Saint Eloi - the Big Bell

Estela flinches involuntarily when she hears her name being called out by none other than Lyle. Perfect... Taking a deep, unnecessary breath, she turns to look at the Tremere, pretending that she hadn't noticed him before. She raises a hand to signal she heard him and begins to walk in his direction. Her eyes go to the officers miling about the church, but other than them glancing between her and Lyle, they don't move to stop her.

"Heya," she says when she's close enough to him that she doesn't need to raise her voice to be heard. She smiles too, but compared to her earlier radiant but slightly shy smiles, this one is clearly different, more guarded and cautious. Coming to a stop in front of him, Estela jerks her thumb in the direction of the police. "You sure you should be out here in the open? Seems like they're looking for you." Humor flickers in her eyes when she says this and her smile becomes more geniune, unable to pass up the chance of making the little joke.

Miriel looks at Frederic like he must be joking, but that the joke isn't in the best taste, considering. She waits to say anything, as he goes on to describe meeting Lyle. She chuckles to think about Kennedy's pipedreams about putting men on the moon, and how it came to fruition, and how ridiculous that sounds now.

She thinks out loud, I forget how old everyone really is. Blows my mind, still.

She blinks slowly, returning to the last topic with curiosity, So, this person you've heard about is also a young, brunette female? She nods, thinking, Bit of a broad description, but yeah, I fit it. I can see what you mean. Still, so does a huge demographic of women in France, undead or otherwise...

She shakes her head, But you're not supposed to tell a woman she looks just like someone else- We're supposed to believe we're all unique little snowflakes. Proposing anything less just sets you up for future disaster with the ladies, she reclines in her chair, Take now, for instance. I'm unsure we can ever salvage what we had after that, a line has been crossed, she gives him a pointed glance as she informs him.

She sets teasing him aside for the moment and returns to seriousness, But one last question, she sits upright, If your relic was supposed to be here, why were there other similar disturbances in Theodore's domain tonight?

The Regent can't contain a laugh, then smiles.
(Lyle) No, they're investigating whoever found it a good idea to bomb the Church. It seems it was just a coincidence that I was there... They've got nothing on me !

He smirks, amused at the idea that the police may be after him. It could so much be so, but the Tremere are good at getting rid of proof. He looks right, then left, then leans a little and whispers to the Toreador
(Lyle) Those poor bastards of the Sabbat. You shouldn't stay outside, it's dangerous. There may be more attacks. Want to come in and help me out with the servers ?


The prisoner smiles as the Toreador wonders about age.
(Frederic) I don't feel the need to flatter you, kid, you're not really to my taste. I wouldn't mind trying, though... As for other moves we made, well, we couldn't know for sure. Plus, fucking with the Brujah is always good fun. At least for those planning the attacks...

Estela's smile wavers then disappears as she turns slightly to look at the piles of rubble. A flash of anger goes over her face, then she sighs heavily. “Who in their right mind would do something like that to a beautiful building like this? Even if one doesn't belief in some deity or another, is it that hard to at least respect those that do?” Frustration is audible in her voice, the young vampire not understanding why anyone would do this.

Hearing that the Sabbat is behind this, she snaps her eyes back to Lyle, shocked and slightly fearful. She'd heard enough of them from both her Sire and since arriving here to fear them. “You're kidding...” It's clear that she's saying this out of surprise rather than not believing Lyle's word. Still, even with the possibility that there might be more Sabbat out there Estela hesitates on going inside with the Tremere. The girl nods after a few moments. “Alright...though I know very little about servers.”

auspex 4:

The Tremere seems touched about Estela's words about the Church, his eyes soften. He doesn't seem as much patient and as much in a good mood as the night before. He signs her to come in.
(Lyle) A presence like yours will help me work better, keep me focused..

He's not convinced about how, but it sure does seem that he'd like her presence. He closes the door behind her, puts his hand on the wall to create those blue lights to illuminate his passage.
(Lyle) You'll have to follow me closely. I wouldn't want you to get lost.

