Le Grand Théâtre

Miri's eyes lower as the answer to Jerome's question materializes. She answers simply, He may be dead, for all I know.

Auspex 2, Perception 3, Empathy 3:

Auspex 4:

She shakes her head and smiles again, her eyes passing over her surroundings before returning to Jerome.
But I am still here, and in France. It is a good place for me, I think. It warms me.

I see, well then may you enjoy your stay in our fine city, Jerome declares encouragingly, quickly moving away from the emotion-charged topic.

Though it may not be included in my official duties as Mandataire, please, he continues, placing a hand on his chest before opening his palm toward her in a gesture of sincere offering, the gesture taking on an unintentional noble-esque feel when combined with the man's meticulous, black suit and quiet manner, Feel free to ask of me if you are in need, and I will see what I can do for a fellow cousin. Are you enjoying the festivities so far?

Miri touches a hand to her chest to show Jerome's gesture was warmly received. I'm at ease already.

She grins and brushes her jet black hair behind her ear. I am very grateful for your kindness, Monsieur. And yes, I am enjoying tonight. Bordeaux has not disappointed me. It's a wonderful thing to gather together, even as strangers. Miri smiles as she sips from her glass before her dark eyes return to drinking in the rest of the spacious room and its inhabitants.

It isn't long before she has become curious again: May I ask who those three are?

She motions across the way, to a looming sort of man and a woman who are being spoken to by the man whose blood was tasted earlier in the evening. They seem to be taking turns staring holes into this direction. She leans over and lowers her voice...

Jerome, Claudia, Auspex 1:

She shifts a little as she rises again, speaking normally and chuckling dismissively. But then again, I'm an easily excitable person.

Claudia offers Jerome a smile and her grab loses in strenght (despair ?) as a response to his reassuring gesture. She keeps silent as the two Toreador talk about clan matters. When Miri talks about her Sire, Claudia looks slightly away, and it's noticable she looks towards Lyle Kersten.
She only allows herself to talk when Miki asks about the identity of the Kindred. Her voice shakes slightly.

The man with curly hair is my Regent and Primogen, Lyle Kersten.
She might be avoiding something else to say about him. She recovers a bit a normal voice with a small smile.
The woman with a bun is Corinna Ansons, the Chantry's librarian. As I, they are of the Tremere House. The third person, whose blood I tested, is Duncan Oliver, of the Brujah Clan.

Slowly, Claudia's eyes begin to tear up with blood, but she doesn't seem to notice, yet.

Mr. Kersten is probably overseeing I stay where I belong.




Lyle, who didn't seem to care much, although he had noticed Claudia was distracted, now turns his heads to stare right at her. He doesn't look very concerned, but he does seem to be ready to act.

Perception 2, Empathy 2 or Alertness 2:

Auspex 2, Perception 3:

Occult 1:

Occult 3:

Before the Toreador can hazard a guess of the other group's attention toward them, he notices Claudia's reaction. Contrary to Lyle's apparent lack of concern, Jerome blinks in alarm and surprise when he sees the blood begin pooling in Claudia's eyes. He bends down and whispers something in her ear.

Miri, Claudia, Auspex 1:

Miri listens to Claudia, but her curiosity begins to wane as soon as Claudia begins tearing up. She continues listening, but to avoid any sort of prying eyes and ears from noticing the hush in conversation, or beginning to gawk at Claudia, Miri produces a small handkerchief from a pocket, passing it to Claudia on the sly as she closes the whispering gap.

Ah. It makes sense that the first two would have directed some of their attention here, to a fellow clanmate. I must seem so suspicious, walking up to strangers and making my own introductions. She smiles, but her eyes aren't complementing the smile this time around. She has her back partly turned to the three across the way.

Jerome, Claudia, Auspex 1:

Jerome, Claudia:

Auspex 2:

.. I am ?

Claudia lets go Jerome's arm to put one of her fingers to touch an eye and observe the blood now on her fingers.
What.. ? When d... ? Thank you, but I'll use mine.
She refuses the handkerchief with a disturbed smile and a shocked face of the sight of her own blood. She turns to the wall to distance a bit herself from both Toreador, and looks for her own handkerchief in her pocket. She uses it to clean up with haste. But her eyes don't stop tearing, which makes her freak out a bit more, and it worsens the situation, as some bloody tears make their way to fall on her dress and on the floor.



(Lyle) Mr. Oliver, if you'll excuse us... Ms. Ansons, would you mind coming with me ?

Lyle's tone of voice is more like an order than a request, and he doesn't wait for permission nor confirmation to approach calmly but with determination. Claudia heard her Sire is on his way, which makes her shivers with fear, but also forces her to try harder to contain the problem.

