A Timely Acknowledgement

[Jennifer Hazelton]

The two-story salon had an artistic styled sign across the entrance with the name Lotus. The location of the building, nestled on a walkway near other artistic stores. The lighting within the salon allowed one to see the space, yet was dim. When you move through the entranceway, a walk-in coat check where Liam waited to accept coats and accessories was to the left. The next door led to a small room with a few seats along the wall, yet mostly open space. This space was where ghouls and proxies were sent while business was conducted. A small hallway with two locked doors led to an upstairs area, reserved for a small office area for managing the salon.

Liam leads Fast Eddie down a hall. You are brought to a room that most of the members of the Invictus have visited: the small yet well-appointed study.
Two large glass globes with small openings at the top were just before the hall. Within these globes, lotus flowers floated in clear water.
Jennifer stands beside the door to the study, awaiting Fast Eddie. The appropriate Covenant was unknown, so Jennifer changed her attire appropriately. Jennifer wore green tea length dress. Pinned to the dress, her diamond and emerald spider pin prominently displayed. Her only other jewelry were two rings, one on each hand. A green emerald ring that Jennifer thought of as her Nosferatu ring. Then a ring that represented an important event to Jennifer, the chocolate diamond and white diamond ring.

Eye catching is a prominent scar on the left side of Jennifer’s neck and shoulder. It looked as though a shark had bitten her.
Jennifer is Blushed.



Fast Eddie

[Fast Eddie]

Eddie arrived at the designated time and place. He was wearing a rumpled black sports jacket that had a small, but noticeable rip under one arm. His shirt was a white button up, wrinkled and marked by a pair of small dark stains.

He greets Liam with a smile and nothing more. He takes a moment to take in his surroundings as he's escorted into the study, before his eyes settle on Jennifer. "Good evening, Madam Seneschal. Thanks for seeing me so quickly. Forgive me if the text was a little light on the formalities. I don't like using any of our more ... esocteric lingo in text. Most folks don't realize how easy it is to get into these things." He holds up his phone.

[Jennifer Hazelton]

Dark brown eyes meet Liam's. Liam gives a short nod and steps to stand beside the door in the hallway.
"Good evening, Fast Eddie." The words slither forth from Jennifer. The words sound like a serpent slithering over dying autumn leaves as Jennifer's Nosferatu Curse expresses itself.

Jennifer waited for a moment in silence. All Kindred had Beasts, The Nosferatu were twisted in a way that forced others to react more directly. Jennifer is taking in Fast Eddie's Curse. Her Beast snarls in discomfort. Yet Jennifer remains quiet. Sitting with the Beast and the exposure to a new Nosferatu Curse.

"I understand your caution. I applaud your wisdom in protecting the Masquerade. Do come in and have a seat." Jennifer invited as her voice slithers forth.

The room was designed as a gentlelady's study. There were two large book cases beside a closed off fireplace against the wall. There were two well-appointed arm chairs with cushions in front of these book cases. It faces a matching couch that could sit three. There was a wooden desk behind the couch, with three reference books on the table. If one looks at the books, one was the Language of Flowers, the second was a book on English language and the third was Occult Witchcraft and Magic An Illustrated History by Christopher Dell.
There was a small wooden chest, closed, on the table.

"I am pleased that you seem to have some knowledge of how devices can be hacked. Not all do." Jennifer states as she takes a seat behind the desk. "I was trained as a White Hat, myself.
You have addressed me to my satisfaction. To ensure that we have no embarassment between us, you desire to be referred to as Fast Eddie?

In private I shall always address you in a way that makes you most comfortable. In public, however, I would prefer being able to refer to you by your Surname if you have one. To not suggest that we are overtly familiar with one another.
Do tell me about yourself. Who are you? How have you come to Sacramento?"

Book keeping for Blush expenditure

[Fast Eddie]

"Eddie, Ed, Fast Eddie, whichever one suits you is fine by me." He takes a seat nearest to the Seneschal, glancing only briefly at the books on the table. "As for my story, I imagine it's one of you've heard before. My sire picked me cause I was a good behind a keyboard. You said you were a white hat?" He gestures off handedly. "I guess you could call my hat grey. Ya know, just depends on the circumstances."

"Anyway as long as I was content to sit in my hole and do what he and his cronies needed, it was all good. When I decided, hell I got who knows how many years ahead of me, I probably ought to mix things up a little. Branch out. Well, he didn't like that. Said I'd make a mess of things. Basically said to stay in my lane."

"So I picked up and left one night. Spent some time on the road, zig zagging around, making sure he couldn't follow. I don't think he tried, but better safe than sorry. Anyway, I've had enough of life on the road. I'm ready to settle down and find a home. Lay down some roots. Sacramento seemed like a good bet, so here I am."

[Jennifer Hazelton]

Jennifer looks at Eddie for a moment. An evaluating look.
"Curious. You may find some work if you wish to put your skills to use." Jennifer stated. Her own decision to step back from investigations to oversee the needs was briefly considered. At times like this, it was tempting to start talking shop. To see where Eddie trained. How good was he? Jennifer thinks. The Beast grumbles in her rib cage. Was he better than her? Surely not, Jennifer thought.

"Which Domain were you Embraced in?" She inquires. Her tone polite.
"Were you able to find fellowship with those of similiar mind of yours by joining a Covenant?"

