Leadership - open to all clan members

Despite his early evening recreation, Alec seemed to be the second to arrive after Carol and her panties...um...panties? Blushing, Alec looked around the room, at everything *except* Carol and her panties. He'd actually never been in the Stadium before, so it wasn't a wholly feigned interest. It looked pretty comfortable, and would easily facilitate a gathering, but wouldn't be as intimate for friendly movie viewing.

Friendly movie viewing. He was surprised at the number of Tacharan he'd discovered with that social hobby. It seemed that their reputation for being mercenaries, hardened killers, thieves and wayward children of the night didn't lessen their appreciation of cinematic goodness. Maybe they just needed a better PR agent. That reminded him, he hadn't stopped back in to chat with that Addison or his guests. He'd have to look them up at some point.

So...the big meeting and we're the only eager...um...

Blushing, he stopped short of saying 'eager beaver'. It seemed somewhat inappropriate given the way she was sitting. "Dammit, I know she does this on purpose."

...folk...around tonight?

Plopping into a chair in row four *behind* Carol and her panties, Alec figured he'd be safe from further potential embarrassment or uncomfortableness. Then he looked down to continue to chat, saw straight down her shirt, and took a sudden interest in the beverage bar.

Ginnie had left her lab covered in oil, dirt and tear gas fumes. Yeah that whole asking the geeks to move the bombs to the vault thing, was a really bad idea, when they all woke up, she was pissed. So she stopped by the apartment to shower and put on something less oil covered. She opted for purple hipster jeans and a black t-shirt with a kitten hanging from a tree branch and the caption Hang Loose underneath.

She grabbed her lap top and shoved it a pad of paper and a couple of pens into her briefcase, and headed for The Stadium.

As she walked she dug some gum out of a side pocket, watermelon bubble yum, and stuck the square in her mouth. As she entered the bubble she was blowing nearly shot across the room as she saw Carol's position in her seat and Alec's very red face. She pulled the gum back into her mouth and covered her laugh with a cough.

"Hi, guys."

Alexandra got the news there was a gathering fairly quickly, changing into a pair of black leather hotpants a matching bustier and a long sleevles leather overcoat she looked herself over in the mirror, pulling her hair back into a loose braid she finally sliped on her knee high black stiletto heels before heading out the door.

Making her way down to a place called the Stadium, never having been there before it took her a bit of searching before she found it, flipping her braid over her left shoulder she noticed Carol was already there and two other she hadn't met yet.

Leaning against a nearby wall for a moment she cleared her troath before walking over to where they seating/standing.

"Hi all"

Nodding her head as a welcome she smiled faintly at the people present.

A silent and focused Mathias headed to The Stadium Shay trying to keep up with him. they hadn't spoken much on the way over - this was subject they had agreed to disagree on. Something did not sit right with Mathias, and he intended to allay those fears or have the parties responsible answer for it.

Entering the auditorium, he noticed Ginnie and Alec chatting with Carol. Such a sparse turnout so far he mused I wonder where Simon is..perhaps he will make a grand entrance.

Taking a moment to calm himself,Mathias headed down to the row where the trio was assembled.

"Ginnie,Alec,Carol - an honor as always" His hand went to Shay's,gently squeezing it,drawing upon her strength. "You,of course,know Shay"

Noticing the new arrival he bowed slightly. " Hello - I am Mathias and this is Shay "

He would ask the questions that troubled him
He would set things right

Having grabbed his "beverage of interest," Alec started to return to his seat, stopped, grabbed Ginnie one as well. Turning back, he saw a new face and some old ones. It looked like the Clan was starting to gather. Fewer chances to fall into Carol traps, so that was all to the good. Sitting down, he handed Ginnie her drink and nodded in greeting to Shay and Mathias. Something was wrong there, but he didn't know either of them quite well enough to know just what. "Well, either it is personal and therefore none of my business, or it is professional and we'll all know in a moment."

Brushing his hand lightly over Ginnie's, he appraised her movements. She was still favoring the leg heavily, but her respiration and tone were both normal. She was well into her mending. As long as she didn't over-exert, she should be fine in very short order. Smiling briefly at her, he turned away to watch the entrance while sipping his drink.

