the screams all sound the same [open]

[ALANA AMELE NGAIR]

[style=width: 330px; height: 600px; background-color: #ffffff; border: 3px double #e9e9e9;][style=width: 330px; font-family: Six Caps; font-size: 17px; text-transformation: uppercase; color: #bebebe; line-height: 90%; letter-spacing: -1px; text-align: center; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 10px;]if i go crazy then will you still call me superman

[/style][style=width: 330px; font-family: arial,liberation serif, calibri; font-size: 42px; color: #f1f1f1; line-height: 20%; text-align: center; padding-bottom: 10px;]▼

It hadn't been long since she moved to Manuka. Only about a week, in fact, since she decided to move here from France on a whim. She hadn't been able to hunt as well as she normally would in her home town; the police were finally honing in on here, after ten years of free hunting. It took them long enough. She wasn't even being careful anymore. She didn't find the joy in hunting anymore, especially after living the good life and having others bring her meals. It just wasn't the same. She remembered when everything changed, and the man that made her question her morals and long, long-held beliefs about what she was, and she wondered if that man was happy, wherever he might be. She looked at the heavens as she did so. Maybe her God was taking care of him now. She doubted the man was evil enough to really go to Hell. After all, he did what he did because she made him. The thought made her smirk. 'I would make him do it all over again if I could.' The lithe woman's smirk turned into a somewhat-feral scowl, an inhuman growl ripping from her throat. 'Serves him right for abandoning me like he had.'

[/i]

But this hunt wasn't supposed to about that man. This was all about her, like it should have been from the beginning. This hunt was a celebration, really, from finally making it to the promised land. Manuka. Where the night-creatures ruled, and the humans bent over to serve their whim. As the natural way of things would be all over the world, if nature were to take her rightful course. Alas, humans ruined that as well. But no matter. That didn't have any effect on her tonight. Not with tonight's hunt. She wouldn't let her sour mood ruin her chances for herself. And her chances were good, she mused while she looked around. No one would miss any of the people she saw before her. All she had to do was take her pick. Of course, none of them would taste as good as a regular, non-junkie human, but they would have to do until she could put her roots and seek out another shopper for herself. And she already had that sorted. So no, no use moaning about things she could not have. Right now, she should just feast. As is her right.

The man she picked out was young, and if he never came in contact with heroin, he would have been handsome. His features were gaunt and lifeless, like many druggies were, but his blood pulsed with life that many his age would never get to see. He was her target of the evening. It didn't take much to get him secluded in the ally ways; a promise of money, and the man would follow her anywhere. And he did. He foolishly followed her deep into an ally way, far away from the eyes of other prying druggies. The man didn't think a beautiful woman like herself would ever be capable of killing him. But she could. And tonight, she would.

A quick shop to the neck and the man was down. Alana was good at pressure points. He gave a chocked-out scream as he went down, and Alana caught him before he hit the ground. She didn't want his precious blood wasted. Not to the dirty ally floor. Not to anyone but her. She bled him nearly dry on that ally floor. It took less than ten minutes for the whole process to be over with. After that, the only problem was to make sure the man died and didn't turn. Alana hated this part.

"C'est bon, vous ne sentirez pas la douleur plus." The beauty spoke to the dying man, her gentle and calm demeanor a stark comparison to the shaking, feeble man before her. His eyes were rolling around in his skull, focusing on nothing, but panic showed clearly through them. The man moaned, "W-What is... w-why..." Alana shook her dainty head, a small frown crossing her features. "Ce n'est pas grave. Il va bien se passer." She mumbled soothingly, over and over, for minutes on end. She quietly cleaned the blood from her lips with a handkerchief while speaking the gentle words. Eventually, after many minutes of silent pain, the man breathed his last.

Alana shut his eyelids for the last time and stood up. Dusting off the dirt, she listened, intent on hearing anything out of the ordinary. She doubted she would be caught in a place like this, and doubted even less that the person who would find her would care at what she had done, but one could never know. And this time... something was off. She couldn't place what that was, but she knew someone was around. A turn of the wind, a passing smell, something was up. But Alana didn't want a confrontation. She waited and listened for the intruder to come up to her, confident in the knowledge that she had done no wrong and the newcomer would obviously be on her side.
[/div][/style][/style]

THANKS KAY

[/center]

[GIDEON ISAAC OSBOURNE]

