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July, 1911
“And that's why when I find out just who gave him my address, not even the Camarilla can protect them from my wrath.” Godfrey adjusted his coat as he spoke, glancing back at Marcus who's attention seemed to be elsewhere. “Is my story not entertaining enough for you, Marcus?” A hand placed firmly on the Blond’s shoulder was barely enough to stop Marcus from staring off into the crowd of other Ventrue. With the clearing of his throat once more, Godfrey finally saw his companion staring up at him once more.
“It's not that, Godfrey and I don't wish to discount your troubles. It just seems…” Marcus glanced back over into the crowd as he spoke, eyes fixated on a single figure who stood back against the wall, watching all the other Ventrue pass by. “Someone else might be having a bit of trouble themselves.” The one who had caught Marcus’ eye was a gentleman in an immaculately worn suit with dark brown combed back hair and glasses. Despite looking the part, and trying his best to seem like he belonged, to Marcus there was something off about him.
“And I thought I looked bad in a suit.” Godfrey’s snide comment earned him a jab in the side with Marcus’ elbow, though the younger had to agree that the newcomer looked out of place, much like a fledgling trying to fit in with the older cainites. “I’m just saying, if this was his sire’s suggestion then they have to be as much a hardass as mine.” Marcus nodded and stepped off towards the brown haired man, without as much as a reply. “Wait, where are you-” Godfrey sighed and followed Marcus, well aware that the younger’s fatherly instincts were probably going to get them in trouble once again.
The newcomer had seemed to notice the two approaching before they made their way across the room, as he had quickly straightened himself up even more and turned towards them with only momentary glances elsewhere. Marcus could tell this man was nervous about something, but if he were as young as he seemed Marcus knew he wouldn’t speak up. Though Godfrey’s words left a question lingering in his mind: Where was this gentleman’s sire…? “Good evening sir, my name is Marcus Beaumont.” Marcus gave a smile as he glanced up at the far taller man and held a hand out for a handshake. “Is this perhaps your first time joining us?”
The man stared down at Marcus for a brief moment without speaking, clearly thinking until with a blink of recognition, he took the outstretched hand and gave a firm shake. “That it is. I was given the suggestion to attend by a colleague of mine, though I am unsure as to how I should proceed to make the most of the experience.” By this point Godfrey has caught up to Marcus and is not so subtly giving the clearly younger Ventrue a glance of disinterest. “My name is Zacharias, and it was lovely to meet you, but it seems your companion here does not seem to like me much already and I would not wish to intrude on where I am not welcome.”
As Zacharias begins to pull his hand away to begin to leave, Marcus turns his attention to Godfrey and swiftly steps on his foot with a frown. “Ignore Godfrey, he’s never been one for all the theatrics of many of the Ventrue that attend.” Turning back towards Zacharias with a winning smile, Marcus places his hand on top of his that is still holding that of the new arrival. “Until your companion arrives, would you like a tour of the accommodations? Seeing that you are here alone, it wouldn’t do to not give a bit of aid to a fellow Ventrue who finds himself in unfamiliar territory.”
As Godfrey glares down at Marcus but nods, he tries to put on a less annoyed expression for the sake of Zacharias. “If you ignore half the elders here, you may find that you enjoy your stay. Perhaps we can show you.”
July, 1925
“I…” A sigh sounded from Zacharias as he took off his glasses and set them on the table before them, rubbing at his eyes swiftly. “Thank you, both of you. I suppose I owe you an explanation?” Now that the situation had been averted for the moment Zacharias seemed less on edge but in exchange his shoulders slumped in a way Marcus had never seen.
Marcus sinks down onto the couch beside Zacharias, setting a hand on the younger Ventrue’s knee. “Not unless you wish to tell us. I do not want you to feel obligated to speak of your troubles to us unless you feel comfortable. Each of us has our demons… hopefully not literal… that we have to face. If you choose to face it by yourself, then that is your choice and yours alone.”
Zacharias glances over as the door opens and Godfrey steps inside, locking it swiftly behind him. “I made sure she didn't follow.” Within the quiet of the room all that could be heard was the footsteps Godfrey made across the floor to reach the couch where the two other Ventrue sat. “You will be safe here, there is no reason for her to be able to find you. Perhaps you should stay in our room for the day. Given the reaction you had to that woman, I would rather you not be exposed to the possibility of encountering her again… whomever she is, she clearly is someone you are not on good terms with.”
“That woman…” Zacharias began with another sigh, eyebrows furrowed as he decided how he wished to proceed. “Her name is Irene. For all intents and purposes she is my sire, but for reasons I do not wish to disclose at this time, I had cut all contact shortly after my embrace.”
