Tilo's undead eyes lit up ever-so-slightly. "Splendid! Let's get started."

 The next hour involved Sal sitting in a chair and Milo with various hair products. The vicissitude itself felt something akin to stiff muscles after waking up. Unpleasant, but not overly so. The beard was a bit less pleasant though. The process of actually growing hair itched fiercely but Sal was not allowed to scratch while the growing was in process. However, once he was done and the initial scratching was satisfied, Sal barely noticed it at all.

 Once he was finished, he held up a mirror to display his results. Sal looked like a different person entirely "I can't say how long I've wanted to sculpt that face of yours. So, what do you think?"

"As I said before, your work speaks for itself. It'll take some getting used to, I'm sure, but I've always been good at getting used to things. Never wanted to be one of those kindred who is so far behind the times it breaks the masquerade, after all. Thank you very much."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:43, Sat 12 Sept 2020.

 Milo nodded. "You're welcome."

 He reached into his pocket and produced a key. "I keep an apartment on the first floor rented out for any guests that may drop by. It's getting late in the evening so you may use it if you like. Just return the key to me this evening and I'll have your new driver's license ready for you."

Sal accepts the key and thanks Milo for use of the apartment. He feels safer in Milo's building than he would in an abandoned one. After all, if Milo meant him harm, Sal had already given him a chance to do so. Besides, he didn't want to be rude to a powerful elder that he owed several favors to.

PM

Once Sal wakes up, he returns the key to Milo, heads back to the island, and if there is still enough downtime, he will work on his Kendo, as well as strengthening the discipline of Resilience.

 When Sal wakes up the next night, Milo hands him his new driver's license and, with that, his new identity is complete.

 After returning to the island, he finds that Talion is awake, staring up at the stars. However, as he begins training, Talion takes up a wooden sword to spar with him. His eyes are tired but hold a softness... as though recalling a fond memory. "I can't tell you how many people I've trained with the sword. It's been a long time since I've held one. Mind helping me shake off the rust?"

"Of course. I'd be honored," says Sal. He bows and says, "Onegaishimasu," before adopting his fighting stance.

 Talion placed his left hand behind his back with his right foot forward but the majority of his weight on his back foot. He bowed his head briefly in acknowledgement.

 He edged closer, mostly waiting for Sal to make his move (but, if Sal did not act would continue to move forward till he was within arm's reach)

Sal begins with an overhead strike, stepping forward swiftly as he does.

 Talion responded, not by backing away or dodging, but by stepping forward himself, redirecting the tip of his sword so that, as you brought your own blade down, the tip of his wooden blade struck your armpit and your wrists struck his shoulder.

 He pressed the tip of his blade into your armpit, pushing you back before flicking the blade back into position, guarding his face and body against your retreating blade.

OOC: there is currently only about half an arm's length between you two. Not nearly enough to swing properly (and the bonus for a kendo stick is +2)

Sal will take two quick steps to the right, and swing from right to left, hoping to catch Talion before he can fully turn.

 Again, rather than backing away or blocking, Talin stepped in toward Sal to close the distance, forcing his shoulder under Sal's armpit, spinning the blade around and jamming against Sal's wrist as he brought the weapon down.

 This time you felt some force behind the strike, jarring your sword arm. Talion seemed to waste no movements in his attacks and, even though he seemed to be completely unguarded, he reacted as though you were moving in slow motion.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:40, Tue 15 Sept 2020.

Mistral had been about the amethyst mansion for the last several hours, mostly exploring its many features and ensuring full and proper ward coverage.  She had seemed a touch distracted as she worked, but that was not necessarily unusual for her.  At length there came a moment when she regained a degree of focus all at once, as if she'd reached a conclusion and had decided to act upon it.  Mistral turned away from wherever she'd been at that moment and stepped out into the night, where she found new-Sal sparring with Talion in the expansive courtyard.  She had been present when Sal discussed altering his identity, so the change in appearance wasn't entirely a surprise, but this was her first sighting of the result.  After some minutes of quiet observation from the sidelines, Mistral chose a moment of respite to make herself known by remarking, "Assez beau, mon ami.  Whose face is this?  It has the look of un vrai visage.  A true face."  She inclined her head to Talion, then added back toward Sal, "Your technique has improved."

