Consequences

[Twist]

Twist couldn't recall the last time she had stressed so much over an outfit.

Oh she had had the usual struggles in picking. But stressing? That was different.

Formal court was easy. Show your status, your clan, your covenant. Occasionally your position.

Covenant meetings even more so. Your clan and your status.

Calls for assistance in the capacity of Hound. Black and functional.

Evenings on the town- well, anything you wanted.

But what happened when you didn't know what you were going as? When the role being played was all. At once. In equal measures. And where you were going had such a ... unique dress code.

In the end she found an outfit that worked. Her dark hair was pulled up and the only jewelry she wore was a small set of earrings. She did not wear a mask this time.

Kalos was with her as they arrived early to arrange the private room. But he did not stay and would be long gone by the time Alessandra , Jacque , and Mable Wood made their appearances.

Inside the small room 2 chairs were arranged facing a rug. Against the wall was a small table. Objects were laid out on the table but concealed from view by a black cloth covering.

Twist herself waited, standing, behind the rug and facing the chairs.


Outfit: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/b1/9c/27/b19c271bffc1346dec44cfaa8e3f1501.jpg
Earrings: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/4b/9b/46/4...c4a8a8a0fd.jpg
Hair: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/53/6a/bd/536abd6f3f66b1e558933a972b7f9439.jpg

[Jacque]

The night had come and the Lord found himself checking down a list in his mind.

The list was of many conversations with many different Kindred over the years. Good intentions and hopeful well-wishing. Assumptions made and arguments started. Ignorance feigned and bad-faith gestures. Threats to his own requiem over shared drinks and smiles. Those moods came and went, but the Lord found himself mulling over the context for his own that evening.

The tight fitting shirt he wore exposed a little more skin than usual for the Lord, but as was expected given the venue's dress code. His typical Rolex was absent this evening, but instead a large amethyst was pinned at his collar. Straps and chains adorned the kilt that made up the lower half of his attire.

He wandered his way through the club, exchanging looks and compliments until he arrived to the private room. Entering, he nodded to Twist in acknowledgement. He floated near the chair to Twist's left hand, waiting for the alpha to arrive.

[Mable Wood]

Mable was becoming a regular here, but not for the normal reason. Domain business was what kept her coming here.

She had no idea what she was about to encounter but she didn't want the yellow lace teddy again. so instead she went for a black and gold skin tight outfit and heels.

She entered giving a deep nod to Jack and then a lesser nod to Twist. "Good evening."

[Alessandra]

This wasn’t a club the Savage frequented. Not from lack of interest, but lack of company. The last time she had been there was with Vivian and Katya. Her Cousin teaching them the finer art of ropes tied around the human body. It had been a fun and insightful evening.

The outfit for this night was bit different than the last time she had been here. Black leather with a complex halter. This allowed all the ink on her chest and toned stomach to be seen. The jacket was also black leather. Her long hair was loosely tied back leaving long strands to frame her face. Which had a health glow to it. This was a club that catered to cattle as well.

Walking into the room, her Beast rages and roars its displeasure at the weaker Beast. Demanding Ale take the flesh from her Cousins bones. But she pushes it back, the time was not right.

She offers a bow of her head to Twist, who was quite the stunning sight.

A deeper bow of her head was offered to Jacque, who, was…wearing a…kilt? That was something she wasn’t expecting, but he wore it well.

Finally, a look to Mable, “Miss Wood.” There had been a part of her that was not looking forward to this. But she had a responsibility and an image. Some things could not slide anymore.

[Twist]

They weren't at court.
This was Asylum.
He was handsome. She was wholesome. And she was beautiful.


And ultimately, Twist was Daeva.


As each arrived, Twist's dark eyes took them in from head to toe and back up again. She did always enjoy a good use of lace and the kilt was unique. The lack of straps would be advantageous later. Black fabric stripes almost framing the revealed body art.


But for all that she was Daeva, she was also cognizant that despite the atmosphere, she wasn't here to play. "Seneschal," the murmured greeting coming with a brief dip into a curtsy.


