Panic and addiction... (scion/celeste/anise/whoever)

As Scion had started to pull away... driving off into the night, the damndest thing happened. A god damned dog ran right out of an allyway, and across the road, right infront of that vehicle of his.

A doberman, who seemed to be booking it through the night... headed the same direction that the champion just came from. It didn't stop to look at him, but however narrowly miss being struck by the car in motion. It was moving... fast. Maybe too fast. Wasn't hard to figure out just who it was, nor was it moving at the speeds that Scion knew it could... but it was no casual. It was running.. hard... purposeful.

Scion slammed on the brakes on the 1967 Plymouth GTX Convertible and the black hunk of Detroit iron screeched to a halt. It wasn't hard for him to recognize the 'animal' that had darted in front of the car.

"Jeeze Rolf!" he said, looking out of the open soft-top. "Try a cell phone!"

It might become quite apparent that capturing Scion's attention was not intentional... not the attention that might come, next.. as he made his way straight for the seedy little club... aiming straight at the door of it.... not slowing down....

Scion thought Rolf's dedication to getting into trouble was probably almost as legendary as his was of getting out of it.

"Damn," he said, and swung the car around, back toward the club.

He drove up next to the running dog in the 67.

"Hi," he said, "You got a plan going in there or are you just in the mood for cheap liquor?" Scion's voice shook slightly, as if he had a cold.

As they 'ran' side by side, the dog looked over at the driver with... something... in his eyes. Mixture between panic, and fear. It did not talk to him... not directly, but as his image seemed to shimmer .. no doubt obfuscate had arrisen, tho Scion looking directly at him as it happened rendered him immune to it.

As they approached the home stretch... no more than a hundred yards away from the club, his plan became apparent... as his speed increased, pushing the machine next to him close to the 70 mph mark... still not having put on the afterburners or brakes. Something was wrong... that much was apparent.

Scion sped up, grabbed Rolf by the scruff of the neck, (making sure to grab around as many quills as possible), and slammed on the brakes, skidding to a sideways halt and putting two tons of Detroit iron and himself between Rolf and whatever mischeif he intended.

((OOC: STR5 + Potence 5))

"Hey buddy, it's me, chill out, everything is cool, relax."

((OOC: Awe))

Once caught, the dog thrashed a bit under the strength of the elder Gangrel. He never was one, for bruth strength. Finese had always been his forte. As such, even in this form, his efforts were futile. And as Awe wrapped him, he kind of slumped and whimpered.

There were no quills to be had, when he was in this form.. however, Scion's hand was now moist with crimson. In fact, the dog had a sheen to his coat, of the stuff.

Sure, he could probably slip away, still... but turning to mist had not yet come to his mind, yet. He didnt speak... just looked at the club... intently. Slight shudder, as he was held.

"Hey pal," he said, hand still firmly around his scruff, "I know you're feeling the pull of the drugs," he said, but you've gotta... mmf," Scion wiped blood sweat from his own forehead, "You've gotta power through. Come on back, don't let the Beast win. I've gotcha. Talk to me."

Rolf's eyes turned to the Gangrel, and just stared at him... annoyed. The look spoke volumes.. and so did the silence. No animal whispers came from this dog. It did calm down just a touch, tho... but was still rather tense.

"C'mon pal, we can't sit out in the parking lot forever, sun'll be up in a couple of hours. What's going on, talk to me."

Scion switched to dog, using his Animalsim talents to converse in the form Rolf was in.

Rolf growled. The man apparently wasnt getting the message.

Dog then became boy, right there in the middle of.. wherever the fuck they were... as he did it, his hand slipped into his pocket and touched a button on his phone. It was a lightening fast, motion (apparently, now, all digital video/audio feeds/signals become scrambled, I believe [tpo razor could answer it better >.>])... and he smacked the hand off his neck as he reached two legs. "I dont speak to or like animals, Scion. I never have, and might never will...." his tone was hoarse... shakey. An arm reached up and wiped blood sweat away from his brow.

