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"

[Trillian]

He stared at Saraekiel as he was told about the ex-Oligarchs and current District Leaders. Well, three of them were that, anyway. Zeus, Zoheret and Jake had inherited the Leadership role from the dismantling of the Oligarchy. Charon had never sat on the board, neither had Sabrina, but Ben believed both of them were both better in the roles. Saraekiel had taken charge of the area Ben had been looking at it, mildly wondering how he could go about doing it when the dark angel had swooped in and done it all himself.

He should really challenge the dark angel's right to take such a thing, for Saraekiel had challenged Jake's right to 'clean up' a district not belonging to him. Jake had gone through it like the soldier he was because he didn't know any other way. It was at this point that he thought of Mayor Figueroa and the fact he had a military background. Huh. He'd been pretty hostile, too, though his demands had made sense, he'd not been clever about being polite. What the fuck was wrong with these politicians? If anybody was supposed to be diplomatic, it should be a diplomat!

Ben didn't want to talk about Saraekiel's move into the north. It would just be troublesome and wouldn't change anything. Even so, there was a strong urge in him to confess that he'd been looking at taking the north for himself and that Saraekiel had beaten him to it, and that was what had moved his gaze to Jake McCloud next.

As he thought about all this, Kerr asked his question and Saraekiel responded. The dark angel might not consider himself a man but Ben sure did. All of his previous thoughts about taking the north and disassembling the Oligarchy and the distribution of District Leadership flew out of his head as he marvelled about how much of a man he thought Saraekiel was. A tiny smile flitted on his lips, the first break in his intense expression. He listened as Saraekiel recounted his desire to be honest with his allies and friends.

"I'm the same," he said, then realised he should explain himself. "About honesty, I mean. There's no point being honest to people who'd stab you in the back. Once someone lies to you about something important I tend to react in a big way, but I feel it's justified. I mean, if that trust is broken there's a super-long path to getting it back but I'm not totally unreasonable. Motivations do matter. Initially, I might get so angry that I don't want to hear about why but then I will want to know why and I have the ability to distance myself from the equation and appraise it from all angles. I got told to do that, actually, from the Kuei Jin leader Lan Bao, it was the one piece of advice she gave me, which is kinda funny because I probably massively overthink things before making a move. I liked the way she said it though, in a poetic kind of way. I didn't realise how dangerous she was but Charon told me why messing with her is a big deal and I heard that Jake got reamed at the meeting over trying to give her a district just so she couldn't give me her votes. I know that won't be all of it, he's got some kind of alliance with her that he fucked his alliance with Charon over, so I have no idea what those two are cooking up but I doubt she'll be on his side once she finds out that he can't deliver and I intend on paying her a visit and letting her know he's nothing but bullshit and promises."

Fucking hell, how long had he been talking? All of a sudden his voice seemed to be the only one in the room and he'd heard it way too much, so now he pressed his lips firmly together and his cheeks were tinged a light pink because he and Kerr had made sure they were well-fed before they'd got here.

He had one more thing to add. "You can call me Ben, too."

[Existentially Odd]

Kerr blinked at Ben, trying to remember a time he'd heard him say so much at once to anyone besides him. Nope, couldn't think of a single time. Definitely not upon first meeting someone. And he 'probably' massively overthought things? Understatement of the century but what the fuck was he doing even insinuating that to a man he barely knew? He was offering information about himself like he was... like he was Kerr!

It was disturbing and put Kerr on edge. Ben's attraction to the dark angel was weakening his usually-steely resolve, softening his defences and loosening his mouth. He'd just shared information and his opinion on at least three significant figureheads in the city. He hadn't given up anything too crazy just yet but if there was anything too revealing broached, Kerr was ready to leap in and interrupt. Ben would thank him for it later, he was sure, though he anticipated he was likely to come off as quite rude in the moment. Ah well, he would just be doing his job.

Kerr turned to listen to Saraekiel's response, wondering if he had it in him to respond with as much candour as Ben was (weirdly) displaying.

[Seragil]

Ben’s verbal explosion was filled with all kinds of intriguing and interesting nuggets of information and Saraekie’ls ears perked up as the cascading waterfall of word vomit continued to spill from Ben’s lips. The rest of him however wasn’t listening.

His awkwardness and the light kiss of pink along the cheeks made his heart beat a little faster in his chest, it was cute and endearing, whilst those glacial coloured eyes had him drowning within their intensity. He had the sudden urge to stretch across the gap that separated them and touch him, to brush the back of his fingers across those cheeks or to gently tuck a strand of that blond hair behind his ear, to taste those pouty lips with the most delicate of kisses. His mind was suddenly flooded with images of him and Ben naked, their bodies pressed up tight against each other, of Ben wrapped within in his arms and wings as he buried himself within him over and over again.

His breath hitched ever so slightly, catching ruggedly in the back of his throat as he tried to get himself back under control as his gut clamped almost painfully with desire, his eyes darkening with it, the air suddenly thick with it. The tip of his tongue darted out from between his suddenly dry parched lips in an attempt to moisten them and shuttered his eyes as a tremor of pleasure rolled down his spine.

