Another Brick In The Wall?

"Later, then"

And that was that.

"You're very right. After all, aren't we even now dancing to the tune set millenia ago by vampires so old, even the Camarilla looks young in comparison? Plotting, scheming and striving to get just a bit more wiggle room, more hunting ground, more influence... until it is taken from us in turn, by plotters not unlike ourselves, in an endless tug of war that is the Danse Macabre?" The whole idea seemed to amuse Thomas more than worry him. It was what it was. If politics were a tool to get the real prize, then politics will be played.

"I don't want to dethrone Alessandra. Even if I did, I would not state it openly" Thomas didn't believe in 'jinxing' a fate, but he did very much believe that there's a hundred ways one could spy on this conversation "One reason for this is that I don't see anyone having the necessary pull and leadership skills" Krieg was close, but apparently he was gone, at least for the moment "The other is that even if I did dethrone her, all of the Invictus would go after me. I don't need that kind of attention" No one did. Throngs of mortal allies, backed by who knows how much cash and vampiric powers? No thank you.

"Besides, it's not like all the local Invictus are in worrying state of mind. Ellis Meadows, the new guy, for example... he is polite, well-spoken and educated, or at least naturally curious. York is pretty reasonable, as long as you don't seem like you think she's dumb or has a short attention span because she's a Daeva. Be careful around her, one guy's misplaced word was enough to get him blacklisted for good" Typical Succubus pride. Threaten their self-image and they get bloodthirsty like piranhas out of hell. Then again, that wasn't Exlibrist's only blunder. What kind of leader sends someone like that on a diplomatic mission?

He clearly didn't think this through, and neither did his superiors. Let's hope the two Ventrue will do better, no?

"The Invictus have the guns of criminals, the money and - if one of their number owning a theatre is any clue - at least some pull among the upper echelons of society. There's no point in competing in a race they already won" Having some of all those would be nice. Pretending the Conspiracy of Silence can't use it faster and better is foolish "So I was thinking: build from the ground up. A movement. A lifestyle. Something that would fit the Circle, the Carthians... and possibly others, but without breaching the Masquerade. I have been poking around schools, the media, the halls of worship... but there are many more possibilities" Sure, it was Krieg's idea and not Thomas', but the Lord isn't above stealing credit if it means advancing the plan. Besides, it's not like intellectual property is a thing among Kindred "I was hoping you could help me flesh the concept out... or tell me I'm being a fool" It's a possibility. Thomas is an academic, not a PR specialist.

"As for our potential allies... Arturo got kicked for pretty much following the Law. The Dragons lost a lot that night in April, they may be willing to play ball. There was this one, a Bruja named Madcap. He was one of those who spoke out. Clearly not a fan of the Prince, he left Formal Court before its purpose - that is, naming Keeper - was even concluded. An Unbound Mekhet, Mitnick, could help us on the digital front... but he's so quiet I'm not sure what his deal is yet"

It's all nascent, weak and soft like a baby. Then again, Sacramento wasn't built in a day. The Acolyte awaits Graham's input.

Once again, the younger Lord was giving his undivided attention to Thomas. In the short time they've gotten to know one another, the acolyte had made quite an impression. Graham thought that his temperance made a healthy foil to his own impetuousness. As the idea of the construction project the two of them could begin undertaking became more than just a doodle (looking more and more like a blueprint's rough draft) his dead mind came to life.

"I'm intrigued by what you said about Arturo. He's on my shortlist of people I'd like to get together with as it is, but even without a larger congregation to stand on, in my experience having a Sanctified priest at your back is almost never a mistake. In your opinion, would he be supportive of this...Whatever this is, right now? I could understand if he wanted to avoid any cloak and dagger maneuvering in order to regain favour of the Estate, and have his ban lifted. That being said I could also -maybe this is just wishful thinking- see discontent being an effective motivator on his part, to work along side us.Hm. That actually does have something of a ring to it, don't you think? 'Working together.' That alone is more progressive that the state of affairs you seem to have been delaing with the passed nights."

Honestly, the Ven was also excited by the idea of not only forming a counter argument to the oppressive regime's way of doing things but by presenting proof that Kindred are capable of accomplishing great things when they set aside differences brought on by Covenant status. The Crone and the Spear sitting at the same table, with the Carthians in the middle?
What a prospect!

His remarks on other Kindred weren't unnticed however. Once he was briefed a bit more on their exiled cousin, he wanted to know more about the Daeva, 'York,' and how they fit into all this.

Thomas smiles, amused.

"Well, in my experience having a Sanctified priest at your back is a surefire way of getting stabbed in said back" He says and chuckles slightly "Kidding, of course. I don't know the man nearly well enough to declare him above a backstab, but from what he's shown in the April Court and earlier, in the clan meeting, he is a man of a certain kind of integrity - certainly, his ideals are not mine, but I much prefer to work with a person of principle, rather than a mercenary" At least with the former you know what to expect. The latter? Tonight he is your friend, two nights onward he throws you under the bus because of an opportunity.

