Stop! Party Time! (Miyu's Party)

"That is her choice and her judgement. I'm interested in seeing him not dead, because I'm not sure Griselda could stand another loss. She's had at least one like this already."

She nodded.

"Angelo."

"I believe she mentioned his name. It's a bit fuzzy, I was laughing a lot and pretty sure I was also rather ribald and profane."

She smiled and sipped her whiskey.

"His name is Angelo. Goes by Eidolon now. Radio personality for Kindred in Seattle. Tortured, disfigured and ghouled by Joseph, her ex. Joseph was a peach."

Victor ignored his own drink for a moment as he frowned. "Why does Joseph still live? Or barring that why is he not buried in a mountain somewhere?"

She tilted her head.

"Joseph's power is such that to take him down would mean to kill him. Most would not wish to risk their own lives to have a Blood Hunt called just to take him out. He can't be buried in a mountain somewhere because the only way to take him down is to take his head, Victor. There are only three that I know of in this city who could do that -- Vlad, myself and that girl over there. And she's so terrified of him that she couldn't raise a hand against him, even if she needed to."

Victor shook his head sadly. "I dislike seeing somebody beaten down and broken like that."

She nodded and sipped whiskey again.

"She is such a strong girl, it's doubly heartbreaking to see her in such a state. When she doesn't think about it, when she just is herself? It's incredible. Have you ever seen her like that?" she asked with a smile. "Seen her when she has no fear and no doubt, seen her when she forgets to worry about everything, forgets the nightly fight, forgets the world sucks?"

"I think so" he said while setting his glass down for a moment. "During the surgery she was incredibly candid and relaxed, and afterwards, she'd come by with food and to see how I was doing. And in her night club... she talked me into ahh disco dancing, and nearly died laughing over a pair of fornicating students in my Duesenberg."

She smiled.

"She's very different, isn't she? When she is like that."

"She is. Ignorant of her own sensuality and body though." he said with a frown. "Somebody needs to tell her that short skirts require underwear..."

She laughed softly.

"She isn't ignorant to it," she remarked mildly. "She simply cannot fathom someone wanting her. It's why this new lover of hers is so good for her, if I'm telling the truth. He wants her and that's enough. In truth, she likely would have said yes to the first man who showed an interest in her simply out of shock that someone would find her desirable. Joseph made very sure that she does not see herself as such."

"I should give her about half of my ego" he quipped

"Unless she wants to regain her self worth with help I'm not sure she will reach the path to do it on her own."

Her head tilted to the side.

"Who says she doesn't have help?" She winked. "She has Oriella, yourself, me and this new boy. That seems like quite a bit of help to me."

"Very true" he chuckled "She may not just know it yet."

She laughed and sipped at her drink.

"She knows."

"You should have heard her cuss out Prince Braden. I had a very hard time keeping a straight face."

She smiled.

"She is a wonder when it comes to politics. She should show that sort of confidence in all walks of her life."

"I honestly wondered why she bothered sending me up there, other than the fact she is extremely busy down here. You are right, if she showed that same confidence in all of her life, she'd be a true powerhouse."

Her brow rose.

"Was going up there your suggestion?"

"It was. I had the notion of negotiating mutual passage and defense between domains in case of a Sabbat attack. If one falls, the other is vulnerable. Sharing resources and intelligence strengthens each."

He sipped at his drink again and inwardly wished he'd reached for the rum instead

She sipped at her whiskey again and smirked.

"That's why she sent you. She didn't want to bother because she likely doesn't see it as overly important. Besides being busy with duties here, trying to have a semblance of a normal life with her lover and making sure that she has time to wrangle politics here takes quite a bit of time. She sent you because she knew you wanted to go, she just happened to be available to make sure that you didn't lose your ass to Braden."

Victor chuckled "See, there goes some of my ego. Quick, catch it and slip it into Griselda's drink".

"Eh, it's fun. I have to find a tank now though."

Her brow rose.

"Why do you need a tank?"

"Backup army of Anarchs. I hope. Measure of good faith. They gave me some very good information, I'm getting them an ancient Nazi tank once I can find one. "