Book Club

May 11th, 2016 05:00 PM

Selena Casitive Pixie Styx DrDog

The date for the Book Club been set months ago and then a series of events had kept Katya from reading as much as she'd like. Nevertheless, she did offer up the Crone Farm as a meeting place. Those who drive, and they will have to in order to reach the home of the Acolytes, will be able to see a small path of torches marking a parking area at a safe distance from the farm.

The Farm itself is unlit from the inside, showing no sign that the meeting would be held there. Instead, people might notice a path that leads around the farm stretching out into roughly a five minute walk before seeing a circle of stones in varying size and shape about waist high. If one had been traveling around the wild parts of Sacramento, they might be able to notice that these stones are not native to the city.

Low lit torches are placed in a circle around the stones, providing just enough light for people to see a lone figure dressed in a black V neck long sleeve shirt and matching pants, her pale face almost like its own light in the darkness. Several stools are placed in the area as well, from a far enough distance from the torches but in no formation that indicates an order.

With her own book in hand, Katya skims through it once more, a slender leg crossing over the the other as she waits for people to arrive. Her hair hangs free over her shoulders and her feet are bare. This is still more clothing than she'd prefer to wear but she had to respect the fact that her guests might appreciate some more modesty. Several white slips of torn paper act as book marks and stick out in numerous places, there was much Katya found interesting that she looked forward to discussing with the others.

**David Silver** · May 12th, 2016 01:50 PM

David had thought about going in proper regalia, shirtless, shaved head, linen skirt, and sandals. And perhaps had it been a less open environment, he would have done so. Something to consider for the summer solstice, when the visitors would come, and more importantly, when they would go.
So he compromises, and instead goes with white linen shirt and loose pants, something to keep cool in the desert heat of Egypt.

He parks his truck and walks out, noting the low torches guiding the visitors to the open-air temple. He slows as he approaches, thinking of the significance. To have the sacred space be an exploration of the ancient gods of Egypt, the Pesedjets explored through the same sky that the Egyptians toiled under. Perhaps a small sacrifice would be appropriate afterwards would be appropriate.

He holds a heavily dog eared and bookmarked book, one that's cover has faded. He approaches, and his beast growls threateningly. David's mental response is furious and oppressive, the furor of an angry god that has found its people destroyed and temple ransacked. Not Here. You are NOTHING here. The self-directed anger melts as he gives a polite nod to his fellow crone, before taking off his sandals and entering the grove.

"Good evening Katya, thank you for hosting." David says with a wide smile. Nothing like his favorite topic to get him out of bed in the evening.

**Pixie Styx** · May 13th, 2016 02:56 PM

Even though it was on her List of Things To Do, Nell nearly forgot about the study/book club that was planned during the very first court she'd attended when she first arrived. So much had happened in the meantime that Nell half thought that it wasn't going to happen. So sadly her knowledge on her chosen subject might be rustier then she'd want. Which is why the books bought at Marginalia were placed in her messenger bag, with her ever present laptop.

At least riding her purple peddle bike to the Crone Farm was easier then making her way to the Chapter House.

On her approach Nell freezes at the path bathed in flame. Echos of her flight, and the pungent smell of her Chapter House burning, flashed upward, surrounding the shadow in a spiral to well lit for her to hide from. It take her a moment to shake her memories away. Longer still for Nell to start moving again.

Spotting the others, the hackles of her Beast rise, it's yowling. Clamoring for Blood. For the fools who'd lit the torches to pay - Nell grabs it's metaphorical scruff, and throws it back to it's cage. Quickly, Nell finds a place to rest her bike, and swiftly make her way to the circle. "Good Evening," she greets.

May 14th, 2016 11:41 PM

This was not Vivian’s first trip to the Crone farm, nor her second. As she approached the area, memories flooded into her mind. Memories of a particular Shadow, among other things. The lull of an 80’s station in the background did nothing to suppress those thoughts.

Still, they were good memories, and in some Requiems, that’s all one ever had. Yet with David in the passenger set, she didn’t get too caught up in it all. Among her pants suits, many had white. Oddly enough, considering anything could happen at the Crone farm, she chose a solid black one, versus one with any sort of color with a plain pair of gloves. Perhaps it was her subconscious attempt to look smart.

“You know, I think it’s been well over a year, maybe longer, since I’ve been out here.” She to the Shadow as they walked up toward the torches. She smiled to greet the one new looking gentleman and a larger greeting for Katya. "Good evening to the both of you!" The Seneschal's bare feet didn't go unnoticed.

