Seras little snippet thread

We reached Griffith Park, I did decide to come with. If there was ever a moment of real danger for Alice during this entire journey, it was here.

The single most deadly moment she’d run face first into, and without any real awareness of what it meant.

So I was going with, and if I had to fight a Werewolf I was going to fight a Werewolf.

I definitely wasn’t going just because fighting a Werewolf was really cool.

We reached the gondola and headed up, and I was already feeling anxious.

Should I spend some points? Fighting a Werewolf… I had Fortitude 10, so I should be alright, and I won’t hesitate to Blood Buff my stats, but still.

I sighed, and dropped my last three points into Willpower.

Willpower 10 was something I’d needed for a while. Besides, it would help buff my Excali-blast if I needed it.

As the Gondola slowly creaked up to the top I could feel my Beast getting agitated. It knew a big threat was coming.

Even if the Werewolf wasn’t really a threat, threat. It was still in my mind more of a threat than most of the things I’ve seen so far.

Finally the ride stopped, and Alice headed out first, looking around for a bit.

“Nines!? Are you there? Damsel sent me!” Alice called out as she walked out of the gondola hut, and almost instantly stopped because Nines was just right there, hanging out looking over the city.

“Oh that was easy!” I called out cheerfully waving at Nines as I poked my head out behind Alice.

“Ladies?”

“The Blood Hunt is over. Ming Xiao was confirmed to be the one who killed Grout.”

“Yeah, I figured it was something like that. I heard LaCroix needs us all of a sudden.”

“He wants an alliance with the Anarchs to get rid of the Kuei-jin.” Alice explained and Nines huffed out a snarky sharp laugh.

“Does he now? We just ended a war with them and lost a lotta people. Does he expect us to do all the fighting while the Camarilla throws mean looks from the Sidelines?”

“Almost definitely.” I confirmed before Alice could speak. “But Ming Xiao has something LaCroix desperately wants. Enough that he’ll sacrifice quite a lot to make sure he gets in.”

“Is that so?’

“Yes. All of his actions in these last Nights are because his greed is overcoming his sense. He’ll burn every bridge if he must because he thinks the end will be worth it.” I sighed and Alice looked from Nines to me and back a few times as her eyes narrowed behind her glasses.

“Well I don’t trust LaCroix, but then again, the Camarilla didn’t wholesale slaughter us upon arrival. Goddamn it.” Nines grumbled and I did feel bad for the man. He was… A good man, tried to do the right thing, actually sort of believed in the Anarch thing.

He was the king of the Anarchs in a sense. The leader they all wanted, but that he refused to take the role.

In politics the man that didn’t want the job was often the one best suited for it.

“Something’s not right.” He said suddenly. And there it was.

I turned as well, smelling it only after he pointed it out.

Smoke.

“I think the alliance is for the best.” Alice tried to say confused at Nines words.

“Not what I mean kid.”

“Fire.” I confirmed as well. Already looking. I could see the orange glow in the distance.

“We gotta get outta here!” Nines spoke urgently, and I nodded, already reaching out as Alice was seemingly trying to argue a bit, not realizing the danger.

Like I said, still just a fledgling.

I grabbed her arm to her surprise and tugged her gently along.

“To the Gondola. Now.”

“What? Vicky?”

“Kid we’ve been followed, that fire is man made, this is bad.”

“It’s just a little fire! We’ll be fine! We can hide out in the observatory-”

“No kid, you don’t understand. The fire wasn’t set to kill us.”

“Alice, there are Werewolves in Griffith Park. And they’re going to come straight for us. If a Kindred set that fire, they aren’t going to care if it was us, or someone else.”

“Oh.” She finally seemed to understand something was up, but it was too late.

The Tram was already going out on its cycle.

“Shit! The Tram is leaving, C’mon ladies we need to get inside that building before-” I pushed Alice to the side, and Nines yelped.

I turned, the howling werewolf blitzed past me, running out of nowhere and tackled Nines right off the ledge.

“Aww. It was a puppy.” I couldn’t help but admit, cause that was a tiny little thing.

“That was a puppy!?”

“Yeah, pretty small… Well that’s not good.” I commented because we both saw it.

Garou. Large and furious come stomping around a wall. Howling as it saw us.

“Alice. Get the Gondola working, and go. With or without me. Understand?”

“What but?” She wanted to argue, but I turned back at her and smiled.

“Watch if you want, but get the Gondola running.” I turned to the Werewolf that was already charging, and instantly felt it.

The surge of blood and shadow as my Regalia covered me.

I swiped my hand and my blade appeared glowing sinisterly, and then I pumped my stats.

Strength, Dexterity, Stamina.

All of them were maxed out. I had the spare Blood thanks to all the Hunters. It was time to use it.

Now it was time to give myself a real test.

“We aren’t the ones that set the fire.” I called out, as the Werewolf charged, but it was snarling and furious.

