Finding a new home for the fledgling (attn Fallon, Mai)

Mai put her hands behind her back when she was done and waited expectantly. Cyrus made short but descriptive work of the explanation, giving just the right amount of detail necessary without turning it into a long drawn out tale of woe.

She now turned white eyes on the woman next to her clan mate.

"What is it that you wish from the clan? And what is it that you bring us?"Â?

The answers would prove whether or not the woman was truly right for Anantya. While Mai always felt that her kind would eventually fall into the right ways of her clan, she also knew that some were simply not ready. The others were not wrong in their differences, they were just further back upon the path. Water must go its own way but it always reached the ocean.

Feeling a little 'on the spot', Fallon's mind began whirling. The first part of Mai's question seemed simple enough, but the second was the part that she was afraid of failing.

"I wish to belong, ma'am. I love Nachton, and am very fond of Cyrus, but I'm looking for others...like me...who share and understand what I am now."

Because Cyrus was speaking in such short, concise sentences, Fallon assumed it was the way Mai expected to handle business. And Fallon felt as if she were here giving her resume; therefore, the meeting did have a business feel to it. Even though Mai had gone out of her way to make Fallon feel at ease, and welcome with the rose.

But what could Fallon give the clan in return? Surely they wouldn't need any junior high teachers.

"I'm not sure I have anything of value to offer."

She replied softly, and when her eyes looked upon the woman's white ones, she was afraid she had just failed an important test.

"I have limited skills, my vocation is teaching, but I would be presumptuous to believe I could teach anyone here anything. I'm afraid I am not wealthy either, though I would be more than happy to tithe to the clan. Beyond that, I can only offer myself. My body is yours in whatever physical capacity I am able to serve. I also offer my fealty, though probably not prized by anyone, it is sincere, and unwavering. And if you deem me worthy of assisting the clan in any other manner, I would do my utmost not to fail you."

It seemed so inadequate. She wished she had some rare talent, or ability that might be in high demand, but she was just a mediocre, next to poor girl from Wilmington, North Carolina. The urge to cry was almost overwhelming, but instead she looked at Cyrus, and stood as tall as she could manage. Sometimes strength could be gained if the facade was strong enough. She hoped this was one of those times.

Standing proud and tall as Fallon stated her desire for a clan and family. The loyalty and service humbled him as well. While he felt the same, to hear it coming from a scared young fledgeling simply reminded him of asking for admittance to the clan.

He wanted to hug her like a proud father, but restrained himself in front of the elder. Hoping that it was ok for him to add to her comments he addressed Mai respectfully.

"Fallon has proven to be quite intelligent and eager to learn, she is not deluded like many new and clanless vampires of her own immortality and superiority. She has shown nothing but compassion and strength."

Quite out of his element and unsure what to do he simply dropped back into silence. His hand found itself upon his fledgelings shoulder closest to him. Giving her strength and support while not overshadowing or pushing her.

Mai listened impassively to the reasons and answers given to her questions. They were honest enough and while there was perhaps more to both of them, the responses were logical. The woman needed a home and a clan; she needed a way. Understanding that was a big first step as far as Mai was concerned so many young people thought they did not need anything, others thought they needed a clan for companionship but not guidance.

It was a two way street, support and supported, love and loved, give and take.

She was a teacher. That is perhaps why she seemed to know some of these things well.

"One cannot teach without learning...and so one cannot learn without teaching, Fallon-chan."Â?

Mai made a noncommental noise at Cyrus's addition. She could see that for herself. However, she understood he was trying to help the girl. It was obvious Fallon had impressed him.

"Delusion does not always come in the beginning. Sometimes the fear of new birth lingers and this keeps the young one cautious. They bloom within the garden of their clan and then stretch themselves beyond its boundaries, feeling confident then and unafraid. When adversity comes upon them, it is like an unexpected frost and kills many such blooms."Â?

She turned her eyes to him and smiled.

"We cannot know how this flower will do until she is placed in the garden."Â?

Serious once more, Mai gazed in between and beyond them both, her voice was serene despite her words of command.

"But that is not solely for me to decide. I am but one of three. You must seek out, Morrigan-san. The Elder of the Rose will choose what you must do next."Â?

She made a slight bow to them both before continuing on along the path, a faint smile once more on her lips, as she spoke without turning.

"You may tell her that you come with my blessing."Â?

