{V:tM - IC} New York by Night

[reapersaurus]

Nikolai leans in close, smelling the child, looking deeply at it.

OOC: is it human? what does its Aura display? He tries to piece together the evidence on the kid, the grisly scene, and his knowledge of the Occult to come to a conclusion. Is the kid a ghoul?

Nikolai thinks . o 0 ( Did the Fiend purposely create this abomination to humanity's Innocence?
What sicker corruption of youth than to turn a bright-eyed boy into this.... hollow mockery of humanity?

"Good work, Maxwell.

So who ... what... are you?" he asks the 'child', if it can still be called that, as he looks it over for signs of what it possibly was before the Poet entered its life.

He makes it reasonably clear to Max that he wants to keep the feral alive - very much so.

 

[KitanaVorr]

Crown Plaza Hotel, Montague Family Suite – The Music Room
Wednesday 11th December, 2002

Caitlyn smiled slightly as Carrick explained his non-appreciation for art but as soon as he mentioned the name Vychtorya again, the echoing of the older woman's words resonated in her thoughts to return the flickering of fear that tickled up long her body and wormed faint coils of cold terror into her belly.

What pleasure can we have to war with evil? Is there any peace in ever climbing up the climbing wave?

Her smile vanished.

That dark glance turned more intense toward his reflection in the window, as if trying to gauge his intent or even his sincerity toward her. Was he doing this on purpose? Yet how could he have known what had been said? Good breeding won out over any sudden desire to provide explanation.

"Sometimes life's vicissitudes come in forms unexpected," was all she that came from her lips.

 

[Catulle]

Antiquities Nightclub, Manhattan
Wednesday 11th December, 2002

(OOC - Vychtorya per/subterfuge vs Jemal man/subterfuge - 10,6,5,2 vs 9,7,6,4,1 = 0 successes net)

The exact nature of the handsome young Ventrue's allusion was lost to Vychtorya, as his features let nothing further escape their present facade of total propriety. Then he broke into another smile. His eyes folowed her around the bar after she had poured out the vitae; whether she or the glass was the focus of that attention seemed quite the mystery. She could barely see his nostrils flare as he scented the blood coming closer.

"Of course," his voice was silken, deep and at the same time confident, "tell me whatever you wish. I can keep a secret, if you want me to."

 

[Catulle]

Crown Plaza Hotel, Montague Family Suite – The Study
Wednesday 11th December, 2002

Nathanial stood nearby throughout his niece's experiments with the decanter, only taking it from the table once she had poured a sufficient quantity to judge the glass ready to drink. As he continued speaking, he returned the stopper with a deft, pale hand and stowed the precious fluid away in the appointed place, judging the remaining crimson liquid warily in the light first.

(OOC - Sabrina gains 3 blood points, including merit)

"Enough, I believe, for the present. The remainder you may have on our return, provided you maintain decorum tonight and keep in mind what I have told you here."

He returned to the chair, and let the girl climb up to him, stretching out his arms to assist her navigation. "We're going to a nightclub belonging to Ms Fayrchyld, to meet with other Kindred of import and ambition. Mr Ashton has arranged for his sire, who goes by the name Maria Santa Lucia, there. As I indicated, one does not lightly begin an undertaking without being certain of a degree of success. Tonight is where we assess our strengths and weaknesses."

 

[Catulle]

Frederick Douglas Memorial Cemetery, Staten Island
Wednesday 11th December, 2002

(OOC - Nikolai Aura Perception diff8, per/occult, per/investigation - 9,8,8,7,7,5,5,5,3,2/10,9,7,3,2,2,2,2,2,1,1 reroll 6/6,6,6,4,3,3,2,1 = 3, 2 and 2 successes respectively)

As Max kept the child pressed into the dirt, mercifully clear of offal at this spot, Nikolai took in the situation and forced his senses to slide through the physical plane as far as they could. The... creature's aura reflected its bright mortality and showed the orange-tint of fear in equal measure to obsession's green. The two shades merged, twisted and swirled in the hypnotic display that could only be psychosis.

Returning to the physical, both Kindred could smell the stench of rot the child put forth. Ragged clothes had absorbed the filth from the scene, and by their reckoning, from similar events before. Nikolai could make out earth and blood on the feral's hands and under its nails. The Tremere could see its teeth were stained dark with decay and the sweet-rotten scent of putrid flesh was on its breath.

And yet it still lived... it was a simple matter for Nikolai to dab a finger in the fresh blood welling from the gash Max's knife had carved in its... his flank, it would be even simpler to take a taste of that blood to assess its purity and strength. If he dared. The repercussions of that thought couldn't fail to unsettle.

The child squirmed again under the knife, stopping only when the blade started to draw blood. It pulled back closer to the ground. The tiny wound closed over, leaving a pale, clean patch to contrast with the grimy coat over the rest of his skin.

"Donn... Let go..." The voice was deeper than anticipated, and shocking in that it came at all from something so base as this appeared to be. It shivered in the wintery air.

 

[Catulle]

Crown Plaza Hotel, Montague Family Suite – The Music Room
Wednesday 11th December, 2002

The sentence evidently struck a chord somewhere inside Carrick Ashton, for with the words still hanging in the music room air, he turned to face her directly. His voice was a whisper,

"I couldn't agree more fully. The cruelest lies are often told without a word..." He shook his head, "One of life's bitter lessons, at least for me." He broke eye contact to check the time by the wall clock.