He doesn't wait for her to answer to walk. After going up some stairs, passing a few doors, grabbing that beaker, they arrive into a room, certainly about next to the actual bell of the tower, in a room filled with cables, cables everywhere, of all sizes, of all kinds, computer objects, and, indeed, an enormous amount of servers. It's hard to notice where the unique small screen is hiding, and it's off ; it's also missing a keyboard and a mouse. The loud sound of electrical tension has filled the room, certainly high voltage. There are coolers everywhere, as it seems it's running at it's full capacity. There are a couple of beanbags and one comfortable seat, the kind one use to spend long hours in front of a computer., which also seem to serve as tables as there are a few RAM sticks on them, as well as remotes, HDs, usb keys, a couple of DVDs with no label nor case, and even a couple of motherboards. Despite it being heavily informational, it's spotless, there's no dust, no hair, or anything indicating that someone has spent time there. It's just quite messy.
It kind of looks like this, or even this
Lyle walks in and puts his bag on the computer seat nonchalantly. He proceeds to turn on the few devices that are off, light included, as well as the monitor. It soon gets quite neon, due to the enormous amount of LEDs. Fans turn on, covering soon enough the sound of the electrical tension.

Estela sends a quizzical look at Lyle when he claims her presence might help him focus better. She certainly seems to doubt this, shaking her head a little as she enters the church and starts to follow him. “That'd be a first. Helping someone focus I mean. More often than not, people have claimed I only bring distraction after distraction, in a good way of course. Unless I'm busy on a painting.” A mischievous gin curls her lips “One of my friends from back when I still studied here tried to distract me while I was busy. Once. She left with a mustache, monocle and purple spots.” Her tone saddens a little at the memories that feel like they happened ages ago. “Wonder what happened to her.”

She falls silent for the rest of the way, only giving a sound of surprise when the Tremere magically creates light. When they arrive at their destination, the young vampire stares at her surroundings. “Well...this is unexpected. I can't say I imagined a server room to be like this.” Carefully, she steps over a bunch of wires, unwilling to get caught behind one and end up in a 'gracious' descent to the floor. While Lyle is busy with turning numerous devices on, Estela plops down on one of the bean bags, wriggling about to make it conform to her body. She leans back then, body relaxed and comfortable, a pleased grin on her face. “I gotta get me one of these one day. Beanbags are great. Estela gestures at the room. So, this here is all yours? Down to the last usb?”

Miriel offers a sly smile to what Frederic says, Yeah, I'm not normally into dinosaurs like yourself, she raises a brow with interest, but play your cards right and you may get your chance.

Back to business, Gotta admire your nerve, Frederic. Teasing the Brujah? She cringes, then smiles with some appreciation for his willingness to push people's buttons, Did the information you have on this artifact seriously suggest that areas of Theo's domain may be good places to check?

Lyle generally ignores, or doesn't respond to, any of Estela's reminiscing. He lets hear a "hm" every other sentence, letting her know she has been listened to. The Tremere takes his seat, puts the beaker next to the monitor, and turns towards Estela with a smirk.
(Lyle) Technically it all belongs to Wien, you know, Tremere HQ. Their money. But they wouldn't know what to do with it so.. And yes, those are quite comfortable, especially for when I or someone else has to spend the day.. Or concentrate for a few hours straight.

As he speaks and explains, he opens his computer bag on his knees, and takes out his Ipad. He hands it to Estela.
(Lyle) Here. There are some games in there.

He offers a knowing smile, as if "games" meant so much more. He turns back in front of the monitor which only shows some MS dos lines. He grabs a few cables, and connects one of them to his phone.
(Lyle) To be perfectly honest, I'm not in the best conditions to do what I have to, right now, this is why I need distractions. Let the sound on, and show me what you're doing every now and then, and make sure I am attentive to what you're showing me. Easy enough ?


Frederic allows himself to smile to Miriel's "flattery". He answers, again, on the side.
(Frederic) That's a question you should ask either the Brujah or the Tremere, young girl...

What Frederic said, however vague, has set Miriel's mind in motion. She smiles and nods as she glances over him, understanding what it is that he's getting at, A question for another time, then.

