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Zacharias looked elegant as ever as he led Tammy through the restaurant towards the table that had been reserved for the two of them. Smooth jazz music played throughout the establishment as the two sat at the table and idly looked over the menu before ordering drinks and waving away the waiter. An apologetic smile replaced the stern expression her sire had been maintaining until just moments earlier as he folded his hands and set them on the table. “I do hope this is a sufficient substitution for the party I usually hold for you. I imagine after the…” The elder Ventrue grimaces and pauses before continuing. “Silas incident of last year that you might prefer something a bit more private for a deathnight celebration. That aside I did wish to speak with you privately tonight, as I have a matter that will soon concern you.”
Tammy smiled and nodded, thanking the waiter as he returned with two glasses of water for the pair before turning her attention to her sire. “It's nice to have a change of pace now and again, sir. The venue is beautiful and I have wonderful company, that is truly more than I could ever ask for.” The two Ventrue pause their conversation to order a light meal before continuing once the waiter has left them. She takes a sip of the water before continuing, having become curious about his choice of topic but choosing to enjoy this moment before getting into any business. “I think Caroline was the most upset that there was no party this year.”
Zacharias nods, a knowing look in his eye. “Indeed, though I could hardly blame her. She had a hand in choosing my gift for you this year, so I am sure she wished to watch you receive it. I'll be giving it to you once we leave, if that is amenable. I suppose that means my gift will be the last this year. Did you open the rest before we left?”
Tammy nodded, folding her hands on the table. She was never quite comfortable with how far some of the kindred would go for her deathnight, but this year's gifts had been quite nice overall. She was more than slightly curious what he had decided on for this year, it was rather rare for her sire to admit that he had gotten help with anything, especially a gift. If she knew him well enough, it would likely be one of the best thought out gifts of the entire night.
Sighing softly, she went through the list of gifts in her mind. “Ellie made us another set of friendship bracelets.” Eleanor did the same thing every other year, claiming she had to make more to renew their bond. Though Tammy had a small jewelry box filled with them by now, she adored every new piece. Tammy shook her wrist slightly to show him the bracelet, pink and lavender cord braided together with a single large white bead in the middle. It contrasted against her dark clothes and her nail polish, which differed tonight from her usual pale purple. “Caroline gave me makeup, insisting that I don’t wear enough of it. The nail polish she included is such a nice color though…”
Tammy’s nails were painted a deep blue, almost sapphire in shade. Though she was wearing a smile while glancing at her nails, her expression faltered as she glanced up at her sire and by looking into his eyes realized that they were the same color as the polish, and Caroline had clearly done this on purpose. Looking away quickly and clearing her throat to buy time to figure out how to change the subject, the impending awkwardness was broken by the arrival of their meals. Tammy knew she was probably blushing, it was a habit she still hadn’t kicked, especially when it came to him. The two ate in silence for some time before Zacharias was the one to finally speak up once more. “And what of Silas? He told me he had found the perfect gift, but he refused to say what. Don’t tell me it's another singing Jimmy Buffett figure.”
Tammy shook her head, thinking back to earlier this evening when Silas gave her his gift which had been the weirdest of them all. “Silas gave me an alarm clock that the packaging said played Vivaldi's Four Seasons.” Halfway through a bite of food, Zacharias raised an eyebrow but gestured with a wave of his hand for her to continue. “I don't understand why he'd say it was perfect… is it because I'm a Ventrue?” Tammy spoke under her breath as she pondered, unsure of what the older Malkavian had meant. “Maybe it's one of those things that will make sense later, like stuff Ellie says.”
“Perhaps it is. Regardless, fine enough gifts in all I suppose. More subdued this year but that was part of the point I believe.” Zacharias set down his fork and knife, pushing his plate to the end of the table having already finished his meal. Reaching down to the floor, he pulled his briefcase into his lap and began flipping through the papers within. “Take your time and enjoy your meal, I have much to go over with you tonight.” Finding what he was looking for, the elder Ventrue removes a single densely filled folder from the documents and places it on the table while setting the briefcase back on the floor below. “Tonight is a very special night, as you are well aware. It marks eleven years since your embrace, as well as a sizable step in your progression as a fledgling of clan Ventrue. I am of course speaking about your test.”
Tammy pauses mid-bite of salad, eyes widening as she realizes the gravity of the situation. Forcing a quick swallow, she puts down the fork and glances up at her sire. Everything she had been learning, practicing, training had all led up to her test. It was the final trial she would have to undertake before she could be admitted fully to clan Ventrue, and Zacharias had always stressed the importance of this. She couldn’t fail him, she wouldn’t fail him. Her words blurted from her mouth, breaking the tension and politesse she had been trying to uphold in this nice venue. “You think I’m ready?”
