Latest / Dubious Creatures Presents / The Vampire With No Name 1.13 - Lead Poisoning

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The Vampire With No Name 1.13 - Lead Poisoning · Dubious Creatures Presents

0:32
The. A highway wanders through the
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desert. A tumbleweed drifts past a dusty
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dive bar. A coyote shrieks out to no one
1:28
in particular. Someone's bleeding out in a
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bathroom stall. The stars tonight are bright,
1:35
but not nearly bright enough. This place does not exist, and
1:42
yet here you are. Welcome to San Arroyo Kindred.
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We here at Dubious Creatures present to you the Vampire with
1:53
no name, Crow. Yes.
2:01
It's happening again. The second you laid hands on the
2:07
Colts, you were thrust back somewhere else, back under his
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massage skin. Only this time the rush of
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sensation is softer, A gentler memory from a gentler time.
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You, him, or both of you, sitting in a room that
2:32
practically reeks of wealth. Soft Persian rugs, ornay red
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gold wallpaper illumination projecting from a candlelit
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chandelier overhead, filling the whole space with a warm, if
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slightly flickering glow. There's two men in here with
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you. You recognize only one.
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Lounging in a high backed chair next to yours is Anselm,
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blending right into the decor with his richly patterned vest
3:02
and cravat. Otherwise, he looks the same as
3:06
when you first met him, but in this memory there's an ease to
3:09
him, sort of rakish looseness he didn't have when he ambushed you
3:15
in the wake of the rave. The other man's grinning at the
3:19
two of you with pearly fangs. He leans over a solid oak desk.
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He's younger, more buttoned up, handsome and the way long dead
3:30
people and oil paintings are handsome with sea green eyes and
3:35
formidable sideburns reminds you a little of ash in a way you
3:40
just can't quite put your finger on.
3:43
On the surface beforehand lies a polished wooden case, like a
3:47
large cigar box. You don't know where you are or
3:51
what you're doing here, but you can feel how massage is not
3:56
quite at home, but certainly something close to it.
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There's a camaraderie in the air that you can feel deep in the
4:05
pit of your his stomach Gentleman.
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The man behind the desk says. We've heard it directly over the
4:15
wire from Sacramento. As of tonight, we are officially
4:18
standing in the incorporated town of San Arroyo, California.
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And some replies. Is this the part where we
4:27
applaud your Majesty? Congratulations on your
4:31
successful praxis over, oh, everyone in this room.
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The grinning gentleman's smile doesn't waver as he reclines
4:40
back in his own seat, a match hissing as he lights a
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formidably sized cigar. We might not have enough
4:49
subjects to fill a toll booth, but think about what we've
4:52
really accomplished here, boys. Kindred and this county have
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been coming South since Lewis and Clark, but how many of them
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laid the first stones of the cities they lured over?
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That's not just legacy, that's staying power, not to mention an
5:06
investment opportunity for any enterprising lick from here to
5:09
Mexico. All they have to do to get their
5:12
rightful slice of Americana is kiss the ring.
5:17
Masab finishes his sentence. You feel his satisfaction at a
5:22
job finally accomplished, but even now tempered by a bone deep
5:27
weariness. So do I get my Tin Star now?
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Even better, Sheriff Seneschal Eisenstadt, if you'd kindly do
5:40
the honors. Ansome takes the wooden case off
5:44
the desk and unclapsed the front, opening it up to reveal a
5:47
massive 45 caliber revolver, A pristine twin of the slightly
5:54
battered and tarnished weapon you hold in your hands miles
5:59
away in the present. Then, as it is now, it's a truly
6:03
beautiful instrument of death, dealing the ivory handle
6:07
engraved with a symbol that reminds you vaguely of an ankh.
6:12
And then you're back. Fuck.
6:19
And then Bella is looking at you almost expectantly.
6:25
So you can see it too. See it too?
6:30
Wait, do you? You get the visions off the shit
6:36
too. Off of that shit?
6:39
Hell yeah. What the fuck?
6:46
That's proper power you're holding there, girly.
6:53
Wow. Just fucking wow.
7:01
Hey babe, says Darren from the front seat.
7:04
You've been driving non-stop in the direction proffered by Crow
7:11
since, well, since the yard. It's getting pretty early in the
7:18
morning. You're sure we're heading the
7:20
right way? You wouldn't try to fuck us
7:22
over, would you Crow? No, what if I was going to drive
7:30
us into the fucking sunrise? That's not going to be helpful
7:33
to me either, is it now? Well, the place we're going, is
7:36
it going to be safe? Yeah, it's been light proofed.
7:42
How much longer? Not too much, I don't think.
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Home sweet home. If you didn't know what off
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roads to take, you'd probably miss it.
7:56
You're not really sure how this trailer ended up all the way out
8:02
here in the 1st place. It just sort of became yours,
8:08
well, yours and asses, but that's that feels like a long
8:14
time ago now. Yeah, that's an understatement.
8:20
To your eyes, Ambella Well, it looks like someone's abandoned
8:27
camper van, out in the dust just past the city limits, slightly
8:36
nestled off the beaten path in the dry Gulch of the well.
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The Arroyo that Once Upon a time gave this city its name.
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Sort of place that if you didn't know to look for it, you'd
8:51
probably drive right past it. There are lights on inside.
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Cass usually isn't still awake at this point.
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That's probably a good sign. Should I expect many kind where
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we're going? Nope, just the one.
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And he'll probably be too high to even notice.
9:16
Huh. Just don't.
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Don't feed off him please. Why?
9:26
The contact tie would probably send you into the next life.
9:36
Sweetie, we've barely met, but I think I'd be fine.
9:42
Pretty sure you could take one of his dreadlocks and smoke
9:44
them. At this point I'm going to lead
9:48
them in, see why the fuck the lights are on.
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It's not locked, it's never locked and the interior is.
10:01
And Bella, you've seen worse bachelor pads, but you're having
10:06
a hard time thinking of any worse ones at this exact moment.
10:13
It stinks in here like like half eaten food, like old bong water
10:23
and like some kind of almost animal Musk.
