[Date: October 19, 2020. Time: 4:27 pm.] [The group of you had been mulling over your next step after saving Derk the vampire singer.] [Last session (which will be posted shortly) you discussed matters. Bookie is apparently in Hong Kong at VA's HQ. There was discussion of raiding to get to him.[ [However, Jonathon's research found enough details on one Alicia Raleigh (Bookie's GF), to figure out the location of her apartment in London.] [Saldin's walking around the room has been abnormally normal. E.g. you guys aren't karma jumping anywhere.] [You're presently at SAB HQ. I suspect your next step is the apartment, but I could be wrong.] [Start!] [Jonathon got a call regarding a talking pigeon at Trafalgar Square. It apparently has some rather strong opinions about the state of the British automotive industry. He'll rejoin you asap.] * Ren continues leaning against a wall, as he's been for the last few minutes, thinking. He breaks the silence with a question. "Saldin." If we're kidnappin' a demon, what are the chances of the demon poofing out? I'm thinking we need some way to lock her down. I'm gonna go talk to Victor 'bout that, unless you had any ideas. * Saldin fixes her eyes to Ren and replies, "I imagine it would depend on the demon." A'right. * Ren shoves himself off of his leaning position to go hunt down Victor. "Coming?" * Saldin shakes her head and replies, "If I needn't move, then there is no need to move." Ah'll take it as a no. Be back. * Ren goes to find Victor! [Ren does. After explaining the problem he acquires two grenades that can be used two prevent inter-dimensional travel. They can block some teleporting, it depends on the technique.] That enough? How are they applied? They effect an area, or a target? * Ren pauses a moment, then adds, "Will they stop Cheshire?" Zey apply to a location and anyone caught within ze blast radius. As for Chester, be sure he is summoned before you throw zem around. * Ren looks over them for a moment, then nods. "Thanks." And goes to see if they've got a spare grenade launcher around that'll work with them. [Victor fixes one up. That'll be the only kind of ammo it can fire.] * Ren gives Victor a toothy thumbs-up, then heads back up to Saldin. [And they meet up successfully. Saldin, give me a sixth sense roll please.] [And an occult (rituals roll)] Got the just-in-cases. [Saldin begins to feel that her lack of movement does not seem to express the desire of the universe. Nonetheless her walk is still not kicking in.] [Saldin has heard stories about specific magic to ward a location against visitation by the her order of monks. Essentially a form of protection against divination magic.] [She made her sixth sense by four, so she feels that such a location blocking effect is probably what she's up against.] * Ren frowns. "You're fidgeting." * Saldin nods absent-minded assent to the first part, and then eyes Ren. "I am merely moving." * Ren shrugs, and waves. "I'm heading over to Raleigh's place. You're good backup, I'd like it if you came." * Saldin nods agreement and says in a slightly chilly tone, "I had hoped to." She steps closer to Ren. * Ren starts heading for the subway/garage/etc. Raliegh's place ahoy! [Time: 5:12. You get to the apartment building. Saldin, give me a soul roll. -4 bonus.] * Ren takes a moment, upon arriving, to Fur Out and double-check the readiness of the lock down grenades. [Saldin feels a vague sense of disquiet as she approaches. But she brushes it aside easily. Very easily. At best, it's a vague sense of ennui.] [And give me separate sight and listen checks.] * Ren also takes a moment to check around for signs of who they want to be there to be there. * Saldin says, casually, "It is as well defended, mystically, as one could hope for, from accidental discovery." [And also Saldin, give me a +4 sixth sense roll.] [Ren is able to get a rough gander from an outside window. He doesn't see movement inside. When he gets close enough to the door to hear, he can make out faint sounds of movement inside, but he's not sure what's up with them. Sounds pretty quiet for a human.] [Saldin's sixth sense is blocked, much like her walk. However, she's able to reach through the veil for now. There's an aura residing just under the door on the inside. It seems to be more the remains of powerful extra-planar magic than potential extra-planar magic.] * Ren glances at Saldin, holding up a hand with 5 fingers out and pointing at points at Saldin. Then he closes that, and