Seras little snippet thread

"So they gave you my Sires old Haven?" Alice asked quietly.

"Yeah I think it was a case of they didn't want to deal with it." I explained as we both sat on the couch. "I mostly have just been replacing furniture that was broken and setting up some ritual defenses."

"What?"

I looked at her and realized everything she knew about Thaumaturgy was purely focused towards combat.

"Thaumaturgy has rituals you can do to gain certain effects, they aren't usually good for combat, and they take a while to learn… When this is all over and you are free to do your own thing, I'd be happy to help teach you."

Alice was quiet for a while before she nodded. "That sounds… Fun." She muttered and I realized how affected Allce has been by her nights as a Kindred.

She sounded tired. Grated down with the constant stress of what she was doing.

I scooted over and pulled her into a hug, which she only slightly resisted. "I'm sorry your first nights have been like this. It gets better. Once this is all done, you'll be able to find out what kind of Kindred you want to be, not just a useful troubleshooter."

"I guess."

"Trust me. You'll love it once you're free to live. Now! I don't know much about your Sire, but you are free to look around, I already gave you most of the interesting things I found."

"Yeah… I just wanted to know? It feels dumb. He was just some asshole that I was going to fuck." She nearly snarled at the end. "I didn't…"

"You didn't choose. It was chosen for you." I offered quietly. I had chosen. I had known what I was getting into. Alice hadn't.

"Yeah."

I didn't know what to say to that. There was nothing to comfort there. Alice was a Kindred now. She would learn to live with her circumstances, there was nothing I could do to truly change that.

Instead I changed the subject.

"How are your jobs for the Prince going?"

"Ugh." She groaned. "I went through a mad house that burned down. And now the Anarchs hate me, because I saw Nines… The Malkavian Primogen was murdered, and Nines was there."

I nodded along. I could tell her the truth, but she would figure it out.

"I have to break into a museum tonight as well. To steal the Sarcophagus… I probably shouldn't have said that." She muttered and I just laughed.

"I'm already well aware that LaCroix wants the thing. Don't worry. I won't tell, and I wouldn't touch that thing with a twenty foot pole." Then I grabbed her hand. "How long before you need to leave?"
"Not long…" She said morosely. "I was just wasting time while I waited for LaCroix to get me access."

"Well be careful, stealth is your friend, and don't be afraid, Velociraptors don't exist anymore." I told her, patting her hand until she slowly pulled it away.

"Yeah, I know?"

I just smiled gently.

I had zero doubt that jumpscare was going to scare the shit out of her. Alice was kind of high strung.

—--

I walked into The Last Round, to a very different atmosphere. Everyone was twitchy, and Skelter had a shotgun resting against the wall beside him that he almost grabbed when he saw me.

Then he seemed to decide to grab it anyways, he didn't point it at me, but it was there.

"The fuck you want?" Damsel hissed as she came storming down the steps. "Nines isn't here, if you are playing at being that fucks lapdog!"

"I'm well aware that Nines isn't here. It would be foolish if he was. I heard about the LaCroix situation, I wanted to chat about Alice."

"Who?"

"The fledgling that saw him." I explained and that only enraged everyone.

"She's lucky we didn't drag her out for the Sun! Lying about shit like that!" Skelter growled but I waved him off.

"Well there is more going on than you know. Can we talk upstairs? Or do you air the dirty laundry down here?"

"Come up." Skelter demanded and stomped up the stairs that I followed. Damsel came up behind me, obviously watching me like a hawk.

Then upstairs was someone I was glad to see.

"Jack."

"Vicky." He grunted back, obviously irritated. "What're you doing here?"

"Filling in some blanks. I know what is going on with the whole Nines situation." I explained and even Jack looked surprised.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." I settled on top of the table so I could kick my legs. "So first off, don't get pissed with Alice. She did see Nines." I explained and they all instantly went agro on me.

"The fuck she did! Nines was here!"

"You aren't listening. She isn't just following a story that LaCroix fed her. She saw Nines… Or at least someone that looked like Nines." I added and that cooled the room.

