Post by Akutenshi Kyoushi on Nov 13, 2014 19:56:58 GMT -5
"We all have our secrets my young friend. Not everything is designed to be lay bare to everyone now." he plays with his glass, watching the contents swirl about "Just I am sure there is far more going on beneath your friendly disposition. But if you want to play that game tell me a secret and I'll tell you one in confidence that none of this conversation leaves the table and we both walk away like gentlemen" he gives Gram a glance through the glass as he finishes his little monologue and smiles "Do you want to play?" It would be interesting to see what Gram would say to this. If he was willing to give up secrets then Tenshi would as well, though he does give another glance around the room to see just who was around them. Secrets in confidence needed to remain secret. Not seeing anyone in the near vicinity though, he felt comfortable to divulge some if it came to it.
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Nov 14, 2014 1:29:01 GMT -5
Gram stroked his chin. The young man was definitely intrigued. A secret for a secret. God himself knew, the young man had plenty. Many of them he was unwilling to share with anyone, especially a complete stranger, due to the damage it could do to him and his company. Something more personal then, something non business related.
"Alright. I'll tell you a secret," the young man began. "When I was a young boy, I had a calculus tutor. I'll not delve into my reasons why, but I destroyed him." Gram knew full well why he'd done it. He'd ruined the man's life simply because he could, because it was an amusing exercise for him. It was not a thing he was proud of having done, but he certainly didn't feel guilty about it.
"I created a virus that I used to infect his computer with child pornography. I hacked into his hard drive and the browsery history kept by his computer and internet service provider, creating a history of him browsing such pornographic sites." Gram stared straight ahead of himself as he talked, some emotion entering his voice.
"Indirectly, I manipulated him and his wife, creating friction within their marriage. It was child's play, really. Eventually, I made sure she discovered the child pornography I'd planted. The confrontation that resulted from her discovery and several other subtle machinations on my part eventually ended in their divorce and his eventual arrest. He eventually hung himself." The young man took a drink of bourbon. "The entire situation went much further than I'd planned, of course. I certainly never intended for him to commit suicide, but that's what happened. A childish prank gone horribly wrong. Not a day goes by that I'm not filled with shame and regret."
Gram turned towards Tenshi, bringing a convincingly appropriate amount of regret and guilt to his face. "You now know the worst secret I've ever kept," The young man lied, "Now tell me one." Inwardly, Gram studied Tenshi's face, wondering how the man would react, knowing Gram had done something so horrible at so young an age.
Post by Akutenshi Kyoushi on Nov 14, 2014 1:43:39 GMT -5
Tenshi was indeed rather shocked at his choice of secret. It was a rather deep and emotional one it seemed for the boy. He could understand that things happened but it was rather amazing that this person before him would be so ingenious as to commit someone to a crime that had never actually happened "My my... what a tangled web we weave" he mutters faintly before sitting up "Must say I was not expecting something as dark as that to be given up as freely as you did. And it is a shame that the man did hang himself. But I don't believe he tried hard enough to prove it wrong." he finishes his drink before continuing "Very well, secret for secret."
It would take him a while to think of something as worthwhile as the man hanging himself "Alright, here is my little secret. I live a double life as it were" he grins a bit "What many see is the simple business man out enjoying life with the income he earns at his places of business" he leans in a little bit "But I am also a trained killer. I am skilled with a few select weapons of choice and depending on the situation in hand will decide my weapon to use." he adjusts the cuffs of his jacket "I was once hired to take out a depot out in Iraq that was supposed to have various weapons they intended to use in an all out attack against a certain nation." he didn't specify which one, figuring that it wasn't important to the story "So... I took my sniper rifle and in the dead of night, killed the guards that stood post and then went in and slit every throat that resided within"
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Nov 14, 2014 2:52:51 GMT -5
The shock was clear on Tenshi's voice and, as if ashamed, Gram looked away. When the man said that the tutor whose life a young Gram had destroyed hadn't fought the charges hard enough before giving up and ending his own life, the young man nearly turned back and revealed more information about what had happened. But, not desiring to completely ruin his image in Tenshi's eyes, Gram swallowed his words and kept his gaze staring away from the man, shame written all over his face.
When Tenshi told the young man his secret, Gram turned to the man, eyes wide with surprise. He looked the man up and down. "I never took you for the cold blooded type." The young man commented before sipping his bourbon.
