(2107) Formal Court

[Seryna]

Simone remained near the Mekhet and Mr. Northbridge, yet did not walk off to join the side thread. Her dark eyes noted the interaction between Dirt Nap and JC Smith. Then she glanced to Edward and Jennifer. With a hm, she wandered over towards Gangrel.

"Ms Woods. How are you?" Simone asked Mable.
"I've been trying to get a sense of that one investigation. Following anyone that could be a poacher. Its time consuming! What are you up to? More patrols?"

[Alessandra]

Stepping forward, making herself center stage for the moment, she looks to the gathered, getting their attention.

“I’m sure there are many questions in regard to tonights Court and its purpose, so let us begin.” Her voice carrying. “The Laws we have are to protect not only ourselves, but our very society and the unlife we enjoy. When one breaks those Laws, there are consequences.” And sometimes those were unpleasant.

“Breaching the Masquerade, the very basic Law that keeps us safe, earns one Banishment from this Domain.” Simple, to the point. “However, when a Kindred then decides to accuse an outstanding member of this Domain of their own sins, the punishment is more severe.” Dark eyes finally settle on her target, “Mr. Kowalsic, step forward.” There was no room for debate, he would face his consequence. “You have not only Breached the Masquerade, but you told members of this Domain that it was Her Grace, Alder Duchess Twist, Judex, Archon and Priscus of the Daeva, that had committed the act. One of the founding Kindred of this Domain, who has fought numerous times to keep it safe, put her own Danse on the line so that we may enjoy the comforts we have. This will not stand. You are Banished from my Domain, never welcome to step foot within its boundaries again. And for casting your crimes against another,” she pauses, eyes hard and dark on her target, her voice firm, unwavering, “you will lose your very flesh here and now.” Her voice had grown cold, uncaring.

[Seryna]

Mr. Kowalsic takes the Prince's sentence as a punch to the gut, making an auditory 'uh'. He then attempts to steel himself, giving the Prince a deep nod that he understood.
The youngest Nosferatu takes the sentence as a body blow, her legs quivering and then lowering her to the floor. She bends herself in on herself, clasping her hands in a submissive pose.
To the Nosferatu discussing future plans, he states: “I regret I will not be in attendance.” There was a momentary quaver in his voice, betraying his deep fear.
The sentence would be extremely painful. He would start his Danse in another Domain deeply flawed. A sign of a criminal. Another just consequence.
“I bid you a good eve.” He spoke to the Nosferatu as a whole, his gaze moving between them. Somewhat softer, he said humbly. “My apologies.”

A look to Miss Kowalsic.
“Childe, leave with Charles. Get into our preferred car and be driven out of town immediately, for we are banished. Send two others to help Johnathan, who shall remain here. They will have to help me move later.
Make the preparations to have all others prepare the vehicles and be on the road to Lady Kowalsic immediately."

Now he turns from the Nosferatu and strides forward.

The youngest Miss Kowalsic remains kneeling, reeling and looking frightened.

Mr. Kowalsic slows his pace and carefully keeps his hands in view until he was fifteen feet from the Prince. No doubt all eyes were on him. He carefully clasped his arms in a submissive pose, bending his back to the low bow before the Prince. The elder then submitted himself to the Domain Law and the Apex predator, fully lowering himself so he was on his knees before the Prince.

He kept his head lowered for several beats. His bowed head turned towards the beautiful, deadly Daeva Archon.
“For my crime against you, Archon Twist, I sincerely apologize.”

The elder bowed his head humbly. He lifted his eyes to the Prince, keeping his body bent in a pose of submission. The elder allowed some sincere emotion in his tone now.
“I apologize for squandering my opportunity in your Court, Lady Prince Antinori. I appreciate your just sentence.”

He lowered his eyes to the ground and placed his arms behind his back. He now tilted his head slightly to hear who would approach to carry out the sentence, so that he could accommodate the sentence.

