Time: The evening of October 27, Sunday
The primogen of San Francisco are at Camera della Luna for a full council session of the Conclave. Each, along with his or her second, is escorted into the conference room, where they find a new round table in deep rich cherry with matching chairs. There are seven chairs, the one nearest the fireplace with a higher back; six of the chair backs are overlaid with finely embroidered signets representing the prince and the five clans that make up the Conclave while the seventh chair is uncovered. Each primogen takes a seat, talking amongst themselves while waiting on Julian to arrive.
Daedalus enters quietly, his second, Evan, behind him. Both Nosferatu calmly scan the crowd as Daedalus sits in his chair.
Cameron, Brujah primogen, swaggers in with the Toreador primogen on his arm, smirking for no good reason at the gorgeous Lillie Langtry. Chatting inanities, they take their seats, though Cameron scowls momentarily at the empty seat with no signet. [Damn peculiar... what the...?] Behind him trots in Charlie Wing, his second, and Lillie's gorgeous blonde Toreador second, Summer.
Cash is leaning against the wall by the study door, Stone - his second, still uneasy in that position - hovers uncertainly near the chair with the Gangrel's wolfshead on it.
Julian Luna opens the door leading from the study into the Conclave room, noting with puzzlement the proximity of his Gangrel lover. He moves with utmost confidence to the chair at the "head" of the table. A step behind him is his elder sibling, Morgaine, known to some in the room and not to others. He takes his seat. She moves to stand just off his left shoulder, her hand resting on the chair back.
"Thank you for your promptness," Julian starts, "We have several urgent matters that need to be dealt with."
The Brujah leader looks over to the apparent head of the table, barely masking a curl to his lip seeing Julian Luna sit there.
"First, I'd like to officially recognize our new primogens, Sonny and Cameron. It is good to see the Conclave full again." Julian notices out of the corner of his eye that Cash is still supporting the wall. "Well, that is full if our Gangrel primogen will join us. Is there a reason you're holding up that wall?" His tone is slightly sarcastic, slightly annoyed.
Lillie hides a smirk behind her hand at that comment.
Cash shrugs off the wall, giving a slight glare at the door. The Tremere behind it isn't his favorite person. He sits in his chair and Stone settles in behind him with a soft sigh of relief. There are some strange tensions in his sib tonight.
Cameron shifts position in his chair. HE should be up there...
Daedalus notes the tension in the room, but he refrains from comment.
"Thank you," Julian says sharply, not in the least being polite. "Now, I have several items of new business that need to be addressed. If no one else has a reason to keep us from starting ..."
Julian takes a deep internal breath, centering himself. This evening could go well or could get quite nasty, depending on how the Brujah at the opposite side of the table feels like playing. "I have received a petition from the Tremere to settle in San Francisco..." He turns his head toward Morgaine and stage-whispers "Bring in the Tremere."
Cameron's eyes narrow dangerously. This confirms what they'd suspected and what Lillie alluded to. [This is NOT going to sit well, Luna,] he thinks, his hands tightening to fists.
Morgaine walks to the study door, opens it and speaks softly to Thorne and Davic. She holds the door open, waiting for the Tremere to enter the room before returning to her place at Julian's side.
Lillie controls her expression very carefully as her mind flashes back to some passionate images from the night before...she can't help a warm rush of lust thanks to those memories. Lillie keeps her eyes on her hands for a moment.
"I have tentatively agreed to their petition," Luna continues, "that is if the full Conclave agrees to it, as always." He smirks, noticing Cameron's tense body language. [Not that it matters how you feel, Brujah. You're outvoted.]
Daedalus watches Julian's expression, then glances over at the entering Tremere.
Dressed as is their custom in their black tunics, pants, the two Tremere magus enter the room and stand off to the left behind Cash. The primogen, brushing his long, dark blond hair off his face, stands a bit forward, his second behind his right shoulder.
The Brujah primogen glances over at Lillie, smirking, then murmurs something about "deadly magic" in Daedalus's direction.
