Coming Home Again (Gates/Kiss/Open)

Gates had spent the day arranging and planning he was preparing toe cede open control of Shreveport and wanted to insure the plans laid would be the plans carried out. He accounted for stylistic flourishes and the like yet there was something niggling his thoughts and he wanted to insure that while every plan went awry that in its trailing away form the outlined path that it would remain on course. Always considerably harder to insure when persons were involved. The thought to have Chidera warden things was strong so strong in fact that he walled his thoughts off in that regards so as to not lean even accidentally into that path.



Truth be told Raven would be far better suited to such an endeavor but again it was to easy a thing to lean into and so he backed away mentally. Aeolas’s aide was a help indeed yet she had not truly come into her own and would not for some time. Trained and competent though she was she labored with keeping her rather prudish inclinations completely in line. He was working with her to do so yet some vestiges of her mortal life remained.



Closing the books away and shutting down Chidera’s computer he stood just as Aeriel came through the door. The sun showed in her travels. Her skin a healthy tan and bearing the scent of the day. He didn’t reach for her eyes as she was still considerably guarded. He didn’t need them though having a conversation without hem as always was far more difficult. Taking a perch on the forward facing corner of Chidera’s desk he said, “ You look far more rested than was to be expected with your travels. I am honored you would visit me first.” He wouldn’t be more effusive as doing so had scared her previously. Her fear caused no small amount of titillation and he would constrain himself. Even for one such as he not dying during the day required more than was normally expected.



Inhaling more directly her scent he furrowed his brow. A gun not that it would serve her much in the confined quarters of the Chapel its possession a small issue. “Having come so directly have you eaten?”
 

“Vous taquinez horriblement,” Gates said lightly his lips crooked in a slight smile. As she grew closer he saw the stress in the set of her shoulders and the small tweaks at the corner of her eyes as if she were fighting the urge to check the corners of the room. Standing he crossed the distance stopping shy of touch. She needed the comfort but if she didn’t accept he wouldn’t force it on her. He’d been forthright and offered her as much as she could comfortably accept and yet she still found a way to keep a distance between them. She was skittish and he wouldn’t have her flee from the umbrella of his care completely.



“Yes I suppose I am asking you to enjoy a… bite, with me.” He said his eyes skimming hers but avoiding holding them. “You could use a meal and I would enjoy your company. Npt too mention the chef at the Inn has a new bread pudding recipe that holds he essence of vanilla. I am sure you would enjoy it. I have not witnessed anyone who hasn’t, yet. Shall we put it to the test?” The chef was one of the few who’d trained at the Anastasios in Chicago and was doing not only rich faire for mortals but also using gastronomic chemistry and creating dishes that were for a vampires palate. The other night Gates and Chidera enjoyed a gumbo created solely for their rareified palate made form several blends of A, O and B positive blood laced with a portion of the Sleuths very potent blend spiced and served a la Flambe’. The presentation alone was enough to win accolades. The fact that it was completely palatable for a vampire won him even more than that. It opened so many financial possibilities as now New Orleans well and truly could become a tourist destination not only for mortals but vampires that chose as well.


 

Seconds ticked by as she held on for a moment gaining her bearings and returning to herself with his help. His aid of comfort. The day’s labors mostly done and his surfeit of feeding meaning that taxed from the effort of not dying he was still hale and warmer than most would ever expect from one such as he. In fact he was but a few degrees cooler than the human ninety eight point eight. “Vous êtes les bienvenus,” he said as she broke their embrace backing away. He wouldn’t belabor the fact this was the first she’d willingly taken his offer of help of any variety. “Good then its settled away to the Inn and we will celebrate your return…home. This time for a spell yes?”



He intended to insure she had a nice relative quiet night to unwind and decompress from her time abroad. Working as she did in the employ of the missing resident sorcerer supreme there of course were questions that perhaps only she could answer though in truth he doubted. If she were in the know of such a dangerous secret it would leak form her pores. She was not the sort to actively keep secrets.



Motioning ahead he pulled the door closed behind them. Not completely so yet to the casual glance it would appear so. It was a silent code between he and Chidera. She would know he’d used her office as his battle station for the day and would immediately latch onto the threads he left for her perusal Namely the slow phasing of control of Baton Rouge and Shreveport. If she found any glaring tactical errors she would address them with him later. For now, as best as they could be plans were laid, lines were drawn and things were moving apace.



