a methuselah alois thing

I am not afraid.

When one lives for a long time, one becomes completely numb to fear, or at least that is how it should be. I have seen so many of my peers retreat from society, into the embrace of torpor or otherwise out of the public eye. They live in a constant paranoia that someone will come to steal their power. In a way, they may have some logic. It only takes one stroke of bad luck to tear down millenia of work.

But when you are as skilled and confident as I am, relying on luck is no longer necessary.

These eyes have seen the rise and fall of civilizations, my friend. The Greek, the Roman, the Ottoman Empires and more still came and went under this very gaze. Countless wars and struggles, Kindred and kine alike, and I have survived every one of them, unharmed. I was there when the precious Carthage of the Brujah fell under the glorious hands of my clanmates.

And throughout it all, I have been a rock to my clan, carrying the blood of Lord Ventrue himself. Just because it has been a few thousand years I should abandon my mantle?

I refuse.

I left the Old World behind so that whatever city I would become the Prince of, I would wield absolute, uncontested power. In Europe, that blessed kidnapped maiden, had long since been carried away by the white bull of human expectation. But in America, I could mould my city in any way I wanted. The possibilities were endless, the pulse of the youth powerfully throbbing through its veins. The future would not rest with my cowardly peers.

The New World carried with it a different sort of royalty. Gone were robes and crowns and jewels, replaced by tailored suits and polished shoes. But money still spoke louder than anything else. This would never change, and after thousands of years I had it to spare. In my courts, however, I still expect perfection. It is wonderful to wear the old garb again in my halls of night, and their glances fill with respect at the sight of me. Respect and fear. As it should be.

It is a shame that the standards of adulthood have changed so, and it has certainly made my feeding more difficult. I was not much older than them at the time of my embrace. Nevertheless, people of course seem reluctant to beleaguer a sickly old billionaire over his tastes. You underestimate just how much the public will overlook for the right price. I assure you, I'm not harming them anyway.

Ah? What does this all have to do with you? My dear, it isn't often I have such a beautiful Kindred come into my city. Fresh, young... It is a terrible shame that you aren't alive. You would have been delicious, the perfect addition to my collection. But it can't be helped.

I would like if you stayed in close contact with me. I can provide you with a haven if you'd like, close to me. But, my dear, this isn't an offer. This is an order. As I have told you, I fear no one, least of all a neonate. It would be quite unwise of you to try anything uncouth. No, no, you should not break your eye contact with me.

Do you understand? Do you? ...Yes. That's what I thought.

Welcome to my city, Luka. I will love having you here with me.