((OOC: Mai out. Have fun and good luck ))

Once again Cyrus had helped put Fallon at ease, without her even voicing the need. His simple touch allowed her to remain standing tall, even in the face of uncertainty.

However, when Mai was unable, or unwilling to grant Fallon's request to join the clan herself, Fallon couldn't help but drop her shoulder's just a bit. She tried to keep all other signs of disappointment from her face, until after Mai departed. And then without thinking, she turned into Cyrus and put her head on his shoulder. Her hands gripped his sides, as she spoke softly against his neck.

"Oh Cyrus, I must do this two more times? You didn't tell me I had to meet with three..."

She was scared, and anxious, and when she heard how whiney she sounded, it angered her. She had vowed never to whine...to turn into anything meeker than she already was, so she stopped talking, and after a few more seconds had passed, she lifted herself away from him.

"I do apologize. I had such a good feeling about Mai, that I guess I hoped it would all be over now. But if I need to meet with two more people...or twenty...I will."

Her words were said without quivering, but she still stood just a little less tall.

"Do you need to make another appointment...for another night?"

Cyrus was the only one who could show her the way yet. She would need to remain a burden to him a while longer.

Bowing deeply to Mai he thanked her for her blessing. "Thank you for the advice and blessing, Elder Mai."

He kept the bow until Mai exited and straightened as Fallon flung her arms around him. Gently patting her back he tried to comfort her.

Getting the blessing of one of the elders was a huge step on the path towards the fledgeling becoming a clanmate.

"There are three elders, one blessing is a third of the way there. This is a good thing. We can try to find the Elder of the Rose now."

With his hand still on her back he guided her back into the manor, in search of the butler to direct them to Morrigan.

Pulling herself together, Fallon was somewhat relieved to hear she might get a chance to meet yet another of the elders tonight. She could be patient, if the circumstances required it, but she would remain anxious until she had an answer one way or the other.

Feeling his hand guide her, Fallon stayed close to his side as they walked back inside.

"Can you tell me anything about Morrigan...or who the third elder is?"

And she also would have liked to know what to expect from the other two elders, but she didn't think it fair to ask Cyrus. Besides, he had never gone through this process before, she knew, so how could he know.

No...she would just be herself, TRY to relax, and hope for the best. There really wasn't anything else she could do.

Cyrus thought about the things he did know about the clan. His information could be woefully outdated but he would share with her what he knew.

"I believe Morrigan is the Elder of the Rose. That branch is the one full of clanmembers who are best at leading others. They are the ones that propel us into the future, though some resist. Should a battle be fought, you can bet someone from the Order of the Rose has carefully planned it."

Together they walked towards the Manor through the beautiful gardens.

"The Order of the Night is our diplomats and researchers. The elder is someone I am unfamiliar with, since I believe the job has changed hands since I was initiated. No order is greater than the other. Simply three parts to a greater whole."

"I follow Mai, the elder of the Hunt. Which dont let her appearance fool you. She is perhaps the best among us and thus deserving of the term Elder. The Hunt is the warrior arm of Anantya."

Opening a door to the kitchens, Cyrus held it politely for Fallon to enter. Once inside he looked about for an intercom or some sort of system to ring for the help.

She gave Cyrus her undivided attention, as he told her about Morrigan, and the other as yet unnamed elder. It made perfect sense that they should have a sort of...committee of elders, rather than just one omnipotent ruler.

"That seems a very good, and diplomatic way to run a clan. Not that I'm anyone to presume to know such things.

And Mai...she seems incredibly wise, but so young. I would imagine she has lived many lives though, to have reached such power. Out of curiosity, do you know...was she much more than a child when turned?"

Fallon had no idea if her questions were impertinent, though she hoped not. She was just curious about everything having to do with the clan.

Fallon stood by quietly, as she watched Cyrus looking around the kitchen for something.

"When you say you follow Mai...does that mean one of the other elders might ask something of you, in contrast, to what you do for Mai? Did you choose to follow her, or was the position assigned to you?"

Maybe it was more confusing than she initially thought.

"And if you get tired of my questions, please feel free to say so. I won't be hurt."

She smiled in a manner to show she meant what she said.

"Mai is many thousand years older than I. And yes, she was turned at a very young age, though where my people aged early hers may have aged later."

Finally finding an intercom he studied it briefly. He would rather page Rupert directly rather than the entire Manor. Pondering which buttons to push he continued his explaination. "While I am Anantya, I am also of the Hunt. I will gladly listen to any elder's requests, but should it clash with my elders' then I would follow Asahi Mai. Though I doubt all clanmates feel that way."

