Christian didn't think the evidence would hold up in front of the Council. Thaddeus and Alfarinn would be seen as biased though other psychometrists could be used. It was more iffy than he would like and he was certain the others felt that way as well.
He believed what they said but that mattered little except to have another person as moral support. The dagger being found at the Wolf's home and the scabbard being found at Sorin's hidden apartment did at least prove to everyone that they undeniably knew each other. Those items were removed but there were three people at both scenes willing to testify that this was truth...two from the man's own clan.
They were hiding something else as well. Why keep something from them now? The two blondes explained that it had nothing to do with the case at hand. Was it incriminating or embarrassing evidence about one of them? Both? Christian snorted at that thought; the two of them together was hardly big news...unless there was video.
Hot vampire sex tapes...perhaps Sorin had Thaddeus' room wired with a camera.
It seemed unlikely even with the current knowledge of the Elder of the Night's depravity. Christian leaned forward in his seat and considered Palmer's words.
"Not necessarily. From what we've been told both Morrigan and Mai have been a part of this search from the beginning; it stands to reason that they are at least willing to wait until there is enough evidence to be brought forth. The only one of the Elders who does not know is Megan and I doubt she would cross Alfarinn for the sake of Sorin."Â?
Christian looked to the Elder present to confirm or deny this statement but found the idea of Megan turning on her brother in order to let a man from another clan go free pretty hard to imagine.
"So even if we told them we still might have time before Sorin knows."Â?
He did wonder, what with references to the two men holding out on things, if Palmer was a bit upset about not being told what the other items were that had been taken today. It was tough knowing that you were not trusted with something but Christian figured it was a personal matter of some sort. Which only made it slightly easier to take if one were inclined to believe that friends should share their inner most workings.
Celebrity Cribs
Palmer stood by the bar in Alfarinn's penthouse, taking in the spectacular view and wondering just how many chicks this Evenhet Elder could pull were he straight. Ironic that he had ended up with Thaddeus, who was pretty loaded himself and probably took this sort of thing for granted. Hell, he was probably guilty of that too,- wealth and luxury changed one's perspective no matter how much you tried to argue that you were the same person.
But that wasn't terribly important right now.
Between the two of them, Thaddeus and Alfarinn had managed to explain what they had found in the apartment and what it meant to the investigation. He'd be lying if he tried to say that it wasn't something of a relief to hear that they were sure - it had been terrible to think that Thaddeus was playing with him, even if he never fully believed it. It kind of pissed him off that Sorin had so cleanly manipulated him, or at least got in his head a little, but he was mostly angry on Thaddeus's behalf.
The guy had looked -haunted- the entire drive over and even if he wore the emo look well, with the mile long stare and the careless posture, Palmer could tell this was rough on him.
Well, they were about to cause some serious upheaval - things would get hard on everyone soon enough. Thaddeus would be fine, he was sure. Still, he thought it would be good to plan on sticking around Nachton for the foreseeable future. A couple of months at least. Help get his friend through the trial and the aftermath - after all, more friends couldn't hurt.
And Claire could use a friend too.
He considered, in between thoughts of just how many people might fit inside this apartment, why he didn't feel the least bit uncomfortable with accusing Sorin of murder...or conspiracy...well, accusing an Elder of something terrible, in any case. He would have thought that his sense of loyalty and obedience would kick in at least a little.
Well, his sense of loyalty...he wasn't sure he even -had- that other thing.
He justified his own lack of an emotional response by claiming a higher loyalty - he was true to Anantya, not any one member, even an Elder. There was an apt saying about bad apples spoiling the barrel...or was that bushel...at any rate, the point was that Sorin needed to go before he poisoned the clan any longer.
Sighing and finding he wasn't entirely satisfied with that answer, he finally turned to regard Thaddeus and Alfarinn, and spoke.
"Once we go to the Elders with this, the cat's out of the bag. If I know anything about men like Sorin, I know that he'll have a plan in place in the event he gets arrested. People will start disappearing and if there was any evidence you left in that apartment we'd better turn right back around and pick it up now, because otherwise it won't be there. We need to be -sure- we've explored everything we know about."Â? He paused, looking down for a moment and frowning. "So if there's anything you've been holding out on, it's best we hear it now while we can still do something about it."Â?
He refrained from saying anything about the additional item Thaddeus had not removed from the silky shirt. It was annoying that the nightsman was continuing to keep secrets but at some point you simply had to trust, especially when you were friends with someone from an order of spies and actors. He thought that a lot of the time those guys kept secrets just to keep secrets - it was just what they did.
Christian Bern
18 years ago
Claire
18 years ago
Claire had the ride over here to get over her despondency. Her Sire was guilty of killing a friend and mentor. She knew that he was not a good man and that innocent people had fallen before him in the past. Emma had been a clan mate and somewhere inside her, Claire had hoped that if there was nothing else sacred that her creator respected then at least he held himself within the bounds of loyalty to his Clan and Order.
It was not so. There was no hope for him, no saving his immortal soul. She had always hoped that if she waited long enough somehow it would happen. She doubted that she could make a difference in the might Nero but there had to be someone out there, for even him.
They needed a plan now. He had to be brought brought to justice. This crime had gone unpunished for far too long. Claire watched Thaddeus from beneath her lashes, feeling guilty on her sire's behalf for the role he had played in the young man's pain. He had lost his creator and mine had been the one to take her life.
She sat quietly picking at a loose thread in the tip of her travelling gloves and wondered what use she could be now that there was a new dark purpose to her life.
Speaking soft but sure, Claire added
"Perhaps I could check his quarters for added evidence. I go in and out of there doing tasks for him so it would not seem amiss. However, I do not normally rummage through his drawers so a diversion would be helpful."Â?
It was not so. There was no hope for him, no saving his immortal soul. She had always hoped that if she waited long enough somehow it would happen. She doubted that she could make a difference in the might Nero but there had to be someone out there, for even him.
