Aleksy
Przemytnicy Broni
We are famed for our Pilsners...
Posts: 505 
Status: Ductus
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Post by Aleksy on Jun 17, 2016 11:50:09 GMT
The cellar beneath the Pub Przewoźnika had always been larger than the bar above. Aleksy had bought the cellars beneath a couple of adjoining buildings one to serve as the pack haven. Equipped with the best security the pack's modest budget and security skills would permit. Since Darco had taken his role some minor structural work was being done to reinforce it. But one, one was just for him. This was his place, his cave. Away from the concerns of the Abbot and the pack. He still slept alongside his brothers and sisters as was right and proper, but this room, this was for work. Przemytnicy Broni were named for many reasons. Aleksy had slaved over the proper name. A large part of his choice came from this. Taking in deactivated arms, rifles, pistols, WWII machineguns and the like. Reactivating them, renovating them, then shipping them to wherever the war effort may call for them. It was a humble role, but Aleksy's path was one of humble service. It was a large, spartan, starkly lit room bereft of all comforts beyond an office chair, and lined with guns he was working on and the tools he needed to do so.  New SceneIt is in that starkly lit workshop that this night found Aleksy. His surprisingly deft fingers laying out a disassembled on his workbench before reaching for a cloth to clean both his hands and the weapon of the years of accrued grime. The recent nights had been testing ones, he had been outmanoeuvred, and easily. Left as a fool despised by a sire he was bound to oppose until the conclusion of a task he now realised would be far tougher than he had first considered. He grimly pondered these matters as he worked meticulously. The work often helped to centre him, give him a new perspective. But he was trapped by his too readily given oath it was no-one's fault but his own. But there may yet be a way.
She would be here soon. At least he hoped so. He had invited her specially. Perhaps the Lady Galatea may prove his salvation.
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Post by DarklingST on Jun 17, 2016 12:03:35 GMT
The heavy footsteps coming down the stairs could be heard without the assistance of supernatural hearing. In fact, it was clear that their owner had no intention of being stealthy and was instead attempting to achieve the exact opposite and herald an arrival. Soon enough, there was a knock on the door of Aleksy's workshop and as it open, it revealed the Templar. Her expression was as ever unreadable, as her position demanded of her, but she seemed relaxed, judging by her body language.
"Aleksy, if you permit the familiarity, this is the best equipped workshop I have seen in a long, long while." she commented, clearly a statement of what she considered to be truthful, rather than an empty compliment.
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Aleksy
Przemytnicy Broni
We are famed for our Pilsners...
Posts: 505
Status: Ductus
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Post by Aleksy on Jun 17, 2016 12:11:37 GMT
Aleksy's previously grim expression spreads into a genuine smile at this. "You honour me, My Lady." he offers in a voice that speaks of reverence in same way that Gregorian Choir might "Please, come in. Have a seat." he gestures to that single office chair, the only seating in the entire space. "It is where I do much of my thinking." he gestures over to a black iron Crusader's cross over his work lamp. "I am glad you could come." he gestures once more to the chair.
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Post by DarklingST on Jun 17, 2016 12:30:16 GMT
Galatea shook her head but still listened to him before replying. "Let us agree that in private you refer to me as Galatea. Or Gala. Whichever you prefer. I am so used to being addressed by my title that I fear i will forget my own name soon." she said in good humour before taking his offer of the chair. This was certainly the first time he had seen her without her claymore strapped to her back or in close proximity. "Those upon our Path seem to be plagued with a lot of thinking, I can testify to that. But more importantly - how may I be of help, Aleksy?" her voice was nowhere as rich as his, it was brisk, like that of a woman used to issuing commands. Still, she had clearly attempted to soften it when speaking to the Gangrel.
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Aleksy
Przemytnicy Broni
We are famed for our Pilsners...
Posts: 505
Status: Ductus
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Post by Aleksy on Jun 17, 2016 12:53:40 GMT
Aleksy moves as she does toward the chair, but stops outside of sword's reach. Not because he feared she was still armed, he was certain of. No, this was a show of deference for a superior. Though there was no question she could easily deal with him this was a gesture that he did not seek to attack her. It was unconscious, trained into him by the Laughing Knight a vestige of happier times. "Gala." he addresses with his own voice as soft as the kiss of a cloud in flight. "I am in awe of you." he confided "You are a creature of your own, entirely outside of what is known by the Sword of Caine. Yet you do not end up held hostage in the laboratory of a Necronomist. You go on to prove yourself enough times over to become a Paladin. Perhaps the title has become tiresome, but the achievement is still magnificent." much like her own earlier comment his compliment is entirely honest and without guile. "I feel I can learn a great deal from you, if you would be willing?"
