Welcome to Venture

[Black Philip]

They would feel him before he arrived. It was always that way now. It couldn't be helped that his psychic abilities were so profound that young little whelps were overwhelmed by his Majesty's presence. He was in a good mood tonight, and so those who sensed him would feel his power but also his mercy. He knew to enter this club he'd have to abandon hostile intent or face some simple fae magic. He was sure his powers would be sufficient to break it, but that might cause a scene of some kind. Why lead with the stick instead of the carrot? He wanted an audience, and while he'd debated simply breaking down the ugly, old, crook's door, Mithras of Sparta wanted their first meeting to be a pleasurable one.

He'd had his humans dress him. These were the fashion pets. There only job was to make their king look modern and good and tonight they had succeeded again. He wore a white dress shirt, with a tight blue sweater pulled over it. It hugged his athletic form well, and would help attract meals. His hair was even curlier than normal, waves becoming tangled ringlets, touching the top of his shoulders. His eyes flickered between brown and gold, and his beard was perfectly trimmed. He was ready for Charon. He had the fashion pets summon the travel pet, a chauffeur he was called. He was a cute, young thing. He'd been with his wife and child walking down the street, but he looked like someone Mithras wished to find, and so he'd told the man he was his now. He'd cried, and the woman had been confused, but her memory was simply altered. Women always got in the way. He had a few minutes before he needed to leave, and so Mithras decided that he would pleasure himself with the boy.

"Get into my room and take off your clothes."