Her eyes linger on the chains that bind him as she glances, smirking at some inner thought. A couple of seconds pass in silence.

She snaps out of it, what looked like nostalgia on her features giving way to objective concern over the life of another being, Given any thought to seeing whether I can't get you spared?

Estela's eyebrows rise a bit when it is made clear that everything in the room was bought with 'Tremere money' and that they, probably the other Tremere Lyle spoke off, wouldn't know what to do with the money. To her, that sounds like they must be having millions stashed away. "Must be quite a bit of money your clan has then... It doesn't seem like any of this is exactly easy on the wallet. Impressive. Or is it normal for clans to have a whole bunch of money hidden around the globe?"

Accepting the Ipad, the young vampire leans back in the beanbag. His odd, meaningful smile makes the girl curious and she turns the device on. While it loads, she follows Lyle's movements around the room with her eyes. His words surprise and, if the very happy smile she attemtps to hide, somewhat flatter her. "Because of what happened with that car? Well,if you want some distraction, you've come to the right person! Well, you're asking the right person since I came here and not the other way around but....yea." She cuts her beginning wordstream off with a half hearted shrug and grin. "I'll be as much a distraction as you want to be!"

The Tremere laughs as he installs himself, connecting a few cables together, pulling down a HD tied up above his head.
(Lyle) They have no idea on how to use a computer. Money, they can always find a use... The Ventrue, as a whole, are far much wealthier. For us, money's a tool to trade, to blackmail, to hire.. It's not an end in itself.

As he grabs another RJ45 cable, he pulls it a little and connects it to one of the boxes which could be a CPU, when one looks closer, he adds.
(Lyle) The Sabbat attacking here were just the trigger.. The conditions ; I meant, being sober, thirsty, and stressed. I don't have the time to get high, I don't have the patience to go hunting right now, and being stressed is just a consequence of the former two. Distracting me means I shouldn't get too focused on this.

He browses through another machine, opens it, and takes out some sort of usb heating pad. He puts the beaker of blood on it, and lets it to the side, without connecting it.

Lyle's Ipad:

Frederic smiles openly when Miri asks her new question.
(Frederic) I wish not to be spared. But you do look like her.. What was your sire's name, hm ? You're..From Quebec, aren't you ?

“In this day and age?” Estela's clearly skeptical about the idea of someone not being able to use a computer. “Under what rock have they been living the past decade or two? And how on earth does anyone manage such amounts of money without online banking and what not?” She shakes her head, a half grin on her lips. “Guess that kind of makes you the odd one in the group then. If you're the only one capable of using a computer well enough. Well, aside from Claudia that is. Perhaps they can put that money to use by getting a crash course in computer usage.” She laughs heartedly when her imagination gives her quite the mental image of that. "It would no doubt be a sight to see!"

Her moment of cheerfulness changes back to serious, the issues voiced by Lyle being anything but a laughing matter. She does attempt a friendly smile though, to keep the air from becoming to depressing. "Well, I'll do my best to distract you from those things as best I can then. Though I have no idea how you'd go about getting 'high'. While I guess you could get your hands on the neccessary drugs, I thought that those things no longer work on us?" While talking, Estela glances at the Ipad in her hands, reading the opened email because of simple curiosity, and it didn't seem like there was anything secret in the message anyway. Unless it was coded of course. "On a side note, I think you may still want to finish your response to this Chris." Standing up from the beanbag, she takes the few steps towards Lyle and holds the device out for him to take if he wants to. "Also, I didn't know you could read Arabic."

Lyle pokes in a couple of other gadgets around. He finally rolls closer to the monitor, despite the obvious lack of keyboard and mouse.
(Lyle) That rock is Wien's Chantry. Very big rock, that is... They're far too full of themselves to be interested in anything that is new. Considering how quickly things change, I don't blame them. You spend years trying to understand how VHS works... And then all your research is worth nothing. Every year all phones should be changed. For century old Kindred who have trouble accepting the fact that the Earth goes around the Sun, this is madness. They mostly use ghouls and servants as far as banks are concerned, that or they convince the banker to greet them in the evening, they usually don't refuse when you have a multi-billion account. Claudia can type an email, but show her html... She does like the superficial aspects of technology, but she does not understand them.

