2020-10-11 The Beginning of a New Barony
The Beginning of a New Barony
Participants: Isaac Abrams Christian Vy Kaden Trent Colton Aspen Karner Bartok Shawna Mal Cassie Zebastian Spade Jay Dizzy Hall Esther Ragnar Rabbit Caydence Los Perdidos
Storyteller: Sundance
Location: Basement - Drop the Mic - The Westside
Date and Time: October 11, 2020 11:30 am
Summary: A new age and a new Baron for the City of Santa Monica is declared by Isaac Abrams of Hollywood.
Mood Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKzxL64ybk8
A sizeable open stone pit is blown up and dug into the floor, its
bottom forty feet down, with smooth walls along the side; it is pure crude
with seats around it with a large ring down inside the hole. There is blood
on the walls; the stone ladder is etched into the pit's side to allow the
victor to climb out.
There is a raised chair above the crater, where someone can sit. There are controls up here to control lights down in the hole to make it the best show it can be. There is a microphone the style of an old boxing match hanging down from the ceiling, connected to the speakers hidden in the dark recess of the room.
Just like the Memorial that took place on Sunday, the Debate is held in the echoing, acoustics-friendly environs of the Basement Arena. Chairs and couches have been moved here by the diligent staff of Drop the Mic for the evening.
For the most part, the Los Perdidos Coterie has ensured that the pit continues to be available for anyone wishing to debate with their fists, though there is a sign adding that the event will not include boxing matches of any nature as a disclaimer.
A whiteboard detailing the rules has been nailed to the wall, outlining the expected behavior and rules of conduct for the Debate. You paged Aspen with 'Just like the Memorial that took place on Sunday, the Debate is held in the echoing, acoustics-friendly environs of the Basement Arena. Chairs and couches have been moved here by the diligent staff of Drop the Mic for the evening.
For the most part, the Los Perdidos Coterie has ensured that the pit continues to be available for anyone wishing to debate with their fists, though there is a sign adding that the event will not include boxing matches of any nature as a disclaimer.
A whiteboard detailing the rules has been nailed to the wall, outlining the expected behavior and rules of conduct for the Debate:
1. No sudden announcements as two people are debating.
2. One person may make a point, and a list of other people can make a counterpoint.
Announce a desire to manifest for or against the point beforehand.
3. No disruptions to the debate.
4. Keep it civil, we have guests.
5. Nothing needs to be decided tonight.
6. Entering debate means agreeing to the rules.
Any excuse to dress up. Even when the crowd won't appreciate it. Esther has chosen to forgo
her normal top-and-jeans combo for an actual dress. Pink, of course, and glittery enough that it
catches a bit of the bare bulb's light. Not super formal- a dress for a night out clubbing, though
perhaps a bit much for a weeknight. But the larger question wasn't about her choice of dress. More
about her presence at all. Esther looks over the room, and quickly starts toward Zeb. She bats him
on the shoulder with her little pink clutch when close, by way of greeting.
Caydence slides her way in, neither dressed up nor down. A simple pair of red-plaid bondage paints with tons of zips and buckles and straps, and a ripped white tank top that hits her just above the belly and hugs her skin tight. She has a army green flight jacket tossed over her shoulder, and shiny, black military boots up to her knees complete the ensemble. She looks around, gazes at the rules but seems rather indifferent to them, then looks with much more interest at who is there! It's like the A-List of Anarchs down here! The little blonde waves at Karner, then to Christian, and throws a smile for Vy's way. Now she's stuck. Flashback nightmares come to her of school lunches and not being popular enough to sit with, well, anyone. Finally she decides the back of the class is where she belongs, and, well, there is Mal and... Rosalia! "Hi! I'm Caydence! I've heard so much about you! Do y'all mind if I sit back here near you?" As an after thought she adds "Was there a dress code for this thing? You two both look so gorgeous!"
Karner exchanges the customary air kisses with Vy -- mwah, mwah. "Oh, thank you, darling. You look lovely tonight." He squeezes her elbow, smiling not only at her but Kaden and Christian. "Good luck. I shan't keep you as I'm sure you're very busy." With a little backwards finger-waggle, he leads Vic and Chess away from Los Perdidos, over to seats with a good enough view and a clear shot to the exit. He glances around, smiling at a number of the others here, including the recently arrived Caydence, though Hall gets an eyebrow raise. He's rather unexpected. A glance over at Esther as she arrives, and then he frowns for some reason.
Cole looks over at Trent and smiles warmly at him. "Hey dude." Time to speak the man's language. He leans just a bit closer and drops his voice while his eyes sweep over everyone else that's arriving. Most are unknown to him, but that doesn't keep an easy smile from greeting those that meet his gaze.
A woman arrives, a bit late, auburn hair curling down over each shoulder as she descends down into the fray. She moves towards the pit but still within the bounds of the seating area, her eyes tracking faces and names. Aspen sees Colton, first, and heads his way. "C!"
Turns out Trent was staring at an opposite wall. He should get his eyes checked. He squints really tight and then shrugs, looking over at Colton and lifting a hand to rub at his overstressed eyes, "Yo." he seems a little startled as Colton leans in but he gets over it quickly and listens to what he has to say. Since Trent doesn't have an inside voice, he answers aloud, "Who even fucking knows anymore, bro?" a shrug accompanies his louder but still vague response. "We'll see."
Ragnar entered the basement of this place. The tall man wore jeans, black boots, a white t shirt and an NFL Saints leather jacket. He scanned the room. He was sure some people here wouldnt think he would show up but he did.
"Hmm?" Rosalia brings her dark eyes blinking up to Caydence, when the tiny blonde approaches her and her ghoul. She gives the woman a quick once over, then wonders, "...Have you?" Before shifting her knees off to the side to allow Caydence entrance into the row and asserting a smile across her unpainted lips. "By all means, mija. And now, I don't believe their was? I just," She glances down at her outfit, then offers up a dismissive shrug, "Put on what was easiest.
Malachi nods slowly to whatever Rosalia responds to him with, his attention being stolen as Caydence approaches, and earning the woman a smile. "Oh, hello Miss Starr, I didn't know you'd be here tonight." he greets her, turning towards Rosalia and leaning closer to murmur something to her before he sits back and pops a cherry in his mouth. His attention remains mostly on the crowds, but at least partially on the people sitting with him.
With a silent nod to Karner for his greetings, then another to Colton and Trent, Christian is clad in casual clothes. He wears a black overcoat, a white button-up, short-sleeved shirt and a pair of black trousers. "Thanks." He says to the Malkavian, nodding also to Vic and Chess as they are led away. He seems distracted, gaze vacant. "Trent, Cole." His coterie mate and his brother-in-law are also given greetings, along with a slight smile.
Vy gets a wink from Kaden before he waves to the rest of the people entering the downstairs meeting area. A look is given to make sure he doesn't need to help anyone with anything before he gives Colton and Trent a smile and nod of his head in greeting. Aspen gets a warm smile and a wink as he. As more people arrive he simply motions to seats that are open if they wish to take them. Colton's smile warms a bit as Aspen approaches and he waves to her, unsure where she might land amongst this throng of folk. And yet here she comes and he slides a bit to one side to make room along the best wall this side of the Mississip. "Hey A." His tone is a bit more muted, but that smile surely isn't. He turns to Trent then and grins openly, doing his best not to remark. Or laugh. Instead he just nods before Christian greets him and it's returned in kind. "Hey." Cole gives him a solid, reassuring nod.
The arrival of more people are followed with glances at the door and tempered but genuine smiles to those arriving, but when Zeb comes in and makes his way over, Cassie's lips can't help pull a little wider. "Zebastian... it's so good to see you." she greets while pushing up on her tip- toes and leaning in for a faux-kiss to either of the Malkavian's cheeks, before lowering again and listening to what he says, a little smile of wistful appreciation accompanying the words she whispers back to him.
"Thank you, darling," Vy replies to Karner. She blows him a kiss, then smiles at his entourage. Then, she follows after that smartly dressed staffer, muttering this and that about keeping things On Point. On her way through, she greets people she's met by name and smiles politely at those whose names she's not yet learned, her aim to be welcoming, even if times are tense.
Thinking that Aspen was coming over for a high five, Trent blows off both Colton's presence and Christian's greeting. Hell yeah....no. So he's left there with his hand in the air like an asshole but definitely covers it with a wave. "Hey Aspen." he says in a soft, friendly voice before he drops his hand and slumps back against the wall. "Hello, comrade." a strange greeting for Christian, accompanied by a solemn nod. Just greetings all around. Nodding, waving, upnods at the one or two people saying hello to him. "Think I saw the man once. From far away. I don't get out to Hollywood much. Don't let him fall down the pit." he jabs a finger in Christian's direction, assigning him that responsibility.
It has been a fair few years since Isaac Abrams had any occasion to visit Santa Monica, or its sister borough Venice, which for most of the 20th century was semi-affectionately referred to as the 'Slum by the Sea' by the residents of the Westside.
He is a deeply recognizable individual, even by those who have only heard his name, given that he's been a fixture of the last 120 years: He's clad in an expensive, gray suit with his dark blue dress shirt left open at the collar. Neither his manicured nails, nor his several golden and silver rings entirely conceal the laborer's callouses that he was Embraced with.
