Full Tides and Full Moons [Closed]

[Captain J. Aubrey]

Jack blinked blankly at Dukes, leaning forward in his chair.

"Reality and metaphor... you were speaking in metaphors? I beg you to refrain from that, sir."

He turned to Falco, maintained his nonplussed expression and gave a deep sigh.

"Whether or not the Moon is ah - making eyes at Vortigern, whatever the bloody hell you mean by that, Falco..." Jack rubbed his temples and sat back in his seat again, praying internally for a drink.

"Whether or not, it seems as though this may have been some grand prank or glamour. Either that, or I am going quite as mad as the both of you from spending so much time in this twice-damned Domain."

He sighed again and looked across at Valentina, a concerned frown appearing on his exasperated features.

"Miss Audley - of course. How horrible. Deepest sympathies..." Jack seemed to have great difficulty articulated the appropriate response and gave up rather prematurely, "In any case, I am glad you are not still wearing mourning garb for that damned fool, Beauclaire. Tell me, Miss Audley, do you know these two gentlemen here very well. Do they usually insist on speaking in riddle or is that some charming Bathonian affectation I have yet to look forward to developing, eh?"

[alanwrotethis]

"Not speaking in metaphors sir, warning that metaphors are becoming... how do I?..."

He pinches the bridge of his nose.

"Some sort of prank, a great delusion or magic. But magic works on symbols and predetermined expectations. If you use magic to empower lunacy, a lot of people will blame the moon, and see it waxing even if it isn't, as an example. "

A pause.

"Not Tremere magic, not this one, means I can only guess. Maybe the moon is locked in an odd orbit, nothing more. "

[Valentina Audley]

At Jack's use of the name Vortigern, Valentina shrinks in on herself a little and wishes again, that she could stop speaking in tongues every time someone names him. Still, Dukes was unlikely to save her and reverting to Ancient Brythonic is probably something to avoid, so, taking a deep (and entirely unneccesary) breath she pushes the feeling down.

She manages to muster a shaky smile at Jack. "Thank-you Archon." She seems to ignore the comment on Francis but her hand rises momentarily to pat the two roses in her belt sash, fingers stroking the silky smoothness of the petals.

"And once again I must disappoint you, I have only met Elder Falco very recently and though the good Sheriff and I seem to have been at many of the same parties recently," she pauses to smile mischievously at Dukes. "Why, it must be nearly 7 times now surely? But I'm not sure I should call us very well acquainted, despite my best efforts." And she looks sadly in Dukes direction, before spoiling the effect with a wicked little laugh.

She pauses, considering. "Upon reflection, I must concede that roundabout speeches are perhaps a part of the Aquae Sulis experience Archon Aubrey."

She listens to Dukes with interest. "Do you think then Sheriff, that Lunacy is being empowered? I wonder if it is and is connected to... Did you feel it? The um..." She hesitates, groping for the words. "Something beneath the Baths... It moved." She gazes round at the others a little helplessly, with wide frightened eyes.

[Lady Grace]

Grace walks smartly down the corridor of Hectors House. Her heels clipping her annoyance which was still flaring.

She had just wanted to discuss a delicate point of law but no, there were more important things being discussed and Vex was not to be disturbed. She didn't even have the opportunity of lingering by the door and listening. When were servants that well trained? It was just unkind.

She heard voices beyond a door. It sounded like Valentina.
Excellent, there would be company whilst she waited.

Grace opens the door to see books, a library. How perfectly lovely. Then she is aware that as well as Valentina, Elders Dukes, Elder Falco and that recognisable silohette, Oh Lord, Captain Jack Aubrey were in discussion within. How she had longer for and dreaded seeing him again.

It was a bit to late to turn heel and leave.
Could she pretend she had just opened the wrong door?
That was unlikely to suceed in this company.

She had been on her way to another appointment and as a result wears a red evening gown of the latest fashionable cut. Her jewellery is simple with a Jerusalem cross at her throat but her girls had gone to town piling up her hair into elaborate curls, slightly messy now from her walk. The look is somewhat spoiled by her worn, serviceable cloak worn at the hem with wear and a folio in her arm tied with a ribbon.

Grace takes another step into the room then curtseys, keeping her eyes firmly to the floor and away from Jack "Good evening. Elder Falco, Elder Dukes, Archon Aubrey, Ancilla Audley. What a surprise! Might I join you?"

[Marcus Falco]

Marcus looks up from one of the books he has been scouting from a dust covered corner of the library. "Miss Audley, you say there have been issues under the bath house ruins. I must say i am fascinated. They are such a sight of ancient reverence i must confess given all that is going on i was surprised that they did not play more prominent a feature. Minerva Sulis was very poplular back in the day.

As Lady Grace walks in he looks up and smiles. A plasrue to see you again my Lady. Alawys a pleasure to see a repesentative of another of the high clans, I trust looking after Jean Jaque is not taking too much out of you.

