THE BIRTH OF THE VICIER LINEAGE

[Thy Dungyeon Maestyr]

          In a recently vacated hugely expensive and vast artist loft, nothing remained of the previous collective of lively people but their motley furniture and the extent to which they left spatters, gouges, and scorch marks in the environment.  Jess and Hunter stepped off the freight elevator straight into the space.  The few dividing walls concealed nothing, emptying into shared floor.  The remaining furniture was clustered around a pair of once-expensive drawing tables.  Vampire sat in wait there.

                 
                                    Hunter-                                Jess-
                                 "Um... Hi."                 "Bon soir, amirite?  This is amazing."

    The vampires were still but for expressions.

      
                                                Inka-
                                              "Chjarmed!"
                                                                                       Vicier-
                                                                                    " 'Zeh bonnest of soirs, indeed.
                                                                                       Welcome to our new friends.
                                                 Inka-                          Zhall we make introductions?"
     Insana-                        "Oh I am Inka..."
 "And I am Insana."

Wine bottles and glasses littered a table, and Vicier picked through them. Were the rest empty already?
              
                              Hunter-
                         "Insane-a?  Are you a performance artist?"
   
   Insana-
"It's a respected Litani name, coglione."


Vicier-
"I'm sure zee lad meant no offense.
One day a patron may teach him
  of different cultures."
            
                    Hunter-                                                          Jess-
           "I am sooo sorry, I had no idea."             ''Language sure is a funny
                                                                                             thing, isn't it?  Ha ha?"

   Insana-
"I'm not laughing."
        
            Inka-
          "I don't get it."

He poured two brimming glasses of wine.

   
Vicier-
"I hear zhees one is good, I am not a connoisseur of... wine."

               
                                                                          Jess-  "Yes please."
                                           They took the drinks.
                         
                                   Vicier-
                        "Drink, drink friends.
                      Young Hunter, you look... mm, glum.
                    Why is zees? You should enjoy being alive."

     
             Hunter-
        "Sorry I just don't like to upset people.  I'm not religious
      but if I was, joy would be my godhead."
                                                                                            Jess-
                                                                                "Mm, that's beautiful, mm"

  Inka-
"Well that's nice."


Vicier-
"Indeed, we enjoy having a good time as well,
don't we?"
   
   Insana-
"Not there yet but by all means, keep trying."

   
Vicier-
"Hm, what eez your joy, lad?
Art, romance, pleasure?"

     
          Hunter-
    "Oh, anything.  Not vices per se, I just love feeling in every way.
      Life is for living, you know?"                 Jess-
                                                                      "That's so true and so easy to forget."


                     Vicier-
                    "Oui, oui... Jess, what of you?
                   What do you wish for your life?"

  Inka-
"Do you believe in spaysaliens?"

     
                                                                          Jess-
                                                                    "Mm, oh my god you guys, I wasn't
                                                                expecting to be on the spot.  Mm, but
                                                              yeah.  No to aliens but maybe?  But yes
                                                           to life.  I just like things that are interesting,
                                                        y'know, interesting?  Mm, and, like, isn't that
                                                         what it's all about?  Staying interested?"

Vicier-
"Fantastic, well, you may find yourselves
able to enjoy zee finer zhings soon enough.
Have you ever considered patronage?
You may guess why I have invited you here..."
     
               Hunter-  "Oh?"                            Jess-
                                                                 "I don't... understand..."

Vicier-
"I am new to town, but I have been accepted into a... collective.
You have impressed me tonight. We have only two spots,
but eet is full room and board, you may need to find your own beverages
but zee parties are like nozhing you have ever experienced."

      He looked to Inka with a wry grin.

  Inka-
"Teeheeheehee, it's ever so much fun."

     
            Hunter-
      "A residency with a collective?  That
   is more interesting than the other offers."     Jess-
                                                                                  "Think I'll prefer to stay
                                                                         at my own place, will that be OK?"

Vicier-
"It could be arranged, after zee orientation.
How is your wine?"

      Boy that stuff was strong!

     
                Hunter-   "Potent but potable."     Jess-  "It's classy, but
                                                                                     I'm no s0mmelier."

Vicier-
"Mm, wonderful. Say, why don't you take a look and zees piece."

He led them deeper in the room, into relative darkness, where a few candles flickered on the ledge of a painted over window. A sculpture suspended from the ceiling beams, glimmering in the warm light. It wasn't of his usual style--  Barbs of metal, shards of crystal, iron beams jumbled together into a tangle of shapes, a crude chandelier, swaying just slightly.

Vicier-
"An installation zee zhree of us were fooling with.
Just for... mm, kicks. Would you like to add to eet?"

The humans clearly didn't have the slightest clue about what was soon to transpire.
                           
  Hunter-
"Is the ambiance here part of the composition?"
                                
     Insana-  "Mmmmm hahaha..."        Inka-  "Um, I tink so?"


Vicier-
"Mm, it is. Take a look, if you see from below,
it casts zee most interesting shadows. Like gnarled branches.
Darkness, into light. Zee natural forms from zee most unnatural materials."

                           
  Hunter-                                                             Jess-
"It sounds interesting."       "I feel like I stepped into a world of  darkness..."

  He nudged them closer as he spoke.

