Being a vampire put a great damper on a many things. The blood requirement was a hassle, especially when socially acceptable blood was sufficient but not quite as satisfying. Operating during the day became more annoying, with skin that burned and blistered more easily. Just presenting as a vampire made people avoid you or even cast you out of establishments. And, worst of all for Oliver, it made it very difficult to get any kind of job that involved being close with other people. Since the old elf had acquired the curse, his search for employment had been more than a little disheartening. Even when he "failed" to mention that he was a vampire, families caught on one way or another and suddenly became uncomfortable with him. For a man who liked to live comfortably in one spot for long periods of time, this was a trying situation.
Because of this, Oliver had little in the way of hope as he took his first steps onto the property of the next man he had arranged an interview with. This was definitely the kind of place her had gotten into the butlering business for. The grounds were expansive, with a sprawling, neatly arranged porch and an immaculate garden decorting the front. The building itself was nothing to sneeze at, and Oliver was fairly sure that the front doors alone cost more than all the money he had acquired in his life. Oliver approached them leisurely, carefully stepping around the fancy fountain on his way up the path. There were many sorts of men who found themselves living in an estate such as this, and the vampire wondered what kind he was about to encounter.
Straightening out the sleeves of his nicest blazer, Oliver prepared himself for the meeting. More often than not he dealt with the stuffy sort, the holier-than-thou men who thought that money was the only thing that made someone worth looking at. Sometimes he encountered the receiver of an inheritance whom did not know what to do with the wealth thrust upon them or how to manage themselves now that they had it. Very rarely did he find an employer more interesting than that. Would this be different? Well, in order to find out, this man would have to let Oliver stay beyond the "by the way, I'm a vampire" part of the interview, and that on its own was unlikely.
Well, there was no use putting it off. Oliver took a few long strides to reach those shining glass doors, the clack of his shoes on the stone path echoing in the quiet of the night. With one last deep breath to clear his mind and heart, he took hold of one of the bronze knockers and gave a few sharp raps to announce himself.