They needed a plan now. He had to be brought brought to justice. This crime had gone unpunished for far too long. Claire watched Thaddeus from beneath her lashes, feeling guilty on her sire's behalf for the role he had played in the young man's pain. He had lost his creator and mine had been the one to take her life.
She sat quietly picking at a loose thread in the tip of her travelling gloves and wondered what use she could be now that there was a new dark purpose to her life.
Speaking soft but sure, Claire added
"Perhaps I could check his quarters for added evidence. I go in and out of there doing tasks for him so it would not seem amiss. However, I do not normally rummage through his drawers so a diversion would be helpful."Â?
Thaddeus Grey
18 years ago
Thaddeus had done quite a bit of explaining in a short amount of time, and there was still more to be done. For now, though, he could listen patiently and think matters through – this may be the last opportunity to do so in peace for a while.
And so he listened while Palmer and Christian debated the merits of approaching the Elders…well, two of the Elders, slowly forming his own opinion on the matter but remaining silent for now. Then Claire spoke, suggesting another way they might obtain evidence. His gut reaction was to say no and hold his ground and he was having trouble overcoming that; Sorin had killed liabilities even if they were his own children before, after all.
Or so he believed. He couldn’t help but think that it had been a terrible mistake to involve her at all, but then that really hadn’t been a conscious decision. Thaddeus refused to admit that it was fate but could hardly deny that more than simple conscious choice had brought them together.
He spoke carefully, after letting silence hang in the air a little longer.
“With all due respect, Claire…I think the risk at this point may be greater than the potential reward. The apartment was an entirely different set of circumstances.” He sighed and passed his hand over his face. “I don’t think this is a move we should make without consulting Morrigan and Mai.” He looked up at Palmer, who was standing at the bar looking broody. “And…I think we need to focus on your safety now rather than sticking your neck out on the chance we might find more evidence.”
He resisted the temptation to bite down on his lower lip. He knew he was ‘playing it safe’ and perhaps he would be overruled for his caution but his conscience would allow for nothing else.
Even so, he knew Palmer had a point. Christian was right too – Mai and Morrigan could be trusted to be discreet and utilize a sense of timing, but he’d never known Palmer to place wholehearted faith in authority figures, so he could understand his friend’s skepticism and even try to see things through the huntsman’s eyes. Would Morrigan be reasonable and patient in the face of their discoveries? He thought so, but the Elder’s reputation –did- precede her. Additionally, he agreed that they couldn’t count on being able to investigate after the arrest.
What they needed was a middle ground, and finding that was like treading through a minefield of personal missions and risks and extreme outcomes.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. He couldn’t help it- in spite of his troubled conscience his ready mind was already coming up with a possible plan to have the best of all worlds. The triad’s backing and secrecy. A chance to hunt for more evidence without Sorin being aware of the search. He frowned, his expression distant, his thumb absently stroking Alfarinn’s hand.
“What sort of diversion?”
And so he listened while Palmer and Christian debated the merits of approaching the Elders…well, two of the Elders, slowly forming his own opinion on the matter but remaining silent for now. Then Claire spoke, suggesting another way they might obtain evidence. His gut reaction was to say no and hold his ground and he was having trouble overcoming that; Sorin had killed liabilities even if they were his own children before, after all.
Or so he believed. He couldn’t help but think that it had been a terrible mistake to involve her at all, but then that really hadn’t been a conscious decision. Thaddeus refused to admit that it was fate but could hardly deny that more than simple conscious choice had brought them together.
He spoke carefully, after letting silence hang in the air a little longer.
“With all due respect, Claire…I think the risk at this point may be greater than the potential reward. The apartment was an entirely different set of circumstances.” He sighed and passed his hand over his face. “I don’t think this is a move we should make without consulting Morrigan and Mai.” He looked up at Palmer, who was standing at the bar looking broody. “And…I think we need to focus on your safety now rather than sticking your neck out on the chance we might find more evidence.”
He resisted the temptation to bite down on his lower lip. He knew he was ‘playing it safe’ and perhaps he would be overruled for his caution but his conscience would allow for nothing else.
Even so, he knew Palmer had a point. Christian was right too – Mai and Morrigan could be trusted to be discreet and utilize a sense of timing, but he’d never known Palmer to place wholehearted faith in authority figures, so he could understand his friend’s skepticism and even try to see things through the huntsman’s eyes. Would Morrigan be reasonable and patient in the face of their discoveries? He thought so, but the Elder’s reputation –did- precede her. Additionally, he agreed that they couldn’t count on being able to investigate after the arrest.
What they needed was a middle ground, and finding that was like treading through a minefield of personal missions and risks and extreme outcomes.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. He couldn’t help it- in spite of his troubled conscience his ready mind was already coming up with a possible plan to have the best of all worlds. The triad’s backing and secrecy. A chance to hunt for more evidence without Sorin being aware of the search. He frowned, his expression distant, his thumb absently stroking Alfarinn’s hand.
“What sort of diversion?”
Alfarinn
18 years ago
It had been a long silent ride back to the Towers despite the short distance. There was tension in the room that seemed to get worse with the explanation and display of evidence and not better. He wondered what their friends were thinking. That they were crazy for taking on the thoughts of a trial with nothing more than a knife, a ring, and a pair of gloves?
The gloves...They had come in contact with someone else. He remembered the image now that he had seen in the church. A pair of old hands giving the gloves to a pair of younger ones... hands that by now he recognized well enough to know when he sensed them. Sorin, someone handed the gloves to Sorin and that someone could connect the Elder of the Night with the gloves after Thaddeus had lost them. There were yet again three of them who could vouch for the appearance of the gloves with Lykaios.
