The year is 2020 and Seattle has quickly grown to become one of the vampiric society's finest cities.
The Camarilla rules the city with an iron fist, ensuring the survival of the Kindred, and with it, the
rule of the Masquerade: Their existence must remain a secret to humans, and the Prince of the City sits
at the top of the hierarchy, enforcing the laws of the undead.
The clans of the Camarilla fight for power: It's a game of chess and your next move might determine
the future of all. When push comes to shove, which side will you take - and as a character with the
potential to shift the game, what will your next move be?
SOME RULES ARE UNBREAKABLE
In the past few months, the rate of newly embraced vampires have skyrocketed - most of which has
not been sanctioned by Prince Algernon: The Camarilla have worked day and night trying to track
down the one's responsible, but where one lead ends, another begins. Unable to figure out the culprits
behind the mass-embrace, the Camarilla finds itself caught between trying to restore power and ensuring
that the laws of the Masquerade are not broken - again.
A Blood Hunt has been called, and the Scourge has been sent out - and so the Caitiff are being hunted
down: Nothing but Final Death awaits them.
Shaan regarded the notion with a small nod and a shrug. "I suppose, Honestly if I had the choice to do what I wanted when I was younger i'd probably be dead or worse. Im fine how things are, most days that is." She thought for a brief moment, what would she really have done if she had much choice in the matter. Maybe she would have ended up like him, someone who protects people. "I envy your job a bit honestly, there has to be some raw satisfaction in making an amount of difference when you can."
She had always been an odd sort, her sense of justice was all at once blazing and righteous. She wasn't above an eye for an eye but she also liked to follow a strict moral code, which is why she didn't kill every vampire she saw. Maybe if she was given choices she would have turned out more ruthless, less forgiving. It was always an odd thought to have how one thing in your life being different would change it all. "Sometimes I'd like the life to be a little less interesting. Hell I could sell my upbringing to Lifetime for a movie plot and make millions." She gave a small chuckle at the notion.
She followed his gaze to the man and smiled, rather softly this time. "One of my regulars actually. Used to be a pretty decent lawyer a few towns over from what he's told me. I've listened to his drunk ranting a few times, man has stories. That's what I'd love to have, some interesting stories to tell when I'm old...Wouldnt you?" She meant what she said, she wanted stories that she could tell, that she was allowed to tell to her children, to her friends, to the bartender serving her vodka.
She envied people who had long and full lives. "I bet you have plenty of interesting stories though."
Ash's eyebrows rose at the words: She'd be dead? Well, wasn't that a tad overly dramatic? But then, for all he knew, this chick was sixteen with a fake ID. He'd never been good at guessing someone's age. People seemed to look much older now than what they did when he was young. Whether it was make-up or genetics, he didn't know. "The thing is," he began, lowering his gaze to stare at nothing in particular, "If the job doesn't make you jaded, it'll likely kill you. I see a lot of bad shit on a regular basis. It's not for everyone." It might not have been what she'd wanted to hear, but it was the truth.
"You do have a choice, you know." He offered quietly: He knew it wasn't always as simple as that, but if she wanted a boring life, with a boring nine to five job... Then what was stopping her? But then... "The grass is always greener." he mused, more so to himself than to her.
For a moment after she'd finished speaking, Ash remained quiet: He'd never really considered his life much further than perhaps next week or next month. He'd never really given any thought to where he'd be or what he'd be doing when he was old. It had never been a priority to seek out a family and have that kind of life. "I don't know." He answered honestly as he pulled his gaze away from the man. "I'd like not to be forced to retire before my time, but that's about it." He offered a shrug at that. He'd seen far too many cops retiring before they were ready. But then, perhaps that was simply part of the deal. Refusing to grow old and lose the life you had in favor of something completely different.
Quirking an eyebrow at her, Ash shook his head. "None that are really mine to tell." Sure, he'd gone through a lot of cases and seen a lot of shit, but they weren't really his stories to tell. He was all about work and had little private life to speak of, and as such, very few stories worth sharing. "Unless you enjoy hearing about stupid people getting drunk and driving, and a tower of unsolved cases?"
