Stranger on the Third Floor

[Cameron]

It doesn't take the young Haunt long to arrive - perhaps 20, 25 minutes after he first received the text message. Julian didn't miss the peak time traffic that went with the daylight hours one bit - getting around in the evening was so much more efficient.

He'd opted for something simple, and casual. Dark blue jeans went with an olive, long sleeve Henley shirt - no brands, no labels. If anything, he looked like one more college student, in for a late night cram sesh'.

The Haunt knocked politely, before entering the study room. Julian glanced down at the books, taking note of the titles, before flashing his Priscus the usual smile.

"Hey, good to see you Angel. That's an interesting reading list, finding anything in particular interesting?"

"By the way, how thick are these walls? I'd hate to be interrupting any students next door." It was one of those things better to establish early. He wasn't sure why Angel had invited him out here, and he figured she wasn't going to talk business in a public setting - but better safe than sorry.

[Cameron]

The young Haunt closed the door, and as requested, took a seat. He nodded as she explained her logic behind the room. Study rooms were usually designed for silence, but he was glad she'd gone to the effort of checking. If a vampires senses couldn't pick up sound coming out of them, no mortal ever would. "Interesting - and does The Prince factor into that study?" he asked, his eyes flicking over the well worn copy. "I'm curious, do you buy into the argument that Machiavelli wrote it as satire, or do you feel that the advice was genuine?"

"Fairly well, I'd say. Pretty quiet so far, but I don't suppose a lazy few hours are much of a crime" he remarked with a shrug, the usual smile coating his lips. "And how about you, Angel? I trust I find you well?"

[Cameron]

Julian nodded, and listened intently. He'd read The Prince, once, ages ago. He remembered a little bit of the discourse surrounding the text - enough to remember there was a debate as to the intent of the author - but he didn't recall anyone having taken that approach before.

"Interesting. It's been a while for me, but I don't remember reading any accounts which took that path of analysis before" he remarked cheerfully. He didn't have much to contribute on the topic, but it was nice to chat about something other than politics, if only for a moment. It felt human, and that was refreshing.

"Hmm, fair enough, I don't suppose we got through our session of 20 questions before the duel. Is there anything in particular you'd like to know, Angel?" he asked, curious as to what exactly his Priscus wanted. He agreed with the logic - if they were to work in partnership, they needed to know a little more than simply each others names. He had questions of his own, but he didn't want to set the tone of the conversation by presenting business first.

[Cameron]

And so the tone was set. But that was fine, it merely meant that their interests aligned, for the time being atleast.

He considered his answer, scratching at his clean shaven chin.

"Umm, well. My Sire and I were not on the best of terms when we parted ways. So... If you put it like that, I guess my loyalties lay with the Clan, and with myself." He remarked with an unapologetic shrug. Self interest, and perhaps more importantly, self preservation drove his actions more often than not, and he didn't feel ashamed to admit it. He hadn't asked for the Curse; and he'd been pushed through hell for it. He owed it to himself to turn that pain into a longer term investment.

"That said, what is good for the hive is good for the bee" he remarked, repeating the platitude he'd offered to another Priscus, not long ago "so I don't perceive there as being any degree of conflict between the two."

He paused for a moment, focusing his eyes on the woman before him. She seemed to have stepped out of an old movie, and the effect was unnerving to say the least. You almost didn't trust what your eyes were telling you. But now, now it was his turn to interrogate Angel - to find out what her eyes had captured in Sacramento thus far.

"I'm in the same boat, as far as a Covenant goes. However, it is something I'd like to change in the not so distant future." His tone remained pleasant, but the smile faded - for all that he may claim to dislike politics, it was in his Blood. His eyes - usually a dull green - hardened, as did the lines of his face. This was his game face, though he wouldn't have recognized it had it been shown to him. His Sire had beaten it into him, and it came to the fore without his conscious recognition.

"I wouldn't presume to speak for you, Angel, but I know that I would feel more secure in my position as Whip if I had the backing of a social structure behind me. It was something I had been discussing with Lord Baldwin, prior to the duel - the Invictus, that is. But I'm considering all of the cards on the table now." He took a moments pause, having explained the reason for his inquiry before presenting the question itself "What are your thoughts on the Covenants in Sacramento, Angel? If you were to throw you lot in with any, which would it be?"

[Cameron]

"Well well, another commonality - My Sire had close ties to the Crone" he volunteered, seemingly without bitterness. The contempt he felt towards his Sire hadn't tainted the Circle, and while the blood magic stuff was cool and all, it just didn't seem as pressing as the need for influence, and security. Maybe, when he was old and powerful and bored, he could explore his spiritual side. But for now, he was young and hungry and weak, and that required something more temporal in nature to sate.

"Well, thank you for the vote of confidence, and the suggestion - if I end up taking that route, I'll most certainly seek out Priscus Cordoba. He seems like a good man to know, in any case." He shot his Cousin - and Priscus - a grateful smile.

"I figured the Invictus would be the safest option for building some social foundations in this Domain, being the incumbent power structure and all. Do you know much about the Movement, or the Dragons in Sacramento?" The relative balance of power was something that interested him - naturally. The incumbent may be the safest option, but it never hurt to consider the alternatives. After all, the only reason he was in a position to consolidate at all was a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Shooting for that sort of thing twice in a row was all kinds of risky, but still...