While she spoke with Sal and Talion outside, Mistral also went to wherever Noah was to be found within the palace.  She found him working on something or other despite the late hour, as was his way, though the objective of the work was anyone's guess.  Mistral appeared next to him like a ghost and greeted him with a gentle touch upon the back of whatever form he happened to be in.  This was far from the first time she'd been entertained by the rapid range of reactions to his being surprised by a comforting touch.  With a subtly impish smirk she said, "Bonsoir, mon dragon."  Mistral drew closer to him to see whatever work she was presently distracting him from.  She leaned in to claim a small kiss, then said to him quietly from very close, "The Guardians have made contact.  There is a chance for Talion to win their support, and thus the Concilium's.  He will not like what would be asked of him despite my negotiation on his behalf, but it may be the best way to prevent a new Celestial War."

This news hardly qualified as 'sweet nothings,' but Mistral wasn't one to let discussion of momentous matters ruin an intimate moment, nor vice versa.

Noah was in the Human disguise as it was expensive as far as the energy to make it was considered. And he did indeed seize up when she ghosted next to him before he relaxed. He wasn't getting used to it but he was getting to tolerate it. "Evening my Knight. Fetching as always." He was working on a set of weapons that could be used as magical tools. But more importantly, weapons designed with the threads of magic in mind. He did allow himself to be drawn in and away from his work from her kiss. "They would be unwise to push the matter with him without you." He turned with her as he had in dragon form before in the mess hall. "But if Talion wants to better the world he needs to get mages to adopt his casting style. The only way to do that is to earn their trust. What you are proposing is the best and most effective means to do that. Talion at his core is a father and a pragmatist." He smiled "A veteran of war does not wish to see war again I would think?"

PM

Sal managed to avoid injury, but the attack did sting. When Mistral came in, he bowed to Talion and said, "one moment please," Only after Talion acknowledged, did he turn to Mistral and say, "I wish I knew, Mist. Some poor victim of a vampire attack, I assume, that the Ventrue would prefer be seen walking around. Its a way of earning brownie points with the most influential clan in the city. By taking this face, I may be able to ask a favor from the Prince, himself. And thank you. The surest way to improve is to train with someone whose skill exceeds your own. Talion here fits the bill quite nicely." He smiled at Talion, while rubbing his sword arm where he had been struck.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:51, Wed 16 Sept 2020.

Mistral quirked one eyebrow upward slightly at Sal, then said, "You have assumed the identity of a missing man.  I think it would behoove you to discover who this man was.  He may still be remembered by enemies, family or debtors who would come for you in his place."  She picked up one of the spare wooden practice swords and began to twirl it experimentally in one hand, but quickly gaining speed.  She remarked, "It has been some time since I've trained the Pangolisi d'Eskrima."  Mistral moved the stick in flowing figure-8s timed with her steps and conserving striking momentum while keeping the weapon ready to guard, supported by her other forearm.  She looked to Talion and Sal, then twirled the stick once more and asked, "Might I join the spar?"

---

Mistral narrowed her eyes at being called 'Knight,' but still wore a little smile as she listened to Noah's take, then answered, "Oui.  I saw his memories of trillions of lives lost in wars reaching back to before Atlantis.  I think he would rather not add to that number.  We have sufficient enemies outside the Pentacle, as it is."  Mistral turned with Noah, pressing her forehead to his.  Then, Mistral's voice spoke up from across the work table, where an exact replica of her was preoccupied in close examination of the weaponry.  The Mistral in Noah's arms smirked impishly as the duplicate explained, "The Guardians mean to test Paradox mitigation in the presence of Sleepers.  I was obliged to talk a Magister out of une idée débile to test Talion by way of base trickery."  The speaking Mistral leaned in for a closer look at some particularly interesting supernal script circling a pistol grip, but the nearer Mistral picked up where she'd left off, "I persuaded the Magister to conduct the testing via la méthode scientifique.  A double-blinded experiment conducted with Monsieur Talion's consent.  If we can have that, the only problem remaining is how to ward off an Oracle's sight, while allowing Paradox to affect his will-workings."

Both Mistrals looked at the worktable, where sat a containment vessel holding a cube of a rare magically-reactive metal.  The duplicate on the other side of the table suggested, "A custom-forged supernal sensory isolation chamber, warded from within to hide outside sources of paradox."  The closer Mistral wrapped her arms around Noah and asked, "Could that suffice, en théorie?"

 Talion nodded and dropped his stance, taking several steps away from Sal, back to a respectable distance. "I have no problems with that. I was just shaking off the rust. It's been many years since I last held a sword and my skills seem to have deteriorated a bit over time. Besides, a good friend once told me that a master can only improve if he teaches others."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:03, Wed 16 Sept 2020.