Hoping he had figured the contraption out he pushed a button and requested Rupert's assistance in the kitchen. Turning away from the white pad and speaker he told Fallon all he knew of the Elder of the Rose.

"Morrigan is a thousand years older than I. If memory serves she was a Celt and is quite a brilliant strategist. She is quite worth of every respect and honor the title of Elder gives her."

He was sure they would not have to wait overlong for the butler to assist them. Besides what else did the man have to do.

Rupert was beginning to consider a search party, and the only thing that prevented him was the knowledge that it would probably be fruitless even if every person in the Manor took to looking for Mai. She had a way of being found when she wanted to be found, or at least that’s the way he saw it.

He’d checked the gardens first, but a light dusting of snow covered any trace of people. Then he stopped by her quarters and fared no better.

He had a feeling he had –just- missed her. Perhaps such feelings weren’t reliable; he didn’t know, but after a while one got a feel for these things. The Manor had a pulse, a rhythm that Rupert knew like his heartbeat, and he fancied after all this time he might have a sense of the house.

Deciding that he’d be better off hanging up his coat now that he was inside, he went back to the small office just down the hall from the foyer and did so, only to have his musing interrupted by the sound of static coming through the intercom and a slight chiming noise. He checked the panel for the location and discovered he was needed in the kitchens.

He sighed inwardly and decided his search wasn’t accomplishing anything anyway before heading down the hall, slipping through a series of connecting rooms that made for a good short cut to the kitchens. Once he got back to the network of hallways, though, he slowed his pace and made the sound of his footfalls more deliberate so whoever it was could hear his approach.

One thing he had learned in his time here was that he did –not- want to catch a vampire unaware. He entered the kitchens and gave an acknowledging nod to Cyrus and the woman he didn’t yet know.

“Good evening. How can I be of service?”

How silly that Fallon hadn't thought of how different cultures were. Cyrus was correct...even though Mai appeared young, in her time she may have already had knowledge and responsibilities the youth of today would never fathom. Not that it mattered much now. After all this time, Mai would have learned more than Fallon could fathom.

Cyrus' take on his position in the clan didn't come as any surprise to Fallon. She wouldn't expect his loyalties to waiver in the least. And though his support was behind Mai, he still spoke well of the elder Morrigan. Fallon now looked forward to meeting this woman as well.

Once the butler had been summoned, Fallon leaned her hip against the wall, and waited. The wait turned out to be just a few minutes though, as she heard someone approach. Turning towards the doorway, Fallon smiled warmly at the man she assumed to be the butler Cyrus had called. Anyone who had a job of service, Fallon tried her best to offer compassion to, even if just in the form of a smile.

Hearing the footsteps down the hall caught Cyrus' attention. His gaze intent upon the door, hoping for the butler. Thankfully it was.

"Good evening Rupert. Thank you for your assistance. We were hoping for directions to Morrigan, if you have a moment."

With a friendly expression on his face he hoped they were not putting the man though too much trouble. Since they had not caused any property damage or eaten anyone, he figured that qualified as not being troublesome.

Rupert nodded his head at Mr…-Cyrus’s- request. Simple enough in the scheme of things, only you’d have to be completely off your rocker to not be a little unnerved…or scared shitless as the case may be…by Morrigan.

“Certainly I can direct you to her office; in fact I can lead you there myself if you prefer. Is she expecting you?”

"Due to our prior wanderings, we would greatly appreciate you leading us."

Cyrus' thoughts centered mainly on how accomodating the butler certainly was . How very pleasant. "Thank you for your assistance."

Rupert knew the ins and outs of the Manor better than most, though modesty prevented him from believing he knew the home better than –all-, and could therefore appreciate just how complicated it was for new visitors. With a nod of his head and a quiet ‘very well,’ his tone softened by the thanks from the polite gentleman, he turned to the intercom and pressed the button that would play a soft chime in Morrigan’s office, to make her aware there would soon be visitors.

“Right this way, then.”

With that, he began leading them through the winding corridors.

/ooc Rupert out, will start a new thread at Morrigan’s door. No rush, not trying to railroad or anything .

Holding onto his hand, scared to death of the possibility they might get separated, Fallon followed Cyrus as he followed Rupert.

(ooc: Fallon and Cyrus out)