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[The video comes up on a back corner of the library, where Sam's set up a little research table of his own. Not that there's much there. For all that they have a 'library', it's really not all that interesting. Definitely none of the things that he's used to being able to find.]

[Though it is at least a QUIET section of the library. Nobody much comes back there. Of course, if it was anybody other than Sam, they'd find that corner to be nearly devoid of wifi signal.]

[How does Sam have signal? Nobody knows.]

So. I know that there are a few of you here who aren't too keen on the whole idea of the supernatural and magic and things that don't make sense to the rational mind. And believe me, I get it. If I hadn't grown up with this sort of thing, I'd probably be right there with you.

I also get that we don't know for certain that what we're facing IS something that's supernatural. After all, there are other explanations for what she can do. Some of us have powers that we never had at home as an example.

However, if she is, there are a few things that you can carry that may help either ward her off or fight her off. None of them are heavy and we have access to at least a few things that would work.

[He reaches off screen and brings out a salt shaker from the cafeteria.] Salt. Table salt will work just fine. My brother and I buy a lot of Morton's back home.

Anyway, salt has been an ingredient in purifying rituals for millennia. It's often used to ward off evil spirits and cleanse an area of bad...juju, for lack of a better word. Back home, spirits can't cross a line of salt, so a quick and easy ward was just to pour lines of salt across any entrance to a room. Shooting rock salt into a spirit would disperse them, too.

There's stuff that works better when it comes to spirits, but I don't have access to the supplies I need for them. Salt is nearly as old school as blood, though, so it should do you in a pinch.

Second. [He reaches off to the side again and comes back with a firestarter.] This one is a lot more difficult to get hold of, so this may be something more to look for when we go on missions. Iron. Again, just about as old school as it comes. There are a lot of things that are weak to iron, including the Fae. If you have the ones from the right stories, at least. A good length of rebar that can be wielded like a sword or a bat is great. Again, good for dispersing a spirit, though it won't get rid of them entirely. It'll buy you time to get back up, though. So, again. Useful.

The third isn't really useful for ghosts or spirits, but if the salt doesn't work, then maybe this will. [Out comes a water bottle.] Holy water. Mostly works for demons. Won't kill them, but will cause harm and may burn them. Again, good for buying you time to get away and get help. Luckily, I was able to pick up a rosary on the last mission, so I can make as much as we may need. I tend to also throw a handful of salt in for a twofer.

As far as I know, we don't have access to any, but another good all around weapon against the supernatural is silver. I'd suggest keeping it away from those among the New Hires that might have an allergy to it, but there are a LOT of supernatural creatures out there that are weak to it. Again, purifying qualities that have been in use for a lot of centuries. And another thing to keep an eye out for on missions.

[Sam settles the items in front of him.] I'm not going to say any of this will keep you safe. That's not a promise I can make, especially since we don't know what, exactly, our enemy is. At best, I can say that they might be able to help. At worst, they're inert and you're no worse off than you were a moment before. At this point, though, I think we can use any edge we might be able to get.

[He folds his hands, leaning forward on the desk.]

Any questions?

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[actually guess who DOES have no compunctions about giving hunt information here]

It would be a waste of your kind's unique talents to attempt to go on the hunt in that fashion in any case. Just as they keep a close leash on their family, the Giovanni prize even more dearly their spies and servants – the spirits they bind. The spirits they forcibly bind. [There's a note of genuine anger in her tone.]

The Garou might be able to tear free those bindings in a way that most of the Giovanni's enemies cannot. I assure you, not a tear would be shed by most.

Their gossip is terribly boring in any case. They are a very juvenile lot that mistake being Italian and monstrous for having a personality.

I've actually had fairly minimal contact with Kindred so far. One showed up to return a jar of blood as an apology for snacking on someone I knew, and there was an incident with...well, there was skin, it was gross, and I was mostly there to see what clean-up needed to be done. But it's nice to know that I might be able to truly wreck some creepy Italian vampire's day and piss them off real good.

[Is it a good idea to piss off a creepy vampire that practices necromancy? Depends on if you're setting them up for something...]

I think I probably still qualify as juvenile myself, but I'll keep in mind that I should look elsewhere for the really juicy stuff.

[Beatrice snorts at the description of the jar of blood, and then promptly tries to pretend like she didn't laugh.]

An apology jar of blood is certainly a, ah, novel approach. Was it gift wrapped with a little ribbon on it? A get well soon card? Er, did the – Kindred in question actually make it out alive?