The wheels of his mind were turning on this new puzzle that they had simply forgotten while dealing with the search of the place. There was still the worry that this pair of old hands belonged to an accomplice of Sorin's but that person could perhaps be 'convinced' to tell what they knew. It was a hideous job but there were few investigators more dangerous than an empath.
He forced himself to stillness, pressing his lips tightly together and putting all his willpower into not bouncing his leg with excited energy. Now was not the time for exuberance; a lot had happened today and very little of it good. Alfarinn could not help but feel that there was a certainty that this person could provide the added aid they needed...whether they wanted to or not.
Watching Thaddeus talk to Claire, he was touched at his companion's compassion and concern for her. It was a good plan and it still might be helpful. If they could gain information from Sorin's quarters then they would be foolish not to try for it. He would wait until they discussed this option before bringing up his own idea.
Squeezing Thaddues' hand, he gave his lover a smile of affection and support as the conversation continued around him.
The gloves...They had come in contact with someone else. He remembered the image now that he had seen in the church. A pair of old hands giving the gloves to a pair of younger ones... hands that by now he recognized well enough to know when he sensed them. Sorin, someone handed the gloves to Sorin and that someone could connect the Elder of the Night with the gloves after Thaddeus had lost them. There were yet again three of them who could vouch for the appearance of the gloves with Lykaios.
The wheels of his mind were turning on this new puzzle that they had simply forgotten while dealing with the search of the place. There was still the worry that this pair of old hands belonged to an accomplice of Sorin's but that person could perhaps be 'convinced' to tell what they knew. It was a hideous job but there were few investigators more dangerous than an empath.
He forced himself to stillness, pressing his lips tightly together and putting all his willpower into not bouncing his leg with excited energy. Now was not the time for exuberance; a lot had happened today and very little of it good. Alfarinn could not help but feel that there was a certainty that this person could provide the added aid they needed...whether they wanted to or not.
Watching Thaddeus talk to Claire, he was touched at his companion's compassion and concern for her. It was a good plan and it still might be helpful. If they could gain information from Sorin's quarters then they would be foolish not to try for it. He would wait until they discussed this option before bringing up his own idea.
Squeezing Thaddues' hand, he gave his lover a smile of affection and support as the conversation continued around him.
Palmer
18 years ago
Palmer nodded at Christian’s take on the situation, shrugging and mulling over the idea of giving up their control over the investigation.
“That’s the question – do we have enough evidence? Will Mai and Morrigan think we have enough? I don’t want to count on their reaction going either way.”
Claire made her offer and Palmer turned to properly face the group, intrigued with her willingness to help incriminate her creator. He wondered, though, if perhaps she wasn’t trying to compensate for not staying for the actual investigation of the apartment. That would be a shame – she had done quite enough to contribute to the group already and he doubted they lost anything by her absence from that one element.
Thaddeus, meanwhile, looked thoughtful as usual. No real shock there – his friend was, he guessed, taking everything in. The Nightsman’s brand of leadership was subtle but present in the way he listened to everyone and only spoke when he had something to say. Of course, Palmer was of the opinion that not only was his friend stressed out right now, but he was also taking a conservative approach. A little late for playing it safe, champ – our necks are already on the chopping block. He thought it was Claire’s business, her –right-, even, to search Sorin’s quarters to her heart’s content, and maybe they should just be supportive. Now didn’t, however, seem like the time to tell Thaddeus that the world didn’t revolve around him. He frowned, feeling the need to say something but not wanting upset anyone more than he had to. Finally he settled for brevity and stuck to what he knew.
“Claire doesn’t have to worry.”
The implication being that he would have her back, of course. He only realized how cocky he sounded after the fact but he let the comment stand.
He grinned darkly when, after a quiet moment, Thaddeus looked up and made it obvious that he was taking Claire’s proposal seriously in spite of his instance on safety. Palmer would accuse most nightsmen of being the worst sort of hypocrite in the same situation but he knew Thaddeus – his friend wasn’t waffling because he was manipulating the circumstances, but rather because something was eating at him and Claire was just the icing on the cake.
“Sorin is expecting me to report back. I imagine I could keep him occupied without arousing suspicion.” He thought for a moment and then looked to Claire. “Think I could get away with wearing a wire or would he pick up on that?”
“That’s the question – do we have enough evidence? Will Mai and Morrigan think we have enough? I don’t want to count on their reaction going either way.”
Claire made her offer and Palmer turned to properly face the group, intrigued with her willingness to help incriminate her creator. He wondered, though, if perhaps she wasn’t trying to compensate for not staying for the actual investigation of the apartment. That would be a shame – she had done quite enough to contribute to the group already and he doubted they lost anything by her absence from that one element.
Thaddeus, meanwhile, looked thoughtful as usual. No real shock there – his friend was, he guessed, taking everything in. The Nightsman’s brand of leadership was subtle but present in the way he listened to everyone and only spoke when he had something to say. Of course, Palmer was of the opinion that not only was his friend stressed out right now, but he was also taking a conservative approach. A little late for playing it safe, champ – our necks are already on the chopping block. He thought it was Claire’s business, her –right-, even, to search Sorin’s quarters to her heart’s content, and maybe they should just be supportive. Now didn’t, however, seem like the time to tell Thaddeus that the world didn’t revolve around him. He frowned, feeling the need to say something but not wanting upset anyone more than he had to. Finally he settled for brevity and stuck to what he knew.
“Claire doesn’t have to worry.”
The implication being that he would have her back, of course. He only realized how cocky he sounded after the fact but he let the comment stand.
He grinned darkly when, after a quiet moment, Thaddeus looked up and made it obvious that he was taking Claire’s proposal seriously in spite of his instance on safety. Palmer would accuse most nightsmen of being the worst sort of hypocrite in the same situation but he knew Thaddeus – his friend wasn’t waffling because he was manipulating the circumstances, but rather because something was eating at him and Claire was just the icing on the cake.
