InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Life is pain."

tao_ (tao_) wrote,
@ 2010-09-15 16:55:00

Who: Riley and Tao
What: an unexpected visit
Where: Tao's office

Tao had not gotten a lot of sleep. Thankfully, he did not need a lot. He'd cleaned meticulously of course, then sat on the phone all night. His source did not like to have any suspicion on them that they even liked vampires let alone were indebted to one. So a late night phone call was pushing things. Unfortunately, he did not have a lot of time to placate her. After explaining the problem, and promising this was a final favor she had relented and headed out to the church in the morning. He had laid in bed, no not a coffin, and stared at the ceiling. Usually a good couple of hours in the room, even if it didn't last as long as he would like, were relaxing. He'd instead found he let his guard down more then he anticipated and the shifter had garnered more respect then he had previously expected to give. Worse yet, he wasn't all that sure the rule of keeping things in the room would stick, as they had finished out negotiations inside.

That was upsetting as well. He'd had no problem taking out tribute. He had purposefully given the new leader the information to see how he would deal with it. Seeing if he would reach for that small bit of power, or even more. It would be telling on his position as leader and give Tao some weak points to use. Still, he had planned on enjoying the negotiations. There was nothing like riling up a shifter. Even the idiot power hungry ones.

Deciding sleep wasn't coming he'd headed into work, checking over inventories, new information and new hires. The club was doing well, they had a steady stream of regulars as well as those coming for the thrill of seeing a vampire. He drew up the new treaty and even slipped in a clause regarding collars to see if it would be noticed. The phone call from his plant came early and she had information. Not that it was good, she promised to stay on it. He explained it wasn't necessary, but she felt obligated. If only to spare the pack and vampires more problems.

He accepted a glass of blood to drink, from a blood bank few knew he owned and sat back to rest. Riley should be calling soon so he could pass on the information. The phone call, Tao mused, would be short and to the point. The shifter did not seem to enjoy talking to him much. The thought made his mouth twitch and he almost chuckled to himself.

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amulius
2010-09-25 02:39 am UTC (link)

"No." Riley replied, his tone short. They were both back in their allotted roles, it seemed. Both wearing their old masks. He shifted in the seat that he had taken and leaned back, crossing his arms lightly over his chest. He followed Tao with his eyes, large and amber but yet somehow they were completely blank. "So, what are we meeting this human woman for, again? Because she can't be seen coming over here?"

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tao_
2010-09-25 02:45 am UTC (link)

Tao gave a short nod, he did a small double take when he saw his eyes but covered and checked his cell for any missed calls while he spoke. "No one can be seen coming here. However, she is using the story of her sister's abduction and my subsequent, acquirement, of her from another territory and Master. As a cover it should work, however, if she gets too close to them during this meeting and they find her suspicious she would be in danger and during the day there is nothing I can do about it. Since I doubt I can talk her out of it, I am hoping for a plan so she can prove herself and we can get information we need to prove the church is behind this. The sooner we get the church dealt with, the sooner we can take off the curfews and imposed safety measures."

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amulius
2010-09-25 02:55 am UTC (link)

Riley listened intently as Tao spoke. The vampire made him feel strange, but that was no reason to slack in this venture. He needed to make sure that his pack was kept safe, even if resolving this situation would make it more difficult to se- no, not thinking along those lines, not now, not while this was happening. Later, later, he could take it out later on the tree - or a deer, he needed to rip open a deer - that would make him feel better. He remained silent for a moment after Tao had finished speaking, and then he leaned forward in the chair, resting his elbows on his knees.

"What if-" He murmured, his eyes lighting up, "She killed a vampire?" The right side of his mouth twitched into a smile, "Think of it- I could play the vampire, and she could 'kill' me- I disappear, I shift into something tiny, bam- she's got credit!"

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tao_
2010-09-25 03:02 am UTC (link)

Tao's head snapped up, eyes gone dark. "No. Too much could go wrong and if they have even an inkling of a set up it would only put you both in danger." He snapped off. Pocketing the cell he shook his head. "Besides which they would only want a kill when they could plan it. I doubt they have ever sent someone out untried and alone. They work in groups. It would only take a bit of leg work for them to verify that Jeanne is with me, we can feed information to them through that connection. Set up our own trap to get the information we need."

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amulius
2010-09-25 03:08 am UTC (link)

"It could work!" Riley insisted, "Every shifter and vamp that they've killed so far has been weak and inexperienced! You can do all your planning, but ultimately she'll need to prove herself, and I won't have it be on a hunt for one of my pups!" He bared his teeth, "You could even come, it would be the two of us, you and your hulking vampire lackey-" He said self-deprecatingly, "They won't be able to kill us, they won't be able to touch us, and she can get in the lucky shot that kills me. I'm not saying it would be easy, but it would work!"

