2026-03-17 13:32 - 17:53 PST
Ernesto took Gabriela, Kaveh, and Jensen to a meeting room. There, Gabriela explained the same thing she did to Fiora. She was with Marta when she was attacked by the target of a blood hunt Ernesto had put out. A target whose name was unknown to anyone she’d talked to.
Ernesto reacts similarly to Fiora, but hides his shock somewhat better. He averts his gaze and grumbles in Italian, then speaks: “You let a word slip of what I’m about to tell you, and you’ll wake up with a stake in your chest at the bottom of the river. Clear?”
They all agreed.
“We’re dealing with a loose cannon here. Someone whose loyalty to the family isn’t what it used to be. He’s an old, dangerous man. And now that he’s up and awake, there’s no telling what he’s going to do.”
When Gabriela mentioned the figure called Marta a traitor, Ernesto was upset, claiming that the figure’s people were the traitors, and that the Giovanni were simply the ones who came out on top.
When questioned on it, Ernesto was confident that he wouldn’t attack the gala, as nearly the whole family was present. Gabriela asked about any significant absences, as they might be in danger, but Ernesto said he wasn’t aware of any. Ernesto took offense when Kaveh added the man might attack Giovanni as they left the gala
“You trust me to keep my own family safe.”
Kaveh was quick to apologize, and said he’d come to relay a message from Mercutio.
“…and, if you will permit it, to present a matter that may prove mutually beneficial in the nights ahead.”
He relayed Mercutio’s message, that he missed his family, before moving to his actual point.
“Very quickly then, I would like to offer my services as a blacksmith to your family should they need them, I would be happy to help Mr.mercutios family in anyway I can, especially with the war going on” kaveh bows
“What’s your price?” Ernesto narrows his eyes.
“I only ask for you to offer your aid to the anarchs, and to provide me with the blood or metal necessary to Smith you and your family whatever they request”
Ernesto wasn’t particularly pleased with the partisan offering. Then, Gabriela weighed in.
“I don’t think you should join the Anarchs or the Camarilla. If you join either side, what you stand to gain becomes finite. If you remain neutral, both sides will continue to bend over backwards to win you over.”
Ernesto laughs and points at Gabriela. “See? This gal has a bright mind. I’ll tell you all what I’ve told you all before. You can’t buy my loyalty. My loyalty is to my family, nothing else matters.”
Kaveh was willing to drop direct support for the Anarchs should the Giovanni remain a third party.
“Mr. Falcrone, the last thing I need to worry about is getting involved in some petty turf war. I’m fine with buying your weapons, paying the blood price. But you’re not hiring mercenaries, you’re not conscripting soldiers. Clear?”
He’d have Fiora send someone to arrange some business. Kaveh kissed the ring, and they parted. Gabriela leaving a note for Ernesto on the table.
“The Camarilla will lie. Look to the Primogen.”
Kaveh, Jensen, and Gabriela passed by Fiora, Calimastia, and Simon on the way back. Gabriela asked to speak with Calimastia after she was done with her meeting, and Kaveh took Gabriela to meet in private.
Calimastia and Sim spoke with Ernesto, and presented to him a necromantic relic. They were dressed to impress, and they came prepared.
Cali made her pitch.
Ernesto grumbles. “You’re walking a thin line. That Falcrone fellow tried to pitch me on his Anarchs, after giving my heart the works. Now I expect you to try something similar. If Fiora didn’t vouch for you, you’d be booted out of my palazzo faster than you could say Jack Nicholson. But if you’re here with business, real, genuine business, I’ll listen.”
Ernesto grumbles. “You’re walking a thin line. That Falcrone fellow tried to pitch me on his Anarchs, after giving my heart the works. Now I expect you to try something similar. If Fiora didn’t vouch for you, you’d be booted out of my palazzo faster than you could say Jack Nicholson. But if you’re here with business, real, genuine business, I’ll listen.”
Calimastia set up her initial point, then continued.
“You’ll notice, that she and her sharpest dressed Anarch comrades, are wearing the world class tailor Patricia Rodman. Miss Rodman had originally took up a contract with the Anarchs, but chose to cancel early, because myself and Neonate Lefebvre cut a generous, exclusivity contract with her. The Anarchs did not respond by attempting to negotiate. They did not respond by using shrewd acumen to find another skilled tailor. No. Instead, they broke into Miss Rodman’s shop into the middle of the night, stole her work, and wear it proudly. This is the fate of those who do business with those who believe themselves above the law.”
