Herald's Office Hours (9) The Herald and a Deputy meet Mr John Smith

**Martha Villiers** · Oct 15th, 2012 12:46 AM

Martha giggles bashfully, "Talent? I say! What a splendid and flattering word! Thank you, sir....well...I did play at many a venue on my way across the United States!" she giggles once more...a very modest giggle indeed. "Hotel lobbies...roadside bars and diners...ah! So many places...large and small. Quite simply, anywhere there was a piano and people to listen. The crowds, I learned, preferred lighter entertainment of more popular melodies than Chopin or Bach." a cheery smile, "It was an important lesson to learn! So very different from offering a recital at university or for friends. So...I had to teach myself a larger repertoire of tunes and songs and expand my skills to cover jazz and blues, rock and the so-called 'cocktail lounge' techniques. Thankfully, I had experience of ragtime...so at least a few of the tricks came easier than others!" another happy giggle as she leans close, as if sharing this information in confidence.

She then sips meekly at her lemonade before adding, "It truly was a journey of experience!" her smile suggests she enjoyed her learning though.

Oct 15th, 2012 06:41 AM

John listened closely to the Heralds words. It seems she had come from a long trail just like himself. As he listened to her speak of bars and lounges John grew ever more curious as to what brought her to Sacramento. "A journey of experience indeed, that is quiet the tale Madam Herald. But yet after all that you find yourself in this domain? Surely you must have felt that you could carve a place in the arts. I'm sure if you had there would be another equally delightful kindred sitting on that bench practicing your songs Madam Herald" It was always interesting to hear the past times of his brothers and sisters. And a reminder to John that not all have had the bloody history that he is so proud of.

**Martha Villiers** · Oct 15th, 2012 09:33 AM

Hearing John speak, Martha leaned back and watched him over the rims of her spectacles. It is a relaxed and friendly action though...far from one of scrutiny. More a reflective posture. Tiny Martha emphasizes her reflective mode by gently tapping a finger to her lips in a gesture of pondering.

"Hmm...again, you perhaps elevate my artistic abilities, sir!" she giggles merrily, "I confess to some artistic aspirations...but I wrote, at Fathers urging, some hymns when I was a child and added some music to a comic verse or two for some friends at University. Yet I lack the creative Soul of an artist...I might be able to read and recall music easily enough...I may even be able to add some color to a melody in a recital or even vamp a jazz riff or two." and here she dances her delicate fingers in the air, playfully miming her actions across a keyboard, "But the act of genuine creation...of writing a popular song or crafting a fugue or nocturne...Ah...That is something, perhaps you will agree, sir, which is altogether very different." resting her hands in her lap now, Martha smiles again. Her tone is merry and seems to be a query as well. As if asking John if he actually is in agreement with her.

Oct 15th, 2012 10:18 AM

John nodded in agreement with her statement, it was very rarely that John was reminded of his... their condition. Most of his nights John stood as still as a corpse, not having a care to imitate those sheep he slays with ease. He knew all to well that the echos of humor and fear and hate, were just that, echos. "Very true Madam Herald. I do apologize, for not taking that into consideration. You must understand, that for myself to grow in my profession I only need to be more hateful and crueler. My battles are won by the crumbling of my enemy, not the raising of a culture" John sipped ever so slightly at his drink yet again. "My accomplishments are with the help of my beast, not despite it" John leaned back in his chair, images of past deeds flicker behind his eyes. He gains a sick smirk, feeling his fangs extend ever so slightly.

**Martha Villiers** · Oct 15th, 2012 10:35 AM

Martha takes the time to listen carefully. Wide eyes watching as she sips her drink to match John. "No need to apologize, sir. I wonder though...the choice of words: cruel...crumble...hate...destroy. Are these figurative? Metaphor? Or...might I ask, please, what accomplishments you achieved and the manner of your profession? A soldier, perhaps?" she watches John carefully. Attentive now for any signs of the type of soldier, sailor or airman he might have once being. A military bearing; insignia of a unit on cufflinks or tie; the erect posture of a Guardsman or the easy confidence of an officer...the stillness of the EOD?

