A most unusual meeting

[Sherazade]

Oh be careful with your words constable. That thought flowed through her mind as she listened to them both. Hands were very delibrately keeping themselves visible, now she was finished with her tea. Palms were laid flat on the table, and yet in the moment either vamp chose to make a wrong move, if they chose to do such, she could be armed.

Fingers twitched as she got a whiff of Dabria's anger, a glint of pure amber flickering in her eyes. careful It was the voice in her head again, the presence of that barely awake. Be patient. Be certain she makes the first move She almost snorted, as if she didn't know that. Hands were resting easy again now, though she remained alert.

Amusement returned at Dabria's question, a faint tremor visible in her shoulders, she had the oddest urge to burst out laughing, which would be counter productive, so she left it alone, stayed silent.

[Undertaker]

"A corpse does not hold conversations with local law officials." There was a pause as he looked between the three at the table.. "We may not be alive in the sense that you have come to learn Constable.. Our hearts may no longer beat but we are not dead.. We are much more that." In the technical sense they where dead as door nails but in a spiritual sense they where very much more "aware" than any human could dream of being.

The goblet was taken up from before him and finished in a small sip, then cast away to the side of the table. Both hands came to rest before him and his weight repositioned on the chair be just that much more comfortable. "It is already the way the populace sees us" A hand lifted and directed towards Alexis. . "It is why she is here." Hand settled as it was previously and eyes settled back on Cinnabar.. This was all he had to say for the moment and he watched between the two of the them, Constable and Alexis..

[Sherazade]

A corpse does not hold... Oh dear her lips were twitching again, she really was in a strange mood, all of a sudden everything was funny. That no longer sleeping other in her blood was coming out to play tainting her aura even more strongly, turning the gold tawny in nature with a faint trace of black.

Brow lofted as she was singled out, but words, glance and gesture and now a light chuckle did escape her "I almost feel like I should rise and take a bow" despite the nature of the words, despite the chuckle she was not mocking him in anyway. "Still you are correct M'lord. The fact your kind does still walk as if alive" she placed emphasis on the words *as if Alive* "is why I am here, Because one has decided to target the most innocent among the populace" She made it perfectly clear, left no room for doubt, she had arranged this meeting not to protect his kind or even to make it possible for her to have a family, she had done it for the children.

[Undertaker]

The protection of his kind is not the main issue in his mind, he knows that certain beings within his realm held the mentality that they where gods and go about the lands doing as they please. This would obviously not be tolerated by the Prince or by the Kine government. "That is exactly why we are all at this table Alexis." It was bad for both species to have innocence reaped so carelessly.. Slayers would come for the kindred no matter innocent or full of guilt, he knows how most hunters think and they shoot first and ask questions later.. Alexis is one of the rare few who are an exception to this.

"I just regret that it took the reaping of innocence to spur this meeting.." There was a short pause there as the Brujah looked away for but a split second before eyes settled back on Cinnabar. "Perhaps now we can work together to prevent such atrocities of happening again" And now the choice was theres, the Prince has extended the proverbial hand of friendship..He's willing to take the steps to peace between the two opposites.

[Cinnabar]

Still listening quietly, for all that the Countess' question has him raising a brow as he perceives the likely intent behind such a question.

"I would strongly caution against any attempt to describe the citizenry of Myrken Wood as livestock, my lady. It is not appropriate." This polite rebuke delivered with a definite chill, his views on such a way of thinking more than clear.

To the Prince, then, he nods diplomatically. "Then we are agreed that your kind are not merely corpses. You give every impression of being thinking, reasoning beings, so we can also agree that neither are you beasts. This being the case, I would tend to the view that since you can reasonably be held responsible for your actions, you should thus be expected to abide by the same laws which govern the other citizens of Myrken Wood. In return you would enjoy the same protection under the law." A sip of tea to wet his throat, or perhaps buy him time to consider his next words.

"This would, of course, impact upon certain of your activities to some extent, though I believe that it should be a fairly simple matter to adjust and adapt." Grey eyes flick between the Countess and the Prince, quietly gauging their reactions to his thoughts so far.

[Sherazade]

Ahhh constable you have an uncanny knack for finding the words that prompt me to revelation... This time the newly woken voice and her own were as one, for the space of a candle flicker, the gaze that was still upon the prince would be pure amber, would completely eclipse all signs of chocolate, before it faded to a mere flicker.