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Just a truly rank combination, it Sprawled out on the couch and
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this cramped little domicile is a barely 20 something string
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bean with matted dreadlocks and a couple of stick and poke
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tattoos on his otherwise pale skin.
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He's staring blearily at a TV screen directly across from
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which appears to be playing, of all things, a local news
11:08
channel. You can see on the TV screen
11:11
some blonde Hostess reporting a breaking news story about bodies
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recovered at a laundromats in the Hollywood financial district
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of Santa Royale. Good morning, Cass.
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Hey. Have you been to sleep yet?
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Is is it still night? Barely.
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You see the news? Yeah.
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Just I was just looking for something to pass the time and
12:01
swallows can see his Adam's apple Bob but looks at your two
12:07
new friends and doesn't really say much else just.
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Try and get some sleep please. Yeah.
12:18
Stands up a little unsteadily. Can we, can we talk like, not
12:26
right now, but. Yeah, not not right now, but
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yeah, so. OK, OK.
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He walks in do which is essentially the only other
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separate room in this place, which is the bedroom.
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You hear the door shut and lock you, still holding the Colt
12:54
Crow. She's probably got it tucked so
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that it's not, like, tucked away so that it's not, you know, just
13:00
out in her hand. It's a comically large gun, and
13:07
it's got a heft to it like a heft to it in the way that
13:12
modern firearms simply don't. You could probably use it as a
13:17
free weight if you weren't so inclined.
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Yeah, I'm trying to watch my figures, so don't see myself
13:23
doing a whole lot of lifting weights.
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All right. Well, I guess, do you guys think
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you guys are going to make it back into town or do you guys
13:32
just want to crash here? You're way the fuck out here.
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I I don't think we have a choice.
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Get cozy. So don't worry about Cassie's
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harmless. You know anything about this and
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and Bella's pointing to the news story that I imagine is still
13:53
playing in the background. Yeah, you can see mostly just
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appears to be a bunch of wide establishing shots of this
14:05
Alvarado Industrial Laundromat already surrounded by police
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tape and the blue and red lights of police vehicles.
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Unconfirmed reports of several bodies found on the premises.
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Both SAPD and the Yorkshire County Sheriff's Department are
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thus far refusing to comment. Etcetera, etcetera.
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She looks up to Umbella and while she while nodding her head
14:39
yes, she goes not a clue and then puts a finger to her mouth.
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And Bella nods and giving a similar significant look, she
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says God good, because that looks gruesome.
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Good. Hey, welcome to Santa Royale, I
15:01
guess. Oh babe, I was born here.
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I know how it is. That's that sucks.
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And I'm saying that as a city kid.
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So do you have any light reading I could use to fall asleep, you
15:28
know? Yeah, let me, let me go get it
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because I'm going to start sifting through my pile and
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cluster of belongings and pull out the e-book, Hand it over.
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What can question is this old cracked, leathery affair with a
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slightly flaking thalamic intagram embossed on the front
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cover? The spine reads the demon of
16:07
dispersion. Thank you so much.
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Annabella's going to take it and lay herself out on whatever
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moldy couch is in the area and start reading.
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For a moment, you're just kind of left awkwardly staring as
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Darren kind of looks over at you.
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Crow just shrugs as if this is something that just happens.
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Best just to go with it. So how long have you been
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around? Well, like I said, I was born
16:51
here. But if you're wondering how long
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I've been, Annabella's going to flick on and off the Eyes of the
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Beast special. About six months.
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I guess that explains why the the suits are getting freaked
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the fuck out. Yeah, Speaking of, I would
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really, really like to make sure that my coterie mate Jesse does
17:28
not stay with our dear sheriff. See what I can do?
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Like I said, I'm I'm not part of their shit.
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It's just. Right.
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Me and my boyfriend, well I really get the two shots about.
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And your boyfriend, you were telling me a little bit about
17:52
him in the car. But remind me, what's his story?
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How did you meet? Honey, enough, he actually we
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met. He was over here to, I guess
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either be a booby call or cast was the booby call, I'm not sure
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which. They forgot to hang the sock on
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the door, I guess. I went out to go smoke.
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He came out later and talked with me and showed me some
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pretty cool shit. It's just kind of progressed
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from there, I guess. Yeah, so like, what's he like?
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And Umbella's going to activate AWE and just be the most
18:44
interesting person you've ever had a conversation with.
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You're 1 tough nut to crack. So to start Umbella, if you
18:55
could please rule me. Manipulation plus your dots and
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presents. That is 2 successes.
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All right now bro, you could please roll composure plus
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intelligence. Be sure to add your relevant
19:13
bonuses. OK, 5 successes.
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Yeah, with five successes, you feel the wave of supernatural
19:26
charisma emanating off. And Bella, even if she beams up
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at you, legs probably swinging in the air, still occasionally
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pouring over this old book, feel it, but it doesn't overtake you.
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Don't have to use the extra tricks.
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Nice to try, but not here. Sorry, instinct.
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And she's going to drop off. So what's he like?
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What's his clan? What's his deal?
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Is he going to show up in the middle of tonight?
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Tomorrow. Probably won't show up tonight.
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A lot of irons in the proverbial fire right now.
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I don't really understand the whole plan thing.
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We haven't really, I've gotten into that.
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It's been kind of a crash course, mainly just survival at
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this point. He's like a charming but
20:39
intimidating like a snake. Gorgeous to look at, but you
20:47
know that if anything steps out of line around it, it will
20:50
strike. And Bella Ben could be a wits
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plus what's supposed to either insight or awareness?
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That'll be 3 successes. As you're speaking, trying to
21:05
get a read on this one can't open notice.
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She shifts in place, long, comfortably.
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Perhaps the slight. At first, you weren't quite sure
21:20
what it was, but now that you've had a moment to look at her, you
21:24
realize standing out in her thick hair, just under the
21:32
collar of her cardigan, are tiny little black pinions, like like
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Raven's feathers. It doesn't take much after that
21:48
for you to put two and two together.