"Some Nos then? They can look like someone else."

"Nah. The Nos've been quiet for the last bit. Something is going on with them."

"Then what? Malk?"

"There isn't a Malk in the city stronger than that crazy fuck." Jack argued and the other two looked frustrated at the lack of answers. I just waited a few minutes. Seriously the Anarchs were so quick to let their emotions overcome them.

Except Jack. He was cool, still obviously annoyed, he must like Nines, but he wasn't angry like the other two.

I could tell them obviously, but I didn't know what they would do. If I just leave well enough alone, everyone survives safe and happy…

Except LaCroix and Ming Xiao of course.

But I wasn't here to help the Anarchs get their revenge.

"Either way. Someone pretended to be Nines and Alice was just the patsy to discover it."

"Wait… She was sent there by LaCroix." Damsel hissed and I didn't give off any motion, of course it was LaCroix.

"I just want you all to make sure you don't make a mistake by blaming Alice. She isn't at fault here."

"Fuck." Damsel hissed. "I hate this old plot within plot bullshit!"

"Yeah me too. It's really tiring." I agreed, earning a surprised look from Damsel.

"Well fuck, maybe you are an Anarch."

I didn't say anything. I was still trying to come up with a good lie to say I was older than both when Jack stood up straighter.

"Well I'll spread it around. Didn't think the kid was in on it anyways."

"Just because she is saying that, doesn't mean it's the truth." Skelter argued but Jack scoffed.

"She ain't lying." Jack answered confidently as he walked down the stairs.

"See ya Jack." I called out and got a hand waving above his head in return.

"So now what?" Damsel demanded, and I just smiled.

"Just keep Nines hidden for a bit. I'm sure he's already planning his own way to prove his innocence."

"We don't need your advice." Damsel hissed, but I shrugged and headed out as well. I had done enough to make sure the Anarchs shouldn't blame Alice and do something stupid.

As I walked outside I was surprised by Jack who was waiting just outside the door.

"Jack?"

"Got a question for you, if you don't mind." He rumbled and I shrugged.

"Sure. You have the right to some answers. C'mon." I offered, waving him away from the Last Round and just to walk along the streets. As we walked along I really hoped the Nosferatu were still busy in the sewers, so they wouldn't be following us to listen in. "Go ahead and ask."

Jack went quiet for a while.

"What's your connection to the old man?" He asked, and I just looked up at him. Stupid tall Jack.

"He's my Sire."

"I'm not sure I believe that." He grumbled and I laughed.

"Then believe I'm an insane Malkavian, or just a fledgling willing to make grand lies. It doesn't really matter to me, what you believe Jack. I only have one interest in this city… Well two."

"Oh yeah? What's that exactly?"

"I want to see the fireworks at the end." I replied back simply and he scoffed obviously knowing what I meant. It was after all his C4 that would make those fireworks. "But more importantly? I want Alice to make it through this to be able to life her unlife without all this trouble dragging her to her Final Death. Everyone has decided to use her as a puppet, and it annoys me that her wellbeing was never even considered."

"Huh. What's your connection to her exactly? Can't figure that out. An Elder wouldn't care, a Malk probably would, but only until they lost their shit again, and a new Fledge has more important things to worry about." Jack pointed out and I laughed.

"I don't give a shit what other Elders think of as normal. Fuck them. Besides you're an elder too dipshit." I hissed, fangs fully on display. "The stupid Jyhad, the Sabbat and their insanity, it's all fucking pointless."

Jack flipped me off, but he was smiling. "Heh. Not many openly talk about the Jyhad, especially not since the Cam say it doesn't exist."

"Of course it exists. Just like the Inconnu and all the crazy plots and nonsense the morons get up to." I sighed, remembering just how many stupid secret societies and plots within plots there were.

I really needed to go check out New York, find out if Tzimisce was down in the sewers, maybe burn that entire thing to the ground if it was.

That and just prepare for all the dummies that would pop up and try to end the world. Ravnos had already gotten orbital lasered thanks to the Mages, but that was only one side.

The Inquisition.