The Baron of Hollywood is not alone. Having been chauffeured to the location in a Maybach luxury sedan, he would have been joined by his gargoyle and crow-girl retainers, in the form of Bartok and Shawna who would have flown overwatch to keep an eye on any potential threats. The Baron himself is not a short or a slight man - he's big, bluff and blunt and was Embraced while in his mid- 50s. His demeanor is that of a brusque studio mogul from the Golden Age of Hollywood, though has the heavy hands of a streetfighter.
He motions for Bartok and Shawna to hang back near the stairs, and then he'll immediately search out and then locate Vy with an avuncular smile, "I'm here as I promised. Now, where would you like me, Miss Jones?" He'll offer a simple nod to her coterie, who seem to be nearby, taking in Kaden, Trent and Colton.
Ragnar made his way around saying hello to people and what not. Ragnar was at ease. He didnt let the tense times bother him. When youre as old as he was. Stuff like this event was easy to deal with.
Zebastian returns Cassie's air-kisses -- giving her another tight albeit brief smile, something sad about it as he nods - and if he were going to reply to her? Well, Esther baps Zeb on the shoulder, and the kid turns with a little bop, eyebrows raised and smile growing. "You're forever startling me, Esther - but a pleasure, nei? Let me introduce you; this is QT and Dizzy -- QT you'll know, inevitably, ja? As the Vicereine of Viceroy L'Ermitage in Beverly Hills." The Norwegian kid's smile grows crooked as he chatters through introductions, looking from QT to Dizzy, "That includes Dans le Rose, ja QT? Dizzy, you'd love it there, I'm sure - great dancing, perfect atmosphere, worlds away - really chill."
A beat, then Zeb turns and looks around -- eyeing that... pit... dubiously, before he speaks in sotto voice to QT, Esther and Dizzy. "So who..." Fade out. Oh, look. There's Isaac. Zebastian glances to Vy, smiles, then turns and says something softly to Cassie. Wrapping his arm around Aspen's waist, Christian kisses her cheek as she leans into him, seemingly at peace. He murmurs a few words to her, flashing her a brief smile. Remaining silent for several moments after, he reaches up with his hand to caress his fingers along her temple, before looking over to Trent and laughing at his greeting. "Will do, Trent. You got it."
Isaac's arrival prompts a look over to the man, his eyebrows lifting. "So you did come, Mr. Abrams. Welcome to Santa Monica. I'm Christian Cruce."
Karner briefly gets to his feet when Isaac enters in, perhaps out of respect. He looks very happy to see him arrive, a big shit-eating grin stretching across his whole rubbery face. Far be it from him to call out to the old mogul, though. He's none so gauche as that. So after Isaac moves by him, Karner sits back down again, crossing his legs and folding his hands atop his knees with a pleased, smaller smile.
Shawna enters with Isaac Abrams and moves to lean against the wall just to the inside right of the stairwell when motioned to by the Baron of Hollywood. She settles in and casually folds her arms across her lanky frame before settling in to scan the crowd. Her eyes are clear-blue tonight. The beige mountain-lion's eyes that some might have seen throughout the week have finally faded away, fortunately not being permanent.
The Gangrel of Griffith Park's expression is vacant and aloof as she looks from face to face, though she'll offer small chin nods toward anyone she knows that meets her eye contact. Aspen specifically receives a small smile.
Aspen pulls away, inclining her head up at Christian. She leans up on tiptoe, whispers something in his ear, and nods with an expression that can only say so much. Biting her lower lip, she nods, gives him a peck on the cheek, and steps back, sliding away reluctantly. She moves back and away, sluggishly, maneuvering closer to Trent.
Here she hovers, at last limply lifting an arm to give the man a high-five - for the first time - her eyes expectant on the surfer.
"Mr. Abrams - " Vy's lips curve as she takes in that avuncular smile. "Mr. Blue's over here - " she moves to lead Abrams to a spot befitting Drosilmire on Christmas eve, near Karner, where there's proper room for his retainers nearby. On the way, she introduces her coterie mates: "Mr. Cruce, Mr. Strong, Mr. Brody, Mr. Radovic - Mr. Abrams."
She'll return Zeb's smile when timely, then wait for the others to make their introductions. As Christian whispers that brief bit her way, she nods.
At that table in the back, Malachi continues to speak softly with Caydence and Rosalia, a smile on his face for the duration. His attention is split slightly, and he takes turns turning a listening ear to the others and turning to contribute. When Abrams enters the room, however, the man gets a longer, more appraising gaze from the ghoul, complete with a long sip of his Dr. Pepper. Then Malachi's turning back towards Rosalia and Caydence to continue their chat.
Esther gives the pair with Zeb- QT and Dizzy- a quick smile, "Great. Are you... Regulars here? I don't get out nearly as much as I used to," she's quick to admit. Glancing back over her shoulder as she Baron enters. She returns her expression toward the conversation before adding, "Well, it looks like we're getting ready. And I'm just saying hi. I have some comfort and aide to give. You know how it is," her pocket book subtly points toward Karner and the bit of crowd around him. "Excuse me."
When Isaac arrives, Trent actually stares at him this time. Full on jaw dropping as if he's seen a celebrity walk into the basement with it's deep hole of a fighting pit. And well, he has, more or less. The open mouth stops because he's speaking out the corner of his mouth at Colton, as quiet as he can, "Holy shit, what? Is that the gargoyle?" Shawns he's seen and sort of knows, so now whispering for her at the moment, sorry. "I think he's looking at us. Is he? Should I stop talking?" the muttering is soft but it's a room of vampires, so. When Isaac spares them a glance, Trent almost goes for an upnod but settles instead for something a little more somber. A regular nod. Then Aspen is there, ready for a high five. The struggle is clear. Now isn't the time. But it's a high five. But, like, now? But really. In the end, it's a quick high five. Lash out, slap hands, withdraw so it looks like he didn't move. But not at all that fast. His attention returns to Isaac as Vy introduces some people. It takes him a moment to realize that Mr. Brody is him and so he looks for these people in the mean time. "Hello. Nice to meet you. Please watch the pit. Just..." he waves a finger toward it, "back there. It's deep."
Caydence, sitting in the back near Mal and Rosalia, seems content to watch the proceeds so far, as everyone has been chatting and such. She too whispers back and forth with the two closest to her, until Isaac Abrams arrives. He's... so much bigger than she thought. Definitely looks like someone you'd think twice about tangling with. She keeps a neutral face and continues to listen and watch. And a nod is returned to Isaac after Vy's introduction, more formal than the rest of those around might have received. "Mr. Abrams." His gaze meets his respectfully, holding it for just long enough to be cordial, but not so long as to be a creeper. He glances at Aspen then as she approaches their little piece of real estate along the wall but his attention is stolen by Trent. Cole looks over in the direction indicated and...yes, it seems that it was. He nods to Trent and listens to the radical word soup spill out of his mouth. His soft smile only grew with amusement.
Rosa breaks from her quiet, friendly chat with Caydence and Mal, when the Baron makes his entrance. Her cocoa-brown eyes and wrapped in hopeful consideration as they track over the man, and quite as much the same as she looks between his pair of attaches. She'll watch him interact with the others for a few moments, then turn back to resume quietly chatting with Caydence and Mal.
Sticking close to Vy once everything starts to move into gear, Kaden helps to make sure everyone has a seat if they're looking for one. When it comes time to be introduced to Isaac Abrams he gives the man a polite nod of his head while saying, "Glad to have you out this way and a pleasure to meet you." With that said he motions for his retainers to the seats nearby.
A successful high-five from Aspen to Trent. The world is truly ending, the cosmic joke complete.
Aspen whirls around, eyes wide as they settle on Isaac and his entourage. She shakes a little, straightens, and puts on a hard face. She finds her way over to Cole, then pulls in sideways under his arm. "Hey, C." Distracted, she watches the others - Rosalia, Mal, Shawna, Vy, Kaden, Caydence, Karner, Trent - and more.
Standing at the side of his Patron and Employer, Robbie Bartok in most respects a more typical looking Anarch, despite being a very atypical kindred. Los Angeles's only(known) Gargoyle Freeman is garbed in the trappings of his own era of Embrace, the typical grunge-goth streetwear that came to mind when one heard the name Anarch. A black hoodie laden with buckles and a part of tattered acid-washed jeans that practically screamed the death-knell of the early Aughties hangs loosely over his twisted malformed body. He's more human looking than those stone beasts in the Tremere Chantry but still very inhuman with a body twisted like German Plague Angeles or the Plague Christ of the Isenheim Alterpiece. Two huge wings swept out behind him, though as he steps inside the debate hall he habitually folds them around his shoulders like a greatcoat. His face is difficult to see under the cowl and tangled brownish hair that hangs over his face of his hoodie but the pronounced orbits of his eyes cast his face with deep shadows reminiscent of a skull. His gaze sweeps the room and he keeps close to Isaac Abrams' side as they enter. He does not speak and he seems more than happy not to.
Isaac Abrams will give Christian a stern once over with his palest brown eyes. Then he nods once, firmly to the other man, "So you are." He seems to be weighing up the leader of Los Perdidos for a long moment. Although his final assessment won't be known just yet. There's something about Trent and then Colton that elicits something of a tight smile from him, "Boys." He refers to them in a perfectly kindly fashion. There's nothing wrong with awe-struck young men.
