El Bodegon

The Tremere huh? Wonder what that was about...

She's more talking to herself than anything else. But she can't deny that little bit of information has piqued her interest. Her hand plunges into her pocket to retrieve her phone and sends a text.

Pierre:

She slips the phone back into one of her pockets and then turns her attention back to Victoire to answer her question.

You're probably not going to like my answer to your question. A part of the agreement was that if I agreed to deliver the mail was that I didn't divulge the contents. So if you really want to know you're best bet is to ask Theo when he gets back from wherever he's got to because I can't tell you.

She's genuinely frustrated that she can't answer Victoire's questions and is silently hoping that she'll change the topic to something she can be a bit more helpful with.

Victoire sighs and she tries again to join the Sheriff. It seems it doesn't work, again.
(Victoire) Damn it, fine, I'll ask him. About the Tremere, I don't know, I've only seen two of them and they smell fishy. Playing mind games with assholes politicians, yes, been there and done that, but at this level, maybe it's a little too much for now.

Phone:

She looks at the phone and can't help but feel a tang of frustration as Victoire makes her phone call. She sends a quick reply back. Her phone is back in her pocket before Victoire's done on the phone.

Pierre:

Don't suppose you know what the mail was that the Tremere sent him do you?

I don't think anyone knows what those lot are up to, they don't really plan short term they treat life a bit like chess, they plan about twenty moves ahead of everyone else and they never really tell you everything.

Who did you meet and what were your impressions?

The Brujah denies. She doesn't know what was given to Theo.
(Victoire) Seemed like it was from a Tremere by the name of Claudia. One presented himself as Dominique Lejeune. The other was the harpy. Mr. Griffin. To be honest I thought Dominique was not as educated as the Tremere seem all to be. He was good at pool, damn, beat me senseless. Mr. Griffin seemed.. stressed. Suzanne says he's the very rare kind of "respectable harpy".

She smiles openly.
(Victoire) They both seemed way too stiff though.

phone:

Victoire answers again the telephone, hopeful that it's the Malkavian. She doesn't say it this time, though, and agrees to Duncan's words with a nod.
(Victoire) Yes sure, hold on a sec'.

She hangs up, dials another number.
(Victoire) Hey Claire, can you go and check on the door please ?.. Yeah him. Open him up. Thanks.

She sighs, then gives another look to the Nosferatu.
(Victoire) Eight years of law school and I get to be an operator.


A few seconds after Duncan's call, the door opens to allow him to go upstairs. He could notice an insisting stare by one waitress, a blonde one with heavy make up and short clothing. If he crosses her eyes, she'll offer her a girly and seductive smile and go back to her servings with a small laugh.

Duncan smiles at the waitress, and gives her a little wink before he opens the door and heads up the stairs.

Storyteller:

As the Brujah enters the upstairs room, he sees two people -- Victoire, sitting at Theo's desk, and another person sitting in the chair across from her wearing a long, black hooded coat. The latter also wore leather trousers, and knee-high leather boots laced very tightly. A pale, gaunt face with blue eyes peered out from under the hood, although no clue as to the gender of this person was readily apparent.

Duncan nods briefly to the new person, before turning his attention to Victoire.
Hello again. Any news?

Carrion ponders the new information she's been given but before she can voice her thoughts she is interrupted by the telephone, she gives Victoire a sympathetic smile at her comment but remains silent; she can't help but look back at her own past for a moment but these thoughts are grounded by the sound of someone walking up the stairs. Her ears perk at the new comers approach up the stairs, her body remains relaxed for the most part as her eyes scan over him. He doesn't need any introduction. She decides to remain seated for the moment.

Nothing from the Hotline yet.

Her voices for the most part is rough but unmistakably female.

When the new person answers his question, Duncan turns to face her, and nods.
Thanks. I'm Duncan Oliver, by the way. Sorry for the lack of introduction at first, but I was concerned about these attacks. You must be the Nosferatu Messenger Theo texted me about.

I would've been here a bit sooner, but we were attacked too. Duncan looks at Victoire again, and continues his story. I was at St. Eloi with Miriel, a Toreador, and we were asking Lyle Kersten a few questions when a few Kindred rammed a car into the front doors of the church, with some kind of explosives on the front to help breach the door. Fortunately, we were further back, and weren't injured by the explosion. As attacks go, it was pretty lame -- one guy never made it out of the car. Of the other three, two were killed and Miri managed to stake the other. She and Kersten are going to question him, and see what he knows. From their disregard for the Masquerade, I'm guessing Sabbat, but I don't know that for sure. I texted Theo and told him about the attack.