"This is, I believe, an answer to your question: while I am certain he wants out of the Barrens, he espouses a manner of pride and honor - machismo, you could say. Sure, good standing with the powers that be may be something he wants, but he'll want that on his own terms. Showing the Prince and the others that they were wrong in writing him off... whether that means he'll want to build his own powerbase, distinguish himself in the defense of the Domain or topple his rivals, I'm sure he'll prefer it to just waiting for divine favor" After all, every god worth the name encourages initiative, and Yahweh should be no different.

This was, of course, all guesswork. Apparently, concerted efforts that weren't just a sprint for power were an alien concept in Sacramento, something the people here weren't used to. To change that, to truly change that, will be an amount of work worthy of a titan, but the reward... the reward will be worth it.

"But I am not omniscient, nor can I be everywhere. My perspective is flawed by its subjectivity, same as everybody else's. My nights are only so long, and there's only so many hands I can shake during that time. That's where you come in - a recent arrival with a clean slate and a winning personality, you'd be more than justified in getting to know everyone, asking questions. I should know, I've been doing it since night one" He smiles at the other Lord "Any temporal influence you could bring to the table would also be appreciated. Of course, I don't expect you to work for free - I will inform you of any major developments, and share what mortal allies I have gathered. Further, I will offer you a Major Boon for your trouble"

The Boon is as much a gift for the Carthian, as it is insurance policy for Thomas. If Graham accepts, he can capitalize on the Malkovian in good standing. Betrayal and throwing Thomas to the wolves'd mean that Boon suddenly isn't worth jack shit, and the debt is worthless.

"Deal?"

This was an extremely generous offer, and one that frankly, he would be an idiot to refuse.
With almost no hesitation - Graham was a man of demonstrative constitution - he produced a small bottle opener from the inside of his jacket. Then he flicked out a tiny blade used for peeling the seal off of wine bottles, and pricked his thumb with it.
He watched as a barely noticeable bead of blood welled to the surface and rubbed it into his palm.
He slid the device across the table to Thomas without folding it back up.

"The way we do it in the Movement," he explained, putting out his smudged hand.

"We may not have your knowledge of...other uses for The Blood, but for unwritten contracts, verbal agreements. This is how we shake."

He maintained steady eye contact with his clan-mate and simply waited. It was clear that this symbolic gesture would -even if it meant nothing to Thomas- cement the two as allies.
For now.

Was that really a practice between the Carthians entering into agreements? MNore to the point, did it matter? It clearly held significant to this particular member, and Thomas didn't need any convincing that faith can make some things as true as anything else.

Which is why he doesn't hesitate when offered the blade, cutting his flesh and smearing the blood, shaking the reddened palm with Graham's own.

"I don't need to tell you that, even though what we are doing here is the farthest thing from treason, it is not to be shared with others? There may be a time when the collaborators meet, but until then - we work in secret"

Just a tiny reminder.

"Now that, I assume, I have gained some of your trust, do you have any thoughts or further questions on the plan I have laid out before you?"

"Vivian York is the Seneschal of the Domain, as you know, and a Librettist of the Invictus - meaning she knows a lot about art and has a penchant for collecting things. As far as dealing with her, I'll give you the general advice for all Succubi: don't be boring. And if you can hold a conversation about fashion or painting, you are in for a lot of brownie points. From what I know she owns a tavern called Smoke and Glass and is involved in some of the city's charities. On a personal level, I'm not sure. I assume she's a close ally of the Prince and Simmons, but apparently has some sentiment for the Circle, too" Which was more a dossier on the Daeva than the answer to Graham's original question, but all of that was pertinent information "Can she be dangerous? Yes and no. On the one hand, we could expect a knee-jerk reaction to anything changing - she is of the First Estate, after all. However, I have a feeling she'd rather see the Kindred of the Domain working together, making it calm and stable - that's where we deliver. Stability on our terms, sure, but stability nonetheless. We sell this right, we might get her neutrality or even quiet support"

But it all hung on how successful they were, their powers of persuasion and the Daeva's mood on a given night.

"Now, Jack... Jack is an entirely different beast. He is intelligent, has the composure and tenacity of a seasoned lawyer - but the fact that he's been making more and more enemies in the Domain cannot be overlooked. The Court in June was an example of that - he was, quite literally, laughed out of the room. The Prince's Herald!" It spoke volumes of just how much of nothing they perceived Jack to be, if they didn't fear reprisal for snubbing Alessandra's servant "Last I spoke to him he was Unaligned, but given the sudden appointment and the closeness he and York exhibit, I wouldn't be surprised if he joined the First Estate next week" The man certainly didn't look like he was on a path towards the Church, or the Circle. And with how insistent he was on alienating the Dragons, he isn't joining the Order anytime soon either.

"I can say I have a problem with our Whip. On the one hand, he can be a tremendous asset, but first, he'd need to be tempered. Maybe someone he's angered will beat him to torpor, or near-torpor. Maybe he'll lose the favor of Simmons, Antinori and York, the three Invictus that seem to have invested their trust in him. Regardless, when he gets a taste of how badly he can be burned, we will be there - his loving, caring family ready to extend a helping hand. For a price" Jack seemed like the prideful sort, but pride can only get you so far when you face Final Death or being everybody's bitch for eternity. Wouldn't it be better to just be the bitch of a select few, for a limited time?

