[London. November 17th, 1251, evening] [A day or two ago Moriel left a rather vague (possibly worrisome, possibly intriguing, possibly both) message for Eliana with Jill, saying that he'd encountered the priest in his domain and not to come see him there for a time. Just in case. Having taken care of that, Moriel has gone about his business knowing that Eliana has other ways to find him if she needs to.] [Begin.] #06* Moriel is currently out hunting, as it's that time of evening. #06* Moriel seems to favor hunting the hunters. He's currently lurking in the shadows around the last few shops closing up, watching the other folks lurking similarly but less effectively. He slips up beside an isolated footpad, and a few seconds later he's licking the blood from his lips, leaving his unfortunate victim in an alley to recover from his lassitude. Still wrapped in a cloak of shadows, Moriel turns to walk back towards the river. #06* Eliana turns a corner and is there, only a few feet away from Moriel. A small frown is on her lips as she stops, staring at where he is - or should be? - then looks around. #06* Moriel stops, smiling a little at her confusion, but he wipes the expression away before he lets the shadows fall away from him and becomes fully visible again. A little of the smile still lingers around his eyes, however. "Good evening, Mistress Casale." #06* Eliana spots him, and she nods, making a mental note to be ready next time. "Moriel MacRae. How are you?" Well enough. And yourself? #01 Fine. #06* Eliana pulls a note from her sleeve: the one Moriel left with Jill two nights ago. She holds it out to him. "Explain this." #06* Moriel glances at it. He doesn't need to take it to know what it is. He sighs. "I...must have made a mistake, somehow. I was in St. Raphael's the other night when the priest walked in. I don't know what he was doing there past dark..." He shakes his head. #01 It's his church - his domain as well. It's bound to happen once in a while. #06* Eliana folds the note with one hand, since Moriel's not taking it. #06* Moriel looks down at the ground. "I suppose." #01 So? Are you going to relocate? #06* Moriel shakes his head again. "No. He doesn't know I live there. As it were. He just knows a stranger was in his church for a few minutes one evening. I'll just be careful for time, in case he's looking out for me." #06* Moriel glances back up at Eliana. "That's why I warned you to stay away for a time. In case he looks for me, and sees you." #06* Eliana nods. #01 How old is he again? I remember you mentioning he was young before - perhaps you can simply outlast him. #06* Moriel 's smile is pained. "In his forties, I think. I'm sure I will, eventually. It would be hard for me not to." #06* Eliana frowns. #01 So, in the meantime, I must find you like this? #06* Moriel shrugs. "Or we can designate another place, if you want to meet. Or...you can always just find me on the road leading to St. Raphael's. There are rather few routes to it, once one gets close." #06* Eliana nods. She waves for Moriel to follow as she starts to walk. #06* Moriel follows along politely, and curiously. #06* Eliana walks in silence for a good ten minutes or so, heading to the west side of the city, before curiosity gets the better of her and she finally asks, "Why does he bother you so much?" #06* Moriel looks down at his hands. After a long moment he says softly, "He was worried about me." Another pause. "He thought I was injured." #06* Eliana looks at Moriel, surprised, but she doesn't stop walking. "*Why*?" #06* Moriel looks up at Eliana, wry and pained at the same time. "...I don't imagine you weep overmuch." #06* Eliana blinks. And actually stops walking for a moment. Before she says, "No," and goes back to it, looking ahead again. #06* Moriel walks beside Eliana silently, looking around to see where they're going. #01 [Moriel may recognize the path, actually; they seem to be heading towards the abandoned farmhouse. They're certainly not going to Jill's home.] #06* Eliana asks, after another lengthly silence, "Why were you weeping?" #06* Moriel is quiet for a very long time, but he seems to be considering his answer rather than avoiding doing so. Finally he sighs. "Because I am not well, and I do not know how to change that." #06* Eliana frowns, not that Moriel can see it. Her hood is in the way. "Of course." #06* Moriel glances up at Eliana. He might not be able to see the frown, but he can hear it in her voice. He says softly, "It's true what Demetrius said of me, you know." #06* Eliana