Post by mccabethemerciless on Sept 29, 2020 7:23:10 GMT -5
The Glass Curtain was deliciously scented as it always was, with the ever present smells of ale, wine, smoke, and human bodies with just the hint of a promise of vitae as an undercurrent. It was not enough to more than prod the beast a bit, and Rizardo had made sure his thirst was well quenched. In fact he had glutted himself on vitae once again and had to wait some time for the bloody tears to subside as he channeled the excess to his muscles and his skin, luckily it had served the purpose of flushing him with false life, but it had meant he needed to bathe before this meeting, a minor inconvenience, and well worth the orgasmic rush of glutting on stolen blood. The vessel hadn't survived of course. They rarely ever do. But he was always in need of components.
He sat in a darkened corner of the Glass Curtain, watching the patrons with detached interest, there were at least three other Cainites in attendance, two of which hadn't bothered to flush their skin. A dangerous lack of judgement in this day and age, and not only because of the Camarilla's particularly rigid obsession with the Silence of the Blood. The kine had begun to mature in recent centuries, there were those who walked among them that were not merely strong in faith but possessed of intellects that would make Cainites weep with envy, furthermore, even those who viewed matters of faith as purely academic subjects had begun to hunt the Children of Caine, and what is worse, they were frighteningly good at it. He didn't recognise the Cainites in question, they were probably Camarilla or particularly brave anarchs. Maybe. He made a mental note to have them watched, before returning to the goblet of wine in front of him. An excellent vintage this one goblet alone had cost enough to feed a poor working family for a month. Still it's not like he really needed the money. Every so often he raised the goblet to his nose, inhaling deeply of its scent as he feigned a sip.
An hour passed before Elio made his appearance, he cut a fine figure in his richly appointed attire, a bella figura if ever there was one, he was flanked by two of his hirelings. Big men, and obviously seasoned fighters. Each wore a simple breast plate over their clothing, each carried a short stabbing sword at their side. Rizardo smiled grimly and beckoned for Elio to sit before waving over a serving girl who immediately brought over a pitcher of wine. A lesser vintage than the one Rizardo was sniffing, but befitting Elio's station. He was not true nobility. Not yet at least.
He sat in a darkened corner of the Glass Curtain, watching the patrons with detached interest, there were at least three other Cainites in attendance, two of which hadn't bothered to flush their skin. A dangerous lack of judgement in this day and age, and not only because of the Camarilla's particularly rigid obsession with the Silence of the Blood. The kine had begun to mature in recent centuries, there were those who walked among them that were not merely strong in faith but possessed of intellects that would make Cainites weep with envy, furthermore, even those who viewed matters of faith as purely academic subjects had begun to hunt the Children of Caine, and what is worse, they were frighteningly good at it. He didn't recognise the Cainites in question, they were probably Camarilla or particularly brave anarchs. Maybe. He made a mental note to have them watched, before returning to the goblet of wine in front of him. An excellent vintage this one goblet alone had cost enough to feed a poor working family for a month. Still it's not like he really needed the money. Every so often he raised the goblet to his nose, inhaling deeply of its scent as he feigned a sip.
An hour passed before Elio made his appearance, he cut a fine figure in his richly appointed attire, a bella figura if ever there was one, he was flanked by two of his hirelings. Big men, and obviously seasoned fighters. Each wore a simple breast plate over their clothing, each carried a short stabbing sword at their side. Rizardo smiled grimly and beckoned for Elio to sit before waving over a serving girl who immediately brought over a pitcher of wine. A lesser vintage than the one Rizardo was sniffing, but befitting Elio's station. He was not true nobility. Not yet at least.
"Signore Palladio" Elio spoke through an oily, false smile. "I received your summons this morning, I do hope this is important I have had to delay very important work to be here."
Rizardo stifled his irritation, the mortal fool was growing too big for his boots.