"The drugs... is that what this is?" he blinked... then snorted. "I can overcome this... I have spent years keeping Violet locked away. I am not going there for that... I am going there, to check on my ghoul." But yeah... chances are, he was about to bust up in dat biznitch and wreck some shit. Thank god for Awe.

"You didn't have a ghoul when you got here, did you? Or are you talking about Celeste's stripper that you have decided you want claim to? Help me understand pal. So I can help. I'm glad to see you keep getting calmer and calmer," He said, stoking the effects of Awe with language to allow for less tense conversation. "You should keep getting relaxed as we talk and be less interested in busting in there," he said. "We've got nothing but time, right?"

Rolf's eyes narrowed.

"Be careful in your tone and wording, when you speak of her. That girl has been through almost as much bullshit, as I have... and she remains strong and alive, and flourishing. Her methods of doing such, are not up for scrutiny. If you cannot peel back the stripper visage, and see the truth of her, then simply keep her name or discussions about her... out of your mouth. Her name is Anise, and I have -tried- to claim nothing. She is mine. She is now part of our family, as well."

He seemed to stabilize, but with calming, came a slightly wobbly looking swaying of side to side... hand brushed his forhead again... more will exerted to try to stay focused.

"And before you try to say it or think it, no... she is not a replacement for Clover. Nothing ever will be. She is something ENTIRELY different, to me."

Conveniently, or incredibly inconveniently, she walked outside just then. A cigarette pressed to her lips, a match striking and a breath taken to light the cherry. She waved the match out and tossed it onto the ground. She didn't seem to notice the bickering Gangrel so many yards out.

His eyes were sharp.. perpetually attentive to minor details and distractions. ON top of that, the subject of his rush to get here had stepped out of the building.

As she did, and he turned his eyes to see her, he let out a shakey sigh of relief, and all the focus he had been pouring into remaining on track with his purpose, fell from him. Funny word, fell, as that was what he did. Legs stopped being wobbly, and they gave out for a moment. Sending him to flop down on his ass. His whole body shook, as legs bend to elevate knees, and elbows were placed on them. Hands moved to his forehead and kinda kept it propped up... a few drips of bloodsweat falling down to the ground.

"Thank fuck..." he muttered under his breath.

Scion could sense the immediate change and thankfully there was the barrier of his car parked sideways in the parking lot between the girl and where Rolf lay, so they had a little time to speak. Scion did look her over though, quickly memorizing her features.

"Ok, so you're out of crazy mode and on the back side of this, good," Scion whispered.

"I'm gonna give this to you straight, no bullshit Rolf, because that's what we've earned from each other over the years," he was ducked down a bit so as to not look like he was talking to himself over the edge of a convertable.

"One, don't get testy with me about what I call someone I've only met once. We've been through enough that you taking offence at stuff like that is just un-needed drama. How am I to know what some random person we both just met is to you?" he asked.

"Also two? This is reckless, even for you. This girl is Gangrel now? Did you turn her with the permission of the Prince, without? Did you do it while strung out on Celeste's coctails? And if so, what about the Kindred that owns the ghoul she works for, who is what, the Sheriff of this Domain?" Scion wiped his forehead with a black cloth. It came away moist with blood. He was shaking himself now and then. "Tell me I've mis-read this situation," he said. "Because I'm starting to get really worried about you."

he turned his head left, then right. An obvious no. "She is not a Kindred. ' She is now part of our family' as in.. a part of it. My ghoul. To be childe, some day." he looked up with a raised brow. "Siring without permission... then staying around? Do you think I am retarded? If I had done that, we would be half a world away, by now."

"I informed the Sheriff that I would taking a Anise from Celeste. I informed Celeste that I would be taking her, as a couresty. The girl is very well informed, and absorved what took myself a week, in two days." his eyes leveled. "She is all but done with as much as I can teach her, that she cant learn on her own, okr shouldn't."

