Blood Ties

I once asked (way too long ago) a good friend of mine what she would like to see in a fic and I would write it her for a gift. I FINALLY got round to completing it.

She asked for Zack and Seph, as vampires, lots of blood and biting and easy on the detail in the smut.

Me being me wanted this to be unique. Contemplating it I talked with another firend of mine and she suggested that the world of Vampire: The Masquerade. I did a lot of reading, discussing, and this is the (very late) result. I am not so sure on how successful the blending has been, it has be HARD to write, but I got it done.

Title: Blood Ties
Anime: Final Fantasy VII crossed with Vampire: The Masquerade
Setting: AU, set in the world of Vampire: The Masquerade, complete with Camarilla and all it's clans
Pairings: Zack x Sephiroth, Sephiroth x Zack
Rating: 18+
Warnings: This one is violent, technically bloodplay, and there will be torture and extreme themes later on
Summary: The Camarilla is rotten to the core. The anarchic Brujah decide to take a stand, and approach the Gangrel to ask them to honour the old alliances, the Blood Ties...

Blood Ties

The wind was whistling through the trees as his head came up, picking up the scent on the wind. He recognised it as one of the brethren of the Camarilla. It was clear they wanted to meet. He snarled slightly at having to leave the corpse of his prey, but it was time to be back in human form. He slunk into the trees to shift.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The figure stood on the hilltop smelling blood on the wind. Long platinum hair was picked up by the currents, shifting it around him, the waist length strands reflecting the light of the moon. He knew the Gangrel had noticed him, but he would not go into that lair. The scent of fresh death already had the Beast within him rising, and he could not afford to fall to it before he had done what was necessary. There was business to be done this night. The others were doing the same, recruiting the Gangrel to their cause. Only fleetingly did he wonder how Genesis and Angeal were faring. The former was the passionate anarchist with an obsession with the philosophies of a writer, the latter quieter, a thinker, but no less dedicated to the cause. And what a cause, one that would shake the very foundations of the Camarilla itself. But it was time a stand was taken.

Soon the Gangrel came into view, dressed in hide boots, worn leather trousers, a jacket of animal fur on his top half, possibly an animal he had caught himself, worn open to reveal his bared chest. Black wild spikes were what made up his hair, adding to the animalistic look, blue eyes shining in the night, taking in the figure above him as he wiped the blood off his hands, nails remaining claw-like even in this form. The tall figure, slender, but deceptively so, far stronger than might guessed at first glance. Combat boots, ripped black jeans, the long black leather coat over an acid eaten top. He wore no Clan symbol but he had no need to. As he met glowing green eyes with his own there was no mistaking it.

“Why do you seek me out Brujah?”

The Brujah, the warrior Clan, long-term allies of the Gangrel. The two Clans had often fought side by side through the years, the alliance strong, stretching back deep into the history of the Camarilla, almost to the fall of Carthage.

The silver-haired warrior struggled to keep his eyes off the bloody rag that was being twisted in his clawed hands. He had to swallow down the urges rising in him. Why now, the Beast had been at bay for years? Why couldn’t this happen in battle, which would be soon, so soon…

“We seek the Gangrel to honour the alliance of old, to fight beside us again.”

The dark haired one chuckled, eyes shining with amusement. So the Brujah had found a cause again, well at least one faction had.

“Then we had best talk don’t you agree?”

The taller man nodded, turning to lead them into town. The Gangrel sighed, he knew the typical places the Brujah liked to talk, but considering what they were talking about, having covering noise would not be a bad thing. So he followed without question. He wondered what would have the Brujah readying for battle, and was curious as to whether this one’s comrades and Clansmen were seeking out the dispersed members of the Gangrel. It was hard to track them down in any number easily, and the Brujah would not commit to doing so unless they were serious. But soon enough they were in a bar, the live band playing loudly. Far from irritating him, it amused him, the whole situation did. The Brujah on the other hand was brooding and serious, and well he might be, he was fighting against his Beast if he was any judge.

“What is your name Brujah?” He might as well know the name of the one who was trying to recruit him.

“Sephiroth, and you are Zack.”

Zack laughed. He had done his homework.

“So Sephiroth why do the Brujah wish to go to war?”

“ShinRa.”

