The Don’s View from “Baby Steps” epilogue

Notes by Logan; illustration by Game Master Virutoso

Location: Armandasanti Family Grave Site

Time: 2am

Date: Sometime in the Future

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“So, what did I mean when I said I had to break things down for what was coming? Well, part of it I can tell you. The other part, though, I can’t say at all because as far as the world is concerned it never happened. Or at least it was never me that a fuckin’ hand in it. That was always something that pissed me off about this new ‘life’ I was given. This new Family and the others. I couldn’t ever claim the things I’d done. I supposed the consolation prize was that those who mattered most knew and that was all the same considering their...positions in the world. So, let me explain what I can, yeah? Shed a little light on what happened during these five years or so as I made my way towards ‘99.”

Vito stood up and adjusted his coat as he paced about the hollow tomb room of his fallen family members. How long had it been since he even heard their voice? Seen their faces with flesh upon them? He tried not to think about it but, in truth, it was a constant reminder that the world he found himself in was one that couldn’t tolerate people that were as precious as his family. Only the scum and villains would live on to prosper in this corrupt reality. A fact that looked him in the eyes every time he came across a mirror and had to look this hollow visage in the eye. He knew the monster that lay beneath the flesh. He knew what he was. The big man in the big house wearing fancy suits so the world couldn’t see the heart he wore on his sleeves.

“Let’s start with the smaller stuff, yeah? I went to visit Scarlett and the baby. I made sure to keep in contact with them as much as my new job would allow me to do so. I couldn’t risk going too much because there were those that would hold that against me. Pop, you know how it is. Regardless, Mama I wish you could see her. She has your eyes and Scarlett’s stubbornness. She’ll be a heartbreaker for sure. I held her for the first time in 1990 and let me tell you...it’s enough to return the faith to man. Proof that there is still good in this world, you know? I’m getting side tracked. Anyway…”

To contrast his prior dark thoughts, there was the reminder of the beauty that was his niece. The way her eyes lit up and that laughter was all that rang in his ears when he was tempted to give in to the beast behind his eyes. It was only in this moment that he could even still hear it. Only when he allowed himself to feel anything of his past life was he able to see that smiling face and soul so full of life it restored pieces of his own. It often spurred the question in his mind: Could he even be saved given what he was? Could he find his way back? Was it even worth it to try? Was it even worth the effort?

“Ah, that’s right. I took some time while I had it and invested in to some property that I recently bought. It was an arts district and, I know it’s not really my thing, but I wanted to make sure it was a good bit of business. With a careful eye and some good luck on my part I was able to turn the arts district in to a bustling business. I had to buy some property and the like it seemed that everything paid off in the end. That was just one end of the property. I also, and I’m so excited to tell you this Pop, but I got the docks back in our name. I had to work with some people I didn’t know but it was in our name. Finally.”

Sherlington was nothing more than business. Something Vito had an eye for even when he was fully alive. It wasn’t so much about acumen or stats as much as it was about knowing how to follow money and how to talk to people that made the money flow. Once you knew how to speak the same language as them it was easy. Especially with powers he possessed but, often times, using such things endangered the health of the business deal. The Docks on the other hand...that was a dangerous place to be. Side by side with the Brujah and trying to maintain a good relationship wasn’t the easiest thing but, luckily, he knew how to talk to people when business came about. Everything there seemed to work out relatively well for the most part.

“This next bit is something I can’t really tell you but just know that it was a good business move and put me shoulder to shoulder with some really powerful people. See, that was the thing about success in this new life. If you did too well and you were too young then you started getting weird looks. Like, my new Family was proud of me but at the same time they wouldn’t mind if I lost a little bit. Not enough to embarrass them in public but enough that my efforts would be curved. It was...eye opening for sure. Needless to say, I had to take measures to defend myself from all sorts of threats. I spent some time both improving myself and my access to people that might be able to defend me as well in ways I was not trained.”

Normally, he didn’t really see the need to improve upon himself when it came down to it all. Vito often figured, as long as he could talk his way out of a problem, it wouldn’t matter. However, what happened when the people who could also talk their way out became your enemy? He had to be ready. It was in that vein that he wanted to go back to the basics and sign up for some time with Seth Adar and the Rangers. They could train his being to a finely tuned edge. Even though Vito himself never came across anything major, the access and respect of the others allowed him to build a better body for defense. Nowadays, he found he was quite fast and not half-bad with a blade or stake. Just in case. Not to mention the task force of ex-CIA and international forces that were conditioned to his liking and ready to assist in the defense of his being.

“I really can’t tell you much more than that, really. There is one thing I did want to say before I tell you the next bit of my life as you might have known it if I were allowed to be. Before anything else, before it gets lost to the ages. Before I lose the part of me that feels these emotions. I want you all to know that I miss you all more than you can know. I miss Mama’s cooking and love, the wisdom Papa brought me and the lessons he could teach. Yes, even you baby sister. I miss you more than you can possibly know but...in a way, I think it’s a good thing. I don’t think you’d like to see me as I am. That young man you knew is long since gone. Replaced by...well...a monster. For killing who I was I will never forgive myself. I’m sorry…

“I’m so sorry.”

With this, Vito took one last puff of the cigar and turned to leave the crypt for the time being. The emotions always overwhelmed when he thought about how much, truly, he had lost in the translation of becoming a powerful person in his own right. Leaving the cigar, snubbed and crushed under his heel as he left to his awaiting car and driver. He entered the backseat of his ride and sat in the middle as he leaned his head back against the rest.

His vision became red and blurred. 

In the quiet of his ride home, for the first time in many years, the man and the vampire were in sync. 

Together, they cried. Together they mourned the loss of who they were. Together, they knew, truly that they would never see their family again. They were, in every sense of the word, Damned.

So they wept. It would be many years before he would consider returning. He needed a moment to recover. What stories would he have to tell them then? Would he even want to? Could he even tell them? Time would tell…