Down to the river to pray - Open

[Bronwyn93]

Angelina listened to the discussion of the Goddess, intrigued. Mythology held the same feeling as fairytales. The meaning behind everything that could be explored in some way, but most often from a somewhat safe distance through story or print, their existence continuing, growing, expanding with every telling and variation.

The mention of the moot drew Angelina's gaze to the Gangrel, and she met Christine's eyes in response. The animals all staring, travelling through the woods. The carriage... She blinked hard to push the memories away with a shudder.

"Yes, though I believe it was two years. It was not long after I came to court. I was still unreleased." Angelina clarified, and shifted slightly. "I most certainly would rather not... intrude on such an occasion once again. Though I have no plans of travelling and you say it is not too close within Aquae Sulis, so I should not happen upon such a gathering.

[Lucius Servius]

Lucius notices the change in Christine’s expression as he speaks.

“Apologies Miss Daye” Lucius truly meant it “An incomplete description of the goddess, but one that is perhaps sufficient for such impressionable young minds?”

Changing the subject now back to the Gangrel. “See I heard of this domain’s foolish foray into the Gangrel moot and the quite painful consequences for everyone involved – in particular the Gangrel.”

Lucius smiles menacingly at Angelina. “Tell me dear, who would ever think of laying a finger on you? I wonder what your sire thought when they heard you had been harmed? Unreleased as you were back then, it must have been as though those Gangrel were harming them directly?” A pause. “Or did you simply not tell them? better to save them the worry yes?”

“In all truth the fault for the whole debacle lay with Verity, the idiot was too concerned with the spectacle of his sleigh bells then ensuring safe passage for his travelers.”

Lucius now directs his attention lazily back to Rho. “But you can now see the reason for my curiosity. Which lands do they occupy? How are a large collection of elders making their way there? If you don’t know where they are, and I don’t know where they are, then presumably everyone else in this domain doesn’t know where they are, so how are we to avoid a repeat of last time?”

[Jean-Jacques]

Jean-Jacques frowns at the evasive response to Christine’s request for direction as to the location of the moot..

“Rhona, kindly provide some clue for Miss Daye here lest she repeat the trespass, which clearly occurred not of her doing, it cannot be revelation to suggest where she might avoid with at least a semblance of clarity, it served no purpose to tempt fate once more”

He looks toward Angelina also,

“Roads are treacherous as it is these nights, let us not add to the jeopardy “

Then almost subconsciously, speaking from thought almost

“Elder Lucius Servius, I for one would welcome further tutelage on the goddess of creation you have knowledge of, though I have no right to ask...”

Damn it Lorcan, shit! What are you trying to do to me!

[Rhona]

Rhona sighs, relenting somewhat as she regards each kindred in turn, hands lightly on her hips. At least this specific question was fairly easy to answer vaguely without lying.

"I can assure you it won't be nearby - as far as I am aware it will be taking place somewhere near Plymouth. I have never been to the place myself, so I can't tell you any more than that. I will be following the lead of Ancilla Calico Jack and Julian - this will be my first attendance at a moot, you see." she beams. "It will be quite something to be somewhere with more than two or three others of my clan at once! Either of those two would have a better idea of the number of elders in attendance, I've only met a couple myself."

She seems genuinely enthusiastic, her features alive with energy and anticipation. As usual, she has the air of a coiled spring as she moves to stand closer to Jean-Jacques and Christine, momentarily gazing up to see if the stars were visible through the smokey clouds.

At the continued song, Rue offers Christine a look of admiration, as always fascinated by the songstress's way of weaving wisdom into music, and music into speech.

[Christine Daye]

Christine is surprised by Lucius' apology, but nods graciously in response to it, favouring him with another smile.

"It is difficult to speak of mysteries... 'tis true... and the Lady takes many aspects... such wisdom must be felt in the heart before it can truly be understood by the head... Danu... Danu... Danu... Dé..."

She looks to Angelina.

"... two years? ...my... how time has flown..."

She blinks in surprise at Jean-Jacques' request, wondering what Lucius will make of it, whether she should step in. No... let him find the price... it's a long way down... a long way down...

