It was never a surprise to find Ariana working or reading paperwork and keeping an eye on her laptop from time to time. She was wearing in a gray dress with a purple belt that fit her frame flawlessly. Her office was set up quaint. @Conner Greyson was also in his office and not far down the hall. With the Shadow's acute hearing, not much got past him. It was the Avalon after all.
The office of the Seneschal is neat and organized. A framed picture on the wall was rather large which was probably a gift from someone, much like the necklace she wore as well as a ring on her right hand. There were a few of books on etiquette, writing and a few books on psychology. Several biographies on journalists including a book on Roxana Seberi. There were several high back chairs and an office style sofa with which could easily accommodate more than a few people. Her door was open, since she did not mind drop ins. The Lordess had a news channel on the small television on the wall in her office. She was holding a pen and writing occasionally.
"That must bethe place", Leon thought to himself as he drove past AvalonNightclub. He wasn't sure how he knew,but it didn't matter. He was new totown, and tradition mandated that he introduce himself to the locals incharge. He circled the block a couple oftimes, looking for a place to park. His GMC pickup wasn't exactly ideal for in-city driving, but it was all he had fornow. Eventually, he found a spot in theparking lot of a nearby hotel.
He climbed down fromthe drivers seat, smoothed out his shirt and vest, and walked inside theclub. He knew it wouldn't be long beforethe Predator's Taint gave him away, if it hadn't already. Sure enough, it wasn't long before he wasapproached and escorted downstairs. "Just down the hall, huh?", Leon thought, remembering the words of his escort.
Leon stood there fora minute, thinking over what he was about to do. He had never introduced himself in a newdomain before. Having only been Kindredfor a year, he still felt like the awkward, walk-on freshman. But, just like Coach Mora always said,"Ain't nothin' to it but to do it".
He approached theopen office door, and gently rapped on it. " 'Scuse me..." he choked out, "…um, ma'am?" He wasn't prepared for those eyes. "Good evenin'" he nodded, feelinghis confidence return. "Ma'am, I'msorry to bother you. But, um, ya see I'mnew in town here, and uh… I'm not sure if, uh... am I in the right spot?"
Ariana had been watching the entertainment news update when she felt the new Beast right before it hit the doorframe. Upon hearing the knocking, her cobalt eyes averted to the door way. The Lordess stood a little and with a quick motion or her hand, she beckoned him to enter.
“Please come in. You are certainly not bothering me and you are indeed in the right location.” The copper haired Ventrue returned to her seat and made a gesture with her fingers to the seats opposite her desk. “Please feel free to have a seat if you would like.”
Her legs crossed beneath her desk, but in an upright position, still with a welcoming smile. “I am Madam Seneschal Ariana Donovan. Welcome to the Invictus Domain of His Majesty, Alder Prince Clarke.” The Lordess rested her hands gently on the desk. “How may I help you this evening Mr. …” Her eyes searched toward him as she asked for the handsome man’s name.
A look of relief came over Leon's face, thankful that he had made contact with the domain leaders. He knew what happened to unannounced kindred back in LA, and had no interest in becoming a statistic. "Ok, cool.", he said as he stepped into the office. "Ahh, much obliged ma'am.", he replied. L.A. had changed him quite a bit, but it never robbed him of his down-home manners.
He respectfully made his way to the empty chair and took a seat. He sat on the edge of the chair, hunched forward, with his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped in front. "I appreciate it. Thank ya, ma'am." He shifted slightly, realizing he had not told her his name. "Jackson, ma'am. My name is Leon Jackson. Though I don't know much about the mister." he said with a chuckle, trying to ease his own tension.
There was a soft southern quality in the new gentleman that suddenly reminded Ariana of someone familiar.
The Lordess laughed gently with Leon. Although he sort of demeaned himself, whether it was intentional or not she did wonder why. However, it did tell her one thing. He was modest and knew humility. Such a quality was akin to a diamond in the rough. “A pleasure to meet you Mr. Jackson.” She still said the mister with a welcoming smile.
“Where do you hail from Mr. Jackson?” Ariana said as she removed a few pieces of paper from her desk placing them in front of her. “If you please, could you tell me a little about yourself and perhaps your duration of stay whether it is temporary or if you would like to reside for a period of time? Also, what family do you belong to and do you have any covenant affiliations?” The Lordess had a look of patience about her as she gave Leon a gentle nod to go ahead. She wanted to make sure that she did point him in the right direction later on while the spoke in further detail about the Domain.
Leon nodded in acknowledgement. "Likewise ma'am." He looked down at the floor, attempting to collect his thoughts. He was still trying to resist the urge to run screaming toward the door. "Well, um... I'm pretty simple, really. Born and bred in Shingleton, just a few hours north of here. Head up I-5, hang a right at Reddin', and if ya pass the dead squirrel, ya gone too far." He chuckled again, hoping to calm his nerves. This was not the same kind of hot-seat he was used to. Still, he continued.
"Yeah, y'know, um, I played linebacker for the Bruins for 4 years." For a moment, a glimpse of sadness flashed out from behind his forced smile as memories of his glory days flooded back. "Yep, number 52. That was me." He snapped back into the present. "But anyways, y'know, I got, um... embraced about a year ago. Spent some time in LA getting used to everything."
He leaned back in his chair and crossed his right leg up over his left. "I don't know, I guess LA just got to me, y'know? Too much city. So I was kinda hoping I could make a new start here. I ain't a part of no covenant, though I might look into it later. Ain't really got a whole lot of baggage..." - he hesitated for a moment - "...or, um, a place to stay right now. I kinda wanted to do this introduction first, I guess. Y'know, I didn't wanna intrude or nothin'..."
