(IC IV) San Francisco by Night: A Requiem in Fog

[Bennosuke]

“Need blood first, or I’m going to drain Saul and that won’t be good for anyone,” Anna said.

"Very well," the Prince's childe says, gritting his teeth to show irritation, though he makes no attempt to protest. He raises a hand and with a snap summons a ghoul servant. A young man in a dark suit similar to the guards who escorted the coterie in steps forward. He comes between Anna and his master dutifully. A glazed look in the man's eyes bely that he might be under some form of blood bond, or Domination, or other sanguine magic. Before the ghoul yields, Tony says, "Take just a little. It's too close to sunrise to be sending him to the hospital."

With this the ghoul takes steps towards Anna, his eyes dull and staring at nothing. Like a puppet lowered by strings he drops to his knees before the Mekhet, his head falling back to reveal his neck.

Anna's nostrils are filled with the smell of his blood, his sweat, his flesh, all hot and human and intoxicating. The hunger in Anna is maddening, The Beast ravenous, and it had been so so long since Anna had been this hungry. She could feel her hands shaking, her fangs out already. The Beast was screaming in Anna's head to feed, to take, to kill.

Spoiler: OOC

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Before we go any further, I'm going to ask Anna to resist Frenzy given the strain of her hunger and rising sun, and an incredibly long and dangerous night. This will be Resolve + composure at -2 (-4 for starving +2 for being in a setting like Elysium). Anna cannot spend to boos the roll, though she can spend it to delay frenzy if she fails.

[Thundercracker]

Unable to stop herself, Anna sinks her fangs deep into the ghoul's neck. The hot gush was so sweet, so delicious, she had great difficulty stopping herself from drinking it all, but she managed, barely.

Spoiler

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Anna stops at three, leaving her with five

She licked the wound closed and withdrew, still staring at the ghoul longingly.

"Thank you Tony," she said, without looking up, "I'm not sure if you realize how close that was."

She looked at the Prince's childe, one of the few neonates in the city younger than her.

Aware of how little time they have, she relays the story of the evening, from the beginning.
"Plus we have the audio recordings," she said, "I assume you've listened to those."

[Bennosuke]

Anna manages to hang onto her control, despite the ghoul's soft breathing, despite the heat of his body, despite the sweetness of his blood. She releases the man though her heart is still heavy, her body still aching and empty. The ghoul collapses forward when Anna releases, falling softly onto his elbows. She can hear his heavy breathing and the racing of his heart. But after a few moments, the Ghoul struggles to his feet.

"Thank you Mikey, that will be all," Tony says coldly, eyes shifting between the Ghoul and Anna. Dazed, the ghoul stumbles away on heavy legs, eyes still glazed over.

(OOC: Updated your character box)

"Thank you Tony," she said, without looking up, "I'm not sure if you realize how close that was."

He nods his head, and mutters something about it not being a problem. He listens intently, if not slightly impatiently as the group relay their story. When he is done, he shakes his head. "I... I'm not surprised about Fort, given everything my Sire has told me. And of course, he knows there's not much we can do about it. Nicholas' grasp on the city is still tenuous, he's been Prince less than a year. We can't go starting a war with Oakland, even though it sounds like Prince Reggie is doing everything he can to advance the Carthian's agenda here. But Nova. If she's in his pocket we have a problem. Do you have any news on her?"

[Haval]

Rachel will watch Anna feed with curiosity. Just in case she was hungry enough to lose control. Rachel had no intention of intervening either way.

On Nova, 'I think we lack hard evidence at the moment don't we? Unless Saul decides to talk.'

[Thundercracker]

Rachel will watch Anna feed with curiosity. Just in case she was hungry enough to lose control. Rachel had no intention of intervening either way.

On Nova, 'I think we lack hard evidence at the moment don't we? Unless Saul decides to talk.'

"We have the audio confessions from both Zach and Murat," Anna said, "they separately identified her as the one who instructed them to attack us, and she's the one who sent us to the ambush."

[Haval]

"We have the audio confessions from both Zach and Murat," Anna said, "they separately identified her as the one who instructed them to attack us, and she's the one who sent us to the ambush."

'Then perhaps I should say is that enough by itself to act against Nova? If she's planning on escalating to something more obvious that's different, but otherwise do we assume that the Carthians are going to accept Nova being punished for this?'

[Thundercracker]

'Then perhaps I should say is that enough by itself to act against Nova? If she's planning on escalating to something more obvious that's different, but otherwise do we assume that the Carthians are going to accept Nova being punished for this?'