Julian extends his hand to the Tremere magus. Morgaine moves slightly back to allow him access to her sib. Without hesitation, the Tremere leader takes Julian's hand in his, bowing to press his forehead briefly against it, then kissing his ring. "My prince..." he murmurs. Mentally he sends a wave of affection and support to the prince, backing up his action, before he straightens.
Julian smiles, acknowledging the mental moment. He turns back to the othe primogens. "This is Thorne Severan, regent of the Tremere chantry that seeks to settle here," he says, "and his second, Davic Ellysson."
The magus together bow in respect to the Conclave. Thorne stands quietly, his hands folded before him. There is no expression on his face and he does not look at any one in particular. Davic beside him follows his master's lead, carefully neutral.
Lillie nods, unsmiling, at Cameron's comment. Daedalus ignores the Brujah primogen.
Cash stiffens, ever so slightly to have the Tremere within arm's reach of him. It's not that he distrusts *this* one, just the clan in general.
Noticing the Gangrel's reaction, Cameron wonders if he might utilize Cash's obvious wariness of the Tremere somehow. [Worth looking into...]
Lillie whispers to Cameron, "The presence of these wizards seems to grate on the Gangrel's nerves, don't they?"
Morgaine suppresses a shudder as Thorne brushes in front of her. Her hatred of the Tremere has long since grown cold, but it has been a while since she has been this close to them. She brushes the hair from her shoulder and leans against Julian's chair again.
Daedalus nods solemnly at the Tremere in greeting.
"Now, I said I've tentatively agreed to their petition," the prince continues. "It is the right of the Conclave to have a voice in granting such petitions. So I put it to a vote. How say you Ventrue?" He looks to his childe, Sonny.
"I vote yea." Sonny has no great opinion one way or the other, but if Julian is satisfied, he will support this.
Cameron drums his fingers on the table. He's got Lillie where he wants her, and if the Nosferatu is thinking clearly, he'll see how dangerous it would be for wizards to be free to manipulate the prince. And they ALWAYS manipulate princes!
"Lillie, what do you say for the Toreador? Allow the Tremere to stay or not?" He allows himself a smile as her name rolls off his tongue.
A slight smile crosses Lillie's face before she speaks. She allows herself to look over at the Tremere Primogen finally... and her smile gets wider.
Thorne lifts his chin and gazes back.
"Yes... the Toreador agree to allow the Tremere to stay," Lillie says, looking back at Julian... her smile a bit coy now.
Irritated, the Brujah realizes the Toreador and the Tremere have met. At LEAST met. [Fuck.] He holds still, even though this run around from Lillie is really disturbing. [Little bitch...]
Julian notes the exchange between Toreador and Tremere leading up to her answer. [Hmmm, wonder what's up there?] "Thank you," he nods before turning to the current bane of his existence. "Cameron, I can guess your answer, but I'll ask anyway. What say the Brujah?"
Now that he has an audience, Cameron leans forward, a snake to the attack. "Julian, I urge you..." He gestures around the table. "I urge all of you to think about this more carefully! Tremere cannot be trusted. Their dark arts threaten us at every turn. They use blood ritual to hide from us, to manipulate our minds, turn us against one another!"
He's barely warmed up, but he hastens on, knowing the prince isn't likely to let him lecture much longer. "Fellow primogen, please consider our safety and sanity! I vote no - Brujah will not stand for Tremere warlocks interfering with Kindred. They must not stay!" He punctuates the last with a pound of his fist, careful to avoid cracking the obviously new wood.
Daedalus speaks up, quietly, "We hardly need to blame the Tremere for that happening. We've been feuding amongst ourselves long before they appeared." He eyes the angry Brujah for a moment, then glances over at the Gangrel, for emphasis.
"As always, Daedalus, a voice of reason in the wilderness," Julian compliments his old friend. He turns back to Cameron. "Thorne has assured me of his clan's sincerity in seeking a peaceful life. I see no reason to distrust him at this point."
The chief magus glances the way of the Brujah. His kind hate them as much as Gangrel do. A hatred Thorne finds very difficult to let go, seeing the animosity between Cameron and Julian.