For the moment though, he'll allow himself to be distracted by Vy, and to be lead over to where Karner is. He'll greet Karner as if the Malkavian director were an old friend, "Mr. Blue." He'll sit down next to Karner (and if there's a woman or someone that has already taken that seat, they'll need to politely scoot over), and then he'll give the man an avuncular clapping pat on his knee, "Did you get the new spec script from Samantha? I'm sure we'll find one that you like soon." There's an edge of warning in his voice. That Karner's clinging to his artistic integrity was amusing the first dozen rejections, but he's going to direct a big-tent Summer blockbuster whether he likes it or not. And soon.
And then? Isaac will settle in to wait for everything to begin. How others react to Bartok hovering near him (and potentially blocking the view), is their own concern.
"Here?" Zebastian gives Esther a puzzled look, then just laughs softly - brushing a hand in her direction like congratulating her joke --- then mmming and bobbing his head with understanding as she moves to depart. "Ja, of course." Zebastian smiles and steps back -- moving to lean against the wall, though he stops eyes it dubiously, and chooses to stand upright instead. Eyes scanning...
Watching as introductions are made, people mull about -- his expression dreamy as he considers Shawna and give her a small rather inscrutable smile, before he turns to just... Let his fractured attention drift, soaking in the ambiance. Or zoning out? Whatever!
Following a brief murmur to Vy, after which he mirrors the nod she gave him with one of his own, Christian takes his time to observe the Baron of Hollywood for a longer moment. Definitely an impressive figure, but here he is, and attending the Great Debate, no less. Noticing Trent and Aspen high-fiving, he tilts his head at that, in clear and unmistakable surprise.
Abrams's assessment has the neonate stand still for a moment, observing the Baron of Hollywood with eyes that are just as assessing, but respectful. A nod is given in response, just a one, but deep enough to convey the importance given to the greeting.
"Ah, Isaac! So glad you could make it. I hope traffic wasn't too bad? Bit of a snarl getting onto the 405, so I took Wilshire here." Karner greets the Baron with that big ol' grin once more. Los Angeles traffic talk is as normal as chatting about the weather. And it's Chess who's forced to move down, but she does it gladly, looking rather dazzled. "Ah, yes, I /did/ receive that script, and I was just going over it that evening. I have a good feeling about this one!!" He really does!! It's evident by that huge! Freaking!! Grin!!!
Spade arrives. Did he arrive with Abrams? No, it's just a timing coincidence, they aren't interacting with each other in the slightest. Well, Spade arrives once Bartok has cleared the way, it's difficult to arrive at precisely the same time as a gargoyle. The Southsider does much the same as he did at Cheyenne's memorial, shows up, eyes the room and then goes to find himself somewhere to stand and be quiet in, a preferably previously unoccupied somewhere.
Zebastian's words earn him a little grin from the tiny Toreador, though the gesture doesn't quite manage to each her eyes, the air of gentle wistfulness still lingering in her demeanor and mimicry despite her best efforts. "Yes, Dans le Rose is my club, you're always welcome to.." QT starts as she looks back and forth between Zeb and Esther, but the arrival of a certain Baron of Hollywood makes her trail off and fall silent as she follows the Hollywood Baron with her eyes for a long moment as he shares friendly greetings with Vy and moves over towards where Los Perdidos are gathered. Before turning her attention back to give Ether another little smile and a small nod. "Of course.. I'm sure we'll have reason to talk more soon." And then it's back to stealing glances at the assembled people - perhaps a few more given to Isaac and Bartok than anyone else, unsurprisingly - while chatting with the other members of her little group.
Shawna returns Zebastian's smile with a chin-nod before she settles back against the spot of wall she has claimed to the right of the entrance. Her gaze moves onward over the rest of the crowd, namely those around Isaac Abrams now. Spade's entrance is noted and the Southside Anarch will get a nod, too, if he looks her way.
Dizzy just stays quiet for now, positioned over there by Cassie. She nods to Esther but mostly she's just doing her own thing, leaning over to speak quietly with the scar-lipped woman next to her by whispering in her ear. The other woman nods but says nothing in return.
Caydence continues to observe as carefully as she can, but there are a lot of players in the room and a lot of different dynamics surrounding Abrams. It's difficult for her to truly understand... yet. She also continues to whisper-chat with Rosalia and Malachi until things are called to order, as much as that is possible with a group of Anarchs!
When the crowd has settled enough, Vy steps forward, finding a center spot, and projecting her voice. Her tone is gentle, her expression fond. Unlife is beautiful, and so are all of thos gathered. She waits for quiet, then speaks: "Good evening. Welcome to the debate. As we open this debate, I think of my sire, Mack. Some of you may know him or have heard me speak about him, in a tongue-in-cheek way about our strange relationship. When I learned about our ways - and, I'm still learning, so I hope you'll excuse me if I'm gauche," she glances down, momentarily vulnerable, finding her words, as if a bit awestruck by the crowd gathered, " - I remember being /appalled/ that there might be rules despite what we call ourselves, and I think of that now, as I read what's written here," her gaze drifts to the whiteboard. "When I expressed that feeling to Mack, about rules, he told me, 'Darling, when you go to a garden, do you expect to be dirt, plants, maybe a watering can or two? Of course - but what you can never expect is what sort of blooms you'll find - what colors, what sweet scents - extraordinary sights that you'll never see again, even if you've been to a hundred gardens. They'll never be the same. If they were, it'd be boring," Pausing, she explains: "That's us, my sweet, thriving as individuals, in a garden, our blooms an infinitity of possiblity." Pausing, she smiles, then lifts a shoulder. "Mack is a romantic at heart, but neither of us our poets, so I'll hope you'll forgive me if my words are a bit of an oversimplification. But tonight I hope that we can appreciate one another's beauty and possibility, as we move through this debate. Who will start us off?"
Karner gets a tap tap tap- Esther's nails on his shoulders. A worthy distraction, no? The actress leans down, into his conversation. Her smile passes as genuine, at least. "Kar. You need to introduce me to your friends. They clearly haven't heard enough bad things about you yet. Because... Well, look at them. All here? It's shameful," she says, while leaning onto the director's shoulder. Oh, is there a Gargoyle nearby? She doesn't seem to notice.
With the Baron rolling in and most eyes on him or maybe Spade if you're into that kind of thing, surely no one would notice a Hoodie Monster slipping into the dark space. Hands in pockets and dark hiding the face. A little bounce bounce once she hits the floor, but Rabbit is here. The party can now begin. Even so, she starts to circle the pit, likely to find just the right spot to occupy. It wouldn't be surprising that she ends up taking a spot next to Ragnar who then gets a light elbow in the side in greeting.
Ragnar made his way over to Isaac, Shawna and Bartok. He greeted Shawna and Bartok with a smile and nod before addressing the man himself. "Glad to see you Mister Abrams. I hope tonight will be pleasant for you. I dont know if you remember. Its been some time but non the less. My name is Ragnar Bolstad. Ive been in LA since the war. Again. Thank you for coming."
Speaking slowly and deliberately, Aspen leans up into her brother and murmurs something. Her eyes track Bartok as he stands at Isaac's side, narrowing into pinpricks. Oh, she recalls that one well enough. A glance at Rabbit as she enters, then a hooded, secret smile.
Malachi pauses in whatever he's saying, or just finished saying, to gaze up and listen to Vy speak. He's still got that smile on his face, and he's still taking the occasional sip of Dr. Pepper, though he seems to be drawing it out to make the most of this particular drink. You know, without having to get up to get another one. Once she's done, Malachi scans the room for the first participants, with the occasional lean back to address Rosalia and/or Caydence softly.
Zebastian's attention turns to Vy, as she starts them off for the evening -- a hand lifted, cupping his elbow while fingers drift up and tap-tap-tap over his lips, studying her. So they're all flowers? There is... Something of a head-bobble which might be a nod, or might be the Malkavian working out a crick neck. Hard to say. Still, he half-smiles and remains lapsed in blessed - and rare - silence. Taking in the ambiance of the room, not interrupting.
Karner sits quietly and listens to Vy speak, smirking a little, but he looks up when Esther taps him on the shoulder. "Hmm? Don't you know Isaac, darling?" It's a bit of a hit or miss whether Esther, who has been a Hollywood Anarch longer than Karner, has actually met the Old Lion. But when Isaac has a moment, Karner will introduce him anyway. "Isaac, this is Esther Rosenwaffer. She's one of ours, and an actress." He can't help but smirk a little, knowing Isaac's general opinion on actresses. But after that, he will go back to watching the proceedings.
Robbie's gaze doesn't seem to linger for long on anyone in the debate hall, and that truly might wound some people. If there are any weapons on belts, any tools of war just barely concealed from view, it was likely the Gargoyle's eyes would linger there for longer. He doesn't seem to notice Aspen eyeballing him, but he's probably used to getting stares in public places. As Spade enters, Robbie does give him a nod. Spade is probably the only other Kindred here that's about as big as he was, maybe a bit more robust if only because Spade wasn't one-third Nosferatu. He also gives Shawna, a nod too, once she settles in. Robbie would not take a seat. These chairs were not meant for creatures like him. If absolutely necessary the best he could manage was crouch.
