(2106) Eternal Court

[Conner Wells]

Conner strode into Court having many many deliberate choices beforehand. First and foremost, he hadn't changed his color scheme from last court; grey suit and dark clothes with a red tie. It wasn't that he lacked variety in his wardrobe, he just wanted to make sure people saw the same man that walked into the last Court.
Only this time, making a better impression.
As he entered the lion's den that was Elyisum there was that initial vomit-like pressure in his belly from the Beast. The desire to consume and tear. But he couldn't afford another mistake like last time. He adjusts his tie, and walks in.
Immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.
The quote weighed heavy on Conner again; impressing on him the necessity of such strict laws in the presence of creatures such as he.
Mental crisis suppressed for the time being, Conner advances to Quinn's side. His first bow, low and long, was to Alessandra. "Greetings, Prince Alessandra Antinori. I'm grateful for the chance to put my better foot forward for you this evening."
Next to Twist, though a bit less grandiose. "Greetings, Archon Twist. I'm honored to make your acquaintance."
And finally, to Quinn, punctuated with a deferential nod. "Priscus Durant, my apologies for being so far behind.
But then there was...a newcomer? He may have shared a name, but Conner saw something very different in Connor OBrien from himself: an almost chivalric presence. It didn't stop his hackles from rising, but he offered a smile and a nod. "My apologies, I'm afraid we haven't been introduced. My name is Conner Wells, of the Second Estate, Clan Mekhet."

Edited to include Prince's last name because spellcheck is a pain in the butt. Apologies.

[JC Smith]

JC was surprised when he entered court and felt the familiar upset of the beast rising as a challenger. Not that he hadn’t been expecting it but because of how familiar the commanding presence was.

The Prince was already here.

At the bottom of the stairs he immediately stopped and gave her a deep bow. Time to calm his instincts to attack her for being in ‘his’ court but also to wonder. He’d never known Alessandra to arrive this early to court. And as he rose, noting that besides the new weakling, there was also Twist. Her appearance of delicate seduction belying that fact that she ran the First Estate.

He bowed again. Beast rustling angrily in the background, while the more rational mind started to worry. Both Prince and Archon here and court had barely started. Was there something going on tonight?

Were they here to make sure the Mehket stayed in line. They were already talking to Quinn.

She received a nod.

Normally he might have lingered to one side. Listening first to get a better feel for the situation. However, they’d talked earlier about what to do in court. Stick together and give support.

If he could. The choice wasn’t actually up to him. He approached the group before pausing a short distance away. Seeing if the Prince would let him join the throng of monsters.

[Milton]

Court again. Milton is torn between apprehension and anticipation.

To some, Elysium is a stage on which to stride. To pose and posture and perform. To see and be seen. How nice it must be for them.

Milton is not stupid enough to think that he could play such a role. He knows what he is. How he must comport himself given his weaknesses. And his strengths.

For Milton, Elysium is a web. A place to linger and sample the domain's vibrations, its tenor. Perhaps to catch a fly. That is, if he can manage to navigate and negotiate the attentions and appetites of the bigger spiders. So, apprehension for obvious reasons. Anticipation for other, obvious reasons.

For instance, will there be more Shadow play tonight? And, if so, how will the prince react? How might she deal with Quinn in that event?

Really, despite the dangers, who could stay away? Not Milton. Indeed, he is on his way down the stairs at this very moment, adjusting his tie. He's in yet another uninspired ensemble. Looking, for all the world, like a mid-tier corporate jockey or political flack. A very pale one.

The whiplash kiss of the Prince's beast hits him first and Milton bows reflexively. Only then does he allow himself a glimpse of her terrifying personage. She is in orange, like a flame.

Like a flame, she chastises his beast. And, like a flame, it is best to keep one's distance.

He straightens only to spot Twist and Quinn beside her. Milton offers Twist a bow of her own, showing his respect. Quinn receives something between a bow and a nod, his face blank. For the handsome, but dangerous one with them, Milton spares only a glance, his beast protesting anew. He does allow himself a small, but quizzical smile when his eyes pass over Quinn's new little duckling. Mr. Wells, was it? Perhaps there will be more Mekhet necking tonight. Now where's that Maeve?

Finally, there's JC, who appears to have just entered before Milton and is currently awaiting admittance to the company of Hound and Priscus. His back is to Milton, obviating the need for the Lord to acknowledge the savage at present. All the better.

Seeing the positions of the other spiders upon the web this evening, Milton chooses his spot carefully. He ambles, not too slow and not too fast, toward the Steinway. There he stops, seeming to take an interest in the piano; though his unremarkable eyes flit here and there every so often.

Time to watch the Danse.

[Alessandra]

Dark eyes continue to observe the room from her position. One could learn a lot simply by observing.

Spotting the new face, who was quite handsome, drop to a knee, was, well, surprising. What the hell was she supposed to do with that?

Eyes snap to the Shadow who had disrupted Court once before, but nothing is said. In fact, she doesn’t move. The distance is there for a reason. Why one would feel the need to make themselves heard without approach was beyond her.

Then her Cousin enters, and her Beast reacts, anger, rage, demanding the blood of the weaker whelp. But not tonight. Elysium was a place of peace, and it would stay as such.

For now.

Then came the bland Ventrue, Milton if memory served her right. The one Edward had tried to fuck over. But he had recovered well enough.

As he walked toward the piano, she decided to join him. That whole social thing.

Walking over, “Good evening Mr Northbridge.” Says the Savage, Italian accent very obvious. “How have you been?” the question genuine. She didn’t know much of the Ventrue. “You interested in pianos?”

