Late night fix (Very Open)
Feeling much better and reading to get out and about again, Addison headed down to the little cyber cafe he'd seen once while passing by. The establishment had looked ok, but he didn't trust the machines there farther than he could toss them so he'd brought his own powerbook. Gabriel, the thin little power book of his, was tucked under one arm, cradled in his cozy, expensive leather bag. It was late, but the place looked to be quite busy still. Addison supposed that on a diet of caffene and nicotene, these were the all-night gamers of Nachton. 'We all have our vices,' he thought with a shake of the head.
Stopping at the counter, he looked over the memberships as the pimply faced kid came over and started speaking. Hmmmm.....to go for the seasonal pass or not? It wasn't like he couldn't afford it....
'I can hook you up though.'
Addison looked up at the tone Mr. Gross gave. He noticed with some distaste that the youth was leaning towards him in a lecherous manner. "No thank you. I'll take the seasonal pass and an iced latte, extra large, carmel, whipped cream, and an extra shot of expresso in that..."
And with that, the red head dropped his money on the counter and backed away, keeping a wary eye on the fella behind the counter until he got to a free seat. Gabriel hummed happily, starting up the newest OS of Mac, his data port clicking happily with the connection. Yes, he thought of his powermac as it's own living entity, but that wasn't so strange, was it?
Pulling open excel, Addison started going over the financial reports for a business he was considering investing in. The clerk dropped off his drink and Addison purposely ignored him, concentrating on the screen in front of him to avoid further conversation with the letch.
(OOC: Openness!)
![](https://www.sanguineaffliction.com/avatars/avatar_190.png)
Val now officially wondered exactly what Addison’s roll within the company was. Sure he’d said he was chief something or other but if Dubine was housing him he was very probably something more; vampire? Familiar? Regardless she’d have to be extra good, at least for now.
Again she absently began toying with her ring, this was why she rarely wore more than one. The habit could be quite distracting for a client, or anyone else she had an interest in. One perfectly arched eyebrow raised, even as she gave on of her most engaging smiles, at one of the names tough.
“House of Pain? Now that does sound like fun. Do I get a hint or are you going to send an unsuspecting girl into the lion’s den completely oblivious?”
((OOC… huzzah for the backness!))
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"Mmmhmm....I was recruited, but I hear they're generous to all employees. Keeps them ahead, I suppose."
Because if you could keep good people, then you wouldn't have to constantly retrain the new ones only to lose them.[/i]
[quote]"House of Pain? Now that does sound like fun. Do I get a hint or are you going to send an unsuspecting girl into the lion's den completely oblivious?"Â?
Addison smiled back, taking small glances at the ring Valentine was twirling around her finger. He never was one for jewlry, but it was very nice. A spinner? "It's very nice, but one of those clubs you have to have connections at to enjoy yourself, I think. I've only been once with my boss."
Addison nearly jumped when his cell chirped in his pocket, announcing that he had a voice mail. Pulling out the small communication device he used for his personal calls, he frowned as he realized he'd had it on mute. Looking at the number on the call missed bar, Addison frowned. He didn't recognize it right away. "Excuse me for a moment. I'm just going to make sure it's not the boss. Did you want anything to snack on?"
Addison smiled apologetically and stood, moving towards the counter as he punched in his code for voice mail. 'Oh ...Nic...the vampire guy (according to Ellis)' The accountant's eyes went wide as he listened to the recording, trying not to laugh as it was cut off early. Well...he had Nic's number now at least. Or, the number he'd dialed from and chances were it was one he could be reached back at. Addison grabbed some things at the counter after clicking shut his little cell.
(OOC: Did you want to end because of the event?)
![](https://www.sanguineaffliction.com/avatars/avatar_190.png)
Still for some reason that did rather make her mind up. SHe'd have to find the powers that be ASAP nd get settled with the rest of the clan.
"Doesn't sound like the kind of place you'd generally go with your boss."
Val had to raise an eyebrow at that. No way in hell she'd take an employee somewhere called The House of Pain. What the hell kind of relationship did Addison have with his boss?
Not offended in the least that he shuffled off to take a call she just shook her head declining the offer of a snack. However, she did get up to get another cup of coffee. Had to do something while you were waiting.
Making her way back to the table she waited for Addison to hang up and return.
"Was it the bos type or something more fun?"
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"Doesn't sound like the kind of place you'd generally go with your boss."
"My boss is...unique." Yes, he was safe describing Ellis as such. There was nothing "normal" about her, especially the sort of place they'd met for the first time. He was still thinking about Ellis when he smiled at the counter clerk and took his order, forgetting that the vile little man would probably take that the wrong way.
"Was it the boss type or something more fun?"