Technically, it is written in what one might call Kindred religious texts that we ought not to drink the blood of the moon-beasts, but no one ever listens to the inconvenient bits. You know, the ones that say what not to do. Very predictable.

And I am afraid that you mortals all qualify as juvenile from this perspective, but at least you seem like you can't be any younger than.. [A very long pause. Oh god, what are mortal ages, again? What seems like a normal in between year? Beatrice flails, and comes up with the insultingly low-] fifteen.

[Stacia makes two mental notes: that Beatrice thinks it's funny, and that Beatrice thinks she shouldn't think it's funny -- or, she doesn't want people to know that she thinks it's funny. Further investigation is necessary before any conclusions can be reached.]

No, no ribbon or card. It was her blood, I think he was just trying to indicate how very little he wanted to have our attention. "Look, see, I haven't consumed it, I'm bringing it all back, let's please not make this a thing" kind of move.

He did make it out alive, and with all his limbs intact and no new holes for good measure. Between the problems we were focusing on and his strong indications that he was doing everything he could to not be a problem, the people in charge decided to let him walk unharassed. At least, that's my assumption, I wasn't exactly privy to the conversation.

[She'd been up a tree at the time, because surrounding herself with sticks seemed like an excellent idea when faced with her first vampire.

She snorts in amused agreement at people skipping over the rules that they find most inconvenient. Though it's interesting to know that there's a vampire near-religion and that it discourages drinking from shifters.]

I would have thought that the practical reason of "if you drink from a moon-beast, all of its friends will get pissed off and come for your ass" would have been discouragement enough!

[The guess at her age that is clearly a wild stab in the dark is funny, but only because if Stacia thinks too much about it, it might make her sad that Beatrice is so out of touch with the humanity that she used to be part of that the only thing she can make is wild stabs.]

Well, you're not wrong. I am older than fifteen!

Edited 2020-11-04 21:42 (UTC)

If I may jump in, that likely was the reason behind that prohibition. Several ancient texts list several rules about how and when and from whom to feed, and all caution against feeding from shifters, mages, the fae, and essentially anyone who isn't an ordinary mortal. The reasoning given is generally along the lines of "however fun it might be at the time, the consequences will be dire."

Of course, you can imagine how effective a cautioning that is.

Oooh, yeah, the fae play dirty.

[They also gave her a Holiday Barbie her first Christmas as a Garou. She's still not sure what kind of magic it has going for it; she should probably talk to someone about that.]

And yeah, there are always idiots who take that kind of warning as a challenge.

I've never had reason to cross the fae, and I count myself lucky. A fellow of my acquaintance ran off with them once and didn't come back for five years, which to him was a single night. Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't know the man it happened to.

I know they can take your memories if they decide you owe them payment. But they give good gifts if you catch them in the right mood. I've got access to a meat-generating mini-fridge thanks to a Christmas party with the fae. [The mini-fridge is a better story than the doll.]

I imagine that's quite useful for a werewolf.

Useful and delicious.

Plus it's funny to watch new people's expressions when someone reaches into a mini-fridge and pulls out a half a cow.

Are there any side effects you've noticed? I have to confess, my first thought would be to wonder where the meat comes from.

None that I've seen, and it gets a decent amount of use. Where the meat comes from is a bit above my paygrade, but it's been approved by people who have a better idea of how it works than I do.

Well done, then. I hope having it checking wasn't too expensive.

[He says this in a very casual way, like the idea of someone NOT charging for expertise is completely beyond him]

[Stacia makes a face.]

I can't remember if my Elder was banging one of the Fae or one of the Will-Workers at the time, but either way, I prefer not to think about what may have been "charged".

[Ew, gross, that's almost basically her aunt.]

[Beckett's face says a lot.]

[mainly, it says this]

[ಠ_ಠ]

Edited 2020-11-23 03:15 (UTC)

[Stacia bursts into giggles.]

I wish I could take a screenshot with these things.

I'm so glad you're amusing yourself at my expense.

[His voice is quite sour. More so than previously.]

(no subject)

credit_not_blame - 2020-11-30 20:15 (UTC) - Expand

Ah good, you did strike me as of a similar age as Kevin. It's the correct ballpark though, yes?

[Beatrice nods along to the age lores, because it's not like '15' and 'young adult' means much different to her. What is a few years to someone where they've started to blur together? She remains amused, corners of her lips curling up around the hand pressed now to her mouth.]

