Seras little snippet thread

"Sarah March." I mumbled. It was the name of the Ghoul I had managed to extract from the Tremere after calling a number that Max had given me, now I had to track her down. I considered the Last Round, but if she was a Tremere Ghoul it wasn't as likely. Instead I went to the other bar in Downtown. One I already knew tended to attract Ghoul attention.

Club Confession.

I walked into the church turned club with a roll of my eyes at the decor.

It didn't really matter to me. Instead I headed to the bar.

Venus was just how I remember her from the game. Noticing me she walked over with a strut along the bar.

"What can I get you?"

"Information, if you have it." I offered, dropping some of my stolen drug money on the counter.

"Oh yeah?'

"You know a Sarah March? Tall, dark hair?" I asked and Venus just shrugged.

"Get a lot of women coming in. I don't usually ask for names." She explained bluntly, and I nodded at that.

This would be a lot easier if I had a smartphone. I could have just pulled up a damn picture of the girl.

I left the twenty on the bar and looked around. I didn't see her, and if I didn't see her I had to keep looking.

Or at least I thought that, as a really annoying laugh echoed out. One that sounded familiar. I looked up and it clicked.

Well maybe I would have a source of information after all.

I stalked over. The girl was flirting with a human, but her stupid laugh was so obnoxious that I wasn't going to handle this slow. I reached over and tapped the guy on the shoulder.

"Excuse us." I told him as I looked at the Ghoul.

Patty. Her Regnal had also died, and there was a whole quest about making her shut the fuck up about Kindred. She was annoying and desperate to find a new Vampire to give her blood to keep herself young.

I didn't care about that, but I could use her now.

"Hey, I was… Oh. Yeah fuck off." She switched quickly going from snapping at me, to snapping at the guy who looked confused but shrugged and stood up adjusting his jacket before stalking off, ego on display.

"I knew one of you would come. There's something about me that just attracts your type to me." She said arrogantly, her nasally voice making me want to stab her.

The things I do for XP.

"I don't know you though, I'm surprised. I'm Patty, and I know all the LA vampires on the scene. Not a lot of you out tonight, which is weird. Cuz I don't know of any parties going on." She muttered trailing off at the end.

"It's because you know everyone that I am here. I'm looking for another Ghoul. Sarah March. Her Regnal died recently."

"Oh my, that's awful." She responded not sounding like she cared completely blase about the fact another Ghoul was in her exact position. Self centered didn't even start to describe her.

"Yeah well. I need to find her. If you know everyone, you should know her right? Dark hair-"

"Of course I know her! I told you, I know everybody! Kent's introduced me to everyone! She's that creepozoid Dante's Ghoul." She said waving it off, but then suddenly she perks up and leans in. "I can help you. I'm super useful like that, it's why Kent adores me… But first, I… I haven't seen Kent in days. No calls, or nothing! He's never left me along for this long before!"

Her shrieking made me want to commit murder.

Only a Kindred for a few days and already I was contemplating how quickly I could hide the body.

"I've never met a Kent." I offered and she cut me off.

"That's what everyone says! Even when they knew him! They just tell me, he met the sunrise, whatever that means. Listen, you're like him, well not like him, he wore Prada." She explained looking over my outfit.

My witch outfit might be half costume shop apparel, but I don't appreciate the look.

"Listen. I need to find Sarah ASAP… But if you can help me, I'll ask around. He's a Toreador right?"

"Yeah! How did you know? Did you lie about knowing him?" She demanded and I wanted to punt her around a bit but restrained myself.

"Ghouls are usually taken by a Kindred that they find something similar in. You remind me of a Toreador."

"Oh thank you Kent always said I would make a great Toreador! That's so sweet of you to say, like I do my best to dress right you know? But-"

"Hey. This is an emergency. Info on Sarah?"

