Ah Marv, how I do love him and his adventures. Maybe it's because he's the first of my Detroit characters. Maybe it's because he's so fun and simple to write for. Maybe it's because he just deals with problems in a way I sort of always wished I could. But don't get him wrong, Marv is far more cunning then he may seem. After all, he's played polotics with the Ventrue and the prince before. What? You haven't heard that story? Well heck, there's Marv over there. Why don't you go ask him about the time he helped out the Ventrue clan with a little...

Home Improvement: A Tale of Detroit

Hey, my names Marv. I've talked to you before haven't I? Yeah...I did. Told ya all about my angel, wanna hear it again? No? Well then why the hell are ya here? Oh...oh yeah. I could see how that could be confusing ta someone who weren't there. All right, pull up a chair there pal. By the way, you're buyin' I don't go around tellin' stories for my health ya know. Okay, so the whole mess with the Ventrue an' the Prince started over some little prick who broke my bottle o' brew. Eh...yeah that's right. Don't get nervous pal, you bought this bottle, so it wouldn't be the same thing. Ya see that night... I bought the bottle.

It was Friday, so I was in Gurdy's lookin' ta relax a little. I'd just gotten back from Tina's and so I had my medicine, and I prefer ta take the stuff with some blood y'know...eh? Tina? Oh, she's some sorta mage or something. Yeah, no shit. I met her back when I was messing around in some Giovanni deal. She got interested with all the crud going on in my head, asked if she could poke around and study me a bit. I said sure. In exchange I get my medicine. Just some little pills really, but they help keep me from seeing things, and help me ta concentrate on what's really going on.

Gurdy's ain't no fancy place, so I came as I was. Sure my trench coat was a little ragged and I had blood stains on my combat boots. But I was wearing a clean tank top, I swear. Course usually people don't notice my clothes, not when they can check out my battered and scarred face and judge me just fine on that feature alone. Like all of a sudden they can peg me as a six foot plus bundle of trouble or something. My brown hair was, as always, kept in a short crewcut. Neat and out of the way, just the way I like it. Do you ever wonder about all those pretty boys with long hair who prance around like they could take ya in a fight? They never fought me, I'd show them what can happen to long pretty hair in a fight...

So anyways, I'm walking inta Gurdy's and the place is going good and solid. There's some local guy up on stage with his band. They were playing a good country tune, the type that makes ya wanna drink more beer and just soak it all in. So I walk up ta the bar and empty my pockets. It takes a bit of fiddlin' and messin' but it turns out I had just enough for one whole bottle. I was pretty happy with that, so I took my bottle o' Gurdy's special brew. It's a decent blood an' alcohol mixture, it gives a nice buzz without having to suck it outa wino's. Anyways, I take it and prepare to enjoy the night.

I find a nice back table and sit down ta drink my drink. Even as I'm popping the bottle open I pause. So does every other loser in that place. We're all looking at the woman walking inta the smoke filled bar. She's dressed up in a knee length coat. You can just make out some of the soft skin of her chest from around the plunging lines of the collar. Her slender neck has a strand of perfect pearls wrapped around it, pearl earrings hang from her perfect ears. Her face looks like something outta some old classic movie. It's the face of a star, the face of a queen. Her gaze sweeps over the lot of us, seemin' ta just judge everyone in one simple glance.

Then she strides towards the corner table next ta mine. Her movements are graceful, each step is perfect. She slides her nicely packed body into the seat and tries ta slip inta the shadows. It don't work too well. What is it about dames? That one in a million kind that can send shivers down your skin with a glance. That have those perfectly formed lips and gleaming deep eyes? Whatever it is this babes got it in spades. She's a dame ta kill for, and that's fer sure. I manage ta tear my eyes off her and return ta my drink. I'm just starting to get a pleasant warmth flowing through me and I'm going for my pills when he walks in.

