New Orleans by Night: The Stroke of Midnight

[Dark Silver]

The Unseen Servant acknowledged Eddie as he approached the stairs, and ushered him up, the same as it had with the other three.

Once inside the apartment, the scene was not much changed from what it normally was for Ally, Eddie and Jaxson - the second floor was the primary living space, dining room and living room, both comfortably furnished, there was food laid out on the table - a roasted chicken, a bowl of mashed potatoes with a saucer of a thick rich brown gravy on the side, fresh sweet peas and corn on the cob in their own platters, and of course the staple of south Louisiana - a ceramic bowl of still hot fresh red beans with smoked sasuage and a collander of steaming white rice - all ready to be eaten.

The office/den area was down a hallway from the dining room, as was the kitchen area. A bathroom was located down the hall as well before the stairwell to the third floor.

Rumor, for his part, was laying in the living room, on top of a plush rug mostly used for the moor cat's nap times. Rumor's head was drifted lazily on his forepaws, and only yawned a greeting to Ally as she walked in, and he spies the cups of steaming coffee. The moor cat rose languidly, stretching his body out with a slow, lazy shaking, before padding up to the perky-goth and nudging her full bodily against the thigh.

No where yet, though, was the owner of the house present - but it was obvious the guests were meant to get settled and relaxed while they waited for him.

[Jans]

"Cole, Eastwind, nice to meetcha. Please be kind. No worries miss, I hit the jo' before I got here."

He grins and nods his hellos. The other newcomer got a nod too, but slow and respectful. His presence was hard to explain. Like brushing up against a wall you expected to be smooth, only for it to be rough. Or cold. Or flexible. The sense was more like a brushing of elbows than a quick contact of minds. Cole wasn't reading or listening to thoughts, so much as he was aware of their presence. Like one would be aware of a quiet background murmur in a crowded room. He probably wouldn't be able to pick the other man out of a crowd at a glance, but this close he was certainly aware. It wasn't like meeting a vampire, with their odd lack of some things and bubbling tension of others. Nor was it like meeting a werewolf, who felt thing so intensely on so many different levels that they sometimes felt washed out and bland at the same time. If he had to guess, Cole would say he had never met anything like the other man before.

The best he could say for now was that the other man was thinking alien thoughts, from some perspective he couldn't understand. There was a tinge to his presence that was nigh incomprehensible without closer study. Something he certainly wouldn't be doing, that would just be rude.

"Who's Rumor? I thought we were here to meet the, hrm, Professor."

Oddly, the presence of another type of Awakened relaxed him significantly. If there was dirty laundry to air it probably wouldn't be done in front of outsiders, and if it was things probably wouldn't end with running and screaming. With a rueful sigh he follows them up the stairs, shaking the hand that had been clenching his prayer beads and slipping them further up his sleeve.

"Hey Kitty."

Ah, food laid out. Cool. The servant things were pretty interesting as well.

[SirNitram]

"My thanks for the food, but I had a date earlier this evening. And what sort of gentleman doesn't make sure there's food?" A smile from Eddie, thinking back at the early evening.

[LadyTevar]

"I knew you'd get up for this," Ally said to the shadowy-furred feline, whose head was even with her hip as Rumor rubbed happily against her, purring loudly. She set the coffees down on a sideboard while she expertly transferred the cup of cafe-au-lait to a container Rumor could better drink from.

"Rumor is Professor Steele's familiar," Ally informed the newcomer when she was done. "Wherever he goes, Rumor is always ahead of him. Nice to meetcha Cole, I'm Allyson Pauley," she added as she moved to the table and started making herself a plate. "I am starving! I didn't get a chance to eat before I got here."

Eddie got an odd look as he announced his date. "You get all the women, Eddie... I bet Jax wishes he had half your luck."

[Jans]

"Ah, well hello to you Rumor. Pleased to make your acquaintance Allyson."

