An Open Invite

[L .]

Aurelia offers a flat, pointed look first to Dukes, to the teapot and then to the glass that Aldrich slams down.

"Non, it is not presumptuous. Of course I brought extra."

Despite the hard tone her eyes are alive; clearly, she finds this all very amusing, and after a few moments she can fake annoyance no longer, and cracks a smile. "Go, go, take. I add my own spices but it is good, Nn?"

"Neh actually, is funny story, I found girl on her way to Cirencester. She was attacked, by very strange dog." Aurelia slanted her gaze meaningfully back to Dukes, but didn't elaborate. "Harriet Taylor. We spoke. She has good connections in the drug world, could, how you say, hook me up? I have enough now - even Anatole will blanch, call me problema."

She takes her own cup away, sequesteing herself on the left part of a two-person sofa facing Aldrich, the leather crinkling as she sat.

"I don't understand," she casts a confused glance to Aldrich. "But I hope you find what girl you are looking for."

Aurelia doesn't waste any time taking several good lifts of her teacup, trying to adjust her dress so that the slit didn't ride too close to her actual buttocks.

[Manacledairman]

Aldrich smiles directly to Aurelia. His eye betrays however as he genuinely looks worried for a second, before returning to his drink.

"Was Miss Taylor attacked directly?" He asks.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina has been sat quietly in a corner, embroidery hoop in hands, stitching away like an impeccable society maiden for some while now. With Uriah present somewhere in the building it didn't seem overly wise to bring attention to herself lest he heard about it.

Still this conversation was interesting and given what Grace had said about her journey to Cirencester a little familiar.

Tucking her embroidery neatly into her back, she smoothes the black satin of her own skirts down and stands. She approaches the group and stops at a polite distance, curtseying gracefully when any one of the three notices her.

"Good Evening Elders." She smiles hopefully at them. "MIght I be permitted to join you?"

[Manacledairman]

Aldrich looks at Valentina, placing his glass down momentarily.

"I'd be insulted if you didn't." He nods and smiles genuinely. "Of course you're permitted to join us Lady Valentina."

He gestures to the nearby area in a slightly more grandiose gesture than you'd normally see of him.

"I'm sure no one will mind where you choose to sit."

[L .]

Aurelia actually likes Valentina, but she isn’t about to have her ability to not like her impinged on by another elder. Certainly, she might have minded where she sat, and she might have wanted her own say in that!

It is Aldrich so... arghh.

“I didn’t realise you were a lady!” She compromises, feeling a little immature but deciding not to care. “Of what peerage? And yes please, come sit down. I was saving this one for Niketas but there’s this wonderful lovenest over here near us. Wouldn’t you take it?”

Centuries aside, Aurelia had been raised steeply noble, and the reflex is still to dissuade others imposing their own Ventrue-levels of force on her. Call it a pet peeve, call it whatever you want.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina takes the indicatated seat, sitting down perhaps a little faster than is graceful. Only a little. Perhaps she slipped and it is probably sheer coincidence that the movement in question floofs her skirts out charmingly.

"Thank-you kindly Elders." She smiles at them both.

"Ah, Elder Aurelia I am not, in fact a Lady. My mortal birth was in fact quite modest." Well, one of them anyway, she amends mentally. Now does not seem the time to call upon dubious but royal ancestry.

She debates dumping the blame on Aldrich, decides its a daft move and sits quietly, waiting to hear Aurelia or indeed Aldrich speak next before she says anything else.

[Manacledairman]

"ah confusion. Myself being the cause I suspect." He takes a drink "it's a habit from dealing with mortal society. It doesn't do well to refer to each other by our titles. I'd be mortified if someone referred to me as elder or paragon or architect or lord architect..."

He smiles at dukes

"...Out in the world, plus what lady doesn't want to be referred to as a lady."

He pauses.

"But titles are important. That we can agree on. So Envoy Audley, please forgive any offence I may have caused."

He drinks again. This time his eye fixed on Aurelia. He places his glass down and smiles once more.

He goes to speak but stops himself. Taking a further drink instead.

[Posh-Tim]

Earlier Keane has had some of the tea. Not the lions share but certainly more than maybe he should have. He has spent roughly half an hour analysing the floral pattern of his cup and wondering what it was Anton so badly needed to talk to Vex about. He does a sort of internal shrug, this takes five minutes. At least the tea didn't elicit any visions, that wouod have been embarrassing. The flurry of new activity brings him round somewhat and with a series of blinks, gulps and head shakes he recognises the new guests that seem to have awoken the conversation again. He stands a little unsteadily, his eyes rolling for a second and resists the urge to get distracted by the bead swinging in his own hair. If he concentrates he's pretty sure that he can work past the Haze until the effects begin to lessen.
He steps over to the table with the others with a slightly too wide smile to greet the new guest.
"Elder Laurelia, its been Umm, some time. I hope you are well, I was hoping to talk to you. Sent you a letter actually."
He's pretty sure he didn't slur any of that. Nor that he needed to greet the others as they were already here, weren't they?

[Lucius Servius]

Lucius enters the haven. He is dressed simply, a multi-colored coat and powered face the only indulgence he offers himself this night.

“Greetings kindred. Architect Beaufort, Primogen Keane, Elder Dukes, Elder Lauralia. He addresses each in turn. It is a delight to see you all. I trust you have kept well since Lupercalia?” Without waiting for a response to the obviously rhetorical pleasantry, he looks around for a neonate to get him a drink.

[alanwrotethis]

Niketas pours himself a second cup and takes the seat offered by Aurelia. He exhales a long, slow breath - he is not completely relaxed yet but he is getting there.

He watches the interplay between the elders, this time sipping his tea. There is a sparkle in his eyes - amusement at the lighter verbal fencing compared to previous nights.

"You've met Harriet then? An interesting one, former lesser Harpy of Bristol, now based in Aquae Sulis. Still a lesser Harpy, now serving under Claudia. Another kindred attacked by these creatures... that's a pattern now... hmmm..."

He taps his temple, split between sharing his thoughts out loud and pursuing an enjoyable evening. He nods to himself.

"Elder Keane, good to see you in good spirits, wait, bad analogy, good to see you in a positive mood, are your childer keeping well? You and I also have matters to discuss I think... I am looking forward getting a message from you in the near future if the fates are kind."

When Elder Lucius makes introductions he winces, slightly.

"Elder Lucius, Elder Keane, she is Elder Aurelia," he flashes a glance to the elders. "The tea is good, but let's not mince our introductions eh?"