“Sorin is expecting me to report back. I imagine I could keep him occupied without arousing suspicion.” He thought for a moment and then looked to Claire. “Think I could get away with wearing a wire or would he pick up on that?”
Claire
18 years ago
Claire realized as soon as the words were out of her mouth that it might have been a brash suggestion. She had not proven herself to be the most capable on this trip and that gave her team mates little reason to put much faith in her ability to handle herself. She wondered horrified if they did not worry that she might use the trip through Sorin's room as a means to betray them. After all she was his child and had proven herself to be dutiful to him through out these many years.
Thaddeus' words were confirming her fears. He started out so kindly, seemed so worried that he would hurt her fragile feelings; Claire wondered if there was a way to explain that would make any difference in the situation. Should she prove by example and search anyway? Sorin would likely never know if she timed things well. Would her team mates think her more capable then or perhaps just a further liability for not even being able to work as a team and taking the entire plan and their fates into her hands without consulting them. No, she could not do that. No matter what her pride demanded.
Was the need to consult Mai and Morrigan first a subtle way of saying that they needed to see where her loyalty lay before they trusted her further? Would she stand with them in front of the elders and condemn her own Sire? Claire's features hardened at the thought; Sorin had condemned himself.
Palmer's very confident voice pierced through her brooding. Claire was stunned into stillness for a long minute. She believed they all mistrusted her or thought her incompetent but then there was this strong matter of fact statement. 'Claire doesn't have to worry...' She blushed crimson as relief and thankfulness flooded through her. Palmer trusted her and believed her capable; he was willing to back her up and help keep her safe. She looked up and gave him a shy smile of gratitude.
That seemed to change her other clan mate's mind and Thaddeus now seemed at least willing to entertain the thought of her going to search for other clues that might be within the walls of the Manor itself.
"It would just need to be something to keep him occupied for a few hours. Perhaps a dinner arrangement or a meeting of some kind?"Â?
Frowning thoughtfully at Palmer's question, Claire shook her head no.
"Sorin is very observant. More so than most of the Nightsmen. He also has had many years of practice and has reason to suspect you might be in league with Thaddeus. It would be very tricky not to be uncomfortable in some way that he would notice even without a wire."Â?
She shrugged and looked apologetic.
"His particular perception is especially keen with social situations, and though he does not have my memory for everything, Sorin does remember how people behave from visit to visit. Slight nervousness, seeming distant or overly social... could be a trigger to make him watchful. However, he is likely going to be suspicious anyway so all that you really need to worry about is keeping him occupied for that length of time."Â?
And watching out for yourself, of course.
"Be wary. He also has the ability to command and if you are in situation where he feels safe in using it. He will order you to tell him what you know."Â?
Thaddeus' words were confirming her fears. He started out so kindly, seemed so worried that he would hurt her fragile feelings; Claire wondered if there was a way to explain that would make any difference in the situation. Should she prove by example and search anyway? Sorin would likely never know if she timed things well. Would her team mates think her more capable then or perhaps just a further liability for not even being able to work as a team and taking the entire plan and their fates into her hands without consulting them. No, she could not do that. No matter what her pride demanded.
Was the need to consult Mai and Morrigan first a subtle way of saying that they needed to see where her loyalty lay before they trusted her further? Would she stand with them in front of the elders and condemn her own Sire? Claire's features hardened at the thought; Sorin had condemned himself.
Palmer's very confident voice pierced through her brooding. Claire was stunned into stillness for a long minute. She believed they all mistrusted her or thought her incompetent but then there was this strong matter of fact statement. 'Claire doesn't have to worry...' She blushed crimson as relief and thankfulness flooded through her. Palmer trusted her and believed her capable; he was willing to back her up and help keep her safe. She looked up and gave him a shy smile of gratitude.
That seemed to change her other clan mate's mind and Thaddeus now seemed at least willing to entertain the thought of her going to search for other clues that might be within the walls of the Manor itself.
"It would just need to be something to keep him occupied for a few hours. Perhaps a dinner arrangement or a meeting of some kind?"Â?
Frowning thoughtfully at Palmer's question, Claire shook her head no.
"Sorin is very observant. More so than most of the Nightsmen. He also has had many years of practice and has reason to suspect you might be in league with Thaddeus. It would be very tricky not to be uncomfortable in some way that he would notice even without a wire."Â?
She shrugged and looked apologetic.
"His particular perception is especially keen with social situations, and though he does not have my memory for everything, Sorin does remember how people behave from visit to visit. Slight nervousness, seeming distant or overly social... could be a trigger to make him watchful. However, he is likely going to be suspicious anyway so all that you really need to worry about is keeping him occupied for that length of time."Â?
And watching out for yourself, of course.
"Be wary. He also has the ability to command and if you are in situation where he feels safe in using it. He will order you to tell him what you know."Â?
Christian Bern
18 years ago
He gave a slight shrug of his shoulders to Palmer.
"I would not be the best judge of your elders and will go with whatever the rest of you deem prudent with regards to them."Â?
Claire's idea had merit. He was surprised that it was immediately turned down. Was Thaddeus concerned for her or concerned that she could not handle the task when brought up against Sorin? They had recently learned that Sorin was Claire's creator and that had explained to Christian why she had not wanted to go through his things. It must have been a terrible shock that somehow hit home when she walked through the apartment.
Yet she was willing to be here with them which said that she was convicted to doing the right thing... or that she was going to sell them all out. Ever since he had learned that she was the Elder's child, Christian had been carefully watching her emotions. They pointed to her conviction to seeing this matter through. It was possible that her mind might change but he felt that for now, at the very least, they could trust her. There was little else they could do anyway and certainly Thaddeus and Alfarinn knew that Sorin was her creator from the start of this mission and yet they chose to put their faith in her. He put the matter aside for now and considered what might put Thaddeus at ease.
