[june 20th - the independent emerging]

Emelius turned to find the gaunt yet lovely pale image of Maria across the courtyard, slowly but elegantly making her way to him in her long, flowing black dress. And here he felt out of place in a white dress shirt and slacks. Woman had a way of doing that to him, especially within the Kindred. Despite being one himself he always felt a bit of a odd duck. Maybe it was the fashions he never kept up with, maybe all the plotting he never cared for. The thoughts trailed off the closer she came to him, his stoic nature giving him a stare that makes him difficult to read.

"Hello Maria, thank you ever so much for meeting me, and on such short notice. I do hope I wasn't interrupting anything."

He straightens up slightly and moves to sit on the bench beside her, close enough for hushed conversations but far enough to maintain a sense of space.

"Ahh yes. I do apologize, i was simply trying to keep the one safe whilst I had a chance to investigate her peculiarities. Thankfully getting drunk is a monumentally difficult task for us, but we still seem to find our ways."

He paused momentarily, as if making sure his wording was as deliberate as possible.

"I have two questions for you, one I'm sure you have the means to help with, the other is a pure shot in the dark. The first is in regards to a musician I saw in your club the other night. Not the melodramatic one on the screens, the one whom I saw in New York a few days before. David I believe his name was. Mostly wanted to know if you could introduce me to him, I need to find some fresh talent pools to build myself a new band, and I liked his style. Seeing how he had such an immediate welcome in your club, I figured you knew of him quite well."

His ever stoic face watched her for any signs of emotion or surprise, hoping to catch the telling micro-emotions that are so difficult to reign in.

Emelius suddenly noticed the cat made of pure darkness. Either this was a magical cat, considering the last few weeks it is certainly possible, or this is a manifestation of obtenebration. It was always so bizarre to see such perfect black, your eyes invent details that aren't there because they expect something. Anything. Always make the shadows unnerving.

"The second is a bit more... delicate. I'm looking for a Kindred by the name Alexander Black"

His eyes keep shifting between the abyssal darkness of the catlike form in her lap and her, careful not to stare too long.

The shadow folding into a new form was hardly a new trick, but it is still no less unnerving. Reminded him of a former pack mate... thankfully that was done.

"Well, for the introduction I would be willing to perform a show or two for free. Allow you to collect whatever proceeds you wish. If you need proof of capability, I have a few songs for you to preview from my previous band, Bane."

He slowly pulls out a flash drive from his pocket and holds it for her to take.

"Even if that isn't acceptable, maybe you'll enjoy the songs, or the glowing embers of the flash drive on fire. As for the Kindred, it very largely depends on the information you have."

He looked a slight bit surprised at the misunderstanding. "I'm not looking to break up his current band, simply if he knows trustworthy members with enough skill for my style. And yes, I was there for part of it. Interesting is a way to describe the result from that aftermath."

In thinking of Alexander, he turns almost stone cold in recollection. No emotion, not hate, no love or joy. Just a pure recollection of fact. "Skin that looked of white marble, blonde haired, powerful build. At the time long with a ponytail. Was near what is now Argyle, Scotland about 300 years ago. An unusual Brujah."

He looked at her unflinchingly, his clan's curse keeping his anger in cold check. The more emotional he is, the more cold and distant he becomes, to a point he seems to function on pure logic. "While that is an interesting hypothesis, I must politely say that my business with him is my own. I'm simply finding it rather vexing to track him down."

He demeanor shifts subtly, a light inflection of joy comes back to his voice. "That said, I'm currently in New York setting up some property, and to possibly deal with a Tremere nuisance. You know how it goes, they kill mine, I kill several of theirs and suddenly they want to see me out of the city as if they own the Five Burroughs. Camarilla hasn't held for longer than a few months at any given time in that city."

Emelius was taken a back by the potential information. He had originally gone to Italy to look for him based on rumors of his passing through. No one knew that, and he never kept that as a surface thought... she's either thinking of someone else, or she is spot on.

"Sword? You mean like a Justicar of sorts?"

Sword was a new title in this context, but was the first possible bit of information he has had on his Sire in nearly 200 years. It was worth at least the effort to prove it false if nothing else.

The information just took even more of a twist. He had only ever heard the term once. Could it be that his sire was in the Sabbat? Especially a position that high in?

"If this information is indeed pointing the same Kindred, how could I go about verifying, and what cost would I be occurring. I expect none of this to be free, and I know better to think you are doing this purely for your own enjoyment."

He looked to Maria, still wondering if this could be his Sire. It would be rather odd to come all this way and suddenly hit jackpot, he knew the odds, and they weren't in his favor. But it was still worth a shot.

"I could offer money, but you have plenty of that. What I can offer is two fold: safe passage in my New York haven for you and your immediate pack, and selective service. And by selective service, I mean I will not do anything I deem against my moral code, nor against someone I am protecting. It leaves you plenty of wiggle room, and I know how wiggle room can excite many a shadow walker such as yourself."

Emelius nodded his head in appreciation for the acceptance. If the information turned out false, then then the arrangement provided... options. At least he had 5 floors that he could potentially host them on, since the main floor was reserved and he had promised one to Morgana.

"I would be most gracious. Since I have been asking most of the questions this evening, is there anything you would like to ask before we part ways for now?"

He looked almost intrigued. "An observation, hmmm? Well, I will say that I'm much rarer than those I'm commonly seen as."

He knew saying outright his lineage could cause issues, but she asked so blatantly, meaning either someone did research, or someone read him. The man in white would be too obvious... Perhaps she had some eyes in the wings watching over her shoulder.

Emelius stands up, gently taking her hand. "That sounds wonderful, I will certainly be seeing you soon". He leans over to kiss her hand, giving her one last nod of appreciation, and then took his leave back to New York.