Zack quickly became serious, his usual joyous demeanour departing at that one word. The ShinRa were well known, running the corporate empire of Midgar, their influence everywhere. But what else could be expected of the Ventrue, the Camarilla ruling class? It was well known that the Brujah held a grudge, blaming them, along with some of the other Clans, for the fall of Carthage, the vampire Promised Land.

“That is serious talk.” Zack said coolly, wondering what he might be being drawn into.

While those who knew him saw him as boyish, frivolous, even puppy-like, he could be fierce, even exceedingly rational when the situation called for it. As Sephiroth’s eves seemed to become icier he laughed.

“Oh lighten up man, way too serious over here.”

“They are sucking the life from this planet.”

“Ah so this is about the mako. Never figured the Brujah as eco warriors, though it’s a cause I guess.”

Sephiroth was getting distinctly annoyed by the teasing attitude. He had been warned that his target might not be easy to deal with, but he had no idea it meant handling this. Not to mention he was easily annoyed when he was dealing with suppressing his Beast at the same time.

“This isn’t about ecology.”

“Funny, ‘cause so far you are sounding like that lot in Cosmo Canyon.”

Sephiroth growled his annoyance.

“I was being metaphorical.”

“Oh that, you should have said.”

Sephiroth was seriously considering letting his Beast take the reins and tearing the Gangrel apart, it might be therapeutic, cathartic even. Instead he leaned forward and got into Zack’s face.

“ShinRa and that corporation are draining this planet of everything. Can you not see that their power stretches too far, the scope too wide? We are this close to autocracy, and what do you think will happen when they get all the power they want?”

“I don’t know but I think you are about to tell me.” Zack said cheerfully.

“They will take over the Camarilla.”

Zack laughed loudly. “They are Ventrue, they rule, it’s what they do.”

Sephiroth had had enough and grabbed him by the front of his fur jacket.

“Are you both blind and deaf? Have you not seen what they have been doing? They and their Turks, they have been taking out Justicars of various Camarilla Clans on the quiet, Princes suddenly dying after hundreds of years. They are eliminating all those that speak out against them and they are taking over in ways they should not. Or do I have to show you the proof to make a point?”

He released Zack suddenly, the Gangrel shaking his head.

“You guys don’t half get passionate about stuff. But I get ya.”

He and his Clansmen may not meet up often, but he had heard whispers on the wind, but in the main they had thought them rumours. If the Brujah were working themselves up for war then they had to be much more than rumour, there would be evidence indeed.

“It also might interest you to know that your Justicar is next.”

If Zack had needed convincing of the danger, that last bit of information had done it.

“You are certain of this?” The teasing and light-heartedness was gone.

“We have intelligence we can share with you.”

Zack swore. Now he was wound up. As a Gangrel you preferred your own company, but your Clan was everything. The Justicar and the elders would have to hear of this.

“Alright,” he agreed. “I’ll honour the alliance. I know the Clan will too.”

He had expected the silver haired man to show some sign of triumph, a smile, a smirk, but he only seemed to get even more intense, to come alive in a way. Ah the warrior who lives for battle, comes alive at the thought. It was an attractive quality that was for sure, the vampire before him had an eye catching beauty and had been drawing looks ever since they had reached civilisation. That hair in particular, liquid moonlight spun into silken strands, had admiring and jealous looks coming to him in equal measure. Not that the Brujah noticed or cared. His passions lay elsewhere. Didn’t stop Zack looking on with interest.

“So what is the plan?” He asked.

Sephiroth leaned forward. “We are gathering as many Brujah and Gangrel as we can. We plan to bring down the ShinRa building in Midgar.”

“Burn the rats out from the inside and pick them off.” Zack grinned.

Finally Sephiroth smiled; typical.

“With any luck we will catch most of the ShinRa and the Turks in the building when we do it, though either way destroying their research labs and taking out their seat of power is worth doing.”

“Research labs?”

“We believe they are experimenting on humans and vampires alike, treating them with mako, crossbreeding, genetic splicing, that kind of thing.”

“Well shit! What makes them think they have the right?”

Zack was suddenly angry, the thought that vampires were not safe amongst their own burning at him. And there had been whispers on the wind that there had been vampires of little rank and importance going missing in the vicinity of Midgar. Sephiroth smirked coldly.

“I see even you have heard the rumours then. But they are not rumours, they are a well hidden fact. In fact we also believe this is the reason for the new breeds of monsters we are seeing in concentrations round Mako reactors.”