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You know which clan manifests traits of the literal beast from
21:57
time to time. The gang girl.
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I see, so your proper beast deal about it all huh?
22:11
I guess that's a way to say it. I mean, I've you saw a Poe kind
22:16
of the big thing that I know I have capabilities with, but
22:21
boyfriend can do some pretty cool shit.
22:24
And he's been giving you this crash course.
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Any questions? Anything?
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Maybe an outside perspective could help with I?
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Mean neither of you 2 seem keen on the establishment, as it
22:43
were. Oh no, not at all.
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Not that I'm against, you know, throwing a middle finger to the
22:51
establishment, but just curious I guess, why some are just so
22:59
against it and others just fall right into it like it's just the
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way it's supposed to be. Nobody else bucks it.
23:10
Well, I'd say from my own perspective, the Tower, The
23:16
Camarilla, they're all old money, old family establishment.
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Your bloodline means fucking everything.
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And I think that's stupid. Plus there are people like,
23:35
well, like my friend Jesse or Hygiia, that will never fit in
23:40
there. They don't have the right blood,
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they don't know their sire, they don't have the right stuff to
23:48
get the towers fucking accounting.
23:54
So for the Misfits and the other folks, they need a place to go.
23:58
And that's where Anarch comes in.
24:02
And that fucking sheriff just wants to establish his own
24:07
order, and he's only as mean as he is, as powerful as he is,
24:14
because he fucking diablerized that Sabbat warlord during the
24:17
Blood Hunt. He's not that old all.
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Right, you're throwing a lot of words at me that I don't know.
24:29
OK. What the fuck is Diabler E?
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Oh, that's when you drink one of us till we're dry, and you take
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their soul and everything that they can do.
24:44
Seems useful. Oh it can be, but it's not
24:50
really accepted usually outside of prescribed blood hunts.
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But it can be a very good way to take care of a kindred for good.
25:02
So, for example, your little white problem.
25:09
Well. Annabella nods her head towards
25:12
the TV again. Our little white problem.
25:18
It's definitely a way to handle it, but I mean I I couldn't even
25:27
grab a steak throat and it literally shattered like it was
25:32
made a fucking paper mache. I don't know how the fuck you're
25:36
supposed to bite into that. Well, to be honest, I don't much
25:41
know either. It's just a thought, an idea,
25:46
and get a lot of those. So what's your plan with this
25:51
book? Well, I'm hoping they'll have
25:55
some rituals, some recipes, and, well, whatever I need to bring
26:01
Corazon into this world, into this town.
26:05
And that's supposed to help how 'cause I would imagine that's
26:11
not going to be good for the livestock.
26:14
Oh, but at least as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter as
26:19
much. It's mostly about doing a little
26:22
perch of the kindred that have gotten a little bit too big for
26:27
their damn britches. Take care of the tower.
26:33
Take care of everyone who's not worthy, you know?
26:39
How do you exactly do you expect to pinpoint this laser?
26:46
Oh, Corazon does its own culling, my dear.
26:49
You just push everybody into the pit and you see you close out.
26:54
I think it's your turn to give me a Wits Plus Insight rule,
26:57
yeah? 2 successes.
27:00
Doesn't really matter how many successes you get because she's
27:04
not trying to hide anything. She means every single word of
27:10
what she's saying completely verbatim.
27:14
Suddenly you have to repress the instinctual urge to maybe just
27:20
back up a half step. It's definitely the survival of
27:25
the fittest for sure. Right, all V steel, you get it.
27:32
Hey, babe, I'm just going to Hey, you mind if I check in the
27:37
car? You know, I don't know where the
27:40
hell we are and I just want to make sure that, you know,
27:46
doesn't get getting covered in IoT shit come morning.
27:51
Oh yeah, totally. And sorry about your bumper
27:53
again. I did, I'm sure it'll buff out.
28:00
Thanks, babe. Darren leaves, almost like he's
28:07
being dismissed. Now it's just the two of you.
28:13
Well, the two of you and your friend in the bedroom who crow
28:18
you can't help but occasionally glance back at.
28:21
So you're the only thing between her and Cass at the moment?
28:28
Nervousness about this situation and tossing everybody into the
28:35
fire kind of thing. Like yeah, she's loyalty is, you
28:41
know, her and Sebastian, but she's also a, you know, hard, an
28:49
hard nun and do as you will type person.
28:53
So that's a lot of hard. You've been up close and
29:00
personal twice now when things like you put their mind to it.
29:10
Yeah. You're not terribly certain.
29:15
You want to find out what happens if something that
29:17
actually has a mind decides to go on a spree.
29:23
Yes, and I feel like there's ideas going through Crow's head,
29:29
but it's it's just like, OK, if we potentially fix, we'll
29:34
probably create another. God damn it.
29:38
I really, really, really wish Sebastian will let me keep my
29:41
phone. Colonel.
29:45
Yeah. You give me a we'll call it
29:49
imposure plus survival. 3 successes.
29:54
All right, and Bella, if you could give me one more wits
29:59
inside role, your difficulty is 3.
30:04
That's three successes on the money.
30:07
Now the tie goes to the active vampire.
30:12
Oh, you've made her nervous. She keeps looking back at where
30:19
the Stoner disappeared into the bedroom.
30:22
She thinks she's being coy about it, but she's not.
30:26
Question is what you and Bella want to do about that?
30:32
No, listen, I'm not here to cause you trouble.
30:35
You've given me your haven and I have a day that I need to sleep
30:40
away. But like I said before, I would
30:46
very much appreciate getting Jesse back and I have a feeling
30:52
that your sire might be able to help me out with that.
30:57
You think you could get in here for me?
31:00
Or maybe we could meet up with him somewhere else.
31:04
The only way I would have to make contact with him would be
31:08
with PO, who's God knows where right now.
31:14
And you can't get PO back. PO is free spirit, he goes where
31:18
he wants to. He also doesn't fly nearly as
31:23
fast as a car so. That's a shame.
31:31
How often does your sire check up on you?