He imagined everyone here had some questions, but his were likely going to be very different from most of the other folks. He was more concerned with the future than the past. "Just like a child to be worried about the future rather than to look back at what has been. Well, maybe this kid is what the doctor ordered. And maybe I'll quaintly stub my toe mid argument and all of the adults will coddle me and tell me lies like everything will be ok. Right."

Glancing around the room, Alec considered the other attendees, and their prospective roles in things to come. He just hoped that things didn't amount to open warfare again. Tach had bled pretty heavily the last time an established leader fell. Hopefully there would be a seamless progression this time. Hopefully things had calmed in the last few decades from the pictures in the Tacharan History Books.

Yeah, right.

It seemed she was going to need to beg Alexi to take her to the meeting. Even after she reminded him she was technically part of the Tacharan clan. But he finally relented, and now seemed to possibly be regretting his decision as he walked faster than she was accustomed.

Finally reaching the theater, Shay felt him squeeze her hand as he made his greetings. The simple gesture gave her the reassurance she needed to know he no longer minded that she had joined him. Smiling at Ginnie, and Alex, she also politely nodded to Carol and the remaining woman she had yet to meet.

Looking at Carol's outfit, as well as the other woman's, Shay felt woefully underdressed. Half for comfort, and half to show a more business attitude, Shay had dressed in soft grey wool gaberdine slacks...the kind that hugged her rear nicely, but were also appropriate in the corporate world. Over that she wore a royal blue cashmere sweater, that also clung to her curves. The deep neckline wasn't marred by her non-existent cleavage, but her smallish breasts still stood proudly underneath the feathery soft, blue wool. It was an outfit she thought Alexi would like, was comfortable for her to wear, and yet she doubted would draw undue attentions. Smart black heeled boots and silver earrings completed the ensemble.

She was somewhat surprised to find so few people at the meeting. Surely there were many more members of the clan. She hoped the scarcity of bodies didn't give an indication of people they had lost during the incident. She thought back to the information Alexi had given, and couldn't remember if he had mentioned casualties. The truth was at the time the only Tacharan she had been concerned with, had been hugging her.

Alexandra was feeling really out of place, here she was with all these people she never met before.. well exept for Carol, but she didn't know her either, looking down at the points of her boots she wondered why she even decided to go to this meeting, it wasn't as if she had been part of anything that happend in the past, Hell these people probably didn't even want her here.


Just as she was about to up and leave someone addressed her, looking the man and his companion over she almost smiled at him bowing to her.



"Alexandra.. nice to meet the both of you"

Pushing a strand of hair behind her ear she gave them a forced smile, sure they were being friendly... well as far as friendly goes with vampires but could she trusth them? she didn't know any of these people.. it was at times like this that she really missed Michel.

Swallowing hard she looked at the others in the room, they all seemed to knew one another.

Though it could have been her own awkwardness at being such a newcomer to the clan, Shay seemed to sense a little of the same in Alexandra. Sitting down in the same row as Alec and Ginnie...next to where Alexi stood, Shay looked at the girl and patted the seat next to her.

"Why don't you have a seat?" Maybe once the girl sat down, she'd feel less conspicuous...if that was how she was feeling to begin with...this was all assumption on Shay's part, and she knew she could be totally off the mark.

"I'm not at all familiar with how these things go, and wasn't at the actual event. Being a clan member, I just thought it was fitting for me to be here...to see where things are to be going."

There...Shay thought at least now she had tried. Knowing Alexi would be tied up with demons she couldn't really help him with now, having a little company to kibitz with might make Shay feel more a part of the activity.

"Are you new?"

The Double Doors slammed open with a loud *BANG* Winter stood arms outstretched, holding the doors open to the walls. A Dark icy look was on his face as he scanned the room, pale pink eyes stopping on each face, reading them..
he scanned everyone in the room, until his eyes fell on Carol.. He studied her face intently, looking for something..

he took a few steps inside and let the doors close quietly behind him, another cursory glance at the people in attendance and he spun on a heel, his long coat swishing out to the side as he did and proceeded to climbed the steps until he reached the top, back row of the Stadium..

He dropped down into the center seat, pulled his coat over his legs and lifted the hood to shield his sensitive eyes from the light..