"I think we can assume the family Montague are done in the study by now." Carrick extended his arm to her "Thank you for your converstion; I think it's certainly inspired my line of reasoning for the future, should you be willing to take up the discourse again. Will you accompany me, Cate?"

 

[Tory Adore]

The scent of the elixir in the glass resting against her breast brought her eyes from the sculpture.

”Oh…I am…(sigh) I’m sorry Jemal. My recent thoughts have overshadowed my manners. Here you are. It is a personal favorite of mine – well as far as decantered goes, but I fear time does not permit other luxury for us tonight.”
Vych says turning to him (seeming a little shaky) as she offers Jemal the crystal goblet with both hands.
”How do I say this so as not to sound like I am going out of my head?”

Vych says as she starts to pace a bit using hand gestures as she continues, her accent becoming more noticeable,
”I saw a woman downstairs…just before we came up here. She caught my eye, but…well when we got up here and you were asking me about the sculptures, the woman’s form over-laid the statue of Carrick’s Sire in my minds eye. It was almost a perfect match Jemal…perfect, beautiful. What if she is the guest Carrick sent the message about at your home? You know the guest that…that tends to be punctual? It’s early yet. I have at least 45 minutes. That’s not punctual, that’s early.”

Vych paces a little faster back and forth playing with her fingers. Definitely appearing a little nervous now, which seems very unnatural and unfamiliar, her speech hastens a bit,
”What if I messed this up Jemal? What if the woman IS his Sire? I am always confident and well prepared Jemal. Why do I feel like this?….Uhh...I need a drink!”

Vych strides behind the bar, grabs a glass and pours more of the viscid liquid. She drinks it down much more quickly than a lady of her caliber and status would normally be seen doing. A small trickle leaks from the left corner of her lips, and she pushes the stream of nectar into her mouth with her finger, gently sucking it clean of the redness it had swept away from her flawless skin.
”Jemal, I must get dressed so I can get downstairs. There is a small gallery of art for your viewing pleasure just outside my room if you’d like to talk to me while I get dressed. I could really use the comforting sound of your voice.”

Vych feels the blood mix in her veins and control starts to come back to her. She closes her eyes, takes a false breath in letting it out as a sigh, and walks the long hall to her bedroom, taking a quick glance back over her shoulder to see if Jemal is following. Sasha had placed upon the bed a lovely bright green satin and chiffon dress with matching sandals; perfect for the evening’s steamy Moroccan feel. Vych thinks to herself, “I can ALWAYS count on Sasha for her exquisite taste, and she remembered to put my little red heart pendant and earrings out for me too.”

 

[Jemal]

”Oh…I am…(sigh) I’m sorry Jemal. My recent thoughts have overshadowed my manners. Here you are. It is a personal favorite of mine – well as far as decantered goes, but I fear time does not permit other luxury for us tonight.”
Vych says turning to him (seeming a little shaky) as she offers Jemal the crystal goblet with both hands.

"Thank you kindly, Vych. The scent of this is almost as intoxicating as you." Jemal said as he accepted the goblet. "Are you sure you're allright, you look like you've seen a ghost."

”How do I say this so as not to sound like I am going out of my head?”

"If you need to say something, my dear, just say it, I'm all ears when you need me to be.."

He listened carefully as she spoke of the woman, drinking from the goblet and puzzling as she was over whether this could be The guest. "Well, I must say that... I don't know what to say. I've never had a situation quite like that." He stood up and set the goblet down, walking over to her as she wiped the blood off her lip. "You have nothing to be worried about, you're a wonderful woman, and if it IS Carrick's sire, is that a bad thing? What is it that has you so nervous, dear lady?"

He nods when she invites him to wait for her as she dresses, and follows closely.

 

[KitanaVorr]

Crown Plaza Hotel, Montague Family Suite – The Music Room
Wednesday 11th December, 2002

"Virginibus Puerisque," Caitlyn replied as her fingers touched his arm however so lightly.

Her lips curved slightly into a wry smile, however brief. "So I approach uncertain; so I cruise around your mysterious islet, and behold surf and great mountains and loud river-bars, and from the shore hear your voice call. Or is it you who approaches me? Yes, I think it is. The truth to facts is not always truth to sentiment as you should well know. Perhaps I do leave something unsaid, but it is nothing that your sentiments would want to hear."

Reaching out, she picked up her leather coat from where it sat on the piano bench and placed it in the crook of her arm to carry. "I'll accompany you, Carrick."

 

[Shalimar]

Crown Plaza Hotel, Montague Family Suite – The Study
Wednesday 11th December, 2002

Now that she had drunk her fill, or as close to it as she had ever come the child curled up in Nathan's lap, sated, almost purring her contentment. Nathan had been much warmer and more informative to her tonight then at any other time that she could remember, it felt right to her, and she was loathe to leave that even if it meant she would be going out with him.

"When we go out, what should I wear?" she asked idly used to having him pick clothes for her for any important occasion. "Can I wear my pink sweater and purle skirt? It would match my necklace that Miss Vychtorya gave me." She thought about what he had said a bit more. "We are strong aren't we? I mean you could be a prince, well, you always are to me, uncle Nathan, your my prince, like in snow white, Prince Charming." she says smiling up at him, "since we are gonna meet mister Carrick's vampire mommy, does that mean we want her to be princess?"