Azrael

Only Fools Walk Where Angels Fear To Tread

That soft query from Ludo on whether or not he needed a moment to take those calls was met with a simple shake off his head, Azrael's fingers continuing to move at that supernatural speed across that screen. His affinity for that very thing exploited entirely in that moment purely for the ease of texting. The Hunter readily affording several sets of orders before tucking that phone away and back into his pocket. His golden gaze meeting the other mans now.

"No, it's fine, I have several teams working on it now."

Azrael entirely assured they would inevitably find nothing and yet so be it. For an hour or so at least he might get a little peace while the rest of the Council was busy. Raven's surly response was met with one off his own. The Hunter hardly caring to inform her of that singular truth that despite whatever foolish notions of happy ever after the silly girl dreamt off the council was not- and never would- be fixated with the business of Supernaturals beyond keeping that order between them and human kind. It was...unfortunate that Raven had fallen victim to some lunatic Hunter- one acting outside their own jurisdiction and while Azrael himself believed the woman, if only because he hardly knew Raven to be a liar of any kind- the rest of the council had been unwilling to accept a testimony that had no proof whatsoever accept her word. Frost, whom had so apparently suffered with her, had made no such claims- only further casting her story into doubt and frankly Azrael could see exactly why the Council was reluctant to believe her. The amount of lies they were told day in and day out by him and her and so and so was ridiculous. There was no proof of her claims and without it the woman would get nowhere. Azrael at last managing that sigh of sorts before assuring her he would work on it- and he would- even if that look she gave him assured him she hardly believed him. Didn't she know he couldn't lie? He never had been able too. Azrael refusing to afford her that information on Frost all the same if only because he hardly needed the girl going out and looking for the sort of trouble that followed Frost around like a fucking rain cloud. EVen despite himself he hardly wanted Raven to die. She didn't deserve that, even if he refused to admit it. Raven muttering some nonsense about the definition of murder then.

"Yes, Raven, if someone is killed by someone else, whether they come back to life or not- they were murdered and don't be stupid- you have to do a lot worse than you've done to get into hell. Believe me. Your only ranked a two on our scale."

His hand waved dismissively once more, as if that alone explained everything, Azrael content to drop that entire conversation before it could delve off into any notion of religion or the meaning of life or anything equally as deplorable a topic for the evening. His attention shifting once more to Ludo then as the man inquired after the Council and its specifics. Azrael content to regard his fellow Hunter with a little more patience and degree of civility then Raven, at least in that moment, his arms folding across his chest as he leant back against the edge of the bar.

"The Council I am speaking off is the High Council that governs all countries, it is that Council I sit on. I am merely based here in this city with a small number of other representatives. Most cities have a few higher ranking Hunters watching over them who report back to us but this city is something of a hotspot that requires a more physical Council presence."

He paused once more, affording the other man that chance to ask any further questions on the matter, Azrael further explaining his own belief, in a sense he supposed. The Hunter simply assuring his companion that, really, unless those supernatural beings of the city were guilty of some crime he was hardly concerned with them. Even if they avoided him like the plague. Azrael rarely prone to the sort of senseless, foolish killing he had known their kind to fall too. His short temper and a battering of words the most damage he normally did to another. Yet, for some Hunters that...prey-drive of sorts could be hard to turn off. Still, even despite his distinct dislike of most supernatural beings he saw little need to waste their lives- unless they deserved it. His gaze meeting Ludo's own as he commented his own appreciation of that sentiment and the situation in Italy with those Hunter's being hired privately to 'take care' of personal matters. Azrael sighing once more.

"It is one of the reasons why we try to encourage as many Hunters into the Council ranks as we can. It lessens the amount of....sellswords if you will. Yet fast money will always lure men, no matter how dirty it is. We have no control over Hunter's who choose to go rogue or Hunt alone. No being forfeits his right to live- until he forfeits the life of another without cause. Supernatural or Hunter. We aim to stop them when we can. We are short of numbers though. We lose more men then we create each year."