Cameron rolls his eyes at the prince. [Got Luna hoodwinked already, they do,] he muses in disgust.
"So, Daedalus, do the Nosferatu vote for or against the petition?" Julian almost dreads the answer, not for itself, but for the fact that it brings him to the Gangrel, who has been less than perfect about controlling himself recently.
Daedalus does not raise his voice, but it carries clearly nonetheless. "We vote for the Tremere staying, my Prince."
Cameron fights down an urge to react angrily at the primogen's collective stupidity, but he's learned too well back East to play the games of the other clans, play it cool. He'll take his anger and frustrations out later... somehow.
"That brings us to you, Cash. Will the Gangrel welcome their Tremere brothers or reject them?" Julian's voice is near monotone. [It seems you have a common enemy already, my friend, in the Brujah.]
Cash would dearly love to say 'nay', lashing out at the entire clan for a wrong done by one rogue, but he is well aware that it is a personal anger, and besides, he doesn't want to make common cause with the Brujah on any matter. He levels a long gaze at the Tremere regent, holding his gaze. "The Gangrels have no reason to say no." [yet.]
The Tremere primogen wants to reassure the Gangrel, but he knows this is something he and Cash still need to sit down over and work out, the incident when Cash was a fledgling. It hurts to have one so close to Julian feel so much animosity toward him still.
Julian smiles, pleased that Cash has restrained himself. "Very well, it's agreed. The Tremere may settle in the city, and their Regent, Thorne Severan, has a right to seat at this table." He motions for Thorne to take the empty chair. "Now, if we may, there are more matters to be discussed."
Thorne moves to the chair and sits down, Davic taking the second's place behind. As the prince proceeds, Thorne exchanges a quick glance with Lillie, pointedly ignoring the fuming Brujah to his left. Lillie smiles warmly at Thorne in return.
Morgaine bends down over Julian's shoulder for a brief moment, whispering into his ear, her hair falling lightly across the front of his charcoal suit. They both smile, for an instant. Then the prince's face is more somber as he moves the discussion to a breach of Kindred law. "The next matter concerns your Brujah, Cameron, and their thwarted attempt to set fire to the Haven. I want those responsible punished."
Cameron erupts from his seat. "WHAT? I don't know who's telling you stories, Julian! Gangrel were seen outside the club and near the alley! Gangrel did it!"
"NO WAY!" Cash objects, clenching his hand on the table top. Determined to keep his cool, he tamps down on his temper.
Charlie Wing's hand briefly goes up to his primogen's shoulder, but Cameron shrugs it off. "Who claims it was Brujah?"
"My sources, Cameron," Julian replies, maintaining total composure. "Can you prove otherwise?"
"I demand to know those sources, Julian," Cameron rumbles back. "I demand to know who accused my clansmen of such a heinous crime! The Haven is neutral territory. Anyone would be stupid to try to set fire to it!" Cameron is livid, for he was told Gangrel were stirring up trouble. If he's been lied to...
Cash mutters, "As far as being seen there, sure, we park our bikes in the alley. And yes, Gangrels *reported* the fire. That doesn't mean one of us set it!" Cash's voice is cold, that formidable temper well under control so far.
Thorne Severan calmly clears his throat and speaks up. "Tremere witnessed seven Brujah entering the alley shortly before the attempt to set a fire. Gangrels only went near the alley when they smelled smoke."
Daedalus adds, "I will also attest that the Nosferatu saw the Brujah while lurking in the alleys near the Haven. We did not see them actually doing anything, however."
Julian simply smiles, knowing that the Nosferatu's testimony adds another nail to the coffin. "There, Cameron, you have your witnesses ... and my sources," Julian calmly counters. "Can you refute them?"
Cameron levers his gaze back to the prince. "This does not make sense. I have no one in my organization so foolish as to try such a thing in view of Kindred witnesses. Did these Tremere see Brujah actually setting the fire? And how is that such a fire did not spread?"
"There was no fire," Thorne murmurs.
"Well, WHATEVER, did they see them setting a fire? Or just saw Brujah there?" Cameron persists.
