01<Eliana> [Outskirts of London.  March 4, 1252.]
 01<Eliana> [A couple of hours into the evening, Eliana arrived at the 
no-longer abandoned farmhouse.  Why is it no longer abandoned?  Because 
she acquired it.  (She didn't purchase it, as it was abandoned.)  It 
certainly still looks abandoned, as no work's been done on it as of yet.]
 01<Eliana> [Eliana has entered, surveyed the insides of the house, and 
is now moving into the basement - a dismal place, dirty and small and in 
disrepair much like the rest of the house - but she may call it home 
someday.  She's just taken a few steps down, small flame on her shoulder, 
when something catches her eye.]
 01<Eliana> [Mini Start.]
 06* Cosimo had, earlier that evening, left a book on math, written in 
arabic script and in perfect condition bundled in leather and tucked 
between a few loose timbers amongst the rubble.
 06* Eliana squints at the leather, then thinks back. That wasn't there 
the last time she had been in this basement, or the time before that...
 06* Eliana approaches carefully and examines it from a few different 
angles before gently pulling the bundle out from the timbers. She frowns 
at its lack of dust. That means her memory is accurate, but someone else 
has been here.
 06* Eliana removes the leather to find the book inside. She continues to 
frown, running her gloved fingers over the binding. She then opens it to 
read the title and blinks in surprise, then leafs through the pages so 
she's starting on the right side of the book - or the actual beginning.
<Cosimo> [the only mark to be found on the book that offers a clue as to 
who left it behind is a small sigil, written lightly in pencil and almost 
blending into the pattern of the paper on the inside of the cover and a 
short note - "the shifting sands would have kept this volume from you... 
until now"]
 06* Eliana removes the note, stares at it, and then tucks it back into 
the book. She whirls, leaving the basement and farmhouse quickly to find 
a certain stable with a nightmarish black horse.
 01<Eliana> [The next evening, Cosimo is just returning to the stables 
after taking his horse out for a ride.  He's dismounted and is leading 
his horse when he sees a certain cloaked and hooded woman standing just 
outside of the empty stall.]
 06* Cosimo pulls back his hood and smiles, he walks past her leading 
Abdur-Rashid into the stall. "i trust the evening finds you well"
 06* Eliana nods to him. "Cosimo Castelletti. Well enough." She moves 
aside as he approaches, so he has an easier time with his horse.
 06* Cosimo removes the saddle and tack from his horse, almost ritually, 
and stowing them away. "very good."
<Cosimo> you do not strike me as one for social visits, so there is 
something on your mind
 06* Eliana stares at Cosimo, but she is a wampyr, and it's not like she 
particularly needs to blink. "I'd be surprised if you couldn't guess." 
She pulls a book from under her cloak, showing it to him. "Why?"
 06* Cosimo looks at Eliana and the book. "i finished it." Cosimo goes 
back towards tending to his horse.
<Cosimo> besides, it served its purpose
 06* Eliana raises an eyebrow. "That being?"
<Cosimo> you're here
 06* Eliana frowns a touch, and she looks at the book again before 
turning her attention back to Cosimo. "<Why did you lure me here, then?>" 
she asks in Italian.
 06* Cosimo looks up, making eye contact with Eliana for the first time 
that evening. "<because you are the only one i am convinced can help with 
what i intend to do>"
 06* Cosimo goes back to brushing his horse.
 06* Eliana snorts. "<If what you intended was to make me ask you a long 
series of questions, your condition must be improving admirably.>"
 06* Cosimo looks up and smiles. "no. i plan to create a language."
 06* Eliana blinks. "Ambitious. And you want me to help, then - couldn't 
your clansmen assist?"
<Cosimo> perhaps.  if you are not interested...
 06* Cosimo switches to Farsi. "<though I am pretty sure that you are the 
only person besides myself who has of late begun to study Sumerian>"
 06* Eliana actually laughs at that.
 06* Cosimo raises his eyebrows.
 06* Eliana responds in the same language: "<You're good.>" She grins. 
