7/29/2006
Mai writes:
For various reasons, none of which are good, Mai chooses to stay at a hotel rather than with a mortal that day. That evening, Mai is awakened by a phone call.
Mai meets her coterie mates at Pages of the Ages and is relieved to see Randolf but saddened to see that he is in torpor and missing an arm. Manfred waves the arm at her and explains how he ripped it off because Randolf was fighting him. The deputies announce they have business at the Cathedral and they can't be late and thereby ensues a brief discussion of what to do with Randolf while we leave him with Jen.
Manfred corrects the situation so that Jen will have control over Randolf while she looks over him, since Mai must also leave for her duties at a reception. The deputies leave and Mai lingers a bit, feeling torn between duties. Randolf is in dire need of... well of what? Nothing she can give him. Reluctantly, she decides to go but not before explaining briefly to Jen what came of that conversation she'd had with Alicia earlier.
Mai entrusts Jenny with Randolf because she believes the two think similarly. She believes that Jenny knows what it is to feel bound by our coterie or bound by this life and perhaps she will be able to help Randolf with whatever it is he needs. She also believes perhaps Jen could benefit from having to watch over an out of control vampire like we have had to do many times with her... but in this case, perhaps we all can do the right thing.
Mai leaves toward her certain doom at Alicia's reception. Mai sees the nice cars and parks a distance away. At the reception, Mai meets many interesting vampires and finds herself actually sort of having an ok time. Melissa is quick to introduce Mai to Calisto, Lasombra clan head of North America and Alicia's special guest. Calisto turns out to be Mai's constant companion for the night. Mai is also approached later by Melissa about the book. Apparently a vampire from Strasbourg is talking about it. Mai asks to be introduced and is led to Duke Bonheur who knows Irving personally, can attest that Irving did write the book, and confirms to Mai's dismay, that Mai is in it. He gives her a leatherbound copy and Mai leaves as the primogen adjourn to a private chamber, so that she can put it somewhere safe...
And of course make a phone call. Randolf worries her and while she trusts Jen, she wants to know ultimately what is going to happen. She is given the excuse to make a phone call by a couple out of towners looking for a good place to grab a bite and since Mai is a pathetic hunter...
Jen informs Mai nothing has happened and describes a sports bar.
Mai returns to the reception and at this point some of her coterie mates are arriving. Aiden and Manfred head straight to Mai and Mai reluctantly introduces them to Calisto. Manfred maybe senses he is out of place, or perhaps fears the clan head of Lasombra, but leaves. Aiden lingers staring sort of, so Mai sends Aiden off to tell the Keeper to detain anyone arriving who looks like Randolf. After some confusion, it appears it gets done.
Mai receives a phone call from Jen and excuses herself to take the call. Jen explains that Randolf has been awakened, has been fed, and she has let him go. It is what Mai expected, so why is she still worried? And why does she hear Murgatroyd in the background?
Nevermind... Mai cannot speak before Jen hangs up. Probably better. Can't blame Jen. Jen did what's best. Can only worry now and hope he shows his face again in society sometime... hope that he's still himself, though she knows he won't be.
It is some time before Jen herself makes it to the reception, but when she does she heads straight for Mai. Mai tries to fend her away with a glance since going through the embarrassment of last night's court might just be beyond Mai on this night. Jen approaches nevertheless. Mai expected this too. Mai introduces Jen to Calisto who is asked (at the least very politely) by Jen to borrow Mai. Mai excuses herself and follows Jen.
This can't be good. What will it be about? That Manfred is a monster because he tore Randolf's arm off? That Randolf needs help and she doesn't know how to give it? That Mai's blood is special and she wants to ease Mai's mind about it by shaking it apart? What? Mai knows our coterie is being shredded from within. She can see it better than perhaps any of us but she believes it to be His Influence. A counterattack maybe. Hit them where it hurts.
Randolf, their most innocent member in Mai's view, has been to hell and back for all she knows. Will they see him again? If he is like herself, he will run far away and never return. Which is why Mai believes that if that is what he must do, we must let him.
Mai also knows she can't fight a one-woman war. Her patience wears thinner as more complaints are brought to her about her fellow coterie mates. Mai folds her hands in front of her, a vision of compassion and patience only because they need it. But when will they see the fight is not always external? Mai longs to sleep and to forget but perhaps tonight she can "escape" into a good book.
A "fiction" perhaps...
