Mac jumps down to join David and Samuel.
"So, you can see their faces. Can you find them? Because they don't live after this."
Samuel nods, and starts looking through the building for more details.
...
David gathers together those affected by the unknown elders. Lake's gang, Grey, Danton, Mia's sire Elena and 'brother' Sean.
"There's a war coming. Barrett took this city years ago, some of the old prince's brood made it out, now they think they can walk back in, they don't care who gets in their way."
Plans are made.
...
Jones finds the stranger. Mac comes to back him up.
"Considered my offer?"
"Yeah. How about a counter offer. Get out of town."
She considers this for a moment, then snorts derisively.
"I was hoping you'd say that," Mac says, and charges her. She takes his hits and barely stumbles, then throws him into the wall.
"You are children."
Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Monday, 29 January 2018
You're The Only Thing Worth Dying For: Six
Vampire: The Requiem
You're The Only Thing Worth Dying For
Six: Can you love me for what I've become?
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
They held hands for a moment, and then she moved in, her other hand moving to his neck to help pull him closer and into a kiss. His lips were only slightly warm, and his hands were cool as he moved them up to hold her, but that didn't stop her.
Finally, he broke away, shamefaced.
"I can't - we shouldn't - "
"Why not?" she demanded.
"I'm a monster."
"No." She shook her head once, and reached up to caress his face.
"I'm not safe to be with. My life is dangerous."
"I'm in your life already."
He looked at her, struck with guilt at the danger he'd put her in.
"I should go."
But her hand slipped to his as he put it down on the table to push himself up, and he paused, and looked into her eyes. And she moved close and they were kissing again.
She rose with him as he stood, and clung to his arm as he finally pulled away.
She followed him out, but he was gone, vanished into the darkness.
...
She looked for him the next night, called and left messages, but there was no sign of him.
...
Caitlyn and Gemma picked her up the night after, taking her out in an attempt to get her to remember how to smile.
"I've never met anyone like him..."
"Ghosts when he gets cold feet, never calls back?" Caitlyn tutted. "I've met plenty like him."
And then at the corner of her eye, she saw him...
Wednesday, 24 January 2018
The Forgotten: Twelve
Danni gets up, shakily. David and Jessica go to help her.
"We have to tell the others. Everybody."
They call Jones, Samuel and Mia, and agree to meet at that twenty-four cafe near the university.
Danni explains what happened. Including pointing out that they could have killed her.
Jones mentions the stranger and her offer. Mia tells the group about Danton.
Samuel asks if he can try and see Danni's memories. She's understandably wary, but lets him proceed.
And he recognizes the same lean, dark-eyed vampire who killed his sire.
"So what do we do with this? Who do we tell?" Jessica asks.
"We tell the people we care about," Mia says.
The group breaks up.
...
Jessica calls her mother, relieved when she gets a response.
Mia calls Elena... and Danton.
Samuel leaves a message for Carlin, and another for Broughton.
David helps Danni get out of town.
"You seem like a smart guy. You should be getting out too."
"I have people relying on me."
"That's not a good place to be. For them or for you."
...
Samuel and David break into the Vault so they can both look around in their own ways.
Samuel is quickly drawn to Lake and his gang's usual table. "This is where he died. They just... smashed his skull against the floor."
David looks up and sees... someone watching.
Mac.
"We have to tell the others. Everybody."
They call Jones, Samuel and Mia, and agree to meet at that twenty-four cafe near the university.
Danni explains what happened. Including pointing out that they could have killed her.
Jones mentions the stranger and her offer. Mia tells the group about Danton.
Samuel asks if he can try and see Danni's memories. She's understandably wary, but lets him proceed.
And he recognizes the same lean, dark-eyed vampire who killed his sire.
"So what do we do with this? Who do we tell?" Jessica asks.
"We tell the people we care about," Mia says.
The group breaks up.
...
Jessica calls her mother, relieved when she gets a response.
Mia calls Elena... and Danton.
Samuel leaves a message for Carlin, and another for Broughton.
David helps Danni get out of town.
"You seem like a smart guy. You should be getting out too."
"I have people relying on me."
