Sheriff's manor - Culture Tour After-Party

[Posh-Tim]

Taking a cue from Jean-Jacques, Keane steels his nerves one final time. Considering the humiliation this evening, he doesn't think he has anything left to lose. He stands, slowly and carefully the opium dragging his movements out to a what feels like a crawl. Aura burning with fear and caution he steps towards the alcove like a lion tamer approaching and angry great cat. He carefully tries to move around the pair, wishing he could just vanish from sight as he usually would to avoid their attention.
"A-Ancilla Valentina Audley... Perhaps I could escort you away for the evening."
It's like trying to dance on a bear-trap.

[alanwrotethis]

[Jerome Price]

Instinctively Jerome raises his arm to shoot the retreating neonate, Jean-Jacques, in the leg with his crossbow and prevent him leaving with the Elder. He looks confused at his empty hand for a moment, it was there just a moment ago... where could it have... ah yes, his refocusing eyes pick up the tossed weapon leaning up against the cushions as he puts the pieces back together and nods to himself.

As the parts of the conversation likewise start to fall into order and he begins to weight the balance of action against inaction, then after a moment tosses the scales out and opens his mouth instead taking one long breath in to form the words and prepare himself to spill them forth in such a manner that they may even land in the right order and sound ... right.

"Elder Aurelia." long pause, "I apologise for interjecting into your discussion, but I feel I should say something to the matters you raised. I appreciate your concerns regarding Elder Hermina staying here, but Elder Dukes is perhaps too generous for his own good in being the first port of call for all arriving Tremere to lodge if they have not arranged proper accommodation beforehand. I can assure you that despite Elder Hermina's lasi... lusci... las-civious designs are a passing fad and have no chance of breaking Dukes's most honourable defences."

He stops for a second looking confused with himself, "But... but for the rest, yes Dukes is a fool at timesh. But he's a nice fool and I liksh him cos he putsh up with us, but he's faaaar too serious mosht of the time. As I said to him before, jusht needs a goooood shag. Not 'baco." The initial focus is gone and Jerome seems to fall back into a struggle with the effects of the drink and drugs.

[L .]

It's obvious - at least in her aura. Aurelia's annoyed with herself. Something's snapping like wildfire, dark red, violent, compressed. Too much for one body; she's found she has trouble holding it all in since this started. The slightest tell: it's in that involuntary draw of breath, that clench at her fingers. She's expecting a different response, and the shock of its absence seems to delay her.

"Oh?"

"Oh."

A ragged sound tears from her, and she's still reeling with the shock of her own anger, but also the lack of his, can feel it like a presence that wraps itself around her mind, bypassing the hysteria of relief and injecting soothing waves but she can't speak because -

She's coming at him like a force of nature, tangling her fingers in his tied hair and kissing him so thoroughly that at once her mind is consumed by the abrupt fire of it. And Aurelia really just wished this month would stop.

"Bien - good, you did good," she hisses against his mouth, the pent-up emotion deciding exactly where it wanted to go. Aurelia didn't look as if she'd wait for an audience to leave, though she was pushing him towards some door or other.

To whatever Jerome was saying about Hermina Aurelia cast an agitated hand back, in his vague direction, pausing for breath to say, "Yes - yes - I like her, don't worry. I don't care - bedroom. Now." This against Dukes' mouth.

[Andross Blint]

As the 'couples' leave the room Andross relaxes.

"Does that mean the game is over with no winner? Is this party in fact now over given the host is elsewhere entertained? "

[Manacledairman]

Aldrich claps his hands together once before standing

"Thanks for an enlightening evening Sheriff" he calls after the couple and chuckles

"Goodnight each, I'm sure I'll see you all again in the near future"

Exit stage left pursued by bear.

Before the door closes behind him he pops his head back in

"I somewhat believe that the game we were playing was actually a game played by 2 true participants and frankly I think they both just won."

He smiles at the group before leaving.

[Jerome Price]

Casting his eyes around the room, and chuckling again to himself as his eyes fall upon Durham's leg pinned to the sofa, his gaze eventually settles on Valentina.

"Ms Audley, as I've failed y'r challenge. Perhaps you'd permit meh to walk you back t'yr shop, t'd be unseemly to have a lady walkin' back 'ome alone at this time o'night. Th'air'll do me good too, what d'ya say?"

[Bitterglass]

Durham looks on at Duke's at Aurelia in complete shock, an emotion not normally known to reside there.

As they leave the room in a passionate embrace his eyes cannot help but follow them. Once they have left the room, the work breaks. "What magic that was." He says with a genuine smile, tears the crossbow bolt out of his leg and looks at Price.

"Did shooting me with a crossbow pay off ruining you're slippers Elder Price?"

[Jerome Price]

"Problm is Durham, you probably enjoyed being shot. Tell me, did you?"

[Andross Blint]

"Well.... that pretty much answers that then. Seeing as there were prizes on the line, i shall leave the pair a note with reminder of the current remaining successes... and Durham. If they wish to continue the game it can perhaps be continued at a later date, or if we are lucky they may offer a minor prize as a thankyou for a game enjoyed."

He draws a notepad and pencil from a pocket and begins jotting some notes.

'Elder Raven, Elder Dukes.
The evening was pleasant and enjoyable. The game of Truths and Dares has currently been left with Elder Aldrich, Ancillae Audley, and myself Andross had been successful in the second round, with Neonate Durham still to be challenged. If you still wish to hold the game to a final winner, I'm sure it can be arranged.

Greatfully,
Ancillae Andross Blint.'

He leaves the note in a fairly obvious position.

"Is there anyone that needs assistance walking to a location? Before i head off to my own. "