well that was crazy huh?(gates)

Gates sat at his desk which at the moment was partially covered in a nonporous plastic. He was freshly bathed and skin was more sun-kissed than one would think possible in a vampire. He was dressed in his usual freshly pressed button down slacks and suit coat yet sans tie. His cufflinks glittered with caught light. He was behind waiting. He had not sent a summons nor had he made himself and his whereabouts known. It had been a long night. Many things were wrought. Many more were begun. The box sitting on the desk was proof of one tasks completion.



As Chidera entered he allowed a smile to drift across his face. He was happy with her sense of duty, her drive and loyalty. He would never ask her to change a portion of that. There were lessons that need to be learned and they would but he would never change whom she was now nor who she was to come. Taking the remote he turned off the televisions that had been on, of the seven he was watching six were recounting the various details and information that was to be had from the days events. The seventh was of some preternatural related incident taking place in Chicago.



“You look positively Khemetian in your attire. It is a look that suits you.” His voice was modulated to be nothing so loud as a whisper but he was sure she’d heard him even as she had yet to arrive in the office. Her senses attuned as they were would pick up on the minutest details. He would have it no other way.



“How was your night?”

His smile brightened when she looked after the lacquered box but said nothing. Her directness was as always refreshing. She accepted responsibility silently. As such he would reward her bravery and honesty with some of his own. Standing he moved to her embracing her gently at first then more impassioned before releasing her. It was akin to saying ‘I love you and this will hurt me more than it will you’. He stood between her and the box opening the clasped lid. Then moving towards the lead lined UV protected windows which let in the beautiful moonlight. It was a full hunters moon as it had been last night. And he allowed her to glimpse a small portion last nights errands without speaking.



The flight through moonlit sky, the alighting behind the vehicle, the anger that boiled without erupting. The full emotional spectrum. He cut the memory short having seen the color of the vehicle and a portion of the plate number she had to know what followed.



"Waste no never. He is becoming a beacon to the coalitions and rogues. It was a shame he wasn’t able to corral Eric’s men; before the police interceded and bring some of their physical attributes to himself but these things happen. But there will be others that will come a call has been made. He needs strength that will heed his word and protect it as they would their own. The weak and needy are great for his image as protector but soon he must be seen as a real and true leader."



Pausing he went on. "Eric while monstrous was seen as a force to no be trifled with and a leader amongst his men. The same could be said for Estelle. That is an information network we are now deprived of. It will take time to rebuild but I am sure it will not prove too difficult. Eric is still out there in the backwoods he will return sooner than I am sure Tibs will be ready for."



Stopping he went to the wet bar where a particularly hardy blend of wine and Vitae had been prepared. Its dry spiciness not quite mulled but close enough that he was sure it would remind her of many things pour a quaffer for them both he brought one to her. Continuing he went on.” Yes I knew and waited for you to realize and come to me. I waited for you to notify Tibs of his error and correct the issue in a manner that would fill both my promise to you that I would never ask you to punish your lion and keep my will resolute. That did not happen. So…” Motioning to the box he paused sipping the rare vintage inside before going on. “ Matters were taken into hand a lesson which I will deliver to your lion once this matter of his full assumption of power. My word must be followed to the strictest letter. My wil must be protected by those of the Kiss. I am sure you are aware of what a plenary indulgence is amongst the church. This could have been one such moment barring that a lesson must be taught. By not bringing this to me your lion was allowed to steal something very valuable. A portion of my credibility. Creating a doubt in the trust of my strength and the authority here of the kiss is no light thing. Yet steps were taken to attempt to keep this from me. That is unacceptable and must never happen again.”



Allowing his words to settle in he sat sipping his decoction once more. The decanter was kept at just the correct temperature to keep the warmth inherent. “I trust you Chidera that doesn’t come easily for any amongst our kind and even rarer for one such as me. What is your impression of the Chicago Rex.”

“That is a good thing and a very bad thing. Perhaps we would not wish him to rub so directly off on our Rex. There was a request to speak with him while he was here by our former Kashyapa. This is troubling as it comes on the heels of our lions challenge looming. Information about the travelling patterns of lycanthropes does not come easy nor is it something easily pinpointed outside of the city where they are operating. It would appear someone in our city is keeping tabs and sharing that ill-gotten information with others.” He didn’t outline how that was horrible on far too many accounts. Nor would he speak on how it could not be allowed to stand. He was sure that their Kashyapa wouldn’t be returning however it was a bother he would prefer to not be allowed to continue.



He realized he was spread thin due the issues in Baton Rouge and Dallas. It wasn’t the best way to continue but there was a matter of public safety trust and the continued existence of the Kisses autonomy. If news of either city spread it would be disastrous. Gates had seen many upheavals he knew the signs of a paradigm shift and would do and was doing everything he could to stave off the fall that loomed. Reno was an idiot. If Gates could pinpoint whether he was at the helm of this he would launch a full-fledged assault and strip him of his life. Until he could secure such information he was hard pressed to justify the risk and the support he would require.



