Chapter three: standoff
By Richard LeBlanc
The Bloody Thorn - a low dive of a bar that was formerly known as the Rusty Chain that was bought and rebuilt by a Toreador known as Sir Andreas Von Demsy. The place had been a staging ground for his efforts to take control of Eco from the streets up. Here we find the prince of the city, Axis, the Toreador Sir and the Malkavian anarch Skamms locked in a temporary stalemate. Each in a position to deal with one attacker but not the other.
"This is interesting." Sir commented.
"Indeed." Axis muttered.
"Just the way I like it." Skamms added.
"I know the prince is fast - I heard about him. You fast?" Sir asked.
"Not fast - just incredibly accurate." He retorted emotionlessly.
"Boss - the natives are getting restless." Dagger commented.
"Everyone - back off! This is my dance!" Sir ordered. All of the people that were standing slowly returned to their seats. Dagger and Jonus still stood ready in case one decided to play hero. It was two seconds later that it begun. Sir blinked. Skamms pulled the triggers on his weapons. Axis did the same. Sir knocked the shotgun so that it was aimed at the prince instead of him. his attempt to decapitate the prince failed due to his quickness. Axis and Sir leaped away from each other. Skamms was on the floor near the bar where he leaped to while he fired. Sir was about to mock the fallen Malkavian when he noticed a bullet hole in his chest where his heart was.
"Not bad." Sir commented lowly.
"Fuck - I could have sworn I put in the exploding shells." The Malkavian cursed. The prince's shoulder bone was almost exposed due to the hit from the shotgun. Skamms looked down and saw a bullet hole in his knee.
"Quick and accurate - not bad highness." He added.
"You have amused me. You have my permission to leave." Sir commented casually as though he were dismissing the hired help. Axis was going to argue the issue when everyone in the place got up and armed their weapons.
"Another time highness." Dagger whispered.
"This is far from over Sir." Axis hissed. He and the Assimites turned and walked towards the entrance. Sir smiled at how easily he humbled the prince. The smile faded as he prepared to deal with the other loose end.
"You Skamms are another..." he began as he turned around. The Malkavian was gone. His eyes narrowed as a rage built inside of him. He quickly looked around but could find no trace of him.
"Where did he go?" he demanded. Everyone looked around in confusion but clearly had no idea. Sir knocked his glass from the table and began a long string of curses in French.
"Everyone was looking at Axis?" he asked. Everyone hesitantly nodded. He groaned. He wanted to tell them to lock all the doors and search the place, but he had a hunch that the Mook was already gone.
"Damn it! Send patrols out - groups of ten. Fan out from here. He couldn't have gotten far!" he shouted. Everyone scampered to his or her feet except the three ladies he had embraced the night before.
"I don't understand Sir. You let the prince walk away - and you are more concerned about a Malkavian anarch?" one woman asked in sincere confusion. From what she had learned of status and politics from him - it didn't make any sense.
"As I said earlier - he is no common neonate. My agents reported to me of him using powerful disciplines known only to the Tremere clan. He is immune to the effects of Fay devices and other such magic. Also, when my friend recruited Axis and his cronies to deal with the Dreamer and Iron Fist menace in Eco - Skamms was the key to their take down. Plus his accuracy with a weapon is almost equal to my ability to evade. Besides, the prince is bound by his position and has to follow certain rules to deal with me - the Malkavian is not." He answered seriously.
"He is that much of a threat?" the second lady asked.
"Yes. I anticipated his possible annoyance when he was floating around Chamberlan. I had hoped that my efforts there would have him dealt with. If his sire didn't step in - the city would have eliminated him for me back then. Now I will have to deal with him myself. I want you three to deal with him. Find him any way you can - and deal with him." he ordered. The three nodded and hurried away. Sir shook his head and put his saber away back into its special sheath.
"Not since Paris have I attempted such a take over. This will be my greatest achievement in as many hundred years." Sir stated proudly. He calmly walked out of the room to continue with other important duties. Once he was out, Skamms slipped out from the shadows of the room. He had gambled that the blowhard Toreador wouldn't lockdown the place and search - he gambled right.
He was the cause of that bloodhunt? He thought. He could feel a rage building inside him. He blew a willpower to prevent himself from acting on his rage. He took a few deep breaths until he was calm. He had to think this one out - more so than any of the other messes he had been thrusted into.
If I get into it with this guy - I will be in the same boat I was in when I went toe to toe with that Iron Fist punk. I'm going to need some help on this one. He thought. He stepped back into the shadows and vanished.
