[Buda, Hungary, April 11th, around midnight] [It's court. Wampyrs have have been hanging around, doing their courtly things, which includes varying levels of sociability. Rolf is hanging out with another Gangrel, Klaud, and they seem to be having a good time.] [Moriel walked up to Anstace and Eliana just moments ago asking about something weird the Tzimisce prisoner has been babbling about. He seems distracted, though.] * Moriel frowns more as he visibly wanders off down some train of thought. His fingers start tapping against the arm of his chair. [Klaud nods and laughs. "It is decided then! Tomorrow we hunt!"] * Anstace looks at Moriel, and then down at his drumming fingers. * Eliana looks over at the loud, laughing gangrel. "*Someone's* enjoying himself." * Anstace reaches over and puts her hand on Moriel's fingers to stop them. "restlessness does not suit you" * Moriel twitches at the unexpected touch, then blinks at Anstace. "My apologies. I was just . . . thinking." i gathered that. if you were marking the passage of time, your rhythm would be slower * Moriel smiles at that. "I shall leave that to you. You are much better at it." * Anstace nods. "i am." smiles her warmest completely emotionless smile, as evidenced by the fact that her face is completely unchanged from moments ago. * Moriel smiles a bit wider, but then the expression slips. He gestures, * Anstace nods. she gestures. * Moriel nods. he repeats. * Anstace nods. * Moriel 's eyes harden. His hands curl up - not quite into fists; it looks more like he's restraining himself from "speaking" immediately. [Resume!] 06* Anstace nods. (suddenly been struck) 06* Moriel blinks. 06* Eliana snorts faintly. If anyone looks her way, she quickly signs: 06* Anstace looks at Eliana and then back at Moriel. 06* Moriel seems nonplussed, but after a moment he signs, 06* Anstace gestures. 06* Moriel is still for longer before answering this time. His eyes are dark and far away. Then he refocuses on Anstace and signs briskly, 06* Eliana smirks and nods, then signs, 06* Moriel nods sharply. 06* Anstace leans back and places her hands in her lap, her eyes still intently fixed on Moriel. 06* Eliana idly pulls her gloves from her hands, finger by finger. 06* Moriel shakes his head. 06* Anstace nods. 06* Eliana lays her gloves on the table before her. 01 06* Anstace looks down at the gloves on the table, and then up at Eliana. 06* Moriel nods. He grimaces. 06* Moriel frowns, trying to remember when exactly Jurgen said her home was burned down. 06* Anstace nods. 06* Moriel nods. 06* Eliana leans forward and signs, 06* Moriel 's eyes turn to grey-blue steel. 06* Anstace leans forward again, resting her elbows on her knees. 06* Moriel barks a laugh. 06* Eliana glances at Anstace, then signs, 06* Moriel recoils and stares at Anstace in shock. he adds with a glance at Eliana. 06* Anstace looks at Eliana. 06* Eliana rolls her eyes. Sure he has. 06* Moriel sighs. 01 06* Moriel gives Anstace a sharp look. 06* Moriel glances at Eliana. 06* Eliana nods. 06* Anstace nods. she looks down at her hands as she signs the last part. 06* Moriel shakes his head. he signs, looking at Eliana. 06* Eliana raises an eyebrow and signs, 06* Moriel blinks. 06* Eliana continues: 06* Anstace is not looking at anyone anymore; her gaze only high enough to see the hands, dancing their sentences in front of her. 06* Moriel had raised his hands to answer Eliana, but he gives Anstace a startled glance at that. 06* Anstace gestures quickly. 06* Moriel 's brows knit as he studies Anstace. 06* Anstace looks back up at Moriel as emotionless as ever. 06* Moriel 's eyebrows rise. 06* Eliana covers her mouth because she's really in danger of laughing. 06* Moriel smiles faintly. 06* Eliana snorts again, but she laces her fingers together. 06* Moriel tilts his head. He glances aside at Eliana a moment, but then turns back to Anstace. 06* Eliana signs, shortly, 06* Anstace tilts her head to the side. 06* Moriel blinks. He pauses, then continues more slowly, 06* Moriel shakes himself, then shrugs. 06* Eliana breaks the silence: "Anstace. Have you learned Hungarian?" 06* Anstace turns to look at Eliana. "i am far from fluent, but i could manage a conversation" 06* Eliana nods. 01 I have requested a tutor. Would you like to attend with me? certainly. what is the cost of this information? 06* Moriel watches this conversation quietly. His expression shifts occasionally, but he doesn't seem to feel like participating just at the moment. 01 Nothing more than we've already done or will do. Jurgen has a stake in our success this winter. hmmm... i am not certain that the value of what is gained matches what will come from our endeavors, but then i also do not know the value of what we will achieve. 06* Eliana nods and repeats what she had signed earlier: "Time will tell." 01 [End!]