“I don’t know,” Anna replied as she looked to Tony.

[Bennosuke]

Tony listens to this conversation with a scowl still playing across his face. He nods and says, "Well we can't get a hold of her, and it seems that enough of her friends in The Carthian Movement have gone crazy. At the very least, we know we can't rely on her right now." He impatiently brings his hands to his chest and starts reflexively cracking his knuckles while he thinks for a moment. "Look," he finally spits, "my Sire said he'll be home in another two nights. That means we have to keep things from getting out of control before then, and I can't go making any big decisions until then. The night is pretty much over. You've done plenty tonight, and I fear there will be even more violence tomorrow. Why don't you get home before the sun rises. I'll deal with Saul first thing tomorrow, and will let you know what he says. When you rise, why don't you focus on stopping any more Carthian attacks, and finding out just what the hell is going on with Nova?"

[Thundercracker]

Tony listens to this conversation with a scowl still playing across his face. He nods and says, "Well we can't get a hold of her, and it seems that enough of her friends in The Carthian Movement have gone crazy. At the very least, we know we can't rely on her right now." He impatiently brings his hands to his chest and starts reflexively cracking his knuckles while he thinks for a moment. "Look," he finally spits, "my Sire said he'll be home in another two nights. That means we have to keep things from getting out of control before then, and I can't go making any big decisions until then. The night is pretty much over. You've done plenty tonight, and I fear there will be even more violence tomorrow. Why don't you get home before the sun rises. I'll deal with Saul first thing tomorrow, and will let you know what he says. When you rise, why don't you focus on stopping any more Carthian attacks, and finding out just what the hell is going on with Nova?"

“Have you been in contact with the primogen? We need to know who is on our side,” Anna said.

[Haval]

Rachel wonders about the wisdom of being closer to the Prince in a time when it might have put a target on her back. On the other hand, perhaps it was an opportunity.

On the Primogen, 'I would like to think if Blackstar was associated with this someone would have let me know by now.'

[Bennosuke]

With an irritated look Tony replies, "Which Primogen? Do you mean Bobby Hutton? Yeah. He swears he has nothing to do with everything that's happening and feigns ignorance that it's even happening. But he's probably full of ****."

[Haval]

But he's probably full of ****."

Rachel smiles to herself, 'That's politics for you.'

[Thundercracker]

With an irritated look Tony replies, "Which Primogen? Do you mean Bobby Hutton? Yeah. He swears he has nothing to do with everything that's happening and feigns ignorance that it's even happening. But he's probably full of ****."

“I meant the others,” Anna replied, “but speaking of Bobby, there was supposed to be a high level meeting between the Spear and Carthians, to smooth this over. Lady Stardust had agreed to host. What happened with that?”

[Bennosuke]

Tony runs a hand through his frosted hair in a gesture that screams mortal under stress. Referring to the Carthian-Spear meeting, Tony's voice rises, "Yes, yes there was. But again Hutton is being very difficult regarding his availability!" He grimaces and you can see his fangs are out. "Not that Father Skull is cooperating much either."

[Haval]

'Well I suppose he's unlikely to be working with the Cartheans, even if he might want to profit from any chaos they might try to create.'

[Thundercracker]

Tony runs a hand through his frosted hair in a gesture that screams mortal under stress. Referring to the Carthian-Spear meeting, Tony's voice rises, "Yes, yes there was. But again Hutton is being very difficult regarding his availability!" He grimaces and you can see his fangs are out. "Not that Father Skull is cooperating much either."

"Alright Tony, there's not much more we can do tonight," Anna said, "let us know if there are any instructions from the Prince during the day, and we'll tackle it tomorrow. I would stress to everyone that above all else, the Masquerade must be maintained."

She paused.

"I know it's insane right now, but don't worry, we're on your side. Whatever blows up tomorrow, we'll handle it together," she said, "I'll be sure to inform the Prince you performed admirably while he was away, but we've got to keep it together."

[Bennosuke]

"Very good," Tony says with a nod. The fatigue and frustration on his face are broken by a hint of sincere gratitude. He adds with a wave, "I'll have my ghouls see you out. Get home safely. Just another couple of nights. We will talk first thing tomorrow." Unless anyone has any other questions or conversation points, a suited ghoul arrives when Tony snaps his fingers to see the coterie out and back to their car.