Goodness. What you describe is a much less..acrimonious interaction than I expected. Leaving with all his limbs intact is impressive indeed. A high standard for how it typically plays out. If only we had known that apology blood gift baskets were the way to the Nation's heart. We can add ribbons to it in the future - for that special personalized touch.

It is - good though. If surprising. That it was taken in the spirit it was intended – most wouldn't have tried, or thought to.

[A humorless half smile.] After all, Mr. Beckett is quite correct that your, ah, eloquently put point about the practical downsides was likely why it was written, but no one ever thinks the consequences of dire warnings will happen to them. Oh no, surely not.

Most observers would likely assume that Kevin and I are of similar ages, yes.

[Stacia chuckles.]

I think blood only works if its specifically the blood of a living werewolf being restored to its original owner -- though a few bags of medicinal O-negative might not go amiss on occasion, we end up bleeding an awful lot. However, I believe the most effective gift to indicate a desire for diplomatic relations between our peoples would proof of death of an enemy. The moment of confusion should provide an opening to get some words in. Though finding exactly the right werewolves in exactly the right mood is also important.

[She groans and covers her face with a hand.]

You know, sometimes I think that particular delusion -- that surely, consequences won't apply to me -- might be the most accurate sign of self-awareness.

Oh, well proof of death of an enemy isn't difficult at all. We Kindred are remarkable killers of other Kindred – with voracity and glee. The Nation is, I am sure, quite grateful for our efforts.

[She's 100% messing with Stacia, even though it is true. No one kills vampires like other vampires do. Beatrice tilts her head, still looking mildly amused.]

If a delusion is widespread enough to be standard, does it really make for an accurate litmus test? Besides, I must disagree. I have met some who shared in that belief that were roughly indistinguishable from a plotted plant in terms of mental actualization.

The plastic sort of plant, before your treehugging nature assures me that there are some very intelligent plants out there. I wouldn't doubt it.

If only our two peoples had a way to cross-reference our lists of People We Want Dead, there'd be peace in our time for sure.

[Stacia's also joking, but like all her joked-about plans, she does wonder if there might be ways to make it work. Maybe not for most of the Nation, but perhaps within the Shadow Lords...]

And who said anything about actualization? I'm only talking about those who are aware that consequences could in theory occur rather than those who drift through life in a constant state of baffled surprise.

An interesting proposal. It's astounding how many problems in life could potentially be solved with a bit of data organization. How do you feel about very smug Carpathian vampires with a hobby of making screaming furniture out of people?

[She's in the same spot of joking but ALSO- WHAT IF. She's got a specialty in paperwork, ok? Why not organize one's way into making the Tzimisce fuck off? Although she hopes the Hunter isn't still listening. He doesn't need to have whatever vampire prejudices confirmed. ]

Heh. Drifting through in a state of bafflement – I have known too many of those. That’s accurate enough, I concede to your point Ms. Novik.

[One side of her mouth remains quirked up in amusement behind her mouth. Who knew that werewolves could actually be entertaining, rather than just murderous, obnoxious, or incredibly glum?]

[Stacia grimaces.]

I believe my feelings upon learning of someone who fits that description would reasonably classified as "viscerally horrified by", "very angry", and "motivated to make it stop".

[She's not a Glass Walker, but you don't have to be to understand how to make use of computers. Build a crowd-sourced database and map, and keep the vampiric resources on the down low...

There's a risk of Garou becoming tools in Kindred power-plays against each other, but surely some safeguards against that could be developed. She imagines that the Kindred would also want some safeguards against Garou deciding that they'd outlived their usefulness as well.]

Thank you, Ms. Brewer, I do try my best.

[Her thoughts had been running along similar lines of power-plays – the Pyramid is ever consistent with how it uses resources.]

That does tend to be the usual reaction to them, yes. Yet they persist. Unfortunately, I daresay you would not like our leadership much. Although given I'm understand that some in your nation can be remarkably similar, perhaps the rest of us can just set them to distract each other eternally with layers of schemes while the rest of us get on with actual business.

Like setting the Garou to play ding-dong ditch with the fleshcrafters.

If they're still around when they're that awful, they must be difficult to get rid of.

[Of course they are, they can turn their enemies into living furniture.]

I don't yet trust in my own abilities to play the players as it were, but I'm sure there are those out there who would enjoy weaving webs for the weavers.

But I'm not sure I'd call us for ding-dong ditch either, unless by "ditch" you mean "a curbstomp that didn't make it all the way to the curb". But the equivalent of flaming bags of dog poop on the porch may also be an option.

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