| Refined Alliances (Salvador & Ariadne) | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 29 2013, 11:06 AM (366 Views) | |
| Holy | Mar 29 2013, 11:06 AM Post #1 |
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Chapter Two Scene: Refined Alliances
Edited by Holy, Apr 17 2013, 09:05 AM.
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| Holy | Mar 29 2013, 11:07 AM Post #2 |
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Killjoy leaves a voicemail for Ariadne. Ariadne, this is Salvador Ruiz. I know we haven't talked much since things went down with Harper's Praxis, but I was hoping we could meet. I'm at my sanctuary most nights after midnight working on cleanup and repair. I've got some new intel on the big Double-U I'd like to share. |
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| Kara | Mar 29 2013, 11:46 AM Post #3 |
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Rather than return the call, Ariadne shows up at a quarter after midnight two nights later. She slips inside and stands by the door, looking around for Killjoy. |
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| Holy | Mar 29 2013, 12:39 PM Post #4 |
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![]() The place maybe isn't quite what she expected. Outside the building there's a pile of junk. Rusty wall fans, pulled down ducts and piping, even an old refrigerator. When she arrives, one of the sliding doors is left open just a crack, light beckoning from within. Salvador himself is surrounded by a series of buckets with soapy water as he puts himself to the task of scrubbing away decades of grime from the walls. When he hears the door slide a little bit more open as Ariadne comes in, he glances back, tossing his cleaning supplies down and reaching for a towel. "Hey," he greets her, trying to dry off the dirty water reaching up to his elbows. |
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| Kara | Mar 29 2013, 01:31 PM Post #5 |
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Ariadne's hand stay securely in her pockets as she watches him from the doorway. "Hey." A decent silence follows before she adds, "Thought it'd be more like a church." |
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| Holy | Mar 29 2013, 02:54 PM Post #6 |
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"Still got a long way to go. But it's nice to be occupied by something direct." He scuffs his shoe along the build-up of grime and dirt that's accumulated over the floor. "There's cement under here somewhere. Not even sure how I'm going to get it cleared, yet." He lets that be the extent of the smalltalk. "I'm going to say some things, and when I'm done, if you want to just turn around and bail, that's fine. But if you decide to stay, I'm going to insist on a few terms." With a breath, he pitches it. "There's a way to force the Winnowing upon a willing subject. I don't yet have a grasp on how to reliably do it, nor how to guide the direct effects. For that, I need a volunteer for the experiment. This person will have to agree to gaining nothing beyond the experiment itself. They will not be entitled to the process, the details, or the efforts making it happen." "This person will have to agree to keeping the facts of the experiment secret, regardless on if the results are positive, negative, or nonexistent." Salvador winds down his so-called list, stopping to look at Ariadne. "I'd like you to help with this experiment. But if you stay, Ariadne, you're agreeing to all these things. You're agreeing to my lead, agreeing to the secrecy, and if it comes down to it, agreeing to the enforcement." He then falls silent to wait for her decision, or perhaps more likely, her questions. Edited by Holy, Mar 29 2013, 03:00 PM.
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| Kara | Mar 29 2013, 03:42 PM Post #7 |
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Ariadne is still staring at Killjoy when he finishes speaking, but it's a very nonplussed sort of stare as opposed to her default expression. "Really. Asking me to help, or be a guinea pig? Not a fan of the latter." She doesn't wait for a response - she only tilts her head before she continues speaking. "Don't suppose you'd tell me how you found out about this. But. Regardless, already researching the Winnowing. With the Dragons." There's a long pause before she adds, "As one of the Dragons." Her head tilts the other way, now. "So might need to consult them, before agreeing to this." |
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| Holy | Mar 29 2013, 03:52 PM Post #8 |
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His eyebrows rise in surprise. "How did Banks take..." He shakes his head, though. "I guess it doesn't matter. But no, I don't want the wider Dragons involved. If this goes public before I have a handle on it, it's not worth it. I'd rather kill it. Besides, I don't trust Harper, and Nash doesn't trust me." He waves away one of her other comments. "Help, yes. You to be a guinea pig? No. I want the volunteer to be someone without status or office in the city." |
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| Kara | Mar 29 2013, 03:56 PM Post #9 |
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"Not sure if Banks knows. Don't care if he knows." That statement was a fair bit harsher and more emotive than she tends to be. It doesn't last long. "So. Interested in finding someone who does matter, with no friends to care if something goes wrong?" |
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| Holy | Mar 29 2013, 04:00 PM Post #10 |
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He frowns at that. "I suppose that's part of it. If everything blows up, no - I don't want Goodman or Harper or Arregi coming after me. I also don't want someone who has the pull to just sell out the experiment to that same group of people." "But I'm not going to lie about the consequences. The Winnowing made Harper, but it also made Trina. Whoever does this has to understand both possibilities." |
