"Oh yes, excuse me; my name is Isaac Irons. I am a Hunter for the Society. Now, may I ask why it is that you need to speak with the Father so urgently?"
Ragenard had remained painfully compliant all throughout his wait to be seen by the pale and tired looking hunter going so far as to offer the two mentally off balanced slayers a wide toothed smile while they leveraged their guns at him. The arrival of the hunter left him a bit off guard. He had heard plenty of their exploits, and had no doubt they were all to a man very capable, but the man's appearance and demeanor reminded him more of a grocer than a hunter of the supernatural.
With a minor faltering in his expression, Ragenard regained his compusure before replying, making sure to keep his tone nonthreatening and even sounding like the barely coherent simpleton most folks assumed him to be: "Irons, eh? Not sure if that's a joke or not, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. I'm 'ere because I've 'eard you bastards are good at what you do, and what you do interests me. There's plenty I can offer you, but only you can offer me what I'm after" said Ragenard with a vicious smile.
Isaac regarded Ragenard with a mixture of amusement and confusion. He'd come seeking, it seemed, to aid them in their plight. Of course he was a more than capable fighter, as evidenced by his escapades throughout Lutetia City. However, allowing him passage into the University was one thing; membership into the Society itself would be a heavily deliberated matter. Cocking a curious eyebrow, Isaac looked Ragenard over once more. "And just what is it that you're after?" the Hunter asked politely.
Ragenard's smile widened even further, and his eyes took on a subconsciously feral look as he replied to the hunter's query.
"Bloodsuckers. Tons and tons of vampire leeches to exterminate" proclaimed Ragenard as his gesticulating became even more animated. "If I could rid the city of the damned things on my own, I would. But I can't" finished Ragenard before taking a sniff and catching Isaac's scent.
With slightly widening eyes he continued "You. I smelled you before. Underneath the stink of ash and death in the phantom quarter last night. That was vampire territory from what I heard, but I never managed to track it down to a specific dwelling. Guess that explains the fire" mused Ragenard out loud before making a thoughtful expression and waiting for the hunter to continue the conversation.
Unwavering on the outside, Isaac was rather taken aback that Ragenard had brought up last night's catastrophe. He'd lost a man last night, and dealing with that fact wasn't getting easier any time soon. He kept his eyes focused on Ragenard; the werewolf's offer to help the Society exterminate vampires would have been more surprising had they not known him in the first place. However, his help would be greatly appreciated, seeing as werewolves were quite fearsome and made extremely capable allies when in good company. There was merely one problem with his proposal...
"While your enthusiasm is greatly admired, I do have to wonder: is your aim to eliminate all vampires within the city?" he asked.
Ragenard noticed that Issac kept his eyes square upon his, a bit too squarely even, but decided not to make an issue of it. It was time to change tact, the bloodthirsty simpleton act he was so used to when keeping other werewolves at bay wouldn't do him any favors here.
"I'm not fond of the things in any variety... But then again, many things are not fond of my kind in any variety. I'm not the idealistic type, and I know when to be pragmatic. Eliminate all vampires? No. That would be folly and next to impossible. Eliminate all of the ones who prey on hapless humans and threaten them as much as they do the balance of peace with other Supernaturals and Humanity? Yes. Eliminate every single one that fears the wolf and stages cowardly attacks upon my kind? Also yes" said Ragenard, his tone moving slowly from impassive to slightly agitated.
"I'm not stupid. Your organization has a history with my kind. Hell, they have a history with my former pack. But my life now is that of the lone wolf. I'm aware a union with your organization is both unorthodox and not without cause for concern. For both parties. This is why I came here to speak with your Leader" finished Ragenard levelly.
Isaac held a hand up, reassuringly. "I just needed to know that we were on the same page. We can't go about indiscriminately slaughtering anything we feel like..." he trailed off, thinking about how much trouble Nox would be in right about now. Isaac personally felt there was nothing to be done for his brother-in-arms, demented as he was. However, Thaddeus harbored a deep-seated sympathy for and desire to mend Nox. Besides that, Thaddeus seemed to have an idea of what he was doing, so Isaac assumed he knew best. He just hoped something could be done about Nox before he did something truly irrevocably damaging. "We do have a reputation to uphold, after all," Isaac finished.
He halfway turned to point at one of the Slayers standing behind him. "Contact him. Let him know we're coming in. Ragenard wants an audience. Tell him he wants to help." As the Slayer made contact with the University radio command trying to get a hold of Thaddeus, Isaac turned his attention once more to Ragenard. "Come. We're heading in," he said, turning to proceed towards the building. He stopped, facing Ragenard a final time before speaking. "As I'm sure you're already aware, we have eyes and ears all along the perimeter. I'm sure you don't need reminding, but just in case: anything too sudden, anything stupid, and you will be put down."
With that, he led the way, stepping through the iron gates with Ragenard in tow.
Ragenard couldn't help but chuckle quietly to himself at the hunter's warning, mainly out of relief at the normalcy it presented, as that was the kind of welcome he had been expecting. "Aye, I'll assume my every breath within these halls is a gift" said Ragenard sarcastically as he followed Issac, probing the area within with all of his senses. He was either right where he wanted, or within the Lion's Den. The exact nature of what would happen hanging in the balance for the near future.
