Praxis New Orleans Part 1

Tonight we pick up where we left off what seems eons ago in the City of New Orleans.

Chapter 1, Scene 2:  Praxis New Orleans

     The Coterie made it out of the most confusing Nosferatu Warrens that they had probably ever seen. They make it back to their havens and another dawn passes with quiet ease while their undead bodies are hard and useless until the next nightfall. They arise, Marie with Kevin in their personal haven in the French Quarter, Gangrel in his tower sanctuary in St. Louis Cathedral, Lord Alex from hers at House Tremere New Orleans, and who knew where Caprice came from! They were all given a note to meet at the World Famous Cat's Meow. The beat of the karaoke bar beat into the sidewalk with what felt like electric pulses much like a live beating heart. It was hell on any vampire ears, but more so for Toreador which would be Marie.

Angie: ::::Kevin had his arm protectively around Marie. It was an instinct now that they were inseparable.:::: Are you going to be okay in here? <d>

Marie: :::Marie looks around and nods to Kevin enjoying the beats of the music:::: Yes dear. I am okay in here. <d>

Angie: ::::Kevin grins at her, lightly kissing her on the lips, then pulling the door open for her leading her in.:::: Are you going to sing tonight? You do have a beautiful voice. ::::Still grinning.:::: <d>

Marie: ::::they both walked inside she lightly kissed him back::: Thank you dear. I will sing if there's no one using the spot. :::Marie giggles:::<d>

Angie:  Good! I hope there's no one there. :::When Kevin led her inside they spotted Caprice alone at a large table in a non conspicuous place in the bar. She was doing the gaggin thing with her finger down her throat at the sight of the two lovie-dovies and the noise she was making was pretty loud, too.::::: I guess we gather there? ::::He asked Marie :::: <d>

(If Marie checked the karaoke spot was open)

Marie: :::::Marie looked at the spot and sees three teenage girls singing on the stage, Marie giggles:: I can wait. Let's sit with them for now.  <d>

Angie:  :::Kevin nods to Marie but when they were closer to Caprice he gave Caprice a look of derision and disgust to which she replied in kind with her middle finger and hee-hawed. Kevin held out Marie's chair with a short and a decision to ignore unworthy behavior. After all the Giovanni was from a respectable family unlike Caprice he would guess.:::: <d>

Marie: ::::Marie tisked at Caprice's behavior, she moved to sit down on the chair lead by Kevin::::Thank you dear  <d>

Angie:  Always, Love. ::::Caprice gave up and took a seat across from Marie. Kevin sat beside of her. At this moment a thump could be heard on the roof to ears that could hear but if you looked out there was nothing there unless you were astute enough to notice the tiny new statue of a gargoyle that had moving eyes?:::: <d>

Marie: ::::Marie looks around at the teenagers and adults mingling around having a great time, then she notices a strange person coming up to the table, she thinks how odd he looked, she gently squeezed Kevin's hand::::<d>

Vargas: ::Vargas walked into the bar, dressed as usual in a skin tight black shirt , dark pants, black running shoes, and a black leather jacket; in a low voice, with a decided New York/New Jersey accent:;    Greetings from Utah. I have just come back from a visit to the Free State. I am hoping to meet kindred spirits,:; she gives a slight bow, eyes never completely lowered::

Angie:  :::Kevin stands, the gentleman that he is and offers his hand to her with a bow.::: A pleasure. I'm Kevin from right here in New Orleans and this is Marie. ::::Then he reluctantly pointed at the obscene Nosferatu.:::: and this is Caprice. <d>

Vargas: It is my honor to make all of your acquaintances.   ::she gives his hand a firm shake:: Nice to meet you Kevin, Marie, Caprice

Angie:  :::In unison Kevin, and Caprice say..::: Likewise and move out of the way for Marie.::::

Vargas: I am hoping that I am not interrupting anything.     important.   :;; she makes another bow to Marie, and extends a hand:;

(Vargas was in a great position to hear the slight thump on the roof when she walked through the door)

Vargas: :: Vargas backs slightly, and looks up quizzically:;   Any cause for alarm?

