Roleplaying
2004 Archive
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Seminars
| When: | 15 November 2004 |
| Who: | Asmodeus (as Mr. Vornamen, NPCed), Zaman |
| What: | Asmodeus meets privately with Zaman to deliver clearer, now that those that could overhear were gone. |
Landmark Diner
Well polished, with valets, despite its twenty-four hour diner status. A few neon lights trim the outside walls, and although light music bearing Tuscan influence can be heard faintly from inside, no new customers are being allowed.
At the moment, Mr. Vornamen sits, quietly sipping on a cup of coffee, although the entire table set in front of him is otherwise bare. The cat from last night is absent, but he still looks quite at ease, a man who's used to navigating the world in comfort. Anyone seeking him out will mysteriously find themselves guided to the table.
Zaman steps into the diner with his usual confident gait, not quite a swagger but certainly as blinding as one. The lawyer's right hand is pocketed into his jacket while the left holds a briefcase. He seems to know where he's going, but that might just be the magnetic quality of the Magneto-Look-Alike. Whatever the reason Zaman heads towards Vornamen, offering him a nod when he arrives. "Mr. Vornamen."
Mr. Vornamen brightens considerably at the prompt arrival of the lawyer, and leans back in his seat, setting down the ceramic mug onto its saucer. "Ah, Zachary, excellent. I have a veritable horde of visitations to tend to, so I'll make this much more to the point than last night, as I didn't want to ruin the girls' surprise when they came to end-game. Are you familiar with the artifacts entitled the Tears of God?"
Zaman settles himself into the seat opposite of Vornamen, listening while he sits to conserve time. "I am aware that they are diamonds only; though what their purpose might have been to those who at one time held them worth more than money I cannot say. I imagine they are worth quite the sum of money, no matter what the history connected to them is."
"Well, given their history, they could be remarkably useful in the right hands, and a thorn in our collective sides if in the wrong ones. They're quite fragile in the hands of the selfish, particularly lower ranking demons like the one employing the vessel of Nicodemus Lyman the Fourth." He laces black-gloved hands together to let that portion sink in, amber eyes snapping like an angry viper. "Their source is legend, but their powers are very real. Rumored to be cried by God itself after the Fall..." His gaze takes on a mollified gleam, before continuing, "Highly coveted by Superiors on either side, they have the ability to remove dissonance in lieu of our intervention, soaking it up like the proverbial sponge does water. The foolish can use it remove Discord, at the cost of the Tear's existance -- it changes to water, and fades away. I've seen one or two in my day."
Zaman takes this in with subdued excitement, and when he speaks his voice is more of a rasp than anything. "Ah yes, I now seem to remember something about them...You'll forgive me, my memory is not what it once was." He pauses, strumming his fingers on the surface of the table. "So they must be procured from a loud, pompous fool who would waste them...I see their value now. Is Mr. Lyman protected? Certainly he must if he is in possession of such artifacts as these, if what I've heard of him is true he is not the most cunning or subtle individual in this city. But, that can all be hammered out later. What I want to know, Mr. Vornamen, is why you reach to me for this."
Mr. Vornamen say, "There is a third matter of them, and this in particular is why it's so important to us in Internal Affairs. They have the ability to redeem a willing Demon. Allowing Heaven to regain any of its members rankles deeply, we cannot afford it. It defies the very nature of our kind!" His eyes blaze, irises taking on an almost orange tone in his fervor. The moment passes, and he gets on to answering Zaman's questions. "The matter is whether or not he will use it, yes. Recent pictures we have suggest he has not..." He slides an envelope towards Zaman, the corner of a black and white picture spilling out to reveal a conical shape of a horn in Nicodemus's hairline. "He is in service to Baal, making this a matter that needs to be handled with subtlety. As fine as a prize as it would be, the possibility of escape of demons is a greater concern." Teeth are bared in a thin smile, as he lids his eyes. "And the reason I come to you is simple. Because I can. That aside, Nicodemus is a man who is up to his ears in trouble. You could very easily help him out, thusly allowing you feel out just where he's hiding it, if it's still in the city. Were to he catch wind of me coming, we'd lose both him and the Tear.""
Zaman nods slowly, listening while he pulls the envelope towards him and sneaks a quick peek at the pictures, saving true examination for a less public location. "The third function does complicate this matter, indeed." Zaman muses, "I suppose we would know if he did, some disturbance in the Symphony? Or rather something going 'right' with it. I will seek him out, however. I know people at the university who will give me information until such time as I can engage Mr. Lyman personally. Oh, and Mr. Vornamen?" The lawyer looks up, meeting the amber gaze of the other man and grinning widely. "You don't need to pull all propaganda nonsense with me. I know a job when it presents itself to me. The other two, yes, you might have to remind them about the 'nature of our kind' but I know better. I will see that this is done."
Mr. Vornamen amends graciously enough, "I like to hear myself talk. And of course you know about the nature of our kind and our work, hence me not bringing the remaining feline scraps of that renegade Lilim's Forces with me." A chilling smile reveals perfect teeth, and he adds, "If all goes well, I will return to collect the Tear. If it is destroyed without being used, then a month's time, as per our usual." He makes a half-shrug, and states, "It's one of those risks." He stands, the air shimmering about him. "Until then, Zachary."
"Until then, Mr. Vornamen." Zaman returns with a slight incline of his head, remaining seated as the other demon prepares to go. He needs to stay longer however, pulling his briefcase onto the table and carefully opening it to stow the pictures.
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