The human eagerly agreed and ran to the bed. This individual was now just a member of a growing cult that was spreading through this city. He was another mind slave for his Majesty's pleasure, nothing more. Mithras liked his servants acting happy, and often conditioned them into that happiness. The travel pet, who was about to be the flesh pet, had fought violently at first to be let go, but now he eagerly awaited his master on all fours. Animals were so predictable. As he closed the doors to his room, he felt himself start to harden.

~~~

After getting the release he needed, Mithras ordered the travel pet to prepare the auto. The man pulled up his pants, his mouth an odd squiggle and his eyes wide and then narrow. Mithras didn't notice and didn't care. He was too busy checking his hair one last time. He wore a few rings, and one of them was very valuable. Into it's center was a simple, onyx cross and the rest of it was made of gold. It was almost as old as the vampire who wore it. It had belonged to a former pope, before Mithras had liberated it from him. The fashion pets each kissed it as he walked past them. He'd been pleased enough with their work to warrant such an honor as to kiss his ring, and after he left them in his bed chamber he was happy he'd given them such a treat.

The ride to the venue was had in silence. Mithras had traveling pets who came out with him, but tonight he'd chosen to come alone. He didn't need warm blood slowing him down, and he knew to meet the one he wanted, he'd need to be prepared. He got out of the car, and informed the travel pet that food and water would be brought out to him, and that he could enter the establishment to void. He constantly had to be reminded humans did those filthy things. He barely remembered anything about being human these nights. There was a large line, as he'd arrived well into the evening, but Mithras simply walked past them all, and any staff who tried to stop him would feel a wave of revulsion and fear.

[Trillian]

Sabrina's dark magic had long replaced the fae-spells that Venture used to have protecting it. Just as Mithras would be unable to enter the Parlor of Purgatory, neither could he enter Venture. He might be considering taking a gentler path this night, but the magic was activated by his contempt and deeper, darker intentions. There was no fooling Sabrina's magic - a great deal more ancient than either Mithras or Charon.

Primordial magic.

And so it was with Sabrina's alliance and protection that Mithras was halted outside of Venture's doors. The quick-thinking bouncers realised by Mithras' sudden stop that the magic boundary had finally done its job, and they opened the velvet ropes and didn't bother checking ID, hurrying the queue outside into the protection inside.

Both bouncers took a step back, one of them alerting the manager on duty to come to the front door to address a 'problem' they were having.

[Existentially Odd]

Jeanne was roaming Venture as she did every night (as long as there wasn't a function for her to organise or attend) when the summons to the entrance came. She headed there straight away, looking casual in her fitted grey pantsuit, skinny black tie and open-toed stilettos. A call to front of house left her feeling anything but casual, however. She tucked her short brunette hair behind her ears and pushed her sleeves up her forearms to her elbows as she went.

When she strolled through the doors and out to the greeting area, she had her hands in her pants pockets and a pleasant smile on her pretty face. Communication with the bouncers was mental and minimal - they assured her they'd ushered all patrons inside as soon as the wards were triggered and hadn't spoken to the immortal responsible - and then her attention was on the old one standing before the club, looking unimpressed.

"Good evening," she greeted, her cultured tones warm and inviting. "I am Jeanne D'Arshan. How may I assist you?"she queried in French-accented English. The being was older than her - but not as old as her grandsire - and very beautiful. Otherwise, she had no opinion of him.

[Black Philip]

When he was halted, surprise crossed his handsome features. He'd been told simple fae magic blocked entry, but this was different. It smelled of ash, and something old. It was very old in fact, and Mithras didn't like feeling out of the know. He didn't bark at the guards or make any kind of a scene. True power knows it doesn't need to do such things. Surely, they knew a being of his age waited outside like a common dog. They'd send someone to fix this little mix up.

As he waited, he wondered what had actually tripped the barrier, since he'd already decided not to harm anyone that night. Wasn't how it worked? No. Charon must've redone the spell to stop power from entering. That must be it. He wanted to know when a being like the ancient king wanted entry. He'd have to find a way to get this kind of spell for his own havens. He didn't need to wait long - anytime being too much - before a representative came to greet him.

They sent a woman! How insulting. Well, Charon was letting him know now that he would be forced to pay fealty if he wished to speak. It was clever, and despite hating that he would have to deal with the help, he remembered his decision to lead with the carrot.

"Good Evening Madame," the handsome ancient said. "I have just arrived in your city and have come to find food and enjoy myself. I also know the ruler of this city owns this establishment, and am honoring the traditions by presenting myself to the most senior of us. My name is Mithras" His eyes seemed to alternate between gold and brown as he watched her for reaction.

She seemed important, this one before him. Perhaps she was a favored vassal, a progeny who had earned the honor of greeting her sire's guests. She was pretty this woman, with her open toed shoe and grey pantsuit. Maybe he kept her around for that.

"We can converse in French if you prefer." He hadn't spoken it in years, but it was a simple tongue compared to Hebrew or Aramaic.

[Existentially Odd]

Jeanne smiled so that her dimples showed and she walked closer to Mithras, removing her hands from her pockets and dipping into a curtsy only an experienced ballerina could achieve so gracefully in such high heels. Charon would be pleased with this vampire’s manners, she would treat him with respect.

“Well met, Mithras,” she murmured, her body lowered and her head bowed until she’d finished speaking - and then adding an extra beat of silent reverence, to reinforce her acknowledgment of her elder. She rose smoothly to her full (unimpressive) height before she spoke in English again, the smile in her eyes if not in her cheeks.

“I thank you for the offer of my native tongue but it is unnecessary. Your grace in coming to honour my family is, truly, humbling but I do wonder... if you’ve just arrived in the city, how did you learn that this was the place to come and present yourself? And who - falsely - told you that ‘the most senior among us’ rules this city?”

Her words were sweet and gently enquiring, belying the seriousness of their nature. This part would not please Charon, she knew.

[Black Philip]

Mithras was susceptible to flattery, and Jeanne's smile and words properly buttered up the ancient. He was especially impressed with her curtsy, and he now understood why Charon had her meeting him. She was a front of house person, the kind meant to show off the good nature and service of one's organization. She had preformed well. He almost stuck out his ring for her to kiss, but then remembered she already served a king, and stealing a follower with ancient blood like this would not likely do him any favors.

Then her questions were asked, and Mithras was confused. Why hadn't she taken him inside to her better? Her reception of him bought her goodwill, and for now his Majesty would play along, until the woman irked him that is.

