Reginald cut his hand on each hatchet and, as the blood seeped into each blade, he used the cut to draw a quick symbol on Hank's back. He then handed back the hatchets. "Your Resilience will now shield your mind and your axes will now strike to the quick. The day's light shall not harm you, nor shall fire's touch. These are my gifts to you."

In reply to Nefertiti (msg # 18):

Michael’s posture softened a little as Reginald said his personal distaste for what he’s doing. That it is a necessary evil. His only other goal it seemed was to do what he has been doing of causing an uprising of the Sabbot. An idea came to him. “Based on what you’ve told me, I have an offer, a request, and a warning. If this God Machine does as you say it does, then I do want to help you, but I will not use the souls of others to do so. If you are willing to offer the research you have before the Synths came to be, then I could do my own research and share all findings with you. I appreciate your warning about Victor, so I will give my own. Please focus on the war against Victor and the support of the Sabbot while leaving the Synths alone for now. You could always start back up after Victor and the Camarilla are destroyed. For an immortal like you, time is less of a factor. That would also give me time to do my research. If you decide to try both at the same time, then you will force my hand to stop you from hurting the Synths which will delay my research. My hope is that I have something to work with by the time the Kindred war being waged is done.”

 Reginald paused for a moment before nodding. "I can agree to that. However, understand that I cannot postpone my efforts indefinitely. The end of the war with the Camarilla, including any cleanup that is needed. I will agree to postpone any hostility against synthetics until then. We are agreed then? I will send copies of my research to you via Hank when I have it compiled."

It is decided then. A compromise had been reached at least with one side in the Kindred war. Michael felt confident that Reginald would keep his word if not for honor’s sake then logically at least. He had all to gain and only a small amount of time to lose from the bargain. As a show of faith and trust, the priest stepped out of his protective ward and walked up to Reginald with his hand outstretched. “I know. At least this way there is a chance to avoid anymore souls from being taken by working together on this intellectual endeavor. My hope is that another way to the God Machine can be found, and the two of us can become colleagues. I have a couple of ideas as to how to reach the God Machine using methods you have never and will never have access to. If the God Machine truly absorbs human souls, then I think I have a way to hook it and bring part of it back here. I just need a human with a strong mind and soul willing to be the bait on the end of the hook.”

Taking the symbol to his back, Hrafen kept his head bowed until the procedure was finished, and then he stood, flexing his shoulders and scapula a bit,

"And I, again, am in your debt. What would you expect in return for these gifts, Master Reginald?" he asked, using the proper title for one elder to himself as just a moderate show of respect.

Although his gaze merely looked focused, and stoic, any cold-blooded killer like Reginald (at times) would know exactly what he was offering, if he felt it necessary.

 Reginald shook Michael's hand and nodded. "Then I wish you luck in your endeavors and I hope that you have more success than I have."

 When Hank asked what Reginald wanted in return, he shook his head. "I require nothing further from you, Hank. You have joined me of your own volition when nothing was offered. Consider this a gift, one that will remain so long as you still wish to continue this fight in my name."

Michael nodded and turned to leave. The priest stopped just short of the street and turned to see if Hank or Nef had anything else to say to him before he left.

Dipping his head in acknowledgment towards Reginald, Hrafen spoke after a moment of thought,

"And my loyalty shall be as strong as your support of my decisions has been. Irrevocable. Unchanging. I will endeavor to be the force that you need in your coming struggles to overcome." he said stoically, leaving it at that.

As Michael began to walk away, Hrafen quietly excused himself and approached,

"Michael... what do you think of Reginald's words? It seems as if he feels like he must do this, and does not have anything against the Synths, or even wants to sacrifice them. Would it be possible for us to find him another way to perform the rites he is discussing, so we could, in effect, protect them?" he asked, curious.