"That's not a good place to be. For them or for you."
...
Samuel and David break into the Vault so they can both look around in their own ways.
Samuel is quickly drawn to Lake and his gang's usual table. "This is where he died. They just... smashed his skull against the floor."
David looks up and sees... someone watching.
Mac.
Ursula K. Le Guin
"I talk about the gods, I am an atheist. But I am an artist too, and therefore a liar. Distrust everything I say. I am telling the truth."
The Left Hand Of Darkness
The Left Hand Of Darkness
Wednesday, 17 January 2018
The Forgotten: Eleven
So... there's a group conspiring against the Prince. Or at least so they claim. They're kicking up a conflict with the anarchs to make him look weak and perhaps pick off some of his followers. Or so they claim.
The Forgotten has a double meaning.
This is as well as the vampires of Lawrence, who want to overthrow the Prince, and then take over as well. And the anarchs, who want to overthrow the Prince anyway.
...
Jones looks skeptical. "So why tell me?"
The stranger shrugs with her eyebrows. "You don't seem to care much one way or the other."
"Maybe not. But if you start a war, people I do care about get hurt."
"Then take them to safety."
"So you have one less enemy when it hits?"
"Yes."
The vampire lying at his feet stirs and starts to rise, growling under his breath.
"And I'm supposed to take your word for that..." Jones notes as he starts to back away.
"If you like."
"So who's in charge?"
"Oh, no-one you've met, if that's what you were thinking."
...
Samuel and Carlin move through the boarded-up house warily, Samuel heading down to the basement. He hesitates, then places a hand on the floor, still stained with old blood.
He sees a memory of his sire fighting an unknown vampire, gets a clear view of his face. Hard lines, dark eyes.
...
Mia looks for Danton around the Rack. She finds him in a club, and he gestures for her to join him on the dance floor.
"So... you're working with Stewart, in Lawrence."
"I am. I hope that doesn't make us enemies."
"Not yet. He agreed to hold off for now."
"Good. I'd much rather we were... friends. Or would that earn me an enemy in David?"
...
David and Jessica go to check on Danni, awake from torpor and recovering in a rowhouse that's been for sale over a year.
"They weren't from Lawrence. I didn't recognize any of them. But they were... I think they were old. They had that look, like they hadn't made themselves warm in so long, you know?"
"Like we don't have enough problems..." David mutters.
"Blood in the water..." Danni says quietly.
The Forgotten has a double meaning.
This is as well as the vampires of Lawrence, who want to overthrow the Prince, and then take over as well. And the anarchs, who want to overthrow the Prince anyway.
...
Jones looks skeptical. "So why tell me?"
The stranger shrugs with her eyebrows. "You don't seem to care much one way or the other."
"Maybe not. But if you start a war, people I do care about get hurt."
"Then take them to safety."
"So you have one less enemy when it hits?"
"Yes."
The vampire lying at his feet stirs and starts to rise, growling under his breath.
"And I'm supposed to take your word for that..." Jones notes as he starts to back away.
"If you like."
"So who's in charge?"
"Oh, no-one you've met, if that's what you were thinking."
...
Samuel and Carlin move through the boarded-up house warily, Samuel heading down to the basement. He hesitates, then places a hand on the floor, still stained with old blood.
He sees a memory of his sire fighting an unknown vampire, gets a clear view of his face. Hard lines, dark eyes.
...
Mia looks for Danton around the Rack. She finds him in a club, and he gestures for her to join him on the dance floor.
"So... you're working with Stewart, in Lawrence."
"I am. I hope that doesn't make us enemies."
"Not yet. He agreed to hold off for now."
"Good. I'd much rather we were... friends. Or would that earn me an enemy in David?"
...
David and Jessica go to check on Danni, awake from torpor and recovering in a rowhouse that's been for sale over a year.
"They weren't from Lawrence. I didn't recognize any of them. But they were... I think they were old. They had that look, like they hadn't made themselves warm in so long, you know?"
"Like we don't have enough problems..." David mutters.
"Blood in the water..." Danni says quietly.