Jean-Pierre Griffin makes his way towards Claudia as well, although he looks more concerned.
Alicia Vandenstree's strident voice stops Griffin midway through, and he gives her the death stare of hell. Franz Derijk notices it and sides with the harpy.
(Alicia) What's wrong with you, little flower ? You botched your test ?
(Franz) She can't handle Brujah Blood !
(Jean-Pierre) What do you both care ?

Sixth Sense, Danger sense, Auspex 3:

Auspex 2, Perception 3, Empathy 2:

Ms. De Boucher, it may be wise to stand back. Jerome "counsels" though he himself doesn't move from his spot as he stares intently at Claudia. The Toreador's face is a mask of controlled confusion.

Perhaps it would be best to take an early leave of tonight's festivities, wouldn't you agree? He says to Claudia, trying to calm her with his own firm voice (though he avoids calling on his Disciplines for the moment).

Corinna follows the discussion about Bordeaux and its political problems silently, and, though she does look interested, she makes no remarks to interrupt either of the men, only nodding from time to time and smiling at some of the remarks they make. Her smile grows a bit wider as Lyle mentions his ambitions to take over the world, and she nods in approval.
As Celine approaches them, she instantly hands her her empty glass and takes another one, though it seems she forgets about the new vitae instantly, as she doesn't even sip from it at all.

"One would think short-term goals are easily dismissed in ploys by older Kindred", she finally adds in a quiet, thoughtful voice, "but one who thought that would be quite wrong."
She shrugs slightly after those words, then directs her attention away from both men, as if leaving the conversation to them again, but it's evident that she still listens.

Or did listen, as once she directed her gaze back to the Regent who is now staring at Claudia, she joins him in doing so and frowns heavily at the events, moving her lips.

Auspex, Perception 3:

Auspex AND Linguistics 3 (with an anglo-saxon language) or Linguistics 1 (german):

The Tremere sighs quietly as Duncan moves out of the way, giving her a better view on the Toreador and her clan sister, but her frown worsens considerably - and visibly.

"Of course, Regent", is her answer, coming instantly at Lyle's request, and she only mutters a short apology towards Duncan without even looking at him. She stays a step behind the Primogen, joining in his speed and not looking too overly alert, but still slightly frowning and definitely not smiling anymore. Her eyes are focused on the back of her clan sister as it's the only thing she can see from her.

Auspex 2:

Claudia takes the time to give a warm smile to Jérôme's suggestion, she seems a bit calmed, but her Sire's presence affects her, while she's still keeping cleaning up after the blood coming out. Her eyes are unusually piercing, and she tries to look away.

Auspex, Occult 1:

It'll end up stopping, it's.. It's nothing, please don't worry.. She says so in the most reassuring, pityful voice she can have, but both her bloody tears and her shivers kind of play against it.
It will stop. It will stop !


With a strong, commanding voice, but not too loud either, Lyle lets go a "Claudia ?" to make her turn his way, and it works as she turns to face her Sire and her clan sister. Her eyes stay piercing, but avoiding Lyle's stare. However, a huge happy face shows as her eyes land and stare right at Corinna. She whispers slowly "Magister Mickael" but she regains her shivers as Lyle approaches his Childe. She does try to move back, but she only gets to move a foot as he takes her chin with two fingers to force her to face him.
You won't avoid me, now calm down and control it as Horsman tought you.
Lyle's voice is still as commanding as before, as he inspect her eyes. Claudia just stops trembling, with a small "yes" whispered as she obeys. She does seem petrified by Lyle's stare. His other hand's thumb cleans a remaining bloody tear, and he lets her go, while tasting the vitae.

Ms. Ansons, please take her to the Chantry and make her talk. This is not a Thaumaturgical effect, it might be the Paradox.. Or something else. I will meet you later.

Lyle pushes Claudia's back slowly to incite her to move, which she does to approach Corinna, as she regains her smile, but her eyes did not change.
Magister Mickael !

Occult 3:

Linguistics (latin), Academics 2:

Occult 1, Dominate:

Auspex 2, Perception 3, Empathy 2:

Lyle lets his eyes land a moment on Miri, then on Jérôme, then he gives a quick stare at Claudia and Corinna. He then goes back to Jérôme. His voice is a bit lower, more calm, and way less commanding.

She will come back to you soon.

He scans quickly the room, then goes back to the Mandataire. His voice slightly unsure as he looks away.

Nothing wrong will happen to Claudia.


He walks to Gosuin's room to be able to answer the Prince's and Theodore's questions they will probably ask.

Griffin, with a hand movement, just lets go the discussion he tried to have with Alicia and Franz, as he doesn't seem it's worth it. They calmed down with Lyle's intervention, probably by fear of the Regent's reprisals, who gave them too the death stare of hell.


Claudia follows Corinna without a word, her eyes down.

Claudia wrote:

Lyle lets his eyes land a moment on Miri, then on Jérôme, then he gives a quick stare at Claudia and Corinna. He then goes back to Jérôme. His voice is a bit lower, more calm, and way less commanding.