"The cans of gasoline they carried," Thorne calmly relates, "lends weight to their guilt, but no, my clansmen did not see them set a fire."
Stone, from behind Cash, unexpectedly speaks up, "I was there, it *smelled* funny - like gasoline without the fumes.... like the fire was smothering even as it burned."
"Maybe Tremere set it, trying to get Brujah in trouble," Cameron snorts.
[This is getting better and better ... watching Cameron squirm.] Julian settles back in his chair, letting his primogen amuse him for a few minutes as the story settles itself out.
"No", Stone objects, "the Brujah were at the end of the alley, the Tremere were nowhere around."
"Stone refers to a fire that cannot get started because of magic," Thorne explains, looking over at Cameron. "When my clansmen saw the Brujah enter the alley with the gasoline, they cast a spell to protect the club."
Lillie snarls at Cameron, "Don't judge everyone by your own underhanded standards, Cameron. The Tremere have no reason to start a feud with your clan, or with any of us. On the contrary! They were trying to help SAVE my club!"
Cameron glares at Thorne, then Lillie. "They'll set us against one another. They're already setting you against me," he mutters.
Lillie doesn't even dignify that with an answer. She crosses her arms, angry.
[I'm liking the Tremere more and more every day.] Julian grins before stepping back into the conversation. "Enough. We're not here to argue Kindred politics," he says sharply. "The question at hand is who attempted to set the fire. We've determined it was Brujah. I want to know which Brujah and I want them punished."
"IF it is Brujah," Cameron retorts, dropping back into his chair, "I want them punished as well. I will investigate this... accusation."
Daedalus offers, "You would do well to police your own clan, Cameron, before trying to accuse another."
The Brujah only narrows his eyes at the Nosferatu, setting back into his chair.
"Very well, I expect an answer, and action, within the week." Julian's voice returns to a more level tone. "It is imperative that we police ourselves, especially now, as we must be on guard for a new threat in the city. It has come to our attention that four non-Kindred vampires have relocated to the city. They must be watched and guarded against."
Lillie's eyes go wide. "Non-Kindred? Sabbat??"
This news is completely unexpected to the Brujah, and Cameron straightens. As he's the bad boy here tonight, apparently, he keeps quiet. [Besides, I might like to make their acquaintance, forge an alliance,] Cameron thinks, already plotting.
"Not Sabbat, Lillie," Julian starts to explain. "Another species entirely. Truly vampires, the True Undead. They cannot walk in the sunlight. They must drink blood regularly." He winces internally at the thought of Lacroix and his minions, of how exhausted their encounter left him.
Thorne bows his head, sobered by the reminder, though he no longer allows the memory of his encounter with Lacroix to hang heavy on him.
A chill runs thru the Toreador's body at the description of these new vampires. Unconsciously, she reaches up and finds her second's hand, squeezing it, feeling a little more centered by Summer's touch. Then Lillie lets go of Summer, and composes herself once again, with difficulty.
The hair on the back of Cash's neck stirs, a rumble of growl tries to escape his throat.
Daedalus is impassive. He has his own reservations about the newcomers, but the presence of the Tremere gives him more confidence.
"Their leader," the Tremere adds, "is named Lucien Lacroix and he is an ancient of their kind. The others are his followers and one is his childe. All of them, I believe, are quite old. They can be killed by staking, sunlight, and of course decapitation."
[The wizard has first hand knowledge of these vampires?] Cameron wonders, intrigued. [Maybe the Tremere themselves brought them in...]
Julian nods, thanking Thorne for his additional comments. "I have met with this Lacroix and told him in no uncertain terms the conditions by which they will be allowed to stay in the city. They must abide by Kindred law or their lives are forfeit. I rely on you, my primogens, to help see that they comply."
Coolly neutral, Cameron nods.
"I suppose it would be too much to hope for that they never set foot in the Haven, would it?" Lillie sighs.
"Certain regular Kindred places can be protected by magic," Thorne offers. "I am... developing defenses against these vampires at present."