Don't narrate my character somewhere she is not.

[Milton]

Alessandra and Milton continue at the link below.

Continued in (2106) The Prince and The Lord...

[Twist]

She didn't need Quinn's sudden bow or even the visible reaction of Connor to alert her. The sudden lunge of Beast was enough. Alessandra had arrived.

Turning, Twist noted the nod offered her way even as she herself offered a long held curtsy to the Prince of the City. As Ale moved on, she rose and turned back to the introductions that had been briefly interrupted.

"Thank you Priscus," Twist said with a brief smile toward the Mehket. The words offered for both the welcome and the introduction. "Mister O'Brien- welcome to Sacramento. What brings you to our City if I may ask?" The question was mostly benign curiosity. She was neither his Priscus to offer acknowledgment nor the Reeve to watch the laws. But still, should his answer be ... wrong, it was good to know early.

As Conner moved to join them, Twist gave the man a once over. Like his hidden Beast, there was little about him to cause her to take notice aside from his greeting. A small nod was offered, an acknowledgement of his greeting.

"The Second Estate? It has been some time since we have had any of note from your Covenant." Even longer since they had one who actually survived and stayed past a few appearances. Well. If this one followed suit at least she wouldn't have to worry about differentiating between the two men when considering their first names.

Unlikely though it would be that she would be considering that.

[Quinn Durant]

Quinn nodded to Mr. Wells, and smiled patiently at his explanation, and then pursed her lips slightly. "Mr. Wells, please refrain from speaking your intentions like a far flung greeting at Prince Antinori. For that many words, you should approach and wait for either acceptance or denial by Prince Antinori to speak your peace. A simple 'Good evening, Your Majesty,' would suffice" She corrected him immediately, and thoroughly. Her tone low and gentle but firm. Taking Mr. Wells as quickly in hand as a sire takes a childer. Looks like Mr. Wells was reaping what he had sewn from last court. His Priscus all over him like white on rice.

Quinn smiled and nodded back to the acknowledgement of Mr. Smith. The smile an open invitation if he cared to join them.

As Mr. Northbridge came in Quinn found herself observing his more respectful address this evening, so she made sure her smile was genuine, and generous with the little lord.

Quinn nodded her head ascent to the Archon's thank you for the introduction. "You are most welcome Archon."

And as Mr. Wells, introduces himself to Mr. O'Brien Quinn mentions the second thing that caught her attention about Mr. Well's performance so far this evening. "You have not properly introduced yourself to the Archon, Mr. Wells, since you gave formal introduction to Mr. O'brien thankfully the Archon knows your name now and more about you, but when you addressed her you assumed she knew you when you two have not been introduced face to face."

You earned this bullshit cupcake.

[Connor OBrien]

Hearing Ale's heels 'click clack' away, Connor rose from his knee swiftly. It seemed to be a practiced motion.

He turned his attention back to Twist. "I simply desired a change of scenery, your Grace," he said, punctuating the fact that he was speaking to a superior with a small bow of his head, "I had been in New York for far too long."

He then turned to his attention to Mr. Wells. "Connor O'Brien, of the First Estate, clan Nosferatu. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." He replied, only just finishing before Quinn began chastising him. This must be one of the two from clan Mekhet that Jennifer had spoken of.

Then came the most recent Kindred of the night. The beast once again surged forward; this time, however, he did not want to run, this was food. Connor grimaced as he forced his beast back down inside of him, exposing one of his fangs for the briefest of moments before righting himself and returning his attention to the group he was currently with.

[Conner Wells]

It isn't until the words have left his mouth that Conner realizes his numerous errors, the realization crashing into him like ice-hot jaws slamming into his ribs. His Beast flails internally. Run! Kill! Fight! Do anything! You don't belong here; here where every unliving thing is out to get you and can hear your every...
And then it hits him, the double-edged sword of Elyisum: everyone can hear and see you, good or ill.
Conner deliberately mimics the action of a deep breath that's it; in through the nose, out through the mouth and nods knowingly to Quinn "Apologies, Priscus Durant; thank you for your correction. My eagerness outweighs my judgement."
To Archon Twist, he offered a similar apologetic nod. The weight has lifted just a bit off of his chest; if he couldn't find power in confidence, then he would find it in surrender.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-06-04 14:22:59	Conner Wells rolls 6 to Contain Fear Response (Wits + Subterfuge) (10 Again)	6, 8, 6, 2, 3, 6	1 success

Connor's brief but volatile reaction makes the Shadow briefly wonder if the Nosferatu was going to lash out. But he maintains his composure; this new Kindred's revealed struggle making Conner marvel at his internal resolve. ​Now this is someone who could prove a valuable friend.

[Dirt Nap]

Dirt Nap enters the special area of the club, the Court, moving at a leisurely pace, as if measuring the distances with his paces.

He nonetheless pays full respect first to the Prince, bowing in her direction without trying to make eye contact or otherwise insist on receiving her attention. Next he bows only a little less deep towards the Archon, Twist.

He nods respectfully to Quinn Durant as to a superior, at least a Priscus albeit of another Clan.

He gives a respectful, acknowledging nod to J.C. along with a slight hint of a smile of recognition.

He nods as well to Mister Northbridge offering respect if not obeisance.

To Conner Wells and Connor O'Brien respectively he nods slightly as if acknowledging their existence, and as if he is not sure of anything else about them.

Dirt Nap ambles to a neutral point, his back to a wall but not right up against it, to watch and listen closely to the Court.