Nonchalantly at ease, He trailed behind the hunter as he led them to their destination, all the while his rage sat just underneath the surface, ready to take hold if the situation demanded.
---
Within the aging walls of the University, there was an abundance of activity; students blustering to arrive to their classrooms in a timely manner, Alchemists wandering about with various technological components bundled in their arms, and Slayers posted on patrols around the hallways. Some of the students looked toward Isaac and Ragenard on their trek through the halls; some of them recognized the burly werewolf, others puzzled as to who the possible initiate was. A pair of Slayers approached Isaac, waving him through to the back of the main corridor, through a pair of doors.
Down the hallway were several offices; however, the one that was of their concern was the red door in the center at the end: Thaddeus' office. Striding down the hall and finally reaching the door, the Slayer escorts led Isaac and Ragenard through. "Sir, Isaac and Ragenard Guiscard to see you," he said. Thaddeus ushered the two in, waving the Slayers away. "Please, sit," he said, motioning for Ragenard to settle into one of the plush-cushioned chairs in front of his desk. "I've come to understand that you wish to help us," the old Hunter said. "I've been told you wish to aid us in hunting the more unsavory breed of vampires," he finished, allowing Ragenard to speak his piece.
Ragenard slowly took the offered seat as he took in the man's appearance and mulled over his words. If Issac struck him like a grocer, this man was the complete opposite, and what he expected a hunter of he Ardelean Society to look like. Weathered looking and clearly well seasoned by experience, the head of the Ardelean society looked the kind of man Ragenard wouldn't mind having to battle for his life if circumstances turned dire.
"You understand correctly" said Ragenard simply.
Thaddeus let the silence between them brew for a few moments as he looked Ragenard over more thoroughly; he was a stout one, that was certain. Muscular and broad, a powerhouse of a werewolf even in human form. Having personally never seen the man shed his skin to take on his more feral appearance, Thaddeus could only imagine what the beast beneath that human shell looked like. If the figure before him appeared this powerful, what his transformation looked like would have to be tenfold more impressive.
"Well, I would imagine that you are well-aware that I know who you are, who your brother is, and which pack you hail from. If you truly do wish to aid us, then I need only know that your ties to the Bloodstone pack and to your brother will not interfere with the duties that will be required of you here; within reason, of course."
With a barely perceptible nasally sigh, Ragenard reached the end of his feelings regarding his former family. Up to this point he had been conflicted, but now that he has actually made it this far, it was clear to him that dwelling in what would only continue to become the past every minute henceforth was a waste of his time.
"I am well aware that you're well informed. I would expect nothing less" Ragenard said as he looked about the room, making note of as many details as possible that could aid him tactically should things turn ugly. From the distance to each entry point, to precisely how the two men were sitting-one relaxed, slightly pensive while the other a bit stiffly, tilt to his head and thoughts partially elsewhere-all part of an ever changing plan of attack in the game of "how can I kill everyone around me before they kill me" that was his life. If things were to go wrong, now was the time, when he put forth his own conditions that may well be denied.
"You wouldn't have to worry about ties to the Bloodstone pack or any other pack for that matter. My visit here today was contingent upon the severance of those ties. Most of my kind would probably gladly see my head on a spike if they knew what I was looking to sign up. No, I howl alone. However..." asserted Ragenard as he shifted his legs and leaned forward a fraction of an inch, "There are certain conditions to my help. Pack or no pack, my brother remains my brother, and our private affairs are exactly that. I will not meet him with the intent to do him harm under the Society's orders, nor will I cross arms with my former packmates. They might have cast me away, but that doesn't mean I will betray the bonds that I once shared with them. Should the Society have cause to meet them in battle, my help with be with neither, assuming the actions against them are justified" Ragenard said levelly as the rage within burned and burned.
Thaddeus needn't consider Ragenard's proposal for very long. His terms were fair, given what the Society attained upon their meeting. He smiled a warm, gentle smile only a man as world-weary as himself could manage. With his eyes meeting Ragenard's own, he spoke. "That will be all right, as far as I'm concerned. Welcome to the Ardelean Society, Ragenard." He looked over to Isaac, who was absorbed in his own, no doubt troubled, thoughts. Thaddeus sometimes felt that he was much too young to know the kind of burden that comes with loss, especially when the blame seemed to fall solely upon oneself. But then, he had to remind himself that such was their way of life, and that Isaac would never become his own man if he didn't experience all life had in store. Even if that same life held such horrendous catastrophe that Isaac had witnessed earlier.
Thaddeus returned his attention to Ragenard, his eyes growing more sincere and somewhat saddened. "Before you go, I just want to assure you that I would never go out of my way to do harm to you or yours. We do good here, even if the smell of blood on our hands doesn't always betray that decency." With that, he left Ragenard to do as he pleased, his mind trained on the possibility that Isaac would need council with him in private.
Knowing when to make his exit, Ragenard returned the man's smile as best as he was able, before pulling a piece of paper from one of his pockets and sliding it towards Thaddeus. "I have some errands to run in the city, that's my number to get a hold of me. I won't take up anymore of your time. Feel free to have one of your people call me if we need to make things official later, I expect there might be a fair bit of that to be done" said Ragenard as he stood up and shook hands with both men before leaving the office and catching surprised glances from the two slayers posted down the hallway.
"Oi, looks like we're to be best chums. Mind escorting me out of the grounds unshot?"