Thrones: Making New Friends

Afternoon, and abandoned section of warehouses in California. Victoria sat with her legs crossed on a large metal safe. She wore different attire today, the occasion called for some presence. A black sleeveless coat fell down her like a cloak, long black gloves coming up to below her shoulders. A large white bow fastened itself on her chest, and black pants fed into long-heeled boots. Her blond hair was just short enough to hang right above her shoulders, and her large blue eyes were like headlights in the dimly lit warehouse.

Two prospective members for Thrones, both vying for the same position. With Chelle gone on one of her adventures, as was common for her, the task fell upon Victoria. She decided to give them the usual test, pit them against each other. Of course, it was different when Victoria was the observer. She could count the grains of sand on a beach without effort, there was no one better suited for analyzing anything. The fight was more or less a distraction for them, while she judged their worth. Victoria reached into her coat and pulled out a silver pocket watch, checking the time. It was nearly three pm, the time the recruits were given to show up at this address. She hoped they at least had the sense not to keep her waiting.

Of course, this address was the only information the recruits had. They had no idea the other party was also coming, much less that they would have to fight each other. The surprise was all part of the test. She snapped her watch shut and replaced it in its proper pocket. Nothing to do now but wait for them to arrive.

Claude patted the box at his breast, reassuring himself that La Etoile de Hiver, The Star of Winter, still rested there and had not flown out in his latest dash. The diamond, a product of Claude's most recent job, was a gift for the woman with whom Claude was to meet. Satisfied that the diamond was secure, Claude then checked his personal appearance as best he could, making sure that his tan suit was not soiled, as could easily happen when running at hundreds of kilometers an hour.

Claude tapped lightly at the thin metal door, calling out, "Hello, I am LeRenEc, I have an invitation."

Claude readied his trademark smile, preparing to flash it at La Reine, hoping to dazzle with the gem and his sparkling personality. The woman ahead was clearly not, however, the Queen. Claude thought for a brief moment, before deciding that if he did not know the name of this new lady, he could at least guess her position.

"Mon princess," Claude bowed, producing the diamond, "LeRenEc does not come empty-handed."

Claude continued, cocksure, until he was standing before the unknown woman. He knelt deeply while offering the Star.

"It is a privilege to make the acquaintance of Le Trynes. I do so look forward to the future."

”Of course I’ll be there.’ Anthony said to the phone even after he was already hung up on before clapping it shut. His eyes narrowed as he let an annoyed breath hiss through his lips, depositing the small device into one of the pockets of his suits pants. It seemed that he was really wanted there but what would he really gain by joining this little group of mercenaries? True,they were lead by a being that made the more dangerous than your average mercenary group but that did not change that they were a group for hire. Leaning back into the lush leather, he swayed a finger along to the sound of music that pumped through the vehicles speakers.

He of course had chosen to go with a limo, as he was used to and felt it were below his class to go any other way. Anthony was basically royalty within the magical world and he would have it show even among those who knew nothing of what he was. After a few minutes the driver stopped, allowing Anthony to step off the vehicle into the street. They were approximately a block away from the place and Anthony knew his limits, so this was the perfect distance. Stepping into the shadow he found himself going through the room once again. That large space filled with devices of infinite power and then he was gone.

Now he was within the warehouse, staring at the one he was supposed to be going against. ”I arrive.” he said bowing and presenting a bottle of vintage wine, compliments of the Caster wine basement. It was one of their finer wines and Anthony was sure that it would be valued. At once his eyes came upon a familiar face which was the one John had worked with before, though he was unsure of whom she was; only of what she was. Now this was when the fun began.

Claude regarded the newcomer appraisingly. Merely an enfant, but that meant little in this day and age. There didn't seem to be much to the boy, and that made him seem all the more dangerous to Claude. What could he be? A mid-level henchman, a secret head or just some poor lost soul?

"Pardon, young one. I am Claude. Are you here for the party, as well?"

Victoria regarded the newcomer coldly, knowing who he was. She simply looked at him without saying anything and took out her pocket watch. It would seem Chelle's whimsy was a convenient one.

"It would appear your partner is late. Miss Renault" She said, still sitting with her legs crossed on the safe. "One should never be late for an interview. Rather than wait for him we'll simply take advantage of this opportunity. Mr. Caster will be your opponent." She replaced her watch and looked blankly at the two. "Begin when ready, which I hope you both are already."

(OOC: Claude's a boy)

Claude was indeed ready. He'd been sizing up the young man, as well as Victoria. Caster appeared to be no match for him physically, which left Caster's strengths as an unknown quantity. What could he be? A marksman or other ranged fighter? A power manipulator?

