The Wasp and the Lady of Ashes

[Victoria Stamford]

Victoria in her office listening to Chopin's Nocturnes as she waited for the blind dolls arrival. The beautiful brunette sat in the lounge area of the room with a small touch screen device on her lap.

When Alice arrives she will hear Victoria's servant at the door loudly shuffling his feet as he opens the door for her. It is apparent that he is making an effort to be heard by the haunt as a courtesy.

When the door opened soft piano music drifted out and tickled the albino's ears with the gentle melody, just loud enough to be heard, and the scent of lavender tickled the woman's nose.

Upon entering the room Victoria spoke off to one side of the haunt in a friendly tone of greeting.

"Good evening Priscus. Over here," she said standing nearby. "Would you like some assistance finding the sofa? I'm not sure if you know the layout."

The ventrue will offer to take the woman's arm and escort her if she so desires, but will advise Alice of the touch prior to reaching for her if the woman accepts the offer.

[Alice Hart]

She didn't know why Lady Stamford had called, and invited the Blind Doll to her office, that unknowing had Alice in a near panic. Making her way to the Seneschal's office the twisting knots of worry and panic didn't leave, only pressing deeper, sharper.

Alice didn't know what she was walking into, but as she hears the louder noises Victoria's servant makes as she arrives, she can't help but smile. If the venture had took the time to order her servant to do something like this, this meeting couldn't be about her immediate ashing.

Her wide, mocking smile keeps it's place when she hears the haunting melody, before Lady Stamford speaks Alice simply stands and allows the music to surrounded her. The scent of lavender, familiar. Alice wondered if Victoria enjoyed it, or if she kept her office smelling thusly for another reason.

"Good evening to you as well Lady Stamford." Alice ducks her head in deference, and greeting, tilting her body toward were the venture's voice had come from. Though as she hold the pose for a moment, all could tell she was battling with the Wraith, willing it to thaw her spine from the presence of a greater predator. Another moment had and Alice wins her internal duel, placing the Wraith behind cold iron bars once more.

"That's kind of Lady Stamford." Alice says, nodding to the women and her offer of assistance.

Was the women being too nice? Was this sign of some terrible fate that awaited her now?

Once the Blind Doll is lead to the sofa, she sits, still and quite waiting for Victoria to speak.

[Victoria Stamford]

Victoria announced that she would touch the woman's arm and then escorted her to the couch. When the woman found her seat, Victoria found her own seat across from Alice.

The other woman's mannerisms always seemed to grate a bit on Victoria...they were too phony. Victoria was pretty sure that it was part of the woman's curse which was combined with the jerky and awkward movements, that or she was very good at masking her true mocking attitude. She though that Alice was a little too skittish, like a doe in the woods, to be that calculating. However, she couldn't discount it completely that it was all an act.

"Thank you for coming tonight on such short notice," Victoria began kindly. "I'm sorry to hear about Mr. Cross, I know you were close. I know we are not close, but if you ever need someone my door is open..." Victoria trailed off leaving the offer hanging there for the woman to acknowledge or politely side step.

"However, that is only in part why I asked you here today. We will have to restructure the local management once again," she said giving the woman time to absorb what was said.

"You proved yourself in organizing things with your clan and the necropolis. Furthermore, as one of the more stable elements in the domain you appear to be here for the long term. So with the departure of the local clan, how would you feel about another job to keep you busy? The position of Seneschal."

Victoria figured she would just hit the woman with it right off the bat so she wasn't sitting there in dread and could put the meeting into context.

[Alice Hart]

"Mister Cross and I were not always close." it was a clever bit of word play there. Alice was fairly proud of it. "I might, from time to time, find myself haunting your door."

Alice nods. The last few months have been hectic, with so many leaving, and no bodies to replace them...and with Robert...reshuffling tittles and roles seemed to be the only option. But why was Lady Stamford talking to her? Should she be talking to Alessondra about becoming Reeve? Wasn't that the natural order of things?

Then Victoria speaks.

Shocked still. An unliving dead doll, Alice tied to make sense of Lady Stamford's words, the reasoning given, Alice's mind just doesn't want to compute. "Me?" she asks a parody of disbelief etched upon her features.

Was the Venture just setting her up for failure? Watch another Haunt topple from up high.

"Thank you for thinking that I'm..." Alice begins before remembered something Gilroy had told her when she first arrived. 'If you stick around for a significant amount of time, you might find yourself in a position of power by simple merit of having proven yourself to be a stable element.' "Worthy of being Seneschal."

Alice, silent and still a few moments longer.

