The Main Hall in Elysium - 29th August

[Viktor]

"It is indeed something borne and carried happily Primogen." There is a faint smile. "Again rumour and understanding does not cleave as close to truth as it could."

There is a momentary silence and the smile fades away before the Nosferatu continues in the same calm and neutral tone.

"Lady Dyonisia was a significant loss to Aquae Sulis, she had my respect as Master Harpy of the Domain."

There is a another moments silence.

"To think that I am entirely impartial in my role would show a naivety previously unseen within of the Line of the Rose. Like my predecessor my opinions and prejudices will colour my decisions but they will be in keeping with the role and duties of the post. That the Toreador of the Court have already stooped to claiming my impartiality is in question is interesting in and of itself."

There is another moments silence.

"Mister Swatton and Mister Beauclair have not recorded any of the Prestation owed unto them for entry to the card game that Mister Swatton coordinated within Elysium. This would not be of any consequence were it not that such a cost was openly announced within Court and they had bargained for and received my own support for a Symbel upon the game.

Despite the announcement of the manner and requirements for boons to be recorded within Aquae Sulis by it's denizens the Toreador seem to believe that they are or should be exempt from such a requirement. There are those within the Court for are extended a concession to this but none of the Line of the Rose have been granted such.

Despite dictate by the Consul Maximus Elder Miroslav has still not seen fit to register the owing of Major Prestation to myself, Elder Campion or the Consul Maximus."

There is another moments silence that is broken as Viktor slowly rolls one shoulder, the joint popping and crunching as he does so.

"It is saddening that the new Primogen, the Childe of the renowned Elder Villon, did instruct and encourage those of his Clan to ignore the long standing tradition of Boons and has others oversee and witness the exchanging of these so called 'boons' that involve members of his Clan within the Domain.

The matter of the cost for registering Boon given or Prestation owed involving one of the Rose Clan has a simple resolution."

[Caiaphas Redfern]

Even before he took up the meaning of Viktor's words, Caiaphas noted with a pang of sorrow their change in grammatic structure, the loss of admittedly archaic plainspeech. It had been a fierce joy to speak with someone who echoed the cadences of his own youth and for an instant he rebelled against letting go of it and considered pressing on in the same register to recapture that beautiful nostalgia. But no...it was clear that the elder vampire was making an effort to communicate as clearly as he might to a kindred of a more modern age, and so he had to honour this and change his own manner of speech to fit.

Attentively he listened, and when the Harpy had finished, he took some time to assimilate and analyse what had been explained. It was some minutes before the Primogen responded, during which the intense effort of thought was writ plain on his face but he had finally decided that Viktor's break from the usual laconicity earned and deserved equal openness in return.

"I have again to ask your forbearance, sir, as I'd not fully understood that you'd made it a mandatory thing to register all boons with you. It's....It's a strange concept to me, in truth.

"In the decade and a bit that I served as a lesser Harpy, we had taken a rather different approach to the matter of prestation. Namely that to register them with the harpies was a benefit, a privilege. Something to be desired and taken advantage of, rather than an obligation. And...I wonder whether this discrepancy might...perhaps...be at the root of your difficulties.

"Certainly, I do attempt to register all my own boons with you, in credit or debit. But I don't really do it out of a sense of duty - not in these nights. I sometimes do it because I do not fully trust the word or constancy or memory of my partner in prestation, and thus wish to bind the debt into the public consensus as a policy of insurance. In turn, I usually do it because it also gives my partner equal peace of mind! And always...ha...I always enjoy an excuse to speak with you, who are a pleasant embodiment of the continuity of our history. And thus the hope of a similarly unbroken future...

"To be sure, while I was a lesser harpy, I did feel it was always good practice to register boons by example, to encourage others as to the desireability...the benefit of doing so. Yet never...never have I felt it an imperative. After all, there are any number of boons, great and small, that are held between elders within our sect and indeed with elders of...other sects...that have never been made official, some of which pre-date our Camarilla and are nevertheless strong. In those cases, the debtors and the creditors are confident of the strength of their compacts and see no need to trouble the harpies, and that is well and good, so I think."

Caiaphas looked into the middle distance with a soft smile, and something akin to reverence crept into his tone.

"Yet with the founding of the Ivory Tower, with the binding together of so many clans and blood-families into one mighty force, it was deemed necessary to appoint official guardians of prestation - such as you - who might punish its defectors, so that even kindred who might never have considered trusting each other might might be given the confidence to engage fruitfully with one another...that one deal might create the foundation for the next, and the next, and the next...making us all mighty in shared strength, and thus enduring and eternal in the face of horror and oblivion.

"Oh, it's true that the Harpies are often feared, but if cowardice and madness did not cloud the minds of kindred, they'd be loved. They bind the untrustworthy, the monstrous to their words. They give the weak reason to have faith in the strong who might otherwise use and discard them - and thus the weak support the strong, and both are exalted!

"I shall not say that our sect is as just and beautiful as she might be, but I hail the wisdom of the Founders for what they tried to build, and may the merciful Lord smile on our struggle to help her endure."

He turned to gaze at Viktor with a fire in his eyes.

"Pardon me my pontification, sir...and I hope that you will not take it ill if I tell you that when individuals choose to engage in boons without recourse to a Harpy, I hail their courage and their faith in prestation as something every kindred should honour an enforce, and not alienate as something to which they have no personal duty.

"Yet that an entire clan should seek to do this as a matter of POLICY...that is a troubling loss of faith in our institutions. I am in full agreement that it's grievous! If there's aught I could do to reverse that sentiment, then I shall.