"It was discussed previously, so Mable and Krieg know. The newest addition, Kadlek, wasn't brought up to speed yet, but I can't imagine why she would object. Once again, we are doing nothing illegal" Which was the best part of this whole plan. After all, if one is to hang a Kindred for seeking influence, it'd be very crowded gallows indeed.

Graham nodded, adding Thomas's contributions to his mental inventory. He wasn't so naive as to assume he could go toe to toe with Seneschal York on the wrong night, but he was confident of at least one thing working in the two Lords' favour.

"Well. You and I might be a lot of rotten things but I don't think being boring is exactly one of them. I have a few anecdotes to fall back on, if my future conversation with her lags."

He'd spoken without a smile. He was experienced enough with the effects of an unhappy Daeva in his own world that he knew they needed to be taken just as seriously as a frothing Savage. He did smile slightly when he heard the Acolyte mention that he had discussed this line of thinking openly, at least once. Without any de facto allies himself, it was good to know that his cousin was not operating entirely without support.

"Yes, he does have the sort of spring to his step I'd reserve for when I was actually on the throne myself, but to each their own. He'll get what's coming to him in time, for better or for worse. Everyone always does, especially Ventrue. Maybe he'll lose his fucking mind one of these nights, get locked away? A Herald for the insane."

Returning to the situation at hand.

"I do not mean to cast the finger of suspicion toward your covenant, but it would be careless of me not to ask while we're being candid. Can you be so sure that they couldn't be the source of a future leak? As in, I'm sworn to secrecy and have no covenant to share those secrets with, if I had a lapse in judgment. You on the other hand...What I'm saying is I would hate to see you left out to pasture by, say, a Gangrel with ties to the Prince hedging her bets and ratting us out. Illegal or no, you say that Arturo was banished for adhering to the law. Even if we aren't breaking it outright, we are certainly offering a dissenting opinion. Does that track for you?"

The notion of a 'Herald for the insane' brings out some dark chuckling, and Thomas will feel guilty about it... some other night "He will. For the moment we'll need to ensure the Ventrue blood gets the respect it deserves. It doesn't bode well if our Priscus makes a fool out of herself at a Formal, and then skips the next two in a row. Nor does it inspire deference if our Whip is being pushed around like some immature fledgling" But that's for the future. Hopefully near future, but still.

"I appreciate you being careful. But hear me when I say this: the list of grievances Mable has towards Alessandra is very long indeed, and the cuts are years deep. She's not a politician, and I've been ensuring she feels welcome and supported, no matter what. From what I can tell, it's been a success" Thomas sounds extremely certain of that assessment "She's found purpose in the Circle, and despite what some can think, she is not dumb. No, Mable is beyond suspicion. Like I said, I haven't properly met Hanna yet, but really, I can't imagine how she'd benefit from selling us out. She's new, with no record to defend her from guilt by association"

Absolutely not. The Circle, his Circle is like the Caesar's wife: above suspicion. And if he's wrong, well... he's been tracking down ancient Kindred, torpid since the Crusades, before. What challenge could a recently active ancilla possibly pose?

"But I have a mental excercise for you: Alessandra is the head of a criminal empire, and her resources in that regard are near-limitless. Say our project picks up pace, more and more kine start following us, and the Invictus panics. They send goons to intimidate and kill our people, who are more and more scared. The entire thing is on the verge of collapse. What'd you do?" While this scenario isn't imminent in any sense, it must be regarded as a possibility, and if so: a plan must be devised.

Thomas' conviction was palpable enough to be convincing in Finley's dark eyes. He toyed with the cigarette while his kin mounted a plausible defence for Keeper Mable. Graham was happy to hear it.
Thus far, Prince Alessandra Antinori was not his enemy. Hopefully, for more reasons than Graham had nights left, that would not change; if it did, however, he was glad to know it wouldn't be because his words were carried back to her by one of her own. Ironic it would probably be one of theirs. He was starting to look forward to his meeting with Jack, where before he was almost dreading it. He had confidence that, like the prince he served, he could avoid making him an enemy. When Thomas had finished politely rebuking him, but before he posited his question, Graham replied sincerely.

"I won't bring it up again, then. That singular paranoia is already forgotten."

Then back to listening.
It was a good thing that he rather liked the sound of Thomas's voice or he would probably have grown impatient and suggested the two of them take a break to feed. But - the riddle. It took no physical time at all for distant memories of violence to emerge from the recesses deep inside withered grey matter, but for the younger monster an entire season might have passed. The riots, the picket lines, the raids. L.A. and Vegas and back home to New York. Sounds of hooves on asphalt, of the wetness against bloody plastic masks, and gunfire. The smell of his "brother's" ashes before they blew away, disappearing into the San Francisco night. There was only a split second between the question and the response.

"Improvise."