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Post by DarklingST on Jun 17, 2016 14:17:35 GMT
Galatea remained quiet throughout Aleksy speaking, raising an index finger to correct him one a single thing after he had finished. "I was a Templar before I earned my wings." was the only thing she said on the matter of her past but she did not seem to begrudge the honest assumption.
She was quiet for some time, clearly considering the request. "What is it you would like to learn?" she finally asked, her piercing eyes fixed on the Ductus.
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Aleksy
Przemytnicy Broni
We are famed for our Pilsners...
Posts: 505
Status: Ductus
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Post by Aleksy on Jun 17, 2016 14:25:07 GMT
"I would like to learn your path. To one day be worthy to be a Paladin myself. It is my most earnest wish." Aleksy stated without room for doubt or question his tone like an angel. "Przemytnicy Broni they will all go on to wondrous things. Archbishops, Cardinals. For myself I wish to be as you are, the trusted right hand of the great leaders." it was the unvarnished truth, his highest hopes were for nothing more than service to those who decided the path of the Sword. "Will you teach me, honoured Gala?"
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Post by DarklingST on Jun 17, 2016 14:46:37 GMT
Galatea listened to him. Her eyes were focused on his, as if she could draw some sort of profound truth from him just by looking at him. It was as if she was measuring his very soul. She was quiet for a few long moments, which probably seemed like a small eternity to Aleksy.
Finally, she nodded. "I will." was the response to his question.
"But make no mistake - it won't be easy, or quick." she added a few moments later. "You may well die a horrific death trying." Then again, wasn't that true for all of them?
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Aleksy
Przemytnicy Broni
We are famed for our Pilsners...
Posts: 505
Status: Ductus
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Post by Aleksy on Jun 17, 2016 14:58:56 GMT
Aleksy gives a single sharp nod "Then my death shall be as worthy as the quest that brought it." the steel in his voice was palpable, like it's edge could cleave the air. He takes a single knee as though he were about to ask the Angel before him for her hand in marriage. But that was not his proposal. His eyes locked with her own, but not as a challenge, more a testament. "Honoured Lady Galatea, Paladin and Patron. Will you take this humble supplicant as your squire?"
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Post by DarklingST on Jun 17, 2016 15:40:22 GMT
Galatea did not laugh or make any other sign that she was not taking Aleksy's proposal seriously. Still, as he asked his question she bid him rise. "You have work to do here still, you cannot accompany me as a squire." she said in a serious tone. She pondered for a moment, clearly careful to draw out the nature of their agreement with excellent precision. After all, her word was everything and once given it could not be taken back.
"But I will be back when I can and I will take you to whatever tasks I can share. I will make certain to introduce you to those I deem will aid your aspiration and I will give full reports of your work alongside my own..." she said with a nod, as she settled back into her chair, still pondering. "You must do well in this Crusade, Aleksy. That will put you in the eyesight of the right people."
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Aleksy
Przemytnicy Broni
We are famed for our Pilsners...
Posts: 505
Status: Ductus
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Post by Aleksy on Jun 17, 2016 16:19:34 GMT
Aleksy gave a single sharp nod before lowering his head to her judgement. "I could not leave with you, My Lady." he intones with no hint of apology, his own voice as serious and cognizant of his obligations. "I have given vows I must honour, I lead a pack I must serve as Ductus. I man a crusade I shall not see fail." he lists these responsibilities as though they were God's own commandments and his voice leaves no doubt he holds them as such. "But that does not mean I could not serve, could not learn. My..." he looks up once more now, his head no longer bowed as he locks eyes with her.
"My honour." the words land with a weight someone might lend to their only child, as though it is the most precious thing he owns. In truth it was. It had carried him through illness, persecution, abandonment, harassment. He had been subject to all these things but never victim to them. He would not lose that now. "It is... it is not held as honourable. It is used to embroil me in matters of personal politics, to turn me against blood in favour of ground held. I am not skilled in politics, it seems a game of lies, and there is no honour in lies. I have made vows, and I shall hold to them should even the Devil himself come to wrench them away.But they shall keep laying their webs over me. I would sacrifice my life for my duty a hundred thousand times over. But I cannot... I cannot lose myself. If I were squire to you, My Honoured Lady." he addresses her with the love one can only hold for their salvation. "I would be sworn to a power outside of local politics. I would be sworn to the true service of Sword of Caine. I shall ever honour my vows, I ask only that I be permitted pledge to a worthier cause than spite." if these were his dying words he would not regret them If there were not he would choose them to be. Far more than his life was in his angel's hands now.
