Episode 28 - The Accounting

[00:00:00] Speaker A: You're listening to the all night society, an actual play podcast brought to you by Queen's courts games. [00:00:38] Speaker B: Well, Mr. Scott, it's not an enviable thing to be asked into solitary company with the prince of any city, let alone the prince of Chicago. Prince Kevin Jackson, at least as he has been explained to you, is neither patient nor forgiving. [00:00:55] Speaker C: He has a mission, a plan for. [00:00:58] Speaker B: This city that, as far as you understand, doesn't include kindred like you. You've had the traditions explained to you alongside all the ways in which your existence violates them. [00:01:11] Speaker C: And try as they might, and they did try. Maya and Ivy's advice, it all seems a bit wishy washy, vague to the point of uselessness. [00:01:25] Speaker D: Now. [00:01:25] Speaker B: You've gotten to play grown up vampire. [00:01:27] Speaker C: A few times now got to kill another vampire. Not a lot of vampires get to say that. [00:01:34] Speaker B: And your upbringing, given your proximity to Ivy and the mischief that tends to. [00:01:39] Speaker C: Follow hers, has been a little more eventful than most. But now it's about to be real. Really real. [00:01:53] Speaker B: Everything the others have discussed, it's always been in the abstract. Oh, yeah, there are politics. Oh, yeah, there are rules. [00:01:58] Speaker C: But you don't have to worry about that right now. Well, it's not right now anymore. So a ghoul comes migrating his way through the various Elysium attendees and notifies you that it's time. [00:02:16] Speaker B: So after that reflexive swallow, the nervous gulp that no doubt fills your throat. [00:02:24] Speaker C: What'S the first Alex Scott thought that rattles around your brain? I'm living in a weird limbo where. [00:02:35] Speaker A: By all rights, my nervousness should create results. I'm familiar with a beating heart and enhanced pace. Sweating. These things aren't coming to me anymore, but I can still feel the tension. Like a job interview, only my life is in actual jeopardy. So just like a job interview, I'm going to go over everything in my head. [00:02:58] Speaker C: Everything they told me, everything I prepared, everything. Is there any one particular piece of advice that one of the code remembers. [00:03:08] Speaker B: Gave you that's landing pretty hard right. [00:03:10] Speaker C: Now, filing through my head? [00:03:12] Speaker A: I think the one thing that stands out the most to me, something Ivy. [00:03:16] Speaker C: Said to me, which is advice I. [00:03:20] Speaker A: Think I needed to carry with me in every scenario. [00:03:23] Speaker C: Talk less, think more. [00:03:26] Speaker B: I want to ask this in the nicest way possible. [00:03:28] Speaker C: Is it possible? [00:03:30] Speaker B: The second part, she said sarcastically. [00:03:34] Speaker A: Undoubtedly. [00:03:36] Speaker C: But there was wisdom to that. [00:03:40] Speaker B: Okay. It's nice you can recognize that. [00:03:42] Speaker C: It's very important. Well, you won't have a whole lot. [00:03:45] Speaker B: Of time to collect wisdom. [00:03:48] Speaker C: A minute, maybe two. You'll be taken off the ground floor of Elysium and up into one of the offices. [00:03:57] Speaker B: The art institute is a multi storied. [00:03:59] Speaker C: Creation, but at the very, very top. [00:04:03] Speaker B: That'S where the curators keep their offices, the people who are fancy enough to have titles, as opposed to the ones who are kept in the basement next to the restorations. [00:04:13] Speaker C: Obviously, this isn't Prince Jackson's house. He doesn't have an office here, which. [00:04:19] Speaker B: Means instead you're pulled into a conference. [00:04:21] Speaker C: Room, a very ad hoc space. You climb the stairs, marble as they are, walk down the hallway with its old, old hardwood, paid for by publishing. [00:04:37] Speaker B: Money and, more recently, pharmaceuticals. [00:04:41] Speaker C: Damien is leaning against the door, eyeing you up and down. You've been a predator long enough to know what that look means. And then he nods. The door opens, recognizing the predator in him. I at least have some breath of. [00:05:05] Speaker A: Relief, knowing that I've been accepted enough. But I know that at a moment's notice, that can turn on me. Come on, Alex. Remember what they said. Talk less, think more, act like you belong. [00:05:21] Speaker C: You'll come out of this with your. [00:05:23] Speaker A: Head on your neck, hopefully still attached to your shoulders. [00:05:28] Speaker B: The room is actually quite unbefitting for the man who occupies it. [00:05:33] Speaker C: This is the kind of place where people give quarterly budget presentations or sneak. [00:05:39] Speaker B: In over lunch to grab a quick face to face with someone from it. [00:05:44] Speaker C: It's a very unserious room, in stark. [00:05:48] Speaker B: Contrast to the vampire sitting at the. [00:05:49] Speaker C: Far end of the table. Prince Kevin Jackson probably isn't as big as you thought. Isn't to say that he's a small. [00:06:00] Speaker B: Man, more so that he's average. [00:06:04] Speaker C: The suit is finely tailored. The tie has a little bit of. [00:06:09] Speaker B: Trouble closing all the way around his neck. [00:06:14] Speaker C: He's younger than you might have thought. [00:06:18] Speaker B: Embraced, maybe in his late teens, early. [00:06:21] Speaker D: 20S. [00:06:24] Speaker C: But despite his size and his. [00:06:26] Speaker B: Demeanor, there's something about his eyes that. [00:06:29] Speaker C: Cut directly through you, and even someone. [00:06:33] Speaker B: Lacking your experience in Chicago or the world of the kindred. [00:06:36] Speaker C: You can understand almost implicitly why this man is Prince. [00:06:46] Speaker B: He's leaning forward on his elbows with his hands pressed, palms together, thumbs crossed. You can see his shoulders hunched forward, eyes traveling up to see a strong, defiantly strong jawline. Broad african features, a clean, shaved head. [00:07:07] Speaker C: He just stares at you for a few seconds, do you think, is this when you're supposed to talk? Did they tell you when you were supposed to talk? [00:07:19] Speaker A: I'm getting like a low key anxiety. [00:07:22] Speaker C: Here because I think this is when. [00:07:26] Speaker A: I'm supposed to talk, but I'm not supposed to talk, but he's looking at me like I'm supposed to talk, like it's my turn, but I'm not supposed to do that. [00:07:32] Speaker C: And he's looking at me. Okay, I have to fake it till. [00:07:39] Speaker A: I make it at this point in. [00:07:41] Speaker C: Time, I don't adjust my. No, no. That's a sign of weakness. Come on, Alex. [00:07:48] Speaker A: You better off YouTube, rabbit holes. You know how to act like an alpha. So as I keep my weight exactly where it is, I just slowly raise my chin up. Not to look down, but to correct my posture and keep my eyes looking straight ahead with no expectation. I just want to show him. [00:08:11] Speaker E: Hi, Mr. [00:08:12] Speaker A: Prince. I'm in the room, too. [00:08:17] Speaker C: I hope for everybody's sake that that was an internal voice that you just had. [00:08:24] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. [00:08:25] Speaker C: I'm not saying anything right now. [00:08:27] Speaker D: Oh, yeah. [00:08:29] Speaker B: Whether or not that was the correct choice is a question that we can linger on for eternity. But regardless, after some amount of time. [00:08:38] Speaker C: Has passed, the prince of Chicago nods to you, Mr. Scott. Alex Scott. Yes. Yeah. Alex Scott. [00:08:52] Speaker B: Mr. Scott, can you recite the traditions for me? [00:08:56] Speaker C: And just like that, I'm back in. [00:08:59] Speaker A: Fifth grade, and it is clear I didn't do the studying or the homework, and I am panicking in my own mind. Did Ivy go over the traditions with me? They did. She did. [00:09:14] Speaker D: Okay. [00:09:16] Speaker C: I, slow and steady, begin to recite. [00:09:22] Speaker A: The traditions as best as I can. Unfortunately, I can't help through my own nervousness to count them off on my. [00:09:29] Speaker C: Fingers like a child with an e. First, tradition, masquerade. [00:09:37] Speaker A: Second, tradition, the domain. [00:09:40] Speaker C: Third, tradition, progeny. [00:09:43] Speaker A: Fourth, tradition, counting. Fifth, tradition, hospitality. 