Seras little snippet thread

The back entrance to the Nosferatu coven led to a graveyard.

I’m sure Gary thought that was funny. I didn’t. Walking among the dead smelling like I should be in the ground rotting wasn’t what I would call a good time.

Fortunately it wasn’t hard to get back to the main street, unfortunately. My Sire sent one look at me, and I slumped.

“I’ll find another cab.” I grumbled, and he just nodded.

What an unlucky night.

One drive back to the apartment later, and a pocket emptier as I had to pay extra because of the smell. I stomped into my apartment and immediately went to my bathroom.

I stripped, started the water and just grabbed the bar of soap and started scrubbing.

—--

At some point the sun had risen, and then fallen again.

I opened my eyes and blinked a few times at how weird it was. Ah, I’d been soaking when the sun rose.

I stirred and pulled myself out of the water.

“Blrugh bargl.” I tried to say what a night, but instead only water bubbled out of my mouth and out my nose.

Oh right. I must have filled up with water while I was napping…

“Blurg.” I bubbled out a sigh and pulled the drain. I’d need to drain out for a while before I could hope to talk normally. Stupid Vicky. Really stupid.

It was just another reminder.

That the world had changed, I was no longer just a girl, but a Kindred.

It came with good things and bad. But I had chosen this, and I wouldn’t be filled with regret. It was the choice I had always wanted, the choice I would take again if it was offered to me.

As I clambered out a bit and did a handstand in the tub balancing myself pretty easily actually. So the water would drain out. I looked at the Character sheet.

Three xp stared back at me.

That was what I had earned from the sewers. I had after all left Alice to handle most of it, so I wasn’t surprised it was so low.

So… Now what? Should I upgrade Regalia more? What was even the next upgrade for it? Five ranks in a discipline is usually pretty intense. The strongest ability normal Kindred would ever achieve. So it had to be something cool!

I continued to handstand as I bubbled out water until my lungs didn’t feel wet anymore and I could breathe again normally.

Defense.

Regalia more than anything was a defensive discipline. Like Fortitude. I was surprisingly defensive minded. I liked making sure that I was safe more than I liked offense.

How could I make Regalia even stronger? Right now I’d already mastered crafting a suit of armor…

I’d have to think about it. Later.

For now I dumped one of the points in Celerity, and another in Fortitude, putting me at two ranks, and six. Going past the five limit on Fortitude and making me a lot tougher than any normal Elder. Hopefully.

The last point I would save for now. I rose up and stalked out of the bathroom getting dressed in a flash of blood and shadow. I was hungry, time to hunt.

—--

I fed over and over, hunting to fill my stomach. I’d seen Cain taking Alice to Chinatown earlier so I knew what she was up to.

She needed to find the Nos to get the data to find the Sarcophagus.

That was fine. I was sort of wary about going to Chinatown, mostly because while Alice was just a childe, practically harmless, I might have a much larger reaction from Ming Xiao. The Kuei-jin were in charge of Chinatown, and as much as they might be considered chinese vampires, they weren’t. They weren’t Kindred. They were something else entirely.

“Stupid chinese wannabe vampires… You know?” I asked the unconscious man I had just fed from as I dragged him a bit farther behind the dumpster.

I was feeling… Better. Still hungry, but the sort of vague hunger that was a hint that I wasn’t starving anymore.

Sauntering out of the alleyway I was feeling pretty good, at least I didn’t feel like I was covered in sewer water anymore. I wonder what I should do? Keep feeding for a bit? Alice was getting close to some real trouble, and the more blood I had the better.

Or should I go and find some fights? I still needed to show my displeasure at the Tzimisce, the younger one, and Andrei, although I was hesitant to get too involved in that, that was more Alice’s thing…

As much as I wanted to help her out, she kinda needed the experience to be able to survive these nights.

I sighed, feeling a bit listless. It was hard to figure out how much I should interfere and help. Then again Alice did have an Axe so she should be okay…

I hope.

Ugh. Fine. I’m going to go find some stupid Tzimisce. I wanted to stab something.

—--

If you wanted information there were only two places to go. The Nosferatu, or Elysium. Since I didn’t want to deal with LaCroix, I chose the Nosferatu. Besides, I had sort of helped out the Nos, they owed me one.