One weird thing... our attackers seemed surprised that anyone was in the church. I wonder if they were just hitting known Camarilla locations.

As an afterthought, Duncan asks Victoire: By the way, did you ever reach the Sheriff?

Victoire gives Duncan a small smile as she sees him enter. She loses the smile as he explains about their attack.
(Victoire) So this isn't only us, then. It is weird. I won't make any guesses because I don't know enough. It's good that you made a prisoner, but.. with the Tremere Regent ? Is it really safe ?

She's mostly wondering out loud. She snaps out of it.
(Victoire) Ah ! This is Carrion. About the car.. For what I've been told, they also use humans, for their tactics. Maybe they killed the guy for his car and didn't bother with the body. But attacking empty places just to attack empty places seems totally useless.

When Duncan mentions the Sheriff, Victoire tries again as she responds to her fellow Brujah.
(Victoire) He doesn't seem to want to respond, but if he's also worrying about the attacks, his phone is the least of his worries.

She hangs up as she didn't get any response this time either.
(Victoire) No news means good news... Maybe.

She stands up and goes to the map, which she pins out a few points ; the church, as well as a few points in Theo's domain.

Carrion nods her head at Duncan when he mentions Theo's text but stays silent listening to the new information he imparts her expression gives nothing away. She then turns her attention back to Victoire as she begins to ponder aloud. When Victorie introduces Carrion she gives him a thumb-less wave of her left hand but is still listening to what she is saying. When she's done on the phone she decides to chip in on her thoughts.

That is assuming the place is empty. It is common knowledge that Lyle Kersten goes there quite regularly, he wouldn't do that unless there was something important there. If he was just keeping an eye on the cult he could send anyone from the clan there to do that but he doesn't...

Her thoughts trail off there as she has nothing to proof the existence of anything being there but the seeds of questioning have been planted in her head making her wonder what could possibly be so important in there. Silently she takes out her phone and sends Igor a text.

Igor:

She also sends a text off to Pierre relaying the information she's learnt from Duncan, when she's done her phone is slid back into a pocket as she reclines back in her seat; stretching out her booted legs almost like a cat stretching after a satisfying nap.

Victoire wonders aloud about safety, and the Tremere Regent, and Duncan chuckles.
If you mean the prisoner, no, I doubt he's safe. But he made his choice. I think Miri is safe too.

Yeah, the car... I thought maybe the guy that didn't make it out might be the previous owner; but with the car fire, no way was I getting close enough to check him out. Whoever it was, he was dead.

As for the Sheriff... with all that's happening, someone has probably informed him by now. I don't expect him to come running anyway; others need him more than we do.

When Carrion talks about the church, Duncan nods. Yeah, I wondered why Lyle was there too. But it was their old chantry; and he has a few reasons to visit occasionally. Keeping the ghouls fed, for one; and visiting Rufus, the resident garpoyle. Whom I'm apparently the last one to know about, I might add. The Brujah sighs.

Anyway, if they're hitting Camarilla hangouts, I thought this place might be next; and with Victoire being the only Brujah here, that would be bad news. No offense, Duncan says to Victoire, to spare her feelings. Or are there defenses I don't know about?

Victoire sighs with a certain frustration.
(Victoire) I do guess the Sheriff is aware, plus Theodore is good with taking care of his domain. I'm not offended but I'm good with guns. Plus, there are plenty of loyals to Theo in here, between ghouls and others, any ruckus would end badly for whoever caused it. Dead anyway, so we won't get anything out of him unless we sell soul and blood to the Giovanni. Not interested. She gives a look to Carrion. By the way you had to see Duncan for what ?

The Brujah takes an instant to ponder.
(Victoire) I didn't know about ghouls or Gargoyles, but as far as I'm concerned, Saint Eloi and its bell are "Tremere domain". Ghouls, cults, human sacrifices, gargoyles... Totally logical.

Carrion:

Duncan:

Victoire talks about how the bar is well-defended, between the ghouls and 'others' who would help in case of trouble; Duncan gets a wry smile on his face, and shrugs.
Guess you didn't need me to man the walls, then. Oh well; I needed to come here anyway. He looks at Carrion, with a smile.

Duncan looks at Carrion expectantly, when Victoire asks why Carrion needs to see Duncan. Victoire contues to speak, but it sounds as though she's talking aloud, and doesn't really expect any response. However, before Carrion can take care of business, she and Duncan both become distracted, and dig their phones out of their pockets. Duncan sends a very brief reply, and his attention is back on Carrion.

