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Post by Eto on Feb 5, 2016 22:20:55 GMT
"Nagasaki, what a strange and beautiful city. Not terribly unlike many of the cities I've visited, the people smell and act like people, there are criminals, activists and everything in between." Eto paused his musings, turning the Aston Martin down a side street. He had an appointment to keep, and the traffic was abysmal. "It's not the human element of the city that is so foreign to me, but the monsters. The Vampires and the Demons have some kind of alliance or truce. They even seem to genuinely care about one another. What caused this? Why the outlandish alliances? Why is it that the leader of the city thinks that I somehow tie into their biblical tales of Caine and Abel? I read through the tome on what the Assamite clan is, and I find it difficult to understand their parallels. Regardless of the facts, I've brought with me the file that was created for me by one of the more outlandish info-merc companies. It's close enough to the truth that the oddly titled Prince and I can come to some form of understanding. I'm pulling up to the drive now, end log."
With a quiet chirp the recording device deactivated, as the fiendishly expensive car pulled past the guards and into a corner of the drive. Stepping out of the vehicle, very few would have recognized the vampire by his dress and demeanor. Italian suit and shoes instead of his cloak and leather boots. His mane of hair was neatly tied back and laid down his back. Square cut glasses covered his glowing eyes. The beautifully tooled sheaths had been replaced with simple pair made of brown leather to blend in. Even the holster to his gun had been moved from his shoulder to the small of his back
A quiet word and the push of a button and the car locked itself down. Nothing had happened yet, but the possibility remained. Where had he met the giant and why did he feel so comfortable in Nagasaki? Perhaps the oddly titled Prince had an answer. Tucking the folder he brought, with quite the damning information inside, Eto walked through the front doors of the manor, glancing about for the guards and anyone who might be a threat. The oddly titled Prince he noticed immediately, she seemed to be in some conversation with her beloved. Letting the pair do their thing, the ruby eyed vampire removed his sunglasses, and made his way over to the bar, to await the oddly titled prince's company.
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Post by Prince Amy O'Connor on Feb 5, 2016 22:42:33 GMT
The night was still young, but she had barred most from entering her domain. Cho, she had asked to stay at the ever popular club, to tend the bar as well as listen to the latest gossip. The Primogen had their missions. Finn had his childe and... whatever the hell she was. Amy didn't like to think about that too terribly often. Her retainers and servants flocked the first floor of the Manor home, moving through their nightly steps wordlessly. That left Amy her time with her husband, until her appointment arrived.
Since his return, it had become painful to have any physical distance between herself and Octavian. At all times, she found an excuse to touch him in some way. Currently, her hand rested upon his arm, a delicate show of affection as they spoke. Whenever one of her guards informed her that Mister Vadia had arrived, her ice colored eyes had flashed, but she was never one to turn away a scheduled appointment. Before he entered, she had leaned forward to brush frozen lips across his cheek, whispering to him that their guest had arrived.
Making him wait a few moments had its appeal. She dragged out her time with Octavian before, finally, rising from her seat. Her dress billowed around her legs and black silk covered both of her arms. She moved with absolute grace as she turned her focus to Eto, offering him the tiniest of nods. He made her uncomfortable, but so long as Don liked him... and so long as he upheld the Camarilla traditions... She would be willing to tolerate the Assamite in her city.
"Welcome, Mister Varia. It is a pleasure to see you once more."
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Post by Eto on Feb 5, 2016 23:30:58 GMT
Ruby eyes turned, as the oddly titled Prince acknowledged his presence, her words, like a porcelain vase, beautiful, yet truly empty. They were the words of a politician. He matched her words and now with a nod of his own, and a gentle smile on his to young lips. "Likewise oddly titled Prince." He still found her title difficult, but it was far easier to stand on ceremony here before her subjects then on the edge of a blade in some back alley or wharf. "You've seen what I can do." He began, very businesslike, he had no desire to truly argue, but he did want to stay in Nagasaki. Don, and the relationship the daemons and vampires shared were somethings he truly desired. "I've come with your tome and a gift." His voice held only the Italian accent.
The folder he kept so carefully was placed on the bar top and slid in her direction. Next came the book, still in immaculate condition. "The first is a file, it contains all the information that has been gathered accurately on my person since before my embrace. There are sources and pictures that you can check yourself. You gave me your trust, now I'm returning the kindness." Ruby eyes looked out toward Octavian, studying him, taking his measure. Those same eyes turned back on Amy. "He is young, you're aware of that it is our age and experience that is most often what robs the young ones of their innocence, their life..." The sadness in his voice was that of experience, one he didn't wish upon others all all.