Cole makes himself a small plate, items that could sit, to be polite as he had eaten on the way here. He would likely end up picking at it as the night wore on anyway.

"So where is the man of the hour?"

[B4UTRUST]

Jaxson continued to look at Cole for a moment longer before giving him that upward half-nod that guys do as way of greeting.
"I'm Jaxson," he stated before turning towards the table loaded with food.

His stomach didn't so much as growl as roar, scream, gnash, thrash, and threaten to leap out of his throat and devour the contents of the table in front of him. It was his body's subtle way of reminding him that the last time he ate was a few days ago, before he went on a binge during a depressive episode. Crank and pot if he remembered correctly. More of the meth than the marijuana since he hadn't gotten the munchies, just a little bit of a more mellow high than just the crank. He ended up in the square at one point during that period running shell games and three card monte. Made a decent sum that night, enough to cover the rent on the storage unit for another month which was good for him. The streets were still cold this time of year and he didn't relish being back on them for too many nights. His stomach threatened mutiny again as he made his way to the table and grabbed a plate. By the time he was done loading it down with food only the edge where his thumb rested on the top was visible. He set it in front of one of the empty chairs and sat down to start inhaling his food with an intensity usually reserved only for black holes sucking up nearby objects. It probably wasn't pretty and he probably got as much on the floor, himself and the table around him as he did in his mouth but he devoured it.

[LadyTevar]

Allyson watched Jax inhale his food worriedly. She knew he stayed on the streets, and knew he had a drug problem, but...

"I worry about you, Jax." was all she said, before looking to Cole. "So, how long have you been in town? Where'd you come from? What brings you around? Are you liking NawLans so far?"

[Jans]

Cole returns Jaxson's nod and promptly ignores his eating habits. Wasn't really any of his business. He flashes Allyson a smile at her rapid fire questions and sets about answering them with cheer.

"I've been here for about six years now, ever since the Storm. I'm originally from Thailand, though my birth parents were both from the States. Spent most of my childhood there, then the Peacecorps, then home sweet home."

He gestures around himself animatedly.

"Suspect I'm here for much the same reason as you all are, got an invitation. Though it might also be because I've been passively avoiding the Chantry beyond the most perfunctory greetings. New Orlins is interesting, and I like it a lot more than most places. Plenty of work, plenty of nightlife."

Cole settles into his chair and takes a quick bite of the chicken. He uses the natural pause of chewing and wiping his mouth to change the subject.

"What about you? What path have you walked to find the table of the N.O.'s mighty master?"

[LadyTevar]

"I'm born and raised here, but after Kat I came back from college to help out. Professor S. helped me when I got shot and Woke, he also found my mentor." Ally answered happily. "He and Rumor have been real good to me, and I stop by every night I can after work."

"Jaxson's also born here, but Kat ... " She looked sadly over at the young man devouring his food like he'd not had any in days. "... The storm took everything, and he's not yet recovered."

[SirNitram]

"You know Jax, the offer stands. The second and third floors are bone dry and keep the warm in." Eddie spoke up. "The foods a bit leaning towards the carnivore diet, but it'd be better than the street."

[B4UTRUST]

Jax nodded towards Eddie, setting down his fork.
"Thanks, Eddie. I 'preciate the offer, but I dun think da gators would 'preciate me bein dere too much, no? I aint got no plans on bein da uter uter white meat."

Jax reached into an inner pocket on his jacket and pulled out a metal flask. Opening up the top he took a long pull before offering it over to anyone else who wanted some.
"Anyone want sumdis?"

[SirNitram]

"They don't eat guests." A chuckle. "Trust me, they prefer to avoid humans."

[Dark Silver]

Rumor watched the group as they settled in, Jaxson eating with his usual "gusto", or as Rumor always thought it, shoving way to much into one's gullet to actually taste it. Ally settled down with her own plate, and Eddie refused food. The only one Rumor remained partially interested in before going to lap at the bowl of coffee, was Cole.

