Hammond smiled. "To the point then? Very well, Philosopher Elise. I have numerous ones. Some may make sense. Some may not. All have a purpose. First, a two part question: why did you join the Ordo Dracul, and which was the first Coil you pursued?"

A worksheet. "No no, not 'let's go down an already-prepared list' -- what do you want to understand by ( Read more... )

Hospital-green scrubs. Medicinal and sterile. C asked for her old beat-up clothes instead. They had been burned, she was informed. She would go naked, she stated, reasoning that it was better to present herself as herself than as a neutralized icon of a misbehaving Dragon. Sutter left, and she was slightly surprised to see him come back with a pair ( Read more... )

 "Christine Elise, do you know who we are?"

The words came muddled through everything else -- the furious Beast, the pain of wounds, the pieces of her mind that didn't seem to care what the other pieces were thinking. Angry at her weakness, annoyed at the use of the old name, angry at the condition they'd left David -- where had the pike gone? She'd ( Read more... )

The lights of office buildings and skyscrapers and cars glittered as Christine's car sped by them and took them away from Beckett's city ( Read more... )

Tonight she had been invited to New York City by Helen Cayhill.

Then, uninvited by Charles Beckett, citing the terrible history of the Brood.

Quizzed by Rebecca Washington-Aarons, who alluded to crossing swords the next time they came together. Bloodthirsty little creature.

Spoken to directly by a member of her blood lineage (for the first time since ( Read more... )

So, when you're facing your PC's imminent death at NERE, from

* Plot
* Direct consequences of her actions
* Indirect consequences of her actions
* Thugs who travel to kill Brood
* Groups calling for war on the Brood

... it's a surprisingly effective tactic to annoy the host prince enough that he uninvites you. O.O

Finally.

Finally -- a Dragon sensible enough to use the opportunity to ask her the academic questions.

Even if he did insist on calling her 'Seer'.

She knew why the Forsworn were so terrifying to the Unlearned - because they genuinely felt a part of their coveys. An Unlearned could join a coterie, knowing it would break apart when trust failed: when someone changed their mind, when man and Beast conflicted, when a Covenant or a Clan pressured a member.

Trust did not fail the Forsworn.

More ( Read more... )

Pacing through the Viles Arboretum, she listened to the night. It was too soon for leaves to rustle in the wind. Everything was raw buds and sprouts, growing and reaching and clawing out into the cold wet air. When the wind blew hard enough, branches scraped shriveled bark together.

Cresting a low slope, she listened to the city. A siren called out ( Read more... )

Helen Cayhill hadn't mentioned to Christine she was visiting Albany, but apparently she'd come to talk covenant business. Looking up, Christine saw the New York Invictus delegation in collective conversation with the Prince, making their introductions ( Read more... )