Where to begin

[samuel]

Samuel had kept contact with Chicago out of some morbid wish to reconnect with the father he barely remembered. Over the years as he was making his bones across the pond he'd had opportunity to profit from his associations here. None moreso than dealing with D'arcangelo. The man while a haughty mage was also the only purveyor of reliable intelligence as to the goings on of the land.

His prices were at times steep yet always completely true. Samuel had grown accustomed to paying whatever the man asked to gain that extra hammer of being forewarned.Chicago was so wholly corrupt that Samuel was sure that even the traffic lights were on the take.

Now that he was back this time to stay he knew whom he had to visit.

Arriving at the door he felt a twinge of dread as the lights were off and the door locked as it had never been. He looked for the barely there plaque to insure that he was in fact at the right address. He was how the worm had turned. Without use of D'arcangelo the city was a far more dangerous and dark place.

Looking skyward he sighed a deep forlorn exhalation of air. lowering his head he inhaled catching a whiff of otherness. It was feint but there. His nose as refined as it was compared to humans was not as sharp as other lycanthrope types.

Yet there it was a small whiff of something that made his lion lean into the wind to catch what the scent might be. He heard that small voice at the base of his skull scream for him to leave. He heard it and yet knew that he wouldn't. He'd at least excercise his curiosity.

Looking back at the car where Abel sat ever at the ready he held his hand for the man to wait there. Abel he knew would only surge forward if he heard the sounds of a scuffle. Samuel was cursing himself as he knew that whatever was left residing at D'arcangelo's abode would be so far in advance of guns that Abel would be as sure as dead if it escalated out of Samuels control.

Leaping over the stone banister into the icy embankment of D'arcangelo's gated front yard Samuel made his way along the side of his building nose firmly in the wind. His neck craning to catch each nuanced scent. The scent was emanating from the rear of the building. Samuel had only been to the rear of D'arcangelo's once or twice before. He tried to remember what the rear might present him.

From the dark misty recesses of his mind he could envision the otherside of the iron wrought gate he was approaching. There was a series of stones arranged in a circle of some sort on the ground. Beneath those was a wide swath of sand. Against the building was a raised deck made of polished iron. The deck led into the rear of the house and the two competed for the inside outside enclosed space where a variety of flowers grew. There was a bar and stools inside. The television was mounted on the inside wall and the back of the property was enclosed by a privacy fence of wood and iron seven foot tall.

Samuel was pleasantly surprised to have remembered in such vivid detail of the upcoming area. It was especially rewarding considering as he opened the gate nothing seemed changed.The area had been removed of any snow or ice. But overall seemed unchanged by the hands of time.

[sales]

Mykael felt the approach of a lycanthrope as it crossed the wards he'd put into place. It took far more than it should have to disarm them before the interloper found themselves in several sticky situations. He'd been secretly back in Chicago quietly healing since the sanctum he'd built had been nearly sapped of its very essence. He would have aword or three with Takanashita over things but for now he needed to be stronger before doing so.

He was physically gone from chicago but his thoughts and heart had never left. His seeking to reset the board amounted to naught. The storm came but it seemed as if the city would yet stand. He'd begun smoking again during his convalescence. It was a filthy habit thathe would divest himself of once more but for now he indulged. As the lycanthrope tripped the various words smashing through like a bull in a china shop Mykael gained more than a sense of whom it was.

In fact he knew the man better than he knew himself. He knew why he'd come as wellas what he sought. Sadly Mykael was in no semblance of a giving mood. The man had managed to be else where during each ofthe major plights it was odd that the city had called him home now. What with the Lion's Rex on the mend. The Snake's alpha chasing at the spectiors which sought his blood and the Arcadians and vampires making strange bed fellows he could not have come at a worse time.

Mykael shielded himself in an image of strength and moved to the railing to look down on him. as he would not be deterrred better to be done and have no more of him mucking about the flow of his respite.

"Samuel what brings you so far from home?"

[Deleted]

Twenty lapsed into thirty and thirty into over an hour. The men talking of what had come before in their associations. Finally after the good cheer of seeing friendly faces had dissipated the men approached the business at hand. each circling the subject warily unsure as to what might be imparted.

Samuel unsure if he should know all that percolated within him.

D'arcangelo knowing that there was a limit to what should be imparted.

Finally the moment was upon them. These men who had over the years knew with all certainty where the other stood now having doubts. It was a strange turn of events.

Mykael knew that Samuel was in for several shocks if he decided to stay. He would have to come to grips with several defining factors of his life. There was good to come of it but the road was a rocky one.

Samuel could feel the weakness upon Mykael. The scent was one he did not like nor trust. It had been his experience that weak men were not only fallible but untrustworthy. He liked Mykael and hoped he returned to full strength but he was wary as whatever had done so to him was still out there. It could even in fact be pulling his yoke now.

