The Regent Grand Hotel

William takes the glass and softly places it onto a table.

"That's quite all right, I was made aware that this area was on increased alert. My name is William Wolvenheart, apprentice of the 2nd circle, I'm specialise in technological advances and information technology but I'm also quite adept in the occult and human science. My relocation was a last minute ordeal, I think I have travelled here faster then my materials who had to be send here through delivery service since I couldn't take them along as luggage."

He takes out a small stylised pocket knife and makes a small incision on his wrist as he frowned slightly which he let fill till an appropriate amount has collected within the container. Once filled, he put a finger on the wound as he used his blood to restore the skin, and quickly licked the remaining drops of blood from his skin and finger.

Storyteller:

William:

Corinna's looks darkens as she hears "technology" and others words which guides her in what kind of Tremere he is. She ignores her feelings and accepts back the glass with a polite smile.
(Corinna) The Regent will be glad to hear all about it. I am in charge of the library, and according to the Regent's policy, I'll lend you any book you wish, as long as they do not leave the chantry. If you need any help with your studies, too. We'll have plenty of time to discuss this and that.

She stands and smiles.
(Corinna) I'll let the Regent know about your vitae, and will prepare a room. In the mean time, you may go and meet him. He's.. A bit tensed lately, more so than usual. Do not mind his behavior. The regent is tall, has brown eyes and has curly hair.

She then explains how to get to the Theatre, just across the street, who is Celine, how she'll recognize him, and that she'll lead him upstairs, to the Prince and Regent.

"You have my thanks."

William courtly nods, makes a minor bow and turns around to leave the building, crossing the streets into the Theatre.

Entering the Hotel for the second time that evening, Estela takes a brief look around. Unlike before though, she's definitely less jumpy and seems to have a very specific goal in mind. She doesn't seem to find what she's looking for, and this time makes her way straight to the receptionist. “I'm looking for Lyle Kersten. Is he around?” Her previous interaction with the staff and the reaction she'd gotten then makes Estela noticeably more confident in asking her question now.

The same receptionists raises en eyebrow as she recognizes the woman before her. She observes her an instant and when she speaks, she answers back, slowly.
(Marie) He is. Please follow me.

She walks her again to the Foyer, and lets her a time there so the Tremere would notice her presence and greet her.

It takes Corinna Ansons a bit less than a minute to attend, as she steps out seemingly either tired or stressed. She offers a polite smile and nod to Estela.
(Corinna) Good evening. May I help you ?

Estela turns when someone enters the room to face this person. She blinks in mild surprise, seeming to not have expected the woman, and curiously observes her. The question snaps her out of her brief wonder, seriousness returning to the young vampire's features.
She returns the nod before speaking. “Yes, I'm looking to speak with Lyle Kersten. I know he's here. Could you bring him here....if he's available?”

perception+awareness>4:

perception+etiquette>4:

The librarian looks intrigued, slightly suspicious. She emphasizes the title in a way to ask Estela to show more respect to her superior, but answers quite kindly and willing to help.
(Corinna) Certainly, I'll ask 'Primogen' Kersten if he's available.

She signs over to the armchairs and sofas so if she wants to sit while she waits. She goes back into the chantry.

A good ten minutes after, Lyle steps out, closing the door behind him. He raises an eyebrow as he sees Estela, and takes a guess on the reason of her presence. He sounds slightly surprised, as if he didn't expected her.
(Lyle) You didn't find her ?.. Or did you ?

Now he's suspicious, even a bit distant, as he was preparing for the worst.

Already glaring at the door through which the Tremere entered and left, Estela barely needs to shift her gaze to look at Lyle. Her expression is a good indication of her mood. She's displeased, suspicious and angry. “Oh no, I found her alright. Thanks for your help on that.” Her thanks seems to be fairly sincere, though in a reluctant kind of way.
Rising from the sofa, Estela all but stomps her way over the the Regent, coming to a stop in front of him with arms cross and her pose deviant. “What'd you do to her?” Her voice and expression are drop dead serious. The young vampire is not in the mood for jokes or bullshit.

