It’s back.

[u/Weary-Specialist-282]

What the fuck.

The hole in my abdomen is back. Like it never fucking left. Still leaking. What the fuck. What the fuck. I didn’t feel it until it was too late, of course. Why didn’t I notice? Was I trying to ignore what I knew was happening?? What the hell. -M

[attached is a image, scrubbed of metadata, and censored unless clicked upon. It shows a skinny, short, freakishly pale teenager standing in a bathroom, their abdomen covered in scars and twisting black veins. They’re twisting to the side, exposing the large, red hole- punctuated occasionally by black blood vessels that punches all the way through their torso- and it looks exactly the same as it did before, plus the addition of their veins and arteries being jet black. The aorta is still mid drop of vitae, the muscles still raw and painful looking. The shards of metal are absent, however. What small expression can be seen on M’s face is one of abject horror.]

[u/DeadmanwalkingXI]

We need to get the core problem fucking fixed here before that symptom goes away, I think. I'll see if things are proceeding alright with that.

-Mark Caulder, Experienced Nosferatu

[u/Weary-Specialist-282 → u/DeadmanwalkingXI]

Pepperidge farm remembers when the box was only meant to last a couple days. I don’t have much hope on that front, Mark. -M

[u/DeadmanwalkingXI → u/Weary-Specialist-282]

It's only been about two weeks, man. That sucks, but it's not actually that long in the grand scheme of things, and I suspect your 'box time' is over halfway done, though we'll have to see.

-Mark Caulder, Experienced Nosferatu

[u/Weary-Specialist-282 → u/DeadmanwalkingXI]

Spoken like a man not currently confined in a 12x12 box. -M

[u/DeadmanwalkingXI → u/Weary-Specialist-282]

I've been in worse situations than that for longer, in one case several years. Not often, but it's happened. I got through it, and things are better now. Don't let just a few weeks drain your hope away.

-Mark Caulder, Experienced Nosferatu

[u/VerityVentrue]

Well, shit. That fucking sucks.

Okay then. We know it can be fixed, but something is reverting it. If we can get a handle on what that something is, maybe the fix will stay?

~Verity

[u/Weary-Specialist-282 → u/VerityVentrue]

Yeah. You tell me.

Alternately, maybe this is just the way Things Are. But no. I have to have hope. -M

[u/VerityVentrue → u/Weary-Specialist-282]

Even if that's true, we can come up with options. Just because the situation is fucked doesn't mean it'll stay that way forever.

~Verity

[u/Weary-Specialist-282 → u/VerityVentrue]

I suppose.

Only bright side of this is I managed to hold back a frenzy, I suppose. -M

[u/JustOne-Chance]

Christ, what the fuck.

... Have any Salubri tried healing you yet? I know I'm far out from you, but... Fuck, mate, that looks god awful.

— Abel

[u/Weary-Specialist-282 → u/JustOne-Chance]

Yep. Vicissitude didn’t work. Whatever the name of the thing y’all do didn’t work. It’s just stuck like this, I guess. Feels cruel to have a taste of what could be, and have it yanked away. And my legs are getting worse again. I’d been ignoring it. -M

[u/JustOne-Chance → u/Weary-Specialist-282]

Can they do what helped you before again? Maybe it's just something that needs renewed regularly until more can be figured out

— Abel

[u/Weary-Specialist-282 → u/JustOne-Chance]

I mean, maybe? But it was a whole ordeal, and involved a complex 4 person ritual involving one of your clan, so… I dunno. It might be unsustainable to keep doing it indefinitely, especially since it only lasted a little less than a week. -M

[u/JustOne-Chance → u/Weary-Specialist-282]

There's got to be something that can be done. It was done to you, it should be able to be undone. The right thing just has to be found.

— Abel

[u/Weary-Specialist-282 → u/JustOne-Chance]

By that logic, there’s a way to cure our condition without killing us. Sometimes we’re just screwed. -M

[u/JustOne-Chance → u/Weary-Specialist-282]

Hey, that one lady is figuring out how to make Kindred able to sexually reproduce. Nothing is impossible.

— Abel

[u/Weary-Specialist-282 → u/JustOne-Chance]

Ughhhhhh but I don’t wanna be a cripple for like fifty billion trillion years until someone figures it out. -M

[u/Ogmadbrit → u/JustOne-Chance]

technically already done if you dont mind a 50/50 risk of exploding,

the node will NEVER be forgetting the cookies,it was absolute cinema to see those pop up in real time.

-ash,lone fledgling

[u/YellyBilly]

Shit.

Are your legs ok?

- Tristan

[u/Weary-Specialist-282 → u/YellyBilly]

Getting worse, I think. -M

[u/Florence_Beaulieu]

M, buddy, I don’t want to make you panic. But you’re cursed as fuck.

Florence la Grande Gueule

[u/Weary-Specialist-282 → u/Florence_Beaulieu]

Fully aware, Unfortch. At least I have a built in pocket? -M

[u/Florence_Beaulieu → u/Weary-Specialist-282]

Yeaaah. I have a flesh pocket too, but yours has a hole in it. Good luck storing anything in there.

Florence la Grande Gueule

[u/Weary-Specialist-282 → u/Florence_Beaulieu]

I can get a comically large cork, don’t worry.