I can tell right away why he's here. He's dressed way too well to be comin' inta Gurdy's for anything but her. He's a young punk, looks like he just stepped outta some magazine about the successful young businessman. He spots her easily and quickly strides through the crowds towards her. I take a minute ta check their auras, I'm smart enough ta spot some sorta Kindred problem goin' down. Sure enough they're both vampires. He stalks up to her table and starts hissing little threatening whispered comments. She argues with him. He don't take no for an answer and reaches out and grabs her wrist. He pulls her out of the booth and says she's coming with him. She yells and shoves into him as hard as she can. He staggers back and loses his balance. He smashes inta my table, breaking it apart and sending my bottle hard onto the ground. It shatters, spraying sticky alcohol filled blood all over him.

Now, I don't want you ta think I'm some sorta mad dog killer psycho nutjob. I mean, hell, I was sittin' there and drinking my drink and minding my own damn business. Ya have ta admit I wasn't lookin' for trouble. Nobody can say that I started anything with anybody. All I can say is that I had put my last bit o cash inta that bottle, and I was just tryin' ta take my damn medicine. Remember that, he started it! I sit there for a moment, just looking at my broken bottle. He quickly hops to his feet and lets out with some sorta apology or something. He mentions payment and reaches inta his coat. Now, with him breaking bottles and goin' for hidden guns what was I supposed ta do?

I quickly kick him between the legs as I hop ta my feet. As he flinches I grab his head and spin around ta slam it inta the wall. Now he did apologize so I only smash his face inta the concrete about ten or so times. When I let go he collapses in a bloody pile, teeth popping out of his mouth like Tic-Tacs. It's then I hear her breathe in, a little sharp gasp of fear. I turn around ta look at the door. Figures that the little punk woulda brought friends.

The two of em start pushing their way into the bar, headin' right for us. She gasps in fear and clutches at my arm. So I go and do something stupid and start playing Capt. Vampire again. It's a bit of a bad habit of mine. I grab her and drag her with me through the back door and inta the big alley out back. She doesn't struggle or say anything, I reckoned she knew where her better chances for survival and safety lay. She runs along with me down the alley. Behind us I hear them come bursting through the door, a bullet snaps past my ear. We dash around the corner and keep running.

We burst out onto the street. Headlights flood over us as a sweet little 79' Cadillac comes to a screeching stop. The driver leans out and starts to yell all sorts o' shit at me. I glance back and see the two bozos in business suits come running around the corner, they both got guns out. Trailing behind them comes the third guy, his face still a bloody mess, but with a mean glower on it and a big ass magnum in his hands. I turn ta look back at the driver, he's still yelling. I grab his shirt and drag him out through the window. Me and the dame hop inta the car and I floor it. The tires squeal as we roar down the street. Behind us the three goons take a couple potshots, but we're good and gone.

I keep driving for a while. She sits there quietly and watches me. She reaches into her coat and pulls out a pack o cigarettes. She lights up and takes a puff in one smooth motion. She blows the smoke outta her mouth and watches me a bit more, then she points at a street corner and asks if I'd let her out there. I pull over and stop the car. She smiles in thanks, her teeth are as perfect as the rest of her. She thanks me for the save, her voice is prim and proper, this babe is definitely a class act. She opens the door and starts ta get out when she glances back at me, something musta clicked for her...or snapped more like it, cause she all o' a sudden asks if I'd like to go get a drink.

I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I know a good opportunity when I see one. She takes me ta some little bar I ain't never heard of. Its name is in French or something, and hard ta pronounce...The Soiree or something like that. I quickly slip inta the bathroom and wash up a bit. Gotta do my best not to appear too stupid. They must know her here cause they get us a little table right away. She orders for us, two wine glasses that are holding something far more then just fermented red grape juice. I glance around while she takes a small delicate sip. The place is all lit by candles and has actual tablecloths too. The waitresses are even wearing clothing that covers most of their body. Classical music plays in the background. This sure ain't my type of bar.