"Calm yourself Paisan, you will be on your way before long." Rizardo leaned forward, his hood was still up, the dim lighting barely illuminated the bottom half of his face leaving everything above his nose in deep shadow. Elio stifled a shudder. He had heard stories of House Palladio, and this heretic monk in particular was a source of many dark rumours. He poured himself a goblet of wine and took a long draught. Rizardo waited for him to finish before continuing. "I need you to keep your ear to the ground for me, There are new people coming into Venice, wealthy I imagine. I want you to give me names when you encounter them. Simple no?"
Elio breathed out, feeling a little irritated once again. Rizardo Palladio unnerved him, and sometimes he asked for the strangest things to be acquired for him. Human hair, teeth or finger nails. An eyeball from a first born son. Elio didn't like him not one bit, but he always paid and he was an in with House Palladio, and through them, the nobility.
"I can do that. I always do that. This could have been a letter or a messenger." Elio leaned back in his chair, his face a mixture of irritation and vulnerability.
"No, I wish my presence to remain discrete. Letters can be read by anyone, messengers can be tortured. But there is one other thing." Rizardo smiled, hearing the defeated sigh leaving his mortal contact. "Should any of these new faces arrive by night, I would like you to inform one of my men, any of them, immediately and in person. I would have these newcomers watched for the duration of their stay. Capisci?"
"Capisco Signore Palladio, but I do not see the importance." Elio never saw the importance. The Monk was mad.
"You don't need to see the importance Signore Carbone. But you will be compensated." Rizardo sat back, letting the shadows obscure him once again. He watched with satisfaction as Elio stood without another word, bowed curtly and left. There had been a time when Rizardo felt moved to take the thief and confidence trickster under his wing as a ghoul, but no more. It had become clear to Rizardo that Elio had his own agenda and that it was not necessarily compatible with Rizardo's own. One day Elio would sever there association and Rizardo would have him for components. But until then, he would prove useful.
Rizardo once more lifted his goblet to his face and inhaled deeply, it was a fine vintage indeed.
"Calm yourself Paisan, you will be on your way before long." Rizardo leaned forward, his hood was still up, the dim lighting barely illuminated the bottom half of his face leaving everything above his nose in deep shadow. Elio stifled a shudder. He had heard stories of House Palladio, and this heretic monk in particular was a source of many dark rumours. He poured himself a goblet of wine and took a long draught. Rizardo waited for him to finish before continuing. "I need you to keep your ear to the ground for me, There are new people coming into Venice, wealthy I imagine. I want you to give me names when you encounter them. Simple no?"
Elio breathed out, feeling a little irritated once again. Rizardo Palladio unnerved him, and sometimes he asked for the strangest things to be acquired for him. Human hair, teeth or finger nails. An eyeball from a first born son. Elio didn't like him not one bit, but he always paid and he was an in with House Palladio, and through them, the nobility.
"I can do that. I always do that. This could have been a letter or a messenger." Elio leaned back in his chair, his face a mixture of irritation and vulnerability.
"No, I wish my presence to remain discrete. Letters can be read by anyone, messengers can be tortured. But there is one other thing." Rizardo smiled, hearing the defeated sigh leaving his mortal contact. "Should any of these new faces arrive by night, I would like you to inform one of my men, any of them, immediately and in person. I would have these newcomers watched for the duration of their stay. Capisci?"
"Capisco Signore Palladio, but I do not see the importance." Elio never saw the importance. The Monk was mad.
"You don't need to see the importance Signore Carbone. But you will be compensated." Rizardo sat back, letting the shadows obscure him once again. He watched with satisfaction as Elio stood without another word, bowed curtly and left. There had been a time when Rizardo felt moved to take the thief and confidence trickster under his wing as a ghoul, but no more. It had become clear to Rizardo that Elio had his own agenda and that it was not necessarily compatible with Rizardo's own. One day Elio would sever there association and Rizardo would have him for components. But until then, he would prove useful.
Rizardo once more lifted his goblet to his face and inhaled deeply, it was a fine vintage indeed.