Affairs Of State

[Trillian]

Ben and Kerr pulled into the driveway of Grigori Inc, parking his Impala in the middle of two parking spaces that looked far too narrow to fit the width of his car. If people were to park beside him, they wouldn't be able to open their doors. Since they were the only ones in the parking lot, though, he doubted he ran the risk. It was one of the reasons why he and Kerr more often took Kerr's Lexus.

They hopped out and Ben pocketed his keys as he looked at the sedate building. It wasn't anything he pictured for the charismatic dark angel.

"I expected something more secret hideouty," he said to Kerr as they joined up around the car. "Like inside a volcano," he laughed.

Wearing a sedate navy suit over a silver-grey shirt and a black tie to accompany his black leather belt and shoes, Ben was a picture of business. He'd fed from a baggie of blood, showered, brushed his teeth, styled his hair and wore cologne. He'd fussed before meeting the Mayor as well, but not this much. He was aware that Kerr knew his not-quite-subconscious reasons for presenting himself so well, but he would feel more together if he was the perfect picture. He'd brought a coat and scarf, too, but put them in the back seat of the car, thinking they would be too much. He hadn't bothered to get them out, though layering always made him feel a bit better.

They entered the building.

[Seragil]

Saraekiel stood before the wall of glass that made up the front of his office and looked out over the night lit city, the evening sky nothing but an indigo backdrop for the lights of the north. He always found it amusing how the night lit world of the humans looked pretty from a certain height but then turned into a burning pathway of corruption and destruction crisscrossing the planet when viewed further away you were, revealing humanity for the cancerous tumor they truly were.

He hoped the Creator looked down upon its precious creation and wept tears of sorrow and bitterness. The self-righteous fucker.

He tilted his head to the side slightly as the Impala pulled up into the carpark beneath him and narrowed his eyes slightly. He wasn't sure how he felt about the two that were coming to see him, part of him was intrigued, excited even but the other part was suspicious. Curiously trepidatious maybe? Yes, that was it.

He turned away from the glass wall before his guests got out of their car and strolled over to his desk where he picked up the phone and spoke to the secretary down on the first floor.

"Send them straight up." His eyes lifted to the elevator as he hung up the phone with a loud click. Butterflies were suddenly doing summersaults in his stomach as he glanced around the office.

The room was a large u shape, with the lift opening up into the open end of it. In the center of the room and up against the left wall was his desk made from metal and glass, it was sleek and very modern looking and had two office chairs in front of it, his computer and phone on top and cabinets to the side. Beside that was a small office bar-fridge and sideboard containing a coffee machine with mugs and a decanter of whiskey with some glasses. opposite that was a comfortable leather lounge seating area consisting of two, three-seater, curved lounges, positioned around a circular wooden coffee table so that they were facing one another. Up against the closed section of the room, there was another but smaller seating area with two lounge chairs and a small table that was positioned close to the glass walls and a chaise lounge with its own coffee table.

He stood before the main lounge area and the lifts, his back to the elevator and looked out at the view once more as he waited for his guests. he was dressed in tailored black pants, black shoes, and a white cotton long-sleeved shirt. over this he wore a dark blue sleeveless v necked vest, his dark chestnut brown hair was left to tumble around his shoulders as usual.

As the elevator pinged he turned so that he was backlighted by the windows behind him and smiled at his guests as they entered his office.


The secretary closest to the entrance smiled pleasantly as the doors opened and the vampires entered the foyer. he stood up and rounded the counter to greet them with hand outstretched. he had midnight blue-black colored hair, moon kissed skin and dark, almost black colored eyes. he was dressed in a black business suit and a midnight blue shirt.

"Benjamen Samson and Kerr Galvin? I'm Paddy, one of the night secretaries here at Grigori ink. Saraekiel has requested I send you straight up." He smiled warmly and indicated the way to the elevator with a wave of his hand. "If you would please just follow me."

