(2206) Eternal Court

[Seryna]

Eternal Court

The Nox Populi is an upscale experience that will take Sacramento nightlife to a whole new level.

In the heart of downtown Sacramento there is a place of intrigue, excitement and entertainment. The modern flare of this venue is host to exclusive parties. The seduction of this establishment may take you away as you drink, dance and socialize. There are private services available upon request. The best DJ’s in town are in line to play a wide variety of music. Some of you may dine…as long as you have your VIP pass.

However the Kindred arrive they are discreetly met and led to the back of the club. The space downstairs is decorated in dark, rich woods and expensive furniture. There's a coat room that will also hold one's 'unmentionables'; namely, weapons, at the foot of the stairs. There are also private areas, dark, and furnished with soft couches, as well as meeting rooms with conference tables and chairs, and an area with several televisions. The Court area is decorated with long black and brown silken drapes cascading from floor to ceiling. Draped in elegant bunches and gathered into valances across door frames and between supporting pillars; the lighting is intentionally low, but without the pulse of the music from above, the place has the feel of a sepulchre.

The common area circles the Court proper, and it becomes apparent that this is not decorated for a single evening. Small symbols note areas for Kindred only that branch off of the Commons, which will be necessary once those Kine privileged enough to see behind the Masquerade filter in: ghouls, herd members, or even devotees. The furniture setting is familiar now: a set of elegant chairs, all dark wood and red leather, arranged in a circle. The baroque lighting leaves the corners of the Elysium commons in deep shadow.
Towards the center of the room, a table was placed and roped off that was decorated in similar black and gold runners. Upon it was a model ship, roughly two and a half feet long with two sets of oars on each side- a Bireme.
Another evening; another Danse. For some it will their first, for some it shall be their last. After all, this is the Prince's Elysium, and subject to the Laws of the Domain.

Eternal Court is open once more...

Please remember that Predator's Taint is in effect and role-play is expected, or rolls will be asked for!

This is a great place to get Acknowledged

Eternal Court is not a singular event. Always open and in constant motion, a compression of the comings and goings of Kindred within Elysium throughout the nights. As such, Eternal Court is also never truly empty; this can include 'faceless masses' of Kindred beneath notice, ghouls, herd members, devotees, or even officials in their offices.

[Jennifer Hazelton]

The Lady held herself with dignity as she strode away from the coat check, having dropped off a small black leather bag. She wore a green designer dress, tailored for her 5'7'' frame. Jennifer wore flats that she could easily walk in. Her silk scarf was black, artfulling draped to conceal one side of her neck and shoulder. An antique Victorian brooch in gold with an ivy leaf motif clapsed the silk scarf. Her dark brown hair was swept into a plaited updo.
Dark brown eyes look over the Kindred drifting in, noting her Grace had not yet arrived. Honestly, the absence of that powerful Beast that prowled out from the Prime Predator like a crashing wave was the clue that she needed. Assured that she was not slighting her betters, Jennifer looked over the room. No one of note that stood out. Jennifer moved to a table and took a seat, curious what the night would bring.

[Aiko Hamura]

A bright night in a new city. Downtown where the humans stave off sleep, where they sought to vanquish the darkness by building their own, neon sun. Artificial. Manufactured. The pseudo-solar masses of obnoxious advertisements hum like the blood-sucking mosquitos that they are. The humans are captivated as they drunkenly flutter like moths to flames of their own creation... Icarus-insects obsessed with the feeling of their wax wings melting against their skin and collapsing.

I'm not so different. Every new city is a roll of the dice for a vamp like me. No friends, no sire, no contacts. I'm the poor sap gambling his last fiver and praying for a jackpot. Some might look at the Eternal Court tonight as the jackpot... but I know better. It's my flame, my artificial sun. The light of hope I hold in front of my eyes for the chance of being blinded to the foulness of existence. It's the very thing that might just burn my wings off and send me plummeting to Hell.