[Fast Eddie]

Eddie returns the evaluating look with a smile. It's an unsettling, leering look. But then again, Eddie always has a perverse, unwholesome aura surrounding his presence. "I didn't come here to work on my tan. If you folks got something going that could use my touch, I'm game to give it a look."

He leans back when the conversation switches back to his history. "Seattle. My daddy's name was Old Man Albert. Worked on a couple levels, because he was an old fuck. Two hundred years or so. And he's an actual old man. Got brought over when he was at death's door. He was like seventy something. Cranky old, sonnofabitch. Imagine spending the last two hundred years yelling at kids to stay off your lawn and you'll get a pretty good picture of what I'm talkin' about."

"As for me, I'm one of the rabble rousers. Carthian, loud and proud." He leans forward, another grin on his face. Curious to see how that bit of information was met.

[Jennifer Hazelton]

"Yes, my Sire tried the controlling trick as well." Jennifer stated dryly. "It came as a surprise to Joshua when I simply departed after Sire's Hospitality.
"It is good that you found a Covenant. I believe that finding like minded individuals is very important."
Jennifer replied calmly. Carthians had thier role in society.

"There are a few things that I want to go over before we come to my decision. There is a bit of history and such on your end. Any demons in your closet that I should be aware of?”
“The Prince of the Domain is Alder Prince Alessandra Antinori.” Special emphasis on the correct pronunciation of the Italian name.

“The Alder Prince is Priscus of the Gangrel clan and a Lady of the Invictus. If you are unfamiliar with proper protocol, please let me know. I would not have you making a fool of our clan at Court should you have the honor of speaking with her. This would be an ideal time for that conversation.
Although many of the Court are Invictus, this is not an Invictus Domain. The Reeve, Helen Kingsley, is a Nosferatu and the leader of your Covenant.”

[Fast Eddie]

"Glad to hear the court is so progressive. Not every Invictus Prince would want a Carthian wearing the badge around town." He made a note of the name, Helen Kingsley. Definitely next on his list to make acquaintances with. Haunts were well placed in this town- Seneschal, Reeve, Prefect - that made him nod before continuing.

"Now as far as demons, skeletons, or any other nasties in my closet, none that you need to worry 'bout. Like I said, I don't think my sire bothered with trying to track me down. And he'd be the only one who would think I'm worth raisin' a fuss over. I didn't hold hands and sing kumbaya with everyone back home, but I never fucked anyone over enough that they'd wanna come lookin' for me."

"Beyond that, no outstanding warrants. No beefs with any other supernatural types. No fuss, no muss." He made a gesture of wiping his hands clean to emphasize his point.

He takes note of the correct pronunciation and does his best to repeat it. "Alder Prince Alessandra Antinori." Another pause as he considers how to answer. "I never learned tea time manners or which spoon to use for my soup, but I know ya don't waltz up to the Prince or any higher ups and act like ya own the place. Keep your head down, speak when spoken to, and don't get too cute when ya are allowed to speak. If you got any specific tips beyond that, I'm all ears."

"Oh, and I would like to get the Reeve's number, if possible. She sounds like the next person I should be reachin' out to, assumin' this meetin' goes well."

[Jennifer Hazelton]

"The Alder Prince has made it clear that all Covenants are welcome as long as they remain true to the Laws of the Domain.”

"It sounds like you have a decent grasp of manners with other Covenants. If you should speak to the Prince address her as 'Your Grace'. If you feel the need to actually use a name, 'Alder Prince Antinori' will suffice. When referring to myself, Seneschal Hazelton is perfectly acceptable.
There is an individual who you should be clear to bow to as well: Priscus Jack, the Priscus of the Ventrue and former Seneschal. He is respected in the Domain of sacramento."
Here is Reeve Kingsley's number." Jennifer pulls out an eggshell white notecard of fine card stock and writes the common number for Reeve Kingsley down by heart. She pushes it across the table in a lady - like manner.

"Aside from the Traditions, there are a number of rules of the Domain to abide by."
Jennifer pulled open a desk drawer and pulled out a sheaf of paper to slide it over the desk toward him. "Read these carefully and let me know if you have any questions. You will see that Formal Court is mandatory. The next Formal Court is this upcoming month.
I expect all Nosferatu to attend at least every other Court.

If you feel that you are capable of adhering to all of these matters, I would be glad to offer you acknowledgement upon you swearing Loyalty to Her Grace, Alder Prince Antinori.
Then there is a private Nosferatu Tradition we can discuss."

[Fast Eddie]

The grin painted on his face becomes a bit brittle at the mention of the prominent Ventrue Priscus. But only for a brief moment. He picks up the note card that has been slid his way and pockets it after a brief glance. "Thank you, very much."

Next comes to the sheet of laws and he does read them carefully. Several times, if the length of time he spends studying them is anything to go by. "Looks fairly boilerplate for an Invictus Prince. There are a few minor points I might ask clarification on, but nothing pressing. Just the contrarian Carthian rules lawyer in me I guess."

That said, without any preamble he stands and places his hand over his heart, standing strictly at attention. In a clear, loud voice he recites, "I hereby swear my loyalty to the rightful Prince of Sacramento, Her Grace, Alder Prince Alessandra Antinori."

Once his oath is complete, he returns to his seat and looks over at the Seneschal curiously. "A private Nosferatu tradition? Sounds intriguing."