|
Valeria:
The few days before new years are always rowdy. Everyone is enjoying (or not enjoying) those few days of limbo between the big holidays and New Years. And a lot of people are getting drunk.
Valeria however, was not getting drunk. She'd made a promise not to, so she stuck to water, she was the DD of the night with a few friends. Then the idiots showed up. Words were said, voices were raised, and the 6' woman went outside to kick some ass for her friend...or so she thought.
It became very clear the other people weren't intending to fight fair, and a moment later, a shot rang out from the alleyway, the raised voices suddenly going quiet.
Guy:
Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on who you are, a certain Gangrel isn’t far away. In that moment of silent shock filling the air after the surprisingly loud noise someone’s pocket .38 makes, Guy steps into the alley.
He doesn’t announce himself, but the grit of his boot on wet pavement is loud in the ear ringing quiet.
He stands there, all cliche dark and brooding, the look on his face hard and imposing. “You only get one more. Make it count.”
The youth with the gun makes two decisions at once, firing a second shot even as he takes off running. His friends, between the threat of police, the newcomer and his attitude, and the adrenaline of the moment, follow him.
Valeria:
Valeria coughed up blood at that moment. Luckily not an immediately fatal shot, but close. Her eyes were hazy and the blood pooling around her was growing bigger by the second. While not dead, she was going into shock and it was doubtful she would make it all that much longer.
The few bruises on her face, however, were nothing compared to the few on the others people that were fleeing.
Guy:
Guy saunters over and kneels in front of Valeria, looking her over and sniffing at the air a little. “Fuck, eh? Bad news, that’s arterial…and judging by the amount you’ll die before the bleeding can be stopped, much less get a transfusion.”
Valeria:
Val looks at him, a fear in her eyes. A hand grabs towards his jacket, and she coughs a bit more blood before answering. "Help me, please..."
Guy:
He lays his hand on hers, and it must be the shock setting in, because it’s cold and hard and wrong, like a statue wearing a leather glove or something. There’s no mist from his breath, if she even notices, and a neat little hole in his shirt roughly .357 inches across, no blood leaking from it.
“I will, but I have to ask you first. Are you willing to live no matter what? Even if it’s a cursed life, lived under the specter of death? Even if it never ends? Even if it means you are bound to me or another for that whole life?”
Valeria:
She's panicked, and doesn't notice the small details. She doesn't want to die, but she pauses a second at his words. They seem important.
Another heartbeat passes before she nods. Certain in whatever will save her from death. "Yes, I do...help me." Another cough of blood.
Guy:
He ticks a curl of her hair behind and ear and cups her head. “I do not do this thing lightly. I cannot offer life or a second chance. This is me stealing you from your Doom, and there is a price for such things. The only forgiveness for this sin is your approval.”
And then he has fangs, biting his wrist, and one hand holds her head with a gentle but inescapable grip, while the other presses holes to her mouth, and life begins to flood into her body.
Valeria:
The fangs catch her attention, eyes going wide just in time for him to press his wrist to her mouth. At that moment she doesn't care, she approves. Stealing doom and whatnot, she would take whatever it took to survive...and so she drinks.
Guy:
Guy’s Vitae is potent, his blood rich with power and centuries of life, and it floods Valerie’s body, nearly scorching in intensity. “The wound,” Guy say firmly. “Send that feeling into the wound, your bones.” His voice has a power in it, some investment of himself in the words, the blood, and the energy in Val listens to him as much as it does her. She can feel the weight of his experience, the thousands of people whose blood he has tasted. It’s a high unlike anything, and similar to all such potent narcotics. For it is a drug, she is certain, strange and wonderful and complete, as she feels it pull her back towards life itself.
Valeria:
Valeria is no stranger to drugs, and a little part of her brain sends warnings that she ignores. This felt...amazing, powerful, good, so why shouldn't she?
She puts a hand over her wound as she drank, focusing the feeling there. Drinking as she does. Reveling in the experience of the Kindred's long life and countless feedings. And she feels alive, alive in a new way she hadn't known, and alive in the literal sense too.
