Conversation with Einar- 9-19-2012

Hello Sheriff,

How are things in the city?  I visited DeKalb last night on Dragon business.  While I was there no less then 3 Kindred, among them the Prince, asked about my troubles with the Acolytes and Shane in particular. 

I myself am aware of no such trouble.  When I questioned them further they were all noncommittal.  Although Prince Essex did express concern for my safety as a fellow Dragon.

Personally I have my theories on what might have happened but I would prefer to get your opinion on the matter.  Would it be possible to meet and discuss this further?  If I offended anyone in the city I would like to take whatever steps might be necessary to right any wrongs.

Raoul Drufays

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Things are quiet here.

I would be happy to meet you for a discussion.

~Einar
Sheriff of Chicago

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Waubonsee community college works for me unless you have another place you prefer.

I hate to have to ask this, but I assume there's no threat to me?

Raoul
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Not from the Acolytes of Chicago.

Waubonsee Community College is fine.

~Einar

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As before Raoul made his way to the old electronic sign on the edge of the Waubonsee College Campus.  Sighing he leaned against the sign to wait for Einar.  He didn't have quite as many cats with him this time.  In fact their numbers had dramatically dwindled down to four.  The large white cat, Raoul's familiar, jumped up on the sign and made a meowing sound which might of been concern, in Raoul's ear.  Shaking his head Raoul meowed briefly back and crossed his arms over his chest, looking out into the street.

A blood minion of his could just been seen in the nearest tree.  There were others around within a square mile of where Raoul now stood.  The Gangrel's manner was mellow and even a bit resigned, truth be told. 

A small falcon flies in overhead,  circling the campus several times.     It lands about 10 feet from Raoul, rapidly shifting into Einar's normal form.     The younger gangrel looks around for a few seconds as if to insure himself that no one was watching, then he approached the sign cautiously.

"Raoul.   Good to see you.   Missed you at last gathering."

Raoul smiled briefly. 

"Hello Einar.  It's good to see you as well.  I wasn't in a good position to be social last gathering, so I made a judgement call.  Anything interesting happen?"

Einar shook his head.

"Cole was bothering us again.    Nothing terribly important."

"What is this about Shane wanting to kill you or something?"

Raoul pushed back against the sign and stood up. 

"Nah, it was nothing like that.  Only people seem to think the Acolytes are angry at me for some reason.  I think when they hear 'Acolyte' they just assume Shane.  So you haven't heard anything?"

Then with a start, Raoul remembered a moment that might be of importance.

"Oh and there is something I should mention before I forget.  Did anyone in the city receive a strange invitation?  That women, who is always around Master Lin dressed like a geisha, paid a visit to Essex last night.  It seems she was handing out birthday invitations."

Einar's smile is downright predatory.   

"Tsubaki is Lin Wu Kuan's childe.  Vlad's broodmate.    I think it unlikely I will be going to her party."

For a moment a slight smirk played on the edges of Raoul's mouth.

"I didn't think you personally would be invited.  I do, however, think it's interesting that Master Lin would invite such a large number of Kindred together in the guise of a birthday party.  Everyone in Dekalb says they haven't been approached by the Prima Invitca but perhaps they have been now.
Einar shrugged.

"When and where is this party?"

Raoul shook his head.  "I wasn't sure as he didn't give that information out loud.  Only that there would be a party."

This information wasn't all that impressive to the Sheriff of Chicago.

"It could just be a birthday party."

"By the way, I spoke to Shane and he said that he has no ill-intent towards you, nor does any other Acolyte that I am aware of.    Who was saying otherwise?"

Raoul nodded at that.

"I'm glad to hear it.  It was Essex more then anything.  He suggested that perhaps my social skills were jumpy or some such thing... made others uncomfortable.  So hopefully just a misunderstanding."

Einar cocked his head to one side.

"Serious question:  why do you care what they think?   For my part I feel that I owe them no explanation.   Our creation stands on its own or fails and we learn.  If they think to rule me they can learn Vlad's lesson."

Then with a proud smirk, he continued on.

"We have done more to explore alternative governance in six months than the Carthians have done in over a century."

This was true but in response Raoul only looked up at the sky.  The stars were so much clearer out here then they were in the city. 

"I don't feel the need to explain Chicago but I'm proud of what we have done.  DeKalb is not Prima Invicta territory but I might call their Prince a sympathizer.  He approves of the concept but not the method.  Which is a disappointing glimpse into an outsiders viewpoint.  He wants to globalize but to me that is the greater mistake."

Einar shrugged once more in response

"They have no faith and therefore no purpose.   With no purpose beyond survival, they are cowards.    Alim Essex is very intelligent, very reasonable, but Alim Essex is also a notorious coward."

Raoul didn't quite know about that but he wasn't finished with what he was trying to say.

"It's his opinion that Chicago can not last as it is, as there must always be a top dog.  As Dragon I'm interested in the eventual outcome of this experiment we've made into this city.  Certainly they were leery of us and me when I was there, so that's something."

Einar continued to study Raoul closely as he talked.