Aiko's eyes dart about the garishly lit club as she's led to the "VIP room" in the back. She soaks in the layout of the room, the number of kine present... minor details and useless facts, even as she mentally prepares herself for what awaits her in her destination. Vampires. A lot of them. The beast inside herself, fueled by hunger, and soon to be anger and fear. On top of that, all the attention that comes with being an untethered visitor to this city and seeking Acknowledgement.

Inside the coat room, Aiko hangs up her hat and trench coat, revealing the dated black and white pinstripe suit underneath, not quite tailored as it should have been, leaving it a little baggy around her small frame. Aiko keeps her gloves with her, however, choosing to stuff them into her pocket. They are two gifts she give with rote, symbolic meaning. She'd best pick their recipients wisely.

Aiko has the fleeting, human urge to take a deep breath to prepare herself, but her lungs don't work and the effort to force them would only agitate her further. Nothing left to do but dive in to the icy water. And icy it is. The beast shivers and shakes in protest and rage at being subjected to the presence of so many unfamiliar vampires. Aiko feels her vision blur with a twinge of red as the Red Fear tries to take hold. She stands completely still for a few long, agonizing moments as she struggles to mask the inner struggle as taking time to appreciate the decor. But after what feels like a year or two to Aiko, she manages to finally leash the monster and regain control of her body. She uses this chance to step towards the table in the center and study the model bireme for a minute as she plans out her next move.

There were plenty of kindred to speak to... but without any knowledge of who was who, any initiation on her part was just asking to cause an unintentional slight. It'd be safer to wait to be approached; It increased the odds that the first contact she made in this city wouldn't be Invictus, as they would be participating in the same mental and social gymnastics as Aiko was right now. And if Aiko could make just one, single acquaintance who didn't stand by proper etiquette, she could learn the requisite titles and stations safely before she met the Kindred she was truly seeking to impress.

[Helen Kingsley]

Helen arrives at Elysium in the blue dress she always wears at court and, also as always, she enters without checking in anything. As usual she remains at the door for a bit to centerr on what is about to hit once she gets in. Not that its more than a psychological crutch, but some rituals do help from time to time...

As is, the familiar but still unblunted wave of irritation and fear hits her as soon as she enters. Maybe if there were less folks she knows better that would diminish ? Anyway... Hm, not many people of note to be seen. Well, so far, as she can tell among the other folks, just one. So she settles with a curtsy for her Priscus and moves on a little to see if there's anyone around that she hasn't been able to see from her vantage point. That, or some greenies. And as luck would have it, she spots an unfamiliar figure in a pinstripe suit doing something that looks like looking at Milton's boat.

Well, it is a nice boat... !

At least it's not as if she's sneaking up on what looks like a newcomer. Not that the place here'd allow for it if she was any good at that in the first place.

"Nice boat, eh ? You're new in town, I take it... ?"

No, she's not going to do the same thing she doesn't like herself, so she's just elongates the pause and raises inflection questioningly. The unassuming person in the pinstripes will know how to take it, she assumes.

[Jennifer Hazelton]

Jennifer looked over from her seat as her Beast gnashed its' teeth from within her rib cage. Her dark brown eyes glanced around for a moment, initially looking past the dark haired Kindred. Then she takes a second look and takes in the woman in the ill fitting black and white pinstripe suit. Jennifer watches for a moment. Jennifer's eyes give a slight acknowledement to the stranger. As far as she knew, the kindred was unacknowledged. Tonight, she planned on letting the cogs turn as they were supposed to. No indication on first look that this was one of her family.
Her beast wrestled back into its' cage, she pulls a small leather notebook and pen. Then her eyes lift to the entrance once again as she feels the presence of another. Helen's respectful curtsy was noted. Jennifer rose to give Helen a respectful nod afforded to the acknowledged of the Domain.

Autymn eyes move around the room. No Whip Northbridge or Whip O'Brien to make introductions as per the proper protocol. Jennifer took her seat and looked down at her notebook. Quietly making notations.

