Choose Your Side

[casper]

OUTFIT

Chicago's Under City. It reminded Casper of any city's poorest area anywhere in the last six hundred plus years. It was the perfect place for him to call a meeting for this. He was, after all, plotting the overthrow of a false monarch, so why not have this meeting in the seediest area of town? It only made sense. Not to mention that his sources had told him that Sion rarely had anything to do with this part of town because of just how seedy it was.

Casper leaned against the entrance to alley, wondering if anyone would even notice him, look twice at him. He was dressed in black with the hood pulled over his head, wondering if anyone was actually going to show for this little meeting. He had had Ruslana speak with Temperance, but he had no idea what was said or if his little Moroven beauty was even going to show up. Hell, he didn't even know if Temperance had made it through the day because he was almost positive she was too powerful to be bound to Sion and the cocktail that Ruslana had told him that they had been forced to take.

He watched the druggies move past him, snaking a hand out quickly and grabbing a prostitute as she walked by. He pushed her against the wall beside him and caught her eye, watching her face go slack as he put her under. Baring back, he sank his fangs into her neck, drinking her down and letting the blood run down his throat. He pulled back, licking the blood from his lips as he spoke to her. "You saw nothing, nothing happened, a John just got too frisky. Now leave." He watched her stagger off before resuming his position against the wall to begin the wait that he knew was coming.

He pulled the hood around himself and let the darkness take him so that only the rich blue of his eyes showed. Every face in the crowd was an enemy, a spy who could tell Sion that he was here. He felt the smile move across his lips. Well, Sion had to know that he was here because he had looked at the camera at Excaliber right after he had rotted for the crowd. He knew that Casper was there, that he had been challenged, and he hadn't come for him yet. It was either a sign that he was a scared, or preparation for the battle to come. Hopefully, tonight would show Casper just how much of a battle it was going to be.

[temperance]

OUTFIT

It was just a meeting. That's what Temperance kept telling herself. She was safe from Moroven, from her sire, it was just a meeting with old friends. A meeting that could mean she helped to change Chicago for the better. Yet, she had to think that this might be something else. She had, after all, woken up when the sunset. Unbound. A vampire without a master. She hated it. She could admit that to herself. She had spent so much time bound to another vampire, that it felt weird to be alone, weird to not have someone to call master. Yet if this meeting went well, she would have someone be bound to her. If Ruslana wasn't lying to her, it would be someone she wouldn't mind being bound to. That was, if Ruslana was right. She had no reason to believe that she was being lied to, but the younger vampire was a daughter of Belle Morte and there was a reason to believe that she could have found out about HIM.

Shaking her head, Temperance pulled on the black jeans, black long sleeved cropped shirt, and black heels, looking at herself in the mirror, she began to realize just why she continued to wear clothes from the period of time she had lived in. She looked sexy as hell in modern clothes, which would mean more attention, more people around the fear. With a quick shake of her head, she grabbed a cloak out of her closet, pulling it around her so that she was covered head to toe in black. That was good. She didn't want Sion to catch wind of what she was doing. She didn't even know if what she was doing could get her into trouble. Then again, talking with an unbound Master vampire who wanted to take over the city of Chicago behind the current Master of the City's back was probably going to get her in a great deal of trouble, should he find out.

Sighing, she slipped out of her apartment, down the stairs, and out the back door, never once leaving the shadow. She kept walking through the shadows all the way to Under City and the dredges that lived there, keeping her fear aura out there so no one would mess with her. Coming around a corner, she stopped when she saw the young man in the hoodie standing in the alley ahead of her. He was older than her in not only age and appearance, but she had always been the one seen as evil because of her aura. If anyone actually knew him, they would know not to judge a book by it's cover because he was both the sweetest and the cruelest man she had ever met. She walked across the street and, without even thinking about it, immediately wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. ”Casper. Ruslana said … I didn't believe … what are you doing here?” She had asked, but she knew what he was doing here. ”You aim to take the city from Sion.” She let the wicked smile play across her lips and felt the pulse of her fear aura. ”I'm in.”