Heading Downtown and then through the graveyard I went through the back door to Gary’s hidden room, but to my surprise he either wasn’t in, or wasn’t around when I called out in his creepy dinner table display.

Leaving the corpses where they were I headed further into the Warren, and poked around until I found my first Nosferatu.

“Hey you. You with the face!” I called out as I poked my head into a room and found a Nos working on a computer.

“Wha?” He asked, blinking his red glowing eyes at me. “What do you want?”

“Info.” I answered walking in, and looking over his shoulder… Yep. Huh. “Is that live?” I asked and tilted my head. Wow. Flexible.

“Hey!” he grunted and minimized the browser but uh. The sound was coming through and… Yeah.

“You uh.”

“Fuck.” He turned and brought the browser up and paused it then minimized it.

“Cool. So I need info.”

“Listen. I only give info to one person, and you ain’t him. Gary hasn’t said shit about giving you anything.” The man hissed a bit irritated, but seemed to realize what he was doing and tried to look less aggressive after a moment when he realized who he was talking about.

“I’m on the hunt for the Tzimisce, you know. The ones that locked you down here and caused you all trouble. The ones I cut through an army of meatballs to get to you.”

“Listen, knight lady. I watched you last night. Nice by the way. But still no. Like I said, Gary is the one that says who I sell info to.”

“Then where is Gary?”

“Can’t tell you. I don’t giv-” He started to repeat and I interrupted.

“Out info without Gary’s permission. I heard you the first time.” I grumbled. “Just tell me where Gary is, or call him or something. I’m sort of doing something right now.”

“I’m not-”

“Oh Gawd! Stop being a nerd! Gary is with the Prince right now. In his stupid tower, the Prince is hosting a big event to show we’re back and not keeping our heads down. He’s trying to show off.” Another Nosferatu called out and walked in, I had to hold back the flinch at the ripped apart face.

Her face was mostly skull, but with skin hanging off at parts like her flesh was melting or something.

“Imalia!”

“Shut up loser. It’s obvious this bitch is a fucking Elder. You saw the vids to.”

“Okay thanks.” I decided before any more arguing could be had. I turned and walked out. Ugh! I just came to Hollywood from Downtown! This was more time wasting!

—--

It didn’t take long to get back to LaCroix’s stupid tower, and then be led up to that same fancy schmancy room full of Camarilla Vampires.

Gary was there seemingly taking delight in making what I pegged as Toreadors uncomfortable, but I couldn’t just head straight for him. LaCroix was at the center of it all speaking to a small group with a wine glass in his head that was filled with crimson red.

What did catch my eye was someone I didn’t expect to see. Beckett. The Scholar was in a corner conversing with a woman, but it looked less than willing.

“Ah, a familiar guest! Victoria.” LaCroix greets me as I approach and I simply nodded at him.

“LaCroix. I’m looking for Gary.” I said and I could see the vampire's irritation, even as he tried to hide it, but I clarified. “I’m hoping he’ll have some information on my Tzimisce quarry.”

“An excellent task, Gary my friend, come and clarify. I know you said you had some details?” I wanted to roll my eyes as LaCroix basically tried to take responsibility and control for everything.

‘Task’ as if I was doing it for him, and not myself. Whatever.

“Boss, and Boss.” Gary offered, smiling as he walked over, the Toreador that he had been… Flirting with? I don’t know, followed but away from him like she didn’t want to get close. Yet she walked around me, surrounded me almost, walking behind as if a big cat around my back.

I ignored her.

“Do you know where the Tzimisce is hiding?” I asked, cutting through the nonsense, and Gary flashed me a half smile as he noticed LaCroix looked irritated that I had spoken first.

“I have some leads. They locked down our sewers obviously, but we’ve got enough eyes around to have some interesting spots that might hold some clues.” Gary offered but shrugged. “Unfortunately, even though the Boss cleared a majority of the sewers things are still dangerous, and I have other things I’m focusing on.” He glanced at LaCroix who didn’t show anything.

He knew what Gary was up to, likely looking for the Sarcophagus for him.

“I’ll check out those spots then. I’m not concerned with whatever nonsense the Tzimisce might have left.” I cut in, before anything could be said. “Unless you have any more information for tonight's Hunt?” I asked LaCroix, and he smiled but not directly at me.