[Aiko Hamura]

"Nice boat, eh ? You're new in town, I take it... ?"


The blood boils once again as the woman in the blue dress approaches. God, Aiko shouldn't have come to this place hungry, even if the sensation was manageable for now. A couple dozen more lurches in her heart and stomach might do her in and send her streaking towards the exit in fear, Elysium be damned.

But until then, Aiko silently celebrates her good luck. No Invictus would begin with such a casual greeting, even if they were intentionally insulting her. Aiko turns around to regard her greeter fully, taking a moment to fully examine the woman-in-blue's face. Is this woman genuinely friendly? Unlikely. It was so rare to find a-


Aiko viciously suppresses the pessimistic thought. It was too uncharitable, too paranoid. Use caution, certainly, but reserve suspicion for when evidence presents itself. Forming conclusions prior to relevant data is the greatest sin an investigator can commit. Letting the tension leave her, Aiko manages to find a smile to offer the woman in blue before gently bowing her head.

"Yes, my arrival was this very night. Madam Aiko Hamura. It is a delight to make your acquaintance. With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"


A bit of an unorthodox greeting, but it should suffice. Oh, Aiko wasn't terribly worried about the reaction from the person she was actually speaking to so much as everyone else in the room surely keeping an eye on Aiko herself. It was a minor display for other Invictus, hopefully threading the line between the formality and etiquette required to operate Invictus society as well as the flexibility to adapt to outsiders and unorthodox circumstance. Besides that, she was addressing the woman as an equal, neither being subservient or overly casual. Deferring to this woman might look like weakness... but trying to assert some kind of conversational dominance over an outsider was just... petty. Perhaps even more importantly, Aiko didn't have any desire to play mind games with the woman who might very well be her savior this entire evening, whether she realized it or not.

Her small presentation over, Aiko turns back to the model ship and speaks from the heart, "It's certainly a unique and fascinating centerpiece. It speaks to me as a symbol of solidarity... an article of financial and military might that only achieved its true power by the union and camaraderie of its crew. A wonderful message to display for this Eternal Court, no?" In practice, she had never encountered a city or even a court that actually functioned in such solidarity, but the ideal alone was one she secretly wished for.

[Helen Kingsley]

"Mrs Helen Kingsley. Nice to meet you."

Madam Hamura, eh ? Helen thinks about that for a bit, it sure makes it sound like they have another Invictus on their hands. Hah, talk about the devil always shitting on the biggest pile... So this is the latest arrival on that pile then. Doesn't look like much, but then, who does, really ? A look around shows little has changed and there's still pretty few known members of that special club out there. Save for Jennifer, that is.

And here they are, back with the boat. She shortly wonders how Milton would feel knowing what sort of discussions and metaphors it's generated so far and what sorts will come with time.

"The message depends on the angle you're looking at it from, I guess." In a way, it is a very Invictus-y piece, hearing Hamura speak about it. She wonders if Milton was on the same branch when making it... But then, they'll never know. Fishing for meaning that might or might not have been intended is like doing the same things in some poems like back in school. Blergh. Still, its interesting to see what people see in that sort of ship. And especially what steps of the process of making a unified crew are remembered and which are glossed over, really. Looking at it like that, it's look like the newcomer either has a romantic viewpoint of that sort of stuff or wants to be seen as such. Or maybe Helen is just overcomplicating simple, superficial things ?

Which one will it be ?

"The message you've outlined so far is a pretty nice one, but then, not everyone necessarily comes to the same results. Perspective and angles."

No, she's not going to go on one of her little speeches on stuff.

"So, where'd you come here from and are you looking for anyone in particular ?"

[Albert Baker]

Another night, another Court for Al... Being social was strenuous at times but he couldn't just spend his nights with his books. Thusly he had once again travelled to the Nox to see whether things had changed and there were new arrivals or hopefully people missing showing up.

