Dec 24, 2024 11:47 pm
Continues from The Arundel Information Caper.
After Arundel (RP)
Dec 24, 2024 11:50 pm
- Benji -
You don't get any answer from Jacob. The hours pass and eventually the trains start running. It is a pity you did not bring your violin with you, but the crowds are small, at this village station, anyway.
Your train carriage home fills slowly, but, for most of the trip, it is almost empty. The other passengers look sleepy and easy prey, you don't know how Alasdair got home, but he would not have been able to manage a situation like this without succumbing to his baser instincts ... he would not see the reason to try. Does this bother you?
Lizabeth should still be at Jacob's place, but you don't know where Jacob is. It is still early in the morning. Do you check on her?
If you check, Teddy would confirm that there is still no sign of Elliot.
What do you do?
You don't get any answer from Jacob. The hours pass and eventually the trains start running. It is a pity you did not bring your violin with you, but the crowds are small, at this village station, anyway.
Your train carriage home fills slowly, but, for most of the trip, it is almost empty. The other passengers look sleepy and easy prey, you don't know how Alasdair got home, but he would not have been able to manage a situation like this without succumbing to his baser instincts ... he would not see the reason to try. Does this bother you?
Lizabeth should still be at Jacob's place, but you don't know where Jacob is. It is still early in the morning. Do you check on her?
If you check, Teddy would confirm that there is still no sign of Elliot.
What do you do?
Dec 24, 2024 11:51 pm
- Emma -
Kenedi sighs. "I can't just check traffic cam without a case number." She says, in the tone of voice of someone who has made this explanation too many times. "Has the disappearance been reported. You don't need to wait 24 hours, that is only in the movies. But 'he's been gone all night' also does not get much of a response, you know."
Your description of the fancy car makes Kenedi hesitant to believe this is your husband, and she does not want to assume anything.
What do you do?
Kenedi sighs. "I can't just check traffic cam without a case number." She says, in the tone of voice of someone who has made this explanation too many times. "Has the disappearance been reported. You don't need to wait 24 hours, that is only in the movies. But 'he's been gone all night' also does not get much of a response, you know."
Your description of the fancy car makes Kenedi hesitant to believe this is your husband, and she does not want to assume anything.
What do you do?
Dec 24, 2024 11:52 pm
- Jacob -
"Hey!" Crowley says, offended by your accusation. "I tried to stop you, remember. You pulled me into this." He is completely skipping over all the previous where he tempted you into coming down here in the first place, but he is a demon, that is par for the course.
"How could you not recognise a doorway to another dimension?" He says. "I should have just left you to it."
It is true he did put himself at risk to try to save you from this, and you will Owe him for that. But that is a consideration for later.
• Are there any sounds? Birds? Traffic? People?
What do you do?
"Hey!" Crowley says, offended by your accusation. "I tried to stop you, remember. You pulled me into this." He is completely skipping over all the previous where he tempted you into coming down here in the first place, but he is a demon, that is par for the course.
"How could you not recognise a doorway to another dimension?" He says. "I should have just left you to it."
It is true he did put himself at risk to try to save you from this, and you will Owe him for that. But that is a consideration for later.
• Are there any sounds? Birds? Traffic? People?
What do you do?
Dec 25, 2024 5:00 am
"I can't report the disappearance of someone who doesn't officially exist" Emma sighed to herself as she corroborated Kenedi's suspicions that the man she was looking for was 'one of those' people. "Is there anything else we can do? Anything else you can think of?"
Dec 25, 2024 11:50 am
- Emma -
"I should have bloody known." Kenedi says in exasperation. "What with you coming to me asking for favours. Give me the details and I will keep a lookout for if anything comes across my desk. No promises though."What do you do?
"I should have bloody known." Kenedi says in exasperation. "What with you coming to me asking for favours. Give me the details and I will keep a lookout for if anything comes across my desk. No promises though."
