Breaking the Ice

[Saiketsu]

Damien nodded, distracted. "Thank you." He swirled the blood in his glass absently before took a sip. Silently he reflected upon their conversation of compensation. What a fool he was to expect a witch hunt. Of course Jake wouldn't participate in such things with the district at stake. Damien had failed to come up with any other method of compensation for his salary in taking the position as the campaign manager. They had discussed very little besides contact methods and times since their first conversation in the Rabbit Warrens and there was much to discuss still.

Five years ago, had Jake been invited into his home, it would be to discuss political strategy or business propositions. Cold, polite, impersonal. With Rachel in his life now... everything felt much different. Warmer, more relaxed, casually social. He was prone to experiencing more things like a human now and could even pretend he was one still from time to time. With Rachel, he was allowed to turn the mirror of judgement, projection, and realism away from himself for the first time in hundreds of years. He could... be, without any expectations. Rachel kept that part of him alive.

Damien wanted to return the favor in full and offer her the world she wasn't capable of having. Freedom to live without fear, to be human, to breathe easily, knowing that the demon that haunted their steps was finally put down.

He didn't know if taking this job was a good decision for them yet - he had certainly tried to distance his lineage from the effects of the election. Nightly Damien awoke with an anxiety that drove him to his office to scribble down plans, donors to contact, organizations to solicit on Jake's behalf, thoughts of Laurent haunting him. Working for Jake on this campaign put his name and life on a front stage, potentially risking exposure of Rachel or anyone in the lineage. And yet Jake was his best shot at finding the demon, to flushing him out into the open.

Realizing he had stagnated briefly, lost in his own thoughts, Damien turned to Jake and responded properly. "Rachel has made a rather large impact here. It still surprises to me how much life one human can bring. I'd hate to think what the house would look like if I were living by myself. It certainly wouldn't be so bright." He smirked at his own humor, tucking a hand in his pocket casually. "Before Rachel stumbled upon us - Pierre and I, that is - I hadn't co-inhabited with a human for any amount of time, probably since I was one."

"Now, I'm not sure about you, but I am personally terribly interested in seeing Lisa-Joe and Pierre finally use that pool table in the big room down the hall. That thing was beginning to gather dust."

---

By the time the two of them had poured Rachel enough liquor to get a good - appropriate - buzz going, Damien and Jake had already vacated the recreation room. Pierre stripped off his jacket and threw it on the bench panel of one of the window seats. The room was simple enough - all of the furniture was placed at the outer corners of the room, the floor only scattered with the occasional cat or dog toy. Against one corner was the entertainment center that probably hadn't been used since Pierre himself came over and challenged Rachel to Rock Band with Jenella - at least a year ago! In another corner was their prize - a beautifully crafted wooden billiards table wrapped in faded blue felt and a fine layer of dust.

"LJ, gimme a hand with this? I'll let you win a round, if you'd like." Pierre gave her a charming smile and expected both a sassy response and help picking up the table - mostly so it wouldn't damage the rug. God knew Damien would have kittens if he had to replace the carpets. As soon as they (or he, depending on whether Lisa-Joe would play nice with him tonight) were done, Pierre pulled three sticks off the mount on the wall that the previous owners had put up, and passed them off to the other two.

"So, uh," Pierre began, hitching his pants and dropping himself into a thick and awful Southern country drawl, "are we slapping some money down on this here game, mizz Hampton? Or does that purdy dress come with some manners, too?"

He turned on Rachel with the accent, deepening the caricature to include an oddly buckled walk like the sheriff in a Saturday morning cartoon. "What 'bout chyoo, mizz Miller? I hears you got some cash to spend, too, now t'yore a Day Walker!"

[The Cedar Witch]

"You sound dumb," she said bluntly before taking a sip from her cup, trying her best to keep a straight face but really she hid a smile behind her drink.  It took every ounce of self-control not to giggle and give Pierre the satisfaction of making her laugh.

