Hi Honey, I'm home.

[Velveteen]

Velveteen listened to every spoken and unspoken word by those present. As each shared their news, and thoughts on the events that had transpired she began to see more clearly, the picture, that was coming together. After Zodiac had finished Vel remained still and silent for the longest time. She took everything in and processed it both personally and analytically and with every second the answer was becoming more and more obvious. They weren’t going to like it but when did they ever like anything that came from her or Tytonidae in general. Luckily Vel had never really thought what the general population thought. As far as she was concerned nothing good or very intelligent ever came from the collective minds of the vampire population of past. She had to wonder if that had changed or if, now that things had gone to ****, they might finally be in a place to listen.

The raven haired woman stood suddenly, nodding and making small noises as she continued her inner dialogue. The wheels of her mind were turning and the narrowing of her silver eyes was physical evidence of that. She stepped passed her husband, reaching out to run a long black nail down the side of his cheek as she offered a soft smile. Being near him after this all time and being able to finally reach out and touch him meant she would let no opportunity to do so pass her by.

Velveteen patted down the many of pockets of the floor length coat she wore in search of a packet of the coffee flavoured, tailor made cigarettes she had taken a liking to many years ago. Finding what she sought she made a sound of victory as she pulled one out and stuck it between her teeth. No doubt they were probably stale as **** but beggars couldn't be choosers. She stopped and flicked a small flame to life from the zippo that hidden with the cigarettes and inhaled deeply before exhaling slowly. Then she began to pace. Something the woman often did when dealing with a problem.

“The problem is not out there. It isn’t the humans. It isn’t the Jurogumbo or whatever the **** they are. Nor is it the sirens, the monsters or that ******* douchebag Administrator, or Theodosia. The problem is right here, in this room.” She stopped and faced the small group. “It’s the decisions that each of us made. Right or wrong. It’s the luxury of choice we have had since day one because everybody cried and said you can’t tell me what to do. The stupid went unchecked and there were no ******* rules. This is the problem. This is why things are the way they are.”

“You are right.” She allowed to gaze to settle on the smaller frame of the gypsy for a moment before continuing her back and forth sabbatical. “It has always been anarchy. That anarchy has led to chaos. Why? Because that’s what happen when you let idiots and children have their way. And we as a collective have allowed it to happen.” Vel stopped talking for a moment to to dag another drag and then tapped her fingers in the air as she considered her next words. “Even the attempts at council failed because too many were interested in their own self importance rather than the good of the general population.”

“All of us here in this room were humans before we were ...this. We lived by the laws of our former incarnation whether we liked it or not. And if we didn’t, then we hid our dirty deeds and hoped to **** not to get caught because of the consequences. Hell even animals have their own rules.The order of things keep the world in perspective. You flout those laws you pay the price and this is exactly what is happening. We have not had those laws. No governing body. Nothing to help us make choices except our own pride and self worth and look how that has turned out.” Velveteen scoffed and shook her head as tendrils of black hair fell about her face.

“The only way to fix this mess is shift the focus. Vampires are not the problem, it’s everything else. Right now the powers that be see the vampires as the root of all evil. We need to change that perspective. Become part of the solution, not the problem. If we can be seen to be effective in governing our own and be of assistance, even possibly an advantage to the humans as a whole then we might just save our sorry hides. With things as they are and a seemingly smaller population we might be able to do now what we have never been able to do before. Self regulate. Like it or not. It may just be the only way.” Velveteen dropped the mostly burned cigarette and crushed it beneath her boot as she looked to Micah. “I don’t trust them, yet I trust most of ours even less right now but I don’t really see any other way. Especially if we decide to stay. I aint ready to be spending an eternity in the fade. What do you think? Or do any of you have any better ideas?" She asked allowing her gaze to move over each of those present.

[Micah]

“Vel and I said this was going to happen, years ago,” Micah began quietly, focusing his attention on his childe. “We have always said that mixing with humans is not a good idea. This city has never been perfect, but back when we were first turned, it was tolerable. At least, I thought it was. And then you get morons like Robert Pratt and Enver Marshall. People who didn’t give a **** about the Crow. And Pratt thought it was a good idea to mix with humans. He was one person, with a small following of cult worshippers and those few people started us on this path. And look where we are now. Military in our streets, humans around the world know about us, and an ancient vampire that my own ******* childe helped to free.”