Guy:
The wound had nearly killed her instantly, and so it took a little time to heal as Val drinks. “I’m sorry,” Guy says softly. “Unfortunately, I had no other way.”
Valeria:
Val found herself leaning into the wrist, feeling full of life. The wound knits itself shut, followed slowly by the bruises. At that point she lets go of his wrist. Her mouth is stained red and she wipes her face with the back of her hand.
"What...was that? Not that I'm complaining, promise. Just...what...who are you?"
Guy:
He looks into her eyes, a hint of sadness in his. “A vampire. And now you’re a Ghoul, the living damned. That was my true blood, Vitae. I’ll explain more, but we need to get out of here before cops show up.”
Valeria:
Feeling good as new, besides being covered in blood, she looks to the door of the bar before nodding and getting to her feet.
"Yeah lets...definitely leave. It's my friend's car and I don't have my bike or her keys. Also holy fuck...a vampire? Right, right, later, sorry."
Guy:
“I have a bike nearby, and a blanket…” he looks her over a moment and sighs. “I’ll make a call on the way.”
He pulls out his phone and puts it to his ear as they walk. “Rena? I need a hand with something.”
Valeria:
She watches behind them, but follows along without question. Guy might notice the tiny limp in her left leg, but she's very clearly strong and lithe.
"Yeah, yeah. Anything I can help with?"
Guy:
“A change of clothes for a woman a bit taller than you,” he says into his phone, before he glances Val over. “Bit more muscled than you, too.”
He covers the mic for a second to talk to Val. “The blood trail is a little unavoidable at this point, don’t worry about it.”
Valeria:
Val smiles at the assessment, but keeps quiet until he covers the mic.
"Yeah...sounds good. I'll try not to bleed on your bike if I can help it? Although I'm not sure I can." Jokes are good, right? She'll be fine minus the whole almost dying part 5 minutes ago.
Guy:
“Like I said, I have blanket you can wrap up in, that should keep the worst of it off. I’ll clean it later.”
They weave through a few dark alleys, the lack of light not seeming to phase Guy at all. “By the way, I’m Guy Dagenham. Sorry about the awkward meeting.”
Valeria:
"Cool, I'll do that then. Little frazzled cause well...this."
The light slows her down slightly, but she's fast. There's a few hops over boxes and the like as they travel, showing off or entertaining herself is hard to make sure.
"Nice to meet you Guy, I'm Valeria Rolan-Ruiz, feel free to call me Val or Ria." She gives a bright smile. "And don't sweat it...er...if you can sweat? You saved my life and...well I'm grateful."
Guy:
“I can, but I prefer not to. Less laundry that way.” He looks her over again, less in calculation or interest and more just…seeing her. “You’ve been through something intense, life changing…I imagine when you get home you’ll crash hard. This will feel like a strange dream, or something.”
Valeria:
Val laughs. "Laundry is the worst." She goes quiet at his assessment.
"Probably...just...on adrenaline right now? You sure you didn't spike my drink or anything?"
Guy:
“Little alcohol earlier in the night, should be totally burned off by now. Nothing else. The rush is just from the feeding, that’s normal, relatively speaking.”
Valeria:
Ria nods, slowing a bit but not stopping. "Just...want to get to a safe spot is all. I have a million questions and you're the one with the answers."
Guy:
Guy’s bike is an absolute monster, post market modded to hell and back, beefed up, maybe even armored. And it has a certain indescribable menace to it, like it’s almost alive. “Spare helmet is too small for you, sorry,” he says as he pops the seat to take the prophesied blanket out. “We’ll be somewhere safe enough soon, and I promise I will give you what answers I can there.”
Valeria:
She can't help but gawk at the monster. If sparkles could appear in her eyes, they would. It takes their entire focus to not geek out, and so they take the blanket and cover themselves.
"I'll be fine, I've done it before. How far is this spot?"
Guy:
Guy puts a helmet on for legal purposes, then climbs onto the bike. “Following traffic laws, it’s 15, 20 minutes? And then some walking.”
