View source for All Tense on the Western Front

After that debacle at the cemetery, I noticed that although things were quiet, the air was TENSE. I wanted to know what was going on so I wandered into First Hill, looking for Blade and a black F350 pulled up beside me. It was [[Carlos]], his retainer, and he said that Blade will call me later. Great. Way to leave me hanging after doing you a favor, man.

A few days go by and on the first night the air felt calm, Rafael came to visit me at my club! We chit chatted for a bit, and he asked if I'd like to go for a walk. Of course, I agreed. We strolled around the area and he told me a bit about his past and what Seattle was like during his time. He mentioned that Old Seattle, the underground, used to be his territory and eluded to wanting it back. After we parted ways, I used this opportunity to pay Jericho a visit. 

I had no idea what I was going to do, but it kinda felt nice to have a purpose to call on someone. He was nonchalantly friendly to me (if that makes any sense), but also pretty vague. He said he hasn't had any visitors lately, but did have a call and request from Blade which he refused. I can only assume Blade was asking if Jericho would be willing to move in order to give Rafael his old territory back, but hopefully he'll respect his childe's wishes. I left to go home after wishing him well. I hope I get to know him a bit. He may not talk much, but at least he seems genuine.

As I made my way up the street, I saw that Mike was pacing outside my club. He had [[Xavier]], a nervous doctor type I met earlier, with him. I called out to them and Mike seemed really concerned. Well, he always looks concerned, but he looked it even moreso this time. He said that it was nice to see someone after a while of tension and everyone keeping to themselves. But then he says that I need to be careful around Pope. I told him I appreciate the concern, but that I'm fine. I've made it this far on my own anyway. When I told him that I only got to spend a year with my sire, he seemed really shocked. Apparently he's been with his mother dearest for 30 years! He said it was great that I'm so put together and I called him out on flirting with me. That might have been the wrong move as it made Twitchy McTwitcherson even MORE twitchy! 

I got a phone call at this time and he took it as a chance to escape. It was Blade. I asked him what was going on. He was quiet for a bit, but then said that while he admits that I did him a favor and he owes me one, and even as we share the same blood, things go deeper than blood and didn't owe me this. I was stunned. Hell, just when I thought I was making headway on establishing a camaraderie with my kin and making friends, I get reminded that I'm all alone here. Fuck, I felt like I was going to cry. But given that this was outside in public, it wasn't the best place to get blood all over my shirt. So I drowned my sorrows and loneliness in a drink. I think I drank a little too much from him, but he'll probably just think the same anyway.

The next day, I got a call from an unknown number. It was my dear Rafael! I asked if he wanted to hang out and we made plans to meet at Gas Works Park. Since he gave me a tour of what Seattle was like before, I gave him a tour of what the park was like now. I helped him out on figuring out his phone and inputted my number for him. Towards the end of our night, he mentioned that he needs help retrieving a personal effect of his that he left behind. If he were to have it again, he may consider leaving for San Fransisco or somewhere similar because the city of Seattle has changed so much for him. It's apparently a doctor's bag hidden somewhere in underground Seattle and he said that the contents would be a surprise for me. Hrm... I like surprises...!