Monday, 1 January 2018
Monday, 25 December 2017
Thursday, 14 December 2017
Sunday, 10 December 2017
You're The Only Thing Worth Dying For: Five
Vampire: The Requiem
You're The Only Thing Worth Dying For
Five: In these dangerous days
One
Two
Three
Four
Sarah huddled in her coat as Daniel walked her home, aware of the cold. And aware of how he didn't seem bothered by it.
"So, uh, is there a big society of... you?"
"Not that big. I guess we're pretty solitary." He paused. "And territorial."
Matthew, the rival vampire stepped out.
"Let's not do this," Daniel said.
"Why not? You have your supply. And oh, she smells sweet."
"She's standing right here," Sarah said defiantly.
"And fiery as well." The vampire chuckled, his gaze resting on Sarah's neck.
"Back off," Daniel advised him.
"Why? Do you think you can take me?"
"I think we'll make enough noise to get official attention either way."
Matthew glowered.
"Well. It was a pleasure to meet you properly, Miss." He turned to go, exposing his back to them like he thought they were no threat.
"Are you just gonna let him go? He tried to kill that girl."
"No. I'm not. But let's get you home first."
"I... I can help."
"He's dangerous."
"I'm betting he still won't like pepper spray or a kick in the balls."
"I'll see what... she has to say."
"It didn't sound like she was really interested in helping."
"No. But... now he's just come out in the open to threaten you... us..."
They reached her apartment and she let herself in.
"Come in."
"I should, ah, make sure he's not waiting nearby."
She considered this, nodded, and then quickly moved to press her lips to his.
...
She went to the cafe just before dark the next evening, waiting to see if he'd come.
He arrived about an hour after sunset.
"We should talk about... last night."
She put her hand on the table, palm up. He considered for a moment, and took it.
"I'm not sure I can... but I want to."
Thursday, 7 December 2017
The Forgotten: Ten
"Who did this?" David asks.
"Haven't seen them before. I'd guess Barrett's people. But could be someone else."
"You seem pretty casual about this..." Jessica says.
"They were a means to an end, that's all." There's a hint of anger in Grey's voice. "And I made sure Danni's looked after."
Jones stalks off into the dark, determined to find the stranger.
David and Jessica go to see their mother.
Samuel goes to see Carlin.
Mia, reluctantly, heads to Elysium. Partially to make sure it hasn't been attacked as well.
...
Jones finds her, not far from the university. She's not alone.
Three other vampires move to surround him as he strides towards her.
"Did you kill Lake?"
"Might have. Problem?"
He looks at her and the others, and shrugs slightly.
"Not really, personally, but my friends might have one."
The first vampire charges, and Jones grabs him, uses his momentum against him, slams him face-first into a wall.
...
Julia can tell her children are nervous about something.
"It's just, ah, roommate troubles," David assures her. She takes that to be code for girlfriend troubles. Jessica doesn't quite suppress a smile as this idea.
...
Carlin meets Samuel at the city's central train station.
"A friend from Lewiston told me my sire was murdered, and Barrett let it slide."
"How interesting. What would lead your friend to suggest that?"
"I would guess he wants to cause trouble. But he might also be telling the truth."
"So, how to know one way or the other..."
He leads the way to the house Samuel's sire died in...
...
Mia sees her sire, Elena, at the gallery.
"I hear you and your little Brujah friend have been busy."
"... We've been looking into something. With some others."
"Hm, well, I saw the way you danced with him."
"... Uh, anyway, did you hear about the attack on the Vault?"
"Yes, terrible... who do you think it was?"
"I know someone suspects the Prince."
"Of course they do. But what does he gain from that?"
...
Jones dodges a swing from the second new vampire and elbows her in the face, knocking her to the ground and kicking her head down onto the tarmac.
The stranger smiles coldly as the third new vampire circles Jones warily.
"You think you can beat us all?"
"I think if I beat you that's what matters."
"That would make a point, but there are always more of us."
"Who are you?"
"Barrett's only been Prince a few decades. And he didn't wipe out everyone he had to when he took power."
"Haven't seen them before. I'd guess Barrett's people. But could be someone else."