6th, tradition, destruction. [00:10:00] Speaker B: Very, very good, Mr. Scott. I see that Miss le Roue has not failed us in that capacity. But reciting knowledge is one thing. I would prefer that you demonstrate a comprehensive understanding. Which of the traditions is responsible, then, for the meeting that we're having. Right. [00:10:20] Speaker C: Um, I point to myself and then finally stutter out. Progeny. Also a correct answer. My apologies. [00:10:32] Speaker B: I suppose that counts as a trick question. The fifth tradition. [00:10:36] Speaker C: Mr. Scott, you are here to seek. [00:10:39] Speaker B: My hospitality, my permission to exist in. [00:10:42] Speaker C: The city of Chicago. Yes. [00:10:45] Speaker A: So this meeting is important because we have multiple traditions that we are upholding, and I am very excited to. [00:10:55] Speaker D: Yes. [00:10:59] Speaker B: Indeed. Not to say you were entirely wrong. You are correct. The traditions governing progeny do certainly complicate. [00:11:07] Speaker C: The fifth tradition in this case, don't they? Plainly, for the last, oh, I don't. [00:11:15] Speaker B: Know, thousand years or so, our kind have said that any embrace without the permission of their elder shall forfeit their being. [00:11:25] Speaker C: Rules are rules. [00:11:26] Speaker B: I'm sure you understand. [00:11:29] Speaker A: I just keep thinking in the back of my head. Think more, say less. Smile a nod. [00:11:34] Speaker C: You'd been here before you haven't, you idiot. [00:11:37] Speaker A: Just keep smiling. And as the prince says this, I return with just a smile and nod. [00:11:46] Speaker C: Explain to me, then, why I shouldn't apply this tradition as it's written. [00:11:52] Speaker B: What about you is so special that I should ignore the wisdom of our. [00:11:57] Speaker C: Many elders and allow you to exist? There is a long, heavy silence, and. [00:12:04] Speaker A: Then I slowly try to utter out an offering, I guess. [00:12:12] Speaker C: Well, prince, I believe that what I have to offer you is myself as an asset. [00:12:21] Speaker A: I am not. [00:12:27] Speaker C: Affiliated with any political. [00:12:32] Speaker A: Clan or organization, to my knowledge, and therefore, that makes me a free agent. And as a free agent, that makes me valuable. [00:12:41] Speaker C: When someone has needs, we all know needs are just wants come at a cost. [00:12:50] Speaker A: And if the cost of living is the cost of working, well, how is capitalism any different than this? [00:12:57] Speaker C: Not an unsatisfactory answer. Was it the tramir or the La Sambra who told you to say that? [00:13:05] Speaker A: I think we can all agree it. [00:13:07] Speaker C: Was a team effort and just leave it at that. [00:13:10] Speaker D: Of course. [00:13:12] Speaker C: So you come to offer fealty? Should we get a sword? [00:13:18] Speaker B: Have you swear an oath? [00:13:21] Speaker C: Perhaps find you a horse and a helmet? That would be cool, no? Is that a thing? [00:13:31] Speaker A: I don't know how the swearing in works. [00:13:34] Speaker B: The face that he makes is you can. Have you ever seen someone who is very slightly amused, but does not want. [00:13:43] Speaker C: You to know they're amused? [00:13:45] Speaker B: There's just a twitch in the corner. [00:13:48] Speaker C: Of his eye that is immediately swallowed up by gravitas. I'm certain that could be arranged. Perhaps not on such short notice, but. [00:14:01] Speaker B: No, Mr. Scott, I have no need of knights, at least not the kind that wear armor. And if legend is to be believed, occasionally chase windmills. My question for you would be this. If you are going to be my. [00:14:20] Speaker C: Asset, we would then be forced to. [00:14:23] Speaker B: Address the issue of other relationships that you have. [00:14:26] Speaker C: You don't have a haven in my city, do you? [00:14:33] Speaker A: I'm currently crashing at this pad, you know. [00:14:36] Speaker C: It's a suitable location. Temporarily, yes. [00:14:41] Speaker B: The Chesky manor is a gorgeous institution of the city. You also don't have any assigned feeding. [00:14:48] Speaker C: Grounds in my city, do you? [00:14:52] Speaker A: As of right now, no, I do not. [00:14:56] Speaker C: Then it appears to me that your. [00:14:58] Speaker B: Lodging, your nourishment, the basic of your kindred needs, are already being met. [00:15:05] Speaker C: By Clan Tremere, no less. Yeah, so that being the case, Mr. Scott, how can you promise to be my agent. [00:15:20] Speaker A: Well, Mr. [00:15:22] Speaker D: Prince. [00:15:25] Speaker C: I clearly don't know much, but this I do know. As far as I see it, the. [00:15:33] Speaker A: Only reason I'm staying at that manor is because two people let me. [00:15:36] Speaker C: But Travir let me stay there, and. [00:15:39] Speaker A: You let me continue living. [00:15:43] Speaker C: So if my room and board is taken care of, my feeding is taken. [00:15:49] Speaker D: Care of, I still have safety. [00:15:52] Speaker C: I would much rather be for you than against you. Are you a religious man, Mr. Scott? [00:16:00] Speaker A: I mean, Christmas and Easter. [00:16:02] Speaker C: Are you familiar with the gospel of Matthew? [00:16:06] Speaker D: Is he a kindred? [00:16:08] Speaker C: Not so far as we know, no. [00:16:10] Speaker B: But let me fast forward to the point. Matthew 624. No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. [00:16:24] Speaker C: It's a passage about greed, Mr. Scott. And there are none greedier among us than the covens. I understand. [00:16:33] Speaker B: You're young. [00:16:34] Speaker C: Dangerously young. [00:16:37] Speaker B: I don't expect you to have answers to these questions. I'm more interested in the kind of. [00:16:41] Speaker C: Man you are, Mr. Scott. If you're going to be my agent. [00:16:49] Speaker B: How far would you go to prove such a thing? What assurance would I have that you. [00:16:55] Speaker C: Would be serving my interests and not Mr. Du Sables? Or dare say Miss Larue's is the. [00:17:03] Speaker B: Promise of a haven of your own feeding ground, parceled out territory, fame, status. [00:17:09] Speaker C: Is that enough? [00:17:11] Speaker B: Is your desire to live such that were I to take my wrist and demand you feed of it, you would subject yourself? [00:17:19] Speaker C: So in the extremely short time that I've been alive again, I've been compared to a dog, a puppy, whatever beast. But the beast has always been a loyal one. [00:17:36] Speaker D: Caring one. [00:17:37] Speaker C: And I know words alone does not make this system work. [00:17:43] Speaker A: I've always just wanted to see the. [00:17:44] Speaker C: Greater good get better. [00:17:46] Speaker A: I fancy myself something of a superhero. [00:17:49] Speaker C: I know that's silly, but I can't quit that. [00:17:52] Speaker A: And I think right now what I need is purpose. [00:17:56] Speaker D: I'm a loyal pup. I do the work. [00:18:02] Speaker