A Dragon's Discourse in Elysium

[Hildegarde Bingen]

Hildegarde was playing to the warm weather, waring a light black dress, open black flats and one of those broad brimmed, floppy, hats that seemed all the rage. Overly large sunglasses had been affixed to the hat, itself slid back on her head while she read from a book. A leather satchel with shoulder strap lay perfectly positioned at her feet, her limbs coiled about her as she reclined on a couch in the Elysian commons.

As always, she found the underground domain a source of calm amid the bustling heart of the city. At this time of year, the Kine took advantage of the long days and fleeting nights and the palpable emotions associated with the national holiday only served to play up that feeling further.

Tonight she was the Enlightened Sable Scribe of Burning Equilibrium. Perhaps it would have been wiser to bring the prospective member of her Covenant to the Chapter House, but the Lord had ruled against it; the Chapter House remained in a curiously parlous state and Hildegarde did not want Richard Black perceiving the Order as poor and as living in a half abandoned ruin. Elysium offered a neutral - and safe - space for them to discuss things meant for the ears of Kindred alone.

Hands moved in a caressing motion as she turned the page. Eyes flicked to the stairs while she waited for the Succubus to appear. They darted back to her book.

SoraLow @Richard Black

[SoraLow]

The summers humid nights were something that Richard looked forward too, it was always nice to be able to wear his more comfortable clothing and not have to worry about layering up like in the winter for the sake of maintaining appearance with the kine, plus the warm weather clothing reminded him of the sun, a minute treat, but one that he enjoyed anyway. Tonight he was dressed in a collarless army fatigue shirt fitted with detachable sleeves that were held on by zipper. Dark circular shades matched his black bowler hat perfectly, fortunate that the humans were so vain, it meant that wearing shades at night would barely be noticed.

The cab he was riding in comes to a halt and Richard steps out, but not before tipping the driver. He figured if he was gonna be using their services to get everywhere it might be worth it to build a rapport with the local drivers. A phone call on a grim night for a ride without questions being asked was definitely worth the investment.

Richard took a minute or two to take a few rushed pulls from a black and mild cigar, the ingredients did nothing for him physically, but he was fond of the sweet smell and the relaxing habit. When he was sated he killed the ember on the heel of his shoe and tucked what remained in his shirt pocket. It was time to enter.

The black Daeva descended the stairs with his posture erect and his stride filled with confidence. In truth it was an act, something that all Daeva were skilled in, it was both a defensive mechanism and their deadliest weapon. With every step he could feel himself wanting to bail, It had taken him several decades of unlife to get to this point, until now he had manage to convince himself that he was perfectly capable of thriving alone. But existence was starting to get rather boring for him, if for no greater reason Richard sought change simply for the sake of feeling something, anything.

Upon reaching the bottom he spots the elegant Hildegarde lounging on a couch and reading a book and waiting patiently. He approaches her cautiously, giving her plenty of time to come to terms with his presence. "Good evening Ms. Bingen. May I drop the formality while we chat?"

[Hildegarde Bingen]

Hildegarde was still reading when Richard entered Elysium. She felt his Beast however: an ache; an irritation; the noisome creature that lived within her stretched out its pseudopodia hungrily... She yanked it back without batting an eyelid.

Lifting her eyes, she said: "Good evening, Richard. Yes, let us dispense with formality; neither of us belong to the Unconquered and it can get so very dull at times. Let us take a private room so we will not be disturbed."

She moved, closing her book, sliding it into her satchel and gathering up her shoes. It was not a smooth action; instead it was more reminiscent of a time lapse film and she the mannikin. If she noticed her odd behaviour, Hildegarde gave no sign.

"This way. Please."

She padded through Elysium on bare feet and claimed the first unoccupied private meet space she came across.

"So. You have questions, yes?"

[SoraLow]

Richard follows behind Hildegarde, observing her behind tinted shades, he can't put his finger on it exactly but he does notice something off about the way she carried herself. As if her every body movement was consciously executed. Once they reach the private area for them to chat Richard leads what what he had planned to be his very first question before even sitting down but first he prefaces it with a bit of information that he felt obligated to share, better to keep this conversation as honest as possible, "Before we begin I wan't to be clear about something. I am a man that values his freedom, I take this very seriously. I have no interest in selling what is left of my soul for acceptance." he pauses a moment, giving this deceleration a moment to sink in and offering him a chance to potentially gauge a reaction.

"You mentioned that The Order's purpose is to study the limits of our condition. I interpreted this in two ways to mean that either you seek to cure what curses us, or to amplify our strengths. But to what end? Is the pursuit of this knowledge really so noble, do you really seek knowledge or is knowledge simply a means to gain power?"

[Hildegarde Bingen]

Hildegarde continued moving, turning to put some space (and a simple table) between them.

"Good. Good. It is good that you value your freedom and do not wish to sell abase yourself cheaply. I would not expect a Kindred to willingly surrender themselves simply to parlay acceptance within a group. We are not slaves to other men - though we may be slaves to our base conditions. But those can be overcome."

She sat daintily while the Daeva continued.

"The Order's purpose is to study Change. Nothing ever stays the same: the years waxes and wanes; the kine are born, grow up, grow old... and die. Even impersonal institutions and ideas change over time. We study that change and seek to understand it. We study the change we observe in ourself - and harness it with out Will. We make ourselves more."