Marcus glanced up and back at Godfrey, who nodded knowingly. Stepping around the couch to sit in an armchair facing the two, the older Ventrue folds his hands as an ever present frown on his face deepens. “Many Ventrue make terrible sires. To me it sounds as if yours was one of those. There is no need to explain further, we understand entirely.”
Zacharias closed his eyes as he leaned back against the couch and put his hand over his face. “I got complacent, believing that since she saw no reason to attend that I would be safe to come on a regular basis. Clearly one of her allies must have told her that I would be here. I cannot make that mistake again.” Zacharias shakes his head, sighing. “Godfrey, Marcus. Thank you for the hospitality you two have shown me these past few years. It was foolish of me to become so lax in my mindfulness… I won't be returning until I can be assured that she won't be.”
Marcus begins to open his mouth to speak, straightening up in his seat before Godfrey beats him to the punch. “If that is the way you feel, then we understand. Still, stay here tonight and tomorrow we can help you retrieve your belongings. So long as we are around, she won't be an issue. She may know where you were staying, but that is not the same for us.” Godfrey wasn't just speaking to make Zacharias feel better, it was something he truly believed. He had lost count of how many fights he had been a part of in front of all the other Ventrue. It had in fact been how Marcus met him, so many years ago. If he had to get into another brawl for the sake of a younger Ventrue, so be it.
November, 1944
Zacharias listened silently as he awaited to see if the call he placed would even be answered. It had taken quite a few connections to obtain the phone number in question, and despite having doubts for only a split moment they all fell away as he dialed the first number. The few seconds it took Marcus to answer felt like an eternity, nearly as long as it had been since the two had last talked, but none of it mattered once he heard the familiar young voice on the other side of the line. “Beaumont residence, Marcus speaking. May I ask who is calling?”
Beginning his perfectly rehearsed response, Zacharias set his plan into motion. “My apologies for calling this late, as well as how I obtained your number. But I wished to speak with you, my old friend.” As a soft exclamation of recognition was the only reply Zacharias obtained, he continued speaking without giving Marcus much time to recover. “I know we have much to catch up with, and we will, but first I wished to make a request of you. I am aware that it has been quite many years, but is the offer to stay with you and Godfrey at the yearly getaway still valid? Oh, and don’t tell him I called… I think it would be quite enjoyable to surprise him.”
July, 1945
“I see you're doing quite well, Godfrey.” Looking up from the book he was engrossed in reading, Godfrey was greeted by the sight of Zacharias approaching him with a briefcase in hand and a slightly amused expression on his usually blank face. “The years have been kind to you, I would assume… as is your new allegiance.”
Closing his book and standing to greet his friend, Godfrey dared allow a smile to cross his lips. “A pleasant surprise to see you here, you should have informed us you were coming this year. We would have been overjoyed to have you with us again.” Setting the book on the table in front of him, he reached out to grasp the outstretched hand offered once Zacharias was in reach with a friendly squeeze rather than a handshake. “And yes, I would say I am adjusting quite well to my new way of life. I feel for the first time in many years, as if I am actually alive.” With an eyebrow raised and a slight smirk, his grasp on Zacharias' hand tightens only slightly. “I think you would quite like it.”
Before Zacharias has a chance to answer, a chuckle comes from behind the pair as Marcus sits himself in the armchair Godfrey vacated and leans over, staring up at the two of them. “You're wasting your time, he's still loyal to the tower, as much as he hates them.” Eyes narrowed with a devilish grin, he waves at Zacharias and Godfrey who have both turned to face the direction the voice came from.
Clearing his throat and slowly wrenching his hand out of the grasp of Godfrey, Zacharias nods with a more solemn expression. “My plans require me to stay within the bounds of the Camarilla, regardless of my opinions one way or another. I have particular ambitions that I could only achieve within the Camarilla.”
“Hear that Godfrey?” Marcus’ grin widens even further as he adjusts the glasses on his face before leaning back all the way in the armchair and setting his feet on the table narrowly avoiding the book Godfrey immediately leans down to move away. “Zacharias has ambitions, are we looking at a future prince perhaps?”
Unexpectedly for a trio of Ventrue, all three erupt into laughter at different paces beginning with Marcus who found his joke to be quite hilarious. Godfrey contemplates the joke for a moment before looking back at Zacharias and begins roaring with laughter as Zacharias attempts to keep a stern expression but in the end is unable to help himself and joins the two with hearty laughter for just a moment before quietly and seriously muttering only loud enough for the other two to hear. “Never.”