"You seem pretty casual about this..." Jessica says.
"They were a means to an end, that's all." There's a hint of anger in Grey's voice. "And I made sure Danni's looked after."
Jones stalks off into the dark, determined to find the stranger.
David and Jessica go to see their mother.
Samuel goes to see Carlin.
Mia, reluctantly, heads to Elysium. Partially to make sure it hasn't been attacked as well.
...
Jones finds her, not far from the university. She's not alone.
Three other vampires move to surround him as he strides towards her.
"Did you kill Lake?"
"Might have. Problem?"
He looks at her and the others, and shrugs slightly.
"Not really, personally, but my friends might have one."
The first vampire charges, and Jones grabs him, uses his momentum against him, slams him face-first into a wall.
...
Julia can tell her children are nervous about something.
"It's just, ah, roommate troubles," David assures her. She takes that to be code for girlfriend troubles. Jessica doesn't quite suppress a smile as this idea.
...
Carlin meets Samuel at the city's central train station.
"A friend from Lewiston told me my sire was murdered, and Barrett let it slide."
"How interesting. What would lead your friend to suggest that?"
"I would guess he wants to cause trouble. But he might also be telling the truth."
"So, how to know one way or the other..."
He leads the way to the house Samuel's sire died in...
...
Mia sees her sire, Elena, at the gallery.
"I hear you and your little Brujah friend have been busy."
"... We've been looking into something. With some others."
"Hm, well, I saw the way you danced with him."
"... Uh, anyway, did you hear about the attack on the Vault?"
"Yes, terrible... who do you think it was?"
"I know someone suspects the Prince."
"Of course they do. But what does he gain from that?"
...
Jones dodges a swing from the second new vampire and elbows her in the face, knocking her to the ground and kicking her head down onto the tarmac.
The stranger smiles coldly as the third new vampire circles Jones warily.
"You think you can beat us all?"
"I think if I beat you that's what matters."
"That would make a point, but there are always more of us."
"Who are you?"
"Barrett's only been Prince a few decades. And he didn't wipe out everyone he had to when he took power."
Wednesday, 29 November 2017
The Forgotten: Nine
Jones chooses a suitably dark alley to bring the Lawrence vampire down, hard, cracking his skull.
Stewart acts nonchalant.
"Seems to me it's time your city came under new management. Do you have any loyalty to Barrett and his people?"
"Not really," David shrugs, "but I do care about the people that'll get hurt in the fight."
"Of course, of course. That's why I want to make sure there's a peaceful transition."
Jones arrives, holding the semi-conscious vampire up by the collar, dropping him at Stewart's feet.
"Good luck with that..." Mia says.
"So why now?" Samuel asks.
"Because of you and yours." Stewart looks up from the wounded vampire to Samuel. "A Tremere murdered. Only a matter of time before someone responds."
The Lawrence vampire stirs, broken bone clicking back into place.
"And what's your part in this?" Jones asks in a low growl.
"That fucker Barrett's got t' go. Banned me from making a childe. She's dead because of him."
Jessica, who has been listening at a safe distance until now, looks up. "Everybody's mad at everybody else. Why? You're far enough away that he wasn't your problem until you started making trouble for him in Lawrence."
Stewart peers at Jessica.
"It isn't always hidden agendas with us, child. Sometimes it's just what it looks like. Wait long enough and every vampire makes enemies, it's just a question of which ones. I believe he exiled your sire?" he adds with a glance to David. "And let yours die..." he says to Samuel.
Mia tuts.
"Well, you've had a man on the inside for a while now. Maybe a woman on the outside as well."
"And a few more sneaking around as well..." Jones adds.
Mia notices that Stewart hides a momentary look of surprise.
"Or don't you?"
"There are bound to be other interested parties."
Mia squares up to him.
"How about this... You don't invade until we know who else is planning to."
Stewart shrugs lightly.
"Good enough." Mia spins on her heel and heads for the door. The others manage to follow her out quickly enough that they look like they're in agreement.
"So what now?" Samuel asks as they head for the cars. "Find this other one Jones has been tracking?"
"It's a start." Mia shrugs. "I just want to know everybody who'd playing this little game."