May 14th, 2016 11:47 PM

David's leather satchel lays across his chest, the ancient bag creaking under the weight of books and knowledge. He glances again at Vivian, this time without the tense moment and without his beast caterwauling loudly in his mind. She's asked about it before and David responded: the hate born of an irrational fear. Calmed by the knowledge of who Vivian is: a friend, a coterie-mate.

But, Vivian now has an idea as to how powerful the hidden predator is.

Do the others?

Walking along side her, David nods at her admission. While Vivian strikes a razor sharp silhouette in tailored black, David is the same as he ever was. His needle like stature is wrapped in a vest and slim pants, his button-up rolled to his elbows. Any blazer he would have worn remains at his Haven in feigned deference to the warmth of the evening. “Same,” David replies to Vivian, “funny how fast time flies.”

Cresting the hill, David's beast takes note of the three other predators in his midst. Katya, Silver, and Nell all of whom are weak. Immediately, David's beast beats upon the war-drums of his skull, sounding the call to kill all three of them and let their ash fall like snow on the grass. David stops and breathes deep, reasserting his control over the beast knowing that the three others and staunching the fear and hate that would overwhelm him like a cornered animal.

Impulse murdered, David adds his own greetings to Vivian, “Good evening everyone, hope you are well.”

May 15th, 2016 09:54 PM

Katya's solace is interrupted with the sounds of David Silver's footsteps approaching. She grips the thick book with her hands and tries to remember that he is one of her own, a fellow denizen in Hades and that makes it relatively easy to push back the urge to unleash her claws and lunge at him. Smiling she nods and says "Not at all, good evening David, I'm happy that you're joining us tonight. It seemed only fair to do so after Priscus Regan hosted a festival at the Chapter House."

In the distance, she hears more footsteps approaching. "Speaking of which." her eyes shift towards the path leading to the stone circle and Katya's eyes roll in the back of her head. The familiar violent urge returns and she thinks about spilling her guests' blood over the altar to offer to the mother, ripping her own clothes off and bathing in it. Perhaps this is to signify the change she's experienced since last Court, but the calm greeting of Priscus Regan brings her back, her head shaking side-to-side to refocus. Her smile returns as she nods to each of them.

"Good evening Priscus Regan, Whip York, Miss Cooper. Thank you so much for coming. Please have a seat." her head shift towards the chairs she's placed, letting everyone sit down before continuing. "For those who are here for the first time, allow me to welcome you to the Farm of the Circle of the Crone. Mr. Silver and myself are happy to have you all as our guests this evening. I apologize for the delay in following up on our scheduled Book club. To refresh everyone's memory, the overall subject was Mythology and this months' topic was mythology in Egypt or rather, what influence Egypts' mythology had. Each of us offered to study our own particular interest in this subject and so I'm very interested in hearing what others have learned, I know I certainly learned a lot in my studies." looking once around the circle she asks "Is there anyone who wishes to start?"

May 17th, 2016 07:56 PM

The Daeva’s blood ran slightly hot while she situated herself in the seat. Nell was the only one that she could sense was a challenge, the others, she presumed she and Nell could take if they’d give into their Beasts. Other than of course David, who would always be a mystery to them. But, despite being off where no one would notice that there were a bunch of dead Vampires, Vivian’s mind was becoming preoccupied with this whole book thing.

Noting the presence of the new male, she smiled to him as well as a friendly wave to Nell. “Thank you Katya,” A slight pause, if the Seneschal would correct her later or not. “For welcoming us this evening. First of all, if I may propose that formal address is probably not needed tonight. After all, we are here for fun and intellectually stimulating conversation. So, please, all, call me Vivian.”

She let herself move forward further in her seat, but took out the book she’d used as reference. The Daeva figured she may as well get it over with, the others probably had far more interesting subjects on the matters of Mythology than her own and she’d look far less unworldly if she offered her small research herself. “So, my book that I used mostly for reference, is ‘What People Wore: 1,800 Illustrations from Ancient Times to the Early Twentieth Century’. I must say, I had a very difficult time finding specific books that only covered Egyptian fashion. Oddly enough, there were plenty of coloring books on the subject. This is probably due in part that their clothing was very decorative and bright colored. The Egyptians had many more looks than what are generally depicted. However, so much of women’s fashion particularly are still heavily influenced from ancient Egyptian culture. The way some cuts of garments are, particularly these with emphasis on women’s breasts, yet flow neatly below, were not only for designed but served to keep them cool in their environment. These similar dresses are worn today for the same purposes in warmer climates. Adorning clothing with accents of gold is also influence from Egyptian culture.”

