Howell Maxen

private roleplay blog for Vievecor City RP

[howellmaxen]

“It is my name, but proper people usually put a courtesy title infront of it.” Howell suspected he’d be retorted with a snip that the demon didn’t need to give him courtesy, nothing less would be appropriate from Matthew Alexander. “I’m clearly trying to be polite and offer you a chance to have your coat repaired, did you assume I would give you my address? Mr. Alexander I didn’t realize I was your type.”

He couldn’t help but chuckle again knowing he’d offend the man. There was just something about him, Howell didn’t like. “Yes...” He winced at the jab to the neck, covering the touch and stepping back. “I wasn’t sure what would be appropriate but I decided to go with my gut….I see you on the other hand are open for business.”

[matthew-alexander]

"Why would I ever do that?" Matthew reacted just as Howell expected before his lip curled in disgust.

"Don't flatter yourself." Howell was not bad to look at, but the fact that he was human and more importantly, the human representative on the Council and related to Artemis, had Matthew's hairs stand on end.

"My proclivities at this party are none of your business. And I'd more be mindful if I were you. That woman you were flirting with had her eyes laser focused on your neck. Collar or no collar." Was he giving Howell advice? He supposed he was. Humans were so desperately weak.

[howellmaxen]

“My apologies, I was under the impression your coat meant the world to you and no longer wished it stain.” The man had to struggle not to role his eyes. He barely knew this Matthew but he found him infuriating. It’s like the demon infront of him constantly had someone pissing in his cereal. Living life in such a way must be exhausting.

He couldn’t help but smile, it’s as if he could of predicted that retort. That smile though quickly faded as he started to rub his neck. He’d never been bitten before, at least not that he knew of. The idea gave him muddled feelings, none of which he’d like to explore at the moment. “Well I guess I should be thanking you then, getting ride of her and all. I thought that they needed permission these days.”

[howellmaxen]

Once again he was called out by his surname, at least this fellow had the decency to add mister to it. Taking a moment to center himself Howell took a deep breath before turning to face this unknown voice and met a man with discerning eyes. With such a striking face his was immediately able to place it as Teddy Byrne, enforcer of the Rosu Clan. Artemis shared notes on various supernatural individuals and before council Howell had made to memorize the important faces.

Trying to straighten the grimace he knew was plastered on his face after his conversation with Matthew was getting hard. “Mr…Bryne? Correct?” He reached a hand out for a shake, unsure if the man held the same lack of manners as his previous conversationist or that of an adult individual. Sliding into the stool next to the vampire, the doctor decided to stay more alert. “Frazzled? My aunt often said I did during my pre-med years but I haven’t been called that in years, but I suppose Mr. Alexander has that effect on people.”

[teddy-byrne]

Teddy's eyes fixated on the outstretched hand, letting momentum build up before eventually reaching out to accept it. He didn't squeeze, but his grip was firm and unyielding in a way that gave away exactly who and what he was. Which was no secret to Howell, apparently. No surprises there. "Byrne." he corrected as he released the human's hand. "It's Irish, which is a bit of an irony, considering I was born in England of all places."

A minute detail to be sharing, but the Rosu did not actually mind. Instead, he concerned himself with tracking the human's movements as he joined him on a stool. Teddy picked up the drinks menu and placed it in front of Howell. "What did Matthew do..or should I ask it the other way around? I swear, the man's behavior's been strange as of late."

"..had you been here before?"

[howellmaxen]

It had seemed like ages before the vampire took his hand. He was thankful Teddy hadn’t tried to make a power move, he honestly didn’t think his hand would survive. Howell wondered if the little tidbits about Mr. Byrne’s heritage was meant to humanize him to the doctor. “Well I won’t hold you being English against you.”  His family after all had a strong Welsh background but having Anglo-Saxon blood was not uncommon among many wealthy human  families in Vievecor City. Unaware of how he was being watched Howell took the seat but stayed a little tense. “Mr. Alexander does have a way of getting under my skin but it’s his demeanor of acting like a wet persian cat that gets to me.” How a man of that age, which he assumed was older than the nation itself, could be so pissy.

“That’s neither here nor there, I came to be a representative of the Human side of council but no I can’t say I’ve been here before. Large establishments like this aren’t really were you’d find me.”

[howellmaxen]

“Yes, hmm. Well to be honest I didn’t notice his eyes as he was storming away from me.” The man leaned into his drink taking a deep breath but waiting to consume the barrel aged liquid he so desired. He had hopes it would take away the awkwardness of it all, the pressure but alas he wasn’t one to fall easy to it no matter how wild his anxiety and thoughts ran.

“Well like with here, I had hoped to enjoy conversation about the human population along with the entity known as Artemis but my hopes were dashed there….I hope here we could continue?” He tsked, more at himself for allowing the question to be asked than at the powerful woman before him. “Personal Injury. I’m a doctor by trade so I don’t actually enjoy seeing people hurt, personal property on the other hand, well insurance can cover many losses in that department.

