Seras little snippet thread

While watching Sailor Moon until the sun rose I considered what to spend my points on. In the end it hadn't actually been too hard a decision to make.

I wasn't much of a fighter, and while I could spend a ton of points to make myself good at fighting, it would take half a dozen different stats and skills to really protect myself.

Or I could just dump all five stats into one Discipline and make myself a lot safer.

Fortitude 5, was a pretty useful power.

While the game mechanics were just that, it still pretty much worked how it sounded. Supernatural defense.

Someone could shoot me, and it was likely I would shrug it off without even feeling it. I could even resist aggravated damage to an extent as well. Fire no longer would nearly instantly send me to my final death.

That Sabbat fucker that punched me, wouldn't have hurt me nearly as much if at all if I had the Discipline then.

As the sun was getting close to rising, my apartment door opened and I blinked as Caine entered.

"Sire." I greeted him and he grunted at me, nonverbally before walking over to the couch and settling in beside me seemingly distracted with something as he sank into the plus couch and blankets I had left strewn over it.

I could tell the exact moment he went from planning on saying something to stalling out as he looked at the screen.

"It's Sailor Moon." I explained promptly at his confused look.

"And you enjoy this?"

"Sooo much!" I exclaimed happily. "It's a great show! See Usagi there, the blonde is actually the reincarnation of an anci-" Then I yawned, as the sun was definitely rising and my eye lids fluttered. I grumbled as I felt my body's need to sleep overcome me. I curled up, wrapped my blanket fully around myself and drifted off.

—--

I wasn't going to say anything, but I'm pretty sure Cain had watched Sailor Moon while I slept. I was never going to voice the words, but we had somehow gone from disk one to disk four… No one could ever know.

Also it meant I needed to find some more anime to fill the apartment with if I wasn't the only anime enjoyer.

Decision for the night reached I headed out once more. This time my faux eye patch on my right eye again.

To my surprise as I headed out, I almost ran into Alice.

She looked… Frazzled.

"You okay?"

"Fine…" She replied, but it looked like she didn't want to waste time talking.

"Don't let me keep you. If you need anything let me know." I offered and she hurried off. It was too early for the explosion, let's see what would she be doing… Oh.

Probably Jeanette and Therese's nonsense.

Good luck Alice. I thought towards her rapidly disappearing back.

Now where could I find a store in the mid 2000's after dark that would carry anime?

—--

I stomped out of the shop with a sense of utter disgust.

How dare that shop keeper think Evangelion was garbage! Does he have no taste!? Stupid neckbeard weeb! I've ripped the metaphorical guts out of your kind before! Just because we weren't online!

I checked my bag making sure it was still secure. The rest of my night fully planned out…

Well maybe after I find some dinner, as I realized I was a bit peckish, but as I took another step I stopped.

Well this was… Weird. Three tough guys. All standing in my way, and all of them looking menacing.

I instantly grabbed my bag tighter to my chest. "It's mine you can't have it." I told them firmly. I had spent over an hour looking for an anime shop, and I wasn't giving up my Evangelion watch party.

The first guy looked like he belonged on the floor of a disco, and he glared at me over a set of old sunglasses. Glancing from my face to my bag.

"What's in the bag?" He asked, but he was instantly nudged from the side.

"Don't care Roger, listen Lick. LaCroix wants a word. You're coming with us." The other man spoke firmly. He was a bit bigger, not fat, but also not fit. More like…

He kind of reminded me of some Italian gangster.

I looked at the three and considered it. I could… Probably take them? I mean, between my blood magic and strength, but also…

I shrugged and nodded. "Alright, let's go, but I'm on a time limit here, so make it quick." I decided and the three men looked at each other and seemed to decide to accept what happened.

They led me to a Black SUV and then opened a door for me to get in. A moment later the three took all the other seats in the car and I was being watched carefully.

Right… I kicked my feet a bit before already growing bored. "So have you guys ever watched Anime?" My question was met with silence, and I just sighed. At least it meant they weren't interested in my Evangelion box set.

—--

To my absolute lack of surprise I was led to LaCroix's stupidly large tower in downtown LA.

