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Post by Titus Vere on May 3, 2010 19:28:54 GMT -6
"You're welcome." Titus noted that Elijah was still leaking blood. Fascinating. What he wouldn't give to have a chance to see exactly how the vampire functioned. What else was his body capable of? No other assassin had been up against a vampire before, but it was only inevitable that contracts would extend to Nox one day. Here was a chance for Titus to be ahead of the curve, if he was willing to take it.
"Neither, I'm afraid. A crime lord is a bit like a King. He is not elected or appointed, but rather appoints himself to his position. There isn't much in the way of political positions in the Below, since they are all but useless." It was becoming clear that Elijah was rather ill-prepared to deal with the Below. He had no grasp on the complexities of his actions and the context in which they were placed, particularly if he had indeed been killing well dressed men. "They keep their power by killing anyone who threatens them. And if you've been snacking on his men or his friends, you may be rapidly making your way onto that list."
Titus tilted his head to the side, studying Elijah. He was dangerous and deadly, and handsome and somewhat clever. And were Titus a little slower, Titus would be among the bodies lying on the dirty cement. But Titus wasn't slower. And all the chances he was taking lately were paying off.
"Elijah, I would like to know you more." Titus took the gamble, laying his cards out on the table. "I believe I could help you learn more about the Below. In exchange, you could help me learn more about vampires. If we can trust one another, even temporarily, we could reach a mutually beneficial relationship."
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Post by Eli Wellington on May 11, 2010 23:25:44 GMT -6
They keep their power by killing anyone who threatens them. Eli mulled this over in his mind for a moment. Sounded like a sane way of living to him. Survival of the fittest. Very vampire. Eli wondered if he might actually like this fellow who ran the Below. "Hmm. Interesting."
He glanced back at Titus, who was proposing some sort of deal. He lifted an eyebrow, smirking a bit. "Mutually beneficial relationship, hmm? Feel free to expand..." he rubbed his chin a little, mock pondering.
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Post by Titus Vere on May 12, 2010 3:09:38 GMT -6
Elijah appeared to be willing to consider the offer. That was a start. "As I said, I have information on the Below, information that you won't learn from the Network. I can tell you who runs each sector and how best to kill to stay under the radar in those particular sectors. As I said before, I have many hunting grounds, and I am not opposed to directing you to some of the more choice locations."
"As well, I have some influence. My position in the Assassins Guild allows me access to a great deal of otherwise confidential information, including ongoing investigations. If your kills were ever to be noticed by another, I could pass that information on to you." Titus's head tilted ever so slightly as he spoke, betraying the interest he had in the vampire. "In return, I would require information on yourself and your lodgings on Nox. Strengths, weaknesses, habits, the list goes on. I can promise that none of this information would be used against yourself."
Titus spread his hands, sleeves pulling back just so. The handles of his knives could be seen if you looked closely enough, but he kept them sheathed for the moment. He was, after all, attempting to make a deal. "This is the relationship I offer. Of course, if there is something you desire more than information, I'm sure I could provide it."
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Post by Eli Wellington on May 14, 2010 21:32:49 GMT -6
Eli eyed Titus, still wary. Even with the idea of higher protection keeping a watch for him, telling someone all his weaknesses didn't seem worth it. Asking him to present himself like an open book was asking way too much of him, especially coming from a complete stranger, no matter how familiar he seemed. In fact, the familiarity of Titus was the only reason Eli wasn't flat out saying no right off the bat.
"How could I know for sure that it wouldn't be used against me? I'm no idiot, and that sounds a lot like you're basically asking me to hand myself over to everyone and anyone who might want to take me out. I just met you. What assurance do I have that I can trust you, even a little?"
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Post by Titus Vere on May 14, 2010 22:37:04 GMT -6
"You cannot know, just as I cannot know that you won't kill me when you grow tired of the arrangement, or when you have the information you need. While my interest in your physiology is professional, and ultimately selfish. An assassin needs to stay ten steps ahead of his colleagues. At the moment, no one in the Assassin's Guild is skilled in dispatching vampires. Your information would assist my career. " Titus wasn't entirely certain how to assure the vampire. There was, after all, a chance that he would use the weaknesses against the vampire if attacked. But there no way to convay to Elijah that Titus was not about to kill the only other mind he'd met who understood him. "You will have to trust me, as I am trusting you."