Rubbing damp palms along his trousers he smiled and opened his eyes

“Ben…” His name slipped from his lips like a verbal caress. He flicked his eyes over the table and silently bemoaned the fact he didn’t bring a bottle of water with him before he sat down. He had thought of it but felt like it was rude to get himself a drink when his guests had nothing. His throat was dry however, and he needed to distance himself from the blue-eyed incubus sitting across from him.

He stood up and sidled away through the gap in the couches. His physical reaction to his emotional conflagration over Ben was clear to see. He wasn’t tent polling exactly, but he was getting there. He made his way to the mini fridge and pulled out a bottle of water which he held to his forehead for a second in the hopes of cooling himself down before untwisting the top and taking a long swallow.

He leaned against the mini fridge and regarded his seated guests. His strong attraction to Ben unnerved and confused him, usually he felt nothing towards those around, romantically speaking and sex was just a tool for further manipulation and jockeying for position and power. It was a game he usually did well but all these fucking emotions he was feeling towards Ben had him on the damn ropes. He wasn’t going back to the lounge till he regained some control.

“So, we are alike in some ways then.” He said in regard to Bens attitude towards truth and trust amongst those close to him. He appreciated that the vampire was being so open with him and decided to respond in the same vein. “However, when my trust is broken it remains that way, I don’t forgive, and I don’t care about their motivations. I don’t trust easily or often, but when it’s offered, its genuine and I won’t break it. I don’t think I over think things, in fact at times I believe I can be a little too rash. A close friend accuses me of being overly paranoid and says I have serious authority issues.” He rolled his eyes a little and shrugged nonchalantly. “Who knew right?”

He suddenly felt ridiculous standing there, he was being ridiculous. Feeling attracted to someone wasn’t a death sentence. “And you can both call me Kiel, if you like” He walked back to the lounge, his gait slow but confident as he slid gracefully back into his seat. He flicked his gaze to Kerr than back to Ben.

“I agree with Lan Boa, emotions, when high, will only muddy a situation. A cool head will always lead to a clearer and better outcome. And, there is nothing wrong about thinking about situations, as long as it leads to a clear and decisive action and not bog you down with doubt and indecision.”
He tapped his fingers against his thigh and pursed his lips slightly

”So, why does Charon see the Kuei Jin as such a threat? If you don’t mind me asking that is?”

His eyes once again trailed over Bens face, flicking between his eyes, mouth and back to his eyes.

Can I kiss you? I want to kiss you. Let me kiss you. he thought maybe a little too loudly.

[Trillian]

He watched Saraekiel in the silence that followed. The way his name slipped from the dark angel's lips caused goosebumps to travel across his flesh. He felt self-conscious, suddenly aware of Kerr sitting beside him and watching the two of them interact. Nothing was happening yet it felt like everything was happening. He didn't understand it. If the couch started spinning and bouncing around, things wouldn't feel any stranger.

And then Sarakiel got up and walked away. Ben blinked up at him as he passed very close to him, sidling past before heading for the bar and the tiny fridge below the counter. Ben glanced his uncomprehension at Kerr before he shifted on the cushion, his elbow resting on the back of the couch to better see what Saraekiel was up to. He didn't say anything, only watching as water was nabbed and touched to his face before he opened it up and drank from it.

Ben, not wanting to be rude, hadn't attempted to touch Saraekiel's thoughts, but now he wished he had. He wanted quite badly to know what the dark angel was thinking. Instead of reaching out mentally, he opened his mind up instead, aware that he might be making himself vulnerable because he didn't know what kind of powers dark angels had. The mistrust that he had of Saraekiel had vanished now that he was properly in his presence.

There was something turbulent going on in Saraekiel but Ben didn't have the expertise to separate the emotions. He wasn't diving into them either, just allowing whatever ripples to reach him.

When Saraekiel spoke, Ben was attentive. He smiled at the 'who knew' question and immediately justified Saraekiel's paranoia in his mind, as well as his authority issues. Jake would accuse Ben of having authority issues. It was more about the person in authority, right? Even though he was twisting the meaning to give the dark angel a LOT of slack, he wasn't aware of it.

"Kiel," Ben said softly when invited to, mirroring the way his own name had dripped from Saraekiel's lips. Ben's gaze followed the dark angel's swagger as he returned. He got a sense of self-berating when Saraekiel shifted past him again. Looking up the dark angel's body gave him a thrill that he didn't want to admit to so he coughed into his fist unnecessarily.

"Um, Charon..." his thoughts broke off as a very clear string of thoughts about kissing him reached him. It rendered him momentarily speechless. Did he address it? Should he? Had Kerr heard it? Ben sidled his gaze to Kerr, to see if he had.

Yep, by the look on his face, he had. Ben gave him a quirky smile that felt weird on his face before he turned back, tension returning to his shoulders.

