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File 155272171750.png - (206.30KB , 800x525 , title3.png )
925961 No. 925961 ID: 270774

VIVA LAS VEGAS!

This quest is R18.
chapter one: https://tgchan.org/kusaba/questarch/res/897413.html
chapter two: https://tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/910050.html
disthread: https://tgchan.org/kusaba/questdis/res/124805.html
patreon: https://www.patreon.com/iraprince
Expand all images
>>
No. 925962 ID: 270774
File 155272175272.png - (154.15KB , 800x525 , 391.png )
925962

“Hello, boys.”

Kel’s standing tall in the center of the room, backed by five other women. As Ricardo closes the door behind him, she starts to stride towards him, and the women follow. “Good drive in? Took you long enough.”

“Yeah, uh —”

“Hope you got plenty of mileage out of that ass of yours,” Kel continues, brightly, “because it belongs to me now.”
>>
No. 925963 ID: 270774
File 155272176791.png - (110.11KB , 800x525 , 392.png )
925963

There’s a ripple of laughter behind her. She steps to the side and inclines her head at the vampire standing to the far left of the line. “Lieutenant. How about some introductions? Let’s start off by telling Ribeye here what we’re all about.”

The woman takes one step forward and smiles. “Good evening. I am Basilia de Issoire, aide-de-camp to my most beloved General Gallowglass. When I am heading training of wards, as I am now, it is only necessary to call me Mignon.” As she speaks, her hands are lifted and in movement, which Ricardo recognizes as a form of sign language but doesn’t understand; she only pauses for a moment to sweep one arm out, indicating the other women in the line. “And this is the 70th Infantry Squadron of the Gallowglass Horde.”
>>
No. 925964 ID: 270774
File 155272178575.png - (154.76KB , 800x525 , 393.png )
925964

The wards roar. Ricardo flinches back, startled by the sudden wave of noise; Mignon seems unaffected.

“70th Squadron,” Mignon calls, “what are you?”

“MEAT FOR THE MACHINE,” the women scream. Ricardo’s ears are ringing.

“And what does that make everyone else?”

“CATTLE FEED!”

“That’s right. And what is the machine?”

“WAR!”

Ricardo notices that one of the wards isn’t yelling along; but her hands are moving, in crisp, powerful motions. Mignon signing as she speaks is presumably for her.

“What feeds you?”

“WAR!”

“What drives you?”

“WAR!”

There’s a pleasant little smile on Mignon’s lips. “What fucks you to sleep at night?”

The responding roar is apocalyptic. “WAR!”

Mignon starts to walk down the line, inclining her head at each woman in turn. “And does anyone do it better than us?”

“HELL NO!”

She stops, at the other end of the line, back as straight as a flagpole. “Why is that, girls?”

When they scream their response, Ricardo feels like the air is vibrating. “BECAUSE THERE AIN’T NO BITCH LIKE A GALLOWGLASS BITCH!”

“You’re damn right,” Mignon says, softly. She looks over her shoulder at Ricardo. “And, ladies? What do we do with fresh meat?”

All eyes are suddenly on Ricardo. The women’s teeth glint. “TENDERIZE IT!”
>>
No. 925965 ID: 270774
File 155272180287.png - (126.37KB , 800x525 , 394.png )
925965

Ricardo blinks, getting his bearings. He already feels very, very much in over his head. When he glances over to his side, Pascal just seems kind of dazzled. Easy for him, Ricardo thinks, when none of this is being directed at him.

“I like to get right down to business,” Kel says, snapping him back to attention, “so let’s make this quick. We don’t need any real pleasantries, right?”
>>
No. 925966 ID: 270774
File 155272185075.png - (137.32KB , 800x525 , 395.png )
925966

She walks the same line Mignon has just traveled. She stops behind the first, the woman who was moving her hands during the call-and-response. Ricardo notes that, like Mignon, Kel signs simultaneously as she speaks.

“First, meet Sirloin. Top of her class —” There’s an immediate clamoring of displeasure from the other three women, and Kel rolls her eyes. “Shut it! Shut the fuck up. You don’t like me saying she’s better than you? Then get better than her, and I won’t say it anymore. Simple as that.”

The wards settle down, and Sirloin lifts her hands. When she starts signing, Kel interprets aloud. “‘It’s my pleasure to meet you, Ribeye. I’m looking forward to —’” There’s a stumble in the interpretation as Kel snorts at what Sirloin is saying, but she picks it up again quickly. “‘I’m looking forward to being better than you, too.’”

She drops her hands again, grinning, and Kel glances over. “Pascal, you never learned VSL, huh?”

“Hm?” Pascal seems a little startled to be addressed, and he sways on the spot, hands clasped behind his back. “Well, no. Only emissaries of my house learn it.”

“Well, you’re gonna want to. Especially you, Ribeye. Strip usually interprets for her when necessary, since she’s got the most knack for it, but Sirloin’s funnier direct.” Sirloin smiles a little wider and lifts her hands again, and Kel slips back to interpreting seamlessly. “‘None of you get the timing quite right.’”
>>
No. 925967 ID: 270774
File 155272187518.png - (138.50KB , 800x525 , 396.png )
925967

“Speaking of Strip, here she is.” Kel comes to stand by the next woman in line, who’s practically vibrating with suppressed energy. “She’s actually originally from the 65th Squadron, turned in 2008, but she got held back on account of, uh…” Kel crosses her arms, head tilted thoughtfully. “Behavioral issues.”

“I’m gonna twist your fucking head off like a milk cap, bitch,” says Strip.

“She doesn’t exactly play nice with others,” Kel continues, “but, uh, it’ll probably be fine. Or it won’t be, whatever. I don’t care.”
>>
No. 925968 ID: 270774
File 155272189759.png - (141.78KB , 800x525 , 397.png )
925968

“And next is Rack —”

“Hiya!” says Rack. She immediately barrels onward, before Kel even has a chance to say anything about her. “I’m so excited to meet you! This is real unusual, you know. Kel normally doesn’t train other people’s wards. I’m so looking forward to spending time with you, or at least a little bit, since we’re probably gonna pulverize you so bad that you give up and bail! But try to hold out long enough for us to become friends, okay?”

“Okay,” says Ricardo, helplessly. Kel is snickering.
>>
No. 925969 ID: 270774
File 155272220904.png - (147.39KB , 800x525 , 398.png )
925969

Kel comes to a stop at the end of the line, and rests her hand on Lamb’s shoulder. “And you’ve met Lamb, of course. Kind of the runt of the litter.”

Strip lets out a rough bark of laughter, and Rack titters. Lamb doesn’t react. “She’s lagging behind the others, but it’s not for lack of trying, I’ll tell you that.” Kel lifts her eyes again, pinning Ricardo with her strong gaze. “And I’ll tell you something else. Sparring with her is different, because she and I have this agreement, alright?”

She lets go of Lamb’s shoulder, and Ricardo is very, very aware of how hard Lamb is staring at him. Her expression is not friendly. “Lamb and I have this agreement that any time she’s in combat, with any vampire who isn’t one of her covenmates — she can go all the way, if she can manage it. She can kill ‘em. I’m not allowed to intervene.”
>>
No. 925970 ID: 270774
File 155272223105.png - (118.89KB , 800x525 , 399.png )
925970

With a few more steps, Kel comes to stand by Mignon’s side. “So, that’s basic introductions. We all know each other’s names, and that’s enough for me. Which means we can get down training.”

“Kel, we have not even seen our room yet,” Pascal complains. “We have been traveling! He is tired!”

“Cradle goons aren’t gonna wait til you’re nice and well-rested before trying to dismember you,” Kel replies cheerfully. “We start now. That’s it.” She gives Ricardo a toothy grin as she continues. “Now, I’m not gonna let you spar with Mignon, because you just wouldn’t learn anything from that. I mean, if anything, you’d just learn how much agony your body can handle before you pass out, which isn’t real useful at this stage. For the same reason, you can’t spar with me, either.” She sweeps her arm out at the remaining three women, the same way Mignon did before. “So pick somebody else.”
>>
No. 925972 ID: 094652

"CHASING MATCH WITH RACK GO"

Start by flying away at full speed, but the moment you're out of sight play it smart and disguise your scent while crouching behind a dresser or something.
>>
No. 925973 ID: c1eaac

let's spar with rack? she seems to like us the most, even if she's going to try and pulverize us. plus she's not top of the class, and she won't fight like, uh, a berserker. might give us a good unbiased-ish look at how kel's wards are trained to fight.
>>
No. 925975 ID: 7e9c89

rack!! for making friends reasons! vamps are all cool with hyperviolence anyways at this rate so.. better to get accustomed fast and try'n make new friends outside training. or through fighting. either one
>>
No. 925976 ID: 2791fd

rack is super a trap. she looks round and safe but shes going to dismember us and smile while she does it

pick strip. she's going todismember us but she'll at least be straightforward about it
>>
No. 925977 ID: 9fcd43

I feel like Rack is a trap. It's always the nice ones you have to watch out for. Let's take on Strip; if she's that angry it might be easier to get her to trip up.
>>
No. 925979 ID: c8452a

Rack. Convince her that getting thrashed and broken isn't going to stop you from trying again. If you can manage it, you'll actually have someone who wants you to succeed.

Though maybe Kel at least hopes you'll succeed, but you don't need to prove it to her in the same way.
>>
No. 925981 ID: 70df1e

i vote lamb which yes, i understand is hubris but guys we cannot back down from what is clearly a challenge or kels wards will never respect us. go for it and worst comes to worst just turn to smoke and back the hell off.
>>
No. 925982 ID: 8ca664

RACK because anyone else would kill us
>>
No. 925983 ID: c8452a

>>925981
I don't want to end the quest yet.
>>
No. 925984 ID: 10c408

Honestly? We're gonna get our ass whupped here no matter who we picked.

So based off of that, no one is gonna respect us when Rack puts us on the ground and sits on us. Strip's out because she'll probably go overboard and make our beating hurt more than it's needed.

Lamb is out because fuck that noise.

Which leaves us with Sirloin. We probably can't understand anything she'll say with VSL, but... Well, pain is a universal language and maaybe she'll make it stop when it's clear we've had enough of it.

Also we might get slight respect for foolish bravery points by picking the ace.
>>
No. 925991 ID: cfe8e9

LET'S GET OUR ASS KICKED BY RACK IMMEDIATELY
>>
No. 925992 ID: 9f39fb

Oh I really wanna fight Sirloin, I know she'll kick our ass since she's top of the class, but I love her style and I feel like we could pick up a few things from her
>>
No. 925993 ID: 4d7c28

straight up too much if a huge lesbian to get my two braincells to cooperate to pick gal
>>
No. 925994 ID: b1b4f3

Looks like the voting's a bit one-sided.
I'd rate the risk from low to high like so:
Rack
Sirloin
Strip
Lamb

I wouldn't pick Rack or Lamb. Go with Sirloin! She's the top of the class so if you're very observant you'll learn the most. Also I like her.
>>
No. 925995 ID: 26262d

Absolutely go for Sirloin, she's obviously too strong for us but it would be great to see fighting panels of her
>>
No. 925996 ID: 23dc9d

Rack seems much too friendly for a vampire and that is terrifying altogether.

And Lamb is not a good choice after Fractal said these spars will now be super hard because of our last win.

Between Sirloin and Strip, Strip seems much more straightforward as far as how she will beat us up but at the same time I am not sure how much we will get from that. Sirloin might have something up her sleeve we haven't come across that we can learn to fight against, so my vote goes to her.
>>
No. 925997 ID: 26262d

Also that is very important but don't you think about fighting here. Go to the roof. Bring the puppet.
>>
No. 925998 ID: c8452a

>>925997
There's a whiff of grey face paint off of this...

Anyway, I definitely see the benefits of fighting Sirloin. Rack is still my number one, but if it's close my second is Sirloin.
>>
No. 926000 ID: fde9cb

okay so Strip, Rack and Lamb all kind of seem like they have something wild about them. Strip is a berserker, Rack is too nice to not be suspicious, Lamb is just scary. Sirloin seems the least wild card-y of them. like, she's the top student and she'll dismantle us, but in a pretty straightforward way . nothing too out of left field.

that said i love Lamb SO much. I wanna see her in action. yes Kel gave her permission to kill, but her Good Girl Guilt meter is way up there - there's a chance she might not actually do it. plus she's made out to be the weakest of the bunch. BUT challenging the clear weakest is probably gonna get us laughed at. might as well accept fate and let Sirloin take us apart. i want to vote Lamb but I have to say Sirloin
>>
No. 926004 ID: 8a58ca

LAMB she’d be the most fun to get our shit kicked in and maybe ended by.

I don’t think rack is a trap as such, I think it’s more she’s probably good at this and wanting to be friends isn’t something that will cross her mind as she tears us apart.

Also, ask Pascal his thoughts and also say that since its you they’re training he might as well check out the room and buy more, uh, you know, supplies
>>
No. 926005 ID: b44e0e

My poor lesbian brain is actually loosing it's shit. I love all these meat women and would love to have my ass handed to me on the edge of their claws anytime.
Ricardo on the other hand....
Rack seems like she would make a good friend, even if she nearly kills him.
Lamp is off the table, she would actually kill him.
Strip seems hella cool, but kinda a wild card. She was in a diffrent squad, but she could be really fun.
Sirloin, while also hella cool, would be a clear dumb move. We know she's top student and Kel already knows we're willing to make risky moves when it benefits. This is a good excuses to try and pick up some vamp sign language. Immortality is the best excuse to learn more languages.

So for a fight my vote is Rack, just so we can properly meet her.
>>
No. 926008 ID: c8452a

>>925998
Oh sorry, but we should definitely make it clear we want to learn VSL.
>>
No. 926010 ID: ec5e34

BE A DUMBASS AND PICK LAMB AND SAY SOMETHING CHEESY ABOUT THE LANGUAGE OF WAR BEING A GREAT WAY TO MEET EVERYONE AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF SORRY FOR CAPS LOCK BUT ALL THE GIRLS MAKWEME FOAM AT MY MOUTH AND IMPEDE MY ABILITY TO THINK VIA MY GIGANTIC LESBIANISM ALSO THIS IS THE BEST AND IM LOSING MY ENTIRE MIND AND ALSO ALSO THIS IS BEAR ILU IM SO HYPED FOR THIS ARC
>>
No. 926011 ID: 9dad72
926011

These are all REALLY good choices - I would love to see us fight Lamb, because even though she's labeled as the runt she is the biggest threat of death atm. That takes balls
>>
No. 926012 ID: 2e6ab7

Oh, I vote Sirloin! Hopefully it'll make us look like were ready to learn and up for a challenge, plus then we get the opportunity for a whole shonen training arc where we start off real cocky, fall on our ass miserably, then train a bunch and one day have a rematch and win!
Unrelated but god, Fractal, my poor gay heart over this update. You're killing me (thank you)
>>
No. 926013 ID: 7c1ffe

Lamb continues to be the biggest of gender hostile lesbian moods.

I vote Strip. She seems like she'll fight the most straightforward at least. Or Lam because we're in Vegas, might as well go high stakes all the way!
>>
No. 926014 ID: 9dad72

I'm leaning toward sparrin with either Sirloin (lots to learn from) or Lamb (more on our level but, also we've been indirectly challenged by the "she gets to kill you if she can" spiel). Rack looks like she'd knock us flat, I think she does genuinely want to know us but, that has no bearing on sparring power lol. Though she *does* seem to want us to succeed.

Do not engage Strip until we've seen what she can do. (But on the other hand, we can survive decapitating, it might be a good experience to have that happen at least once under training conditions so we know what it feels like)
>>
No. 926016 ID: 465a14

>>925966
Tangential, but VSL seems similar to ASL- that's the sign for better/best there.
>>
No. 926018 ID: 0f15ab

I’d say strip or sirloin, but leaning towards strip! She seems straightforward (not that any of them are straight hehe)
>>
No. 926019 ID: 0c42cf

oh hey — is it rude to ask what affinity everyone is before ricardo decides for real?
>>
No. 926020 ID: b54723

Rack looks like she'll beat us into an inch of our life but she'll be willing to let us live so let's just fight her. The other girls are a toss-up.

Lamb while she may be weaker has been at this more than we have and she looks like she's more than willing to kill us. We should fight her later I think.
>>
No. 926021 ID: a49030

ok yes, rack city bitch rack rack city bitch
>>
No. 926022 ID: bb78f2

Strip
>>
No. 926023 ID: 6cf958

I know Rack is the top fav, but based just on this intro, I think Sirloin is the best option. With her ego and teacher's pet tendencies she might want to show off so while we're getting taken apart we'll probably learn the most.

But also. I'm love Sirloin? so I'm biased
>>
No. 926027 ID: 328640

go with Strip! you have a tendency to make people that want to rip your head off... kind of tolerate you in the end
>>
No. 926028 ID: 02e2dc

fhfhdjhfhf it's like this arc was tailor made for me. cute girls that want to kick my ass sign me UP

anyway uhhhh it feels like we're going to get the floor wiped with us no matter who we pick so.... i'm gonna go with rack because she's cute and i want to see her rip us apart
>>
No. 926029 ID: 1fc2c7

oh my god im a lesbian. oh my god. oh my god

go with rack or sirloin, definitely! we're gonna get our blood smeared across the floor no matter what but they seem like they want to get to know us, and the least likely to go overboard on us. i do like the idea of choosing strip and trying to get her to slip up, but i've got a feeling kel trains them too well for us to do that in our current untrained state.

also, won't be relevant for a while, but next time we have downtime i think we should try to get to know lamb....i know she's not very open to conversation but my heart hurt for her when kel called her the runt :( ricardo knows what it's like to be an outcast, so i think they could be friends
>>
No. 926030 ID: 02e2dc

OH YEAH AND LETS LEARN VSL
>>
No. 926040 ID: b463f2

oh, I love them all, I love them all so much, and we absolutely need to learn VSL.

I'm vote Rack because, I love her the most and need to see more of her in action. Strip or Sirloin would also be good, and I'm love Lamb buuuuuuuut don't want to put death death on the line here.
>>
No. 926042 ID: aedfd9

I vote Strip. Unlike Lamb and Sirloin, she won't Literally Kill Us, plus it might be easy to manipulate her into making mistakes via smack talk. She seems to wear her emotions on her sleeve, unlike Rack. We already tripped up Minoru into underestimating us, and it's probably our best tactic until we stop being so hopelessly outmatched.
>>
No. 926045 ID: 67bd02

be overwhelmed with an immense appreciation for women
>>
No. 926046 ID: 67bd02

>>926045
also i think we should pick strip. rack seems like the easy choice to not get our ass beat but we held our own against minmin and bunji, two extremely experienced vampires, so we should be able to at least not lose instantly against one of the stronger ones. and we know strip won't hold back, either, so we can properly gauge how out of our league they are
>>
No. 926050 ID: 10c408

>>926046
We only won vs those two because they didn't expect how much tricky shit we could pull out of ass.

They were also drunk, and even then we had to stall them by making it WEIRD long enough for Ricardo to recover from turning into smoke.

This is a one on one bout with trained combat wards. We're not going to do much more than get picked apart when we run out of tricks that only work once.
>>
No. 926070 ID: 3e7944

Girls girls girls :hearteyes: I vote for Sirloin, cause a) im gay and want to see her fight and b) top of the class may give us a sense of what is taught in the class
>>
No. 926075 ID: f5cc0e

STRIP! STRIP! WE GOTTA FIGHT STRIP! WE NEED OUR HEAD POPPED OFF LIKE A MILK CAP, BITCH!! FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES OF COURSE!!
>>
No. 926083 ID: c8452a

>>926019
Probably less important if it's rude or not, for this group, and more important that we're kinda simulating ambushes from enemies. Our enemies wouldn't tell us, so maybe our allies won't either.
>>
No. 926101 ID: ee3259

I vote sirloin bc i love her x1000000 but, like marn asked, can we find out their affinities first or will they crap all over us for asking
>>
No. 926103 ID: ee3259

alex's note about the fact that enemies wouldn't tell us is good... if we don't ask Kel, does Pascal know any of their affinities? Maybe he'd be able to let Ricardo know before the fight or if he noticed them during the fight
>>
No. 926105 ID: 745f93

>>926000

Lamb's Good Girl Guilt seems to point more toward a stance of "exterminate as many of the evil monsters that I've become as possible, as penance to God for living as one," than a genuine hesitation to kill fellow vampires imho. I'd absolutely take the warning as literal, personally.

I think that Sirloin is the best pick here. It shows that you're not afraid of a genuine challenge--where else to gamble with high stakes, if not Vegas?--and why wouldn't you want to learn from the top of the class, right?

Not to mention that, as mentioned by others, Rack and Lamb seem very much like pitfalls to trip you up. Kel's snickering at Rack's friendly greeting seems like a hint, especially. You don't want to seem easily fooled (Rack's friendly kindness) or easily goaded (the implied challenge re: Lamb), after all.

Much as I'd love to see him fight one of the others, too, I'm thinking Sirloin is the best pick. But, I'd absolutely see if Kel will share information about their affinities first--although--to be honest, I doubt it. Enemies wouldn't tell you their affinities, just like they won't wait until you're well-rested, right?
>>
No. 926106 ID: c8452a

>>926105
Agreed about the literal warning. I don't think it was a challenge.
>>
No. 926125 ID: 1f20b4

I say Strip for no reason Ricardo will be able to appreciate.
>>
No. 926128 ID: caccde

Definitely Sirloin. Best of class, no potential psychout moves, and knowing what fake it til you make vampire confidence looks like never hurts
>>
No. 926135 ID: 3225aa

>>926105
oh youre right
i change my vote to sirloin
>>
No. 926138 ID: 465a14

I'll vote Sirloin.
>>
No. 926155 ID: e3a778

It almost seemed like Rack purposefully cut Kel off before we could be given any actual information on her. She’s definitely hiding something. Like others have said, we’re getting our asses kicked no matter who we choose, so I vote Rack out of curiosity.
>>
No. 926214 ID: 33ca78

I vote Sirloin
>>
No. 926294 ID: 98dd16

fight lamb or die trying.

it's a good way to die.
>>
No. 926299 ID: b1e435

>>926294
>>
No. 926418 ID: f62d1c

lamb, definitely

there's no way kel can give her that sort of intro and pass up on the chance to see why
>>
No. 926422 ID: 270774
File 155305831590.png - (155.14KB , 800x525 , 400.png )
926422

“I don’t suppose there’s any chance of me finding out what everybody’s affinities are first?” Ricardo ventures.

“Absolutely not,” says Kel.

“Okay. Figures. Uh… I definitely am interested in learning VSL,” Ricardo says; and when he does Sirloin squints at him a little and then taps Strip’s arm, and Strip quickly signs something for her. Clarification, he assumes, if she was trying to read his lips and didn’t catch all of it, but that’s just speculation. Either way, Sirloin gives him a little smile that seems genuine, if a bit detached. “But, uh,” he continues, “for now… Rack. Why don’t we get to know each other?”

“Yes,” Rack hisses, bouncing on the spot. “Yes, yes, yes!”

“Coward,” Strip spits. Sirloin signs something at her and she scoffs. “I’m not being a bitch.”

“You’re bein’ a bitch,” Rack chimes in. She’s already starting to limber up, cycling through stretches that seem routine to her; the other wards are filing towards an open doorway in the far wall, one that presumably leads to a staircase up to the mezzanine ringing the walls of the ballroom.

“Pascal,” Kel calls. Pascal looks up quizzically. “Come on, you’re joining us up here. No backup. This is for Ribeye, by himself.”

“Oh, bah,” Pascal mutters, under his breath. He relents, though, taking Ricardo’s jacket off his shoulders before turning away. “Good luck, Ricardo! You, euhhh… you’ll do…” He tilts his head as he folds the jacket over his arm. “Well, you won’t die, I don’t think. I will cheer for you!”
>>
No. 926423 ID: 270774
File 155305832765.png - (110.13KB , 800x525 , 401.png )
926423

Soon enough, Rack and Ricardo are left alone on the ballroom floor as the others all find a spot leaning against the railings of the upper level.

“This is a friendly spar,” Kel yells out. Her voice echoes just a little, bounding off the polished parquet and the paneled walls. “For training purposes, got it? It stops when somebody surrenders or can’t fight anymore.”

“If you surrender, you don’t belong here,” Strip adds, in a snarl.

Kel leans back, one hand still gripping the railing. “True enough. Anyway, try not to kill each other, yeah?”

And with that, Ricardo assumes, the match has officially begun.
>>
No. 926424 ID: 270774
File 155305834090.png - (80.32KB , 800x525 , 402.png )
926424

“I guess I should tell you a little bit about myself,” Rack says.

Ricardo blinks. He’d already started sinking into a combat stance, and now he doesn’t know whether to relax or not. Probably better not.

She’s still stretching, idly, bending from one side to the other. “I’ll tell you my real name when I get it back from Kel, so for now Rack is it. I could never decide whether I wanted to be an actress or a fashion designer or a doctor, so I became a vampire to give myself time to do everything I want to.” She finally seems to finish stretching and straightens up again, shaking her hands out. “I’m single right now, and I’m a Libra. My favorite movie is Jawbreaker. Umm… I think that’s a good start, right, Ribeye?”

“Uh,” says Ricardo. He’s still half-crouching. “Okay.”

“The thing is I don’t really need you to tell me anything about yourself,” Rack continues. She’s started walking towards him, at a leisurely pace, and Ricardo instinctively walks backwards to maintain the distance. “I already know you pretty well.”

Ricardo furrows his brow — at least, a little deeper than it was already furrowed. “You don’t know anything about me.”
>>
No. 926425 ID: 270774
File 155305835481.png - (124.55KB , 800x525 , 403.png )
926425

https://open.spotify.com/track/1YxYWZv2wZL1oXjS53tVe7?si=_znUEjOXS6WYDIYiiWRtpQ

“Sure I do. You’re the kind of guy who doesn’t have any friends.” Rack’s smiling. Her eyes are wide. “Before all this, you worked a lot of different jobs, but you didn’t like any of them. When it was time to move on, you put in your two weeks and didn’t tell anybody but your managers. You always left without any of your coworkers even having your number.”

Ricardo’s getting close to the wall. More alarmingly, Rack’s assessment is accurate. That doesn’t mean anything, though. It can’t mean anything.

“You’re the kind of person who doesn’t make an impact on anybody’s life,” Rack continues brightly. “You’re furniture. You’re kind of a background character. People want to know more about you, but not bad enough to actually ask.”

“What are you talking about,” Ricardo hisses.

“Are you not into this topic? Some people don’t like to talk about themselves.” She claps her hands, once, softly. “Okay! Let’s change the subject. Your mom’s name is Andressa Castro, but she goes by Andy.”
>>
No. 926426 ID: 270774
File 155305836676.png - (85.26KB , 800x525 , 404.png )
926426

What?

“She drives a blue Toyota,” says Rack. Ricardo’s chest is tight. Is this panic? Is this what real panic feels like? “There’s a dent in the back left bumper, like she got rear-ended or something, and she still hasn’t gotten it fixed.”

Ricardo knows he doesn’t have to breathe, so he tries not to, because every inhale is ice cold. His head is pounding.

“She’s a general contractor, and when she gets home from work every night she has a scotch and water.”
>>
No. 926427 ID: 270774
File 155305837711.png - (119.56KB , 800x525 , 405.png )
926427

“Stop it,” Ricardo rasps. He’s thinking about his mom’s car, about the dent, about the stain on the back seat from when a can in the groceries exploded while he was sitting next to it. He’s thinking about the time they couldn’t find it in the parking lot after a day at fucking Six Flags and thought it had been stolen, but they were just remembering the wrong row. He’s thinking about his mom standing in front of the kitchen window with a glass of scotch in her hand. “What did you do —”

“Whoa, you okay?” Rack leans forward, frowning. “You don’t look so good!”
>>
No. 926431 ID: c8452a

Oh shit, she's a psychic. A mind-reader of some persuasion. It might also be effecting his emotions unnaturally. Not sure how to combat that, try thinking of brick walls or just trying to physically stay calm. Staying composed while also fighting is the best suggestion I have.

Possibly, Rack just did serious research but I doubt it.
>>
No. 926433 ID: 7e9c89

uh. i think if she leans in to ask if we're ok any further she is going to hit us so BACK UP...... if she's a psychic, i guess try to clear yourmind as much as possible before anything else?? either attack first, or tell her something else about you. she's not wrong, but you're not that anymore! you don't have to be
>>
No. 926434 ID: c1eaac

OK so rack has a psychic affinity, clearly. my other predictions that i'm gonna put here for posterity (based on what minmin said about the different personality types) are:

strip - power
sirloin - shifter
lamb - either psychic or specialist

that said, let's uhhhh focus on not giving rack the time or means to talk, since her affinity pretty clearly has some verbal component. give her an elbow or a knee to the jaw asap. will turning into mist clear ricardo's head maybe? esp if this also has to do with eye contact?
>>
No. 926435 ID: 70df1e

vampires heal fast right? like, really fast? just fuck up your own ears real quick. it'll hurt to pop your eardrums but the pain is temporary and rack cant use her powers on you if you cant hear her.

plus doing something so drastic will probably impress kel and the rest
>>
No. 926436 ID: 67bd02

god damn it i TOLD yall. she's a hypnotist and she's trying to get us in a state of panic so that she can manipulate us with her weirdass powers. let's just rush her, but even that's probably a trap so get ready to shift into something fast
>>
No. 926437 ID: c1eaac

>>926435

oh wait yeah i second this. pop your eardrums ricardo, they'll definitely heal. just shove your pinkies in there real hard and go for it.
>>
No. 926438 ID: cfe8e9

GROUND YOURSELF. you're here and now, your ma isn't here, rack can't hurt her while you're duelling with her. she's safe, and you're in a duel, and you need to fight back.

take just a moment to steady yourself, then launch into a CAREFUL physical attack. she's counting on you to be too rattled to think about what you're doing. focus very, very hard on how you're attacking and defending, and keep a very close eye on what she's doing.
>>
No. 926439 ID: 81586f

Yeah she's trying to fuck with us. What she's looking at (Since she IS probably looking at our memories) is none of her business, so why should she care at this moment other than to mess with us?

Sock her in the mouth, because frankly she shouldn't be standing around talking about business that isn't hers in a fight, she should be swinging punches and maybe talking some trasn. She isn't taking us seriously enough if she feels safe opening up with that. Let's make her take us seriously.
>>
No. 926440 ID: cfe8e9

>>926435
POP YOUR EARDRUMS IT'S FOR THE GREATER GOOD
>>
No. 926442 ID: 6ce5eb

OH SHIT i am, unfortunately, definitely with the eardrum mutilation. even if she isn’t unnaturally imposing panic onto ricardo, it’s obviously getting under his skin either way (good boy guilt?), and it’ll hurt like a bitch, but if we can shift our nails and pierce them, it might. be good??
>>
No. 926443 ID: c8452a

>>926435
Fuck, that's awful, I hate that image in my head. Also great idea, you're probably right, and he should definitely do this.

Just try calming down first and if it doesn't work, pop the ear drums.
>>
No. 926444 ID: 2b310f

INTERESTING

I love her, she's gonna smash us.

My guess is that she can tell things from when we were human. Pascal mentioned that his hypnotism doesn't work on vampires (he specifically says it only works on humans) and I would think there are similar restrictions on other psychic affinities.

But we can absolutely use the fact that she's only talking about Ricardo's past to our advantage: shit has changed, we're a vampire now. We've had some really good sex and everything!

Talk to her about more of your past. Talk about the failed relationships and bad sex. Own your past. It's the past and who gives a fuck. You've got a whole lot of future to go yet.

As you talk, pretend not to notice you're backed up against the wall, then when she goes for you: smoke, just for a second to get behind her, then come back with cougar claws.

Also maybe tell her you know someone she might like— he's into horoscopes, too.
>>
No. 926445 ID: 14e641

Stay the fuck away from her! Don't let her get close. She's reading you. If Pascal can hypnotize and see the future its obviously a thing she can grab memories. She dosent actually know your mom.
Worst case scenario you smoke shift to get away from her, but not for long and not a lot. Your claws are your best weapons but it seems like she's a mind game fighter so you have to keep it together and you might actually have a chance, but its going to be hard.
>>
No. 926446 ID: 2e6ab6

HOKAY. So she's psychic or specialist. Playing the odds says she's Psychic, so here's my personal take. 1. She's probably skimming subconscious or long-term memories here, so a mental screen will likely only be so effective. To play it safe, minimize eye contact and try to keep your thoughts relatively simple. Don't give her enough to read your strategy. As for actual actions, I'd say rush her immediately. If she moves to block or retaliate, turn into mist, breeze past her, re-solidify, and strike from behind. Go for the spine. When it's hard to kill an opponent, disabling them is the next best option. Either go for the lower spine to take out mobility, or go for the base of the skull to take out all movement, attack, and defense. If she doesn't block or retaliate, go for the throat to shut her up, or just try to punch a hole through her skull and end the fight there. Either way, moving fast and not letting her psyche you out is the best strategy I can see. Fight on your instincts, but don't be dumb.
>>
No. 926448 ID: 6f764d

Alright, Ricardo, you're in a duel and she's using her powers to psyche you out. Stop listening to her. First earworm that comes to mind, start whistling or humming it. Then you get to fighting. Don't plan out your moves; she'll just read them right off you. Just move completely on instinct.
>>
No. 926449 ID: 3e7944

Oh boy this is so exciting, i love her so much. Im honestly so intimidated by this.

I feel like charging her, try to stop her from talking might be the best option? but idk if she will see that coming either from like premonition or just like knowing how to get a rise out of us? but i cant really think of anything else right now.

Also i miss our mom now :(
>>
No. 926451 ID: b1b4f3

>>926427
Go aggro. Immediately. She's a psychic affinity, she's reading your mind and picking at your strongest memories, to distract you.
You might not be able to stop remembering things but you need to learn to fight through distraction anyway.

Ricardo deafening himself is a good idea but I'm not sure he can just shove his fingers in there. Earholes are small, he'd need a pencil or something. If he claps his hands against his ears really hard he might be able to get them ringing though? Or if the pressure wave is strong enough that might burst his eardrums just like that.
...what about claws, by shifting his hands? Would those be long and thin enough?
>>
No. 926452 ID: c8452a

>>926451
Yeah, he can definitely shift his fingers for that.
>>
No. 926453 ID: ce9ee8

>>926446
yes to all of this! smokescreening her and going for her spine is a good plan. also you rupturing your eardrums would be metal as fuck and i don't think anyone would expect you to do that. it seems like mutilating yourself to win a fight is a bathory thing (see: minmin losing his shit when pascal lopped his arm off) but DO IT cuz it will be cool as hell. or at the very least it will be surprising. avoid eye contact to be safe but don't actually look away from rack, aim higher or lower than her eyes, like her hair or her chin.
>>
No. 926454 ID: 094652

Think "Naughty Schizophrenia" - keep your thoughts hidden by all that porno and switch your strategy every 5 seconds!
>>
No. 926455 ID: aedfd9

Start thinking lots of misinformation! Picture yourself living in the wrong kind of house, wrong kind of pet, wrong kind of second parental history... see if you can trip her up!

For physical fighting, turning into mist might help? It'd help you hide your fear, at least, and maybe you could try to suffocate her or sthg?

Also.... maybe at some point, Ricardo should call his mom. I bet she's worried about him. She seems nice.
>>
No. 926456 ID: aedfd9

Oh shit, I definitely second everyone who's saying eardrum mutilation. Fursona shift your cat paws and scratch it up in there, Kel will love it (and Pascal will be impressed too)
>>
No. 926458 ID: 10c408

I knew we should have fought Sirloin. At best, this stunt means that Rack is testing our mettle with good intentions and terrible consequence.

That said she's probably going to attack you at some point. See if thinking about grabbing Rack and throwing her at the nearest wall causes any kind of reaction while you start to close the gap.

and for god's sake TUNE HER OUT.
>>
No. 926459 ID: 4328b4

I think that the eardrum rupturing, while it might work, is a really bad idea. We told Pascal off for the stunt with his arm in the duel with minmin and bunji, I don't want to pull the same shit here. Not while we have other options, at least. And the worst that can happen here is we eat shit and lose and learn that okay maybe in the face of this stuff we do take the extreme option at the first opportunity.

Idk, the eardrum thing just seems too extreme for this particular fight.
>>
No. 926463 ID: 489abb

yeah i definitely agree with the 'we JUST told pascal off for doing this shit we probably shouldn't IMMEDIATELY do the same thing the first time we get into a fight' also i think it's a bad idea to pop your own eardrums bc i suspect you'll NEED TO HEAR especially if she's fast and might misdirect you/psych you out/outrun you. I don't actually remember how psychic things work but would it be possible to start thinking of naked pascal. also despite how unnerving this is i honestly doubt she's going to go directly for ricardo's mom, which is probably the fear she's banking on. unless this is part of a lengthy 'this is how kel finds out about ricardo's mom and marries her' plot but like i don't think that's how she's trying to psych him out.
...anyway my point is i don't think self-mutilation is going to impress pascal. back up, yeah, i don't know if she's going to hit us but i HIGHLY suspect there's an eye component to it; what she may do is the whole. grab by the chin + make ricardo look into her eyes and when she does THAT i think we're dead. (ALSO UH. DON'T TAKE YOUR EYES ENTIRELY OFF HER BUT MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT /RIGHT UP AGAINST THE WALL ALREADY/ SO WHEN WE TRY TO BACK UP WE RUN INTO IT WITHOUT EXPECTING)
>>
No. 926468 ID: fde9cb

>>926435
damn, spoken like a true heir of House Bathory. but remember!! ears are also used for balance! assuming vampire bodies still work like that, we rupture our eardrums and we'll just fall over. everybody will laugh at us. keep this as a last resort if there's no other way to get Rack out of our head.

instead focus as hard as you can on this moment:
>>900632
(can i do that? link posts from other threads? i ope so) just after you killed Jacket Guy. focus on Pascal's fingers in your hair. on how grounding they were, how calming. Push Rack and your mother out.

soon as you feel you can, go on the offensive, full speed. don't give her time to play her mind games
>>
No. 926469 ID: fde9cb

>>926468
oh also ruptured ear drums take 2-3 months to heal, which in vampire healing terms is still probably an decently long time. it might impede performance in this fight but it would also be a great led-in to learning VSL
>>
No. 926477 ID: 779fa0

she probably expects some kind of rush attack honestly - isnt "make your opponent angry by getting personal to make them do some dumb shit" trick number one? and who knows how helpful thinking of something else will be, i doubt she read what was going on in ricardos head at the current time, his ma probably wouldnt be floating around in his head at the start of a spar, so it might just be distracting, or he could pop a boner thinking about pascal at a really inopportune time.. ( OR - it would work like that one tumblr post where the guy was really good at wrestling because hed watch hardcore porn before a match without any release, however, maybe dont do that). anyway, don't pop your eardrums. balance is important, and the pain might be distracting too. it's an impulsive overreaction, especially regarding that you JUST told pascal that that shit is no good. try to calm yourself in an undistracting way, counting with your breathing, maybe. expect a surprise attack. keep on your toes and be on the defense
>>
No. 926478 ID: 744ec0

truly we are a fitting heir to the house of bathory, good god

anyway, idk about the eardrum thing (but then again, why the fuck not?) but what you gotta do is channel in your spite. spite is an energy - spite will keep you alive. she thinks she can psyche us out? she thinks it will demoralize us, makes us weak? motherfucker, we walked into pascal's lair demanding he kill us in combat, thats the kind of guy we are! we dont give up. we dont take the easy way out. we have our motherfucking SPITE to rely on when we have NOTHING ELSE - so fight her, fuckhead!
>>
No. 926482 ID: 23dc9d

I don't have much more to add but a good alternative to popping the ears is just shifting them away. I mean that will also probably take up less blood and energy to do too if we are going down that route.
>>
No. 926483 ID: 23dc9d

>>926482

ACTUALLY HOLD ON I TAKE THIS ONE BACK I forgot vampires can technically communicate by a form of telepathy if absolutely necessary, so doing anything to our eardrums will probalby not be a great idea. We should think of a different route.
>>
No. 926488 ID: 2791fd

we're fucked. i have no suggestions
>>
No. 926490 ID: 0f15ab

Yall lets not do anything to ricardos ears. He needs those. Just try to calm down, and i think what someone said about avoiding eye contact might be a good idea?
>>
No. 926491 ID: 5447fc

Agreeing that eardrum-popping is probably NOT a good idea, use your finesse and smarts, not self-mutilation--that's clearly an encouraged behavior with Bathories and these folks do notttt seem like they'd be impressed with that. Maybe stuff something else in your ears to dampen her voice but first and foremost, focus on her, sing a song in your head, think of your undead boner, dont let her rattle you!!
>>
No. 926492 ID: 23dc9d

Now I'm going to try to actually suggest something, but I do want to say that she is not exactly accessing our brain or thoughts, but our memories and it seems to be only our memories from before we were a vampire, so thinking about something else won't stop her from accessing these (though they will distract us)

I think the key here is the eye contact. Pascal uses eye contact to work his hypnosis on humans, so it makes sense that eye contact is what is allowing her to access our memories as a human. Cut off eye contact before either attacking or becoming fog to dodge an attack.
>>
No. 926493 ID: c8452a

>>926482
Oh. Right. I'll switch to that idea.
>>
No. 926497 ID: b463f2

yeahhhhhhh, I'm super against the popping own eardrums or otherwise trying to obscure our hearing. sure, it'd be hardcore, but we don't even know if Rack's power *is* auditory, and we just told Pascal off for recklessly hurting himself for a duel, and that was one with some relatively big stakes - this one doesn't have any, other than proving our mettle.

take a deep breath, and ground yourself in the present Ricardo - you're not human anymore, and you're training to protect yourself and Pascal. Remember that while you're a relatively inexperienced vampire, you grew up fighting, and have a lot of knowledge and experience from that that can be pulled for this situation. Try to get in some solid blows, and remember you have your shapeshifting to rely on as well.

Let's impress them with our versatility and resilience!
>>
No. 926498 ID: 6cf958

What's the catchiest, most annoying song you can think of, that gets stuck in your head every time? Think of that. Let it play on a loop in your brain. Then turn your hands into claws and fucking rush her
>>
No. 926503 ID: 9fcd43

I'm voting to save the eardrums until absolutely necessary; try to fuck up her mouth first. Focus on grounding memories like people have been saying, keep your cool.

Also call your mom once this is over jfc
>>
No. 926519 ID: 02e2dc

pop your eardrums with... your vampire claws? and go for the kill

in all seriousness though we don't know if rack's power is actually auditory or if she's telepathic so let's forego doing that for now and just... try and stay calm? she clearly knows how to psych people out. maybe you can get at her while she's caught up in rattling off facts about your mom
>>
No. 926520 ID: bb78f2

Focus Ricardo. That information doesn't matter. Just come back to the real world and watch her, she could try decapitating you right now.

Pretend you're being affected and keep watching her moves. She isn't reading your mind, maybe she's reading your past mind and what/who it's attached to. Psychic affinities aren't supposed to affect vamps much so there's other explanations for her past access.
>>
No. 926529 ID: b1b4f3

>>926497
Popping your own eardrums is a lot less extreme than lopping off your own arm.
Also this is training for a life or death situation, not a duel where death (probably) isn't on the line. These two differences would likely have Ricardo singing a different tune if Pascal did it in this situation.
>>
No. 926532 ID: 4250a6

since it seems to only be human memories like others said, anything she can find out is gonna be outdated at best. knowing this stuff about you or knowing about your mom doesn’t actually give her any advantage in a fight as long as you don’t let it psyche you out. think of it like, so what she can read your 5 years out of date brain facebook page and can list some facts about you and your mom. surprising to hear, but not actually relevant to a Fight, so try and chill and not care what she knows. don’t let it surprise you again going forward if she knows something, now that she’s revealed this trick. remind yourself it doesn’t really matter for the fight if she knows all the Ricardo Life Trivia- aside from using your general temperment to predict your fighting style, but anyone with good intuition could gather that same info just by interacting with you.

definitely avoid eye contact to try and break the connection, though. a great way to avoid eye contact thoroughly might be to to go for Her eyes with claws and see if that works. wreck one of her senses rather than your own.

maybe try acting like you’re freezing up in shock or don’t understand what she’s doing, while actually calming down and letting her get closer, then try catch her off guard and get the eyes?
>>
No. 926533 ID: c8452a

>>926529
Also, the suggestion that he could instead shapeshift his ears away makes a lot of sense.
>>
No. 926544 ID: 8ca664

Popping your eardrums would be metal as fuck but probably not a great idea since we don't know how rack's power works yet. I'm seconding avoiding eye contact and thinking misinformation. She's probably expecting us to fly at her so maybe keep your distance but be ready to attack.
>>
No. 926545 ID: ded7a1

GOD THIS IS SO COOL SHES SO COOL???? RACK
anyway i think the whole rupturing ur eardrums idea, while it'd be cool and exciting, is probably not a good first reaction esp since she could probably still get to us thru vampire telepathy. ricardo should just try to ground himself, calm down and focus on what she's immediately doing and don't let her get too close yet
>>
No. 926568 ID: 8eaaff

>>926529
Is it really less extreme though??

"This vampire I don't know the capabilities of seems to be good at talking so I'mma just get rid of one of my senses so I might be immune."

Sounds pretty dang extreme to me, js.

And losing the previous duel would have meant cradle breathing down our necks immediately losing would have been really bad. Still not worth self-mutilation over.

Here we have a chance to learn what we need to jump to extremes for and what we don't. This could be one of those things! But trying shit out in a situation where the only real consequence is embarrassing ourselves so hard Pascal no longer wants to fuck is the smart thing to do.

Anyway, reiterating my earlier non-self-mutilation plan: talk back, take away her power by owning your shit, then when she makes a move go to smoke form, solidify behind her immediately and take a swing with cougar claws.
>>
No. 926599 ID: 270774
File 155315179457.png - (108.34KB , 800x525 , 406.png )
926599

Ricardo doesn’t want to fucking hear it. He doesn’t want to listen to this shit anymore. He grits his teeth, raising his hands up to ear level, and shifts long, wicked claws on each forefinger —

“Ricardo!”
>>
No. 926600 ID: 270774
File 155315181098.png - (114.05KB , 800x525 , 407.png )
926600

He looks up, startled, to find Pascal leaning over the railing. He looks livid.

“Shut up,” says Ricardo. It comes out a little limp.

“Do not do that!” Pascal shouts. “What is this? I can not remove my arm, but you can do as you like? Hm?!”

“I — she — I’m stressed out,” says Ricardo. “She’s stressing me out. And I’m a grown man. I can claw out my eardrums if I want to.”

“He’s a Bathory after all,” Kel muses. “I guess it’s just in the blood.”

“You are such a stupid — Ricardo, look out!”

Ricardo’s attention snaps back to Rack just in time — her hand hits the wall hard enough to splinter the paneling, and Ricardo ducks under her arm to get back to the open space of the ballroom floor, rattled by the close call.
>>
No. 926601 ID: 270774
File 155315183005.png - (158.95KB , 800x525 , 408.png )
926601

He can hear Kel berating Pascal as he gets his bearings again, insisting on no further interference, and he tries to steady his breathing and focus. His thoughts are scattered, but he’s doing his best to put them back in order.

Pascal said psychic abilities couldn’t be used on other vampires, but it seems obvious that she’s accessing his memories somehow. Only ones from when he was alive, though — maybe that’s the loophole?

At the end of the day, the only way to figure out how her power works is to try and chip away at it. Ricardo takes a quick breath, one short inhale, and charges.

He tries thinking about a different attack, a kind of mental feint, but she doesn’t react; he thinks to himself, preemptively, that if something goes wrong, he has to be ready to shift into smoke and get behind her —
>>
No. 926602 ID: 270774
Audio rack1.mp3 - (3.96MB )
926602

lamborghini meltdown - DEMON QUEEN
>>
No. 926603 ID: 270774
File 155315186665.png - (84.01KB , 800x525 , 409.png )
926603

Something
>>
No. 926604 ID: 270774
File 155315187727.png - (87.43KB , 800x525 , 410.png )
926604

goes wrong.
>>
No. 926605 ID: 270774
File 155315189475.png - (107.04KB , 800x525 , 411.png )
926605

“Ricardo, what are you doing?!”
>>
No. 926606 ID: 270774
File 155315190570.png - (141.42KB , 800x525 , 412.png )
926606

Ricardo stops cold, flinching back in horror —
>>
No. 926607 ID: 270774
File 155315192305.png - (91.44KB , 800x525 , 413.png )
926607

And in that second of hesitation his mother knees him in the stomach. The impact itself seems to happen in slow motion, and then time speeds up again as he hits the floor and tumbles. He hears whooping and laughter from the balcony, and a wavering gasp that he thinks must be Pascal, and the buzzing of the lights overhead, and then he hears his mother’s voice.
>>
No. 926608 ID: 270774
File 155315194123.png - (87.16KB , 800x525 , 414.png )
926608

“Did you see his face?” his mother yells. Ricardo is struggling back to his feet, wincing as his ribs slowly knit back together. He hasn’t fed in days. “He’s a mama’s boy! I knew it! He’s totally a mama’s boy!”

Ricardo squints across the ballroom at where his mother is standing. This is solid. It’s not an illusion. She stands the way his mother always does, and even though the way she was just talking was all wrong, that’s her voice. His chest hurts and it’s more than the injury. It’s been five years since he’s heard her voice.

“Aw, hey, Ribeye.” His mother cocks her head to the side, grinning. “What’s up? Yeah, it turns out I’m a shifter.”

“You —” Ricardo finally manages to straighten up again. He’s trying to stay calm, trying to ground himself — he has a terrible urge to look at her face, and a terrible understanding that if he does, he’ll break down. “You can’t be. You — how did you know all —”

“All that dumb shit about you and your mom, blah blah. What, you thought I was a specialist or something? Okay, I’ll admit I definitely angle for that.” She’s getting closer. Ricardo is backing up again. He keeps his eyes down, but — god, that’s even his mother’s fucking belt buckle — “You guys took half a week to get here,” says his mother, “but L.A. is an hour flight from here.”

Ricardo staggers. His mother jumps on the opportunity, lunging forward to strike at him with her right hand, and he just barely manages to stumble out of the way. “What did you do.” His voice is a hollow scrape. “If you fucking touched her —”

“Oh, come on. I’m one of the good guys, remember? We just talked.” Those are his mother’s good leather shoes, clicking against the polished wood. “Tracking her down was super depressing, though. There was like, barely any news coverage of your disappearance, you know.”

This is not how his mother talks. This is not how his mother moves. This is not how his mother smiles. But it’s how she sounds, and how she looks, and Ricardo is struggling to hold himself together. “The cops totally brushed her off, and she ended up the only one looking for you, really,” she continues. “I told her I knew you from work. Did you know that’s all you really have to say? ‘From work,’ and you don’t have to elaborate. People never ask for more. And we got coffee, and I acted all upset, you know, since we were such good friends and everything.”
>>
No. 926609 ID: 270774
File 155315195905.png - (69.32KB , 800x525 , 415.png )
926609

Looking for you. Ricardo doesn’t even know what he’s doing anymore, besides blindly walking away from his mother’s leisurely steps forward. Your disappearance. He’s watching her legs, never letting his eyes rise higher than that, because he doesn’t know what will happen if he accidentally looks her in the eye.

“She’s one tough broad,” says his mother, conversationally. “You know that? The whole time, kept comforting me, like I wasn’t some rando, and her the one who had actually lost a son. Kept telling me she was sure you were still alive, and that you’d come home safe. She had all these examples ready of people who like, went missing for ten years and then showed up again safe and sound, memorized.”

Ricardo can’t take much more of this.

“But I could see it in her eyes,” his mother says. “The whole time. She knows you’re dead.”
>>
No. 926610 ID: 270774
File 155315197770.png - (70.56KB , 800x525 , 416.png )
926610

That’s the breaking point.

He can’t listen to any more of this. His heart is already straining under the weight, an overburdened beam. He launches forward, at the doppelgänger, at the grinning face of his not-mother —

But at the last second the grin collapses into shock and fear, and his mother gasps and flinches, and Ricardo stops his own momentum so violently that when his mother’s fist connects with his ribs he’s already half-twisted in the direction the blow sends him.

He can’t do it. He can’t.

Just thinking “it’s not really her” isn’t enough. He knows that, but it doesn’t matter when it comes time to actually hurt her. His body rebels against it on a level that feels molecular.

“Wow, for real?” his mother calls. Ricardo is panting against the polished floor. There’s distant laughter again, somewhere way above his head and out of his eyeline. “You practically threw yourself across the room for me. You seriously can’t even think about hitting your mommy, huh?”
>>
No. 926613 ID: 70df1e

really mad at ribeye lads i think its time to start shifting. first things first we NEED to seperate ribeye from ricardo's mom in some way, physically or mentally.

we can't hit her because she looks and sounds like our mom. we can't stop that without putting ourselves at a serious disadvantage - so lets shift into something where we wouldn't recognize her by sound or sight.

I know we can shift into a puma, which I think would do the trick? Her face is way up high, and we absolutely see/hear things different as a cat. do the whole shift and go for the legs. do NOT look at her face. aim for everwhere but the face - she is NOT your mom.
>>
No. 926614 ID: 9fcd43

Ricardo don't listen to her there's nothing wrong with being a good boy who loves his mama

(I will say again though FUCKING CALL YOUR MOTHER FOR GOD'S SAKE)
>>
No. 926615 ID: c1eaac

>>926613

seconding puma shift so we won't have to look her in the eye! also it might be easier to let Big Cat Instincts take over for us if we're, you know, a big cat.

anyway after this is over, call your fucking mom ricardo
>>
No. 926616 ID: 4328b4

Focus on how she's getting it wrong, focus on how your mother would never hurt you (apart from maybe a cuff around the ear), and sweep her feet out from under her. Don't aim to hurt her, aim to pin her, trap her. That's not a tactic which will work long or well, but something's better than nothing.
>>
No. 926617 ID: 7e9c89

blinding yrself like what you were gonna do w ur eardrums is SSSSUPER not an option even if pascal hadn't scolded you, uh. uh. what the fukc. what the fukc. if you can't hit her, shift into smoke the next time she comes near you -- she's gotta have a time limit on her shifting too, right?? if you can last it out we can get in at least one hit? maybe?
>>
No. 926618 ID: 81586f

Look Ricardo...you gotta do it. You gotta hit your mom. This is a vampire going easy on you or at least not trying to kill you--imagine if this person was actually trying to kill you and doing this. It's tough but--you gotta do it. You gotta hit your mom. Telling yourself she's not real may or may not help, but if Pascal won't let you mutilate your own ears, you need to power through this. I don't like saying it, but you gotta be a bad boy. Because you're going to have to be a bad boy in the future for both yours and Pascal's sake.

Be a bad boy for Pascal. If Pascal didn't believe in you, he'd probably be okay with you doing it. He wouldn't have probably liked it, but if it you had to, you had to. But Pascal thinks differently about you. He knows you can do this, because he believes in you!
>>
No. 926619 ID: 8ca664

we gotta knock her off her feet and shift into smoke, a puma, something
>>
No. 926620 ID: c1eaac

>>926615

wait a second, actually...you got a phone on you ricardo? call your mom right now. in the middle of the fight. hearing her actually speak words to you might help the cognitive dissonance
>>
No. 926621 ID: 2e6ab6

This is gonna sound harsh as shit, but I don't think we can gimmick our way out of this one. You need to compartmentalize right now, because who fucking knows how long Kel is going to let this go on for. Put the emotions away, and deal with the situation. This is a fight. Fight to kill or disable. Deal with the GBG later. That is not your mother, and even if it was, it doesn't matter. It's a threat. Threats have to be eliminated or nullified. You cannot afford to have existential crises in the middle of combat. Or you'll die. This is the world you get to live in now. And you have to deal with that later, too. Breathe. Focus. Move on. No hesitation. No mercy. Because you can't afford either right now. You'll have plenty of time to break down in the hotel room. But not. Here.
>>
No. 926626 ID: 9f39fb

Okay, listen. I know we're not allowed to pop our eardrums, but can we just, shift our whole ear away for a bit. Would that work?
>>
No. 926629 ID: da040a

Yeah this is where you access your murderous rage. And fight with your eyes closed, maybe, or BIG CAT BIG CAT BIG CAT
>>
No. 926631 ID: d6551e

now is the perfect time to become ricardo’s fursona
>>
No. 926632 ID: b1b4f3

Ricardo, you know how shifting works. She can't keep it up forever. Also, pay attention, she's only countering your attacks. Stop trying to hit your mother, instead you should go on the defensive. Wait for her to run out of shift-juice, then you can attack.

The road to victory is not to overcome your emotions, you tried that and you can't do it. The road to victory is to render your emotions meaningless. Don't get yourself into a situation where they matter.
>>
No. 926634 ID: 9f39fb

>>926632
Oh I second this, yeah! Full offensive isn't always the best strategy.
>>
No. 926635 ID: 9fcd43

I'm not sure being a puma would actually help, cool as it would be - maybe just close your eyes and try to navigate by sound? You could do a partial shift if you think that would help make your senses sharper.
>>
No. 926636 ID: cfe8e9

take your shirt off, throw it around her head so you can't see her face and she can't see you, and get to kicking her ass. it's clear now the problem is outside of you. plus, getting a shirt thrown at her will probably distract rack or at least throw her off a little
>>
No. 926638 ID: fde9cb

what if we shifted into Kel? see if we can turn it around on her with the whole 'most beloved General' devotion they have. it won't hit her nearly as hard as it does us, but it might throw her for a loop enough to try something. best case scenario it surprises her enough that she unshifts, but even if it doesn't it could buy us long enough to steel our resolve or figure something else out.
>>
No. 926640 ID: c8452a

>>926632
Yeah, start baiting her out and countering her.

Hmph, Kel talks about being a Bathory, but Rack's the one toying with Ricardo. I'm really starting to want to see what a Bathory can do to their opponent in return.
>>
No. 926642 ID: 10c408

>>926640
Probably intentionally take normally fatal hits black knight style and then cripple their opponent due to being insanely hard to kill.
>>
No. 926643 ID: c8452a

>>926642
I was mostly referring to their tendency to torture opponents in ways that don't officially end matches.
>>
No. 926644 ID: af4811

Okay. Okay.

She's trained so her shifts probably last longer. How long can you hold the shape of a different person? It's not like smoke so it'll probably be for a bit.

Go on the defensive, and shift into each of the other Gallowglass vamps, and see if any of them throw her off. We're learning more about each other, so let's see who she doesn't want to hit as much.

If that doesn't work: just go for the legs or arms or something, I support the face covering tactics.
>>
No. 926646 ID: 7bee8c

>>926632
i agree, we need to stall until she has to shift out, although its true that it will likely be a while since she's been training for much longer
try to think of and ask about something that only you and your mom would know. the fact that rack wont be able to answer correctly might be enough to overcome some of the emotional barrier
>>
No. 926652 ID: aedfd9

Dude you gotta forfeit, there is no fucking way we can win this. There's literally no way. We can't hit our mom. (And like... if the purpose of this fight is to make us tougher and more jaded... do we wanna be a jaded person who hits our mom? No!)

And we gotta call her later. Bring her to Vegas! She'll be safe at the hotel!
>>
No. 926661 ID: 2e6ab6

I don't think shifting into Kel or any of her wards is going to help. Do you think that haven't fought each other? Haven't beat the shit out of each other? Hell, given the way Kel talks, Lamb's probably *killed* a fellow ward before. The way I see it, there are three choices.1: Convince yourself that this really isn't your mom, then fight as usual. 2: Compartmentalize and deal with the emotional side of things later. Or 3:... Forfeit. Because if you can't get over this hump? You're never going to win this fight. Or any fight where the opponent can rattle you.


If it helps with path one at all, you know your mom would never do this kind of shit, right? This is just a fucked up trick to try and rattle you. Are you gonna let someone fucked up enough to play this dirty win?
>>
No. 926667 ID: 23dc9d

>>926646

I agree with this suggestion! See if asking a question about something only you or your mother knows can help you get over this block.
>>
No. 926670 ID: 465a14

Yes, you shouldn't be ashamed of having sentimental attachments. It is, however, incredibly stupid to allow yourself to have a weak point like this that anyone can easily know. It took a day for someone who isn't even your enemy to exploit one of your biggest weaknesses. Take care of this now or it WILL come back to bite you in the ass.

