[Ennui]

They were out late...or early I suppose.  You want soy-caf.  I don't have real coffee until you introduce me to your contacts.  I blink and look thoughtful.  Clearly you drink it does the caffeine effect you the same way?  What about other drugs; can you even get high or does it have to be in a persons blood?  How much blood do you need each day anyway?  Are we talking pints or what?

I stretch cat-like out of bed put on some underwear and a robe then head to the kitchen to put the pot on.  I go to my altar grabbing a shallow chalice and a ritual dagger on the way.  I make a small incision on the back of my hand and make squeezing motions to make the blood flow.  It's more than a few drops about a swallows worth.  Then cast heal on myself.

As requested, I say swirling it in the bowl.

force 4 heal; drain: 9d6t5 4 10d6t5 4 No drain.  Since this is my lodge I may not have rolled enough dice, but you know...

[Mercy Merchant]

She looks at you with interest as you walk back with the chalice; an interest that increases as you cut yourself and allow your blood to drip into the cup.  Her eyes grow larger and she runs her tongue around her lips in anticipation.  She takes the goblet and sniffs deeply of the warm blood you are offering her, almost as how a wine connoisseur would  treat a glass of fine wine.  Carefully, the vampire lifts the chalice and sips at the blood in it, making a sound of intense pleasure as she drinks.  When she lowers the cup, there is no sign of the blood in it or on her lips, but there is an odd look on her face.  "My very existence is forbidden and my kind are hunted ruthlessly in every corner of the globe, yet you have accepted me into your life and your bed without any apparent qualms.  You have freely offered your most precious physical asset, your blood, to me without fear or prejudice.  History, legends, and rumors all conspire to paint my kind in the worst possible light but you look at me differently than others of your kind.  You would almost certainly be considered insane for befriending me."

She motions for you to give her the knife and cuts the back of her own hand, allowing some of her own blood to flow into the chalice.  You can instantly tell that there is something different about the blood; it is red, to be sure, but it flows with a different texture and you think you can see small sparkles in it.  As she hands you the cup, you note with some interest that the cut on her hand is nearly healed.  "Remember, do not drink of this.  Your body is not ready to take my blood.  And to answer your questions, at my age, I am able to exist for some time without the need for blood, the length of the interval depends on what my physical exertions are.  I try to "top off" as often as possible so that I do not get in a position of need.  I need a good bit, but can get a tiny amount from several people to make up the total.  My body is a very efficient filter and I am not affected by the poisons people put in their blood, so the caffeine has no effect on me.  I happen to like the flavor of the food and liquids I take in, but need neither to exist.  I do not get "high" in a normal sense, but I can reach a certain euphoria from the act of sex and from drinking blood.  Right now, even from just this small amount of you that I have consumed, I am feeling a strengthened desire for you.  Do what you will with the blood I have provided you and perhaps you can share with me the details of anything you discover."

[Ennui]

What measure makes you a monster?  How much suffering do you cause and how much do you intend to cause?  By my count you are a positive influence in the world.  Sure some people believe that certain conditions lead to a kind of moral black hole where once caught in it's gravity there is no escape from its damnation.  I'm not sold on that.  Ghouls may be the closest thing to it for me but I can still conceive the possibility even with those foul creatures.

I take the blood to my alchemical study and store it appropriately. 

I want to drop everything and take a look at it right now but business first,  I say.  I gather up the completed doses and divvy them up into hundreds, I get packs for my deliveries, Glinda and refresh my stocks and the rest will go into storage for future use.  Another day or two of this and I should have a weeks worth of distribution.  I doubled you up this time.  I know Sian said to slow down but if you've got someone distributing for you then you will need more anyway.

[Mercy Merchant]

Glinda laughs softly.  "You are seeing me now, but it took a very long time before I could control the hunger for blood.  After I turned, I was ravening for it and sated the lust with many lives.  Old, young, criminal, pure; it made no difference to me back then.  Sian helped me take the ones that would be missed the least, but even then I was hard to control.  We are not the only ones of our kind and some are not as careful with their....progeny......as Sian was.  Some just leave their creations alone to wreak whatever harm they can before some hunter puts them down.  Sian is different, even among our kind.  She cares for me very much and did not want to leave me to be destroyed for my actions.  So I lived and survived, but make no mistake, I killed many people in those early years.  I was a monster, so does outgrowing those tendencies take that away somehow, or am I still a monster?  I still kill on occasion and take someone's blood almost every day.  I can control my urges and only take a small bit from each victim, but I am still robbing people of a bit of themselves every time I feed.  So, you decide if I am a monster or not."

