#let's see how many here know VtM

[blackrosesmatron]

||

LeBlanc is a LaSombra

-drops it and leaves-

[cyberneticlagomorph]

is there something you've got that you've worked really hard on and loved, but not really been able to share extensively, in Jack's world? yes this is an invitation to talk about it.

god theres so fuckin much

the second version of the lore doc is 104 pages long at present and this 3rd edition is gonna be AT LEAST that and some change

i have pages upon pages of weird stuff i've written down and mulled over and will never ever use bc i have no idea how to incorporate it into anything yet

like the-end-of-everything

ok so i gotta put this under the cut due to length and religious stuff and Theseus Hare spoilers

so the-end-of-everything is

a lot?

She's almost As Much as Jack

She's the personified Ending of Jack's Narrative, the Jabberwocky from Alice in Wonderland, the angel Lucifer, The Green Sun from Homestuck, Nidhogg from Norse mythology, Mr Eaten from Fallen London and a million billion other things

She exists currently as a weird dream ghost that has attached Herself to Jack to the point where he dreams about Her every night no matter what.

The same dream, every single night for as long as he can remember

In one of his earlier iterations on this blog, he had his ability to dream SURGICALLY REMOVED (don't ask me how he did it, he just did it, it was hard) and She still showed up every night like normal

You see, their fates are tied together. Jack is the Protagonist, and She the Antagonist, as well as the Ending to his story.

Her in universe lore is fucking WILD and i'm probably not gonna do much of anything with it on the blog for Reasons.

In universe She was made to be Fairyland's original captive star, but She was Too Much on many levels to the point where Her creators had Her lobotomized in hopes that would calm Her down. It did not, She eventually escaped and fucked off into deep space, where She met God (yes that God) and fell in love.

He made Her his favorite angel and named Her Lucifer. And then the shit in Eden happened and She got kicked out of heaven

She swore revenge against God for abandoning Her and when She tried to take that revenge She was torn apart and devoured by... something.

In older drafts it with other deities, im not sure about now tho, but Her leftovers were shoved into a well/hole/pit at the bottom of the universe where nobody could ever find them, Her True Name erased from all history and record. (Hence why we know Her as the Nameless Thing)

She wasn't dead though, not completely anyway. She found Her way into the world of dreams and spoke to people through them, She amassed followers and made plans.

And then a child was Born

Alice was born, many Alices in fact. Each born and grown and groomed for war and lost and lost and lost because they were not the right Alice to slay the Jabberwocky

Jack is supposed to be the Right Alice, Alice is actually his deadname and why his VTM alt is Named That. Jack is supposed to slay the Jabberwocky for good with the Vorpal sword and lock Her away inside of himself forever and always

See, Lucifer does not want that at all, She wants to find Her Name and pull Herself back together so She can kill God for what he did and then devour the multiverse bc everyone let God Do That to Her so they very much should all die about it.

THE THING IS

Outside of the in universe lore, She doesn't HAVE a fucking Name to find. The Writer never gave Her one, She was never supposed to win or leave or anything, and even if She was the Narrative is unfinished and abandoned so She's stuck in here with the rest of those virgins until She figures out a way to Fix That.

Also Lucifer and the elder god thing inside of Vorpal have major beef, they had beef before Vorpal died and became a bone sword. I'm 90% certain Luci is why Vorpal fuckin died but i might change that later. Vorpal was made exclusively to kill the Jabberwocky and other divine entities so if they didn't have beef before they sure do now???

ANYWAY

I wanna do so much with Her but i can't cuz writer's block has hands, I'm a coward, and vivzieverse made characters based on biblical figures Weird and Kinda Uncomfortable but The-End-Of_Everything is my fucking BABY and i can't wait for you to meet Her, also she looks like this in jack's nightmares:

art by @/pencilbrony my befriended

[1800duckhotline]

I don't know anything about vtmb (planning to play it but just have a really long list of games i'm planning to play) so how about some facts about the game you think are cool? What as a game did it do to really grab you? Is there anything specific to vtmb that you put into your OCs (and OC AUs) that really fits their character and you want to talk about?

HMMM OH THIS IS A VERY FUN QUESTION... LET ME SEE IF I CAN ANSWER... Btw if you do plan on playing it make sure to get the Wesp5 Plus Patch!!! it fixes a lot of bugs and restored cut content!!

This will be. VERY LONG. I'm sorry

Let me see if I can go in order...

Facts about the game I think are cool:

I dont really know a lot about the history of the game development but I want to research it, however I genuinely love just how purely alternative it is, in a style sense. The game is in-your-face about its gothic and alt infuences coherent with the early 2000s, and it never feels like it's just doing it for the sake of being commercial, because the music choices and the decisions taken with the designs of some characters just feel like home to me idk. Like obviously I never expected it to be "trad goth" because its a game set in 2004; published in 2004. But I was pleasantly surprised to see how it wears its gothic and punk inspirations on its sleeve. But that makes sense, as Vampire: The Masquerade (the ttrpg) itself explicitly dedicates a section of the 20th edition core rulebook to this very topic (the game is based on the 20th anniversary edition).

There's so many ways the game could go during and in the ending. While obviously "good" behavior is rewarded and grants you more XP, sometimes it makes tyou wonder if it's even worth taking a different path instead to see how it goes. Obviously more XP generally is better because you can spend more points to adjust your stats, but sometimes even the good options are like, kind of morally questionable since this IS a world about vampires who still see humans/kine as lambs for the slaughter. Literally almost all the options that help keep the Masquerade cause you a humanity loss, which I think makes sense. I find that interesting.

The game itself might have one of the most satisfying endings I've ever seen in a videogame. Not that it is perfect, and it shows the final sections are very rushed when you think about it (thanks, Activision) but even with the little time they had at their disposal Troika managed to put together an ending that doesn't overstay its welcome imo, it's just about right. Obviously it'd be nice to have an epilogue section or what have you, but does the story need one? I would probably say not, because it's fun to come up with things yourself. After all, the game is still based on a ttrpg which at the table you can tweak and change however you like.

I'm not an expert on the game history so these are my unfiltered unprofessional opinion as i am a newbie both to this game specifically and VtM/WOD in general when it comes to the ttrpg, though i'd probably say it was a long time coming. There's probably a lot more that's interesting that people have explored better in other videos or posts

As for the rest of the questions...

The game grabbed me instantly because it is like, literally the perfect mix of things I like in a videogame/poiece of media in general. A contemporary setting + urban supernatural events/facets of the world + characters that can easily pass as people that really exist + stellar voice acting (except for some parts) + some horror here and there + obviously VAMPIRES... I vaguely knew what the game was about before playing it, but not to this extent, so when I started it up I was instantly hooked. If you know my ocs you'll know a lot of my own stuff more or less follows a similar line so it's no wonder I would love it. Personally on a aesthetic sense the graphics of the game are of its time but also just wonderful to the eyes. Not perfect, but it's the ideal combo of cartoony models/figures + realistic textures. Also, for how small the hub worlds are, they just feel really lively I think. Their tiny size also helps make the story feel more compact and less stretched out to a stupid extent.

As for my OCs... well there's a lot of potential for that specific setting I think, if you put your ocs in an au or make ocs for it. There's a little bit of backstory you can come up with for your fledgling and again the small size of the hub worlds makes it easier for you to see how to integrate an oc you already had in an AU for it imo. But this is also bc im insane and i always find ways to do it. HGHNFKFGNFN.

I would have to make a separate post/receive a more specific question regarding the ocs thing because I am already so long winded rn, I also wouldn't know where to begin. But every single thing I've decided for my vtm(b) AU so far involving my ocs like salice, allen, phoebe, etc. is like, really funny how perfect they were for the AU before I even had to think about tweaking anything on their character

[robotslenderman]

Just gonna go ahead and recommend @nightingaletrash's Blacklight by Night fic, which is a crossover between Prototype and VTM, because Night is my friend and doesn't promote it enough so CLEARLY SOMEONE here has to fix that. The premise is that the main character of Prototype, who is superhuman due to a virus, is mistaken for a Masquerade-breaking orphaned fledgling by the local Camarilla, who now obviously want to kill a dude who can snap them all like twigs. Hilarity Plot ensues.

It tweaks the canon VTM timeline a bit -- the story actually takes place partway through CoNY even though it's 2008, but I think the story actually works better that way because it implements a lot of familiar faces from CoNY and makes it nice and easy to follow by people who haven't read the NYbN sourcebook. But that also means that I'm dying to see whether the overall CoNY plot of "Sophie sticks her nose into shit" will get resolved in this fic, and, if it does, how it will end 👀 Maybe it will, maybe it won't, we shall see!

You do not need to be familiar with Prototype to read. I have never played it or even seen a Let's Play, I had zero familiarity with it, and I haven't had any issue following it whatsoever; Night does a fantastic job setting things up so that you don't get info dumps, but you still know what's going on.

Also there are so many cameos I'm losing my shit. I'm like a kid at Christmas morning every time I see a familiar face. Cock Robin, Gemini, Calebros, NASTASYA!!!!, Sullivan, Ilias cel Frumos -- it's been a year since I finished RS and it's great seeing all these familiar faces again <3

ANYWAY GO READ MY FRIEND'S FIC GUYS

[shantyslimes]

Whenever I hear someone say that silent protagonists aren't immersive I can't help but think about how for years people made fun of Bioware games having dialogue options like "hey don't kill eachother" and the character actually saying "you're both lame idiots who nobody loves fuck you you suck absolute waste of precious oxygen smh" because a character with a voice inherently changes the meaning from text. Plain text is forced to be clear in its tone and how harshly it tries to be.

Remember how in Fallout 4 how every single dialogue had a "sarcastic" response which was usually just you being an asshole and the conversation not moving at all? Or that one robot you can talk to who describes methods of cooking and killing you, and your dialogue options are all responses to the different methods it describes. But your character literally just says "What?" for all the options.

I see more depth of personality from the Fledgling in vtmb having options between "I listened very closely, here's what was said to me" and "something about anarchism? I wasn't really paying attention" partly because every time I play for the anarch ending, I say I wasn't listening. Because I, the player, interpret that as not letting on that I was taken by what was said to me. In either case it doesn't change the response LaCroix gives. "You would do well to pay attention to what everyone says"

If those lines were read by a voice actor then it wouldn't add to my immersion. It doesn't help my mental image of my character absentmindedly picking wax out of their ear. It sits you down and tells you "this is how the line is being said." and leaves me with less room to put my own voice in the world.

In games like bloodlines especially that's important because you're a POV character. They exist to be projected upon. I don't think I've heard anyone say they're more immersed by the Fallout 4 protagonist having a voice, if anything I remember everyone being frustrated and annoyed by them being an extremely fixed character without much room to make them your own outside of what faction you work for and what build you use. But everyone loves how the Courier felt like a person who existed in the world before you started playing yet never imposed itself upon you, meaning you were able to roleplay and actually get immersed without the main quest being entirely about how your character had a life before you that you don't care about. Back to Bloodlines, how you play the fledgling is up to you, but you know they had a life before you, because one of your friends before you were embraced, in a panic, tries to bring you back to your old life after you disappeared. She assures you everything is going to be okay, that it's fine that you vanished but now you can come home. And you tell her no. Because in the players mind, you were minding your own business and now you're being ambushed by someone who you have no idea about. When the game tells you that you've redeemed the masquerade for it, you realise that woman was right. Your character used to know her. The themes of VTMs horror is sold more by your own choices of dialogue being rewarded than having a voice actor stammer out lines to make it clear that they're lying ever could. Hell, assume you the player pick up on it immediately as many do, and you still have to lie to her. The game doesn't give you an option to go back, but it's an act of quiet horror that you have no choice but to commit to, just like how the fledgling has to knowingly lie to this woman. If you had a voice, and could hear the performance, unless it was played to damn near perfection, you'd lose something by not feeling these be your own choices that you need to commit to.

If in Fallout 4, you had no voice but the world simply reacted to you diving into the most secure location in the country just find your kid, people asking how you did it, being amazed that love can drive someone that far, or even horrified at the implication that you managed to pull it off, then people would lavish it with praise. Like they did when that happened in Fallout New Vegas, and the moment you've hunted down and killed the guy who tried to kill you, every major faction starts gunning for your attention because that's an insane thing to do and they want you. It's not the voice that ruins that idea, but the writing surrounding the player.

Anyway tl;dr voiced protagonists aren't more immersive you just need to write really well and people will praise the writing.