Try to kill her. You probably won't succeed but the important part is making the actual effort to kill Rack despite her shifting.
>>
No. 926674 ID: 67bd02

ricardo if you're truly a mama's boy (and you are) you have a deep well of untapped rage inside you specifically reserved for people spitting on the image of your mom. hell rack isn't just doing that, she actually manipulated your mom, in person. and then stalked her to her house and watched her drink? like what the fuck?
>>
No. 926677 ID: 10c408

That's not your mom ricardo. That's just a punk ass fat bitch wearing her face. Close your eyes and pretend it's someone else instead, someone you REALLY hated or turn into a large cat and run off of instinct.
>>
No. 926681 ID: 2791fd

what i want to know is how this helps us improve as a fighter
>>
No. 926682 ID: 97d823

loving and caring about your mother isnt a weakness. its very human, but ur a vampire now so take that goodboy guilt & put it in ur pocket, its go time lets dip into that mama's boy rage & love & get SERIOUS. take inventory of what u know! shifts dont last forever, & they wear u out. so stall, and dodge, and try your damndest not to let her get to you. i dont think that an offensive, hasty strategy is the way to go here. also keep in mind that she *cant* know *everything.* im sure she was thorough, YOU know she was thorough, but she isnt your mom & she really cant know everything. theres physically no way. if you ask about something that only your mom would know that might be helpful.
(my first reaction is to say just LEAVE bc you did not sign up for psychological torment but we're gonna keep that in our back pocket & just try to stall things out for now)
>>
No. 926683 ID: 10c408

>>926681
It doesn't. At least Miss “I’m gonna twist your fucking head off like a milk cap, bitch,” was upfront about how psycho she is, rack is insidious and evidently gets her kicks from psychologically manipulating new trainees.

(We should have fought Sirloin but noooo. Had to engage the chubby vampire who acted friendly.)
>>
No. 926687 ID: c8452a

>>926681
It simulates what an actual enemy might do to Ricardo. Try to get in his head, threaten his mom, etc. There are definitely going to be vampires that try something like this in the future.
>>
No. 926688 ID: 10c408

You have a point, but this is still bullshit on Rack's part.
>>
No. 926689 ID: 97d823

>>926687
yea this is so true. i dont necessarily think this is BAD for ricardo, esp since social stuff is. well! not his strong suit! hes *trying* but still. being able to stand up to manipulation & low blows like this is GOOD. the people we're gonna be facing are ruthless & cruel & theres no such thing as 'below the belt' to them, so its time to toughen up & become the honorary gallowglass we're meant to be!
>>
No. 926718 ID: 2791fd

>>926689
>>926687
sensibly, i know you're both right, but the toddler that controls 90% of my brain is just overwhelmingly upset at this series of events
>>
No. 926725 ID: be70d8

how dare she abuse the power of ricardos good boy guilt its at max levels right now (ricardo call ur mom)
srsly tho... i'd recommend going full cougar! Maybe the Animal Instincts will help him fight against gbg (good boy guilt)
>>
No. 926735 ID: c1cb95

yeah we definitely need to shift, change our perception so we don't recognize her anymore. anything besides human would do the trick but cougar would be easiest, right? full or partial, whichever we can hold for longest, and let's try to get some damage done
>>
No. 926751 ID: 82e3f0

i think shifting could definitely help from a perspective point of view but as we saw w minmin’s snake it doesnt actually alter your mindset so the whole guilt thing wouldnt abate. definitely shoot for limbs rather than full frontal, avoid looking at her face. also do latch onto the fact that she dragged your mom into this whole shitshow which is fucked up and should definitely make you mad. focus on the fact that she’s bastardizing your mom’s image and also potentially putting her in danger rather than the fact that she looks like her!
>>
No. 926781 ID: bb78f2

>>926610
She's a good mom. One of the best.
Did you have one of those, Rack?
If you can't hit the image of your Mom, there's only one choice. Blind yourself by shifting your face into a blind bat and locate her through echo location or her smell.

Or do the Rocky method and just keep getting hit or dodge, and keep getting up when you get knocked down. She can't hold that form for long.
>>
No. 926782 ID: 2e6ab6

I seriously don't think that shifting is going to help much here. At least, not past any actual combat advantage. Reducing your senses is just going to put you at *more* of a disadvantage. This is a mental thing. Find a way to get around the fact that she looks like your mom. However you need to. Or don't, and deal with it later.
>>
No. 926784 ID: eb66b1

I think you're right- the biggest hurdle in this fight is Mom Looks. Shifting will help us kick ass once we get over GBG, but we gotta be okay to fight first. Focus in on mama's boy rage. Like, how dare she take the face of our mom? That's our MOM ffs. We want to protect her and in this case protecting her might mean punting rack
(ilu rack im so sorry but mamas boy energy is more powerful)
>>
No. 926790 ID: 2e6ab6

>>926784
I am *all* for tapping into that bottomless well of Mama's Boy rage if that's what gets us through this. How fucking *dare* she use our mom like that? How **dare** she use our moms image like this!? My only caveat is that we can't lose ourselves to the rage. Let it fuel is. Let it drive us. But don't let it own us. We own the rage. And we're gonna use it to take Rack the fuck down.
>>
No. 926819 ID: 143fb2

leave it to a bunch of girls named after meats to make some real nasty humble pie :U

baiting or insulting rack requires going toe to toe with her in verbal manipulation while still avoiding her attacks - so playing rack's game requires learning it as we go, which is another disadvantage that we can't spend time maneuvering with right now. of course we acknowledge that we have a glaring weakness (that out of everyone present, ricardo is the least trained and the most human), so we play to his strengths - what he knows about shifting limits, as well as the firm knowledge that ricardo's real mother is alive, physically unhurt, and loves her son.

puma sounds like the better bet, if we can hold that longer than smoke. it might give us a little help in that a big cat's facial expressions will be harder to read than ricardo's actual person face (can't do much for hesitation, though, so go for the legs and respond to the opponent's motions, not the face those motions are wearing).
>>
No. 926861 ID: c84251

i just want to say im against the suggestion to shift to kel - even if ricardo could, kel has probably fought them before because she trains them!
>>
No. 926901 ID: b463f2

a. cougar tiiiiime
b. yes, channel the anger of her using your mom against you - and of her getting to see your mom when *you* couldn't see your mom!
c. definitely, definitely figure out how to contact your mom, but also...... be Careful about how you do it. she's going to want to see you, and that's probably not a good idea, and she's going to want to know what's up, and....... it's not necessarily bad to let her know you're a vampire, but also it could go really bad really quick, if she tells others, or trys to get involved in the vampire world.
>>
No. 926957 ID: c8452a

>>926784
Except, she does also SOUND like his mom, too. If Ricardo doesn't do something about that, too, I would think even avoiding looking at her wouldn't work.
>>
No. 927338 ID: 270774
Audio rack2.mp3 - (6.14MB )
927338

my gums bleed for this type of shit — ladyscraper
>>
No. 927339 ID: 270774
File 155357878076.png - (80.03KB , 800x525 , 417.png )
927339

Ricardo needs to get up.

His mother doesn’t seem interested in kicking him while he’s down — as soon as she saw he was staying on the floor, at least for the moment, she turned around to crane her neck back and chat with the other wards on the balcony. But that’s almost worse, isn’t it — that he’s so little of a threat that she can turn her back on him.

He finally plants both hands on the wood and heaves himself up to his knees. He hears her turn around as soon as he does, and he doesn’t look up to meet whatever amused, appraising look she’s giving him. He’s healing, bit by bit, and by the time he stands back upright he feels more or less like all his bones are where they’re supposed to be.

“You need to do better,” he says. His voice is a low rasp. “If this copycat thing is your entire strategy.”

“Oh, for real?” His mother has one hand on her hip. That’s kind of like her. She’s smirking. That’s not. “What, you have critique?”

“I’m having a hard time suspending my disbelief.” Ricardo drags the back of his hand across his mouth and it comes away with a little smear of blood. “Because my mother’s never hit me. Not once. Not a single time, not in my entire life.”
>>
No. 927340 ID: 270774
File 155357879795.png - (163.44KB , 800x525 , 418.png )
927340

“And you don’t deserve to wear her face.”
>>
No. 927341 ID: 270774
File 155357881484.png - (105.51KB , 800x525 , 419.png )
927341

His mother braces for him and Ricardo charges forward. At the last second, he skids slightly to the side, ripping his shirt off in one fluid movement, sending buttons ricocheting around the room —
>>
No. 927342 ID: 270774
File 155357884242.png - (117.16KB , 800x525 , 420.png )
927342

And then kicks off the floor again for momentum, a fistful of shirt in each hand, and he catches his mother’s face in it. He drags her backwards with it, twisting the fabric to hold, and when he flips her over his back, her face hits the floor first with a sickening crunch.

There’s a rousing cheer from the balcony that Ricardo barely registers. He stumbles backwards when the crumpled form on the ground shows sign of movement, retreating again to a defensive distance.
>>
No. 927343 ID: 270774
File 155357886262.png - (106.37KB , 800x525 , 421.png )
927343

Rack stands up.
>>
No. 927344 ID: 270774
File 155357889559.png - (148.41KB , 800x525 , 422.png )
927344

“Oh,” says his mother's voice. “Oh, man.”

Ricardo can hear, faintly, the clicking and scraping of her facial bones rearranging beneath bruised skin, all of it muffled by fabric.

“I’m gonna fucking kill you.”
>>
No. 927345 ID: 270774
File 155357891156.png - (128.88KB , 800x525 , 423.png )
927345

Ricardo doesn’t know how long Rack can stay in this shift. He doesn’t know how to shift into other people, and he doesn’t know how to shift all the way into a cougar form. He doesn’t know how to shift into anything he hasn’t achieved through practice, actually, and he doesn’t know if large spontaneous shifts are even possible.

He knows that none of that matters, and that he has to figure something out anyway.

Rack lunges — still with his mother’s limbs, still with her body, but with her face shrouded in bloody fabric it’s easier to think of her as something else. When she’s within striking distance, Ricardo lets himself collapse into pure instinct —

He explodes into a cloud of smoke, and she whiffs right through him.
>>
No. 927346 ID: 270774
File 155357892774.png - (101.39KB , 800x525 , 424.png )
927346

And then, from the other side, Ricardo rematerializes and slams his foot into the small of her back, as hard as he can. She launches, hits the ground hard, face-first again, and leaves a smear across the polished wood until she finally comes to rest. Her upper body is twitching and her lower body is not. Ricardo watches, feeling disjointed, shocked at what he just achieved.
>>
No. 927347 ID: 270774
File 155357894335.png - (144.62KB , 800x525 , 425.png )
927347

The formerly rowdy balcony is silent. Kel’s voice is the first to cut over the low undercurrent of Rack hissing and cursing as her spine tries desperately to stitch itself back together.

“Did he just go intangible?” She leans over the balcony, then grabs Pascal and shakes him a little. “He can go intangible? How the hell’d he learn that?”

Ricardo doesn’t turn around to watch Pascal as he replies, eyes still fixed on Rack’s shuddering form, but he can hear the airy smugness in his voice. “Oh, this I have had nothing to do with. You know I can barely shift at all.” Pascal clicks his tongue, once, crisply. “This he taught himself.”

“He taught himself,” Kel echoes, sounding equal parts delighted and bewildered. Her hand hits the railing softly. “He taught his damn self how to turn into mist.”

Mignon hums with mild interest. Strip is grinding her teeth.

“Maybe we can make a Gallowglass of him yet, huh, girls?”
>>
No. 927349 ID: 9fcd43

wow i'm a little bit straight for ricardo right now

Don't take your eyes off Rack, she hasn't surrendered yet and we don't know if she can heal fast enough that a broken spine will stop her from getting up.
>>
No. 927350 ID: 2e6ab6

THAT'S THE FUCKIN' SPIRIT! ATTA' BOY!

Now, from here on you've got a balancing act. You can't let her turn the tide again, because I don't think you'll get it back if you lose momentum. I'd recommend staying on the offensive as much as you can without getting reckless. Remember, duels aren't over until there's a loser. And while there aren't any real "rules" here, I doubt getting a good hit it is gonna count as a win. I'm almost certain that this duel isn't over yet, and she's still a much more thoroughly trained fighter than you are. But at the very least you've managed to catch her off-guard and , at least for now, pushed through the mind-games. Now it's just a matter of not letting her take the advantage back.
>>
No. 927351 ID: 4f943d

oh i take it strip's a shifter too. anyway shift your paws to puma and get that weight on her back so she can't get up. let her forfeit in a moment where she's been clearly beaten by something unexpected so she can save some pride.
>>
No. 927352 ID: c1eaac

take a second to catch your breath but don't lose momentum, ricardo! keep rack on the defensive, and don't let her talk anymore.
>>
No. 927354 ID: 10c408

Hell fucking yes, Ricardo! Now don't take your eyes off of rack just yet.

"Honestly, I had five years to mess with while trying to find Pascal. Turning into smoke a cloud of smoke isn't the only form I figured out during that time."

Hopefully this is enough to convince Rack to GIVE UP before she pulls the shirt off and realizes that Ricardo's cathartic beat down has left him drained.

...Or that anyone on the balcony correctly guesses we're half-bluffing and yells encouragement to Rack.

In either case, discretion is the better part of valor. If Rack DOES get up off the floor intent on round 2 before you recover from the drain, just announce "I quit" loudly before you get your shit wrecked.
>>
No. 927355 ID: 14e641

Thats nice. Kel likes him, the girls seem intrested, but Rack is avout to come at ya like a storm. You might want to think about putting those claws to use Ricardo, smoke form is cool but now she knows. You have to be faster.
>>
No. 927356 ID: 70df1e

hit her while shes down ricardo. do NOT let her get back up. like sucks to be brutal here but she did turn into your mom to try to beat the shit out of you so like let loose and do NOT let her get back up. if her spine is trashed you keep it that way until kel calls the match and that is how it is
>>
No. 927357 ID: 23dc9d

I definitely agree with laying on the offensive at this point, but being very careful. Rack using Ricardo's mother's form was a good psychological offensive move for her, but it is definitely not a form she bothered to really get comfortable with compared to her normal body or other possible forms she has learned to shift into. It is also entirely possible she would drop the shift to heal faster, since shifts take up valuable blood that is better off spent on healing in her position, or taking a different form. So just keep in mind she may have other things up her sleeve at this point.
>>
No. 927359 ID: 7e9c89

YOU DID SO GOOD take a minute to breathe!! did we win, or does it go til she specifically SAYS she gives--? don't turn your back on her just in case, but you can relax a lil
>>
No. 927360 ID: c8452a

You haven't won yet. Keep focused and keep light on your feet. The second you can get all your claws out, leap at Rack, jump to the other side of her and dig into that neck with them.
>>
No. 927361 ID: b1b4f3

>>926636
Okay first that was real clever, hats off to you.

>>927347
Say that you hope to make the grade.
Well, Rack can't fight anymore due to the broken spine. The spar is over, right? Ask if it's over. If it's not, well, wait for her to get back up. She didn't kick you while you were down, so you shouldn't either.

If the spar is officially over, then ask Rack if that was normally how she fights or if it was some kind of hazing thing. I'm guessing the disguise form counts as one form-- perhaps shapeshifting forms are all really general. Like if you can turn into a bat you can turn into all sorts of bats, and the same applies for turning into a human. Or maybe Rack specializes in disguise shifting and there some sort of drawback due to that? Like being unable to shift into anything else?
>>
No. 927365 ID: c8452a

>>927361
She didn't attack him while he went down because she didn't see him as a threat. That's no longer the case, and giving her a chance to recover is just contrived honor stuff that we shouldn't fall for.
>>
No. 927366 ID: 4328b4

>>926636
serious props for this idea, dang!


Absolutely don't give her time to recover. She's set the rules for this duel, and that is that lowbrow tactics (personal attacks in her case) are firmly on the table, getting practice being ruthless in now is sensible when we know we're going to be getting into duels with vampires out to kill us later.

Stamp down on her spine where you hit her before with all the force you can. Our win condition is one of us surrendering or being unable to fight. It seems unlikely that she'll surrender, so damaging her enough that she can't get up it is. And she's a vampire so that's a LOT of damage.
>>
No. 927369 ID: fde9cb

>>926634
For real, this was a great move.

Yeah, as long as her spine's broken, let's keep it that way. Hit the same place you just did, or a little above to make a new break. Maybe even go for the back of the neck so she can't use her arms either. It's harsh, but vampires are fuckers and the only thing the respect is more fuckery. Besides, our MOM!? Really!?

After that get a claw around her throat and threaten decapitation if she doesn't surrender.
>>
No. 927372 ID: 02dc85

definitely DO hit her while she's down, because i don't think she'll surrender unless she's physically unable to continue
>>
No. 927374 ID: aedfd9

Yeah, do hit her while she's down, maybe get her in some kind of submission hold until she forfeits. But watch out for her playing tricks like turning into tentacles or snakes or some other thing that could really fuck us up in a close-quarters grapple!
>>
No. 927376 ID: 7bc8ec

HIT HER WHILE SHES DOWN!!!
honor is for idiots. she is a dangerous opponent. to let regain momentum is foolish.

OR YA KNOW ASK IF ITS OVER WHILE YOURE APPROACHING HER TO STOMP HER INTO THE GROUND, OR SOMETHING
>>
No. 927377 ID: dc7900

>>927347
Oh man that was epic! and Kel's reaction was impressed. (also I'm so gay with her she looks so good in that panel *heart eyes*)

We definitely can't let our guard down, she'll heal eventually. What were the win conditions of this fight? I know it's not to the death but does she have to surrender? If so, we need to do something to make that happen.

Also ,music choice was perfect for this and was the perfect length of time, great work Ira!
>>
No. 927379 ID: 97d823

((BIG music choice holy crap. its SO good im freakin out. what a good fight!!!!!))

this is a gallowglass fight, now's the time to get brutal. you haven't had the proper chance to gauge her strength or abilities, so I'm honestly a bit unsure about beating her up while she's down, although I like the thought of breaking more of her spine, maybe try to break her legs more to drain more of her blood stores, but back off as quickly as you can

it's safe to say that you shouldn't ask if it's over though, that's a sign of weakness. its win or die here

the mist thing wont work again, she'll be expecting it and waiting to counter you. she might even be able to do something similar, turning incorporeal herself. keep an eye out for that.
>>
No. 927380 ID: 094652

Rack has used dirty tricks instead of techniques and this match is RANKED. There is little to gain from fighting for exp here.

Kick her while she's down and don't stop until she stops breathing. She can take it.
>>
No. 927388 ID: 0f15ab

Seconding that we shouldnt ask if its over! Theyll tell us if its over, and itll look Bad
>>
No. 927391 ID: 02e2dc

turn back into mist, float up into the air and do the ultimate flying elbow drop while rack's still down. can we do that
>>
No. 927392 ID: 2e6ab6

Hmm. I know I said stay on the offensive, but it might be worth just, taking a moment, keeping your distance, keeping an eye on rack, and clarifying the rules. Just in case. If there are no rules? Get ready to go back on the offensive. But it'd be a damn bad look if we went full aggro with no good reason. And while I'm usually a fan of decisive, somewhat brutal, victories, I'm gonna say kicking her while she's down is gonna be both a very bad look, and maybe a very bad move. This is still a training fight, even if Rack went and made it personal, and us going in for the kill here might be exactly what she's expecting.
>>
No. 927394 ID: 465a14

Keep killing Rack until it's acknowledged you win or Kel physically makes you stop.
>>
No. 927395 ID: 97d823

>>927391
hello i second this if it is at all possible
>>
No. 927396 ID: ac8aaf

hey this isn't relevant right this second but ricardo when you get the chance can you text bunji to ask about vampires and religion. send him a pic of cat with a pope hat or smth to start the convo
>>
No. 927397 ID: ecb684

Let's keep an eye on Rack for now, use the time to rebuild up shifting if it's needed but be ready to defend. Maybe flash a smile up to the balcony though, you did Good. Get a good feed in later with Pascal and then....Bouncy Bouncy
>>
No. 927402 ID: 986b2d

Okay that was REALLY METAL but let's not get too cocky. Rack's spine will probably take a minute to heal, so take that opportunity to recover. She didn't hit you when you were down, so extend the same courtesy, but don't take your eyes off her.
>>
No. 927410 ID: edade6

>>927372
oh wait i change my mind a bit. check in with rack, ask her if she's ok to continue
>>
No. 927411 ID: 7bc8ec

>>927410
noah fence but she didnt check in with us when she was pretending to be our mom. so i don't see why we'd extend her the same courtesy.
>>
No. 927415 ID: 0e2ebe

>>927410
The rules state that she can forfeit whenever she wants, she doesn't need us to prompt her.
>>
No. 927426 ID: 2e6ab6

Hell, maybe since she's down right now, parlay with *her* instead of the spectators. "We never clarified any rules, did we? What's the cutoff?" Something like that. No need to get other involved, and lets be honest... Vampires seem to love to talk. Might give you a minute to think about your strategy.
>>
No. 927431 ID: 82e3f0

please do not hit her while she’s down. she didnt do it to you and even if the mood has changed it’s just cruel? ricardo doesnt need to be needlessly cruel even if rack shot below the belt with the mom shift. also remember that these arent your enemies!!! it’s a duel and you have to take it seriously but ultimately these girls are going to be your allies and brutalizing them needlessly is as bad tactically as it is morally

your big advantage here is that she’s been holding a shift and she’s also bleeding relatively heavily so she’s going to tire quicker than you even being older & more experience. an aggressive offense when she’s om her feet again might have a better chance at working now than lunging did earlier, a partial cougar shift to conserve energy might work especially since shifting is ultimately your Big Weapon since ricardo’s raw strength pales in comparison to vampire age
>>
No. 927456 ID: 055cbc

That sounded like a end-of-the-fight conversation. And really, if twitching on the ground with a broken spine physically unable to fight for long enough for this conversation to happen isn't the end of the fight, then the ONLY stopping point is one of you dying. This is a test bout. So yeah, go ahead and ask out loud if this fight is done, but like, expect it to be done.
>>
No. 927470 ID: c8452a

>>927426
We did set the rules.
>>
No. 927474 ID: eb66b1

Imo i dont think we want any bad blood here.. and goin after rack might make her resent us. Ultimately these people are our allies, not enemies, so while we might not earn any respect by NOT kicking her while shes down, its better than running the risk of Really pissing off the girls who are gonna help us
>>
No. 927479 ID: 10c408

...I honestly can't believe a lot of you are suggesting we go and hit Rack while she's down.

As much as she'd deserve it, it's gonna be considered poor form at best. (And let's not forget that Strip's already vibrating like she wants to jump the railing and beat the unending life out of us)

At worst? We're gonna piss off *all of them, including Kel, forever.*

So let's not do that, please.
>>
No. 927488 ID: fde9cb

I get all the concerns about being respectful/not making enemies but honestly i think being ridiculously brutal *is* the way to win their respect. Rack opened this fight by abusing very personal information and emotionally manipulating us and everybody laughed about it, including those watching on the balcony. Rack was gleeful about how well it worked. i say again: vampires are fuckers and the only thing the respect is more fuckery.

and even if it isn't the right call, i'm too fired up with Mama's Boy Rage to care.
>>
No. 927494 ID: bb78f2

Fight's over. A vampire in this state is a dead vampire. Easy beheading and heart destruction. If she's immobilized for more that two seconds, she'd be dead in a non-sparring match.
>>
No. 927496 ID: fde9cb

>>927488
Actually now I'm reconsidering. I keep flip-flopping on this and it's made me go back and read a bunch of previous relevant entries. It reminds me of the thing with Minmin wanting info on Pascal in Chapter 2: "He is trying to find out what kind of man you are" and "But do you want him to think you are?” Do we want to be the kind of person that kicks them while they're down, even if everybody else does it? Do we want to seem like that guy?

It also made me go back and read up on Ricardo fighting as a kid in Chapter 1. I had forgotten about the line “Made me feel like there was something I was good at, besides violence." and how he learnt to just win the fight and move on.

Anyway sorry for puzzling through my thoughts in public but I settled. I'm chaging my vote to not being brutal. Ask if she surrenders/is alright as you walk over to her, and get into a position to threaten decapitation, but don't hit her again. We fucked her up. My Mama's Boy Rage is quelled. And I don't want to be that kinda guy.
>>
No. 927502 ID: fde9cb

There's always the possibility that Rack is totally fine (or at least, not as injured as she appears). She's clearly open to deceit and manipulation. Maybe her spine is fine and she's baiting us into striking range with our guard down.
>>
No. 927504 ID: 4675d0

Its time to get a physical because you need to be top notch to join the ladies. THEN ANOTHER SEXY BREAK!
>>
No. 927506 ID: 10c408

>>927502
In either case, we gain nothing by kicking her while she's down.
>>
No. 927507 ID: 2791fd

RICARDO I WAS ROOTING FOR YOU THE WHOLE TIME IM IN TEARS MY BOY IS SO GOOD

I STILL HAVE NO SUGGESTIONS THO BUT BE CAREFUL BB I LOVE YOU SHES PROBABLY NOT OUT YET
>>
No. 927508 ID: 2791fd

>>927488
they're probably right though; being brutal is how to win their respect

but whether ricardo wants to be that person is up in the air
>>
No. 927511 ID: 10c408

>>927508
You don't 'win' respect, you earn it.

And since Kel just got boggled by our smoke trick, I'd say we've sure as hell done that.

We don't need to establish our brutality any more than we already have after breaking rack's face and then HER ACTUAL SPINE.
>>
No. 927514 ID: c8452a

>>927511
Yeah but forfeiting a potential victory is going to lose any respect we just earned. The rules are clear, we fight until one of us can't, or until one of us surrenders. Rack hasn't surrendered yet and Kel hasn't called the match. Which means that Rack can still fight. She's a vampire, and still has use of her arms, she can fight. If she wants to.
>>
No. 927515 ID: c1212a

She didn't kick you while you were down, best to return the favor.
>>
No. 927518 ID: ce6598

No hitting while down Ricardo, recover your strength and keep your eyes on her. If she does get back up, play offensive and try to keep her tired out. There's time to brood and process the mama rage after the fight.
>>
No. 927534 ID: adabf3

Absolutely hit her while she's down!! Make sure she cannot fight anymore. The only reason she didn't hit us is because we weren't a threat. It would be really rude to take it easy on her.
>>
No. 927538 ID: 2791fd

>>927515
i feel like this is a more compelling argument for not kicking her than fuddling over respect and brutality. simply return the favor.
>>
No. 927539 ID: 2791fd

>>927538
return the favor *once.* if you get the opportunity again, take it, but like, just this once.
>>
No. 927547 ID: 304160

im pretty well against kicking while down. We should repay the favour she gave us, but also make it pretty damn clear that we won't do it again. Maybe we can pin her or something while she's healing? Restrain her to make a point?
>>
No. 927552 ID: c1eaac

>>927547

the rules say the duel stops when someone surrenders or can't fight any more, so pinning rack for as long as possible is a good move. let's just sit on her so she can't fight.
>>
No. 927554 ID: 4f943d

kel literally said if you surrender you don't belong in gallowglass, so why is anyone interested in giving rack that option when she obviously won't take it?
>>
No. 927555 ID: c1eaac

>>927554

being immobile and unable to fight isn't the same as surrender
>>
No. 927556 ID: 2e6ab6

I think this is a pretty critical junction. We can either see if they'll keep going, and then that's a whole other can of worms, fighting a shifter when *they know* that we can smoke it up. OR we can take a moment, keep our distance, and see if this is an acceptable end of the fight. Hell, if we need to, we can make the point that in any non-sparring fight, this would essentially be checkmate. I'm strongly against kicking her while she's down. That just seems unnecessary, and it's a move that'll potentially open up more problems than help us.
>>
No. 927561 ID: bb78f2

Just say out loud that if she can't get up within the next few seconds that she'd be vulnerable to a decapitation and heart destruction and the fights over since this is a sparring match meant to reflect a death or capture scenario we would likely encounter. If she wants to fight more, it's round two by the time she gets up.

It's that simple. It takes at least a few seconds for her spine to heal, probably, so the fights definitely over. She threw too much weight into her attack and that's on her.

Pin nothing, the fight's done, unless it's round two.
>>
No. 927563 ID: 3a522d

>>927554
yeah honestly why r any of us expecting her to forfeit when we wouldn't even do that?? she's Kel's ward, she's not going to forfeit, she's gonna hit us as hard as she can as soon as she can.. we need to make sure she doesn't get the chance. if that's brutal, well, cradle vamps are going to b even more brutal when we meet up w them, and Kel's wards know what they're preparing us for. refusing to hit her while she's down would come across as us not taking her seriously as an opponent, and we obv take her seriously. we need to be careful in how we attack her again bc shes likely waiting for us to get close before attacking us (she can still use her arms right?) so go for the neck, immobilize her completely, give her no choice but to end the fight. imo DON'T threaten to decapitated her. either do it or don't, there's no point in hedging and itll look like we don't have the guts to go thru with it. again, do we really think she's gonna surrender, even under threat of decapitation?? it seems doubtful to me
>>
No. 927564 ID: 4328b4

The thing that makes me think we absolutely shouldn't give her time to recover is there is no way psychological manipulation is her only tactic. And while seeing and fighting against whatever else she has would be good experience, that can happen later, demonstrating to the others that we are here to go the whole way and should be taken seriously for this training can be done now.

She's probably totally used to healing from this stuff. We're not making it so that she has to regenerate limbs or anything, just heal bones and organs which we've seen is very manageable if not ideal.

We have our morals to overcome long term, because when it comes to vampires actually trying to kill us we will need to hit people when they're down, so we need practice. After this is OVER we can sit down and tell rack "that was a fucking great fight, you had other tricks to pull, right?" or something else which shows no hard feelings. Our goal is clearly "win the fight" rather than bathory torture style bullshit.
>>
No. 927566 ID: 489abb

okay you can tell she's healing. you just messed up her nose. i really don't get why everyone's like 'well MAYBE we shouldn't be brutal here' because um...she kind of visited Your Fucking Mother to use in psychological manipulation. like they're 'trying to help' which i appreciate (i know if it was cradle vampires most likely they would have uh. actually done stuff to ricardo's mother rather than this)- but i really don't think that we have to worry about pissing off kel- she is trying to train us and there's a difference between 'do what you have to do to win against an enemy that is most likely stronger than you' and toying with her- kel and strip know that, and if they were to come busting into the ring to kill you because- what- you hurt rack in a non-lethal way? then that'd defeat the purpose of training. like they could squash you anytime. that's not what they're trying to do here.

also idt we should take 'strip is pissed and wants to murder us' as a valuable indicator of 'we're pissing off everyone here' i think she's just always pissed and wants to murder everyone.

that said here's my suggestion: jump on her back, see if you can pin her down and /before she heals/ change into something that has enough bite strength to get through her neck. i think it'd be a good idea to try to take her head, since that wouldn't kill her (we need head/heart BOTH destroyed to kill someone) BUT it'd incapacitate her beyond the shadow of a doubt- to be completely honest i'm at least partially expecting the broken spine to be healed within the next ten seconds if we don't keep going and then all we end up with is an angry vampire with cloth over her face and the ability to psychologically manipulate us so please hurry up ricardo.

also unrelatedly i think it might be good to figure out how to decapitate vampires quickly; in case we need to, say, take someone in for interrogation or we don't want to kill them in the future but we need to incapacitate them quickly.

....actually wait. do vampires breathe. would it be possible to just shift into mist -> get into an orifice of the face -> shift back -> rip out of the face and destroy head doing it rather than trying to rip through a neck when we don't know how strong we are

or is that too jojo stand and/or might get us killed
>>
No. 927568 ID: e3a778

The answer is simple. Do whatever would make your mother proud of you, Ricardo.
>>
No. 927575 ID: 7011e0

stop thinking about what everyone is possibly thinking about you and finish this duel, get her while you have the opportunity and take her head off (i don't remember what can and can't kill a vampire though so if that kills her forget it and do what will end the duel without a murder)

this is an assessment of what we're capable of, and rack did not pull punches when she underestimated us, and we need to show we won't pull any either. we want to win and get stronger, and if we hurt rack's feelings by showing her she shouldn't have let her guard down, oh well

it's gonna be life or death out there and we're gonna have to be dirty
>>
No. 927576 ID: 7011e0

>>927575
ok i am sorry to double post but i forgot to mention if we stomped her lower back hard enough to do damage to her spinal cord we can definitely do the same to her neck
>>
No. 927578 ID: 15ee9e

> “This is a friendly spar,” Kel yells out. Her voice echoes just a little, bounding off the polished parquet and the paneled walls. “For training purposes, got it? It stops when somebody surrenders or can’t fight anymore.”
The fight ends when Rack can't fight anymore. Unless she shifts her arms into snakes or something she cant hurt us with a broken back. Don't get carried away. casually ask if a broken spine counts as not being able to fight, if you want, but don't advance on her yet.
>>
No. 927579 ID: 10c408

>>927575
And if we piss off Rack by doing so, she knows exactly where Ricardo's mother lives and WHOOPSIE DAISIE THE MORTAL DIED.
>>
No. 927589 ID: 2e6ab6

Honestly, I feel like being brutal or merciless isn't gonna make us look good or competent. It's gonna make us look excessive. Duels aren't always deathmatches, and decapitating someone for no good reason is just gonna make us look like a violent jackass. I think that casually clarifying where the line is drawn here, in a *training* match is gonna win us a lot more respect. AND it'll make us better at figuring out where the line is drawn in more serious encounters. And hell, if the fight's still on, *then* we can talk about brutality if needed. I'm not suggesting we lower our guard for a goddamn second, but going full aggro is how rack just got tripped up by *us*. Let's not make that look like a fluke.
If everyone else is assuming this is over, or is open to it being over, and we keep going, then we look like the jackass. We can still be ready and wary without being hasty, and attacking right now feels needlessly hasty. We're not gonna win any "alpha points" or anything here. We're at the bottom of the fucking barrel for a goddamn good reason. And we're not gonna climb higher by just smashing heads. If it were that simple, I'm pretty sure Kel would be top fucking dog in the whole world, given how the meat pile talks. Making ourselves look good and in control is gonna be a hell of a lot more impressive than making ourselves look feral.
>>
No. 927594 ID: eb66b1

>>927589
I agree with you, and I also want to tie back to >>927496 , because I think what they said was really poignant. What kind of person do WE want to be? We were rightfully pissed at Rack for using an underhanded tactic, because we felt she was breaching a line. Do we want to be the kind of person who retaliates and breaches that very same line? It sure as hell won't make Pascal or Kel like us anymore. We can be better than this. If rack gets back up, we can deal with it; for the moment, though, we need to choose between control and brutality. I think it says a lot more about us if we pick control.

Think about it this way: Kel and the gallowglass girls are an army. And generally, soldiers who mindlessly attack others get the boot
>>
No. 927604 ID: 97d823

I strongly agree with all the suggestions to ask whether or not the fight is over!! it might make you look weaker, but it's only your first day!! you already impressed kel, so you can relax a bit!!
>>
No. 927618 ID: fde9cb

yeah i agree with asking Rack/Kel if the fight's over. i don't think anyone expected us to put up a serious fight, so they figured clarification wouldn't be needed cause we'd just end up surrendering. this is only our second duel, we don't know what 'can't fight anymore' means.

we're just so completely in the dark here. we know vampires are all violent maniacs, but to what extent? how far is too far? what does 'can't fight anymore' mean? do Gallowglasses tolerate hitting someone while they're down?
we need to learn the boundaries of what's acceptable, and that means asking (or being shown, if Rack turns around and kicks our ass). i'd rather fall short than go too far. after all, this is training - we're here to learn.
>>
No. 927655 ID: 7011e0
927655

alright, alright, after some reading of the discussion that happened since i suggested and some thinking i'm flipping my vote over to the "at least ask if it's over" side. i stand by what i said about not playing around anymore but you guys are right, we don't need to go full force just yet
>>
No. 927682 ID: c8452a

Training or not, I just don't want to lose the first fight we have with these badasses, not if it's a possibility. We can worry about trying to parse the unsaid standards or going too far later. As long as we don't kill Rack we haven't done anything wrong or lost our way or whatever. I just don't see why tempting failure is the only way we can learn.
>>
No. 927707 ID: 2791fd

>>927589
this person won me over
>>
No. 927918 ID: caccde

I think we should just check her, get on her back and pin her down wrestling style. It lets us concisely demonstrate that we *can* off her if we want, but that we aren't, and demonstrates our skill without clearly actually going for the kill. If she throws us and gets back into it without Kel stopping it, then it's clear we'd keep going and then all bets are off. Being cruelly brutal is one thing, showing dominance and a straight win is another. It let's us show Control under tense emotions
>>
No. 927931 ID: 97d823

>>927496
this this this this this

i had voted for hitting her and then backing off before, and i 1000% standby the concept of NOT asking if the fight is over. i feel that thats still too cowardly & will look bad, but i think its a good idea to be the kind of person we want to be, which is the type of person who shows mercy, even in the face of underhanded tactics and potentially an easy victory.

WWRMD (what would ricardo's mom do)
>>
No. 927945 ID: 465a14

>>927931
lbr ricardo's mom would absolutely demolish anyone pulling this sort of shenanigans on her baby
>>
No. 928122 ID: b463f2

"This match was to see what I'm capable of, wasn't it? I think that baseline's been established; I don't see any point in continuing further."
>>
No. 928145 ID: 270774
File 155408957985.png - (81.65KB , 800x525 , 426.png )
928145

Ricardo’s eyes are fixed warily on Rack’s twitching form. She’s slipping, now, his mother’s thin limbs giving way to her sturdier form, which makes it easier and easier to watch.

He wants to keep going. He doesn’t know if he should.

All in the span of a split second, the turmoil in his mind gives way to a memory, fifteen years ago.
>>
No. 928146 ID: 270774
File 155408959858.png - (291.74KB , 800x525 , 427.png )
928146

He’s sitting on the kitchen counter.

“So this kid is in the hospital now.” His mother is speaking Portuguese, in that particular tone of hers — businesslike exasperation. “And you put him there.”

Ricardo says nothing. The gauze around his knuckles is sticking to the raw skin already, and he’s already thinking about how much it’s going to suck to pull off.

“And now his whiny mother is up my ass, talking about how I have to pay his medical bills,” his mother continues. “Do you have money for that? Because I don’t.”

“No, mãe,” Ricardo mumbles.

She stops her ministrations for a moment, leaning back, and lets her hands drop to her sides. “What’s the matter with you, huh?”

Ricardo shrugs. That’s clearly not cutting it for her.

“You’re not stupid, Ricardo. And you’re not violent, not by nature. You’re capable of controlling yourself, don’t act like you’re not.” Her voice is rising. “There is no reason—”

“He deserved it,” Ricardo cuts in heatedly.

“Fine! I’m sure he did!” Andy throws her damp rag down on the counter. “I believe you, Ricardo. But who said you deserve to give it to him? Hm? Somebody made you Batman?”

Ricardo’s eyes drop to the tiled floor between his mother’s feet. He counts grout lines. “No, mãe.”

“Yeah.” She picks the rag back up and uncaps a bottle of rubbing alcohol. “So cool it with the vigilante justice, hm?”

She starts to dab at one of the scrapes on his cheekbone, and he jerks away, irritably. “What, so I’m supposed to just let them do whatever they want? Doesn’t matter if I try to take the high road. They’ll all keep being the same.”

“You’re talkative today,” Andy observes. She takes his chin, firmly but gently, to keep him still. “Ricardo. I am never going to tell you not to stand up for yourself. I’m proud of you when you do.” Ricardo can feel her cool, measured gaze on his face, and eventually reluctantly meets it, knowing she’s paused to wait for him to do so. When she speaks again, her voice is steady and emphatic. “But you’re a Castro. You hear me? You finish what you started, no more, no less. And then you walk away. That’s how we do things.”

Ricardo lapses into silence. His mother shakes him by the grip on his chin, lightly. “You hear me?”

>>
No. 928147 ID: 270774
File 155408961693.png - (54.39KB , 800x525 , 428.png )
928147

Yeah, yeah, mãe. Leave me alone already.

Ricardo cracks his neck and starts a slow walk across the floor towards Rack. “Hey. You done?”

Rack is pushing herself upright on shaking arms, her palms slipping on the blood on the floor. Her legs are twitching now, weakly, as nerves connect beneath skin and bone. “Fuck you,” she hisses.
>>
No. 928148 ID: 270774
File 155408964470.png - (147.07KB , 800x525 , 429.png )
928148

Okay. Not done. He reaches her and stomps down, in one swift and brutal motion, on the back of her neck. It creaks, at first, as he presses his weight down, and then snaps, and she shrieks with rage.

“I could have destroyed both your head and your heart,” Ricardo says, quietly. “In the time you spent laying here.”

Rack’s eye swivels to fix on him, wide and manic. “But you didn’t,” she hisses. “And when I—”
>>
No. 928152 ID: 270774
File 155408994231.png - (170.42KB , 800x525 , 430.png )
928152

“Rack.” It’s Kel’s booming voice, from the balcony. “I’m calling it.”

“What!” Rack can’t struggle or move, but her face is alive with outrage. “What the fuck! Why?! I’m still conscious!”

“I’m calling it,” Kel repeats. “You can’t fight.”

“Yeah I can,” Rack insists, breathless and angry. “Yeah I can! When I get up—”

“How? How are you gonna get up? Give me the step by step. You think he’s gonna wait and let you regen? You think he’s not gonna take your head off and punt it out into the hallway?”

Rack scoffs. “He really might not’ve,” she mutters under her breath.

“This was a favor,” Ricardo hisses down at her. “You waited while I was down. I waited while you were down, til you made it clear you weren’t finished. That’s all.”

“This isn’t a fight anymore, so it’s over,” Kel continues. “Ribeye, let her up.”

Ricardo lifts his foot and steps back, though Kel doesn’t wait for Rack to finish healing before she goes on speaking.

“Rack, I know you know what you did wrong, because we’ve already talked about it before. One, the first time he went down, you should have ended it.”

“Aw, psh,” says Rack. She’s still facedown on the floor. “Then he wouldn’t’ve learned anything.”

“He would’ve learned that you get downed, you die,” Kel counters. “Two, and we’ve talked about this plenty, so I don’t wanna see this mistake again. Your technique is good if you can use it to incapacitate immediately. But the second they get over that mental block, you need to drop it and try something else. Okay? You always hang on to that form, thinking they still aren’t gonna wanna hit a loved one hard and that it’s gonna spare you some damage, but over and over again it doesn’t work like that. This is a short term opener strategy only, and if it doesn’t take them down you have to abandon it, and I’m tired of going over that with you.”

From this angle, Ricardo can see her rolling her eyes, though Kel can’t. “Yes, General.”

“And you, Ribeye.” Ricardo turns his eyes back up to the balcony as Kel addresses him. “Tell me again, how long have you been dead?”

“Five years.”

“No training?”

“I trained myself.”

“Pascal didn’t teach you anything, the past few days?”

Ricardo’s brain moves, absurdly, towards the van. “Nothing about combat.”

Kel lets out a low whistle. When she folds herself forward to lean against the railing, she’s grinning. “But you grew up scrapping, I can see that much.”

Ricardo meets her gaze. “I never enjoyed it.”

Kel snorts dismissively, blowing a heavy lock of red hair out of her face. “You’re a vampire now, kid. You enjoy battle, whether you want to or not. It’s in the blood.” She leans back again, one hand still firm on the railing. “Well! War is women’s work, but you’re not a lost cause. You’re lucky Rack underestimated you, but it would also be stupid to say that was all luck.” She releases the railing, finally, one hand lifted in a loose, careless gesture. “Not bad. You go get cleaned up, and when you’re done, you’re gonna come see me again. We’re gonna chat.”

“Fine,” Ricardo says. Rack’s finally healed enough to move again, and she punches him in the side of the foot and makes a face at him. “Fine, General?” Ricardo tries halfheartedly.

“There we go,” says Kel. Rack gives him a wobbly thumbs up.
>>
No. 928153 ID: 465a14

>>928150
"...Yeah. Thanks."
>>
No. 928154 ID: 270774
File 155408996366.png - (136.39KB , 800x525 , 431.png )
928154

The women on the balcony are staying there, chatting lightly amongst themselves now that the spectacle of the duel is over, and Ricardo sees Pascal trying in vain to push past them to get to the stairs before turning his attention back to Rack. She’s healed enough to sit up, and he extends his hand to help her to her feet.

The gesture was automatic, but he can’t think of anything he wants to say to her. She picks up the slack, the way outgoing people often do around him. “That was a good match! Listen, you only won ‘cause I fucked up so much, but it was still cool.” She wipes at her face with one hand, but really only manages to smear the blood around. “You’re okay, Ribeye.”

Ricardo finally remembers what he wanted to say, and he doesn’t care that it’s a non sequitur. “If you ever go near my mother again, I’ll kill you.”

“Ooh, big words from fresh meat,” Rack laughs. She relents, though, and looks up at Ricardo with an expression that’s the tiniest fraction softer. “You know, preparing for this isn’t the only reason I went to L.A.”

“I don’t care,” Ricardo grumbles.

“Uh, yeah, you do. Can you let me finish?” Rack flexes her wrists as she speaks, testing the range of motion flooding back into her limbs as her spinal column finally mends entirely. “I figured if I could track down your mom, so could anyone from the Cradle. I mean, if they even thought to try — their brains don’t really work like that, you know? Like, they don’t think about humans, ever, unless they’re politicians or important CEOs or whatever. But that’s still a pretty big risk, don’t you think? So — well, there’s a few den bosses out there who owe the General favors, and they’re keeping an eye on her, day and night. Without bugging her the way I did, obviously. And if anyone comes poking around looking for her, they’re gonna make sure they leave L.A. empty-handed.” Rack rocks back on her heels, looking pleased with herself. “That cool by you, big guy?”
>>
No. 928156 ID: 9fcd43

hug her, omg

and then CALL YOUR FUCKING MOM
>>
No. 928157 ID: 7e9c89

oh absolutely thank her, though if we can at all safely we should... probably double check that w/ someone who is not her. minmin wouldnt work cos he'd potentially sell the info again so i'm not sure.. also do we need to call kel ma'am?? sir?
>>
No. 928159 ID: c1eaac

THANK RACK. she didn't Have to do that for your mom, but she did, so definitely thank her. and tell her good match! maybe next time she'll get to kick your ass.
>>
No. 928160 ID: 7011e0
928160

good match to you too, rack, and thanks for keeping an eye on her then. we owe kel a thanks when we see her next.

how are the other girls looking? and let's go meet up with pascal because obviously he's wanting to tell us how Cool! we are
>>
No. 928161 ID: aedfd9

1) Hug her and thank her. 2) Call your mom and tell her you love her! 3) Ask more about the various bosses, either from Rack after she's healed or from someone else. But I don't think Andy should be with anyone but Kel - we know Kel's gang, we trust Kel's gang. We DEFINITELY want Andy protected and in Vegas! But preferably with Kel, bc she's the only person we've spoken to and trust.
>>
No. 928162 ID: aedfd9

Oh and tell Rack you want to become her friend!!
>>
No. 928164 ID: 14e641

Confirm, had she kept her guard up you would have been in her position. It is really cool of them to keep an eye on momma Andy. You should find a burner cell or an inconspicuous telephone booth to call her and tell her theres something going on, you can't come home until it's sorted, and please don't talk to strangers. You'll be fine, but she needs to be careful.
>>
No. 928166 ID: 70df1e

THANK HER FOR HER KINDNESS
>>
No. 928167 ID: b1b4f3

>>928154
Tell her that is extremely okay, but... why? Do they do that for all new recruits?
>>
No. 928173 ID: eb66b1

maybe cry a lil bit bc thank god ur mom's safe. Give rack a pat on the back. Hug pascal. Literally just go to ur room and cry for 30 mins because by god youve earned it


And then


CALL YOUR MOM
>>
No. 928176 ID: b1b4f3

...I wonder if Rack is so hesitant to switch away from the stolen form because she's too attached to the feeling of being loved. Does she not have anything like that of her own?
>>
No. 928178 ID: a6fa51

thank her quietly because youre getting choked up.
>>
No. 928181 ID: ce6598

>>928154
That's definitely okay but still... a lot to process. Emotions are prolly outta whack and conflicted from the mama's boy rage, but you're definitely gonna start tearing up before you get out of there. Thank Rack as sincerely as you can for that and for the match, and see if you can get outta there before she sees just how much her performance has fucked with your head. Mom's really the only thing that ties Ricardo back to his pre-vampire time. Having to smash her head in, then hearing she's in danger, and then that Rack's been making sure she's protected. Yeah, pretty screwed.

Calling mom is definitely a decent idea, but... it'll take either some working up to it later on or just doing it impulsively before you have a chance to process the swirly mess of emotions properly.
>>
No. 928182 ID: 4328b4

Awkward side hug because that's really really nice. hold in the tears. you're trying to be gallowglass. gallowglass don't cry.

also ask her how andy was. Did she seem okay? Was the whole still thinking he's alive thing a ploy, or does she really think you're still out there?

If rack wasn't lying you definitely need to call her and explain everything. Particularly because I'm not so sure she'd have bought into rack's act, even if she pretended to while she was there, and she might have taken this random person showing up 5 years down the track to talk about ricardo as a sign that he's still around and be back on the hunt for him which could result in her getting into danger.
>>
No. 928184 ID: 23dc9d

YEah Ricardo has a lot to process, plus having this duel be right after the long road trip with barely any rest means his brain has really gone through the wringer now. Thank Rack for sure but admit you've got to have some space to think for a bit while to you to clean up and take the opportunity to rest a bit for once.
>>
No. 928190 ID: febfad

>>928182

definitely thank rack and I agree big time about asking how your mom was!
>>
No. 928191 ID: c8452a

I was going to suggest that Ricardo instead tell his mom to move somewhere he didn't know about, but I bet she wouldn't be happy with that.

Still, I also don't just trust random dens that you've never met and don't even know about their reputation. Like, if any of them are at all mercurial that's a bad situation.

So really, that's a half-hearted thank you
for and a complicated situation from someone who is an asshole. No hugs whatsoever.
>>
No. 928208 ID: 846394

>>928191
Agreed on the hugs. Even if we did want to do it, dunno if we could get past all the weirdness of having just fought her, her turning into our mum and all. Helping her up, bein' a grumbly squirmy mess and tryna get somewhere better before working through everything or collapsing, cool. Going in for a full hug, maybe Pascal'd be better at that right now
>>
No. 928210 ID: fde9cb

express as much gratitude as we can in our very conflicted state (honestly i'm not sure we're capable, emotionally speaking, of hugging right now).
>>
No. 928229 ID: b463f2

Good job Ricardo, you did it! You may have only gotten the chance to win because Rack was being overconfident, but You sure Did It once you got that opportunity, and impressed both Kel and Pascal - that's gotta feel good! Bask in that glow for a bit.

I! Love! Rack! and it's Awesome that she got some protection going on for Andy, and I feel like we have to appreciate that.

As to calling Andy - again, I think we need to be really careful how we go about it. Hearing from us at all is going to be HUGELY emotional and confusing for her, and very much the same for us - do we have the time and space to make that contact now? I definitely agree with Soon, but also......... I think Ricardo could use some time to ground in the present, and rest from the drive and that fight.

Maybe we could talk with Pascal about some of our feelings about our mom, and do some work on figuring out how to safely - for us and for her - connect with Andy again, instead of just leaping into doing it without thinking through the chain of reactions that's going to happen.

And then.... let's feed some, because we haven't fed for days and we just used our powers, and probably, some bouncy bouncy after, knowing Ricardo and Pascal...........

also:

>>928176
oh my gosh my feelingssssss..... Rack sweetie.....
>>
No. 928234 ID: 606175

>>928154
Definitely thank her, but i don't think we're too a hug place. Helping her up is enough.

I want to call our mom, but I feel like it might cause more harm then good, we've been missing for over 5 years, it will be a big shock and she seems determined, and might try to find us. So maybe hold of on contacting her.

We need to get cleaned up, and feed also, we weren't healing well in the fight. Then talk to Kel.

Also I'm 1000% Pascal in this panel >>928152
>>
No. 928253 ID: e3a778

It’s cool that Rack set up protection for our mom, but she’s still an asshole who went and stalked her and brought up her (presumed dead) son, reopening old wounds, in order to be better at beating us up. Thanks are in order, but not anything more than that.

Meet up with Pascal, and when we get to the room I think we should call our mom. It’s going to be hard and complicated and we might not be able to tell her the whole truth, but I think more than anything she deserves to know that her son is alive (kind of.) She’s probably been imagining all kinds of awful things that could have happened and grieving. She deserves to know that we’re more or less okay, even if it makes things much more complicated in the future.
>>
No. 928358 ID: 270774
File 155417729219.png - (117.46KB , 800x525 , 432.png )
928358

“... Yeah.” Ricardo’s throat is tight and sore. He ignores it. “Thanks.”

He doesn’t want to say more than that. He doesn’t want Rack to touch him. He doesn’t even particularly want her to be acting this friendly. All he can think about is Rack picking at his mother’s scabs, and then sitting outside her apartment, watching her through the window.

He doesn’t really want to be friends, right now.

There are still questions, though, and he asks them. “Did she seem — I don’t know. Was she okay. Is she doing alright.”

Rack sighs, and if she was trying for tact, it doesn’t land. “Dude, I don’t know what to tell you. Like, if I’m being honest? She looked like somebody whose kid has been missing for five years, talking about her missing kid. So, like, ‘okay’ and ‘alright’ are not words I would use.” She shrugs — or maybe she’s just rolling her shoulders to loosen them. “But I meant it, when I said she’s tough. And I also meant it when I said she was really trying to give me some hope, or something. I still don’t think she believed it herself, but… well. Let’s say she’s holding it together, even if I can’t say she’s ‘okay.’”

“Okay.” His throat tightens, tightens, as if constricted from the outside. He wants this conversation to be over.
>>
No. 928359 ID: 270774
File 155417730779.png - (93.28KB , 800x525 , 433.png )
928359

And it is, a moment later, because Pascal barrels into him hard enough that he stumbles a few steps.

“Ricardo! You were so cool!” Pascal’s arms are around his waist, his body pressing cool through the thin fabric of Ricardo’s tank top, and he’s rubbing his face enthusiastically against Ricardo’s shoulder. “How clever, to use your shirt to pull her like this, and —”

He stops, suddenly, eyes roving uncertainly over Ricardo’s face, and his breathless smile drops into a small, puzzled frown. “Ricardo? Are you not happy, to have won?”

Ricardo can’t tell what face he’s making. Apparently it’s bad. He looks away. “I’m tired.” To the side, he sees Rack watching them with vague interest. He doesn’t like that. “Come on. Let’s go.”
>>
No. 928360 ID: 270774
File 155417734397.png - (102.23KB , 800x525 , 434.png )
928360

“Oh, yes, of course!” Pascal glances over his shoulder briefly, trying to follow Ricardo’s glare, but he’s quickly ushered towards the ballroom doors. “Kel has given me the keys to our room already. Isn’t it so odd, that they are doing it as these little cards lately, instead of as proper metal keys! It has been a while since I have used a hotel, and so I forgot that it was this way now. Look, these little cards even have a crown on them, like the logo of the hotel, but with this ink that is so shiny, so I really think they are cute, and...” His usual bright chattering loses momentum and speed, and Ricardo looks down to find Pascal looking at him intently again.

“I’m fine,” he says, before Pascal can even make any inquiries. Pascal furrows his brow. Ricardo’s only barely aware of where they’re going, catching signs out of his peripheral and changing course as needed. He crosses his arms when they get into the elevator. Pascal hasn’t said anything, still, and he dreads the inevitable.

“You were hurt,” Pascal says, finally.

Ricardo exhales and drops his head back against the mirrored wall. “It’s fine. It wasn’t that bad, and it’s all already healed. I should feed, though, because —”

“It hurt you,” Pascal says again, more firmly this time, and Ricardo reluctantly lets his head roll to the side, just enough to glance at him.

He can’t think of anything to say, so he doesn’t say anything. Pascal also seems to be struggling. When he finally does speak, his voice is quiet.

“I don’t understand what you are feeling,” he admits. He’s fussing with the hem of his long sleeve, the side of one claw scraping softly against the velvet. “I could not understand why it was so difficult for you, the beginning of this fight.” He’s speaking very slowly, with a kind of focus and caution that feels uncharacteristic. “I cannot remember my mother’s name, or her face.”

He tires of fidgeting with his sleeves and looks up at Ricardo again, tone brightening. “But, of course, this means if I think of her, I do not feel any pain. It can be better that way, I think. It can be best to forget.”

Ricardo knows he’s trying to help. He tries, with all his might, not to be frustrated by this. “I think I’m going to need some privacy,” he says, quietly. “When we get back to the room.”

Pascal looks back down at his hands, the corners of his smile wavering. “Ah. To call her, probably?” He doesn’t respond, which is enough for Pascal to continue. “Well. I will tell you, plainly, that I think this is a bad idea. Maybe you will think me cruel. But it is better to just abandon these things. It is easier if your sire forbids you—”

Ricardo snaps his gaze down again, tense and reactive, and Pascal lets out an unsteady exhale and makes a loose, aimless gesture. “No, no. I am not saying I will. But I was forbidden, and so it was easier for me than if I could do as I liked.”

The elevator comes to a stop, and they step out. “I do not have the right to forbid you from anything,” Pascal continues. “You can do as you like, always.” The room isn’t too far down the hall, and Pascal pauses at the door, both keycards still held loosely in his palm. “If you would like me to leave you to do this, I will.” He slides one keycard out from under the other, towards Ricardo, and looks up at him. “But … you will send me a message when you are finished, yes? And I will come back.” He tries for a smile, again. “I can draw you a bath. Kel is impatient, but you need some little rest.”
>>
No. 928362 ID: 4f943d

maybe we should wait? it's been five years, a few days isn't going to make a difference. kel and her wards seem to eschew the traditional vampire way of doing things, we should ask them how they felt, what they did with human relations, if they had any when they were turned
>>
No. 928363 ID: 2e6ab6

HHHHHHHHH Pascal's trying SO hard to be considerate!!! For now just I think you should just nod and promise to send him a message when you're ready to see him. He might say stupid shit, but he means well, and he clearly wants to see you happy, at least... Don't take anything out on him. At least. Not right now.
>>
No. 928364 ID: 02e2dc

it hurts to say this, but i still think calling your mom is a bad idea. like, what are you gonna say to her? "hey, i've been missing for 5 years, but i can't tell you where i am or what i'm doing? and i'm never coming back, sorry?" imo that's even worse than her not knowing.

pascal may not know how you feel, but he's trying to help despite that. i think it's sweet of him... don't hold it against him
>>
No. 928365 ID: aedfd9

Yeah... maybe we should just have a back, think about undeath, and figure some stuff out about what's going on in our head before calling our mom - it'll be a pretty startling phone call for her anyway and we'd want to know how to answer all the questions she definitely has. Maybe call her around dawn, as we're going to bed and she's waking up? But first - figure out how we're feeling, what we're hoping for from our near future, and whether to bring her to Vegas.
>>
No. 928367 ID: b1b4f3

>>928360
It might be easier to just forget. It might hurt less in the long run. But that's just how much it'd hurt you. You can do something to ease your mother's pain, so you will.
It'll be short. You just need to let her know that you're not dead, but you can't come home. You're finishing something you started. Tell her not to worry, she's not in danger and you've got powerful allies who are helping you grow strong enough to keep yourself safe. Today was your first day of training and it seemed to go well.
Tell her you don't know when you'll call her again.
>>
No. 928368 ID: 7e9c89

calling her while you're this upset is.. not a good idea, wait til you've thought about it and are calm - pascal's really trying, though. he's a good boy . it'd be nice to take a bath alone n try and unwind before going back out, also feed? probably??
>>
No. 928369 ID: 243f59

Cool story Pascal but there is no way Ricardo is going to intentionally forget Andy. Pascal is trying to be as sensitive as he is capable of but jeez he's an ass. Ricardo will suffer under his good boy guilt, thanks.

Before Pascal goes, awkwardly ask if you can fuck later. Physical activity where no one is turning into his mother will be comforting before sleep.