The Regent frowns as she approaches him a bit too closely for his own taste. He moves away from the door, knowing people will go out, and takes a seat nearby. His tone matches hers, letting out a sigh.
(Lyle) I killed her, why ? She's my apprentice, my blood, my childe. I do lots of things to her, let her a few nights and she'll recover. What do you want ? Tell me I'm a monster ? I already know that.

Estela follows behind Lyle as he makes his way to a seat, though she remains standing herself. Her jaw clenches visibly as he speaks and her right hand twitches a little, as though she'd love nothing more than to leave its print on the Tremere's cheek. An urge she seems to resist for now.

She stubbornly jabs her chin forward as she speaks. Her fangs show, though she doesn't seem aware of it. “Just 'cause you were the one who turned her, doesn't make her your property! And what were you planning to do when she 'recovers' in a few nights?” The way Estela emphasizes the word 'recovers' show that she has doubts that Claudia truly recovers. “Start the whole thing over? You call her your apprentice, yet you never bothered to teach her anything. Great teaching methods there prof.” Sarcasm practically drips from her voice and she even slowly claps three times before crossing her arms once more. “As for what I want?” She hesitates then scoffs audibly. “Damnit, I don't think you'll even care about that but whatever, I want you to leave Claudia be. Or at least not put her through whatever the hell you did to her, again!”

He listens but looks away, closing his eyes. He doesn't seem happy with what he hears but he forces himself to keep calm.
(Lyle) The fact that.. Look, fledgling, I'm her Regent and her sire. I gave her what she needed, I protect her interests, and gave her away to a competent tutor for the rest of her studies. That's how we do things. No love no friendship no special relation. I am, by all means, her parent. But I am not her father, god have mercy. There is no such thing as social services for kindred. I am not required to be a good parent. We have a contract to each other, and that's between me and her. You've been her friend for so long, and yet you did not notice a thing. That should tell you how often things happen.

He lets hear a slight growl, clear sign that the Tremere is unhappy.
(Lyle) I will do how I please with her, and she's old enough to stand of for herself. Instead of coming to my house and show your fangs, maybe you should be a better friend to her rather than risking being around me, if you truly believe I was so awful to her.

Estela listens to Lyle's words, her scowl seemingly frozen on her features. She clearly scoffs at the Tremere's apparent idea on what she meant and shakes her head briefly. Her eyes narrow when her past relation with Claudia is mentioned, and she seems to be lost in thoughts or memories until the growl snaps her out of it. Her gaze becomes a little wary and startled, but she doesn't move away or even take a step back.

auspex 2 / perception+awareness>5:

“Goddammit, if being a good parent requires you to shower a kid with love, gifts, praise and whatever else, than mine were undoubtedly worse at it than you.” She grimaces as she says this, but her determined glare returns quickly. “That is, if it's even remotely true that you 'look out for Claudia's interests' and 'give her what she needs'. And I fail to see how having her scared or full of hate to you fits in there. You know how she thinks on the shit you do better than I do, but you still push it on her. You say she's old enough to stand up for herself? Great work in even giving her the opportunity!”

perception+Empathy>4:

Lyle stares right at Estela as she curses and raises the voice and becomes more harsh, more touched by the emotion. His own voice matches hers, showing a certain amount of control but also of intimidation.
(Lyle) You're no one to judge me, child !

The Regent stands, fists closed an instant, then opens both hands , calming down fast enough before speaking.
(Lyle) Her being scared of me is a good thing, and if she hates me, it's even better. But that doesn't make it incompatible with her interests, on the contrary. Never, hear me well, never jump to conclusions when it comes to Kindred relations. Especially if one of them is an Elder.

He leans slightly to see Estela up close.
(Lyle) Keep those fangs in, or I'll have to take action to protect my herd. Now if you're done, leave and I'll pretend this discussion didn't happen. And I won't take action against her for it.