The alleyways were filthy, and not normally of a standard for someone like him to traipse along. Gideon Osbourne was a man of power, of intrigue and paradox all wrapped up into one package that seemed to interest a great many people in Manuka. Manuka, he mused... it hadn't quite been a home to him, but it had been a place where he'd chosen to hang his hat, at least for a little while. His business, the Luxor D'Monaco hotel was thriving, especially under his trusted assistant Jyli's care, and even though the demon had intended to stay away for a longer while than had actually happened, he was forced to cut his business trip short when he heard that the call of war had finally sounded. War had begun. Of course, that had been more than enough to bring him back, for even though he was not intrinsically connected to blood like some of his associates – or one in particular, Ryanna – he still could smell it in the air. Gideon had known wars before, and had fought them, but he had been on the wrong side during the last big battle. The battle where he and his brother and sister angels had fought against the 'scourge' of Hell and Lucifer's army after Morningstar had fallen. Gideon, who had gone by Ozymandias once upon a time, had helped them win the war then, but would be working against his brother and sister angels and alongside those who had fallen and chosen to embrace their darker natures this time. Now, he was more in touch with helping financially and through his other vast connections than by putting his shoulder to the wheel and engaging in actual, physical conflict. But he still remembered. Oh, his body would always remember.

It had been a need to get in touch with that former instinct, that grittier mindset that had gone by the wayside after he'd made his first million dollars that brought him to the alleyway on a particular evening. Gideon usually was driven everywhere, and had at least four pricey limousines in his garage and drives on his payroll. But tonight, he was on foot, and made it through the dank, deserted alleyways in a thousand dollar suit like it was nothing. If anyone was stupid enough to cross him or comment on such things that would not be considered wise, Gideon would happily put them in their place. After three thousand years of existence, he had grown to fear nothing, but with that lack of fear came a lack for other such emotions. The demon was empty, in many ways, and found himself hoping that the throes of war would ignite some of his long-lost passions in the same way that he hoped traveling through areas that were beneath him would do as well.

He'd been walking for nearly an hour through the bowels of the Old Town when he turned the corner and heard a noise. A woman, blonde and seemingly young along with beautiful was approaching a man. Human, Gideon supposed, but one could never be too sure. Even with his age and experience, he had made a few calls that were to the contrary of reality, but he mostly blamed that on so many humans' exposure to the supernatural world without even having the knowledge of it. The woman, however, was distinctly supernatural – old, he guessed, though not as old as he. Vampire, and he knew this before he ever saw her fangs. Her voice was almost ethereal, and he found himself eavesdropping despite his better judgment. Even though he was an old, uncaring thing, he wasn't without some curiosity in his bones, so he stayed quiet – eerily so – and watched. She spoke to him in French, which was a language he spoke fluently, and watched as she drank from him, almost in a tender way that was so different than the way he'd watched Ryanna feed. Oh, his other vampiric companion and sometimes lover was a beauty in her more aggressive, raw moments, but this feeding was just as lovely, somehow. The way she held him as he died was macabre and innocent all at once, and he found himself marveling at the show, just like it had been put on for his benefit. After the man was dead and she closed his eyes, Gideon stepped out from the shadows, applauding softly and approaching the blonde woman with a half-smile on his handsome features.

”Bonne nuit, mademoiselle,” Gideon greeted the woman in what he could only assume was her native tongue. Then, he decided to continue in English, just to gauge whether or not they could converse on other levels. If he had to speak to French, so be it, but he was fascinated by her. Curious. Very curious. ”Before you get all up in arms, don't worry – I mean you no harm. Not yet. My name is Gideon, what may I call you?” The demon stepped closer, and looked down at the corpse that she'd left behind. He tilted his head to the side, dark eyes tracing the body of a man who had once been alive, though Gideon wasn't certain that the man had been living – humans were rather good at wasting opportunities, after all. ”Vampires are lovely creatures. The way you feed... it's enchanting. I've known many an exceptional vampire in my time, and a few in this very city. It's good to know that there are still those of you who feed on the living. Vegetarians are a disgrace.” If she wanted to speak with him, there was more than enough opportunity. Or she could leave, and he'd allow her to be free to go. The decision was entirely hers.

