Gathering minions [[Masi...]]

[luthan]

Masinori Moriyama. The name, face, and various other little details had been imprinted into Luthan's memory. His search of the Beckett property had proved rather fruitful, and he was now armed with sufficient information to track down each and every one of those who had been a part of Caliga. The Asian man would be the first one he met. He had sent a message to Masinori, by email, arranging a little meeting in the Cafe. No reply had been received, but Luthan was ready to assume that he would be making an appearance. If he didn't, then perhaps he would have to pay a personal visit to his residence.

The message that he had sent hadn't been particularly insightful as to what the meeting was about, who it was with, or what was to be expected of Masinori other than his presence. It was perhaps better to leave them in the dark for a while, and count on that interesting little corner of the human condition known as curiosity to do its work. Luthan certainly hoped that this Mr. Moriyama would make a show, otherwise he might have to take more drastic measures to secure his alliance. The files seemed to have indicated that his not-yet-arrived guest had a partner, but Luthan did not predict that things would escalate that far.

Luthan sat at the table, sipping at a cup of dark coffee, discreetly watching the doorway for the entrance of the man, all the while turning over the matters of the organisation in his mind. That Caleb Beckett had left what could have been a potentially great power in disarray, and it was Luthan's job now to reorganise the group. Gathering members with a similar mindset and a heart focused on their common goal would be one of the main priorities on the agenda, but at the same time, redefining their goals, and finding ways to achieve them was another high-priority item. As far as he knew, scarcely anything had been done under the leadership of their previous leader. Of course, as an outsider, no word of their activities would have leaked out to reach Luthan's ears, but even in his search of the Beckett property, he hadn't uncovered anything of epic proportions that they could work up from. There had been a recorded incident involving the torture of several Untainted, but other than that, it seemed that there was little that had been done.

Well, Luthan was determind to see to it that Caliga grew and rose as a force to be reckoned with, one that would force others to admire and accept the Tainted as the superior race. But first, he needed associates.

[masinorimoriyama]

A little notification had popped up in the lower right hand corner of Masinori’s computer screen. A new email. He squinted, not recognizing the sender. He was trying to come up with invitation ideas for him and Izar and so far this included staring at the computer screen for long intervals. Then getting sidetracked by various other things. So why not check your email again. He said to himself and clicked the little box. The email was displayed on his screen after a few moments, and Masi froze and then let out a very long, “Fuuuuuuuuck.” He took a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling, then read it apprehensively. I was just waiting…just waiting for this… He shook his head. He had a decision to make. Izar came in and gave him a look that probably said, ‘working hard or hardly working?’ and he immediately closed the window and looked like a deer in headlights. The email didn’t say who it was from, what it was about, just where to be and when. Like a death sentence. Or maybe that was taking it too far, Masinori Melodrama. He knew who’s style this was of course, even without the gory details. He didn’t send a response.

Caleb Beckett. He had sought the man out, was so adamant about joining his organization, had believed so foolishly in his ideals. Perhaps he was the meaning he was searching for, the purpose he‘d lacked all this time in France. And perhaps finally he could be of some use to the world, make it better, cleanse it. But no, that all changed almost immediately after he was named an official member of Calliga. Because almost immediately afterwards, he had met Izar. Calliga suddenly seemed like a joke. Not that he didn’t still hold to his hatred of the untainted for a while, but the meaning he thought Calliga might bring to his life paled in comparison to what Izar brought. Suddenly Masinori was alive again. Anyone who knew Masi, no anyone who’d even seen him could see the difference in how he behaved when around him. And Izar was also dead set on showing him that not all untainted were the uncivilized, cruel, brutes he thought them to be. And show him he did.

