Log:Off the Path

2021/07/25 	 Radical|Connor Mari

1

Log:The Baron's Court

After contacting Mari the next night, she finally responded to texts and arranged to meet in another night so she could recover her strength some more. Now it's about 9:30pm at the Library Bar once again...the scene of their prior meeting that didn't go so well. But significantly better compared to what happened two nights ago.

Connor is there early, having staked out the quiet seats they've used previously. He already has a drink, too.

The bar is pretty active tonight. Some people are having a party in the outdoor area, which gave Connor the chance to steal their old seats. It also keeps it still quiet and cozy. Its distance from the bar helps with that.

Mari arrives, dressed down from what she's usually worn as Justine. She's wearing a black sleeveless button-up blouse, worn untucked with the upper portion left unbuttoned, and white jeans. Some of her clubbing fashion is glimpsed by the black crisscross bands of cloth peaking just above the open part of her blouse. She orders a drink, leaves her tab open, and walks out on the floor, sipping from the narrow black straw of her rocks glass as she looks around. She's paler than usual, but more human now. Maybe a little sickly, but human compared to her prior state. She spies Connor and walks over. "Hey," she says with a reserved smile.

Connor smiles and waves. "Hey there. You're looking...well. I'm glad to see that. How are you feeling?"

"Better than I have the last few weeks," Mari smiles and takes a seat. She still looks tired. "I managed to recover a bit from the leftover stores I had in my fridge. I think I slept through most of last night and the day after responding to your text. But...now I feel well enough to get a proper 'meal'." She sniffs the air. "It seems you're all better, too."

Connor nods. "I can heal...quickly. When I put my mind to it." He sips his drink, and says, "I'm sorry I didn't notice sooner that you had disappeared."

"Don't be. I...wasn't exactly in the mood to see you," Mari says in soft, reluctant tones, then takes a sip of her drink.

Connor nods slowly. "I'm not surprised. I'm sorry about that, too." He pauses as he sips his drink, "At least...I found you in time, though. That's something. I just wish I had done so sooner."

Mari nods softly, a question on her mind. "I'm...surprised. You were the last person I was expecting, if anyone. I'm still not sure how you got pulled into our affairs."

Connor smiles slightly. "The first time was...well, location. My workplace. This time...was due to you. You might be surprised, but I consider you a friend. A good friend. And I'm sorry that I botched that. I don't have a lot of good friends. A handful. I'm...sure you can understand why, given how I sometimes act." He shakes his head, and takes a bigger swig of his drink. "If you're in danger, I'm going to come help."

Mari nods slowly. "I understand that quite a bit. Having to keep big secrets makes it difficult to maintain friends," she agrees, finding that at least relatable. She leans back and mentally chews on his words. "I really appreciate you saving me. You're starting to make it a habit," she smiles faintly, though she's still keeping him at an emotional arm's length.

Connor smiles and nods. "I...hope I didn't create a lot of...well, problems, with the way I went about things this time. I was a bit flashier than I usually am, since I needed help tracking you down. And I figured that a show of power or two was necessary to get the right reaction."

Mari stirs her drink with her straw idly. "I think...the Baron may be thinking of ways to manipulate you. And they haven't realized the history between us. Yet. I try to stay out of the politics of the Night, and want to keep it that way. My freedom has been considerably lessened since I showed competence in finding the poachers that were feeding on college students."

Connor nods, "They'll figure it out, eventually. If Tyler talks. I realized it after turning him over, but it still felt...appropriate." He shakes his head again, "I tried to be evasive and enigmatic when dealing with the Baron, but...I'm not sure I pulled it off as neatly as I would have liked."

Mari purses her lips and nods. "I'll...have to explain why I didn't mention a wizard helping me with that incident. But at least then, that boy doesn't know more than that. Nothing about the personal nature of our friendship or past relationship."

Connor looks out at the bar, partially checking to see if they're being watched, "I feel like...Tyler is my fault, to a degree. I naively thought that if the power was taken away, he wouldn't be a danger. I didn't think he'd go to that length."

"The idea of immortality and power are appealing to some. And they don't think of the cost. That's not on you," Mari says kindly, her demeanor softening to closer to what Connor is used to.

The bar only has local patrons. Their conversation and meeting is private.

Connor smiles slightly, with a hint of bitterness in his voice. Or regret. "Isn't it, though? I know he's going to get...the just result for his actions. And while I didn't put him on that path, I did kind of push him along it a bit." He sighs and finishes the rest of his drink. "I know I shouldn't be hard on myself about it, but...I can't help it."

Mari hesitates, then leans forward to place a hand on his knee. With tenderness and care in her voice, she says, "No. You didn't put him on that path. You did the only thing you could to take him off of it. If you had left him a full vampire, the result may still have been the same. With him crossing the line and hurting innocents with his newfound power. Mortal, human innocents, not vampires. And he'd have ended up in the same place...at the mercy of the Baron's judgement."

