North American Vampire Council & Past Calling (Hypernaturals 12 & 13)

Folly, Hubris, and Tilting at Windmills

Outside, I checked the back of a few chairs to be sure the spray paint was dry. I did not want people sitting in chairs with wet paint. Helen used fast-drying spray paint, and they had all night to cure. I did not need to worry.

On the stage, I saw Victoria, Rachel, and Nova, all talking earnestly and quietly. I did not tune in. It's silly to talk quietly around me, but I am not really interested. I am sure all will be revealed soon.

As we waited for Victoria to say something at the rostrum, I looked around at the destruction visible from the center of the quadrangle. The worst bits are where trim boards in various eaves are ripped apart and hanging. Stucco is gouged out in rectangles, revealing the wood beneath where signs used to be inset. They inset the damn signs. That meant the installer carefully chipped out those rectangles to put them in there. No wonder it cost so much.

The entire effect of all the signage removal is somewhere between 'unfinished' and 'tornado damage', assuming the tornado selectively dropped down there and there, but not there, kind of thing.

It is not too bad, really. I should be able to get the whole thing fixed up in a week or so. It is my job to repair the damage. Council spent a ton of money on that burn pile. I am not great at home repairs, but I am sure I can find something on the Internet about how to fix stucco. I am not insetting the new Camp Bonzai signs. They'll go on top this next time. I am not crazy.

Shit. I need to find the supplier's name for all the signs and order a fresh set. Maybe it was on the itemized bill Helen showed us and that we used for a checklist of what to make sure we removed. If they can do horrid logoed shit, they can do a plain old sign, I am sure. They probably have all the original signage order someplace, so I don't have to re-create all the different directions and whatnot.

I saw some people milling around the edges of the quadrangle, looking at things. One person ran a finger over the rough edges where a sign had been on a cabin and talked to another about it. I assumed it is going something like "Can you believe they just ripped this off with their bare hands?" or maybe not. All Vampires around here. Sign rippage is nothing for a female Vampire. The way Jessica took the one off the Cafe being proof.

I could have listened in, but I talked to my little Rachel about the sports area. She has been here before, so I told her about some new things since her last visit. "I saw they have the goals with nets in now. The ones with wheels so you can move them around and make a Futbol field whenever you want. Like over at Ninovan."

I saw the movable goals when I was spraying over the name stenciled on the poles that make up the backstop. The goals frames are painted white, and the paint I used is black, same as the basketball goals, so I need to get some white paint and fix that.

I need to start a checklist.

That news impressed Rachel. "Can we go see, Daddy?"

"Sure, honey. As soon as this thing is over. Victoria does not like to make long talks. If she does, we'll leave."

If Victoria gets into my face from up there, I am leaving anyway.

Victoria stood up to the lectern with the mostly missing front panel. Not sure how I am going to fix that. May have to hire a carpenter for some of the more advanced stuff.

People quieted down. The people in attendance for the opening ceremony are inmates of Boot Camp, Crew, and various Vampires from around the world here to help, and also play with the inmates.

I saw Melissa in the front row: That is cool. I am glad she is getting out more. Her recovery from her five years in Siren captivity is nothing short of amazing. Ginger and Wyatt are sitting with her as well. Even cooler. Former Sirens with Melissa. More healing in progress for our worlds.