10

[chalicejoker]

[A - 2239 Stevens]

[Hajime goes out to get the mail this morning, and, to his surprise, there are two small packages addressed to him. He knows others have been getting things back from home, so he quickly takes them inside, parks himself at the kitchen table, and opens them up to take a look. At this point, he's not too worried about any potential disastrous effects from his packages--he's already gotten back the worst of what he could regain.

The first, slightly heavier envelope, contains an assortment of odd-looking playing cards. He's clearly pleased as he flips through them; he almost has all of his cards back now. Only the Royal Undead are missing, and as far as he can remember, he never had the King to begin with... The second envelope was roughly the same size, and he's assuming the remaining two cards are in there.

To his surprise, a photograph slides out. He kind of locks up when he sees it; this is really the first he's seen of his adoptive family since he came to Mayfield, and this picture in particular is rather important to him. He likely won't notice anyone coming into the room for a bit and is ripe to be surprised.

[B - John Doe Park]

[Hajime is spending a rather quiet afternoon out in the park. He'll be out through the early evening. You might find him out and about photographing things. He might also be seated on a park bench, changing the film in his camera or examining the cards and photograph he just regained.]

Comments

[chalicejoker]

[No, he didn't know what that was. He seems quite interested when she explains the differences. He kind of knows what it is to be considered the potentially less desirable member of his species...]

Are there many different kinds of you? Or just those two?

[He's moving to take a seat now.]

[spitefulvitae]

[She hesitates a moment. It's an awful lot to tell an outsider... but she's already told Hajime an awful lot already. What's a little more? Why not slide down the slope a little further?]

There are five broad types that we seem to fall into. There are also the Mehket, who stay in the shadows. There are the Gangrel, who take on the traits of animals. And there are the Ventrue, who see themselves as the leaders and rulers.

[chalicejoker]

[He nods, listening. That was different from what he'd encountered, both Human and Undead. It was interesting, learning of another race that every now and then reminded him of his own...]

The Ventrue "see themselves as the leaders?" Sounds as though you don't entirely agree with that assessment.

[He nods. And since she's sharing, he's more likely to share as well. Fair is fair.]

The Royal Undead were the same way.

[spitefulvitae]

They call themselves "The Lords". They can mind control others. They gather wealth and influence. They play politics. They're very, very durable.

[She snorts, her smile none too pleasant.]

They all tend to go crazy a little faster than the rest of us, too...

[And now he had things to say about his own kind? She was very curious.]

Were they, now? How so? Do your kind have clans, too?

[chalicejoker]

Seems like those in positions of powers always want such control...

[Ah, yes, the ones in power being harder to get rid of. He knows that feeling quite well. The crazy comment, that was interesting, too.]

Perhaps their power comes with a price, then.

[At her question, he pauses for a moment, then gets up and starts to rummage for something in the drawer of his nightstand. It doesn't take him long to find it, and he returns with a deck of cards, which he spreads out. They were already separated by suit and lined up in numerical order; someone gets a little OCD with the way he keeps the deck when he's done playing solitaire. He points at the cards to illustrate his point.]

You could say we're organized...there are just fifty-three of us. Four categories, four Royals in each category. Thirteen Undead in each category. The Royals are stronger. They can assume human form on their own...

[There's a very bitter smile.]

And the Joker stands outside of that, able to take the place of any other Undead.

[spitefulvitae]

Power often does. The price is just what varies.

[When he gets up, she watches him curiously. And she's even more curious when he returns with a deck of cards. She scoots over to give him more room to spread them out.]

Organized like a deck of cards... hah, I can see why the "Royals" would think they ought to be leaders... What are the four categories? Hearts, clubs, and... all of that?

Hm. And there's only one Joker in this deck, isn't there?

[She smirks back, fairly sure that she's caught on to what he means.]

[chalicejoker]

It never seems to be particularly stable, either...

[He looks down at the cards.]

Hearts, Spades, Clubs, and Diamonds, yes. There's not too much difference between them, really, but Royals seem to have more of an influence over their respective categories.

[That smirk...yes, she's caught on. He nods.]

Two Jokers wouldn't be able to coexist. There's only one.