

Tuzik huffed and laid down on the floor, mopping over the fact that he still had to bathe.

"Is good to know. He is rough and tumble Hound."

Tuzik was the sort of Hound that didn't mind a few bruises as long as he got to play. Most the time it was amusing but when others were dragged into the mix, Alyosha was always worried about them getting hurt.

The man nodded. "Da. We live in the rooms back that way." He pointed behind him. "You are new, da?"

The man chuckled softly, his gaze turning back down to Tuz. "Yes bath. You need bath."

A hound, sure. Deciding to ignore their bathing dilemma, she concentrated on her near future. "Yes, I was hoping to live here, too." She opened her mouth, about to explain further but thought better of it and stayed quite. Small hands tug and twisted into the fabric of her dress. To be honest, a bath in itself sounded nice. But did everyone share a bathroom? How many were there? Was it more of a large tub built for many people or just one? "I would like a bath, could you show me? Maybe?"

Tuzik was a funny creature, he loved to swim, but he hated the bath, he didn't even mind being wet, he would quite happily run through the sprinklers or out in the rain.

"Nooooo...."

He whined, rolling over onto his back, presenting the man with his tummy.

He wanted to play and be petted, not forced to bathe.

"Do you have room yet?"

The bathrooms were shared within the bedrooms. Each bedroom had an adjoining bathroom that the four inhabitants used.

His gaze turned down to Tuzik and he rolled his eyes, leaning down to pet the Hounds presented stomach.

"No bath means stinky Tuz. No one will want to play if you are stinky."

Mialina paused, frowning. Her lower lip pushed forward in a soft pout. She had never really talked to anyone about staying, she had just walked into the front door! Was that alright? Should she have made an appointment?

"Well, no..." She responded, looking away. "I don't know." She shouldn't have expected it to be so easy...

Tuzik gave a happy whine as his belly was rubbed, writhing against the ground.

"Stinky Tuzik, good."

He growled happy. He liked it when he was smelly, all canines did, it was better than the smell of soup.

Tuzik leaned up, nuzzling his head against the man's hand and licking at his fingers gently.

"Stinky Tuzik bad. I won't play with stinky Tuzik."

He pulled his hand away from the Hound and stood, waving his hand in front of his face as if the smell had gotten too much for him.

She didn't have a room.

"I can help you find one."

He thought over what he could do to make sure the girl would be okay in this huge mansion.

The answer came quickly. He could have Tayce watch over her.

"I think I know perfect room."

Mialina perked up immediately. A beaming smile started to form on her face before she remembered herself and it was gone. Instead, she nodded her thanks.

"That would be much appreciated." She answered, moving in closer to the two in order to follow. Her eyes constantly landed on Tuzik, still trying to figure the man dog out, but too prideful to ask any specific questions.

Tuzik whined loudly as Lyo pulled away from him, the man wouldn't cuddle and play with him if he was stinky?

He didn't like the sound of that, not one bit, Lyo gave the best cuddles.

"Alyosha!"

He yelped, putting his 'paws' up against the man's thigh and leaning up toward the man to get his attention again.

"Alyosha! Bath time."

He added, nudging the man's hand with his nose.

Lyo chuckled as Tuzik tried to get him to give him a bath.

How quickly someone changed their mind when there was something they liked on the line.

"Tuzik, heel. Bath in a minute."

Alyosha smiled down at the tiny girl. "Come. Room is this way."

The child followed quietly for quite some time, her hands kept busy with ruffles and buttons on her clothes. Finally the questions seemed to bubble up and she couldn't seem to keep them to herself. She was probably better off not asking, but her childish curiosity seemed to take hold.

"Tuzik is...your pet?" she asked hesitantly, saying the name with much uncertainty.