“Oh quite the fierce one here isn’t she?” The voice at my ear, the Toreador. “You are quite the-” She spoke but… Was that french?

I looked back at her, and just blinked at her for a moment. “Sorry I never learned French.”

“Ah Mademoiselle! Such a terrible fact, don’t you think my Prince?” She asked, and said more french long and… Teasing?

Everyone around me kept a mostly straight face, but I was definitely being mocked. LaCroix responded back in French, and this time there was tittering as everyone joined in.

Except for Gary who just kept a calm smile on his horrible face.

Hmm.

Hmmmmmm.

I could do a few things here to solve this. Force of course was the easiest, but… I wasn’t being pushed at by force, but mocked for my focus on it. This woman was definitely a Harpy. Trying to set me up for some mockery.

LaCroix had likely set this up. To try and weaken my own offenses against him from our first meeting… Which neatly explains why he brought me up here last time in my casual clothes.

He was trying to belittle me. Reducing my own acts against him.

And my toolbox was set towards combat. Even Regalia wouldn’t solve this… Well it would if I started head chopping.

But that’s not what this was. This was political combat, that I was unarmed to deal with.

Except I had one xp which means I was never unarmed.

Hence the hmm. I was staring at the woman strongly, which she didn’t seem intimidated in at the slightest as I thought. Buying myself some time.

“What’s wrong Mademoiselle? Not knowing French is nothing to be ashamed of! Surely!” She teased again.

Languages then. Fine.

There were plenty of ancient languages in the World of Darkness. Perhaps I could start speaking in ancient Greek and see how she likes that?

But why not go older?

I didn’t glance away from her, even as I looked at my character sheet. So many languages under Linguistics, but only something truly old would do.

One Language? No, that one caused issues. Not wanting to hear other languages because they sounded discordant from then on sounded gross. Besides, God took that away, best not to try it.

Enochian.

Well, can’t get much older than the language of the first city.

I blinked as the knowledge flooded me after using up my last xp and spoke,

[A childe’s language, and a forked tongue to speak it. Nothing more.] The words flowed as confidently out of my mouth as English, no stuttering or issues. I was completely fluent. The woman blinked for a second as she realized she hadn’t understood a word I had spoken.

No one did.

At least I didn’t expect anyone to be able to, until I heard a chuffed sound. Not laughter but interest.

Beckett approached the group, his eyes firmly locked on me. “That… Was that what I think it was?”

“Honestly I’d be surprised if you did recognize it. You’d be a bit young for it. I’m Victoria.” I offered and he looked me over with those wolf eyes of his and then swallowed and spoke.

[I Beckett meet nice.] He spoke and I couldn’t help but the snort that escaped my nose, I had to look away and try to hide my giggles. “Ah, pronunciation?” He asked in english.

“Everything.” [I am Beckett, Humbly greeting.] I said back slowly. “Make sure you get that last part right if you ever meet someone else speaking it. Nice to meet you isn’t really going to translate, and might be seen as a threat.”

“Ah I see. Thank you.” He whispered back, looking a little… Not shell shocked but trying to process.

“A rare language that even the illustrious Beckett barely speaks?” LaCroix cut in, and I saw the flow of the conversation shift as everyone looked from LaCroix to Beckett and I.

“I’m hardly surprised. There aren’t a lot of people that would even be able to speak it, much less teach it.”

“I learned it mostly from translations.” Beckett added, looking at me rather hungrily. “Might I ask, for some time?”

“Maybe another time.” I denied the scholar, looking back at the Harpy for a second before brushing my eyes past her, as she was hardly important. “Gary. I’ll need those locations, and LaCroix, a vehicle, would help me complete ‘your’ task.” I could feel the irritation from the Ventrue at my brazen request.

“Of course. Gary handle it?” LaCroix offered it as a question. But it was very much a demand.

Such a small man always trying to control everything around him.

Oh well.

I turned and left and I could practically feel Beckett staring at my back as I headed for the elevators, Gary catching up quickly.

Just as we were leaving I heard a question echoed out not by LaCroix but one of the other watchers to our little conversation.

“What Language was that?”

*2 Experience.*

Yay!

—---

Gary had given me some spots to check out and I’d stolen a map out of the glove box from LaCroix’s SUV that he’d had his minions drive for me, and had them all marked down.