snorts faintly. "That you loathe your present existence?" #06* Moriel looks away, and his voice goes distant. "My present state might be more accurate." #01 It is now, yes. #06* Moriel blinks at Eliana. "Pardon?" #06* Eliana shrugs with one shoulder. "Before, it was your existence. Now, it is your state. And one's state can be changed." She looks at Moriel. "I don't see why you would upset about that. Yes, you're unhappy, but that's no reason to despair. You have something to work towards, fairly clear paths to get there, and plenty of time." #06* Moriel smiles faintly, then sighs. "I am...a little better. It helps, having something to work towards. Just not always." #06* Eliana raises an eyebrow. "I see." She watches where she's going again. "Then what would help?" #06* Moriel is quiet for a while, contemplating. "It seems like a dream sometimes. Impossible. It is hard to believe I can be human, and be a good human, when I cannot even...control myself." #06* Eliana rolls her eyes. "You must have been lucky, then, because I'm fairly certain you were 'good' before." #06* Moriel blinks. "I was. But - lucky?" #01 Yes. You must realize that few are in full control of themselves. #01 How is that different from your own situation, except for degrees? #06* Moriel walks along for a while, watching the ground go by. "It is...possible...to hold one's madness at bay for a time. But draining. As for luck...perhaps I was." #01 Then work towards it. Perhaps you need a lesson in humanity, if you want to be like one of them again. ...one of the other things Demetrius said was that Saulot taught him much about being human. Though I have yet to find any of Saulot's childer. As you say, however, I have plenty of time. #06* Moriel gives Eliana a flickering smile. #01 I did say that, yes. #06* Eliana walks with Moriel in silence for a good amount of time longer, and the farmhouse eventually appears in view. Eliana approaches it, saying, "I'm considering acquiring this property." Hm. It would make it easier for people to find *you*. I had quite a time finding Miss Leftherder's home the first time I went looking for it. #06* Eliana smiles a touch. "Yes." #01 Jill would feel more at home, certainly. She was raised on a farm, and I don't think she's adjusted well to living in the city, though she handles it for my sake. #06* Moriel considers. "It would require repair. And if our prince calls upon the six of us again, which seems likely, we would be meeting at your home. Unless Mistress Bellamy does indeed find herself a dwelling suited to her tastes and invites us there," he finishes dryly. #06* Eliana ignores the mention of Ysabeau. "What makes you think I can't retreat to my previous haven?" Ah. I thought you meant to relocate here. My mistake. #06* Eliana shrugs slightly. "I may. It would be nice to have more space." She starts walking the perimeter. "Repairs are an issue. I have plenty of time, but... not much in the way of funding." Mm. I would offer to help, but...my only skills run more to stitchery than carpentry. Funding I have, however - some, at least. I may be able to help there. #06* Eliana shakes her head. "I wasn't asking." #06* Moriel smiles. "I know. But, if it is the only way I can help..." He shrugs, then smiles again. "Think of it as a gift to Miss Leftherder, if you like." #06* Eliana chuckles. "Very well. She deserves it." #01 I'll let you know if it's necessary. Thank you. #06* Eliana gets to the front door and forces it open. #01 I hope Mithras doesn't call on the six of us again, though, at least for some time. He's becoming predictable. Mm. Perhaps he simply wants to ensure we are his to use, rather than someone else's. #06* Eliana snorts. "Please." #01 Our generation may be low, but our power is *clearly* lacking. #06* Moriel shrugs. "That will not always be the case." #06* Eliana steps in, surveying the area, before she starts making her way through the house and taking stock. "Then he could do better if he wants to bid for our loyalty." #06* Moriel murmurs absently as he looks around the interior of the house more critically. "I'm certain he could...but he may be looking more to stake a claim in the eyes of possible rivals than to secure our own personal loyalty as yet." Troile certainly seemed to identify us as his. Which may be hazardous for us, in the future... #01 Everyone in Britain is his by default; Troile made the obvious assumption. #06* Moriel shrugs. "True. But not everyone in Britain is a particular agent of his." Frankly, I rather hoped to be ignored for