disappears in a tuft of fur, teleporting - or at least trying to - inside. [The room is a studio apartment. The furniture is consistently plain, but doesn’t match up well. In the corner, flowing out of the closet, there’s a half dozen moving boxes with labels like "Pictures," "Toys," "Garage tools," "Mom’s outfits."] * Saldin frowns slightly and goes towards the door directly. [There's a bookshelf, a bed, a dresser, a welcome mat by the door, a planter by the window, a desk, and what looks to be a bird cage on top of a pole covered with a white sheet.] [Oh, I forgot to mention, a file cabinet by the desk.] [Saldin, give me a soul roll -2.] [End description.] * Ren has one hand one with the grenade launcher sweeping the room looking for a target even as he's opening the door with his other hand. [The door had been dead bolted. It is no longer.] * Ren then starts searching the room - first sweep is focusing on places something human-sized could hide, keeping his ears open. [Saldin again overcomes difficulty walking to the door. She's quite successful in doing so, and won't need any more checks. However, she feels the dampening effect on her sixth sense has grown stronger. She can still try to detect, but while in the room it will require concentration.] [Ren, give me, I don't know, an awareness check. I'll take military (tactics) or police sciences as a bonus skill.] * Saldin goes in! Is this the same place Ren is? [It is. This being a small studio apartment there's just one room. Not the classiest joint in the world. The apartment does not have its own bathroom, instead tenants have to go to a shared one down the hall.] [Ren quickly verifies that the room lacks any human-sized adversaries. He also figures out that the sound he'd been hearing before was coming from the bird cage.] * Saldin says simply, "She's hiding something in here. There is too much passive protection for just herself. * Ren simply nods. Passive protection. Any deterrents or traps? * Ren removes the sheet from the bird cage. [There's a raven sitting on a stoop in the bird cage. It turns to look at Ren.] Squawk. That's a little creepy. * Saldin shakes her head. "I cannot say." Nevermore. * Raven settles a bit and just stares at Ren. * Ren puts the sheet back on the cage, then goes to check the bathroom. [The bathroom, down the apartment hallway and accessible to other residents on this hallway, is presently occupied. Based on the voice singing in the shower, you suspect the occupant is a male.] * Saldin continues to stare at the bird, through the sheet. And then picks up the sheet again. Squawk? * Raven looks around to see where Ren got off to. * Saldin smolders in the raven's general direction, before reaching in to grab her medallion. [The Raven is fairly disturbed by the smoldering and medallion grabbing and squawks loudly while hopping around its cage in an agitated manner.] * Ren doesn't care if they're singing - he cracks open the door (if unlocked) and takes a quick peek. * Saldin says to the raven, "I am sorry, but I cannot trust you." She starts shucking her not-Asbestos-Really. [The door is looked. But the lock is off exceptionally low quality. Lock pick roll, -4 bonus.] You don't trust me, so you strip? I should hit on monks more often. [Ren jiggles the handle a bit and gets the door open. There's a sink, a toilet, and an occupied shower. The curtain is drawn. Give me a stealth roll Ren.] Hey! I'm in here! * Saldin smiles faintly. "You would not be the first to say that." A beat, as she takes the amulet in hand. "Would you be kind enough to inform me about Raleigh's actions?" * Ren calls out soon as he opens the door, "Raleigh?" No. Bugger off. Right. * Ren closes the door. * Ren then heads back to join Saldin. Sure, sure. Just put the amulet away. * Saldin lets go of it, letting it hang between her breasts. Which is as away as it can get since she's naked. "Well?" * Raven resettles on the stoop. * Ren eyes the naked Saldin as he re-enters, and the unsheeted cage. "I missed something." She's looking to start up a business trading reasonable extra-planar favors for affordable parts of one's soul. She takes a small fee for the arrangement. Presently, she's paying her dues before she really can set off on her own. * Raven glances over at Ren. "Squawk." * Saldin smiles and looks back at Ren. "I believe they call this 'feminine wiles.'" Play nice, Tweety. Or Tom'll getcha. *grins with his pointy, sharp, not- quite there feline teeth* Tom never wins. * Saldin