“So, in a nut shell, the more vibrant the colors the higher the status of the wearer, especially with the additions of gold, particularly threaded gold. Even if some of these aren’t a factor in today’s society, their influence continues world wide.”

Vivian sat back, pleased with what she’d first delivered. It was probably boring to the lot of them, but she was to study what she found appealing from the Egyptians.

**Pixie Styx** · May 18th, 2016 04:41 PM

Vivian appearance, makes Nell double take. The last time they'd met, Nell was sure she could take succubi, easily. But now...on even footing...Nell's thought are disturbed, and the yowling quieted at the sight of David, his quintessential shadowy presence, an every present reminder that Nell is the odd one out in a clan of shadows.

Kayta's voice draws Nell's wandering attention back to the task at hand. The teal-haired shadow takes one of the seats. Pulling her bag off over her shoulder so she could rest it by her feet, and quickly grab either her books or her laptop if need be.
In this semi academic setting Nell was surprised that it wasn't David that spoke first, surly his knowledge of anything Egyptian outstripped what meager offerings Nell, and the others might have gathered. Perhaps he was waiting to see what the others brought first before interjecting.

Seeing Vivian speak up first was deffinatly something she hadn't been expecting, but she should have, she was a succubi after all.

"Cool. It's interesting to see what will keep, or evolve as the ages pass." Nell offered the women, it wasn't the most in depth and comprehensive covering of the topic, but were Nell counter-fitting life, she would blush, for her own efforts weren't as thorough as she'd prefer. Which of course is one of the reasons she wishes not to speak up for the moment, hopefully the others would have more to say to Vivian about her topic before the circle rounded back to the shadow and she would speak. Maybe she'd have the opportunity to go over her notes one more time...

**David Silver** · May 19th, 2016 05:53 PM

David's beast growls in fear, urging David to run into the darkness of the Mother's embrace, to flee and hide and never been seen again, for Nell and Vivian approach, each with seemingly larger steps and frightening visages, before David feels the cool rush of the mother's blessing. The growth of life in his mind pens and cages the beast within, and so he smiles as the three vampires approach. His fellow David stirs no reaction, but Silver remembers what seems like a lifetime ago, when that too, was a neat trick he had.

He nods along with a pleased smile on his face as Vivian discusses the clothing of the ancients. "Indeed, the Egyptians loved to color most everything, and as you said, especially with gold. Even their crowns were colored, Red and White and Blue for the two kingdoms and War. The Pyramids were topped with golden stones to spread the sunlight, and to them it was very much a metal associtaed with the sun. Much of their monuments have lost the coloring within them, and it is thanks to the find in the 20s with Tut that we were able to see a truly unspoiled king's resting tomb. Time has sadly been quite cruel to the Egyptians, with the sands of time literally stripping them of much of their vibrancy. Or the barbarism of napeolonic cannon or fickle pharaos defacing the monuments and inscriptions. I did not know that about their dresses though, can you show me a picture?" David asks, gesturing with an open palm towards her lap, where the book rests.
Fascinating. To think that something so intrinsic to the culture of the West was appropriated out of the plundering of Cleopatra's reign. Though David wondered what the relationship to the greek Stola was, but that would have to be a different conversation. Perhaps he would involve the Gangrel whip in it?

May 21st, 2016 12:53 AM

“Thank you for your welcome and for your hospitality, Seneschal, Mr. Silver” David tells Katya before eyes travel to Silver, including the man in his greeting. He finds a seat a short time after Vivian does, though he perches on it rather than leaning into it. As he normally does, the Libitinarius sets his ankle against his knee in a motion that seems automatic. At this point, David does it without thinking like the living do with breathing.

“Miss Cooper, nice to see you,” David adds for his apprentice, eager to see how she does in this casual seminar environment.

“Please,” David then offers Katya, “it's your home, there's no need to be formal. Though,” he says with a slight joke in his voice, indicating Silver, “I think it might get confusing if you called us by our first name.”

And David does not have a middle-name.

“Color and Beauty,” David intones after listening to Viv's presentation intently, “was an outward show of spirituality and a sign of holiness. Related to all the fashions you've mentioned, cosmetics was just as important. There wasn't necessarily a difference between male or female cosmetics, but obviously, the upper-classes were able to use more.” A small nod, there, “Cosmetics were so important, in fact, that pallets were found in tombs as grave goods. Not to mention the medical benefits it may have had. What did you find most surprising about what you learned, Vivian?”

Book Club

Members who have read this thread : 18

Similar Threads

Sanctum (Ivory Tower) The Book Club

ODCH Book Club: Future Shock

ODCH Notice: Book Club

Bloodhunt: We Live in the Club, We Die in the Club...

The Book