She thought for a moment on his words. "Honestly your job sounds like something I'd enjoy... and maybe not just because of the cool badge." She said with a chuckle as she tapped her fingers softly on the bar counter. "Honestly what job doesn't have its problems? I understand that you probably see some pretty horrible shit, but I cant say I wouldn't be used to a lot of it." She offered a small shrug as she turned, going and getting another of the beer that he was drinking, she didn't open this one but merely sat it down on the counter by him.
"I suppose I have a choice in some ways. Theres some things though once you know or do, they kinda always stay with you." She figured him of all people would understand something like that. He had probably seen things that he couldn't really just wash his hands of. For her it was a lot of seeing what the world was really like, and knowing that sometimes the monsters were real, and that wasnt just about vampires. People could be even worse.
"Thats a fair point I suppose, a lot of what you see is..other people." She regarded the notion with a slight frown before she really dug into it. "I dunno, I like stories, any story really. Though I have to admit I'm particularly interested in yours. You seem, honestly really normal compared to a lot of people that come through here. I like it." She had figured that he had seen his share of shit, but he seemed honestly like a decent guy that was just going about it day to day, married to the job and enjoyed a cool beer in hand. Wasn't that the typical dream for most people?
Ash considered her words for a moment: It wasn't often he came across someone who actually seemed interested in his job. At least, not like this. "Why don't you enroll into the police academy, then?" He asked instead, brows raising in a curious manner. It didn't seem like any aspect of his job turned her off, after all. "If it interests you, it doesn't hurt to at least check it out." He added with something of a shrug.
He could relate to what she was saying on more levels than one: He didn't think he could ever step away from his job now, for example. He'd seen too much of Seattle's dark underbelly to ever be able to let go. In a way, he supposed it was sad, but then, someone had to do that job, too. Ash simply nodded in response.
For the first time, a genuine laugh broke through his lips. Most people wouldn't ever refer to him as normal. Sure, he wasn't some weirdo running around putting people off, but he was generally cranky and standoffish, which didn't exactly get brushed under the carpet of normalcy. No, people had to be forward and friendly, and talk a lot. At least, that's what most people seemed to think. But then, he also supposed he did seem normal compared to some of the people that frequented bars.
But then, he was far more relaxed here than he ever was while at work. This place, the anonymity without the crushing weight of law and order on his shoulders did offer him more of a chance to relax. Besides, it sure helped that he'd gotten a few beers in his system, and the girl before him had done nothing to warrant his ire. "Do you mind writing that down and signing your name on it?" He asked with a small smile. "I don't think anyone would believe me otherwise."
"Still," he continued, "You speak of my stories being interesting, but they all mostly come with the job. You're a bartender, talking about how you've experienced plenty of shit yourself, and I get the feeling it isn't only in relation to your job."
She furrowed her brows and thought for a brief moment, lips parting as she actually tried to think of a reason to refute the idea. And she came up with nothing. "Well... I.. Can't actually think of a reason not to honestly. Maybe I will.." She really had no reason to dislike the idea, her grandmother most likely even would agree it was a good idea, even more access to information and even more ways to hunt. There was really no down side to the entire idea, and she would probably be good at it.
She however couldnt help but laugh a little bit as he did, apparently the idea of him being normal was funny and really, she could kind of understand why it would be so funny, though to her he was pretty normal, at the next sentence though a mischievous smirk played on her lips. She grabbed a bar napkin and pulled a pen from her pocket, she scrawled out 'Ash- Certifiably normal. Clinically attractive - Shaan C.V' onto the napkin, and underneath it, her phone number. She slid the napkin towards him with a chuckle. "There you go, One Statement Officer." She couldnt help but find the entire thing funny and utterly terrifying.
Was she being too forward with the idea of possibly talking to him aside of this interaction? Hell was she actually going to check out the police academy? She really didn't know either way but she was in the mood for a gamble. His next words made her nod slightly, a little bit of her usual blank demeanor slipping out. "Well, your life tends to be interesting when you're the kid of a dead russian whore. Literally not taking a jab there. Grandma adopted me pretty young." She gave a small shrug, it really didn't bother her much but she had to admit, learning about how her mom died and the circumstances about her infancy was kind of a lot for anyone to really take on.