[ventrue-in-control]

Jackie Mczyne

since I never made one before cuz im bobo the fool

Name: Jackie Emanual Abdul Mczyne Pronouns: he/him they/them age: 25 forverer but 70 in total (30-7) Nationality: British-Tanzanian Species: Vampire (VTM) Clan: Ventrue Sect: Camarilla Location: Andover (primarily) and Swindon (secondary) Personality: egotistical anarchistic idiot Partner: @misericorsalvator Sire: @keeper-of-lions Notes: This man is a germaphobe and has a bit of OCD. Also can NOT handle physical toutch what so ever. If he was a bird he would be an impundulu

There are no specific rules for interacting with my blog! Just dont be focking racist cuz ill feed your kidneys to the dogs

THINGS ARENT TAGGED SO BE WARNED OF GORE BLOOD AND WHAT HAVE YA NOT you can of course ask me to tag certain things I will appologize because I may very well forget orz plz do remind me.

More rambles under the cut off

You've unlocked the extra rambles! congrats! Im so sorry as this may just be incomprehensible

first of all Hi! Im birdy, 24 years old, a black trans animator from the netherlands. I do da drawing and da makin of da gaymes. I stream on twitch you are always free to reach out to me here in DM's or else on discord The-Nerdy-Birdy#0918 <- JUST BE AWARE I was terrible social anxiety and I may be slow to respond THAT'S NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU PLEASE KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU Im just silly :3 and have my moments. I promise ya tho I love to talk and ramble.

WITH THAT OUTTA THE WAY MY BOI OH HOW I LOVE HIM SO HE CAN SOMETIMES BE A BIT OF A BITCH AND I AM SORRY. HE CAN BE MEAN. ITS JUST A CHARACTER THOUGH BUT IF I EVER GO TOO FAR LET ME KNOW PLEASE I DONT WANNA HURT NOBODY

anyways, quick summary about jackie.

Jackie went through a lot in his living years! going through the 50s to the 80s as a black man in the uk certainly was something! He used to be a genuine sweet and caring kid and now he still cares but hes very jaded by the world. He used to be part of the british black panther party and he has many opinions bout stuff and politics! but he has quited down quite a bit after his embrace.

he has a bit of a shortfuse cuz folk keep threathening him and hurting him so he is quite defensive. sadly he does not have the brains to see yet that he himself also hurts people and he should be a bit nicer to folk sometimes!

He cares tons about his friends and those who he considers fam. he does not enjoy seeing folk get hurt but.... if push comes to shove he will always choose himself. hes all he has. and all he can rely on and nobody is worth destroying himself over. atleast he'd like to think that. he does however often finds himself choosing his friends over himself and he hates it.

EHHHH FASHION WISE. He basically runs a GIANT company called SALMON which both makes ready to wear as haute couture. he is not the sole designer of it al. but he is most well known. he is a bit of a control freak with his company (not much better outside it either) so he will pick up more work than he should resulting in him always stressing about something.

he has many other companies also and a whole buncha other lore PLEASE ASK ME BOUT ME BOI HE IS ALMOST 10 YEARS OLD AND HE MEANS A LOT TO ME.

EHHH IDK WAT ELSE TO ADD SO U GET SMALL FUN FACTS!

Jackie is terrified of moths his handwriting is actually a perfect typewriter font he is really good at math! unlike me! cant see shit without his glasses was part of the british black panther movement HIS FEEDING RESTRICTION IS FOR ME TO KNOW AND YOU TO FIGURE OUT TEEHEE He wishes to become prince someday fave color is salmon of course.

HAVE SOME MORE ART OF HIM ALSO

HIS COTERIE BTW HOW COULD I FORGET! He is actually from a still active chronicle! though I most things on dash arent like canon lol In order the characters are: Tommy Riley Jackie Ada and Chris. they all hate each other and they has an awful time together :)

[dapperbasil]

OC Tag Game

Tagged by my lovely @mountainashfae! You know perfectly well I have like nobody to tag so uh just whoever sees this and wants to I guess!

Favorite OC: I’d be lying if I said anyone that’s not Tammy King. My cringe fail girl, the girl who inspired me to start writing again, the girl who might not even be fully a girl but doesn’t quite realize it yet. 

Newest OC: That’d be Thorne, my not so lovely Dark Ages Toreador. Agender and a matching pair with Thalia/Tulio, Rowan’s Lasombra. 

Oldest OC: Oh man uh this is a very complicated story but, its definitely the old OC that Tammy is based off of. Tnami has taken many forms over the years, and she always finds another way to pop back up.

Meanest OC: Verity. She just wanted to live her own life man, but people and things kept getting in her way and one way or another she kinda ended up snapping. Urgathoa liked her though, and having a daughter as a pirate lord is quite the way to protect a temple. Verity doesn’t mind it either, as now people fear her enough to leave her and her followers alone. Or they die an awful death, either works for her!

Softest OC: Lillian, believe it or not. In her original writing and before her sire came along in VTM she was a very gentle and shy young woman. She still would have been, but... Tzimisce embraces aren’t very nice.

Most aloof/standoffish OC: Its Thorne with a steel chair- But really who would blame them after everything they went through. A Lasombra ghoul stolen by a Toreador for embrace and then treated like a pet, while already being a knight would leave many neonates bitter. Really only Thalia/Tulio sees past all of it.

Dumbest (affectionate) OC: Tammy again. Where do I even begin with how absolutely IDIOTIC this childe is. Zacharias really took on a project when he embraced her as a Ventrue, that’s for sure. Too stubborn for her own good and too dumb to realize rushing into danger to protect others is an awful idea. Well, maybe now there’ll be a little less of that...

Smartest OC: Somehow, I have no idea how, its Nophy. The luckiest goblin in all of Irrisen, my Serendipity Shaman somehow is my smartest OC. Though I think having an ancestor guiding her is giving her a bit of a boost here. The kid can’t even speak common without him.

Horniest OC: None of them can really count here except Tammy but Daiana canonically has like 3 kids and I love my daughter and any excuse to talk about her so lets go with her.

OC you'd be best friends with irl: I think most of my OCs would hunt me for sport, but maybe Rhitani. Though she’s definitely got her hands full keeping Winter’s brawler girl Sifa out of trouble so it’d probably be one of those see them once every few months friendships.

[fangedmagick]

Dark Embrace and Diablerie (VtM Lore)

Grindelwald stole Aurelius from his happiness, away from his father; and taking him away back to Nurmengard Castle.

Waking up in his former room felt like everything before was a kind dream and he was back here, alone. But no. His Obscurus was gone, he was healed, and was just getting done with Hogwarts lessons.

Grindelwald looked down at the boy with frightening admiration mixed with disappointment. The last meeting was the boy had revealed the Qlin plot, and bought Newt and Albus some time with their plan.

In his bed, it was warm and instinctively he wrapped the covers around himself. Unable to find his wand. He prepared for his death, given he had between the darkest and powerful wizard of the age.

Instead gentle hands touched him, making him shy away. His room was just as he left it, almost untouched. Not a speck of dust.

"You no longer have your Obscurus, Credence? Dumbledore's work?"

He pried and the boy couldn't help but be afraid. And refused to give information, "I dislike muggles, but there are some good ones, like Mr. Jacob. Surely you can see that..." He was shushed and like before, much to his inner hate, obeyed and was silenced.

"No need for that now." Grindelwald's voice was alluring however, and he couldn't fight the urge to listen. Not knowing he was being spelled by a more vampiric power, Awe. "You're quite a beautiful person, Credence. You know I had thought for long nights how to kill you for betraying me, betraying your brothers and sisters, the Wizarding World."

Aurelius couldn't correct his name, he could only listen, even as his fear returned. He was almost scarily okay with dying here. The older wizard continued,

"I have not embraced for a long time. But I also couldn't find a more fitting punishment for you."

"Embraced, sir?" Aurelius finally asked, genuinely curious.

"As much as I want to take you all the way to your soul, eternity sounds more fitting a punishment." Grindelwald had no care for some vampiric laws, and he was bent on destroying this pathetic Masquerade and revealing the Wizarding World all at once. Not many know of the Masquerade.. and honestly, he doubts Credence will last a week without being either killed or worse. He was okay with that...

For now he brushed the boy's long hair away, showing the neck that pumped with life that was not mixed with the Obscurus' poison. It was almost funny given that may have been the only thing that spared Credence from this.

And he let his fangs show, press against the neck, and bite down. It was a pinch, than both felt euphoric. Grindelwald drank down the delicious blood he so craved and Credence was lost in the kiss, feeling as much pleasure from being fed on as the one that was feeding.

The young Dumbledore almost heard his dear phoenix mourn in song. Their bond severing as his heart struggled to beat against the loss of blood. He was laying in his bed, to weak to stay in his position and whispers, "please... Grindelwald.." He didn't know what he was asking. But didn't finish as he lay in his bed, Grindelwald draining him nearly dry. Barely alive.

And he bit into his own wrist without delay to admire his dying victim. And fed Credence his own vitae.

But he was not kind to his childer, no, this was a punishment. Not a blessing and he was going to stain what bit was left of the boy's humanity.

---

He woke up in his bed, not cold anymore. But there was so much hunger, he was so hungry. He looked for anything to eat. Brown eyes frantic.

And there he spotted the prize. Or what his hunger crazed mind could see as a prize. He could smell the blood in the other's veins. And didn't question about the wooden stake in the older man's chest. Or the fact that this was a person he was staring at like the other was his only salvation.

He went after the torpor traitor LaSombra, and bit into him like a natural vampire, blood pulled without savoring it. He drank and drank, even as there was no more left, and he began to taste a more delicious dark flavor, not knowing it was the vampire's very soul as he consumed it all and fell back.

He felt so satisfied, so full, so good... until he wasn't.

Death finally caught up with him and he underwent the pains and burning of his body dying, and getting rid of what no longer suits him.

The feeding sealed his fate.

And when he woke again, he took some remains of his room stuff, finding his wand was left on the table, and fled into the night. Fleeing the castle, refusing to look back out of fear Grindelwald or the Acolytes he was knew were after him.

The elder Tremere thought his little childe would not last the week. He lasted over ninety years and still is alive. Though he hides desperately who his maker was and that he committed diablerie which gained him some LaSombra power that reminds him of his Obscurus, having to learn the Masquerade on his own, territory, laws, how own power.

He survives his nights in New York, sometimes travelling to Scotland or London to visit his old homes. Preferring solitude over a coterie.

[dirtywratsimz]

Previous Post....

So guys, I've done it. I made a facsimile of my old VTM tabletop character, Isaac "Mark" Markovic. Don't call him Isaac...

It's one of those rare nights where I have some time to myself, so naturally I spent it drinking Jack Daniels + Dr. Pepper and playing the sims. I knew I was overdue to add this invaluable character to my current story...

It's either Mark or Markovic (or Markymoo). Never Isaac.

Of all the OCs that I've ever created in my life, Mark has always been the most difficult to capture. I've tried to make him in every single game I've ever played, and he never looks how I picture him in my head. But it's fine; the general essence of him is captured here, I think.

He's an asshole; he likes being offensive, and he loves pissing people off and making people uncomfortable. But, he's a lot of fun to be around. His idea of making friends is wearing you down with insults and pushing all of your buttons until you have a mental breakdown and then laughing at you for being irrational, and then building you back up by being incredibly kind to you and listening to all of your problems afterwards.

I absolutely love him and he's been very close to my heart since I first created him so many years ago. I created him for a very specific VTM session with some peeps I'm no longer in contact with, but I have not been able to let him go. He is clan Nosferatu, obviously, and is Sabbat aligned. He's horrible with computers, so rather he relies on physical attributes and whatever charisma he is able to muster up. I don't have a height slider in my game, but he's 6'4, for reference.

The first thing I had to do, naturally, was go to Tiff's place and introduce ourselves...

(I have WW installed.)

Markovic's first impression. Idk how he can tell based off of what Tiff is wearing atm...

As is the tradition in this household, Tiff's guest has to rudely introduce themselves to Captain. I love playing mean sims.

My boy Captain never did nothing wrong....

This shot sums up Tiff and Mark's dynamic pretty well.

Tiff's just like, "Who the fuck even is this guy?"

"Dude, can you please leave?"

Tiff went upstairs to wash her hands because I sold her entire kitchen, so Mark took the opportunity to snipe the pack of smokes off of Tiffany's desk, like a real scumbag.

No time like the present to start flirting with an unflirty sim.

She's not feeling it. I wonder why...

He doesn't look exactly how I want him to, but I have to admit that he is kind of a cutie pie. I fucking hate that butt chin, tho. I might go in and change him later on.

I forgot I put the mouse hole in Tiff's house. Markovic was scared of it, despite looking like a rat himself.

Time for a friendly duel, which is just what vampires do, I assume. I honestly wanted to see if Tiff winning against Vlad the last time was just because I was controlling her or if she really is that aggressive...

Poor Captain never asked to be apart of any of this.

But nah, she won, to the surprise of absolutely no one, myself included. I just want to say, I love how Captain seems to always follow Tiff around. I don't know if this is just a coincidence or if it has something to do with the game, but it's cute how no matter where Tiff is at, Captain always seems to be close by.

We're all good, though. I can tell this is the start of a beautiful love-hate relationship...

Btw you know you're a badass when you come out victorious from a vampiric spar and you still got the lighter sitting behind your ear.