The Tremere smiles as he observes the monitor. It seems he's concentrating as lines appear on the black screen.
(Lyle) To get high you have to drink from someone who's high already. Whatever is in the blood will affect you, on a lower scale, but still. Hm ?

He takes the Ipad back as she names the email. He erases the draft and closes the application before handling it back to Estela. He shares eye contact, but at that moment lines stop on the monitor. He goes back to it and they begin writing themselves again.
(Lyle) Chris can wait. And it's a little rusted, but yes, I speak Arabic, it was the literate language, as well as to carry on the occult knowledge back then. Oh, by distracting me, it implies not asking questions about what I'm going to do, the only answer you'll get is "Tremere secret", plus a nice lobotomy, courtesy of Dominate. And I'm not a gentle user of Dominate...

Miriel's eyes narrow quizzically at Frederic's questions; she smirks, I don't talk about my sire. We aren't on good terms-- or any terms-- at this point. It gets me down.

She gets up from her seat and collects the hobby knife again. She approaches Frederic calmly, willing to answer his second question in confidence, I'm from New York, actually. She adds something in what sounds like american-english, the only thing recognizable to a non-english speaker being "New York City," "Toreador," "French," and "Canadian." She winces with some measure of embarrassment in relation to what she said.

Linguistics- English:

She looks at him to see whether he understood her, and then explains herself as she stands before him, knife in hand, Now, I may have a knack for the occasional bout of senseless violence, but I'm a bit of a pussy when it comes to actually ending a life. If you want me to kill you, I'll have to drain you until you're a mummified husk to be able to get over the fact that I know you are a person, and go through with it.

She pauses, weighing options, Otherwise, you can wait for Lyle to get back and decide when to finish you. Either way, it's going to suck.

Frederic looks at the Toreador he hears Miri's English. He's thinking, trying to process it.
(Frederic) Touchy subject, is it ? This sounds.. familiar. See, in the Sabbat, rumors of feats carry on quite fast. I'm not a person, I'm a Cainite, kid. I don't care if it's you or the Regent, really. However, it may be on your best interest I say nothing to the Tremere.

Estela listens to the reasons listed by Lyle for many older vampires to not bother with recent technologies with half an ear, though her momentarily stumped expression at the mention of multi-billion accounts shows that she's still registering part of the conversation. A chuckle of amusement escapes her when it's pointed out that Claudia only knows the basics of technology and not the underlying workings. “Not like she's the only one who cannot read or use html. I wouldn't know what to make of it either. Just because I know how to get something to work, doesn't mean I know why it works the way it does. I guess that those in that Chantry just are to busy worrying about understanding something, instead of just accept that it does and just use it. It's not that difficult.” It's clear that she has trouble accepting the fact that there could be people, ancient vampires or no, out there who could barely use a simple cellphone. Or perhaps not at all.

She doesn't comment on the getting high part, though the eyebrows raised surprise show that the young vampire has taken note of it. While taking the Ipad back, Estela casts a brief glance at the monitor, then turns it downward to the screen she's holding. She then appears to do a double take and stares back up at the monitor where lines continue to write themselves, only now realizing what is happening. “Wha-?” The question catches in her throat and her eyes turn to look at Lyle. Caution appears in her features, though quickly replaced by stubbornness. “Really now, you don't have to threaten me with that. If you don't want me to ask what you're doing, you could just say so. I might be endlessly curious about certain matters, but I'm not about to make the same mistake as a certain cat. And for the record, I wasn't about to ask about what you are doing right now. More along the lines of, are you making those lines appear on the screen, and if so, how the hell are you doing that?” She definitely sounds genuinely interested in this.

Auspex 2, Perception + Subterfuge>5:

The Tremere doesn't let his eyes of the screen, as they move like if he was reading. The code gets more and more complicated as it seems.
(Lyle) Using something without understanding it is dangerous, and terribly boring. There's something I do share with my peers : I want to know it all, to understand it all. To answer your question, yes, this is my doing. How I'm doing it falls under Tremere secrecy.

