An Open Invite

[Lucius Servius]

Bugger. Down his coat, shirt and gloves. And nothing but two fours in his hand to show for it. This is what happens when you bet against a bloody tremere. So much for a showdown between the architect and himself...

"I dislike this game"

Lucius pours himself a glass of diluted wine. On second thoughts - perhaps something stronger. "I wish to partake in your tea clanmate. I am unaware of the sensation I am feeling at this moment. But i think a Brujah would recognize it. Its the feeling you get when you are about to lose. I do not wish to remember this over the coming nights and from elder Keans reaction earlier in the evening, your tea may well be able to help me in this endeavor."

[Jean-Jacques]

Jean-Jacques takes the opportunity granted by the distraction between the Elders at the card table to retreat to a chair towards the side of the room.

Entirely sobered, he takes a seat facing the unfolding antics, away from the others.

And closes his eyes

[Manacledairman]

[L .]

Aurelia snorts - unladylike - and murmurs a reassurance as she returns, catching Lucius' comment. The elder's hair is loose tonight, and falls in a glossy black curtain; it brushes Lucius' shoulder as she leans down, just beside him to slide a cup in front of his hands, the porcelin elegant and engraved with gold little leaves.

"Neh, drink up cousin." A wink. She makes a show of pouring it. Then returns to her own seat, putting the teapot between she and Dukes, and tucking her legs up with one daringly long limb bare to the upper thigh through the slit.

She pours herself, and Dukes, a refresh. "Anyone else brave enough? And by that, I mean to say, you are all brave enough."

"Non!" she cries to Aldrich's statement. "I have improved things. This is human blood, you will gain no nourishment from it but you can still use it to carry the poppy into the blood. From good men, too. Holy men."

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina laughs gaily. "The Tremere of Aquae Sulis are very entertaining aren't they? You are lucky as a domain, to have them!"

In response to his comment about reasons why they weren't going to bed, she outright sniggers, guessing the last reason. However not wanting to call him on it, she sighs theatrically and says in tones of comically exaggerated mournfulness "Am I not beautiful enough for you darling? I am wounded I tell you, wounded!" Then her face creases into giggles.

"It sounds to me as though your friend was covering up their lack and I'm sorry to hear you lost so much sleep over it!"

She pauses, her brow wrinkling in thought.

"An interesting thing.... Hrm...." She taps a finger against her lips thoughtfully. "Did you know that it was Napoleon Bonaparte who first added buttons to sleeves? For such a common fashion theses days I find it curious that it was only so recently thought of..." She pauses, suddenly realising not everyone is as into clothing as she. "Or is that not interesting enough?"

[Manacledairman]

[Anton]

Anton looks abashed. "I would be lucky to have the Tremere in my city sure, Envoy, if I lived in Bath."

"Oh. Wait." He paused. Looked to Keane with gnawing unease. "I'm in Bath now, aren't I? For Acknowledgement I mean? Or Acceptance, whichever one."

"... I need to speak with the Prince. I don't know if I'm meant to be staying in Taunton or here. Everything a bit mixed up."

He looked cagily at Valentina. "Heh, that's not for here. I'll speak to her tomorrow, and send a letter to Taunton. I'd rather stay in Bath. It was - my home. As a mortal. I know it a bit better."

"And Envoy Incorrupt! You are more beautiful than the images I have seen of Helena of Troy. So beautiful, indeed, I wouldn't dare tarnish the purity of such art. I would be... Anton the Injuring, then. Or defiling. Okay none of those work."

"The interesting thing has to be a factoid about yourself, surely! Or I could sit here all night and list off things. Say, I'll let you off, as we didn't know that."

"But in vengeance I'm giving you one about someone else in this room and not me. You have to guess who it is."

For this Anton dropped his voice and looked with some intent at Valentina, raising both his eyebrows fractionally. Listen quietly.

"So: " He winked, and settled back in his seat.

Speaking again at normal volume again he added, "Isn't that exciting? Who could it be? Better yet! Don't guess aloud, let's just move on. And think about that another time. Maybe later, when you're in Bristol."

[Posh-Tim]

Keane thinks for a moment.
"Yes I think so. We must check with Prince Fortesque though. I would not want her to think I'm trying to steal you away or something."
A little frown
"Actually, didn't she send you here?"
He regards him curiously.
"Anyway, this sounds like an enjoyable game. Mi- Ancilla Audley, it's your go now."
He looks at her with a childlike excitement.

[Valentina Audley]

"Not knowing where you reside must be unsettling, surely?" She asks curiously. But she doesn't comment further, feeling that here is probably not the place.

She giggles again at his statements of her beauty. "Then ours must be a chaste friendship, mustn't it darling? Lest you end up with an unsuitable moniker!"

Her aura floods with curiosity at his statement about the possible lack of reflections and she cannot help glancing round the room, as though she'll spot them immediately. Then her gaze returns to Anton and she smiles cheerfully at him.

"Dear me darling, aren't you a one for intrigue?"

Turning her head to Keane as he speaks she dimples a smile at him. "So it would seem Elder! I fear I may be to boring for this game though, so you will have to have pity and go gently on me!"

She thinks for a moment.

"When I was a child, I used to be very good at the game of conkers. I wasn't supposed to play, my mother didn't approve. So I used to borrow my brothers conkers and climb out of the window to join the other children at play!"

She laughs softly at the memory.

[Anton]