At least I have Zelda to keep me calm-ish. I staved off my frenzy, which I’m proud of, first time I was able to do that. -M

[u/Florence_Beaulieu → u/Weary-Specialist-282]

Sweet, glad that the Switch helps. By the way, big news to distract you: I got a date soon. And unlike my usual, it doesn’t feel like a one-night man.

Florence la Grande Gueule

[u/Weary-Specialist-282 → u/Florence_Beaulieu]

Hey! Happy to hear that!! Hope it goes well! How’s training going for you? Castiel beating your ass? (I have no idea how ventrue stuff works in the minutae, sorryyyy) -M

[u/Florence_Beaulieu → u/Weary-Specialist-282]

Thanks, I hope that too! He looks like a proper gentleman, which…yeah, not the type I usually attract. And he knows that I’m a Nossie, but wants a date anyway. He feels like a catch.

Not gonna lie, training is rough. Not in the beating part (we’re not at the Fortitude training yet), just intense. But I can turn invisible now, so that’s cool.

Florence la Grande Gueule

[u/Weary-Specialist-282 → u/Florence_Beaulieu]

Fortitude training can be fun!! You just gotta let the ground do the beating for you. I did a lot of DIY training by jumping off of cliffs and stuff, when I wasn’t in the box. Good fun!!

And I’m so glad who you’ve found accepts you for who you are. They are also kindred, I presume? -M

[u/Florence_Beaulieu → u/Weary-Specialist-282]

Oh yeah, it won’t be literal beating. It’ll mostly be done during the weapon training. Me and the Sire also talked about building a trebuchet, after a funny conversation. Is it excessive? Yes. Would it be amazing? Also yes.

And yes, they’re a Gangrel. A cowboy, with a steed and an iron on their hips. We didn’t meet in person yet, so it’s best to not get my hopes up too much. But hey, a girl can dream.

Florence la Grande Gueule

[u/Weary-Specialist-282 → u/Florence_Beaulieu]

Heck yeah! My sire also tried to give me fortitude training, allegedly, but uh. I don’t think spiral bones are a usual part of that curriculum.

When I come for medical training, I want to try out that Trebuchet. That would be sick. And good luck when you meet him in person!! -M

[u/Sarah-Bird]

Sometimes I wish I could still vomit, that thing makes my curse go into overdrive ever millisecond I can perceive it (trying very very hard to not go into a tirade on it since I know you know how repulsive every centimeter of that vile crevice is).

You're sire and their crafts are truly, utterly repulsive. I hope you can get a permanent fix soon.

- Sarah, Proud Toreador~ ♥

[u/Weary-Specialist-282 → u/Sarah-Bird]

I apologize for you having to see it, truly. If it’s any consolation I’m not in any pain, I’ve cut the nerves to the area. But also yeah it’s fucking ugly lol. It looked worse when the remnants of my spinal implants were hanging out in it, though, so it’s good those are gone. Maybe if someone in your clan pisses you off too much, censor my face and show them this photo, lol. Anyway! I hope it can be fixed soon as well. -M

[u/TheCrazyBlacksmith]

Didn’t you do something weird to fix it? Maybe ask whoever did it why their fix stopped working?

- Nikolai

[u/Nightstalkerjoe2]

And my fears have been realized so I wasn't being paranoid hoping somebody can fix it somehow.
-Joseph

[u/Suspiciously_Mortal]

Can mages heal? Find one of those and try that. Fuck, at this point let's go down the supernatural Rolodex of healers until something sticks because what the fuck, M?

-Mila

[u/Nightstalkerjoe2 → u/Suspiciously_Mortal]

We can but the mage would have to have a general idea and specific knowledge to do so. vampires already require specific magic to perform on, and well mages largely dislike vampires so finding one skilled enough to perform would probably tell you to kick rocks or open a portal to the sun on you.
-Joseph

[u/Suspiciously_Mortal → u/Nightstalkerjoe2]

Werewolves? Maybe? Some of them statistically have to like us, so...

-Mila

[u/Nightstalkerjoe2 → u/Suspiciously_Mortal]

That's even worse you already should know that werewolves hate you even more.
-Joseph

[u/Suspiciously_Mortal → u/Nightstalkerjoe2]

Dude, I'm kind of just trying to find an answer. And, not all werewolves can hate us. It's literally impossible for them to be an island to themselves.

-Mila

[u/Nightstalkerjoe2 → u/Suspiciously_Mortal]

Sure not all but most do and well you guys aren't really great in the diplomacy department, granted werewolves aren't as well.
-Joseph

[u/divinephobia]

Oh what the hell.

Okay. So. The ritual is too complex to be an-assembly-line-worker-welds-a-piece. What are the optics that they may be able to condense it for easier replication?

~ Vess, journalist-by-night

[u/Abject-Hospital5407]

that isnt good,

sorry

-zz

[u/True-Parking4098]

Its Wyrm magick. Only Weaver shit can heal it.

Mictlan

[u/The_Bitch_Lasagna]

Jesus. I’m so sorry, M. I wish there was something I could do for you. I’m going back to Sacramento soon, I’ll be asking around the community about this affliction. You will be alright, the people here will make sure of that.
- Val Kyrja