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Post by DarklingST on Jun 17, 2016 17:20:38 GMT
Galatea listened carefully to everything Aleksy had to say before nodding slowly. Her eyes were still fixed on him but she appeared to have made up her mind. "It gets very similar to the Ivory Tower at times, doesn't it..." she said with a small bitter smile. Clearly, he was not the only one to note the failings of their society.
"If that is enough to bring peace to your mind and if you are sure that your devotion to your current task will not be overshadowed by the greater purpose you seek..." once again, she seemed to be weighing her words carefully.
"...so be it."
Her expression was once again unreadable as she stood up to her full height, chin held high. She seemed to gain stature in that moment and authority and her wings extended back slightly, giving her a more regal silhouette. "Anything I ask of you - you must do without question. You must disregard your own well being for the sake of your task. You may have to cut down those, whom you hold most dear, should the need arise... Can you do all that, Aleksy Katzoff, Childe of Antoinette of the Gangrel?" she asked, her voice steel. She had clearly researched the person she was entrusting her Childe to well.
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Aleksy
Przemytnicy Broni
We are famed for our Pilsners...
Posts: 505
Status: Ductus
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Post by Aleksy on Jun 17, 2016 17:50:19 GMT
His head once more bows, Aleksy recalled a quotation he had once heard about heroism being service. It had guided his entire life in ways that weren't clear to him until death had robbed him of pretence. When the army had forced him out he had fallen into working at his parent's, then to running it when they passed. When his family inn was burned down by hateful bigots he had money enough from the insurance to live an idle life of modest pleasures. But he ploughed the money back, into the very place where he now stood, to serve. Because he could not imagine himself without service.
They had turned the armour of duty against him. Now he could serve a higher power. An angel herself. He could ask for nothing more.
He snapped from his reverie with claret streaks of blood down his cheeks as he looked upon the beauty of the lord himself.
"I can and will, my Beloved Lady Galatea." for in this moment he did love her, in that pure and chivalric manner that the modern world had debased by marrying love and lust in some shotgun wedding. "I do so pledge."
When the armour of duty is stripped from you, take up the shield of righteousness, and bear the Sword of Caine.
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Post by DarklingST on Jun 17, 2016 18:28:07 GMT
Galatea stood still and quiet, almost like a statue, thus recognising the gravity of the moment. She bowed her head toward him as she allowed him this one moment of unblemished freedom, of emotion without reproach. Her own lips twitched upward in a smile, which seemed more sincere as her eyes softened for one brief moment.
But just like that, the moment was gone and her expression was once more a blank slate. She turned her head to glance at the tools of his trade, examining them carefully. "How do you plan on fulfilling this duty, which seems to weigh so heavy on you without compromising your honour?" the response was clearly an important one and Gala said no more until she had it.
Perhaps at that moment the Templar wished she could feel in quite the same way that Aleksy seemed to. But time and pain and failure deadened the nerves. Soon, he would learn that too...
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Aleksy
Przemytnicy Broni
We are famed for our Pilsners...
Posts: 505
Status: Ductus
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Post by Aleksy on Jun 17, 2016 20:49:12 GMT
Aleksy's large rough hands moved to wipe clean the stains from his face and he sets his block like jaw as he looks at her. "My honour is yours now." he replies simply, a swelling of renewed strength in his voice like the building of a symphony. "My duty to the Bishop reflects upon your name. It shall be done, as I have vowed, because no squire to you would rescind their word. But it shall not be an endorsement of any claim to power over another, because my endorsement is not mine to give." the bass was building in his voice as though it were welling up from somewhere entirely alien to him a spirit that moved within him, it's warcry in his words. "Przemytnicy Broni will bring down the weak blooded false scourge, for WE are the true scourge of he unworthy. Though his head, and the secrets that fall from him shall be Bishop Carmen's the glory of his death shall belong to the Lady Galatea, hers to give unto those she serves. The weapons that move where His Eminence bids them shall be known to move by the grace of The Lady Galatea, patron to the heroes of the Wrocław crusade!" his final words were like the roar of a lion woken from a great sleep.
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