The Tremere Chantry

Frederic shakes slightly his head.
(Frederic) The death of this one Tremere woman at the hand of Theodore Jacob, as well as other movements over the decades were enough. At least to a fearless group of sabbat shovelheads lead by an ambitious ex-Ventrue... I have my reasons. Maybe I failed my suicide mission?

He gives a quick glance at Rufus, then speaks with a defeated voice.
(Frederic) I'd rather not wait until tomorrow. Should I let go, enter frenzy, and hope mister wings here would not be able to control himself ?

Corinna listens attentively, committing every word to memory. She now regrets not having brought pen and paper, for maximum precision, but then again - it's not that much information.
"So you have your reasons. Elaborate, then. A suicide mission is an equally unsatisfying answer as the rumors your proposed as your source of intelligence. What other movements are you speaking of?"
The Tremere clasps her hands behind her back, tilting her head slightly to the left. At his change of voice, even if not of demeanor, she also raises an eyebrow.
"I do believe you know very well that he can control himself, just as you can. If you want to make it harder for yourself, please, go ahead and relinquish control. Coming down from a hunger-induced rage is ever so painful, which you are of course aware of."
With another creature, she might have taken pity, but since he is a Sabbat and, more importantly, made the mistake of attacking the Chantry, his chances of a quick death at her hands are as a matter of fact zero. While she would like to ask a few more questions, there are other ways of interrogation that are just as effective, if not more so, than their little conversation. The Tremere is also not sufficiently intruiged to be wanting to prolong this talk, fruitless as it has been. If he blocks or evades her questions, she might just leave him to Mikael and get back to more satisfying tasks.

The Lasombra makes a slight annoyed growl. He shakes his head.
(Frederic) Maybe if I insulted your clan enough.. Good slave you got there.

He glances over at Rufus, who doesn't seem to appreciate the man playing on his nerves. Frederic gives up with a bored sigh.
(Frederic) Nosferatu movements, ghoul movements, different inquiries from different Cainites- uh, Kindred.

He straightens up, and stretches his legs on the bed, moving to sit on the edge of it. He does so very slowly, so the other two can move and place themselves, and to show no threat.
(Frederic) I thought the place was empty, at best, or just with mister big wings here, at worst. So either we weren't caught, or we all died in the attempt : I didn't imagine the middle ground, not that someone would have been inside. I'd like to apologize to Kersten.

He gives another glance at Corinna, a deeper, more serious look, trying to see her eyes. He speaks with a more posed tone.
(Frederic) I can't elaborate on my reasons, Ansons, I hope you'll understand. The Spanish Sabbat is far too busy with their own selves, if it's of any help, they weren't involved as a sect. Once they find out I've broken ties, they'll hunt me down, and frankly, I'd rather have Gosuin execute me than those mindless idiots. After this, asking for Hospitality is out of the question, isn't it ?

Again, Corinna is utterly unimpressed by the Lasombra's growling. With Rufus on her side, she feels safe enough to ignore these subtle threats. She gives the Kindred a dry look as he talks about insulting her clan, but brushes the comment off.
"The Nosferatu? I see."
The Tremere adjusts her position, unclasping her hands as to have them free, just in case, but does not move backwards; doing so would be a sign of weakness which she doesn't want to give.
"Well, I'll pass the apology along."
It can't be said whether she is sincere; her voice is ever so politely calm as to betray no hint of irony. When Frederic seeks to capture her gaze, she immediately shifts her focus to his nose. After the narrowly averted disaster with the Sheriff, she is not about to take any chances with a Sabbat.
"It's a pity that your cooperation only goes so far, but if what you told me is correct, I can appreciate the effort."
Her voice trails off as she pauses to think for a moment.
"No, you forfeit your chances at hospitality, Monsieur Vonzel, if you had any to begin with. Do tell, though; if you were on a mission with other ... shovelheads, how come you talk about having broken your bonds?"
Corinna watches his face carefully for any sign of reaction, still avoiding his eyes.

Corinna also uses Auspex to determine his aura before she asks the question, and tries to observe any changes when/if he answers her.

Frederic chuckles, then smiles, nodding.
(Frederic) Well I took along some lost boys with me. If the leader of a cell goes wild, he will take along as many followers as he can. Maybe I can talk Gosuin into giving Grace.

