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       #Post#: 410--------------------------------------------------
       Catch up (Jane/Butch, NOLAbN)
       By: Cherie Date: March 25, 2026, 11:25 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       -Jane had gotten a text from Butch, her father, to meet up with
       him. She at first was a little annoyed about it because it was
       outside of their normal check in date.  She stayed outside of
       the city. She had a place about an hour away in the bayou
       because she liked the peace of it.
       Rex wanted her to be closer so they had been having talks about
       moving in moving together but Jane was still on the fence about
       it. He could be a little possessive but nothing she couldn’t
       handle. She found she liked his attention and he did give her
       privacy when it came to her family.  She considered Grace and
       Butch as her  parents. While her human parents provided for her
       and were not abusive towards here, there was neglect on their
       end because they had been so busy with their lives they tended
       to forgot they had a kid to look after. Hence why she started to
       rebel. Anything to her their attention as kids often do.
       When she started to get in with Grace and Butch she had stopped
       that need of wanting her parents attention. As she grew up the
       two vampires didn’t take care of her, but made sure she had what
       she needed. Grace used to slip her money. Grace had taken a
       liking to Jane because of her looks. She grew into a very
       attractive woman that when she was turned by Butch a lot of
       vampires started to come out of the woodwork to try and woo her.
       Grace would also dress her up in pretty cloths because as she
       had said “fashion is a performance” and Butch would side eye the
       two with a smile knowing Jane only did that to make Grace happy.
       She would rather be on an airboat fishing and catching crocs.
       Either way Jane had fond memories of both of them even if her
       memory might not have matched up with reality it was how she saw
       them.
       She was also fiercely protective of Butch as much as they could
       but heads sometimes, no one else could say a bad thing about the
       man in per presence and she let that be know very quickly with a
       right hook.
       Even as a human she would come into the bar with scrapped up
       knuckles from a fight, but that had slowly subsided when she
       found her now eternal family.
       Jane entered the bar, one of the ones he owned. She was just in
       a simple pair of jeans, a white tank top tucked in and barely
       any make-up. She had a natural beauty that could send any
       Toreador into a frenzy.
       She was still very young for a vampire. She had been a vampire
       for only about 35 years. If she made it to 50 she’s celebrate.
       Seeing Butch at the bar brought a smile to her plush lips. She
       walked over towards him while he was sitting, probably waiting
       for her. Her arm slipped around his shoulders and she kissed on
       top of his head-
       “Hi, Dad.” -she said she then just slipped into the seat across
       from him.  She still looked good. Healthy. She was taking care
       of herself and looked slightly happy-
       “I saw Mom yesterday.” -it was causally said but there was a
       knowing smile across her lips but she quickly put her hands up
       in defense- “She didn’t tell me anything other then she was mad
       at you, which water is wet ya know?”
       -settling herself in across from him she gave him expectant look
       because he has said he wanted to check in but Jane knew better
       then him just wanting to catch up with her. -
       #Post#: 411--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Catch up (Jane/Butch, NOLAbN)
       By: Slick Date: March 25, 2026, 6:42 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [center]
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       [center]Butch wasn’t perfect and never tried to pretend he could
       be. He made mistakes with relationships, and some of them were
       purposeful. He wasn’t a great Sire. Not all of his childer were
       still around, and some of them hated him. Most tolerated him,
       whether it was through honor, or duty, or mostly fear. He wasn’t
       a deadbeat, and He wasn’t a micro-manager, he did not plot the
       long term plans of his offspring. They were free to do whatever
       they want — but when he asked for something, he expected to be
       well received.
       Jane was one of his youngest, and she still loved him. That’s
       why she was his favorite. He hadn’t fucked her over yet, and she
       hadn’t been jaded or made cagey by her age and experience. Poor
       lass was strong, but naive. Eventually unlike would kick those
       perfect fangs in, and he wanted to see what sort of monster that
       could birth.
       Not that she was [I]just[/I] a social experiment for him. The
       bar was another seedy joint but one meant to attract people.
