Connor offers up small talk, trying to figure out what's happened over the last 70 years, since he's among vampires.

When the girls exited the elevator, he was surprised to see them both in one piece but offered them both an encouraging smile, just happy that they didnt shared each other to pieces before arriving. That was not something he wished to clean up. Ryder also expected to be put on a waiting list. The Queen was a busy woman, as most higher ups and idolized people were. It was a heirarchy. Something he was very familiar with.

Ryder, rather than mope and wait idly, glances around the party calmly before moving to join in some of the social circles, conversing between groups casually, trying to figure out anything about the recent years, and to some extent, Marius and the people who had been sending him letters. He knew briefing of the names he saw on the letter, and despite knowing he should let it be, something inside him couldn't help but be curious. So, he would find the nearest group, clear his throat with a smile, and try to be as charming as possible. 

"Excuse me. But I've been asleep for a very long time. Do you mind answering some questions for me?"

Time to do some talking: 1 failure. 

MINGLE - SOCIAL CHALLENGE
You involve yourself in a conversation about Sri Sansa, who you hear is actively promoting House Carna in the current Tremere internecine conflict. Some believe it is just for personal power, others that it is genuine faith in Carna's leadership, a few crassly insist they are in some sort of very long distance relationship.

FLASHBACK ONE - YOUR MORTAL LIFE - RYDER(?)
The table you are sitting at is small, a clean but threadbare cloth covering the hundred knocks and scratches it suffered over many years as the center of the home. Your mother brings out a bowl of steaming pasta. She puts it before you, pinching your cheek with love, even though she asks about boys and uses that name again. But the pasta in front of you is warm, and the red sauce dripping over it all makes you feel a hunger you have never known. 

Gabriella scanned the crowd. It was packed with people. It made her a bit uncomfortable. She liked being alone - not in large crowds. In the dark. It was way too bright in here. But she was calm. The encounter in the elevator calmed her down. She blinked slowly, the tiniest of smiled creeping on her lips. She grabbed a mortal who was walking by and punctured her wrist, filling a wine glass halfway with blood from the vessel and let her go. She lingered around for the shortest moment, but Gabriella gave her a look that clearly stated she wanted to be left alone. She wasn't interested in socializing - only completing the mission. For a moment, she felt lightheaded, and something from the depths of her mind was released. 

FLASHBACK ONE - YOUR MORTAL LIFE - GABRIELLA(?)
She puts the amulet around your neck and whispered in your ear how much she loves you. In the mirror, the sapphire's glint almost blinds you. It makes it hard to see her. You turn but she is gone, nothing but the gentle peel of her laughter and the memory of her breath on your neck. You run after her, down the long corridor of elegant wood panels, knowing you will not find her as much as she is lost in the darkness.

FLASHBACK ONE - YOUR MORTAL LIFE - CONNOR(?)
The body in front of you is gray and still, its organs laid out so neatly and cleverly. How beautiful the physical machine is. The doctor points out the various organs with a cane as you cluster closer, jostling with the other students to see. You feel them closing together, shutting you out, so you reach forward and tear a hole through the one in front. He screams and falls but you can only note the intriguing way his legs buckle. The cadaver lies on the table in front of you again, as the scream fades away. It is yours at least, and you lean forward and climb in to seek it's mysteries.

It was at this moment Lady Scarlett approached us.

Queen Anne was ready to see us.

Connor shook his head after Lady Scarlett gave her notice of the Queen being ready to see them. He didn't know what that vision was, but after they finished speaking with the Queen, he'd speak to one of his Coterie members to try and see if they saw the same thing. Well, he'd speak to one of the ones that wasn't Nilrem. He saw visions of crazy shit all the time.

At the mention of Queen Anne, Ryder would excuse himself from his current conversation, a slight distant look in his eyes for a moment before he refocuses himself, adjusting his collar as he moves to group up with the others, quiet in thought, and mildly craving spaghetti. 

Olivia's lips thinned after the flashback, a displeased look soon coming across her visage as she excuses herself to rejoin the others in the group to finally meet the Queen. Maybe she would question them when this was said and done.

CHAPTER TWO - SUNSET OF FLAMES
SCENE THREE - THE QUEEN OF LONDON

Lady Scarlett led us to another set of rooms on the same floor. It was clearly the VIP area of the party and definitely a place to meet important people. Queen Anne was entertaining a select few other Kindred here as we were all led into the room. She was conversing with another vampire as she turned to greet us. She was a woman who appeared to be in her early 50s, and the moment our eyes met, Nilrem, with his impressive mental precognitive powers, triggered a flashback within us all and we found ourselves suddenly in another time.