It wasn't the first time Rumor met the Akashic, not that the young man would realize of course, but after a few minutes of intense staring, Rumor loudly began drinking, keeping half a ear open to what they were saying. Usual kitten talk....Rumor filed it away for later.

In the midst of their discussion, the air in the room seemed to change, none of them could quiet put a finger on the cause, but it just seemed to happen all of a sudden. It was as if someone or something was watching them - not a unusual feeling for Ally Jaxson and Eddie considering the time spent in the building and the presence of Steele's Unseen Servants, but this was different.

It wasn't until Eddie's remark about the guests, that the reason for the change was made obvious. From the head of the table, a throat was cleared, and the attention was drawn to their host - who was sitting in the chair, with a plate of food, and was in in the process of bringing a spoonful of red beans and rice to his mouth.

"About time any of you noticed. . . . " he remarked with a tiny smirk on his lips - he had used a spell to purposely hide his presence until that moment. It was childish, maybe, but he enjoyed these small tricks - it kept him feeling a live on occassion.

"Glad all of you could make it...please, don't be shy, there's plenty of food.....especially for you Jaxson."

Steele eyed the Orphan for a moment, shaking his head as he consumed his own spoonful of food. The Archmage looked to be in his mid 50's, his hair was close cut but fashionable for the time, and a pair of small wire-rim glasses sat perched on the edge of his hawkish nose. He was still dressed in the same brown slacks and coat he wore in his shop that day, though they looked none the worse for wear, with a pale blue button down shirt that almost matched his eyes, with grey suspenders that could be seen beneath the coat as he moved his arms.

And for the moment, at least, he seemed to be in good humor.

[LadyTevar]

"Professor!" Ally exclaimed in delight, rising from her seat to bring him the last cup of coffee she'd purchased. She gave him a daughterly kiss to the top of his head and settled back in her seat. "I thought you were watching, but I couldn't tell from where. Have you been here all the time hiding? I really need to learn that trick."

It was Ally's usual excited ramble whenever she stopped by, happy and upbeat, wanting to tell Professor S all about her day.

[B4UTRUST]

With no one accepting his offer of booze Jaxson half shrugged and took another pull from the flask before capping it. He was starting to put the flask back into his jacket pocket with the old man appeared. It was the cough that got Jaxson's attention. He jumped a bit, dropping the flask then fumbling to catch it before it hit the floor. After juggling it a few times he finally got his hands around it and was able to safely stow it back it his jacket pocket. He mentally cursed the old man, thinking he had probably planned that somehow.

[Jans]

"Howdy Professor, nice to finally meet you. Thanks for the invite."

Cole nods, chin almost to his chest and eyes closed. He holds it for a moment longer than usual before looking back up.

[Dark Silver]

Steele turned his gaze over to Cole for a few minutes, taking the young man in. It wasn't the first time he had met the young Akashic, but the young mage wouldn't know that - well, remember it at anyrate.

"Welcome to my home, nothing here will intentionally harm you....unless you attempt harm to those present of course." Steele smiled ever so slightly at that, even at the way Ally dotted on him - she had become rather attached to him ever since he found her after the storm. More so than she apparently did to her Mentor - though that was little he could do about that.

Steele turned his gaze to the Were-croc, and smiled knowingly. Eddie was a interesting specimen, one who Steele had taken the time to find and befriend when he first learned of his arrival in the swamps surrounding New Orleans. The mage never regretted it, because honestly, once you saw what Eddie could become, you could be glad he was on your side.

"I trust I didn't interrupt anything to terribly important by the summons..." he said evenly, skewering a piece of smoked sausage with his fork and eyeballing it for a few. "And to ease you concerns young Cole...I do not control New Orleans. I merely make my home here....and try to keep out of trouble with the locals. I'm hardly a Master of anything, much less this whole city. I'm merely a old man who enjoys his books a great deal. Though I do find on occasion, I need to...help....things along. Which is where you lot come in..." The smile on the old man's face was a sly, knowing one, not expansive, and seemed to hint more at a personal humor, than anything he would have said overtly.

