Waltz in the Windy City [V:tM 20th] - Main

[Esbilon]

As she sits besides Claire, still as a well-carved statue, Roxanne is relieved that her introduction to the city's powers that be will be through the Giovanni and not the Camarilla proper. The independent Clan can hopefully be trusted to keep a more open mind towards her checkered heritage than the more established power structures.

"Your wish is my command," Roxanne offers in answer to Lucretia's question with a bow of her head, "while also untrained, the Blood has given me rather greater powers of perception than I ever dreamed of having as a mortal. I am at your disposal," she finishes and raises her gaze to just below the Giovanni's eyes.

 

[WlfSamurai]

Argyle sits back down in his own folding chair. He steeples his fingers and leans forward on the rotten table. A long moment hangs in the air. He looks back and forth at each of you, thinking—or calculating.

“Bug,” Argyle says, breaking the silence, “you know the Prince. I’m sure she has feelers all over the city. I'm sure she already has several groups in different places looking. And yes, I’m sure the Sheriff is working on it as well. Leads? I have some info, yeah. I’ll share if you agree to the task.”

He turns to look at you, Dianne, so he can answer you directly. “No, I get it. That would have been my first question. But, I don’t have anything to give you. It’s a risk.” He shrugs. “You’d have to accept it AS a risk. But, if you agree to this, I can see if the Sheriff will meet with you—as a way to assure you of the Prince’s backing, maybe?”

“Clay,” he says turning again, “that’s not how this is going to go. In some ways, I don’t think the Prince wants an official investigation. She won’t want this tied to her name until there’s something to go on. Hell, I’m not even sure what the Giovanni will do. If I were the Prince, I’d wait for their response first. Then again, I’m not. And I’m sure as hell not Samiira.”

Argyle sighs and leans back in his chair. “So, is this something any of you want to be a part of? I should point out that if you say no, you will say nothing of this meeting. To anyone.”

Sherwood , Kassogtha , Lord-Leafar


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Lucretia smiles at you, Lily, while listening to you each speak in turn. She doesn’t take her gaze from the younger Giovanni—entranced with the younger girl. She fingers the stem of her glass and stares.

Then, she seems to notice the rest of you again. Her gaze falls on each of you before she answers.

“Chip, dear,” she says sliding her slender body into a sitting position on her desk, “relax. You will get what we have. That is, if you agree to terms.” Lucretia looks at you, Roxanne. “Thank you, dear. I knew you’d be up to it.” She motions to all of you with her glass. “If you look around at yourselves, you’ll see what the goal is here. Our family enjoys many benefits in this City because we have an…understanding with Prince Samiira. And it benefits her and us. We—the Giovanni, I mean—don’t want to damage that understanding. Not yet. Not until we have a reason. But, something has to be done. The key is, though, that I dan’t want Samiira—or anyone—thinking we’re just hunting recklessly. I want the help of the Kindred in this city. The best way to do that is by opening this thing up to more than jus the Giovanni. Make it seem like we’re working together, for now. And what better way than to have a diverse group—especially a Ventrue—working with us.”

She takes a sip of blood. “So, that’s the premise. Now, terms. I’m not asking you to do this for free. Likewise, you report what you find to me, and only me. And you keep your mouths shut about what you’re doing. And if the Prince approaches you, you point her to me. When you find this bastard, I want him or her or whatever brought before me so I can watch the pain in their eyes as I squeeze the un-life from their shell.”

“Now, if you do this, we will set each of you up with your own mini-domain. Say, a block or so in our territory. And we’ll set you up with a small herd.” She nods. “Okay, so what are your thoughts?”

Epiphany , Esbilon , Arynne , Red Shadow Claws

 

[Sherwood]

Dianne gives a slight frown, but she finally nods. "I suppose that will have to do. If there is someone out there causing mayhem, it puts us all at risk and it needs to be put to a stop. I am willing to be a part of that effort, so long as there is the understanding that we will be working with the blessing of the Prince. I don't want to be punished for killing another Kindred if our investigation turns to that."