He slowly moved to stand. "I have fucked alot of things up, Scion. I wont fuck this up. It is being done right properly. As well as I know how." Not that he ever had a ghoul before, or a childe... or a lap dance.

"Tonight.. tonight was a mistake that I am thankful you stopped me. But it was a once off, due to an improper reaction to the situation and effects of these fucking drugs. But that does not mean I am reckless, anymore. I have come a long way, and while I may seem the same at times... I am taking different routes. Which is why I will not be sleeping in your basement... sorry about the wall, by the way. I have been offered a place to stay and employment, as well as a source of study. I will be taking it, which will require me to live on site."

Scion nodded, a thankful look on his face.

"Ok, that's less crazy. Great. Good. So... no more intent to go tearing down strip clubs with your bare hands then?"

"No." The answer was flat... kinda weak, probably exhausted. He hesitated a moment... then shifted eyes to the elder Grel. "Thanks." nearly muttered. It did not lack purpose or meaning, tho.

"I am fine... I need to go to her." more than a little resolved about this girl.

"She'll keep Rolf," he said. "Any girl into you has got to be a survivor. Maybe you should give her a night to herself and go get cleaned up." He said this fully not expecting any of his advice to be taken, as it rarely was, even bolstered by the powers of the blood. But at least the worst was past.

Scion realized with relief that the activity had burned some of the blood from his system as well, and he was feeling less... thin, less see-through.

"You sure you're gonna be ok?"

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to regain some focus again... then exhaled it. Both actions unnecissary, yet still happened.

"Leaving her be, for a night, is not an option..." he said evenly... calmly...ish. He looked Scion dead in the eyes, and nodded. "I will be fine." He already said thanks, so the nod will have to do, for now. "If you need me, whenver you need me, the Sheriff has my number... you can get it from her."

He looked off towards Anise, then back to the Grel. "I will bring her around, to get to know you... and you her. This is.. new to me. I may need some advice, from time to time in regards to it all." admitting a weakness. First step.

"You know where to find me, and you've got my number," he said, handing him a card. It said Scion Investigations on it. Same old Scion. "you know you can come by anytime."

"Be careful pal," he said, offering him a hand up.

Rolf looked at the hand, then back to Scion. Beneath Rolf's visage was claws.. nasty ones. Scion knew this, and offered the gesture anwas. Sure, maybe the man had tough skin, but best to not test it out. The boy moved to stand on his own, not out of disprespect. Quite the opposite. He peeked over at Anise again, then looked firmly back to the elder Grel.

"I know. I will come around, but make sure you get in touch with me via phone, if you absolutely need me. Maybe you and I... we can find villain to apprehend, sometime." small smirk. Mocking, almost, yet amused and playful.

"Oh... and I want to take a run up to Seattle, soon. You, myself, and Rourke. I have a gravesite to visit, and I think we all need to talk some shit out."

Scion shook his head and let the man stand on his own two feet.

'A villain to apprehend?' Really? Same old Rolf, he thought, but didn't voice it.

"We can do that. Alex has a plane I think." Scion put the car back in drive.

"Take care of yourself Rolf," he said, looking at the claws.

"And you might want to... you know, freshen up. You smell a little like sweatty vampire." Scion tossed him a travel sized bottle of Brut from the center console. Because Scion had a travel sized bottle of Brut in his center console. Probably on purpose.

"Fuck a plane. Road trip." he nodded, resolved that this was the best method of travel. "Take a week off, have fun with it. Maybe bring a friend. Anise will likely come with, as well. " Said with a shrug.

Same old Rolf? When it comes to killing or punishing the evil of the world, yes...same old, same old.

He blinked and snatched the bottle out of the air with perked brow. Confused, maybe, but not about what the item was intended for.

A nod given to the man. "I will, you do the same. Tell Max I said hello." cheesy smirk issued, then he turned, pocketing the item and making his way off towards the girl. Obfuscate shimmered, Covering his messy appearence from those who were not yet looking upon him.