Greetings Kindred and Kine alike. I've had this one bouncing around my head for a little while, and given the recent exciting news, figured now was the time to post it. I don't have everything worked out, but I thought Total Drama was a really good crossover for Vampire the Masquerade.
Fair warning, the only real exposure I have with the World of Darkness has been my playthroughs of VtMB. My first time was a Venture, hence the way I've framed the story. Still, I am oblivious to a lot of stuff, and I am bending certain rules and maybe even taking a few people a little OOC. I'm trying to merge the worlds together in a way that doesn't mess either up too badly, but in some cases I just need to make things a bit more flexible, you know? So anyways, unless it was in the game or readily accessible on the White Wolf wiki, don't expect me to know my stuff too well for the Vampire side!
Reviews are appreciated, and help me write more. :) Enjoy!
The proof of their guilt lined every hallway and was plastered on every entrance of the facility.
Ezekiel Rumford, 17 years old, had been missing for eight days. Last seen in the woods between his family's cabin near the lake and the outskirts of town, all that had yet been found of him was a mangled shoe near the stream. His first year in public school had been cut abruptly short, and his disappearance was attracting media attention from across the province.
An online campaign had been started by community members to support his family and lend any aide to the police that could be given. Posters and tributes had been set up all over the school. The magnifying glass was all over and around Wawanakwa High School.
So began his second day at this school, as Alejandro walked through the big open gate that marked school grounds. His job was twofold: One, to make sure that Ezekiel was never found, and two, to punish those who had caused this mess.
His partner, the mainstay Ventrue at this school, Courtney, greeted him with a kiss on the lips. It was hardly up to protocol, but the illusion of normalcy had to be maintained. Who was this sudden transfer student? Just a cool kid from Mexico, whose family had migrated to expand their business ventures. He was already fitting in like a glove, just another one of the in-crowd, that was all.
"Hey babe," Courtney said, throwing a bit too much acting into her voice.
"Why hello, beautiful," He replied with a more conservative affection.
The kids who noticed them took what they saw at face value, looking on with yearning or jealousy as the young couple walked down the hall, his arm over her shoulder. Other kindred gave subtle signs of respect; they were few and far between, but not nearly as few as they ought to be.
This school was becoming a breeding ground lately, and the unconventional lack of respect for the Masquerade, especially in the case of Ezekiel, was something else his superiors told Alejandro to investigate. It had only taken a day to discern which clan was responsible for the abduction, and while the others were keeping their noses clean around him...he wasn't convinced they were always so innocent.
"I told Heather we'd meet in the lunchyard, she's dying to meet you," Courtney said, still keeping a charming tone in her voice.
"Great, let's go."
Heather Russo was lounging against the wooden lunch table on the edge of the food court, quietly drinking fruit punch out of a thermos. For her sake, it had better be fruit punch. Her thick sunglasses were about the only protection from the daylight she required, basking in the warm glow and watching the boy's football team run laps in the distance. Such fortitude was impressive, even to Alejandro. In comparison, Courtney was wearing a long sleeves and a bandanna over her head, leaning into the shadows of the food court overhang as much as possible. Even he kept in the shade, but this one? She invited the sun into her arms and bent it to its knees.
Heather's posture improved, but she didn't stand when the Ventrue approached. In her defense, she could call it part of the act, just staying casual around her friends. Inside she reveled in the lack of respect to her blood superiors. This one was a Brujah, without a doubt.
"Hey guys," She greeted with a superficial wave. Her voice was filled with smug joy, probably at the thought of being the summoner rather than the summoned. Such would never be the case in private, but here at the school, it was a necessary evil to endure her smirking.
They joined her at the table, and Alejandro even pulled out an apple to better blend in. The crunch was satisfying, though it was tasteless on his tongue. Courtney spoke first, looking around beforehand to make sure their conversation was isolated.
"Well, what do you have?"
"Exactly what you want," Heather replied, taking another swig from the thermos.
"And what is that we want?" Alejandro challenged, taking another mouthful.
"The asses of the Nosferatu who embraced that Ezekiel kid."
He swallowed, "I'm listening."
There it was again. That damned smirk. The attitude coming off this girl was already rubbing Alejandro the wrong way, and he couldn't stop himself from twitching his eyelid. She caught it - probably. It was unusual for him to let something like that out. Just what was going on?
"Well obviously its a big step to just...abduct them, but I know where you can find them."
"Surely you're not demanding a price for that information," Courtney said.