His eyebrows arched incredulous and Palmer's very -confident- statement. Finding some sculpture of interest on the small table next to him, Christian fought to keep the grin carefully hidden. Palmer was nothing if not sure of himself but you had to be to do their kind of work.
Getting back to the matter at hand, he added his suggestion to the mix.
"Perhaps I could be the tap? It is easier to send when someone is either close or well known but I can manage to send to both of you from outside the Manor. You have a brief time to mentally respond so that I can hear it and I can relay the message. It is not as good as a camera but it -is- not able to be traced so easily."Â?
Unless Palmer made faces or blank stares every time Christian made mental contact. If Sorin was as perceptive as Claire was suggesting then they might not have a clear way of creating the distraction themselves but might need to wait for Sorin to be gone from the Manor.
"It might be best just to wait until he leaves and then have someone watch for his return. It means we cannot control the timing but that will keep from any of us furthering his suspicions."
Turning fully towards Claire, he regarded her with a serious thoughtful expression.
"You will likely have the most contact with him; will he see a change in you?"Â?
He wondered how often Claire spoke with Sorin. Could she be out of touch for a week or more without it seeming odd?
((OOC: empathy with permission ))
"I would not be the best judge of your elders and will go with whatever the rest of you deem prudent with regards to them."Â?
Claire's idea had merit. He was surprised that it was immediately turned down. Was Thaddeus concerned for her or concerned that she could not handle the task when brought up against Sorin? They had recently learned that Sorin was Claire's creator and that had explained to Christian why she had not wanted to go through his things. It must have been a terrible shock that somehow hit home when she walked through the apartment.
Yet she was willing to be here with them which said that she was convicted to doing the right thing... or that she was going to sell them all out. Ever since he had learned that she was the Elder's child, Christian had been carefully watching her emotions. They pointed to her conviction to seeing this matter through. It was possible that her mind might change but he felt that for now, at the very least, they could trust her. There was little else they could do anyway and certainly Thaddeus and Alfarinn knew that Sorin was her creator from the start of this mission and yet they chose to put their faith in her. He put the matter aside for now and considered what might put Thaddeus at ease.
His eyebrows arched incredulous and Palmer's very -confident- statement. Finding some sculpture of interest on the small table next to him, Christian fought to keep the grin carefully hidden. Palmer was nothing if not sure of himself but you had to be to do their kind of work.
Getting back to the matter at hand, he added his suggestion to the mix.
"Perhaps I could be the tap? It is easier to send when someone is either close or well known but I can manage to send to both of you from outside the Manor. You have a brief time to mentally respond so that I can hear it and I can relay the message. It is not as good as a camera but it -is- not able to be traced so easily."Â?
Unless Palmer made faces or blank stares every time Christian made mental contact. If Sorin was as perceptive as Claire was suggesting then they might not have a clear way of creating the distraction themselves but might need to wait for Sorin to be gone from the Manor.
"It might be best just to wait until he leaves and then have someone watch for his return. It means we cannot control the timing but that will keep from any of us furthering his suspicions."
Turning fully towards Claire, he regarded her with a serious thoughtful expression.
"You will likely have the most contact with him; will he see a change in you?"Â?
He wondered how often Claire spoke with Sorin. Could she be out of touch for a week or more without it seeming odd?
((OOC: empathy with permission ))
Thaddeus Grey
18 years ago
Ideas were beginning to fly fast and furious around him and Thaddeus worried that his concerns would be lost in the shuffle. Still, rather than put his hands up and hit the brakes, he forced himself to listen and be patient. Palmer obviously liked Claire’s idea but Thaddeus wondered what his friend would make of their plan if he had all the information on Sorin’s…capabilities.
He sighed and returned the squeeze to Alfarinn’s hand, sweeping his thumb back and forth over the top. His shoulders were knots of tension.
If he were being honest with himself, he would have to admit that he already had some abstract idea of what Sorin was capable of….their discoveries in the apartment just made everything more real. At the same time, he couldn’t say that he would ever truly –know- Sorin’s mind. He just couldn’t imagine anything worse than what the Elder had already done.
He nearly threw up his hands in exasperation when even Christian seemed to support the plan. He didn’t know why exactly, but he’d hoped for a conservative argument from that front. Admittedly the Evenhet had offered a safer alternative but…this was all moving so quickly now. Claire’s accounting of Sorin’s abilities was downright chilling and made him think that they had been insane to have even come this far. He felt guilty for allowing Palmer to go within ten feet of Sorin the first time and wasn’t keen on doing it again. He leaned back on the couch, looking up for a moment.
[I really need to talk to Claire.]
Perhaps the group as a whole should know what was troubling him but the news would affect Claire the most and he thought it would be downright unkind to land that particular blow in front of others, even if they could now call themselves friends.
“I think waiting until he leaves and keeping a lookout is the best option.” Of a dodgy bunch, he thought but did not say. “Though it would be ideal if the other Elders were prepared to made an arrest the moment they feel confident in our evidence, at this point.” He could see where Christian was going with his last question and was relieved that someone besides himself was concerned with Claire’s safety. Recklessly declaring that Claire didn’t have to worry was a nice gesture but saying it didn’t make it true in his opinion and they weren’t exactly dealing with a single decade vampire here. “Can we at the very least agree not to take unnecessary risks in our contact with Sorin?” Hmm, was his tension leaking through? Thaddeus was not certain. He continued in a slighter calmer tone. “We know for certain now that Sorin killed his Elder and clanmate for his own purposes. We also know that he attempted to have Alfarinn and I killed just for breathing in this case’s direction. What do you think he’ll do if he gets the –slightest- suspicion that Claire is involved?”
He stopped himself before he could break into a full on rant about just what Sorin would do, realizing that he was starting to stray from sounding rational. He wasn’t setting out to make an emotional plea but worried that was how he was coming across, especially to the empaths but also to Palmer, who knew him too bloody well.
