Seras little snippet thread

“So Jack?”

“Yep, planned the whole thing. He has a reputation for killing Camarilla Princes’s, and LaCroix was just his newest target. An easy target admittedly. The man's greed was so fully on display anyone could spend one minute with him and know he’d do anything for more power.”

“Right, I think I got that. And LaCroix wasn’t suspicious?”

“Of course he was, but he couldn’t just throw Jack out of the city, he doesn’t even control the city. My guess? LaCroix pissed someone off, so they sent him here, a make or break sort of thing.”

“But the Anarchs kicked out the Camarilla, isn’t that bad for them?”

“They kicked out the Camarilla… For now.” I offer, using both my hands before moving one just a bit further away. “A decade from now? Two? There will be another Camarilla Prince here in LA. They might actually get situated, they might die before they can even proclaim that they’re the prince. It all depends on who they are.”

“That’s…”

“It’s an age thing. Remember, Kindred don’t deal in months, or years, but decades, and centuries. LaCroix was like… Three hundred? Something like that.”

“Wait, really? That guy?” Alice asked, pointing at the literal still burning tower in the distance.

“That guy was in fact a three hundred year old child, yes. But think of it from his perspective. His personal power is tied into his generation, and he’ll always just be in danger from the Anarchs or other members of the Camarilla unless he can diablerize a Kindred stronger than him. The temptation of an Antediluvian in his eyes? It was everything he could have hoped for… Fool. Even if it was, even if he had, there is no chance LaCroix would have made it out the other side.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ah, well. This is a bit of a secret, so don’t pass it around, but keep it in mind if you ever decide to diablerize another kindred, Don’t recommend it by the way. Seriously.” Stuck a finger towards my mouth and made a gag motion. “Basically if you are trying to eat someone that’s three thousand or more years older than you? Don’t. They’ll win, and you’ll end up being a puppet as they regain control.”

“That can happen?”

“Yep.” I confirmed sighing. “Don’t tell this to any Tremere, but their leader, Tremere, your own clan head? Yeah he devoured a guy called Saulot in order to gain the Tremere clan power, but Saulot isn’t stupid. He knew it was going to happen. The Kindred walking around these nights as Tremere? Yep. It’s Saulot.”

“Oh. So the Tremere just follow this guy?”

“Oh they don’t know!” I laughed. “I mean, like one guy does. Goratrix kinda. Rumor is, he’s telling everyone that he’s actually Tremere, after his soul fled his actual body when Saulot took over. But let me let you in on a little secret… Well another one.”

“What?” Alice asked, leaning in.

“It doesn’t fucking matter.”

“It doesn’t matter? Really?” She asked flatly.

“What? You think you care what fucking soul is controlling the body of your bosses, bosses, bosses, -” I ticked off fingers as I just kept counting.

Was that enough Bosses? Eh probably.

“-Bosses Boss?”

“Fuck off.” Alice said laughing as she smacked my shoulder earning some chuckles from me too. “But I guess not?”

“Besides, you’re barely with the Tremere, bypassed all the nonsense. You Antitribu you.”

“What?”

“It’s the term for a member of the clan that goes against the normal clan politics.” I explained happily. Telling some of the deep lore was kinda fun!

“Okay alright so… Anarchs, are they the good guys?”

“Eh.” I shrugged. “There are no good guys.” I admitted truthfully with a bit of a forlorn sigh. “Some people in the Anarchs are good enough people. But they’re still involved in the sort of global politics that mean they’ll make sacrifices, or dirty their hands to do what they think they need. Like Jack and dragging you into this mess.”

“Jack saved my life.”

“I can’t deny that, but he also made your early life infinitely harder. I don’t mean anything against Jack. I like the man. He’s funny!” I laughed in real delight, but then grew serious. “But he’s also willing to do awful things to do what he thinks needs to be done.”

“Hmm.” Alice didn’t sound like she agreed, but at the same time she did. “Okay so no one is a good guy? Who do I work with then?”

“Anyone. Everyone. No one.” I said and then laughed at her irritated look, her nose scrunching up.

“Real helpful!”