***
Early the next night, rumor of the new guy in town was on everyone's mind. All of the stories varied a bit, but there were a few constants. One, he was a prince of multiple cities - and two he was now looking at Eco.
"I hear..." Slap Happy began.
"...that the prince couldn't stop him." he concluded.
"Oh yeah? Well I heard that the wussy Toreador isn't even looking at our highness as a threat - I hear he is more scared of a nutzoid renegade Mook." another added.
"Really? Who cares? Keep the noise down - if I beat this boss - I win the game." Another Malkavian retorted. The Primogen looked over at the neonate that was completely entranced by the game.
"This is more important. Pause it." He ordered.
"It isn't that kind of game. No such animal as pause." He retorted. The Primogen sighed. He quickly took out a crossbow and fired a bolt into the neonate's back. The impact slammed him into the TV. The arrowhead that was sticking out through his chest impaled into the TV. Everyone watched as sparks flew from the electrocuting Malkavian.
"Ew. What a stink." One stated.
"Is still among the living?" Slap Happy asked curiously. Another skipped over and looked at the twitching Malkavian. She then picked up a grossly oversized wooden mallet and knocked the still twitching vampire off the TV.
"I think he still as a few more minutes." She answered. Slap Happy looked down at the vampire that was still smoking.
"Time for play later - time for talk now - you understand yes?" he asked sarcastically. The vampire timidly nodded. The Primogen smiled and then looked up at the others that had been participating in the talk.
"Alright - serious time over - let's play." He began. It was then that Axis and his bodyguards entered the room. All talking stopped. All of the vampires, except the smoking one on the floor scurried away and hid behind Slap Happy.
"Axle! Always a pleasure." Slap Happy said with a smile.
"That is Axis. I am not here for levity so please stop." He warned.
"Hey, sure thing big boy. What's on your mind?" he retorted coolly.
"You and me alone - the rest - out." Axis ordered seriously. Slap Happy looked at the face on the prince and gestured for the others to leave. Dagger and Jonus carefully glared at each lunatic as they walked away. When the last one was gone, the three slowly looked over at the Primogen.
"You - where is Skamms?" Axis demanded.
"Him? How the fuck would I know?" he retorted.
"You are lying - tell me now!" Axis ordered.
"Hold it - right there. I bend a little - twist a touch maybe - but I do not lie. That boy Skamms is a loose cannon and a bad seed - I've seen what the kid can do and even if he crawled here - I wouldn't want anything to do with him. have you seen what happens to those near him? it's like he has an angel of death on his shoulder that zaps people at random." He retorted seriously. Dagger and Jonus stepped forward.
"You are protecting him. if you don't want a bloodhunt called on your ass - give him to me!" Axis ordered> Slap Happy was going to reply when the conversation he was having earlier filtered into his cluttered brain. He looked over to the side and blinked three times. He then slowly looked over at Axis and the Assimites - only it wasn't them. it was the Archon and two of his underlings using an Obfuscate mask.
"Oh-Okay - I-I did hear a rumor - it was just that you know." he began calmly. Axis's eyes narrowed at the Primogen before him. just by the look in his shifty eyes he could tell.
"Crafty - what tipped you off?" Axis asked curiously.
"Well, the mask was perfect - fuck, you even had me believing. But come on. After everything that has happened - why would Mr. Man come hunting for a loose cannon now? Plus the fact that it is common knowledge that you are scared shitless of Skamms - not that I blame you of course." Slap Happy replied. The masks the three were wearing faded to reveal their true forms.
"Show me that your craftiness is equal to your cleverness - tell me where the pest is." The Archon stated. Slap Happy looked at the two underlings and saw that they were just waiting for an excuse.
"I told ya before - no clue. I learn to recognize the dangerous ones and learn to avoid them - it is a survival mechanism I have. And hear me on this - you may be tough - but if you mess with that one - you will get hurt." Slap Happy warned.
"You - threaten me?" he asked in disbelief.
"Nothing of the sort. You probably know more about him than I if you are half as big as people say. You know that he has taken down an anarch sect by himself - you know that he took down a huge ass demon - you know that he messed up a Fay tinker - and put the K in Kaboom for those Dreamers and Iron Fist clowns. If he has a resume like that here - I can only imagine what kind of rap-sheet he still has floating in Chamberlan." He clarified. The Archon studied the Malkavian and could see no sign of deviousness - but among his line - it was hard to sift through the distortion to find the real truth.
"I am an Archon - he wouldn't be that foolish." He stated calmly.
"Would he? I don't care about status and neither does he. All he sees is another target. If word gets out that you are looking for him - he will go looking for you." He retorted.