Looking over them none of them were downtown. No mark for the abandoned hotel that I knew the Sabbat were actually operating out of.

Either the young Tzimisce wasn’t with Andrei, or Gary was entirely wrong and wasting my time.

Time to find out.

The first location in Lincoln Heights was an abandoned factory that had a sewer access, one that apparently the Nosferatu had lost their eyes on.

So it was less guaranteed and more just a chance.

The SUV pulled up to an old industrial lot, the moment I stepped out I could smell the old oil in the air and wanted to just sigh.

Another stinky place? Why not a high end mansion with Blackjack and-Wait. Alice would be dealing with the Giovanni soon. So she might actually be running into that.

I approached the main gate, uncaring that it was fenced off everywhere and used Regalia to form a knife in my pocket.

With a simple cut the knife sailed through the fence and gave me a hole to slide inside.

The yard was empty. No noise, no light but the moon.

Just old abandoned junk laying around. No, wait I did hear something. There was some music in the air, and I could smell a hint of smoke on the wind.

I headed for it, the music guiding me around the side of the factory and then to a pile of lumber of some sort.

My boots crunched on the gravel, and as I got close I heard the music stop and everything went eerily quiet. The pile of lumber… It had been messed with, I noticed. Piled up in a corner and with more junk on the side as it stuck in an L shape to the factory. A perfect hiding spot within. The faintest flicker of shadows from a fire on the wall. Well hidden but not to my eyes.

“Who is there? I heard your music. No point in hiding.” I called out, and waited. Nothing. “If I have to climb up this lumber to find you I’m calling the cops after.” I called out issuing a threat.

“Fuck cops!” A voice called out in turn and out popped an obviously homeless dude. He looked pissed but went a little confused as he took me in. Young blonde in dress and jacket with boots in an abandoned factory at night? “The fuck you want? Huh? Don’t know you.”

“I’m looking for someone. Got no interest in you.” I called out in turn, flashing my eyes into Auspex just to be sure.

Human.

“Yeah well I ain’t saying shit! Fuck off!”

“You seen anything strange. Some creepy guys. Maybe weapons. Dangerous types around here? Maybe something not quite right? Maybe some people went missing after? I’m looking for them.”

“If I saw something like that. I wouldn’t tell a kid about it! Go home!” He demanded and I laughed.

“Did you see them? Maybe around the sewer entrances inside?” I asked again, and there was silence. The man finally stuck his head back out around the pile of lumber he was hiding behind. And this time he looked spooked.

“Get out of here! Don’t know nothing, didn’t see nothing!”

“Good. That’s the right answer for anyone else. But answer my question truthfully anyways.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out a pile of money. “In exchange.” I held the money up.

He hesitated, I could see it that look in his eyes, he was suspicious, and only more suspicious as he took me in. I was too confident, I think he realized it and it made him nervous.

But as a wise man once said, twenty dollars is twenty dollars.

He scrambled up a bit and reached out and I passed him a bit more than twenty dollars.

“A-a week back something, something was in the sewer, Henry… Don’t know. Just know that when we heard the screams we closed the old sewer lid and put every heavy item we could find on it. Creepy guys? They were coming through before that.” And then he pointed.

I looked behind me and took in the sight.

Hmm. Yeah that could probably work.

“Thanks.” I turned back to the guy. “Best if you never talk about this again. Bad men won’t like it. Not even for a wad of cash.”

He took in what I said and just disappeared.

Good enough. Now

That wasn’t on the list Gary had given me, but if there was nothing here.

I looked across the old fence and towards what looked like a really run down apartment complex, sort of. It had the height for it but didn’t really fit.

I did a quick check through the area but found a whole lot of nothing besides the hastily covered sewer lid.

So I headed back to the SUV that was waiting.

As I popped open the passenger door I pointed down the road just past the rail line that ran over the road. “Any idea what that apartment building is?” The man wearing the high end suit looked down the road and shook his head.

“Apartment? No, that's the old Lincoln Heights Jail. It’s been abandoned for years. Although I think some company tried to take it over a few years back.”

“An abandoned jail?” I sighed. Yep. Sabbat were 100% in there. It fit too well. Like finding a Malkavian in an insane asylum. “Alright I’m checking it out. Sit tight.”