 

[WlfSamurai]

Dianne, Argyle nods. "Yep, I get it. I'll see if I can get you some way to assure your political protection. I can't promise anything." He turns to the rest of you. "Anyone else? Thoughts? Concerns? Yay or nay?"

 

[Epiphany]

Lucretia's a hard one to get a good read on, and the terms make Claire's back tighten. But she nods agreeably enough, well aware of the dangers in appearing to disagree in public. Or in private. Especially in private. Especially since she's not sure she actually disagrees at all.

Someone or something was killing Kindred. Even if the Giovanni were on the verge of taking the law into their own hands, it was for an understandable reason and towards an understandable purpose. And the rewards were substantial, if somewhat less enticing given Claire's own hard-won circumstances.

"My thoughts?" Claire asks at last. "I suppose I think Chip there's going the direction I'd go in. Give us your leads, or at least what's known about the victims and we'll see what we can do with it. As my dear Roxy said, your wish is our command."

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

Chip nodded at Lucretia's words. Even as he asked his questions he knew it was needed mostly to rouse the others. Even when he started hearing about the deaths he knew he will agree to help. Slowly he rises from the massive chair they provided him, very luckily, cause a chair like the one that the Venture is sitting on would be too likely to crush under his massive and odd frame. But he rises slowly, knowing that too sudden a move could be seen as a threat.
"I do not have a lot of skills to help here, but I will bring whatever I have to the table to try and get to the bottom of this."

 

[Lord-Leafar]

With a click of his tongue Bug broke his silence. "I'll help, but know that I won't risk my life for some dead necrophiliac, if I have to choose between my unlife and solving this investigation, I'll choose my own hide."

He looked around the other Kindred gathered, wondering if they all shared his sentiment.

 

[Arynne]

Lily is not terribly surprised by the older Giovanni's rapt gaze. She has noticed that other members of the family either have the same reaction -- staring as if hypnotized -- or the exact opposite, looking away in evident unhappiness. Something to do with the past, and the murky story of how they became immortal, or so she gathers.

But that's beside the point right now. She smiles at the other Kindred, glad to see they are all agreeing to Lucretia's offer...for it was she who suggested they would.

 

[Esbilon]

Roxanne tries desperately to keep a hold on her thoughts, she more than most know just how unsafe those can be around Elders, or even juveniles such as herself. That the Giovanni would speak so freely before them, admit to less than full-throated loyalty to the Prince, admit that she wants things to seem like they're cooperating? This is not at all what she had expected of the master manipulators of the Camarilla, and she has no idea what to make of it. What she has picked up of Sabbat politics has done nothing to prepare her.

She keeps her face calm, however, that is rather more simple than keeping one's thoughts the same. "If we can enter the places they died, that would, perhaps, be a good place to start?" She offers hesitantly.

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

Chip's stony face sported a grin, which he tried to suppress at Roxanne's words. Doesn't she know that the places they died might be places that the Giovanni might not want us to even know exist?
He struggled with himself as well, because he was curious to see how many living and undead were there in the building, but he knew that doing so, if it is detected, might sour his relations with the Giovanni, and there was no reason to do so right now.

 

[WlfSamurai]

Lucretia nods. She empties her glass and puts it down.

“It’s all here,” she says sliding off her desk. She saunters over and sits in her massive leather chair. Reaching over, she shifts her monitor on its arm so you can see the screen. An Italian male’s pointy face takes up most of the monitor. “Francesco Ghiberti. We’ve kept him and his brood close. Mercenaries. Thugs. Muscle for squeezing, if needed. All Ghiberti’s. Only he was Embraced. Destroyed in his haven.” She clicks with her mouse a few times and a picture of a rundown church on the South Side appears. “Ghiberti’s run shop out of St. Thomas Church on South Kimbark. Francesco kept his haven there.”

Some more clicking and a Mediterranean woman’s portrait takes over. The woman looks young. There’s an eagerness in her eyes. “Sofia Giovanni,” Lucretia says, continuing. “She’d just been Embraced about a year ago. We worked her to the top of an insurance brokerage. She got us access to a lot of influential people. Kept an apartment in Hyde Park. We always had someone with her. Didn’t seem to matter. She was destroyed in her own home.”

