Post by Rick on Jun 30, 2009 14:23:34 GMT -8
Virtue and Vice
Chapter XX: Promethean
Suggested Listening: Nickleback; Saving Me
Sunday, 28 June, 2009. 4:01 AM
Chase Covington’s Haven
Seattle, Washington
“Thud… thud, thud… thud…” Each punch lands against the old and worn bag with a kind of report that echoes through the empty gym. I have to pull each of my punches, remember to control my Potence. The bag is old canvas, held together in some places with duct tape and I don’t really want to break it. At this point, there’s nothing left but down time for the night. I’ve already checked on Catherine, made sure she was safe, finished my rounds. My boys in the PD are still tied up with that mess concerning Ronny. Sure I could have stuck around, but something says it’s better that I’m here. I have some… tension to work out.
“The sun’ll be up soon. You should get some rest.” Evie’s voice echoes across the dark and empty gym.
“Maybe….” I’m only half listening as my fist hit’s the bag again.
“So you’re really going to do this? You’re going to fight the Sabbat? Maybe even die. Does that even register with you?” She makes it sound like I’m going alone. But she’s right. I could die.
“It’s a chance I’m willing to take.” I stop hitting the bag and let it steady against my hand before turning to face my ghoul. I know that more than anything, right now she’s angry with me.
“I’m glad you’ve given this some thought. At least about your part in all of this. Did you ever, even for a second, stop and think about how this could potentially affect the clan?” She understands what it is to be Brujah, at least to a degree. The clan is as much her family as it is mine. “Did you think of how this might affect Knox, or Antoine? What about me? I mean Christ, Chase, you came into my life, ripped the wool from my eyes and then you vanished for a year! Do you have any idea what that was like for me and Knox? What it was like ever damn day over the summer seeing you laying there like that?”
“I see that in your time with Mildred you’ve clearly been given too much freedom. I may have to rectify that.” My eyes narrow on Evie and, for just a second, she looks away in deference. I know that Millie had nothing to do with this outburst. Nothing to do with Evie being so bold. I know it has everything to do with the Brujah blood in her.
“It just seems so fucking selfish of you. I mean, do you ever even consider just how much you touch some peoples’ lives? It’s like you raise them up and now, potentially, you’re just going to go and die? That’s bullshit, Chase. Think, for once in your goddamn life, about the people who fucking care!”
“Evie…” I try calling after her but she doesn’t stop and I don’t blame her. I know she’s frustrated, I know that she doesn’t understand because I don’t tell her everything. But she’s right. I’ve only been thinking, recently, about how the Sabbat might try to play this one and what I can do. I really haven’t thought about anyone or anything other than how I might deal with the Sabbat threat and keeping Catherine safe.
In the end, all it comes down to is that Evie’s right. Not that I’ll ever admit it. I make my way to one of the benches, and I feel like I’m weighted by guilt. For a long moment I just sit there. A part of me is pissed that Evie had even dared to speak to me the way she did, that she‘d said the things she had. But more often than not she has been the voice of reason. Well, when she’s not studying. It’s that other part of me that feels guilty over being as much of an ass as I’ve been lately.
Six centuries ago, I made a promise to my sire. I promised that I would try to be better than I was in life. I promised that I’d try to do all I could for the Promethean cause, even if it meant dying to protect good, honest people. Any more I find myself wondering what defines a good, honest person. Is it possible for a Kindred to be “good” or “honest?” And is my view of the Promethean cause the same as the next Promethean? I’ve heard a thousand tales about Carthage and for each tale of a shining utopia there’s another about a blood drenched nightmare. In the end, I know what the vision of one group of Prometheans is. It is neither the shining utopia or the blood drenched nightmare. It is something different, something new. These thoughts remind me of something Catherine had said once.
“I would rather the courts of Europe speak of Seattle as being overly progressive than have them say we are becoming the new Sabbat.” It is something that I’ve thought about plenty of times, wondering if perhaps she isn’t on to something. I hear the door open and look up. Knox is standing in the doorway and I can see the wonder written on his face. I know he wonders how things will all go down, know that he wonders where he’ll go if I do get dusted.
“It’s just about dawn, boss. Just figured you’d want to know.” His voice is low and I can tell that he’s been talking to Evie. Or rather that Evie’s been ranting to him.
“Thanks, Knox.” I slowly stand, still weighted by my own sense of guilt as I move to join him at the door.
“How’s this going to go, boss?” Knox looks at me and I can tell that somewhere he’s worried about Evie.
“I don’t know, Knox. But I’m sure that no matter how this all goes, things will work out in the end. Of that, I have no doubt.” I give him a light slap on the back as I turn into the office and move towards my cot. Outside, the near-dawn light colors the world in shades of gray-blue. I lock the office door and kick my shoes off under the desk before tossing my shirt onto the chair. As I lay there, waiting those few moments for sleep to overtake me, I can help but think that maybe it’s time to change up the strategy. Make a few phone calls and maybe see if we can’t all get out of the coming storm alive. I figure even if none of us Kindred are “good” or “honest” there’s nothing saying we can’t become good or honest.
Lord in Heaven I’ve got my work cut out for me. And I haven’t even finished the first boat. Damn.