Valeria:
Ria hops on behind him, still slightly giddy at the monster of a bike.
"That's not bad. I trust you...I mean after all you did just save my life." Theres a pause in her breath as that statement hits true. "Oh fuck...I should be dead."
Guy:
“Yes,” Guy replies plainly. “We’ll get into what that means in a bit. For now, breath, and taste the stolen night air.”
The bike roars to life, settling into a rumble like some mechanical big cat, and once Val is full settled in he lets it take its pace.
Cruising along city streets seems no effort at all for the bike, if anything Guy has to ride it down to keep it near the speed limit.
Valeria:
She goes rather quiet for the ride, but is an expert. She leans as he does, and keeps her weight at the perfect spots.
Her brain is finally catching up with the events of the evening, at one red light her hand goes down to the now disappeared bullet wound.
Guy:
“Ah, shit. Forgot to pick up the bullet. Good souvenir. Something solid to hold onto makes a difference.”
Valeria:
She blinks and shakes her head, confidence a little less prevalent.
"A souvenir? You keep the bullets of people that shoot you? Thats hella cool but also...what the fuck?" There's a shake of her head in disbelief. "Something solid would be nice though."
Guy:
“Well. They tend to fall out of me when I wake up in the evening, so. It would be awkward to just toss them in the trash or something. I try to avoid getting shot when I can, though, it upsets my fiancée.”
Valeria:
Val waits until the next red light stop to talk.
"That's fair I guess. Still cool though. I'm pretty sure having bullets fall out of you would be pretty upsetting for any sorta partner. Congrats on the engagement though."
Guy:
“Ah, thanks. Yeah, that’s fair. But she knows I don’t injure or heal like other people, it’s just the healer in her. She runs a night clinic—I would have brought you to her if you would have made it.”
Valeria:
Ria nods. "Well I'm glad you had a plan if I did...makes me feel better about this. You seem like someone who knows what they're doing."
A deep breath comes from the new Ghoul. "So how's she view the whole...Vampire thing? Or is she a vampire too?"
Guy:
“She’s a different sort of strange thing. Whole other set of strangeness you don’t need to worry about tonight.” He sighs softly. “I should text her in a bit.”
Valeria:
She looks out at the city, a new perspective.
"Another strange thing...yeah, not tonight. Texting people is important...oh fuck...I just left my tipsy friends stranded." There's a worried look.
Guy:
“Still got your phone? Half lie—tell them you got hurt when the shooting happened, and you had to run off to get patched up, or something like that.”
Valeria:
"Ill do that, yeah. Say I'm at the hospital and Ill head to my mom's tonight or something."
She doesnt go for her phone, they're on a bike after all. That can be a later thing.
Guy:
Guy parks in another alley, letting Ria off the bike before he dismounts. “Keep the blanket, I haven’t gotten the heating set up going yet.”
Valeria:
Ria doesn't need to be told twice and keeps the blanket tight around her. She hops off the bike and looks around the new alleyway.
"Appreciate it. And the warning. Where exactly are we?"
Guy:
“Nowhere yet,” he says with a little smile, heading into an unground space, an old tunnel or something. A flickering fluorescent light reveals a dingy space. Through another door, a dark shape leading further down, he gestures. “I’ve got some lights further in that are working.”
Valeria:
Ria looks around the underground space, on edge. Theres a little hop in her step thats easily recognized as a worry and ability to run the opposite direction at a moment's notice.
"Well I can't see shit down here. You live here? Or...unlive here? Whats the term?"
Guy:
“Exist? Live is fine. And no, this is my…lair. I’m turning it into a gym for supernaturals.”
He starts down into the darkness. At the bottom of the long stairs, he finds a switch and turns it on, revealing…
A mall?
Valeria:
Ria nods. "Exist is a good term. Or live, I'll stick with live."
She nods. "A gym is cool. Guess you can't all be around normal people, hm." As she walks into the mall, she pauses. One to let her eyes adjust, and two to take in the space. "Er...you said gym right?"
