Brandon sat in his chair reading a book and waiting for Vince to calm down, Vince for his part,
continued to struggle against the tentacles. They both knew this was more game than seriousness, but
there was an underlying power play. Who would get bor3ed and give up first. Of course ti was Vince.
After some time, he finally sagged, relaxed, sighed and said “fine, okay, alright I’m calm, let me go.”
Brandon looked up from his book, his expression vague, and simple raised an eyebrow at Vince who
signed again “……really? Fine….. PLEASE let me down” At which point Brandon smiled and dispersed
the shadowy tentacles. Vince slumped to the floor, and then walked over and picked up one of the up-
ended pieces of furniture, sat down and figured it was time to get to business.
“So Brandon, what brings you to town, and should I be worried?” Vince asked him casually while
reaching for a cigarette.
Brandon took a moment and though before he replied carefully, “Well it’s a bit of a long story. I’m not
entirely sure if I want to get into the whole thing with you. Though I can assure you I had no idea you
were here, and I don’t have any plans on starting a war or taking over or anything like that.”
Vince lookup up as he finished lighting his cigarette, Nodded once, took a puff and then spoke, “Alright.
Vague, but whatever. I am acting sheriff at the moment, technically it’s my job to report, roust and repel
rabble-trousers such as yourself…..”
Brandon Chuckled slightly “Nice Alliteration” to which Vince smiled “Thank you. So I’m thinking, more
or less my plan here is this. I’m not going to report you, or fight you, or try to convince you to leave, but
at the same time I’m gonna ask that you not cross any lines either, don’t fuck with the people in the city,
don’t attack any of ‘em, don’t go staging major coup’s business, political or otherwise. You can take
your Vegas Vacation, or whatever this is, and just keep it quiet, and I’ll pretend I never saw ya. Though, it
seems you have some flunkies floating around, I can’t promise the same protection of them, I mean if
they start sticking their noses into stuff they shouldn’t…….”
Brandon’s look turned serious: “I’m…. not sure that will be possible…. I do have….. business here, and it
does involve a vampire in the city, so I’m afraid I can’t promise to abide by all of your terms Vince.”
Vince Straightened up, becoming a little less casual and a little more serious himself, took another drag
off the Cigarette as he studied Brandon for a brief moment. “you’re begin evasive. You’re good at it,
always have been, but I’ve known you long enough to be able to tell when you’re doing it., what are you
not telling me Brandon?”
“I haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about, I simply meant to say I’m not here on a vacation, that I do
in fact have business with one individual here, and although I have no plans to start a war or take over the
cit,y I DO have intents regarding this individual, so I can’t entirely lay low and not hurt anyone as you
requested.”
Vince Stood up “OH fuck you Brandon, stop Bullshitting me, come on, this is ME you’re talking to,
you’re usually straight with me, I thought we were past this crap. I’m not the hired help OK? Jesus”
Brandon responded simply by shrugging, Vince grumbled “fine I’ll ask Peytra what your up to, Emilio!”
He bellowed “I don’t know my way around here can you take me to Peytra?”
Emilio appeared, looking stoic as ever and declared “I’m sorry sirs, but Peytra is unavailable” Vince
Looked at him strangely “Unavailable? What is she not here? Do you leave her behind somewhere?”
Emilio cleared his throat “No, she is here sirs, she is simply…. unavailable”
Vince’s Expression changed to one of concern, He looked at Brandon, who refused to meet his gaze.
“What do you mean, ‘unavailable’ then? What is she on the shitter? That’s never stopped me before, what
unavailable? How unavailable? Take me to Paytra dammit”
Emilio looked uncomfortable, and looked briefly at Brandon, then back to Vince “ I can not do that sirs”
Vince was starting to get angry and opened his mouth to unleash on Emilio when Brandon stood, and held
up a hand to stall him. “She’s not well Vince. Something happened, Something terrible. And I didn’t want
to tell you out of fear for you over-reacting. I can see now that you’re going to over-react no matter what
so I’ll just be out with it.”