Did I think the Gehenna apocalypses were going to happen, or would V5 happen which led to the human inquisition becoming a main threat.

Ugh these Final Nights, were sure a pain in the ass.

"The who?" Jack asked and I just waved him off.

"Part of the Jyhad, the Gen fives and sixes that want to prepare for their parents. Nothing to worry about. They locked themselves into a castle by summoning a demon to keep them safe."

Jack sort of looked discomforted by the news.

Poor Jack. For all that he was a famous Anarch, and well known for setting up plots to kill Princes, that was nothing in the grand scheme of things.

"You certainly know some shit."

"I know practically all the shit. And then nothing at all. Most of my knowledge is approximate, far too often, plots, and schemes mean my knowledge is second, or third hand, and often from the words of someone dominated to see what their elders wanted them to see." I groaned at the fact.

Hell half the Antediluvians thought dead, weren't actually dead. Ravnos the fucker that got Orbital lasered to death, might be alive as well.

Antediluvians were often ten thousand years old. I can't imagine the experience they would have after that time.

I had to remember those fuckers had killed my siblings. I might be a 2nd Gen, but the reason there weren't more of them was because the 3rd Gen had banded together to murder them.

"Now I'm annoyed." I grumbled, and Jack looked at me side eyed, like he wasn't sure I wasn't going to go feral on him. "You have any more questions Jack?"

"Not sure you actually answered any, but no. I guess I got what I wanted." He grumbled and I laughed at his petulant attitude.

"You're an interesting Kindred Jack. I understand why the Anarchs look up to you so much."

"Not a role model." He grumbled, and I nodded.

"Yes you spend far too much time scheming." I agreed with earned me a grumpy look from the Elder Kindred.

"See you around Jack."

"See ya Grandma." He offered back, but by the time I turned to glare at him he was gone.

"I'm not a Grandma!" I yelled out anyways, jumping away with Celerity wasn't going to save him from my wrath.

—--

I spent the next few hours hunting. It was amazing that I could drink, and drink, and drink, and never actually get full. And every drop I drank was power.

It simply became a habit, a skill I was developing. How close could I get to someone before they noticed me, and how quickly could I get them to stop noticing me, so I could pounce? How quickly could I go from one to another?

Turning it into a game of sorts helped me keep it in perspective. These people were innocents, had done nothing to me, and as much as they were my prey, they were still people. But that didn't mean I wasn't going to pounce on them and drink them into a confused haze.

Which is why I was surprised as I turned out of an alley to walk further down the street when I saw a familiar taxi.

"Sire?"

"Need a ride?" He asked, but the way he inflected meant I did. I slipped inside and he started driving without a word.

"Did Alice finish her Museum heist?"

"She did." He confirmed, and I nodded, knowing what was happening then.

"You already drop her off in Hollywood?"

"I did."

Then I sat back and waited. Letting my Sire drive me to Hollywood. If Alice was here then I would want to follow her, make sure she was okay. I hadn't been to Hollywood yet.

Would probably have to meet Isaac Abrams, and deal with the Baron of Hollywood. Soon enough I was there, and the Taxi was parked. I sent my Sire a nod and headed out. Figuring I would get it out of the way I headed towards where Isaac usually was, a Jewelry store.

Before I could make it very far a man crossed the street, his sunglasses and demeanor told me what he was without even needing Auspex.

"Ain't seen you here before, and if I haven't seen you, neither has Isaac, so that's your next stop." The man demanded and I nodded as I walked past.

"Already on my way." Then I continued on, near the end of the street was the location in question just where I remembered it, across from the old Chinese theater.

Abrams Golden Age Jewelry. Bit on the nose, but walked towards the back I opened the side door, and there he was.

The Baron of Hollywood.

"Good evening, Elder. Isaac Abrams, I've been expecting you." He spoke as soon as I entered and I blinked at the title.

Were the Kindred really going with the fact I was an Elder?

I nodded. "Knew I would end up at your door?"

"Hollywood is the center of much activity, few Kindred don't stop by, and fewer still do so without meeting me."

"You're sweeper was quick to point me here."

