Green Flame Rising (Exalted vs Dresden Files)

13th of November 2006 A.D.

The hug lasts an uncomfortably long time, her hands sliding down your arm in a way that might seem to all the other vampires presence to be an attempt at seduction or to those inclined to look deeper a ploy for dominance. In truth as her hand slides down your arm she traces two numbers: one and two then an M. Twelve, Midnight deal with Madrigal first,

"How quaint, a midnight massacre," the demon in your head whispers.

Through it all you keep your peace, though pleasantries at once archaic and manufactured. In truth for a long while as you are introduced to the remainder of Thomas' sisters you seriously consider saying nothing. After all making your skin crawl is not a sin in the eyes of the White Court no matter how awful the being at Vittorio's back had been in the end Clippy comes out and a few careful clicks lay out what you had seen. If you were in Lara's skin... Darn it Usum, if I wanted hell idioms I would ask for them. In Lara's shoes you would want to know especially since she had warned you about those same powers moving in the high councils of Winter,

This is just paying her back, you think as the guests begin to mingle and browse funny little entrees and drinks you do not know the names of when getting past the distinction of whiskey, cognac and vodka. Looking at the screen helps keep your eyes off some of the other things that are happening at the tables. Companions, people are being measured out, paired with food and drink, tasted with hands and lips, with hungers yet more esoteric.

"You know I didn't quite get the context of body servant until now," Lydia says, tearing her eyes away from the spectacle. "It is not just a servant to deal with the base necessities of their master's body, but the servant is just a body, not even a pretty face, an ornament on one's arm, just flesh and vitality, the mind, the soul no more than flavoring." She shudders in revulsion. Though your friend had not been particularly quiet none of the other guests quite have the courage to say anything.

The whole thing might have ended there if it had not been for what happened next. One of the 'companions', a woman with dark red hair done up in artful curls that only accentuate an unhealthy pallor reaches out for a drink, some kind of blue green cocktail with a devil horned umbrella that you are quite sure has more than alcohol in it. The man, the vampire, she's with, fashionably tanned with a swath of grey at his temples, catches her wrist and holds it painfully tight.

"I don't like you when you're on it darling." The endearment is sickeningly sweet on his lips even as his dark eyes promise pain.

The woman's face twists as though she is about to cry and fighting it and that is just too much for Lydia. She had picked up a glass, vodka on the rocks and before you could react dumped it all over the back of the vampire's bespoke suit.

"Oops, clumsy me!" she says in a tone far more cheery and young that she usually speaks in. She is spoiling for a challenge and a chance to punch this guy through a wall.

Though you do not have the time to call into your earpiece Will and Clippy between them provide the information you are looking for on the vampire you had not been introduced to: "Charles Barrowill, Direct vassal of House Raith."

Not involved in the plot, probably an important underling to judge by how quiet everything had gone.

What do you do?

[] Let things play out, unplanned though it may be it gives Lydia a chance to build up her own reputation

[] Try to smooth things out (Charisma+Etiquette)

[] Write in

OOC: And this is what happens when an Exalt botches their willpower roll at the sight of something they find abhorrent. Fortunately the Great Curse is no longer a thing or it would get a lot messier a lot faster.