Westside Salon - I

Participants: April, Bartok, Cassie, Fiddle, Ghost, Hall, Jay, Karner, Lascaux, Nisha, Sebastian, Shawna, Spade, Sveta, Tinsley, & Zebastian.

Location: Echelon Falls, The Circle - Brentwood, Westside

Date and Time: February 12~, 2021 11:00pm

Summary: Westside Collective host a little salon for all Anarchs (and some outer-sect Plus Ones) from across Los Angeles to discuss unlife, the universe and everything - nobody put 'Rant' on the agenda, but since when does anyone follow those things anyway? Besides, it's all just part of lively discourse, after all...

Mood Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvQih7MNCog

---<Zebastian>---------------

How does one get here? Just drive to Brentwood, enter The Circle, wander through Eigengrau Lounge, pass the vibe check with a burly security fellow at the VIP corridor, enter a little code at the door, and tada: Echelon Falls. It's just that /simple/.

Or use the super secret door - but that's a super secret, shhhh.

Oh it's buzzing tonight in Echelon Falls -- but wait, what time was the salon supposed to kick off? Because it seems like it's already in full swing; anyone who happened to arrive early may have already bore witness to a willowy Stevie Nicks look-alike going by Kore, who have a rather extensive analysis of, uh, what did she say again? A whole lot of criticism about how 'anti-organisational bias is part and parcel of the capitalistic post-modern package', and a call-to-action for The Movement to 'rely on non-hierarchal collectivism to organise in a common struggle for freedom from oppression and exhalation of Libertas'? Something like that...

Very spirited. Sure it lead to a lot of questions and commentary -- or just blank looks and titters of amusement, depending. What's going on here? Loose collection - no formal seating, beyond Echelon Falls' standard serpentine sofa and armchair arrangement - stools by the concrete bar or green marble executive meeting table-gone-ping-pong slash art table - those alcoved booths --- it's a casual affair under moody lighting, and why there's even hypnotic electronica playing not /too/ loud over speakers; setting an upbeat conversational tone.

(Sonic vibes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvQih7MNCog)

Zebastian -- dressed in various shades of black, imagine that -- is standing near one of the sofas, half-lit in violet from a spotlight above and chattering away animatedly to Hall and pretty much anyone in earshot; "---actly/, noninvasive neuro-stimulation - so it's a demanding regime of random practice that elicits a more profound inter-task information processing strategy, ja? Novelty, adaption, challenge! Contextual interference, /that's/ the goal -- if we just sit around every night, -doing-, /thinking/, -fucking-, /drinking/, -toiling-, /repeating/, -repeating-, //REPEATING// the -same- //OLD// things again and again? That's how the brain rot sets in! That's how it =GETS YOU=. The //black mould mind//."

The Norwegian Malkavian has been going on about necro-neuroplasticity for ... a little while.

---<April>---------------

April has been listening to Zebastian's rant ever since he began, and at this point she feels the need to but in. "So how long have you been /repeating/ the -same- //OLD// rant again and again?" She asks, mimicking his emphasis for the sake of making a point, then sips from her bottle of coca cola.

---<Hall>---------------

Hall has been listening to Zebastian for ... a little while, apparently. From time to time, he squints, like a fact-checking program is running upstairs in his own brain, and perhaps contributing to its encroaching black mold. "What do you think, Bast?" he asks Sebastian, glancing over to his clanmate, who's standing beside him there by the sofas. At April's rejoinder, he raises his eyebrows and blinks a few times.

---<Lascaux>---------------

Lascaux isn't in full semi-formal drag tonight, but he looks like he tried, if by 'tried' one means none of his clothing has terribly obvious holes in it and his hair looks like he made some kind of attempt at combing it. The fact that the oversized button-down shirt he's wearing seems to have been half-dipped in bleach might even be intentional. The rest is fairly standard: camouflage cargo pants, over-dyed black, combat boots, a couple of leather bracelets, a necklace made of weird old metal ephemera. He squints at April's interjection. "'S funny how it all mirrors th'same issues mortal folks deal with," he mumbles. "'Cept worse on account of our natural - or unnatural, if y'like - propensity for stasis. But there's lots'a differn't ways for noninvasive neural stimulation, right? I dunno if that's Ash's department, though. Just last night he was talkin' about irradiating Mr. Blue's jellyfish." A pause. "If they don't have brains... I wonder how radiation would affect 'em differn'tly."

---<Spade>---------------

Spade arrives, apparently the drive from southside isn't too much of an obstacle for him to visit Westside occasionally. He's wearing his usual outfit, jacket open and unconcerned with flashing the metalwork he keeps in the waistband of his pants, clearly against a certain rule posted about this here salon. He's got his best royal blue bandana on, freshly cleaned and smelling like a fresh flower. Upon entering he gives the room a one-eyed assessment and then sidesteps and takes a neutral stance on engaging with people, walking and passing, overhearing conversations, not joining them.

---<Sebastian>---------------

Sebastian flashes a little smile to Hall from time to time as he happily listens to Zebastian's rant. He's dressed as simply, sporting jeans, an Awolnation tee, and a pair of black and white Vans, but nothing really can mask the Ventrue's comliness. His general summation after April's challenge and Hall's inquiry is a shrug and murmured, "Boomer's gonna boom." He straightens up a little more and offers something a bit more useful after a moment, saying, "Habit is hard to break. Neuroplasticity has a lot to do with potential, but there has to be the will and opportunity for growth too. I haven't studied this in any actual detail, but it'd be pretty fascinating, I'd think."

---<Sveta>---------------

Svetlana Serova has a habit of popping up where and when she's not wanted. It's usually a blessing that she allows herself to be both present and observed, to avoid any embarrassing mishaps.

So, she's present, visible, and even subjects herself to the vibe check at the door. It's hard to really miss it, given the ever-present fangs and the political statement of unblushed corpse-pallor. She's at the side of Spade, another interloper of a different flavor.

The one vibe check she didn't pass, however? The timing. The Malkavian primog- whip is uncoolly on time. Neither late enough to display a callous disregard for the status quo, nor early enough to demonstrate commitment to the cause. Exactly on the hour, she enters, dressed down to fit the crowd: a woolen watch cap, a black sweater, high-waisted skinny jeans, similarly colored, and combat boots laced white and red. Her lips are as black as the sunglasses she has on, and she has a Petrine cross hanging from an earlobe.

"These things never have food," she whines to Spade.

---<Ghost>---------------

It's the roar of not one, not even two bikes outside, but several that slowly start to increase until they rev outside and then unceremoniously stop and go quiet. However, despite all that ruckus, only one person enters, a white, pale man with tattoos that might look like he belongs to a gang or even in the Southside crews if he wasn't white. But most people here would know him for who he is, and he is, indeed, a Southsider. He's not on the heels of Spade, but he doesn't arrive too long after the man. He's dressed as is normal for him, some kind of t-shirt, a leathers jacket and some jeans, along with some shit-kickers on his feet. Unlike Spade, he's not totally unsociable. He gives a nod to Zebastien if he catches his attention, but he does tend to wander towards Spade, giving him an upnod.

Itilently then, his gaze floats around the room at those already gathered, giving recognition with a nod to those he's seen before, and giving a greeting with the same to those he doesn't. Anyone truly observant, can see outside that those others that rode here with him mingle outside, all tatted up, and of several various demographics, they seem to just be lingering outside. Maybe he thinks he needs backup, maybe he's just the cautious sort.

---<Zebastian>---------------

"Since her Benevolence brought home the cognitive behaviouralist, of course." Zebastian quips to April, laughing and batting at the air near that soda can, teasing; "When are you going to trade your nasty habits in for something new? The sugar conglomerate is imperialist mind control."

As Lascaux speaks he nods and nods again to Hall, gesturing between the two of them before snapping his fingers and gesturing to Sebastian. "/Exactly/ -- it is -hard- to break, but not //impossible//, ja? We are implausible things, yet here we are -- so that is the question, ja? In our existence, what /can/ we do to ensure we don't succumb to rot? -How- can we expand beyond expected potential? What do you all think?"

All that chattering, and Zeb still manages to snag that fractured attention over to Sveta and Spade -- giving them an upnod, though making no comment re: food before he turns to the group. Mae's here somewhere -- and probably some other Ghouls, all spoken for -- but blood dol--- willing meals? In deficit.

---<Spade>---------------

Spade stops up at some open space, posting himself and standing there, looking aside to Sveta with an easy laugh, "They used to, you'll have to complain to the management." He upnods to Zeb and Ghost in turn as he's greeted himself, but what is a contingent of Southsiders and a Cammie to do in this Westside vibing hellhole? He throws a hand up to Ghost to call over the other Southsider and starts talking in quiet tones to him and Sveta, pointing around the room, at Zeb and the crowd around him, and elsewhere, apparently the crowd is the subject of tonight's conversations.

---<April>---------------

As she overhears Sveta's complaint, April cheekily pulls a candy bar out of a pocket and tosses it towards Sveta, "Here you go." She offers with clear cheek in her voice, she shrugs to Hall's blinking, and answers Zeb honestly, "When I stop appreciating the taste, I don't even need to worry about calories anymore, and it's not like I'm spending money on this stuff, it was proper stolen, so what's the harm?"

---<Hall>---------------

"Hey, Becks," says Hall. He's dressed in a battered black leather jacket, white T-shirt, gray skinny jeans, and black boots. He looks over at the entrance after Spade, Sveta, and Ghost pop in, taking in each appearance, but his eyes really widen after Bartok shows up. "Robbie?" For a second, he just stares. Then he motions to the Gargoyle to come along further inside Echelon Falls, over to where there appears to be some sort of conversation already going strong, and for some reason, all about brains.

At Lascaux, Hall grins. "Yeah, why not?" he says, re: irradiating those jellyfish, or perhaps simply re: irradiation in general. re: brains, however, he wrinkles his nose, face scrunching up a bit. To Sebastian, Zebastian, and April, he says, "I haven't done or seen any neuroimaging to support thinking one way or another yet, but. You're right, that would be interesting." And his expression brightens again at that. "From how some people talk, you'd think that our brains /couldn't/ change, one way or another. At the same time, it's evident that we can form new memories -- learn new skills -- and so on, so -- " He lists these and similar items for a little while, then shrugs.

---<Nisha>---------------

Dressed in leathers, because safety first. Nisha eventually gets here on her crummy bikes and kills her engine with the others. Motorcycle helmet left behind as she snakes her way through the crowd. Trying to get through the queue to speak to the master of ceremonies. Arms spread wide, "Hey, Zeb! What a turn out. Freewill or design?", practically purring at the question. Offering a large fanged smile, like a Cheshire Cat.

Greetings delivered in hug or fist bump formant, the woman eyes the crowd. Giving a small finger wave to some known faces. "I thought it was BYOB?", Nisha asks to Sveta. Checking to see if she had her flask on her, opening the container and scrunching her nose. "Bleh... I think it went foul.", putting the black substance away and not offending anyone with it. Nisha then finds her own spot to mingle, whether alone or by new people. She wanted to be on the outer rim.

---<Lascaux>---------------

"Y'already know I think we're capable of change," Lascaux confirms to Zeb, with a shrug, and then extends a hand with a little floppy gesture of confirmation as Hall gives more specific evidence. "I don't think I'm th'same person I am as I were when I was Embraced. But a'course it's hard t'think about ourselves objectively - confirmation bias an' all that. Honestly, cain't be certain the idea we aren't capable of change wasn't some propaganda spread t'keep us humble and in th'dark in the first place." He scowls, and then adds, "I ain't a conspiracy theorist, I swear, just got a healthy sense of skepticism."

---<Becky>---------------

Becky ends up standing next to Hall and leans to the side a bit, giving him a friendly shoulder bump when she does so. "Why is it always brains with you?" She teases, mildly.

---<Sveta>---------------

Sveta gives Zebastian a little nod of her own, pauses for a moment to place-face Lascaux, but before she's able to offer and greeting, she's pulled into orbit about Spade and Ghost, listening to the former and offering a shrug and pursed lips in response. That's when she's blindsided.

The candy bar smacks her in the chest and bounces to the floor. She looks down, then at the source of the artillery fire. She lingers for a moment to finish her conversation with the pair of Southsiders, before zeroing in on April and leaving the candy bar on the floor.

"You can drink those," she nods to the soda.

"That mean I can drink you? Or do you belong to someone?" Evidently, the rank and file Camarilla member's been spending too much time in the ivory tower, and has made the classic blunder: thinblood, not ghoul.

---<Bartok>---------------

There is a hideous form of a gargoyle lurking around tonight. The brute hasn't roamed farther than the door. He's dressed in the clothes he is most every night, a belt-ridden hoodie and pair of acid washed jeans full of holes along with a gasmask to hide his ugly mug. Truly the working man's attire for the Gothic-Punk world. That masked face scans the area, head moving like a security camera as it passes over the crowd. Perhaps a few of the Westside fledgelings would come to gawk at him, as they often did. Whatever the baby bats attempted to interjected the monster with conversation about was met with a mute response, as he often did.

Then, when the time seemed nigh, Robbie Bartok would reach up under his hoodie. With a nod and a squint he turns to the door.

---<Karner>---------------

Karner Blue arrives, fashionably late. He wears a slim, long-line black jumpsuit. The jumpsuit has a sharp, simple vee-neck with no collar, pleated trousers, and hems that break just over his polished black shoes. Over the top, he wears a short, translucent blue jacket with wide lapels, sleeves, and cuffs. His winged, mirrored sunglasses are the same shade of blue.

Has Karner been in this room before? Maybe. He's come to the Circle a couple of times. Has he been in this room, though? Karner's looking around like he isn't entirely sure. But his posture is also swaying, just a little, like he's a reed in a swamp that can't quite seem to stand up straight. In fact, he reaches out for a wall as though to steady himself, even as he bellows dramatically, "I have arrived!" This is not said to anyone in particular. Or maybe he's saying it to Robbie? He sees Robbie over there, turning to him as he appears at the door, and Karner grins and waves manically at the gargoyle.

---<Sebastian>---------------

Sebastian provides Becky a warm smile and small wave in greeting in return to her greeting. His attention flits back to Zebastian, Hall, Lascoux, and the brain conversation. "I tend to think inability to change is an excuse for anachronism. In our situation with something approaching immortality, boomer issues just get worse until something jogs them into something approaching action. A childer knowing things or having technological powers that's threatening, for instance. It's the mentality of it not mattering until something effects them directly, I'd say. So to stave that off, make things personal, maybe? Have a goal or ambition that requires more than what you've got? I dunno." Sebastian shrugs and blushes faintly. "I've only been at this for a decade, so... what the hell do I know?"

---<Shawna>---------------

Shawna Weber appears from the crowd and slows to a stop beside Bartok where she blocks the large gargoyle as he turns to the door. The tall and lanky blonde is wearing a battered leather jacket over a Kevlar vest which itself is worn over a white men's t-shirt. She offers the large, masked man a quick chin nod before quietly gesturing toward the crowd as a whole.

