Well Let's see now: 07/07/07

One thing I really enjoy about actual magic as opposed to role playing and willful fantasy (and hey don’t get me wrong these things do have their place and uses!!) is that when you actually do something, (as opposed to simply thinking or fantasizing – again they have their places too) it has real effects.

You can say something aloud and there will be a subtle warping of the situation. Almost like a momentary loss of balance or train of thought. The next thing you know, (and yes it will be within days literally!) there is some sort of echo. I don’t mean as in “a little old lady who?” I mean as in the “fancy Dan” sonar sound effects one gets in movies.

Within a short space of time, there will be a “bounce back”, quite often from a completely unknown source.

Consider this one.

When I typed out all of that last drabness, I wondered what effects it might have. I wondered if it would affect the relationships I have with either Bills, Rhys etc (all of which I get on rather well with as it happens these days!) I also wondered about the last bit regarding the fracas a while back. I thought, “Hmm – perhaps times have changed and perhaps he no longer lords it up that he was the one who “saw to” Danny. “Perhaps he will not be pleased” and so on. You know the general sorts of things one thinks when they spend a long time typing about things that happened long ago. I suppose it goes double if those things were of an unpleasant nature.

I had a visit just today from someone totally unrelated to any of the aforementioned. They went on, as part of conversation, totally unprovoked to relate to me the fact that they had recently heard about how my wife and I got together.

Now I always find stories about me amusing – and that word is key here.

So anyhow, I listened and found myself laughing out loud. Not simply because of the ludicrous nature of the story or the background, (yes they were happy to supply the background details for me) but further because it was the perfect “bounce back” for the last posts. They totally rinsed me clean of the fabulous “post catharsis” vibe I had. While it was lovely to relax in … you have to get out of bed eventually ….

Do you know that apparently I got together with Santina on account of her getting the crap beaten out of her by Dave? Oh my sides …. I imagine this is something of a cherished fantasy for some .. like watching me fall down thirty or so flights of stairs.

Now for some reality – as usual this may not appeal to some.

The fact is that Santina and I got together a tad earlier than most know. It had quite a bit to do with the line to which we both belong and mebbe one day I'll tell some of that story too - but not today.

Another fact is that this story is just plain old crap that should perhaps, be best stored under a quote from one of my old students: “Oh let me guess … he says: ‘Oyl Keel yuz awll!” Geezuz if his fantasies were anywhere even close to the truth then there’d be no one left alive in the Southern Hemisphere!”

The simple fact of the matter is that there is a standing myth that anyone who “leaves the employ”, (shall we say) gets beaten up or killed. This of course is compounded by the fact that those who no longer feel that they have to put up with the sort of foolishness involved rarely have anything to do with him or anyone he knows again. *Shrugs*

Were it not so very ordinary it might be amusing.

Here is a run down on some things not widely known..

Santina was by far the most skilled and promising of his group – frankly outshining him. This is why she basically organized the whole damn group. It really did not take her long to note that he was simply “hoovering up” what we “left out on the sill” for him, (as it were) and tinkering with it so he could present it as his secret hidden knowledge. It therefore did not take her long to note that when she asked questions of the information, he could not answer them but we could. The resultant “math” was not hard for her to riddle out.

Hell consider the fact that at one stage he range me up to ask what he had to do to achieve the level I used as a title at the time, (“Magister Templi”) when he had ripped a lot of the stuff he passed on to his “students” from Crowley texts! Nonplussed I told him, (as my station was bound to do!) what to do, (in a willfully truncated and incorrect fashion as per my own agenda) noted that he did NOT even do THAT and then started signing himself with the same title. This is I am afraid typical of the time we interacted with him.

At her request, (and his ok!) we provided information that she read better and assimilated quicker than he. This same information verified what she already suspected. She started to note the agenda we were carrying out. Eventually a mix of this and the usual crap standards forced her to rebel and she left the group.

From that point onwards that group became largely aimless and frankly so much easier to direct.

She was of course subject to the usual rubbish threats and so on against her, her family, anyone she knew blah blah blah …. So she came to us. Needless to say, nothing happened to anyone.

We made it clear to her what we had been doing and why. We made it clear what we were doing and why. Frankly she was shocked and not a little embarrassed that she had not been more aware than she was. We simply said that if she had – then we would have been in trouble. In the simplest sense as she was the most aware and clever of the group she had belonged to – she was the benchmark. If she did not see our hand then the others would not.

Some time after this there was a minor incident where this fellow attempted to exercise authority he thought he had over us and discovered the situation to be quite the contrary. He delivered a letter to me in full view of everyone which I read, shrugged and continued on with my drink after a brief chuckle. No terrified reaction - no begging for mercy ... just a smirk and a shake of the head. He was given his response not long thereafter which was the last we saw of him.