Brandon sat back down, and gestured for Vince to do the same before he continued. “She was attacked,
and before you say anything, yes, she can hold her own in any physical confrontation but this wasn’t
physical. Someone attacked her mentally, through her dreams. A man who, from what I’ve pieced
together has a past with her. He’s damaged her severely. She’s…. Not all there right now. I’m seeking
revenge on this individual as we speak. I’ve tracked him to Las Vegas. I’m unsure if he is capable of
undoing what he has done to her, so I can’t just out and kill him. My ‘Flunkies’ as you called them are
working at my behest to find him, and gather information, so that I can hopefully affect some sort of
healing to Peytra before riding the world of him. At the same time, by having them do the leg work, it
helps to keep my presence, here unseen so as to not alert my quarry.”
Vince waited patiently as Brandon spoke, and when he had finished he stood up again “Aw fuck… is
she…. Is she going to be okay?” he asked as he started pacing back and forth.
“I really don’t know yet, and as much as I know you want to go to her, I really don’t think it would be a
good idea right now. Even my own presence….. disturbs her. She’s very fragile, and confused. I
understand how you feel about her, though it’s never been said I suspect it’s much the same way I feel.
However I must think of her safety and health first, and in her current mental state, other people
visiting….. upsets her, and I think it is best currently if we simply let her rest, until we can find a way to
help her.”
Vince continued to pace “dammit dammit dammit. Ok so what now then? I just pretend like nothing is
going on?”
Brandon nodded “yes, that probably is the best idea.”
Vince growled slightly” ok, well… fuck, ok so let me get this straight, I have to go back to the city, and
just pretend there isn’t an ancient Sabbat vampire planning to take out one of the Camps here. I mean, you
know how the Cam is Brandon, THEY don’t care that it’s personal, you attack one of theirs, and they’ll
consider it a way, and I’M supposed to stop that, my whole damn job is to prevent that, I gave my word. I
mean if you were just here to gamble or something I could probably like look the other way, but I
mean…. And then Peytra, I’m just supposed to do nothing? I mean, just not go out and ash the guy who
did it? Not try to help find him? Not go comfort her? Nothing? And then, not only do I have to ignore
that you’re her,e I have to let your little creepos run around and do whatever theyt want? I mean, if I try to
stop them, I’m actively preventing you from helping Peytra, but if I don’t stop them, I’m completely not
doing my job. You KNOW I take this shit serious, I don’t try to take sides, in the big picture, but the day
to day stuff? I give my word, I keep it. You know, so I’m In a really tough position here Brandon, if
someone Else sees them skulking around and such then questions will come my way. And even worse,
what if someone else gets caught, again, if I don’t help out I’m hurting Peytra, but if I actually defend
them? Then what? This whole thing is fucked up. The blow back would be epic. I mean sure, I can take
the other blood suckers here for the most part, but that doesn’t mean I WANT to start a fight with the
entire fucking city. Dammit I don’t want to be blood-hunted again, it’s not fucking fun Brandon. You
know that right Brandon You know that? It’s not fun to be fucking blood-hunted Brandon, even if you
can kick all their asses, it’s not fun!”
Brandon watched as Vince Kicked a hole through an already broken marble table, giving him a moment,
to work out his frustrations before responding to him. “I’m sorry Vince, I know you are frustrated and
concerned, I know you are upset, but I did what I thought was best, and I’m intending to move forward,
with my plan ,in a way that I think is best for Peytra. I didn’t plan this. I didn’t plan for her to get hurt, I
didn’t know he’d come here, I didn’t know you were here. The whole situation is incredibly complicated
and hopelessly blighted. Unfortunately we have no good alternatives, all the choices available at present
are bad ones, some slightly less bad than other, but still, bad choices.”
