Number of fucks given in this post: 11
There is the sound of a motorcycle in the distance that approaches at speed. It slows as the tarmac turns to gravel.
When Jack approaches the front of the Chantry, Tius is where he was last time. Chair outside the front, he’s reading a book which he looks up from as he hears the bike get closer.
Jack waves a hand on the way by as she drives straight up to the garage.
Levi Tius folds the book and waves back.
Once again the mechanic is there is in the garage, the welcoming smell of engine oil fills her nose as she takes the helmet off. As last time he nods but otherwise doesn’t deviate from the task at hand.
Jack turns the bike off and dismounts as Tius comes into view at the the garage door, “Hey, how’s it going? Any issues on the route?”
“The usual roadworks and shit. Nothing I couldn’t avoid.” she says smiling.
Jack looks around, takes her gloves off and stuffs them in a back pocket. She is bouncing a little but seems in a good mood.
“What’s the plan? Oh, and how are you doing, too?”
Levi replies, “So tonight it’s ladies choice; we can either go back to the Academy but not seal ourselves in. Look about, maybe bump into some students. Or we can walk the grounds up here whilst the ghouls run their drills. Which would you fancy?”
“What kind of drills?”
“They have some firearms drills they’ll be going through. On the range of course.”
“Alright.” she replies, “Gunfire. Sounds like a good next step.”
Jack shakes her head at herself voluntarily suggesting it.
Tius smiles, “I thought so too, some good old auditory stimulation going on.”
Unlike court, Tius is wearing full classic wizard garb. Dark grey robe, some detailing on the hem and cuffs, at his waist is the belt and trinkets he brings to court.
Jack takes a good look at the outfit, “Full Gandalf tonight?”
“Definitely, they are surprisingly comfortable and nicely fire retardant. This was the standard robe I got when I became Regent here.”
She looks down and sees that, in an odd juxtaposition, he’s wearing trainers, “Yeah, the matching trainers really make a statement.”
Tius holds out his right arm towards the woods, “Shall we?”
He intended to indicate that they were about to head for the wooded grounds, but Jack misreads the gesture entirely, perhaps her subconscious looked for some kind of physical reassurance. She shuffles her shoulders, half sighs-half takes a settling breath then takes Tius arm as if he’s just offered it as if to escort her in a gentlemanly manner.
“You know this probably looks a bit silly, right? Besides, are you sure you want to get a hold of a.. dunno.. vibrating? Brujah?”
Tius looks a bit surprised as you take his arm but laughs, “I was meant to be gesturing but this is fine too. It’s fine, think of it like an early warning system, vibrate too much and I know to back off.”
Jack looks embarrassed and immediately lets go, “Eh okay, sorry, thought you were doing that manners thing like posh blokes do when taking girls for a walk.”
“No no, you’re quite right. We can pretend like we’re both respectable together. Tius keeps his arm hold offering this time, “I won’t tell if you don’t.” with a grin.
She pauses and half-shrugs again and and takes Levi’s arm again, a bit more comfortably this time. They begin walking through the copse of trees. It doesn’t look like it’s traveled much.
“Is it rude if I ask how old you are? It’s not outside the realm of possibility that was the norm.”
Jack shrugs at his question, “I was sired in ’84.”
“84!” Tius exclaims. “The year I was born. I was sired what.. 2005 ish? The first five years blend a little. I didn’t get out much then was thrust into the tender bosom of the Viscounts court…”
He continues, “I’m sorry we didn’t get to speak much at court, you seemed really busy what with the shouty neonates, visiting dignitaries, and the society of Leopold kicking about.”
“Um yeah, it was a really busy night.” she says, going back to the original subject, “Mostly stopping McGregor from frenzying. Never got to talk to the visiting dignitary either.”
Levi asks, “What was going on with all that? I know Carter rubs a lot of people up the wrong way but it rarely goes to raised voices. Capone was alright, I think he’s still hurting from Ricky although he was hiding it well. Did you know Ricky was due to be sired by him originally?”
“Carter was just being a trigger after the shit that went down just before the court with the shovel-heads and Society of Leopold. McGregor was wound up tight.”
“I can understand that,” Tius says nodding, “nothing quite like going to a fight you weren’t prepared for to shake you up.”
“Carter still should’ve backed off though.” Jack adds.
Tius can feel the tension in Jack’s arm, solidly immovable despite her slim frame. Through their contact, she feels how proportionally strong Jack is over Tius; there’s no question of who would be in control if she decided to pull off in another direction.