Even behind the mirrored aviators, Micah knew that his childe could feel the heat of his gaze. His eyes flicked towards Caligrace even though she couldn’t see where his attention was now. “I warned you all those months ago, Every, that you needed to make better choices. First Jesse. Now a human? A human who you continue to remain friendly with, and the childe of the idiot that wanted to free Theodosia.” His lip curled. “Pardon me for not differentiating between you and your sire, you ginger haired ******* menace.” He knew without even looking that Every was going to protests. “I don’t care what you have to say about it. It’s my opinion, I am entitled to it and it will not change so it’s no use wasting your breath. It’s not important now.” He drew in a breath that he didn’t need. “But dont ever try to convince Vel and I that humans are easier to deal with. They’ll be the death of us all, and I don’t know about you, but I ain’t ready to kick the proverbial bucket.”

He had forgotten how easy it was for him to lose control of his anger. Crowds had never served him well and that had only gotten worse since he’d been turned. He truly hoped that this thing didn’t drag on for long, or else he’d probably find about a hundred different ways to insult every last person present, except for his wife. Knowing her, she’d just laugh it off and egg him on. She usually got a kick out of seeing him in a temper and for the life of him, he couldn’t ever figure out why. But his wife tended to be a little freaky and he really ******* loved that about her.

“I honestly don’t have any ideas here, baby. This is your strong point. Me, I just shoot and ask questions later. I don’t think that would help matter any right now.” Though, he’d be a liar if he said that there weren’t a few people he’d like to take a shot at. Starting with that little ginger demon Every was so attached to. “Knowing you though, there’s something brewing in that pretty little head of yours, so let’s hear what you’re thinking.”

[Every]

As she listened to Alexandrea speak, Every resisted the urge to lift her hand and pinch the bridge of her nose. Afterwards, she gave a shake of her head. “Typically yes, that would be the case. However, I had told Locryn to aid Amalea in any way she saw fit. I don’t like the idea of forcing others to do things against their will unless absolutely necessary.” And even then, she thought with a frown playing across her lips, she didn’t do that much. Every could be bossy, but it wasn’t something that appealed to her. “She’s dead, has been for a while now.” There was a brief glimpse of sadness within hazel eyes before she glanced away from the blonde and looked around the room.

At the mention of Bancroft’s owner, she said, “Their aura was similar to Theodosia’s, dark but different and powerful.” A shrug of her shoulders fell after that and she remained quiet, listening. From Velveteen to Micah, to Caligrace and Zodiac, and then back to Alex, as words were exchanged she was paying attention. Her hazel eyes glowed briefly a shade of gold with mounted annoyance as she stared pointedly at the gypsy. “Perhaps you should open your ears. I was asked a question and I elaborated with an educated guess. Given your sudden desire to shoot me corresponded almost exactly along the timeline of when everyone else did, including Mortll, it was a safe one to make.” Her hand twitched for the gun that rest within reach, but rather than move to grasp it, she folded her arms in front of her chest and drummed her nails idly against her forearm.

She listened to Micah before she lifted an eyebrow. She didn’t say anything regarding Theodosia, they had that argument and they’d continue to have it over the years - but she’d fucked up and she’d admitted it. She had taken her licks and she hadn’t asked for help. It wasn’t until he’d mentioned her relationships did Every return the heated gaze, unwavering, “You’re entitled to your opinion, but I took Caligrace in after Nishaa and Freyja bailed on her. After the family went dark, and kept to themselves. She is my responsibility, whether or not you like it. That isn’t changing.” She didn’t bother to mention that she had no connection to Jesse - he’d said as much that he wouldn’t listen. Fforde was amongst those that had seemingly dipped out of town. He’d always told her that he’d never tell her that she couldn’t make her own connections, and even if he didn’t like them, it wasn’t as if she liked a quarter of those he remained connected to, either.

Every had kept in the city after Tytonidae had gone quiet.

She’d kept fighting for the masquerade.

She’d been there for Longslade, to search for the supposed cure, to fight the sirens.

And yes, she’d aided in releasing Theodosia, but she’d been there.

She’d stayed fighting.

“So what are you going to do, Vel? See if you can kick to action another collective group? Restore order to something that has never had any slight significance of sorts?” She wasn’t mocking the woman as she asked the question, eventually moving her gaze from her sire and then looking back to the other sire. “Shouldn’t be too difficult given the majority of everyone in this city keeps their heads down and keeps to themselves according to the police database. Those that make waves are typically noticed as if they’re wearing neon signs.”