Oct 15th, 2012 02:43 PM

John listed to the Herald as she began to become curious about his work. It was absolutely fine as Mr. Smith was proud of his record, many people had to die for him to be where he was. And he was always welcoming of free advertising. "No, not necessarily as blunt a force as a soldier..." John took a moment to search for a proper title. Recently he had become fond of 'Agent' however since it was so neutral the story of his experience often came directly afterwards so he simply skipped to it. "I was embraced in my home country, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic, during the height of the Cold War. As a mortal I was a proud and vocal communist, and it appears my Sire witnessed my ferocity for the movement and without asking embraced me so I could better serve the state. For some time, I served with a shadow company within the Red Army. We were sent to eliminate political threats within our brother nations from opposition parties. For almost five years I 'removed' political dissidents from the Ukraine and Lithuania. After I had proven myself, I was sent to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea to assist our brothers' war efforts against the west" John leaned to his right, as he tried to think clearly about those early days.

"For some time we conducted operations behind enemy lines to disrupt production of war supplies. Factory sabotage was common, along with missions to obtain logistical information. We ran successful operations all throughout the war and even after the armistice. We left only when we were needed else where to continue the fight in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. All the way from Hue to Saigon, we were there in the shadows. Assassinating high ranked officers, destroying supply lines, constantly misinforming the enemy. Whatever the job we carried it out with ruthless efficiency. And though I never carried a rifle or charge a machine gun, every mission we went on led to our brothers wiping the enemy aside" John focused on fresher memories as his story continued.

"After the final occupation and the elimination of all resistance in the south. I went back to my home country and continued to fight with my Carthian brothers for our cause. However as the recent decade approached, it was clear that the fighting was over. And after a lifetime of standing up for my people, I became disillusioned as the cause fell apart around me" John tilted his glass back and forth as he talked. "I left in disgust at my fellow kindred as they fought amongst each other for the pieces of our shattered country... But these days I guess you could refer to me as, a Businessman with special skills. I gather, distort, or erase information for my employers to eliminate the opposition to their cause" John smiled and leaned back again, it was a fairly long story however he never got tired of telling it.

**Martha Villiers** · Oct 16th, 2012 12:00 AM

The sudden and obvious pride he showed in his State sanctioned murder, assassination and sabotage took her, perhaps not by surprise, so much as the candour with which he declared his national allegiances and operations. Blinking with wide eyed attention as his biography of political mayhem unfolded.

An avowed Communist spy, propagandist and saboteur? What words of his can I now believe and trust?

As his biography unfolded, she decided it wise to watch John over the rims of her spectacles. Attuning her Auspex to his Aura...all the better to watch for signs of violent intent of imminent assassination...and any lying or deception.

Clearly watchful of John, she is now wisely careful in her study of him. Though her friendly smile remains, she would be foolish to lower her guard. She assembled his chronology and tried to date him from his operational roles and avowed Embrace at the height of the Cold War.

"I see...I see, sir. A most amazing story indeed! I have heard and seen many things in my time, sir...but rarely have I heard of such a record of...well...activity!" she offers a smile. Whatever anyone may say about such deeds and the cause in which they were deployed, he certainly was brave.

"In all these actions, might I ask, for which agency did you operate...and which type of clandestine activity and operation was your personal speciality? You say you never carried a rifle...so, what, might I ask, was your chief personal weapon of choice? Is it this information yo speak of? If so, what manner of information? PsyOps, perhaps? Do you hold a rank by which you prefer to be addressed?"

Tiny Martha sat and rubbed briefly at her false knee as she cheerfully asked the questions. Her eyes never leaving John.

Oct 16th, 2012 01:11 AM

John sensed a slight shift in the Herald's words. But it did not trouble him, when she needed a man to get the job done, John wanted to be the one she went to. What better way than to project the image of raw power to attract those who seek power. "I thank you Madam Herald, I am very proud of my record" John listened to her questions intensely as if he were being interviewed. "I never worked for an agency Madam Herald. We would be approached with individual contracts from multiple organizations. The majority of funding came directly from the Kremlin" Before his next answer he sipped at his drink once more. He had gone through this conversation a million times if not more and was far past being nervous in such talks, the words that followed flowed like a script from a brilliant actor. "I myself was quiet skilled at infiltration and intelligence operations. I could walk into a fort like I owed the place, smiling and being saluted by everyone that I passed. Then I would gather what I needed and leave, my enemy none the wiser. I dressed, talked, and breathed like my enemy. In the end, the only conclusion they could draw is that it must have been an inside job" John gave a little smirk, he couldn't deny he had framed a few high ranking officers for treason against their nation.