misses the references. Instead she goes, "Does she return here often?" That's cuz that's a cartoon. I assure you, there's no crazy old lady with a broom to save you right now. * Raven looks to Saldin. "It varies. She's been busy lately." [There is a large water bottle and feeder in the cage. Both are about half empty.] * Saldin nods slightly and asks, "So why are you here, unnamed Raven?" * Ren puts away the teeth - well, stops showing them off, and drops into a more serious pose. "Who's she still owe?" I talk too much. Squawk. Wouldn't be appropriate for-- ::Raven looks to Ren:: Owe? She stays out of debt herself. Then what was that about her paying her dues? Idiom. ::squawk:: Can't deal with powerful demons as an apprentice. Need a patron. * Ren pauses a moment, then adds. "And what is she hiding here?" She values her privacy. * Saldin puts a finger around in front of the Raven, drawing his attention back to her by dragging the finger to her face. * Raven follows the finger. I hope you don't mind finishing your earlier thought. What wouldn't be appropriate? * Ren nods, then goes searching a bit more thoroughly, checking the filing cabinet and the welcome mat first. She wanted to avoid the black mage image. [The file cabinet has a quality lock. Picking it requires a lock pick check with no bonus.] [Stay on file cabinet, or proceed to welcome mat?] * Ren comes back to then. Check out the easy stuff first. * Saldin mms and then says, "Has she mentioned her goals, especially with respect to Bookie and Breaker?" [The welcome mat is fairly nondescript. It says welcome. There's bristles for wiping off mud. There's an old pair of boots sitting beside it.] * Ren flips up a corner of the welcome mat, taking a look underneath. The Bookie job got her a patron. Smee had a contest for Bookie fans. It was ruse to find someone to seduce him. Alicia thought he was kinda cute. [Ren notices the edge of what seems to be a large circle chalked into the floor under the mat. He'll have to lift the rest to see the rest.] * Ren signals Saldin over. "Some markings under this." And flips it over from a few steps away with a particularly long-barreled rifle once she's looking. [There's two circles under the mat. One large one with a fairly complex pattern. There's also a smaller one that oddly has some fish bones in the middle. The bones seem to be in the pattern of a flock of bird. The lead bird is larger and most defined. Occult (rituals) check, anyone with the skill.] * Saldin 's eyes narrow at the raven. "Of course." She looks over to Ren, and his circles. "How... appropriate." [The larger circle is could hold the power of an extra-planar in reserve. It would trigger when crossed over. It's been triggered for a while now. With that check, you can't tell the effect, though it looks to be a powerful one.] * Ren tries to make sense of it. And fails. [The smaller circle, is actually one for divining. I'll let Ren figure that one out too (see: fish bones). The divining is activated by the triggered circle. I'll leave you to decipher the meaning.] * Saldin mms and nods slightly. "To protect her, if only once." * Raven squawks and drinks some water. * Saldin looks back to the raven. "So, do you know who might have fallen into the welcome mat?" * Ren raises an eyebrow at the circles again. "Glad I didn't knock." Whoever they were, they didn't disturb my sleep. * Ren nods, and checks out the other oddities in the place - next up's the planter. [The planter is outside the window. If you open the window to check it out, give me an awareness check. [Sight] * Ren skips the opening window bit, and just 'ports out there to take a look at it. * Saldin nods slightly and says, meaningfully, "Anything else you... think I should know? I have a varied interest in her activities." [Before Ren ports out, he notices some chalk marks on the interior of the planter.] [But most of the diagram, assuming that's what it is, is covered by dirt and plants.] [Still porting out?] * Ren pauses, before abruptly disappearing and reappearing where he was. [Ren, excitingly, teleports nowhere.] * Raven extends its wings in a gesture emulating a shrug in response to Saldin's question. * Ren blinks. "Careful." He says that mostly to himself. I think there's another one of those guarding the window. * Saldin fingers the amulet and says, "So what is she, truly?" * Ren tries checking it out the old-fashioned way. "Besides healthily investing in security and privacy?" One that meddles with