(1905) When Ellis Met Adam

[Ellis Meadows]

"Personal Ambition, Mr. Mitnick." Ellis says easily, not seeing any reason to beat around the bush. "I appreciate the complement, but I'm at least fifty years too young to be some sort of official Invictus troubleshooter. While there was plenty of opportunity in Los Angeles, it's a far more crowded Court. I worked with a Knight for about a year in exchange for advice and assistance in relocating. Dame Beldad felt that Her Majesty's Domain would be the best choice for me and I've found no reason to doubt her expertise yet." The suggestion that he observe some buildings is an interesting one, and one that Ellis makes a note to follow up on. "Are you a fan of architecture in general?"

He listens to Adam talk about his theory of universal balance, considering it an optimistic outlook for someone to hold. "Who would oppose the the restoration of the Second Estate?" Ellis tuts in mild surprise. "Surely not anyone in Her Majesty's court? It's my understanding that Prince Antinori prefers a cosmopolitan Domain, thus it strains credulity that the only ones willing to help the Second Estate is the Circle."

Ellis expresses a thoughtful look as he considers his needs and his assets. "Unfortunately Mr. Exlibrist, right now all my resources are tied up in establishing myself. But I was Embraced in Los Angeles, which I'm sure you know has a strong Sanctified presence. Perhaps we can discuss the matter in June?"

What kind of cold, cynical person would seek to contest Mr Meadows' obviously trustworthy charms with a Wits + Subterfuge or Empathy roll? He only wishes to help.

  2 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2019-05-08 23:59:30		Ellis Meadows rolls 8 to I am very trustworthy, I promise Man+Sub+SL (10 Again)		3, 6, 3, 5, 10, 3, 2, 1, 10, 2		2 successes

[Derek Menzies]

"Yes, but not the architecture I think you mean," Derek answers Ellis cryptically.

"The Hierophant has been very kind, I agree. The impression he left upon me is that the Circle strives for a natural balance. I'm sure his assistance is toward that end."

At the mention of rivals, Derek adds, "I've seen no rivals between the Covenants since my arrival. Even at the height of tension I've seen only accommodation and conciliation. There are only the poor choices of a few dissenters, and those were given mercy and guidance."

He eyes the gentlemen in side glances when his gaze isn't darting around the room at the slightest movement and change of pitch or volume in the conversations around them.

[Ellis Meadows]

Do not trust Invictus bearing gifts. While Adam may not know what exactly Ellis has in mind, it is clear to him that his offer was not one of pure motives. It might be surprising however, to find that there was some genuine sympathy for the Second Estate in Ellis' offer.

"Perhaps your informants were mistaken? The whisper network is called a Cacophony for a reason." Or perhaps they had lied to Adam. Or perhaps what looked like decline and a rift when you were at the top and people outside your covenant disagreed with yours looked different to everyone else. "But no matter. we are all of us here, loyal members of Her Majesty's Domain. If the internal politics of our Domains of Origin become important to Her Majesty's, I hold every confidence that the Sheriff will seek out the appropriate parties."

"The only other types of architecture I'm aware of are computer and enterprise architecture, Mr. Mitnick" Ellis says in a tone that is pretty up front about how little he knows about either topic beyond the fact that he is aware of the terms. You don't need to know how a phone is programmed to know that a phone is programmed, after all.

[Derek Menzies]

"Yes, you are correct, Mr. Meadows. I am a somewhat of a specialist when it comes to computer technology. Some have already called upon my services since my arrival," Derek says to Ellis.

As Adam rises and excuses himself, Derek looks surprised and glances back to his remaining conversation partner. "I hope it wasn't something I said..."

Had his remark about dissenters been the final straw? Derek had come to apologize for his own rudeness at first, but he had wished only to urge his cousin against painting a target on his back with careless statements. Likely he had succumbed to the pressure.

"I apologize for my cousin. He has had a rough time of it as of late, recovering from an, uh, a difficult situation," Derek explains vaguely.

[Ellis Meadows]

"We all have cousins that are eccentric. I expect he just needed to catch his breath." Ellis smiles, scrunching up his nose in amusement at his little joke. Beneath his relaxed appearance, Ellis was mildly put out. Adam had ruined, entirely on accident he was sure, what had turned out to be Ellis' very first 'drive you out of Court in shame' moment. It's like being sixteen, or a virgin. Once it's gone, you'll never get that back.

Regardless, he had a conversation to get back to. "It speaks volumes about your reliability that people are seeking you out for your skills, Mr. Mitnick. Would you be able to tell me anything about the projects you've been asked to work on, or would that breach confidentiality?" His tone confers the suggestion that he would not push if Derek felt the need to deflect away from the topic on to something more comforting to the other man.

[Derek Menzies]

Derek seems lost in thought a moment, perhaps still adjusting to the absence of his cousin, before looking back to Ellis.

"Hmm? Oh, uh, yes, well I've found there is a demand for malware and spyware as of late. Using devices to bypass basic system security. If you have access to the physical machine then there are some methods to gain control of its data. While there is no fool-proof skeleton key, it's certainly a handy alternative," Derek explains, not getting into the particulars of clients or which systems they wished to gain access to.

"But otherwise I'm usually tasked with researching things on the internet. Do you practice any trades, Mr. Meadows?"

[Ellis Meadows]

"Now? No. Being an actor is no longer as marketable after you've been murdered, after all." Ellis smiles at the naked truth of the matter. "I know my way around a camera, I'm good at reading people. And our condition provides it's own tools. I've adapted. In many ways I'm quite lucky, many of my hobbies translate well to service within the First Estate's sphere. In my spare time I'm working on learning a third language."

"Do you enjoy what you do? Is Independence all it's cracked up to be?"

Attempting to gauge if there's anything in particular that's calling on Derek's attention, contested with Manipulation + Subterfuge if you wish.

  3 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2019-05-13 17:57:14		Ellis Meadows rolls 6 to What's on your mind Derek? Wit + Empathy (10 Again)		10, 6, 4, 5, 7, 10, 8, 4		3 successes

[Derek Menzies]

  2sux

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2019-05-13 18:04:18		Derek Menzies rolls 5 to contest the scrutiny of Ellis's keen social senses [MAN+Sub] (10 Again)		1, 10, 9, 5, 4, 7		2 successes

Ellis has no problem deducing the troubled look on Derek's face at the retreat and absence of his cousin. Some guilt and frustration lingers there beneath the altogether nervous exterior of emotion.

"Mm, murdered you say? So your Embrace was unwilling I suppose." Ellis had brought it up after all. Though he doesn't pry beyond acknowledging its being said.

"A photographer and actor? Traditional photography or have you had much exposure to digital? I only ask since I've considered dabbling in photo editing software. As for my Independence...well, I'm just being very careful with whom I depend upon," he answers cautiously. "I have already considered the Circle, though it doesn't seem to fit my personal philosophies. And I'm currently considering the Secret Estate, if you must know."

While he is cautious in his wording, his tone does not seem to hold any specific defensiveness on that topic.