Thread: Of Pain & Loss – In Pain, Truth (Anyone Welcome)

Calhoun considers his next words very carefully, as if knowing just how unstable his friend has become over recent events. Walking over, he stands just to the right and behind his oldest and most dear friend. A gentle hand goes on Cahill's left arm and Nathaniel leans in towards William's right ear, all the while Nate looks into the shattered reflections of his friend's eyes.

"I've never lied to you Bill and even for the sake of your happiness, I won't start now." Nathaniel blinks slowly. "You're right." he says flatly, perhaps in contridiction to what Bill had expected his friend to say.

"You are at war with all of them... we all fight our war but, and I hope you understand what I mean when I say this, it's when you no longer worry for her safety that it's a problem. The only thing you're going to do by staying completely away is drive yourself and her into the depths of lonliness that ... well..." Nathaniel pressed his lips together tight.

"You've never cared too much for the books I've read so I'll put it another way... it's like those boys who thought it would be easier if they never wrote home to their favorite girl while they were at war. How much they hurt, how much their girls hurt, and then... when they came home, nothing was ever as it was before." Nathaniel shakes his head sadly.

"She's in this war too, as ugly as it is to admit... to shut her out is to leave her alone without even your company to ease her suffering. It could be, Bill, that she needs you as much as you need her in order to win the day. Don't you think?"

Cahill pauses, listening to his friends words.

"I went to Springfield," he says after a long moment of silence, the eyes boring into his back as he stands there but he will not give them the satisfaction of turning to acknowledge their assaults on him. "Melissa requested I attend her there, assist as I might, she said it was going to be worse then . . ." he trails off.

"It was bad Nathanial. I've not seen its like in . . . not even what we did after the war compares. I was with Melissa dealing with parts of the issues there when I felt her break. I dropped everything Nathanial to get to her. I let it all go and ran to her . . . I had no right . . . but I did."

There is a soft gentle, almost unsure knock at the door. Maddalena stands outside in a modest dress that is terribly plain compared to her burgundy one. She wears no jewelry and no makeup. She stands at the door as if deciding whether to stay or run. She's not entirely certain why she's here, it's completely inappropriate for her to visit his home, but she had promised him an excursion.

"Melissa is more than she seems, we both know that. She probably wisely brought you to help with Madd..." Nathaniel cuts off as he hears the knock. Knowing a servant will bring in the guest he finishes. "... the Prince. It's good you went. I like Maddalena but we all need someone for us at times. That night was her moment and it's a damn good thing someone like you was there rather than some jack ass who would use her vaunerabilities against the city."

Turning to the door as the servant opens it and leads Maddie in, Nathaniel stands up a bit straighter. "Speak of the angels and they shall appear." He smiles and crosses the room to Maddie. "You look a vision tonight Madam, we were just speaking of you when I had a little accident with the mirror there." He looks to the servant. "Please come back with a broom straight away and get that out of here if you would."

Looking back to Maddie, "Please, let me get you a seat." He will take her to a chair.

She looks surprised and slightly embarrassed. She didn't even know why she was here and now her indiscretion had been witnessed.

"Mr. Calhoun... I, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were here. I'm interrupting aren't I? Perhaps I should come back another time?"

She looks at the broken mirror and begins walking toward it as if to start picking up the pieces.

Benjamin wakes on this particular evening, feeling oddly disconnected from the world. A slight pull dulls his senses while he gets ready for the evening. He wants to roam the city, checking for Sabbat influence or Anarchs or . . . he isn't sure.

He leaves his apartment determined to turn left, but instead turning right. He learned long ago to trust his instincts, and tonight he gave them full control.

Benjamin ends up at Cahill's house, slightly confused and dazed. As he walks through the door, the mist clears when he notices the map on the wall. He shuts the door behind him, then turns to look at the map closely. He is wearing his black leather jacket and black cargo pants--the same clothing he wore to Springfield. Suddenly, the clothing shimmers as reality warps, revealing his uniform he had re-created from his days in the Continental Army. The blue jacket, with the golden epaulets denoting his rank, is meticulously clean. The black boots are shined to a mirror quality, and his officer's sword is sharpened and oiled. He seems not to notice the change, simply nodding to those who acknowledge his presence.

Cahill stands straighter as Maddalena enters the room, pulling at his vest to straighten it. He locks eyes with Calhoun for a brief moment, then meets Maddalena's eyes.

"My Prince," he says. He crosses the room as she starts towards the mess of the mirror to take her hand. He carefully leads her towards a chair, his eyes averted from the shards of mirror as he does so. "Please, take this chair," he says to her. The chair is a straight back wooden affair upholstered with a well worn red vinyl, fastened down with brass tacks that have ornate heads.

As he does so the servant returns and begins sweeping up the glass.

"I am honored you visit me here in my home my Prince," he says. "I hope the evening finds you well." He pulls crosses the room and grabs two chairs, both similar to the one he offered to her and places them in a semi-circle formation with hers.

"I apologize for the mess," he says still studiously avoiding the sight of the mirror. "How may I be of service to you."

Calhoun notices the Seneschal enter and turns his attention to the second honored guest of the evening as the servant goes about cleaning up the mirror.

"Seneschal Walker. Please, be welcome. So glad you've chosen to join us." He motions to another high backed leather chair. "Is there anything that I can have brought to make you comfortable or have you come on business?"