After that scuffle, Tiff seems a lot more accepting of Markovic's interactions...

...err, nevermind.

I don't blame you for doing that...

[smileygoth]

26. Fight Until the Last Drop (Vamptober 2022)

Find the full list of chapters here.

Jazz and Lucas flee both the Camarilla and the Sabbat ,but it isn't long until they are found.

CW: Violence, bloodshed, gore.

Word count: 1,656 words.

Image from VTM: Blood Hunt (PC).

They woke early the next night, getting themselves up and out of their stinking hiding place as soon as the sunset would allow. The sky was still illuminated by the last of the dwindling daylight as they came outside and started making their way to the outskirts of the city. They hoped that moving so early would give them more time to put distance between themselves and anyone following them. But only thirty minutes into their trek through the evening streets, they heard the first high-pitched howl from somewhere above their heads. Not a wolf, but something that hunted like a wolf. 

Jazz's head jerked up and she surveyed the tops of the buildings around them with panicked eyes. "What the hell was that?"

Lucas cursed and pulled on her arm. "Faster," he said. "Someone's found us."

"Who?" Jazz cried, letting him pull her along.

"Don't know," Lucas replied, "Don't want to find out. Run!"

They ran, their feet pounding on the hard pavement. Another howl rang out, still above them but on the other side of the street, this one sounding much more human. Then a third one, this one at street level, coming from an alley to their left. Lucas yanked Jazz to the right, dragging her through a gate and into one of the city's small parks. Now gravel crunched under their feet as they ran, exchanging periodically for the silence of grass. Lucas made for another gate on the opposite side of the park.

Then a tall, stocky figure stepped into the gate, barring their way. Carl's rumbling voice rang out. "Fancy seeing you two here."

Lucas skidded to a stop, Jazz running into him, clinging to his back. "Shit," he said.

The howls broke out behind them again, and Jazz looked round to see Cat, Cal and Grease slink through the gate they had just come through. They circled the pair slowly, like predators at play. Behind them Donna and Magnus stopped in the gateway, so that that exit was blocked too. Donna twirled a wicked-looking knife between the fingers of one hand. 

Cal glanced round at the few people who were still in the park at this hour. The sight of two young people running frantically across the open space and then stopping had caught all their attention. Some were pretending not to look, but many were staring openly. Cal bared his fangs and snarled. "Anyone who doesn't want to get involved in what's about to happen had better fuck off. Now!"

They all obeyed, some attempting a dignified fast-walk to the gates, others all-out running. The vampires at the gates stepped aside to let them pass. The last one out was a young woman with a baby in a pushchair. As she got close to Donna and Magnus, the baby started crying, clearly sensing that something was terribly wrong. Donna grinned down at the baby, her eyes glinting wickedly. "Smart kid," she remarked. The mother, already pale, blanched even more and pushed past, her knuckles white on the handle of the pushchair. 

Now the only ones left in the park were vampires. Carl nodded to Cat. "You wanna take the lead on this one?"

Cat gave a smile that was more like a grimace. "Damn fucking straight I do." She looked at Jazz and bared her fangs. "You little two-faced bitch. I took pity on you. I was nice to you, tried to help you fit in. You think you had us fooled? You think we couldn't see how freaked out you were? I told them you'd come around, you'd get used to it, and you made me look like a fucking fool." She pulled a knife from a scabbard at her belt and held it up menacingly. "You really think you could just ditch us?"

Lucas turned, putting himself between Jazz and Cat. "How did you find us so fast?" he asked.

Grease was the one who answered. "Thing is about telling the Cammies we'd be attacking one end of the city," he replied, "Is that it makes it real easy for us to go to ground in the other end. We never left, pretty boy."

"We called Quinn and she told us to stay to sniff you two out," Cal added. "So here we are, missing the fun and games at your Prince's place to deal with you two fucks." He spat blood into the grass. "Thanks a bunch."

"No one betrays the Sabbat," Grease said, inching closer, his long fingers hooked into claws. "Certainly not two wet-behind-the-ears little streaks of pale piss like you two."

Jazz clung to Lucas in terror as they all began to edge forward, Cal flexing his fingers as long, sharp claws slowly extended from them. Lucas freed himself from her grasp and tensed himself , ready to fight. Jazz stood behind him, trying to look everywhere at once. She had no idea what she was supposed to do.

Jacket pocket, genius, the Voice said sharply.

Startled, Jazz jumped, then put her hands to her pockets. In one of them her fingers felt the long, hard shape of her old straight-razor. The one she'd used to cut her wrists what seemed like a lifetime ago. She pulled it out and flicked it open. The cold, smooth handle felt soothing in her palm, calming her. 

Sure hope you know how to use that thing, the Voice said.

"Do you?" Jazz retorted under her breath.

Want me to take over and show you?

Jazz hesitated. In that brief pause, she suddenly felt something inside her mind push forward, and felt herself being forced back. With a brief, nauseous sense of vertigo she suddenly found herself looking through her eyes as if she were a passenger in her own brain. She felt her fingers tighten around the handle of the razor. I didn't do that, she thought.

Then she heard her voice speak, as if from all around her. "Why don't you freaks stop flirting and get it over with already," she spat, her voice dripping with venom.

She saw Lucas look round at her in surprise. Then Cal howled, and suddenly everything was happening very quickly outside of her body. 

She wasn't able to keep track of much. She felt some pain at certain points, and she saw blood flow when she managed to close in on Cat. She heard Lucas yelling, at one point in pain, and saw that he had been slashed by Cal's jagged claws. She saw Grease come at her with his claws aimed at her eyes, saw the straight-razor flash in the streetlights and saw his fingers severed. She saw Donna appear at her side, a broken-off piece of the railing held in one hand like a spear. She felt the cold, rough iron in her palm as she wrestled for it and wrenched it away. And she saw as she thrust it through Donna's chest. 

Lucas managed to get hold of Cat's knife, using it to slash cruelly at Cal's throat. He went down on his knees, clutching his neck as the blood flowed out incredibly quickly. Magnus and Carl ran in to stop him, but he managed to run the long knife into Magnus's chest as he reached out to grab him, and the other vampire collapsed bonelessly. Carl seized Lucas by his throat, looking ready to try to crush him, and Jazz felt her feet leave the ground as she leaped forward and jammed her straight-razor into his eye, yanking it out again with a savage downward movement. Carl screamed and released Lucas, backing away and clutching at his face.

The thing riding Jazz surveyed the scene for a second. Cat was down, crawling on all fours, her guts trying to spill out of her belly. Grease was cradling his fingerless hand and circling them warily. Cal was on his knees, growing paler by the second as the blood gushed out of him. Donna and Magnus were on their backs, their hearts impaled. And Carl was a few steps away, trying to hold the mangled side of his face together. As for them ... Lucas was pressing his hand to his side, where Cal had clawed into him. Jazz could feel pain in her upper left arm, the side of her neck, and her left thigh. 

The whole thing could only have taken thirty seconds or so, if that. 

Then the thing inside Jazz's mind retreated, and she found herself jolted suddenly and painfully forward again. The pain in her body intensified suddenly, and she stumbled. The hand clutching the straight-razor was soaked in blood and gore. Lucas was looking at her with a mixture of awe and horror.

"I didn't know you could do that," he said quietly.

"Neither did I," Jazz replied. "We should go."

They ran. The members of the pack still able to watched them leave with silent hatred radiating from them, but didn't try to stop them. Jazz glanced back to see all of them but Grease standing exactly where they had left them. Grease had apparently vanished. She didn't like that.

He's tailing you, the Voice said. I guarantee it.

"I figured," Jazz replied.

"What?" Lucas mumbled. He was leaning heavily against Jazz as they ran, one hand pinned to his side. Jazz looked down and saw that his leg on that side was drenched in blood.

"Oh shit, you're really hurt," she exclaimed. "Fuck ... what do I do?"

"Get me somewhere safe," Lucas gasped. "I can heal it ... just need time. And to feed."

"Where the fuck is safe when we've got everyone after us?" Jazz cried. 

Lucas shook his head. "Don't know," he replied. "But you'll find somewhere. I know you will. You're smart ... and a badass, apparently." He laughed, a trickle of blood running down his chin.

Jazz frowned and concentrated on keeping him upright as they ran. She could hear sirens in the distance; someone had probably called the police on them. She hoped it would work in their favour and buy them some time. 

God knew they needed all the help they could get.

[mnemo-li]

Calebros: A Rant About My Favorite VTM NPC

I do love the newer Vampire: the Masquerade content, but sometimes the writing leaves a lot to be desired. A prominent example is - what in my opinion is - the butchery of Calebros’ character in Beckett's Jyhad Diary.

While I do love seeing the more brusque side of Calebros’ personality, I don’t think I’ve ever recalled him being this vulgar in the original Clan Novels. He was definitely not dropping the f-bombs left and right, and even his gruff manner had more to do with dry humor, sarcasm, and keeping up the dignified image fit for a clan leader. I do realize that this series of chat is set much after his whole ordeal as Prince of New York is over, so maybe the experience really changed him. However, the in-universe explanation of his drastic shift in personality is lacking– it is most likely the result of a change in writers which led to inconsistent writing and characterization.

Here are some examples of scenes that presents his characterization in a more nuanced light.

Scene 1: The Nictuku Accusation

“They would have eaten me, I tell you!” “I believe you, Jeremiah,” Calebros said in a forced, calm tone. He was tired of nodding politely, of reassuring his clanmate. Jeremiah could be a difficult person to like at times. This was rapidly becoming one of those times. “Don’t you humor me!” Jeremiah snapped. “I’ve been coming to you about this for weeks now.” Seems more like years, Calebros thought. “And still you’ve done nothing. Nothing!” Jeremiah paced around, gesticulating wildly. There was no second chair by Calebros’s desk, and for this very reason. He mostly didn’t like guests, didn’t want guests, didn’t want to encourage them to sit down, to take a load off and stay for a while. Most anyone who had reason or inclination to visit Calebros was irate, complaining, or tiresome. Jeremiah happened to be all three presently. “That is not true,” Calebros assured him. Jeremiah snorted in disgusted. “What, then? Tell me. What have you done?” “I have considered quite carefully your report.” “Ha! Like I said, nothing. ‘Considered my report…’” Jeremiah repeated contemptuously. “This is what I think of you and your reports—” he said, grabbing a handful of papers from the nearest stack on Calebros’s desk. Jeremiah made to fling them into the air— Instantly, Calebros’s hand shot out and latched around his visitor’s wrist. Talons pricked undead flesh ever so slightly. “Believe me,” said Calebros evenly. “You do not want to do that.” They faced each other for a moment, one monstrous creature restraining the hand of another. Jeremiah’s fingers, biting into the papers, were long and grotesquely thin, little more than needles of bone. His entire body was thin and hard and covered with knots, bulging masses of hardened tissue, like an old, gnarled swamp tree. Finally he stopped resisting Calebros and returned the reports to the desk. “I’m sorry,” Jeremiah said and resumed his pacing, just as intently if less frenetically.

This is from the Nosferatu clan novel. Here, Jeremiah is trying to get Calebros to believe that there truly are Nictukus dwelling in the sewers. Calebros is, frankly, tired of hearing the folk tale especially when he has other pressing matters to deal with. Yet, even with his patience paper thin, he does not lash out at his broodmate. He is shown to be deeply introverted, anti-social perhaps, but he does not let his own nature affect his duties. As the Nosferatu primogen - as the leader of the clan - he has to listen to the concerns of his family, no matter how absurd. He knows when to express his authority, and he never abuses it. Again, no f-bombs dropped.

Scene 2: The Salt Lake

“Geez, what am I, your mother?” Emmett asked. “No,” Calebros said. “You are my brother, my broodmate.” “Brood, litter, whatever. We were both chosen to suck the old blood tit, so who am I to ask questions?” Calebros sighed. Blood tit, indeed. “That’s not how you remember it.” Now it was Emmett’s turn to sigh. “Don’t do this. Don’t get all… You always do this, get all touchy-feely we’re-all-brothers-in-the-blood, when you soak your head, blah, blah, blah…” “Make light of it if you will—” “I will. Thank you very much. Got enough salt here?” Emmett flicked some at Calebros.

This is from the Nosferatu clan novel. Here, Calebros has just came up from his meditation within the mud hole / salt lake. He is shown to be introspective and even sentimental. In terms of character voice, his more poised speaking style and inner monologue is contrasted against Emmett’s rough, colloquial style.

Other Sources

In the Calebros graphic novel, a similar scene is shown where Calebros is depicted to be trying and failing to remember his past before he became a vampire, losing his mind as he mixes up imagination with false memories. His inner dialogue in the graphic novel shows him saying:

“Do I tell him that his prince, his... compatriot?, is losing his mind? Never.”

This very much reflects his true nature. In Vampire: the Masquerade, there is a system of nature vs demeanor. According to his character sheet, his demeanor is that of a “director” while his nature is a “martyr (penitent)”.