C: I can't help but notice that throughout. [00:18:04] Speaker B: This conversation, you declined to take a side. [00:18:07] Speaker C: You're willing to work for me, but. [00:18:09] Speaker B: Not to turn your back on the others. [00:18:13] Speaker C: Like I said, I'm a loyal pup. But I think that being said. [00:18:20] Speaker A: I. [00:18:21] Speaker C: Am only a week old. It's always hard for the young. [00:18:27] Speaker A: And to leave mom's nest. [00:18:30] Speaker C: Working for you is something that I'm capable to do. [00:18:34] Speaker A: And loyal to do the work. I don't know yet. As far as what you need or require of me. Beyond service. [00:18:48] Speaker B: Rest assured, Mr. Scott, the service part of the equation is required. [00:18:54] Speaker C: If you wish to live in my. [00:18:55] Speaker B: City, you will do my biding. It's true of every kindred in Chicago to some degree or another. It's just that the unique nature of your circumstances mean you have significantly less free will when it comes to which assignments you accept and the enthusiasm with. [00:19:10] Speaker C: Which you will carry them out. The point that I'm driving at is this. [00:19:17] Speaker B: Indulging a hypothetical. If I asked you to return to. [00:19:20] Speaker C: The Dusceski manor tonight and retrieve a book from me, would you steal for the Prince of Chicago? [00:19:29] Speaker B: Now, I can see you thinking the audience. Can't you describe the face that you're. [00:19:33] Speaker C: Making as the prince levels this square across the table? [00:19:42] Speaker A: I'm trying so hard not to show any thought process at all, but in hiding that I'm thinking so hard that it becomes a self defeating activity. And though you can see the gears are turning beyond my eyes, the wheel is spinning, and the hamster is about to die of just pure exhaustion. Would I steal for the prince? [00:20:10] Speaker C: Unquestionably at this point. Would I steal from Ivy? I don't think I could. [00:20:18] Speaker A: In some weird way, having her in my life is kind of what's keeping me human. I don't know if I can destroy that. [00:20:28] Speaker B: Then she'll be delighted to know you've made the correct decision. I have no need for servants who. [00:20:34] Speaker C: Can be bought, Mr. Scott. [00:20:36] Speaker B: There are enough kindred in this city who lie. It's refreshing to see someone, if only out of youthful naivete, who can stick to some of their guns. [00:20:50] Speaker C: Wait. I got the job. [00:20:56] Speaker A: I'm sorry, prince. If I had blood, it would be pooling my feet right now. I'm excited. [00:21:07] Speaker C: This is. [00:21:10] Speaker A: Thank you, prince. [00:21:13] Speaker B: Save your thanks for some point in the future, Mr. Scott. Working for me, you can ask around. Isn't always easy. Or safe. The court shall know that in my capacity as prince of the city of Chicago, I grant you, Mr. Scott, my hospitality. Under ordinary circumstances, you would be turned to the Bruja Primagen for enrollment in his academy. [00:21:39] Speaker C: Unfortunately, prolonged curriculum does not match well with my needs. [00:21:46] Speaker B: Inform Miss le Roux that she bears responsibility for you during this probationary period, and that any mistakes you make against our kind or our laws will be taken out against her neck. [00:22:01] Speaker C: Understood, prince. [00:22:02] Speaker A: I will let her know. [00:22:03] Speaker C: And is there a caveat to that. [00:22:08] Speaker A: Where if I screw up, it's just my head? [00:22:11] Speaker C: Oh, no. I'll have yours too, but hers as well. [00:22:16] Speaker A: Understood, prince. [00:22:17] Speaker C: Understood, progeny, Mr. Scott. The third progeny. [00:22:25] Speaker D: Yeah. Yeah. [00:22:28] Speaker C: But formalities aside, is there anything you'd. [00:22:32] Speaker B: Like to know of me? About your new life, about your new home? I make a point to engage in these small conversations with anyone who enters the city. [00:22:41] Speaker C: You're no different. [00:22:43] Speaker B: Surely there's something burning in that head of yours. [00:22:46] Speaker A: My apologies, my prince. I'm out of lack for words right now. I'm just so relieved that I get to keep my head that I don't have any thoughts in it. [00:22:56] Speaker C: Can I. This is absurd to ask the prince. [00:23:00] Speaker A: Can I take a rain check on that? [00:23:02] Speaker C: If you would allow? [00:23:04] Speaker B: We'll see, Mr. Scott. That will depend entirely upon how interesting the question is. [00:23:12] Speaker A: Okay, so can this one be, like, a freebie? [00:23:14] Speaker C: Because I was wondering if I can get a really good suit of body. [00:23:24] Speaker A: Armor, like superhero body armor, because I've been working on this whole thing and. [00:23:28] Speaker C: Just a thought, assume for a moment. [00:23:32] Speaker B: That I've been alive considerably longer than you have and I haven't been keeping. [00:23:37] Speaker C: Up with the culture. [00:23:38] Speaker B: Can you explain, perhaps more specifically, what. [00:23:41] Speaker C: It is you're asking for? [00:23:45] Speaker A: I am worried I may have made. [00:23:46] Speaker C: A mistake, but this is kind of. [00:23:50] Speaker A: A thing for me, and I think it's really kind of cool. So there are these individuals that like to, shall we say, help the community, and they have to do so in a masquerade of sorts. And the masquerade that they use are these superheroic personas, names, and it's usually subtle, clandestine, and they have a suit to protect them and also their identity and to keep the masquerade up. And I was thinking that this is. [00:24:28] Speaker E: The first tenant, to a degree, this could be kind of a good thing to have. [00:24:38] Speaker A: I can't think the last time my voice got this high. [00:24:41] Speaker E: I think in my own head. [00:24:44] Speaker D: Mr. Scott. Yes, Prince? [00:24:48] Speaker C: Leave now. [00:24:50] Speaker D: Yes, prince. [00:24:52] Speaker A: With that, I scoop my chair out. I stand up, almost as if at attention. And in my head, as I dock it down and turn around to leave, I think to myself, okay, so, Alex, you know how you had that one bit of wisdom from Ivy? Yeah. Do you see where you didn't use that one bit of wisdom, Alex? No, you don't. [00:25:18] Speaker C: But you're alive, so. [00:25:22] Speaker A: Good for you. And I leave. [00:25:27] Speaker C: As you exit the conference room, Damien is still sitting, more or less where you left him, loading orange colored shells into a shotgun. [00:25:41] Speaker D: So, click. [00:25:43] Speaker C: We doing this? [00:25:45] Speaker D: Click. [00:25:47] Speaker C: What do you say? [00:25:48] Speaker D: Click. [00:25:51] Speaker C: Nah, man, I'm good. I'm. I'm aok budy. [00:25:56] Speaker D: No shit. Yeah. [00:26:01] Speaker C: He racks the slide, shrugs. All right, so you were just going to. [00:26:08] Speaker A: In case of the. That thing was going to be my long walk. [00:26:15] Speaker C: No, not a long walk at all. Probably right here in the hall. [00:26:19] Speaker A: Not even, like, look at the sunset Kujo and pull the trigger. You're just gonna. [00:26:24] Speaker C: Well, that's efficient. I'll give you that. Enjoy your night, Alex. [00:26:30] Speaker A: Yeah, you, um. Enjoy your shotgun. And I can't help but do the damn finger guns. Alex, I think to myself, just shut up. Just shut up, man. [00:26:44] Speaker D: Just walk out. [00:26:46] Speaker B: And so you do back down to the party below. Well, that handles where we left Alex. [00:26:55] Speaker C: Last time we met. But there's plenty of time in between. [00:26:59] Speaker B: You having set him off and his