He sighed and returned the squeeze to Alfarinn’s hand, sweeping his thumb back and forth over the top. His shoulders were knots of tension.
If he were being honest with himself, he would have to admit that he already had some abstract idea of what Sorin was capable of….their discoveries in the apartment just made everything more real. At the same time, he couldn’t say that he would ever truly –know- Sorin’s mind. He just couldn’t imagine anything worse than what the Elder had already done.
He nearly threw up his hands in exasperation when even Christian seemed to support the plan. He didn’t know why exactly, but he’d hoped for a conservative argument from that front. Admittedly the Evenhet had offered a safer alternative but…this was all moving so quickly now. Claire’s accounting of Sorin’s abilities was downright chilling and made him think that they had been insane to have even come this far. He felt guilty for allowing Palmer to go within ten feet of Sorin the first time and wasn’t keen on doing it again. He leaned back on the couch, looking up for a moment.
[I really need to talk to Claire.]
Perhaps the group as a whole should know what was troubling him but the news would affect Claire the most and he thought it would be downright unkind to land that particular blow in front of others, even if they could now call themselves friends.
“I think waiting until he leaves and keeping a lookout is the best option.” Of a dodgy bunch, he thought but did not say. “Though it would be ideal if the other Elders were prepared to made an arrest the moment they feel confident in our evidence, at this point.” He could see where Christian was going with his last question and was relieved that someone besides himself was concerned with Claire’s safety. Recklessly declaring that Claire didn’t have to worry was a nice gesture but saying it didn’t make it true in his opinion and they weren’t exactly dealing with a single decade vampire here. “Can we at the very least agree not to take unnecessary risks in our contact with Sorin?” Hmm, was his tension leaking through? Thaddeus was not certain. He continued in a slighter calmer tone. “We know for certain now that Sorin killed his Elder and clanmate for his own purposes. We also know that he attempted to have Alfarinn and I killed just for breathing in this case’s direction. What do you think he’ll do if he gets the –slightest- suspicion that Claire is involved?”
He stopped himself before he could break into a full on rant about just what Sorin would do, realizing that he was starting to stray from sounding rational. He wasn’t setting out to make an emotional plea but worried that was how he was coming across, especially to the empaths but also to Palmer, who knew him too bloody well.
Alfarinn
18 years ago
Alfarinn listened to the conversation going on around him and paused to sort out the emotions of everyone in the room. They would work the plot out themselves and he could contribute to it when he had something helpful to say. In the meantime Claire seemed to feel guilty and embarrassed as Thaddeus spoke. Considering his companion's words, he was not sure that he understood why. Alfarinn thought back to her part in the day's activities and when he got to her leaving to watch outside he felt he better understood what she was worried about.
[She believes we do not trust her to do this.]
Sensing Christian was more difficult than the rest because his fellow Evenhet had defenses against his abilities just as he did. There was not much to feel there; it could be because Christian was not very emotional about the situation or his ability to hide it well. Alfarinn suspected it was a bit of both
He looked down at the hand in his and then smiled at Thaddeus. His companion seemed to be frustrated by the flow of the conversation and he figured that this plan was not as orderly or safe as his lover would like. After all there was a very real possibility that people could be hurt and they seemed rather blind to that...but then he was known to risk himself very cavalierly as well.
Palmer seemed very confident and he wondered if that was not a large part of Thaddeus' tension. The Huntsman wore a determined air but was he the type to go brashly on without thought? If his companion was worried it was probably through past knowledge and so Alfarinn had to assume that Palmer might be known for 'winging it'.
[You will get the chance to speak to her. Let's sort out a rough plan and then adjourn until tomorrow night.]
Alfarinn leaned forward and spoke quietly.
"We have something that we can be working on while we wait for the Elder of the Night to vacate the Manor. There was the old set of hands that gave Thaddeus' gloves to Sorin. We need to find that person and determine their knowledge and motives. Whether this person is friend or foe is something we do not know but I am certain that we have those capable among us who can convince the individual to bear witness on our behalf."Â?
He sat back and wrapped his companion's hand with both of his.
[I do not think this will take much longer and perhaps letting everyone sleep on it will allow better ideas to surface.]
((OOC: Mass empathy with permission ))
[She believes we do not trust her to do this.]
Sensing Christian was more difficult than the rest because his fellow Evenhet had defenses against his abilities just as he did. There was not much to feel there; it could be because Christian was not very emotional about the situation or his ability to hide it well. Alfarinn suspected it was a bit of both
He looked down at the hand in his and then smiled at Thaddeus. His companion seemed to be frustrated by the flow of the conversation and he figured that this plan was not as orderly or safe as his lover would like. After all there was a very real possibility that people could be hurt and they seemed rather blind to that...but then he was known to risk himself very cavalierly as well.
Palmer seemed very confident and he wondered if that was not a large part of Thaddeus' tension. The Huntsman wore a determined air but was he the type to go brashly on without thought? If his companion was worried it was probably through past knowledge and so Alfarinn had to assume that Palmer might be known for 'winging it'.
[You will get the chance to speak to her. Let's sort out a rough plan and then adjourn until tomorrow night.]
Alfarinn leaned forward and spoke quietly.
"We have something that we can be working on while we wait for the Elder of the Night to vacate the Manor. There was the old set of hands that gave Thaddeus' gloves to Sorin. We need to find that person and determine their knowledge and motives. Whether this person is friend or foe is something we do not know but I am certain that we have those capable among us who can convince the individual to bear witness on our behalf."Â?
He sat back and wrapped his companion's hand with both of his.
[I do not think this will take much longer and perhaps letting everyone sleep on it will allow better ideas to surface.]
((OOC: Mass empathy with permission ))
Palmer
18 years ago
The expected give and take of planning commenced in full force after Thaddeus gave his endorsement, and once Palmer had offered up his suggestions he found himself getting restless. Let’s –do- this, he thought, not being one to sweat specifics.