"Of course not, who am I to challenge the divine will of the Camarilla? They're hiding out in the caves near the old summer camp. Homeschool is probably sleeping with cockroaches a few miles away from his family's cabin. How ironic...wouldn't you say?"
"How is it you came across the location of the Nosferatu's nest? Alejandro asked.
"What, you think they're the only ones with spies? Please…"
As if to emphasize this fact, the trio was approached by two blonde girls in a cheerleading outfits, one with an unfortunately placed mole on her cheek, the other with a black eye and one arm wrapped in a cast.
In answer to the question running in his head, Courtney spoke up, "Amy is Heather's ghoul, and Samey is her sister."
"Hey Heather!" the healthier one shouted, waving, meanwhile the impaired twin slouched behind, looking desperately around for any excuse to take another direction. Finding none, she rocked back and forth on her feet as Amy scooted onto the seat beside Heather, resting barely more than an inch away.
"Woo, look at you, hanging with the new kid," Amy went on, teasingly shoving against Heather's arm a bit, "You're so kind. What a boss, am I right?"
Well this just wouldn't do.
"This is a private conversation. Leave," Alejandro said.
The flat command made Amy stop in her tracks and blink a few times. This might be more fun that he thought. She looked to Heather, who was unmoving and quiet. Courtney was smirking, and Samey was looking on a few steps away, half facing the action, and not fully controlling the shock of the moment.
The cheerleader recovered and brushed her hair back with one hand, "You probably don't know cause you're new, but Heather runs this place, and I'm, like, her best friend. Anything you have to say to her, you can tell me. You may be popular, but you're nothing compared to us."
"Oops..." Courtney mocked, putting one hand to her mouth and leaning back; Alejandro stepped forward.
"Such little dignitas…" Alejandro said, stepping around the table like a hawk scouting the fields for a rodent, "It would be a shame if she ran her mouth again. Finding a ghoul is such hard work."
Amy's realization dawned slowly; her mouth went wide and she lifted her face to look into his, finding contempt. Before she could say a word, a hand reached over and covered her mouth.
"It won't happen again," Heather promised, turning to Amy, "Will it?"
Amy was confused and a little shocked, and slowly nodded.
"Letting the power of being a ghoul get into your head is a quick way to lose it," Courtney warned, "tell people what you want, but Heather does not run this school. We do."
Amy looked to her master like a baby bird to its mama. Reality was crashing in on her fragile ego, and it was written all over her face. The statement grated on her pride, but Heather nodded in agreement with Courtney's words, removing her hand from Amy's mouth, "Just go. I'll talk with you later."
Amy almost spoke, then closed her mouth and nodded, turning furiously to Samey and bidding her sister to follow. Samey did not comply fast enough, and Amy yanked her good arm behind her as she stormed off. The abused twin gave one last look to the strange new boy, and then trailed after her sibling.
"You say the ugly one is your ghoul...what about her sister?" Alejandro asked.
"Samey? She's harmless," Heather assured, "Even if she wanted to tell people about Kindred, who would believe her? She's been under Amy's thumb since pre-school. And Amy is smart enough to keep her mouth shut."
Alejandro muttered something low in Spanish.
"Back to business," He said when the twins were far enough away, "the Nosferatu are at the summer camp you say? Then tonight, you will accompany us there to meet with their representative. Make any arrangements you need to. Let them know they've been discovered, and the Camarilla agent is coming to pass judgement. I'll be there at nine. Sharp."
"Is this going to put me in the good graces of the Camarilla?"
"Of course," he said.
He turned away and left without another word and Courtney followed him, leaving Heather alone at the table. She took another drink of blood from the thermos. New guy has game. Not unexpected, but more exciting in the flesh than it was in her imagination.
She smiled and shrugged, "Better than things being boring all the time."
The wasteland that was the beach of the old island camp was strewn over by trash and washed up junk. Heather's canoe lay with idle oars between a mangled tire and the carcass of a seagull wrapped in plastic. A few others lay close by as well. Alejandro and Courtney walked across the dock, while their rowman tied up the boat and awaited their return. A bonfire had been lit just up the first hill on the left. Heather was sitting on a cut log, roasting a marshmallow over the open flames. The graham crackers and chocolate bars were left forgotten in a bag beside her. Three black mush piles lay in the dirt, no doubt once fluffy white treats.
Alejandro took a seat on a log next to her, and Courtney sat beside him. The brujah said nothing at first, but checked her watch and smirked, "You're actually a minute early. They'll be along in just a moment."