"The main currency I dealt in was information. Troop movements, supply shortages, air bombardment targets. But that of course was simply because it was what my employer wanted. In the Ukraine I often gathered scandalous pictures and letters so as to blackmail governors and parliament members. Whatever the contract called for, we delivered. Of course I have spilled my fair share of blood as a destroyer of man and machine Madam Herald, but to be honest I do not care for such sloppy work. I find that rather than destroy an enemy, it is much more satisfying to turn him on his allies and watch them both claw at each others throats" John again started to tilt the glass back and forth, most of the ice had melted yet the glass remained as full as when he had retrieved it. "And no Madam Herald, I have never carried a title other than comrade. No records of my work will be kept by anyone but myself, we were never to have existed past nightmarish legends of our accomplished tasks" John finished with a small smile on his face, a stark contrast to his words. It was not intentional at all, rather John was seeing images in his mind's eye of the good ol' days as he thought of 'redirecting' the enemies own artillery onto their position.

**Martha Villiers** · Oct 16th, 2012 02:00 AM

His Aura, laden with pride, reassured her. He was, she guessed, here to outline his talents, not practice them. Nevertheless, she remained on guard.

Martha listened and was very attentive. Nodding often and rubbing at her knee as she listened. She is quiet for quite some time as she thinks his words and deeds over. There is no trace of judgement in her pensive demeanour.

"Quite the impressive portfolio, sir...I daresay your Masters in the Kremlin were pleased." she nods again. Imagining the scene in her minds eye of secret meetings in the shadow of the dreaded domes.

She leaned back into the sofa and studied John carefully over the rims of her spectacles.

"What am I to make of this, sir?" she giggles happily, "You are...to many...a monster! A dreaded spectre stalking their battlefield...bringing ruin and confusion! Yet...here you are...drinking lemonade and avowing your warrior credentials! Quite remarkable!" Martha plays with one of her long dark twin tails a moment as she thinks and speaks; "I wonder, sir...have you made yourself available to the Reeve and the cadre of Deputies? A man with your skills and perceptions might prove very useful to them on patrol! Might I also ask, sir...which Powers of the Blood you are skilled with? Are you skilled with unarmed combat too?"

Oct 16th, 2012 03:24 AM

John continued to smile, this time at her words as she talked of the dreaded spectre of the battlefield. Honestly he was flattered. "Thank you Madam Herald, they were very pleased with my results. As for what to think of me, I hope you view me as a potential business partner who left the killing fields long ago" As she raised the question of his talents he sipped softly from his lemonade as he listened to her words. He was pushing for this moment where he would offer his services to the court as he had to many back in the Avalon. "I have had the pleasure of meeting the Reeve and offering my services, however the deputies are many and far apart with their duties. I have yet meet them all in my time here"

John's tone grew slightly more serious as he prepared to ask somewhat of a favor to the Madam Herald. "I was hoping I could also offer my services to you and the court Madam Herald. I understand it is not in the duty of the Herald to hire people like myself. However if you or another member of the court would ever need a slight hand on any matters, I wish that you would know that my services are always available for those who would allow me entrance into their domain" John bows his head, and raises his hands slightly towards the Herald to show his gratitude for his acknowledgement by her organization.

"I do have a fondness for knives and explosives. But as for my powers, you must excuse me but I prefer to keep those to myself. I may be very open with my experiences and do not hide that I am of the Daeva clan, however in order to protect myself I must not show 'all' of my cards. I do apologize" John tried to use this policy across the board. If ever he gained another discipline not of his clan, he wished to not ruin its element of surprise by revealing it without need.

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-10-15 23:46:20		Martha Villiers rolls 6 to Aura test John (Int+Ausp+Emp - Resistance - 1 for hues = 6) (10 Again)		5, 4, 3, 10, 1, 1, 4		1 success

Herald's Office Hours (9) The Herald and a Deputy meet Mr John Smith

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