Then Claire mentioned that Sorin could command his ass to kingdom come, in more polite terms of course, and he cooled off a little. Thaddeus was getting pissy and, as was becoming the norm, Christian stepped in as the voice of reason.
After a little bouncing around, they finally settled on a plan they could all agree on with as few bruised egos as possible. He reflected that their willingness to bandy ideas without worrying about looking stupid was probably a sign of a good team.
Pleased to have a plan in place, Palmer clapped his hands together and was about to suggest they get to it and figure out surveillance when Alfarinn, who had been quiet up until now, spoke up, suggesting something to keep them occupied until they could put their plan in action. Ooops, there was that business with the gloves, right.
“I have a list of Manor Staff I’ve spoken to…or rather, Thaddeus has a list, it’s in his quarters. So at least our search will be narrowed down. I didn’t find anything of note and I’m pretty sure I asked the right questions.” He half shrugged, indicating that nothing was a hundred percent. It was a bit of a trick getting people to tell you what you wanted to know when you couldn’t ask obvious questions like ‘hey, did you happen to pick up a pair of gloves?’ but he thought he’d done passably well.
Then Claire mentioned that Sorin could command his ass to kingdom come, in more polite terms of course, and he cooled off a little. Thaddeus was getting pissy and, as was becoming the norm, Christian stepped in as the voice of reason.
After a little bouncing around, they finally settled on a plan they could all agree on with as few bruised egos as possible. He reflected that their willingness to bandy ideas without worrying about looking stupid was probably a sign of a good team.
Pleased to have a plan in place, Palmer clapped his hands together and was about to suggest they get to it and figure out surveillance when Alfarinn, who had been quiet up until now, spoke up, suggesting something to keep them occupied until they could put their plan in action. Ooops, there was that business with the gloves, right.
“I have a list of Manor Staff I’ve spoken to…or rather, Thaddeus has a list, it’s in his quarters. So at least our search will be narrowed down. I didn’t find anything of note and I’m pretty sure I asked the right questions.” He half shrugged, indicating that nothing was a hundred percent. It was a bit of a trick getting people to tell you what you wanted to know when you couldn’t ask obvious questions like ‘hey, did you happen to pick up a pair of gloves?’ but he thought he’d done passably well.
Claire
18 years ago
Claire thought Christian was being very sensible and it was a creative use of his talents to play relay between the two of them However, it was far better at this point not to have to deal with Sorin at all. She hated to imply to Palmer that he was not worthy of such a task but her Sire had been around many a year and she would be foolish to not mention the dangers in interacting with him.
She shrugged slightly to Christian's question.
"I have known for some time that he is not a good man. I had always wanted to believe that he was loyal to his clan if not in any way moral."Â?
Running away from the truth did not make it any less so and sooner or later a person simply got tired of running.
"It is not such a long leap for me to believe him capable of breaking those bonds. It was why I was willing to leave the country when he asked it of me. I believe though that since he is not empathic but merely perceptive that I will be able to slide by as I ordinarily do."Â?
Falling silent again, Claire listened to the rest of the conversation. She was not certain what gloves they were discussing at first but then remembered the pair that Thaddeus had picked up from Lykaios' apartment. Something about they were his. It made a certain sort of sense to her.
"Emma was a tracker. She taught me things to hold the connection longer. This Lykaios he was a tracker also; I would guess. If Sorin gave him those clothes then it was most likely to allow him to find Thaddeus."Â?
Which was all probably not a profound revelation to anyone else... Claire blushed and gave them all a faint smile.
"I'm sorry. I really did not think much of the gloves before."Â?
She did not know what to make of Sorin being handed the gloves by someone else. It was very out of character for him to work along with someone, especially on something so personally damning as this.
She shrugged slightly to Christian's question.
"I have known for some time that he is not a good man. I had always wanted to believe that he was loyal to his clan if not in any way moral."Â?
Running away from the truth did not make it any less so and sooner or later a person simply got tired of running.
"It is not such a long leap for me to believe him capable of breaking those bonds. It was why I was willing to leave the country when he asked it of me. I believe though that since he is not empathic but merely perceptive that I will be able to slide by as I ordinarily do."Â?
Falling silent again, Claire listened to the rest of the conversation. She was not certain what gloves they were discussing at first but then remembered the pair that Thaddeus had picked up from Lykaios' apartment. Something about they were his. It made a certain sort of sense to her.
"Emma was a tracker. She taught me things to hold the connection longer. This Lykaios he was a tracker also; I would guess. If Sorin gave him those clothes then it was most likely to allow him to find Thaddeus."Â?
Which was all probably not a profound revelation to anyone else... Claire blushed and gave them all a faint smile.
"I'm sorry. I really did not think much of the gloves before."Â?
She did not know what to make of Sorin being handed the gloves by someone else. It was very out of character for him to work along with someone, especially on something so personally damning as this.
Christian Bern
18 years ago
Christian figured they had a good working plan so far. One of the Anantya could watch for Sorin's departure and could contact the rest of them. Claire could search the rooms, Palmer could keep a look out for the return of the Elder and Christian could relay between the two of them. It would be better, in his opinion, if both Thaddeus and Alfarinn stayed away from the Manor until Sorin was in custody. Perhaps they could request a meeting somewhere else with the other two elders of Anantya? It had been proven that Sorin was willing to kill them, and had sent someone to do so, once already.
The gloves were another angle that might prove useful. He wondered how much trouble it was going to be to find this person. Palmer had begun his search already so perhaps they were closer than they knew.
"I am not certain how we can be of help to you on that task. It would seem quite odd for an Evenhet to be wandering around the Manor inspecting people's hands."Â?
The gloves were another angle that might prove useful. He wondered how much trouble it was going to be to find this person. Palmer had begun his search already so perhaps they were closer than they knew.
