The Night After The Party We Don't Talk About

[Valentina Audley]

Oh God. He'd said it, hadn't he? Valentina's eyes widen and she cannot help wincing at Vortigern's name. So much for a pretty star name, now she has an issue.

She turns her attention to Keane, hoping that a) he will not give her away and b) that he'll start with the tales and soon, so she can sit quietly and attentively for some minutes. Her aura is sparking with panic, but she sits very, very still.

[Manacledairman]

[Laurence]

“If you don’t mind a small interruption Elder Dukes, just to confirm something for myself, Vortigern is the name of the recently awoken Malkavian Methuselah?”

Laurence has been quietly listening, but now his head perks up.

“Of course, I offer a trivial boon for the confirmation.”

[alanwrotethis]

"Yes, and done," he snaps at Laurence. "Sorry, thank you."

[Madam Zaragoza]

Hermina rolls her eyes at the rapid exchanges of boons. She happy to sit here and hear it all for free.

“I think we should just complete the story as soon as possible before our poor Sheriff explodes. I would not like to say in what way, that might be.” She winks at Dukes.

Damn, I’m drunk again. Stop talking Hermina.

[Posh-Tim]

Keane is a little taken aback and his aura withdraws somewhat.
"Very well, Sheriff, I do not wish to draw out your time unnecessarily." He composes himself as quickly as he can so as not to rile dukes any further.
"If we are using Trivials for confirmations then we shall do that. I will accept it afterwards if what I say is, as you put it, satisfactory."
He reels the questions back off in his head.
"Yes, it does appear that he has a mastery over the soul and the forbidden arts of amaranth. Possibly due to an ease of experimentation not permitted now by the Camarilla and so lost to the ages. Your supposition on the family Black I could not say. I do not know if it is within his power to use them in such a fashion. All I know is that he was destroyed, or at least his vessel, just when I was leaving the country and yet, here he is now. I have no reason to doubt it is actually him so take from that what you will.
Your guess as to the constellations and the Family Black, I could not say, I am learning about them myself as I said before. Though I would return to the idea that we ask which was named first, the constellation or the purpose it served?
Finally, the Tuatha De Danann, I believe that some of them were Vampires, as you suggest. Some of them were... other. What were they trying to become? What are any of us trying to do?" With that he looks meaningfully at Dukes. "They had their own goals as much of any of us, surviving through the centuries is one of them. Taking power for power's sake another, even veneration of something more powerful than themselves. My suspicion? That they worked to achieve a greater goal, to the betterment of all both kindred and kine."
He looks a little downcast,
"I don't suppose you will find much satisfaction in those answers. You may keep your boon if you wish."
He glances over at Valentina and offers a sympathetic smile.

[Valentina Audley]

She stares back, mutely pleading, hoping story time will start soon. Anxiety still threaded through her aura.

[Posh-Tim]

Keane tries to brighten up.
"Were there any other enquiries before I give the good Ancilla the story she so charmingly paid for?"
He smiles about the room, looking a little nervously at Dukes.

[alanwrotethis]

"Thank you for your insight elder, and you swear that this is the extent of you knowledge on these matters? If so, I will honour the prestation I offered, after one clarification."
Niketas leans forward, his voice deepening.
"I asked you for your opinion on Amaranth, not your knowledge. What is your opinion? Vile practice? Path to power? Blasphemy on the soul? Do you like it, do you condone it?"

[L .]