"How did you get in such business and acquire such a skill set?" Gram asked, intrigued. One of the corporations owned by the young man was heavily involved in the defense industry, manufacturing machinery and even operating a few discreet mercenary groups. If Tenshi was so skilled, Gram might find use of him one day.
Post by Akutenshi Kyoushi on Nov 14, 2014 15:04:03 GMT -5
Tenshi watches him closely as he turned back as if he were to say something else on the matter but he didn't say anything. What happened was his own business just like his side job was his own "I've always been a bit ruthless in my youth. War was a rather exciting novelty to me. To know I had the power to decide who would live or die. It is very empowering. But I also learned that there must be discression. I couldn't just go off willy nilly and kill anyone for no reason. There wasn't any fun in that. So I became a mercenary of sorts, killing for money or favors. But war isn't constant so I started my own line of casinos in Italy like I said. An honest business and few people would think a respectable man such as myself... like you said... could be a cunning predator"
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Jan 13, 2015 21:26:47 GMT -5
"I've played war games before," Gram began, thinking of some of his more recent violent experiences. "Recently, though, I've been far too close to death to think I'll ever enjoy the real thing. It's... unpleasant, when someone else is deciding whether you live or die for you. I don't have your strength." The young man stared into the amber depths of the bourbon in front of him.
Opening his mouth, Nathaniel hesitated before asking "When you killed for the first time, what was it like?" He'd been doing some killing himself, lately, and the feeling that accompanied his taking of a life was... Difficult to describe. He couldn't help but wonder how others felt when doing the same. In his mind, Gram could almost fool himself into thinking that he hadn't actually killed anyone, that supernaturals weren't quite people, like him, but he couldn't tell himself so blatant a lie.
"I imagine you've seen a lot of strange things in your life, with the casino and your... Other activities." Gram said, changing the subject.
Post by Akutenshi Kyoushi on Jan 13, 2015 23:36:20 GMT -5
Tenshi pauses in mid drink as he heard the question asked to him about what it was like to kill for the first time. After a second he continues with the drink and then sets the nearly empty glass on the table "To be honest I don't fully recall. But I do remember that I felt a sense of satisfaction in the person's death." he spins the glass on the table, watching the liquid spin about inside.
As the topic was changed he grins and looks up at Nathan once more "Yes, life is rather interesting. Love life and business have both been good to me. Humanity has so much to offer this land so much color to a bland world" he smiles and orders another glass of bourbon for them before returning his attention back to the boy "I would hope you find a love to fill your life with such joy and passion. I think it would do a boy like you some good."
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Jan 14, 2015 0:50:03 GMT -5
Gram grunted, suppressing his desire to cringe at the word love, taking a sip of his drink. "I have my love of science, of technology, and of the power and wealth they bring me." The young man looked slightly wistful as he remembered the first program he'd written as a child. "There's nothing quite like being confronted with a difficult problem, a problem no one else can solve, and finding the solution. It's a sort of high that can rule one's life, if one is not careful."
"What's the strangest thing you've ever seen?" The young man asked. Nathaniel rarely talked casually with anyone long enough to swap stories. At times, he felt isolated, closed of from a world that seemed so welcoming to others. It was good to relax and chat with a stranger, not worrying about politics, his business, or one of his projects. Gram enjoyed the feeling.
Post by Akutenshi Kyoushi on Jan 17, 2015 1:00:20 GMT -5
Tenshi just sits and looks at the man that spoke so simply of love as just a passion. And granted, passion was important, the love of a woman was far superior when it came to matters of actual love. "My boy, if you knew women, you would come to see they are the most complicated problem to figure out. They are such an enigma that even I sometimes marvel at their craftsmanship" he chuckles and lets it go at that.
"The strangest thing I've done? Hmmm... that is a rather tough thought to come up with." he admits "Though I suppose marrying the woman I did would be considered the strangest thing I've done, but the most enjoyable thing I've done as well." he grins as he plays with the ring on his hand "Few would think that it would have worked out as it did, but I am a gambling man, and I liked the odds"
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Feb 5, 2015 22:49:35 GMT -5
Gram shrugged. He was not interested in making problems for himself in that way. When a person became a problem, he dealt with it differently than he usually dealt with a technological problem. He would try reason and persuasion before moving on to intimidation and, finally, the person in question would eventually just disappear. Creating such problems for himself would not benefit him in any way.