Then call Andy. You don't have to actually say anything, but call her. Tho, is your cell number private? If not, find a payphone or work out another way to call her without opening things up for her to call back. There's a shitload of auto-diallers and whatever it could be instead of her long lost son, so it wouldn't be suspicious.
>>
No. 928370 ID: 7011e0

hmm. i don't know if we are ready just yet to call her, especially since it's going to be a huge fucking deal and she's going to want to see us IMMEDIATELY (or think it's a cruel joke and i don't want to think about that) but we aren't really going to have any other time we're going to be in one spot for a while. so, i say shoot. this will be hard but i don't want us going up against the cradle with any regrets.

say yes to that bath though, and thank pascal for trying. he's doing his best at least. maybe being around non-cradle people will improve his social skills
>>
No. 928371 ID: 77945f

RICARDO CALL YOUR MOM CHALLENGE

maybe consult kel (you can just text her) on if she knows any Safe ways for you to be able to call your mom but not put her in danger. ricardo i am begging you to find a way to call your mom. you don't have to tell her ur a vampire now (although i doubt she would tell anyone) but just like!!! CALL HER!!!!!!

i would suggest cute riscal bathtime shenanigans but that can wait cuz ricardo needs to be alone to process things. as someone else suggested, calm down before calling her. which is why i think it's a good idea to ask kel about ensuring ur mom's safety!!!
>>
No. 928372 ID: 8ca664

sleeping on it might be a good idea and gives us time to think of what to tell andy (if ricardo calls her). obviously telling her you're a vampire is not an option but maybe there's something we can say that won't crush her or give her false hope. but i'm not sure if that's better than just leaving her to always wonder what happened to her kid.
seconding sending pascal a text when you're done, he's trying really hard to give you the space you need and that's sweet.
>>
No. 928373 ID: e21b4e

tell him that youre, thinking about calling her but you dont know, and tell him thanks. hold his hand, very gently. its not like you can see her or tell her anything, that's too dangerous right now. you're stuck in vegas - you have cradle vamps on your tail, and youre in danger. to call her, to be able to say nothing, not where you are or what happened or anything substantiate, and to have to tell her im sorry mãe but i cant see you right now and i dont know when i will, that will hurt you. that will hurt you both.
>>
No. 928374 ID: eb66b1

Ok my smart brain knows calling mom is probably a bad idea
However
my dumb brain is incredibly distressed right now and i want mom to know we're okay.... bring her to the hotel or something!! Call her cell!!!she needs to know we're alive!!!
>>
No. 928375 ID: 4675d0

Pascal must go get condoms to make it up to Ricardo (whom talks to him mom for a second and eats and needs relief before seeing the pack).
>>
No. 928376 ID: 15ee9e

>>928368
>>928362
i like these suggestions! also if we do call, it might be better to leave a voice mail. it would be easier on us emotionally, and we can plan out what we're going to say without fearing questions we cant safely answer. does andy have a facebook or something (for that matter, do we?)? we can see how she's doing that way without having to make direct contact tonight in our current emotional state.
>>
No. 928377 ID: fde9cb

tbh i'm starting to doubt whether we should contact Mom at all. this is a woman who didn't even want us to fight in the schoolyard - how's she going to react to 'hey Mom, i'm still alive (in a sense), i've killed dozens of people and will kill hundreds more.' what we even do? we either tell her that we're alive but nothing else, leaving her in a torturous state of confusion, or... what? let her know we're a monster now? induct her into vampire society? depressing as it is, letting her think we're dead might be the least awful choice. maybe there's a way to give her and ourselves closure without completely upending her entire world.

in the meantime, just take some time to think things through and get our head straight.
>>
No. 928378 ID: b1b4f3

>>928377
Correction, she thought it was okay that he was fighting, but didn't like how far he was going. He put a kid in the hospital.
>>
No. 928384 ID: 70df1e

thank pascal, promise to call him back when youre done and call your MOM
>>
No. 928386 ID: b463f2

yes, let's have some time to process and reflect before reaching out. I think it's really important for Ricardo to think about his feelings and experiences, and how he sees the structure for this time going forward - and how that interacts with the potential paths of connecting with Andy.

I really appreciate that Pascal is working on being careful with what he says, and on clarifying that Ricardo's path is his own to decide.
>>
No. 928388 ID: c8452a

Jeez, all it took was one post and already the massive mom call backdown. Of course he should call her. It's not about how he feels, it's about helping his mom cope. Which will obviously improve Ricardo's mood but it should be about helping her.

Also who knows how much time he has. He's hunted now, when he wasn't before. Both him and his mom could have not as much time as they'd hope. Also, she's strong but she shouldn't have to keep struggling with this any longer than necessary. If Ricardo can just be strong enough to call her now, for just a little while longer, he could let her stop fighting that dread.
>>
No. 928403 ID: c1eaac

promise to call pascal in later, take a little bit of time to calm down and let the adrenaline wear off (maybe have a glass of water), then call your MOM
>>
No. 928405 ID: 5496d2

you've just had to fight someone who was using your mum's form. now is not even remotely the time to try and have a conversation with her. i think that you should thank pascal, acknowledge that he's trying to understand and let him know you also understand what he's saying too, then take a bath and try to calm down as much as you can.

think about WHY you want to call her and what it would do for her. would it hurt her to know you'll never see each other again? will it make her happy to hear from you regardless? this will be HUGE to her either way and can't be taken lightly. we have to figure out our precise goal with calling her - even if it does end up purely being Good Boy Guilt - before we do anything.
>>
No. 928407 ID: c1212a

Don't call, write. You suck eggs at expressing yourself verbally on any day of the week, upset or not, and you don't want anything to happen because a semipublic phoneline was bugged. Snail mail should be safe, you can even use a remailing service if you're feeling paranoid.
>>
No. 928415 ID: 8e4a5f

call your mom. tell her you're alive, at least. maybe she'll be angry for the soul-crushing radio silence, but you'll have to take that. you've seen some shit in those 5 years and were kinda hyperfocused on training to kill pascal but you could have called at any point. do it now, and let her voice calm you, even if she gets angry. you have no obligation to tell her what you are doing, but even knowing your out there at all is a big comfort for a parent
>>
No. 928427 ID: febfad

>>928377
agree with this - do not call your mom. she loves you deeply, but for a human i think its better to believe your son to be dead than having to reconcile the boy you raised with a killer who will continue to kill.

i don't think you should forget her, though. it's important to remember her and remember the kind of person she brought you up to be, new set of morals notwithstanding.
>>
No. 928433 ID: 97d823

ricardo *do not call your mom*!!!! it might make *you* feel better, but what will you even say to her?? "hi, it's your dead son, letting you know that I'm not 'dead' but I'm not coming home either." like what???? that would just make her feel worse!! if you really want to do something for your mom, then let her find peace on her own time. she may never fully recover, but she'll feel even worse if her baby is refusing to come home for some unknown reason!! you already know the kind of person she is, so do you *really* think that she'll just let you go?? she'll try to come after you, which could get her killed or even turned!! do you really want that for her??
>>
No. 928434 ID: 23dc9d

We should call out mom, despite what anyone else is saying here. We don't have to give our life story to her or anything, but just letting her know that you are alive is enough. It doesn't necessarily have to be calling her directly because I can get that is hard, but maybe voice mail or some other kind of message could suffice.

I don't think Ricardo should do that now however, especially not RIGHT after this fight and with his emotions like this. Its better to sleep on it until he has a clearer head to form words and confront this. It SHOULD still happen though we can't suddenly get cold feet.
>>
No. 928440 ID: 36cd08

I think calling her would help her but...what are we going to say to her?

Tell her that we're fine? Do you think Ricardo's mom would just...accept a vague answer like that? I'm not opposed to the idea but also--we really need to think about what we're going to say to her. Choose our words carefully.
>>
No. 928441 ID: e3a778

I agree that we need to call her, for her sake more than Ricardo’s, but I also agree we need to wait and calm down before we do. Maybe we should just accept that bath first. Even if Ricardo’s not feeling up to coping via sexy break, being able to get clean and relax a little should put him in a better mindset.

Talking to Pascal about it might help, as well. I understand that Ricardo probably doesn’t want to spill everything he’s feeling to him (and is probably incapable of doing so even if he wanted), but the fact that Pascal’s mindset is so different from ours - so inhuman - might actually help put things in perspective.
>>
No. 928472 ID: d00c95

>>928433
I disagree with this, from what we know of Andy she's more than happy to let Ricardo live his life even if that means he drifts away from her. The issue was him up and vanishing without a word, she could have handled him saying "I'm going to Europe to fight bears, probs gonna die" or literally any word better than ghosting her. So knowing he's not dead in a ditch will help her even if we don't give her more than that or come back. Giving her any kind of closure is a good idea, and since Ricardo isn't dead (undead, ttly different) that closure won't come in the form of his body turning up, so we're already exceeding expectations.

Even if it's not immediately we need to call her. No excuses.
>>
No. 928473 ID: 2e6ab6

I'm not inherently *against* calling mom, but we need to seriously think about if that's the best idea, and if we do decide to, we need a very, very coherent plan on what to say, or at least, what we can tell her. Right now the best thing I can think of is just, after promising Pascal that you'll call when you're up to it, taking a little to just be alone and decompress. Figure out the best course of action from here.
>>
No. 928475 ID: c8452a

>>928427
You know she doesn't have to learn about the murdering.
>>
No. 928540 ID: 0c8cbe

Yeah I reckon we need to call her. Even if it's a not-great idea at the moment, and even if it's pretty brief. If we can go plan it a bit or ask Kel or sleep on it then cool, but with our head the way it is it feels like those options are gonna be hard. Hopefully she trusts us enough to be okay with keeping it (relatively) brief and mostly mentioning that we're okay and asking her to lay low for a little while until we can talk more properly.

>>928374
yis, dumb human brain go
>>
No. 928600 ID: 14e641

I still want to call her....just to tell her he's okay and to be careful. Though talking to Kel and the girls is probably a good idea, just to see what they did.
Even if je geels to impatient just have some caution about how you say things.

Pascal is sweet, but old and doing his best. We can talk to him later, make sure he knows we appreciate him trying.

Also, how's the undead boner meter going?
>>
No. 928709 ID: 270774
File 155443712915.png - (123.92KB , 800x525 , 435.png )
928709

“I don’t know.” Ricardo leans against the door. Two humans emerge from a room a few spots down the hall, chatting and laughing, and Ricardo waits until they’ve passed out of earshot before speaking again. “I don’t know. I have to tell her I’m alive. I owe her that. But—”

He reaches out, hesitantly, and takes the keycard. “I need to — get myself together first. Think it through.” A pause. “Maybe I will take that bath. Clear my head.”

“Ah, yes, well — if you are determined to do this, then yes, I think it will be better if you are calm.” Pascal hovers at the doorway as Ricardo unlocks it. “Euhhh — you are still wanting privacy, or…?”

“Oh.” Ricardo pauses, too, and now they’re both standing half-in and half-out of the room. “No, it’s… fine. Might be good to talk about it.”
>>
No. 928710 ID: 270774
File 155443715162.png - (126.92KB , 800x525 , 436.png )
928710

The room is nicer than Ricardo anticipated, though he doesn’t have much experience with luxury resorts. Maybe all the rooms in the hotel are like this. There’s only one queen bed — thanks, Kel — and a wall-to-wall window, with their bags already lined up against one wall, and when they turn a corner to look at the bathroom Pascal lets out a shriek of delight at the oversized tub. Ricardo leans over to peer into it and sees jacuzzi jets set into the side. It won’t be an uncomfortable stay, at least.
>>
No. 928711 ID: 270774
File 155443718740.png - (94.42KB , 800x525 , 437.png )
928711

Pascal’s already started running the bath and is sitting on the side of the tub, curiously sniffing each of the tiny bottles in turn and each time deciding to squeeze a healthy dollop into the running water. Ricardo can at least strip without thinking about it, after the road trip, though he looks curiously over at Pascal once he’s finished. “Not getting in?”

“Oh, no.” Pascal is playing with the flip cap of the complimentary shampoo. “What if then you do decide to have your privacy, and then I will have to leave the room with wet hair, and I will look so terrible! No, I will just wait. I can bathe when you are having your audience with Kel.”
>>
No. 928712 ID: 270774
File 155443721848.png - (115.92KB , 800x525 , 438.png )
928712

“Suit yourself.” Ricardo steps over the edge and sinks into the water, and he has to admit it helps immediately, a good chunk of his overactive thoughts quieting and blurring as simple comfort overrides them. Warmth is easy to process. Pascal leans over and touches his hair, lightly, urging him to sink down far enough to wet it before coming back up again.

“There, see.” Pascal seems pretty pleased with himself for having come up with the idea to begin with. “Doesn’t that feel better?”

“Physically, I guess.” Eugh. Feelings talk. Ricardo is kind of hoping if he stays quiet, Pascal will just fill in the empty space with easy chatter, but — he also wants to talk, strangely, and it’s frustrating to have no idea what to say. “The rest of it is still… you know.”

“I don’t know,” Pascal reminds him softly. He starts working a little shampoo into Ricardo’s hair, and Ricardo’s first instinct is to push him off and tell him he doesn’t have to do that, but — it feels good. He lets it go. “I, euhh… you know, one thing I do remember about my mother is that she dressed very well.” His fingers work gently against Ricardo’s skull, slow and aimless. “I remember sitting on the floor when I was very little, almost wrapped in her skirts, and being admiring the, euuuhh — the embroidery, on the fabric. Silk and brocade, all with flowers and things. My father was a merchant, so he could bring her all of the latest fashions, from the rest of the continent, and even fabric and jewelry from Asia.”

It’s funny, that only a week ago Ricardo found his voice reedy and annoying — now, it at least has enough familiarity that there’s something almost reassuring about it. Because he talks so much, Ricardo reminds himself. He talks so damn much that I’ve just gotten used to it.

“This was all I wanted, too.” Pascal dips his hands in the water to wash the suds off, and then coaxes Ricardo to rinse his hair. When he emerges again, Pascal starts on his shoulders, an absentminded massage that again Ricardo can’t quite bring himself to reject. “Well, euhh… it was the same thing almost every man in my time was wanting, I think. Simple, but still a little greedy. To have a pretty, clever wife, and to take my father’s successful trade— to bring her home beautiful things.” He laughs, running his thumbs down the line of Ricardo’s spine. “To have a dozen healthy children!”

Ricardo snorts, in spite of himself. “A dozen is a bit much.”

Pascal leans in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “This is not nice to say, but you must have a dozen, because this way by the time it is fifteen years later, maybe six of them will still survive.”

“Jesus—”

“Well.” Pascal leans back again, eyes lidding slightly. “I can make nasty cruel jokes about this because I never did it. I never had that pain. And now I have died, and I cannot.”
>>
No. 928713 ID: 270774
File 155443723219.png - (88.10KB , 800x525 , 439.png )
928713

Ricardo looks down at the water, where clusters of bubbles are pushed by miniature currents. Pascal’s hands slide below the surface, only briefly, to rub soothing pressure against his still-aching ribs. “When you are dead, then you have to change what you want,” Pascal says. “You cannot have what a living man has.”

Ricardo closes his eyes. He doesn’t know what he wants — he can’t even think of anything he wanted when he was alive. It’s easier to just listen to Pascal talk. “So what do you want, now?”

Pascal withdraws his hands and smooths warm water over Ricardo’s shoulders. “I want to go home,” he says, simply. “But when I know I will be welcomed back.” His fingers dig gently into a tense spot at the back of Ricardo’s neck. “And until then, I want only to drink and make merry. I want to feed well, and I want to listen to nice music. I want to sleep as much as I like, and I want no one to bother me. I want to masturbate! Ehehe. And to read books I already know I like, again and again.” He pauses, eyes lidding further, until when Ricardo looks up at him they’re just two dark crescents of lashes. “To want anything more difficult than this makes me feel so tired.”
>>
No. 928716 ID: 7011e0

mmm... what do we want, ricardo? we only focused on killing pascal and now training with kel to deal with the cradle but... let's think of some small happy things we would like.
>>
No. 928717 ID: 2e6ab6

Uhhhhhhhhh maybe don't respond too much for now and just listen until your brain clicks and you can talk better? Just... Let your brain sort through things while you listen to Pascal?
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No. 928718 ID: b54723

Pascal is showing us his heart, and I think we should react positively to that. also im sobbing. maybe a tear falls out of your eye in awe or something.
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No. 928719 ID: c77835

ask pascal to talk about his favourite books, get some of that mindless chatter going. He probably likes bodice rippers or something.
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No. 928720 ID: b3453c

God Pascal is relatable.

Thank him for coming along instead of sticking with the easy stuff. Not that it's not his responsibility, but it's still appreciated.

And yeah, think about what you'd like to do. Any goals to carry you after the whole thing with the Cradle is over? Maybe you should get back into music.
>>
No. 928721 ID: 70df1e

share with pascal your own goals and likes? things you cant have anymore and things you can, things that are new that you enjoy?

also longterm plan here guys but listen. hear me out. the cradle sucks but if pascal wants the house we should get strong enough to beat up every bathory and just give him the entire house. but no bathorys allowed ok
>>
No. 928727 ID: 7e9c89

...finding a goal that isn't, well, killing pascal, and getting to a place where we can call our mom, has 2 be priority. small things, maybe - we can use teaching pascal tech as an excuse to find games or something that makes you happy? but, thanking pascal for telling us what he *does* remember would be good
>>
No. 928729 ID: d63bc0

god i dont have anythign to suggest im just so overwhelmingly gay for pascal its overriding my synapses
>>
No. 928730 ID: 51d10f

Even if you don't have any big goals in (un)life you know right now, figuring out what you like can be a step in figuring out what you want. Think about if you have any hobbies, or if not, if you previously have had any hobbies? You used to play the violin, right? Did that make you happy? Even if you don't end up wanting to like, play music as a vampire career or whatever, if you liked playing the violin, it might be worth it to try getting a violin and picking up playing again. That could be a good 'starter' goal to have. (Actually, do you know where the old violin your mom got you ended up? Would she have it?)
>>
No. 928733 ID: 23dc9d

It is good to try to find something possibly you'd like that you can talk about, even if its small. Despite Pascal's obvious issues he is showing, the way he talks of small things he would like to do would make it easier for you to think about that too. I am also curious about what books he likes though
>>
No. 928741 ID: c8452a

There's so many things to want and no reason to limit yourself. You're allowed to be greedy, you have thousands of years.

You want your mom to live the rest of her life happy and safe. You want that for yourself, too.
You could want to prove your strength so that nobody wants to fuck with you, and have the strength to back that up. You could want to use that strength to give Pascal what he wants, and to keep him safe once he gets it, or better yet convincing him that he shouldn't want it.

Once you have everything out in the open you can decide which you can work towards.
>>
No. 928751 ID: 14e641
928751

That sounds pretty damn good.
>>
No. 928761 ID: b463f2

this is, so tender and sweet..... maybe, Ricardo, you want more times like this - time to relax, and be taken care of, and just, let go of worries and fears.

and maybe, you can also figure out a way to have Andy taken care of, for the rest of her life - and maybe, once you've made contact, to give her the option to be a vampire, for her to make that decision on her own, with full knowledge of the consequences. No matter which way she decides, it sounds cathartic to give someone else that decision, and especially when it's someone genuinely close to you.

I also think finding either the or a violin would be good, too - finding more ways to have beauty, joy, and peace in your life - both you and Pascal enjoy music, and it would be nice to bring that into the fold more often.
>>
No. 928771 ID: bb78f2

>>928713
How contemplative are you about this existence, Pascal?

You may not remember your mother, but do you remember thinking about her in your earlier days as a vampire? Did you mourn the idea of her passing when you thought it eventually occurred? I'm almost tempted to ask about the stable boy, it sound like Pascal eventually turned him, or asked him to be turned from the dream, but that wouldn't be right.

You know, when you reflect about it, the most important person in your life must have been your Mom, Ricardo. Most people have to accept the idea that sometime in their future that they will have to live at least a few decades without their parents around, but a vampire has to live centuries, millenia without them.

Even though you said you'd never turn anyone... thinking about turning at least her must be tempting. But you'd be a Momma's Boy for eternity then. You could never let her go, never grow up. It's a tragic thought. I think Pascal went through these feelings in regards to that stable boy that crushed his heart later. It might be a lesson.
>>
No. 928787 ID: 04b998

>>928713
I think its okay for us to tell him we don't know what we want. For all of our undead life we've been looking for him, we all know how that went.

Right now, all I want is a warm bath, and a gentle hand in my hair (is that too sappy?)

For real though this scene is so soft and is the biggest mood.
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No. 928792 ID: b54723

Just bask in Pascal's beauty...ask Pascal his fave drinks maybe...that would be cool perhaps. It would be nice and tender. Maybe if he likes wine we can ask him his fave type of wine.
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No. 928813 ID: 4675d0

Ricardo should bond with pascal by emphasizing the message "maybe we can find what we really cant when we find some peace." Pascal has been surviving and making the best out of his freedom from the coven. And that's admirable, strong, brave. Hes a survivor and has been kept in arrested development for centuries. Hes spoiled and bratty, because hes not an adult yet. So why not act like a child?
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No. 928822 ID: 4675d0

Will talking to Ricardos mom make him stronger or damage him for training? Like he should weigh things out. Shes protected. Maybe a letter is best? Maybe a quick check in phone call. You know when he hears her voice hes going to break. Then what? "Mama I'm okay. Super okay. But my boyfriend, who killed me and made me undead, his family is trying to kill us and I'll protect him till I die."
A Latina mama will not just sit by for that.
>>
No. 928839 ID: 23dc9d

>>928822

Yeah the idea is that we DONT tell her everything, especially that we were killed by a white boy. No need to add another person who would want to kill Pascal. But we can at least tell her that her son is still around and, by all definitions "okay"
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No. 928870 ID: f71363

Compromise: call the people watching her and check in with them to make sure she's safe. She can learn we're alive and maybe choose to be turned AFTER we deal with the fact that yknow, the cradle is trying to kill us.

Also, we want to protect and care for people we love. Get even better at the violin. Get some ducks? Play violin to the ducks? Idk man immortality is terrifying
>>
No. 928873 ID: 328640

how long did it take pascal to figure his own undeathly wants out?
>>
No. 928875 ID: 3eb4a2

Being a vampire just sounds more depressing everyday...but...maybe talk about stuff you can do together while you're in Vegas? Or even afterwards? Some positives to make you both feel better :>
>>
No. 928917 ID: 270774
File 155462316434.png - (89.83KB , 800x525 , 440.png )
928917

“Yeah, well.” Ricardo tilts his head back, eyes up to meet Pascal’s lowered profile. “Thanks. For coming along, I mean, instead of just… sticking with the easy stuff.”

“You did not very much give me a choice,” Pascal points out, scoffing.

“Mm.” Pascal has gone back to stroking his hair, and Ricardo closes his eyes again. “You could’ve ditched me, though. At any time, this past week.”

“You would only have hunted me again.” Ricardo feels Pascal moving, and then cold lips are pressing against his own, soft and closed. When Pascal moves away again, he doesn’t go far, his lips brushing against Ricardo’s skin with his next words. “Better the devil I know.”

Ricardo finds his hands in Pascal’s hair before he really knows what he’s doing, dripping water, sinking into the silky curls. He holds him there, bent over him, and Pascal doesn’t protest.
>>
No. 928918 ID: 270774
File 155462318186.png - (97.73KB , 800x525 , 441.png )
928918

“I don’t know what I want,” he admits. His voice is low. “Until now, I just wanted to find you. I wasn’t thinking about anything else. And before this I—”

You’re the kind of person who doesn’t make an impact on anybody’s life.

Ricardo’s throat dries up. Pascal is finally starting to pull away, though in that sneaky, clumsily tactful way if someone trying to do so discreetly — maybe this is too much. He lets him go and leans back, trying to rearrange his voice into something less conflicted.

“I want to not get killed by the Cradle, how about that,” he says, and the tension breaks, Pascal smiling at him again. “And I would prefer if my mother wasn’t killed by the Cradle, either.” A brief pause. “You, either.”

Pascal sighs lightly, toying with the surface of the water with the tips of his fingers. “Well, that is why we are stalling, I think.”

Ricardo thinks the solution is just for Pascal to not go back at all, but — well. Maybe that’s a goal for another day. Bringing it up now seems like a bad move.

“That’s why I’m training,” Ricardo counters — and that seems like a fine substitute, firm without being too combative — before sinking back down further into the water. “But you know what? Right now, all I want is a warm bath.” Pascal laughs again, genuinely, and Ricardo feels emboldened. “And your hand in my hair again.”

“Well! See how skilled you are, Ricardo!” Pascal humors him immediately, fingers carding smooth and gentle through Ricardo’s hair. “Already you are achieving all your dreams.”
>>
No. 928919 ID: 270774
File 155462319621.png - (170.76KB , 800x525 , 442.png )
928919

It’s not much later that Ricardo feels about as relaxed as he thinks he’s capable of, and Pascal leaves him to drain the bath and get dressed. When he emerges from the bathroom, Pascal looks up from a piece of stationary on the desk, clasping his hands loosely behind his back. “You are looking like you are better.”

“I feel better,” says Ricardo, and it’s the truth. It’s hard to stay steady when he knows what he has to do next, but he’d rather not think of how things would have gone if he’d tried without grounding himself like this first.

Pascal’s still standing a little distance away, swaying on the spot. “You would like me to leave, now? To me, it sounded that you were determined to speak with her.”

“I — yeah.” Ricardo’s already retrieved his phone from the pants he was wearing before, and he turns it over in his hands, mindlessly. “But thank you. For helping me get my head back on straight. Gave me a chance to be more sure this is what I want to do.”

“Well, of course, Ricardo.” Now he does approach, slowly, hands still behind his back. “I tell you already, if anything, I at least feel obligated to care for you.”

Ricardo doesn’t know what to say to that, so he just reaches out and ruffles Pascal’s hair. Pascal seems to like it, at least, and when Ricardo lets his arm drop to his side again Pascal turns for the door.

“As we said, you can tell me when you are going to see Kel, and I can return. For now I will just go and have a look around, I think.” He pauses with his hand on the doorknob, glancing over his shoulder. “I hope this gives you what you want.”
>>
No. 928920 ID: 270774
Audio call.mp3 - (2.79MB )
928920

forever - j’san
>>
No. 928921 ID: 270774
File 155462322095.png - (158.06KB , 800x525 , 443.png )
928921

The door closes quietly behind him, and Ricardo sits down on the edge of the bed, phone in hand. He takes a deep, unsteady breath.

This is a phone he bought after he died. The only contacts saved in it are ones from the past week. But he still has his mother’s number memorized, even after all this.
>>
No. 928922 ID: 270774
File 155462324304.png - (81.55KB , 800x525 , 444.png )
928922

The line connects after two rings. Ricardo holds his breath — it feels the same as when he isn’t. “Castro speaking.”

Time seems to stop. It resumes, shuddering and jilting, when she speaks again. “Hello? Who is this?”

“Sorry,” Ricardo blurts, and the line goes silent. Shit. He swallows, and then switches to Portuguese. The syllables are heavy on his tongue, a little unfamiliar from years of disuse, but it could never leave him entirely. “Hey, mãe. It’s me.”

His mother makes a noise, over the phone, that Ricardo’s never heard before. It’s something strained and taut and disbelieving, and it sounds fragile in a way that he can’t reconcile with his memories of her, vivid as they are. He starts talking again, stumbling over himself, as if he could drown it out. “It’s me, I swear. This isn’t — it’s not a — I don’t know. It’s me.”

“Oh, Jesus.” This is less like his mother’s voice than Rack’s imitation, and yet he knows it’s real, ten times more real than anything that happened downstairs — a hundred times, a thousand. Her voice shakes and wraps and he would recognize it even if it were worse than this. “Oh, god — Ricardo? Where are you?”

“I can’t tell you that, mãe.” Ricardo feels like his chest is collapsing. There’s a sharp pain, there, worse than anything that he’s felt since he died. He presses his forehead into his hand. “I’m sorry. I can’t, but I just — I wanted you to know that — I’m okay.”

His mother inhales, slow and labored. He hears another noise and realizes, with horror, that this is the first time he’s ever heard his mother cry.

“Where are you?” she demands again. Even through tears, she’s managing to sound firm and commanding. “Come home. Come home. Or — no—” Ricardo hears, faintly in the background, the sound of a chair scraping. “I’ll come get you. All you have to do is tell me where you are, Ricardo, I’ll get a flight.”

“I can’t. I can’t right now.” Ricardo’s throat is tightening again, his eyes hurt, and suddenly he realizes that he’s crying, too. He doesn’t know when it started. There are more important things. “I can’t come home. I can’t tell you what’s happening. When I can, I will, but I don’t know when that’ll be.”

“Ricardo,” his mother says again, in a tone he doesn’t understand, and he pushes past it.

“I love you,” he says. “Mãe, I love you. I just really wanted to say that.” He has to stop, for a second. It’s hard, he realizes, to talk and cry at the same time. He can’t remember the last time he tried. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you anything.”

“Jesus, Ricardo, I don’t care,” she bursts out. He hears her sniffling, hears rustling as she switches the phone to her other ear. “Jesus Christ. It doesn’t matter. I love you so much — god, my boy, you’re alive—”

Not really. There’s a little lump sitting in the pit of Ricardo’s stomach, but he ignores it. “Yeah. I’m okay. And I’m—” He lies, a little. He thinks it’s justified. “I’m safe. Things are just complicated.”

“Well, for fuck’s sake, Ricardo, I would hope it’s fucking complicated,” says his mother, and Ricardo laughs, a strange ragged sound that shares the same breath as a sob, and she does too. It’s the strangest thing he’s ever experienced, but none of this is normal. She’s still laughing when she speaks again. “It better be fucking complicated, for what you put me through—”

“I’m sorry,” Ricardo says again, and he means it so much he aches, even when he’s still weakly chuckling. “I’m sorry.”

He hears her inhale, then exhale again, slow and unsteady. She’s centering herself. Her voice still shakes, but she sounds more like herself. “Alright. You can’t tell me where you are. You can’t tell me what you’ve been doing. You can’t tell me why you disappeared, or when you’ll be home.” Another deep breath. “What the hell can you tell me? Give me something.
>>
No. 928923 ID: 9fcd43

Tell her you've met a nice guy, and some possible friends who seem reliable that are helping you out. Tell her it's been a rough few years, but it looks like things might be starting to get better, in a lot of ways.

And ask how she's doing, too. I mean obviously not great, but you've got to ask.
>>
No. 928924 ID: 4328b4

Tell her you’re pulling your shit together, and you’ve been alone a long time but you’ve got someone helping you now, he’s an asshole but not a bad guy. Tell her you love her and miss her.
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No. 928925 ID: 7011e0

oh /lord/ i'm tearing up a bit haha. well... we can tell her we're doing better. we got our head back on our damn shoulders well enough we realized we should call her. it's all very complicated but i just... really want andy to know we're doing okay, and we're going to /stay/ okay, so we can come back to her safe and sound. just... man this is gonna be a rocky conversation to navigate
>>
No. 928927 ID: 4675d0

Tell her you love her and will explain things later in time. But you’re safe and okay and never meant to leave her. You were in an accident and lost track of time due to your need for revenge. But youre a Castro. You’ll give only as good as you got and you’ll cut out. *cut to Ricardo thinking of dying twice and motivation for training hard*
>>
No. 928928 ID: 2791fd

it breaks my heart but we really can't tell her a single thing
>>
No. 928929 ID: de8aa6

well she deserves at least some form of the truth. even if it means she'll worry about you she's thought you were dead for what? years??
there are people after you that could be after her too and that's why you can't go back home. tell her about the vampire stuff later. idk even if it's not exactly that! lying to her feels so bad >>;
>>
No. 928930 ID: 2e6ab6

Tell her you met a cute guy, and have been on the road with him for a while. He's a bit of an ass, and a little bit of a brat, but you think he's decent at his core. You're staying with some of his friends for a while and they're helping you out. It's been a really crazy few years, but things are at least starting to get a little bit better. It's still complicated, but you're okay.
And then ask her how she's doing. What she's been up to. Try to just... Have a conversation.
>>
No. 928932 ID: f8b2a3

if you tell her the whole truth it's going to be. uh. bad! she might think someone's prank calling her pretending to be you.

like. maybe tell her some people are after you, you don't want them to go after her, and that's why you've been in hiding. that's the best i think you can do without outright lying to your mom.
>>
No. 928933 ID: e69ae1

i have nothing constructive to add please jst tell her you love her more
>>
No. 928935 ID: c8452a

>>928929
Yeah. She needs to know the truth, just a bit. Don't lie, even if it's not the whole truth.
You could also mention that a lot of the time you were gone you spent tracking this guy, and it turned out to be more complicated than you thought. And maybe if she asks, you could talk about Pascal. And Kel! She'd fucking love Kel.
>>
No. 928936 ID: d7f01b

>>928932

this this this. say that some people are after you and it's not safe for you to come home right now, but you're in a safe place with friends who are going to help you handle it.
>>
No. 928937 ID: 0c2325

god i extremely want to be sappy. um. twll her a little abt pascal, and tht youre trying to figure out what you want? so she knows youre trying
>>
No. 928938 ID: 857953

LET HER KNOW YOU LOVE HER... and at LEAST let her know yr not completely alone in this!! She'll still worry of course, but it might give her a little peace
>>
No. 928939 ID: fde9cb

i was against calling Mom but that was so beautiful i've been won over.

i do think we should tell her at least *some* information, but not that we have people after us. we don't want to scare her. maybe just say that we were in a weird incident, and we've spent the last 5 years trying to sort it out. and it's been rough, so rough that everything else kind of got put on hold - hence disappearing and not calling. but we're in a better situation now and we've got some new friends helping us and hopefully things will get a little more normal soon.

I don't think we should mention that we're involved with anyone though. we don't want to make it sound like we abandoned her to elope with Pascal or anything
>>
No. 928952 ID: e38f16

>>928922
oof that's a rough question mom.

i think we should tell her we got into so trouble and that we've been sorting it out. and tell her that we have people who are helping us sort it out. don't mention any romance, or that people are after us though.

tell her to stay safe and that we love her.
>>
No. 928954 ID: aedfd9

Do NOT say "I've met a nice guy" in a cute euphemism way, I don't think this is the time for jokes when she's so shaky and scared for us. Say you've made a friend (friends?), and they're in trouble and they're counting on you, and you're counting on them too. And a lot of things are frightening and kind weird, but you're doing the best you can. And you miss her. And you're gonna see her again.
>>
No. 928957 ID: b463f2

>>928954
Yeah, agree with this and other comments along the same line - I don't think we should tell her we've ~met a guy~, but do let her know we're not alone.

We've already told her we're safe, and that's definitely not true..... unsure if we want to contradict that, but. I think at least we should let her know there's some really complicated situations that we're dealing with, where nothing's really clear cut.

Ask how she is. Ask what she's been doing lately, and what kind of emotional support she has.

Tell her you love her, so much, and that not seeing her was one of the hardest parts of these last 5 years, and that you think of her often, pretty much every day if that's true.
>>
No. 928965 ID: 0f15ab

Yeah if Andy thinks we’ve been gone because we eloped she’ll kill us with her bare hands
>>
No. 928966 ID: d69a6a

>>928927
i second this
and definitely tell her you're not alone, and that you have some good people on your side, but everything is a big hot mess right now, and you're taking her advice that you should've taken when you were younger
>>
No. 928967 ID: bb78f2

>>928922
I got hurt, really bad. Bad enough I couldn't come home for a while. That will make more sense with context. And it could be years before I can give you that context safetly, or even see you again. People want to kill me, and are probably watching you to see if I try to contact you. I think this phone call is safe enough, I just can't come to you in person.

Best similar case scenario I can describe is that I was a witness to a crime. It's not exactly what happened but I really can only elaborate in person. I've had to do terrible things to survive, and must continue to do so. That isn't an excuse, I literally mean I must do terrible things or I will die, no ifs, ands or buts. And I mean the correct definition of literally.
>>
No. 928968 ID: 411454

tell her that you have friends and people who care for you, and that things are dangerous right now but the people on your side are tough as hell and you're going to make it out. tell her there's someone you'd like her to meet when this is all over
>>
No. 928973 ID: 261d0d

"I love you. I - I got into, I got into trouble, and I can't come home or it will follow me to you. I can't do that to you, mãe, I just can't. But I'm not alone, I met people that can help me through it. Do you .. do you have people that can help you through it?"
>>
No. 928987 ID: b1b4f3

>>928922
Alright, tell her you found a new boyfriend.
Don't tell her that people are trying to kill you, that'll just make her worry.
>>
No. 929013 ID: 14e641

Hm, let her know you're learning a lot, meeting a lot of people, making some friends.
Ask her how's she been. Its veen a while, might be the only time in a while you get to check in on her.
>>
No. 929023 ID: 094652

"Mae, you remember that thicc girl who visited you and asked questions about me?

She beat me to the floor and bullied me for being a momma's boy. Then I wrapped my jacket around her face and punched her until her skull caved in. She says she'll want a rematch when her nose is no longer in her brain.

Next week. The doctor says she'll make a full recovery from a shattered skull by next week.

Mae, these people are insane. They're like, mad scientists with holographic disguises and healing nanomachines, and somehow they all think tearing people's throats out with their bare jaws is the pinnacle of modern warfare. I'm supposed to join them by the end of the month.

These past five years I wanted to kill them for experimenting on me, making me kill other people to survive. Of course, it turns out that this is just one cell out of thousands and they're funded by world governments. So no, I can't leave or they'll go to your house and tie you to a bomb. Or just feed you to the dogs.

I... I don't know what else to do.

... I @#$%ed the one who personally injected me with steroids. Multiple times. Am I evil now?"
>>
No. 929029 ID: c1212a

Explain you're safe where you're at, you're with some people you trust, and it's going to stay that way for a while. It's just there's some trouble that isn't your fault, but is your responsibility, and part of that is keeping it from getting near her. You're sorry you went dark for so long, and you'll do better at staying in contact in the future.
>>
No. 929045 ID: 15ee9e

>>928967
this except with a lot less emphasis on the danger we are currently in; we got hurt BAD. we are recovering but it's a slow and painful process. we have new friends who are helping us get back on our feet. definitely dont even allude to romance.
also no telling her that we have to kill ppl to survive. we can't let her know about vampires yet for her own safety.
is there anything on the paper pascal was fiddling with ? he was acting a bit odd as he left.
>>
No. 929046 ID: b1b4f3

It occurs to me that she might get the idea to hire a P.I. to track down Ricardo now that she knows he's alive(well, not really but). He should not say anything to encourage that.
>>
No. 929158 ID: aa0b07

Not a suggestion for what to say, but I really think Ricardo should destroy his phone after this call and get a new one with a new number. Who knows if authorities or vampires are going to try to track him.
>>
No. 929159 ID: c8452a

>>929158
This is already a new phone. It's like five days old.
>>
No. 929193 ID: 26262d

We should call Bunji and tell him that maybe we could go get a drink together one of these days ?
>>
No. 929222 ID: b463f2

>>929159
I think they meant, after having called her from this phone? But also, I believe it was Pascal's phone that was relatively new, and that Ricardo's is from some time closer to after his turning.
>>
No. 929316 ID: 2791fd

>>928954
this sounds good
>>
No. 929527 ID: 270774
File 155510346452.png - (90.12KB , 800x525 , 445.png )
929527

Ricardo settles a little on the bed and takes a few unsteady breaths. His mother waits, more patiently than he would have thought to ask for.

“I can tell you that I’m not alone,” he says, and he hears her sigh in relief. “I, uh. I met somebody. So—”

“You what,” says Andy.

“Uh—”

“It had better be more complicated than that, Ricardo,” she says, and it sounds like her teeth are clenched. “Ricardo, five years, if that’s all this was—”

“No, no, no, mãe, that’s not — no, that’s not what I meant — not, not like that. I met somebody and he’s — he introduced me to a bunch of other people, and. I don’t know them very well yet but they… they seem solid, I guess, and. They’re helping me.” He swallows. “I was alone, for a long time, and now I’m not, and it feels like things are getting better. Or at least if they don’t, there are people who have my back.”

Andy quiets down, seemingly satisfied with that correction, and Ricardo wets his lips before speaking again. “Uh. What about you, mãe?”

“What about me.”

“Do you — do you have anybody. Do people have your back. I mean, you’re not — alone, right. How are you …” God. Christ. “How are you doing?”

She’s quiet — so quiet that he almost asks if she’s still there — but she speaks before he can. “I have my work.”

Ricardo exhales hard through his nose. “That’s not what I mean. That doesn’t count.”

She makes an exasperated little noise — he can almost see her hand on her hip. “Well. The women in the building have all been nuisances. They won’t stop cooking for me, as if I can’t cook for myself—”

“You can’t, mãe,” Ricardo reminds her.

“And—” A beat of hesitation. “Your father has been calling. And visiting, when he can.”
>>
No. 929528 ID: 270774
File 155510348171.png - (104.84KB , 800x525 , 446.png )
929528

Ricardo presses his lips together. “Great. Good to hear.”

“Ricardo.”

“No, it’s good. I’m glad.” Ricardo picks at a thread on the voluminous white comforter, just for a split second before giving up on it. “Shame that this is what it took, but —”

“Ricardo,” his mother says again, her voice quiet but stern. Ricardo shuts up. “He is your father. He’s been as devastated by this as anyone.”

“Cool,” says Ricardo.

“Attitude,” his mother snaps, and there’s something about that little burst of tension in the middle of everything that’s — comforting, somehow, in its normalcy. He shuts up again and she relaxes. “He would want to know,” she tells him.

Ricardo pulls the phone away from his ear for a second, to inhale and roll his neck back and glare at the wall, before returning to the conversation. “Do you think he could keep his mouth shut about it?”

He hears Andy sucking her teeth. “No,” she admits, finally.

“Then no. It’s not safe.” He can sense her gearing up to argue, and he cuts in. “I’m not saying that out of — spite, or resentment, or anything like that. I mean it. You’re the only person I can tell, and even that is — listen, the reason I’m not coming home is I don’t want any of this following me to you.”

“But what would follow you — no, I know. You probably can’t tell me.”

“I can’t,” Ricardo confirms. “It’s — listen, I can say this. It’s… you could call it an accident, I guess, you could call it — me getting hurt, and I’m okay now, but I got — I got so caught up in fixing it that I lost sight of stuff. I thought getting to the bottom of this whole thing was the only thing I could do, and — that’s why I never contacted you, while I was trying, and I’m sorry.” He takes a second to push his hair off his forehead, trying to think of how else to put this, without making it sound… well. Alarming. “I’m finishing something I started.”

Andy considers that for a long moment. “No more, no less,” she says, softly.

“Yeah. Yeah.” Ricardo leans forward, elbow on his knee. “And then I’ll walk away.”
>>
No. 929529 ID: 270774
File 155510349863.png - (84.60KB , 800x525 , 447.png )
929529

“Until then I need you to lay low,” Ricardo says. “Stay in L.A., don’t talk to anybody suspicious. I don’t want you doing anything out of the ordinary.”

“Ricardo,” says his mother, and her voice is low and stern. “Do you have any idea how impossible it is to ask that of me?”

“I know, mãe—”

“You don’t,” she interrupts. “You don’t understand. Until you have children of your own, you won’t.”

Right. Children, which he is definitely going to have. “It’s important,” he says, instead of touching that with a ten foot pole.

She sighs and deliberates. “Ricardo. I’ll agree to that, but only if you agree to keep calling me.”

“I don’t know how frequently I can—”

“It doesn’t have to be every day, Ricardo. I’m not asking for much. But I just have to know how you’re doing, in some way.” Her voice, which had been strengthening, is tumbling back into a kind of weakness that doesn’t suit her. “It was the uncertainty that was killing me. I can’t take that again. I have to know. Even if you can’t really tell me anything — and even if you can only tell me bad news. Even if you can only tell me that things are getting harder.”

Ricardo thinks. His number is private, and so is his mother’s; beyond that, if tracking his phone activity was an issue, Kel’s number is not, and he feels he can safely assume that if following him to who he calls was something that their pursuers were doing, it would have come to a nasty head by now. Infrequent calls, from this number only, are probably about as safe as it gets.

“Yeah,” he says, finally. “Yeah, I can do that. I don’t know how often, but. I will, I promise. I want to talk to you more, too.”

“Thank you.” He hears rustling, again — maybe she’s clutching the phone to her face. “That’s all I need.”
>>
No. 929530 ID: 270774
File 155510351409.png - (86.31KB , 800x525 , 448.png )
929530

“I probably have to go, mãe.” Ricardo stands up from the bed. “I have — the people I mentioned earlier, who are helping me, they’re waiting on me. We’re, uh. We’re getting stuff figured out.”

“Alright,” says his mother, though she’s clearly reluctant. A pause, and then her voice is a little sharper. “You know, that somebody you met.”

“Mainha,” Ricardo groans.

“I don’t ask much here either. I’m glad you aren’t alone, Ricardo, but I’ve always told you—”

“Mãe, I already said it’s not—”

“I don’t ask much! I have never asked for much. A nice man from a good family with a good job, is that unreasonable? Is that so much to ask, Ricardo?”
>>
No. 929531 ID: 270774
File 155510352908.png - (160.22KB , 800x525 , 449.png )
929531

“Ggghgh,” says Ricardo.
>>
No. 929532 ID: 270774
File 155510354264.png - (90.45KB , 800x525 , 450.png )
929532

“Listen,” he says, to deflect, and he can’t help laughing a little, as uncomfortable as he is. “You just found out I’m alive. Are we really having this conversation again, right now.”

There’s a beat. “I’m just glad that we can,” Andy says, and her voice breaks, suddenly. “I’m just so happy to nag you again, Ricardo.”

Shit. Shit. Ricardo feels himself welling up again, and he really, really does not have time for that. “I have to go, mãe,” he reminds her, gently. “I’ll call you again. I promise. But I gotta go.”

“Alright. Alright.” He hears her taking a deep breath, collecting herself. “Just — you’re eating well, right, Ricardo?”

Ricardo stares down at the geometric pattern of the rug until his eyes stop making sense of it. “Yeah. When I can.”

“I love you. So much.”

“I love you too.”
>>
No. 929533 ID: 270774
File 155510355955.png - (79.20KB , 800x525 , 451.png )
929533

When Ricardo hangs up he takes a long, long moment to get his head back in order. The relief he’s feeling is overwhelming, there’s no arguing that — there’s not a cell in his body that regrets making that call. There’s a peace, too, in knowing his mother is feeling that same relief, the same dissolution of long-held pain. But the sadness that comes with it is heavy and it drags his shoulders down so forcefully that he sits back down on the bed again, as if pushed, and he’s not sure how long it takes him to stand up again.

He does, eventually, and he wanders over to the desk. The paper Pascal was looking at is a letter, or a flyer of some kind — Ricardo picks it up and realizes it’s handwritten, in a script so immaculate it looks like a typeface. It’s heavy, expensive-feeling stationary, cream-colored, with a gold foil border around the edge. The bottom is weighted with a red wax seal pressed next to the closing signature of the letter, with the small, detailed design of a prancing bull.

Welcome to the Silver Crown Resort and Casino!

To our valued undead guests,
On the behalf of Ms. Donata Luciano, boss of the Las Vegas den and keeper of all related territories, please accept our warm welcome. We could not be more thrilled to provide your accommodations and entertainment during your stay in beautiful Las Vegas.

If you have not already negotiated the courtesy levy for your stay, please contact a member of hotel staff to be afforded an appointment with one of Ms. Luciano’s aides. Please be advised that, unfortunately, failure to negotiate and fulfill a courtesy levy will necessitate your removal from den territory by any means necessary. Attempts to fraudulently evade payment of a courtesy levy will unfortunately necessitate disciplinary action up to and including your final death.

In the meantime, for the comfort and safety of all guests, please be advised of these ground rules that all vampires on premises must follow, regardless of whether your stay has yet been officially negotiated:

I. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. It is our most dearly held hope that all who enjoy the hospitality of the Las Vegas den may do so in peace and privacy. Information on any undead who have confirmed their stay on den territory, and any actions they take while protected by our hospitality, must never be distributed without that person’s consent. Failure to comply will unfortunately necessitate disciplinary action up to and including your final death.

II. Everything in moderation. Human prey of the utmost health and quality is of course regularly booked into the hotel for your enjoyment, but our stringent standards mean that supply is limited. Please be courteous to other guests and limit your consumption to one human meal per week per guest in your party, and please feed discreetly so as not to alarm remaining prey. Feeding rooms are provided for your convenience, so it is not necessary to lure all prey back to your private rooms; these rooms are marked with “Staff Only” signage to dissuade human prey from entering, but additionally marked with a small red gem to differentiate from rooms that are truly off limits to guests. Failure to comply with moderation and discretion requests will unfortunately necessitate your removal from den territory, with no refund of paid courtesy levies.

III. Decorum and class. Please enjoy the company of your fellow guests. If you are incapable of doing so, hotel policy forbids murder, dismemberment, and the infliction of other serious injuries outside the context of formal duels. Please do not engage in formal duels in front of human prey, and when engaged in a duel, please engage in every effort to avoid damage to hotel property. Excessive damages may be added to your levy. If you murder a fellow guest within the parameters of a duel, please inform hotel staff as quickly as possible so that we may proceed with necessary cleanup. And please remember: rule I applies at all times. Failure to comply will unfortunately necessitate your removal from den territory, with no refund of paid courtesy levies, or in cases of extreme mayhem, disciplinary action up to and including your final death.

IV. Fair play only. To steal from the Silver Crown’s casino is to steal from Ms. Luciano, which would be ill-advised. While we have taken all reasonable anti-cheating measures, we know the ingenuity of our valued guests is vast; still, we ask you to play all games against the house without interference. Failure to comply will unfortunately necessitate disciplinary action up to and including your final death.

We thank you for abiding by these policies, and are eager to accommodate your every need. May your stay be one of endless enjoyment.

Ever at your service,
C.B., Secretary of Entertainment and Enforcement

>>
No. 929534 ID: 34f5bd

Aww that was good!!! Good job bud!! Call your mom at least once a week, maybe a new phone each time? I'm not sure how exactly phone tracking works and what would be more suspicious....

BUT HELL YEAH VEGAS RULES BAYBEEEE, this looks right up our alley. Snitches not welcome.

We should ask Kel and Pascal to make sure our rooms are paid for though. Wouldn't want to be caught trying to dodge our bill.
>>
No. 929535 ID: 7e9c89

that went rly well.. take another minute to settle down, and then we’d better go see kel huh. i don’t think any of those rules tell us anything important? except that maybe if we’re pursued and attacked they’d be on our side if we can trick our pursuers into breaking a rule.
>>
No. 929537 ID: 26262d

Fuck all these rules including the words "final death" they're annoying, (especially the first one)we already died once that shit won't happen again
>>
No. 929539 ID: ef1933
929539

>>929533
oof, feeding once a week might be tough with the training regiment in mind. I'm sure Kel has thay in mind though.

Wait can vamps drink blood from outside a body? Can we swipe some capri-bluds from one of vegas's many reputable blood banks? That would be useful if we need to hone our shifting.
>>
No. 929540 ID: c1eaac

>>929537

i mean like it or not we're staying here and if we want to train with kel we gotta follow the rules. better to follow em then get perma-killed

anyway let's take a breather and go see kel
>>
No. 929563 ID: 7011e0

oh man no wonder kel wanted to train here. nobody can say we're here lmfao. keep the luciano name in mind and we'll have to talk to pascal and kel about that courtesy levy? kel may have dealt with it for us but i don't wanna assume and have it bite us in the ass later. also we should look into a burner phone for Mom Calls
>>
No. 929566 ID: b1b4f3

>>929533
Alright tell Pascal you're done.
The feeding frequency limit is important here. It means you can't go overboard during training. The girls may even see how much/long you can endure without feeding, which strikes me as important too.

Also it sounds like you're safe here even if you get found, so long as they can't formally duel you.
>>
No. 929583 ID: b463f2

ohhhhhhhhhhhhh, Ricardo. oh Ricardo.... oh Andy......

>“I’m finishing something I started.”

>Andy considers that for a long moment. “No more, no less,” she says, softly.

>“Yeah. Yeah.” Ricardo leans forward, elbow on his knee. “And then I’ll walk away.”

t h i s p a r t . . . just. so emotional. what a good bond. and such a good tie in to Ricardo's flashback during the duel with Rack. and Ricardo.... yr dislike of dad is Very Relatable. I'm excited to hear more about your dad so I can dislike him more fervently.

the, "good man, good family, good job" panel just, absolutely killed me. Andy's gonna HATE Pascal, I can't wait to see how they interact when they meet.....

I think we need some clarification about rule II - is that feeding in just the hotel, or in vegas in general? Because the way it begins, it sounds to me like it's just within the hotel - but, definitely something to ask Kel about, along with those monetary dues.

also.... I want to know who wrote the sheet. I want to see their writing implements, and their desk.
>>
No. 929584 ID: 9dd4cf

I feel like these rules are a bit "if you're not smart enough to work with/around/break and not get caught these you're not smart enough to live" in tone.

talk to pascal about them asap though, who knows what he could be unknowingly getting up to.

anyway that was hard and emotional. once pascal is found: initiate banging. break in the hotel room.
>>
No. 929587 ID: 14e641

Hmmm, i bet Pascal would have fun in the casino...
Anyways! That went very well! We should avoid regularity with our home calls. Don't want a pattern to arise. Maybe wait a week, then a few days, then a couple of weeks, nothing that could he tracked. We can't use hotel phones, or phone boxes...we also don't want to call from our current base. Maybe we should get one of those ping things that show us elsewhere.
>>
No. 929594 ID: 9fcd43

First things first, find Pascal and go see Kel. Ask what the levy's about and whether you need to take care of it - sounds like the kind of thing she would pay along with your room, but we don't want to assume. And I agree that we should ask for more info about feeding - it does sound like that just means once a week from the hotel supply, so I would assume hunting in the rest of Vegas is fine, but couldn't hurt to make sure.

Also noted that if we want to get Pascal to psychically hustle some games we're going to have to go to a different casino
>>
No. 929595 ID: 2791fd

definitely keep the feeding limit in mind. the girls will probably try to push you harder than you can take to see if you know your limits. you can't let them, or it'll be bad lol.

and get in touch about the levy, just to be safe
>>
No. 929599 ID: bd6360

>>929528
this made me emotional ugh

definitely check with kel that our room is taken care of, and we shouldn't keep her waiting much longer
>>
No. 929607 ID: c8452a

Oh boy, that call. Went better than I feared.

Okay, let's get moving. We need to find out about this levy. Also, it might be useful to clarify what the "one meal a week" means exactly. I got the impression it meant one meal inside the hotel a week, so maybe we can hit the streets for extra meals if necessary.
>>
No. 929612 ID: 094652

>A nice man from a good family with a good job, is that unreasonable?
... Okay seriously, is your dad a mercenary or something? At this point, my best guess is your mother is still in denial on some level.

>To our valued undead guests, generic superficial greetings, pay us a tip or we'll stab you until you leave, don't squeal on your blogs, one murder a week maximum, roughhousing inside is limited to Street Fighter rules, and only we get to cheat, love, CB.
Vegas. You can't win. You come there to lose things; your obedience, your rigidity, your constant self-loathing. And hopefully not something important like your life.

And now, there's like twenty families on vacation whose husbands and wives went missing. How do they get away with this again, and do I really want to know?

>What do
Important question: does Lamb seem like platonic life partner potential? Go talk to her.
>>
No. 929639 ID: b54723

Hey what if we asked about the witches (if there are any) and werewolves in the area. It would be nice to know so that when we inevitably hit the streets for a snack so we don't accidentally bite one of them.
>>
No. 929831 ID: 270774
File 155529758931.png - (89.60KB , 800x525 , 452.png )
929831

Ricardo folds the letter up and tucks it into the pocket of his sweatpants, then retrieves his phone.

TO: PASCAL Hey. You read the letter on the table right? The rules

Pascal, at least, seems to be getting the hang of the phone; his response times are getting faster, though his texts are no shorter.

FROM: PASCAL Dearest Ricardo, Yes, and I find them very much to our favor! If they can be enforced they are very ideal for us, I think. No-one can gossip that we are here, so we do not need to hide ourselves, and no-one can attack us outside of a duel, and we need not accept any duel terms if we think we will lose, and you cannot force someone to duel with you. But, Ricardo, I am still being careful, for many reasons! My first reason is that I am thinking the wording of these rules means the benefits are only for if you have paid your courtesy levies. Otherwise you are not a “guest” to them yet, and they can care less if you are protected by their hospitality! So still we should be careful. I do not know if Kel has paid our dues for us or not. My second reason is that the seal on this letter I recognize. This family is not of the Cradle, but their interests sometimes align with the House of Medici, who are of the Cradle, and right now I have been away from proper society too long, and I cannot tell you if their alliance is there now, because it used to be changing like the wind. The Medicis are not fond of my sire, but this is still risky. We must still be careful until we are sure, because if this family is currently aligned with the Medicis and thus the Cradle, perhaps they will ignore all these rules in loyalty to the order that I be returned. At any rate, these are my concerns, and I think that maybe this could be very good for us, but also we could perhaps very easily be ruined, which I suppose is what life is like at all times. Also I need to put my cosmetics again and so when you leave to see Kel I will take the room back! I saw a handsome man by the slot machines and I had to hide behind a plant so he will not see me as I am, looking terrible after a ride in a car and with my clothing wrinkled. We will have to fight for our privacy with Kel smashing us both into a single room like this as if we are PAUPERS so please make sure I will always have time to attend to my appearance! Your sire, Pascal Cosovei

Ricardo snorts softly as he reaches the bottom of the text, and replies quickly.

TO: PASCAL You can’t complain about the room when Kel set it up for us. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s a nice room. I’ll ask Kel about the levy, I’m about to go see her anyway

TO: PASCAL So I’ll be out of the room and you can do whatever

FROM: PASCAL Dearest Ricardo, Well, thank goodness! I really look awful. You should have tell me this instead of letting me wander around without fixing myself. That’s your responsibility, you know, while we are traveling together. Your sire, Pascal Cosovei
>>
No. 929832 ID: 270774
File 155529760736.png - (72.71KB , 800x525 , 453.png )
929832

Ricardo tabs over to his text conversation with Kel as he leaves the room, keycard in hand, and shoots off a message.

TO: KEL What are courtesy levies and did you pay ours or are they still outstanding

The response is immediate, and as loud as ever.

FROM: KEL THAT’S ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT. WHAT DID YOU THINK WE WERE GOING TO DISCUSS, DIPSHIT, THE WEATHER? SPEAKING OF WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU. I TOLD YOU TO TAKE A SHOWER NOT A SABBATICAL ---------- ~+*MOST VALUABLE RAIDER 804 AD - 1021 AD*+~ ..:: AINT NO BITCH LIKE A GALLOWGLASS BIIIITCH ::..

Ricardo sighs and starts walking a little faster, jabbing the elevator button with unnecessary violence when he reaches it.

TO: KEL Sorry. On my way. I had some things to deal with

FROM: KEL I’M THE THING YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH BITCH ---------- ~+*MOST VALUABLE RAIDER 804 AD - 1021 AD*+~ ..:: AINT NO BITCH LIKE A GALLOWGLASS BIIIITCH ::..

FROM: KEL DO YOU THINK THIS SHIT RUNS ON YOUR SCHEDULE. DO YOU THINK IT’S COMMON FOR ME TO STOOP TO TRAIN SOMEONE I HAVEN’T HAND SELECTED. DON’T START THINKING YOU’RE HOT SHIT BECAUSE YOU WON ONE BOUT ---------- ~+*MOST VALUABLE RAIDER 804 AD - 1021 AD*+~ ..:: AINT NO BITCH LIKE A GALLOWGLASS BIIIITCH ::..

Jesus.

TO: KEL Yeah sorry I said I’m on my way
>>
No. 929833 ID: 270774
File 155529762616.png - (130.50KB , 800x525 , 454.png )
929833

Kel’s set up an office in a hallway just around the corner from the training ballroom, and when Ricardo enters she’s seated at a broad mahogany desk. There’s a huge, worn book open in the center, looking like some kind of ledger or roster, but she closes it before he can get a better look. Mignon is standing at her shoulder, and she cranes her neck back to address her before looking at Ricardo.

“Thanks again, Basilia. You can leave. I’m sure the girls are getting into trouble by now.”

“I’m sure,” Mignon echoes. “Strip was already picking a fight with Rack over her loss.”

“Well, go calm ‘em down. They just need to blow off some steam, that’s all.” Kel waves her off, and she inclines her head once before leaving the room and closing the door softly behind her. Kel rests one arm on the polished surface of the desk, and she doesn’t bother hiding the irritation in her glance when she looks Ricardo up and down. “Ribeye. Sit.”

Ricardo does. Kel’s got a glass of some kind of golden liquid on her desk, with an empty glass beside it, and she drinks from it without offering Ricardo any. “Levies, Luciano, we can talk about all that in a second. First, I gotta give you the same once-over I give anyone.”

The glass is set down. “There’s this concept that the only humans who know about us are the ones who get clued in — the ones who are chosen to be turned, or the ones who are kept like pets. It’s not true.” She leans backward again. “If there’s one truth about humans, it’s that any source of power that exists, they’ll try to find and take for themselves. Nothing else in the world is more consistent than that.”

Kel taps the table, twice, softly. “I only turn women who hunt me down and ask for it. If they can’t learn that this is an option, if they can’t track me down, they won’t be of any use to me. I’ve got a caliber.”

Ricardo feels very confident that if he hadn’t been eaten in an alley he would have lived out his entire life without ever considering the existence of vampires. He’s not sure this bodes well.

