An Evening Stroll (Open to all)

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina grins at Helen's enthusiasm for flowers, surmising that not carrying on Sire chitchat was the correct choice.

"Alas darling, I can't take images in that way. I'm sure we can find someone to help us though." She grins, thinking fondly of Reggie.

She regards Helen thoughtfully for a moment, then decides to say what she's thinking, indulging herself in not self censoring for a short while. "I suppose it is easy to be indifferent to that which is plentiful darling. As for myself I have never taken either flowers or riches for granted." She smiles as she speaks, there's no malice in her tone, more just showing another side to the picture.

What will the Lesser Harpy make of that? She wonders to herself, watching William closely from under demurely lowered lashes as she walks.

[annabelle]

William shrugs his shoulders “Maybe another time then.”

He then nods to Valentina’s comments and replies cheerfully “It’s easy to be indifferent towards what is of less importance mostly. But the importance of people and items is a personal choice and it varies. When something is plentiful it gets diminished but only when the object or person wasn’t important in the first place. Objects are objects and they are passive, so their value is by default a perception that is shaped by predictable variables including quantity.

However, people…mortals and immortals alike…their value is more complicated and not easily measured. They can be valued as objects as well and then their value is decreased when their presence is well…let’s say plentiful. But don’t get me wrong, I am not the one to judge anyone if they take for granted their wealth or their loved ones Miss Audley. I can hardly judge anyone for anything so don’t expect any sort of judgement from me in these matters. I am mostly used of being judged and I am fine with this.”

She then laughs “Currently, I am probably the poorest of the court you know, riches are not plentiful, and they still hold no value for me. There was a roman philosopher but I cannot recall his name but he said something along the lines

‘Do not indulge in dreams of having what you have not, but reckon up the chief of the blessings you do possess, and then thankfully remember how you would crave for them if they were not yours.’

I know perfectly what I crave from all that I’ve lost, and materials are not included unfortunately because it would have been easier to retrieve them.

I am sure your thankfulness expands towards all sorts of things apart from the material. Not taking things for granted is a virtue that can contribute to one’s happiness greatly, so I salute you for that. Being mindful of what you have and thankful is a blessing.”

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina raises an eyebrow at the comment about riches not being plentiful, before realising that life as a princess probably didn't fit you with the capacity to earn your way and thus, as far as Helen was concerned riches were likely a distant prospect.

"Find yourself a rich Heiress darling, there have to be a few not currently spoken for, surely?" She grins as she speaks, inviting Helen to share her amusement. It's clearly not a serious suggestion.

"As for being judged, surely your position means that it is you who judge? Certainly, that has been my experience of those who have held your status before.." Valentina is mildly surprised at Helen's acceptance of judgement. She'd have assumed a Lesser Harpy more than capable of quashing that sort of thing.

[annabelle]

Helen nods with a grin "Brilliant suggestion Miss Audley, I should start looking already."

There was definitely a huge gap between Valentina's and Helen's perception of reality but Helen was a curious being and whatever was different she was bound to find it interesting.

Valentina's next comment brings a smirk of amusement and a raised eyebrow "Oh is that so? It's no surprise that whoever is hungry for power and never tasted it before in their lifes to abuse a title, no matter how small or vague. To see someone's real face give them some breadcrumbs of power and see how they will abuse it they say. No Miss Audley, being a Lesser Harpy does not make you a judge. Thankfully, our Master Harpy is well aware of that. Our job is more...subtle and has more...tact.

We are the eyes and ears of the Master Harpy among others and he uses the information accordingly.

If a kindred stray from what is expected from them, gentle guidance is offered. Punishments and more verbal aggressive methods are not necessarily a deputy's Harpy role, no.

As for being judged, whoever thinks their name is clean and nobody judges them, then I will question their sanity. Not being fine with it is a great recipe to live a pitiful and dull life really. I've been there as well, won't go back."

William then tilts his head " You would have made a great princess Miss Audley. Definitely a role fit for you. You would have enjoyed it greatly."

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina stores all this up to tell Dyo later. The no judging thing was a hilarious comment, though... Valentina tilts her head thoughtfully. She would make a note to ask Francis to let his assistants try their hand at judging next time there's an opportune moment, she decides to herself. They should after all, be capable of it.

At the Princess comment, Valentina laughs gaily. "I think darling, that perhaps Princesses do not enjoy a great deal of freedom. I'm not sure that would suit me at all..." She winks cheerfully. "No, I am, for the most part, content with my lot. I have a great many advantages darling, not all of them material." She smiles again.

"So, how do you find life in Aquae Sulis anyway? Is it in anyway comparable to your previous home?" She changes the subject, lest she says anything she regrets on the matter of princesses or harpies.