"For some it may not have much of an effect" She knew she would have to offer an explanation and all would see the small signs of discomfort it was causing her. "I've known some vampires, one in particular who fed mainly from cattle. Infact some have eclusively used porcine blood" She took a breath let it out slowly for the next part was harder to get around, to phrase. [i}why have i led such an interesting life[/i] It was a thought that any other time would have made her smile. "When i say mainly i mean that he had a trusted friend, a mortal companion who would give him the ocassional goblet fresh from the vien. It wasn't necessary for him, but for the companions protection, his flock had very definate views on why she should be dead."

Again she paused and got to the point but not before her mind flowed with the thought I'm keeping my promise Rimmon Her right hand rose and rubbed against her neck right over the scar for a moment before falling away. "I'm stating this because I dont believe its necessary for them to have human blood, i wish to know if such is true"

She may not have stated it but all three listening to her words were sharp of mind.. question would be which mind would be the first to grasp that the vampires companion had been alexis herself. Of course it would aso reveal how she had come by alot of her information on their inner workings.

[Undertaker]

If the Constable was looking for a reaction from the Prince he would find it not. Expressionless the Prince sits across from him. Cattle? He looked towards Alexis for a small second before thoughts where turned back to the issue at hand. "I do not believe you have had much of a problem with those certain issues in the past m'lord, you shall not in the future." The Prince knew what the Constable was talking about and had nothing further to really say on the matter.

There was now as there had been many times this evening, the prince sitting there watching between the both of them in silence before answering Alexis "no" then his full attentions returned towards the Constable. "Now.. There is the issue of the recent murders.. I have my suspicions of course as I am sure you have your own.. I believe we could gain much more insight to this situation if we ..how do you say.. put our heads together." He leaned away from the table into the back of the chair and watched them again.

[Dabria]

Oh these breathers, they were starting to rattle the back of her teeth, of course none of that is relayed in the gentile smile which rest firmly upon her lips. She too has finished the drink that was sitting before her. The empty goblet resides close to the one used by her Prince, ahh there is irony hidden somewhere, it peirces her lips so...

But then what is this...Eyes cut to Alexis as her thought wounder to things of the past, she had noted the scaring when they first met, but seeing what her line of work was. The countess took if for a hunters misteps. But now this, this tastey secret. Oh she would hold this till the time was right, culture it, cherish it, and gift it to the world when she deems it necessary...

Now to the dashing Constable and his though provoking words..

"I find it amazing how you can so easily set yourself above another speices, such as catttle, deer, or any other mammals...A Pack of wolves for instance. There leader is selected, they mate for life, they have family units, the females birth and rear their young till adulthood. They are for all intensive purposes a community. There is even thought, and language. Because you do not understand it...Doesn't mean it doesn't exsist. Yet, wolves are slain without thought, for food....For clothing, and in some examples for fashion...

A pause as her eyes slip to the Prince, for no real reason. Save perhaps some inclinge that only she and those who linger within her may know.

"What i am getting at Dear Constable, is that No, I do not nor have I ever considered your kind "Livestock" as you so crudly put. I consider you what you are...classification Mammal, sub-class Human."

Of course she leaves out how high on the food chain she believes humans to be....But she continues, finding in the end conversation, and debate will be the best way to ease the buiding anger at the lack of courtious shown.

Adjust and adapt?!!
Porcupine blood!!...

"A simple effort?..Why is it those who suggest dramatic change in anothers life find it simple enough?..Perhaps because it is Not them who have to make the sacrifice....Though I must say indefence of my own personal needs, No life has been taken in close to 300 years....Can you say the same about your last meals?....


She was quite ready to debate the pro and cons of both human and Kindred eating habits and dietary needs, perhaps they should all have to adapt and adjust....But soon the conversation shifted to a sadder point of interest..

"Yes this is something I believe we can all agree on, as in all races. There are those few whose perversions pray upon the innocent. But as we would never think to assume that if one of your society were to have engaged in such an act, you all need hold the stigma. We would hope you would grace us with the same line of thinking...

Another pause as she looks to that empty goblet..then back to the constable...