Noah tilted his head as Mistral duplicated herself. It was a feat he had not yet seen done by anyone and well outside his wheelhouse. He knew it could be done with tech but she had managed it with either time or space. He reached up and gave her ribs a squeeze to see if only one or both reacted. That and it was a delight to gently torment her.

"You've found your right track. It will be interesting to see if he takes the bait and if they do also." He pulled out a slate and googles a telescoping ball. "At the joints place wards to oppose scrying and post cognition. Should take a day or two to fabricate. But this way you can use it again and take it with you."

"This must be what it feels like when I surround you." He smiled at the... twins? "A hell of a lot safer. And about half as much potential mischief."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:22, Wed 16 Sept 2020.

Sal shrugged, saying,"Unfortunately, when dealing with the more powerful members of my society, these are the kind of risks one must take to get ahead. I simply have to satisfy myself with the knowledge that I am more valuable to my elders alive then dead, so I doubt they'd set me up to deal with anything beyond my capabilities. I don't expect to like the complications this new face will bring me, but I expect the rewards to be worth it. A mere chance at a favor from the Prince is something many of my kind strive for."

"This sounds as if we have a plan." Mistral-in-arms said to Noah in the new Faboratory.  When Noah squeezed her ribs there seemed to be no reaction from her duplicate, until he touched that one ticklish spot that was her secret greatest weakness.  Both duplicates yelped and squirmed at the touch, and a moment later the Mistral in Noah's arms became insubstantial and phased away from him like a ghost.  Noah found himself fixed with twin amused glares as one explained, "These are but projections spatiales de moi.  I may act through each independently, but only one may be substantial at any given moment.  Useful, I find."

The twin Mistral's winced in unison as if struck, and her expression turned dark.  She said, "Pardon, mon dragon.  My third is sparring with Talion in the courtyard, and I believe I will attempt another application.  À bientôt, mon dragon."  The twin Mistral projections flanked Noah and, in quick succession, both planted a substantial kiss on each cheek before vanishing into thin air to join the training outside.

---

To Sal, Mistral remarked, "Your choice, mon ami.  For my part, I would rather know than be surprised.  It may be the case that your elders have arranged for you to help them in the way of a scapegoat."  Mistral sparred Talion in a flowing style of rapid strikes and deft footwork, but had little better result than Sal.  After a couple of drubbings she decided to tilt the odds in her favor by bringing two exact duplicates of herself to join the battle.  The Mistral triplets were able to fight independently, although only one was substantial at any given moment.  Rapidly switching between copies from moment to moment to avoid attacks and press advantages turned out to be quite the tactical boon.

Despite blatantly cheating, Mistral could hardly manage to land a hit on Talion, for all of his 'deteriorated' swordsmanship.

Noah smiled, she was advancing so much and proved brilliant in fields of study that many couldn't even contemplate. He had seen a space mage duel before and it was like looking at a end of the world in a bottle.

"Much love, kick his ass." He sighed and smiled at her twinned affection before getting to work on her project.

 As Talion reaccustomed himself to fighting with the sword, his movements became even faster and more accurate, if that were possible at all... and, once Mistral began to "cheat", she could feel threads of magic moving... just not ones she herself possessed... but there was nothing she could see that was immediately different, save that he and his sword began to move faster.

 Still, he did not land a decisive blow. For all his unwasted movements, all he did was defend. "My daughter, Mira, was an accomplished mage, skilled in Space, Time, and Fate... but she always aspired to become the greatest sword master in the land. I never trained with the sword to fight, only to defend against her speed so that she would always have a hurdle to overcome. By the time she was eighteen, her skills had already far outstripped her seniors. If she had had only a few more years, her skill with the sword would have outstripped what I could do on my own. You met her, you know, back in the Museum of Memory.

 It is similar for you three. Your skills are already beginning to surpass those who have been doing this far longer. Seeing you all progress brings me great joy."

Sal says to Mistral, "You keep speaking as if you think I didn't ask. All I was told was it regarded a breach in the Masquerade, I would need to speak to some investigators and tell them I had a "rough patch," and then the Ventrue would owe me a favor in return. My standing with the clan, well, I have a long way to climb before they'll offer me any respect or status again. This is a way to start."

To Talion he said, "Thank you." Then he returned to his room to meditate, after securing his katana and ring.