JENELLA
"I have spent the last few months in Genoa. There is
L'Oligarchia there, too. They have a human Oligarch, to represent." The curve of her lips became more pronounced. "Will you be pledging support to any of the District Leaders tonight? In your role of ex-Luminary?" She was curious about whether Kerr would support the Sacramentum or the giantess that he seemed very friendly with. Ricardo at her side tipped his head towards her and she blinked but didn't look away from Kerr.
"C'è qualcuno in questa festa che parla italiano?" he asked, wanting to know if anyone else at the party would be able to converse with him. Jenella answered quickly and softly, to not interrupt Kerr's response to her question.
"Si, vai e cercali," she dismissed, still not looking his way yet peripherally aware of the hurt she'd caused before he gave her and Kerr a small bow and left them. She kept her silence afterward, not wanting to interrupt Kerr's response with apologies.
BEN
Ben received the mental message Kerr sent him (and Ichabod, he presumed) to meet Sabrina. Instead of going straight there, he gestured a waiter with freshly filled martini glasses to come over. Ben noticed very few vampires had gone into the donor tent to drink from live donors. He'd glanced in there in passing, to see if Cain was inside, but he hadn't been able to see him. Ben was curious if Kerr would still find the mortal irresistible. "Get a drink, first," Ben said, taking two glasses off the tray and passing one to Ichabod. "It's hot," he warned, holding it from the stem. They were both young, so drinking something would help bolster them for the rest of the night.
Ben drank his quickly and a young woman on the wait-staff appeared at his side to relieve him of his glass, and taking any other empty glasses that she could see. The staff were moving efficiently through the people gathered at the party, and Ben picked them out hustling between small groups and clusters of people. He couldn't immediately see Jake or Murphy, and a knot formed in his stomach about it.
He gestured for Ichabod to join him and they moved towards Sabrina together. Ben was glad that she wasn't surrounded by too many people. Only a few who came over to give congratulations and then hurriedly moved on, perhaps intimidated by her size. As Ben and Ichabod drew closer, it became more obvious just how tall Sabrina truly was as he had to look up, and up, to see her smiling face. Because she stood at the bottom of the stairs that led from the garden to the back-doors into the mansion's foyer, Ben stepped up a few of them so he could look at her more comfortably.
"Hello, Sabrina, congratulations on your leadership." Ben's gaze quickly flicked to her other side, where he could see a bit of his sire (with his back mostly turned to him) and the fashionable lady whose date had left her side. His eyes returned to make contact with Sabrina.
CHARON
"Ten sharp would be wonderful," Charon suggested, and bid Saraekiel farewell. Then he turned to face Zohoret and regarded her with interest. Her questions were direct and intelligent. He found himself respecting her quickly and wondered why she'd had such trouble as an Oligarch? Perhaps she'd worked alongside beings who weren't interested in her kind? Well, now she had a variety of constituents within her boundaries... not that this was the only reason to be respectful.
"We have hired Sabrina in the past to cast protective spells upon our business in this city, Venture, to ensure nobody within the building is hurt, and to assist our security with dispelling hostile guests. Sabrina's craft is the type that she could use to empower herself but instead, she uses it to protect others and has done so for many years. She has a longstanding reputation as a protector. Quite honourable tasks." He watched Zohoret take in his words. "Perhaps the greatest reason was that she extended an interest to me about becoming a District Leader, and spoke of her intentions to address you and Mr McCloud as well. Unfortunately you were not easy to find and before she approached Jake, I mentioned I needed help holding the South, for my resources - as grand as they are - were stretched too thin. She was willing to work alongside the people already in power instead of forcing herself upon them." He was sure Zohoret would understand the dig at Jake McCloud. "I find those qualities best in a leader I would like to work with."
And of course, he thought to himself,
this is more likely to make her loyalty greater me now, than to you.