Michael turned and nodded to Hank. “That is my goal. I don’t want to go against Reginald especially for the reason he wants to do this. However, I do have an obligation to protect the innocent for as long as I have the strength to do so. I do appreciate that Reginald is willing to share his knowledge and give me time to find another way. I can’t fault him for going back to it afterwards since he did give me a chance. I know he is more knowledgeable and more experienced than me in this, but I do have methods at my disposal he will never have. Like bringing the dead back to life…as they were before their death. If this God Machine wants to take human souls, then I may be able to bring a part of it back.”

Nefertiti had nothing to say to Michael but she watched as Hank moved to speak with him.  She instead moved closer to Reginald and whispered into his ear
This message was last edited by the player at 04:24, Mon 07 Nov 2022.

Nodding, Hrafen understood Michael's convictions, but he could feel the troubled spot he was in. He had no clear enemy... yet.

"What is our next step in our pursuit to lower the overall violence? How will we pursue a better avenue for stopping this God Machine, and how will we avoid unnecessary bloodshed between the Camarilla and the Sabbat? We know it will become bloody, but how to control it?" he asked, open-minded about all of it.

Michael thought on the matter. “The two will eventually kill each other. The main thing is to make them understand that there are consequences to wanton violence. Avoid residential areas and perform surgical strikes instead of nuking from orbit. At some point in time somebody will make a mistake or try to test my resolve. Unfortunately, I will then have to wipe out the offenders with extreme prejudice. They will then either heed my warning or attempt to kill me. I will be patrolling regularly and attempt to make my presence known.”

Nodding, Hrafen responded,

"Having witnessed this exact war before, the Camarilla will feel their grip slipping, and begin causing collateral damage. As soon as that happens, I will notify you and we will handle it." he said, making it obvious he would help.

After a moment, he added,

"I think it might be best, for your own safety, if you weren't always seen patrolling. I will always be there, and will be a source of information for you. Being in the open puts you at unnecessary risk, in a situation in which you are already feeling plenty of risk." he said, shrugging, "Your call." He knew better than to tell a soldier what risks were reasonable.

Michael considered the proposal and nodded. “That arrangement is sound. I don’t really fear for my life, but a dead man can’t do good.”

Grinning, Hrafen took his forearm in his own, in an offered grip that he and his brethren used to share,

"I feel you will have to fear for your own life even less than never, now that we are aligned."

Pausing a moment after the embrace (if allowed by Michael), he then offered,

"If there is ever a better way for me to navigate, or gather information for you: please mention it. I do not carry my ego the way many of these others seem to. I appreciate criticism as a benefit, not a hindrance." he said, shrugging.

 Reginald paused for a moment to consider what Nefertiti had whispered and then whispered back.

Nefertiti smiled at his reply. "It was a thought or something I was suddenly aware of. she then looked over at the two males and their bromance.  Shaking her head at that

Michael reciprocated the forearm shake and nodded. “I thank you for your assistance. Mistral would be the one for superior intel gathering, but we both know that is out of the question due to current allegiances. Next best thing is to set up spy cameras everywhere. If there’s nothing else, I will take my leave. I’m sure we will meet again.”

Nodding, Hrafen smiled at the mention of technology,

"Given some of your own capabilities, I wouldn't trust a machine with information anyways. Far too easy to manipulate." he teased a bit.

With that, the conversation was finished, and Hrafen was settled. He turned towards Nefertiti, in case she needed anything further.

 It still seemed that Nefertiti had a few things to talk about with Reginald.

There was a look of disappointment upon her face but it wasn't because of what she heard but she will not be able to taught the Dragon.

"Very well.  It seems I will not have the last ...

There was nothing else she needed from Hank or Michael.  She was here in support of Reginald.

"Oh Michael, please keep those at this meeting private. she said before he was too far to not hear her words.  She didn't need to have Victor placing another Blood Hunt upon her for not being a loyal servant to such a dysfunctional Sect.

Seeing that he wasn't needed, Hrafen tilted a head-nod to Michael, and Reginald/Nefertiti, and then left the area. He had a lot to think about.

Michael looked at Nef and nodded before giving a wave to everyone and leaving.

Nefertiti looked to Reginald to see if he had anything he might wished to speak about before she took her leave.