He has nothing to lose by asking to be forgiven, but he doesn't see to believe it would work, at all.
(Frederic) To be honest, I thought the place was abandoned, like it was back when I was here officially. For what it's worth, I wasn't planning on hurting or killing anyone. Get in, get the bracelet, get out.

All signs seem to indicate it's the truth. His way of stating "get in, get out" seem to indicate he was indeed dominated to attack the Church. He can't help a smile when he notices she's not looking at him in the eye.
(Frederic) I won't Dominate you, Ansons. I'm sure your slave here knows what it looks like and he would pluck my eyes out before I could speak the first word.

Rufus twitches when he hears the word "slave", he dislikes the term but he doesn't say a word. Frederic's analysis seems to be correct : the Gargoyle would be quick to notice a Dominate attempt and prevent it in a brutal and permanent way.
(Frederic) I have told you everything I could. And I really need a drink... You know, I never tasted Tremere blood. Would you be so kind to give me some of yours ? I wouldn't want to kill your vessels...

The Gargoyle takes a slight step towards the man ; asking Tremere blood, what are they, some vessels? But he doesn't act, as the masters may decide otherwise. The Lasombra wants kindred blood, and threatening to kill a mortal vessel isn't unnatural. It's obvious he would frenzy on a mortal and feed without control, but he figures that if a fellow kindred feeds him more potent and tasty vitae, under the watch of the Gargoyle.
Weren't he Sabbat, he would probably get along with Claudia.

"Lost boys? What a peculiar phrasing you have. And I do not presume to speak for the Prince, of course, though I believe my guess will be accurate."
She is referring to his wish for mercy, although a slight twitching of one of her eyelids betrays the calm in her voice to be faked for that matter. No, she would rather not have him forgiven, which is unlikely to happen, anyway.
"Monsieur, pardon me for not believing that claim to be true. I can hardly see you caring about hurting or killing a Camarilla Kindred, much less a mortal."
The pause in her speech after this seems to be a missing snort, but making such a sound is not something Corinna would do. At his next words, her face takes on a dry look again as she readjusts her gaze to meet his eyes.
"Which would be amusing to watch, certainly, but seeing how eager you were to fly into a bloodthirsty rage just a few minutes ago, I believe you to be reckless enough to try."
Reckless and stupid, but he can fill that part in himself.
"Have you really told me everything? Please, you needn't bother fooling me, we both know you have a lot more information than that. However..."
Corinna calmly raises a hand towards Rufus, as to indicate to him to back down and wait for her orders.
"Since you were so very cooperative, we shall see about that last meal of yours. And, as you may gather from the Gargoyle's reaction, my vitae is not something you should be demanding if you want to keep your limbs. Here is what we will do."
Her voice ever so slightly drips with disgust at the second-last sentence, and her lips twist upwards in a silent predatory growl of disapproval, although these emotions are only visible ever so briefly. Underneath the facade, though, she is boiling with rage at his audacity. Still, the logical part of her mind reasons that if she keeps dangling the prospect of blood in front of him, he might not give her grief over what she wants to do now.
The Tremere takes a step backwards, turning around to one of the drawers, taking care never to fully turn her back to the Lasombra. She rummages for a few seconds - or rather, opens exactly one of the drawers and grabs the precise item she was looking for - before turning around again and presenting a small knife to Frederic.
"Before you get any sustenance - and what kind - I need a small quantity of your blood to perform a ... quick test. Control yourself, don't make this hard for me, and you'll be just that much closer to the vitae you want."
Corinna isn't stupid, of course, so she shifts her gaze to Rufus and orders him in Latin to hold Frederic down in what she describes as a nearly bone-crushing grip. If it is painful for the Lasombra, she obviously doesn't care - or rather approves. When the Gargoyle has done as commanded, she twists one of the Kindred's wrists upwards and uses the knife to open the skin in a gash that is deeper than necessary, partly due to his audacity in asking for her blood. She then draws her index finger across the wound, picking up a few droplets of vitae, and licks her finger, already in deep concentration.

Corinna uses the Level 1 power of the Path of Blood, A Taste for Blood. Obviously.

It's clear that his hopes were crushed, if he had any (probably not, but it was worth the shot). He shakes sightly his head. He sounds defeated.
(Frederic) My threat of a frenzy was only caused by thirst and by my wished death. Believe my words when I say I wished to harm no one...