       Gambling, live music, but priced low enough for locals, it made
       for good hunting grounds. The kind of place that would miss the
       occasional delinquent slipping inside; or some scum-bag bringing
       his too young girlfriend inside. Not the best place to bring a
       child. He allowed other vampires to hunt on his turf for a
       price, and she had been a liability. Grace and Butch both became
       protective: Grace with her black, bleeding heart and Butch out
       of martial fervor his domain, and a hate of bullies and sickos.
       She grew on him, eventually.
       And like most pretty girls who hang out in bad crowds, she
       hooked up with a bully and a sicko. She became “that girl” at
       the bar. The one hiding the fact that her boyfriend was abusive,
       whose friends were worried about her. Grace had been out of the
       States, at some big Toreador Gala. Butch watched a girl that
       he’d seen with fight in her become something so small…. And it
       irritated something deep down inside him. It sparked an idea.
       He got the boyfriend a job as a package boy for an evening. She
       was invited to the bar, and he made a show of having a good time
       with her. Nothing untoward, but people in seedy bars talk when
       an older man hits on a younger woman. Buys her drinks, whispers
       things in her ear to make her laugh. And when she’d had a bit
       too much he offered to walk her home. They talked about her
       relationship, her goals, how she would change her life….
       He’d tucked her into bed, and embraced her, leaving before she
       woke. Her boyfriend had come home in a rush, and Butch still
       remembered the look of shock, and disbelief, and anger as they
       passed each other. He lit a cigarette at the curb, and the
       coward turned around and stormed inside yelling and swearing.
       The swearing turned into screaming, and Butch was in the doorway
       watching as his darling “daughter” tore into the man for her
       first meal. Then, nicer than anyone else he’d ever done it for,
       he stuck around to explain her new existence to her.
       Brushing over how he’d turned her illegally, he had to ferry her
       to the Anarchs. Grace was pissed, yada yada….
       “Don’t call me that in public. People aren’t supposed to know
       you’re my fledgling, remember?”
       He looked around, seemingly apprehensive about something.
       Looking over his shoulder more than usual.
       “Sorry. Pretty sure I’m being followed. Or I will be soon. ”
       His eyes rolled when she mentioned Grace.  “Yeah, what else is
       new? I had it coming, this time. That’s a story for another
       time. How are things with you, kiddo?”[/center]
       #Post#: 412--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Catch up (Jane/Butch, NOLAbN)
       By: Cherie Date: March 25, 2026, 7:11 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [center]
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       -She gave him a wry smile and started to look around the bar.
       With her hands she motioned around while still looking at him.-
       “There’s probably a lot of ‘dads’ and ‘daddy’s in here. Just
       slip me some money before I leave and people will think I’m just
       a prostitute.” -she said with a who gives a fuck shrug.- “I
       could use the cash anyways.” -she joked with a wink towards him.
       Jane was personable but she also a force to be reckoned with.
       Especially after she was turned. She had to be truly tamed
       because it was just a straight vengeance kick till Butch reeled
       her in. Now she was doing well on her own. She was still young
       in vampire years and that presented problems, but also it
       presented solutions.
       “You want me to call you Daddy to make you feel better?” -she
       asked him with a small laugh. Because to her it was kind of
       funny, and honestly knowing Butch he’d probably be down for
       that. She did like Butch even if he got on her last nerve, but
       there was such a soft spot for the man that if anything ever
       happened to him, she would fall completely apart. She knew he
       had issues with his other childer, that was a normal case with
       most sire/childer. Sure there were times when she thought she
       was going murder the man sitting in front of her. It was more
       out of love then anger with him.