OUTFIT:

[/color] Here![/blockquote][/justify]

[ALANA AMELE NGAIR]

[style=width: 330px; height: 600px; background-color: #ffffff; border: 3px double #e9e9e9;][style=width: 330px; font-family: Six Caps; font-size: 17px; text-transformation: uppercase; color: #bebebe; line-height: 90%; letter-spacing: -1px; text-align: center; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 10px;]if i go crazy then will you still call me superman

[/style][style=width: 330px; font-family: arial,liberation serif, calibri; font-size: 42px; color: #f1f1f1; line-height: 20%; text-align: center; padding-bottom: 10px;]▼

She heard the man before he came, but she was not expecting the beauty before her when she turned her eyes in the sound's direction. He was well-dressed, she noticed first; she was not expecting someone with such expensive clothing to be in the middle of these dingy alleyways. He was handsome, which was obvious, but that didn't really matter much in Manuka. Most people here were attractive in some way. She watched the way he moved; it had the air of someone who knew what he was doing. An old soul. Older than her, perhaps. And though she knew not how she had the idea that he wasn't her kind, but she knew. He wasn't a vampire. And that left only a few other species he could be, if he was as old as she felt he was. His hands raised, and Alana was wary of what they may do. She wasn't expecting lazer beams or anything of the sort, but she was naturally wary of any newcomers, no matter how unassuming they may be. And this man was anything but unassuming. However, his hands didn't seem to hold the intention of hurting her; instead, they started clapping. His clapping at first seemed wrong to her; this was not a show, and there was no final act. It seemed disrespectful to the dead somehow, though Alana couldn't actually place why she thought that. Or why she really cared. After all, the man she killed was only a druggie, a nobody. He didn't matter. But Alana still felt slightly uneasy when she heard the clapping. But soon enough the clapping stopped, and her thoughts about the matter disappeared as quickly as they came.

”Bonne nuit, mademoiselle,”

[/i] he had spoke at her, and she was delighted as the language she was comfortable with dripped from his tongue. She respected anyone if they seemed educated, but she respected them even more if they knew anything about France. And to speak her own tongue? This man was exceptional. She could see a partnership of sorts with this one. His switch to English was somewhat shocking and harsh to her ears, but at the same time time unsurprising based on his appearance. He didn't look to be French, and his language supported that. ”Before you get all up in arms, don't worry – I mean you no harm. Not yet."[/i] Yes, this was a dangerous man. And he knew that. He knew that very well. He would be an excellent ally in Manuka, she could see. "My name is Gideon, what may I call you?” Well, she wasn't going to waste an opportunity to get on his good side. Men like this liked things to go their way, and though sometimes you could charm them by being 'hard to catch', she didn't want to risk it with this one. "I am called many names, depending on where you ask. But by birth, I was christened Alana, and that is the name you may call me, if you so wish." She curtsied slightly; not very easy to do in her rather casual clothes she chose to wear that morning. But she managed to look somewhat elegant anyway. It was how she was raised, after all.

The man continued, apparently appeased by her answer, ”Vampires are lovely creatures. The way you feed... it's enchanting." Oh, Alana agreed. Some of the less bloody, like herself, were more enchanting than others, she was sure. But she kept her thoughts to herself. This was not the time to act haughty. "I've known many an exceptional vampire in my time, and a few in this very city. It's good to know that there are still those of you who feed on the living. Vegetarians are a disgrace.”[/i] Alana nodded at this statement, a smirk on her face. Vegetarians weren't really living. They were rotting, nearly, or at least that's what their stench suggested. She was glad this man thought the same. When she spoke, she did so in English, since that was what this man seemed most comfortable with. Besides, she really needed the practice. "It seems great minds think alike, no?" Her accent dripped on every word and her eyes sparkled with true amusement. This man would be fun indeed. "They do not know how to live. If nature was the right way around in this world, it would be obvious that our kind would be the highest power. Why spare the humans when they don't deserve to be spared? If they can not fight us, why should they be on top?" A somewhat bitter look crossed Alana's face, like she just stuck her head into a garbage bin. But it quickly fixed itself into her usual amused expression. She continued on in a quieter tone, trying to be gentle with her words. "God would approve of what I have done. Of that I am sure." She knew that some reacted strangely when God was mentioned, and she really didn't want to make an enemy of this man. However, her complete faith couldn't be denied, and it would be best if this Gideon knew that before he decided he disliked it later on in their... relationship. If that was what this meeting could be called.She could understand and forgive this Gideon if he were to reject God, because one day God will reject him, and everything will come full circle. God would not let a supernatural into His kingdom, of that Alana was sure. Either way, she looked to him with a question in her eyes, wondering what his reaction would be not only to her words, but to her God.
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THANKS KAY