---<Lascaux>---------------

"Boomer issues, huh?" Lascaux asks Sebastian, sliding a puddle-colored glance in his direction. "So what counts as a 'boomer' in Kindred terms, kiddo? Y'gotta define it, y'know."

He turns to see Karner's grand entrance - how can one not notice it, honestly - and nods, then raises a hand to Bartok, friendly-like. "Hi, Robbie!"

---<April>---------------

"If you're not gonna eat the candy bar, please give it back, those things are delicious and I stole it fair and square." April states boldly, before her gaze narrows at the assumption of ghouldom, "I am April, Childe of Jimmy Mason, and I'm a Caitiff." She states stiffly, "And if you wish to be bound to me, then you are free to partake, but I do not expect anyone to wish to be in my thrall, nor do I ask it of any." That's her answer, clear and straightforward. "A boomer is anyone who is neither a neonate nor holds a position of power." She tells Lasceux.

---<Ghost>---------------

Ghost listens, leaning ever so slightly towards Spade at what he says quietly and nods to it. His eyes scan the room again, but settle on no one in particular for long. Small little studies of everyone as if the whole room is the topic of whatever Spade said. He has nothing to add to the man's statement beyond that though, Hands are shoved in his leather jacket pockets and he continues to flicker between conversations idly and without much care.

---<Cassie>---------------

Cassie arrives with her recently reunited-with bff Tinsley, looking as devastatingly stylish ever, wearing a pair of high-waisted, -very snug- leather pants with plum-colored silk lacing up the side sides, a mtaching colored off-shoulder crop top, and tall, open-toed stilettos, with her hair done in an 80s throwback up-do with a broad purple hair-band heling keep everything in place and large hoop ear-rings dangling from the lobe of each small ear. The two girls chatter and giggle at something said as they make their way in, but soon enough attention is shifted to the other people present and the tiny Toredors smile widens when her big blues finds Zeb in the crowd. He gets a little wave while she whispers something to her companion and starts leading her over towards the area where the Malkavian is standing, tho they settle for lingering close by and don't interrupt the conversation for now. Spade and Ghost get a collective little upnod when spotted among the gathered, and anyone else that should look their way is greeted with a friendly smile and any one of a number of small gestures to that effect.

---<Hall>---------------

Hall laughs after Becky teases him. "What should I talk about instead?" he wants to know. "Anyway, Zebastian started it." To Sebastian, he says, "Not assuming that you know everything already is, uh. A good start, when you want to find things out, usually. But I don't know how many volunteers we'll get for brain imaging studies." He looks at Lascaux, then at Karner's grand entrance. He seems to find that pretty funny, and lets out another laugh, just before Cassie and Tinsley glide on in.

---<Zebastian>---------------

"Babes, neither -- it's /the third thing/, darling - always the =third=." Zebastian chimes in response to Nisha -- then immediately gets distracted, because of course he does.

Zebastian ahs and nods to what Hall has to say, hands gesturing animatedly as he chatters along; "That's what I mean! People /act/ as if we are in stasis - but we disprove that every night, nei? The idea of imaging though -- unless we, say, get ahold of an imager ourselves, well that's a dead end." Little half-grin, eyebrows raised. "Besides, ja? What if it /were/ it was nothing but black?" At Lascaux's words, the Malkavian mms thoughtfully, no arguments there - though attention flicks to Sebastian, head tipped to the side as he listens. "But the isolation, of this into something strictly personal? Doesn't that alienate what is ultimately a collective issue?"

A little fade out -- it seems Zebastian has spotted Karner -- then Bartok and Shawna, giving the latter two a quick ocular pat-down before a hand is raised in greeting to the newcomers, and he looks back to--- oh there's Cassie and, who? Air kisses, before the Norwegian's focus zips back to Sebastian, chattering on: "Because that anachronism is prevalent /everywhere/, down to the very structural limitations that would see us, well, doing the /same/ things -forever-... How would you see your future unfold?"

No social cue taken from Becky and Hall re: being to blame for anything.

---<Becky>---------------

Becky looks over at April and wrinkles up her nose. "Don't you have to puke the stuff up, later?" She asks, sounding vaguely nauseated at the prospect. "I can't see that as being an enjoyable way to end the evening."

---<Tinsley>---------------

Tinsley is giggling it up at whatever was shared upon entering, and as she walks in side-by-side with Cassie, she has an arm wrapped about Cassie's left, holding onto it like Cass was a balloon she won at the fair and might float away should she loosen her grip at all. As she steps into the rom and gives a quick glance about, she says, "Oh, wow. Lots of others.. New faces.. Mhm, mhmm.. Seen that one before.." she begins, taking note of those she knows and does not, all while sticking to Cass like glue, of course.

She's wearing a sparkly pink dress that's short and strapless, and matching the color of the glittery eyeshadow on her eyelids.. and the lipstick on her mouth. Her hair is down and kept neat, and she has a big smile on her face. A smile is sent to anyone who looks her way. She's just happy to be here!

---<Bartok>---------------

The Gargoyle turns to the Bird-Grel and reflects the nod like a mirror. When Karner makes his grand entrance Robbie simply gestures to the room with a large deformed hand. Lascaux's greeting earns him a stare followed by a delayed upnod from one skinny freak to another. All the philosophizing about what being kindred meant, which was typical faire for the vampire salon, seems to beget a non-response out of the monster.

---<Sveta>---------------

"Oh," Sveta looks disappointed. She sounds disappointed too. But that changes soon enough as she gives April a look like she's found a roach in her tuna melt. She rolls her eyes, failing to so much as offer her a response of merit, before Karner's Totally Radical Arrival catches her attention. There's no return of the candy bar. It's left on the floor where it bounced off of the Russian, beside Ghost and Spade, and she continues her rounds. The next victi- friend, is Shawna.

Serova slides up alongside her, with all the stealth and grace that surplus combat boots allow, and leans in close, offering a breathy, and perhaps made-for-the-stage:

"You stopped texting me. I thought something'd happened to you."

---<Spade>---------------

Spade's conversation with Sveta and Ghost is short, Sveta splits and him and Ghost are left in companionable silence. Apparently there isn't much to talk about. The Hispanic is about to put his hands in his pockets when Karner bellows out his arrival, drawing Spade's attention. There's an upnod in Karner's direction and he mutters something else to Ghost then pushes his jacket open and slips his hands into his pockets at last. The handles for various knives stick up out of his waistband visibly now without even the open jacket to cover them. At some point he catches Cassie's greeting and returns it with a short couple of nods back.

---<Hall>---------------

After Karner rights himself, Hall calls over. "You can tell the future, right, Karner? What do you think?" To Zebastian, he says, "Why shouldn't we be able to do our own imaging studies?" And he glances at Sebastian after that.

---<April>--------------- "I was puking up my meals back when I was mortal, small compromise if you ask me." April answers Becky, shrugging like this might as well be a non-issue. "Ah, it's the Blue Sabbatical." She waves to Karner, "How are you doing, my man, found any new boytoys to pimp out in your club?"

---<Karner>---------------

When people stare or nod at Karner, Karner seems to stare or nod back, although it's hard to tell where he's looking with those sunglasses of his. He grins around at the room like his face is stuck, so that probably counts for something. When Bartok gestures to the space, Karner puts up his arms, too. "I know, Robbie!" What does he know? Who knows. He lurches a bit more, still kind of far off from Hall and Zebastian and them to really be without conversational earshot. "What, Ashley?!" Karner puts a hand to his ear, then immediately drops it. He has to move closer to hear what they're saying to him, and seems to catch the tail end of whatever it is April's just said. "What's that about a pimp, darling?" Now he's somewhat near the Ventrue Bunch, Zebastian, Cassie, and whoever else is over there, maybe.

---<Sebastian>---------------

Sebastian nods a little, offering Lascoux, "Boomer usually refers to a generational divide in kine terms and I'd define it here as being at that age and mindset with anything different than what you know is deemed lesser, weaker, impure, or whatever. Pining for the good old days, regardless of how problematic they actually were or how badly they fucked the world. When they start to resent the need to grow and evolve." He smiles and jokes, "Anyone that collects vinyl in the 2020's."

He flits his attention around, trying to keep up, but is a little lost with so many people. He's brought back to Zebastian's questions on equipment and collective issues. "Collective issues, I think, have to do with culture and ours is fairly structured to promote isolation, bad mouthing those that disagree, and generally being dicks. At least on my side of the tracks." He shrugs and agrees with Hall, further offering, "My thing is health care. I have access to a lot of equipment. It's sort what I'm looking to fill an eternity with: making the world a little better. Curing disease and doing the improbable." He shrugs and leans his hip against the couch and slouching some.

---<Sveta>---------------

Sveta doesn't have a fucking clue what Shawna is talking about. She screws up her eyebrows, wrinkles her nose, and shrugs helplessly - ever the victim of circumstance... although she's not too affronted to fail to answer the inquiry.

"I try to keep my social moorings shallow but broad. You should try it. Keeps things casual, you know?" As if this were a neat segue, which it decidedly isn't, she looks up at Bartok, trying to catch an eye through his GP-5... and if she gets it? She snaps her teeth. Probably as friendly a greeting as any, if the little curl to her lips is any indication.

---<Lascaux>---------------

Lascaux raises his eyebrows, first at April, and then at Sebastian. "Y'all are real young, ain'tcha?" he asks, but apparently decides to leave it at that, and casts a weather eye over the vibe of the room at large, finding it like an under-seasoned and lukewarm vegetable soup. "You got an agenda, moonchild, or is this what y'wanted to happen? Talkin' about nothin' and starin' at each other?" he asks Zebastian. But pleasantly, or relatively pleasantly, anyway. "I think Mr. Blue brought a whole liquor store with him, or maybe somethin' stronger."

---<Zebastian>---------------

Zebastian ohs, pale eyes all wide and bright as he looks from Hall to Sebastian - giving the Ventrue a look which is easily described as Quite Keen. "You've an imager? Like an extra-ray? What happens, when the contrast fluid is--- I mean, surely you've tried on yourself, or?..."

All the enthusiasm for Science has rather bottlenecked Zebastian's capability to track conversational threads -- but the appearance of Karner and the response to April has him looking between the two briefly, before giving Nisha a half-grin and turning back to speak to Sebastian; "Well, is it such a bad thing to spend eternity doing improbable things? Besides, your calling is of benefit for the wider collective; healthy Kine make for happy Kindred, nei? Even if some spend so much efforts in ensuring the displeasure of others - it's beneficial to seek balance, ja? Otherwise..." Shared in sotto voce: "Folks go batshit."

A beat, then Zebastian turns and blinks owlishly at Lascaux, like Kentucky were talkin' gibberish. Another beat, then he laughs, hand waving abstractly; "Darling, it's a /salon/ -- aut delectare aut prodesse, ja?"

---<Hall>---------------

Hall says "Yeah, what /are/ you on, Kablooie?" Hall asks Karner, after Lascaux comments on his apparent intoxication. "This is Sebastian, by the way." He glances around the room at large, green gaze pausing on a few people he recognizes but hasn't spoken to yet, then looks back at the little knot of people standing closer to him. After Zebastian's comment about healthy Kine, for some reason, he gives Sebastian a quizzical look, then just says, re: the topic(s) of the Salon, both those that have already been broached and those yet to come, "I assume there'll be more talk about 'Culture,' sooner or later." He doesn't look like he's looking forward to it, exactly. And he does put air quotes and a big C on 'Culture.'

---<Shawna>---------------

Shawna offers Sveta a blank stare and a somber, "Sure, Sveta. Shallow but broad. Uh... excuse me, I've got to see... her..." A nod and a glance back toward Cassie, then Shawna is leaving Sveta and Bartok behind and making her way over.

The lanky blonde works her way through the crowd with all the grace and charisma of a caged rat. She just barely holds back from gnashing teeth if bumped along the way.

Shawna will eventually close the distance and come up beside Tinsley, though she'll brush passed the woman in the sparkly pink dress, and move over to stand beside Cassie. "Um... Cassie... Hey." She starts in a somewhat shy manner while lifting one hand up to scratch through her hair. "Hey."

---<Karner>---------------

"You want to make the world better, do you? Who /are/ you, precisely?" Karner demands this of Sebastian as he looks the fellow over, then grins at Lascaux. "I'm not /sharing/ Lascaux. And far be it from Oyg -- Zebastian to have an agenda, hmm? It's bad for his precious 'vibes,' or is it...that reminds me, Oyg -- Zebastian, look who Iiiiiiii brooooooought!" Sing-songing that last bit, Karner reaches into his translucent coat, with difficulty. It takes him two or three times before he pulls out a lovely bejeweled eye-egg with long eyelashes (https://tinyurl.com/3pndu7zr). "Daniela said she simply /had/ to attend. I'm not really sure why, but I figured maybe /you/ know." But he half-turns away from Zeb after that, humming to himself as he strokes Daniela's long eyelashes.

Then Hall finally introduces him to Sebastian, and Karner gives him an overly dramatic bow. "Greetings, Sebastian. And what is your 'deal', per se, apart from idealism? Or do you put the /deal/ in idealism?" Karner seems to find this hilarious, and bursts out into a brief shriek of laughter that sounds like a pack of hyenas mashed into a pulp, then strained into juice and sold to Westsiders for $15 a glass. Karner does not answer the question about what he is on.

---<Bartok>---------------

A stony eye does roll in the gothnik's direction as Shawna steps away, catching that feral snapping of teeth from the Malkavian that looks like she probably shoplifts out of the same dumpster that Robbie himself does. She'd too get an upnod, which was probably as respectable a greeting as anyone could milk out of the monstrosity. He extracts his hands out of their nest in his pockets, stretched out and tattered at the seams just by how often he did this. He points to his own wrist with overlong knobby-knuckled fingers, then to his own ear, with the same hand, then Polish-American Gargoyle forms the shape of two pistols with both hands to point at the Russian Malkavian.

---<Zebastian>---------------

Zebastian gives Lascaux a look which is daresay amused at the Kentuckian's foray into Norwegian accent mimicry -- but a reply? Nope. Besides, Karner is going about his, uh, revelry and reveal -- when that bejewelled long-lash'd egg comes out? Zeb dips his head, speaking in sotto voce; "...You really shouldn't've of let him get started so early; someone will have to find a wheelchair, at this rate."

Standing, Zebastian brushes his hair over his shoulder -- leaving conversation to the group, as his attention slides -- looking over to Bartok and Sveta, then Spade - studying him for a moment, before Shawna's approach to Cassie and Tinsley has him waving, whistling a little tune in greeting to them all. Nightingale? It's just a whistle!

