Rodere Highrise: New Tenant

[Markus]

After weeks of being the only resident in the high-rise, Markus finally caved and decided to use the apartments on the bottom floor as a bit of a business venture. Since it wouldn't be taking homes away from his rats, it really didn't seem like half a bad idea to the Rat King.

Markus found himself coming down the elevator that morning to meet the young lady he had only spoken with over the phone. Mr. Jeeves as Markus called his elderly doorman had already taken first months and last months rent from the young lady when she arrived to move in this morning, so he wouldn't have to deal with that today. The only thing Markus had to worry about was introducing himself to the lovely lady.

When Markus hit the bottom floor and stepped back out in to the hall, the suit clad rat king leaned forward on his cane and took a deep smell. Markus would know that scent and the instinctual feeling couldn't be wrong. "Miss Piper?" Markus called out, leaning inside apartment 2, and scanning the movers as they worked. "Miss Piper?"

Markus blinked to himself. Was this truly coincidence? Had another rat moved in to the Highrise without knowing her King owned it? The luck if his nose was right.

[Piper Jordan]

Piper considered herself fortunate when some apartments opened up in a well-tended highrise close to the city's center. Centrally located to everything, including her job at the Seattle-Star-Weekly. She had apartment 2 on the bottom floor, and the Bekins long-distance moving van was bringing her well-loved furniture and boxes into the new place and setting up what needed to be set up, like her sleigh bed and queen sized mattress.

She had come all the way from the Sunshine State, and found herself in the splendor of the Pacific Northwest, eager to start her fortuitous career as a freelance writer, and columnist for the paper. Who would have thought she would be a life coach for people that were troubled? It was like a dream come true. She had stayed in a hotel for a week, having decided on the high rise immediately because there was a chocolatier on the corner. A bakery on the other.

She was unpacking, clad in a Hello Kitty 'I Love Nerds' T-shirt, and some booty shorts, with her flip flops. The blonde was willowy and tall at 5'8", and kept herself well groomed and healthy. Elbow deep in a box of clothing meant for her chest of drawers, when she felt the impression of someone much stronger than her, yet familiar. Could it be that she had discovered another of her kind? The energy was stored away in her memory banks, as she went about her tasks of settling into her new digs.

Since the door was wide open, she could feel the prescence again and this time it was no mere coincidence. When her cornflower blues gazed at the man in the doorway, she knew that he was the source of immense power she had discovered earlier upon passing through her apartment. "Hello there. Are you a neighbor or somethin'? My name is Piper Jordan." A hand instinctively moved to her hair finger combing it into place, because she had been working hard to get her place in gear. Apparently the man knew who she was, because he used her first name before she'd given it.

"Yeah, that's my name. Don't wear it out." Piper laughed. "And you are?" she said. "Oh where are my manners? Come in and have a seat, if you can find one!" she said cheerfully. "If I had something in the fridge to offer you I would. But I've yet to go shopping." It was apparent she was in the process of moving in, so that idea would definitely be out. From the vibes she felt off of Markus, she sensed he was like her, and she smiled knowingly. If he was as strong a presence as she felt he was, he would have already sensed another were-rat.

"Pleasure to meet you...." her country sounding voice was as sweet as spun honey, as she offered him her hand to shake. "I hope you don't mind. Place is a bit of a mess. I guess you can say I'm a bit of a ...pack rat." her toothy smile was like strawberries and cream. And there was enough to go around.

[Markus]

Markus grinned immediately upon seeing the femme rat's face and confirming that she was what he thought she was. "Welcome to town Miss Piper. My name is Markus. I own this building." Markus nodded, eyeing her over a time or two before settling on her face. She was a sweet young thing that was for sure.

"I am also your King. Welcome to Seattle." Markus fully introduced himself, pushing his hand in his pocket to pull the rent money she had payed Jeeves out and hold on her direction. "I won't be needing this." He smiled kindly, and looked in to the apartment she was moving in to.

"If you would rather, the suites are upstairs. Reserved only for...mine." Markus grinned to her, his form coming in to the apartment. "you are the first rat to arrive since I did. You will find little competition for my attention."

[Piper Jordan]

It was obvious by the look on his face that he knew what she was, and it was obvious to Piper that she knew he was head of the Rodere, what with that huge influx of power she had felt ripple off him in waves.

"My first name is Piper. My last name is Jordan, if you want to call me Miss. But I'd just prefer it if you called me Piper." smiled the she-rat, doing a perfect job of correcting his error. There was an aura of something else too, that she couldn't quite put her finger on. Was it attraction?