He realized he was starting to ramble, and stopped talking. "Maybe I've already said too much.", he thought to himself, as he shifted uneasily and glanced toward the open door.
Ariana was very intrigued by the brawny man before her. He had a personality that was unlike others in the Domain and definitely a pleasant surprise. The Lordess listened with an encouraging demeanor and enlightened smile upon her lips. While Leon spoke of the route to where he was from her ees darted as if marking the path in her head to gain a scope of the direction, until he mentioned the squirrel. She gently chuckled with him to help him ease his nerves a bit more.
Ariana’s eyes observed a quick flash of an emotion within Leon and she thought she would speak on the detail as it felt important to him. “A linebaker for the Bruins? I apologize that I am unfamiliar with all the aspects of football, but it seems to be something to be proud of.” Her tone was complimentary to Leon with an easy smile to match her words.
Her hand gestured to him and slightly upward as she continued in a pleasing tone. “Sacramento is a city that can be diverse in many ways. Yet still not as overwhelming as a metropolis.” Her hand rose and she shook it gently as if there were no need for an apology for doing the right thing. “You have come to the right place for introductions. Also, so that I may assist you further, what Clan do you claim Mr. Jackson?” The Lordess did not like guessing or assuming this answer. For there were many in the Domain who did not fall into the usual types of their Families. Despite being still a young embrace, he knew enough of the Societies protocols. There was something natural about Leon as well that was not lost to the night yet.
Leon cringed slightly, and clasped his hands in front of his chest. Dammit, I knew I was leaving something out. Still, he was used to post-game interviews and rapid-fire questions, so he rebounded rather quickly. "Daeva, ma'am." he respectfully replied.
Ariana smiled with gentle nod of reassurance to the Incubus as he told of his clan. “Before we continue further, I would be suitable to go over a few things should you have questions this evening.”
Placing the few pieces of particular paper across her desk she nodded to Leon. “Let us look at the Laws of the Domain together.”
Her hand moved to guide down the side of the Laws. “We have Traditions. As long as you are upholding the Masquerade, you will not foresee an issue. You may interact with them, so long as you do not break the Masquerade. However, mortal laws will still apply if you are caught by their enforcement.” Ariana let that portion sink in and moved on.
“The next is Presentation and Acknowledgement. You are already currently meeting with myself for this. Your Priscus is Her Grace Alder Judex Twist and your Clan’s Whip is Madam Harpy Brown.” Her hand slipped to the next three areas. The Lordess still brought up this point to newly arrived since sometimes they met other neonates later and could at least point them in one direction.
“Personal Domain is forbidden to violate so long as they are in good standing. A Blood Hunt may only be called by myself or His Grace, Alder Prince Clarke Duke of Sacramento. If the need arises that you need to address him, please address him as His Royal Highness, Alder Prince Clark.” Her eyes looked to Leon’s as she told of Asa’s title. “His Majesty is also the only one who may grant the Right of Destruction. With this, Treason is also taken seriously as well as our customs of Etiquette.” Ariana paused a moment as he read through.
“As a matter of Inconcessus, those listed here are forbidden to feed upon. And last but not least, the point of Nota Bene.” Tapping on the final part of this list and letting the Daeva look upon its notations.
“In addition to these laws, we have customs of the Elysia. There are four places in the Domain that serve as our Elysia’s. However, kine do still inhabit some places within. Choose your words carefully within those walls. There is to be no violence within, and unless you are a member of the Prince’s court, the gifts of blood are forbidden as well.” The Lordess pulled back slightly allowing Leon to reread as necessary. “Please feel free to ask questions.” Ariana offered as she waited for his reply.
“I will also point you to our Kindred of Note. As you can see your Priscus is also one the Royal Hound. The Herald to our Prince is also Keeper Martha Villiers. Reeve Greyson may be able to assist you as well as the Deputies of our Domain. We have our Covenant Leaders should you ever be interested and there are the Prisci.” The Lordess’ hand moved to tap on the Domain map below. “These are our Regencies some of which have a Regent. There are Racks located within each, as well as the Communal Hunting Grounds. Its Rack belongs to His Majesty. If you wish to feed from the Regencies or one of the Racks you will need to discuss this with one of them. In His Majesty’s case, either myself or Herald Villiers.”
Ariana smiled as she looked to Leon and spoke with a pleasant grin. "Please, feel free to ask questions Mr. Jackson." Her hand flipped gently toward him in a patient manner as she awaited his reply.
Leon attentively read over the papers presented to him, glancing up and nodding in acceptance at each point. He sat quietly for a moment after his host had stopped speaking, still glancing over the papers.
He looked up and smiled. "Well, Madam Seneschal...", he said respectfully, having noted her emphasis on titles and taking care to address her properly. "... seems pretty straight-forward to me. Mostly it's just 'mind your manners' and 'use your brain' kinda stuff. Um, if it's not too much trouble, though, I do have a couple questions." He leaned back, putting his right hand on his knee with his elbow sticking out at an angle.
"Does His Royal Highness require a tribute of any sort to be paid?" He knew that each domain was different, and he had heard that, in some areas tributes were strongly encouraged, if not required.
"Also, um... regarding a haven. Is that something I need to find on my own, or will that be determined by someone else?" He put his arm down to the side, a little embarrassed at the fact that he had not thought that out before showing up.
"I s'pose the only other question I have is this: um... what's next?", he replied, eagerly awaiting her response.
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