#FiorA.Callum1

[sanguisxferox]

—Inside the Lightless Headquarter (Uptown)

Subdued clacking fills the empty hall as the Emissary walks quietly across it. The Lightless Headquarter hums with his Goddess presence and it’s always a comforting embrace to be here―more so since he has lost his family. Though, while he welcomes the silence within these walls and outside in the Lafayette Cemetery no.1, Fior doesn’t like how quiet things have been. A disaster had been avoided at the Solstice celebration and territories fights are still much present, but it’s been too peaceful; like calm before storm.

Still, worrying about these things isn’t something he should do, but his inability to reach out to the Nameless have been weighting on him. Hence why he despises them―that amongst many other reasons. They are pests. At least, there’s one of their members he knows for sure, but will most certainly not reach out to her for pourparler. She’s been dead to him ever more so since she’s presented herself to him, proud to be a Nameless. It’s repulsive. Also, negotiating with that woman would be a problematic conflict of interest and he’d have to recuse himself.

The soft tapping slows down as he spots the Lightless Leader. The Emissary bows his head as he always does, before closing the space between them and sits at a respectable distance to converse with the shapeshifter. “Leader Loughty, good evening. I sadly have to report that the Nameless are still making it difficult to reach. At this point, it's clear it's done on purpose.” Fior is cold as always, or at least since he’s lost his wife and children in 2018. He had once been much livelier, but his work hasn’t been affected by his grief, so he still remains the best candidate. But his coldness―or strong lack of emotions―is due to his weighting grief, nothing else.

@callumloughty

[sanguisxferox]

He can't die—what a sacrilegious thing to say in the house of the Goddess of Death. "Everything dies." He corrects respectfully. Even gods fall. Some people might be harder to kill, but everything dies in the end—it's only a matter of time. Fior takes the warning seriously, but the threat flies over his head. He's not scared of dying and the only reason he said what he said, is the same reason he has walked away from pourparler or been passive-aggressive with the person he's meeting—disrespect. But he knows when to back down or step away, it's his job to make calculated moves and decisions.

He gives a light bow. "As you command, Leader Loughty." This is wrong on so many level and could end in a disaster, but better him than have Callum and Mathias in a room and have another problem on their hands. Fior takes the pile of paper; this won't do. There won't be much to learn. Maybe meeting the Blood witch himself wouldn't be such a bad idea—he'd get a better idea of the creature himself. "Thank you. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave." He has much to do and he'll deal with Mathias first. Fior knows for sure the meeting with Suresh will be far less of a headache.

It was bad enough he was dealing with the witch, with the dismissive acts of Lal, but he certainly wouldn't tolerate the disrespect of his own people. His jaw clenched and gaze darkened as he watched Fior like a calm before the storm as he was silent for a long while. Watching. Calculating. He had enough on his mind and Callum did not need Fior adding more to that. "Watch your mouth. Or I'll have you speaking to the witch himself and then you'll understand why I want him out of this city. He can't die but death follows him. And never easily, " he spoke calmly.

As Fior spoke about his plan Callum started to shake his head. Jimenez, what good was he? "No, no, no. Speak to Attano. That's an order. O'Caomhain has spoken to two of us, he's going after Leaders. If he's figured out their little fucking structure and he is smart then he'll go to Attano." Callum was already sifting through the pages of the journal again before tearing out several to hand over though omitting those that had his encounter. "There's a sketch in there I made. Along with where he's popped up in history. Usually around some sort of event or war that ends in many dead." And people said he was a bad omen.

[sanguisxferox]

"I said exactly what you just said now." The headache grows and this time, Callum is the cause of it. He could've explained it, but now he wants to leave and do his job instead of dealing with anger that isn't his to receive.

Fior is extremely calm by nature, but he also doesn't take bullshit or blatant disrespect to his face when working, no matter who it's coming from. There's a long deliberate silence that lingers, to a point that it almost gets uncomfortable. Then he speaks—"I understand your anger Leader Loughty, but I would also appreciate for you not to use me as a punching bag." There's a short pause. "Is the analogy clear enough for you?" His voice remains monotone, but he's being passive-aggressive. Though, he doesn't raise his voice, you could almost say he never does. He truly does understand Callum's sentiment, if someone dangerous from his past came back, he'd probably be shaken and being in that position of leadership adds more weight on top of the shapeshifter's shoulders. Still―"With all due respect, the Deathrunners are already riled up; especially with us—it's not the time to antagonize them more. It's better that I handle them. As I said, I will bring the subject through our battle with the Nameless in Algiers. You don't want them to know about the witch; it's what you said, I'll keep that in mind while gathering information. But unless you truly want to talk with Attano, I'll take my leave and get a meeting with both Leader Lal and Mister Jimenez. And if that fails, I will speak with Attano directly if necessary." He wants to avoid that, but if that conversation makes the scale tip in their favor against the Blood witch, then he will. Ensuring balance is more important than his personal feelings. "Before I go, would it be possible for me to read everything that you have on the Blood witch and also a portrait of him, please? I'd also be good that his face and nature be known by all members." He requests politely, hoping to leave with the documentation. Reading someone else's journal can be intrusive, but Fior needs to be prepared for the eventually that he might meet the witch one day and so does everyone else in the Lightless.