"Being the Leader of a Clan and Covenant of One..." The Alice of Before thought of nothing but burying her head in the sand. The Alice of Now...nodded. A year in Sacramento changed everything. "My nights are not as busy as I've grown accustomed."

[Victoria Stamford]

Victoria smiled at the woman's shock, not that she blamed the woman for it, but she understood that it may have been unexpected.

"Yes, you," she said still smiling. "I think you have to potential to do well and it should keep you busy. If you have any questions, you can of course approach me. The prince is approachable, but he expects the Seneschal to be able to handle all day to day things. I've only had to bring him in for difficult rulings that are not immediately clear."

The ventrue thought for a moment as she gazed at the woman's eyes considering the complications.

"You may need to get a basic ghoul or trusted servant that can read written correspondences to you, Invictus habits and all, but there are many interesting technological options available for the sight impaired these days. I would revert back to the Reeve position should you choose to accept the positon. Did you have any concerns or questions that I can help you with that will help you make a decision?"

[Alice Hart]

The the thought that Lady Stamford and the Prince trusted that she had the potential and competence to handle the day to day running of the Domain...she didn't know what she was feeling.

No. She did. Terrified still covered it, but now it was mixed with something warmer and closer to flattery.

Alice nods, it's an awkward strings pulled jerk.

During the few times she's spoke to Lady Stamford she was clearly a competent women who's dominate presence didn't make approaching her seem a foreboding thing, and as much as Alice was surprised to realize, same held true for the Prince.

One dance and a few words framed in light conversation, and Alice realized she didn't know the Prince at all. Only rumors and preconceived notions to back up her idea of him.

A hollow sound, an imitation of laughter springs froth from the Doll's lips. "I've grown...used to the Domain, and it's Invictus habits...and I...have been considering a ghoul." Alice admits, after a moment, while thinking that she never considered a simple servant, one not bound by the Blood. "But I've never....I have no idea how to go about finding someone suitable..." Alice lets the thoughts trail off into nothing. Surely the Lady had a few tips.

Victoria Stamford would rather return to being the Domain's Reeve then stay as Seneschal. Was that the women's personal preference? Or was it because she was hesitant of elevating Alessandra with the sudden disappearance of Robert, and all that had happened to Clan Gangrel?

"Just what would my responsibilities be exactly?" Alice knew the Seneschal generally took care of the Formal Courts, that they saw to the day-to-day running of the Domain and...well. It tended to change from Domain to Domain. "And anything I should not do? I don't want to fumble and make a fool of myself and..." the Prince, the Domain...Alice smiles because Victoria could easily guess just where her mind went. "Is there anything that I should?"

[Victoria Stamford]

Victoria considered the woman's words carefully. She understood the concerns about ghouls, but was thankful she had her own solutions for that, being a ventrue really helped with getting a compliant workforce.

"It is a little easier for me with dominate I suppose, but everyone has their own means of ensuring loyalty and choosing servants. If you are using a ghoul the blood will go a long way to ensure compliance, you just have to take steps to ensure your sleeping area is...secure from intrusion. Best to help them avoid the temptation by keeping them away from where you sleep with the Blood addiction being what it is," she said helpfully. "Hm...given your affiliations and special needs with ritual you might be able to make some connections with local new age groups, you know pagan, heathen, and such, in the area for some likely candidates."

The questions regarding the position were expected and having a clear understanding of the role one is to perform is important in fulfilling it effectively. She would have been very disappointed if the woman didn't have some questions.

"It is pretty strait forward with our size being what it is. Since we don't have a keeper you and I will want to keep an eye on Elysium. You would ensure everything runs smoothly. You may have to speak with new arrivals depending on priscus availability. Even if they are already acknowledged it is a good idea to speak with them and get a feel for new arrivals. It helps identify potential trouble in advance. You essentially enforce the laws that the Prince has put into place and would call me or a deputy to physically enforce it. You would make decisions on punishments for law violations. You would also have the authority to issue blood hunts for capital offenses, but if the situation is delicate or complicated enough you may have to consult with myself or the Prince. The Prince is pretty approachable as I said, just don't waste his time with stupid stuff like acknowledgement level details. He may contact you and make his wishes known and it is your job to implement them, like announcing theme events or proclamations and such."

Victoria didn't think that Alice would arbitrarily issue blood hunts or things like that. She would likely consult with Victoria or the Prince if it came to that so Victoria wasn't overly concerned.

[Alice Hart]

"To be perfectly honest. I am a little jealous over your Clan's natural skill with dominate." but she knew she wasn't the only one.