Guy:
“Mmhmm. Use spaces for classes, set up the upper level for a little track, that sort of thing.”
It’s cleaner than the pic, and Guy brings her to a table with bench chairs to sit.
Valeria:
She nods, looking around the space.
"Probably some good spots in the middle here for things like gymnastics or pole vault if that's an interest."
She sits at the table, opposite of guy. She looks nervously around the space and gestures a lot with her hands. "Alright so...is it turn to ask questions? Your turn? Trade off? How we doing this?"
Guy:
“Who are you? The short version. What do you like to do? Are you a student or something? Start with that, and then you can ask away for the time being.”
Valeria:
She sits there for a minute. "Uh, short version, right. "Well like I said, I'm Valeria Rolan-Ruiz. I grew up here in Philly and I'm a gymnast. I almost made it to the Tokyo Olympics so theres a dozen or so interviews on me if you want a longer version. Now...well recovering drug addict, daughter of divorced parents, fast food worker, and apparently a um...what did you call me earlier?"
Guy:
“A ghoul…” He’s quiet a few moments. “Recovering addict, huh. That’s…” He sighs. “I’m even more sorry about how this turned out.”
Valeria:
"Ghoul, got it." She nods. "I broke my leg at Olympic tryouts and hit a bad spot. A couple friends help get me out of that hole. Ive been clean of everything for 6 months now."
She pauses. "Why are you sorry? You saved my life. I'd be dead in some alley if it weren't for you."
Guy:
“Because now you’re an addict to Vitae. Forever, unless you become a vampire like me or are killed. Being dead might be more peaceful.” He pauses. “But yes, I did save you. And I intend to look out for you as I can.”
Valeria:
She pauses. "And Vitae is the stuff you gave me? Like your blood? It made me feel strong and...well brought me back from basically dead?"
She bites her lip. "I appreciate it, Guy. Looking out for me I mean. To be honest...this doesn't feel like the worst addiction I've had over the past couple years."
Guy:
“My…true blood, yes. I can bleed false blood when I’m impersonating the living, more on that later. It is addictive, and potent, yes. You can learn its powers over time—strength and durability and others. And it makes you immortal, as long as you keep getting more of it.”
Valeria:
She considers that, the addictive personality feeding the want.
"So I could...theoretically... become super strong and everything? Like...well I guess like a vampire." She gestures to Guy.
"And immortality...i mean...I'm not sure I'd want to live forever but...as long as I keep drinking your Vitae ill be like that? I feel like theres gotta be downsides im missing."
Guy:
“You mean besides the fact you’re addicted to the blood of the undead? Well. You can’t be a part of my special secret society, though I’ll introduce you to my friends from there. Um. You’re going to develop…feelings for me. Not necessarily romantic ones, but Vitae, on top of being addictive, binds you to the vampire it’s from. To me. If you drink from me more than the once a month needed to keep you a ghoul, that feeling you’re having that I’m just so fascinating will grow stronger.”
Valeria:
That brings her pause. "Well I do think you are pretty cool. I'm a lesbian though, just saying. Men was an addiction I got over fairly quickly...with a few exceptions that I won't elaborate on."
She takes a second to process. "It doesn't sound like I have much choice in the matter now...so I should at least enjoy it. Once a month though, got it...I can do that. And noted on the secret society part."
Guy:
“And I’m demi and monogamous, so if I ever make you feel weird tell me, because I’m not intending it that way. And I wish it were as easy as your monthly dose. That healing takes Vitae. Using other abilities does too. And you’ll crave it frequently.” He pauses for a moment. “And no, you don’t…unless you want to stop right now.”
Valeria:
"Deal. No weird vibes, got it." She gives a smile that fades quickly. "Got it, so I won't have much choice but to get more of it from you if I run out. That's not gonna hurt you, is it?"
She pauses, thinking. "I'm torn, not gonna lie. It sounds amazing but part of me is worried about addictions too. All I can hear is Alice yelling at me. But also, to be honest it sounds cool as fuck though, and worth it to me."
