And thus did I simultaneously coordinate the end of a Masquerade violation and plant the seeds of a political revolution. And learned a ridiculous amount of information in the process.
Nox Team lost young Mr. Belmont yesterday. I saw the remains - utterly savaged and unrecognizable.
Like Max.
It has been almost a year since Max died. It has been barely over a year since I lost the Aces and my family to Taraton. I seem to be losing people at an astounding rate. Birthday month or not, I believe I despise the first quarter of the year.
I have Belmont's whip. Supposedly one of the weapons that caused Dracula much trouble down the years. I will do what I can to make sure it ends up in the proper hands.
I delivered Sangiovanni's staked corpse to Gabriella last night, thinking that she could use it to win back some political capital for the Carthians. Imagine my surprise when, barely an hour later, I am summoned to speak with the Prince. Apparently, she was going to negotiate with Sangiovanni for the defense of the docks with the Titans coming. Instead, she has been given an army and the man to lead it.
I learned three very important things last night.
First, the Prince appears to be more interested in hobbling the Carthians than in having a strong front to protect Chicago. She said she had no plans of replacing Vincent, though Gabriella had filed with intent to replace him. Instead, when Vincent asked to step down, she appointed him to a cabinet of advisors, again, for the coming troubles.
Second, the Prince is not as interested in eliminating Masquerade violations as she is in utilizing them. Ultor eliminated all arrived zombies at the docks after the fireteams arrived...but apparently she wants to make more. This is...unbelievable. I am certain the Titans will strain the Masquerade, if they adhere to it at all, but that does not give her cause to strain it as well.
Do not reveal your true nature to those not of the Blood. Doing so forfeits you your claim to the Blood.
We are all guilty of this, though individually. The Masquerade is cracked, it is fractured, but it is not broken. It is not our place to break it...
....unless we intend to utterly annihilate it and take our chances with the mortals knowing.
Third, I will not be nearly as eager to assist in things the Camarilla needs completed from this point forward. In exchange for a useful, money-generating territory, I was offered a large sum of money, as well as weapons, ammunition, and armor...all finite things that will last for a short while. And, being in a room with four Kindred capable of destroying me in a short amount of time (three physically, and one reputationally), I had no choice but to accept. From this point forward, news on any Masquerade-breaking "vampire" gets passed on to the Camarilla and then left alone by me and my people. I have no desire to have my time wasted in another such "conversation", because the Prince is more likely to want to use them than ash them.
At the end of it all, Vincent smells like roses and becomes closer to the Prince, I ended up with credit for something I desired the Carthians to win prestige for, and Gabriella, who was incredibly reluctant, winds up looking the part of the greedy, power-hungry bitch. Who is most likely to wind of Primogen...of the covenant to which I belong.
It...gets better.
Earlier tonight, the Camarilla's payment arrived. Knowing full well how this was going to be received, I contacted Nadya in an attempt to explain things to her.
It went as well as I expected.
In a condensed form, Ultor works for the Camarilla. Mr. Belmont died for the Camarilla's cause. Ultor can always be bought. All I need Nadya for is "to sign fucking checks." I make decisions that affect the whole company "without the respect it takes to ask a fucking opinion." And Nadya appears to have resigned.
Part of this is true. Part of this is speculation on circumstantial evidence.
I do make decisions that affect the company. That is, in essence, my job. She fails to understand a fundamental fact of the C-Level officers. Agnes is busy with Bishop and Marcus. Nadya is busy with Oliver and her club. Celeste is busy with Cillian.
I have Ultor, books, and my piano.
A significant portion of my waking moments are focused on Ultor - its status, the well-being of its employees, its perception among others. Where do we need to go from here, what is next, what should our focus be now? All of these are questions I have constantly running through my head.
Perhaps I am being overly dramatic. I do not know for certain that the Prince would have had me killed if I had not acquiesced to her offer...however I do not know that she would not have, either. I am of no use to anyone, least of all myself, as ash. Not to mention that we were going to lose the docks anyway. It is far too high profile a target. This way, we were able to get something substantial for it, and the Camarilla has to focus part of its attention on defending and holding that particular piece of real estate.
