Where does the blood in these drinks come from?!

[Smoothie]

"A little, I admit. But, I am here, to meet people and learn what I can as well, so, use terminology I'm sure you understand: it is cross I must bear."

Wic looks around and notices the newcomer, his mouth contorting into that rictus grin for a moment.

[Lady Cin]

Jessie walks over to the table slowly, with what she hopes is a harmless seeming smile on her face. Her curiosity gets the better of her when she decides to speak.

"Hello" she says, "I couldn't help but notice and I don't mean any offense, but...you're a Haunt, aren't you? I haven't met one of your clan before...is it true that you all suffer horribly from your Requiem?"

As soon as her voice stops, she knows she has been terribly rude. Her scholarly curiosity has gotten the better of her again. She lowers her eyes with a sheepish expression on her face...had she still been mortal, she would have been flushed with embarrassment down to her breasts.

"I'm so sorry, sir" she says meekly, "that was exceptionally rude of me. Sometimes my curiosity about our kind makes me stupid."

[Smoothie]

Wic looks up at her for a moment before speaking softly to her, "Am I a Haunt?" He glances at Trey, reading his reaction, then looks back to her. He looks like he's about to speak for a moment, then seems to think better of it and pauses, and finally, "Who are you?"

This is fucked. This must be some kind of test.

[Lady Cin]

"I'm Jessica, but I prefer Jessie" she replied, "I'm sorry if I upset you. I'm a scholor you see...."

Her voice trailed off in embarrasement and she grinned sheepishly before finishing her sentence.

"...and my curiosity tends to get me in trouble."

[Treyvon Johnson]

I look at the newcomer, Jessica with a bored expression. Had I not been trying to woo Wic, this would've been funny. As it stands, it's annoying. My Beast threatens to tear her apart for a moment, then it settles in its cage.

"I'm sure you've heard what happened to the cat with the same problem, Jessie."

I hope she doesn't think I'm a Haunt. That would be more than embrasassing. I look the girl over again, noticing the outfit. Maybe she's insane. If that's the case...

"So what are you, an incredibly old Ventrue?"

With that out of the way...

"So now that we're done with the pleasantries, what brings you out here tonight?"

[Lady Cin]

The sound of a second male voice brings Jessie back to the 'real' world. She faces the second voice and looks him over before she speaks. The dreadlocks are unusual, but not completely out of place in such a place as New Orleans. With a friendly smile, she replies.

"Yes, I know about the curious cat...but I'm not totally dead yet. And no, I'm not an old Ventrue...I'm a rather young Gangrel. As for why am I here? Why is everyone here? The attack...everyone wants to know about the attack on the Prince."

She's still holding her coffee cup and saucer, and after taking another sip, she makes a motion towards an empty chair before addressing herself to both of them.

"May I join you? I am not seeking trouble, just information. News like this doesn't happen every day."

[Treyvon Johnson]

"No, it doesn't."

My first instinct is to have her leave, but she is intriguing and possibly more Enlightened than I originally thought.

"Go ahead and sit. I apologize if I was rude, but I'm just on edge, you know?"

If nothing else, this'll be amusing.

[Smoothie]

Wic meets gazes with Trey as she's getting situated and rolls his eyes at the gangrel.

A gangrel scholar, who would have thought. We all know they bearly can.

"I am Victor Karichi, please, call me Wic."

I suppose I should try to keep an open mind, I did come here to meet more monsters, after all.

[Lady Cin]

"Thank you, and there's no reason to apologize. We're all on edge, I think."

She sits and places her coffee on the table, smiling in thanks to both.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Wic and I'm sorry if I came across as a scatterbrain...I just get carried away sometimes. I must say that I love your accent, it reminds me of my Master's. He's from the old country too...Germany though, you sound more Baltic."

She pauses and looks to the other man...

"I didn't catch your name. Please tell me what I should call you. Even strangers should know what to call each other."

She does hope she hasn't totally ruined her chances of learning something. There are plenty of other Kindred in the bar, but most of them are in large groups and she would much rather deal with individuals.

[Treyvon Johnson]

"Trey Johnson."

I noticed Wic's look but the woman was speaking to me before I could respond. New Orleans was never dull.

"Master? I thought we'd gotten past that centuries ago?"

I chuckle at my own joke.

[Smoothie]

Wic romoves his hat and puts his hair back, then speaks slowly and clearly, "There has been a meeting called for tomorrow night at midnight, at the Old Theatre." He collapses his top hat as he speaks and tucks it away under his jacket, "Tonight is just for rumor mongering and huddling together for comfort, like cattle. So, no beheadings tonight." He grins that wide grin, seeming to welcome such terrible acts, "Midnight tomorrow may be a different matter, however."

They call me a Haunt, so I play the part.

[Lady Cin]

OOC: sorry for the delay, Wic's response threw me for a loop, had to consider my response carefully.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"A pleasure to meet you Trey. Just a term of respect towards a dear friend and mentor."

The sudden burst of information was a shock, she hadn't expected to learn anything this important so quickly or easily. She had been sent here to find out something along these lines and now she was unsure how to react.

"That's important news friend Wic. And exactly what I needed to know. Thank you. I feel like I'm obligated to you now, but I'm uncertain as to how I can repay you.

[Treyvon Johnson]

Just who was this girl and who was her mentor?

"Be careful. You don't want to hand out obligations to just any random Kindred. And you know, Wic, it's always great to see a good beheading. Though I think I nice scourging first just sweetens the deal."

I smile at the girl but I'm quite sincere.

[Smoothie]

Wic shoots Trey a look of playful venom for issuing Jessie the warning.

"To be sure, Trey, as long as one is spectator or perhaps issuer beheadings and scourgings can be quite the rage, I am sure." His aura of menace seems like a palpable thing, lurking in every shadow. "And, fear not, Miss Jessie, I think of something put us back on even standing."

[Lady Cin]

Something about the verbal exchanges and quick glances back and forth between the two men, told Jessie that all was not as it seemed on the surface. Are these two friends? Or have they just met? Has she stepped into something that might be to her advantage...or something that she should step back from. The uncertainty of her position makes her wary, but her need for information and genuine curiosity keeps her at the table. Before the pause in the conversation grows too long, she speaks.

"Death has it's place, especially with such creatures as are we. But gratuitous violence is just a sign of depravity and indolence. How can we go beyond what we are, if all we do is sink deeper into the nightmare? In these endless nights of unlife, we must choose our friends and our obligations carefully. I am one who always lives up to her obligations and I do not accept obligations for frivolous reasons. I will fulfill my obligation to friend Wic...but do remember that the price shouldn't be more than I am willing to pay."

Her gaze had remained on Trey for most of her reply, until the last statement. As she finished her head turned and she looked Wic straight in the eyes as she spoke the last phrase. Her gaze held no fear and her face was a mask of composure, then she smiled, showing just a trace of fangs and her eyes glittered with pure evil.