Chapter XX: Promethean
Suggested Listening: Nickleback; Saving Me
Sunday, 28 June, 2009. 4:01 AM
Chase Covington’s Haven
Seattle, Washington
“Thud… thud, thud… thud…” Each punch lands against the old and worn bag with a kind of report that echoes through the empty gym. I have to pull each of my punches, remember to control my Potence. The bag is old canvas, held together in some places with duct tape and I don’t really want to break it. At this point, there’s nothing left but down time for the night. I’ve already checked on Catherine, made sure she was safe, finished my rounds. My boys in the PD are still tied up with that mess concerning Ronny. Sure I could have stuck around, but something says it’s better that I’m here. I have some… tension to work out.
“The sun’ll be up soon. You should get some rest.” Evie’s voice echoes across the dark and empty gym.
“Maybe….” I’m only half listening as my fist hit’s the bag again.
“So you’re really going to do this? You’re going to fight the Sabbat? Maybe even die. Does that even register with you?” She makes it sound like I’m going alone. But she’s right. I could die.
“It’s a chance I’m willing to take.” I stop hitting the bag and let it steady against my hand before turning to face my ghoul. I know that more than anything, right now she’s angry with me.
“I’m glad you’ve given this some thought. At least about your part in all of this. Did you ever, even for a second, stop and think about how this could potentially affect the clan?” She understands what it is to be Brujah, at least to a degree. The clan is as much her family as it is mine. “Did you think of how this might affect Knox, or Antoine? What about me? I mean Christ, Chase, you came into my life, ripped the wool from my eyes and then you vanished for a year! Do you have any idea what that was like for me and Knox? What it was like ever damn day over the summer seeing you laying there like that?”
“I see that in your time with Mildred you’ve clearly been given too much freedom. I may have to rectify that.” My eyes narrow on Evie and, for just a second, she looks away in deference. I know that Millie had nothing to do with this outburst. Nothing to do with Evie being so bold. I know it has everything to do with the Brujah blood in her.
“It just seems so fucking selfish of you. I mean, do you ever even consider just how much you touch some peoples’ lives? It’s like you raise them up and now, potentially, you’re just going to go and die? That’s bullshit, Chase. Think, for once in your goddamn life, about the people who fucking care!”
“Evie…” I try calling after her but she doesn’t stop and I don’t blame her. I know she’s frustrated, I know that she doesn’t understand because I don’t tell her everything. But she’s right. I’ve only been thinking, recently, about how the Sabbat might try to play this one and what I can do. I really haven’t thought about anyone or anything other than how I might deal with the Sabbat threat and keeping Catherine safe.
In the end, all it comes down to is that Evie’s right. Not that I’ll ever admit it. I make my way to one of the benches, and I feel like I’m weighted by guilt. For a long moment I just sit there. A part of me is pissed that Evie had even dared to speak to me the way she did, that she‘d said the things she had. But more often than not she has been the voice of reason. Well, when she’s not studying. It’s that other part of me that feels guilty over being as much of an ass as I’ve been lately.
Six centuries ago, I made a promise to my sire. I promised that I would try to be better than I was in life. I promised that I’d try to do all I could for the Promethean cause, even if it meant dying to protect good, honest people. Any more I find myself wondering what defines a good, honest person. Is it possible for a Kindred to be “good” or “honest?” And is my view of the Promethean cause the same as the next Promethean? I’ve heard a thousand tales about Carthage and for each tale of a shining utopia there’s another about a blood drenched nightmare. In the end, I know what the vision of one group of Prometheans is. It is neither the shining utopia or the blood drenched nightmare. It is something different, something new. These thoughts remind me of something Catherine had said once.
“I would rather the courts of Europe speak of Seattle as being overly progressive than have them say we are becoming the new Sabbat.” It is something that I’ve thought about plenty of times, wondering if perhaps she isn’t on to something. I hear the door open and look up. Knox is standing in the doorway and I can see the wonder written on his face. I know he wonders how things will all go down, know that he wonders where he’ll go if I do get dusted.
“It’s just about dawn, boss. Just figured you’d want to know.” His voice is low and I can tell that he’s been talking to Evie. Or rather that Evie’s been ranting to him.
“Thanks, Knox.” I slowly stand, still weighted by my own sense of guilt as I move to join him at the door.
“How’s this going to go, boss?” Knox looks at me and I can tell that somewhere he’s worried about Evie.
“I don’t know, Knox. But I’m sure that no matter how this all goes, things will work out in the end. Of that, I have no doubt.” I give him a light slap on the back as I turn into the office and move towards my cot. Outside, the near-dawn light colors the world in shades of gray-blue. I lock the office door and kick my shoes off under the desk before tossing my shirt onto the chair. As I lay there, waiting those few moments for sleep to overtake me, I can help but think that maybe it’s time to change up the strategy. Make a few phone calls and maybe see if we can’t all get out of the coming storm alive. I figure even if none of us Kindred are “good” or “honest” there’s nothing saying we can’t become good or honest.
Lord in Heaven I’ve got my work cut out for me. And I haven’t even finished the first boat. Damn.
-END-