31:37
Usually every night. Seems like we'll just have to
31:41
wait for the next twilight to get acquainted, right?
31:44
Yeah. Sounds like it.
31:47
There's a sound from the bedroom.
31:52
Sounds like breaking glass, Cass.
31:58
The door flies open and you see Darren holding the blade of a
32:03
hunting knife right underneath Cass's jaw.
32:08
See Frog March, Is your friend out?
32:11
Hey babe, sorry that took me so long.
32:13
Getting through that window is a bitch.
32:16
God, you're the worst sometimes, Darren.
32:18
I know, I know, but I'm trying to make up for it.
32:22
Cast. Meanwhile, it's just wide eyed,
32:24
terrified Ashley, what's going on?
32:29
I I got you Cass, just stay calm.
32:35
What the fuck is this? I mean, it's kind of obvious
32:40
what it is, isn't it? We're kind of in a hurry, and
32:46
Bella doesn't like to wait. So what, I drag you out here,
32:51
give you the things that you're looking for, give you my trust,
32:55
and you just stab me in the fucking back?
32:58
I'll stab him in the throat, that's what you're implying.
33:03
But look. But we got a pretty good idea
33:08
who your Vladdy is, so why don't you go get him?
33:15
Can't just go get him. He shows up when he wants to.
33:19
You can. Make a spirited attempt, right?
33:24
Come on, this doesn't have to get messy.
33:27
You know what we want? Fine, fine.
33:33
Hey, hey, hey, hey, leave the coal.
33:37
Bella, I swear on the goddess if a hair is hurt on Cass's head.
33:45
No hairs, Pinky promise. You know what the fuck I mean at
33:51
this point. Do you comply with that order?
33:54
Grow. I feel like I don't have a
33:58
choice so I can't just stand here and deny it and watch Cass
34:04
get killed in front of me. No fucking idea how to find him.
34:11
Not a very great situation, is it?
34:14
No, it is a gun. You don't know if it's loaded or
34:19
not. But I.
34:22
Have. A fucking clue how to use this
34:24
goddamn thing. That is true.
34:28
Give me 10 minutes. There's a spot that I think I
34:32
can I there. There's a spot that I think I
34:35
can go to to get him just. You got 5 you.
34:41
Can't exactly get there in 5 fucking minutes.
34:43
And leave the gun. Please don't make me ask three
34:48
times you're. Just going to set the gun down,
34:52
Cass. Right back, right back.
34:56
Don't. Leave.
34:59
If I don't, they're going to hurt you.
35:04
Trust me here. Please.
35:07
I promise. I'll be back.
35:11
I promise. I'll slowly begin to back out.
35:16
Those haunted eyes follow you out.
35:21
It's the same look he gave you that night.
35:24
The amusement park. Yep, and there's no way in hell
35:29
I'm convincing them this one was a bad trip.
35:32
Darren, meanwhile, looks at you and Bella like an excited puppy.
35:38
You did so good. Did I?
35:42
You know, I just figured I was a little worried I'd jump the gun
35:45
for a second there. No, no, she was already starting
35:50
to crack. It's fine.
35:51
Now let me see if Mama Dawn can get in touch with our fucking
35:55
sheriff and we can do this exchange.
35:59
You hear this sickeningly casual exchange as you close the door
36:07
to your haven. What the fuck do you do?
36:12
I'm going to kick off my shoes and run full Sprint towards
36:23
archery and just scream into the night.
36:29
Your old spot Give me a collect either Dexterity or Stamina,
36:38
plus say either Athletics or Survival.
36:46
Small power. It's 4 successes. 4 successes.
36:50
You book it into the darkness. You know where you're going.
36:55
It's just a matter of getting there in time, because it's out
36:59
there. Nice little isolated outcropping
37:03
with a single almost lonely tree growing out right in the middle
37:09
of nowhere. Perfect spot Once Upon a time to
37:15
get a bit of reading done. You're, you're gasping for
37:20
breath that you don't need as you yell out into the dusty air
37:25
for Sebastian, hoping, praying that he's close enough to hear
37:31
you. Or maybe Poe hears you and comes
37:35
to investigate, or someone, anyone, as you realize, perhaps,
37:41
just how truly out of your depth you are.
37:45
You don't know how much time has elapsed by the time you get
37:50
there. You can see the outcropping,
37:55
plain as day, thanks to your new sight.
38:01
You see something just at the base of this lone crag looks
38:12
almost like a patch of disturbed earth, maybe a couple feet wide,
38:18
a couple more feet long. Like a grave at.
38:23
This point I'm not sure if I'm fucking hallucinating, it's just
38:28
not just like fear of everything that's going on.
38:33
I just just walk closer to it I guess.
38:37
Not really sure what to do at this point.
38:41
Everything's out of haze. You can just get down on your
38:44
knees next to it. This plot of freshly turned dry
38:51
desert soil, I think. I think you see something buried
39:00
in there, you're not quite sure what.
39:06
I feel like I'm just like frantic at this point.
39:07
I'm just like, maybe it's a sign.
39:11
Maybe it's it's just a sign from the goddess.
39:16
So I'm going to start digging with my hands.
39:20
Start digging. Start just ripping away clods of
39:24
earth with your hands, though it gets under your fingernails and
39:27
starts the dry rough, not quite sand and scraping away at your
39:32
palms and you begin to unearth a body definite shape of a torso.
39:39
Something is buried just in the surface here, and that's one of
39:46
whatever it is leaps up and it seizes you by the throat with a
39:52
hiss. Fuck it.
39:56
You feel a pair of fangs bare inches from your face.
40:01
Then a very familiar voice. Crow.
40:07
Maybe they've got cast. I, I, I, I need your, I need
40:13
your help. They've got cast and they're
40:15
going to, they're going to kill them.
40:18
I keep packs and coughs a little bit and something drips onto
40:25
your face and you realize Sebastian is He's dirty and
40:32
stripped to the waist and he looks.
40:36
Wounded. What the fuck happened to you
40:39
too? Spelunking.
