(Private) Semi Informal Invictus Meeting

[Daniella Sage]

Daniella spent some time preparing the room, making sure there were enough chairs, placing a vase full of Iris’s in the center of the table. There was also a soft smell of Japanese Cherry Blossom in the air. Those paying attention will notice that most of the chairs have been pushed aside and out of the way.

In front of three of the chairs are two different types of flowers. The women had a white carnation, placed carefully, while Roderick had a camellia just as carefully placed. She didn’t expect any of them to understand the meaning of the flowers, but she was making an effort to hold a successful meeting. Though she was nervous, this was her first time hosting an Invictus meeting, and a lot of thought had gone into it. But those those who enter, Daniella had an air of calmness. She was in charge.

She stood at the head of the table, looking stunning in an indigo colored dress, her long hair pulled up in a ponytail and a single necklace around her neck. Her hands were clasped in front of her as she waits to see who would be the first to arrive. She had taken away some of the seating challenge, giving the new faces a small break. But there would be tests to come....oh yes....the test would come.
@Brenn Lawrence @Claire Tunt @Roderick

[Moonfang]

Punctuality was something that was beaten into Roderick by the hands of screaming drill sergeants threatening to put boots in places they don't belong. An hour before the meeting, he was dressed and ready in the best formal attire he could get his hands on. Though he realized the pointlessness of the act as the meeting was more or less down the hall of his current home in the Avalon itself. He spent the remainder of the time polishing his shoes and attending to the finer points of his appearance.

When the time finally came, he started the walk towards the meeting room. His pants and jacket wrinkle free, his tie straight and up tight, his shoes polished to a shine. First impressions are everything. If he wanted to be known as a professional and a man who could take care of things, he had to dress like it. He remembered what the Au Pair told him about accessories and dressed accordingly. Under the bottom of his jacket on the left hand side but still visible was an empty sheath for a bowie knife. In his jacket pocket was a kaiken in a polished wooden sheath to match the hilt, wrapped carefully in the handkerchief that came with the jacket.

After waiting a few moments to ensure he wasn't too early, Roderick opened the door to the meeting room. The moment the air rushed out of the room from the door being opened, Roderick was forcibly sent back in time. A faint voice tickled at his ear and he looked towards the lone figure in the room. "Miyako-sama," he whispered before catching himself. The image clearing to that of Daniella Sage, one he is learning quickly has a love for the fragile blossom. The old solder gently touched the wooden handle exposed from his pocket before walking into the meeting room. He walks before Daniella and gives a small bow, "Good evening, Lady Sage."

Looking towards the three chairs, he caught sight of the flowers. Although he couldn't think of the meaning of them, he did catch that there was a pair and then a single. An outcast or elevated? Or perhaps just separate in some aspect from the other two? Taking a gamble, Roderick motioned to the camellia. "My seat," he asked Daniella as he walked towards the chairs.

[Claire Edmonton]

It was hard to argue with the universality of wearing black, and the formality of the lace nicely offset her desire to feel hugged by her attire. The gold necklace adorned with a singular, large, flawless amethyst would show she had done her homework regarding clan colors. And most importantly, she was ever so slightly early - enough to prove she could arrive promptly without the slightest inconvenience to a host, or business partner.

And tonight she should very much enjoy getting down to business, if her hostess would allow her opportunity. She had a remarkably low opinion of the willfully unaligned, and had no desire to be seen as such by others.

"I should hope your evening proceeds wonderfully, Lady Sage," she remarks with polite decorum, nodding her head and smiling towards the Au Pair. She waits for her introduction before she speaks with the rather rough looking man taken with the pink flower.

[Brenn Lawrence]

The night had finally come where Brenn would begin her relationship with the Invictus, and not for the first time was she glad that her insides lay quiet in their undead housing. The weight of the evening hung heavily upon her, but she couldn't feel the familiar nausea from her living days. Instead her nervousness abounded in a sense of unending anticipation that frayed her attention and set her fingers to tug uselessly at her hair. She stopped several blocks form the Avalon and looked up at the sky, drinking in the sight of the cold fire above. She caught sight of Cassiopeia sitting in her chair above, and her surprise drove some her anxiety away. Brenn wasn't one to pick omens out of the world around her, but not being a practiced astronomer she usually couldn't find the fabled W shape in the stars, but finally seeing it now inexplicably raised her hopes. Whatever was to be, the stars would continue to burn, and that thought gave the young haunt some comfort.