GREATER LONDON, 1688 CE

17th century London. An age of Baroque art that followed the English Civil War in the era of Puritanism. We all stepped out of a carriage together on the driveway of a large estate just outside London. We were all dressed richly in 17th century fashion and clearly at the height of power. A Kindred named Valerius was taking us to meet his new prospective child, Anne Bowesley. The sun had long set when we were dropped off to an empty looking manor house on a large estate. There were no servants to greet us and most of the house was in darkness. The front door was unlocked and a line of candles led all of us to a large ballroom. Waiting there, kneeling before us in a sumptuous gown was Lady Anne Bowesley.

She had impressed Clan Ventrue, and Prince Mithras, with her part in a plan that Kindred would believe put William of Orange on the English throne in the near future - basically, a strong tactical political move that didn't really concern us. But yet, here we all were. For this political reason, Valerius petitioned to Mithras to allow him to Embrace her, permission which was duly granted.

But there was a wrinkle in tonight's simple ceremony.

Lady Anne rose, and curtsied. She welcomed all of us humbly. She told us, apologetically, that a problem has arisen that a mere mortal such as herself is unable to resolve. She has had three other offers of the Embrace - three different Clans - and they have all arrived here tonight. While she would be honored to make such a choice, it is clearly not for her to do so and so she left it up to us to decide for her. Olivia, Nilrem, Ryder, Connor, Gabriella. She hopes to become Ventrue, but wants to make sure the clan recognized her value. Valerius was not happy. He had invested much into Lady Anne, and to lose her to have another Clan Embrace her would cause him to lose considerable face.

A choice had to be made.

Three members of three other clans slowly walked into the room.

BRUJAH
Nafeesa al-Niazi, was one of the potential Kindred candidates to sire Lady Anne. An academic Brujah who recognized a peer in Lady Anne and wanted to see her recruited to the Brujah, additionally boltering its ranks of academic women.

LASOMBRA
Captain Jonas Cardoza, Lasombra. The second potential sire. Cardoza was a Spanish merchant captain impressed with Lady Anne's ruthlessness and she in turn intrigued the Lasombra. A swaggering swordsman, he finds this whole affair slightly amusing.

MALKAVIAN
Elizabeth Moorhampton, the Malkavian. Lady Anne's paintings she has made were absolutely lovely, but Lady Anne's political boldness is the most beautiful thing she's ever seen.

It was time to decide which clan would be chosen to sire Lady Anne. We represented the Ventrue and Valerius. We had to decide one of three ways to do so. A test of arms, a test of art, or a test of intellect. Whichever test we decided to participate in, one vampire among us would be chosen to participate in it against the vampire in question who suggested the test. Captain Jonas suggested the test of arms, Elizabeth suggested the test of art, and Nafeesa suggested the test of Intellect. Losing the test would cause a huge reputation loss, and there's no telling how Mithras would react to losing such a potential like Lady Anne.

Each competitor needed to be shamed. It was only a matter of who among us would do so for each test.

THE TEST OF ARMS
The challenge is simple. Defeat Captain Cardoza in hand to hand combat. You may use disciplines, or weapons, but nothing that causes aggravated damage. Pick if you wish to have a One Roll combat, or Round by Round.

THE TEST OF ART
Lady Anne has a well-equipped music room, or painting supplies. Charisma or Manipulation + Performance is the test. You will be competing against Elizabeth. Highest number of successes wins the contest.

THE TEST OF INTELLECT
Lady Anne has an extensive library. Pick a topic: Academics, Science, Occult, or Medicine. Roll Intelligence + (Subject). You will be competing against Nafeesa, and the roll will abstractly describe Anne asking both of you questions in the picked topic of your choice. Highest number of successes wins the quiz.

THE TEST OF ARMS - TEAM VENTRUE
The challenge is simple. Defeat Captain Cardoza in hand to hand combat. You may use disciplines, or weapons, but nothing that causes aggravated damage. Pick if you wish to have a One Roll combat, or Round by Round.

Connor and Cardoza square up. Connor wins!

THE TEST OF ART
Lady Anne has a well-equipped music room, or painting supplies. Charisma or Manipulation + Performance is the test. You will be competing against Elizabeth. Highest number of successes wins the contest.