Now that was a serious consideration. This had been happening for the last few years with no explanation. But no matter the way it rang true, Zack was still doubtful.

“You are serious aren’t you?”

“I am never otherwise.”

“But the Camarilla…” Zack began, but suddenly realised. “This is why, isn’t it, you think they have already begun to take over so much that no-one will try and stop them?”

“Very astute of you.” Sephiroth replied with a smile, beginning to like the vampire before him. “The very fact that this has gone on without a murmur of disapproval of the Princes and Justicars is enough to merit action. We suspect many have been bought, or they have some hold over them. Someone must take a stand before things get any further.”

Zack sat back with a sigh, thinking it over. It was one hell of a prospect, what they were talking about doing could not be taken lightly. But there was no lie in the intense gaze that rested upon him, he knew he could trust the vampire’s word on this. They would be going up against the elite, the very well armed, well financed elite. The thought sent a thrill up his spine, his hand itching to feel the weight of a sword again. He met the piercing green gaze of the Brujah before him, and smiled.

“Running the ShinRa out of Midgar. Don’t think I have done anything quite so exciting in years.”

Yes, no matter the Clan, a vampire yearned for destruction, for war, even those that dreamed of the Promised Land, a second Carthage, humans and vampires living alongside each other in peace. It was a part of the Beast they all carried, Caine’s curse.

Sephiroth nodded in satisfaction, knowing he definitely had the Gangrel’s support now. Good, then his trip to the wilds was not in vain. He hoped that his brothers in arms had found similar success. The more they had the sooner they could move. Zack shook his head, watching the spectacle of the Brujah come alive at the thought of battle, of bloodshed. Beautiful before, that light from within transformed him into utterly breathtaking and he couldn’t help the interested look coming into his eyes. Sephiroth noticed and was about to speak, to tease the Gangrel now his mood had improved, but a sudden ruckus changed the course of events.

As the vampires had been talking, humans unaware of the killers in their midst, a drunken bar fight had broken out. The allies had ignored it, the affairs of humanity in the main were not theirs to be bothered about, and they had more serious business to discuss. But the fight had gotten serious and the two brawling humans crashed onto their table, the vampires standing up suddenly to get out of the way. Zack was about to grab the tall Brujah and get him out of the way, well aware that he was battling with his Beast, and it would not go well if he fell to it in here. But luck was not on his side.

One of the humans drew a knife, slashing across the other’s face, blood flying through the air and landing on the tall warrior’s face. Zack tensed, knowing that this moment was very dangerous, as the pale man wiped at the wet warmth on his cheek, examining the crimson on his fingertips. Around them the band finally stopped playing, people were shouting, women screaming, men trying to haul the two off each other. In the midst of chaos the two stood motionless, Sephiroth staring transfixed at the blood on his fingers, Zack tense and ready should he need to be. He stepped forward as long, slender fingers were lifted to quivering lips, a pink tongue flickering out to taste, the fascinated Brujah unable to stop himself even though he knew the likely outcome of his actions.

Even over the clamour and chaos Zack could hear the moan that escaped Sephiroth and swore as green eyes suddenly shifted, pupils becoming slits and cat like as the beast within took control, gaze roving over the humans looking for a target to rip apart.

“Shit!”

There was no way he wanted to reveal what they were in this place, but if he didn’t do something it would be a massacre. He had to distract the fallen Brujah and now! He had to make use of his Protean abilities as it was the only way he could hope to go up against the other’s superhuman speed. With a growl he suddenly shifted as he ran towards the silver haired vampire, who had the man with the knife by the neck, changing into his dominant form as a wolf mid step, shrieks and screams filling the air as he pounced on the out of control Brujah. He was all snapping jaws, going for the throat, having to be utterly serious in his attack as strong hands attempted to rip him apart. His jaws closed round a hand and he could taste the metallic tang of blood on his tongue as his teeth tore into flesh. At a bone jarring punch to his muzzle he let go, shaking his head, leaping off Sephiroth whose green eyes were blazing at him as his muzzle dripped a mixture of both Sephiroth's and his own blood onto the ruined floor. Well he certainly had his attention now.