Marie: ::::she takes her hand and shakes it gently::: Pleased to meet you. We all are curious about why we are here. <d>

(If she checks outside she will see a tiny statue on the roof - a gargoyle - with what appear to be moving eyes.)

Vargas: One moment.    ::;she slides  back outside, and using heightened senses, looks up at the roof, and gives a slight nod to the creature there:

Angie:  ::::Slowly things change on his body but Gangrel keeps the Masquerade. Vargas and any other Kindred listening hears a sliding down the bricks of the building and suddenly the Gargoyle, looking human, speaks.::: Good evening. <d>

Marie: ::::Marie looks to Kevin then to them seeing all are gathered::::<d>

Vargas: ::Vargas nods slightly, and softly says::   To you as well ::she goes back into the bar:: Intriguing decorations on this establishment ::she looks quizzical:;   A friend’s design?   Or a friend’s invitation?

Angie:  :::Gangrel follows them in and joins them at the table. Now the Corterie was complete once again. Snotty nosed Caprice speaks first.:::: I really hope you don't follow me back to my Warrens. I wouldn't handle it well. <d>

Angie:  :::Kevin looks to Vargas.::: Someone left a note for us to meet here tonight. <d>

Vargas: Not my style to invade someone’s private space.    But I am new to this berg, and I don’t know where to go.      Or, where not to go:::smile with some humor in her hazel eyes:: I see.    So , Kevin, is someone in charge in this town who might know?    The organization of this area was unclear in my information ::she looks around at all of them::    Are you most of those.       Here?  Are there more?

Marie: :::Marie looks around of all gathered together::: I suppose we wait till the host shows up? <d>

Angie:  :::Kevin looks in thought for a moment. He cocks his head to the side.::: I hear rumors of a Malkavian. <d>

Vargas: Hmmmm. That could be...,,interesting. I haven’t been in town for some time. There was a Stormy here before.   Some years back

Angie:  ::::Caprice looks at her with interest.:::  There's Malkavian activity at the old Jazzland Six Flags. <d>

Vargas: :: Vargas gives a short laugh::   That makes sense.

Angie:  :::Kevin had lost a lot of his memory and was trying to recover it, so he simply listened for now. Caprice, however, knew something that she wasn't telling.::::<D>

Vargas: Quite a few of them?   <d>

Angie:  ::::Caprice didn't like what she was going to say but it was the truth.::: I don't know. I do know that we'll know soon. I am your host by the way. I have doubts about the Tremere we went to see down by the bayou with the Lupines.

Vargas: :: Vargas leans forward:;;   A lot of Lupines here now?

Angie:  Again I don't know. We encountered one who was held from attack by Tremere magic last night. We're trying to help Kevin with this note he has and whatever is on him. We're trying to find out from who or what. He's in danger. <d>

Vargas: :::slow release of breath::   Sounds like it could be a mess.    A pot waiting to boil over

Marie: ::::Marie parks up and is interested on how to restore Kevin's memory:::: I am listening now. <d>

Vargas: Any injury Kevin ?    Or—- Some mental manipulation?

Angie:  Yes. :::Kevin finally spoke.:::: It is. Marie here saved my life. ::::He laughs as he knows how Marie loves to dream up the fashion of the day and lightly kisses her hand.:::: You see, I woke up in this grave and when I dug myself out, I was attacked by an awfully strong Spectre. Then I found this note but it wasn't legible. We took it to a weird Tremere and she did something and found it only said "House Giovanni".