“And when they find me,” Kel continues, “I ask them: what are you gonna do with it? Why do you want it? If I give you immortality, if I give you the kind of power humanity’s been dreaming of since its birth, what’s the point? What’s it going to be for, in your hands?” She reaches for the glass again, and this time drains it. “But I can’t ask you that, can I? You never asked to be turned. There’s no ‘Why do you want to be a vampire, Ribeye?’ Because your answer is that you don’t.”

Ricardo doesn’t say anything. She isn’t wrong.

“So instead I’m gonna ask you this.” Kel bends down for a moment, and when she straightens up again she’s refilling her drink from a heavy glass jug. “Now that you’re a vampire, what are you gonna do about it? You’re immortal, you’ve got the kind of power people have killed and died for for all time, and you don’t even want it. What’s the point of you sticking around, if you didn’t want things to end like this?” Her eyes flick up again, glowing crimson. “Why don’t you just die, huh?”
>>
No. 929834 ID: 270774
File 155529763834.png - (116.16KB , 800x525 , 455.png )
929834

Great. This again.

Unlike in his conversation with Pascal, Ricardo has a feeling “I don’t know” isn’t an answer that will go over well. Nor “I just want to take a bath,” for that matter.

He swallows, dryly, and tries to muster some ambition.
>>
No. 929836 ID: 02e2dc

be gay do crimes

serious answer: uh... i don't think ricardo has any real ambitions to become a super powerful vampire, but we probably want to live without cradle weirdoes breathing down our necks 24/7. so.. maybe our goal is to destabilize count whats-his-name?
>>
No. 929838 ID: 7e9c89

you want to be strong enough to protect yourself and not live on the run, i’d think?
>>
No. 929839 ID: c1eaac

i mean, staying alive out of spite and sheer will has worked this far, and luckily ricardo now has a Lot of spite against the cradle. let's say...we want to destabilize the cradle so pascal can get a chance at a happy life, and so ricardo might get to live that happy life with him.
>>
No. 929841 ID: 7011e0

hmm! well right now our current goal is to tell the cradle to go fuck themselves but kel knows about that, i guess. i suppose we just want to be left alone. we don't want to start any big shit, don't want to be some warlord or whatever, we just wanna make a space for ourselves. or something like that, it's not very cool or hardcore i guess
>>
No. 929842 ID: 9fcd43

Revenge has kept us driven this long, and it's still ostensibly what we're going for. First it was for our sire, and now it's against the whole fucked up institution that led to all this happening in the first place. Constantin Bathory needs to die.
(I would say we need to take down the whole Cradle but we promised our mãe we wouldn't take it farther than we needed to)
>>
No. 929843 ID: 14e641

Fuck it, lets go off the deep end and take this shit like the one true hero.
"I will rip the cradle from it's roots and watch it burn."
>>
No. 929844 ID: b54723

Because this is our life now, and frankly we have to roll with the punches to thrive in life. We're not going to just die, are we? We wouldn't be able to fuck in whatever place is waiting for us at the end, possibly, so we might as well just keep living.

Death is not an option because, well, we just don't want to die. In other words, we survive to fuck and fuck to survive.

Surviving to achieve a goal is good, but we shouldn't survive JUST to achieve a goal, because say we do achieve it. What will we do afterwards? Die? No, we're gonna keep living because life has a lot to offer.
>>
No. 929845 ID: 8a7c27

even if they're not human, the vampires i've met are still people. and it seems like everywhere i go there are people i want to protect. so the answer is nothing's changed but the people around me, and those hunting them - now i just have more power to keep them alive
>>
No. 929848 ID: fde9cb

"You could of said all of this to me before I was turned. My life then was pretty similar to my life now, in some ways. My point is, if I was going to kill myself I would have done it long ago. I don't know exactly why I'm still alive, but I'd like to stay that way long enough to figure it out. And right now, that means being able to stand up to Bathory, Babenburg, Medici and whoever else."
>>
No. 929849 ID: bb78f2

>>929834
I gotta finish my fight with the Cradle, no more, no less. Whether that means killing Pascal sire one day, I don't really know, but that would be a great perk. I need to be strong to do that though, or whatever is required of me to finish this fight I was killed into. Cradle wants to start a fight with me? Fine, I'll end it.
>>
No. 929850 ID: b1b4f3

>>929834
Remember what you told your mother. You started something, you're gonna finish it. Want an ambition? You're gonna kill Pascal's sire. After that, you can die.

It's tempting to go further than that, and think of becoming an enforcer to take down other vampires that habitually abuse their wards. Would that be fitting of "No more, no less"?
>>
No. 929853 ID: 70df1e

youve got shit to live for now like getting pascal out of his cradle mess and maybe a goal of winning a fight against kel someday. you cant die yet whether or not you think it would be better because you got shit to do!! if living forever becomes terrible later there are ways around that. the cradle for one would be thrilled to fix this problem for you and thats another reason to live: spite. fuck those guys. exist and be mad about it like the rest of us immortality changes a lot but not that
>>
No. 929854 ID: 47b90b

isnt this a little bit like a fresh start to life(?) the situation may suck and yeah youre technically dead but you seem to have more solid connections with people dead than when you were alive.

and also youve got to finish what youve started with pascal at the vey least. youre here to get strong enough to kill the shit out of pascal’s sire. once thats done wether youre good to continue your undead life or not can wait till then tbh
>>
No. 929855 ID: 47b90b

(dont say this but your mom just found out youre alive and dying would fucking suck dude. like once this cradle shit is over or once its safer to do so you may be able to see her again)
>>
No. 929856 ID: 5da03e

>>929848
"The crisis I'm in now won't last forever, either I'll survive it or I'll fuck up and die. But there'll always be someone else out there looking to prey on the predators, and being able to stand up to future adversaries means being more than just strong, or clever, or good at talking others into doing what I want, or being a good lay, or whatever. It means pursuing a knife-edge of excellence, constantly, forever in competition with whoever or whatever else may want to see me and my allies come to a bad end. And I can't predict everything, there'll be black swans; the only thing I can do is keep getting better so I'll have a chance against the unimaginable. Because this isn't just today or tomorrow, but all the tomorrows until I fuck up and die the final death."
>>
No. 929857 ID: 328640

the obvious answer is "get used to it" considering you hardly lived like a vampire until mere days / weeks ago. then there's taking care of the apparent threat to both yourself and pascal. through whatever means that'll get them to fuck off and never subject anybody to what pascal and countless others have had to endure ever again -- which is very likely just ending them outright. they're the seekers of power that kel forewarns of.

but that's a lot to be thinking about. a lot of heroism that you aren't prone to; then again you were chasing the thought of retribution for five years.

how does "adjust, kick ass, and live quietly" sound?
>>
No. 929858 ID: 911f5f

"I've never been one to run from life. I do what must be done, and then I walk away, but that doesn't mean I give up easily. This is whats happening now, so I'll keep fighting to survive, whether or not I chose this."

asking ricardo why doesnt he die isnt too different from asking a human why they dont die. because they choose to survive.
>>
No. 929859 ID: 7c42cc

Five minute plan: get a drink and pay your dues.
Five day plan: get ripped.
Five month plan: rip apart the cradle.
Five year plan: see what's fun and what's worth living for since you didn't do a lot of that before your first death. If you live through the whole cradle destroying business, that is.
>>
No. 929864 ID: 23dc9d

The idea of "if you didn't want it to be like this then what is the point" is quite extreme considering thats just how being alive and living is. Sure we wanna rip out the Cradle and kill Constantine no doubt about that, but when it comes to US (and by us I mean Ricardo of course) really its about taking things as they come with no real need for some huge passionate ambition. I mean if we just went and died, we wouldn't have had ever met Pascal, or ever successfully fucked. Really good positive things for Ricardo that probably aren't fitting for him to tell Kel but are good for him to think about perhaps.
>>
No. 929865 ID: 5da03e

>>929859
Where's the fifty year plan? The five hundred year plan? Gonna need those too.
>>
No. 929866 ID: 1906ee

Spite in general seems to have been your general driving force. Spite towards the vampire who turned and ditched you, and now spite against the giant cabal who doesn't want you to be turned.
>>
No. 929867 ID: aedfd9

Listen. Clearly shit is fucked up with the cradle and all that, and we don't know exactly what happened with Teddy and whoever else but. Lots of stuff seems fucked up. And we don't want to be all cocky weight of the world magic destiny nonsense, but it sounds like the Cradle is picking a fight with us so our goal should be to fuck their shit up as much as we can. At the very least, we'll go down swinging; at best, we'll prove they're fallible. That there's hope in the world.

And after that... settle down. Find a man. Live a quiet life. Take care of friends.
>>
No. 929868 ID: 7c1ffe

I wanna protect my mom. And also Pasc- people. Some people. And also kill Dracula or whoever the fuck. Also maybe raise ducks that don't get scared of vampires.
>>
No. 929869 ID: c1212a

Unfinished business with the cradle. I understand that could take a century and still be a short term plan, but I don't think I'll really understand what long-term is going to mean for me until it happens. I'm really not one for thinking over big questions of purpose in life. Un-life. See, still getting used to it.
>>
No. 929871 ID: 10c408

"Honestly? I haven't really come up with a long term plan because I've gone from obsessively chasing revenge to realizing that not only am I just a tiny minnow in a VERY large pond, there's a snapping turtle at the bottom who hates me."
>>
No. 929878 ID: 9dd4cf

>>929865
figured that the requirement for passing the 5 month one was pretty ambitious as it was but...

50 year plan: take care of your mother
500 year plan: 450 years to become really really good at sex
5k plan: make a cat like you
>>
No. 929884 ID: 2e6ab6

Short term plan: Become skilled enough to keep people important to me safe.
Long term plan: Fucking... Pick up the violin again? Learn to paint? I got forever, might as well make the most of it.
>>
No. 929887 ID: c8452a

You're getting your 80 year minimum guaranteed, for your mom as well. You'll have time to think about the long term before then. In the short term, getting strong enough to survive and strong enough to end the problem of the Bathorys trying to capture you and Pascal. However that turns out.

Still, finding people to care about is definitely an important factor of any plans for immortality.

I'd confront her about her berating you for taking your time, but she doesn't actually seem to be holding it against you.
>>
No. 929894 ID: 7b57f2

>>929845
ayyyyyyyy

good boy energy
>>
No. 929897 ID: 8b6b39

vampires always think they can fuck with whatever they feel like, huh? i need to justify not wanting to die, now? just because some bloodsucking asslick couldn't finish his meal and now constantin's got his panties in a twist? i'll die when i'm good and goddamn ready to. pascal doesn't have the right to decide when i'm finished. cradle's creeps don't. and you don't. i'll kill anyone who tries to fuck with me or what's mine again

god, ricardo, you've spent a lot of your life getting into fights with bullies, haven't you
>>
No. 929983 ID: 655987

People have hit on this already, but I will reiterate that Kel's question is actually not the same as Pascal's, and is actually pretty different.

>"What’s the point of you sticking around, if you didn’t want things to end like this?” Her eyes flick up again, glowing crimson. “Why don’t you just die, huh?"

The point of sticking around is because *we don't want things to end like this.* We don't just die because there is shit that we are just not cool with leaving be.

There have always been things we are just not cool with, and we just don't let that go. We evidently never have. We have never been cool with clocking out when there's still a shithead whose ass is asking to be kicked. Maybe we didn't go out of our way to find such shitheads, but right now at least there are several who we are not going to turn down.

At least, that's my best attempt at guessing the literal reasons at future opportunities to, not just kill ourselves, but even to bow out of the fight in some other way. We're not going to, and I think this is why.
>>
No. 930015 ID: 337b3c

>>929834
Ditto to finishing what we started, and we don't want it to end like this. Maybe we don't have a long term plan yet, but we know we're not satisfied with how things currently are, hence why we haven't just died.
>>
No. 930016 ID: 094652

>any source of power that exists, they’ll try to find and take for themselves.
>Why don’t you just die, huh?
"Agreed. We were born weak. We end up believing that makes us incomplete, and we'll do anything to fix ourselves. 'Power' and 'immortality', and I still get my ass kicked by a centuries-old romance hipster, and a faux-cute bull. @#$%ing 'course it's not enough. I won't stop until I find out what I'm too stupid to realize is missing."
>>
No. 930098 ID: 270774
File 155547560138.png - (86.83KB , 800x525 , 456.png )
930098

Ricardo finally centers himself, and he makes eye contact when he speaks. “Because even as a vampire, I want — there are people I want to protect. My mother. And—”

“Oh, shut up,” says Kel.

Ricardo blinks. Kel’s refilling her glass, again. “I want to protect my loved ones, I want to keep the people important to me safe, and on and on. So does everyone, little fool. Do you think anyone’s motivating force is ‘I want to be too weak to do anything about it when danger threatens my family?’”

“Are any of you people satisfied by anything?” Ricardo asks, flatly.

“No,” says Kel, “which is why most of us are bigger and stronger than you and we get to push you around.” She taps the table once more. “Try again.”

“Alright.” Ricardo crosses his arms and glares across the desk. “Alright. How about this, then. It is about the fact that I didn’t want this. I don’t want to be a warlord like you. I don’t care about power, I don’t care about politics. But I have unfinished business, and I don’t clock out until it’s done, and nobody gets to tell me when it’s done. Not Pascal, not the Cradle, and not you.”

“Mm.” When Kel drains her glass again, this time she fills the second one along with it, nudging it across the table. “Unfinished business, hm? With Pascal? Listen, I love the little bastard, but good luck getting an apology out of that piece of shit—”

“Unfinished business with the Cradle,” Ricardo interrupts. “I’m going to kill Constantin Bathory.”

Kel chokes on her mead.
>>
No. 930099 ID: 270774
File 155547561569.png - (167.74KB , 800x525 , 457.png )
930099

“Constantin Bathory,” she finally rasps. She slams her glass down — Ricardo still hasn’t touched his. “Who’s going to kill Constantin Bathory? You are, little meat? Little morsel?” She slaps the surface of the desk, hard enough that the whole thing creaks. “Let me tell you something about Constantin Bathory.”
>>
No. 930100 ID: 270774
File 155547563024.png - (350.19KB , 800x525 , 458.png )
930100

“I only train my own now, but it wasn’t always that way. A good two centuries ago, I was contracted by the House of Bathory to train their duelists. I went to Transylvania, with a small entourage, met the Marquess, started my work.”

“And anyone knows this, even you, but there’s something wrong in that castle. There’s something wrong with those wards.”

>>
No. 930101 ID: 270774
File 155547564317.png - (275.87KB , 800x525 , 459.png )
930101

“I don’t raise my wards with a soft hand, Ribeye. You’ve seen that yourself.”


“But I was barely in that place a month before I threw down my sword, told that fucking viper that I wasn’t taking his money, and left.”

“I left because after I saw what happens there, after I peered into the fucking tar pit of that man’s heart, I knew if I didn’t pull myself away, I was going to tear his throat out myself. And I could have done it, no doubt about that — but he’s Vlad Dracula’s little pet, allied with every other house in the Cradle, and it would’ve brought a war that my forces weren’t prepared for. So I left before I could start it.”

>>
No. 930102 ID: 270774
File 155547565633.png - (345.00KB , 800x525 , 460.png )
930102

“That’s a debt I owe your sire. I met him then, after all. And I should have razed that fucking place to the ground behind me, or at least pulled him out when I went — a gift of freedom he would have spat back in my face, but it would have been something.”
>>
No. 930103 ID: 270774
File 155547566735.png - (212.21KB , 800x525 , 461.png )
930103

Kel picks her teeth with the end of one long claw. “So I, with all my forces and my power, with hundreds under me willing to fight and die, with every damn good reason — I stayed my blade. But you? You’re going to charge in there, Ribeye? Are you the hero in a storybook? Are you the dashing lead of a romance novel, huh? You’re going to defeat the nasty mean man?” Unkind laughter bubbles up in Kel’s throat, filtered through her teeth into a snarl. “And for what? Because he wronged you? Because he’s wicked?” She plants both hands on the desk, leaning forward, teeth bared. “Because a pretty boy is sad?”

Another laugh, ragged around the edges. “There are no storybook heroes, Ribeye, and good men make shitty vampires. And there’s no glory or valor in starting fights you can’t win. I know that. All you get for it is the people who believe in you die, and they die ugly, meaningless deaths, and no matter how you try to twist it the only purpose those deaths will ever serve is to remind you that you weren’t ready. And there’s not even anyone who believes in you here, Ribeye. There’s not anybody who’s gonna die for you to begin with. And you’re gonna pick a fight with Constantin Bathory?” She leans forward further, jaws parting, teeth glinting huge and white. “You and what army, child?”
>>
No. 930104 ID: 8a7c27

i took you for a woman of her word, kel, but apparently all that chant about war and meat for the machine is just talk if you only take battles you know you can win.
>>
No. 930105 ID: fc32c1

uh. cry
>>
No. 930106 ID: 70df1e

one person can do what an army cant. assassins can kill kings when squadrons and squadrons of soldiers cant reach them. a single thief can rob someone of everything that they and their family value. a single arsonist can raze a city to the ground. we don't need an army to do this, and we don't want one. we don't want people to die for this. we get in, we kill him, and we get out, and the consequences of that are on our head and our head alone.

and i guess technically pascal's head, but his whole big plan is to go back so constantin can kill him, so like, one way or another one of us is going to be happy about this
>>
No. 930109 ID: 9707e7

“yours.”

kel is an ally and she might be willing to help us if we convince her we’re worth helping? she obviously hates constantine, so maybe we can. appeal to that?
>>
No. 930110 ID: 0f15ab

Uuuh lets try not to make kel any madder considering she’s sticking her neck out for us and training us as a favor? I think being honest and saying we don’t know how we’re going to do anything (since right now we’re focused on not dying) but that its a long term goal. Like yeah we can’t do anything now but years from now we probably can?
>>
No. 930111 ID: 2e6ab6

I mean. Yeah, that went about where I figured that train of thought would go. Taking on the whole Cradle is a task we're... Probably not cut out for. Hell, killing Constantine is a task we're probably not cut out for. We're just some punk whelp.
Last I checked, we just kind of want to live in peace. But we can't do that with Constantine on our ass. So we need to solve it somehow. But we can't go to war with the Cradle...
Then again...
We don't have to.
We don't need allies.
We don't need an army.
We don't need anyone willing to die for us.
All we need is ourself.
All we need is to get within striking distance.
It'd probably be the last thing we ever did, but we could kill a single vampire.
But is that what we really want? Kel made a good point. What do *we* want? For ourselves? We don't like fighting. And settling this score will just make more problems for the people we care about...
I don't actually have an answer here...
>>
No. 930112 ID: c1eaac

"you asked me for a long term goal, were you expecting me to have a plan already drawn up and ready to go?"

maybe you don't know how yet, but yeah, your long-term goal is to kill constantin. and a goal like that is something you work towards and plan for, not something you see the path to right away. so maybe you don't have an army right now. maybe you'll have time to gather one. hell, maybe you'll duel kel and win and use hers. or maybe your plan will call to go in alone, and you won't know that until farther down the line.
>>
No. 930113 ID: 23dc9d

No one is gonna die for us thats true, and no one believes in us. And therefore there is no one for the Cradle to start a war with over an assassination of Constantin unlike being in Kel's position. We are just considered a mistake in other vampires' eyes so anything we get to do will die with us (and Pascal I guess, or any strays that choose to fight with us for some reason, but that choice is theirs). Kel says she could have torn him apart? Thats all we need to know. We can get there and thats what matters.
>>
No. 930116 ID: 51d10f

One thing you have on bathory that an army wouldn't is that, technically you're of the house of bathory yourself. No matter whether you or bathory would want it to be the case, by the cradle's own rules you are a bathory. But unfortunately for them, they didn't get to brainwash you. You were alone, without any indoctrination, and so you're completely free from having any ounce of loyalty towards the house hammered into you. At the very least, your situation must be exceptionally uncommon for the house. That's gotta count for something. What other abandoned-technically-bathory-ward is there?
So you don't have enough information to have a detailed strategy yet, so what. Of course you don't have that yet. That's why you're training. You know you need a lot more information and practice before you could do anything like that. That doesn't mean you can't know that what you're training towards long-term is to ultimately make that guy dead.
>>
No. 930117 ID: c8452a

Then it's simple isn't it? If he has Dracula's favor, what we actually need to do is ruin that, and we'll be free to do whatever we want to Constantin. Then all Kel needs to do is keep her promise and get Ricardo fighting fit, and hook him up with the connections he needs.
>>
No. 930118 ID: 14e641

Yeah, becaise he's a horrible guy who's done horrible things and thats a better reason to fight than 90 of historic battles.
No army.
No one else needs to die.
Ricardo is just a small guy without any connections. No ome has to choose a side or blame another house because there is no other house.
>>
No. 930119 ID: 8a7c27

kel's old and she's seen a lot of friends die. i don't think she wants any more of that. sure, getting strong and protecting pascal is our short-term goal, like she asked of us - but the cradle won't sit on their haunches forever. as grim as it is, if she's not preparing and gathering power, they'll crush all of us someday, and no amount of individual strength will protect us then.
>>
No. 930120 ID: 094652

"Give me five minutes with craigslist and I could assemble a suicide squad by next week. Give me a decade and I'll have a suicidal cult village like every other seasoned millennial vamp. The twenty-first century is an overcrowded lotus-eater machine filled with junkies, bite-sized dictatorships, and conspiracy-ass-kissing media whores. I point my disposable plastic barrier at castle transylvania and wait for my loss in battle to cash out as a lawsuit and a scandal for Bathy.

Or I could just throw a nuke at him and claim he had sex with a broken arrow."
>>
No. 930121 ID: 3a4ee3

>>930103
"I don't need an army. I just need to get close enough to tear his heart and smash his skull. I'm the scrapped ward of a dissowned mam. Who will they go after? Cradle vamps don't give a shit about humans and I can never go back to me mae anyways. You have an army to look after. I just have Pascal, and he will never be free as long as Bathory lives."
>>
No. 930122 ID: c1212a

Are you asking about long-term plans or not? You think I don't know what happens if I try marching to the front gates on my lonesome the minute I leave Nevada? I might be young, but I'm not so stupid I don't know what 'long-term' means for vampires.
>>
No. 930123 ID: b1b4f3

>>930103
One man can kill one man. It could even be a duel. With the right wager, there would be no war.
>>
No. 930124 ID: 8b6b39

what? am i going to live forever?

i don't have an army and i don't have a good reason. nor do i need one. what i do have is time. and i finish what i start. even if it takes thousands of years.
>>
No. 930125 ID: 3ed3c3

>>930103
No armies. Obviously, they don't work. Kel is proof of that.
Ricardo said, “I’M going to kill Constantin Bathory.”
Ricardo is going to kill Constantin Bathory.
Not Kel.
Not Pascal.
Nobody else.
Just Ricardo.
How? Don't know yet.
Figured he'd kill some people.
Eat some people.
See where that takes him.
>>
No. 930126 ID: 10c408

"Kel. How LONG do you think Pascal and I are gonna be able to keep running? Sooner or later, we're gonna make a mistake, be a little slow just once. And that's that. Just another sad pathetic note for constantin bathory to mull over with a glass of liquer.

Orrr, and I thought we were talking long term plans here, putting the bastard down.

or at least trying for it instead of getting hunted down.
>>
No. 930127 ID: 5e673e

hah. i dont have anyone to fight for me. which means i dont have anyone to die for me, to die if i fuck up.
and, more importantly im a bathory, arent i? unlike if you and your wards and your house killed him, the cradle would have no one to blame if i took down the head bathory. it would be, really, family infighting. and sure, they might kill me, in fact its likely theyll succeed - but really, they're already trying to kill me, so what the fuck is the difference? you yourself said immortality was forced on me. but if i get strong enough to take down constantin, and succeed? they might have to acknowledge me as the next in line.
>>
No. 930128 ID: d9bac8

"What part of 'nobody gets to tell me when it's done' was hard to understand?"
>>
No. 930129 ID: 5b93d3

"What army? I'm not going to fight him like a vampire, I'm going to murder him like a human. No duels, no wars, no fancy swordfights, no names and backstories."
>>
No. 930143 ID: 0e732c

"what, like that's hard??
>>
No. 930147 ID: 9fcd43

I think she's not taking into account just how much less we have to lose than her. She's got this giant army, however many divisions of wards to take care of and train and lead. We've got Pascal and Andy and that's about it, and we know vampires don't really think of going after living relatives.
>>
No. 930148 ID: 10c408

>>930147
The way I see it she started talking less about Ricardo and more about her dead wife at the end there.

Not that we should bring this up because she'll totally fucking kill us.
>>
No. 930170 ID: b54723

Kel, you're right on that, we don't have a plan and we haven't given serious thought on it. Because uhhh [thinks about the nonstop fuck trip] things. Yes, things.

However, we will think of a plan soon enough, and she may give suggestions on it and even help but if she thinks she's going to deter us from staking a motherfucker? No way.
>>
No. 930177 ID: 7011e0

we're not stupid. we can't do this by ourselves. but the entire point of us being here is to get stronger! and we're going to do that. then we're going to make allies, see who else is tired of the bathory family, because i'm sure there's a lot even if some of those people will just want the power they'll leave behind. the cradle seems indestructible but that's because they say so and act like it, they must have weaknesses even if you don't think they do, kel. we're going to do this.

we would super appreciate your help, though. you're already putting yourself out there training us and you obviously don't owe us anything but you would be an amazing ally in this because you know them so well
>>
No. 930191 ID: cd6e45

"I didn't say I was gonna kill him tomorrow, or even next year or the year after. Just, eventually. It's a long term goal."
>>
No. 930192 ID: bb78f2

>>930103
Just me, no army, maybe through a duel, if I can get him to accept somehow, it's a long shot.

I don't want to be a hero. I want petty vengeance that's satisfying. I want to kill him for me, just myself. Because the reality is that I need a fight to fight. Ever since I turned, I needed a fight. Bathory is the only foe that makes sense in my head. I need to fight him. For me.

I have a lust to kill him.
>>
No. 930195 ID: 7c1ffe

We're a Bathory bastard pretty much. Bastard children taking over in a coup was common for humans. Why not vampires?

But we have a fight and we finish it, no matter how long it takes. We're doing this for ourselves, and if we end up powerful and rich that's only a side benefit.
>>
No. 930251 ID: fcd356

For full badass points, just say "forever gives me a long time to finish what I start"
>>
No. 930275 ID: e0d756

Point out she's not saying it's impossible. If you need an army, you'll get an army, but you're your mother's son and she taught you to finish what you start and the cradle are after you anyway so why the fuck not see how far you can get.
>>
No. 930328 ID: aedfd9

This may not be intended to be a test, but we have to push back - just like when Minoru tried to get us to sell out. Be firm! Maybe even yell! You understand her priorities were different, but you Constantin Bathory is the reason you exist. If it takes an army to kill him, you'll spend eternity raising that army. Maybe her forces weren't prepared but you and anyone with you will be.
>>
No. 930683 ID: b463f2

>"Are you the hero in a storybook? Are you the dashing lead of a romance novel, huh? You’re going to defeat the nasty mean man? ... Because he wronged you? Because he’s wicked? ... Because a pretty boy is sad?”

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and finally, yes.
>>
No. 930995 ID: 1351c0

The love in Ricardo's heart and blood in his undead boner is more powerful than any undead vampire army.
>>
No. 931355 ID: 270774
File 155642812060.png - (71.24KB , 800x525 , 462.png )
931355

“I don’t need an army.” Ricardo’s back is pressed firmly to the chair. He has to stand his ground without antagonizing her — a task that for him, someone who struggles with small talk, seems daunting, but maybe in a way he’s more suited for this than social pleasantries. “Nobody wants to die for me, and I don’t want them to, either. All I need is to get within striking distance. Me, by myself, and him, that’s it. And no, I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I’ve got time, don’t I? I don’t need a plan til I’m ready to carry it out. And you can give suggestions, if you want, but you’re not going to stop me.” A pause. He pushes his boundaries. “Am I wrong to trust that your training would be enough to prepare me?”

Kel tilts her head at him, one elbow propped on the armrest of her chair. “You can’t kill a vampire in one hit. If you were a power type, maybe. Not a shifter, though. So you need striking distance, and enough time to get both his head and his heart. How are you gonna do that?”

This time the questioning seems Socratic, not derisive, and Ricardo finds himself smiling a little in spite of himself. “Are you endorsing this plan?”

“You don’t have a plan, and I’m not endorsing shit,” Kel snaps. “Answer the question.”

“I don’t know yet. I’ll figure it out.” The office is still, though outside, down the hall and muffled by distance and space, he can hear vampires laughing and talking. The snippets he catches are mindless gossip, and he turns his focus back into the four walls of the room. “If I could get him to accept a duel, that would be ideal. One on one, and nobody to blame or chase down but me.”

Kel laughs, then, and like her questions, this laugh has softened and warmed. She claps the desk lightly with her palm a few times. “I like that you think of it that way, Ribeye, I gotta admit. That’s what duels used to be. What they should be. Two vampires and no strings attached, and nobody could complain about the outcomes. An even playing field, through and through.”

Ricardo narrows his eyes. “Used to be? What changed?”
>>
No. 931356 ID: 270774
File 155642813465.png - (200.38KB , 800x525 , 463.png )
931356

“Ah. Pascal hasn’t told you about ward shielding, huh?” She nudges the second filled glass across the desk, again, and this time Ricardo takes it into his hands as he shakes his head. “Well. It’s not like he was trying to hide anything from you, I don’t think. Probably just didn’t think it was ever gonna matter. He would never invoke it, and I bet you’ve made a solemn vow to never turn anyone, yeah?”

Ricardo nods, stiffly, a little chagrined.

“Yeah,” Kel laughs, “you seem the type. Well. Like I said, a duel used to be a sacred thing. An even field. You meet a single vampire, just you and your swords or your claws, and you settle things — and it didn’t matter what their title was, how many estates they had, the size of their coven, the powerful alliances they had — all of that was shit compared to the outcome of a duel. If you settled it between yourselves, with that holy bond, nobody could say anything. A footsoldier could take down a king.”

Kel’s gaze has gone a little distant, focused out somewhere over Ricardo’s shoulder. “‘Course, that’s the kind of thing kings can’t stand, right? So they made changes. ‘They’ being the Cradle, mostly, seeing as they’re the locus of power.” Her voice is tilting, hardening, sliding off an edge of light recitation into contempt. “Couple centuries ago, the Cradle heads of house all got together, put forward a motion that your wards count as an extension of yourself. So by definition, to challenge a sire is to challenge all their wards, too.”

She shrugs. “I’ll spare you the politics. The point is, it was accepted. And now, if you challenged someone to a duel, regardless of the rules invoked, they could ward shield — that is, literally shield themselves behind their wards. To fight them, you’d have to fight and defeat as many of their wards as they care to use, all back to back, until you’d finally fought your way through to the sire.”
>>
No. 931357 ID: 270774
File 155642814592.png - (161.06KB , 800x525 , 464.png )
931357

Ricardo’s thinking about sixty duels, back to back. That sounds fucking bleak. “But that —”

“Yeah, I know. Defeats the whole purpose, right? But it doesn’t matter. It turns your coven into raw power, and that’s all they care about. And, of course, you could ward shield right back at them. But you ever play the card game War?”

Ricardo nods, hesitantly.

“Imagine that, except when you play a high card, you get to leave it there til the other person draws a card that beats it — that’s a powerful ward, a real duelist, holding their own against weaker opponents. And imagine both of you don’t have an equal number of cards — you’ve got ‘em according to how many wards you have, of course. If you’ve got a small, strong hand, maybe you can win — but over time, eventually, the person with more cards is gonna win, almost every time. Especially since your duelists are gonna wear out. So it stopped meaning anything. The winner of a duel is almost always gonna be the one with the biggest estate, the most wards. The one who considers their wards the most disposable, on top of that.”

There’s a pause, as Ricardo absorbs this, and Kel watches him absorb it. When she speaks again, her voice is a little quieter.

“Constantin Bathory has a nasty habit.”
>>
No. 931358 ID: 270774
File 155642815857.png - (107.89KB , 800x525 , 465.png )
931358

Ricardo looks up. Kel’s hand is held lightly over her mouth, and her eyes are unreadable.

“Normally, if you’re ward shielding, you put your strongest duelists first. You hope they can take out as many of the opponent’s wards as possible before going down — maybe they can clear them all out, if they’re really good, and then you’re risking as few of your wards as possible. But when Bathory gets challenged, he doesn’t do that.”

Ricardo swallows dryly. “What does he do?”

“He sends his ornaments out first.”

Ricardo stares at her for a moment, uncomprehending.

“His decorative wards,” Kel clarifies. “The ones he’s tired of, the ones that have annoyed him recently. I don’t know if you knew this, but in most Cradle houses, wards are separated into roles — ornaments, duelists, emissaries, and so on. And in most Cradle houses, it’s forbidden for ornaments to own arms or train in combat. But Bathory sends his out. It’s a convenient way to wipe them out when he’s done with them, without having to do the unpleasant business himself. He sends his real duelists out once he’s bored of watching ornaments die, or if he’s run out of ones he’s willing to lose.”

The air hangs heavy in the room. Ricardo can’t think of anything to say. Kel’s still looking out somewhere beyond the walls.

“That’s probably Pascal’s fate,” Kel continues, a little absently. “When he goes back, if Bathory doesn’t kill him right off the bat for his trouble. The next time someone challenges him, it would be Pascal on the frontlines. That’s what you get for being disobedient, in the House of Bathory.” She looks back at him, finally, eyes lidded. “Is that challenger gonna be you?”

Ricardo opens his mouth, but she’s already leaning across the desk again. “Even if it wasn’t him, it would be his covenmates. Other ornaments, ones he’s spent a century with. I don’t know what kind of relationship you think you have with Pascal Cosovei, but you’re nothing to him compared to them. They bathe together, sleep together, groom each other, feed together. If you hurt a single one of them, you think he’d ever forgive you? These helpless, shivering little things that don’t even know how to hold a sword?”
>>
No. 931363 ID: 094652

"Plan B: We drive Bathory insane, old-school. Curses injected into nanomachine-augmented bacteria. Simple, destructive, effective. And then we sit back and watch as his ornaments and knights flap the @#$% out of there while his indoctrinated murderhobos run on broken strategies."
>>
No. 931364 ID: 9fcd43

oh my fucking god i'm. CONSTANTIN BATHORY NEEDS TO DIE. i dont know how but he does

uhhh ask Kel if she can get us some sneaky assassin training instead
>>
No. 931365 ID: 7e9c89

hi jesus CHRIST. well. um. we knew we needed more pplanning... i guess we also definitely need to talk to pascal about what he can stand. bc making tht decision for him and killing people he does talk of fondly isnt. a good idea!!!
>>
No. 931366 ID: 9dd4cf

What a fucking cowardly pissant. Refer to him as something rude in Portuguese.

But we don't have to kill the decorative wards, do we? Just beat them.

New plan. We pick off his wards, one on one, over years, our win criteria? This is the only duel against Ricardo they can fight. After this they're done. That way when we get to king fucklord he'll only have his decorative wards to put forward, we beat them but don't kill them, and face him last.
>>
No. 931367 ID: 14e641
931367

Well fuck
But that's where tike would come in. You get voices on the inside see who's really loyal. Who hates the way they're treated? Who wants something better? Poke at Bathoney until his empire crimbles like a game of janga.
But that takes time, a lot of time.

On the brightside the collection of hot Kel pictures (all of them) has grown.
>>
No. 931368 ID: 8a7c27

then we cheat. scum like that doesn't deserve honor, and we don't come from a house, so we don't have to play by their rules.
>>
No. 931370 ID: 2e6ab6

WOW this man just becomes more and more trash the more we learn about him... Uh... Well, we could try to destabilize the house, then kill him when he has noting left? Even if we could chew through all his wards, *would* we? Would we be able to keep going? Would nonlethal means even be accepted? Would the wards just be killed if they lost anyways?
It's starting to sound like the only way to get to count fucknuts might be to upend the entire cradle system... Which... Honestly might be for the best, if the cradle is such a hive of shitty cowards that they made a rule *specifically* to keep themselves from ever having to face consequences at the expense of their wards...
But that would take a very long time...
>>
No. 931371 ID: b54723

I'm thinking nonlethal subduing but I don't know how Pascal would feel about that. Kel is asking a lot out of us and is expecting us to come up with a fully formed plan on the spot. We should probably take a moment to think about this and ask Pascal what he thinks of the ideas we might have.
>>
No. 931372 ID: b54723

>>931371
Nonlethal subduing of the wards that cannot fight back and lethal killing of Bathory through creative interpretations of the word "defeat" that can vary wildly from duel to duel.
>>
No. 931373 ID: 7011e0
931373

okay! no duel then. just a straight up rebellion
>>
No. 931375 ID: c1eaac

What if we challenge Constantin to a duel that isn't Bathory rules? Like Brooklyn rules.
>>
No. 931377 ID: b1b4f3

>>931358
Does he ever leave the mansion? Could he be vulnerable to a planted explosive or long-distance attack like a sniper rifle? With the right ammo you can explode someone's head, and the second shot can destroy their heart.
If we can get him alone for even a second we could blow him up in person. Mist form could be immune to explosions, and a big enough explosion will destroy both the head and heart at once. Might want to test just how invulnerable mist form is beforehand.
While I'm thinking of explosions... we could blow up the mansion to expose him, or otherwise force him out of his hiding place.
We could also try to take advantage of other vampire weaknesses. I only remember running water as being particularly deadly though.
...if we can't get him *alone*, can we at least get/catch him away from the manor so there are less targets to take down? Is there any restriction on ward shielding, like do they have to be nearby? If he's out traveling with some bodyguards and we duel him there, will Ricardo only have to fight the bodyguards?

Pascal might know a way to get to him. He's already accepted that Ricardo wants to do it, so we can conspire with him. Pascal should know at least some of Constantin's habits.
Just how badly are Constantin's wards treated? Is it possible for them to turn against him? ...do wards have a subconscious desire to please their sires?

I wonder if we could use humans somehow... like maybe we can get some of them to help. Vampires can't be easily killed by bullets but they sure can be disabled by them. Could even manufacture silver bullets for extra oomph. Are there any records of how vampire hunters used to operate? We could try out some of their tactics.
I expect Constantin has guns on his side too though, and if he's not too out of touch he's got security cameras... which means a lot of old tactics would no longer work. We really could use more information here about how good his security is.
>>
No. 931378 ID: 70df1e

so lads we are back to planning an assassination rather than a fair and square duel because if constantin isnt going to fight fair neither are we
>>
No. 931379 ID: 51d10f

Man. Those wards... Hurting or killing them would definitely not be an option. They’re as much in need of help and opportunity for freedom as Pascal is.

I don’t really know How possible this would be to accomplish but I wonder if there could be some way to get other wards to turn against bathory as well? Not necessarily in a “getting them to help attack him” way, but maybe some kind of, “I won’t attack the defenceless or unwilling, and anyone who doesn’t want to fight me, you don’t have to and I’ll protect you if they try to punish you for disobeying orders” approach or something like that.

From what we know about the Situation there it seems more than likely it would be really hard to get any of them to fully turn against him and actively rebel against bathory. But if there will be defenceless people pitted against you in what is intended to be sending them to their death, if you could get strong enough that you could truthfully offer them protection if they wanted to disobey those orders? Maybe that’d be something?

(I don’t remember what the various duel rules we’ve heard say re: forfeiting but even if it’s forbidden, idk, maybe something could be figured out with whatever we had to work with.)
>>
No. 931382 ID: ea82cb

Could we play politics? Ingratiate ourselves into the Cradle, use that to discredit Bathory? Or maybe it's simpler. Get close to Bathory, get him near water and push him in. Not sure how to do that within getting caught though.
>>
No. 931383 ID: 51d10f

>>931379
Oh, another last thought I want to add related to my suggestion:
Vampires are vulnerable alone. And wards confined in a castle together would be even more conditioned to see the idea of being alone as unthinkable and untenable. I’m guessing the fear of being exiled and alone (like what happened to Pascal,) probably functions as one of the big deterrents to any vampire in a system like the cradle who might secretly want to defy or escape it. So, if someone could show wards a way out that has the promise of not being totally alone and abandoned, that might make the option seem a lot more possible for them. (Which... Is easier said than done. But, big picture strategy-wise?)
>>
No. 931386 ID: 44d41c

i don't think trying to go all lawful on it would help. bathory clearly is a bag of dicks and something like still going on it with methods like trying nonlethal combat with the decorative wards will just bite ricardo in the ass. who knows if b even cares about the rules That much. a prim and proper duel approach sounds horrible, now, and should probably be discarded. assasination, maybe? get a sexy silver weapon duo that can pierce a heart and decapitate at the same time? let's get strong first, anyway. and talk to pascal about the.... Everything. and how fucked up bathory is. thank kel for the information and ask if she can offer more on how fucked and tilted cradle rules operate
>>
No. 931392 ID: 02dcc7
931392

Thats...... that's horrifying.
You can't duel him.
"I couldn't forgive myself if I hurt them. This is so fucked."
Well, then....then you have to figure out a way to assassinate him, or something. The thing is, normally you could challenge him with other rules, which involve non-lethal forfeiting, but do you remember how Pascal ripped off his arm like it was nothing? The other ornaments are all like that too. They'll make you kill them.
>>
No. 931397 ID: aedfd9

Fuck. Uuuh time to think about how Pascal rushing to defend you that time with Minbun was probably a really grim manifestation of suicidal impulses and acceptance that he'll probably die in a duel someday anyway. God, no wonder he takes duels so seriously, if he and his friends are all "disposed" by them. Jesus.

Umm, new plan. We have got to incite a mutiny or something. I know there's tradition and brainwashing, but we have got to free his wards, or change the rules, or something. We can't let this continue. Honestly, if Kel is telling us this to discourage us, she's wrong because she's just proving even more why we need to act.
>>
No. 931398 ID: 446c59

Woof. That's fucking awful.

Are there rules specifically for wards challenging sires? How would that work in the same house? I'm just trying to think if there's a way to nullify ward shielding.

But if not, assassination? What's to stop us from sneaking in and murdering him, other than the standard guards and such. Could we take over the house? Or are there some treaties or something that would cause us trouble if we did?
>>
No. 931401 ID: 5b93d3

Well if Duelling means fighting all his Wards anyway, it's not even worth bothering with at all. Just go for straight-up assassination instead.
>>
No. 931402 ID: 1351c0

Alright now that we've ruled out duels because old man Bathory is cruel old bastard I would say assassination or even biological weapons. Of course as far as we know Ricardo's beautiful face his impulsive attitude has all but ruled out a subtle well thought out assassination attempt. Still if he wants a hares ass chance of success my moneys on biological warfare, lets see how that vampiric constitution holds up when you pump VFD Factor through an ancient European manor.
>>
No. 931404 ID: bb78f2

Honestly I vote voodoo doll use
>>
No. 931405 ID: bb78f2

You know, on legitimate thoughts if voodoo isn't an option,
There might be a loophole with Ripongi doubles or similar rulesets.

Doubles might require the sire to fight with the ward they send out, depending on the wording of Cradle law when it comes to ward shielding.

Listen man, lets hire a vampire duel lawyer.
With enough respect in the vampire community to establish our own house and rules, we might be able to get around ward shielding.
>>
No. 931407 ID: b463f2

>>931373
>>931383
yessss.... yesssssssss....

honestly, current vampire culture approaches violence as the only solution, but... if constantine and other cradle bs people constantly use wards like this, there <i>have</i> to be other wards who are displeased, to say the least, with their treatment - and not just wards within that structure, given how Kel feels about it!

and I think... situations where a foe is too strong to take head on in their own game, are ones where chipping away at their structures of power is a good route.... and doing that by finding and creating safety for the people they harm is doubly good.

So, I'm all for this House of Ricardo plan. Think we should visit Brooklyn at some point when it's possible - their den seems to be the closest kind of structure we've heard of to the kind of egalitarian house Ricardo would form if we're going this route.

...................and even if luring wards away bit by bit to a safer environment doesn't directly help us kill constantine, well. that's more people who have experienced some measure of safety and self determination than before, and I think that still counts as good work, in the eyes of Ricardo, and probably Andy, too. And we do know that Ricardo wants to do Andy proud.
>>
No. 931418 ID: 10c408

Given this new and frankly, obscene development, I can only see this going one way. There are others, to be sure, but unless we manage to get him to cheese off all of his allies somehow, I think this is our best option. (And honestly? As poetic as it is to simply kick-start a cradle civil-war it will not be easy and if we don't die outright in the attempt then all of the cradle will be trying to find and kill us.)

step 1: we find a rules loophole that prevents ward shielding or other shenanigans and become BFF's with the major vampire faction where such ruling exists.

step 2: we piss off constantine bathory enough to the point where he stops sending assassins and comes to kill us, personally. He HAS to leave Europe for this to work.

step 3: arrange things so that he can't do any kind of cheesy shit to the dueling site we've picked out ahead of time. (Personally, I'm thinking vampire tranq darts or the equivalent thereof, tear gas and vampire riot teams to non-lethally subdue the decorative wards. All of this would have to be from that major vampire faction I mentioned earlier.)

step 4: try to kill the bastard in a duel.
>>
No. 931419 ID: 2c228e

Well, it's obvious that doing it the vampire way won't work, which leaves the human way. Assassination via brutal ambush. Won't get any of the "legal" protection as a duel would, but you'd actually remove him without letting him burn everything down around him.
>>
No. 931427 ID: 8ccdc4

I think we need to separate Constantin from his wards, somehow. He can't use them as meat shields if he's away from them- then, we trap him into a duel with something we can't refuse. Maybe we could bait him? Find the thing that's most valuable to him and use it to lure him out into a duel?
It's kind of an underhanded move- but I don't think assassinating a vampire is the right way to go. These guys are practically invincible, and who knows what old vampires of capable of regen-wise.
No- we need to get him one-on-one, without his ward shields; we need to give him an offer he can't refuse. And then we pull a mignon and break that bastards spine
>>
No. 931429 ID: ab42ff

in the interest of context, how many duels have there been between cradle houses since that rule got accepted? does kel know anything about who's challenged the bathory house in recent history (by vampire metric) and how it went?

the last thing we want to do is actually enter a shielded duel with constantin bathory; that's our death on his terms, to say nothing of pascal's knowledge that we'd be facing ornamental wards. on that topic, i just don't think it will be possible to convince his wards, whom he has owned and rebuilt entirely, to leave his side - unless we take time to do so, but the labor alone of getting close enough to convince them, over decades, to even listen to you speaks ill of efficiency or effectiveness.
>>
No. 931437 ID: 1351c0

I dont know I feel like Ricardo would have a greater chance if he tried the honeypot, we already know how effective his tongue is and its obvious that Bathory has a type. He will obviously need uh further training from Pascal, buuut Ricardo can shift into a thin waisted cute feminine boy and seduce Bathory then while he is in throes of joy brought on by the golden tongue of Ricardo he strikes dealing Bathory a fatal blow.

Analingus 2020!!!
>>
No. 931450 ID: e3a778

Seconding asking Kel about any outstanding examples of duels in the past, because we might get some ideas or something, and we also shouldn’t decide on anything until we can talk to Pascal about all this. It seems like Kel is just putting pressure on us to see how serious we are about it, though.

She hates all of this, too. Maybe we can convince her to really help us out with this someday . . . not now, but once we’ve proven ourselves in some way. Bathory must have plenty of enemies, and we should forge alliances with as many of them as we can, starting with Kel.
>>
No. 931489 ID: 9dd4cf

>>931398
> Are there rules specifically for wards challenging sires? How would that work in the same house? I'm just trying to think if there's a way to nullify ward shielding.

There are actually, Pascal said something about a cradle rule being that someone at equal or greater rank needs to okay the duel before it goes ahead. I'd look it up but I'm tired and lazy.

Pretty sure the reason is precisely so the lower ranks can't overthrow their abusive overlords in a one on one duel.

I do think there's likely something along this vein we could use, just not this.
>>
No. 931521 ID: cd6e45

i'm too dumb to think of a real strategic plan but. *slamming my fists on the table* house of castro! house of castro! house of castro!
>>
No. 931525 ID: b2a17a

i am BadAtStrategyTM but if Ricardo trains up his mist form so that he's capable of holding it for a long time he could slide through the shadows of house bathory and yoink the old man in his home while he's drunk
>>
No. 931584 ID: d1677e

Is there any specific house rule conditions that could render ward shielding null? What if pascal initiated the duel, and utilized me as a shield? Can wards even duel their sires?
>>
No. 931658 ID: b1b4f3

I wonder, maybe instead of trying to kill him, we should be trying to ruin him? It's a much more feasible goal.
>>
No. 931684 ID: a0bfc1

We might wanna be doing info gathering on Constantine. I think a formal duel is the right way to go, but... ward shielding bad! I may be stupid but theres gotta be a way we can get him to move away from his wards.
Actually, that might be a thing to ask pascal abt- baby knows him personally, knows what he likes, etc. Theres gotta be something constantine would do Anything to get, even if that means dueling lil ol us without his wards
>>
No. 931701 ID: 10c408

>>931658
That is probably the most time consuming and likely practical approach so that he is no longer as untouchable due to his plethora of cradle allies.

And then we kill him afterwards.
>>
No. 931799 ID: 270774
File 155685733906.png - (93.18KB , 800x525 , 466.png )
931799

Ricardo sits for a moment to let it all sink in, but it really doesn’t take him long to have a reply. “If this is supposed to be discouraging me, it’s not working.”

Kel snorts. He leans forward in the chair, a barely-conscious mirror of her own challenging posture. “I mean it. All this just makes it more clear I have to stop him. Whatever it takes, however long it takes. I don’t care.”

“Well, then,” Kel chuckles. “Guess I better train you up good. ”


“You’re endorsing this,” Ricardo accuses.

“I’m not endorsing shit.”

“You’re endorsing me,” Ricardo says, and in the midst of his insistence he’s smiling again — or maybe just unconsciously baring his teeth. It’s something he does more lately. “Alright, come on. What else. You have to know something that’ll help. Past duels, anything. Isn’t ward shielding ever nullified? Aren’t there cases where it isn’t used? Loopholes?”

“Hell’s teeth, you’re a pain in the ass.” She’s smiling, though, too. Or maybe baring her teeth. “There’s a duel I can think of. Not a loophole, not a trick, but a time when a Bathory gave up their shield.”
>>
No. 931800 ID: 270774
File 155685736060.png - (56.89KB , 800x525 , 467.png )
931800

“Even modern humans have heard of Elizabeth Bathory, yeah?”

Ricardo settles back in his chair and nods. “Pascal mentioned her to me, too,” he adds. “But nothing to do with duels. Just… an example of what not to do.”

“Ha! Classic Cradle siring tactic. That’s all she is, anymore. ‘Now, now, young ward, don’t eat like the Countess Bathory, or you’ll be culled for your gluttony,’ right?” Kel’s chair creaks as she slumps back in it, and a loud thump announces her ankle meeting her knee. “Nobles don’t just get chucked in towers to die, Ribeye. There was a trial.”

Ricardo finally takes a sip of the drink Kel’s given him, just to fill the seconds — it’s mead, heavy and sweet. He nods for her to continue.

“And you already know that part of the story. She was taking a hundred times what she needed, scaring all the humans witless, the whole thing. When the rest of her house decided to put a stop to it, she demanded trial by combat. It was obvious why — the evidence was ridiculous. Trying to claim innocence for real would have been a farce. But then, on the duel floor, she demanded farcical terms, anyway.”

“Who was she dueling?” Ricardo asks.

“Will you calm down? I’m gettin’ to it.” Kel’s smile is grim. “It was the Marquess Constantin Bathory — well, he wasn’t a Marquess then, three hundred years ago, but who gives a shit. Her own cousin.”

“How does a vampire have a cousin —”

“Shut up. Let me talk,” Kel snaps. Ricardo shuts up. “He’s the one who decided that she needed to be arrested, when normally this kind of thing would just get hushed up, one way or another. Since he was the one making the accusations, he was the one to be faced in the trial. But, like I said, Elizabeth’s terms were obscene. If she won, not only did she want to walk free — she wanted to be allowed to keep feeding in her preferred style, with no further interference. I guess she just wanted them to figure out how to deal with the panic it caused and the risk of exposure, somehow. And if she lost, she agreed to be imprisoned and starved to death — but she wanted all her wards let free, completely without punishment, even though they were all functionally on trial as well.” Kel runs her thumb back and forth against the rim of her glass. “Fool woman. She could have just asked to save her favorite half-dozen wards, or asked to be let free on a win and agree to a compromise about the feeding, and Constantin might’ve accepted the terms as they were. But nobody would accept terms like the ones she outlined.”
>>
No. 931801 ID: 270774
File 155685737721.png - (55.74KB , 800x525 , 468.png )
931801

“So she gave up her shield,” Kel concludes. “After all, it makes sense, right? Her wager was because she wanted all her wards to survive — could it be taken seriously, for her to throw them all into combat to win their own safety?”

Kel pauses, for a moment; when she speaks again, her tone is slightly more thoughtful. “I didn’t know her well. But we crossed paths, a couple of times, the way you do. Enough for me to get a feeling. I don’t think she was sacrificing herself or anything like that. Woman like that, I think she really thought she would win.”

Ricardo is incredulous. “Against sixty other vampires, back to back?”

“Well. She made it through about thirty of them, before she succumbed to her injuries. A handful of decoratives who barely count, since they didn’t manage to injure her, but plenty of duelists. She lost when they pared her down so much she didn’t have limbs to move with or enough blood to regrow them, but it was a blow that Constantin took ages to rebuild from.”
>>
No. 931802 ID: 270774
File 155685739073.png - (73.30KB , 800x525 , 469.png )
931802

Ricardo’s quiet, and Kel sighs. “And you know the rest. Locked away and starved to death — the worst way to die. Cradle scum is Cradle scum, but… well. It’s a damn shame. She was a hell of a woman. And Constantin took her estate, and all her wealth, and her title, and he’s moved up from there.”
>>
No. 931803 ID: 270774
File 155685744479.png - (130.64KB , 800x525 , 470.png )
931803

“So,” Kel concludes, and she takes a moment to stretch her arms above her head. It doesn’t seem she’s one for sitting in one place for long, but she doesn’t seem quite willing to start pacing yet, either. “There you have it. The last time I can remember any Cradle scum not using ward shielding, and it’s not something I can see Constantin ever doing.”

“Then I’ll cheat,” Ricardo replies immediately. Kel stops mid-stretch, quirking an eyebrow at him. “Or I’ll find a way to draw him out alone, so he can’t use them as a shield. Or I won’t duel him at all. I’ll sneak in and assassinate him, and then we don’t have to worry about rules.”

“Ribeye,” Kel starts, the name broken up by an incredulous laugh, but Ricardo continues.

“Or I’ll play the long game. I’ll make my own damn house, with my own rules, if that’s what it takes to bring him down. If I can’t fight him, I’ll ruin him. Make his allies leave. Turn his wards against him, one at a time, if I have to. Til he has nothing, and then there’s nothing standing between him and me.” He fixes Kel with an unwavering gold gaze, unmoved by the amusement on her face. “What? Don’t I have the time to spare?”

“You’re just listing every idea that pops into your head, aren’t you, Ribeye?”

“So what if I am?” Ricardo retorts. “I’ve got time for that, too.”

“Well, I don’t,” Kel mutters. She closes her eyes and exhales through her nose, seeming to come to a kind of acceptance. “So you’re actually serious about it. Fine. Cross that bridge when we get to it, I suppose.” She flicks her eyes back up to him, eyebrows raised again. “You got any other questions about your future suicide mission, or can we talk about Donnie?”
>>
No. 931805 ID: c1eaac

no further questions for now, but we'll almost definitely have more in the future. let's talk about whatever else kel wants to give us the rundown on, while she's still in a giving mood
>>
No. 931806 ID: 7e9c89

probably best to discuss other things for now, while she seems 2 be ina good mood / accepting
>>
No. 931807 ID: b1b4f3

>>931803
I think we're good.
>>
No. 931808 ID: aedfd9

No more questions! Let's listen to what Kel has to say. She's been REALLY good about listening to us instead of throwing us out on our ear, now is the time to be humble and respectful
>>
No. 931809 ID: 7011e0

i think we're good enough for now. donnie?
>>
No. 931810 ID: 2904f7

were good! who's that?
>>
No. 931812 ID: 70df1e

actually ask if pascal can challenge constantin to the duel.

if pascal uses ward shielding, the only one who gets to fight is you. and constantin can't touch him unless you lose - which is fine, because if you lose then the both of you are going to die anyway. kels pretty much outlined what constantin was about to do with pascal, so why not try this? doesnt solve the problem of taking the bathory house apart piece by piece, but it does solve keeping pascal out of the duel.

although now that i think about it, maybe we could duel on our own time and terms? challenge each individual member of house bathory to duels, not just constantin. take out all his shields individually (hes legally not allowed to retaliate, right?) and then go up against him when he's had too many losses to keep sending out more. if he sires everyone, then his wards cant use his other wards as shields.
>>
No. 931813 ID: fde9cb

I think we should at least ask about Brazilian duel rules before we move on. Bathory duels are sadistic and Brooklyn rules are seen as immature, so hopefully we can use Brazilian as a middle ground between the two.
>>
No. 931814 ID: ea82cb

Someone like Kel could've done something with a vampire like Elizabeth. With the Cradle that end was all but inevitable.

No I don't think there's anything else. We've bugged her enough for today, we can ask about dueling rules later.
>>
No. 931815 ID: 7d60d3

Nah. Go ahead.

(We can ask about Brazil rules later during actual dueling lessons)
>>
No. 931821 ID: b2a17a

Ask her how we should bring this up to Pascal/if she thinks we should bring this up. He still has some amount of loyalty, Kel even mentioned he would probably be very hurt by watching his fellow ornaments be killed.

We want to protect our pretty sire without a huge emotional blow, Kel doesn't seem the type to care excessively about doing emotional clean up after a decision is made but it wouldn't hurt to ask for advice.
>>
No. 931824 ID: b463f2

I definitely agree with mentioning that we want to know Brazilian rules, but also that we don't need them right away.

...and yeah, who's Donnie?
>>
No. 933142 ID: 270774
File 155813911902.png - (88.27KB , 800x525 , 471.png )
933142

“I’ve got some other stuff I’m curious about, like Brazilian rules or other things I might be able to use, but we can talk about it later.” Ricardo glances at his drink and decides he doesn’t want the rest, setting it back on the desk and earning a disapproving look from Kel. “Who’s Donnie?”

“Donata,” Kel corrects herself abruptly. “Boss Luciano.”

“...Right,” says Ricardo.

“I haven’t paid your courtesy levy,” she says, barreling past any further questions on that front. “You’re gonna have to figure that out yourself. Dealing with vampires takes muscle and diplomacy. I’m no good at the diplomacy shit, that’s why I’ve got wards who can do it — like Mignon. You’re just gonna have to rely on yourself, so you have to prove you can do it. I can put a sword in your hand and some weight behind your punch, but I can’t teach you how to deal with these people, and if you can’t figure it out yourself, you’re not gonna survive anyway.”

“Sure,” says Ricardo, a little uncertainly. He’s pretty sure he’s closer to Kel’s camp than Mignon’s when it comes to socialization. “What are courtesy levies, anyway? I saw them mentioned on a rule sheet that was left in our room, but it didn’t explain anything. It was like they expected us to already know what they are.”

“Oh, common den thing. But a much bigger deal here in Vegas than it usually is elsewhere.” Kel gestures, vaguely, in a way that seems meant to indicate the rest of the city, far outside the bounds of the hotel. “Think of it this way. Vegas is a paradise for our kind, right? Alive at night, high crime rate that we can blend into, and it’s packed to the gills with humans who came here to take a risk. It’s practically an all you can eat buffet. So why isn’t it completely overrun with vampires? Why didn’t vampires clean the place out and eat all the food decades ago?”

Ricardo furrows his brow and makes a guess. “Because… the den regulates it?”

Kel slaps the desk, leaning back in her chair. “Got it. The den has rules, and enough power to go after people who break them. And they charge a fee for visitors, the way all dens do — on the surface, as a way to thank them for their hospitality, but in practice, actually a way to make it too expensive for you to just sit on your ass leeching off their resources. They make themselves a place you can only afford to visit for a while, not a place where you feel like you can muscle in and take a piece of the pie. And they take it very seriously.” She pauses, fingers drumming against the wood for a moment. “I think the rest of the rules are pretty reasonable. No snitching, no killing each other at random in the hallways, no stealing from your hosts — none of that is out of line, in my opinion.”

“Yeah, Pascal thought it ended up working out pretty well in our favor,” Ricardo admits. “Especially the thing about not being able to talk about who you see here, or what they’re doing.”

