Mai drives home. On her way home, she notices flashing lights in the Highland Park area near Hamtrack. She veers over a street to see if she can get a closer look and determine if there was a masquerade breach or anything else she might need to know about. Although she sees ambulances and police cars, she sees nothing out of the ordinary for Detroit (but calls Jenny anyways), and proceeds home.
At home, she is greeted by Qasi who appears disheveled. He senses her anger as she demands him to sit and begins to pry the details of the past few days out of him both verbally and telepathically. It becomes apparent that at the hotel he became very abnormally sleepy and woke next in a hospital room. He was injected with something (very likely the Blood, Mai thinks) and he changes clothes. Nurse Spencer assures him Mai will be at the Salon and takes him there. He looks around the room for Mai, but does not see her. His memories of this time are distorted and very hard to uncover, but there is more that he is not verbally telling Mai. He recalls being in a room with Nurse Spencer, Marcellus, and two other people speaking: one masculine and one vaguely feminine.
Mai calmly explains to him what she thinks the injection was, warns him of one of the powers of Nurse Spencer and Marcellus (that they can apparently wipe memories to some extent) and advises him to be very aware of his feelings and behavior for the next several weeks.
At which time, Mai is interrupted as her other ghouls greet her. She feeds, reinforces the bond with Qasi, and sleeps.
Aiden, having nothing else to do for the evening, wanders home after the hotel incident and goes to bed for the day.
The next morning after a shower, she is in much better spirits and contacts the others via phone to plan a meeting to discuss the new directive that was issued the previous night and how we were to go about it. After some calls, it is settled that we will meet at the Omni at Manfred's room.
On the way, Mai drives by Highland Park again to make sure nothing is amiss and everything appears normal.
Long story short, when JT volunteers that the Detroit River is in neither the domain of Detroit or Windsor, and close enough for us to be aware of... we decide that tapestry must be put there. Randolph then comes up with the idea to make decoys.
In the meantime, Mai discloses to Aiden what she learned from Qasi and Aiden insists the group be made aware of the information and calls upon Mai to do so. Mai explains to the group... the rest of the group doesn't entirely care, but Manfred wishes for a sample of Mai's blood and Qasi's blood in order to further his research. Mai agrees on the condition that she be present throughout all of his research involving her blood and the blood of her ghoul, and that she be returned any remaining samples.
The group decides that Randolph and JT should go together to procure drums and concrete and begin work on burying the tapestry in a drum and also making decoys. The group throws around the idea that Manfred could embue some matchbox cars or whatnot with auras as well to further throw off the hunt, but it's decided that's unneccessary since buried in concrete, nothing should give off an aura.
As Mai leaves, Jenny pulls her aside and brings up something she and Mai discussed long ago when Jenny was about to be welcomed into Clan Malkavian. Jenny asks how exactly to go about Mai's long ago suggestion, and Mai explains what she knows of the process. Jenny makes Mai realize at this point that Mai must go out and get to know various toreadors and at least where they frequent in order to get Jenny in touch with them so Jenny can perhaps build herself a good reputation with the clan.
Mai invites Aiden with her on a tour of Detroit's art district, cigar bars, and wine parlors. Aiden surprisingly agrees on the condition that Aiden be allowed to go as secret service. Mai cautiously says she'd like to see the outfit first and then will let Aiden know if they are agreed.
They go back to Aiden's and Aiden changes into black pants, black sleeveless shirt, jacket, combat boots, and sunglasses. Mai approves. Aiden then says that they should pretend Aiden is Mai's bodyguard in Mai's employ because that's the only way it would make sense for Mai to be with a Gangrel in public. Mai points out that Mai was the one who reintroduced Aiden to the society in Detroit and it would make sense anyway, but ultimately Mai agrees with Aiden's plan.
Aiden begins to tell Mai that Mai should have a place where she can be found... like a hangout. However opposed to being able to be found Mai is, she sees Aiden's point and begins to think about establishing a favorite club where either she or her contacts could be found.
At the Detroit Club, Mai enjoys a cigar and notices a back room, but the door is closed and Mai doesn't want to interupt anything. Mai and Aiden leave to resume their "art crawl" when Mai notices Nurse Spencer's car pulling out of the parking lot. That bitch.
Meanwhile, JT and Randolph begin the concrete decoy 'project' by procuring cement and heading off to the abandoned area near Buick-Cadillac facility to use some empty drums there. As the decoys are being made, there is a discussion between JT and Randolf about whether Randolf should know the final placement of the tapestry barrel in the Detroit River.
Randolf does not believe that JT will actually place the barrel in the Detroit River (although JT has not said anything to the contrary). JT believes Randolf does not have the capabilities to hide his mind well enough from intruders (Strauss) who would be looking for such secrets. Randolf counters with the belief that the Coterie gave him permission to know where the tapestry would be placed and thus has a right to know. But on the other hand, JT thinks that if the tapestry is stolen, that he'll have a scapegoat (so it is a win-win no matter what the outcome).
Internally, JT in his dichotomy of dual natures is also very protective of young Randolf -- JT fears that Randolf is following too closely to the role of what Shamus was...insurance in case the Nosferatu turned...but does not wish to openly tell young Randolf this imagery of the larger picture until Randolf can see the larger picture for himself (otherwise, Randolf will accuse JT (like Randolf has mentioned to Jenny on several occasions) that JT is leading him too directly without facts and only a historical-perspective).
JT shrugs and will let the Coterie decide Randolf's fate.
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