(1607) Formal Court

[Twist]

At Asa's question, Twist pursed her lips and then shrugged. "Faded into dust perhaps. If she is still spending her requiem in the city she would be poaching at this point."

A small half quirk of a smile flickered at his comment and with it she took the moment to look around the room. Both to take in the venue and those who were actually present. The sounds of Josephine's harsh voice cut through her observances though, and peering across the room at her she listens.

"It is early for a show..." Twist says softly as a small frown draws her eyebrows together both in distaste at some of Josephine's words as well as puzzlement as to the cause of her statements. Clearly something was bothering the woman, but Twist was clueless as to what.

Unless this was a test. Her frown faded but only into neutrality and not the arrogantly wry smile she was almost tempted to flash.

Josephine was Invictus after all. The Nosferatu wanted power... let them prove that they could take it and keep it. Twist's glance flickered around the room to the faces of she had seen in her earlier scan, the faces of those who called this place theirs. She wanted to see how they would react.

[Garrick Marlon]

"Glad to have helped." Another smile, sincere and happy. Gilroy's choices are starting to make some sense to Garrick. As the Prince and Archon arrive Garrick bows to each. "Good evening your Grace." Archon almost slips through as Garrick bows to Twist but he catches himself. Formalities matter here even if Archon feels like the more appropriate word to use after the school gym.

Another, though smaller, bow is offered to Priscus Gilroy as he finally enters the Court. "Good evening Priscus." That makes all but Jack right? Where is the crazy bastard. White eyes dash madly as the Reeve steps into the center of the room and addresses the kindred of Sacramento.

Flashes of the Reeve's office and shotgun play through Garrick's mind as her eyes land on him. There are Poachers, and Brady, but Garrick isn't sure who the last group is. Neither does he feel like challenging the Reeve when she's already close like before. What is the Domain Law if a Court official breaks loose? Or maybe most Kindred's Sires don't spend a lot of time beating the idea of survival and fear into them. Mild confusion blooms across Garrick's face as he tries to work out what exactly the Reeve is going for and if this is all going to go to hell.

[Victoria Stamford]

Victoria approaches the disturbance, but far enough not to threaten her space.

When approaching a mad beast one does so with caution, and Victoria was no exception. She deliberately walked up to the woman, her spine was steel and her face a mask of as much calm as Josephine's was of fury. Judging by the woman's words things were serious and Victoria wondered why she would choose this manner of addressing a problem.

Well who's job is it to make sure that the peace is kept and to hire deputies if they need help? Not mine. Victoria thought bitterly.

When the Reeve started throwing out threats and casting accusations, Victoria wondered how much of it was because it sounds like she was failing to perform her duties properly and throwing blame elsewhere. There was one other Reeve she could think of some time ago that had the same problem, blame others for their own failures and Victoria wondered if that was true in this case or not. She didn't know the woman well enough to decide.

"None of us have a guarantee of eternity, that is the nature of being a predator...you hide and then fight when challenged by others to defend your interests be they food, shelter, or whatever. As predators you only can lay claim to what you have the stones to take," she paused for a moment letting her agreement with the woman sink in a bit before setting the hook.

"So Reeve Sterling perhaps you would be so kind as to enlighten us regarding the threat and why it was allowed to become so?" she asked with extreme politeness and nodded her head in deference to the woman's authority. However, Victoria stopped just short of saying or implying that the Reeve was the most likely person responsible that things were currently chaotic.

[Kenneth Gilroy]

“And what would you have us do? Abandon our humanity and welcome the owl into us? Become monsters with no thought for man? You know how that ends.” The Deep Kingdom’s Regent slowly slunk forward, his voice sounding serpentine cool despite his mind racing. Of all the times she had to do this it had to be now. He’d dismissed this being a preplanned test by the Prince before the thought even formed. He knew Josephine too well.

"Thank you, Lady Stamford," he breathed as he passed her. Letting Victoria know that her words were appreciated but that he would be taking things from here. Though the dominant Ventrue might have already done more harm than Kenneth could mitigate. Yet worrying had to set to the back of his mind. The Bishop kept his unblinking gaze on Sterling.

“Have you lit your candle tonight Sister Josephine? Have you gazed into the flame?” The worm slithered past the court towards the center of the room, words hissing dangerously. He felt this might be the last chance he might have to pull her back and save her. Between Stamford going about it all wrong and pushing Sterling towards embracing the Beast more, and Josephine revealing the precipice the Domain sat on… the Reeve might die tonight. Either she’d attack in a frenzy or Clarke would demand her death for weakening his position. And Kenneth was having a difficult time thinking of a way to prevent anything. Conspicuously, neither the Prince nor his Hound had moved. Which meant they were content to watch Kenneth walk this razor wire of a tight rope. Perhaps simply as an excuse to make him fall.

