Dressed in Lion Skin (Ray/Pride/Open)

[Eliachem]

Eliachem held no intentions of sowing dissension within the ranks of the pride. He also even as he hadn’t pushed his connection with them save a touch with the Reperio wouldn’t stand by and allow them to be eaten up from within if he could help it. He felt proprietary. Even as much as a part of him wanted to punish them for their actions against Ruslana. He had been keeping a circumspect eye on their dealings. At least those he could easily keep abreast of. He wouldn’t spy on them or pry but he would watch what he could. He was drawn to them. He was stronger being near them. So too were they being near him. The small allure of power normally would have been enough in any other city to have them fighting amongst themselves to gain his attention to be near him. He didn’t truly understand the reticence of the Rex and the other clans to stay away as often as possible. He understood their reason to want to make a stand against a weak blooded Master like Sion. He was willing to do whatever it took to hold onto the title.

It was tiring to think of how many things Sion had done to maintain the illusion of power and energy he used lying to himself. He could always kill him. He could put him out of everyone’s misery. That would be counterproductive. Eliachem was no Master of the City. He was an Enforcer. He was a black hand he was a weapon not the hand that wielded it. Not to mention he wanted no part of the frontline work needed to correct everything Sion had done wrongly. He wasn’t the head that needed a crown to have a sense of self-worth. He however did need a war to fight. He needed a task to appoint the full limits of himself. He needed to be the shadow of vengeance and the balance upon which matters were weighed. Having lain unused he knew that the edge he had mastered through fires had begun to dull. Not noticeably to anyone else but to himself.

So he had bent himself to the task at hand. Having found the arrival of the newest addition to the Pride he was surprised that one such as he was in the city. Wyndham was a name whispered amongst human empires as either the rock upon they could be built or the hammer that tore them down. He was a man that made things happen. Last Eliachem had been made aware of him it was a foregone conclusion that the Master of New York was looking at bringing him into the fold. Finding Wyndham as a lycanthrope, let alone a lion was a slightly disconcerting idea. He didn’t know how the Rex would corral a man who had spent his lifetime building and breaking power. Eliachem knew it wouldn’t be long before the legend of Wyndham would make a play against the Rex. If even only half of what had made the rounds of rumor was true he was a dangerous thing that needed to be pointed as far away from the Rex as possible.

He couldn’t interfere yet he had to do something. So he had approached Wyndham circumspectly. He used so many intermediaries that even he had a hard time keeping the tangled web together in his head. He asked his appearance in a public venue with lots of people around to put the man at some semblance of ease. He was going to offer the man a job and a task that would not interfere with his place in the Rex’s Pride but would at least keep him focused elsewhere.

[Raymond Wyndham]

Ray walked into the theater surveying the crowds gathered to watch The Book of Mormon. It wasn’t his scene. He spotted the vampire right away. He looked like he belonged in the gathered crowd. As with most vampires he had met it looked as if he stepped out of the pages of some magazine. He seemed less than real. Moving alongside the vampire who was fake drinking a cocktail he rested one hand on the makeshift bar. “So what now?” Ray asked. The vampire had spent a lot of money tracking him down. He would at least give him the value of his dollar. It wasn’t rare that Ray had done things in the interest of a few vampires over the years. This was the first to seek him out directly. It was also one of the few to do so through mundane means. Especially when there was a pull coming from him. Ray knew what that meant. There had been a beast master vampire that could call all sorts of animals. Lions being one of the many she had a connection with. She had tried to abuse her strength. Abuse was putting it both lightly and far more seriously than what had taken place. She was lonely more than evil for evils sake. Her loneliness didn’t stop her from going to a huge excess in her actions. Shaking his head Ray met the vampire’s nose with his gaze. He wasn’t foolish enough to meet the vampire’s gaze dead on. It put him at a small disadvantage but t was one he could live with. He couldn’t however live with being mind fucked or otherwise screwed with.

He had horror stories of watching victims of a vampires hoodoo do some of the most heinous acts imaginable. All while smiling away their souls one piece at a time. He was no ones victim. Even as the lion sitting just beneath the surface of him had begun to act like a catnip overdosed kitten. Instead of it fiercely keeping watch as it usually did it laid on its side watching with chemically sated apathy. He didn’t like the way it made him feel. It made him predisposed to hear what the vampire said through rose tinted glasses. That made him angry. He knew that the vampire wasn’t trying anything yet the way his beast was acting made him want to lash out. Someone was destined to get hurt if the vampire didn’t get to the point and soon. He was being on the best behavior he could manage but he knew that the vampire could feel the heat of aggression wafting off him. Strangely instead of it seeming to the vampire to his reason for tracking Ray down it seemed to make him want to spend more time with him.

“So?” Ray said so unlike his usual self. He rarely spoke when a deal was happening but he had no idea what the deal was. It was a feeling he enjoyed even as his lion was all but anesthetized.