Callum never cared for fish. The taste or smell or anything about him so the words were lost on him. He raised a brow before shaking his head. "Would it honestly kill you to use analogies most people on land might know? What am I supposed to do with that nonsense?" Lionfish, who cared about lionfish? "But Lal is comfortable. Complacent. It's what's let us take territory but keeps him from making any real moves in our favor."

There was usually respect for Fior. He had served the Goddess and his predecessor before Callum had stepped into the role as Leader and he could often maintain a level head despite what the past few years had done to the merman. But Callum was still slightly shaken and irritable. "Right, so you can't get in touch with Nameless, you can't figure something out with the Deathrunners on your own. What exactly is the point of you right now? Do I need to draw out every single thing with a fucking crayon like you're a toddler?" Did Merfolk even use crayons? Either way the words were not exactly helpful when they were meant to be advancing but this put them on the backfoot.

"I'll handle the Deathrunners then. Tell Lal we'll help him with the Nameless only if he helps us with this fucking witch."

[sanguisxferox]

"He has found a way to prolong his life. Even gods fall. We just need to find what will make him fall. As for the fucking Deathrunners," he sometimes forget his manner with them, "they're trying to make a god. They even made a move against the Cohen. Then again, if the rumors are true they are descendants from the God of Travelling himself. But it was bold. I doubt they'll need that Blood witch's help. But we can't ignore that possibility. That many bodies would be a terrifying army for them." Though, if that witch works solo, it's more concerning. And trying to parley with someone like that isn't a good idea. If they wanted peace, they wouldn't have been sneaking up on Callum and apparently met with Leader Lal. The more Callum talks, the bigger his headache becomes.

"Obviously. Being the apex predator for so long might have clouded Leader Lal's judgement. Everyone is turning into a lionfish―the fish not merfolk like I." And by that, he means that lionfish are an invasive species yes, but they've learned all their lives they had no predator because of their venomous spines. Now, they get hunted easily by divers because they don't move even seconds before getting killed. A good lesson on complacency. "And what would my mandate be? You don't want the Deathrunners to know, but you also want me to check if they know." He points out, sounding between respectful, calm and yet detached; a regular for him. "Anyway, I'll get in touch with Jimenez. I could use that meeting to talk about Algiers and maybe succeed in making the Deathrunners understand that hiding in their Bayou while letting the Nameless gain territories isn't in anyone's best interest. Especially, if they manage to get hold of the west. Though, with your permission, I'd like to meet Leader Lal to offer our support to the Lotus Eaters in Tremé. It might make him more incline to help us with our new problem. I'd approach Henry Cohen, but as you know, last time I asked for his help it didn't go well, but his family must know something." 'Cause Blood witches with divine blood have to know something. As for O'Caomhain, Fior feels like if the ancient witch wants to meet, he'll come to him whether he wants it or not.

"He's someone that's already achieved immortality. And he's a blood witch. Can you imagine if the Deathrunners learned how to achieve it? I'm willing to bet a ritual by a blood witch requires sacrifice. How many bodies do you think?" Callum didn't fancy the idea of New Orleans becoming grounds for a ritual. As much as he respected Death, it didn't mean killing for the sake of life like that. The idea of blood filling the streets of the city didn't necessarily appeal to Callum especially if most of the people at risk were innocent.

"O'Caomhain is tricky. Slippery. Lal doesn't view him as much of a threat even though they're both ancients. I reckon he's been hiding around the city to get information before approaching." How much would he know? How much had he learned? And how much would he tell? Callum was going through plans in his head as he closed the journal after a few more page flips. "You're the diplomatic one, aren't you? You're not having much luck with the Nameless but maybe you find out from the Deathrunners what they know. We get information, take him out of play, then we focus on the Nameless again. I can't have these fucking distractions wandering around."

[sanguisxferox]

Fior would agree, the length of a life isn't an issue, it's if it's meant to be that length or not. Even gods fall―and that's the point, that all must fall eventually. It's part of the cycle; life, death, life, death and so on. It's why he doesn't rush to his death, because that isn't his choice to make; his time will come too and then, he'll be reunited with Agnès and their twins Kai and Nova. Maybe in the next life, they'll get to be together again and share a happier fate. He rubs his temple at the information. "The Deathrunners are too arrogant and megalomanic to have that kind of person with them. Then again, I agree, they could use the witch to empower their messiah." That'd be a serious problem.

He's not surprised Leader Lal knows. Though, it's the way his Leader says it that concerns him; like the threat isn't taken seriously. Or maybe the Lotus Eaters know something they don't. He hopes the subject won't come up during negotiation.