Howell turned with his attention fully to her. Had she just asked about his reading preferences? What an odd interrogation, because by this point he was sure ever supernatural that had heard of him wanted his ear. “My apologies, did you mean the author?”

[isabellexlaurent]

Matthew certainly possessed a flair for the dramatics. His exit saying more than any argument could have in a far more succinct manner. The fact that the meeting hadn't lasted more than a few minutes afterwards caused a tizzy in the community. Howell remained an unknown variable whose loyalties were questionable.

"Ah a man's motivational machinations. I should have known." She put her own drink down, giving Howell her full attention. If he wished to speak to her regarding such pressing matters, the least she could do was listen. It was after all the easiest way to allow the enemy to make a mistake. With his ties to Artemis, Howell leaned more enemy than friend. "What exactly is it that you desire to speak of?" The friends who were injured certainly deserved justice, but righteous anger without a target would only lead to more bloodshed.

"The very same." Her lips curled. "He proposes an interesting thought experiment. There is a pig. Now this pig is an intellectual being with thoughts and feelings. He has been breed in such a way that he can freely communicate with others. But the pigs entire purpose in life is to be eaten. It would make him happy to be consumed. Is it still right to eat the pig? Is the person who eats the animal a monster or just someone having dinner?"

[howellmaxen]

“Well.. honestly?  Of course, there, should be no other way,” He mumbled to himself.  “But…” He paused rubbing his chin mildly perplexed how to put it without garnering the return of laughter. “Balance, maybe even unity one day.” Howell didn’t desire wiping out a species, as he suspected some within the community believed. To be fair, he wasn’t unconvinced that some in Artemis desired such an outcome. He wanted to believe he was a realist. There was no need to start a war or drive out nonhumans, and hell they’d have a time doing it if they tried. No working together with a sense of purpose was better than whatever was happening now.

“That is an interesting conundrum.” He sipped his drink, fingers tapping at the glass he sat back on the bar. There was a chance he had got in over his head, fairly more than just a chance. “I assume in this scenario I am the pig.” Howell wasn’t as offended as some others might be, he made it part of his personality to assume all supernaturals wanted to let him know how little he was in the grand scheme of things. “The problem I have with the idea of purpose in life is that it’s subjective. Too many in human politics have recently used that same narrative as a desire to strip women of their rights. That their purpose in life is to have children and it should make them happy to do so.” Considering vampire use to be human, he hoped that some part of her still remembered what it was like to be trapped by such horrid values. “So no I can’t say it’s right to eat the pig but I’m not at the point I can call said person a monster just over their dinner prefences.”

[everything-ioan]

[howellmaxen]

“...Are their own sets of unique individuals just as your own kind.” Finishing his boss’s sentence he continued to exam the man. Rather than focus all his attention on Mr. Nakatomi he could conceal himself better while keeping his hands busy.

“Their?” Howell feigned ignorance, if the spirit wanted to speak to him about Artemis he’d have to say the name. There was no way the group had gained so much infamy that their name couldn’t be said. Still if it scared some of the population, he wouldn’t be surprised. Honestly it was a shame, and Artemis really needed to work on their public relations.

“Come now, toy? Do you not think I am suited for it just because I’ve been caught in your web, if anything I had imagined you would enjoy it.”

[nakatomi-ayumu]

The corner of Ayumu's lips twitched at Howell's actions. He was daring enough and the spirit actually respected that.

"Ah. I simply wonder if they're insulting us with choosing someone such as yourself to represent them. But I suppose I shouldn't really expect much," the spirit explained, leaning forward to watch Howell work while they had their conversation.

"And I do rather enjoy you being caught in my web," Ayumu chuckled darkly. There could be ways that they could use Howell, but they still needed to figure out how much they could push or use him as leverage. "Would you help me push things through in the Council, I wonder?"

[howellmaxen]

“I have money, importance behind my last name and a doctorate. Why would that not be enough?”

An exclamation of pain came from beneath Howell as he has jabbed his fingers a bit to hard onto the tender bruising of the torso of the man he was evaluating. He had easily taken the bait and the spirit likely wanted him to rise to it. Such a win. Keeping calm he blew out hot air and sighed. “I’m sure you enjoy having many caught in your web, I assume it amuses you to no end. But things on council…things that would align with your agenda have a price. A trade should be both ways should it not?”

[howellmaxen]

“Just Maxen? Good God are we in gym class or is this the army?”  He knew any conversation was an uphill battle with Matthew Alexander. Why he choose to have a bit of snark back was beyond him. Howell felt as though he was coming down from some weird sort of high and the lingering confidence it gave it apparently made him stupid too. “Though you don’t appear the military type.”