He ran out of the club at his best speed, Sephiroth hot on his heels as was the general plan, leaving only some surprised and frightened humans, and a pile of torn clothes behind them. The speed that the Brujah was gaining on him Zack was seriously considering shifting to another form. But the bloodlust of the Beast had to be appeased somehow, and the population of the town could not be hurt. And it looked like this was going to hurt. He eventually was caught by the blazing Brujah, which had to be inevitable at the speeds he could move. But by the time he brought him down they were deep into the forests and in his territory, well away from civilisation. Needing to grapple with him on equal grounds he quickly shifted back into human form. This brought both advantages and disadvantages though.

Clawed his hands remained, and proper hands were definitely a boon when wrestling like this, claws looking to find purchase in clothing, in flesh, anything that would give him the upper hand. Sephiroth being clothed meant that he had more to get purchase on, pin him down with, and being naked Sephiroth did not have that advantage in return. However, it made him vulnerable in other ways having nothing to deflect blows and as a result he was taking quite some punishment. He would heal quickly enough; he had hunted recently and could easily do so again, but for now he had to survive the onslaught from the crazed vampire. He could not deny how exhilarating it was to grapple with someone who could truly match his strength and abilities, and there was something wild and feral in doing this on the forest floor.

He was scratched and bruised and muddy, Sephiroth’s long hair full of twigs and leaves, the cotton top ripped, leather coat hanging off one shoulder, truly a wild thing as he pinned Zack to the hard ground, diving for his throat and sinking his teeth in. Zack stiffened and groaned at the mixture of pain and pleasure that came with this action, arching into his aggressor as fangs slid deep into his throat. But this had been inevitable and better him than the townsfolk, and to be honest, it wasn’t that bad either. Being here, in the wilds, doing this, having such a beautiful man fight and grapple with him… well it was one huge fucking turn on. The thing was, as his lust rose in him, Sephiroth could taste it in his blood, suddenly backing off and becoming catlike as he hovered over Zack.

“You want me,” he purred.

Lying there, with the silver haired beauty eyeing him up like a delicious treat, licking his lips, hovering over him with feline grace, wild and dangerous… hell yeah he wanted him.

“Fuck yeah, you’re all kinds of beautiful.”

He was more than a little crazed right now, but the need for violence and destruction could be channelled in this direction too, keeping the human population safe. It was a hard job to fuck a crazed pretty boy but someone had to do it.

Sephiroth just purred, truly purred like some great cat, licking at the healing wound at his throat, making Zack shiver.

“You taste good,” he murmured against his skin. “Like adrenaline, lust, aggression…” all things that called to him and his Beast, drew him in.

Sephiroth was swaying in a feline motion and Zack was content to just lie there, enjoying watching him move and calm from the frenzied aggression, this moment the calm before the storm. He knew that as soon as he made his move this calm would be gone and it would be like having a tiger by the tail. He was happily allowing the anticipation to well up inside him, knowing the challenge he was about to face. He was in for a wild night.

As he reached up to slide a hand to the back of Sephiroth’s neck he lay tense, watching for any side of a sudden spike of aggression from him, moving carefully, cautiously as one would with an animal. With a deep purr Sephiroth understood the gesture and willingly leaned in for a deep kiss. The instant he could taste the arousal in the Gangrel’s blood, his Beast had latched onto it, flooding him with desire and lust. He couldn’t care less about who he was with, now a creature of utter instinct. He wanted to fuck, wanted release and didn’t care where he was, who he was with, or how he got it, as long as he did. So he was more than happy to go with it, long hair failing round them like a veil, ghosting over Zack’s skin, as his tongue explored the Gangrel’s mouth with delight.

Zack groaned softly at the taste of blood on his tongue, and it didn’t matter to him that it was his own, the taste excited him in the very same way it did Sephiroth or any vampire. The two moved together to fully pull off that leather coat even as they kissed, it had been in the way as they wrestled, and it was even more so now. It was discarded without a second thought, and Sephiroth was impatient, impatient enough to rip the already torn t-shirt the rest of the way off his body. Knee high boots were kicked off as Zack took the opportunity to run calloused hands over porcelain flesh. Sephiroth twisted, his body following the direction of Zack’s touch, breaking the kiss and sighing contentedly as claws caught and snagged in his skin.

Zack was unsurprised by the reaction, this was never going to be gentle, Sephiroth needed violence to calm and sate his Beast.