"Hard to say..." Addison had been warned off of Nic and frankly, he should be pissed that he'd been so blantently manipulated...but there was something about Nic that still intrigued him. And the voice mail had been sweet. But now he must know Addison was Ellis' familiar...like Ellis said...Nic's reaction had been telling at the ball. But then why would he try and contact him? Nic was either very brave or very foolish. "But not the boss lady herself."
He set the little cell phone down next to his laptop and broke a piece of biscotti, taking a nibble and thinking on if he should respond to the message. "I have a hypothetical for you. Say you met someone and had a good time once, but later found out it's not quite allowed. And say this person contacted you after you find out this restriction. Should you respond to the request?" Hmmm....not so vague, but maybe Valentine could offer some insight.
![](https://www.sanguineaffliction.com/avatars/avatar_190.png)
Cautioning herself about going off half cocked with these assumptions and ideas she fidgeted with her coffee cup. She was still rather hoping Addison would come out and say something specific, but for now, she'd have to make do with what she was given.
Casually switching which leg was crossed over which she mused aloud.
"Well I'd say there are a few more questions to ask. A great deal is going to depend on why there is this 'restriction', what the consequences are and why you want to see them again. You have to have all the pros and cons out there to make a good choice."Â?
She smiled her most charming and engaging smile. It was an odd turn for the conversation to take but it might get her some more insight on her coffee partner.
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"And this person is definately not in my cl...company." Addison barely recognized the little hiccup as he was currently wondering what sort of meeting Nic had meant with his message. From his voice, it didn't sound like it would be a continuation of their last...encounter. Maybe Nic didn't think he knew about his...status yet.
"I am thinking the cons would far outweigh the pros...my boss being who she is. But I can't see how it would hurt to be polite and return a call... What do you think?"
(OOC: lol...tried to get a slip in that he might do. Addison is decent on keeping secrets.)
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She'd been paying a great deal of attention to what Addison was saying, trying to put two and two together. If she hadn't been listening so closely and had her own suspicions the one little, nearly invisible slip wouldn't have caught her attention.
Pausing with her coffee half way to her lips Val looked intently at Addison for a second before sipping the coffee and setting it back down.
Not having meet Ellis personally Val couldn't offer much of an opinion, but still she did think Addison would approve of waking up dead.
"I would say that if your boss is who I think she is and what I've heard is true you'll lose his number and tell her he called."Â?
((OOC... huzzah for the tiny slip!))
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"I would say that if your boss is who I think she is and what I've heard is true you'll lose his number and tell her he called."Â?
If he had just taken a sip of his iced coffee, it would have been expelled right back out. Was this young woman implying she knew Ellis? He gazed at Valentine carefully. He could get into a lot of shit for mentioning Ellis' name...well, he thought he might...but what if this person wasn't shitting him
and was possibly a clan member he just didnt know.
"You know Ms. Duban?" It was asked carefully, his voice nary a level higher than just she would have heard. She had to have...and be on good terms with Ellis...otherwise she wouldn't have known that the person he was talking about was male. And if that was true...how many people had Ellis told? Was it common fact in Tach about the familiar who was so gullible as to be "persuaded" by a vamp from another clan? Did everyone think him a joke now? Crap...
Addison eyed his cell again, wary to delete anything. He really was curious about what Nic had to say and even if he got mad and changed his mind and went right to Ellis...then she'd want the number and message to listen to.
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"No, no. I haven't met her personally, not yet."Â?
She smiled, just slightly broader than usual, making sure her large canines showed. If he knew about Tàcharan, it shouldn't take much to guess what she was. Valentine only hoped he'd be sensible enough to put two and two together without saying anything.
"Reputation only. That and she's on my list of people to call on now that I'm in town."Â?
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"I'm one of her close, personal associates." He smiled, making it look like just a proud gesture, but flashing his normal, if slightly braces-manacured, teeth and wondering if he was going to have to do that every single time he came across someone like...his boss.
"How do you know of her, if you don't mind my asking?" Innocent enough, and yet a slight dig for information. If, by chance, this wasn't a tach member, he might find out something useful for Ellis. And, granted, Monk he was not, but he could try.
![](https://www.sanguineaffliction.com/avatars/avatar_190.png)
Lazily tracing the rim of her cup with a well-manicured finger she started to figure out exactly who Addison was. Well he as much as told her he was a familiar and given who's familiar he seemed to be she would -not- be trying anything.
"She's the boss, like you said."Â?
There that ought to make it clear enough who's side she was on. Of course, the way he asked Val thought maybe he'd been involved we a member of another clan. She was surprised he was still alive.
"And you don't have to worry. I've seen what happens to those who toy with the personal associates. Not something I want to be involved with."Â?