Simon walked quietly down the hallway towards the Stadium, hands in pocket and head hung low. Checking his watch, he saw that it was still early. He slipped his hand back into his pocket and continued his slow stroll down the hallway.

He had been struggling with what exactly to tell the clan about Ellis. Carol had shown him the information that Alec had found. It told him more than he wanted to know. Then there was Carol, what would he say about their relationship and how would it reflect on his recent actions?

Simon was in a bit of a pickle, but he'd be honest with the clan, which was more than he could say for Ellis. He'd expect challengers, from within Nachton and out of country. He knew he already had opposition from within the clan building, Mathias being one. Unwavered alliance to Ellis which he understood, but she tarnished her own name. Still, people saw what they wanted to. He did, for fifteen hundred years.

Simon reached the double doors and walked in quietly.

Mathias took a seat near Ginnie and Alec,content to let Shay chat up this Alexandra be alone to his thoughts.

Mathias did not want to walk the path he contemplated,he respected Simon and Carol. But he had a duty - to Ellis, to ensure that even in death she was not falsely accused and to Tacharan, that Simon truly deserved to lead them and had not simply usurped his position.

And if he did? What if you are right Mathias..what then? Will this be Anantya again? Or this time will you stand for what you believe in? He glanced over at Shay. If it were merely him,then the answer was clear - but what of Shay? His choices affected more than just himself now. Truly, if Simon and Carol were capable of killing ellis and taking over Tacharan then what would stop them from exacting retribution from anyone who opposed them?

No,this would not be easily resolved...

Ginnie took the drink from Alec, and introduced herself to Alexandra, then nodded a hello to Shay and Mathias before settling in a seat next to Alec. She threaded her fingers with his, and sipped from the chilled soda in her hand.

When the doors banged open she looked back and saw Winter. She wondered how he was taking all of this. Winter frightened her, like no other vampire did, including Ellis, simply because of his blatant insanity. She would never know if it was real or just a very good act, and that fact alone scared the shit out of her. Though she his it well and she was fairly certain he was not aware of the fact.

She watched him climb to the tenth rom, sit and pull up his hood. Ginnie put her soda in the little cup holder and lifted her now free hand to wave at him. Her other hand gave Alec's a squeeze, and she turned back around to wait for Simon.

Debriefing, meeting, call it what you like; it was never Val’s favorite part of things. That and she was feeling oddly anti-social of late, something that was very unlike her. Ultimately she had decided it was better to be there than not though.

She did her best to slip in as unobtrusively as possible, only offering a polite smile to the gathered company. Even slightly unenthusiastic she was impressed by the room but quickly found a seat a little off to the side and quietly took in who was there, sorting out who she knew and didn't know.

Nova rubbed blearily at one eye while searching through her closet, being confident that all she needed to do was change her shirt and she would look good as new. Having spent the better part of the day in the lab with ‘Bill and Ted’, she was a touch worn out and figured she would sleep like the dead when she finally hit the pillow.

Well, she always slept like the dead, but that was neither here nor there at the moment.

Finally finding the shirt she was looking for, she pulled it off the shelf and threw it on, retying her hair afterwards and heading out of her quarters.

On the front of the blazing yellow tee were the words ‘Simon Says.’ Nova felt it was fitting for the occasion and made an excellent show of support.

The fact that the back said ‘Go fuck yourself’ was just her way of being expressive.

She strolled in, gave a general nod to the room, and grabbed a seat near the front.

Looking at the other woman for a moment Alex relaxed a bit, as she patted the seat next to her she smiled, stepping closer she sat down crossing her long legs at the knee.



Taking a deep breath of air she listened to the woman who had been introduced as Shay, she seemed nice enough.

"Thank you"

Smiling again she looked down at her nails, she wasn't the shy type at all, but meeting like this made her feel uncomfortable to say the least, not knowing anyone, being the newbie.. it just made her feel out of place.


Looking back up at Shay she nodded, a smile once again forming on her lips.

"Yes I am, I just got here a few days ago"

Holding out her hand she smiled and this time the smile did reach her eyes.

"Alexandra, and you're Shay?"