Duncan's phone:

Carrion retrieves her phone again and sends Igor another text.

Igor:

She looks up from her phone as Victoire speaks to her. She gives her an apologetic look as she pockets her phone again.

I'm really sorry but I can't tell you...Same rules as what I mentioned to you about Theo's delivery applies.

She genuinely hates keeping this secret and it shows on her face.

Can we use that room?

She points at the door of the room she and Theo used before he left.

Victoire offers a smile to Duncan.
(Victoire) A man is "always" useful !

The Brujah refuses, she seems almost hurt and offended that she might be spying.
(Victoire) Only Theodore goes there. Can't let you in. You can discuss matters anywhere, on the tables or on the couch. My ears aren't that good !

She takes out her phone and turns on the radio off it, on the information station, in hopes of catching anything concerning the attacks. Nothing other than "there have been explosions in Bordeaux" yet.

When Victoire says that the private room is for Theo only, Duncan shrugs, and turns to Carrion.
That's okay. We can just take it to a corner. Then you can deliver my fan mail. That's what it is, right? Fan mail? That's what I told Lyle.

The expression on Duncan's face is a serious one, although the hint of a smile plays at the corner of his lips.

Carrion just rolls her eyes; although it's unclear at whom she's directing this gesture to.

Well come on pretty boy.

She gets up and walks to the furthest corner from Victoire but doesn't bother to look if he's following her. She sits again and waits for him to join her; she positions herself so she can still see the door.

The Brujah raises an eyebrow as he follows Carrion into the corner.
'Pretty Boy'? Huh... don't hear that often. Guess it's all relative.

When they reach the corner table, Duncan sits down facing Carrion, seemingly unconcerned about having his back to the door.
So, what do you have for me? And who was the sender of this message, that thought hand delivery was so important?

Carrion can't help but smirk

If we were mortal I'd quite happily let you warm my bed up for the night.

She gives him a wink before getting down to business.

A few terms and conditions before I can deliver the fan mail. Firstly I can't divulge who the sender is, next up they asked that no one from clan Tremere or Ventrue see what it is. So if you choose to share the contents be careful who you do so with.

She waits for him to take in the information before getting it out.

Now it's Duncan's turn to roll his eyes. I'm not likely to warm up anyone's bed now, unless I spend vitae to do it.

However, once Carrion begins to state the conditions, Duncan becomes serious. He listens with a slight nod; and when she's done, he recites them back, since she seems to expect it.
Anonymous sender, don't tell any Tremere or Ventrue. Got it.

As the Nosferatu takes out the message, Duncan comments: You know, anonymous senders don't usually send information out of altruistic motives. They have their own agendas, which usually means causing trouble and then picking up the pieces afterwards.

Carrion smirks at his comment about the Vitae and his rolling eyes. She listens to him and pulls the letter out of one of her inner pocket and slips it into his hand. Her voice becomes quieter as she speaks it seems to be subconscious on her part though.

Nothing in the world is done for free but I do know that Theo got the same package as yourself and pretty much came to that conclusion in five seconds flat. Hell even I came to that conclusion when I saw the name on it and I can't even speak German. I was hoping to ask Theo about it but before I got around to it the attacks happened.

Duncan's brows knit together into a slight frown as he reads the piece of paper that Carrion gave him.

Obviously, with your client's restrictions, I can't really speculate too much out loud. I'll have to think about this somewhat. Duncan looks up at Carrion, and the left corner of his mouth twitches into a slight smile. I'll also have to fire up Google Translate, it seems.

The Brujah examines the paper once more. Hmm. From the timeline... Duncan glances up at Carrion once more, and stops speaking.
Never mind. If you've seen this enough to note the name, the sender didn't specify that you not look, or you wouldn't have. So I'm sure your people will be doing their own research into the matter.

What about Theo? If he got this too, can I discuss it with him? Or is that against your client's restrictions?

It's pretty standard issue for us to document the packages we deliver. If you like I could ask Pierre to forward a translation to you? All I can tell you is it's a German passport, the J means they were Jewish and the obvious from the surname so not much I can personally tell you I'm afraid.

Her lips pull down into a slight frown as she speaks but she pulls her expression back into a more positive one.

Someone might be but I'm sure if you call the hotline you'd get some more information, possibly something you had no clue about before; we're quite good at digging up stuff people forget over the years.

Client seemed quite keen on the idea because I asked if they wanted me to tell you to keep it to yourselves and they seemed to think you two would be putting your heads together pretty quickly, take that for what it is.