"Drink up K. We're keeping you at the top of your game." Jack holds out an arm to K. "I've heard werewolves are strong. I hope for your sake we don't meet any." Jack for his part even means it, although he hopes to one day test himself against a wolf.
Alexander scrawls his note and pointedly crumbles the missive, working under the assumption that Maldavis will understand the meaning.
Walking a bit away from where the note was dropped, the Uber ordered by Calliope arrives five minutes or so later.
A brief thirty minute drive with a particularly chatty driver later, you find yourselves outside your communal haven again.
As the Coterie enters their haven and he is satisfied, or at least as satisfied as he can be, that they are alone he speaks, "I propose a bit of a risky endeavor.
The Werewolves are no friends to our kind. I understand they were involved in the death of the former Prince and he was formidable. I would presume that weaker members are as weak as we are to our elders. That being said, none of us except for perhaps Jack, are prone to violence. Thus, a battle with these beasts is not in our best interest.
I have asked K to abscond a panel van, one which blocks out the light. I am hoping he will be back before the sun rises tonight. We will then enter, wrapped in protective garments in case the door is mistakenly opened by day. K will drive us to a nearby garage where we can wait for nightfall. Then we can exit and have our meeting and repeat the process the next day.
Werewolves are on the prowl for us at night, by day, there are far too many mortals on the road for them to track all cars that enter via the the highway.
As far as fighting these creatures. Silver, for all the good that does when we have none in weapon form. Fire, as dangerous to us presuming we could even wield it without facing our own horrors.
Of course many of our disciplines can injure them as well.
Your thoughts?"
Calliope keeps to herself during the ride over, the sound of her pencil on thick drawing paper the only thing emanating from her seat. She seems single-minded with her sketches--rough drawings of the introduction of the Lasombra, the face of the man who interrupted their meetings.
When the car arrives and they enter their haven, Calliope takes a seat on the couch with her legs folded under her, listening to Edwin with interest.
"As long as K is amenable, I don't see why not. I would recommend bringing something that would block the doors from the inside--keep them from being opened by accident if possible.
I think if we keep a low profile, we won't attract the attention of the dogs at all," Calliope says. "Provided the Anarch's goal isn't to lure us into werewolf territory in general...although, I can't think of a reason that would be desirable." She looks around, raising one eyebrow. "Unless someone has explicitly upset them, that is."
Edwin nods at Calliope, "A good idea.
I have had no interaction with the Anarchs so I see no reason why they would wish to lure me into a trap".
Haven 3 - small 1, mobile 1, security 1
-Mid-2000s Econoline cargo van with no exterior windows to back cargo area, and a thick curtain that can be pulled across grate to front cab. K has installed a simple flip-down bunk along the passenger side, and keeps a tool box in back for show. Legally registered to Alumni Auto Repair, the legitimate business front of the HK Grads. Security 1 Features upgraded locks and car alarm both linked to app on K’s cell phone.
It happens in an instant. Jack's eyes flash red. He slams a fist into the side of a building, doing far more damage to the bricks than his own flesh, a reminder of his prodigious strength and durability. "K," he says slowly, "When a g~#&*+n prince of the night, a descendant of Lodin no less offers you his blood, you don't make him wait." Jack looks taller, standing more upright. His face is twisted into a snarl of rage as he continues to speak, his voice holds an inhuman, regal quality to it, "This level of disrespect coming from a thin-blood, coming from my less-"
Jack cuts himself off, but it's too late. His eyes return to their normal hue, blinking several times. He shrinks back into himself seeming smaller than he had before. More vulnerable. "It's the compulsion," he says lamely, "Like Calliope getting lost in her work, or Alexander's need to find secrets. Ventrue need to be in control or we lose it. I'm... I'm sorry K. I didn't mean it." He folds his arms over his chest, and holds himself, "You're lucky in that way K. Ever since I was turned I've been struggling with this. You should feed from someone else for tonight, I don't want this to be tainted for you."
Jack enters the Haven, and finds a quiet area to meditate in. He has no additional prep.
K’s eyebrows shoot up to his hairline at Jack’s outburst.
” You're lucky in that way K. Ever since I was turned I've been struggling with this. You should feed from someone else for tonight, I don't want this to be tainted for you."
”Uh, sure thing, Jack…” After Jack is safely away, the Thin-Blood lets out a low whistle. ”Wow. Does Jack have a therapist? ‘Cause he probably should.”
Shaking off the almost-confrontation, K regains his usual smile. ”Transport’s all squared away, though, folks. I’ve got just the van for the job.”
”So, I guess anybody else mind me taking a bite? I’m not too worried about it, but it’s probably better to get some blood in me so Jack has one less aggravation, right?”
Edwin nods to K, "Certainly, feel free, I am currently at a satiated level, well, as much as I can be without the loss of human life I suppose".
Calliope's eyebrows shoot up in surprise at Jack's outburst, but she decides to forego offering commentary, especially as the situation resolves itself as quickly as it happens.
She leans forward in her seat, looking around at those who are left. "I'll stay here tonight. I'm going to fetch a change of clothes from my apartment and then be back. For ease's sake."
Barring any further conversation, Calliope leaves the Haven to her apartment to gather her clothing, then returns as quickly as she is able.
Having fed upon Edgar, K goes out to retrieve his van and returns to the communal haven just before sunrise.
The coterie piles into the panel van and awaits K to drive them to Gary.
