(1508) Eternal Court XXXVII

[Wod.Infant]

”Hi Marco, its nice meeting you!” The woman answered casually starting conversation with the handsome Hispanic.

”I’m Chloe.” The stranger’s hand reaches for a handshake, only now she was no stranger, she was Chloe the stranger, should Marco decide to shake her hand he will notice her skin and flesh are cold, as befitting her supposed nature.

Chloe falls into silent quietude as other figures seem to approach. She prefers to wait for their words before producing her own. It gave her time to fight against the lies of the reactive mind and just observe. There seems to be a prevalence of obnoxiously complicated etiquette…

”I guess I can say I was looking forward to meet you Seneschal.” Her tone seems to be empty and numb until one of the corners of her bee stung lips produces the briefest smile.

”I’m Chloe.” The hand is extended offering the Seneschal a chance to greet her. Apparently someone else had found words to better illustrate how the shadow was feeling. Honored. She allows a moment of silence to pass and for Marco and Katya to assume they both knew one another until she finally turns to Gabrielle and offers an awkward smile.

”It’s also an honor to meet you Gabrielle, I’m Chloe.” The deadpan was perfect, the joke was subtle.

[Violet]

Diana gave Martha's arm a little squeeze. The woman was holding tight enough to her, everyone was seeing it. She may as well reciprocate.

Villers' whispers were starting to sound familiar, even though she had only met her once before. She listened to her explain who was who with surprise that she didn't know two of them, but widened her eyes at Martha's announcement that she was now officially the keeper. She broke into a wide smile, "Martha that's great! You must be so happy!" she exclaimed. The succubus was certainly much louder than the shadow.

Diana walks with Martha towards the two strangers. She makes sure she takes a moment to wave at Marco, with a smile. On the way there she notices four new arrivals. Its almost too much for her to bear. She steadies herself by looking back and forth from Martha to Marco, the only two Kindred here that she already knows.

So, in spite of herself, when Vivian speaks directly to her she jumps just a bit. She looks between Vivian and Martha, clearly a bit torn. To her credit though, it only takes her a couple moments to brightly answer the other Daeva with a smile, "I'd love to come make my introductions. If Keeper Villers wants to come too, all the better, but if not we can catch up a bit later."

Martha said that man Regan was very important. Just as well I take my chance to speak to him now.

[Martha Villiers]

Things were moving fast.

"Thank you! Yes, Miss... I confess I am delighted, and excited!" she replies merrily and bright eyed to Diana.

Martha smiled and, leaning on her cane, smiled a warm and sincere greeting to the cool, calm and collected Richard;

"Good evening, Mr Black! Goodness," she enthuses, "It is a delight to see you again! I'd like to introduce my friend, Miss Diana Barnes! Newly arrived in this Domain... Doubtless she'll value from your insights and expertise!" turning to address Diana, Martha found the appearance of Alessandra's Beast a sudden distraction.

Gripping her cane tightly, Martha's thigh stump stabbed with pain and she momentarily grimaced while briefly fighting for control of her Beast...

Eyes widening from regaining control of her Bestial stress, Martha nods respectfully to Katya; adding a meek curtsey to the Seneschal before nodding again to Richard.

"I have been quite well, thank you kindly for asking, Mr Black! I hope you have been good too! Goodness," she turns to Richard and Diana, "so many new faces!" she chirped, but, instead of looking at the new faces, Martha found her bashful gaze briefly falling to Diana's shoes, Vivian's heels and Chloe's legs.

Martha nods a greeting to Vivian as the lady makes her presence known, smiling to include Richard and Diana in Vivian's encounter too, she replies; "Ah! Good evening, Miss York! A delight to see you! May I say, Miss York, your shoes are most fascinating!" she adds with a happy nod to the exotic footwear, "I'd like to introduce Miss Diana Barnes, Miss York! Miss Barnes is a playwright, from New York!" a sweet and encouraging smile is beamed to Diana and then a nod to David and Vivian. Her twin tails bob as she replies to Vivian's invite;

"Thank you for the invitation, Miss York! I shall be glad to join you and Priscus Regan in a moment, but you're shrewd to anticipate my desire to greet new arrivals! I shall be delighted to join you all later!" picking up on the meaning of Vivian's clues re the new arrivals. Happy to see where things go next, Martha seems, if not super-happy to let Diana go, at least fully understanding of the importance of doing so...

[SoraLow]

Richard watches as the former seneschal and takes note of the frantic way she reacted to each greeting that came at her over the course of only about thirty seconds. By the time her beaming smile surrenders to a lower heard and fallen gaze Richard is already extending his hand for her to take, "Ms. Villiers, court has only just begun, I am afraid if I miss my opportunity now I may loose out on my chance to catch up with you."

He gestures towards the rest of the attendance as they begin naturally grouping up as per court etiquette. "I'm sure you have a duty to help the new comers get on, but you can spare a moment to chat with an old friend right?"

A moment to chat, and a moment to gather yourself, you look like you need it.

[Konrad Roth]

-1 Vitae for Blush of Life

The Savage crook makes his way to the Stairs, abiding by the usual ritual of entry into the Nox's subterranean chambers. He wears a white suit tonight, a deviation from his usual dark toned threads. However, his hands are clad in black gloves that form tightly to his undead digits which squeak from the stretch of thin leather.

His eyes survey the common room, bypassing the coat check for lack of armaments. His Beast seethes at what it finds, a nest of monsters, each a rival trespassing on his territory. But calm reasoning is not unknown to the Gangrel and he reminds himself who truly reigns over the Domain.

He notices a couple of new faces among the crowd, each already the center of their own group of curious Kindred. Konrad lets out a sharp breath of air that may be a scoff or a sigh. The businessman in Konrad is feeling down on his luck as of late. There's no pressing business that he has on his itinerary and Rina Yui's lingering silence confirms his suspicion that another ally of his has left the Domain. Usually he bounces back from these setbacks with a new angle or plan of attack. But without the Shadow on the board to come to his rescue he felt strangely vulnerable.

But then any pawn can become a Queen. Well, probably a bad idea to get ahead of myself...

The mention of his name brings Konrad's attention to the Seneschal and he makes his way over.

Konrad enters this conversation

[Martha Villiers]

Gripping her cane and looking briefly towards Diana and then Chloe's legs...

Looking up to accept Richard's hand with a happy and gentle nod, Martha smiles. "Thank you, sir... yes. Yes, yes, of course, sir, spending time with you sounds lovely..."

Her free hand rubs at her crippled thigh and wide eyes study Richard. "Goodness. The evening is already busy. So many new faces!" she giggles, "It puts me in mind of our first encounter! Almost a year ago! Ah, Colonel Fury, Director of Shield, if I recall correctly." she smiles. "Ah! I do hope you've had a fulfilling year, sir!"

Leaning on her cane, tiny Martha's eyes are bright as her mind enthused at recalling the power and authority Richie exuded at their first meeting.

SoraLow

[SoraLow]

Richard and Martha continue here