February 10, 2009

There is a blessing and a curse with having a photographic memory.  The blessing is that you can remember the past with excusite detail and don’t need to journal it for yourself.  The curse is that you must remember the past in all its detail and cannot forget.  Here a journal could be helpful, where one can analyze one’s thoughts.  This is my second attempt at keeping such a journal.  It’s been about a year since I last tried.  Since then I have built relationships in this place, some good, some not so much.  It’s been a rollercoaster to be sure.

Right now most of my friends are away.  They left over a week ago to fulfill a bargan made while in distress on our last mission.   I really couldn’t go, not knowing the situation.  Nor was I part of the bargain, and besides I had a lot to do here.  That being said, I do miss them.

My relationships with them and others in this place are currently in flux.  Whatever I did over the past year is irrelivant once my soul or inner essence was reunited with my kindred form.  I’ve changed, moved farther away from the call of the Beast towards a better understanding of my underlying humanity.  However, they don’t always see that.  My brother does.  May the goddess bless him for it.

After my brother, my best friend is my former ward, now teacher Jesse.  She has, by the goddess’s blessing become one with the spirit Anu for a time.  I’ve learned much from this and Jesse’s actions for my and Kindred benefit will always be remembered and upon her release be rewarded.  Some, such as Chaska and Ironclaw are wary of Anu and her goals; but I am confident that everything will for once in my existence work out right.  It is the goddesses will.

One thing that Anu brought to my attention was that historically, my kind have always strived to find someone or something to serve.  This is true.  I have served the goddess by creating a cult that worships her, giving my best friend to her servant as requested, served my Hierophant regularly, and helped with protecting the greater good – at least as I see it.  But I haven’t found anything or anyone here in Eldon Well to whom I would give my devotion.  Not yet.  Perhaps this place itself deserves my devotion for I do like it.

I tried with Ironclaw, but despite my attempts to fool myself, I did not love him nor could ever do so.  I like him and always will.  I believe he respects me as well, especially his deciding to extend trust to me on the Anu thing.  But, I don’t know if love, like my brother found with Alice, is an option for me.  Now that I am whole, it is something that is important to me. 

I like Lyla.  I considered working for her briefly, though to be honest I didn’t like the business she was in and well, I couldn’t give myself to her will.  It didn’t feel right.  Now, we are still friends, but not close friends.  She lives in two worlds I am not a part of, the underworld of crime and the Pack.  We party, we talk, but in truth I don’t think either of us really knows the other. 

Everyone it seems that I work with is part of this Pack except myself and John.  Michael once dated a member of the same, but I don’t think that worked out.  In any case, I don’t mind not belonging to it; my existence is quite seperate from them and the Danse Macabre conflicts far to much with their ideals at times.  It is better to be allies.

Speaking of which, Chaska and I are making progress.  I like him.  We may not agree on many things but that hasn’t prevented us from getting along quite well.  It is his pro-offered friendship that, along with Johnny, helps me believe it is worth it to stay here.  His is not the only one, but a critical one at a critical time.

I tried with Ramiel.  I think he tried too.  Early on we butted heads.  Now, too many misunderstandings and suspicions have laid between us over the last year for either of us to make the leap to trust each other beyond what is critical for a mission.  He blames me I think for several things, none of which I am culpable for; or I would apologize for.  I for one thought he was a power hungry, arrogant ass.  Yet, I was wrong about him in one critical way.  He does have a bit of humanity in him.  Makes me think there may be hope for some kind of accomidation or trust to be built.  That and despite it all, I do find his bluster and self-confidence quite charming.  I only wish he could see past the fact I am not a mortal.  That and see that, despite what I may have said in the past, I do care about this place and the people within it.  Yet, to really want to protect it, I need a bigger investment.  He could provide that simply by saying, “Lets start again.” or trying to get to know me.  I hope he does, for we have more in common than he thinks.

Michael has me worried.  Mostly because he has everyone else worried and that makes it more than just suspicition on my part.  I would like to know him better as well, but from the start he has made it clear that he doesn’t trust vampires.  Fair enough.  I don’t trust mortals with too much power, but then again who does?  He acts for his own self, and you know after thinking about it, it isn’t much different than what I have done in the past.  I will wait and see on him; but I’d like to think he knows what he is doing.  If he pushes things too far, others may push back.  Myself for one will give him the benefit of the doubt.

