"Midnight In The Library of Good and..."

[Regan Kelly]

(co-authored by Carlo Giovanni.)

Wednesday, May 5th.
Seattle, Washington.
Smith Tower.

The toll of the grandfather clock rang twelve times in a room lined with floor to ceiling bookshelves. Each shelf was lined with an assortment of books only the most avid collector would appreciate. Only two occupants currently resided in the room, both sitting in arm chairs facing a large bay window looking out in to the silent night of Downtown Seattle.

Regan held herself forward in the chair, jacket and boots creaking as she made herself comfortable. She held her hands loosely cupped on one knee, exhaling. "Thank you for inviting me here, Carlo."

The thin man waved his hand as if to dismiss the comment, "It really is no problem Regan, I always appreciate company, especially yours."

"I admit, I was a little concerned about the last message you left me. I'm sorry I wasn't free till today to come by." Her Texan drawl was apparent as she drew the words out slowly, pursing her lips for a moment. She lifted one hand from her knee, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "I admit that I was a little curious, though, about what it is you could be pursuing to need my.. teaching."

Carlo smiled at her, before looking out to city skyline, "It's nothing really urgent. As you know, I am constantly in pursuit of knowledge, some of it a little more dangerous than most. I simply wish to be able to protect myself from some of the more mundane assailants that I might encounter. But that is all years from now."

Regan's face took on an expression of puzzlement, brows knitting. "But...you sounded like whatever could be a threat was right around the corner."

"Of course, if you want to know, I could let you in on a little secret." He turned to look at Regan with his usual smile, eyebrows raised.

Regan's lips thinned as she pressed them together, tilting her head as she considered his offer. "I'm not entirely sure I should be wanting to know your secrets, Carlo."

He shrugged his shoulders,” MY secrets are nothing compared to the secrets of my masters. They're up here," tapping his forehead, " and they aren't going anywhere for awhile. "I plan on going on a trip to the Middle East sometime in a few months."

"Carlo..." Regan leaned back into the chair, giving him a long look. "That sounds a bit dangerous. Mortal affairs alone in that area are less then sweetness and light at the moment."

"I know, that's one of the primary reasons that I requested your help." Carlo stood up from his seat across her, and walked to the window to lean against it, "I will be spending time there to collect and finish my library as well as acquire a few items of interest."

"And your other reasons to request my help?"

Carlo turned and looked at Regan, "Humans."

Regan crossed her arms over her chest, leather creaking with the movements. She pressed her lips together as she nodded, paying him her full attention.

[Regan Kelly]

"I've studied the varying degrees of mortality and have decided that if I want to become capable of joining the Giovanni ranks, I have to be capable of separating my self from humans. Death is one of those separations."

Regan's carefully schooled her expression to one of blank calm. "Would you care to elaborate, Carlo?"

"There is an elaboration," he waved a finger "or there is an explanation. You must choose the one you want."

Her lips quirked, hazel eyes mockingly wide for a moment. "Why Carlo, only one option? Not both?"

"Because one could mean you get too much knowledge, but the full truth, and the other means you don't get the full truth, but you don't get something you might not be allowed to know."

She nodded, eyes unfocusing as she thought. "One could endanger me, but one could leave me with more questions. Possibly."

"In short, yes."

She pulled herself out of her thoughts to look at him, nodding. "I'd rather a truth that isn't as bounteous when it comes to danger, Carlo. I have enough of that on my own. An incomplete truth won't hurt my feelings any."

"Okay. The short and safe route is that, I have to think differently. Being confident that I could kill, for a specific set of reasons, would be the best way to change my mind set." He glanced around the room and sighed, "Mind you, it just might take years for the changes to set in, but I'm willing to do anything for the Family."

Regan nodded, tilting her head to the side, stray strands of hair giving her a black halo in the dim lighting. "I see. Is the need for defense and...the ability to change your mindset the only reasons you want to learn how to shoot?"

"Well, it would be nice to have a reason to converse with my favorite student." Carlo's smile widened a bit.

Regan laughed, lips curling into a brief grin. "I see. I'll consider it, Carlo. I rarely teach, and when I do, I want to make sure that I feel that it's a worthy reason to do so."

Carlo nodded, and sat back in his chair, "I understand, I'm the same way with my knowledge. I wouldn't want anyone abusing the lessons that I so graciously give."

"Of course not. But all knowledge can be a weapon." Regan shrugged, lips pursed momentarily. "Of course, we both know that." Her gaze went inward again, before she shook it off. "But that's a topic in itself."

Carlo glanced at her, noting the change, "A topic I hope you'll eventually be able to trust me with," his smile widened again,” enough about making deals and dangerous knowledge. How about you tell me what is on your mind as of late."

She gave him a long, considering look. "A woman is entitled to her worries, Carlo. I'm not ready as of yet to share most of them. However, you could tell me how the Don is fairing. I haven't really seen him as of late."

[Regan Kelly]

Carlo laughed aloud, but composed himself in short order. "The Don is doing great as always, his plans are of course very well thought out and executed, other than that, we tend to not see each other for long periods of time."

Regan raised her eyebrows. "That's interesting. Most ghouls I've known spent a considerable amount of time with their masters."

"Oh, I'm not saying that we don't have contact, or that he doesn't keep me busy," he shook his head, "on the contrary his assignments keep me very busy indeed, though I do tend to be an independent agent, I will always take his requests and orders with the utmost care and speed."

"Of course."

"Really, it is interesting how much leeway I get, while other ghouls must always play the lap dog and heel at their master's call, I am a prouder sort." His smile wavered a little, "I am a Giovanni, I do love my master as any other ghoul would, but I am afforded some respect due to my lineage and my very helpful skills."

