The gathering of Mekhet and Nosferatu

[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 venues, suggests Blushing would be advised. The lighting within the salon allowed one to see the space, yet was dim. Upon arriving, Liam steps forward to greet you. Liam waits to accept coats and accessories by the coat check 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 guests towards the main hall. An open doorway reveals a medium sized room with various paintings displayed on half walls, the appearance of an art gallery. The next room stands open. There is a closed door beside the door that Liam stops at. Liam gestures for you to step into this door.
Two large glass globes with small openings at the top are set beside the doorway. Within these globes, lotus flowers floated in clear water. Within the room, a long table composed of fine wood is set with a rich green table runner. Fine stationary is set in a wooden box in the center of the table. The east and west wall have set in shelving that currently holds a small floral arrangement.
The table has three chairs on each long end of the table. There are two more elaborate chairs with wooden designs of lotus flowers at the head and foot of the table. Jennifer sits at the end of the table farthest from the door, at the right-hand seat. She sits beside the elaborate chair set at the head, yet not in the head of the table.

[Jennifer Hazelton]

Jennifer is brushed. She wears a coral color lipstick shade, light brown and light green eyeshadow blended on her eyelids and dark brown eyeliner. Her hair is half up, half down, falling in curls. She wears a jade hair clip in natural green to pull the top section of hair back. She wears a brown business suit. The two rings that she always wears, the green ring and the chocolate diamond and white diamond ring, is worn. She wears a green gemstone bracelet that Helen would recognize.

[Benedikta Grey]

Business tonight... although Benny severely doubted the evening will go well.

Twice Benny had sent correspondence to get an idea of what Clan Mekhet wanted from an alliance with Clan Nosferatu and, both times, Benny's letters had been ignored by both the Priscus and the greater Clan as a whole. Moreover, Godwin's failure to correct his faux pas was extremely frustrating. He had several chances, with Benny herself even speaking with him on the matter.

Lost cause.

However, it was likely that Godwin's situation itself was alone in its inability to become reconciled. Clan Mekhet looked like ineffectual fools. A scarcely present Priscus, a Whip without substantial influence, and an apathetic membership.

How could Benny fix the situation if no others were willing to put in the work to make it so?

At this point, if the Shadows wanted to remain tarnished, fine. It was time for the Whip to look after her own interests. If the reputation of the Clan couldn't be fixed, she would merely try and fix her own reputation with the Domain's elite. At the very least she had at least a few ideas of what to offer the Haunts on a personal basis and she likewise had an idea of what she wanted in return.

Benny was Blushed and dressed modestly for the evening, wearing a simple grey suit and carrying a small briefcase. The distraction of her circumstances leaving her bereft of accessories, the Whip even lacked makeup, but she was nonetheless and focused.

Following Liam to the meeting space, Benny's expression was pensive as she entered, initially staring into the middle distance as if engaged in deep thought before soon remembering herself and looking to Jennifer. The expression morphed into a somewhat tired visage, but she nonetheless managed a small, almost apologetic smile and bowed her head in respect to Jennifer's status.

"Good evening, Lady Seneschal," she said, still looking at the floor and remaining bent for a moment longer before writing herself. Mulling over what else to say, she ultimately settled on honesty, "I must apologize. I have generated correspondence on two occasions regarding the alliance, and I received no responses from any members of standing within Clan Mekhet, including Priscus Baker. To my shame, I must admit this failure also rests on my shoulders as Whip... I say this because I am uncertain if any of my kinsmen will be joining us this night."

[Jennifer Hazelton]

"Good evening, Whip Grey." Jennifer greeted from her seated position.

"Please, take a seat." Jennifer indicates the table. This in itself was a situation that Jennifer was curious how the Kindred attendees would orient themselves.

"I am not pleased to hear this." Jennifer states, a concerned expression on her face.
"I must admit, that I have experienced the similiar experience when I sent correspondence to Priscus Baker. I do hope that there is some interest in at least putting the matter to rest if there is no interest from your Clan."

