When normal people go on vacation, they bring t-shirts back as presents.

[nick_garou]

Friday, July 18--Aftermath

I sent word out to various parties about the events at 3am (ish) as soon as I was sure it was safe. Unfortunately, slinging around some vulgar magic.... There was no immediate paradox backlash, but I can feel its tendrils on my spine. I needed to cool it. Find some place to bleed it off. I switched hotels to one a few miles away. No need to go back to the motel where I'd layed the trap as the ritual was destroyed in the process. But with the rat-wolves in one location unable to pinpoint me and the scratches in another location without me having noticed it.... This feels like there's two distinct entities/groups trying to communicate at the same time. But communicate what about what?

I crashed in the new hotel room with a stash of foods and a DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door handle. Then I braced myself on the bed and willed the paradox that'd coalesced around me to bleed off. My vision is totally hosed right now. Like looking through a bee's eyes, even if I reach out with my other senses. I'm not driving or walking around like this. I managed to dial up Vlad and told him that night's meeting was cancelled due to a weather report that indicated a 100% chance of paradox effects. I'd give them a call when it wore off.

Sunday, July 20--Backing up a Virtual Adept in the Digital Web

I woke up Sunday to find that the paradox I'd burned off had dissipated fully. When I got out of the shower, I had a voicemail from Walter down in Phoenix. He asked if I was available to provide him some backup on a physical meetup with another mage. I agreed. And good thing, too. Long story made short? It turned out to be one of those HIT Mark V robots. They are every bit as scary as I'd heard. Magic seems to slip off them, but I was able to shield Walter from the thing's machinegun bullets while Walter focused on incapacitating it. Once disabled, we reduced it to molten slag. Walter collected the metal (interesting stuff called "Primium" according to Walter) once it was cool enough to solidify and collect. we erased our presence/evidence there, at parted ways after Walker gave me an "I owe you one."

Unfortunately, I went vulgar with Forces during the fight. More paradox. More waiting. The Hollowers seem to be getting upset/nervous at these unavoidable delays on my end.

Tues, July 22--Drinks. Hold the blood.

Shit. Met with the Hollowers for drinks this evening at their favorite restaurant again. I noticed Vlad spiking my drink while Briar tried distracting me. If it hadn't been for a mirror on the far wall, I'd have never seen it. I managed a Correspondence/Matter effect to drain the glass of wine over a period of time, making it look like I'd drank it when I hadn't. Later analysis revealed it to be something I've seen before: vampire blood. Mother fuckers! I'll bet the new person they said they wanted me to meet tomorrow night is.... Son of a bitch. Really? Really?

I wonder if they slipped blood into my drinks at the two earlier meetings?

Wed, July 23--Standing up the Hollowers.

I hacked the camera feed for the restaurant the next night, before the meeting, and waited for the meeting time. I waited until the 4th party member showed up, then focused low-level, focused, sensory magic on her alone, so as to be harder to detect. She was using some kind of static Mind-Prime-Life type effect on the cabal. Controling them. I think I was supposed to be the new blood (ha ha?) for this vampire.

I called up, cancelling, claiming I'd again helped out a Virtual Adept and incurred some paradox that'd prevent me from showing that night. They offered to come to me, but I told them I was potentially dangerous to be around because I'd been weilding electricity and fire. I think they bought it.

Thursday, July 24--That escalated quickly.

I tracked the vampire to her home the night before. Long story made short, she's using the Hollower cabal, all brainwashed to do her bidding, as a means of taking out vampires who get in her way. My attempt at reasoning with her failed, and she is currently in her sealed coffin in the back of my Suburban. And she is very, very, very pissed off.

What the hell am I going to do with a pissed off vampire I've sealed up in her on coffin? I can't leave her in there forever, right? (Or can I?)