PM Scene:
Date: May 22nd
Location: Jennifer's Haven: It’s a middle-class neighborhood: the houses are too run-down to be a bland suburbia, but it’s quiet and clean.
"Hello, Priscus Durant," She greets. "Please come in."
Jennifer is wearing a new 1890's pin of green and gold, featuring pearls. The design is of a sprig of leaves. She wears a business suit in her Clan color of green, tailored to her 5'7'' form. Black silk scarf has been elaborately pinned to hide the left side of her neck and quite a bit of shoulder.
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The home appears to be well furnished. It is furnished in light honey wood tones and subtle light blues and greens. There is a dining room in sight, a long wooden table spread with some different books.
Jennifer leads the way into the main room off of the entry way. There is a window with heavy black out curtains are drawn, concealing the outside. Two small electric lights are set in end tables in the corner of the room, providing just enough light. The sitting area is composed of a leather love seat against the window. Facing the love seat are a pair of dark blue arm chairs in birch veneer. A low coffee table squats in the center, complete with a small zen sand box and a table top book on Botany: Roses.
There is a gift box on the table, wrapped with a blue silk ribbon. It is a jewelry size box.
Jennifer gestures to the seating arrangements.
"I am glad that we could make this time to meet with one another. Two scholars such as ourselves likely have a great deal in common. Quite a bit of difference in our interests, as well, I am sure. Make yourself comfortable." She suggests, her Curse causing her voice to slither like a serpent. Jennifer takes a seat in one of the arm chairs. She waits for Quinn to make herself comfortable.
The Nosferatu reaches a hand out and gently moves the gift box into Priscus Durant's side of the coffee table.
"I realized I had neglected to give you a gift to signify your new role. I must rectify this." She says pleasantly. She expects that Quinn is well aware of the Invictus gifts due to the intriguing information Quinn had shared about the coterie she had spent time in. Upon opening the box, Quinn finds a tanzanite and sterling silver bracelet. There is a card of a local jeweler and a personal number written on the back in case any adjustments need to be made for the fit.
“Good evening Lady Notary Hazelton.” Quinn said softly stepping in, and of course she did the most natural thing. Looked around. Nosey Mehket, was nosey. She couldn’t help it. She noted the door she came through, but any others she could see, and of course windows could be emergency exits should Quinn and her Ladyship be attacked here. Goddamn Jackal made her so paranoid at this point she was considering security steps she usually didn’t like much. Like cameras in her own house.
Quinn was dressed in smart business casual, thankful to be out of court, but not wanting to insult a Kindred of Quality either by showing up looking like a hobo. She wore her hair loose and flat ironed out straight, with a white women’s dress shirt with a stylish French cuff, and charcoal style form fitting ankle length dress pants with a pair of black pointy toe flats.
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“Thank you!” She said sincerely with a warm smile, and took the seat across from her, folding one leg over the other. “You have a lovely home. I like the colors. Soothing. The woods and the greens and blues are very complimentary to a relaxing feeling in the space.”
She made it a point to share what she thought was good about it instead of a generic compliment.
She looked genuinely surprised, but pleased by the gift, gingerly taking it up and opening it in front of her Ladyship. It was beautiful, and the tanzanite and silver went very well with almost anything. Hell she could put it on now.
“Oh, your Ladyship it's beautiful. Thank you! It’s been so long since I have been given a gift like this, and you know what is curious? The last gift I got was from a Kindred named Janos, who is also your family.”
“I am pleased that you like the gift.” Jennifer replied. “I think I may have fallen in love with that stone. The fact that it can be various colors and looks so perfect in many settings. You deserve it, Priscus Durant. You inherited a mess. He’s likely cast a pallor over the Mekhet family in a few Kindred’s minds.”
"Thank you." Jennifer glances around the room, as though trying to see it with fresh eyes. Quinn had noticed the video camera facing down on the front door. There was a second panning over the driveway in front of the house. A third could be seen looking down at the stoop to the kitchen door. There were small little devices in the corners of the windows that Quinn likely recognized as motion sensing devices.
"It isn't my ideal Haven. Yet I have been pulled in a few directions of late, that I have put off working towards that ideal."
The choice in address was noted. Quinn had been sprinkling little breadcrumbs in her conversations. Even when she was speaking with someone else, Jennifer had made a note of it. The Mekhet’s Invictus education was on display, and Jennifer wasn’t shy.