Jennifer's opinion on Benny was pulled out and examined. Her mind was reviewing the information and opinion that Priest Schneider had shared with her recently. Yet this expression was favorable to Jennifer.

[Benedikta Grey]

"Thank you, Lady Seneschal," Benny offered as she was instructed to sit, eventually choosing the chair closest to the door. The Shadow had doubts the meeting would last long given the failures of Clan Mekhet.

"Nor am I pleased to share it," Benny admitted, "However, given our position of mutual respect, I consider it unwise to feign positivity in the wake of my clan's apathy. If I may be candid, the behavior of my kinsmen has caused me to consider a resignation from my title as Whip. It is clear enough to me that the greater clan bears no interest in solving the issues of our perception to the greater Domain. Naturally, that makes a role such as mine... frankly, impossible."

Opening the suitcase she had brought, Benny retrieved a pen and notepad, setting it on the table to prepare for the meeting.

"Make no mistake, I bear a great deal of interest in an alliance with Clan Nosferatu, but I cannot speak for the whole of Clan Mekhet," she said, "Only Priscus Baker can do that. That said, I am more than willing to discuss the possibility an agreement of assistance to Clan Nosferatu based on my own capabilities. I am merely uncertain what I can offer one such as you, Lady Seneschal. It also would be foolish to assume that you and the greater Clan may have misgivings or concerns regarding myself, especially considering the recent disagreement I've had with the Reeve. To be clear, I bear no ill will towards Reeve Kingsley, but I will not abandon my principles."

[Fast Eddie]

Eddie arrives at the appointed time, blushed and looking as lively as possible. He still had that unshakeable aura of a disturbing unwholesomeness. A leering, creeping sensation seemed to follow in his wake. The Haunt is dressed in a leather jacket, faded t-shirt, and black jeans with heavy combat boots. A battered fedora is perched atop his bald head. He finds a seat upon entering and gives a nod to each of those present, first to Jennifer and then to Benny - a face he didn't know personally.

"Good evening, Lady Seneschal." He offers a smile to Benny. "Already getting down to it, huh? Good. I like it when there's not a lotta pointless preamble."

[Jennifer Hazelton]

Jennifer inclined her head towards Benny slightly in acknowledgement for the genteel thanks.
“I am pleased that you are being candid with me. This idea of an alliance may not be feasible if it is not supported by the Mekhet Caln. I had hoped that the two Clans that share an affinity for information gathering would have more in common than other Kindred.
I understand that is a grave situation.” Jennifer responded to Benny’s declaration that she was considering resigning as Whip.

“Whip Grey, have you met Fast Eddie? A member of the Nosferatu Clan.” Jennifer gave the Nosferatu a nod of respect appropriate for one Acknowledged in Sacramento,
“Benedikta Grey, Whip of Clan Mekhet.” Jennifer completed introductions between the two.

“Am I to understand that Priscus Baker has not made his intentions clear on what he would like to see from an alliance?” Jennifer looks back to Whip Grey.
“What would you like to see agreed upon between our two Clans?”

[Benedikta Grey]

The arrival of the new face draws Benny's attention. Despite the man's unnerving presence, the Shadow wills herself to look him in the eye.

His statement earns a small, cordial smile and raised brows from the current Whip of the Mekhet.

"I would like to think that the Domain at large knows I have no desire to waste time," Benny replied before returning her attention to the Seneschal.

"An unfortunate development. Our failure as a Clan to solidify a working relationship with Clan Nosferatu is solely the shame of the Mekhet," Benny said, "I intend to relay my own disappointment officially once our time here has finished... As for my potential resignation, the time has simply come to reassess the worth of it. At the risk of sounding egotistical, I feel my place in the Domain has been tarnished enough. If I am to be villainized, I'd prefer it to be through my own actions rather than the inaction of others."