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tao_
2010-09-25 03:16 am UTC (link)

"And if something should go wrong, who would take care of your pack in your stead? You get injured you will be weak and your kind do not take kindly to a weak leader." He bit off. His eyes tracked the room, thinking. No, the church wasn't interested in just one species or the other, they were after both. Raising a hand he wiped at his mouth and nodded to himself. "But if your concern is simply that she will hurt one of your young, then I will swear that your people need not be involved in any way." He stood up and pulled on his coat.

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amulius
2010-09-25 03:21 am UTC (link)

"You're not listening to me." Riley snapped back, clenching the arms of the chair with both hands. He rose slowly to his feet, his expression indignant. "I'm not just concerned about the Pack, I want these humans to learn their lesson. If you're just going to use me for security I see no reason why I should come to these fucking meetings." He let out a growl, "I didn't become pack leader because I'm stupid and rash. My plan could work, if you didn't underestimate me so much."

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tao_
2010-09-25 03:25 am UTC (link)

Adjusting his sleeves Tao kept his gaze anywhere but the shifter's face. "Agreed. I will not waste your time on the meeting then. If you would like I will send a report when I have finished." He knew Riley wasn't stupid, or rash, but he could be hot tempered and that would work to his advantage, in this instance at least. He headed for the door, "You can see yourself out?"

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amulius
2010-09-25 03:37 am UTC (link)

Riley felt like he had just been punched. "Yes." He replied, and thrust himself up and out of the chair. He bared his teeth at Tao as he passed by him through the doorway. He tossed his head as he walked down the hall, becoming more and more agitated until, finally, he leapt, shifting into the great golden wolf, and turned around, barreling towards Tao. He looked up at the vampire, a light growl in his throat.

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tao_
2010-09-25 03:47 am UTC (link)

Tao would have let out a relieved sigh, but had stopped even thinking of breathing. Heading down the hall he annex to be very careful driving, just in case Riley did something stupid like try to follow him. The shift did not surprise him, though the quick ripe of power hit him hard. As the wolf turned on him, Tao glanced past him to his head of house and raised a hand just enough to warn him against stopping Riley. He himself didn't move and looked back at the angry amber eyes of the wolf coming at him, eyes went soft, resigned.

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amulius
2010-09-25 03:55 am UTC (link)

Riley glared up and into the vampire's eyes, and then jerked his head around and slunk down the length of the hall once again, trampling over the tattered remains of his clothing. This time he did make good on his intentions and bounded past the humans to barrel out of the front door. He leaped off the front steps and disappeared in darkness of the woods. Once he was in the shadows, he stopped, and his coat shifted from brilliant gold to coal black. His eyes remained that same yellow as he slunk through the shadows, just watching the front door of the building. He knew that he couldn't prevent Tao from knowing that he was going to be followed, but he couldn't stand to be beside the vampire's side any longer.

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tao_
2010-09-25 04:04 am UTC (link)

Tao waited for the attack, if nothing else, to end up on the ground. It didn't come. Instead Stephen came over to rattle off his own worries about the shifter and remind him about feeding. Toa let the man ramble, requested the small tranq gun and headed out to the car. Behind the wheel he closed his eyes and felt for the shifter's power. It was becoming more familar to him. Not feeling it nearby he headed out, taking the western road in order to loop around a few times before reaching the corner down town.

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amulius
2010-09-25 02:33 pm UTC (link)

Riley followed along behind the car at a safe distance, sticking to the woods as long as he could until he realized that Tao was heading for the city. He growled a little and quickly shifted into the yellow Labrador. He trotted along the sidewalk, focused on the sound of one particular car among thousands. When he heard it stop, he ducked into an alley and shifted quickly into a small, black squirrel. He emerged into the sidewalk once again and quickly found the corner where Tao had stopped. He leaped up onto a brick wall and then from there to the top of a lamp post. From there, he could only wait and watch with tiny yellow eyes.

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tao_
2010-09-25 04:37 pm UTC (link)

Stepping from the car, he did a quick sweep of the are, frowning slightly at something just out of his reach. He should have eaten before he left. He walked to the opening of the alley but waited there until Marie came forward into the little light from the lamp post. She did look like her sister, other then the fact that she'd cut her hair severely short and her face had a hard look rather then a skittish one.

"Sir, where, is the other person?" She glanced around.

Tao shook his head, "He isn't coming, he was a shifter." He saw her glare and put a hand on her shoulder. "They aren't all the same, however he is quite, rash at times. So I will speak with him after. He had a good plan though. One I think we can use to get you in farther. Is the car safe to speak in?"

"Probably, I'm not entirely sure I wasn't followed. So. . . "

Tao smiled and grabbed her arm pulling her to the car. "Right then."

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amulius
2010-09-25 04:44 pm UTC (link)

Riley frowned from his perch, what was Tao playing at? Striking down his idea when he presented it, but telling the human female that they would be doing it now? His long black tail twitched and he scratched at his nose with one tiny black paw. He hopped down from the lamp post and skirted along the side of the road, his paws splashing in a mixture of water, gasoline, and assorted filth. He really couldn't hope to follow along the car in this form, and so he shifted quickly to an even smaller creature, a mouse, and hopped on top of the tailpipe.

