(1005) Avalon Underground

[O-Yama]

O-Yama nods as Arnold speaks, a small smile coming to his face. "It is indeed good to have friends who will take over when you're incapable of performing your duty. I am sure you have done well as Priscus in my stead." He says warmly.

When he mentions Bethem, O-Yama frowns inside but that same smile does not change. A slight? Does he mention his torpor to insult me? "My ordeal was far too long for my liking, but it seems not much could be done. I have been told that finding me was very hard, and that those searching for me had little hope of success. I cannot fault them."

When Prince Clarke mentions the Grindhouse the Oni within giggles with glee at the thought of battle, but O-Yama quiets it. The Bearer, and its mindless need for blood, would have no part in this battle. He makes no remark about the Grindhouse, instead moving the subject from his thoughts. Unless Culler openly made a threat against him, he would not challenge him to a battle of steel.

As O-Yama takes in Culler's motions, the seeming uncomfort he had, O-Yama keeps all emotion from his face. He battles internally with his own thoughts as the Bearer of Lanterns speaks to him, tempting him...

-You see Samanosuke, you have him on edge.-
-Silence yourself.-
-Demand your rightful position.-
-In time... have patience. We shall see how he plays the game.-

O-Yama quiets his thoughts, turning his attention to regard Culler. "It is good to be back. I have duties that must be attended to and I have been away from them for far too long." He didn't need to say it, he was reclaiming his position, Culler need only accept this, or challenge him for it, it was his choice now.

[Yog-Sothoth]

As she made her way across the room, Dirge heard a low quiet voice calling to her. She stopped and listened pinpointing the direction of it when it suddenly hit who who the voice belonged to. It was the last person Dirge had expected, the Prince himself. Caught off guard she quickly but gracefully made her way over to him using Cerberus to help her avoid people. After a few steps she was coming to a stop.

"Prince Clarke," she said respectfully with a deep curtsy. She held her low position for several seconds before rising again. "Was there something you wished of my your highness?"

She heard other voices nearby in conversation. It sounded like the Reeve and that O-yama fellow she met. She would have to greet them later, right now the Prince required her presence and no one else existed. The blind haunt felt her excitement building despite her feelings of betrayal as he was the Prince and he requested her by name. She really hoped that he was calling her for something good and not to make an example of her to the domain.

[Sean]

"Oh?" Arnold replies to O-Yama, eyebrows raising slightly "Which duties would you be speaking of, if you don't mind me asking?"

Then realization seems to dawn on Arnold's face and he says "Had you not been informed? Our family met just recently, before your exodus, and it was decided that I should be made Priscus as an official matter. I simply thought that enough time had passed since your abduction that the time had come to make a formal decision on the matter. I was unanimously appointed."

He frowns "It was nothing personal, I assure you. Perhaps, when next time our Clan meets, you might campaign for reappointment."

---------------------------------------------

Sean O'Neill arrives with Lori. He's dressed in black pinstripe pants, boots, and evidently his nipples are less sensitive than the Prince's cause he's managed to rock the mesh shirt for the evening's festivities. Also, his usually red or orange mohawk has been dyed black, and he appears to be wearing corpse paint.

Sean's Shirt and Pants

Sean's Face

He walks around with Lori, grinning at the sights and sounds of Court - even as his Beast whimpered and pleaded with him to flee from many of the Kindred present, even as it demanded Blood sacrifice from others.

"Nice place." he comments to Lori "Don't you think?"

[West]

Asa sighed inwardly as Arnold spoke; missing an opportunity. For the Regent, the title of Priscus meant far less than it did to the samurai. Had he simply given it, after his opening point was made, he would have gained a friend --or at least a debt-- rather than creating a potential enemy.

I daresay anyone thinks less of Ishani or I.

His eyes were drawn to Shadow, and decided things had gone far enough. A man being embarrassed in front of his lover was a dangerous, unpredictable thing.

"Or you two could do the right thing," Asa interjected, with a mischievous smile.

As Dirge approached, he took her hand and placed it on his outstretched arm so that she could 'center' herself on the conversation.

"And let one of these beautiful women have the job... then we would all be happy," Asa concluded, smiling with just enough intensity to let the two men know it was time to laugh it off and be done with it.

[Mykel]

*Max can only smile at the playful jab from Joe.* I learned a long time ago that if it's stupid but it works, it isn't stupid. And the boys swallowed the story hook, line, and sinker. Besides, it all worked out for the best: Culler is back and apparently feuding with with Mr Hatori, and the four of us seem just a little less incompetent to the powers that be...