At the official introduction, Benedikta shook her head.

"I have not, I'm afraid," she answers, confirming she has not met the Haunt before turning to Eddie, "A pleasure, to be sure."

"Not that I recall, Lady Seneschal. From what I remember given our last Clan Meeting, Priscus Baker implored us all to commit time to explore what each of us desired. My correspondence came after this meeting, which, as we've discussed, has been summarily ignored," Benny affirmed, "I am not privy to any of his personal desires for the alliance... As for myself, I believe there could be a benefit in an agreement to share information for the sake of developing a network for which both our Clans can aid the Domain in our more... shall we say traditional roles among our society. Naturally, my personal skillsets would be most useful in monitoring local internet domains for the purpose of flagging concerning developments which could be quickly relayed to Reeve Kingsley in order to increase response time to threats. Given our mutual interest in the occult, it may also be worth working together to create a vault of sorts to easily reference local supernatural events and entities. If there is more within Sacramento than ourselves, it is best to catalog should we need to confront such beings. Knowledge is power."

Leaning back in her chair, the Mekhet's face waxes into a more pensive expression.

"Beyond the building of a centralized information network and an occult library, I think there is worth in developing agreements for mutual security," Benny continued, "I won't lie, the concept of a shared Necropolis is intriguing, particularly if our greater Clans can be convinced to occupy the space and develop it into a haven for both of our kinsmen through the implementation of security systems and deterrents to be put in place to prevent trespass. Naturally, I would understand if that concept is considered impossible. It is not within my desire to intrude on Clan Nosferatu's traditional practice of Necropolises."

A pause.

"However, as you noted, this conceptualization is a moot point if the greater membership of Clan Mekhet - and our Priscus - does not make efforts to to develop our relationship," Benny admitted, "Regardless of how useful I might believe myself to be, I am only one Kindred. An agreement solely with me is not worth the commitment of Clan Nosferatu's collective resources. Thus, the impasse we find ourselves in."

[Jennifer Hazelton]

Jennifer was quiet for a moment as she considered.
"It is problematic that communication has broken down to this level." Jennifer stated. "The ability to answer a letter should be a bare minimum for a leader to address. I am curious if Mr. Godwin did address the social faux pas with Priscus Baker?” Jennifer inquired. Jennifer did note that Mr. Godwin had not made the public apology that had been agreed upon.
“I will not pry; I am sure that your Clan had more in-depth meetings to discuss possibilities."

The information that Whip Grey shared was very intriguing. It appears that she has skills in my wheelhouse.
"The Necropolis is a great place to foster community and a mutual goal. It can promote parallel work." Jennifer responded.
"If a site can be located, I would not be opposed to establishing a meeting place for a group of Kindred to house and share our knowledge. I am interested in sharing our history and knowledge about the occult. I would like to talk about that more in depth.
My primary goal is to divide a role among ourselves for gathering and dispersing information. I maintain an orchestra with the street people. I have cultivated a relationship where others have given me aid in the past among academics, digital networks and News media. I could work on maintaining these relationships in offering incentive for the orchestra to pass on information that we could use. I would pass on the information to the Reeve and alert members in the alliance.
I was thinking that putting assistants in place to listen for any movements or information that would create instability in the Domain. I have skill in hacking computers and in researching academic texts and investigation.
If the Mekhet Clan does not have the drive to participate, perhaps we can work out an agreement where those who wish to assist the Reeve can share among ourselves.”

[Helen Kingsley]

Helen appears from the depths of the Necropolis, coming straight from the entrance, delivered to the rest of the party by Liam. She's dressed in dark jeans and a blue turtleneck. The only noteworthy accessory she's wearing is a bracelet Jewnnifer might recognize...

Some folks are already there, but all the good people haven't even shown up yet. Aw, where's the fun in that ?

"Evening Priscus Hazelton. Whip Grey. Eds."

Another look around. She hasn't been in Lotus that much after all.