He pauses an instant, blinking. He then smiles and speaks to the monitor.
(Lyle) Leopold you there ?

The voice that answers resonates out of some speakers that are certainly hidden in the global mess.
(Leopold) Yep my Lylou ! You should totally teach that guard dog of yours to watch out for electrons dude. And every time I see you, you're with another beauty.
(Lyle) Rufus has a hard time understanding the concept of planes, so don't you worry too much. As for Estela, she's my safety net.
(Leopold) That's so fucking unfair ! You get all the pretty girls.
(Lyle) She's still a corpse.
(Leopold) .. Damn.
(Female voice) I'm here to assist you on your task.
(Lyle) Excellent. Leopold, I entrust you with the mobile works and the 3G. Lisa, please have a look on the satellites communications. I'll browse the networks and the web afterwards.
(Leopold/Lisa) Okay.
(Leopold) Still it sucks that you guys don't have paradox. Or the technocracy..
(Lyle) Seems we'll have to look on other problems too. Everything that has happened tonight is going to be supernatural, so if we can avoid any pictures and rumors, and leave it to some drug/gang reckoning.. With a suspicion of terrorism. The police and the actual investigation, don't worry too much about it unless you find proof.
(Leopold) Sounds fair. We're off then.

The Tremere takes back the beaker of blood he had put to the side earlier, and puts it in front of him, observing it.
(Lyle) Very well. Let's see what you're hiding.

Miriel smiles passively while Frederic talks; she touches a finger gently to his jawline and inclines his chin slightly upward and left, Feats?

She looks over the exposed side of his neck and throat, pausing a moment for him to expand, should he feel so inclined. She carries on her examination in a calm, non-violent manner, like a barber sizing up the curvature of a neck for a shave.

She prepares the blade, bringing it close to the right side of his neck, but stops short, smiling as he corrects her, You know, you do have a lot of personality, "person" or no. Taking a moment to correct your executioner about where exactly you stand on the basis of person vs. predator? She shakes her head, her smile widening. She moves the blade away and lessens the pressure she has pushing up on his chin to look directly at him, No need to feel you should take the time to inform me; I'm not confused about what you are, what we are.

Reassuring though she sounds, she appears to pay no mind to what it is he implies about her "best interests," thinking out loud as she readjusts the inclination of his neck and returns the pointed end of the knife to its place, just over his carotid artery, You're no simple carcass, strung up to be butchered.

When the artery flexes and can be seen clearly under the skin, she presses the tip of the knife into his neck and slices downward along its length, for about three inches. She places the knife aside and then opens the slit in the artery by running her finger into it and along the cut, to widen it for blood-letting, You still have such a hard-on for death, though. Despite this. She seems to pout in disappointment while she waits for him to bleed out, undoing whatever healing begins by obstructing and cleaving the healing tissue with her finger.

“Guess you'll want to find ways to keep yourself busy when you get older then...” Estela answers a little hesitantly. She doesn't comment on it being dangerous to use technology without completely understanding the ins and outs, skeptical as she is about that. Having used technology without seriously wondering how it worked, the young vampire finds it a hard concept to understand. His 'Tremere secret' reply brings a bit of a grin back on her features, but she doesn't continue asking about it. However the spark of curiosity in her eyes show that she'd love to do so.

She follows the conversation with mild interest, eyes going over all the objects in their immediate area to see if she can find the webcam that must surely be somewhere around them. Leopold's curse when he learns that Estela's in fact a vampire makes her smile a little, but it is a somewhat saddened smile. She's not quite comfortable with that knowledge yet.

Spoiler:

As the conversation moves to areas that are mostly alien to her, Estela returns to the beanbag she'd used before and plops down. She browses through the different little puzzle and mind games on the Ipad. She pauses for a moment though when her mind connects a few dots, face turning away from the screen and to Lyle. “The attack on the church wasn't the only one?”

