The University Stacks

**Ashley Cohen** · Aug 25th, 2012 04:06 PM

Ashley closes the History book after a few moments; it just was not what she is looking for. She slides it off to the side by its’ lonesome. After a moment she pulls the Economics book from the stack and opens it to the index. She glances up watching the small gathering for a brief moment.

Ashley only knew of Dr. Powell, having met her of all places…a book store. The other two are far from familiar, and she does not care to be rude and intrude on their conversation. Her eyes cast downward and her index finger traces softly upon the page.

The agenda for tonight is a simple one; she merely wants to figure out where she needs improvement in her knowledge as well as try and dredge up some information on Sacramento in general.

Ashley’s head tilts slightly as she picks up the pencil, tapping the tip onto the notepad softly.

"Maybe there is merit to gathering a decent collection myself…"

Aug 25th, 2012 07:57 PM

Walking into the library, the Tismanu pauses and takes in the stacks. A large, well stocked, uncensored library is a beautiful thing to him. Living in communist dominated countries gave one a singular appreciation for unfettered access to knowledge. As a dragon he also could appreciate a large, well stocked library. Knowledge was key in the Great Work.

Dressed in his black cassock and weathered canvas satchel over his shoulder, the dragon did look a little out of place. He knew in the West that outward religious dress was somewhat rare and looked down upon. It did open doors sometimes though, for instance this evening. The good staff of the university found an old foreign monk with a heavy accent endearing. The jokes about Dracula and 'I vont to suck your blood blah!' when they saw his Romanian papers was tiring, but it did help establish a repoure. After explaining he was a traveling Brother looking to do some research in their fine establishment they waved him through, after of course one of the staff had begged him to let them record him saying 'Wallacia' and 'Transylvania' on a smart phone.

Making his way through he spot a several men and women in the library, late as it was. Learning never stops, wonderful to see. he thinks.

Then he felt three fierce Beasts. His own Serpent slithered about his person in terror at such a collection of monsters. Willing it into submission, he reminded it and himself he was an Acknowledge kindred of the Domain and he had nothing to fear from the local denizens. Well at least nothing beyond the normal fear being be near Damned with Beasts that wanted nothing more than to tear every other kindred to pieces.

Walking, he passed two Kindred with powerful Beasts, one was a woman and the other was a man with a fedora pulled low. A hat in-doors? How..very American. They appeared to be conversing with a third, a man without a Beast. "A masked Shadow? A kine?" he wonders.

Teodor smiles brightly and gives them a nod of greeting and continues on to the stacks. He passes a third Kindred, a woman with a poweful Beast and he gives her a smile and a nod as well.

Now lets see...philosophy or psychology...well let us begin with philosphy. he muses and turns to that stack.

Aug 26th, 2012 11:32 AM

Sidor watched the two Doctors interact, when he felt the tug of another Beast, one he was utterly unfamiliar with. Beneath his fedora, with the shadows moving across his face, he followed the new Kindred visually, aware that he was utterly undetectable in the movement thanks to his curse.

The boiling, blood red Maelstrom lashed at the ice, and he froze it with the same power he had always possessed. His will was cold iron, and he had never yet found a crack.

This one was weak, and new.

There had been too many weak new Beasts in this area who had walked in, and proved themselves nothing more than pathetic, rude, walking Masquerade breachers, who seemed to believe the Domain was there to turn for them, rather than the other way around. The Haunt waited to see whether this one would surprise him.

It was his duty to watch, after all. That was what it meant for him to be Senior Deputy in this Domain.

**Max Heinz** · Aug 26th, 2012 11:41 PM

Max Heinz
Mask of Tranquility
Presence 3 (Loveable Goofball)

*Teodor wasn't the only new face to introduce itself amongst the various Kindred that had shown up at the library. From behind one of the long rows of books, Max appears; the thin Mekhet carrying a hefty stack of books in his arms. They all seem like light reading material; none of them very thick. Anyone with eyesight keen enough to make out the titles would notice they were all biographies of famous actors.

He pauses for a moment, setting them down in the Returned Materials section to be properly refiled by the library's staff, when the crush of his fellow Kindred's Beasts washes over him. It was a prickly sensation, like the tickle of a lover's fingernails across a blackboard.

He turns slowly, so as not to draw too much attention to himself, all the while analyzing the various sensations that each challenging Kindred brought. Two of the Beasts that confronted his own were well know to Max; having worked closely with the Doctor and the Bishop before. But the other two were unknown to him.

Scanning the room, Max catches sight of Ashley first. He studies her closely for a few moments, though perhaps not in the way most men would. Max's Beast, sedated as it was, still registered the challenge her's offered; but it was quickly subdued as Max looks to the other unfamiliar Kindred.

As he looked over Teodor, Max couldn't help but let his recent reading materials color his view of the Kindred, wondering if Robin Williams had recently been Embraced into undeath. It would explain the man's weaker Beast, and the odd taste in clothing he wore...

The thin Mekhet had intended to take a movie or two back with him to continue his research, but the presence of so many Kindred, two of whom were unknown, caught Max's attention. He wasn't sure if Sidor and Josephine were there to check up on the others, but his own innate curiosity wouldn't allow him to simply leave the question unanswered. Since Ashley seemed to be very interested in avoiding the conversation at hand, Max decides he would start there.