eternity. #06* Eliana smiles faintly. "Well, given we were in clear opposition to her and hers..." She opens the cupboard, crouching to examine it. "Not even the rats wanted to stay here. Ran out of food, I suppose." Fortunately for Miss Leftherder. Though I suppose your frequent presence would drive them away as well. #06* Eliana snorts. "Not as effectively as I do plants." #01 I'll have to stay out of the kitchen. And away from the garden. But I'll likely make an effective herbicide concerning weeds. Mm. Any weeds close enough to threaten her plants would be too close to them for you to safely exterminate. #06* Moriel looks out a window thoughtfully. "Perhaps I'll help, if she doesn't mind. I miss gardening." And I cannot imagine the priest would slacken his suspicions if he woke every morning to find his herb garden already weeded. #06* Eliana laughs at that. "Perhaps he'll attribute it to the grace of God? A minor miracle." #01 Regardless, I doubt she will. Jill speaks highly of you, and she'd enjoy the company. #06* Eliana stands, and pulls her hood down. She heads back into the main room, trailing her gloved fingers on the table - the only place in the house not coated in dust. #06* Moriel blinks up at Eliana, and then smiles a little more. "Well then." ...I can certainly help dust, at least. Will you purchase it, then? #06* Eliana smiles slightly, looking around. "I think I may." #06* Moriel smiles. "Tell me when you do. I'll come help make the place liveable for a human being, as best I can." #06* Eliana nods, looking around and adjusting her mental checklist. "Do you trust them?" she asks, suddenly. #06* Moriel blinks at the sudden subject shift, though he's getting used to it from Eliana. He just doesn't know what she's talking about right now. "Trust who, exactly?" #01 The others in our coterie, I believe is the correct term. #06* Moriel considers, cocking his head to one side. "I do not believe any of them would directly harm us. Mistress Bellamy...seems to consider it part of her function to monitor and report on others to the Prince, and perhaps if she thought we were dangerous or dissident she would report us. I don't know. She's hardly known us long enough to form an attachment, though she seems as if she might be prone to them." Mistress Malache...I do not know what she thinks, of anything. #06* Eliana smiles a little, leaning against the table. "An unfortunate problem, when dealing with many members of your clan." Hm. Some of us are more predictable than others. #06* Moriel sighs. Master Rolf...I imagine if he had a disagreement with any of us, we would know it. Master Castelletti... #06* Moriel considers this one for longer, but he seems rather more thoughtful than worried. "He makes a profession of killing. But I do not think he would harm any of us either." Not merely because he has no incentive to do so; I think if he were offered a contract on one of us he would refuse it. #06* Moriel shrugs. #06* Eliana nods, thinking. "I agree with you, actually." #01 Well... not necessarily that he would refuse, but at least that he would have reservations concerning acceptance. I'm not certain what the Assamite policy is concerning assassination targets. #06* Moriel considers. "True. Nor am I." #01 But why? Why would he have reservations? #06* Eliana furrows her brow. "Yes." #06* Moriel thinks about it for a moment. "He is...a surprisingly straightforward assassin. Not that I have known many assassins to compare him to." He considers us his fellows. Even the Assamites are a brotherhood of assassins; one does not attack one's brothers. We are not quite his brothers, but... #06* Eliana nods, thinking. "That makes sense, I suppose. He has certainly demonstrated weakness in our presence. When maintaining the desire to be a predator, one must appear strong regardless." Yes. Though...he still seems to prefer avoiding it. Of course, so do the rest of us. #06* Moriel grimaces faintly in memory. #01 We *are* actually predators, to be fair. #06* Moriel snorts. "Yes." #06* Eliana grins. #01 It's a shame, then, that Cosimo Castelleti is the only one completely unable to see in the dark. #06* Moriel blinks for a moment. "...I had not thought of that." #06* Eliana shrugs with one shoulder. How frustrating that must be for him. #01 It must be. #06* Moriel frowns, obviously trailing off along a line of thought. He comes back to himself abruptly after a few seconds. "...you know, this still will not solve the difficulty of other people finding you, if you do not take up residence