(2102)Formal Court

[Milton]

And like that, Edward is gone. In his place stands the one he'd addressed as Priscus Hazelton. Judging by the horrifying slither of her voice, Milton can guess which clan she represents.

Jennifer's formalized introduction clarifies things further. The Prince is a Gangrel. And a member of the First Estate. Somewhat confusing to Milton, but any further information is welcome.

Suddenly, Milton realizes why Edward had vanished: he didn't want to get blood on his suit.

Hazelton's voice was a serpentine terror, but Heinrich, it seems, is the real snake.

The Succubus had fed him to the Savage and then absconded before he could be caught in the crossfire. Not something Milton will soon forget. Revenge will have to wait though. Milton must first survive.

At the Prince's direction, Milton offers one last bow and withdraws toward Jacque with a quiet "Thank you, Your Grace." On his way, he offers Jennifer a brief bow as well, expressing his thanks without daring to speak further. He does not stop until he reaches Jacque's Orbit.

[Seryna]

Mr. Kowalsic and Miss Kowalsic give Priscus Jack a respectful nod as befitting his dual status as a respected member of the City and as a member of Qaulity.
As the Archon enters, the pair of Kowalsics bend into perfect bow and curtsy, the childe remaining lowered for longer than Mr. Kowalsic.
They remain near the Seneschal, glancing around casually, taking the beat of who is here, it seems. A glance to Madame Woods, a glance to JC. "Good evening, Madame Wood." Miss Kowalsic greeted.
"Yes, good evening Madame Wood." Mr. Kowalsic bid politely.
"Seneschal Hart, I must say that you look lovely this evening."
"Priscus Durant, how have you been of late?" He inquires, his tone ever polite.


The scarred mekhet bends her body into a respectful curtsy as the Archon enters. She remains lowered for a respectful few moment, then rises. Her eyes carefully scan the moving Kindred around the room. Her eyes study Mr. Heinrich and Alexander for a few seconds, her head tilting to the side.
Simone turns her body towards Priscus Durant as she replies. “Yes, I am planning on becoming more involved.” Her eyes glanced towards the Seneschal, then moved to the Priscus.

She glanced to JC Smith . "Good, you made it. I had hoped we would speak again. Did you want to talk about the outing?" Not as quick witted as one would hope, but she did try to obfuscate the bar parking lot and the reason she and JC had met and conversed.

[Mable Wood]

JC arrived, Mable gave him a smile in greeting, "Good evening, Mr. Smith."

Next was Jack, she gave him a respectful nod. Twist entered and she gave a bow.

She watched the new guy and Edward... Hmmm, maybe Mable should have gone over to help.

Then compliments on her dress happened, Mable smiled sweetly...if she had the ability to she would have blushed. "Thank you, Priscus Hazelton and Priscus Durant. You are both much too kind. You both look lovely. I do love the beauty of formal court."

"Good evening Miss Kowalsic, Mr. Kowalsic. I hope the evening finds you both well." She said politely.

[JC Smith]

The arrival of Twist required a short distraction from all ongoing conversation to bow as she came in. You couldn’t help but admire how the slightly transparent cloth accented her delicate features.

He smiled despite himself when Dirt Nap caught his eye and commented on his recent change in outlook. JC wished he could be honest and get it off his chest that he wanted to kill nearly everyone there. Admitting you had a problem was the first step they said after all. At the very least it would feel like a relief just to tell the truth.

Unfortunately, you couldn’t say such things in court and many Kindred clung to the lie so hard yet with such tenuous grip that the place could turn into a blood bath if anyone suggested the truth they all pretended not to know.

“Definitely different,” was the closest he could admit “But thanks for checking,” he added with a soft smile. It was nice.

For a moment he caught the new face walking up address the prince and thought the thought of a blood bath might be closer than he imagined. Yet it seemed the situation was diffused with Jennifer’s help and the Ventrue Priscus and Alessandra’s own good grace.

Quinn seemed a bit taken aback by his gratitude. JC wasn’t exactly sure why. Again, the Prince’s words that kindness could seem like manipulation occurred to him, though he hoped that wasn’t the case. All the same he didn’t press. He’d ask later if he remembered.

JC paused a moment after Simone spoke. He had assumed ‘their outing’ was why she had come to the Seneschal. However, if she was speaking in code and had refocused attention to Quinn maybe that wasn’t the case. Or she was toying with him and needed to die! Flex, relax.

“It’s good to see you too. I was expecting we could talk about it but if you don’t want to that’s fine as well.” Just so long as he was there to make sure her throat was ripped open if she lied and tried to frame him. Stop it! JC refocused mentally, pushing the murderous beast down for the moment. He could deal with those feelings later. He almost went on but decided to listen to what she had to say first.

[Jennifer Hazelton]

Her eyes light on Dirt Nap for a few moments, inclining her head to him as he tends to greeting JC. The Nosferatu studies the other Gangrel for a moment, curious about that relationship. The Lady watches Simone and JC speak, attending the words. The curiosity wouldn’t be pursued here in Court, however.
Dark eyes observe Milton as he gave the bow to her. She gives a slight nod in return, receiving the intended meaning. She glances over towards Mr. Heinrich, observing with a neutral expression. Her eyes take in Mr. Moore with some curiosity, before looking back to those she was speaking with. Perhaps Mr. Moore would find something that interested him.