The discussion about nukes and the rumors are something that she considers idly, lifting a hand to twist at one of the gold hoops that ran along her ear. She still wasn’t sure whether or not they’d stay, she’d been more fond of tattoos and necklaces. After a few moments of watching Velveteen pace, Every scratched at one of the piercings briefly before saying as she put her arm behind Caligrace, “I’m genuinely curious how governing our own is going to be any different than it was when we were doing as much with the masquerade. It worked for a while, yet eventually, giving two middle fingers to the city was essentially easier than wasting hours of effort and materials when enough of the collective individuals said get fucked, Tytonidae and ripped it down.”

[Zodiac]

She blinked.

Regulation was her answer? Following laws and with a group of executioners to enforce them? Zodiac wanted to see the vampire that would inform Theodosia about regulating herself and be bad enough to enforce it. She had to admit it was part of an answer to the whole issue but….

She could already see this playing out. It would be like watching a bad rerun of a totally for **** movie. She could not fault Vel for trying, but if this idea took root and finally was accepted, how long before others found a way to pervert it for their own purposes? Anyone who would think that could not happen had evidently been living in the night with blinders on. In a way, they would be trading one issue for another in due time, but something had to change.

If it could be done right this time….

She thought there would be more, but time had taught her the tiny steps most often led to an answer. She ignored Every’s barb. She imagined 2, perhaps 3 of those in attendance would enjoy seeing her snap at bait that would allow gunfire to be acceptable in this moment. The truth was simple. The girl had gone to great pains to avoid crossing paths with Every, until recent dealings found her in proximity to her presence. Was she afraid? Hardly, it just wasn’t worth her time or effort. She knew what kind of razor she walked along here and did not tempt it much. She could have explained this all but did not feel like having Every do an impression of Micah in response. She already had a touch of self superior arrogance in her voice as she always had when speaking to her. If she had to stop and deal with people who looked down their noses at her, she’d never get anything else done.

One day-perhaps. But there were more important things to deal with in the present. The needs of the many and all that nonsense.

”It might help some of the problems we have among ourselves,” she ‘spoke’ to all. ” But unless the living have some clue as to what is going on they will simply see it as us fighting among ourselves like wild animals. Perspective would be key. Some of us, if my intel is right, are already assisting the militia with the zombie problem. If this can add to whatever positive effects come from them working together, then it is a good thing. Once we get the living to relax a bit, hopefully we can focus on other parts of the issue.”

She looked directly at Vel and inclined her head. ”You have chosen a path of action. One that has worked in the past to a degree. With changes, it may be better. I will leave the details to the professionals. What I have heard here this night will not be passed on, I promise you.”

She could imagine it now. If the word got out bounty hunting was returning, how many of the ones who fought it down before would emerge from their holes to try and stop it before it could start? No, far better to unveil what was ready to go when it was ready rather than give warning it might be coming again.

A small smile finally graced her lips. ”If you require my help, just ask. I am not that hard to find if you know how to look.” she projected to all in the room. ”If not, no worries. I am exploring other, more esoteric means to solve another problem within our area of existence, plus tracking something that might help to show what the ‘Administrator’ actually is, so we are both working to the same ends together or separate.”

A glance and a wink at Alex as she put a bit of distance between herself and the group. One hand slipped into the pouch pocket of her hoodie, where she kept her homebound tome.

”Blessings of the night to you all,” she whispered before vanishing from sight. She had come, she had listened, she had advised, and Velveteen had made her decision.

There was nothing more to accomplish here, until she was summoned to help.

Or not.

[Alexandrea]

The sensitive allurist hadn't missed the signs of unhappiness that Every displayed when her thrall was brought up. Alexandrea felt bad immediately for bringing up the subject. It wasn't the time or the place to try to relieve her guilt, however. A quick order was put into one of her favourite florists to send something in an ikebana style along with a thoughtful note in a few days.

And as Every continued to speak again next after Veleteeen and Micah had shared thier thoughts, Alex's ire at the other woman soon faded. Things just sucked all the way around for everyone it seemed.

But the worst part was that nothing had seemed to change. It sad and it was maddening.

As Zodiac 'spoke' her mind to everyone else's, the blonde found herself nodding in agreement despite how much she had hoped that this time to find everyone for once all on the same side.

Alexandrea didn't leave with her friend, she wasn't ready to quit on this particular meeting of minds just yet, but as Zodiac left the room Alex sent into her friend's thoughts a request to wait up outside or meet somewhere close in just a few... as Alex was very certain that she wasn't going to be far behind the Mystic at all.