“Do you remember your penance and why I gave it? The owl will destroy both those who don’t seek to retain their humanity and those who cling to it without accepting they are Damned. There is a part of us that is still human and there is a moral obligation to accept it as much as our monstrous nature. There is no luxury in playing at being human. Balance is a necessity of our existence or you would have fled from the Necropolis the moment your Beast saw the fires I had set as a reminder of the Hell that awaits us all.” It pained him to say it so blatantly. He knew it would alienate a great many of the Kindred present who looked down on the Lance and their beliefs. How many would look back and realize he was trying to save their lives from a mad Tyrant? Using the one thing she clung to beside her bloodlust; her faith. He slowly stalked around the rabid Ventrue in an ever tightening circle as he spoke until he came to a stop well within her reach.

“It is only by harnessing our humanity that the Beast can be controlled. The only way we can function as a society.” Because otherwise the powerful among them would simply kill all the others. As the Beast demanded. He'd explained this to her before. She'd yet to learn the lesson.

“You have been my Sister since I came to this city, so I ask that you please…” His voice was so soft it had become a chilling whisper both pleading and demanding. Don’t get yourself killed and kill anyone else “remain cordial, lower your voice, and do not threaten my guests while in this Elysium. If you have a concern, address it through proper channels.”

He didn’t expect the rules to bother Josephine overly but it gave Kenneth better backing. Unless the Prince decided to make her exempt.

His eyes darted to meet Robert, Alice, Joseph, and Garrick’s; making sure they were all ready for whatever happened next.

[Asa]

Winner winner chicken dinner.

Asa didn't say it, but the silly expression bubbled up into his thoughts. In the long suffering standing casual game between he and Twist, he was claiming top prize tonight. The levity was a defense mechanism.

It was so easy to forget. Or ignore, and pretend it wasn't being ignored. He was never quite sure which it was. But every so often, every few years, came the painful reminder of what lurked within his veins like a ticking time-bomb. He'd questioned it before: which was worse? A Requiem chained to hedonism, stupidity, or disgust? Or one without fetters but doomed to end in the total loss of self?

Maybe Victoria was in denial herself, trying to reason with Sterling -- or hadn't seen all the small signs. Signs he'd seen, and tried to address. Some might have questioned why Sterling had been named Reeve, but he doubted any had guessed it was pinned on the hope that structure and duty would provide a life-line.

Lips parted, then closed.

He watched, curious to see if Gilroy's appeal to her faith might also be a life-line.

Clever, that one.

[Alice Hart]

With the stillness of the dead, though appearing as a mannequin's mockery kept Alice from acting outward. Her thoughts darted like a rabbit's, haring this way and that, trying to decide upon action, but one lifeline a memory of orders upon burning paper kept her mind clear.

If Gliroy's words failed to sway the tyrannical Reeve...she'd need to gather their guests and lead them out to safety.

The only still shrieking thought ringing clear in her mind; how to signal the others, so she could lead them down and out, while not signaling the Reeve...

[Konrad Roth]

Josephine's outburst weighs heavily on Konrad as he joins the crowd surrounding her. He feels to blame, of course. His had been the last straw apparently, as she shouts accusations to the guests. He doesn't want another ally to fall, not now when he's at his lowest. Though he doesn't want to fall with her either.

Gilroy's words, though wise, seek to meet Josephine's challenge. Would she back down and come to heel before the worm? Would she hear it as wisdom?

Konrad finds his voice. "Please, Reeve," he says, reminding her of his presence.

[Alessandra]

Ale moves closer to Reeve, but not too close. She was standing outside the small group that had gathered to answer the Reeve. Or make themselves a target, whichever. Her movements brought her closer to standing between Josephine and Asa and Twist. If those were her targets of her issue, Ale hoped to place herself in the way. She knew her role, if the Reeve snapped and started attacking, she had to protect Asa and Twist first.

Some of Kenneth's words made sense, but did the Reeve really want an answer? She wasn't sure, but the woman seemed unstable, and that was a problem.

[Josephine Sterling]

It seemed as though the goading of Victoria Stamford had sunk deeply into the Reeve, and that snarling, twisted visage was turned upon her, yet the just before she seemed to abandon herself to her anger, the lone priest of the Lancea Sanctum stepped forward, his words seeming to stall her. The snarl faded, momentarily, her eyes locking with his as he spoke, attempting to remind her of faith and the peril of the fires that awaited when spirit left flesh. But then those dark eyes shifted, skittering across those few who had edged forward, drinking in their leashed bloodlust.

It was pitiful. All those who she had tried to guide, to work with, set upon tasks for the good of the Domain, but now they would turn against her? The anger rose fresh inside her, and the snarl returned, the only expression fitting for Beasts that were lower than dogs, for not even dogs would so lightly attack one of their own.

Lost inside her own delirium, whatever light that Kenneth had hoped to kindle was lost and the Kindred that had tried to play at tyrant reeve finally lost her mask.

"You are all fools if you think that Hell only awaits us. It is already here, and if there is one flame that I shall gaze into as I reflect upon my afterlife, then it shall be your pyres!"

And so saying, with a swirl of black cloth, Josephine Sterling whirled and fled the room...