(1006) Eternal Court II

[skarecrow36]

Michael steps back as he nods to the Seneschal ah great, just when I thought I'd avoid an awkward conversation.

"Evening Seneschal, my apologies for not seeing you there." he says "If you say it is in good hands then I'll trust your judgment. Is there anything else you've found regarding the situation? I was trying to look into a possible explanation as to how it was possible such an odd...transformation could occur. Not exactly a stage of puberty any mortal hits." he jokes in a monotone voice. He did have one of those didn't he?

[Dirge]

Dirge thought for a moment before replying, "I have some knowledge of the occult, but I'm afraid science is not one of my strengths. Sorry Mister Hall. However, If they are what I think they are, I don't believe that science will be of much assistance because, while I'm no expert, I don't know of any scientific principle that would account for shape changing."

When she was finished speaking she sat silently with her hands folded on her lap so as not to interupt the Seneschal as he spoke.

[Heathcliff Staley]

"It is most certainly supernatural in origin, but Mister Hall, why ever would you want to learn how such a thing happens unless you seek to duplicate the results? I don't imagine you wish to create an anti-snake-shifting vaccine to distribute among the homeless, do you? Or would you like to change them into completely normal Blood Bound human ghouls before they attempt to slaughter you on behalf of their Brood masters?"

Heathcliff sighs. Michael didn't strike him as the mad scientist type. Some people just want an explanation for everything. And some people just want something to occupy their Requiems.

"It so happens, Michael, that there could be a project in the works very soon that your skills," at nearly blowing us up, "will be quite useful. In the mean time, mingle, and don't get killed by homeless people. Or snake people. Or end up like our poor cousin in the broom closet."

[Premsyl]

Arnold walked down the stairs back into the Court proper, making his way over to where Dirge stood with the Keeper, Seneschal, and others. "Miss Dirge, may we speak in private?"

[Yog-Sothoth]

Sitting quietly Dirge had expected to hear Mark's voice and not Arnold's. She got to her feet and nodded to him. "Certainly Reeve Culler."

I guess Mark has more work to do? She thought as Cerberus lead her closer to the Reeve and she prepared to follow him.

[Premsyl]

Arnold leads Dirge out into the Commons, both to find a better place to talk and so that - should she decide she must leave - she didn't have far to go.

"Here is fine." Arnold says when they reach the desired spot

"I'm afraid I have bad news pertaining to Mister Connelly. During a recent expedition he violated the Prince's Law regarding the Right of Destruction by rendering a Kindred to his Final Death. Tonight he was given the opportunity for redemption, but rather than taking it he refused and directly insulted His Majesty."

Arnold pauses allowing this to sink in before going on "What I am saying, Miss Dirge, is that Mister Connelly is gone."

The Reeve unabashedly watches the blind woman's face, waiting for the inevitable reaction.

[Dirge]

Dirge stood there stunned for a moment not sure what to think. "I see," she said without emotion.

After a long moment she lowered her head and sighed. "I swear the dope is helpless without me. I shouldn't have left him alone. But you can only save him from himself for so long. However, it seems rather strange that he refused an offer to redeem himself or face final death," Dirge paused for a moment a suspicious expression crossed her face. "What was asked of him Reeve Culler?"

[Premsyl]

Arnold Culler pauses a moment, considering how to answer Dirge's question.

Finally he decides to speak plainly "Mister Connelly asked me if there was anything he could do, or get, for me in return for my taking responsibility for what happened. I told him that I would take responsibility if he would convince you to spend an evening with me. He angrily refused to 'whore you out,' as he put it, and implied that Prince Clarke was a pimp."

"I only tell you this because I think that you should know that he took the ability to save his life out of your hands, and instead literally demanded himself to be Ashed."

Another pause, and then "If you are curious as to my own intentions I will only say that it is uncommon to find one of our Family who still possess such physical beauty as you do. Your handicap, and the ways you attempt to overcome it, make you all the more interesting to me. I did not feel that I was asking so much of Markos, but it seems he clung to shreds of Humanity that perhaps I have long ago left behind."

He had, just earlier, wondered aloud whether or not Dirge would be happier to know the circumstances surrounding Markos' staking. Now it seemed he would find out.

[Yog-Sothoth]

As soon as Arnold explained the circumstances surrounding Mark's final moments Dirge instantly knew it was true, because unfortunately it is something that she could actually believe Markos would be daft enough to be capable of.

"That's all it was? He's a bigger idiot than I thought." The last sentence was whispered under her breath and just barely reached Arnold's ears.

It infuriated her that he could be so blind, and while she was without her sight Mark had let his humanity blind him. The warning signs were staring her right in the face as she stood there silently and she realized that she should have spent more time breaking him of it to harden his heart.

The blind haunt just felt weary, emotionally drained. She had suffered the loss of self not once but twice, her mother, father, a sibling murdered by her father when she had arrived in Sacramento, the loss of so many covenant mates, and now Markos. It was just too much too fast for her to process. Feeling disorientated her legs gave out under her and she landed on her butt.

"Woah, that was...unexpected," she said slowly in disbelief. "I think I just need a second..."

Then she felt the ever present fear of being left alone welling up from within. Small, lonely, helpess and she rejected it locking it away deep within.

[Michael Hall]

Michael slowly nods to Heathcliff's ongoing bit on the origins of the lizard people and finally says "Very well then, I'll wait until I"m needed, what is the project you had in mind? and which cousin are we referring to?" And why the hell is he in a broom closet? Unless of course this was an unwilling transfer.