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Post by Strigus on Apr 13, 2018 18:51:42 GMT
The Great War had begun with a stir of excitement, but by 1916 there was only a sense of despair. The Enlightenment, the crown jewel of Western Civilization, a wisdom that would unquestionably lead the world to a more just age, had led to this. To trenches and gas.
Even an optimistic neonate like Wilhelm couldn't help but feel the crushing weight of a worldwide conflict. Perhaps this is how the Elders always felt, under the weight of Jyhad- a concept he had some grasp on, putting him far ahead of his cohort and showing some promise to Fürst's innovative system of groom his own childe. Wilhelm was alone for the moment, a small luxury he had been afforded that gave him the illusion of independence from his sire, though he was still very much at his lord's beck and call. He was, after all, the first of an experimental run, so his sire needed him to be the perfect underling to prove to the other Elders that his grooming process wasn't merely a waste of their immortal yet precious time. This illusion sometimes even worked, but when Wilhelm saw Baumann, one of Fürst's ghouls, approaching the door, any feeling of freedom he may have been feeling was lost.
Surely enough, at the door came Baumann's knock knock which Wilhelm was now well accustomed to.
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Post by Wilhelm von Hesse on Apr 13, 2018 22:21:08 GMT
It wasn’t so much anger as defeated frustration Wilhelm felt as he heard the inevitable knocking of his Sire’s favorite errand-ghoul. While he knew full well that Baumann himself could do very little to enter without his permission, he knew also the weight of consequence that would no doubt fall upon him when his oh-so-magnanimous Master caught even the slightest whiff of disobedience. Sighing heavily (a habit which had not yet escaped him despite all the years he had spent without need for breath), Wilhelm carefully shut Thyestes’ Ventrue Account of the Trojan Conflict and turned in his chair, draping one arm over the back, and called out.
“Hereinkommen, Baumann.” Briefly adjusting his tie, he vaguely considered what sort of pointless exercise was to be put before him this time. While it was no doubt to be yet another silly song-and-dance routine designed to demonstrate his superiority to his “peers” amongst the other Clan neonates, he nonetheless held out hope that perhaps his rhetoric was beginning to gain ground, that perhaps he was to be summoned by some greater power within Clan or Sect to account for his ideals, and that perhaps he could convince them of the importance of this era, and of this struggle, in its definition of the world yet to come.
As the door swung gently open and Baumann entered, Wilhelm rose and offered a brief, polite bow of his head, and his customary radiant smile, before waving one arm in gesture towards the other chair in the room. “May I offer you coffee, my good man, or is the matter to which our mutual Master has set you to task of a more urgent nature?”
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Post by Strigus on Apr 14, 2018 20:52:09 GMT
"You favor me with such hospitality, young Herr von Hesse," Baumann smiled, taking a slow contented sip from the coffee. "If you'll allow this small confession, I prefer working with youths like yourself. Such niceties," he said, raising the coffee, "seem to be forgotten with age. Perhaps because your kind can't enjoy them." He smirked, and Wilhelm clearly understood it was at the idea of having some advantage over his domitor, no matter how small.
"But our business, alas, will be quite short tonight. There's a war going on; you may have heard about it?" Baumann allowed himself a small chuckle before continuing. "Well, what you no doubt haven't heard is that Fort Douaumont fell. As much as the patriot in me wants to applaud this victory, our master, in his unquestionable wisdom, has decided to support the Allies. Such a loss so soon after that decision could be something of an embarrassment, particularly because so few were able to take it.
"Too few, in fact. He has reason to suspect some German soldiers were made into ghouls. Just not sporting, I'm sure you'll agree. And what better way for his prodigal son to prove himself to the Camarilla than to deal with this potential threat to the masquerade personally?"
Baumann drained the last of the coffee before continuing. "I'm to drive you to the front, making a delivery of medical supplies. And if we can avoid the artillery that Verdun is bound to be launching, our Lord hopes you can get to the bottom of this for him."
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Post by Wilhelm von Hesse on Apr 16, 2018 20:32:02 GMT
While his smile and general visage remained as cordial and hospitable as ever, Wilhelm strained immensely to keep his immense distaste for the ghoul from manifesting itself. Despite his years of practice, the dry humor and dull wit of his master’s servant never ceased to aggravate him, and his oily voice only exacerbated matters. However, as much as his dislike for the gentleman occupied his attention, his statement regarding the fort at Verdun immediately caught Wilhelm’s focus. Indeed, his smile shifted from feigned to genuine as he heard of the triumph of the Imperial forces, only to be swiftly replaced by an expression of horror and concern as the ghoul elaborated on their master’s orders.
“That treacherous old fool!” Wilhelm had, due to his decidedly unusual and pointed upbringing, always been capable of keeping his emotions well in check, avoiding embarrassing and potentially damaging outbursts with grace and panache. However, as Baumann explained his Sire’s newly-adopted position (and in such an off-hand, casual manner), he suddenly found himself on his feet, hands clenched into tight fists, one set of knuckles pressed hard against the desktop. Indeed, as he took stock of this new position, he found himself nearly as surprised as the ghoul, who sat with wide eyes and raised brow but a pace away. Clearing his throat, the young vampire ran a hand through his hair and gently smoothed the front of his suit before retaking his seat.
“My most sincere apologies, mein guter Herr Baumann. That was most inappropriate.” Inclining his head respectfully towards his guest, he then crossed one leg over the other and adopted a more relaxed posture. “Am I to understand, then, that you are to be accompanying me on this, ah, investigation? After completing your delivery, of course.” Swiftly readopting his characteristic smile, Wilhelm laid one arm on the desk and fought to keep his fingers from tapping as the ceaseless stream of spiteful tirades, replete with ever-more-colorful pejoratives, consumed his thoughts.
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Post by Strigus on Apr 17, 2018 2:34:48 GMT
Baumann stood frozen for a short while, clearly intimidated by the outburst. Taking a moment to compose himself and reseating himself from the startled half-stand position he was in, he replied, "I'm afraid not, dear friend." Clearing his throat, and with it ridding the last vestiges of fear still clinging to his voice, he continued, "Our esteemed lord has other duties for me to attend to while at the front. You will not be in empty hands, though. With luck, we'll arrive at the front early tomorrow night, and you'll sleep through most of the ride in the back with the medical supplies. Once there, I'll introduce you to one Hans Hoss, who has more expertise in these matters. He'll have more information, and should be able to provide you with shelter whenever the sun comes up, as it has the annoying habit of doing. Find a way to remedy that, and I bet our master won't need to put you through this trial to impress anyone.
Pausing briefly to take out car keys and fidget with them for a moment, he continued, "We're set to leave whenever you're ready. I'll still need to pick up the supplied, but that shouldn't take but a moment. While I'm seeing to that, you can put yourself into whatever outfit our lord's gotten for you- it's already in the passengers seat. Oh, and I nearly forgot: once you and Hoss have wrapped up this unpleasant business, you're to kill him. Don't let him in on that bit, though. You may find him lacking in team spirit if you do."
With that Baumann stood up, as though there'd be no follow up questions and Wilhelm was ready.
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