Something about Rosalia's conversation with Caydence and Mal has her lips curled into a kittenish little grin. She looks upon her ghoul with a teasing glimmer in her cocoa eyes, as she leans forward to say something to the other woman. She'll blink curiously over to Vy, when she addresses the crowd, and listens intently. Her attention will be split now, between whatever bit of idle chatter is transpiring between Mal and Caydence, and what transpires before her.
Spade's sure to return Shawna's nod with an upnod, because they do everything opposite in the Southside, just to be awkward. Or it could be because he gives upnods, it's his thing (tm). Hands go into his jacket pockets when he leans on the wall, and then he's apparently greeting Robbie from across the room too, another upnod to the Gargoyle in the room (literally). But so far that's it for anyone extending to greet him, and he doesn't seem to be going out of his way to get anyone's attention here, remaining silent.
Isaac Abrams is briefly distracted from his friendly little exchange with Karner, by the sudden approach of the towering Ragnar. He looks up at Ragnar for a long time, his bluff features briefly turning blank in the sense of an undead creature searching his very long memory...all through the dusty corridors and forgotten side-chambers of his mental palace. Finally, he'll slowly nod with a mote of recognition, "Yes. That was a long time ago." His tone is a little distant - perhaps since vampires tend to relive emotions and memory differently from humans. He seems to genuinely recognize the big Gangrel. Although at the same time...It does stir a recollection of troubled times, "A very long time. Ragnar. You should have come to see me at some point. I would have found some work for you, son." There's a hint of something strangely gentle in his voice. There's so very few veterans of 1943-45 remaining. And Ragnar seems to have fallen on hard times.
After a longer moment of studying Ragnar, Isaac will allow Karner to re-secure his attention, and then direct it towards Esther. He looks at Esther, and then he inclines his head to her, "Miss Rosewaffer. That's a curious name." It's neither recognizably German, Jewish or Anglo...But interesting nonetheless. Well, then.
With a look to Vy, after waiting to see if there will be takers to start them off, Christian makes some mental notes for himself and nods, moving up to her. With a touch to her shoulder and a murmur in thanks, he looks to the people at large. He raises his voice above the crowd.
"To everyone gathered here, I ask you - what makes every area of the Westside unique? We are very disparate, from Pico District to Bel Air, from Santa Monica and to Sawtelle. Some of you have resided in the area far longer than me, but I can tell we are very diverse in outlooks of unlife, in approaches to it as well."
"Historically, Santa Monica was the only formal Barony of the area we know as the Westside, with an area that encompasses its area as the mortal city. I argue that the Westside's strength is precisely that: that we are so plural, so diverse, that banners aren't needed. We are allowed to live our unlives in the way we see fit, though with some significant restrictions. We choose how we spend our time, and in doing so, we are deceptively strong. Many of our Anarch brothers and sisters are in rougher terrain, where uncertainty is at their doorstep. But ours is the purest essence of Libertas."
Esther's voice shifts, the moment the Baron brings up her name. Moving from her California, actress, lack-of-accent, to something inflected with a thick strain of New York. "Long Island, by way of Ellis, by way of Poland. But it's been a minute," she counts out each location on a pink nail. And just like that, any hint of Long Island is gone from her voice. She looks up. Or, down. Where ever the speech if being given. "But it looks like the fun is about to begin. Or end? I can never tell when the fun is at these things."
QT and her group fall quiet when Christian moves to take the word and speaks to the room, most of them leaning back in their seats and all of them turning their full attention to the host of the evening, listening intently to what is said. There isn't any signs of agreeing or disagreeing, at least yet, just a couple whispers and a nod from QT shared between the group and Zebastian, once Christian has finished.
Dizzy is part of QT's group at the moment and she does the same thing. Falling all quiet and just sitting there with the odd whisper to her companion's ear now and again. Sometimes she'll even whisper to Cassie. Whispers all around. Spade has disconnected.
Isaac Abrams will smile at Esther, when she confirms her Polish ancestry, rather than her German. His own humble Polish-Jewish ancestry is a closely guarded secret, having remade himself as thoroughly as he remade Hollywood in a new image. But. He approves of her not being Austrian or Prussian in his own quiet way. He'll then turn his attention upon Christian, when Mr. Cruce begins to speak. Biding his time.
Zebastian's head tips, leaning a smidge closer to Cassie to say something softly - finger still tapping over his mouth, smile half-hidden before he turns and returns his attention to the room -- watching the response to Christian's words, like he expects a Westside historian to pop out of the ether or people to share their insight... Though the Malkavian himself remains blissfully quiet - curious - politely amused as he looks from Cassie to Dizzy, then back to the room.
Aspen mumbles an unintelligible assent to Colton, then steps forward and away from her brother. She edges away, stepping through the crowd past Shawna and the others until she is nearer to one Karner Blue. Crossing her arms against her chest, Aspen settles nearby and lifts an eyebrow under the vague pretense of curiosity. Her voice lowers softly. "Mr. Blue, not surprised to see you here. Where are you with that book of Chakras? Feeling balanced today?" She cuts him a crooked smile even as one ear listens for Christian's speech.
Malachi seems impervious to whatever glances Rosalia gives him, or rather imperious to any emotion that isn't some amount of happiness and/or pride. He seems to be listening to the speech attentively, though he doesn't interject. Instead, he removes his Juul from his coat pocket, taking a drag of it and exhaling some vanilla-flavored air before slipping it back in there and looking back to Caydence and Rosalia to speak softly to the two of them once more.
Ragnar smiled when Abrams remembered him. He nodded. "I have been busy making sure that the new Anarchs know what it really means to be an Anarch but if you ever do need some work done. Ill be more than happy to help you Mister Abrams." He smiled. "But it looks like the event is starting. Ill talk to Shawna to see when its a good time to visit you. For now. I'll take my seat." Ragnar gave a small bow of respect before finding a seat and taking it.
Karner was watching that little exchange between Esther and Isaac before eventually listening to Christian kick things off, but he seems vaguely startled to find Aspen speaking to him now. Still, he affords her a pleasant enough smile that's not even full of lots of teeth, and murmurs something softly to her in return.
Someone would have to deeply care about Spade's opinion to take any notice of any of his expressions in this dark room, or have a lot of Auspex maybe. Still, for whoever might care he remains respectfully silent, and disrespectfully emotive facially. In this case, rolling his eyes at something Christian said. At one point he takes out his phone and does some texting even, the light of it bottomlighting his face.
Shawna returns Robbie's nod before offering him a quizzical raising of an eyebrow. Her gaze lingers on the Hollywood Gargoyle for only a moment before Christian's speech is drawing her attention. The Gangrel listens with that same passive expression though her gaze returns to the crowd part way through as she divides her attention between listening and 'watching'. Aspen's passing by is followed before Shawna's gaze moves on to Rosalia.
Robbie Bartok was an incredibly American-Polish name for a Gargoyle to have. There indeed might be more to be said of his service to Isaac that the fact that he was a very frightening looking kindred. He turns to watch as Christian delivers his speech though his shadowed face seems to show no reaction to it.
See? Rabbit is so potent in her elbows that Ragnar did not even detect it when the Hoodie Monster gave him the Elbow of Death. The Rabbit simply follows Ragnar to where he wants to sit before claiming a spot as well. Easy as can be. Was there someone talking?
Christian pauses, watches the crowd, and then continues with confidence. "The Westside requires structure going forward as we deal with the loss of our leader, who inherited her Domain from her Sire, also a very charismatic and adaptable individual from what has been said of them. Charismatic power only goes as far as the individual, and we, as a group need to come together beyond simply that. What we require is a Constitution; an individual may face Final Death but a Constitution lives on. I am willing to embark on this Great Experiment, where the application of the Status Perfectus goes beyond mere lip service and solidifies into something serious, something significant."
A determined look to everyone, every face. He forges on. "I offer myself and my comrades in Los Perdidos to take up the stewardship of the new Barony of Santa Monica to bring forward a new age for those affected individuals, such as ourselves, that need leadership and guidance in the many chaotic nights to come."
Ragnar looked at Rabbit and blinked a few times. "Oh Rabbit. When The Hell did you get here?" He chuckled softly. "I was talking to Issac Abrams. He has been in LA since the 1990" Cole doesn't move a single muscle, aside from those that have eyes shifting to look over those listening on. Arms folded, back leaning, he could have been a gargoyle himself with that dreadful stillness.
With the discussion underway, Kaden moves to stand beside Vy. There is a look to the crowd as Christian speaks, curious to hear further discussion on the topic. Looking to the rose beside him he leans over to whisper softly to her.
After a moment's contemplation, Isaac Abrams will lift his hand in what seems a rather modest request to be heard.
"Well that was fast and expected..." Dizzy says as an aside to Cassie, nudging the other woman in the side softly. She folds her hands in her lap and doesn't seem to elaborate for the moment, instead just looking between Christian and his group.
Christian nods to Isaac. "Mr. Abrams, please feel free to speak up."
Shawna's gaze hones in on Isaac when his hand moves up and it lingers there after Christian calls for him to speak up.
Esther can't hold back a little bit of a bark of a laugh. She suppresses it quickly- hand moving over her mouth. The other pushes up again Karner's shoulder, standing up straight.
