EMERGENCY COURT (ATTN: ALL KINDRED)

Jason watched as they doused the vampire and lit him on fire. He shuddered and turned away from the flames, but looked back and watched. I don't know who you were or what you did friend, but I'm glad I'm not you. Apparently, kindred society didn't take too kindly to treason.

He made a mental note that treason did seem to fall in line with what his sire told him about the Carthian movement.

There was a part of him that cringed horribly at the sight of the burning Kindred, while his Beast seemed to laugh maniacally within him, huge awful and wolven maw open and showing those wicked fangs, cackling like a fiendish hiena while the other creature was destroyed...

Yet the man's face seemed to harden, almost somewhere else, far too concious about what it meant for someone to be burned alive like this, how much the Prince must have wanted that creature to dissapear to condem him to something that brutal, that painful, to become ash, to dissapear forever and be scattered by the wind, as if you had never existed as anything more then dust.

Yet there was no pitty in his eyes as he watched the misserable wretch twist and scream, crying out only the gods knew what before he dissapeared into nothingness...

His eyes moved just for a second to spy Char's reaction, but said nothing about it yet.

A sermon, eh? Harry was intrigued. He would definitely be sticking around a bit longer. After what he had just seen, the words of a Sanctified as esteemed as Nicolo were sure to be a comfort.

Arnold leaves his seat and exits the arena. No, thanks on the sermon. He emerges out from the theater onto the street and walks away into the night.

The Beast growled obviously within him, snarling at the new commer, eyes in a glare, dark and hungry, staring deeply into it's enemy, it's prey, ready to pounce the second he would allow it free reign, gnashing fangs threatening in the darkness of that pit were it made its lair...

Yet the man knew this was neither the time nor the place, and although jealousy dictated him to do something about it, there wasn't much he could trully do, after all, they had just met.

"Fuck first a church sermon announced and now you leavin'?
Can this night get any worst?" There was a smile on the Gangrel's lips despite the bad news, joking slightly as he knew things weren't going his way, he imagined those two had something going on since the second she looked at him, but that didn't meant he had to just stay at the side lines and watch, after all, this was a free country, his eyes looking for those of her, emerald green meeting its match, giving not great thought to the man that was ofering to take her home, his hand still on the armrest sliding gently to brush hers "at least give me your number, so I can ask you about..."

He was left with a black when it came to make up an excuse to talk to her a soft and confident smile with wild and free fangs showing up just for a second "...whatever you want"

Rahyna knows that Shadow will want to stay and hear the sermon so she opts to stay and listen herself she had listened to many sermons at Shadows side through the years what was another even though she wouldn't be by her side she could watch her and make sure she was alright.

Well, I guess I might as well see what this is about, Jason thought at the mention of the sermon. He was, after all, hoping to catch Davis after this was all over. Jason wanted to learn some of those neat tricks that he'd seen Davis do at the fight, like the claws.

"I'm not the one askin' fer the forgiveness of this fine lady here...
So I wouldn't be taklin' about burnt hogs if I were you" There was an obvious laughter on Johann's voice as he answered back, his own eyes with a predatory glow to them, green and wolven as he stared back at the Carnon, not caring if the other guy wasn't fast enough to get it all...

His own hand slidding gently to hers, holding it in a mixture of protectiveness and conforting, as if to assure her there was no reason to be afraid, that he had it all under control.

Neil stands and leaves the Arena, he was a busy man and did not have time for sermons. He was sure Nicolo would understand but he needed to leave.

Asa stayed, for many reasons. First, though, he texted Olivette.

Ishani stayed, and he wanted to see her before leaving.

He was a member of the First Estate.

He was curious to see his clan-mate 'in action'.

He didn't want to be the only Priscus that left.

He was a man of faith --albeit not in the dogmatic sense.

He really hated Gabriel Marcus for what he had done to him, and staring at his remains was a bit therapeutic.

Sometimes in life, all of your motivations in a given moment crystallize, and he felt serenity wash over him. He looked up into the balconies and wondered what Ishani thought of the evening.



"Enough," the ghoul said, as the figure finished burning. Joe was led back down the fire escape, where a waiting Olivette was just getting ready to make her way up. The sleeping mask was carefully placed back on the Detective and he was led back to the car.

Olivette sent a brief message on her phone back to Asa.

Nicolo smiled at Bella and her little kiss, then rose and made his way to the edge of the balcony. He had seen Davis do this, so it couldn’t be that hard, but when he looked over the edge, it looked a lot farther down than he had expected. Closing his eyes, he let the blood surge into his limbs to safeguard his fall, fortified his will and hopped over, letting himself fall to the pit below. A long fall but nothing broke. He smiled.

He then walked up to the site that had held a chained Gabriel Markus a mere ten minutes ago. Now all that remained of the Kindred’s Requiem was a tarry black goo that smoked and sizzled from the chains and puddle on the ground. Nicolo made the sign of the cross, and turned to the faces of the Kindred who remained to hear his words.

“There are those among us who have at least considered the idea that we as Kindred are here on this earth to prey upon the kine population. Perhaps you don’t believe you are God’s chosen Damned with the responsibility to do so, but none-the-less, you may be curious as to why we must do so discreetly.