I didn't get a chance to get out or anything, the three… Ghouls? Pretty sure they were ghouls, they were all breathing, and had pulses, from what I could see, but they could also just be used to pretending.

Anyway, these three drove me down into the parking garage, and I rolled my eyes as they parked right in front of the elevator, and sort of guided me into it.

Tapping my feet as the elevator rose high into the building.

Finally the door opened, and the room I expected to see wasn't the one I got.

I sometimes forget that LaCroix was a powerful Kindred in the political elements, even if he was the buttmonkey of all the jokes.

I walked into a ballroom of all things.

To my left quiet music escaped from a set of speakers indented and hidden into the roof, but it gave the room a sense of ancient ambience.

But it also made me smirk, because if LaCroix was actually a truly powerful vamp, that would have been a live band.

I walked forward, stepping past Disco guy, then ignoring the Ghouls that moved to try and catch up and just stalked forward.

"Ah, there she is." LaCroix greeted. The Prince was standing in a small group of other Kindred, Four others that turned to look at me with fang filled smiles,

All of them were wearing good clothes. The two females were in expensive dresses. One in a white dress with blonde hair making me want to scream she is a Ventrue, the other a more sensual black dress.

The men were both in suits.

So when I stalked over wearing tennis shoes, and pink hoodie with a plastic bag hanging off one arm. I probably didn't look like much.

"Well, you pulled me away from my errands." I said, looking over the four. None were Kindred I recognized, which was interesting.

Were these the Camarilla court? The ones that actually followed around LaCroix? In the game we had really only seen the big Vamps, and the Anarchs. The Camarilla side was left almost completely blank besides LaCroix the Prince, and his Sheriff…

Of course it did make sense. LaCroix for all of his arrogance was barely wanted by all the Anarchs around him.

He wouldn't have many supporters among them, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't have any.

"An unfortunate miscommunication. I desired a meeting at your convenience." He said, trying to sound charming.

"No you didn't." I replied back as I was looking at the other Kindred. Max got a nod of my head in respect.

The man was strong, wiley, and a Tremere, and I always had a soft spot for the Clan of Mages.

The two women had been smiling, but I was sure it was mocking, until my rebuttal and now they weren't smiling as much.

LaCroix wasn't as well.

"I invited you here to discuss certain unfortunate legal requirements. Our last meeting was… Unfortunate. I was in the middle of a tense situation, and I was to my own disappointment overheated." He said, actually apologizing, as much as he probably could.

"I'm not an Anarch, or a member of the Camarilla really." I offered back turning to the Prince fully. "I prefer to just be left alone, and in exchange, I don't cause issues… Mostly." I smiled a little considering my goofing around at the meeting.

"All Kindred are members of the Camarilla." LaCroix rebutted instantly, and I rolled my eyes.

"Tell that to Nines, or perhaps Mr. Abrams. But yes young Prince, I am well aware of the standard doctrine of the Camarilla that all Kindred are members." I waved my hand like it didn't matter. "I uphold the Masquerade and I don't care for petty rivalries, or competition. You'll have no trouble from me while I'm here."

"And why are you here?" LaCroix directed his next question and I sighed.

"I was invited by my Sire to see the fireworks." I answered truthfully and the lack of clarity only made LaCroix's eyes narrow.

"And what fireworks would those be?" Maximilian Strauss asks. I look at the Tremere Primogen, easily one of the most dangerous vampires in the entire city. More dangerous by far than LaCroix, both in power, and politics.

"That would be telling." I decided to answer after a few moments of thinking of the best answer. But I shrugged. "And honestly I have no idea. I don't question my Sire."
"That is all very fascinating, but as the Prince it is my right to decide who is welcome within my domain." LaCroix starts and I just smile blandly and let him speak. "Those who seek shelter need seek Hospitality." He replied, speaking with a touch of the dramatic as if saying something he had heard before.

"Didn't I already come find you under the… Oh what number was it? One of the Camarilla traditions… help me out here Max, I know you know it." I said turning to the Tremere Primogen, who looked surprised at my request, but after a moment he seemed to come to a conclusion.