       The part about being followed caused her to raise an eyebrow at
       him. She took in an unneeded breath and let it out. She still
       had some of her humanity left. However, it was the trick that
       Grace taught her. Even when in vampiric company act human. She
       had given her a long indepth speech about how pretending to be
       human was the most beautiful performance of all. Everything
       Grace did was performative. That was still her mother in a way.-
       “Jesus, Butch. What did you step in now?” -her tone sounded more
       frustrated and then it dawned on her and she slumped back in her
       chair with her arms dangling from the sides of it and her feet
       straight out looking up at the ceiling.- “Or should I say what
       are you getting me into?” -asking as she righted herself to look
       at him.-
       “I’m good. Have some personal dilemmas but you didn’t call me
       here to talk about that. How about we just cut the small talk,
       because you and I both know you don’t care.” -she said pointing
       her finger at him and then at her as she spoke. Though him not
       caring was a lie, he cared in his own Butch type way. Which
       wasn’t too deep, he mostly seemed to care if it would affect
       him. But her debating on moving in with Rex was not exactly a
       pressing issue. That was personal and kind of stupid, but Butch
       knew her past. So it wasn’t surprising that perhaps that was a
       very large decision for her to make.-
       “Also, if we can’t talk freely, why did you pick this place? We
       could have just got a hotel room. Nobody would question that at
       all. I could just muss up my hair.” -she said as she did just
       that sitting at the table, rubbing her fingers through her thick
       dark locks frizzing it out slightly before fixing again so it
       wasn’t so messed up.-  “Spill it, what mess are you into. Lay it
       on me.”
       [/center]
       #Post#: 413--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Catch up (Jane/Butch, NOLAbN)
       By: Slick Date: March 26, 2026, 8:18 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [center]
  HTML https://f2lgrgm.media.bublupcdn.com/vL-rZ7j1mdqNBdByfcAIug/images/full_007-im-8a6a38e8-4aa9-4c5a-8afb-623684ebf72f.jpg[/center]
       [center]After her first taste of blood, Janey got her fight
       back. It wasn’t hard soothing over the transition, though there
       had been a lot to learn. He gave her the most important bits
       that first night, and slow rolled it from there. And, was was
       his way, it wasn’t always hands on “Siring”. He wasn’t afraid to
       let his childer experiment and fail.To Butch’s relief, she
       wasn’t much for failing.
       “Who raised you, heathens?” he winked back, slipping her a few
       bills across the table. She was learning not just how to survive
       on the streets, but operate in them. Time was money, and
       vampires had shorter time frames to operate. His look soured as
       she said the word “daddy”.  “That doesn’t make me feel better.”
       He caught her worried expression and he shook his head
       nonchalantly, his hand on the table waving it away.  “Just the
       Sewer Rats being themselves, keeping secrets and looking for
       others.”
       She pushed past his bullshit and cut to the chase. He could only
       give his own wry grin and shrug.  “For starters, I don’t need to
       give your mother any more ammunition, and most importantly
       convenience. Bastien’s busy across town, sheriff is wrapped up
       in his own duties and I don’t have time to get out to the bayou
       tonight. Got other meetings. Luckily I know you’re always up for
       some shenanigans like a good lass.”
       Bastien was on a date with Maya, and the Sheriff, to Butch’s
       knowledge, had a standing engagement with the Prince about city
       safety. Butch was expected to police his own territory, and he
       was. He just didn’t report any transient vampires of ill
       repute.[/center]
       #Post#: 414--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Catch up (Jane/Butch, NOLAbN)
       By: Cherie Date: March 26, 2026, 8:54 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [center]
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       -Jane reached across the table and took the money from him. She
       spread the bills out with her fingers and gave him a
       disapproving look- “Are we having financial difficulties?” -she
       asked with mock concern. She was not above a little extortion
       even if it was Butch.
       Butch was to be feared, this was a casual interaction so far, a
       little ribbing him wouldn’t hurt. Jane knew when to push and
       when to pull back. She observed that he seemed to be in a decent
       mood to be able to take a joke and also be a little more genius
       with his wallet.
       “Your child support payments are the worse. Who do I speak about
       this? Does that answer your question on who raised us heathens?”
       -Jane was quick witted but she also a little relaxed at the
       moment even. Allowing her natural personality to shine through.
       She could easily slip into the tough anarchist personality, it
       was an apart of who she was but when she was around Butch in
       these moments she could let her guard down.
       Trust was a key component to their relationship even if he
       wasn’t really one to be trusted. Butch gave her a merciful fate.
