(1410) Eternal Court XXXII

[Yumyumcrow]

Nox Populi

The Nox Populi Nightclub.

A Latin motto is inscribed over the doorway as one descends The Stairs. It reads in delicate silver lettering: "Per Ardua Ad Astra" ~ through struggle, to the Stars.

In the heart of downtown Sacramento there is a place of intrigue, excitement and entertainment. The modern flare of this venue is host to exclusive parties. The seduction of this establishment may take you away as you drink, dance and socialize. There are private services available upon request. The best DJ’s in town are in line to play a wide variety of music.

Some of you may dine…as long as you have your VIP pass.
A notice is affixed to the wall near the bottom of The Stairs and in the Elevator:

Eternal Court XXX

Welcome, Kindred of Sacramento.

Our lower Elysian Field features an new elevator, a large closet and the chambers of our Court Officials.

There is a small dancing area and discrete Feeding Rooms, should you require either. The bathrooms are upstairs, so please inform your Herd and/or Ghouls of its whereabouts. As a reminder, no weapons are allowed which also applies to most Disciplines (This does not apply to city Officials or Deputies) ~ an excepts the use of the useful Mask of Tranquility.

You are able to speak freely in the lower level without worry of any sort of breach. This is a place to socialize, meet and welcome new Kindred to our Domain. Remember, the Principles of the Elysian Fields apply at all Court functions whether Official Court or during times of normal Elysian Fields.


So it was another evening. Another Court. For some it will their first, for some it shall be their last.

The Court area is decorated with long black and purple silken drapes cascading from floor to ceiling. Draped in elegant bunches and gathered into valances across door frames and between supporting pillars.

Tonight the cloying scent of musk tickles the nose; the lighting is intentionally low.

A delicately painted pattern and illustrations of an ancient and strange Zodiac adorns the ceiling.

Beethoven's Symphony No.3 in E Flat Major, Op.55 Eroica plays in the background to accompany the Vampires and their Ghouls or servants as they arrive. It calls to the Kindred of the Domain: a summons and a demand for civility, as if the Court seeks to allay the fears unleashed at the last Court with its brutal conclusion.

Adorning the walls and carefully lit are truly large digital prints of NASA's renderings of the largest galactic entities and the very farthest reaches of Deep Space.

Court is open once more...

Welcome one and all, to the next Court. Anyone may attend, even those who have yet to formally exit the previous Court. Thank you and good luck

[Konrad Roth]

-1 Vitae for Blush of Life

Over a month has passed since the Kindred of Sacramento have gathered for another Court. A blink of an eye for the eyes of immortals. Or a tedious repetition of hunts and daysleep for others. The hunger of the Beast always calls for more, and so they rise to at least try and sate its appetite.

Konrad still remembers what transpired last time. The Final Death of a Kindred is no laughing matter to him, though some seemed to revel in it. He did not know Gunnar, nor the circumstances of his Diablerie, whether it was imagined, presumed, or truthful. Perhaps he would learn more about it tonight. But there is more important issues at hand for Konrad, namely his own Requiem. The Danse continues.

The fear sweeps through him as he lets down the Aspect of Predator within his Blood. The press of Beasts seem more monstrous as he descends the stairs into Nox underground. The illusion of safety provided by the designated Elysium has been shattered. The Prince rules here and his will is law. His subordinates are cocked and loaded for swift enforcement. Respect will be shown. Obedience will be shown. Or else...

He leaves his long thick leather jacket and additional equipment at the coat check. Its protection would do him little good considering the lethality of those present or expected to arrive. His attire is otherwise a simple gray button-up shirt and black tie, wrinkled slightly, along with black slacks held in place by a simple belt. Yet he still wears his worn sneakers that refrain from complimenting the ensemble.

[Premsyl]

A silver Mercedes Benz pulls up to the valet stand at the Nox. The rear passenger door is opened and out steps a youthful seeming, good looking man with short curly brown hair and a neatly kept beard and mustache. Cameron Levine is impeccably dressed in a tailored grey Ralph Lauren suit, complete with white undershirt, navy blue tie, and a diamond pin on the lapel. On his wrist is a finely crafted timepiece, a Vacheron Tour de l’Ile that he only wore on special occasions.

And this is a special occasion, he thought as he stood on the curb regarding the facade of the building. For me, at least. Behind him, his ghoul retainer, Alejandro, handed the car keys to the valet before coming to heel behind his master. The ghoul was a large, imposing man of Mexican descent and he wore large gold rings on multiple fingers, a long platinum chain, and diamond earrings in each earlobe. Alejandro liked the jewelry well enough, as far as Cameron knew, however that wasn't the primary reason behind its display. The ability to adorn oneself and ones people in extravagant finery sends a message at first impression. A message that Cameron felt was particularly important on a night like tonight.

The doorman of the club took one glance at Cameron's getup and entourage before stepping aside for him to walk inside. The club was going off that night, as most nights, and the sights and smells of humanity surrounded him on all sides. He moved quickly through the crush of people toward the stairs that descended into the building's underground section. It wouldn't do for him to remain surrounded by so much rushing blood when he had, by necessity of propriety and deference, neglected to feed since he'd arrived in town the night before. He was grateful for the dim lighting in the club as he was certain that his complexion was more than a bit unsettling, and he didn't have the blood to spare on the comforts of mortals.