40:43
Who's got slow down? Who's got Kev?
40:50
Some. Girl and her name's Anne Bella
40:53
and her boyfriend. I think it's just Darren.
40:57
They're fuck with the words. She's for Anarchs.
41:01
I think it's what she called them.
41:04
So like, fuck. You brought fucking rabble back
41:08
to our pad. Listen, I didn't, I, I, I'm
41:12
sorry, I don't. She had the fucking Masab's gun
41:18
and we were supposed to do a trade because I had a book that
41:22
she wanted So and and the the, the, the, the fucking meet up
41:26
that we were supposed to have. Like people came in there and
41:29
started like shooting. Stop double s over again.
41:34
Second spits something bowel and viscous, looking onto the ground
41:40
all night. OK.
41:46
I'll play. Let me do the talking I.
41:51
Don't I don't think they want to talk.
41:55
I I heard something about an exchange.
42:01
No, man on the way back, will ya?
42:04
I'll. Try.
42:07
He begins heading back in the direction of the camper van.
42:15
And Bella, what are you doing in the meantime?
42:20
I think on the one hand, watching the clock because Crow
42:25
was given 5 minutes and also calling or texting with Mama
42:32
Dawn to see where Langford would be willing to exchange Jesse for
42:41
Sebastian. Yeah, this time of night, Mama
42:48
Dawn would probably be the backroom of Sierra Verde going
42:55
through the night's proceeds. You have a burner that you could
43:01
contact her with, though she specifically said for special
43:06
occasions only. In her opinion, this absolutely
43:11
qualifies. All right, so are you calling or
43:14
are you texting I. Think it has to be a phone call.
43:20
Select the pre programmed number.
43:24
Not even halfway into the first ring, it picks up.
43:28
Hello Sweetness. Hi, Mama.
43:33
Darling, dearest, you wouldn't happen to know anything about an
43:38
incident that happened at the Yard earlier tonight.
43:45
I let me start off by saying it was not my fault.
43:55
Of course not. Of course not, sweetness.
43:58
It's just I have your friend Quill here.
44:00
He can't come to the phone, obviously.
44:03
You know how he is around electronics.
44:07
She's telling me that it was a bit of a.
44:13
I don't know where Hygeia ended up, but Langford got Jesse.
44:19
Oh. Oh dear.
44:23
But I have a way to get him back and I still have the colt.
44:32
And I got us a treat, a book on Corazon.
44:40
Really now? Demon of dispersion, Looking at
44:45
it right now. Oh.
44:48
Well, you have been busy. Quite.
44:53
I imagine Langford would be more than willing to give up a little
44:58
Anarch punk in exchange for a certain exabot that's been
45:04
hanging around the outside of town.
45:09
Oh sweetness, what have you gotten yourself into this time?
45:14
I need to get Jesse back. And if you talk to Langford,
45:19
he'll listen to you, OK? He'll believe you.
45:23
He'd call me a fucking liar, but it's true.
45:31
Well, Langford does have a particular hard on for those of
45:38
that particular sect. Persuasion, I suppose, all
45:43
things considered, could be worse.
45:48
You know that the others, the rest of Mesa Redondo won't be
45:53
happy about this. It wasn't my mess.
46:00
I didn't. Know I didn't know Massaf was a
46:03
fucking white, OK? Oh sweetness, sweet thing.
46:07
I wasn't blaming you. I'm You know how the old timers
46:13
can get. You know how Sarah gets.
46:16
Especially when it comes to Massaf.
46:20
Nobody likes addressing the crazy uncle they have cooped up
46:24
in the attic, and yet here we are.
46:28
Well, he's out of the attic and he's breaching the masquerade.
46:34
We can't have that can. We no, we can't.
46:40
All right, all right. Well, I take it you have a way
46:46
of ensuring this little prisoner exchange.
46:50
Of course I've got his childer. I honestly didn't think old
46:57
Sidewinder was the type that shows what I know.
47:05
Well then I suppose I'd better get to making suitable
47:13
arrangements. I suppose the only question is
47:17
where would be a suitable spot? How about Saint Francis?
47:27
Yes, sweetness, the church is technically neutral territory.
47:33
Yes, I think that'll do rather nicely.
47:37
Well then, Dawn's fast approaching.
47:42
You'll clean up on your. End, won't you?
47:45
Of course. I know I could count on you,
47:49
Sweetness. Don't do anything I wouldn't do.
47:54
Always. She hangs up.
47:58
That's when you hear the door open up again, and in walks
48:03
Crow, and, well, he certainly looks the part of the unruly
48:12
shovelhead. Long hair, matted dirt, blood,
48:18
naked from the waist up, battered, bruised, slightly
48:23
hunched over. Are we interrupting something?
48:32
No, not at all. Just figuring out our next spot.
48:36
Seems like you're going to be joining us over at Saint
48:39
Francis. He, instead of addressing you,
48:43
looks over your crew. So you let this Regina George
48:47
wannabe get the drop on you. Really.
48:50
Save. Save the sculptor for later,
48:53
please. She's like her there.
48:57
There is a deep level of worry in her eyes as she's like eyes
49:03
locked on Cass. Like trying to look Cass up and
49:07
down. Yes, from a distance.
49:11
Cass looks terrified on almost trimal level.
49:19
Sebastian just seems annoyed like this whole like this whole
49:25
situation is just really at a bad time.
49:30
Eventually looks back at you. Ambella.
49:36
I'm guessing you must be Ambella.
49:40
In the flesh, Ambella Castillo at your service, Sebastian.
49:48
Yeah, you seem like the kind of spoiled brat who tried to pull
49:53
this Bush league shit. So Ambella Castillo, he looms a
50:01
little. Explain to me why I shouldn't
50:05
leave pieces of you scattered in the Mojave.
50:10
Because if you make the first motion towards that, my lovely
50:15
Darren, we'll make sure that who is it, Cass?
50:20
Cass here will also be leaving in pieces.
50:24
And I don't think that little crow would be very happy about
50:28
that. Would you then?