The change in his tone makes Estela flinch, though she still stares right back at him. Only when he rises does she take a step back, her foolhardy expression wavering just enough to show he is, indeed, intimidating her. She listens with a mixed expression, doubtful and confused of what he says, but also not really believing that he's lying.

It's not until he leans in and mentions her fangs again, that she looks away with gritted teeth, shame and frustration melting away her earlier foolhardy expression. “Would if I could alright.” She speaks through her gritted teeth, voice soft and reluctant. “You should know all about it.” Her voice sounds almost resentful, but it doesn't seem to be aimed at Lyle. Realization appears in her eyes just after she said that, and she looks back up at the Regent, confused but also with some morbid curiosity. “Last night when you asked for Claudia... You...you didn't....Did you?”

The Regent lets out a sigh, and sits again. She has obviously calmed down, so he allows himself to be calm too. He observes with attention Estela as she tells him she can't retract the fangs like himself the night before and raises a doubt on what he did to his childe. He takes into account that he heard him and probably regrets it, but thirst be thirst. He doesn't deny it but he does choose carefully his words.
(Lyle) I called her so she'd ease my thirst, which she did. As for yourself you should feed before the beast takes over and makes a bloody mess.

He's not even mentioning the possible death of several people.

Estela glances back at Lyle when he seats himself, appearing momentarily relieved by his calming down but still uncomfortable under his observant gaze. The change in subject doesn't appear to be really appreciated, almost as much as what it'd become. It seems to be a sore spot for the young vampire, enough to mentally throw her off balance. The Tremere's confirmation that he had indeed fed from Claudia returns a flicker of anger, but she doesn't act on it, either because she's aware of the futility of arguing with Lyle, or she's just had enough of it for the moment.

At the mention of making a bloody mess because of a frenzy, Estela suppresses a shudder and looks away. “You don't have to tell me that. Claudia said as much already.” She steps back and sits down in a nearby sofa with a sigh. “I guess I was kind of a real stubborn bitch about it, and we ended up with me throwing the advice she gave me back in her face.” She refuses to meet Lyle's eyes as she softly continues, even though it seems to hurt her pride significantly. “Felt bad about it though. I mean, she did try to help me. Guess I just wanted to do something to help her in return, even if she'd never find out.” She looks down at her shoes, muttering something too soft to really be heard.

auspex 1:

Lyle observes Estela as she speaks, half frowning, crossing the fingers of his hands together. He listens, but shakes his head.
(Lyle) I can't possibly understand why.. or even how women want this hassle. Friendship, pfft, really. This stuff, maybe she's the one who needs to hear it. I could care less.

Perception + empathy>5, manipulation+subterfuge>4 or humanity >7:

He goes back to blood soon enough.
(Lyle) What I do care about is a thirsty Toreador out on a Friday night. Will you handle it until you find a suitable prey ?

Perception+awareness (alertness ><) >4:

Estela seems surprised, perhaps even a tad shocked by the coldness Lyle displays on something she holds so dear. She just gapes at the Tremere, trying to wrap her head around around just what he'd said. It's clear that she's skeptical about that being the truth, even if she's staring it in the face.
“You...you're serious about that, aren't you?” She all but stammers when she finds her voice again. “That's pretty sad actually....”

perception+empathy>4:

His return to the blood subject is accompanied by a frustrated sigh from her. She doesn't want to talk about it. Possibly not even think or have anything else to do with it. The young vampire grumbles softly, then gives a shrug at his question. She doesn't give a definite answer though.

perception+subterfuge>4:

“What're you planning?” Estela asks after a moment of silence, suspicion in her voice.

Lyle shows a certain spite and disdain considering the topic of friendship. He lets out a few words, quite commanding towards the neonate he's staring at without blinking.
(Lyle) You can keep your pity for yourself. And since you did not leave when I told you do to so, I should take action against her. Seeing you can't assure me you'll leave without being a Masquerade risk, you will drink here in exchange for my silence and her peace.