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Post by Nathaniel Fairchild on Jan 24, 2015 5:30:39 GMT
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say there is no covenant activity here. The only ones who make a show of it are the Invictus. After all, they have show everyone how unconquered they are.” said Nathan with a roll of his eyes. Fairchild slowly started to turn, his boots thudding against the ground as he started to walk back toward the chess board. “Franklin said that a good diplomat observes much, acts little and speaks softly. Of course, I usually don’t listen to that since I’m no diplomat.”
Nathan moved back toward the chessboard. His lower jaw jutted out for a moment as he grabbed one of the pawns, only to pull it out two spaces. He looked to Moreno, “The point of smoking is the fact that it gives some sensation you can cling to. That, and unlike many other kindred, it makes you a better hunter.”
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Post by Alejandro Moreno on Jan 25, 2015 17:52:48 GMT
Alejandor smiles as Esther gives her answer followed by Fairchild, it was amazing how something innocuous as a game could lower the reservations of others around him.
"Perhaps you could educate us then Mr. Fairchild... what covenants are active here that are not making as you said... a 'show' of it?" He moves forward another pawn two spaces forward mirroring Nathan's initial move without so much as a glance at the board.
He raises an eyebrow at Nathan's last proclamation, as he speaks though he allows his eyes to travel slowly over Esther as if he were undressing her with his eyes. The act itself was was hollow but demonstrated a point to the words that followed.
"So you believe lighting up those little wraps, makes you a better hunter Mr. Fairchild? Surely there is something more worthwhile in your unchanging, unending, unliving nights than inhaling the smoke of that weed. I must confess I'm surprised by this admission..."
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Post by Nathaniel Fairchild on Jan 25, 2015 19:59:37 GMT
Nathan lightly tapped the cigarette, causing the end to fall to the ground. “Oh, but what would be the fun in that? That’s game, isn’t it? Trying to figure out what the other players are up to. Each move met by another. ” said Fairchild as he flashed a grin. Nathan forced himself to sit down across from the shadow, his icy gaze now locked on the beast in front of him. He slowly started to tilt his head, studying the thing that resided in the chair in front of him. He started to laugh, a low rumble that barely escaped from his mouth.
“In a way. The whole...concept behind it is to give an illusion of life. It’s the small things humans pick up on. The gaze that lasts a bit longer than normal, or the creature that speaks without the faintest look of breath. This forces you to breath, to sell than trap you are laying down. And it gives you an opportunity to get close. That is of course, if you feed that way. I go to extremes, myself.” said Nathan, his voice dropping as he said so. It almost prove his point, Nathan continued to stare down the shadow in front of him. The look on his face was almost bestial as he kept up the false facade. His eyes gleamed like a coyote’s as Nathan slowly licked his lips.
But still, that grin remain painted on his features.
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Post by Alejandro Moreno on Jan 25, 2015 20:14:00 GMT
That was the thing about staring at shadows though wasn't it? No matter how hard you tried to look through them they simply remained an unchanging mirror of what was before them. As such Alejandro just smiled softly, the muscles of his face turning his lips up in a way that would be considered quite attractive if he wasn't so damn unnerving. It was akin to looking over the edge of a steep cliff or precipice and fighting the urge to just lean forward over the edge.
"So are you hunting now Nathaniel? I don't see any kine around... and I don't think Madame Montesori requires such window dressing if you were so interested... I've been wrong before however." His voice is soft and soothing like slipping into a warm bath, a dangerous deception that Fairchild has come to understand first hand.
"Or perhaps you fancy yourself stalking something else? No matter... it does seem to be a habit falling out of favor with your preferred prey. If anything it may make you stand out more than ever..."
"Hypothetically if there were another covenant active within the city you'd think they'd at least want to be acknowledged by the Harpy... anonymity in politics is slow death..."
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"You do surprise all the time. It's horribly boring and you are horrible for boring me."
Ancient
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Post by Esther Montesori on Jan 25, 2015 22:41:04 GMT
"As usual, Mr. Fairchild speaks only for himself. My smoking has nothing to do with hunting. I just enjoy it, especially since it can do me no further physical harm," Esther points out to the gentleman with a thoroughly French shrug.
"As for other covenants, there are not nearly enough of us here to warrant a worry over politics. I should rather worry over our prince's temper rather than my disdain. The latter is usually a given, at least in moderation; the former is rather a force of nature that one should desire to keep at bay. That would be any other covenant's concern. They don't know me from Eve - though they really should try to - but he is the prince."
Leaning forward, she taps off her cigarette into a crystal ash tray gingerly.
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Post by Alejandro Moreno on Jan 25, 2015 23:02:44 GMT
Alejandro shifts his attention to Esther as she speaks.
"And who would 'us' be in that particular reference Madame Montesori if you don't mind me asking. It seems my partner here is somewhat more reticent to share such affiliations."
Moreno finally nods at Esther's statement.
"Tempers are so easily directed, predictable... even guided... I dare say a Harpy's disdain however... Well that is something entirely more complex is it not? Perhaps though that simply depends on the Harpy."
He smiles softly admiring the harpy in her element, he could see what Nathan appreciated in her.
"You are of course more than welcome to join us... so rude of me to make you speak across the room..."
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"You do surprise all the time. It's horribly boring and you are horrible for boring me."
Ancient
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Post by Esther Montesori on Jan 25, 2015 23:41:16 GMT
At Moreno's invitation, Esther uncrosses her legs, standing in a smooth motion to make her way over to the men's corner, seating herself in a plush armchair once more.