forces beyond the comprehension of the fragile ordinary human mind. But, while her mind is neither fragile nor ordinary, she is quite human. Squawk. * Saldin nods slightly and offers a slight smile. "And you?" [Ren successfully opens the door and reaches out to check out the planter. Soul roll, Ren. No penalty or bonus.] [Ren, for a moment, feels that this entire trip has been a waste of his time. After carefully examining the apartment, he can remember the details of his thorough search which produced fairly little that was unexpected. If there was some item he wanted it isn't there.] [However, he shakes that feeling off.] * Ren frowns, and lets go of the planter, letting it swing back to where it was. [The planter returns to a state of rest.] * Raven looks at Saldin. "Squawk." * Ren Furs Down, once he's back inside, the ghostly overlay fading. * Saldin says softly, "Come now, surely you can talk to me about yourself. You were so generous about Raleigh." A pause, then, "Or perhaps I should take you outside and check." * Raven clucks. "I choose to be her familiar." * Ren checks out the bed and dresser next. Familiar? That come with the whole constantly connected thing? Not at this distance. Well, if you do get a hold of her, let her know we'd like to talk. Peacefully and privately, if possible. Tell me. Is she a good person? [The bed is a bit overlarge for the studio. It has a wooden headboard and footboard. There's a quilt covering it. A quick search below the sheet finds a stuffed centipede.] Depends on your point of view. She thinks her business will ease a great deal of suffering. You know her as well as anyone. Would she cooperate and talk if we asked nicely? * Ren takes a moment to eye the centipede, then returns the bed to as close to it's original state as he can. Talk, yes. Cooperate, only in a limited sense. She very much wants to complete her first job on satisfactory terms. [The bed is restored.] [On the top of the dresser, there’s what seems to be a smaller Christian alter. By it stands a small stack of church bulletins. On the top of the stack is an article describing the supposed miraculous healing of a devout child that had been suffering from a typically fatal cancer.] She's linked to a whole mess of stuff we need answers for. It would be nice if we could get them without too much fuss for either side. * Ren reads the headline of the article out loud, then continues to skim it further. * Saldin adds, with a reproachful tone, "Especially since she is currently working for someone who is very interested in this world ending in fire." She's been doing the good Samaritan thing, I take it. * Ren takes a moment to identify which church it all points to. She still go? * Raven squawks. "Bah. He wants to rule, not destroy." The raven squawks again and then continues, in a good imitation of Raleigh's voice "And even if he's lying, he's not nearly powerful enough to take over more than a country or two." [Ren does so. Give me an occult (spirits) or a sociology (theology) roll.] * Saldin smiles thinly. "You might think that, but you are wrong." Mebbe' in her opinion. But he's got his hands in every pie. [The church in question is devoted to an obscure Saint. Beatrice. Finder and protector of lost children.] * Raven spreads its wings in the shrug gesture again. She is also underestimating the amount of damage she is going to do to Bookie. * Saldin scoops up her clothes with her foot as she says, "If she is not just feigning her feelings for him, I suggest she consider another path." She's taking precautions. More than Breaker has. Saint Beatrice... huh. [Still unchecked: Desk, closet and boxes, file cabinet recheck.] * Ren checks the date on the miracle healing article - something Raleigh would have done, or was the one healed Raleigh? [The child is not Raleigh.] [And the bookshelf.] * Ren checks INSIDE the dresser! [Inside the dresser, there's a good range of clothes. All fairly conservative, down to the underwear. In the top dresser, under the alter, there's materials for contacting spirits that Christianity would very much not approve of.] [There's also a glass ball about six inches in diameter with a slowly flashing obsidian sheen. * Ren would make a crack about Raleigh dressing more conservatively than Saldin, but that would be impolite. * Ren eyes the ball for a moment. "Saldin." * Saldin begins to re-asbestosize. "Yes?" * Ren points at the ball. "Opinion?" * Ren makes sure not to touch it. * Saldin looks! She'll