delightful return. Just once, Ivy, wouldn't it be nice to enjoy a quiet Elysium without interruption? [00:27:10] Speaker C: Of course, we both know that's not. [00:27:12] Speaker B: How things work here. Two different sets of people approaching, neither of which I imagine you're eager to see. Maya certainly isn't going to leave you unattended that long. No matter what your feud has to say about the situation, there is actual business to attend to. [00:27:32] Speaker C: I know Maya can compartmentalize her anger. [00:27:36] Speaker B: In the name of necessary cooperation. [00:27:38] Speaker C: I suspect she believes the same of you. Which means as the crowds begin to divert, Miss Legazi and Miss Khan will. [00:27:48] Speaker B: Once again find themselves at your side. The timing is less than fortuitous. [00:27:54] Speaker C: That makes it all the easier for. [00:27:57] Speaker B: Rosa Hernandez to approach. [00:28:05] Speaker E: Don't you have something else to do right now? Maya? [00:28:08] Speaker F: Must you be here? I look around. I'm making introductions slowly. I just wanted to check in and see if you were having fun. [00:28:19] Speaker G: And I'm her wing vampire. [00:28:23] Speaker E: I roll my eyes into the back of my head and shake it just a little bit and say, well, I think we are about to have another introduction thrust upon us. [00:28:36] Speaker F: Care to enlighten me as to who? [00:28:38] Speaker E: And I gently gesture towards the approaching gangrel, Rosa Hernandez. In about 7 seconds. [00:28:49] Speaker C: Anastasia. [00:28:50] Speaker B: Following the subtlety of Ivy's gesture is not necessary. [00:28:54] Speaker C: From your perspective, from where you're standing. [00:28:56] Speaker B: You have a much cleaner view of the woman charging through the crowd, I think might be the correct verb. There are people you've met tonight who navigate effortlessly through throngs of people. [00:29:11] Speaker C: There's a second category where the throngs. [00:29:13] Speaker B: Move out of the way for them, but still very liquid, very deferential. And then there's this. [00:29:21] Speaker C: A woman about 510, brownish skin, animalistic features. Animalistic everything. [00:29:29] Speaker B: She's not walking in this direction. [00:29:31] Speaker C: She is stalking towards you. [00:29:35] Speaker G: It looks like she wants to dance. Is there a dance here? Is this a dancing event? [00:29:40] Speaker F: I don't think that looks like a dance you want to take part in. [00:29:46] Speaker D: Oh, hold on. [00:29:49] Speaker G: I guess carry on. [00:29:51] Speaker B: Ivy. Maya. I hope I'm not interrupting anything. [00:29:55] Speaker E: Nothing important, I assure you. Rosa, wonderful to see you. [00:29:59] Speaker C: Always a pleasure. [00:30:02] Speaker D: She's not happy. Hello. [00:30:04] Speaker G: I'm Anna. I have not taken any dancing lessons. [00:30:08] Speaker C: Rosa Blinks, looks to Maya, looks to Ivy. [00:30:16] Speaker F: A colleague from out of town. She doesn't get out much. [00:30:21] Speaker E: It's good to see you. [00:30:23] Speaker B: Right. So, I have a problem. I'm sure you can guess. You are political and intelligent folks. Seems to me that we entered into a contract. [00:30:36] Speaker C: I'll use the language you like. I gave a gift to you. Something was then owed to me. Now it appears the debtor has skipped town. What are we to do about that? [00:30:49] Speaker E: If there was an arrangement made between you and Rebecca, which is, of course, who I assume you are talking about, we were not involved in that conversation. Rosa. [00:31:05] Speaker C: You want me to believe that you. [00:31:06] Speaker B: Doing the whole scheming, codery thing, it didn't come up. [00:31:11] Speaker C: Or better yet, let's approach it from a different angle. [00:31:14] Speaker B: You think I give a shit that you didn't sign the paperwork? I'd still did you the favor. [00:31:20] Speaker F: I'm so sorry. I am unfamiliar with this arrangement. [00:31:26] Speaker C: I helped you solve a problem. I put myself out on the line for you. [00:31:31] Speaker B: That's a pretty big boon. Newberry's in a casket because I gave. [00:31:37] Speaker C: You the top cover you needed. In exchange for that, your indigenous friend was going to do some work for me. That work still needs done. [00:31:46] Speaker F: I hate to imply you don't know how to manage your own assets. And I look at Ivy and Anna and myself, I don't know that whatever legwork you're asking for is going to be best done by these. And I poke a shoe out from under my gown. [00:32:16] Speaker B: Oh, is that your argument? [00:32:18] Speaker C: Is that you're too soft to do what needs to be done? That weakness is an excuse to reneg on obligations. [00:32:28] Speaker B: I like this for two reasons. [00:32:29] Speaker C: Because first of all, you're asking me to believe that you aren't capable of. [00:32:34] Speaker B: Doing what you need to do. And I don't think that's the Maya Lagasse face you want to put forward. However, I am more than happy to. [00:32:41] Speaker C: Speak to Sierra about it and see. [00:32:43] Speaker B: What she thinks is the proper way. [00:32:45] Speaker C: To handle what's being done. And I know for a fact du. [00:32:49] Speaker B: Sable would have a field day with this political situation that we can cause. [00:32:54] Speaker E: No. And I'll hold up a hand to interrupt Maya before she can speak. There's no need to involve anybody else. Rosa, what do you need handled? [00:33:10] Speaker B: There's a situation out of here. [00:33:13] Speaker C: A new one. [00:33:15] Speaker B: We already know that flyboy's not capable of holding that territory. And that's been a problem, but not an urgent problem for a long time. There's a pack of garrow that have. [00:33:24] Speaker C: Moved into the area. They already have. [00:33:27] Speaker B: Midway. If they take Chicago, we're cut off. [00:33:29] Speaker C: We're under siege. Rebecca was going to solve that problem. [00:33:34] Speaker B: It's what she does. It's all she ever cared about. And I was going to give her. [00:33:37] Speaker C: The opportunity to do so. Now I'm giving you the opportunity to do so. [00:33:44] Speaker E: When she says geru, just a wave of. Not frustration, a little agitation, perhaps, just comes over me. I'm sorry, Rosa. [00:34:03] Speaker C: Geru, are you asking me to explain. [00:34:06] Speaker B: It to you because you don't understand, or are you just looking to delay the conversation a little bit while you think about how to get out of it? Either one's fine. [00:34:15] Speaker C: I just need to know. [00:34:17] Speaker E: Well, I'm very clearly looking to get a little bit more time in this conversation, because I know that you know that I am far too intelligent to need a definition for Geru more. So it's a question of how many are we dealing with. When you say a pack, that varies greatly in size. I need to know what I'm up against. [00:34:39] Speaker B: Far as I can tell, three to five. [00:34:40] Speaker C: But that information could be useless. [00:34:44] Speaker E: Fine. What's the timeline? [00:34:47] Speaker C: Oh, the sooner the better. I don't know when they're going to move. I would say a week, maybe two. I don't know for sure. [00:34:55] Speaker B: I do know I don't want to. [00:34:56] Speaker C: Be in the city when they move before you do. That's going to be bad for everybody, but especially for you. [00:35:04] Speaker E: I don't suppose part of this arrangement that you had with Rebecca involved your help with the matter? [00:35:10] Speaker C: Oh, if you're asking if I'd love. [00:35:12] Speaker B: To come fight werewolves with you, the. [00:35:13] Speaker C: Answer is honest to