...
They head back to Lawrence, and find the Vault is closed, one of its windows smashed.
And Grey comes out of a nearby cafe to meet them. "So... Lake's dead. Mac and Bats are on the run and Danni's in torpor. How was your night?"
Stewart acts nonchalant.
"Seems to me it's time your city came under new management. Do you have any loyalty to Barrett and his people?"
"Not really," David shrugs, "but I do care about the people that'll get hurt in the fight."
"Of course, of course. That's why I want to make sure there's a peaceful transition."
Jones arrives, holding the semi-conscious vampire up by the collar, dropping him at Stewart's feet.
"Good luck with that..." Mia says.
"So why now?" Samuel asks.
"Because of you and yours." Stewart looks up from the wounded vampire to Samuel. "A Tremere murdered. Only a matter of time before someone responds."
The Lawrence vampire stirs, broken bone clicking back into place.
"And what's your part in this?" Jones asks in a low growl.
"That fucker Barrett's got t' go. Banned me from making a childe. She's dead because of him."
Jessica, who has been listening at a safe distance until now, looks up. "Everybody's mad at everybody else. Why? You're far enough away that he wasn't your problem until you started making trouble for him in Lawrence."
Stewart peers at Jessica.
"It isn't always hidden agendas with us, child. Sometimes it's just what it looks like. Wait long enough and every vampire makes enemies, it's just a question of which ones. I believe he exiled your sire?" he adds with a glance to David. "And let yours die..." he says to Samuel.
Mia tuts.
"Well, you've had a man on the inside for a while now. Maybe a woman on the outside as well."
"And a few more sneaking around as well..." Jones adds.
Mia notices that Stewart hides a momentary look of surprise.
"Or don't you?"
"There are bound to be other interested parties."
Mia squares up to him.
"How about this... You don't invade until we know who else is planning to."
Stewart shrugs lightly.
"Good enough." Mia spins on her heel and heads for the door. The others manage to follow her out quickly enough that they look like they're in agreement.
"So what now?" Samuel asks as they head for the cars. "Find this other one Jones has been tracking?"
"It's a start." Mia shrugs. "I just want to know everybody who'd playing this little game."
...
They head back to Lawrence, and find the Vault is closed, one of its windows smashed.
And Grey comes out of a nearby cafe to meet them. "So... Lake's dead. Mac and Bats are on the run and Danni's in torpor. How was your night?"
Monday, 27 November 2017
You're The Only Thing Worth Dying For: Four
Vampire: The Requiem
You're The Only Thing Worth Dying For
Four: Come a little bit closer
One
Two
Three
"Do you want to dance?"
He held her hand lightly and stepped towards the dancefloor, and she went with him.
Something fast... then something slow, and she moved closer, showing that she could be in his arms if he wanted. He hesitated, then put a hand on her mid back.
She looked up into his eyes.
"Have you ever..." She paused.
"Ever...?" he asked, thinking of good and bad possibilities.
"Been with a... uh, someone, since?"
He shook his head. Troubled, but nearly hiding it.
"Well, I haven't been with a guy since I got here either." She smiled, trying to lighten things. He chuckled, slightly.
The song changed to something different, and she was still in his arms.
After a lingering moment, she blinked and smiled shyly. "We should... head back."
He nodded, and led her away from the dancefloor and back to her friends. They took her to get drinks.
"So he seems nice... Caitlyn suggested.
"He is, yeah."
"Are there any more like him?" Gemma smiled slyly.
"Not as such."
She glanced around, looking for the other woman, the other vampire.
The party continued, and Caitlyn got a chance to grill Michael like an attentive chaperone. Sarah rescued him before too long.
"She's very fond of you."
"Yeah, she's great."
It was nearing midnight.
"I guess you've got things to do..." she said quietly.
"I suppose so. I could walk you back to your room?"
She wondered if his lips would be warm.
Wednesday, 22 November 2017
The Forgotten: Eight
The coterie meet early the next night, away from the Vault.
"Lake said my sire knew about the attacks." Samuel grimaces.
"Was he ever around Lewiston?" Mia asks.