Jen speaks:
Those at Irvings awake to Aidens sire opening the door, and bringing in several Nosferatu from "out of town". Neither group really talks, although Aidens sire tells her that they will talk latter. We take Randolph with us to the surface, I contact Mai and JT, and then we head to Manfreds store.
Once we arrive, I busy myself with cleaning Randolph up and putting some fresh underclothes on him. The discussion quickly becomes a "I cant stay and deal with this right now", and I end up agreeing to watch over Randolph while every one else does there own thing. Manfred has JT put a "fresh" stake in Randolph, he then removes the "magical" one. Mai lingers for a bit as the others leave, we talk, and eventually I convince her that all is well at hand and she should leave also.
Alone. Well, with Randolph, but might as well be alone. This is not what I wanted, I had hoped we could all have a discussion over what to do about him, but no. Looks like its in my lap. Maybe JT is right in that my purpose seems to be to make the descions no one else wants to.
So, I call Tom.
I explain to him over the phone what is up, as best as one can over a phone. He agrees to help, I ask him to bring others, and I tell him where I am. I then begin to explore Manfreds store, being careful not to go near anything it seems I should not. Locked doors remain locked, and I dare not rifle thru anything.
Tom arrives alone, (men!), we go down stairs and I show him Randolph. He asks if there is any way to find out what Randolph needs, and I convince him there is not. I ask him if he is in contact with anyone who can help, he says there is some one, but it would be a while for him to track that Kindred down, and that there would be a price. So I set him off to get this Kindred, and settle down next to Randolph and begin to explore Manfreds down stairs library.
Mai calls, asks about Randolph, and then... Mai wants a good place to go hunting, down town? While weird, I tell her about a down town sports bar that is rather popular, and our conversation ends.
I look at Randolph. Can I really leave him in this state? What Kindred is Tom bringing, and could I trust him? Would Randolph? I decide to see just how Randolph really is.
So, I unstake him, he attacks me, and I re-stake him. Ok, so he is rather bad. So, I go outside, eventually find some one for him, bring the Kine back, and give him to Randolph.
Randolph consumes the Kines blood rapidly, squezzing every last bit of Vitae out of him as I watch in shock. He then tries to attack me, and I manage to stake him. This is horrible! I do not think Randolph has ever killed before, and here, I just handed him some Vitae, and... Realizing that I have now started something which I have no control over, I go out and get another "victom", (I now realize that is what this Kine will be), and repeat what I did before.
Randolph, again, litterally consumes what I brought, but... He seems more in control of himself after he finishes, and, as I thought, blames me for what has happened. It is my fault! I try to talk with him, but he only wants to leave. We struggle, I stake him. Now, the place is a ghastly mess, Randolph is a ghastly mess, (in more than one way), and this is my fault. As much angry with myself, the others for leaving me with Randolph, and Randolph himself, I sit and stew.
MASSIVE footsteps approach. As the figure comes down stairs, I pull the stake from Randolph, and drop it on the floor. I have had enough of making descions about Randolph alone tonight!
Murgatroyd enters the basement, and JT is behind him. I ask the Gargoyle why he is here, and he replies that Tom sent him! Jt starts a conversation with Myrg, and Randolph, seeing that I am no longer going to hold him here, cleans himself up, puts on some fresh clothes, and leaves.
After JT's and Myrgs conversation ends, me and JT close up the shop. We talk about Randolph, and JT goes off to follow him while I get a cab.
I clean up, get properly dressed, and head to the Ball.
Aiden is one of the door keepers, as is Justus. She seems, rather pleased with herself, so I just walk in. I see Mai, she starts making faces as me as I aproach. No worries Mai, I can behave! She is with a tall dark gentelman, that seems some what familular to me...
Mai introdes me to the stranger, who also seems rather interested in me. He is Calisto, the head of the Lasombra in North America, and a special guest of Alica Lee! Despite my twist of emotions, I bow before him, and politely ask if I can have some of Mai's time in private.
The two of us walk away, and I can barely contain myself. So, Alica spoke true! I am now indebted to a powerful Kindred, who, if I tell her the truth about what has happened to Starr, will likely want to destroy me. However, if I told her the ENTIRE story... That would be rather Jenny like, and I'm sure that the rest of the Coterie would be unhappy with me for doing so. Yet, she WAS close to Starr, in some way. Would she understand? Would the Coterie? All I know, is that if the opportunity presents it self, it might be best if I did tell her.
Besides, I may not have a choice.
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