---<Sebastian>---------------

For Lascoux's benefit, Sebastian admits, "My parents still call me asking when I'm getting married," with a put-upon smile. He answers both Karner and Zebastian's inquiries by saying, "I'm in Biotechnology. Partnerships with hospitals. All that jazz. I'm not about deals and all that. I like to invent things." He shrugs his shoulder and shifts his weight nervously. His attention flicks to Hall and he smiles and nods, shrugging to indicate culture can wait. The dramatic bow gets a touch of an eyeroll coupled with a good-natured smile.

---<Sveta>---------------

"Or maybe just shallow," laments Serova as Shawna makes a point of going anywhere but her presence. She only pouts a moment, before Bartok's little game of gestures has her scowling in consideration. "Wrist... hear... me. Arm... ear... you - da, chuvak, da. Totally." She nods. She gets what he's saying. Same as the rest of the Hollywood gang that hold her in such high esteem. Speaking of, she spends a few moments watching Karner and his wing-girl with faint bemusement.

"The freaks are out tonight," she informs the Gargoyle, as though he didn't spend a good amount of time watching Blue's ass. She's already scanning for her next target, for as much as she and the Gargoyle have in common stylistically, there's not a whole lot common ground to harp on between them.

Lascaux is next, then. She treads over delicately, hands clasped behind her back, as though to catch him off guard with the evening's maestro, Zebastian.

---<Karner>---------------

'Daniela' leans in to whisper something to Zebastian, although Karner's lips seem to be the ones moving. How curious! It's like an inanimate eye-egg can't actually talk. Or can she? Karner seems to notice Cassie and Tinsley there, too, and he grins and fingerwaggles at them. "Hello, hello, hello."

When Sebastian talks some more, Karner sizes him up. "Camarilla Ventrue in Biotechnology. How interesting. Slumming it here? Whyever for?" Karner keeps on stroking Daniela's lashes. "I'm Karner Blue, but perhaps you already knew that. Pleasure to...meet you, yes." He gets distracted by the feeling of eyes on him, eyes that belong to Sveta rather than Daniela, and gives her a rather toothy grin.

---<Spade>---------------

Over to one side of the room, Spade and Ghost fall into silence, just eyeing the room with the sort of stony expressions that can't rival Robbie, but suit South LA vampires surrounded by Westsiders 'vibing' with each other. Spade mostly spends his time watching the nucleus that's around Zeb, perhaps eavesdropping the conversation, or just staring hard. He looks around as well, but he's standing facing Zeb so his head always comes back to neutral, keeping Ghost to his left side.

---<Cassie>---------------

Cassie can't help but grin appreciatively at the close-by philosophizing and seeing Zeb smack in the middle of his element like that, but most of her attention is on chattering hushedly with Tinsley as the two girls move closer to one of the nearby couches and look around the room, the tiny Toreador probably pointing out who the people she know are in advance of any in-person introductions as more people arrive and everyone gets settled in. She lifts a small hand, the one not her friend hasn't commandeered, and waggles her fingers in a little wave at Karner when the producer near where they're standing, before leaning a little closer to Tinsley to whisper something that draws a soft giggle from her at the end. The whole thing with... Daniella? is observed with a mix of amusement and confusion. So really no much different from most things involving larger groups of kindred, really. There's probably some giggling going on between the two blondes.

There's a somewhat careful edge to the smile she gives Shawna when the Gangrel comes over, but it's a warm thing none-the less. "Oh hey Shawna..." a beat. "How have you been?" the short blonde starts before looking to Tinsley and then back to Shawna again. "Oh, before I forget my manners.. This is Tinsley, my very good friend. Tinsley, this is Shawna Weber, she was very good friends with Cheyenne that I told you about."

---<Hall>---------------

"/I/ brought him," says Hall, about Sebastian. He sounds and looks irritated. "For the philosophy discussion." Then he pauses, seeming to remember something. He looks from Sebastian to April. "You're, uh. From Sacramento, right?"

---<Bartok>---------------

Bartok turns to regard Karner and his Behelit with a stony stare before looking back to Sveta. It's about the same troubled uncomfortable glare he sets upon everyone. From what can be seen behind his GP-5 that nerve-dead face doesn't move much. He watches Serova as she flits away to go off and do very important Sveta Serova things. Spade would also get a glance and a respectable upnod, before Bartok passively goes back to watching a room full of Vampires go about being mean to each other, as was the Vampire way of things.

---<Shawna>---------------

Shawna's hand moves from scratching her hair to forcefully rubbing her nose with the heel of her palm. "Hey." She repeats toward Cassie yet again before shrugging her shoulders, "Been fine. Out of the scene since all that... yeah."

A distracted glance is cast toward Karner and 'Daniela' before the lanky Gangrel is turning her attention back toward Cassie and Tinsley. Tinsley gets a chin-nod and a shy, "What's up. Pretty dress. Probably costs more than my wardrobe, yeah?"

Shawna has all the mannerisms of a woman fighting a severe bout of social anxiety as she looks form Tinsley back to Cassie, "Glad you're good. Since Cheyenne and all... I didn't know how to... you know?"

---<Jay>---------------

Big events and being late is a combination not unknown to Jay, though this time he promises there's good reasoning for it, and he may or may not have to apologize to his dear friend the host for this bad habit of his. Eitherway, he's here, and unsurprisingly he's accompanied by his new-ish partner, the cloud rapper-looking Money Shot, Westside's coolest Caitiff around yet. They're both clad in clothing proper to the event, although the latter is significantly draped in more bling-blings just like how the frosted hair Caitiff likes it.

Jay himself has a black turtleneck on, kind of a new look on him, and the Rolex strapped to his wrist. Skinned ripped jeans is hopefully still in style, so he comes in that apparel as well, with white sneaker shoes to complete tonight's outfit. To the Kindred of South LA, Jay hands out nods and fist-daps to, smiles and greetings to Westside's people and the host especially. To everyone else? A cold stare is more than enough.

---<Lascaux>---------------

Lascaux is not caught off guard. He's having a sotto-voce back-and-forth with Hall, but gives Sveta the side-eye as she approaches, and then looks past her at where Zeb is being accosted by Karner's friend Daniela. Spade is the one with all the blades but, if Lascaux's expression is anything to go by, he's betting on the egg being the source of any potential Frenzy this evening. Anyway - he reins his gaze back in, toward Sveta. "Hi," he says, eventually. "Nice t'see you again. What a night."

---<Tinsley>---------------

Tinsley is good at hearing names and matching faces, like a big game of Guess Who. She looks here and there, also waves to Karner, then looks right back over to Shawna as she is introduced. Her smile warms once more for the blonde, and she says, "Hiii!" before her smile fades to a pout. A big one. "Ohh.. Right.. So sorry to hear about that and all. So -awful-. Can't imagine.." She sighs, frown returning, and she looks back to Cassie for a second, then to Shawna again. The compliment to the dress makes her smile, and she says with a giggle, "Oh, I dunno. Maybe? Maybe not. I just," and she lifts a hand to try and hide her mouth from Cassie's view as she stage whispers, "'borrowed' it from her closet." She winks, then bites into her lower lip to keep from grinning too wide, and as she looks away she catches how Zeb is waving in her (their) direction. She sends a friendly wave right back!

---<Sebastian>---------------

Sebastian snickers a little at Karner's antics. "You'd be the first to think Biotech is remotely interesting, Mr. Blue." He shoulder bumps Hall, offering the irritated Ventrue a small smile. To Karner then, he says, "Nah. The opposite, really. Ash decided to slum it and asked me to be his plus one. He's a generous sort. It is a pleasure." His nod is earnest and gracious towards Karner. His attention slides back to Hall and April, nodding that he is from Sacramento originally.

---<Nisha>---------------

Smoke rings begin to fill the air as Nisha has hit her zen zone. Sitting cross legged on the couch and trying to match her frequency with better vibrations. Picking up snippets of conversation, she obviously had some hippie elements to her personality or lifestyle. Reflecting on the topic of consciousness and existence, the nature of their being. Entropy and creation. Humming softly something that sounded like 'om mani padme hum', probably a quiet mantra.

---<Sveta>---------------

There's only so many circles to go around. When Sveta closes in on Lascaux, she also loops in with Zebastian, Sebastian, Karner, Hall, Dahlia, and whoever else happens to be orbiting. She catches Karner's eye first, naturally, and gives him a curl of her lips that's more fanged chimpanzee grimace than full blown appreciation. Unlike the fully confrontational greeting she gave Bartok, this possibly comes across as significantly more contrived.

There's a brief moment, when she hears Cheynne's name, that she glances back over at Shawna, Tinsley, and Cassie, giving the former a long study, before she's back to focusing on the redhead she's originally set her sights upon.

"Eh. Last one I came to was full of death threats and unanswered calls to cage fight. I could go for more of that. This is properly greased. A well functioning machine. I'd throw the spanner into the works myself, but that might come across as political sabotage and not a way to liven things up, so... I wait. You could do it, though."

---<Becky>---------------

Becky has grown mostly silent, as she watches those around her and presumably tries to keep track of the various conversations. How well she is managing, in the end, is anyone's guess. Reaching over, she gives Hall's upper arms a brief squeeze, before releasing it and lifting her hand in a silent farewell. That done, Becky starts to make her way over to Shawna.

"Hey," Becky greets quietly, as she comes to a stop next to the other Gangrel.

---<Karner>---------------

"Ah, yes, the philosophy discussion. Is that happening? How's it going? I had a speech all prepared..." Karner is definitely slurring his words a bit. "You know, think of the things we could do. So many Anarchs gathered in one place...Westside, Southside, Hollywood, 'other,'...why, we could change the world. The whole world! What are we waiting for?!" Karner...doesn't appear to be addressing anyone in particular with this. Not even Daniela.

He breathes in deeply, unnecessarily, and returns his attention to Sebastian. "I'm sure that isn't true. 'Ash' clearly does, which is why you're friends, hmm? Plus one? Is it serious?" Of course, 'plus one' can just mean you brought something to an affair. Surely Karner knows that. "Well, Sebastian, you shall have to come to Der Blaue Engel sometime, so I can...hmm. I'll think of something interesting." It's not much like Karner to just peter out like that, but he does. He catches Sveta's weird smile and gives her a weird smile back.

---<Spade>---------------

Spade might catch Robbie's nod, although it can't be an easy thing to notice from the one near-stationary vampire in the room, he returns it regardless. Then Jay is here for fist bumps and Spade seems happy to pull a hand and dap both Jay and Money Shot. "Sup Jay, Money?" He looks past Jay at the group around Zeb again, scowls and then back to the Westsider in front of him, "You good?"

---<Zebastian>---------------

What's this? A whispering egg? Zebastian's head turns and tips to listen to 'Daniela', a hand pressed to his chest, expression that of melancholy understanding. "Oh? What a shame - such absence of faith in one's own fortitude, after all this time? Someone should find him a sponsor, nei?"

The Norwegian Malk stands, brushing non-existent dust off his shoulder - looking around, flash of smile to the monolith that is Bartok and then the moody Southside contingent, before attention zips to Sebastian, Hall and April, then Lascaux and--

...Meanwhile, over by the bar? Where Mae has been lingering with a pale pink cocktail? There is subtle movement after Jay arrives, though she is looking at his shadow Money Shot and--- why, her face is perfectly neutral of course, and hidden behind her juul as she puffs.

--Zebastian chatters to Lascaux and Sveta, "...Did the two of you come to any agreement over the whole Percocet ordeal?" Question asked, but Zeb's already giving Jay an upnod and finger-wave in greeting. Slight head tip, and he adds to Sveta; "You two could always draw straws."

---<Lascaux>---------------

"No thank you," Lascaux says politely. "I already managed t'pick up one rumor, I ain't tryin' to deliberately cause any more. Though after witnessin' that spectacle of a concert t'other night I can surely see why y'all might come seekin' something a little bit... how'd I put this...less staid?" And then Zeb's saying some shit about Percocet that makes him tilt his head and brow-raise. "What are we figuring out about? There was an ordeal happening? I fuckin' missed all of it."

---<Sveta>---------------

"Da," says Sveta simply when Lascaux pegs her affiliation as being regrettably anachronistic in their method of 'entertainment'. She shares the sentiment, but doesn't seem intent on lingering on it. Instead, she shares the ~other~ sentiment as well, befuddlement at Zebastian's remark about percs. She glances between the two, as though to shed some light on it, but comes up drawing a blank.

"Eh... no. Did we?" She looks back at Lascaux, flat-faced.

"Should we?"

---<Nisha>---------------

Blowing out a thick fat smoke ring, Nisha opens her eyes suddenly. Smoke currently escaping her mouth like a soul was caught in there, trying to claw its way to freedom. Only to have the prison bars of bladed teeth - come shutting down and deny its exit. Swallowing the remainder with a solid gulp. Finishing her prayer and standing up on her heels.

---<Hall>---------------

Hall just rolls his eyes at Karner. "I thought you were going to say something, like. Replace all the red things with blue things." He gives Sebastian a sidelong glance after Sebastian puts a hand on his shoulder, then blinks, a bit bemused. Then he helps to introduce his clanmate to Bartok. "Robbie, this is Sebastian Barlowe. Sebastian, Robbie Bartok." He looks over at the Southsiders for a moment -- those fist bumps make some noise -- and then back at Zebastian, on whom his attention grounds once Zebastian suggests a change in the topic of conversation. He nods. "Sure," he says. "Okay." And then he looks at Lascaux, expression rather quizzical at first, before he grins. "What," he says, "like. Not even a /little/ trouble?"

---<Cassie>---------------

Shawna gets another warm smile. "You too. We should catch up sometime soon" she suggests before also turning to Tinsley and Becky. "I wish you could have too, babee." she murmurs at Tinsley and gives her arm a soft squeeze before looking over to Becky. "I hope nothing -too- bad or scandalous.." Cassie chirps amusedly at the Gangrel with a little grin, her words punctuated by a faint giggle, eyes dancing. And then she notices Jay has arrived, and she flashes the Venetian - yes, that's what we're calling him now.. apparently - a bright smile and lifts her hand to waggle her fingers at him in a little wave. Zeb gets a smile of the same weapons-grade brand of brilliant when he comes over, and a quick-paced little wave of her hand. "Hi, Zeb~" she greets cheerily as he passes them by during his little prowl of contemplation, crinkling her little nose as she says it.

---<Bartok>---------------

Robbie has to stoop down to catch Karner's whisper. As with most of his movements he moves terribly slowly into that stoop. When he rises back up out of it into his slumped posture he's squinting at Karner with one eye. It's perhaps the sort of look you'd expect from someone who's five-year-old brother had just made a request to use the stove... or a chainsaw... or both at the same time. Despite that look of stony incredulity the monster lifts his deformed shoulders in a shrug that rustles his wing membranes as if to concede to that with as close to 'Sure, why not.' as his silence could muster.