The demon for all he presented to the world, appeared the sneering and judgmental type of man. A demon with a holier than thou complex was something, but if he remembered correctly there was more to Mr. Alexander’s folder than just being a simple demon. “You know that was very rude to dismiss that wonderful young lady like that.” He watched her as she walked away, truthfully slightly annoyed the conversation ended.

“Please, it was a mistake just allow me to get it cleaned. You can send the bill to the hospital.”

[matthew-alexander]

"Gym class? Military?" Matthew scoffed, noting the daring Howell carried himself with. "Is that not your name? I do not have experience in such mundane human activities."

"To the hospital? Are you misappropriating public funds to dry clean my coat?" He let out a short bark of laughter as his eyes continued to bore into Howell's even as the man turned to watch the vampiress walk away. Did this ridiculous human even know how close he came to being someone's meal?

"You're not wearing a collar," he stated plainly and jabbed at the man's neck none too kindly.

[howellmaxen]

“It is my name, but proper people usually put a courtesy title infront of it.” Howell suspected he’d be retorted with a snip that the demon didn’t need to give him courtesy, nothing less would be appropriate from Matthew Alexander. “I’m clearly trying to be polite and offer you a chance to have your coat repaired, did you assume I would give you my address? Mr. Alexander I didn’t realize I was your type.”

He couldn’t help but chuckle again knowing he’d offend the man. There was just something about him, Howell didn’t like. “Yes...” He winced at the jab to the neck, covering the touch and stepping back. “I wasn’t sure what would be appropriate but I decided to go with my gut….I see you on the other hand are open for business.”

[teddy-byrne]

The Human Representative @ Teddy + Howell

Ah, just who he'd wanted to see. The man of the hour.

Teddy didn't think the moment would actually come when he and Howell, or human representative, as he was known, would eventually meet.. but his luck had just changed, or so it seemed. From his stool at the corner of the polished mahogany bar, Teddy watched the human enter his line of sight. He looked..overwhelmed somehow, like he'd just walked away from something.

The Rosu pressed back against the stool, releasing a soft sigh as he arched one of his eyebrows in the other's direction. "Evening, mister Maxen. You look frazzled." Teddy said as he gestured to the empty stool beside him. "Something the matter?"

@howellmaxen

[howellmaxen]

Once again he was called out by his surname, at least this fellow had the decency to add mister to it. Taking a moment to center himself Howell took a deep breath before turning to face this unknown voice and met a man with discerning eyes. With such a striking face his was immediately able to place it as Teddy Byrne, enforcer of the Rosu Clan. Artemis shared notes on various supernatural individuals and before council Howell had made to memorize the important faces.

Trying to straighten the grimace he knew was plastered on his face after his conversation with Matthew was getting hard. “Mr…Bryne? Correct?” He reached a hand out for a shake, unsure if the man held the same lack of manners as his previous conversationist or that of an adult individual. Sliding into the stool next to the vampire, the doctor decided to stay more alert. “Frazzled? My aunt often said I did during my pre-med years but I haven’t been called that in years, but I suppose Mr. Alexander has that effect on people.”

[howellmaxen]

“Elijah.. he seems friendly enough. He laid it on thick a little with the scare tactics but I don’t have any reason to doubt him.”  In truth Elijah had left out some information about certain species and he wasn’t sure yet if that was purposeful or a mistake. For all intents and purposes, the man had seemed to care deeply for his people, his coven. Whether that made him a good man, or a friendly face, Howell wasn’t sure but what it did mean is that Eljiah was likely to always vote on the side of safety for his people. A fact Howell could respect. A small smile appeared on his lips, happy to know he wasn’t the only one with exes, and wasn’t afraid to talk about them. There were many things in his life he didn’t feel the need to randomly share but talking about his exes was never one of them. They had been apart of his life, the experiences made him part of who he was. Then again one could say the same about family and more often than not the doctor kept mum about that. “You want to know the truth?” He set his coffee down slightly hunched over the table. “To be honest it’s love. I’m forty fucking seven years old and I still don’t know if I’ve gotten over my first love. The were a supernatural and I want to find them…know why they disappeared.”

[naz-ulusoy]

"Elijah is an interesting one. He holds a lot of sway in this city." The spirit's lips pursed but only because she had many of her own reasons to doubt the Remington coven leader. It wasn't the right time or place to discuss such things. Mostly, the spirit hoped that these conversations would help Howell to understand the supernatural beings of the city. He was still human though and human's were easily manipulated. So far, he seemed like he had a good head on his shoulders but he would be a vulnerable figure on their council.

For a moment, she allowed herself to smile, grateful that he didn't know her ex and couldn't think she was a nutcase for leave a loving relationship. She did want to know the truth about Howell's intentions and the spirit leaned forward as she nodded. Naz chuckled, unable to help herself at this new revelation. All living beings were simple creatures in some ways and love was always one of them. She had never been truly human so love had seemed like a foreign concept for a long time.

