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 Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 3:11 pm
Yeah, meant for. People keep telling me that. And while I don't doubt a connection potentially exists...I don't know, Jan. I'm not wise enough to know what it's for. It's not like I can bring about a future generation, and picking up this kind of battle will just leave me old, tired, and cynical. I can't see any point from here that could possibly make it worth it. Sure, I haven't lived nearly as long as either of you two, and haven't seen half as much as you could claim, so I have to ask someone who would have some better insight. So what could possibly make it worth putting myself on the chopping block and turning back on what makes me...well...me?
Pocketing the spare ammunition, he began to inspect the handgun. It was a placeholder action, meant to occupy his eyes and hands while he spoke with Jan. In truth, he was trying his best to keep from staring at the locked blade; it bothered him just how prominently it featured in his thoughts.
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Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 3:16 pm
"I do not believe sir is truly asking ME those questions. Indeed... I doubt a question really exists within that, no? Insight is subjective, and personal."
That same soft smile, followed by a move out of the armoury, encouraging Nines to leave too.
"Her ladyship prefers the training room over other mediums, as it suits her best, however sir may be interested to know there is a small range set up beyond the herb gardens behind the servants quarters.
Will sir require anything else this evening?"
One was a puppet master, the other deferred like a professional lawyer. Either way... it would seem neither was willing to push a decision about verious topics onto Nines.
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Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 3:20 pm
No, I am asking you, because asking me just leads in circles. But what the hell.
And thus he let it go. It wasn't worth pursuing any further, not when Jan was as evasive as a politician in a press conference. It didn't help that with that damnable implacable smile on his face, Nines couldn't tell what Jan was thinking at all. It made it a royal pain in the a** to talk to him.
Since clarity isn't in the cards, no, I think I've got everything I need. Thanks, Jan.
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Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 3:24 pm
Setting the locks on the armoury door, the wall covered it once more and further rumblings indicated some pretty intense defences moving into place as Jan turned that smile back to Nines.
"Sir had everything he needed before hand. Clarity is something you will reach by yourself. In this... it is no good anyone making up your mind for you. You have time, if you give it to yourself.
What I would do in your position matters not - I am not Kindred. You are, and when you have accepted this... you will know what to do, and where you wish to place your loyalty and trust.
Should you need anything... please call. Until then... good night."
Implacable as ever, Jan bowed and left up the main staircase, sharply calling staff to tasks that yet needed attending.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:10 pm
A full twenty-four had passed before Nines stirred from his quarters again. As with the past week, he had been sequestered away, reading. It was a way to keep himself busy and distracted, especially when the previous night had led to a renewal of his most basic frustrations.
But he couldn't stay locked up forever, and Jan had pointed out a place where a cathartic bit of recreation could happen. A small range would let him vent some steam and ammunition all at once.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:13 pm
Nines would find the house quiet and boring as he emerged. Run of the mill activities occurred, the TR was quiet, and no one seemed to be about in the grounds.
This would let Nines get up to his own ends, including using the range without disturbance. At least for now.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:16 pm
One mag, two, three...literally dozens of spent casings lay littered about the ground by his feet as he let the fourth magazine fall spent into his waiting palm. He hadn't been keeping count, truth be told; he had burned through much of his ammunition. And so he paused, and shook his head. One magazine left, it seemed...he'd need to speak to Jan.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:19 pm
A sussuruss passed through the trees in the quiet between Nine's shots. the night was still and warm compared to the previous one, no frost on the ground, but a sense of tension in the clear air, not a cloud in sight to mask the stars above.
Orions belt shone with four stars, the moon eclipsed behind the house. It would seem nines would indeed get a chance to finish his 'exercise' before he;d need to seek Jan in person.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:26 pm
It's a shame Nines wasn't looking up. And when he was, he was looking at the moon, for the brief time it was present. There wasn't really much to see up there that he hadn't spent plenty of nights staring at already. More to the point, he had a firearm in his hand that needed reloading. He slapped the last mag into the well, and thumbed the release, allowing the slide to return to the loaded position with a slap of metal.
Eh.
He looked the handgun over, considering, then decided to go ahead and blow the last of the ammunition anyways. It wasn't as if it was reasonably expected to do much to anybody he would need to shoot at, so why not?
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:28 pm
His last shot would go astray. Not for a lack of aim on his own part, but because the breeze wudl feel, just for a moment, like it had a physical pull on his arm.
After that, silence. A moment or two later, the door back into the house behind Nines would be opened, and a figure stood awaiting in the doorway.
Jan.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:40 pm
The breeze just tugged his aim off. Curses...that was quite a gust. Strange, all told. Nines furrowed his brow, but discarded the thought shortly after. Weather was a fickle thing; he would worry about the breeze perhaps later.
So he began kneeling and policing the spent casings; he turned to glance over his shoulder when he heard the door, but was otherwise preoccupied to do more than offer Jan a nod in greeting.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:43 pm
"A clean up is entirely unnecessary sir. The joys of groundsmen."
smiling slightly, Jan stepped out of the door and approached. Out of the cast light from inside, it became clear he was carrying a tray, and upon it sat a glass. coming to stand by Nines, Jan deftly presented it to him. It's contents? Vitae.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:47 pm
Force of habit. Besides, if I stop remembering to clean up the spent brass, I won't remember when I need to.
With a slight shrug, Nines continued snatching up the spent casings, humming softly to himself as he did.
Besides, it's all part of just trying to destress. Something to keep the hands and mind busy. So...what about you? What brings you out here?
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:50 pm
"Her Ladyship has tasked me with ensuring you and the other guests in the house are given all you need. For tonight, this includes making sure sir drinks, and to also organise fresh ammunition for sir seeing as I have distinctly heard enough shots to use up what you decided to take with you last eve."
Affable, polite, Jan explained himself easy enough. It was his job to take care of the Lady's wishes. One could imagine he left some things up to his own interpretation, but none could ever say he was not fastidious in his attention to duty.
"May I recommend sir drinks before it grows fully cold?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:52 pm
At the rate you feed me I'll be bloated as a cow before long...Just leave the tray in my quarters, I'll get to it later? I'm honestly not particularly hungry at the moment, though a resupply would be nice, if you wouldn't mind.
Oh Jan, ever dutiful. Nines had been fed so thoroughly well since his arrival that it was ludicrous by his reckoning. Still, he now had a pocket of brass and a few empty magazines to boast, and was keen on rearming. He stood and turned, empties in hand.
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