[Eliachem]

Slinking from shadow to shadow Eliachem made his way to the rendezvous. He wasn’t directly invited. He hadn’t been uninvited so to him it meant that he was unofficially invited. It mean that his invitation had simply been lost in the mail. So dressing as if he were a late night jogger in various shades of baggy dark blue sweats concealing his weapons about him he made his way out of the suite that Sion had provided him at the Powhaton. He’d run most nights at various times so as to bring just the right amount of attention to himself. He wanted others to notice that he ran. He wanted others to think that he was a very wired vampire. Everyone knew that vampires wouldn’t put on more muscle mass with physical activity. They’d be wrong the muscle mass he toned up was his knowledge of the city. The out of the way places the down and dirty. The places that a Master wouldn’t dare be seen. As well as the places those aligned against him would be forced to congregate.

As a vampire that had to exist in a state of eternal secrets he recognized the averted gazes. He knew the purposefully distracted gazes. He saw the Kisses displeasure with their man in charge. He could have ended Sion but what would he have gotten out of the arrangement. He had not lived as long as he had by placing his cards on the table he didn’t plan to start now. Secrets helped him achieve his goals. Using the element of surprise won more battles than all the swords ever forged. He liked the role of wild card. It suited him. A black hand that everyone could see coming was useless. He hated what he’d been forced to do. He however did worse than what he was ordered to in an effort to gain his own measure of freedom. Killing Sion wouldn’t win anything. He knew he was not upper management material. He wasn’t strong enough to hold the city. He wasn’t deceitful enough to try pulling the wool over the worlds eyes by pretending that he could. He didn’t have enough intelligence to know what all of Sion’s contingency plans were. So taking Sion’s head was out of the question.

At least just yet.

Tomorrow wasn’t that far away. He might change his mind then if nothing better presented itself. He hoped he was right that the lovely night-hag was moving towards a secret we hate Sion club meeting. If he was wrong and wasted some his best shadow work on her having a fetish for rough trade or maybe sharing a cup with another girl or two he would probably kill Sion just to make up for being so wrong. He kept his aura as tight as a second skin his shields dialed to adamantium. He was to all the world either a really shabby jogger or well-dressed bum. Metaphysically he was the palest shadow in a room full of darkness. If she bothered to notice him as well hidden as he was he deserved it and worse.

The night-hag was a roaring bonfire of strength. He was glad that even with her aura dialed down to a whisper at a stadium rock concert she stood out in the traces of fear that she left in her wake. The paranoia that had people looking over their shoulders or worse in the case of a few either checking to make sure they were armed or locking doors and closing curtains. He was so glad that he’d come to grips with what scared him. He hadn’t beaten fear no one could. The trick was to always run towards what made you want to run away. It was only by accepting that fear would simply be there could anyone could stand up to it. Fighting fear was as dumb as swimming in alcohol after sandpapering ones entire body.

As they neared her destination he locked himself up tight and circled around the block looking for a rear way into the area it would mean he would miss introductions. It would also mean that he might avoid ant ruffled feathers and have a way to escape should the moment come up. As he found the back door so to speak he was slapped by a wall of power that could only mean one thing. Sion was in for a major kicking of somewhere especially tender. It made him smile knowing that he wasn’t the only one with secrets. There was no way someone this strong would be in the city without it being to put Sion in a place whether it was his or not. It also meant that any real pretense at slinking was virtually useless. So he stopped bothering to make sure he would was as silent as a cat dressed in a ninja suit..

Sauntering forward as if he was emerging from shadow itself he waited to be addressed or worse attacked.

[darkmoon]

Walking through the underbelly of the city had never bothered Donavonn, seeing as how he wouldn't be the Ulfric of the city, had it not been for growing up on these streets. He'd heard through the grapevine that there was to be an unofficial meeting of some of the more powerful 'creatures of the night', and Don figured it was as good a place and time as any to introduce himself and possibly gain some powerful allies. As he made his way through the streets, Don disguised his scent and aura almost completely, letting just a trickle leak through his shields to keep the humans wary of him, at least enough so that they steered clear of him. Donavonn could smell at least three vampires gathered in an alleyway ahead of him, and had to assume that his was where he needed to be. When the letter arrived requesting his presence, Don certainly hadn't expected a revolution in planning to be held in a back alleyway, but stranger things had happened. Deciding to forego stealth, Don dropped the reigns on his aura, basically announcing to the vampires who he was, what he was, and what his standing was.