       He gave her a second chance. She owed him everything, there were
       thoughts that he did it on purpose to have some control over
       her, she didn’t care if that was the case. He was her hero at
       the end of the day. She had come to him in her darkest moment,
       and he was the only one that did not fail her. -
       “Nothing new with them. They are in everyone’s business right
       now is the word. Also..” -she leaned in a bit and lowered her
       voice- “there’s some rumors about them acting a little more
       unusual but nobody can pinpoint what. I’ll take that with a
       grain of salt.”
       -he mentioned Bastian by name and that caught a curl of her lip.
       She didn’t like the man. Then again she didn’t like a lot of
       people so that was no surprise. He didn’t  name the sheriff
       though. It probably meant nothing, she would give him the
       benefit of the doubt-
       “Thank you for informing me of their whereabouts?” -she said
       because she was sure he didn’t call her here to give her a
       status update of Bastian and the Sheriff.-
       “Butch.” -his name sounded like how she would say dad in an
       annoyed with a very small whine to her voice- “Tell me what’s
       going on.” -this time her voice turned to concern. She reached
       over the table and put her hand over his giving it a small
       squeeze- “What do you need me to do?” -and he knew it had asked
       her walk out into the sun she would do it proudly for him. All
       he ever had to do was ask. Somewhere along the way with all his
       childer out there, he got it slightly right with Jane.-
       [/center]
       #Post#: 415--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Catch up (Jane/Butch, NOLAbN)
       By: Slick Date: March 26, 2026, 10:46 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       “It’s a recession,” he sneered. She didn’t get another dime,
       though, to stand his ground. She was spoiled enough.  “I dunno.
       Write your congressman.”  They had a report, and she was allowed
       to get away with more than most. She hadn’t had to be corrected
       in a harsh manner, not yet, but she’d seen it done. She knew he
       had a firm hand when she thought he was human; unleashed
       vampiric violence in close quarters was something else.
       Butch had turned Janey to save her soul, not save her life.
       Sure, she was damned, but that fire hadn’t been snuffed out. She
       was Clan Brujah, and their hearts were black, but their souls
       were bonfires of rage. Did it benefit him to have her indebted
       to him? Sure… but everything cost something.
       “Funny you mention all that. Any of those ugly fucks hanging
       around in Anarch crews?”  Nosferatu tended to have good
       relations with their brothers and sisters from other sects. When
       they weren’t at war, they tended to mingle freely amongst their
       subterranean warrens.
       “I need you to spy on Bastien and his date. The woman he’s with
       is of importance to the Uglies. She’s a thief they recommended
       me for a job, but there’s more to her that I’m not seeing. I
       need you to follow her, and potentially get close.”
       #Post#: 416--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Catch up (Jane/Butch, NOLAbN)
       By: Cherie Date: March 26, 2026, 11:40 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       -She gave him a playful roll of her eyes and stuffed the money
       he could spare into her jeans pocket. She was spoiled. By him,
       by Grace, and even by Rex. Butch gave her a good life and while
       he could be cranky she never took it personally. Because when it
       counted she knew she could depend on him.
       She didn’t know all her brother and sisters but she had met a
       few. They don’t know who her sire was but she has seen him dole
       out consequences all while pretending to be just a bystander.
       She wanted to make a joke about getting out her special
       stationary, except she could read his mood and started to pull
       back instead of push.
       She flipped her hands up on the table after letting his go. She
       the placed them face down and slide them on the table back to
       her- “No more then usual. There was a small block of time where
       we didn’t see them. A few attended one of Rex’s parties about a
       month ago.”
       -Rex threw the parties that allows the anarchist to be just
       that. They were always pretty violent but they were always
       looked forward too. It was always deep in the woods somewhere.
       And if humans happened to be there well…that was just some bad
       luck.
       Her face screwed up a bit when he mentioned Bastian and his date
       because out of all the things she expected him today that was
       not one of them-
       “Bastian?” -she asked just making sure she heard that right. The
       man had a reputation of making people and vampires disappear.