A new picture appears. A Sicilian guy in a suit gives the camera a sharp, dangerous look. “Marco, another Giovanni, though removed. Kept a lot of flack off us with his law firm. He actually a nice place on the North Side. Bodyguards, ghouls, were killed before he was destroyed.”

Lucretia swivels the screen back and hits some keys, clicks a few times, then pulls a flash drive from under her desk. “It’s all here,” she says holding it up. “Any questions?” She crosses the room and hands the drive to you, Lily, while waiting for questions.

Epiphany , Esbilon , Arynne , Red Shadow Claws

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“Everything I’ve put together is in this,” Argyle says dropping a massive file folder on the table in front of him. “Not much to go on. Names and locations. Giovanni keep their people protected. I’d put money on them protecting the havens of the victims too. Never checked myself.” He flips the folder open and pulls three photos: an Italian man with a sharp face, a young Mediterranean woman, and a Sicilian guy with dangerous eyes. “Francesco Ghiberti, Sofia Giovanni, and Marco Giovanni. Rest is in here.” Argyle taps the file.

“Questions?”

Sherwood , Kassogtha , Lord-Leafar

 

[Sherwood]

Dianne steps forward and picks up the folder. "I have many questions, but I hope that most will be answered by looking through this. I will need to know exactly who we are answering to, and we all will need contact numbers for that person, whomever he or she may be." She then looks to the other vampires in the room with her that have agreed to help with this. "We will have to read through this together. While I may be a cop, I am only human," she smirks at that, "and I may miss something that the rest of you will pick up on. Once we have gone through this, I want to go to the locations that the killings have taken place to look for clues. Argyle, tell me, has the mortal police of the city had any contact with these cases? I don't want to try to look up something in a police database if there is nothing there to see and tip our hand in the city."

 

[Kassogtha]

Clay absently gnaws at his lower lip as information rolls in. He nods at Argyle, having just sorted his own thoughts enough to respond, if a little delayed. “Yes, yes. For the good of...” With a vague gesture of his hand he trails off as if lost in thought when really he is fumbling for more.
“I bet we can beat out the others, if there are any.” He narrows his eyes a little as he listens to Dianne, seemingly the one by far with the most experience doing this sort of thing. He indicates her with a finger, widening his pale eyes perceptibly at her.
“iI am thinking we have this in the bag if’n you take the lead.” He gives her a mostlt confident smile, crumbling just a little at the corner of his mouth. “Will you?”

 

[Sherwood]

Dianne glances over at Clay, then nods. "I can't guarantee that I'm the best choice to head this, but I'll do my best. I'd still like it if everyone would go over this material with me, just to cover our bases. Both of you have been vampires for a lot longer than I have, and you know more about the Kindred community than I do. You might see something that I miss with my 'mere mortal' point of view." She then looks over at Argyle. "I suppose we are set, once we get those contact numbers to call if and when we find something of consequence." Turning back to the other two vampires that she will be working with, she asks, "Does either one of you have a place to go to be able to read this stuff without, well, how do I put this? Scaring the crap out of the mortals around us? No offense to our Nosforatu, but you don't exactly blend in."

 

[Lord-Leafar]

Bug lets out a snicker "Alright alright, 'Home on the Range' and Miss 'Holmes', don't be sucking each other's blood just yet, shall we?"

Focusing his beady eyes on Dianne, Bug speaks again: "And let me give you a little advice, free of charge since you're clearly new at being a 'Lick'. You may have noticed that you have a reflection despite being a vamp, well so do we, despite whatever film, book, or novel you may think of when you think of the name Nosferatu, we know what we look like better than anyone else, so spare me the obvious bullcrap will ya? Speaking of which..." Turning his eyes to Clay, Bug continues with a subtle grin "...don't you own a farm or something there 'Lone Ranger'? Bet those cows of yours won't kick a fuzz about my good looks and will give us some privacy to get a good look at those files, you do have wifi over there don't ya?"