Director: To the Director, nothing is worse than chaos and disorder. The Director seeks to be in charge, adopting a "my way or the highway" attitude on matters of decision-making. The Director is more concerned with bringing order out of strife, however, and need not be truly "in control" of a group to guide it. Coaches, teachers, and many political figures exemplify the Director Archetype.

Martyr: The Martyr suffers for his cause, enduring his trials out of the belief that his discomfort will ultimately improve others' lot. Some Martyr simply want the attention or sympathy their ordeals engender, while others are sincere in their cause, greeting their opposition with unfaltering faith in their own beliefs. Many Inquisitors, staunch idealists, and outcasts are Martyr Archetypes.

Penitent: The Penitent exists to atone for the grave sin she commits simply by being who she is. Penitents have either low self-esteem or legitimate, traumatic past experiences, and feel compelled to "make up" for inflicting themselves upon the world. Penitent Archetypes aren't always religious in outlook; some truly want to scourge the world of the grief they bring to it. Repentant sinners, persons with low self-esteem, and remorseful criminals are examples of the Penitent Archetype.

All of these quotes, if feel, matches very much with the Calebros I knew from the clan novel saga. Below are also a set quotes detailing Calebros’ inner dialogue in his graphic novel.

“As prince, only I can save them, only I can keep them from looking where they shouldn’t. A force exists underneath this city, sleeping, and it must remain so, lest we all perish.

“Augustin, my sire, left us to investigate the Nictuku, and came back to me with this information. Could this be Gehenna? The Final Nights? When the Ancients awake to devour their errant children? Can it be stopped? Should it be stopped? Everything that is done is a hope of staving off the inevitable. Why?”

“My embrace into this world was a foregone conclusion, made for me by Augustin. It is no different for anyone else. Why then do we not welcome the coming Armageddon? Exchange one world for another. It sounds almost painless, except I would never accept such a course, neither would my fellow Nosferatu. Neither would my fellow Kindred, for that matter.”

He is incredibly contemplative, and determined too, willing to fight against the inevitable apocalypse of the vampires. As long as his clan and the Kindred as a whole does not give up, does not give in the the despair of Gehenna, he too will be willing to fight for the survival of others.

Scene 3: Against a Master Manipulator

The character of Hesha is... complex. I see him as sort of a sweet-talking, cunning, charismatic cult leader. Here is a dialogue between him and Calebros.

“No harm was done,” Hesha said softly, his voice still the slightest bit scratchy from the ordeal he’d undergone. “As you say,” said Calebros, not looking up and continuing to write furiously. “You concede without agreeing.” Hesha laughed quietly. Calebros’s head whipped up. Angry words were ready on his lips, but the Egyptian’s smile was not mocking. The Setite obviously realized the weakness of his position, physically and strategically, as well as the fragility of their alliance. “Candor is important between friends,” Hesha said. “Otherwise, perceived insults take hold and fester.” “I am quite accustomed to festering,” Calebros said curtly. “I fear that I’m growing so as well,” Hesha said, squeezing one of the boils that stood raised about one of his many open wounds until the canker popped, and frothy pus ran down his arm. He laughed quietly again. Calebros punctuated a written sentence with a particularly violent period. “Your woman willfully disobeyed her instructions.” “She exercised discretion,” Hesha countered. “She blatantly disregarded the safety of my people.” “If anything had gone wrong,” Hesha said, “it would be Pauline lying torn on the ground. Your people would have faded into the night, none the worse for wear.” Calebros fumed. Probably Hesha was correct—but the Nosferatu was not about to admit as much. “I will speak with her,” Hesha said reasonably. “She has not encountered those of your clan before. She’s not aware of how strongly your predilection for…” “Cowardice?” Calebros suggested accusingly. “Prudence, I was going to say. She’s not aware of how strongly your predilection for prudence runs.” Good choice of words, Calebros thought. But, then, Hesha always chose his words carefully, always seemed to know just the right thing to say. It was discomforting in a way, how easily the Setite could alleviate tension with just a few words. Go ahead, Eve. Take a bite of the apple. Adam might like some too. But it seemed that they needed one another—and that outweighed their natural and mutual tendencies to distrust one another. Just barely.

Hesha’s actions managed to get under Calebros’ nerves, as seen in his curt speech, his furious writing, his accusatory reply to Hesha. He is angry for the safety of his clan (which, as seen from all the other sources, is something very dear to him). He is even shown to be stubborn, refusing to admit that Hesha was correct. Even still, he keeps his head rather than loose his cool completely. He also realises Hesha’s smooth words for what they are- manipulation. He is willing to compromise and form a sort of alliance with Hesha too, despite of his distrust and personal feelings.

Calebros and Ramona

I found the strange friendship Calebros had with the Gangrel Ramona to be incredibly touching, and tragic due to the turns it took towards the end (which I won’t spoil). Below are some excerpts from the Nosferatu clan novel showing Ramona’s initial meeting with Calebros and his later assessments of her character.

Neither Pauline nor the other girl, Ramona, had been subjected to the full brunt of facing a Nosferatu. Not until now, that is, when they were brought into Calebros’s presence. He did not hide his true appearance from them. And he could read the dismay, the fear and disgust, on their faces. Of the two, Pauline made the worthier attempt, attempt, to maintain her demeanor of professional detachment—perhaps Ruhadze had taught her well. The Gangrel, unsurprisingly, was not so couth. She gawked, both at Calebros and at Hesha in his current condition, and she hid her revulsion quite poorly, if she tried at all. […] Ramona looked at Calebros again, a more measured look this time, trying to see through the deformities. Good girl, Calebros thought. Young and brash, but not stupid.

Ramona reached for a calendar on Calebros’s desk, but tossed it back when she realized it was from 1972. “That’s still a whole month, and nobody knows where Leopold was that whole time. He could have gone back to the cave.” Smart girl, Calebros thought. He was leading her along the same path of reconstructing events that he had followed.

He compliments her intelligence again and again, and seems genuinely fond of her. Which I believe is why, after he became Prince of New York, he allows her a private audience with him to which he offered her a safe passage out of town which she rejects, viewing his actions as a betrayal. Below is an excerpt from what I think is the Clan Brujah novel.

The hunched form stepped forward, leaning heavily against the seatbacks as he came. Ramona kept straining to pick out the sound of broken gasps that must accompany such labored progress, but the air did not stir. "You had requested an audience, my dear. A private audience. I have gone to some pains to secure a place where we might be alone. Privacy is such an indulgence here. All too often, I find myself unable to justify the expense of importing it. And there is always someone else jealous of such decadence. But you have not come to hear of my distractions. Sit here, next to me, and tell me why you have come.”

[…]

“Calebros chuckled low, a sound like an engine turning. "No, I don't imagine you would. I will miss your straightforward style, Ramona. I find it refreshing. But already you know that there is no longer any place for you here. In the midst of battle—against the Sabbat and later, against Leopold and the Eye—we could afford certain marriages of convenience. But these partnerships will not survive the challenges of peacetime. Your associates, Mr. Ruhadze and Mr. Ravana, they found themselves in much the same position. Each has already left New York.”

[…]

“Calebros was silent for a time, letting her wind down. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you with the Eye, Ramona. And I'm sorry you will have to leave us. Believe me, I would like nothing better than to find a place for you here. I will have sore need of people who can be relied upon in the nights ahead. But you know what you would be up against if you remained here— the posturing, the none-too-subtle snubbing, the outright backstabbing. You are a rarity among our kind, Ramona. But because you are different, you will be hated and eventually destroyed if you stay among the society of the damned. Know that I will remember our time together fondly. If I can be of any assistance to you in relocating..." "No, I understand. It's 'thanks for your help; here's your bus ticket.' Well, I don't need any of your favors. I don't like the strings attached to them. And I resent the fact that you think I'm so stupid that I'll let you screw me over and then thank you for it." "Ramona...”

Again, even during his tenure as Prince of New York he is so damn eloquent, I definitely can’t fathom the word fuck ever slipping out of his mouth. He is compassionate, helping Ramona perhaps for future gains too, but mainly I believe he genuinely wants to do something right, give her the happy ending she deserves for once.

Moreover, I have a soft spot for this quote of Calebros pondering about Ramona’s nature, why she’s always so angry at the world, why every word out of her mouth sounds like an accusation. It showcases well his world-weariness, a cynical attitude that hides his concerns for others.

What have you seen that makes you so angry, so bitter, little one? Calebros wondered. Family killed? Have you been betrayed? How many times, I wonder. You’d best get over it, if you hope to survive.

So... yeah. I’d pay money to see an accurate portrayal of Calebros in a newer media otherwise I might have to write my own fanfic pairing my OC with him

[hamingo]

could you tell me about your vtm campaign :3

Yes absolutely I can!!! :3

Under a cut cause this is gonna get long, I have so many feelings lol

So I guess basics first?

The campaign is a Giovanni-focused one, because the Giovanni are my favourite clan of all time and I wanted my first game to be something that I'm passionate and know a lot about! I named it "Family Matters" because I think I'm really funny, naming a game about the vampire mafia "Family Matters".

I have five players, which seems like a lot for a first time story-teller, but only three of them consistently... do things. The other two are mostly just here to hang out with us, so their characters typically are comic relief who join in during very important scenes. It works for us, though. (We've got the two serious characters, Cordell Wilford and Akari Matsumoto, one who's serious sometimes but is a total dope, Wolfgang Cullen (because he had to make a vampire with the surname Cullen) and then our comic relief team, Paul Allen (yes that one) and Soup).

These five vampires are the hired help of Miss Mercer, who without getting too much into it is several steps down from the actual E Division, and deals with shit that they don't think is important enough to deal with themselves. Mercer has a wide range of contacts that she'll call up for different jobs, throw into random groups together, and send them off to deal with super natural discrepancies that the actual Camarilla higher ups don't want to bother themselves with.

So anyways, Mercer calls in these five to deal with a sudden uptick in ghost activity in Venice, which normally she would never pay attention to because that's Giovanni territory, but the Giovanni don't seem to be doing anything and humans are dying and starting to become suspicious and the Camarilla can't have that. She only wants them to essentially poke their heads in, see what's up, hunt some ghosts if they can, and then come back and report to her without engaging the Giovanni and alerting them to Camarilla presence in the city.

Obviously this does not happen because this is a ttrpg, and on session fucking 2 they're tracking down Giovanni. Because of course they are.

However. This lets me introduce my next major NPC's!! The gang essentially shakes down Anthonio, everyone's favourite ghoul, to get the locations of his bosses (is there a word for a vampire who has a ghoul?? There must be..) the twins! Eleanora and Rosario Giovanni are so evil and fucked up <3 I love them <3 <3

From there, the party has met Magdalene De Rossi, the twins' sire, Enzio Giovanni, Magdalene's sire, and they're still trying to work their way up the Giovanni chain of power, eventually hoping to meet Augustus himself, I think. Which won't happen, because this campaign takes place in 2016, and if anyone knows their Giovanni lore, well... (The reason there's so many ghosties wreaking havoc on the city is because they were Augustus' little servants and now that he's, uhhh, "missing", they're off on their own and fucking pissed.)

Aside from all of that, each member of the party has their own ambitions regarding Venice, the main two being Cordell wanting to become an ally of The Family and live in Venice, and Akari (who's hooked up with and grown attached to Anthonio) wanting to get her favourite little boy toy away from the twins and out of Italy because she doesn't like how he's treated here.

We've got a few overlapping story lines, with Akari and co. working with Rosario to find a new body for his ghost fiancee in return for him weaning Anthonio off of his blood and onto Akari's, and also the gang betrayed Miss Mercer so she's being delivered to Venice next session, and they're still hunting ghosts on top of it all.

I have a whole thing planned out where the ghosts have started targeting the Giovanni family themselves, but my players haven't picked up on it yet... idk how much more obvious I'm gonna have to be but that's the next major plot point so we'll see how it goes lol.

Anyways this got rambly but yeah! A basic rundown of my VtM campaign!

It's a lot but also it's so fun. I'm always looking forward to Saturdays, me and my friends always have a good time together :)

[ryttu3k]

All Night Road Journal entries! For players who are new to VtM, this is absolutely invaluable. For those who are familiar with VtM, it's still pretty neat! Find it in the menu below your stats.

Note - the Characters list changes depending on your in-game actions; this list is based on my Banu Haqim hot mess Courier, Pyre.

Characters

Kindred

Aila: A powerful Daughter of Haqim. You consumed her, Blood and soul, ten years ago.

Edouard Chambet: A member of the Ministry and influential fixer. Or he was until you and Raúl destroyed him.

Julian Sim: Your sire Technological visionary, data scientist, and (by Camarilla standards) an "Anarch" bent on bringing down the Masquerade. You and he worked together under the Camarilla's thumb for a few years before going your separate ways. Now you're both back in Tucson.

