Fable - Ask Greatness comes at a cost

[Lorenzo Vitale]

Lorenzo looked over at the vampire. The more he opened his mouth the more Lorenzo learned little bits about him. He wasn't the first 'above it all' man that he'd met, nor would he be the last. It was annoying, but nothing Lorenzo hadn't dealt with before.

"No, I suspect you'd not." Lorenzo returned to Afanas . "Simply do not prey in the borders and you shall ensure your lack of participation." Lorenzo took a sip of the wine he poured, then looked over at Cosimo Imiliane . The face looked familiar, but didn't completely ring in Lorenzo's mind. He was young, so perhaps he met the man when he was but a child.

"I'm Lorenzo." He introduced himself to the gambler. "The last time I was at the Marcuttio's their second son asked me for a rapier after being challenged to a duel by Tybalta. It was about fifteen minutes before his death. That was . . . six years ago, if memory serves."

They were then joined by a fourth man. He smelled of a similar mix as Lorenzo and Afanas, but was also an obvious foreigner. Two vampires from out of town in one day. In one tavern at that. Fate was an interesting mistress this day.

"Some of the merchant princes are in need of new arms. I believe this gentleman here is looking to swell their ranks." He motioned from Crowne Garisi to Afanas. He decided the last entry to the table had likely overheard his description of territory, mostly as he loathed to repeat himself. The Family would deal with whatever they needed to, and him offering any advice was a courtesy.

 

[Afanas]

Afanas regarded the newly arrived stranger with revived enthusiasm. He was a difficult one to keep in a sour mood, and thus he found himself smiling once more, although far more subtly, hoping to not flash his orifice more than he already had.

He gave Crowne a curt wave, meaning to look friendly, but likely came off as stiff.

He found Lorenzo's words mildly humorous. Him? Feeding on people? Such was a rare occurrence, and even when he did, he only ever targeted cutthroats, bandits, and an occasional rapist. It wasn't like anyone would miss those people. If anything, he was a favor to society at large.

The parasite sustained itself just fine on domestic animals, thus eliminating the need to devour sapient beings. Still yet, over time, it developed an appetite for…atypical morsels; supernatural critters, monsters, and even other vampires.

It broke all nourishment into two categories: insipid nutriment and delish victuals. It boasted enough wit and self-agency to demand the latter from its host. Afanas was all too happy to oblige. It helped scrub some of the culpability and awkwardness off what little soul mother nature graced him with.

"You needn't worry about your mortal cattle, or whatever you denigrate them as. My voracities lay elsewhere. I prefer it when my to-be meals have a sliver of a fighting chance. Keeps me sharp."

When Lorenzo diverted the flow of their little skull session towards the merchant business, Afanas simply shrugged. At no point did he intend to make himself seem unscrupulous.

"Guilty as charged, I fear."