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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2017 7:51:12 GMT
Mary hadn't liked the way Erskine had looked when he had come upstairs to wish David and Aisha a farewell. He'd been ... unkempt. Not at all like himself. She wondered if everything was ok between him and a Thulile. She hadn't seen the young witch in quite a while. She hadn't seen her brother for nearly a week, either, so she took matters into her own hands.
She opened the door to the basement stairs, and headed down, closing the door behind her, feeling her way through the darkness. Sometimes she wondered if it was God's joke to give her such skills with shadow and darkness, but not the ability to see within them. At the door below, she paused and knocked. Once. Once again. Then twice. Her knock. He'd know who it was.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2017 8:11:14 GMT
Erskine was lost in reading, he had delved heavily into reading any arcane or occult book he could find. He was reading one such book when he heard the knock on his door. He stood from his chair and laced a bookmark in the place he was reading and set the book down.
Unlocking the doors numerous locks he was greeted by his Sister.
'Sister, please come in. How are you keeping my dear Maria?' he turns to move to his fridge, he retrieves a black glass bottle from it and two matchnig wine glasses from another cupboard. Thick crimson vitae pours from the bottle as he fills the two glasses. Handing one to Maria he motions for her to have a seat.
'Forgive me dear sister for my absence! I have been distracted. My recent.....' being this close to him for the first time in weeks Maria couldn't miss that the humanity that had been there a few weeks ago, now was gone. He was alien and almost emotionless again. '.... set back with my emotions has taken a toll on me. I had to reset my mind!'
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2017 8:17:33 GMT
Maria enters, offering Erskine an embrace before moving to sit.
"I am well. The house has been so quiet since David and Aisha left. Even Exo is keeping to himself. But it is you I have been worried about." She takes the glass with a nod of thanks. Despite her own recent lack of humanity, her own emotions seem to flow more easily.
"I've noticed, dear brother. What happened? Was it the witch?" Let me kill her for you, she thinks, but doesn't say it out loud, but her expression becomes hard.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 7:35:14 GMT
Listeing carefully Erskine nods to his Sister. 'Yes I believe she saw to much of my true nature. She was not as ready as she thought.' he looks towards the heavy wooden shutters that stand open now revealing the fruits of his self imprisonment.
Erskine notices the hardness spread across Maria's features, shaking his head a small smile flits across his thin lips, 'While I appreciate the over dearest Maria, I do not require Miss Masters to be harmed.'
Lifting his glass to his lips he takes a small sip, 'I believe I need to reavaluate my thoughts on things, focus on what is important.' his thin finger raises to run down the faint line on his chin, Maria would notice that it is not as obvious as it had been when she saw him last.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 7:41:27 GMT
Maria listens. And her heart aches for her brother. He had found love, and opened his heart, only to be hurt.
"I am ... sorry, Erskine,. So very sorry that, when she was here, I denied your love for her. I was so wrong. We can feel, and do, and I feel for you now, and the pain it must have caused to lose her love and trust." Her demeanour is still icy cold, but her sentiment is earnest.
"Is there something I can do ... we, can do .. please let us know. We are pack, and need to care for each other first."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 8:31:19 GMT
Two of his hands reach out and rest ontop of Maria's arm with a smile. 'I believe I will survive dearest Maria, after all I have survived worse.'He stands and walks behind his wooden divide, coming back carrying a metal tray with someting covered by a muzzlin cloth. He sets it down within reach on the table. Motioning with his right hands he speaks, 'I crafted this with the left overs and remains of the Butcher, I thought perhaps Exo would enjoy it for his chamber?'
He pulls the cloth revealing his sculpture.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 9:12:01 GMT
Maria looks at it. The form was fluid and detailed, and very ... Erskine.
"May I touch it?" She asks. She reaches out, laying gentle fingers on the sculpture. It was cold, and smooth, and hard. "Bone?" She asks. "It's beautiful, I'm sure Exo will love it. Did he suffer? The Butcher? For what he did to your art?"
Maria hoped he had suffered.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 10:47:34 GMT
Erskine had spent the time locked his chamber well, inflicting all manners of torture and experiments on the Butcher Tzimisce. He smiled at the memory and he hadn't even finished yet.