Guy:
“Hurt me? No. I’ll have to feed a little more myself, is all, if you use your store. I’ll be alright.”
He listens to her, and nods. “You should think about it, today. It’s a big choice, and not an easy one. But I don’t…have any expectations, ok?”
Valeria:
Ria nods slowly, biting her lip and crossing her arms.
"I've never been good at big decisions. Ive always just sorta jumped at chances." She thinks for a second. "It sounds like I get a lot out of this. What do you get out of me being...your Ghoul? A Ghoul? Ghoul is a cool word anyway."
Guy:
“Well. I’m not going to expect you to be my servant, like many have done in this arrangement in nights past. But you could help me out—I can’t be out and about during the day, after all. And I will have errands you could help with sometimes, if you wanted to. I have friends I try to look out for, and trouble I occasionally look into. Even if some of that might be too hot for you to deal with, you could watch my back.”
Valeria:
She nods, biting her lip and looking around the space.
"That doesn't seem too bad. I can do all that. I'm good at picking up new skills so whatever you need I can handle...or learn to handle." She looks up at the second floor. "I want it, to help I mean, but I know I should think on it a bit. Anything else I should know? Big important details or whatnot? Who you were asking for help earlier? How you got that sweet bike. Ya know, the important questions." There's a joking grin. Jokes are her defense mechanism it seems.
Guy:
“Rena is my protege in the Ordo Dracul, the vampiric society I’m part of. We seek to transcend the limitations of the vampiric condition. For example, all vampires have what we call the Beast inside them—whether it’s actually a separate spirit or just a replacement to the instincts we feel, it is a force in our minds responsible for our predatory urges, and it can be driven into a frenzy, making us lose our rational minds for a time. I can control that in certain ways, that other vampires cannot.”
He shrugs. “The bike was modified by Sledge, another associate of mine. She’s out of town with her band, though, don’t know when she’ll be back.”
Valeria:
She nods, attentively. Eager to learn and get all the background. "So...you want to prevent all the weaknesses Vampires have." A pause. "Does that mean you can't have garlic?"
A more serious nod. "So its also dangerous to be around you because you might lose control? That's...terrifying. And I hope her band is doing well. I'd love my bike to be like that, but I don't exactly have the spare cash."
Guy:
“No, it’s dangerous to be around me because so much isn’t a danger to me at all, so I don’t have to worry about it.” He holds his hand in front of his chest, and the little hole there expels a bullet before closing up. “I have to remember how delicate others are. If I lose control, I can direct it so you won’t be harmed. Even when I’m totally gone, I won’t be a danger to you.”
He offers the bullet to her. “I can have garlic. But I have to be impersonating the living to keep food down at all.”
Valeria:
She holds the bullet, a bit of perturbed look but she holds it.
"Thats...fair. I can usually take a hit or two...gotta say guns were a surprise tonight. You can't be a gymnast and shy away from pain, ya know. Plus...well I actually feel pretty good right now. Not at all like I almost died an hour ago."
She inspects the bullet between her fingers. "So no cooking for you, got it. But at least I can cook with garlic. Garlic bread is the best."
Guy:
He chuckles. “If you do cook, and want me to try some, I will. I’ll just have to get chuck it up later. Unless I’m Blushed for the whole day, then I’ll get rid of it the normal way. But I’d prefer not to. Oh, Blush of Life is what we call it when we make ourselves seem alive.”
“You feel good because of the rush of Vitae. And being Ghouled gives you some of my power—I’m guessing you’re either stronger and/or more enduring than you were before, if you were already a gymnast.”
Valeria:
"I do cook. My dad is disabled so it makes his life easier if I cook. And then my mom gets home late a lot of the time too." She starts tracing the lines on the table, never still.
"Blush of Life. Got it. Seems important to have around...well normal people." She flexes an arm. "I feel strong, yeah. Tough too. I'm normally that way so...no clue. If your power makes you stronger, how strong are you?"
