Akahana turned and raised dainty eyebrows to the woman who was now standing by the gate. With a faint smile, she gave the other woman a bow.
"Good Evening, Oubliette."
She noted the change in hairstyle and dress while keeping her gaze on Claire's eyes. A courtesan and entertainer learned the fine art of picking up details without appearing to notice them at all. So Sorin already knew that Mahesh was in Nachton and had dealt with his daughter. This change in attire had his hallmarks all over it. He always found great amusement in making Claire more forward than she ordinarily appeared to be.
"Perhaps you would care to accompany me so that we may speak more comfortably?"
She turned and paid her cab, knowing that Claire would not get in the vehicle with her. A nearby apartment complex had a small playground that she noticed on the way to the shelter. It was deserted at this hour. Akahana gestured at the sidewalk with the wave of one graceful manicured hand.
Rendez-vous
The listening devices that she had placed in the shelter proved useful more quickly than she had envisioned that they would. Sorin and Jin appeared to be correct; the murderer needed to move more quickly now that he was in Nachton.
She had taken up residence in a small hotel nearby so that she could watch the shelter. It was the most likely place to find Claire and anyone looking to find her alone would go there instead of the Manor. Jacqui listened to a woman's voice as she quietly spoke to Annette about Claire, was she in, when could she be expected.
Jacqueline got up and made her way toward the entrance of the shelter in order to catch the woman on her way out. There was no mistaking the voice, not after so many years of long acquaintance. Leaning against the brick wall, blended, she heard the woman give her goodbyes.
As she past the gateway, Jacqueline said quietly.
"Bon Soir, Dharma."
Akahana Yoshida
13 years ago
Claire
13 years ago
Jacqueline narrowed her eyes slightly wondering what Akahana, or Dharma as she was called in the among the Order of the Night, was doing looking for her. She was not who she expected to see. Or to put it more accurately, since she had not been expecting anyone specifically, Akahana was simply a surprise.
She did not like the idea of going anywhere with Akahana if she was somehow involved with the one murdering clan mates; however, the other woman dismissed her taxi and then gestured toward the sidewalk. Jacqueline nodded and walked with the Japanese woman to a nearby apartment complex. She watched as Akahana sat easily on one of the swings, somehow managing to make it look like a throne. She turned and smiled up Jacqueline who took a seat on the swing beside her.
She did not like the idea of going anywhere with Akahana if she was somehow involved with the one murdering clan mates; however, the other woman dismissed her taxi and then gestured toward the sidewalk. Jacqueline nodded and walked with the Japanese woman to a nearby apartment complex. She watched as Akahana sat easily on one of the swings, somehow managing to make it look like a throne. She turned and smiled up Jacqueline who took a seat on the swing beside her.
Akahana Yoshida
13 years ago
They walked in silence until they reached the small park. Akahana sat down on a swing despite the pale pink dress and heels that she wore. Those were washable and of no real consequence. Placing her hands neatly in her lap, she leaned toward the taller woman.
"It is good to see you again, Oubliette."
Akahana had been away from her friends and family for far too long, aside from brief trips and visits. Her time was spent with Mahesh and his people. Less time spent around the clan meant that her associations would remain covered that much longer.
"I need to ask you. Do you know where Draco is?"
Dress
"It is good to see you again, Oubliette."
Akahana had been away from her friends and family for far too long, aside from brief trips and visits. Her time was spent with Mahesh and his people. Less time spent around the clan meant that her associations would remain covered that much longer.
"I need to ask you. Do you know where Draco is?"
Dress
Claire
13 years ago
Jacqueline twirled somewhat restlessly in the swing, her long leather clad legs stretched out in front of her. She nodded her head slightly at Akahana's words, feeling not much emotion at all concerning their reunion. Claire would have delighted or something, she was sure. Jacqueline smiled and returned the sentiment.
"It is good to see you again as well, Dharma. It has been too long."
The woman came straight to the point and that was a relief really. Idle chitchat simply to get down to a few vital pieces of information would have bored her to tears. She sighed and shrugged.
"No, I don't know where he is. The clan is looking for him. As you must know. Its of no concern to me."
