(1102) Red & White Court

[Martha Villiers]

Martha watched the arrivals. Stared again at Jillian's legs for a moment. Uncertain why she didn't think of it before, she decided she should be greeting people at the door and heads over to the entrance...nodding very respectful greetings to those just arrived, and voicing a cheery 'Good evening, Heirophant!" to Dirge.

Martha has a small and excited bounce in her limping step, almost a skipping sort of gesture, as she made her way to a position to meet and greet the attendees. A happy and sincere smile in place.

[Max Heinz]

Alice was completely oblivious to what the shadow felt inside. She put out her hand, more in the way to receive a kiss. What else could she wish for? 'Ms Brown, Alice Brown. A pleasure to meet you deputy Heinz.'

Neither did Alice notice the man shadowing her, she was too much focused on Max. A small second she hesitated what to say. She still felt somewhat alone without her sister, and without Jeremy. Damn, why did the asshole dump me! Sadness, anger and a lost love. Too much in her head, and a split-second the emotions crossed her face, but then she put her poker-face on again. She added a little smile and asked simply what she wanted to know, because that was her nature. As a vampire she was raised by an Acolyte, or actually, without any courtesy. 'I hope I'm not interrupting any... business?' There were enough things this... shadow? Yes shadow could do here standing against a wall. Max might just be the deputy in charge tonight.

*He takes the hand, giving it a soft kiss before releasing it. He wasn't usually one for such gestures, but the woman had seemed to invite it; and it never hurt to fawn over someone your first meeting. You usually left a better first impression...*

Well, Ms Brown, Alice Brown; I hope the evening finds you well. I haven't seen you at any of the usual social functions before, are you a recent arrival to the city? *Max keeps the easy going grin on his face as he digs for a little more information on the woman; if she was new he would have to make sure he guided her to the Seneshal or some other leader before the night was out.*

*The sly grin, the soft mannerisms threaten to fall away the instant the woman's mask breaks down, the look one Max had seen before in the eyes and face of another. His own demeanor never waivers as the thin Mekhet keeps control of himself, but barely. The question provides a convenient excuse to turn away from the woman, Max scanning the quickly filling club.*

Oh no, not at all. I'm simply the first to arrive, thought I would get out of everyone's way until I'm needed. One of the downsides of the job: You're never needed until things start to go wrong...

[Dean]

Anton gave Heinz a knowing look as he lurked, brushing a black speck from his sleeve. He didn't know Max, but to look at him put him in mind of a twist of reeds wrapped in unhealthy skin.

Anton began to consider the significance of the white dress code and the role costumes played in their Requiems. The Damned were disingenuous things, but that was all part of the Plan, the Second Canon. These layers of disguise were essential. Pragmatism aside, God wanted man to hate and fear the very world around them, not the Damned things which made the world that way.

Besides - people hated and feared what they didn't understand. With this in mind, Anton decided that man should never be allowed to understand.

The Haunt glanced at his watch, wondering when Staley would arrive. The new arrival needed to be brought to his attention, and a meeting of the Sanctified seemed long overdue.

[Yog-Sothoth]

Hearing her name being called out, Dirge came to a stop and turned to to face the person calling out to her. She approached Martha and inclined her head slightly.

Dirge couldn't remember ever actually having a conversation with the Keeper before. She found it a rather odd turn of events to start considering residents newcomers about a year and a half ago she remembered being in their position. In truth the title Hierophant sounded odd to her especially when she had seemed to gain it by default.

"Good evening Keeper Villiers. I hope that your evening is going well."

[Alice Brown]

'That is right, this is my first week in Sacramento. It is not always easy to find our secret society, but this particular club pulled my attention somehow.' Alice kept her pretty smiling face up while she endured the usual questions.

As Max scans the room, so does Alice. 'Everyone seems to adhere the theme, although I see someone in a bathrobe?' She chuckled. 'You know him? And I see a dog?' She raised her eyebrow. She had seen gatherings where animals had come, but mostly to turn into Kindred thereafter, was this woman blind? Now she was looking over the whole group of what were strangers for her, it was an opportunity to get to know more about everyone. Alice assumed a deputy knew the ones he should keep an eye on. She hoped he wouldn't mind to share his knowlegde, though it had more the level of gossip then real information.

[Dean]

Anton turned to Grigoriev. All that was visible of the crawling passages were a few ragged lines of ink visible past the cuff.

"How little notice they give," he muttered, voice deep and accented.

"And yet here you are, Pilgrim. White." Anton's delivery was deadpan, although the glint in his eye and the raised eyebrow betrayed some amusement.

[Heathcliff Staley]

It appears the ghost of Heathcliff Staley has found its way to the White Court, but on further examination, the Bishop is completely painted white, from his hair to the soles of his shoes. But whether Heathcliff is making a statement to Sacramento's Kindred by tipping a gallon of paint above his head over until empty, or whether the former Seneschal is progressively losing his mind, or perhaps some combination of both, the thin, serene smile on his face is not saying. Even if he is losing his mind, some semblance of survival instinct remains, as Heathcliff had waited until fully dry before getting into his car and driving to Court.

Staley's dead eyes sweep over the whitewashed halls briefly, then over the whitewashed Beasts that crowd it. He looks curiously at the single and paired rose, wondering the purpose of labeling the guest before taking a single rose for himself, which he places in a paint-splattered pocket before continuing.

There was business to be conducted this evening, so Heathcliff sets to it. Tonight would be no idle Danse. First he approaches Deacon Flores, who is in the company of the Kindred he recognizes from the last court. Staley approaches them first. "Good evening, Deacon," he nods, then turns to Sidor. "We've not met, I'm Bishop Staley, good evening. And you are?"

[Martha Villiers]

Martha stopped short too...mid skip. Caught on her way to act as a sort of greeter. Turning, she smiled and curtseyed to Dirge. Her English accent happy and bright...and clearly sincere and respectful; "Oh! Heirophant Dirge...yes, thank you very much for asking! I hope yours is likewise pleasant!"

[Dirge]

Dirge smiled and shrugged at the question. "Well enough I suppose. These formal functions are so...what's the word...lonely I guess. So many new faces and people I don't know." She smiled in mild amusement at the words she used.

"But, I suppose events like this keep you quite busy. I'm not bothering you am I? I don't want to keep you if you are busy."