[annabelle]

William just nods "Indeed, not much freedom. Nothing is ideal unfortunately but thankfully our kind enjoys freedom regardless of their human bloodline and restrictions."

The human then sighs "Life in Aquae Sulis is interesting although I can say the gossips and rumours are of lower quality and hardly believable. In Constantinople, the rumours actually made sense whereas in Aquae Sulis hardly nothing makes sense. I've heard rumours about each member of the court, including you recently Miss Audley, and most of them were badly fabricated, making it obvious they are malicious and not real.

Quite an eventful court I would say but one that welcomed me so I consider it my base. The court I've experienced before was slower in terms of change, quite frankly nothing changed much while I was there. The Prince and the Officers were well established and nothing could move them from the positions no matter how hard someone could try. In fact, when I was a fledging, a coup was organised against my sire. Deeply unfortunate. It was well organised but thankfully it failed. I remembered being shocked back then, such a foolish movement. Trying to overthrown a well-established Prince is a sign of ignorance and foolishness. I thought it was rare but coming here shown me that is not. How about you? Are you enjoying our court?"

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina's eyes sparkle with amusement. "Rumours about me darling? How dreadful!" It's clear she finds the thought amusing rather than concerning. "Are they as amusingly inaccurate as the ones of you that have you both skyclad and seemingly everywhere at once?"

"Sometimes, for the court to survive, some overthrowing needs to happen." Valentina remarks thoughtfully as they stroll. "Certainly, for all the destruction it bought, the Night of Fires did cleanse Aquae Sulis of some very undesirable habits. That said, I hope to see stability come to the city soon. It saddens me to see it so unsure when once it was such a beacon of stately unchanging grace."

She smiles softly at William. "I enjoy my visits to your court very much darling, I have such lovely friends here!"

[annabelle]

Helen can't help but laugh with all her heart, the deep voice of her ghoul deep and slightly distracting, such a different laugh from hers.

"I would say mine were legendary inaccurate. Yours are absurd but not that absurd. More on the creative side but highly unlikely. However...they are kind of scandalous...Do you really want to hear them?" he asks with hesitation.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina tilts her head thoughtfully. "Scandalous for our family? Or for..." She waves a hand languidly indicating their fellow street travellers.

"Either way I should very much like to hear them, if you are of a mind to tell them. I rarely get such an opportunity!" She twinkles impishly at William, inviting him with her eyes, to share her amusement.

[annabelle]

William shrugs his shoulders “Both I guess…it depends on your viewpoint…”
He gives her a flirtatious side grin as a response to her response and then giggles with the mind’s pitiful attempt to imitate male responses.

The rest of the explanation gets delivered in a whisper for auspex ears.

“So, they told me the Silver Timble is not going well financially and for that reason you decided months ago to expand your business endeavours to new…erm…horizons. I’ve heard you just started an... escort business but not with typical prostitutes…the house consists of young girls who are not noble but with a little bit of scrub can imitate their looks at least. Yours are…how to say…proper mistress material, high class escorts with training in all areas, ready to please rich men of all tastes. Also….”

What was her name hmmm Nora? Narcora? Oh well…

“….Lady Black, your childe, gives them a basic training of how to behave like a noble lady or something. They said she is working full time on training the peasants. Yeah, sure, like Dorian would have allowed that. Ah, but Dorian is just a Nosferatu Neonate so I suppose you could have made her do whatever you wanted, anyway, doesn’t matter.

Unfortunately, I cannot reveal the one who told me because are of a higher status (in the Camarilla at least) than myself and I don’t want to get in trouble, but I suppose because I am a deputy Harpy they went into detail about this place of yours…Like I wanted to hear all these bullocks.”

She chuckles and seems to be trying to recall the whole story “They said that the final test to pass and join the…brothel…is to…sleep with you, if you don’t find them good enough you just throw them back in the streets. Literally, from the back door. I was intrigued to be honest, I wanted to ask you to give me their training materials for a boon, but then things happened and realised even your training wouldn’t be efficient in my case. Anyway.” Then she laughs some more, and she makes a considerable effort to continue the story without laughing “It gets worse...they said Miss Mayweather is really upset because you seem to target her rich clients and she considers of burning all your businesses down to the ground.” She sighs dramatically and with annoyance “I feel offended of being given that gossip, do they think I am a fool? That story doesn’t make sense! Firstly, with your creations I can't imagine how your business will have any issue really. Secondly, never heard of a high class brothel. Good idea though, won't lie.” He bites his lip and wipes a tear from the effort of supressing his laughter while waiving his hand dismissively.

“Thirdly, if indeed Miss Mayweather wants to burn your business, is she such fool to reveal it? I highly doubt so, I am pretty sure if she wanted to burn down your business she would have done it already instead of talking about it. She is a Tremere afterall. I don't know this gossip has too many holes."