With a renewed sense of purpose she finished her trek to the Avalon and entered the meeting room. She was dressed in an all black suit, sans tie, and a black beret with a silver fist-shaped pin sat proudly on her head. She gave a clumsy bow to Daniella first, and then inclined her head to the two other kindred in the room. It seemed her bit of star gazing had cost her the joy of being first, but she saw she wasn't entirely late, as no one had taken a seat.

"Thank you for the invitation, Lady Au Pair Sage, and please allow me to bid you, and your other guests, a good evening," Brenn said after a moment, finding words that she thought fit the mood.

[Daniella Sage]

Daniellas sensitive ears pick up on the whisper, it didn’t sound familiar to her, but was interesting none the less. An eyebrow is raised when she notices him fiddling with something in his pocket, surely he wasn’t stupid enough to bring a weapon into an Invictus meeting, she thinks. But she was pleased to see he had taken her advice and invested in a rather sharp looking suit.

She gives a nod of her head, acknowledging the bow, “Good evening Mr Pearson.” She said, forgoing this title, he would receive a new one this evening. A slow smile appears on her face as he mentioned his chair, and she simply nods her head, good call. But in all fairness it was an easy choice to make, there only being one male.

And next to enter was Claire, and Daniella notes the lack of a bow, clearly a lack of respect. Inwardly she sighs, seems they were going to have to address etiquette and manners this evening. She had hope that Claire would learn, well, one way or another she would learn, thinks Daniella with a sly smile. “Good evening Miss Tunt, it shall certainly be a wonderful evening.” She answers back, wondering if Claire would take her seat.

Finally Brenn enters, and Daniella was pleasantly surprised to see her in a black suit, seemed the Haunt had put some thought into her attire this evening. The bow was clumsy, but Brenn had made the effort. Daniella saw something in the Haunt that those before her had not, she had more to offer the Invictus than met the eye. “You are most welcome Miss Lawrence, a good evening to you as well.”

She then makes an open handed gesture to the chairs, “Please, have a seat and we can begin introductions.”

[Moonfang]

With the confirmation, Roderick took his seat. Leaning down to gently stroke a finger along the petals of the flower. He didn't give the other's introductions a thought until he heard Lawrence's name. He straightened up and looked towards Lady Sage and the woman she spoke with who turned out to indeed be the Nosferatu he had meet back in the court! He had to blink a few times to relax his eyes that had shot open in surprise at seeing her in an Invictus meeting. He doesn't speak up though, instead making a mental note to speak with her after the meeting.

[Claire Edmonton]

"Of course, Lady Sage," Claire replies with a bow of her head. She would have to ask whether the other one's bow were expected or an over-the-top flourish to which Sage smiled out of amusement rather than appreciation. She had numerous questions to ask, of course, and this would simply be one of many.

Taking a seat where she believes she should, Claire attentively awaits further conversation in polite silence.

[Brenn Lawrence]

Brenn inclined her head in acknowledgement of the Lady's instructions, and soon found her seat. She looked for a moment at the flower before her, wondering at the significance. She knew Daniella had picked these particular species with particular meanings in mind, the Mekhet was not one to do things carelessly, but the Haunt was rather uneducated in flower theory. Next, her eyes temporarily alighted upon Roderick, the haunt a bit surprised to see him at the table. Perhaps she shouldn't have been, as an ex-soldier might well enjoy the hierarchy and discipline of the Invictus, as well as the social rank he might gain. Claire was also looked over, but Brenn wasn't surprised to see her there. The Ventrue looked like someone the Invictus would accept into their ranks.

OOC Apologies

My apologies for holding us up. Busy end of the week :(

[Daniella Sage]

She watches each person take a seat before sitting herself. Her legs crossed gently at the ankles and were tucked off to the side of the office chair. Her hands were neatly folder upon the table.

“Again, I thank you all for coming this evening. I shall start off the introductions, then you may each proceed with your own.” She said, looking to each of them, “I am Lady Au pair Daniella Sage, Mistress Keeper of the Domain of Sacramento. Childe of Alder Duke Atherton, Prince of Rothbury.” She speaks the name with respect, though inside she curses his ashes. She then looks around the table, wondering who would be the first to speak.

[Moonfang]

Roderick was the first to raise, standing tall with his hands crossed behind his back and his feet slightly apart. He lifted his chest and looked forward just above Daniella's head as he clearly spoke.

"My name is Roderick Pearson, formerly of the United States Army's 75th Ranger Regiment. Childe of Miyako, former Advocate of the Los Angeles Invictus." When he speaks the name of his sire, his voice is one of adoration and honor but it catches just slightly to the attentive ear when he mentioned her being a 'former' Advocate. When he is finished, he clicks his heels together and sets his arms at his side before giving a short bow. He returns to his seat then and quietly awaits the next introductions.