Thread: Seneschal to Seneschal (atn: Ben & those on the streets)

Before leaving, Benjamin slips his Mask back on, choosing to display the black garb he wore Saturday night in Springfield.

Benjamin passes on the offer of a cigarette. "It is perhaps for the best. There are some things Maddalena likely does not need to know about me."

He seems thoughtful as Nathanial offers to help. "I have no aspirations to become Prince, at this time. I suppose the only advice I would ask is how did you handle working with a Malkavian? There are times where my patience and honor are stretched to the absolute limit . . . "

Logan strolls down the street quietly, his steel toed boots clicking softly against the concrete sidewalk. He is still almost two blocks down from the other two kindred, but seemingly alone in his patrol.

Calhoun looks thoughtful, "How?" He halfheartedly chuckles. "Bill has been my friend since childhood... I was there when he came home from war and I knew damn well why he broke. He did things in that war... all soldiers do, that no one should have to do." He shrugs.

"I had been too young to enlist at the time he left, had I been older I would have gone too but... they wouldn't take me. I guess I should be thankful but when Bill came home, well, let's just say he was never quite the same." For a long moment Calhoun is silent.

"When my sister Lily fell ill, Bill stepped up to beg his sire to spare her life. From that moment forward, if I hadn't already loved the man like a brother, he really became one to me. It's easier to tolerate someone you feel you owe so very much to, someone who has seen the worst you can be and still calls you brother despite it all."

"I suppose the key is understanding who you're working with, having trust in them and them staying out of your way to let you do what you got to do. In public people considered me Bill's yes man and I was okay with that... that was the image I wanted people to have. I was the guy who did the things the Prince didn't have time for, was beneath the prince or the prince should never know about ... especially if it would trigger his derangements. If people thought the world of Bill and hated me... I was doing my job well."

"Seneschal is a thankless job, all the hate, none of the glory... but if done well it's what makes a city hold together in the face of all comers. Few people ever realized that, in all the years we lead this city, that it was me who fought the fires and sent out the troops... Bill is a good showman, but when things needed doing... he knew who he could always count on to get the job done."

"So... learn her madness, become her friend if you can manage it, and at the least have her trust so that she knows when to stay out of your way and let you work. When I made her my seneschal we drew out terms of our relationship... she would NEVER question me in public and in exchange I always backed whatever play she had made in my absence. She trusted my wisdom in ruling and I trusted her ability to govern whatever I could not. Without that implicate trust... the office of leadership simply could not function. Does that make sense?"

Benjamin listens intently, and at the end of Calhoun's talk, shakes his head. "You obviously have a very different relationship with Mr. Cahill than I do with Maddalena. We have only known each other about a dozen weeks. What worked for your situation would hardly work for mine."

He continues to walk with Calhoun for a while, saying nothing. Finally, "I do thank you for your insight. I only wish I could utilize it."

A city block behind Logan trails a frail looking individual. Wither the individual was male or female it was hard to tell, but either way the individual was on the small side. The individual wore a MSU hoodie that helped to shroud the face in shadows and the person's hands were buried deep into the hoodie's pouch.

Calhoun hesitates and turns to look at the Colonel. "When I laid the details of our relationship on the line... I knew her for a matter of hours. It may be called gulible by some to put trust in any other kindred... but when you're a seneschal to a prince, I prefer to think of it as an investment. Think about it... she may surprise you."

He'll continue walking, "If you'd like, maybe I could speak with her. I know she and I didn't continue on as best friends but I like to think we have a good working relationship and ... with luck, perhaps Bill will help bring some stability to her mood swings."

Logan approaches the two men, at about a half a block away. He makes no overt notice of them, except a slight nod of the head as he passes.

"I will think about your offer. I appreciate you making the gesture. Perhaps we can meet again, and discuss the city in more depth."

Benjamin makes a mental note of Logan, unaccompanied by his sire, for future reference.

"Please, call on me as you will." Benjamin will leave Calhoun on his own.