Day Walker.  Funny term.  She'd been going out on little daytime adventures for a couple of weeks now, accompanied by that mediocre bodyguard.  The only money she'd spent on her own had been for brunch with Quinn or running out for a coffee when she felt like it.  It still felt strange having free access to cash.  Would the guilt ever fade?  She wanted to get a job, save up for a few bigger-ticketed things, like a tattoo, even though Damien always urged her to get whatever she wanted.  A long time ago she vowed never to get inked with someone else's money.

"I don't have any cash on me," she shrugged.  "Besides, don't we need a fourth person to play or something?"  Really, Rachel didn't know much about pool besides the fact that you use the stick to shoot the ball in the hole.  But she kept that fact to herself for now.

[Black Philip]

Jake was unaware of how conflicted Damien was about working for him. He was already feeling bonded to the other vampire, and he wasn't in his head enough to understand why. Perhaps it's that he didn't have someone to lose, like Damien clearly feared losing Rachel to this Laurent character. Sam was a vampire, and he was proud of her training for one so young. He worried about her as much as any sire did, but he knew she could handle herself, and he'd kill anyone who touched her. Those facts comforted him, but then he thought about Murphy. Murphy was smart, and wouldn't put himself in danger on purpose, but Jake had enemies. Zeus, Zoheret, and of course Lazarus, and of them could use Murphy to target him. He and Damien shared the pause, as both men thought about what made them feel warm, and feared the idea of losing them.

"I started seeing someone recently," Jake disclosed. "His name is Murphy, and like Rachel he's a human. I understand what you mean. Hopefully, one day I'll know exactly how much brightness he can bring."

When Damien made his suggestion to return to the group Jake raised his hand and gently stopped Damien from moving. "Do you have a minute to discuss business," he asked. "I know this is a social call, but I'd like to get a few agenda items out of the way so that we can relax the rest of the night."

Lisa-Joe sized up Pierre as he asked for help moving the table. She'd assist but added, "good thing I'm here or you'd be in trouble Rachel." They lifted it with ease, Lisa-Joe feeling Pierre just wanted to see her look strong. He could've done it by himself. She took a cue.

"What was our original bet again," she said, sounding musical and saucy. "100 I think it was. I say you let Rachel and I swindle that out of you?"

[Saiketsu]

"Of course," Damien said, showing his start with only a blink and leading Jake down the front stairs gesturing, with a glass held aloft and a guiding hand on his shoulder. "And here I was trying to keep business out of it. Rachel reminded me several times to be on good behavior and actually be relaxed." He would lead Jake into the family room, seating himself upon on the loveseat that turned away from the windows, attentive to what Jake wanted to discuss.

---

"What? Aïe, there is no way it was that much!" He searched around the room for the set of balls, the cue, and the chalk - which he could find none of. "I bet you don't even have cash either, you rotten woman, you!" He scowled, searching the entertainment center, which remained predominantly empty of anything at all.

"Damien," he called out firmly and waited for the other to have opportunity to hear him. He didn't have to be loud, but just clear enough, his voice registering only a touch louder than when he was speaking to Rachel and Lisa-Joe, slipping into their native tongue out of habit.

"Où as-tu placé les boules de billard? J'n'ai trouvé que les bâtons de billard."

Damien's response came after an apology to Jake for the interruption, "Vérifiez le placard dans la chambre, sur l'étagère du haut. Je pense que c'est dans le coin, sous une pile de couvertures." Without responding back, Pierre left the room to check the spare bedroom, the room opposite to Rachel's old room. Upon opening the door, he saw that all the papers and plans that Damien had for his pet projects - blueprints for buildings, protected drawings and renderings, boxes of reports -  were dropped unceremoniously around the room in no order. The bed was piled with boxes of reports and files, while the bureau had little pieces of hardware on it as if Damien were trying to fix a piece of Ikea furniture and abandoned it half-way. Pierre pulled open the closet door and found the set of balls under the pile of blankets on the top shelf just like Damien told him he would. How Damien had a clear idea about where anything was in that room was a mystery Pierre knew enough not to try to solve. He left the room, closing the door on Damien's little disaster area, and returned back to the women.

