The Rider and the Detective

[Madcap]

Attached to the mansion that was Chapter House Florin was a generous garage space, as one would expect from such a well appointed residence. Near the far end of the space there was a door leading to a windowless space likely meant to be used as an office or storage space, although Madcap, the Dragon who had taken residence in this room at the Chapter House, had since taken it as his personal "suite", placing his effects and cot within. However, the contents of the room were unknown and unapparent here, as the door was closed.

Instead the room's resident was in the garage, beside his closed haven. The Bruja was tending to his baby, giving the metal horse a shine. He was dressed simply, a pair of well-worn blue jeans, old white tank top, and black cowboy boots discolored slightly from age and wear. The Bruja's shirt, hands, and arms bore the black marks of grease, likely from some earlier maintenance.

Focused on his task, ol' Cap was silent, a lit cigarette hanging lazily from his mouth with his nose bellowing smoke now and then to keep that nicotine high coming. Sitting on a stool was a small stereo spouting out some classic tunes, currently it played The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Either by design or neglect, the door to the greater mansion of the Dragons remained open, welcoming any who found themselves among their number.

Lina Moretti

[Madcap]

The voice of the Grand Wyrm drew the attention of the Bruja, shaken from his 'zen'. The Beast wanted to tear her apart, but the growl of Cap's Will brought in back under control.

"Well, I'll be damned," he said with a smirk as he wiped his hands and tossed the cloth, "Grand Wyrm finally found time to come down from her perch, huh?"

The tone of the Bruja's words and his smile made it apparent he was joking, adding levity at a time when their Beasts had voiced their primal opinions. Walking to the door of his haven, Madcap dipped inside. The sound of a mini-fridge opening and closing was heard. Soon after the Bruja re-emerged, two Coronas and a bottle opener in hand.

Approaching Lina, Cap would hold one out to her.

"What brings ya to my pit, Moretti?" he asks. He didn't have much direct experience with the Grand Wyrm. He assumed she had come for a reason.

[Madcap]

"Suits me fine," Madcap says as his gaze turns to the garage itself before seating himself on his bike, "A bit more... rich than I'm used to I suppose. Could be a bane or a benefit depending. All comes down to how I adapt."

He takes a drink of the beer and pauses, his face easily conveying his pondering state. "As far as the man behind the card," he says, "I ain't exactly shy so it all depends on you."

Madcap wasn't opposed to talking about himself, but its clear the man didn't do it often given his often laconic nature. If Lina wished to know more, it'd help to be more specific. After all Madcap's history, like many Kindred around his age, was long and storied compared to those of mortal men.

"What did you want to know?" he asked, moving to help steer the Grand Wyrm to more objective conversation. She wanted to get to know him and, for the moment, the Bruja saw no reason to block her.

[Madcap]

"True enough," Madcap would say. He had is own experience with the wealthy, though his wealthier associates had been a bit more... clandestine with their affairs than more quiet members of America's unlabeled gentry.

A huff left the Bruja's mouth as Lina voiced her question.

"I left because it's clear the Prince has gotten too comfortable," he said, "In one evening, Alessandra barred an entire covenant from feeding from the actions of a single member, even though that outburst was absolutely necessary. More than that, her offering to 'work something out with the Dragons' stinks of some barely veiled attempt to corral us into owing her a favor. Fuck. That. She also barred Garcia from feeding and sent him to the Barrens to starve while the true instigator of their spat cowered behind her for protection. Not the only one she's sentenced to that either."

"It ain't exactly a secret that I took issue with Jack when he tried to force Prestation in my name," he continued, "And the Prince's inaction on that point - and her subsequent blind protection of the little shit - is a sign of naivety or a delusional ego. My money's on the latter. I think she believes her reign is above reproach or that she boasts too many weapons that a threat to her rule is impossible. She's wrong. Her dishonor will invite instability, whether I choose to become involved or not. That's not a threat. It's the truth and I think you're smart enough to see that. She's forming the potential for a war."

Moretti was the Sheriff. Madcap wasn't so dense to assume the Grand Wyrm was here in only a single capacity. He had been told the Sheriff was a clever one. Thus, it seemed important to state he had no active intentions to rebel against Sacramento's 'sovereign'. Not yet, anyway. Still, he wasn't going to sit there and try and bullshit Lina. More than a Sheriff, Lina was the Grand Wyrm and a Sworn of Mysteries. While her dedication and work had been dismissed by Alessandra, it would not be so in the Chapter House.

"To put it more simply, Grand Wyrm," he said, "I left because I think the Prince is an idiot. Or at least that she has been since I came around."

[Madcap]

She talked about allies. That was good, but it already seemed to Madcap that the Dragons owned a certain esteem here, save for within the mind of the Prince herself. However, as Lina states that war was no good for anyone, the Bruja merely shook his head.

"To be clear, Moretti, war was something I endured in my time among the Kine," he said, "Through it, we were able to free France, Poland, and others from an invader, Italy and Germany from the fascists, and returned Europe to a manageable peace. I agree war ain't pretty, but to say it isn't good in any situation is just... well, let's say misinformed. Ain't gonna say something more colorful here. Also it isn't usually the choice the defenders to have to defend themselves, instigators will push regardless of their intentions. Considering the skin both the Prince and the Harpy wear, it seems clear who that is going to be when the time comes. It is the nature of those closing in with the Beast to want destruction."

Then she spoke of the sanctity and mobility of the chapter itself, prompting a chuckle from the rough Gangrel as he finally drank his beer.

"If that were true, ma'am," he said once his thirst was slaked, "I get the feeling we would have already picked up sticks. Some Chapters out east and across the sea have persisted where they are for literal centuries. The land, like ley lines and the very subject matter we study, is important. Even more than that, the Chapter has made its networks here. Among Kindred and, surely, among the kine as well. It's Grand Wyrm earned a regency, which tells me our place in Florin was gained through duty and blood. Even more, the casual nature of the disintegration of your powerbase as Regent tells me the punishment surprised you. Such judgements on the part of the Prince shouldn't be made flippantly. You ask why Sacramento is worth fighting for. I'm here to remind you that Sacramento is your home and, if we want to get simpler than that, it should be fought for by principle alone if other reasoning fails. That bitch snubbed you and all of us because she feels her powerbase is unassailable. She's forgotten that it is your contributions in Sheriff that have allowed her these comforts."

A pause.

"It's time to remind her," he says, "Whether that's by word or act is up to you. I'll only say this, I am a recent arrival. If that little despot thinks she can push me to the Barrens because she doesn't like something I say, I'll happily take my leave instead of enduring her proclamation. Her edicts don't mean shit to me and I don't have enough invested here to stick around, but you? You got more investment. Don't pretend you don't and don't just grovel until she decides your penance is done."