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Post by Acadia Sackler on May 28, 2016 8:39:51 GMT
"Um?" She looked the strange man, a retainer from the smell of him, from head to toe, then back again. He was well dressed, wearing only the finest of suits, with blonde hair and boyish features. While far from unattractive, he wasn't what she expected from the Amy she knew, back in the days of the French nightmare. She ran a hand nervously through her ginger locks, taking a step away from the front door to the manor. "Do I... have the right place?"
Cady had heard from a friend, who heard from a friend, who heard from another friend that Amy Sorel had finally gotten married. The fact that her fellow man-hater had found somebody worth her time was surprising enough, but to hear that the infamous Daughter of a King had taken his name was just too much. It took some planning, but a trip from Boston to Nagasaki, Japan was far from impossible. Especially considering she had the Sackler bank accounts still floating around.
The retainer offered her another smile and a nod, inviting her inside. She twitched a bit, running her lip between her teeth, and tried to offer him a passable smile in return. "Ahh... mmm... I'm good. Is... Is Amy not home or something?" She tried to peer around his slender frame, but he seemed hell bent on keeping her from so much as glancing inside.
Just as he told her before, Alec patiently informed her that the Prince was out, off visiting the grave of a dear friend. "Nuko, right? Inuko Locke?" That managed to pull a look of true sadness out of the strange Toreador. Despite all the terrible things that happened to her in France, she regretted not keeping up with the Lockes. Killy was actually a decent guy. When Sudaru did the unthinkable, he defended her, even to his mother-in-law. She sighed, softly, rubbing her arms in thought. "I probably... shouldn't go there. Not yet." She chuckled. Or maybe ever. But that was a thought she kept to herself.
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Post by Octavian O'Connor on May 28, 2016 9:38:28 GMT
Octavian had spent a large majority of the evening in his office, he'd fallen behind on the paper's he'd so desperately needed to grade with the events of the past few weeks taking up far more of his time than he'd hoped. It wasn't until he'd heard Nuko's name mentioned that he looked up from his desk, listening to the conversation taking place in his foyer. A soft smile spread across his lips as he rose, leaving the warm glow of his office for the main door.
The trek down to the door was a short, the neonate smiled past the retainer looking toward the new vampire a smile on his face. That same warm smile that always seemed to be on his face. "Evening. Welcome to my home Miss Sackler." The warmth and kindness just seemed to come off of him in waves. As always, he wore a suit, perfectly tailored and pressed to perfection, a pair of cufflinks with the infinity symbol very standing out on the brilliant platinum metal and a pen sticking out from behind one ear. The same pen that he'd been grading papers with just moments before.
Nodding toward Alec, the young Ventrue held the door for his guest, welcoming her formally into his home. "I'm sorry my wife is out, what is it that brings you to our lovely city?" He asked politely. "My home is yours while you're here by he way, consider it the least I can do for all that you've done for me." Octavian gave a slight, respectful bow before holding his arm out to welcome her into his home.
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Post by Acadia Sackler on May 28, 2016 9:48:28 GMT
As yet another male sauntered up, just as finely dressed, she took another few steps back, nearly falling down the stairs that led up to the manor door. Suddenly, she felt underdressed in her clingy blue jeans and simple, oversized grey sweater. She didn't look very different than she had in college, youthful and rather beautiful. The only thing that marred that was the ugly scar that traced along her cheekbone and down to her jaw. That, of course, was something Octavian would recognize. Her days in Boston had come long after her disgrace to the DeMorieve family.
"I, ah... You... know me?" She furrowed her brows at his invitation, distrust obvious in her amber eyes. Her breath hitched in her chest as fear began to flood her veins. Just how many men were here? If Amy was out, would it be safe within the walls of her home? Logic told her that yes, of course she'd be okay. These men were trusted by the coldest, most frigid bitch she knew.
Her eyes darted into the warm glow of the manor home, painted in tans and browns. It was so different than the room the Ice Queen had kept in France, colorless and white. She wasn't sure what exactly she had expected, but this wasn't it. The mistrust only grew as she looked back to the stranger that knew her name, eyes an immediate steel grey as she took in his aura.
His rather human aura. She did stumble back, then, tripping down the stairs until she managed to catch herself, keeping distance between her and the man... vampire... creature... human... thing. She narrowed her eyes, fingers flicking down to the gun she wore at her hip, hidden beneath the fabric of her sweater. "You. What are you? You smell like the grave, but you look... Kine." All consideration of the Masquerade fled as fear grasped her heart and made her blood run cold.
