The Mystery of M

[Asa]

Nika is waiting by the front. She steps in when the card is produced and invites Vivian to follow her after a glance at the glove on the hand holding card. Well, at least it wasn't a mask or a cloak, for god's sake. She leads Vivian up a gently spiraling staircase to the upper area that overlooks the dance floor. It's been cordoned off, with security at the bottom and top of the stairs, and a lone figure sits in a chair.

Asa stands as they approach. His size is less evident with no one around, but comes into focus as the two women near. He's dressed as Vivian has seen him countless times; a dark suit with a purple dress shirt that fades to black in shadows. His eyes move efficiently over Vivian and her clothing like a purchaser at a fashion show.

"Miss York, good evening. Thank you for coming." The tone is as warm as his Blushed skin, and the smile inviting. "Please, have a seat. Would you like something to drink?"

He glances meaningfully at the ghoul.

OOC

Yep, super derp! I'll blame that on Asa's Vampire Memory Gaps! LOL

[Asa]

"Well, I would hope other people haven't been conscripting Miss Muriel to deliver their messages." Asa smiled in faint amusement at the thought. "The 'M' is, ah, a family name. It's also a safeguard against the loss of a card."

As carefully as he'd crafted his 'pen names' among the Kine, the initials A.C. could raise questions that would be a nuisance to dispel. Asa casually studied the sultry redhead as Nika produced a surgical scalpel and a glass. Both were set near Vivian, and her slim arm as well -- a choice.

"Thank you for joining me. You've expressed interest in the Invictus."

Asa let the statement linger into a question. He was patient and watchful as the Daeva took her drink. Of Vivian York's interests, he knew several from nights at the Asylum, but this one was a new mystery.

[Asa]

Nika bears the scalpel and bloodletting calmly, only the tightness around her eyes betraying the pain of the initial cut. Pale cheeks try to flush at the lick before she nods and quietly disappears with the scalpel.

For his part, Asa watched the crimson stain the Daeva's lips while wondering if she could taste the subtle differences in it the way he could.

"It is no trouble," he finally a spoke. His hand raised to make a dismissive gesture. "It's not every night that someone who has been Unbound for so long expresses interest. It suggests a patience and deliberation that... I might not have thought of you."

Asa smiled again. A little wider; suggestive even, with a hint of laughter in his eyes. The kind of smile that can only be managed by having seen someone without their clothes or dripping from their lover's drink being thrown in the face.

"If you know that I am the Judex, and what that means, then we'll skip the Invictus primer? What questions might you have?"

OOC

Oh, I know, but that's still how he thinks of her.

[Asa]

"Ah, the curious case of the Invictus and Etiquette."

For decades after Straiphen's fall, Sacramento had been an unspoken haven for the Unaligned.

"The Invictus of Sacramento --for the past half century-- have been fairly relaxed. It wasn't until the past several years that officers of the Court with a fondness for titles, and, perhaps mirroring my own penchant for politeness, began to insinuate Invictus titles into the Domain at large. To be fairly blunt, I don't consider this an Invictus Domain. It's mine. Nor myself an Invictus Prince."

The Invictus had never given him his power. Most of the time, it felt quite the opposite. For a few moments Asa's eyes focused on Vivian's lips and the glass as she drank.

"The common perception of the Invictus and etiquette is that they go hand-in-hand to reinforce an entrenched oligarchy. While in some cases, as you referred to 'personality', this is true -- but it isn't the intent. For starters, the Invictus are a meritocracy only surpassed by the Ordo Dracul. Secondly, the truth of etiquette is this: they're safe words. Much like fetish play uses safe words to keep play safe and sane, the Invictus uses Titles to keep... extended... Requiem safe and sane. They are habits and reminders."

Even though he was speaking to a Daeva of fetish play, his own thoughts couldn't help but drift to the mentioned Ishani Naetesh. Recently Risen, and reaching out from the darkness of death itself to the cling to the familiar. His thoughts returned with an amusement in his eyes at knowing Vivian would appreciate his metaphor.

"I hope that explains some of your concerns, if not questions. The Unconquered may be about amassing power, but it is fundamentally an organization and set of systems designed to cope with... immortality. If you do choose to join, as you progress you will discover the Invictus has intensely personal and intimate possibilities for co-joining your Requiem with others -- far more than any other Covenant or being Unaligned."

[Asa]

"I think you need not worry."

It wasn't a flippant, or quick, reply. The words came over long moments of sifting through his memories. There had been the playmate at the Asylum and obvious distaste for Monomacy, but neither were -- as far as Asa was concerned -- wholly relevant. No doubt few actually enjoyed the Monomacy but did not understand why he allowed it. And Asylum was... Asylum.

"To be frank, the Sacramento Invictus is in the process of an... interesting... and welcome evolution. Twist and Ishani have never stood overmuch on ceremony and I doubt Madam Antinori would object. Those that have made a show of ceremony in the past were more often than not taking offense at the suggestion that they were intimate with someone who they would rather not be." Asa mused over the words carefully; if he were being deceptive, it wasn't by intent. The exception might have been Velma Star, who was long gone. "Which is a long-winded way of saying you would probably be a welcome addition."

That, and Vivian didn't give herself enough credit. He knew there was at least one thing she wanted to say, but never had.

"As for the union of Requiems, the Invictus have... inner social structures. Houses, or more properly known as Dynasties. Some are arrangements of convenience, held together by formal Oaths. Others are more intimate than coteries, held together by... trust and genuine affection."

In some cases, love and Blood. And perhaps a healthy dose of lust.

"One can found their own with like-minded individuals, or be joined to an existing one. In either case, such close unions can confer benefits similar to Devotions or Oaths. Ishani, Twist, and I are joined in this way as House Millarr."