"Okay so like, I know where her apartment is. I helped her home one night, while we were partying, her Sire got pulled away, and Sarah was like totally plastered. It was 'that' kind of party you know? I was absolutely hammered myself, Kent got some of the best coke I've ever had, and we went absolutely wild." She explained…

With TMI. I didn't need to know about drug fueled Kindred orgies! I didn't want to know this!

"Where is her apartment?"

"Like I don't know the address! I was totally out of my mind! But I helped her get home, Kent was like a total gentleman. Didn't even demand anything from her either. He's such a good guy."

"Can you lead me to the apartment?"

"Like… Maybe?"

"Patty, if you can do that, I'll spend some time locating Kent."

"Alright, yeah I can totally do it… At least the building? I don't know the actual apartment number or anything."

"That's fine."

I stood up, and the girl blinked at me. "Like now?"

"Now." I assured her and we got moving.

*2 Experience.* An alert came up, and I nodded pleased. I was getting somewhere.

Thankfully Patty had a car.

Unfortunately, I was going to burn these clothes once I got done. I didn't even need Auspex to know what had been done on these seats.

—--

I had Patty's number, and I was in front of the apartments that she said Sarah lived. The girl I had sent off, mostly so I wouldn't go back on my word and murder her.

Although I already knew what happened to her Regnal.

Kent for some reason got murdered by Grout the Malkavian Primogen. I didn't know why. But the fact was, he had in fact met the sunrise just like she had been told.

So… Done I guess. I would call her later and tell her, and likely not get through to her. Not my problem.

I went in. The apartment block were about what you would expect from LA. Cheap, square, and a dozen apartments in a row three floors high.

So I had to figure out where Sarah was.

First thing first. I tried the mortal way.

I went to the mailboxes but remembered this wasn't a video game. There were no obvious names on the front of the mailboxes.

Walking away from that, I decided to do the next best thing.

I walked over to the front office. Which was obviously closed this late at night. Looking around I made sure there weren't any sort of cameras looking, and walked over to the door, and with a surge of blood, I simply braced myself and pushed.

The wood creaked and cracked after a moment of overwhelming pressure.

Closing it behind me I hurried to the computer, and after a few moments I cursed. The person who worked here locked their computer when they were done, and there was a password.

Looking around to see any random sticky notes but didn't find any.

Luckily it wasn't a huge deal, I just turned and went to the filing cabinet and started searching. The fact was, any kind of apartment complex needed physical paperwork especially in 2004.

With a minute of searching I found it.

Sarah March Apartment 209.

I closed it back up, erased my traces best I could and headed back out. A quick march up the stairs to the second floor and I walked down until I found the right apartment.

209.

I reached up and knocked. Waiting for a while to see if I would get an answer, and to my relief not long after I heard the sound of movement, and the door opened just a crack. One of the little chains attached to the wall kept it from opening wider.

"What do you want?" She demanded. Sarah didn't look good. Bags under her eyes, tired, and stressed, she looked shaky too.

I also noticed that her right arm was hidden behind the door. Heh. She definitely had a weapon.

"Sarah March." I greeted and her eyes narrowed at my words.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Vicky. I'm here at the request of the Tremere Primogen." I said and I saw her eyes widen as she backed up and nearly slammed the door shut.

Was I going to have to break the door down? I wondered what had caused such a reaction, but then a moment later I heard her fumbling.

She opened the door now no longer chained, showing she did have a weapon behind the door. A Shotgun of all things, but it wasn't pointed at me.

"Come in!" She demanded, almost hungrily and I knew this conversation was going to get awkward. Just from how desperate she was.

I entered watching as she shut the door behind her checking through her blinds to make sure no one was watching…

Yeah Paranoia wasn't a good look.

"Sarah?"

"Thank you. Thank you! I know… I heard Dante was murdered! They wouldn't tell me anything, but I heard it through the Grapevine! But I knew! I knew I wouldn't be left behind! Dante taught me some things! I can't.. I'm not a mage, but I'm still learning! When I'm Turned I'll be useful!" She said with frantic energy.

Yep. That was what I was afraid of.