"The Fifth Tradition, The Hospitality."

"Wait, are you sure? I thought it was Domain?" I asked, blinking curiously, and I could see the moment that both men realized what I had just said.

Because I was a smart ass, and had just pulled out a 'Fuck you' card.

The traditions of the Camarilla do actually change over time. Back in the dark ages, Hospitality wasn't a Tradition as such, it was mixed into the Domain tradition, about how Vampires territory is their own.

It made more sense back then, but as the Camarilla spread, and the old ways stopped it had been updated.

The fact I had just pulled that random factoid out of my ass, meant to these old kindred, I was likely alive back when the Traditions were different.

Of course I only knew this because Vampire the Dark Ages was a source book, and one of my favorites.

Fucking Dark Ages Vampire was such a cool setting!

So I had just hinted that I was at least a thousand or so years old.

LaCroix here was barely three hundred.

The fact I had already proven I was a lower generation than him had just shifted the entire conversation again.

"That Tradition was updated." Maximilian offered and I nodded, sighing.

"It's so hard to keep up with all these minor changes over the years. I much prefer focusing on the Kine and their advancement. But that's neither here nor there. Prince LaCroix… Are you trying to suggest that you are not granting me protection under the Traditions?" I asked rather seriously.

Man I'm glad I spent so much time pretending to be an ancient Vampire while roleplaying. This would have been so much harder to keep a straight face when I try to sound all stuffy.

"Oh of course not! The Traditions must be respected. It is simply customary for a new Kindred to my territory to have some time to have a proper presentation to my court. While I do appreciate your prompt appearance the other night, that was a meeting of a more serious and delicate matter."

"And I was kind enough to forgive you for your insults that night, as I was stepping into a stressful matter." I decided to speak after a moment, "But Sebastian, I don't appreciate being pulled from my personal errands. A request for a meeting would have been more appropriate."

The man went silent as he tried to figure out a way out of pissing off a potential Ancient Vampire before I just sighed.

"But Children will be children no?" I asked, and smiled, easing the tension.

The two women tittered, but LaCroix didn't considering I just called him a Childe to his face.

"Indeed." He offered instead, his entire body language saying he was not appreciative of the insult.

"Is that all?"

"Nothing more officially, I welcome you to my domain, and the protections therein." He bowed slightly formally, instating I was welcome here in LA.

Not that anyone outside of him really cared, this was Anarch country after all.

"Great. I'll be going now."

"There is one other thing, unofficially."

I stalled as I was already moving to leave and I felt myself falling into a glare.

"Yes?"

"While you were kind enough to offer your name, I do have a curiosity towards who is welcomed in my domain. Might I ask, where did you last travel from? You see, I've never heard of a Victoria that matches your description among the Camarilla's records."

And I'm very sure that he looked. Thoroughly.

"I would be shocked if you did. I don't often leave a trace of myself behind." I answered with a smirk. I couldn't help it! Being all secretive was so fun! "I'm afraid where I was last isn't something I can share. You wouldn't have any records of me regardless. You'd have to go much, much farther back in your records for that."
"I see." He stated, but I ignored it as I just remembered.

"Oh LaCroix, I'll need a car of course."

"Of course." He agreed with a faux smile.

"Excellent. Then I wish you all a good night." And I sauntered off. That went pretty well!
*2 Experience.*

Well I guess God agrees!

—--

I was an hour into watching the Evangelion complete collection when I heard the door next door open with a slam and then slam shut with the same energy.

Oh no. Alice was upset. I paused the video and then headed over. The door was closed, but… I opened it and walked in anyways. Alice was lying face down in the bed, her head buried in a pillow.

"Alice?"

"Eeee!" She yelped, nearly jumping off the bed and turned, she bared her teeth and her hands were curled into claws as she glared at me. "What are you doing!"
"Sorry! Sorry. I heard you come back upset." I offered hands up and slowly she seemed to relax and shivered a bit.

"Did… Did you know Ghosts… Exist?"

"Oh… Yeah." I muttered feeling my shoulders slump a bit. "You ran into some huh? Let me guess.Ocean House Hotel." I asked, and she shivered at the name.