Entering the makeshift circle, Don began sizing up the group in his mind. The woman was powerful, the man hiding in the shadows was as well, but to a lesser degree. Then there was the vampire that smelled like death and decay, leaning against the wall with a hood over his head. Don could literally smell the power radiating off of him, the aura of command. So this was Casper, the rotter. While he'd never met the vampire before, Don had heard rumors about him. That he was more powerful than the current Master of the City, that he had no qualms about taking what he felt was either owed, or he needed, and Don could respect that. But the most interesting rumor, the one that had brought Don away from his mate, to the seediest parts of Chicago's underbelly, was the one saying that Casper was looking to ally himself with as many strong preternaturals as he possibly could, in order to overthrow Sion, the current Master of the City. Then again, seeing as he was here, in what had all the markings of a secret war meeting, maybe the rumors weren't rumors, after all.

Clearing his throat, Don figured, to hell with beating around the bush. If this vampire could guarantee a safer city for his pack, Donavonn would do anything in his power to help Casper achieve his goal. The most important thing in Don's mind, the ratio that was always considered when making any important decision, was whether the rewards would be worth the risks. SO he worked it out in his head. The risks; death, dismemberment, and a continuation of the way things were currently. The rewards; a safer city for himself, his mate, and his pack, an alliance with strong leaders in the preternatural community, and the chance to fight at his full power and potential. The decision was already made. The rewards outweighed the risks. By far. Never one to waste his breath on pointless words, Don said the only thing that he knew Casper, and the assembled people, wanted to hear. "You have the teeth and claws of the Finsternis De Lichts Pack. We're in."

[casper]

OUTFIT

Casper hadn't been standing there long when he felt it. It was powerful, strong, and nearly had him terrified. He could feel fear, but he had never let it control him. Yet this fear brought a smile to his face because he knew who it belonged to. His eyes moved through the shadows to see the petite cloaked figure move out of the shadows across the street, but his focus quickly changed as he noticed that the shadows moved a little differently than it should have. It didn't do it again so he moved his eyes back to the cloak, smiling as the arms went around him and he looked down into Temperance's beautiful face. ”Temperance, you look as beautiful as ever. And that is exactly why I am here. You being here is a bonus.” He laughed as she said that she was in, brushing his lips against her forehead. ”I'm glad to hear that, Temperance, but you are ...” He stopped, pulling back as he felt her aura pulse. His eyes grew wide and he leaned down to look in her face. ”You're not bound to him. I can't feel anyone in your aura but you.” It was a miracle. He had a master Moroven powerful enough to breath on her own on his side. Brilliant.

He stepped back from Temperance and turned to look behind them, giving a smile and lashing out with his aura. ”You can come out now, I know that you are here.” He watched the man moving toward them and pushed Temperance behind him, moving his hand to his side and feeling the rot start, wanting it as acidic as possible when he threw it on the stranger should he be a spy. ”Speak now and let me know who you are and if you're a spy for Sion, or you will learn what it means to be touched by holy water.” The rot on his hand made a plopping noise as it hit the pavement below him as he glanced at Temperance to see if she knew who the vampire was and what he wanted.

Then the scent of wolf moved toward him and he moved to look at the newest figure to join the group. He was powerful, more powerful than Casper had heard him to be, but nothing that Casper couldn't manage. Donavonn Delunos, Ulfric of the Finsternis De Lichts pack. Casper had heard of him, researched him, read through all Ruslana's files on him, but he was still an imposing figure. Casper let the smile play across his lips. He could definitely use a man like that at his side. Which made the words out of the wolf's mouth all that more fun for Casper. ”That is good to hear, Ulfric. I am Casper, son of Morte D'Amour.” He held his hand up, looking at the bones with the rotted flesh still hanging from it. ”I would offer to shake your hand, but I do not wish to burn an ally.”