Overall, a victory. A very small victory, but a victory.
Vincent said something last night that I cannot help but agree with: "I am tired." Perhaps I am just not used to choice-after-hardship-after-implosion, and it makes me weary. Not as draining and pulling as that of an elder like Vincent of my Sire...but tired all the same.
Does the revolving door turn again? I guess I will have to wait and see.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Saturday, May 24, 2014
January 13th (Late Evening)
Nearly a month since my last entry. While it feels like very little has happened, it simultaneously feels like there has been far too much to take in.
Nox was highly successful in capturing two of the three Cloud Infinite Reapers. According to what I read, Yvonne was nearly killed and Mr. Bonaparte fell under the mental control of one of the mages. I say "from what I read," but really it was Mr. Birch storming into my office in a rage that informed me all about it. I sympathize, I do. But at no time did we ever downplay how dangerous this profession would be for them.
Heike uncovered quite a bit of information on the children of the gods. Basically, the old gods of myth are real and, during times of great trouble, they spawn demigods with mortals. It looks like these Titans are times of great trouble. And it looks like Bishop is one of these demigods. I guess that makes sense.
After the New Year, I took a brief vacation. I spent a few days returning to the ranch - the ranch where it all started, where I met Viviana, where I had my first encounter. It remains abandoned, as I suppose the only people who would desire to live in a place like that would be those interested in rumor.
The rest of the time I spent in the junkyard, at the safe house that is still maintained there. The amount of privacy one can command by owning your own junkyard is somewhat astounding. I recreated the firing range I had set there at one time, as well as my little fencing course. It was relaxing, just being able to disappear for ten or so days. It gave me time to decompress, to think, and, at times, to completely divorce myself from everything going on and lose myself to Thunder and the pistol, as well as my swordcane.
Tonight, Jameson begins his recruiting of Selene Team, whose purpose will be different than that of Nox, though no less important. I also found a letter on my desk from Cressida, thanking me for letting her work there for the three weeks she did and that she would owe me a favor for it. I am still unsure what to make of all that.
Nox was highly successful in capturing two of the three Cloud Infinite Reapers. According to what I read, Yvonne was nearly killed and Mr. Bonaparte fell under the mental control of one of the mages. I say "from what I read," but really it was Mr. Birch storming into my office in a rage that informed me all about it. I sympathize, I do. But at no time did we ever downplay how dangerous this profession would be for them.
Heike uncovered quite a bit of information on the children of the gods. Basically, the old gods of myth are real and, during times of great trouble, they spawn demigods with mortals. It looks like these Titans are times of great trouble. And it looks like Bishop is one of these demigods. I guess that makes sense.
After the New Year, I took a brief vacation. I spent a few days returning to the ranch - the ranch where it all started, where I met Viviana, where I had my first encounter. It remains abandoned, as I suppose the only people who would desire to live in a place like that would be those interested in rumor.
The rest of the time I spent in the junkyard, at the safe house that is still maintained there. The amount of privacy one can command by owning your own junkyard is somewhat astounding. I recreated the firing range I had set there at one time, as well as my little fencing course. It was relaxing, just being able to disappear for ten or so days. It gave me time to decompress, to think, and, at times, to completely divorce myself from everything going on and lose myself to Thunder and the pistol, as well as my swordcane.
Tonight, Jameson begins his recruiting of Selene Team, whose purpose will be different than that of Nox, though no less important. I also found a letter on my desk from Cressida, thanking me for letting her work there for the three weeks she did and that she would owe me a favor for it. I am still unsure what to make of all that.
Friday, May 9, 2014
December 21st (Early Evening)
A truly whirlwind couple of days.
To start with, Viola is gone. She decided she would rather leave than to stay with me knowing that there is now a time limit (albeit a vague, unknowable time limit) on our relationship. That is fair, and I regret how it ended. But I do not regret it happening.