[Eliachem]

Eliachem had felt the lion before he arrived. The lion was at complete peace which made the man on edge. Eliachem kept his gaze light and easy. He was doing his best to remain unremarkable. He was sre that they hadn’t dealt directly before but someone who swam with sharks usually had other skills they kept hidden. So Eliachem was taking no chances he was basically offering the world for a song and a dance. If the lion became caught up in why Eliachem was asking and questioned that he might become distracted chasing shadows unless Eliachem presented it and the why as transparently as possible.

“Well I am going to take in the rest of the show after this meeting no matter which way it goes. You depending on what you take from our little get together will either be well on your way to making money or whatever you might do besides that. ” Eliachem said ignoring the brusque nature of the man and lion before him. The lion wasn’t a problem it responded as most would in his presence. He was a strong one yet he wasn’t as guarded mentally as some he had run across. It demanded his attention. He instead of feeding it he took a step back keeping his aura light and thin spread as far and thin as he could allow.

“I want to pay you to take over the local crime family. They are in the Master of the Cities pocket and I would like this to change. I don’t have any illusions that this is a difficult task but your skills come highly praised. I also know that doing so isn’t too far beyond what your skill set is.” Eliachem stopped handling the drink he’d ordered. He’d ordered it mainly so that he could savor the scents of the drink. It wasn’t what he’d hoped for. The bartender used a mix and very little of that. There was no muddling and no ral effort. He was sure that it tasted exactly as it smelled. Barely passable.

“The Master uses the muscle they provide as a buffer from actually dealing with or actually doing anything. He is able to turn a blind eye to things and still be problematic to progress. So they both need to be shaken up. The easiest way to accomplish both tasks change the leadership of the Bravotierlmo’s.” Standing as he saw the light alerting everyone that the intermission was over. Sitting down a few bills he turned to the lion briefly a smile playing over his lips. “So?” he asked turning the lion’s own words back at him.

[Raymond Wyndham]

The vampire had done this before he said no names and spoke no details except what pertained to the job offer. He was wily enough to dangle a very shiny tasty looking a carrot while doing his best to hide the stick. The stick being he called lions. The stick being if he took the job whatever funds he accepted would more than likely count as the vampires interest in the organization. He was attempting to buy if not an army at least a network of informants or muscle. Ray didn’t like that idea. He liked the idea of the challenge he however knew it would be an involved project and one where a bankroll would be necessary. He hadn’t ever really thought of leading anything as large and unwieldy as a criminal network. It could prove useful having access to that sort of infrastructure.

“How much ” Ray asked keeping his words simple and direct. The vampire was up to something and while he didn’t find a lie anywhere in his statements there was something else there. There was something else he was speaking on so that he wouldn’t have to lie. It was a trick he used usually to great success so he smelled it there in the vampires words. He knew that for every angle that he saw there was at least one the vampire hoped he didn’t If that were the case then he could very well be playing into a larger scheme that the vampire had cooking. Sadly knowing that only made the idea of doing it so much more interesting. It would be depending on the vampires next answer either one of his best tasks accomplished or for the first time ever something he walked away from.

Being honest with himself the way his lion was acting he was leaning towards walking away. The beast colored his perception on things. It took a lot of effort to stave off the effects of his lion and he didn’t want its like of the vampire to blind him to anything. It would be a hole in his awareness. A hole that could be exploited. A hole that more than likely would be exploited. Knowing that he already had begun to focus his reserves towards shoring up his defenses against that.

[Deleted]

Cothing for the night

Rakasha decided to walk through the Theatre District which was very rare for her to do indeed since her classes have been pulling all her time in the dojo. The latest blow up with David was rather messy and she didn't think he would be coming around much. She was very glad that came to an end and did so quickly since it was getting a little sloppy to her. He wanted to give them a title, she laughed at that idea, her dating an human of all hings oh yes that would work. She could use her imagination on that little talk. 'oh baby I am stay three nights a week at my bosses house, yes he is the one that owns the place there is another girl and guy there as well. We all get naked and run under the moon' That would go over well, she thought as she started to laugh at it. Ok back to David not showing up... She really needed to hire people to help her with all the work, hot damn she figured it out she was going to look for people to help her out. Smiling as she walked on her hips swaying as she walked around, Her head in the clouds as she kept looking out just in case Sion sent some one after her as it was one of his vampires she de-fanged even if they were a traitor to him. Slowly she walked down the streets wondering what night club she should go to after this walk, she was using this to decompress from the weeks of nonstop work that she had and is facing still. She was soo putting out a help wanted tomorrow in everything she could think of, if she did not she was going to kill over. Then what would the pride do with their Reperio dead from exhaustion...well at lest she would get some sleep.