He observes with a very inquisitive stare as she moves after having announced that something would be done. When she informs she needs his blood, he doesn't seem any more shocked. He even seems to be a willing victim, but his Beast reacts against it, which only approves the orders given to Rufus.
The Gargoyle is quick to obey, using his big clawed hands to hold the Lasombra down on the bed. Frederic cringes in pain as she opens his wrist, but he doesn't show any willing resistance. His fangs still show, and the Beast inside of him seems to want out, but oddly, the Lasombra seems to keep in control ; the prospect of earning blood for his good behavior may have helped.

His reserves are very, very low. Given his generation, around tenth or eleventh, Corinna is quick to calculate he would enter torpor if he healed any wound, having less than a liter of blood (which Corinna knows is what a kindred usually spends to wake two nights). In the past year or so, he hasn't committed Diablery. The Lasombra speaks slowly, making sure to keep control, but oddly, he waits until she's tasted the blood to word.
(Frederic) For fuck's sake, Kersten already did this...

A slight crack sounds from the Lasombra's shoulder ; the Gargoyle didn't like the nerve shown by the Lasombra and his lack of respect towards his masters. It makes him cringe and bite his tongue, to avoid showing any weakness either.

Corinna seems to still doubt his honesty, but for him to actually convince her? It would simply not be worth the effort. Such a strong bias cannot be removed with words.
Still, she is surprised at his continuing cooperation; as she tastes his vitae and realizes how close to the edge he must be, a slight hint of pity wells up in her, if only briefly. For him to still act so civilized, it must have taken a real effort of will. An admirable quality, one could argue, though it is still not enough to earn real sympathy from her.
"We like to be on the safe side, and I am not about to take any chances with an unknown like you."
The Tremere steps away from him, taking in the uncomfortable position in which the other Kindred is being held, and her upper lip twitches at the sound of breaking bones. That must have been unpleasant, to say the least. She seems in thought for a moment, still holding the short knife in her hands, then turns to walk toward the door, addressing the Gargoyle in Latin as she turns the knob.
"Rufus, stake him again, and stay here until I return. I won't be gone for long."
Corinna waits for her orders to be carried out and ensures that the Lasombra becomes limp before she actually leaves, seemingly having lost any interest in acknowledging him as more than a piece of furniture. With a quick stride, she makes her way to the Laboratory, cleaning the small blade she still carries carefully from any remaining traces of blood. She hesitates in front of the refridgerator, before abruptly turning away from it.
When she returns to the apprentice's room, she collects herself for a moment before again addressing Rufus in Latin.
"Step back."
She unbuttons her blazer, hangs it over the chair, and then rolls her right sleeve up to her ellbow. Her face is as calm as she can manage it to be, although her disdain at what she is about to do still shows in her eyes. She twists Frederic around, lying him on his back across the bed, and then opens his mouth. For a moment, the Tremere seems to want to say something, then she quickly takes the blade in her left hand and draws it across her right wrist just as she did to his, and holds it above his mouth.
Blood trickles out, dripping into the open void of the Lasombra's paralyzed mouth, and though she knows he is incapable of even the smallest of movements, the blank look on his face is just all kinds of wrong. Once, her gaze wanders over his eyes, and her nose twitches at the consciousness behind them.
After the longest of minutes Corinna remembers, she halts the flow of vitae and closes the small wound, turning away from the Lasombra to quickly lick the blade clean of her blood. She puts it down on the table, rolls the sleeve of her blouse down, and puts her blazer back on before ordering Rufus to pull the stake out.

The Gargoyle obeys without a blink and without any kind of remorse, nor restrain. After all, it was his home, his precious place that was attacked. He doesn't move an inch until the Tremere is back.

While she wanders down to the main room, she'll cross paths with Griffin, who will give her his usual stare for a moment (especially since she's moving with a weapon at hand). He doesn't ask, but a hint of worry seem to be visible from his behavior. He may probably ask her after if everything is all right, but he doesn't interrupt her and continues his route to his room.

After having ordered Rufus to step away, he does so and awaits for other orders. He observes with questioning and worry as the librarian feeds the despicable Sabbat. He doesn't word a protest, however. Once he is give the order to pull the stake out, he waits until she's stepped away enough of the Lasombra before doing so. Frederic cringes at the pain caused by the stake going in and out another time and smiles. He seems a little more calm and less on his nerves as he speaks.
(Frederic) That was nice.