Spade puts his phone away and returns his attention to the room at large.
Cassie smiles at Christian as she listens, and when he finishes she raises a hand and gives a quick look around to make sure it's ok to speak. A little nod is given to Dizzy at her remark, her hand staying lifted as she waits for the ok to speak. Don't wanna break the rules, after all.
"Miss Alston, once Mr. Abrams has spoken, you're next in queue." Christian notes, nodding as he looks over to Vy. She's better at the moderation thing.
There's another brief moment of a laugh in the back, but there's no real way to determine if it's related to the topic at hand. It does, however, come from Malachi, and the ghoul moves his hand up to cover his mouth as he glances around the rest of the room. After a moment, that hand is removed, and a sip of Dr. Pepper is taken.
The kittenish curl of Rosalia's lips bundles itself into a concerned purse, as Christian speaks of a Constitution-- and then Mal stifles a laugh! She shoots her ghoul a look of horror, but her gaze softens when she passes it to Caydence beside him. She'll turn back to the proceedings, and straighten up in her seat, when Abrams is called upon for his thoughts.
Karner sweeps a hand through his hair, briefly, eyebrows raised at something Christian said. He smiles at Aspen again, then glances up at Esther with an amused, questioning look. Though when Isaac indicates that he wants to speak, Karner's attention seems to primarily shift that way.
Aspen seems momentarily distracted by something Christian says. Her head swipes to the left, over to Christian, eyes slowly widening. Internally consumed by something for a long minute, she frowns minutely.
Caydence has been enjoying the tiny little whispers back and forth within her group. She has watched carefully as Christian lays out his plans. But now... now a pin can be heard if dropped as Isaac takes hold of the proverbial Mic. This is going to be... extra!
Ragnar's narrowed. That was the third time Christain has disrespected The Movment. The Status Perfectus was not lip service. Brothers and Sisters died to make sure that Califorina was a Free State and this piece of shit young blood just shit all over them by the way of the speech he just made.
At first there is silence - just the slight tip of Zebastian's head as Christian says his first part --- a hand moving, lips obscured behind his fingers, though it does little to hide the Malkavian's smile. Very soft. Almost apologetic - or pained - or simply mirthful, as he looks out across the room, reading faces and silence... It's just Christian invites Isaac Abrams to take the floor next, doesn't he.
There is a laugh. It is very brief peel of laughter - a little silver hammer hitting the cracked curve of some clocktower bell. This emits from around Zebastian right after Christian's invite -- while his fingers cover his mouth, as if to keep more from spilling out. Oh, the Norwegian kid looks like he's trying to retain composure at a particularly captivating set at the Laugh Factory. What a show!
Aspen turns, then, and spares an arch look at Zebastian from across the room, her expression clearly calling his maturity into question. Shaking her head in repugnance, the auburn-haired woman returns her attention to Isaac Abrams in earnest expectation.
Bartok glances over to the Baron and then back up again with a patient look.
Isaac Abrams stands up from his chair, giving Karner an entirely unnecessary grip on the shoulder for the added leverage. He then pats the Malkavian there and releases him. He gestures to the assembled Kindred with his heavy hand, which was calloused in life yet manicured in death, "It's dangerously easy for an old bastard like myself to come across as arrogant or condescending. And I know ultimatums tend to only elicit a visceral reaction from the youthful," He allows something of a faint, regretful smile to find his lips, "It is possible that in the past, I have been too highhanded with some of you. I have...fixated on this or that Prince's insincerity, or the Cathayan invaders," He uses a somewhat less than politically correct term for the mysterious, eastern vampires that assassinated Jeremy MacNeil and took over a large swathe of Los Angeles, before the Anarchs and the newly returned Camarilla combined to halt their expansion about twenty years ago.
He pauses for a moment before continuing, "I have come to clear up several misapprehensions about the nature of Domain. And perhaps a year ago, I would not have bothered to facilitate or clarify such a discussion. But I have recently been moved to try." He smiles over at Karner and then Vy for some mysterious reason before returning his attention to the room at large, "Santa Monica has been an independent barony since the 1940s. It was first ruled by an old friend of mine: The Ventrue, Louis Fortier. He was the Ventrue Primogen under Don Sebastian, when I was the Toreador Primogen. He was captured by MacNeil in the beginning of the revolt and then switched allegiances. Afterwards, he ruled his 'Slum by the Sea', including Venice and much else as the 'Baron of West Los Angeles'. He held it with an army of ghouls."
Isaac Abrams trails off in an apologetic fashion, knowing that they could be here all night if he went through every permutation of Los Angeles' tortured political history, "It was Louis Fortier and Salvador Garcia who betrayed Jeremy MacNeil to the Cathayans. Louis was destroyed not long after. Salvador - and it was him, not Jeremy, who wrote the precious 'Status Perfectus' that so many Anarchs have tried to hold to...has still not tasted retribution for that." He can't quite help the snarl that finds his lips, knowing that there are quite a few Anarchs in South Bay and South LA who would blame Isaac as well, "I turned to the Camarilla, and I helped them retake Downtown. Therese Voerman took the Barony of Santa Monica. She conspired with LaCroix and briefly declared herself Prince after his fall. That...did not last long. The next Baron of Santa Monica was Cheyenne's Sire, Farid Bekhti. And after him, Cheyenne. Of which the less said the better. I know many of you cared for her. But she was an insolent and reckless child. I tried to provide her guidance. She dismissed my mercy as weakness."
Isaac Abrams frowns for a moment, as if he might say more on that subject. Instead he says, "I have come here to make two things clear: Hollywood is not encroaching upon the Westside. I /am/ the Westside. I am simply enforcing what has always been my Domain. But I make no claims upon Santa Monica, just as I expect that Santa Monica makes no claims upon Hollywood. At the same time...I am concerned for the future of Santa Monica. Now is not the time for infighting. That is why Hollywood will acknowledge Mr. Cruce as Baron of Santa Monica, provided certain conditions are met."
He pauses for a long moment, "I suggest the rest of you make your peace and do likewise."
Anyone with a bit of grasp on the Kindred history of the mid-late 20th century, will know that Isaac and Louis viscerally hated one another. But the longer a rival is dead, the easier it is to speak well of them. Perhaps he'll even have a kind word for Cheyenne sometime in the 2030s.
Shawna listens from her spot on the wall while letting that clear-blue gaze move throughout the crowd again. The Hooded Monster and Ragnar draw a curious study, as do the members of Los Perdidos, before the Gangrel of Griffith Park's eyes wander on. She listens to the history lesson with her same blank face but snaps her gaze back toward Isaac as his opinion of Cheyenne Spare is spoken.
The boyish blonde studies the Baron of Hollywood for a long moment after he continues, then she shoots a glance toward Bartok before returning to her crowd-searching with a face that is a little less vacant than before.
Karner only winces a little when Isaac uses his shoulder to stand up! It's all in a day's work. His eyes, shaded as they are by hexagonal-shaped, deep blue mirrored lenses, appear to gaze up in something like rapture as the Old Lion imparts his wisdom to the young 'uns, and he smiles back when Isaac seems to acknowledge him and Vy for that mysterious reason. Every once in awhile, he nods along with something Isaac says, starting with his words about Cheyenne, and continuing through his position about being the Westside. Isaac's statement about Christian causes Karner to look from the Baron over to the host of this affair, and back again. He starts up a sincere round of applause, although he is looking around the room as he does so. He's apparently curious to see how the other Anarchs are taking all of this.
Listening to Isaac, and the history lesson provided, Christian considers things in complete stillness. His expression is unreadable, but he seems resolute, firm, ready to possibly contest or argue things on his own time. But this isn't his own time, and he won't disrespect the Debate's rules.
As Isaac continues, the leader of Los Perdidos shifts his stance a little, considering the Elder Toreador for a long moment. Finally, when the hammer drops, he seems to consider the other man evenly. He speaks up, utterly direct. "What are the conditions, Mr. Abrams?"
Whatever attention Rosalia had to spare for her idle chatter with Caydence and Mal vanishes entirely, once Abrams begins to speak. The purse of her lips grows tighter and tighter as he does, but she draws a meditative breath deep into her ashen lungs to steady her nerves. Her dark, glimmering eyes track over the crowd curiously from her spot in the back, reading reactions and taking a sense of the temperature of the room.
Malachi doesn't say anything to any of this, he seems to be watching and listening with bated breath. There's the occasional sip of Dr. Pepper, the occasional (Though he runs out after he eats his last one) popping of a cherry into his mouth, but otherwise: silence. It's almost like he's at the theater, enjoying a show. A glance is given back Rosa and Caydence's way, a slight curling of his lips into a smile, but then he's back to watching the faces in the room.
Kaden doesn't need to wait for Karner to start the round of applause but they both end up clapping at the same time. There is a smile from the tattooed man as he gives Christian a wink and the rest of the coterie a wide smile. With Vy at his side he gives her a gentle bump of his shoulder before quieting down for the response from Isaac Abrams.
There's a gentle look from Zebastian to Aspen, when he gives her that look -- like he's apologising for... What, being a Malkavian? Fingers tap over his lips, and that fractured attention drifts over to Issac as he speaks -- studying the man, remaining still and pleasantly neutral and contemplative as he listens to him --- and about halfway through the history lesson, Zebastian's eyes pivot to Shawna, studying her face for a moment, before drifting onwards - back to Issac, listening...