[B4UTRUST]

Jax sighed at the old man's smile and words and fought not to roll his eyes. He was firmly beginning to believe that the old man did this crap on purpose. Keeping secrets, the 'I know something you don't know' looks, the obscure references and comments with multiple meanings. The old man did this to Jax in his 'lessons' too. It was annoying to say the least. He just wished that the old man would stop with the puzzles, riddles and games and just come out with it instead of this dancing around the point secret bullshit he subscribed to.
"So can you please tell us in plain English what it is you want and not make us play a round of 'Guess the old man's secret agenda?' Because the last time I had to play that game I ended up having to read through one of your 3000 page books on ancient philosophies. My head hurt for a week after that..."

[LadyTevar]

"Awww... Poor Poor Jax," Ally cooed. "Then you went out and got drunk for the next three weeks," she added with a teasing grin.

The grin stayed as Ally's head flipped to look at Professor Steele. "I'm sure this has nothing at all to do with the bloodless bodies showing up in the morgue the last few nights, right? Absolutely nothing to do with blood-sucking fiends that haunt the night and dress in *really* bad gothic clothing and think "Living-Dead Girl" is their theme song." Ironic complaint, considering the source.

[Jans]

"Of course s-Professor, I didn't mean to imply anything. Your hospitality is all the protection I would ever assume to need."

He tosses a sideways glance at Jax, visibly debates speaking for a moment, then continues anyway.

"The Invisible Masters don't work overtly, they guide. They have others do what is needed so as to not upset the balance of power in a region. Most, do. I would not assume to know the exceptions."

Ally's comment of bloodless bodies got a restless shifting, but he didn't want to jump to any conclusions. If they were leaving corpses, things were well on their way from bad to worse.

[Dark Silver]

"Yes...one of your kind would say that, wouldn't they?" Steele almost seemed to mutter to himself those words, before smiling up at Ally, "My dear, you have a sharp mind, and are highly observant. But no, it is not to do with the bloodless corpses. Some of the Leeches maintain their ways, despite gentle pressures."

Steele picked up the cup of coffee Ally had brought him, and took a slow sip - of course she had remembered how he liked his coffee - "But in a way, possibly. There is a issue brought to my attention by a friend," that last word was said in a way which made it clear Steele didn't really consider the person a friend, "He asked if I could assist in the matter, and of course, I told him I knew some young people who might indeed be able to help him. Tell me, what do any of you know about Monseuir Marcel Gilbeaux?"

[Jans]

Cole shrugs.

"He's Camarilla, the local Prince. I've had dealings with his people before, but never met the man myself. Did a bit of a bad turn to the "less worthy" of his kind during the Storm, but I don't actually know if they consider them a part of the organization or not. Doesn't get on well with the Sabbat, surprise surprise, but who does?"

Cole it seems, enjoys understatements.

[LadyTevar]

"He's Prince, but he's no longer Top Dog," Ally corrected Cole with a large grin. "Like other rich kids, he ran from the storm, and then thought he'd come back and have everything back just the way he wanted it. But we had stayed, and we pulled things back together, and now HE is answerable to Us!
... Well, To Professor S. Cause's he's the eldest. And the Vampires seem to have this thing about Elders ruling, since they're immortal and all." Ally trailed off, running out of things to say. "Umm... are Sabbat those crazy ones that tried to move in and we banished to 9th Ward?"

[Jans]

"Heh, banished. If you know where any of them are squatting I'd be happy to banish a few more."

Not all of Cole's smiles were friendly. This one might imply he was related to Eddie.

[SirNitram]

"We talking about the ones walking upright that stinks of rot and decay, like he stuffed his pockets full of month-old bacon?" Eddie piped up. He knew vampires.. Deep in his memory he knew them well.. But he wasn't getting the talk right.