When Rhona moves closer, Christine smoothly moves away. Not so far as to cause offense, but far enough to be out of range of a swiping blow. The memories of the Moot are sharp and bloody and a ghost pain lingers in her throat.

[Bronwyn93]

Angelina twitched slightly at the elder's words and and the smile on his lips. She was suddenly very grateful she had come across the group of them this night, and not the elder alone.

"The whole incident was such a flurry and I found myself in quite a state I would not be able to say whom grabbed me, but the whole affair was... unfortunate. As for my sire's thoughts on the matter, he was present, and I assure you he fought very valiantly to defend all those within our company who were unable to defend themselves, as did the others who traveled with us." She said with emphasis on the word Sire, and a flash of a glare in the direction of the elder.

Her expression softened as she turned back to Christine, and she nodded. "Yes, I believe we travelled not long after my first attendance in the court, and yet it doesn't feel like that long ago."

[Lucius Servius]

Lucius looks at Angelina with contempt. “Fought valiantly?” Lucius scoffs.

“And then what? Everything with the Gangrel forgiven and forgotten? Weakness I call that, everything about Verity is weak, weak, weak… Also, don’t emphasize your sires name as though I somehow were required to keep that insulting little secret. I’m not and having some barely released neonate stair daggers at me isn’t going to magically cajole me into doing so.”

Turning to Jean-Jack. “I would be happy to instruct you Jean-Jack, but I am not accustomed to playing second fiddle to a ‘10 for a penny’ Brujah Ancilla. Even one who has named herself Primogen. Once you have resolved this strange situation you find yourself in and are your own man again, then you can make the choice if you wish to follow me down that long and winding road. I will instruct you as best as I can.”

[Jean-Jacques]

as Rhona describes the moot location Jean-Jacques nods toward her

Then as she moves close to Christine and he, and Christine instinctively moves away, Jean-Jacques steps between them, in a gesture of creating a physical barrier, should it be required, between the two.

“My gratitude Miss Rhona, I am sure you have allayed concerns as regards location and risk to those in the road”

“Be mindful that sudden gestures can be mistaken for other than they are meant...”

Hahah, Lorcan don’t we know it!

“Miss Daye, such is my feeling that the heart has a guiding sense for our futures, I find myself not only entranced by your melodies, but by your deeper thoughts”

He watches the exchange of glances between Angelina and Lucius and decides to attempt the diversion further

“Elder Lucius Servius, esteemed of Artemis’ Line, I shall surely consider so as you wisely counsel when my situation becomes clearer.”

He bows toward Lucius

“A generous gesture”

[Rhona]

There is a pause as Rhona raises her eyebrows ever so slightly, her eyes flitting between Jean-Jacques and Christine, assessing them both. It seemed like the protective instinct had not been lost. Then again, was it a question of Jean-Jacques having lost parts of himself, or gained too much to handle all at once?

Her mind turns back to Christine and she smiled courteously, giving an elegant bow.

"My apologies, Miss Daye, I had no intention of making you uncomfortable. I lament that you do not know me well enough to think better of me." She smiles slightly ruefully.

So many here act like flighty creatures, flinching away from what they do not know...or in Christine's case I suppose it's more about avoiding what she does know. Negative reinforcement I suppose.

She takes a few steps back to give both the songstress and Jean-Jacques a little more space, not wishing to be intentionally antagonistic. Such a thing would only reinforce their poor perceptions, and that was the last thing she wanted. Even more so with one of the more...unyeilding elders present.

[Christine Daye]

...she stepped out and I stepped in again... she stepped out and I stepped in again... she stepped out and I stepped in again... learning to dance for Lannigan's ball...

It's like a dance step. Rhona steps back, and Christine steps forward to keep the distance between them the same. To Jean-Jacques, the singer bestows a smile.

"No need to apologise... it is just a preference of mine..."

She tilts her head and smiles, slightly fae.

"As for not knowing... yes... that is true... but perhaps we could remedy this situation. Would you care to play a game?"

She looks around the group, including them all in the invitation.

"It's very simple. Each of us takes it in turn to pose a question to the entire group, which everyone then answers. If I were to start, for example, I would ask: what makes your soul sing?"

A thought strikes her.

"Such games are best played in the warm. Should we repair to a nearby hostelry? Or I would be pleased to host you at the theatre..."