The Ashes of Innocence

[Caiaphas Redfern]

With the patience of the rather old, the Ventrue Primogen waited in a room of the abandoned school's west wing, having arrived an hour before the appointed time. It was room made unusual by the presence of the playthings scattered about. To find toys in a school, of all places, was a source of wonder to him; how the world had changed since he had been young.

Statue still, he stood with his back pushed into a corner, senses preternaturally sharpened, gaze on the doorway now that he had assured himself that he was, for now, alone. It wasn't that he had any particular reason to mistrust the Harpy, but he did bear a typical vampiric aversion to being approached unseen.

[Viktor]

About half an hour before the appointed hour a faint skittering fills the silence for a short while as a rat walks its way into the room, sniffs about for a short while before noticing the Kindred in the corner and quickly skitters away again, the presence of a greater predator driving it away.

Five minutes before the appointed hour a shadow suddenly looms in the corridor, then a footfall and the robed figure of Viktor steps into view in the doorway. He pauses for a moment,nods slightly toward Caiaphas respectfully says "Good Eve Primogen." before stepping into the room. He makes his way around the broken wreckage and through the ruins of the room to find a place to stand.

"It is hoped this eve finds you well."

[Caiaphas Redfern]

"It does, Master Harpy." Caiaphas responded with a nod in kind. "It's hoped you're also well. I thank you for coming."

He paused to throw some piercing glances about the desolate room and continued, "As my epistle mentioned, I wish to purchase intelligence. It is, however, a matter of utmost delicacy and first I would require your good soul's solemn promise that my interest in this would not be divulged to any other, nor my trust otherwise betrayed."

The ventrue smiled apologetically. "I would in other circumstances never ask and take these things as given, but...such is the peril of the situation that I must this once break courtesy to ask for this guarantee.

"Yet if you are not at peace with this, my dear sir, then that is all well and I hope that we shall part ways as friends and you furthermore enriched by a trivial boon for the trouble of having come to meet me tonight", he finished, awaiting the nosferatu's response with an expression of studied neutrality.

[Viktor]

Viktor nods slightly.

"It is pleasing to note Primogen that such is not taken for granted. Others of the Line of Kings within Aquae Sulis have been less...thoughtful...in their arrangements.

Secrecy and silence are a commodity, like intelligence, that may be purchased. The cost of such will be related to the service or intelligence requested.

Considering the clandestine nature of such a request It is also not known if such intelligence is able or willing to be provided."

A slight pause.

"It is not my wish Primogen to be obstructive or obtuse. I merely wish to ensure an openness and awareness of all options and situation present."

[Caiaphas Redfern]

Caiaphas tilted his head very slightly. "Mmm. I see. In terms of secrecy...In order to make my request for information one you can fulfil I shall, as you say, need to tell you what information I want.

"Yet by telling you what I want, I make myself vulnerable. I seek a guarantee, a promise, that you will not let anyone else know that I want it, regardless of whether or not end up doing business tonight. After all, you'd not have known had I not told you, ahaha." The laugh was an oddly dry and mechanical sound.

"And though I am willing to be quite generous and just in payment for the information I want, my lord Harpy, I simply cannot be about paying ancillary costs. I hope you will forgive me - I come from a different tradition of intelligence, and am rather comfortable in my simple ways." he added gently. "Again, if we are to be at an impasse on this, I do apologise and ask you kindly to accept a trivial boon for the pleasure of your good company tonight."

[Viktor]

And there it was.

It wasn't the first time since the Consul Maximus had taken the throne that it had been experienced. That alas, did not make any the less irksome. Promises were worth less than the air used to create them between Kindred, that such was requested said much and confirmed more. Silence and secrecy were often more valuable than the actual the task itself.

The Nosferatu Elder tilted his head to one side, the bones of his spine popping and cracking audibly as he righted it again,with the Ventrue's enhanced senses he could see there was a definite but minuscule narrowing of his conversation partners eyes.

"A Minor boon for my silence upon the matter if it is in relation to an Officer or member of a Court of the Ivory Tower. A Major Boon if it is in relation to a Prince of the Ivory Tower. In each case this shall be required whether thy request is rejected or accepted.

A price for what is wished shall be agreed upon as a separate cost."

[Caiaphas Redfern]

Caiaphas was silent for a moment as he contemplated the protestations of the other vampire's bones. This one was an remarkably handsome specimen of his kind outwardly, but was the poor thing ruined within? Did it suffer, however stoically? He tried to remember what it was to feel pain of the flesh, or even discomfort. Blessed be the blood of Veddhatra!

Then it struck him that Viktor had reverted to the archaic second person singular, and the kindred born a Quaker was filled with a warm nostalgia.

"I see that I have much to learn of the way thou dost business, but I'm now at least another increment enlightened. As for the information itself, depending on the quality and usefulness of the kenning, I'd offer thee a major or minor boon in due measure. Wouldst consider that appropriate?"

[Viktor]

A slight nod.

"Indeed Primogen."

Viktor falls silent and waits for the Ventrue to continue.

[Caiaphas Redfern]

The Primogen did not answer immediately, regarding the Harpy with a thoughtful, penetrating mien that a younger vampire might have found unnerving.

The silence was shortly broken by the whirring of tiny wings as a small iridescent green beetle - a creature that would have looked magnificent in the full sunlight that neither kindred could endure - whirred across the and landed on Caiaphas cravat. He broke his stillness to scoop her into his fingers, murmuring "Hullo Chrysolina. This isn't your home; you'll starve here."

Stepping to the shattered window, he blew her gently into the faintly lamplit and balmy night.

"I do beg thy pardon.", he said, turning his attention back to Viktor. "Yes...yes, well that hath given me a great deal of which to think. I thank thee for the understanding and shall approach thee forthwith if and when I have use for thy aid.

"Hast any other matters that wishst to discuss with me, honoured Harpy? As we find ourselves in one place together already, it'd seem meet to be efficient."

[Viktor]

Viktor nods slightly.

“If there is aught thou wouldst speak of Prestation, Boon or Status now wouldst be most prudent a time to do such. If there is aught thou dost wish to know before Court does gather for my presence will not be available.”