It seems Dante was a busy bloodsucker double timing.

I rubbed my nose. "Sarah, were you the one that took all the books and equipment from Dante's apartment? I need to make sure."

"Yes! He showed me where everything was. Once I heard he was gone! I-I moved it here! So it wouldn't be taken if someone tried to clear out his apartment! See!" She demanded pointing eagerly at a stack of boxes that had obvious old looking tomes.

*3 Experience.* I blinked pleased at the alert. That was seven experience now.

"Good. Then that's taken care of." I said, turning to the girl and realized I still had a problem on my hands.

"So… So when is it going to happen?" She demanded and I held up my hands.

"Hold on. You have a misunderstanding. I'm not here to complete any deals you had with Dante, or the Tremere. I was just sent out to track down the missing books. Make sure they weren't stolen by some thieves or something." I added, to calm her. No reason to make her think that she would be counted among that.

"Oh… Then?"

"Listen. Now that I have the books here. I'll call the Chantry. They'll send some people to collect all this-"

"Wait, they can't! I need to learn it!" She argued and I just knew this was going to turn into a disaster.

"That's something you need to discuss with the Chantry Sarah. I'm just the one tracking things down." I tried to play it off, but she was sensing my own discomfort.

"What? No! It belonged to Dante, so it's mine now! I'm his assistant, he said so!" She argued wildly, and I was reminded she was carrying a Shotgun…

It wouldn't kill me, but that would still hurt.

"Alright, let's sit and talk then. You are getting worked up. When was the last time Dante gave you blood?"

"It's been too long!" She whined almost moaning as she clutched at her stomach, but as I took a seat on her couch she did seem to calm somewhat and settled onto a big lazy boy.

"Alright." I muttered looking at the girl. She was in some serious shit. Just like Patty.

Would a Kindred want her? Probably not.

"How old are you Sarah?"

"Twenty six." She said instantly, and then narrowed her eyes as if I was accusing her of something. "Why?"

I didn't show it on my face. If she had been like a hundred or something, she would have been useful to other Kindred. Someone would have snatched her up.

But any Kindred could find a twenty year old with the skills they wanted.

"Because, sometimes a Ghoul with useful skills will be picked up by another Kindred if the worst happens to their Regnal."

"Wait, why would I worry about that! I don't want to be a Ghoul anymore, I want to be a Vampire! I, I mean a Kindred! Dante promised!"
"Dante's dead." I reminded her bluntly, which wasn't entirely kind of me. "And any deal he made with you isn't going to be listened to, unless the Chantry agreed with it at the start… Considering what happened, I don't think that's going to happen."

"No! I worked for him! I was his assistant! He needed my mind! He told me! I'm brilliant! I have a doctorate! This… This is a trick! You want me to be your Ghoul too! Don't think I don't know about how it fucked with my mind. How I loved him even when I didn't!"

"I will not give you blood even if you begged." I firmly denied her. "I understand you're confused. I wasn't expecting to walk into this situation either… Dammit Max, you knew didn't you?" I mumbled, but shook it off.

"What situation? Just… Just tell the Primogen! He'll turn me into a vampire! I'm useful!"
"Sarah, turning a human into a Kindred is one of the most restricted things a Kindred can do. You need permission from the Prince, and all sorts of stuff to be allowed to do it. Why do you think Dante was killed?"

The room went silent, and I knew saying it was probably a mistake, but she deserved to know.

"What do you mean? Dante… I knew he was murdered but-"

"Dante embraced someone without permission. The Prince took them both, and Dante met his final death. His fledgling is currently being ordered about by the Prince to be allowed to survive."

"Her? No. No! No no no no! It's her isn't it! Alice! That! That stupid bitch!" She snarled and rose to her feet.

"You know Alice?" I asked curiously. How?