"Yeah."

"Hey, c'mon. Come with me." I offered, waving to her to follow, as I headed back to my room.

Honestly neither room was good. Both were trashed and awful, but mine had a couch pulled up in front of the TV, and a few blankets thrown over it.

Can't binge anime without a comfy blanket.

Alice eventually followed, seemingly wondering what I was doing as I waved her over. After a few moments of effort I got her to sit on the couch and then threw a blanket over her lap surprising her.

"I don't get cold anymore." She told me, looking at me curiously.

I looked back at her. There was something inhuman behind her eyes, and it made me realize how this girl could adapt in just two weeks to be capable of murdering Princes and fighting anything that she faces.

"You don't feel cold. You can't even warm up under a blanket true." I told her, but despite her resistance I moved and settled the blanket in her lap anyways. "But what does that have to do with being comfortable? You may be Kindred now Fledgling, but there will always be a part of you that is human. And humans? They like warm blankets after a scary ordeal."

Then I threw the blanket over her again, and this time she didn't resist.

"I don't feel very human." She replied and I nodded.

"You were cursed." I answered back simply. "Oh sure, it can be a blessing to some. I view it that way, but it originates not out of a desire to do good and empower but to lay low, to punish." I settled in, and turned on the TV. Realizing Evangelion would be a bad choice for this discussion I stopped it and switched out the disk for Sailor Moon.

"What?"

"Don't worry about it, it's about background more than anything." I answered as I settled back onto the couch, and reached over to flip the switch on the space heater I had picked up. The warm air started blowing and I made sure the blankets sent the warmth up into our space.

Warm and cozy.

Alice shifted, looking uncomfortable. Yeah she had been struggling with her new situation.

"It's gotta be hard. Doubly hard for you. Normally you'd have a Sire to watch over you. Time to adapt, and take things slow. You'd learn what is expected of you in the culture of the Kindred, and finally you would when you were ready head out and make a name for yourself… But you will not get that chance. You were dropped into the deep end."

She shifted, but didn't speak, her dark hair fanning over her face for a moment.

"But it also has a benefit that will mark you as a unique Kindred."

"What?" She asked, looking up in surprise.

"Often Kindred are bonded to their Sire. You end up doing what they want, through the Blood Bond. Often you are bound thrice just to make sure your sires desires are your own… You know what a Blood Bond is, right?"

"Yes."

"Good. You Fledgling, are free of it all. Oh sure, LaCroix wants you to die in service to his little goal, but the man is shortsighted. You'll survive, and when you keep surviving, you'll be free. You'll have allies on both sides, Camarilla, and Anarch… More Anarch than Camarilla I would assume, and be free to live your nights how you want."

She perked up a little at my words.

"So… I won't just be taken care of afterwards?"

"Heh." I giggled "It's not a Mob movie no. But that doesn't mean you aren't in danger. LaCroix will throw you into task after task assuming you will fail. That's what he wants because the moment you do? That will be that."

"I don't want to die." She says softly breathily.

"So don't." I said, shrugging. "Survive. Scramble, beg for help if you must. Do everything you can to survive the tasks until finally you end up breaking the chains the dolt placed on you.

"I don't think they will… The other Kin-kindred. I've asked for help, but they… Don't care." She stuttered and I shrugged.

"It's a sorry fact that every Kindred you meet will want something from you. They will seek to use you. Now that won't always be to your detriment. Look at Nines, the man that saved your life. He rose up and shouted down LaCroix, and so the Prince was forced to allow you to live. It showed that LaCroix isn't as strong as he likes to portray, and Nines showed that the Anarchs aren't ruled by LaCroix, and in exchange, you got to live… But you living pisses off LaCroix."

"Can't I just… Leave?"

I hesitate before answering and Alice notices it. But I need a moment to think.

"Yes." I answered finally. "If you went out right now, and found yourself a Ghoul, Might take a few nights to prepare, but you could get a coffin and some cheap transport and get out of LA. But you would be hunted. And there are things you don't know, things that can hurt you. You need time to adapt, and it only takes one mistake for your life to end. As hard as it is to hear, you are safer here in LA than on the run."