50:31
We'll get her a new one. Feisty.
50:36
Not really, just I've had a long night.
50:42
Yeah, well, I think we can relate.
50:46
Neither of them appears to be budging.
50:48
Crow. Sebastian looks about as pissed
50:52
as you've ever seen him. Right, I got Sebastian here.
50:59
Let Cass go. He's already seen too much.
51:05
We'll let your Cass go if Sebastian comes with you said
51:12
you'd help me get my friend back.
51:14
Yes, it's not exactly what I had in mind.
51:18
Well, our plans change. Esteo, that sounds familiar,
51:25
aren't? You not from here.
51:31
I remember some while back ago there was some fuck up, some
51:41
rich kid down off of Feldspar Hill involved in what was it?
51:52
I mean, they argued it down to a manslaughter charge, but we both
51:56
know that wasn't really the case.
52:00
I remember it because the Eden's particularly good with all the
52:03
looky loos that gather around those sort of crime scenes.
52:09
Shut up. Yeah, I remember how he cried
52:15
and whined and screamed like a bitch that it wasn't him, even
52:19
though he was up to his elbows and blood.
52:23
Shut up. And then Bella is grabbing for
52:26
the cult at this point. If I see an Bella go to move for
52:31
the cult I will also go for it. You put it down on the coffee
52:37
table. They're both about equidistant
52:40
from it. So it's really just a matter of
52:42
who's faster. Both of you, please give me
52:45
Dexterity plus. I'm going to say dexterity plus
52:51
athletics. It's 4 successes.
52:56
That's only one success from Ambella.
52:59
You both go for the gun. You crow managed to get to it
53:04
just before she does, but somewhere in the frock is
53:09
somewhere in the struggle. Somebody's finger depresses the
53:14
trigger. Looks like it was loaded after
53:17
all. The sound that issues from this
53:20
thing is not so much a gunshot and more like a cannon blast.
53:28
It fires Crow. I would like you to roll me a
53:36
single die and I want you to call high or low.
53:40
It's high. Gunfires.
53:43
It blows A chunk out of Darren's shoulder.
53:47
Blood sprays against the back oil.
53:50
He yells out in pain, dropping Cass.
53:54
Sebastian moves, lifts you up Anne Bella like a kitten, and
54:01
pins you up against the far wall, claws extended.
54:07
You crow, have the gun. You point it at the currently
54:10
prone Darren Cass. Meanwhile, it's just curled up
54:14
in a ball on the floor, whimpering.
54:18
Cass, I need you to get over here and get behind me now.
54:21
It's a bad trip. It's just a bad trip.
54:23
Cass, this is not a bad trip. Get your ass over here.
54:28
Meanwhile, and Bella Sebastian's teeth are centimeters from your
54:33
face. I think her gaze is completely
54:38
at Darren in this moment and she's thrashing and nearly
54:44
screaming. Darren, don't.
54:51
So it was Liz Castillo, you kids.
54:56
You'll believe almost anything you hear?
54:59
You OK, babe? Yep, just getting real fucking
55:03
hungry as she as she says that she's going to turn around and
55:08
like yelled out cast get your ass over here.
55:13
Scrambles on old pores. So before I drain you, I'm
55:20
curious, what exactly were you hoping to get out of tonight?
55:27
I have a 'cause I will make Corazon and your little book is
55:38
going to help me and and fuck, if Darren is a casualty then
55:48
then that's what he fucking is. And love no, no, no, no
55:59
courtesan is not for you. The.
56:04
Fuck, do you mean by that? Knowledge is for the worthy
56:08
little girl and that I think we've learned one thing tonight.
56:14
That ain't you and. Bella just spits in his face.
56:21
Just chuckles a bit and looks back at you.
56:23
Crow is that? That's massage cool, isn't that?
56:32
Yep. Because we can check another one
56:37
off the list. Hey babe, you hungry?
56:47
Star Barney. I'm going to walk over to
56:50
Darren. Wait, looks like AUM Bella.
56:57
Where exactly were you planning on taking me?
57:00
Saint Francis Langford would be waiting for you.
57:07
OK, you don't really strike me as the CAMI type, which means
57:13
you're hoping to get something out of it.
57:15
Am I wrong? He's got me coterie mate.
57:20
And there it is. He drops you babe, keep the gun.
57:25
And on the big blonde dumb one. What are you doing?
57:32
We're going to play a game. Takes the gun out of your hand,
57:38
checks it, takes out a few of the comically large bullets out
57:47
of it till there's just one. I assume you're familiar with
57:52
the rules. And Bella nods and scrambles
57:58
over to Darren. Rose has herself imposed between
58:05
and Bella and Darren. So spins Revolver's Beryl said.
58:13
Your boy toy was free and clear to die for the glorious cause.
58:20
Permit me to test that theory. He points the gun.
58:25
Darren's head pulls the trigger. It clicks.
58:31
How doesn't Billa react? I think she's going to use all
58:38
of her strength to get through or a round crow to try and get
58:44
the gun away from Darren. OK, would you like to rouse the
58:52
blood? Go ahead and give me a you're
58:57
going to say Dex plus athletics or Dex plus brawl roll and be
59:01
sure to add the extra 2 dice. Crow.
59:04
I assume you want to try and stop her.
59:09
Yeah. All right, so go ahead and give
59:11
me their strength or stamina plus Brawl.
59:16
So don't get hungry. But that is 3 successes.
59:20
And it's only 1 success on Ambella's side.
59:24
So she credit to her charges and you managed to grab her and hold
59:29
her back. Well.
59:31
Sebastian just chuckles darkly. Well, that answers that
59:36
question. See, this is what happens when
59:39
you start having pets. Suddenly you're not quite the
59:43
bad ass you thought you were. Oh shut up, you came running
59:48
when your child or was in danger.
59:51
You going to feed him or are you going to let him bleed out on
59:53
the carpet? I was hoping to just get rid of
59:57
him. What was that word that you
59:59
used? Embella Diableri.
