Summoned to the Seven Stars

[Emma French]

Emma gave a mild smile and nod out of respect to Dillon, "Sorry to interupt". She was sure he understood that she was trying to protect the family. And she certainly didn't take any repremand personally, he was correct that in court etc she could have been in huge trouble for her reaction and appreciated his concern for family members. The new arrival seemed to be ok with things also, that was good. When Dillon asked for the door to be closed, Emma started to reach out to shut the door but Jim beat her to it. As his beast approach Emma's responded, He is going to attack you, get him first. Emma's eyes turned black as she shoved beast back down quietly. Beast may not be able to see that Jim wasn't going to attack her, but Emma had enough sense to know better. Emma felt more relaxed with the door locked and settled against the wall watching the family members and their interactions.

[Dillon Connery]

Dillon returns the nods to Emma and Mike, calm and firmly. Approval in that they would let it blow over without sulking or taking offense. Good. They showed backbone. He can use backbone.

Roxie and Swift's support and insight sucked most of the fury out of the Priscus, which is probably for the best. He offers them both a subtle smirk of gratitude before continuing. It's the first time he's done anything close to smiling since everyone filed in. "I will sometimes be rough with you. All of you. Understand that we don't snuggle and simper with each other. This is not a show of disrespect. I am not a bully.

"What I am, is the hammer which will test your steel. For the good of the Domain, for the good of the Clan, for the good of your own Requiems. If I didn't at least see some potential in each of you, you wouldn't be here." Understandably, Dillon's eyes stop briefly on Jim's, before moving on. "Some of you may be tempered, some of you may be forged, and some of you may break. If you are Gangrel, you will buck up, tolerate the pressures placed upon you, and excel. I will not settle for less."

Shrugging before any wiseguy can throw in a 'hoo-hah, sergeant', Dillon begins to pace very slowly around the room again. "By less, I mean the likes of Francesco Giovanni. Since he is too gutless to show up and explain himself to me, I would prefer not to see his animated corpse up and about in Sacramento again." The Gangrel stops at the head of the assembly of tables, leaning against the tabletop with his fists. "One reckless act by that fool, and it becomes the open mockery of the entire Domain."

Dillon's voice begins to build, and muscles in his jaws flex. "'Ooooooh, I know your family can't help it Francesco...'

"'I know that you're a dumb, ignorant savage, Francesco...'

"'But try to think about what you're saying, Giovanni...'

"'Try, try ever so hard to wrap your mind around the consequences of your actions, you foolish--'" Dillon's fist pounds the table once, with and audible bam.

"Stupid." Bam.

"Brainless." Bam.

"GANGREL!" Bam!

The last word, the name of their Clan that the Priscus has worked tirelessly for, comes out as a thunderous bellow. For all of his canine tendencies, this time Dillon Connery can be more easily compared to a lion. The muscles in his forehead stand in sharp relief, as he grimaces in rage. Fangs reflexively peek out of his snarling gum line. Inside, his vision is narrowing to a red tunnel. He looks as though he's about to grab the table and wrap it around someone's neck.

But he doesn't.

Rather, Dillon takes a deep breath. And slowly purges it, along with the anger. There is a growl under the exhalation that his dead lungs took no sustenance from; an inhumanely low-pitched, guttural rumble.

"The person who delivers his torpid body to me," comes the calm, quiet conclusion, "or Reeve Greyson, or one of his other deputies, will go highly recommended in the future. Needless to say, please do not violate Law or Tradition in locating and retrieving him."

[Emma French]

Emma listens calmly and carefully to Dillon, mulling over his words. When the meeting is over she will speak with him in private to get his input on her plan. Beast rolls over deep inside her feeling a joy of a hunter, Emma's eyes take on a cold cool dark green.

[AlphaStrike]

Zach Griffiths watches the display with a face devoid of emotion or response. This idiot obviously touched a personal nerve of the Priscus, and now was telling everyone else to avoid the former's mistakes. And the blood price on his head. Interesting. Zach liked torpid bodies, and he knew some boxing tricks from his mortal days.

Maybe I could get a coterie together and find this bastard. The Priscus's irritation means he is less open to other ideas, and he will need to be calmed before I can make any controversial moves. Although this guy seems to have set the bar pretty low. I've heard about how some dumb vamp had told a room full of vamps his plans to take over crime in the city. Stupid bastard. Now, his shit has been spun out by the fan and I gotta clean it up. Hmmmmm......maybe a hunting coterie wouldn't be a bad idea.

Zach started looking at the others around the room, evaluating their physiques for a little alleyway action.

Now, who would be nice and subtle, and who would blow the first tradition wide open.