Vicier-
"Forget zee individual versus society,
it's all about life into death, and rebirth.
Body, spirit, desire. Life, death... uh, blood.
Inka darling, would you care to do zee honors?"
                   
                                                                        Inka-
                                                             "Porominen, ojentaa suunsa!"

A scarcely visible force, giant hands, gripping their entire heads.  The humans were lifted off their feet.  Smaller inhuman hands with piercing and pinching grasps rent clothing, worked straps...

A boar-tusked Vicier-
"I would enjoy zee boy's feet, but Inka, you may have your choose,
as zee eldest. Where to uncork?"

Insect trilling Inka-
"Nnn I will take from her stomach."

Ever the gracious host, Vicier let her puncture the poor woman's abdomen, and Insana to tuck in to her preferred cut. He held the boy's thrashing feet easily with hooved hands, before sinking tusks into the tender insoles. Industrial fans whirred and absorbed their victim's screams.  The uncanny spirit presence receded from the world as blood loss stole the fight from the humans.  Insana's wet laughing sounded at random like child poking an animal with a stick.

[Thy Dungyeon Maestyr]

On the way to the meeting at the Bledsandwold Grand Hotel, Antonia Insana
   decided that was probably going to be dull as balls. She walked the
   not-entirely empty street along the boulevard of such-and-such.

   
Insana-
"Mmmm..."

When out of the alley there arose some footfalls, she looked up from her phone
  to see what was the balls. Then what to her wondering eyes should appear,
      but some sensible brogues on a vampire gangsteer.

  Clyde-
"Hey dollface, what an evening!"
                                           
                                            Insana-
                                "I could take you apart without blinking," she bluffed.
    
  Clyde-
"Oh I'm sure, I don't mean to upset ya. Just gettin' to know the new folks in town.
Being neighborly, all that. Sayin' 'how do.' So 'how do', madam? Name's Clyde."
                                           
                                            Insana-
                             "Pardon me if I don't trust this to be an entirely cordial meeting."
                              
                                            Insana-
                             "So Clyyyde, are you one of the 'crow boys'?"

Clyde folded his arms and leaned a shoulder against the wall jauntily.

  Clyde-
"In a sense. Does our reputation precede us?"
                           
                                            Insana-
                             "A reputation as weaklings taking advantage of a perceived
                moment of vulnerability.  The Circle can swat you as they like and
                  still deal with the real threat, rest assured."

  Clyde-
"Well, nothin' to be worried about then, hm?
And real threats are threats to us all,
don't much care for my city gettin' blown apart either,
even if it's targeted on folks I don't always get along with."
                              
                                            Insana-
                          "Now this is a bit confusing.  Are you or are you not attacking
           Circle members in the streets?  Should I re-read my e-mail?  *sigh*"
  
  Clyde-
"I suppose it's a bit of a chicken-egg thing, hm?  I know not all of us do that,
and certain Circle members do.  Anyway, with all you fresh folks in town,
maybe it's a chance for a fresh start for us?
    I tell 'em to back off, and if any punks mess with you, they answer to me
and you got carte blanche to give 'em the boot. In return, you just pay us
the same favor. Seem fair?  You look like a reasonable gal."
                                          
                                            Insana-
                             "This is quite unexpected...  So your little faction has some
                      infighting?  A dominant faction?  Where is the progenitor in all
                         of that?  What a strange lineage."
           Circle members in the streets?  Should I re-read my e-mail?  *sigh*"
  
  Clyde-
"It's a bit strange, isn't it? Guess we need a little order, been hard with
the Circle busting up the joint. Well, you don't need our sob-story. Punks
are punks. But don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, y'know?
  Whattya say?"
                
                                            Insana-
                             "I admit it's an intriguing offer.  Relative freedom from
                       baldy assault, no recriminations from the dominant faction
                          if I must slay a dozen in self-defense, in exchange for not
                                  actively hunting your kind?  Do I have that right?"
  
  Clyde-
"By all means! You go ahead and think that one over,
no pressure. And where are my manners, welcome to Harlan!"
                             
                                            Insana-
                             "I will think about it.  Clyde..?"

  Clyde-
"Hmm, since we're buddies I'll let you know,
the rest of the name might be on this shirt.
And what shall I call you, besides 'charming?' "
                                 
                                            Insana-
                                  "Insana..."  She shifted in a way that emphasized
                                     her ample bosom, gaging his reaction as subtly
                                       as she could manage.  She was on high alert.

He seemed to pay it no mind at all.

  Clyde-
"That's great Ms. Insana, any baldies give you trouble,
tell 'em Clyde's comin' for them and I'll send 'em packin.' "
                      
                                            Insana-
                                    "You've got a deal, but we must speak again."

  Clyde-
"I'd be delighted to."
                      
                                            Insana-
                                    "My hotel room at five AM?"

  Clyde-
"Appreciate the offer but I gotta check in on my apprentice.
Ya play cards? Maybe when all this settles down I'll get back
to that regular poker night. Be glad to have some fresh faces!"
                      
                                            Insana-
                                    "Mm.  Cards.  È fantastico."

  Clyde-
"Well sprechen of which, better check in on that
little scamp.  Enjoy your evening Ms. Insana!"
                             
                                            Insana-
                                      "Arrivederci, Clyde..."

            With that, they went their separate ways.