[Lucius Servius]

Lucius appears at the doorway following in Lady Grace’s way and, in many respects blocking her escape.

“Kindred did I miss anything? Ah, Architect Falco a true pleasure to see you again, I must confess I wasn’t expecting to see you here. Archon Jack, it is good to see you too little brother, I was expecting to see you here. I have a matter to discuss when you have a free opportunity”.

Sidestepping Lady Grace as he speaks Lucius smiles warmly at the rooms other guests in the room.

“Of cause my good friend Ancilla Audley. A pleasure to see you again you too and Elder Dukes, perhaps we can revisit our last conversation, It was very engaging and such a pity it was interrupted by that fool Anton.”

Sitting in close proximity to the architect. “Primogen Grace, it is good to see you too of course”.

"I must confess Ancilla Audley that I caught the tail end of the conversation you were having with Elder Dukes, what was lunacy involved in? Surely not Aquesulis, it has always been such a bastion of reason!" Lucius smiles conspiratorially before looking around for something to drink.

[Captain J. Aubrey]

Jack looked up from the present company as two more kindred entered the library. His expression looked tired already.

"Ah, good evening Lady Grace!" He summoned a reasonable amount of enthusiasm in his tone, only damaged by the lack-lustre naval salute he gave to Lucius. He seemed preoccupied with the manner in which Miss Audley was stroking the roses at her waist, even chuckling at her comment about long winded conversations in Sulis before looking quite crestfallen as the topic changed to 'things under the Baths'.

Settling back into his deep chair, the Archon decided to listen to where the others would take this conversation about lunacy and ancient ruins. Perhaps he should take some notes. He sighed again at the thought of it and muttered under his breath.

"How's a fellow get a drink in this damn place, eh?"

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina smiles at Grace, pleased to see a friend and waves cheerfully to her. Then when Lucius follows her into the room she stands and gives a polite curtsey before settling herself gracefully back in her chair.

"Good evening Elder Lucius, Primogen Granville. How lovely to see you both." And she smiles at them both.

Turning her attention to the questions she's just been asked she considers them thoughtfully. "Architect Falco, I'm afraid my knowledge of Minerva Sulis is extremely lacking so I'm sure I wouldn't know about that. I'm not entirely sure who she is? I assume from the name we are talking of a lady?" Some distant schoolhouse memory is tugging at her mind, but lessons were such a long time ago and as a child she'd cared so little for them, wanting only to get back to sewing....

She then turns her smile to Lucius. "And as to your question Elder, I do not know if lunacy is involved or not, indeed that was my question. All I can say is something stirred. I know not what or how alas." She carefully ignores the bit about Aquae Sulis being a bastion of reason."

To Jack's question she rises from her chair once more, dimpling a pretty smile in his direction. "If you'll excuse me but a moment Archon, I'll see to it that drink is provided for this little gathering. I assume the servants know your tastes?"

Without waiting for an answer she slips out of the room and a moment later her voice can be heard issuing directions to someone, presumable the aforementioned servants.

[Lady Grace]

Grace has a smile of relief to be greeted by Jack.
Perhaps things didn't have to be difficult.

She takes a step away from Lucius allowing him all the space he needs to occupy the rooms attention, as he always seems to feel the need for.

But listening to Jack, Falco and Lucius together was going to be worthwhile for future reference, silver linings.
She smiles.

As he talks she looks around and takes for a appropriate seat, close to Valentina. Listening and demonstrating if not 'the good Ancilla' that she was capable of being In public not shouting.

"As I am sure you know Sulis is the Celtic goddess of healing and sacred waters and Minerva the Roman goddess of wisdom. Thus the original temple of the spa is dedicated to both and both were appeased there by the worship that took place. I should not even be considering this if we had not all seen evidence of pagan spirits strength quite so recently, could the City's Minerva element be unhappy with its lot?"
Grace looks to Dukes as he must have more knowledge or at least a more informed theory.

"I was speculating only yesterday the timing cannot be co-incidence that we have monsters loose on the roads, something stirring under Sulis, a very unnatural storm and a ritual in the woods near a large kindred gathering."
"It must be linked, surely?"

"

[Marcus Falco]

Marcus looks up from the book he is reading a subtle frown crossing his features. "Close Lady Grace but not quite, the temple is to Minerva in her aspect as Suils, one in the same entity, different names do you see.
However one shaves it Sulis was often closely linked to the sun and so she might well be irked by a rise in influece by those seeking to revere then moon, although Im not aware that the old rascel had any such leanings. Its certainly good to be in a place that holds such reverence for the old ways. I must confess i had no idea that the veneer of Christianity had warn so thin".

He truns to Jack. "I apologise for boaring you with the semantics of ancient religion although i know the service still maintains some worthy traditions. Tell me Archon do they still thow a feast to honor neptune when they cross the meridian?"