Perhaps to Claire, but not to her. She wondered if the one who had commanded her did that purposefully or if it was simply her own apathy toward the man. None of it mattered if Akahana had joined sides with the murderer. Given enough time the Japanese woman could break the commands on her.
Clothing
"It is good to see you again as well, Dharma. It has been too long."
The woman came straight to the point and that was a relief really. Idle chitchat simply to get down to a few vital pieces of information would have bored her to tears. She sighed and shrugged.
"No, I don't know where he is. The clan is looking for him. As you must know. Its of no concern to me."
Perhaps to Claire, but not to her. She wondered if the one who had commanded her did that purposefully or if it was simply her own apathy toward the man. None of it mattered if Akahana had joined sides with the murderer. Given enough time the Japanese woman could break the commands on her.
Clothing
Akahana Yoshida
13 years ago
Interesting answer. Akahana smiled faintly and dismissed the question. There was no need to follow up with anything else. She had enough to report back to Mahesh. He could then decide whether to waste time with breaking the commands on Claire or not. She personally wouldn't recommend it, knowing that Claire had voluntarily underwent the change before her. It would be difficult to reverse unless the Nightswoman were willing. Claire was well versed in resisting commands thanks to her Creator's teaching. They had other easier targets.
"I would think his whereabouts would still concern you."
She would still try to find out what she could, just in case. "Why would it not?"
That was a good place to start. She would see what he had done to her and whether she could still be useful for information in some way.
"I would think his whereabouts would still concern you."
She would still try to find out what she could, just in case. "Why would it not?"
That was a good place to start. She would see what he had done to her and whether she could still be useful for information in some way.
Claire
13 years ago
Jacqueline looked at Akahana like she was soft in the head briefly before shrugging. Something, very deep inside suggested that there was a very good reason for Akahana's question and that it was not nearly so crazy at all.
"Why should I care where the former Elder of the Night is? I have no loyalty to him."
That seemed true. She didn't, shouldn't. A piece of Claire was struggling towards the surface with this line of thinking and Jacqueline pushed her down and thought of other things.
"It wouldn't because we weren't very close. Its not like he was my Creator or anything."
That sounded off. Untrue for some reason but when she tried to sort out why or what she felt about it her mind drew a blank. It was frustrating, like a white door in her mind. She could see the door, knew that it was there but not open it.
"Why should I care where the former Elder of the Night is? I have no loyalty to him."
That seemed true. She didn't, shouldn't. A piece of Claire was struggling towards the surface with this line of thinking and Jacqueline pushed her down and thought of other things.
"It wouldn't because we weren't very close. Its not like he was my Creator or anything."
That sounded off. Untrue for some reason but when she tried to sort out why or what she felt about it her mind drew a blank. It was frustrating, like a white door in her mind. She could see the door, knew that it was there but not open it.
Akahana Yoshida
13 years ago
He had done a very good job on her, so it would seem. No doubt the Dacian Draco, as Sorin called himself for the Order, took a great deal of time layering on this particular persona.
"And who is your creator?"
This should prove interesting; for a look into his thought processes if nothing else. Akahana was ever interested in the motives of people, vampire and human alike. Who would he chose to be the benefactor of immortality to Claire? Did he see it as an honor or a danger?
She wondered again at the choice of personality. What hidden secrets did this leather clad persona hold? Was it really the shallow one dimensional fantasy of an egotistical man or did he simply want people to think so? Perhaps a bit of both. Akahana wondered how much freedom Claire had within the personality to evolve it into something useful.
"And who is your creator?"
This should prove interesting; for a look into his thought processes if nothing else. Akahana was ever interested in the motives of people, vampire and human alike. Who would he chose to be the benefactor of immortality to Claire? Did he see it as an honor or a danger?
She wondered again at the choice of personality. What hidden secrets did this leather clad persona hold? Was it really the shallow one dimensional fantasy of an egotistical man or did he simply want people to think so? Perhaps a bit of both. Akahana wondered how much freedom Claire had within the personality to evolve it into something useful.