[/center]

[GIDEON ISAAC OSBOURNE]

Gideon wouldn't have made his presence known to just anyone. The demon didn't mind having eyes on him, didn't mind feeling like he was being sized up by a predator – because vampires were and should be predators, in his opinion – because he knew that in most situations, he was the most powerful man in the room. Not only was he a billionaire several times over, but he had existed for more than three thousand years, which was something that most could not boast. He also made it something of a job to know about all the other major players that came to and left Manuka – all the other 'ancient' and very old creatures, regardless of alliance, and seek them out, one way or another. This one, however, had escaped his grasp. She must have been good at sneaking in under the radar; clever girl. Gideon planned to know her now, however, and even though she was watching him in a careful manner as he walked closer, he felt no threatening air from her. Curiosity, perhaps, but she was too smart to do anything insolent or stupid. The reason he applauded was because a vampire's feeding was beautiful... it was macabre, of course, but it was how they sustained themselves. How the race prevailed. It was almost parasitic in some ways, the removal of a being's life essence to replenish one's own. But still, there were few things in the world that he considered to be captivating when he had nearly seen or done it all; yet there he was, giving her applause that was, in his eyes, well-deserved.

The demon introduced himself then, using her language first, then switching to English to see whether or not French was the only one she spoke. From his experience with older supernaturals, even if one had a specific language of origin, they typically picked up a few others for travel purposes or because they just had the time to do so – if they were gifted with eternity, why not? Gideon hated assumptions, as a rule, and his carefully calculated maneuvers were usually planned out, and then back up plans were created from there, since nearly nothing was a sure thing. It never hurt to be too careful, because overconfident people were some of the easiest to kill. The vampire finally spoke to him, offering him a little curtsy that he took to be a sign of respect. Clearly, she understood his age, though he doubted she could fathom the exact number. Her manner of dress wasn't off-putting or anything – the demon was rather used to modern women, though he still valued class. However, it was an interesting juxtaposition to the rather old-fashioned gesture, and the words that flowed seamlessly from her pretty mouth. ”Alana. Gaelic. It means 'noble.' Would you say you possess nobility, my dear, or were your parents hoping you'd aspire to greatness?”

Gideon was a very old man who knew a great number of people and a vast number of things. His father, the world's Creator, had assisted in the beginnings of his kind, and he had seen some of the earlier origins of the human race. Of course, there were billions of years before his own christening, but he knew of many languages and origins, and wondered if she'd be curious as to other things he knew, when he let on to his status as being one of the 'ancient' ones. ”It is a very lovely name, and a pleasure to meet you, Alana.” Gideon extended his hand, a formal handshake which he could modify if she trusted him enough to take it. The demon went on to discuss her feeding, the fact that he was pleased by the showing, and gave a small smile when she agreed about the disgrace concerning members of her species who refused to feed on human blood. Of course, Gideon knew there was a new trend amongst humans where some of them spoke out against animal rights and refused to partake of the meat of animal flesh, but he also thought this was disgusting behavior. Did they care nothing about the food chain? There were top and bottom positions for a reason. Gideon rather enjoyed being a predator, and wished more supernaturals saw their true place and true potential. ”I could not agree more. You realize, there are quite a few of us who have exceptional power and share your mindset. Have you ever considered becoming part of it all, instead of acting alone? I cannot say there is always safety in numbers, but occasionally being part of a powerful group has its benefits.”

If he was going to get his own little faction started, he could use the allies. Ryanna, Lillith, Michaela, and Aralenne were powerful women, women he trusted, but he definitely knew that other individuals that would be coming to Manuka to join the war had potential. And anyone ripe with potential needed to be harvested before they became less ripe. Then she spoke of God, and Gideon chuckled softly – oh, his father would disagree, and for a moment, he wondered whether or not he should broach this particular topic of which he had inside information, so to speak. People of faith were interesting, and usually rather loyal, and he considered her faith to be positive, even if it was misplaced. ”My Father might disagree with you. After all, he did implement angels to protect humanity. The destruction of them by other predators might leave a foul taste in his mouth, darling.” Gideon's voice was cool, even, but direct. ”But He always was a fickle man.” Very, very fickle – if only the earthbound believers really knew some of his quirks the way Gideon did, they might not cling to him so closely.