Vince sighed, and sat back down “Ok. So these guys, I’m guessing you didn’t just grab 3 rando’s off the
street at least?” Brandon shook his head “All mages, each with unique skills, scouted for me by a very
gifted young hacker in my employ. So far they’ve proven quite resourceful, the work is… slow, this man
hides well and deep, but we’ll get there.” As Brandon finished, Endrik entered and spoke up “I heard a
commotion, is everything alright out here.”
As he Endrik Appeared Vince stood up and screamed “ Aw hell no1! You dug his ass up too? Fuck!!! no,
no that’s it, no I’m killing you both, fuck it, I’m down, that’s, it, fuck you both. Fuck this city, what has
he touched so far? I have to burn it all. Why would you ? What is he even? Damnit Brandon you fuck!!!”
Though Vince seemed to be merely Venting and not actually moving to hurt anyone, nonetheless both
Brandon and Endrik, made themselves ready just in case, not moving, or taking any direct action ,as much
as readying themselves mentally, being prepared to react, should Vince put his words into action. Endrik
for his part stood as still as he could, he’d been through this with Vince before, there was no convincing
the man that he wasn’t some evil parasite. Out of deference to Brandon, he didn’t actively hunt Endrik,
so Endrik and him simply avoided each other. Brandon, had tried at one time, to reconcile the two of
them, but Vince was astonishingly stubborn, and Brandon had given up on the prospect entirely. He rose
up from his seat and looked at Vince “ok now calm down Vince, Like said I wasn’t expecting any of this,
I wasn’t planning this. He’s here to help”
Vince Roared an interruption “He’s not fucking touching her, not a single finger, no, no way, no how,
will I allow that!”
Endrik instinctively flinched at Vince’s sudden outburst, He moved with such speed and Ferocity, unlike
Brandon he’d never actually seen Vince fight. It was clear to him that in a physical confrontation, Vicne
would win, with ease,. Maybe not against Brandon, Brandon had greater age on his side. Endrik however
was not suited to physical confrontations, and had Vince truly wished him dead, Endrik now knew with
certainty, he would be unable to stop him. Brandon for his part stood his ground, he knew Vince, he was
mad, but he wouldn’t loose control, Vince had almost never Frenzied, it was a matter of great personal
importance to him to never let the beast rule him. He met Vince’s gaze evenly and spoke slowly “Vince,
calm dawn, he’s not here for THAT, as said her damage is mental, not physical, I had no intention of
them being in the same room, just as I’ve said neither of us should visit her, do you really think I would
then make exception for him? I’m frankly insulted. He is here because our target is Versed in
thaumaturgy, and Endrik is more knowledgeable on than subject than I am, he is here to advise me in that
capacity.”
“Vince stopped a moment, motionless, and sat back down, looking almost ashamed “I’m sorry Brandon, I
didn’t think…. But I’m, not apologizing to the parasite, he’s still a fuckwit.”
Brandon nodded slightly at Endrik, both of them knew better than to argue this minor detail at such a
time” That’s fair, no one is asking you to. However you still need to decide to figure out how you want to
address the current situation. Might I suggest you go home, and sleep on it? Let your emotions calm
down, give yourself some time to adjust to the information you’ve been given, and look at the problem
again with clear eyes in the morning?”
Vince Stood, looking somewhat deflated “ yeah, your right. I’ll sleep on it. Figure it out in the morning.
Sorry about…. stuff” he said as he gestured to the destroyed room around them. To which Brandon
smiled “Vince if I got upset every time you broke something, we would have never stayed friends, it’s
quite alright, now go, get some rest. I promise you I’m doing everything in my power to help her. And
that’s what’s most important right? I’ll fight god himself if I must, you have my word.” and then in a
rather uncharacteristic display of emotion Vince Hugged Brandon, tightly, their shared feelings for her
unspoken, but understood as Brandon awkwardly patted Vince on the back. Their embrace broke, Vince
,wiped as his face mumbling something about indoor rain, and then left much more quietly than he came,
leaving Brandon Emilio, and Endrik, to clean up the mess.