“You must tell me of the sights you were able to take in on your journeys. I rarely travel these days…” He said catching up to her offering his arm so they might stroll towards the Inn together. The walk wouldn’t be long but it would give them time to speak at leisure and hopefully find a way to bring Aeriel more wholly into herself.
  

Moving with her in a camraderal silence he allowed the silence to sit as way for her to decompress. "That is good news indeed. Saying closer to home will definitely make things easier. Of course the question becomes is that what you wish or simply has the erstwhile rest of the world tired you to the point you’d simply rather avoid it all?" He knew from others a portion of what had taken place in a few instances but as she for the most part was whole he allowed her the privacy she asked.



As they arrived at the Inn he held the door for her following closely on. A nod of greeting form several of the staff and kissmates that worked or lounged therein. Taking a booth that afforded her a view of the public entrances and exits he settled opposite her. As the waiter brought menu’s he waited until she’d ordered and the waiter was off to fetch her items before speaking again.



"You have been in my thoughts quite often as of late. I think we should perhaps move forward in our relationship as the tenor of your work has grown far more…interesting and you will come to more than a passing interests to those you interact with. I would like to continue keeping my word of your safe return and doing so would make things far more accomplishable." He wouldn’t explain that with having all but annexed Baton Rouge and Shreveport that matters had escalated for the Kiss as well. There would be far more Kiss members which while a great thing for the Crescent city it would also increase the options that someone not sufficiently cowed by him Chidera or Raven might attempt to adhere to the old ways. 

He raised a brow at her stammering allowing the moment to carry its own weight. He sighed audibly a little exasperated. It was a difficult moving at even a more of a glacial pace. But it was necessary he supposed as Aeriel was quite skittish. For one who delved into their world with such violence and loss of life constantly near at hand she was in truth quite innocent. There was so much so very much she hadn’t experienced and was protective of herself sampling.



Taking the rolled silverware form the table he sat the napkin into his ap and arranged the simple setting as it should be on the table before him. He straightened the utensils once more before saying, "Travelling has always been a salve for the human condition it makes one long for home more times than not..." Meeting the space between her eyes so she could both physically and metaphysically know his leanings he continued. “You are while singular in your being a threat to many masters around the world. By avocation, action and ability should you train yourself in the fullness of your power. More so if left unchecked wild feats and actions not of your choosing could become the norm. I have been true to my word keeping you safe from afar. Letting it be known that my wrath would be most ungodly should undue harm befall you. That I would visit upon those who would dare visit molestation upon you there actions tenfold for ten generations.”



Clearing his throat even as it was unneeded as a comfort to her to give the words spoken time to settle in he went on. “While you are capable in protecting yourself from the majority of those who would take interest you are not proof against all nor any who would assail your defenses as one would woo a lover. Your abilities grant you some measure of protection but it being so similar to those of my kind also for those in the know presents certain paths to drive through to the heart of you. In short as with all gifts or curses it is a double-edged blade giving with one hand and taking with another. There are perhaps ten living necromancers left living in the entirety of the world. I would like to insure that you remain in it so long as you wish. That you might grow and flourish as long as you wish. And while my word is my bond it is growing nigh that your continued existence will be a problem to those who wish that the number of necromancers was decidedly smaller. Between the Witches of the Mountain raining chaos on each city they show their hand in with their civil war and the vampires doing what they can to insure no witches have the might of arms to challenge them you and those like you are a threat. One that grows in need of redress daily.”



Having talked round and back to the main caveat he again paused. Time was such a precious thing its value only being made clear after its lapsing usually. He waited as the waiter brought over their items. He waited longer still as Aeriel looked at what she’d ordered. He knew this was a conversation that could be off putting but it was one they needed to have. Either in or out and he would honor his word iether way.



“So in short I believe it is time that we join ourselves. Truly join ourselves our energies our aims and our considerable skills to insure you have a life beyond reproach. That you are as unassailable as we can insure. That you become truly mine, sharing all that might engender. It will take time for you to come into the fullness of yourself. As things stand it is also a guaranteed fact that others will do their abject best to insure that never happens. So that as they say is me putting my cards on the table. You know what I offer, what gains there are for you, and most importantly what is at risk. The choice must be yours…”