He pondered for a moment on the question of trust. Titus was asking for information that could destroy Elijah. The same could not be offered, as Titus was certain the vampire was well aware of the myriad of weaknesses and strengths that humans held. Which meant he would have to offer something more personal. "If you are afraid of having the information used against you, then I can offer you information to be used against me. I can list dates and individuals whom I have killed for pleasure, such as our would-be ambushers." Titus nodded to the cooling corpses.
"I have power and money, but I could lose everything if my crimes were reported to the authorities. Would this be sufficient, or do you require something more?" Titus wasn't sure what else he had to offer the vampire, besides information. He had mentioned his money and the power Titus possessed, but Elijah had barely blinked an eye. Perhaps neither were of particular use or interest to a vampire.
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Post by Eli Wellington on May 20, 2010 1:22:14 GMT -6
Eli pondered this for a moment. Would it do any good to allow anyone on Terra to truly understand his weaknesses as a vampire? Not currently, no. But if he wasn't the only vampire on the planet, then maybe, just maybe, backup would be handy.
He cocked his head to the side a little, still eyeing Titus up. "Your need of that knowledge only exists if there is a demand. At the current time, as far as I know, I'm the only vampire here. Like I said, I'd rather keep it that way, so I won't be turning any more." No, he'd learned his lesson long ago about what a disastrous effect that could lead to anyway.
"However..." Eli began to pace a little. "If the others on Nox truly learn about what I've done, others may try to follow in my footsteps. It's just dawned on me now that I may have sparked something greater and more dangerous than I'd originally planned." He paused in his step, glancing at the human once more. "Someone else around to make sure any others don't arrive who may be more careless than me... that might actually be handy..."
He'd given up on the thought of keeping Grace as an ally, but maybe he could gain one in Titus. Eli leaned closer to him once more. "Forget dates, I don't care about previous evidence shit. I want your real weaknesses too. If I'm going to reveal what makes me tick, I want to know what makes you tick, Human. Don't tell me what you've done, tell me who you are, just as you're asking of me. I assume that's not too much to ask of you?"
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Post by Titus Vere on May 20, 2010 12:55:19 GMT -6
Elijah misunderstood. Titus had been speaking about taking contacts on Nox itself. There were, after all, plenty of ship's captains and crewmates who had never returned home from the planet. Even Skye had lost a brother to the planet. While most were poor, there were a few who would be able to provide the money necessary for the assassin's fee, and then Titus could take those contacts. It would give him an edge that no other assassin would have.
But instead of correcting him, Titus settled back and listened, and realized that there was a new market opening up before his very eyes. A vampire on Terra would be worth an astronomical bounty, and more than that, so much more than that, hunting down and killing a vampire on Terra when all the others were still stumbling over themselves would prove to everyone that Titus was the best assassin at the guild. Keeping Elijah alive to learn those vital secrets would pay off tenfold.
And only for the cost of his life story. He wasn't sure why the vampire cared, but he would produce the required information. It was a boring story after all. The only exciting bit happened when Titus was young. The glorious post-kill buzz kept him from feeling the sting of his last thought.
"The contents of one life for a contents of another." Titus agreed, nodding a little. "I will agree to these terms. Now I suggest we leave the scene of our crime before another unlucky soul comes along." He quickly looked himself over, just to make sure he was presentable. The worst of the blood had faded into his coat, hidden by the black, and weapons were all in place.
He strolled out to the mouth of the crooked alley and onto the street, pausing a moment to look this way and that. The streets were empty, except for a few bodies here and there, either sleeping or dead. The smell was the same either way. Titus looked to Elijah, "Shall we adjourn to your home to discuss ourselves, or to mine?" It was a risk taking the vampire home, but one that TItus was willing to take. His home was his domain and while giving the vampire it's location was a risk, Titus knew it in and out and could defend from nearly anything. Of course, the vampire could insist on his location. He would have an advantage there, but it would be at the risk of revealing his home to Titus. Titus had no intentions to break their agreement, but the vampire could not know that. He could only learn it in time.