"As my Leige has stated we have been looking into this on our own, and hold a suspician. but until there is anyway, to tie without doubt this indivual to the crimes, it is unfortunately just a suspican, and would do your laws no good....Ours on the other hand, need not so much....

It was almost a request...Let us deal with the coward, for only a coward, or the insane would take from ones so little....thoughts strike to her sister for a brief moment, there connection their weaving of memories, in the Malkavian way. The Lady Dabria held very unseemly taste, of course she was a sociopath..A fractured damaged mind....But she is not the cause of this nightmare, for she has been in the deepest sleep....A place where the Vampire go, when the world becomes to much.... she is watched, by the others....the Countess and the Mistress. She has not stired for some 6 months....

This silent pause was now lingering as she looks to the three..Her Prince strong and coy, as he works to find common ground with the Constable, loyal to his law, sharp in mind...Would he have the strength to build this peace?...
And finally she is left to the hunter, as the men talk trade, she leans closer to Alexis, it is not a rushed violent gestures...No it was a smoooth slide over, and a whisper, though just loud enough for the other to hear....

Ms. DeMarshay...are you feeling ill?...you seem to be showing faint traces of black about you....

That smile was still there, Gentile as every...

[Cinnabar]

Alexis' words are listened to quietly, perhaps with a faint nod at the suggestion of using blood from sources other than humans; the meaning behind her words have him raising his brows slightly, regarding the huntress thoughtfully as he sips his tea once more.

To the Prince he offers a firmer nod. "Absolutely. It is in everyone's interest to see the matter properly resolved."

And then the Countess speaks, and Cinnabar sets his mug down firmly. A slight frown creases his brow, clearly nonplussed at the lady's speech, and it takes him a moment to properly compose his thoughts before he might reply.

"To compare people to brute beasts - domesticated or not - is inappropriate, my lady. Presumably at some point you walked in daylight and lived and breathed like anyone else; I find it amazing that you can so thoroughly turn your back upon the rest of humanity, to the extent that you seem able to view your preying upon them as natural, or even justified. Even wolves do not devour their own kind." Stern disapproval in his tone, a veneer of politesse over deep outrage. The Constable takes deep breath as he marshals his patience, then speaks on.

"If you are determined to view humanity as no different to any other kind of beast, consider this: animals struggle against their hunters. No creature willingly lays itself down in the jaws of a predator. Many flee if possible, but if that does not work they will resist, as a stag at bay will endeavour to gore the hounds that pursue him." He regards the Countess coolly, flecks of silver visible in pale grey eyes.

"It is not the way of humans to suffer the continued existence of those who prey upon them. Wolves that take livestock are exterminated without remorse; mountain cats that take children are hunted and slain; why should it be any different in your case, if you see fit to appoint yourselves as the wolves?" Growing vehemence in his tone, leaning forwards to glare at the lady, as if to emphasise his point.

"If you cannot see the wrong in what you do, if you cannot admit that it is an unnatural thing to feed upon the lifeblood of those who were once your fellows and peers, if you consider it instead to be the way of the predator feeding upon prey, then any negotiations between us are doomed from the start. If you wish to portray your habits as somehow akin to the farming of cattle for meat then you betray your true attitude towards humanity; if you are saying that you somehow hold the moral high ground because you drink the blood of humans rather than eating the flesh of animals, you are a hypocrite. If you insist on viewing it as some right you hold over the rest of humanity, some innate privilege you might lay claim to through whatever it was that remade you into what you are now, then we may as well end this conversation now because it is clear ther can be no compromise with such arrogance." By now he is standing, fingertips pressed to the table, glaring with barely-restrained anger at the lady.

"I will say it plainly: the situation as it stands will no longer be tolerated. There will be change, on that you can depend. If you are willing to be reasonable and adapt, we will all have the opportunity to prosper in greater safety than has yet been known. If you are stubborn or refuse to change, you will be buried. It is your choice." A nod to the Prince, to the Countess.

"Sir. My lady."

[Dabria]

"Calm youself, Constable. You will not last long in your present professional, if you can not have a calm and thought provoking debate about opposing ideals.....

Her head lifted a little, as eyes shifted to almost look down her nose on him... Her speech haut. Carrying deep grains of regal sophistication. she is not tempted by his outburst.. Or his anger, they do not trickle a smile upon her lips. If any of his hateful words injured her, it showed not.