“Yes, he really should have but I think he’s one that looks for excuses to flex his muscles. Still you managed the situation, interposing yourself. You didn’t seem quite so on edge, not rubber-necking as much as people went past.”
Jack sounds surprised, “Yeah, I did? I didn’t feel any more relaxed. Maybe having a real threat did it. Or maybe just not having Doyle brooding at the back helped!”
She laughs and her muscles relax again. She looks around the area at the trees, and up into the foliage as they walk through it.
“Yeah he does like a good ole brood doesn’t he. So rare to see him happy about anything. It feels like the cronyism is strong with this one… not that I can really comment given I did the same thing.”
As she looks up, Jack spots small black boxes in some of the trees. Ahead of her the woods are dark, slightly lit from behind when the moon peeks out. Tius can see that she is sure-footed even in the limited light.
Tius notices her looking up. “Laser detection grid; had an issue with a Gargoyle some years ago. Pulled the last chantry down around our ears.”
“Oh yeah, I remember that one.” Jack says, “He collapsed Adam’s mansion on him, too.”
“Did he really?” comments Levi.
Jack can feel a little tremor tension creep into Tius’s arm and she almosts considers asking more questions about Levi’s problems with Grey but dismisses it as a distraction from the reason they are out in the trees in the first place.
Levi steps lightly through the woodland floor with the poise of a dancer, “Well I’m glad he’s gone now then. Moving on anyway. So, the question seemingly on everyone’s lips at the minute; what are your thoughts about Manchester?”
“Oh fuck Manchester!” Jack exclaims, suddenly and with vehemence.
Jack turns to face Levi and lets his arm go. She gestures with both hands for emphasis, “I’m fucking heading down there tomorrow so I can try to stop the two lots of fuckhead from winding each other up pointing fucking fingers… or elbows or whatever shit… by finding what happened to that missing Brujah that fucking Prince Kane ranted in Dark Times about that was probably lifted by the fucking society of fucking Leopold.”
They pause their walk and Tius faces Jack in turn. His arm falls to his side, “I’m glad you said that, we could do with someone with some sense going down to see what’s going on. “
“Ha! We’ll see how much sense I have putting myself between the Camarilla and the Anarchs, with both having reason to dislike me.
Levi asks, “Why do the Camarilla have reason? You’re an elder dontcha know?”
“Yeah, I’m an elder but my sire is an Anarch. Probably also didn’t make myself any friends going down last month to find out what the hell Kane was actually planning.”
“Lots of name calling was there?” questions Tius, “I got similar as well but I guess you got it twice as bad if they think of you as a traitor. Is your sire involved, do you know?”
She replies, “Not as far as name-calling, but definitely grumbles. Don’t think he’s involved… which surprises me. It seems just like the thing he’d be up for. I hope he’s okay.”
Tius considers and makes a suggestion, “I’m not sure but I think Barker is going to Manchester too, maybe you two could work together? Don’t know how much you two interact.”
“I haven’t worked with Barker before. I’d heard he’d fucked up down there.. something to do with the docks.”
“Fucked up?” Tius asks, “How do you mean? I’ve been there with him but only really as a bodyguard. Had to keep him safe from those who would rather just make his head concave.”
“I didn’t get any details about what actually happened with Barker and the docks.” Jack replies, “Just rumour.”
“Huh, fair enough, ” Tius gives an easy smile, “I wondered if I was going to get the chance to peek behind the veil at what people say when we’re not about. Oh well.”
“Anyway, would you believe that Carter is helping the Anarchs, for fucks sake! I know he’s close with Sophia but I thought he was fucking Camarilla!!”
Tius sighs, “Unfortunately I would believe that, he’s set against London and the Ventrue, to that end he’ll side with whomever aligns with his wishes at the time. He’s not very long sighted in that manner. I’ve found him to be quite two-faced, slating me as a monster, murderer, simpleton and such whilst I was ‘dead’ then coming to me asking for favors saying how reasonable I am.”
“I take it Carter tried worming up to you too at the court while Doyle wasn’t there?” Jack asks.
“Nah, he left me alone this court. It was the one beforehand. He only talks to me if he wants something.”
Tius frowns and continues, “I noticed the article from Prince Kane in the Times, too. I think there is a third party but I don’t think it’s the Society. I think, and forgive me if this is getting old, the Sabbat are still about. The intel I got is that the black hand were a softener so their more traditional tactics would work. In a country so divided who would rally to each other for support?”