She takes the packet of drugs with a smile.  "Thank you, Ilsa.  I will be more careful with this lot.  I do not wish to disappoint Sian.........or you."

[Ennui]

Well then we should be good stewards of the future to make up for the suffering we cause then.  Regretting our past is useless it's wasted energy.  Your past is already a part of you.  Use that energy to move forward instead of constantly looking back.  This world is bleak, it doesn't take much to make it better.  Simply not being a douche bag, makes you good people in my book.  You and Sian trying to make that cesspit of humanity a little brighter makes you god damn heroes in my book.  Don't sell yourself short.

Sorry, did I just sound optimistic for a second there?  I'm gonna lose my goth card.

[Mercy Merchant]

Glinda snorts.  "Yeah, you did sound a bit optimistic, there.  I should probably report you to the Goth Council, but I think I will let it ride.......................this time.  Just watch yourself in the future and be careful who you such things to as others might not be so nice."  She sets her packet to the side and continues.  "So do you have plans for the day?"

[Ennui]

Yeah, I have deliveries to make to my new suppliers and I'll probably stop at Pulse for a few hours...I really need to find a distributor for that place.  I'll probably make another batch as well so I have some stockpiled.  Hopefully you will show me your coffee connection too.

[Mercy Merchant]

"Hmmm.  My coffee connection?  Now, that is asking a lot from a new relationship.  A really big step.  Next thing you know, you will be asking me to move in here."  She laughs.  "Of course, I will take you to meet the guy.  And you don't have to invite me in.........................unless you want to.  I have a nice coffin not too far from here."

You hear some shuffling of feet and Corbin sort of stumbles into the room.  "Did I hear someone say something about coffee?  And a coffin?  Hey, if you are living in one of those coffin motel places, you ought to move in here with us until you can get a better place."  He looks from one of you to the other and back.  "Ooops.  Did I say somehting wrong.  Serves you right for making so much noise so early in the day."

[Ennui]

Invite you in?  You're welcome here any time.

No.  She was just making a joke Corbin.  Don't act so desperate.  I say giving him a wink.  Help yourself to soycaf or whatever.  You and Shelly were out late, everything okay?

[Mercy Merchant]

Corbin stifles a yawn, but perks up a bit at the mention of soycaf.  He walks over to pour some, saying, "Yeah, things went fairly well after we split up, although the late start sort of ate into my distribution.  But the stuff is good and I still unloaded a god bit, so about average for the night.  Still have plenty of what I started with though, so don't need a restock yet."  He looks at Glinda with eyes that are marginally more awake now after some soycaf.  "You really thinking of moving in for a bit?"

Glinda looks from him to you.  "Well, that sort of depends on all three of you, I guess.  My place is comfy for one, but that is about all it is.  Is this an official offer or just noise?  I could help with any rent payments, if that will help make the choice easier?"

[Ennui]

Do you really want to stay here?  What about Sian?  I mean you are welcome to stay... it just never occurred to me that you might want to.  You are helpful at work and fun to play with.  I fine with it, Corbin made the invitation and I'm sure Shelly won't mind, but we will have to ask her of course.

[Mercy Merchant]

Corbin says, "Shell will be thrilled, I am sure.  And who is Sian?"

Glinda smiles and nods.  Sian is a friend of mine that I sometimes stay with, but I do not live with her.  I have an apartment not too far from here, but it is small and fairly plain.  I would love the opportunity to move in.  I do not have much to move over and certainly understand the need to wait for Shelly to wake up to give give her approval.  Thank you for asking me, though.  It means a lot."

[Ennui]

There's a spare room we just had a couch and a spare trid in there in case a guest wanted to crash.  No reason not to use it as a bedroom.  I can help you move, summon up a spirit to help anyway, once we get the okay from Shelly.  I'm going to check out that new compound while we wait for Shelly to get up.

Some dice rolls in case you want them
Assensing, Arcana, Alchemy, Chemistry: 8d6t5 4 7d6t5 3 9d6t5 1 8d6t5 2
reroll alchemy misses w/ edge: 8d6t5 5 total of 6 hits on alchemy (let me know if the edge is needed)

[Mercy Merchant]

Glinda smiles at the prospect of your offer and sips at her caf  as you go off with your sample.  Over the next hour, you quickly determine that the blood you are looking at is very special indeed.  You determine that it is a physical source of mana and could probably be used in various alchemy processes and formulas.  You also feel that it will take a lot of research and work to be able to use it in any fashion.  You also have a nagging feeling that you would need much more of it than what you have now.

[Ennui]

After an hour I return the blood to a proper storage container and head into the main room to check if Shelly has awoken.  She up yet?  Did you tell her?