Carmilla raised an eyebrow at Nefertiti as she turned. She was poised and elegant but something about her posture gave the impression of a serpent about to strike. She gave a coy smile and ran her finger around the rim of her wine glass. "Is it?"

 She sat the glass down, the kindred she had previously been speaking to fading into the background noise of the room as she turned slightly more toward Nefertiti. As the woman devoted more and more of her attention, Nefertiti found that the rest of the world seemed to fade away from her, leaving only the two of them alone in a crowd of people.


 As Sal watched, he saw the other Kindred move slightly away from Carmilla. They were watching intently.

Taking notice of her surroundings and how Carmilla has given them a moment to have a private talk.

"Of course it is Lady Carmilla. she was sure that was her name for she was also introduced to each other at the door when she entered and the host Sal was at her side.

"As you know Prince Victor was very generous in allowing me to come to this gracious event.  And if all would be as so.  she smiled "I may be blessed to be allowed one such as Powerful as yourself to be my mentor. bowing her head to Camilla for a moment in showing respect.

Sal pretended to have his attention elsewhere, while making a mental note to extract a very public comeuppance from Carmilla in the future, after Nefertiti has gotten a chance to get what she wants from her.

 Carmilla raised an eyebrow at Nefertiti. "Your mentor? I don't believe I've consented to any such thing. Dear Victor simply told me that there was someone who wished to speak with me, nothing more."

 She glanced down at the artificial blood in her wine glass, swirling it thoughtfully. "I'm not certain what you think to gain from being an apprentice. You're not Kindred, so much as I can tell. Much of what we deal in will be beyond you."
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:10, Sat 20 Mar 2021.

Nefertiti looked at Carmilla and gave her a soft smile "I don't think he meant not to share such a delicate request.  Or he was interested in seeing your reaction of my request. glancing to see if Victor was watching them.

"To share and spread the teaching of the Crone. nodding her head "That is true, I'm not a Kindred but you may be surprise of what all I am capable of doing. taking a deep breath in "That is if you are even interested in unraveling such mysteries.

 Carmilla paused for a long moment, re-appraising Nefertiti with a look before motioning for her to follow. Victor was watching, but not all that closely.

 Once in a slightly less public place, Carmilla turned to her. "Now that we have a touch more privacy, I'm going to ask you plainly. How do you know of the Circle of the Crone? It's not knowledge that someone can just stumble across."

Following Carmilla to a more less public area but she gave Sal a glance as she continued onward to the location.

Hearing Carmilla's question brought a thought of something so long long long ago.
"It is something that I learned slightly about many many years ago.  A young Kindred by the name Alim back in Egypt before it was desecrated by foreigners. in her tone she didn't hide the fact that she hated the thought of what it has become.  The magazines and what she was able to read from the books in the past few weeks.

"He was going to show me more of the ways of the Circle of the Crone. she paused for a moment "I'm sure he is not around any longer.  looking at Carmilla "If he is still around could you possibly locate him and he can add favor to my good status.

 Carmilla put a finger to her lips. "You are not Kindred. Neither are you a member of the Circle of the Crone. I have no guaranteed that you wouldn't immediately use what you learn from us to outright break the Masquerade.

 That is assuming that you can use our disciplines at all."

Sal noticed Nefertiti's glance. The moment the two women were out of sight, he moved to where he could still hear them, but could not see or be seen by them. He didn't eavesdrop, so much as listen for any signs of distress from Nefertiti, while he made small talk with any guests nearby.

Nefertiti batted her eyes to Carmilla "Both are somewhat true.

I would never do anything to cause harm or destruction to dishonor myself or your Masquerade.  As you may see that I am very fond of Sal and the Prince must see that I can be trusted, if he allowed me to come to this event. she replied.

"As I said you may be surprise of what you would discover if we were to make some arrangements of Mentor.

Looking around slightly You do not need to accept the offer now. But I would hope that you would think on the matter.  I may be someone you find enchanting.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:50, Mon 22 Mar 2021.

 Carmilla raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Really? How interesting. And exactly what is it the Prince trusts you with? After all, this is the first time any of us have met you. Were you perhaps somehow involved with the storm that destroyed the city?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:00, Tue 23 Mar 2021.

Nefertiti looked at her as she asked such a question to her "No I am not the reason or involved in it.

Carmilla may of taken noticed that the question about the Prince wasn't replied to.

"I am part of a team that is helping the people of the Geb she seemed to have gain a bit of pride when speaking of such things.

"We have already destroyed a Demon that was causing harm to people and a Cult that was destroying the Synthetic People. looking Carmilla in the eyes "Talion has great trust in us and plans to help heal Geb.
she through his name into the conversation knowing that some may like him and some may despise him.

She did not move all that much as she read Nefertiti, "Mmmm, you make it sound as if you already have a group that you affiliate with and a mentor. After all, demon hunting is not something your average neonate participates in. It is something often hunters are made aware of, at our convenience."

"Tell me of this team of yours, do you trust them? Are they a risk to kindred and kine? How has this ...Talion prepared you to manage things such as demons?" She turned her gaze nearly imperceptibly toward Sal, a degree of a degree that one would only catch she was aware of him but she wasn't speaking to him. "Has he modified you in some way to bring you closer or further from our kind? Purity is important after all."
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:15, Tue 23 Mar 2021.

Tilting her head slightly "He is not the type of mentor that I seek. giving a slight wicked smirk.

