#01 [London outskirts. August 19, 1252.] #01 [It's an unusually hot summer, with long days and short nights. Nevertheless, Moriel dropped a message off with Jill saying that he'd like to meet with Eliana, and the arranged place is the once-abandoned, now-Eliana-owned farmhouse. The house itself has been undergoing some renovations, but is still entirely unfit for human (and wampyr) habitation: the roof is still sagging and leaks miserably, the floor is still a mess, and the basement... don't get Eliana started.] #01 [Still, Eliana's there, sitting at the same table as always, shifting through some pages with a critical eye. A candle lantern burns to one side.] #01 [Mini Start.] #06* Moriel taps a knuckle on the door frame by way of announcing himself as he steps inside. He halts just inside the doorway, satchel slung over one shoulder, and says quietly, "Good evening, Mistress Casale." #06* Eliana glances up. "Moriel MacRae." And she shifts the papers, stacking them carefully and neatly. "How are you?" #06* Moriel steps forward, letting the satchel slide off his shoulder to land with a soft thump in a chair. "Well enough. I...thought I would come to see what you needed done here, and how I could help." #06* Eliana concentrates on binding the papers with ribbon. "I believe you already have, since you provided Jill with funds with which to hire contractors." #01 They consider it too hot right now, and will begin work in September. #06* Moriel nods. "I did say I would." He shrugs, then smiles a little. "However, contractors will not do the dusting, I expect. Though that will come later." #06* Eliana laughs. "Yes. You are welcome to come over and help me dust. It's something we're well suited for, given we don't need to breathe." #06* Eliana ties the last knot and picks up the stack of papers. She hands it to Moriel, still seated. #06* Moriel smiles more on seeing Eliana laugh. He's about to reach for his satchel when Eliana hands him the stack of papers. He looks down at it, then back up at her, raising his eyebrows questioningly. #01 Your new copy. #01 I'm afraid I lack the skills and equipment necessary to bind books. #06* Moriel 's brows draw together as he examines the papers more carefully. He murmurs distractedly, "No matter..." Then he blinks as he realizes it's the Book of Nod. He looks back up at Eliana. "...thank you." #06* Eliana nods. "You're welcome." #06* Moriel carefully tucks it away inside his satchel and pulls out a book at the same time. This one is bound in black, and it's significantly larger than the small stack of papers Eliana just handed him. He looks back up at her, smiling. "As it happens, I have one for you, as well." He holds it out to her. Astrology, this time. #06* Eliana 's eyes light up. "Astrology?" she parrots, and she and takes it, immediately flipping through the pages. "Thank you," she says, not looking up. #06* Moriel 's smile widens. "I am going to run out of subjects rather quickly at this rate." #01 Well, it's not as though there is only *one* book on any particular subject. True. But I am never sure what you have already read. #06* Eliana is still turning the pages, skimming topics and illustrations. "We could compare subjects some time." #06* Eliana looks up. "Is astrology a subject that particularly interests you?" #06* Moriel stills. "Not...precisely." He sighs. "My sire was...rather fond of it." #06* Eliana keeps her eyes on Moriel. "Why keep an astrology book, then?" #06* Moriel shrugs. His smile is pained. "I had it before I knew him. And...I couldn't simply discard a book." #06* Eliana nods. #01 What about that? #06* Eliana gestures to the book in Moriel's pocket. #06* Moriel pulls it out and stares down at it, eyes darkening. "I hadn't thought about it, to be honest. Perhaps I shall throw it in the river." #01 Or set it on fire. #06* Moriel bares his teeth down at the book. "Or both. Sequentially." #01 I've done that before. It's fairly effective. #06* Eliana stands, new book held to her chest. She waves for Moriel to come with and heads out of the house. #06* Moriel takes a breath, manages to unclench his teeth, and follows her. He picks up his satchel as he goes. #06* Eliana starts walking to the Thames. #06* Moriel hoists the satchel to his shoulder and tucks the book under one arm. He paces silently beside Eliana, frowning. #06* Eliana walks in silence as well. They can walk in silence together! #06* Eliana eventually reaches the river, with Moriel in tow (one would hope). She stops at the edge and looks down at the water, then to Moriel. "Ready?" #06* Moriel holds up the slim scarlet-bound volume and just looks at it. His face is blank, but after a moment his hand starts to tremble. His fingers spasm tighter and he swiftly hands the book to Eliana. #06* Eliana gives Moriel a questioning, almost worried look, but she takes it wordlessly. #06* Eliana lets the book fall open and holds