Spoiler: ooc

Folks if you think there's any information Bug wouldn't know about you, for example Clyde being a cowboy and owning some cattle, please let me know and I'll edit my post. I figured since being a Nossie and an information broker, general gossip of all the kindred in the city eventually reach Bug's ears. Also sorry for the nicknaming, just trying to get into the curmudgeon demeanor.

 

[Arynne]

Lily's fingers feel colder than usual, even to her, as she takes the drive. It's just starting to sink in that someone or something is killing those who share her blood. Who's to say it will stop with those three?

Lily is quite fond of her unlife, as it happens. She's been looking forward to seeing how cemetery design will change over the coming millennium. It appears less of a certain prospect, now.

"Did none of the dead remain as ghosts, then?" Or were they just remarkably unhelpful? her mind adds dryly.

 

[Esbilon]

From the context, Roxanne is pretty sure that little shiny thing Lucretia handed Lily contains the information she just showed them, but she really has no idea how. Claire got her that absurdly versatile device she refers to as a 'phone,' but calling it that is like calling it a paper weight. Sure it can do that job, but it's hardly the main thing. Maybe that stick slides into a phone? But the plug didn't seem the right size.

Showing none of her internal puzzlement, of course, she instead asks, "can we tell the people at these locations that we are working for you, or is it secret?"

 

[Sherwood]

Bug lets out a snicker "Alright alright, 'Home on the Range' and Miss 'Holmes', don't be sucking each other's blood just yet, shall we?"

Focusing his beady eyes on Dianne, Bug speaks again: "And let me give you a little advice, free of charge since you're clearly new at being a 'Lick'. You may have noticed that you have a reflection despite being a vamp, well so do we, despite whatever film, book, or novel you may think of when you think of the name Nosferatu, we know what we look like better than anyone else, so spare me the obvious bullcrap will ya? Speaking of which..." Turning his eyes to Clay, Bug continues with a subtle grin "...don't you own a farm or something there 'Lone Ranger'? Bet those cows of yours won't kick a fuzz about my good looks and will give us some privacy to get a good look at those files, you do have wifi over there don't ya?"

Spoiler: ooc

Folks if you think there's any information Bug wouldn't know about you, for example Clyde being a cowboy and owning some cattle, please let me know and I'll edit my post. I figured since being a Nossie and an information broker, general gossip of all the kindred in the city eventually reach Bug's ears. Also sorry for the nicknaming, just trying to get into the curmudgeon demeanor.

Dianne gives Bug a shrug. "Whatever. I was just trying to be polite, instead of saying that your face looks like a pile of dog shit that I scraped off of my boot the other day. But if you want me to play it straight, I will. Now Clay, does this farm of yours work for you? We can meet there if it does, and we can look over this pile of stuff.

 

[Epiphany]

Claire Courtright looks at the notable Kindred killed off and makes mental notes. The flashdrive going to Lily doesn't especially surprise the Ventrue. After all, this is a Giovanni request, why wouldn't it be run through a Giovanni? Instead of asking a question, Claire talks in an abstracted tone suggesting she's still thinking everything through.

"It's interesting that all the victims weren't just...well, self-absorbed, shall we say. Most Clans have a minority to a majority who think largely of themselves, who have to be pressed into service by others, who otherwise seem content with a bit of blood, savagery, and a place to put their feet up. All of the victims, though, had a degree of ambition with their ability. Each had something to offer the whole. I'm no expert in these sorts of things but it looks like someone's trying to wreck your capital so to speak, harm your top line by removing strategic assets. Hopefully the scenes will yield some clues for us to follow up on. Because if it's really a motivated conspiracy like that, the killer or killers will likely be well concealed."

"Rest assured, if there are clues, we'll find them."

Having said her peace, the Ventrue looks at Lily and says "I'm ready when you are."

 

[Kassogtha]

Taking a second to cast an eye down at his clothes- blue jeans worn in to perfect softness and a plain collared shirt in a color so over worn it is more a muddy gray than anything else anymore, Clay turns towards the Nosferatu. Having been working on his accent for many years now, trying to slowly wear it away into the perfect nothingness so many Kindred affect, he is a bit disappointed at the bold reminder of his own origins. Bummer.