Prince Lettow: A Gangrel, originally a minor aristocrat from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth—making him one of the few elders left in Arizona. Lettow came to America after serving as a pilot in the Great War.

Called the Eagle Prince on account of his eagle servant, Riga, Lettow seized control of Tucson after the last Prince launched a murderous and doomed campaign against all non-Ventrue in the city. He magnanimously spared the old Prince's childer and has sought to rule with as much compassion as an undead crime lord can allow himself.

Millicent Rue: A blood trader whose specialty is finding obscure vintages for fussy Ventrue. From a clan called Lasombra, which you don't know anything about. After the fall of Camp Scheffler, has started to rebuild her "business."

Dove: Prince Lettow of Tucson's second in command, a Nosferatu and former courier. Keeps her mouth shut about her past, but she has known Lettow for many years.

Invidia Caul: A Tremere sorceress who works for Julian Sim ever since Prince Lettow forced the closure of her research facility, Kiowa Xenogenetics.

D'Espine: A Toreador. Manages the Cinderblock, a jazz club in Dallas. Obsessed with surgically modifying her ghouls.

Elin Olivecrona: A Ventrue. After the fall of Camp Scheffler, Olivecrona disappeared into the bureaucracy of the US government to work against the Second Inquisition.

Lampago: An ancient vampire—or some kind of related creature—who lurked in Tucson for years until hunters finally drove her away. She now dwells in Biosphere Zero.

Pattermuster: A Brujah. You helped him block a proposed renovation to the hospital.

Reremouse: A Nosferatu elder that dwelled beneath the sands of the California desert. You and Julian spent a depressing year feeding the elder to keep him dormant. When he finally arose, you helped Julian teleport him across the world using ancient sorcery that you do not fully understand.

Z: Julian Sim's mysterious acolyte.

Ghouls

Raúl Cañedo: Vampire hunter you first encountered when a wight attacked you after your CR-X broke down. Now your retainer. Knows how to fight and hunt; also a capable investigator.

Miguel: One of Lettow's retainers and couriers. Killed at Camp Scheffler, probably by hunters affiliated with the Second Inquisition.

Carlos: One of Dove's retainers. A police detective and the local Camarilla's contact with the Tucson police.

Nadia Goh: One of Julian Sim's retainers. Works as a delivery girl for a Malaysian restaurant when not helping Julian.

Others

Elena Prodan: Owner of Covenant Pawn Shop.

Agent Samantha Donati: Technically just a special agent with the FBI's Special Affairs Division, Agent Donati in fact controls most Second Inquisition activity across the Southwest. Her lightning-quick strikes have destroyed dozens of vampires and thrown the local Camarilla into chaos.

Clans

Banu Haqim

Originally from the Middle East, the "Assamites" were once feared assassins and sorcerers. They have recently entered into a tentative alliance with the Camarilla, the vampire shadow-society of Europe and the Americas.

Disciplines: Blood Sorcery, Celerity, Obfuscate. Some Banu Haqim focus on rituals, while others favor inhuman speed and the powers of invisibility.

Clan Weakness: Thirst for vitae. Banu Haqim are compelled to commit diablerie—the sin of draining another vampire, body and soul.

Brujah

Once a proud clan of philosophers, the rage-fueled "Rebels" are now scattered and disorganized.

Disciplines: Celerity, Potence, Presence. Unnatural strength and speed help the unsubtle Brujah in a fight, but the secret to their survival is in shaping crowds with their eerie charisma.

Clan Weakness: Temper. Brujah are prone to losing control of their Beast in terrible rages.

Gangrel

The savage "Outlanders" are shapeshifting beastmasters who, almost alone among vampires, can survive outside of the cities.

Disciplines: Animalism, Fortitude, Protean. Gangrel flesh is both hardy and able to change its form; the Outlanders also have various powers over living animals.

Clan Weakness: Feral. Gangrel struggle to relate to normal humans, especially as their Humanity declines.

Malkavian

The "Lunatics" are all mad, but their madness gives them strange insights. They often serve as court seers and mad prophets.

Disciplines: Auspex, Dominate, Obfuscate. Keen senses and the power to vanish from sight give Malkavians their reputation as prophets. Their mental compulsions often spread their insanity.

Clan Weakness: Madness. All Malkavians are incurably insane.

The Ministry

Formerly the "Followers of Set," the Ministry are friendly and good. There is nothing bad about the Ministry. They are here to help and to get you what you need. They are not a snake cult.

Disciplines: Obfuscate, Presence, Protean. Vampires of the Ministry can become invisible, control minds, and turn into giant snakes (it always helps).

Clan Weakness: No problems here, nothing to worry about.

Nosferatu

The "Sewer Rats" are hideous and malformed vampires whose information-gathering skills make them invaluable. They once managed electronic communication for the Kindred, until the Second Inquisition infiltrated their servers.

Disciplines: Animalism, Obfuscate, Potence. Nosferatu use their shadow-powers not just to turn invisible, but to hide their hideous faces. When exposed, they can call on their unnatural strength, or their allies among the Creatures of the Night.

Clan Weakness: Hideous. All Nosferatu are monstrous in appearance.

Toreador

The elegant and sophisticated "Aesthetes" would prefer you didn't call them "Degenerates." Obsessed with beauty, the vampires of Clan Toreador can seem almost alive when their passions move them.

Disciplines: Auspex, Celerity, Presence. Supernaturally keen senses and a beguiling aura let the Aesthetes thrive among high culture; when things go wrong, unnatural speed helps them escape.

Clan Weakness: Distracted. Toreador are so obsessed with beauty that it can endanger them.

Tremere

The "Usurpers" of Clan Tremere are said to descend from a mortal wizard who stole immortal life from an ancient vampire. Once organized into a disciplined arcane hierarchy, the sorcerers of Clan Tremere are in turmoil after the destruction of their greatest occult stronghold.

Disciplines: Auspex, Blood Sorcery, Dominate. Though famous for their Thaumaturgy—their intricate sorcerous tradition—many Tremere also possess supernaturally acute senses and the power to command mortals with a word.

Clan Weakness: Frail Blood. This manifests in different ways for different Usurpers. Some mend their flesh slowly; others cannot form Blood Bonds or create ghoul servitors.

Ventrue

The Clan of Kings rules from the shadows, controlling modern boardrooms as they once controlled courts and cathedrals. The mental powers of the "Blue Bloods" also protect the Masquerade.

Disciplines: Dominate, Fortitude, Presence. Ventrue study two distinct paths of mental control: Presence is more subtle, Dominate more direct. Some are also nearly indestructible, even when exposed to banes like fire and sunlight.

Clan Weakness: Refined palate. Ventrue cannot drink bagged or animal blood, and most are restricted to a particular kind of human prey.

Caitiff

Not a clan at all, Caitiff vampires are the Clanless—those whose Blood is too thin or whose education was too inadequate for them to join a proper clan.

Disciplines: Varies based on ancestry and inclination.

Clan Weakness: Outcast. The Camarilla has little respect for Caitiff, and other vampires don't treat them well either.

Hunger and Willpower

All vampires suffer from an undying Hunger for blood. Using Disciplines (vampire powers) and mending wounds uses some of the blood you've stolen and increases your Hunger; so does the simple act of rising every night. Only killing and fully draining a living human slakes your Hunger fully, and then only for a time. As a Child of Haqim, drinking vampire Blood also increases your Hunger.

If you become hungry enough, you lose the ability to activate Disciplines or mend your wounds. If your Hunger equals or exceeds your Willpower, you suffer penalties to actions that require concentration and self-control. That includes most actions you take, except those that risk a messy critical—see that entry. The penalties grow as your Hunger grows.

Willpower is based on your Resolve and Composure scores. Increase those scores to increase your Willpower and ignore the distraction caused by your Hunger. Certain actions, like extended negotiations or staying out too close to the sun, can mentally exhaust you, temporarily reducing your Willpower. You can regain lost Willpower by embodying your Convictions (see Experience and Convictions).

Messy Criticals

Succeed too well on certain actions and you run the risk of unleashing your Beast. The monster within you assures your success…at any cost.

Any choice that ends in an exclamation point ("!") risks a messy critical. Most of these are attacks or other aggressive actions where you risk losing control, such as threatening people or bashing down doors. Any choice that involves hunting and drinking from a human also risks a messy critical, and messy criticals there usually result in you draining the mortal completely, reducing your Humanity and leaving you with a corpse to dispose of.

The good news is that choices that risk a messy critical aren't more difficult due to Hunger (see Hunger and Willpower). Your Beast guides you in these savage actions, even when you're desperate for blood.

Experience and Convictions

After a decade of lethargy and routine, you find yourself bursting with newfound creative vigor!

You gain experience in two chief ways: first, by going on missions and succeeding in your goals. Second, by gaining Convictions and living up to them. To gain a Conviction, select choices that increase that personality trait: if you want to Defy the Traditions, then you must Defy the Traditions: ignore vampire laws like the Masquerade (see that entry), disobey elder vampires, and defy the Camarilla. If you want to Seek Luxury, then demand money and inducements as often as possible.

The Masquerade

The First Tradition of the Camarilla—what passes for civilization among the undead—is to hide the existence of vampires from the mortal herd. This is the Masquerade. You can violate the Masquerade by openly using obvious supernatural powers (such as shapeshifting), feeding in public, or failing to dispose of a body you drained.

Violating the Masquerade risks the wrath of elders among the Camarilla. Worse, with the Second Inquisition raging across the United States, a breach of the Masquerade risks sending an entire Second Inquisition kill team to your doorstep. Such an attack usually comes in daylight and can destroy you if you're not careful.

Humanity and the Beast

Vampires aren't human. They're dead things animated by stolen blood, with a screaming monster in their head they call the Beast. Perhaps because of this damned state, most vampires cling to their Humanity and struggle to control the Beast's savage urges.

But the Beast is always waiting. Acts of callousness and brutality strip vampires of their Humanity until, in the end, they are nothing but mindless animals that lurk in the shadows and hunt at night. Even before that point, low-Humanity vampires struggle to act with kindness or empathy.

Killing mortals (unless attacked first, such as by hunters or assassins) is a sure way to lose Humanity. The Beast permits no excuses—killing to feed and killing to hide your true nature (and protect the Masquerade) will stain your soul as surely as killing for sport.

Regaining Humanity is arduous but possible through great acts of sacrifice and by risking yourself for others. But beware: if your Humanity falls low enough, you'll have to spend Willpower (see Hunger and Willpower) to perform even small acts of decency.

The Camarilla

The Camarilla—the so-called Ivory Tower—is a secret society of vampires dedicated to hiding their existence from mortals, a guiding ideology called the Masquerade. Most Camarilla cities are ruled by a Prince (the term is gender neutral). Beneath this monarch is an elaborate hierarchy of underlings and overlords, bound together through favors, mutual enemies, the Traditions (including the Masquerade), and the overwhelming nightly drive to find more blood. Vampires of the Camarilla call each other "Kindred." They all appreciate the bitter irony of that term.

The rise of the Second Inquisition has made the Camarilla more paranoid and restrictive. Where once the Princes tolerated "Anarchs" and fringe types (like independent couriers), now they retreat into their Elysiums—hidden sanctums where they can conduct their business in peace—and try to weather the storm. These nights, the Camarilla are the vampire elite, and like any elite, they are happy to sacrifice everyone else for their own safety or convenience.

The Second Inquisition

The first Inquisition taught the arrogant vampires of the Middle Ages that they were not invincible. They learned that mortals, while weak alone, were almost unstoppable when organized and when they knew their enemy.

The vampires of the Camarilla took the lessons of the Inquisition to heart, hiding their actions behind the Masquerade. But no deception is perfect. As digital technology proliferated in the twentieth century, young vampires adapted, leaving their elders in the dust. They didn't know that mortals were listening in. And even when they realized the danger, many in the Camarilla believed they could direct these hunters at their enemies.

The results of this arrogance were catastrophic: the fires of the Second Inquisition blazed across the world, destroying elders and fledglings alike, cleansing whole cities of vampires. Embedded in the security and intelligence agencies of various national governments, including the FBI and the CIA, the Second Inquisition employs every weapon at its disposal to hunt down and destroy vampires. Now the SI has turned its sights on Arizona. Its goal is nothing less than the total eradication of every vampire in the state.

The Beckoning

A strange event called the Beckoning recently started luring elder vampires to the Middle East. No one knows the source of the Beckoning, but the sudden loss of so many elders—and the vast supernatural power they possess—has thrown the Camarilla into chaos and allowed Anarchs and other independent groups to seize power.

The Nature of the Blood

A vampire's vitae—the stolen blood that flows through your veins—has a variety of supernatural powers.

Disciplines. A vampire's supernatural arts are called Disciplines. Different clans manifest different arts, from mind control and shapeshifting to superhuman strength and speed. Most Disciplines require Blood to activate (increasing your Hunger) and grant a significant bonus to any relevant action you undertake. This bonus increases with your level of mastery.