"Charon. He said how the Kuei Jin all work together. They help one another so they could become this massive army if one of them calls for help. Like the Borg. Do you watch Star Trek?" Ben asked, then suddenly felt idiotic for going there.

[Existentially Odd]

Kerr was appalled that Saraekiel - for all his bluster about trust and emotions only muddying waters - was as attracted to Ben as Ben was to him. It was clear in his body language. It was clear in his thoughts. Kerr was actively scanning both of them and he was astounded that Ben seemed oblivious to the dark angel's returned attraction, looking at Kerr like he didn't understand why 'Kiel' moved away. For a literal splash of cold water, Jesus be praised!

And somehow the two of them were still managing to share information like the best of friends, opening up to each other like sunflowers, whispering each others' names. It was nauseating. Kerr's jaw set when that ridiculous line about kissing came at him and Ben seemed to have finally figured it out... the smile he gave was hardly reassuring. Surprisingly, Ben remained on topic (assuming the Borg could be considered on topic). Stoic.

He considered reminding them both that they were here to discuss business but they were both managing. Somehow. So he kept his gaze on them and his thoughts to himself for the time being, his fists balled on his thighs showing that his tension matched Ben's and that he was ready to literally peel them apart if he had to.

He'd snap their sunflowery fucking little stalks, if he had to.

[Seragil]

His eyes narrowed slightly as Ben broke of what he was saying. Had they heard him? The looks between the two vampires suggested they had. Shit, suddenly he felt self-conscious and rude, if not guilty. He looked towards Kerr and wondered how he felt or would react. he was tempted to scan him to assess the situation but held back, actively reading emotions wasn't his forte, manipulating them was. Reading and trying to understand the why's of it all generally led to nothing but headaches. if Kerr became angry enough, he would feel it without the need to scan him; so far, he seemed fine. Which in itself was odd, if he had learned anything from all the centuries of being around humans it was that jealousy ran deep in them.

As Ben resumed talking, he pondered the situation, his eyes flicking between the two, it was a bloody shame the only auras he could see and read were his own species, being able to see Ben and Kerr's would come in really useful right about now.

His lips twitched with amusement at Ben's Star Trek reference. " I had a friend, well, a friend of a friend that lived with me for few years in the 70's. He was a trekky, so yes I know of the Borg."

He let go of trying to figure out the dynamics in the room for now and focused on what Ben had said, not that he had stopped being aware of Ben, there was no chance of that happening, every movement, every fluttering of those blue kissed mercurial eyes, every quiver of his lips was etched into his mind, but he forcibly pushed it into the back of his mind. As attracted as he was to Ben he was also aware of Kerr, continuously drooling over his partner felt…well almost wrong.

“So, it’s their numbers and ability to follow a single leaders directive without question or fail that bothers Charon then? Or is there more?”
Surely that couldn’t be all, most have the District leaders had armies and followers to fall back on or call up if required. Charon himself was older than dirt, there was no way he hadn’t managed to build up a sizable force or made connections to those who had in all this time. Jake was another one who was surrounded by numbers and no doubt had connection to even more; then there was Zeus and Zoheret. Shit the only one who didn’t have an army at his beck and call was himself, although, he was working very hard to change that. He did have the weapons however; they would help in a pinch he supposed.

And if Lan Bao became too much of a problem well…her head could be removed from her shoulders just like everyone else's.

“I wonder what Jake’s real reasons are for trying to ally with her, other than votes that is. I mean I can’t see him offering to carve up Centrals territory just for a few extra votes.”

[Trillian]

"She's a lot more powerful than anybody realised. Kuei Jin powers come from their chi and she could be as mighty as Charon even though she hasn't lived as long. There's no telling how advanced her powers are, or how powerful any of their powers are," Ben said, divulging what he'd learnt. "Charon has a big network of allies around the world but he said they're smaller than the Kuei-Jin put together and that he wouldn't--"

Ben!

Kerr's shocked voice in his head stopped him. Ben only belatedly considered that he was talking about his number one ally. Charon had been disappointed to find out that Ben had spoken with the Kuei Jin before talking to him so how would he feel if Ben shared all of the information he'd learnt from Charon to Saraekiel, someone who Charon had specifically said he mistrusted? Charon had warned him the dark angel had his own agenda. Of course he did, though. All the District Leaders did. That was why they weren't working together.

"He, uh, he doesn't want anything to do with Lan Bao," Ben finished. It was obvious this wasn't his original intended sentence and he sat uncomfortably on the couch, wondering if Saraekiel would chase that bit of information down or if he felt he'd gleaned enough.

Damn, Ben had to stop talking about other people. He was here to find out information for himself, not to hand it out.

"Have you met with her?"

[Seragil]

Ben's feeding of information was tantalizing and informative beyond belief. As words kept spilling from his pretty mouth the dark angel narrowed his eyes slightly in speculation. Was Ben always so free with information? Saraekiel didn't know much about him, practically nothing infact but he doubted he could have accomplished all he had by having such loose lips. Was he nervous then? Or was it more like the actions of an overeager puppy, excited and needing to please? It was cute regardless, and more then useful.