He really seems to mean it. He takes the time to sit, licks a little his lips in hopes of finding some more, then finally takes the time to lick his own arm, to close the wound she made on it to taste his blood earlier.
(Frederic) Don't worry, I won't state you were nice to me in the Theater.

He's gently teasing, but maybe it's a way his psyche is copping with the fact that he'll die the night after.
(Frederic) I was telling you the truth. I didn't know the place would have someone inside. The truth is that.. I wanted to find it and deliver it as a token to the city to accept me as an Antitribu. I didn't choose to be Sabbat, and I never wanted it.

Corinna is still buttoning her blazer and straightening it - it must look as neat and tidy as always - when she hears Frederic's comment. Her mask of calm briefly slips, revealing a disgusted look for the blink of an eye.
"Oh, you should not have closed that wound. Now I will need to cut you again later. But not now, perhaps."
Admittedly, it's kind of a waste to feed him her vitae only to drain it again afterwards, but she can only drain so much before he enters torpor. Certainly contraproductive for an interrogation. She seems to be pleased at the thought of cutting him once more with the small knife, however. May have something to do with his comment and another snarky young Tremere grating on her already strained nerves. Who knows?
"If you're already at it, start your life story from the beginning. That'd be easier to follow."
She turns away from the Lasombra to open another drawer, procuring a few blank sheets of paper and a nondescript pen. She then sits down on the only chair in the room, crosses her legs, places the paper on her knee and starts to scribble. It appears to be a form of stenography.
"You claim to be wanting to present yourself as Antitribu, yet you broke into the old Chantry, fully aware of the fact that it has been Tremere territory and might still be. Even if you found the artifact, do you know what it would have meant? You would merely have committed theft and tried to present the evidence of it to the highest judge of Kindred law in this city ... and that is not taking your trespass into our territory into account. Still, you want me to believe that your claim is genuine?"
The Librarian is not sure whether this twisted logic stems from ordinary or supernatural madness. But that she thinks he is speaking mad is obvious in her tone, if not in her raised eyebrows.
"Let's assume for a moment that you didn't care about alienating us. You have been a spy in this city's midst before, why not try the same move again with a new cover story - say, the one of your alleged defection? I have only your word for the fact that the Spanish Sabbat is so preoccupied as to not care about us."
She pauses briefly, pursing her lips for a moment, then continues.
"But let us also assume that I believe this claim. Why defect now? Why defect here, of all places, where you have been before and are known enough to be even more prejudiced against than anywhere else? How much effort for an artifact that you do not wish to keep! Monsieur, you are truly trying my suspension of disbelief with this."

Frederic seems to be in a better mood, or at least, he's a bit less stressed by the lack of blood. He can't help a grin when the Tremere pities that he shouldn't have healed. He listens calmly, rubbing a little bit the place where his heart is, through the torn cloth.
(Frederic) I recalled the place was abandonned, and hence, unclaimed, and not under the particular domain of anyone, Miss Ansons. Plus I didn't plan of your clan finding out about my presence.

He lets out a slight sigh, bored of explaining something that is perfectly clear in his mind, or so it seems.
(Frederic) My plan was to get this object, give it as a token to Gosuin, and sell my Sabbat colleagues in exchange for it. I thought it was still in Jacob's domain, and since there's a history of people being curious about his domain, blah. But those idiots decided to play it Rambo.

He shakes his head.
(Frederic) Of course, telling them to be stealthy and not draw attention wasn't enough. I picked them badly. Okay, I'm not the smartest guy, but I acted with haste and with as much plannification of a mouse trying to run away, okay?

He has a hard time accepting the flaw, but at least he worded it. He grumbles a little bit to himself, before observing the Gargoyle, then the Tremere.
(Frederic) I ran here because while I only stayed a few years, I felt at home; I like the city, I like Gosuin's ruling, I like the inhabitants... I wasn't spying back then... At least, not actively nor willingly. As for why now.. Because I can be useful now. I couldn't help the raid of last December, but now I can give proper intel on the current situation over there. And in Germany, too.

He shrugs.
(Frederic) Well, that was my plan. Now, a good old execution is my least worse solution, I've accepted it.