Alice went quiet for a long time. I turned my eyes to Sailor Moon. Watched as Usagi made a speech about Justice, and love…

I didn't feel very Sailor Senshi right now. I could tell her what was really happening, pull her out of it if I wanted. As an Elder I could claim her if I really wanted and pull her out of LaCroix's grasp.

But… Would that be better for her? Alice would grow incredibly in just a few weeks. If I pulled her away and protected her, she wouldn't be the monster she would become.

Would she be happier with a slow introduction, or by claiming her freedom with her own blood soaked hands?

"You said… All Kindred wants something from me. What do you want?" I blinked away from Sailor Moon and smiled.

"I want you to live a long time after this trouble. Find a place for yourself and make the world a better place with yourself in it."

My answer didn't please Alice.

"That's not an answer!"

"It is. It just isn't one that makes sense to you, but it's also the truth."

My words only made her frown more, made her pull away, and I didn't want that.

"Alright. You deserve some mentor time." I decided and turned on the couch until I was cross legged and facing her. "Ask me questions, and if I am not bound to keep silent about it I will answer as best I can."

"What? Okay fine! How do I go back to being human?" She asked, and she said it in a way that we both knew the answer already.

"There isn't a way back. Not fully. Not in the way you think. Golconda could be the closest you could reach… But even then it's not perfect."

"Golconda?"

"It's the one freedom from the curse God left us, after he sent his angels to Curse Caine with the Vampire weaknesses. A state of being where you regain some of what you lost. It's very difficult to reach. Think of it like achieving sainthood and being rewarded."

"I'm not a saint." She muttered and I laughed,

"Neither am I!" I laughed smiling toothily.

"So I'll never see the sun again." She muttered, and I shook my head.

"Not true at all! Television is great for that you can see the views through it and, If you gain the Discipline Fortitude. Grow skilled enough with it you can resist sunlight for short periods especially if you cover yourself well. And finally you are a Tremere, there is a Ritual, one of the greatest of them all. It can make you immune to the damage of the sun. You can walk amongst the Kine again."

She looked at me shocked at my words.

"What? Really?"

"Oh it's not knowledge anyone will share even if they know it. But yes. You need a diamond to do it, and a year of time to prepare it, but that's nothing, and then you are free to walk among the sun for a year… You know maybe someday we'll go and have a beach day, The two of us. Walk among the sand in a bikini and enjoy the sun and waves."

"I'd like that." She eventually said and then looked at me again. "Okay there's so much I don't know. Ghosts are real, I wasn't just hallucinating?"

"Very real, mostly a non-issue. But as you found out… No one wants to deals with them, so often Elders will send fledglings like you to take care of it."

"I won't like… Run into a Ghost here or something right?" She asked looking around.

"No. Very very unlikely. It takes a lot to make a Ghost, and as you noticed, they aren't usually capable of more than throwing something around."

"That's good."

"Werewolves are what you need to worry about." I added nonchalantly as I thought about it.

"What?" She asked looking at me shocked.

"Oh yes. They can be more than nine feet tall of pure muscle and power. Their claws will rip you to shreds, and they regenerate from nearly anything. Let me tell you what a Sire would tell any fledgling if they run into a wolf. Run. Don't try to fight, you won't win."

"What!?"

"Yeah, Werewolves are scary. But rare, especially in cities like this. Just remember that forests and things belong to something other than Kindred."

"Okay?"

"Mages are like that too. If you ever see a Kine start throwing around fireballs just run. They can basically unmake you if you push them into a corner."

"Wait… Magic like humans have magic too? That's real!?"

"Yeah. It's complicated. The world doesn't like them doing it, and they can literally retcon themselves out of existence. So they aren't going to want to fight you. You don't want to fight them. Best to just turn and walk away with them."

I laughed at the gobsmacked look on the woman's face before I felt my own smile fade.

"The world is ancient and complicated in a way you simply don't really understand yet. But enough about ancient things. My turn for a question! What's your favorite anime, and why is it Sailor Moon?"

"What?"