Before he could fully turn around, Robbie is faced with Sebastian's hand extended out to him. This would earn the Ventrue a stare from the monster which first lingers on his outstretched hand. His concrete gaze eventually climbs all the way up to that youthful face, frozen forever in undeath, and then soon back down to the AWOLNation tee-shirt. It's the tee-shirt that seems to be regarded with almost more incredulity than the handshake. The Hollywood Gargoyle looks between Sebastian and Karner, a somewhat questioning glance thrown in Karner's direction.

Then comes Hall with the introductions between them. Though many people didn't know the name Robbie Bartok, or at least not the Robbie part, there were rumors that Baron Isaac Abrams kept a rather monstrous Enforcer on 'payroll' as it were. He was the only known Freeman Gargoyle in Los Angeles, the rest of his wretched bloodline never left the Tremere Chantry in which the had been spawned.

---<Sveta>---------------

Sveta glances between Hall and Lascaux.

"You're right. See? You're doing it again. Keep insisting that you're as harmless as a mouse, people will start to think you're an antediluvian, here to reap the souls of your undeserving childer. Never take a lick at face value. Play the troublemaker. People will think you're boring." It's on this note that Sveta abandons the redhead to Hall's attentions, and moves to intercept Nisha as she gets to her feet. If she's in motion, this might even involve a hand snaking against her bicep.

"Not going to leave without saying hello, were you?"

---<Shawna>---------------

Shawna turns toward Zebastian as the Malkavian joins her, Cassie, Tinsley, and Becky and she offers him a dumbfounded stare before shaking her head. "Zeb, man, you know all that chattering goes over my head. Talk to me like a five year old, yeah? But if you're talking 'bout the calm before the storm... maybe you're right. Though someone told me Summer Hastings stepped down and some new blood's coming in. That shit's gonna stir up Westside AND Hollywood, right?"

---<Becky>---------------

"I heard about that too," Becky tells Shawna, before giving her head a faint shake. "Some 'Blue Blood," according to the Tremere I was talking to earlier in the evening. He was trying to sell me magic trinkets in return for Boons, like I was in the Cam. Was weird."

---<Karner>---------------

"Don't look at me, Robbie. Ashley brought him. Though he seems like a lovely fellow. You do," Karner says, grinning in a rather disturbing manner in Sebastian's direction. "Come along, Robbie. You're coming, aren't you?" Karner seems impatient about something. That's because he's heading right for the Southsiders, humming to himself. And he's still a little unsteady on his feet, because whomever he drank before coming here was obviously more buzzed than a beekeepers' convention.

---<Jay>---------------

"Who? Doesn't seem to be ringing me any bells," Jay says in reply to his Southsider friend, eyes glancing all across the room meanwhile, nodding his head over to the silent Ghost there in the back, true to his name. Fiddle comes in then, and as he beelines it straight to the Southsider groups, Jay already knows that he's the guy mentioned, the Brujah tipping his LA cap to him in greetings. "Yo," he simply says in return, his attention being drawn to Cassie there as she does her little wavie thingy to him, which is mirrored by a handwave of his as well and a toothy grin. Nisha's rather odd behaviors seem to catch the Brujah's attention for a moment there as well.

As for Money Shot? He's not easily giving up, winking through dark shades at the ghoul and flashing flirty, fangy smiles at her, asking if they can perhaps share a hit of that juul and talking about how he's a huge vaper himself. "Hey girl, wanna see my mod?"

---<Lascaux>---------------

Apiarists, Karner, they're called apiarists! Lascaux gives a little snort and drifts over in the direction of Karner, his egg, Hall, Robbie, and Sebastian again. "Oh, Mr. Blue, don't go over there," he says, but in the tone of voice that genuinely seems like he doesn't believe he has any chance of stopping the guy. "Ash wanted me to give y'the anti-capitalism speech," Lascaux continues to Sebastian. "I think he's tryin' to recruit y'to the cause. Best be careful."

---<Spade>---------------

Spade upnods to Fiddle when the big black man finds him almost on cue, swinging a hand out to give a quick, and not Southside specific fist bump, then gesturing at Jay, "Fiddle, Jay. He's cool." That's the total extent of introductions from Spade, because he likes to overshare, clearly. Or perhaps it's the locale causing him to be laconic. He also doesn't specify which he is cool. His hand slides back into his pocket, keeping his jacket wide with enough knives in his waistband to equip every Southsider here and Jay too.

---<Tinsley>---------------

As people come and go and drift past their little group, Tinsley is still smiling to whoever draws near, like a happy pup that thinks it's going to get a head scratch. She hugs Cassie's arm again and looks over to see who ever the other blonde waves at, and.. well, she waves, too, cause why not? If they're a friend of Cassie's, they're her friend, too! She doesn't say anything for now, though, but listens to all the chatter around her.

---<Zebastian>---------------

Ah yes; it's still rather boisterous with conversation in Eigengrau Lounge tonight, eh? Beyond the usual names and faces, around the edges near to where Mae is complete and utterly neglecting Money Shot's vape-mod advances? There are other Licks that fall easily into the stylish bracket of Westsiders; that Stevie-Nicks looking girl who talked about postmodernism earlier, Kore, she's been chattering away to a blonde cherub faced kid in $700 sneakers, flanked by two suited dudes best described as 'Muscle' - totally failing to catch the eye of a disdainful looking princess type whose been talking discreet social media tactics ad nauseam. Are the A-List clique here? Only they'd know -- but hell, it's a casual salon; licks come and go...

Zebastian smiles to Cassie and gives her a little air-kiss in return, then ahs and nods to what Shawna and Becky say, listening with his head tipped to the side, fingers combing through the ends of his hair. "Ja, I am saying there is a calm -- and we are fortunate? That we've had time to batten our hatches as it were -- but it is true, ja? Summer has stepped down at the Tower, no doubt at the behest of some collection of tedious olds - really it felt like someone had stolen a script. They're sending Johnathan Lightbourne from the continent or something - Ventrue, through and through, and his Childe Bastion Fox -- who knows what that means exactly, besides... Well, whatever happens when an old man shows up? Says he's in charge without asking and makes up a bunch of bogus rules, then sets minions out to enforce them tout suite, ja?"

A roll of his shoulder, and Zebastian clicks his tongue -- smiling, though with a breathless kind of sigh. "You're probably right, Shawna. I didn't get the feeling the new guard were going to be as generous and engaging as Summer has been, you know?"

---<Bartok>---------------

Robbie extracts a massive hand out of one of his hoodie pockets and places it on Karner Blue's shoulder. With the most gentle of motions his beastly form could muster, he applies a bit of weight to Karner to turn him back in Zeb's direction rather than the the Southsiders. With his other hand he holds up a finger to Blue and then nods at Zeb and Shawna.

---<Nisha>---------------

Nisha pauses and looks over Sveta, scrunching her nose in delight, "How are you? I wasn't dipping out, just stretching my legs.", shaking her dead legs one limb at a time. Offering an abysmal smile, "I haven't even made the rounds yet.", thumbing over her shoulder. "That wouldn't be very nice of me.", waving to Tinsley and maybe Cassie.

---<Sebastian>---------------

Sebastian's warm smile doesn't falter at Bartok's stare. He withdraws his hand after a moment, attention turning towards Hall as his fellow Ventrue offers an introduction. "It's a pleasure," he says with the same earnestness as he offered Karner. His nod is a little deeper. He doesn't linger for too long on it though, seeing Karner's impatience he moves back some and lets his attention flit to Lascoux. He smiles and laughs, a warm rich chuckle. "Recruit me? With a capitalism speech? I might be easy, sir, but I'm not cheap!" He gives an exagerrated 'serious face'. He shakes his head and waves a hand, saying more serioiusly, "I'm not a fan of modern capitalism at all." He blushes a little, shrugging and trailing off some.

---<Fiddle>---------------

"Yeah? All good then Jay. Fuck'n pleasure and what not." Fiddle answers simply at the introduction to Jay post bump. He looks around and finds Ghost and he reaches up to tug his shades down and he nods his way briefly. The big fella looks around and then settles his dark eyes on Nisha. In time after a casual look to the others the shades are slid back to their normal perch on his nose; his future is bright or some such.

---<Shawna>---------------

Shawna remains beside Becky and near Cassie and Tinsley as she listens to Zebatsian. "Sounds like a fucking Blue Blood, yeah. Lightbourne." The lanky blonde shrugs her shoulders before she's looking passed Zebastian and toward Bartok. "Huh. Looks like Robbie's trying to keep Karner 'way from the Southsiders. Probably thinks they'll steal his little egg girlfriend or whatever."

---<Karner>---------------

It's rather difficult to do anything when there is a gargoyle trying to stop you. Karner does, indeed, stop in his trek to the Southsiders, turning back to look at Robbie. He tilts his head, lips pursed, and then grunts a little. Then he changes trajectory, making his way over to where Cassie and Tinsley, Shawna and Becky, and now Zebastian are all assembled. "You're talking about Lightbourne," he says. Brilliant observation. "I very much agree that this is something that will affect us all." And he caught the very end of Shawna's bit there. "Daniela won't go with anyone else. She and I have a psychic magnet, you see, connected via the third eye."

---<Sveta>---------------

Sveta reaches out, aiming to poach the snaggletoothed Nisha's vape. If allowed, she hits it, glancing around with a little shrug as the orbits intersect and parasitically poach from one another.

"Fine. Nominal, really." There's a beat, before she offers the vape back over.

She nods back toward the pair that Nisha had waved at.

"Who are those little social butterflies? Your friends?"

---<Spade>---------------

Spade's not blind, only one-eyed, and he's been watching the middle of the room crowd all night, noting Bartok's ceasing of Karner's roll South. The cholo makes eye contact with the small group around him, upnodding and then looking towards Karner. When he walks he pulls his hands out his pockets leaving them to swing empty as he navigates the crowd towards the Cassie and Tinsley centered group. There's no Robbie Bartok to cease Spade's roll, at least not on his side, maybe the gargoyle will get in the way, either way Spade upnods to Bartok on approach, "Robbie." But Robbie isn't his goal and he raises his voice loud enough to be rude, "Karner, I hear you've been unable to stop talking shit about me, so lets go my man, here's your chance to say it to my fucking face bitch."

---<Hall>---------------

"You're right," Hall says, after Lascaux says he's brought Sebastian to the salon in order to recruit him to the Movement. He looks and sounds absolutely convinced of every word. "Bast, convert now, or forever hold your peace." Then he grins. "But, seriously. Isn't the point of this whole thing that you /could/ have your mind changed about something? I'd love to change my mind about something tonight." And in fact, he seems as if he might be about to go rambling on in that vein for a bit -- until Spade's voice booms through Echelon Falls, and he turns around, blinking again.

---<Cassie>---------------

"Yea, Zeb. What do you think we are? Like.. smart, or something?" Cassie pitches in with before Shawna dan finish completely, giggling a little with a silly grin as she glances between the others, tho her expression sobers a little bit when the comment about Summer is made. "She was the Prince, until a couple of weeks ago when she stepped down." the small blonde notes in a hushed voice to Tinsley before listening to what Zebastian says. But not before murmuring pensively "I guess that depends on what the new Prince has of plans, I suppose..." under her - totally unnecessary - breath. She keeps quiet after that, just listening and nodding along where appropriate, a slight hint of displeasure at what she hears obvious on her pretty features. There's a derisive little snort and a faint roll of eyes when the soon-to-arrive new Prince's name is mentioned. Jonathan Lightbourne.. even sounds like an ass-hole.

---<Karner>---------------

Karner adjusts his sunglasses, frowning at Spade. "Oh? What are your sources? I can't recall 'talking shit' about you recently, not since you and I had our little heart-to-heart." He grins suddenly. "Or is it you who simply cannot resist 'starting something' with me? I admit, we are rather like oil and water. You probably think of yourself as the water and me as the oil, and I'll accept that. Oil contains all of the color of the rainbow, much like Daniela and her many spangled jewels." He looks quite pleased with himself, but that may just be the many substances he's clearly imbibed talking.

---<Becky>---------------

Becky seems to have had her fill of people-time this evening, as she takes a moment to rock sideways and shoulder-bump Shawna in a companionable manner, before lifting a hand in farewell and making her way towards the exit.

---<Zebastian>---------------

"Of course I do, darlings. Ja, they sent an Archon--..." Zebastian pauses in chattering to Cassie, Shawna and the group, his head tipped and tilted in Karner's direction... Silence, as he studies Karner's face, smiling in that dreamy way of his. "Some more than others, nei? You know, there was talk of the Red---"

Further interruption. Eyebrows go up, and Zebastian's pale peepers shift from Karner to where Spade has made his vocal approach. A beat, then he turns and says in sotto voce to Shawna, Cassie, Tinsely and Becky: "...I told Mae not to put a Rant on the agenda, but I wonder if not everyone got the memo..."

---<Lascaux>---------------

Lascaux hates it when people yell; he goes stiff for a moment, shoulders jumping up to his ears, at the sudden loud voice, and then starts to back toward the hidden doorway as though it's taking all of his effort not to immediately bail.

---<Sebastian>---------------

Sebastian holds up his hands and examines his fingers closely. "Nope. Nope. No ring." He grins and sings, "If you liked it, then ya shoulda put a ring on it. If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it." It even gets a little dance before the commotion starts. He watches what's happening alongside Hall, his face suddenly quite serious.

---<Cassie>---------------

Cassie gives Becky a small smile and a wave of her hand when the gangrel steps away, mouthing the words 'It was nice meeting you' at her to not interrupt the ongoing chatter.

---<Tinsley>---------------

Tinsley catches the wave from Nisha and is quick to send a wave right back, smiling brightly once more, but then the talk of some 'egg girlfriend' steals Tinsley's attention and has her looking right back to Shawna. "Egg? Someone's.. dating an.. did you say egg? Um.." Poor thing looks even more confused now, and she turns her gaze upon Cassie with a wide-eyed 'help me' sort of expression. She gives a little nod about the once-Prince, but it's the whole.. egg thing that has her thrown out of sorts. Really. Who dates an egg!?

---<Hall>---------------

Hall looks between Sebastian and Lascaux. "Chill," he says, more to Lascaux, lifting one hand a bit as Karner starts to babble back to Spade about rainbow oil. "It's fine."

---<Shawna>---------------

Shawna's gaze flicks between Karner and Spade and back before she turns to watch Becky's departure, "I'll drop by Runyon later, Beck." - Looking back toward Zebastian, the Gangrel of Griffith Park shrugs her shoulders and offers a dopey little smirk, "Maybe they should settle their shit like the Anarchs of old. Cage fight or something. You could ref and make sure it stays fair and shit."

The tomboy keeps her gaze focused on Zebastian even as she steps to the side so she can lean in closer to Tinsley, "Karner Blue. Got some sort of jewel-egg thing with eyes. It's his girlfriend or something."