"Not that I know of."
"Everything else seems to point there," David adds.
"Road trip?" Jessica asks.
Jones shrugs. "Makes a change from running after them."
They head over in two cars, David driving Jessica and Mia in one, Jones driving Samuel in the other. Mia gets to see the Harpers' familial warmth. Samuel gets to use his phone in peace.
...
Finding an address supplied by Mia's sire, they find their way to a club near the city college, and to a vampire who, on noticing them, nods for them to meet her outside.
"You're from Lawrence?"
"We are." Jones looms.
"Just here to ask questions." Mia puts a hand on his arm, and smiles at their new friend disarmingly.
"Good. Because there's not enough town for four more of us." The vampire peers at Jessica curiously. Jessica looks away uncomfortably and the vampire smiles slightly.
"Is that why our kind of people keep coming over to Lawrence?" David asks, pulling her attention back.
"They hear your boss is weak. Something about the bookish types getting in trouble."
Jones looks at Samuel before he can stop himself.
"... Anyway, you know how rumors start." The stranger shrugs lightly. "The one you want to talk to would be Stewart." She opens her purse - slowly as she notices the group watching - and writes an address on a slip of paper. "Danton works for him."
...
The address leads to an all-night cafe across the campus.
There are no vampires inside.
"Set-up?" Jones growls.
"Or maybe..." Mia approaches one of the baristas, flashes a smile and a tip and a little Presence."Yes, seems he's here fairly often. Not the last couple of nights, though."
"Maybe I can catch his scent." Jones breathes in deeply. "Maybe."
He leads them to one of the college's library buildings. And two other vampires. One is apparently Stewart. The other is a familiar face from the Vault.
The Lawrence vampire makes a run for it.
Jones gives chase.
Stewart backs up, hands raised, as David and Mia approach.
"Lake said my sire knew about the attacks." Samuel grimaces.
"Was he ever around Lewiston?" Mia asks.
"Not that I know of."
"Everything else seems to point there," David adds.
"Road trip?" Jessica asks.
Jones shrugs. "Makes a change from running after them."
They head over in two cars, David driving Jessica and Mia in one, Jones driving Samuel in the other. Mia gets to see the Harpers' familial warmth. Samuel gets to use his phone in peace.
...
Finding an address supplied by Mia's sire, they find their way to a club near the city college, and to a vampire who, on noticing them, nods for them to meet her outside.
"You're from Lawrence?"
"We are." Jones looms.
"Just here to ask questions." Mia puts a hand on his arm, and smiles at their new friend disarmingly.
"Good. Because there's not enough town for four more of us." The vampire peers at Jessica curiously. Jessica looks away uncomfortably and the vampire smiles slightly.
"Is that why our kind of people keep coming over to Lawrence?" David asks, pulling her attention back.
"They hear your boss is weak. Something about the bookish types getting in trouble."
Jones looks at Samuel before he can stop himself.
"... Anyway, you know how rumors start." The stranger shrugs lightly. "The one you want to talk to would be Stewart." She opens her purse - slowly as she notices the group watching - and writes an address on a slip of paper. "Danton works for him."
...
The address leads to an all-night cafe across the campus.
There are no vampires inside.
"Set-up?" Jones growls.
"Or maybe..." Mia approaches one of the baristas, flashes a smile and a tip and a little Presence."Yes, seems he's here fairly often. Not the last couple of nights, though."
"Maybe I can catch his scent." Jones breathes in deeply. "Maybe."
He leads them to one of the college's library buildings. And two other vampires. One is apparently Stewart. The other is a familiar face from the Vault.
The Lawrence vampire makes a run for it.
Jones gives chase.
Stewart backs up, hands raised, as David and Mia approach.
Thursday, 16 November 2017
The Forgotten: Seven
Danton approaches Mia and asks her to dance. She takes his hand and lets him guide her out onto the dance floor.
"This is a coincidence. My friend David has a new dance partner from out of town as well."
"Well, it is a party."
"One with the prince in attendance."
"More an issue for her than for me, I'd think."
Jessica sees Monica approach, offering her a glass of champagne. They watch David with Grey and Mia with Danton.
