Darwin and Claude are speaking about James.

D – How is he?

C – He is alive – for now

D – Is he cured? Have you gotten rid of the curse?

C – You still don’t understand how this works, do you?  I have no idea – he was cursed by Ravnos magick and I know very little of that. Plus, I have not used Thaumaturgy in over a century – its not like we keep Tremere around so that I can practice.  You should have let call on Dimitri to help him – just to be sure. <sighs> I have done what I can for him – I am not sure if that will be enough.

D – Well how will we know if he is cured?

C – Well – I suppose he will have to do whatever he did before and we will have to see if he starts gushing blood.

D – Wait? The only way to see if he is not cursed anymore is to have him try to do something with the curse and if he doesn’t die we know he is ok? Is it me or does that sound like a stupid and dangerous method of validation?

C – Well – you asked.

D – <Sigh> Ok – well what do you think are his chances?

C – I think he is going to be ok – but there is no way to know for sure.  What YOU should do is search his mind to see what he is up to – even if he ends up being ok – how can you be sure that he is not part of Gavin’s plan? Do you know for a fact that he is not still helping Gavin?  Plus there is a mental component to Ravnos magick and you are better with mental powers than I am.

D – No – I will not do that.  I will not invade that poor child’s mind for the sake of getting information or to see if your magick worked.  I would be no better than Gavin if I did that.

C – Well, who cares? Honestly? Gavin is here and breathing down our necks and you are worried about invading the mind of one little tremere?

D – Everyone deserves dignity, Claude.  You know this.

C – Yeah great – remember the part where you are not part of the Camarilla anymore? You don’t have to follow those rules.

D – Claude – The state the Camarilla is in right now, they would probably support what you are suggesting.  No, Claude.  If he is working for Gavin we will know soon enough – and then – at that time – I will deal with him.  For now, he has a chance to make his own choices and decide his own path – I will not rob him of that.

C – Still an idealist <sigh> – fine – And are you still planning this insane trip back to Vienna next month?

D – You heard about that? And why is it Insane?

C – You do realize that its been almost 500 years since you set foot in the Camarilla – do you think they will receive you with open arms?

D – I care not how they receive me – Gregor must be held accountable for what he did.

C – And you think its your job to do that?

D – No – but it seems the Camarilla will stand by and do nothing – so someone has to.  This is not what the Camarilla was created for, Claude – you know that.  I cannot let it stand this way.  If I let this stand, everything I did in the name of the Camarilla will be for nothing – Amanda will be for nothing – and I cannot live with that.

C – It will take you 3 months away from here to go to this Conclave – can you be gone that log with everything going on here?

D – I will only be gone 2 weeks.

C – How? Wait – are you going to fly? You are actually taking a plane?

D – I am going on the mechanical bird, yes.

C – and you are not going to freak out mid-air – because you know once you are up there, there’s nowhere to go.

D – You have not been on a bird either as I recall.

C – Yeah but I am not afraid of them.

D – I am NOT afraid of them.  I simply prefer travel by sea – but I cannot be gone for long and there are things there that I cannot let stand.  So I have no other choice.

C – And you think you can fix that all by yourself?

D – No – Edward is coming with me and I have contacted Xavier.

C – Does Edward know he is coming with you?

D – Laughs – not yet he does not.

C – And you think he is going to want to come with you?

D – Want? No – but he owes me and he will.

C – Wait – you contacted Xavier? I thought he was in Europe.

D – He is – in Madrid

C – Oh my – did you actually use a phone?

D – <Aggravated> Must we dwell on this? As you can imagine, he is very upset with the death of Decker.  It was his only childe.

C- Yeah I can imagine…And what about Thorus? You think he will be on your side after you kicked him out of the city?

D – Well, I am not sure …

C – Do you think kicking him out was the best course of action?

D – <snaps at Claude> Do not upset me with details about events that cannot be changed now.  We must deal with what the situation we have at hand not worry about what could have been.

C – Ok well who are you leaving in charge while you are gone? Llyod?

D – No, Lloyd must come with me – I am leaving Sean behind.

C – Sean? Freak out Sean? He has some serious issues – are you sure that is wise?

D – There is no one else.

C – Why must Llyod come with you – why can’t you leave him?

D – I need him.

C – Why?

D – Why must you question everything I do?  He must come with me and I will not speak of this anymore.

Claude walks up to Darwin

C – How are you feeling?

D – I am fine

C – Let me see your hands

D – I AM FINE

C – I want to see them now.  Let me see them.

Darwin sighs and takes his gloves off – Claude looks over his hands then looks at him and grabs his chin as a father would a son almost.

D – See – unfortunately it is healing – I am fine.

C – You have not been feeding.

D – Of course I have – I feed every night.

C – On a live vessel?

D – I do not need a live vessel – it is no longer necessary..

C – It IS necessary – specially now.  Do you think you will be ready to face the Camarilla if you are not fully recovered?

D – I have 4 weeks – that is plenty of time

C – Not if you are not feeding.

D – I am feeding

C – <aggravated, and raises his voice> Drinking blood from bags is NOT feeding, Derek! If you will not go on your own, I will drag you by the hair if I have to and make you feed!

D – Claude, as I said I am fine – I have recovered so well that I will begin sparring with Edward this week

C – You feel well enough to train and spar?

D – With Edward, yes – with you – no.

Darwin smiles and Claude laughs

C – Ok – I will leave it alone for now.  Have you spoken to Clarissa?

D – No – she has made her wishes quite clear

C – That is not what I asked you – have you gone there and talked to her?

D – No

C – You should go see her before you go to Vienna

D – And say what?  She is young and difficult.

C – Oh yeah – and what about you? You are easy going? I have no idea – but you should go see her – bring her a new cat.

<Darwin sighs>

D – Is there is any possibility that you could mind your own business and stop interfering in mine?

C – Ok well let me go check on the boy then.  What do you want me to do with him?

D – Watch him – I want you to keep an eye on him – if Gavin comes after him you are the only one strong enough to deal with Gavin – but DO NOT kill him.  He is mine.

C – ok great – but remember, I am watching the girl for you?

D – I thought you all powerful.. as you said you can do anything.

C – I am and I can – but I am not omnipresent.  Pick one.

D- Fine – I will have the girl moved to my castle

C – WHAT? Wait – that is a terrible idea – how do you know if you can even trust her?  Bring her into your HOUSE?

D -  She needs to be protected during the day – even if I put someone on her at night she will be vulnerable during the day.  At my castle is the only place she can be safe all the time.

C – You do know what happened to her is not your fault right?

D – Of course.  But my actions did not help either.

C – Ok we are in that portion of the evening now – the guilt.  You know I think there are some starving children in Africa that I believe no one has taken credit for yet – I am sure you step in there and fill your guilt quota for the century.

D – Do not mock me, Claude  - I am in no mood for games – I am partially responsible for what happened to her and I will not leave her unprotected now.

C – Fine – whatever – I will go check on the boy.

Claude turns around and starts to walk towards your bedroom door.  Darwin says in a low voice from behind him.

D – Claude – this would be a good time for release.  Things will get dangerous – there is no need for you…

C – <smiles and raises his hand> Its never going to happen, Derek – you would get yourself killed – specially now – so stop asking.

He walks off towards the room where James is sleeping.  Darwin smiles and walks out.