"It's an admirable reason," the spirit replied. "But you know, I could probably help you with that," she admitted. The human had no reason to trust her so she didn't ask for the name of his first lover, though she was very curious. "I could find out for you, or I could put you in contact with a good private detective," she offered. "We have a few on retainer for the work we do here. It might not tell you why they disappeared but it might help you find them."

[howellmaxen]

“I figured as much, and honestly I’d like to keep a man like that in my good graces as much as possible.” Elijah Remington hadn’t cut the figure of a powerful man at their meeting, but Howell was yet to be convinced that things were as the appeared. As a witch Mr. Remington could easily have done a number of spells and Howell would have been none the wiser. As a human, he’d most certainly would need protection from members on council but the only way to secure that was to speak to other members of the supernatural community. With in that there was no way he could verify if the help he received was real and if he would be working with someone who had honor in their craft. “Do you really think so?” He hadn’t wanted to show his excitement, but it naturally came out. Immediately the doctor regained composure and seemed deflated. “If I could ask something personal…would you want to be found if you disappeared?” It was a random thing to ask a woman he barely knew but the spirit was apart of the community and if anything she might have an idea of how Serai acted.

[howellmaxen]

For: @vievecorcitystarters Location: Garond District Hospital, Evening of Day 1 of Vibefest

The headache was well set by the last two hours of his shift, not even extra strength Ibuprofen would do anything to fix this. He needed a thick, greasy burger, a glass of scotch and a twenty four hour rest. At this rate he’d be lucky just to get one. The hospital had a policy of zero days off during city wide events so even if he had wanted to he’d be back in twelve hours. He could hear the crowds that still cluttered the ER waiting room as people waited likely impatiently to be seen in order of severity. People didn’t always understand that. They hurt, they ached and like anyone in discomfort they wanted it to go away. Unluckily for the people of Vievecor who directed themselves to the Garond District Hospital they’d find that a slew of emergency vehicles kept their automatic doors busy, bussing in various injured individuals from Vibefest. “Alright let’s get some fluid in Mr. Parker here, check his vitals again and if stable send him on his way.” He nodded to his CEN before heading back to the central desk. The place were chaos was supposedly wrangled, the altar of the ER gods that everyone had to pay tribute to. Quickly he swallowed down the last of his fiber water, having aged out of energy drinks, and grabbed the next clipboard.  Rolling his shoulder, before during back around to the zoo he called home.

“What’s next?”

[ofwisdcms]

FOR THE CITY, VIBEFEST MEANT GREAT MUSIC, FREE-FLOWING DRINKS, AND LOWERED INHIBITIONS. For the medical staff, however, it meant seeing firsthand the result of human judgment colliding with a city-wide party.

Leila glanced up in acknowledgement, green eyes catching on the exhaustion written across his face. She was only a couple of hours into her shift, and already she could relate to his condition. “What a dangerous question,” she said, scrawling the last of her notes into the chart and handing it off to the nurse at the desk to file. A minor laceration from a broken bottle; three sutures, and the finger would be good as new. Hardly an injury that warranted a surgeon’s oversight, but it was all hands on deck.

Finally, she turned her full attention to Howell. “You can have your pick.”

“Bed three’s recovering from dehydration and heat exhaustion,” she said casually, nodding toward a green-tinged elven patient. “Bed nine’s an ankle fracture waiting on imaging clearance.”

Her fingers tapped the chart left on the desk, more deliberately. “Or you can join me on a consult.” That one she flipped open for him to see, angling the vitals and presenting complaints for his inspection. “Forty-one-year-old male presenting with second-degree burns and a suspected liver laceration after a pyrotechnic misfire knocked him off a soundstage onto a barricade.”

Her brow lifted slightly as she reached the bottom of the page. “Oh — and he’s high. Or stoned. Or both.” She let the implication hang there for half a second before adding, “Swears he’s sober, though, so that’s reassuring. Either way, his pain is under control for the moment, which is… helpful. Paramedics reported debris embedded in the full-thickness areas.” He would likely need surgical debridement— the embedded debris carried a higher risk of infection and further tissue loss if she didn't get him to the OR tonight.

[howellmaxen]

“How thoughtful of you to let me choose.” He was use to nurses just shoving charts at him for the past several hours so it was a nice change of pace. Howell’s tired eyes perked up a little with a small rush of adrenaline as he skimmed down the chart.  Punctuating his responses to Dr. Byrne it thoughtful hmms as each complaint became increasingly audacious. The festival was certainly making it’s mark here at the hospital; no one could deny that. Their patient at the extreme unlucky experience of being a part of that group.

“Both huh?  Guess this man had an exciting day before he became a skewer.” He tapped the hart with his pen and nodded in agreement. “I’ll come along for this one.”

