Setting the stage

[Jacque]

Jack had received the phone call and the night had finally arrived.

The venue was likely familiar to Jennifer Hazelton . Just under a year ago she would have been here for a gathering of all the Invictus, but tonight it was just the two Kindred. His ghoul waited patiently at the entrance for the expected guest. Once she arrived, Jennifer would be led up the left-hand set of stairs up to the ballroom observatory landing. At the center there was a chess set on a marble podium. Several of the pieces were displaced from their starting squares, as if there was a match in progress. On either side of the landing was an identical set of double doors. Jack's ghoul rapped on the doors closest to the stairs you ascended and opened the door for Jennifer to enter.

Inside of Jack's office, the wall lighting was comfortably dim. Twolow-back velvet chairstrimmed in gold leaf sat before the same desk he used as Seneschal was now located here- an ornate hardwood design but worn and aged save for a refinished surface. The desk's surface itself was mostly clear save for a brass inkwell and pen set and a small, bulbous decanter.

Behind the desk was a large curio cabinet. Several items could be seen on it's shelves: an ornate chess set, a steampunk themed set of cufflinks, antique amethyst cufflinks, a men's diamond ring, a tie bar with matching cufflinks, a silk kerchief with dark purples and gold trim embroidered with a J, and a knife with the Ventrue sigil etched in the blade. To the side were two books: an English Translation of Le Language des Fleurs by Charlotte de la Tour andan old, worn book.

On the bottom shelf, there was a 2 by 1 marble slab bearing a stylized engraving of the prologue to Hammurabi's code, obsidian flakes masking the sections lost to time.

On the right-hand wall there was an ebony polished armoire with a lazy susan on top with various decanters and crystal glasses. There was a framed artwork with press flowers hung on the wall. A knowledgeable observer would see that itfeatured primarily mountain laurel, laurel-leaved magnolia, and bee orchids flowers against a black background. Next to it was a Cheetah skin spread and pinned to the wall. At the back corner of the right-hand wall was another set of double doors, though these were closed.

Expecting his guest this evening, Jack rose to his feet to greet the Lady Notary. As was typical, he had polished dress shoes, suit pants and a purple vest over a white dress shirt. His Rolex was on his wrist and he wore an amethyst studded tie pin.

[Jennifer Hazelton]

Jennifer arrived and was helped from her new luxury vehicle by her ghoul, Liam. He escorted her through the entrance to the mansion. Jennifer knew the waiting area from the Invictus meeting. Jennifer wore a tailored suit in green. Jennifer was Blushed.
Jennifer wears the one ring that she had made at the formation of the coterie that symbolized the coterie for Jennifer – white and chocolate diamonds. Jennifer wears a ring she mentally thinks of symbolizing the Nosferatu, her green emerald ring.

Jennifer gave a deep curtsy to Jack as he rose. Bar the Prince, none was held in higher esteem than he.
"Good evening." She greeted respectfully, her voice slithering like a snake over dying autumn leaves.

Her dark brown eyes moved around the room. They lighted on the pressed flowers. Then her attention lingered on the books. Both were of interest to her. Her autumn brown eyes returned to Jack.

[Jacque]

He smiled as she entered, taking in each detail of her ensemble.

The reality was still settling with him. He had always had to make sure to color within the lines and fight the nature of the Ventrue in him... but now it was fact. He was Lord. He was Judex. For the time being, he was still Seneschal.

"Welcome, Lady Notary. I didn't really share the fact that this building was my home the last time you were here."

He took a seat while gesturing to the chairs, "I thought we could start with solidifying whatever plans were still up in the air for the tournament. I know you tabled the last of your suggestions but there was still the challenge for dexterity, I believe. I was unclear if you were holding off on that as well. I had three challenges already, so my only concern is time in one evening."

The larger scale of business seemed appropriate to start with, though he imagined she was eager to get to their other business.

[Jennifer Hazelton]

"Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Judex Jack." Jennifer rose smoothly. She moves to stand behind a chair. When the Judex took his seat, she took her seat in lady - like dignity.
"I was unsure how many challenges you had. You have three, one of which is an unarmed contest. Thus making my arm wrestling competition redundant. I had two challenges - the trapped hall testing one's dexterity and the arm wrestling contest.

My curiosity is about your idea that there should only be three challenges conducted in the evening. No one Kindred is likely to enter all of our challenges, I believe.

Which could leave two avenues.
The first possibility is that there is one evening featuring your challenges, for a total of three challenges carried out one at a time. I could hold my challenges at the next Court.
The second possibility is that we hold two challenges at a time. For example, your challenge that could entice those not martially skilled. While I host my challenge that would appeal to those wishing to test their dexterity simultaneously."

[Jacque]

A shallow nod was given in response to her thanks.

"Hmm," the Lord mused in thought. "We could solicit interest for all of the ideas. I am not sure how many of the Domain are versed with the specific skill sets. There could be a disclaimer that lack of interest would result in the cancellation of any particular category. I had wanted this event to help bring various talent to light and to aide Reeve Kingsley with identifying candidates for deputy."