[temperance]

OUTFIT

Temperance couldn't help the excitement that moved through her when he actually looked at her. She had been so long without a friend, someone she trusted with her life, that it was great to have him there with her. Even if the next few weeks would be hard with him trying to become the Master of the City. ”I haven't been here but a few weeks, Casper. I would have told you that I was here had I been able to get in contact with you.” She shrugged, feeling the kiss on her forehead as he spoke again. She bit her lip at his words, his so blue eyes suddenly looking at her from right now. She nodded as he spoke. ”I was supposed to have been bound to Sion last night, but I woke up on my own. You know me, Casper. I can't live like this. I mean, I could, but I need to be bound to someone. I wouldn't mind if it was you.” He had saved her life more than once in the past, and she could see eternity as one of his lieutenants.

She frowned as Casper stepped back before she realized what was wrong, moving behind Casper, holding the fear aura in so that she could throw it out and paralyze whoever it was. As the man walked out of the shadows, she sighed, then fear moved through her. ”His name is Eliachem, Casper. He works for Sion. Though I believe that he may feel as Ruslana and I do.” She heard the plop and looked down, feeling a shudder of excitement move through her as she saw that he was rotting, wondering how poisonous he was at that moment. She made everyone fear her without trying, and he made ever fear him with a thought. Together, they were unstoppable, but she wasn't here to do that again. Never again. And she knew that he wasn't either.

She jumped a little at the aura of the wolf, feeling her own aura lash out at him. She wanted to scare the wolf and she didn't know why. Maybe it was because Casper was rotting and the thought of a fight kind of excited her. Either way, she nodded to the wolf that Casper identified as the Ulfric. Glancing amongst the three guys, she gave one of her winning smiles to Donavonn. ”I am Temperance. I would offer to shake your hand, but most can't handle the fear aura. It is a pleasure to meet you though.” She stepped into Casper, laying a hand against his back, knowing that he was the one to stick close to should things go wrong. The blade in her pocket said she could take care of herself, but honestly, she would rather not have to hurt anyone tonight. That was always Casper's thing.

[darkmoon]

Feeling a strange sensation of slight paranoia cross his senses, Donavonn disregarded it as an idea popped into his head. So Casper had rotted one of his hands. The other was still very much flesh and bone. Extending his left hand to the would-be Master of the City, Don spoke, the growl of his wolf apparent in his voice. "I'm no stranger to pain, Casper, but my mate would be pissed if my fingers weren't in working order. So I'll settle for the other hand. And Temperance, I know all about your fear aura, and how it's MUCH worse with touch, and I'm willing to take the chance if you are. We're looking to pull some shit out of our asses on this one, boys and girls, and we'll need all the help we can get. We can't expect to get anywhere if we're scared to even shake hands with our allies."

Looking over at the man who still had yet to speak, Don felt a little uneasy about him. Hell, he didn't know the guy from Adam, but just knowing that he was one of Sion's men caused Don's hackles to raise slightly. He always disliked traitors, but he could understand if it was for the good of the city and it's inhabitants. Hell, if it ever got to a point where Don wasn't protecting his pack as he should, he hoped that there were people that would do exactly this to him. Extending Eliachem the same courtesy as he had the other two, Don raised his hand for the other man to shake, basically forming an unbreakable bond between the four people. A bond that said they were willing to fight, bleed, and die in order to protect their home, and their people. And speaking of people... Don made a mental note in his mind to get Val clued in in this, too. He knew she's be more than willing to help their cause, and not just because she was his mate. Val had a strong sense of loyalty to her pack, just as he did, and anything that would help their pack in the long run, he knew she'd be all for it.

Keeping his eyes trained on Eliachem, Don spoke again, his voice becoming taking on more of a gravel tone the more he spoke. His voice wasn't used to long stretches of speaking, usually being a man of few words, and he preferred to let his attitude, his power, and the way he carried himself get his point across. "So, bub, what's your story? I can understand Temp and Casper's reasonings, but why would someone on Sion's good side want to help overthrow him? Seems kind of like the old adage of not shitting where you eat. Don't get me wrong, we're glad for any allies we can get in this little endeavor, I'm just a little curious as to why." Watching the strangely blue eye of the vampire, Don flexed his hands, the bones cracking slightly from the lack of use. It wasn't an intimidating gesture or anything of the like, Don just had seriously tense hands from his work as a bassist, and he hoped that Eliachem hadn't taken the gesture the wrong way. Donavonn really didn't want to kill a potential ally.