Connor takes a deep breath and nods, "You're right. I know you're right. In here, anyway." He taps his temple. "And yet, I still ache over the decisions involved." He puts a hand on hers. "Thank you for the reminder."

Mari smiles sadly. "I'm afraid I'm not sure I can help you with that burden. I'm sorry."

Connor smiles. "I didn't expect that you could. But...I still appreciate the reminder...that it isn't really my fault."

Mari thinks for a moment. "Well. Maybe I can help a little by buying your next drink?"

Connor chuckles. "That...would certainly help. Thank you." He sips his drink, "This probably isn't the place to discuss it, but I think...given that I inserted myself in your politics, that we should probably talk a bit about the current situation there. So I don't walk into any bear traps."

Mari quickly looks uneasy at the turn in conversation. She leans back and draws her hand away from his knee, sipping her drink long and slow. She sets it in her lap, her finger toying with the rim. "The Baron is the oldest among us. They maintain the rules and order. It's very stuffy and old fashioned. Usually once a month we gather to talk, and I've remained mostly uninvolved in Court affairs. Until the Baron set me to a task I actually succeeded at. Dealing with the poachers. Since then, they have this idea that I am...an unutilized resource to the Court. And I can't refuse assignments."

Connor frowns at that. "I'm sorry. I've helped to put you in a bad position."

Mari sighs and shakes her head. "I came to you for help. I knew there was a risk."

Connor nods. "Is it going to be a problem for you if the reality of the poacher situation is revealed?"

Mari looks conflicted. "Explaining how I knew to come to you would be...problematic. The Baron is a schemer and manipulator. Mostly for the sake of the safety of our kind in the city. They -would- use me to treat you as an asset if it was needed."

Connor nods. "But...I suspect they realize that controlling me would be difficult."

"Which is why they might use me to help with that," Mari murmurs and glances away. "As I said...I can't refuse. It's best not to let them or the Court know. The less they know about anything, the better."

Connor nods. "They're likely to suspect something, though. So...be prepared, I guess. And...if push comes to shove, if they do want to try to use you to influence me, just...be open with me. We can deal with it."

Mari looks unhappy at that. "I will. I've really wanted to avoid it being a possibility."

Connor smiles and nods. "I appreciate that. I know that was for my sake. And yours." He takes a deep breath. "I rarely have had to deal with the kind of politics that you do."

Mari smiles hollowly. "I'm sure you deal with a great deal of other things, but have a bit more freedom not to have to be...tied...to anything." How little she knows of his time as the Cartesian and serving the Lords of Order. "This is really the first time in decades I've been called on by the Court. I've long had a reputation as one of the weaker vampires of the Court."

Connor smiles slightly. "When I was the Cartesian...I was subject to orders. Not from a person, but from cosmic beings. Like Lord Antherion. And when I did finally refuse an order, I had my powers at the time taken away."

Mari's eyes widen at the mention of cosmic beings. "But...you were able to refuse?" she asks in surprise.

Connor nods. "It was...a matter of life or death. I was ordered to kill someone. Purely because of who they were. Because of the potential they had to tip the scales of the war toward a win for Chaos." He sips his drink again. "I...refused to kill her. And then I offered to teach her to control her powers, even though I didn't have after I had them taken away. But I knew enough to try to help her control what she could do."

Connor says, "So, it wasn't without consequence. But...it wasn't a permanent punishment, either. I can imagine that you refusing a order could be....lethal."

Mari nods softly. "It would depend on the level of disobedience. But the worse offenses would be lethal. If my disobeying risked the safety of others of my kind, it might be. And if it is serious enough...the Baron has the power to compel me to obey against my wishes. I'm not strong enough to resist. Not even if I did make sure to drink my fill every night to be at my strongest."

Connor looks surprised at that. "Mind control? Or is it something else?"

Mari thinks about it, then nods slowly. "Something like that, yes."

Connor rubs his chin. "Does it work on humans? I'm just wondering if I need to worry about that if I see The Baron in person again."

"Yes, it can," Mari answers and sips her drink.

Connor nods again. "Hmm. Good to know. I'll have to keep that in mind."

"That's another reason for you to avoid getting pulled further into the Court's business," Mari sighs sullenly and crosses her legs.

Connor nods. "Perhaps I can make sure I'm prepared to deal with it, if I have enough time."

"Do you have something to help with that?" Mari asks, a hint of hope in her voice.

Connor shakes his head, "I've trained my mind enough to deal with cosmic beings, but that's different than resisting direct commands. I'll have to come up with something...either a spell, or some gear to give me some resistance. I'll have to so some research.

Mari loses that hopefulness. "I see. Well, it would be worth researching."

Connor smiles, "Just because it needs work, it doesn't mean it's impossible. I did say I lost my powers when I had them taken away. I...relearned magic. I built the gear that I wear. All by doing research first."

Mari offers a cautious smile. "Okay, well...I guess I can just hold my breath then until you learn it," she says with some playfulness.

Connor laughs. "I suspect you probably could?"

Mari chuckles. "Yes, exactly. Let me get you another drink."