The Seneschal's Office

[Jennifer Hazelton]

The office of the Seneschal was decorated in high quality dark wood pieces. A large book case presided over the room with a variety of books which included classic English and Italian literature. A large and well laid out desk faced the door with a straight-backed chair in Jennifer's place. Two comfortable arm chairs faced the desk. The desk had been cleared of any paperwork and was neat. A keen eye could see a gift that Priscus Jack had given Jennifer in prime place of honor on the desk.
Jennifer was dressed more casually with a green wool scarf pinned to hide her deformity, and muted colors in seasonal clothing.
Jennifer sat behind her desk, awaiting Fast Eddie. A dark-haired ghoul in a tailored suit stands near the desk, a pad of paper and pen on the desk near him. Most Kindred should recognize Liam, the Seneschal’s ghoul.

[Fast Eddie]

Eddie arrived a few minutes before the appointed time. The Carthian is wearing a brown jacket with a style and cut that comes straight from the 1970's. A yellow, patterned button-down shirt is beneath the jacket and a slightly battered fedora perched at a jaunty angle on his bald head completes the look. He takes the hat off when he shown into the office, giving the Seneschal a deep nod of respect. "Looks like you're still doing well, Madam Seneschal. Glad to see it." He gestures to one of the chairs sitting before the desk. "May I?"

[Jennifer Hazelton]

"Good evening." Jennifer greeted in her Cursed voice. It slithered like a snake through crumbling autumn leaves.
"I have been well. There have been some intrique in the Court of late. Yet it likely has subsided, as the small undercurrents tend to do.
Yes, you may take a seat. We have some things to go over. I wish to say that I have not laid on eyes on you for the better part of a year. Is my memory correct?" The brown eyes look over the Carthian closely.
There were a few different avenues that he may take with what she had posed. She noted the outfit with some approval, which she allowed to show on her face. There were some very nice styles that she appreciated throughout the decades.

[Fast Eddie]

"Your memory is spot on, as I suspect it usually is," he answers as he slides into a seat. There is a curious look when she mentions court intrigue, but he drops it for now. Figuring she's not in the mood to share gossip with him just yet. "And I'm sure you want an account for why I lit out and what I've been up to. Which is exactly what I'm here for. If you remember, when we first met and were having a similar conversation a little over a year ago, I told you I didn't think my sire would kick up much of a fuss over me leaving. Turns out I underestimated the old man's pride or maybe just his general orneriness."

"I figured he'd just snatch up a new keyboard warrior to replace me and move on with life. But he went a different route. Remember the last night we spoke? We were cruising the rack, looking for a fugitive from the court. Well, we didn't find her, but I did run across a familiar face towards the end of the night. One of my sire's lackeys. Just a bound mortal, but one who was good at finding things that don't wanna be found. And good at retrieving them against their will."

"It spooked me. Hell, it scared the shit out of me. I packed up and hit the road the next night. Maybe I shoulda stayed, but I was the new kid in town. No real allies, no deep ties. I wasn't sure how things would play out, so I figured safer and better to just disappear. I turned up in Vegas a few weeks later. Took less than two weeks," he holds up two fingers to emphasize his point, "till I see another unwelcomed face from the past. So, I try Albuquerque. Took about a month. So at this point I got limited options. None of them great. I decided to head back home. Confront the old man and see if we can make cut a deal or something."

"He was pissed and didn't want to discuss it at first, but I knew who his friends and his rivals were in the Movement. I was able to recruit a few prominent citizens to put some pressure on him. The deal we cut was right out of a movie. One last job. And finishing that job was my one and only priority till a few nights ago."

"No way I was going to stay in the same town as him, and I did enjoy my stay here, as brief as it was, so I figured I'd see if there was a chance of giving things another go here. So, if you got questions, lay them on me. Comments, I'm all ears. I'd like to make this work out here, but if we can't I do understand."

[Jennifer Hazelton]

Jennifer was quiet for a bit as she evaluated Eddie. She was comfortable with the silence. The various possibilities were weighed.

"A reasonable decision to depart from unknown pressures on your Danse." Jennifer states with her Cursed voice.
It slithers on.
"You are satisfied that your Sire is no longer pursuing you?
In your travels throughout other Domains, is there any trouble that would pursue you here? To put it plainly, any hardship the Domain would face?"

Dark brown eyes evaluate Eddie.
"The Domain has changed a bit while you were away. The Reeve Kingsley remains the most renown member of the Carthian Movement. Yet two Kindred have been acknowledged in the Domain who are members of the Carthian Movement.
The Reeve Kingsley and I are the only Nosferatu of note.
There is a member of the Lancea Sanctum, a member of the Circle of the Crone and two active members of the Ordul Dracul.

What are your plans, were you to remain here?"

[Fast Eddie]

"No trouble from Vegas or Alburquerque. Wasn't in either place long enough to cause trouble, even if I was in the mind to, which I wasn't. The old man, he won't be a problem either. We made a deal, and I delivered on my end. Signed and sealed with witnesses. He bothers me here or anywhere else, all I got to do is head back and make a beef and he immediately is going to lose some standing in the Movement."