He flicked his gaze over to Kerr briefly to see if or how he was reacting to the revealing but probably unwise spillway of information that was pouring out of Ben.

At the sudden tripping up of wards, his eyebrows rose questioningly. Charon wouldn't what? Be able to stop her? Call them in time? Hold her in check?

He was curious but he let the subject drop. he liked these two, well liked their potential as allies anyway. he didn't know them well enough to decide on a personal level although his pull to and attraction to Ben was undeniable, but what did it mean and what would it get him?

"No, I kind of got that impression from him at the meeting. his vehemence at Jake's suggestion of adding her to the council felt almost personal maybe."

He shook his head and shrugged. he wasn't going to push it. as much as he would have liked to. What was Lan Bao's abilities, what were her goals, her drives? He wondered before focusing on Ben's question

"No I haven't" but that is going to change and soon, he thought to himself. "The truth is since becoming the representative Leader of the North, I haven't had much time to meet all those I should and need to, and before that, well, I tended to stick by myself. I didn't see much point in mingling. I popped in and out of the city as I pleased and avoided the Oligarchy as much as possible. The only contact I really had with the cities other supernatural communities was the Dark Wolf Clan....and that was more war and survival then anything to do with pleasure and then there is Shae Nicfahgean of course."

[Trillian]

Shae Nicfahgean of course? Ben glanced at Kerr, wondering if he recognised those names but he didn't get a whole lot back other than Kerr's sustained reaction to Ben spilling information like a newb.

He didn't know who Shae Nicfahgean was or what the Dark Wolves were but he didn't want to ask about them either. The Oligarchy records would inform him.

"You avoided the Oligarchy as much as possible?" Ben repeated, but he had more to follow up with. "Do you mean, you didn't want to get into trouble or you didn't like how they operated?"

Because Ben was doing his best to bring something like them back.

[Seragil]

“Both actually” he replied with a wry smile and shrug of his shoulders. “Avoiding trouble was secondary though, if that.” He lifted his gaze to Kerr.

“I know you were the last Luminary of the Oligarchy and by all that I heard, the fairest one but ultimately I found the whole system to be tyrannical and biased in its nature. It had one ruler surrounded by sycophants who received their position not by the choice of the people and creatures they supposedly represented but by their affiliation or relationship with said leader. I mean yes, a few of these choices made some sense but most were made with no rhyme or reason, and they most certainly didn’t take in any consideration of the culture of the different species and races they were taking charge off. And then of course there were the mimics, enforcing any and all choices the oligarchy deemed fit to make, their abilities ensuring no one could say no or dare complain or protests.”

He turned his gaze back to Ben

“I know you have received a lot of flack and negativity for your supposed involvement with the collapse of the Oligarchy but I personally say thank you.”

[Existentially Odd]

Kerr blinked slowly as Saraekiel blasted him with a wall of spurious facts and uneducated falsehoods, doing his best to unravel the fiction that washed over him in a relentless tide of bullshit. He couldn't tell if the dark angel was trying to provoke his anger or if he was just stupid enough to believe the skewed information he was spouting. Sadly, it seemed to be the latter. He cleared his throat to answer before Ben had a chance to do so.

"And I find your assessment of a system you have no personal knowledge of to be puerile and deliberately incendiary," Kerr responded mildly, finding the final jab of thanking Ben for the demolition of the system reprehensible. The dark angel was sliding rapidly out of the realm of respectability and into contemptibility, if all he could bring to the meeting were juvenile barbs and gossip. Considering all he'd offered before this unwarranted attack were declarations of trust and honesty (before Ben started spilling his guts), Kerr was having a hard time viewing him as worthy of speaking to. He was a disappointment.

"The ignorant should ask, not tell," Kerr challenged softly, staring the dark angel down.

[Trillian]

Ben also reacted to the initial claims about how the Oligarchy hadn't served its purpose well, and he frowned. He was surprised that Saraekiel didn't know but also thought perhaps Zoheret might have led him astray with her contempt for the other Oligarchs. They were friends, right? He couldn't remember who'd told them that they were on friendly terms but he'd believed it.

When he was thanked for its downfall he felt ashamed. That shame thrummed a path to Kerr even though he didn't want it to. It didn't matter if Saraekiel liked that he'd had a hand in it, Ben would forever regret being led astray by false information. He should've researched it first, asked around, figured it out before sending it a journalist - friend or not.

And then Kerr floored him. He heard that Kerr was dismissive rather than hostile, that he was disappointed rather than insulted. But his words would only create tension between them and the District Leader where before there was none. He knew if he interrupted the challenge that Kerr wouldn't like it, but he interrupted anyway because he didn't want to lose favour.