[JC Smith]

JC wished he could have rubbed his temples and groaned. On the one hand, it was kind of sweet that Dirt Nap was trying to give him a boon to make for things. On the other, JC really wanted to slap the cowboy over the head and ask what the fuck he was thinking.

Here? In court? A boon? JC didn’t need a boon, he just needed to talk. Understand and explain. And he wished Dirt Nap got that.

But now he had to think about all this. Now. Would not accepting be seen as insulting by the rest of court? Would Dirt Nap take it as the issue actually being resolved? It should have been just how JC felt but that couldn’t be here in Elysium with ears and eyes everywhere.

“I’ll accept,” he said finally “And spend it to request we spend an evening talking over things openly. I’ll let you know when I’m available.” It was what he’d wanted anyway. This was just emphasized that. And a small political part whispered maybe he could leverage it to learn confidential information on the Dragons to boot. Which got an internal eye roll at the selfish thought. He turned back to Edward.

“It was actually about you joining the ranks of the unaligned that I had a question. I’m trying to learn about covenants, to try and have enough to make an informed decision on which I might join. I wanted to know what advantages you found in not being part of a covenant?”

Though the answer to that might have to wait.

JC had not in fact wondered about tonight’s court’s purpose. He had assumed it was just another formal court. A requirement to bring the Kindred together to observe them. A demonstration of power to make people have to attend. JC had obviously been mistaken.

A Breach by Kowalsic? An accusation against Twist? When had this happened? He was a confused but tried to make it in stride as the Nosferatu came forward. The Gangrel couldn’t help but feel sorry for the man and the childe, having experienced banishment himself in his journey down the coast. However, as punishment for a Breach? That was down right magnanimous. He glanced to Hazelton, wondering if she had used her influence in that regard. JC just hoped that the little voice warning that 'losing his flesh' might mean that the childe was about to die. The beast rustled happily at that thought though.

[Jennifer Hazelton]

The Priscus kept her face composed as the Prince made her announcement. She did not look about the Court for several seconds as she processed the words.
Jennifer had suspected the reason for the Court to have every acknowledged citizen present was to witness justice being dealt out. Personally, Jennifer was ambivalent. Her own conviction was that justice must be carried out, without special allowances. This was a conviction that had formed a large part of her Danse. A reason why she had been proud to serve as Reeve’s assistant.
The sentence was rather clever. A unique one, she had not heard of skinning for a punishment. Jennifer acted as Mr. Kowalsic began to move.
“Good bye, Mr. Kowalsic.”

Jennifer bent and gripped her youngest cousin firmly, helping her up to her feet.
“ Good bye, Miss Kowalsic.” She gave the childe a meaningful look. “Mark this.”

Yet this action by Mr. Kowalsic opened up the Nosferatu family to at best, speculation. The Kindred could be savage to shred apart any weakness, so that they could make their own position stronger. She also would not have her own private justice from Kowalsic for opening up the Family to this danger.
Jennifer looked to the right and then to the left, slowly scanning faces. Looking for any sign of opportunistic or gleeful motives. Jennifer acknowledged that shock and fear may produce unintended expressions, even as Kindred tried to suppress them. It was possible one would give a wrong impression. That would be taken into account when she dealt with any threats. Dark brown eyes were impassive, calculating as she looks about the Kindred who had risen above the masses suitably to be known to her. Her eyes settle on Edward Heinrich for a long beat.
What was that expression? Taking delight in her Family’s change of fortune?

He regarded the Haunt as he put his affairs in order, with cold satisfaction, repressing a sneer at the snivelling Childe. Have you no pride? The Elder did, as he took his punishment with grace. All was as it should be, and order was returned.

Her real regret was that the promising childe was being tugged down by the bloated, egotistical elder Nosferatu. Jennifer hoped she would do well, wherever the Kowalsic family finally landed.
She hoped Kowalsic learned this lesson, so the Masquerade would be preserved.