She will come back to you soon.

The Toreador ancilla nods, a mixture of emotions cross the man's features in rapid succession, far too fast for anyone staring directly at him to catch. A far slower reaction can be observed in the Mandataire's hands. Although they had been clasped behind Jerome's back for most of the evening, now his right hand is resting by his side. The peculiar thing is that Jerome is opening and closing it, starting with his pinky and moving as though a wave through the rest of the fingers as it opens and repeating the same motion as he clenches with his thumb not moving at all.

Claudia wrote:

He scans quickly the room, then goes back to the Mandataire. His voice slightly unsure as he looks away.
Nothing wrong will happen to Claudia.

Jerome's expression finally settles on one of guarded optimism. At the same time, his right hand ceases its movement and returns to its normal spot behind his back. Thank you, sir.

Claudia wrote:

Claudia follows Corinna without a word, her eyes down.

As the pair begin to walk away, Jerome's gaze is on Claudia. Good night. Once he has said that, he sighs, glances at the floor before his attention returns to Miri. He offers a small, tired smile to the younger Toreador. Elysiums aren't usually this interesting, for the record.

Miri's nods her head slightly as her lips curl into a wry smile. An eyebrow is still cocked from the confusion or surprise left over from earlier. Her eyes are slightly widened, and her black irises look like pinpoints. She wears her awkward disturbance plainly, intending to be comical in light of the situation. What a shame.

She blinks the expression from her face, looks to Jerome and tilts her head, contemplating something briefly.

Auspex 2:

Auspex 4:

She smiles instead, rising from her table and returning to Jerome's general area, adding drolly, I know I'm not the best conversationalist, but I never expected my drab brand of smalltalk would ever force bloody tears from someone.

You'll soon learn that even words can be the sharpest daggers in a kindred's arsenal. Jerome's eyes flashed toward the harpies before returning to Miri. Some dedicate their unlives to wielding such sharp instruments. And to powerful effect too. Of course, Jerome added wryly, there are those who ignore such applications and go straight to the fists.

Now that most of the tension has drained out of the room, Duncan will walk up to Suzanne, or 'Calamity Jane', who was pointed out to him earlier by Theodore.

Hello. My name is Duncan. You're Suzanne, correct? Theodore pointed you out as a fellow Brujah, when I spoke to him earlier. I thought I'd stop by and introduce myself.

Miri looks at Jerome and listens intently as he passes on his sagely advice, smirking at the mention of fists. She nods, closing her eyes momentarily to imprint the information.

She stretches and shifts her posture, her arms folded, the hand holding her glass poised by her lips, recollecting something. There is a pause before she speaks thoughtfully, There was a piece of advice, someone from my old life told me once, Miri began.

"Those who form strong opinions from simple impressions..." Miri smiles softly; she stops reciting to gauge Jerome's reaction as she starts again with her little tender childhood anecdote, this time drenched with a noticeably blunted tone. "...are often strongly simpleminded." Her thoughtful disposition evaporates entirely as she cracks up laughing, drawing her glass away from her face.

She sighs, feeling better. She places her glass on the table and gains a more refined composure. Her smile broadens and warms as she looks back to Jerome. You know, a little bit of humorous self-mockery is good for a person, it teaches humility. A smirk remains on her face, even while regarding the Harpies. She speaks more softly.

Jerome, Auspex 1:

Everyone has something touchy or embarrassing to admit about them, and acceptance can be hard, even if it's already publicly known. She raises an eyebrow again. The matter is, truth should not be a weapon, but it is exploited daily, because why? Miri is actually speaking frankly this time. Because for some reason, embarrassment or inadequacy is sometimes more dreadful to feel than pain of death. She looks back to Jerome. So I get used to it, rather than stay soft about it. Especially considering that I seem to be a perpetual outsider. She blinks once, staring into the distance before she collects her glass to drink.

Sio wrote:

"Those who form strong opinions from simple impressions..." Miri smiles softly; she stops reciting to gauge Jerome's reaction as she starts again with her little tender childhood anecdote, this time drenched with a noticeably blunted tone. "...are often strongly simpleminded." Her thoughtful disposition evaporates entirely as she cracks up laughing, drawing her glass away from her face.

Between the simple-sounding advice and Miri's own laughter, a chuckle is coaxed from Jerome. He waits patiently for the neonate to say her piece, a thoughtful look ingrained on his face. Once she is finished with both her little speech and her next sip, he gently inquires, How well have you been instructed into our clan's matters and manners?

Miri puts her glass back onto the table and crosses her arms as she thinks. Well... I've been informed that I am Toreador by my sire, told some vague information about the importance of the preservation, study, and prosperity of things that inspire the awe of beauty... She winces slightly.

Auspex 2:

She sighs and shakes her head, uncrossing her arms to pick up her glass. As for manners, all I can say I've got down is when to keep my mouth shut. She shrugs and drinks again.