This conversation took place in September, 2002 - 4 months before the beginning of the game.

NerwenGreen (8:17 PM): The phone rings a couple of times before it picks up. ""Office of Mr. Stranahan," says a polite female voice.
AgujaCabra (8:20 PM): Settling with an air of restlessness into his armchair, Gracian adjusts the phone receiver slightly before picking up her cue: "Would you transfer me to Mr. Stranahan, please. This is Gracian Haite calling from Louisiana "
AgujaCabra (8:21 PM): [I don't like rewinding time... or doing a Prince trying to call another Prince.. this is weird]
NerwenGreen (8:21 PM): "May I ask what your business is with Mr. Stranahan tonight?" she inquires politely.
AgujaCabra (8:23 PM): "I have some political business to discuss with him," Gracian replies simply, adding after a beat, "It is not urgent. If he is otherwise occupied, I can call again at a later time."
NerwenGreen (8:24 PM): [hmm...]
AgujaCabra (8:24 PM): [no? bad reply? he's not going to say anything about being a Prince .. ]
NerwenGreen (8:25 PM): There is a pause, before the voice comes back. "One moment."
NerwenGreen (8:26 PM): The phone transfers to another line after a few minutes, and a male voice comes on the line. "This is Stranahan."
AgujaCabra (8:31 PM): "Ah, good evening Mr. Stranahan," Gracian responds easily, continuing after a slight pause, "I am calling in regards to a former citizen of your community: Thomas Cougar. "
AgujaCabra (8:31 PM): [aaaaah. I suck right now. .. I hate phone conversations... ]
NerwenGreen (8:35 PM): "Ah," Stranahan replies. "Good evening to you, Mr. Haite. Yes, Thomas was a former citizen here. What do you need help with?"
AgujaCabra (8:41 PM): "Well," Gracian replies, relaxing somewhat as he continues, "This is not a formal inquiry. . However, Thomas has been living in my city for a number of years now, and we do not know one another yet.. I was curious to know if he has been involved politically in the past. "
NerwenGreen (8:47 PM): There is a slight pause. "Politically in what way?" Stranahan asks, a cautious note in his tone.
NerwenGreen (8:47 PM): [there needs to be like a secret handshake or something ...]
AgujaCabra (8:47 PM): [I know! gah.. ]
AgujaCabra (8:49 PM): There is a slight sigh, as Gracian conceeds quietly, "I am the current Prince of Midsomer. Has Thomas been involved in that community in the past?"
AgujaCabra (8:50 PM): [I think that was phrased badly... mef. whatever. ]
NerwenGreen (8:50 PM): [do you want to rewrite?]
AgujaCabra (8:52 PM): There is a slight sigh, as Gracian concedes quietly, "I am the current Prince of Midsomer, Louisiana; the city that Thomas has been living in. Has Thomas been involved with our politics in the past?"
AgujaCabra (8:53 PM): [there. meh. He would realize that nobody knows where the hell/ what the hell Midsomer is :P ]
NerwenGreen (8:58 PM): "Ah." Stranahan relaxes, leaning back into his chair. "Aha. Yes, Thomas had a promising career going here, before he had to leave." He pauses thoughtfully. "I wanted him to be the primogen for his clan, but he declined." He sounds faintly disappointed by that. "I did convince him to be my seneschal a little while later, but that was right before he left."
AgujaCabra (9:03 PM): "I see," Gracian replies with obvious interest, standing up from his armchair to pace thoughtfully across the room. "That is intriguing... I had not thought of Thomas as one to get deeply involved with city matters.. He has been rather reclusive since moving here. "
NerwenGreen (9:08 PM): "Yes, I imagine he would be," Stranahan answers agreeably, with a note of regret. "He didn't leave Fort Lauderdale under the best of circumstances."
NerwenGreen (9:08 PM): [sorry it's taking so long ... it was longer, and then I decided I didn't want to ask something right now after all :p]
AgujaCabra (9:11 PM): "Is that so?," Gracian asks with a hint of concern, crossing back to his chair and taking a seat again quietly.