       Sometimes he didn’t need a reason for it. But he was always
       supposed too.-
       “Wait…someone actually went on a date with him? I always figured
       was..” -she made a snipping motion in the air.- “I’m hearing you
       but thinking about him in a date feels absurd.” -she needed to
       focus and she would but first she needed to get out her
       surprise. She could make statements but in the end she’d do it.-
       “But it makes sense if he’s on a date with someone the uglies
       find important. He could likely be doing what you are too.” -she
       wasn’t sure none of her thoughts were based in facts, quiet
       observations mostly. But also she’d tell Butch her inner
       thoughts on the situation.-
       “As much as I trust your judgement, and of course I’ll do it,
       but why didn’t you ask one of your sons? You made some cute
       ones. Especially that tatted up one.” -she made a little purring
       sound in the back of her throat. She did love Rex but she could
       appreciate beauty when she saw it.-
       “I’ll find out where they went. I’ll get close the girl and see
       if anything comes up. Hopeful it’s just the Nos’s being their
       weird self. But this will be a nice distraction. I’ll get a room
       here in the city for a few days so I’m closer.”
       -She had taken a moment and gave him that look of vulnerability
       which was rare for her since she as still trying to make a name
       for herself, balance being  trusted by the anarchists, having a
       secret father and mother, boyfriend issues, and working covertly
       for her father. Sometimes it was a lot but she wouldn’t trade it
       for anything.
       But as the vulnerable face came because he could tell she wanted
       to say something but stopped herself.-
       “Just be careful ok? Whatever is actually going on it doesn’t
       feel good. The anarchs are starting to gather. There’s been
       talks about bringing in the others from different cities. Again,
       no real source but I’ve heard some conversations. They happen
       when the Nozzies aren’t around so that tells you something. I’m
       with you through it.” -she wanted to say they they would be
       alright, but at the end of the night she knew if anything were
       to happen she’d be the one to take the fall and not him. That’s
       how it was.
       She could have told him that before, at this point she didn’t
       see a correlation between the two things but maybe there was. Or
       maybe something else bigger was brewing behind the scenes. Or
       maybe it was nothing at all. She wouldn’t take a chance on the
       latter, as there was something always going on. She wasn’t privy
       to a lot of conversations-
       #Post#: 417--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Catch up (Jane/Butch, NOLAbN)
       By: Slick Date: March 26, 2026, 5:51 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [center]
  HTML https://f2lgrgm.media.bublupcdn.com/vL-rZ7j1mdqNBdByfcAIug/images/full_007-im-8a6a38e8-4aa9-4c5a-8afb-623684ebf72f.jpg[/center]
       [center] “Yeah, bet he’s a real party animal,” he joked about
       the Gangrel. No one liked the vampire dating their progeny. The
       former Gangrel Justicar of the Camarilla, Xavier, had deep ties
       to New Orleans, and would regularly visit, holding a gala-like
       Conclave every three years. That ended 12 years ago when Xavier
       withdrew the clan from the Camarilla en-masse, without
       explanation. Rex was a tough bastard, and had served under Butch
       a handful of times during scuffles with the Sabbat. The Primogen
       wasn’t exactly surprised a street-cat like Rex landed on his
       feet as an Anarch.
       “Been a while since I’ve put on a good Rave. Maybe they’ll
       swing through and I can meet them myself,” she could see the
       wheels turning for a party. He didn’t mean abandoned warehouse,
       glowsticks and electronica. The Rave was an honored, if not
       impromptu, tradition amongst the Brujah. The Rant was a
       gathering to discuss clan business and politics, plenty of
       shouting and fist fights. The Rave was a celebration of being
       Vampire, and tended to include more than just Brujah — anyone
       they thought was “cool”. The Sheriff would turn a blind eye to
       any anarchs in attendance; Sabbat was still strictly prohibited,
       not that they were ever on the guest list.
       But the party could wait.
       “What, he’s a eunuch?” The snipping motion had him making a
       confused face. Wouldn’t surprise Butch. He shrugged and shook
       his head.  “I dunno, he thinks he’s the charming cutthroat. All
       Blue-Bloods do. And he probably is doing the same thing, but
       he’s a hammer and she ain’t a nail.” Scourges, in his eyes, were
       sadists and cannibals that got off on killing those weaker than
       they. Thin-bloods didn’t get much sympathy from Butch, but they
       also didn’t ask to be embraced half the time.