"Then I guess - we just have to make sure that is doesn't get out." He began coldly. Slap Happy looked to where his crossbow was and knew that he had no chance of getting to it.
"Oh Slappy? I'm home!" a loud voice called out from the top floor. The Archon and his goons looked up and saw Snapps looking down at them. Just by one look he could tell that the situation was serious.
"Friend of yours?" the Archon asked lowly.
"You know it - we are in tight." Slap Happy stated.
"Have I come at a bad time?" Snapps asked hesitantly.
"Not at all - come here for a moment. I'd like to have a word with you." The Archon requested seriously. Nonchalantly, his hand slid into his pouch of gadgets as he walked down the stairs.
"Where is everybody?" Snapps asked.
"Had business elsewhere." One of the goons replied.
"You plan to kill us - wow." Snapps stated calmly.
"It isn't personal - but as your friend pointed out - if word got out that I was looking for Skamms - that lunatic might be foolish enough to come looking for me - and I don't want that." the Archon stated rationally.
"Hey - it's all the same to me - here - catch." Snapps stated. In a quick action he tossed a small box to the startled Archon. As soon as his hands touched the box it began to tick.
"I - I wouldn't try anything boys - that is a little toy I created a couple of days back. It's a modified pipe bomb with a timer on it and five pressure plates - three of which you are touching. That baby has all sorts of crazy shit in it from nails, glass to a few vials of holy water - just for kicks. One wrong move - we all go boom. You plan to kill us anyway so it really doesn't make any difference to me how about you?" Snapps asked seriously.
"He's bluffing." One of the goons stated.
"Is he?" the Archon asked lowly.
"You know - this is a charming debate kids - but - I have other engagements to be at that require a little more of my attention than you. No - I insist - I'll show myself out. Slappy, come on - I got a great idea for a joke." Snapps stated coolly as he began to walk away. Slap Happy looked over at the Archon and then over at Snapps. He shrugged his shoulders and followed his friend.
"This is far from over boy!" The Archon hissed.
"Over? I would hope not. Water balloon fight!" Snapps stated. Slap Happy watched as his Coterie brother threw four water balloons at the three vampires. One hit the Archon - the others hit the floor.
"Was there a point to that?" the Archon asked unimpressed.
"You no like? Oh well - can't win em all I guess. Ta." Snapps concluded as he ran madly away. Seeing his friend take off inspired Slap Happy to follow suit.
"Out of curiosity - what is the punch line of all that?" he asked.
"The balloons were filled with gasoline - do the math." He replied.
"Oh - shit. This was one of my favorite haunts too." Slap Happy moaned. Snapps looked over at him and shook his head.
"I made a judgement call - I thought that alive we could find a new place - or die in a cool place. I thought I picked the right one myself." Snapps replied as the two exited the building.
"Hey - don't get me wrong - thanks a bunch. Do you think that thingy of yours will finish them off?" he asked curiously. Snapps stopped running and looked over his shoulder at the condemned building.
"Heaven's no - that would be a sin. Besides - where's the fun in that? If I may be so bold as to ask - why was he so ticked at you?" he replied and asked.
"Him? Remember when I gave you that get out of jail free card? That was the punk I pranked. After this..." Slap Happy began. A loud explosion shattered the boarded up windows in the basement. The two heard the sounds of screaming.
"...the boy won't be happy with you either." He concluded.
"Who wants to live forever? So what was all that about Skamms?" he asked seriously. Slap Happy looked over at the building and motioned for them to move on.
"He's an Archon Snapps - the big boys that run around for the Justicars and so forth - you really don't care?" he asked curiously. Snapps looked over at the building behind them and saw the smoke.
"No talk about Skamms?" he asked - avoiding the question.
"He isn't exactly my favorite subject. But I'll tell you this - that Sir guy that is causing such a stink around here - is more worried about Skamms than the prince." Slap Happy relayed.
"Prince has to follow protocol - anarchs don't." he replied.
"Hmph. I never thought of that. Anyway, there was also another rumor floating around that this Sir guy had an Archon in his pocket - apparently the rumor is true because the guy that you made go toasty back there was hunting Skamms for him." Slap Happy stated seriously.
"Wow - that's a lot to take in. I guess that just leaves two possible plans of action. One - we drop everything and run to tell the prince of this new development..." Snapps began.
"What's choice number two?" Slap Happy asked hesitantly.
"Well, that's a little riskier. You sure you want to hear it?" he asked.
"Hit me." he answered.
"Well, the second one - we keep the info to ourselves and get working on the prank I was telling you about." He replied seriously. Slap Happy almost fell over upon hearing that.
"But what if the guy comes looking for us?" he asked.