"If I understand correctly, he knew where to find you and if he met Lal―and it wasn't by chance―we can assume then that he has met everyone. My concern is that if that's the case, how long has he been eyeing New Orleans to know all of that?" As an Emissary, Fior makes sure to know as much as possible about who he meets. It's why he's so wary of the Nameless, 'cause his fucking sister is with them and that's all he needs to know about them to make an opinion with the little he has. But this is worrisome and he's putting it mildly.

It should be a crime against both life and death itself to live so long especially by such unnatural means and the reason Callum had sought to end it. "I think he has the potential to be a new player. He's a blood witch that is hundreds of years old and I doubt all his travels have been for sight seeing. He was getting power- If the Nameless or Deathrunners get him on their side, we might have an actual fucking problem." No mention of the Lotus Eaters but Suresh hadn't seemed inclined on recruiting him. From what Callum had heard from the Naga it seemed he didn't care for the idea of two ancient beings being on the same side.

And speaking of the Lotus Eaters- "Lal is perfectly aware of O'Caomhain. He thinks I should call a formal meeting if I'm so worried but last thing I want is the Deathrunners to know if they don't already." That wasn't what ruffled him up so much though. It was more the idea of the sex part of that whole event.

"Here it is. Last time I tracked him. 1303 in what's now France. Not too far from his home but too far for me to track further. And now he's here in the city and bold enough to come right up to me."

[sanguisxferox]

The Blood witches he's most familiar with are the Cohen family―specifically Henry and his uncle; when the latter was still in town back in the days that is. They live long, but if the rumor about them is true, Fior has always assumed their prolonged life came from their direct connection to the God of Travelling. But a regular Blood witch being that old―that's not something normal. "Blasphemous." He mutters under his breath. Witches aren't meant to be immortal. "He must be dangerous if you deem him more of a threat than the Nameless. You spoke of a territorial dispute―do you think he could be a new player on the board?" The Emissary pauses, it ain't his place to offer thoughts, but when it comes to negotiation, he needs to quickly think of solutions.

"If we need more power―maybe we could offer support to the Lotus Eaters in Tremé, if they accept to fight against the Blood witch with us. This could be beneficial to strengthen our alliance against the Nameless in Mid-City." He's annoyed by the situation, even though his face tells a tale of indifference. They could ask Cohen if he knows anything, but last time Fior had asked for a favor, it had almost backfired on the Blood witch, so he's not sure it's a good idea to ask for more at the moment.

The term zealot meant little to him when all of the factions could point fingers at one another and say the same thing. Didn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. "Send- I don't know, a nice fruit basket to make up or something. What is it families do for that?" Most formative years had been spent with extended family which left Callum more blind to such things. That and the fact he was only half listening to the words spoken no more than someone might hear an annoying gnat beside their head. There but an annoyance.

"Black. No, Green. No-" He suddenly paused in the searching. Everything had their own colors for a reason. Black was hunted, green were just generally nasty people, and the dangerous were in- "-Red." His blue eyes landed on a red leather bound book amidst the red and he was quick to snatch it while weathered hands flipped through the pages quickly before at least turning to face Fior.

Undead, undead, necromancer- there it was. "Territorial dispute between me and a blood witch in Ireland when I was in my thirties. Tried to kill him. It didn't go as planned." Not the whole truth but enough. "Immortal. Trust me, he should be dead after I got to him. I researched him first and kept notes, tracked him back to seven hundred years ago but unfortunately, they didn't keep many records back then."

[sanguisxferox]

He doesn't comment; frustration often opts to blindly find a scapegoat instead of the proper culprit. He's unbothered by it―this has nothing to do with him. The Nameless are assholes who clearly have no interest in making peace, only to cause chaos. "She's a zealot." The Emissary replies. No matter what she no longer is to him other than death, they've taken very different path and she's more interested in dragging him to her side than understand how wrong she is. There's no reasoning with her. He doesn't speak to her for the same reason he refuses to speak to Mathias―too much bad blood between them. At least, with the Deathrunners' Leader, he has the excuse that no one knew about him back then and that even though it ended up with the death of his family, the Lightless learned about the sacrilegious things those fucking Higher Ups had been up to. Though, it's not like his Leader to be so―distracted?!

Fior is about to ask when he's told there's something more concerning at the moment. As detached from his feelings as he is, Fior can still worry in his own way. What could be more dangerous than a new faction that had just wiped the floor with one of the original four factions? "If I may, what has you so worried?" He looks around. "Do you remember the color of the journal? I can try to help finding it."

Books and books and books, he was going through as many as he could, most of which he had brought back with him when returning to America. The shifter didn't even seem to notice Fior right away as he flipped through another book before quickly discarding it in the small pile forming at his feet. He gave an aggravated sigh as he grabbed another before finally looking to Fior, "Seems no one is capable of bringing me any good news," he said bitterly. "Don't you have like a- a cousin or something over there?" Fior had mentioned that before though clearly Callum was only barely paying attention to the presence of the other.

Another book dropped to the ground and a sigh. "Either way, they're not my main concern right now. I'm looking for one of the journals I brought here. About eighty or ninety years old. Something in there I need."