"I never claimed to be an average neonate, but a mystery for you to unravel. then a soft smile comes to her beautiful face.  "You may help me in learning more of the ways of the Crone.  Something Talion is not.

Taking noticed of her gazing at Sal "I trust them, Deeply.

She paused for a moment "A risk, would you think Sal is a risk to the Masquerade?

"He has not modified me in any way.  I am as I am. as she spoke there was a Prideful tone to her knowing now who she is and what she is to become.

Carmilla gave a look of nearly imperceptible disappointment that Sal did not so much as flinch before she turned her attention back on Nefertiti. "The past and future are the playgrounds of the circle. Everyone is a risk to the Masquerade, everyone will break it someday or has broken it. It is just a matter if that can be of use and corrected."

"The Circle and its secrets are all that interest me, anyone willing to split their attention will fail to advance. If you are so interested you will present three vials of your blood. One will be used to present the truth of your past, one will be to learn the truth of your future, and one will be used to identify if you become a member."

"If the Crone is kind you will be seen in her study. If not she will reveal at least something interesting." She looked away, "I have no doubt your fellows will try to stop such a divination. It is always an interesting form of love that holds us from our true potential."

Looking to Carmilla "What if the Crone has already accepted me into her fold? she wondered what response would follow such words.

"I am very old my dear and as I said.  I have some understand but not the full grasp of the Crone's Circle and followers. she looked down at her wrist and knew her blood was a sacred thing.

"Interesting comment, as you know I trust my fellows dearly and if they were to have doubts of me granting you some of my Vitae.  Then how do you plan on swaying my decision? watching her closely.

Carmilla smile and clapped in a girlish way that was a thin film hiding the Baba Yaga that surely remained hidden under her skin. Carmilla looked to one of the security that was surely present to prevent her from breaking the rules of decorum. "Tell Victor that if this one here is introduced to another member of the Circle, even indirectly, then I will take it as an attack on my person."

She turned her gaze back to Nefertiti, "The next time you speak to Victor's peer, a contender for that pretty crown on his brow, the response should be 'Yes Scarlet Mother'. You have three days to provide me the vials, then my charity will be closed. That is how your decision is swayed."

There was not denying the look upon Nefertiti's face when Carmilla tried to use the bully force upon her to get her way.

"It seems that the Circle will be without my aid. Now and forever. she bows her head to Carmilla.

"I will make sure to inform my employer Talion of your offer and minor threat.

I do hope the rest of your evening if filled with better company. with that the then turns to leave Carmilla there alone.

Walking away from Carmilla with a slight smile upon her face.  Then she looks for the host of the party, once she spots Sal she walks up to him.

"I think it is time for me to leave this event and rejoin the others.  I believe Talion wished for us all to be present.

 As Nefertiti spoke, another Kindred, one Sal recognized as working under the Sheriff. He was likely here as a form of security for the event considering how many influential Kindred were present.

 "Your presence is requested in the foyer. An uninvited guest has arrived and we cannot remove him."

Nefertiti was a bit curious as to whom was in the foyer that they couldn't remove. Taking hold of Sal's arm she followed him into the foyer

Sal nodded at the Sherrif's man, then at Nefertiti, and went to the foyer, along the way, he remotely increased the volume of the music in the foyer just a bit, (loud enough to ensure those in the adjacent room are less likely to notice anything going on in the foyer, and he drew his Spirit Katana, but did not ignite the blade, keeping it in his hand, in his pocket.

OOC: I would like to state, once again, Sal was not eavesdropping on Nefertiti and Carmilla's conversation, nor standing within line-of-sight. He stood only near enough to hear if one of them raises their voice. He would have digital security cameras on a closed circuit in every room in the house, however (no one monitoring them, at the moment, but they would be recorded and uploaded to a closed server in a secure room (not connected to the internet in any way.)

Within the foyer was a tall man in a suit, hair pale and entirely colorless but each strand of hair as fine as spider silk. His suit matched the color of his hair but was made of particles that both Nefertiti and Sal could detect, a scent that matched that of Ghosts but processed. In his hands, he held what looked like a folded and locked switchblade but many times larger. He held it over his head as if he was told to 'keep his hands where they could see them.' A man holding his weapon over his head for cops.

There were clear signs that a number of people, some with strength-enhancing powers, attempted to move him but couldn't manage it.

Stranger than that, the man looked artificial. A elf from the Fea wildlands would have called him strange and exotic. Eyes just barely too large, features to finely cut to be human. "ᚨᚺ, ᛁ'ᚡᛖ ᛒᛖᛖᚾ ᛚᛟᛟᚴᛁᚾᚷ ᚠᛟᚱ ᚤᛟᚢ ᚨᛚᛚ ᛞᚨᚤ." His language was faulty but a strange version of old Norse before he changed to broken English. "It is insanely hard to find one of you out of Necro's sight for even half an hour. Sorry to crash the party but getting to this side is fairly hard. The Veil was very thin today for some reason." He smiled "Just here to talk to you or the girl who called herself Mistral. And she is with Necros right now."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:58, Mon 29 Mar 2021.

Sal looked to the Kindred present, "Has this fellow threatened anyone?"

One of the security pulled out their smart phone to show a recording they made without twisting their phone to record in landscape mode. It showed the man still standing in the same spot with his hands up and three of the security trying to drag him out. "Boys, a fight between vampires and a god has never gone well for one side. I'm just here for Sal. I've got work to do so please go get him."

Sal suppressed a laugh. "Only a threat if he is, indeed, a god, in which case, who am I to say where he can and cannot go? What's your name, stranger?"