'Yes! Long has the Butcher Tzimisce suffered and I have not even finished with hm yet. I plan to make something special with him. For us all to enjoy.'
He takes another drink from his glass and tops it up doing the same for Maria if she wanted more, 'In regards to the sculpture, thank you for your kind words. It is good to see your fine taste has remained the same.'
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 10:54:19 GMT
She smiles, accepting the top-up. She sips again, savouring the taste, Erskine always had the finest vintages.
"I am glad he is paying the price for his folly. To have turned his back on the Sword is one thing, but to destroy your work is another." She grins at the thought of what is to become of him once a Erskine is done. "I shall look forward to that, then." She puts her hand on his briefly. "Your work is always top quality, brother. "
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 22:13:45 GMT
He nods and smiles at her. 'Thank you!' he sips once again at is drink,his eyes flicker between Maria and the creations beyond his heavy divide.
'I have not really had the chance to ask you about your recent trip to see your sire.'
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 22:36:56 GMT
"It was ... eventful. My goals were accomplished, and some I never had came to fruition. My transition to my Path went smoothly, once I accepted a truth I had been keeping myself from."
She pauses, sipping her drink.
"I had been wrong, brother. We can feel." Her tone is level and even, no excitement of passion, just careful acceptance. "Diego proved that to me. He showed me the depth of my own feelings. What I feel for Exo is far more than the result of centuries of Vaulderie. And the mortal wizard ... he is more to me than a project for study. Even you, brother, hold a place in my heart. I do not deny these truths now, they are part of who I am. Emotions are real, and they are to be used for control. Already with my wizard, the transformation has been immediate." She smiles.
"Also, I have something to put to you and Exo. An offer that was made to Last Rites by someone I met in Greece. It is perhaps not for us, but I will share it nonetheless."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 22:47:52 GMT
He raises an eyebrow, curious to what Maria hinted at. 'Sister! Tell me what you wish to ask, don't make me wait for Exo to rear his head.'
He shifts in his seat and two hands take hers, 'My curiosity has got the better of me!'
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 22:55:50 GMT
She smiles at his eagerness. It is good to see that curiosityand enthusiasm return.
"If I wouldn't tell Exo when he asked, because I wanted to tell you both, if I told you, that would be unfair!" She laughs. "You will just have to wait, my brother. Exo will come out of his funk soon."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 23:05:23 GMT
Exo was in....deep thought. There was a lot going on in his head. But he needed to see his pack. He was better when he was with his pack. Reaching out...he felt for Maria...and found her. Down in the basement. Erskine's place.
Coming down the stairs in his jeans and a bandanna covering his forehead, he knocked on Erskine's lab door and waited.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 23:12:57 GMT
A knock at the door, it could be no one else but their brother.
Erskine moved to the door and opened it. He smiled at the sight of his brother.
'Exo! It is good to see you, how are you keeping?'
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 23:17:44 GMT
Maria smiled at the knock, and at the sight of Exo
"Fortuitous timing, my Fury. We were just discussing something you should be a part of." As Exo comes in, she reaches out an arm to encircle his waist, pulling him close.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 23:27:25 GMT
Exo puts an arm around her and pulled her close for a deep kiss. With a smile, he breaks the kiss and looks into her eyes. "I know I've been...quiet. I apologize my love." He looks over at Erskine. "And you my brother. I owe an apology for being...gone. Just...had to think for a bit." He looks at each of them. "So...what did I walk into?"
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 23:34:45 GMT
Erskine nods, 'You are here now brother, that is all that matters.'he looks at Maria and smiles a thin razor slit smile.
'Yes! Dearest Maria tell us!'
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 23:43:54 GMT
Maria happily returned Exo's kiss.
"I had mentioned to you, Exo, when I returned from Greece, that I had an offer to put to the pack, I mentioned it just now to Erskine, and your arrival means I can actually now tell you both what it is." She smiles.
"You both remember Emelius Rodenco? The Brujah from the Underground? He asked a favour of me, for information on a kindred. It was my reason for contacting Diego initially. Well, I met him while there. He is Csinite, quite old, and it seems he is Emelius' sire. His name is Alexander Black, he is a Sage, and one of the Black Hand."