...is Zebastian supposed to look surprised when Issac reenforces his claim to Westside? The Norwegian kid just looks, well, as he did before; curious, contemplative, waiting for a punchline.... Eyes pivot, over to Christian - ready for the next lines of dialogue to come through. A glimpse to the side -- where's the script supervisor? No that's Karner in the wings clapping his hands together - and Bartok over there, and Spade. The edges of the room are peered at, like the blank spaces would show some extra crew in the wings, but no Zeb; nothing. Look back at centre stage; the Malkavian turns, chewing on his inner cheek to keep from speaking and biting back his lip - smile, if there is one, obscured behind tapping fingers as he watches the scene continue to unfold.
Like Rosalia and Malachi, Caydence's attention is painfully focused on what is about to unfold. Because this was seemingly unexpected. And nothing in life ever works out -that- easily...
There's a knowing little glance from QT to the rest of her group, and small technically unneeded little sigh. She doesn't exactly look thrilled, and there's no applause from her group's little area of the room, just little glances between each other and light shrugs of shoulders. Doesn't seem like they're terrible surprised, any of them. "Thank you, Christian." she notes with a faint smile and pushes off the couch to her feet, a minor adjustment to her top made before she looks up again, tilts her head a little to one side, and then speaks. "I'll try not to speak to what Mr. Abrams just said, because.. what could one say? I will, however, note my disappointment in finding out this was clearly all orchestrated from the get-go, and not the debate you called for. Could have saved us all a lot of time. But.. I'll simply say what I intended to before Mr. Abrams closed down any avenue of discussion on the matter. "It's just... This all seems a little hasty to me. Maybe it's just because I'm new, but... Who said the Westside needs a Baron? Do we? Do we WANT a Baron? Shouldn't we discuss THAT, first of all? And with far more of our own in attendance, and far less 'guests' who clearly have interests in certain outcomes?" There's a look around the room at everyone assembled as she says this, and once she pauses she looks over to Isaac, a friendly smile on her lips. "No disrespect intended, Mr. Abrams, to you or any of your people." she notes, giving the other people whom she knows to be with Isaac a friendly look and smile in turn. Then back to Christian, her tone calm and her expression remaining friendly as she continues. "You also, to my ears, seem very exclusively concerned with Santa Monica and the surrounding areas, and not the Westside as a whole. Why is that? We're quite a few east of the 405, you know." She doesn't sound like she's really trying to argue, with the way she says it, and there's a hint of good-natured mirth in that very last remark. There certainly isn't any hostility in her voice or on her features. It seems like she's... just genuinely asking. Before she sits down again, she quickly adds "The idea of a Constitution sounds... interesting, but also very delicate. Not to mention dangerously close to things we are, supposedly, trying to get away from. But the idea is not a bad one, in itself, and I'd be open to talks about it."
Aspen steps forward towards Christian, her eyes glimmering above the hand cupping her mouth. She moves through a range of emotions, each one more inscrutable than the next. As Karner breaks into applause, Christian's wife shoots him an appreciative look before winging her attention back to Christian. As Kaden joins Karner in applause, so does she, clapping enthusiastically. As the applause dies down she listens for Isaac's response to Christian's query.
Vy found a spot, somewhere near the edge of the room, by Kaden, where she could watch the comings and goings and wave staff in or off without being a distraction. When Abrams smiles her way, she smiles back, fond, clearly quite taken with the elder Rose, particularly valuing his history lessons. As Christian makes his inquiry to Abrams, she turns that expression his way, her head tilting ever so slightly.
Dizzy rises to her feet and shakes her head. "This wasn't a debate at all. I'm sorry Cassie, I can't hang around for this. It looks like the Santa Monica crew sold the rest of us out to Hollywood. Sorry. I don't mean any offense to anyone. There's just no point since you guys already decided for the rest of us. Let me know if I'm still an Anarch tomorrow or if you've decided we're all joining the Camarilla or the Sabbat so I know who to send the check to." Then Dizzy begins scooting her way to the exit.
There's no applause coming from Colton, but he does offer Christian a supportive smile. But again, his eyes sweep those exhibiting a wide array of emotions at Isaac's declaration. He listened to Cassie before just then pushing himself off of the wall to speak at last. He raises his hand, clearly with something to say.
Looking around the room as he slowly stops clapping, Kaden laughs then raises both tattooed hands. "Just to be clear. There is plenty of time to debate. The idea of having an orderly discussion was just to make things happen in a way that didn't get crazy chaotic and unproductive. Everyone has time to discuss anything that's been said." With that given he adds, "You're free to leave too, but don't think you didn't have the chance to speak here."
There has been many bad rumors swirling around Westside, and Jay can't help himself but attend to the so-called Great Debate being held, especially once he's heard that Isaac Abrams himself is going to attend this. Descending down the stairs into the basement, the Brujah has both hands locked over the nape of his neck, nonchalantly making his way to group up with the rest of the Anarchs downstairs. Tonight he's dressed in a plain black shirt, ripped faded jeans with holes that look a bit too jagged to be factory-made, and a pair of grimey tennis shoes. His black LA cap that he usually wears is replaced with that of a bucket hat, Jay silently slipping himself in with the rest of the group gathered, trying to find a friendly familiar face to clue him in on what the hell's been happening.
"Ms. Alston, thank you for your quick feedback," Christian says behind a wan smile, glancing expectantly at Isaac on the floor. "It is definitely of consideration. However, I do believe I did send correspondence in order to set up a time to speak to you about your concerns previously. Unfortunately, the opportunity on your end never presented itself. A pity. If you would like to speak after this gathering I would be very happy to set up a time to go over your many points."
Isaac Abrams looks at Christian simply and directly, "You concentrate on putting your own house in order. Defend your borders from Oakwood and South Bay. Make Santa Monica as free and prosperous as you may. You leave the Camarilla, the Cathayans and the Sabbat to me." He inclines his head in a somewhat more diplomatic concession, "I'll allow for consultations, of course. But I will have the final word on..." He searches for the right word, before settling on the closest approximation with a knowing smile, "Foreign policy. until you're better established. I imagine a decade or so will suffice."
That might have been enough for the Baron of Hollywood - and while he seems hopeful that Cruce has more sense than Cheyenne, he seems confident either way. It's only when Cassie suddenly speaks up, that Something Else seems to occur to him. He can't help but favor the girl with a smile, "Miss Alston. Is that you? I remember when your grandfather made his fortune. He almost lost it to Fortier...But I intervened on his behalf. Not that he ever knew."
It would bore the vampires in the room to the point of frenzy if Isaac went into more detail about the real estate wars between him and Louis in the 60s-80s. Instead, he goes right along, "Be a good girl and listen to your elders, and perhaps we could arrange a...Baroness of Beverly Hills. Wouldn't that be grand?" He smiles at her, "Then you wouldn't need to worry about what any other Kindred is doing with their territory. You'll have your own. And I'm certain that both Mr. Cruce and I will support you."
His tone suggests that deal is about as good as Cassie is going to get, and it will never get that good again. But it's somewhat conducive on her shutting up and assuming a more pleasing disposition. He's realistic enough to not want to absorb every Thin Blooded child into Hollywood all at once, after all. Rounding a few of their cliques up in Beverly Hills could be an admirable short term solution.
He glances at Dizzy, but not knowing her, and given her father isn't a billionaire, and he has no fond memories of Dizzy's grandfather...He'll just let her mouth off as she wishes, since he's in a magnanimous mood tonight.
Instead, he looks back to Christian with a smile, "Mr. Blue knows my requirements. As does Miss Jones. They'll iron out the details. In the meanwhile, I will offer my personal mediation to any Kindred in Santa Monica who feels misused by this revelation.
He then glances over to Ragnar, "Trust that I'll see that no true friend is left in the cold. You will all be provided for."
"Fuuuuuck you." Dizzy says to Kaden, giving him two one-finger salutes. "Sorry, Baron Abrams... you're Hollywood and you're a big shot and you aren't doing anything wrong and I meant you no disrespect. You coming after the domain was expected and you have a lot of claim to it. But those guys didn't even try. They just. Everything Cheyenne worked for they just threw it away for their own little slice of the pie." She gestures for her companion, scar-lip woman, who gets up and begins making her way to follow after Dizzy who finds her way out the door, but not before leaning back in and flipping Kaden off again. Then she's gone.
Karner nods as Isaac speaks, a knowing smile on his face, as if to say: You see? Isaac's got it all figured out. The Malkavian usually has plenty to say, especially given that he tends to end up the diplomat of Hollywood by default, even if there are some halls where he is no longer welcome to play that role. But he seems content in letting Isaac do most of the speaking tonight. Though he does arch an eyebrow at the little temper tantrum delivered by Dizzy. "Well, there's at least one of those per meeting. I suppose we hit our initial quota," he murmurs to the people around him, though not Isaac. Maybe Chess, Esther, and Vic, though.
Oh, definitely to Esther. That's exactly the sort of joke the blond loves. She keeps a hand over her tittering laugh at the aside. Perfectly happy to watch all this unfold.