"<And that is likely true. Finding someone who actually *speaks* Sumerian 
has been difficult. But it's only been five months.>"
 06* Cosimo bows slightly, his arms extended as he accepts the 
compliment. "<such has been my trouble as well... and so my mind has 
wandered.>"
 06* Cosimo puts down the brush.
<Cosimo> <which is what brings us together on this night>
 06* Cosimo walks around his horse, leaving the stall and stopping 
opposite Eliana.
 06* Eliana eyebrow raises at Cosimo, the book now safely tucked by her 
side.
<Cosimo> the book is yours regardless of your decision
 06* Eliana responds, dryly, "Doubtless. Why create a language when there 
are so many to choose from?"
 01<Eliana> And you are aware that if you wanted me to speak with you, 
you could have simply asked.
 01<Eliana> The last I heard, our clans were on reasonably good terms.
 06* Cosimo nods. "fair questions, to be sure..."
<Cosimo> while our clans are on reasonable terms... i did not believe 
that if i simply asked, you would come
 06* Eliana smirks. "An interesting theory, given it's untested."
 06* Cosimo raises an eyebrow at Eliana's statement, but continues
<Cosimo> as for why not choose a language from the countless tongues of 
the lands... they all share the one quality i seek to eliminate.  they 
are not silent
 06* Eliana doesn't even hesitate: "Quietus."
 06* Cosimo smiles and nods.
 01<Eliana> Your clan hasn't created a cant for such incidents?  Or is it 
simply one you're not allowed to share with outsiders?
<Cosimo> the Children of Haquim have no need for such to coordinate our 
efforts
<Cosimo> you will forgive me if i do not go into more detail
 06* Cosimo watches Eliana closely. After a few moments of silence, he 
raises his eyebrows inquisitively.
 01<Eliana> Fine.  But you believe you will continue to work with those 
outside of your clan, in a capacity in which your discipline will come 
into play.
<Cosimo> you do not?
 06* Eliana glares at Cosimo. "Did I *say* I don't?"
<Cosimo> not directly.  still your words did hint that you thought my 
presence in this little caravan only temporary
 01<Eliana> To be perfectly honest, I am rather hoping our little 
caravan, as you put it, was only temporary.
 01<Eliana> But seeing as that may not be the case, yes.  I agree that a 
cant would be exceptionally useful.
 06* Cosimo smiles.
<Cosimo> but it is more than useful... it is a challenge...
 06* Eliana tilts her head slightly, fingers curled around her new book. 
"Oh?"
<Cosimo> a language without words as we know them...
<Cosimo> unable to be written...
<Cosimo> and completely unintelligible to those who do not know it?
 06* Eliana lets out a faint 'hm'. "It's true, it will be challenging. 
And the best code must be near unbreakable."
 06* Cosimo nods knowingly. "but if you are not interested..."
 06* Cosimo turns on his heel and begins to walk out of the stables.
 06* Eliana opens her mouth to say something, and then Cosimo starts to 
walk out. She shuts it and scowls, then says instead, "Where are you 
going."
 06* Cosimo stops, and smiles to himself. He lets the smile fade before 
turning and looking back at Eliana. "To my library."
<Cosimo> if you are in, you are welcome to join me.  if not, then i will 
take no more of your time this night
 06* Eliana narrows her eyes. "Stop." It's far more a command than a 
request, though there isn't a note of domination in her voice.
 06* Cosimo raises an eyebrow, and nods. he bows his head, opening his 
hands arms respectfully. "as you wish"
 06* Eliana approaches Cosimo, her eyes hard and voice harder. "<You are 
trying to lead me,>" she says in Italian, "<like a horse with a carrot. I 
do not appreciate it.>"
 01<Eliana> <I am no horse, and your efforts are transparent at best.>
 06* Cosimo nods.