“Sorry sorry. But it’s the truth. You, my dear Alice, can work with anyone, everyone, or no one. The Camarilla would take you in an instant. That’s why our dear Primogen has been trying to get you to be involved in the Chantry.”

“Is that why?”

“Oh yes, you don’t realize just what position you are in there. The Chantry don’t just let members go. The fact you’re a free agent Tremere? And it’s all the Camarilla’s own fault? Oh someone somewhere is seething at LaCroix’s actions. They are not going to be pleased.”

“They’ll try to attack me if I don’t join them… Won’t they?”

“Yes. And they’ll attack you if you do. Don’t think joining will somehow make you one of them. No, they’ll use you just like everyone will.”

“Sounds like ass.” She grumbled, and I laughed again.

“Yeah. I like the Tremere. I have a soft spot for them. They were just humans, and yet they decided they wanted Immortality enough to grasp it… I respect that. Now I wouldn’t join them of course. They are assholes.”

“Pfft.”

“But I keep an eye out for baby Tremere and offer some help if I can.”

“Thanks MOM.” Alice snarked and I burst into cackles. “Okay so… The Anarchs. If I join them, what’s that going to be like?”

“For all the Anarchs proclaim it’s all about freedom? It’s all about power. Might makes right. Don’t look at me like that. I’m being honest. The Barons are very much the rulers writ small of their domains. If you’re strong all those rules that the Camarilla impose can be imposed by the Baron. They share basically all the same traditions as well. Don’t mistake the Anarchs ‘freedom’ as meaning you’re safe. They rebelled because they wanted to get out from under the thumbs of centuries old monsters, not because they didn’t want to be in charge.”

“Greeeat.”

“Buuuut. Buuuuuuut!” I added making sure to wiggle a finger. “You are well liked by them. You helped kill a Prince which would already make them take to you, but you’re also powerful. Very, very, powerful.”

“I don’t feel that powerful.” Ah, she was side-eyeing me.

“Aaah! My baby duckling is jealous of my awesome power!” I cried out holding my cheeks and wiggling.

“Weirdo.”

“Yep!” I agreed, laughing. “Listen Alice, real talk? You’re incredibly scary. You went from nothing, a literal baby. To going face first into a Blood Hunt. Killing the Sheriff. Killing an entire Sabbat Clan. Face tanking a Kuei-jin stronghold.”

“You helped with those.”

“It doesn’t matter.” I denied. “They saw you do these things. They saw you survive. You know what scares old Kindred the most? Things that should die, but don’t. It doesn’t matter why exactly. You broke the rules. Not the stupid ones the Kindred created, but the rules of nature. You, are, an, anomaly.”

“Is it that strange?”

“Yes. You resisted LaCroix’s Dominate. Didn’t you?” I asked her and she looked up from staring at her hands as if trying to process what I was telling her.

“Oh, uh, yeah?”

“That. Shouldn’t. Be. Possible.” I explained enunciating slowly.

Alice was a little slow sometimes.

“Why?”

“Dominate, the Discipline is literally designed to enforce the order. You can’t use it on someone of a lower generation than you. And those below you are weak to it. You see? Sure there are ways to resist. And you can have a strong enough Will to refuse, but he’s been using Dominate on you all this time, and yet this time you broke through.”

“It barely felt like anything.”

“Heh. Mix of him losing it, and you being pissed I expect. But it’s something good for you. Keep that in your pocket. You can resist if you need to.”

“Right.”

“So… Definitely not the Sabbat, right?”

“Oh no, fuck those guys.” I waved my hands but stopped. “But… Ask me another time and I’ll go into their history a bit and explain why they act like this. You will face them again, I guarantee it, so you should know how they operate and what they want. Anyways! Any other question?”

“So, what’s up with your weapons, like the Axe you gave me?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean… Okay so I was at the Strip club in-”

“Awooga!” I teased and then just smiled brightly as it completely shut down what Alice was about to say.

“Did you just… Of course you watch old cartoons.”

“Hey! They’re fun! But I like the new stuff more. Anime in particular, although did you see Gargoyles? That was fun.”

Alice just looked at me like she was still struggling to process my nonsense, but shook it off.

“Anyway! I was meeting a contact, Velvet Velour, and I did this thing fighting some Hunters for her.”