The minute passed slowly, and the burning smell wafted up into the air as the squishy treat was charred, but just as she said, a group of kindred approached soon enough. Four walked willingly up the slope, one was bound and tied, dragged along behind like an old west lawmen captured by criminals. The last one was escorted up, his hands on his head, a razor against his throat.
Heather stood and met the victorious vampires, led by a student with a green mohawk, "Good job Duncan. If you ever need a permanent place of service, you're always free to work for me."
In response, Duncan flipped her the bird and walked away, causing the others to follow, and leaving the two Nosferatu, one laying in bondage, the other still afraid to remove his hands from his head.
"This," Heather said, kicking the one on the ground, "Is the offender. Dakota Jenkins was a prominent student a few years ago, and the founder of the beauty club. The local Nosferatu thought it would be funny to embrace her, and she's been the reluctant scum of their clan ever since."
Dakota sniffled in the dirt, and hesitantly looked to Heather and her allies. She had a long and hard fall from grace, still clinging onto her former beauty. Lipstick, mascara, blush, overall a well blended coat of makeup applied to her face, but there was no salvaging her complexion any more. If anything, this is what her sires wanted. If there were room in his heart for it, Alejandro would have pitied the girl.
"Well?" Heather went on, "What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I-I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'll do anything! Please, have mercy!" Her tears were diluting the makeup, only hurting her appearance more.
"Pathetic, right?" Heather went on, "Well as you can guess, this is Ezekiel. He wasn't a looker before the embrace, but damned if he isn't the ugliest nosferatu you'll ever see. How's unlife treating you, homeschool?"
Ezekiel shook his head, unable to muster words. If the childe was pathetic, his sire was disgusting. The offender sat crying black, mascara-stained tears, watching Alejandro with red eyes and a runny nose.
A demonstration was in order. How severe though? The other Nosferatu were certainly watching from the safety of the shadows, and were primed to see the retribution of the Camarilla.
"Yes, why did you embrace this poor man? That's what I want to know," He said, standing over Dakota, baring his fangs ever so slightly.
"I, I...I don't know, I was angry and he was just there in the open, and...I let my instincts get the better of me I guess. I'm really, really sorry, it will never happen again! Promise!"
"So you can't control yourself? That's your excuse?"
Dakota stumbled across several phrases, finally cry-shouting "It won't happen again! I swear!"
Alejandro picked her up, and snapped the rope bindings with his bare hands. He thought he saw Heather lift an eyebrow. That's right, not all Ventrue are spoiled barons living sheltered lives in ivory towers. He was no sheriff, but he also wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty. Watch this one, Heather.
"I believe you," He said smiling, "but...I also like to have certain insurances."
Dakota's grateful smile paused, then slowly turned into an anxious stare, and then a shocked cry of pain and Alejandro slipped a couple razors of his own across her throat. The guilty kindred fell into a pool of her own blood, further smearing her makeup, and dying in messy, choked whispers. They all watched her corpse jerk and leak, and then crinkle away into ash.
Ezekiel was petrified, and fell onto his butt, holding his hands over his face. Truly pathetic.
"Tell your brothers, there is no more embracing without my express permission. If this rule is violated again, I will bring hellfire down on all of you."
Alejandro flicked his hand into the wind, a few droplets of Dakota's blood flying into Ezekiel's face. He quivered in place, and slowly crawled back to the shadows of Nosferatu territory.
Another blackened marshmallow slipped to the dirt, and Heather watched the Camarilla agent leave with Courtney. Times were changing, and it would be an elaborate game to keep herself on top this time.
"Yeah...that's right. I think he's someone special. He just showed up the other day, out of the blue."
The girl paused and put her hand over the phone. With a quick stride to the window, she checked the blinds, bending one down at her eye level and gazing into the foggy night. Rain had blackened the streets, and the lamps on the sidewalk illuminated the puddles with a white glow.
"I don't know. I'll keep my eye on him though. He's a looker, and he's already up to no good."
She spun and looked down on her bed, the tools of her trade laid out on the pink sheets, recently cleaned and ready for use.
"Yeah...I know. I'll call you if I get in over my head."
The voice on the other side corrected her, "If you get in over your head, you won't have the chance to call me."
The girl nodded, "Understood. I'll be careful. Love you."
The voice was quick and concise: "Bring me the vampire's head."
Click.
The tone dial buzzed in her ear, and the girl let the phone go, landing softly on the bed. Time to go to work.