[Jacque]

Jacque absorbed the new information stoically. It was a blunt reminder for anyone in the room- the fact that anyone in this society no matter covenant or reputation could be cast aside given the gravity of their error. The declaration flowed from the Prince's mouth, and he wondered how many neonates might find the punishment cruel or morbid. How many might forget for the moment who we are instead of just what we pretend to be.

I appreciate your just sentence.

But he knew. Protecting the first was everything. There could be no greater success and no greater failure of a Kindred. For the briefest of moments, the Lord's mind and body lapsed, believing its own charade and exhaled steeling itself for what he was about to witness. His eyes watched the stage that was set, and Mister Kowalsic's approach.

[Twist]

Twist stood easily at her position as the Prince made her decree. The part of her that was Judex of the city's Invictus was pleased to see Mr. Kowalsic handle the announcement so well. She had wondered if there would be chasing involved tonight and was glad it wouldn't be so. As far as his offered apology...

She was Daeva. She saw the buried respect and fear for her in what he had done. Gambling that those investigating would help him bury the matter rather than face the consequences of calling her out. But she was Daeva and her pride ran deep. He had attempted to smear her name. Had he been believed ... well, it would not have been good.

So she listened to his apology and watched him bow his head to her but did not respond.

And when he had finished she lifted a hand in summoning. From the shadows a large frame was brought forth. For those who had been, the frame would have easily fit right in at Asylum. If appearing to be sturdier than the ones already in existence at the Kine club. Short chains dangled in four places, ending in cuffs- their intent clearly to restrain.

A small gesture and metal gleamed in Twist's hand. If his apology was perhaps not entirely sincere now, it would be by the time she was finished.

And there would be no safe words until she had.

@Seryna - is there a specific roll you would like for Twist to carry out the punishment? Extended crafts or medicine has been suggested if weaponry isn't appropriate.

[Seryna]

Twist I think for the act of carrying out the sentence, an extended Strength + Weaponry, with the + bonus of Twist's weapons with the goal of 15 represents the care taken. There is no resistance on his part, beyond instinctive flinching that the rack assists with

Mr, Kowalsic holds himself with as much dignity as an elder can muster, but there is a visible flinch as the frame was brought forth. For one conditioned to not express emotions clearly on his face, this was as loud as a scream to some who knew where to look. And how much showing this fear openly cost.
For his part, he disrobed, one may see a hand shake as he proffered it to his ghoul Johnathan, who had appeared to keep the procedure as neat and dignified. The ghoul glances to Twist to see if any assistance was needed for a menial task.

No words were spoken. The ghoul makes no effort to offer comfort or assistance to its' regnant, and appears physically uncomfotable. Yet still professional. This was a difficult sentence to see through.

The ghoul Charles had appeared from the back to assist Miss Kowalsic to walk to the back of the room. If anyone was watching, the car was brought for a swift departure from the Domain, when appropriate. One did not hesitate after a Prince's edict was so explicit.

[Mable Wood]

Mable stood silently watching, listening, observing. She pushed her beast down hard, not giving it a chance to rise up. The real struggle for all would be after the sentence was carried out. The Prince was more than fair with the sentence. Mable would have been tempted to ash the offender, but this way lessons were learned.

She glanced around the room at the extra security. They would help if anyone lost control. Mable chose to watch the crowd, not the punishment.

[Bellemy]

Bellemy watched as the events unfold. This was a matter far outside of the haunt's influence. Mr Kowalsic had been chastised by the Prince and there was nothing anyone could do about it now. There was a matter that did involve Bellemy. The matter of Perception. Even now keen eyes watch every movement of every courtesan. Sharks with the scent of blood in the water. It was time to move into the defensive. Focus on preservation of the family and of course Bellemy's own life.

Bellemy moved to stand behind and to the side of Jennifer adapting a position of subserviently unity.