(It is a pot waiting to boil)

Angie:  there anything other than "weird" Tremere? ::::Caprice snorted.:::

Vargas: Giovanni.     I don’t recall meeting members of that family when I was last here.    I know they have strongholds in D C and Chicago.    However, I am not too surprised they are here <d>

Angie:  ::::Kevin might have recalled something, maybe.:::: (I need to roll on this)

Vargas: I believe they have     Different.   Magics.     But I don’t know much :; her words are slow and deliberate::; And.  They are , I believe, actual family<d>

Angie:  (Kevin - #Intelligence ÷ Perception# Dif. 5)

(7,8,6,2,8) succ = 4)

Marie: ::::Marie smiles and let's Kevin kisses her hand, she is glad to save his life.::: I hope to find the answer for Kevin's mystery time and find the story behind it. <d>

Angie:  Stormy! :::He laughs a bit.:::: I've heard of her! ::::He listens closely to Vargas's words and looks at her.:::: you're onto something right. Marie is my main help so far. <d>

Vargas: That would be not just good for him, but, perhaps, a clue to other oddities.    You all do seem to have some situations.

Angie:  That's an understatement. :::Caprice mused.::::

Vargas: Stormy was a wild child.    But, also very intuitive

Angie:  :::Caprice snorted a laugh but tried to keep her secrets.::::

Angie:  :::::There was a very deep baritone sound clearing his throat as Gangrel spoke.:::: Lord Alex is on the good side. <d>

Vargas: That is good news <d>

Angie:  ::::Noticing Gangrel glaring at her, Caprice glared back.::::: If she is then why doesn't the note say squat? :::::Gangrel answered.:::: It does say something. Weren't you listening to Vargas at all???? It says "House Giovanni". Maybe she's right, maybe it's a calling card. <d>

Vargas: Could be that the Family Giovanni is making an announcement, or it could be the first step in a power move <d>

Marie: ::::::Marie mused:::: or we go to the House of Giovanni?

Vargas: Years ago, when I was in DC, they were a powerful force, but very clandestine. It seems they want to be known.    <d>

Angie:  ::::Very unlike himself, Kevin slams his hand down on the table.:::: That's it! It must be a power move .....on me. ::::He does the human move, chewing on a fingernail as he considers what Vargas jus suggested.:::: <d>

Angie:  ::::Caprice yells::: Wench! Bring me a double Jack! <d>

Vargas: :: Vargas holds up a hand::   Certainly they want you to know that they are a force to be reckoned with.

Angie:  Indeed. Perhaps we should pay them a vist. <d>

Vargas: But it might not be a bad idea to discover their numbers, and what they Claim to be their business. Are there many Bluebloods holding business in the city?   The Family Giovanni. Often delves into non kindred business. <d>

Angie:  ::::Caprice groans loudly and puts her hands over her eyes, sliding down onto the table. She didn't like the idea. She mumbled something like don't be a hero....::::: <d>

Angie:  :::Kevin considers the question.:::: I guess we find out. Stormy could help couldn't she? But where do we find her??? <d>

Vargas: :: Vargas laughs::   Stormy was nowhere and everywhere. She also often knew a lot about many things. <d>

Angie:  ::::Kevin looks at Caprice.:::: Be a useful ....err... whatever and put your ears to the ground, please? .... ::::To which Caprice grunted her assent.:::: <d>

(Marie receives a text. See Stormy tomorrow night. Invitations will be given to all.)

Marie:  :::::Marie stands up and grins to them::: Looks like we're going to pay them a visit. They owe it to us to find Kevin's answer to this. Maybe a grand wizard of OZ grant us a wish. <d>

Vargas: Interesting ::laughs.::

Angie:  ::::Caprice snorted again to both Vargas and Marie. She had her secrets.::::

Vargas: I could use something, I guess. Not sure what

Angie:  On me. ::::Caprice offers.:::: Wench! Another round for my friend! <d>

Vargas: Thanks!

Angie:  Anytime

Angie:  Caprice you have something to say? Anything? <d>

Vargas: :;Vargas looks expectantly

Angie:  :::Caprice hand this out.:::: Tootsie you know me first and you know me well. Yes I knew. <d

Marie: ::Marie smiled::: Yup...<d>

Each character receives one of these two things in their snail mail from Stormy: an invitation and a ticket from Stormy.