OOC:
You will owe her a Debt if you get her involved in your problems.Dec 25, 2024 12:15 pm
"I'll send you everything I’ve got" she said quickly, before Kenedi has a chance to change her mind. She wasn’t sure what she could do to help her, but she had to try. "Listen, there are a lot of people who would rather this 'individual' stays missing. Powerful people" She added one last warning before hanging up the call "Watch your back, alright?"
OOC:
sure, Emma will owe a debt
Dec 27, 2024 10:00 am
Benji feels the Hunger burning inside him as he watches the other passengers aboard the train. It’s been a while since he properly fed – too long, now that he thinks about it—but he’s able to resist the compulsion to feed without much trouble. He’s been worrying lately – especially after that debacle with Bev the other night—that he might be slipping, succumbing to his more monstrous instincts like Alasdair, but Alasdair wouldn’t have been able to handle this. Benji feels quite proud of himself, actually.
That is until someone sits down right beside him, so close that Benji can smell the coffee on his breath and the warm, fresh blood pumping through his veins. Benji freezes as a fierce stab of hunger momentarily overrides every other thought in his head. His mouth waters.
The man next to him is in his thirties, maybe? Benji finds it difficult to tell with humans. He’s wearing an ill-fitting grey suit and no tie. He pulls a book out of his satchel and opens it to a marked page in the middle, apparently completely oblivious to the fact that there is a hungry vampire sitting beside him, frantically trying to talk himself out of committing a murder.
I can’t! Benji thinks to himself, though it is difficult to remember why he can’t with the Hunger clawing at his insides. He’s… He’s in the middle of a book! If I killed him, he would never get to find out how it ends and that would be really sad… right? And he’s probably on his way somewhere important, like a funeral or a birthday party, and there are probably people there, waiting for him, who would be disappointed if he never showed up.
And, Benji tells the Hunger, once he runs out of flimsy made-up excuses, there are cameras on the train. If I kill this man now, I won’t be able to go home. I’ll have to hide, underground, like Alasdair does, for a few years at least. Alasdair doesn’t get to have friends or play music for people or do any of the fun people-stuff I like to do.
The man gets off at the next stop, much to Benji’s relief.
Once he arrives back in London, Benji decides to go back to his apartment to check in with Lizabeth. Perhaps she’ll let him feed on her or, if not, hopefully he’ll at least have some of those blood bags Jacob gave him left in the fridge.
He isn’t quite sure what time humans normally wake up, but he knows that Lizabeth usually likes to rise before the sun so he feels fairly confident that she will be awake by now. Even so, he knocks on his apartment door before entering so as not to startle her. "Lizabeth? Are you awake? It’s just me."
That is until someone sits down right beside him, so close that Benji can smell the coffee on his breath and the warm, fresh blood pumping through his veins. Benji freezes as a fierce stab of hunger momentarily overrides every other thought in his head. His mouth waters.
The man next to him is in his thirties, maybe? Benji finds it difficult to tell with humans. He’s wearing an ill-fitting grey suit and no tie. He pulls a book out of his satchel and opens it to a marked page in the middle, apparently completely oblivious to the fact that there is a hungry vampire sitting beside him, frantically trying to talk himself out of committing a murder.
I can’t! Benji thinks to himself, though it is difficult to remember why he can’t with the Hunger clawing at his insides. He’s… He’s in the middle of a book! If I killed him, he would never get to find out how it ends and that would be really sad… right? And he’s probably on his way somewhere important, like a funeral or a birthday party, and there are probably people there, waiting for him, who would be disappointed if he never showed up.
And, Benji tells the Hunger, once he runs out of flimsy made-up excuses, there are cameras on the train. If I kill this man now, I won’t be able to go home. I’ll have to hide, underground, like Alasdair does, for a few years at least. Alasdair doesn’t get to have friends or play music for people or do any of the fun people-stuff I like to do.
The man gets off at the next stop, much to Benji’s relief.
Once he arrives back in London, Benji decides to go back to his apartment to check in with Lizabeth. Perhaps she’ll let him feed on her or, if not, hopefully he’ll at least have some of those blood bags Jacob gave him left in the fridge.