[Eliachem]

“Plop Plop Fizz Fizz,Oh what a relief it is,” Eliachem said his voice steady and confident even as he truly wasn’t. The power of the three here in the mouth of the alley enough to cow even the staunchest opponent. He was immediately taken with how sincere and threatened they all were. Threats were no way to begin a relationship. No proper way at least. Casper Donavonn and Temperence seemed to close ranks upon first meeting that left him as the outside man . He probably always would be there was an undercurrent of alliance they held upon seeing each other. Temperence and Casper knew each other Donavonn had made his mind up before he arrived. Eliachem wasn’t convinced. He liked breathing on is own. He liked pulling the wool over Sion’s eyes. He liked having his freedom. He however didn’t like the lack of support Sion had. He didn’t like being a part of a Kiss that for all intents were destitute. He didn’t like the limits to which Sion was willing to go to in an effort to present the image that all was well. The city was no better with Sion in the lead. He unlike everyone gathered wondered would it be worse with a vampire that fed on fear.

“You all know that threats aren’t the best way to influence people or make friends. It’s to say the least ostracizing. Just like my invitation being lost in the mail.” Moving closer to the gathered three he met each of their eyes in turn starting with Donavonn then Temperance then finally Casper. He allowed the fear he felt to radiate like a furnace on full blast. Fear wasn’t the issue it was not fighting the fear. He knew that if things escalated that the best he could do would be to drag someone to hell with him. He knew that in the grand scope of things that killing was easy but willing to die for a thing was harder than fighting all of nature. He was okay with dying he was better with killing. He wouldn’t blithely despite his outward seeming throw away all the long years he’d lived.

“I am part of the Kiss, just like you Temperance. Just like Ruslana. The only two not part of the Kiss are you Donavonn Ulfric and you Casper. If that was an issue then this party should have been more secretive maybe you should have held it in Sion’s bathroom someplace he’d never go or send anyone. I like all of you can see the signs of Sion’s inability to really lead. So lets dial down the paranoia and talk brass tacks. There’s no point in sweating the fact that I am here because if I were really a spy and really weak enough to be oathed to Sion he would already know who you all are. And as piss poor as the Kiss is there would be someone on the way to murder you all as you slept.Especially as Sion isn’t the sort to deal with anything head on.”

Taking Donavonn’s extended hand he dropped his shields so as to not project the image of a completely helpless vampire. He was afraid that they wouldn’t buy his bluster. If they didn’t it wasn’t much he could do except take one or two to the grave with him. Much like Sion he avoided direct combat when he could. He didn’t avoid it because he was unable to deal death like a vegas card dealer did hands of blackjack. He avoided combat because once begun he knew full well that the only true end was the extinguishing of some one’s life.

“So Casper Temperence what platform are you running on? I hope its universal medical coverage.”

[Deleted]

outfit

Ruslana was still groggy after an hour of being awoken, this was not good, not good at all. That meant the at bound wasnt strong enought to keep her in the land of the living. She would hate to admit it but she was scared, even after feeding both hungers she didnt have the boost she needed or wanted. Taking a breath as she finished applying her makeup for the 'day' looking at herself in the mirror she nodded the joy of it. Moving from her seat, she walked into the closet and pulling out her dress, slipping it on as she added all the finishing touches. She walked out the door shutting and locking the door, leaving the building she moved to the entrance to the underground city with a sigh.

She was going to have to tell Casper the issue she was having and some how she knew she was going to get punished. That is just want she wanted to do, she taking a breath as she followed the fear aura to find Casper and Temperance, maybe Temperance would help here in this bind that she was in. Stopping short as she watched the interaction between them all there is a wolf in the mix. Well that was helpful really it was part of her was glad she didnt have to do too much more work finding out how to get to the Ulfric. This was so much easier then going up to his school in the middle of the night and banging on the door asking to speak to him and most likely losing her head in the process .

