Thread: Calling Calhoun (4/17)

Calhoun is looking worse for the wear as he comes up out of the sewers. Slinking into the Museum he is careful not to be seen and while human looking in his illusion, his eyes lack the sparkle that has been there for many long years now.

Knocking, he then enters Lydia's office space and inclines his head. Softly he says, "You requested my presence Madam Harpy, how may I be of assistance tonight?"

Watching him closely as he enters the office "Come in and have a seat Mr. Calhoun."

Not taking her eyes off him as he moves, Lydia nods as she knows that he is not right.

"Mr. Calhoun I have called you here to see how you are. I know things have not been going well for you. I have not had a chance to talk to you much since my party. Is there anything I can do to help you?"

"You could have backed my play when I pointed out that the Prince had set a standard which he was ignoring. That would have been a very good start... but I understand that you're petrified of Walker and Cocteau, like every other neonate in the city." He shakes his head.

"Perhaps that is where Bill and I went wrong... we tried to have the city support us because we RESPECTED them as well as their contributions to the Tower... and not make them FEAR us." He seems to almost snarl. "Perhaps we should also have been willing to give status out for the most minimal of deeds done, exhalting falsely those who had done NOTHING for the tower but instead for us. Yes... those things would have been wise and won't be over looked in the future should I ever find myself in the position again. Fear & abuse of power... clearly more effective with the average idiot neonate."

Calhoun's eyes are dark, pain fills them... not venom, it's clear that he's a wounded animal striking back foolishly as he's not use to being in this position of helplessness. "You know what is the most gauling Lydia... the thing that BURNS my flesh the most?" He waits for her to show a physical response of interest. "That of all my primogen, of all the people I kept at my right hand during my praxis... only Maddalena stood above Lazarus in my eyes. I LOVED that boy... and when it was time, it was ME who held him up to the primogen and urged them to accept him as their Prince. ME! I DID THIS." He scoffs.

"I told Walker praxis was a poor idea... and I MADE that little King a Prince and THIS... taking from me the LAST of what I held dear in this god forsakken HELL HOLE is how he repays me?" He steps closer to Lydia, the darkness growing in his eyes.

"Are you hearing what I'm telling you Madam Harpy... Lazarus owed me... and he did not honor that debt and every member of the Primogen council knew it. I should not have to blackmail a Prince to have him recognize his debts and keep them... no, I now see the anarchy we live in and I am forced to accept this madness. So, when you ask me what you can do Madam Harpy the answer is simple: wait for the opertune moment and END this madness one way or another. Bring us out of the insanity we've fallen into and back into the Ivory Tower because if you can't ... if you with all your power as Harpy can not... we are fucking doomed."

"You could have backed my play when I pointed out that the Prince had set a standard which he was ignoring. That would have been a very good start... but I understand that you're petrified of Walker and Cocteau, like every other neonate in the city.".

Lydia frowns. "The mood of the Prince that night do you really think he would listen to me?"

".. those things would have been wise and won't be over looked in the future should I ever find myself in the position again. Fear & abuse of power... clearly more effective with the average idiot neonate."

" I am not some idiot neonate. Did you ever stop to think that some things might be out of my control no matter how hard I try? Izabella and I are working very hard in this city. While some appreciate it, others tend to try and bash us down."

You know what is the most gauling Lydia... the thing that BURNS my flesh the most?" He waits for her to show a physical response of interest.

She leans foward and rests her hands on the desk one on top of the other and looks at him. He can see she really is paying attention.

"That of all my primogen, of all the people I kept at my right hand during my praxis... only Maddalena stood above Lazarus in my eyes. I LOVED that boy... and when it was time, it was ME who held him up to the primogen and urged them to accept him as their Prince. ME! I DID THIS." He scoffs.

"I told Walker praxis was a poor idea... and I MADE that little King a Prince and THIS... taking from me the LAST of what I held dear in this god forsakken HELL HOLE is how he repays me?" He steps closer to Lydia, the darkness growing in his eyes.

Lydia nods and takes a step back watching him.

"Are you hearing what I'm telling you Madam Harpy... Lazarus owed me... and he did not honor that debt and every member of the Primogen council knew it. I should not have to blackmail a Prince to have him recognize his debts and keep them... no, I now see the anarchy we live in and I am forced to accept this madness. So, when you ask me what you can do Madam Harpy the answer is simple: wait for the opertune moment and END this madness one way or another. Bring us out of the insanity we've fallen into and back into the Ivory Tower because if you can't ... if you with all your power as Harpy can not... we are fucking doomed."

/me nods and smiles. "I think I have a way to help things move along. I have an offer for you. I have an assistant Izabella. She does great work but with all going on neither of us can keep up. How would you like to be an assistant of mine?"

Calhoun stands stunned. "You want me to be a minor harpy?" He blinks. "Why? Surely I'm persona non-grata right now... with how I spoke to the Prince I figured you'd want nothing to do with me."

Originally Posted by DeAnna

Calhoun stands stunned. "You want me to be a minor harpy?" He blinks. "Why? Surely I'm persona non-grata right now... with how I spoke to the Prince I figured you'd want nothing to do with me."

Lydia laughs at his reaction that she would pick him. She gives a sincere smile "I need someone ballsy enough that will not back down when pushed. There are those that would try and push Izabella and I around. With you I think they would not be so inclined to do that."

She looks at him for a minute. "I understand if you need time to think on this. It is a big decision. You might not be well liked if you take this. Those that talk to you might be suspicious of you. You will be harrassed and they will try to force their will on you. If you do not wish the job of my second minor then I fully understand. If you do want it I look forward to working with you."

"Far be it from me to ignore a hand extended in friendship and the request of a beautiful woman." Calhoun bows slightly. "I shall serve the city again in the capacity you require. Now, what expectations ... if any, do you have of me?"

Lydia smiles at him. "The first thing you can do is back my play. I am getting ready to put up a new harpy report. I would like to know you have my back on this. I think you will like the report. So that will be a good start for you Mr. Calhoun, what do you say?"

"Of course. I'm your minor Harpy. Though I'd appreciate knowing who you have in your cross hairs before you pull the trigger and what they're guity of."