[/justify]

[ALANA AMELE NGAIR]

[style=width: 330px; height: 600px; background-color: #ffffff; border: 3px double #e9e9e9;][style=width: 330px; font-family: Six Caps; font-size: 17px; text-transformation: uppercase; color: #bebebe; line-height: 90%; letter-spacing: -1px; text-align: center; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 10px;]if i go crazy then will you still call me superman

[/style][style=width: 330px; font-family: arial,liberation serif, calibri; font-size: 42px; color: #f1f1f1; line-height: 20%; text-align: center; padding-bottom: 10px;]▼

Alana knew an opportunity when she saw one, and right now, one was standing just before her, wearing rather expensive clothes and speaking to her in French. Oh, she knew this man would take her places if she would let him, take her far higher on the supernatural food chain than she had ever been on her lonesome. Than she could ever dream to be. She appraised him, taking in his appearance as one would take in an exquisite dolls', though she doubted many men would like to compared in such a way. And she liked what she saw.

"Alana. Gaelic. It means 'noble.' Would you say you possess nobility, my dear, or were your parents hoping you'd aspire to greatness?” Perhaps this man would let her in on his plans? Perhaps he would take her with him? Alana generally detested being under someone else's rule, so to speak, but she knew that this man could take her higher than she has ever been. No more barely surviving, no more drinking from junkies off the street. She would be somebody here in Manuka, like she was back in France before her downfall. But all that was for another time. For now, the man asked her a question. "It is nice to see someone else is knowledgeable and world-wise,"

[/color] she began, her accent thick in her words and sounding rather like the purr of a comfortable cat, "But I doubt my parents had much of greatness in mind when they gave me my birth name. I was a nobody back then, you see."[/color] Alana tapped her chin and looked towards the sky in mock thought, a smirk the only thing to break the facade, "So I guess their idea of 'greatness' wasn't much to reach for. I believe I surpassed all of their expectations long ago."

He spoke again and raised his hand to meet hers, should she feel like taking it. Was this the point of no return? Would taking his hand in friendship and companionship be the point where she looked back on and though 'was that where it all went wrong'? Or would it be the opposite? Ah, but that was a thing for the future Alana to think about, not her. And so she took his hand daintily and shook it without looking back. No regrets. She had enough for one lifetime. "And a pleasure to meet you as well, monsieur Gideon."[/b] She gave a light shake, three times, as was custom, and let her hand drop back to her side. A slight smile, nearly a smirk, graced her lips as she looked at him, and then he spoke the words that she had both been looking forward to and dreading at the same time for the entirety of their conversation. He asked if she would join him. Not outright, of course, but the words he said meant the same thing. Would she be part of his group? Or would she live this semi-existence, longing for times long gone, hoping to undo wrongs? Or would she move forward in life? Take charge of it? Make her own path instead of waiting for things to happen that never would? it seemed like a clear choice, in Alana's mind. But she shouldn't seem too hasty: she would look needy and a bit like a scrap-picker, and that was definitely not the impression to give off to this man. So she spoke, and when she did, it seemed hesitant, "It sounds like a very promising situation to be in, but it would be very strange to go with a man and his merry band of adventurers before meeting said adventurers, no? It wouldn't be the first time that a friend offered shelter, only to be attacked by his pack of dogs when I got into the door."[/b] A wry smile crossed her face. "Sell me on your proposition."[/b]

But before he could do that, he spoke again of God. And oh, she knew that what he was saying was the truth. He was a Child of God, even more so than all the humans that populated Earth. He was sculpted by God Himself. How fascinating. "Oh, I know my species isn't very high in His graces. And you are correct with His being fickle. He's also cruel and misogynistic, from what I've heard and seen in my lifetime."[/b] She gave a little laugh at this, and it sounded faintly of bells. Once her laughter died off, she crossed her hands across her stomach and leaned to one leg, no longer meeting the man before her's eyes. She wasn't completely comfortable with what she said next, or at least that's what her body language projected. "But He is still God. He still has a hold on me and my life and my happiness, even if it isn't as direct as I had thought when I was human. And what harm is there in worshiping Him?"[/b] Her eyes again found Gideon's, the question hanging in them. 'Did he know the answer?' they seemed to say. "It would just be one positive thing against all the negatives, but He might look at me a little longer before condemning me. Before sending me to Hell, where I obviously belong."[/b] She gestured at the corpse behind her as she said this. Yes, once she died (and she didn't delude herself into thinking she would live forever), she would feel God's wrath on her. She would feel the pain she gave to all the human's she fed on, and to all the people who missed the people she killed. She would feel pain. But at least God would know she wouldn't do it if she thought there was another way. She wouldn't do it if she had a choice.
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THANKS KAY