“More,” the green-eyed man demanded as he bit harshly at his lip.

Zack growled in return and shoved him hard, so hard that the taller man ended up on his back, Zack kneeling straddling his hips. The groan that left Sephiroth’s throat was a mixture of a purr and pure lust as the Gangrel’s claws dug deep into the flesh of his waist. One hand was working his belt loose and attacking the fastenings of his jeans, but all the crazed vampire could think about was the pain, how good it felt to have the blood running down his side, to have lips fastened to the wounds, sucking, tongue pushing its way into the torn flesh to taste and take from him. The wound would not last long, but while it did he would relish the way Zack attacked it with his mouth. Instinctively he wanted to taste, and brought his injured hand to his mouth. But the flesh that had been torn by lupine teeth was already too healed to yield anything remotely satisfying.

With a snarl he grabbed a fistful of sable spikes and yanked the Gangrel up his body to claim that mouth that had been feeding off him, plundering it to taste his own blood on that tongue. Zack didn’t resist, thoroughly amused by how one minute Sephiroth would just lie back and enjoy, and the next was demanding and taking control. Oh this promised to be interesting. Sephiroth complied as Zack stripped him of the last of his clothing, but snarled hungrily as Zack ground against him, the contact of their bodies, both now naked, was electric to them both. They had just let go, giving into their basest desires, kisses all fangs, hands clawing, both snarling at each other. But Zack decided to see just how much he could get away with.

Taking just a moment to wet two fingers in his mouth, he rudely thrust them into Sephiroth with just enough care to avoid seriously hurting him with his claws. Growling Sephiroth clawed at his back, his own arching, seeking more.

“Hurt me.” He snarled at the Gangrel.

He needed this, the blood, the violence, the pain, and oh the pleasure… Being penetrated so roughly like that had sent a thrill up his spine and he wanted more, so much more of it. That mixture of pleasure and pain, not sure where one bled into the other, the line utterly blurred. So when the Gangrel roughly turned him over, raising his hips til he was on his knees, he snapped but didn’t fight it. He was rewarded by being filled in one rough stroke, the action making him groan in delight as pain and pleasure both tore through him. Zack was growling, sounding very much like the wolf whose form he loved to take, and he did not hold back.

Sephiroth screamed as two sets of claws raked down his back, tearing him open, but combined with the relentless pounding, and the way the Gangrel was bent over him, hungrily lapping and sucking at the blood it was just what he wanted. He fed off all the noises Zack made in his lust, the way that this was making him come undone, loved knowing that he was just biding his time before he would roughly take Zack in return. He revelled in the pleasure pain, slit pupils dilating and contracting as he groaned with satisfaction.

Zack was slowly losing it. It was so rare that he could let go of every tight control he kept himself under when he coupled with someone. Lust and the desire for violence ran high through any of their race, but it had to be kept fettered in the main. For once someone needed his abandon and it felt so fucking good. Needing to feel his fangs in flesh he bit deep into the back of Sephiroth’s shoulder, the Brujah moaning in delight as Zack fed off him and fucked him at the same time. But it was a heady mix, too much for the Gangrel, who groaned and shuddered as he swallowed down hot blood and released at the same time.

In that moment of climax, utterly high, Zack did not know what had hit him as Sephiroth pounced. Before he knew it he was flat on his back, crying out as pain blended with the post climax high as Sephiroth roughly penetrated him with no preparation whatsoever. Green eyes glowed and flashed at him, as grinning Sephiroth took pleasure from his body. Zack just chuckled tiredly and laid there and took it. Yeah it hurt, but it felt good too, the pain in the midst of the comedown from climax was a wonderful counterpoint that thrummed through him. Hell, he found he could happily lie here and watch the beautiful vampire’s face contort with ecstasy all damned night. It was a glorious sight to behold, moonlight catching in the quicksilver strands of his hair, and he was unlikely to get the chance to see, or even do, this again. The only time he was likely to see Sephiroth again was on the battlefield.

With a howl and a thrust that had Zack crying out in pain as the crazed Brujah seemed intent on trying to split him in two, Sephiroth went rigid in release, Zack gasping as in that perfect moment every muscle in that lean and powerful frame stood proud, corded and defined, face serene and almost angelic. And as the pleasure let him go, as those green eyes looked down at him, he got a glimpse at the man behind the warrior, a soft soul, hidden within that no-one saw. But momentarily exhausted he was climbing off him to collapse at his side. They both lay there, a little out of breath, Zack watched as the Beast relinquished its grip, shining emerald orbs becoming natural in form again. Or as natural as vampire’s eyes got anyway.