A loopsided smile formed on Ash's lips: "Well, then why don't you?" He asked again. Lord knew the police force could do with a few more capable hands and from what he'd heard, this chick was more than capable. Heck, probably even more capable than he'd ever be. "You could always ask for a tour at the very least."
Ash's eyebrows shot up as the girl started writing something down on a napkin. He hadn't really expected her to do that - or really meant anything by what he'd said. As he read the napkin, his brows furrowed. Had he been ten years younger, he might have blushed at the girl's forwardness, but instead, he found himself dumbfounded, staring at the piece of paper - finding absolutely nothing clever to say. "Cerifiably normal." He said aloud, but quickly continued, "Clinically handsome." He lifted his gaze then. "One Statement Officer." Well, at least it was better than 'jerk' or 'grumpypants'. He hesitated to take the napkin. "I was... Kidding." He attempted sheepishly. Then, as if realizing, "Hey! I'm ruggedly handsome, thank you very much."
It seemed she wasn't entirely done with her surprises as she continued talking. And boy, did she talk. The conversation went from zero to a hundred really fast. "I, uh..." He attempted, trying to search for better words to use, but couldn't really think of anything to say. Heck, what did one say to a complete stranger who'd just announced their tragic life story so... Casually? "Wow." He added as he quickly took a deep swig from his beer, desperate to have something else to do with his hands - and his mouth - and his eyes.
"Okay, okay..." He finally said as he put the bottle down, his brows furrowing as he pursed his lips in deep thought. "I think we need to go in a little more detail here."
Shaan honestly couldnt contest any reason for her not at the very least taking a tour. She made a mental note to either call after her shift or in the morning since she had the day off. She honestly would have been a good fit for the line of work, though that thought wasnt what brought the shark like grin to her face, it was the shock when he read that simple napkin. That was the reaction she had slightly hoped for. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the counter and her hand on her palms as she smiled.
"Well I thought handsome was the most gentle word I could use without your eyes popping out of your head, but fine, I'll agree with ruggedly handsome." She laughed as she shook her head slightly, this was entertaining to her, she was honestly enjoying this shift more than she had any other at this bar, well, Old man Smith challenging her to a drinking contest after her shift was a close second, but this was still a good time in her book. She noted his pure shock at the next comment she made and she understood, to most people it was kinda a wild ride.
"Mom was a whore, she had me, tried to sell me once or twice apparently and ended up getting her throat cut, guy apparently dropped me off at the police station covered in blood in the middle of the night. They don't know who did it and I dont really care. Grams adopted me and brought me here and pretty much home schooled me to help with me "anger issues" though I'm pretty sure thats her way of calling me a teenager. She decided what I did as far as everything and this is who I am now." He shrugged a small bit as if it was nothing.
"Honestly it sounds bad but this is kinda old history to me. It doesn't really matter, I just understand its kinda.. well some shit."
Ash's expression turned deadpan at her obvious teasing: He couldn't help but feel a little offended, but not in its direct sense. "Very funny." He replied, his tone forcefully bland. He wasn't really offended, of course, but he couldn't very well let her get away with it either. "You should be a comedian."
This wasn't at all how Ash had expected his night to fare: Having some random bartender end up not only telling him her life story, but also the most gruesome story he had ever heard before. It was rather amazing that she seemed as normal as she did. Most young people these days seemed to use such stories, run with them and make themselves out to be the victim for the rest of their lives. But this one? She simply shrugged it off and didn't really seem all that bothered by it.
"Jesus fucking Christ," Ash muttered under his breath, his fingers combing his hair back as he let out a slight 'oof'. "Some shit." He repeated, this time unable to keep the small laugh from finding its way through his lips. "That's sure as hell one way of putting it." Ash shook his head in disbelief: This girl needed these drinks more than he did. "If you weren't working, I'd buy you one hell of a drink."
And she deserved one too.
Rising his bottle towards her, "Here's to some shit." With that, he took another swig from the now lukewarm beer.
His deadpan tone only made her smirk a little, casting him a very mischievous look. He was quite handsome she honestly did have to admit that "I've though of doing standup. Apparently I suck at it." She chuckled and felt herself relaxing a small bit. She noted his expression after her little story, she had a soft smile playing on her lips as she shrugged, stifling a small yawn. To her it just was what it was, to someone else though she supposed that it was probably a lot, to a cop though she didn't really think it would be that much.
