From the Depths

Aug 4th, 2015 04:07 PM

David looks at the torpid form of Rina Yui on a plush couch in the Green Room. He's still, silent, and standing, striding the invisible line between opulent and concrete brutalism. The last few nights have been difficult to say the least. The mind shattering report of shotguns still rolls around in the Mekhet's thoughts.

What they set out to do, however, was done.

Straiphen, the Tyrant-Prince, was destroyed. Erika Brady was denied her prize.

David doesn't feel like celebrating. The cost of coming even this far, was high; the evidence stares the Dragon in the face. Further, the knowledge that this is only the beginning of the end sobers him.

The text-messages were tapped out quickly as soon as the group emerged from the ground. One is far more brief than the other; striving to keep Asa only seemingly disconnected. The other contains a request that was granted. The Dragon trusts Cozette to know what to do. She is the caretaker of this house.

Tucked into a corner, restrained as much as the diminutive Asp is using the toys of the trade, is the last loose end. A cop who's life David saved if only for another few nights. The Shadow only spares the Highway Patrolman an indignant look before returning his attention to Rina.

David merely waits.

Waiting for the others or the end, it's hard to tell.

**Kenneth Gilroy** · Aug 4th, 2015 09:39 PM

Gilroy was uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable. He didn't hunt at clubs on most nights. He tended to draw too much attention. Even just the short walk to the basement of the Nox, garnered him stares of disbelief that he had even been let in.

Still, he was more or less used people giving him disgusted looks when he passed by. That's not what bothered him in this case. The Asylum had a slightly different atmosphere and clientele than any locale he'd ever been too. He was having trouble believing this place existed, much less was legal nowadays. True, there were some people giving the stink eye but it was the ones that leered approvingly at Gilroy that really unsettled him. He hurried to the room before the situation escalated.

"Mr. Regan," Kenneth greets the Shadow. He glances around the room noting Rina's corpse on the couch and the the officer 'tied up' in a corner. It certainly seemed to fit the theme of the place.

**Josephine Sterling** · Aug 5th, 2015 02:01 AM

With a trunk full of exciting, slightly used, and now unloaded toys, Josephine joined the others inside the Asylum. Her outfit was definitely the worse for wear after the trek through the sewers and the frenzy which followed it, the seams holding the left sleeve onto the body of jacket half undone and with many, many unmentionable stains, but the Ventrue's hair and make-up is oddly preserved, only having required a small touch up via the car mirror...An insignificant blessing for one such as her, who didn't languish over lost time.

Her features were entirely schooled as she entered the room, her face a mask which betrayed no comment as to what had happened, or what might happen next.

Aug 5th, 2015 04:54 PM

Having just finished a play scene, Katya emerges from a private room, dressed in black jeans and a matching tank top. Her hair is tied up in a bun with several long tresses sticking out and dangling behind her neck. She is about to walk to the bar and take a quick break when she follows the trail of faces in the crowd following the path of a woman whose jacket seemed to have taken a bit of some wear-and tear. It's when she sees her and feels a sudden rise of emotion, a drive that makes Katya want to -wear and tear into the unsuspecting patron, that Katya recognizes Josephine. shortly after, she sees another familiar face, one that looks like he doesn't want to be there, and then she wonders what Kenneth is doing here.

Is there some sort of Penance the Second Estate feels the need to endure that I wasn't aware of?

She follows the two Sanctified through the Asylum and then stops when she sees them enter the Green room. Stopping just outside of the door, Katya isnt quite sure what the nature of their business is, but doesn't recall Cozette mentioning people booking the room. Skeptical that they are here for the actual purpose of the Asylum, Katya decides she should at least make sure that they have everything they need and so she lightly taps on the door with her fist. With any luck, they'll just want to ensure no one else has the room reserved.

-1 for blush of life

**Cozette** · Aug 5th, 2015 07:04 PM

http://nwod.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=4805&d=1438818948

The door opened, and a (tonight) golden mane with familiar downcast eyes regarded Katya.

Like she'd stepped out of a fashion magazine's feature on Secretary's Day, Cozette Muriel was sheathed in a dark pencil skirt and oxford. Anyone can pull off the Slutty version of the Secretary uniform. With a blouse buttoned to the top, and pencil skirt past the knees, the outfit left everything to the imagination except for the lie of the opaque fabrics.

The door opened wider, and the ghoul moved to the side, exposing the tableau of corpses she'd been silently regarding.

**Twist** · Aug 5th, 2015 09:27 PM

The asylum.