Corinna quickly stenographs his words, her hand flying over the blank pages of paper. She does not answer him, for the time being, but rather listens attentively. When the Lasombra has finished, she switches to a new piece of paper, scribbling for another minute or two, then gets up again.
"I think we'll leave it at that, for the time being."
The Tremere sets the pen aside, but keeps the notes in her hand. She restores the room to what it was before she entered, then turns to Rufus, addressing him in Latin.
"Stake him again."
Again it seems as if she completely lost interest in Frederic, or rather in acknowledging his presence. She waits for the Gargoyle to obey, then leaves to fetch a small bowl from the Laboratory. Upon her return, Corinna slices Frederic's wrist open again, but this time she collects the blood in the bowl. When she is done, she dismisses Rufus, saying that she no longer needs him, and leaves the room, this time for good.
Corinna makes her way downstairs to the Laboratory with the bowl in her hand, then proceeds to the small alcove that she perceives as more quiet and a better environment for the performance of a ritual. She places the bowl on the ground, then unbuttons her blazer, putting it away, as well as her shoes. A few deep breaths relax her figure, while she sits down on her heels and begins chanting in Latin, gesturing above the small quantity of vitae.

Corinna is casting the ritual of the Blood Walk.

Corinna stays in her meditative trance for quite a few minutes after she is done with the ritual. Only after a heavy sigh does she break out of it, immediately grasping for the papers and the pen beside her. She stenographs everything she found out, but also adds a quick sketch of the faces she saw to the names of the Lasombra's ancestors. They are rough, but should only serve as an aid for her memory - she will do the real, detailed drawings later.
The Librarian then gets up and notices Griffin, nodding in his direction, but making it clear with a gesture from her hand that she is not quite ready to talk yet. She picks up the bowl and proceeds to place the blood in an empty blood bag, carefully labelling it before she puts it into the refridgerator. It might come in handy later. She quietly cleans both the bowl and the knife she used, and only after she placed everything into the cabinets does she put her shoes and her blazer back on.
The last thing she does is picking up her notes and the pen she left in the small alcove. With both in her hands, she turns to Griffin and takes a seat next to him, crossing her legs, although she doesn't lean back at all. For a moment, she sits in silence, as if not knowing what to say.
"I apologize if you have been waiting long, Griffin. That sample was from Frederic Vonzel, whom I just tried to interrogate."
Her gaze darts over her notes, then she shakes her head, a little frustrated, perhaps.
"Actually, it seems he was surprisingly honest with me. His actions still don't make any sense."
Corinna frowns, looking back up at Griffin. Her irritation is not merely that she didn't get a lot of useful information, but also that she gave the Lasombra her own blood - for what the interrogation was worth, it just seems a waste to her now.

It seems the Harpy is quite patient. He lets the librarian do as she wishes, even if he keeps staring and observing her gestures. When her gestures indicate she is to sit, he pulls the chair away from the table so she doesn't need to do it herself.
Griffin nods as she finally speaks. He doesn't give a look at her notes or sketches, visibly not curious (or not invited).
(Jean-Pierre) So he was indeed the one who attacked the Church. Oddly, my colleagues from other cities noted that he was a perfectly educated guest, and the reports were the same both before his staying here, or after. You should turn this issue in another way; why was he honest? Did he hope for compassion, empathy from you? Or was it because he had nothing to lose? Were his actions meant to have any sense to begin with?

He crosses his fingers on the table, giving a look every now and then to Corinna by his side. He's making an effort not to oppress her with his stare, and hence, avoids looking at her too much.

Corinna's frown deepens while she listens to the Harpy, and she quickly goes through the notes she made, obviously second-guessing herself.
"He was reasonable and polite with me, too, despite a clearly pronounced hunger. Then again, I had Rufus with me - that might have influenced his behaviour for the better."
She remembers the sense of calm that the Lasombra had apparently adopted, and cocks her head slightly to the left, as if in thought, before quickly looking up to Griffin and back on her notes again.
"He did say that he hoped for mercy from Gosuin, but apparently, he had accepted his fate. You are right. What a peculiar riddle. Maybe he panicked and lost it, and now pays for it."
She notices the blood bond she found out about just now, and looks back up at Griffin, to observe his reaction at the news.
"He also does not have a vinculum ... instead, he has a full blood bond to Alicia Vanderstree. What do you think of that?"