Nodding, Alice hadn't even thought about what she'd do during the day while she lay sleeping with a Blood bound ghoul...but that might have been her inexperience speaking. "Thank you. For you input." Lady Stamford had turned a simple idea of a possible probability and gave it form and function. "I'll deffinatly take a look...it might be past time I spend more time Above." Especially considering the reason why Lady Stamford invited her to speak this evening.

"Knowing how swiftly things change in Sacramento it might be best to reshuffle things now, when everything is a more manageable size." her head jerks in understanding, wondering if this wasn't just a plot to get the now only surviving veteran haunt of Sacramento out of the withered ruins of her kingdom. Seeing as she was going to have to see to the new arrivals. "What would be appropriate punishments for certain violations?" Alice as while her mind reels over the fact that she could call blood hunts.

Really? She got here last January and they were putting her in a position to call fraking blood hunts?!

Yep. If she's ever in the position that she'd think that calling a Blood Hunt would be a Good Thing. She's calling Victoria and the Prince first.

"It would be nice to have more theme events. It's a shame that Around the World in Eighty Days happened after..." well. And Robert vanished into nothing before she was able to pry the details of what everyone wore, and just what their faces looked like when they spotted a pair of haunts out for a day at the beach.

[Victoria Stamford]

Victoria smiled at the woman's response. For a haunt she wasn't all that bad, they might be able to get along.

"It can certainly help, but dominate isn't a cure all. Use too much or scrub the brain a little too much and you can ruin a perfectly useful servant. So it can be a double edged sword. Your own clan's ability with fear isn't anything to dismiss. It is quite useful for many applications," she said honestly.

The haunt made sense regarding reshuffling things. It might be a good time to get some of this out of the way.

"Indeed, it would simplify things when they are relatively small," she said with a nod.

"As far as punishment, that can get rather creative. Banishment to the barrens is good to drive home a lesson and forcing someone to live on less. Staking for a time is always possible, the violent nature of the sleep when forced into torpor is quite unpleasant. There is always banishment from the city for serious infractions, but that and blood hunt usually get intertwined," she thought for a moment.

"You have to remember that any holding that a kindred has is at the pleasure of the prince. Havens, blood dolls, residency, even if they want to have a business for personal gain all of that is at the pleasure of the prince. If they want to start a business, they need permission from the prince. You can always require someone to kill off or surrender a portion of their herd, destroy a favorite haven, liquidate some assets, even more physical punishment, really the possibilities are nearly endless. I remember one punishment where a daeva socialite, I think it was a daeva, was forced to surrender her entire wardrobe collection for destruction, most were irreplaceable. Designer labels and fashion were very important to her. Someone famed for their beauty? Then brand their face with a red hot iron and require them to stay that way for months. Perhaps order them to seduce someone repulsive. Hit them where it hurts."

She couldn't help but grin broadly imagining all the scores of punishments that could be inflicted. She thought for a moment considering a few things before deciding to continue.

"Basically it should fit the seriousness of the crime. You want to be fair, but harsh. Our kind respect strength and cruelty can be a tool when used as a scalpel, but not to be over used as a club. Treat people who perform correctly well, and then harshly punish those who do not, that can be very persuasive. Remember, that physical punishments can quite good at stirring emotions, but in the end they are over quickly and fairly easily repaired unless ordered to stay that way. Embarrassment is also over quickly and can be used for minor infractions."

[Alice Hart]

"Hmm!" Alice was surprised that Lady Stamford would voluntarily tell Alice of the downsides to the power of Dominate. "That's true enough...I suppose. But...sadly I haven't had the opportunity to practice it since I came to Sacramento." Maybe it spoke of the Haunt's patience or perhaps it was simply as she said. She hadn't the opportunity to spread her Nightmares. "Well...there was this one time. But I was shot down when I offered it as an option." That was when The Nosferatu banded together to deal with the fatberg. "Maybe I should have just went ahead and done it." since it seemed that the second plan they'd concocted involving no Blood Skills lead to Jack's mysterious appearance. Alice didn't think that Gilroy's Hound would have just up and left...

Let the punishment fit the crime...Alice nods, listening to the varied punishments for crimes Victoria spoke of, fairy stories, other fables and varied myths tumbling around in her mind. There was a crime, and a lesson wrapped within a punishment.

A hollow sounding laugh escapes Alice when Victoria concludes with 'hot them where it hurts' now she had to keep up with all the members of the Domain, to just know where it would hurt.

"I'm sure, that until I get the hang of it," being a scalpel rather then a club, "I'll be coming to you for advice. Since our offices will be so close now." Well. Alice will finally have an office.