As the two doctors entered, they could hear the man talking to himself. It was immediate to Howell that a psych eval wasn’t needed. The man was actually signing to himself and knowing the level of drugs in his system it came as no shock that the man could be a little out of it. “Mr. Eggers, how are we doing today?”

“Well as I can.”

“That’s a good response. Mind if Dr. Byrne and I take a look at you?”

[howellmaxen]

For: @vievecorcitystarters Location: Garond District Hospital, Evening of Day 1 of Vibefest

The headache was well set by the last two hours of his shift, not even extra strength Ibuprofen would do anything to fix this. He needed a thick, greasy burger, a glass of scotch and a twenty four hour rest. At this rate he’d be lucky just to get one. The hospital had a policy of zero days off during city wide events so even if he had wanted to he’d be back in twelve hours. He could hear the crowds that still cluttered the ER waiting room as people waited likely impatiently to be seen in order of severity. People didn’t always understand that. They hurt, they ached and like anyone in discomfort they wanted it to go away. Unluckily for the people of Vievecor who directed themselves to the Garond District Hospital they’d find that a slew of emergency vehicles kept their automatic doors busy, bussing in various injured individuals from Vibefest. “Alright let’s get some fluid in Mr. Parker here, check his vitals again and if stable send him on his way.” He nodded to his CEN before heading back to the central desk. The place were chaos was supposedly wrangled, the altar of the ER gods that everyone had to pay tribute to. Quickly he swallowed down the last of his fiber water, having aged out of energy drinks, and grabbed the next clipboard.  Rolling his shoulder, before during back around to the zoo he called home.

“What’s next?”

[liankoeman]

With the festival in full swing, Lian thought they had done the responsible thing and stayed home. They had spent the evening working through a simple resurrection spell on a spider. The arachnid had come to life but the amount of blood the spell had taken from the slash on her forearm was worrying. The witch would normally heeal themselves but after being drained of both magic and blood, they had to take themself to the hospital.

She admired modern medicine for it's capabilities and what human's had done to ensure their survival. It was quite impressive, even if the waiting times were long and arduous. The witch was patient, sitting in the waiting room with a silk scarf wrapped haphazardly around her arm, when the nurse called their name.

"I think I'm next, doctor," the witch answered. She stood to meet them half way and tried to smile warmly. They would have to explain the cut on their arm away as something simple, not wanting it to appear like she was mentally unwell or worse. "I think I may need some stitches?" they explained.

[howellmaxen]

The voice was calm for someone who thought they needed stitches. Admittedly patients came with a variety of ailments paired with an extraordinary range of emotions that they projected. A gash that hadn’t hit anything major with such a demeanor wasn’t unheard of, but he’d want to check her medication list to make sure she wasn’t on anything that would make her placid in the face of injury. Of course she could be on medication that she wasn’t subscribed but he’d do a vitals check and have a conversation with Ms…Koeman, the clipboard read. Lian Koeman.

“Stitches, let me be the judge, but I promise if it comes to it I’ll make the stitches seamless.” Over the years the doctor had kept abreast of his stitching techniques and ability to draw blood as not to incur the unrelenting mockery of the nursing staff. Nudging a stool close to bed with his feet, he made light footwork with getting the table over that way to. 

“Now let’s see.” Gloved hands gently took her arm pulling back the scarf, noting it looked deep enough to bleed and clean enough to be almost intentional. “Ms. Koeman, now this does look like it needs stitches, but let’s clean it a bit. Why don’t you tell me how you got this while I clean you up?”

[howellmaxen]

"Really?" One thing Howell could appreciate from his defacto boss was getting right to the point. None of that pomp and circumstance he was sure to come by at council. No there were no politics here because this was a monarchy ruled by their wily spirit king and when he held court you listened. Howell cared for his life so he listened when Ayumu spoke.

Careful not to injure the beaten man at his feet, he kept his eyes locked to his patient ever aware he was being watched all too closely. Unbuttoning the man's shirt he slowly began feeling around the soft tissue of his torso. His lips curled into a small smile at the prospect of someone thinking he a spy. "You believe I am that deft to trick you for all these years?...I should be amused if you actually believed that."

Stopping he looked up from his squatted position over his patient. "No not this whole time. If that were true, I'd wager you'd have me killed. I've been on forums about supernaturals more than half my life...but Artemis. That's new. Er."

[nakatomi-ayumu]

"No, I actually do not think you'd have it in you to be so wily yourself. But the rest of your kind..." Ayumu pointed out as they wagged a warning finger in Howell's direction -- as if they would start scolding a child.

"I'm glad that you have such a level head on your shoulders," the spirit said with a smile, but it was one that did not quite reach their eyes. Ayumu barely even registered the other poor human at their feet when Howell was the infinitely more interesting one right now.

"New? Then how is it that they have chosen you to represent your kind on the Council? Did they run out of candidates? Or are you their way of toying with us?"