![](https://www.sanguineaffliction.com/avatars/avatar_49.png)
"And you don't have to worry. I've seen what happens to those who toy with the personal associates. Not something I want to be involved with."Â?
At that, he flashed an extremely quick, guiltily look at his cell phone. Addison should at least warn Nic of his impending doom. But that might be considered going against Ellis' want of him staying away from Nic, so....perhaps not. "Good to hear. One can never be too careful, you see." Yeah...once bitten...twice shy and all that.
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She could torment him, tell him what Giovanni had done to the familiar he'd caught compromised by some clanless rouge. Not a nice story to tell, neither the familiar or the other had walked away from that. Some days she felt bad about that, Val had liked the familiar, but she wasn't willing to argue the point with Giovanni.
Catching him looking at the phone, however briefly, Val shook her head.
"No. You can't afford to be too careful. Especially given how deep you are in."Â?
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"No. You can't afford to be too careful. Especially given how deep you are in."Â?
Addison's blue eyes narrowed at Valentine. For someone who hadn't even met Ellis yet, she was either talking out her arse or assuming she knew....or maybe his little slip was in a tach newsletter somewhere...who knew, but it was odd she commented on that. "And what do you mean by that?" He asked, a little quickly.
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"I mean knowing about the company and becoming a personal associate. That's all."Â?
Either he had a guilty conscience or someone else had all ready been at him. Straightening back up she smiled again.
"Like I said I don't want to be involved with toying with someone like yourself."Â?
What had happened with him and the voice mail person? It was an interesting question and one Val doubted she'd ever get an answer too. She sure as hell wasn't going to ask him directly and the accountant didn't seem like the sort to take many people into his confidence.
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"I mean knowing about the company and becoming a personal associate. That's all."Â?
Addison relaxed and nodded once, accepting the short explination. It was a generalized statement and not a "don't let that Nic guy diddle you because you belong to someone else." That was a little more reassuring.
"Like I said I don't want to be involved with toying with someone like yourself."Â?
'Toying..' Interesting way of putting it. Was that what Nic had been doing...toying? The thought made him a little angrier about the encounter, but Nic had come across as someone who'd not be like that. And to top it off, he'd looked genuinely startled when he'd met Ellis. No, he hadn't been toying with him on purpose.
"Good to hear. My boss can be less than...kind in her actions at times." Ok, so he didn't know that first hand, but he'd heard some stories...whispered or spoken in the Domicile. That Ellis was not one to cross.
![](https://www.sanguineaffliction.com/avatars/avatar_190.png)
Not, no judging until she'd met her; it was a good rule of thumb for just about anyone and especially with someone who was in charge.
Given the way this conversation was going Valentine got the feeling that Addison was fairly new to the whole situation. That had to be nerve racking for anyone, a bit of culture shock and all that. Not too keen on playing guessing games she decided it wouldn't be too offensive to ask.
"It sounds like you're new to the game."Â?
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"It sounds like you're new to the game."Â?
"Yes...does it show that much?" He had hoped that learning a bit more would have helped, but he still felt so much like the newb he was. After all he'd only been bitten once...wait, twice...but that last one was still questionable.
![](https://www.sanguineaffliction.com/avatars/avatar_190.png)
It was the polite way to say the more you talk the more it shows.
“Of course everyone has to start somewhere don’t they?”
She cast a discreet glance at her watch. It was earlier (or later depending on how you looked at it) than she thought, and there was still dinner to find and Addison, however appealing, was off the menu. Still she had a few more minutes and didn’t need to hurry yet.
“Do I get to ask how new or is that prying?”
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Sabine looked down at the portfolio case in her hand with distaste. This was her second solo album so they now expected her to find some kind of recognizable signature or logo. Hello, have they seen my hair?!. She bowed her head a bit, hiding further under the black fedora with a red satin ribbon that she had tilted low on her head to shadow her face. The creep behind the counter was looking at her funny.
She quickly took her mocha and fled the counter. A quick look around told her that the gamers were out in force. There was table a bit further a way. The couple nearby seemed pretty intent on whatever it was they were discussing. Perfect, they wont notice me then. Sabine set her drink and the portfolio down on the table. Before sitting down herself, she removed her black blazer to reveal a T-shirt that read "Bite Me" in glittering red letters. Once seated, the fedora was also removed and set aside. She could hide in the shadows and keep her head down. Settled, she took a sip of the mocha letting the warmth and sweetness ease some of her tension. Back to work. Pulling the portfolio to her, Sabine began to flip through the book looking at the different logos that were being offered. It wasn't long before she was utterly disgusted. She spoke as much to herself as to anyone nearby.
"Why don't they just put little pink hearts around it and call me Brittany"