The promise stands, a gleaming light at the end of the tunnel that the last week has been.
Aubrey stutters, stopping and starting for a moment trying to consider what to do, "Don't worry, it'll be easier than you think." The dulcet, calming tones of the vampire cross the table, a pleasant look on his face. The boy holds for a moment longer before finally saying, "O-okay, what do I do?" A look passed over him at that.
Leaning back into the chair, Andreas glances around the coffee shop, seeing the other patrons at this late hour, eyes lingering on the people as they drink, talk and live. The smell of fresh coffee, light hints of chocolate and the barest undertones of tea mixes into a heady aroma that Aubrey reacts to, the barest desires that quickly crumble forming.
"You strike back, but when I give the word." Turning to stare across the table, the vampire plants a hand firmly on it, adding weight to the statement. "Our mutual friend is a wily bastard, centuries of experience on em'. We gotta catch them when a moment of vulnerability appears." A final gesture, sliding his hand off the table, causing a lightening of the air.
"You still didn't answer." Aubrey promptly talks, seemingly before his brain realizes it, quickly widening his eyes and apologising. "Mmhm-," a tongue swipes nervously at his lower lip as he rephrases, "Sorry... I didn't mean it that way, insulting I mean." The boy seems to shrink into himself after that, clearly worried.
Andreas smiles, something small but genuine that shows the barest beginnings of fangs, glowing eyes catch Aubrey's own, a moment of contact passes that drives Aubrey deeper into nervous worry.
"Indeed, I did not." He says, drawl deepening, "I'll be keeping you at a safe place, off the grid. During which I'll be bringing a few friends in from out of town." Staying near-completely still as he speaks, a statuesque veneer portraying itself as human. "After that, we raise hell." Finishing off, the vampire seems to have a small smile, looking forward to whatever it means.
"Hell?" The boy asks, concerned and somewhat confused.
The response comes quickly enough, "Mhmm, hell! Burn out all the old bastards who want to strangle the life out of this city, strangle the life out of everything so they can keep playing their goddamned games until Judgement Day!" His languid frame animates at that, seemingly injected with life. "But we have to be cautious, we cannot afford any mistakes; mistakes mean death." Andreas finishes with a severe stare, instilling the aforementioned caution as much as possible.
Aubrey intakes the information, frowning at the news. "Okay." The word comes out softly, nearly under his breath. Andreas stands up suddenly, looking from above at Aubrey, "It's time to make a decision, our time has just been suddenly shortened." Moving to the side of the table, he looks sharply into the younger man's eyes, "Yes or no, Aubrey." It's a long moment of eye contact, a sharp feeling entering Aubrey's chest, an effort of will pushes through it, giving the wherewithal to respond.
"Yes." A short response that brings a smile to the older man's face, he languishes a moment in that connection, lingering his eyes on the younger man's.
"I'll be waiting for you." Andreas says, moving away from the meeting space with a turn and a peculiar depth to his voice. Aubrey takes a moment to stand, looking around as Meerkat starts moving with purpose towards their vehicle, causing the young man to follow.
Both easily climb in, shutting their respective doors. Aubrey watches the vehicle that the vampire entered pull away from the cafe, a thousand thoughts passing through him.
The rumble of the engine starting passes through the SUV, jolting the Mage from his inner thoughts, turning his attention to the passing city.
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Driving through the city, it's a morass of imagery. Still icy cold and snowing, the warm allure of the clubs and other establishments dedicated to joy remains. Neon multichrome provides the primary lighting in this part of Seattle.
The residents seem unbothered by the cold, outfitting themselves in trendy, fashionable outerwear that crosses the spectrum end to end, from vintage to neo-modern and everything in-between. Streets coated with a thin sheet of ice, alleyways piled on with trash and refuse.
It's a few more twists and turns before the leading car, Andreas', stops outside of a warehouse, lit up by a nearby streetlight that sends a cascade of intermittent light in soft orange, from the corners of the door behind him emanates dull light and rhythmic noise.
The vampire exits his own car ahead of them, sliding out of it in one smooth motion, slick like a viper, whilst Meerkat turns the key and kills the engine, working at the door to his side with a free hand. Aubrey moves to open his own door, the act of which blows cold air into the front seats and causes an involuntary shiver in him.
Quickly enough, both sets of feet meet pavement with the objective of Andreas, who stands just off to the side of the front entrance, staying incredibly still, the snow settling on his shoulders. As soon as the distance closes to conversational, he animates, speaking. "Welcome to this most humble abode. One of my Childer, bless their hearts, owns it." Opening the door for the group, he continues whilst walking. "Upon my request, she opened it for us to take shelter and residence."
Whilst the vampire leads, the truth of this place becomes clear, soft electronica pulses out as men and women in protective masks and goggles with aprons work carefully with chemicals and substances of various sorts. Aubrey jolts after a moment, faced with the sudden realization of what sort of place he is in, but only shifting eyes give away building worry.
Meerkat furrows his brow and wrinkles his nose, obviously discomforted by the smell, a clinical thing, almost like a freshly cleaned hospital room. "I wouldn't suggest botherin' the workers up here too much, they are performing quite precise activities, mistakes are occasionally dangerous." Andreas informs, reaching a wooden door near the back of the warehouse, a separated construction that stands alone, a good distance away from the work area.