1:00:03
Only works on Kindred sweetie. And it's cathartic, as I'm sure
1:00:08
that would be. This might be an opportunity in
1:00:12
disguise. The church is sealed up tighter
1:00:16
than Fort Knox most days, and I'm sure they get all kinds of
1:00:19
weird crap in there that could help us with our current
1:00:23
debacle. Well, go on, attend to your boy
1:00:26
toy. The adults have to have a
1:00:28
conversation. I.
1:00:30
Was going to let go. And Bella rushes forward and
1:00:36
immediately feeds Darren from her vitae.
1:00:41
Give her another. Give me another Rouse check
1:00:43
please. Yep, that's hunger increased
1:00:46
again. Tonight is not going great, so
1:00:52
you hastily RIP open the veins in your wrist with your teeth.
1:00:59
You can hear him mumbling white face just from the shock that
1:01:04
there is a literal fist sized hole in his upper deltoid.
1:01:10
It looks nasty. I'm I'm sorry, babe.
1:01:15
I'm sorry. It's OK, you'll be all right.
1:01:19
Just shut up and drink. He does, and the moment he does,
1:01:24
the bleeding slows slightly, the restorative properties of the
1:01:30
vitae not healing him but at the very least ensuring that he
1:01:34
won't go into shock. Meanwhile, Sebastian still
1:01:41
almost admiring a colt in his hands.
1:01:45
So. What's the play here?
1:01:49
They wanted it to be a hostage situation.
1:01:52
It's just not going to be their hostage situation.
1:01:55
You don't mind babysitting another one, do you?
1:01:59
What do you mean? She obviously cares about the
1:02:03
big beefy bastard. Wait, you want me?
1:02:07
You want me to stay here and you go.
1:02:09
It's the only way to get into the church, which a mutual
1:02:13
friend of ours has been dying for an excuse to do for some
1:02:17
time now. Babe, if they're, if this
1:02:24
fucking sheriff or whatever is is, it's apparently after you
1:02:30
like you're putting yourself in danger and you're you're not
1:02:34
going to have any backup. Well, I'm going to have backup
1:02:38
because you're going to go get your friends and tell them
1:02:41
what's going down. Every single one of them is is a
1:02:48
part of that organization and you think they're just going to
1:02:52
they're going to side with me and you over the tower.
1:02:59
You know what I love about Camarilla?
1:03:04
They talk a big game about their rules and their traditions,
1:03:09
right up until you offer something that they really want.
1:03:14
Trust me, I've got an ace in the hole.
1:03:17
Didn't think I'd have to play it this early, but if this works
1:03:20
out we all get what we want at the end of the night.
1:03:23
What? Are we going to do about Cass?
1:03:28
He looks at Cass, still kind of just kind of cowering in the
1:03:33
corner, still thoroughly shell shocked.
1:03:36
Oh yeah, I forgot about him. I mean.
1:03:43
He looks at the gun. Don't even.
1:03:48
I'll get you a new one. I've known Cass since we were
1:03:53
children. Don't even make jokes like that
1:03:57
please. You know he's going to die,
1:04:00
right? Yeah, eventually natural causes
1:04:06
are a fucking overdose, but I'd rather it not be my fault.
1:04:12
Babe, please. I'm fine.
1:04:17
There's enough blood in the upholstery as it is.
1:04:21
OK, Miss Castillo. What?
1:04:27
Here's what's going to happen. Darren here going to be staying
1:04:33
with us for the extended future. And if you want that Pretty
1:04:38
Little head of his to remain attached to his Pretty Little
1:04:41
shoulders, you're going to do exactly what I say.
1:04:45
Get it? Depends on what you say, but
1:04:50
yeah, got it. Well, I'm saying I want you to
1:04:54
do exactly what you plan to at the Star.
1:04:58
Make us big song and dance about how you managed to run down some
1:05:04
Exabot boogeyman, raid me into the fucking church, all that
1:05:09
good stuff. OK, and what the hell are you
1:05:15
going to do then? Improvise.
1:05:21
All you need to worry about is the fact that when shit
1:05:25
invariably goes sideways, remember who we've got in our
1:05:32
fucking trailer. You understand?
1:05:37
Clear as crystal daddy. I can get used to hearing that
1:05:43
now. Fuck off.
1:05:45
It's getting late. I need a nap and a shower.
1:05:50
The hell do you think I'm supposed to fuck off to?
1:05:53
Dawn is coming. And I suggest you dig a hole or
1:05:58
drive really fast. Either way, you want poor Darren
1:06:05
here to survive that long. I suggest you stop talking and
1:06:10
start getting to it. Fine, and and Bella is going to
1:06:17
grab the book if it was not already on her person, Hughes
1:06:21
ensconced to try to make it look like she doesn't have anything
1:06:25
and try to drive back to her haven before dawn comes.
1:06:35
For that first bit, go ahead and give me a Dexterity plus
1:06:41
Subterfuge check. That's two successes.
1:06:47
Finally, you grab it. Storm out of the out of the
1:06:54
domicile, storm back into your vehicle, revving the engine.
1:06:58
You keep looking at the horizon. You don't see any rays creeping
1:07:03
over those mountain tops, but you know you've maybe got less
1:07:06
than an hour to get somewhere safe before, well, before every
1:07:12
vampire's inevitable worst fear comes true, you hear the engine
1:07:17
gun outside as Crow. You're left back in your haven
1:07:22
with your sire and two differently terrified mortals.
1:07:27
You saw that rope of. Course I do, just wasn't
1:07:34
expecting it to use it for this. Yeah, well, you know, it's multi
1:07:40
purpose. He tucks the colt into the back
1:07:43
of his pants and begins essentially hog dying.
1:07:47
Darren. All right, he'll keep till
1:07:52
morning. Probably just looks back at
1:07:57
Cass, make sure he doesn't have a fucking conniption fit or
1:08:02
something. I wasn't kidding about that
1:08:03
shower. I'll talk to him.
1:08:08
You wanted to keep him but that he just stalks off towards the
1:08:13
bedroom area. It's tiny bathroom.