"Know her? I was the one that Dante had stalking her! Taking pictures, breaking into her school records! Everything! I told him he didn't need her, but he was obsessed! It's… He told me it's just how he gets, he obsesses about Mortals that look… Alike. Oh god. He did. He couldn't control himself, and made that, that stupid bitch! It was supposed to be me!"

"Trust me. You wouldn't want to be in her shoes right now." I spoke, but that was the wrong thing.

"You! D-don't even fucking try it!" She cried out shotgun pointing.

"Put that down. You pull that trigger I'll kill you." I threatened. Sure I had Fortitude, and a shotgun wouldn't kill me in one go, but fuck if I would just let someone threaten me with a gun.

Besides it was scary!

She hesitated before it lowered.

"Please… You have to! You can't just…"

I groaned. "Let me make a call." I demanded and rose up. Pulling out the crappy flip phone I made a call.

"Victoria."

"Max. I found your stuff, Dante's Ghoul packed it away to make sure it didn't get taken by anyone… Untrustworthy."

"I see. The address?" He asked and I gave it, and then I looked to Sarah who was looking rough.

"Max."

"Yes?"

"Sarah March, Dante's old Ghoul. He promised he would embrace her."

"I am aware. The request was denied." He spoke, and it made me wonder if that denial wasn't the reason Dante had been found out so quickly. If he was already under watch assuming he was going to embrace someone.

"Any chance one of your people want to take her on as a Ghoul so she can earn another chance?" I asked for the girl who looked up in hope.

"Oh? You care?"

"I have a soft spot for Ghouls." I admitted bluntly, definitely not wanting to get into how I felt bad for people that were bound to Vampires.

If I didn't have access to Caine, that could very easily be me. Better a Ghoul than just a normal human in this world.

"Hmm… Since it is you requesting, I will put out a word to the Chantry."

"I appreciate that." I said and then the voice changed.

"With this the task I offered is complete. The address to your new Haven is already known to you. Dante Reeves borrowed the Haven from the Chantry, and so now it is yours."

"The smashed apartment? Lovely."

"I apologize for any damage done, but perhaps a Ghoul would help in cleaning up the mess?" He questioned, and it was obvious he was digging for more information on me.

Just like he had been doing for this entire task. I don't believe for a second Max didn't know about Dante's Ghoul.

"No." I denied instantly. "I don't make Ghouls anymore." I said and then decided that I was done here. "I'll wait until your people show up, but then I have other things I wish to do tonight."

"Carolina will arrive shortly, along with the keys to your new Haven."

"Thanks." I said and hung up.

Looking back at Sarah she seemed to be realizing the truth. That she wasn't going to get what she wanted.

She wasn't looking like she was taking it well. Not with how she was gripping the shotgun.

I decided not to speak any further. I had no easy answer for her.

She wasn't the type of person I would want as my Ghoul, and with how potent my Vitae was, I really didn't want to risk it. Maybe if I liked Sarah more, but she made me uncomfortable. The sort of intelligent, willing to do anything type.

The exact type I didn't like.

Maybe the Chantry would find a Kindred that could use a research assistant.

A suspiciously short amount of time later there was a knock on the door. Sarah flinched and I slowly walked over and checked.

Yep Carolina.

"You got here quickly."

"The Primogen was firm on handling this quickly." She offered and looked around, noticing Sarah and her eyes sort of just glided over the woman, shotgun or not.

"The books?"

"T-They are here! I collected all of them, kept them safe!" She stuttered as she walked over still twitchy and obviously upset. "I was promised by Dante, please. I did everything I was supposed to!"

"Sleep." Carolina spoke a single word and Sarah swayed. Carolina only barely adjusted her as she fell, and then I realized why. Taking the shotgun out of the woman's hands.

"I suppose that means you aren't interested in a Ghoul?"

"Definitely not, not someone like her." She added and I sighed, shaking my head.

Nothing I could do for Sarah. I just had to hope she would keep herself quiet.

"Then I will get out of here." I added, and Carolina nodded, bowing lightly as she presented the set of keys.