"That must be heady, at times. Being afforded so much freedom."

"You've seen how I act amongst the Kindred. Most ghouls would be outright killed for some of the things I've pulled."

Regan's lips twitched, but she managed not to grin, or laugh. "Mm hm."

"So you see, the relationship between Giovanni ghoul and Giovanni Domitor is unique in the Kindred world"

"Yes, it is."

"Have you ever thought of taking a ghoul?"

"Never." Regan's eyes were empty, pausing to look at him after she spoke. "I've found my work and affairs are not well suited to making room for such an arrangement."

Carlo's eyebrows rose at her frosty reaction,” Sorry if I touched a sore spot, I meant no offense."

"I know you didn't mean any offense, Carlo. I didn't take any."

"Just making sure you knew my intentions," he smiled.

"Of course."

"It's just that, over the years, I find that more often then not I work with ghouls and their masters, which has... Well, it's proven profitable, but also shown me I would be ill-suited to be a domitor."

Carlo nodded and smiled again, "Everyone has their strong points. How's Angus doing nowadays?"

Regan's eyebrows rose. "He's fine, as far as I know."

Carlo looked surprised, "I thought you two traveled around together most of the time."

"We spend a fair amount of time together, yes." She smiled, lips twisted into a wry expression. "I've got his back. He's got mine. It's what clan mates are for. But I don't see him every day."

"Understandable. I wish I could depend on others to watch my back, it seems to be a luxury only a few get to experience." His smile seemed empty.

She sighed, shrugging. "We all have to look out for own survival in the end, Carlo."

"That is true...." he glanced to one side of the room, "do you mind if I drink?"

"No, of course not." She waved a hand.

Carlo stood and walked to a cabinet on one side of the room, "I imagine that you aren't much for the politics then, huh?" he opened the cabinet and searched for something, finally pulling out a crystal decanter and a large glass.

"Oh, I have...experience, with politics, but rarely the stomach for it."

Pulling the stopper from the decanter, he poured a dark red liquid from it. "I understand your sentiment. Coming here to Seattle was one of the most refreshing experiences I could imagine. Due to the Family and how competitive it gets."

"I can only imagine. I've never really known any Giovanni before."

Carlo turned and looked at Regan, "Really now? That's an interesting notion." He returned to his seat and pulled out a thin cigar from his jacket, "smoke?

She shook her head, hair moving with the movement. "No thank you."

He shrugged and lit the one in his hand, "Never met a single Giovanni before now?"

"Oh, I've seen them, in the odd court or two. But never really become more then nodding acquaintances."Her smile is brief, the warmth of the expression not quite reaching her eyes. "I kept mostly to myself, in my youth."

"As most should, helps you live longer," he took a drink from his glass, "of course, I've never met a Gangrel until I came to Seattle."

"Really? That's unusual. There's usually one of us around in most courts."

"This is the first Court experience I've had," he stared into the swirling red liquid, "not entirely captivating I might say."

"You're lucky. Some of us have first outings that are unpleasant."

"Can't say that having my life threatened by your sire and Angus was too pleasant," Carlo grinned and tapped his cigar, "not that I'm complaining."

She rolled her eyes. "They're sensitive to the status quo. And why aren't you complaining?"

It was a good learning experience," he winked," you know me, it's always about the knowledge."

She snorted. "I do believe you're incorrigible, Carlo."

"Incorrigible or not, I'm very likely to do something just to later write it down in one of my long and verbose journals you see in this room." He gestured around to the enormous book cases.

[Regan Kelly]

She cast her eyes over the book cases, eyebrows raising. "I always thought writing things down was questionably wise, at best."

"I write them down, only because I eventually send them back to the Family in Venice, where we obviously have ways of protecting sensitive knowledge." He glanced around at the books again, "Besides, I don't really need any of these books, I could quote to you anything in these books and reference the page and who was involved."

"Have you started writing about Seattle?"

"No," he shook his head, "that is still sensitive and could be manipulated by someone if they got in here."

She nodded, eyes flicking back to the book cases. "Wise decision. When I was young, I knew a young man.. well, it's not important. Needless to say, he learned the hard way about how unsafe books can be, which I thought was a shame. But, security was harder back then."

"Completely the reason why I keep everything up here," tapping his temple, "so I'm ready to protect this knowledge with my life."

"Understandable. We all have secrets that we want kept safe." She paused, musing softly, "and your head is safer then most places."

"As long as it's still attached...." he glanced sidelong at the clock, "the night draws short."

Regan came back to herself, glancing to her watch. "Mm. I suppose I shouldn't be keeping you much past now. The night does indeed grow short." She pulled herself from her seat, absentmindedly brushing her palms over her jeans. "I don't suppose you'll have time for another lesson this week?"

Carlo stood to lead her out.

"I just might be able to squeeze you in."

"That would be most accommodating of you."

[Clark Davis]

Man, that's good stuff.

[Kenneth Ashland]

My, but Regan keeps odd company of late.

Intriguing.

[Joseph Mayek]

Nothing better to indulge the voyeuristic spirit than getting a peep at other peoples conversations Good stuff

[carlogiovanni]

Kenneth said:

My, but Regan keeps odd company of late.

Intriguing.

I'm not that odd... just cuz I'm ghoul doesn't mean I can't play with the big boys (or girls)



but.... wow, that was a huge post

[Webmonkey]

Interesting slice of conversation.

[Clark Davis]

CarloGiovanni said:

I'm not that odd... just cuz I'm ghoul doesn't mean I can't play with the big boys (or girls)

However, it does mean that when you're given Potence/Protean noogies, you have to take it and like it. ;D