Chapter 2 - Radical Knights

It had been a long decade of unlife.

The most difficult part was the amnesia. Vlax had some vague memories of his childhood, parents, school, friends... all the usual stuff. Unfortunately, most of his life was a blank slate.

Kimberly had told him about everything that happened leading up to his death. In fact... she wouldn't let him forget it. The alerts he had raised about her took a lot of work and resources by Kindred to clear, and she owed more than a few boons. As she had explained... favors were currency for the undead, and -- as with normal life -- it's never good to owe a debt.

Kim was kind of a bitch sometimes. She often called Vlax by a nickname instead of by his real name.

"Door."

She called him Door, as a constant reminder of "what he had done." Turns out, Kindred have long memories and hold grudges longer than is probably healthy. There are plenty of stories of Kindred waiting decades, or even centuries, to take revenge for some perceived slight. That said... while she had embraced him out of spite, she had learned to appreciate his sleuthing ability.

Hank had supplied a body, and it was enough to get the Detective pronounced dead. With the head and hands missing, it made it difficult to prove who the body was... but with Vlax's clothing, ID, badge, and gun, it was enough for the coroner to determine it was him. Hank explained he had to die as far as the mortal world new. Kim explained part of the reason he was being kept locked down in her apartment was so that no one he knew would recognize him.

That wasn't to say he never went out. But he always had Kim by his side, and it was usually tied to learning about his unlife. They'd hunt. They'd work on whatever job she had... turns out the computer thing had worked out well, and she was much better off. As technology continued to advance, she stayed at the forefront.

The main thing they went out for, was Court.

Every three months, the Kindred of the city came together. Well, sometimes more often if something happened, but three months was the standard. The Prince of Seattle wanted to know how his kingdom was getting on. Clans and factions and unaligned, all playing their little games in the neverending quest for power. Kim hated it, but this was a huge part of their unlife.

Court was often a formal event... everyone dressed to the nines. Everyone wanted to one-up everyone else. Well... not really everyone, but there were plenty who did. The others? They at least played along. The exception was Summer Court. It was completely casual, and the Prince kept it light. One year they had literally held court at Alki Beach. They had to keep the Vampire-specific activities hidden, but seeing the Prince himself in a game of beach volleyball made him seem... much more human.

And that's where you're heading tonight... Court.

"Hey Door, we have to be there in an hour and a half... and I'd like to be there in 45 minutes. We can't be seen walking in last minute. You almost ready to go?"

Kimberly stepped out of her room in a beautiful dark blue evening gown and white high heels that seemed impossible to walk in. As she was putting her pearl earring in, she paused in front of the full length mirror in the hallway.

"Fucking hate that wearing the same outfit a second time is such a faux pas. I like this dress." She heaved a little sigh, as if she already regretted losing it.

Court was being held at the SAM. The Art Museum was probably the most common court location. Except on New Year's Eve, when the Prince opened his haven to everyone to ring in the new year together. It wouldn't take too long to drive to the SAM, but that still only gave Vlax about 20 minutes to finish getting ready.

Kim laughs. "You would hope no one would notice. Fun story, I waited seventy years before I wore a dress a second time. Six people remembered -- one of which was the damned Harpy. Within minutes, the entire court knew. The only thing that saved my ass? It was the first dress I had picked when my Sire released me. I was able to claim I had been told my sire had been named Primogen for the Mekhet in her current city, and I had worn it as an homage to where I came from. They decided it was a 'nuanced and understated display of honoring my Sire's accomplishments.' I went from being ridiculed to being applauded for my bold choice -- and commended for my respect -- in under three minutes."

If there was ever a tone of voice associated with eyerolling, Vlax's Sire hit the nail square on the head.

"You'd think people who can live forever would get a fucking hobby or something."

The fact that petty politicking and overly-complex manipulation likely was their hobby isn't lost on Vlax.

"That's the thing... it isn't about the fashion. Not really. It's just an excuse. What it really is, is a bunch of pirahna looking for that first drop of blood in the water." She adjusts her glasses, and proceeds to pick up the keys and hand them to Vlax.

She locks all the deadbolts to their apartment door, and the two walk to the elevator, taking it down to the garage. "I don't care about here, but be appropriately subservient when we get there. Even in the parking garage, we're at Court."

The sleek black '82 Mustang GT shines, having been washed just last night. The blue leather interior was detailed... the car was as clean as the day it rolled off the line.

"If you have any questions, ask them now."

"I don't know. It's not your first rodeo, you'll be fine. I just... something is bugging me about tonight I guess," she says with a sigh, shaking her head dismissively. "I just can't put my finger on it."

She gets into the passenger side, and holds her clutch in her lap. She wrinkles her nose for a moment, then she shrugs to no one in particular.

"No one is going to break the actual rules of Elysium. Most Kindred of the city wouldn't cross Hank... or Deirdre or Mariana. And those three are the least of anyone's worries... they're just the ones authorized to meet violence with violence at Elysium without orders from the Prince. If William himself is bored and decides he'll handle it?" Kim's voice trails off.

"I still don't understand why you didn't just follow the lead you were given, instead of going off half-cocked chasing some made-up scenario... but after a decade, I'm beginning to realize I don't think I ever will." She sighs, and looks out the window at the neon lights flashing by in the darkness.

She huffs. "That's still ridiculous thinking. If I was the killer, why would I tell you where to find my victims that you didn't even know about, making myself the only thing linked to them? As for wellness checks... if you kick someone's door in, you get what you get."

She falls silent for a bit before continuing. "You know, eventually I'm going to have release you. I truly hope the past decade has taught you not to go from zero to left field in the blink of an eye. Mistakes like that can end your unlife just as fast. And those pirahna? Manipulation is what they do. You can't be so quick to jump, or you'll be a pawn until you're put down."