By now the sky is practically blue, though all the streetlights still glow. For kindred though, the air is practically charged with an electric energy that makes one's hair stand on end, and it feels like you are standing in an oven the air is so thick with heat. This is worse for both Karl and Anna, the two Mekhet's whose skin is starting to turn pink from the slowly approaching rays of the sun. The gates open to let the car out, and then it is only a couple of block's drive to the coterie's Seacliff haven. The drive is rushed none the less, and you may have knocked over a trashcan on the way, though it matters little when the dawn is so close.

The coterie's haven is an old Victorian two story home that has recently been renovated (thanks to the fire damage done during the overthrow of Prince Gorman). It's freshly applied coat of cream and purple and green paint smiles welcomingly down on the group as they pull into the garage, the temperature seeming to drop almost twenty degrees once inside. It will be up to Karl and Anna to help Rachel find a place away from the sun. Fortunately, Fred Rugg is still asleep. A sleep as heavy as death hangs on the shoulders of every Kindred. This night had been long and dangerous, and with the sun nearly up, it would be hard to fight off the day sleep much longer.

(OOC: We can basically wrap things up here, though feel free to RP showing Rachel around the haven, or respond if you want to discuss any last things with Tony. We will otherwise wrap the scene here. I am going to get to other posts, but will endeavor to count up beats today or tomorrow, based on how long it takes me to get through everything and what other work pops up today.)

[Haval]

Rachel is increasingly on edge as she follows Karl and Anna in her own car. If she had to sleep somewhere outside of her Haven she usually likes to do her research first where possible. But she is fairly confident that they needed each other too much at the moment that finding her a place to sleep shouldn't be that big of an ask.

When they were safely inside, 'Where did you find this place anyway?'

[Bennosuke]

Act V Scene iv

"I wish I was like you
Easily amused
Find my nest of salt
Everything is my fault
I'll take all the blame
Aqua sea foam shame
Sunburn freezer burn
Choking on the ashes of her enemy
In the sun
In the sun, I feel as one
In the sun
In the sun
Married
Buried"

-Nirvana, All Apologies

Rachel wakes up, her consciousness returning in an almost violent shock. Darkness all around her. Her eyes adjust quickly, bringing the room into view. The surroundings are unfamiliar, and her skin crawls with this realization. Triggered by the terror, Rachel's heart is beating again without her volition, racing for a handful of beats before memories of the night before finally start to set in. Then she hears it; a heartbeat in the room with her. How could it have taken so long for the predator to register the presence of prey?

A man, standing at a distance, in the corner of the room. He was observing her. His face was lined, though his hair still had color, his pale face and blue eyes somehow familiar. He was studying Rachel coldly, though she could hear how fast his heart was racing. Even at this distance, Rachel could smell the man, recently washed, but still the smell of sweat and blood and meat were on him. She could smell his mint scented hair product, his rich cologne. He did not seem to startle as he recognized Rachel's awakening, though he seemed frozen in his spot, mouth slightly agape.

************************************************** **************

A deep aching empty hunger deep in Karl's chest slowly roused him from his slumber. As consciousness slowly returned, so did the pain that spread out through every artery and vein, pulling tightly, hollowing him out till the hunger was all Karl could think about. As Karl awoke in his room, and movement returned to his limbs, Karl's hands went to the wounds still present from the night before. All healed, Karl's body was returned to a perfect copy of the night he had been embraced. Yet still, everything hurt. Everything ached. Everything hungered.

The thought came unbidden to Karl, perhaps Fred would give him just a little of his blood. Though the thought was alien, Karl could not be sure if it had been The Beast who had suggested it, or his own mind desperate in its need to sate this terrible hunger. Their many responsibilities this night were a far cry from Karl's current need. He would be useless to the group till he had fed, and he could feel how tenuous his grip over the Beast was.

************************************************** ***************

Anna's day sleep was filled with dreams of Lady Miho and the Ordo Dracul. As her nighttime consciousness dragged her from these dreams, her grasp on their events quickly became tenuous. But there was something dark and foreboding about these dreams, something that screamed "Warning, bad times ahead".

Anna was hungry, though her early morning feeding had helped to keep her hunger more of a heavy dull ache, rather than a sharp stabbing madness. As the dreams faded farther into oblivion, Anna pulled out her phone. There was a message from Katie, saying that she had moved out, and left the key under the entranceway mat. There was also a message from her aunt asking her how she was doing, and when Anna would be "stopping by" next. The Pulse was filled with stories; updates on the anarchy in Los Angeles, rumors of VII sightings in Portland, and reports on the cold war turning hot in San Francisco.

