Chapter Text
He was standing up close. Too close from the banker. They were watching each other for 5 minutes now, circling like hunting animals in this office, stinking of perfume at a point where Dottore was unable to correctly use his sense of smell. This human was really getting on his nerves. Too much perfume and too much reduced funding. Time to strike before this human gets too confident.
Just a small jump at a very surprising speed gave him the opportunity to aim the neck of his opponent. No hesitation, he was used to it. But it didn't happen like usual. He didn't catch his target. At the last second the banker avoided and took a few steps back.
-You're pretty fast for a human, Pantalone... If you even are one...
Slowly turning his head, he had the opportunity to finally discover the true reality hidden by this man. Finally he saw the color of his eyes. A purple as deep as an amethyst, an unusual color he had to notice. Looking at him like that made the Doctor realize that Pantalone was not on the prey side. How ironic was that again, causing him to smile slightly.
He received the same kind of smirk from the banker in response, mocking this awkward situation.
-And I must say that you're pretty fast for a vampire my dear doctor...
And again a staring contest in a few minutes started again. But everything has changed, there was no prey anymore. It was hunter against hunter. The silence was broken when Dottore slowly started to speak in a deep and calm voice contrasting with the tension of the situation. He even took the occasion to sit on the banker's desk.
-You clearly know that you don't have the strength to win against me, I can finish it today right now if I want. Even if it will take me more time than I expected since I thought you were human. Now we're on the same boat if I can say that. So I can give you a little delay to see if you are useful to something. It's been a while since the last time I was in the presence of another vampire.
-What do you want Dottore?...
A little smirk appeared again on the doctor's face. It seems that his interlocutor had already understood that he would need to give him some favors if he wanted to stay alive. Good. Pantalone was surely a good negotiator but right now this banker knew already that he was in a weak position. Which must have made the situation tense on his side. Quite the opposite of Dotorre, who was completely serene.
-Stop annoying me with the funds and let me focus on my work and... what else can you provide that I don't already have?
-What?... Talking about funds, it's already an important subject that I need to discuss with you every month... I will already do you a big favor if I accept your proposition...
-You're very annoying but probably a good accountant you're able to do it alone or at least ask the one of my segment and don't bother me anymore with that. As long as you give me my funds. Or I kinda wonder what the taste of your blood is...
On these words, the second harbinger stopped talking, letting the calm of the room put the pressure on him, making him understand that he was not in a position to negotiate with the second harbinger. However, the conversation took another turn when Pantalone tried to divert his attention from the main topic.
-Wait I've never noticed some purchases that could make me think that you were a vampire. How do you get some drinks?
He checked the posture of the banker, still stressed and annoyed by the situation. But in these eyes, he only found curiosity and a desire for knowledge... With a sigh, he still decided to give him an answer, a true answer. It will be another occasion to test him and to see how he will react.
-Don't change the subject of the conversation... But... I still follow the path of the hunt...
A few seconds later, he then heard Pantalone laughing slightly at this reply. In other circumstances, maybe Dottore would have found this voice pleasant, it was a soft but at the same time strong voice. A perfect combination. But the Doctor paid absolutely no attention to it. He was focused and the situation that caused this laugh. The path of hunt. Again. As every time. This banker was like all the others. Laughing at him, telling him to stop losing his time about a path that no longer exists. Not understanding the importance of this lost knowledge. All these idiots… With all these stupid laughs… Again… And again… And again…
-The path of the hunt ? Like in the old days? Is it a joke right ? I didn't expect that from the second harbinger…
The sentence of the other man suddenly brought him back to the present moment. He then took a discreet breath to calm himself down without letting anything show. This stupid weakness of the past annoyed him to no end, but he couldn't let Pantalone know that he had succeeded in destabilizing him. Without reply, he decided to let Pantalone lead the discussion again to see how it would turn… But he absolutely didn’t expect the next question :
-Wait...? How old are you?...
What was that question coming from nowhere ? He thought the ninth was a serious man, so why did he ask a random question ? Ironically, Dottore didn't even know the exact answer to this question.
-I haven't counted my years in a very long time…
-There are supposed to be no vampires left who know the path of hunt. It was a path from ancient times before the tragedy of Khaenri'ah. Are you older than this ? The only survivor ?
-No.
The Doctor immediately stopped him. Finally he understood the logic of this man and why he asked this strange question about his age. But honestly he talked too much. Already trying to make assumptions without any proof. And on top of that, wrong assumptions. How much he hated that.
-So how do you know this path ?
That was enough conversation for today. Too many personal questions from Pantalone. He likes people searching for knowledge and having curiosity but here, it was too much. At least, it seemed that this man knew a bit about the history of vampires.
-It's none of your business.
Dottore got up from the desk and headed for the exit door, taking care to pass right by the Ninth to show him that he wasn't the least bit afraid of him. Without letting Pantalone respond anything to that, he left the office with a last sentence :
-And so now don’t forget to stop annoying me with all your paperwork for my funds.