Mending. You can use the blood you take to repair your dead flesh. In fact, this is the only way vampires can "heal," as they cannot do so naturally.

Ghouls. A vampire who feeds vitae to a living mortal creates a ghoul. Sometimes called a retainer or a thrall, a ghoul does not age, manifests minor supernatural powers such as occasional bursts of great strength, and is loyal to their vampire regnant through the Blood Bond (see below). Most established vampires make use of one or more ghouls to handle their daylight business.

The Embrace. Feed a mortal your vitae and you create a ghoul. Drain a mortal to death and feed that mortal your Blood and you create a new vampire of your clan. You are now the sire to a childe. This act is called the Embrace. Most Princes of the Camarilla forbid Embracing new vampires except under special conditions, as there are always too many vampires and never enough places to hunt.

The Blood Bond. Drink a vampire's blood three times on three separate nights and you are bound to that vampire, forced into service through a supernatural compulsion called the Blood Bond. If you create a ghoul, that ghoul is soon Blood Bound to you. Beware of your sire—you've already tasted your sire's Blood once, when you were Embraced and turned into a vampire!

Learning from the Blood. Vampires of different clans begin with different Disciplines, but you can unlock more Disciplines by tasting the Blood of another vampire and then receiving instruction from them.

Diablerie. To drain another vampire, body and soul, is called diablerie, and the Camarilla consider it the most awful of crimes. But young vampires practice the art in secret anyway, hunting their elders, in order to lower their generation and gain greater power.

Generation. According to legend, the first vampire was Caine, the first murderer. Legend further says that Caine had three childer, who had childer of their own, and that those vampires of the Third Generation founded the clans. Whether or not you believe this story, when a vampire Embraces a mortal, that childe's Blood is thinner and weaker than the sire's. Vampires of high generation are sometimes Caitiff (the Clanless), and those of very high generation are thin-bloods—barely vampires at all. Though a vampire's Disciplines develop with age, generation does not change…except through diablerie.

Functions of Abilities, Skills, and Disciplines

Abilities

Strength: Punching, wrestling, clawing (if you have claws). Most climbing where you haul yourself up.

Dexterity: Balance, speed, reacting quickly. Attacking with a bladed weapon or in coyote form (if you can change shape), reacting quickly. Most shooting that relies on speed.

Stamina: Adds to your Health. Not used actively.

Charisma: Getting people to like you. Leading people into battle or giving them orders. Impressing a crowd.

Manipulation: Getting people to do what you want (even if they don't like you). Most kinds of lies and deceit.

Composure: Adds to your Willpower. Staying cool, in social situations or in a fight (especially when threatened by fire or sunlight).

Intelligence: Education, reasoning ability, analysis. Most forms of research.

Wits: Cunning, cleverness, noticing things on the go. Intuition, "following your nose." Shooting when you can't see clearly.

Resolve: Adds to your Willpower. Determination, patience. Performing tasks that take all night or that are mentally draining.

Use the language of the choices to determine what is being tested. "Quickly" usually means Dexterity, "clever" signals Wits, "patient" implies Resolve.

Specific descriptions override general rules. You normally use Dexterity to strike with a sword, but if there's a lot of smoke and the choice says you need to be clever to hit, that's Wits.

Skills

Athletics: Jumping, swimming, running, dodging.

Combat: Brawling, wrestling, wielding swords or improvised weapons, using claws or teeth.

Drive: This gets your AE86 to its destination in one piece.

Firearms: Shooting a gun.

Clandestine: Sneaking, moving silently, hiding, picking locks, forcing doors.

Intimidation: Threatening, bullying, and forcing others to back down.

Leadership: Giving orders. Commanding your ghoul; also adds a passive boost when you work together with your ghoul.

Persuasion: Getting people to do what you want in a more or less straightforward manner, without lies or threats. Also covers etiquette and manners.

Streetwise: Bribery. Knowing streets and alleys (useful for quick getaways). Interacting with criminals.

Subterfuge: Lying, swindling, and deceiving. Also includes palming, picking pockets, and similar deceptions.

Academics: Nonscientific education—everything from history and philosophy to occult lore. Used in Blood Sorcery.

Awareness: Noticing things just by looking around (or listening or sniffing around).

Investigation: Careful, systematic exploring. Helps you both find hidden items and interrogate people until you find something.

Technology: Crafts, car repair, computer use, and hacking, as well as scientific acumen.

Survival: Finding shelter (especially from sunlight!), hunting wild animals.

Disciplines

Most Disciplines increase your Hunger when used but add a bonus to your actions.

Animalism: Grants you a wolf companion who grants significant bonuses to actions when activated. Your lobo gains power as you advance this Discipline. Low risk of a Masquerade breach; your lobo is just a "big weird dog."

Auspex: Enhances your senses, typically improving skills like Awareness, Investigation, and (if you're shooting where you can't see clearly) Firearms. Low risk of Masquerade breach; Auspex affects only you.

Blood Sorcery: Not a proper Discipline so much as a collection of ritual techniques developed over millennia. Most rituals take time and grant automatic success to an action; particularly challenging rituals, or those opposed by another sorcerer, often rely on Intelligence and Academics. Risk of Masquerade breach varies based on the ritual.

Celerity: Supernatural speed and quickness. Offers only a modest bonus, but helps with a huge number of activities, especially when you need to fight or flee. Mortals will be surprised by but not suspicious of the lowest level of Celerity; any more than that breaches the Masquerade.

Dominate: Overwhelming short-term mind control. Usually succeeds automatically, especially on mortals. A blunt instrument; doesn't gently boost your natural abilities like Presence. Low Masquerade risk since it's so uncanny. Dominate can also be used to scramble memories, which protects your secrets.

Fortitude: Unnatural resilience, even against the vampire's natural banes (fire and sunlight). Not used actively; it works automatically when you're hurt to absorb injury. Low risk of Masquerade breach—maybe you were wearing body armor?

Obfuscate: Fading from sight. Not literal invisibility; people just don't notice you. Mostly used to enhance Clandestine when sneaking. Low risk of Masquerade breach unless you just vanish in front of someone.

Potence: Monstrous strength. Increase your ferocity in combat and smash right through obstacles. Like Celerity, mortals will accept the lowest levels of Potence as the effects of adrenaline, but any more than that breaches the Masquerade.

Presence: Unnatural allure and charisma. Use it to fill mortals with dread (enhances Intimidate) or to enhance your natural charm (pairs with a large number of social skills). Lacks the immediate and inescapable power of Dominate, but more flexible. Low risk of Masquerade breach; people just believe you're unusually magnetic.

Protean: Three distinct shapeshifting powers. Beginners can grow wolflike claws to rip their enemies to shreds. Intermediate students learn how to meld with the earth, sinking into the ground to escape pursuers (or the rising sun). Masters take the form of beasts—in your case, a coyote. Any use of Protean is a huge and obvious Masquerade breach.

[the-bloody-masquerade]

prince lacroix for the ask meme?

How I feel about this character:

I adore this ridiculous disaster of a man with all my heart!

He is my favorite Bloodlines character. I just really enjoy his personality, and think his voice actor does an absolutely fantastic job bringing that patrician snootiness to the forefront, while also playing him as a reasonable, level headed leader, until he’s not anymore, and he’s a desperate, conniving man one step off the deep end. The fact that he’s just kind of universally scorned, even by his own people (his own bloodbonded ghoul hardly even gives a shit about him XD), and the incredible pressure that must put on him behind the scenes and how that might contribute to his motivations is also fascinating as hell. 

All the people I ship romantically with this character:

I will go down with the LaCroix/Nines ship like the Titanic. Its just got such fantastic ‘opposites attract’ energy, what with it representing Ventrue/Brujah, Camarilla/Anarch, Upperclass/Working Class, social-power/physical-power, etc. I’m, uh... writing a fic about it...

I have also been enlightened to the ways of LaCroix/Ming Xiao thanks primarily to @missn11 and her deep dive fanfic into the pairing. Two smooth-talking villainous backstabbing snakes, perfect for each other! 

Not to mention the triumvirate power throuple of LaCroix/Ming Xiao/Nines, also a brainchild of @missn11. I really enjoy that throuple either serious (the high stakes political intrigue!) or cute/cracky (Movie night! Texting each other distracting photos when the other is in an important meeting!) 

I have also been known to enjoy LaCroix/Sheriff and LaCroix/Fledgling when presented to me. 

And then, ya know, being here on vampblr, Nick/LaCroix is cute as frickin’ hell. Seeing @princelacroix and @normaltremere  ‘s RP shenanigans before and after their marriage (so cute) has been one of the highlights of my tumblr experience for the last however many months they’ve been at it. Everything from dorky couples’ bickering to genuine odes of affection that warm my undead heart. So yeah. Thanks guys! 

My non-romantic OTP for this character:

Well LaCroix’s getting busy with the plethora of people I pair him with, he’s really got no one else available for this spot! XD 

My unpopular opinion about this character:

I still don’t get what LaCroix’s rationale was behind his consecutive backstabbing towards the end of the game. Don’t get me wrong, it made for some of the best emotional video game role playing experiences in my life. I can get along with it with a base understanding of “he was going off the deep end by that point, he wasn’t being rational,” and just handwave my concerns with that, but if I actually try to logic it out, what he was trying to do makes absolutely no sense, and it does kind of bother me.  

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon:

On one had I wish that other VTM media remembered and embraced LaCroix (say, like Nines was) but then I remember the one time V5 remembered LaCroix existed, it decided to take a potshot at his masculinity, so maybe it is for the best he’s a character not often mentioned in other material...

My more measured response to LaCroix’s lack of inclusion in new material is, of course he’s not mentioned, since he’s dead after 2004 and most new material isn’t taking place during a time when he was alive. Still, should they release a new story or somesuch taking place before 2004 and they throw in a LaCroix cameo or actually feature him to some degree, I would absolutely squeal with delight and get my hands on that story as quick as I could. 

Thanks for the ask and letting me rant about my fave character @c0rpseductor !

[lots-of-little-pink-clouds]

Black Cadillac Valentines

Summary: A oneshot explaining how the PC from Bloodlines knows the Prince of Tucson, Arizona, Lettow Kaminsky. Also, the Cadillac incident Dove tells you about at the beginning of VTM: Night Road.

Characters: Malkavian PC (VTM: Bloodlines), Heather Poe, Lettow Kaminsky, Dove, Sebastian LaCroix (mentioned).

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28660233

February 14th 2005

Briar Rose rots under the sand.

An eagle makes its nest out of blue bones.

Father plucks the feathers from a lark's wings.

Beauregard Sawyer wanders the streets of Tucson, Arizona under the pale light of the moon. All around him, couples walk arm-in-arm on the sidewalk, smiling and laughing and exchanging gifts and kisses.

After arriving in Tucson and presenting themselves to its new Prince last month, Beau and his ghoul, Heather Poe, kept busy. Beau was convinced that something was here, something important. Ever aware of his moods, Heather looked at local real estate agents for a secure haven to live in while Beau began his search. She eventually found a small two-bedroom, one-bathroom basement apartment where the elderly couple who lived in the house above never asked any questions. They officially moved in three days ago.

Whether it was successfully moving in or because it was Valentine's Day, Heather wanted to celebrate and Beau could never say no to his Heather Feather. She was planning something, so he stepped out to give her time to set up.

Beau closes his eyes, readjusts his blue-sunset aviators, and relaxes for the first time in months. Los Angeles was a total bust, but at least its Jester Prince was dust and ashes. Hopefully whoever takes over will be able to clean up the mess the Ankaran Sarcophagus left behind. He takes a deep, calming breath.

The scent of smoke fills his nose.

She got in the wrong Cadillac.

His eyes snap open as he stops in front of the parking lot of a Marriott. He watches as a red-haired woman flings herself out of a burning black Cadillac, pushes herself to her feet, and takes off running past him.

"Isn't that the Prince's Seneschal?" he wonders. Beau's Sight doesn't grant him night vision, but he could swear her silhouette matched that of the hulking Nosferatu woman with the skull face that loomed behind Tucson's Gangrel Prince. Funny, he can't remember her name.

Looking back at the vehicle the woman just vacated, Beau spots a man in a wolf costume hanging halfway out of the driver seat window, screaming and clutching the bleeding remnants of his arm. Ignoring the human, Beau turns back to the woman, flames licking at her heels, as she runs out into the street.

At that moment, a car with its headlights off swerves around the corner at full speed and slams into her. Beau stares as she goes flying, hits the pavement, rolls, and is run over. The car stops and a man in a cream suit jacket climbs out and goes to check on her.

Eagle eyes scan the eastern horizon.

Not yet, he thinks.

He has to keep her safe.