"Should I intervene?" Monica asks.
"Maybe?" Jessica says, not sure how to respond.
...
Samuel heads out to the balcony to find Jones. The Gangrel looks over.
"My 'friend' tells me the city's going to fall."
"Seems everybody has one except me. Hmph." Samuel nods inside, where Jones sees Monica walking up to Mia and Danton.
"Somebody's backing them. Making sure they get here, they feel safe showing their faces."
"Lewiston's close enough that they could run if they have to."
"Maybe we should see if they do that."
...
Danton smiles politely as Monica cuts in. Mia steps away, to Jessica at the sidelines.
"Are they working together?"
"He made it sound like they aren't."
Mia looks over at Grey still in David's arms, her eyes narrowing just a little.
"Uh, there is someone we could ask," Jessica suggests, and Mia looks back to her and softens.
...
Samuel heads out with Jones to the Vault. The club's Halloween party is more about two-for-one shots of something a disgusting green color.
They find Lake, Mac and Danni there.
"So, what's the deal with you and Grey?" Samuel gets right to it.
"Why, you think she's cute?"
"She seems to think that way about David."
Lake's smile slips.
"It's strictly business. The big boys are gonna fight, we make sure nobody we care about gets hurt."
"That doesn't necessarily include you," Mac adds.
Jones looms over him.
"Just tell us what's really happening."
"Do you think they even know?" Samuel snorts.
Mac jumps to his feet, up in Samuel's face.
"Oh, we know plenty, Draco. You'll see."
Lake puts a hand on Mac's arm, and he turns and snarls at him before stepping it down.
"I'm not gonna pretend we know everything. But I know some of it's already started."
Lake looks at Samuel pointedly.
"Your sire knew about this."
...
Grey sees Mia watching, and kisses David on the cheek.
"We must do this again sometime."
She saunters out. David watches, scowling.
Mia wonders if it's just because she was being sly.
"This is a coincidence. My friend David has a new dance partner from out of town as well."
"Well, it is a party."
"One with the prince in attendance."
"More an issue for her than for me, I'd think."
Jessica sees Monica approach, offering her a glass of champagne. They watch David with Grey and Mia with Danton.
"Should I intervene?" Monica asks.
"Maybe?" Jessica says, not sure how to respond.
...
Samuel heads out to the balcony to find Jones. The Gangrel looks over.
"My 'friend' tells me the city's going to fall."
"Seems everybody has one except me. Hmph." Samuel nods inside, where Jones sees Monica walking up to Mia and Danton.
"Somebody's backing them. Making sure they get here, they feel safe showing their faces."
"Lewiston's close enough that they could run if they have to."
"Maybe we should see if they do that."
...
Danton smiles politely as Monica cuts in. Mia steps away, to Jessica at the sidelines.
"Are they working together?"
"He made it sound like they aren't."
Mia looks over at Grey still in David's arms, her eyes narrowing just a little.
"Uh, there is someone we could ask," Jessica suggests, and Mia looks back to her and softens.
...
Samuel heads out with Jones to the Vault. The club's Halloween party is more about two-for-one shots of something a disgusting green color.
They find Lake, Mac and Danni there.
"So, what's the deal with you and Grey?" Samuel gets right to it.
"Why, you think she's cute?"
"She seems to think that way about David."
Lake's smile slips.
"It's strictly business. The big boys are gonna fight, we make sure nobody we care about gets hurt."
"That doesn't necessarily include you," Mac adds.
Jones looms over him.
"Just tell us what's really happening."
"Do you think they even know?" Samuel snorts.
Mac jumps to his feet, up in Samuel's face.
"Oh, we know plenty, Draco. You'll see."
Lake puts a hand on Mac's arm, and he turns and snarls at him before stepping it down.
"I'm not gonna pretend we know everything. But I know some of it's already started."
Lake looks at Samuel pointedly.
"Your sire knew about this."
...
Grey sees Mia watching, and kisses David on the cheek.
"We must do this again sometime."
She saunters out. David watches, scowling.
Mia wonders if it's just because she was being sly.
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