Kel blinks at him. “Are you saying you didn’t pick Vegas because of that rule? I thought this was on purpose.”

“No, he just…” Ricardo rubs at his temple, glancing away. “He just thought it would be fun.”

“Don’t let him get his way that easily, this soon,” Kel chides him. “But anyway, the important thing is that nondisclosure rule doesn’t protect you til you’ve paid your dues, so you want this done sooner rather than later — and it’s not safe for you to just grab the first casino waitress you see and ask about it. If you have to work the entire chain up, there’s no way you won’t run across someone who decides the price the Cradle might pay for you is worth more than their loyalty to the den. You need to talk directly to someone close to Donata, skip as many steps as you can.”

“I don’t suppose you could just introduce us to ‘Donnie,’ huh,” Ricardo points out dryly.

“Fuck you. Be self-sufficient,” Kel snaps.

He groans, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. Make a damn puzzle out of it, I guess.”

“Puzzles make mice smarter or something. Mignon said something like that once. Anyway, I’ll give you a week. Any longer than that and they’ll get angry about it, plus it means you don’t have what it takes to navigate vampire society as it is and there’s no point in me training you. I’ll at least give you shorter training days for that week, so you can spend the rest of your time figuring it out.”

“Great.” Ricardo has gone back to massaging his temples. “Get an audience with the boss of the den in a week, by asking as few people as possible, or you pull the plug. Got it. Awesome. Can I get an estimate on how much this is going to cost, once I get that meeting?”
>>
No. 933143 ID: 270774
File 155813913450.png - (145.50KB , 800x525 , 472.png )
933143

“Oh, I dunno,” Kel says. “I’ve been training wards here on and off for the past few decades, so Donn— so Boss Luciano and I have an arrangement. I dunno what the going rate is nowadays for strangers. But I’m gonna guess, especially for dangerous strangers like Cradle fugitives, it’s gonna be more than you could dream of affording.”

Ricardo lets out a short, frustrated exhale. “Then what do you expect us to do?”

“Figure it out. Y’know, a shifter’s only useful in combat if they’re wicked intelligent.”

“Alright. Alright.” Ricardo presses his back against the chair, trying to regain some kind of clarity and composure. “Fine. I’ll figure it out. We’ll get it done. Anything else I should know about Vegas? Like, where to feed if we need more than the one per week limit, or anything I should avoid doing. I always feel like there’s a hundred pitfalls I could stumble into because nobody’s told me anything.”

“Oh, you can feed anywhere you want, as long as you’re not disrupting the hotel,” Kel tells him. “They just want their posh little buffet left well-stocked for everybody, but outside the Silver Crown you can do whatever you like as long as you don’t cause a panic. As for anything else you should know… eh, I guess just again remembering that those rules only protect you around people who care about staying on Donata’s good side. Which is most everybody, but it’s better to be cautious.” A beat, as she drums her fingers again and thinks. “Oh, not that I think you would, but don’t go out into the desert. There’s a pack of werewolves out there.”

“Werewolves,” Ricardo echoes, tiredly. “There are werewolves.”

“Yeah, so—”

“Pascal said werewolves aren’t dangerous,” Ricardo probes.

“They aren’t. Pascal is the problem, actually, not them.” Kel sighs, gathering her hair up in both hands and tossing it over her shoulder. “He hunts those things for sport, and he’ll go nuts if he finds out there’s a pack nearby, especially since he’ll be bored with you always in training. Now, out in the middle of the damn woods in Europe where there’s hundreds of the things, fine, whatever, but here it’s more —” She flaps her hand dismissively. “It’s a delicate ecosystem, I guess. If he wipes them out the jackalopes will get the plague or something.”

“Okay, fine. I won’t let Pascal cause an ecological crisis by… slaughtering werewolves,” Ricardo promises. There is a weariness in him that refuses to abate. “Anything else? Any other supernatural creatures that shouldn’t exist, but do, and that need to be kept in balance? Lake Mead monster? Witches?”
>>
No. 933144 ID: 270774
File 155813914868.png - (143.79KB , 800x525 , 473.png )
933144

Kel looks up at him sharply, eyes narrowed. “What do you know about witches?”

“Nothing. It’s a joke—”

Kel’s leaning forward, halfway risen from her chair. “You wanna learn about witches?”

“Not really,” says Ricardo, desperately.

She’s already standing up, phone in hand. “Text Pascal,” she says. “Or call him, whatever’s faster, fuck knows how long it’s taking him to get used to typing — tell him to come up to the ballroom, and to bring the gift I got him.”

“What gift? Kel—”

Kel already has her phone up to her ear. “Mignon, get the girls back into the ballroom, with Lamb suited up.” She’s grinning. “Ribeye doesn’t know about witches.”
>>
No. 933145 ID: 7e9c89

oh no. oh no. first off: PASCAL HUNTS WEREWOLVES?? how much can we even count on him not finding out, he doesnt rly know anyone here but, like she said: hes gonna be very bored
second, THIS IS SO CONCERNING. BRACE FOR IMPACT and ig think thru whatever stories u kno personally abt witches even if they might not apply irl since we havent talked abt em yet..
>>
No. 933146 ID: 70df1e

learn about witches

but also kel is calling mignon and apparently mignon is the one who negotiated FOR her, so maybe we can ask mignon for some tips or an in with the local vamp family? Kel said SHE wouldn't help, she didn't say anything about her wards
>>
No. 933147 ID: ea82cb

You'll probably best start with Mignon for the diplomacy quest you're on, if she's that good at it. Kel is definitely going to limit her assistance but maybe you can get something, training at least, from her.

Plus you gotta keep an eye on Pascal too. Have some plan to make time for him when he inevitably stumbles on the werewolf situation, so that he doesn't screw up the environment.

And now for the current issue, turn into mist and flee.
>>
No. 933148 ID: 7011e0

guess we're learning about witches!!! and OH BOY LAMB IS COMING i'm excited
>>
No. 933150 ID: 3e7944

>>933144
AHHH this so exciting. Vampires, witches, Lamb *eyes emojii*
first thought is kel sexy

second thought is about how to find a higher up, is there any kind of management office we can go to? visitor services?
>>
No. 933156 ID: d7f01b

time to learn about witches! let's ask mignon and maybe sirloin for diplomacy tips and tricks while everyone is together, they seem like they would be able to help us the most. pascal might know a thing or two about how to get to the top, too.
>>
No. 933157 ID: c7f906

Remind yourself again, how long has it been since you've had any control over your life?

Text Pascal: 'help i opened my big mouth and told Kel i don't know about witches, now she says bring your gift to the ballroom FYI everyone is going to be there'
>>
No. 933158 ID: c1be4a

If the note was left in the room about visitor dues, it would be reasonable to ask the front desk folks about it - you can frame it like you already know where to go and just need the connect! Might be a good ol fashion clue.

But first go see lamb being sexi
>>
No. 933165 ID: b463f2

Hmm. Who can we find, that's close to Donata.... something to ask Pascal about - there's a chance he knows something useful, about vampire den structures if not about this specific den. He also might have some idea of what we can do or offer that might possibly touch the large price we will likely have to pay for dues...

Definitely seems better to leave well enough alone with the weres here - I'd love to meet wolves eventually, I just feel like we have enough on our plate without chasing up more trouble, and trying to meet them without Pascal hurting them (and the ecosystem).

Also... Kel big sexy.... lov that leg hair.....

Call Pascal! I want to know what the gift is, and what Lamb being Suited Up means....
>>
No. 933177 ID: dd83df

CONFUSING YET EXCITING!!! are witches allies???? can vampires be witches????
>>
No. 933182 ID: 14e641

She's so excited and now im hyped to learn about witches!
Better call Pascal, texting him would take to long if he wants to reply.
Some money making ideas....we could go casino hopping. With Pascal's hypnosis and some caution we can rack up the cash. Just don't win to big to fast anywhere.
>>
No. 933199 ID: 10c408

"You know, this is another reason why I'd like to kill Constantin. Five years being shafted on the vampire world information front is something you just don't DO to someone, even if their existence is a freaking eyesore."
>>
No. 933238 ID: f39703

let's! hear! about! witches!
>>
No. 933239 ID: f39703

>>933238
also i hope the gift is a sexy witch costume
>>
No. 933261 ID: 094652

Might as well ask about psychics and aliens. And weretigers. And Zombie-Vamps. And literal parasites that affect all of the above.
>>
No. 933268 ID: b54723

Ask Kel if we can do luck spells, for uh. Just in case! Y'know.

Also ask if we can summon demons and fuck them.
>>
No. 933271 ID: aedfd9

Aaaaaaa there's a lot to process here but let's do that later bc I'm so excited to see Ricardo get his ass kicked by some witches (maybe????)

Call Pascal like Kel told you to and ask him if he can give you a heads up for whatever's about to happen
>>
No. 933317 ID: 262f3a

jfc im scared of witches already. Pascal said mortals haven't been a threat for centuries but now kel is ranting about witches and prepping the catholic vampire wtf.
>>
No. 933348 ID: 10c408

>>933317
I'm pretty sure that Kel is seizing the opportunity presented by Ricardo's ignorance to, well, subject him to further humility.

He is still "fresh meat" that needs to be "tenderized", after all.

anywho... Honestly, Kel's task for figuring out the dues sounds a lot like social spying. We'll probably have to do a lot of eavesdropping and listening on to the workers but it can be done.
>>
No. 933399 ID: b2a17a

bro WITCHES?! we gotta get some good witch content goddamn i hope they're hot and nasty, also definitely call pascal, if he's in the bath or taking a nap he won't notice a text
>>
No. 933538 ID: 270774
File 155840580908.png - (114.27KB , 800x525 , 474.png )
933538

It seems cut and dry, so Ricardo sighs and pulls out his phone. Pascal picks up after a few rings — Ricardo has time to wonder if he had difficulty figuring out how to answer the call.

“Hello, hello, Ricardo! How nice that the telephone tells me it is you calling, right from the beginning, so I can greet you properly! Like being properly introduced before you are escorted into a room. That’s how things should be, you know—”

“Yeah, yeah, hey, Pascal,” Ricardo cuts in, before he can prattle any further. “Kel wants you to come back down to the ballroom, said she has something to show me about… witches, I guess. She said to bring the gift she got you, whatever that means—”

“Oh, that fucking hag,” says Pascal.

“Uh.”

“Sorry, Ricardo! Sorry, I lost my temper a little. I was hoping to be having maybe just a little time for rest, because I am still tired and irritable from traveling, but I suppose there is no resting with this woman.” Pascal sighs, and Ricardo hears rustling in the background. “So, very well. I will be there shortly! Ugh, I have nothing to wear.”

“I just bought you about three whole bags of clothes,” Ricardo points out. “Less than a week ago.”

“Nothing to wear for this!

“Yeah, about that, what is this?”

“A duel, probably,” Pascal replies, sounding beleaguered, and then with a faint goodbye he hangs up.
>>
No. 933539 ID: 270774
File 155840583243.png - (113.07KB , 800x525 , 475.png )
933539

By the time the phone call is over Kel is already disappearing out the office door, so Ricardo shoves his phone back in his pocket and jogs to catch up with her.

“Witches, huh,” he says, as he falls in step beside her. “So what’s — I mean, what? Is a witch here. Am I going to fight a witch.” A brief pause. “Is Lamb a—”

“Only living human women can be witches.” Kel is practically power-walking, and her legs are longer than Ricardo’s. He’s trying not to break into a jog again mostly for the sake of his own dignity. “So no, she’s not, and neither is any other vampire on earth. We can’t use magic period, seeing as we’re fucking dead.”

“Kel, I can turn into mist. Pascal can hypnotize people.”

“That’s not magic,” Kel scoffs, and then she offers no further expansion on where that particular threshold lies. “Anyway, vamps can’t be witches, but vamps and witches have a long history together all the same, at least in Europe, and then the byproducts of it spread. It centered in Europe because of Christianity — a lot to do with the concept that vampires are servants of Satan, or born of the unbaptized, all that bullshit. So way back when, witches, who often considered the pact they’d made with magic as a pact with Satan, thought we were on the same team.”

They get to the ballroom first, seeing as the office was only around the corner, and Ricardo follows her up onto the balcony as she continues speaking. “And, uh, to be honest, we didn’t do much to disavow that. It was a nice perk, right? You can’t use magic, but these broads think you’re a prince of hell or something, so they do it for you. And for free! It was good while it lasted, I’m not gonna lie.”

Ricardo leans against the railing. His head hurts about as much as it did the first time Pascal tried to catch him up on an entire alternate history in one night. “So what happened?”

“What always happens, Ribeye. Progress, time, research. Of course they ended up figuring it out — that even if they still believed in Satan, it has nothing to do with us. And some of ‘em left pretty upset that we’d been milking their services, and I can’t blame ‘em. But others kept on doing the work we needed, if we could pay what it was worth.” Kel settles next to him, cracking her knuckles against the railing. “And that’s what you’re about to see.”
>>
No. 933540 ID: 270774
File 155840585376.png - (122.07KB , 800x525 , 476.png )
933540

The door to the ballroom opens again and Kel’s wards file in. Mignon in front, looking stately and calm; Sirloin, Strip, and Rack all chatting, hands moving constantly as they overlap each other; and Lamb brings up the rear, a few steps behind, in a black velvet cape that doesn’t align with the others’ casual wear. Everyone but Lamb follows the staircase up to the balcony, settling on either side of Kel and Ricardo. Lamb stays centered on the parquet floor, turning to face the door and then remaining motionless.

“Drama queen,” Strip mutters, from Ricardo’s left. Mignon laughs softly, patting her arm.

“We’re vampires, my dear. It’ll always be this way.”
>>
No. 933541 ID: 270774
File 155840591935.png - (61.49KB , 800x525 , 477.png )
933541

Pascal arrives before Ricardo has a chance to ask Mignon or anyone else what exactly is going to happen, which is surprising — he’d definitely expected his sire to be late. He looks a little bored as he walks in, and when he notices Lamb waiting, he looks up to the balcony, one hand on his hip.

“Hello, Mignon? Why are you not down here?” He waves one arm above his head, impatiently. “If this is about witch-blades, shall I not do it with you?”

Mignon laughs again, leaning easily against the railing. “She has one.”

Pascal’s brow pulls together immediately. “Excuse me?” Now both hands are on his hips, and he swivels on his heels to give Lamb a critical look. “Hello, Lamb! Can you be explaining to me, perhaps, why you have a—”
>>
No. 933542 ID: 270774
Audio blades.mp3 - (3.34MB )
933542

bloody purity - eyemedia
>>
No. 933543 ID: 270774
File 155840595607.png - (91.03KB , 800x525 , 478.png )
933543

{Burn Paradise,} says Lamb.
>>
No. 933544 ID: 270774
File 155840599587.png - (76.57KB , 800x525 , 479.png )
933544

Ricardo leans forward, startled, straining his already attuned hearing. It’s nearly impossible to describe what he’s just heard — it was a voice that suits Lamb, though he realizes this is the first time he’s ever heard her speak aloud. The words, though, are completely unfamiliar. It’s a language he knows he’s never heard, and now that he’s thinking of it he can’t even seem to grasp what the sounds were to try to repeat them to himself, and yet he truly did feel, in the pit of his chest, that he understood them. That he understood them better than he can express, even — that the English words “burn paradise” are the feeblest possible attempt of his consciousness to name the understanding that welled up in him. These thoughts happen in a blur, and before he can put them in order the language is spoken again, this time in a sibilant, toneless voice.

{Four.} The voice comes from beneath Lamb’s cape, the edges of which have lifted and now flutter in some unseen wind. {Four.}
>>
No. 933545 ID: 270774
File 155840601705.png - (68.30KB , 800x525 , 480.png )
933545

Pascal seems surprised but unimpressed by the proceedings. He’s tapping his foot. “Oh, I see, hide it under your cloak, very clever — Kel, where on earth did she get this? I think you are only giving these to your, euuuhh — is it lieutenants? Well, your important officers, and she is not!”

“I didn’t give it to her. She had it before she died,” Kel calls down. “She was a hunter.”

A moment of silence hangs between them, and then Pascal snorts. “No, she is not. I already know she is only Ricardo’s age.”

“And she was a hunter,” Kel insists.

Pascal rolls his eyes so hard that Ricardo can see it from the balcony. “Kel, there are none. Already the Cradle has wiped them out a century ago, which, by the way, nobody has ever thanked us for—”

Kel shrugs broadly, smiling. “You missed a spot.”

Pascal digests this for a moment, and whether he believes it or just gets too distracted by his next thought to care is unclear. “And you would have had my ward fight her, if he so choose!” He points accusingly up at the balcony. “When he is unarmed, not even with a normal weapon!”

Kel shrugs again. “Sometimes your enemy is armed and you aren’t.”

“He could have died! Oh, now I am angry at you.” Pascal is pacing a tight little circuit back and forth, ignoring Lamb’s relentless stare. “Oh, Kel, I am angry at you now. I don’t like you treating him so lightly.”

“Well, vent some aggression,” she suggests. “Listen, it’ll be educational.

Pascal gives her a final reproachful look, then turns his glance to Ricardo. “I don’t want you to have one of these, okay? This is just to show you, so you know about them.”
>>
No. 933546 ID: 270774
File 155840603867.png - (102.38KB , 800x525 , 481.png )
933546

Then, in one sharp movement, Pascal grasps the heart pendant around his neck and snaps the chain.

His other hand rises to meet it, clasping the pendant between both palms, and when he speaks, it’s the same indescribable language as before. {Bitterhearted.}

His hands draw away from each other, slowly, and from the heart of the object a hilt and a blade grow towards his palms. It’s a rapier, glittering silver, with an ornate spiraled hilt, and a few moments later it’s grown to its full length, the glass heart impaled on the blade near the guard.

{Blood for blood,} hisses the sword.
>>
No. 933547 ID: 270774
File 155840606182.png - (109.14KB , 800x525 , 482.png )
933547

“Sword’s talking,” says Ricardo, with a voice pulled tight as a bowstring. “That sword’s talking.”

{Neglectful wielder,} the sword continues, scornfully. {How long you’ve left me to languish. I thirst!}

“Anybody else?” Ricardo looks up and down the line pressed against the railing, fighting off an edge of weary desperation. “Anybody else bothered by the sword talking, or is that just me?”

“Well, I’m sorry, Bitterhearted,” Pascal sighs, placing a quick kiss against the flat of the blade. “I have not been having any reason to use you!”

{Speak not my name in the common tongue! How you besmirch me! To what filth you subject me!} Ricardo swears the sword is practically vibrating in Pascal’s hand. {Lazy, ungrateful creature!}

“The sword,” Ricardo says again, hoarsely.

“Yeah, they do that,” Kel says. “Some of ‘em are chattier than others. Lamb’s usually doesn’t have much to say.” She gestures down at the floor, where Pascal is giving the sword a few experimental twirls to loosen up his arm. “That, Ribeye, is a witch-blade. Forged by a witch out of the wielder’s own heartsblood, fixed on a goal the wielder chooses, and bound to an object they can carry with them. Real fuckin’ useful nowadays, since you can’t just carry a normal sword around without drawing attention.”

“Okay. Okay. Magic sword. Fine.” Ricardo rolls his neck, as if cracking it could reset his brain and make this easier to swallow. “Why do they talk.

“Hell, I don’t know. I’m not a witch. But I know they’re entities all their own, with personalities and thoughts and — well, I guess kind of free will. As much free will as you can have in that kind of state. They can choose not to be drawn, though, if you piss ‘em off too much, and they’re stronger if you’re close to them, so it’s best to be respectful.” Kel turns to look at him, smirking. “You want one? They run about one point five million USD, lately.”

“That’s about the same price as a single subsonic long-range cruise missile,” Mignon adds serenely. “A bargain, I think, for a thinking, feeling thing.”

“I—” Ricardo keeps his eyes on the ballroom floor, unsure of how to even respond to that. The sword, apparently, has good hearing.

{Wretched woman! You debase me! I am a priceless thing, forged by the dread witch Amity! I am unrivaled!}

Kel snorts. “Yeah, and adjusting for inflation, you cost me about two million dollars.”

“Kel, please don’t provoke it,” Pascal mutters.
>>
No. 933548 ID: 270774
File 155840608453.png - (163.57KB , 800x525 , 483.png )
933548

Lamb clears her throat, loudly, and the bickering stops. Pascal laughs airly, turning back to her.

“How rude of us! I am sorry. I would love to see your Burn Paradise.” Pascal twirls Bitterhearted again, loosely, and the blade sings in the air. “Clever, like I said, to hide your blade from your enemies, but this is only a friendly spar.”

“You are not my friend.” Lamb’s voice is about as heavily accented as Pascal’s; German, Ricardo thinks, though it’s hard to tell when her tone is obscured by a whispery rasp. “You are my work.”

Her hand fists on the front closure of her cape, and with one sharp movement of her arm she rips it open. Silver glints from the lining, and a chained stake glints in her hand, the shackle disappearing somewhere in the folds of fabric. “My most holy and necessary work.”
>>
No. 933549 ID: 270774
File 155840610608.png - (145.23KB , 800x525 , 484.png )
933549

Pascal whistles, low. Kel’s watching with amused interest. “A hunter, like I said,” she calls down. Then her attention is back on Ricardo. “She’s a weapons specialist, Lamb. Vampire-killing weaponry is her — what did she call it. Her special interest. She knew almost everything there was to know about witch-blades before I even found her.”

She leans over the railing again, one hand cupped around her mouth. “Remember, Lamb, he’s under my protection. That agreement we have about free kills doesn’t apply. Just have some fun.”

Lamb makes a throaty, irritable little noise in the back of her throat, and Kel chuckles. “Well, anyway. I’m sure you have plenty of questions. Pay attention to the duel, but we can chat while they fight.”
>>
No. 933551 ID: b54723

god damn. god damn. okay. so what's that thing kel got anyway? And is turning into the things the only things witch blades can do? Or are there other things it can do? (storing spells would be cool but I mean i doubt we could cast them anyway)

And HOW does the witch get the blood out of her heart, I mean I doubt Kel knows about how but heartblood implies its directly from the heart and ghtb can someone get me im FLOATING AWAY i have SO many questions also pascal WHERE did you get that anyway???
>>
No. 933553 ID: 10c408

"Okay, first question then. Now that you know about my smoke trick, how bad were my odds if I had picked Lamb instead of Rack?"

Let's uh, all be thankful we did NOT end up picking Lamb and having to fight an undead vampire hunter.
>>
No. 933554 ID: 7011e0

I AM LOSING MY MIND THIS IS SO COOL ask more about the witchblades oh my GOD
>>
No. 933555 ID: 3272af

holy fucking SHIT. ask what more they can do but watch super carefully?? and, it almost sounded like kel bought pascal’s for him?
>>
No. 933560 ID: b1b4f3

>>933549
Comment on how much it must suck for Lamb to have been turned into what she hunts. Or does she think of it as a combat advantage? A boon for the greater good?

Ask what kind of purposes witch-blades have. Is it something general like "to cut my enemies"? Do they have more power the more specific the purpose is?
>>
No. 933564 ID: 70df1e

dude we GOTTA get one of these. oh my god. i know pascal said not but like look at it. we NEED one
>>
No. 933567 ID: 4b5650

who is amity? i assume she's one of the witches who's willing to do what we ask for pay: could we get in contact w/her? even if we don't get a witchblade maybe we can get something else from her

also, here's another question- witches are humans, right. what makes vampires not go...and basically treat them the same way they do werewolves (as in: 'particularly tough to eat snack'?)- like vampires seem the type to try to get what they want through shows of force, what about the witches (other than, i assume, the weapons, or is it just the weapons?) makes them treat them less like that
also what was that language. was it a language. can we learn it. was it something divine. do /angels/ exist here
>>
No. 933571 ID: e9c0df

HOOOOOLLLLLYYYY SHIT THIS OWNS..... I AM SO EXCITED.... WHAT THE FUCK

so! are witches Born Magic or are they human women who learn it? are they immortal, like, do they need to eat? OH AND... if vampire affinities like hypnotism only work on humans, does that include witches or no?
>>
No. 933577 ID: 14e641

Seconded, ask her qbout the fight with Rack. How sol wouod we have been if we had pucked Lamb?
Then i guess ask beyond the talking and hidung what's so great avout witch blades?
>>
No. 933584 ID: 262f3a

>>933549
"So these things seem really... menacing I guess? How are they better then any old sword or whip though?"
>>
No. 933589 ID: 23dc9d

Ask that since Lamb used to be a hunter, did she hunt Kel down to be her ward or to kill her?
>>
No. 933592 ID: 869963

IS PASCAL GONNA BE OKAY :((((
>>
No. 933596 ID: 9fcd43

Oh my god this just got like five thousand percent more anime I'm so happy

Why did she give one to Pascal, if they're so rare and valuable? What happens if a witch gets turned into a vampire, do they just stop being a witch? How common are these things - more specifically, how much do we need to worry about other vampires pulling them out in everyday duels?
>>
No. 933599 ID: 3e7944

>>933549
This is so fucking cool, and I can not wait until we get to play as Lamb.

I also just love how you draw ponytails, pascals hair looks so good ahhh

Questions:
How do witches magic work, is it innate or learned or a bit of both?
Magic and/or vamp hunting based around Christianity only or are there other religions that play into it?
Why would she buy such an expensive gift for Pascal?
Are witches a thing we should be worried about as a threat from those searching for us?
>>
No. 933609 ID: 465a14

Why does Lamb keep up the charade? She obviously doesn't believe anymore, or her own fancy outfit would be peeling her skin off or whatever.
>>
No. 933612 ID: 10c408

>>933609
Uh. Say what now?

Honestly, we don't know Lamb's full story. We can infer quite a bit of it, but that's not the same as knowing.

However, my assumption is that Lamb really wants to hunt vampires again but Kel won't let her and Kel hasn't offed Lamb for a plethora of reasons that are hard to nail down until we ask someone who knows.
>>
No. 933621 ID: e3a778

>>933609
She pretty clearly is badly burned by contact with crosses, though. That’s what those huge marks all over her body are.

Anyway, we should ask about:
1. The benefits of witch-blades besides conversation and looking cool
2. How common witch-blades are
3. More information on Amity
4. Why Kel bought Pascal a $2,000,000 sword (Does it have something to do with the fact that decorative wards aren’t supposed to learn combat?)
5. How do we get one???

Also, anybody have theories on the card suits?
>>
No. 933623 ID: 094652

>That’s not magic
Screw you; plasmids, nano-augments, and neuromods have one thing in common: they're kick-ass superpowers that required extensive R&D to develop. If that's not wizard magic enough for you, go argue with a vampire quantum physicist.

>if they still believed in Satan
... I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry. Probably laugh.

>the Cradle has wiped them out a century ago
Riiight. As if ancient conspiracies weren't revivable.

>>933609
In theory, she needs to tell herself she still believes to quell the vampire-hating voices in her head telling her to crucify herself while [actually this next part is just creepy].

Or maybe she just wants to look ironically hot.

Either way, pay attention to the witchblades. With a little ingenuity you could commission a witchblade meant for other means - like hacking the Cradle's tech defenses. Think about it; they'll add ward security to their computers but that's exponentially more complicated. They WILL make mistakes. Mistakes an AI can capitalize on.
>>
No. 933635 ID: f62d1c

questions for kel:
- why would a devout vampire hunter become a vampire?
- aside from talking, what advantages does a witch blade have over a normal weapon?
- why doesn't pascal want us to have our own witch blade?
>>
No. 933656 ID: ea82cb

What's the big, secret downside to the witchblades? And is Lamb equal opportunity vampire killer, as in she doesn't care that Ricardo didn't want to be one and is generally a good boy?
>>
No. 933665 ID: 15ee9e

ohhh is Lamb's crucifix her witch blade thats so cool im digging the guilty catholic aes. pay close attention to the duel, but def ask about how we can get our hands on a witchblade. also why pascal wouldnt want us to have one
>>
No. 933698 ID: 853e99

hey what the fuck. how does a vampire hunter choose to become a vampire
>>
No. 933765 ID: eb66b1

"I thought that as one of Constantin's ornamental wards, Pascal wasn't allowed to know how to use weapons. What's with the sword, then?"
>>
No. 933831 ID: 696454

maybe it's not so surprising that witchblades are as talkative, or not, as the blood that made them. does the fact that lamb had her weapon prior to being turned imply that witches will work readily with humans?

can witchblades only be drawn by the people from whom they were made? is there a way to estimate how many vampires currently have them?

seconding asking how witchblades provide an advantage aside from portability, since it seems you can still overpower a vampire with (checks chapter one) two very good tommy guns (with the right bullets, at least). (don't ask this but can a witchblade just be a gun. skldsnlkn)

also seconding asking about how lamb came to be a ward, since what kel said in our earlier meeting would imply that lamb had to have hunted her down and asked for it. but kel's also just said that by the time she found lamb, lamb already knew a lot.

but i'd rather we not ask up front how to get our own witchblade. first off kel's just going to laugh at us for pretending to have 1.5 million dollars to spare (we haven't even figured out how to pay our levy lmao), and there seems to be a personal price to obtaining a witchblade, besides. getting some more info/lore is tempting, and we should learn about witches since we're here, but pascal literally just asked us to Not have one of these, and he can hear us.
>>
No. 934566 ID: 58c855

What happens if a witch gets turned? Are witchblades more responsive if wielded by the person who made them, and can other items be created thru the same process? (like, say, a witch-shield, or a witch-flamethrower, or even nonweapons like a paintbrush to produce magic paintings)
>>
No. 934722 ID: 26262d

okay so if vampires aren't a "satan thing", why are they burned by crosses ? Lamb is burned but she has a witchblade, which is a satanic thing so uh yeah maybe we should call Bunji and ask him ih he ga one too, since he also was burned by a cross ?
>>
No. 934782 ID: b0b724

>>934722
It's a belief thing, I think. She has faith, so the crosses burn.
>>
No. 934875 ID: deddc1

Fight fight fight fight fight!!!!!!!
>>
No. 934939 ID: 6b66cf

>Only living human women can be witches.

hey ricardo, think your mom would want to learn how to be a witch?
>>
No. 935347 ID: 599088
Audio lamb1.mp3 - (3.66MB )
935347

friction — mili
>>
No. 935348 ID: 599088
File 156020397604.png - (132.72KB , 800x525 , 485.png )
935348

“Alright. Okay. First question.” Ricardo’s hands are tense against the railing; but this is just how things are going to be, he reasons. More and more bullshit, all of it completely outside of the bounds of reality, and his only option to adapt. “What would my chances have been, if I’d tried to fight Lamb?”

“Grim,” says Kel. She doesn’t sound remorseful.

“Would letting me die on the first try have been great training?”

“Part of training is learning to navigate your fights. If you don’t know enough to keep yourself safe, even from somebody as low level as her, then there’s not much I can do for you.”

Ricardo supposes that makes sense, not that he’s thrilled about it. It feels like everything is a test, and it’s exhausting. “Noted. And speaking of her, why would a vampire hunter become a vampire herself? You told me you only turn people who ask.”

Kel chuckles, leaning forward slightly as Pascal and Lamb begin to circle each other. “Come on. Your sire’s taught you the basics, hasn’t he?” Her eyes don’t lift from the duel, and Ricardo keeps his attention there as well. “What’s the only real danger to a vampire?”

Ricardo’s eyes narrow. “Another vampire.”
>>
No. 935349 ID: 599088
File 156020399868.png - (290.64KB , 800x525 , 486.png )
935349

“Like I said, the Cradle missed a spot. I’d heard rumors about a cell of traditional vampire hunters in Thuringia whose ancestors had survived the purge. If it were true, that would be good practice for the girls, and even if it weren’t, there’s plenty to learn out in those forests.”

“By the time we got there, though, another vampire had already found them — and slaughtered everyone but Lamb. By the time he got to her, he’d been weakened enough that she could take him out, and that’s what we found.”

>>
No. 935350 ID: 599088
File 156020401997.png - (314.54KB , 800x525 , 487.png )
935350

“He had a partner who showed up late, and I took her out, since it seemed like a waste to let her kill this little weirdo, you know? And seeing that, can you really blame Lamb for the conclusion she came to?”

“She’d just watched her whole family die just to kill one unarmed vampire, then watched me kill another in one motion. If you’re gonna try to be serious about it, there’s only one real way to go, right?”

>>
No. 935351 ID: 599088
File 156020403594.png - (154.84KB , 800x525 , 488.png )
935351

There’s the first sharp, ringing clash of metal on metal, and Kel drops off. It was hard to follow, but the motion Ricardo gathered was two-part: the chained stake of Burn Paradise shooting across the arena, like a scorpion’s tail, and Pascal swiftly deflecting it.

{Pascal.} Bitterhearted’s voice is deeper than Pascal’s, with a richness and a rasp that its wielder’s airy tone lacks. {That is but a fraction of her blade.}

“What, really?” Pascal adjusts his grip on the hilt, and Ricardo won’t admit to flinching when there’s another flash of gold, this time one that Pascal seems to struggle to deflect. “What do you mean?”

{Do not pester me. I know only that there is more unseen.} A pause. When Bitterhearted speaks again, it sounds — well, bitter. {And it is well-forged. Not as well as I, but—}

“There’s a benefit of witch-blades,” Kel murmurs, nodding down at the floor. “They can assess each other.”

“Huh.” Ricardo watches as a few more probing blows are exchanged. “And I guess that’s why the talking is useful.”

“If they can stay on-topic,” Mignon adds, with a touch of indulgent humor.

“But the real benefit is that a sword with a soul knows how to wield itself.” Kel tenses, and that on its own sharpens Ricardo’s focus on the fight. Pascal closes the gap and makes a vicious thrust at Lamb, one she parries with one of the daggers snatched out of her cloak lining. Her hand sizzles on the crucifix hilt. “You think he knows how to do that all on his own? No. I tried to train him for five years and he was all but hopeless. A witch-blade closes the gap between a duelist and an amateur, if it’s got a forceful enough personality.”
>>
No. 935352 ID: 599088
File 156020405729.png - (143.41KB , 800x525 , 489.png )
935352

The battle is close-quarters now, and Lamb seems agitated by that. A moment later there are two flashes of gold, and Pascal only manages to deflect one of them; there’s a burst of blood from his shoulder and he springs back, hissing.

{Pay attention!} Bitterhearted snaps. Blood streams down Pascal’s left arm and drips off his fingertips, quiet but audible against the glossy floor. {To not draw first blood in my first duel in decades!}

“Shut up,” says Pascal.

Ricardo watches, all his attention on the wound. He’s not worried — not after seeing Pascal rip his own arm off — but something’s off. “Kel. Why isn’t it healing? It’s not that bad of a cut, so—”

“Another benefit.” Pascal and Lamb are circling each other again. “Witch-blades have the same properties as silver, but won’t burn you, the wielder. Wounds made by silver weapons — or witch-blades — don’t regenerate. And silver can’t be manipulated by abilities like telekinesis, which is why our standard weapons even have silver hilts — so a telekinetic can’t rip your sword out of your hand using the grip.”

“Oh, there’s a tip,” Mignon points out lightly. “Anyone who’s always wearing gloves is likely armed.”

“That was a good strike, Lamb,” Pascal calls out, and those on the balcony turn back to the fight. “Kel is teaching you well.”

{It was adequate,} Bitterhearted grumbles.

“No vampire taught me to wield a blade,” Lamb snaps back. She makes another lunge, and Pascal evades her, one leg sweeping in a wide arc that Ricardo recognizes, and Lamb hits the ground hard on one elbow.

“Note that, girls,” Kel says. “Typical Bathory style. All legs. If he had Bathory duelist greaves on, now, that would’ve been nasty.”
>>
No. 935353 ID: 599088
File 156020408071.png - (225.80KB , 800x525 , 490.png )
935353

“Crosses still burn you,” Pascal notes, his tone conversational. He’s not going for her, waiting for Lamb to get back to her feet. “Still truly pious. You are the same age as Ricardo, yes? You died five years ago?”

Lamb doesn’t answer as she straightens up. Pascal’s mouth does something, quick and tight, barely a twitch.

“Do you know how long it took before crosses did nothing to me anymore? Seven years.”

Lamb lunges again, twice in quick succession, more wildly than before; Pascal sidesteps, and on the second attempt manages to land a solid kick against the small of her back, sending her sprawling again. “You are running out of time, I think, Lamb.”

“Pascal,” Kel says, warningly.

This time he does try to kick her when she’s down — and when he does, a gold chain wraps swiftly around his ankle. A split second later Pascal is flung across the ballroom, hitting the wall hard enough that the wall buckles. Lamb crosses the distance at a near-run.

“These will never stop burning me.” She has two daggers now, held at the ready as she skids to a stop near Pascal. “For as long as I live. I’ll always—”

{You tiresome thing.} Bitterhearted seems to jerk forward in a way that drags Pascal’s arm along for the motion, rather than being wielded. sparks flying as one of the daggers grinds against its blade and hits the handguard. {For as long as she lives, she says. She thinks herself a human yet, Pascal.}

“So she does.” There are a few complicated movements, ones Ricardo finds he can follow despite the speed — Pascal attempting to sweep Lamb’s legs out from under her as he struggles to his feet, and Lamb quickly and cautiously avoiding each lashing movement. Pascal’s teeth are bared. “But a human cannot kill a monster, can it, my heart?”

Ricardo swears the sword laughs, though that’s a noise he can’t find words to describe. {Never, my host.}
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No. 935354 ID: 599088
File 156020410190.png - (180.58KB , 800x525 , 491.png )
935354

Another flash of movement, and Ricardo can only parse what’s happened by piecing it together after the fact — one moment, Pascal and Lamb are facing each other; the next, Pascal is behind her, Bitterhearted held aloft, and her cape is impaled and gathered against the base of the blade, ripped from her shoulders.

Burn Paradise is a coffin dug into Lamb’s back, four golden chains hanging from the slanted faces. There’s a distinct clanking noise as the chains retract, stakes dangling — some kind of winch mechanism inside, hidden by dark inlaid wood.

Lamb’s voice is quiet and urgent. “Did they hit you?”

{I am unharmed.} The witch-blade’s voice is flat, devoid of affect or inflection. {Think only of the battle, Grethe.}

{“Think only of the battle, Grethe,”} Bitterhearted mocks shrilly. It drops its voice again immediately, tone nearly an audible eyeroll. {By God, I wish you would. You’ll be harmed soon enough.}

Burn Paradise scoffs, its abstract voice faintly touched by disgust. {Do not dare speak to me of God. You were forged by Amity? The silver and steel of me knows her work. That evil woman, that consort of Satan, that devil’s-harlot—}

{Were you not forged by a witch as well, you silly piece of scrap wood? An inferior one, yes, this much I can gather when we come to blows, and by how displeasing and graceless you are to behold, but you, stupid little trinket, you ugly BOX, are not—}
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No. 935355 ID: 599088
File 156020412145.png - (110.33KB , 800x525 , 492.png )
935355

“Can we bring it in? Both of you, come on, get them focused.” Kel sighs, one hand massaging the bridge of her nose. “You can barely get Burn Paradise talking on the best of days, but Pascal’s blade has always brought out the worst in people.”

“Amity. She’s been mentioned twice now,” Ricardo says. “But Burn Paradise was forged by someone else?”

“I don’t know who forged Lamb’s blade, and Lamb won’t tell me,” Kel replies. “I guess her family had their own networks, and she won’t give any of them up. It’s just as well, though. Plenty of places to buy a blade.” She gestures down towards Pascal. “Amity is one of ‘em, though she’s probably only got about one more blade in her before she croaks. One of the best, though. I’ll be sorry to see her go. She’s done what she can to extend her time, but a human is a human, and even magic doesn’t make you immortal.”

“How many witches are there? I mean, how many make witch-blades? Are they hard to find?”

“Hell, no,” Kel snorts. “One to two million a pop, you think people aren’t jumping on it? There’s probably a smith-witch in every major city, though I’d only go to ones I know, ones who are proven to be masters of the craft, so that narrows it down. A bad witch-blade is worse than no blade at all — I told you, they’re living things, and you’re bound to them forever. Now, the one who forged mine and Mignon’s blades is long dead, that was centuries ago. Amity out in Salem is one of the best known, but like I said, she’s old, and she’s expensive. Who else is active right now…? Most of the good ones in Europe are too tied up with the Cradle, I wouldn’t go to them, ‘specially not in your situation. Ah, well, there’s Bitch Eternal down in Miami—”

“There’s who,” Ricardo croaks.

“The smith-witch Bitch Eternal, in Miami,” repeats Kel.

“There is not a witch named Bitch Eternal who lives in Miami, Florida.

“I’ve heard good things about her,” Mignon cuts in. “She’s unconventional, and a little hard to get ahold of, but makes fine blades — and her prices aren’t awful, compared to the quality.”

Ricardo is not capable of unpacking that right now. “Okay. Okay. So. One point five million dollars or more, each.” He watches as Pascal and Lamb continue to trade blows, the pace and tenor of the fight more tense now than before. “Why’d you spend that on Pascal? On a — a ‘decorative’ ward, or whatever they want to call it, who isn’t even allowed to own a sword—”

“Mind your business,” Kel snarls, immediately. Mignon looks away, and Ricardo looks up.

“This is my business. Everything to do with him is my business, now. We’re stuck together.”

“Then mind the fight.” Kel crosses her arms against the railing. She won’t look at him. “Worry about how you’re going to make your own money for one, if you want one, and don’t worry about how I choose to spend my own.”
>>
No. 935360 ID: 1fb7e6

i mean u TRULY cannot fault lamb's logic here. let's not push kel on that for now, we can't afford her getting pissed off at us and honestly? i'm not sure her reasons matter. pascal matters to us and his past is relevant but what we know is this: kel spent a lot of money getting s/t that pascal can use to keep himself safe, and that can only be a benefit. it's probably also rly personal and.. we know how pascal feels about us learning abt him from others
tangentially, not sure how i feel about getting lamb's history from kel. it's probably fine but that is an incredibly personal thing for us to know abt someone who Does Not like us. i guess all we can rly do now is keep an eye on the fight&pascal.. maybe we'll figure out how burn paradise works.
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No. 935363 ID: aedfd9

THIS IS SO FUCKING COOL!!! LAMB IS SO COOL!!!

I think it's pretty obvious that Kel gave Pascal a sword bc she was feeling guilty about not helping him way back when; maybe after what happened with Teddy? We can ask him later. Also: Pascal said we aren't allowed a witch blade but IT WOULD BE SO COOL. If we talk him around, maybe he could use his hypnosis powers on human gamblers while we're here to raise the money?

I don't understand the thing about gloves - why wearing them helps, or what "Bathory duelling gloves" means; If thats not something I've missed, can we ask Kel? Also we should ask the best way to defend oneself against an armed opponent.

Oh, and let's pay close attention to Lamb's weaknesses during this fight. We're probably going to face her someday and don't want to get killed.
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No. 935370 ID: c7aefd

Speaking of money, can we ask Kel if theres some kind of vampire freelance network or something where we can make some quick cash? We still have to pay the thing to the Vegas den
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No. 935371 ID: bb78f2

>>935355
You know, I don't think a witchblade fits Ricardo at all. They're definitely cool, but clearly a delicate commitment even taking the price out of the equation.

No, no, I'm certain there's a more fitting weird thing out there for you Ricardo. Something more your style. If you get a witch blade at all, I'd rather turn your BODY into a witchblade. Or fists, or whatever. I mean, they probably don't have to be swords. You can probably make a witchglock.

Cyborg, Witchblade vampire. Fuck yeah. That's Ricardo's style. Remove your hand, replace it a witchblade fist.

Huge respect for Lamb, they have their head straight regarding vampires. Wonder what they do about feeding though. A necessary evil to purge the world of vampires? Human's aren't cattle, though many vamps choose to adopt that notion.
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No. 935372 ID: b1b4f3

>>935355
Okay you can just ask Pascal later.
>how 2 make money
Well we can't start saving up for a witch blade yet, we need to save up for the Vegas Fee first. As for how to make money fast, ughhh I guess we could try robbing someone? Or using mist form to sneak in somewhere where valuables are kept?
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No. 935375 ID: 2b3534

Is just straight up robbing a bank for witchblade money an option? You can go incorporeal, but doing so might draw unwanted attention to the supernatural as a whole.
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No. 935376 ID: f9ebcb

there’s a typo — “duelist gauntlets” should be “duelist greaves.” sorry for any confusion, guys!
>>
No. 935389 ID: 10c408

>>935375
How would we get the money out though. Hell, how would we get IN without getting caught on a camera?
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No. 935393 ID: be8768

>Typical Bathory style.
do most houses have distinct styles of fighting? knowing what babenburg style is like could help us know what to expect from rex and jonquil when they catch up to us
side note this is cool as fuck
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No. 935395 ID: 406aee

Okay, focus on the duel. Don't push it.

Ask what Bathory dueling gauntlets are and ask why Pascal wouldn't want us to have one. Is there a downside to these? Because it sounds almost too good to be true.

Would our weapon be able to transform or move with us?
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No. 935400 ID: b463f2

wow, Lamb is super hardcore. Like, that was known, but, damn. I wonder what object Burn Paradise is tied to, when it's not in full weapon form. I'm also really interested to see the progression of her character, long term - if she does indeed keep her current faith, and lens on what vampires are.

I think we should sit down and discuss witchblades with Pascal before we decide to get one or not. They seem like they could be immensely powerful and helpful for the whole "Take on Count Bathory" quest - especially that whole "forged for a specific purpose bit - but it isn't Ricardo's style to max out power without thinking about the consequences.
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No. 935408 ID: 70df1e

focus on the fight for now and wait and see what happens. ask about the duelist greaves - do duelists wear special armor made to maximize the harm they can do to their opponents? so far we've only learned about offense but there has to be defense as well
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No. 935421 ID: c51771

why would we pay 1.5mil for a whiny dueling partner when we got pascal for free
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No. 935441 ID: 262f3a

"So uh, is there something special about gold? It seems like a pretty terrible material to make a weapon out of all things considered, unless it does some magic-related reason too."
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No. 935449 ID: 10c408

"This is probably a dumb question, but. If silver is anathema to vampires, is there a market for silver bullets then? or does that violate the vampire convention in Geneva?"
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No. 935451 ID: b0b724

Bitch Eternal is the greatest being on this Earth.

As for her weapons, something like claws would suit Ricardo, something hand range. We can worry about money some other year. It's just on the table.

Also, it's so clear that Lamb isn't an enemy. The problem is convincing her of that. As long as she sees herself as human and you as a monster, I don't see it working.

As for relevant details, it definitely is your business, but if she wants to not tell you she should say that, not deflect. You're an adult you can handle a no, but denying your place in this is wrong. Anyway, ask about the greaves, some sort of bladed boots Bathorys are known to wear?

And start cheering Pascal, he could use a boost.
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No. 935468 ID: 15ee9e

im still guessing that burn paradise is lamb's cross, since she's not wearing it during the fight. also bunji's cross still burns him, so pascal is probably just playing mind games with lamb for the purpose of the fight. maybe we can try to connect with her on the basis of our connection to our humanity since we're still clinging to it in a way? that way she'd be less likely to see us as a monster - we really want her on our side, and i think she would gladly take the opportunity to aid in killing one of the most powerful vampires currently alive (er... dead). im torn between wanting a witchblade for ricardo and wanting to avoid the hassle.. like others have said, it seems really high maintenance and we still dont know how theyre made, but claws of some kind would be SICK.
also the implication here is that lamb got her witchblade before becoming a vampire.. do only humans and vampires have witchblades or do we have to worry about mermaids or werewolves etc. having them too? the gloves probably arent necessary to fight with a witchblade if silver doesnt hurt you so that could be dangerous. i also agree wth asking about rex and jonquil's fighting styles.
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No. 935486 ID: 094652

This is Vegas and you're a Vampire.

Gambling is an obligation. Bet Pascal 9 straight hours of bondage play (or whatever) that he will get his ass kicked.
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No. 935518 ID: 44f6f3

Making bank should be easy enough. Pascal's a hypnotist, so...take that to the gambling tables and badabing kaching.
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No. 935519 ID: 76584a

so, uh, how does lamb feed? since she clearly hates vampires
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No. 935607 ID: a14fb7

a witchblade binds to you - far too early for us to get one, man. we gotta progress a bit in our training montage, man. we dont want to be just a body for a weapon.
also they're wearing gloves bc silver hilts burn no need to ask
so, focus on the fight - is there something about gold or is it just aesthetics? whats kels witchblade like?
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No. 937793 ID: 26262d

one cool plan for getting a witchblade would be to befriend Minmin bc he's rich as hell and we love him
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No. 938201 ID: 75cf31
Audio lamb2.mp3 - (3.09MB )
938201

unpleasant sonata — igorrr
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No. 938202 ID: 75cf31
File 156228285403.png - (170.65KB , 800x525 , 493.png )
938202

Ricardo shoots Kel a disgruntled glare, but it's not worth getting into a fight over. Instead he calls down to Pascal, one hand cupped around his mouth out of habit. "Hey, I bet you get your ass kicked."

"Wow, Ricardo, thank you for your support!" Pascal doesn't take his eyes off Lamb when he responds. "What exactly are we going to be betting?"

"Uh," says Ricardo.

"Sex shit," yells Rack, from the side.

"Well—"

"Oh, certainly we can bet sex things," says Pascal, as he trades another few lightning blows with Lamb. "What sex things are we betting?"

Strip leans forward to look past the row of vampires at Ricardo, her brow furrowed. "Are you fucking that guy? Seriously?"

"I— okay, well, first of all, that's my business, and second of all I didn't mean a literal bet, I'm trying to cheer for him—"

Strip snorts. "By betting he gets his ass kicked?"

"He's difficult to motivate," Ricardo hisses. Beside him, Kel barks a laugh.

"Listen," Ricardo continues, speaking over the lighthearted clamoring that's started up, "I'm just saying I haven't seen anything cool enough to convince me that I need to pay over a million dollars for a whiny dueling partner when I have you for free."

Pascal bursts into laughter, high and genuine, drowning out the irritable protests his sword is making in response. "Well, good! They are a pain in the ass, Ricardo!"
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No. 938203 ID: 75cf31
File 156228287011.png - (168.95KB , 800x525 , 494.png )
938203

"Are they dating," Strip is whispering, but not quietly enough to thwart vampire hearing from mere feet away.

"I don't think so," Rack replies, in an equally useless stage whisper. "But I was looking at them earlier and there's definitely, like, some kind of—"

"Anyway," Ricardo says, loudly. He nudges Kel's arm, to get her attention back. "Bathory style, Bathory dueling greaves. What's all that."

"Mm." Kel straightens up, glancing down at him as she explains. "Not every house — or coven, or den, what have you — has a specific tradition, but some are trained up in a certain way. For the Bathorys, it's this—" She gestures loosely down at Pascal, who happens to be demonstrating: forceful arcs of movement, mirroring the movements of his sword, each one an attempt to close the gap between him and an increasingly careless Lamb. "This kicking thing. It's mostly decorative. Unbalances the duelist, doesn't work on someone whose reach is further than yours, it just doesn't make a lot of sense." Her teeth click together, coldly. "But Constantin likes how it looks."

Ricardo watches quietly, and he sees it. A lot of flashy flexibility, pointless showboating with no substance. When the blows land, they stagger Lamb, but they rarely do, and she's getting used to it quickly. "So the greaves are—"

"Designed to work with it," Kel confirms. "Nasty stuff. They're these, uh — well, you know what greaves are, yeah? Leg armor. But Bathory duelist greaves are silver, and all covered in spikes and hooks and shit. Tear you up real bad if a kick lands, and they can catch blades and rip 'em out of your hands if used well." She drums one hand against the railing, thinking. "Specialized gear like that isn't common. I can't think of many others that do it like that."

"What about Babenburgs?" Ricardo presses. "The ones we know are after us. Do they have a specific style? It would help to know."

Kel shakes her head. "Babenburg's whole thing is that his wards aren't cohesive. He'll sometimes pair a specialist with someone who has a standard affinity, and as far as I know he doesn't pair two specialists together, but beyond that there's no pattern. He has wards from every time period, from a wide variety of backgrounds, and he doesn't indoctrinate them or try to mess with their behavior the way most other Cradle houses do. That's a strength — his wards are unpredictable and diverse." Another glance down at Ricardo, with glinting eyes. "The one thing I can say for sure is that every single one of his wards has a witch-blade. Right out the gate. That's an expense he doesn't spare."

Ricardo's focus on the fight falters, and he turns to look at her. "I thought he had hundreds of wards."

"He does. Close to three hundred, last I heard," Kel says.

"He's bought almost three hundred witch-blades," Ricardo says, slowly, as if he needs to make sure there hasn't been a misunderstanding.

Kel picks her teeth with a nail. "Yep."

"At one to two million dollars each."

"Yep."

"What the fuck is wrong with you people?"

Kel laughs, loud and rough around the edges. "Plenty. But the higher you drag your sorry carcass up the food chain, especially over there, the more worried you have to be." Metal on metal continues to ring out below, punctuated by Pascal's occasional attempts at breathless conversation (and Lamb's stony silence in return, so heavy that it almost seems to have a buzzing of its own). "Ribeye, listen, I'm not saying it's not serious, but you're not gonna have three hundred vampires with swords all bearing down on you at once, okay? Do you see all four hundred thirty of my girls here with me? The majority of his force defends his palace in Vienna, and he's not going to leave his home base unprotected to chase after a pair of troublemakers, no matter how friendly he gets with Constantin."

“Okay,” says Ricardo — but he doesn’t feel very reassured.
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No. 938204 ID: 75cf31
File 156228289465.png - (236.72KB , 800x525 , 495.png )
938204

Ricardo has kept his eyes on the fight, and he’s getting a little worried. Lamb seems to be tiring, but so is Pascal — and if anything, Pascal is tiring faster. A particularly brutal impact against his blade staggers him, and when the stake ricochets off his block it hits his shoulder, bursting through the other side. He cries out, half a snarl, and Ricardo’s grip on the railing tightens.

“Relax, Ribeye,” says Kel. “It’s all in good fun.”

Pascal doesn’t look like he’s have fun. Burn Paradise’s chain is straining, slowly retracting in an attempt to pull him across the field into Lamb’s reach, and blood puddles on the floor in a streak as he digs his heels in and pulls back. Lamb is snarling, eyes wide.

“Watch it, Lamb,” Kel calls down. “Watch your stamina, we’ve talked about this.”

Lamb isn’t listening. Another stake flies for Pascal’s other shoulder, and he just barely manages to deflect it, gasping in pain again when the movement tears at his wound.

“Get him,” she whispers. “Get him, get him—”

{The creature is ours,} Burn Paradise assures her. Another chain shoots out, faster than before —

{Pascal!} Again, Bitterhearted seems to nearly drag Pascal’s arm along with it of its own accord — but it isn’t quick enough, and the second stake buries itself in Pascal’s shoulder, mirroring the first. He screams, and this time skids across the floor towards Lamb much faster, unable to maintain his prior resistance.

“Kel,” Ricardo says, urgently. Burn Paradise’s third and fourth stakes are readying themselves. “This is getting out of hand.”

“No, it isn’t,” she scoffs. She does lean forward, though, sighing. “It’s a spar, Lamb, just a spar. Remember that.”
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No. 938205 ID: 75cf31
File 156228291597.png - (197.24KB , 800x525 , 496.png )
938205

There’s no indication that Lamb hears her, or that she listens, if she does. Her eyes are fixed on Pascal, manic and merciless. He’s nearly within reach, and Ricardo can only imagine that the reason she’s waiting is because the lower two chains are shorter than the upper two.

Pascal doesn’t wait to see what will happen. He raises Bitterhearted, and in one sharp movement thrusts it horizontally — wedging the blade into a link of each chain. He clenches his teeth, then jerks the hilt sharply upward, and the chains jolt, then snap.

{Blood for blood!} Bitterhearted cries, vicious and triumphant.

The stakes, disconnected from the main body of Burn Paradise, sizzle into smoke, and Lamb grunts in pain, staggering — and then blood blooms on both her shoulders, twin explosions, knocking her back further. Bitterhearted laughs, loud and uneven, and Pascal struggles back to his feet.
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No. 938206 ID: 75cf31
File 156228294472.png - (194.99KB , 800x525 , 497.png )
938206

“Oh, I forgot it could do that,” Kel murmurs thoughtfully. “Special forging. Typical of Amity’s work. Probably can only trip an ability like that once every new moon, or something, or risk shattering your blade.”

Pascal is panting, and he points Bitterhearted’s tip up at the balcony. “Ha! Ha, ha! Now do you think a witch-blade is cool, Ricardo?!” A pause, and he backpedals as he realizes he’s contradicting his own stance. “Wait, no, I take it back —”

Lamb is on him before he can finish the thought, barehanded. Burn Paradise’s stakes have reformed, dragging behind her on the floor, and there’s blood dripping from her nose and mouth, though Ricardo can’t imagine how her injuries could have caused it —

“She’s a telekinetic,” Kel tells him, seemingly having followed his train of thought. “That’s how she puts that much force behind Burn Paradise’s ranged attacks — a witch-blade can’t move at that velocity all on its own. So she helps it along, but it exhausts her quickly, especially now that she’s lost blood. And Burn Paradise tires quickly, too.”

Lamb’s knocked Pascal onto the ground and has his sword arm pinned. Blood drips from her face onto his. “Evil,” she’s panting. She dropped one of her daggers when injured by Bitterhearted’s ability, but still has the other, and she raises it — arm trembling with the effort.

“When you push your abilities too far, you lose blood, and you fatigue yourself,” Kel continues. Pascal catches her wrist, and the two of them struggle against each other, blood bursting and bubbling in thick, lurching fountains from their matching injuries. “I keep trying to get her to listen to me about that, but she doesn’t retain it.”

{Kill it,} Burn Paradise screams. It sounds breathless, somehow, even with no breath to speak of, and its stakes twitch uselessly against the floor, trying to raise themselves to help. {Kill it!}

“No, don’t,” Kel calls out, without much fervor. “Come on.”

{Pascal, would you GET off the floor,} Bitterhearted snaps, raising its voice to be heard over the overlapping yelling. Pascal is snarling, his bloody grip on Lamb’s wrist slippery and unstable. {This is humiliating.}
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No. 938207 ID: 75cf31
File 156228296333.png - (161.28KB , 800x525 , 498.png )
938207

Pascal’s grip slips, and Ricardo’s silent heart leaps into his throat — but when Lamb’s dagger comes down, it buries itself in the floor next to Pascal’s head, not in his eye socket. The stumble knocks her sideways, and Pascal’s sword arm is freed — but when he tries to swing at her, he slips in their own collected blood, and hits the floor again facedown. They both lay there for a moment. A few more aborted attempts to get up, by both parties, are further thwarted by slipping in the blood puddle.

“I’ll kill you,” Lamb pants. She’s still trying to get up, on trembling arms, but the pressure on her injured shoulders is too much. This time when she falls, she can’t even lift herself again.

“Not if I … kill you first,” Pascal gasps. He’s not even trying to get up. “I am going to put my blade … right through your tiny little TIT!”

He makes no motion to do so. Lamb’s torso is heaving with the effort of her shallow breaths. She finally manages, with immense effort, to shove Pascal onto his side and slap him in the face, leaving a sloppy red handprint.

“Fuck you,” she says.

“Fuck you!” says Pascal.

Fuck you—”

“I’m gonna call this one a tie,” says Kel.
>>
No. 938213 ID: 6aa80f

that................. de-escalated INCREDIBLY quickly (BUT WHAT SICK FUCKIN MUSIC, DAMN). we should maybe get down there cos even if they're both out, this..... kinda looks like they might still end up in a slapfight in a minute, which while hysterical, isn't 2 helpful
i guess our next question, tho? is how you fight a witchblade without another one. pascal and lamb are both vicious, but i don't think we can count on the people after us being any less skilled at a glance - even if we DID get a blade, against everyone's advice, it'd take a while to both obtain and learn. we need to survive til then, so what does it take to fight them yourself? bare-handed?
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No. 938214 ID: 3ed3c3

That started out awesome, but the ending was just kinda sad and pathetic.
I suggest we never speak of this to Pascal.
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No. 938218 ID: 1bf4ed

uhhhh. are we allowed down there? let's go get pascal. he's gonna need to feed to recover from this most likely...
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No. 938219 ID: b463f2

yeah, I feel like it's time to run down there and help Pascal up - we should make sure it's cool by Kel first, though.

holy *smokes* what a fight! Definitely had me at the edge of my seat, especially with that music. That moment when Pascal broke Burn Paradise with Bitter Hearted had me cheering! love that it just ended with both of them sprawled out exhausted, unable to fight - interesting to see that while Lamb is indeed terrifying, her stamina is a weak point.