Oddly enough, it wasn't a venue Twist often lingered at. If asked she would why, she would no doubt reply with an innocuous enough answer. But the truth had much more to do with stung pride than lack of time. Though she would be hard pressed to admit it even to herself.

However, wandering through the crowds now, she wondered if maybe it wasn't time to add this little corner of Sacramento to her routine. Eventually though, duty called and she found herself standing behind the another who stood before the green room door.

Smiling past her at Cozette, she shifted enough to make a sound to notify @Katya Harding that there was a presence behind her. After all, she wasn't so rude as to breeze by the Seneschal of the city.

Aug 6th, 2015 05:48 PM

Kenneth's initial greeting earns David attention and the Shadow's head turns away from Rina to look towards the Worm. The movement is much too smooth, a lot like a clockwork bird. The Shrike senses nothing from Kenneth as David's gaze lingers on the servile man; sensing only a void where a Beast should be. David offers, “Mr. Gilroy,” only as a clipped greeting.

It's Josephine's arrival and her weakness that raises the Shrike's ire and contempt. A fantasy of violence and ash rides the embers out of the cold fire of David's anger. But they are only embers and the desire is easily smothered.

“Josephine,” David says, whatever else he might add is halted by the knock at the door.

Looking past the golden haired woman as Cozette opens the door, David keys in on Katya ( sumthingpositiv ). The Companion wants nothing more than to destroy the young neonate who dares to intrude on his space. His Beast imagines what it would be like to close the gap in loping steps and to end her Requiem right here. This black impulse, much like the last one, is held beneath balled up fists, closed eyes, and a slow intake of breath.

When David opens his eyes again, Twist has also manifested at the door. The Shadow offers both women a deferential bow of his head. “Please come in,” The Shadow Priscus offers the pair of women in meek, soft-spoken tones. To Cozette, “Merci, Madamoiselle Muriel. Attendons-nous quelqu'un d'autre?”

**Kenneth Gilroy** · Aug 7th, 2015 09:32 PM

Gilroy's Bishop and the Prince's Archon arrived. Additionally Seneschal Harding seemed to have taken an interest. Or had Regan invited her? Kenneth knew this was where Katya worked. Had Regan chosen it so that she could be included?

"Sister Josephine, Ms. Twist, Ms. Harding," he greeted each of the three predators as they entered. With the door open, he used mortal etiquette for now.

And then finally there was an unknown woman. Ms. Muriel? Mrs. Muriel? He wasn't quite sure how the French term of address translated other than to mean the blonde woman was in fact female. Gilroy sensed no Beast, and she looked to be breathing, and he had never seen her at court. Still, he was wont to err on the side of caution and consider her a Kindred. Who else would be allowed into a meeting like this? For now he waited to be spoken to before giving introductions.

Aug 8th, 2015 08:12 AM

Katya almost gives Cozette a pleasant greeting until the door opens wider and she sees the bodies inside, along with David Regan who awaits all of them. she is speechless only for a moment, but then when she hears Twist make a noise to hint that she is behind her. Turning around, Katya gives a slight bow and forces a smile she says "Madame Twist. It is good to see you."

She quickly enters the room so that Twist can follow and for Cozette to close the door. Once inside she nods to the others, turning to Cozette and saying "Thank you Mademoiselle" before greeting the others "Mr. Gilroy, Ms. Sterling, Mr. Regan" she has her hands folded in front of her as she stands, looking from Rina to the other strange mortal in the room. She doesn't bother asking if she's interrupting since it's obvious she was, she knows that David will fill her in once he feels everyone has arrived. In the meantime, she keeps her eye on the patrolman, wondering what was so special about him, or what he saw that bought him extra time.

**Cozette** · Aug 8th, 2015 10:43 AM

"Non, monsieur vénérable."

The words are soft, and follow a lowering of the eyes and small bow towards the Seneschal and Archon. Cozette understands what the questioning Shadow may not -- that if one of the House is present, then all are present.

And that understanding might define the genuflection more precisely.

The ghouls stands aside, then closes the door behind the new arrivals. A walk along the wall double-checks that none of the peepshow holes are open, and then she moves examine the torpid Invictus. Fingers press once or twice, flattening material at joints to ensure that the Shadow is resting comfortably, without any limbs being twisted or strained. It's comical, given the state of the fallen woman --torn and ravaged by shotgun pellets-- but duty is in the details.

Satisfied, she moves to the edge of the room, fading into the background. It's the furthest she can be from Kenneth Gilroy while remaining near Rina Yui.

From the Depths

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