Ciara

*Ciara arrives, despite however much she would like to have skipped the whole affair. She decided at the last moment to come, she wouldn't give Clarke the satisfaction of shrinking into the woodwork while the Invictus and Ordo partied. At least the theme for the evening was agreeable, allowing Ciara to wear one of her favorite outfits in public.

Ciara's Outfit

She moves slowly into the prepaired area, mindful of all the other Beasts, new and old, that are present.

[Twist]

Twist hesitated at the top of the stairs, the form of her guide disapearing below her. She knew it was just her imagination but yet she could feel the press of beasts below her feet. The surge of an underground lake eddying and flowing, just waiting to drown her and let her beast rise to the surface. Thankfully it would be to rend and destory and kill the majority of those contributing to the silent force waiting to suffocate, she so hated the urge to flee. She was better than that.

Taking an unneeded breath she stepped onto the first step just before her guide vanished from sight. With each step she sunk deeper into the lake and with each step another soothing thought to her beast was required. By the time she reached the court room proper and her guide left her, her beast was so cocky on praise of her superiority that the urge to kill was subdued. After all, why waste time destroy such as them...there were better stronger prey to kill. Ones more fitting to the killer she was.

As she stepped next to the coat room she paused and reached up to lightly touch the hilt of a thin black dagger that nestled among her dark locks of hair much as a hair chopstick would. It was the weapons check point after all.

Reassured that the dagger was secure, Twist moved on, the tulle of her skirt making soft swish noises lost in the murmer of Kindred voices. Ambling along, she took note of locations of Kindred. Ishani over there. Argent and Ciara there and there. Asa, O-Yama and Arnold with Dirge. And then the one she sought, Victoria.

Stepping around a Kine as though stepping around furniture Twist headed in the direction of the beautiful Harpy.

Twist's Attire

Her hair is swept up in an elegain coif that leaves her neck and shoulders bare with said dagger carefully positioned in it. Red garnet drops adorn her ears and a matching bracelet her wrist.

[Yawgmoth]

Trent arrived to court later than he had hoped to; the Haunt was still familiarizing himself with the layout of Sacramento. Once he arrived Trent was taken back by the lavishness of it all.

This atmosphere speaks volumes...

From the crowd Trent recognized several faces. In his opinion they looked far more distinguished than the others, but that could have just been prejudice for the First Estate. For now, Trent took a seat and watched the festivities.

Trent's Apparel

Just picture this, but with long black hair.

((OOC: I'm really caught up in a handfull of family issues lately, and it's been eating up most of my time. I didn't want to miss court with Trent though, so I'm just "parking" him here. I hope you all understand!))

[Fractured]

Heathcliff takes in the decorations, modifications, guests, and dignitaries as he allows Madison to lead him into Court, a content smile plastered on his face. The Seneschal's stomach was full of freely-given Vitae, he wielded power in both Kine and Kindred society, and he has a beautiful woman on his arm. The only reason Heathcliff's feet manage to touch the ground at all is the quiet voice in the back of his mind reminding him that, sooner or later, the world would turn, and everything good would disappear.

"Hound Naetesh, Harpy Stamford, good evening," he says, tipping his top hat to them. He wholly supported all the lace and leather and bodices and corsets for the ladies, of course, but personally, he wasn't fond of dressing like this- it made one stand out, and the last thing Heathcliff wanted to do was stand out. But, he must show respect to the Court's organizer, and he does look like a proper goth-person, thanks to Madison's assistance with his attire. "I hope I find you both well. The decorations look marvelous, Harpy Stamford, well done. I'm excited to see my new office here," he croaks, then subtly pinches Madison's rear, to let her know why, exactly, he was excited about the office.

He briefly looks towards the Prince and the conversation between Arnold and O-Yama, his clan's present Priscus and past. He hopes they've at least got the good sense not to drag Family business into the public forum. The Nosferatu have not been splintered in all of Heathcliff's time as part of Kindred society, and that was their greatest strength. He hoped Arnold and O-Yama recognized that as well.

"So, I see the deadly snakes have not dissuaded the crowds upstairs," he says to Ishani and Victoria. It had been a rather odd story; Heathcliff was fairly certain something supernatural had happened, but he had yet to be informed by someone in the know. "The news said a nest was disturbed during the recent renovations?"

Heath's outfit

dressed like the one on the right, not the one on the left, lol.