shaking her head to kill the morbid thoughts she had, stopping as she took in the posters and the sounds of the people moving around her as she smiled,it was nice to see a simpler way of things to her. Yes these peoples life was stressful but at least they did not all go furry during there monthly. Taking a deep breath as she smelt him on the air it was Ray. She started to walk the way that his scent was coming, turning here and there as she followed it. She wanted to see what was going on in his world this night maybe see if he wanted to join her in her advertisers of the night. Then the wind changed and she was up wind from him though another scent linger there she knew as she stopped a few feet away from them. She could make the body of Ray out and then there was Eliachem standing near him too. Shit, she thought as she slowly started to back a way hopping they would not notice her. Biting her lips as she too a step backwards her eyes locked onto the men in front of her. Well this can go two ways one involved her fighting and running the other involved her sneaking away quickly and leaving nothing but her scent. The third though of them talking civilly never entered her mind as she had that touch of fear touch her. She was sure Eliachem was out for her blood as payment to what she did to the white haired vampire but she did what she had to. For her pride for her Rex to keep them safe and now she most likely pay the price. The scars just left her lip and her knee was finally heal but it look like this was going end badly.


She started to turn on her heels to make her get away, as she shifted to where her back wasn't to them but she could still leave quickly. She started to walk at a brisk pace trying to blend in with everything around her as she tip toed away from them hoping luck was on her side today but normally it never was. But she was allowed to hope right?

[Eliachem]

Lions were ambush predators using guile strength deceptive speed and overwhelming numbers to hunt. They were a creature in the wild who were designed to conquer everything including themselves. Those traits crept into their metaphysical relations more times than not. Lions seemed to always be resting but in truth Lions were a creature that if it wasn’t in their own self-interest then they wouldn’t bother. More times than not a lion would allow prey to live simply because they weren’t meaty enough. He had over the years picked up a few of those traits himself. He watched he waited and if there were nothing in it for him he tended to leave things be. As he watched Wyndham decide which path he would take Eliachem quickly turned away as he spotted a shock of blonde hair and a scent that made him clench his hands momentarily into fist. Most lycanthropes picked up on the stillness that came with age. It immediately put them on edge. To fight that inclination he had practiced expressing things outwardly though usually he over expressed things as a cover. It gave him the look and feel of a younger vampire.


While his eyes didn’t stray further away from Wyndham’s face than was polite he watched as the lion inhaled the scent as well. He quirked a brow as Wyndham’s calm surfaced as well as other chemicals that usually only presented themselves when one lusted after another. He couldn’t blame Wyndham even as a portion of him felt a how dare he. Eliachem wasn’t a jealous person but a portion of him was possessive. She wasn’t his and as long as she canoodled human he could entertain the idea that she would still be available to him once they worked through whatever would become of her actions against the Kiss. Her spending time in the arms of another lion would jeopardize that. While male Lions in the wild were polygamous lionesses were generally as monogamous as the average American woman. The added bonus of lycanthropy and its benefits to stamina and frequency was if not a potential challenge at least a bump in the road.


“You name your price whatever it is I will obtain it for you. It is not a loan. It is not a buy in on what you would build it is a salary for doing a job. Nothing more nothing less. I expect that you will need to think on things but sadly time is of the import. The clock is ticking as it won’t be long until Sion brings himself out of his self-imposed absence. To make things easier for you our only contact will be via phone if you accept or not at all if you choose otherwise.”

[Raymond Wyndham]

Ray knew who Sion was from the news clips and articles about Chicago. He was the only Master that was surrounded by a wall of guards and was still considered a master. It made Ray’s head spin with how that was possible. Especially with the last public incident of a rogue vampire causing a ruckus. He had disappeared at least according to the last bits on the subject but it was a blow against Sion’s strength. He knew a master was nothing if not the respect of the power they could bring to bear. If the Master of a city allowed such things to happen it usually meant they weren’t long for this world. Yet Sion was still alive and kicking. Now Ray knew why. He had the muscle of the local Outfit in his corner. He was able to have eyes and ears without venturing out. He was able to act without acting and be everywhere and nowhere. It was a great strategy after all knowing what a vampire could do; no one would expect the pudgy doughy made man to be the long-arm of the masters will.


As the vampire was presenting the information and offering it did make ray want to at least take a look. Snoop around and see how plausible it would be. From what he’d heard the city had one of the most difficult and organized outfits in the states. It would be a goal worth having if it was actually possible. If it wasn’t it’d be a definite suicide mission and that wasn’t on the agenda. Even if he could manage to keep things away from the Pride it was not in his character to take on things that would beat him.

There was a quote that popped into his head as he smelled Kasha. Speak f the devil and he shall appear. He didn’t bother turning his head to look for her. He could feel her beast as she began moving away. He had to catch her. He had to see what she knew what she’d overheard. It wouldn’t do for this meeting to get back to the Rex or the other lions of the Pride. Turning on his heels he spoke over his shoulder at the vampire. “Call me in two days. I will let you know. We won’t meet again either way.”

It was foolish to turn ones back on a vampire but he wanted something from Ray and as such that gave Ray a level of security for now. Even if it hadn’t Ray wouldn’t have wasted any thought on it. His nose was filled with Kasha. He had to catch her. He had to he didn’t know why but he knew he had to.