THE TEST OF INTELLECT
Lady Anne has an extensive library. Pick a topic: Academics, Science, Occult, or Medicine. Roll Intelligence + (Subject). You will be competing against Nafeesa, and the roll will abstractly describe Anne asking both of you questions in the picked topic of your choice. Highest number of successes wins the quiz.

Connor faces off against Captain Cardoza. He calls upon the Blood to extend his fingernails into claws. His first strike merely grazes Cardoza, giving him little more than a scratch. The second strike does some more damage, but not much. His third strike rips through the Lasombra, severely wounding him. Connor stops fighting, trusting that Cardoza's self-preservation instinct outweighs his desire to steal Lady Anne from the Ventrue.

Pleased that Valerius and you all have succeeded, Lady Anne firmly but politely suggested the rest of the candidates to leave.

She bared her neck to Valerius, saying, "So. Let us waste no more time. You now have my full attention."

That night, Lady Anne ceased to be mortal.

The vision briefly fades into another, with Lady Anne kneeling before Mithras in the Mithraeum. She keeps her eyes downcast before Mithras and recites an oath of obedience. You all stand before a God. Mithras hands her the seal and says, "Dearest Anne, you have once more proven yourself worthy of my attention and my trust."

Then abruptly, you return to the present. You are standing in Queen Anne's VIP room surrounded by high ranking Kindred. One even looks very much like Captain Cardoza, but you're not entirely sure. Queen Anne suddenly grows impatient. "Let us not waste any time. You have my attention. I suggest you do not waste it."

Connor bows before Queen Anne, as one does when in front of a queen. "We're here to pay tribute to you, the ruler of this Domain, as the Tradition dictates. And to deliver a gift. Our cohort, Nilrem, has the power to see the future and has offered to show you a vision of yours."   

Gabriella bowed, as did her shadow, slightly. She was cold, ruthless, and deadly, but was smart enough to know Kindred etiquette and when to curb her attitude. She awaited with curiosity and slight trepidation as to what Nilrem was about to do.

Nilrem stepped forward upon being named, drawing back his hood and giving a deep bow, "Your Majesty. Pardon me a moment." He then bites his thumb and begins drawing runes along his own forehead, with practiced ease. "I'll now be revisiting the vision, and allowing the Queen her self to lay witness to what I have seen." He finishes drawing up the runes and then sits down, pulling up the stored vision he had buried within himself and allowing the blood runes on his body channel it, so that both himself, the Queen and his.....friends?....co-workers, could see what he had.

The vision displayed a possible future. You could all see it in your mind, but like a waking dream. You're all not entirely sure what you were seeing, it all happened so fast, but what the Queen did witness made her smile, and she slowly nodded in satisfaction.

"Truly." she admitted. "A worthy gift indeed - a glimpse of what could be. Yes. Interesting..how fate will play." Off to the side, Lady Scarlett looked nervous. Queen Anne gave her a look. "Do not worry, daughter. I have seen a possible glimpse of the future, involving our guests and with it, reassurance of my continued success as Prince. Come. Let us discuss this in more detail - for what i'm about to say has to deal with what is to come."

Queen Anne makes a gesture, and everyone leaves the room.

"I know why you are all here. At least, I do now. My relationship with the seal is a complicated one. It was originally given to Valerius when he became Regent of London so he could seal documents 'with the hand of Mithras'. I received it in turn when I became Regents centuries ago. However, now as Prince, I don't need to use it anymore. I had my own seal made. I wanted to show the Kindred of London that I was the Prince, not just keeping the chair warm for Mithras. I never destroyed the seal though, probably in some silly superstitious belief that he may not be dead."

"As you may or may not be aware, Operation Antigen has caused considerable damage to Kindred society in London. Many of us are fleeing. But I digress. Yes. I have the seal. I will give it to you on one condition. I wouldn't just hand it over to anyone, obviously. You must perform a service for me. I want you to kill Valerius. He was, after all, the one who betrayed Mithras in the first place." 

"What leads you to say this?"

"He is my sire. And, he confessed. My reasons for wanting him dead are myriad and complicated. I seek to escape the shadow of my sire, even if, ironically, Kindred society thinks I already have surpassed him years ago. He remains dangerous to me. He is, after all, and after Mithras, the only one who could have a solid claim to Princedom. If, for any reason, Operation Antigen forces me into hiding - I want to be the only rightful Prince whenever I return. When Mithras returns, he will most surely destroy him. I am simply getting a first strike in before Mithras gets to him, or before Valerius is tired of living in my shadow.." she said. "Do we have a deal?"