Meet your Harpy II (OPEN)

[Velma]

The door to the Harpy’s office was open.

Velma had decided to make a small change in her office… she had never had an office in her life, not a proper one with a desk, books with interesting intellectual stuff that was never going to be read, with a photograph of her dog and her kids or with a huge frame of her degree in something very useful and equally interesting like the books on the shelve.

But you already knew that…

The back and left wall of her office were fully covered in a large painting. Pop Art if it was to be believed. The songstress was actually a fan of Andy Warhol. On the wall opposite to it there were dozens of vinyl covers adorning it, all of them from Jazz and Blues singers, some were alive, others long dead, some of them famous, others not so much… there was a quiet swing on one side of the office, there was no desk, only two red sofas facing one another around a small ottoman that was crowded with small wood tablets from Scrabble and a bright red lava lamp, there was only one word formed with the small wood pieces:

HARPY

13 points.

That got to be worth something!

Some Jazz seemed to be floating around the room, perhaps louder than it was to be expected for someone who was focused on her work game... the songstress was dragging at cost a new sofa for her office. It was a luxurious and provocative red loveseat. The noise could actually be heard above the music. When she finished positioning the new seat between the two sofas and around the ottoman she took a step back and remained still, quietly admiring her work.

Yes! This will do!

[Velma]

Velma turned her head in the door’s direction when she heard the polite knock on the door. She picked her IPhone and lowered the volume from the speakers until the music was just peaceful background.

She smiled to Balwin taking a moment to study the Haunt.

Velma herself was using a simple but elegant black dress with dark stockings. She had left her heels somewhere around her office so that she would be able to drag her new loveseat to its intended place.

”Sir Baldwin!” Her hands opened in a welcoming gesture.

”Please be welcome! I have been waiting for your visit for a while… I’m glad you could pass by!” The songstress moved closer to the ottoman and pointed the Knight towards the loveseat inviting him to try out her new furniture…

”Please take a seat!”

“I apologize for being sooo busy today, let me just grab my shoes.” With elegant naked footsteps Velma traverses the room and picks up the two abandoned black Louboutins.

”So, Sir Baldwin, what brings you to my company?” By now the Succubus was returning to her sit with both her heels in hand.

[Velma]

“I see…” Velma says as she moves to sit into one of the sofas. She stays at the border of the sofa and inclines so that she might be able to fit in her shoes in place.

”Well, yes to both we being due to talk and to me enjoying my new role.” Her eyes were still cast downwards as she finished putting her shoes. When she was finished she moved her feet sideways to make sure everything was perfect, not minding Baldwin for a moment but then lifting her face to look to him and return back the attention he was due.

With her two grey blue eyes locked into Baldwin she adjusted herself in the sit pulling her body backwards to a more comfortable position and then she crossed her legs over one another. The tip of her black Louboutins pointing towards Baldwin.

She finally smiled as if it had all been some undue interruption.

”There were a few things that were left unsaid in the Reeve’s office, and I prefer not to leave things unsaid between people I respect or that I consider worthy of my time.” It was true, not because Baldwin was a knight but because he actually was starting to prove himself worthy of the title.

”Do you understand why I did what I did that night in Elysium?”

[Velma]

Velma listened to the Haunt’s words confirming he had grasped the message she had tried to pass. Not just that but he had actually connected the dots of their main strategy for the domain… there were just a few details that Baldwin probably hadn’t been privy to that the Ravager would probably consider sharing with him once and if he managed to earn her full trust.

”I’m glad you understood the core part of the message, Sir Baldwin.” The Daeva looks over her shoulder and yes, her door needed to be closed. In fact talking covenant business in her office would probably be old news if she managed to put her plans into motion…

The Daeva moves up from her seat and calmly traverses the space separating her from the door and closes it. Once she hears it closing she smiles. Unlike the Reeve she wasn’t fond of locking her door for other less obvious reasons.

”I believe we will be more quiet now…” And with that she resumes to her seat again, slow steps, a beautiful smile and then elegantly crossing her legs over one another. She was comfortably seating again.