“Oooh.”

“Shut up. Anyway, I had my Axe out when I came back, And… Is this like catnip or something? She was losing her shit over it.”

I blinked.

Wait… Heh.

“Hehehe.” I giggled and because I didn’t answer Alice was looking at me like she was going to hit me.

“Alright what?”

“It’s not the Axe itself! Sorry sorry! Toreador have a clan weakness. You know what it is?”

“Uh… They’re all stuck up?”

“Well yes, they do tend to select for that. Just like the Brujah love their ‘rebels’ and all that. But no, the Clan Weakness is something more, an actual curse on them. For the Toreador, they can become fascinated by art, or beautiful things, or all sorts of things, and they’ll become...”

“Drooling children demanding to touch the dangerous weapon.”

“Not how I would put it, but your experience is accurate.”

“So…”

“She’ll probably do that every time. I’m a very good blacksmith after all. It’s my secret talent… Well not so secret talent… I’m talented.” I blinked guilelessly at her for a few seconds and she just sighed and shook her head.

“So you can make super weapons that fuck up Toreador. Nice.”

“Heh! If that’s how you want to view it. I haven’t actually shown off my work outside of my normal clothes, and I don’t usually go that crazy with them.” I looked at my current dress and was almost tempted to make it a cognito hazard for the arrogant jerks.

“At all? Aren’t you super old? Shouldn’t you have done all the Prince stuff yourself?”

“Pfft. Nah.” I denied which was true, and then had to consider how to answer without really lying.

Certain point of view Vicky.

Certain point of view.

“There are barely a handful of Kindred alive today that met me before all this.” I nodded that hit the mark. Truth, because only like a few Kindred had met me before I was turned like a week ago.

“Huh.”

“You’ll find that many Kindred have no interest in the nonsense politics. Some like Grout who you never met, just wanted to do their own thing in peace. Some hate other Kindred entirely and so just retreat somewhere wild and live alone.”

“And some watch anime?”

“I’m sure quite a few watch anime! It’s the new big thing! The best new art style in centuries!”

“Uh-uh.” She snarked, but I grinned.

“I can tell you with absolute certainty that Kindred that are older than recorded history enjoy Anime!” One technically for sure.

“R-right.” Alice offered side glances at me, and I think she thought I meant me…

Oh well.

“Anyways. So?” I prompted and she shrugged.

“I think… I’m going to take it easy for a bit before I decide. If the Anarchs attack me, or kick me out before I decide then they aren’t my friends anyways, and if the Camarilla attack then I know they’re my enemies.”

“Hmm. Taking a bit of time? Good call. Oh. Here.” I pulled out my phone and then looked around not finding anything. “I need to give you my phone number.”

“Wait… Vicky. You had a phone?”

“Yeah?”

“Why didn’t you give me your number before?”

“I didn’t think about it?”

“Ugh.” Alice whined, putting her head in her hands.

“Sorry?”

“Whatever.” She mumbled out, words muffled by her hands.

“Oh right before we split up, and you get to enjoy some time to figure things out… There is something I need to say.”

“Okay what?” She asked, looking up, seeming a bit uncomfortable as I shifted to face her fully and I sounded very serious.

Because this was very serious.

Super important.

“I lied to you. Only once, and I need to come clean.” I told her bluntly, and she blinked at me in shock before a look passed over her face.

“Yeah? What about?” She nearly growled, but I hung my head.

“Alice… I’ve totally seen Happy Gilmore, I was totally referencing the movie, and I was just messing with you down in the sewers. I’m sorry.”

My statement met a long silence, processing, and understanding flashed across her eyes.

“Fuckin’ really!? You had me freaking out you bitch!”

“Kehehehehe!”

—--

I still had some things to do. While I wasn’t bothered by the Anarchs, and the Camarilla are basically gone, well, mostly.

Strauss the Tremere Primogen was still around, but they were packing up.

The Tremere weren’t stupid. With the Camarilla in shambles, the Kuei-jin cut down, the Anarchs once more ruled, and they weren’t happy.

But he wasn’t bothering me.

Which did surprise me, I expected a message or something, but no. He was just quickly trying to leave.