God, yes. But look at this city, Ivy. You think we can handle another primagen going missing? You want me to leave Annabelle and sovereign and Ballard to decide what we do? [00:35:27] Speaker E: I let out a laugh. God, no. [00:35:32] Speaker C: Believe me, it's not for lack of glory, but no, someone has to keep. [00:35:37] Speaker B: These assholes in check. [00:35:40] Speaker C: Yes, there's aggression in her voice, but that's kind of just Rosa. [00:35:48] Speaker B: And for all of the demands she's. [00:35:50] Speaker C: Making, there are not olive branches. [00:35:53] Speaker B: That's not a Rosa kind of move. But the edges are softer than her tone suggests. [00:36:01] Speaker C: Yeah, it's the problem with Rosa. [00:36:04] Speaker B: Some people have resting bitch face, but. [00:36:06] Speaker C: Rosa just has resting bitch. [00:36:09] Speaker E: All right, well, you wouldn't happen to know anybody who would be up for a little garu fight, would you? Not that we are not capable, but something tells me that a little extra firepower might be necessary, because as I'm sure you are very, very aware, Rebecca was kind of the claws of this coterie. [00:36:36] Speaker C: I do. No, I'm not the kind of monster. [00:36:38] Speaker B: Who would send you out alone. [00:36:40] Speaker C: As fun as it would be to. [00:36:42] Speaker B: See the aftermath and to know that Maya's dress was ruined, I do enjoy. [00:36:46] Speaker C: Having you under my thumb. You're gonna take the kid? [00:36:50] Speaker D: If he survives, yeah. [00:36:54] Speaker C: Aside from that, you have a meeting two nights from now. [00:36:59] Speaker E: With who? [00:37:00] Speaker C: Her name's Calamity. She's a specialist. We'll say, imagine a Rebecca figure, but actually gets the work done. [00:37:11] Speaker E: Calamity. [00:37:12] Speaker C: Hey, if you want to pick fun. [00:37:14] Speaker B: At her name, you can do that. [00:37:18] Speaker C: I wouldn't. My advice to. [00:37:20] Speaker D: I. [00:37:21] Speaker E: No, I was just making sure I heard you correctly is all. [00:37:26] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm guessing calamity, because fucking catastrophe was already taken. Anyway, she's coming in from Detroit. [00:37:31] Speaker C: She will meet you here. And Rosa reaches into her pocket to. [00:37:35] Speaker B: Pull out a small slip of paper that has an address and a time. [00:37:39] Speaker E: I take it without looking at it, and I just slide it into my clutch and close it again. Understood? [00:37:46] Speaker C: That's one card. [00:37:48] Speaker B: You have to play the other. And believe me, I regret to fucking. [00:37:51] Speaker C: Say it, but the little shit who runs the airport also has ties to fuck knows what. [00:37:58] Speaker E: Fly boy. [00:38:00] Speaker B: Look, you're making the same face I made. [00:38:03] Speaker C: He runs the airport. [00:38:04] Speaker B: I don't like it, but he runs the airport? [00:38:07] Speaker E: No, of course. [00:38:10] Speaker C: So swallow whatever you have to swallow. [00:38:13] Speaker B: Make a meeting with him. If nothing else, you're going to want to have someone there who can explain away the gunshots happening that close to that. [00:38:25] Speaker E: All right, calamity. [00:38:29] Speaker D: Flyboy fun. [00:38:34] Speaker E: But it will get done, primagen. [00:38:38] Speaker C: I know it will. [00:38:40] Speaker B: For one, you're reliable, and two, you're. [00:38:41] Speaker C: Terrified of what'll happen if you don't accomplish it. I like that about you. [00:38:46] Speaker E: I have never not accomplished anything in my life. [00:38:51] Speaker C: Here's hoping that stays this way. [00:38:53] Speaker B: I do not look forward to having. [00:38:54] Speaker C: To clean you up. Anyway, you two have fun. Enjoy the. Whatever. Rosa. [00:39:04] Speaker B: Obviously not the kind of person who appreciates fine art. [00:39:08] Speaker C: Also not the type to appreciate a polite goodbye. [00:39:11] Speaker E: As Rosa takes her leave, I turn to Maya. [00:39:16] Speaker C: It's going to be a small problem. [00:39:17] Speaker E: There with turning to Maya, what's the problem? [00:39:23] Speaker C: Well, let me answer that question with a question. Knowing what you know about Maya generally, but also specific to physical labor, and then specific to very dangerous physical labor, knowing how slippery Lasambra can be, would you be surprised if during your conversation, animated, as it were, with the primigen, Maya and Anastasia disappeared? [00:39:52] Speaker E: Unfortunately, no. [00:39:56] Speaker C: I mean, it was kind of weird. [00:39:57] Speaker B: That it made the whole conversation and there were no Anna interjections about, oh, puppies. [00:40:02] Speaker C: Right. [00:40:03] Speaker E: Honest to God, I am more surprised that Maya could keep her mouth shut the entire time. But, yes, your point stands. [00:40:11] Speaker B: I'm sure, wherever she is right now. [00:40:14] Speaker C: Maya is not keeping her mouth shut. To quote a hound, though I wouldn't worry about it. You won't be alone for too long. [00:40:25] Speaker B: Because whatever sadness and anger you are feeling right now, either about the work. [00:40:28] Speaker C: That you've been handed or Maya skipping out on it, I think even your. [00:40:34] Speaker B: Coldest, deadest heart. [00:40:37] Speaker C: Would fail to feel joy. When you see Alex's face as he. [00:40:45] Speaker A: Hey, I'm not dust. [00:40:50] Speaker E: I see that. So it went well, then? [00:40:56] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:40:59] Speaker C: Pretty well. So, listen. [00:41:04] Speaker E: I hold up a hand, and I put up one finger and then pinch the bridge of my nose and then hold up the finger again and then recenter myself and open my eyes. Yes, Alex, what very obviously negative thing are you about to tell me? [00:41:30] Speaker A: So the prince said, I'm your responsibility? [00:41:35] Speaker E: There's a long pause. A very long pause. [00:41:41] Speaker D: I'm sorry. [00:41:43] Speaker E: He said what? [00:41:46] Speaker A: Yeah, we talked about the tenets. [00:41:49] Speaker C: And. [00:41:51] Speaker A: In order for everything to be. [00:41:53] Speaker C: Cool, I'm your responsibility. [00:41:59] Speaker E: No, Alex, because you're not my childa. I did not sire you. Why are you my. [00:42:18] Speaker A: I mean, there was a lot of talk about domain and parenting. At the end of the day, I think if I'm going to stay alive and the prince needs to feel like he can trust me, I think he's just going to shift the blame to you. [00:42:34] Speaker C: I'm sorry. [00:42:36] Speaker E: I don't respond with words. At this exact moment, I find the nearest bench in this gallery, and I sit down, my back straight as a board, my clutch held on my knees, and I'm staring straight ahead between what happened with Maya and Anna and the prince and then with Rosa and now this. Everything just kind of feels very claustrophobic right now. I'm feeling very overwhelmed and almost like I'm drowning. And I'm trying not to let Alex know that that is happening right now. So I'm trying to remain as composed as possible. And just for a final act of clarification I say, alex, please just tell me that this is some joke that Maya has put you up to. [00:44:00] Speaker A: I think we both know, Ivy, that this is not a Maya joke or a ruse. This is coming from the prince himself. [00:44:10] Speaker C: But hey, on the bright side, I'm not dead. [00:44:16] Speaker E: Look at me. [00:44:17] Speaker A: I'm still very much unalive. [00:44:20] Speaker E: My head slowly turns and my eyes meet his. Yeah, Alex, about that. [00:44:29] Speaker B: Because there is news coming. [00:44:34] Speaker