Spreading his hands wide in a sort of innocent appeal, he nodd at Bug. Then subsequently at Dianne as well.

“The farm is fine, if you do not mind a little drive. Even at this hour the distance is marked.” He presses his lips flat against his teeth, almost sucking them in. “I...” he ponders his next words carefully.” I also have the bottom floors in a building not so far, it is also at our disposal for use if we have need.”

 

[Sherwood]

Dianne looks over at Clay. "Up to you. I don't doubt that my apartment is already known to many, but unless Bug can disguise himself, there are too many mortals around and they will raise a fuss. The building nearby sounds like it would be well suited to our needs; close by and private. I just don't want to intrude upon what may be your private domain." Someday soon, I need to line up a more secure sleeping location than my loft, a secret place to be able to go without anyone knowing where I'm sleeping. Probably keep the loft as my 'public' location.

 

[Lord-Leafar]

Bug shrugged. "Don't worry about mortals spotting me. As long as you have a place we can lock we'll be fine." Putting his hoodie up, the shadows of his face gave the Nosferatu a sinister look, despite his facial features being obscured by the darkness. Truly other than his face and the slight hunchback under his clothes, little could be seen of him that would alarm mortals once he hid his hands in the pockets of his jacket, but you get the feeling that his confidence stems not from his ability to pass as human, but from the powers of the blood "So Argyle, I know how to reach you but these two 'normies' don't have you on speed dial, any other contact info we should know about for when we find anything? Also, there's not like a time limit on this is there? Because you know that will be...costlier"

 

[WlfSamurai]

Argyle sighs at Dianne’s question. “I don’t know,” he says. “I haven’t looked through everything. I haven’t gone to the spots they were destroyed. I’m sure the Giovanni have some involvement in them. They’re not ones to back down. They like control. I’d put money them protecting these sites.

“As far as I know, the Police don’t know shit about this all. Meaning, the mortals don’t know this has been happening. And no, no time limit.” He stands. “It sounds like you’re ready to get started. I’ll leave you too it.” He pulls out his phone, asks for one of your numbers, and then sends you a text so you have his. “Report back to that number. And let me know where you decide to setup shop. Need anything else?”

Sherwood , Kassogtha , Lord-Leafar

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Lily, Lucretia smiles. “I like that you’re thinking about it already,” she says. “We have limited assigned protection around each of the three sites. You will be the first Giovanni we’ve sent. In fact, you will all be the first Kindred we allow access to each of those sites. After each attack, we kept them under wraps and posted resources on the ground to protect them. It was a long debate on what to do and how to do it. Long enough for two other attacks. Regardless, each location should be undisturbed.”

She smooths her long black hair over he shoulder and looks at Roxanne. “For now, keep what you’re doing to yourselves. This is a delicate time. Until we know more we don’t want to tip the balance, yet. The exception are the mortals we have keeping tabs at each site. They’re already informed and will be notified before your arrive.”

Lucretia turns to Claire and says, “Yes, I agree. Though, I’m anxious to have a real assessment before jumping to conclusions. But, it seems deliberate for sure.”

She stands and hands each of you her card with her number on it. “Whatever you find, you report directly back to me. That is my direct number. Now,” she folds her arms and leans on the desk. “Is there anything else?”

Epiphany , Esbilon , Arynne , Red Shadow Claws

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

Chip gingerly takes the card, being extra cautious to hold it gently, so as not to crush it. He gives a bow to the Primogen, as he was expected to do in his previous city, but with his newfound shape, he has misjudged the gesture, and everyone in the room can hear the fabric tearing, but at least it wasn't in the crotch, but in the seam between the arm and the torso. "My apologies, I am still getting used to this form." And in his head, he makes a mental note to have the tailor make adjustments to the cut, to make sure it doesn't happen again.
And here he was getting a direct number to a primogen, and he ruined the moment with that tear.

 

[Esbilon]

"Thank you," Roxanne says as she takes the card, her fingers brushing against the Giovanni's lightly. Unlike Chip, she is perfectly comfortable in her form, and curtsies gracefully and swiftly to the Elder vampire.