Punctuating that last there is the crack of gunfire. Some distance away and likely behind the chantry.
Jack startles at the initial sound of gunfire, and turns towards it, her right-hand unconsciously moving in the direction of the small of her back. She freezes and listens, tilting her head to measure the direction and distance.
She turns back to Tius, alert but in control, “That’ll be where we’re headed, then?”
Then, turning back to look in the direction of the gunfire, she continues her reply, “Yeah, Sabbat can’t be ruled out but there are a few bit of circumstantial evidence that say that this particular thing is more likely to be Society.”
Tius nods, “Yeah, round the houses a bit but that way.” He offers his arm again, “So tell me about this circumstantial evidence. I only know what I read in the paper.”
“Basically,” explains Jack, “We know that the Society were in Manchester last month. And one of the bodies left at the scene from where the missing Brujah was taken matches the get-up of the SWAT guys that attacked McGregor and the others.”
Tius walks Jack and himself in a wide circle, the sound of sporadic gunshots now frequently break up the otherwise quiet night.
“Well, that IS circumstantial and lends way more credence to your theory.” Tius exhales thoughtfully, “I had thought to keep clear of this Manchester thing but with them kicking about I’m not so sure.”
Jack seems a little more distracted from the conversation now she’s getting closer to their target.
He asks, “Back to your sire, so whilst you have a difference of politics you two are still on good terms?”
Jack’s posture has her listening and poised on the balls of her feet, but she is neither turned for a quick exit nor pushing forward, her hands are open to each side. Levi watches her closely and focuses his eyes on her aura. He can see that it is coloured in intense violets and purples of excitement and aggression but the swirls are moving in a slow, measured way.
There is a long pause before she briefly glances in the Tremere’s direction then answers, still with a distracted tone, “Yeah, pretty much. Just different ideas on how to get the same thing really.
Can we get closer? I want to see what I’m hearing.”
“Of course we can,” he responds.
Tius leads them around and there’s a channel carved in what looks like a hill to form the range. The soil has been dug out, placed, and compacted at the back to form a ‘U’. As she moves into range with him, she can see three teams of two taking it in turns to do dual personnel room clearing. She can see they’re drilling with various carbines and an array of sidearms, some of which are unfamiliar to her. The men, obviously moving with military precision, are in full tactical gear as they run through.
Jack and Tius approach the drill leader who calls a halt and turns to face the new arrivals. He’s a square jawed individual who is clean shaven and has close cut hair. A crisp “Sir” emerged in gravelly tones.
Tius holds up a hand, “As you were captain, we’re just observing.”
“Yes Sir,” Turning to the other he bellows a “You heard the Master, you waiting for a written invitation? Get on with it!”
They resume their drills.
As Jack gets a good look at the team, she seems to step down the alert levels and her attitude is more of interest. Her aura lightens and the swirls shift more naturally. There is some tension across her shoulders and her eyes still flick to anything that moves, including Tius, but the intense focus has faded. She continues to watch the drill, comfortable with the pause in conversation.
Eventually she says, “It’s always nice to see professionals at work.”
Tius will pay her aura attention whilst it shifts to her new state, he’s clearly pleased with the transition. “They are a very efficient and loyal bunch, if a little too stuffy for my tastes. Something about the hierarchy they keep saying… which thinking about it makes sense given the structure of the pyramid and all that.”
He continues, “We keep discussing how to try and incorporate elements of our own abilities into their drills but it turns out there’s not much you can prepare for a madman who can fly into a 720 spin from prone.”
“Yeah, well, this stuff helps.” she says, gesturing at the team, “Preparation, numbers and the right weapons makes a difference no matter who or what you are.”
Jack goes quiet, looking into the distance, or into memory.
Like a blow to the skull, memories slam into her. Does training really make a difference? Did it make a difference to the guards whose heads she easily removed with her machete? Or the one she subdued when she held them against the wall, despite their comparative physical sizes?
Tius allows her what seems to be a moment of reflection, “You’re right of course, knowledge of the right tool for the job is imperative.”
Did it make a difference when she chased them down, one by one?
“I keep thinking we should do something similar.” Levi muses, “We never drill together, there’s no uniformity of gear, tactics or the like. I’ve found even having a secure comms channel would have been invaluable in Spain. Yet more stuff to work on.”