probably have to make a check. [Occult (rituals)] [And hearing checks.] [Standard order crystal ball. Looks like this one's a communication model. The pulsating means there's a message waiting.] [Touching the ball plays the message.] * Ren checks his phone. "Jonathon's on his way." [And Saldin hears some movement from down the hall, around the bathroom. Apparently the shower is over.] [The ball can be used for two way communication, but messages are one way.] [And there's a knock on the door as the shower guy walks by.] * Saldin frowns slightly and touches it. * Ren goes to check the peep-hole, walking quietly. [A Scandinavian man with short white hair that's closely trimmed at the sides appears in the ball. "Good work with Paragene. I've already put in orders to buy their remaining assets. Find the girls if you can, but don't let them distract you from your main mission. I would prefer Breaker not serve Vanguard. She *must not* serve the government, spiritual forces. ::He sneers:: Yvonne is similarly an unacceptable master.] [And it's shower guy. He's in a robe. He knocks again.] If Yvonne dies, you will be richly rewarded. But be warned, after Miranda, I am sick of failure. [He fades out. The orb still pulsates.] * Saldin turns away from the dresser with a finger to her chin. Squawk. * Ren nods at Saldin, then steps outside, quickly opening and closing the door to avoid bathroom guy seeing Saldin. "Can I help you?" * Guy looks over Ren. "Who are you?" * Saldin looks to the raven. "Miranda and the girls. Tell me of them." Ren Ran, MI-5. *pulls out a badge and shows it, holding it out for him to get a nice, long look at it.* Miranda was Erikson's last lieutenant. She burned out. * Guy examines the credentials. "Fine. Better have a good reason. She's a good neighbor." He heads back to his room. * Ren heads back in, again closing the door behind him. * Jonathon heads up soon after the guy makes his way to the room, sticking his foot in the door before Ren closes it. "I see that subtlety is not lost on you." He rubs the back of his head. "Bloody pointless assignments, that." * Jonathon is keeping his voice down for eavesdroppers. She's gonna know we were here, unless we take the bird out. Squawk! I'd rather not. She seems like she's doing the wrong things for the right reasons, and we can talk to her. * Saldin smiles mirthlessly, then shakes her head. "Then why did you bring it up?" She's pretty well mystically protected. * Jonathon makes his way all the way in and snaps a glove on before closing the door behind him. Haven't finished the thorough search yet. Any good at opening locks? If so, have a crack at the filing cabinet when you feel like it. * Saldin then says, "And the girls?" Emma's kids. * Ren takes a crack at the desk, himself. I could give it a good go. Not my expertise though, no. [In the top drawer of the desk there’s a family tree labeled ‘paternal line’. The tree goes Raynor Erikson -> Kristof Erikson -> Ragnar Erikson. Below Ragnar there’s another line and just a blot of blood. The names glow.] * Ren frowns. * Ren checks for anything else interesting in the desk. [There's a lot of contract paper and high quality ink.] * Ren grins a little at all the paper. [There's also a range of ordinary desk supplies.] * Jonathon checks over the mechanism of the locking file cabinet, inspecting if there's anything dangerous first. Can't be too careful. * Ren holds up the family tree for view. "Raynor Erikson, Kristof Erikson, Ragnar Erikson, blotch of blood." [Jonathon: Burglary check.] * Saldin looks over at it with a frown. (Actually, this is a trap check first.) (Understood. I'll say awareness helps.) [Oh, and anyone looking at the paper, give me a +4 occult (ritual) check.] v [Jonathon notes that the file cabinet seems to be specially designed to contain fires.] * Saldin nods slightly and says, "I think that is part of the preparation that our raven friend spoke of." * Jonathon slips on his other glove and attempts to undo the lock carefully. [Lockpick roll. I think that's under sleight of hand.] [Go with body.] * Saldin points at Raynor. "One child, one heir." Her face twists slightly in distaste. "One unfortunate weak point." (Are you actually touching the name?) (Not unless Ren's closer than I thought. ^_~) (Check. :P) [And Jonathon has no luck with the lock.] Squawk. * Jonathon takes a step back and wipes his brow. "No such luck. I possibly *could* open it, but it would be obviously tampered with." * Ren puts the family