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Mallory is standing in front of one of the windows, looking eastward. A white button-down is tucked into black slacks, which flow down to scuffed loafers. Her hair is loose, tucked behind her ears.
Xavier slips in on silent steps, wearing grey slacks and a black turtleneck. He slips his hands into his pockets as he takes in the room of one tonight. He doesn't interrupt Mallory's gaze, rather he moves to a window two windows down to look outside and see what there is to see.
Lights. There are lights, cars moving like silent sentries from this far up. Blue, pink, white, yellow ... the view makes it seem a puzzle, pieces easily seen. As he stands there, she glances sideways, calmly assessing. After a few moments, she offers a greeting. 'Good evening.'
Her voice is low, with very little accent of any kind.
"Good evening to you as well." He turns on a heel to look at her. "My name is Xavier Rotterdam, of the Ordo Dracul. I'm new in the city, it's a pleasure to meet you." His dark eyes search hers out, then proceed to look her over, carefully assessing.
'Mallory Lewis,' she answers, with a small nod. She's lithe, almost boyish in her figure. 'I am also new to the city. Lancea et Sanctum,' she tacks on.
He raises an eyebrow. "Interesting ,then I suppose we can interview each other on equal terms." He glances out the window again and then back at Mallory. "What brings you to Philadelphia? I've come to solve a bit of a family mystery."
'Mysteries are always delightful.' Turning to look out the same window he is, she stands next to him. 'I came to study some books at the local museums. It's a small hobby I have, books, the collecting and care of.'
"Did you hear there is a secret library somewhere in Philadelphia, it has, it seems, become the epicenter of a conflict with vampiric sirens who drive people mad with their songs. I am not sure what the secret library holds but I would guess if it's been a secret as long as it has, there are likely books there requiring care."
First one, then the other brow arches. 'I have not heard this. Now, however, I must needs find this place, to see what it may hold. Sirens, hmm? I'm assuming it's something than actual sound, which would be much to easy in countering.'
"I'm uncertain, it has been suggested wax in the ears may help. Though as I understand it one of our kind tried using a cruac ritual to divine more information about them and nearly went mad. It has been suggested I not use my sight on them." He seems perfectly content to stare out the window as he talks to her., lips curling into the smallest grin.
'There are times the most mundane methods work surprisingly well. Slitting their throat won't kill them, but may perhaps incapacitate their ability to sing, if done well enough, at least for a short period of time.' Clasping hands behind the small of her back, she leans forward slightly, to see out the window better. 'Sorcery or magic of any type sometimes does leave one open to mental attacks, and so along those lines I would suspect that the same would be applicable to some of the more probing powers.'
"That is the theory." He nods. "Though if there's to be throat slitting I think I will just stay out of the way."
'Violence is not always the answer, quite obviously, simply one of the simplest. ' Turning, she leans against the wall, looking out at the room. 'What, if I may ask, is the family mystery?'
He takes two quick steps back, the turns his eyes to more easily meet her gaze. "A member of the blood was murdered. I'm here to see if I can find out all the particularities of the matter. Though I've found the city intriguing enough that I may stay longer once I've gotten to the bottom of it. There are a great number of fascinating things to discover. And for yourself? I'm certain there are books everywhere taht need care."
'There are always fascinating things to discover,' she agrees, before considering. 'There are books everywhere, this is true, but I have not seen these books before. I am doing some research on certain types of dating through the binding of ancient books, also, and have been given permission to use the University's resources. In addition, there are some others here who may have stories I have not heard before.'
"Are you a collector of stories as well then? I suspect you will find a great many here though." He pauses to look around. "Maybe not tonight as it seems we've been left to our own devices by the rest of the denizens of the city. Have you been in the book business long?"
'I would say yes. It's not what I started with, but when I began to study it quickly became a thing I found great satisfaction with.' She pushes her hair behind an ear again. 'This particular style of bookbinding happened to be popular at a time I was Sleeping, hence the research.'
"Would it be prying to ask about the time period you spent sleeping?"
'Not at all. At that point it was near the mid 15th century.'
"Oh. Oh!" He smiles a bit wider, then nods his head to her. "I didn't realize I was in the presence of an Elder. It's truly an honor."
Shaking her head, she waves her hand in a small gesture. 'Please. There's no honor in age. 'Where did you travel from?'
"There's some, you're still around after all, I'll give you credit for that." He nods a bit. "I'm from Chicago, so not so far away. I've never been out and about in the world beyond here and there and some small trips. I suppose I'll turn your question back on you, where were you last?"
'I've been in Rome for a bit now. That serves as what some would consider a home base, in between travels. Before that was Kyoto. There are some beautiful netsuke there, which often represent figures from either faith or myth.' Her posture doesn't relax, and she hasn't smiled, but there is a sense that some vigilance has dissipated.
"Netsuke? I'm not familiar with the term. It sounds like you've seen a great many things."
'They are small carved figurines, which are used to fasten items to the sash of a kimono. They can be quite intricate, and valuable. Some reflect the more esoteric figures from Japanese fables.' She pulls out a tiny carved bear, holding it out. 'This is an example, although it is a mundane creature.'