He takes in an unneeded breath and lets it out slowly before continuing. "Now that final job I had, that did end up screwing some people over. I don't think my part was big enough or public enough for anyone to come tracking me down, but I can't guarantee it. I woulda thought Old Man Albert wasn't gonna kick up a fuss when I originally packed up and yet here we are. But my take on the situation, for what it's worth, is the ones that got the short end of it will be too busy trying to rebuild their own little empires to worry about me, especially since I ain't around to help or harm. Their retribution is gonna be aimed at my old man."

He nods at the update to the demographics of the city with interest. His own eyes meeting the Seneschal's. "My plans are pretty simple really. Settle in, find my niche to contribute and long term, who knows? Be nice to carve out a little slice of territory for myself. Last time we talked, you folks didn't have a Harpy. I'm natural gossip, so that sorta thing might appeal to me if I could prove myself worthy. I don't expect anything to be handed to me. Nothing worth having ever is."

"I am glad to know both you and the Reeve are still around. Is the family still cozied up with the Shadows?"

[Jennifer Hazelton]

Jennifer was quiet for a moment as she considered the response. It was good that there would be no trouble following a fellow Nosferatu to the Domain of Sacramento.
"It is good that you have not attracted any ill intent that would follow you."
"The Mekhet Clan and Nosferatu Clan have met once to go over what we want out of the alliance. The meeting did not go well, in my opinion. There were some internal power struggles going on within the Mekhet Clan. The Mekhet Clan were banished to the Barrens for letting it spill out into Court. I have reached out to the Mekhet Clan Whip, Whip Grey, to set up a new meeting after December. If the meeting is productive, and I include the Mekhet Clan righting thier social plummet within this, I expect the alliance to be formalized.
If there is no change, I see no need to move forward with the alliance.

You desire to claim a Harpy position. The Domain has not had a Harpy in many years."

Jennifer believes that she has observed Fast Eddie for a long enough time to know some of his movements. She looks at him closely now as she watches for any signs of deciet."Do you recall the Laws of the Domain?" Jennifer inquired as she unlocked a desk drawer. A high quality scroll that recorded the Laws of the Domain, tied in a green satin ribbon, was placed on Fast Eddie's side of the table. Jennifer did not leave things that were important, such as knowing the Laws that one was beholden to, for a memory of a Kindred. The Beast and time could ravage a memory.
"Please read the Laws."
"Have you committed the act of Amaranth?"

The question has been asked before, yet the Laws of the Alder Prince must be followed without any room for doubt. Jennifer watches his response closely.

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-11-20 15:01:57	Jennifer Hazelton rolls 7 to Empathy (looking for lies) (10 Again)	3, 3, 8, 9, 5, 9, 4	3 successes

[Fast Eddie]

"Hmmmm. Not like the Shadows to show their ass in public. Ventrue power struggles spilling out to become public knowledge? Sure. I mean who hasn't seen that? Daeva cat fights? Yeah, all the time. Even Gangrel snarling and snapping at each other to see who's gonna be the big dog on the porch, not unheard of. But Mekhet? They usually play it close to the chest. If it's as bad as you say, that's a real bad sign if you ask me. Is the old guy still around?" He taps his chin as he tries to recall the name. "Baker? He was the Priscus if I recall. So, if he's still around and you're talking to the Whip, I take it that means Baker is part of the problem."

"I remember, but I'll take a second look for a refresher. Pretty standard stuff as I recall, except for the parts about hands off hospital staff, law enforcement, first responders, and city hall employees. Which we discussed last time." He does reach over and take the offered scroll, giving a good read just make sure he hadn't forgotten anything else.

When Jennifer asks him about Amaranth he sets the document down and looks her straight in the eye. The full weight of his curse comes to bear. Fast Eddie's unblinking gaze is entirely unsettling, unwholesome. Somehow corrupting almost. He shakes his head. "Nah, it's enough to keep up with what is rattling around up here on its own." He taps his temple. "I don't need someone else's voice adding the choir. That's the kinda shit I stay far away from."

[Fast Eddie]

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-11-21 00:42:40	Fast Eddie rolls 6 to Lying? (10 Again)	3, 9, 3, 6, 3, 3	1 success

By all appearances, Eddie is telling the stone-cold truth.

[Jennifer Hazelton]

"It is not like Clan Mekhet?" Jennifer looks at Eddie for clarification.
"Yes, Priscus Baker is the current Priscus. There was a scratch made on him in public by Mr. Godwin, a member of Clan Mekhet.

It is good to hear that you respect the sanctity of the Laws of our nature. It is what keeps our Beasts in line... in my belief. I believe civil behavior and genteel manners assist in keeping one in line. I know that you are Unaligned.

I would be glad to talk to you about the different Covenant standings and introductions to Covenant leaders if you wish. Let us discuss the important, official part of the evening."
Jennifer was certain that Fast Eddie was sincere.

"Do you, Fast Eddie, swear loyalty to Prince Alessandra Antinori, to the officers of her court and to abide by the Prince's laws as set forth by her hand?"