Her sire adjusted the glasses on his face before folding his hands over the file on the table, giving a nod to the waiter who walked by and took his empty plate as she passed. “I trust that you are more than capable of completing the task I will be setting before you. As you are well aware, Tammy…” Zacharias lowers his volume, speaking in a slow, low voice. “We are quickly running out of time. Your test cannot be delayed much longer, and the sooner you are given your assignment the longer you will have to complete it and the better we can prepare you to complete it. Though you are technically not supposed to have my aid, as long as I prepare you for the task well in advance it should be no issue.”
Tammy nodded quietly as she picked up her fork once more, prompting Zacharias to continue to elaborate. “I have chosen to send you to Portland, Oregon for your test. I know the city rather well, and have multiple connections there to keep you safe in my absence. The Prince of the city has already agreed to welcome you into her city and oversee your test. I will be unavailable for a large portion of your stay up north, as I have some business to attend to while you are finding your bearings in the city. I have been assured you will be entirely safe while you are there. Of course in any event where you are put into danger, I trust your training and preparation will protect you from any such harm.”
Tammy ate rather slowly, not meeting his gaze. She did not like the idea of being alone in such an unfamiliar place, no matter how safe her sire claimed it to be and how many connections he already had there. “How long, sir? How long do you suspect it will take for me to complete this test? If you’re going to be away for the majority of it, how long will you be out of contact?” It was already well established that she would have to succeed on her own, but she still hated it when he was away on a job and unreachable for weeks at a time. She didn’t like being on her own, as loathe as she was to ask him to waste any time on her.
“Your test Tammy, is simple. I understand I cannot ask of you the same that was asked of me, that you are a far different fledgling than I was when I completed my test. I trust that you will complete your test within six months, double the time I took on mine.” This caught Tammy’s attention immediately, prompting her to finally look up into her sire’s gaze. Zacharias was rather secretive when it came to his past, particularly his fledgling years. As far as she could tell, his sire was something to not ask about, not bring up, and not press about when he changed the subject. Doing the math quickly in her head, she realized that he had completed his test in three months, and he was probably going to be gone at least that long during hers. Tammy frowned slightly, before immediately breaking eye contact with her sire and returning to her meal.
If Zacharias noticed the attitude shift in his fledgling, he didn’t make it obvious as he continued to speak. “I expect this job to take at least two months, most likely more. I would prefer to depart knowing that you will be working on your test while I am away. Of course as the final steps in your test require my presence I will be there to grade you once you have completed your goal, and judge if you are truly ready to become a member of clan Ventrue.” He unfolds his hands and flicks open the file, revealing a full map of the city that he was sending her to, as well as notes on various aspects of the city she might find useful. “Tammy Cecilia King. Tonight I present to you, the final test of your agoge. Your task is simply this, establish yourself among the kindred of the city of Portland, Oregon and obtain and maintain an acceptable domain within the city. You may go about this in any method that you see fit, and your domain does not have to be sizable, it is the quality of it that matters. I will warn you this task seems simple and in a way it is, however I would like to advise you that it may require lateral thinking and might not be as straightforward as it sounds.”
Tammy slides her plate to the edge of their table and takes the file, beginning to read while her sire continues to speak. “I am giving you this now so that we can prepare you to be as ready for this challenge as possible. I know that you are capable of accomplishing this goal and as once it begins I am not…” Zacharias pauses for a moment, voice dropping to a whisper. “...supposed to assist you.” Lifting a single finger to his lips, he waits until she glances up at the pause and notices before continuing at his regular volume. “So I would like to do as much as possible in the time leading up to your departure to ease your transition into this final task. I have not chosen a date yet, but your test will begin in mid-July. We have slightly less than three months to prepare, plenty of time. As always I will ensure you have everything you need to get you started, but once you leave this city you will be on your own. Any financial resources needed, any aid from others will have to be gained by your own hands. I must stress however… We have no time left beyond what has been allotted for your test. You have one chance at this, Tammy.”
Tammy breathes in deeply, staring at the map of the city at no place in particular. His final sentences came as no surprise to the fledgling. She had heard it almost nightly for the past eleven years. There could be no delay, everything was on a tight schedule, there was no time to spare. She had to learn fast, something she had trouble doing. There had been a large rift between them until about five years ago when he seemed to finally understand that she would get to the point he wanted her to be, but only in her own time. This time however, Tammy agreed in full. She had one chance at this. Tammy had been striving to complete this test for years at this point, mentally, physically and emotionally preparing herself for what came after, what she would finally do once she was no longer his fledgling, no longer under his accounting.
“Yes sir, of course.” Tammy closed the file as they took the check, paid and began to walk out to the car, deep blue fingernails still gripping the manilla folder tightly. Tammy didn’t know if she was prepared, she certainly didn’t think she was, but that didn’t matter in the slightest. What mattered is that she pulled it off, no matter how difficult, no matter what she had to do. The end was in sight, she could almost see it. By the end of the year, Tammy hoped she would finally be a neonate.