Griffin nods with a slight "hm", as Corinna states Rufus may have deterred Frederic from misbehaving. For him, it's a given and it's not necessary to comment on it. But the panicking and the hunger seem to have a hard time being conceptualized by the Harpy.
(Jean-Pierre) Gosuin may accept showing mercy, if he has something to gain from it; there were no losses, he attacked a place that was considered to be empty, and Regent Kersten did not execute him right away.

Kersten executing without trial seems to be a very normal occurrence. It had happened before, with the Anarch Tremere coterie that had formed in the 1920's, and it was later explained to the court that the Tremere deal with their affairs on their own. The bond mentionned does pull some emotion out of the Harpy; he is surprised and even a little chocked. He thinks about it an instant, then comes up with a conclusion.
(Jean-Pierre) To Alicia, is that right... Well, can we really accuse him of being Sabbat, now? Of course, this puts miss Vanderstree into a very difficult situation and we must question her implications, should this information be shared with the Court.

Corinna doesn't necessarily agree with Griffin's reasoning of 'no losses, no harm done' - even if the previous Chantry is not officially Tremere domain anymore, she still likes to think of it as such, especially after having seen it for herself. But she gives a slight nod at her clanmate's words.
"I wonder why the Regent showed mercy in the first place. Vonzel told me that Regent Kersten had also spoken to him, so he must have known his story. Did he merely defer to Gosuin or is there something more to gain from the Lasombra?"
She doesn't know what to make of it, obviously, but she doesn't presume to judge in place of her superiors. The idea of Frederic walking around in the city once more, this time seen as who he actually is, could present all sorts of trouble, not only from the Sabbat coming to look for him when they find out he is still alive, so to speak. And there also is the problem of his blood bond.
"He calls himself a deserter, so he put that accusation on himself. Seeing the company he was in, I can't think of another reason than his being a Sabbat ... former Sabbat, if he is to be believed. He may have broken his vinculum quite some time ago, or even never had one, who knows."
The Librarian fidgets around with the buttons of her blazer for a moment, before looking back up to Griffin, asking the question that really bothers her.
"Do you think they formed the bond before his return, or after? And what if it is mutual?"
The implications are not at all pleasant to consider. Since the rumours of the unknown artifact flared up in Bordeaux, things seem to have taken a turn for the worse. With the (ex?)Sabbat that is staked upstairs, there seems to be an extra nasty side added to everything.

The Harpy doesn't seem to engage in any "domination" discussion. He merely allows the Librarian to talk things over and adds in the information he has or knows, using his reason to let her build her own conclusions. His true opinion on the matter seems to be kept to himself; maybe it's not relevant to the situation, or maybe he likes his intimacy. The question of "why did Lyle go soft on the Lasombra" seems to worry him up to a certain point.
(Jean-Pierre) The Regent has changed, alas like you I cannot think of a reason for him to have shown mercy. However, I do think it was a well thought choice.

Griffin can't imagine Kersten not having made the decision without thinking about it. Maybe it's a plan, or a test of some sort. However his next few words betray that while he knows there's something else going on behind the Regent's choice, he doesn't want to go in there.
(Jean-Pierre) There is no use into trying to understand what he has planned by letting him live. The options are far too numerous for us to bother, we would end up wasting time and resources by wondering. You know how Regent Kersten is.

He shrugs slightly, then joins again his fingers on the table, wondering.
(Jean-Pierre) If I were to guess concerning Miss Vanderstree, I would guess they had formed the bond while he was here. They seemed close enough in Elysium catherings, including during Mr Delacour's vernissage. He may also have been a ghoul of hers before his embrace, in which case the bond stayed after death? There are many possibilities..

The idea doesn't seem to please him more than it pleases Corinna. Griffin glances at Corinna an instant, to jauge her demeanor as he continues about the bond.
(Jean-Pierre) It could be mutual, however this information can only be found through her. Or through him, if he is willing to detail his relationship's context. I doubt it, if he was very honest but did not mention her, either he can't, or he won't ; the blood is strong enough. Were you in his position, would you reveal anything about your Domitor to your hangman?