He led them to the elevator and once they entered, he swiped his card and pressed the button for the top floor.

[Existentially Odd]

As they stepped into the lift, Kerr briefly rested his hand in the small of Ben's back, maintaining contact as a form of comfort. He could feel his love's heightened state and it was difficult to resist. That was his job, though.

"Out of the darkness and into the lava we go," he murmured, smirking at his lover as they ascended three floors swiftly.

When the doors opened, a smile was fixed on his face, his hands now tucked into the pants pockets of his black suit. His shirt was a light blue similar to Ben's eye colour, his tie mostly black with blue flecks. He hung back minutely, feeling it was important that Ben - as the potential political ally - make the initial greeting but he was close behind, ready to shake hands or whatever was required.

[Trillian]

Ben's gaze locked onto Saraekiel and he barely noticed the room. He understood it was very open with lots of windows, that there was a fantastic view behind the dark angel, but once again he found himself drawn to the golden-skinned man - a person Ben understood was powerful and dangerous... both politically and personally.

"Good evening," Ben said, his voice demure yet travelling well enough over the carpeted room. He approached, waiting until he was much closer before extending his hand. He wanted to be as formal and polite as possible, but already the air felt thick with the magnetism Ben felt towards Saraekiel. "Thanks for meeting with me. Us."

Shit. He felt oddly guilty about his physical response, even though he knew it couldn't be helped. As soon as their hands touched, he felt a spark.

Damnit. He had to keep his focus.

[Seragil]

"The pleasure is mine, I'm glad to see you both" he said with a small twitch of his lips not missing the small verbal misstep and liking it, liking too Ben's attraction for him, the emotions emanating from him were unmistakable. His hand held Ben's longer then necessary before he moved his attention to Kerr. "Good to see you again Mr Galvin."  he offered his hand for a shake then indicated the curved lounge.

"Please make yourselves comfortable."

he was going to offer them a drink then realized nothing he had would serve. He flicked his gaze towards Paddy who still stood in the elevator and considered whether he should request a little shifter blood but then let the idea go.

"That will be all Paddy, thank you."

He turned and joined the vampires at the lounge, choosing to sit on the end of the opposite lounge to them but as close to Ben as possible. He leaned back into the seat, spreading arms across the back of it, the opened buttons of his shirt pulling open, revealing a flash of his smooth golden skin.

"So gentlemen, thank you for coming. I wasn't sure you would, May I ask what made you decide to come?"

[Existentially Odd]

Kerr sidled a wry look at Ben as he was subconsciously excluded then included in the meeting, but chose not to comment on it. He suppressed a laugh, finding the extent of Ben's lust highly amusing. He wanted his sire here, sure... but really he didn't. Kerr was a token chastity belt. This should be fun.

He shook Saraekiel's hand, enjoying its exceptional warmth and texture. The smile he gave the dark angel was a great deal more relaxed than the expression he'd worn when last they met. He looked him over with open curiosity, finding him attractive in a sort of grace-the-cover-of-a-romance-novel way, with his flowing hair and smouldering looks. Kerr could see the appeal but there was something sinister about the dark angel that defied explanation and the fact that he couldn't trust him made it difficult for Kerr to let his guard down enough to allow attraction a foothold.

"Good to see you also. Thank you for taking the time," Kerr answered, making himself comfortable as instructed. He smoothly unbuttoned his jacket as he sat beside Ben, sitting towards the centre of the couch and leaving a small space between them. When Saraekiel asked what made them decide to come, he didn't respond, feeling that was more a question for Ben.

[Trillian]

When Kerr didn't answer and the silence continued, Ben jumped in with his reply. "We've not had a chance to talk properly," Ben took a seat and unbuttoning his jacket after the material sat funny from being pushed against his shoulders.

He could feel himself responding to Saraekiel's charm, though he knew it wasn't necessarily the most genuine. Even knowing that Saraekiel might be trying to fool him wasn't enough to put off the attraction. It was irritating in the way it persisted even beyond logic and reason. A truly maddening sexual attraction.