He isn’t quite sure what time humans normally wake up, but he knows that Lizabeth usually likes to rise before the sun so he feels fairly confident that she will be awake by now. Even so, he knocks on his apartment door before entering so as not to startle her. "Lizabeth? Are you awake? It’s just me."
Dec 27, 2024 12:28 pm
Jacob takes a moment to listen to his surroundings. Nothing. No birds, no traffic and, for the first time in weeks, no sound of rain.
Suddenly he remembers something and reaches into his jacket. He sighs in relief when he feels that the dagger is still inside. It's strange that he just felt the urge to check it...
"Sunshine and green grass everywhere... I really hope this is not the Summer Court. I remember the Queen of Summer not being too fond of demons. Come on, Crowley, let's try to figure out where we are and how to get out of here as soon as possible," Jacob says. First he checks the place where he left his car in the real world. With parallel dimensions, you never know, it might still be there.
Suddenly he remembers something and reaches into his jacket. He sighs in relief when he feels that the dagger is still inside. It's strange that he just felt the urge to check it...
"Sunshine and green grass everywhere... I really hope this is not the Summer Court. I remember the Queen of Summer not being too fond of demons. Come on, Crowley, let's try to figure out where we are and how to get out of here as soon as possible," Jacob says. First he checks the place where he left his car in the real world. With parallel dimensions, you never know, it might still be there.
Dec 27, 2024 12:44 pm
- Jacob -
"That's an understatement." Crowley says about Titania not being fond of demons. If you are in Faerie, you really need to avoid getting caught.
There are some small buildings scattered around you, but the church itself is missing. Where it would have been, there are more eerily silent trees, but the castle is there, looking fairly unchanged. In the shade where you parked your car a donkey stands, head down, chewing on the grass.
What do you do?
"That's an understatement." Crowley says about Titania not being fond of demons. If you are in Faerie, you really need to avoid getting caught.
There are some small buildings scattered around you, but the church itself is missing. Where it would have been, there are more eerily silent trees, but the castle is there, looking fairly unchanged. In the shade where you parked your car a donkey stands, head down, chewing on the grass.
What do you do?
Dec 27, 2024 1:08 pm
"I don't suppose you fancy a donkey ride to London, do you?" Jacob frowns and then looks at the castle. "I guess we'll have to see if there's anyone in there. Careful," he advises. He starts to sneak around the castle, trying to find any opening to peek in, or anything that might give him a clue as to where they are.
Dec 27, 2024 1:27 pm
- Jacob -
"I don't exactly fancy running into any of the residents." Crowley says, hesitant about approaching the castle. "Do you think London even exists? And, would getting there get us there?"
As you approach the castle the donkey's ears twitch and it looks up and —still chewing— watches you idly. Crowley sighs. "If you are dead set on going to the castle: I heard a rumour that there was a pond at its center —in our one, that is— that was supposed to be a 'portal to another world'." He says. "Maybe, if that rumour was true, and if it is the same here, and if we can get to it, and if it still works, and if ... well you get the point. Maybe, from here, 'the other world' is home?"
It occurs to you that you can probably get back on your own. You have poured a lot of yourself into your Establishment, and, in the back of your head, you can feel a small connection that might lead you back to it. It would be quite easy to abandon Crowley here, taking care of a rival and some Debts in one fell swoop. So what if it costs you a little bit of your humanity.
What do you do?
"I don't exactly fancy running into any of the residents." Crowley says, hesitant about approaching the castle. "Do you think London even exists? And, would getting there get us there?"
As you approach the castle the donkey's ears twitch and it looks up and —still chewing— watches you idly. Crowley sighs. "If you are dead set on going to the castle: I heard a rumour that there was a pond at its center —in our one, that is— that was supposed to be a 'portal to another world'." He says. "Maybe, if that rumour was true, and if it is the same here, and if we can get to it, and if it still works, and if ... well you get the point. Maybe, from here, 'the other world' is home?"