---<Nisha>---------------

"Sveta, did you bring your dancing shoes tonight?", Nisha stage-whispers and moves with the woman to reposition. Leaving plenty of room in the middle where they were and stepping to the outside. Sighing briefly and mainly watching for now, observing how others postured.

---<Jay>---------------

Money Shot looks more like a mad man talking to a statue here as he keeps on trying to initiate some form of conversation with a girl who's so thoroughly and obviously uninterested in him, but love can be maddening sometimes, no? Eitherway, the one-sided romance will be a breath of fresh air as tension begins to rise here in the room. Meanwhile, Jay's gesturing an upnod towards Fiddle, his face already dimmed by the dark lighting and even moreso underneath the cap he's wearing. "You should meet the other Westsiders around - if you're a friend of Spade, then you're a friend of ours as well, yeah?" But that's before Spade makes that risky move towards the Hollywood side of this room, the Brujah's wary gaze turning over to them, already anticipating the turn of events.

Jay doesn't muscle about towards Spade's side as quickly, but there's more action there than where he's currently standing, so he slowly moseys himself over there and situates himself beside the cholo Southsider, but a little behind him. Hell, even Money Shot's attention is drawn now and the Caitiff completely abandons his love interest Mae - a terrible, terrible thing - and moves to where Jay is, trying to gauge the weight of the situation.

---<Fiddle>---------------

Fiddle hangs a couple steps back from Spade as he approaches. On his right. He keeps his hangs folded in front of him. He quirks a brow at the exchange between Karner and Spade. "T'fuck is this shit about rainbows. Only rainbow I ever want to see is a bowl of fruity pebbles."

---<Karner>---------------

"--the Red List, Zebastian? Yes, I heard. They shouldn't do it. It just gives Dusty more publicity." Karner catches that last little bit from the other Malk, though, ya know. He has rather other things to deal with, at the moment. Which doesn't mean he doesn't have the time to correct Shawna. "'Girlfriend' is such a pedestrian term for what Daniela and I have, Shawna. Good evening, by the way. You didn't even say hello." He murmurs something softly to her before looking over at Fiddle. "Ah, Fiddle, wasn't it? It was just a colorful turn of phrase. Do you get it?" Karner lets out an absurd and shrill bit of laughter.

---<Zebastian>---------------

"..." There is a beat of silence from Zebastian after Shawna speaks to him -- pale peepers pivoting to look down a the luxe rugs that cover the room's stone flooring, then back up the to the faces of those gathered, and the energy between Spade and Karner - Jay, Fiddle and Bartok - the little shadows of Licks around the edges, then Shawna herself. Speaking melodically, like it ain't no thang: "I'm sure the boys know the rules."

Hands come together, fingers idly brushing at the cuffs of his sleeves -- what, no additional commentary from Zebastian? Apparently not. For now. Karner's quip about Dusty, though? That gets an eyebrow raise.

---<Spade>---------------

Spade tips his head up as he spits out his reply, "Bullshit, I've got a steady stream of kindred coming down and telling me Karner Blue can't keep my name out his mouth, calling me a Tower snitch, who the fuck knows what else. That ginger dipshit for one." Spade hooks a thumb towards where Lascaux may have been at some point, but his attention is laser focused on Karner at the moment so it could be incorrect. "So, why don't you tell me to my face how I'm the Tower snitch that saved your ass from being ashed by a Cammie goon squad. In the name of 'Anarch' solidarity." He holds his hands up to do airquotes, oh yes indeed, and continues, "You ain't an Anarch, you're a fuckin' leech Sabbat spy." He appears to be ignoring anything Karner says that isn't directed at him, and pitching his voice for the room.

---<Sveta>---------------

While typically soft-spoken at meetings organized by /her/ organization, only time Sveta really has a big mouth is in private, or at an Anarch affair, where she can let it all hang out, but even she's part of the hushed crowd as the vibe is suddenly sullied by the callout. She listens passively from beside Nisha, offering the Gangrel a little shrug in response.

"I'm always keen to dance - but I know you don't have shoes for it? Last time I checked, you preferred your feet in the buff."

---<Sebastian>---------------

Sebastian leans against the couch, attention raptly devoted to the Spade-Karner situation. He glances at Hall and nods, not casting any manner of judgment on a house that isn't his. He tucks his hands into his jean pockets and just takes it all in.

---<Shawna>---------------

Shawna nods her head slowly toward Zebastian, "I'm betting they do." She reaches out with a hand and gently takes hold of Tinsley's arm before she tries to guide her back away from Karner and Spade, "Hey. Let's step back a few, yeah? Stand behind me just incase they start throwing shit or whatever. Cassie, that cool with you, girl?"

The Gangrel looks back toward Spade and Karner before turning her gaze back toward Zebastian, "Red list, huh? That's the Tower's big FBI list or whatever, right? Won't that just bring more fucking Tower down on us?"

---<Lascaux>---------------

"That's not what I said," Lascaux says, loudly enough to be heard from where he's hovering around the edge. "Not even close. Nowhere near as inflammatory. Everybody probably already knows about that anyway, 'cause big mouths been talkin'. I just wanted t'get the lay of the land, came in with what I'd been told, askin' about what was what around this hot-ass met of a city, and got met with threats of decapitation for th'trouble. Only two people I talked to so far had a problem with me questioning th'state of affairs around here. You -" he points to Spade, "and her." A finger toward Nisha. "I ain't sayin' anyone's right or wrong. Not that anybody's fuckin' nose is cleaner'n anyone else's. That's just my perspective."

---<Zebastian>---------------

"Indeed, Shawna." Zebastian chimes to Shawna -- his attention still 89.7% on the energy between Karner and Spade as Lascaux offers his perspective - though he remains standing where he was as Cassie and Tinsley are encouraged to step back. "The whole unpleasantness that happened with Altamirana's assassination and then the raid on the Arts District last summer? Has brought a lot of unwanted attention from the Tower to our doorstep."

...No further commentary from Zeb on other matters.

---<Karner>---------------

Karner purses his thin lips. He's standing there with his hands behind his back, just like he was before Spade shouted at him, but...he's still not quite steady on his feet. Maybe starting to sober up a teensy bit, though. Accusations will do that to a man. "As usual, my words are getting twisted. I've only said that you have friends in the Tower, and you do, unless I'm mistaken. But so do many of us. Ashley is friends with Sebastian, which is why he invited him here. I've certainly never called you a 'snitch,' or implied that you were anything less than devoted to the Movement. After all, that would be an obvious lie, wouldn't it? A lie that even a child could see through." Karner nods to the pair of Blue Bloods over yonder. "But you know, Spade, just like the last time we spoke, I am indeed grateful for what you did for me. And I'm not too proud to thank you again here, now, tonight, in front of everyone. The alternative would have been most dreadful indeed." And he presses his bony hand to his heart. But the thing about being a leech Sabbat spy does wrings a sigh out of him, and he rubs his face. "I'm afraid that I must object to being called a spy, however. I can't change the regrettable past, of course. But I assure you, I am spying for no one these nights. Not that anyone would credit me with enough intelligence to make me a worthwhile spy ever again, in any case." A beat. "Although Daniela tells me an astounding number of jellyfish secrets. They are sneaky little creatures..."

---<Cassie>---------------

There's a few more glances from Cassie back towards the less friendly exchange taking place as she and Tinsley step away a little with Shawna, and the ghost of a smirk playing over her lips at something being said, tho what exactly is hard to say.

---<Shawna>---------------

Shawna doesn't guide Tinsley and Cassie far, just a few feet away in a spot that puts her and Zebastian between the Toreador and her companion and Spade and Karner. Shawna gives Tinsley's arm a light squeeze before releasing it and turning back toward the 'show'.

---<Hall>---------------

Also tracking the conversation between Spade and Karner, as backed by other Southside and Hollywood types, Hall glances from Lascaux to Sebastian. He leans in towards the latter and says something to him quietly.

---<Tinsley>---------------

As things get a bit more tense and less chatty, Tinsley looks to Cassie again once the two have been moved back, and she leans in to whisper something against the blonde's ear. She is giggling as she pulls back, and her brows lift a touch, head tilting to the right. Her gaze drifts away and back, and she does her best not to smile too much like an imp.

---<Jay>---------------

Hey, at least the other of the few Brujah in the room, Jay, isn't feeling as energetic and mouthful as Spade is tonight. Hell, if he could yawn, he probably would've, but there is a little remark about being a Sabbat spy that draws his interest back into the tense conversation. Jay lets out a little snicker and a fist up to his mouth when Karner repels the accusation. "Not sure about that one," he says, voice considerably louder than everyone else in the room - he's kind of the hype man in this situation, though he's being more like a bored-looking provocateur right now, hoping to ignite just enough fire for trouble to start.

Money Shot, unsure of what his Brujah partner meant by that, heaves out a laugh in response to it anyway, seemingly perceiving it as some kind of joke that he just doesn't get yet.

---<Sebastian>---------------

Sebastian hears the whisper and gives it a moments thought. He gives a pretty sour look and nods a little in response before whispering back. He shrugs and starts to make his exit. He whispers something back and reaches out to give Hall's shoulder a squeeze. He slips out the back and calls himself an Uber a couple of blocks away.

---<Cassie>---------------

Cassie giggles softly at whatever it is Tinsley whispers in her ear, though her eyes - except for a quick glance at the other blonde - remain on the exchange between Spade and Karner for a moment even as she leans in to whisper something back, only then bringing her full attention to her friend with a kittenish smile that is distorted slightly by the way she gently bites the left corner of her pillowy bottom lip. Giving another faint giggle and leaning in to gently boop her little nose against the other's, she turns slightly and slowly starts leading Tinsley over towards one of the alcoves.

---<Spade>---------------

Spade extends a hand out towards wherever Lascaux is speaking from and points, in the general direction of that vampire, attention remaining on Karner, "If you got a problem come over here and back it the fuck up. Karner Blue spied for the fucking Sabbat, then after getting second chance on top of second chance is still shit talking on Anarchs and none of yours or this Blue motherfuckers weasel words are gonna cut the shit anymore. Put up or shut the fuck up, permanently." At this point he steps forward towards Karner, going for a most likely unwelcome invasion of his personal space.

---<Ghost>---------------

Ghost doesn't move as the interaction occurs, not for a moment. In fact, he leans up against a wall, or railing, but there's no doubt, despite the smirk he has had playing on his lips, his eyes never waver from Sapde and karner, or maybe just Karner.

---<Shawna>---------------

Shawna glances back over her shoulder as Cassie and Tinsley move off. The former gets a chin-nod before the Gangrel is turning back around. Two quick footsteps bring her along-side Zebastian and she leans in to murmur something quiet while keeping her gaze on Spade and Karner.

---<Sveta>---------------

Sveta, ever one to revel in discord and chaos, has an odd look on her face. She shifts her weight from foot to foot, awkwardly - and reaches for her cigarettes, shaking one loose and slipping it between her lips.

---<Lascaux>---------------

Lascaux sidles around over closer to where Zebastian is currently occupying space, opposite side as Shawna and away from the door somewhat. He doesn't respond, but his eyes are focused on the confrontation, and the slightly-widening ring surrounding it. He says one word, too quiet to be overheard except by those he's very close to, but otherwise remains preternaturally still.

---<Zebastian>---------------

Zebastian's head tips to the side as Shawna speaks - Lascaux draws near - though the Malkavian seems reluctant to remove focus from the ... interaction, between Karner and Spade - Jay and Bartok, Fiddle, Ghost... A pale hand lifts to his face, fingers tapping over his lips as he leans in Shawna's direction to share a quiet word. A beat, then he turns to Lascaux - head tipped curiously.

...But further action? Not yet - why be so hasty.

---<Hall>---------------

Hall frowns. "Oh, come on," he says. "Be reasonable." He takes a step /into/ the ring, such as it is, rather than away from it. "Tonight was supposed to be about /talking/, right? Talking out differences of opinion. And other differences, too. So. Let's hear it."

---<Tinsley>---------------

It doesn't take much at all to get Tinsley moving along with Cassie over to a quieter place to sit and chat, but those voices she hears (especially Spade's) get her to skittering a touch faster on her little heels. She eeks as she moves along, laughing a touch in a way that sounds nervous, and she quickly loops an arm about Cassie's hip to stay close to the other. While moving off, she glances back over her shoulder once, not exactly wanting to take her eyes off what's going down.. She is curious, but just doesn't care to be -that- close to it!

---<Fiddle>---------------

"Too many fuck'n chances." Fiddle holds up a meaty finger, "By a factor of 1." He states, "You fuck'n part-time one-foot-in and one-foot-out hoky poky bitches gotsta go." He claps out with some hype, "Mark ass busta'" He winks back over towards Nisha and then looks around before adding in, "Head like a stretched out cat's hairball. Fuck'n old ass busted botox lines like Madonna. Like someone took a wuffle ball bat to a yellow-white squash and gave it a mouth." Mood music.

---<Bartok>---------------

In the respective time it takes for poses to fly by it doesn't take the rather stone still gargoyle. With an unsightly shudder he straightens his posture. The tall lanky freakshow of a Kindred is not quite as robust as the one-eyed Spade, but he's still a physically impressive monster nontheless. He takes the half-step forward to place himself between Blue and Spade, facing Spade, he tilts his head slowly to one side It was a tight wedge, given how huge the gargoyle was.

---<Karner>---------------

Karner doesn't say anything about 'putting up or shutting up' himself, personally. Perhaps he was waiting for Bartok to do the very thing he's doing now: placing his huge, gargoyle body between himself and Spade. But he does look around Robbie to note to Fiddle, "I feel like I should be offended, but your insults! They're so very /creative/. Have you considered taking a turn in a writer's room? I bet you have an incredible ear for dialogue." It's hard to un-Hollywood a Hollywood guy, sometimes. And when Hall comes over, Karner actually smiles at him. "I'm happy to hash it out, Ashley, but it seems that Spade feels we have moved beyond words...alas."

---<Spade>---------------

Spade's step into Karner's space is brought up short by nothing much, just a Gargoyle. No big deal. He inclines his head upwards to look at the gas mask, "You really wanna take this piece of shit's beating for him Robbie? Ain't gonna teach him half the lesson I'm intending if it's you." He shrugs a shoulder up, much more mellow when talking to Bartok, it's not shouted for a start. Hall is apparently ignored in respect of he's nowhere close to Robbie's stature, "You know that shit in West Hollywood is bullshit. The Status is clear, and if Abrams wants to keep pretending he's an Anarch, he's gonna need to start abiding by it, or Hollywood's gonna have shit with South LA. Because of this worthless fuck." His last line is spat towards Karner, leaning to look around Robbie's person. "So what's the call Robbie? I got no issue with you."