Course the dame fits in perfectly with the place. She eases out of her coat, and believe me that show was worth all the other crud tonight. Her skin is perfect. The dress is a slinky green affair that highlights the tinge of aqua in her eyes. I can see a lot more of her curves, and they're better then I had thought. The soft swell of her breasts, the gentle curve of her hips, the elegant arch of her neck. Yeah, she's perfect all right. A dame to kill for.

We get ta talking. I tell her what I can of myself. She tells me all about herself. Her name is Gloria. She's a Ventrue. Her voice seems ta get softer and softer as she speaks. Her eyes go all aquiver and scared like. She tells me her sire is Gregory Warrens, one of the prince's own childer. She whispers about how she had to get away from him. How he does...things to her. She won't talk about them, only hints at strange practices she don't even wanna think about. She says that the men after her tonight work for him, that it's their job to make sure she can't escape. She looks inta my eyes, hers are filled with fear. She just asks me to try and remember her, to not forget her. She says that it doesn't matter what happens to you as long as you're remembered.

I start to ask her what she means when a shadow falls across us. She goes stiff and gasps, her hand clutching at mine on the tabletop. I look up at the bruiser standing over us. The guy could make a Steeler linebacker look like a pansy. He's dressed up in a fancy black suit and overcoat. He crosses his arms and sneers down at me, his thin black mustache curling around his fleshy upper lip. He says it's time for Gloria to go. Her fingers tighten on mine. I go all stupid and stand up like some sorta stinkin' knight. I tell him that it's probably up to the lady when and where she'd like ta go. He laughs at me, Gloria saves him a world o hurt by hopping up and telling me it's okay. She tells me to not worry...just remember me she says. Just remember me, and then she's gone.

I have to sneak out of the bar through a window in the bathroom. Figures that the bum would go and nab Gloria before she could pay for our drinks. I get into my Cadillac and start driving and thinking. I circle the streets slowly, I have no idea how long I keep driving... She told me ta remember her. She said it wouldn't matter what happened if I could remember her. She was bein' hunted down by a buncha goons. She mentioned things her sire was doin' to her. Things he was doin' ta hurt that beautiful and perfect creature. Remember me, that's what she said. Why should I need to remember her...unless she weren't gonna be around anymore?

My car comes to a stop. I look up. I'm out in the Heights, the biggest and richest place in Detroit. I'm parked in front of a mansion. A mansion owned by one Gregory Warrens. I look through the gate and across the lush lawn at the tall building with it's dark windows. Was she in there? Was she hurting? Was she still alive? I climb out of the car and walk up to the gate. My fists clench as I look at the building. I don't approve of guys hurtin' dames. And this was a dame worth killing for. Yeah...worth killing for!

The coast was clear so I vaulted the gate and sprinted up towards the house. There were a series of hedges arrayed along the west side of the mansion, so I slipped down behind them and crawled along till I reached the rear of the building. The entire backyard was devoted to a massive patio and pool done up like Gregory was some sorta Roman emperor. I sneak up to a low railing that encircles the place and peer between the small pillars. The pool is all lit up and glowing, water sloshing gently in it. But it ain't that I'm noticing, no it ain't even the pair of guards standing by the doors back into the mansion. It's Gloria.

She stands poised on the diving board, her arms raised above her head and her eyes peacefully closed. Her nude body glistens in the moonlight and reflected glow from the pool. Little wavering lines of light play across her shapely legs and firm abdomen. Her full breasts rise and fall slightly as she shifts her arms. Her soft brown hair hangs damply down her slender back. She jumps and seems to freeze, poised for an instant in midair in order to let me glory at every magnificent inch of her. Then she knifes into the pool, her lithe body flowing and gliding under the water. The double doors that the guards are by swing open, the movement breaking the spell I was under.

A man stands there holding a smoking pipe. His thin wiry body is wrapped in deep red silk pajamas and a black smoking jacket. His gaunt face bears a touch of impatience as he waits for her to surface. Gloria reaches up and pulls herself out of the water and up the ladder that dips into the pool. Her body glows in the pool light, drops of water glide and flow down her supple body. The man cocks an eyebrow at her and shakes his head.