C: We know that Alex doesn't know what. [00:44:36] Speaker B: Werewolves are in the new sense. [00:44:39] Speaker C: You have storybook knowledge, but the reality. [00:44:43] Speaker B: Of the garrow is an entirely different thing. [00:44:47] Speaker C: You feel strong. You feel powerful. [00:44:50] Speaker B: You're a God amongst men. [00:44:53] Speaker C: And you're going to find out fairly. [00:44:55] Speaker B: Soon that there are things even bigger. [00:44:57] Speaker C: Than you in the world. But you have an ally waiting. [00:45:03] Speaker B: Presumably Rosa keeps good company and wouldn't set you up for failure. If nothing else, Ivy, take solace in the fact that Rosa actually wants this. [00:45:11] Speaker C: Job to be done. [00:45:13] Speaker B: And unlike Eren's, the prince has set you on in the past. She has a vested interest in seeing. [00:45:17] Speaker C: You accomplish it and would be rather upset if you failed. Elysium delivers as it always does. Introductions, of course. Old friends, new friends. But it's never a dull moment for Chicago's favorite coterie. [00:45:36] Speaker B: Everybody has something for you to do. [00:45:39] Speaker C: On the one hand, it's flattering to. [00:45:41] Speaker B: Be trusted with these kind of responsibilities and to spend this much time in proximity to power. Vampires of your age aren't normally trusted. [00:45:51] Speaker C: With this kind of access, but it does come with stakes, literal and metaphorical. [00:46:00] Speaker B: Let us turn our attention now to the couple that departed the conversation midway, Maya having ushered Anastasia away from God knows what awkward conversation with the local kindred and into a quieter exhibit, less populated. [00:46:19] Speaker C: What's on your mind, Maya? [00:46:20] Speaker F: Anna, we're going to go on a little field trip. [00:46:24] Speaker G: Oh, I love field trips. [00:46:25] Speaker F: I figured. [00:46:26] Speaker G: Can we bring coloring markers? We never know when we might need them. [00:46:32] Speaker C: Anna has a point. [00:46:34] Speaker F: I don't care what you bring. We are going to do some not dying werewolf shit right now. [00:46:40] Speaker G: We can go to the museum and draw dinosaurs. That's what I really like to do. [00:46:44] Speaker D: When I go on field trips. [00:46:46] Speaker F: Oh, if I could pray right now. Kindred are not supposed to be able to get tension headaches. [00:46:52] Speaker G: I'm just saying, if you want to look at pointy teeth, we can look at one that's not moving. [00:46:58] Speaker F: Let's table that. We're going to go on a different trip to Italy. What? [00:47:04] Speaker D: Italy? [00:47:05] Speaker G: I'm fine with. [00:47:10] Speaker F: You know what? I don't think I need to convince you of doing anything, so let's just go, okay? [00:47:15] Speaker D: Okay. [00:47:17] Speaker C: Most people have to use dominate powers to get this kind of compliance. Who needs Horatio ballard? [00:47:23] Speaker F: It feels like cheating. All right, well, let's go. And I'm going to take your hand and start escorting you from the room. [00:47:32] Speaker G: Bye, everyone. See you next year. [00:47:34] Speaker C: A few heads turn. Thankfully, no one you recognize. [00:47:39] Speaker G: Bye, everyone. See you next year. [00:47:41] Speaker F: Happy birthday. [00:47:43] Speaker C: Now the faces are confused. [00:47:45] Speaker B: There's a certain amount that you can disregard as normal malkavian business. [00:47:50] Speaker C: I don't think they're used to seeing. [00:47:52] Speaker B: One that is this enthusiastic about it. [00:47:55] Speaker F: I'm just playing the hand I'm dealt here. [00:47:57] Speaker C: Play the hand you're dealt. [00:47:58] Speaker B: Summon the car. [00:47:59] Speaker C: Let the driver come around. [00:48:02] Speaker B: It's not a lot of time left in the evening. Perhaps enough for one errand, but elysium. [00:48:09] Speaker C: Takes a bit, so if you've got. [00:48:11] Speaker B: Something significant planned, it might make sense. [00:48:14] Speaker C: To put it off till tomorrow night. Then again, if it's an urgent question, I'm just driving the car. Tell us where we're going, Anna. [00:48:23] Speaker F: You keep talking about getting out and going around. Did Newberry take you any before? [00:48:32] Speaker D: Oh, yeah. [00:48:33] Speaker G: To the museum, to the aquarium, to the parks. He used to take me out on field trips all the time. That's how I learned how to draw. [00:48:44] Speaker F: Do you have a home base? Literally. Where did you come from? [00:48:50] Speaker G: Oh, my place. It's like a brownstone and pilsen. [00:48:55] Speaker D: It's got, like, two floors and a basement. [00:48:58] Speaker F: Let's go there first. Then can you give the driver your address? [00:49:04] Speaker G: Maybe when this is over, I will. [00:49:06] Speaker F: Get you as many coloring pencils as you'd like. [00:49:10] Speaker D: Okay. [00:49:11] Speaker G: I mean, I also just realized we didn't give anyone a birthday present. [00:49:15] Speaker F: There's always next year. [00:49:17] Speaker G: I give my address to the driver. [00:49:21] Speaker B: They're certainly not going to ask any questions. [00:49:24] Speaker C: Maya doesn't hire that kind of help. [00:49:26] Speaker G: Are you going to do a sleepover? [00:49:28] Speaker F: We'll see. [00:49:29] Speaker G: I'm just saying, if we just came from a birthday party, it's only natural that it's a sleepover. Next. Late movies, throwing popcorn at the screen. Girls night. [00:49:42] Speaker D: I like that. I'll go with that. [00:49:45] Speaker C: Kind of makes you miss Alex, doesn't it, Maya? Well, the drive takes about 15 minutes, maybe ten. [00:49:51] Speaker B: So that's how much longer you have to put up with the enthusiastic back and forth, the wrangling over promises that you'll make, and the video games you'll play and the movies you'll watch and the snacks you'll order. [00:50:01] Speaker G: And I did want to compliment Maya. I think your face looks a lot better than the first time I met you. [00:50:07] Speaker F: Thank you. It took a minute, but we're back. [00:50:11] Speaker D: It's amazing what you can accomplish, especially. [00:50:15] Speaker G: If we go to the spa. [00:50:17] Speaker F: I'm going to ask you to do one last thing before we get to Anna's place. Do you mind putting on the radio? [00:50:25] Speaker C: The driver casts his eyes up into the rear view. [00:50:27] Speaker B: That's enough. [00:50:28] Speaker C: Acknowledgement. [00:50:29] Speaker B: Doesn't reach forward for a knob. You wouldn't drive in a car that was not at least fancy enough to have a digital display, right? Pushes the button. [00:50:38] Speaker C: Local Chicago station, top 40. [00:50:42] Speaker D: No. [00:50:43] Speaker F: I was hoping we could listen to something a little more opinionated. [00:50:47] Speaker G: Oh, I always love listening to NPR. [00:50:49] Speaker C: Nods into the rearview mirror. There's a bit of a quizzical look on his face. [00:50:54] Speaker B: That's not the kind of request people normally make. [00:50:56] Speaker C: But anyone in Chicago knows there's only. [00:50:59] Speaker B: Two stations that give you the kind of thing that you're after. NPR. Not what most people would call opinionated. [00:51:06] Speaker C: And I think WBEZ at this hour. [00:51:09] Speaker B: Of night is mostly playing the BBC. There's only one place left to go. And you hear each station zip by as he hits the seek button. [00:51:18] Speaker C: And then. Now look, they can tell you why. [00:51:22] Speaker B: A chemical plant caught fire. They can tell you why the diamond Yamaha hotel caught fire. But remember what we've been saying the whole