It was nice to have the ability to be social when the need arose. Being new herself, and without knowing too many others there, Shay didn't think it would hurt to rectify that situation. Besides, the more people she knew, the larger knowledge base she'd have to draw from, when writing her characters.

"Yes, I'm Shay. It's nice to meet you Alexandra. Are you vampire...or...familiar?"

If a person couldn't ask that question within the clan walls, then where? Shay didn't think she sounded impertinent...just curious.

"I'm the latter." She said, glad she could state it without actually saying the word. She took hold of Alexi's hand as they sat there, hoping Alexandra understood the connection.

Because the other woman appeared to be alone, Shay assumed Alexandra was vampire. But it was easier to just ask outright...something she hadn't done when she met Alec or Ginnie. She now wondered about them all the time...assuming in their case at least one was vampire. The other could conceivably be the corresponding familiar. There really wasn't any way now to find out by asking though...Shay thought that would just be rude. If she could remember, she'd ask Alexi...the thing was, she liked them both either way, so it only mattered in regards to knowledge for the book.

"Were you there?" A look of distaste crossed Shay's face, when she mentioned the 'event'. Though she had heard the horrors, and knew how difficult it still was for Alexi, she would probably never truly understand just how awful it had been. The more she knew, the better she could be when listening to Alexi talk of it. If it weren't for him, this particular knowledge would have meant nothing.

Walking in, Simon noticed that most of the regulars were present and accounted for, save for Addison, Ellis' new familiar. He took his hands out of his pockets and stood quietly until all eyes were on him.

'I apologize for the delay of this meeting and keeping everyone waiting. Recovery from the sun exposure was a bit more than the norm, but I feel fine now. Thank you to those who stopped by and sent well wishes. Also thank you for coming here tonight, especially the new faces.' He noded towards Alexandra and Shalimar.

'Most of you here were present for the raid on Terrance Hillman's compound that resulted in what's being reported as a terrorist attack. The destruction of the compound was a success, although the attention wasn't exactly what we had in mind. As you know, this type of aggression towards humans, facilitated by Ellis, will not go unnoticed by the Elders in the city or by the Tacharan clans from out of country. What we did was...frowned upon.'

Simon made eye contact with each member as he spoke. His face remained emotionless, as is the norm, but inside he was grappling with what exactly to say about their dead fearless leader. With a deep breath, he continued.

'The result of the raid has been disastrous. Our reputation, our lively hood under scrutiny and the death of Ellis. I will undoubtedly be called in front of the elder council to answer for our actions and the whereabouts of Ellis. They want to know what happened and I know all of you do as well. You deserve it more than the Elders.'

With a sigh, 'I don't have the words to describe the intensity that Ellis had, the sheer will to retaliate against those who she thinks have wronged her. I have been with her since the beginning, since before Tacharan. Her life was mine. Her goals were mine. Her happiness...was...mine. Till that day. Carol and the mercs discovered information about Ellis' ties with Hillman. Ellis' own admission to me as we exited the compound confirmed it. The information that Alec, 'nodding towards the little rogue vampire, 'in the archived files proves that she did, in fact, betray her clan.'

Simon looked around the room, catching the expressions, or lack thereof, of some of those present. Carol had been quiet the entire time and sat with her hands in her lap. She raised her eyebrows slightly at him just then.

'Ellis is gone. I watched her slip into the fire below, back into the sub levels. But it isn't so much a question of what I could've done...but what I should have done a long time ago.

'I loved her.' Simon's voice choked up, much to his surprise. He cleared his throat and continued. 'But what she was doing to the clan, to us...was wrong. Call it simply what it is people, Ellis was a traitor and a cruel one.'

Simon considered bringing up his family being hostage all these years and familiars being farmed from his genes. He decided that her actions should be enough to condemn her and his family was his own business.

'I'm assuming leadership of the clan. If there is anyone here who wishes to speak against that decision, now is the time to do so.'

He knew he'd have challengers, he just hoped it wasn't from within Nachton. Simon looked around and waited.

Ginnie sighed softly at Simon's words. She had spent the time since the raid holed up in her lab rebuilding the millions of dollars of weaponry Ellis had commanded for the raid. She had taken that time to sort through and catalogue every word that had been said leading up to and during the raid. Everything Carol has said into the com, every word that Simon had uttered, every single itty bitty thing had been stored in her eidetic memory and she dwelled long and hard over it all.