I don’t know Rey.  She made it clear she hates vampires.  Once she learns about Jesse she will no doubt despise me.  But Jesse made her choices a long time ago and Rey and everyone else needs to understand that.  She’s in my world, just as Michael, Ramiel, and the other mages in this town have theirs, and the Pack has its world, etc.  We have to respect each others boundries.  Yet, Rey and I are both followers of the old ways, my version being a bit more primal for certain.  She and I could be good friends and allies if she so chose.  But I tried and she rejected that attempt.  It seems to be a common theme.

On this I need to rant a bit to myself.  Some people in this town get it, others don’t.  They don’t know how lucky they are that I am the type to kindred that I am.  I am not Dracula, or some horror out of some cheap novel.  I am Gangrel, a daughter of the Morrigan who has no malice toward the wonderous array of beings gathered in this small remote place.  It must be for some greater purpose that this concentration exists, that is for certain.  Perhaps that, more than anything is why I should stay.  Because these people and perhaps even myself, am important to a larger greater cause.  A cause I can serve.  I for one have tried to embrace the larger issues; but on the smaller ones, I’ve found it so hard to be accepted here.  Sure I have plans, sure I wish power and safety to do what I do, but in that I am no different than spiritkind, werewolves, mages, mystics, espers and the others that are here.  I am a monster, sure.  But like them, one with a soul.  They need to look at the monster in themselves before judging me on the monster I accept that I am.  Perhaps we all need to look past the veneer on whom we are on the outside and look to the persons we all are on the inside; try to understand one another better.  That is something I’ve tried to do.  Maybe someday more than just a few will recognize that.  I’m patient.

Rey, February 2009

Dear god, what have I gotten myself into.

Me, Lupa of the Young Father Bear pack, and partner in Lyla’s other business. It feels like a combo of a bad dream and a sick joke.

I’ve got until June to get myself established and entrenched as Lupa before they can challenge me. To prove to them that I’m the best choice for the job. Ironclaw says that they don’t like change, so providing I don’t piss them off and generally make the pack prosperous, I should be okay.

Except for Lyla, of course. I don’t know if there’s anything I can do to win her over. She wants to be in charge, and she blames Ironclaw for what happened. I’m certain that she’ll probably beat me to a pulp the first moment she can. I’m also afraid that she’s planning to go after Ironclaw himself. Unless something changes, he’ll probably lose that fight, and she may deliberately break him and his spirit.

But what the heck am I going to do now?

I’ve taken the Blood & Brew from Lyla. Rose and the others would never take orders from her, and since the bar is the only source of income, I need to be in charge of that. She handed it over to me on the condition that it would always be the property of the Lupa, and if there is no female in the pack to be Lupa, ownership of the bar would go to the Ullfric. When I heard that condition, I immediately thought she was going to go after Ironclaw and become Ulfric, and abolish the position of Lupa so she could control everything. Her reaction to what I said afterwards is making me lean towards her simply caring about the future of the pack, but I still can’t shake my nagging concerns.

In checking out the books for the bar, I’m glad I agreed to take on more responsibilities in Lyla’s other business ventures. The money coming in from the catering is just enough to give everyone paychecks. With her no longer in charge, I might not share those contacts with me. That means I will have to cut back on everyone’s hours until I can replace that revenue. I certainly can’t afford to miss any mortgage payments.

It might not be soon enough to get money in, but perhaps we could work on doing box lunches and stuff for the tourists. Things that pack and travel well. That might earn us some extra cash. But I think I’m going to have to ask Lyla about those catering contacts before she leaves for Mythic City.

I also need to talk to Gillian and the others about the future. What they want now, what they want for the future. And I need to find out if Johnny’s foster parents need any help.

Speaking of help – yeah, I know it’s something of a jump – I need to find Jesse and see what’s up. I haven’t seen her for a while. I hope nothing’s happened.

A Friend of the Devil Is a Friend of Mine

Timeline: February, 2009

Ann-Marie spent days in thought. Between lessons, journeys to the Shadow, practice deals of blood and essence she grew in knowledge of the spirit and their ways. Anu was both her old friend and her teacher, respected for both. But for the others, her companions and friends especially, she seemed a threat.