The Ventrue groans and moves as much as he can in his restrains. The Gargoyle steps a little closer, as if he was worried that the prisoner would leave or threaten the chains. It seems he had been tied up correctly earlier, as nothing cedes. He doesn't answer back and lets himself be bled. He frowns, grits his teeth, and waits for it to be over. His body tries to heal, but eventually, due to his undead state, and the lack of blood, gravity does the rest and he stops bleeding when his body and lack of pulse saves the rest of the blood to leave his body. A good two liters of blood has fallen in the meantime. The Beast is soon visible in his eyes, as his traits change, his fangs grow, betraying an inherent possible frenzy. He contains it, and tries to hide it, certainly by pride.
The Gargoyle observes silently, cautious, curious.



The Regent exchanges a look from his beaker to the monitor. It takes a few long seconds for him to notice he's been talked to. He turns to face Estela, the beaker in his hand.
(Lyle) Excuse me. Usually the only other person physically allowed here is the Gargoyle. Leopold is a fine guy, but he has as much tact as.. as.. Well, as me, actually. I just have better social skills.

He offers a small smile, probably quite a genuine one, but also a little odd, as if he was thinking of something else.
(Lyle) It gets complicated, when you grow old, much older than you should have ever been allowed to be. This is how I keep sanity, how I push forward my existence. Very few things can save me from boredom.

He turns back, playing with the beaker, making the blood turn in it.
(Lyle) Other attacks seem to have happened on Jacob's domain, as well. There may be others as well, this is why I asked Leopold to run a check-up. The Sabbat's running out of options. Not that they were any strong in Europe (mostly an ideological warfare, as far as I've noticed), but this...

He's not sure what to think.

Miriel watches Frederic bleed out, still wearing a frown. He begins bleeding more slowly. The more corpse-like condition of other vampires has always interested her, the particulars of her physiology being at ends with that majority, but this time it just proves problematic. She thinks on something momentarily. Glancing over as Rufus stirs, she beckons it closer with a small gesture, Approach if you like- I'll need you near.

Auspex 2:

Auspex 4:

As Frederic's neck offers no more blood, she returns to the rolling table to gather up the stake as she addresses him, Burn whatever blood you can, to speed this along. It's more of a suggestion than any sort of command.

storyteller:

If or when Rufus approaches, she turns to address it next, aside, You may have to help me. He'll need to be upside down. She glances at the stake in hand, then the chains on the wall, We need him immobilized for moving, as before. She holds the stake out for the Gargoyle.

Estela doesn't seem put off by having had to wait for a few moments for a reply. She gives a mild smile and shrug, muttering a 'don't worry about it'. The part about the gargoyle seems to have peaked her interest, but for now she doesn't make a comment on it, nor does she comment on Lyle's supposed social skills. His mention about his own lack of tact makes her chuckle audibly though.

His odd smil makes the young vampire a little uncomfortable, furthered by the subject of age. There's a flicker of worry too, but Estela forces it away, unwilling to think of things still way down the road. She only gives a nod to show that she's heard his words.

When the subject returns to the attacks, she's once again all ear. “So they have attacked other areas? Is everybody alright, aside from the Sabbat?” Noticing that Lyle seems unsure of the reasons for the attacks, Estela falls silent for a few moments, trying to get some ideas herself. “Perhaps,” she starts hesitantly, uncertainty clear in her voice. “Perhaps they just wanted to cause some chaos. Disrupt the usual routine here so that we all start running in circles as one unorganized mob...? Of course, I don't know what's usually done in cases like these because it's my first, and hopefully last, time, but I doubt that everyone calmly continuous going about their business...”

Frederic heals himself once the blade is out, groaning in pain and in thirst. He doesn't even take into account what was said to him.
The Gargoyle nods and steps closer as the Toreador asks him to. Rufus listens closely, observing the woman in the eye. It's almost as he was forcing himself to understand. He takes the stake and confirms what he was asked to do in a simpler language.
(Rufus) Freeze it. Then turn it head down.