"As for my being an Assamite, that is perhaps true, perhaps not, but it will not color my actions or opinions in this beautiful city of kindred and daemons." He struggled with the word Kindred, finding it foreign on his tongue. It was their city, their rules, and so long as he was allowed to stay, he would abide, to the best of his ability. "You told me that my fate in your city would be discussed tonight, and if it's within your power, I would like as much detail is reasonable to give me about living here, helping you and yours." His eyes remained on hers, should she allow it. "If it's necessary, I will allow one of yours to go through my mind provided that they leave any mental blocks untouched and unharmed." If there was any doubt in his mind about his desire to stay, he'd abandoned it there with his offer. "All I ask is that my information is not exactly shared." He finished, watching the oddly titled Prince for any reaction.
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Post by Prince Amy O'Connor on Feb 12, 2016 0:56:38 GMT
Oddly titled Prince. Every time he said it, she had to fight the urge to smile. It was a stark reminder that he knew very little about the Masquerade and the Camarilla. Whoever had chosen to Sire him had done him a grave disservice, letting him out into the world completely ignorant of the goings-on right around him. She had little doubt that he had been created for a purpose, as was often the case with the Assamite Clan. Whatever that reason... He was still moving, so obviously, he had found some way to fulfill it. Amy tilted her chin upwards ever so slightly in recognition to his greeting, welcoming him silently and allowing him to speak.
Eto came baring gifts. How peculiar. The Ice Queen couldn't help but wonder what it was that he thought would be worthy of gifting. She tilted her head curiously and was almost convinced that this visit might be pleasant until he turned his attention, for a moment, to her husband. Every muscle in her thin frame tensed simultaneously and that almost-smile faded from her lips. Somebody looking at her might assume that she was a puppet, a perfectly creation of wood, carved out to resemble a time long since passed.
She wanted to strangle him. A part of her wanted to reach out and clasp her frozen hands around his throat and squeeze. No one would be able to tell by looking at her, but the Beast spoke in her head, a whisper begging her to just... let loose. To take hold of him. She refused to respond to his suggestion. He was right... If he were wrong, maybe she could feel justified in her anger. She could hurt him and feel okay about that fact. Instead, she just rigidly stood there, letting him continue. At least if he kept speaking, she might be able to overlook his faux-paus.
"You would willingly open your mind?" she questioned softly, her head slowly tilting to one side. She was trying hard to relax, to ignore what he had just said to her. Reaching out, she accepted the file, but did not look through it. She couldn't be bothered to show him any sort of interest, not right now. "We have a few who may be able to approach this properly, but only one you have met. Finn Lauden, the Primogen of the Malkavian Clan."
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Post by Eto on Feb 12, 2016 5:25:17 GMT
"Master Finn, the large man I recognize..." Eto pondered the idea for a few moments turning his ruby eyes on the oddly titled Prince. He wanted to know more, why the rigidity in her stance, why the interest in him, and why the protectiveness of the brown eyed vampire. It was all odd to him, strange in a way that he didn't quite understand. Vampires were more than capable of defending themselves, especially where other vampires were concerned. What made this specific vampire so special? Eto could only shake his head, his curious mind would probably be the death of him. "I would be willing, as I have said. If it is that vampire you wish to use, so be it. At your convenience of course." He added offering her more than he had offered almost anyone in centuries.
"Your beloved will have my blade at his side should he ever need it." He offered again, trying to be kind, especially in this most unusual circumstance. "Something bothers you, and I am not sure what it is." He paused again, just letting time pass. "You stood at the wharf with me armed and unarmed and hardly changed your stance. You let me release what could amount to the destruction of your Masquerade, only a few dozen scant kilometers from your city, and you watched me move, and feed. Yet something about this meeting, here in your home when I would be most vulnerable has you tense and uncertain. Excuse my lack of manners in asking, but what is it about me that has you so uncomfortable. I've offered you everything but my blade in service, and that I have freely offered to protect your beloved. I have kept my word, what is it about this that has you so very..." Eto's left hand swung in circles as he searched for the proper word. "Afraid."
His form never changed, he never took a defensive bearing. His hands were far from the scimitars at his belt. He wasn't challenging, nor combative, merely curious and concerned. "What's going on that I am missing oddly titled Prince? Have I truly offended you Mrs. O'Connor?" He asked, his voice passionate and polite, with obvious undertones of caring which could be more than clearly read in his ruby eyes. "I find your city to be beautiful, your hospitality to be for the most part kind, and your acceptance of the denizens of hell warms me greatly. I wish you and yours the best. So why the discomfort?" He asked, tilting his head to one side, an almost comical expression on the fiery haired vampire.