Of course, this meant my new apartment was fucked. Obviously the Tremere weren’t going to keep paying for it.

Assholes.

So over some time I’d ‘rented’ a truck… Okay I didn’t have a lot of cash so I mostly just stole a truck and packed up all my stuff and moved it to the Monastery.

Well under the Monastery anyways.

I needed to buy the place, but didn’t have the cash, and kind of didn’t want to ask around for it to be set up.

As easy as it would be to reach out to Nines and request a favor, or any of the Anarchs really…

I didn’t want them to know where my home was.

Then I used two points into Obfuscate, and snuck around the LA administrator office.

It wasn’t hard to hack into their systems, and make a few adjustments to some information, as far as the government was concerned, the Monastery was now assigned to a non-profit that didn’t exist.

It was good enough for now, but I could really get the place secured a little later.

Of course, not a night after moving in, and setting up all my stuff, to my relief the electricity was still on, I woke up from sleeping on my couch that had become my current sleeping space to find Caine sitting next to me and watching Berserk.

“Turn it up a bit.”

“Hmm.”

And so instead of running around, or doing anything I just watched anime with my Sire for a bit.

It was a nice feeling to not be rushed around trying to get strong enough to help Alice, and survive my own future.

Of course, as I was thinking that, the electricity shut off, all at once.

Sighing a bit I opened my eyes. Protean gave me night vision to turn and look at Caine.

“I don’t suppose you have money for bills?”

His glare told me what I needed to know.

“Alright! Alright. I’ll figure something out.” I grumbled as I forced myself out of my cool blankets. How do I get cash in 2004? Investments? Most of the stuff already didn’t work, unless I wanted to bet against the housing crash… If that would even happen, and I needed money to invest to start with.

I had like five bucks.

Drug money hadn’t lasted long after I needed a laptop, furniture and all that.

Ugh. I wish there was just a whole bunch of treasu-

“Sire?”

“Hmm?”

“Can you drive me to Colombia? I know how to solve our money problems.”

“Hmmm.”

“I’ll be able to buy all the anime.”

“Hmm.”

“Alright. Cool… Actually I know a guy that could help.”

—--

“You want me to what?” Jack asked, blinking in shock and I shushed him looking around.

“Pirate treasure Jack. The greatest bit of treasure ever sunk, and I want to pirate it right out from everyone's nose. But I need a man that knows the ocean.”

Jack just looked at me like I was a bit weird, but there was a quirk at his lips.

“You… You are putting a crew together.” Jack whispered as if it was something sacred. The man probably hadn’t been asked to join a pirate crew in what? Over a hundred years at least?

“Not a full crew, these modern boats will do just fine for the two of us… Maybe three. The Duckling doesn’t have any money yet, and I think letting her get involved for a little bonus is good, but how about it Jack? I need a Pirate, a good one, and unless there’s a better pirate in LA that I don’t know about?

“There isn’t a better damn pirate in the world.” He rumbled out gruffly, but he was smiling, oh yeah.

“Then I have you in?” I asked, offering him my hand.

“This sounds crazy. Open Ocean isn’t that easy for Kindred you know.”

“Pirate treasure~” I teased and he chuckled out a laugh.

“I’m in, if only to see how this blows up in all our faces. I get a share?”

“Of course. And if Alice Joins she’ll get one as well. Fair deal.”

“Heh. An old chest of gold coins or somethan’ is nice, but not so nice split three ways.”

I leaned in, smiling, and honestly uncaring if someone heard.

“17 billion dollars, equivalent. That enough to tempt a share?”

Jack blinked. Kindred didn’t often have money troubles. I bet if Jack really wanted, he could end up with a billion in a month.

Dominate, was powerful, but so was just offering to Ghoul some old Businessman.

The Ventrue loved that shit.

But…

Treasure? There was a different interest in treasure.

“You’ve got your crew. Captain.” He offered grinning like a loon and I grinned right back.

Pirate treasure!

—--

“How much!? Are you serious!? You’re not joking, right? Vicky? Vicky, don’t walk away from me while smiling! Are you serious!?” Alice couldn’t help but follow as I put the smell of pirate treasure in her nose.

Bloodlines might have ended, but these nights still continued ahead, and we had to live them.