The Culture Tour

[alanwrotethis]

Dukes is quiet, falling into stride behind his clanmates, the hint of crimson on his face returning to pale.
"You said something about a comedy of errors Jerome... what exactly is that?"
A flutter of wings, and a small owl flitters down from overhead falling clumsily into the Sheriff's arms. He fusses her head and neck then carefully plucks something from her talons.
A live mouse, the owl had brought him a live mouse.
"Thank you Sophia, but I'm not hungry right now," he says, pocketing the small rodent. A minute later when it crawls free of his woolen coat and scurries across the cobblestones to safety he pretends not to notice.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina watches Dukes and the owl, entranced by the creature, a small wondrous smile hovering about her lips. Though, try as she might, she can't quite hide the wince when he puts a live mouse in his pocket. Had he no care for the line of his clothes at all?

[Madam Zaragoza]

Hermina glares at little at Dukes, it seems he is having one of his nights tonight. Luckily she should be able to escape his residence soon. A few more things before her town house can become a proper secure haven. Though if she is completely honest though she will miss sharing with him. If ever there was a nut that Hermina wanted to crack it was Dukes. Something about his apparent lack of sexual desire, was an enigma that she was drawn to resolve.

“I never knew her name was Sophia. Such as beautiful bird. A proper predator.”

She smiles with a flash of fangs.

[alanwrotethis]

Dukes smiles, edging back into an academic state of mind.
"It's an old name, meaning excellence and skill... and wisdom. Derives from 'sapienta', is the root of the word 'philosophy'. It was Athena's name for a while, denoting her as a scholar and a warrior. In the Orthodox and Catholic faiths it denotes the wisdom of the holy child. It's a good name to have, many good things to be."
At Hermina's smile, the owl flaps wings, shifting out of the Sheriff's hands, onto his shoulder. It claws it's way onto his head, standing straight like a sentry, and he lets it.
"Careful elder... I know you enjoy the competition, but my bird is a little protective of me."
He chuckles, an almost juvenile trill.
"And I rather think I might be a little protective of her too."

[L .]

‘Raven’ stifles a laugh, covering her slip by turning her profile into Valentina and asking: “And how does Bristol do? Actually, I did need to head there in the spring. Your Lady and you sound as though you share a very special bond. It reinvigorates my faith in the bonds that our kind can share, when I hear things like that. Rare though it is,” she finishes in a slightly lower voice.

She looks back up to the owl. “Elder Zaragoza is quite right. She does seem to be rather protective of you. But what a fine plumage. And those claws! At least she knows who’s on top.” Aurelia’s eyes glimmer teasingly.

“Zaragoza: you are from that area, then? It’s my homeland too, in most ways.”

[Posh-Tim]

Keane had been wondering along quietly listening to the others and enjoying the appearance of the Owl. At Aurelias words he look up.
"Are you travelling to Bristol? I was thinking of going by there myself come the new year. Perhaps we could travel together?"
He tilts his head, the sentiment genuine.

[L .]

Aurelia blinks, turning her attention to Keane. She considers his words a moment, before inclining her head. “I have a travelling companion, of your Clan; if you do not mind there being three of us then no, you may travel with us.”

[Posh-Tim]

Keane blinks and nods.
"Might I enquire as to who our travelling companion is to be? I am always interested at the prospect of meeting more children of the moon."
He smiles delicately, an oddly warm expression for him.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina has spotted the stifled laugh and her eyes twinkle with mirth, but her voice, wen she answers, is politely bland.

"Bristol fares well thank you Elder. My Prince is dedicated to her domain and works hard for its betterment." Valentina's aura swirls with pride and love as she speaks on Dyonisia.

"I am beyond fortunate to have her in my life and time spent in her company is always precious to me." She admits cheerfully. She will not declare love in such a public place but the subtext is clear for any who care to look.

When Keane mentions his intent to travel to Bristol she makes a note to alert the seneschal of pending letters of introduction from both Keane and Aurelia but doesn't interject, assuming if he wants her to make arrangements for him he will inform her.

[Raife Black]

After his evening of excitement at the house, Raife had decided to spend the rest of the night exploring the city. He had never spent much time in Bath before the embrace and he hated not knowing at least a rough lay of the land. Besides, it put some distance between himself, Anton and his rather irate primogen.

As he wandered through the streets dividing the north and the south sides of the city, he became aware of a worryingly large conglomerate of vampiric auras nearby. He thought he recognised the ripples of more than one of them but he was not yet versed in recognising auras and as such he still felt a sinking feeling of dread as voices and footsteps approached. When a group of familiar kindred finally rounded the corner, he let out a relieved breath that he hadn't noticed he'd been holding.

"Ah... Sire. I am very glad to find you well... you are well?"

Raife stepped to the side of the streets to let his elders pass, falling in step alongside Keane after shooting Aurelia an amused look. In his customarily rude way, he did not acknowledge any of the others quite yet.