It occurs to you that you can probably get back on your own. You have poured a lot of yourself into your Establishment, and, in the back of your head, you can feel a small connection that might lead you back to it. It would be quite easy to abandon Crowley here, taking care of a rival and some Debts in one fell swoop. So what if it costs you a little bit of your humanity.
What do you do?
Dec 29, 2024 6:41 am
Benji is dismayed to find his apartment empty (besides Hermes), and a note from Lizabeth stuck to the fridge, informing him that she went down to the river and will be back ‘soon-ish’. Equal parts worried and exasperated, he hurries down to the Thames to find her.
Dec 29, 2024 11:28 am
- Benji -
Lizabeth is in her usual spot... or near it. The river has overflown its banks and flooded the road of Victoria Embankment. Some brave and foolish souls have tried to drive through the water, and their cars are stuck, mostly underwater, in a 'less civilised' area (say: the countryside) there would be droves of people to help them, but in London the most any of the stranded motorists receive is a snigger.
Maybe it's the hunger, or just paranoia, but, as you approached the river, you get the constant feeling that you are being watched. From the windows of the overlooking buildings, by the commuters on the bus, by those with the swamped cars, and by the pedestrians being turned away from Westminster and Embankment Tube stations because 'the line is closed, as a precaution'.
No one seems to be bothering Lizabeth, and she looks happier now that she is outdoors and free again. The change to the landscape of her riverbank does not seem to worry her, though she has not found anything worth picking, if you can judge by the empty bag on her shoulder.
What do you do?
Lizabeth is in her usual spot... or near it. The river has overflown its banks and flooded the road of Victoria Embankment. Some brave and foolish souls have tried to drive through the water, and their cars are stuck, mostly underwater, in a 'less civilised' area (say: the countryside) there would be droves of people to help them, but in London the most any of the stranded motorists receive is a snigger.
Maybe it's the hunger, or just paranoia, but, as you approached the river, you get the constant feeling that you are being watched. From the windows of the overlooking buildings, by the commuters on the bus, by those with the swamped cars, and by the pedestrians being turned away from Westminster and Embankment Tube stations because 'the line is closed, as a precaution'.
No one seems to be bothering Lizabeth, and she looks happier now that she is outdoors and free again. The change to the landscape of her riverbank does not seem to worry her, though she has not found anything worth picking, if you can judge by the empty bag on her shoulder.
What do you do?
Dec 29, 2024 1:26 pm
Crowley's plan to find the pond in the centre of the castle seems convoluted enough to make Jacob think seriously about taking the easy alternative. He has never tried teleporting to his place from another dimension, and he's not even sure it would work, but the feeling is there. He could get rid of Crowley and this awkward situation in one fell swoop.
But if Jacob had a sin to answer for, it would be curiosity. The same reason he picked up the dagger, the same reason he's in this business, the same reason he chose to stay on Earth. He can't just leave, at least not yet, until he sees where they are.
"A magic pond, you say? Come on, let's see what clues we can find"
But if Jacob had a sin to answer for, it would be curiosity. The same reason he picked up the dagger, the same reason he's in this business, the same reason he chose to stay on Earth. He can't just leave, at least not yet, until he sees where they are.
"A magic pond, you say? Come on, let's see what clues we can find"
OOC:
Let's leave that as plan B for now. :)Dec 30, 2024 1:52 pm
- Jacob -
All is extremely quiet as you approach the castle. But it is a castle, it doesn't exactly have windows at ground level [streetview].
The drawbridge is up ('closed'), but the moat is empty, it would not be hard to get around the drawbridge, if you did not mind getting your shoes a bit muddy.
What do you do?
All is extremely quiet as you approach the castle. But it is a castle, it doesn't exactly have windows at ground level [streetview].
The drawbridge is up ('closed'), but the moat is empty, it would not be hard to get around the drawbridge, if you did not mind getting your shoes a bit muddy.
What do you do?