tree back where it was. "Tweets, anything about the family tree? They usually don't shine like that." Family tree, plus photo album. * Saldin arches her brow, then nods. "Let us see that again, mmm?" * Jonathon looks at the raven and gestures to him. "Where'd the bird come from?" * Ren picks it back up, and hands it over to Saldin. I live here. Where did you come from? It's Raleigh’s talkative familiar. * Jonathon smiles at the bird. "Outside the door." * Saldin pokes the faces from old to new. It's fun! Collect the whole set. * Ren helps himself to the bookshelf while Saldin's doing that. Where else hasn't been checked? The filing cabinet and the closet. [The oldest one is Raynor. He's an unpleasant looking Scandinavian man. His hair is still quite blond. However, if you focus on the image, his skin rots away and he takes the visage of a long decayed corpse.] * Jonathon nods and goes to the closet. [The bookshelf by the bed has a large collection of faux-leather bound classics. There’s also some manuals on starting your own business. There’s a small number of fiction books, including a paperback copy of Alice in Wonderland. The paperback is not particularly noteworthy, aside from the fact that it duplicates one of the faux-leather bound books.] ( Looking Glass part of her collection? ) [The closet contains half a dozen moving boxes with labels like Pictures, Toys, Garage tools, Mom's outfits. There's a towel, washcloth, various toiletries. There's also hair dye (black).] [Yeah, the books contain both. It's just titled Alice as that's the best known one.] * Ren takes out both the Alice books, and flips through them in turn. [The second name, Kristof Erikson, is of an older Scandinavian man. He’s well attired but his suit is on the line between dated and timeless. His white hair is close cropped on the sides and back and sticks up less than an inch on the top. He's the same guy you saw in the crystal ball, which incidentally is still flashing obsidian.] * Jonathon checks over the one labeled pictures, being very careful with it. [There's some writing in the back of the paperback Alice. The faux-leather hard cover is not in fact what it seems. On the inside is a technical manual to black magic. The book in question focuses on Madness. On the title page, there's an ink drawing of a cat.] Black magic 101. [There's actually a fair number of family pictures. Raleigh, who is blond in most of them, seems quite happy. There's a range of family activities. Carnivals, visits to Windsor castle, etc.] * Ren looks over the writing on the paperback one. [Her parents look to be lower middle class, a bit overweight. Both have curly brown hair. She's their only child. The pictures go back to age 3.] [There's little notes by various passages. A range of commentary, some critical, some whimsical. In the back, there's a list...] * Jonathon puts the box back and carefully searches the next one, wondering why a girl her age would keep "toys". [Speed, size, elasticity, spider (crossed out), mind and memory, anti-growth (crossed out), soul transfer, flight, finding lost children.] * Ren blinks, rereading the list. [The toys seem all to be well worn. Early stuffed animal, blocks, as they get to older toys they have more of a dragon, ravens, insects, angels, devils and the like.] * Ren flips through the technical manual, in regards to the items on the list. [The manual has some helpful lists of telepathic monsters. Some are highlighted, including the baddy you guys fought in the vamp's apartment.] * Jonathon puts the lid back on it and blows out a breath. "How old is she again exactly?" Seventeen. I take it you never keep mementos? Not from this long ago, no. Does she intend to wear her mother's dresses as well? * Jonathon puts the box back up carefully. [Ragnar, when Saldin reaches him, is still a fairly young looking man. Assuming you can ignore the horrible pockmarked skin. He wears a long cloak and a fedora.] * Raven spreads its wings in a shrug. "She's cheap." * Raven glances around the bathroom-less studio apartment. * Saldin says, to Jonathon, "Would you like to take a picture of this, for SAB's purposes?" Yes, I do remember my college days. [And, sight awareness checks for anyone watching the images.] * Jonathon then looks over at Saldin then looks at the images. "I do not see why not. It's personal business as well." He focuses his camera on the pictures. [The blond Ragnar looks oddly familiar, although Saldin's fairly certain he hasn't met