Must you be such an exhibitionist in front of the help, he says in a slight drawl. She reaches out and pulls a silky garment off a table and pulls it on. It don't exactly hide much. He asks her why she always feels the need to wash herself after being near him. She don't say nothing, she just walks past him and back into the house. The big, dark house. He rolls his eyes and grumbles something under his breath as he follows her in. So...that must be Gregory. That's who's hurting Gloria, that's who has ta die. Well, why put off till tomorrow what you can do tonight? A dame to kill for, she's given me a purpose, I intend to fulfill it.

With their boss outta sight the two guards get stupid. They plop down inta two pool chairs and start chatting and talking about the baseball game from last night while sharing a smoke. I creep over the railing behind them and start slowly inching towards them. Playing it real smart, that's my way. Then one of em says something really really stupid. He claims Mantle is a loser compared to McGwiure. Now, I'm as understanding a fellow as the next guy, but come on! Everyone has their limit... I growl and charge them. They spin around in shock as I slam into them, knocking them both outta their seats and hard to the concrete and tile-work of the patio, their guns go clattering away over the slick tiles. I grab them both by the back of their necks and drag them along. They kick and punch at me as I pull them over to the pool and shove their heads under. I keep asking them what they think of Mantle now? Huh? Who's the best fuckin' player of all time fuckin' now? Huh? Huh?

It occurs to me that they can't answer me under water. I pull them up, and it occurs to me they can't answer dead either. I drop the bodies and turn back to the house. I walk over and try to open the door. It's locked. I kick in the door and walk in. A loud bleeping starts ta go off, I guess that means ol Greg has himself an alarm system. But that's okay, I work well under pressure. I start to peek around downstairs when two guards start running down the huge stairway in the main hall. If the guards are upstairs then so is their boss. The two guys start ta shoot at me. I grab up some big suit of armor sittin' ina corner and chuck it at them. It smashes hard into one o the guys and he goes down. I charge the second.

He fires his little mini Uzi inta me as I run. Bullets rip and tear through me, punching holes in my coat. But that's okay, cause I reach him. I grab his head and squeeze, his eyes bug out and blood sprays outta his face. The first guy pushes the armor off him, so I lean over and stomp on his neck, crushing it easily. He gags and struggles, pushing at my foot. I grind it a little, killing the dweeb deader then a doornail. I look back at the guy whose head I'm crushin' His face has kinda turned purplish-black, so I drop him and run up the stairs. I burst through the door they came out of and hit the jackpot on the first try.

Gregory himself is standing up from behind his desk, his still smoking pipe clutched in his left hand. We're in some sorta library. The walls are lined with all sortsa books and crazy collectible items. I can also see whips and chains and spikes and other strange things hanging from the walls around his desk. My eyes narrow as I look at him. I tell him he can't keep using all his crazy toys on Gloria. I tell him it ain't natural or nice. I tell him either he hands her over and lets her go free...or I do something he'll regret. His eyes look at me as he shakes his head slowly. He says he doesn't know what I'm talking about. He asks me what toys I'm referring to. He claims that Gloria can't be trusted and that I'm quite mad. I'm still not sure whether he meant Malkavian mad or Brujah mad...I guess it don't matter.

Anyways the guy was blabbering and I was just gettin' more pissed. Then he reached into a drawer of his desk and grabbed a gun out of it. I mighta been willing ta keep talkin', but now he had pretty much established himself as a bad guy. I quickly ran forward, his aim was good and accurate and he plugged me four times in the chest before I made it to him. Not like that would make a difference on his survival chances. I kicked the desk hard, it flipped up in the air and smashed into him like a battering ram. I slammed into it again as it fell on top of him. I saw his hand flopping out from under the desk and grabbed it. I jerked upwards, snapping the bone and wrenching his head and shoulders out from under the desk. He looked up at me in shock as I went ta work on him.