She laughed inwardly, at the thought. She didn't want or need any baggage. She had enough of it in her 22 years of survival. Plus she was moving into this apartment, and his next comment made her put her hands on her hips. He offered her an upstairs apartment, even though the movers were arranging her furniture here.

"Yes but what about this apartment, Markus. I have all of my stuff here and I'm unpacking. How are you going to move me upstairs? The moving men aren't going to be here after today, you know? That was something to consider at least. But he was the Rat King, and surely he knew what to do about the situation.

[Markus]

Markus just grinned at her, watching her face for a short moment before walking further in to the apartment. "If I may have your attention. There was an error in assigning this beautiful young lady her apartment. Her things need to be moved to suite 1 floor 14. I understand this will cost money. How much?"

"Two hundred." one spoke up, expecting the large offer to be shot down, but the Rat king rebutted. "Three hundred if it is done and set up by seven this evening." Markus nodded to them, and turned to the little she-rat. A smile swept his lips again as he moved toward her. "Consider it taken care of. Floor 14. Suite 1."

[Piper Jordan]

Piper was awful appreciative of the way Markus handled the situation with the apartment mix-up. She saved the apartment number to memory, since it would be her new digs. Piper couldn't wait to get settled in a nest all of her own, and perhaps Markus could sense this.

"You'll have to stop by one evening for dinner, Markus. I really do appreciate all your help with my move, and settling in. Its the least I can do." said the she-rat. Piper wasn't exactly Bobby Flay, but she didn't burn water either. The newspaper columnist was used to making single meals for herself, and no one else that was all.

Or she could order in, or go to a restaurant too, that catered to both their tastes. But first Piper would see if a home cooked meal appealed to the Rat King. He was probably constantly eating out as it was, because he didn't seem the sort of guy that would cook for himself. So she made an offer she couldn't go back on now that she spread her cards on the table.

"What line of business are you in, Markus?" she said, as boxes moved past her in order to meet the deadline that Markus suggested, at least in order to earn the extra $100 dollars. "I am a newspaper columnist for the Seattle-Star Weekly." Nothing major like the Seattle Times, but it was a daily line of work for her, and she was good at it.

In fact, she hoped to get more letters of submission to her advice column from the local populace, and Piper's star sign article always was a hit with people. But she had aspirations to do a feature article or interview with someone important, and make the front page one day. But she had to be patient, and wait for a breakthrough in that area.

She knew it would come eventually.

[Markus]

Markus scratched his chin a moment, thinking for a moment. She was offering him dinner? Well that didnt sound bad at all. The king would then do something that she would have to get very used to. He would invade her space. A strong hand was laid gently on her shoulder. "A home cooked meal sounds very nice. And company for dinner sounds even nicer."

Would it dawn on Piper that Markus had this whole place to himself and his staf until she had arrived? All the empty space was almost daunting. "and you are welcome to my suite at any time. Just get in the elevator and press the button with the crown on it. Will bring you right up to me. For any reason. Even if you are just lonely."

Markus was definitely a kind king. And he had a soft spot in him for each rat he was over, but that did not mean he wasn't firm. If she stepped out of line she would know that one day. "I am retired. I have earned quite enough money in my lifetime. But we still make from services provided to the others in the preternatural community. Mostly dealing with problems." he nodded to her. He didn't know her quite well enough to tell her about the millions in off shore accounts from the heist. That was for him to know.

[Piper Jordan]

Yes indeed, the humble advice columnist was offering the leader of her Rodere a place at her table, at least once it was settled on the 14th floor of the building. Maybe not tonight, but another night in the future. A promise was a promise to her. "I'll let you know after I've settled in on a date and time." Piper explained to Markus. "After all I can't have you over amidst a huge mess in my apartment!" she released a mellifluous laugh. She didn't seem to mind the hand placed on her shoulder, full of strength and power. She smiled, revealing a slight overbite. Hard to believe she once wore braces, and looked like a total geek.

Did Markus just invite her to his suite? Her golden brows furrowed in curiosity. Perhaps he was more lonely than she had thought. "I will consider that, Markus. Perhaps to just talk, you should know that I am a good listener, but I warn you sometimes what people say makes a good story and I wind up writing about them instead!" Piper chuckled softly, as his hand drifted down. He instantly made her feel at ease around him. She made a mental note about the elevator and the crown. Used to being on her own, she didn't get lonely often. After all she was "married" to her laptop.

Markus would discover that Piper usually towed the line. She had been part of the Rodere in Sarasota, Florida, and was used to her fate by now. She just winged the rest of it. Picking apart his story in her mind, curiosity got the better of her. What did he do before retiring? How did he get to be the Rat King? There were many questions left unsaid, but they niggled at her mind. Maybe one day she would trust him enough to tell her the whole story. Perhaps.