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Post by Octavian O'Connor on May 28, 2016 10:14:47 GMT
Octavian listened and watched as the l=kindred stumbled and stuttered her response. He was sure something might be wrong, and sure enough she stumbled. The neonate, acting as he'd always acted spoke quietly, calmly, and with a complete confidence that he wasn't concerned at all with any perceivable consequences. Just as suddenly as he'd been before her he was behind her, catching her by the upper section of her arms, trying to steady her before immediately releasing her. "Yes, my family sent you a gift basket when you'd saved my friend from some bogus charges." Again that warm smile. "I sent you a dozen roses in appreciation, figured something unique would be far more memorable than a simple thank you fruit basked."
The neonate would step back another couple of paces, trying to give her all the space she desired. "I'm Octavian O'Connor, a Venture, though it's fairly rude to ask, I don't know why I smell or look the way I do. I guess it's truly just my humanity that makes me... Well me." He shrugged a bit smiling toward her kindly. I'm sorry my wife isn't in at the moment, but if you'd like to see her, I'd gladly take you to meet her." He offered extending his hand toward the garage. "I'd be happy to drive you, or you can follow me in your own car." He smile again, there was absolutely nothing hostile, nor dangerous about the man, nothing that would ever indicate even the slightest desire or thought of harming another being.
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Post by Acadia Sackler on May 28, 2016 18:03:58 GMT
As soon as she felt the pressure of hands on her arms, she let out a noise of surprise, jerking herself away. Stumbling a few steps into the front yard of the manor, she turned panicked eyes onto the man before her, who claimed to be the O'Connor Amy had married. He was so warm, so human, so kind... And so completely untrustworthy. If she had a heart, it would be racing as she swallowed back the imagined taste of bile, fingerings idly tapping the grip of her modified handgun.
"Don't DO that!" She hissed at him, fangs elongated in defensiveness. It had been quite some time indeed since her discretion, but she could still feel the agony of trusting the wrong person, the wrong people, and her scar burned across her face. It didn't help that images flashed across her mind, letting her know of his most recent actions. "Don't... don't touch me. Just don't touch me. Okay?"
Her eyes, once the warm and soft amber that made her look almost human, remained an unfeeling slate color as she tried to catch her breath. A prodigy childe Embraced into the Toreador Clan, it was difficult for her to keep Auspex off, and touch could easily overwhelm her with images and memories. Men were the worst, as they already burned her, making her uncomfortable and terrified. If they had any interest in her, sexually, she would know the second they touched her. Luckily, Octavian's warmth and his affection for his wife were, initially, the only things she picked up on.
Well, those and a broken sink.
She shook her head fiercely from side to side. He seemed genuine enough, but she still didn't trust him. "Amy is at Nuko's grave, right?" Cady spoke softly, rubbing where he had touched her until the scattered images went away. "If I go... pay my respects... I should do it alone. I'll wait for her here. Or maybe I can just come back later."
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Post by Octavian O'Connor on May 28, 2016 22:20:50 GMT
Octavian watched the reaction with no small amount of shock and surprise, she'd fallen and all he'd done was move to help her up, to stop her from falling and she'd snapped. What was it that caused her to react so violently to his touch. His brows knit together in confusion as he contemplated the girl before him. The warmth however never faltered for a moment as he walked out towards her, his hands up in the air, an obvious sign of peace and his lack of weapon. "I'm sorry, I'd thought you tripped, I didn't want you to hurt yourself." He commented quietly, his voice very soft, warm and gentle.
"I wont touch you again, I'm not going to harm you." The neonate stopped just outside of arms reach of the Lawyer and he smiled a bit shaking his head. "Yes, Amy is at the Locke memorial. However, I wouldn't advise going there alone, at least not the first time." Another smile touched his lips. "I'm sure Amy would be glad to see and old friend, and the Locke's have always been good company." Octavian laughed a bit and smiled pointing out toward Gangrel territory. "I'd rather not make you anymore uncomfortable than you already are, and once again I'm sorry. If you'd allow me to make it up to you, I'll bring you there. Rather, I'll guide you there, all you have to do is follow me."
