(1702) Step into my Parlor

[Alice Hart]

Alice no longer needed to count her steps to and from her office. The path taken to reach it, or Elysium proper was a familiar one. With Lyssa taking the lead so that her new ghoul could open her office door for the kindred, and organize the binders she's need to show Ashton, she only need to listen to the women's steps to navigate.

Once inside, Dominic will find the scent of sage and other aromatic herbs a strong one, and might notice incense sticks, with piles of ash laying under them. Occasionally these piles have been decorated with spiraling finger patterns. The venture's eyes are drawn to a splendid dark wood desk, it's legs craves with a intricate designs. Scattered leaves, weaving vines. Predators and prey of all sorts along with the signs and sigils of the Gods Alice has pledged her unlife to.

A pair of chairs rest in front of the desk. Alice leads Ashton to them, chooses one for herself and gestures to the other. The Ghoul remains standing. A pair of binders lay in her hands.

"First things first Mister Ashton, have you ever committed or do you ever plan to commit Amaranth?" Alice's smile is sharp, cold, and utterly fake.

  1 suxx Spot a Lie

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-02-10 14:59:12		Alice Hart rolls 1 to Spot a lie (Wits 3 + Empathy 1 -3Blind) (10 Again)		8		1 success

[Alice Hart]

"Good, good." Alice gives Dominic a slow, jerking, strings pulled nod. "Not that I assume every new face has committed such an act, but the question must be asked and I do not see the point in forestalling the inevitable."

The vibration caused by Ashton's movement travel through the floor and towards the Blind Haunt, telling her that even as she cannot hear it, it is still happening.

"It's your prerogative to divulge your covenant affiliations. Though it will come out eventually, and I will not keep them secret. I declared myself an Acolyte, because I am. And because the kindred who arrived before you did was also an Acolyte, and I didn't know until we began to go through her Acknowledgement, I had hoped, that if you were of faith, you would have announced it as I had." It really was as simple as that, "Now, you are not the only Carthain in the Domain, but the only other is Miss Connolly." Alice pauses now, to let that information settle. "Madam Reeve Antinori is of the Invictus. As is Lady Naetesh." which would explain somethings, but it wouldn't excuse them. "Priscus French, and Miss York are currently Unaligned." But on Vivian's part Alice thought that was only because she was still trying to earn the privilege to be able to claim to be of the First Estate. "Prince Clarke is of the Ordo Dracul." Alice says at last, strange to think of the Prince as anything other then Invictus. "There are of course others in the Domain, but they were not in attendance tonight, and I'll leave you to discover their affiliations on your own."

Alice falls into silence once more, ordering her thoughts, until she finally settles on something innocuous and simple.

"What brings you to Sacramento?"

[Alice Hart]

Through the open door Alice hears words Bea spews but are ignored. Alice had given her warning, now with Ashton across from her, she had more important things to do then pander to the neonate.

Attention on Ashton and his words, Alice gives another, slow, jerking, strings pulled nod. "If you have any questions, feel free to ask," Unlike the Shadows she didn't have the potential to read minds.

Tilting her head, she unconsciously leans an ear closer to the sound of the Rebel Lord's resonant voice.

"Sacramento does have a certain charm, but it wears off after the nights continue. Few kindred I've found can weather the...atmosphere of the river city. There are very few pillars, fewer stables. The nature of the Domain is mutable. I wish you luck in your efforts." but it was clear from her hollow mocking tone, and her fake plastic smile that the opposite was true to the Blind Haunt.

"Now to get down to business," Alice raises a hand motioning for her ghoul to hand two slim binders to the Venture. "One binder contains the Laws of the Domain. The other the laws specific to Elysium." once Alice hears the exchange and Ashton opening the binders she continues, "The laws are very easily followed. The Three Traditions will be kept in full, do not violate another's haven, if a Blood Hunt is called, you will be expected to participate." Alice wonders how long it will take Dominic to find out that the last Blood Hunt was call against a Carthian, but for none of efforts in his Covenant, but that of his...failings as a Priscus. "None are allowed to inflict Final Death upon another, only the Prince can grant that...privilege. Do not commit treason, but Do attend all officially announced Courts." It was nearly verbatim the same words she told Nic when her fellow Acolyte was sitting where the Carthain was sitting now. "When you are in Elysium, no weapons are allowed, you are not allowed to use your talents of the Blood, the exception of course are the Mask of Tranquility, and Aspect of the Predator." though with how she could feel the Venture's Beast grating, galling. She doubted that he could hide it behind the web of shadows as she could. And of course, as a Venture she knew that Ashton didn't naturally have the Gangrel's Clan skill. "Be polite, use common sense."

"Again, if you have any questions, please ask."

[Alice Hart]

Another slow, jerking strings pulled nod, "They are, it might the reason that there hasn't been much of an...overt Carthain presence in the Domain." None of the Kindred here were oppressed, in fact Alice had felt more freedom here they anywhere else she'd been. "Merit matters here, as well as a stalwart presence. If you prove yourself dependable, reliable. You might find yourself in a position of power."

A hollow mirthless laugh escapes the Haunt. "Madam Reeve Antinori pins butterflies. Maybe I'll ask her to the same for that wayward muscle of Miss Connolly's."

Returning to the matter at hand, "Now I'am assuming you do not find any of the Laws difficult to follow?" A slight pause, "Will you swear to follow them, uphold them and swear your loyalty to His Grace, Alder Duke Clark, Prince of the Domain?"

[Alice Hart]

A whisper of a laugh escapes the Nosferatu. "Would that mean you already have a predisposition to reliability and loyalty?"

"Good." Alice nods, slow, jerking and strings pulled. It doesn't go unnoticed that the Venture agreed to follow the Prince's Laws, and had not sworn loyalty to the Prince as she asked. To ask a Carthain, and a Venture to blindly give their loyalty...perhaps it a verbal workaround was something she should have expected. "Do you have any questions, or shall we return to the others?" Instead of making a fuss, Alice knew that once Ashton, (or was that Stalwart?) met the Prince, that the man would earn his Cousin's loyalty, just as he had previous Carthains.