Worming Your Way Back

[Kenneth Gilroy]

A pile of ratty clothes huddled near the Necropolis’ above ground entrance. From time to time it twitched and shivered in such a way that you could imagine the tattered suit was filled with crawling centipedes. Dare to come closer and a disgusting man is revealed to actually be wearing them.

Kenneth Gilroy sat at the steps to the Deep Kingdom he had once ‘ruled’.

He may have lost his way, literally, but he’d managed to return. It had taken him an hour to find the entrance. Had it become more occluded in the time he’d been gone or was his memory simply that fractured? Had a year of torpor really shattered his mind so much?

Having finally found it, even then he couldn’t enter. His keys had been lost somewhere during his imprisonment. He knocked but no answer came. Anyone inside was likely far below ground he knew. So he had turned and crouched down from the exhaustive effort of making his way back here on limited means. Waiting. Hoping.

[Robert Cross]

As is his habit, Cross has been out driving. Navigating the streets of Sacramento in his Town Car with no real destination. Lately, since Alice's punishment at the hands of Alessandra and the Prince, these drives have grown longer and longer. The Necropolis seems altogether too empty in the Doll's absence.

Still, the Underground is his home. And so he returns, parking down the block and making the approach on foot. Strapped with gun and knife under his suit jacket as always.

He spots the huddled form sitting in front of the decrepit house from up the street and picks up his pace, willing the Blood to supernaturally enhance his strength and his senses. After all, his Family rarely has visitors. And these nights, Cross takes very few chances.

Stopping at the bottom of the walkway, near the road, Cross examines this twitching mass of clothing that blocks his path to the above-ground haven's door for a long moment. Feeling a deep sense of disgust, of primal distaste, that he almost recognizes...

Almost.

Finally, he calls out a challenge, his voice gruff in the dark: "Who's that?"

[Kenneth Gilroy]

The rat ratty man twitches his head towards the sound. You can hear his neck pop even from a distance.

“Hello Robert,” a voice like bot flies buzzes at the Burned Man. The Worm seems to writhe and twist under its clothing as it unfolds into a standing position. Several more pops and cracking joints can be heard.

“It’s Kenneth Gilroy.” His voice sounded weak and pathetic. Even with enhanced senses it felt like he was mumbling while at the same time burrowing into his ears. Even without the Beast there was still an urge to stomp on Gilroy, or at least step on his throat so he words didn’t annoy your ears.

“I’m back.” There was something almost shameful in that statement. So simple, so lacking in explanation.

[Robert Cross]

It's the sound of that neck cracking that does it. Pieces fall into place, even before Gilroy speaks. And Cross knows.

The emotions come quickly.

First relief: My Bishop, My Regent, My Priscus has returned!

Then confusion: Where has he been? Why did he leave? What does this mean for the Family?

And finally: Anger.

Without a word, the Burned Man marches forward and brushes by the Worm, extracting his keys from his pocket and opening the door. Still Silent, Cross clamps his other hand on Gilroy's shoulder, his grip like a vice. Just tight enough to promise injury, though not cause it. Yet.

"In. Now." he says. Half guiding, half dragging his former Regent into the house.

When he slams the door, the windows rattle in their frames. That iron grip is released and Cross simply stands there after locking the door behind them. Staring at Gilroy, suddenly at sea. Unable to decide what he should do, what he should say. Whether he should lead them further down, into the Necropolis proper. But no, it's best to start this here. There's too much privacy in the Underground. It could tempt his Beast.

Finally: "You left." A beat. "Why?"

[Kenneth Gilroy]

Grabbing Gilroy felt like squeezing a maggot. The vermin haunt felt almost boneless as he was dragged limply into the Haven. The worm didn’t even bother to struggle.

Instead he let himself be led before returning Cross’ dead stare with his own. The lidless, unblinking gaze of a viper. The trouble with vipers being whether scared or about to attack their eyes stayed the same. Fixed on the target.

“I,” his voice seemed to quaver “am not entirely sure.” There was a flinch that conveyed the message ‘don’t hit me I can explain’. He had memories. The actions he had taken in them didn’t make sense though. Kenneth could only assume something had caused him to act irrationally or that the memories had fallen to the corrupting touch of torpor.