The Ventrue neonate had no idea how to handle Miss Sackler. She'd done such a nice thing for him less than a decade ago, keeping his best friend out of prison. Done everything right that she was supposed to do, even shook his and his parent's hand back then, but now? Now things seemed strained, different somehow. He didn't know if she'd been a vampire back then, but she clearly was one now. Her own aura didn't lie, not like his. "Let me make it up to you Miss Sackler, you've only ever been kind to me and mine and I'd like to offer you some repayment not only for that, but my own faux pas." He bowed his head for a moment. "I hope Amy will help make your visit here more comfortable. And I apologize for any offense I might have caused you, I'm acting in the best way I know how."
He smiled a bit halfheartedly the, looking towards his shoes. "Amy and I'm sure Nuko and Killy would be very happy to see you." He looked up to her with those warm chocolate eyes for a moment, letting her process the information and everything that she knew, and probably had an idea about. She was new to the city and she had no idea how absolutely crazy Nagasaki itself was.
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Post by Acadia Sackler on May 28, 2016 22:36:44 GMT
He kept his distance, and the longer he spoke, the more the images started to fade away. By the time the papers flooded her mind, the words were too faded and too blurry for her to read. The panic started to subside slowly, her blood flow returning to normal. Slowly, her breathing slowed and her eyes faded from the strange grey color to their warm, more natural amber.
She took a deep breath, trying to think of something to say, some way to reject his offer as politely as she could manage, when he brought the Lockes up. Again. Confusion furrowed her brows. Brushing her fingers along the fabric of her sweater, she felt the bulge of her gun against her hip, and breathed a sigh of relief.
"I don't think they'll notice whether or not I show up," Cady murmured with a little half smile, trying to look as apologetic as she could for her earlier behavior. She made sure not to step any closer to him. "I mean... They're... you know. It's a memorial."
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Post by Octavian O'Connor on May 28, 2016 22:55:45 GMT
Octavian laughed, a very happy and warm sound. It wasn't at all directed laughter, it was simple joyous laughter. "You have no idea how much they'll notice Miss Sackler, Nuko isn't exactly known for her patience." Octavian began heading for the garage. He pressed a button on his key-fob and the door began to rise, revealing his pride and joy. the 77' Nova. Once again her turned to face her, this time walking backwards. "You have my word, it'll be worth your time, and if it's not I'll pay whatever you charge for a high profile case, and double it." The neonate was in a spectacular mood, his eyes alight with happiness and kindness. They very thought of another friend in the city, another ally, and another person who'll help make every feel like it was home was more than he could ever have asked for that night.
Turning toward the car he stopped, running his and over the drivers-side front fender, admiring the beautiful lines of American Engineering. "It wont take long, I promise Miss Sackler, and again, I'm sure everyone will appreciate your company." The neonate had faith, perhaps way to much faith in humanity, in kindred, but that faith was something that couldn't ever be broken. Not by force, not by happenstance, and most certainly not by betrayal, and she didn't seem like the kind of girl who'd try and hurt him anyway. She just needed to see and old friend, Amy, or Nuko and everything would be alright again.
"Just follow my lead." He called out dropping into the drivers seat and starting the car up with a throaty roar. He rolled the window down after he'd closed the door, leaning his head out and shouting over the roar of his engine. "You're car's got the engine for it! Try and keep up!" He laughed and pulled up to the gate of the Manor, wanting to make it as fair a race as humanly possible. Well, kindredly possible. Not like his big block was going anywhere... Oh wait. Yeah. It was.
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Post by Acadia Sackler on May 28, 2016 23:16:20 GMT
She watched him walk over to the car he was so proud of, trying to figure out what it was he was trying to say. Nuko was far from a patient creature, that much she knew, but Nuko was also a few years dead. How impatient could she be? Giving a shake of her head, she let him roar his engine to life and made her way to her oil black Chevelle, waiting against the darkness like a beacon calling her home. It was something that she was familiar with, no matter where she ended up.
Cady was far from a gearhead, but she was familiar with her car. It was the only one she could handle properly, but having gotten the car as a graduation gift once she had committed to Harvard, she had plenty of years with the reliable vehicle. She slipped behind the wheel, running her fingers along it and letting out a deep breath.
She waved for Octavian to lead the way, roaring the engine in return to his challenge. She didn't know enough to figure just how unmatched she was, but she was definitely willing to give it her best. Of course, the neonate had the home advantage; Cady hadn't ever been to Nagasaki, and the twists and turns of the roads that would lead them to the Memorial was foreign and confusing. She was sure to lose this race.
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