Consumite Diplomate, she was....

"First, Do not Throw the term Humanity at me. Like it is some great chalice of virtue. For like you said yourself. I was once like you, and I have the scars to prove it. I know what humanity does to those who are different. Your humanity enslaves those they do not deem equals. You hunt for pleasure, you hunt for trophy. You state that a wolf does not devour its own kind, it also does not hate...It does not kill for any other reason, but food and protection. Your humanity cannot say the same....

A pause, her own words growing in discord, though her tone does not rise, nor does her look show the growing impatients at the small minded being before her.

"And yes I know very well, that my kind kills, for all reason. And that many of them hold little care for life of any kind. living or undead, but those traits can be trailed back to our once human ways..For all of us were human once. Our very creation came upon by a human acting without humanity...."

Those words, did cause a more reactive pause, as she thinks back to her own creation..She remembers dying, and waking again, but not in a heavenly dream....No she awoke in a hellish nightmare...

"I'm sure you will find this a mut point. But in truth, we are victims, Save a very very scant few, most of us were not giving a choice. Most were attacked and changed with no other option. Do you think this is the life i wished?...To live in a nightmare century after century after century...Do you think I invited the madman into my cell?...i was ready to die, my madness in life, cursed me to a convent for the disturb. Because humanity hides away the sick in damp putrid prisons, label devil touched. We are bannished from the light.. And I was ready Constable. Ready to meet whatever maker awaited me in death. but I was not giving that chance. And Now I have been spin within the web of the first crime. Forever to carry the sin of our first Father. Heaven is no longer waiting. And I am stuck in purgetory....

Can he see the tiny cracks in her vision, the tremble in her voice?....It seems his words lead to a hurt, and old hurt...

"I have not been in this land long, but my sister has dwelled for some years, before her slumber. I have never taken what was not offered, nor has a life ended in my hands...you said The wolf kills the livestock, the buck gores the hound, the cougar takes the child..Do you know why?...The buck defends, The wolf and cougar held a hunger, and as you push further into their land, as you kill the deer and other forrest things that they would use to feed their cubs. They do what they must, to survive. Yes Constable, we all do what we must to survive. but none of those beast as you call them, did what they did out of hatred or jealously or greed or lust. These are what drive your blessed humanity....These are things that drive man to kill man....And that is something that is human nature alone....

Oh and Constable, I never meant to insinuate that we were the wolves, I was comparing them to you...you are the wolf....

Another pause as she motions to his chair....

"Now sit....If you let a simple disagreement to break this talk, you will not become the man I see you being....

Yes sees.....she sees much, visions of future victories, and hard choices....But only if his couage holds strong, and he opens his mind to the grey in between the black and white..

[Cinnabar]

Though his expression remain irritated at worst, there is an anger in his gaze that gives the lie to his relatively mild demeanour; there is an instant, the merest flickering of time between one second and the next, when he seems poised to lash out at this person who dares condescend to him, ; who sneers at the faults of humanity as if she no longer suffers them herself; who wallows in her self-pity as if it somehow makes her right, or justifies her habits.

Then the moment is past, and that anger is gone as quickly as the fire from water-doused coals. A breath drawn in slowly, and exhaled through the nose. Fine. Very well. He resumes his seat as if the exchange had never occurred, sipping his tea and looking to the Prince, the Countess disregarded utterly. The change is perhaps startling in its abruptness, not a trace of his previous ire visible, and his tone is polite, courteous, even.

"If you have any information pertaining to the murders, sir, I would appreciate it if you could share it. The information I have is sadly limited to the bare facts - that the victims were youths and children; that they were found dead with not a mark upon them; that they had been quite thoroughly drained of blood, none of which was found at the scene. What more can you add to this, sir?"

[Sherazade]

Alexis shifted a little uncomfortable as the countess leaned closer, spoke those soft words. "I'm fine tis merely a headache"

oh now you know your lying sweet alexis. I am sooo much more and we both know it The voice in her mind, that waking part of herself taunted her again. The knowledge that it was a lie flickered breifly within her gaze but she would say no more. Instead her gaze went to the constable, was he about to tear down the fragile bonds being built in this meeting.