Then I had a "guys night out" with Marcus. I think it was good for both of us to get out and just talk. He brought up an interesting point in that I shouldn't be alone for the duration, because then I'll begin a long trail of resentment. Well, I resent Bishop already, and I resent the waiting, not her making me wait.
I guess I'm on the right track?
Within hours of Viola leaving, I received an...application of sorts from Cressida, the leader of the Circle of the Crone, to be my new secretary. I don't even know what to do with that right now.
I may need a vacation.
To start with, Viola is gone. She decided she would rather leave than to stay with me knowing that there is now a time limit (albeit a vague, unknowable time limit) on our relationship. That is fair, and I regret how it ended. But I do not regret it happening.
Then I had a "guys night out" with Marcus. I think it was good for both of us to get out and just talk. He brought up an interesting point in that I shouldn't be alone for the duration, because then I'll begin a long trail of resentment. Well, I resent Bishop already, and I resent the waiting, not her making me wait.
I guess I'm on the right track?
Within hours of Viola leaving, I received an...application of sorts from Cressida, the leader of the Circle of the Crone, to be my new secretary. I don't even know what to do with that right now.
I may need a vacation.
Monday, May 5, 2014
December 19th (Early Evening)
Tonight when I awoke, I saw very brief flashes of color.
And now I know why Viviana chooses to feed the way she does.
Last night's party was, by all accounts, a great success on many levels. There was mingling and chatting. Guillermo outdid himself with the decorations. There was laughter coupled with the sounds good times. Which is something this house has desperately needed for some time.
We also seemed to have made a breakthrough with Mr. Birch. Well, I say we, but I suppose I mean Agnes. She triggered a vision in him, which, after making me leave the kitchen so he could explain, I heard anyway. In my defense, that is not something which I can simply turn off. Aside from that, I do read the entries in the dream journals Nox team turns in, so I would have heard it anyway.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave...
The reason that I consider this breakthrough a victory is that, due to something she said, he asked me to arrange an earlier meeting with Marcus. He told me that he wants to talk to him without being assaulted by dozens of memories. A meeting to which, as I found out a few minutes ago, Marcus agrees.
Finally, after speaking with Agnes, we finally reached some kind of an agreement. What happened there is for me and will not be recorded, but I find myself a curious mix of ecstatic and sober. I cannot help but wonder if there are ulterior motives, but if there are, for now, I do not think I care.
Tonight, Nox team meets their new handler and gets the details of the Reaper assignment. I am quite curious to see what they come up with as a plan.
And now I need to go make sure the venue is set for Nadya's party. Chloe has the guest list and Rough Rider's has the catering arrangements. And I have the best party planner that blood can bind to me.
That could probably have been written better.
And now I know why Viviana chooses to feed the way she does.
Last night's party was, by all accounts, a great success on many levels. There was mingling and chatting. Guillermo outdid himself with the decorations. There was laughter coupled with the sounds good times. Which is something this house has desperately needed for some time.
We also seemed to have made a breakthrough with Mr. Birch. Well, I say we, but I suppose I mean Agnes. She triggered a vision in him, which, after making me leave the kitchen so he could explain, I heard anyway. In my defense, that is not something which I can simply turn off. Aside from that, I do read the entries in the dream journals Nox team turns in, so I would have heard it anyway.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave...
The reason that I consider this breakthrough a victory is that, due to something she said, he asked me to arrange an earlier meeting with Marcus. He told me that he wants to talk to him without being assaulted by dozens of memories. A meeting to which, as I found out a few minutes ago, Marcus agrees.
Finally, after speaking with Agnes, we finally reached some kind of an agreement. What happened there is for me and will not be recorded, but I find myself a curious mix of ecstatic and sober. I cannot help but wonder if there are ulterior motives, but if there are, for now, I do not think I care.
Tonight, Nox team meets their new handler and gets the details of the Reaper assignment. I am quite curious to see what they come up with as a plan.
And now I need to go make sure the venue is set for Nadya's party. Chloe has the guest list and Rough Rider's has the catering arrangements. And I have the best party planner that blood can bind to me.
That could probably have been written better.
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