time? There is a conspiracy of these people, and each little one of them has their own fiefdoms, but they're all on a team, you understand? It's just like I talk about politics, right? This is an idea that's hard to get into your head. You already know that there are forces beyond us, big and rich and wealthy, that control all these sectors of the economy. And they get together in Davos, and they get together in Paris, and they get together in Moscow to make all the little moves work. But you can imagine the same kind. [00:51:52] Speaker C: Of thing happening right here in Chicago. Now let me ask you, whose name was on that chemical plant that got. Hmm? [00:52:01] Speaker B: Same person who has their hands in all the construction matters, right? Which company built the hotel that caught fire? [00:52:09] Speaker C: Now, when you start asking those questions. [00:52:10] Speaker B: Friends, and don't you ask them too. [00:52:12] Speaker C: Loud, because they're out there listening. But you answer that in your head, and then you'll start to be on the right track. This is danger, Dan. [00:52:20] Speaker B: Stay informed. [00:52:22] Speaker D: We'll be right back. [00:52:23] Speaker B: Are you worried about the price of inflation driving down your goods? There's only one thing that will survive. You in the apocalypse hard, cold gold. [00:52:32] Speaker C: The ad continues. [00:52:35] Speaker G: I didn't know that BTS had a new album out. [00:52:40] Speaker F: Danger Dan is excellent. I cannot wait to meet him in person. [00:52:46] Speaker G: Oh, I didn't realize you guys had a different name for them, but that's cool. [00:52:50] Speaker C: Think there's a point where you just. [00:52:52] Speaker B: Need to let Anastasia have the moment and play along? [00:52:55] Speaker F: Absolutely. I'm just going to smile and nod. [00:52:59] Speaker G: I start trying out some very badly coordinated KPoP moves and even add in a dab. [00:53:05] Speaker C: Well, you won't have to tolerate the choreography much longer. [00:53:08] Speaker B: Dan continues ranting. It's difficult to see where the vampire conspiracy stops. And then, like the plain old conspiracies. [00:53:15] Speaker C: Start, it all blurs together after a while. It's probably the reason that no one. [00:53:20] Speaker B: Has bothered to actually go solve the problem. He's only ten or 15% right, which is dangerous if you know what he's talking about. [00:53:29] Speaker C: But I think we can agree the. [00:53:31] Speaker B: Defining feature of Dan's target audience is. [00:53:34] Speaker C: That they do not know what they're talking about. A car pulls up to a house. [00:53:39] Speaker B: That it is obvious Anastasia could not afford. Chicago is gentrifying all over, but there are parts of this town that have been moneyed for a little longer. Pilsen used to have a better reputation. It's a little hipster, a little PBR, a little american spirit these days. [00:53:57] Speaker C: But that doesn't change the fact that. [00:53:58] Speaker B: To own one of these homes requires capital that most of the people who live in this neighborhood don't have. So for Anastasia to occupy it without. [00:54:06] Speaker C: Paying rent reflects some investment by someone interesting. [00:54:12] Speaker F: I love when I can solve a mystery through real estate. [00:54:15] Speaker C: Well, you exit the vehicle. [00:54:17] Speaker B: I don't know if this driver is a wait down the street kind of driver or a circle around until you get the call kind of driver. [00:54:22] Speaker C: I suppose it doesn't matter at this. [00:54:24] Speaker B: Point, the focus is on the steps. The front door. Anna, is it the first floor that's. [00:54:30] Speaker C: Yours or the second? [00:54:32] Speaker G: It's the first floor. [00:54:34] Speaker B: No stairs. [00:54:34] Speaker C: Even better. [00:54:36] Speaker B: So we arrive at one of those nice, thick, old construction wooden doors. [00:54:41] Speaker D: Keys still work. [00:54:43] Speaker C: So, Anna, as you reach, unlock the door, unlock the deadbolt, unlock the other deadbolt, turn the handle, the door opens. Describe for us your domain. [00:54:57] Speaker G: So as you enter the location, you see a hallway. There's a stairwell that goes up to the next floor. And then there's a separate entrance to my apartment. But the entire hallway is filled with fake plants, just, like, tons of fake plants. And it looks like a jungle. There's no flowering ones. It's all just like palm trees, monstera fig trees. And it looks like an overgrown jungle, like on Instagram, but it's still all fake. [00:55:27] Speaker B: I'm pretty sure it's fake on Instagram. [00:55:28] Speaker C: Too, but that's just me. What's the Furniture situation like? [00:55:34] Speaker G: My entrance is kept separate from the rest of the brownstone so that another tenant could live upstairs. But my entrance, when you open it, it's got a little bit of a boho feel to it, but also just like, crazy artist vibes. There's art supplies everywhere, all rope, crafting, yarn, and scissors. And also just a lot of markers and blank pieces of paper with scribbles. [00:56:05] Speaker C: All on the floor. How many different easels do you own? [00:56:10] Speaker G: Two. And they're all like the h frame kinds that are huge, and they take up all the way from the floor to the ceiling. [00:56:17] Speaker B: Amazing. I cannot imagine what your canvas bill. [00:56:19] Speaker C: Must have been like. [00:56:21] Speaker G: Oh, I didn't see a bill. [00:56:23] Speaker C: A fair point. It's nice. [00:56:25] Speaker B: The patronage model still working in the modern day. [00:56:29] Speaker C: Well, Maya, you see this? [00:56:30] Speaker B: Does it check out with your expectation? [00:56:33] Speaker C: If I'd asked you to draw a. [00:56:34] Speaker B: Picture of Anastasia's apartment in your mind. [00:56:37] Speaker C: Would we be looking at the same thing? [00:56:40] Speaker F: I don't know what I was expecting, but I am not surprised. An artist Malkavian seems like a fitting stereotype. [00:56:48] Speaker C: I'm sure everyone's a trope of one kind or another, but we can talk. [00:56:54] Speaker B: About that a little later. We're in the apartment now. [00:56:57] Speaker C: Why did we come here? [00:56:58] Speaker G: To check out my stuffed animal collection. [00:57:00] Speaker F: Do you get mail? [00:57:03] Speaker G: Only when I order from online. Nobody ever mails me. [00:57:06] Speaker D: They don't think about me very much. [00:57:09] Speaker F: So how do you pay rent on this place? I'm going to go back to the entrance and look around the foyer, see if I can find a building manager or management company. [00:57:24] Speaker G: I call out to her, I've never had a friend over before. [00:57:30] Speaker C: I don't mean to say this in. [00:57:31] Speaker B: The wrong way, Anna. I'm not entirely sure you have one. [00:57:34] Speaker C: Now, but to answer your question, Maya, no. [00:57:36] Speaker B: There's no plaque on the front that says managed by so and so. There's no sign in the front yard. [00:57:43] Speaker C: If you were to peek into the. [00:57:44] Speaker B: Mailbox, the mail is addressed to the person upstairs that appears to be a real person who interacts with the real world. [00:57:53] Speaker C: There's an address. [00:57:54] Speaker B: Later in the night, you might be able to find a public record somewhere, see what's what. [00:57:58] Speaker F: But if you buy land, it becomes public record. There's got to be a paper trail or something. A shell corporation that one can trace that might lead to other newberry holdings. It's not a lot, but it's a start. I'll head back in and engage with Anna and her things. Do you draw a