Claire
13 years ago
Jacqueline looked at Akahana for a long moment before answering her question.
"Sofia Castellanos, surely you remember her."
Something rang false about the answer even as she said it but she couldn't figure out what. She knew Sofia and had for seemingly all her life, which made sense as her Creator. Going back through her memories Jacqueline could easily dredge up hours upon hours of time spent with the woman. The information she gave had to be correct; so why did it seem wrong to her ears?
She wondered what Akahana was after. Why did the woman keep speaking of Sorin as if she should be interested in his company? Jacqueline knew that Akahana had not been around the clan much in the past decade or so; perhaps her interest stemmed from a need to find out what was going on. Jacqueline did assume that she worked for the one murdering their clans. Akahana was the one who came looking for her after all. She had been told that someone would after Sofia had been killed. Watch the shelter, someone will come asking for you. Find out what you can. Jacqueline couldn't remember who gave her the information or the orders but she figured that it was someone in the Night and that she was better off not knowing for now.
"Sofia Castellanos, surely you remember her."
Something rang false about the answer even as she said it but she couldn't figure out what. She knew Sofia and had for seemingly all her life, which made sense as her Creator. Going back through her memories Jacqueline could easily dredge up hours upon hours of time spent with the woman. The information she gave had to be correct; so why did it seem wrong to her ears?
She wondered what Akahana was after. Why did the woman keep speaking of Sorin as if she should be interested in his company? Jacqueline knew that Akahana had not been around the clan much in the past decade or so; perhaps her interest stemmed from a need to find out what was going on. Jacqueline did assume that she worked for the one murdering their clans. Akahana was the one who came looking for her after all. She had been told that someone would after Sofia had been killed. Watch the shelter, someone will come asking for you. Find out what you can. Jacqueline couldn't remember who gave her the information or the orders but she figured that it was someone in the Night and that she was better off not knowing for now.
Akahana Yoshida
13 years ago
Akahana wanted to laugh or to at least clap. Sofia was, of course, the perfect choice. Claire would have plenty of convincing knowledge of the woman, and Sofia, herself, was quite conveniently dead. Very clever, Draco, very clever indeed.
"Ah, of course. How could I have forgotten?"
She smiled at the woman beside her. "How is Sofia and the shelter these days?"
Dead, very dead. Akahana had a hard time feeling any pity or remorse for the loss of that particular vampire. She'd have killed the woman herself had Mahesh asked it of her and done so gladly. He used her particular gifts in a different way, however. She was his information gatherer; he and others were the assassins. She was quite fine with that. A few final people and their work would be done. However, it was now becoming very tricky; a race against the clan's best investigators.
"Ah, of course. How could I have forgotten?"
She smiled at the woman beside her. "How is Sofia and the shelter these days?"
Dead, very dead. Akahana had a hard time feeling any pity or remorse for the loss of that particular vampire. She'd have killed the woman herself had Mahesh asked it of her and done so gladly. He used her particular gifts in a different way, however. She was his information gatherer; he and others were the assassins. She was quite fine with that. A few final people and their work would be done. However, it was now becoming very tricky; a race against the clan's best investigators.
Claire
13 years ago
Jacqueline nodded absently and answered Akahana's question.
"She's fine last I checked. She had to go away on a trip to Greece. Something about some of her holdings there not being dealt with properly. " Jacqueline shrugged. "I suspect heads will roll."
Somehow this answer also did not fully ring true but that too was strange. She had spoken with the people at the shelter and they all spoke of Sofia's trip and asked her if she had heard anything new. No, she hadn't but that was hardly a surprise, her Creator was not known for being the most communicative of people.
"The shelter is much the same, over worked, under staffed. There are always more women that need a place to go than we have a place to put them."
And Jacqueline could care less, sad little spineless wretches. Take a knife to your abusive husband and end the problem in the comfort of your own home. That was her opinion. Why should she run and hide like a cowering animal? Or feel guilty for making someone angry? If a man was stupid enough to be violent and abusive to her then she'd make sure he learned the error of his ways. The lesson, though, would likely to cost him his life.