Dec 31, 2024 2:00 am
Benji’s frustration with Lizabeth quickly dissipates when he sees how happy she is to be out by the river, wading through the shallow water in her wellies. Asking her to give this up would be like asking him to give up his violin. Unthinkable.
"I wish you’d waited until I could come along with you, at least," he says by way of greeting, stopping at the edge of the water. He only has the one pair of shoes and he’d rather not have to walk around with wet feet all day. "It’s not safe for you to be out here all by yourself."
"I wish you’d waited until I could come along with you, at least," he says by way of greeting, stopping at the edge of the water. He only has the one pair of shoes and he’d rather not have to walk around with wet feet all day. "It’s not safe for you to be out here all by yourself."
Dec 31, 2024 5:25 am
- Benji -
"You were gone all night." Lizabeth objects. "I can't just wait for you.
"It's perfectly safe, anyway." She declares while simultaneously a group of cyclists screeches to a halt as one of their members is swallowed by a water-filled sinkhole, and emerges —sans bicycle— looking confused as to what just happened.
Lizabeth is content to spend the rest of the say poking around the new riverbank, protected by her wellies and bright-yellow slicker. You can't see anything that threatens her, but still that sensation of being watched pervades everything. Off in the distance you can see the face of Big Ben, and the arse of Boadicea and Her Daughters, but neither of the are paying you much attention.
What do you do?
"You were gone all night." Lizabeth objects. "I can't just wait for you.
"It's perfectly safe, anyway." She declares while simultaneously a group of cyclists screeches to a halt as one of their members is swallowed by a water-filled sinkhole, and emerges —sans bicycle— looking confused as to what just happened.
Lizabeth is content to spend the rest of the say poking around the new riverbank, protected by her wellies and bright-yellow slicker. You can't see anything that threatens her, but still that sensation of being watched pervades everything. Off in the distance you can see the face of Big Ben, and the arse of Boadicea and Her Daughters, but neither of the are paying you much attention.
What do you do?
Dec 31, 2024 5:28 am
- Emma -
By the time you are finished dealing with Kenedi and getting her the needed —though redacted— information, it is too late to do much more before your lunch date with 'mom and dad'. Being late definitely is not a good option, not after bailing on them last night.
The in-laws have many questions: they want to know about your book (there is very little apparent judgement about when it will come out and start to contribute to the family income), and they especially want to know all the details about the soirée you got to attend in such a dress. But mainly they want to talk about David, so they are easily swayed away from their interrogation when you have had enough.
• How much do you tell them? Do they know are writing a 'vampire book'? What is their reaction to this?
Apparently David is up for a big promotion at work. You did not know about this —presumably this was information he wanted to surprise everyone with at dinner last night— and you get the impression that not knowing what is going on with your husband may be frowned upon.
What do you do?
By the time you are finished dealing with Kenedi and getting her the needed —though redacted— information, it is too late to do much more before your lunch date with 'mom and dad'. Being late definitely is not a good option, not after bailing on them last night.
The in-laws have many questions: they want to know about your book (there is very little apparent judgement about when it will come out and start to contribute to the family income), and they especially want to know all the details about the soirée you got to attend in such a dress. But mainly they want to talk about David, so they are easily swayed away from their interrogation when you have had enough.
• How much do you tell them? Do they know are writing a 'vampire book'? What is their reaction to this?
Apparently David is up for a big promotion at work. You did not know about this —presumably this was information he wanted to surprise everyone with at dinner last night— and you get the impression that not knowing what is going on with your husband may be frowned upon.
What do you do?
Dec 31, 2024 1:57 pm
La Clique was unlike any show her parents in law have ever seen. It was advertised as a "provocative, avant-garde spectacle that blended cabaret, burlesque, comedy, and live music in a way that rattles the senses". It was a performance designed more to shock than entertain, with a heavy dose of crowd participation, wild theatrics, and full frontal nudity. Emma knew her conservative in-laws would never go on their own, which is why she decided to bring them along. She wasn’t sure if they would enjoy the show, or be horrified by it, but either way, they would be talking about it for weeks.