Sighing while this was a talk he should be burdening his Temo’in with; Raven however was liable to place herself at risk. Flying off to Reno to find the information herself. The risk however was too great and it was too far away for him to protect her in any fundamental way. It was why he was attempting to use the mortal populace to achieve his ends of protecting the public at large and his city specifically. He’d had lycanthrope agents attempting to find the source for him yet he’d lost a slew in the ensuing troubles. He needed another way and he’d hope the Chicago Rex and his network might be a tool to use Chidera’s impression of the man was not what he wanted to hear. An impassioned man would be a liability he needed a cold blooded pragmatist. Where had such men of virtue gone in this era he wondered.



Motioning for her to sit he spoke a portion of his mind. “There are several fires across the nation I am putting out and or quelling I am spread considerably far thinner than I would like to be as such I needed to not have anything to require my direct attention here.”

Another would have ignored the pain in her voice and the harsh tone he’d heard as she spoke Master. He was not ashamed of his title or the fear that often meant. Gates monster true was not that sort. He was more than his title he was more than what many other Masters called themselves publicly. Most Masters never were known by a name outside of their Kiss. Gates was known as Gates far and wide his reach surprisingly firm despite officially never having done anything one should notice.



"Master?"



He waited allowing the moment and the silence to fill with the ramifications of that word on her lips. Just as the room filled with the expectations of something more he went on. This moment etched in both their minds. She managed something few who lived ever had earned his leniency and marked him in a way that most would dread.



"Yes."



Nodding as he spoke he went on. “There are many things that need attention I am yet decided the proper order. Until I do your Lion will be the most important. He must become King we need a strong lycanthrope that the others can flock towards. One can bring us many and with a strong lycanthrope community it will shore the holes in our borders.”

Gates knew that she was concerned as to ow her lion might respond but in the end whatever response he was to make would be met and dealt with accordingly. The snake was the only leniency that he might receive if he chose to squander that act of kindness then the balance would be due him and paid. He knew the would be king was an emotional man; as calm as he attempted to keep himself; as much effort as he put into being unaffected by the slings and arrows of life. Gates recognized the signs of a soldier’s heart yet reserved judgement just yet. Though rare it could be healed. He hoped for Chidera’s sake that would be the case. Breaking the bonds of a forced fealty versus those of master to beast or human was akin to blowing out a match versus staunching the flow of a forest fire.



"No we have not. That is as far as our luck will go. Baton Rouge for the moment is off limits anyone who arrives from said local is to speak to no one and be brought before me."



Gates knew Chidera and Raven both watched the borders of the city what entered and left with the wariness of a cat watching a mouse hole yet he would not risk either of them in the gambit being run in Baton Rouge. No that wouldn’t do. They were far too valuable for such a needless risk. He knew that a fire without fuel would feed on itself until all that was left were cooing embers.



“I know you think me cruel Chidera. Sadly at times the cruelty of a punishment must exist to deter further recidivism. Our domain exists inviolate because I say that it is. This commonwealth remains strong due our efforts to maintain the sanctity of my word. If it ever becomes a fact of public opinion that the power residing here is that of a paper tiger then all will fall in the battles that would rage. This…” He said motioning to the box. “Is me at my most masochistic kind. The act here will spread far and wide. Your lion will take offense and he very well may speak or act in error choosing to not understand the gift given him, the sacrifice made by his ally and myself. We did not cave due the attentions of the European Council. We have not bowed to the American Council. Outnumbered we have staved off the very will of the heavens that here lie a fallow land. We continue by dint of the inviolate rules, systems and trust that for everything anyone attempts against this us, its people or the city at large will be visited tenfold for ten score upon those who would dare. Drink…join me in mourning the effects of my kindness. The road will be long and there are many battles left us.”

Gates watched as knowledge dawned but kept from showing his appreciation. He merely nodded as she took the drink down in a single gulp. It would do and would have to be enough. He was no easy puzzle yet he attempted the illusion of being easily grasped. As such he let her have this moment in her own thoughts and didn’t intrude. “That one we should look into. The Exauda is a tool that stretches across the country and our allies abroad. New York isn’t that far away after all.”



He understood what she was saying but again kept his own counsel. “I know what you are thinking in regards to what lays ahead of us. It does need redress yet we can not seem to be behind what is going to happen. It is why I am having you rebond to your lion. Proximity will strengthen your bonds as well as grant us an army to use should we need. Provided this," Gates motioned toward the box again. It was a reminder as to his kindness and cruelty.



“Is a lesson for later. Our rex must know there is a line and a balance due for each instance of his trespassing. I can help you forget if you wish but that is a step I would not choose.”