Stormy walked around the parameter of the area that she had sealed off with velvet ropes and police tape to keep the prying eyes and ears back at the now abandoned Six-Flags Jazzland New Orleans theme park thinking to herself as she paced with her hands together in front of her, fingertips tapping together in the "prayer" position with the rhythm of her steps. Wow. So much had happened to her while she was away from home and now that she was back so much more had happened in the in-between that she didn't know about! How in the hell had this happened she wondered with an exclamation point inside of her head! Answers she would get she had no doubt about that. It was something that she had never failed at. Revenge for her City, revenge and justice for her friends......

 She looked around the huge place saddened by the loneliness that it brought into her. Something died here and that something was big, huge, and important. It was important to get back as well, all of it. Damn so many things and in so any directions. This was where she had gained her fame as a Pack Killer. The Malkavian Antitrbu had made her haven here and only Stormy and Hell knew what was in it. Prince Wydow had sent her after the Sabbat member. Stormy would soon realize that this was only the first of many missions like this and her Brujah Cop Friend Vargas had helped her re-name these from suicide missions to bubble gum missions. With a name like bubble gum missions Stormy couldn't feel like she was expendable to her Prince as much as with the former name. I guess this part is why she was glad that she is Malvavian.

Stormy had news of the new arrivals in New Orleans and damn she was glad that the city was filling up with Camirilla Kindred again. This city needed those just like it needed a change.

Stormy had went down to The Alley to beckon Princes Jade and Wydow's attentions on her second night back in New Orleans. Thing was, they were nowhere to be found. This was going to need looking into. Maybe the new arrivals would have some information. Maybe not. She couldn't guess right off the bat.

Well, she would know soon. Maybe the marvelous place around her would reveal its secrets  as she fixes it up over the next few months. Who knows what this place knew for the past and the future. Stormy would be that the land itself knew things, too, if it could be convinced to give up its secrets, too. Some gentle coaxing might be the thing that convinces both places to do just that.

This was unconventional in the very least, having a preliminary meeting to contest Praxis in an abandoned amusement park or any amusement park at all but this was no conventional amusement park at all. Over the years all of the energy and love and all colors and ranges of emotion that had been poured into it was very valuable, maybe not to the normal eye but Stormy saw it clearly.

 At the gate were what looked to be normal security guards wearing dark blue uniforms, armed, with thick black sunglasses even though dark had fallen over the city. They looked like hand-picked brutes that didn't know when to quit if they had to and that was exactly what they were - parts of Stormy's strong arm. Just the beginning parts of that if they were to be noticed. There was plenty more from where they come from and worse that them. Stormy had what she needed for sure. Nothing like emergencies to put things in perspective.

To spite the emergency stature of this new situation, Stormy had managed to give this place some class with the small re-vamps she had made within the park She had immediately picked Gotham City Hall Theater as the actual meeting place. She could use the stage to stand on with a makeshift podium set up with a microphone to give her speech to the crowd of new neonates in the city to lay out her plans thus far for the city. plus the cool thing about this place was not only did it have plenty of standing room but it was also located right at a famous tag-line from her brothers and sisters with spray-paint. The tag read "You're close". Stormy thought that it was a lost and found sign that would come in handy with the neonate should trouble arise. The other cool thing about it was that a very colorful helipad was nearby. Stormy had a thing for helipads!

When they arrived at the gate after gawking at the security guards and having their ticket and invitations looked over to make sure that Stormy really did invite them and not leaving any stragglers to roam over the park while she was speaking to them they were told to go over to the re-vamped photo booth just beyond the gate and push a button upon which action brought another ticket out of the machine that looked like this:

It had instructions on it. These three things, of course, were souvenirs of the city and of this night. Rarely do Kindred have the luxury and pleasures of getting them and Stormy thought it would be a nice, warm welcoming thing to do for the new neonates.