"That's the Prince of Tucson," Beau realizes, bewildered. The Prince of Tucson, Lettow Kaminsky, helps the woman to her feet and pats her down to douse the remaining sparks of fire that cling to her clothes. Beau's attention turns again to the woman and, "Yep, that's definitely his Seneschal."

Then, because his night couldn't get any weirder, a jeep speeds around the corner that the Prince came from. Four heads stick out from the vehicle's open windows and point guns towards the Prince and his right-hand-woman.

Beau immediately ducks into the nearest alleyway, reaching into his hoodie's pocket for his pistol as the sound of gunfire erupts behind him. Screams fill the air. He peeks around the corner and spots the Prince and the Seneschal taking cover behind the Prince's car. The jeep swerves and comes to a stop, the Kindred inside clambering out and taking up defensive positions as pedestrians flee.

The wise decision would be to let them fend for themselves. The Prince and his Seneschal are both Elders. They would be fine. And after LaCroix and the debacle in LA, Beau's never held much stock in the Camarilla or any of its rivals. Kindred and Kine are the same in that sense - both will do whatever it takes to attain power. However...

Father's flock frays and turns to dust.

A lark stretches her wings to embrace the dawn.

Decision made, Beau leans around the corner, raises his pistol, and fires, just missing the head of one of the attackers. Immediately, the person calls to their fellows, drawing attention to the new challenger shooting at them. Their voice cuts out as Beau finally hits his target, the impact knocking them back on the pavement and stunning them.

"Shame that Kindred are so resilient," he thinks. He ducks around the corner again as the other Kindred focus on taking him out. Sticking his head back out as the assailants reload, Beau catches the Prince's eyes and gestures to him.

"Come on! This way!"

Then he steps out from the alley and continues shooting. He watches as the two share a look. The Seneschal finally nods and then they dart out from behind the car, dodging fire as they go.

Beau feels a bullet tear through his gut. He grimaces, throwing himself around the corner and back into the alleyway just as the two Camarilla members reach him. The Seneschal covers them, turning around and firing at their attackers with extreme prejudice.

"Evening Prince," Beau says, using the wall to push himself back to his feet.

"You are... Beauregard, correct?" the Gangrel asks.

"Yeah. My ghoul and I moved here last month." Beau puts a hand over the wound in his side to staunch the bleeding. "I know a place you can hide until they're gone. Or until dawn, whichever comes first. This way." He starts jogging down the alley. Lettow and his Nosferatu companion follow as the shouts of their pursuers ring out behind them.

"Who were those guys anyway?" Beau asks.

"Remnants of the Sabbat that took advantage of the turf war," Lettow replies.

Beau heard about that. From what little he learned from LaCroix and afterwards from rumors, Tucson's Camarilla was embroiled in a turf war. It started four years ago, when the old Ventrue Prince sought to purge the city of the riff raff. That is to say, every Kindred not part of Clan Ventrue.

Many people took offence to that.

Some rebelled, others fled. The Prince's childer took it as an opportunity to latch onto any form of power they could get their hands on and began fighting each other. Soon, they too were as much of a target as the other clans the Prince warred against.

Then in the midst of all that, the Sabbat arrived - led by Beau's sire, LaCroix always loved to mention - and made everything exponentially worse. It was every Kindred for themselves up until Lettow killed the old Prince and took over.

"We need to lose them," the Seneschal says. Footsteps pound on the pavement behind them, the Sabbat giving chase. The Nosferatu huffs, fists clenching white around her gun as she shoots behind her.

A dove with clipped wings and no other place to go.

"We'll find a way," the Prince replies.

"My haven's not too far," Beau says, "If we can shake 'em, I'll lead you straight there."

"You sure we can trust this guy?" the Seneschal asks. Beau feels the Gangrel Prince's sharp eagle gaze settle on his back.

His eyes see all, a gift from someone dear to him.

"For now," Lettow replies with certainty. Then to Beau, he says, "I do not take betrayal lightly. For your sake, you will uphold your end of the bargain."

"And if I don't, you'll dust me?" Beau laughs. "Sounds like someone I used to know. But you don't have to worry, Prince. I always keep my word."

With that, Beau leads them through Tucson's twisting alleyways, letting his feet and the voices tell him which way to go. He guides them through narrow streets and over roof tops, the Sabbat slowly falling behind. The trio eventually lose their pursuers completely when Beau stops, grabs the Seneschal's muscled bicep and the Prince's sleeve and lets the tingles of camouflage cover all three of them. The Sabbat run past none the wiser.

They wait for a time as the confused shouts of the other Kindred gets farther away. Approaching police sirens scare off the remnants. Only after the cops pass does Beau drop the camouflage with a heavy sigh.

"I think we lost them," he says.

"We should get somewhere safe in case they come back," the Nosferatu adds. The Prince nods and turns to Beau.

"Does your offer of sanctuary still apply?"

Beau shrugs. "Sure, why not. It's been a weird day. Night. Whatever."

He leads them back through the maze of alleys. Without the hassle of being tailed, the trio make it to Beau and Heather's haven without difficulty. Beau takes out his key and unlocks the door, leading them inside.

"Beau?" Heather's voice calls from the kitchen, "Is that you?"

"It's me," Beau replies, closing the door and locking it.

Heather rushes to him, red hair whipping behind her. Beau catches her, stumbling backwards as she flings herself at him.

"I missed you," she says, hugging him. He smiles and pats her back.

The Prince coughs, interrupting the moment. Heather quickly lets go. Her face flushes as she recognizes their guests.

"Ran into some friends. They needed a place to stay a bit," Beau shrugs, taking off his aviators and tossing them onto the hall table. "Hope you don't mind. I know you had plans."

"No, no, it's fine," she replies, tucking her hair behind her ear. She shuffles in place, wringing her hands. "Um, Beau?"

At her tone, Beau pauses. "What did you do?"

She bites her lip. He crosses his arms.

"... I caught a fish again."

Beau blinks. Then, he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Feather, remember what I told you last time you did this?"

"I'm sorry," she deflates. "But we just moved in, and I wanted to get you something since you've been so stressed lately."

"And I appreciate it, I really do, but it's still super dangerous. What if you got caught?"

Her silence is telling.

"You got caught."

"... I caught two fish."

"Please Heather, please tell me you didn't use the shovel."

She swallows and braces herself. Beau throws his hands up.

"Feather, you know how I feel about the shovel!"

"I'm sorry!"

"Just... Just go," Beau rubs his eyes, desperately wanting to scream. "Where are they?"

"I locked them in the guest room..."

He waves her off, exasperated. He watches her disappear into the living room before turning to their guests. "Are you two hungry? I've got bagged in the fridge, and you're welcome to that, but I gotta take care of this mess."

The Camarilla members stare at him. Beau glances between them.

"Is something wrong?" he asks.

"See," the Seneschal finally says, turning to Lettow, "I told you he was a Lunatic."

"Come now Dove," the Prince sighs, "That is no way to speak to our host."

"Oh right," Beau thinks, "Her name was Dove." Then the rest of her sentence registered.

"Lunatic, huh? That's a new one."

"It's the eyes," Lettow says. "Because of your sunglasses, it was hard to tell. I believed you were Toreador."

"Huh." Beau pauses. "I honestly don't care either way. Let others see what they wish to see, the truth is always obscured." He shrugs. "But enough of that, we did a lot of running earlier. Are you hungry?"

"I could eat," Dove replies.

The Prince agrees. "We will make do."

Cold and slimy and unfulfilling.

Blood bags don't provide enough subsistence for Kindred. The ones who subsist entirely on them are either desperate or clinging to the remnants of their humanity. Most prefer obtaining their fill directly from the source. With this in mind, Beau extends another olive branch to them. The voices whisper that something good will come of this relationship.

"If you want, you can help me with the fish," he offers. The two look at each other.

"Fish?" Lettow asks. His lips twitch into a small bemused smile. A dubious expression crosses Dove's face.

Beau grins as he leads them to the guest room. He stops by the closet and pulls out the shovel he and Heather own, hauling it over one shoulder before continuing on. Dried blood sticks to its metal blade.

"Yeah, fish. But not literal fish. I think you'll like it."

[robotslenderman]

OTP Meme

Yoinked from @aelwen​.

Starting off with my Super Problematic Arturo/Olivia, will probably do the same quiz with other ships as well.

For those who are not aware: Arturo kidnapped Olivia at the end of CoNY while trying to figure out what to do with her and ended up keeping her around, and she’s blood bound to him (for non VTM fans, that’s basically a love potion). So yeah, there’s a huge power imbalance and a drug-induced Stockholm Syndrome here, and one half is a megalomaniac. There is a shitton of dubcon.

You have been warned.

DISAGREEMENTS.

Who is more likely to raise their voice?

Arturo, but like, that’s not saying much. I can see him only raising his voice when he’s pushed almost to his limit and even then only to say something like “DON’T INTERRUPT” when he’s in a monologue or a “NO” to cut someone else off.

Who threatens to leave but never actually does?

Neither of them.

Who actually keeps their word and leaves?

OLIVIA LOL. Arturo has known she’s been wanting out since the beginning but the blood bond kept her compliant until Qadir and her Coterie finally got their shit together and busted her out. Arturo may have gone completely apeshit trying to get her back but then once he knew the blood bond had timed out, gave it up and let her go.

Who trashes the house?

Neither of them. Toreadors do not trash their own house and Olivia too desperately wants to please Arturo to get messy even if that was her style.

Plus, you know, they have ghouls to clean up after them.

Do either of them get physical?

ngl for the first few months Olivia keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop on that, since Arturo absolutely bitchslapped Sophie at the end of CoNY, but after a while she realises he’s not typically violent and calms down.

How often do they argue/disagree?

Almost never, due to the blood bond. Olivia occasionally pushes it, but never goes too far (by Arturo’s standards). She’s too chemically wired to want to please him to full out disagree or argue.

Who is the first to apologize?

Olivia, for obvious reasons. Arturo does apologise from time to time, but rarely, and usually accompanied with an eyeroll inducing monologue pontificating about something or other. (Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, the monologue itself is not an apology.)

SEX.

(Headcanon interlude -- vampire sex is basically blood drinking, whether mutual or not, given how aroused both drinker and drinkee become. They can have “human” sex with blush of life, but it’s not nearly as satisfying without the blood drinking. So yeah keep in mind I’m not talking about human sex here, even though there might be some of that accompanying the blood drinking.)

Who is on top? Who is on bottom?

Olivia on top. Kind of hard to suck the blood from someone’s throat if you’re on the bottom.

Any kinks?

They’re vampires, what do you think?

Who has the strangest desires?

Arturo thinks he’s weird as shit for enjoying it when she cuddles up to him lmfao.

Who’s dominant in bed?

Arturo, despite positions.

Is head ever in the equation?

Nope. Although I’m sure if Arturo managed to get her back when she escaped he might’ve been relieved enough to do it.

If so, who is better at performing it?

N/A

Ever had sex in public?

He never lets her out, so no.

Although... he does have ghouls, and he treats them like he’d treat a portrait on the wall. Olivia is often mortified by the stuff she’ll do in front of them when the blood bond’s at full strength.

Who moans the most?

Definitely Arturo. It’s vampire sex, Olivia’s too busy drinking blood to make noise.

Who leaves the most marks?

Neither, they heal too quickly.

Who is the more experienced of the two?

With mortal sex it sort of balances out -- Arturo was apparently a canonical playboy when he was alive, but obviously that stopped forty years ago so that evens out there. With Olivia, she’s slept with a few people but got too wrapped up in work towards the end of her life to have a sex life.

Plus, Vampire Sex Is Different, as I’ve said a million times already, so... they’re not blushing virgins but neither of them are at a level where you can say either of them is more experienced than the other. Sure, Arturo has Panhard drinking from him too, but in my headcanon her drinking from his wrist is not sexual even by vampire standards. Olivia was the first he let bite from his neck.

Do they ‘fuck’ or ‘make love’?

I think there’s far more emotion in it than Arturo is ever willing to admit.

How long do they usually last?

As long as Olivia can draw it out without diablerising him, lmao. He does get into the habit of keeping himself topped up for her when it gets sexual though.

In human-sex terms, well... vampires have way more stamina than humans. But again, not as satisfying, so they tend to leave that for when Arturo’s low on vitae or when he has a few hours free (which isn’t often).

Rough or soft?

Soft.  Unless Arturo’s been to visit Panhard or Adelaide. Olivia gets bitey when she’s jealous and Arturo finds it endearing.

Is protection used?

Really?

Does it ever get boring?

By mortal standards, certainly. But drinking/being drunk from by a vampire feels so good that for them, no, it never gets boring.

Where is the strangest place they’d have sex?

Anywhere the ghouls are working. Olivia dies inside a little once the post-nut clarity kicks in. The ghouls just GTFO and don’t make eye contact for a while.

Arturo doesn’t think of them as people...

FAMILY.

Do they plan on having children/or have children?