"Ok. Rachel, you're the hostess. You rack 'em up. It'll just be you two versus me for now. Until one of them," referring to Jake and Damien with a gesture of his head towards the living room downstairs, "decide to put on their social pants and come upstairs for some fun. That shouldn't be too unfair against you two."

[The Cedar Witch]

Rachel rolled her eyes and snatched the box from Pierre's hands, tucking it under her arm.  "Fine."  She placed it down on the pool table and quickly downed the rest of her drink.  Before turning her attention to setting up, she flashed the two vampires a cute smile.

"Now," she giggled, "Don't laugh at me."  Pierre got a hard look before she looked down at the open box.  "Do these have to go in some kind of order in this thingy--"  She held up the big plastic triangle and attempted to twirl it around her finger (unsuccessfully) "Whoops.  Or uh, what?"

[Black Philip]

Jake remained standing, but took a healthy drink from his own glass of blood.  He felt like Damien was putting business off with his comments, and while Jake was all about having fun, there were a few things Damien had to know.

"I am meeting with the other District Leaders soon," he informed, the invitation from the ward coming as the sun set that day. "I would like you to help coach me... on my temper."

He sounded uncomfortable discussing it, and looked away as much as possible without being rude. "I-. I fear this might be a tough meeting for me, and that Ben might be there in some capacity, so... I need help not reacting to what I'm sure will be some well planned bait."

He would let Damien have an initial response, but had one more agenda item to tell him about connected to the meeting. "The other thing I need to tell you is a policy decision I've made. I want to elevate Lan Bao of Chinatown to the rank of District Leader."

That was more than enough to unpack for them.

In the other room, Lisa-Joe politely took over setting up the game, showing Rachel how to arrange the balls by stripes and solids, and where to put the 8 ball.  She eyed Pierre. "We'll beat him good," she told Rachel. "Here's how you line up a shot," she demonstrated, glaring at Pierre if he tried to interrupt her coaching.

[Saiketsu]

Immediately, Damien's mind abuzz with questions. A sober expression crept into his face and he put down his glass on a nearby table, leaning back into the cushions. Upstairs he could hear Pierre shuffling around in the closet and Rachel laughing.

"How much time do you have before the meeting?"

[Black Philip]

"Only a few days," he replied seriously, his expression matching Damien's. He informed him that that the invitation came via the ward, and that either Kerr or Ben was behind the summons. He also shared his guess that the main topic would be the election, and then things like city wide rouges and other matters. He would introduce the idea at the meeting he'd decided, and would give the other leaders their say. He pointed out that Chinatown was in the metropolis, and that the only person who would lose territory and people was him. He laid out his other reasons for thinking the move was a good one. All of this he explained as quickly and as briefly as possible. He took another sip of blood.

"Can we start tomorrow night," he asked.

[Saiketsu]

Damien listened somberly, watching Jake as he moved through the information. There was much to absorb and Jake's reactions were a major one.

"When you discuss matters with me from now, on, I want you to look me in the eyes and tell me slowly as if I don't understand." He ignored Jake's words for their tone and looked up at the other with a softness that was uncharacteristic of him in his business discussions, despite the command in his words. "I want you to keep your mental walls up. Do you know how to sustain them for long periods of time?"

[Black Philip]

Jake nodded and made himself keep eye contact with the older vampire. It was oddly intense, and for some reason it soothed his frayed nerves. He realized there was one other thing he needed to tell him. He couldn't keep it from Damien.

"I can keep them up yes," he informed. "It's one of my clan's gifts to do so. But it won't be needed."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the infamous blood ring, slipping it on his right index finger.

"Sabrina gave this to me," he informed. "Unlike Lazarus, I can control it. It will keep all of my thoughts my own, even from Charon and Sabrina."

[Saiketsu]

Damien raised his eyebrows at Jake as he showed him the ring. He was fascinated, but suspicious. Immediately, he stirred his mind, lowering his walls like a shield to allow a parry, should the ring fail. Damien reached out with mental fingers to brush against Jake's defenses, finding a wall like concrete in front of him. Damien narrowed his eyes at Jake. With as much force as he could muster with such short notice, Damien threw his strength against that wall, like a warhammer. Into the attack he poured his age, his dominance, his auric sway just as Lucretia had shown him centuries ago. It was how he had dominated in the past and secured his positions against his brothers and sons. And he was good at it. Many a vampire, especially the younger ones, had succumbed to his will this way. Only weeks ago, he used it upon a dear friend who had a hundred years on him - and won.

