[Giuliana] Taking Over (Jan. 16, 2010)
The Mekhet pauses before entering the expansive residence that tonight's gathering, hosted by Diamondtrim Daddy Slim, takes place in. The presence of numerous unknown Beasts assails her senses, seeping into her consciousness as she waits for the ghoul unloading lacrima from her car to catch up with her.
One hand goes up to ensure that her hair is in place, dropping to brush a bit of lint off the front of her dress. Thin black straps secure black fabric to the front of her torso, twining around her bare back and tied in place. The long dress falls from her curves and exposes the back of calves and a bit of thigh as she proceeds into the house, stilettos making a quiet tap. A gesture with one hand directs the ghoul to the bar, and her eyes quickly scan the place, taking in who is there.
A presence situates itself behind and slightly to one side, and she smiles slightly without looking back, "Buona sera, Signor Wode."
"Good evening, Madam la Porta."
Giuliana continues into the main room, greeting those she knows, and some that she doesn't. Within moments, the Invictus is ready to meet, and she leads the way to the back of the house where their meeting will be. Opening the door, she stops short at the sight of a large Gangrel lounged casually on a chaise lounge in the corner of the room. He fixed his eyes on her and smiles.
"Prince Archer, buona sera. I had intended to use this room for my Covenant meeting--"
He cuts her off, "Yeah.... well.... I decided to claim this room as my throne room. Ya'll didn't tell me you had the most comfortable seat in the room." Giuliana frowns slightly, weighing her options between asking him to leave and changing the location, when he continues, "Though, I don't know most of these people in here. If they'd introduce themselves, I might let them use this room."
Earl Fraley steps forward, "Of course, Highness. I am Lord Archon Earl Fraley..." Archer insists on leaving out titles since he doesn't care about them, the rest of the First Estate makes quick, informal introductions, one at a time, and finally, Archer leaves the room.
Giuliana immediately calls the meeting to order, and minor matters of business are discussed. And then Archer bursts into the room, looking around and saying, "Just ignore me, I'm not here...." He wanders through and then exits again, leaving the First Estate looking after him with expressions of disbelief on their faces.
The first serious matter, Archbishop Murphy's attempt to claim praxis of Gainesville via email, is brought up, and concern is expressed that the Carthians will attempt to get involved because Murphy has apparently joined the Movement. During this discussion, once again, Archer interrupts the meeting to state that he wants to make sure everyone obeys the laws of the City.
The second matter, the Praxis of Tampa, is then discussed. Giuliana explains that, being so new to Florida and to Tampa, she isn't well known by the populace, and is not interested in wasting the resources of the First Estate in a prolonged contest for Praxis. The Invictus of Tampa have decided to stand behind the praxis bid by Diamondtrim Daddy Slim, and have secured positions of authority and respect in his Court. If he succeeds as a Prince, they will continue to back him, and if not, then he will be removed.
Juliet Castille, the Prince of Sarasota, looks at Giuliana, "You know the issues that I have with Mssr. Slim, Madam la Porta. Tampa does not cause problems for my borders right now. If Mssr. Slim is Prince, will that change? Why should the Invictus support a Carthian Prince over an Ordo one?"
And then Giuliana feels a presence behind her. She looks back, jumping slightly as she sees Archer's face practically pressed against the glass door behind her, staring at the room. Why didn't anyone tell me he was standing there? She glances at Fraley questioningly, and he brushes it off, "I don't really care if he hears, it doesn't matter."
Giuliana exhales, and then looks at Juliet again, "Si, I can understand your point of view. However, I expect Signor Slim to perform well as a Prince. I have had lengthy discussions with him about the matter, and he and I share the same goals for Tampa. We want the City to prosper, we want unity, and we want stability. And, as I said, if he does not work out, he will be removed."
Juliet nods, "Can you not make the same arrangement with Archer?"