---<Ghost>---------------

No, Spade doesn't need the help, he can handle himself, but as soon as Bartok steps in, Ghost starts moving. He places himself right at Spade's shoulder and looks up at the Gargoyle without a sense of any fear, despite knowing about him. It's not an aggressive move, it's just one of solidarity. Karner's not the only one with friends. He's silent though, lettings Spade speak. He just watches Robbie levelly, arms folded across his chest.

---<Shawna>---------------

Shawna gives Zebastian's arm a pat before she steps forward, too. Clear-blue eyes flick toward Jay, then Ghost, then Spade where they remain as the blonde tomboy slows to a stop at Bartok's right elbow.

"Not the way to spend the night, guys..." Shawna offers in a semi-shy tone of voice. "...and not with the Tower gathered 'round watching us like a bunch of children. There are other ways to settle this. Other places and times."

---<Lascaux>---------------

Sliding a look over toward Zeb, Lascaux remains standing where he is, hands in pockets. The slight twist to his mouth suggests he's thinking a lot of different things, but he manages to keep it all on lock. It's not a flattering expression. When Shawna steps up next to Robbie, he nods in agreement to what she says, firmly.

---<Fiddle>---------------

"That's right, show respect on my name." He starts, "Fiddle, motherfucker." He points to his shade covered face and flashes his whites, "Original OG Anarch ain't about that gig work. 'Bout that life. Been a minute but I'm back." He then chops it up with with, "Shit, all gangly and laid out like a turd Jesus with limbs and a vegetable dome. Spitting at you is a waste of fuck'n time." This in the direction of Kanter. Fiddle then looks to the creature and just blinks, "Always gotta be a hero in every fuck'n place. Sucka. You gettin' played you think you rep and place your cred on twisted spy ass punks He called him out. Let their mitts work out the matter of Sabbat. Let that shit play, croc-a-smile. We'll get stoned after there is a tune-up? Yah?"

---<Zebastian>---------------

Zebastian looks to Hall as he steps in -- and while there is a brief look to Fiddle, Zeb doesn't say anything on... that matter. Instead he turns, looking to Hall - a hand held up, gesturing as he speaks; "I think they've both been as clear as they can be on their perspective, Hall - it's just that it seems there is an impasse, nei?" A beat, then he looks at Karner and Spade in turn -- and Bartok as the Gargoyle takes a step forward.

There is something like a smile on Zebastian's face, though it's not exactly as dreamy as usual. Hand smooths at his sleeve, and he continues -- turning to look at Karner, giving him a casual once over, before turning to listen to what Spade shares, looking to Bartok for his reply. Nothing erratic or sudden about Zeb's movements, no jumping in physically or with commentary yet - just watching the exchange unfold, nodding to what Shawna says. "It seems, mm? There are countless better places suited for this kind of conversation."

...Like one not within a building complex filled with Kine right outside their doorstep, for starters.

---<Cassie>---------------

Cassie looks back at Shawna and Zeb, giving the former a little smile and a chin-nod in return, as she and Tinsley totters over towards an alcove that'll keep them on the same side of the room and still sorta'ish 'behind' the Gangrel and the Malkavian, and soon Lascaux as well, while still allowing the pair to follow the confrontation between Karner and Spade unobstructed, just from a slightly more safe distance in case things should escalate. The smaller blonde's eyes, like her friend's, are mostly fixed on the escalating confrontation as the two girls get seated, snuggled up close against one another in the alcove space. She murmurs something under her breath and giggles a little bit, but there's a hint of 'eeeep' playing over her features when first Spade steps up close and Bartok then follows suit so that the two are standing face to face. She presses herself a little more up against Tinsley, following along with rapt attention as the scene continues to play out.

---<Jay>---------------

A confrontation like this between fellow Anarchs is nothing new to Jay; this has always been how the rowdy youngins of the Sect settle nasty business between each other, as long as no actual Kindred slaying happens, though it isn't exactly uncommon for things to escalate to that level neither. People from both sides are stepping up, backing their own - meanwhile, Jay is standing over to the side, watching the two parties collide from a seemingly neutral position, though almost everybody here knows whose side the Brujah favors more in case some shit does go down. Money Shot tries to man up and step up to the confrontation as well, but Jay holds the Caitiff back, a slight shake of his head towards him. The Brujah's narrowing eyes flick towards Shawna.

---<Sveta>---------------

Sveta's never been stingy with her coffin nails. She lights Nisha up, shielding the flame from the rest of the room with a cupped hand... and there the pair smoke, raptly fascinated by a spectacle that would put court to shame.

---<Tinsley>---------------

Tinsley is quickly taking her seat safely there in the alcove, and as soon as her bottom hits the cushion she is slipping in closer to Cassie and moving her arms around the other, hugging her tightly as she giggles and looks back towards the action. Her blue eyes widen as she watches what's going on, and she leans in to whisper something to Cass once more.. and then it's right back to the guys. She stares quietly now, chewing at her lower lip and looking a touch nervous, but also.. a bit excited? Eek!

---<Bartok>---------------

There's a glance given as Bird-Girl takes up position at his side and then Hall, with perhaps more of a look of surprise. The Gargoyle narrows his eyes behind his mask. There's a rumble in top of his chest that sounds like gravel in a trash compactor. Then, the Gargoyle speaks. Oh. Yes. He could speak. Though it was rare he could be coaxed to words. Robbie was rarely seen but even more rarely heard. His voice is probably softer than someone might expect in it's stony growl with barely so much of an inflection. The sharpest of ears might detect a Burbank accent in his voice.

"I protect what belongs to Baron Abrams," says the monster in a cool professional tone, as it was as simple as that. As if Spade /should/ know that. He would make absolutely no motions to stepping aside to let Spade lay hands on Karner Blue. There was a gargoyle shaped wall between the pair and as far as Robbie was cocerned he might as well have been made of brick.

---<Karner>---------------

"I mean, if Spade wants to get in one good punch to the kisser to get it out of his system so we all can move along with our evening, I would agree to that, Robbie." Karner's dulcet Transatlantic tones drone on from somewhere behind the Wall O' Gargoyle. "I would rather this not turn into a full on /brawl/, of course, but symbolic acts can do much for a Kindred's mood." As for belonging to Baron Abrams, well. Karner Blue is certainly not arguing with that.

---<Ghost>---------------

"Belongs." Ghost finally speaks. "Fuckin' property." It brings a faint chuckle to his lips, as he continues to stare at Bartok. "We always knew they were Cammie-lite, that confirms it. No real fuckin' Anarch belongs to anyone, after all." He looks the Gargoyle up and down and then back outside where his crew is. He turns back. He's not making any moves, but there's a little tenseness to his muscles that says he's ready. He glances briefly at Spade and then once more turns back to Bartok.

---<Sveta>---------------

Sveta and Nisha coolly converse behind their smokescreen. Sveta's head rolls to the side as the lines are drawn in the sand, inclining an ear with an amused smirk to something Nisha says her way... but she's distracted, clearly.

---<Lascaux>---------------

If ever there was a moment to wish you could eat popcorn, Lascaux is feeling that particular kind of wistful nostalgia right now, undisguised surprise at the fact that not only does Robbie talk, he sounds arguably way more normal than either Zeb or Lascaux does. It's /definitely/ a popcorn.gif moment. And there's possibly a vague hint of curiosity, too, about the kind of damage a guy sort-of made of stone could do. But his gaze is drawn elsewhere for a moment, as someone else is still chattering away even as the confrontation plays out.

---<Karner>---------------

"I owe Isaac my unlife," Karner pipes up. "In a way, I owe Spade my unlife as well. I choose to give my allegiance to Isaac out of respect for all he's done for me. If I belong to him, it's of my own accord." He's standing stiffly again, hands behind his back, and seems to have finally stopped swaying, at least. Nothing like a little excitement to sober one up quickly.

---<Zebastian>---------------

Zebastian's head tips, like almost all the way to the side when Bartok speaks -- a hand coming up too fast - don't worry, he's just covering his mouth. Breathless sound - not laughter, that'd be terribly rude. Turning, he chimes in Spade's direction, "A---", only to pause, turn, and look at Karner.

Like really look at him. Like give a full ocular assessment, before Zebastian looks gently surprised. Head uprights itself, eyes pivoting to check in on Shawna and Bartok, before Zeb speaks quietly in Ghost's direction. "Hostages have rights, I'm sure - and while Abrams' would've been wise to gift Blue a muzzle alongside that long leash of his, perhaps..." Zeb turns, looking to Karner again. "...Robbie can encourage you to to make his role easier, and learn discretion?"

A smile, and Zeb gestures abstractly to Karner; "It's like they say, about neuroplasticity? Even old dogs learn new tricks with practice and encouragement, nei?"

---<Spade>---------------

Spade snorts, "This fuck is poison in Abrams' ear, you'd be protecting him much better by ashing this dipshit and moving on with your night Robbie." He reaches up and points at the Gargoyles chest, close, but not touching, "You know what the Status says Robbie, no ruler but that which we choose ourselves. Can you say that to the Raya Twins with a straight face huh?" There he glances over at Shawna but briefly, and back to Robbie. Can he even see Karner past a Robbie? Doubtful, his vision is narrow at the best of times. Stand off continues.

---<Lascaux>---------------

"You think Abrams even listens to him?" Lascaux pipes up, with a snort laugh. "Listen, I know y'all can't trust him as far as you can throw him, but if y'really wanted t'do something worthwhile, you'd figure out how t'use him instead of complainin' about how he used you. Put him on a real short leash and give him something t'keep him occupied so he doesn't get /bored/ and forget, like Zeb says, what the fuck discretion is. Not that some of y'all know anything about that anyway. Make him do penance in a real, productive way instead of keepin' him in Gay Baby Jail up there in that fuck-off giant mansion gettin' pissier and pissier by th' day."

---<Shawna>---------------

Shawna remains beside Bartok with her arms resting at her sides. When Spade glances her way briefly she just stares mutedly. Her gaze sweeps around the crowd before landing on Jay and his Caitiff friend, then Ghost and the other Southsiders in the crowd. Lascaux's words lead to a shattering of her somber expression that comes in the form of a quick rolling of her eyes.

---<Karner>---------------

Karner looks at Zeb and slowly raises an eyebrow. "I have hardly been indiscreet, Zebastian. Is it not Spade who came over and turned your salon into another Anarch debate? Why, I was going to go and say hello to him, in a friendly and social manner. We all gossip about one another -- it is the way of our kind, is it not? -- so if you are implying something else, one does hope you'll tell me what you mean." Karner does not smile back at his fellow Malkavian.

He glances to Lascaux with a mild expression of confused amusement, probably pondering the meaning of 'Gay Baby Jail' and would the jellyfish enjoy such a place? Karner clears his throat and comments, "I mean, I'd rather not be on /anyone's/ leash, Lascaux, if that's all right with you, and yes, I understand that I am difficult to trust. But yes, I also don't see why we can't all work together on something worthwhile to all Anarchs, rather than waiting for the Tower to make the decisions for us. Which they very well may try to do, once Lightbourne is ensconced."

After sighing, Karner turns to Spade next. "Spade, darling, what is it exactly that you want from me? Is seeing me ashed the only thing that would satisfy you? I can't say that I'm in a terrible hurry to set myself on fire just yet, but if there is something else that would satisfy you, I would /love/ to hear it. As I have expressed myself many a time to you this evening, I do feel I owe you a debt."

---<Jay>---------------

"Man, Hollywood got some balls showing up here knowing full well what the fuck they did with the Twins." Jay speaks up again once the topic about the Rayas is brought up, venom in his voice, though his expression and body language does seem to remain cool and collected... for now. "Who knows what Abrams will do if we pull off the same stunt on his ass; old fuck's probably gonna freak out when he realizes his 'belongings' are no longer his, o mighty Prince Isaac Abrams of the Hollywood Praxis."

---<Spade>---------------

Spade spits back at Bartok, "Bullshit Robbie, just another tale spun. You think a Sabbat spy wouldn't have a fuckin' story ready to go? How do you think I figured him out? Like I give a shit about some Cammies getting their havens blown. I've been an Anarch in LA my whole existence so what's Blue doing getting his shit into my business if he 'never gave up an Anarch'? Fuck off with that shit, think for yourself for once." He turns slightly to regard Hall at the next interjection, apparently feeling safe enough right in front of Bartok to take his attention off the Gargoyle, "Anarch means something. Not just not-Camarilla. We declare ourselves free, we declare our ability to rule ourselves, we declare our kinship with all other oppressed kindred. It's non-negotiable." He stabs a finger towards Karner, vaguely, behind Bartok, "That ain't an Anarch. Abrams ain't a fuckin' Anarch. Not while he's oppressing kindred, ruling those that don't want to be ruled."

---<Cassie>---------------

Following the situation with Tinsley from their slightly drawn-back position, Cassie's big blues settles on Spade for a moment when he brings up the Raya twins, plush lips curling into a faint sneer of a smirk before those big eyes flicker to Bartok, Karner, and back to Bartok again, but it mostly fades again quickly enough and there's an amused little snort of a held-back giggle at what Lascaux pipes in with. Jay's comment earns him a little smile, too. She remains quiet, tho, just murmuring something to Tinsley while keeping her eyes firmly glued on the drama unfolding. It's no secret to anyone what she thinks about the situation in WeHo.

---<Ghost>---------------

"The key word here is Anarch's and none of you fucks can actually even claim to be one, dnaicng to your Master Abrams beat. Or have you not noticed he's not an Anarch either. Doesn't look like one, doesn't act like one. Not quite sure what you guys think makes an Anarch, but it's everything that ain't Abrams." His gaze has never flattered from Bartok, but then he's most of the sight. He does try to glance past him at Karner and then back. "Also once a traitor, always a traitor. he hasn't sold out an Anarch that you know of maybe, or maybe he's just lacked the proper motivation to do so. Cowards have that sort of way...give him time."

---<Tinsley>---------------

Tinsley watches on with widened eyes and an expression like -she- was the one being fussed at, even though she's just some innocent bystander hiding in an alcove. She looks between Karner and Spade.. then to Fiddle a few times as his riddles appear to puzzle her even more, and then it's back to Cassie as she chats softly with her. She keeps her focus on the action even as she leans heavily into the other blonde, holding on like Cass was her security blanket.

---<Zebastian>---------------

"Come now, Karner - do you think it's a matter of what you say, or how you say it, to who and when? With your reputation, ja? I'm sure you understand that your presence, as it were, could be read as an indiscreet provocation - I mean, Robbie encouraged you to step back, and you defied his suggestion. But if you need it spelled out? One could say... You lack... Cool, mm?"

Zebastian smiles, brushing his hair out of his eyes as he shrugs gently - speaking to the wider group; "Which is something I'm sure everyone here understands is valuable, ja? To keep from gauche unpleasantness..."