And so the men talked and associated dancing around the elephants in the room until both were exhausted...

[samuel]

"It has been a pleasure reconnecting with you D'arcangelo. However the night races towards the day. What can you tell me of the Pride here. I have watched the Regina but the Rex eludes me. Are they strong might I fit within their scheme of things, and where might I find there home? I have many questions as you can see, but let us start with these and your price." Samuel knew he'd need to settle his mind before going on. Mykael did not seem wholly himself.

He feared that the man would collapse at any moment. He couldn't smell disease or affliction so whatever the cause was not physical. It made Samuel on edge to be here with there being o chance for him to assist the man. Chicago had changed indeed.

[sales]

Mykael sighed he knew what Samuel hoped to gain. He also knew that the man would do himself irrevocable harm if he obtained what he sought. Mykeal considered acquiescing but thought better of the matter. While it would serve him right Mykael could not in good conscience be a party to breaking a man he considered basically good.

He was still weakened from whatever Takanashita had allowed to be done to the sanctum. He knew that if the chips really hit the fan that he was well and truly done. Samuel would not leave but then again neither would he. Catching Samuels eye he pulled what power he could into himself from the various loci scattered about his home.

"Samuel I can not involve myself with your request. You will thank me later for staying clear of that situation. But for now trust that it would be better if you gave up this quest and left the city as a whole."

Mykael attempted to be plain but he feared that his statement would be viewed as cryptic. He watched Samuel carefully he was not a man who often heard no to one of his requests. Mykael knew that standing resolute against him could prove risky but he had to be. If Samuel knew all that he sought hell would be a vacation compared to what he would do. Even as he sat in the hear and now his gaze stared down the line of time towards the fiasco that loomed for Samuel. He hoped that the man would take his advice but feared that he would not.

Then he saw it the thread that would assure Samuels change. He watched it unfold and knew that it was a foregone conclusion. Slumping in his chair he looked towards the phone and it was not the first nor last time he thought of calling Kisa. She could negotiate things between the parties involved. Things were not the same for her nor anyone.

[samuel]

Samuel watched as Darcangelo gathered himself. He steeled himself. That could only mean that either he had no information or information he felt could be of a damage to someone. Samuel had not expected such from the man. As weak as he was he had expect him to capitulate simply to be rid of him. There was a fire in his belly yet. As much as his coming denial of Samuels requst he did win him a few points that he was still the man he remebered if merely needing a rest.

Samuel steepled his hands before him resting his elbows on the chairs armrests. closing his eyes he concentrated on his breathing. As dominant as he was over his beast there were times when the damnable thing mirrored Samuels temperment. It was during those times when it could slip the leash a bit. Samuel hated being denied.
His lion was much the sameno, worse in fact.

Opening his eyes slowly he knew that the slight pale amber which he was now seeing Darcangelo through was his lions doing. Darcangelo gained innumerable points for being able to meet his eyes. Samuel knew that they held a leonine cast. He also knew that such an image had been caused many to lose their nerve or worse.
The fact that Darcangelo not only held his ground but did so with poise was high marks for the man indeed.

"I am sorry to hear that. You would have me pack my things and remove myself from the city. I have just recently arrived. I have decided that this will be my home. I am not going to leave without very good reasons indeed."

Samuel listened to the cadence of his words their syllabance. He detected the slight scratchy roar just beneath the surface. He would have to do more work on his temper. He had done so well for so long. But it had been quite sometime since anyone had refused him outright.

Looking from his fingertips to Darcangelo he allowed the weight of what he didn't say to fill the silence. He watched as the man slumped in his chair. He knew that unlike other ma\en that meant very little in regards to the man bending to his will. So he waited for the man to go on to exoplain why exactly Samuel should depart the cionfines of his new home. Why should he remove his mother yet again. This was just like anyother deals he'd negotiated. The first to speak would be the first to lose.

[sales]

Mykael saw the shift move over Samuel like a shift of light. He watched the man and lion become one without him ever changing forms. It was not for nothing he'd properly warded and re-warded his domicile. If hadn't known better he would have believed that Samuel thought he could cow him into bending to his will. Mykael hadn't remained in business as long as he had nor as successfully as he had if that were possible.

He instead pulled out a piece of parchment, pen and wrote down the address of Kisa's abode. If anyone could set the man right it would be her. He knew that she'd recognize Samuel from years before as well as the family resemblance. He was not at full strength and had no more time to waste with a man as willful as Samuel.

Standing he folded the parchment and moved around his desk. "It was a pleasure seeing you again Samuel. I hope you take my advice even as I know you won't. That being the case go here first speak with her she'll either set you right or give you all the reason you need to push on. Good bye."