"I oppose the Prima Invicta on religious grounds.   If the unenlightened wish to snicker at my Tribulation, that is their choice.  They are welcome to remain unchallenged and therefore unconquered."

A feeling of restlessness was beginning to edge up Raoul's spine.

"At this point, though, I think they are content to just speculate and snicker behind their hands at us.  As I'm also a Gangrel all this waiting and non-action is beginning to get to me.  I would prefer an attack or something.  It's almost like we are under siege at this point."

To add emphasis to that statement, Raoul deliberately kicked a stone and set it flying across the street, straight out of sight.
 
Einar laughed as they both watched the stone fly away.

 "You are an eternal predator.   Your sire would counsel patience.    Fortunately, on that front I have good news.   Lin Wu Kuan was starting shit among the Acolytes, whining about Vlad's trial being 'unfair.'   There is trouble in Lexington, apparently the Prima Invicta have taken exception to Lexington leaving the Empire.   Soon they will come.    Arrogant in their ignorance and defiant in their rejection of the Mother's will for Her Children."

Einar looked downright gleeful at the prospect.

"They will likely soon come, assuming they survive Lexington.   Then their ignorance will be laid bare before they die, and their Empire will not survive their failure."

When Einar laughs, so does Raoul and it's not for the same reason as the Sheriff.  Yes he had missed this, all this passion and bloodlust.  How much different then DeKalb were they all sat around being polite to each other. 

"Kentucky, really?  So much for the freedom they claim.  The Invitca say becoming member is a choice and with that reasoning, leaving should also be a choice.  That is until anyone dares defy them, then the rules all change to benefit them.  Oh I hope they come."

Einar shakes his head. 

"There are no rules.   Only power.   The Vics make rules as a way to gain power over others."

Raoul shakes his head still smiling and looks at his feet before becoming serious again.

"The reason I wasn't at the last gathering is because I lost it.  As if I was a mere puppet to the Beast.  It was powerful and wonderful but destructive.  And all of this because of the gun.  I know it was only a joke, but she pointed a Desert Eagle at me, the same as Ivanovich had when I had the toddler, and I literally lost it.  Funny, huh?"

He looks up at Einar just needing an ear to confess these things too. 

"I need my tribulation, enlightenment, whatever our covenants call it.  Just to exorcise my demons, not the Beast but my own personal ones.  They are eating me alive."

This pulls out a look of concern from Einar towards his clan mate.

 "It is not funny.   The Beast is part of you, no different than lusting after a woman when you were alive.  Sentience has been defined occasionally as the ability to defer immediate pleasure for greater rewards later.  You must be careful that you do not lose the ability to defer your immediate impulses."

An awkward pause.

"I am, perhaps, not the one to teach you this."

Raoul watched Einar with some measure of gratitude in his eyes as the other Gangrel attempted to advise.  And while Raoul looked, he knew that they were both monsters.  Recent experiences had proved to Raoul that he certainly was one and Einar always had been one in Raoul's eyes.  Yet they could still talk about these things.  If either of their Beasts had their way, there would be no talking involved.  There would only be tearing each other to shreds.  Humanity was the buffer but the Beast persistence was stronger than Raoul had ever bargained for. 

"No, you're a good one to talk to about these things, at least for me.  It seems that you're talking from your own experiences, or at least what you remember of them.  You do not judge and that's something rare even in our society."

Einar shakes his head.

"I am much younger than you are.     I lived in the moment because to do otherwise was to remember who I was and what I lost.   My life, my son.    In the moment there is just what the Mother has made of you. Of me.   All that exists is the hunt and the chase  and the prey."  

Sighing Raoul looked down at his claws, the ones he did not bother to retract much at all these days.

"I think as you grow older you'll realize that we are actually frozen in time when we died or began to change over.  It's been 68 years but my family might as well have been murdered yesterday.  In our case time heals absolutely no wounds, it only causes more."
   

The words from Raoul continue on without waiting for a response.  There were things he needed to say.

"When I was living by myself with the animals in the forest it was easy to stay humane.  Now it is as if my Beast is feeding off the Beasts of others.  Yes, it's always been part of me but he is so much louder now.  There's lust, so much lust but for blood and pain and despair.  I was afraid I would try and hurt 'someone' and perhaps succeed and get hurt or destroyed myself."

To this Einar only shrugs.

"That is the game they play.   Even those among my Covenant.   Many among our Clan too, although very few here in Chicago."

  

Raoul stretched his arms up with fingers intertwined into the night sky before dropping them back down again.  "I appreciate you listening.  Sometimes these things need to come out.  Keeping them inside only makes it worse ..."

"I am happy to help."     

Hoping Einar was sincere in that, Raoul sighed and looked around at the empty street, parking lot and darkened buildings.  

"Well this is depressing.   I think the hunt, chase and prey might be just the thing.  After all, if this who I was meant to be might as well make the best of it.  Want to come?" 

One moment Raoul is just standing there but then his posture begins to change.  His fingers curl, jaw tightens and he allows his eyes to narrow, his nostrils to flare, and then he stills.  Listening for the sounds of mortals, even ones that might be a distance away.    

Einar smiles again, watching this but this time fangs descend dangerously as he does.

"Yes."