him.] * Raven glances over at Ren. "Good to know some people have memory." * Jonathon scratches his chin. "Curious." * Jonathon draws his camera up to take a picture. "This must be the real relation then." He takes a snap shot. Click. * Raven stares at Ren. "Squawk." * Raven keeps staring for a bit and makes a series of quiet squawks. [Listen rolls, -2 bonus.] * Ren blinks, and sets down the book to look at the bird. "Yes?" * Jonathon slowly turns and stares up at the Raven, then takes out a small tape recorder, putting a finger up for Ren as he looks at the bird. "Mind doing that again, chap? * Saldin frowns and looks at the bird as everyone else does! * Raven squawks loudly in annoyance but repeats the song. It seems agitated and shifts around a lot in its cage. * Jonathon glances at Ren. "Sound familiar?" ... quite. * Raven anxiously looks from one of you to the other. * Jonathon smiles at the bird and lowers the player. "Care to tell us where you heard that song, old bean?" Well. Raleigh watched the matches on T.V. Maybe Cheshire was humming it. Not on camera, as far as I know. Could be. Lovely tune, isn't it? Well, it's a catchy requiem. These things do go around. * Saldin narrows her white eyes at the bird. "If you heard it elsewhere, I suggest you mention it." * Jonathon smiles and walks towards the cage. "Well, it is quite an old tune. Did something else remind you of it?" They always come from somewhere. I'd like to know where it came from for you. Well, what's it worth to you Cheshire? Lads lads. He's just a bird after all. I am sure he has FULLY thought through the consequences of LYING to us, haven't you, old bean? * Jonathon THOROUGHLY smiles back at the bird and flicks his fingers. (Intimidation roll please Jonathon.) * Ren is quiet for a moment, eyes closed. (Aww. Thought interrogation might work for this.) (I'll take that.) * Raven glances up to Jonathon. "Fine. Coerce a bird. You're a real big man. I heard it the same place he heard it. I just don't care enough about old Chester to follow through with the message. The origin of that tune is very important to Cheshire. Because of it, he's stuck with me. * Jonathon raises an eyebrow. "Please, please. I am only concerned for your safety. Especially concerning that there is a cat in the room." And I will have you know, Tweets, that it's just as important to me. And I'm glad to see it worked out to you. I like the guns. You're a veritable one man Soldier of Fortune catalog. Beats porting around and dropping explosives certainly. That got tiresome. * Ren closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath. "Quit it with the quips, Tweets." You have something to say. Say it, or say what it will take for you to say it. Well fine. The tune is old Chester's requiem. His little way of calling out for someone to find his murderer. Rather round about, but I'm betting it's still gotten a lot of supernaturals killed. I must admit, I'm puzzled with your choice of follow through Cheshire. Session Time: Mon Jul 31 00:00:00 2006 * Raven then drinks some water from the handy dandy feeder bottle. * Ren sounds, different, faster, when he continues. "Old Chester. Let me guess. The whole nine lives thing? Because I don't remember that." * Saldin glances to Ren and this exchange, shakes her head slightly, and returns to the orb to tap it again. Messages are fun. * Ren fur's rile up. It's slowly becoming visible, sticking out, along with the rest of the transparent package. * Raven cackles. "Good guess, but no. Your past incarnation was Cheshire too. Chester was another gang member, one not lucky enough to have a crystal extra life. The rest of the gang wasn't so lucky. Chester just left behind the song. I had the sense not to bring my own body to the meeting, but then I'm a survivor. ... who? * Jonathon walks back over to the closet and starts inspecting Mom's clothes now too. "All just one big bloody happy family, isn't it?" What happened? Emma's old gang. A lot of us met a nasty end there. Given your whole police look, I take it you were the detective on the scene. [The message plays...] * Ren is looking very on edge. And there's the whole ghost cat guy overlay thing going on, too. "Yes, he was." * Ren searches his memory for a bit. "Emma. Yates?" * Ren starts to bolt for the door, but stops, and takes a breath. "So that ... then ... it. That was where the song started?" Yeah. Believe me, Chester had a wide variety before. But, that little requiem was his last gift. To