Corinna nods to Griffin's first words. She is convinced that there is more to the Lasombra than meets her eye, but even so, the uninvited guest is not to her liking. She almost feels dirty now, after their talk.
"Yes, you are right. And maybe Prince Gosuin knows more than we do ... in any case, I'm greatly interested in what his decision regarding our 'guest' is going to be."
She also wants to find out whether Gosuin knows what she just discovered - that Vonzel has a full bond to a local Kindred - but obviously doesn't consider spilling this secret herself. It's useful information, after all, and doesn't need to become too public. In the end, it isn't her decision anyway.
"A ghoul? Is that really possible? All the more troubling, since this implicates that he was chosen specifically for the purpose of spying by his sire ... and she may have been an accomplice if the bond is mutual."
Now the Librarian really seems a bit shocked by her train of thought. If Alicia Vanderstree was an accomplice during Vonzel's stay as a spy, she cannot be trusted at all. It may mean that they have discovered a spy in their midst - but how does that fit with the Lasombra's calm demeanor?
"I would not be able to speak a word."
She looks away, her gaze not settling on anything specific in the laboratory, before she looks down on her notes again, as if reading something on the paper.
"Still, he must at least have suspected that this secret would be discovered. Maybe, if confronted with this information, his calm will finally shatter, but I'm not eager to do so."
Corinna purses her lips, shaking her head slightly.
"Well, this sheds new light on recent events indeed, although I could have done well without any more complications. With the Regent gone, there is enough to take care of."
She seems slightly resigned at the thought of so much upheaval - it means less time spent in her beloved library and more work with the other Kindred, especially the newcomers. It needs to be done, though, and she will just have to manage. With a low 'hmpf', Corinna gathers her things and motions to Griffin as to indicate that she will be leaving soon, so that he has time to ask her something if he still wishes to before she actually goes.

Griffin doesn't act or word any opinion whether the Prince should execute Vonzel or not. He just nods at Corinna's interest to know which will be his judgment ; he's curious as well. He does say a few words concerning Vonzel's supposed ghoul status.
(Jean-Pierre) Do not overestimate their intelligence ; if he was of miss Vanderstree's, he was worthy enough ; he may have been noticed by another Kindred and be embraced for his qualities, without them knowing he was already a ghoul. Candidates for the embrace are scarce, so having two unrelated Kindred, ignorant of each other's actions and interest, being interested in the same person.. could happen. It may even be quite common.

He thinks it's far fetched, but he doesn't rule it out as possible; after all, there is quite a recent case in the Tremere clan of one mortal interesting two kindred. They happened to be from the same court so they became aware of each other, but still. Vonzel being embraced by a Lasombra who didn't know he was Alicia's ghoul, may be perfectly credible.
Of course, Griffin only bases this theory under the known fact that Alicia is known to have several male ghouls for her pleasure and protection. He has no proof he even was a ghoul, as he stated and as Corinna had witnessed, Vonzel presented himself as Ventrue and he seemed to be close enough to the Toreador Harpy during the few years he was in court.

Griffin has a slight smirk when Corinna states she wouldn't say a word, but he doesn't push further. The phone of the chantry starts to ring, but it stops before the end of the first ring, not letting Corinna nor Griffin pick it up. Mikael probably had it in hand, to pick up so fast.
(Jean-Pierre) Very well. He hesitates an instant, before stating his next action with the motivation of a high school student concerning homework. I will try to have a word with him as well.

He lets her go, observing her. He words out a certain wish from within about the situation.
(Jean-Pierre) Good luck.


As Corinna stands to leave, she can hear Mikael's pace as he walks down the stairs. He words the news with a certain cynism and half amusement.
(Mikael) A ghoul attempted to murder Gosuin.

Corinna automatically shoots upright in her seat when she hears the phone's first sound, ready to stand up and pick up the receiver, before remembering that she is still in a conversation. Embarrassed at her instinctive reaction, she relaxes again and fidgets around with her notes once more, avoiding Griffin's eyes.
"Well, if you find out anything useful, please let me know so that I may add it to my notes."
She unnecessarily clears her throat, then stands up calmly and slowly, notes and pen in hand. When she hears Griffin's last words, she stops, managing a small but thankful smile in his direction before finally turning to leave. She hardly put her chair back in place when Mikael arrives in the Laboratory. The librarian's posture immediately stiffens somewhat, like a small spring to attention. At the unexpected news, however, she merely blinks flabbergasted. This only lasts for about a splitsecond, however, as her face sets into a demure look.
"Magister, is it known whose ghoul it was? It was not a ... proper assassination attempt, was it?"
She has a thousand more questions, and is not sure whether she should be shocked at this development or rather sigh because of all the more work this means, especially seeing how a ghoul would hardly be more than cannon fodder anyway, so this is obviously merely a provocation. Still, it postpones the moment when she can get back to her library even more.