He reaches out for it, making sure not to touch her he holds his hand out to catch the bear or plucks it away from her. He raises it up to his eye, studying it. "Do these tell stories too? Is this part of your interest in books or a different interest in addition to the books?"
She hands it over easily, tipping it into his palm without contact. 'My interest is in the stories told. Books are an easy way to collect these tales, but other items can certainly be part of said stories.' It's finely made, the wood grain so smooth and worn it's as if he were holding a heavy piece of silk. The bear is not a cute, droll figure, instead a figure that captures the inherent menace in a large carnivore.
"Do you know the story that goes with this one?" He asks, holding up between two fingers to hand it back to her.
Slender fingers take it carefully back, folding over it briefly as she drops it back in her pocket. 'The onikuma are bears who can walk upright. They often are said to steal into villages, picking up livestock to steal. Bears that grow old and wise become onikuma, and sometimes stand upon the mountaintops to throw boulders at people walking below. These large rocks are called Onikuma stones. I did chase down a fragment that said the first onikuma helped an old woman ford a river, catching fish as it did so to feed her. The generous nature moved her to bless the bear with human abilities, such as walking upright.'
"Oh, interesting." He nods a bit. "is there a ... lesson? a morale to the story of the thrown rocks? Or some peculiar landscape that it purports to explain?"
'There are large standing stones in some of the valleys, so it's possible that's an explanation that people have chosen to believe.' The faintest of frowns briefly clouds her face. 'Trying to find the end or truth of stories can often be a futile exercise. I remind myself that having time means eventually I may find the truth behind them.'
"Well, perhaps in trying to learn the truth you learn other things that aren't that truth but that are other truths." He shrugs a shoulder. "Have you decided to not to look for truths anymore? Or is there a particular tale that has eluded you to illicit such an expression?"
'I simply enjoy learning lost lores, forgotten stories, hidden history. It's a way to pass time, if nothing else.' Leaning back on the wall again, she shows her hands in a shrug. 'What of you? Are there any hobbies that consume your time?'
"i'm an avid reader, I suppose, though of late my hobby is simply to get to know the landscape here in Philadelphia, as well as meeting the residents. I've only been here a week thus far."
'Have you met anyone other than me,' she asks in a quiet tone, though there may be a hint of humor lurking in her eyes.
"Oh, a handful. No other sanctified as of yet, a few of my own persuasion and some circle members. "
'Do you have a feeling for the city, then, from those you've met? Overall friendly? It would seem the government is set up to advance a general sense of camaraderie.'
"Yes, I suppose you could consider them friendly, certainly welcoming, in any case." He nods as he thinks about it. "There seems to be a lot going on, most of the discussions I've been a part of have had to do with the attacks against the neonates. Most of the elders who the attacker isn't interested in attacking seem interested in helping the rest out, so there's certainly some camaraderie on display there."
'It's an interesting premise, the way authority is set up here. I'm very keen to see how it works. Certainly nontraditional, yet it seems to keep everyone satisfied. More so than some cities I have seen.'
"All I know so far is that everyone seems allowed to.. pursue what they want, which those of my order certainly appreciate. "
'I imagine the freedom is certainly, well, liberating.' The humor is in her voice, this time, though there is no expression to give it away.
He chuckles a bit at that. "Is there a particular freedom you're most interested in exploring?"
'Myself. Oh, no, I meant for yourself. I have not had to worry about lack of freedom in some years.'
"Oh you haven't? How have you managed to pull that off?"
'I simply,' she pauses, sweeping the room with her gaze for a moment. 'I simply do what I wish. I do not care enough about any other to allow them any type of interference in my actions.'
"I have to assume that your wishes don't much interfere with anyone else's either. Still, your confidence is fascinating. I'm very curious how you grew into it."
'I learned to do for myself at an early age, before this was given to me,' she gestures at herself. 'I was granted this new life by someone whom I cared for, and they returned the feelings. My job was one which trained me to protect myself. After my Sire descended into Slumber, I traveled for quite a long time, which further increased my independence. In addition, the passage of time works to wear down any concerns.' Giving him the slightest nod, she stretches.
"Fascinating. I will endeavor to earn you trust and respect to learn more about all those things. I grew up in the modern world so I find it interesting how others grew up in other times. I wasn't necessarily a history buff before all this, but now that I find myself among those such as yourself I can't help but be curious about it."
'I am willing to share what I can, though often it is not that exciting. History usually happens while you go through the days, or nights, as it may be.' Shaking her head, she glances at him. 'I would take history books with a grain of salt. Though it is usually what I search out, when first I wake, they can be deceiving.'
She pushes off from the wall, glancing at the watch on her wrist. 'However, time is passing tonight and I must go. It has been pleasant speaking with you, Xavier.'
“oh. I don’t read the history books. I just try and listen to people like you.” He smiles a bit and nods to her. “Truly, it has been a delight. Good have a good evening”
'You, also.' Giving him a small bow, she turns and leaves the room.
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