Awkward Hug!

[Robert Pratt]

Trahir Trahison pushes open the double doors and steps into the Solace Sanctuary. His eyes roam the surroundings briefly, his nostrils flare, inhaling the scent of human. The environment is far from his normal haunt, but the young Killer is on a mission this evening. Chaos was something Trahir couldn't tolerate. He needed some modicum of control in his world, order. As ironic as the current situation was, it made sense to him. It wasn't possible for him or for the pro-secrecy vampires to win this war. The most that could be hoped for was damage control. Having spoken to the owner of the building before Trahir believed there was an option resting between the order he wanted, and the chaos erupting. The man could be the key. He voice rang out through the building, "Pratt. Robert Pratt, are you there?"

Robert Pratt Robert was inside, as usual, getting ready for one of his nightly basket walks. He enjoyed them, putting a wicker basket on his arm and then walking out around the city handing out food and blankets and clothes from the basket to those in need. The whole of Solace was buzzing, as normal, and it all made him happy. What didn't make him happy - were loud voices shouting his name from outside in demanding and assertive manners. He'd heard that tone too many times before,and it was usually followed by people storming the building and shooting **** up. Sowith a smile at the worried faces, hands raised to shush and calm them, he made his way outside to see who was making the fuss.

Trahir Trahison stands in the doorway. Silhouetted by the lights outside the door the Killer certainly cuts an imposing figure. His tailored suit does little to hide the bulk of muscle it contains, his height has increased slightly since their last meeting, though the man's demeanor is apparent even if his features are not. The placement of his feet, the squared shoulders, the cocky tilt to his head. All of it smacks of the same fledgling met in the graveyard nearly a year ago. As Pratt approaches, Trahir steps back away from the doorway, allowing egress from the building to the other vampire. "I'm unarmed." He says simply in a quiet voice. "We should speak."

Robert Pratt Robert's body language was completely different. It was relaxed, easy, his slim and slight figure - tall as he was - was no sort of threat at all. And even if you found the height a little imposing, the lopsided and idiotic grin on his face usually set people at ease within seconds. It took him a moment to recognise the face and the voice, and then he chuckled. "Trahir! Good to see you again! How is suckling on V's tyt going? Unarmed you say? We both know that's not true - not with what we are." He laughed again and then turned to go back inside, holding the door open to the other vamp. "If talking is all you want, then come on in - we don't bite in here, everyone is always welcome. We can talk in my office, as I doubt you're going to crack a smile and so you might scare the kids!!"

Trahir Trahison nods. It was true. The stony faced vampire's eyes took in the faces staring at him as they passed. The oddest of couples to be certain. Robert, easygoing, loose. His walk reminiscent of someone taking a leisurely stroll through the woods. Trahir's almost a lumbering gait more at home on the screen during a horror marathon. Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers perhaps Blood-filled faces greeted his gaze at every turn making him appreciative of the fact he'd had the foresight to feed before coming. The fear was palpable though in no way mimicked by his host. "You would have to ask others if the flavor has changed. Last I sipped it tasted of treachery and rejection." He follows Pratt through the corridors, keeping his voice low.

Robert Pratt He raised an eyebrow at that nugget of information, and swallowed the 'I told you so' back down before it escaped his lips. Just to the right of the stairs he headed through the door to his office and waited for Trahir to join him before shutting the door behind them both. "Please, take a seat. Can I offer you anything to drink?" He took a seat himself on one of the couches and relaxed, watching the other man before him. "Then you can tell me why you're here, as I'm sure this isn't a social call."

Trahir Trahison takes the offered seat. "Yes, I'll take a brunette between twenty-one and twenty-five, preferably with a high IQ who prefers a vegetarian, not vegan, diet. Female of course. Have the wrist perfumed with l'eau du temps." He doesn't sound remotely sarcastic. He smoothed his suit, the gesture seeming less than unconscious and then looks to Robert. "You should emerge from your self-imposed isolation. But you should be more... sane this time."

Robert Pratt He chuckled and when Belle popped her friendly old head in and looked to him he nodded. "Is Tina around at all? Our guest is a little peckish." She nodded and vanished, returning shortly with a brunette that matched Tahir's description. "No perfume Trahir, and you will not hurt her or there will be an issue. Understood? We can discuss once you're satiated and she's gone to bed." His posture hadn't changed but his voice and face had, and he was deadly serious about Tina coming to no harm. She was one of the many volunteers at the Sanctuary who were well aware of what the city held, and who accepted them without issue and even helped out with blood donations when needed. There was a wine glass on the side, should he want to keep some blood for drinking while they talked about.... whatever it was he wanted.

Trahir Trahison inclines his head graciously. "I wouldn't dream of causing harm in another's haven. That would be gauche." He holds his hand out for the girls, fangs slipping down behind unsmiling lips and he brings it up to his mouth, biting it at the elbow. He's fed, so the gesture is largely a symbolic acceptance of the offering to him. A single swipe of his tongue seals the twin punctures as his other arm holds the girl up as she begins to go limp from the effect of the bite. Once she is ferried away Trahir reaches out, turning the glass upside down. "Thank you Mr. Pratt. Shall we get down to business then?"

Robert Pratt He nodded, satisfied no harm had been done and then simply waited to see..... well..... what the ****.