Angie:  :::Stormy stood at the gate to Gotham City as promised awaiting the Kindred's arrival. Her fingers were still in a small prayer position, hoping that she had one to save her friends and the City. She wore a black sleek pantsuit with a top hat.:::: <d>

Vargas: :: Vargas broke into a huge grin::   My old friend

Marie: :::::Marie looks to Kevin seeing he is thinking again::::<d>

Angie:  ::::Stormy's eyes darted up at the familiar voice and was those tears of joy? She choked them down knowing only Vargas could see them. Too dangerous. She wanted to hug her so bad! Again too dangerous.:::: I missed you, Vargas. More than you know. :::She looks to the others of the small coterie.:::: Welcome to Jazzland! This way please.... <d>

Vargas: :;Vargas watches Stormy’sface,and reaches out a hand to shake. <d>

Angie:  ::::She enthusiastically shook Vargas's hand and turned to lead them inside Gotham City. While they were walking she stayed beside Vargas. They would talk in private but she had to get through tonight with all Kindred in one piece. She said to Vargas but where all others could hear....:::: Please excuse the mess...... ::::with a twinkle and a wink.:::: <d>

Marie: :::::Marie follows Stormy with Kevin besides her:::: It's good to see you.  <d>

Angie:  It's good to see you, too, Marie! ::::As always Stormy was sincere.:::::

Vargas: ::Vargas nods ::   Actually, I like the atmosphere. It has a certain dilapidated charm.   Old fashioned

Angie:  ::::Stormy laughed with her heart in her voice.::: Thanks! I decorated it myself. ::::grinning:::

Vargas: Damn!    Very fine job!   ::Vargas laughs as well:;

Angie:  ::::She led them to the standing area at the stage with the podium. She would give a speech and greet the new to the City (will post it later in the blog for time's sake) then turn her attentions back to the coterie.::::: <d>

Vargas: ::Vargas looks expectantly, deceptively somewhat relaxed, yet every fiber alert:; <d>

Angie:  Do you guys support me as Prince? :::She did her best to look neutral as she looked at her friends.:::: (sorry forgot that part) <d>

Marie: :::Marie nods politely::::Yes I accept you as Prince.  <d>

Vargas: Yes.   Absolutely. ::Vargas looks sincere:;;   But I have been gone a long time. <d>

Angie:  :::Stormy reached for Marie's hand to shake it.:::: Thank you so much, Marie. :::She then turned to her oldest and dearest friend Vargas, the words that she just heard her say was the sweetest music to her ears! She also reached to shake her hand.::: Thank you, my friend! ::::said with a grin.::::

Angie:  :: Vargas reaches an arm around to give a quick hug:: <d>

Angie:  ::::The others: Kevin, Gangrel, and Caprice acquiesced in the same manner, Caprice cheerleading.::: <d>

Angie:  ::::Stormy didn't want to let go and Vargas could feel that!:::: Vargas, please stay with me ? <d>

Vargas: :: Vargas stands with her , carefully observing the entire area:;<d>

Angie:  ::::Stormy was so excited that she had forgotten she could do this.....:::::

(Vargas hears Stormy's voice in her head as if she had spoken aloud: "Squeeze my hand if you will.") <d>

Vargas: :: Vargas squeezes her hand firmly, still scanning the crowd, ready to pull a gun if needed::   <d>

(The coast is clear for now. Stormy's goons took out 2 human trespassers but no biggie.)

Angie:  ::::Stormy smiles.:::: So do you guys want to retire elsewhere privately? Maybe for a sip? ::::The new Prince winked at them.:::::

Vargas: Sounds good to me ::Vargas breaks into a big grin:;:

Angie:  ::::After all neonates had sworn their alliance, kissed the proverbial ring, etc., of course.::::

Angie:  :::Stormy blinks back those tears again. Dang it she was so happy!:::: Follow me guys. ::::She leads them not to her apartment but to the residence she must now take as Prince of New Orleans, a place called Cypress Tides.:::::

Vargas: :: Vargas keeps her eyes open as they travel:: I like your new place, Stormy

Angie:  ::::When they arrive the old place was just as Stormy remembered it. The ghouls had fixed it up again for her.:::: Welcome home Vargas and welcome to my "pad" the rest of you. ::::The humidity had swollen the old door as always and was a familiar creak to Stormy but to other ears it was ominous.:::: Please, this way into the living room. <d

Marie: ::::Marie holding Kevin's hand she follows them guiding::::<d>

To be continued .......