lot? [00:58:28] Speaker G: Only whenever I feel like it. This is a painting of my teddy bear. His name is Uso. This one is one I made of you before I met you. This one over here is a plate of spaghetti because I used to eat a lot of them, but now I can't eat any spaghetti. This one over here is sort of like a study of Andy Warhol that I just really liked. [00:58:53] Speaker F: How often do you draw people you've never met before? [00:58:59] Speaker G: I mean, I go outside and I draw people from the park, so I guess all the time. [00:59:04] Speaker F: But people you've never seen. [00:59:08] Speaker G: Well, I think it's you. I reveal a canvas with a painting of Maya. It is incredibly detailed and exquisite. Half of her face is destroyed, and the other half is intact. But you can see her stare through the canvas as if she's staring into your soul. [00:59:31] Speaker C: Maya. Is it weird that Anna got the outfit right? [00:59:35] Speaker F: Weird doesn't even begin to cover it. I want to be insulted by what feels like a very cliche metaphor, but I also remember when we met, I was missing a significant part of my jaw. [00:59:51] Speaker B: I don't know what you believe, but. [00:59:52] Speaker C: That level of detail for an event, that's got to cross the line from something to something else, right? [01:00:00] Speaker F: I'm trying very hard not to lean into the implications that it gives for the concept of free will, to be quite honest. [01:00:08] Speaker B: When did you paint this? [01:00:10] Speaker G: Probably the night before I met you. That's how I knew what to look for. [01:00:15] Speaker F: Again, lots of confirmations of things that I don't want to examine right now. [01:00:22] Speaker C: Do you do this a lot? [01:00:24] Speaker G: I paint all the time. I mean, I've gotten really into knots lately, more than painting, so I've been trying to learn that watching tutorials online. This one is a really cool one. This is supposed to bring you luck. It's, like, from chinese culture. And the way that this one is knotted up, you can hang it from a sword, even if you do Wu Shoe or anything like that. This one's really cool. [01:00:47] Speaker F: Yeah, super interesting. Do you draw more things from the future? [01:00:53] Speaker G: I just draw whatever whenever an inspiration strikes or if I think something's pretty or if I think something is super, super ugly. And sometimes I just draw whatever I feel specifically. I was inspired to paint you after I had this really intense dream about how you and I were going to be really good friends, and then we have a tea party. You were really good at jump roping. [01:01:24] Speaker F: Every time I think I've made progress, it's like two steps forward and one step back. Okay, so how often do you have these dreams? [01:01:35] Speaker G: Well, I've only ever had one of you. I don't want to say that I'm obsessed with you or anything. That's a little weird, right? I don't really think our relationship is. [01:01:44] Speaker F: Like that yet, to be honest. I respect that. Anyone else? [01:01:49] Speaker G: Maybe Jason, my dad? No, it's really hard to draw my dad. Every time I've tried to do a portrait of my. Know, as, like, a secret gift, but whenever I try, I just can't get his features right. It's like every time I try to. [01:02:05] Speaker F: Put his face to paper, it just. [01:02:07] Speaker G: Gets muddled and fuzzy, and I just can't get it correct. [01:02:11] Speaker D: It looks like a stick figure. [01:02:13] Speaker F: Do you dream about him? [01:02:15] Speaker G: Oh, yeah. He talks to me in my dreams. We played a game of chess once. I think he's winning. [01:02:23] Speaker C: There's a lot coming together, Maya. [01:02:26] Speaker F: I feel like I have a lot of puzzle pieces, but I don't know how they come together yet. Or maybe I have a tool I don't know how to use. [01:02:37] Speaker C: Well, pitch me on some ideas. Walk me through what you're thinking. [01:02:40] Speaker F: There's got to be a way to trigger Anna's ability to predict. I don't think I can just shake her until it happens. [01:02:53] Speaker C: No, I think you're thinking of magic eight balls. [01:02:56] Speaker F: We have a connection to Jason that we can't access. There's so much we can't do. We don't know how to set it off. Just close your eyes really tight and pretend to be asleep. [01:03:14] Speaker G: I give her a look, and then I shut one eye really, really hard, and I make snoring noises. But my other eye is definitely still looking at her. [01:03:27] Speaker F: Anna, I'm trying to figure out how you're connected to Jason. [01:03:32] Speaker G: Well, I'm his child. [01:03:34] Speaker F: No, I know, but I don't talk to my sire through my brain. [01:03:39] Speaker G: I mean, maybe you guys just need a better. Like, don't you want to talk to your parents? [01:03:46] Speaker F: No, not really. [01:03:47] Speaker C: Anna, make a willpower rule for me. [01:03:50] Speaker G: That's one success. [01:03:52] Speaker C: Ooh, that is not a lot. [01:03:55] Speaker B: So you're speaking to Maya. [01:03:57] Speaker C: You're having a perfectly ordinary conversation, but you feel this presence standing behind you, entirely familiar, familial even. [01:04:11] Speaker B: Feel the hand come down on your shoulder as this gaunt blonde, very handsome man stands beside you and pulls you in close. [01:04:21] Speaker C: Anna, we've talked about this. You know you're not supposed to tell people what you can do. [01:04:28] Speaker G: I was just sharing my talents. You said I could share my talents with the world. I just can't talk about what you do. [01:04:35] Speaker C: I know, but do you see how. [01:04:38] Speaker B: This is becoming a problem? [01:04:39] Speaker C: Because our friend here, she's very, very curious, and I wouldn't want us to. [01:04:44] Speaker B: End up in a position where your. [01:04:46] Speaker C: Desire to enthusiastically share your art reveals something about us. [01:04:53] Speaker D: About me. Okay, fine. [01:04:57] Speaker G: I won't draw her anymore. Can I still draw Usu? [01:05:02] Speaker D: Oh, yeah. No. [01:05:03] Speaker B: And you can draw her as much as you want. She hit me. [01:05:08] Speaker C: They're like that. [01:05:10] Speaker G: I don't know if I want friends that hit me. [01:05:12] Speaker C: You know, I would never tell you. [01:05:14] Speaker B: How to live your life and who you wish to associate with. [01:05:16] Speaker C: But I kind of agree. We shouldn't hang out with people who hurt us. [01:05:23] Speaker G: Am I going to see you again soon? [01:05:26] Speaker C: Of course. [01:05:28] Speaker G: I miss you. [01:05:31] Speaker C: I miss you, too. [01:05:32] Speaker D: Anna. [01:05:33] Speaker C: I have to go, but maybe we can play chess after tonight. [01:05:40] Speaker G: Okay. I have a good move ready for you. [01:05:43] Speaker C: I know you do. [01:05:44] Speaker D: That's why I picked you. Hi, dad. [01:05:47] Speaker C: Did you feel that slap on the shoulder? Then the presence is gone. That's an interesting conversation, Maya. You were privy to half of it. [01:05:59] Speaker B: What's going to happen when Anna realizes. [01:06:01] Speaker C: That she said all of that out loud? [01:06:05] Speaker B: For that, though, we are going to have to wait. [01:06:09] Speaker C: Because that's a story for another night. [01:06:12] Speaker A: You've been listening to the all night society, an actual play podcast brought to you by Queen's court games. If you've enjoyed your stay, consider supporting us on Patreon for access to exclusive art, audio, and private fan only games. For more content, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok at Queens Court games or on Twitter at Queens Court Rpg.