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| Kara | Mar 29 2013, 04:12 PM Post #11 |
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"Hey." She shrugs one shoulder. "Someone wants to do this, that's their problem. So. This going to stay secret? Or just til it doesn't explode?" One corner of her lip pulls down. "Got a plan if it spits out another Trina?" |
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| Holy | Mar 29 2013, 04:44 PM Post #12 |
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"Depends on who it is. Easiest plan would be to get Antoine involved if the volunteer trusts him. I'd consider the Brides, but I need to know more about Dana and Harper. And I don't know how long the secrecy lasts. If it can be stabilized, it raises a lot of questions." "I'm open to seeing where it goes, I'm not asking to be sole-proprietor or the only controller. As far as I'm concerned, anybody who helps should reap the benefits. But I don't want to see it stolen away." |
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| Kara | Mar 29 2013, 05:00 PM Post #13 |
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"Probably only be secret the first time. Won't say anything, but people find out." She is silent for a moment. "Not sure where Dana is right now. Doesn't seem like Harper would like the research. Should probably figure out where she stands. Especially since I'm working with Nash." Another pause. "Not intending to hide that. Not broadcasting either, but. Still." |
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| Holy | Mar 29 2013, 07:20 PM Post #14 |
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"So you're interested?" The way he asks it makes clear he actually isn't sure. |
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| Kara | Mar 29 2013, 07:45 PM Post #15 |
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"Yeah. For now. Don't let it get me into shit with Harper though. Okay?" Her gaze fixes on his, and she stares. |
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| Holy | Mar 30 2013, 10:52 AM Post #16 |
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He nods. "Harper's probably the last person I want involved with this." "So the next step is finding a volunteer. One of Arregi's people might be interested. But if there's someone you'd like to bring in, that's fine too. It's better if there's a working relationship. Just nobody of status, that's my only requirement." "On another topic, I'm going after Banks." |
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| Kara | Mar 30 2013, 11:12 AM Post #17 |
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Killjoy receives another blank stare. "Don't really know people. Much less someone who'd want in on this." That second statement catches her attention, however - her eyes narrow in thought. "Yeah? Why?" |
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| Holy | Mar 30 2013, 11:30 AM Post #18 |
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He meets that blank stare. "Did I really overestimate your ability to see the big picture? Maybe you lost more of the Sight than I thought." He frowns to himself, considering. "You really think there isn't someone out there who feels like they got the wrong end of the deal on the Winnowing? Who wouldn't jump at the chance to hit a button and take another spin?" |
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| Kara | Mar 30 2013, 11:36 AM Post #19 |
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The skin around her eyes tightens a bit more. "Maybe. Big risk, though, to maybe end up like Trina. Then again." Her expression relaxes back to neutrality. "Lot of people barely believe that. Stupid, but. Desperation's a decent motivator. Mostly saying not interested personally." |
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| Holy | Mar 30 2013, 12:21 PM Post #20 |
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He seems to accept that, "I'm not looking to baptize you, sorry if that's what it seemed like." "Banks? As much as I bristled at Ashcroft, and as much as I wanted her to take a hit for messing with me, he went way too far." |
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| Kara | Mar 30 2013, 12:36 PM Post #21 |
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"Baptize?" Her confusion fades quickly, however, at the mention of Banks. "Yeah. Definitely agree. Wasn't really feeling the Estate, but. Ashcroft didn't do anything to me. So for him to do that." What might pass for a scowl appears on her face. "Don't like it at all. So. You want help? Tell me what you need." |
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| Holy | Mar 30 2013, 03:13 PM Post #22 |
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"You're good with electronics, right? Would you be able to sabotage like the lights and sound of an opening show? Not sure how that stuff works, but I've got the idea of a plan." |
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| Kara | Mar 31 2013, 08:32 AM Post #23 |
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"Could definitely try. How soon? What's the event?" She shifts her weight slightly. "This something that'd mess with Harper, too?" |
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| Holy | Mar 31 2013, 10:01 AM Post #24 |
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"Banks wants to open a new club and Sophie needs a venue for her music event. It would be a good opportunity for the two of them to forge a better relationship." Killjoy only skips a beat, "Assuming Banks didn't screw up his big opening night." "And hitting Banks is hitting Harper right now, the way I see it." Edited by Holy, Mar 31 2013, 10:04 AM.