"I loved how the Oligarchy worked," he said. "To have a dark angel represent all dark angels, and vampires their own, and fae their own, so that they could understand the overlaps or misunderstandings. It's not the fault of the Oligarchy that there were those who wouldn't step up. They can't force a werewolf to represent, or the Fae Oligarch to show up. And the Mimics never doled out punishments, they only observed and captured. Perhaps the Luminary role could've been split into three, to alleviate someone abusing power, like when Lazarus was Luminary."

He hoped his words would be enough to lead the conversation away from what Kerr had said and they could discuss his explanation instead.

[Seragil]

He stilled at Kerrs words; the reprimand and challenge clear in his tone. He ruffled his feathers with agitation, the only outward signs of his displeasure however was a raising of an eyebrow in return to the stare, asmall flaring of power in his eyes, quickly stifled and a heaviness in the air.

He listened to Ben’s words as he jumped in and tried to diffuse the sudden tense situation, his explanation of his idea of how it worked gave him pause. Maybe he had been wrong and looked upon the old system with too much cynicism, instinctual mistrust and paranoia

He lowered his eyes and blinked languidly as he though about it, the tension seeping out of the room

Kerr was right in that he was ignorant of how the Oligarchy was ran and all its internal workings. Maybe the Luminary had been merely a guardian and mediator for all the different species who lived in the city and not a tyrant demanding that all others give way, kneel to and accept their authority. Laughable but possible, and maybe the Oligarchs had been voted in by the people and not chosen by whim by the Luminary or the position given as a reward for services rendered, although he seriously doubted that was the case, and maybe those Oligarchs really were merely representatives of their species, nothing more than modern day supernatural consulates who offered advice to the Luminary but answered to the actual different species leaders. A pretty thought, and of course the mimics main prerogative was to defend and to apprehend those that truly endangered the city and weren’t used as the Oligarchs and Luminaries personal army, their unique abilities never used to ensure no one could rise against them or question their will and rule, never used to capture and destroy those with power and strength enough to challenge and fight back or stand up for themselves.

His lips twitched with sardonic amusement at that thought

And maybe the whole system had been a fair and just system with specie equality for all and not a system that kept the vampires in charge of the city where they could do whatever they wanted to whomever they wanted while they kept everyone else in servitude, each jockeying and scheming and fawning for favour and political standing and the populace kept under heel, unable to cry out lest they be named a nuisance and a danger than dragged off in the middle of the night.

It was possible he was wrong…but then there was the Dark Wolf Clan, who were allowed to hunt and slaughter his kind like fucking vermin, more often then not all they managed to kill were fallen angels, weak things, no better then mortals with a few odd abilities, children really. He remembered their screams of fear and despair, their torn, shredded broken bodies drenched in gold speckled crimson blood . He remembered quite clearly the hunts for himself and the battles that ensued. He left most encounters limping, bleeding and on an occasion or two, a little broken, but Keynigh’s clan always left those skirmishes carrying body bags, their numbers far fewer then when they started. Where was the precious and fair Oligarchy then? Where was their fucking intervention? Sipping from their blood-filled crystal goblets and polishing their glittering nails or their nobs, that’s where.

He shuddered at the memories and swallowed his anger, what happened between him and the Dark Wolf Clan had no bearings on the here and now and whether the Oligarchy knew or not was irrelevant. It was the past and the Oligarchy was dead.

“You’re right” he said in answer to Kerr. “I am ignorant of the structure and internal working of the old system; I know nothing of its actual intent or purpose.”   He knew nothing of Kerr really, except people said he had been the best Luminary out of the bunch, but how much was that really saying? If the others were monstrous than a terrible one would look good by comparison. However, he wanted to get to know these two and not just because he was attracted to one of them. Both creatures had guided and moved this city and its people in their own way, both had survived the political turmoil and both seem to be able to move amongst the different species and groups with relative ease, but most importantly they seemed to have all those groups respect to some degree or another. He saw the potential in associating with them, to get them on his side or maybe even hitching his wheel to theirs, but mostly, he just wanted to get to know them. They were interesting.

“And I admit my view is skewered by instinctual mistrust and bad experiences.” He flicked his gaze between then both and settled back into his seat. “My words were hasty and poorly chosen. I think I insulted you both and that was not my intent.”

That was as close to an apology as he was ever going to go.

He looked towards Kerr. “ I am intrigued to hear what you thought of it and had planned for it…if you are interested in talking about it that is.” He then looked at Ben, his eyes glinting with curiosity. “You think it could have been run better then it was? How would splitting the actual position of luminary into three have helped? Wouldn’t that just make them Oligarchs?” his question was honest and probably showed how little he really did know of how the system had worked.

[Existentially Odd]

Kerr narrowed his eyes at Ben as he tried to deflect Kerr's antagonism and though he was affronted by it, he didn't say anything. He locked his emotions down once and for all, though, so Ben would know nothing of what he felt. He got that Ben was trying to keep the peace but where was his fucking loyalty? This Saraekiel joker had just blatantly torn down everything Kerr had stood for, attacked his character by implying he was corrupt (hilarious!) and pissed over everything he and Ben believed in so Ben decided it was a good idea to peppily point out how the sodden mess beneath the dark angel's heel was actually worth more than just being set on fire? Fucking give me a break.