here. Unless you plan to spend a few hours every night here?" #06* Eliana shakes her head. "I may well take up residence here." #01 But that doesn't equate abandoning my old haven. I doubt my clan would have it. Well, of course. Unless you ceded ownership of it...but if your clan wouldn't let you - well. ...why wouldn't they? #06* Eliana raises an eyebrow. #06* Moriel raises eyebrows right back. "You don't have to *tell* me. But I think it's entirely fair for me to ask you questions too, occasionally." He smiles wryly at her. #01 I don't mind. #01 I assume the Malkavians are different, being ancient if considered a low clan, but the Tremere are very close. Each member must be protected and accounted for, as we have enemies and distrust on all sides. #01 In other parts of the the world, we are currently at outright war with the Tzimisce, Nosferatu, and Gangrel. And, of course, there are the Salubri. There is nothing to say that it can't or won't extend here. #06* Moriel sighs. "The Malkavians were not always a low clan. They have fallen." His lips twist bitterly. "My sire is wont to go on about it, on occasion. Now...well, perhaps the only reason the clan as a whole is not at war is because there really is no 'clan as a whole'." #06* Eliana nods. "The Gangrel seem similar, given the way Rolf reacts to me. Or... lack of reaction. As you said, he would be obvious in his displeasure." #06* Moriel nods, smiling faintly. #01 Do me a favor and don't inform him of events on that topic. Of course. #06* Moriel shrugs. "Though your clan's doings are not yours. I do not know whether he *would* blame you for them, but it does not seem as if he *should*." #06* Eliana sighs. "Regardless." She looks out a window. "Since we are such a tight clan, and have such small numbers, it is unlikely my haven will be taken by another even if I were to move here." #06* Moriel studies her. "I see." #06* Eliana turns her focus to Moriel, eyeing him as he studies her. #06* Moriel says after a moment, "It must be hard, in some ways, being in such a tight clan. It was not so difficult for me to simply walk away from my sire, and escape. Perhaps yours is not so terrible, but...you could not walk away so easily if you wished to, I imagine." #06* Eliana smirks. "No." #01 I couldn't. My sire knows where I am, and I'm in London only at my clan's request. #01 It's fortunate I don't want to leave, at least right now. Mm. I'm quite certain my sire knows where I am, but...well. He does not have a united clan to help in keeping me in line. #06* Eliana laughs. "Clearly." #01 Who would help him? Thalaba? #01 Your elder hardly seems interested. #06* Moriel smiles, then laughs aloud. #06* Moriel quiets as quickly, however. "No, but I expect she gave me the domain I have because of him. Perhaps at his request." He sighs. "I could hardly refuse it, however." #06* Eliana raises an eyebrow. #01 You could move here. #06* Moriel blinks in surprise, then looks up and around at the dusty, creaky old farmhouse. "I...could." He seems astonished at the idea. He looks down at his hands, turning them over, though what he's looking at is anyone's guess. Then he looks back up at Eliana, smiling. "We could pool our libraries. You could read all my books. And I yours." #06* Eliana 's eyes widen. "What? I-" She pauses, completely at loss for words, then says, "I wouldn't mind sharing libraries, but- I- but-" #06* Moriel blinks, realizing he missed something here. #06* Moriel has also never heard Eliana stammer, and it's kind of fascinating to watch. No wonder she's always so interested when he brain-stutters. #06* Moriel manages to control his fascination after a few seconds and actually try to figure out what he just missed. "...I'm sorry." #06* Eliana reaches up and pinches the top of her nose, squeezing her eyes shut. "Okay." She takes a moment longer, then switches to Latin, a language she's more comfortable with, and she speaks softly: "" #06* Moriel rubs his face. "" he repeats. #06* Eliana shakes her head, still trying to calm down. Her hands are shaking, a bit. "" #06* Moriel smiles a little, though he looks sad. Not that he misunderstood, but that he upset Eliana. He moves a hand as if to touch her, but stops almost immediately. "" He smiles a little more. "" #06* Eliana nods. She still looks spooked, but she's clearly trying to control herself. "" She trails off, then says, "" <...perhaps I should.> #01 #06* Moriel blinks, whatever he was about to say derailed. "" He sounds rather uncertain what he's being thanked for. #01 [Mini End!]