Hangover in the Barrens

[Garrett Prosper]

Round 2.

Was stubborn a word attached to him now? The Savage was slowly collecting information with his field studies of Kindred closer to the Beast. Science was the reason he was putting up with this garbage he assured himself as he tapped on the door.

He wore a black button up shirt that was slightly wrinkled from being folded in the back of his vehicle as one of the few emergency change of clothes. Only slightly more formal: he still had runners and jeans. Prosper had simply rented his own place when he refused to make the trek all the way back to the Chapter House, tripping on hallucinogens and bouncing back from one of the most chaotic evenings he had had in a while. Sometimes a Gangrel just needed the isolation. Without his usual stash for moon rise routine, he has dark bruising that gives the bright attention a more haunted look, skin a little sallow in its hue. The hair is slicked and clean but already had escaping curls from any lack of product.

"You are right. It is shit out here," he practically barks. He had resorted to animals, giving up in his impatience for long stretches without signs of life and even less souls willing to engage.

[Garrett Prosper]

Garrett swatted the growling either coming from the usual taint of the Curse or his own irritation. He wasn't sure at this point, food being a sensitive point of contention for him. He had always managed in even worse conditions, but it didn't mean he was going to be graceful about it. Wasn't Dirt Nap wanting to volunteer for this? Weird kid.

Prosper pulled the chair to a new perch, watching the cards move. "Fun. Let me think; it has not been that long." Nights blurred together without specific anchors. "Fräulein Wood was given the Keeper title. I had checked out when Prince Antinori informed me that she would not have the position maintaining peace with any sort of tools beyond a hand holding and hushed words. I was not looking to be a glorified piece of furniture so the First Estate could point at someone when Court bucks again." He chuckles, "The worth of such a thing is weighed against previous behaviour. I have better things to do with my time than be an extension of Invictus resources with only popular Status signalling as my reward."

The Gangrel brightens a bit, "Oh, that was funny too. Everyone waited for me to make my points so they could just repeat me. I am sure both other candidates have a fantastic resume for handling more formidable predators instead of escalating. Herr Jack was adamant he is great at communication and peace keeping, and that we have a conspiracy together." He rested his chin in his hand, "So why did you tell the other Ventrue to support me?" He had ideas but he would rather hear it from the Lord.

[Garrett Prosper]

Garrett snorts as he tries to hold a laugh. It turned out the Lord could be funny. With the explanation of the card game, he shuffled around thoughts on what that would be. The children's game? Perhaps Arturo wasn't confident in being able to think on the fly past simple increasing digits.

The other questions come as he ponders, fiddling with his own new collection. They are registered to be addressed while he smirks at the other, likely trying to see what game his hand was best suited for. At the question of who goes first, Prosper stacks an Ace and a two as a joke.

"Alliance? I thought the Grand Wyrm and the Harpy had their own agreement," he said. "Oh! Jack's argument. I explained that your position was rendered due to a lack of clarity with the Laws, and a lot of open discussion that the Prince is so offended by was often inspired by confusion of her standards. Other things, like understanding how to track Kindred motives and flaring hackles, etcetera etcetera... Jack agreed he was an excellent mediator and the Prince needed to communicate. Which was hilariously vague and clearly he did not denote I was pointing out how feckless he and Mable had been. Most of the Court, really," he grins, "Turns out I am good with feelings. Nuances and measuring future application of talent and ability, the Prince is not. Speak well and softly is what she likes, and only have an attitude for easy things that do not make people question their actions."

He was being chatty, but he assumed the Lord appreciated the noise beyond his own enraged thoughts. The admittance of further isolation ground a nerve that Prosper could empathize with.

Another laugh. He was swearing now? How scandalous. "You...know I am literally Oberklasse, right? I had to know how to talk at six, lest I embarrass my poor family during networking events. Though that game would have been entertaining for a short while, I think you would have found yourself trying to chase after me. You know, like how I pinged Jack around the room," he chuckles. "I wonder how long your patience would have held when I started nitpicking arbitrary European standards of decorum that died out ages ago."

He keeps the cadence and volume to match a salon of some kind, eventually enforcing House Rules of speed as he started flicking cards when he had them, rather than waiting for Arturo's turn.

[Garrett Prosper]

Garrett slowly shrugs his shoulders, "When I see such things, I think those present have lived a luxury of not having their reality tested. Things have come blessedly easy, and the jaded seem unreasonable to violate their insulation. Why would anyone want bad things to happen?" he says.

"Unfortunately, what they have to learn is that choosing not the play just means you eventually are supporting someone who is. Sacrificing freedom for popularity is the choice of the weak."

The Savage listens with surprise at the sudden divulging of a Sire's expectations, blinking without necessity.

"You were not selected for your initial education?" He didn't run into many Lords that didn't have some kind of lineage of pedigree or assets to tow the purpose of their existence. His gaze flicks to the sudden leap in the stack that cut off an easy advancement, "That is funny, our Clan is faced with similar challenges in expectation of making adaptations."

Having burnt most of his hand already, he tops the stack with a King and claims the responsibility of the pile as if he expected Arturo to make a grab, rather than waiting for an Ace. The top of the deck is flipped to a 6, and he poorly schools a frown having nothing in his hand that fell to the center.

[Garrett Prosper]

Garrett snorts at the comment. "I thought you being intimidating was just that. Kindred do not find that charming?"

The Savage puts a hand to his heart, "Brotherhood in shared adversity. I shall make sure you are invited to the next Gangrel meeting. There is a lot of snarling and posturing, or lounging on chairs. Take your pick." At this point he expected the jabs were to be kept to a minimum while Arturo worked his way back to civilization and a clear head. There wasn't much sport to be had in this state, and it seemed he would have to run the conversation. Whatever, his own Blood usually weren't very good at this either. Arturo was strangely open, however, which tugged his curiosity. "How long were your lessons? Is your Sire still around?"

He is forced to draw another card and his attention goes back to the Lord at the vagueness of his last statement.

"What do you mean, alone? Was Adam relieved of his Life Boon? Or has he returned to the Domain proper?" he pauses, considering the implications. His mouth turns into a thin line, not sure if he wanted to know the answer.