AgujaCabra (9:11 PM): [mef. I keep doing the same thing... so its okay :p ]
NerwenGreen (9:16 PM): "Yes, well, he got caught in the middle of some unpleasant business with the Tremere," Stranahan replies. "After that, he was forced to leave to protect some personal interests. I believe he was rather ... disenchanted ... with Kindred politics because of that, at least until recently."
AgujaCabra (9:18 PM): Gracian raises an eyebrow slightly, "Until recently? Has he expressed some interest in returning to politics to you? "
NerwenGreen (9:24 PM): "Ah, well no, not exactly." A brief pause. "He came back to visit for a few weeks in May. While he was here, among other things he resolved some of his differences with the offending individual. That seemed to cheer him up quite a bit, by the time he left again." Another pause. "Why do you ask? Are you planning to involve him in some politics there?"
AgujaCabra (9:30 PM): Gracian smiles slightly, "Well, the thought had occurred to me, yes." There is a slight pause, before he adds; "My seneschal is interested in introducing Thomas to the local political circuit-- but given what we've seen of him so far, I was not sure if we would be well received.."
NerwenGreen (9:31 PM): "Really?" Stranahan sounds intrigued. "What do you mean?"
AgujaCabra (9:31 PM): [gah :p ]
AgujaCabra (9:32 PM): [is he asking why Gracian would have reservations.. or what kind of politics Gracian wants to involve Thomas with?]
AgujaCabra (9:32 PM): [I guess if I don't know, then Gracian might not either. pooh]
NerwenGreen (9:32 PM): [he's wondering about a whole ton of things ... but he's being vague deliberately to see what kinds of responses he gets]
AgujaCabra (9:32 PM): [blah to him :p ]
AgujaCabra (9:38 PM): "Oh. There are no definite plans at the moment... However, considering that many Gangrel have left the Camarilla entirely, and considering that Thomas has not been in contact with us for.." he hesitates for a moment to count, " ..oh, over a decade... we have reservations, naturally."
AgujaCabra (9:39 PM): [mef. that was going to be more, again... mef mef]
NerwenGreen (9:44 PM): "I see," Stranahan responds. "If you need to know where his loyalties lie currently, you will need to either ask him or my Gangrel primogen here. I am not aware if he has left the Camarilla. He was very loyal while he was here, but obviously some things have changed." He trails off thoughtfully. "You haven't spoken with him for a decade?"
AgujaCabra (9:52 PM): Gracian hesitates for a moment, replying steadily, "I have never spoken with Thomas. The acting seneschal dealt with his arrival... and that is sufficient in my city. . " Stopping again, he continues thoughtfully.. "Well, at any rate, we have not seen anything to indicate that Thomas is disloyal. . And I suppose I will see about his loyalties soon, then."
NerwenGreen (9:58 PM): "Ah," Stranahan answers. After a pause, he says, "Well, if you would like to be put in contact with the Gangrel, or anyone else who knows Thomas, I can give you some phone numbers."
AgujaCabra (10:04 PM): "Thank you, but I do not think that will be necessary," he replies thoughtfully; "I would prefer not to pry into his affairs more than is required." Gracian adjusts the phone slightly, ".. Thank you for your time tonight; this conversation has certainly shed a new light on Thomas... I think I know enough to at least extend an invitation to him now."
NerwenGreen (10:09 PM): "You're quite welcome," Stranahan replies. "If he is still loyal, and interested in involving himself in politics again, you'll find that he'll do an excellent job with whatever tasks you assign to him."
AgujaCabra (10:10 PM): "Wonderful," Gracian responds with a light smile, "In that case, I look forward to working with him. Goodnight Mr. Stranahan-- thank you again for your time. "
NerwenGreen (10:11 PM): "You're welcome. Good night," Stranahan replies. He hangs up.
AgujaCabra (10:12 PM): Gracian hangs up the phone after Stranahan... and thus concludes the telephone conversation :p
NerwenGreen (10:12 PM): and ... cut! ;)