it at arm's length, concentrating. A brilliant spark of flame flares in the center of its pages. She stares at it for a moment before she drops the book, fire rapidly eating the paper, down into the river. #06* Moriel watches out of the corner of his eye as the fire devours the pages of the book and then is consumed itself by the waters of the Thames. His expression is still just a little too blank. After a long moment, though, he stirs. "I do not imagine it was books you previously disposed of thus," he says softly. #06* Eliana's whole being tightens briefly at Moriel's words, and she blinks a couple of times, rapidly, still looking down at the book and the water. "No." And then she adds: "This was a first." #06* Moriel turns his head to look at Eliana for the first time since they came to the bank of the river. His eyes re-focus. "I'm sorry." And he looks back to where the water swept the book away. "...thank you." #06* Eliana shrugs with one shoulder, not averting her gaze. "You're welcome." #06* Moriel suddenly just drops to the ground with a thump, his bag landing beside him. He rests his forehead in his hands and laughs. It doesn't have the dangerous manic edge of before, but there's more than a little released hysteria in it. "This is not how I expected my night to go at all." #06* Eliana turns at the thump, and she looks down at the wampyr on the ground. "No?" Her voice lacks any of the edge it had before. #06* Moriel tilts his head to look up at her. It's a bit more up than usual, since he's sitting on the ground and she's still standing. "No." #06* Eliana smiles a touch when Moriel meets her eyes. She crouches so that's easier. "What did you expect, then?" #06* Moriel looks down at the satchel sitting beside him and sighs. Then back up at Eliana, unhappily. "...I expect you would be more upset if I did not tell you now." #06* Eliana tilts her head. "I lack the information to say." #06* Moriel looks down at his hands. "Yes. I know." He sighs again and pulls a second book out of his satchel. This one, Eliana has seen before - most recently, on the floor of Cosimo's horse's stable. It's a bit more battered now, but at least the leather wrapping protected it from the filth. I...went to speak to Master Castelletti, and found this on the floor. He said he gave it to you. I gather he angered you somehow, but as he did not know how himself, he could not tell me. #06* Eliana stares at the book for a long moment before she says, clipped, "He did." #01 He left it there, then. #06* Moriel frowns down at it. "Yes." #06* Moriel looks up at Eliana. Faint worry lines appear around his eyes. "What happened?" he asks quietly. #06* Eliana frowns. And stands. "He left that in the new basement." #06* Moriel looks up at her without moving, waiting. #01 I wanted to know why. I sought him out. He said it served its purpose. It brought me to him. #06* Moriel suppresses a wince. #01 After... *much* questioning, he revealed that he wished to create a silent language. As if our 'little caravan' continues to work together, it would be useful. #01 I agreed. #06* Moriel tilts his head, acknowledging without interrupting. #01 I was already thinking of ways to make it work - a reverse order for sentence structure, what alphabet to use need we spell words, some simple gestures in cases of quick, concealed information, and he started to leave. #06* Moriel blinks. #06* Eliana turns her attention towards the stables, too far in the distance. "I had to ask. He *forced* me to ask. Why he was leaving. He told me that he was going to his library, and we could continue our conversation from there. *If* I was interested." #06* Moriel rests his chin in his hand, brows drawing down as he watches Eliana. #06* Eliana looks down at Moriel now, astrology book clutched close to her chest. "I did not appreciate what he was doing, and I told him. " she says, repeating her own words but in Latin instead of Italian, "" #06* Moriel's eyes turn inwards, flickering, as he assimilates information. Then back up to Eliana. #01 He told me that I distrust him. Because of his clan. Because I distrust everyone. But especially him. And my demands for more information were, he implied, unreasonable. He dodged any acknowledgement of his own behavior. #06* Eliana snorts. "As though court niceties mean *anything*." #01 I tried to give his book back. He wouldn't take it, so I threw it to his feet. #06* Eliana's eyes flash. "Perhaps I should have burned it." * Moriel twitches at that. "I would prefer you not take that course just now, as I would prefer not to be set ablaze with it." * Eliana rolls her eyes. "I won't." She reaches up, pulling her hood down and running her fingers through her hair, though they reach a tangle early enough. * Moriel sighs, looking down at the book. "I had...quite a time, trying to convince him that others might dislike or distrust him for reasons outside of his