Ita McNairee: *a little pikey, much refreshed, trudles to the location given to her, an eye out for all sorts of badness, twitchy*

Steven Thompson: ((Ha! I'd been the last person to post IC here before this scene. Steven OWNS Staten Island! *G*))

Ita McNairee: (truth! thats the one i had to bail on because of lightening!)

Steven Thompson: ((So anyway...)) Just as described, the address is a non-descript home in Staten Island. Very average two story-house. Freshly cut grass. Even a picket fence, though it's brown, not white.

Ita McNairee: (claud walking beside ita?)

Claudius: Claudius approaches alongside Ita, looking relaxed and at ease, though alert. ((Per+Security))

Claudius: 9,7,3,7,

Ita McNairee: 10,7,1,

Ita McNairee: *she trundles along, careful, keeping close to her prince.. to hell with not being a cammie.. her prince... a nervous frown. Stephen would keep his promise.. just a talk*

Claudius: Ita notices, as they approach the door, a couple shadows at the window, watching them. Claudius seems to note them as well, though he merely nods, as if expecting it.

Ita McNairee: *a little wave of her hand... she knocks at the door... gnawing at her lip*

Steven Thompson: The door opens, and Steven stands there, nodding to them both. He looks pretty badly burned around his face and neck, as if something exploded in his face. He takes an immediate step back, nodding to them. "Come on in."

Ita McNairee: *shock and dismay at his face* Loves! *wait.. she frowns, looking hurt and confused suddenly* Stephen.. *lips smush together as she puts her hands in front of her out of habit, palms up as she slips through the door, keeping her eyes on claud now*

Steven Thompson: He looks back at her. "Not your problem. Mine. I made a mistake." He leads them back into the kitchen, where his promised two men stand at one side of the heavy, large table. He takes a seat. Two chairs sit on the other side.

Claudius: He moves with Ita, noting the guards but not worrying about them, and takes his seat. "Mister Thompson. An honor to finally meet you. May I apologize for the actions of my people that caused you so much pain." He's obviously not just talking about the burns.

Ita McNairee: *the little pikey gives a smile to the two men behind him, and slips into a chair, keeping an eye out for any danger to claud, before glancing to Steve and cringing* och loves..

Steven Thompson: He glances at Ita, noting her cringe, and his eye twitches a tiny bit. He looks back at Claudius. "Save your sympathies. We're here to talk about the future, not the past."

Ita McNairee: *she cocks her head.. poor kid.. nods, giving a wee smile to Steven* aye loves.. *and the little pikey perches on her chair, feet on the seat, more comfortable squatting lately. he wanted to see claud, not her*

Steven Thompson -> Steven Thompson: 2,8,4,9,10,8,

Claudius: He nods. "All right, then. I wished to speak of you about two matters. One is the attacks on my people in the city. Your darts have sent at least five of my people into torpor, and the Anarch leader, as well. I wish this to cease."

Ita McNairee: *what?! her head jerks to Claudius! Rav was.. gah pff. snig.. those are the words she seems to mouth, staring at Claud, then at stephen.. looking shocked and worried.. head shaking* .. och.. loves.. *she smooths hair out of her face, before dangling her hands back between her knees, palms up*

Steven Thompson: He looks to Ita. "A lot has happened that you don't understand." His eyes move to Claudius. "Or even you." He pauses, sighing. "I'll consider this, but I'll have demands that need to be met. I'll contact you myself, or have someone else contact you, with details."

Ita McNairee: *she gnaws at her lip. recycling her blood with a look of vague worry.*

Claudius: He nods. "That is acceptable. The other matter is of a more...personal nature to you. And to me."

Steven Thompson: He raises an eyebrow. "Personal? What could you and I share that is POSSIBLY personal?"

Ita McNairee: *her face softens.. poor stephen.. she keeps on recycling her blood, kind brown eyes resting on the ghoul*

Claudius: He pauses, looking at Steven, his eyes betraying some empathy for the man. "Your former domitor, Mr. Thompson. Paris Bennet."

Steven Thompson: The blood drains completely from his burned face, and his eyes stare at Claudius. The two men supporting Steven look at him in concern, then glare at Claudius, though they make no move.

Ita McNairee: *a chiding look to the two men. .. now don't you start fussing... her eyes go back to Steve, voice soft and warm* Loves..

Steven Thompson: He looks at Ita, slowly, with a strange detachment, and finally finds his voice, though it's somewhat hollow. "...yes?"

Claudius: He remains quiet, watching Steven, eyes flicking briefly up to the two men. He even seems to recognize one of them, and nods slightly to him before patiently looking back to Steven, then Ita.