"She's fine last I checked. She had to go away on a trip to Greece. Something about some of her holdings there not being dealt with properly. " Jacqueline shrugged. "I suspect heads will roll."
Somehow this answer also did not fully ring true but that too was strange. She had spoken with the people at the shelter and they all spoke of Sofia's trip and asked her if she had heard anything new. No, she hadn't but that was hardly a surprise, her Creator was not known for being the most communicative of people.
"The shelter is much the same, over worked, under staffed. There are always more women that need a place to go than we have a place to put them."
And Jacqueline could care less, sad little spineless wretches. Take a knife to your abusive husband and end the problem in the comfort of your own home. That was her opinion. Why should she run and hide like a cowering animal? Or feel guilty for making someone angry? If a man was stupid enough to be violent and abusive to her then she'd make sure he learned the error of his ways. The lesson, though, would likely to cost him his life.
Akahana Yoshida
13 years ago
Akahana listened to the story that Jacqueline told of Sofia and wondered whether or not the ruse had truly held in place. After the murder, Mahesh had commanded the shelter women and staff to believe the same story. Sofia had left for Greece on an emergency visit that concerned her family. She was not surprised that Claire had altered the story to say that it was Sofia's holdings that demanded her attention. It did not mean that the lie was proven false but that the vampires who knew Sofia might have chosen to believe a more likely story; Sofia told the humans that she was leaving because of her family. It was a valid excuse that the humans would not question and one that would lead to less prying for information than others would have. It had been Akahana's suggestion and the ease with which the women believed the tale suggested that it caused their inner minds very little alarm. That was the hallmark of a good ruse.
Perhaps Sorin had simply chosen Sofia because Claire knew her well enough to be believable. He would not have concerned himself overly much with the woman's welfare. The Elder of the Night hated Sofia and the feeling was definitely mutual.
"Well I hope she returns soon. I am sure her people miss her, as well as her daughter."
Akahana smiled pleasantly and listened to the short report on the needs of Erasma's. Things were as they always seemed to be with places of charity, too many people in need, too little people to help.
"It is sad that there are so many women and children who are not safe in their own homes."
She was gratified that more and more women were reclaiming the rights to their bodies. They may have lawfully wed some man but the signing of that contract did not make them slaves to be abused in any way their husband so pleased. Women were taught to love and nurture and it was very much a part of their nature. It was hard not to see the man's anger as a failure to meet his needs. It was also hard to pull children away from their father, or to see that such a violent and negative environment was ultimately far more damaging on young souls than the lack of one of their parents.
"No doubt you are kept very busy."
Perhaps Sorin had simply chosen Sofia because Claire knew her well enough to be believable. He would not have concerned himself overly much with the woman's welfare. The Elder of the Night hated Sofia and the feeling was definitely mutual.
"Well I hope she returns soon. I am sure her people miss her, as well as her daughter."
Akahana smiled pleasantly and listened to the short report on the needs of Erasma's. Things were as they always seemed to be with places of charity, too many people in need, too little people to help.
"It is sad that there are so many women and children who are not safe in their own homes."
She was gratified that more and more women were reclaiming the rights to their bodies. They may have lawfully wed some man but the signing of that contract did not make them slaves to be abused in any way their husband so pleased. Women were taught to love and nurture and it was very much a part of their nature. It was hard not to see the man's anger as a failure to meet his needs. It was also hard to pull children away from their father, or to see that such a violent and negative environment was ultimately far more damaging on young souls than the lack of one of their parents.
"No doubt you are kept very busy."
Claire
13 years ago
Jacqueline frowned and nodded in the appropriate manner. Yes, it was all terribly sad. Yes, it breaks my sappy meddlesome heart. It was not that she did not care for the people in the shelter; she did. Jacqui simply felt that many of them should do more to help themselves. They should not be victims. Claire doted, coddled, and soothed. What did that teach?
"Yes, very busy."
She stood and dusted off her pants. Looking back at Akahana, she said.
"In fact I should be getting back there." Jacqueline gave the smaller woman a smile and a tilt of the head. "It was good to see you again, Dharma."
Turning to leave, she paused and spoke without turning around.