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Post by Eli Wellington on May 28, 2010 1:24:36 GMT -6
Titus didn't seem to be at odds with the proposal, so Eli felt like progress had been made. Now, however, he seemed more than eager to leave their victims. "Good point," Eli nodded, following after him to the end of the alley. The last thing he needed was to be caught in the act so soon after arriving on the planet. Not that Eli would regret the decision to make the trip either way, because at least he would go out with a much more exciting bang than he would have on Nox, but it still would have seemed like a bit of a waste.
"Your place or mine, eh?" Eli smiled, amused. The answer was obvious here, for a few reasons. The most obvious being that there was no 'mine'. "I don't have a home. I haven't really picked anything yet, except for a spot to hide away my things for now. It will have to be your place, if you're comfortable with that...?" Besides, Elijah was interested in where an assassin might live. It had to be somewhere dark and dangerous and exciting, right?
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Post by Titus Vere on May 28, 2010 13:58:13 GMT -6
A smirk flickered over Titus' features at Elijah's statement. The vampire continued to be charmingly attractive. Titus was going to have to watch himself. The post-kill high was still churning through his veins, and would continue on for at least another day. He could wait until his business was done with Elijah before wandering off to find something pretty. Or, at least someone that wouldn't kill him mid-coitus.
"If I was not comfortable, I would not have offered. My place will be more than acceptable." Excellent. The only trouble would be Skye. It was late enough that she would be asleep by the time they returned, but she was a restless sleeper, and might interrupt them. But she could be easily dealt with. Skye obeyed his orders, and if he sent her back to bed, she would go without complaint. "My sister lives with me. She should be asleep, but if not, I will inform her that you are a colleague of mine and send her away."
Titus headed down the street, quickly evaluating the quickest way to take Elijah home. He often took the long complicated way home, but that would be dangerous tonight. He did have a backup plan, to be saved for emergency extraction if a murder went wrong. This was not exactly an emergency, but it would work for what they needed. And, conveniently, it was on the way to the incinerator. They could dispose of the head and take an elevator up.
He stopped when they reached the incinerator, and nodded to the trash chute. "Place the head in there. The incinerator will take care of the rest." It would take the head directly to the belly of the incinerator, two stories down. And then it would turn it into nothing but ashes. The bodies would be deemed a gang killing, and nothing would be done to investigate it.
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Post by Eli Wellington on Jun 15, 2010 13:14:53 GMT -6
"Sure, let's do that then," Eli shrugged. As long as he didn't end up with a stake through his heart, he didn't care much where they went. He was a little disappointed at the realization that someone else would be there, but then again, maybe she would be useful as well. In... more ways than one.
Titus finally motioned towards a chute, and Eli eyed it. That's where he was supposed to put the head? He didn't quite know what an "incinerator" was, but he certainly knew the word "incinerate" well, so he assumed quite easily what would happen to the head once it was in there. The mental image worked for him, so he opened it up and tossed the severed head into it, watching it fall down the chute. "Huh. Interesting."
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Post by Titus Vere on Jun 15, 2010 15:17:26 GMT -6
The last piece of evidence that would have betrayed the pair slipped away into the firey inferno below. Titus would have to make sure not to hunt in district for quite a while, if ever again. If Eli continued to operate out of here, their combined body count might be enough to get them noticed.
"This way." The pair of murderers made their way up the street, to an elevator nestled between two building foundations. The outside had been tagged with gang signs, and the card reader had been bolted down, to keep it from being stolen by salvagers. Titus slipped a hand into his jacket, finding one of the many hidden pockets, and drawing out a card. He swiped it. All along the elevator's many stops, the green operational lights suddenly went yellow. To the average eye, it would appear that the elevator had been shut down so it could be serviced. It also disabled the camera inside and set it to loop footage from the last maintenance period.
The hack had cost a small fortune to have crafted, but it appeared it would finally pay off. The elevator zipped down to meet them, doors sliding open silently. Titus stepped inside, waiting for Eli to join him, before selecting his floor. "I apologize in advance. My place is quite some distance from here."
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