Oh, and then those few words from Ben changed the guy's mind immediately. Praise be, what a fucking miracle! The power of pheromones in action, folks. Kerr stared at the dark angel in disbelief as he kind of backtracked, though his thoughts featured some confusing wolf and angel battles Kerr knew nothing of. So Kerr was to be crucified by his ignorance? Seemed reasonable. About as reasonable as vilifying something you knew nothing about because you had 'bad experiences' and 'hasty, poorly chosen words' plopping out of your septic tank of a mouth. Kerr smiled as his assessment of the creature slid even lower and he gave the impression he was politely entertaining his non-apology/mollification.

"Not really, there's no point. As you say, it's in the past," Kerr dismissed affably, waving the pitiful appeasement of talking about his visions for the Oligarchy aside with a hand. He struck a casual pose with his elbow up on the back of the couch then, resting his cheek on two fingers and the thumb of his other hand and turning curious eyes towards Ben. His outside leg folded over his other just because it helped his balance but he was otherwise apparently open physically and verbally to his companions. Saraekiel didn't want to hear a word he had to say about the Oligarchy, otherwise why would he have immediately asked Ben to talk about his visions? No, he was only interested in following where his dick led, not in actual information. It was far easier never to be told something you may be forced to consider changing your mind over. Best to just listen to Ben.

The dark angel didn't deserve to have his intrigue satisfied anyway. So far it seemed the only reason they were here was to be gouged for information and Ben was complying perfectly with that agenda. Kerr wondered when his fledgeling was going to start asking questions. He doubted there'd be quid pro quo. "You go," he told Ben mildly, his waving hand becoming an encouraging one as it fluttered towards his love and then came to rest draped over his thigh. His gentle smile was still in place.

Just don't tell him your every thought, he warned his fledge mentally.

[Trillian]

Ben, unlike his sire, respected the openmindness that Saraekiel displayed. Very few people would change their opinions even when confronted by facts, and the dark angel was willing to concede based on his testimony alone. It made him feel

special
important

acknowledged. His smile grew when Saraekiel inquired after the Oligarchy to Kerr, being really good about it considering the smackdown Kerr had given him (though it was gentle enough). Saraekiel was going out of his way to be magnanimous and when Ben glanced at Kerr to glean his thoughts and feelings, his smile faltered. Kerr's expression was blank, much like his mind. Ben was getting nothing from him - their bond was closed. But why? Why had he shut himself off?

Confused by Kerr's isolation, he faced Saraekiel again. Kerr's words that the Oligarchy were in the past sounded like another dismissal. Ben couldn't understand his reasoning for it. He'd always touted Kerr as the diplomat, the one who everybody liked. Right now he wasn't being that person. He was being someone else. And then Kerr put him on the spot, saying 'you go' like he'd been invited somewhere, and then the warning in his head. Thanks, Dad.

"Um," he said, and almost asked 'where am I going' before he thought to touch Saraekiel's mind gently. He really didn't want to do stuff like that because Saraekiel might sense it and be offended but Kerr was giving him a boatload of nothing. He realised that he was expected to provide an answer. What had they been talking about? "Yeah, so... um... if-if I become.... District Leader," he cringed, feeling like the biggest fraud in history, "I'll put together a group of different species to act as a council of advisors for me."

He realised he was describing himself as a new Luminary, after the fact. He wet his lips, hoping that Saraekiel wouldn't point out that Ben was deluding himself.

[Seragil]

It was a light brush, phantom like and if he hadn’t lived with a telepath all these centuries it would have gone unnoticed, but he recognized the feeling and it was not Shae Nicfaeghan trying to reach him. His first instinct was to put up walls, to block them out, to go on the defensive by attacking as best he could, but instead he relaxed and left the first layer of his mind open, curious to see how far whoever it was  were willing to intrude, maybe they just wanted to talk privately.

The rest of his mind however would not be so easy to breach and was certainly not left unprotected. The intruder would find a barrier made up with the imagery of flapping wings, falling feathers, shifting shadows and flashing daggers. It was a maze created to confuse, to distract, to waylay and mentally wound. if whomever was trying to breach his mind went further than that then they were there to snoop and invade his most private sanctum. It would be far more then feathers and shadows.

He crossed his legs over his knees and stretched his arms along the back of the couch, much like Kerr, and waited as he offered them both a friendly smile and raised an eyebrow questioningly in response to Ben’s future for Central. As for Kerr, he was curious; his manner was open and calm enough and yet there was something off about his energy, like a dangerous current beneath a mirror calm looking river.

“How do you mean a council of advisors? Do you mean to offer the leaders of the different supe groups that live in central an advisory role, if so, then I could get behind that, even offer support if you need or want it, as I have a similar structure here in the North. Or do you mean to try and create something more…expansive? City wide expansive?”