[howellmaxen]

“...Are their own sets of unique individuals just as your own kind.” Finishing his boss’s sentence he continued to exam the man. Rather than focus all his attention on Mr. Nakatomi he could conceal himself better while keeping his hands busy.

“Their?” Howell feigned ignorance, if the spirit wanted to speak to him about Artemis he’d have to say the name. There was no way the group had gained so much infamy that their name couldn’t be said. Still if it scared some of the population, he wouldn’t be surprised. Honestly it was a shame, and Artemis really needed to work on their public relations.

“Come now, toy? Do you not think I am suited for it just because I’ve been caught in your web, if anything I had imagined you would enjoy it.”

[howellmaxen]

This fragile peace was sightly frightening to Howell. As a human in lived in the world of laws and rules and rarely did it fluctuate to extremes in his lifetime. That was another privilege he had been born into by shear fact of where his family had decided to live. Still he’d come to know about supernaturals over twenty years ago. In the beginning he thought they must be ruled archaically through some sort of high powered monarchy but as time past he saw it was much less organized than that. By the time Artemis had come around he already had been informed of the council and was weary of exactly what the did and did not impose upon their own society. “A break down, well we wouldn’t want that.” The thought alone was terrifying, and he wondered if it had ever happened before or where they all just creatures of comfort these days. Could that be what’s keeping them all at bay from jus destroying each other and the city? “So what you’re saying is this alliance is fragile and only viable while the majority agrees on things….”

“...I think I’ll need another drink.” Flagging the waiter down he dipped in glass indicating he needed another.

[eremington]

"Couldn't you say the same about most forms of governance?' He asked with a slight smile and finally took a sip of his own drink. He couldn't help being a little bit satisfied to see Howell so clearly rattled. It was nice to have someone from artemis on the back foot for once. Still, Howell needed to be able to function and not think he needed to bring security guards to the council or worse something that could affect their magic.

"I don't want you to walk into the council meeting feeling like a fight's gonna start at the drop of a hat." He let his posture relax into something more casual, trying to put Howell at ease. So far Elijah hadn't felt a need to skim his mind for anything, and he'd prefer to keep it that way at least for their first meeting. "There are plenty of things that we agree on, and as much as we may argue, it hasn't gotten anywhere near something that bad. People will be guarded, but they're giving you a chance." He grinned. "I promise, the bylaws don't let us sacrifice anyone to the chaos gods until at least their fourth meeting."

[howellmaxen]

“I could, but typically it’s held together by threat of a horrible war if the alliances are completely broken. Would that happen here? Would you all go to war?” The idea did frighten him for he knew the casualties on the human side would also be great and yet so many would be unaware. That was his biggest problem and the main reason he put some of his lot with the Artemis crew. Secrecy changed lives, harmed lives. He was afraid with getting a more intimate eye into the supernaturals lives he’d gain more empathy for their need for secrecy. Especially if as many were as charming as Mr. Remington. “And I appreciate that.” He dipped his glass in acknowledgment of the opportunity he was being given. He knew not everyone was going to trust him, and they shouldn’t. Trust was always to be earned not granted just because it suits the whims of others. “Oh only the fourth? How generous of you to give them three strikes.” Howell swallowed down a chuckle with half the liquid in his glass. He’s forgotten some of them were practically gods.

[howellmaxen]

For: @vievecorcitystarters Location: Garond District Hospital, Evening of Day 1 of Vibefest

The headache was well set by the last two hours of his shift, not even extra strength Ibuprofen would do anything to fix this. He needed a thick, greasy burger, a glass of scotch and a twenty four hour rest. At this rate he’d be lucky just to get one. The hospital had a policy of zero days off during city wide events so even if he had wanted to he’d be back in twelve hours. He could hear the crowds that still cluttered the ER waiting room as people waited likely impatiently to be seen in order of severity. People didn’t always understand that. They hurt, they ached and like anyone in discomfort they wanted it to go away. Unluckily for the people of Vievecor who directed themselves to the Garond District Hospital they’d find that a slew of emergency vehicles kept their automatic doors busy, bussing in various injured individuals from Vibefest. “Alright let’s get some fluid in Mr. Parker here, check his vitals again and if stable send him on his way.” He nodded to his CEN before heading back to the central desk. The place were chaos was supposedly wrangled, the altar of the ER gods that everyone had to pay tribute to. Quickly he swallowed down the last of his fiber water, having aged out of energy drinks, and grabbed the next clipboard.  Rolling his shoulder, before during back around to the zoo he called home.

“What’s next?”

[eijiremington]

Vibe Fest was an opportunity for some cash to be earned on the side of Eiji’s usual job at the Rubicund. He’d been working behind the bar when he’d spotted one of his human friends in the crowd— one he’d needed to cut off contact with as soon as he had gotten arrested. When the crowds had gotten a little rowdy and she’d ended up in the middle of it all, Eiji hadn’t been able to resist going over to help her. He didn’t have his real face… it wasn’t like she was going to know, he tried to tell himself.