Trahir Trahison claims his seat one more and begins. "The Masquerade is failing." The statement is simple but to him holds the same gravity as if the world was ending. "There needs to be a new balance struck to avoid a repeat of the holocaust. Those like me... the more... vampiric sector of the city can not do that. The opposite of us, those vegan vampires are too inept. Neither extreme is viable for a lasting future for our kind. You are in a unique position. You dislike the Masquerade but have not actively tried to tear it apart in the last year that I have heard. Those opposed to it would recognize your name and I believe that if you were to take a more active role in city politics perhaps you could assist the imminent assimilation of our kind into human culture."

[Trahir Trahison]

Robert Pratt "I have done many things in my own way, I was just not watched, nor caught." He said simply, very matter of factly. "I said this, from the start. But those of your ilk did not listen, called me crazy, killed me repeatedly. Now you are asking me for help? Help which I'm assuming is not wanted from the majority of your kind, and which probably does not have the support of the minions of Darkness themselves of which you once were one? The Masquerade was always going to fail in this modern age. Your kind have made it difficult now for peace, and for a simple and natural emergence. You see what I have achieved here. This is what I wanted for the city, and then the world. But your kind, your family, did everything in their power to stop that from happening. Now, we are in a mess. And now, you come to me looking for help?"

Trahir Trahison drums his fingers on the desk before him in silence a moment. "My family... I suppose that some of them were that. Many of them would likely see me here as a treachery of sorts. It fits my name I suppose. They are not asking for help. They may or may not know I am here. I haven't bothered keeping tabs on them. They've become irrelevant to me for the most part. What is relevant is the fact that the secrecy that would have protected us had everyone adhered to it soon will not. This-" he motions back toward the rest of the building, "-is why I am here. I see what you have done. Now I need you to do it on a global scale."

Robert Pratt "So, I come out, make myself a target again for your kind, and you all get a whipping boy again? I understand why you are asking, I don't understand why you think I would want that."

Trahir Trahison shakes his head. "No. not like last time. The last time there was room for secrecy in their actions. This time there won't be. The fall of the Masquerade will expose us. You have humans here. The press that would surround a massacre of this level would destroy our kind. Plus I'll kill whoever comes for you."

Robert Pratt This perked his interest and made his head tilt to the side a fraction. "So, you're saying you'd be willing to stand by my side, lend your name to all I do, and support each move I make and word I say? Ensuring my safety along the way?"

Trahir Trahison holds a hand up. "Let's not be too hasty. Add in 'if your decisions are sound and sane' and then yes."

Robert Pratt "They always are. So long as you see the whole, big, picture and don't look at the immediate and the narrow. You once said my ideas would never work, your friends and ex-family killed me for my ideas. And now, you're here saying they are the only hope for the society and species. Seems I wasn't as insane as everyone thought I was huh?"

Trahir Trahison arches a single eyebrow. "No, you were still a nutjob. No talk about weird vampire deities. You've set up a working compound here on a small scale. It just needs to be made larger without driving away those whose religion is already deeply ingrained in them. Just because you were right about something doesn't make you sane. It does however mean that this is possible. There is a faction that wishes to work toward something similar... You should meet with their leader, discuss your ideas and ideals. Rationally."

Robert Pratt "And who might that be?"

Trahir Trahison shrugs. "Goes by the name Nemesis. I don't know his real identity. I've met with him once in a meeting and once in private. It's safe. I'll broker the meeting and ensure a neutral ground if you wish."

Robert Pratt He was quite for a moment, watching the man carefully and trying to work out if this were some sort of game he were playing, or if - shockingly - what he said was true. After a while, he nodded his head once. Serry. was going. to kill him!

Trahir Trahison nods. "Get yourself a mask then. Everything being done is anonymous currently. Pratt..." The Killer hesitates a moment and then finishes. "No god-talk..."

Robert Pratt "What? **** that." He laughed. "I'm not wearing a mask. Jeez. Sounds like some seedy sex rubbish."

Trahir Trahison stares at him stony-faced. There is no emotion there at all. Nothing. "You need to wear the mask. Until stated otherwise. Do you remember what I did to your friend? Others would likely try and do that to one of us to get access to the others. It's not for your safety. It's not entirely a vampire faction."

Robert Pratt "You can all wear a mask, I don't care." He grinned. "If I'm going to do something, you're sure as **** going to know it's me." He shrugged.

Trahir Trahison nods. "That's fine. But this meeting isn't to do something. It's simply to decide what to do. The mask isn't a optional social convention".

Robert Pratt He shrugged his shoulders. "Best folks know it's me from the start. Get the bias and ******** out of the way"

Trahir Trahison shakes his head. ""Early disruptions can set the tone and destroy the chance of acquiring the end result. The masks won't be necessary eventually. If you are that adamantly opposed to it though... very well. No mask for you. Shall I set things in motion then?"

Robert Pratt He beamed and nodded his head. "Make it so Mr Sulu!"

Trahir Trahison "Excellent. I'll be in touch then." He pauses, straightening his suit. "L'eau du temps. If we are going to associate with any frequency you should acquire some." He rises and holds his hand out to Pratt.

Robert Pratt Robert got up and took the hand, then without warning stepped in and pulled at the same time so he could wrap his arm around Trahir in an awkward hug. "Til later friend!"

Trahir Trahison stands rigid at the hug, not exactly quite sure how to react. Finally he puts his arm around the other man and pats his back twice. "Till later." The formal vampire takes three steps back, gives a small bow and departs. "I'll show myself out," he says, passing by the humans without giving them a second glance.

Robert Pratt He leant in the doorframe, watching the man until he left, then retreated back into his office and promptly burst out laughing. That had to be the weirdest conversation he'd ever had - and he'd had a few!