A beat. She lays her hands on the table, fingers locking together.

"As you say, we study the limits of our condition. We study what it takes to change ourselves. We don't seek to cure ourselves, if that is what you were thinking. That would be akin to going backward. We go forward. Yes, we seek to master our new forms; amplifying what we perceive as our strengths and learning to limit our weaknesses. Some do so for power - and it is a purpose that cannot be denied. Some do so for enlightenment - for there are many lessons to be learned in the dark. Some do so that they might become something else one day; why spend eternity as a simple Vamyr when one could conceivably transform oneself into something even more breathtaking and beautiful. Eternity is ours after all, yes?"

Hands shifted. She rested her chin on them, peering at Richard with a curiously blank - yet intense - stare.

"What do you seek to do with your eternity, Richard Black?"

[SoraLow]

Her answer seemed satisfactory to him and as such he allows himself to take a seat and commit to having this conversation. He places both palms face down on his knees and meets her intense gaze with a stare down of his own, though not as apparent behind the smokey shades.

"Something more meaningful than just being here. I don't like thinking of our condition as a curse but I find it hard to make myself to think anything different when I have met Kindred who seem to exist for no other reason than to invoke death and engorge themselves."

Richard folds his hands into his lap lacing his fingers together, "I have lived in constant fear of death. I know what it's like to live a life that doesn't belong to you. As a human my life meant nothing, thinking of this new existence as an opportunity to rectify this is the only consolation I can find in this stupid Danse I'm forced to participate in every night. I have no interest in politics, I have no interest in power, I only wish to avoid the greatest tragedy of all, wasted time."

[Hildegarde Bingen]

"You seek meaning? That is... good. The Order can help you on your search. You will find our condition is both a curse and a boon; with time you will be able to modify the parameters of the benefits and draw backs inherent in it. You will find that within the Order, you will have meaning, and that it will be important. And you will find that your meaning will contribute to the greater meaning of all of us. Your studies under the Order will be no waste of your eternity, I can assure you here and now."

The Lord paused, blinking as if she was reviewing her words.

"Perhaps its is better for you to be made aware now that sometimes... sometimes... politics creeps into the Order. It does have its factions like any institution. The Sacramento... chapter... has only sunk into base politics infrequently..." After all, David Regan's rise was less of a coup and more a cleaning out of old secrets; besides all other challengers and dissenters had left. If Richard Black truly wished to concentrate on his private studies, his desire would be easily accommodated now. The Academy had always seemed more focused on study, in Hildegarde's opinion. "And right now, internal bickering is both pointless and moot. The Covenant's will always circle one another like hungry animals."

[SoraLow]

Richard retreats back into his seat for a more comfortable position, so far the Order sounded the most like what he was looking for in a covenant, the fact that politics existed within the organization was to be expected but he was none the less content with accepting that it was perhaps possible for politics to not be the central motivation behind the group, that was a good thing at least. He continues his survey, choosing to take her word for it at this time, hopefully she painted an accurate portrait of what her covenant actually was and not so much what it's supposed to be.

"Interesting. So let's cut right to it then. Your Order offers understanding of our condition and an environment to facilitate such pursuits. What am I to offer in return? Assuming you would have me, what are my obligations?" it was always important to read the fine print before signing.

Which raised another very important question, "Do you hold status within your covenant? Would I consider you to be the authority of the Order in this city?"

[Hildegarde Bingen]

Hildegarde's pose shifted. She was considering her words carefully now.

"A Dragon has no loyalty above their studies; a Dragon is responsible for all they are and all they do," the words tumbled as if by rote. "That said, a little assistance to the local chapter if, or when, it is requested is always helpful. Occasionally one may receive direction from a specialist within the Order. Like any organisation, one must accept this."

Hands moved thoughtfully.

"As you have asked, I will answer. There is a ladder of achievement within the Order and there are also ranks associated with fulfilling certain tasks. That should come as no surprise. I do hold status," a wry grin broke upon the Lord's lips, "but I am not the authority you seek. In this chapter, that would be the Grand Wyrm. David Regan."

And then, an after thought.

"What can you contribute to the Order as you commence your own Great Work?"

[SoraLow]

Now they were getting to the core of their subject, which meant that there was no longer any reason to be coy. Richard leans forward, a show of how serious he was taking this conversation, at this point he was hanging onto her every word, searching for deception or lack of honesty. Surpringly there was no need for such speculation, Hildegarde comes right out and tells him that when called upon he must be willing to accept. This much he expected as well.
She tells him about David Regan, a Kindred that he has never met but if he was the head of the Order he must possess considerable merit. "I see"

When she questions him about his worth to the Order he isn't at first sure what to say, he was only now begining to understand what it was that their covenant was all about in the first place. Richard himself was no scholar, was there really anything that he could offer that they couldn't obtain themselves?
From what he could tell Hidegarde has been honest with him up to this point, he decides to refrain from playing any games with her and keep it straight forward, "Honestly i'm not sure. I can't imagine what sort of task would be asked of me and so there for I can't easily describe in what way I could be of use outside of being an extra set of hands, a dedicated man to bolster your numbers. Though I wouldn't discount the value of a man without purpose, family, or connections. I seek this bond with covenant as a man void of any such ties. If the Order became part of my Requiem it would be all that there is."