clan." * Eliana snorts. To be sure. Blame the clan, and he can avoid all responsibility. * Moriel frowns. "Yes. He's quite fixated on it. But...he creates his problems himself, by acting on others' presumed distrust without stopping to ascertain if it's actually there." I tried to tell him so. I'm not sure if he listened. * Eliana shrugs with one shoulder, turning her gaze towards the stables again. "Unlikely. Cosimo Castelletti hears, but he does not seem interested in listening." * Moriel snorts. "Yes." * Moriel shakes his head. "What will you do with the book? It would be a pity to burn it, you know - I doubt advanced mathematics texts are so very common." * Eliana turns her gaze to the book in Moriel's lap, and she frowns. "I had hoped he would reclaim it." Hmp. He seemed...offended when I offered it to him, thinking it was his. Still, it's a particularly foolish pride that would simply leave it where it lay. * Moriel looks up at Eliana and adds carefully, "Still. I was surprised to hear you had left it, as well." * Eliana says, as a simple fact, "I was angry." Yes. It would be foolish to throw away a perfectly good book because of another's foolishness, however. Will you not take it? * Eliana shrugs. She takes the few steps necessary to get to Moriel and reaches one ungloved hand down. Actually, she hasn't put on gloves since Moriel saw her organizing papers in the farmhouse. * Moriel hands the book up to her. * Eliana takes the text and places it on top of her astrology book, removing a loose note from the back. She hugs both books close to her chest as she steps back to the river and, completely without ceremony, sets the note ablaze before dropping it into the water. * Moriel watches Eliana carefully. At least she didn't burn the book...he seems to be at something of a loss otherwise, however. * Eliana looks to the river for a few moments before turning, bearing her gaze back down on Moriel. "Why were you meeting with him?" * Moriel shrugs a little uncomfortably. "I've been teaching him Auspex. And he's been helping me practice my bladework, in turn." * Eliana blinks. Auspex. Why? Because however I might wish it otherwise, it seems vanishingly unlikely to me that Prince Mithras will not call upon us again. And if and when he does, it would be best if Master Castelletti were not hampered by being unable to see when the rest of us can. * Eliana nods. You know he could turn against you. Use your own discipline against you. You trust him that much? Against an assassin, the ability extend your senses further than his may be the only real advantage you have. * Moriel gives Eliana a rather dry look. "I expect if Master Castelletti wished to kill me, he would be able to do so whether I taught him Auspex or not." And I will always be better at it than him, I imagine. * Eliana eyebrow raises. "Any advantage is still an advantage." * Moriel sighs. "It's true." He looks up at Eliana. "I was right that he considers us his comrades, you know." Did he say that to you? It sounds as though you had a lengthly conversation. * Moriel rubs at the lines in his forehead as his brows draw down. "Yes. And yes. It took me some time to get him to actually *talk* to me, and then...well, as you said. He does not always listen well." * Moriel frowns. "I am worried I may have...angered him. Not against myself, but..." * Eliana shakes her head. "Against whom then, if not you?" * Moriel shakes his head. "He said he trusted me because I - none of us - tried to blame him for the murder we were all framed for. I told him I'd had no idea who or what he was, and I didn't know if any of the rest of you had either." He seemed angry at the time, but...we parted cordially enough. So I am not sure if...he may have decided he was wrong to trust the rest of you. It would be foolish of him, but...not out of character, perhaps. * Moriel frowns more. That he was an assamite was fairly obvious, to me. * Eliana then smirks. "And it's safest not to trust anyone at all." Yes. Distrust is the default, among our kind, but he takes it so very personally, even as he distrusts others... * Moriel shrugs. "I worked out that he was an Assamite quickly enough thereafter, but I didn't know when I first saw him. And it was not very long after that that Prince Mithras and his guards arrived." Ridiculous. He's a study in contradictions. * Eliana steps back to Moriel and sits next to him, so he doesn't have to keep craning his neck. She looks... thoughtful, instead of angry. * Moriel smiles faintly. "We all are, really." I suppose. * Moriel turns to smile at her. "Well, I suppose I am a childe of my clan, to think so." * Eliana turns her attention down to the books in her arms. She sets them in her lap, tracing the Farsi text's cover with her fingertips. "The Malkavians are not wrong about everything." * Moriel tilts his head back to look up at the stars. "Oh, no. We all glimpse little fragments