On that day another of his old students was pressed into service to get him to us, (he had no way of getting to our house) and was treated to the shock of seeing me tell him that I would speak with him when *I* saw fit. By the look on her face, I assume that she had never seen anyone dismiss him in such a manner before this.

After this, I saw him several times out in public and in every one he has either had nothing at all to say or pointedly avoided me all together. Once he even ran to a phone to call, (one would presume) the several of his hangers-on that turned up presently. I cannot imagine how I would present such a threat to someone who routinely claims to have hundreds of students and such ruthlessly efficient methods of suppressing any dissent anywhere at any time and other equally patently absurd claims. Ho hum.

He has seen my wife several times in public and at her work and each time she has dismissed him with a sneer and a well placed: “Whatever – Piss off idiot”.

The fact remains that the whole time I have known him, I have treated him like a snake crossed with the average high school bully. They, like everything else have their place and uses after all and at the time I knew of at least one each that he suited admirably. Let me say that in that area he worked well, mainly efficiently and competantly.

Any snake can be dangerous if you do not handle them correctly, do silly things with them or underestimate them. One needs to know how to handle them carefully, what to and what NOT to do with them and never take one’s eyes off them. Given a split second of ignorance or inattention they can strike and do you damage.

It is also however, a fact that they are very fragile creatures in their own way. They are entirely rib cage and so are very prone to internal damage if one squeezes them just right. After this they are never quite right again.

I should imagine that all of this, which may be doubted by some may be made clear by the following. The fact remains that much of the stories that fly about are every bit as fanciful as the telling and the teller. The only reason this should be considered more likely is because it makes, sense and has the virtue of substantiation.

Don’t believe it – do the math.

Now here is the response that was delivered to him. I imagine it was never widely circulated.

Inter-House Memorandum Friday, July 23, 1999.

David of House Black Rose;

I received your missive (Dated 22/7/99) last night and have considered it's contents.

To begin with, the full quote that you refer to is as thus:

" When passing information to outsiders,
Give it to their Elders first.
To give it to their students is a form of insult.

If you hide information you are responsible for the results. if you forget to say something, it's better to say so then hide it."

To which can equally be referred to the earlier paragraph :

" Information may bear fruit in time.

You do not have to pass information outside the house."

You then continue to ask:

"Q: If our houses are to be kept aligned, how come you did not report to me that you had contact with one of my x-students?

A: 1. Because what I do with my own time "off duty" (so to speak) is my business and not even my own House has the right to demand "why's and wherefore's" thereof. Should I choose to spend time with Santina (or anyone else for that matter) - and state at that time that I am "off duty" specifically then it means just that. In such an instance it remains my prerogative as to whether or not I decide to tell anyone.

2. Because you had made it quite clear both in our private talk whereby you appraised me of the situation (and a heavily edited and somewhat selective version it was) and later in your open conversation that she was of no consequence to you. I refer to your words directly "Doyan - she is dead weight - she is past, gone". These are not the words of someone who is concerned with another's progress or lack thereof. You also; I might point out, made it quite clear that it was a sensitive topic that you were disinclined to discuss. As such, we refrained from labouring the topic.

3. As it was your request to us that we tested each and every one of your students. As it was you who made this statement openly we decided that this would be a unique opportunity to do so - as they would be unsuspecting of such an action. In order to observe them as they are when unguarded; we decided not to inform you of such.

After all - you had already asked us to take this action - all we did was choose the time and place whereby we would be able to observe them "acting naturally" so to speak. This we did and collated the information that we received into a report that you will find appended at the end of this missive. As to why you did not get it earlier - you were by far too pre-occupied with other matters to be in any one place for long enough for it to be delivered properly. I will add to this that I find it distasteful that you thank us for our labour on the project you yourself set for us with threats and etc.

4. Because we realised that the percentile chance of the situation being one of the "secret tests" that you have a propensity for utilising upon us (which we find quite insulting by the way) was very high.

We took into account your statements on that issue as they pertained to us. I believe that it went something like "You want the Cainites? You can have them!" (Highly derogatory that - it may interest you to note that we do not disrespect you or your position - whether you are present or not).

Actually - while we are on this topic …. two things should be bought to your attention :

A) I am not a "Cainite". "Cainite" is a term that is used in the White Wolf Roleplaying Game for a specific sub set of "Vampire Clans" - none of which are encompassing enough to describe us at all.

This game system is a metaphor at best. It is not fact and is wildly inaccurate in many ways. To refer to someone as a "Cainite" or any other Clan name or affiliate in our society is very insulting as it implies that you do not take that person seriously and suggest that you are more at home within a role playing game.