Since then he decided to cut all ties with Calliga. Well actually he just decided to not pursue it anymore. He was a member but basically nothing happened after that. So why go chasing after trouble if it wasn’t coming after you? Until now anyway. He knew he had to face the man and tell him how he felt, then face the consequences of that, whatever they might be. So he went to the café when he was supposed to. He told Izar and even Aoi to be around and available just in case, but didn’t tell them why. They trusted his judgment, even if it might drive Izar a little crazy. Something clicked in his head just before he entered; what would someone like Mr Beckett be doing in a place like this? He was filthy stinking rich. Exactly. He heaved a quiet sigh of relief as he entered. It wasn’t Caleb. Probably one of his minions. He was called over to a table where a young blonde man was seated. It wasn’t like he knew who Caleb’s minions were. He didn’t know if this guy was with Calliga, but he did recognize him. He’d seen him around and had felt a certain sort of affinity with him. He was like a statue, unreadable yet elegant. Just like Masinori…when he wasn’t around Izar anyway. It was with that same disposition that he sat down at the table and said, “What pray tell is this all about, Mr…?”

[luthan]

[[ Gah... weird post, couldn't think of much to do. Have to try and drag this out a bit thoguh, so Masi doesn't just say 'no', get up, and leave.. =P That would be a lame thread... ]]

Every time that the little bell hanging off the door to the cafe gave a shrill ring, Luthan would steal a quick glance to see who was entering. None of them seemed to be Masinori though. He continued to watch the doorway, and it wasn't until the sixth ringing that he saw the man he had arranged a meeting with. He was alone, surprisingly. Well, the instructions had said as much, but Luthan had expected that he would bring a companion or two, and leave them outside while he conducted his business. As far as he could see, Masinori had done no such thing.

He gave a nod to the waiter, who he had instructed in advance to bring the man that Luthan indicated to his table when the time came. The teenager shuffled obediently forward and ushered the Asian man to his seat opposite Luthan. As he did so, Luthan closed his eyes and took a long sip of his coffee, not looking up again until his guest had been seated in his seat.

“What pray tell is this all about, Mr…?”

Luthan gave a small smile, setting down the mug with care before continuing. "Talinthorpe. Luthan Talinthorpe." He leaned back on his chair, putting one arm over the back of the seat. "And we are certainly getting straight to the point, are we not, Mr. Moriyama?" Not that he was complaining awfully, mind you. Idle chit-chat was one of those things that annoyed the blonde more than anything else, and if Masinori was going to be so direct in this conversation, then he foresaw a rather pleasant time of dealings.

"As I am sure you grasped from the message I sent to you, I am here to discuss with you the future of Caliga. Perhaps the news did not reach your ears, but the former head, Beckett, has vanished. No one is certain of where he is, whether he is alive or dead, and quite frankly, I doubt there is anyone who particularly cares." He stopped for a moment, leaning forward onto the table and resting his head on his hands, propped up by his elbows.

"I am the one to succeed him in the leadership of the organisation, and am trying to re-establish connections with those who were once members, having never met any of them myself. Of utmost importance is to know where they stand, and whether they are willing to come under the authority of an outside to the group. And that," he inclined his head slightly towards Masinori, "is what this 'is all about', Mr. Moriyama. Are you going to continue with our cause, or am I to be... severely disappointed?"

Luthan's voice was calm, quiet, as it always was, yet, despite all that, there was the unshakeable feeling that he was almost threatening his acquaintance. Inside the steamy mug of coffee, the contents began to swirl turbulently and ominously...

[masinorimoriyama]

((Well yeeeaahh XD))

The waiter left them, and as he sat, the man sipped his drink with almost a complete disregard of his presence. Or maybe it was just confidence. He smiled slightly at his question, then leaned back and sat in a position that made Masi think, definitely confidence “I’m a man who doesn’t like to waste words.” He responded with a half shrug then folded his arms in his lap, getting ready to listen to what the man had to say. And listen he did. He wasn’t surprised to learn that the meeting related to Calliga, that much was to be expected. He didn’t budge when Caleb vanishing was mentioned. Maybe he stiffened slightly. He scoffed, “You probably have that much right.” Caleb was a fool. He had accomplished nearly nothing with his little organization except for instilling a little fear in the few people who knew of it’s existence. And in the end he was the coward that had run away from it.