"Good evening Miss Wood," and a small gesture to indicate that Mable Wood was to join her in front of the chairs.


For Alessandra, again Twist dropped into a curtsy, deeper and held longer than she had for Jacque. "Your grace," she said upon rising.


"Please," a wave toward the chairs as she looked between Alessandra and Jacque , "Feel free to make yourself comfortable."

[Jacque]

A good night to get it right, the Lord thought to himself. Late as it was he nodded with content at the greetings. A more distinguished one offered for Twist followed by holding a bow for the Prince upon her arrival. Her outfit fit her well- the ability to have something to fit the theme of the venue yet somehow still radiates the mindset of getting to business. He admired it, to say the least.

With no table to draw the chair out from, he simply waited for the Prince to seat herself before sitting himself.

[Mable Wood]

Mable curtsied to the Prince, "Your Grace." She said quietly.

Mable quietly joined Twist.

Her thoughts were reeling in circles. She was a failure. These people hated the sight of her. Humiliation in court first when she screwed up, again. Then more humiliation when she apologized to the Seneschal and did her best to get the order right. Now, whatever this was going to be. Perhaps if she hadn't reached out for assistance? She was trying to do the right thing. And it wasn't like any punishment would help her memory. But she would take what was coming and then give her announcement when they were through. Perhaps they would be relieved. After all she must be a pest by now, just vermin in their minds. What she did in silence for the domain didn't matter, getting titles and greetings correct was much more important. She knew that was what she should be focused on, not protection or safety. Sadly those didn't matter as much as a proper greeting in court. She had failed. Her normal hope and pollyanna attitude was suffering. All she could do no is accept whatever was coming and then go.

[Alessandra]

A nod to Twist as the Savage moves to the offered chair, lowering herself into the seat.

Dark eyes watch Jacque then looked back to Twist. How would this unfold?

As Mable spoke and moved, Ale listened, and took a moment to consider her words.

“Miss Wood, do you know why we’ve gathered this evening?” Ale asks, “Time and time again you have stumbled over titles and who should be addressed with more respect. Tell me, is this from dislike or displeasure, or have the lessons Archon Twist took the time to teach you, just not been grasped?”

[Twist]

Dark eyes met Alessandra's gaze evenly. The thoughts behind them likely clear to the Prince, this wasn't a surprise meeting after all.


Mable had been in the domain for years. She was no neonate. Only a bare handful of Kindred in the city could in fact say that they had seen her arrival to Sacramento.


And that was what made the repeated errors so baffling.


To show a repeated misunderstanding of the power structure of the city was a foolish slip. In many cities it led to one's final death. Especially when the positions fumbled where the Prince and the Seneschal, her second in command.


Only Mable's history had saved her time and again. She was no slouch in the domain. Twist had seen that personally on more than one night. And so it was credited to her focus on other matters that she had misspoken. And Twist had tried to help her. From what she heard even Jacque had, and he was relatively new to the domain compared to the other three in the room.


But when gentle reprimands and patient teaching yielded no results in one who wasn't stupid...


Her gaze followed Alessandra's to the woman next to her. Waiting for her response to the Prince.


Dislike.


Displeasure.


Or Goddess help her if it turned out to be a subtle challenge to Ale's authority. A constant undermining of Ale and her Court. A flagrant disrespect of the Prince.

[Jacque]

The Lord listened intently at the Prince's words and as he watched for Mable's response he could have almost been consciously in another world.

His recent conversation with Conner made him remember another time here... before he found his place and before he had a voice. It wasn't long ago that he had to suffer constant pressure from politics. It was a challenge... one that could have easily cost him his requiem. Mable had done much in service to the domain... it was why she was still here. Jack found himself at the end of his turmoil on the right side of history... for now. Perhaps Mable felt she was on the wrong side in subtle protest. Perhaps it was just the lacking of proper decorum and the subconscious inability for it to stick. The repetition was the core of this problem though. It didn't matter what she believed or who was in charge- the hierarchy mattered. It matters to all Kindred and all Covenants. It is the structure that empowers the man to cow the beast into submission.

He sat as still as a corpse. Watching, waiting for Mable's response.