"Tell me, if it please you: Is the Rose's reluctance tied to the matter of that creature Miroslav and its endeavours? Or is the removal of Dionysia and her replacement by you something that aggrieves their honour? Or what? I beg you illustrate this skein for me to follow it and perhaps, with your permission, help untangle it."

A hesitant, slightly worried pause followed. "And...if you choose to be so kind, Master Harpy, will you show me your strategy in attempting to demand boons from them to register boons at all? Please forgive me my blindness, but as they are already disinclined to register prestation with the Harpy, it does not appear the sort of declaration that will tempt the Rose back into the fold. Is there no other way?"

Caiaphas awaited the older kindred's answer with an evident mix of hope and trepidation.

[Viktor]

Viktor listens the the Ventrues words without any seeming reaction, just maintaining a calm and neutral expression and gaze throughout it all.

At the end, it doesn't change, not immediately. The Nosferatu Elder continues to look at Caiaphas, unblinking, in silence and ever so slowly over the course of a few minutes his expression darkens as irritation seeps into it.

"Temptation Elder is for them to no longer find themselves in disfavour within Court. Such social condemnation has oft been used by Harpies of the Ivory Tower to express their displeasure.This small tithe upon the Roses does not match the cruelty shown by my predecessor upon those who sought to demean matters of Boon and system over the centuries she held Office. It is a shame that such memories are easily forgotten or even unknown by those not present in the Domain to witness such when they did occur.

They undoubtedly dislike that such condemnation comes from a lowly Sewer Rat. It is matter simply resolved but one they may find hard to stomach."

His expression smoothes again and returns back to it's calm and neutral demeanour after he leans his head to one side and cracks his neck.

"Do you wish to register any Boons this Eve Primogen?"

[Caiaphas Redfern]

The Nosferatu's answer rather quenched Caiaphas' ardour and rendered him into a grim sort of statue, though before long he spoke again.

"I do, Master Harpy." he answered with resignation. "I wish to register a Minor boon, owed by me to Mr. Sisyphus for services rendered. As I am the debtor, I doubt he'd object my making the registration off my own bat, as it were, but if you wish it then I shall send him your way to confirm it!"

Standing up in a slow, smooth action, he gave the Nosferatu a look that bore something of determination. "I am aware of the open disdain in which Elders hold each other in this domain and, yes, the historical precedents. Even my dear, beautiful Dionysia was not immune to this...plague. 'Sewer Rats' you say?" He shook his head in weary horror.

"Petty name-calling is not the way of kings, and by my ancestors you will not see any kindred of Hardestadt's line debase themselves in such a way. It is far, far beneath our dignitas...for who shows himself superior by slinging mud?"

The frown cleared. "You must of course do precisely as you please, guided by the wisdom that your many years have garnered. Nevertheless, if you wish to humble and educate your enemies by walking a higher road - and if you choose to make a target of the sinner rather than punishing all his kin by blood - you'll never have known a fiercer ally or defender than I."

He bowed his neck in courtesy, evidently in anticipation of departing. "Regardless, I thank you for your great candour and for listening with patience, Master Harpy. The Lord bless all your nights."

[Viktor]

Viktor nods slightly.

“Your word is not in doubt Primogen but Mr Sisyphus must confirm his part in such a Boon none the less.

I thank you for your consideration and company upon this eve. Questions and debate are always preferred to silence.”

There’s a slight pause.

“I found the matter of your paper, Developmental Aberrations of Wing Casings in the Genus Colobothea, to be of interest. I look forward to the next that is penned by your hand.

May the Lord keep you in His Sight.”

[Caiaphas Redfern]

Shock, suspicion, and then a dawning cautious joy took hold of Caiaphas' features in quick succession. "You read my paper, sir?!", he cried. "You...you enjoyed it?"

He took a couple steps closer, almost breaching the invisible boundary that delimited Viktor's personal space and that he had hitherto taken care not to approach. "How came you by it?" he continued, the words spilling out in his enthusiasm, the intent to make his leave all forgotten.

"Do your interests then include natural philosophy? Have you business with the Royal? Unless I find a pseudonym I must needs let my work fade obscure for the sake of the First Tradition, Oh, what joy if I knew a kindred who shared my passion! Prithee not hold back a thing..."

[Viktor]

“A pseudonym would be wise should you intend to continue. Your name and presence have been found to be drawing interest upon their longevity within certain circles.” The Nosferatu politely, but firmly advises as the other closes the distance between them. He certainly doesn’t seem bothered by it but there is definitely a pointed look in its wake.

“This eve is one of duty and business Primogen. Such discussions may be had another time.

I wish you safe travels.”

[Caiaphas Redfern]

"Ah. Yes, I am quite painfully aware. Foolish enthusiasms get the better of the best of us, and I have decided to desist entirely, especially while our relationship with London is...complicated."

He vacillated for a moment, clearly struggling with the idea of dropping the subject of this apparent mutual interest. Or was there no interest at all and had Viktor's mention of it only been an oblique warning rather than an expression of shared passion?

Yes...yes, of course it was. Damn. Caiaphas, master yourself. "Of course, Master Harpy.", he said and glanced about the miserably empty chamber. "Far be it from me to keep you from duty and business. Safe travels and God bless you."

With a courteous nod he turned and made his way out of Elysium into the night with a fiercely beating step.

((Cai is such a sad little nerd.))

[Viktor]

Viktor nods to the Primogen before he leaves and moves back to his original seat in the corner of the room, taking in the time on the clock in the process. His appearance changes back to it's previous aspect and he opens the bible again once seated and starts to read in silence.

[Viktor]

Time passes and as the clock chimes three Viktor closes his book and makes his way out of the room, shutting the door behind him.