Fade, as Zeb glances to where Spade is -- making a low sound, although he seems less convinced or interested in chiming in re: Abrams' status as Anarch or nah. A hand waves dismissively, then he looks to Ghost as he speaks - listening, then making a low noise. Hesitation, then he shakes his head -- looking up to Bartok, smiling softly although rather sadly... "We've never really had a moment to speak, have we? Maybe some private time. That'd be nice, ja?" Then slightly louder - a look to Shawna, then Ghost, Spade, and the others gathered: Zebastian continues; "I think this night is coming to a close. I'm sure people have places they need to be. Moonlight is waning, after all."

---<Hall>---------------

Hall just glares right back at Spade. "And what are /you/ doing /now/?" he wants to know. "Deciding for everybody else who has the /right/ beliefs, on their behalf, not letting them make up their own minds what words like freedom or self-determination or kinship mean -- making yourself the sole arbiter of who gets to be called an Anarch or who gets to call themselves an Anarch -- that doesn't strike you as 'oppressive' at /all/? Doesn't it at least sound, like. The /tiniest/ bit paternalistic? Especially since it seems like the only people that you're willing to call by that name are the ones who think, talk, and walk lockstep with /you/? If there's a thought tyrant here tonight, I think you have a pretty good claim to the title."

---<Lascaux>---------------

"Careful, Ash," Lascaux says, low, reaching to hook a hand around Hall's arm. "He'll be threatenin' t'chop your head off, next, for sayin' somethin' he don't like th'sound of."

---<Fiddle>---------------

Towards Hall, "Man. Hey." Fiddle directs towards him. "You know deez?" He asks straight up.

---<Karner>---------------

"Incorrect, Zebastian. At Robbie's behest, I came over here to speak with you and the lovely ladies, and Spade marched over to give me a piece of his proverbial mind. Who is it who lacks cool here, exactly?"

The endless debate about what is or isn't an Anarch is one that has entangled Karner many times, but he doesn't seem interest in picking up its thread again now. He lets out a soft sound of exasperation at /something/, though it could be any number of things. But he does observe Hall with what might be a bit of admiration, a tiny smile on his face.

---<Shawna>---------------

Shawna remains at Bartok's side, mute as a mouse until now. Her gaze flicks toward Fiddle and she can't help but smirk at his question toward Hall. She leans in toward Bartok and asks, "Can you just grab fucking Blue and fly him out of here, Big Guy? This is a shit show and it's not going anywhere. I'll make sure Ashley gets home."

---<Jay>---------------

"And just who the fuck is this smart-assed, scrawny motherfucker?" Jay looks over to Hall, unblinking eyes fixated on him as the man ranted about Spade's. His Caitiff companion follows his line of view, and sneers alongside. "From which Camarilla dung-hole did you come out of, nerd boy? Call the Cammie Sheriff before you get put in a fucking coffin for being an ignorant fuck. You ever heard of the Status Perfectus? You want to shit on MacNeil's legacy, on our ideals with the fucking bull that you just said?"

---<Bartok>---------------

Robbie doesn't take his eyes off the Brujah Southsider, though Hall's interjection does get him to incline his chin in surprise. "--And things were alot quieter this side-a town before y' got Cheyenne Spare ashed on that raid everybody told you wasn't a good idea," Bartok replies with the same stony semblance of a guy who'd had feisty Kindred, Anarch or otherwise. He does sound -tired- when he says that. Terribly tired. The monster had been even more unsociable in the past few months since the incident in question had happened. "I told y' not to. Isaac told y' not to. Peter Crawley even told y' not to." An added shrug says 'and who knows who else'.

Unstopable force and immovable object. Robbie wasn't going to let Spade through to make a pass at Karner Blue. He doesn't reach for Spade, he just forms a wall. He does tilt his head in consideration towards Shawna's suggestion. "Hrm. Yeah," he says, indeed considering that as an option, still not taking his eyes off Spade.

---<Lascaux>---------------

Lascaux looks over at Zeb, grimly. "Y'really gonna let these guys come in here and tongue-lash anybody and everybody who has th'gall to stand up to 'em, but then act all offended that anyone's been talkin' shit about him?" He asks. "Gonna let him run roughshod over you when y'tried to call the meeting to a close? C'mon, I know y'want to play nice and be everybody's friend, but this is - ridiculous. Everybody's watching these guys come onto Westside turf and act like it's their party."

---<Zebastian>---------------

Zebastian turns, looking Karner up and down once more, before he smiles and says softly; "The moon, not the finger. We're a little ways away from Hollywood, and you know how Westside parties are, ja? So diverse. You chose to come along... As you do... With your entourage, and your reputation in tow... There's being provocative, then there's being uncool. It should be clear, mm?"

No commentary from Zeb re: ... everything going on around Lascaux, Hall, Jay and the others. Only so much focus Zeb can manage, after all.

A beat, then Zebastian looks to Shawna, smiling at her and nodding. Another look to Bartok -- listening, saying nothing about Cheyenne or Huntington Park, though there's something a touch melencholy in his expression before a hand raises, whisks hair from his eyes -- Zebastian dips his head, speaks quietly; "I know we don't need to talk about discretion, when leaving. I'm sure we can talk again under more promising circumstances." A look to Shawna, then back to Bartok with a soft smile.

---<Hall>---------------

Lascaux has pulled at his arm, but Hall doesn't yet seem cowed, perhaps foolishly. He glances at Fiddle. "What?" he asks. To Jay, he says, "If you can't talk about your ideals without playing 'who can fall in line the fastest,' like a bunch of damned dominoes, what the hell kind of ideals are they? As far as I'm concerned, I haven't shit on anything but the idea that /one/ person should get to decide how everybody else in the room thinks, just because they have the loudest fucking voice."

---<Spade>---------------

Spade turns his attention to Hall, in the absence of a particular response from Robbie, which is frankly normal anyway, "Read the Status once motherfucker, it's clear. There's no interpretations. If you go and intimidate, bully, beat down or use any other method to coerce kindred to follow you? You're not a fucking Anarch. Anarchs fought and died for the rights laid out in that document that all you fuckers are benefitting from and paying nothing back in. So yes, I judge you, I judge you fucking lacking." He turns back to Robbie, "Who was patrolling the streets of Hollywood when you got attacked by the Sabbat Robbie? Shawna? Who was it? Me and fucking Zeb while you two holed Karner up in a safe house." He's stabbing his own chest with a finger now, and he looks back to Hall, "That's what being an Anarch means."

He turns back to Robbie when the Gargoyle speaks, "The fuck are you talking about? Crawley wished us all well and gave a little wave, Isaac didn't say shit except dreaming about getting me to fuck up K-Town for him, and he was willing to send you into the shit to get it. Don't give me some bullshit hindsight. Fuck you Robbie, you don't know shit."

---<Karner>---------------

Despite Zeb's and Shawna's suggestions, Karner doesn't seem to be in a hurry to leave, either. He continues to stand there behind Bartok, hands behind his back and chin slightly uptilted. "I think flying with you makes me motion sick, Robbie," he murmurs, more to himself than the gargoyle. He goes very still when Bartok speaks his mind about Spade, though. Just listening.

There's a glance in Lascaux's direction, too, when he addresses Zeb, and his lip twitches a little. But he puts up a hand to the other Malkavian. "I've done nothing 'uncool,' Zebastian. As mentioned, Spade is the one who started this. If you didn't want Hollywood here, then why did you open it to all of us? I thought it was a rather touching gesture, actually. Did I misinterpret it?" So many intersecting threads here. He's not wading into the one between Spade and Hall, not yet, anyway.

---<Jay>---------------

"We're calling people to fall in line, because Hollywood /HAS/ been out of line, you fucking get it now? Shit, I wouldn't be surprised if you don't. Someone get this Cammie motherfucker out of here before I decide to get nasty and roughen up Zeb's place." Jay turns, and Money Shot follows - he makes a move, beelining towards Hall, though not getting all up in his face because he knows Shawna's right over there. "You need to shut the fuck up if you don't know what's been happening in these streets. Hollywood's been fucking with us, with OUR people, which is exactly why we're calling out the Status Perfectus on these fucks, you goddamn idiot. You shit on us like that again and I'll pull your goddamn tongue out myself, even if I have to go through Shawna to do just that."

Jay turns to Shawna now, /obviously/ offended by what she just said and it looks like he's on the edge to spew out even more hateful stuff, but then he turns to Zebastian and decides to shut up, still with that mean mug on his face.

---<Fiddle>---------------

"Deez nuts in your mouth you don't walk-the-walk but claim the benefits." Fiddle starts, "Probably hard to digest what with your beef jerky stretched across a painting body. Like you was created with no talent -- like a velvet fucking Elvis hung in a musty basement out in the ozarks never to be found save the set of some budget horror flick. Best suffered a few hours at most before the natural self-infatuated expiration date is beyond need of a blessing." So goes the direction of the words towards Hall. What sticks. Sticks. What doesn't. Still meant to be the marching band to the current claimant of South LA status bearer. He's gravy to fight. Gravy to spit vile. He's just reppin'.

---<Tinsley>---------------

Tinsley just keeps on watching, giving the occasional flinch when *gasp* curse words are used, and she even lifts her hands to gently cover her ears a time or two. She looks among those who speak, and occasionally back to Cassie as she is spoken to, and she leans over to murmur something to her.

---<Sveta>---------------

Sveta finishes her cigarette. She flicks it aside, no regard for decorum at this point. Her gaze bounces from lick to lick, jaw cocked to the side and eyebrows arched.

---<Zebastian>---------------

"Jeg kan ikke tro at du har bestatt barnehagen, alt dette "han startet det". Deretter vil du si at du må skifte bleie---" Zebastian wiggles a finger in Karner's direction, laughing gently -- oh god, he's started babbling. Of course everyone else is - not join in the fray? Hand pressed to his chest, Zeb makes a low mirthful noise and shakes his head to Karner, giving him an indulgent smile. "Jeg tror-- ack; but darling you're just one man, not all of Hollywood - of course we love to have Shawna and Robbie and Becky and the others joining discourse -- though we've rather strayed off subject, mm? Exhausted the subject, even. It's so boring, nei? I'm sure there's so much more benefit for you, somewhere else, mm? The vibe's gone sour. Bad apples and all."

Zeb waves a hand, then looks to Shawna and Bartok and--- ah, it seems there is further discontent, what with the conversation brewing between them and Spade, and the others all... Each in their own spirited discussion of ideology, decorum and what it means to be undead. Zebastian clears his throat, and speaks direct to Bartok and Shawna; "I'm afraid history is on next month's agenda. Let's save it for then, mm? Do you need valet called, or?..."

---<Bartok>---------------

"Go on and big a big damn hero, then. Isaac told y' Koreatown has what y' really want anyway," says the monster to Spade with a shrug. "You still ain't turnin' Blue into a stain on Zeb's rug." There's an incline of his head in Zeb's direction subtle enough to tell the host that Bartok was indeed listening even if he wasn't taking his off the big Southsider Brujah in front of him.

"Host says th' party's over." Robbie upnods to Spade while Hall and Shawna have their own say, both of them more than articulate enough for the brute of a Gargoyle.

---<Hall>---------------

Hall just stares back at Jay and Fiddle. He doesn't open his smart mouth to either of them again, or at least not for now. But neither does he seem at all offended by their insults or threats. In fact, at a certain point, he starts smiling. After Zeb and Bartok speak, though, he says, with a more sober, oddly thoughtful look, "Yeah. Party's over. But it isn't over for everybody the same, is it? Funny."

---<Ghost>---------------

"Actually..." Ghost looks to Hall. "He's confronting a man talking shit about him behind his back. He's confronting a Sabbat spy. Oh sure, he says he's fucking not, but spies don't usually go, hey I'm a spy. It's kind of the fuckin' territory you shit heads. And this is how we deal with Sabbat and this is how you shut someone up. It's not oppression, it's a personal grief. Just because Blue's hiding, as always, doesn't mean shit. He runs his lips and then hide's behind Abrams skirt. It's what he does." He just shakes his head. "You want to protect that and side with that, that puts you on a certain side of a line, but it ain't the Anarch side." he seems to then include Shawna, Karner and Bartok in that.

He smirks a little, though it's dark. "And like you can trust a fuckin' thing Abrams says. Yeah, he says what we want is in Koreatown, but he can't possibly have an ulterior fuckin' motive. Not Abrams, that standup motherufckin Cammie. Just like the rest of them." No he doesn't apologize to Sveta for that comment. If he even really registers she's Camarilla. "Abrams,can go fuck himself, and while he's at it, maybe walk out into the sun and maybe take his property with him, and do the narch cause on last solid."

---<Karner>---------------

"Hollywood includes me, Zebastian, last time I checked," Karner says. "If you didn't want me here, you should have specified. But if you're blaming me for the souring of your evening, then you should take a closer look at your compatriots. It's interesting, seeing what a blind eye you turn to their behavior. I think Hall's 'big word' easily applies to you as well, at least tonight."

Karner snorts at Robbie. "Yes, apparently the party's over, or at least for me, Robbie. Perhaps the Tower is right about Anarchs in Los Angeles. If they swoop in and govern us for our own good, it wouldn't be a surprise to anyone." But he actually half-turns back and stares at Ghost when he wipes the floor with Isaac's name, eyebrows raising as he looks between the Southsider and Bartok.

---<Fiddle>---------------

"That's right keep yammerin' about nothing weak punks." Fiddle states, "Make sure you don't forget to tell whomever you cower to when you could be free of the servitude that Fiddle is back in the city." He buckshots broadly from his mouth, "That means no kowtowing tolerated. We don't bow to anyone. Not Sabbat. Not anyone with lofty fucking titles that imply serfdom without utter compliance. We will play you motherfuckers up like my namesake you keep our names without it's proper respect for going hard in the paint. Notice is being served. Southside isn't bending. Unbroken. Unbowing. We aren't alone and we won't have it anymore. Like Moses with those tablets to your sheepish ears as they tell you of rules and organizations that aren't of Free natures. We hold true to the colors we started set trippin' with in the first place. We're living free. As Anarchs are meant to. No more shit smearing. It's time to be true and be judged by history or it's time to mark yourselves as compliant lip-syncs." He states, "All fucking talk. We walk together and we're ready to purpose." Fiddle for the record has a side and he's on it it and in it, and about it.

---<Sveta>---------------

If Sveta takes any offense at the blanket cast across the members of the Ivory Tower, she doesn't show it... but then again, it might be a safe pet that she doesn't even register herself a member of the ivory tower as much as Ghost does. She slips another cigarette between her lips, but doesn't light up. This room is full of gas fumes, and she's doesn't have enough of a buzz going to try and light it.

---<Jay>---------------

As for Jay? He's got no much else to say, though his attention is solely focused on Shawna now. Is he offended? Very much so, but it seems that his stormy emotions can't be put into words right at this moment - that, or he's trying his best to respect Zeb as the host of this place and not further the already tense situation into something much, much worse. Those eyes of his express nothing but anger as they narrow in on the Gangrel, however, eyes so wide you'd feel like they're about to pop out of their sockets. Signs of an imminent frenzy? Hopefully not, because nobody likes a frenzying Brujah in a crowded room.

