Post by Habuki on May 26, 2005 2:06:47 GMT -8
It had been three nights since the Family Security Specialist had walked through the rusted metal fire door and down the forty-seven-foot darkened hallway that lead from the street to the antique oak door that made-up the entrance to the Gaslight Lounge, but Rojer’ Habuki was usually, as of late, away from the lounge on Family Business, the Family Domain’s Security was his responsibility and beside these duties the Don had also given him some additional tasks to complete since Rojer’s year and a half absence.
He took his time coming down the short hall, reassuring himself that all of the high-tech security devices installed in such a short distance were functioning properly, finding all in working order, he made a few adjustments to the camouflage, a sprinkle of dust here, a misplaced piece of gossamer that made the appearance of a cobweb concealing another device there. Having satisfied his appetite for being meticulous about the finer details, he rose from his task to continue down the hallway and was comforted to find Carlos, the bookkeeper made Family Ghoul, standing in front of the door that lead to the interior of what had become the Families Business Office.
“Greetings Master Habuki, I trust you find everything is in good order?” the ghoul inquired.
“Yes, thank you. Why is it that I find you working the door?” Rojer’ asked.
“Master Giovanni needed to step out for a bite,” the ghoul gave a slight wink and continued his report, “you know how he gets when he is feeling a bit piqued.” Rojer’ knew that the ghoul had been referring to the newest member of the family and how he sometimes got absent minded when he was in need of vitae. “I am expecting him back shortly.”<br>
“Very good, who’s inside? ” Rojer’ replied as he reached for the clipboard that contained the evenings guest list.
“Just the majority of the Family Sir, everyone else on the list has since left before the sunrise catches them out and about,” Carlos paused briefly and then stiffened slightly, “with the exception of Master Thompson of the Ventrue, he rented the Main Poker Table for the night and has yet to regain the rental fee, he was hoping to catch a few late comers. He did ask for you when he arrived.” The fact that Master Habuki was the Pit Boss, when he was present, had slipped the ghouls mind, but then he had thought of himself as the Assistant Pit Boss when the always-serious looking vampire was not around.
“Excellent Carlos,” as the Security Specialist returned the clipboard to the ghoul and reached for the door handle.
“Allow me Sir!” Carlos smiled as he opened the door in such a way that Rojer’ was reminded of another one of the Family Ghouls who was no longer with the Family.
Thank you, P…,” Rojer’s voice trailed off as he caught himself, for he was about to call Carlos by the name of that same short little ghoul who but two years before had been rewarded for centuries of service to the Family by receiving the Kiss. Rojer’ looked down quickly and snapped to the ghoul, but more at himself, “Perhaps, you could have Master Giovanni fix the phone line, it has come lose again.” As he kicked the patch cord that connected the outside world phone line to the decades old switchboard located further within the Lounge, “The Don may still have use for the phones this evening” turning and disappearing into the depths of the Gaslight.
Rojer’ walked straight through the front lounge area, ignoring the two wraiths that seem to be playing phantom chess at one of the side table, and entered into the Gambling Parlor.
“Go home William, don’t worry, you can have the table for tomorrow night, just leave the chips there and I’ll make the arrangements.”<br>
The Ventrue’s lips parted as if to argue, but he quickly changed the expression to a smile. He really didn’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, for he knew that getting another nights worth of rent on the table from Rojer’ Habuki for nothing was probably the only time this would ever happen.
“I wanted to talk to y…” Thompson started to speak.
“It will have to keep till tomorrow, Good Night” as Rojer’ began deftly and accurately stacking the chips that had been in front of the now ignored Ventrue.
“Good Night then.” William blinked and picked up his jacket from the coat rack and made his way to the only exit he knew of, the front door.
Rojer’ placed the chips in the rack and made a mental note of the sum that the Ventrue would expect to see on the table when he returned the following night Ventrue and their Money, he thought to himself, are soon parted or so a similar saying went
Making his way back to the lounge, he went behind the elaborately carved mahogany bar to open the icebox door. Removing the only item contained within the old fashioned machine, a bottle of vitae. Of all the unusual things about the Gaslight Lounge, the fact that this bottle returned, every night, full, amazed him. Not even the wraiths appearing in the corner of his alert eyes or that items that were left within the lounge would be found on the mantle above the constantly burning fireplace the next evening or that mortals trying to enter the Gaslight would find an empty dusty series of unused rooms. No, the bottle of vitae was the one enigma about the Gaslight that amazed him. He quickly quaffed the contents and placed the now empty bottle back into the icebox.
Feeling the flow of the vitae through his being reminded him of the task that had kept him away from the Gaslight and he quickly made his way towards the private rooms were he knew the Don would be waiting.
He stopped by the first door, removed something from his inner coat pocket and slowly, as to make no sound, turned the doorknob and then forcefully thrust the door open and rushed into the room.
The action had it’s desired effect for upon entering the room, there was a flurry of movement as multiple blue-black barreled guns were nearly simultaneously pointed at the now empty doorway.
“You’re All Dead,” came Habuki’s voice from the doorway behind them, “look at your chests!”<br>
“I wish you wouldn’t do that.” came the irritated response as the three sharp dressed vampires, who had previously been sitting, looked down and removed the “Mister Yuck” stickers from just over their hearts. “When are you going to teach us how you do that?”<br>
“After the Don has learned to, but he has me so busy that I don’t even have time to teach him. Now one of you go and replace Carlos at the door, the Don will have need of his services.” Turning he then knocked on the closed door, waited briefly and entered.