Ita McNairee: ..ye.. gintae be aulrecht me wee precious? *she blinks, realizing she was talking to him like he was rawli.. even using the same nickname... her lip is bit harder, concern in her posture and face.. its very clear she'd like to lean across and comfort him somehow*

Steven Thompson: He shakes his head a little, head going up to his temple as he tries to banish his dstraction from his head. His throat clears, and he nods to Ita, the hard look somewhat returning, though his face is still pale. "I'm fine. What do you want to know about Paris? Still hunting him down for shit he didn't..." He pauses again, blinking, and tries once more. "Still hunting him?"

Ita McNairee: *she gnaws away on those lips.. for some reason tempted to pace. she satisfies the urge by jingling a bangle round and round, eyes slipping to the serene face of the prince a moment*

Claudius: He sighs a little, noting the man's distraction, and something profoundly empathic coming into his gaze. He truly feels for this man, though he knows Steven will never ackowledge that. "The Camarilla still hunts him, yes. What they do not know is that I have him in a safe place, and am trying to rid him of the other person that resides in his body. The killer."

Ita McNairee: *nods, resisting the temptation to nuzzle the nos inapproving admiration. This was business afterall. but still.. a smile*

Steven Thompson: He's quite surprised by that. "The Camarilla Prince is defying the Camarilla?" He chuckles a little, nervously, still off his game by the mention of his old domitor. "I'm...impressed. But what can I do?"

Ita McNairee: *she smiles to stephen, eyes hopeful, concern still lingering in her face. see!? he's good. *

Claudius: "I need someone who can help me reach Paris. Zodiac is out quite often these days. I intend to merge Zodiac back into Paris...but neither of them trust me. Paris trusts you." He pauses. "I intend, once I am done, to make the case that he was not responsible, and that the indivudal who did so is gone. I will grant him clemency, and release him to much more humane Malkavians then Mercy or Paris's sire, who reside in Upstate New York."

Ita McNairee: *still watching Steve, bangle forgotten*

Steven Thompson: He purses his lips, staring at Claudius, then Ita, then back at the Nosferatu. He's clearly torn by this, between love for Paris, and revulsion of that very love.

Ita McNairee: *she sits patiently, trusting that he just needs a little time, eyes on him with open care, big and brown as she gazes at him. waiting*

Steven Thompson: Finally, with a sigh, he nods. "Fine. I owe him that much, at least. I'll set up a time with you, and a place to bring him. Only, you don't come, Claudius." He looks at Ita. "Only you."

Ita McNairee: *she nods, giving claudius a small broken smile. its ok, she'd make sure it was ok.. another nod as she looks up to Steven* Aye loves... ah'll coome wie ye effen ye need me.

Claudius: He looks to Ita, and when she says it's okay, he nods. "All right. When can we expect to hear from you?"

Steven Thompson: He frowns. "Within a week or two, I think, regarding P...Bennet." He has the forced formality of a scorned lover speaking about their ex, like they're over them. "As for the torpor drug...sooner, I'd imagine."

Ita McNairee: *she's watching steven with all the concern of an older sister fretting, recycling blood through her lip again, one hand coming up to scratch madly at her shaggy hair*

Claudius: He nods. "Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Your cordiality is appreciated. I hope we can come to an amicable resolution on this."

Ita McNairee: aye loves.. why ye shooten folks? *she frowns and shakes her head* .. ah reckon there's gaw tae be SOOME kindo remedy fer yer ails that esnae shooten folks. We'll work et oot aye? *she nods reassuringly, starting to stand then thinking better of it, cocking her head to Steve for permission*

Steven Thompson: He looks to Ita. "Ita, my people are ghouls. Independant, free of the chains of slavery you people create in your ghouls. We need vampire blood somehow. We'd only used it in self-defense, until one of our people went missing, near the Seraphim's Tears. A woman by the name of Anne." His eye ywtiches again, and he looks down at the table. "She's a woman who was very important to all of us. We want her delivered. Or her..." He trails off, apparently unable to continue that thought for a moment. "...her remains, if she's already gone."

Ita McNairee: ..aye loves *her voice is soft and pleasant, warm as she looks up to him, flinching at "you people"* Ah'll snoop abooot fer yer Anne lassie. *gnaws the lip* Ah'm soory doves... effen me blood wouldnae make ye love like ye kain ah'd let ye 'ave et.

Ita McNairee: (lovey-like...)

Claudius: "And I will look as well."

Steven Thompson: He watches them, eyes trying to discern if they're being truthful. Finally, he just nods. "All right, then. Meeting adjourned. I'll contact you later with more details."

Claudius: He nods and stands, nodding his head politely to the three men.

Ita McNairee: *she rises slowly, stepping down from her perch on the chair, looking at Steven to ensure alls well, before giving the boy a small broken smile, sympathetic* G'necht Stephen loves.. me numbers ### ####, effen ye need me. *nods to him, then to the two men behind him, same friendly smile*

Steven Thompson: Steven looks to them and leaves, then the two men escort Ita and Claudius out.