(1505) Vivian, Sergei, Jo, Rina, Kenneth

[Kenneth Gilroy]

“ Bishop Sterling , how are you this evening?” he asked, addressing his covenant leader first. Such as a leader among two was a leader.

“ Mr. Lukyanenko ,” he hesitated trying to bring up the other’s name before it came to him “ Ms. Yui ; it’s good to see you both again."

The final Kindred , though by far the most enticing and delightful of the group by far, was not one he knew by name.

"And I don't believe we've been formally introduced. I'm Kenneth Gilroy, Lay Brother of the Lancea et Sanctum. It's an honor to meet you.," he groveled.

[Cabochard]

"As am I, Miss York." Really, what was with everyone and trying to make her use their first name? Didn't anyone have any regard for proper etiquette? Or maybe they just all wanted to proposition her - Rina had noted a certain propensity towards sleeping with anything that moves, among the Daeva and the Ventrue. Maybe that was it. On the other hand, the creepy man confirmed that Josephine was Bishop.

Rina dropped into a low bow across the room as the Duke and the Duchess ( Asa Twist )entered, dropping to less than a 90 degree angle, as if fully intending to mash her face into the floor in greeting. Her head stopped well short, however, and she looked back up at the others, waiting expectantly.

[Josephine Sterling]

"Actually, it is just Sister Josephine, if you wish to address me with regard to my status in the Lancea Sanctum," the scholar informed Kenneth with a polite smile, before transferring her gaze to Vivian and Rina. "And thank you, Vivian, I'm glad that you enjoy it. I was curious what you might say this outfit was expressing, since you're fond of analyzing the art of fashion, but it wasn't the only reason I wore it of course. Its very fitting for where we're standing, I would venture to say. What of you, Madame Yui? What would you say?"

The Ventrue's black eyes landed on Rina's equally dark gaze, Josephine's smile twisting slightly broader with the question. There was a certain joy to be held when one prodded others into speech.

[Kenneth Gilroy]

Kenneth gave Josephine a curious look for half a second before he relaxed his expression so it wouldn't look like he was questioning her. She planned to host Black Mass. As an apostolica it needed to be officiated by a priest. Josephine therefore had to be a priest. As the most powerful priest in the Domain (by default of being the only one), that made her Bishop. Perhaps she was simply presenting a face of humility. Or maybe he had assumed too much.

If she wasn't a priest though, why not seize the title while there was no one to contradict her? For Gilroy the answer was that his curse made him a poor choice for leader of the covenant. However, such barriers where not even a consideration for the Ventrue. If she wasn't a priest and was still intending to conduct the Midnight Mass then if a church official later came to the Domain and discover the transgression then that could spell trouble. He would have to ask thoughts in private. Questions about position here would be airing dirty laundry.

"My mistake," he said simply.

He turned as others started making bows en mass. It could only mean one thing. The Prince had arrived. He was soon able to pick out the leader of the Domain from the direction every one was bowing. Kenneth recognized Twist but not the man beside her. However, the man's commanding poise was noticeable even with the distraction of the scantily clad woman. Gilroy followed suit and performed a knock-kneed, cringing bow that seemed to shrink the Nosferatu to less than half his height.

[Cabochard]

Rina only blinks silently at the apparently-not-Bishop. What did she know about clothes? Not much. Definitely not enough to figure out if bright colors and eye-pain were fitting for where they were, really. Was she talking about Hell, or the club? Ultimately, not a sound issues from the Shadow, as she simply stares at Josephine.

Her eyes move quickly to Vivian at her question. "It seemed right."

[Josephine Sterling]

"Well, Vivian, I'll be preaching on something quite close to it, soon. I suppose I could have entered heaven as the malcontent and attempted to revise the misguided direction of our peers, but that would just be redundant. Besides, Hell is a state of mind, and beyond that, it is in our souls. It matters not if those who tread in the imitation of God's vaunted Kingdom imagine themselves in a state of Grace. Their minds still know it is a lie, and their souls still tremble with terror and hate at the very presence of others of our kind. It is inescapable," Josephine replied, a languid joy riding her words, a half smile upon her black stained lips.