"That's why it's risky. But - the prank is huge and you would be a part of it. I leave it in your hands." Snapps replied coolly. Slap Happy looked over his shoulder and then at the Malkavian beside him.
"We - would tell the prince after the prank though?" he asked.
"If you want." He answered.
"Then let's do it." He replied. Snapps smiled and began to whisper into the Malkavian's ear. Slap Happy nodded a few times - went cross-eyed twice - covered his mouth with both hands - and then let out a hearty laugh.
"Oh good god - thank the stars you're on our side." He called out.
"Then let's do it right now!" he replied. Slap Happy nodded. The two then rushed down the nearest alley to gather the ingredients for Snapps latest prank.
***
In a well established bar on the high end of town, Vincent was sitting at a table. He was fuming at how the punk Malkavian was doing all of these random acts that were targeting him so.
"That incredulous little snot." Vincent strained to control his rage.
"Maybe we could arrange an accident?" one of his retainers suggested.
"That wouldn't be your style." A voice stated. They all looked over to the door and saw Sir watching them. Just by looking at him they knew that he was the man that was causing all the commotion.
"You're taking a big chance being out here. Prince put a price on your head." Vincent stated coolly. If the statement was a treat or warning - Sir clearly did not take it as such.
"I play my game by my rules. I don't let underlings intimidate me - and that is exactly what that blowhard Brujah is. I heard you ranting on - problems in paradise?" Sir asked curiously.
"It is that Malkavian punk Snapps. He's cost me thousands and destroyed a priceless work of art over a stupid dare. He's a threat to the Masquerade and no one seems to care." He answered.
"Malkavians are - unpredictable. I've heard of Snapps - pied the prince of Chamberlan. Jesters like that can be dangerous if not handled correctly." Sir commented.
"Tell me about it." He retorted.
"I don't know what's worse - the fact that you are letting him victimize you like this - or the fact that you aren't doing a damn thing about it. My nerves man - Toreador is a clan of passion - poise - and perfection. You are letting him paint a smiley face on a Picassos." Sir stated. Vincent glared at the man that appeared to be mocking him.
"Don't push me..." he warned.
"I wouldn't dream of it. I came here to offer you a proposition of sorts. My people tell me that you aren't happy with your good prince Axis - neither are a lot of people. The time for change is coming my friend and the change will be glorious for those upon the wave." He stated in a charming manner.
"Talk-talk-talk. You ain't got nothing I want." He muttered.
"Do I? I am prince of eight cities. My influences and resources are beyond what you could ever amount to playing your nickel and dime games. I will be prince of Eco with or without your help - but just by looking at you - I can see that you are a man of vision." Sir began.
"Is this going anywhere?" Vincent asked coldly.
"Well here's the lowdown - I'm anticipating a little trouble with - a Malkavian - you are having trouble with a Malkavian. I will use my resources to help you deal with the pest you know as Snapps - if you help me deal with the lunatic Skamms." He suggested.
"You got the sweet end of that deal - I want nothing to do with Skamms! That bad-ass is walking final death to anything near him." Vincent retorted. Sir raised his hands and stepped back.
"Easy big boy - I've got people to take care of him - I just need to know where he is - where he will be - and so forth. You - in your current position and social circle hear things. My people and the anarchs I am dealing with haven't heard a peep from him since he took off when the prince returned home. What I ask of you is - keep me informed - the menace known as Skamms will be nothing but a memory - an unpleasant one at that if all goes as I plan. When he falls - the prince will be next. As prince - you would be my choice for Senshal. My guidelines are pretty straight - but there is always room for ambition and profit and all the other stuff that makes life so livable." Sir began. He found himself smiling as he saw the greed beginning to form in the Primogen's eyes.
"For example - you would have the authority to call a bloodhunt on this Snapps character for being such a breach to our Traditions. You could punish those that helped the Mook make a fool out of you." Sir whispered seductively.
"Eco would be mine..." Vincent muttered.
"Hold up kid - not yours - mine. It would be my sandbox - you would be in charge of it while I did my business oversees and such. Of all the people in this huge place - you - are the only one worthy of this opportunity. The offer will only be given once - and that time is now. If you refuse - I will view you as one of the prince's men and will have to deal with you accordingly. So - here now is the moment of truth my good man Vincent, will you help me achieve my goals or will you bank on a prince that treats you like a joke - because let's face it - to him - that's all you will ever be." he asked seriously. Vincent looked over at his two retainers and then over at the person that was making the offer by the door.
"So - what would I have to do?" Vincent asked curiously. Sir smiled and walked over to where his newest ally in his war to seize power in the city was sitting.
To be continued...
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