Giuliana opens her mouth to respond, "Well, he is not willing to deal--" the sound of the glass door opening noisily stops her as Archer enters the room, "Don't mind me, just cutting through." He crosses the room, taking his time, and smiles at everyone before leaving through the interior door. Everyone in the room watches silently, and when the door closes, Giuliana glances around at the expressions on the faces of those gathered; a mixture of disgust, disbelief, and offense. She continues after a long pause, "Shall I continue?"
No one questions her about Archer after that, and shortly thereafter, Master Nolan is sent to bring Diamondtrim Daddy Slim back to the meeting so that they can discuss details with him. By the end of the meeting, an agreement is made, and the Unconquered disperse. Giuliana reenters the main gathering with a stoic expression, silently wondering how much of a fight Archer is going to put up when Diamondtrim makes his bid for Praxis.
A couple hours later, word reaches the Mekhet that Archbishop Murphy has been detained by the First Estate to be remanded to Cardinal Rui Fernandez, and that Liberty Stone and Archer were both present for the debacle and both fled. Apparently Liberty made a declaration of some sort threatening to kill Invictus. Giuliana's vision sharpens as she glances around to make sure no one is hiding themselves from sight nearby, and continues her conversation with a few of the Invictus present.
And then, news of Archer's death begins to whisper about. Apparently he'd somehow taken the form of a werewolf and burst into the Gangrel meeting, and in the ensuing chaos, he'd been inadvertantly destroyed. Giuliana's first response was a mixture of pity and relief. She knew that eventually his manner of bursting into meetings unannounced would eventually catch up with him, and at least now, she didn't have to worry about getting in the middle of a violent praxis seizure.
Her eyes shift quickly across the sea of faces in the gathering, fixing on Diamondtrim, and she immediately starts in his direction. When she stops silently by his side, he's deep in debate with another local Carthian, Mia, whom has also decided to contest for praxis. They quickly agree on a vote, and the Harpy, Dennis Nolan, begins to circulate around the gathering, notifying members of the City.
Within minutes of meeting, Diamondtrim is voted in as the new Prince, and Giuliana is made Seneschal. Earl Fraley comes up to her, "Congratulations on your success, Madam Seneschal." She smiles politely, thanking him, but she caught the note of irony in his voice.
One hand goes up to ensure that her hair is in place, dropping to brush a bit of lint off the front of her dress. Thin black straps secure black fabric to the front of her torso, twining around her bare back and tied in place. The long dress falls from her curves and exposes the back of calves and a bit of thigh as she proceeds into the house, stilettos making a quiet tap. A gesture with one hand directs the ghoul to the bar, and her eyes quickly scan the place, taking in who is there.
A presence situates itself behind and slightly to one side, and she smiles slightly without looking back, "Buona sera, Signor Wode."
"Good evening, Madam la Porta."
Giuliana continues into the main room, greeting those she knows, and some that she doesn't. Within moments, the Invictus is ready to meet, and she leads the way to the back of the house where their meeting will be. Opening the door, she stops short at the sight of a large Gangrel lounged casually on a chaise lounge in the corner of the room. He fixed his eyes on her and smiles.
"Prince Archer, buona sera. I had intended to use this room for my Covenant meeting--"
He cuts her off, "Yeah.... well.... I decided to claim this room as my throne room. Ya'll didn't tell me you had the most comfortable seat in the room." Giuliana frowns slightly, weighing her options between asking him to leave and changing the location, when he continues, "Though, I don't know most of these people in here. If they'd introduce themselves, I might let them use this room."
Earl Fraley steps forward, "Of course, Highness. I am Lord Archon Earl Fraley..." Archer insists on leaving out titles since he doesn't care about them, the rest of the First Estate makes quick, informal introductions, one at a time, and finally, Archer leaves the room.
Giuliana immediately calls the meeting to order, and minor matters of business are discussed. And then Archer bursts into the room, looking around and saying, "Just ignore me, I'm not here...." He wanders through and then exits again, leaving the First Estate looking after him with expressions of disbelief on their faces.