There was something like a vibration as he connected with the wall, stunning him with the reverberations. Damien blinked and backed off immediately, cradling his forehead as a sharp flash of pain ripped through. Jake was still standing. Whether he could feel what Damien had just done was unclear as of yet.

"This is probably the best thing to come of the Lazarus situation, I would say." He picked up the glass of cooling blood from the table, thankful that he had one and finished it in one large gulp. The headache eased immediately. "Now you try. Attack me with that ring on."

[Black Philip]

When Damien bore his first attack, Jake felt nothing. The ring vibrated softly to inform him an intruder was a foot. But to Jake it was as if nothing had happened at all. Had the ring not vibrated, he wouldn't have even known Damien was making an attempt. The second time, Jake also felt nothing at all, but the ring vibrated louder and more blaring. Perhaps it knew how much of a mental threat someone could be? He already knew he couldn't push back with it on, but considered training his own Dominate power with Damien. He looked like someone who could actually show Jake something.

"It won't work," he explained. "It keeps me safe, but also keeps me from pressing in. It's a two way effect. I'm not worried about it as I would likely lose any telepathic contests with the other leaders if it ever came to it. I'm unsure about the dark angels, but the others I know could best me."

"I've never seen it push back like that," he said, noticing Damien's reaction as he broke off his second attack. "And I agree. It's the only good thing to come from Lazarus."

He looked stormy as he said the blonde's name.

[Saiketsu]

"Well, now we know you're well protected." Damien said. He inhaled. "I'm not particularly worried about Zoheret and Saraekiel being able to read you. I'm much more worried about them trying to rile you. This," he pointed at the ring, "will at least keep the thoughts you have your own until the time you take it off - which I don't suggest doing in that meeting." He was agreeing with the information that Jake already knew, thinking out loud.

"How do you expect the other leaders will react when you tell them about Chinatown? Lan Bao, was it?"

[Black Philip]

Jake considered the question, and Lan Bao had provided him with a partial answer in their own sit down.

"She informed me she has support other than me among the leaders," he shared, "but didn't say whom. My guess is either Charon or Zeus, as Kuei Jin split the middle of our two species."

"Sabrina I could see being for it. She wants more fairness, not less. Zoheret I see voting it down. She doesn't want more people to answer to, and based on what I know about her, she won't be happy she was summoned at all."

"Saraekiel is a total wild card, and from what my spies have picked up a bit of a loose cannon. Charon is more unknowable than me with this ring on, and Zeus... well... the less said about him the better. I don't think he'll be opposed to demons gaining another district." Lan-Bao fit that category technically, although he wondered if it was fair to call her that.

[Saiketsu]

He nodded, thinking about the response and standing. After a long moment, which he held Jake's eye contact throughout, allowing Jake to see the wheels turn in him, he responded with a click of his tongue. "You will go in there and say only what is necessary to say. You will not say anything to any comment that Zoheret or Zeus make. You will respond to Ben as politely and civilly as if you were talking to me - with eye contact and measured slowness."

He put his hand on Jake's shoulders, noting how much shorter he was. Like himself, Jake's youthful appearance was likely the subject of some of his ridicule. His temper seemed undoubtedly related to it. Unlike many other vampires in the city, Damien could sympathize with that. It had never excused Jake's behavior, but he at least understood this part of his battle.

"You have a reputation of being hot-headed and not thinking before you speak. They know this and your enemies will use this against you. If you show them no weakness, they have none to exploit. When you keep your thoughts hidden, you show them that the don't deserve the space they take up. It will be extremely hard at first, which is why you need that ring." He gestured with a nod of his head. "If you respect your enemies, they remain predictable. If you disrespect them, they are wild cards and will do the most unpredictable things." A hard lesson learned, that. Briefly, he remembered the Fires that consumed his family.