Good to know we'll be dealing with witchblades from Rex and Jonquil... wonder what their blades will be like.

>>938213

and yeah, this is particularly relevant... how can we have a chance fighting without a blade of our own?

I *love* Rack and Strip's running commentary... I'm so excited to see more of the Squadron's dynamics like that.
>>
No. 938220 ID: 094652

Ah, so the neural networks finally wisened up and mixed amateur heavy metal with dubstep. *smack* Surprisingly adequate substitute for vintage brain-melting vibrations.

>Ricardo’s silent heart leaps into his throat
Calm down, you don't need Richardio to shoot out King Brattley. Besides, Lamb might be an augmented professional, but Richardio has spent centuries learning an entire library's worth of simple tricks from flickering geniuses. He's on the same level as her.

>[Babenburg's] wards are unpredictable and diverse
"So, do I wish I was working for him, or do I count myself lucky since he's actually a degenerate monster to even out his diversity acceptance?"

>Babenburg's ~300 wards carry million-dollar swords
So he's a multi-billionaire who takes in elite professionals and gives them expensive hardware so they don't die two months in. Smart move; his wards probably pay back their debt in a few years.

>“I am going to put my blade … right through your tiny little TIT!”
"HEY! Too far, man!"

>Lots of @#$%s are given
>Overly fatigued
"Bad children! Neither of you are getting laid tonight. Doctor's orders."
>>
No. 938224 ID: c9ec94

THAT WAS COOL AS HELLLLLLLLL!!!! And if it had been a life or death situation, I'm sure Pascal and Lamb would both have put a little more effort into the conclusion, I don't think we should judge them for Not Literally Killing Each Other lmao

Yeah, let's help Pascal up, get him to a bath, offer to buy him fancy new clothes especially for duelling in so he isn't caught surprised if this happens again.

We need to ask Pascal or Kel, what happens to a witchblade when its vampire dies (or vise versa), given we're going to be fighting a bunch of armed vamps. And we should absolutely figure out how to fight an armed opponent when unarmed. (And let's also be nosy and ask Pascal how he got Bitterhearted!)
>>
No. 938238 ID: b0b724

That's vaguely romantic. And by vaguely I mean incredibly.
>>
No. 938242 ID: 3e7944

>>938207
If kel okays it we should go help pascal up.

Make sure he gets fed and then see about getting our dues paid (don't want to forget about that!)
>>
No. 938243 ID: c1be4a

sounds like we might neeeed a witch blade!!! maybe Kel or one of the girls can elaborate on like Special Abilities that can be attached beyond what we know, and boy we still need to pay someone in this building somehow

also this was cool as hell i am filled with triumphant energy
>>
No. 938245 ID: b1b4f3

>>938207
I agree. They're both disabled.

Hmm, having a witchblade with a special forging sounds like a great trump card to have up our sleeve. Ask if there are cheaper types of weapons that can do that. Witchdagger?
>>
No. 938284 ID: bb78f2

>>938207
Well, he managed to tie with the one ward that really, really wants to kill all vampires no exceptions, even when told it's only sparring for this one. Good job Pascal, you didn't die!

At least for a decorative ward he has combat skill and potential. Honestly, Bathory was wasting him in that position. I wonder if that's why Kel took a liking to Pascal in the first place. It certainly wasn't his shining personality.
>>
No. 938289 ID: 10c408

Now that Kel's officially called the sparring over and done with.

Ask her if she knows where a spatula is, so that you can scrape pascal off of the floor.
>>
No. 938308 ID: 512ff0

that was wonderful, great story telling. Even though it was a draw will Ricardo award Pascal a victor's trophy (hiiis diiick)
>>
No. 938319 ID: c49ece

"With your permission, Kel, I'll go scrape my sire off the floor."

do be gentle with pascal, he's probably got spalled glass where his shoulder blades and maybe spinal column are supposed to be. Also he's probably going to be all 'blagh i could have got her' and you should be deadpan sarcastic in backing him up on this like a world-weary butler.
>>
No. 938339 ID: 26262d

Pascal has been fighting the whole time with heels ??? oh my
>>
No. 938348 ID: e2f0e3

give up the witchblade aspect of this conversation for now in favour of getting down to scoop pascal off the ground
he did so well
>>
No. 938375 ID: b0b724

>>938348
He didn't and that was very much the point
>>
No. 938664 ID: 75cf31
Audio pascal1.mp3 - (5.19MB )
938664

khelipe e cheasa - boban i marko morkovic orkestar
>>
No. 938665 ID: 75cf31
File 156269373812.png - (152.34KB , 800x525 , 499.png )
938665

“Yeah, I think you’re right.” Ricardo pushes away from the railing, sighing. “Do you know where I could find a spatula?”

Kel glances down at him, eyebrows raised. “What? What for?”

“So I can go scrape my sire off the floor.”

Kel hoots and slaps him on the back. A few of his vertebrae misalign, then painfully scrape themselves back into place. That seems like approval, so Ricardo turns towards the staircase. Behind him, Kel has turned her attention away and is quietly asking Mignon to go check on Lamb.
>>
No. 938666 ID: 75cf31
File 156269375414.png - (115.47KB , 800x525 , 500.png )
938666

Pascal hasn’t moved by the time Ricardo strolls over to the puddle of blood on the floor. He squats down on his haunches. “Hey.”

“Hello, Ricardo.”

“I’d say ‘good job,’” says Ricardo, “but, uh, you didn’t… you didn’t really do a good job. So.”

“What!” Pascal attempts to struggle upright, slips in blood again, and hits his head on the floor with a loud crack. “Ow! Ricardo, what are you talking about?! Here I am, ready to gloat at you about winning this bet, and being very ready to collect my winnings, and you are telling me I have not done a good job!”

Ricardo smothers a laugh behind his knuckles. “You did not win the bet.”

“Yes I did!” Pascal gestures wildly at Lamb’s prone form with the hand that isn’t holding Bitterhearted. “Look at her! She is defeated!”

“So are you. It was a tie.”

“Well — well, so if it is a tie, I did not lose! And so still I win the bet!”

“God, you’re such a sore loser,” Ricardo snorts. “I didn’t bet that you would lose. I bet that you would get your ass kicked. And you did.” He starts to reach under Pascal’s shoulders to scoop him off the floor. “I win, so—”

{Unhand my host!} snaps Bitterhearted, its intangible voice deafening in Ricardo’s ear, and Ricardo jolts back, startled. Pascal hits the floor with a wet plop.

“Oh, Bitterhearted, stop it,” Pascal mumbles.
>>
No. 938667 ID: 75cf31
File 156269377136.png - (155.43KB , 800x525 , 501.png )
938667

{I will not,} the sword snaps. {Now that I am finally unsheathed — after suffering decades of silence and neglect, I will remind you—}

“God,” Pascal groans.

{Now that I am UNSHEATHED,} Bitterhearted repeats heatedly, {I will remain as such, and finally I can speak my mind! I will not be thrust away into the darkness again to be forgotten, and I will not suffer these meddlings without speaking my mind—}

{Be quiet!} yells Burn Paradise, from a few feet away on the floor. {My charge needs not suffer your wailing!}

{I will NOT be silenced! Not by blade or by man! I am Bitterhearted, forged by the dread witch Amity, the blade of retribution, I am—}

“You are so loud,” Pascal whines. “You are so, so, loud. You are Bitterhearted and you are the blade of being noisy.”

{And you, you INGRATE,} Bitterhearted continues, tearing its vitriol away from Ricardo and rounding on its wielder instead. {What a pathetic display! I have watched you squander your days sleeping and drinking and doing NAUGHT else, and now see how you humiliate us! You hold me from my potential in chains! You have kept me sheathed only to escape my criticism!}

“That is correct,” says Pascal.

{You do nothing but masturbate and cry!}

“Well, okay, maybe let’s calm down,” says Pascal.

{And you!} Bitterhearted seems to have decided to pull Ricardo back into the fold. {What use do I have for you? You can barely fight yourself! I have not the patience to wait for you to make something of yourself!}

“Oh, stop it,” Pascal says again. He looks up at Ricardo apologetically. “Ricardo, I am sorry. It is so rude and combative always, not only to you. The thing it was forged for makes its personality, euuhhh, hostile, and too protective.” He rubs his thumb idly against the hilt, which seems to do little to appease the blade. “The purpose it was forged with, ‘to harm those who harm me’ — it takes it a little too seriously, I think, and it seems to think of everything as doing some harm to me. Even myself.”

{Do not speak of me as if I am not present!} Bitterhearted shrieks.
>>
No. 938669 ID: 5588f6

uh, okay. can pascal put the blade away or something?
>>
No. 938672 ID: 5f731e

promise the blade you arent going to harm pascal. tell it you will try to protect pascal from himself. try being the keyword here. befriend the sword
>>
No. 938675 ID: b1b4f3

>>938667
Pascal, you DO harm yourself.
Also hang on did Bitterhearted just imply it would be willing to be wielded by Ricardo if he could fight?

Also ask Bitterhearted's opinion on Pascal's sire.
>>
No. 938677 ID: ecddd0

>>938672
this

i disagree with asking bitterhearted about pascals sire bc thats a can of worms and there's a better place, plus lambs right there

tell bitty that you need to pick pascal up to take care of him!
>>
No. 938678 ID: 3ed3c3

>>938667
You know, Bitterhearted, there are worse fates for a sword than getting shelved. You could have been reduced to a letter opener or a box cutter.
>>
No. 938683 ID: c49ece

>What use do I have for you?
I can tech you much better and more modern profanity than 'ingrate'. Look Bitterheart, I understand you're upset with Pascal, lord knows I was as well. But I think now Pascal is slowly beginning to undertake his interpersonal responsibilities. And hey, maybe you don't need us! but I think, since we're going to be under attack from the cradle we prooobably need you. So in the face of overwhelming adversity, can you put the personal grudge to the side for now?

I would say ignore bitterheart's screeching (because everyone else is as well) and scoop up Pascal. Wrap his hand around bitterheart and cross his arm over his chest so Pascal doesn't drop him, without you handling him directly. If he threatens you for it, tell him to go ahead and merc you, see how Pascal will treat him then. Unless he'd like to strike out on his own, somehow.
>>
No. 938685 ID: aedfd9

(Is it polite to talk to witch blades directly? Not that I really care, but. Might be useful if we want to flatter it later.)

Uuh yeah for now let's just pick up Pascal and get him back to the room. Bitterhearted probably can't actually stab us against his will, let it complain.
>>
No. 938687 ID: 3ed6f5

flirt with Bitterhearted
>>
No. 938688 ID: 7e9c89

i love him. do NOT flirt w the sword, i can't believe i'm saying this i'm disappointed in myself, but it's already not that happy w/ us!! let's prove our worth and then we can be cool, obviously. absolutely DO NOT ask about pascal's sire, seconding both "you do hurt yourself," and making sure he doesn't drop the sword, tho. would letting bitterhearted taste our blood be weird? like i don't think it makes a difference but vamp blade, politeness, whatever
>>
No. 938689 ID: 870a8f

>{You do nothing but masturbate and cry!}
"... Well at least he didn't use you during those two things you just said... Did he?"
*Glare Ostentatiously at Pascal (Cat Smile)*
"DID YOU."
>>
No. 938690 ID: bb78f2

>>938667
Should I attempt to not acknowledge the obvious self-harming paradox so it won't try to destroy itself?

You don't worry about me sword, worry about yourself and Pascal, like you're supposed to do.

Pascal, we should get this sword laid sometime. How do we do that? It sounds like it needs it. Or a drink itself.
>>
No. 938701 ID: fb6e76

let's definitely not ask a blade named bitterhearted to talk about its wielder's sire in public (especially this particular sire, in this particular public). that's hella rude. let's maybe also not offer it our blood, considering older vampire etiquette considers inter-vampire biting to be grossly intimate, and rack's like, right there.

(maybe glance at lamb, though, and see how she's doing.)

hopefully by avoiding sudden movements and letting pascal talk bitterhearted down/distract it, ricardo can help pascal up. they've both had a duel now, so it's pascal's turn in the bath (again, if he's already been) - let's speak with pascal and get that courtesy levy figured out. we've got a week to get a meeting with donnie, find out our levy, and actually pay it, and between ricardo's training, feeding, and dealing with the effects of training and feeding, the pressure's starting to mount.
>>
No. 938741 ID: b463f2

yes, I'm definitely on board for befriend the sword.

Let Bitterhearted know that you're doing your best - it might not have time to wait for us to get better, but that's what's going to happen, and it's going to take whatever time it's going to take. You too want to protect Pascal, and you want to get to know Bitterhearted better, and you'll make sure Pascal doesn't leave it in inanimate form for too long.

Don't ask about Pascal's sire, that is a whole bunch of pain that absolutely doesn't need to be brought up right now.

Would be nice to talk to Pascal in private about what's been learned and formed - what our next steps are.

We *do* definitely need to get on paying those dues - let's figure out how to do that after we help Pascal get cleaned up, and possibly fed? Probably both Ricardo and Pascal could use a good feed, after those fights and all the information and emotion that's gone on today.
>>
No. 938813 ID: 368ebc

A major goal of yours is to get stronger to keep Pascal from harm, and as a sword it has the time to wait for that, patience or no.

How's Lamb doing? She wouldn't appreciate you asking, but checking for yourself would work.
>>
No. 938820 ID: 10c408

>>938813
If she didn't collapse by overusing her ability too much, she was going to ignore Kel entirely and stake Pascal right then and there. Whether she'd be successful or not is irrelevant, intent matters.

She also would likely NOT appreciate any help, particularly from us at this moment.

So with that established: fuck lamb. She can stay where she is.
>>
No. 938856 ID: 75cf31
File 156288880413.png - (195.95KB , 800x525 , 502.png )
938856

“You do harm yourself, Pascal,” Ricardo grumbles. He scoots a little closer, and spends an uncomfortable moment trying to decide where to look at Bitterhearted if he’s trying to make… “eye contact,” kind of. He ends up deciding on the crystal heart. “Look, Bitterhearted, I get it. I haven’t been that happy with Pascal, either.”

“Hey,” says Pascal.

“But I also kind of, uh.” Ricardo rubs the nape of his neck. “Kind of decided I was going to protect him, too, at least til everyone isn’t trying to kill us, so. You don’t have to worry about that.”

The sword scoffs, though when it speaks again there seems to be less violence in its tone. {You, a protector?}

“Yeah, yeah, I get it, nobody believes in me, whatever. I’m working on it. And you’re just going to have to wait, because I’m not going anywhere.” Ricardo leans a little closer, hands out, and watches warily as the sword starts vibrating faintly. “So can I pick him up? I’d be more than happy to let you do everything, except that you don’t have fucking arms.”

There’s a beat of silence. Finally, Bitterhearted gives a sullen little sigh. {I have no means of stopping you, Castro.}

“Okay. Cool.” Ricardo gently eases his hands under Pascal’s shoulders and legs and lifts him, careful to give Pascal time to arrange the sword securely across his chest. “Let’s all just try to get along, alright?”

{Hmph,} says Bitterhearted.
>>
No. 938857 ID: 75cf31
File 156288882090.png - (214.22KB , 800x525 , 503.png )
938857

As Ricardo stands up, Pascal cradled against his chest, he glances down at Lamb. She’s turned over onto her back, Burn Paradise reduced again to her crucifix, and Mignon is leaning over her, probing the wounds on her shoulders.

“I don’t care if it scars,” Lamb mutters.

Mignon parts some cleaved skin, unflinching when Lamb winces. “It’s not about scarring. These wounds are identical to the ones you gave him, they fully penetrate your body. If we don’t excise the tissue, they’ll heal at a human rate, and you won’t be ready in time for training tomorrow.”

Mignon then seems to notice him watching, and she looks up, directing her next statement at Pascal. “Pascal, you know how to take care of those wounds, don’t you?”

“Yes, yes.” Pascal flops his free hand loosely at her. “I will do it in the bath.”

“All the tissue out,” she reminds him. “Anything touched by the witch-blade has to be removed, or it won’t regenerate.”

“I knooow,” he groans.

“And you’ll keep bleeding, and you’ll have to feed more.”

“Ricardo, walk away,” Pascal orders urgently. “I am being lectured.”

“It sounds important,” Ricardo protests.

“I know it already! Go, go!”
>>
No. 938858 ID: 75cf31
File 156288884077.png - (112.36KB , 800x525 , 504.png )
938858

Ricardo at least lingers long enough to get the rundown from Mignon — awkwardly avoiding eye contact with Lamb as he does — and when they step away towards the double doors of the ballroom, Pascal lowers his eyes to the sword in his hand.

“Bitterhearted, I have to sheath you now,” he murmurs. “Already we will be careful, not to let any human guests see me covered in blood, but — I cannot let any vampires see that I have you, either.”

{I will NOT be sheathed,} Bitterhearted replies fiercely. {I will not be forced away again!}

“I mean, there are worse fates for a sword,” Ricardo says. “You could get used as… a letter opener, or something. Box cutter.”

“Ricardo,” Pascal admonishes. Then he sighs, turning his gaze upward. “I do feel badly. Bitterhearted is right to be upset. When a witch-blade is sheathed, they are… euuuh, only a little aware of what is happening outside, in bits and pieces, but it is mostly like darkness. Normally this does not bother them, they are designed for it, but—”

{But for seventy-six years,} Bitterhearted cuts in coldly. Pascal looks away.

“I’m sorry,” he murmurs. “I promise I will take you out again, when we are in private, in the hotel room. And I can leave you out then, so you can see and hear things, and speak to us. I promise.”

{I was forged on a promise,} Bitterhearted reminds him. {One you have yet to fulfill. One you do not strive for.}

“I’ll hold him to it,” Ricardo offers, before the argument can escalate. There’s a pause, like the sword is mulling it over.

{Do you swear?} it asks quietly. {Do you swear that you will not leave me to be forgotten?}

“I already promised!”

Bitterhearted doesn’t reply, and Pascal sighs, letting his head fall against Ricardo’s shoulder. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I swear to you, I will take you out now, when I can, and not leave you sheathed for so long.”

{...Very well.}

There’s a soft glow, and then Pascal is holding his pendant in his hand again. He gives it a brief squeeze, his expression distant, before he refastens it around his neck.
>>
No. 938859 ID: 75cf31
File 156288885704.png - (156.29KB , 800x525 , 505.png )
938859

The latching doors echo softly as Ricardo and Pascal exit, but Lamb is still laying on the floor. Bits of her flesh are scattered around on the parquet floor, and her wounds — with all the witch-blade tainted meat scraped out — are finally starting to close. She feels unfocused, and she doesn’t realize her covenmates are here until Sirloin leans into her field of vision.
>>
No. 938860 ID: 75cf31
File 156288886975.png - (83.87KB , 800x525 , 506.png )
938860

Hey, Sirloin signs, good duel.
>>
No. 938861 ID: 75cf31
File 156288888413.png - (97.67KB , 800x525 , 507.png )
938861

Lamb stares at her for a moment, and she lets Sirloin extend a hand to help her up before she signs back — her hands still a little shaky and weak as the muscles in her upper arms re-establish themselves. No it wasn’t.

I said good, not great. Strip and Rack are already heading towards the doors themselves, with Kel next to them, and Mignon following; Sirloin and Lamb are bringing up the rear. You’d do better if you listened to the General when she’s trying to give instruction, you know.

“General” is a sign they all came up with together, a cobbling together of existing VSL. The heel of one fist to the chest, then two curving fang-like fingers that transition upward into a crowning gesture: The soldier who sired me. It’s different than the name signs other Deaf wards have come up with, for her, but Mignon told them near the beginning that every VSL-speaking squadron naturally ends up with their own.

That’s not the point. She has a habit of getting caught up in things like this, mental rabbit holes that lead her off topic. Lamb thinks about what Sirloin said again, then glances away, irritated. She knows that already.

Sirloin’s used to the silence, and after a moment she moves on, as they step into the hallway. Were you seriously going to kill him, though? You know the General has a soft spot for that guy.

Whatever. Whatever. Whatever.

Lamb. They’re at the elevator — the rest of them have already caught an earlier one and gone up. Lamb’s name sign is one she kind of likes — a thumb bumped against the lips, then the sternum, where her crucifix burn is. It draws her attention back. You’re spacing out.

No, I’m not, Lamb signs back, finally. I’m ignoring you.

Sirloin snorts. Why?
>>
No. 938862 ID: ac2d08
938862

LAMB POV TIME BAYBEYYYY

why are we ignoring sirloin? are we upset with her or are we just grumpy about the duel
>>
No. 938863 ID: 6f9a8e

it's patronizing hearing "good duel" from the top of the class when i just lost to someone who doesn't even deserve a place in our ranks
>>
No. 938864 ID: 7e9c89

bitterhearted CONTINUES to be absolutely delightful. ig burn paradise isn't anywhere near as talkative.. finally lamb pov!!!! lamb: "i don't want to talk to you right now."
>>
No. 938865 ID: b1b4f3

>>938861
Because you wanted to kill him. That parasite, doing nothing with his life gained by taking lives.
>>
No. 938876 ID: 02e2dc

can't blame lamb for not feeling talkative when she just had a bunch of witchblade scarred flesh removed from her wounds tbh

then again she just doesn't seem talkative in general
>>
No. 938884 ID: 69c061

My guess would be she's ignoring Sirloin because she's tired and hurting and probably hungry. (And be honest, Lamb, you are spacing out a little on her.)
>>
No. 938889 ID: 368ebc

Pascal got under her skin. It would be hard enough for Lamb to avoid killing a quiet, polite vampire, Pascal and Bitterhearted together? Just an immediate loss of focus. I wonder what would have happened if Ricardo had dueled her?
>>
No. 938890 ID: 3ed3c3

>>938861
"Because I have other things on my mind than another lecture."
>>
No. 938891 ID: 10c408

>>938889
Honestly, I think you are assuming too much about Lamb's character. Yes, Pascal can get under anyone's skin but I'm not surprised that the vampire hunter tried to stake the vampire despite how bad of an idea it would be.
>>
No. 938893 ID: c4f658

>>938863
this
>>
No. 938896 ID: 094652

"Because my continued existence spits on everything The Order stood for."
>... Really?
"No. Because Pascal had [slur] sex on everything The Order stood for. I've had two basic concepts drilled into my head before I was even born: First, Good and Evil are always in a fight for dominance, even when the players don't know which side they're on. It's like a tug of war; all you have to do is keep tugging; no matter how bloody your hands or how ugly your teammates, you keep struggling and pray to God you're on the right side. The winning side. Because second, Good will always prevail in the end when everyone, Good and Evil, pulls their weight. Morally grey is a pack of [more slurs]; you can burn witches or sow doubt or change your career from 'protector of the innocent' to 'rage-filled vigilante', but as long as you still have the self-confidence to look all-knowing God in the face and say 'I did what I believed was right', you're worthy. And that is how you save the wicked; you play the tug of war against them, win, and all have a friendly laugh afterwards with a few hot dogs.

And then we have @$%^ing Pascal. The kind of guy who doesn't just refuse to play the game but sits on the rope. Never fought a real battle in his life, never even passed a single combat exam, yet he acts like he's Mozart choreographing Rurouni Kenshin. Why is that talking blob of clay still remembered in this world, let alone breathing? How can he pretend to be a hero when he's neck-deep in his own self-loathing?

... Screw it. I need sixteen ounces of shark steak and a children's movie. Talk to me when I'm not &!+(#y."

Sorry if this is disturbing but I'm trying to write from Lamb's POV
>>
No. 938898 ID: 368ebc
938898

>>938891
We're helping to inform her character. There will be some immutable characteristics, but unless contradicted by FRACTAL, I could be correct.

Besides, I'm right. She really went all out once Pascal mentioned her crucifix and questioned her faith, mocking her. It's not an assumption, it's in the text.

>>
No. 938900 ID: 75cf31

>>938896
if you have to say “sorry if this is disturbing” reconsider if you need to hit send without reassessing what you’ve written. that being said, there’s like, nothing actually wrong w your post, but don’t try to make my characters say slurs, even through implication. the english language has gifted us with enough beautiful cuss words as it is so there’s no need to try to be edgy. you at least have the sense to recognize that if you’d actually TYPED slurs in a suggestion on one of my quests i would have had you booted immediately, which is better than what i’ve seen from you on other threads, but watch it.
>>
No. 938912 ID: b463f2

"I just want some rest. That was... really intense."

Perhaps Lamb should spend some time mulling over her own.... intentions? If it's really to kill as many vampires as possible, she would do well to train as hard as she can - not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too - which involves listening to Kel's instruction, especially during duels.

It sounds like she knows that, though - so what's getting in the way? Is it anger? Is it fear? Is it hyperfocus, and does that especially happen when she fights with Burn Paradise?
>>
No. 938914 ID: 97d823

yes yes this is a very serious moment but sirloin is SO SEXY! sirloin is super sexy hey lamb ur seeing this right. while you have your moral crisis about vampires & good & evil just spare a braincell to ruminate on how super sexy & gorgeous & cool sirloin is. like shes so hot. i cannot stress this enough. shes SUPER SEXY.

but she asked a question too. & its hard, when every moment of your life you feel like you're clawing your way into being Good. & you feel out of control, untethered, with how everything pushes and pulls you in different directions, how you are, *what* you are, none of it aligns with the purity & righteousness that you're striving for. every time you're forced to be patient and hold yourself back you feel like you're missing an opportunity to do something good, and every time you make a move it feels like the wrong one. disobeying the general & trying to kill the bathory, it all at once felt right and wrong, so you had to just focus on the task and pray that your resolve would take you to the right place.
>>
No. 938915 ID: 3fc722

I have no patience to be scolded now.
>>
No. 938917 ID: c49ece

"You're talking without saying anything.
...Figuratively. I'm not clueless. I'm not quite the master of the obvious you are, but I get the picture. "

Then she's probably going to keep telling you things you know already, tell her OKAY MOOOM before you focus on reassembling your arms correctly.
>>
No. 938918 ID: 368ebc

>>938914
This is a good post and I want to add that caring is also super sexy so that's important too.
>>
No. 938925 ID: bb78f2

>>938861
I need to think and reflect after a duel. Especially one that tied. I can't afford to do it later, I may forget to reflect.

I need some me time.
>>
No. 938979 ID: 23dc9d

>>938914

agree with this entire post. also with sexy sirloin here and mignon hovering over lamb earlier, let's have an undead boner meter check for our protag change.
>>
No. 939034 ID: 0516fe

>>938861
hey lamb, when's the last time you ate?
>>
No. 939066 ID: c2daad

>>938861
LAMB TIME!!!
>>
No. 939070 ID: 465a14

fwiw the fang part of their "general" gesture is very close to the ASL sign for goat and I think it's hilarious
>>
No. 939071 ID: 808536

Despite my ardent advocacy for analingus, especially between our sweet Ricardo and Pascal; I'm honestly super excited for Lamb's point of view. I personally ship the USS. Lamb and Sirloin, because it A) sounds like a great resturaunt name and B) it'd be cute as fuuuuck.
>>
No. 939079 ID: 2915db

I want to make well reasoned and constructive suggestions to move the plot along but im so gay that I keep typing in "KISS SIRLOIN. instead and

tell her your pissed about flying to the one place in the country you can't kill any damn vamps just to train pretty boy's ward.
>>
No. 939106 ID: 75cf31
File 156313611104.png - (116.74KB , 800x525 , 508.png )
939106

“Patronizing” is the first word that comes to mind. Lamb doesn’t know how to sign it. She fingerspells it instead, rather than mincing words or settling for anything else. It’s patronizing, getting ‘good duel’ from the top of the class. She furrows her brow, slowing her signs and making them more forceful for emphasis. When I just lost to someone who couldn’t ever be a Gallowglass.

I’m not patronizing you, Sirloin protests, chuckling. And it wasn’t a loss. You tied.

I lost, Lamb signs insistently — fingers hitting her palm with a loud slap. And you’re patronizing a lot of the time, she adds, this time mimicking the sign Sirloin used for it.

I’m not trying to be. Listen, you’re riled up. I’m just trying to talk to you.

Lamb exhales, a little frustrated. The rest of this doesn’t come easily to her. I DID want to kill him. He’s the worst kind of vampire. He’s everything I hate.

Sirloin doesn’t reply this time, giving her breathing room to keep going. She does, slowly. When I have to hold back on people like that, I feel like I’m missing the opportunity to do the right thing.

You know, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that, Sirloin says.
>>
No. 939107 ID: 75cf31
File 156313613423.png - (80.59KB , 800x525 , 509.png )
939107

Lamb has learned that any conversation that starts like that is awful. She tenses, preparing herself for it, eyes trained on Sirloin’s profile.

Sirloin is better-looking than her. She always has been. She’s tall and strong and she carries herself differently. Everyone likes her right away, or if they don’t, it’s obviously because they’re jealous. Sirloin is funny and Lamb isn’t. Sirloin can talk to new people and Lamb can’t. In the right light, her skin even has a sheen to it, like a refracted violet aura — and this isn’t the right light, the inset lightbulbs of a hotel elevator, but Lamb still knows about it.

She’s jealous of Sirloin, she thinks. She’s jealous of the way she fits in and of the ways she stands out.

Do you really still think that? Sirloin signs, pulling Lamb back to the present. That killing any vampire besides us in the squadron is the right thing to do, always?

She looks down at her, with those dark, narrow eyes. They won’t be dark for much longer, Lamb thinks — and she wonders how much longer her own eyes will be light. Strip’s only five years older, and her original eye color is almost gone. After we’ve spent five years together?
>>
No. 939108 ID: 75cf31
File 156313614892.png - (138.91KB , 800x525 , 510.png )
939108

It… feels weird, when Sirloin signs together. Lamb feels defensive and embarrassed.

And she knows the answer to that question. It’s still yes. But somehow, she doesn’t want to say that to Sirloin.
>>
No. 939109 ID: 7b3ae5

pascal and ricardo want to take out the cradle, which is arguably the greater evil. like, a lot greater. so maybe admit that it's ok to let them live, at least for now? and then reassess as necessary.

provided lamb knows about that. its not like ricardo and pascal were trying to keep it a secret.
>>
No. 939110 ID: 02e2dc

ooohhhhh nooooooo lamb has a baby crush. lamb has a baby crushhhhhhhhhh

i mean maybe you should tell her that anyway? you guys clearly have some sort of rapport and maybe she can help you work through these feelings you are having because obviously there's some internal conflict here!!!
>>
No. 939114 ID: 16cbe9

I think maybe looking back on the fight Lamb still mostly considers herself human in a lot of rights. Even five years in, if you feel like a human among vampires you will ultimately feel alienated with the “together” bit.

Her squadron mates (though ASTOUNDINGLY sexy) still don’t share Lamb’s feelings or goals in many aspects, as far as we know.
>>
No. 939115 ID: 3ed3c3

>>939108
Does Sirlon really have a right to judge here?
Her life - and subsequent unlife - are completely different from Lamb's.
Sirloin didn't have to watch her family get slaughtered by a monster she despised.
She didn't have to compromise her beliefs and become one of the monsters she hated.
Lamb has every justification to be the way that she is.
>>
No. 939116 ID: 89934c

lamb, its not jealousy, youre just a lesbian
"why wouldn't it be? we're abominations against the lord, arent we?"
>>
No. 939117 ID: 2e6ab6

Lamb u precious baby lesbean. Ur not just jealous ur GAY.
Anyways. While I think it's still fair that Lamb feels the way she does about outside vampires, I also don't think that Sirloin is... Necessarily trying to judge. I think she's honestly asking if that's really how you feel.
And, to a degree, I think she might be trying to remind you that, even if that *is* how you feel, you've still got people around you that care about you.
>>
No. 939119 ID: 7b4f3d

i looked up how to contribute suggestions just to share my feelings on this which are that i LOVE sirloin, i was already super gay for her when she was introduced but now 10x more, her interactions with lamb feel really genuine and tender (although that could be me misreading) and i am foaming at the mouth for more of these lesbians. i realize this is not very helpful towards actual suggestion as to what lamb should do next. but i also think she should do whatever helps her kiss and have steamy loving sex with sirloin the fastest
>>
No. 939124 ID: bb78f2

>>939108
Every dead vampire means more humans live longer. Who know's who Pascal will feed on next, especially to heal from this spar. That person will die because I couldn't kill Pascal.

Now some humans are as much scum as many vampires, but the reality is that there's too many vampires to feed on just human's who actually deserve to die.

It's a grim, paradoxical reality with a hypocritical sense of morality to it, but in the end, there is a practicality to murdering vampires.
>>
No. 939125 ID: 9ac70c

Pascal's witchblade can kind of instantly create a tie with anyone just via Pascal letting himself get his shit kicked in, and decorative ward or not he's still Bathory trained and has a good few centuries on you, and you fucked him up regardless.
A tie is still something you deserve praise for, and I think Sirloin was genuinely impressed.
>>
No. 939128 ID: 7e9c89

like i mean.. she knows how you feel about vamps and why, i think you could tell her your mixed feelings. but i also think, that not wanting to say it to her face, means you may need to reconsider privately - i know its still important to you! but does her opinion, and the others, matter as much as your faith?
>>
No. 939129 ID: bb78f2

Also, basically the only way to justify my continued existence as a sinner and a vampire to to kill other vampires.

If I'm not doing that, what good am I to the world? To God?
>>
No. 939130 ID: 69c061

It's definitely hard to let go of the kind of things vampires have done to you and your family. Five years isn't really enough to heal from that. But at the same time, you have to admit you've got a bit of a double standard going on here. Why is the Gallowglass army exempt from "all vampires must die"? Can you really vouch for every single one of them?

Also, if you have the kind of relationship where you can do that (and you feel up to physical contact right now) you should just kinda lean your head against Sirloin's shoulder. You're tired and you need comfort.
>>
No. 939132 ID: 3e7944

>>939108
a) im in love with sirloin
b) so is lamb

maybe tell her it's hard to let go of the moral ideas that we were brought up with. but that we do care about the squadron. its a complicated situation
>>
No. 939169 ID: 368ebc

Be honest but couch it. Make it seem like you're less sure than you are or that you'd rather not feel that way. Specify that if Sirloin wasn't in the group you might not feel like killing her.

>>939115
I don't think she's judging. I think she's honestly asking because she wants to understand Lamb.
>>
No. 939207 ID: b463f2

Lamb sweetie, you want to kiss her. you're noticing things you find admirable and beautiful about her!

and. I mean, fire, that look she gave you, and how tenderly she's talking to you - I think she's trying to show you care, not being patronizing.

also please know that it took me many minutes to compose this through my intense admiration for Sirloin... and esp that one panel of her looking to the side.
>>
No. 939212 ID: b1b4f3

>>939108
Defensively: humans deserve to be protected.
>>
No. 939237 ID: 9ac70c

oh yeah can we get an undead boner level check real quick just to get a baseline
>>
No. 939254 ID: 094652

>Do you really still think that?
"I think it makes logical sense. I've come to realize that most vampires are simply bad people with powers. But another person with their own life and their own talents and their own aspirations must die to keep a vampire alive for a month. It's an unfair trade, plain and simple. And then there's times like now, when two people are going to die because I was playing with my prey. And then there's Pascal, who used the time he stole from Rick to sleep in bed for a week, or fantasize about how he's going to commit suicide, or something equally insignificant.

If you're going to goof off, do it as a human. If you're going to kill things, do it as a vampire. So to every vampire in Vegas on vacation: Screw. You."
>>
No. 939326 ID: 16cbe9

Nothing’s the right thing to do always. And I don’t get to decide what the right thing to do is. But leaving Pascal standing felt wrong, so that’s what I’m working with. I don’t understand what Kel sees in someone as useless as that. *stare empty and lovingly into sirloins eyes for like 10 minutes*
>>
No. 939375 ID: c49ece

Well it was sure as shit the right thing to do now.
>>
No. 939499 ID: eb87cf

Raise the sails and tie the jib ya'all for the strong western wind doth fill the sails of the USS. Lamb & Sirloin. Its so damn cute!!!! I can't wait for them to communicate physically, is gonna be awesome; I hope we manage to get more backstory and emotion from the apathetic Lamb.
PS. Can we get an undead boner check from our beautiful cast.
>>
No. 939509 ID: 973504

jealousy probably oh no

lamb honey. honey. you know you like girls right. and that sirloin big sexi right? oh my god lamb.

ignore your "jealousy" and explain your mixed feelings. like theirs gotta be more vamps like your squadron out there right? that aren't total shitheads?
>>
No. 940060 ID: 75cf31
File 156385220183.png - (119.70KB , 800x525 , 511.png )
940060

It was the right thing to do NOW. That’s more of an attempt to stall than to answer. Because it doesn’t really answer the question — the question was not about Pascal, and it was not about that fight. She keeps talking about it anyway. And now, because I failed, someone is going to die tonight. To heal him.

Sirloin looks at her for a long moment before raising her hands to answer. He would have had to feed anyway. If not tonight, then by next week, or the week after that. Lamb drops her eyes, frustrated — and then remembers that for Sirloin to talk to her, she can’t be looking away. It’s something she has to remind herself of frequently, but at least looking at someone’s hands is easier than looking into someone’s eyes. Just like we’ll have to.

Okay. Usually easier. Lamb locks up, and Sirloin sighs, slowly signing a clarification. I’m not trying to stress you out. These are just things I think about a lot.

Humans deserve to be protected, Lamb signs back, abruptly, stiffly. Every time a vampire is killed, lives are saved. That’s why it’s always good to do it. Her hands hover for a minute in front of her chest, fingers curled tensely. She believes what she signs next, but for some reason, it doesn’t feel good to be right. That’s it. That’s all there is to it.

Sirloin hums, thoughtfully. When Lamb glances up, Sirloin’s face — normally so expressive — is unreadable, beyond the furrowing of the eyebrows required to mark a question. So humans’ lives are worth more than ours?
>>
No. 940061 ID: 75cf31
File 156385221707.png - (122.76KB , 800x525 , 512.png )
940061

Normally, Lamb hates being interrupted. In this case, though, the elevator chiming before she has to think of a response feels like a blessing.

There’s a burst of noise the second the doors slide open, because the others were waiting in the hallway for Lamb and Sirloin to catch up.

“God, did you see him, though?” Rack throws a hand over her forehead and takes a few exaggerated, stumbling steps. She puts on a B-movie Count Dracula voice. “Oh, I’m Pascal Bathory, and I am hurt.” Back to her normal voice for a split second. “Strip, you be Ricardo.” Count Dracula. “Carry me, Ricardo! Carry my shitty useless hurt body.”

Strip picks up the bit without missing a beat, striding forward to catch a wilting Rack in her arms. “Oh, I’m Ricardo Whats-his-face. I’m so sensitive. I’m sensitively taking care of you because you’re so hurt.”

“Ooh, Ricaaaaardo, my HERO—”

“I’m your hero. I’m your sensitive crybaby hero and I love my mommy.”

“RICARDO, you are so sensitive and romantic. I vant to suck your—”

“Alright, settle down,” murmurs Mignon.

Strip looks up, still holding Rack in a dramatic dip. “What, we’re not allowed to make fun of little bitches anymore? Are they that deep in the General’s pocket?”

Mignon is leaning against the wall, checking her phone. “The two of them have faced a lot of difficulties.”

“Play me the Hallmark movie about it. Everyone here is dead.” Strip straightens back up, pulling Rack with her, and when she notices Lamb and Sirloin stepping out of the elevator she smoothly transitions to signing as she speaks. “Yo. You coming down to the casino with us?”
>>
No. 940063 ID: 75cf31
File 156385223324.png - (73.26KB , 800x525 , 513.png )
940063

I didn’t know that was the plan, Sirloin signs back.

“The General says we get half days all week, on account of she’s giving Ricardo time off too, since he’s got stuff to do or whatever,” says Rack. She, like all of them, signs as she speaks when Sirloin is present. “So we can stay up late for once. Which obviously means it’s time to party.”

Sounds cool. Lamb’s probably gotta clean up first, though.

The conversation grinds to a halt. Lamb busies herself, immediately, with counting the geometric shapes in the hallway carpet.

Why. Why draw attention to her. Why assume she wants to go. Why make it sound like she wants to inconvenience everyone so she can go. Why—

“Oh, for real?” That’s Rack, leaning forward at the waist in that inquiring way of hers. “Are you seriously gonna come out for once?”

“Don’t be stupid, Sirloin’s just talking over people again,” Strip interrupts. She makes a sign at Sirloin that she doesn’t bother vocalizing — one that only exists between the two of them, but that Lamb has defined by context. It usually means some variation of you asshole. “Leave her alone, V—”

“Hey,” Mignon says, sharply. “Names.”

Strip throws Mignon a rebellious little look, then scoffs and corrects herself. The name sign she made first, the one Mignon corrected her on, is another one that seems to only exist between her and Sirloin; Lamb doesn’t know what spoken name it corresponds to. The name sign Strip corrects to, as well as what she says aloud, are the names they all use. “Leave her alone, Sirloin.”

Sirloin and Strip know each other’s names. Lamb’s pretty sure Rack and Strip might know each other’s names, too, though she’s never seen any evidence. Lamb doesn’t know a single real name in the squad besides her own.

She keeps counting the shapes in the carpet, even though she knows everyone’s waiting on her to say something. 32. 33. 34. 35.
>>
No. 940064 ID: 69c061

Poor Lamb, this sounds overwhelming. D: I'm torn now, I really want to see more interactions with the girls but I don't want to force her into it if she's too overstimulated! Maybe ask them if she can have a minute to think about it while she showers and changes? Seems like everyone else is at least going to need to do the latter.
>>
No. 940066 ID: 3e7944

>>940063
god lamb is so deeply relatable

we should go out and have some bonding time though, it might be good for us
>>
No. 940067 ID: 7e9c89

definitely ask for a minute while you clean up.. they wanna hang out w you!!
>>
No. 940068 ID: 3ed3c3

Honestly? Lamb has better things to do than screw around in some greasy casino. Besides, it's hard to relax with so much shit on your mind.
>>
No. 940070 ID: 531f99

Why would anyone want to hang out after you made a fool of yourself? Just because you want to go doesn't mean that you deserve the time it would take to change. Agree with Strip and mutter something about not wanting to ruin their good mood.
>>
No. 940072 ID: b463f2

my GOODNESS what a scene by Rack and Strip, that was amazing, I forgot what was happening with Lamb, I just. amazing goofy dramatic wonderfulness. and that *dip!* Also, I just love how smoothly incorporated VSL is into their social dynamics and into the text and images of the quest - that continues to give me about ten thousand feelings.

GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS!

so then I reread for, you know, actually giving Lamb suggestions.

Lamb, take a breathe in and out, or do some repetitive soothing movements with your hands, or find some other way to ground yourself. V- I mean, Sirloin is working to *include* you, not make you stand out in a bad way. It'd probably be good for you to spend some time getting to know these people outside of training.

Also, Sirloin's trying to be considerate (one of the many, many things I love about her) with bringing up that you need some time before going out - and I do think it'll be nice for you to have a bit to clean up, as well as prepare for the socializing.

....maybe take a moment to consider how sexy and fun it looked when Strip was dipping Rack like that.... do you want to be touched like that, or otherwise be close to Sirloin, Strip, and Rack? close physically... and/or close emotionally, like how they know each others' names?

('cause, I'm pretty sure that you could like something in and around those realms with all three of them.)
>>
No. 940074 ID: b463f2

>>940064
also, this is good. having time to reflect before making the decision!
>>
No. 940081 ID: d8c5c5

oh i ADORE the girls making fun of our boys, and also lamb/sirloin makes me *500 REACTION IMAGES FOR WHEN YOU'RE FEELING TENDER AND GAY*. on the topic of next step suggestions if lamb wants to lean towards minding her own business she should say smth like "it's up to you, i don't really mind either way", but i think she should go party!!! it'll be fun!!!!
>>
No. 940082 ID: 094652

>So humans’ lives are worth more than ours?
"God only knows. I'm here to save some lives and take others. Worry about how much they're actually worth after we're perma-dead."

>Rack and Strip are hecking Pascal and Ricardo
"Enough, Rack. Spare some dignity for the kid; he has to live with us of all people, and he still hasn't broken down. He's not as emotionally weak as you think he is."

>Vacation
"... Okay. Fine. Yes. Everyone needs a vacation. Cool. Sure. But we're still doing training-vacation.

If you can find me a paintball arcade, a street fighting ring, or even a race-through-Vegas-to-eat-at-fifteen-different-restaurants challenge, I'm in."
>>
No. 940085 ID: 16cbe9

I think with my newly found time off, I’d rather ask Kel for additional training. If Ricardo and Pascal are off as well as the team it might be a good opportunity for 1 on 1 so I can win the next time. Maybe casino can be a backup. I should thank the squadron for the invitation, anyways.
>>
No. 940099 ID: 73c479

You know, I think we SHOULD go party. I'm not sure how much Lamb is feeling it right now, but she really deserves a break. It might be fun!
>>
No. 940101 ID: 23dc9d

as much as i'd like to see lamb socialize, oof a casino sounds a bit scary. extra overwhelming on top of just having gone through as intensive of a duel as she just has. And casinos are known to be pretty loud and flashy and smelly and not exactly autism-friendly, so its hard to expect lamb will have a good time there.

even if lamb won't necessarily be enjoying herself, it is important to bond with the rest of the squad though. from what I can tell so far, she's probably pretty closed off and defensive and guarded around them, and thats PROBABLY for a good reason but its something we gotta work on fixing.
>>
No. 940115 ID: d1981c
940115

I mean. A few things.
One: If it's good to kill vampires because they have to kill humans to survive, wouldn't it be equally true that killing humans is good because they have to consume resources as well? Or that all cows should be killed because they eat the grass? Or all wolves that consume sheep?
Everything consumes something else to maintain itself. That's just... Kinda the way the world works? Food for thought, I figure. Lamb doesn't seem... Super sure of her own stance, deep down.

Two: It might be worth it to socialize with your squad mates a little more. They might be a little overbearing, but I think they ultimately mean well and are trying to include you in stuff, even if the way they put it is a little... rude sometimes.

Three: Girls... GOOD...
>>
No. 940120 ID: d1981c

Actually an extra thing.

4: if ur not sure about socializing and all that, think it over while you get cleaned up.
It might be nice to go out and do something with the squad.
And hey, if it gets overwhelmingb or you get fed up with something, you can always just bail out, aye?
>>
No. 940128 ID: 973504

If it won't cause some sensory overload (casinos are a LOT) go out and try to have fun!

They're asking because they want to include you you know. They do like you and want to be around you for more than just training.
>>
No. 940612 ID: 3d8097

sirloin is asking because she wants to include you. she wants to spend time with you. she wants you there, its not out of pity. you taking time to showering is not some huge inconvenience - what, 20 minutes? why would they care about 20 minutes? they have eternity. you have eternity. plus, they have hours to party.

you are a squadron. you're supposed to be close, to have each other's back in battle. reaching out is the first step towards it.

say yes.
>>
No. 940652 ID: c49ece

>So humans’ lives are worth more than ours?
We're meat for the machine. Not some aristocratic priss whose eternal life is so damn precious he couldn't even spell self-sacrifice. Or a self-pitying pile of parental abandonment issues, which is apparently the case in at least two observed cases. It makes me want to tear out my hair, watching vampires waste their immortality.

Tell them you're going to 'clean up' and not to wait up. If sirloin follows to convince you to go, go ahead, but you don't owe it to the others to act like you weren't uncomfortable.
>>
No. 940940 ID: 75cf31
File 156451173884.png - (102.96KB , 800x525 , 514.png )
940940

36. 37. 38. 39. 40.

“I have to take a shower,” says Lamb.

Rack is the first to respond, gesturing broadly at Lamb’s bloody shoulders. “I mean, duh.” Then she grins. “But you’ll come out after?”

“Maybe.” She takes a break between sentences to tug at the legholes of her leotard. “I’m tired.”

“Why don’t you all hit the showers,” Mignon suggests.

I don’t need the showers,” Rack protests. Strip immediately thwacks her in the back of the head.

“Yeah you do. You still reek from earlier.”

“No, I don’t!”

“Stinky. Stinky rat.”

“Showers,” Mignon repeats, more firmly this time. “We’re already letting you sleep in tomorrow. I don’t want you wasting time on it when you wake up in the evening, especially when we’ll already be wrangling you hungover.”

“Fiiiiine.” The girls move as a pack down the hallway, and Lamb follows.
>>
No. 940942 ID: 75cf31
File 156451176118.png - (180.59KB , 800x525 , 515.png )
940942

This is the 70th squadron’s first time in Vegas, but Kel has trained wards here before — for decades, apparently, and she’s established enough of a relationship with the den that she gets special quarters. A barracks, essentially, built into the hotel, with living spaces attuned to her military sensibilities.

The conversation topic has already shifted by the time they reach the high-ceilinged communal bathroom, and Lamb listens in.

“Absolutely not,” Strip is saying. “Ew. Never.”

“A girl is a girl is a girl!” Rack yells back. “Not that much changes! Banging a human girl is the same as banging a vampire girl! We were humans, like, five years ago!”

“It’s not.” Strip starts struggling out of her tube top, pausing in the process to wrinkle her nose and gesture. “We’re dead. Plus, what if you squish her! What if she gets crushed like a — like a warm grape.

“EW! STRIP!”

“You’re the one who brought it up!”

I’m on Rack’s side here, Sirloin signs. You just have to be gentle, right?

“That’s two against one,” Rack crows. “It’s fine as long as you don’t eat them after!”

Strip rounds on Lamb. Lamb does not look at her nipple piercings. “Hey, Lamb, come on. Back me up here. It’s weird, right? It’s definitely weird to fuck living women!”

Mignon calls this “locker room talk.” Lamb has never been able to keep up with it. It’s less the autism and more the … experience of being raised in what was essentially a box full of crucifixes and knives.
>>
No. 940943 ID: 75cf31
File 156451177581.png - (72.02KB , 800x525 , 516.png )
940943

She tries to think about whether or not this was ever addressed. Only one memory of her mother surfaces.

“If you have time to think about romance, you have time to kill vampires.” The distinctive sound of her racking the slide of her gun. “So kill vampires.”

Okay. Thank you, mother.
>>
No. 940944 ID: 75cf31
File 156451178928.png - (98.88KB , 800x525 , 517.png )
940944

“Uhhhh,” says Lamb.
>>
No. 940950 ID: 7b4f3d

oh lamb is the repressed autistic lesbian representation i've been waiting for my entire life. i'm thriving. anyway what i think she should do is stare at rack's nipple piercings and become too distracted to respond. nice way out of a conversational snare AND we get to look at boobies!!! also goddamn lamb's mom has got it going ON
>>
No. 940957 ID: e0c854

Wait, what situation would any of us even get into where we'd bang a living woman in the first place, without them being able to tell that we're undead? Plus, looking at it from the other side, humans generally don't want to mess around with dead bodies, and getting involved with a human in this way without them knowing and being okay with our undead status seems sketch. Logistically, it doesn't pan out.
>>
No. 940963 ID: 3e52fc

if a human doesn't notice the fact we're a vampire they're kinda dumb. there, deflection
>>
No. 940964 ID: 7b4f3d

correction to earlier comment i meant strip's nipple piercings lol my bad
>>
No. 940973 ID: 51d10f

unhelpful suggestion: consider the word “squish” out of context and its proximity to the beacon of the nipple piercings.
>>
No. 940979 ID: c49ece

I like your mother's attitude.

Hey, if you never gave it any thought, tell 'em you never gave it any thought.
>>
No. 940986 ID: b463f2

>You just have to be gentle, right?

maybe get distracted thinking about what Sirloin being gentle would mean...

romance and what the squadron are talking about are different things. maybe think about.... have you ever wanted to get close to women? have you ever gotten distracted gazing at some feature of a woman, wondering what it'd feel like to touch with your fingers, or mouth? even right now... are you wondering what it'd feel like to press up against any of your squadmates, skin on skin... or maybe even between them?

>>940973
also, this.
>>
No. 940987 ID: 262f3a

"We didn't have time for romance in my order. I've never thought much about it, but I wouldn't be with someone who didn't know I was undead."
>>
No. 940994 ID: 14e641

90% of the suggestions so far are pure Gay Disaster, and I support them.
>>
No. 941003 ID: 96dc8d

try your best not to get distracted by rack's strip - i mean strip's rack. point out that strip isn't very good at being gentle about anything, but sirloin on the other hand....
>>
No. 941006 ID: 7e9c89

stare Just a little
>>
No. 941010 ID: bb78f2

>>940944
Plainly state that Intimacy is always weird as hell. Being touched by a warm hand was already weird when we were alive. You ever have sex that wasn't awkward, Strip?

I mean, like, do what you want. If human body heat's your fetish I'm not going to shame it.
>>
No. 941011 ID: 3e7944

>>940944
[sings to the tune of stacy's mom] lamb's mom has got it going on

im trying to think how to respond but my brain is just short circuiting with girls girls girls. esp sirloin being gentle. i liked someone's suggestion of deflect with "wouldnt a human be able to tell?" (but also as a human, i wouldn't mind so idk if that arguement is actually valid :P)
>>
No. 941022 ID: f8de59

wouldn't a human girl be able to tell that we're cold? ... do we run colder than humans?
its not weird to bang human girls. we were humans 5 years ago! we're not that different.
but yes, you would have to be gentle.
or bottom.
>>
No. 941028 ID: 094652

>"If you have time to think about romance, you have time to kill vampires. So kill vampires."
Except you have more time than you need to do both. Also, your order wasn't exactly civilized.

Point is, if you were an obedient weapon of your order, you would have killed yourself the moment Kel showed up to keep her from taking her enemy's equipment. You didn't. You're more than their killing machine and you know it.

Think about it - you didn't turn because you were weak; you've survived things that would mop the floor with your mother. You turned because they kept you ignorant of all these wonderful things sentient beings are allowed to do, and when Kel gave you a taste, it made you more human than you ever felt when you were human.

So go out and explore freaking Vegas. Think of it as willpower training.
>>
No. 941034 ID: 10c408

oh good gravy this is not a fun conversation for the ex-living weapon raised by fanatics.

Let's face it, Lamb. Any answer you give or even NOT give to Strip here is going to give the girls enough social justification to drag you away from whatever you planned to do next and parade around town.
>>
No. 941035 ID: 02e2dc

lamb: Girls I Heard Of Them

so it sounds like the way lamb's been living is like, she hasn't been allowed to enjoy herself at all. i think if she wants to explore romance and stuff she should do it but also let the other girls know she has Boundaries and like if things get to be overstimulating for her while they're out clubbing she should be able to dip out.
>>
No. 941070 ID: 23dc9d

Okay lets be real, "dead" is a very STRONG term for what vampires are: aka people who can eat (to an extent), run around, fuck, and BE KILLED so thats not the issue here.

Now, where fucking humans can be a bit uncomfortable is more of a structural power issue rather than a physical one. No matter how physically gentle you can be with a human, there is no changing that they are almost always at mercy of the vampire's whims except for really specific cases. Therefore consent is a really iffy issue. If they know you are a vampire, its hard to tell if their consent is sincere because they are afraid. If they don't know.... well it feels kinda gross fucking someone who has no idea how much power you have over them really.

I have no idea if Lamb would think this stuff but considering her fraught relationship with vampirism, its possible.
>>
No. 941074 ID: d02123

WAIT ok here's how to deflect AND make it gayhorny: what about banging non-human yet still non-vampire women? is that different?? anyone in this thread fucked a witch? a werewolf? a mer??? statistically speaking SOMEONE must have!!! we're gathering valuable information and its up to lamb to get to the bottom (👀) of it
>>
No. 941553 ID: b5bc34

They all see humans as nothing but food, right? Sure maybe they won't eat that one, but there's a lot of problems with that situation. More to the point, vampires are evil and they don't deserve that sort of intimacy, especially if you couldn't have it as someone on the righteous path.
>>
No. 941598 ID: 75cf31
File 156512062574.png - (165.47KB , 800x525 , 518.png )
941598

“I haven’t thought about it. Um. It’s not like we’re really corpses,” Lamb starts. She’s not looking at Strip’s nipple piercings.

“We’re kind of corpses,” says Strip.

“We’re not corpses, dude!” Rack argues.

“But I wouldn’t want to sleep with someone undead if I didn’t know they were,” Lamb continues.

“See,” hisses Strip. Okay, she’s kind of looking at Strip’s nipple piercings. She must have gotten them before she was turned. Lamb wonders how much it hurt. If she asked, Strip would probably just scoff and say it didn’t hurt at all, but — anyway, it probably feels different, right, like if someone were to touch here there, wouldn’t it be—

Focus. Focus. “But… It’s one thing to touch someone a little before you feed on them, but wouldn’t someone notice something was wrong with our bodies if we really slept with them?” Lamb concludes. She furrows her brow. “Have any of you actually slept with a human woman before?”

“Uh,” says Rack. There’s a beat.

This is all hypothetical, Sirloin finally admits.

“Yeah, it’s hypothetical.”

“Well, it’s hypothetically weird,” says Strip.

“It’s probably weird if you don’t tell them first,” Lamb agrees. “But if you told them and they were okay with it, I don’t see why not…”
>>
No. 941599 ID: 75cf31
File 156512064788.png - (130.71KB , 800x525 , 519.png )
941599

“Bah,” says Strip. She doesn’t seem to have an argument, though. Sirloin’s already turning on the water in one of the open tiled stalls. “You’d still crush them,” she finally says, as she steps into her own.

Sirloin is tall enough to stick her hands over the partition. I can’t see what you’re saying when you’re over there. Just fill me in when I’m out.

Strip raises her hands, too. Yeah, got it.

When she withdraws her hands, Lamb continues, out loud. “But Sirloin said she could be gentle. That would probably be fine.”

“Doubt it,” Strip snorts. “We’re so much stronger than them.”

“What, do you just think you wouldn’t be any good at it?” Rack teases. “Don’t have the range?”

Lamb hears Strip sputtering.

“I can do anything Sirloin can do!”

“Uh-huh,” says Rack. She sounds like she’s being mean, but it’s hard to tell, sometimes.

“Well, what about…” Lamb starts smoothing soap over her shoulders, wincing at the tenderness of the newly-closed wounds. “Not vampires, but not humans. Things that are a little closer to us. Werewolves, or something…”

“Kel said there are werewolves outside town,” Rack says excitedly.

“She said that because she was telling us to stay away from them,” Strip cuts in.

“God, Strip, for your whole rebel-rebel act, you sure love following rules.” Rack gives a loud, thoughtful hum. “I would totally fuck a werewolf. I bet it would be fun.”

“Okay, but while they’re in human form, or as a werewolf?” Strip asks. “Don’t just say both! Think about it! Doesn’t it depend on how wolf-y the werewolf form is?”

“Strip, you are so hung up on details. But yeah, I guess. As long as they still have titties.”

“The titties aren’t the problem!”

“What problem? Where’s the problem?”

“If they’re too wolf-y it would gross me out—”

They’re just arguing again and Lamb’s mind wanders.
>>
No. 941600 ID: 75cf31
File 156512066708.png - (181.57KB , 800x525 , 520.png )
941600

She’s thinking about Strip’s nipple piercings.

God DAMN it, she thinks, and then chides herself for taking the Lord’s name in vain. Well, it’s not like she can really contribute to this conversation anyway. She knows the rest of them have been hooking up sometimes, in their free time, as the squadron travels around. Any time one or more of them doesn’t come back to the room, it’s safe to bet they’ve found someone to spend the night with. Strip and Sirloin seem to kind of have some sort of tally going, even. And sometimes Lamb thinks maybe the two of them have even —

It’s dumb. It’s probably weird, to even be speculating about that. She guesses she could ask, but wouldn’t that be weird, too? She just doesn’t feel like she’s part of any of this.
>>
No. 941601 ID: 75cf31
File 156512068983.png - (159.81KB , 800x525 , 521.png )
941601

She’s only got one experience under her belt. A witch — not the one who forged Burn Paradise, an apprentice. One who stayed with her family for a bit, the year before everything ended.
>>
No. 941602 ID: 75cf31
File 156512071166.png - (173.96KB , 800x525 , 522.png )
941602

There was just this one little moment where they kissed, for a while, and then the witch slipped her hand under Lamb’s clothes, gently. And she liked it. She didn’t come, they were both too jumpy, and she didn’t get a chance to try reciprocating, and then by the end of the week the witch was gone, but —
>>
No. 941604 ID: 75cf31
File 156512072954.png - (169.80KB , 800x525 , 523.png )
941604

Lamb’s been thinking about that moment a lot, lately.

“Hey, Lamb,” comes Strip’s voice, from the next stall. The water turns off. “You good? You went quiet.”