Was he suggesting he wanted to recreate the Oligarchy? With himself as Luminary? He flicked his eyes between the two vampires before resettling on Ben. If so, just how deep did this plot to overthrow the current power structure go. Who else was involved, was anyone else involved. His mind instantly started running through who might be involved or would like to be part of such a plan. His paranoia starting to work over time, his mind distracted enough that his defenses slipped and wavered.

[Trillian]

At the first two questions, Ben nodded. He felt no need to elaborate for Saraekiel was only summarising what he'd just said, after all.

The comment about the north having a similar structure surprised him. Saraekiel had advisors? Where were they? While he wondered what different species they might be, he was asked another question that made him laugh shortly, surprised by it.

"Let's just see if I can get into Central first," he said with an aw-shucks smile, then leant forward, forearms on knees, hands loosely together. "What kind of structure do you have?" Ben was intrigued. He didn't know anything about the dark angel or how he'd risen to power so quickly that he'd been able to stake a claim on the northern territory. There were rumours and gossip but it had sounded farfetched and silly. Ben would prefer to hear from Saraekiel directly how he'd set everything up. Ben could learn something.

[Seragil]

He recognized Ben's response for the evasion it was which in turn made him even more suspicious about his future plans and the direction he could be aiming for. Could he resurrect the Oligarchy? He flicked his gaze over to the pleasantly smiling rock that was Kerr, it wasn't impossible, he realized, certainly more than possible with the right support and if the current power structure remained as fractured and fractious as it now stood.

More work then but it was trouble that could wait to be addressed tomorrow. he refocused on Ben and smiled warmly as he settled deeper into the lounge and answered his question.

"The north works more like a coalition than an advisory board. At the time it looked like Jake McCloud was on a campaign to make himself emperor of the city with the North looking like the next most logical stepping stone to achieving that goal. He already had the west and central, taking the north would have given him an extra territory and would have also isolated the then only other district leaders, Charon and Zoheret, he would have had them surrounded. Nobody here wanted that, especially the werewolves. I offered them another choice and a way to avoid living under the boot of a vampire overlord.." He shrugged his shoulders. It had been easy enough to use that uncertainty and fear to put himself in the best light for the position as leader of the north. " The major groups have their own leaders, those leaders work with me to keep the north safe and secure for everyone who lives here. Typicaly they run their own groups but if a problem arises and spills out of their group or if their is a problem that effects us all, then we come together and sort it out. If more help is needed then we involve the ward, if the problem looks like it will effect the city I bring it to the City Council."

There was also bribery involved but that worked with any power structure. he picked up his water bottle and took a mouthful from it before placing it back on the table. " The system is working well so far. Unlike the District Leader Counsel."

He turned then and looked at Kerr.

"As someone who ran this city, do you think the current power structure can work? You had to work with most of the counsel members directly and have ties to all of them, how would you get them to work together?"

[Existentially Odd]

Kerr did his best to keep his lip from curling when Saraekiel declared he could get behind Ben's group of advisors - which was obvious to any imbecile as a revamped Oligarchy, the very structure he'd just shat all over. Again though, it came from Ben, so it had to be gold. He even claimed to have structure in the North! Similar to the Oligarchy! Fucking what?! It was everything Kerr could do to keep himself contained.

Thankfully, Ben employed his model smile and Kerr could see that he was finally thinking. He even asked a question that was relevant and informative - and the dark angel answered! Calling his structure a 'coalition, not an advisory board' was splitting hairs as far as Kerr was concerned but it was significant to Saraekiel. A rose by any other name would be a potato, apparently. Kerr had to disagree, though. Saraekiel's northern structure sounded less like a coalition than organised chaos, everyone for themselves until there was trouble and then they'd try to stopper the dam before it spilled out into the city streets and became someone more organised's problem. How very responsible of the 'district leader'.

This man wasn't leading the district. He was a spruiker standing on a soapbox with a megaphone, shouting into the wind and hoping everyone was okay. They would be, as long as they followed his expectations, Kerr supposed, but what sorts of fickle fancies did this this pretty-boy leader even have? What did he stand for? Just... 'everyone for themselves but behave, okay'? Yes, that certainly sounded more stable than the District Leader council. Not.

He almost flinched when Saraekiel had a drink and then turned his way, asking him a question directly. He took a moment to appear to think the question over, repositioning his arm so that it wasn't on the back of the couch and he appeared more attentive. Really, he just needed a moment to sift through what he could say and what he would. They were definitely not the same thing.

"I think it is working, to a point, though they're somewhat fractured, as you say," Kerr conceded graciously, repeating the dark angel's words back at him in an attempt at flattery. "Hopefully that will change once the election's done and there's a definite council. They wouldn't like it, but I'd bring them together literally. More meetings, more communication, more common agendas. Some infrastructure within the districts whereby the constituents can voice their concerns wouldn't go astray, either. It's all well and good to pin up a bunch of laws and expect people to blindly follow but if the leaders don't listen on a regular basis they'll soon find themselves leading no-one. They need to give, as well as take."

