By Richard LeBlanc
The next night- an angry prince and several associate bodyguards were storming down the street towards the place where the next conclave was to be held. It had taken much effort - influence - and resources to get himself out of the situation Dr. Jest had thrust him into - but he had - now - he was going to fight back.
"He is going to pay for putting me through that," the prince quietly cursed.
"Just when we thought Skamms was the only obstacle - now we must deal with this lunatic as well," one of the bodyguards pointed out.
"They were in it together - they shall pay together. Come," he concluded as they entered the Royal Palace. As they entered they could see people look their way and then advert his or her eyes. From the backroom - the gathering could hear laughing. "Looks like they started early," he commented. They made their way through the crowd and opened the door. All conversations stopped and all eyes turned to him.
"Highness - I was beginning to think you wouldn't show," a familiar voice commented. The prince watched as his chair turned around. In it - was Dr. Jest. "Hope you don't mind - was just telling them about a - little prank I pulled," he stated as he hopped out of the chair and walked over to where he was standing.
"You - are not acknowledged here," he warned.
"I know - such a stickler for formality. Lighten up," the Malkavian remarked as he lightly hit the prince on the shoulder. Pain shot through the prince's face. "Oh - forgot - sore arms - my bad," he added. Two of the bodyguards raised weapons and held them to Dr. Jest's head.
"You aided the escape of a blood hunted kindred," the prince began.
"No - blood hunt was called after that," he corrected.
"I could have you killed," the prince threatened. Dr. jest quietly chuckled and moved his face inches away from the prince's.
"I do believe that there is a formality involved when trying to exercise the sixth - on someone of higher status than yourself. If you want to make an effort - you will have to put it to a vote," he retorted tauntingly.
"I needn't recognize it," he stated.
"True - you can try that - you can even try to remove status from me - but one call - and it would be undone. And if you know of me - like I think you do - you know I could make that happen. So do you want to put if to the table? Oh wait - allow me," Dr. Jest stated as he raised his hands and hopped up onto the prince's desk. "The prince - would like to call a vote to execute a blood hunt on a higher status kindred. The conceivable charges - refusal of Hospitality - by not announcing myself to him sooner - Domain - by playing in his yard without sanction - uhm - anything else?" he asked.
"How about destruction? The Toreador Primogen?" the prince reminded.
"Oh come on highness - the authorities caught you red handed - don't try to pin that rap on me," he sarcastically remarked. Many in the room laughed.
"Your antics almost breached the masquerade!" the prince all but shouted.
"Ah - you said the key word - but. I presume that all of the physical evidence - is gone - all of the witnesses have properly forgotten everything - and the appropriate people have been bribed. Ergo - no breach. So - the charges are before the council - Setite - do your thing," the Malkavian remarked. Glare reluctantly stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"A - vote has been called by Dr. Jest. The vote is for a blood hunt on counts of Tradition violation. Hospitality - and Domain - and one count of Destruction," Glare commented. The Malkavian quietly chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.
"It was self defense," he defended.
"The man was cut to ribbons," the prince retorted. Dr. Jest smirked and looked over at him tauntingly.
"Got any proof of that?" he asked.
"There is none! I had to dispose of everything," he replied.
"Then it would be a matter of his word - versus mine. And which of us - has the higher status?" the Malkavian asked.
"From the records you provided - with references - you by two. Self-defense - questionable - but with no proof to the contrary - the Destruction is dismissed. The vote is before the council. Tremere?" Glare asked.
"You cannot hunt someone for Hospitality and Domain - sorry sire," he replied.
"Malkavian?" Glare asked.
"I stand with the good doctor," Slap Happy stated with a smirk.
"I should be surprised. Gangrel - oh wait! Let me guess - you abstain," Glare asked and answered. The feral looking kindred nodded. "Brujah?" Glare asked.
"Brujah don't honor either of those - to call a hunt over that? Please. This is personal and everyone here knows it. The prince got played and he is just being bitter about it. I say no," Man Basher stated.
"Nosforatu?" Glare asked.
"I vote for the hunt. He is dirty - even if he believes himself clean," Grater stated.
"I love you too rat face," Dr. Jest mocked. "So where are we now? Oh yes - Ventrue - and Toreador. Do the Toreador wish to vote against me?" the doctor asked as he glared sadistically at the new Primogen.
"Scare tactics are not permitted," Glare pointed out. A hurt look crossed the Malkavian's face.
"No? You must be joking," he remarked.
"No - standard Eco protocol," Glare pointed out.
"Oh. I didn't know. Vote as you see fit - your last boy did," Dr. Jest replied.
"Abstain," The Toreador Primogen stated.
"There we have it then. Ventrue will vote with his boyfriend. Making a grand total - of two votes abstain - two for the hunt - and three against. Vote - failed," the Malkavian sweetly stated.
"Fine - but you are not acknowledged within my city's boundaries - things can happen," the prince stated. Dr. Jest calmly made his way over to where the prince and his protective band stood.
"Funny you should bring that up," he muttered as he walked by.
"What is that supposed to mean?" the prince asked.
"Hmm? Nothing - everything. Use your imagination. Oh - just so you know people - the prank I pulled yesterday - that was just the warm up. The real deal will go down tomorrow. Until then," he concluded as he vanished into the crowd.
"What was he talking about?" the prince asked. None answered. "Fine - anyone here - that has any dealings with that lunatic - without my sanction will lose status - except the Malkavians who will lose double status," the prince stated. Man Basher slowly rose to her feet and smiled at him.
"Brujah - will associate with whomever - Brujah wishes. He is not subject to blood hunt. So do as you feel you must," she remarked.
"I know you had dealings with him before I was set up. For all I know - you could have had a part in it," he pointed out.
"Honey - sweetie - if I wanted you in trouble - you would be hurting - you would be in pain - I wouldn't send you to jail. That is not our way," she retorted.
"So you say. If I find out otherwise," he began but stopped. "I just hope you are being sincere," he pointed out. On that note - he and his turned and left the room.
"Out of curiosity - did you have a hand in that prank?" Glare asked.
"Get stuffed snake," she retorted.
"Just checking," he remarked as he walked away - leaving the others to tend to whatever business each desired to deal with.
To be continued...