<strong>Robert Dwyer, Malkavian, Status 0, Appearance 2.  No disciplines active.</strong><br/><br/><em>This should be the time of Hermes.</em>For one year every four, no immortal had more sway over the fate of the world as Hermes, god of diplomacy, trade, messages, sports, and almost everything that mattered in the 21st century.  The Wall Street protests had ruined that.  Initially a form of diplomacy in itself, the talk had quickly turned violent, and Robert was fairly certain he knew the reason why.  Ares had to be behind this.  Unlike Hermes, Ares was a god of one domain, but what a domain it was.  The recent century had been good to Ares, and he had risen to prominence like never before.<br/><br/>It could be seen in what videos were allowed to escape, flashes of the divine form inspiring mortals to violence, interrupting protests regarding two of Hermes' spheres of influence, trade and diplomacy.  Many died, but most of those deaths covered up by the god of communication...Hermes, who did not wish to admit Ares' effectiveness.  It was the kind of rivalry that led to wars.  Troy had fallen thanks to smaller matters.  Even as Robert's fellow Kindred mocked the mortals for their obliviousness toward the occult, most remained unaware of the power the Greek gods still held.  Robert knew better.<br/><br/>Robert got out of the cab he'd arrived in and made his way to the Kennedy Center.  In his hands he carried a tray full of honeyed cakes, an offering to Hermes.  They would likely be eaten by the guests, but such minor offerings still made worthwhile gestures.  Following the examples of those around him, he made no greetings on his way to the building.<br/><br/>He wore an unimpressive business suit, the kind he wore when lecturing.  Perhaps with his mundane dress and "snacks," he would be thought some unimportant retainer on hand for the gathering.