Presence
Striking Looks
Konstantin waits in a wooded portion of the William Pond Recreational Area, along the American River. Until recently he'd been havening it here, and he knew that there was almost never any after-hours traffic here. He and Twist had arranged to meet here, and he hoped he'd given good enough directions for her to find the place. He is dressed in sturdy hiking boots, jeans, a black t-shirt and a black leather motorcycle jacket. He sits at a picnic table, sharpening his Bowie knife with a whetstone, while awaiting Twist's arrival.
Twist found the park without too much trouble, but actually finding Konstantin was another matter. She was a city girl and it took her a bit longer than she thought following his directions to eventually come across the picnic table.
"I wonder what she will wear this time," Konstantin thinks, but he immediately tries to shake that thought away. They were meeting for purposes other than him admiring her beauty, and he owed her a favor. Nonetheless, when he hears her approach, he looks up to watch.
She is dressed in skinny leg jeans tucked into heeled boots. Her shirt appears black in the dark of the night but when she passes through a patch of light it is revealed to be a deep blue. It looks like a standard tee shirt except that it is fitted to hug her body and the sleeves have a slightly belled shape. A necklace of large strung beads with matching earrings hangs where appropriate. Her hair hangs loose but as she approaches Konstantin he sees her move to pull it out of her face and tie it up.
Konstantin almost asks her to leave her hair as is, but stops himself, knowing he has no business suggesting how she wear her hair. Instead, he merely says "Welcome. I hope you are having good evening, Twist." After a moment, he asks, "Or should I call you Lady Twist, or Hound Twist, though no others are around? These titles, I get confused."
"Just Twist is fine right now, Konstantin- while I am quite proud of my titles, I agree they are burdonsome in general talk. I know you know who I am," she replies with a grin. "I am having a pleasant evening myself. And you? How goes your night?"
"Night goes well. I like this place. Quiet, in nature." He looks around "This city, is being good to me, but I have spent much time on road, among nature. This made me strong. I do not want to lose that."
Twist glances around, taking time to actually pay attention to where they were. "It is indeed very nice," Smiling, she turns back to him. "Neither do I."
"I have thought, to remind me of wild, perhaps learn to bond to the animals, have pet. Unfortunate that bears stand out so in city, but dogs are good."
Twist stiffles a smile at the thought of a pet bear. "Yes- I think a dog would be a better choice. Much less risk of a Breach. Maybe one of those larger dogs- the really big furry ones. They are not quite a bear, but not bad.
"Mastiff. Or wolfhound. Good animals, yes." Smiling and shaking his head, he says "But we should talk of you, not of me. You said you wish to hide your nature. Do you mean to not be seen, or to hide the beast? Or to make your blood appear as strong as the strongest around you? Or to be something else entirely?"
Twist nods in agreement with his listing of dogs, but it is clear she has no clue about dog breeds. A faintly relieved look flashes across her face when he moves on to the actual reason for meeting."The beast. It is not very good for the Hound to run away in terror from another Beast when she is supposed to be the one that they are afraid of. You can help me fix this problem?
"I can teach you to make your beast appear as strong as that of any you meet. It does not prevent you from reacting to theirs, but it makes sure none will mistake you as weak, no matter how strong their blood. To hide the Beast entirely, this I do not know, but you seem more type to stand proud and strong and let them fear your power."
A delighted smile crosses Twist's face as he explained what he could teach. "Oh, that would be perfect! I may need to find a way to hide my beast in the future, but I like what you say."And she did, he could nearly see her glow at his description of her 'type' "Sometimes it would be good to not be so easily revealed. But for now- your way to make my beast of...mirroring strength, is that what you mean?... it sounds exactly like what I want."
Konstantin nods. "Yes, mirroring strength. That is it, and I can teach you this. I should be able to teach it to you this night."
"Truly?" Amazement colors her voice, and she leans in close, eagerness radiating from her.
"Yes. For you to learn this, though, you will have to let your Beast out for a bit. So, good we are away from others, so they will not be hurt, and no breach."
Twist nods, accepting his words. It made sense. It worries her - it would be a bad day when releasing her beast did not worry her, though. "Agreed."