As he stood on the threshold between the Kine nightclub and the Kindred Elysium he smirked at the strangeness of it all. Up here, his status as a predator among sheep notwithstanding even, he was a king among peasants. All he'd have to do is throw around some money and in a heartbeat he'd be waited on hand and foot; doted upon by the myriad types of parasites who dwelled in these darklit places. However, as soon as he crossed that threshold, all that would change. It wasn't that money meant nothing to the Kindred, but it mattered little when compared to status, relationships, and reputation. Tonight Cameron was the new kid in school - and he knew it. He tightened his tie, straightened his cuffs, banished any nervous twinges that came with the knowledge that a faux pas here would mean an early end to his time in Sacramento (or worse), and descended the stairs.

He came to the landing at the base of the stairs and as he enters the Court proper he is immediately assaulted by the presence of The Beast. He stops for a moment, as his nostrils flare and his teeth grit together involuntarily as there is a brief struggle for control between the Monster caged within him and the Man who held its leash. The Man prevailed as he (usually) always does, and Cameron cleared the threshold, striding easily, straight backed with the hint of a confident smile, forward into the main room.

The thumping bass from the dance music upstairs gave way to the sometimes soft and sweet and other times soaring and crashing music of old Ludwig Van, and Cameron smiled to hear it. At least it isn't Moonlight Sonata he thought with a soft chuckle. He noticed the other two gentlemen already in attendance, taking stock of their appearance but refraining from approaching either one at this point. If either were to look over at him and catch his gaze Cameron would simply offer a light smile and cordial nod to his fellow Vampire.

Instead of immediately seeking company Cameron leisurely walks the edges of the room, flanked ceaselessly by his ghoul companion, and seeming to admire the interstellar displays that had been put up along the walls. In truth, though, he was endeavoring to make himself obvious. To be That New Guy. A setup like this, he thought, no doubt has individuals whose specific job it was to notice fresh faces in the crowd and take appropriate action.

[Chris Wooding]

Court.

Some like it. Some hate it.

The Hierophant is just strongly disliking it at the moment. The time for grief or anger has passed, but all that remained is a bitter feeling. He has no actual goals for the evening. The neutrality of his grey suit is quite symbolic. He would just be here, even if only for his Covenant.

Though I imagine that more people have some "questions" for me.

Sigh. Or maybe everyone would just like to go on with their Requiems. Chris is not sure which scenario he prefers. Like everything in the media today - there's always a new story so soon that even the worst crisis can be forgotten in a week. He doesn't want Gunnar to be forgotten, does he? Yes "the Circle" had a diablerist, but no one would ever know his story. Not everyone could just agree with the Prince on this matter. Or do they?

Chris walks down the stairs into the underground level of Nox. He shakes his head, an attempt to stop thinking about last Court. New faces have already arrived, he sees. His Beast, more emotional than usual, is quite aggressive. Chris clenches his teeth. Another rich guy parading around Court? Why not destroy him before he can even introduce himself? Just turn this Requiem to ash like it's worth nothing?

No. He closes his eyes for a second. This man too is a creation of the Goddess. Who am I to undo her work?

Who does everyone that joined the Bloodhunt think they are? Members of this Domain. Chris will have to take a look at them again.

[Michael Travis]

The Danse Macabre. Bloodsuckers with politics and webs of intrigue outside those of the Kine. The Courts were one more way in which monsters like Michael strutted, connived, cajoled and groveled to carve out their places in the world of night. His Sire been with him at his first Court and warned him of the dangers that lurk behind the smiling faces.

Michael hated Court.

Michael arrives, hoping it is still early enough to avoid the pressing throng of other Kindred and their Beasts. He is pale and his gaze appears distant. To his dismay, he spies some new faces before he even enters the club. He wrestles with the panic his Beast demands of him, all the while showing nothing. Michael is not one to be ruled by his impulses - he mastered his emotions in life, before his Requiem demanded it. He walks quietly through the crowd, projecting an external air of calm and control, and towards the inner doors to the Nox. I too am a hunter. He runs a hand through his neatly trimmed, short red-brown hair as a way of comforting himself.

Tonight Michael dresses without pretense; a black, form-fitting, hooded sweater that zips up the front and a matching pair of black sweatpants. Michael dresses to blend in when among the Kine, but here he dresses as a Shadow. Innocuous and without vanity. Tonight he would walk in among many of his own kind and simply listen. And watch. Always watching.

[Daniella Sage]

It was another night of the Danse, which meant a new Court. Time to mingle with old faces, and maybe meet new ones.

Daniella always enjoyed Court, it gave her an excuse to shop and dress up. This evenings gown was indigo, with a short front, and a back that was longer and flowed as she walked. It was a look she fell in love with when she saw the dress and tried it on. Her long dark hair was swept off her shoulders and was gently curled in soft waves. Make-up was at a minimum, only mascara and a light lip tint.

As she gracefully walks down the stairs into Court, she pauses at the bottom. Both giving her a chance to see who was already there, and to allow her Beast a moment to deal with the others. There was the pull at the leash as it rose to challenge the weaker Beasts already present.

When her will won, and her Beast was once again caged, she made her way into Court. Her dark eyes find familiar faces, and a smile and respectful nod were given to Peter Peter Baldwin . And then she sees a new face. What luck!

And so she walks over to the new Kindred, stopping a respectful distance before speaking. Both in respect, and to allow her Beast the chance to snarl and growl before putting it in its corner.

“The art work is lovely isn’t it?” says the British Shadow with a friendly smile. “I haven’t seen you at Court before, allow me to introduce myself, I am Lady Daniella Sage, Au Pair of the First Estate and Mistress Keeper of the Ballo Della Notte, welcome to Sacramento.” Premsyl