---<Lascaux>---------------

Lascaux says one word, at a volume that is only slightly elevated. "/Enough./" It's so icy-cold that the feeling is almost palpable. Long pause. He's standing absolutely still, arms folded over his chest.

"Zebastian has asked y'all t'stop this and leave. If y'want to pick this up at a later time and hash it out, find somewhere more appropriate t'do it. Somewhere there ain't a shitload of mortals around and when we ain't burnin' moonlight."

---<Zebastian>---------------

Zebastian turns, and he looks to Hall - smiling still, though he's shaking his head. "I'm afraid you're mistaken - nothing fun here for anyone, and what's a party without fun? Tedious. It might as well be a /meeting/, ja? -Ew-."

A short spell of laughter, then Zeb turns distractedly in Karner's direction, surprised to find him there still. "Darling, you're free enough to make informed choices - and don't take it so rough? Barely anything to do with you, really. If it wasn't the whole 'selling secrets and intimidating the neighbours' thing... Well, I'm sure we'd find something else to entertain a lively discussion over. The nature of discourse, nei? Better out in the open where it can air, than bottled up all sinister and weird."

Quiet now, as he turns-- looking to Lascaux as he raises his voice. Surprised? Maybe. Amused? There's something funny about the look on Zeb's face, sure.

He looks to Bartok and Shawna, head tipped -- then turns to observe... The Whole Ordeal. Expression? Just a touch dreamy, little melancholy, wistful. Fuck. Is he dissociating? No! No, Zeb is just... Being Zebastian.

---<Shawna>---------------

Shawna lifts her hands up and holds her palms out toward Spade, fingers splayed wide as if showing no weapons... or claws. "I'm not twisting anything, Spade. We all knew it was raw the moment the Swarm pulled out. Yet we still followed you. Westside, Hollywood, even some of the Tower sent their own along. If any of that matters at all, than hear me again. This isn't the fucking way."

The Gangrel of Griffith Park keeps her hands held up and palms outward toward Spade even as she turns her gaze over toward Jay. "Jay, I offended you... but I spoke the truth. My best friend died that night because of stupid decisions and reckless tactics. If you can't handle my words, then come find me in Griffith Park some night and we can settle up there."

---<Karner>---------------

Karner turns to Lascaux and actually startles for a moment. Whatever it was that Lascaux just did seems to have affected him, in fact, and his posture goes even stiffer than it did before. He nods, almost chagrined, like he didn't realize what a fuss he was making. Although Zeb talking doesn't have the same effect on him. To the other Malkavian, he just looks confused. "I don't really know what you're saying, Oygard, but I suppose that's par for the course. Lovely time." And Mr. Blue simply walks out.

---<Jay>---------------

"You're not the only friend of hers, you know that damn well, Shawna." Jay voices out his final, closing words to end the heated occasion - soft spoken, not loud and hateful like his previous ones. It's a touch sad and gloomy even, as he reminisces that dark night. "Have a good evening to you all."

---<Hall>---------------

Actually, Hall takes the trouble to listen to Ghost, and rather intently, at that. He doesn't seem to mind Ghost's attempt to clarify things for him, so to speak, whatsoever. He just pulls a bit of a face at the end, just before... Lascaux chills the room a little. He already seemed to be cooling down, and by the time that Zebastian addresses him, you'd hardly guess that he was pissed off enough to try to start some with Spade not all that long ago. He just raises his eyebrows, then says, "Yeah -- ew. Meetings were, like. The /worst/ part of 'Animal Farm.'" He takes a last look around Echelon Falls, for some reason with a rather curious expression, and then exits, too.

---<Sveta>---------------

Sveta's shoulders slump. It's hard to tell if she looks relieved or disappointed. Maybe a mix. She lights up again, finally.

---<Shawna>---------------

Shawna's gaze lingers on Jay and her own ever-sad-and-somber tone may echo his. "I know, Jay. I didn't mean..." She trails off at that and lowers her hands. It's at that point that she seems to notice that Karner is gone. "Robbie." is all she says before she turns away and starts for the exit. "Nice enough party, Zeb."

---<Zebastian>---------------

Zebastian apparently has nothing to say to Karner -- besides, that attention as pivoted to Bartok, making a low noise before he adds quietly; "Another night, ja? Quieter words." Brief smile, then a nod, like Zeb understands not to pester Robbie any further. Frees him up to look at Shawna - and if she is not immediately leaving like some of the others? He takes a step closer, as if to share a very quiet word indeed before she escapes.

...as for Hall - Spade, Lascaux - Sveta, or any of the others? Zeb only has so much bandwidth to go around, alas.

---<Lascaux>---------------

"I'm from Kentucky originally. Everybody knows that." Lascaux shrugs. "I spent a while with my sire, an' now I'm tryin' to figure out where an' what I want t'be. Already asked Zeb about joinin' up with th'Westsiders. If y'wanted t'know that y'coulda just asked. Generally works a whole lot better'n - yellin' and swearin'. I know I'm new around here and I ain't got shit in terms'a credibility or clout, but how the hell's anybody supposed to learn anything if they don't ask?" He raises his eyebrows. "I'm perfectly happy t'fuck off, now, and leave you t'enjoy th'rest of your night."

---<Bartok>---------------

Robbie does take his attention off of Spade long enough to take notice of Karner scuttling away. He nods to Shawna on her way out slower and perhaps more somber nod. He eyes Lascaux for a few moments, the outsider that chose to stick his neck out gets a stare that's difficult to read.

The monster's attention was back on the Brujah soon enough. "Do y' wanna go then?" The monster seems to offer with rumble of sincerity despite the uptick in his eyebrow."Get some aggression out?" He says says to Spade. Robbie makes it clear he's got no issue squaring up with the Brujah. Just... "Not on Zeb's rug." Hell. It might even be good for the both of them.

---<Zebastian>---------------

Zebastian ... pauses - looking between Spade and Bartok after the gargoyle makes mention of preserving the Falls' wonderfully stylish rugs. A further beat of hesitation as Spade shares some of that old fashioned folksy Brujah wisdom with Lascaux. There's a little wibble-wobble of his head, though the Norwegian Malk doesn't intervene. Is it that he doesn't take it seriously? Well, he's not smiling - but he isn't surprised at the discourse, so... Oh good, Spade's attention is back on Robbie. Quick glance to Lascaux and Ghost, who do not seem to be entering fisticuffs, and he turns - listening to whatever is said... Nodding...

Then speaking to Robbie and Spade; "Essentially, ja? It isn't as if anyone here now truly dislikes anyone -- we have unique ideological approaches, and different interests of /course/, but it is not as if, at the end of the night? We aren't able to, at least in some way, acknowledge what it is we essentially share within that, ja? In terms of values, I mean."

---<Sveta>---------------

"Ppbbbttt-PBBBBBT-" That's Svetlana Serova, token Cammie, making an aggressive amount of lip-music as the whole party deflates like a bounce castle in pumps. She ashes her cigarette to the side, then lets out a little flutter of laughter. "Ohh, blyat. A show, but no dinner - still! Zebastian! How about a punch bowl next time? And thanks for the invite! I had to get a heads-up from these assholes!" Sveta jerks a thumb in Spade's direction.

---<Cassie>---------------

There isn't any of the amusement from when the confrontation began left on Cassie features as she follows the show-down from the alcove, arms wrapped around Tinsley in a slight protective manner as the other girl leans into and hides her face against her. Her own eyes stay firmly on the events unfolding even as she whispers something to her friend now and then, one hand idly rubbing over the other's back. She doesn't look quite as worried or uncomfortable as Tinsley, but she doesn't exactly look thrilled about the prospect of a fight breaking out, either. The last one - and only, really - of those that she was in... doesn't call back much in the ways of pleasant memories, to put it mildly. And she's just not really used to this. Not exactly a fangbanger, this one. The only smile to grace her features for that long moment is when Zebastian speaks up, a faint but clearly genuine thing on her lips. She does look like she's about to stand up and join in towards the end, a slightly miffed expression painted on her face, but... then things suddenly seem to deescalate, and fast too, causing the small blonde to remain in her seat as people begin to leave and the palpable intensity in the air begins to lessen. She'll try to catch Shawna's gaze if she can before the Gangrel leaves, giving her a soft, if perhaps a bit tense, smile that echoes in her eyes, before dipping her head to murmur something to Tinsley while keeping one ear, and both eyes, still on the rest of the gathered.

---<Tinsley>---------------

By now as people begin to file out one by one, Tinsley is no longer covering her ears, and she's not leaning into Cassie as much.. She's still against her, yeah, but not looking so worried anymore or hiding, as it were. What a wild party! Or um, salon! Whatever this was supposed to be. As Tinsley lowers her hands to her lap she looks to Cassie and smiles, giving her a little thumbs-up. Everything's great! She leans in to hear whatever's murmured.

---<Bartok>---------------

Bartok glances over at the mysterious Kentucky Fried Kindred as he too makes to scuttle away. Leaving him alone with Spade. He lifts those shoulders in a slow shrug. "It could be fun--" To wrassle a little, he means. His shoulders roll with another crunch of deformed bone, because he really was just a Nosferatu on steroids. A Brujah. A Gargoyle. And one Kidde Pool filled with mud. Maybe fencing sabers?

"Y'know why I can't let y' stop Blue. Ain't nothin' t' do with likin' him or not." Beyond that the Gargoyle seemed to have little quarrel with the Southsiders.

---<Zebastian>---------------

"Sveta, you think I'd make it /easy/ for you? Cousin, please; you gotta work for this ticket, price of admission is a goose chase - it's all part of the /experience/." Zebastian chimes, all perfectly good natured for ... someone who may have been considering if The Cleaners needed to be speed dialled a few moments ago.

Zeb glances to the side at Bartok and Spade's exchange-- but no, no, the vibe has shifted. A smile, then he tips his head to the side. Considers them both in silence... Then turns, looking over to Sveta again; "I've got to take the air - maybe in Venice?" Eyebrow wiggles, then a look to Jay, and then Shawna, then back to Sveta; sing-song: "Under the booooooardwalk?"

---<Nisha>---------------

Nisha puts out her cigarette, "I'm gonna fucking bounce.", licking her teeth and looking to her talon like fingernails. "Not tonight.", blowing them a kiss. Pushing past Sveta, "You coming bitch, or not?", cracking a smirk at her. Bouncing briefly. Nisha had jokes. "Wonderful thing about Tiggers."

---<Spade>---------------

Spade upnods to Bartok, that's the only nod he can provide to the taller gargoyle, "I know why, but nothin' I said tonight was untrue. That shithead is fucking Abrams over, more and more every night he gets to pour his shit in Abrams ear. Once there was a time I would've called Abrams respectable but those nights are fucking gone now. Least until he gets his head straight."

And indeed, the vibe is very much more chill now, just a conversation between peers, no shouting at all.

---<Jay>---------------

"You're coming with me if you're going to Venice, Zeb. God knows what the fuck Ant Man's gonna do if he sees any other Westsiders than me around," Jay says as he preps himself to leave, gesturing his head over to Money Shot.

---<Bartok>---------------

"If y' think Blue could twist Abrams so easily, I don't think y' ever did," Bartok adds somewhat skeptically. Robbie Bartok was a true loyalist to the Old Lion of Hollywood and his faith in Isaac was never going to shake. It would take more than Karner Blue to contend with the Elder Toreador that had held Hollywood for so long and practically pulled the strings behind the Silver Screen age.

"Isaac's also scarier t' Blue than you are," the monster adds, somewhat chillingly before he turns to Zeb. With a polite nod to the host the monster would take his leave. He'd already done more talking tonight than he ever cared to do.

---<Spade>---------------

Before Jay leaves, Spade looks around to make eye contact and send a nod of respect his way. Anyone willing to stand behind the guy staring at Robbie Bartok's chest deserves at least a little. Back to Bartok and Spade shrugs, "You do you man, but anyone can have shit dripped down their ear by an ass-licker like Karner." An upnod for Robbie too, even if he'd been in the way, that took balls too.

---<Zebastian>---------------

There is a ... pause, after Zebastian's call for boardwalk fun is perhaps dampened by Jay's reminder that Ant Man is mean as fuck and Zeb is but a noodle -- so with a woeful nod, they are aside for other matters. He looks between Bartok and Spade, his expression growing ... something close to sober? Yeah. A beat, then he steps in a little closer - head tipped to the side.

"...I, understand that I am privileged, ja? In that I am present here, existing -- and don't get it twisted? Not about to split hairs with you, Robbie -- I mean, this takes work." Yes, Zeb brushes his hair over his shoulder as he speaks - a brief flash of smile, before the seriousness returns; tone quiet. "...But those secrets that were sold? It wasn't all Camarilla that were mentioned; my name was on a list, shared, due to work I had done. It is hard some time, ja? To not take it personal, when my business is observed, you know?..."

A beat, then Zebastian looks thoughtful - maybe about Isaac being one ominous mother fucker? No argument from Zebastian. He just nods to Bartok, and gives him a still raised palm as a parting wave. Kinda like a Vulcan might? Stranger things!

---<Ghost>---------------

Ghost has said some things, but his only presence here seems to be for the Salon and now in the altercation just to have Spade's back. With Blue gone and this exchange slowing down, he has visibly stopped caring. No fighting? There might be a bit of disappointment, but not that much. He finally turns to Zeb and grins. "Zeb, I ever tell you, you throw great parties. Everytime I come here." He then turns to Spade. "I'm going to fuck off for the night. I'll leave the boys if you think there's other shit going down. And fuck Blue, no one can protect him forever, Spade. Time's tickin' on him. And it's runnin' out." He gives Spade a motion for their secret handshake, cause it's cool, and then starts to head out.

---<Jay>---------------

Before he leaves, everyone else gets a nod of respect, the Westsiders and Southsiders especially. Money Shot does the same, too - he'd get a rant from the Brujah if he doesn't.

---<Spade>---------------

And with that, the fun and games are all over, the blood resides and nobody even got a busted lip. Some vampire Spade is, didn't even swing for Hall or Lascaux. They were too easy targets is the why of course. Yup. Robbie didn't even get a purple nurple. He gives his last respects to Zeb as the host of the party and heads for the door with Ghost and Fiddle. Belligerent Southsiders man, suddenly everyone can breathe again.

---<Cassie>---------------

Cassie and Tinsley spends another short moment sorta just making out and talking between themselves a little before the two girls slips out from the alcove and slowly makes their way over towards the few remaining people, coming to stand near Zebastian and Spade. The tiny Toredor will exchange a few words with everyone, and thank Zeb for hosting and such, and then the two blondes will polite excuse themselves and make their way towards the exit close to each other's sides, talking quietly between themselves with a couple giggles able to be heard before they're out of view.

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