But that was enough to allow Zack to close his eyes and relax. They both needed the rest, between the fight, the clawing and biting at each other, the blood swapped, and of course their wild coupling, their bodies needed a little time to recuperate. So they both lay there, naked in the moonlight, perfectly silent and still as their bodies knitted themselves back together. Zack was first to move. Sephiroth’s clothes were to hand, but in his case they were not. Once rested he highly doubted the Brujah would want to be staring at his naked ass. He was expecting this to be awkward as it was. When he moved away Sephiroth opened his eyes, sitting up.

The Beast was quiet, quieter than it had been in a while. He had not done that… gotten so wild, rutted so brutally for a long count of years. He hadn’t been in his right mind, he knew that, but now in the peace that followed, he realised he had not indulged that side of him for far too long. Angeal and Genesis were at it enough, he knew that, but his eyes had been opened to the advantages of having a lover who could handle him like that. The calm in his Beast was so deep, deeper than it had been for so very long. But just because the realisation had just hit him did not mean he was about to profess undying love for the Gangrel. Love had no place in a warrior’s heart. Besides, the cheerful attitude was annoying.

He got up, starting to dress, chuckling a little at the ruined t-shirt. No matter. But he had his jeans and boots back on by the time the Gangrel returned, fully dressed, in similar clothing to before.

“Feeling better?”

“I apologise, for losing control.”

Zack chuckled and shrugged.

“Wasn’t like dealing with it was a hardship.”

No, it had been pretty fucking amazing actually.

“And better than a massacre in the town, though I am going to have to keep a low profile for a while.”

Sephiroth sighed, pulling the coat on over his bare torso.

“I never meant to cause you problems.”

Zack laughed, a happy and amused sound.

“So I stick to the forest for a month or two. I can hunt just as well that way anyway. So lighten up. I had fun.”

Sephiroth fought the urge to roll his eyes at the twinkle in the Gangrel’s eye.

“And you know, any time you feel like letting off some steam…”

The grin on Zack’s face almost split it. Hell he would love another round of that action. Sephiroth was about to snap at him, but allowed him his fun. He was grateful, and he did owe him for preventing a nasty massacre back at the bar. Had he not acted as the distraction he would not have stopped killing until there wasn’t a soul left alive, and the walls and floor had been painted crimson with blood. The ramifications of that would have been high.

“Thank you,” he said softly.

Zack nodded, knowing better than to tease right now. The man was being serious and it cost him. It was a weakness amongst the Brujah, to fall to their Beast more often than any of the other clans. To mention that weakness was distinctly bad taste, and liable to end in whoever mentioned it being found in pieces over a mile wide radius.

“So you know where to find me. I guess that I’ll next see you when all this goes down.”

He wouldn’t mind seeing him again before that, but he wasn’t going to push his luck.

“I had thought after the trouble I had caused you might wish to back out.”

Zack snorted amused.

“It doesn’t matter what you do to me, what is happening to the Clan is all that matters. There are blood ties between our two clans and all. Blood is thicker than water, or so they say. Certainly tastes better.”

Sephiroth turned away to hide the slight smile that graced his lips. Okay, so the attitude was not entirely annoying.

“I, and probably the rest of the Clan will honour the old alliances, I, like them, will await the call to muster. So for now, I think I better get my sword ready.”

This time Sephiroth let Zack see the smile. He was sort of looking forward to fighting shoulder to shoulder with this man. He would see if that set up could be arranged. He already knew he could trust him to watch his back.

“We’ll be in touch.” Sephiroth agreed.

Zack shook his head as the taller man began to walk away. After all that the masks were back in place, the cool exterior of the warrior. Well it had been a fun evening at the very least, that was for sure. But as he turned his back on the Brujah, he had not counted on the whim that seized the warrior. He suddenly found someone grabbing a fistful of his hair, turning him round and kissing him fiercely.

“You still taste good,” came the Brujah’s deep purr.

This time as he left Zack watched him go. And something told him, he would be seeing Sephiroth sooner than he might expect.