"I am not certain how we can be of help to you on that task. It would seem quite odd for an Evenhet to be wandering around the Manor inspecting people's hands."Â?
Thaddeus Grey
18 years ago
Thaddeus couldn’t help but feel a little defensive when Alfarinn explained that Claire believed they didn’t trust her.
[That’s not what I meant at all. It’s –him- I don’t trust.]
He was fairly certain Alfarinn knew that but it made him feel a little better to be sure. Claire and Christian discussed the possibility of Sorin catching on to her search, and her assessment of their relationship only made him feel worse. He leaned a little on his lover’s shoulder – not so much as to be obvious but enough for that little bit of extra contact, and did his best to keep calm. Alfarinn assured him that he would get the chance to speak to Claire and that eased his mind a little, though it also made him more aware of his own anxiety.
Alfarinn brought the discussion around to the gloves, which had not quite gone forgotten – simply placed on the back burner. He gave a nod to Palmer, grateful that he had started that investigation. Then he realized he hadn’t brought Claire up to speed on the gloves – fortunately the sharp nightsman worked that matter out for herself. He frowned a little and tried to start down the path to making amends for sticking his foot in his mouth.
“Don’t be. That’s exactly what we believe happened.”
He managed an almost smile at Christian’s statement, finding the mental image of Evenhet Hand Inspectors oddly amusing. Perhaps he was simply tired, thinking such ridiculous things.
“Good then –we can meet tomorrow and go over who we still need to speak with. Perhaps refine our plan as well. For today, though…I think it would be wise to return to our normal activities, or at least as normal as we can.”
He bit lightly at the inside of his lip, waiting to see if anyone had anything to add before they went their separate ways. He hoped to catch Claire as they were leaving, mostly because he guessed that Palmer was feeling especially protective of her and his friend might make things difficult if given the opportunity.
[That’s not what I meant at all. It’s –him- I don’t trust.]
He was fairly certain Alfarinn knew that but it made him feel a little better to be sure. Claire and Christian discussed the possibility of Sorin catching on to her search, and her assessment of their relationship only made him feel worse. He leaned a little on his lover’s shoulder – not so much as to be obvious but enough for that little bit of extra contact, and did his best to keep calm. Alfarinn assured him that he would get the chance to speak to Claire and that eased his mind a little, though it also made him more aware of his own anxiety.
Alfarinn brought the discussion around to the gloves, which had not quite gone forgotten – simply placed on the back burner. He gave a nod to Palmer, grateful that he had started that investigation. Then he realized he hadn’t brought Claire up to speed on the gloves – fortunately the sharp nightsman worked that matter out for herself. He frowned a little and tried to start down the path to making amends for sticking his foot in his mouth.
“Don’t be. That’s exactly what we believe happened.”
He managed an almost smile at Christian’s statement, finding the mental image of Evenhet Hand Inspectors oddly amusing. Perhaps he was simply tired, thinking such ridiculous things.
“Good then –we can meet tomorrow and go over who we still need to speak with. Perhaps refine our plan as well. For today, though…I think it would be wise to return to our normal activities, or at least as normal as we can.”
He bit lightly at the inside of his lip, waiting to see if anyone had anything to add before they went their separate ways. He hoped to catch Claire as they were leaving, mostly because he guessed that Palmer was feeling especially protective of her and his friend might make things difficult if given the opportunity.
Alfarinn
18 years ago
Alfarinn felt bad for mentioning the empathy to Thaddeus. Why did he stress out his companion with news that was unnecessary and would eventually be sorted out in the fullness of time. Just because he relied on his empathy as an extra sense did not mean it was valuable to everyone. Most people could happily go their entire lives without knowing for certain how a person felt about them and there were times, especially in the beginning, when he would have rather not known such things himself.
He sighed and resolved to make it up to Thaddeus later once they were allowed to be alone again.
[I know, Beloved, I'm sorry. I felt it might have been important..at the time.]
It sounded rather weak to his own ears and he hoped that Thaddeus would miraculously not notice. His companion leaned against him in a slight movement that would hardly be noticed by anyone but him; Alfarinn sighed as a part of him relaxed.
Listening as the gloves were discussed it was good to see they had not been forgotten by the others. It would seem it was just him that had lost track of all the pieces of the puzzle and picked this one up again like a child with a toy so long forgotten that it seemed like new once more. His excitement over recalling the gloves had left him now and he suddenly felt all the more tired. It was brought out and put into the plans again and would be dealt with; good enough for him.
Thaddeus suggested they adjourn for the night and he could not help but think that was an excellent idea. Standing up, he saw everyone to the door. Offering Palmer a place in the Towers if he wished to stay for the evening and saying good night to Christian, whose own quarters were about as far from his own as a person could get.
When the two men were gone, he turned back to Thaddeus and Claire.
((OOC: everyone out again!))
He sighed and resolved to make it up to Thaddeus later once they were allowed to be alone again.
[I know, Beloved, I'm sorry. I felt it might have been important..at the time.]
It sounded rather weak to his own ears and he hoped that Thaddeus would miraculously not notice. His companion leaned against him in a slight movement that would hardly be noticed by anyone but him; Alfarinn sighed as a part of him relaxed.
Listening as the gloves were discussed it was good to see they had not been forgotten by the others. It would seem it was just him that had lost track of all the pieces of the puzzle and picked this one up again like a child with a toy so long forgotten that it seemed like new once more. His excitement over recalling the gloves had left him now and he suddenly felt all the more tired. It was brought out and put into the plans again and would be dealt with; good enough for him.
Thaddeus suggested they adjourn for the night and he could not help but think that was an excellent idea. Standing up, he saw everyone to the door. Offering Palmer a place in the Towers if he wished to stay for the evening and saying good night to Christian, whose own quarters were about as far from his own as a person could get.
When the two men were gone, he turned back to Thaddeus and Claire.
((OOC: everyone out again!))