Very well.

I set my stance, and as the beast finally reached me I swung.

Celerity boosted my speed. Its claws came down, one after another trying to rip me apart, but my glowing blade bashed both claws aside, my strength actually surpassing even the Beastly Werewolf and then a third cut, across its chest.

Unfortunately. This thing felt mindless.

I knew it wasn’t.

But it didn’t care that it was cut, it’s claws lashed out and again and we fell into a dance, only the incredible speed and strength of my body kept me out of reach, as I parried and dodged, flipping over a low claw, slashing out, to push the other claw back.

It was a constant seamless dance.

And also?

I was actually getting better.

I had Melee five which put me at an exceptional fighter, but there was a difference between knowing and knowing.

My body felt so strong, everything felt so smooth, instead of simply clashing I could dance around the Garou.

I could fight like Saber. Untouchable, and- That’s about when my ego was mashed as I was kicked.

KICKED!

And sent flying and tumbling a bit.

“Well that was rude.” I grumbled quickly gaining my feet and the Beast was looking at me, with a cold calculation, rage still there, but…

“If you wish to discuss the matter, I’m more than happy to, but if you simply wish to continue fighting, we can do that too. I don’t get many good fights.” I offered and that seemed to do the opposite of what I wanted, and enraged the Werewolf once again.

Fuck.

I saw Alice looking on from the Observatory podium looking in shock despite clutching the axe like she was ready to jump in.

Heh. Alice was a good one.

“Alice! Go!” I called out, and engaged, my blade was doing good damage against the beast, even if it had become more wary.

This thing was strong, it was tough, it even had good instincts, this was no pup, but it was still outmatched, and it knew it.

I smiled, baring teeth. A true threat. The Garou roared, and charged, and I took the chance, my blade slipped through its chest piercing deep, but it tricked me again.

The body slammed into me, and took me forward massive arms locking tight around me. Lifting me off my feet, uncaring that it now had a sword through its chest.

I had the strength to push it away, and yet, every time it did, the sheer bulk of it kept me off the ground, and it kept moving.

Hungry jaw scrambling on my armor doing no damage, but locked onto me at a third spot, as I fought and battered the beast.

And then there was a sense, a realization.

The Fire.

The Werewolf was carrying me towards the fire. Squirming and battering it down, my fist slung out breaking bones and even tearing flesh right into the forest fire it had itself just escaped from, and then There was a weightless moment.

I looked over my shoulder, both hands grabbing the werewolves jaws and realized that it had just leapt right into it. A fire blazed beneath me, the forest entirely awash.

Fear.

“You Bitch!” I roared out, and stopped playing, my muscles bulged and I ripped, tearing the wolf's jaw clean off, as I grabbed my sword. Instantly charging it with blood and focusing my will.

The stream of power launched into the sky, split the werewolf and freed me, even as I fell.

Well this was quite a pickle.

—--

Alice Hood

The rush out of Griffith Park had led to a busy rush back to the City.

Jack, instead of the normal Taxi man had been waiting, and it was only just as the sun was rising that Alice made it back into her old apartment, and not the nicer one the Primogen had offered to her.

She’d fallen into sleep the moment she’d crashed into the crappy bed that still had the blood stains of her own death.

As always there was a moment of unreality when she realized she was once more awake. No discomfort from sleeping in a weird position, but the lack of her own heartbeat in her ears was what always made her stir.

“Finally up huh?”

“Fuck!” She cursed as she rolled over and found Jack, leaning against her wall.

“Have a good rest sleepyhead? Good. You’ll need it. Wake up, Look alive kid. Get everything you need.”

“Jack what the fuck?”

“Not the time kid. Listen, this is serious. LaCroix put out a bloodhunt on your head.”

“Wha-what!? How!?”

“LaCroix put out the word, he says you’re in league with the Kuei-jin, Ming-Xiao’s puppet, that you’re the one that set up Nines for her. Obviously killing you and Nines in Griffith Park was plan A, so this is plan B. And worse, they’re saying Nines is dead, and you killed him.”

Alice was already moving, grabbing her gear. Her backpack was now her mobile armory, axe stuffed inside, and Assault Rifle hanging on the side.

Jack kept talking as she checked her stuff, hands not shaking, but feeling like they should.

VIcky said it would all be over soon. That she’d be able to go back to college if she wanted, or just finish it, that she’d be able to find her own unlife with whatever she is now…

She hadn’t seen Vicky since the Werewolf had dragged her away.

Fuck.

“Kid.”

“I heard you.” She nearly snapped at Jack, as she rose up adjusting everything so she could grab what she needed. “Head across town, get to the Taxi. He’ll take me out of here.”

“Good.”

“Where? Where can I even go?”

“He’ll take you wherever… Wherever you feel safest.” Jack offered, sounding a little bit gentle.

Alice hissed at the thought and just put her axe in reach.

“Alright.”