"Based on the interest we can then schedule or cancel the events as we see convenient. If someone is interested in multiple we can do our best to offset the schedule to support their... confidence." He smiled at the thought of someone being so bold.

"Thoughts?"

[Jennifer Hazelton]

Jennifer considers for a moment.
"Has Reeve Kingsley expressed interest in seeking a Deputy?"

I certainly have been making my own opinion on the role of deputy known when former Reeve Durant held the position. Has Helen changed her opinion since those conversations? Perhaps the responsibility has affected the decision. Oh, I do wish to converse with her on this. Yet would she confide in Seneschal Jack? What approach did he take with Helen, I do wonder. Jennifer thought. Comfortable with the silence as she looks at Seneschal Jack for a moment.

"That would be wise.

"I know that Bellemy expressed interest in the arm wrestling competition. I plan on participating as well to encourage others to step out of their comfort zone.
I expect I don't have a hummingbird's chance in a hurricane of winning the contest against someone like Mr. Heinrich."

[Jacque]

"One could only assume that a new Reeve would want to identify candidates for deputy. It was not my main inspiration for the event but a desired side effect."

"I had heard that Ms. Bellemy had returned. It is a tragedy I haven't had a few moment to cross paths." The Lord chuckled at the Lady Notary's analogy. "That is the fascinating part about Kindred. Rarely are they everything they seem at face value. How often do we see hummingbirds become hawks?"

"Speaking of Mister Heinrich, I hear there was some form of reconciliation?" He inquired but allowed her to fill in whatever details she felt relevant.

[Jennifer Hazelton]

Jennifer considered that for a moment. I would hope so. I shall observe that for now.

'Bellemy is a joy to speak with. I have plans to meet with them and discuss literature if you would like me to invite you to join?" Jennifer inquired.

Jennifer smiled briefly. As Edward Heinrich was mentioned, her expression turned thoughtful.
"I met with Mr. Heinrich. I was rather surprised by his behavior.
He did not make excuses. Or exhibit one of his behaviors that I found more annoying, watching quietly and never making his thoughts known.
As you know, I had already told her Grace, the Duchess, that I would be treating Mr. Heinrich as an untrained childe just before he departed Sacramento.

Yet wherever he went, he spent time on introspection. He and I actually had a conversation. I no longer see him as a Childe, yet as someone capable of holding some degree of trust.
I am mainly mollified with the fact that he's interested in the mop up of the investigation that he was involved in at the first.

I do wish that I could understand why he chose to act the way that he did at the Swearing Ceremony."

[Jacque]

The Lord smiled at the offer but shook his head politely, "I tend to prefer more of one on one conversations, not that the topic isn't extremely tempting."

He listened as she expressed her views of Heinrich. "It is a mystery that I no longer see a benefit in uncovering." He leans back a thinks for a moment. "Kindred will always lie and deceive. It is an inevitable truth that took far too long for me to accept. After a long and aggressive period of political turmoil within my own family I found myself unable to effectively repel the seeds of doubt that some of my more cunning cousins were able to sow." He flicked his wrist gently in the air as he continues, "I had considered the truth that Aura Reading could provide but after some contemplation I realized that observing the truth would not make others realize the same. With the resources the Invictus offered, I continued to seek another answer to my quandary... until I finally found one."

"I discovered a way to seal a Kindred's lies from being spoken and keeping the seeds from being sewn in the first place. The Ventrue's ability to impose their will combined with the Daeva's ability to draw out one's deepest secrets led to this new tool. The Duchess agreed to help me learn what I needed of Majesty to refine this new tool in exchange for teaching her once I had."

"When I met with Mister Heinrich recently I inquired about the nature of that night. He stated that I wouldn't believe him but he tried to explain that night the 'truth' of why he wouldn't sign the oath as written..." His head tilted, "But when he tried to speak, he could not. It seems the Duchess employed my gift that evening to cut to the chase." He had arrived to the point of his story. "He is still quite attached to the lie he could not speak that night, therefore I cannot find trust in him or his motive. It matters little, though. The Oath to the City will ensure his service here is pure, even though he will never be permitted to rejoin the Unconquered."

[Jennifer Hazelton]

Jennifer nods slightly, showing that she is actively listening. She does not immediately respond. Her expression is thoughtful.
"That the trust was broken is a pity. Clan should always have some shred of trust above the others."
She offers her opinion.

It was a treasure that the Nosferatu had the relationship that they had. It was nurtured by each member. If a clan member refused to come and trust another, there was little that the others could do.
Jennifer is thinking over what Jack has said. She lets the silence mature. Comfortable with the silence. A sliver of a whisper comes from the Beast in it's cage. He has more knowledge. You should have the knowledge.
Jennifer hears the jealous beast, sits with it. Her Man discards it and she evaluated Jack.

"Your Clan's ability to impose your Will and the Blood of the Rose Gift to draw secrets. This would affect his ability to lie? He claims that his ability to speak was affected." She clarified.
She considered this for a moment.

"His Oath to the City is all that is needed. He is assisting in the investigation to find the instigator who caused the Dropping Bodies. As long as he's useful..." A meaningful look to Jack.