"I must clarify," he put forward, tone gentle but deep. His dialect was odd. It was most recognizably English, the London sound to be exact, but it was covering something more natural. Traces of some long lost civilization was expressed through his tongue and it most often reminded people of Greece, despite his looks suggesting his human years were spent elsewhere.

"I must clarify that I have been in town for three nights. I established a haven and got other such mundane affairs in order. One of those affairs was finding local Kindred. They pointed me here and some other disgusting Anarch bar as a place to feed, and mentioned it was owned by - and please excuse these words, they are not mine - a bat-looking three-thousand year old. As to why I assumed he ruled, it is often the case that the most senior among us leads. Does this city behave like humans and elect their leadership?"

Mithras found it odd Charon would not lead outright. Was he weaker than he should be? Were the Anarchs a problem? They could be removed. Or did he no longer follow the old ways, and had abandoned his responsibility to lead?

[Existentially Odd]

Jeanne would certainly not excuse his offensive description of her grandsire, for they were hateful, incendiary words. Charon was more than his outer appearance and it was difficult not to immediately dismiss anyone that focussed solely on that aspect of his character, rather than looking for more. Was Mithras being funny with his little disclaimer? Was it a case of misdirection? Was he trying to provoke a reaction from her by being deliberately gauche? Or was he actually just so stupid and full of himself that he didn't put any thought into how the words he chose could shape and affect their interaction? Jeanne's resolve hardened against the newcomer even while she smiled and looked at Mithras guilelessly.

"I thank you for your clarification," she intoned, inclining her head in gracious acknowledgement. "This city was once controlled by a single entity, the Oligarchy, which governed the lives of all supernaturals. About two years ago, that changed. Now, the city is divided by the compass. The Sacramentum et Res, with your previously-mentioned senior, Charon, at its head, controls only the eastern district at this time."

Again, Jeanne smiled disarmingly, her hands sliding back into her pants pockets in order to make her look casual and open to the questions she knew were still to come. She shifted her weight onto her left leg, her right thrust forward and balanced on the spike of her shoe, toes pointed towards Mithras but swinging almost flirtily. She had a few questions of her own but was confident they could be asked at a more appropriate time and place. Standing on the street in front of a nightclub on a busy Friday night was not it.

[Black Philip]

Either this Jeanne cared not for her king, or she was a very good actress. Mithras had hoped his bat comment would get a defiant eyebrow, a cross word, or some other such small offense. He'd hoped to use it to bully his way in, and make her apology taking him directly to Charon. Instead, she bowed graciously and answered his question. Either way Mithras was not pleased. On the other hand, he would be sure to tell Charon one of his own line didn't put a word in for his honor. She could've phrased it in a way that communicated minimum offense. Every moment could be manipulated if the communicator was clever enough.

Then she gave her strange answer about the government - or now governments - of this city. He couldn't fathom vampires mingling with other supernatural creatures. Demons were disgusting ilk to be cleansed. Fae feared Kindred. Garou - shifter werewolves - and any kind of animal creatures were the natural enemy of the children of Cain. What fresh hell had he stumbled into? And why these districts? Charon must've been weak to allow others to tell him what to do when he was in their districts. He didn't even like the word district! The Camarilla often routed the other supernaturals of a city when taking over and the idea of sharing power was never something they did. Let the beasts and fairies control the wilderness. Vampires controlled the cities. 

"I see," he answered, now looking skeptical at his informant. "Perhaps you could escort me inside and we could continue this conversation. While we currently seem alone, I would feel better protecting the masquerade if we spoke more privately."

[Existentially Odd]

Et, voilà they had arrived at the crux of the matter. She hadn't expected it so soon but she was resigned to it. She smiled, attempting to soften the blow but readying for an adverse reaction nevertheless.

"I could escort you inside, but I will not. Not tonight. There is no point, for Charon is not present. However, the club will be closed to the general public on Monday night and he will be in attendance then. He will welcome your presence on that night, and your meeting will be absolutely private," she assured, tilting her head coyly as if she was inviting him into a secret.

[Black Philip]

Mithras's face turned into a scowl. He stopped listening after commenting that she could do something, but was choosing not to. The barrier preventing his entrance was the only reason she wasn't currently sucking on pavement or licking his feet in contrition. He didn't try to hide his disgust, how insulted he was. Even if Charon wasn't here, Mithras wanted to feed, gamble and give Charon business. Now some plebeian woman who hadn't even spoken to her king was denying him entrance! What sort of prejudice was this? It was because he had power, and like all caitiff filth they feared the power of the Ventrue. He dared not make a scene, but would make this bitch pay for her folly.

"I'm afraid that arrangement is not acceptable," he said hurriedly, his anger making his nostrils flair. "I do not come when called like some common fledgling. I will seek him out at his home. I have the power needed to find it, and I will tell him that you turned your nose up at someone over a thousand years your senior who wished to promote your business and who has done no harm to you or to anyone inside. Good night."

With that, he turned and headed towards his vehicle. The travel pet wouldn't be getting the night off after all.

[Existentially Odd]

She waited until he'd said his piece, her expression mild. "If you attempt that, you will likely fail and make a less than favourable impression," she warned quietly, not chasing after him. He would have heard her.

If he thought the magic warding on Venture was challenging, he was in for a very rude shock if he attempted to approach her family's home. Should he even have the power to scry it, as he claimed. They'd had a recent gathering whereupon everything had had to be suspended for the evening but after the night was over, Sabrina had graciously reinstated all warding, adding a little extra obfuscation, according to Charon's requests.

Mithras likely wouldn't find the estate and if he did, he wouldn't be able to turn into the driveway, let alone approach Charon uninvited.

[Black Philip]

He heard her, but would not acknowledge her warning/threat. He could not go back on his plan now. To accept the meeting from her would make him seem like a groveling commoner and he could not have that. No. If Charon was so unapproachable as to have dark magic guarding every place he visited then Mithras would simply have to force Charon to come to him. Their meeting would have to wait. He got into the car and instructed the travel pet to return home. He would need to find out what Charon valued and take it from him. A family member would be too direct, and while the image of snapping that annoying woman's neck appealed to him he knew that was not the answer. He would need to do more research, and then he'd make his move. It would be all that woman's fault.