Masinori was so pleased at this news that he raised his eyebrows slightly when Mr. Talinthorpe leaned forward like he had more to say. That was all he wanted to hear. That he was free now. He wanted to go home and tell Izar the good news so they could start their life together without worry. Why couldn’t things be that simple? They’d hardly had one peaceful day without someone getting shot at or something exploding. Any second now and the man in front of him would lose it and the whole place would be up in flames or the air would be sucked out of the room or a brigade of men with guns would come shooting up the place. He mentally scolded himself for going off on a tangent with his thoughts. He always tended to overreact but he tried to listen to Izar’s advice about not living in fear of tomorrow but enjoying today and facing whatever trouble came, when it came, with all your strength. Or something like that.

Masinori gave the slightest smile, Why Mr. Talinthorpe, it sounds like you’re implying something by ‘severely disappointed‘. “Well, as you’ve just said, you’re uncertain as to whether or not the former members will be willing to come under the authority of an outsider. Now I mean no disrespect but, what makes you think you’re the one to succeed him?” Just because he didn’t like wasting words didn’t mean he couldn’t use it to his advantage. The fact that he had come to him instead of vice versa was unnerving. Caleb hadn’t been so bold, maybe with others, but not him. Half of Masinori wanted to say no and leave before this could escalate, but the other half told him to stick around and find out as much as he could. See if this man was actually as threatening as his voice implied. And if he was, find out just what that threat was.

[luthan]

This Masinori character was certainly not one that Luthan would have envisioned to be in a relationship, given his cold, off-handed, even slightly dismissive replies, but then again, he could be a superb actor. While Luthan may have held his own abilities in high esteem, he was not quite arrogant enough to assume that he was the only one who was able to put on a convincing act. He was, of course, the best at it, but he was quite willing to accept that there were others who were perhaps remotely able to deceive others with a projected image.

Whether this Masinori he was facing now, or the one whom his significant other was infatuated with, was the real deal was the question now, and it was a question relatively easily answered. Luthan did not consider it a likely possibility that there were others out there who took their facades to the extent of fabricating an intimate relationship with another, but his rationale for ruling out this way of thinking was based purely on difference in skill, rather than difference in personality. The fact that doing something like that when the victim was not blindly in love was just downright evil, and against the moral code of even the most deceitful of people, did not cross the blonde man's mind at all. He was certain that Masinori was putting on this appearance now. Why? He wasn't sure of that yet, it may have had something to do with the image that he himself was casting, but further observation would reveal the reason.

"Why Mr. Talinthorpe, it sounds like you’re implying something by ‘severely disappointed'."

Luthan smiled. Good. Masinori was not, at least, unintelligent. These meetings he was planning on having with the members had a twofold purpose. Firstly to see if they were still interested in the activities of Caliga, but secondly, to see if they were suitable to be a part of it. If there was one thing that Luthan detested, it was ignorance and stupidity, and he was glad to see that Masinori was quite sharp. Picking up on slight changes in tone and volume in another's speech, and interpreting the emotions and thoughts behind those words was a difficult skill, and Luthan was quite happy to work with anyone who could do such a thing.

"Why, what would make you think of that, Mr. Moriyama? It would, simply mean that I would be greatly discouraged by your refusal, would it not?" Luthan gave the man seated opposite to him a warm smile, one that reached and went beyond his eyes. A racist joke could have easily been inserted at this point, but, given his current facial expression, and their current relationship, it would not be particularly appropriate.

“Now I mean no disrespect but, what makes you think you’re the one to succeed him?”

"Ah... so we come to this rather interesting topic, I see." It would be nice if people could accept it blindly, they would be perfect minions, people easily to manipulate and quite capable of carrying out the more menial tasks, the 'dirty work', so to speak. But at the other end of the spectrum, you needed to have people who would think for themselves, not too much, but enough so that you could let them alone and know they would do the right thing. "If we are considering past status, then I have no claim to the leadership, but thus far, no one has come forward seeking to take control, and I see no problem with self-nomination. If someone objected to this, then I would gladly change their mind, there are a number of methods by which that could be accomplished. If someone wished to take the role for themselves, well, it would become a contest, would it not? With the victor taking control, of course, and the defeated taking up a position of lesser importance, given they are able to, of course."

His eloquent answer was given with that light smile still on his face, yet there was no shaking the feeling of foreboding and the ever-so-mild tone of threat in his voice. What were these methods, and what sort of disability would disqualify the loser from holding a rank?