<@Dreol> [Buda, Hungary, April 13, 4:00 AM] <@Dreol> [Moriel and Varyn are hanging out in the great hall eati- well drinking and being merry! Or at least not as dismal. They decided that interrogation wasn't their bag. Festivities are continuing. Vampires from various clans are there and Jurgen, himself is at the head of the room.] <@Dreol> [Begin!] 06* Varyn raises a cup and toasts at Moriel. "To new friends it seems." 06* Moriel 's eyebrows rise a bit, but he returns the toast. "To new friends." I'm glad you choose to stay here with me. I didn't think it would be proper for me to go with them. 06* Moriel tilts his head. "And why not? You are going to Ruthven's castle just the same as we are; you deserve to hear what we might learn about him." I am not of your merry little band. 06* Moriel snorts at that description of their group. "No, but my point stands." 06* Varyn smiles a bit. "Ah but this seems like something for you all to do and for those who have loudly stated their alliance." 06* Moriel considers Varyn. After a moment he says thoughtfully, "This will not be the first time we have allied with someone who prefers neutrality." 06* Varyn shrugs and sips from his cup. "After the castle I won't be given that luxury any more. Anastace seems to want to rush the shackles of responsibility upon me quicker." 06* Moriel raises his eyebrows. "Oh?" mmm, is offering to commission me a painting if I agree to your side. 06* Moriel 's lips quirk in a smile. "I see. But you need hardly take her up on it. Do you want the painting so badly?" Oh, I'll be saying yes sooner or later. The question is do I say yes and get a lovely painting now or wait and have the weight of my choice fall upon me in the midst of doing? 06* Moriel studies Varyn for longer this time. "If you do not wish to join the alliance against Carthage, why are you helping us? You said we saved your life, but that seems...incommensurate with actions that will ultimately compel you to join a cause you do not wish to." 06* Varyn shrugs. "You saved my life, giving me hospitality, and honestly? Your side is best for trade and my business." He paused thinking a bit. "I've already thought long and hard about this choice, longer than i've known you. Do you think either side would avoid conscripting me if they could? A man of skill and talent to make weapons and armor?" 06* Moriel sighs, lightly tracing the rim of his cup with a fingertip. He looks melancholy. "There are no doubt other skilled men. But they would not like you selling to their enemies, I'm sure." That is part of it, yes. So, choosing the best side soon is important. 06* Moriel nods. "Understandable." His thoughts still seem half- elsewhere, though. What is the matter? You seem distracted? 06* Moriel smiles faintly. It has a wry twist to it. "My side, you said. I expect much of the alliance is composed of men like you - men who would perhaps prefer not to be involved, but who for one reason or another find the alliance to be the best alternative." I do not doubt we are a sizable majority, but no, my thoughts tell me profiteers and lackeys make the majority of any alliance. 06* Moriel shrugs. He doesn't seem interested in disputing the point. "Truthfully, I prefer to avoid the court when I can. The motives of most of the alliance do not interest me, in the main." Ah, the motives of the people are never the motives of the group. 06* Varyn smiles and takes another drink. "Of course your own motives might need some help in getting what they want." 06* Moriel raises an eyebrow. "I want Carthage ended and Troile and Moloch dead. I certainly need help to accomplish that." Yes, I imagine you would. If I joined your side and did not share that conviction what would you think? 06* Moriel shrugs again. "As I said. I don't care much for the motives of most of the alliance. So long as we work towards common goals, why they do it matters little to me." It is important to know your allies motives in order to...well motivate them. Mine is simple, I want nothing more than a forge and a place to work. 06* Moriel tilts his head and asks curiously, "Do you not find working with fire troublesome?" 06* Varyn shrugs. "I find it comforting. I don't see the demons many of our other kin do lurking in it." 06* Moriel smiles at that for some reason. "Fortunate for you. I'm sure you would have been sorry to lose your vocation on embrace." 06* Varyn shrugs. "I would have found a way to adapt. At least I hope so." 06* Moriel nods. 06* Varyn sips from his cup again and then looked up at Moriel. "I think I'll announce my joining you." 06* Moriel smiles, amusement sparking in his eyes. "At least you'll get a painting, and be able to control the timing of it yourself." Yes, it seems best to do it now. 06* Moriel is quiet for a moment, and then he offers softly, "I am sorry your hand has been forced, however." Ah, that's how life goes. Sometimes you get away with a bluff and sometimes you don't. If we are fortunate, this war will be over quickly, but that seems unlikely. I will do my best to end it quickly. 06* Moriel 's eyes crinkle as he looks at Varyn. After a moment he just says, "Indeed." So tell me of yourself? 06* Moriel 's eyebrows rise. "What do you wish to know?" How does your life differ now instead of before hand? 06* Moriel gives Varyn a sharp look. After a brief pause he says dryly, "Well, I'm mad now." Apparently he decides to take pity on poor Varyn, though, because he adds, "I left my homeland. I study medicine. I may actually make a profession of it, when we return." Ah, no, I'm sorry. I was curious if you kept any hobbies from before? 06* Moriel half-suppresses a smile, though who knows why. "I still read a great deal. And I keep a small garden." Oh, I would greatly enjoy seeing your garden sometime. 06* Moriel studies Varyn, considering. "Perhaps. I shall have to change it, when I return. If I am to be the caretaker of a human child, I will need to feed her. And I will need herbs if I make a profession of medicine." 06* Varyn nods. "I enjoy functional beauty and I can think of few better." Then perhaps you would not like it so well as it is. Presently it has no function outside of beauty. It calms and centers you does it not? Ah, I had not known you considered that a function. Then I suppose you would like it. 06* Moriel tilts his head and gives Varyn an inquisitive look. "If you do not mind my asking, do you know why you were embraced by a Ravnos, and not a Toreador?" 06* Varyn groans. "That is a rather long story, but I suppose you have the right to know if we will be working together." 06* Moriel shakes his head. "No, I do not. I was merely curious." 06* Varyn takes a big gulp of blood before setting it down. "My sire got me a few days before a Toreador could, simply to prevent the Toreador to get me. It has caused some friction. Also his insistence of bringing it up every damn second he can, that he won a little contest for me... well..." Difficult. [Slightly awkward small talk continues, probably. End!]