”Another issue that is somehow related to the previous one is actually having you finding a domain position that suits your unique skills.” Velma raises her shoulders as if she was stating the obvious. A Knight's mandate to act was actually very limited in this domain. Acquiring a domain position that enabled him to use martial prowess could prove to be useful.

”Things for you got slightly complicated as of late.” Her smile dissipates as her expression turns to neutral. She was all business now.

”The actual name of your problem is a recently returned kindred by the name of Tracy Burns.” Velma almost inhaled and sighed when she mentioned Tracy.

”She is a feisty naïve looking redheaded female Savage that has once belonged to Reeve Connery’s deputy cadre… hand picked and groomed by him if I’m not to be mistaken.” And from there she resumed silence, she wanted Baldwin to get the full picture and actually make the questions.

[Velma]

At the question posed by Balwin, Velma inclined and reached for the Scrabble tiles kneeling closely to the small ottoman, her face was now lit by the red lava lamp as she searched for specific letters.

REEVE

8 points

I guess he is worth less than the Harpy… Not even Velma actually believed that. She had tested his mettle in combat and in several other situations… not only had she been unsuccessful but she had fallen victim to him before.

When she started joining tiles the songstress crossed the R from Harpy with the R from Reeve.


“You see!" She opened the palm of her hand to present her masterpiece.

”The Reeve and the Harpy actually have something in common!” She continued now seating in the floor near the small table.

”In your place I would find someone who could help you and guide you on how to fall in the Reeve’s good graces and at the same time hinder the progress of Miss Burns…” There was a light shrug… it was obvious and she knew Balwin knew who could help him. The fact he had asked revealed just that.

With their unspoken agreement set Velma continued, she was now looking at the other tiles intensely. The Ravager was solving a puzzle.

”Before being Reeve, Reeve Connery used to serve as the bodyguard for then Herald Villiers in the role of deputy under former Reeve Greyson.” The songstress still recalled the mysterious Shadow and his inscrutable behavior as well as her acknowledgement into the city. She met Martha and Dillon that day.

”You can try approaching Seneschal Villiers to help serve as security for her to earn your name… she is always in the face of danger during acknowledgements.” It would be the sort of work that Dillon could easily relate to she reasoned.

”I don’t see any of the current Regents actually needing an Hound, that can also be a venue of power that you can try to pursue… maybe I can inquire with Regent Redfill should you wish… but I think he would be inclined to select a member of the ordo as his right hand... guess who happens to be a member of the Ordo Dracul?” Let’s not even talk about Brady or Roxy.

”Again the same applies to the position of Hound for Regent Connery… you are not a Gangrel.” It actually sucked a lot for Baldwin. He should have moved faster.

”If worst comes to worst I would advise you to search for help with the Seneschal… she will certainly be keen once you have proved yourself an able body for security that you can actually become a Keeper…” Maybe that was not the option Peter was after but it was nothing to shun. The ability to carry weapons into Elysium, during court. Nothing to scoff at, and there was always recognition to be had…

He would only need to learn how to prepare cocktail parties...

There was no other option except the last one.

”There is actually another option… a position in the Domain that has been vacant since the former Priscus of my clan left the city… the Alder Duchess Twist" The respectful tone that Velma adopted was probably indication enough of the reverence she had for the woman… if Alder, Duchess Priscus and Archon weren’t indication enough of her prestige and reputation.

ARCHON

11 points

Still worth less than the Harpy…

This time the tiles the songstress crossed were the A from Harpy with the A from Archon.

"She was also an Archon, the Royal Hound.” The Harpy finally concluded, hopefully sparking something in Peter - an objective for him to pursue.

”Those are some big shoes to fill… but eventually someone will have to perform that role. This time around you would need someone who could vouch for your worth with His Grace, the Prince.” The corner of her lip actually perked up a bit. The Succubus was wondering what sort of venue Baldwin would choose to follow… was he an ambitious kindred of quality?