The Caress of Gamaliel

Jun 15, 2023 5:09 am

"What games are you playing, driver? What do you want from all of us?" Sanora asks.

The Driver speaks to the audience, "She wants to know what we want from her, as if she doesn't already know in the flayed depths of her heart, in those twisted caverns of her morals. Should we tell her? Yes, I think we -"

THUMP! BANG! THUMP!

"STOP INTERRUPTING! YOU'LL GET YOUR TURN!"

"One question should be fairly obvious. Who the fuck is that back there in the trunk?" demands Laurent.

"Oh! That's just the Rage Thing. Fret not, my dear Photographer, you shall meet him. But not yet. Not yet."

"Also, what's in your pants? Not that I mind either way, but I just like to know. And I think we're past the point of politeness."

"Ha ha ha ha!" The Driver laughs, "Finally an interesting question! We are on our way to Loretta's villa. Shall we meet in private there? I can show you all sorts of -"

BANG! THUMP!

"IF YOU DONT SHUT UP, I'LL HAVE YOUR SKIN PEELED FROM YOUR FLESH!"

Finally the thumping and banging from the trunk stops, and the sounds of the limousine return to normal.

"As I was saying, we are on our way to Loretta's mountain villa. Sanora, you remember that place, do you not? The mansion in the mountains? I believe it was where 'Horny Home Invasion' was shot. Loretta invited you all in for the weekend and it turned into a movie."

"I think the erotic thriller genre ought to have died after Basic Instinct, but still. Porn to challenge the notion of porn and all that. Was it then that Loretta asked for that lock of hair?"

"I cannot believe you willingly gave her your hair. That shows an amazing lack of survival skills. A bit like your father, no?"

The limousine leaves the city and begins to drive up a curvy mountain road - a road familiar to both Laurent and Sanora.

"And Laurent? You were also involved in 'Horny Home Invasion,' right? You’ve been up to the mansion a lot, right? Loretta sure knows how to party. I’ve seen your pictures from up there."

"And the Bishop sure has read all about it. His search history suggests an almost unhealthy interest in Loretta’s parties."

"Sanora, can you guess which one of these two that has watched your parts in 'Horny Home Invasion' the most times? And how many times?"

They pause for Sanora's answer.

Jun 15, 2023 5:46 am

Ledosero Inactive forever!

Even as the driver's comment about meeting at the villa is interrupted, it lingers in Laurent's mind for a moment longer. It is an intriguing proposal, though part of him tells him that this person might be a bit much even for him. He licks his lips and puts the thought off for the moment as the driver brings the topic around to 'Horny Home Invasion'. He thinks back to the film. It's an earlier work of his and not one of his best, intriguing as the premise of it was. He's certain he could do a much better job with it now.

The Actress

Jun 15, 2023 9:45 pm

Horney Home Invasion. Sarona remembered it. It was her big breakthrough, some said.
The mansion surely was a thing. Way better than some of the other sites she had worked at.

But it wasn't really her concern yet. The idea that her dad had been watching HHI made her spine shiver.
She had always considered the possibility that people she knew would see her movies, and she never really cared much about that.
But dad... that was a different thing. She'd never expected the Bishop to watch porn. Then again, she never expected him going all wild with Laurent either.

Still... Dad was dad and Laurent was a freaky stalker.

Bookrat says:

""Sanora, can you guess which one of these two that has watched your parts in 'Horny Home Invasion' the most times? And how many times?"

"Laurent for sure," Sarona answered. "And... I don't know? 10 times?"

The Bishop

Camilla

Jun 16, 2023 4:49 am

"I'm just trying to see what has may daughter gotten into", the bishop remarks, lying to himself.

Jun 16, 2023 5:03 am

Laurent raises an eyebrow at Yves' words. Somehow, he doesn't sound quite convincing, which intrigues Laurent. "If we're not counting the times I viewed the footage or checked over it during the production, then I haven't watched this particular one all that much. It's not one of my better works," he says as he puts his arm around Sanora. "So Yves might actually win this competition." He licks his lips as he addresses the bishop. "Do you like to watch it for my craftsmanship or for her performance?"

Jun 16, 2023 2:06 pm

"Ha ha ha!" The Driver laughs. "I guess Laurent might be technically correct. He has only watched the movie once, from beginning to end. Your father has only watched it once, as well.

But Laurent, you're a special boy, aren't you? I know you recognized that power drill back there. You know it quite well. It's the exact same power drill that was used to murder Sanora in the movie.

Sanora, he has watched that particular scene many times. He was watched and rewatched your gruesome, bloody murder over 200 times.

You're a sick boy, Laurent." You can hear the smile in the Driver's voice as they insult (compliment?) Laurent.

Suddenly a pale and inhumanly long arm breaks out from behind the back seat. A shrill voice screams "I WANT TO BE LOVED" The fleshy arm bends in unnatural ways, swiping back and forth as it tries to grab you. It was the Rage Thing that was pounding from the trunk, earlier.

You spy the power drill, bejeweled collar, and bottle labeled ""sulphuric acid 98%" still on display in the back.

Jun 16, 2023 6:27 pm

Ledosero Inactive forever!

Laurent, his arm still around Sanora, chuckles. "Well, I guess that part is true. I always enjoyed those 139 seconds."
He then jumps in surprise when the strange, inhuman arm pushes out from behind the back seat. He lets go of Sanora and faces it, readying himself to kick or swipe at the bending limb if it gets too close to him. "What the hell?" he shouts. "Why the fuck are you chauffeuring around a monster?" He glances at Yves, then gestures to the bar. "Get those fucking things from the bar. We don't need that thing to have a power drill." He then turns back to face the arm. "And get behind me. I won't let this fucker get you."

