The Culture Tour

[L .]

"You may inquire," Aurelia enthuses, turning away from Keane, and she doesn't answer the question.

To Valentina she only nods, letting the small talk wash by. To adhere to niceties however: "I've heard only positive talk of Bristol since your Lady took the helm. I don't keep many such connections in my life, but I have one or two like it, and I must agree: the company is always precious." She smiles genuinely.

"As to that chat, Elder Zaragoza, that would be welcome, I'm sure. None of us have gone back to Spain. Most of it belongs to the Blackguard now, and Madrid is swarming. But conversation... that would be kind. I'll be attending that salon Uriah is hosting."

At Raife's appearance, Aurelia misses a beat - she opens her mouth very slightly as if to say something - but closes it, and her expression falls blank. It's only a second's pause before she's instead chuckling, within which time her gaze has moved once between Raife and Keane.

"This is your Childe? This is your Childe." Her tone is thick with laughter. "Oh."

Suddenly her smile falls, and she adds, quick enough as is to cut into anything Raife might say. "A pleasure to meet you Master Black," she stresses the name. "For the first time."

"I am Elder Aurelia, of Mithras' line - Clan Ventrue."

She falls silent as everybody starts berating him, amused until Hermina puts her hand on the boy - and Aurelia's gaze slides to Keane, shock colouring her aura though her expression remains empty.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina has listened to Raife's chastisement with mild disinterest and a flair of sympathy for Elder Keane. How horrendous to have your childe behave so in public!

But by virtue of standing so close to Aurelia she cannot help but notice the other woman's reactions and her focus sharpens. Something here is amiss. Between her seeming amusement at who Keane's childe is and the fact she called him Master Black and said that they were meeting for the first time, but how could she possibly know to call him Master Black when Keane called him Raife?

Her brow furrows slightly and she turns her attention to the childe. Now the name Black has been mentioned, there's something about his colouring that does remind her of her own childe. Good lord, how many of them are there and how on earth did Elder Keane sire him? She wondered idly, casting her attention back to Aurelia in time to notice the change in her aura.

Valentina's own aura is awash with curiosity. Something is going on here and she'd very much like to know what.

[Posh-Tim]

Keane is at a fluster at the flurry of interest but attempts to reinforce his standardised court manners.
"Many thanks to you all, elders and ancillae alike at your kind worda of advice. Raife here, no doubt, appreciates the attention of such important members of the domain."
He places his hands on either side of Raife and gently steers him out from under Herminas hand.
"For now I think it is the perfect opportunity for him to quietly observe the members of the court and their behaviour."
He sets Raife just besides himself, addressing Aurelia;
"Indeed he is my Childe, should you wish to learn more perhaps he could accompany us to Bristol? I am sure that there are lessons for him to learn there aplenty and building such connections is important for a young kindred.
At the end of this, Keane visibly deflates. The effort of maintaining such a form polite decorum is clearly draining for him. His aura likewise radiates a sense of stress and exhaustion.

[alanwrotethis]

The Sheriff's eyes dart between Keane, his childe and Aurelia. A flicker of... concern, aimed somewhere at the trio.
"Enough chest-beating for now, I'm sure most of us have had childer of our own. Shall we see what these trams are like then? I've heard that gears play a part in their movement. And electricity? Is it similar to how you can make a body move by coursing specific muscles with lightning?"

[Posh-Tim]

Keane says nothing but at the sheriffs description shudders visibly.

[Laurence]

Laurence watches and listens, it's been a very long time since he has seen and been in the company of so many Elders in one place. Glancing up and down the street, he awaits the Tram.

"I believe that description is not far off Sheriff Dukes. Although saying that most of my experience has been with steam trains, so I find myself happy to be corrected by one eith more knowledge of these new inventions."

Glancing at Jerome to see if the Keeper is going to fill them in, Laurence briefly looks at and appraises Raife before turning his eyes back to look for the Trams.

[Lady Grace]

Grace's eyes widen at the surname Black but she says nothing.
"Well, shall be brave this.. tram together?
I am most intrigued by it"
It will be an experience"

[Manacledairman]

Aldrich smirks at the situation between Raife, Keane and the group. He ponders for a moment on Aurelia's words, emphasising that it's the first meeting is unusual, speaking in a somewhat familiar tone is also unusual. He shakes his head quickly as if to throw the thought from his mind.

"Trams, lighting fueled metal boxes. How utterly terrifying." He chuckles "lets do it."

[Madam Zaragoza]

“Architect Beaufort, you seem quite brave. Do you mind if I steady my nerves whilst holding your arm? I am not sure that my courage quite meets the level of yours. Kine, do have some most curious ideas of what is safe and fun.”

She smiles at him with fake nervousness.

[Jerome Price]

As though summoned by the conversation the tram rattles into view, a convoy of metal cars linked together and running along the appointed grooves set into the smoothed part of the road. At it's head are a set of large draft horses, a mottle of different colours and blinkers. At the rumbling approach Jerome's gaze snaps down the road from Raife, the dark and threatening glare returned to that of the pleasant host of the evening.

"I am afraid we are not so fortunate yet to have the trams which are so rumoured, just as Zeus's fury and vengeance they are perhaps still a little too volatile for general use or so my illuminated friends at the Royal Literary and Scientific Institution have suggested. But I imagine it is only a matter of time, another example of the changing world around us and soon I am sure our equine friends here shall be able to put their feet up and retire to a land of luxury and leisure." His sardonic smile suggests otherwise.

"However, while I am sure the horses are trained not to react to disturbing influences I would not wish to cause a stir, as there are so very many of us together perhaps we might take a few paces back to allow them to pass and our presence not cause a run-away-tram." He gently attempts to shepherd to dozen kindred far enough away not to alarm the on-coming horses. The heavy tread of the horses pass, their noses flaring and the driver having to keep some order but being flagged down by Jerome it comes to a stop and Jerome gestures towards a mostly empty car for everyone to alight to tram.