"As your Beast emerges, I will restrain you. When it first emerges, your Beast may fear, because my blood is stronger than yours. But if I restrain you, then your Beast will become angry, and this is good. It will feel stronger when angry, and you will be able to use that to make it appear stronger all the time. You will want to fight me. This is good. Do it. If you hurt me a bit, I will heal. This is necessary risk, to bring your Beast out full. But to be safe, we will put your knives away."He looks at her jewelry and says "You may want to take off your pretty things as well, so they do not get broken or lost."
As he explaines further, a concerned look draws across her face."Are you sure you wish to teach me this Konstantin? I do not want to hurt you." Unspoken is the rest of the sentence,"or kill you."
"Yes, I do," Konstantin says. It is good for you to have. It will help you do your job, and protect you from those who might be stupid and want to fight for no reason. Do not worry. I do not think you weak, but I have been hurt many, many times, and am still here." He points to the scars on his face. "I have fought werewolf, more than once, and am still here. I fought Nazis, many of them, with guns and fire. I am still here. I stepped on a mine, legs blown off. I was in torpor for a time, but am still here." He smiles. ."We Gangrel, we are hard to kill... too stubborn to die."
While she didn't look terribly mollified at his reassurance, Twist nonetheless begins to strip herself of her concealed weaponry. As he lists his experiences, a small smile chases away some of her concerned look. "Werewolf huh? I didn't know such a creature existed. I suppose that since you have survived one supernatural creature, I can trust you will survive another." It was clear from the way she hesitates at pulling a knife free of her boot that it was her last knife. She then quickly divests herself of her jewelry as well. Laughing at his last comment she straightens to look at him, the question clear in her eyes as to where she should place her items.
Konstantin takes her weapons and jewelry and says "Will be right back." [COLOR=white] He goes to a tall tree, climbs it as easily as some might climb a ladder, and comes back down a few moment later. "The beast is clever. Best it not know quite where to look. Big tree, would give you time to regain control should you escape me."
Twist half-smiles at Konstantin's words, both relieved that he is thinking ahead and concerned that he has to prepare for her to loose control so completely. "Okay- so...shall I just let go?" He can hear the hesitation in her voice.
Konstantin studies Twist's face. "It is good to be afraid of the Beast, to respect its power. But it is better to show it you are in control. I will help you learn that as well. Do you know how to ... how they say here, Ride the Wave?"
Twist swallows and mentally berates herself for letting show how nervous she is to let go. *Konstantin can handle himself. I don't have my knives. There is no one else here. You are learning something to make you better.* Taking a moment, she takes a breath and focuses back on Konstantin, looking more calm"I don't know the phrase, no."
"It is to let the Beast out in controlled way, rather than it burst out on own. This allows you to put it back in its cage when you wish." He points to an open area, a clearing with many large rocks. "Let us go over there."
She nods. "I like how that sounds." She glances to where he points and follows him to the clearing.
Konstantin stands about three feet away from her. "Try to forget that you know me, and are used to my stronger Beast. Pull your mind back, let the Beast step forward and react to me. I will guide you."
Twist nods and braces herself lightly against the ground, closes her eyes and lets herself feel Konstantin's Beast, and her own's Beast's reaction to him. She finds it hard to not automatically clamp down against the surge of the beast.
Konstantin talks to her almost as a coach might. "You are strong. Don't be afraid. Use your will to coax it out! Show it you are boss!" Twist hears Konstantin's encouragment and tries to draw strength from his voice. Finally, after long moments, Konstantin can see the bit of gleam in Twist's eye. "Good. Let it come." Having activated Vigor at the start of this, he was ready, and before her Beast could break free, he has her in a strong grasp. He knows it isn't going to be over that quickly, though.
Twist had tried so hard to get her beast to come out nice and slow. Hell, she was giving it a chance to come out and play, so you would think it would play nice. But nope, with an internal roar only she could hear, it charges, and in a second it is out and in control, and urging her to flee.
"Don't run away, small Beast. Show you can fight!" Konstantin shouts.
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