Something in her snapped slightly as the her aura flared when her eyes landed on the newer vampire, wasnt that 'Sions new pet', humm things were getting inserting fast here. She heard the whispers about this on in the apartments she barely stayed in now, most her time was at the house 'tied up' to put lightly. Yawning a bit as she stayed back in the shadows some waiting to see what Casper was going to do, until he heard him talk and feared for the less then master Vampire. Stepping out of the shadow with a smile and a bounce in her step she walked over to Eliachem. Getting her heel caught she stumbled a bit grabbing at the other male as she fixed the shoe that popped off.

"Silly me I am very late to the party; it seems that I can't seem to find the will to pull myself out of slumber much anymore. I am so clumsy at times too now." Her eyes locked on Casper then Temperance telling them her plight without saying what she meant, hopefully they would get it and maybe even care some what is she was lucky. If not and she didnt wake up she would wonder what was going to happen, maybe she would get the rest she needed. Shaking her head at her own joke that she made in her mind. " So what have I missed? Nice to see the Ulfric out and about I feared I was going to have to knock on the school's doors to request a meeting and hopefully being able to keep my head when I did. " Ruslana giggled a bit as she tried to keep the mood lighter then what she fear it sat at, a small smile touched her lips.


"I am Ruslana it is a pleasure to meet you in person Ulfric...I am sorry I didnt get your name." Moving her slim hand off of the other male of her kind, she dropped into a minor curtsy at the wolf after she spoke. Then she turned to Casper her curtsy dropped a little deeper as he begged his forgiveness for her showing up late as she was. Praying she was not going to get punish for this, but fearing she would.

[casper]

OUTFIT

Casper would be more than happy to bind Temperance to him. He knew her history, had seen the first hundred years of it, and he knew that she was dependent on those stronger than her. He kissed her forehead and gave her a nod. ”Hopefully, we will see to it soon enough that you are bound to me.” He gave her a hug and knew that he wasn't giving the bad ass image that he always tried to strive for, but he had a history with Temperance. Besides, she was such a wounded vampire because of what happened to her that he had a soft spot for her, he always had.

Then he had the other two to deal with. He nodded to the Ulfric as he spoke, letting the smile play along his lips. ”I would not want to anger a female wolf.” He kept his right hand by his side for the minute while he shook the Ulfric's other hand. He shook his head though at the mention of the Ulfric shaking Temperance's hand. ”I will leave that choice up to Temperance later on, but for now, you can understand if I do not wish for her to smell of wolf right now. Though I will be talking to her about the leopard smell on her later.” He looked behind him at Temperance with a question in his eyes before Don was asking Eliachem about what his story was. It was a question that Casper himself had.

He turned his attention to the other vampire and raised an eyebrow, laughing and shaking his head. ”I did not know that invitation had been sent out. Most of it was through word of mouth. If I had known that you were interested in coming, I would have had Ruslana invite you.” He tilted his head to the side as Eliachem continued, giving a shrug and leaning against the wall beside Temperance, holding his hand up and seeing the skin already reforming around the bone. He was no longer poisonous, but he could be at a moment's notice. ”Temperance is only in the Kiss by name, the bond did not take with her, as it doesn't appear to have taken with you. If you wish to join the fight, then by all means, join us.” He shook his right hand out, balling it into a fist and releasing it, feeling the muscles healing.

He reached back and took Temperance's hand, feeling her aura flaring and gave it a squeeze. He smiled when asked what his platform was, opening his mouth to answer, when he face went completely blank, looking behind Eliachem. He was frozen with anger, he knew that, as she greeted the others. When she curtsied to him, he moved quickly, probably took quickly because of the situation, to Ruslana and wrapped an arm around her waist. ”Oh, love, I'm so sorry. We'll get this figured out.”

He cupped her face in his hand, giving her a gentle kiss before looking back at Eliachem. ”Do you want this for the other vampires in the city? Is this what you want our kind to be known as? We are predators, the top of the food chain, powerful beings, and yet this is what Sion has done to this city.” He gently moved Ruslana over to Temperance before continuing. ”My platform, as you call it, is simple. I want vampires to be known throughout the city again, but not as the weaklings that Sion has made them appear. Safety for all species throughout the city so that it never falls again. That is what I am offering to any and all who want it.” He knew that his smile was wicked as it moved across his face. ”Even if I have to burn everyone who stands in my way.”