Trying to Get Home

[Lady Grace]

As she thinks Grace is vaguely aware of Andross talking.
It has paid off very well so far in her time in Aqua Sulis to pay close attention to everything Ancillia Blint says, and now as Whip, well he was so incredibly useful.
'Something about checking for something?...' Grace felt incredibly strange. There hasn't been time to even think about that yet.

'Something about outside? Then he said Laurence'
'Laurence!!' Grace looks at Laurence.

She was going to have to explain everything that happened after Laurence left to him really, really soon. What a boon telepathy must be.

So there are more Elders here now, but then they might actually have some answers.

"Can anyone tell me about the cup? What happens to blood in it? I understand that we may all wish not to talk about this but it's worrying me. I know so little about these things,"

Grace looks seriously frightened.

[Posh-Tim]

Keane takes the towel from Valentina with a smile and starts doggedly rubbing it about himself with relatively little care for appearance. He moves his little bundle and stick to the end of the sofa next to the fire and plonks himself down in what is becoming a familiarly squelchy fashion.
He doesn't look at grace when he answers her but rather exploratively dries out his left ear.
"I can provide some answers. Though I imagine Elder Doukas might provide a more 'Scientific' idea." He rolls his eyes a little, then starts scrubbing the towel across his whole head, muffling the beggining of his answer.
"*muffle, muffle* - such as with the first ritual. In that case, it was as means of providing power for the ritual itself. A rare event that such things can be achieved, once in a thousand years supposedly. At other times you could think of it as dormant. Still a powerful, and wonderful, artifact in its own right, it functions as a crucible of sorts. A cauldron as the name would suggest. It provides a sort of facility of transmutation, allowing one who is skilled in such arts to alter that which it contains..." He begins to lose track of his thoughts somewhat and sort of ambles to a conversational stop. He leans forward and starts to wring out the hem of his robe.
"Ancilla," He says to Valentina. "Would you care to join me?"

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina treats Keane to a slightly doubtful smile as she takes in how much water is coming off him and onto the soft furnishings. Nevertheless, it doesn't do to gainsay one's Elders. So she murmurs "I should be delighted Elder Keane" as she moves to seat herself next to him, managing to tuck the towel she'd been holding for Dukes in between herself and Keane as she does so.

The relief at pulling this off successfully is palable and she smiles at him again, more cheerfully this time.

To Grace she replies "I didn't think anyone had individually put enough blood in it to be a problem? It was the merest drop per person. And as for what happened to it... My understanding is not as complete as any of our Elders I dare say, but I was lead to believe the cup sort of... consumes it? In return for the blessings? So now you have all presumably been blessed, I assume the blood has been... used up? Certainly, the cup became dormant again."

She gives a little shiver. Being the cup bearer had not been the most pleasant experience, for all that the knowledge it granted was... Interesting. Very interesting indeed!

[Andross Blint]

"I believe it would have been noticed if there had been a pool of blood left within the cup after the 'blessing' magic was completed, as such i think it may be safe to assume that the given blood would not be used beyond that. The blood given was likely the catalyst to create a temporary bond between a person and the cup to allow a pathway of sorts for change to occur.
As for anything to fear from what we have partaken in, that would require knowledge on who was conducting such things and their intent, the source of what gives the cup its capabilities, its history and whether anyone else had influenced the cup. Out of those of us here, Elder Dukes is as Elder Keane stated, perhaps the most suited to answer your worries and given his suggestion to seek mediums, he perhaps has thoughts already that are unsuited for this location or atleast not for giving away freely.

Though i may be seen as silly in my youth for thinking this, i hold no fear in what may not be. What has occured has occurred and if there are consequences or a payment to be dealt with for said 'blessing', then i shall handle it in what way i can as time allows."

Complexities and intrigue can be seen ticking over as he speaks this, not an entirely familiar subject to him, but the basics, standard scientific thought and his own confident self holding his ideas together for the discussion.

[Jean-Jacques]

Jean-Jacques, looks at Grace for affirmation

Then speaks softly, to no one in particular

“There was no blood in the cup when I held it, indeed it was full of a spirit of a different sort”

[Manacledairman]

Aldrich's hand comes to rest on Grace's shoulder and he squeezes slightly as if to reassure her.

"Now judging by tone I suspect you are both speaking on a different event entirely. Perhaps it's something worth discussing at a later date once everyone's minds are clearer and we've all accepted and perhaps actioned the good sheriff's advice. Until then maybe it best to let it fade from your mind and attempt to relax as best as we can."

He smiles again reassuringly to Grace before turning to the rest of the group.

"I do very much hope that those assembled were gifted something worth being glad about from the Lupercalia ceremony itself. As far as can be seen what is done cannot be undone. But in certain cases it can be rectified." He looks to Jean-Jacques briefly and nods.

"Even if that means a long boat ride." He chuckles to himself.

[Jean-Jacques]

[Laurence]

Laurence locks eyes with Grace as she looks at him, purple eyes catching the firelight. His aura calming for a few brief moments before Aldritch squeezes her shoulder and his hackles are once more raised. He keeps his eyes on Grace, only flicking his attention to someone else when they actually speak.

[Lady Grace]

"Yes, everyone is correct. It's best put to it all to one side for a time,"
As she gazes at Laurence and the fire, Grace sits up and moves away from Aldrich slightly.

"The Night is over and it cannot be undone. We must live with the consequences as best we can," Grace smiles at Jean-Jacques finding some long overdue composure.

"I am proud of my clan and how we held ourselves, despite the many challenges and that bodes well for the future. Whatever it brings we will endure, or fail, but it will be together making the best choices each situation allows" she reflects.

"Jean-Jacques, many told me that as a mortal you were not of my clan, not of my Duty to care for you but my promise still holds. I still find it strange that our brotherhood is not understood by other clans."

"As to the cup. For me I still don't know why I feel like a new person but I do. Maybe that is a step for the better. So many told me not to fight the cup and it's wishes," she looks calm and collected. Focused at last.

[Laurence]

Laurence stands, taking his hipflask from an inner pocket and raising it high.

"Together we stand."

He states it simply, taking a drink before sitting down, with the tiniest hint of a twitch up at one corner of his mouth.