“I was captured by my Sire and held captive for the past several months in Boston. The majority of which I believe was in torpor. The dreams were… violent in any case. I am still working to parse fiction from reality.” Which come to think of it, meant he really should have struggled a bit more. Kenneth had let the Burned Man grab his shoulder. Remembered asking him to be a Templar. Trusted him. Or so his memories told him. Was Robert Cross the man Gilroy remembered him being? Even if the memories were accurate, could something have happened to change the man's character in the interim?

[Robert Cross]

The silence stretches.

Dead, blue eyes--equally unblinking--regard Gilroy. Measuring him as he explains.

But, who is Cross to judge? Had he not left without one word only a few months after his former Regent? Had he not returned just two short months ago?

Yes, but if Gilroy hadn't left, you wouldn't have either. If he had stayed, you could've joined the Dark Faith here, the Beast seems to whisper with tongues of flame.

No. He will not listen to the Monster. Their Family needs all the help it can get at this moment. And Gilroy, in his own way, is a formidable leader. Despite all appearances.

When he speaks, he's surprised to find that his voice is also unsteady, touched by the whirlwind of emotions raging inside him:

"I...I apologize for treating you...brusquely," he manages before clearing his throat. When he speaks again, its with his usual flat and steady cadence: "It's just, you have to understand how hard it was after you left and..."

He stops for a moment before continuing: "Well, perhaps you'd better see for yourself." With that, the Burned Man strides to the door that leads down into the Necropolis proper, opening it with his key. "Follow me," he says before plunging into the darkness.

[Kenneth Gilroy]

There no were animal corpses as they made their way to the Necropolis proper. Just a dark blood stain on the floor like ward against those who would trespass. There was, however, the smell of decay. And smoke.

His undead heart sank inside its chest upon entering. The once grand Caldarium was a shadow its former self. The tunnels leading to annals had collapsed. As well as for the trash pit. Even the Dark Temple, which he had always planned to wall up in the event of his absence was instead in ruins.

All the effort, the persuasion, all the preparations. Gilroy had always tried to anticipate his own absence. The Sacramento Danse moved quickly. For Kenneth that meant he was likely to meet final death at any moment. Ensuring the Necropolis was able to survive without him had always been one of his goals.

Then again, despite being reduced, it had survived. It was still in a better state than when he’d started. And with the structures having already existed, it wouldn’t be as hard to bring them back to functionality.

“What is the state of the Clan and Domain?” he asked cautiously. He could already make some educated guesses.

[Robert Cross]

Cross remains silent as they inspect the much diminished Necropolis. He doesn't have to say anything, doesn't have to explain. Gilroy knew its former glory. Was its chief architect, in fact. He can see, just as Cross can, how far what was once the Deep Kingdom has fallen.

Indeed, the Burned Man welcomes the silence between them. It allows him time to sort out his emotions. To regain, at least in part, that pragmatic balance from which he typically acts. Because Gilroy's reappearance is the last thing he'd expected. And he can't decide whether it makes him happy or not. Though, right now, that's not the issue.

It's a comfort to talk facts. Offering a report to his former Regent as he used to. "Numbers are reduced in the domain. Though it remains functional. Asa Clarke still reigns, but he has left the First Estate for the Ordo Dracul." And what would Gilroy make of that fact? "After your departure, Victoria Stamford assumed the position of Seneschal. She has since departed and been replaced by Alice." Another pause, allowing this detail to sink in as well. "During Lady Stamford's time in that position, she appointed me Reeve. But Alessandra Antinori now occupies that role..."

Does he say it? Does he admit that he'd followed Gilroy's own example and disappeared from the city? And why not?

"...Because I also left, a few months after you. On a pilgrimage, back to LA. Where I officially became a member of the Church." And I have the brand to prove it, he thinks. Watching his former Bishop closely for his reaction to that news.

"As for the Family, when I left it was only Alice and I. But our numbers have been growing. Robert Longstreet was here when I returned. He is devoted to the Dark Faith and serves as Bishop. And not too long ago, Cynthia Weiss arrived in the city. Unaligned." He leaves it at that.