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Post by Prince Amy O'Connor on Feb 12, 2016 6:13:03 GMT
The rigidity remained, every muscle tense and gaze guarded, more than it had been since meeting this strange creature of the night. She knew, somewhere deep inside herself, that she could trust what he said. He had no interest in betraying her, in turning against the city she had worked so hard to create. The haven was safe. Yet, despite finding no deceit in his words, she regarded him with removed concern, keeping him far more distant than she had since meeting him that night, with the bar burning all around him and little Don in his arms.
Afraid. Even in her current state, that was almost laughable. Very little scared the Visceriene of Violence; she was the thing of literal nightmares. With an upward tilt of her chin, her eyes gleamed with sadistic amusement. He did not know her, not her rules and her life. This, she understood. It won him some leeway in her regard, but only a small amount.
"I am not afraid," she told him, simply, but refused to answer his other questions. He offered himself as a blade, a defense for Octavian, and she respected him as such. "I assume your credentials as a warrior are listed in this?" Her gaze regarded his file, nothing else moving, before it lifted and returned to clash with his perceptive ruby eyes.
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Post by Eto on Feb 12, 2016 6:36:11 GMT
Eto met her brilliant blues without flinching. He was concerned with her lack of response but only so far as her defensiveness. "It outlines a number of my campaigns as well as the creatures and conditions I've battled." He smiled then, very carefully, and he looked just like the child he was embraced as. There was a gentleness in his eyes that rarely presented itself. "I apologize if I've offended you oddly titled Prince. I'm used to a far different crowd of beings." He let out a soft sigh, closing his eyes. "I would like to know my fate here in your city, I'd also like to let you know that there is a large shipment of weapons and armor on route here, that you are welcomed too should the need arise."
Ruby eyes shifted once again around the room. "What you have here I have sought for decades. I make no preferences with you, I am a killer, I have done terrible things. But I do not harm the innocent, I do not bring destruction, and I do not bend knee to tyrants." His eyes once again met hers, "I do not see a tyrant before me, I see a caring wife and protector. I see a woman stripped of any identity that isn't this leader before me, and I see that in his eyes." He motioned toward Octavian. "I would be honored to stay, but I will leave peacefully if that is your wish." His last words hurt him to say, and that pain was apparent on his face as he set his future in the hands of the oddly titled Prince.
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Post by Prince Amy O'Connor on Feb 12, 2016 6:51:25 GMT
As he spoke of honor, tyranny, and weapons, ice colored eyes widened in thought. She would not relax, not for some time, but she was still listening to him. When she looked at him again, Amy knew she was seeing the warrior he was trying to represent himself as. She hadn't bothered to do extensive research on him: Don trusted him, and that was enough for her. In her hand, she knew she held whatever she might want to know.
Still, as he looked once more at her husband, her mask hardened. Her protective nature shined through, even as she refused to turn her attention to the man she loved so irrefutably. She took a deep, silent breath, and blinked slowly. Amy did not otherwise move as she contemplated his request.
"Those within my city often earn their positions," she said, speaking easily and without emotion. "The time of conflict is upon us. Should you wish to have a place here, I assume you will offer your services not to me, but to the city in its time of need. I expect all to rise up to protect not only the Kindred, but the humans and the Fallen that walk amongst us freely. For it is their freedom that is at risk here, as well."
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Post by Eto on Feb 12, 2016 7:24:43 GMT
Eto nodded once quietly. "You'll have my blades Amy." There was a sad bitterness in his voice as he rose from his stool. The manor was for the most part quiet, and with no way to alleviate the pain and weight he held in his heart, Eto seated himself before the piano. Thin feminine fingers traced over the ebony and ivory keys, as he began to play for everyone. At least that was what it seemed, his fingers played over the keys slowly at first, the beginnings of a sad medley. His fingers screamed his sorrow for all listening to hear as he played. Each note somber and sad, each press of the keys painful to him. He'd played the piano for a long time in his seclusion, but never like this, never to escape the sorrow he felt having to again draw blades. There Eto would remain for the remainder of the evening, or until he was asked to leave, playing his undead heart out for the gathered kindred. Only a few words spoken for the rest of the night.
"I am more than a monster."
He had to believe that.
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Post by Prince Amy O'Connor on Feb 12, 2016 15:14:57 GMT
Amy allowed him access to her piano, standing aside for a moment to watch him as he played. It seemed the impending war was destroying those worthy of being within her city limits, and while a part of her wanted to console the man, she did not bother to try.
Eventually, she gathered herself and returned to her husband, her cold sinking deep into her chest. It felt as if she might never get warm again. Despite the need to properly present herself, she wrapped both arms around Octavian, burying herself in his warmth. She made a soft noise of uncertainty and sighed. The rest of the night, she would be close enough to touch him, drawing strength from his proximity and his warmth.
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