One: Blood

Outside
Xavier watches as Luci and Galaine step out into the night, and onto the empty street. It’s the work of a moment, and then they’re inside. Things seem to quieten for a while then; until the couple emerges from their trip to the alleyway. You size them up as they rearrange themselves before re-entering the Noose. Definitely not the type to get summoned here to save the city!

In the rear-view mirror, you see a man approach; all quiet confidence and dressed up like some old gumshoe detective. He strides by the van, and into the Noose.

Inside
The stale smell hits you first; heavy air and sweat mixes with the pungent smell of wood that’s been seeped in beer over the years.

Wary eyes turn to scan you as the door creaks inwards; assessing you quickly before turning back to the bottom of their glass. There’s more than a few bemused looks in Galaine’s direction, as people take in the Renaissance Faire get-up. Galaine, to Lucielle, to Galaine; you can almost see the brains whirring up trying to put it all together.

I'm a cowboy… On a steel horse I ride… I'm wanted dead or alive…
The jukebox in the corner drones out the same old hits; as it’s done every night for the past 35 years, most likely.

Amidst all the sad sacks and beer bellies, you don’t see anyone that screams ‘Monster Hunter’. Until the door swings open behind you, and a washed up old cop is standing in the frame. He steps in, and lets the door swing closed behind him, as he scans the scene. There’s something about the way the three of you carry yourselves; a look passes between the three, and you know you’re here for the same reason.

Outside
Xavier is about to consider the coast clear, and head inside, when he spies someone approach the Noose. A scruffy man, listlessly pushes his wheelchair down the street. His threadbare grey hoody spattered red with blood, which drips from a gash across his forehead. He gets himself to the door, but can’t summon the energy to force it open. Weakly, he pounds his fist against the door; a sound which is drowned out by the music playing inside.

Luci, Brydon and Galaine
"Sure thing, fella." the bartender responds with a roll of the eyes.

He shoots you a glass and has it filled in a second. He pulls up two more, fills them, and sets off down the bar. Some whiskey splotches on to the bar, as the man goes about his work. Brydon watches as the gold liquid pools into neat little orbs, just a finger away, as the bartender turns his back.

Luci, who had been waiting to order a round herself, is presented with a glass. The bartender jerks a head back towards Brydon:

"Gimme a sec, will ya? Fella thinks this is the Ritz. We don’t normally do room service, you know."

He leaves the glass in front of the woman, before crossing to Galaine’s table. He takes the knight in, as he pushes the glass across the table.

"I, eh… Fella over there sent this your way. Says his name is Michelle. Far be it from to judge…" he says, throwing his hands up as he retreats to the bar.

He nudges Luci on his way back:

"Michelle sends her regards. Just remembered he told me to say that. What can I get ya, anyway?"