Jack doesn’t provide any comment and her aura starts to swirl in a mesmerising pattern of dark colours.
She flinches at the sound of a burst of gunfire, and there is the tremble in her body as if of too much adrenaline.
Did it make a difference when the wounded guard emptied his submachine gun into her? When she ripped into him and took his life and his future from him? When, still unsated, she relished the screams of his friends?
Tius shifts his weight a little, “Still with us Jack?”
Jack doesn’t answer, lost in her pain.
Tius frowns a little. and looks to the captain. The man’s head twitches a little as though listening to something only he can hear. “Cease fire! Enough for today” With that the drill ceases and they begin heading to pack their gear away.”
Jack still stands, seeming looking into the night.
The memories flash through her coming in full technicolour with phantom sensations of taste and smell and touch. Immersed in them, she relives the frenzy in her mind until they reach their bloody conclusion.
Very slowly the pattern in her aura slows, although the colour is the darkness of pain and guilt. Suddenly almost, she bows her head for a moment, then lifts it to look out to the trees. Then she realises that the sounds have changed and she looks back at the group in surprise.
Then she looks around and over to Tius.
Realising what has happened, she says, “Sorry… it sneaks up on you.”
Tius give a small smile, “It’s fine, do you want to talk about it or do you also want to call it a night?”
Jack is agitated in her movements, unsettled and uncomfortable. She paces over to a tree trunk and sits down, “I wanna just run, but I think I should probably talk about it.”
“But maybe wait until these guys have finishing clearing off. That was… closer than I’d like.” She clenches and unclenches her fist as she obviously tries not to look at the men.
With some effort she stops and lays her hand on her leg, but her heel starts bouncing instead.
Tius sits down opposite her, reminiscent of their first discussion in his stillness and calm.
The Captains head turns again, “Look lively now, if we aren’t packed up in the next 5 minutes we’re on endurance tomorrow.”
To Jacks heightened hearing she hears more than one groan at that. They hustle and get their gear packed up quickly. She smells the fresh sweat from their exercise mingling with the fragrance of the night air. Underneath that is the faint thump of their hearts beating over the distant rustle of the local wildlife in the wake of the noise. The earth is cool beneath her and still slightly moist from the light rain during the day.
Jack watches them leave, the look in her eyes is more predator than human but it is not long before the two of them are alone again. The predator retreats, leaving just the pain.
She looks down at the ground, “Yeah, pretty much just what I said before. Just sometimes it hits me just little help a gun can be, even in trained hands, against.. ” her voice catches, ” someone like me.”
“Someone like us you mean. I understand a little of what you’re feeling here. Sometimes I really struggle to keep in mind they are people too; they’re so fragile, transient.”
Jack nods.
Tius is looking calmly, thoughtfully at Jack, “What does it make you feel, knowing you’re a superior opponent in almost every respect to a mortal?”
“Honestly? Powerful… Righteous… and heartbroken at the wrongness.”
She looks up, “Is it the same for you?”
“It is the same for me yes. My abilities aren’t as physical as yours but it’s still as one sided.”
He asks curiously, “Why do you say wrongness? As in at the inequality or do you not like who you are, what you’ve become?”
Jack stands up abruptly, a little too fast, her lips starting to curl into a snarl. Then her eyes widen in horror and she takes a step backwards and turns away from Levi. “Nonono” she says to herself under her breath.
Tius watches her movements carefully; he’s clearly not relaxed as he was a moment ago.
Then she says in a voice rough with desperation and struggle, “Don’t say anything else, please.”
The beast feels like it is sitting in her chest held back by a single thread of hope or maybe trust. One word. One movement towards her. One glimpse of a target, and it will burst free to destroy.
“Let’s just head back.” she says, still turned away.
She hears the rustle of his robes as he gets up and, wordlessly, begins to walk back to the main building.
Jack pauses, nods to herself, then follows, keeping her eyes focused on the ground and her fists clenched. At the edge of her frame of view she can see Tius’s trainers, still looking daft with the robe. It contrasts with his movements which are much more graceful than before. There is the crack of twigs breaking underfoot as they head back to the garage. Soon enough the grass turns to gravel and the footfalls turn to crunching.
The Brujah heads straight to her bike and gets on, kicking it to life. She pauses as if to going to say something, then stops and clenches her jaw before putting on the helmet.
Tius continues saying nothing but offers a small smile as she puts on her helmet.
With a skid of the wheels and the engine’s roar, Jack drives off into the night.