Her tone is stern, but there is an undercurrent of concern. As you turn onto 2nd Avenue, the back side of the SAM just up ahead, you see a line of cars -- many of which are far nicer than the Mustang -- waiting to pull into the underground garage.

"And this is why you always leave early," Kim growls in frustration.

As the two finally turn into the parking garage, they are quickly able to find a place to park. Vlax does the reverse of what he did previously, opening the door for his Sire and helping her out. They make their way to an elevator amidst a few base pleasantries, and ascend to to top floor of the museum.

As the elevator doors slide open, the scene before them is quite a sight. Red velvet curtains adorn archways, held open using gold ropes complete with tassles. The figures milling about would put the red carpet at a major awards show to shame... if there was any question, there is some truly old money in attendance tonight.

Just past the entryway are tables with white silk spreads over them, champagne glasses perfectly lined up and waiting to be filled. What initially look like wine bottles on ice... aren't. The "ice buckets" are actually used to keep the water at a warm 99 degrees so that the bottles in them are warm. A larger container behind the tables is used to keep water at temperature, to refill the warmers with water that is already to temp as the water in the warmers evaporates. Only the larger warmer is topped off with regular temperature water, as the bottle warmers are never allowed to lose temp. Ghouls, very well dressed in their uniform suits, are actively checking every warmer when they aren't pouring a glass for the guests.

At the far end you can see a two-tiered dais with a high backed wooden chair resplendant with ornate engravings and plush upholstery, currently sitting empty. Along the hall are all of the art exhibits, and while they serve as topics of conversation or admiration for many, they are nothing more than set dressing on this night. The lights are low, but only a touch.

The Masters of Elysium each stand at opposite sides of the archway that serves as the entrance. As the two Shadows approach, they are closer to Master Bradley Jansen.

"Good evening, Lady Hale and her Childe." Bradley gives a slight bow to Kimberly, and when he mentions "her Childe," a polite nod of aknowledgement to Vlax. He then turns 90 degrees in a crisp motion that would make a Drill Instructor proud, and calls out, "Announcing the arrival of Lady Kimberly Hale, of Clan Mekhet, accompanied this evening by her Childe!!" He faces back to the two and smiles, saying "Welcome!" as he sweeps his hand into the event, ushering the two inside.

"Thank you, Master Jansen," Kimberly replies as she gives a slight curtsy and a smile. Vlax, having been through this song and dance multiple times, knows to bow but not speak. And just like that, they are inside.

A serving ghoul will be waiting for them, with a drink in each hand... almost. These ghouls have their timing down to a science. They are able to pick up the proper number of glasses based on the announcement, fill them, and then move to meet the arriving Kindred. It's a flawless execution, with the ghoul not arriving a fraction of a second early or a fraction of a second late so the Kindred neither feel rushed or that they were made to wait. All without spilling a drop. A silent drill team would be envious.

Drinks in hand, the next step in the pageantry would be the Clan Primogens.

Bats, the Daeva Primogen, is dead center. Somehow she's managed to make a decadent gown an almost lascivious affair, and her flock of ghouls -- all of whom are ridiculously pretty -- mill behind her like the show pieces they are. Heaven forbid she be without her entourage, she may not feel like the center of attention. She is the life of the party, but has fits that dwarf even the most popular and petulant starlets... just, never in court.

The Nosferatu Primogen, Stanley, sort of... is just there. He seems pleasant enough. Soft spoken, smiling, looking like he stepped right out of Leave it to Beaver or a Norman Rockwell painting... but there's something off. Is it the smile? The eyes? The posture? It always seems like it's the thing you're not paying attention to, but it's unsettling. You've yet to figure out how someone so normal can feel so... wrong.

Jabari, the Ventrue Primogen, is a big man. Big muscles, big personality, big laughs, even bigger smiles. And if the rumors are true... big temper should you cross him. Still, he seems like the type of guy you'd be happy to crack open a beer with... well, y'know... if you still ate or drank.

Rory isn't too different from Jabari, even though Rory is the Primogen for Clan Gangrel. Big man, big personality, but there is a difference -- Jabari is rumored to have a temper. Rory is known for it. He's happy to drop the "teddy" and just be a big bear. Sometimes literally.

And of course, the Mekhet Primogen. Alim is quiet, reserved, and surprisingly honest. He seems to know everything that's happening, for someone who deals in shadows he doesn't hide much. If he's mad, you know he's mad. If he laughs, you know it was funny. If he smiles, you know you earned it. Most likely to call a spade a spade, Kindred to love him and hate him in equal measure for the exact same reasons.

"Kim! So glad to see you!" Alim smiles as he steps forward to shake Kim's hand. He lowers his voice before continuing, "Of course, since attendence is not optional I knew I would, but I am still glad. I don't want the headache had you not shown up." He laughs at his own joke, taking a moment to regain his composure. "But I joke. I truly am glad to see you."

His eyes flit over to Vlax. "You brought your Childe, as you should. Have you... put thought into releasing him? It has been a decade. I know the embrace was in part to teach him a lesson, but... listen, I know it is not my place, but let's just say rumor has it other people have taken notice. You... may wish to consider your plans with him. Soon." He makes pointed eye contact with Kimberly, placing a hand on her shoulder before stepping away to greet another arriving Mekhet.

Kimberly and Vlax walk further in, and Kim mutters, "Well... shit."

Vlax whispers, once safe to do so, trying not to violate the custom of his silence and lack of stature. Why does it matter? I mean, responsible for me or not, I would still respect your advice, and... Our relationship doesn't have to change. Maybe everybody thinks we're separate, but... It doesn't have to be that way, right? I guess I just don't see how it needs to change things.

"It changes more than you think," she whispers back.