"As he should. I welcome you to the Hollywood Barony. Its streets and doors are open to you." He greets me with a formal bow that surprised me. I returned it, without much interest in getting it right.

"I'll be honest with you Baron, I'm not here to ask you for anything, I'm simply keeping an eye on the Fledgling, Alice. Making sure she survives all the trouble LaCroix is shoveling on her."

"I see. The Fledgling is doing a task for me at the moment. Tribute before I help her."
"I'm aware." I offered back. "Alice will do your tasks without issue, she's resourceful. You don't strike me as the type to try and set her up to die, so I'll leave the tepid threats behind… Speaking of Tribute. I haven't offered any to you."

"Indeed." He replied, looking surprised, it seems Isaac wasn't planning on actually asking me for anything, but at my bringing up the topic he seemed interested. "I don't ask much as Tribute, simply a token of appreciation. If you wish, there is a Kindred by the name of Henry. A Brujah. He went missing after being sent on a simple task to recover a package. If you can discover his whereabouts, or his killer. That would be enough."

"Yeah I can do that." I said with a shrug. "Where was he last?"

"I will give you the address, the location is owned by a Nosferatu, Fridge. I don't understand the name." A few moments of him writing on a piece of paper, and he handed it over. "The basement is where the Nosferatu's Haven is located. That is where the pick up should have been."

"Alright I'll see you soon then." I replied, waving over my head as I walked out of his little jewelry shop.

—--

The address took me across Hollywood, to a section that wasn't in the game. An apartment complex that was fairly run down looking.

When I arrived though I noticed there was a problem.

LAPD.

There were two cop cars parked in front, neither had their lights on, but they were there.

That could complicate things. I hurried over, but before I even got very far I heard it.

Gunshots.

Fuck. I ran even faster, my hands already faux gripping where I would make a sword if I needed to.

I burst into the entrance way, and instantly realized what had happened.

The walls clung with flesh.

Fuck. Fuck! Tzimisce!

The gun shots had come from above. I broke into a sprint wishing I was a bit more fit naturally, or at least I had Celerity. The sound of gunfire came from above me again and I ran even faster, burning some blood to enhance my dexterity and I went from teenager to beyond Olympic runner in moments rushing up the stairs. I could hear it. Claws running across concrete.

I burst into the third floor and nearly smashed into a stupid meatball monster.

It turned and screeched at me.

Blood burned, and shadow rose at my will, a blade was in my hand, and suddenly I wasn't just Vicky the clutz.

I was Vicky the Blood Knight. It flowed into a perfect strike, cutting the meatball in twain as it leapt, its body cut in half, the stupid things arms still moved as they flew past me.

Then I heard another gun shot.

I ran. The hallway was cluttered with the fucking Tzimisce creations. Thankfully just the Meatballs. Round-ish bodies and horrible sickly arms tipped with claws.

Nothing I was worried about, but something that would absolutely murder a human.

Two were cut in half as I ran past and then I reached the door that the gunshots were coming from and saw what had happened.

Two officers were fortified in a closet. A couch and chairs stacked up to keep the meatballs from being able to reach them, and then they were fighting back. Gun shot rang out at a Meatball stuck in a chair and it rolled away, and a lamp was being used as a spear, broken lightbulb on the end stabbing out to smash another Meatball away from being able to properly claw through the chairs.

I reacted. Sword shining with dark light as I attacked. Spinning and stepping forward, my Dexterity currently at 10 meant I didn't so much walk into the room as danced. The Meatballs attempted to attack me, but they couldn't hope to touch me.

For a moment I felt perfect. The creatures rushed from around the room, from outside in the hall, and it just didn't matter.

None could touch me, not a drop of their disgusting corrupted vitae even landed on my red dress.

I danced within the rain of blood until finally as I turned to the hallway, nothing more came.

"What the fuck." A whispered voice spoke from within the closet, and I shifted to look at them.

Two men. Police officers…

Fuck. They had seen all of this, and I didn't have Dominate to wipe their memory. This was the Masquerade breach of Masquerade breaches.

Was I going to have to kill these two?