[/center]

[GIDEON ISAAC OSBOURNE]

The vampire had a look in her eye that made him think that he was mesmerizing to her in some way. Gideon took that as a non-verbal compliment, because he knew that he was an exceptional being, and that was mostly because of his origin and his age. Mentally, he was a step above most, even the older beings in existence, and his high level of intelligence helped him in a number of different ways, yet even though he was a master manipulator, he never saw a need to do such a thing unless there was a reason behind it. This one, Alana, seemed to be looking for some kind of a purpose, some deeper meaning to bring value to her eternity on the earth, and he could understand that. Perhaps she saw him as some sort of beacon of hope that could help her find her way to deeper darkness, which really was the only path knowing him led toward, but that was all well and good for someone who wanted such a thing. Otherwise, she'd find herself in a deep, dark cavern with nobody who cared enough o save her. Yet, Gideon saw potential there, which was why he continued the conversation, giving her a compliment on her name that sparked a question, and likely proved that he was wise beyond what mere looks could ever suggest.

Alana seemed to agree, and the demon gave her a small smile, pleased that she was intuitive and sharp. Those were qualities he could work with, after all, since raw power only was so useful, and even though vampires had a good bit of raw power, he had Ryanna, who possessed both power and control on her side. This woman would have to prove that she was useful in other ways, either through intelligence, in something she could offer him, or just by proving that she had the ability to be very loyal and could be molded to the needs of his cause. If Gideon was going to build another army like he and Michaela had done when they fought for the Heavens, he couldn't afford having anyone on his side that he didn't either trust or know would fall in line, obeying his every order, as soon as he delivered it. ”I believe parents always want more for their children than they had themselves, but whether that actually is taken into account during the naming process likely depends on the individual.” The ancient demon smiled, then wondered how she'd take more direct praise from someone like him – he didn't want to go overboard, he was still figuring her out, but it was something that made him curious. ”A humble response, however, that I can appreciate. Some people might have deigned that they were naturally predisposed to greatness and the name was just the proverbial icing on the cake.”

The demon was tempted to bestow her with a kiss to the hand, as was an old-world custom after she accepted his gesture, but did not. If they were going to get into business, he decided to keep things professional, at least for the moment. But the blonde was lovely, and smart, powerful, and he had the feeling that she would work out quite well in his little alliance. Especially when she brought up the point that it wasn't necessarily a smart move to trust blindly, especially to strangers who were as good at smooth-talking and coercion as he absolutely was. ”I assure you, they are not adventurers, but your point is understood and respected. Perhaps one day you'll see the inner sanctum of my 'merry band,' but not many do, and that's no reflection on you, but on my need to preserve the assets I guard with a ferocity that I assure you is completely unmatched by any other you've known.” Gideon's eyes got a little dark, and flashed black for a moment, warning her of his species – demon, and then smiled, a slow, wicked thing. ”To sell you on my proposition, Alana, I will simply say this: if you are to select a side now that war has started, you should be intelligent enough to work toward your own interests and goals. Your preservations should be of the utmost importance, and you should side not only with people who also want to help you with this self-preservation, but enjoy it for themselves. There are more groups than my own that could do that for you, but then there is the subject of power. On my side, I have a collective of over 10,000 years of experience, battle strategy, combat, and funds exceeding billions of dollars, along with clients and contacts all over the globe.”

Gideon ran his eyes up and down her body, sizing her up like prey for a moment before his voice softened and he looked her directly into the eyes. ”Nobody else can get you directly in the middle of that, mademoiselle, but me.”

If he wasn't interested in her enough before, they got onto the subject of his Father and her belief in him, even though he didn't seem to be fond of her species, from what she had gathered. Yet, there was devotion there, and Gideon knew how to play such a thing to his advantage. ”I don't detest your beliefs nor do I think you a fool for having them, but trust me when I say that my Father will be fighting against his true children in this war, and you have an opportunity to side with one who was... touched by his very hands, created into something Divine, and then cast down to earth to rebuild it as it should be.” He wondered what her 'faith' would say to that, and then flashed her a charming smile. ”But this is all too much to discuss in an alley. Would you join me in my limo? I have refreshments, and we could talk in a more comfortable location. My driver will take us anywhere you'd like.” Gideon extended his arm, wondering if she would trust him enough to take it, or if they would have a deal.