lead you, to the one that killed off most of the gang. Seems like it only half worked. Who else was there? Were there any other survivors? Who did it? Why? Did Emma know about it? * Ren blinks. "I always did think Emma was rather cute in a prisoners uniform." * Jonathon looks over to stare at Ren for a moment before rifling through more belongings. [The speaker is a Japanese female teenager. "I ran the research for you. Embedding the soul in the machine will work just fine, thanks to the blue prints. And don't worry, I've taken steps to protect Bookie. Kristof might not care about that, but he didn't order me not too.] [Jonathon finds the belongs are quite ordinary.] * Saldin purses her lips. Who did it? ::cackles:: Well, let me tell a little story. When Emma was training the supernaturals, she did work with all types. She'd already done a stint in prison, but supposedly was reformed. One, was so foolish as to think that he could convert her, bring her over to the straight and narrow. He really thought he pulled it off. ::Raven cackles again:: [And the message Saldin listened to ends. There's no more messages.] * Jonathon hmms and sees if he recognizes any of the clothes from the pictures. [Some match up.] [Almost all do if he works at it long enough.] * Jonathon nods in satisfaction and puts the box back. For thoroughness sake, he takes down the garage tools and checks behind the boxes as well. [Garage tools are just tools. Some old. Pretty much useful crap people hesitate to throw out. It's dusty behind the boxes.] So, when Emma turns out to still be bad, he's a might embarrassed. So, fanatic logic takes over. In his mind, extra-planar are, with few exceptions, evil. The former gang is the logical target. The really fun thing is that later on he tries to redeem the kids. Wacky. * Ren hunkers down, watching the raven from a 'listening' pose crossed with a 'hunting' pose. D. E. M. Oh *that's* bloody brilliant. * Raven squawks. "You have been paying attention. I'm so proud. I just guess old Chester never expected anyone to find Mak and then be converted." * Jonathon sets the box back after blowing a bit of the dust away. I knew there was a reason I didn't like him! I knew it I knew it I knew it! From the moment I saw him there was something about him I didn't like! * Saldin looks over at Ren, but is silent. Let's make a deal, shall we. I'll lead you to Raleigh and Mak, and in return, the kids get one visit with Emma. Arrange it with your people. I'll convince the kids. If they say no, I'll accept it. Done and done. Mak's dropped out of the scene lately. We haven't pressed it, but I bet he went underground. Wait, waitwaitwait. What's Mak got to do with Raleigh? You just now are asking that? (Oh, Jonathon, give me an awareness check) * Ren turns a languid, feline stare onto Jonathon. "So what if I am?" Oh, Mak's not helping Raleigh. Mak's helping a girl channeling the power of Saint Beatrice. Very different. * Jonathon smiles at Ren and flicks his coat. "It's your show. I just did not want to intrude." [While Jonathon was looking at the area behind all the boxes and being all thorough, he noticed a packaged action figure underneath the bed.] * Ren turns back to the raven. "So I don't think the extra life crystal worked too well. Since I don't remember any of that." * Jonathon shrugs and goes to take a closer look. * Raven shrugs. "Cheshire never had the longest attention span anyways." I'm Cheshire! Ooh, what's that? *glances at what doing* [Jonathon gains 1 Will Chen action figure. Tournament model. Produced by Smee.] * Jonathon tosses the figure up slightly. "I believe the bird just made his point." Anyways, how about you folks get that promise that Emma can see her kids in writing. I'm sure there will be crazy kill switch security measures. That's fine. But she's their mother, it should be in person. Their real mother? Well, to the degree that Magnie, Manic, and Mael have a real mother. Is that their wish though? They *are* old enough to make their own decisions. Fine. I only demand an opportunity to convince them and a guarantee that SAB follows through if I succeed. And why are you so concerned exactly? That's fairly irrelevant, isn't it. We're making a trade, and the terms are more than fair. My end is even up front. Okay. * Saldin is just being silent, smoldering in the background. Mmm. Toasty. So why ... oh, yeah. We wanna talk to Raleigh, you wanna talk to the twins and let Emma talk to the twins. Deal. Delightful. [End!]