Hm.
>>
No. 941606 ID: f30d0d

"I'm okay. I was just thinking about... the duels. Rack, why were you talking about sleeping with humans anyway?"
>>
No. 941613 ID: 604e11

"she just doesn't feel like she's part of any of this" OOF. OFF. RIGHT IN THE REPRESSED AUTISTIC LESBIAN FEELS. i don't have any suggestions to make as to where the conversation should go next but all this is resonating with me so much i just wanted to say that
>>
No. 941621 ID: b5bc34

I wonder if that witch is still around somewhere? Maybe you wouldn't mind being with that human.

And you were just, uh, reminiscing about the past, is all. Unrelated to all the sex talk, for sure.
>>
No. 941627 ID: 3e7944

>>941604
Flustered lamb is so cute omg!

Just say we're... tired?
>>
No. 941628 ID: 69c061

oh my god poor, POOR relatable lamb

Uhh, just thinking about opportunities we didn't have the chance to take before we were turned.
>>
No. 941630 ID: bb78f2

>>941604
I zoned out. Having mammaries uh err memories and flashbacks. Easy to do in the shower. SHOWAH THOUGHTS!

You EVER THINK about STAR TREK TRANSPORTERS STRIP? I DO ALL THE TIME!

Do you think they would work on a vampire?
>>
No. 941632 ID: 3ed3c3

>>941606
Yeah, what's up? She got her eye on someone?
>>
No. 941634 ID: 90381a

do NOT, under any circumstances, think about Strip's extremely impressive ass
>>
No. 941644 ID: 23dc9d

Oh Lamb is having a hard time keeping her mind engaged. Anyway, nothing quite like saying "Yeah I was listening" even though she clearly wasn't and also that clearly is not the answer to the question Strip asked.
>>
No. 941660 ID: e22533

thinking about how tall & beautiful sirloin is. im just starinmg at her i cant even come up with a coherent suggestion. lamb thikn about how tall she is. shes so tall. i loveher.


also be honest and say u were thinking about sex. lamb i want to initiate some sex stuff soon imn. im shocked by how desperately i want the girls to kiss like soon when im so patient for riscal slow burn. [remembers im a lesbian] ok well theres that. im having trouble with coherency bc i love sirloin i cant stop thinknig about her. lamb are you experiencing this too.
>>
No. 941679 ID: c49ece

Ask if she'd rather you sing in the showers.
>>
No. 941806 ID: 303f77

I love how whomever Lamb rolls in the hay with, their names would sound great together. Lamb-Strip, Lamb Mignon, Lamb Sirloin...now I'm horny and hungry, is this what Ricardo feels like all the time?
It's funny but this scene reminds me of the high school locker room way back when. Watching all the guys change out of the corner of your eye trying your damnest not to look. Anywho I feel that the Lamb-Strip combo would be great, you have the timid unsure Lamb and the confident knowledgeable Strip. Still though how does our anxiety ridden Lamb feel about being amorous with a fellow soldier as the saying goes 'don't shit where you eat' although the Vamp camp seems pretty relaxed with casual sex.
>>
No. 941830 ID: afa349

Sirloin watch out you're gonna hit the water thing
>>
No. 941853 ID: 094652

Count your scars and remember how you earned them. Then tear the ones Pascal made.
>>
No. 941872 ID: ff2d8e

"i was thinking about the last time i touched a human woman like that. thinking if it would be different as a vampire"
>>
No. 942726 ID: 714b14

>>941872
SAY THIS or something vaguely suggestive enough to keep talking about sex. PLEASE IM JUST A HORNY LITOL CREACHER... but for real i def think lamb would feel more relaxed about horny stuff if she had a candid convo about it with them!!! and it can help in a general social sense maybe! which is hard when ur an autistic repressed gay as i know too but like. anyway lamb should def talk about the same thing with sirloin, about sleeping with non-vamp non-humans too! and what sirloin meant by Gentle... no, really, like, i think lamb should think VERY HARD about what that entails. BTW perhaps a lil "it just seems like you put so much thought into this. do you really think about this stuff that much?" would work, and help lamb feel at ease about her own HOT GIRL THOUGHTS!!! two tits with one stone
>>
No. 942992 ID: aedfd9

Ask if they think witches are okay to have sex with, if you’re a vampire
>>
No. 943721 ID: fae486

definitely think about Sirloin being gentle with you, and how nice it could be to have an experience like that one with the witch, but this time not being in a rush or having to potentially hide what was going on - being able to take your time and savor her touch on your body, and.... getting the opportunity to touch her, see how she would react to being touched in different ways, in different places....

and then think about how that kind of experience would be different with Strip, and then different again with Rack... and then how it could be different with two of them joining in, or just everyone all together, touching each other...

[Lamb is so extremely relatable and they are all so sexy, I want to see them all kiss and touch.... Lamb get some kind, fun, fulfilling touch to fill the touchstarvedness expanse of probably basically her whole life....]
>>
No. 943799 ID: 75cf31
File 156712047442.png - (166.32KB , 800x525 , 524.png )
943799

“Yeah,” says Lamb, instinctively. The silence that comes from Strip’s stall doesn’t sound convinced. Lamb reaches out and turns off the water and finally catches up to what Strip actually asked. “I was just thinking,” she adds.

“About what?”

A couple different lies and deflections come to mind, but Lamb doesn’t trust herself to deliver them well. And what’s the worst thing that could happen, if she tells the truth? The rest of them all talk about sex so frankly.

“I was thinking about the last time I was with a human woman like that,” Lamb says, quietly. “And wondering if it would be different as a vampire.”

“I mean, yeah, duh, it’s different,” says Strip. “Obviously I don’t know about with a human, but even with other— hey, wait, are you serious? Have you not hooked up since you died?”

“Um,” says Lamb.

“LAMB?” Rack comes skidding across the floor from her stall, nearly slipping on the slick tile. “LAMB? WHAT THE FUCK?”

“I haven’t…”

“We’re getting you laid,” Rack says firmly. “That’s why I was even talking about the human thing in the first place! I’m getting laid tonight, and so should you!”

“Hey, whoa, back off,” Strip snaps.

“Oh, look at you and your shining armor.” Rack reaches towards Strip — who has now stepped out of her stall, as well — and tweaks one of her nipple piercings, which earns her a cuff on the ear in return. “I’m not forcing anybody to do anything, calm down. I’m just saying we can all wingman.”

Sirloin has come over now, as well, and Strip quickly starts signing, filling her in on what she missed while she was showering. In the meantime, Rack is still going.

“Like, you’ve gotta be thinking about it all the time. I can’t imagine, dude. I get soooo fucking horny after feeding, I dunno how you’ve held out this long—”
>>
No. 943800 ID: 75cf31
File 156712049332.png - (233.43KB , 800x525 , 525.png )
943800

“I do think about it, but—” Lamb is thinking about it now. This time, though, the bodies she imagines have faces. Sirloin talking about gentleness is stuck in her mind, and then — for how tough Strip acts, the way she talks about this makes it seem like maybe she’s actually pretty vanilla, and — Rack is so breezy about all of it, she probably just thinks it’s fun and loves to experiment, and all of them would be so different, and —

“Lamb? You’re spacing again.” Strip is waving in front of her face, and Lamb jolts back to attention.

“I don’t know how to do any of that,” Lamb blurts out.
>>
No. 943801 ID: 75cf31
File 156712051677.png - (146.53KB , 800x525 , 526.png )
943801

Strip squints. “Any of, uh…. what?”

Do you mean you’re a virgin? That’s not a big deal, Sirloin signs. If you just tell the person that up front, they’ll understand, and—

“No, I mean the first part,” Lamb interrupts. “I’m not — I’ve already been with a girl. Kind of. Halfway.” She doesn’t know how to explain ‘halfway,’ it’s just what came out, and English isn’t her first language anyway, and she’s trying to sign at the same time, and — this is just unbelievably complicated to talk about, so she just keeps going, worried that if she stops for even a moment she’ll lose momentum and clam up and never be able to talk about it again. “But that was — she started it. I don’t know how people just, meet someone, in a bar or out dancing, like in movies or TV shows — it seems fake! What’s that supposed to mean? You just start talking to someone, and then you keep talking, and then suddenly everyone’s like ‘yes, let’s go have sex now!’ Is that real? How do you just meet someone, and how do you know they like women, and—”

She’s starting to get overwhelmed, so she finally stops. She hadn’t really realized how much this bothered her until she started talking about it. But it does feel this way. Like there are steps missing, in some kind of chain of events that everyone has memorized but her.

Rack’s the one who finally speaks first. “Lamb, that’s, like, so normal.”

She looks up. There was probably nothing she expected less than that. “What?”

“Like, everybody feels that way. I know I’m super hot and everything, but every time I pull a girl, it’s still like—” She pulls an exaggerated face. “Like, ‘aaaah, is this really happening?! How did this happen? Oh my god!’ Like on the way back to her room and everything, still.”
Sirloin is nodding her assent. Strip seems to be determined not to agree with anything Rack says, and is not participating.

It really is you just talk and talk and then decide you’re going to have sex, Sirloin adds. I know it sounds fake, but that’s… pretty much how it works.

“It’s not like it’s hard,” Strip finally adds, scoffing. “Look, we’ll back you up. If you want.”
>>
No. 943802 ID: ef0361

But like we said, isn't it... kinda weird fucking humans? Like other vampires or werewolves or witches are probably fine but...
>>
No. 943803 ID: 371b17

>>943802
It’s a hotel for vampires! There are probably plenty of lady vamps strolling the casino floor to choose from. Still, I really want to find a way to turn this around and get in bed with one (or two, or all) of Lamb’s teammates instead of picking up someone random . . .
>>
No. 943804 ID: fae486

perhaps.... it would be easier for Lamb to approach actually, Doing that, with someone who knows her deal a bit already.

Like, you know, any or all of the three in front of her right now.

so, Lamb, I vote you blurt out something like "but I want to do that stuff with you all, not some random stranger!"
>>
No. 943805 ID: 70df1e

ask the squad to go on practice dates with you tonight! no better way to learn than trying it for yourself! that way the stress of messing up is off too because your squadmates are like, your friends, so if you get anxious or have to tap out of a date they'd totally understand
>>
No. 943806 ID: aedfd9

Yeah! Do it! Go with them! Let them wingman you! Flirt with them! Try new things! Explore! Have fun! Playfully tweak Strip’s piercings! Do it!
>>
No. 943807 ID: d1981c

I mean shit. I vote we let slip who we're thinking of this time.
Or maybe make a point that we might not know where to start or be comfortable approaching a total stranger.
"If only there were three super hot vampire babes somewhere that I happened to know personally... Oh dear what a dilemma..."
>>
No. 943808 ID: 0e2ebe

Is Strip trying to act cool or does she have a problem with this? It's still really nice to have someone like her as a friend, even if she is a bit overzealous.

You should say you'd definitely like a hook up, and you want their help, but you don't want to be with anyone who's likely to get literally eaten. You're thinking of cute vampire women, specifically. Who knows what prompted that?
>>
No. 943809 ID: bb78f2

I just wanna write sex stuff in my journal tonight, LEAVE ME ALONE!
>>
No. 943810 ID: 7b4f3d

god not to say the same three words every update but this is resonating so strongly with the repressed autistic lesbian feels i think i almost have tears in my eyes. anyway i think lamb should say whatever gets us the closest to seeing some ACTION. "sure, why not let's all try to get laid". only of course in a direction that would have her getting laid with someone she trusts and feels comfortable with
>>
No. 943811 ID: 094652

Take this slow, but also take it with a grain of salt. Your virginity should matter more to you than it does to your team. So should your sex life.

Be clear; ask them if they're only insisting because of your violent tendencies. Because you kind of need some of your fervor to keep a stable relationship with Burn Paradise.

For that matter, ask BP about her opinions on the overall effects of sexual exploration. But also keep in conversation the fact that you're both wired differently.

Also, I'm going to recommend you don't screw your squad first. Interpersonal relationships give them political leverage, that's something you want to avoid, at least until you've tasted other options first.
>>
No. 943812 ID: 3e7944

>>943801

ahhhh im losing it just over the little sketches of all of them.
I vote yes cause i'm gay and want lamb to get laid. if she wants to. Though im more partial to her being with one of the squadron, since I feel like she's more comfortable with them? (or maybe it's just me projecting :p)

maybe we could tell them that we think all of them are attractive? ask to practice? just another kind of training right!
>>
No. 943820 ID: 40adef

HAS ANYONE TOLD LAMB ABOUT VAMPIRE SYPHILIS!!! obviously lamb is gonna be cautious by default but SOMEONE TELL HER
>>
No. 943824 ID: 3ed3c3

Let me add some fuel to this fire.
Feeding on someone you've had sex with. Like, that's fucked up, right? You go out of your way to find someone you like enough to get intimate with, but then you're all "Welp! Gonna eat ya now! On nom nom!"
I mean, I know most vamps can't afford to be picky, but there has to come a point where it just gets wrong, right? There has to be some kind of etiquette. Some sort of limitation or boundary.
>>
No. 943825 ID: d23dad

on god we gonna get you some pussy tonight, lamb

but really though, let your friends be your wingwomen and talk you up to some cute girl, take things as slow as you need to
>>
No. 943834 ID: 19db7e

Seconding that they should take her on "practice dates" seems cautious enogh to be in character but also sexy enough to quench my thirst!
>>
No. 943850 ID: 001be0

perhaps they could help you practice... *wink wink*
>>
No. 943874 ID: 0dbb7e

ON GOD we gonna get you some pussy tonight bro
say yes!
>>
No. 943952 ID: 688c44

Do the Squadron members have personal smartphones? If so, do they use Tinder?
I know everyone wants Lamb to fuck one of the Squad members, and I do too, but I wonder if Lamb would feel more comfortable doing the "talking and talking and talking thing and then you decide to have sex" thing if all that talking was through text, with some distance, so it's easier to tap out if she gets too nervous.

Also Lamb is the most relatable lesbian character I've seen in... anything, literally ever. Like, holy shit, she's so good. I love her and her many potential girlfriends.

(Long time reader, first time suggester. I have no idea if I'm doing this right)
>>
No. 943954 ID: bd241b

>>943811
always do the opposite of what this dude says
>>
No. 944536 ID: 75cf31
File 156787643068.png - (167.33KB , 800x525 , 527.png )
944536

“I… I want to,” Lamb says. “But it feels like a lot to jump into.”

“I told you,” Strip hisses at Rack.

“I wish I could just practice first,” says Lamb. Suddenly it feels like a lot of work, to move her hands and to push her voice out from between her lips. “With you guys, or something…”

“What,” says Strip.

“THAT WOULD BE SO FUN,” Rack roars immediately.

Why not? I think it sounds like a good idea, Sirloin adds.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, okay, listen.” Strip holds her hands out, brows furrowed, and points at Rack and Sirloin in turn. “You aren’t even going to take it seriously. And you’re just going to get in her pants, I’ve seen it happen. I’m the only one who knows how to treat a girl right on the first date.”

Sirloin shrugs, smiling breezily. That’s up to Lamb.

Strip’s pointing becomes more aggressive. “Admission of guilt! That’s an admission of guilt!”

“Strip, you are so uptight. So what if we just have fun with it! It’s supposed to be fun!”

Strip rounds on Lamb, fuming. “Well?! Who do you want your practice date to be with?”

“Are we all gonna keep standing here naked,” Rack asks. “It’s like, getting cold.”

“Quiet! Lamb’s making a decision!”
>>
No. 944537 ID: 70df1e

strip is taking this extremely seriously and its super endearing lets have a practice dare with strip! already we are being treated right!
>>
No. 944540 ID: 0338c7

Obviously Strip is great but to some degree I’m a little afraid we’d get like, seriously injured or something. I don’t really trust their stability. Sirloin seems both **really hot** and also chill!
>>
No. 944541 ID: e22533

[GRINDING MY TEETH TO DUST] SIRLOIN SIRLOIN SIRLOIN SIRLOIN SIRLOIN PLEAS E IM IMPLORING YOU LIKE GOD KNOWS I WANNA FUCK RACK & STRIP TOO LIKE I WANT TO KISS ALL OF THEM I LOEV BOTH RACK & STRIP SO MUCH BBBUT. IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT IM ON MY HANDS & KNEES RIGHT NOW IVE NEVER BEGGED LIKE THIS BEFORE PLEAS SIRLOIN
>>
No. 944543 ID: c5d628

hmmmmm
Rack and Strip seem to be taking this whole date thing at opposite ends of the serious//fun axis, and Sirloin seems like a nice middle spot, so I guess if you want us to make this impossible decision I vote Sirloin?? being gay and decisive is exhausting
>>
No. 944544 ID: 001be0

sirloin!!
>>
No. 944546 ID: 688c44

Ahhh, this is a tough choice!
Sirloin seems to be the nicest of the three, I feel like she'd be the most patient and gentle with Sirloin out of our options. On the other hand, Rack seems to be the most genuinely enthusiastic about this idea, and I can't imagine she'd be anything but adorable the whole time! But Strip is right, too, I think she would treat a girl right on the first date!!!

aaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA SIRLOIN HOT THO final answer I'm voting for sirloin
>>
No. 944550 ID: 098567

>>944536
Im screaming all my gay dreams are coming true!!

My poor polyam heart is struggling hard with this choice. I love them all so much. My impulse is Sirloin cause im in love with her, but also strip seems like she's being really sweet about it too!

Is there an option where we can go out with all of them (either all at once or separately?)
>>
No. 944552 ID: d1981c

How dare u ask a bunch of hopeless gays to make a decision between three perfect girls.
...
...
Though personally I vote Strip. Rack would be ten tons of fun and Sirloin is PERFECT, but Strip seems the most invested in... Taking this seriously and making sure that it's a good experience for Lamb, regardless of what actually happens in the date. Maybe a little intense, but that can be a good thing.
So I vote Strip.
>>
No. 944556 ID: 258ba7

STRIP! THINK OF THE TIDDY PIERCINGS, LAMB. YOU CAN PROBABLY TOUCH THOSE IF YOU PICK STRIP.
>>
No. 944557 ID: 975263

This is such a difficult choice!
Strip is mega cute in this update, and I'm p sure she's a bottom so we definitely get some practice "reciprocating", but I'm concerned we'll focus too much on that and get anxious over making sure she busts a nut. I'm going to say Sirloin since she has already established that she's good at getting us out of our own head.
>>
No. 944559 ID: 094652

Okay, you know what? This whole 'getting into pants' thing is getting out of hand. Practice shouldn't be about being taken advantage of.

Practice with Ricardo. No sex, no romance, no attachments, just you and another guy who also wants to know how relationships work.
>>
No. 944562 ID: cfc80f

Get the full range and do a round with each of the three in turn.
>>
No. 944564 ID: b627ad

(me crawling on the floor) sir...loin........
>>
No. 944565 ID: d6551e

I FEEL LIKE A RABID DOG!!! STRIP TIME!!!!!!!
>>
No. 944566 ID: ded7a1

SIRLOIN........
>>
No. 944567 ID: 69c061

oh mygod its happening and my pea-sized lesbian brain can't cope

oh god rack wants to have fun and strip would treat her right and they're both so hot and i desperately want to see what they'd be like but at the end of the day i gotta say...

Sirloin. the elevator scene cinched it. (but whoever ends up winning the vote I will be 0% mad, you literally can't lose here)
>>
No. 944568 ID: 7e9c89

HGHHGHG STRIP OR SIRLOIN
>>
No. 944569 ID: 4979ce

SIRLOIN MY WIFE MY WIIIIIIIFE WHO I AM IN LOOOOOVE WITHHHHHHHHHH also from a writing standpoint like. she already seems to have more of a rapport with lamb than the others, at least that we know of, so it would feel more natural? ALSO I WANNA FUCK MY WIFE!!!! I WANNA FUCK MY WIFE!!!!!!!
>>
No. 944570 ID: ba53d5

RACK PLEASE. Chubby gals best.
>>
No. 944572 ID: 39959f

first time suggesting here to very emphatically vote SIRLOIN
>>
No. 944573 ID: 0e0392

strip!!
>>
No. 944574 ID: 7f7983

i WANNA say sirloin but i think strip is the most determined to take this seriously and the “respect lamb” speech is already winning me over so hard im sorry im so weak for butch chivalry. strip
>>
No. 944575 ID: 422724

My tiny little bi brain cannot handle this update or this choice
this is cruel
Rack seems SO EXCITED and she's so Cute
Sirloin seems like she already has the closest thing going with Lamb, especially after the elevator scene so that would probably make the most sense But!
Strip! My love! ohmyGOD im rabid for Strip and she seems to be taking this really seriously and she's being so endearing and she just Wants Lamb Having A Good Time so that's my vote
Strip
i pick Strip
>>
No. 944576 ID: d7f01b

sssssssssssssssstrip
>>
No. 944577 ID: deddc1

Enclosed is my 5 point thesis as to why Lamb and Sirloin should get it on.

1. Sirloin is the best
2. She fits into that perfect gentle older partner cliche
3. Strip looks like they're just too rough in the sack
4. Cause it would be soo cute
5. Cause

In Conclusion: SIRLOIN!!!!
>>
No. 944578 ID: d23dad

who would lamb feel more comfortable with? strip is Really into it and that might get overwhelming for lamb? and we know she like sirloin, and sirloin's down with the date idea so im gonna vote sirloin
>>
No. 944579 ID: 69f83f

Baby's first suggestion because fukc holy fick oh I am Gay. Lamb I feel u. Anyways.

Sirloin is like, in general, the closest to Ideal if Lamb was only gonna end up w/ one of her squad but as that probs won't be an issue... I've gotta vote Strip this time!

Reasoning is Sirloin is like. Not a Practice Date, idk, if I were Lamb I'd wanna be on top of my game when we hang w/ Sirloin. Strip is Intimidating but she also seems to be taking this seriously in a way that's really sweet. Like, she really does just wanna take it slow and make Lamb comfortable as she figures out how this whole dumb dance is supposed to go. Rack is awesome and probs a blast for later on down the line but Strip seems best to ease into the dating game with, so.

Yeah. Strip it is.

... GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS!
>>
No. 944581 ID: a7f88b

rack heaven now
>>
No. 944583 ID: e7dcb0

Ask Strip! But like, do it in the form of asking her out! Make her blush!
>>
No. 944585 ID: 712bc3

STRIP! STRIP! STRIP! STRIP! 🥩🥩
>>
No. 944586 ID: e7dcb0

>>944581
ah, because she's a shrimp
>>
No. 944589 ID: d91078

i second strip, but do it in a cute "asking out" way, i SO wanna see how strip acts on dates!!!
>>
No. 944591 ID: 32666c

SIRLOI N
>>
No. 944593 ID: 14e641

Sirloin! Sirloin! Sirloin!
I am a weak gay woman, and I really really want the chance to kiss Sirloin.
>>
No. 944597 ID: 4ac58c

strip
>>
No. 944598 ID: aedfd9

EVERYONE AT ONCE but if that’s off the table then Strip. Strip is so sexy and it looks like she might get flustered and cute too and the next we can sweep her off her feet. (And then the others will probably want to have sex with us as one-upmanship later!!!)
>>
No. 944604 ID: e4bca9

sirloin!!!
>>
No. 944605 ID: 19ec69

spare coochie sirloin
>>
No. 944606 ID: f46390

Strip yeah
>>
No. 944607 ID: 0776f3

Logic brain says Sirloin but horny brain wins with a vote for Strip
>>
No. 944608 ID: 82823f

STRIP PLEASE SHES SO CUTE
>>
No. 944609 ID: 9dad72

STRIP STRIP STRIP SHES SO HOT
>>
No. 944611 ID: 63e0df

I love them all but.

Strip makes the most sense. They are taking this seriously amd rly wants to do right by lamb.
>>
No. 944613 ID: 3d22ce

Rack please or strip
>>
No. 944617 ID: 0338c7

sirloin hot send tweet
>>
No. 944618 ID: 49863e

"I think it'd be great to explore this stuff with all of you... one by one at first, and then maybe we can mix it up more? and I'd like to try with Sirloin first."

reasoning for Sirloin first:
-Lamb and Sirloin have some more personal repertoire than she seems to have with the others
-Sirloin seems like she'd be really wonderful to have a... less active role experience with, and I think that'd be less pressure/better release for Lamb
-Sirloin..... Gentle......

I love Rack but it feels like she'd get carried away in the excitement and maybe not pay the most attention to Lamb, with potentiality for Lamb getting overwhelmed in an unfun way for this Vampire First Time - and it's amazing how much Strip cares, but it seems like there might be more onus on Lamb there to guide how the interaction goes, which also could be overwhelming.

Ergo... Sirloin. Sirloin who we've been flustered and fantasizing about since forever.
>>
No. 944624 ID: 0cfbab

Rack time fun time!

Having it be fun the first time could make it less scary probably, exploring/trying about a bunch of stuff... That way we can know what works and what doesn't!
>>
No. 944631 ID: 421241

strip, because strip seems super protective and its adorable
strip has been so consistently like, protective of lamb its really endearing she just wants to do right by her...
also, honestly, i dont want to see strips feelings hurt :( shes taking this the most seriously! strip strip strip
>>
No. 944633 ID: e78e18

Strip~~~~
>>
No. 944635 ID: df5939

>>944624
agree with rack time fun time! her laid back attitude might be nice to get 'into the swing', so to speak.
>>
No. 944636 ID: 10c408

Sirloin. This is just practice after all.
>>
No. 944644 ID: 92425d

Definitely Rack.
>>
No. 944665 ID: bbaee9

I think Rack would be good since sex should be fun! and I think Rack would help Lamb with that ;___; also I wanna see more Rack love
>>
No. 944666 ID: 994b73

i love that strip is super confident in her ability to take care of women aND if there's even a little chance that she's doing this to prove st im a bit worried for lamb; also i feel like strip might make lamb cry bc of pressure but am i projecting? probably. i love that rack wants to have fun but if lamb is less experienced it might make her skittish? and if rack is preoccupied w having fun will she be upset if lamb "spoils" what she considers to be fun? and sirloin is so quiet n gentle but strip seems to think sirloin is a player which if lamb catches feelings might be rlly sad n tough but sirloin also seems to feel the least amount of pressure but u know what actually as i'm writing all this my gut is going with STRIP still. maybe she has some hidden wisdom to impart. idk i feel good abt it.
I PICK STRIP!
>>
No. 944667 ID: 6862fd

I wanna say Strip because im a big fan of her style and I want her strap but I feel like Sirloin would be a better teacher and would definitely enjoy teachin someone inexperienced w/ sex and dates and we could always blow strips mind with what we learned later. so I vote Sirloin for now!
>>
No. 944675 ID: f9ac13

AHHHHHHHHH my first instinct is “all of you” but if that can’t work out then Strip!
>>
No. 944708 ID: 75cf31
File 156809044276.png - (155.00KB , 800x525 , 528.png )
944708

This… is an incredibly difficult decision.

Lamb’s first instinct is towards Sirloin — her steady manner is reassuring, but… on the other hand, her perfection is intimidating, and so is whatever Strip’s saying about her being a fast mover. (Even if that’s kind of the point, right…? No, this is just practice…) On the other hand, maybe it would be less pressure with Rack, but the way she doesn’t seem to be taking this seriously at [i]all[/u/i] is kind of intimidating in its own way, like maybe Lamb wouldn’t be able to keep up with it, or like it would make her feel unimportant…
>>
No. 944709 ID: 75cf31
File 156809046435.png - (87.74KB , 800x525 , 529.png )
944709

Strip, though. Strip, who’s doggedly picking fights over and over again about keeping Lamb comfortable. Strip, who’s being kind of… chivalrous, honestly, in that weird hostile way of hers.

Lamb swallows down the lump in her throat.
>>
No. 944710 ID: 75cf31
File 156809048367.png - (121.65KB , 800x525 , 530.png )
944710

“Strip. Do you want to go out with me?”

That brings the bickering — which has kept going in the background as Lamb thought it over — to a grinding halt. Strip blinks.

“Do you want to go on a date with me,” Lamb repeats, just in case Strip didn’t hear her. As soon as it’s out of her mouth, it’s obvious Strip did hear her, and she feels stupid. “Tonight. As practice.”
>>
No. 944711 ID: 75cf31
File 156809050223.png - (131.78KB , 800x525 , 531.png )
944711

“Uh.” There’s a light dusting of pink rising over the bridge of Strip’s nose. It’s suddenly incredibly easy to look at that instead of at her nipple piercings. “Yeah?” She clears her throat, hoarsely. “I mean, yeah. I just said I’m the only one who’ll do it right, didn’t I.”


Sirloin is giving Rack a look that Lamb can’t decipher. Rack is giving a similar one back.

Suit yourself, Sirloin signs, and despite the sarcastic bounce of her hands she doesn’t seem actually offended. She turns to leave, and Rack falls into step beside her.

“That frees me up to do whatever I waaaant,” Rack trills. “Don’t worry, I’ve got no plans to third wheel. At least not this time. Have fun, like, crushing beer cans against your head, or whatever Strip does for fun.”
>>
No. 944712 ID: 75cf31
File 156809051976.png - (89.61KB , 800x525 , 532.png )
944712

Strip launches a snarl at Rack’s retreating figure, but her expression is mostly back to normal by the time she turns back to look at Lamb. “Okay, uh. Guess we should go get dressed.” There’s a little hesitation here that doesn’t fit with her normal brash manner, but she seems to be getting it back as she goes. She straightens up, grabbing a waiting towel off a nearby hook as she speaks. “I’ll meet you down in the lobby. I don’t take long to get ready, so hurry up. And wear something you can move around in, okay?”

“Okay,” Lamb murmurs, automatically. She realizes, now that she’s alone with Strip, that all of her skin feels like it’s practically vibrating with barely constrained energy.

She just asked someone out. She asked someone out. Her mind immediately fires back — It’s not a REAL date, and it’s your teammate, it doesn’t count — but those insistent caveats don’t change how she feels about it.

Exhilarated. A little triumphant, even.

She’s jolted out of those thoughts as Strip’s hand lands on top of her head, and then Strip ruffles her damp hair, lightly. She’s gone before Lamb can really react.
>>
No. 944713 ID: 75cf31
File 156809053664.png - (148.92KB , 800x1000 , 533.png )
944713

By the time Lamb gathers herself and wraps a towel around her body to leave the showers, the hallway is empty. Their nearby rooms, at least, are separate, though they’re all together in a block. Lamb enters hers, closes the door behind her, and stares at her dresser.

Great. Now she has to figure out what to wear.

paper doll update! some notes: to avoid Unsightly Thread Stretching, if you resize or add on to the image to draw, please resize it back down to 1000 PIXELS OR LESS horizontally before posting in the thread; if you have long links to images of potential clothes/outfits, please run them through bitly or a similar url shortener before posting. this keeps the thread easy to read when images are expanded and saves the front page on mobile, too.
>>
No. 944714 ID: 3e7944

>>944713
yayyyyy paper doll update! i feel good about strip as a choice, her blush was so cute! though if/when the opportunity arises to go out with rack and sirloin, i hope we take that as well! drawing some cute outfits for lamb will be a fun project for tomorrow!
>>
No. 944716 ID: c4cb10
File 156809236655.png - (111.14KB , 800x1000 , steve.png )
944716

>>944713
feels like the last paper doll was missing something..
>>
No. 944718 ID: 0338c7
File 156809335298.png - (420.32KB , 660x989 , 9A5F490C-2D35-4B04-AD51-3EB2A00A2845.png )
944718

I think lamb would look good in something dark and lacy! We don’t want to put on something too outrageously colorful, probably, though it may be fun to try.
>>
No. 944719 ID: 32666c

https://bit.ly/2kEieeT

I think something like this would be cute.
Somethinh casual and a nice change of pace from more of the bondagey outfits she's had, which are very good don't get me wrong. It's not like, a sexy outfit, but we were all just showering togther. I don't think we need to still be in full titty flaunting mode.
>>
No. 944722 ID: f9ca75
File 156809773603.png - (459.59KB , 800x1000 , Lamb Date.png )
944722

I feel like Lamb's non-combat wardrobe is probably mostly soft loose things, (because a common experience with autism that I have is itchy clothing heightening moments of panic) so I have a bunch of soft linen centric outfits in mind!
>>
No. 944723 ID: e7dcb0

>>944722
The boots would look nice in the same grey as the piece in the middle (I have three things I think that's called and they might all be wrong), but otherwise I totally agree with this!
>>
No. 944725 ID: f9ca75
File 156810243043.png - (409.94KB , 800x1000 , Lamb Date 2.png )
944725

lamb 2, this one comes with a side bag, why? because do vamps have fake ids in case of a human bouncer at a club?? who knows.
>>
No. 944726 ID: f9ca75
File 156810247154.png - (366.58KB , 800x1000 , Lamb Date 3.png )
944726

lamb 3, arguably the most femme? also blue suede boots.
>>
No. 944728 ID: d23dad

(slamming my fists repeatedly on the table) SUIT SUIT SUIT SUIT S
>>
No. 944730 ID: b29475
File 156811324362.png - (240.74KB , 800x1000 , shepherdspie.png )
944730

leggings+runners for freedom of movement, a jacket to shrink into if things get overwhelming, and a ribbon in case strip wants to pull it off us later :)
>>
No. 944731 ID: 14e641
File 156811507516.png - (144.40KB , 800x1000 , Untitled95.png )
944731

Loose, light, semi transparent shirt.
Short grey jean shorts.
Ass kicking boots.
>>
No. 944732 ID: 2d2e50
File 156812410613.png - (149.37KB , 800x1000 , 156809053664.png )
944732

>>
No. 944733 ID: 37b6a5
File 156812661904.jpg - (90.40KB , 750x1002 , 63539B42-6558-4570-B001-751AC83C5DB0.jpg )
944733

woke up, dressed lamb, went back to sleep
>>
No. 944734 ID: cc1e4b

>>944730
Oh I love this one!!!
>>
No. 944736 ID: 6dc464
File 156813641635.png - (121.40KB , 800x1000 , lammb.png )
944736

>>
No. 944740 ID: da877f
File 156814701151.png - (358.51KB , 800x1000 , Lamb Date 4.png )
944740

more lambs incoming, this one keeps some of their bondage/harness style but is also cozy
>>
No. 944741 ID: da877f
File 156814706703.png - (488.30KB , 800x1000 , Lamb Date 5.png )
944741

learned i hate actually making plaid patterns but dam it cute
>>
No. 944742 ID: da877f
File 156814709638.png - (344.18KB , 800x1000 , Lamb Date 6.png )
944742

edgiest of my lambs
>>
No. 944766 ID: 3e7944
File 156815281923.png - (295.90KB , 1000x1250 , lamb_jeanoutfit2.png )
944766

Jean lesbian lamb
>>
No. 944767 ID: 3e7944
File 156815284664.png - (278.38KB , 1000x1250 , lamb_jeanoutfit1.png )
944767

>>944766
without jacket to show flowy top
>>
No. 944773 ID: 3e7944
File 156815834174.png - (292.97KB , 1000x1250 , lamb_sporty.png )
944773

A sporty lamb! really digging into the something you can move in instruction with gym shorts, plain white crop tshirt thing, and sleeveless hoodie
>>
No. 944774 ID: 3e7944
File 156815977593.png - (217.91KB , 1000x1250 , lamb_blackandsilver.png )
944774

a bit more gothic of an option
>>
No. 944775 ID: 0cfbab
File 156816018126.png - (151.93KB , 800x1000 , lamb date outfit 1.png )
944775

Y
You know when you see a character and your heart goes 'ack!'?

Strip. Strip just did that to me.
HolyfuckI'mlove

I'm super glad I get to participate in the outfit choosing this time so I got two more after this pic :>
>>
No. 944777 ID: 0cfbab
File 156816029801.png - (136.97KB , 800x1000 , lamb date outfit 2.png )
944777

>>
No. 944778 ID: 0cfbab
File 156816038555.png - (147.92KB , 800x1000 , lamb date outfit 3.png )
944778

Also I'm sorry for all the red and black, I'm just so used to seeing it that's all my brain is ok with ; v ;

They can be any color though, of course
>>
No. 944792 ID: 37b6a5
File 156817202863.jpg - (76.01KB , 750x930 , C966CA00-B5E9-46FA-BE88-FD83F7AE7B94.jpg )
944792

the tesxtures.....soft floaty shirt tight shiny pants...this is my autistic fashion :)
>>
No. 944807 ID: 6b66cf
File 156818296618.png - (106.91KB , 800x1000 , dress up.png )
944807

something soft and simple!
>>
No. 944814 ID: 6b66cf
File 156818461737.png - (109.43KB , 800x1000 , dress up2.png )
944814

someone mentioned a titty window on ira's cc and i couldn't get it out of my head. also i highkey gave up one the boots don't look too close at em
>>
No. 944821 ID: 456ad4
File 156818722489.png - (154.99KB , 800x1000 , lamb plaid dress 9-11-2019.png )
944821

comfy and stylish
>>
No. 944822 ID: 456ad4
File 156818730128.png - (180.04KB , 800x1000 , lamb gtoh dress 9-11-2019.png )
944822

this is impractical for moving around easily but i think it slaps lol
>>
No. 944828 ID: 9c4f92

>>944742
Hello, please double-check your image resolution in the future.
>>
No. 944835 ID: 001be0

>>944741
>>944775
>>944822
>>944778

these are cute!!
>>
No. 944839 ID: 001be0
File 156821380626.png - (123.85KB , 800x1000 , 1568090536642222.png )
944839

>>
No. 944840 ID: 001be0

https://i.imgur.com/ETPRzVr.jpg
>>
No. 944872 ID: d91078
File 156825311348.png - (202.20KB , 800x1000 , lamb1.png )
944872

tried my best, please excuse the shoes i have NO idea how to draw them kjhfkjdhfkjsdf
>>
No. 944884 ID: 5393c6
File 156827074972.png - (306.94KB , 800x1000 , Lamb Date 7.png )
944884

my contribution to the A Suit For Lamb campaign
>>
No. 944909 ID: b00828
File 156832992962.png - (284.94KB , 1000x1000 , 89E82135-CCBE-49AD-A39A-9B8C58D5B58F.png )
944909

1) velvet goth?? velvet goth
2) daintier!
3) strappy heels are not the best to go romping around in but i, the one with the tablet pen in hand, can dreaml
>>
No. 944910 ID: b00828
File 156833003510.png - (300.68KB , 1000x1000 , 824FFFB9-FA54-4B9B-8B7A-9664CB7F9AC0.png )
944910

>>944909
alt version with some jackets, since what is the point of a nice top if we’re not casually-on-purpose shedding a jacket to reveal it to strip
>>
No. 944918 ID: afed67
File 156834231482.jpg - (461.13KB , 750x824 , A0FB4520-9109-4D54-9858-8E225FDDEA24.jpg )
944918

A bit off the base, but consider BDSM/buffy aesthetic Lamb
>>
No. 944954 ID: b8d6cf

>>944909
outfit 1 is so beautiful!
>>
No. 944963 ID: b8d6cf
File 156839323551.png - (143.17KB , 800x1000 , outfit-2.png )
944963

>>
No. 944966 ID: b8d6cf
File 156839458621.png - (136.96KB , 800x1000 , outfit-3.png )
944966

>>
No. 944969 ID: 8fa857
File 156839897067.jpg - (105.19KB , 790x988 , 355431DD-0AB6-4DD0-814C-35FE2F9A169C.jpg )
944969

please consider: Weird Autistic Layering!

I’m imagining her scrambling for an outfit, trying to go in three different aesthetic/practical directions at once, and then stumbling out of her room only half-aware of what she actually put on.

I also really like the light blue dress with the bondage harness, and the plaid dress over the white t-shirt, that others posted.
>>
No. 945048 ID: b8d6cf
File 156846544740.png - (156.91KB , 800x1000 , outfit-4.png )
945048

>>
No. 945050 ID: b8d6cf
File 156846674092.png - (129.93KB , 800x1000 , outfit-5.png )
945050

i'm jsut going wild. i love paperdoll updates
>>
No. 945165 ID: 51d10f
File 156865018093.png - (392.31KB , 900x643 , lamb outfits 1 and 2.png )
945165

some Outfits. i may have gone a bit too ham on details but im gay and love clothes and lamb? i have others sketched too that i'm hoping to get finished later today but heres the first two in my Lamb Get Cool Belt Agenda
1. in my lesbian opinion hiking boots are both sexy and practical for many occasions.
2. hood in case of needing something to hide in from getting overwhelmed (and hoodie strings for the potential for a Pulling Someone Towards You By The Hoodie Strings move,)
>>
No. 945199 ID: 51d10f
File 156869719903.png - (457.97KB , 1200x750 , lamb outfits 3 alt colours.png )
945199

okay another late entry outfit, this one with two colour options because I couldn't choose between them.

i just think, that underboob, is fun. its cute
>>
No. 945200 ID: 51d10f

>>945199
AH CRAP I forgot to resize it oh no I'm sorry! I completely meant to do that before posting but it slipped my mind. i'm not sure how to delete a post to repost a properly sized version, or if that's a thing I can do?
>>
No. 945216 ID: e7dcb0

>>945200
There's a small checkbox near the name area of your post, click that then go to the bottom right of the page and click delete
>>
No. 945237 ID: 75cf31

>>945200
don't worry about it, i'm about to update within the next few hours and this isn't so wide that it's super disruptive. i appreciate u keeping it in mind tho
>>
No. 945266 ID: 75cf31
File 156876680350.png - (164.73KB , 800x525 , 534.png )
945266

It feels like no time at all passes as Lamb tears through her drawers in a blur, and the next thing she knows, she looks up and her room is a mess. She feels like she’s tried on half of what she owns — a couple outfits built around flowy velvet skirts, at first, but then she remembers Strip’s instruction for mobility, so she switches to shorts instead — then agonizing over what’s too formal, what’s not formal enough, what would make it look like she’s taking this too seriously, what would make it look like she doesn’t care… she doesn’t even know what “normal” date clothes entail, but this isn’t really a normal date.

In the end she settles on something close to what she normally wears. She skips heels, per Strip’s request; chooses a tight, seamless bodysuit, one she’s always found comfortable because of the firm compression, and one that she hopes makes her look… sexy?... and layers on a hoodie, too, just in case. Her noise reduction headphones are on the nightstand and she grabs them, looping them around her neck for safekeeping.

There’s a little more useless fussing, but she cuts it off. The only thing more embarrassing than showing up in the wrong thing would probably be annoying Strip by keeping her waiting.
>>
No. 945267 ID: 75cf31
File 156876682937.png - (158.09KB , 800x525 , 535.png )
945267

Strip is already in the lobby by the time Lamb gets down there; and, to Lamb’s immense relief, is dressed pretty similarly. She gives Lamb a brief nod, turning towards her as she approaches. “Hey.”

“Hi.” There’s a beat. She feels too embarrassed to say anything as cliche as “did you wait long,” or “you look good,” and luckily Strip picks up the slack before the silence can become awkward.

“Uh, honestly.” Strip rubs the back of her neck with one hand, the other gesturing loosely towards the rest of the hotel. “I’ve trained here before, with my last squad, and I kind of fucking hate this place. So.” She straightens up, shoving her hands deep in her pockets. “I’m borrowing a bike while we’re here, since we flew in and — you know how I am, I gotta go get my own space sometimes, and — I dunno. Unless you’re, like, married to the idea of doing the casino or the bunny bar here or whatever, I figured we could get out of here and go somewhere else.”

She seems to realize she’s given a pitch that’s pretty heavily weighted, and sighs, trying to backpedal a little. “Or at least another casino. Somewhere off the strip, and not a touristy vamp trap full of 300-year-old stiffs.”
>>
No. 945268 ID: 69c061

Sounds like fun; maybe she knows somewhere a little quieter than average, so you can have conversations and not get too overwhelmed with noise? If she's been in Vegas before she probably has a few favourite spots, right?
>>
No. 945269 ID: d1981c

Yeah go for it! Fuck the casino! Go find somewhere nice and have a good date!
>>
No. 945270 ID: 094652

Do you ascribe to that theory where vampire psychopathy partially stems from a lack of self-image? Hell, you can't even see your clothes! Modern technology could reconstruct your face even more thoroughly than a mirror.

>Go somewhere else
Open up with a joke
"How about the underground furry pits? I read about them in a novel."

Go wherever. Grand Canyon's in another state but if your bike is powerful enough you could get there and back in a day.
>>
No. 945271 ID: b3c9cc

ask where she likes to go/what she likes to do when she gets out of this place!
>>
No. 945272 ID: 3ed3c3

>>945267
Let's blow this joint.
>>
No. 945277 ID: 49863e

honestly, getting somewhere quiet sounds ideal - y'all can focus on each other, and not get overwhelmed by flashing lights and loads of noises.

perhaps somewhere where there's some form of entertainment, or at least something to look at? Like, maybe driving out to the desert some to see the stars... I think it'd be useful to have Something to look at or engage in for potential lulls in the conversation, and to allow for time to process before responding if necessary.
>>
No. 945292 ID: ce3b01

Yeah absolutely take Strip up on her offer. Its not like the casino was gonna be the most pleasant place for Lamb and we were mostly preparing to go there so she could get to know the others instead of the appeal of a casino. Also ask what she has in mind.
>>
No. 945293 ID: bb78f2

>>945267
Wanna watch the desert moon? Crash a biker bar and start a fight with humans, holding back our strength and give them a minor fighting chance? Crash a vampire biker bar, not holding back and give them a minor fighting chance?

Hunt and Kill a nazi? Hunt and kill a vampire Nazi?

Coffee? Err... yeah wait might still work if vamps can drink beer.
>>
No. 945296 ID: 0e2ebe

Go with her first idea, it sounds great. You want to spend time with her, on a date, not really go to a bunny bar.
>>
No. 945308 ID: 3e7944

>>945267
Since she knows the area, definitely what she thinks would be fun. Somewhere were we can chill and talk, but also with something to do, so we don't have to worry about filling the area
>>
No. 945311 ID: 69f83f

Ahhh... Lamb and Strip cute...

I've never been to Vegas but there's like gotta be some silly retro diner or something around right?? Or maybe a drive-in theater thing? Can you tell I've never been farther West than Pennsylvania (but once had a really cute friend-date night around Provincetown)?

Idk casinos sound lame and I know neither Lamb nor Strip are that old but I think it'd be cute to find something w/ that sort of aesthetic a little off the main drag. Drive-in theater playing a dumb black and white vampire movie to casually mock before biking off before sunrise.

I think it'd be nice to get away from all the bright lights and hotels and just fool around w/ a jukebox someplace. You can't enjoy the milkshakes but you Can terrorize tonight's prey w/ "what's new pussycat" on repeat. It's more low-key than bunny bars and I doubt it's an experience Lamb's gotten to have yet so could be new casual fun!
>>
No. 945376 ID: 6d979f

>>945277
there's werewolves in them sand dunes. we got told to stay away... maybe it's not the best idea to get near any potential scraps.

it's a nice surprise that strip needs space sometimes, after the initial introduction we got as ricardo. something semi-active or that helps split strip's attention away from lamb (though not too much! just enough for some conversational buffer time) could be nice.

there's a neon museum in vegas that's like, a couple acres of old casino signs and so forth, on display on an outdoor lot around a defunct hotel lobby. no idea if that's up strip or lamb's alleys, but they do night tours, and they call their collection their NEON BONEYARD. they also literally have this on their info site: "Due to the broken glass, rusty metal and darkness, we recommend night tours for visitors ages 12 and up." so as far as museums go, it's a pretty wild one!

(yes i literally went and googled what to do in vegas. only the most in depth of odd date ideas for lamb and strip)
>>
No. 945438 ID: de8aa6

i feel like the casino is too much stimuli for right now? Like it would be just extremely good to like focus on the date(?) and also not have a billion things and noises going on at the same time.

Riding a motorcycle while holding on to Strip sounds extremely nice. Maybe tell her that a walk sounds nice too or somewhere more uh lowkey than a big casino.
>>
No. 945439 ID: de8aa6

>>945271
YEAH ASK STRIP WHAT HER FAVORITE SPOT IS
>>
No. 945443 ID: deddc1

They should go to a steakhouse...and order the Lamb Strips ;)
>>
No. 945445 ID: 7011e0

bro they are so cute i can't cope with this

let's go somewhere else! i bet lamb hasn't seen a ton of deserts so even leaving the strip is an option
>>
No. 945489 ID: 49863e

>>945376
I think that not going into the desert is specific to Ricardo & Pascal, because Pascal is awful and would kill the werewolves.

>>933143 for reference
>>
No. 945524 ID: f46390

>>945489
Strip wouldn't ?
>>
No. 945544 ID: 421241

lets go somewhere else! its a good call, casinos can be overstimulating!
>>
No. 945546 ID: 5e565b
File 156912034888.png - (227.28KB , 800x525 , 536.png )
945546

“I really don’t mind that at all,” Lamb says immediately. “I don’t think a casino is really for me, anyway…”

“Probably not, huh.” Strip starts walking towards the entrance, hands still deep in her pockets, and Lamb falls into step beside her.

“Do you have some favorite spots, since you’ve been here before?”

“Not just been here. I mean, been to the Silver Crown, yeah. But I’m from Vegas.”

Lamb blinks at her, surprised. It strikes her as impossible that she didn’t know that; but then, now that she thinks about it, she doesn’t know where the others are from, either. If there was any discussion of it recently, especially as they were traveling here, she must have tuned it out. She knows she spends a lot of time in her own world, but until tonight, she hadn’t really thought this much about how much she was willfully missing outside of it. “I didn’t know that,” she finally says.

Strip shrugs. “You didn’t ask.” And it’s a cliche, but it’s true. Lamb frowns a little, looking back down at the tiled floor as they walk — a different set of shapes than the carpeting upstairs.

“We’re not supposed to know too much about each other.”

“Well, trust me, nobody else is following that rule.” Strip’s voice is rough, a little closer to the snarl she uses with strangers than the lower voice she uses around the squad; but she smooths it out relatively quickly and moves on. “I was thinking about going out to Red Rock. It’s closed, so it’ll be real quiet.”

Lamb’s frown deepens. “Kel said—”

“Werewolves don’t bug you unless you bug them. It’ll be fine.”

Strip sounds like she knows what she’s talking about, and quiet sounds ideal… if anything, this is better than sticking around in the hotel, which was a plan Lamb was already apprehensive about before. She nods, pensively.
>>
No. 945547 ID: 5e565b
File 156912037002.png - (150.33KB , 800x525 , 537.png )
945547

The air is warm and still when they exit the hotel. Strip withdraws her hand from her pocket, and with it her phone, on which she checks and replies to a message. She gives a brief sideways nod to Lamb. “Okay, cool. My friend has the bike ready.”

The bike in question is a block away, with a vampire leaning against it, and Lamb tenses. It hadn’t occurred to her that the tradeoff would involve a new person, and she decides to just stay quiet, dropping a step or so behind Strip as they approach.

“Hey, Arco.” The other vampire doesn’t straighten up, arms still crossed over their chest.

“Hey.” Strip’s hands are back in her pockets, and she’s doing a Strip Thing that Lamb sees her doing a lot: head held low like a dog’s, jaw jutting, chest thrown out. She’s never really been able to figure out what it means. “Thanks. I know this was short notice.”

The vampire’s eyes flick over Lamb, and she almost shrinks back. They lower their voice, then, not that it matters. Any one of them can hear a conversation happening blocks away, if they try. “I don’t care that it’s short notice, dude. I care that it’s the only reason I found out you’re in town.”

“Yeah, well.” Strip shifts her weight. For a second, Lamb thinks she might hear a rare apology. In the end, it doesn’t happen. “Now you know.”

A pause. Strip’s friend chews their lip for a moment. “Okay. Well. Heads up, Belle knows you’re here.”

Air hisses between Strip’s teeth. “Why would you do that, man—”

“She asked!” That’s a normal volume, before they hush themself again. “I will do a lot of things for you, dude, I’ll do you favors, I’ll stick my neck out, but I’m not gonna lie to her face if she asks—”

“Fuck’s sake.”

Her friend sets their jaw, the same way she does. “Just — ugh. Are you gonna come by.”

“I dunno. I’m — I don’t know how long we’re here, and I’m… I’m busy. With training.”

The friend’s eyes slide over to Lamb again. “Yeah, apparently.”

“Rian—”

“Whatever, Arco.” They drop a keyfob into Strip’s hand. “Sorry. Don’t mean to hold you up. What with all your important Gallowglass business, and shit.”

If Strip has a retort, she doesn’t get to use it — there’s a dark blur, then a bat streaking away against the sky, silhouetted for only a moment against the streetlight overhead.
>>
No. 945548 ID: 5e565b
File 156912038477.png - (126.59KB , 800x525 , 358.png )
945548

There’s a long, unsteady silence that Lamb doesn’t know how to break. Then Strip makes that noise again, half-sigh, half-hiss, all teeth, and lightly thumps her hand — curled loosely around the keys — against the seat of the bike.

“Sorry.” She doesn’t turn around, fixing her attention on the front of the motorcycle instead. “That was — weird, and I should’ve thought about the fact that they were gonna get like that.” A vague, jerky gesture, with her free hand. “Hometowns, right.”

“I lived in the woods,” says Lamb.

“Oh. Well. Homewoods.” Strip seems to shake it off and swings one leg over the bike, looking back at Lamb. “Whatever. Forget it, I don’t wanna talk about it. Actually, hey, there’s some girl advice I can give you — people who want to talk about their exes on first dates always end up being freaks.”
>>
No. 945549 ID: 70df1e

thats good advice! thank strip for it. you had no exes back in your homewoods. also get on the motorcycle and put your arms around strips waist so you dont fall off (but also because you are gay)
>>
No. 945550 ID: 7011e0

get on that motorcycle!!! let's go hang out fuck hometowns
>>
No. 945551 ID: 094652

Patrol the town and look for a fight. Failing that, go out for fancy smoothies and wait for the fights to come to you.
>>
No. 945552 ID: ae76e8

>>945548
that's fair, definitely get on the bike and hold on to her because of both not falling off and gay reasons.
maybe we can ask more about ex's later. for now we should ask more about background. growing up maybe? is it taboo to ask how/why someone got turned?
>>
No. 945556 ID: e7dcb0

Maybe on the second then. And then off you go.
>>
No. 945558 ID: 0cfbab

I know we can't die from, like, falling off a bike but we should hold on to Strip's toned waist while she takes us out on this ride.
Y'know, for safety :>
>>
No. 945559 ID: 0338c7

I know she said we’re unlikely to see werewolves but given Pascal’s kind of hmmmm take on them it’s be really cool to see some while we are out there.
>>
No. 945560 ID: 69c061

I heartily add my support to the suggestion of holding on very tightly for safety. It's just good sense. Also be sure to appreciate how firm and muscular her back and waist are while you're there.

Going out into the desert sounds like fun (I mean, not for me, because I'm not an undead creature who presumably isn't bothered by heat, but for them.) Find out about Rian and Belle some other time; don't push it for now, just enjoy some desert scenery.
>>
No. 945561 ID: 421241

>>945549
honestly yeah do this exact thing
>>
No. 946075 ID: f46390

ira you're so great
>>
No. 946240 ID: 49863e

yes, I'm all for climbing on that bike behind Strip, wrapping arms around her, and appreciating the feel of her skin and muscles beneath....
>>
No. 947356 ID: 75cf31
File 157143449154.png - (227.06KB , 800x525 , 539.png )
947356

“That’s good advice,” Lamb murmurs. “Thanks.”


She knows not to poke at it. She knows what it’s like to not want to talk about something, to bristle when it gets brought up, to feel trapped — she wouldn’t do it to another person. Instead she just approaches and gets onto the back of the bike, a little uncertainly at first.

Strip twists in her seat to face her. There was a helmet hanging off the other side of the bike, and she’s unhooked it and picked it up. She plonks it on top of Lamb’s head, and Lamb wrinkles her nose as it’s pressed down over her face.

“We’re vampires,” she points out. “Even if there’s a bike accident, I won’t die.”

“I guess not. But what if your brain gets splattered everywhere, and then it takes a couple days to regen? That’ll put a damper on the date, huh?” Strip raps the outside of the helmet lightly with her fingers, and then her tone is less joking. “Besides, this cuts down on wind noise. You won’t like how loud it is without it.”

“Hm.” Lamb reaches up to adjust the helmet, making sure it’s snug, and slides the visor down. She doesn’t love how it feels around her face, but… she likes that Strip is thinking of her. It doesn’t really feel patronizing. “Okay.”
>>
No. 947357 ID: 75cf31
File 157143450713.png - (165.62KB , 800x525 , 540.png )
947357

Then comes the part she’s been equally excited and apprehensive about. Strip turns back around and grips the handles and it takes Lamb a second to decide to lean forward. When she does, she reaches around Strip’s torso, seeking around her oversized jacket, and eventually her hands find each other again over Strip’s firm, muscled stomach. She feels a little warm to the touch, under Lamb’s palms — probably because of the blood loss from the duel earlier. She worries, for a second, about her cold fingers being unpleasant, but if they are Strip isn’t saying anything about it.

“Tighter,” Strip says.

Lamb jolts a little, startled out of her train of thought. “What?”

“You’re gonna wanna hold on tighter than that,” Strip repeats. “Or I’m gonna lose you on the turns.”

“Oh. Okay…” Lamb shifts her weight and leans forward a little more, tightening her arms, just a little bit at a time — a pause after each adjustment, waiting for feedback, because she doesn’t know how much tighter it’s supposed to be — she’s overthinking it, she knows that, but—

“There you go,” Strip says, when Lamb is holding her far more tightly than she thought she’d have to. There’s a relief in it, in that confirmation. Her cheek is pressed against Strip’s shoulder (which isn’t as romantic as it sounds when there’s a thick layer of fiberglass and foam between them, courtesy of the helmet).

“Ready?” Strip asks, and when Lamb nods, she revs the motor and peels away from the curb.
>>
No. 947358 ID: 75cf31
File 157143452181.png - (182.36KB , 800x525 , 541.png )
947358

Vegas is brighter in motion. A hundred different neon signs and flashing lights melt into harmonious streaks when they’re speeding past, in a way that Lamb thinks is much nicer to look at. Strip’s right about the helmet quieting things down, though she doesn’t mind the engine noise that still makes its way through, steady and low.

Here and there, especially when they slow down at lights or in traffic, Strip points things out. “I used to live down there,” she says once, when they stop at a wide intersection. “There’s an offshoot of the Vegas den there, in the building right next to my old one, that’s how I found out about vampires.”

Past the flashy Flamingo hotel: “There’s a wildlife sanctuary there, with actual flamingoes and fish and stuff. I thought about breaking in there with you, but they’d all be asleep, so it would be kind of boring.”

As a bar whips by, one Lamb doesn’t catch the name of: “I got stabbed there. While I was alive. Like, not severely, but y’know.”

Eventually the traffic thins out, the buildings grow smaller and dimmer, and Strip takes an exit onto a broad, yawning highway, flowing out into the dark desert.

They can hear each other perfectly well, despite the helmet and the wind and the engine; Strip’s gone quiet, but if Lamb wanted to fill the silence while they finish the drive out to Red Rock, she could now.
>>
No. 947359 ID: 69c061

Does she miss living in Vegas? It sounds like an exciting place.
>>
No. 947380 ID: 55f56a

Share some bittersweet memories from when you were growing up as a vampire hunter?
>>
No. 947394 ID: 49863e

maybe spend some time pondering how nice and good it feels to be so thoroughly in contact with Strip.... maybe say it out loud to her.......
>>
No. 947434 ID: df5939

racks body must be strong, right? how does it feel holding her? think about this.
ask about her motorcycle. how long has she been driving? does she have her licence, or is this a fun illegal activity?
>>
No. 947459 ID: c9c450

Talk about how pretty it is in motion. About how the little details of her snippets of life and unlife create a warmer picture than you expected. Maybe she's exactly what you needed to appreciate it all.
>>
No. 947460 ID: 91a76a

>>947459
possessed by gay instinct to second this
>>
No. 947601 ID: be8768

>>947380
>>947394
>>947459
love all of these
>>
No. 947637 ID: 19bc84
947637

can we ask about the sanctuary? maybe we can go there next time (wink wink. don't wink though lamb that would be strange) and ask what her favourite place in vegas is. we liked the drive
>>
No. 947638 ID: 70df1e

>>947459
this! tell her that you didn't like vegas so much when you all first came over (the lights and the noise and the heat and the constant /bustle/) but that it seems nicer with strip. friendlier. you like her stories.
>>
No. 947792 ID: 262f3a

"You spent most of your time here in Vegas, right? It seems like a nice life... Why did you seek out Kel?"
>>
No. 947805 ID: a0f20c

>>947792
And how old you were when you were turned vs now. Unless that's like talking about exes? Shit, is there vampire-turning etiquette we don't know about?