They’d ended up at the closest hospital, waiting in the bustling ER beside his friend, who clearly thought the bartenders at these events were looking for an excuse to get off work early if they were willing to chaperone her to the ER. Eiji had gotten hit in the face in the midst of it all, but it hardly warranted going to the ER, he was mostly just there for moral support.

Eventually, a nurse came to call them in to see the doctor and Eiji followed his friend to the door. “Doctor Maxen will see you.” Maxen, Eiji thought to himself, knowing he recognised that name somewhere. He was surprised when the nurse directed his friend towards another doctors bay, apparently leaving him with Doctor Maxen. “Oh, I don’t need to see anyone. It’s just a black eye. I was just here with my friend.” He insisted.

[howellmaxen]

“Well that’s my job to decide, but I promise you it’ll be quick and then we’ll get you back to your friend.”  Howell turned to the cabinet of supplies the snapping sound of latex hitting his wrists echoed in the room as her acquired gloves. He hadn’t been surprised that this music festival was bringing in all sorts of cases. If he was honest with himself he was grateful this patient was just an eye injury. His cortisol level couldn’t take one extreme event after another.

“Now let’s take a look, may I?” Consent was always important and in the ER when you weren’t sure the state of a person’s mental faculties, it was even more so. Gently his long fingers titled back the jaw, lite stubble poking at the barrier of the gloves. “Now Mr…..” Pausing for a name he’d forgotten to look at any chart, if there even was one in all this chaos.

[howellmaxen]

“Ah yes, I am guessing then it is one of the council members?” Howell hadn’t had the chance to go over all the assets of the council members. Partly because it felt like an invasion of privacy, and he certainly wouldn’t want them going through his. It was clear that certain parties in the council and likely in Vievecor didn’t like humans in the know, especially in such a high place as council. Mid sip he stopped, wanted to be as diplomatic as possible was needed with a clear head not a mouth tasting of scotch. “I don’t blame you or your people in the least for being weary. I know many left before I could finish my statement but I do not agree with every tactic that Artemis has implemented but on the other hand you can see how tired they all are of feeling used.” “I am sure he does.” The thought of blood didn’t deter him, a man in his career field had seen many things. If he hadn’t thrown up when a bikers guts came in half out of his abdomen, then just the mention of blood, even it’s imbibing wasn’t going to bother him. “That I am sorry for. You seem a formidable woman on your own, it’s a awful a sham like me has to be present for you to get some relief.”

[isabellexlaurent]

"Matthew- tall with dark hair and striking eyes. He is the one who exited after your little revelation." It had been a dramatic move, but the statement was one that Isabelle partially agreed with. They had invited the enemy into their midst without the benefit of knowing just how loyal to the cause Howell was. He could easily arm Artemis with insider information.

"Is that the property damage or the personal injury you disagree with? Or are we speaking of something else entirely?" It was simply a question of just where his boundaries lay. Leon had been injured. Teddy had been injured. Matthew had been injured. It seemed as if the list grew ever longer as the days passed. Then there was that little stunt they pulled at Judas' gallery opening. The headache to keep the existence of vampires secret still plagued her waking nightmares. "Have you ever read Douglas Adams, Mr. Maxen?"

Belle took a sip of her wine. There were some blood vintages on offer at this particular establishment, but she wanted the comfort of a relaxing glass even if the alcohol no longer affected her. There was something soothing about it. "I do appreciate the sentiment. There are so few people who acknowledge the independence of a woman while displaying the chivalry of old. It's quite the balancing act that speaks of paradoxes of your mind."

[howellmaxen]

“Yes, hmm. Well to be honest I didn’t notice his eyes as he was storming away from me.” The man leaned into his drink taking a deep breath but waiting to consume the barrel aged liquid he so desired. He had hopes it would take away the awkwardness of it all, the pressure but alas he wasn’t one to fall easy to it no matter how wild his anxiety and thoughts ran.

“Well like with here, I had hoped to enjoy conversation about the human population along with the entity known as Artemis but my hopes were dashed there….I hope here we could continue?” He tsked, more at himself for allowing the question to be asked than at the powerful woman before him. “Personal Injury. I’m a doctor by trade so I don’t actually enjoy seeing people hurt, personal property on the other hand, well insurance can cover many losses in that department.

Howell turned with his attention fully to her. Had she just asked about his reading preferences? What an odd interrogation, because by this point he was sure ever supernatural that had heard of him wanted his ear. “My apologies, did you mean the author?”

[howellmaxen]

Like with many events that took place in the steel lined streets of Vievecor City, Howell was often assigned to the emergency room even on his days off as an extra body. It was interesting that he wasn’t called in for Winefest, though compared to other events in the recent past this barely required the manpower. Still he couldn’t help but wonder if his status on council had something to do with it. Having received an invitation to the Rubicund only confirmed his suspicions. Hesitant to go, he pushed that all behind him knowing that not showing up would be more of a insult than attending and feeling out of place.