I'll admit I went too far. I wuz just planning on busting him up a little and then going to find Gloria. But all I could think of was her little gasp of fear. The way her fingers curled around my hand when they came for her. The way her eyes had trembled as she talked about what he'd done to her. So I keep hitting. Bone and chunks of flesh are splattered across my hands and face. Ya can't really tell where the pools of blood end and his head begins unless ya happen ta spot his mangled neck. I breathe out and nod a bit as I stand. Then I realize...I just killed one of the prince's childer...oh hell am I in for it now.

Then I hear the soft laughter behind me. I turn around and see Gloria and that huge linebacker step into the room. He's got a pump action shotgun held carefully in his hands. She's holding a magnum as she smiles her brilliant smile at me. Her voice is still prim and proper as she thanks me, thanks me for killing an innocent man. I shake my head, I can't believe what she's saying to me. I look down at Gregory, I look around the room. Where once their was his torture devices now there's just some decorative wall hangings and rope art. She laughs again, she raises her gun and thanks me for remembering her...thanks a lot sucker. She yells the last as she fires, the bullet slams inta my arm and tosses me back.

A burning pain fills my shoulder, I glance over in shock at the smoking wound. Phosphorous rounds...the dame came prepared. Her beautiful and flawless face twists into a mask of evil as she fires again and again. I stagger and stumble as the rounds slam into me, ripping me apart. The burning phosphorous making sure the wounds can't be healed, the wounds as bad as regular bullets to a human. I collapse to my knees and look up at her, I shake my head again. No Gloria...don't...it can't be. She sneers, she fires again, the bullet glances off my skull near my eye, a burning lance of pain and blinding flash of fire. My head's tossed back as I fall to the ground.

She orders Meno to finish me off for her. I hear his heavy footsteps start across the room towards me. I look up through pain filled and blood coated eyes. Meno walks forward as he cocks his shotgun. I twist over onto my belly and look up at the window behind me. A dame to kill for...A dame to kill. I still gotta purpose to live for. I intend to fulfill this one too. A painful surge of my muscles pushes me to my feet and sends me lurching towards the window. Meno growls and fires, the spray of phosphorous from the shotgun blasts me off my feet and through the window.

Shattered fragments of glass rip and shred my skin and clothes as I tumble forward and start rolling down the roof. My back feels like hamburger...hamburger on a hot grill. I hear the sizzle and pop of my flesh as I tumble head over heels. Meno shouts in anger as he rushes up to the window and fires after me again and again. Sprays of liquid fire seem to dance and spark around me as I tumble off the roof and into the air. Below me I see the cool calm water of the pool. Cool soothing waters for my burning back and fiery eye...I slam down hard onto the tile of the patio about ten feet from the pool. Bones and plaster both splinter and crunch. Above me I hear Gloria yelling at Meno ta stop me. I stagger to my feet and rush along the hedges towards the front of the house.

Blood is gushing from my ruptured eye and pouring down my back by the time I reach the front gate. I hear the doors slam open as Meno charges out onto the lawn after me. I careen through the gates and practically fall into my Caddie. I turn the keys in the ignition and push down on the gas. A shotgun blast of white hot fire hisses past my ear and chews a hole through the windshield. I accelerate away, leaving Meno and Gloria far behind me. I don't bother with speed limits, the cops in the Heights would pull over a car with a shotgun hole in it anyways. Somehow I make it down off the hill, go coasting down inta the quiet peace of South Detroit. I'm bleeding bad, I can't see outta my left eye, and I can't feel most of my body. But that's okay, I won't die, I've got too much to live for.

Somebody asks me what I have to live for. I glance up to see that Gloria is sitting in the seat next to me. She laughs in my face. She tells me about how she was just using me cause she knew I was too stupid to figure it out. She reminds me how I killed an innocent punk and now the Camarilla is gonna be hunting my ass all over town. She snickers as she points out that I'll have nowhere to go and nowhere to hide. I spin around to punch her and just end up busting up the seat. No...Gloria weren't there. You haven't been taking your medication and you're seeing things again... Just gotta concentrate, concentrate on getting to a phone and dialing the number. Then you can let the darkness claim you...