Azrael

Only Fools Walk Where Angels Fear To Tread

It was hard to tell, truly, whether Ludo was merely humouring the girl or he genuinely believed that amulet actually was something. Azrael eyeing it once more and yet no supernatural signature echoed from the metal. Whatever it was it was either useless, inactivated or simply failing to respond to any individual in this room. Those Nordic scriptures giving way only its age and origin and little else. Frankly the Hunter found he had near no interest in it at all, nor could he see why anyone was willing to kill for it. Chances were the rouge Hunter simply hadn't gotten a good look at it himself, he was merely chasing shadows- for want of a better word. Still, it was better that the other Hunter was looked in to, Azrael texting those orders at inhuman speed before ending out that report to the rest of the council. Only Kat failing to respond. Typical. She was probably with that useless boyfriend of hers. Azrael assured Kohl was potentially the worst excuse for a Hunter anyone had ever seen. Whoever had made the boy deserved to be arrested. His head shaking softly at those internal thoughts. Ravens sudden mention of that testimonial she had given a few months ago breaking his concentration, his golden eyes glancing upward now.

He remembered that report, just as he remembered the hearing Raven had been given to express her concern to the Council itself. For all their work in eliminating the supernatural races as best they could that was not to say they did not, sometimes, assist some of them in turn- when it suited them. Torturing any supernatural without due cause (or the proper council sanctions) was a crime amongst his own kind and its members. Azrael himself hardly denying the truth of Raven's story or those images he had seen and yet- he knew the woman well. He knew her near moral incapacity to lie. The woman was a bloody martyr most of the damn time and yet his vote was hardly enough to sway his Brothers and Sisters on the Council itself. The vast majority having had trouble believing her when it was her word against one of their own- rouge or otherwise. The lack of testimony from Frost assuring Raven's argument lacked the weight it needed to be convincing. Frost the veritable proof the woman needed and one, he was quick to inform her, she would not get easily. That War Horse a veritable thorn in the side of anyone who dealt with him outside of Alexander himself. The pair of them bore watching. Raven's words seeing his gaze cut back to her once more, eyes narrowed slightly as he struggled again to keep his temper in check. Raven prattling on as if she kenw how the Council truly worked.

"It may surprise you to know Raven, but our relationship with your kind is not high on our priority list. As I said, I believed you, so did others- but not enough. The Council did not vote in your favour. Several members believe your visons to be merely low level illusion magic. Frost's lack of testimony makes yours appear even more dubious. You were lucky to even get a meeting."

One eye lifted upward as if near daring the woman to argue with him further. The Council had and always would be the governing body of Hunter kind and yet Hunters were created for a singular purpose. To keep the supernatural world in check, to keep humans safe and to eliminate those supernaturals that made problems of themselves. Assisting supernaturals, on occasion, was necessary and yet they did not make a habit of it. Azrael sighing softly once more.

"I will do what I can, alright?"

Without Frost there was little else that could or would be done. Azrael hardly wishing to push for her cause less he be branded some sort of sympathizer. Quite frankly the man also hardly cared enough to worry about justice for one specific Were. He would find that rouge Hunter all the same. Raven taking a sip of her drink before asking who the Hunter was that owned Frost. Azrael affording her a near dubious look.

"That's classified and hardly your business all the same. If I remember correctly Frost nearly murdered you and he murdered your Alpha. You'd do well to stay away from him, I'm not patching you up again."

His attention shifted away from the woman almost dismissively. Leaving Raven to ponder her own thoughts, the man far more intrigued with Ludo in that moment. New Hunter's in this part of the city were rare. Italian ones even more so, Azrael unable to deny his curiosity of the fellow in any sense as he regarded him. The blonde making mention of that city he had visited himself all those years ago, Turin had been an excellent city and one he'd almost found himself enjoying- in as much as Azrael ever enjoyed anything. Ludo so readily seeming to confirm that he knew it before mentioning he himself was from Naples. Azrael allowing one eye to lift slightly. Had he anything to with Dorian then? Perhaps he'd been sent here as some sort of Guard for the Italian King. Azrael considering the idea as Ludo continued, querying him on the Hunter, his own head shaking.

"No. Most Hunter's in this city work for the Council, there are some that don't, they prefer to hunt alone for god knows what reason but for the most part they rarely go wild like this. They make their kills and move on usually. This fellow is an anomaly."

And he was damn well thankful for that too. He hardly had the time or patience for more than one of these fools at a time. His gaze shifting then to follow the man's own to eye that almost nervous wait staff whom continued to watch him, and even Ludo, out of the corner of their eyes. His own shoulders shrugging again lightly.

"Most supernaturals in this city are wary of us and will give you a wide berth. They can sense what we are as we can sense them. As for being appreciated it depends who you talk to. Humans call us day and night to come and help them out, a few supernatural businesses like us around when they run events and things. Some hate us because we probably murdered a relative of theirs along the way. Depends on the individual. If they haven't committed any crimes then frankly I'm not interested in them."

That was true enough, Azrael hardly having the time to worry about every supernatural in the city. The man content to ignore most of them other than those that showed up on his files. That assurance that Az was a good nickname prompting something that might have almost been a smile to the mans lips, his head nodding at that assertion Ludo or Lud would suit the other man well. Azrael querying him then on his own reasons for being in the city. After all, any new Hunters in his part of town were always an interest. That comment upon his Mother's seeking Azrael's lip quirk in amusement.

"I can't argue with that. Benito's on Third is good, there are a few others but you won't find them very authentic. You're not a part of the Aragona security detail then?"

He queried, that near blank look on the other man's face surely giving him that answer. Either Ludo had no idea what he was talking about or the man had managed to ignore every newspaper, magazine, tv headline and news article over the past month that had gone on about Italy, Naples and the upcoming wedding of its Monarch in February the next year. It was all ridiculous as far as he was concerned. Azrael largely oblivious to how close Raven herself was with that aforementioned King.

"The King of Italy is in town at the moment. I thought you might be here as part of his security. The village is nice though, it's quiet, you chose a good spot."

It had a lower supernatural presence then some all the same. How 'sensitive' Ludo was to their presence remained to be seen and yet he should be left in relative peace over on that side of town. The man watching as the fellow made an effort to help Raven clean that amulet before the mention of the council saw his own head shake lightly as he lent on the bar.

"In a way. I sit on the Council itself. Other Hunters work for me and the rest of the Council. I answer to the Head of the Council only. Myself and one other are the Council representatives for this area. If you're ever interested in working for us let me know. You have to pass a test- but we're always looking for people with talent."

That comment towards Raven and her place on that council prompting a near snort from Azrael in turn. Raven herself moving to correct the man as Azrael merely nodded in agreement.

"The Council employs Hunter's alone. The Mounted Division works with WereHorses but that is our only true affiliation with Supernatural species."

Azrael unwilling to admit his own relationship with a certain witch. The Council at large oblivious off his dating life and he saw little need to make them aware. Not when Sera's safety depended on it.

"Raven and I share some mutual friends, we met that way. She's alright- for a Werewolf."

There was something near akin to a tease in those words, almost.

"What are your plans while you're here then, Ludo?"