The Succubus Club

[Princess]

Ana is entirely and utterly confused, and makes no effort to conceal her utter consternation at the dark and terrible turn this conversation seems to have taken. She looks back and forth between the various parties present, begins to back away, and fumblingly says, "I'm sorry, sir, I don't understand."

And she makes a point to state it, definitively, rather than allow her tone to rise at the end. Because apparently being uncertain was a horrible crime. Especially being uncertain of whoever this was in front of her she'd royally pissed off. But given the extent of his rage, and her own utter consternation, she leaves, swiftly, after a brief hesitation. She'd figured out what the hell just happened later, unless someone felt the need to stop her on her way out.

[Velma]

Velma had felt it the first time she had spoken with Anabella. She had dismissed it as a personality trait even if she knew that younglings with presumptuous manners were either too damn well connected or too stupid to even notice.
Somehow the Ravager suspected it was the second with this one… Anabella had found an excellent way to mess up with a Lord. Unfortunately for her this Lord also happened to be the Prince. And Velma knew precisely what this Prince could do.

The songstress almost felt bad for her but on the inside the Ravager had a grin from ear to ear. It felt so good watching her cousin walk away, it was moments like this that made her feel the joy of being… undead. Hopefully Anabella would learn and would outgrow it to, the words Dillon shared with her before he staked her in the Avalon meeting room came to mind. I've found that the Kindred who find a lasting place in this Domain are those who are willing to keep their chin up when adversity is thrown their way. she recalls… Anabella would need someone to explain that to her, and why she just can’t talk from high above to everyone who crosses paths with her.

And it will have to be me… I fix this mess I look good in everyone’s eyes. Because ultimately a Daeva doing bad would reflect on her as well… because if Anabella wasn’t a member of her family her blood would be doing a number on her right here right now like she had done with Emma French.

[Asa]

Asa relaxed as the neonate accepted the punishment. In a mortal, it would have been the icy tension of adrenaline; unused, fading. For him, it was the razor's edge of the Beast within, ready to claw it's way out and slowly fading behind the Man's consciousness. It wasn't entirely; he could feel a pressure, wanting to pursue the figure fading into the crowd.

Freddrick would have destroyed you.

He'd seen the last Prince do so, for similar. A terrible standard to use -- to stop shy of what one he hated so would have done to keep his own Humanity in check.

Asa's expression warmed again, thawing. He gave Velma a look of sympathy and condolence with a faint arch of his eyebrow. Family could be embarrassing, and the Ventrue's history wasn't pristine. In fact, it was an ongoing joke between his sister and him. He'd have to let her her know that she was winning again.

"I apologize for that unpleasantness," he said, looking from Velma to Hildegarde.

"Do we still feel like playing? I understand if the mood has been spoiled."

[Hildegarde Bingen]

"Oh no. Of course we should... play!" The puppet's mask lit up in a shy, but not innocent, grin.

Distract! Distract! Assage the more powerful Beast! Preen it! Survive! The thoughts raced unbidden through the maze of the Lord's mind, carrying a timbre she had almost forgotten: her own voice flooding her mind. This was how she had survived the long nights with only the tired, wounded, monster of the Count for company. She knew her place; she knew her role.

And her role was to entertain.

"Will it be played out here completely... or shall we gather some friends for a private drink elsewhere? I can obtain a discrete chauffeur if we need."

Her foot was tapping. She altered her pose in such a way that she could also start scanning the room.

[Velma]

Velma’s frustration at the behavior of her cousin is evident in the quiet sigh she produces when the Prince looks to her sharing his condolences. A single gesture summarized her stance in the matter… she wondered if she had ever been like that? Naaaa!

Martha should start handing them pamphlets during acknowledgement.

As soon as Asa finishes Velma recall’s what she had seen in the Ventrue that had left her so apprehensive the last time they spoke… it was amazing how he could shift his emotions so fast and almost imperceptibly.

“Excellent! Let’s play!” The foul mood is completely replaced by her gaming mood, a competitive smile meant she was ready.

”What are the stakes?” Stakes got it?

[Asa]

"Let's play!"

Asa's smile widened into a delighted grin; clearly, he enjoyed the prospect. As the Beast settled, it was the proverbial 'out of sight, out of mind'.

"On the premises," he restated, answering Hildegarde. He pointed upward, at the gallery balcony. "Up there, far edge, and we can release the curtains."

Exhibitionist? Maybe a little... but within the confines of The Masquerade. Besides, who would possibly object to watching either woman walk across the gallery and then behind drawn curtains? It would boost business for months.

For a moment, his eyes remained on his fellow Lord. It was almost like a strobe light effect, the bursts of animation, then stillness, then animation again.

Attention shifting to Velma, his eyebrow raised, and his expression became a mix: competitive, challenging, predatory, amused.

"Depends on what you're willing to lose."

He shook his head with a laugh. "I'll offer three months of the city's finest dining to the winner," he continued, referring to the Rack. "Your graciousness in playing my game with me is all I'll ask you to risk against that -- which leaves you two to hash out the stakes between you."

He knew neither could match his offer, so he hadn't asked -- but he had made it attractive enough to hopefully warrant their best efforts. Now, he was curious to see what they would ask of one another.

[Hildegarde Bingen]

Now Hildegarde's head did slip to one side as she turned her considering gaze upon Velma. "A small favour? I have nothing worth trading at this point. What do you say?" From across the room she caught a glimpse of her Grandsire nodding in subtle approval.

[Velma]

”Nothing worth trading? The succubus eyebrow actually rose a bit.
It was the first time she had heard a Lord saying that about herself.

”Don’t say that…” The Ravager’s smile widens just a bit.

”Otherwise as you know your favors will be worth less… ” There is a small pause to see if the Ventrue woman had really seen it coming.

”Let’s make it two trivials, what do you say Hildegard? Even if it doesn't equate to what our most gracious host has to offer it will surely spice up the event!” The word trivial clearly alluding to boons and prestation.

[Hildegarde Bingen]

"Two trivials it is," Hildegarde battered her eyes at her rival as a certain kind of excitement crept delicately onto her face. "Shall we begin?"

[Asa]

Asa nodded at the negotiation between Hildegarde and Velma Star . Without a Harpy, he supposed it fell to him to remember the agreement. Which wouldn't be hard to do. At the end of the night, one of the women would be one Minor Boon away from owing the other a Major -- which would make for either a lot of fun or a lot of boredom watching them Danse in the nights to come.

"Sounds perfect," he said with approval. Enough to be worthwhile, not enough to be onerous, and potential.

"See you ladies up there," he continued, nodding at the gallery, "In, say, half an hour?"

Let's get this party started! Post and then hit the dice roller and narrate results?!