“In case we don’t see each other again, nice knowin’ ya, kiddo. Give ‘em hell. They deserve it.”

She nodded and turned, the door was there now she just had to move through it. Fuck.

She stepped out of her apartment, and noticed how quiet it was. The usual sounds all around were quiet.

Alice… Alice was going to live. She was going to survive this last hurdle, and live her life, unlife. Whatever.

She exited onto the alley way, and instantly heard it.

“There she is! Get her!” A roar, and three vampires charged her. One looking like a werewolf wannabe.

Fuck that. She’d seen a real werewolf. Fought a fucker that turned into an even bigger monster of blade and horror.

She launched a Blood Strike at one, earning a snarl of pain as her Axe came down and cut the stupid wannabe wolf fucker in half.

Just survive, one more night!

—--

“And so, what do you choose? Stay? Fight?” The Taximan had coaxed Alice along, questions and information.

He was right.

She couldn’t run. Vicky had told her as much, that she just needed to do this final hurdle.

What was it that Jack had said? Time to make a choice?

What had she been doing all this time but make choices? Choose to obey orders, choose to survive.

She gripped the hilt of her axe. This thing had saved her tonight. So many Kindred had come out of nowhere, all hunting for her.

And this Axe meant none of them survived her rush towards her escape.

“You know Vicky… Right? She’s always around you.”

“Indeed.”

“Is… Is she alive?”

“She is.”

Alice exhaled in relief. She hadn’t wanted to take the gondola, but even after it had arrived, she waited for Vicky to get back, but hadn’t seen her.

“I’m glad.”

“She will be happy to hear that. She is fond of you.”

Alice snorted, but not because she didn’t believe it. Sure she was still annoyed with her about the Sewer but… None of the other Kindred had offered to come along.

None of the other Kindred had given her a weapon like her axe, none of the other Kindred had backed her up.

Blow up the Sabbat warehouse. Deal with the fucking Malkavian ‘twins’ Grout’s crazy mansion. More and more. All these places and things Kindred older and stronger than her should have been helping with.

What good was the Anarchs? The Camarilla if the baby vampire has to do everything?

She exhaled, Nines had saved her. Jack had saved her. The Primogen had… Well, he obviously wanted something from her.

It just felt like none of them did anything but sit on their ass all night.

Vicky though? Vicky had helped.

Fought beside her, and covered her…

“I have to fight.”

“Indeed. Two heads. The Kuei-jin, and The Prince.”

“Then… Take me to Ming Xiao. LaCroix… I’m going to give LaCroix exactly what he deserves.”

—--

“Ow! Fuck!” She hissed, pulling out the crossbow bolt for the sixth time.

They were actually worse than bullets in a lot of ways, bullets she could just ignore beside the pain, but the bolts kept getting in the way.

And then there were the fuckers chasing her around with Katana. It felt like that one movie, Seven Samurai? Her dad liked that flick.

She shook off the thoughts as the wound closed and another batch of yellow clad temple guard rounded the corner.

“Die!” She roared, swinging the axe and watching blade and flesh cleave like butter.

But then another Crossbow bolt slammed into her and she yelped, swiping a bit to get some distance.

The issue was, while Alice was stronger and faster, these men actually knew how to use a sword.

One of them spun around making her move to block one side, but he ended up attacking another and she cried out as the blade cut into her side.

Then she crushed his head with the back of her axe.

Fucker.

The crowd was growing, calls going out that she could hear, how many guards did Ming Xiao have? No stupid question.

Enough to be a threat to the Anarchs, and the Camarilla operation at the same time.

The Sabbat had been less of a threat, if she could believe it.

She was handling it though. Slow and steady, let them come, kill them, drink when she could. Move on.

Then she heard it, and so did the guards, the sound of an engine revving, and then up from behind her, she saw it. An old motorcycle, a chopper, roaring like a demon with…

Whoa.

It passed her in a blink, and Alice really had to wonder what Vicky had just screamed as the Doppler effect ran past her.

“Rhhhhooonngomyniiiiiiiad!” She seemed to be screaming as she drove full speed into one of the guards.

The mortal went with her, a lance of all things, like from a ren faire lifting the man off his feet and pretty brutally ripping him apart, and both of them went past…

Then Vicky lost control of the motorcycle, and the armored figure, for once Vicky was wearing a helmet as well, went spiraling on the cobblestones in a series of sparks before crashing into the first building in their way.

Before Alice could blink Vicky was on her feet, her helmet disappeared in a flash of dark shadows, and her lance was replaced by her familiar sword.

“Sorry! But I have to kill all of you now for seeing me eat shit! Hi Alice! I stole a Motorcycle! First time I ever rode one!” Then Vicky blurred, the armored figure cutting down the Guards like a buzzsaw, much faster than Alice could have done, with the crossbow bolts simply pinging off her armor.

Right. Time to fight.

Laugh at Vicky being a weirdo later.