Guy:
“That’s complicated. Vigor, as the Discipline is called, tunes your muscles, strengthens your bones, and tweaks your tendons—makes you stronger without actually making you bigger, necessarily, lets you bend physics a little. On top of that my body has exceeded human ability, and I’ve learned a bunch of strongman techniques and things. So when I say I can swing a car like a lead pipe or push a building over, that’s because I’m exploiting biomechanics and engineering laws, and cheating at the edges. You won’t be anywhere near that—but you could easily be as strong as humans ever get, if not more, despite not being built like an absolute barge.”
Valeria:
"So its like...well I don't know what its like. But I have that too? The Vigor thing?"
She thinks to herself. "I mean...that sounds amazing. Being strong I mean..."
Guy:
“You can learn most of the Disciplines, the powers of the blood, but the ones you might have right now are based on the ones that are…affinity for me. Based on your inclinations, I would think the ones that coalesced in you by being Ghouled are Vigor or Resilience, the powers of strength and durability, to put them very simply.”
Valeria:
She nods. "So I'm stronger and more durable than I was before...thats cool."
She's going a bit more quiet as things are settling into place. "I want this. To be strong and whatnot to help out others. I'm kinda that friend that will beat up anyone who threatens her friends, ya know? To be honest...it feels worth the addiction to Vitae."
Guy:
Guy looks at her for a long moment. “Then I should introduce you to a few other people. It’s a local thing, they’re called Families. Mine is the neighborhood watch group, to put it simple. The people who are muscle to keep an eye out for the others. And…I know it seems worth it now, and there are a lot of benefits for you…but if your existence becomes a burden…talk to me. You have options for getting out.”
Valeria:
She worries for a moment that she said something wrong, then immediately looks relieved when he starts talking again. "Sure...sure yeah definitely. Neighborhood watch group sounds cool."
She nods at his offer. "If it changes, I'll talk to you. But for now...honestly this feels cool as fuck. I want to help and...well this seems like a good way to help."
Guy:
“Then welcome to the Hellhounds,” he says with a little smile. “It’s not even a proper outfit, just what a circle of my friends call ourselves because of my jacket and all that. You’re kind of automatically invited because of…your situation. And the others have also been through some tough times, so you’ll have that in common. Not everyone…will be thrilled with me for ghouling you, though, as a heads up.”
Valeria:
She gives a smiles back. "Hellhounds. Thats dope as fuck. I like it."
She nods. "Tough times make for good friends. Why won't they be thrilled though? I mean...you seem cool, I know I'm cool." She shrugs nonchalantly.
Guy:
“I addicted you to Vitae and bound you to me. Even if it was to save you. Some of them, especially Rena, went through things like that, and while theirs were overtly exploitative, it won’t be easy for them to see someone in that situation, to see me having done that. And I hope, and believe, that they’ll be ok with it in time, they get to be upset, and feel what they’re likely to feel when they find out.”
Valeria:
She goes quiet for a moment, then offers a hand if he'd like.
"Hey, you seem to have good morals and are caring. I like that. Even without the whole...being bound to you and whatnot, you're a cool dude. And honestly...its good to have something to focus on too. So, I'm cool with it...I think?" She shrugs. "Million dollar question though...do you know how far out Rena is? I am covered in my own blood and it feels gross as fuck."
Guy:
He very carefully takes her hand and shakes it, his own still odd and not human feeling. “Ok, we have a deal then. And thank you. As for Rena, I’m not sure. I can try calling her again. If you want, that places over there has a giant sink with hot water, and there’s towels and blankets, if you want to clean a bit before Rena gets here. I’ll stay right here.”
Valeria:
She shakes his hand firmly. "I like this deal. And yeah, of course. If you wouldn't mind calling her, that would be great. Ima go...wash my own blood off. Cause yeah, I'm already sure I gotta throw out the shirt."
She starts getting up and turns away, before turning back. "And um...thanks for deciding to save me, rather than just letting me die there. I appreciate it."
Guy:
“You’re welcome,” he says softly, nodding. “I’m glad I did too.”
|