Thread: Let's Talk (atn: JD Holt - after Brujah Meeting)

As luck would have it as soon as she comes out the door he's standing there a few steps from the door with his arms crossed apparantly waiting for her, and glowering at the door. "If you're intent on talking to me, then walk with me. I'll get you back to your car when we're done but I'm not staying here." He turns on his heel and begins walking down the street. His tone is even and controlled, no hint of emotion in it whatsoever.

Emma nods firmly and walks with him for a long while, silent. Perhaps she's trying to find the right words, perhaps she is letting him cool off.

"That was one hell of a blow up back there, seems you got a lot on your mind. You wanna talk about it?"

He chuckles slightly as he walks, his long legs eating up the sidewalk, but again, his voice is deadpan and emotionless, also pitched just so she can hear it, "Trust me that was mild. I'm actually a lot calmer than that right now but a message needed to be sent. For example, you're the first one who's asked me this out of the group I met several nights ago. First it was undue adoration that was awkward but fine, then it was come meet this group we want to work with you, I was put on display and told nothing, then it was 'oh- you're going to go to Brazil too? Um, great, could use another sword-slinger but we got the plans all sewed up.... what's that, you came all the way down here and we're standing on the line of battle and no-one's told you even what group you're in? Stand over here,' now dirty looks because they don't like how I conduct my business when I am all I have."

He takes a corner and heads towards a grey newer model Camero SS while pulling keys out of his pocket. He holds up a finger to forstall comment and continues, "Do you know I wasn't here in Lamar for a month and a half and no one even noticed? No one has asked me for any input on anything and everything is happening faster than you all think it is. As I speak to the Archon about his amulet, it's then I hear whispers in the crowd about a monocle, not before. Did you know I had to kill fifteen of my Clanmates in Kansas City because they couldn't break their blood bonds with the Sabbat? Did you know I've had a vision of an Antidiluvian waking up?" He shrugs. "I survived in hiding for just short of a millenia- trust me when I say I have good reason for my apparant disregard for my own safety now."

Emma puts a hand on JD's arm firmly and stops. "They are only mad at you because they care. I know it's been a long time... but that's what family does and with any luck at all you'll survive to see your brothers come back to you. I know what it is to feel alone; to be the only one who gets what it is to be you. I can't imagine your pain. I've tried but, I can't. I hate how I feel sometimes and I haven't been alive a century yet. I have no room or right to school you on what is the best course of action after you've suffered so long alone. I don't pretend that's what this is about."

She draws breath and let's go of his arm. "Slow down. If you keep at this pace something will give. Maybe it already has but Illyes swore to Saulot before the battle of Amberstone falls that he and his descendants would teach and protect your clan and I am not about to let that oath go unfulfilled... even if I am one of the last who has any real right to keep it."

She lowers her voice to a whisper, "I just want us to die because you felt alone and desperate. You have an army and I know that we're not always the best at sharing our secrets but that's only because that's how the weak survive. We hide and we take only the shots that count. We only come up and expose ourselves when we must and you haven't been that guy. You're ... out there. You're in their faces with the truth and waving your flag of war... I'm not nearly so powerful as you. I have some talents, sure but, I'm not Hector of Troy and neither are they."

"Pius is a good man, I have faith in that, and you're a cunning man to put your trust in him despite the outward foolishness of that move. I can appreciate the tactic... but it's not Pius we need to be scared of, and you know that better than anyone."

She pauses, "A war with the Tremere clan is something none of us need right now and no matter what the future of things is with them ... for you and your brothers... tonight it's a hard fact that the Tremere want you dead and we don't have the power to win a war with them. Do you understand why we would be scared for you to the point of anger? I don't want to be the Brujah who failed not just a Salubri but, Hector of Troy and I'll die trying to defy that title even though for the first time in my life ..." she dryly chuckles, "I'm not actively seeking my own death."

"We can be better allies to you Hector. You just need to trust us and come to us with these feelings rather than info dumping everyone around you hoping that someone will prove to be better and more valuable friends than us. It's dangerous to you, to us, and it's ... it could force a lot of good people you are coming to care about, to die needlessly."

Standing with his hand on the passenger door of the car, he winks at her with a smile, pops the door and says, "I think you mistake me. Get in," he indicates with a head-gesture as well.

((Lore check- she mentioned Illyes... is that who I think it is? Brujah x5 is what I gots...))

(( Lore x5 will get you the original name of the clan's antedullivian was Illyes, diablerized by Troile.))

ic:

Emma gets into the car, smoothing out her pants as she does. "Well, I'm all ears." she says as she waits for him to join her.