The dark angel was close enough that they could reach out and touch each other over the space between couches.

[Seragil]

"No, we certainly haven't, hence why I was pleasantly surprised when you made the appointment." His gaze flickered between them. When he had made the initial invitation, things had been different, the situation had been different. He had hoped to win these two connected and influential vampires to his corner, and he had wanted to explore this attraction, this draw, he felt towards Ben; their first interaction had been a near disaster and he had thrown out the invitation to visit him as a life line, a hail mary to keep the line of communication open between them. However, Ben was now a potential District Leader rather than merely an asset and could become a rival and threat instead of an ally if he took the seat of power.  He leaned forward, his arms resting on his thighs and hand snow folded between his knees as he studied the two vampires in front of him, if that happened would Ben be the actual one in charge or would he be the figure head, the peoples darling whilst Kerr was the one at the actual wheel.

“So then, lets talk.” He looked at Ben and smiled softly.

His attraction towards Ben was just as strong, the pull undeniable and still just as confusing. If he could see Ben as a curio for a night, a toy to play with until the novelty wore off and then discarded...like Jake, then things would be easier, simple but he generally respected Ben. he saw him as intelligent and resourceful. He admired how had built an academy after the fall of the oligarchy and the abandonment of all the so-called city leaders. It showed innovation and forethought, a willingness to work with people rather then rule them, which was a concept Saraekiel found very appealing.

He was also attracted to Ben’s vulnerability, his pain, anger and frustration that he demonstrated at Charon’s gala, and his vulnerability pulled at him during the trial, it had hit something deep within him, touching a place he had thought well and truly lost.

Still, where did he want to go with these two creatures, the situation had changed but the desire for having them on his side had not.

“What, if anything would you like to know about me Mr Samson?”

[Trillian]

Saraekiel's stormy eyes bore into Ben's silvery blue and the charge between them was electric. It was like that time behind the Zingari Theatre; amazing back then but also intimidating. Now, with his uncertainty and fragility replaced with awareness and vulnerability, it was a subtle shift but still one that meant Ben could identify the interest coming back at him. Saraekiel seemed to like him just as much.

They were a powder keg.

"What happened at the District Leader meeting after I left?" Ben asked. He would test the boundaries of their relationship. It started with give and take, right? Usually, he gave first. This time he wanted someone to please him.

[Seragil]

The look in Ben's eyes caused butterflies to flutter within his stomach, the sensation both intriguing, exciting and unnerving him. What would it be like to explore that connection, was it just purely physical thing? Feeling uncertain and unsure was also a new experience, however at Ben's question caused Saraekiel to blink in surprise as he hadn't expect the conversation to head in this direction so quickly, still he had no problem with it, there was nothing that happened in the meeting that he wasn't willing to talk about.

He smiled with sudden and honest amusement. " A complete and utter shit show is what happened. What particulars are you interested in exactly?" he tilted his head slightly and narrowed his eyes in speculation. he had no doubt that both of them had a fairly good idea of what went down at the meeting, hearing it from either Sabrina or Charon was his most likely guess. So was this then a test to see how trust worthy he was. "or are you after a complete retelling?"

[Trillian]

Ben shook his head. No, he wasn't after a complete retelling. This was about Saraekiel.

"Did you get what you wanted after I left?" he asked. "Can I know what it's about?"

Ben leant forward in his seat. The jacket was suddenly stifling. He shrugged it off and absently handed it to Kerr to take care of, without realising what he was doing. Then he turned back to Saraekiel.

[Existentially Odd]

Kerr blinked and leant back slightly in order to take the jacket thrust negligently in his direction. He lowered it then frowned up at Ben. He wasn't acknowledged, which deepened the frown into a scowl.