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tao_
2010-09-25 04:54 pm UTC (link)

Opening the door he shoved Marie in and slid in after her to the driver's seat. "There, not a problem. Now, most likely they are looking for proof you are on their side correct? Would an attack or kill help in that? If I could orchestrate such a thing safely?"

Marie frowned but nodded, "I think the big selling point is that I have a tie to you. They know that you're in charge and figure I'll want you dead to rescue Jeanne."

Tao pulled the small gun from his pocket. "That's as I thought. Here, once we are sure you are being watched, use it, drive off, and head tot he safe house near the club. There's plenty set up there for me to 'disappear'."

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	amulius 2010-09-25 05:02 pm UTC (link)
	Riley let out a squeak. That idiot! He was doing it himself! He wanted to growl, but it was impossible with his tiny vocal chords. He hopped down from the tailpipe and skirted around and under the car. When he emerged from under the car again, he was the yellow lab. He propped himself up on his hind legs and struck his front paws against Tao's door. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

tao_
2010-09-25 05:07 pm UTC (link)

Marie took the gun then glanced at him. Her other hand in her pocket, fooling with her cell. "Whatever works. You have everything set?"

Tao opened his mouth to answer then turned to look out his window. His eyes narrowed on the dogs, in obvious reprimand. "Always prepared." He muttered back to her. Damn it, he should have been more careful driving. He should have paid attention to the small wash of power he had thought he'd felt and dismissed. Pushing at the door handle, he opened the door an inch only to give him time to back up before he could open the door completely and get out.

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	amulius 2010-09-25 05:12 pm UTC (link)
	Once Tao had come out of the car, Riley turned and trotted into the alley, he ducked behind a garbage can and shifted back to his human form. He poked his head out from behind the can and glared at Tao, "What the fuck are you doing?" He hissed, "You gave that woman a gun!" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

tao_
2010-09-25 05:16 pm UTC (link)

Tao gave Marie a nod to stay and slammed the door behind him as he followed. Following a dog, just perfect. He refused to go into the alley and stood just at the entrance. "I thought we agreed that your services were not required this evening? I will send you a full report if you are so concerned." He growled. Marie did not like shifters, they had been no help to her and worse actually made things more difficult. Having one secretly show up was not going to help.

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	amulius 2010-09-25 05:36 pm UTC (link)
	Riley stood up straight and growled right back at Tao, "You can't keep me out of this, answer my questions!" He stayed back, not wanting to risk having a human spotting him, fully nude and skulking in the city. "I don't want a report, and I don't want you doing this with only a human for backup. It's fucking unacceptable, Tao!" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

tao_
2010-09-25 05:41 pm UTC (link)

Tao crossed his arms and put on a a soft smile, though his eyes had gone completely black. "I don't recall hearing a question to answer. As for the rest, I can, and will keep you out of this if I so choose. You are obviously hot headed and incapable of thinking in a calm or precise manner. Should you continue there is a high probability you will get yourself killed, leaving your precious pack even more vulnerable. That is unacceptable. Where as, should it become necessary, I have my affairs in order and my replacement chosen." He lifted his chin. "I am prepared for every eventuality where as you wish to simply jump into an issue and hope for the best."

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amulius
2010-09-25 05:55 pm UTC (link)

Riley clenched his hands into fists. "You think I'm completely incompetent!" He snapped slightly unnerved by the look in Tao's eyes but more enraged by the way that the vampire had dismissed him out of hand. "I have a right to do what needs to be done to protect my people, and you have no right to tell me otherwise." He bared his teeth at Tao, "Like it or not, you're going to have to accept that I'm going to be here. I have the human woman's scent, and you can't keep me from following her." His brow furrowed, "It shouldn't be you, it should be me. There's less risk if it's me, I'll heal as soon as I shift!"

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tao_
2010-09-25 06:04 pm UTC (link)

Tao was suddenly aware they were raising their voices and in an effort to stop them from full out yelling he lowered his arms and stepped farther into the shadows. "I said nothing about your competence." He hissed. "You are protecting your people, the problem was one too big for either of us to deal with on our own, we have now shared information and have enough to do something. To stop this. The best thing you can do for your people now is to keep them out of sight." He heard the car door, heard an engine and knew it wasn't his.

"Your right to protect what is yours does not supersede mine." He replied softly. "Now go, before you are seen."

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amulius
2010-09-25 06:27 pm UTC (link)

Riley remained silent, just bristling. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, "You son of a bitch." He growled, "Fuck you, if you think you can do it on your own, then fucking do it, I hope you don't get staked." He turned away from Tao, just staring into the darkness of the alley, and then back to the vampire. "Don't get staked." He repeated, his expression hard.