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| Kara | Mar 31 2013, 10:56 AM Post #25 |
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"Works for me." She stares for a moment, silently considering. "Should be no problem." Ariadne stares. "Don't suppose I could talk you into talking about the Winnowing. What it did to you. Would be helpful, to me and the Dragons." Her head tilts. "Might help Nash trust you more. If that interests you." |
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| Holy | Apr 1 2013, 04:39 PM Post #26 |
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"It doesn't." Salvador grabs the handles to two of the buckets with the dirtiest water. "Nash couldn't hold it together and now Harper's Prince. Unless you think Cassandra's prediction was inevitable, if Nash would have come with us immediately..." He leans out the opened door, pouring out the water onto the already damp gravel lot. "You and I and Antoine and each of us at that pool party chose to save his life knowing that it might, and did, mean Harper taking the throne. Nash wants to blame me for his downfall? I'm not going to stop him. But I will point out that you spoke up for Nash more than anyone that night, and it got you squarely on Harper's shit list." "Until Nash can somehow change who he is, can stop blaming everyone else for the choices he's made, can actually recognize when people went to bat for him, I don't think his trust is much of a commodity." He drops the buckets under a spigot with a two foot hose attached, putting a bit of lemon smelling dish-soap in just before the water. "But if you want to know, Ariadne, I'm willing to talk about my Winnowing." |
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| Kara | Apr 1 2013, 05:03 PM Post #27 |
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Ariadne stays where she is as Killjoy speaks, completely still save for her eyes, which follows him the whole time. "Wasn't talking about it like a commodity. You talked about the Winnowing. So does he." Her head tilts. "Want to do things like a bunch of transaction? Definitely possible. Personally? Don't care about politics, favors, whatever. The Winnowing and Nash's Dragons, that's where I'm at. Getting back at Banks, if possible. But. Not even sure we're a coterie anymore. If we were to start. "Not really sure what to make you. Specifically. Then, or now." She spends another moment just staring. "Willing to talk about the Winnowing, still?" |
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| Holy | Apr 1 2013, 08:12 PM Post #28 |
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Salvador glances up, then stands and moves the buckets back with the others. "If we're not a coterie? Then no. We have a power as a machine that we don't as individual parts. I'm tired of dragging people along who aren't interested in investing. I'm in. Sebastian is in. Antoine is in. We care about politics. We care about what happens in this city. We care about squaring our favors and clearing our debts." "Maybe you and Nash have more in common then I thought. I listened to your complaints and backed your choice in saving a man I'm not even sure Ashcroft would have lifted a finger to save had it meant the failure of a Harper Praxis. But you know why we even had that choice? Because of politics. Because of this society. Because we cared about debt and favor." "You wanna watch and take notes? Good luck with that. I wish you well, I'm sure you'll make a great secretary. Me? I want a second chance at being a real force in this city. Someone who can effect it, not someone who just reacts to it, or just records it." "You wanna be a part of that? You wanna be a part of this coterie? Then stick around and tell me what you want to know about my Winnowing. Otherwise..." Killjoy motions toward the door behind her. "I'll get ahold of you when we're ready to move on Banks." |
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| Kara | Apr 2 2013, 10:22 AM Post #29 |
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"Don't want a position. Working with the Dragons, looking into the Winnowing, doing something about it? That's my interest. But sitting in the Barrens isn't the way to do it." She stares a moment. "Not interested in helping Harper, Banks, Goodman. Beyond that? Up for pretty much anything. Okay?" |
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| Holy | Apr 2 2013, 02:50 PM Post #30 |
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"Alright." He seems to think for a moment, giving a second glance toward the cleanup work he still has left. "In theory, I was one of Antoine's Gangrel, but I only met him as a formality, introduced by Rose in a thirty second exchange to my Priscus." "I spent my unlife among the casinos, so I don't have anything in terms of experience with animals or the outdoors. I think my natural blood went toward what was easiest, then. Taking a hit, pushing myself physically. The formal training I underwent was tied to my line, the last bits of contract for my Sire to complete, so I could start my ten years as a useful commodity." He apparently gives up on the remaining work, leaving the buckets where they lay and taking up a more casual position against one of the clean portions of wall. "I kept the toughness, I guess. Can still take a hit, but in terms of more coming naturally? That's gone. I think all the disciplines to my old Clan are gone." "My fateweaving, lost a lot of my capacity for it. But the talent's still here, starting to relearn some of the things lost. In exchange, I felt like something between a Shadow and a Haunt: Speed, Stealth, Fear. The first two came out of nowhere and were easy. The latter? I don't think my personality lent itself to the trick. I think it manifested at the same time, but I was just terrible at it." "What else do you want to know?" |
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