For the moments while everything was all up in the air she was on tenderhooks, watching for the slightest gesture from anyone that indicated trouble. But then all he did was calm himself, state the facts of the child murders quite plainly... it was a measure of how controlled that alexis was, that sherefrained from breathing an audible sigh of relief, and yet her relief was still written upon her face.

Now of course she would await the response of the prince, or the countess if the woman again chose to answer for him.

[Undertaker]

For the first time of the night there was the smallest of visible sign of emotion within the Brujah Prince, a sigh came to sink his shoulders down with the slightest of movements. "That is enough Dabria." An angry Constable is not what the Brujah wanted and Dabria seemed to be be getting him a little bit hostile. There was a look that was given to Dabria, void of an expression but it said so much with so little.

Attentions shifted towards Alexis and her behavior is noted with a brief silent stare before looking back towards Cinnabar. "She sometimes forgets that humanity is the one thing both our kinds must keep with us, less savages we wish to become." There was another small glance towards Dabria, kind of a reminder. "It is obvious as to the how and what." A small pause then as attentions shifted between the constable and Alexis. "And I have my suspicions on why and who." and he just stopped talking, eyes focused on Alexis.

"I received a letter from a particular cainite before the murders." Eyes slid from Alexis back to the Constable. "Commanding me to step from mine throne or else.. As I'm sure you've gathered I will do no such thing. I believe the murders where to gain my attention, this one showing that he is above the law.. I assume this because of the time between his appearance and the murders.. And now he has disappeared I do not know where but there has been little to no trouble between us before he arrived and after he left.." He laid it out, at least what he believes to be the truth though no names where offered at the moment. "This is all assumptions however though I seriously doubt that it could be anybody else considering the timing of all concerned." The prince now sits back a little and watches, listens to those around him, taking all three of them in now, Dabria now about to be put on a short leash.

[Sherazade]

That stare only made her more uncomfortable, she felt as if she was being stripped to the bone, as if every part of her was being put on display for the three others present, even if they did not pick up on all of it. Still she had not missed the small sign of emotion, she simply chose not to draw attention to it.

You know who he means sweet Alexis It was the voice again you've talked with him about this

*oh shut up and leave me alone* Her mind fired back at the voice with enough fury that anger showed upon her features

I can't do that.. I am what you will be. I am you Alexis, accept me, do not fight the inevitable

Alexis gave this inner voice no answer, simply listened to the words the prince spoke and fought to maintain her composure in the face of a growing urge to ... well to run through the night, as swift and fleet footed as a panther.

More to keep herself from dwelling on that path of thought she spoke once the prince had finished, "Given the timing, our earlier discussion of this, I agree it certainly seems likely, this other is responsible" Her gaze slid towards the constable now chocolate depths avoiding dabria "even assumptions when piled together can show the truth, still we should tread carefully" She was starting to feel more at ease now, they were returning to what she did best, piece together informatio and then track the culprit "One bold enough to take such an action does not fear a hunter, nor the retribution of his own kind"

That was a disturbing thought, those last words of hers wasn't it for such corruption if it continued to exist within the vampire community would spread like wildfire among the young, A fact a charsimatic vampire could take full advantage of.

[Dabria]

The Prince's rebuke cut her deep, though it was not overly surprising. This truly was not the time for such a discussion, it so easily becomes polarized and that would pull away from the matter at hand. So she would let it stand as is, knowing the Princes mind. It puts him in a good light having to leash her in, admonishing one may say her opinions.

"As you wish...My Leige"

Came her responce, strong and crisp. A demur dip of the head playing at subservitude, to the Constable true, that her Prince word is law, and is not to be fought.

As they speak of this other, her eyes fall upon the Hunter who wisely averts her eyes, from this piercing stare. Though her sensitive nature in the matter of all thing mindful, cannot help but pick up upon the dual conflict within. It would have only taken one with the basic of such a ability to discover such a loud termoil, and she is far far from novice. In her time she has plucked thoughts from some of the strongest mind. And there is of course her own past with her sisters...and the network. To hear such voices slip out from another, in almost natural. A deep smile curls upon her lips...

"Who are you?...

Came a question left somewhere out in the beyound, perhaps testing the waters....Waiting for a reaction from the hunter, and a responce from the hidden one...