cape_kore | video;

[A woman's voice, subtly lyrical, and with a faint Eastern-European accent (Russian, if your ear is very good), comes from offscreen.]

—and after everything we'd done for her, that I had done for her! The [Russian expletive]. And now everyone's gone and God what have we—

...Jones...what are you doing.

[A woman's voice, also with a light Eastern-European accent—Lithuanian, if you're getting specific; the communicator probably belongs to her, and is tilted away from her face so all you can see is the black fabric of her dress.]

Ah, I think I've figured out what it is supposed to do—see, it is sort of like Dr. Brown's portable telephone, except you can see people's faces, yes? ...and also it is on your wrist, I suppose.

Well, what are you doing with it? Are you doing something with it? Is it on?

I thiiiiink...

[A finger taps the screen a couple times.]

Er, I think it might be broadcasting right now...

Broadcasting? Who in God's name would it be broadcasting to? Is mine on? I've tried not to touch it...

That is a very good question... Oh, I think yours is off, Anna. But, ah... hello? Is anyone there?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...Alright.

(( o7 ))
(( also... switch to action? ))

((Up to you two, just lemme know.))

(( let's do this B| ))
[ ACTION ]

[ She had poked idly at the communicator for a while more, irrationally resentful at Dr. Brown of all people, as if by sheer virtue of being from the future he was somehow personally responsible for every incomprehensible piece of technology she ever encountered. Every few moments she turned to look at Jones, just reassuring herself that she was still here, that they'd really survived. After Chicago...she didn't know whether to be frightened at their situation or just relieved. Exhausted, and relieved.

Of course, she suspected the Huntress was furious, or that she would be furious if she were to switch to being her. All the more reason not to think about that too much.

But Mina would be here soon. And that, too, strange enough, was a relief. ]

[Mina arrives a short while after. The ridiculous costume from her final day in Chicago is gone, replaced once again by her customary suit and fedora. She's carrying her jacket over one shoulder, however. And her tie is looser than normal. When she spots the two women, so familiar in a world of strangers, she pauses. Briefly.

And then she's walking at a brisk clip, approaching them in her businesslike manner.]

Seneschal. Harpy.

[She tips the brim of her hat to Jones.]

Welcome to this little hellhole they call Cape Kore.

[Jones nods politely, and only pauses a fraction of a moment before saying—]

Primogen Barrett. It is good to find you well, even if we are in a rather strange situation. Do you know much about this place, yet?

[ She's grateful for the use of the title — after all, wasn't that what she'd been insisting all along, ever since she became: that she was "still Kindred"? And yet she has to keep herself from addressing Mina as "Queen." ]

[ Less easily controlled are her own illusions: the glamour flickers once, briefly, to show a streak of lightning through her hair, even as she echoes Jones' nod with her own. ]

Indeed, [ she continues, attempting to pretend that didn't just happen ] wherever we are, it clearly isn't where...She meant to take us.

I don't know much about this place, but I know that everyone has a different theory about who or what sent us here.

Which leads me to believe that probably none of them are true.

That may indeed be true, although I've yet to hear all these theories. I'm beginning to suspect this is a situation where Occam's Razor does not apply.

[She looks thoughtful.]

I suppose it could be worse. At least there seems to be food and shelter...

Occam's Razor?

[ But on to more important matters than Jones's esoteric terminology. ]

The matter of shelter is my own concern. Mina, I take it the fact that you're still capable of standing before us means that the basements here are...safe?

The basements. Attics. With a few alterations, the bedrooms will suffice as well.

[She pauses a moment, bridging her fingers.]

As to the matter of food...

In the interest of fairness, I will tell you right now that I intend to break the Masquerade. A population of this size cannot maintain a Kindred, let alone three, without accommodations being made.

Occam's Razor is the principle that the simplest hypothesis is most often the correct one. And, ah, you shouldn't worry about supporting a third Kindred, Primogen, although perhaps you and Anna ought to discuss the possible ramifications...

[ Anna's eyes dart briefly to Jones when Mina makes her remark about three Kindred, and for a moment her lips part in anticipation of correcting her. But this is Jones's secret to keep.

And besides, the other matter Mina brings up is far more pressing, and she cuts in when Jones is halfway through the word "ramifications": ]

You have got to be joking. Ramifications, yes, doesn't even begin to cover it. Surely... Mina, you're Ventrue; if you don't have a way with animals already you should be able to learn without much trouble, and then you could teach me... It may not be pleasant, much less enjoyable, but there's no need to be drastic!

[ a pause, and she collects herself ] I admit that I can see some use in admitting — carefully — to some of the...more unique things that we three can do; this is a unique place and I'd rather risk it than be caught unprepared. But the nature of what we are is another matter entirely.

There are two kinds of Masquerade breaches: Targeted, specific explanations to choice people or bloody massacres resulting from stupidity or hunger. I am choosing the former in order to avoid the latter.

[And as far as she's concerned, that's the end of it. Her eyes flash back to Jones.]

What do you mean by that?

The fact of the matter is that I have not been precisely forthcoming, as a result of a... variety of circumstances, some beyond my control. Truthfully, I would have liked to have made this clear much sooner, but... well.

Primogen Barrett, I am not a vampire.

(( the latest of replies, but whoops I guess we should resolve this beyond Anna just popcorn.gif-ing forever ))

I suppose you wouldn't have seen her display when we fought the Baron... We killed the bastard, by the way. [ Almost a pointless victory, given what happened afterward, but... she'll take what she can get. It's about all she can do to keep herself from having a nervous breakdown at the moment, anyway. ]

[ But really, there's not much she can hope to add right now; she finds herself taking a slight step backwards in unconscious anticipation of the fireworks that are doubtless about to commence. Mina may be many things, but she is fairly certain that temperate isn't one of them. ]

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