Anna could hear Karl rousing in the other room, and Gabe down the hall. Karl's mortal progeny was somewhere distant. There was the sound of his heartbeat, maybe downstairs.

[Thundercracker]

Anna Wu

"Awesome, thanks," Anna texted to Katie, "hope you had fun. Door is open whenever you need a place to stay, but message me first. Where are you going to stay?"

She messaged Celestine next: "Hopefully tonight. It has been dangerous lately."
She messaged Aisling: "Zach ran, booked a plane to Portland, weren't you living there? Thought you should know, in case you wanted to catch up with him."
Hopefully she got the vengeance she wanted.. Anna had given Zach more chances than he deserved, and it would be fitting if he met Final Death at Aisling's claws.

She messaged Kenji, her Sire / mentor: "How are things at the Ordo? I had a bad dream last day, you?"

Then she went to find Fred and learn what he'd learned about sponsoring a blood drive. He was supposed to get her a quote.

"Need to hunt, freakin' starving," she thought.
It had been so busy for so long, she couldn't remember the last time she'd drank her fill... it was starting to annoy her.

[Haval]

The initial urge to run and find somewhere safe was almost overpowering. Normally Rachel preferred to have more control over where she slept but she was old enough to have experienced something like this before. She just had to take it one problem at a time. A problem such as whoever this guy was. Just because she was sleeping here it didn't mean she knew everyone who might come through here to trust them.

Rachel will rise to a sitting position in one smooth movement so that she might be better to prepared to deal with the man. If in fact he needed to be dealt with. 'Hey...I don't suppose you're a burgler by any chance? It might save me some time later.' She'll be careful to maintain eye contact with the man while keeping half an eye on the room's exits. Even if she wasn't able to dominate him it would probably be easy enough to run him down if she had to. It was too early in the evening for her to bother hiding the look of hunger on her face.

[Daishain]

Karl grits his teeth as he gets up, rubbing his face in an effort to get the vitae flowing and reduce the stiffness.

The impulse to seek blood from Fred disgusted a part of him. What was disturbing was how little the rest of him cared... He needed blood, soon... Wait, Fred. Did he remember to leave a message warning they had a guest? He couldn't remember...

Shuffling slightly the old man goes to check on his grandson. Just a quick peek, and then it would be out and about to hunt.

[Bennosuke]

It takes about ten minutes after Anna's first text to her cousin before she gets a reply. Katie's text message reads, "Thank you for your generosity Anna. I started a job at a boba and donut place. The base pay isn't great but I get A LOT of tips!!! ;) I can bring you some cream donuts some time if you like. If I remember, you used to love those, right? I'm going to be staying with a friend, but should have enough money for my own place soon."

Celestine's text comes back much quicker, actually reaching Anna before her daughter's. "Great. If you can, come earlier. I have been so tired lately and you are less likely to wake uncle!" her text reads, clearly ignoring some of the subtext of Anna's message.

Aisling's Pulse message simply reads, "Give me as much info on where he went."

The message from Anna's Sire is fast enough, "Anna! I hope you are okay! We have been rebuilding. Such a terrible shame what is happening now, and to think that someone would target us! Have you heard anything? When will I see you next?"

(OOC: Will give you a chance to reply to these here so that Haval has a moment)

************************************************** *******

The man barely flinches at Rachel's words, stuck in his corner, watching. Though he was trying to keep his cool, his heartbeat was a thundering beat that filled the room, and she could smell the growing stench of fear despite his scented washes and cologne. "I suppose I could ask you the same thing," the man says flatly. His voice was slightly high pitched and nasal, and very American in accent. His eyes narrow as he adds, "Though I would suspect you prefer a very specific type of theft." Reflexively, the man's hand goes to his throat. He sighs again and says, "I take it my Grand... that Karl, and uh Anna know you are here?" He glances up at the stairs, where the other Kindred had ascended to take shelter in their rooms from the rising sun.

************************************************** *******

Karl steps out of his room, though the act of rising itself was painful. Willing his muscles to move a throbbing pain that shot from his chest, up his neck and into Karl's skull. The room goes briefly out of focus, as The Beast threatens to take hold, and when Karl regains himself, his hands have twisted onto claws that were scratching at his cheeks. The sudden attack quickly fades, and control returns.