He dutifully spread the jacket over the end of the couch on his other side, shuffling slightly away from Ben and turning sideways, crossing one leg over the other and resting his elbow on the back of the seat. His gaze shifted over his lover, wondering whether the tie or the belt would come his way next.

[Seragil]

He watched with interest as Ben stripped out of his jacket and passed it to Kerr, suddenly wondering what he would look like if the shirt was to follow, arousal suddenly shooting through his body, punching him in his stomach. He flicked his eyes towards Kerr and offered an almost apologetic smile before refocusing on Ben.

"After you left, or during your request for a city wide involvement in the election?" he asked with curiosity "No matter, I'll answer anyway. Yes, no. and yes."

He thought about leaving it there but quickly moved on. The sudden air of seriousness around Ben adding weight to his response.

"I wanted to see if the other leaders would follow the laws as they were written, the laws most of them set up during their time as oligarchs or whether it was a case of one law for them and one for the rest of us. Jake's actions in the West deserved harsher consequences according to those laws, yes everything had been swept aside and pushed under the table. It was also a way to ferret out who had alliances with who. Did i get my answers, yes. Did i get what I wanted, no. And yes Mr Samson, I am willing to be honest with you and tell you my thoughts. " he smiled with playful mischievousness "Well...some, maybe even most of them, if not all; depending on how we move forward from here."

He arched an eyebrow questioningly "Does that answer your question? Are there other details you would like to hear?" he flicked his gaze to Kerr. " and what of you Mr Galvin? do you wish to ask anything?"

[Existentially Odd]

Kerr watched Ben, expecting he'd have plenty to ask after an invitation like that but he appeared to be thinking. That was unsurprising, really. It was exactly like him to take a moment to calculate so that he could optimise his answer to question ratio and suck all the information out of their host that he was able.

"Please, call me Kerr," he invited warmly, wondering if Ben would be annoyed with him if he interfered. His love might be suffering through his attraction to Saraekiel but the prospect of gaining powerful new information imbued him with an ability to focus beyond everything, including his own base instincts. It wasn't particularly flattering when you were the one trying to coax Ben's attention but it had happened often enough that Kerr was used to the rejection by now. Coat-holding token chastity belts such as he had very little dignity to salvage when it came to their ambitious partners.

"And yes, I have one, at this stage," Kerr agreed curiously, having found the dark angel's invitation provocative. "Do you consider yourself an honest man?"

[Seragil]

Ben's silence intrigued and worried him. How was it these creatures made him feel so insecure and why did he feel like he cared about their opinion of him. It was weird and unsettling and even a little threatening  but he wanted them to see him for himself and wanted them as allies, maybe even friends, close associates or whatever the term friend meant but he was happy to settle for ally.

Kerr's question had both eyebrows lifting, he had expected them to take a different route, instead they were asking questions that would give them insight into his character and psyche.

"Thank you Kerr." He acknowledged the gift of familiarity with a nod of his head before he leaned back and considered how best to answer his sneaky and deceptively easy question, he raised his hands to his face in an almost prayer position, his thumbs overlapping, his lips resting in the gap between the tips of his index and forefingers, his smoky grey colored eyes half lidded in thought.

"The simple answer is yes." He lips twitched with a wryly amused half smile as he lowered his hands back into his lap "but, its not a simple question and deserves more then a simple answer."

He breathed in a deep breath before looking at Kerr and shrugging his shoulders slightly.

"An honest man? I'm not a man, I don't think like one, respond like one or feel emotionally as one." He thought about trying to explain that there were certain emotions he couldn't relate to or even feel anymore but decided against it. It wasn't what Kerr had asked anyway. "I am also according to my race, a corrupted creature. however, I have my morals my values and my sense of honour. Am I honest?" He offered a shrug of his shoulders again. "Honesty is subjective, all I can say is that I am as honest as I possibly can be with my allies and those who have earned my trust, friends I guess is the term; and I am as honest as it is safe and prudent to be with those that aren't and those that I consider my enemies get whatever I choose to give them"