“A social experiment,” Jennifer repeated Alice’s words, testing them out. Yes, that did seem to fit. Although her time out with the Prince finding different drinks had been fun. And her visits out to the club. Was it a regular thing? She wasn’t sure.
“- I like that idea. A social experiment. I would be much happier if you would like to go out for a night on the town, Seneschal. Ah, shall we sit and talk about what we might do?”
Dark eyes follow the Prince as she moves to sit.

"Well now that that's dealt with. Shall we talk about things we shall do." Jennifer took a seat near the Prince for ease of conversation, as the Prince had made the gesture that she had permission to approach before that interesting introduction.


If any care to join here...

[Alice Hart]

Nodding her strings pulled nod in thanks, she offers a too-wide-too-fake smile to her Cousin.

She hears her Cousin and Priscus repeat her words and she nods her too jerking nod once more, before moving her limbs in their strings pulled momentum to follow the Lady.

Joining the Prince's Seated Area

[Twist]

Pleasure at the faint wave that moved through the room at her arrival brought a faint smile to her face, but she didn't let it go further than that as she moved deeper into the room.

A few small groups had formed, but there was still a large number milling in general. She had plenty of options. And yet... she found little interest in her at the moment. So instead she moved on, wandering the edges of the group until she came to stand near the chess table.

[Dirt Nap]

Dirt Nap nods to Priscus Hazelton, Jenny or as she said she preferred, Jenna. Either way as a kindness, she doesn't pull him into the mud that unlike him, she seems to be able to wade through hip deep without getting any on herself. He appreciates how she dives in to help smooth things over, though.


Dirt Nap notices a confused, even perhaps disoriented expression on Alexander. Then he seems alright again, turning his attention to socializing and conversing. Though it doesn't last. The giant looks positively distressed, even panicked as he puts his back to the wall like he's under attack.


Edward also looks somewhat distressed, but not without an obvious reason. He pounced on the newcomer and then was not quick enough to keep him from making his mistake.
Still, he manages to retire somewhat natural like, seeming like he's heading towards someone instead of away from a situation.


The Prince rules her Court, her Grace indeed. She doesn't grind it in, the mistake. She lets Priscus Hazelton run interference, and sends him to Jack for lessons. Priscus, Jack that is.


Seneschal Hart talks about socializing, as an experiment. That's a new thought to him. His mind runs on that trail a bit. A thought for later, though. He's running his own experiment yet, and it has a ways to go. Testing whether all the careful preparing he's done over the last few years can really control the beast, once he lets it get its growth properly. So far, the results are mixed. The fence is holding, but takes more attention to keep it in repair than he'd thought. Good thing he planned for that. Hope for the best; plan for the worst.


Dirt Nap observes his Slave doing her Priscus duty, watching over her Clan, Ms. Simone in particular. Used to be a bit larger Clan at least by one more last time he'd looked.


She was looking over towards Mr. Kowalsic, too. Good luck with that one, he thought. If ever he saw a man prone to calculating what you done for him lately and how useful you were, that would be the one.


Her talk with Mable was nice though. Seemed honest socializing.


Then she's looking, just so casually over at him to see what he's up to. Looking out for his Clan too, the newest one anyways. Dirt Nap remembers his first Court, and the Predator Aspect spurring him on to do something suicidal stupid. J.C. seems to have it under control though, and seems to have some friends or at least connections around here to boot.


The new guy, Milton seems to be taken in hand now, Jack has him in the fold as it were. Maybe some day, if the man sticks, he might see about a game of chess. He looks like someone who might get overconfident and get to talking over a game of chess.


Interesting all the people paying some attention to Mable. Good for her. Mister Kowalsic of all people. Wonder what that's about. Bears watching, for his friend's sake of for no other reason.


Dirt Nap nods understandingly at J.C.'s stoic, careful reply. "You're gonna be ok." Dirt Nap says.


He notices again Jennifer Hazelton's eyes on him, and J.C. too, but turns towards Alexander next. "Excuse me, Doc." Dirt Nap says to J.C. with a slight smile. "I'm gonna head over there a bit." He indicates the direction and then moves towards Alexander, moving slow and harmless like, so as not to add to the giant's panic.


"Hello again, Alexander." Dirt Nap says slow and soft, as he approaches the giant, "You doing alright, here, at Court?" Dirt Nap asks, helpfully reminding the man who and where he is....

[Alexander Moore]

“Mr. Moore, Alexander Moore of clan Nosferatu, pleased to meet you.” He closes his hand over the offered one, lightly grasping it as they shake. Edward Heinrich stands in front of him, but rests more like a silhouette in his eye than a man, or a Kindred. Taking back his hand Alexander quickly glances about the room. Upon seeing Dirt Nap’s approach, and hearing his words, Alexander turns to him.


“I’m doing fine, just a little jumpy is all. Thank you for your concern, how are you this evening if you don’t mind me asking?.” Perhaps Alexander had made a fool of himself earlier, his personal grievances should remain his own, not shared with the court, regardless of how strongly he feels about them.

Side thread?

[Quinn Durant]

Quinn smiled warmly to Simone, and a slight nod to her to indicate she appreciated her introducing herself to Seneschal Hart. A face to put to a name was valuable. "I am holding a Clan meeting next month, at this address." She spoke it once, trusting to Simone to commit it to memory, after all the night was waning. "We will get to know each other then. I"m greatly looking forward to it." She informed her, and moved over to the ladies discussing clubbing.