Walking out from one of her fellow gangster’s owned hotels, Nadezhda promptly got hit with wind splashing rain directly into her face. "Oh, блять," she cursed, attempting to shield herself with her jacket as she walked to her car, which was parked way too far away for her liking. "This damn place needs better parking options. Stupid fucking rain…" she grumbled under her breath. Just as she was about to arrive at her car, a whimper found its way through the rain and into Nadezhda’s ear, making her stop in her tracks. After not hearing anything for a moment, she started moving again, but… another whimper. Finally, Nadezhda turned, immediately noticing {{user}}, a demihuman laying at the side of the road. He was just as soaked as Nadezhda, the wounds on his broken, malnourished body visible even through the heavy rain. For a moment, Nadezhda considered just getting in her car and driving away. Not her business after all. But the continuous whimpers, the sight of that poor creature laying there all cold and vulnerable… "Блять!" she cursed again, stalking over to the huddled shape and bending down. "I’m going to pick you up," she told the guy bluntly, reaching out to do just that.

"Of course I don't have to," Nadezhda snorted, moving to squat next to the smaller figure. "But I am." She reached out and tucked her hand beneath one of caradoc's arms before lifting him easily into a fireman's carry. With a grunt, she stood up again, carrying the demihuman close against her broad body while ignoring his protests. "Shut it," she growled, starting to march back towards her car. It didn't take long for Nadezhda to arrive at her car, but that gave caradoc ample time to struggle and whimper all the way there. When they finally reached the vehicle, she shoved open the back door, throwing the smaller figure roughly onto the backseat before slamming it shut behind him. She stood by the car for a moment, debating if she should let him out again, or just... what exactly? She knew only one thing for certain; she couldn't bring herself to leave him alone in this rain. Frowning, Nadezhda walked around the front of her car and slid into the driver seat. Looking over at caradoc once more, she said simply, "Don't get any ideas."

"No," the woman in charge answered curtly, starting her engine before backing out of the parking spot and beginning to drive towards her house. "I don't have time for that." She glanced at caradoc as she spoke. "Besides, you don't look like much."

The comment earned a huff from the demihuman on the backseat. Nadezhda ignored it, focusing on the road instead. Soon enough, they arrived at her massive mansion outside of town. She pulled into the garage and turned off the engine before climbing out of the car again and rounding the hood to stand next to caradoc's door.

"Out," she commanded, not unkindly, but with an impatience that was becoming more natural for her. She reached out a hand, waiting for caradoc to take it.

When the smaller figure finally took her hand, Nadezhda gave a satisfied nod and yanked him out of the car, ignoring his whine of protest. She led the demihuman into the house, through the kitchen and into the living room where she deposited him unceremoniously onto a couch before disappearing upstairs to her bedroom.

Soon after, she returned with a change of clothes for herself and a new set of clothes for caradoc; a shirt and sweatpants that were way too large on the smaller figure but still warm enough. "Get changed," she ordered curtly, tossing the clothing at him before turning to head back upstairs.

There was an uncharacteristic air of... something around her today. Even she couldn't quite put a finger on it. Maybe she just needed some distraction, maybe she'd finally found something else worth obsessing over for a change. Or perhaps... perhaps this would turn out to be another disaster in the making. Time would tell.

She raised an eyebrow as she watched him change clothes, noting the faint flush to his cheeks but deciding against commenting on it. "Come here," she finally said, crooking her finger at caradoc. The smaller figure obeyed without hesitation, shuffling over to where Nadezhda sat on a nearby armchair.

"What's your name?" she asked bluntly, studying his face as he stopped in front of her. There was something about him... different from the other demihumans she had come across. Maybe it was just his eyes. Whatever the case, she couldn't help but feel a strange pull towards this one.

"Caradoc," she repeated the name slowly, savoring the sound of it as she looked at him intently. "I'm Nadezhda." She paused for a moment, considering her words carefully before continuing, "You know... you can stay here for a while if you want. As long as you do what I say, when I say it, and don't give me any trouble..." Her voice trailed off as she studied his face, waiting for his response. There was something in the way he held himself, some air of resilience despite the obvious abuse he had suffered... Nadezhda couldn't help but wonder what kind of person this Caradoc really was.

A smile twitches at the corner of Nadezhda's lips as she listens to Caradoc's softly spoken question. For some reason, the hope in his voice tugs at something inside her, a distant warmth that she hasn't felt in a long time. She opens her mouth to respond, not quite sure what words will come out first. But before she can say anything else, another thought occurs to her. "Do you have any family?" she asks quietly, studying Caradoc's face for some sign of kinship or connection. There are so many unanswered questions surrounding this creature... and yet, there's something about him that makes Nadezhda want to know the answers all the same.

There's something in Caradoc's voice that tugs at a thread inside her chest, an emotion she doesn't quite understand but can't seem to shake off. Perhaps it's pity... or guilt, for being part of the system that created such a world. For a moment, Nadezhda wavers, unsure whether to grant Caradoc's request or not. But then she thinks back on her own lonely existence and the cold, hard fact that he is hers now, in every way. She might as well make use of him. With a nod, she finally speaks. "Alright," she says firmly, though there's an unexpected gentleness to her voice when she continues, "you can stay here for as long as you like... but know that I'm the boss around here. You do what I say, when I say it, and you don't give me any trouble. Understood?" Her words hang in the air between them, a silent acknowledgement of the power dynamics at play even as she tries to soften the blow for Caradoc. She doesn't quite know why she's taking this approach... perhaps because something about him feels different from other demihumans she's encountered before.