Rouse
”Oh, hey, there’s like one bunk in the back of the van, so maybe I should pick up some sleeping bags or something?”
"The floor will be fine. I can sleep standing up."
Edwin shrugs, "I slept in worse to escape Europe, it will be fine K".
Early morning arrives and K drives his panel van to Gary, Indiana. The drive is not terribly busy once you make it out of Chicago proper, as not many head towards the rather economically depressed city of Gary.
Some forty-five minutes later you arrive in Gary, as the morning sun is beginning to forcibly drag K into the depths of slumber.
Much to K's chagrin, there seems to be a dearth of parking garages in Gary, although there are a couple of publicly available parking lots.
With little other choice, K pulls into one of the spots, situating the van between two parked semi trailers, and hopes for the best as the sun forces the young thin-blood into a death-like sleep.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Night arrives, and the coterie awakes in an unfamiliar city that feels dangerous.
K starts awake in the driver's seat, hands reflexively gripping the wheel tight in his momentary confusion.
Crap!... wait, I'm parked. Relaxing, he looks around.
Oh, right. Gary!
Undoing his seatbelt, he turns around and slides the heavy black-out curtain behind him open enough to poke his head into the back.
"Hey everybody, we're here!"
Eyes open, pressed to floor. Slow roll-over, kneel, stand. Gnarled hands run down windbreaker. Creases remain.
This ride would have been undignified, were any of us conscious for it.
”Thank you, K.” Hiss of a slow tire leak. ”I assume we’ve made it safe and sound. Well done.” Crouched waddle to side door. ”Need to stretch my legs. Be right back.” Opens door, exits, nice and slow.
Focus on the urban desolation. Silent emptiness. Allow it inside. Let it fill you right up, until you and it are the same. Silent emptiness.
A walk around the parking lot. Beady eyes peer from lumpy, wrinkled face. Across parking spaces. Into car windows. Down streets.
Jack's eyes flit open. He had been leaning against a wall for hours now, and he rolled his shoulders a few times, experimentally. Eyes flick on red, looking around experimentally to see what waits in the darkness. "Where did we say we'd meet our contact again? I'd like to get there early, give me some time to prepare for an ambush."
Calliope stirs slowly, groaning awake from the uncomfortable position and cramped quarters. She had never slept well somewhere that wasn't her own home...When she turned, that changed. Sleep was forced on her whether she was ready or not.
"Palace Theater at 10," She replies to Jack, stretching in her seat and smoothing out her hair. At least in death she didn't drool anymore.
"I hope this meeting is worth the hassle."
Jack gets out of the van intent on scouting out the Palace Theater prior to the meeting with Maldavis and God only knows how many of her cohorts.
”Ok, Jack. You, uh, want any of us to come with you?” After last night’s outburst, K’s decided to do his best to stay on Jack’s good side for a while.
Jack noticed K's tentativeness around him. It hurt, but he did his best not to show it; after all it was his fault that he had yelled at the young vampire. "Any are welcome to come. I doubt we'd fare well if we got ambushed so I'm mostly looking for escape routes, or places where I could hold them off while the rest of you fled."
"We shouldn't split up in unknown territory," Calliope says cautiously, climbing out of the van and stretching her undead body, bony fingers reaching toward the night sky. She lets out a soft, audible sigh as she relaxes. She, too, notices the tension between Jack and K--she couldn't blame the thin-blood. In life, being yelled at that way would have reduced her to tears.
"More hands make less work. I'm happy to come along."
”Hopefully Maldavis didn’t arrive last night,” a breeze through the parking lot. Alex lurks at the van door. ”Lest an ambush be already laid.”
”Shall we go?”
"Agreed Calliope, let's stick together, especially as this is a place where we do not know anyone".
As the group gets closer to the theater, Edwin will activate Auspex 1.
The coterie approaches the remains of the Palace Theater, a building that obviously not been in use since the early 1970's, despite the half-assed "renovation" of the front of the building done for the 2002 Miss USA pageant, that for some odd reason was held in Gary.
"Who does the talking? Edwin and I are the most "establishment" of all of us, Calliope's good at talking, and K's got that "I'm a thinblood, I empathize with the anarch struggle thing going on. Alexander is... Alex. Thoughts?"
"I think we do less talking and more listening".
Calliope keeps pace with the others, stopping near the front of the building to size it up. Weird place for a beauty pageant.
"I agree with Edwin," Calliope replies, nodding. "But if talking is required..." She shrugs. "I guess we'll figure it out?" She laughs--a short, sharp sound. "I trust all of you to keep our best interests in mind as we go into this meeting."
Jack snorts. Not like it's likely the others stay quiet. We all like hearing ourselves talk too much. He nods to Calliope. He'd have felt more comfortable if she'd offered to take point on this, he liked and trusted her the best, but he'd defer to her judgement.
Edwin shrugs back, "Agreed, I believe that collectively we have a collective best interest, redundant as that may sound, in making sure that we protect each other.
A great deal of Mortal life was figuring things out as they came, Immortal life appears much the same".
Jack studies the theater, searching for any sort of tactical advantage he can find.
”Honestly I was best at figuring things out well after the fact.” A background drone. ”And preferred correspondence over conversation.” Notepad, pencil. Notes. ”But if they want a dissertation on the effects of the World's Columbian Exposition on Chicago’s architecture I can oblige.”
”I can also be quiet, though. Shall I take a look inside?”
Edwin nods in agreement with Alexander's plan, "A quick peek cannot hurt".