 06* Cosimo replies, also in Italian. "<i am used to distrust and 
dislike... our society bestows them on myself and my brothers so readily. 
you are no different. you said my theory was untested. did it need to be? 
it is not difficult to know that among our associates i am not amongst 
those you prefer to associate with>"
<Cosimo> <if i were to behave the perfect gentleman, you would distrust 
me>
<Cosimo> <if i were to offer payment, you would distrust me>
<Cosimo> <and so i simply gave that which you already expected>
 06* Eliana stops only a couple of feet away from Cosimo. "<Spare me your 
feelings. Distrust is in my nature. If you couldn't figure that out, 
you're a greater fool than I had ever given you credit for.>"
<Cosimo> <foolish?  perhaps.  but not for failing to notice your shield 
of distrust>
<Cosimo> <there is a hierarchy of distrust in your world... tell me... 
where do i rank?>
 06* Eliana stands stone still for a moment, only her eyes moving as she 
studies Cosimo's face. This close, it's clear she radiates frigidity. And 
then she asks: "<What concern is it of yours?>"
 06* Cosimo stares back, emotionless. He is completely still. "<it isn't. 
it is what i have come to expect from those not of my clan,>" he replies, 
flatly.
 06* Eliana laughs, suddenly. "<And back to that again!>" She waves one 
hand off to the distance, towards Mithras' court. "<Your clan. This has 
nothing to do with your *clan* and everything to do with *you*.>"
 01<Eliana> <I did not come here, wondering why an assassin would leave a 
book in a basement for me.  I came here wondering why Cosimo Castelletti 
would do such a thing.>"
<Cosimo> <because i thought it would interest you>
 01<Eliana> <Yes.  You made your reasoning abundantly clear.>
<Cosimo> <and yet you needed more>
 06* Eliana narrows her eyes again, then shifts so she's holding the book 
by one end to Cosimo. "<Take this, assassin. I am not your horse, and I 
am not to be toyed with.>"
<Cosimo> <i do not toy with you.  the book is yours as i have stated 
previously, i no longer require it.  if you do not wish to own it, then 
leave it here for the stableboys to stand on>
<Cosimo> <i do not have need of another horse.  i have need of someone 
who shares my interests and is up to the challenge of creating that which 
does not exist>
<Cosimo> <you were the one that came to mind as being even better at this 
than i, and so i sought to impose upon your time.  i apologize.>
 06* Eliana rolls her eyes and wraps the book back in leather before 
tossing it to Cosimo's feet. Even when handling books roughly, she still 
manages to be careful with them. "<I am up to the challenge - I *was* up 
to the challenge when you first mentioned it to me. It is a useful idea, 
as I said. I was even impressed that you came up with such a solution.>"
 06* Cosimo bows his head respectfully.
 01<Eliana> <But if you wish me to treat you as you would like to be 
treated, act like it.  And if you don't wish to toy with me, don't.>
 06* Eliana turns and walks away.
<Cosimo> <i have tried that.  every time i have offered a hand... every 
time i have offered assistance... but you never take it.  much like every 
gesture of goodwill i have ever made.>
 06* Eliana stops and looks back. "<Your gestures of 'goodwill' were 
nothing but a common trap to keep women as ladies. *Ladies.*>" She 
practically spits that last word. "<I am no lady.>"
<Cosimo> <you have misread my actions.  my sisters taught me much in my 
youth.  indeed that is why i turned to you in this matter because i 
thought your ability far superior than mine.  you think i wish to trap 
you in a cage... no, Eliana, you are useless to me in a cage.  i need you 
free to be yourself.>
 06* Eliana smiles an unpleasant smile, and there's a dangerous spark in 
her eyes. "<You couldn't cage me if you tried.>"
 01<Eliana> <I'll find you.  I advise you be prepared for when that 
happens.>
 06* Eliana turns, finally, and actually does walk out.
 06* Cosimo watches her leave, his emotionless face hardening into a 
frown. He looks down at the leather wrapped book, laying in the muck of 
the stable and shakes his head and then back at the retreating form of 
Eliana. "<i would never try>" he says softly, his voice carrying with all 
the gravity of one who spoke the Truths of Solomon.
 01<Eliana> [Mini End!]