Jesus fucking Christ my blood ran cold just READING this question. Nope nope npoe NOPE. Even if they could have children, NOOOOOOO. GOD, NO. NOOOOO. NOPE. NOPE NOPE NOPE

As for childer? Vampires are single parents by nature, so they’re not raising any together. If anything, Arturo is seriously considering adopting Olivia as his childe by the time she GTFO’s. 

(For non-VTM fans: I swear that is not as fucked up as it looks. “Childe” = vampire who hasn’t been a vampire for long. It’s a mentor/mentee relationship, not a parent/child relationship, despite the terminology. Vampires seem to be way more likely to have romantic/sexual entanglements with sires/childer than anyone else because of the power imbalance and how fucking dangerous it is to get involved with a vampire on your level. Why yes creatures who drink blood from humans are fucked up, what tipped you off?)

If so, how many children do they want/have?

I’m charging you for my therapy bills.

AFFECTION.

Who likes to cuddle?

Goes without saying that the blood bond makes Olivia a cuddle slut, but Arturo enjoys it way more than he is willing to admit.

Who gets naughty in the most inappropriate of places?

Arturoooo. Those poor fucking ghouls.

Who struggles to keep their hands to themselves?

Arturo.

How long can they cuddle until one becomes uncomfortable?

They’re vampires.

What is their favourite non-sexual activity?

Arturo is a slut for headscritches.

Where is their favourite place to cuddle?

The sofas near the windows overlooking New York.

SLEEPING.

Who snores?

They’re vamps, they literally sleep like they’re dead. VTM vampires are easily mistaken for corpses unless you know what to look for, such as the fact they don’t stink and that insects and scavengers aren’t helping themselves.

My headcanon is that younger and higher humanity vampires sleep more akin to something like humans, and so younger vampires like Olivia might sometimes wake during the day (altho quickly pass out again), move in their sleep, or dream, or accidentally use blush of life. Closest she comes to snoring is by accidentally using blush of life in her sleep and therefore breathing.

If both do, who snores the loudest?

N/A

Do they share a bed or sleep separately?

Sleep separately, up until the first attempt to bust Olivia out, at which point Arturo gets clingy and insists she sleeps next to him in his bed. It’s not like he’d wake up if any ghouls showed up to liberate her, but it makes him feel better.

If they sleep together, do they cozy up together or lay far apart?

Cozy up.

What do they wear to bed?

Olivia is still in the habit of wearing PJs, but Arturo just wears whatever he was wearing that day.

Are either of them insomniacs?

No, it’s extremely difficult for vampires to stay awake when the sun comes up.

Can sleeping pills be found by the bedside?

Nope, they wouldn’t work.

Do they wrap their limbs around each other or just lay side by side?

Depends on how clingy Arturo’s feeling that night.

Who wakes up with bed hair?

Both of them.

Who wakes up first?

They both wake up around the same time.

Who prepares breakfast in bed for the other?

Arturo will fucking murder any ghouls that bleed all over his bed, so neither.

What is their favourite sleeping position?

Arturo likes to cling to Olivia after the first liberation attempt.

Do they set an alarm each night?

No need.

Who has nightmares?

Olivia, due to her young age, is able to dream from time to time and therefore gets nightmares. After Arturo, she gets way more -- although that’s not because of any trauma from the Arturo incident (although she’s definitely spooked by it, the blood bond actually protected her from the trauma it would cause because of the nature of how trauma forms), but more because of the idea of oh god what if someone WORSE than him puts me under a blood bond?!

Can a television be found in their bedroom?

Arturo. Despises. Modern. Television.

Who has ridiculous dreams?

Olivia is the only one out of the two of them that dreams. For Arturo, being older and with lower humanity, it’s more akin to being put under anaesthesia.

Her dreams aren’t that ridiculous, though.

Who sprawls out and takes up most of the bed?

Olivia doesn’t sprawl, but she does move in her sleep so I suppose she’s closest.

Who makes the bed?

The ghouls.

What time is bed time?

Up to half an hour before dawn, depending on their mood and if they feel like just curling up and talking before they black out.

Any routines/rituals before bed?

Not really. Arturo likes to go over his schedule, have a sip from a ghoul, but that’s about it.

Who’s the grumpiest when they wake up?

Arturo, if he’s dreading something that night.

WORK.

Who is the busiest?

Fucking Arturo is always running around feeding his one million ghouls and three blood bonded pets, and feeding himself to keep them under his control, and that’s not counting when he’s getting up to schemes or schmoozing in Elysium. Dude is pretty much out of the penthouse from dusk to dawn most of the week and when he’s at home actually working he’s shut up in his study.

Olivia? Bored out of her fucking mind at home binging on Netflix or books. After working 70+ hours a week when she was alive she is not used to having this much free time.

Who rakes in the highest income?

Arturo, obviously. Famous architect with a shitton of shady “associates”.

Are any of them unemployed?

Olivia.

Who takes the most sick days?

They don’t do sick days.

What are their jobs?

Arturo’s a Harpy, if that counts as a job (think vampire socialite), and also an architect.

Who sucks up to their boss?

Arturo is the boss, even if he pretends not to be at Elysium.

Olivia had to do a lot of sucking up in life. She does not miss that bit.

Who is more likely to turn up late to work?

Arturo. He does what the fuck he wants.

Who stresses the most?

Believe it or not, Arturo. He’s got a lot of balls in the air and works hard to keep himself from dropping them. After Hope’s failed attempt at getting Olivia out, he gets even more stressed out.

Do they enjoy or despise their careers/occupations?

Olivia does not miss her job but also doesn’t know who she is without it, now.

Arturo enjoys his job. He’s always enjoyed it, but after being Embraced he became completely obsessed with it.

Are they financially stable?

Yep. Famous architect who designs for both kindred and kine elites? Yeah.

HOME.

Who does the washing?

The ghouls.

Who takes out the trash?

Ghouls

Who does the ironing?

Ghouuuuls.

Who does the cooking?

Nobody, they just munch on a ghoul.

Who is more likely to burn the house down just trying?

I’m not shitting you when I say that Lucas, one of the ghouls, is most likely to try and sneakily cook something on Arturo’s never-used stovetop when he’s out and accidentally fuck it up in the process.

Who is messier?

Arturo, but that’s not saying much. He tends to pick up after himself if he doesn’t have to go out of his way to do it, and there’s ghouls to do the rest.

Who leaves the toilet roll empty?

My headcanon is that vampires do, in fact, pee because they need to get rid of metabolic waste somehow. So that’d be Olivia.

Who leaves their dirty clothes on the floor?

Arturo, if it doesn’t upset the aesthetic of the room too much (fucking Toreadors). Olivia did start leaving her stuff around for the ghouls but it stressed out Arturo so she stopped.

Who forgets to flush the toilet?

Neither of them.

Who loses the car keys when it comes time to go somewhere?

Arturo usually takes the subway, but if the ghouls are driving him somewhere it’s definitely Lucas who fucks up the most.

Who answers the telephone?

They don’t have a landline. Olivia doesn’t have a phone.

Who mows the lawn?

They have a penthouse.

Who does the vacuuming?

The ghouls, usually Alex.

Who does the groceries?

Nobody, although the ghouls sometimes stash stuff in the fridge Arturo keeps for the aesthetic. It doesn’t bother him as long as they keep their shit put away.

Who takes the longest to shower?

Olivia likes to shower almost every day out of habit and because the warmth is soothing.

Who spends the most time in the bathroom?

Arturo. This is the guy who wears glasses he doesn’t need because he likes the aesthetic. No way in hell he isn’t in there for ages preening himself.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Is money a problem?

Not at all.

How many cars do they own?

Arturo almost certainly has something fancy and hipstery that he barely uses.

What’s their song?

LMFAO sorry this question made me laugh my ass off because a PERFECT song appeared in my head immediately:

 “Every Breath You Take” by the Police

but unironically, and with total awareness of the actual fucking meaning of the song.

Specifically, the cover in minor key. The really creepy one by Chase Holfeder.

(There is a reason, other than the blood bond, that Olivia hangs the fuck tight and waits for Qadir to get her out instead of making a break for it herself. And there’s a reason why she bolts to the other side of the country when the blood bond wears off. She ain’t taking any chances.)

Do they live in the city or in the country?

New York City, baby.

Do they own their home or do they rent?

Own it. It used to belong to Charlotte, Arturo’s sire. He got it when she carked it.

Do they enjoy their surroundings?

Arturo’s a Toreador so I see him as having a love/hate relationship with his surroundings depending on what they are at the moment.

As for Olivia, it’s fancier than she’s used to but mostly the cabin fever drives her crazy from time to time.

What do they do when they’re away from each other?

Arturo gets up to all kinds of shit -- Elysium schmoozing, bossing ghouls around, doing architecture/engineering work, researching, making deals with Kaiser, feeding Adelaide and Panhard...

Olivia? Mostly Netflix binging, hanging out with the ghouls, and wishing she could go out for a fucking walk or something.

Where did they first meet?

At Elysium. Arturo was one of the people she talked to that night. She said his glasses looked good on him when he was bitching about them. He said “you bet they do.”

Who spends the most money when out shopping?

Arturo tends to make less purchases but moves more money when he does.

Who’s more likely to flash their assets?

Neither of them, dear god.

Any mental issues?

what do you think

Arturo: I would be here all day.

Olivia: she actually winds up less traumatised than she thought she would once the blood bond wore off. The blood bond actually protected her in that way -- trauma needs fear to take root, even if it’s fear after the fact. So while she was very nervous in the first few months of captivity, once she realised Arturo wasn’t going to hurt her or anything she settled right down and isn’t scarred by that. She is scared that she’ll have to look over her shoulder for the rest of her life, she is scared he’ll try to take her back, but she’s not scared of him, if that makes sense?

But the whole “wow, anyone could do this to me and they could be a lot worse than he ended up being”? Yeah, that fucking terrifies her, so she does end up with a lot of trauma around that afterwards. Yeah, she was a captive for a while, but... she ended up very, very lucky in who her captor was, and she knows it. Arturo didn’t go out of his way to be nice to her, but he wasn’t a complete asshole either. Worse he did (dubcon, captivity and blood bond aside) was snap at her every now and then and be self-absorbed.

She actually finds it pretty hard to deal with life after captivity because... well. There’s a lot worse than Arturo out there. She’s an orphan. Kindred are pretty fucking horrible and she doesn’t have Arturo protecting her any more.

Sometimes the gilded cage was way easier to deal with. Sometimes she really, really misses not having to fight for her survival. Sometimes she wants to go back. She often wants to go back.

So yeah -- there is some trauma there, just... not the trauma she expected to end up dealing with. She expected to feel violated and to hate the guy. She doesn’t. She didn’t expect to feel lost, scared and exposed without him. She does.

Who finds it amusing when the other trips over?

Olivia, not that she’d ever show it. Sometimes it’s just satisfying to watch the puppet master deal with tiny little wrenches in the works like that.

Who’s terrified of bugs?

Olivia hates them.

Who kills the spiders around the house?

Arturo rolls his eyes and gets a ghoul to do it.

Do they have any fears for their future?

Arturo, once he realised how attached he got to Olivia, was terrified of losing her.

Their favourite place?

They both like the couches in the haven that sit next to the huge windows that overlook the city.

Who’s more likely to surprise the other with a fancy dinner?

Every now and then a ghoul gets some really good vitae as a treat for Olivia.

(So yeah, neither.)

Who pays the bills?

Arturo.

Who’s the tallest?

Arturo.

Who’s more likely to just randomly hop into the shower with the other?

Neither.

Who wanders around in their underwear?

Neither.

Who sings the loudest when singing along to the radio?

Olivia sings under her breath when it’s just the ghouls around, but not loudly, and never in front of Arturo.

What do they tease each other about?

Ooof, Arturo likes to rub salt in the wound by calling her his little pet, but ofc blood bonded Olivia doesn’t feel hurt by that. It’s not until post-New York that she’s like “DUDE WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT???”

Who is more likely to cringe at the other’s fashion sense at times?

Arturo, naturally. I think it’s physically impossible for a Toreador not to cringe at someone’s clothing every now and then.

Who crushed first?

... Both? Sorta.

Olivia naturally had the blood bond, but Arturo was the first that actually caught genuine feelings.

Olivia did have some genuine fond feelings even after the blood bond wore off, but not enough that she let that stop her from GTFOing to LA.

Any alcohol or substance-related problems?

You mean, aside from Olivia’s literal addiction to Arturo’s blood? The one that compels her to have strong feelings for him to the point that even though she’s captive and could walk out the door at any time, she doesn’t?

Yeah, I’d say that’s a substance problem.

Who is more likely to stumble home, drunk, at 3am?

Arturo, if he was desperate enough to feed on a drunk, but even then -- blood has a very low alcohol content compared to actual alcohol, and while I HC that vampires are sensitive enough to alcohol that they can get a buzz from drinking from someone drunk enough... it’s just a buzz.

Who swears the most?

Arturo.