She smiled as she heard the address, remarking: “You’ll have your hands full if you try teaching proper etiquette to your Ordul Cousins. I have to say, while I find it refreshing: it is intriguing.”
A look to Quinn’s eyes, her dark eyes calm and steady.
“My cousin in another city pleases me with his thoughtfulness. Too many don’t look closely enough at some members of the Nosferatu to see their many gifts. I trust you have considered what I proposed in my letter to you?”
Quinn smiled and nodded. "Yes, Janos is one of a kind. I owe much of my education to him." She nodded a bit. "He had his work cut out for him with me. It wasn't always gifts and rose petals between us, but he taught me a lot. One thing he didn't get around to teaching me was how to intimidate people. He never saw me in that light. Just a baby bird he had to protect, and he always assumed I would stay with him so he always could." She paused and spread her hands. "So here I am. Getting to know you better. I trusted him, I trust his clan."
She sat back a bit and watched Jennifer a moment. "Let me see if I have grasped your situation. You have learned the rudimentary bits of using the beast to tell you about the strength and state of another Kindred, and how to read the aura. You know enough to scrape by on it, even have some success, but the real mysteries behind what you are reading are still just that to you: a mystery. You want the full education that you are certain I have, since I have been so forthcoming of my strengths and weaknesses."
Quinn watched Jennifer then. A patient smile on her full lips.
"Horatio did create a miasma. I do believe that you were doing well, and then the Court happened.” Jennifer replied.
“Can you detail a bit about why you want to learn? A little context for how you want to be able to use this?
I am pleased that we have an agreement. Personally, I am going to confide in you. My mentor taught me a bit, and I had some experience in reading auras.
I was Torpored during an investigation, where I had to kill a criminal. I came back a bit mentally scarred and it took a minute to realize something had actually been forgotten down in that hell of Torpor. I appreciate your direction. I have been carefully practicing determining the nature of those I encounter. What is something you recommend to gaining a full knowledge?
"You are certainly in a difficult position. Maeve has an observant mind and a clever tongue. I think she's going to do well, with a little seasoning. Does she have the wisdom to see what she lacks?
Conner, I admit, I find him green. Yet he could become quite a kindred if he heeds your guidance. He has the aggressive nature of the beast, and he can learn to become smooth. Or subtle.
I never was very successful in life in regards to romance. A brief first love with a charming girl. A few months with a handsome, but narcissistic, boy. I became a scholar, choosing academics over social obligation early.
It was the Court that intrigued me to learn politics. I wanted to be respected."
An honest admission. Truthful, which was her way.
" I've been noticing how you sprinkle breadcrumbs in conversation. I remember what you stated about your experience in a coterie. I'm intrigued, and would like to know more.
Yet I respect your choice, and won't try to lure you away. I won't try to steal secrets of your covenant."
A stated promise.
"What are you testing for?"
"It's very beautiful. I concur on the stone choice. Tanzanite is a wonder. I will wear it at my earliest opportunity." She assured her with a friendly smile. Quinn's face turned attentive as she listened to her past experiences with Auspex, and then Horatio. Ugh. It was like the fart that got permanently recirculated into the air. "His departure really just was...the best thing that ever happened to the Mehket, and the worst all at the same time. Trying to clean up his mess is like whip lash. I never know when its gunna come around and cause me pain again."
"Invictus manners I am afraid would take longer than I have to turn those two around, but a little quick and dirty so they can survive is doable. Although Conner's uh...attempt at flirting was more in line with how Kine males behave. The idea of trying to teach him how to flirt feels problematic but doable I suppose. A history lesson to Edwardian social moors serve him well in court. I'm afraid flirting was never my specialty, even when I was Kine I struggled with it. I'm not really the type to make the first move I'm afraid. When it is an unwanted pass, I ignore it completely, or simply pretend I assume it was trying to be 'polite' and acknowledge the time and care I put into my appearance."
She paused and noted her struggles and successes. "It can be used effectively as a screening tool for Amaranth, to classify threats, but you have to be careful to not make to many assumptions on the aura and truth. It's usually where most Kindred screw up. The first level of Auspex is fairly easy and straight forward, but reading auras is truly a task that takes shape with a subject over time to discern the true meaning of their baseline emotional state, versus situational, and stressful states of being." She nodded to Jennifer in agreement. "We are in accord."