There's another long pause before he presses on: "Recently, though, things have taken a turn for the worse..." A beat, the Burned Man clenches his jaw. "Alice was staked by the Reeve, a punishment for losing herself to the Beast on two separate occasions. They have her at the Nox..."

Cross finds that he can't go on. Of course, there is more. So much more. And it's apparent by the way he trails off. But perhaps it is best to let Gilroy process what he's already shared before continuing. And for the Burned Man to gather himself, to reign in his rage at the thought of Alice alone, a piece of wood driven through her heart, in a place where he can't reach her.

[Kenneth Gilroy]

The Prince had joined the Dragons? That was… troubling. Why give up such a high position? The obvious answer was to gain Order secrets and leave a loyal subordinate to run the Estate while away. Like Twist. It would allow him to explore the coils without giving up defacto control. Assuming he could get the trust of the other Dragons. Of course as a Ventrue and a Prince what did he have to worry about trust? If he asked to learn, could the Order Dracul truly resist the inherent command?

The other answer and hopefully less likely, was that he’d converted to their message. It would place him one more step away from being allying with the Lance. Then again, Clarke had never seemed one to hold the old alliance too highly. Always… practical. Though eve vampires changed with time. Had something changed? Too little information but something to consider.

Alice had been appointed Seneschal. It brought equal parts pride and sadness. He’d seen potential in the Doll despite her false counter claims. He’d hoped to protect her from the predatory politics for a little while though, enough time to gain confidence. It hurt to know that his own disruption of the political landscape had eventually led to her quick assumption of leadership title. The Worm knew well the sickening feeling of falling upwards.

Numbers reduced. Across the entire domain from the implications. Clan or covenant numbers had never meant too much. Too subject to change. Rather it was the individual and collective power they wielded that determined power. Although, if enough Kindred had fled the city to make it worth noting, the old assumption might have changed. Yet if the Prince still ruled… one alpha predator could take out a dozen lesser minds. Still risky to try. Especially without a clear goal in mind. So long as the Asa maintained control he maintained stability. And with Robert as Reeve and Alice as Seneschal…

Oh. For the first time the Fallen Worm turned to look at Cross instead of out over the Necropolis. It was hard to read the vermin. So easy to read in the lesser emotions. Was that guilt? Regret? But eventually it was the viper’s eyes that seemed to have turned to Robert. Cold, calculating. Proud? Kenneth turned back to his purveyance of the Necropolis.

Alice had been left alone. Seneschal, default Priscus. It confirmed his fears that Greenberg and Garrick had left. Thus the collapsed tunnels. Yet by Cross’ admission their family had been growing. Not only that but their faith. A new Bishop. Was the fact that so many of his titles had been claimed by others a good thing?

Then came the bad news. Alice despite being Priscus and Seneschal had been staked. Not Final Death, thank God but still removed from the Danse. Held hostage at the Nox (no better way to say it). With reduced numbers was the Clan too much of a threat? How might his return be perceived? With Alice in torpor how was he too get acknowledged without presenting himself directly to the Prince? And how would Clarke have taken his sudden disappearance?

“Does my return place our family at risk?” Gilroy sniveled. Sacramento was his home. The place he’d worked to improve. Tabitha had stolen much of that but he wouldn’t help her steal more. The situation wasn’t so bad that it couldn’t be recovered. However, he could see how he coming back might make that more difficult. Especially with Alice as a prisoner in the Nox. He wasn't willing to risk his family for nostalgia.

[Robert Cross]

And there it is: the incisiveness, directness of thought, that Cross has always respected about the Fanged Worm. Cross has just inundated Gilroy with information and yet his fellow Haunt has gone straight to the real question: the safety of the Family.

The Burned Man fixes his former Regent with a measuring look, struggling with the fact that he is happy to see Gilroy again. Wanting to be angry, wary, distrustful. And failing.

"No more than my own reappearance," he answers. They'd both abandoned their posts after all. "In any case, we need you. The Domain and the Family both. These are hard nights. If there's risk attached," he shrugs, "I'd say it's worth it."