Claude hastily weighed his options and decided that his best bet would be start with a close combat attack, where his own physicality seemed to be more than a match for Caster's. He headed straight for Caster, trying to find a suitable weapon amongst the detritus of the building. At the last possible moment before contact, Claude readied a crochet, or hook punch, with his right hand and struck out at Caster.

Anthony sized up his opponents, each of their weaknesses that were apparent and such. Of course nothing was readily apparent but soon enough they would bare themselves to the skilled tactician, then he would begin his own battle strategy. Once the man began his assault, moving at an amazing speed, Anthony extended his shadow into a circle under him. In an instant he sunk into the shadowy circle, into the shadow dimension that it loped through. In a matter of moments he was exiting another shadow about ten feet from where he was standing,cast by the wall.

’Woah, you almost made me spill the vintage. Can’t go around doing that now can I?’ he said as a single tendril of shadows gripped the wine and move it to a more suitable venue; at the feet of Victoria. ”I have to admit you're pretty fast but you need more than speed to touch me. I’m not a physical fighter but it’s not like I need to be.” he shrugged stepping forwards as the shadow he cast writhed as it seemed to increase in size.

”You’ve had your turn,now its mine.” They took the form of multiple shadowy chains lashing out at the man, aiming to bind him tightly. In total there were about eleven, all with more than enough strength to bind a human, as well as lesser forms of superhumans. All while he calculated and edited his plan based upon what happened next.

Claude nearly stumbled after missing the boy who he had been certain that he would hit. He tucked into a roll to swiftly direct his momentum to the right, and snatched a wrench in his left hand and a length of pipe in his right. The pipe would serve nicely as un canne, the stick weapon often used by Savateurs.

Claude ran up the nearest wall, desperate to put some distance between him and the tendrils. So now we see the boy's true strength. He is not one man, but many. This one needn't be a competent fighter so long as he has these ombres at his disposal. I've got to figure them out now.

Claude had considered throwing the wrench at Caster, but he needed to know the properties of the shadows. On his way up the wall he flung the wrench hard at the closest shadow.

”Running will do you no good in this enclose space.” true the guy would be able to outdistance Anthony’s shadow walking before he could do anything but circumstances dictated it within his favor. ’I wonder what you plan to do against someone like me except run around.” This was answered when the man threw a wrench at him whilst running up one of the walls. It was a cute attempt but he would need more than that to hurt someone like an heir to the Caster family.

Almost as if acting upon instinct, a single shadow upon his back moved, wrapping around the wrench and rendered it ineffective. Recalling the shadows he lashed out at the man, he had them follow him along the wall, ripping through the structures materials as if it were not even there.

”That’s right, run.”

Claude's toss had told him what he wanted to know, that the shadows were tangible, and likely very, very durable. Somehow he knew that he wasn't going to get close to Caster any time soon.

And then the shadows were after him. The tearing sound of sheet metal grated on Claude's ears. He made it a practice not to turn his head to look back while he ran. To see behind him he leaped forward, hitting the center of the next wall. He had a better view of the last wall, with it's gashes threatening the structural integrity. His hopes raised when he saw an opportunity.

What better way to fight les ombres than with la lumiere? And with the holes in the wall, there was plenty of that streaming into the building.

"You say run, renardeu, I say catch me," Claude taunted back to the young man.

In truth, he was enjoying himself. Was this a set-up by Les Trynes? Had he been targeted by an enemy? He really did not know, but he felt so challenged by this fight that he really wanted it to go on. Here he was, by most standards near the pinnacle of combat prowess, capable of traversing an area the length of this warehouse several times a second, pitted against a boy. But what a boy! Weak, surely, but quite powerful in his own manner. The boy's own advantages seemed perfect against Claude's, so he felt that this encounter would definitely prove to be a learning experience, provided that he survived it.

Claude, who had just turned as was running across the ceiling, dropped down with a backflip when he heard the newcomer begin to speak. Claude was unsure of what to make of the situation. This woman was an unknown factor. Was she a shade, a trick of this shadow conjurer?

He decided that it would be best to not show his suspicion openly, lest he offend a genuine emissary of la reine. Claude crossed quickly to the woman who had informed Caster and him of their match, whose name he still did not know but who had just been confirmed as la princess, figuring her to be as close to a reliable authority in the matter at hand as he could find.


Gah! I have already given The Star of Winter to the beautiful princess! If I am taken to the Queen now, I cannot go empty-handed. Ah, well, c'est la vie.

[b]"Well this is an interesting development, indeed. Many thanks to the ladies and the young kit."