[Tracy Burns]

Tracy remains quiet, listening to the Priscus do the talking, and then Regent Hart reinforce the whole "don't be a dumbass" speech. The tiny Deputy nods in silent agreement, knowing that she really can't add much to those words. After all, they are pretty clear aren't they? Then again, some people seem unable to grasp the concept of not being stupid. Then Dr. Swift says his own piece, and she smiles at her fellow Gangrel, happy to see him being a little more outspoken than the last meeting. She values his input after all, with him being one of the more educated members of the Clan she has met so far.

When the conversation shifts towards the topic of Francesco, the redheaded Gangrel's eyes flare up with anger just at the mention of his name. Her little fists clench at her side, as her Beast tugs on its leash, but Tracy does her best to push it back and keep it restrained.

Not here, not now. Save it for when the fool decides to show his face...

She continues listening to Dillon's words attentively, nodding in agreement every now and then. When he makes mention of wanting the idiot's torpid body delivered to him, Tracy can't help but smile a little. Her cute little smirk turns into a twisted half-smile, with a predatory air to it that obviously hungers for blood...probably Francesco's.

"Well said boss," she finally says to Dillon, offering him a polite nod before turning her attention to the rest of the Clan. "And remember he said torpid, not that he be delivered as a jar full of ashes." She scans around the room, looking at the other Gangrel there. "Right of Destruction belongs solely to the Prince, don't forget that...or you will fall into the category of being a dumbass," says the tiny redhead. "And I'm sure you all understand how we feel about that by now."

With those words, she offers the Savages around her a quick smile.

[Roxie Hart]

Roxie didn’t jump… at all. Considering who she fucked most of the time, yelling was usually involved. The Regent also didn’t think Dillon had it in him to be so...gruff. Dillon, you gotta stop getting hotter. Fuck. Now the legalicious Gangrel was really irritated with herself for not pursuing the hatefuck. The feisty blonde's leg continued to bounce while Dillon finished and then her eyes fell on Tracy next.

Her brow raised with approval as little Miss Spitfire backed up her dumbass advice. There was a flicker of pride in the Savage Regent’s eyes.

“And after that embarrassing bullshit he pulled with his little mafia meeting that clearly got around to some powerful people, I’d like to see him caught as well.” Roxie took a drag of her smoke with winced eyes and a determining face. “I’ll up the ante on this. Whoever hauls his stupid ass in to the Deputies or the Reeve, I may be apt throw someone or a few people some Tenancy.” If they don’t completely fuck it up like some of the other shit.

Tracy knew Roxie was good to her word, if vampires had follow through. There were times she wondered if she should invest in some sort of wrestling cage where people could duke it out, or take out some aggression... or beat the stupid out of each other.

[James Calloway]

The Taifa did not react as Dillon's eyes stopped on him during his discussion of their potential, save for the tiniest of nods. As the Gangrel Priscus' speech grew in intensity and violence and anger, he couldn't help but feel the rage swelling within him. We should have gored the fucker right then, saved everyone the trouble. But he couldn't help but respect the Priscus' anger. He had worked hard. Francesco Giovanni had shit on the name he had worked to build them. He had been brave and dedicated to the Domain. Francesco Giovanni had thrown a pound of stupid into the mix and it had sullied the term 'Gangrel'.

And then it came to the end, and for some reason, James couldn't help but imagine that Dillon wanted to put Francesco Giovanni before a death pit and kick him in, possibly while yelling some choice words:

Dillon?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZeYVIWz99I

The thoughts did not disturb Jim. Indeed, as the offer of a bounty went out on his head, the Taifa smirked slightly and looked over at Jose for a moment. For Jose, it could be redemption. For James... well, he hadn't beaten the shit out of anybody lately, and in his own way, it would be a decent way to square things away a bit with Dillon.

His face was thoughtful as he listened to Roxie, upping the ante in that feisty, fucking hot way she had about her. Tenancy, huh? And I would've done it out of duty. Pursing his lips slightly, the Taifa didn't speak, thinking the situation over.

But then his lips resolved into a deadly little smile. The price had been set. The hunt was on.

[Matamune]

Michael listens to Dillon's words with his arms folded thinking about the situation. The pounding doesn't catch him by surprise as by that point Dillon is practically radiating righteous anger.

He raises an eyebrow as the others support Dillon wholeheartedly. He doesn't share their enthusiasm, however, believing that Francesco is long gone by now. When the tempers have cooled down a bit and those of rank have spoken, Michael decides to voice his concerns:

"The last and only time I saw our Batman and Robin cousin, he was in Court, looking at every official with the eyes of a frightened stray dog. If he is still in the city, we'll haul his torpid ass where needed, but I doubt he has the balls to remain here after what he did." - after pausing for a moment, he continues. - "We should really be more proactive when someone new calls a meeting in the manner he did it. Spreading rumors among the Kine? That already suggests a disaster..."