"'Us' needs no explanation, Mr. Moreno. Simply infer from context. We are, after all, in an environment kept and maintained solely for the pleasure of..." She gives a mock gasp, letting a scandalized look grace her features before melting away, "...vampires."
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Post by Alejandro Moreno on Jan 26, 2015 2:41:20 GMT
Moreno simply raised an eyebrow at Esther's theatrics as he returned his attention to Nathan as he waited on his opponent's next move.
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Post by Nathaniel Fairchild on Jan 26, 2015 5:25:33 GMT
“Heheh. Me? I’m always hunting.” said Nathan back to the shadow. Nathan grabbed another pawn, one that had been next to the one he moved earlier. He moved it up one space, his eyes not leaving the shadow as Esther made her way to the table. Fairchild leaned forward, his shadow falling against the table. He forced himself to take in a deep breath, holding it a bit longer than what he should of. The cigarette in his hand continued to burn.
That grin grew bigger as Esther playfully made a show of what she said. Fairchild brought the cigarette to his mouth, taking a long drag of it. Twin columns of gray smoke started to filter past alabaster lips. “Which is amusing, since I haven’t seen the owners around as of late. I’m surprised the rumor mill hasn’t started about that. You know, between all three of us.” Nathan waved his hand slightly.
“As for our dear “prince”, I don’t think he’s a real bother. He does have anger issues, but all Grel do. If it was anyone else, I would scold them like I would a dog. So...Moreno. Which group do you call home these days? Let me guess...Unconquered?” Nathan raised an eyebrow slightly, matching the look that Moreno was currently giving Esther.
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"You do surprise all the time. It's horribly boring and you are horrible for boring me."
Ancient
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Post by Esther Montesori on Jan 26, 2015 17:08:55 GMT
Esther reposes in her seat like a queen, drawing on her cigarette every now and again, the blue-white smoke pouring like silk from between her lips. She listens to Fairchild speak.
If it was anyone else...
So, even now, his past connections to the Villains hold him in check.
She meets Moreno's gaze with a dark one of her own and a slight tilt to her wine-dark mouth.
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Post by Alejandro Moreno on Jan 26, 2015 20:41:59 GMT
Moreno briefly examines Nathan's move before looking to Esther. "Perhaps our guest would like to suggest the next move in this stratagem..."
As he allows Esther to examine their pieces he looks back to Fairchild, unbreathing, unblinking and alien.
"Two men men can hardly be considered Unconquered... My interests as they have always been remain my own. The First Estate has earned my favor in the past, this much is true but I have little to gain from such an affiliation here. There's very little difference between your covenants..." He stops in the thought refusing to take it any further down that path.
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Post by Nathaniel Fairchild on Jan 26, 2015 21:02:29 GMT
Nathan turned toward Esther slightly, his gaze shooting from the shadow to the succubus, and then back. A soft pop could be heard as Nathan ground his teeth together for a moment. Fairchild started to lean back, his movements practiced. He couldn’t help but smirk as Moreno spoke. Fairchild lifted his head slightly, regarding the kindred in front of him with dispassionate regard.
“My covenants. Heh, The Carthians are bunch of flat tires at best. They traded one lie for another.” Hissed Nathan back to the shadow. Nathan wondered why he even claimed to be one of them. His hand tightened against the chair as he ran through it in his mind. What did they ever do for him? Nothing. The whole lot. He even showed them what it was like to stand up against the crown prince of the Carthian’s – the so called leader of the Meritocracy. And even then, the sheep went back to their kindly masters.
Fairchild tilted his head forward, his eyes narrowed as he thought toward future plans. Those plans consisted of black masks and gasoline.
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"You do surprise all the time. It's horribly boring and you are horrible for boring me."
Ancient
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Post by Esther Montesori on Jan 27, 2015 0:00:24 GMT
"Oh, I don't play chess," Esther declines with a smile, "Not in this form in any case. This game I would rather watch."
She slips the cigarette between her lips again, dark eyes roving from gentleman to gentleman.
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Post by Alejandro Moreno on Jan 29, 2015 22:47:19 GMT
Moreno responds to Esther's answer by again mirroring another pawn forward directly across from Nathan's last move, stalling.
"If your covenant has simply traded one lie for another Mr. Fairchild why are you so concerned as to anyone else's political affiliation? I've always found the motivations of kindred to be quite simple in this regard, why dress them up as more than what they are? Do not the Lancea and Carthians hunger for the same blood, the same control of their domains? What truly makes them so different?" He relaxes back into his chair more.
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Post by Nathaniel Fairchild on Feb 2, 2015 13:41:21 GMT
Nathan’s tongue rolled against his teeth. Muscles tightened along his neck, only to relax as he reached forward, grabbing another pawn to move. It was toward the right edge of the board. He moved it up two spaces. “Simple, Mr. Moreno; I like to keep an ear to the ground. You can’t build an empire overnight...”
Nathan tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he tried to calculate Moreno’s next move. He was stalling, but what was the reason? “They say they don’t, but most of them want the exact same thing. Most of the Carthian’s have traded despotism for insanity. Instead of one man owning the work of all the people, all the people own the work of all the people. Everyone wants control. And those fools will throw themselves on their swords for the good of the party. ”
Nathan brought his thumb upward, letting it graze against his high cheek bone. Slender digits rolled against each other as he regard the board in front of him.
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