[/justify]

[ALANA AMELE NGAIR]

[style=width: 330px; height: 600px; background-color: #ffffff; border: 3px double #e9e9e9;][style=width: 330px; font-family: Six Caps; font-size: 17px; text-transformation: uppercase; color: #bebebe; line-height: 90%; letter-spacing: -1px; text-align: center; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 10px;]if i go crazy then will you still call me superman

[/style][style=width: 330px; font-family: arial,liberation serif, calibri; font-size: 42px; color: #f1f1f1; line-height: 20%; text-align: center; padding-bottom: 10px;]▼

This man before her... this interesting man. What was he? Obviously a manipulator, but she could respect him for that; after all, she was as well. He seemed to want her help, her aid in something greater than herself, though exactly what was yet to be said. The obvious answer was that he needed her help in the war, but it seemed to be... more than that. Don't get her wrong, she didn't think he wanted her in either a romantic or lustful sense, but otherwise, his interest in her didn't make sense. Why her? Why was she so important? Once, when she was a few centuries younger, she would have been cocky enough to wonder why he wouldn't want her on his side, but that had changed both gradually over the years, and quite abruptly a few decades before. No, this man didn't really need her, not her specifically. And he didn't seem like the type to be clutching at anything he could get. He seemed like he would want the best, brightest, most loyal, most dangerous, best connections... and she was none of that. She was smart in a street-sense, but she wasn't stupid enough to think she was the best. She knew how to manipulate people, but any person could learn that skill. Perhaps they couldn't master it like she had, but that hardly made her the brightest. She was hardly loyal, not even to her own country, which she loved with a good chunk of her heart.She could fight, but not as well as others of her species, and all her connections had been severed when she left France. Comparatively, she was nothing. So why did he want her...?

He spoke of her parents in an off-hand way, and she replied to his second point, "I don't believe I've quite filled my parents hopes they had for me. Quite the opposite, really." She grinned, her sharp canines showing pointedly. No, they didn't want her to become what she did. Not at all. She doubted they wanted her to become a killer in the night, slaving others to her work so she wouldn't have to life a finger to get what she wanted. No, they probably wanted her to live a good life, at least for a woman in those times. They probably disowned her already, looking down from Heaven as they did. They didn't love her anymore.

Then he went on about his 'assets', and actually answered her question she had from earlier, about what he had to offer her. She honestly didn't expect this. Most people tended to want you to swear undying loyalty before they told you anything. The fact that this man was giving her tidbits to go off of was saying something, assuming he wasn't lying. "You definitely sell me a few good points, Sir Gideon."

[/color] She watched as he eyed her up, knowing that he wasn't looking at her beauty or her curves. He was looking at something entirely else that she could offer him. When he was done with his appraisal, she looked him in the eyes. "And I do not doubt the words you are telling me now. I have barely seen a wisp of movement from the 'dark side' before I met you. It seems like the side you fight on is a bit..."[/color] She waved her hand, looking for the correct word. "...castrated." A small smirk, showing off an impressive canine, followed her statement. She had a feeling that she wasn't far off the mark.

And then God, in all His glory, came back to his lips. But she no longer agreed with his words. Not completely. "It is true that God has graced you with life, and I feel like I should worship you for that fact alone, but it is also true that he has cast you out from His kingdom, His love, and His thoughts. Though I don't pretend to know what caused Him shoving you out like a diseased dog, I have a guess." She eyed him up again, wondering if she had yet stepped over a line. She doubted she was telling this man anything he didn't already know. "Are you one of the ones that were sent away because He didn't love you best?"[/b] Here she paused, eyes locking with his once again. "You see, I'm in a similar situation. What God would love me? I was damned ever since I was bitten, though I hardly wanted it. God doesn't care for the details, does He?"[/b] A bittersweet smile crossed her face. She knew this man before her, this Gideon, was Divine. She knew, though maybe not in the way he explained to her. He was meant to rewrite Earth, and perhaps rewrite the rules that God had shoved at them. Perhaps, she reasoned, He would accept her for her help in opening His eyes. She doubted it, of course; it sounded insane even to her, and she admitted she was quite a bit insane. But it was the only way He might accept her to His side once more. No amount of repenting would allow her back into his arms now. Not after what she had done. She pared a glace to the man she had drained dry. She couldn't even begin to count how many others shared his fate. Even some that she had come to somewhat care for had found the same end. God, like her parents, didn't love her anymore. And because of that, she accept the arm offered to her without hesitation. Maybe he would become a new God? A God on Earth? Who knows. There was only one way to find out.
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THANKS KAY