Also aww. I'd love to see the animals (the nocturnal ones at least) but I'd be worried about making them uncomfortable.
>>
No. 949580 ID: 75cf31
File 157386195604.png - (133.62KB , 800x525 , 542.png )
949580

Lamb is distracted, for a few minutes, by the changing scenery, and the scents on the night air, and by Strip’s very very hard abs. Eventually her mind wanders back, retracing the little breadcrumb path of Strip’s commentary on the things they passed.

“Did you like living here?” she asks. She keeps her head inclined against Strip’s back; there’s less to look at out here, and more to talk about. “I didn’t like it much, when we got here. It’s too loud. And busy. But… this is nicer. With you.”

“Yeah? Good to hear.” Strip’s body moves in her arms in a little jolt, like she’s laughing. “I mean, I don’t know. Sure. I don’t like the Strip much either —” She actually laughs out loud, then, breaking off. “You like that? The General’s little joke, Strip from the Strip. God, what was I saying. Yeah, I don’t like it much either, the casinos and stuff, but — I don’t know, other people from here sometimes like to say stuff like, ‘Oh, that’s not really Las Vegas, I’ll show you real Las Vegas,’ while they take you to like, their favorite dumb sandwich restaurant or whatever. But I dunno. It is real Las Vegas, all that shit is, even if I don’t like it, right? You can’t deny that it’s a huge part of it.” A pause. They take another sweeping turn, around a wide mesa that stretches up into the night sky. “I liked it fine. It did okay for me, growing up here.”

“Hm.” Lamb’s having a hard time relating to any of this. “If you liked it… why did you decide to join?” She thinks about it for a second, then quickly follows it up before Strip can answer. “If that’s… okay to ask.”

“You’re fine,” Strip says. She goes quiet again for a minute, musing. “So I met the vampires who lived in the den outpost by where I lived, right. I got friendly with one of them — Rian, that’s the one I’m borrowing the bike from, the one we met out there. And eventually they tell me about vampires, right, because we got to be good friends, and I meet more of them, and I was like… I want that. You know?”
>>
No. 949581 ID: 75cf31
File 157386198372.png - (91.65KB , 800x525 , 543.png )
949581

Lamb doesn’t know. “Want” is not a word she’d choose for what she’s done — even though she did choose it, even though she looked Kel in the eye and demanded it. She could still never say she wanted this. She listens anyway.

“Vampires don’t worry about taking care of themselves,” Strip says. “Vampires don’t worry about — god, so much shit that you worry about when you’re alive. So much shit that like, fucking, consumes your every waking moment when you’re alive, it’s just straight up not a problem anymore. And like — I mean, you’ve heard Rack talk about why she did it. All these limitations you have when you’re human, this one stupid fragile short little life seeming like the most important thing in the world, and like making a mistake can fuck absolutely everything, forever — all of that gets blown wide open. Rian said kind of the same thing. That shit gets so small, when you live forever.”

The last few clouds that were hanging in hazy wisps have been blown away now by a stiff, hot wind, and the moon shines down on them brighter than Lamb would have thought possible.

“Rian offered to turn me. And this girl I was with wanted to do the whole fucking — the Twilight thing, or whatever, one of us gets turned first, then turns the other. But I wanted to be, like, careful about it, y’know. Big decision. Fucking eternal decision. You don’t just go with whatever your buddy offers first, and you don’t fold to whatever your girlfriend is getting all worked up about for Valentine’s day. And I looked into it, and I heard about the Gallowglass thing and — it was just like, ‘Yeah, man. That’s for me.’” The motorcycle slows, and Strip pulls off the road onto a dirt trail, and then she cuts the engine and leans back. “And everybody got mad at me about it. And that was that.”

She glances over her shoulder, reaching back to flip the visor on Lamb’s helmet up. “What, you writing a biography?”
>>
No. 949587 ID: 094652

> All that human stuff seems so small now
"People with small dreams can be great legends if the climb is filled with boulders and deathtraps, and they still keep going."
Take a few breaths.
"We all have things to do, and some of us have more things to do than others. But we shouldn't judge other people on the size of their dreams; what's important is how far they are willing to go to get there."
"I think you should let Rian and the others know you didn't just join because 'it-was-fun'. If you know the stakes, treat them like you once treated your human ^&*(."
>>
No. 949595 ID: 3e7944

>>949581
Smart of her to not just give into what her friends/girlfriend wanted. Tell her it was smart of her to do her research and have some kind of a plan yknow?

Also, tell her it's really interesting to hear someone else's motives behind wanted to be turned, since our reason wasn't really want.

Reciprocate with the sharing, and also I really want us to ask what her non gallowglass name is (if that's appropriate)
>>
No. 949608 ID: 3ed3c3

>>949581
Getting a different perspective. Lamb is a world-and-a-half away from what Strip's lived. Lamb spent her entire life despising vampires and training to destroy them, and now here she is: a vampire hunter turned vampire being trained by other vampires to hunt vampires.
Seeing things from another person's point of view may help her with her situation in some way.
>>
No. 949609 ID: bb78f2

>>949581
I spent my life being raised as a hunter, I can't help but be curious how and why people become vampires compared to why I became one. We all had to choose to become one if we were to be Gallowglass. You grow up like I did, some of the first questions you ask are why are vampires here, why are they real, how did they come to be? Why do I have this job by birthright?
>>
No. 949610 ID: 2ba9d1

Well, I didn't know, about the thing you asked. I don't know what it's like to want this. It's... good, to learn why you did. To see why a good person would want this existence.

And this is a date. You're supposed to ask personal questions and hope you don't say anything too upsetting.
>>
No. 949611 ID: 14e641

Honest curiosity,
>>
No. 949825 ID: 262f3a

Tell her you didn't really have a choice when you were turned. You could either die for nothing or live to avenge your order. as a hypocrite. You were just curious about why other people would chose this life.
>>
No. 949980 ID: 153cc0

>>949610
this
...but why did you ghost everyone just cause they got mad at you?
>>
No. 949981 ID: 2ba9d1

>>949980
I wouldn't use words like "just". Too judgmental, possibly really insensitive. Otherwise, asking the question is alright.
>>
No. 952525 ID: deddc1

Happy New Year
>>
No. 952622 ID: 75cf31

>>952525
please don't post unrelated stuff in the quest thread. thanks!
>>
No. 952623 ID: 75cf31
File 157807764731.png - (157.17KB , 800x525 , 544.png )
952623

“Just curious. About why someone would want this life.” Strip extends her hand to help Lamb off the bike, and she accepts it. “I mean… I chose it, but I didn’t want it… if that makes sense…”

“Yeah, it does,” Strip says. She keeps Lamb’s hand in hers as she walks over to the nearby chainlink fence, giving it a brief once-over. “We all do that, I think — choose stuff we don’t actually want. Sometimes you just have to.” She gives Lamb another smile over her shoulder. “I’m trying to do as little of that as I can, though, from here on out.”

They get over the fence with ease, and to Lamb’s eyes the cliffs and outcroppings that rise red-striped into the starry sky appear in perfect, crisp detail, even in the darkness. It’s tranquil and chaotic all at once, the night lush with soothing sounds: night insects, the rustling of small nocturnal creatures, and the dull rush of cars from the highway they left, which after years of travel is a noise Lamb has come to find comforting. Strip is silent for a while as they walk, giving Lamb room to take it in, and when she speaks again it’s low, like she doesn’t want to drown out all the things Lamb is listening to.

“Squad’s probably graduating this year, have you been thinking about that?” They come to a stop in a broad, open space, ringed with the hardy, gnarled vegetation of the area, and Strip sits in the reddish dirt without hesitation. “You know what you’re gonna do after?”
>>
No. 952624 ID: 75cf31
File 157807766878.png - (110.57KB , 800x525 , 545'.png )
952624

Lamb knows immediately what she’s talking about. They’d all been informed, before being turned, that once it happened there were only three options after the training period of their wardship was over.

The most obvious is the one most wards take: to join the Gallowglass horde. The most promising ward in each graduating squadron is given a witch-blade and a higher rank, and they join the body of the growing army, to be stationed together wherever they’re needed — usually in Kel’s stronghold on the Antrim coast.

The second is to leave. Doing so forfeits everything. The place in the army, Kel’s protection and the invocation of her name, and any relationships forged with the covenmates of the squadron; all have to be given up, and a vampire who leaves is considered sireless, with all the baggage that holds in vampiric society. Kel didn’t talk much about this option; there was no anger in her tone, when she offhandedly mentioned the existence of a handful who had chosen this, but no respect, either.

The final is only for those who have, after five years, decided they can’t continue on as undead. Those who can’t bear the burden of vampirism are given the option of a single bout of combat with Kel herself; it’s nothing but an opportunity to die with dignity in battle.

Lamb has been thinking about the squadron’s graduation more than she thinks of anything else. “Of course I’m joining,” she says, immediately. “That’s the entire point of me being here.”

“Mmm.” Strip leans back, supporting her weight on her arms. “Kinda thought you’d say that, yeah. Sirloin obviously is, too. She thinks she’s got the witch-blade locked in.” There’s a pause. Lamb wants to go sit by her, but she doesn’t know if she can. Maybe she’s waited too long, and it would be weird now. Or maybe it’s weird that she’s waiting any longer, and every moment she keeps standing awkwardly a foot behind Strip is making it worse. Or maybe—

“Rack told me she’s gonna leave,” Strip says, quietly.
>>
No. 952626 ID: 8a0dd9

Oh well, shit. An emotional conversation is happening, it seems. Stay calm, Lamb, you can do this.
Just let Strip talk. It is almost certain this is weighing on her for a while and she wants to talk it out.

I would say to just ask one question. Like: does Strip know why Rack wants to leave? How does she feel about that?

Good luck Lamb, you wanted sexy times, but it seems it is feelings times first.
>>
No. 952627 ID: e7139f

Go sit by Strip and put your hand on her hand or arm or shoulder or knee or something. Ask her how she feels about Rack leaving. Does Strip want to leave?
>>
No. 952634 ID: 7735f5

Wow! that’s quite the piece of info to drop. i’m wondering about the why too- and i’m also thinking she wouldn’t be bringing it up if it wasn’t influencing her own decision too. If there’s an opportunity, maybe ask if Strip is also thinking about leaving...
>>
No. 952643 ID: 49863e

please sit next to that woman.... maybe put an arm around her waist.... if you're feeling particularly bold, leaning your head on her shoulder.....

and yeah, is... is she thinking about leaving? that sounds like it could be important to ask....
>>
No. 952645 ID: 3e7944

>>952624
Sit next to her!! ask her what she plans to do. is rack's choice going to effect her decision? did rack say why she wants to leave? (if that's something that is for Strip to share)
>>
No. 952661 ID: 1ad423

Definitely sit next to her. Take a moment to admire how beautifully the starlight brings out her features. Maybe go for the gentle arm touch if you feel comfortable.

It makes sense, if you think about what Rack was saying earlier about all the stuff she wants to do with her eternal life; hard to get that all done if you have to serve in the army. Makes you wonder why she sought Kel out instead of just finding some rando who would turn her without putting her under that many obligations, though. But the real question is how does Strip feel about that? Is she especially close with Rack?
>>
No. 952662 ID: 3ed3c3

>>952624
Well, that sucks.
Strip is upset, so offer her some comfort. Sit next to her and listen to her.
Has Rack stated a reason why?
>>
No. 952664 ID: f8ba45

SIT NEXT TO HER!!
"What? Why??" thats
oh no D:
DD:
>>
No. 952758 ID: 32ef34

Sit next to her. It's not too late. It's a sad moment, you both could use it. Ask if Rack talked about it, but remember that a military isn't for everyone. And that what matters most is what she wants, even though she definitely cares about you all. "Making the choices you want" and all.

Still sucks, though.
>>
No. 952835 ID: f46390

what about leaving too and staying with Rack
>>
No. 952840 ID: 094652

"Well, it makes sense. Rack made it clear she chose to turn so she could be the everywoman; every profession, high and low. She can't be any of those if she swears to an eternal oath of Gallowglass. You don't put 'do no harm' and 'tenderize it' in the same sentence.

I just hope she didn't add 'serial killer' to her list. I don't want us to be the ones to hunt her down, but we're likely the most effective candidates for the job."
>>
No. 952856 ID: 3d09b5

seconding this sounding like a pretty natural choice for rack. she seems very buoyant and self-sufficient when it comes to her future plans and disposition. maybe it's hard to tell, but has she ever shown introspective moments to the contrary?

might be a nice time to think on those Behavioral Issues that got strip held back. i guess we don't know too much about the other squadrons, so we'd have to ask directly about the others in the 65th and whether strip's decision (if she had one) has changed since? has she ever seemed antsy about getting on with things, or has graduation not really been a topic of regular conversation for the 70th?

and yes, it's not too late to sit! we should do that.
>>
No. 954708 ID: f46390

okay i guess since Rack is leaving and that Lamb already has a witchblade, Strip saying "She thinks she’s got the witch-blade locked in" about Sirloin, it means it's not sure so Strip probably intends to stay too ?
>>
No. 959049 ID: 887abe
File 158435473295.png - (119.03KB , 800x525 , 546.png )
959049

Lamb finally steels herself and approaches, cautiously lowering herself into the spot next to Strip. When she lays her hand on Strip’s arm, Strip doesn’t move away.

“It makes sense,” Lamb says tentatively. “Rack’s always talking about how she wants to go do so many different things…” Strip nods a little, and Lamb pauses before pushing further. “Does it bother you?”

“I mean… I feel like I don’t have the right to be bothered by it, you know?” Strip has started to lean towards Lamb a little, and after a second of confusion Lamb realizes what she’s doing and lets her rest against her side. “It’s totally her decision. It’s not my business. But for me it’s just like — I don’t know — what, you go ‘Hey, General, thanks for all the immortality and power and also for the years of training and protection, now that I’m about ten times tougher than the average vamp all that means shit to me and I’m gonna bail and never talk to you or any of my covenmates ever again! Later!’”

She exhales, seeming to reorganize her thoughts — then scrubs a hand over her face, shrugging. “I mean — whatever, it’s… like, it’s not like I’d rather be like a Cradle coven where you’re fucking trapped, where you’re not allowed to leave. Obviously it’s a good thing that you can go if you want to. It just threw me, how she said it all casual, like it’s not even an important decision for her.” She glances up at Lamb, then sighs again, ruffling her hands back and forth through her own hair. “Sorry. This is weird, too, especially since — like — this is supposed to just be us having fun, or whatever, I just — no offense, but it kind of seemed like nobody else was going to tell you? And I wasn’t going to whip it out in front of the others, but we’re pretty much never alone…”
>>
No. 959050 ID: 8bc199

>>959049
Reassure her that she was right to tell you this now. It's hard for us to read people sometimes and being kept up to date helps.

Look up at the stars and ask her if SHE wants to leave. Think about if you are going to leave.
>>
No. 959062 ID: aedfd9

“Sometimes people say things casually when it actually means a lot to them.”

Strip is being so nice - she thought about us with the helmet thing, and she’s clearly been worrying about this for a while; not only that it’s happening, but that no one had told us. We should somehow reassure her that it’s a practice date so we can talk about whatever she wants
>>
No. 959072 ID: 1ad423

WELCOME BACK! I MISSED THIS

Reassure her that she has the right to be bothered; the whole gallowglass thing was clearly really important to her, and from her perspective it seems kind of like she feels like Rack is just dismissing it out of hand.
>>
No. 959073 ID: 3e7944

>>959049
Yay new update!!!

Thank her for telling us, esp if no one else would have. She has every right to feel upset about it. Also the ride out here was fun!
>>
No. 959074 ID: 18c361

UPDATE TIMMMMME I don’t know how comfortable we are talking about this kind of internal stuff. We train with Rack and Strip but obviously everyone else is closer with each other than us. I don’t think we’re in any position to offer some kind of insight.
>>
No. 959075 ID: 18c361

Actually a follow up to above- I think it’s specifically that Lamb doesn’t know what the “right” answer is here?
>>
No. 959076 ID: 61f06a

tell her she's allowed to have feelings about rack leaving since her and rack are close. we're glad that she told us, not only because we appreciate being kept in the loop but because we want to be there for our teammates not just in battle, even if we can't offer like, advice on the matter. also, tell her this is still the best (only) date we've been on lol
>>
No. 959077 ID: 99a391

>>959072
This!! Definitely tell Strip that she's allowed to feel bothered or even upset that Rack seems so flippant about leaving! They've been training for a while, of course Strip would be upset.
>>
No. 959084 ID: bb78f2

>>959049
Nah, I get it. It's shit to talk about, we gotta talk about it.

I wonder what Kel actually thinks about it. It's too bad as our clan head we can never really get to know her other more casual personas. She'll always front the leader role to us, and can't drop it too much.

Maybe that's one reason why she lets people go. One extra person she doesn't have to front that role for anymore.

I'll tell you what though, Rack may cut all ties with us, but I'm curious what she WILL do with the power she's gained with us. She'll get to be her own sword, whereas we'll be Kel's. Slay a whole den by her lonesome, gather up a clan to rival Kel's, establish a den on THE MOON?
>>
No. 959085 ID: dfbef7

I think it's pretty likely that Rack *does* care, a lot, but by treating it like its not a big decision it makes it easier for her to actually make it, and it makes it easier for her covenmates to let her go if they think she's leaving without attachments or regrets. Regardless of how highly you prioritize independence, cutting ties with people you've known intimately and spent almost all your time around for five years can't *not* sting.
>>
No. 959092 ID: 92fc1d

>>959049
Obviously thank her for telling you. For being someone who would tell you.

Ask if maybe what Rack wants is for someone to be upset. To have cared enough to be hurt. You don't know her well enough to know what she's thinking but... Anyone can yearn for connection, even as you break it. Rack might appreciate that confrontation. Or maybe she is that flippant. Either way, if Strip cares, you can't blame her.

Hold her tighter without thinking about why.
>>
No. 959093 ID: 49863e

"It makes sense to have feelings about someone you're close to leaving...

and, I like talking to you like this. Being with you like this. Maybe... we could hang out alone more often."
>>
No. 959130 ID: 887abe
File 158445790133.png - (172.58KB , 800x525 , 547.png )
959130

“No, I’m glad you told me,” Lamb says, immediately.

It stings, honestly. To hear that everyone knows things before her. That they talk about things like this without her. And then she feels stupid for being bothered by that, when she told herself there was no point in getting along with other vampires, and when she never tries to be included anyway — and then, after the sting and the embarrassment, there’s relief. That Strip was thinking of her.

“Thank you. For telling me.” She curls her fingers a little more tightly around the fabric of Strip’s sleeve, where it’s slipping off her rounded shoulders. Arco, she thinks, recalling what Strip’s friend called her before. But she doesn’t say it. She steers the conversation back, instead, somewhere she has a lifeline to work off of. “Maybe it means more to Rack than she’s saying,” Lamb suggests tentatively. “Maybe she kind of wants someone to tell her not to go, or something…”

“Nah, that’s not like her.” Strip has deflated, somewhat. She’s heavy against Lamb’s shoulder, her neck craned back to look up at the stars. “When she wants attention she just asks for it. When I say it threw me, like — that doesn’t mean it’s actually surprising, you know? This is par for the course. Everything’s a big fucking joke to her.”

That seems to be sliding into territory Lamb isn’t sure she’s supposed to be privy to. She flounders, briefly, and tries shoving the conversation into safer waters yet again. “Well — well, anyway. I think you do have a right to be upset. Even if you can’t do anything about it.”
>>
No. 959131 ID: 887abe
File 158445792271.png - (129.49KB , 800x525 , 548.png )
959131

“Hm.” Strip tilts her head to the side, looking at Lamb out of the corner of her eye. “Thanks.”

There’s a few beats of quiet that feel more comfortable than most — like they aren’t there just because Lamb said something wrong, or because she failed to say something right, which is how most silences feel. Strip sighs, then. “I don’t know. Sorry. This sucks. I get all weird about it because like — I don’t know, I’m not stupid. I know I overreact. I know I’m, like — hard to deal with. Because I’m fucking pissed off all the time, and I blow everything out of proportion, and then any time I’m mad about anything it’s like — ‘oh, whatever, Strip’s just pissed off again and can’t shut the fuck up about it, what else is new.’” Her head rolls back again. “Can’t even switch it off for a fucking date.”

Lamb looks back down at their legs, folded over the red dirt. The starlight casts shadows under them that look fake, too crisp and dark. Her hand tightens again, until she’s holding Strip’s arm tight to her chest. “It’s the best date I’ve ever had, though.”

Strip laughs at that, loud enough to startle her. “What kind of shitty fucking dates have you been on, man?” she wheezes.

“Um, none,” Lamb realizes.

“That explains it.” Lamb can feel Strip’s chuckling shaking her against her side. “You said you’d been with somebody, though.”

Lamb is suddenly terrified she’s misunderstood the parameters of a “date.” “Um. Yes — well, I mean — we were alone, and — so I’ve been alone with a girl before,” she says, feeling a little helpless, “for — some minutes. I don’t know. I’ve been alone with a girl.”

“Okay, ladykiller,” Strip snorts. She tilts her head back again, and she’s smiling, and Lamb’s defunct heart does something stupid and strenuous and uncomfortable. “Well, I’m not exactly a girl, so we can call this a totally new experience.”

Right. Lamb knew that, about Strip — there had been a discussion, when they all first met, about… pronouns, gender, stuff Lamb had never thought about. Rack goes by “they” sometimes, and sometimes Rack and Sirloin call Strip “he” — but Mignon doesn’t, and Strip doesn’t correct people who use “she,” and it always seemed kind of… intimate, somehow, like something Lamb couldn’t join in on in case she might do it wrong. She did ask once, very clumsily, if it meant Strip felt like a boy, and was met with an extremely firm “no,” and since then hadn’t paid much attention, except for sometimes feeling a little out of the loop. But what else is new.

“This is still gay of you, though,” Strip reminds her, jolting her out of her line of thought, and she nods vigorously out of sheer startled instinct.

“I like it,” Lamb blurts out.

Strip raises an eyebrow. “What. Being gay?”

“N— well — I mean being with you. Talking. Being alone.” This is going like shit. Lamb has absolutely no idea how to structure any of her sentences for this, or what order to put them in. “Being alone with you and talking.”

“You’re blessing me with pretty low standards here, Lamb.” Strip’s relaxed enough that her (his? his? Is she overthinking this? Maybe she can say “his?” Should she not even say it at all if she doesn’t get it?) head is now just resting on Lamb’s shoulder, and their faces are very close. “There’s normally more to a date than sitting in the dirt talking. Or usually the conversation is, like, more date-y than this. But I’m glad I’m pulling it off.”
>>
No. 959133 ID: 887abe
File 158445805150.png - (118.62KB , 800x525 , 549.png )
959133

Is that a prompt? Is that a fucking prompt? WHAT’S HAPPENING
>>
No. 959134 ID: b8d6cf

yup, that's a prompt right there.

you don't have to say much if you don't know what to say, but you should give some sign that you're ok with the conversation heading in that direction.

can you like put your arm around her waist? you're already pretty much cuddling so that should be alright. and ask her what a "date-y" conversation is like, make it slightly teasing if you can.
>>
No. 959136 ID: b8d6cf

also is it just me or is strip's top experiencing difficulties
>>
No. 959137 ID: 3e7944

>>959133
Ahhh yay! Gay gender stuff, im so excited for lamb's arc!

Don't move away, and ask "what kind of stuff?" We've never done this before, so we'll need Strip to tell us!
>>
No. 959141 ID: 1ad423

Lamb, you're obviously really uncomfortable right now; I think it'd be ok to slow down for a minute and let her know you're having trouble and don't really know what's expected of you. This is a practice date for your benefit, it's ok to ask for help - besides which any relationship, whether it's friendly or romantic, should have that kind of communication.
>>
No. 959144 ID: ded7a1

maybe ask what a more date-y conversation would be about?
>>
No. 959146 ID: 7e5d3d

Lamb, don't you just want to lean down, let your eyes flutter closed, and kiss that excellent smirk on his face?
>>
No. 959148 ID: d56096

ask what kind of conversation usually on dates in a flirty/teasing voice
>>
No. 959163 ID: bb78f2

Tease her "... do you want to ask me something? I'm the direct kind of person, so like, if it don't kill any good mood we got going, could you ask me please?"
>>
No. 959164 ID: bcdaad

Kiss her
>>
No. 959166 ID: c92614

we did want to practice date-y stuff. so- everybody loves compliments, right? tell him a compliment! something sincere but in a safe territory. like, his hair looks cool.
>>
No. 959189 ID: 7894e1

>>959133
LAMB YOU GAY DISASTER KISS THEM
>>
No. 959192 ID: 92fc1d

It's a prompt, but communication is really great, too. Gingerly put your arm around him, look him in the eyes, and say that whether or not this is the best date, the worst date, a practice or if it's real, you don't know how this works. Except, it feels like it kinda is working? You might be okay with that if what's happening is okay for Strip. Just talking and slowly getting closer.

It might not be datey and it's probably pretty obvious but you should say that you appreciate Strip's anger. You know it's never meant for you, and when it involves you it's in your defense, and that's a really nice feeling. It's passionate, he clearly cares about things and you respect that.
>>
No. 959271 ID: 887abe
File 158463397772.png - (154.61KB , 800x525 , 550.png )
959271

Okay. Okay. This is not the scariest or most difficult thing Lamb has ever done, not by a long shot. She tilts her body to slip her arm around Strip’s waist, and Strip shifts to accommodate it. “What would a more date-y conversation be?” Lamb asks. In her head it was going to be at least a little flirty, but instead it just comes off kind of intense. “I’m actually asking,” she adds, as if the sheer intensity wasn’t clarification enough. “Because, um.”

Strip’s listening attentively, and Lamb adjusts how she’s sitting a little. Having her arm around Strip isn’t uncomfortable — just the opposite — but it’s new, and she’s very very aware of the weight and the pressure. “Because maybe this is the best date ever, or maybe you’re right and I just think that because I haven’t been on any, or maybe it’s just supposed to be like this because it’s practice, or…” She half-shrugs, with the shoulder that isn’t being pressed down by Strip’s body. “Maybe it turned real, at some point. Or it will. But whatever it is, I still don’t know what to do — or if you’re expecting something — so if you could just. Tell me. That would be better.”
>>
No. 959272 ID: 887abe
File 158463400205.png - (100.13KB , 800x525 , 551.png )
959272

“Uhuh,” Strip says, thoughtfully. That’s not an answer, so Lamb waits. “Yeah, uh, I think ‘expecting’ stuff on a date is kind of a bad move,” he continues. “But you can hope for stuff. That’s cool, as long as you’re not a bitch about it. So no, I wouldn’t say I’m ‘expecting’ anything in particular.”

“But you’re… hoping,” Lamb probes.

“Sure.”

“That’s not very helpful,” Lamb informs him.

Strip’s laughing again. Strip’s been laughing kind of a lot, at least by Strip standards, and it’s so different than the laughter Lamb is used to hearing from her — which is normally extremely hostile and sometimes even angry and generally doesn’t last this long. “Okay, sorry. Well, not to like, pull a super corny line on you, but what I’m hoping for the most is just for you to have a good time. So, you know. Whatever you want. If there’s something you want, you can go for it.”

“You’re shifting responsibility,” Lamb accuses.

“It’s supposed to be a team effort,” Strip fires back.
>>
No. 959273 ID: 887abe
File 158463403514.png - (138.72KB , 800x525 , 552.png )
959273

She sits up, then, and leans forward a little. “See, like, most of the talking on dates is like — I don’t know, it’s kind of like small talk. But we’ve known each other for five years now, so that seems kind of stupid.”

Lamb nods. It does seem stupid.

“Sometimes you talk about why you’re on the date. Like, what you like about the other person.”

“I like your hair,” Lamb offers, since her mind had conveniently just wandered there.

“Thanks,” Strip says, cheerfully. “I do it myself.”

“I know that already.”

“Well, see, that’s where the five years thing gets in the way.” Strip lays her legs over Lamb’s lap, and Lamb likes that a lot. She works on not just staring down at their crossed thighs as Strip continues. “But I bet you didn’t know that I like yours, too.”

Lamb glances up, briefly. “No, I didn’t know that.”

“Didn’t suit you, when you joined up. Like, just the ponytail, or whatever.” She reaches out and catches one of the hanging strands between her fingers, lifting it. “This is cool.”

“Oh.” Somehow, this is heating Lamb’s face just as quickly as the proximity is.

“It’s also cool how you’re keeping up with us, even though you’re stuck on Capri Sun,” Strip adds. Lamb grimaces a little. That’s Strip’s pet name for blood donation bags. “It’s cool how when somebody gets you started on witch-blades you just, like, lose your shit, you know, like you can talk about them for an hour straight.”

Lamb wishes she had something to focus on but there’s nothing to count out here. Just grains of sand and dirt and their four legs, arranged into a cross on the ground. She tilts her head back, looking up at the sky, but the stars aren’t any easier to count than the sand is. “Are you making this up?” she asks.

“Nope.”

“People are annoyed by that,” Lamb counters flatly. “When I talk that much about witch-blades.”

Strip scoots forward, the backs of her thighs pressing into Lamb’s hip. “What ‘people,’ dude? Who else do you talk to? ‘Cause I’m not. Sirloin and Rack aren’t. I know for a fact the General’s proud of you for it, and Mignon thinks it’s impressive, too.”

Lamb shrugs, again, loosely. She keeps her eyes up.

“I’m being dead serious right now,” Strip insists. He slings one arm around Lamb’s shoulders. “Like, talk about it. Tell me something about witch-blades.”

“I don’t know,” Lamb mumbles. “I’ve probably said it all already.”

“I have a shit memory.” Lamb can tell Strip’s looking at her, though she won’t turn her head to meet his gaze. “Listen, okay, tell me about forging. Like, we’ve learned stuff about the blades themselves, but not a lot about witches. How long’s it take to learn how to make one?”

“...It depends.” Her eyes drift back down — not to Strip, but to her own free hand, now laid lightly over Strip’s knees. “Everything depends, when it comes to witchcraft. Some could get it after a few months of trying — I mean, not that it would be good, but that they’d manage to forge an object out of an intention. Some witches might try their whole lives and never be able to do it with anything, let alone a blade. But I think, normally, it would be a case of… maybe a year to be able to forge at all… and then maybe ten, fifteen years of study to stabilize it and make them well enough to start selling them? And this is only if a witch who has already mastered it is instructing. But…”
>>
No. 959274 ID: 887abe
File 158463405812.png - (133.30KB , 800x525 , 553.png )
959274

And then next thing she knows it’s been nearly a fucking hour, like always. Lamb really was just trying to answer the one question, but everything she brought up needed more topics explained to make sense, and then there was wider context outside of that, and exceptions, and things that aren’t entirely certain and need to be discussed conditionally, and —

But Strip doesn’t look bored. At some point while she was talking they’d both laid down, with Lamb gesturing up at the sky while she talked with her free hand, not feeling pressured to hold eye contact or find something on Strip’s face to stare at without feeling weird, and now he has his head propped up on his folded arm. Lamb realizes her other arm is asleep underneath him, and worms it out, unsure of what to say now that she’s caught herself rambling. Lamb swallows, softly.

“Okay, so, see? That was pretty good,” Strip says, finally, when she’s sure Lamb is finished. “I mean, maybe in a real scenario you’d want to give your date a little more time to ask questions, but I get it. You don’t technically need to breathe, so I guess you just forgot to.”

Lamb doesn’t know what to say to that — and maybe her face is doing something, or she’s started contracting all her limbs or something, because Strip grabs her shoulder and keeps talking. “Hey. Hey. I’m not making fun of you. I mean, it’s a joke, but it’s not at you. I’m having fun.”

“Okay,” Lamb says, and she realizes she actually believes it. She lays there for a moment, looking at Strip, relaxed and presumably with dirt in her hair. “Okay. Thank you. For listening.”

“It would actually be a shitty date if I wasn’t listening when you talk,” Strip points out.

“I know, but…” Lamb realizes she doesn’t know how she intended to finish that sentence, so she just lets it drop. “Is… is there anything you want to talk about…”

“Not really.” Strip turns entirely onto her side, facing Lamb. “Like I said, the way you get all fired up about that stuff is one of the things I like about you, so after listening to you talking I really just kind of want to kiss you for a bit.”

AH.
>>
No. 959275 ID: 887abe
File 158463407625.png - (148.32KB , 800x525 , 554.png )
959275

Lamb thinks her mouth is probably hanging open a bit and is not sure what to do about that.

“Is that cool?” Strip asks.

AH, thinks Lamb. She’s now concerned that she’s making it look like it’s not cool, so she grabs Strip’s arm, trying to buy herself some time. It’s a yes or no question and yet she’s stumbling over the single step of answering it.

“Yes,” she manages, after what was hopefully a brief pause. “Yes, I want to. I was thinking about it before, and I almost did, but then I was distracted because we started talking, and—”

“Dude, it’s fine. There’s no time limit. Just c’mere.”

She scoots closer, and it turns out there’s absolutely nothing difficult or complicated about fitting her face with Strip’s, especially with her fingertips guiding her jaw. Their lips meet, and Lamb doesn’t know if she finally stops thinking so hard or if her thoughts quicken to the point where they’re a blur but the point is that now it’s all just white noise and there is nothing confusing about this anymore.
>>
No. 959276 ID: 887abe
File 158463409272.png - (146.46KB , 800x525 , 555.png )
959276

This fucking RULES.
>>
No. 959277 ID: 1ad423

Oh my god she loves when you infodump. Marry her immediately.
>>
No. 959278 ID: 18c361

LETS FUCKIN GET IT
>>
No. 959280 ID: b8d6cf

on one hand, YEAH GO LAMB, but on the other hmmm the idea of sand getting everywhere isn't really pleasant. i'd say go for it tho
>>
No. 959281 ID: e4e73b

FUCK IN THE DESERTS
>>
No. 959285 ID: ded7a1

tug on his hair a little bit.... :3
>>
No. 959286 ID: 49863e

oh, lamb, this is so good. I'm so proud of you for letting Strip know you wanted to kiss!

I recommend savoring this - like, this is the second kiss of your whole life! enjoy this, and sink into this, and just.... move together with Strip. You don't need to jump to any particular actions - this is feel good costim time~

....that said, weaving legs together, like the somewhat prophetic chapter cover, could lead to particularly nice sensations....
>>
No. 959288 ID: 40fd5f

put yr hand behind his neck, straddle her, deepen the kiss, and then just go with the flow 😘
>>
No. 959302 ID: d89c81

Oh my god I have been both Lamb and Strip in this situation before and I love them both so much

I'm gay

Probably not the best idea to get any more hot and heavy than this out in the desert, though? If you really are up for anything more than just kissing - and I'm sure Strip would be the first to tell you that you absolutely don't have to be - you could probably get back to the barracks unnoticed while the others are still out drinking.
>>
No. 959341 ID: 3e7944

>>959276
put our hand in his hair, so him that we are enjoying it!!
>>
No. 959342 ID: aedfd9

TOUCH
THAT
TIDDY
>>
No. 959343 ID: 0da76e

>>959342
honestly
>>
No. 959362 ID: 2b6200

PLAY WITH HAIR

TOUCH TIDDY
>>
No. 959408 ID: a43580

LETS GO LESBIANS

no need to go too hard too fast here; let yourself enjoy the moment and let strip know if/when things get too heavy
>>
No. 960022 ID: f46390

ask her what's her sign
>>
No. 960520 ID: 0cfbab

GO LAMB GO
GO LAMB GO

But also Hmm yeah, kissing that's some good shit
Uhh, I guess since we're doin' it maybe just enjoy it for a bit?
Put our hands through Strips hair, maybe some clothes gripping while we get some LONG experience with kissing~
Should we fuck in the desert??
Wait no, we should go somewhere where there's not dirt and scorpions lol
>>
No. 963398 ID: 26262d

maybe ask him if he prefers to be called Arcko or Strip ?
>>
No. 964199 ID: 00f486

FEEL HIM UP FEEL HER UP

that’ll get you one step closer to playing with those piercings
>>
No. 974485 ID: 887abe
File 159742046732.png - (180.65KB , 800x525 , 556.png )
974485

This is easy. This shit is easy, actually. Lamb rolls over, so that she’s on top of Strip, and Strip makes a surprised kind of chuckle against her lips, and then Lamb is tugging on his jacket to try to get him to sit up — and he’s not getting it, so they stop kissing just long enough to ask him to, and then she’s sitting in his lap with her hands in his hair and her ears ringing.

It starts feeling a little less easy when she realizes she really wants to grab Strip’s chest and the overthinking starts again. But then Strip’s hands are on her waist and slowly moving up, until Lamb’s tits are sitting cradled in the curve between Strip’s thumb and forefinger, and — well, okay. Strip probably wouldn’t be doing that if she wasn’t alright with it being reciprocated, right. So Lamb untangles one hand from Strip’s hair and touches her in the same way, just cupping her where the weight of her breast rests, and Strip laughs into her mouth again.

“Yeah, that’s cool,” she says, and Lamb feels a rush of relief. She’s not expecting Strip to be a mindreader, but it’s at least nice to know her uncertainty is … well, whatever it is. Cute, instead of weird. So she moves her hand up and squeezes, softly, and Strip is smiling into the kiss, and when Lamb looks down her tits are practically spilling out of that fucking tube top and her ears are ringing again.
>>
No. 974486 ID: 887abe
File 159742048659.png - (224.67KB , 800x525 , 557.png )
974486

“Hey,” says Strip, softly, and it brings Lamb at least a little closer to earth. She blinks, a little disoriented, and pulls away to listen. “Should we, like, get out of here?”

“What?” Lamb says, because her palm is still overflowing with tits.

“Like, should we go back,” Strip clarifies, laughing again. “Because it’s all like, sand and shit out here. And scorpions. Romantic to sit in, I guess, but — I didn’t really think it through, huh.”

“We’re vampires,” Lamb mumbles. “Scorpions aren’t dangerous.”

“If you feel like it wouldn’t kill the mood to get stung on the ass with dirt all the way up your crack, that’s on you. C’mon.” Strip is wiggling out from under her and Lamb groans but stands up, taking her hand. “Man, I didn’t think it through when I brought us all the way out here, either, huh. The ride back is gonna be a drag.”
>>
No. 974487 ID: 887abe
File 159742050118.png - (87.60KB , 800x525 , 558.png )
974487

They’re walking (okay, they’re jogging) back to the bike hand in hand and Strip slows down a little as they approach, and when he hands Lamb her helmet he lingers with his hand on it for a second, stopping her from putting it on just yet. “Hey, uh. Sorry, I probably should have brought this up before we like, got into it, you know, but—”

Lamb looks up, attentively, and lets him continue.

“I don’t really do the whole — like — one night stand thing,” Strip says. He’s looking elsewhere — at the chainlink fence, maybe, or at one of the cacti silhouetted against the purple sky. “I’m old-fashioned, whatever. I’m not saying… I’m not saying we’d have to be, like, together, or exclusive, or anything like that.” He exhales, a little, and Lamb feels like she can relate to the frustration she sees bubbling up. At words being an obstacle instead of a tool. “Like, I can compartmentalize, and I’m not gonna make it weird. I’m not saying anything has to be serious,” Strip finally continues. “I’m just saying I don’t do the thing where you sleep with somebody and then the next day you pretend it didn’t happen. You know?” He kicks at the sand a little, then releases the helmet. “So if that’s gonna be an issue, I guess I gotta know now.”
>>
No. 974488 ID: 7f65ac

“I’m definitely not pretending this isn’t happen. I like you a lot. I don’t want you to feel weird about it. But I do want to keep doing this.”

Then kiss him some more
>>
No. 974490 ID: d9056b

Hell no it's not an issue. In fact, right now being together is absolutely on the table. Maybe not exclusive, that's something to think about and work through later. Either way, you wouldn't repay the kindness you've been shown like that.

Ask if maybe he's also thinking about being together? Or if he's just saying that it's more about not wanting to act like nothing happened. Trust her enough to not get worried about being "weird", but it's important to be on the same page, like he's doing.
>>
No. 974491 ID: d9056b

>>974490
Oh, and the drive won't be a drag. A tease, sure, but I can't imagine being unhappy holding Strip for miles and miles.
>>
No. 974492 ID: 3e7944

i don't think we'll pretend like it didn't happen, we'll have to have a conversation about what might happen going forward though, "being together" and that kind of thing
((I'm still dreaming of polyam route with the whole squad :3 ))
>>
No. 974494 ID: 094652

"I'm not going to mindlessly gush and exclaim you're my soulmate or some other trashy novel crap, but if you want me to test your high-rendered jiggle physics every month I'm up for it."
>>
No. 974495 ID: e234da

"We both know I'm new to this but I do...like you. I wasn't sure if I could just forget either and I don't think I want to"
>>
No. 974498 ID: 9c974e

Yeah, definitely a talk about what that means (I too am hoping for the whole-squad polycule route) but ZERO PROBLEMS WITH GIRLFRIEND STRIP. Or friends with benefits strip or whatever she wants it to be and you’re both comfortable with. I feel like this might help Lamb feel a little left out of things too :D
>>
No. 974500 ID: c35169

yeah reassure him that the scenario where you pretend it didn't happen is not what you want and maybe ask what he'd like to do next but probably later when you both are less flustered
>>
No. 974501 ID: a6e10f

Honestly its probably fine to see other people as long as you both like, vet it with eachother first? before letting more people in 🎴
>>
No. 974503 ID: b1b4f3

>>974487
ur cool and we should do this again
>>
No. 974504 ID: bb78f2

>>974487
This is Lamb's first attempt at this kind of intimacy, Strip, at least in this active a role. I don't think you have to worry about it.

You MIGHT have to worry about Lamb being a little cold as they processes what happens tonight, but that has nothing to do with one night standness, that's their figuring their feelings out.

Though I bet your ass Lamb may want to try their hand at teasing and flirting from now on, should the confidence be gained! Careful what you bargain for, Strip!
>>
No. 974509 ID: 268a7b

“we’re friends, right? i don’t think i could pretend it didn’t happen, and i wouldn’t want to.”
>>
No. 974510 ID: 0cfbab

>>974500

Seconded on the we'll remember + we can talk about it after we, uh, "relieve the tension"

Plus, the ride doesn't have to be "boring" >v>)
We can have a tight grip on something else~
>>
No. 974517 ID: 1e744b

autistic translation: hook-ups are not his thing, the "just friends" relationship you had before will have to change if you're going to hook up tonight. seems like his main ask is that you both talk to each other openly about the experience, and keep tabs on how each of you feels about each other.

this is a good thing, i think, especially because you're kind of new to this. establishing a sexual relationship is a big deal for both of you. maybe you guys should talk about it when you get... somewhere, before you potentially hook up.
>>
No. 974530 ID: 49863e

T I T S . Tits meter *VERY* full.

also, for the response: "that's not an issue. not at all. I... don't really know what a relationship is like, really, let alone a serious one... but I know I don't want this to just be a one time thing. and I don't want things to be weird between us, either. I just... want to kiss and touch you now, and I want to do this again, too."

I just want them to establish further norms between them of open communication, and I want Lamb to get chances to at least try kissing the rest of the squad, eventually. after seeing and playing with Strip's nipple piercings, and kissing a bunch more and grinding on each others thighs, at very least.

....also, Strip, you're going to tell me that a ride back isn't going to be fun, a rumbling bike between your legs, and Lamb holding onto you? Lamb has been so repressed and touch starved for so long, I imagine she might get close to coming with that mix of stimulus.
>>
No. 974533 ID: a7d32e

def seconding talking about feelings and what you want (maybe get hornybrain to calm down first tho). what does lamb want? is lamb interested in having an ongoing casual/exclusive thing?
>>
No. 974656 ID: 5b93d3

>>974487
Hug the damn vampire.
>>
No. 974732 ID: 8a0dd9

Yeah, agreed on the reassuring Strip you will not pretend it didn't happen and maybe also ask Strip to clarify what she wants. Like, is it more like a relatioship or friends with benefits?
>>
No. 974921 ID: 1192d3

im sure "pretend it didnt happen" is definitely not what lamb wants to do, but does she know what she wants beyond that? i think at this point she needs as much info on what strip's thinking as possible & then time to think it over herself... probably not the time to make any Decisions, just figure out what the options they're both good with are
>>
No. 975234 ID: 887abe
File 159861939627.png - (142.89KB , 800x525 , 559.png )
975234

“Of course that’s not what I want,” Lamb says, right away — and realizes she doesn’t have to overthink it at all. The two of them are getting on the bike, Strip is handing her the helmet, and Lamb keeps going, thinking out loud. “But… what do you think you want?”

“Ah, man,” Strip grumbles — as if being asked that is a drag, or at least a hardship. It seems to make it easier on her that she’s facing forward now, seated on the bike, and she revs it a little and pulls out onto the highway before continuing. “I’m not really — I mean, I’m not good for anything really serious right now anyway,” she admits, her voice clear and low through the snarl of the engine. “And I think getting too intense about it right now would be, like… a bad idea, since the squad still hasn’t graduated, and we’re all, like, still competing for the witch-blade… it just gets weird, you know? Especially — I mean — I think things might get nasty between me and Sirloin, when it’s down to the wire. It’s already been tense. We’ll get over it, when it’s all said and done, but—”

“What about Rack?”

“Rack’s not going for the witch-blade,” Strip mutters. “Or at least she better not. Not when she’s not even staying.”

This is getting off topic, urged along by Strip’s habit of taking a single thing that irritates him and shaking it to death like a dog with a rabbit. Lamb has a nightmarish flash of spending all evening discussing interpersonal grievances instead of continuing what was happening out in the desert and moves to divert it, doing the first thing that comes to mind: tightening her arms around Strip’s waist, sliding her hands up his torso. This is flirting, right? Sure. “And afterwards…?”
>>
No. 975235 ID: 887abe
File 159861942081.png - (174.62KB , 800x525 , 560.png )
975235

“Uh,” says Strip. Lamb scoots her hands up a little more, experimentally, and Strip rasps a laugh. “Well—”

“When things aren’t weird anymore,” Lamb prompts. This is kind of fun, actually. “Or nasty. And you aren’t making yourself mad about it every five minutes.”

“Fuck you,” Strip chuckles, shaking her head slightly.

“I thought that was maybe the plan now.”

Fuck you, man,” Strip says again, with emphasis — and then she sighs, focusing through a tight turn off an exit ramp. “I mean, I’ve been thinking about trying dating again.”

“Dating,” Lamb repeats. She’s hoping for an expansion on that, which Strip provides.

“Like… we already know we’re good friends,” Strip says, which is honestly kind of news to Lamb. “But just… you know. Seeing if we work as more than that. Trying it. No pressure, but like, giving it a serious try.”

“Hmm,” says Lamb, because that’s all she has to say. This is a lot of stuff she’d never given much thought to being dropped onto the table at once, and all she’s really thinking about right now is the weight of Strips tits resting on her hands, and it at least seems like Strip isn’t really expecting her to think about more than that.

After graduation,” Strip stresses. Lamb nods against his back. “I already flunked out once,” he grumbles. “I’m not doing five more years of this shit. I’m focusing on training til it’s done.”
>>
No. 975236 ID: 9c974e

That sounds nice, honestly! From the sound of it you get a supportive friend you can do fun sex stuff with until graduation, and maybe a girlfriend afterwards depending on how things go? Sounds really nice.

Ask her if she would want to be exclusive once the dating proper starts, though, I don't want to get locked out of the full-squad polycule route yet skflhsd
>>
No. 975238 ID: ebe16a

That's probably all the words this topic calls for right now. I'd say change the subject but there's not much else we can bring up that wouldn't be kinda awkward. Maybe ask how he learned to drive a motorcycle?
>>
No. 975240 ID: 3e7944

>>975236
yeah i agree with this! i think it's fine to drop this topic once we make sure its clear we might also try to kiss some (or all :3) of the rest of the squad
>>
No. 975243 ID: d9056b

Hm. Trying, that doesn't sound so bad. You can do trying. It's certainly something you need to start thinking about, how you'd feel trying to love him, or to be with her seriously. You've got time.

Speaking of time, and shift those hands downwards to sell this, why don't you two agree to work together on this. On graduating. He's failed before and you... Well that fight against Pascal wasn't reassuring. Training together, when you're supposed to be taking days off or something. He can trust to help, regardless, you aren't competing for the blade.
>>
No. 975244 ID: a8067a

we should ask if it’s gonna be okay if we go on more dates with other people
>>
No. 975254 ID: 93f9bf

idk if we need to ask explicitly if she's ok with poly once the dating starts properly- that's a long time away and we can't make assumptions.
"I’m not saying… I’m not saying we’d have to be, like, together, or exclusive, or anything like that.” He exhales, a little, and Lamb feels like she can relate to the frustration she sees bubbling up. At words being an obstacle instead of a tool. “Like, I can compartmentalize, and I’m not gonna make it weird. I’m not saying anything has to be serious,” was not too long ago?
i think strip's being honest w/ us but maybe ask if he just Can compartmentalize and it might still get 2 him, or if he's genuinely ok with it. nd if he's gonna be maybe w/ others too!
as much as i support sexy motorcycle ride now tht we're off the rack thing, maybe just squeeze his hips rather than going further down- this is still a important convo
>>
No. 975288 ID: 1192d3

i think thats all that Needed to be cleared up so now we can focus on whats available rn before graduation :horny emoji string:
>>
No. 975357 ID: d56096

yeah i think we're done with the Important Relationship Talk here?? and now you can get on with fun gay activities, like hugging strip and thinking about how nice her hair smells,
>>
No. 975358 ID: 094652

Is this a high school or a Black Ops training camp?

Either way, you've got plowing to do.
>>
No. 975362 ID: 593145

Strip what is you affinity ?
>>
No. 975419 ID: 49863e

Lamb I am so proud of you for flirting, and successfully redirecting the convo from Strip locking on to a grievance outside of this situation. You're doing so well!

I think it'd be good to at least mention that you'd probably like to experiment more with other squadmates, but I agree it's not necessary to like... nail down specifics.

......now gaydreaming about ways Lamb could help Strip and Sirloin get along through the conflict about the witchblade. by which I mean threesome.

but before that.... spending some time having a twosome with Strip would be optimal. Do y'all have private rooms/beds to go to, or does the squad all bunk together? Either way.... find a space where you can be alone, and comfortable, and... just really have fun. Fill that tits meter right up again :D

>>975243 oh, and I like this idea of training together! sounds practical, as well as like good bonding time.
>>
No. 975620 ID: 887abe
File 159922399245.png - (157.97KB , 800x525 , 561.png )
975620

Lamb nods again, then realizes the other can’t see the gesture and murmurs her agreement aloud instead. Strip’s already mentioned previously that she doesn’t expect exclusivity, so there doesn’t seem to be much more to say. There’s plenty more left to do, though, and Lamb explores in the opposite direction, letting her hands travel down over Strip’s abs and to her hips. “I could help,” she offers, quietly. “We could help each other. We could train extra together.”

Strip snorts, but it’s more playful than derisive. “You wouldn’t be so far behind if you’d just get over your thing about feeding.”

Lamb’s brow knits. “I’m not going to get over it.”

“Okay, okay, suit yourself,” Strip says, immediately — steering the conversation back to safer waters just like Lamb had done before. “But in that case, sure. Looks like we both need it.” Lamb squeezes, her smile hidden by the helmet, and in Strip’s voice Lamb can hear him smiling along with her. “I wouldn’t mind the extra time together, anyway.
>>
No. 975621 ID: 887abe
File 159922400869.png - (159.92KB , 800x525 , 562.png )
975621

The rest of the trip back to the Silver Crown feels too short, the immense hotel coming into view just as Lamb was starting to enjoy seeing what she could get away with (some touching made Strip laugh, some got a cheerful but firm “Hey, I’m driving,” all of it was fun). The two of them are giggly and flushed by the time they pull into the parking lot, and Strip stops the bike off to the side rather than approaching the valet, grumbling something about returning it later. They enter the building hand-in-hand, and based on Strip’s expression Lamb is pretty sure he finds this just as fun as she does.

“Do you think it’s alright to go back to the room?” Lamb asks — whispering, even though there’s no reason to. The hotel may be full of vampires, but it’s also full of noise: jingling coins and festive beeps and rattling roulettes from the casino, music from all wings of every floor, and dozens of overlapping conversations that are impossible for even the most attuned hearing to effectively sort through. “Since we all bunk together…”

“Nah, it’s fine,” Strip says. “The others are gonna be out way past daylight anyway.” She stops in the lobby, though, well before they reach the elevators. “I mean, if you’re cool with it. If you’ve got another idea of where to go, I’m all ears.”
>>
No. 975622 ID: 0338c7

Las Vegas balcony sex 👀
>>
No. 975623 ID: 593145

Swimming pool :D
>>
No. 975632 ID: 3e7944

Gosh i forgot how much i love both their outfits lol they both look so good

I think bedroom is as good an idea as any!
>>
No. 975633 ID: 49863e

that blushing Strip in the last panel is squeezing my heart, like!! my goodness!!! and I love seeing the two of them so close like that.

I think privacy sounds like a good idea, and the room might be the best way to get that?
>>
No. 975637 ID: 9c974e

Yeah, back to the room; public sex maybe sounds like a bridge too far for Lamb right now lol

(also seconding how cute this is)
>>
No. 975643 ID: 8a0dd9

Yeah, I think this is already a lot for Lamb. So let's just take this time in a quiet and comfortable place like the room.
There is always time, and certainly so for a vampire, for more experimental places later.
>>
No. 975648 ID: aedfd9

The roooooooof, go upstairs and see if there’s any stars past all the light pollution! Have sex against a refrigerator unit or something!
>>
No. 975651 ID: 496e6f

... Anyone look like they're just getting started and aren't keeping a close eye on their keys? Maybe borrowing their room would be safer regarding walk-ins, AND be more exciting.
>>
No. 975660 ID: d56096

i was gonna say that its better if they have privacy and a proper bed and (presumably) lube + protection nearby for the first time but then i remembered that its not actually lamb's first time. still it's her first Proper Time and unless there's other places like that the bedroom's probably the best bet
>>
No. 975671 ID: 90efee

bedroom for sure
>>
No. 975672 ID: bb78f2

>>975620
Lamb, don't tell me you've never thought of eating a Nazi. Come on, you know you wanna.

Honestly, do it in the gym in your exercise clothes. Look at the OP image and tell me that isn't how this goes down with a straight face. Wrestling as foreplay. Come oooooon.
>>
No. 975763 ID: b6c94c

another vote for bedroom, put a sock on the doorknob or something
>>
No. 975870 ID: 162b48

eat nazis fuck cute girls
the LIFE
seriously though if you were put on this earth to protect humanity...why not protect humanity from vampires /and/ itself? be a hero to the downtrodden humans that cant stand up for themselves the way you can, now. vampires kill to eat, but there are humans that kill for pleasure. (song rec: im the woman who killed jack the ripper by the scary bitches)


anyway philosophy later banging now
go to the room! comfey
so u can feel the most comfortable
>>
No. 975871 ID: 496e6f

>>975870
I think this was brought up earlier but the reason characters are hesitant to do that is because it established a pattern and patterns get you caught.
>>
No. 976591 ID: 887abe
File 160042913543.png - (192.21KB , 800x525 , 563.png )
976591

A slideshow of different options flashes through Lamb’s mind, some more reasonable than others — but all of them end up being less reasonable than the room, and all of them are a little too intimidating. She squeeze’s Strip’s hand and a little sheepishly resigns herself to the reality of what she actually wants. “Just the room is probably best.”

“I was kind of joking,” Strip assures her. “C’mon. Plenty of opportunity to get crazy some other time.”

Some other time, Lamb thinks to herself, sort of dazed, as they get into the elevator. Some other time. Because this is going to be a thing now, a concept that still seems kind of abstract and unbelievable, something too good to be true —

The doors close and Strip’s hands are on Lamb’s waist right away, sliding up to her ribs, and Lamb is reeling with the heady feeling of being wanted as the other closes the space between them. “You’re so fucking cute,” Strip mumbles, against her lips, and Lamb has no idea what she’s doing that’s cute but it doesn’t really matter. Strip’s kissing her, up against the chilly metallic interior of the elevator car, and Lamb feels herself pressed up against the wall — and then breaks away to laugh when she feels her back pressing half the buttons there, all of them lighting up behind her.

“Oh, no,” Strip snorts. “Aw, fuck —”

“It’s going to keep stopping,” Lamb says, shrilly, holding Strip’s face in her hands as she tries to control her laughter.
>>
No. 976592 ID: 887abe
File 160042915982.png - (163.65KB , 800x525 , 564.png )
976592

“Come on, let’s just get out. Stairs’ll be faster.” Strip grabs her hand and pulls her out into the hallway when the elevator slows to its next stop, leaving behind the grid of little glowing buttons, and they hear the guy who enters after them groan behind the closing door when he turns around and sees the carnage. That makes Strip laugh even harder, and they’re both barely paying attention as they sprint up the stairs until they finally reach the floor the shared room is on.
>>
No. 976593 ID: 887abe
File 160042917914.png - (102.38KB , 800x525 , 565.png )
976593

Strip fiddles in her pockets for the key, and when she lets them in she darts in first to grab something — a DO NOT DISTURB door hanger, which she loops over the outer handle. “Just in case,” she tells Lamb. “Even Rack’s not enough of an asshole to ignore that.”

“Are you sure,” Lamb asks, quietly, which earns her a punch on the shoulder.

“Come on, give her some credit,” Strip says, as they close the door behind themselves — and she’s pulling off her jacket and throwing it on the chair by her bunk, which is making Lamb wonder if she should be doing that, too. “They were both cool about us going off on our own in the first place. They don’t want you to have a shitty time tonight.” She pauses, straightening up again as she looks over her shoulder at Lamb, and her tone is more serious now. “Me either, obviously. So just let me know what you wanna do.”
>>
No. 976594 ID: 8cf35a

Oh My God Is That Cesare
>>
No. 976596 ID: 6ae900

YUORE UP ALL NIGHT TO GET LUCKY
>>
No. 976597 ID: 6d6d92

probably a safe bet to continue your elevator activities in a more bed-aligned manner!
>>
No. 976601 ID: 27e026

"can we just.. keep doing what we were doing in the elevator and then more"
>>
No. 976602 ID: 337494

>>976597
seconded.
This is still lambs first time so she should take her time. Definitely play with those piercings though. As a treat.
>>
No. 976603 ID: 496e6f

You'll have to thank the others at some point. Talk with them more too.

Strip clearly knows what he's doing and you trust him. Back in the outskirts and right in the elevator are great starting points though. Just, feeling her and her feeling you and letting Strip lead the escalation. He'll stop if you need to and he'll redirect the attention if you want to. It'd be fun to start by making the first move though.
>>
No. 976609 ID: 3e7944

CESARE *eyes emojii*

Also as others said, piercing are a thing I'd like to see more of, I think we should keep just kissing and exploring and see what feels good. I trust strip to stop if we need to and also to do good things
>>
No. 976612 ID: 49863e

more kissing, more touching. more being pressed together, more legs interwoven, grinding on each others thighs. and bit by bit, more layers off? feeling the different sensory experiences of being touched and touching over and under clothing... playing with his breasts until they fall out of her shirt.... seeing her piercings up close, seeing what his reactions are to them being played with - pinched, and sucked even...

oh, and Lamb? perhaps try licking around the edge of Strip's ears... maybe even nibbling on the lobe and shell a bit... I bet that'd get quite the rise out of him, in a very fun way.

(also: CESARE?? *I Am Looking Respectfully.jpg*)
>>
No. 976616 ID: 8a0dd9

Yeah, take it slowly. Perhaps start with fondling the piercings and his ears, and go from there. You can always ask to stop if it gets too much.
>>
No. 976621 ID: 9c974e

I can’t believe this is cesare’s first canon appearance I’m losing my SHIT

Take it slow, lots of kissing; pick up where you left off, seems like you were both doing a good job figuring out what works for each other. (Maybe try out some of the spots that Strip vetoed before to focus on driving. See if those are really all that distracting.)
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No. 976709 ID: aedfd9

“I want to make you blush some more.”
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No. 976791 ID: d3c53c

is that a fucking vampire priest, what the fuck, how does he not combust
anyway
lets go w more kissing, more touching, a natural progression...or, actually wait

just blurt out "i wanna play with your piercings" it would be funny
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No. 976800 ID: 094652

"I wanna go spelunking."
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No. 976801 ID: 094652

>>976791
Same way Strip keeps her faith - with lots of second-degree burns and an unhealthy schedule of self-denial.
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No. 978202 ID: 25c9d0

>>976791
I just assumed it was a vampire pretending to be a priest. Turn that confession booth into a concession booth
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No. 979874 ID: 4fa1e6

titty pieficng....... wanna play with the titty piercings
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No. 982210 ID: 50697f

Definitely take it slowly, that we can we desecalte if we push a little past what Strip is comfortable with right now
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