Where does the blood in these drinks come from?!

[Smoothie]

Good, the girl's got some spine in her.

Wic smiles and holds his hands up defensively, "Hey, it was your idea. Truth be told, information was very easy to come by, place is buzz with it. I just have a bit of fun. I suppose I would be satisfied with the hope of some future piece of information."

He looks like he has more to say, but then thinks better of it.

[Treyvon Johnson]

"Why move on? I happen to like where I am. Permanently at the prime of my life and filled with purpose."

I look at the two and smile. I haven't had conversation this good since college.

"Though it's good to know you stick to your obligations. I do too, which is which is why I make it a point not to have them."

I'm almost joking.

[Smoothie]

Wic looks as though he has just got a bad taste in his mouth and before Jessie can respond he butts in, "Such things ought to go without saying, but I suppose there are too many without honor these days. Even if it is a bit of crude chest-thumping, it please me to hear you both speak this way of your honor." He grins, "Now, here I, thump my chest with you, not to be consider guilty due to omission."

[Lady Cin]

"Then maybe we three persons of honor should drop the facade of antagonism and attempt to become friends. It seems to me that we are each looking for some of the same things. Maybe, at the least we could work together for a time."

She pauses for an instant and licks her lips nervously, glances around the room then turns back to Trey and Wic. She continues in a voice that isn't much louder than a whisper and would not be heard beyond their table.

"Trust is the key and hopefully I am not making a terrible mistake. In this city, what you are is sometimes more damning than who you are. What I have told you so far is true, I do need information...what I haven't told you is this, I am of the Ordo Dracul. My covenant is not totally welcome here in New Orleans, nor or it's members. If knowing this makes it impossible for us to work together, I understand. I will leave and never contact either of you again."

All of her senses alert and ready for anything, Jessie sits back in her chair and nonchalantly takes another drink of her coffee.

Wilhelm will be furious if I've screwed this up, but I think this may be an exceptionally lucky encounter.

[Treyvon Johnson]

Oh boy. I take a quick glance at Wic then look back at Jess.

"Funny you should mention the Dragons. I myself am Sanctified. Our friend Wic here is unaligned."

[Smoothie]

Wic watches Trey closely to gauge his reaction, but can't help a pleased little smile from peeking out. "Currently Unaligned," Wic corrects him. "But I know so little about Dragons, I like to learn more."

Just when I was thinking I wasn't going to find any Dragons.

[Lady Cin]

Wilhelm warned me this could happen, I just hope I can survive this.

Jessie does her best to maintain her composure when Trey tells of his alignment, but a small twitch is unavoidable and she just has to try and make the best of the situation.

"Friend Trey, I have no grudge or fued with your covenant nor any of it's members. I follow all the rules set by Prince Vidal and do not try to make trouble or cause problems. I respect your choice and hope that you can respect mine as well."

She pauses, then attempts a small smile.

"If you can avoid 'preaching' to me, I swear not to 'lecture' at you, for so long as we decide to work together....if we can."

To Wic she smiles wider...

"Friend Wic, I will gladly speak to you further about my covenant and it's goals...but not at the present time. It would be a grave discourtesy to Trey and not conductive to an amicable working relationship."

[Treyvon Johnson]

I simply shrug at Jess.

"It's fine. I've never been one to force my beliefs on others. All I can do is help show you the way."

I look at the two before me and lean back in my seat.

"I think you guys have got a good idea, just your intentions are a bit screwed up. If that knowledge and dedication were applied to the right cause..."

I look at Jess again and smile.

"I'm not gonna preach. You do you and I'll do me."

[Smoothie]

"You know, you should both consider giving up your allegiances and becoming Unaligned. I could usher you through such a transition." His face almost lights up with humor, "Forgive me, I jest; I jest."

His face, still smiling, takes on a more serious tone, "Seriously, you are quite right, Jessie, another time and place, I'll be all ears.

"Now, what is this of us working together?"

[Lady Cin]

Pleased that she seems to have weathered the storm, Jessie continues with a more relaxed attitude.

"As I mentioned before, I need information. My mentor suspects that this attack on Prince Vidal may be a cover or ruse for something entirely different. He has asked me to find out everything I can about the attack. Who did it...for what reasons...and what faction was behind it. The position of the Ordo Dracul in this city is too delicate and we cannot afford to let anything jepardize it."

She pauses to collect her thoughts...takes a sip of coffee...then continues.

"I know my Master means well, but I think he overestimates my abilities. What he has asked me to do seems impossible for one person to accomplish alone. So I took it upon myself to find help and hope I can compleat my task. Are you interested? Will you help me?"

Doubt, hope and a touch of fear sum up Jessie's expressions as she waits for their answer.

[Smoothie]

To Jessie, Wic says, "I currently have no other obligations." The pleased smile on his face might cause her to pause a moment though. He continues, "I would be happy to help."

The risks of this job might be worth the possible rewards.

He turns to Trey, seemingly eager for his response.

Will this conflict with his obligations to the Idolaters of the Spear, or perhaps run parallel or even be looked upon favorably? Who would not want to learn such information?

Will this exposure cause a move against the Dragons?

In any case, this no doubt will prove interesting.

[Treyvon Johnson]

Should we find and deliver the assassin, I could gain a serious promotion in the church. With that influence, I could help instigate some changes for the better...

"You know, we have an Inquisitor for that?"

And that's not a job I look forward to. The only reason I wasn't pissed about playing bloodhound tonight was because I got a potential...minion out of it. Doing that on a nightly basis would drive me mad. The bad kind.

"Of course, it certainly would benefit us all. And I've got a good feeling about you two."

I smile at the two as genuinely as I can. I'm sure I'm going to get some slack from the other Sanctified about dealing with these two, and my fellow Succubi are going to seethe...But any oress is good press, as they say.

"I'm in. So does this make us a coterie?"

[Smoothie]

Wic can't help but chuckle at the lexicon nox noctis.

He glances back and forth between them, grinning, as he speaks, "Does that mean we need come up with name for ourselves? Do we swear oath to each other?" It's hard to tell if he's making fun of the situation or just enjoying it.

[Treyvon Johnson]

"Nah, names are silly. But I know someone who can bind our oaths in blood."

Being me has its perks. Sure I could make it so that should they betray me their blood boils inside their flesh, but I'd rather deal with betrayal personally. No, a simple oath should be simple and shouldn't cost anything.

"A simple one, written and signed in our blood. Should one of us betray the pact we make, the blood'll dry up. The trick is getting him to do it."

[Lady Cin]

"An oath could bind us together or tear us apart...but I'm willing to risk it," Jessie replied. "Can we fully trust this person you speak of?"

Jessie is no stranger to oaths; oaths bind the Dragons together. Without oaths, there would be no Dragons.