Once confirmed, even by a nod, the Gargoyle stakes quite violently the victim through the heart (the end of the stake probably came out on his back), before opening the chains with the keys he had hidden on himself. He lets the immobile body fall like a sac on the floor. He takes him again, by the ankles, and ties him up once more, from toes to head. He makes sure to tie him higher on the wall, so his head wouldn't be too close to the floor. It's incredible that despite Frederic not being that tall or that heavy, but still a normal fit man, Rufus has such an easy time by moving him around. It's like he's done it all his life (unlife). He makes sure the restrains are well put, before stepping back, allowing the Toreador to un-stake the kindred.
(Rufus) Is it all, mistress Miriel ?


Lyle keeps playing with the blood for a while, curious. He nods as she speaks, letting her know he heard.
(Lyle) If it was just distraction, it's a waste of blood. And those who attacked here.. well they didn't know we were in. It seems we had no losses this time, it's why I think they're becoming desperate. That file of yours confirms it, actually. You know, fresh eyes are always the best to analyze a situation. Some will continue their night-life like usual, but others won't. I'll get back to them, after all, we do have a prisoner...

He sounded quite monstrous when he named the prisoner. He changes the subject, still playing with the blood, and staring at it.
(Lyle) While it's something all neonates should witness, I don't think you're to be considered ready yet. Tell me about your sire, how you became Toreador.. What did you learn ? It was in Madrid, wasn't it ?

Miriel watched as Frederic's neck sealed up, wincing with thought at his unresponsiveness. She turns and listens to Rufus confirm what it is she needs, smiling affirmatively as it takes the stake from her. She is about to nod to make it more apparent to the Gargoyle that it has understood her correctly, but it wastes no time skewering Frederic through with the make-shift stake.

Frederic's body makes an ungodly, bloody thud as it hits the floor before being grabbed up by the ankles and tied again. She raises a brow, impressed equally by Rufus' strength as she is with its attentiveness to her requests, Yes. Thank you, Rufus.

She smiles softly to it before turning once more to tackle the chore of bleeding Vonzel out.

She bends over slightly, examining Frederic's features while he's upside down, and the stake with which he is pierced through. Mindful of the existing damage, she experiments by pulling the stake out only partially, so that the wound at his back may bleed, but that the heart still remains pierced. She waits to see whether this helps her goal or not.

Estela shifts her weight a little on the beanbag and pulls her feet up. Her finger idly flicks over the Ipad, shifting through the lists of programs, though her attention is still with what Lyle was saying. She gives a bit of a wry grin when she speaks. “Well, the distraction part was about all I could come up with since they struck different locations at the same time. You might have more success with other eyes.” Not really in the mood to play with the Ipad, she places it next to her on the beanbag and folds her arms behind her head. “Is there any relation between the different sites attacked?” The young vampire gives a grin when she asks this. “Courtesy of crime series on the tv. Maybe there's something to it.”

Eyes widen in shock at both at the sudden change in Lyle's tone and the subject. She's definitely relieved to hear that she doesn't have to be confronted with prisoners and the likely interrogations yet. “Can't say I regret hearing that...M-My Sire?” She startles a bit at the unexpected, and obviously unpleasant for her, question. “Well, I didn't really get to know him. He...He was quite busy with whatever he did. Didn't spend all that much time with me, only just before sunrise and shortly after sunset. Why he picked me I don't even know. I ran into him when I grabbed a drink in a cafe that was still at the time and from there....” Estela shakes her head, shuddering briefly.

“I woke up in an apartment I didn't recognize, with him looming over me. Suffice to say I didn't believe a single word he said at first. Didn't want to believe it now that I think about it. Either way, I accepted my faith after a while simply because I had no choice in the matter.” Her voice is bitter and scornful as she speaks of her Sire. “He taught me some basics of the clans, the purpose Kindred have given the Theatre and how to run away and hide. Bastard threw me out the window after a few weeks of keeping me trapped in there.” The young vampire slowly falls silent, frowning a little and then turning her head away. “Guess that's the only thing I can thank his never ending paranoia for. Couple minutes later, the apartment went up in flames with him still inside and me still alive and outside, that USB you mentioned in hand.”

auspex 2:

Perception+Science>5: