Friends in Spiritual Places

18

Jackson Alexandre
Liang Li
Mésidye Alexandre
Rochelle Alexandre
Roseline Alexandre
Vernand Alexandre

 A
 1.    Carver takes a call from Liang and is invited to double date sometime with her and her new attachment, Frank, from the party Carver attended the night he died. He then arrives on his motorcycle slightly late.
2.    He is invited inside and shown to the dinning room by a butler.
3.    He notices intricate design patterns on various tiles arranged over the doorway.
4.    Roseline wears a medallion bearing one of the patterns on a black silk cord.
5.    A blessing in Haitian Creole is made, and the language triggers memories of Carver’s murder.
6.    The meal is unique, as if more of a peculiar sort of late tea with an odd assortment of items:
    Roasted Peanuts
    Sweet Potatoes
    Chicken
    Sweet buns and various deserts and special occasion breads
    Coffee
    Rum
7.    The family spend the dinner reminiscing about various odd, humorous, and risqué or obscene happenings.
8.    Rochelle seems oddly interested in Carver or his work but does not go out of her way to speak with him. However, the suggestion of Rochelle perhaps attending one of Carver’s firework shows is made.
9.    They do not press him to eat.
10. Roseline is welcoming, Vernand curious - seemingly always watching Carver through the dark sunglasses he wears, and Azon is suspicious.
 B
 1.    After dinner, the group retire to the study, and Jackson notices more instances of the patterned tiles.
2.    Rochelle does not join them.
3.    A tray piled with the same selections from dinner, including a full decanter of rum and a pile of cigars, is laid on the ottoman in the center of the room.
4.    Carver and the elders of the family are seated.
5.    Jackson tells Carver not to leave his chair.
6.    More people pile in, bringing drums. The light darkens while the fire in his peripheral flares.
7.    The family and others present begin to pray and dance, which goes on for some time until Vernand throws his hands up into the air and abruptly freezes.
8.    Vernand then is immediately taken with the offering, snatching up mouthfuls of items and stowing sweets in his pockets before snagging the rum.
9.    He thin examines Carver, squinted and surprised, lifting Carver up by his shirt caller to look him in the eye.
10. Vernand then laughs uproariously, dropping Carver and taking a swig of the rum.
11. Vernand then dances his way out of the room, twirling Mesidye and Roseline before he does.
12. The dancers follow Vernand out.
13. Roseline now seems protective of Carver, whereas Azon now seems more concerned than suspicious.
14. Azon escorts Mesidye out of the room, leaving only Jackson, Roseline, and Carver.
 C
 1.    Once alone in the room, Jackson explains that his family are active practitioners of Vodun and that he had sought Vernand’s aid in determining what had happened to Carver.
2.    Jackson initially seems intent on withholding some of Vernand’s eventual answers from Carver, but a reproachful look from Roseline and a beseeching speech from Carver recounting his ordeal convince Jackson to be transparent with the promise of later information.
3.    Learning that Jackson is not unaware of the Masquerade, Carver explains the fullness of having become Kindred.
4.    Jackson confirms he had suspected the possibility despite the odds against it.
5.    Carver leaves with the understanding that Jackson and Roseline will protect their family but that his partnership with Jackson remains currently intact.