There is a soft laugh and Kaden blows a kiss in Dizzy's direction. "Cool, but if we bang, Vy's gonna be PISSED." Brushing off the unknown anarch he looks back to the discussion at hand. There is a soft yet swift movement from Zebastian -- just a thin, pale hand moving to touch Cassie's shoulder, very, very gently after Christian speaks to her like that. Anyone who knows Zebastian? Might be surprised to see the Malkavian make contact - that is, it is not Cassie's aura which is touched, but her actual, physical shoulder. Very gently. Very soft. A tip of his head, turned away -- perhaps he mentions something to her, but the veil of his long dark hair obscures his face.
As for the rest of this? Well it's not like Zebastian's been giving the Magical Talking Stick, and without Grand Authorisation to Speak, it'd be a terrible breech of etiquette to let the motormouth of his get the best of him now, wouldn't it.
While Rosalia's eyes tremble with concern as the interactions go on, she only recoils into her seat and continues to watch with lips pursed into a tight, thin line.
Aspen is still reeling with the announcement. She pivots in place, eyes traveling over to where Isaac stands. Her face shows extreme relief. A true, genuine smile spreads her lips and she swallows hard against the urge to speak to the vampire directly. Instead, she just thumbs up Karner. It's a quick, involuntary movement that has her looking a bit off, but she is beyond elated. He's there, he's approachable, and he goes to New Age bookstores to seek self-healing. What's not to like?
Shawna shoots Karner a look after the director's comment, then she pushes off of the wall and makes her way toward Isaac Abrams... well not quite. The crow girl takes a wider birth around the Hollywood Baron and moves toward his enforcer, Bartok the Gargoyle, instead. Their size difference may seem comical as she presses a hand to his arm and leans in to murmur something to him.
With a nod to Isaac Abrams, Christian does not seem opposed to the terms as they are spoken. He looks to Vy and Karner for a moment, contemplative. "Those are terms that I can accept." He looks back to Zebastian, briefly, but then moves over to join the rest of his coterie, standing beside them. Leaning in to Vy, he murmurs a few words.
When Kaden makes his remark, and Vy turns at him, with a long-suffering expression. Then, Christian approaches, distracting her, and she leans in to listen. At what he asks, she arches an eyebrow, then simply nods in response.
There is a distinct sense that this is Isaac at his most gentle and benevolent. After this, it's ghouls and gargoyles, blackmail, lawsuits and broken knees. He's not a murderer, but he is not a saint either. He forced Mankiewicz to cast Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra, and David Lynch's Dune (1982) upon the world, after all.
Still...He's not /easily/ offended. He regards Dizzy steadily for a moment before telling her, "They're pragmatic, I'll give you that. But that happens to be what the present requires. Not another Status Perfectus. I've seen where that leads." If he got worked up over every young Anarch that ever told him to get bent, Isaac would have had a heart attack (undead or not) sometime in the late 40s. He's empathetic, even a little sympathetic...But also resolute.
He glances back to Christian with a warmer smile, taking in Vy and Karner as well, "Outstanding. Mr. Blue and Ms. Jones will handle the details for me, Mr. Cruce. You won't find them difficult. I look forward to hosting you and your family at Cabo Wabo, soon."
Isaac then motions to Bartok, "Come, Robbie." Then to Shawna, "You as well, child. It is done." Not unkindly.
Spade keeps his counsel to himself to begin with, remaining silent while he reads the room to see how the Westsiders feel about such statements as Abrams is making. Watching the exchanges, particularly paying attention to Cassie. Again someone would have to be paying particularly attention to Spade, but he would appear to agree with Cassie by the nod. Abrams has more to say and Spade looks over at Shawna and then Ragnar by turns. Eventually he shrugs as he steps off his wall lean and breaches etiquette like a motherfucker, talking without permission.
"Fuck all that. Are you Anarchs or bitches? There was a Baron in Santa Monica before. So what? You don't need a daddy to look up to and ask permission to do shit and just because there was something doesn't mean there still has to be. Self-determination doesn't just mean picking someone to tell you what to do. Tell yourselves. Work together when you need to and build each other up as fucking equals, but above all, don't listen to shit that falls out of that pricks mouth." Here he points a finger at Christian.
Aspen pulls up to Christian's side, bumping her elbow into his ribs with the biggest of grins - it's impossibly wide, stretching her face to the limit. She hugs him fiercely.
Touching his shoulder, she sighs, the tension rolling out of her in waves.
Out of the corner of her eye she sees Shawna moving pointedly towards Isaac. That's when Aspen inclines her head to Isaac Abrams, a new respect forming in her mind. "Thank you," she tells him simply, as he passes through.
Karner catches that thumbs up from Aspen, and he returns it with one of his own and a huge, somewhat alarming grin. He stands up as Isaac goes to leave, and if he lets him, will shake the mogul's hand or hands using both of his own. "Isaac, thank you so much for coming. I will assist Vy with the next steps." Aaaaaand then there's Spade. Even though Karner's wearing sunglasses, it's pretty obvious he's rolling his eyes. Hard. He presses the bridge of said glasses up and remains standing, arms folded, glancing briefly in Bartok's and Shawna's direction. But he keeps his mouth shut, for now.
"We are Santa Monica," Christian replies to Spade, in a matter-of-fact statement, lifting his chin to regard the man. "We'll work with whatever other anarchs want to work with us and be as supportive as we can, that includes you, Spade."
When Dizzy rises and speaks, QT gives her friend a couple faint nods and then rises and leans in to give the brunette a light hug. "It's ok. I am sure we'll all be followingly you shortly." she says quietly and follows the other with her eyes for a moment while Dizzy makes for the exit. Then the little Toreador turns her attention back to Christian. "I am sure you are, Baron." the blonde notes with a smile that doesn't at all reach her eyes, a faint but noticeable pressure to that last word.
"And yes, I have been very busy, I admit, but if I had known this was going to be a power-grab with no actual concerns for the Westside as a whole, or the kindred living here, maybe I'd have been able to make it sooner?" she muses and gives a little lift of one shoulder, before falling silent again as she listens to Isaac and his offer. And before Mr. Abrams leaves "Thank you Mr. Abrams, that is very generous of you. Would you allow me a little time to think on it?" she wonders. "I was not quite expecting things to move so.. fast. Or to be left with such a choice. And I am not, as of yet at least, privy to everything this might entail. I would hate to make deals and promises only to find out I couldn't keep them, I am sure you can understand?"
Just shaking her head slowly as she gets up, the Hoodie Monster turns and just starts to walk towards the entrance. "Funny how predictable this all is." She comments, shaking her head she just makes her way out. Rabbit pauses at the entrance as she glances back to the people present, shakes her head and then heads on out.
Bartok stands not-quite to attention but in that 90's Burbank skater dreg posture when his Baron speaks. He holds firm until Shawna scuttles over and then he leans sloooowly over to catch her whisper, to which he nods. When the Baron calls for their entourage to leave he steps aside to make way for Isaac to get up. He'd glance briefly to Spade, but would keep walking towards the the exit unless, perhaps Isaac instructed otherwise. He'd said nothing the whole debate and seems just as fine with leaving.
Jay emits a laugh at Spade's ranting, though that of amused camaraderie moreso than a mocking one. "They're all fucking bitches, Spade, that's why they're eating up all the bullshit Mr. Abrams has been saying this entire time. We've earned our freedom ever since Cheyenne and her Sire broke away and made a name for Westside, yet I've been hearing people spitting on her name like she didn't do us a massive fucking service so we didn't have to lap over the elders' titties anymore."
Shawna slips away from Bartok without waiting for a verbal reply. The nod seemed to be enough. Zebastian and Spade each draw a glance from the Gangrel of Griffith Park before she falls into step with Isaac and his large stoney enforcer. The Baron of Hollywood does earn a raised eyebrow when he calls her 'child'.
Malachi is sitting in the back this whole time, only occasionally turning to mutter or whisper to Caydence and Rosalia. The latter's somewhat shaken demeanor, however, earns a deep frown from the ghoul, and Malachi's hand moves over to lightly grip her forearm in a comforting manner. Ragnar got up from his seat. He looked at Rabbit and smiled before looking at Shawna. He made his way out and left the building.
There is a lot fluttering behind Rosalia's dark eyes, in response to the interplay over the announcements. Many thoughts, left unspoken. She passes Malachi a pleading look, then smiles at Caydence before looking back out to the room. She watches Bartok and Shawna as they leave with Abrams, and even attempts a smile. But it will be Spade and Jay's outburst, that draws her attention, and her eyes into narrow slits.
And then, it seems, it is time to go. She nods to Malachi, and passes off one more whispered missive, before reaching out for his hand as she moves to rise.
Oh. Is... That all there is, to the circus? Zebastian glances around, as if trying to see if the second act will roll in--- but no. The Norwegian kid huhs, looking a touch disappointed, but hey; not every show's a hit with audiences. There is a soft smile, a little bittersweet and more than a touch amused, and the Malkavian starts to drift towards the exit -- Mae following silently alongside -- head tipped in Shawna's direction, smile broadening a touch in polite acknowledgement, before he turns and just... Pauses, waiting for the Hollywood Posse to roll out. Puts him in proximity of Spade, though Zeb seems a touch oblivious.
