"He's an earl," Joss replies by way of explanation. Then, realizing Kenzi might be too new to understand the complexities of the vampire court, he decides to amend the statement.

"Vampire society is highly stratified. You're an infant so you haven't got a title yet. You're a nonentity. No offense." He says it in such a way that it's fairly obvious he wouldn't care if offense were actually given. "Then there's the barons, who've got a little power but it's really a rather meaningless title." Joscelin likes to pretend he doesn't care that he's been so demoted, but inwardly he chafes at the loss of power. But even to have come this far in so short a time is impressive. Coward's regime has been very beneficial to him so far, and he knows how to be patient. "After that comes the earls, who are the ones with more power in the Nest. They are allowed to sire new vampires and wear daylight jewelry. Jean-Claude's siring of you was not beyond his station, but it's still something that's quite controlled.

"It didn't necessarily used to be this way. I was sired during what I suppose you would call the Middle Ages. The Year of Our Lord Thirteen Hundred and Forty-Eight. It was a bit looser than."

He sighs.

"I used to be an earl. I haven't seen sunlight in over a century. It does get rather tiring to be always in the dark."