"Hey how else do I put it? Don't worry though, I have much worse stories..like the time Grams got escorted off a naval base for lewd behavior, you want a horror story thats the one to tell." She chuckled lightly to herself "Ya know you're cute enough I'd almost let you." She chuckled at him, she had people offer to buy her drinks all the time, this was the one time she wished she actually could take it up. At his raising of his bottle she nodded slightly. "To some Shit."
She tapped her fingers against her jaw lightly as she thought a moment, she wondered what he was thinking, did he think she was just crazy, did he pity her? Hell did he think anything at all about all of that? She knew that story usually got a mixed bag of responses. "So what about you, theres gotta be something more to you than rugged good looks and stoic charm."
"Could have fooled me." Ash quickly retorted with a snort. If he was being perfectly honest, he didn't mind it as much as he pretended to. At least she was being nice about it.
Again with stories of her grandmother. Perhaps she was right: Maybe the story of how she was born and how her mother was... Killed, wasn't nearly as bad as the upbringing she'd had with this mysterious grandmother. If it hadn't been for the fact that Ash was now terrified of the old croon, he might have been curious enough to ask to meet her. "Let's hope I never meet your grandmother in a dark alley late at night, then." He offered with a small smile, which only widened when she cheered alongside him.
Chewing on the inside of his lips, Ash shrugged at her question. His life was remarkable bland in comparison, but it was only fair that he, too, would share. "I've lived in Seattle all my life. Had a fairly normal upbringing - my mom's a nurse and my dad's a plumber. Nice folk, but overall pretty simple." They didn't ask for much, his parents. Never had. They'd always been content with what they had. "My older sister thinks she's my mom and worries a lot." He added with a sheepish shrug, but quickly continued: He didn't much care for talking about his sister. Speak of the devil and all that...
"I studied criminal justice until I was about twenty one, then entered the police academy. I became a police detective just a few months ago." He spun the bottle around between his fingertips. "I had a cat growing up - Mr. Whiskers. He didn't like me much." Raising his arm, Ash pulled his sweater down to reveal the length of his wrist and forearm, pointing at a small, pale scar. "Here's the proof, too."
Shaan had to admit, he was boring but to her that was the absolute best and actually most interesting thing about him. Too many people wanted to be interesting and that was just not something she really ever had wanted to be. "Yeah Granny would probably be the one trying to frisk you." she gave a chuckle and listened to his life story, a small and genuine smile coming to the front. So he had parents and even a sibling, Shaan had always wanted siblings but there was only time to teach one whelp, as her grandma had said.
" That has to be comforting though, I always thought the whole family dynamic was kinda a sweet one. Ya know friday night family dinners, calling your mom because you have no fucking idea how to wash your own clothes.. Calling dad because the damn sink is clogged and you're clueless. Having a sibling to annoy you. It sounds innocent, call me jealous." She had to admit, she was interested in the idea of possibly becoming a cop, she could still bartend some nights if she just couldn't let the job go.
" You know cats and I have never gotten along, dogs and rodents though like me." She had never really had a pet growing up, she always wanted a huge dog or about fifty different rodents, one day she was gonna get them. She still lived with her grandmother, though they hardly saw much of each other unless they wanted to. She took note of his arm and the tiny scar and lifted a finger, pointing at it "See thats why Im terrified of a pissed off cat. They hurt." She couldn't help but chuckle and think for a moment, when was the last time she was even really around a cat? "So you may have convinced me about a career change."
"Yeah, I 'spose so." He offered thoughtfully. He'd never really thought about it that way: But then, he could hardly blame someone with her kind of upbringing for thinking such a simple one was amazing. "They're pretty great. Nice people." He continued with a sheepish shrug. He didn't normally talk about his parents much. "But it's less calling my mom and asking how to do the laundry and more coming home to finding that she's already done it - and bought groceries." He didn't even know how his mother had managed to get a key.
"Dogs are far better pets." Rodents on the other hand... He wasn't so sure he would agree with that, but he felt it better not to mention. A chuckle escaped him. "They sure do have a mind of their own." He agreed easily. His attention immediately shifted as she continued and he looked up at her, eyebrows high.