Why must a predator as powerful and efficient as a vampire be relegated to the shadows?

Why did God bless us with the skills and longings of the wolf, and put us among the sheep of this Earth, only to forbid us to prey upon them in any fashion that would break the Masquerade?

Certainly the wolf does not hide his predatory manners. A sheep knows a wolf and he makes no effort to hide himself and his ways. So why must we?

We, as the Damned, are innately superior to the kine, as kine are superior to the beasts, and we have been blessed by God with a divine right to exemplify fear among them. We must, however, take care to safeguard ourselves against the sins of pride and arrogance. If we set ourselves up openly as the Lords of Humanity, inevitably we will lose our divine purpose to excessive ambition, greed and pride.

In His infinite wisdom, God burdened us with weaknesses in order to make our Masquerade discretions essential. As you have witnessed here tonight, our unlives are not immortal, our Requiems not everlasting. Vampires as a race have many flaws that make us easy targets to kine hunters should we reveal our true natures. And when you breach your own Masquerade, you risk your Brethren as well.

Ultimately, God gave Kindred weakness, not so Humanity could destroy the Damned, but so that the Damned would be forced to strike at Humanity. To fulfill our destinies. We must elevate the Masquerade, not for mere survival, but for heavenly mandate.

So yes, each night we must protect the Masquerade to protect our species and ourselves. But we are tasked with a higher calling than just survival. Our purpose here on earth is to do more than just survive, and to do so we must carefully safeguard against the sin of hubris, and elevate our work toward the goal of more than just a meal."

Nicolo finished, and listened to the silence. It had been a very long night. He turned, and bowed very deeply to his Prince, then walked out of the pit to find an exit. He didn't think he'd make it 50ft back up to the balcony.

Ace smiles. Of course... You uh, wanna head back to my place?

Ace grins, taking her back to his haven where they can hang out and talk about the night's events, and perhaps enjoy some flameless candles.

Asa heard Nicolo speaking, but didn't listen. Seeing Gabriel again had dredged up memories; and although watching the fucker burn had appeased the rage, the memory of that night alone was unpleasant.

He realized that he really didn't give a shit about personally making sure some Kine got tucked into bed safely. Olivette could do it -- and if she couldn't, well, he'd deal with that mess later. What he wanted was to see his favorite Shadow. Asa sent the text to Olivette as Nicolo finished speaking.

As soon as people started moving, Asa stood and started moving towards Ishani.



Olivette read the text, with some apprehension, and then did as she had been told. Knocking on the partition, she asked the driver to return to the park, as she sat with Joe.

Nicolo's words ring true in Harry's ears. The man they had all watched burn was a fool, there was no denying it. The Heavenly Father had a plan, and His Damned had to be very crafty in order to rise above their punishment and do His work. The Priest had spoken concisely and eloquently. He could see why the Prince had chosen him.

After a moment's reflection, Harry got up and walked out of the Grindhouse. He had a lot to think about this night.

Mrs. Scotts headed over to Icarus and bowed, waiting for him to acknowledge her.

Joe ran through his thoughts about the man that burned. When they arrived at the park, he asked Olivette if there was anything else. If not, he had other matters to attend to.

Olivette shakes her head in the negative, and wishes Joe a good night. Her demeanor is sincere, and touched with apology at what he's been through. With a blush, she returns his clothes and tells him to keep the suit.

Joe O'Connel:

Thank you madam. He leaves.

Anton had witnessed the immolation with cold eyes, detached from the Beast's schizophrenic braying. It's fear of that heat, the elation it spat at anothers destruction were ignored like so many other torments, both inflicted and endured during his tenure as Inquisitor.

He stays around for the sermon and makes a mental note of those others who want to hear it, or at least want to be seen hearing it. His hungry eyes are firmly pressed towards the preaching man. A Primogen-Priest, what an oddity. He finds Nicolo's words to be something of a boilerplate, but reminds himself that this isn't Mass. They're for the benefit of the lost who lack purpose. The mewling neonates as much as the seasoned Grandeur. Yes, yes, he's no Reverend Wealth, but who can claim to be these nights? That man could make the flesh tapestry scream out like a gospel choir and wail out that Centurion's dark truths.

Anton stands and takes a moment to witness the remains of a sinner before leaving the Grindhouse.

Elle leaves when Davis does.

Aura leaves with her sire.

The young Gangrel smiled at Veritas with an easy look on his face, about to tell her that it wa ok, that he wouldn't let it get too loud, but before he could say a word he felt Char stand next to him, announcing so elegantly how she would decide who was better suited for her...

Anticipation growing in Johann's mind at the posibilities, he wondered how much of a driver was she, if anything, it only made him want her more, a low growl escaping his lips as she kissed her cheek, a sound more of desire then threat, yet still dominant and wild, his eyes fixating in hers as she grew distant once more, the smile on his lips growing even bigger, following her almosdt without regarding his 'adversary' untill they were outside.

"Alder Baron Judex Icarus; I was hoping that we might be able to discuss some recent developments with you at some time in the near future. I request an audience, as whip to the Priscus." (she glances at the never sat in Mekhet Priscus chair)

She looks around. "I believe a private place would be appropriate for this discussion."