"The Haven is yours, the Chantry will insure rent and other payments are taken care of. As a thank you for your assistance."

As a way to keep an eye on me, and make me feel positively about the Tremere. Is what she actually meant.

I nodded and headed out.

*2 Experience.*

I smiled honestly as I left. I had a feeling that could have been higher, but honestly. Sarah would have been a massive pain in the ass to deal with as a Ghoul, she was the Tremere's problem now.

—--

I made it back to the original Haven and flopped onto the couch. I would have to figure out what to do about my new Haven later. For now I had something more important to take care of.

I pulled up my Character sheet and looked at the numbers.

I had nine xp to play around with. A lot to earn in one night.. Unless your name was Alice anyways. I had a feeling she had made double that just tonight.

Either way I had a lot of points to work with. Should I dump it all into Disciplines? One discipline?

Nine points would lead to a nearly maxed out power. The sort of stuff Methusalah were known for. Celerity 9, would be pretty monstrous.

Or should I split it up? Celerity 5, and then four in… Stats? I could level my intelligence….

Do I want to max out my Intelligence? That could be pretty fun… It would be useful, but not game breaking though.

I hummed. I would do stats maybe later. Disciplines were the difference between winning and losing right now.

What did I want? Defense? Offense?

Something cool?

The idea of transforming into a dragon or something was pretty high up there.

But that wouldn't be much use in the modern nights.

Stupid cameras. Stupid masquerade. Stopping a girl from transforming into a dragon and eating someone that annoys her.

What kind of vampire did I want to be? I hadn't really considered it before this. I had been so desperate to be turned I hadn't considered what it would mean after. What I should try to do.

Combat? Social skills? Dominate at a high level would give me a lot of protection. There weren't a lot of 2nd Generation Kindred out there after all.

But I just wasn't all that interested. I wanted to be strong and confident. That meant more than just mind control, because as media taught me, mind control is great until you run into the barbarian that gives zero shits and decides to beat you to death with your own spleen.

Yeah. So I needed Combat power. I knew there was trouble coming. In just a bit more than a week, the entire city would have a Kuei Jin trying to take over. A bloodhunt. Werewolf attack. A fucking Tzimisce Archbishop that can go Zulo form fucking around, a plague.

Fuck the next couple weeks were crazy. No wonder everyone was freaking out during the game.

I needed to be strong enough that if someone pisses me off, I would be able to make an example. Something flashy. Something cool.

I wish I could use Zulo form. Well, no not the Zulo form itself, cause Vicissitude was fucking gross soul parasite bullshit.

So many Disciplines were like that. Obtenebration was the same way. Shadow control magic was cool as shit until you realize it was a connection to the Abyss.

No thanks. Demons and shit were one of the reasons I wanted to go Kindred. Cursed by God is bad enough, possessed by some demon or something would be pretty shit.

Aaah. Shadow Magic is so cool though! I grumbled as I considered it all. What should I pick?

What should I do?

More Thaumaturgy? Lure of Flames? Awesome, but probably a terrible idea for the modern nights even if massive fires spoke to me on a specific level.

No I needed…

I looked over at the TV. I had flipped it on without thinking as I settled in, and I watched as Usagi opened her locket, and began her transformation…

I blinked. I knew Thaumaturgy. Who said I couldn't be a Magical Girl?

Fucking no one. That's who.

The idea struck me. Dark Magical Girls were a thing. They were even some of my favorites, looking at your Fate Testarossa.

What would it take to do…

I realized I had been thinking about it all wrong.

Pulling up the character sheet I poked the location where the Disciplines were labeled. It was kinda stupid, but there was an option to type it in…

I entered in the name of the discipline that was on my mind. It opened up the option to continue.

I dropped a point into the discipline, and it wavered, opening up the dropdown for the one dot power. It worked. Now I just needed to make a power. The first attempt didn't work. It sort of glitched and refused to continue.

Obviously it was too strong. I hummed as I tried to figure out the right growth curve.

This might take a while.