She chatted with them as they waited in line outside the theater. She was happy to share the progress in her own projects. It was a topic that might make them feel more at ease. Better that, then let them consider the audacious nature of the show ahead of them.
"Oh, I'm still doing research for the new book" she smiled "It’ll be a while before I actually sit down to write it. I’m not in a rush" she treated writing the book like some sort of an art project, rather than actual work. She didn’t have any firm deadline in mind. The book will be ready when it will be ready. It did mean that all the financial burden was falling on David’s shoulders in the meantime, but she didn’t feel like being evasive. Her last book DID sell pretty well, as a matter of fact, for its genre. Unfortunately, it was her breakout novel, and she didn’t see much from it. It was her book, but her publisher financial investment. It was frustrating, but she was confident she would do better negotiating her next contract. Now that she had some recognition, she had more leverage. She just needed a bit more time, and she’ll make it.
The older Miss Harper, of course, wasn’t asking because she was waiting to read her new erotic horror novel. Emma gifted them a copy of "Under a Blood Red Moon" when it first came out, but it was sitting untouched on their bookshelf, collecting dust. She figured they were asking either because they were polite, or because they were trying to ascertain her and David’s financial situation. That didn’t make her regret her answer, however.
"The party?" that was a topic Emma was far less interested talking about. She evaded the topic, without outright lying: "Honestly, it ended up being a bit of a bore. Too many pretentious stiffs. It felt like everyone was more concerned with looking important than actually enjoying themselves" She handed their tickets to the usher with a quick smile "But the dress? Absolutely stunning. What did you think of it?"
She really liked that dress. It was glamorous, and sexy, and unforgettable. But the cab fare back to London from Arendell had been expensive, and she knew she’d probably have to sell the dress to make up for the cost. She and David couldn’t really afford to be so frivolous with their money. It was a shame, especially since when she thought about it, the dress was the only good thing to come out of the party.
She chatted with them as they waited in line outside the theater. She was happy to share the progress in her own projects. It was a topic that might make them feel more at ease. Better that, then let them consider the audacious nature of the show ahead of them.
"Oh, I'm still doing research for the new book" she smiled "It’ll be a while before I actually sit down to write it. I’m not in a rush" she treated writing the book like some sort of an art project, rather than actual work. She didn’t have any firm deadline in mind. The book will be ready when it will be ready. It did mean that all the financial burden was falling on David’s shoulders in the meantime, but she didn’t feel like being evasive. Her last book DID sell pretty well, as a matter of fact, for its genre. Unfortunately, it was her breakout novel, and she didn’t see much from it. It was her book, but her publisher financial investment. It was frustrating, but she was confident she would do better negotiating her next contract. Now that she had some recognition, she had more leverage. She just needed a bit more time, and she’ll make it.
The older Miss Harper, of course, wasn’t asking because she was waiting to read her new erotic horror novel. Emma gifted them a copy of "Under a Blood Red Moon" when it first came out, but it was sitting untouched on their bookshelf, collecting dust. She figured they were asking either because they were polite, or because they were trying to ascertain her and David’s financial situation. That didn’t make her regret her answer, however.
"The party?" that was a topic Emma was far less interested talking about. She evaded the topic, without outright lying: "Honestly, it ended up being a bit of a bore. Too many pretentious stiffs. It felt like everyone was more concerned with looking important than actually enjoying themselves" She handed their tickets to the usher with a quick smile "But the dress? Absolutely stunning. What did you think of it?"
She really liked that dress. It was glamorous, and sexy, and unforgettable. But the cab fare back to London from Arendell had been expensive, and she knew she’d probably have to sell the dress to make up for the cost. She and David couldn’t really afford to be so frivolous with their money. It was a shame, especially since when she thought about it, the dress was the only good thing to come out of the party.
OOC:
That was already a lot, so I will put her reaction to David’s promotion after they leave the show. load next