I have so far up until now not corrected you in this as I had no wish to contradict you in front of your people. I have no wish to cause you embarrassment - but I simply cannot have you labouring under a false impression of me.

When you first said this I treated it as a joke - I thought you were being witty. Of late it has become glaringly obvious that you were serious and consider it in some way a factual and acceptable way of reference to others. Let me, therefore correct you privately - that way embarrassments need not occur.

To do this repeatedly is to show a great lack of respect for the individual being conversed with.

B) Santina did NOT leave your House because of a wish to join ours. NOR was it due to some sort of clandestine offer made by us! This is a falsehood. In future I suggest you observe more closely the sources that you use in your decision making process. In this instance, it is known to both you AND us that the information you acted on in that situation was the fabrication of a jealous woman who had not the skills to understand the world she found herself in.

The fact of the matter is that she, (both before and after her departure) has remained surprisingly loyal to you. In fact, she has proven to be the most loyal, efficient and capable of your number - but that will be addressed later in the report.

To return to the point at hand however; also at this time we were aware of the fact that you had recently "stepped up" your political manoeuvring (plans as to how to undo our house if we became a "problem" & etc.). At this stage I should also like to point out that it was not Santina who told us - as a point of fact we told HER. She was quite horrified to realise how much we knew! We told her that it is standard procedure to implement such plans when dealing with another House - and that at that time it in no way surprised us. As to how we knew - I reiterate a statement I have made often - the present and future are known to us - it is one of the few things we do well. As such, it is rare that any plan to limit out progress or effectiveness is not at least generally known to us well in advance.

It is for this reason primarily that at that time we did not take offence to your lessening of trust in us - or your movements to curtail our progress in certain areas. We did decide, however, that all of this being taken into account - the percentile chance of that situation being a contrivance on behalf of your house was high. So we treated it as such and set about utilising it as the perfect excuse to observe your people in action - and write up our findings. We had (it appears wrongly) assumed that you would consider this an obvious statement of our trust in your house and accept the findings thereof in the constructive spirit that they were made.

5. All of the above being taken into account we felt that it was by far the most prudent and efficient choice to merely get on with our work. In this way you would see that we were uninterested in engaging in any intrigue. That we have merely gotten on with the job in hand. As to why you were not given progress reports? Our gathering and collating of information was not complete - as such we had nothing yet to tell you.

"You went to the movies, and talked, but you never that insudent (sic) to me. I had to find out through my connections. "

I go to the movies with many people that have something to do with the art - I also have many conversations with the same - I also don't tell you about that because it has no bearing on you.

If you wish to know - we went to see "The Spy who shagged me" - and the "top secret" information of the night was that she ate pop corn and laughed a great deal. When we talked, (and it may surprise you to know this) it was not about you or anything to do with you. I have a wide range of interests and businesses and a wide range of associates to match. When the information discussed has a bearing on you or your house - or it could affect you - I tell you … when it doesn't - I don't.

We are well appraised to the fact that Santina told you this - we encouraged her to do so! As for the later admissions of your students on that score … well we did not hide it then and do not deny it now - why should we? You see - we proceeded in good faith - and as such were free of suspicion. If you consider it some sort of conspiracy then I am afraid that once again I will have to disappoint you. We are far too busy with our own business to waste time on such frivolities as making trouble for no reason.

As for the insult:

"That only proves that you and/or your House cannot be trusted"

All I can say is "Evil comes to those who look for it". If you have found a conspiracy - it is because you were conspiring - and looking for us to do the same. We will NOT oblige you in this. We have ALWAYS stood by and done the right thing by you. This we are not about to change now - not even at your request.

Even when others doubted - we did not. When others left or fled - we stood firm and vouched for you. When you suspected us - we made ourselves clear. When you have insulted us - we ignored it. When you took steps to curtail our progress - we considered it business as usual. When you point blank lied to us about certain things - we considered that "you must have your reasons - and as such we will let it slide and trust that you know your own affairs best". When you had problems - we helped. When you needed info to further your progress - we supplied you with the best tools at our disposal.

In all ways at all times we have been indulgent where you are concerned; at all times we have obliged you - we have ALWAYS "done right" by you. The only thing that we will NOT oblige you in is this.

We will NOT engage in unprovoked trivial rivalry - it is pointless and anti evolutionary!

If you have suspicions - feel free to address them to us - and we will allay your fears - we have NOTHING to hide. If your female has something to say in addition - let her do the same. Her suspicion of us has been quite insulting. We have allowed her into our house and been polite even though she is patently NOT like us - and then in return have been thanked by her furtive and disdainful looks and thoughts (which she obviously thinks are hidden.) It is this sort of thing that is most insulting; I do not know what sort of people she used to dealing with but these attitudes are not pleasing to us.