JD walks around the car and hops in the driver's side. He turns the key in the ignition and the car comes to life, including Dream Theater blaring "Pull Me Under" from the stereo before he turns it down low to fade into background noise. Putting the car in gear, he pulls out and drives down the street. "Firstly, I want everyone to understand... age notwithstanding, generation notwithstanding, everyone whoes involved in this is important and will have a key role to play. Secondly, I'm not seeking leadership in this- in this, I'm a part of the team, but not until I know what's going on... I can build an army but that's not neccessarily what you guys are. You're more of the... " he thinks for a moment "...Joint Cheifs of Staff." He thinks for a second, throwing on the blinker and taking a corner. "Here's the thing though, gathering information and meeting in dark secret places is fine but at least some of you need to act or you'll be bound up in bureucratic red tape like the Joint Cheifs. The wolf is at the door... I have to act or I'll see Troy burn once again. You guys want to rein me in and I understand that... but untill I'm read in on what is going on, I'm going to act to find out for myself but I'm not going to beg for it."

He watches a man walk by with his girlfriend going the opposite direction on the sidewalk and his dietribe is breifly interrupted. His features go from blank to adoring as they shoot past. "That is what is at stake here... not us, not our petty concerns, not our precious Praxis or Traditions... no, it's people. All the unknowing people having no idea what Darkness heads their way. The Antidiluvians are awakening. Gehenna is upon us. And they need us to act."

He looks at her, somehow still perfectly negotiating the road, "I'm not trying to be petty, in spite of appearances, I'm sending you all a very serious message: I'd rather face this with you but I will face it alone. The time is now. All the answers for what we need are either in this city or within the grasp of someone here or soon to be here... no one is insignifigant now."

He stops for a moment and takes another turn. Once the car clears it, he turns to her and shrugs apologetically, "Sorry, I get a little carried away when I get on a roll sometimes."

"This is where you're wrong and I'm sorry you think that we are so petty. Perhaps it's simply because you haven't taken any time to get to know us yet... or perhaps it is because every kindred you've known has always proven to be that way; whatever reason you're so jaded about us, it's regretful and we should change that soon."

"Our secret keeping ... just like yours ... is NOT about sect politics, or about keeping information from people we arogantly believe are beneath us, or any other hauty kindred excuse. We keep our secrets so that we only have to fight the battles that matter most and not spend every night fighting for our lives while still trying to save the world from itself. I can only presume it's the same reason you never tell us where you disappear to for weeks at a time or bother asking for our help."

Emma's beautiful green eyes, set in a face that is more human than most kindred you've have ever known, look sad. It's clear she's trying to reach you, to make you understand that she's your friend and not your enemy... that her actions were always meant with the very best of intentions.

"Look, I'll be as plain as possible so not to get the point lost in flowery words. I know it's going to sound harsh so please, steady your beast in whatever way you can. I assure you this NOT meant to start a fight but to open the doors to discussion so that we can come to a resolution. Regardless of how this will sound, I am your friend and ally and I hope that my being a Brujah is remembered as I tell you this." She pauses knowing perfectly well that there is nothing she can say to soften this blow but, it has to be said.

"Hector... you simply share too much. We can't afford to tell you every detail of every plan because lately you have... for whatever reason... felt it necessary to spill the details of many things, including the truth about your clan, and it's horrifying to watch to those of us who have given our word to die protecting you."

"Did you know the night that Kirsi was taken that the Sabbat changed their battle plans ... we suspect it's because Nuriel read your secret messages that you left for Torin before he was able to find them. Or maybe, just maybe, one of the people you've trusted is an inflitrator; we've had major problems with inflitrating infernalists and sabbat members in the past... and not because we were less than vigilant. It's just easy to mistake an enemy for a friend when they know the right words to say."

"You HAVE to stop this constant purge of information for your own safety and the safety of people like those," she points back to the two humans you passed on the road, "... out there. How many humans died in the Tremere's quest to wipe your clan from the earth? How many humans die when the Sabbat exploits our defenses? Believe me when I say that those humans back there mean more to me than most every kindred in this city and I would die a hundred times to protect them but, throwing around information in the hopes of powerful returns won't do them any favors."

"There was a saying during the second World War, loose lips sink ships... the saying is as true tonight as it was then. If you keep telling everyone what you are, if you keep telling them about your visions the returns may come... surely some people will reveal what they know and be good intentioned about it... but you're also going to show our hand to enemies who will just distract us from the real threat."

"Can you understand our fears? Is it possible that you've judged us too harshly and that you can see where our way of doing this - slow and decisive moves, is much better than throwing information wildly into the wind and running around with our swords held high and at the ready? We can't afford to advertise right now. We're at the disadvantage in this battle. We have less power, less numbers, and we MUST exploit every advantage we have to win this war. Keeping intel from the enemy is just one way to do that. We NEED you to get on board with that... the question is, can you? Do you want to?"