The Harpy nods when Corinna asks about informing her of anything. The news of the assassination attempt seem to surprise Griffin as well, he raises an eyebrow and listens with a certain interest.
Mikael makes a "mhm" sound.
(Mikael) It was a ghoul of Alicia Vanderstree, or it's what the Seneschal said. It obviously failed ; who the hell attacks a Ventrue Prince with blades...

He shakes his head, obviously thinking the idea was stupid. He gives a deep stare at Corinna, as she's the one who was the most in contact with him.
(Mikael) Why didn't you inform me there was a feud between this Toreador and the Prince?

Jean-Pierre stands as if nothing, putting back his chair, and answers in the tone of the most casual conversation.
(Jean-Pierre) There was no feud, Mr Horsman, and I did not know we had any reason to report to the assistant of Maastricht's Lord.

The death glare the magister gives the Harpy matches his nerve. It's clear Griffin isn't really willing to obey to Mikael until and unless he is appointed as their direct superior. As of now, for him, he is just a guest. It's also clear Mikael knows this, which is why he bites his tongue an instant, and goes back to Corinna.
(Mikael) This might be our chance to gain something for the clan.

Corinna's professional demeanour fails her as she nervously starts to straighten the few blanks of paper she carries in her hands. Her lips are pressed together so tightly that they appear as a thin line.
"I'm deeply sorry, Magister, I didn't suspect so until just now-"
She falls silent, head lowered a little bit, as Griffin speaks up, but looks up just as fast when he contests Mikael's authority. A look of anger at his behaviour dashes across her face, the corners of her still tightly pressed lips twitching up like a feral cat, before she averts her gaze again. If Mikael does not speak up about this obvious challenge, she won't either.
To anybody familiar with her and willing to look closely, her demeanour bears some similarities to that of a beaten puppy. Except for the fact that she doesn't have the eyes and doesn't whine.
"Magister, please, have a look at these notes. It is the information I could learn from Monsieur Frederic Vonzel in person, and what I found out when I performed the ritual of the Blood Walk on a sample of his vitae a few minutes ago."
She hands him the papers she still carries, all the while avoiding to look in Griffin's direction. Her voice is soft, and though she tries to keep a calm and neutral tone, there is a certain pleading quality to it.
"As you no doubt see, coupled with the assassination attempt, it points to Miss Vanderstree as the perpetrator and carries much heavier implications than that. There may be further information to be gleaned from Monsieur Vonzel, since I did not use extensive interrogation methods yet."

Griffin openly ignores the reaction of the guest, and moves away as if nothing.
(Jean-Pierre) I will keep you in touch, should I find anything.

With that he walks past Horsman and leaves the laboratory, probably to talk to Vonzel as he stated he would do. Mikael's eyes follow him as he does so, disliking the attitude the Harpy gave him. He'll have a talk with him later, probably, but there are far more important matters at the moment. The Magister approaches when Corinna asks him, and he takes the papers to read the notes. His eyes widen and mutters a curse.
(Mikael) Damn!

He takes a deeper read, interested, to memorize. His next few words are pondered heavily, as if he knew what it meant. Loyalty written in blood.
(Mikael) No, if he's bond, he won't talk. Rufus said Regent Kersten interrogated him as well, in a more brutal manner already.

He shakes his head slightly, changing papers to keep on gathering the notes.
(Mikael) He has gone to great lenghts for her, and he has not sold her to us, has he? I would think it would be best if she didn't know we suspect her. You've told me she has a very skilled tongue, if she finds out her ghoul attacked, she may come forward and claim they were dominated or manipulated against her will... If she comes tomorrow to Elysium and witness his execution, denying she has anything to do with it, maybe he'll talk right before his passing.

The old Librarian obviously is trying to find a way to use the situation to the clan's advantage.. or his own advantage. He's frustrated.
(Mikael) If she hadn't made such a stupid action, we could have reached to her and get back at the Ventrue for his past crimes.. If only we had a suitable candidate to take domain.