She pauses, hugging Exo, and smiling.
"It seems the exploits of Last Rites have been spoken about in certain circles. He has extended an offer to us, as a pack, to join the Black Hand."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2017 0:00:07 GMT
Exo blinks and looks at her. "Wait...what? They want us to join the Hand? That..." Exo blinks. "Why do I feel like there is a catch? Something that we are missing or not being told?" He looks to Maria. "Can you tell us more?"
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2017 0:15:11 GMT
Erskine nods at Exo's words. But waits and listens. He attempts to remember this Emelius Rodenco, did he meet him?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2017 0:23:43 GMT
"There isn't much more to tell as yet. When he asked, I was as stunned as you. I told him I would need to speak with you, and he hinted that there was something more, but only that, a hint. And I'm not sure if we'd find what he was hinting at without accepting his offer."
She looked at them both.
"But, this isn't something we want. Is it?" Her question hung. It was an honour to be asked, but the responsibility it brought was enormous.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2017 4:19:17 GMT
Exo rubbed his eyes. "I don't know. We've never spoken about being part of the Hand. Then again, its probably because we've been independent this whole time. Our pack is nomadic, not beholden to any one city. We've been doing our own thing for centuries." He looks at each of them. "Am I wrong?"
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2017 7:51:16 GMT
Erskine watched quietly as Exo spoke. Shaking his head it was his turn to speak. 'You are right brother, do we really want to end our freedom now? The change could provide untold opportunities but at what cost? Our personal freedom?' he gets another wine glass from the cupboard and picking up the bottle hands Exo the glass and tops it up. 'Please my brother sit!' he motions to another seat next to the one Maria sat in.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2017 7:56:37 GMT
Mary nods to them both.
"We have enjoyed our freedom, and still do. Honestly, I did not expect us to accept this ... honour ... but I would have been remiss to not present it for consideration. Also, to reject it immediately might have given a bad impression to the one offering. As we stand now, he is an ally we can call on in need."
She looked at Erskine. "One other thing, brother. With my promotion, I feel it is time that a task I have carried was passed on, and you are the prime candidate. It has been too long, and you deserve this opportunity. Will you accept the duty of Priest for Last Rites? I will teach you the Ritae you do not already know."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2017 10:07:36 GMT
Erskine was some what surprised, though it could never be proven when Maria offered him the title of Priest. He nodded his head to both his pack mates.
'I would be honoured and I will as always be ready to learn all you both have to teach.'
He looks at Exo and motions with his three right arms towards the bone sculpture centre table, 'A gift dear brother, for your troubles, from the Butcher Tzimisce and I.' his black alien eyes almost twinkle when he gifts this to Exo and a small smile splits his straight lips.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2017 10:08:51 GMT
"Very good. We can begin now with a Vaulderie. I will perform, you will watch and learn. Next time, you can perform the rite. If you wish, of course?" She smiled at Erskine. He would make an excellent Priest. Those of his blood excelled in the roll, she should have insisted decades ago.
She turned to Exo, watching to see his reaction st Erskine's gift.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2017 13:50:39 GMT
Assume that Maria performed a Vaulderie for her pack, showing Erskine the rite in the process. If needed, we can finish when we're all available. Locking thread.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2017 14:05:02 GMT
(OOC: I unlocked it. No one told me it was my post and yesterday I was kinda busy. I just need a poke guys and I will come post.)
Exo accepts the wine with a smile. "Thank you brother." He nods in agreement with them about keeping their freedom and keeping the man as an ally. Smiling, he watches as Erskine accepts becoming priest for the Last Rites pack. If only the other could be here to see this...
Exo blinks at Erskine. "A gift?" Exo turns to the table as he sets his wine aside and goes to see what his dear brother had gotten him.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2017 15:00:08 GMT
(Scroll up to see the pic. JJ)
Erskine moved to pull the linen cloth covering his sculpture. He watched Exo's face for even the slightest show of emotion.
'Crafted from the bones of the Butcher Tzimisce for all your troubles.'
He waited to see if Exo had anything to say.
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