The Actress

Jun 16, 2023 9:25 pm

Sarona recalls the scene with the powerdrill. The special effects had made it go straight to her character's skull at exactly the right timing.

Yes, there was one, but she had never really cared much for the details of it. Or any tools really. All drills were about the same to her.
Was this the exact same one? If the driver said so, she wasn't too surprised that it actually was. She hadn't recognized it as such before.

What worried her more was how easily Laurent had watched it over 200 times and just as easily wrapped his arm around her.

She already put her hand on his, not because she wanted to hold him, but because she wanted to gently put back his arm where it belonged - anywhere but around her.

That that is when the other arm appeared. She instantly jumped and shoved aside.

"Forget the drill!" she yelled. "Kill it with acid!"

Last edited June 16, 2023 9:26 pm

Jun 19, 2023 1:30 pm

The arm whips around wildly in the open compartment of the vehicle, almost whip-like as it unnaturally bends.

The hand reaches and grasps, squeezing tightly and releasing as it tries to blindly grab someone, anyone.

OOC:

(If you are going for one of the items on the wall, then roll an Act Under Pressure roll. On a 10-14, the hand will attempt to grab you, you can either choose to roll an Avoid Harm or roll an Endure Injury. On a 9-, you both fail to get the item and you must roll an Endure Injury as the hand slaps you.

Choosing Avoid Harm means you're abandoning the item you were going after to avoid the arm. Failure here will have a less dire consequence.

If you choose Ensure Injury, then you also get the item you were going after, but there's a more serious consequence if you roll poorly.)

Jun 20, 2023 11:43 pm

OOC:

Laurent asked about granting some advantage to Sanora if she went after an item on the wall.

So if Sanora tried to get an item, then Laurent can suffer the consequences of a failure or partial success.

However, if neither Sanora or Yves makes a post in the next 24 hours, then one of you will automatically be rolling an Endure Injury roll, determined randomly, as the hand slaps you during your moments of hesitation and delay.

:)

The Bishop

Camilla

Jun 21, 2023 10:21 am

His body moves by instinct, animated by those Darwinian forces that allowed the survival of the species. The natural imperative "Protect your own offspring".

He puts himself between danger and his own loved ones, heedless of the consequences. The hand of a dark God falling precipitously on him.

Last edited June 21, 2023 10:22 am

Rolls

Act Under Pressure - (2d10-2)

(47) - 2 = 9

Jun 21, 2023 1:04 pm

Yves tries to move to protect his daughter, but ends up freezing in place due to the fear. The hand whips around, slapping him hard.

@Camilla please roll an Endure Injury roll.

@Ledosero What is Sanora doing?

The Bishop

Camilla

Jun 21, 2023 1:32 pm

Ledosero Inactive forever!

OOC:

Here we go

Rolls

Endure Injury - (2d10)

(54) = 9

The Actress

Jun 21, 2023 6:54 pm

OOC:

I didn't post yet as I already kinda put up just before that Sarona was shoving aside. So that is what Sarona is doing. Avoid Harm I assume it could be then?

Rolls

Reflexes (Avoid Harm): - (2d10+2)

(32) + 2 = 7

Jun 21, 2023 7:13 pm

OOC:

I guess I'm a bit confused at what's going on, so let me try and summarize everything:

Sanora is shoving [something? someone?] aside. Who or what? (I had thought this meant she was shoving Laurent away from her, but maybe not?) Or is she being shoved aside by someone else?

Yves is jumping in front of Sanora to protect her.

Laurent is jumping in front of Yves to protect him, ready to attack the monster.

So let's do this: Sanora is well protected, because two men are between her and the arm. She will not have to roll anything.

Yves is trying to protect Sanora, and rolled horribly, but Laurent wants to protect him by attacking the monster. Laurent, let's roll an Engage in Combat roll. Take a +1 if you have something to attack with besides your fists.

15+ You successfully protect Yves and turn his failed roll into a success.

10-14: You partially succeed, and turn Yves' failed roll into a partial success.

9-: You completely miss, and Yves takes the full brunt of the slap.

Jun 21, 2023 7:16 pm

OOC:

No chance I can tank the damage for Yves on a <14?

Rolling to protect. The only thing I have is the camera, which I'm not going to use as a weapon. And getting the drill or acid would require a roll on its own.

Rolls

Engage in Combat (Violence +2) - (2d10+2)

(88) + 2 = 18

Jun 22, 2023 2:08 pm

As Sanora shoves away to get away from the unnaturally long arm, her father jumps in front of her to protect her. The arm reaches to slap him hard, but Laurent - for all the creepiness that he exudes - sacrifices himself to protect the father and daughter pair he loves (lusts?).

The arm then slithers back into the compartment where it was hiding.

The car is silent, except for the subtle sounds of driving on the road.

Jun 22, 2023 2:15 pm

"What the fuck?" Laurent asks, glancing briefly in the direction of the driver. "What is that thing? And don't fucking dare say 'the Rage Thing'. I want an actual answer. And why is it in here with us? What does Loretta want with that kind of creature?" Suddenly, he has a thought that seems to unsettle even him and he feels his eyes dart to the bottle of opioids for a brief instant. "Please don't tell me it's what I think it is."

Jun 22, 2023 4:47 pm