Taking a moment to select another book, Max makes his way towards the beautiful Venture. He sets down some distance away; far enough not to intrude but close enough to keep tabs on whatever she might be up to; the thin Mekhet opening up the first few pages of If Chins Could Kill.*

Max and Outfit

**Swift** · Aug 27th, 2012 01:02 AM

Dr. Swift spent many of his nights wandering and hunting around the campus. While the campus is communal hunting grounds, part of Swift can't help but feel protective of the University - mostly the part of him that is inhabited by the Beast.

Swift is used to sensing other beasts on campus, and typically tries to avoid them when hunting. But tonight he isn't hunting, or at least not hunting for blood. Tonight he's looking for a specific book for an investigation. And he is surprised to find other beasts lurking in the library of all places. And so many of them.

The doctor cautiously makes his way through the stacks, not trying to hide at all, but merely uncertain why so many Kindred would be present tonight. After all, his Beast is up on its feet snarling and growling at every turn, urging him to fight to protect what is his. But it's not mine, or yours, you dumb brute. This is communal territory and they have the same right to be here that I do, so shut up and go back to sleep.

Dr. Swift quickly realizes that he's familiar with two of the beasts present, though two of them are unfamiliar. He also quickly notices two additional individuals present that he did not detect beasts from, though he knows one of them as Kindred as well.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Grigoriev. Dr. Powell. Mr. Heinz." Swift nods to each of those named respectfully. "I am pleasantly surprised to find you all here tonight."

Odd that all three of them are here. Coincidence or design? Two strange Kindred and another without a beast. Ghoul, Kindred, or unknowing Kine? He seems familiar, but I do not know for certain. Maybe he was at a court function? Still best to be safe until I know for sure. It is fortunate that none of the other's have titles of address are foreign to the local Kine.

Dr. Swift turns to the three he does not know. "It seems I am not alone in my late-night quest for enlightenment. I am Dr. Swift."

Aug 27th, 2012 01:28 AM

"Quite well, thank... you," the good Doctor responded to the question, with all due courteousness. The potential for any immediate continuation of the conversation was halted, if only for a few minutes, by the arrival of more Kindred.

She had been to the university repeatedly for the last few months, whether it was to attend some sort of seminar, visit the library or surruptitiously check up on her grand-nieces activity in Sacramento; and until now she had not seen quite the crowd that she had this evening. Her attention focused initially on the bearded newcomer, and as she studied the man over the top of her book, she did not need to glance at Deputy Grigoriev to know that he would be making his own assessment.

Even if the shadows disguised even the slightest eye flicker, he would not be the Domain official that he was, without the care and attention he paid to the smallest detail.

As Mr. Heinz, and then Dr. Swift wandered in she nodded in greeting to them, before adding a pleasant: "Good evening to... you both."

Aug 27th, 2012 01:39 AM

Neil smiled as others joined them. The Grand Wyrm, who he'd met at the Mekhet meeting months before. A bearded fellow who he was entirely unfamiliar with. And another academic. He had hoped to have the chance to get to know Dr. Powell a bit better, but getting the faces down pat made sense. As Dr. Swift introduced himself, the Shadow offered him a shake. "Indeed, it seems there are many out to learn tonight... I'm Dr. Neil Kingsley. How are you this evening?" It wasn't what he usually went by around the Domain. But here, in a university library, the Ph.D. and the ID badge that marked him a forensic scientist were relevant.

His eyes fell upon the bearded man and flicked over to the girl for a moment, curious if they intended to join them and let themselves be known.

Aug 28th, 2012 05:44 PM

At the end of the philosophy row, Teodor is tilting his head to read books spines when he hears the man identifying himself 'a Doctor Swift' mention a name Madam Donovan said belonged to the city's Grand Wyrm.

Straightening, he walks back toward the group of assembled Kindred with friendly smile and a very interested twinkle in his eye. "Good evening Dr. Swift, to you all." he greets everyone in his Romanian accent. "I am Brother Teodor Raluca..ehm one of you is a Mr. Heinz?" He looks speculatively around. His eyes settle on the fedora wearing man and he suddenly notices the man's face was completely covered in shadow. Nothing was visible at all. That is...not right. A crease forms on his brow but he does not loose his smile. He pushed that perplexing though to a back burner for the moment continues to look between the assembled kindred. "Ms. Donovan mentioned he was someone I should speak wiz?" his accent turning Th sounds to Zs.

Aug 28th, 2012 07:07 PM

Sidor's icy gaze regarded the Doctor, and the head of the Ordo arriving. That was really very little surprise. After all, this was a library, and he had chosen them in his last investigation for their knowledge and talent. He inclined his head very slightly in response to their greetings, the movements sudden and stark. As if he intended to lunge across the table and tear them apart.

"Good evening. What a pleasant surprise to see you here," his voice was quiet and respectful of the library's boundaries. He had no intention of attracting the librarians. "And so nice to meet a newcomer." Unlike Teodor, Sidor's accent was carefully moderated for a Western ear, because it was utterly impossible to lip read him, and his tight Ural voice would have been too complex without those subtle movements.

"My name is Sidor Rurikovitch Grigoriev," the Deputy added. His voice had absolutely no inflection. "This is Dr. Josephine Powell."

**Ashley Cohen** · Aug 29th, 2012 10:51 PM

Ashley waves her hand in greeting. With the volume of predators accumulating in a quiet library, she thinks twice before joining the conversations and continues on her studies. She still has a few tasks she wants to finish before she considers in engaging in pleasant conversation. Her eyes drift back down to the book as she continues to sift through its' contents, jotting down the occasional note or two.

The University Stacks

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