"Nothing more bitchmade than a jealous asshole, right?" Looking to Trent and Colton, there is a wink for Christian and Aspen. "Maybe I'll release a rap about it, be all autotuned?"
Bartok stands not-quite to attention but in that 90's Burbank skater dreg posture when his Baron speaks. He holds firm until Shawna scuttles over and then he leans sloooowly over to catch her whisper, to which he nods. When the Baron calls for their entourage to leave he steps aside to make way for Isaac to get up. He'd glance briefly to Spade, but would keep walking towards the the exit unless, perhaps Isaac instructed otherwise. He'd said nothing the whole debate and seems just as fine with leaving.
Vy leans up, on her tiptoes, to whisper something to Kaden, waits for a response, and then slips away. She moves toward Abrams, Bartok, and Shawna. As their hostess, she seems intent on seeing them out, gathering their (proverbial) coats, and bidding them a goodnight.
Glancing to Rosalia, Malachi smiles as she takes his hand, his Dr. Pepper coming with him as he stands up from the table. "It was lovely to see you again Miss Starr, I'll be over for a chat very soon." he tells the woman, preparing himself to leave with his domitor as he does so.
Aspen watches Shawna go in an absent sort of way, her eyes wandering as she departs. She moves to Mal and Rosalia, catching them before they leave, and murmurs something to them in dulcet tones.
Isaac Abrams pauses just for a moment to consider Spade with a somewhat rueful expression, "Haven't you enough trouble holding onto South LA? Perhaps you should focus more on fending off Jael and finding Nines, and less on my backyard." He makes it very clear to Spade, that from here on, he definitely considers Santa Monica more his concern than Skelter's. And that's a very serious warning, however couched as a polite suggestion.
He then smiles over at Cassie, "Of course. We'll have a talk at Cabo Wabo, soon. You, Mr. Blue, Ms. Jones and Mr Cruce. We'll have a very nice discussion."
And then? Isaac turns to leave.
Karner, still standing, motions with his chin for his entourage to stand, too. Apparently he's also rolling out after Isaac and crew. He offers a muted smile to Los Perdidos, and to several others that he knows on his way out, including Rosalia, Zeb, Mal, and Caydence, if they happen to be looking his way. But if not, no biggie. "You coming too, Esther?" When Vy comes up to join them as well, he reaches over and squeezes her shoulder, murmuring something low to her.
Cole's been deep in observation for some time now. Outbursts against Christian, congratulations toward him...none of it seemed to evoke a reaction at all. Handsome features remain strangely, coldly neutral for some time, until Kaden makes a remark towards him. Only a cursory smile is given though he leans just slightly in to Kaden as well.
"Well... Where else do I have to be?" Esther asks the air, moving in to join Karner and his clique on the way out the door. Maybe the entire evening didn't have to be like this.
Having been watching the proceedings mostly in silence, Trent blinks and looks over at Kaden as he's addressed. "Huh?" he asks, tilting his head as the words eventually catch up to him. "I guess? I dunno, I didn't hear anything. Did Isaac call me a boy?" he asks, perhaps wondering if he should be offended by something that happened forever ago. Trent shrugs, "Fair enough I guess." he gives a sidelong glance to the departing Mr Hollywood and shrugs again at Kaden, "What now? Anyhow." he pushes off the wall and takes a look about the basement with a distracted squint. "That sure was something."
Caydence rises too. "I must be off as well. I'll follow you out." She manages to shoot Christian a smile -- which appears politely congratulating, then follows her friends out.
Spade and Jay's comments are observed with a slightly tired expression and a roll of big eyes, but.. it's hard to disagree with anything they're saying right now, so she doesn't say anything. The Westside Bitches.. hey, got kinda ring to it, at least? Isaac earns another smile and a dip of her chin at his reply. "Thank you, Mr. Abrams. I look forward to it." she replies, though there isn't much in her voice or expression that makes her seem super thrilled.
"You're a piece of shit, is what you are," is Spade's reply to Christian, handed to him directly with eye contact, if he'll make it. The Southsider is apparently not afraid of being antagonistic, despite being outside his turf and firmly within the Westside.
To Abrams he only turns and regards him silently, Abrams isn't the only person who can convey messages in expressions and this one says he'll remember that particular dig. There's no flouncing out for Spade though, for whatever reason. He eventually turns to Jay and shakes his head ruefully, "Like nothing MacNeil and Nines did matters for shit, man."
Kaden gives Spade a wave, "It was good seeing you again." Turning back to the coterie he whispers back to Vy then starts working on prep to clean up behind the departing Anarchs, looking to make sure there is nothing else going on and stopping if there is.
Zebastian, in his own little way, seems to come around -- the Norwegian kid is oblivious to the chatter around him apparentl, but his hand moves to knock against Spade's aura, stepping in front of him as he drifts by, trying to meet his eye as he smiles, says in that soft Norwegian accent. "What Vy said, ja? About flowers earlier - it is a beautiful thought, nei?" Alright, Mr. Malkavian. Time to get home.
Aspen returns to Christian's side, her fist pumping in the air. "You did it!" she exclaims, her exuberance and life on full, winning display. She even does a giddy little dance in place before trading bright smiles with Vy and Kaden. "God, I even like Trent too much today," she announces to no one in particular, zipping over to her brother's side next. She launches herself at Cole, giving him a tight hug. "C!" Zebastian and Spade go unacknowledged for a moment or two, but soon her focus is sliding their way.
Cole continues to watch those that filter out and their demeanor as they do so. He looks to Zebastian with a soft smile, should the Scandinavian look his way. "I had that delivery sent. I'll let you know if they respond to it." He flashes a quick wink to Zeb only to get half-tackled by his little sister and he chuckles softly before wrapping an arm around her back to hold her steady for a moment. He doesn't say anything yet, but he smiles down at her and looks deep into familiar eyes for a beat of a heart. Not his, of course.
Spade's attention is taken by Zeb, and he slips his hands in his pockets and regards the taller man with equanimity. "Beautiful thought? Sure, yeah. Everyone's as unique as the next person." He shrugs lightly, apparently gone from antagonist to casual in the space of turning to look at the Malk.
Zebastian laughs, nodding his head to Spade --- oblivious, totally, although his Ghoul Mae looks a little, confused? Like the Bel Air native isn't sure what they're doing in a basement. She nudges Zeb, and Zeb ehs? Looking down at the shorter Southsider with a smile. "It's a matter, ja? Of recurrence - iteration - adaptation - reiteration - attention, ja? All about where you look -- so a daisy en mass, ja? Just a field -- but you look closer, and closer... And you fall in love, ja? Want a whole bouquet - or just one good stem." A belated nod. "Pink, white, black or red... All over? It is, right?"
A turn, and Zebastian gives an airy wave to... Everyone? Sure, with a little extra smile to Colton, before he waits Spade to lead on.
As the 'debate' seems to be finished and people start making their leave, Cassie and her little group slowly gets up and then makes their way over to Christian, eyeing Aspen's happy little display with a slightly curious sort of amusement. "Thanks for having us today, Mr. Cruce. And.. congratulations, I guess. Seems like you and Isaac's plan worked out well." There still doesn't seem to be any real animosity or anything of that sort in her expression, though to say she looked happy or genuinely pleased would be a far stretch. "I hope Santa Monica will do well." She adds, eyes lingering on him for a moment before they shift to offer the others of Los Perdidos still standing around a smile and faint dip of chin as before the Toreador and her clique turns to move for the exit. "It loses some of the beauty when you sell ninety percent of the garden to someone who hates half the flowers growing there. Don't you think?" she muses in comment to Zeb's word about beauty as the group nears the where the Malkavian and Spade are, ready to follow out behind them. And cleary noting on Isaac's.. relationship with Thin bloods.
Everyone else present, of course, also gets a smile and a wave in departure from Cassie before she leaves.
"I will see you soon, Miss Alston. Santa Monica will do great, now and in the future." Christian inclines his head to Cassie, apparently without any animosity or comment on the remark that follows, about a garden and the flowers. "Good night." Looking to his coterie mates for a moment, he upnods to the stairs.
Spade is indeed leaving, apparently with Zeb, although that's probably news to the Southsider, based on the odd look he gives Zeb after his airy speech about... something. Malks man. There's a minute shake of his head at Zeb, you never know what to do with these types. Over to Cassie Spade nods in a reply as he walks for the door, "Salvador Garcia was a sellout, Abrams too, how many times? Never seen a man ride a fence quite so well as Abrams." He upnods at the only Westsider present with the apparent capacity to object tonight, and then heads out at a casual pace.
Vy hasn't returned from upstairs quite yet - she's probably checking on the club, doing her rounds, so if folks move upstairs, there's no point in posing in downstairs!
"That's the thing about gardens, no?" Zebastian chatters on to Cassie, hands gesturing animatedly as he walks along with Spade, Cassie, her crew and Mae to exit. "Fences, always fences -- I'd rather be a wild rose, rambling-" A laugh, and he nudges Spade's aura playfully. "Or moon blossom. Oooh, I bet the florists are still open..." Off they go!
There is, of course, another long lingering look to Zebastian, especially as he talks of daisies and doubly especially at the mention of those particular colors. His lips curl just a bit and he gives the Malkavian a fond, but brief, wave of departure. Colton watches the rest of those begin their leaving as well.