What he hadn’t expected was the amount of bodies one club could hold, the heat of everyone pulsing through out the night club and they all clearly wished to be seen done up in their best glowing attire. Not only was this not his type of scene he almost felt lost in the sea of electric rhythms and neon lights. The man intended to make his way to the bar when he was stopped by a beautiful woman, captivated by her for longer than he needed to be. This was the point when he should be worried and yet, he felt nothing like fear or worry.

She’d gotten him to laugh even though the conversation wasn’t that funny. Her hand waved about knocking into the body behind her. Roughly grabbing her arm wasn’t something Howell would allow another to do, and he felt a tad extra chivalrous at the moment. “Now, now. I don’t think we need to go to that sort of extreme, give me your number and I’ll see to it that the coat is try cleaned.”

[matthew-alexander]

Matthew tensed the moment he recognised the man who was suddenly speaking to him. The metaphorical thunder cloud above his head only grew darker and more stormy as his eyes bore holes into the other -- if looks could kill. The disdain he felt for the human representative seemed to give him a strength he had to realised he could muster that night.

"You are not getting my number in any way, shape or form, Maxen," the fallen deity gritted out and dropped the woman's wrist, his glare moving to her for a moment to see the recognition dawn in her eyes. Matthew was notorious enough amongst vampire-kind for most of them to know him on sight and he was mostly banking on this fact to keep him safe throughout the night despite his depowered state.

"Leave," he said to her and she scarpered, leaving Howell alone with the fallen deity.

[howellmaxen]

“Just Maxen? Good God are we in gym class or is this the army?”  He knew any conversation was an uphill battle with Matthew Alexander. Why he choose to have a bit of snark back was beyond him. Howell felt as though he was coming down from some weird sort of high and the lingering confidence it gave it apparently made him stupid too. “Though you don’t appear the military type.”

The demon for all he presented to the world, appeared the sneering and judgmental type of man. A demon with a holier than thou complex was something, but if he remembered correctly there was more to Mr. Alexander’s folder than just being a simple demon. “You know that was very rude to dismiss that wonderful young lady like that.” He watched her as she walked away, truthfully slightly annoyed the conversation ended.

“Please, it was a mistake just allow me to get it cleaned. You can send the bill to the hospital.”

[my-knight-lancelot]

I love that picture so much 🤍

[matthew-alexander]

dance floor | open starter

for: anyone and everyone @vievecorcitystarters location: near any of the dance spaces on any floor of the club

There were too many people in the club. Matthew was standing just off of one of the dance spaces, a metaphorical thundercloud hovering over his head as he took in the writhing, dancing bodies. He scowled as he tried to best not to let anyone come too close.

The fallen deity had a glass of red wine in his hand as he tugged the collar of his coat up over the LED collar with the glaring words 'BITE ME'. Matthew normally revelled in these annual Roşu-led Wine Fest celebrations and the debauchery that came with it -- which was the reason he agreed to the collar in the first place -- but he was currently feeling anxious about it in his weakened state. Where he would normally have used his shadow magic to shove people out of his personal space, Matthew still could not do so and it irked him. Was he doomed to live this depowered life without magic forever?

He was lost in his thoughts and did not anticipate being bumped into rather bodily, his drink splashing past the rim of his glass and all over his expensive coat. "Hey!" Matthew's hand darted out to grab the other person's arm. "You're going to owe me a small fortune for destroying this coat!"

[howellmaxen]

Like with many events that took place in the steel lined streets of Vievecor City, Howell was often assigned to the emergency room even on his days off as an extra body. It was interesting that he wasn’t called in for Winefest, though compared to other events in the recent past this barely required the manpower. Still he couldn’t help but wonder if his status on council had something to do with it. Having received an invitation to the Rubicund only confirmed his suspicions. Hesitant to go, he pushed that all behind him knowing that not showing up would be more of a insult than attending and feeling out of place.

What he hadn’t expected was the amount of bodies one club could hold, the heat of everyone pulsing through out the night club and they all clearly wished to be seen done up in their best glowing attire. Not only was this not his type of scene he almost felt lost in the sea of electric rhythms and neon lights. The man intended to make his way to the bar when he was stopped by a beautiful woman, captivated by her for longer than he needed to be. This was the point when he should be worried and yet, he felt nothing like fear or worry.

She’d gotten him to laugh even though the conversation wasn’t that funny. Her hand waved about knocking into the body behind her. Roughly grabbing her arm wasn’t something Howell would allow another to do, and he felt a tad extra chivalrous at the moment. “Now, now. I don’t think we need to go to that sort of extreme, give me your number and I’ll see to it that the coat is try cleaned.”