“Ahh, Rojer’, Come in. I expected you last night. What do you have to report?” said Don Cornelius Faust Giovanni, the head of the Emerald Domain Family.
“You will be needing your bookkeeper, my Don, for there is much to be said….” and closed the door behind him as he entered….
He took his time coming down the short hall, reassuring himself that all of the high-tech security devices installed in such a short distance were functioning properly, finding all in working order, he made a few adjustments to the camouflage, a sprinkle of dust here, a misplaced piece of gossamer that made the appearance of a cobweb concealing another device there. Having satisfied his appetite for being meticulous about the finer details, he rose from his task to continue down the hallway and was comforted to find Carlos, the bookkeeper made Family Ghoul, standing in front of the door that lead to the interior of what had become the Families Business Office.
“Greetings Master Habuki, I trust you find everything is in good order?” the ghoul inquired.
“Yes, thank you. Why is it that I find you working the door?” Rojer’ asked.
“Master Giovanni needed to step out for a bite,” the ghoul gave a slight wink and continued his report, “you know how he gets when he is feeling a bit piqued.” Rojer’ knew that the ghoul had been referring to the newest member of the family and how he sometimes got absent minded when he was in need of vitae. “I am expecting him back shortly.”<br>
“Very good, who’s inside? ” Rojer’ replied as he reached for the clipboard that contained the evenings guest list.
“Just the majority of the Family Sir, everyone else on the list has since left before the sunrise catches them out and about,” Carlos paused briefly and then stiffened slightly, “with the exception of Master Thompson of the Ventrue, he rented the Main Poker Table for the night and has yet to regain the rental fee, he was hoping to catch a few late comers. He did ask for you when he arrived.” The fact that Master Habuki was the Pit Boss, when he was present, had slipped the ghouls mind, but then he had thought of himself as the Assistant Pit Boss when the always-serious looking vampire was not around.
“Excellent Carlos,” as the Security Specialist returned the clipboard to the ghoul and reached for the door handle.
“Allow me Sir!” Carlos smiled as he opened the door in such a way that Rojer’ was reminded of another one of the Family Ghouls who was no longer with the Family.
Thank you, P…,” Rojer’s voice trailed off as he caught himself, for he was about to call Carlos by the name of that same short little ghoul who but two years before had been rewarded for centuries of service to the Family by receiving the Kiss. Rojer’ looked down quickly and snapped to the ghoul, but more at himself, “Perhaps, you could have Master Giovanni fix the phone line, it has come lose again.” As he kicked the patch cord that connected the outside world phone line to the decades old switchboard located further within the Lounge, “The Don may still have use for the phones this evening” turning and disappearing into the depths of the Gaslight.
Rojer’ walked straight through the front lounge area, ignoring the two wraiths that seem to be playing phantom chess at one of the side table, and entered into the Gambling Parlor.
“Go home William, don’t worry, you can have the table for tomorrow night, just leave the chips there and I’ll make the arrangements.”<br>
The Ventrue’s lips parted as if to argue, but he quickly changed the expression to a smile. He really didn’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, for he knew that getting another nights worth of rent on the table from Rojer’ Habuki for nothing was probably the only time this would ever happen.
“I wanted to talk to y…” Thompson started to speak.
“It will have to keep till tomorrow, Good Night” as Rojer’ began deftly and accurately stacking the chips that had been in front of the now ignored Ventrue.
“Good Night then.” William blinked and picked up his jacket from the coat rack and made his way to the only exit he knew of, the front door.
Rojer’ placed the chips in the rack and made a mental note of the sum that the Ventrue would expect to see on the table when he returned the following night Ventrue and their Money, he thought to himself, are soon parted or so a similar saying went
Making his way back to the lounge, he went behind the elaborately carved mahogany bar to open the icebox door. Removing the only item contained within the old fashioned machine, a bottle of vitae. Of all the unusual things about the Gaslight Lounge, the fact that this bottle returned, every night, full, amazed him. Not even the wraiths appearing in the corner of his alert eyes or that items that were left within the lounge would be found on the mantle above the constantly burning fireplace the next evening or that mortals trying to enter the Gaslight would find an empty dusty series of unused rooms. No, the bottle of vitae was the one enigma about the Gaslight that amazed him. He quickly quaffed the contents and placed the now empty bottle back into the icebox.
Feeling the flow of the vitae through his being reminded him of the task that had kept him away from the Gaslight and he quickly made his way towards the private rooms were he knew the Don would be waiting.
He stopped by the first door, removed something from his inner coat pocket and slowly, as to make no sound, turned the doorknob and then forcefully thrust the door open and rushed into the room.
The action had it’s desired effect for upon entering the room, there was a flurry of movement as multiple blue-black barreled guns were nearly simultaneously pointed at the now empty doorway.
“You’re All Dead,” came Habuki’s voice from the doorway behind them, “look at your chests!”<br>
“I wish you wouldn’t do that.” came the irritated response as the three sharp dressed vampires, who had previously been sitting, looked down and removed the “Mister Yuck” stickers from just over their hearts. “When are you going to teach us how you do that?”<br>
“After the Don has learned to, but he has me so busy that I don’t even have time to teach him. Now one of you go and replace Carlos at the door, the Don will have need of his services.” Turning he then knocked on the closed door, waited briefly and entered.
“Ahh, Rojer’, Come in. I expected you last night. What do you have to report?” said Don Cornelius Faust Giovanni, the head of the Emerald Domain Family.
“You will be needing your bookkeeper, my Don, for there is much to be said….” and closed the door behind him as he entered….