After passing through the wardrobe and taking a few moments to take a glance at who was already there and also to meditate for a bit of time to fend off the instincts arising from the presences in the room. Then he entered the room clothed as usual in a stone grey three-piece-suit, black Oxfords. the striped tie he always wore and displaying both the amulet his Sire had given him and the lapel pin Jennifer gifted him with. Walking through the room he greeted Jennifer with a bow and then walked over to the group at the ship, as there seemed to be a new face.

"Good evening, Mrs. Kingsley and good evening to you as well, Mrs. ? I'm Dr. Baker, it's a pleasure to meet you."

[Jennifer Hazelton]

Jennifer glances over to Helen and the new arrival after a moment, curious what was being discussed. The artwork that Whip Northbridge had presented was rather inspiring, Jennifer thought as she glanced to it. Her head turned slightly as she looked for the Ventrue in question. He had not been at the last Court, which was problematic. The same could be said for the leader of the Crone. What could be going on there? Jennifer had thought that those two had been beyond the siren's call of wanderlust. The Nosferatu made a note to contact someone to have what would no doubt be an intriquing conversation.

Jennifer gives an appropriate nod to an acknowledged Kindred as Dr. Baker paid proper respects. There was an absence of appropriate lower ranking Invictus members who could faciliate proper introductions at the moment. She decided to continue to sit for a moment to see if an appropriate party would arrive. She took a moment to make another brief note in her notebook, a set of reminders on what should be watched in the coming months.

[Aiko Hamura]

"The message you've outlined so far is a pretty nice one, but then, not everyone necessarily comes to the same results. Perspective and angles."


Aiko glances at Helen to gauge her facial expression, see if there was more behind the opinion than what was said. But she doesn't know the woman at all yet, and vampires were always particularly hard to read. "True. I suppose some artists prefer it that way, as well. I wonder what kind of artisan created this, and what their opinion was?" Aiko turns to face Helen and ask, "What is your perspective?"

It was around this time that Aiko started to grow irritated by something that had been bugging her subconscious. She couldn't be sure... but every time it was in the corner of her eye, Helen's shadow just seemed... wrong. The first few times had been a trick of the light, or little illusions caused by saccadic suppression. But it happened every time. It was starting to make Aiko a little paranoid, wondering what kind of power or trick Helen might be using to cause it. Obfuscation, Obtenebration, or some other discipline? Surely not... no one save the Prince should be stirring their own blood in Elysium. Aiko tries to refrain from glancing at the shadow over and over, lest she display what was distracting her to Helen. In any case, she isn't going to ask; not here, not on their first meeting. She'd continue puzzling over it in the back of her mind, however.

"I'm from San Francisco, originally," Aiko replies, responding to Helen's followup questions. She leaves out the cities she resided in between there and here. Probably best not to talk about them. "As for who I'm looking for... this would be an excellent opportunity to present myself to the Mekhet Priscus, wouldn't it? Perhaps you could tell me who I'm looking for?"

The beast stirs again as a man in a grey suit enters. It was easier to manage this time, now that Aiko was detecting them at the doorway and not when they were already approaching her. The man bows to a woman in a green dress, and Aiko flicks her eyes over to her, studying her face for a moment, committing it to memory. She was likely someone with no small degree of power, so it'd pay to remember that. Maybe after Aiko found her Priscus, she could ask Helen who the woman is. Perhaps the woman is the Mekhet Priscus.

In any case, the man in the suit walks over to Helen and Aiko, and offers a greeting far more formal than Helen's. Still not Invictus. Aiko offers the same nod of the head as she offered Helen, but doesn't fall back on a rote greeting. "Madam Aiko Hamura. The pleasure is mine, Doctor Baker. If you don't mind, what is your field of study?" For whatever reason, Aiko hadn't met a lot of "doctors" among the Kindred. Or at least not ones that actively used the title. Especially not within the Invictus.