His own shoulders shrugged again and yet he was sure he hardly had to explain to Ludo just why that was. Creating Hunter's was simply....not easy. Few Hunter's were willing to do it. Even he himself had never created another, Azrael unwilling to....damn another to that life and yet Ludo spoke readily off his Father. Was that man a Hunter too? Had he changed his son when he came of age? Ludo hardly appearing to resent what he was. Willing transformations decidedly rare. Unless Ludo alone had been made a Hunter by another outside his family. Perhaps he would have to ask. It was that mans connection to Italy however, that occupied his thoughts first. Azrael asking after his connection to the Italian Crown. After all, Italy's very King himself was in town. Ludo, however, was quick to dispel the idea of any connection between his countryman and himself. Such business too aristocratic for the man. Azrael unable to prevent that quirk off his own lip.

"You and me both. The sooner this wedding is over the better. Thank god it's in Naples and not here. Let the Italian branch of the Council worry about it."

A royal wedding was more paperwork than Azrael cared to consider. Raven suddenly chiming in then that she herself knew this King and his fiance both. The Hunter's eyes lifting slightly in surprise and some small shred of disbelief that someone like Raven might know, well, royalty. The woman lived on a cargo ship with a deviant for a fiance and an Alpha Azrael was mostly sure was trafficking drugs or cars or something and yet was damn near impossible to pin down. These not at all the sorts of people who generally associated with a royal family.

"Sure, Raven."

That dubiousness to his voice was distinctly clear and yet, for now, Azrael saw little need to press the matter further. In the end, really, it hardly mattered whether she did or didn't rub shoulders with royalty he supposed. Still- the idea of it was baffling at best. The man dismissing it then to focus back upon Ludo, extending that offer to join those who worked for the Council. The other hunter gracious in declining that offer with assurance he worked for his Father.

"If you ever change your mind, let me know. Is your Father a Hunter too?"

He queried softly, Azrael intrigued in just what this man's Father truly did before Ludo asked after the Council's relationship with any species outside Hunters. Azrael quick to assure him of the truth of that matter that any relationship with any other supernatural creatures was decidedly limited. The War Horse breeding program it's longest running, continual operation to supply that mounted division with the Werehorses they needed and yet that was very much a confidential operation too. Especially now that Alexander was in talks to take over it. Raven once more chiming as Azrael sighed again, the man firmly holding his temper once more despite the woman's clear efforts to irritate him.

"And those programs largely failed too. If you have a suggestion feel free to fill out a form."

Those words were a little terse. Azrael scowling at her now as if that look alone was enough to inform her he was done entertaining her petty arguments. The hunter far more intrigued by his companion all the same as Ludo admitted the city's use a place to enjoy his bachelor days. Az chuckling softly then at that simple tease.

"You're not wrong there. Glad you found somewhere you might want to say though, as I said, for the most part, this city is alright. You'll find your feet."

That sudden query as to his own plans saw that look of surprise find his features then. Azrael so rarely ever asked about anything he did outside of work, let alone plans, that the question readily saw him thrown off guard.

"I was transferred here for work, I'll be here as long as they need me and then I'll be on my way again I suppose. I never really stay in one place to long. I met someone though so, who knows, maybe that will change."

He saw little need to go in to any detail on that 'someone'. Azrael hardly having considered exactly what he was going to do if he needed to move again. Hell, he'd work that out when he came to it. Maybe Sera would want to go with him? What if she didn't? Could he live in this city the rest of his life? He supposed so, really, it wasn't that bad. Raven's plans apparently not exceeding beyond wanting to just....live. How exciting that must be for her. The Hunter turning to her suddenly.

"Hey, while your here, what do you want for a wedding gift? Either you register something and email it to me or your getting a gravy boat. I hate shopping."

Azrael oblivious in that moment to how decidedly confusing that odd relationship must surely appear to Ludo. The dislike the pair held for one another surely as clear as that begrudging layer of respect. That sudden buzz of his phone again seeing the man glance down at that screen with another frown.

"I'm going to have to head out again. Either of you want a lift anywhere? Car's not to far from here and here, Ludo, this is my number, you ever get in trouble or need a hand let me know."