So you wanna be a Vampire Representative? OTA

[emotioneater]

A. What Do Vampires Do Best?

So, Cooper had won the seat on the Night Council. He had to admit that he wasn't sure that he was going to win the election. The competition had been fierce. But apparently the vampires of London had their heads screwed on straight. When he found out the news, he immediately let out a whoop and holler. Then he remembered that he was now a representative and now had to act with more decorum. He'd accepted the position gratefully.

So how to celebrate? Well, there was the traditional vampire method. He was throwing a party in his apartment, which let's face it, was spacious enough for about three parties going on at once. Everyone was invited. Yes, everyone, even those from factions the Nest was in conflict with, or those people that Cooper didn't particularly personally care for. He wanted it to be known he wasn't just exclusively about vampires and was willing to work with other supernatural types for the greater good. It was as good a time as any to approach with any issues other vampires may have wanted him to approach the Council about.

While he is his usual cheerful self as he goes around greeting everyone, those who know Cooper well will notice that he seems a bit distracted. Lately, he's been picking up on the emotions of those around him. It's not entirely a surprise. These things sometimes happen to vampires when they sire a certain number of vampires, or in Cooper's case, reach a certain age. However, suddenly developing empathic powers can be hard to adjust to. Knowing when everyone's lying, feeling sad, or suddenly horny is not the best thing in the world.

B. With Great Power...

Despite his usual irreverent personality, Cooper is taking his duties seriously. Now they're double-fold thanks to being both a Marquess and the Representative. Only one thing to do when he's got a list of vampires who all want to talk to him about their grievances. Out comes the motorcycle and off into London he goes. First up was the lawyer who specialized in keeping vampires out of trouble. Getting some of them to obey the laws of London and actually serve their sentences when they were caught by mortal police was a pain. Occasionally, calling in for back-up in the form of the Marquess was required.

He went along his day, checking in on one of his favorite blood donors to make sure she wasn't being taken advantage of by the older vampires in the nest. After talking to Shady Heavens, the infamous drag queen and her tally of grievances that ran sky high, Cooper decided he needed a break. Stopping at a fish 'n chips place, he was perched on his motorcycle, gnawing away at his lunch, and occasionally drinking from a flask of blood at his hip. He was bracing himself against the brushes of emotions he kept feeling from different passerby. Oh, he would be so glad when he got this new gift under control.

C. Wildcard!

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Comments

[falsify]

Delilah tilts her head thoughtfully and takes his hand with a soft spoken "Delilah" as introduction. There's a little bit of anxiety in her, not at this but being here with so many vampires, but he's right to assume she keeps her feelings locked down tight. They're a liability.

There's a thread of curiosity though, one that's strengthened by glancing out at the party and then back at Cooper, "quite the assortment of guests for a vampire in your position."

[emotioneater]

Without being able to sense too much, Cooper's able to relax, and give her his full attention. "What can I say? I've got a lot of friends 'n know a lot of people." He glances out at the party. It's true there's all sorts mingling and even getting along in a superficial manner, though that's also due to the fact Cooper made it clear he'd toss anyone out in a publicly humiliating manner if they disrupted his day in the spotlight.

"But that's part of the problem with the Nest. We're too isolated. Everythin' looks like food to most of 'em and nobody's willing to get down on the level of everyone else." Hence the open invitation. Disregarding his own feelings on certain people here fae, he wanted it to be known that he's willing to work and play nice with others.

[falsify]

"A real change in regime, hm?" She's suspicious, of course, and it colours her tone. Not outright accusing Cooper of having some ulterior motive, but it's politics. Where most politicians are concerned, friendship is shorthand for another connection to exploit until it's not useful anymore.

She takes a sip of her wine, studying Cooper's face for a moment before she continues. "Between you and the new Duke, it seems like Islington is much more interested in making friends than before." Which seems like nonsense, but maybe he's genuine. She'll only get an idea either way by talking to him.

[emotioneater]

"That's the problem that the Nest's had for a couple of years. Having first one tyrant in charge 'n then another just let it become stagnated. They needed new blood to keep things in line, but were unwillin' t'share power. They paid the price for it." Cooper, as everyone kept reminding him, was young for a vampire. While some saw it as a weakness, he saw it as an opportunity to keep the Nest from collapsing under its own weight again.

It seemed like she was interested in talking politics, so Cooper continued. It was a relief not to have to guard his tongue carefully anymore for fear that someone would overhear and report it back to the head of the Nest. "Yeah, well, the last feller in charge tried goin' it solo. Worked out so well for Harris in the end. Vampires have done a lot t'alienate folks. Me? I'm looking to repair some of that reputation so many of them seemed eager to throw away."

[falsify]

Delilah makes a soft noise that could easily be a laugh but for the way her lips don't even so much as twitch toward a smile, though Cooper likely could pick up the brief amusement she feels at the mention of previous leaders. And something darker, negative to the point it could easily be taken as intent were the people in question still alive.

Outwardly there's no real change in her, her eyes flick down to her glass in apparent thought before she looks back up to meet Cooper's eyes. "That's going to be hard work. Especially with the werewolves."

And the fae, but who cares about them right?

[emotioneater]

Cooper senses all of that brewing under her surface and wonders just what's going on behind that pretty face of her's. He's not a mind-reader, so he can only guess at how her emotions fit into the words he's been saying. There's a storm going on inside of her. Strange that someone apparently invested in the politics of the Nest is someone he's never met before.

Then he lays out one of his strategies. "It's easier, I've found, t'work on individuals then the group as a whole. It makes for slower going, but in the end, get enough of 'em on your side, and the few can become the majority." Vampires had nothing but time on their hands. While he could be impetuous, he knew how to play the game for a long haul.

[falsify]

Huh. So he's really not as dumb as all that. She nods in apparent approval for this plan, "building that trust bit by bit," she says thoughtfully. It's smart, but it's only a good idea if it works, something she brings up with a bit of a frown. "What if you don't have the seat long enough to see that through?"

Sure, Millicent basically had a stranglehold on it, but things were tumultuous under Harris and other seats have seen quite the turnover in recent years. He could just as easily keep his place for the next decade as lose it within the next month.

[emotioneater]

That's how Cooper had gotten where he was: playing the idiot teenager card while plotting his own ascension. It had worked well thus far, but he needed now to shed that image if anyone was to take him seriously. His smile goes a little brittle when she points out the obvious shortcomings and his eyes get a hard glint. No way is he giving up his power that easily.

"Then I have to make sure whichever incompetent booby that replaces me has as much sense as I do." Assuming he was still alive when that happened. There was always the chance for a bloody turnover to happen again. But not likely. The vampires seemed to have had enough of violence for a while. Cooper planned to keep it that way.

[falsify]

Ooh, and he's got claws. Someone's intent to dig in to this position and keep it close, fiercely so. Who would've guessed the little man had such aspirations of power? But then, that likely worked in his favour.

"Well then," she says, a light nod of her head. "Good luck, Mr. Cooper."

[emotioneater]

"Thank you. I hope t'see you around at more of these gatherings." What can he say. She's an attractive woman and intelligent enough to make it worth his while to talk to her. That's a deadly combination. Fortunately, he's already head over heels for Nancy, but that doesn't mean he still can't look.