       “Bandit’s doing a run. And he’d end up doin’ something stupid
       just to piss me off.” not that he hadn’t considered it. Bandit
       had that outlaw charm Maya probably would have liked. Just like
       his Sire. But the biker was also younger, still under 100, and
       was more emotional, and he didn’t want to have to fight his
       “son” over whatever the hell Maya was.
       “And consider it a test. See how good you are at moving through
       this city undetected like a real outlaw.” He grinned, though the
       glimmer in his eyes meant he was serious. Mischief. Breaking the
       law, skirting danger, even by proxy. His expression hardened a
       little.  “Be smart, be quiet. Stay cool, stay hidden. Don’t get
       cornered, run like hell if you need to, and if you’re gonna
       sucker punch someone, make it hurt.” Hopefully her boyfriend had
       been keeping her hunting skills sharp.
       Her mentioning the Anarchs gathering and the Nosferatu not being
       around for it did make him wonder. A few reasons came to mind,
       but it did make him think his Rave idea might hold water.  He
       gave a soft smile as she showed her human side, and he made a
       human sigh.  “It’s cute, you worrying about me. Remember your
       lessons, kiddo.” He said quietly, taking up her hand and kissing
       her knuckles. Then he slid her another couple of bills, and said
       loudly for the few that might be listening.  “I don’t pay you to
       care for me, though. I pay you to leave, hooker.” He winked.
       Hey, she started that joke.
       He lit up a hand-rolled cigarette as she left, watching her and
       then examining the bar casually, sweeping it with his senses,
       even the otherworldly ones. When he was satisfied, he stubbed
       the cigarette out, said goodbye to the bartender, and slid on
       his leather jacket before dipping out into the wet, southern
       air. Lonnie, his ghoul and driver, looked into the rear-view
       mirror as he popped into the backseat of the Lincoln.
       “Take me to Roland’s.”
       ————————————————————
       Roland “Rollie” Marbroux was an NOPD Narcotics detective that
       had gotten some notoriety for delivering on high-end drug busts
       for the department. He became a vampire when the gang of crooked
       cops Marbroux rolled with robbed a stash house belonging to
       Butch. They got away with it, but the Brujah eventually tracked
       them down. If cops liked abusing their power so much, he’d throw
       a wrench into it. He ghouled Rollie, killed one, and mind-fucked
       the others. Then Rollie was his mole in the police department,
       going undercover for the NOPD — but feeding everything he
       learned about criminal gangs to Butch for leverage.
       Eventually, Rollie was promoted, given command over an
       experimental gang-unit inside the Department. At the same time,
       he was the de-facto leader of the largest gang in the department
       — The Ravens. Their ring of corruption helped Butch keep tabs on
       the police, all while getting kickbacks from the robberies and
       busts that the Ravens committed. Eventually, he earned his
       Stripes, and Butch traded a boon to get Rollie made into a
       vampire so he could better control the mortals around him. The
       Prince did not find it such a bad idea when Rollie’s unit had
       seized a “shipping container used for human trafficking”, in
       reality a nest of Setites trying to sneak into the city.
       Rollie was probably Butch’s busiest childer, and despite being a
       piece of shit, was a hard working piece of shit who kept doing
       what he did because he was good at it. And Rollie had mentioned
       he had something Butch would want to hear.
       There was no answer when Butch knocked at the door. He had an
       apartment in the French Quarter. If he weren’t single, it likely
       would have drawn more attention, but it was a nice place. The
       door opened easily, and instinctively Butch crept inside. Clear
       sign of a struggle. Furniture torn up, drawers ransacked. And
       blood. Dried, old. Not from tonight. But no body. On a hunch, he
       backed out, easing the door closed behind him, and found his way
       to the rooftop.
       In the middle of the roof laid a broken broomstick, its jagged
       edge dark with dried vitae. Kneelign down, Butch swiped his
       fingers across the surface around the makeshift stake and lifted
       them to find ashen residue. He curled a fist, and snarled.
       [/center]
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