The Fifth Council of Neonates

[CFlaubert]

Constance drew the cloak more closely around her. There was no doubt about it. The conclusion was irrefutable. All the evidence pointed in only one direction.

This was embarrassing. A stupid oversight on Pierre’s behalf.

She noted Lunaris’s arrival. Followed by Architect Clyntahn’s childe, she forgot the name.

A look of puzzlement crossed her face, it was Dorian’s voice but…the words were all wrong. She readjusted the cloak. Again. Reapplied herself to her vigil.

Christine’s arrival. Alone. Noted. She’d have to have a word with Taylor, allowing his beloved to arrive unescorted on nights like these. Tsk.

More wrong words from Dorian…'did he just say “splendid”?' she shakes her head, sure to be picking up random mortal words from somewhere.

Taylor arrives. Limping? three of her kin now arrived. Time to start paying more attention.

Another voice, not one she was familiar with. A girl. Arrived before her. Numbers now at six.

Lunaris talking about dinner, money and food. She cocks her head to one side for a moment. Nods to herself, content his behaviour is within normal parameters.

She continued to listen. Lunaris prattling about teaching runes or some such. She applied the larger part of her brain to considering whether Eric should be subjected to a trial for teaching falsehoods to youths, as Socrates had been. The consideration got to its first iteration of outcomes before her active mind pulled her back to the present.

“This is Death” continued Lunaris. Constance snorted and cursed agreeing to this. ‘Why was everyone encouraging him?!’

The girl spoke again. Examining and dissecting Lunaris’s words. Constance found herself rooting for her to come to the appropriate conclusion. “Think girl”, she muttered under her breath “the mere volume of your questions should lead you to conclude the idiocy of what he is claiming.”

“Will is power” Lunaris droned. ‘pah! That’s like saying water is wet’ Constance thought. ‘Hardly revelatory!’

Taylor snorting in derision. Constance swelled with pride.

Another arrival? Presumably the late arrival they had spoken of. Count now at seven. She entered without issue.

“DO NOT TOUCH THAT BLADE” it stopped Constance in her thoughts abruptly. After the pause, her thoughts and emotions flowed quickly. Petulance – ‘Oh so there is no banning of knives from folk coming to THIS gathering!’ – Inquiry ‘Who has a blade?’ – Reflexive impulse ‘Are mine safe?’

Ah, now Dorian was there. Concern abating. Continuing to pay full attention for now.

ALL of them distraught. A powerful impulse to protect. Aid. Difficult to suppress. It would be ok. Dorian would make sure of it.

Taylor singing. Recovered? Tension lessened.

Clyntahn makes mention of Mayweather’s entrance. Caused this! Noted. Appropriate action to be determined.

The girl again. Calming things. Noted. More signs of promise.

Now Dorian..”like dominoes”. A mental double take. ‘LIKE DOMINOES! …LIKE DOMINOES!’ Outrage! A conversation required! Recollection of last conversation and outcomes… Reconsider.

‘Deputy Sherriff!’ if she could have choked she would have done. ‘What the hell was Jackdaw playing at! This girl had less investigative skill than a half-lit street lamp’ She clearly had some conversations to have with the Sherriff.

Now the serum mentioned. Attention focused.

‘He’s talking about me?’ Complimentary. Appreciated. A brief and temporary amendment to her facial structure, unwarranted but not unwelcome.

Lunaris back to himself. Satisfactory.

All in the laboratory. More relaxed now. Continue waiting….

[Christine Daye]

Christine giggles, high pitched and fae.

"...oh... dear Mrs Jackdaw... " the slightest stress on the surname "...she is away on business... I am afraid... she will be quite cross to have missed this... but the timing just didn't work out... more's the pity..."

Her gaze takes in the room, lingering for a moment on the surgical table, her hand briefly clenching on Taylor's arm before relaxing with an effort of will.

She smiles brightly at Eponine.

"I shall pass on your regards to her if you wish? She speaks of you often to me."