When Karl steps out of the room, he can hear Anna stirring next door. Her phone was pinging, but Karl's attention is quickly pulled to the sound of Fred's heartbeat downstairs. The Mekhet is struck by a sudden possessive fear. Images of Rachel feeding on his grandson race through Karl's mind at the same time as images of his own body shriveling into dust due to starvation.

[Haval]

'You could ask.' Rachel will stand up and start to move closer to the man without any real urgency. 'But I would say you should be more careful around anyone whose actually willing to break in here.' She'll neither confirm not deny that she was a vampire, but she will grin as the man touches his throat.

[Bennosuke]

This brings a grin to the man's face, though there is no humor in the expression. "Well I'd imagine anyone who broke in here wouldn't be so careless as to fall asleep and stay until the sun went down... assuming they were... well human," he says, struggling to finish the thought. Now he takes a step towards the stairway, more uncertainty in his voice, "Again, Karl and Anna know you are hear right?" His voice raises just a little, perhaps in hopes that someone upstairs would hear.

[Haval]

'Oh, I'm still human...more or less, but being like this is a lot more interesting.' Rachel replied. She'll aim to get close enough that she could take the man by the hand if she wanted. 'And they did let me in last night. I'm working with them for the moment. Who exactly are Anna and Karl to you?'

[Daishain]

Karl heads downstairs, the concern growing as he realizes Fred's heartbeat is beating within the room where Rachel was staying. He calls out as he approaches the door, "Fred? Everything all right? We have a guest."

[Thundercracker]

To Kenji: “not yet, only that it has been very busy and Oakland is involved somehow. It will probably be busy tonight but let’s keep in close communication? I will let you know if there are any more developments, and would appreciate your guidance, as always.”

To Katie: “awesome, talk later.”

To Celestine: “I will try.”

She heard a conversation and walked towards the sound as she tapped away on her phone.

“Fred? How did it go?” she asked.

[Bennosuke]

'Oh, I'm still human...more or less, but being like this is a lot more interesting.' Rachel replied. She'll aim to get close enough that she could take the man by the hand if she wanted. 'And they did let me in last night. I'm working with them for the moment. Who exactly are Anna and Karl to you?'

The man's face twitches when Rachel states she is still human, though he only blanches for a moment. He smiles just slightly at her question, and with a small bit of mirth replies, "I guess you could say I am their housemate." He raises a hand to his chest, and adds, "My name is Fred. And you would be?"

Karl heads downstairs, the concern growing as he realizes Fred's heartbeat is beating within the room where Rachel was staying. He calls out as he approaches the door, "Fred? Everything all right? We have a guest.

Fred's grin falters for a just a moment when he hears Karl's voice, and he takes a step closer to the stairs, though his eyes never leave Rachel. "I'm fine," he calls back, "I was just... introducing myself."

She heard a conversation and walked towards the sound as she tapped away on her phone.

“Fred? How did it go?” she asked.

Now Fred turns his head, looking back up the hallway, though he quickly returns his surveillance of Rachel. "It went fine. Made some progress. Do you want to discuss it all now?" he calls, almost a little dutifully.

************************************************** ***

Kenji's message is a simple acceptance of Anna's report and what reads as a heartfelt request to be careful.

Katie doesn't reply, but Celestine does almost immediately. Her text reads, "Let me know when you are coming. We will try to make things ready for you. I will need to tell Uncle of course!"

[Thundercracker]

The man's face twitches when Rachel states she is still human, though he only blanches for a moment. He smiles just slightly at her question, and with a small bit of mirth replies, "I guess you could say I am their housemate." He raises a hand to his chest, and adds, "My name is Fred. And you would be?"



Fred's grin falters for a just a moment when he hears Karl's voice, and he takes a step closer to the stairs, though his eyes never leave Rachel. "I'm fine," he calls back, "I was just... introducing myself."



Now Fred turns his head, looking back up the hallway, though he quickly returns his surveillance of Rachel. "It went fine. Made some progress. Do you want to discuss it all now?" he calls, almost a little dutifully.

************************************************** ***

Kenji's message is a simple acceptance of Anna's report and what reads as a heartfelt request to be careful.

Katie doesn't reply, but Celestine does almost immediately. Her text reads, "Let me know when you are coming. We will try to make things ready for you. I will need to tell Uncle of course!"

“Yes, show me what you’ve got,” she said to Fred.

She forwarded the request from Aisling to Karl, along with a note to pass her any additional info they had on Zach’s whereabouts.