She had faith that that part of Anu, that part that was Jesse, was still there. She also had faith that that part of Anu whom was spirit guided by the hand of the Morrigan was truly honorable and beautiful to behold. Yet, some worried; and for their sake she needed proof of the mighty spirit’s intensions. Continue reading “A Friend of the Devil Is a Friend of Mine”

Goodbyes

Timeline: January 31st, 2009

Ann-Marie left her brother and sought out Chaska. She asked around until she finally found him coming into town…

“Chaska,” she said, “please wait up…”

Chaska had been thinking about his upcoming trip and was lost deep in thought when he heard Ann-Marie calling his name. He stopped and waited for her to catch up to him. “What’s up?”

She walked up to him. “I just wanted to see you and the others off. Say farewell, as the situation is likely to be dangerous. I wanted to give you my best wishes,” she said with earnestness. “May I join your as you walk?” Continue reading “Goodbyes”

Seeking an Old Friend

Timeline: February 3rd, 2009

Ann-Marie went searching for Iron Claw a few days after the others had left. It wasn’t easy to find him and in the end, it was he who found her. After a lot of searching, she finally discovered him waiting for her at her home.

“You’ve been looking for me,” Ironclaw said.

She still admired him, that was for certain. She answered, “Yes I have. We haven’t spoken in awhile, and after all that has happened, I wanted to clear the way between us.”

Continue reading “Seeking an Old Friend”

A Custom Job

Timeline: February 1st, 2009

Michael heard the bells to the front door of his shop jingle. Boot-clad feet walked across the wooden floor, and a moment later, he heard a bag being set on the counter.

“I’ll be with you in a moment,” Michael said from the back room.

Rey could hear pieces of metal sliding together. As the sounds progressed, Rey heard a click, then what sounded like a slide on a pistol being pulled back then go back forward.

As Michael came back out from the back room, he was sliding a pistol into his shoulder rig. As he looked up from what he was doing, he saw Rey standing at his counter.

Continue reading “A Custom Job”

Crestfallen

Timeline: January 31, 2009

Ramiel left the room with some urgency and the others began to leave soon after. Iron Claw waited in customary fashion to be the last one to leave the room as the leader but he noticed that Chaska didn’t get up from his seat and that he stared at the table in front of him. He was concerned about Chaska. He knew that Chaska would sacrifice his very life for the pack but other than his loyalty he knew very little else about him and that loyalty was sorely tested and it wasn’t completely clear if he had passed the test or not.

He walked over to Chaska and put his hand on his shoulder to reassure him. “Do you need some time alone, my friend?”

Continue reading “Crestfallen”

Morality of Immortals

Timeline: January 29, 2009

Ann-Marie believed that she had come to an understanding with Chaska. They agreed to disagree and seemed to respect each other’s decisions. Ann-Marie even unstood the reason Michael did what he did. She didn’t like it, but she understood the reasons behind it. But her brother, to act so coldly, was a surpise to her and they hadn’t had the chance to talk about it. Soon after the return to Eldon Well, Ann-Marie caught up with her brother (comme great uncle) as he was returning from work. She needed to understand him, and more importantly with his help come to understand what she had become and was becoming.

She asked, “Johnny, can we go for a walk?”

“Sure Ann,” John said because they were in a public place, “Is something wrong or do you need my help with something?”

Continue reading “Morality of Immortals”

Heart to Heart with Alice

Timeline: January 29, 2009

After he finished talking with his sister John went to Alice’s house and knocked on her door.

She was recently returned from work at the library and was still in her conservative outfit. She smiled when she saw who it was at the door. “John! What a nice surprise. Please come in!” She stood aside to welcome him into her home.

“Thank you Alice,” John replied as he walked in. After the door closed, John took her into his arms and just held her for a minute. “I have missed you sweet girl. I couldn’t wait to get back home to you. I need to talk to you about some things that happened on my trip to Boston do you have time to talk?”

She smiled, pleased at his reception, then hugged him back. “I always have time for you, John.”

Continue reading “Heart to Heart with Alice”