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[GIDEON ISAAC OSBOURNE]

A number of questions filled the lovely vampire's eyes. Gideon noticed them, saw the change in those light-colored irises, and yet he did not know what she was questioning. It would give him all the more reason to dig deeper later, if he was fortunate enough for her to choose to entertain his company. The demon had high hopes for this, because even though he wasn't confident to the level that he was overly confident in ways that went beyond his abilities, he did realize and understand that he was a very good person to know. A competent ally, a powerful leader, and a foe that would make even the strongest light siders out there tremble with fear, especially when they saw some of the others who had joined his 'ranks.' Still, his army was growing, and could always use additions, so long as they were additions that would be more help than a hindrance, and he knew from lots of experience that good help, quality individuals, were very hard to find, especially when one's standards were as unflappable and high as his own. The conversation hadn't meant to turn out into a sort of impromptu interview, but Gideon found that he was analyzing her answers to any question he posed, even ones that were more rhetorical, to gain better perspective on her world view, on whether she was humble or confident. Sure of herself, or needed guidance. All the little things would, ultimately, help him see the bigger picture and what this woman had to offer, and then he could decide if she was worth extending an invitation to his very specific cause. The war was not something he took lightly, because it was a chance for much opportunity. Not only was it a chance to change the world as everyone knew it, but a chance to allow evil to prevail over good for a change, as simple as that sounded. Before, when he had fought for the Heavens when Satan's army threatened everything he had once held dear. Sometimes, he considered what might have happened if they had lost, how the world might have changed then, and wondered if the outcome would have been similar to the one he was hoping to achieve by a victory this time. There was no reason to count chickens before they hatched, however, even though the prospect of being victorious in two major battles that would outline the fate of humanity appealed to him in many ways. So many of his Father's other children had fallen, and would also fight on his side, which was bound to make things interesting...

Eventually, he trusted her enough to give Alana a proper sales pitch, which seemed to intrigue her, as it should. ”We have enough power for the time being to allow for a slight deficit in our numbers, but I assure you, we are looking for others to join. Of course, I would not want someone who was not dedicated to our cause, since we are talking about severe change to everything surrounding us, depending on who emerges victorious.” Gideon said, remaining serious for a moment, and then pausing, allowing a slow, wicked smile to cross his features, and then spouting off the next bit of words with a slight hand wave. ”Oh, but I am certain that none of this is news to you. You're a smart, capable young woman, you wouldn't take such a thing lightly, would you?” Another test. So far, she had been good at passing his tests and making him rather curious about how she might end up being an asset.

The religious talk and words that spewed from her mouth made the ancient demon want to roll his eyes in a childish manner, but he refrained. This was something she seemed to believe passionately, and so he let her speak, taking the words to heart as much as he could and formulating a proper response that would try not to offend, even though she was so bold as to speak to him with such an authoritative tone that he almost got the urge to set her straight, let her know exactly who and what he was right then and there. He was the closest she would ever get to his Father, and even though he liked that their ties had been severed, because it had allowed him freedom, he also did not want his identity to go without the proper respect. ”My dear, my Father cast life and breath into me before any of his other creations, and most of them failed. I was third of my kind, after Gabriel and Michaela,” Gideon said, wondering if the fact that the second angel wasn't male, as the world's precious Bible depicted, would shock her. Michaela was... special to him in a way that nobody else could touch, and the fact that she had been wrapped around him, clinging to his body in the throes of passion might also be enough to shock the religious little vampire, so he withheld those details. ”And he loved me very much, yet I chose to leave. He's not as smart as you might think, and does not love his special children as much as those who are destroying the world. No, he prefers robots who would gladly do his bidding without question. As a leader, I would not require that of anyone, so long as I trust their loyalties. I welcome differences in opinion. Wouldn't you say that's the better deal?”

Even though he had likely caused more questions, maybe even aroused some bitterness or anger, Gideon noted that Alana took his arm, and he led her back to his limo. Once they were settled, he turned to a selection of liquor, all the finest, and back to the blonde. ”Would you like a drink, Alana?” Perhaps she would be making a deal with the devil, in a way, because even though Gideon was no Lucifer... they certainly had a few common interests, this time around.

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