"Oh, yeah?" He was actually a little surprised. She had seemed interested, sure, but it usually took quite a lot more to convince someone to change their entire life and become something entirely different than what they already were. "I mean, as long as you're not saying that just because you want the cool badge." He offered with an easy smile.
She had to admit, it was an interesting notion to have someone else finally doing the damn shopping. "Ok trade? I would kill to have someone actually grocery shop, We pretty much exist on take out." She couldn't help but chuckle a little bit, they really did live on fast foods and carry out, usually her job to pick up most nights, though some she would get a call that it was taken care of. She did however have to admit, the notion of cooking did sound like a lot of work.
She gave a small chuckle "By far, dogs are the better pet. I always wanted a big ass fluffy dog to go running with." She was still holding out hope, though. Hell at this point she would settle for even a small dog, those were usually pretty fierce if harmless. She let her eyes glance at the clock, she was about halfway through her shift, he had managed to eat up quite a bit of the night and she was beyond happy about it. "Yeah. You've convinced me."
A mischievous grin played on her face as she leaned a little closer "Full disclosure it might be for the cool badge..and i've been told blue is my color, even if I prefer red." She added the last bit with a small chuckle. Tonight she had learned something about herself, apparently when she was interested in something, she went for it. Something she apparently managed to retain from her younger days. "Why not? This isn't really something I can make a living off of forever and no ones offered a better alternative. Plus, I want it."
Ash offered her a wry smile, "Deal." He loved his mom. He could never claim anything else without lying, but that didn't mean he appreciated how... Motherly she was. He'd made a life of his own and while he knew that she would always be his mom, he was still an adult. He was not a child anymore. "I think that's less about grocery shopping and more about it being convenient. I think that's just where we're at." People could afford more and had far less time to actually cook.
"I think I could easily move up to Alaska if that meant I could have a few malamutes or huskies." Live somewhere remote where he didn't have to deal with other people and just... Hang around in the snow with his dogs? He could do that.
For whatever reason, this girl seemed like she'd fit right into the police department. Sure, he barely knew anything about her, but she had a sort of... Protective aura around her. "If red's more your color, I'd suggest the fire department, but they don't get the cool badge." He mused. And they had to run into burning buildings, inhale a lot of smoke and they had a higher chance of getting cancer because of it. No thank you. He'd rather take his chances and get shot. "Besides, from what you've told me, you're already physically fit, which is a lot more than most of the new recruits enrolling into the academy - it'll give you a nice arena to really show off." He offered with a shrug.
After all, to many of the new recruits, the physical bit was the hardest to overcome. It wasn't for everyone. "As long as you can deal with people ordering you around for a while, then..." He trailed off, pursing his lips in light amusement.
Shaan smiled a bit and let out a small laugh, she couldnt think of Grams as very motherly or as much else, she was a fierce woman and a damn crone and that was just who she was. "Eh, Grams doesnt really cook period, she said if I wanted a home cooked meal go get some friends and go to their house. I tried to cook once....once" She was pretty sure the attempt she had made at cooking last month could have been called attempted murder. She had no idea one could turn meat into charcoal . "A man who has the right idea. Dogs and the cold, that sounds like the perfect life." She gave a small chuckle as she turned to grab herself a bottle of water from the fridge that they had. She opened it and took a few long sips before closing it and setting it down. "Away from people and away from bullshit." She really did like that idea, her's had always been to just stay where granny was and after that... well would there be an after that? She really didn't have much direction for herself to head in.
"Nah, while I like bonfires and all that running into a burning building....Ok it does sound kinda cool but the badge..I'm in this for the badge... plus.. dudes butts look nice in the cop uniforms." She gave a thoughtful nod at the last part. Couldn't forget the butts. Really both ideas sounded appeasing but the whole firefighter thing seemed a lot less up her ally. Besides she had some cool martial arts she could probably use on someone as a cop, not really much opportunity to use em against a fire.
"I mean I'm fit enough I guess. I dont get why you'd wanna be a cop if you weren't...I hear theres a lot of running. Ya know at bad guys, from bullets." She had to chuckle a little bit, the next part made her think for a moment. Was it any different than the rest of her life? Taking orders and making things happen? "I could make a lot of vulgar jokes there, I'll leave them to you to make. But yes, I take orders very well."