The first serious matter, Archbishop Murphy's attempt to claim praxis of Gainesville via email, is brought up, and concern is expressed that the Carthians will attempt to get involved because Murphy has apparently joined the Movement. During this discussion, once again, Archer interrupts the meeting to state that he wants to make sure everyone obeys the laws of the City.
The second matter, the Praxis of Tampa, is then discussed. Giuliana explains that, being so new to Florida and to Tampa, she isn't well known by the populace, and is not interested in wasting the resources of the First Estate in a prolonged contest for Praxis. The Invictus of Tampa have decided to stand behind the praxis bid by Diamondtrim Daddy Slim, and have secured positions of authority and respect in his Court. If he succeeds as a Prince, they will continue to back him, and if not, then he will be removed.
Juliet Castille, the Prince of Sarasota, looks at Giuliana, "You know the issues that I have with Mssr. Slim, Madam la Porta. Tampa does not cause problems for my borders right now. If Mssr. Slim is Prince, will that change? Why should the Invictus support a Carthian Prince over an Ordo one?"
And then Giuliana feels a presence behind her. She looks back, jumping slightly as she sees Archer's face practically pressed against the glass door behind her, staring at the room. Why didn't anyone tell me he was standing there? She glances at Fraley questioningly, and he brushes it off, "I don't really care if he hears, it doesn't matter."
Giuliana exhales, and then looks at Juliet again, "Si, I can understand your point of view. However, I expect Signor Slim to perform well as a Prince. I have had lengthy discussions with him about the matter, and he and I share the same goals for Tampa. We want the City to prosper, we want unity, and we want stability. And, as I said, if he does not work out, he will be removed."
Juliet nods, "Can you not make the same arrangement with Archer?"
Giuliana opens her mouth to respond, "Well, he is not willing to deal--" the sound of the glass door opening noisily stops her as Archer enters the room, "Don't mind me, just cutting through." He crosses the room, taking his time, and smiles at everyone before leaving through the interior door. Everyone in the room watches silently, and when the door closes, Giuliana glances around at the expressions on the faces of those gathered; a mixture of disgust, disbelief, and offense. She continues after a long pause, "Shall I continue?"
No one questions her about Archer after that, and shortly thereafter, Master Nolan is sent to bring Diamondtrim Daddy Slim back to the meeting so that they can discuss details with him. By the end of the meeting, an agreement is made, and the Unconquered disperse. Giuliana reenters the main gathering with a stoic expression, silently wondering how much of a fight Archer is going to put up when Diamondtrim makes his bid for Praxis.
A couple hours later, word reaches the Mekhet that Archbishop Murphy has been detained by the First Estate to be remanded to Cardinal Rui Fernandez, and that Liberty Stone and Archer were both present for the debacle and both fled. Apparently Liberty made a declaration of some sort threatening to kill Invictus. Giuliana's vision sharpens as she glances around to make sure no one is hiding themselves from sight nearby, and continues her conversation with a few of the Invictus present.
And then, news of Archer's death begins to whisper about. Apparently he'd somehow taken the form of a werewolf and burst into the Gangrel meeting, and in the ensuing chaos, he'd been inadvertantly destroyed. Giuliana's first response was a mixture of pity and relief. She knew that eventually his manner of bursting into meetings unannounced would eventually catch up with him, and at least now, she didn't have to worry about getting in the middle of a violent praxis seizure.
Her eyes shift quickly across the sea of faces in the gathering, fixing on Diamondtrim, and she immediately starts in his direction. When she stops silently by his side, he's deep in debate with another local Carthian, Mia, whom has also decided to contest for praxis. They quickly agree on a vote, and the Harpy, Dennis Nolan, begins to circulate around the gathering, notifying members of the City.
Within minutes of meeting, Diamondtrim is voted in as the new Prince, and Giuliana is made Seneschal. Earl Fraley comes up to her, "Congratulations on your success, Madam Seneschal." She smiles politely, thanking him, but she caught the note of irony in his voice.