All of this we have already considered and forgiven.

Now; in addition to all of the above … we do the work that YOU asked us to do and we do it well. In return you suspect, insult and threaten us! I ask you - how am I supposed to respond to this?
"Punishments will be severe if not told information from now on, and House rules will be null and void."

I think I have made it quite clear where, in the past, you have already shown that you have considered our House rules quite null and void. Furthermore, I have shown a restraint that goes above and beyond the friendship that I have in the past thought we shared. Obviously I was mistaken and I have only myself to blame.

You may feel free to disassociate yourself from our presence if that is your wish. We will continue to show the support and etc. that we have in the past - because we gave our word that we would. I am afraid that your threats have not had the effect you intended - I am not terrified into submission - I am merely upset that you hold me in such low esteem that you approach me in such a manner.

Where I come from - we treat each other with respect and do not attack those that we care about. Old fashioned notions to be sure but they are HOW I LIVE and I am not about to change.

You wish, after all the good we have done to treat me in this fashion? Feel free - but do not expect me to put up with it - I will merely withdraw to somewhere where my aid and friendship is appreciated.

It does not frighten me that you act in this way - it merely saddens me that after all we have done that you could take such insubstantial suspicions and decide that they are worth more than the word of our own.

You have asked for my response and I do now in this manner tender it on this day (Friday 23rd of July, 1999) to be filed until it may be cited by the aforementioned David of the Order of the Black Rose.

PROGRESS REPORT ON MEMBERS

It shall be said herewith that as this is a work that has been requested by David of Black Rose House in 1999; it is hereby presented in brief for the edification of the same. It is what was an intended - a completely dispassionate and objective summation of the level of progress of each of the individuals.

It does not, in any way reflect any kind of subjective approach (as in: "What do I think of them personally?") and is intended as a suggestive summation in order to give a clear and precise idea to the teacher of aforementioned House as to where we would concentrate our attentions were they of our nature.

It will be noted that we do not include the present teacher of that House - as such is not appropriate. We also do not include any suggestion or summation with regards to his female as we do not consider this appropriate either. It will be further noted that the operative "Santina" is included herein and this is due to the fact that when we begun our preliminary assessments she was a part of that House being assessed. In addition, since her severance it has been suggested by many that she has been duplicitous and that her work has therefore in some way "fallen" - we disagree and thereby in accordance with standard report procedure include the summation and conclusions regarding her that we came to.

Narcisse of House Astaroth

Christian - Could go far but requires much work. Physically, he is adequate but still requires much work in the areas of body language, balance and precision. Mentally he has to become more serious and less of the "Yes Sir!" type. He needs his independence and should be drilled in this so that he attains the skills required to be able to function in a situation whereby there is no one to tell him what to do. As it stands (all this combined) - he is an adequate soldier who may be trusted as far as he has direct and specific orders - after that his actions are unpredictable at best.

Magically he needs much work in the areas of self assurance and defence. He thinks too loudly and is very easy to read. His observation and reasoning skills are above average and our recommendation is that he would serve excellently well as a court seer and/or covert operative.

"Bones" - Physically Bones is also adequate - more than so to be accurate. He requires more self discipline in this area however as he has the tendency on occasion to allow his passions to over-rule his better judgement. His presentation is always above average and this is a testament to his service in the armed forces. Will make and excellent leader of troops. As it stands (all this combined) - he is an adequate General of sorts and has slightly above ability to be trusted when not given specific orders. To a limited extent he may be trusted to take initiative in short term projects of medium importance.

Magically he needs quite a bit of work and must learn to control the amount of information that his eyes betray. His defences are above average and are really only let down by this problem. As he is not meant (in the usual sense) for the magical arts but rather finds his forte in the physical arts this is really all that needs to be perfected for him to be able to take his place as before mentioned.

Santina - Santina is included here as the situation demands that she be included for the edification of yourself. She requires work in the area of physical discipline but has already learned that as she is female this can be covered by the use of feminine charm. As it stands she could be trusted to do what is best for the situation - even when not supervised. This is shown in the fact that even when "cut loose" has still conducted herself with a level of competence and loyalty that is above what in most cases could be expected by one of her level.

Magically she is the most capable of the three. Although she still to this day sternly denies that she perhaps is more capable magically than physically it is quite obviously the case. Her defences and offences are good - though her offence needs to be honed.

-END REPORT-

Well now I think that about covers it.

I can't think of anything further at this point that needs adding.

Well Let's see now

Saturday, July 07, 2007

But now - something more pleasant

Confirmation - but no Streiber

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