Private Finished A Tour of the MCSS

"Well, perhaps, what makes us slightly different is the fact that I am at the helm," Natasha said as she looked at Pietro and smiled warmly, "and that the MCSS is basically being funded privately by myself and other wealthy patrons who are and have been behind my mission statement from the beginning, and who generally support the idea of inclusion and betterment of the community."

"I actually do not intend for the association to be dependent on government funding, Mr. Popov," she told him very politely, "And with all due respect, I have found that government funding often comes with strings attached, and I don't want to ever place the MCSS in the precarious position of having to choose or go back on its ideals or principals because we must meet certain requirements." Nat said as she opened a door to a new wing.

"In fact, we are planning our first fundraiser this coming weekend, and I'd be quite honored if you, and your assistants came as my personal guests," Natasha said as she led him to a much quieter reading room area that was empty for now but had a piano and a few other odds and ends like bookshelves and couches to sit and read at.

Natasha shook her head, "No, not at all, I think I may have caused a misunderstanding," she told him in a somewhat more appeasing and somewhat softer tone. "I meant that I did not ask you here because I am looking for government financing, or that it was some hidden agenda of mine to ask you for money," she told him.

"I'd be extremely pleased if you chose to donate to the MCSS personally, or chose to become a benefactor of the society," she told him as she watched Pietro inspect the piano, following him with her eyes as he moved through the room.

At his very blunt question, Natasha nodded but didn't look away from his very intent gaze as she had half been expecting him to ask her about her rather unconventional choice for the MCSS.

"Truthfully, I don't know if you would force me to give up my ideals. I just would hate to be cut a check and be told that the MCSS is now subject to certain things like not allowing people to stay, feed or live on the premises or that the blood must be purchased only from certain suppliers and cannot be stored here even though we have everything required," she told Pietro being extremely truthful with him.

"Those are the things I worry about. I basically worry about being forced to use government installations or contracts when it doesn't make sense financially to do so."

Natasha just regard Pietro impassively, a bit irritated by his apparent sarcasm, she could also feel a hint of skepticism, and while both emotions played on her - she refused to respond to either. Pietro reminded her of Russian nobles sometimes, and she wasn't sure she cared for that.

Disregarding his sarcasm, Natasha looked at Pietro and smiled graciously before she continued - forever the good host - something that had been grilled into her when she was human, "Well, I had mentioned that all feeders are welcome, and I do mean it. We have a few energy feeders as members, and one or two lust demons... we can accommodate any type of needs as they arise. We also have volunteers at the ready that want to help out, and in the future, I'd like to hire a few onto staff once things are better established, and feedback has come back from users to whom they are more comfortable with, and who is most professional."

"I am really trying to stay away from and possibly weed out those who get their kicks from letting others feed on them," she said, thinking of the volunteers she had met on Bleedr and frowned slightly.

"Regarding the rest, well, I would never turn away somebody in need or that needs help," she told Pietro, a bit annoyed (she had to admit) that he would think she would ever do such a thing. "I also run a clinic, I have seen what lack of support can do to a person, the toll it can take on the body and mind, Mr. Popov.," Natasha explained as evenly as possible.

"For now, yes, the flesh is being harvested from humans through the proper channels," she explained, feeling a bit more at ease now at the Minister's assurance that he was only interested in the proper welfare of others and not about nitpicking or trying to find fault with her initiative.

"We are using a smaller, local supplier," she explained, very satisfied with the family-run operation who they bought from. "Though, we would also like to add nonhuman as well as synthetic or artificial in the near future," Natasha confessed a bit wistfully as she gestured for Pietro to follow her to the kitchen stockroom area which was quiet at the moment. She had a lot of ideas for the MCSS, but knew that things like that took time and money as well as organization.

"The blood and flesh are stored in the two fridges over there when they come in," Nat explained as she pointed out the massive stainless steel walk-in fridges to Pietro.

"One of our benefactors, Michael Rothschild, owns La Reserve and suggested them to us actually. We also purchase some of our blood from two of his suppliers since one works with synthetic and plasma, and the other with human and nonhuman." Natasha informed him as she stood against a stainless steel countertop and watched Pietro with interest, following his movements while trying to gauge his feelings on everything.

"Vegan vampires as I refer to them privately," Natasha laughed when Pietro made a face at the synthetic blood comment. She also preferred the real thing, but there seemed to be a growing trend among younger vampires who preferred the substitute over the real thing even though there were ways to make real blood in larger quantities.

Starting to understand Pietro a little better as they toured the MCSS, Natasha was not offended this time when he referenced other groups - who had obviously failed in the past - and that her idea was not new or groundbreaking. It could have raised her hackles, if she had focussed solely on his words, but she hadn't and found he meant no harm, nor was their malice or a sense of doubt that she could pull things off.

"That is wonderful to hear," Natasha said with a warm smile, happy to hear that he endorsed - even if it was only privately - her initiative. "I am truly honored that you find the MCSS worthy of your attention," she added entering quite naturally into the court-like formal she was used to.

"Would you be an anonymous MCSS benefactor or...," Natasha asked politely, not ever wanting to assume - especially where money or reputation were involved.