[Samuel Taylor]

Glancing over at Christine, Taylor gently squeezes her hand reassuringly. They advance deeper into the room to a pair of chairs and sit down. He is still holding her hand as they sit and seems to have no intention of letting it go.

[Violet Clyntahn]

Violet turns and smiles as Christine and Dr Taylor enter the room, glad that they're feeling better and even more glad the group was almost all in the room. She was eager for things to start.

She let's out a small giggle when Christine says "Mrs Jackdaw", the information still so bazaar to her.
"Such a shame she couldn't make it, to see us all getting along so well this time"

[Dorian M. Black]

Dorian inclines his head at Eponine's offer, the gaslight silhouetting him slightly, but, it's clear: his smile is gentle. "That would be useful, and appreciated."

His thumb slides over her knuckles as he withdraws his hand, and Dorian turns to give his attention to the rest of the room.

"Our mesmerisms last one hour; we might as well get those out the way."

A hand waves idly, to Violet. "I know that you can generate temporary condition triggers. Will you handle Lunaris for his, and he in return to you? Miss Daye can do Taylor. We'll swap around as needed. Kira, come here."

He gestures to the Toreador. "I will demonstrate - that you may see how this works, Lady Mayweather. It is a simple but effective means of ensuring others do not broadcast the conversation. Although we are allies, we remain Kindred, and predators are naturally suspicious. Any privacy we can afford alleviates subconscious tension. Mine especially."

Dorian meets Kira midway, tilting her chin up with his index finger. He locks her gaze, then murmurs, "When you hear the word 'Scrap' you must, for one hour, cease all forms of telepathic communication."

"Scrap."

[LittleBird]

Kira walks forward as instructed, a part of her wishes to bring up that she knows no such talent, yet of course she wouldn't take others in this room by their word either so gladly obliges. Her hands going from clasped and delicately placed, to a little fidgety and fluttery as he explains the situation, yet she understands them well.

Yet as he continues her shoulders relax, hands loosen, gently dropping to her skirt, and her eyes brighter, full, dazed even. It lasts but a moment or two, as if his words untangled her to ensure she is inline with their joint goals tonight, yet that look is gone as quickly as he summoned it, she blinks in quick succession, her hands return to the practised clasped position before with a little thankful nod she returns to where she was, head tilting as if processing such a experience for future reference.

[Samuel Taylor]

Sitting next to Christine on the chair, Taylor raises one hand and ever so gently turns her face to his. His lips are bare centimetres from hers as he whispers, his eyes wide and unblinking.

"Ms Daye...when I say the word...Amber...you must cease all forms of telepathic conversation, for one hour."

He tilts his head to one side and blinks slowly once.

"Amber."

[Violet Clyntahn]

Violet walks over to Eric, stopping just in front of him, she looks him in the eyes and pauses for a second, thinking back to their last lesson.

"when I say the word gaster you must cease all forms of telepathic communication for one hour".

She smiles slightly. "Gaster"

[Eric Lunaris]

The crystal blue of Eric's eyes give an eerie reflection back to Violet as she locked eyes with him. The eyes that focused on her soon pierced through her and off into the unknowns of the past. Eric's return to the conscious present was heralded by a deep laugh, "Aye, that I am lass. That I am," with his smiling beaming towards her.

"Now ya'self, when I speak the words 'Grande Abode' you must cease all forms of telepathic communication for one hour." There is pause to allow for the words to settle.

"Welcome to the Grande Abode, apprentice."

[Christine Daye]

Christine stares into Taylor's eyes as he mesmerises her, her expression totally focused for a moment. When he gives the keyword she blinks, like one awakening from sleep, and smiles.

"My turn now, Dr Taylor."

She gently cups his cheek with one gloved hand, capturing his gaze, and says:

"Dr Taylor... when you hear me say the word 'diminuendo' you must, for one hour, cease all forms of telepathic communication."

She holds his gaze intently for another moment.

"Diminuendo."