He and Ben had many, many plans for the development of more than just a council of advisors but Kerr had selectively fed Saraekiel the parts he believed the dark angel would be most drawn to. He gave everyone a voice in the North and seemed to believe pragmatism was overrated - mixing things up and seeing where everything fell seemed to be more his modus operandi - but Kerr couldn't come at that wholeheartedly. Giving everyone the chance to voice their needs was where he felt their two philosophies overlapped. It wouldn't devastate him if they couldn't agree on something, though.

[Seragil]

There was something about Kerr he didn't trust, his friendly smile, the body language and the pleasantly spoken words all just felt off. it cloaked him in an air of deception and aggression. There would be no potential ally in Kerr nor was there a possibility of an alliance between them, not unless Saraekiel was willing to become nothing but a means to an end, a tool, quickly used up and just as quickly discarded or destroyed. A pity.

He wished he could find fault in his advice, to pull it apart and find the soul of a controlling tyrant, instead he found them to be fair and they actually gave him some ideas. The thing about there being a definite council after the election bit gave him pause though. There already was a definite council, whether Jake sat the seat for central or Ben did, it was only one seat amongst six. Yeah, these two most definitely meant to grab all the power and remake a throne for themselves.

"You raise some valid points. The counsel needs more structure, better communication. We need to set our personal agenda's aside and work together if this counsel is to have any kind of longevity. the city needs a sense of stability and equality between the different species and classes."

He tapped his fingers on the back of the couch as he started to formulate some plans. he lifted his eyes to Kerr and offered a genuine smile of appreciation. " You have given me some idea and much to think on. Thank you."

he shifted in his seat, removing his arms from the back of the lounge and placed them in his lap and he leaned forward slightly, his eyes shifting between both of his guests.

"I know I asked this earlier, and you reflected the question very beautifully, but I ask again.Why did you come tonight?" he smiled and flicked his hand up to prevent an immediate answer. " I know I invited you both, but that was months ago, the political climate was different. The reasons I invited you then are not the reasons you came now. So, why now? You said it was to get to know me more but I sense it is more then that and my ego isn't so big that I think people just want to come and bask in my ambiance. What is it you really want?"

[Existentially Odd]

Kerr snorted a laugh, amused by the notion that Saraekiel sensed an agenda greater than getting a feel for him and his district's organisation. If only they had a dastardly plan for him to suspect, it would prove his intelligence! Did putting Ben close to him to see just how much like a cat on heat he could act, count? He followed his chuckle with a sigh.

"Alas, there is no hidden agenda and, now that you mention it, we've got what we came for - to learn more about you and the way you run your district. Thank you for sharing your, uh, views on the political climate of the city as well, it's certainly given us something to think about," Kerr expounded grandly and stood fluidly. He was still smiling and it was more genuine, now that he saw an opportunity to extricate them from the angel's den.

He looked to Ben, whom he could tell was disconcerted by the fact that he was still closed off to him but he wasn't about to alter that for a good long while, yet. He wasn't even planning to discuss too much about his opinions on Saraekiel and this meeting on the way home. Not with the mind-bending lust-haze Ben had fallen under the second they'd walked in. Frankly, Kerr was still upset his lovely fiancé hadn't supported him personally with the Oligarchy slander, but it wasn't worth fighting over. He would swallow it down and they'd move on. The sooner he got home to forget this awful mess, the better.

Added bonus: he'd get to shower and wash the skein of unrequited pheromones off him.

"Ready to go, sweetheart?" he prompted Ben before he turned to look at the dark angel once more. "Thank you very much for your hospitality and openness. It was truly appreciated. It's a shame you didn't take the time to learn more about the Oligarchy when it was around. You might've appreciated many of its facets. Hopefully Ben can revive the best aspects of it when he's elected. We look forward to working with you," he inclined his head graciously. His insides were wound tighter than a reel of barbed wire but he forced himself to look anything but impatient. Saraekiel would absolutely believe he was sincere because Kerr had perfected his act hundreds of years ago and the dark angel didn't know him well enough to be able to tell the difference.

If Ben made a move to get close to Saraekiel physically, Kerr would intercept or be close by to present a follow-up handshake, breaking their connection if it occurred. His ideal result was Ben standing, keeping his distance, saying his farewell and the two of them getting out of there without another round of talking or touching in any form. His mental fingers were crossed.

[Trillian]

It was easier when he wasn’t talking and could just listen to the two of them. His gaze was fixed on the dark angel with a kind of intensity that wasn’t considered polite in social circles. When Saraekiel returned the conversation to their motivation, Ben didn’t know what to say. He was running for election now and needed to find out more about those he might be working with. Kerr usually didn’t chaperone him but Ben was glad he had. He’d probably have given away too much of his thoughts about the other leaders, himself, life, death, the universe... all he needed was Saraekiel to smile at him while he asked.

He looked up in surprise when Kerr stood and then stood himself. After noises were made to leave, Ben stepped forward and reached out to shake the dark angel's hand. He was acutely aware of Kerr in his space while he did it.