"Acta est fabula, plaudite."
Jacqueline felt compelled to say those words. She didn't know why. She did not turn around to see how the message was received, that too appeared to be a part of this compulsion. Command, again. She hoped that the information to Dharma was useful to the clan and not something that could be used by the one hunting them.
((OOC: In Latin "The play is over. Applaud. Supposedly the last words of Augustus. ))
"Yes, very busy."
She stood and dusted off her pants. Looking back at Akahana, she said.
"In fact I should be getting back there." Jacqueline gave the smaller woman a smile and a tilt of the head. "It was good to see you again, Dharma."
Turning to leave, she paused and spoke without turning around.
"Acta est fabula, plaudite."
Jacqueline felt compelled to say those words. She didn't know why. She did not turn around to see how the message was received, that too appeared to be a part of this compulsion. Command, again. She hoped that the information to Dharma was useful to the clan and not something that could be used by the one hunting them.
((OOC: In Latin "The play is over. Applaud. Supposedly the last words of Augustus. ))
Akahana Yoshida
13 years ago
"A pleasure to see you as well, Oubliette." Akahana rose from the swing and gave the Frenchwoman a slight bow before the other turned to leave.
Claire's words struck her like a blow. Akahana reached out for the chain and sat down heavily in the swing. She stared after the tall blonde in shock. Her mind tried to process all the changes in emotion and opinion that were currently warring inside her head.
Those famous words laid true the lie that had been her life for nearly a decade now. She was -not- one of Mahesh's people. Sorin, suspecting the Indian of being the one involved in the murders, sent her to investigate. She was given an identity that would make her appear favorable to his cause. Her lover was a werewolf and had been killed by clanmates when they found out she was in an emotional relationship with one of the shifters. Akahana shuddered at the thought, disgusting and unnatural. She had waited, and as she and Sorin suspected, some of Mahesh's people contacted her. Sorin, with help from others in the Order with command, had layered her persona with great care, patient and exact.. Akahana's disguise had fooled Mahesh's command driven interrogation. She believed with all her heart that she wanted her clan to pay for the death of her lover and Mahesh had accepted that story after numerous questions continued to bring back the same answers. Eventually he trusted her and considered her a useful member of his team, loyal and creative.
Now, she remembered differently. Sorin was supposed to have contacted her much sooner but she knew why he had not. She was grateful that he had remembered her and sent the code along with Claire that would release her. It had been a gamble but an effective one. Akahana longed to find him and let him know what she knew.
She could not. Mahesh, though he trusted her, had placed commands of his own. Akahana would tell no one about the murderers in their midst.
((OOC: Both Claire and Akahana out ))
Claire's words struck her like a blow. Akahana reached out for the chain and sat down heavily in the swing. She stared after the tall blonde in shock. Her mind tried to process all the changes in emotion and opinion that were currently warring inside her head.
Those famous words laid true the lie that had been her life for nearly a decade now. She was -not- one of Mahesh's people. Sorin, suspecting the Indian of being the one involved in the murders, sent her to investigate. She was given an identity that would make her appear favorable to his cause. Her lover was a werewolf and had been killed by clanmates when they found out she was in an emotional relationship with one of the shifters. Akahana shuddered at the thought, disgusting and unnatural. She had waited, and as she and Sorin suspected, some of Mahesh's people contacted her. Sorin, with help from others in the Order with command, had layered her persona with great care, patient and exact.. Akahana's disguise had fooled Mahesh's command driven interrogation. She believed with all her heart that she wanted her clan to pay for the death of her lover and Mahesh had accepted that story after numerous questions continued to bring back the same answers. Eventually he trusted her and considered her a useful member of his team, loyal and creative.
Now, she remembered differently. Sorin was supposed to have contacted her much sooner but she knew why he had not. She was grateful that he had remembered her and sent the code along with Claire that would release her. It had been a gamble but an effective one. Akahana longed to find him and let him know what she knew.
She could not. Mahesh, though he trusted her, had placed commands of his own. Akahana would tell no one about the murderers in their midst.
((OOC: Both Claire and Akahana out ))