[I'll just bet you are,] Cam thinks, wishing he was sitting at the same table but in another galaxy apart from the wizard.
Lillie mutters, "Thank gods!" She smiles warmly at Thorne, "Thank you, Thorne. I'd appreciate your help."
"The Spaniard rides," Cash murmurs. "The Gangrel *will* run into him again. How do you want us to handle it?"
"With the utmost discretion, Cash. Maintain a safe distance." [Think you can handle that?] Julian cuts a glare at the Gangrel.
Cash nods abruptly, in answer to both the spoken and unspoken words.
"Any of you, if you have contact with Lacroix or his people, I want to hear about it." The prince looks around the room, centering his final attention on Cameron. "That means all of you."
"Of course, Julian," Cameron immediately replies, all concern and obedience. [I learned this game well, Ventrue...]
Daedalus murmurs, "Yes, my Prince."
Lillie nods. "Of course."
"Yes, my prince," Thorne replies, bowing his head minutely.
Cash nods again, muttering, "yes, my lord."
Sonny looks up, "The childe of Lacroix -- his name is Nicholas, surname either Knight or deBrabant -- he's a police officer, I've had him assigned to me in the mentoring program. He'll not be any trouble at least while on duty."
Julian nods. "Good."
Thorne shifts uneasily in his seat at this particular bit of news. Jim Ellison is there, too... it would not be good if this deBrabant was working with Ellison. Thorne hopes Sonny can keep a close watch on the vampire.
"Hmmmm..." Lillie wonders if "Knight" is a surname? or a nod to a former profession?
Cameron is making mental notes: [Knight or deBrabant... police department...]
Julian steeples his fingers against his lips, thinking for a moment. "That leaves one last matter to bring up. As you know, the Gangrel recently lost two members to unfortunate circumstances, and a possible replacement to tragedy." He looks somberly at the Brujah, thinking back to the deaths of Stevie Ray and Jamie and Sasha's Embrace.
Cameron simply lifts his chin, not giving in to Julian's challenge. Those were on Eddie's watch. Cam's only mark against him is killing Archon, which was technically correct by Kindred law. These others don't matter to him.
"To make up for those losses, I've given Cash my permission to Embrace Frank Kouhanek." The statement is matter of fact, with just the slightest edge of emotion, an inkling of a grin on his face. He instead watches for Cameron's reaction.
Cash looks up, pleased and flattered that Julian is going to make this announcement.
Lillie nods. "That's fair. Congratulations, Cash."
Cash smiles at Lillie, the first genuine smile the Gangrel has given all night.
Internally, Cameron goes steely and cold. Without, he isn't about to let surprise or dismay show on his face, not to THIS prince. But his mind is whirling... can he get ahold of Kouhanek in time? Obviously this hasn't happened yet.
Thorne looks over to the Gangrel, smiling. "That's good to hear, Cash, congratulations." He has no idea who this Frank is, but Cash sure seems happy about it.
Surprised at the Tremere's congratulations, Cash nods at him, tucking the thought back to look at later.
Daedalus nods, but keeps an eye on the Brujah Primogen. "Keep him safely near you, Cash," murmurs Daedalus obliquely.
"Yes, do that," Cameron adds quickly, forcing a smile. Snake smile. "Good luck."
Julian is pleased with himself. Although Cameron won't let on, Julian knows the Brujah can't be happy with that decision. [He has to be seething inside.] He catches the exchange. [Sorry, Cameron, but Frank's tucked safely away. You *won't* be getting this one.]
[Mine, you sneaky Brujah bastard. If you can get to him upstairs, you're better than I think you are.] Cash considers darkly to himself.
"Now, if there's nothing else anyone needs to bring up, I'd say we're finished." Julian stands as Morgaine pulls the chair out behind him.
The Brujah continues his forced smirk, glancing at the Gangrel. [If he's here, Gangrel, I can still get him. Eddie got in, I can get in. I want Kouhanek.] Fortunately for Frank, wanting and getting, even for a Brujah, are two different things. One would hope.
THE END (To be continued in "Mutual Wants")