Ginnie had always had a respectful fear of Ellis. She could not hate her, as she had given Ginnie a home and a job when no one else had. She had accepted her talents and let her do the very thing she loved. She had never felt used or betrayed until now. That asshole had ben using her people, her contacts, her goddamned guns, and she had had to damn near wage a war to get things back in order.

She was going to have to spend some time with Carol and see if any of her information held a contact list, or shipping manifests that only Ellis, Carol or Ginnie would have access to. Because that would make this so much more personal.

She studied Simon for a moment. She had always, always, trusted Simon. She'd never gotten a creepy vibe from him, had never feared him, and had always had nothing but respect for him. She stood, slowly, pulling her fingers reluctantly from Alec's.

"I do not stand in opposition, but in support. I have lost a great deal in the Hillman Conflict, and I more than any of you should be angry with the outcome. I wondered if Simon had betrayed us by killing Ellis himself. I wondered if Carol had done the dirty deeds that lead Hillman to my gun ring."

She turned so that she could look at all assembled. Knowing she had to trust these people, and there was no going back now.

"Some of you know and some of you don't that I own the black market gun trade in Nachton and the surrounding area. I also lead in trafficking in a great deal of the east coast. Hillman took a lot of that right out from underneath me. I couldn't figure out how he was doing it and it has taken a street war to get myself back on top. You do not know what I have had to do and how many people I have had to kill because of that bastard."

She directed her gaze to Simon, the anger making her hands shake.

"I went into this for revenge of my own. I did not go because Ellis ordered me. I gave her my guns, but I walked into that building and set those charges because that man nearly destroyed me and mine. I am a vindictive woman. I believe that you will get what is coming to you. I believe Ellis got what was coming to her. I will stand by you Simon, not because the leadership defaults to you, but because you are and have been the true leader of this Clan for a long time. I will die for you Simon, I would not have done so for Ellis."

She held his gaze for a moment longer before returning to her seat and letting the anger inside her tremble through her body.

Winter sat, motionless, digesting what Simon had said he almost didn't hear Ginnies words.. over and over snippets of Simons speech echo'ed in his head..











he noticed Ginnie had finished, he had only half listened to what she had been saying, something about being a good contact for weapons.. 'gotta remeber that, ginnies got the hook-up... maybe I should pay her a visit' "pay them all a visit, one by one..bleed them dry' 'no! these are Tacharans! don't even think of such things!' he squished the dark voice down to the corner of his mind. there were more important things going on, he needed to focus! he ordered himself..

Winter spoke up from his seat in the back. "she betrayed us, so you betrayed her.. and you let her die..." he said, almost a question, but not quite.. "and now you stand here, informing us that your the new alpha..." he stared unblinking at Simon "so now its the law of the wild, rule of the strongest eh?" he said without emotion "You 've removed your oppisition and have even claimed Ellis's woman as your prize.."

He jumped to his feet and flared his coat about himself dramaticly.. "Hurrah to you good man Simon, poor tortured Simon, ever stoic Simon.." his voice now higher pitched, in a sing-song style he said "The unsung Hero now would be a King!" Winters laughter became faster, manicical now "All Hail the new King, and his court of the damned!" he smiled and then as suddenly as the manic laughter had started, it stopped, his voice was now flat, detached, cold "May you reign until the next Usurper appears"

soudlessly Winter walked to the exit, and left..

'Drama Queen'
'oh shut up!'

Carol turned to look at Winter, his voice low in the back.

"You 've removed your oppisition and have even claimed Ellis's woman as your prize.."

'What the...fuck,' she murmured under her breath. Carol was startled when Winter jumped to his feet, his voice changing dramatically. As he left, she turned back in her seat and stared straight ahead, past Simon.

"...and have even claimed Ellis's woman as your prize."

The implications of his statement made her nervous, to say the least. Although it would be easy to assume that he'd take over her property, familiars included. She was fairly certain he'd release Addison, but they haven't talked to him yet. Marthinus was suppose to. She crossed her arms in front of her, as if she was shivering. She was surprised to notice that she was.