1:08:17
Ashley. Ashley what the fuck?
1:08:20
Ashley what? The fuck?
1:08:23
Yeah, I feel that. I'm sorry Casa didn't think it
1:08:30
was going to go like that. And.
1:08:33
You said what? What?
1:08:36
Listen, I got to tell you some shit, but I need you to be
1:08:43
really, really, really fucking cool about it, OK?
1:08:51
It wasn't oh God, oh God, it wasn't.
1:08:56
It was. I didn't.
1:08:57
That wasn't just badass, it was it.
1:09:01
No, it wasn't. Ashley, you died.
1:09:06
I I saw you. She's going to put her arm out.
1:09:13
Forecast to feel. Oh fuck, oh fuck.
1:09:20
Yeah, those stupid ass fucking horror movies we used to watch.
1:09:29
Actually I don't I I don't understand this.
1:09:33
Me, I'm still figuring it out too.
1:09:35
Is. This my fault.
1:09:38
No, no. I'm the one who I'm the one to
1:09:41
talk to into coming out here. I'm the one that oh, well, they
1:09:46
kept begging you to come out to the adventure park.
1:09:50
Oh God, did I? I I.
1:09:52
No, I listen. He's actively tearing up this.
1:09:58
Isn't your fault cast. I promise it's not.
1:10:05
It's not. A.
1:10:08
Thing to take fault for this isn't a bad thing.
1:10:16
I know this shit's kind of fucking like tonight was a
1:10:19
little fucking scary, but this is.
1:10:24
This is a blessing. The Goddess chose to make me
1:10:36
better, stronger. I am gifted something beyond.
1:10:44
I'm not even even. Even if I could sit back and try
1:10:49
and blame you for this task, I couldn't blame you.
1:10:52
I would thank you. But this can't get spread
1:10:57
around. OK, The only thing that I have
1:11:01
really got figured out in in in this side of existing is that
1:11:09
normal people aren't supposed to know that we exist.
1:11:14
It's dangerous. And honestly, I wouldn't have
1:11:19
told you if this shit didn't happen tonight and I had any
1:11:24
other way to explain this. And I'm sorry I lied to you
1:11:27
before about it just being a bad trip.
1:11:30
I just, I was trying to protect you.
1:11:32
And now I'm at a point that because of this dipshit and this
1:11:40
stupid fucking girlfriend that I have to tell you because I
1:11:46
can't. I can't lie to you, Annie.
1:11:49
I can't like you about this. I can't pull this off.
1:11:51
It's just a bad trip. I have to tell the truth.
1:11:56
It can be really dangerous for you to know the truth, so just
1:12:02
please don't freak the fuck out. Give me charisma plus
1:12:07
persuasion. I think it goes without saying
1:12:11
that this is an important rule. Think fuck 4 successes. 4
1:12:17
successes. He he looks like that's exactly
1:12:24
what he wants to do. He wants to freak out.
1:12:28
I mean, you can't really blame him after all of this.
1:12:33
What? What rational person?
1:12:37
Wouldn't. That's why That's why I like
1:12:41
gas, because we're not rational. No, nothing about this whole
1:12:48
escapade was rational. It was.
1:12:51
It was too barely adults just trying to carve out their peace.
1:12:58
Hell, look at us. He, with a invisible effort,
1:13:05
chokes down that rising feeling of terror.
1:13:11
OK, OK. I, I don't know I, I, I don't
1:13:20
know I, I, I don't know what most this means, but you're,
1:13:25
you're still you're still you and I trust you, Ashley, I'm.
1:13:33
Still me, just cooler I guess. Yeah, yeah.
1:13:43
I'm sorry. I'm sorry this happened.
1:13:46
I I trusted, I trusted her and I, I learning the hard way to
1:13:53
not trust these fuckers does. That include your boyfriend.
1:14:01
He's one of the only ones that I can trust that.
1:14:04
Hurt the way he talks to you, Ash.
1:14:08
He's just worried about me and my safety because I'm so new to
1:14:12
this. Said that you hear the shower
1:14:17
stop in the other room. Just be cool, please.
1:14:22
OK, that looks at where Darren is hog tied and gagged in the
1:14:30
middle of the living room. What do I there's a dude I'm.
1:14:40
Sure, he'll be fine. Hey, I mean.
1:14:49
She sort of chuckles in the moment.
1:14:55
All the fucked up movies you and I have ever watched together and
1:15:01
now it's happening directly in front of us and you were so
1:15:12
freaked out. I mean, can you buy me?
1:15:16
You went all fucking Queen Babylon on me for a second
1:15:19
there. I mean, just trying to make sure
1:15:24
you were OK. Just like care about you.
1:15:30
Always have, always will. I don't want to see you hurt.
1:15:38
It's a lot, you know, Like that's a lot.
1:15:42
It was a lot before and now it's it's really a lot.
1:15:46
Yeah, tell me about it. Should should I do something
1:15:56
with this guy? I mean that is he going to be
1:16:00
OK? I mean that shoulder wound looks
1:16:03
I'm going. To be 100% honest here, I don't
1:16:13
know where on the spectrum he exists because I he's definitely
1:16:19
not one of us according to clean Bitch.
1:16:26
And considering he's survived the shot I'm assuming he's not
1:16:33
like you either. So probably somewhere in
1:16:35
between. I'm sure he's fine.
1:16:38
He's bleeding into our carpet. Get it replaced.
1:16:44
It starts chuckling, and pretty soon that charcoal turns into a
1:16:51
full throated laugh. You're not sure whether it's
1:16:55
relieved or hysterical, but it's the first time we've heard Cass
1:17:01
laugh in a long time. That puts a really big smile on
1:17:07
Crow's face in a real fucked up way.
1:17:10
Since we're both kind of sitting here smiling and laughing at the
1:17:14
absolute fucked situation, we are currently finding ourselves
1:17:18
safe. Sebastian probably comes out of
1:17:20
the bathroom to see both of us just cackling on the floor like
1:17:23
children. It ain't much, but it's home.
1:17:30
Fucked up a little home.