of the truth...and I do happen to believe that. Everyone has the seeds of madness in them, that faint dissonant melody...otherwise my clan would not be so feared." * Eliana murmurs, "Simply a matter of degrees." She looks at Moriel. "What do you think?" * Moriel looks back down at Eliana and raises his eyebrows. "Hm? About what, precisely?" Cosimo Castelletti. Oh. I told him that I would find him. And I will. But what I do upon finding him is up for some negotiation. * Moriel tilts his head to one side, considering Eliana for a moment. Then he turns to look out over the river again. "I think he is very devoted to his own personal code of honor, though I can't say I know him well enough to be able to describe it precisely. And I think...he is very poor at reading others." * Moriel thinks some more. "I am not sure why that is. I would not have thought him so rigid, but..." He clings to his preconceptions. * Eliana nods, thinking. Then if one were to continue working with him, over a long period of time, it may be necessary to shatter them. * Moriel winces a bit at the word "shatter", but says, "Perhaps, depending on what they are and whether or not they interfere with working together. Though doing so will probably be difficult." Likely. And potentially not worth the effort. * Moriel shrugs. "That would be up to indvidual cases." * Eliana is frowning, now, and also gazing out at the river. * Moriel says thoughtfully, "The difficulty is, he doesn't have the flexibility to consider others' viewpoints well, it seems. And you don't have the patience - or the diplomacy, perhaps - to keep talking to him until he does." * Eliana snorts. It is true that I lack the ability to read others well. I focus on different, more interesting things. * Eliana turns to Moriel, searching. "But this is important to you, isn't it." * Moriel looks up at Eliana, faintly surprised. "...I...was angry he had upset you. I tried to find out how. When I realized it was just...foolishness...I suppose it does bother me. I don't know why. It shouldn't be any of my business, if you're angry at him." Hm. * Eliana runs her finger over the mathematic book's pages. * Moriel looks down at the book and Eliana's hands. "I...wanted to try to make him understand, so he wouldn't upset you again. But I can't speak for you, or of you, to him, so...I could not be specific. And I'm not sure how well it worked." Well... it is your business now, as you brought this to me. Another chance, then. * Eliana mulls that over. * Moriel does some mulling himself, sitting beside her. "I suppose. When will you speak to him?" In a few months, perhaps. I could use the time to further consider the cant. * Moriel nods, still thinking. "I...can go with you to speak to him, if you'd like. I don't know enough of languages to help create one, but...perhaps I can prevent more misunderstandings for long enough for the two of you to do it." He smiles wryly up at her. * Eliana considers. "I suppose." Pause. "He could use a translator." * Moriel laughs softly. "You will have to keep to languages I speak, then." * Eliana grins, suddenly. "Or teach you Italian." It wouldn't be tremendously difficult, given your grasp of Latin and French. * Moriel laughs again. "I should think you'll have enough on your plate, though I wouldn't object." Suddenly, he grins impishly at her. "I could teach you Gaelic, in exchange. I don't think you know it, yet." * Eliana blinks. "Gaelic?" Is that your native tongue? * Moriel smiles at her. "Yes." And then he says something completely unintelligible - in Gaelic, presumably. What Eliana gets out of it aside from the phonemes, who knows. * Eliana tilts her head. "I don't believe I've ever heard that language before." * Moriel shrugs. "It's only really spoken in the highlands. It would be pleasant to have someone to speak it with again." Then I will learn, if you care to teach. * Moriel tilts his head, smiling. "Certainly." * Eliana smiles back, a little shyly. "It's an exchange, then." She shifts, moving to stand again. * Moriel nods and rises, offering her a hand up since she has the books to carry. * Eliana reaches for it and stops, just an inch away. After a long moment of hesitation, she grabs it, bare skin on bare skin. If ever Eliana was cold before that was nothing compared to now, with no layers between them and a hot summer's evening for contrast. Her grip is literally like ice - maybe colder - and sends a brutal chill through Moriel's entire body. * Eliana pulls herself to her feet and quickly lets go of Moriel's hand. "It's late; I'd best close up the farmhouse." * Moriel 's hand tightens briefly around Eliana's, but he doesn't react to the cold otherwise. He nods to her, not quite a bow. "I'll see you another night, then. Good evening, Mistress Casale." * Eliana nods back. "Moriel MacRae." And she pulls her hood up, walking briskly in the direction they had come. [Mini end!]