She clears her throat slightly. Starting to find her stride.
“The Camarilla backs the currency of Boons, while the Anarchs coast off of their status. There would be no boons without us here. Personal accountings of favors are all well and good, but we all prefer to have our currency backed by more then words.”
She really needed to have that talk with Joey. A fleeting thought she squashes.
“The Camarilla wants to keep our society orderly. To construct a society where boons are backed, the Masquerade is upheld, and business booms. I have no doubt you believe this to be a pitch. But it isn’t. This is, rather, what I bring to the table. I would like to negotiate with you an exclusivity contract with you, between the Camarilla of California, and the Giovanni of California. A strictly business arrangement, backed by the full legitimacy of the network of Harpies, and tying our interests together so that we all profit. There is much we bring to the table, but here is my first and greatest proposal:”
She makes fierce eye contact.
“The Promise of 15281 is up in two years, isn’t it?”
With Sim’s help, Calimastia made a compelling argument. The world would be looking to the Americas, and right now that meant Sacramento. If the Giovanni had an exclusive deal with the Camarilla, they would earn renown once the Camarilla wins the war. They leveraged this to try and push him to sign with them. In the end, they agreed to the following:
On this night, January 18th, 2026, Ernesto Giovanni and the Giovanni of California, and the Praxis of Mark Sterner, hereby agree to the following terms:
1) The Giovanni will have exclusive relations and agreements with the Camarilla within California. This exclusivity only applies to affiliated Kindred activity, and mortal activity with ties to Kindred activity. The Giovanni will not contract with, arrange with, or otherwise do business with, individuals who have not completed a Camarilla accounting and been released from it by a Prince of the Camarilla or higher, and with individuals who profess loyalty to the treasonous California Free State
2) The Camarilla and the Giovanni will agree to reconvene at a date within one week of this signing with chosen representatives, to discuss set rates for goods and services to be exchanged between the Giovanni and Camarilla within this arrangement. The Camarilla are to be treated as the favored sect of relations, and be dealt with in good faith, and without tricks, deception, or other forms of underhand, with vice versa being true. Services not covered in an initial meeting may be negotiated on an individual basis, then given a set rate within 1 week of agreement to offer that service.
3) The Giovanni will have access to an exclusive method of contact to the Sheriff's office of Sacramento, regardless of who holds that office. Their requests will be treated as if an Ancillae in good standing were reporting them, unless the requesting Giovanni would otherwise have higher status. Any matters raised will be dealt with promptly, and properly. The Giovanni are entitled to defense as any ally would.
4) This arrangement lasts in perpetuity, within the boundaries of California, as the State is defined by the United States Government on January 18th 2026. Alterations to the agreement can only be made with the presence of Ernesto Giovanni and Mark Sterner, or a chosen successor.
This agreement is sanctified with a mutual exchange of minor boons between Calimastia Ayton and Ernesto Giovanni. These boons will be marked as resolved as soon as the meeting discussed in Article 2 has been concluded to the satisfaction of both parties, and may only be called in to compel that meeting to occur.
Hereby Signed:
Sheriff Barry Brickhouse, of Clan Ventrue
Hound Calimastia Ayton of Clan Tremere
Prince ____________________x
Anziani -------------------x
Certified and logged by Harpy ____________x
“One more thing.” Ernesto passes the contract back and puts his pen away. He folds his hands. “We might be neighbors. We might even become friends. But you will never be family. And if you act against the family, the family will act against you.”
Gabriela led Kaveh away to a private area. Once there, Kaveh asked if there’d been any updates about the events of the other night, with Razdan2. She said there hadn’t been, and that he shouldn’t mention it in public. Then she asked him about his childer. Ember was his childe, and she was of the Blood, but Jensen was adopted. Once she was assured he wouldn’t spill any secrets she asked if there was anything else.
He asked what the note was (unimportant), and how she figured out the vengeful figure came back (just happened to be there). He offered her a choice between two specialty pins, but she refused.