"What was so strange about marrying the woman you chose to marry?" The young man was curious. Tenshi had professed to live a very interesting life, but his marriage was the strangest thing he'd every seen. A mystery Gram could not quite put his finger on.
"My only experience with marriage is the one I witnessed between my mother and father." Gram drank some bourbon. "She loved him, deeply, and I think he loved her once, too. Or, at least he loved the idea of her." He'd been too young to understand at the time of her death, but the memories had yet to fade all these years later and he liked to think he understood them now.
Post by Akutenshi Kyoushi on Feb 7, 2015 1:08:23 GMT -5
The demon sat back and steeples his fingers as he gazes at the young man that sat before him "Let's just say... she and I are complete opposites of each other. Or rather were. She did eventually come around to see things from a different light" he smirks a bit as he watches Gram before reaching for his own drink that was before him "It is a shame that people can't enjoy such passion of anothers embrace more often. This world seems so cold and..." his gaze fixed on Gram "calculating these days rather then enjoying the heat of the moment." he gives a shake of his head and sighs "No, I doubt many people these days can appreciate such companionship. I guess it's why the world seems to broken when it comes to love" he pulls out a gold pocket watch from his coat pocket and looks at it for a moment before turning his attention back to Gram "I suggest you find out if you are capable of love before you lose any chance of ever finding it"
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Feb 9, 2015 18:23:51 GMT -5
If Gram noticed the look Akutenshi gave him upon coming to the cold and calculating part of his speech, he showed no signs of noticing. When it was suggested to him that he find out if he was capable of love before he lost ay chance of finding it, Nathaniel stared into the amber liquid in his glass, thoughtfully.
"I am capable of many things, great, terrible things," the young man said, finally speaking after a few moments of silence. "I do not believe love to be one of them." Gram said, a little sorrowfully. Love, in his mind, required trust. He could not imagine trusting anyone nearly enough to love him and, even more so, the young man feared no one could love him.
The young man glanced at his watch. He'd been gone a while and he'd likely had more to drink than was wise. "I'm not an evil man, but I'm not good, either." Gram said, setting down his glass. "I don't think anyone deserves the love I have to give. I would not wish it on my worst enemy."
Post by Akutenshi Kyoushi on Feb 10, 2015 14:09:40 GMT -5
Tenshi smiles sadly at the boy before him as he made the comment about not being able to provide a love that one would appreciate. "That is a real shame. A real shame." he sighs and shakes his head "We all have demons kid. Some just have more of of them than others. And some just are." he stands up and puts some money down on the table "Do you have a ride home? Or shall we call a taxi to make sure you get home safely. He pulls out a cell phone and sends off a text to have someone come pick him up before looking to Gram as he waited for a response. He wasn't sure what to make of the genius boy that seemed all too eager to grow up way before his time and the fact that he was too absorbed into his work to even consider a love life. Such a pity that the boy would likely be the last of a dynasty if he couldn't find someone to share a life with, if only long enough to have a child.
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Feb 10, 2015 20:18:03 GMT -5
The young man kept his face carefully neutral, feeling the urge to snap at Tenshi and tell the man that he did not need his pity. Gram managed to resist the urge, knowing it was unwarranted. Instead, he said nothing.
As Tenshi stood up and offered Gram a ride, the young man looked at him and shook his head. "That's won't be necessary. I have a ride on the way." He glanced at his phone, checking the message from Drew that he informed him the man was on his way and was coming to get him.
Gram finished off his bourbon and stared at the empty glass as he asked the question that had been in the back of his head for some time now. The young man had first had some slight suspicions from the moment they'd first met. Throughout their entire conversation, these suspicions had only strengthened. Now Gram felt sure enough to ask.
Post by Akutenshi Kyoushi on Feb 10, 2015 20:27:10 GMT -5
Tenshi looks at Gram, nodding as he commented about already having a ride on the way. "Very good then." he pulls his watch out once more to check on the time but pauses as he hears Gram ask the all encompassing question. He stood there wondering how to respond to his accusation. Truth? Denial? Ignorance?. It took him several seconds before putting the watch away and then turning his gaze up at him "A... what now? Supernatural? I'm not sure what you mean really. If you mean far superior than to a typical person walking down the street. Then perhaps I am one." the demon places his hands in his pocket as he waited to see how Gram would respond to his dancing of the question. If he were a hunter, he would have to be careful. But if he was just a man in search of answers... then perhaps there might be something more to say.