Opening it, the vampire takes a step away from the door, gesturing for entrance, "Enjoy the place, at most you'll be here a day or two. Take care to prepare yourself however you wish." He announces, revealing the interior of the construction. A pleasant space with two fresh-looking beds and a large-high-quality television, the concrete flooring barely visible as it's mostly covered by beige-coloured carpet. A refrigerator stands in the back, near a table with two wooden chairs nearby it.
Aubrey looks at it, taking his time to familiarize himself with its structure, walking in after the cursory investigation. "A couple days, okay, that's fine." He says, running a hand across the mattress of one of the beds, soft and pliant, higher quality than what he had at the old apartment.
Meerkat follows, seemingly studying the vampire closely in the time it took Aubrey to investigate the room but breaking eye contact after he stopped.
The door is closed behind both of them, leaving the room quiet before Meerkat cuts in, "Seems to me we have more time to kill." A casual sentence that sets the boy at ease, familiarity breeding feelings of safety. "Yeah, what do you wanna do?" Aubrey responds, happy to get his mind off of the danger.
"Let's see what they have." As Meerkat starts inspecting what devices are near the television. The young Mage tries to help, eventually settling down into a session of gaming with the older man.
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It is a calm day, left alone and without interruption from the outside world. More hours spent gaming, at least training reflexes if nothing else.
The session is interrupted once again, just a bit after sundown, by the door opening. The same shifting movement from Meerkat, now recognized as protective by Aubrey. In the doorway, however, is a familiar face. Andreas smiles, showing the very tips of fangs.
"Hello there! It's been a little while!" He says, traipsing into the room with vigour, "I've brought a few friends here, all of them ready to help." The vampire trails off as three more of his kin enter,
The first is another man, tall and bulky, black skin twisting to an unhealthy shade with the deathly pallor present. "Yo, the name's Logan." He states casually in a booming bass that could make anything seem intimidating.
The next is a woman, of average height but a thin build, with shocking short purple hair being the primary distinctive attribute standing out incredibly against her pale skin. "Heya kiddo, Angelique. Here to help!" A higher, almost alarming voice releases a rapid-fire staccato of words.
And finally, a third man walks in, this one distinctly more formally dressed and with a careful step. "Hayden, good evening Mister Gray." He says, a light voice and focused stare seeming to dig into Aubrey with distinct interest.
Andreas starts talking as soon as the last man enters. "A pleasant and warm welcome to everyone who has found the time to attend." He moves into centre stage, taking a commanding presence in the room. "Tonight, we have an opportunity unlike any other. The stagnant aristocracy of this city has shown itself vulnerable." Taking in the eyes of the room as he speaks, gesturing sharply at the final word.
"Vincent Damien." Andreas says with finality, looks of curiosity in the other monsters faces abound, thoroughly caught in the show and artistry present. "For decades he has infested Seattle, being an instrument of oppression on every person, living and unliving, inside it." As he speaks, flourishes and turns to meet eyes with everyone in the room, including Aubrey upon whom he rests his gaze, continuing.
"This here is Aubrey Gray, a mystic whom the aforementioned kindred has, for some reason, seen fit to try and kill." Andreas is interrupted by Hayden who animates into motion, light voice coming out at a quick pace as he looks to Aubrey and Meerkat. "And you want to use the nervous wreck and the animal to kill him back." Whilst the interruption may have made a lesser speaker stumble, Andreas smoothly continues.
"Indeed, as we are forbidden to kill another of our kind, and not one of us wishes for the attention it would bring on them, instead we use a third-party." He raises a single finger, commanding close attention. "However, I will also need to assure the safety of our compatriots, thus, no one will speak of their identities or appearance outside this room, ever."
He lowers his finger, continuing. "In the pursuit of that, I will hold you all to your name and reputation as members of the Revolt, should any of you disrespect that, every soul in the Free States will know."
The vampires stiffen at that last threat, the first one to speak is Logan, a deep rumble cutting through the tension. "Alright, I wasn't gonna narc, means nothing to me. What's the plan?"
"Fantastic of you to ask." Andreas says, the discussion fully expanding into the myriad methods to complete this task.
What is the plan?
[X] A plan by Angelique, get a hold of a travel route that Vincent frequents, hit the car during its vulnerable point. This would require a sudden, powerful attack as the vehicle is likely armoured and the vampire himself is not easy to kill either.
[X] Logan and Andreas suggest the assault be a fair bit more personal, using a recent opening in the staff of his office building. Either Aubrey or Meerkat can go, but it would be tremendously dangerous if something goes sideways. If chosen, also vote. [X] Aubrey is sent or [X] Meerkat is sent.
[X] Hayden's plan, stay at a coffee shop and wait for his call. He refuses to expound further.
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So, it's been a hot minute since I posted, greatest apologies about that, but life came up hard and fast.
This post was a long time coming, and finally, it's out. After this vote is over, a second vote will immediately start, it'll be the mystic preparations that will take place! This will be your first time deeply engaging with the deeper mechanics of Mage.
I'll expound on those mechanics and the specifics of how magick works then!
).
