[VtR][Mature] Born into Darkness: Arc 1

Beth does her best to come of as altered.

I'm here 'cause this is my spot. The man leans back against the wall watching Beth as she approaches the shop.

She doesn't have very much further to go. The shop appears dark, and closed. Staring through darkened windows with her enhanced senses
Beth can make out a cramped inner room, with small wooden cabinets built into the walls. There is a small door behind a counter, presumably to a back room.

You looking for a chance to go bump? Bump around? Or just do a bump?

[sblock=Beth's hunch]
Beth has the impression that the guy doesn't think she's here for the shop at all. In his mind the only reason someone would walk down this alley, the only thing of any possible interest, would be him.

He doesn't, in other words, think there is anything particularly interesting about the shop, and is assuming that she's only in front of the shop because she's pretending not to be here to see him.

She also has the feeling that he was bored before she turned up, and is keen not to chase her off.
[/sblock]

Graf said:

Beth does her best to come of as altered.

I'm here 'cause this is my spot. The man leans back against the wall watching Beth as she approaches the shop.

She doesn't have very much further to go. The shop appears dark, and closed. Staring through darkened windows with her enhanced senses
Beth can make out a cramped inner room, with small wooden cabinets built into the walls. There is a small door behind a counter, presumably to a back room.

You looking for a chance to go bump? Bump around? Or just do a bump?

[sblock=Beth's hunch]
Beth has the impression that the guy doesn't think she's here for the shop at all. In his mind the only reason someone would walk down this alley, the only thing of any possible interest, would be him.

He doesn't, in other words, think there is anything particularly interesting about the shop, and is assuming that she's only in front of the shop because she's pretending not to be here to see him.

She also has the feeling that he was bored before she turned up, and is keen not to chase her off.
[/sblock]

Click to expand...

"Seems like a lonely spot," she says. "Can't get too much business back here where nobody can see you... or maybe there's more traffic back here than there looks?" She nods towards the building and adds, "Lots of people need a little spice in their life, right?"

Cole Braddock

"Perhaps all three." Says Cole as he walks up behind Beth with a freindly smile and a polite nod of his head. "But first I was wondering if you can help me and my charming friend here. What can you tell us about this shop here?"

OOC: Uses Dominate *

industrygothica said:

"Seems like a lonely spot," she says. "Can't get too much business back here where nobody can see you... or maybe there's more traffic back here than there looks?"

Click to expand...

He gestures around the dingy little alley "What, you don't think this is prime real estate?"

industrygothica said:

She nods towards the building and adds, "Lots of people need a little spice in their life, right?"

Click to expand...

Oh yeah. Sure they do. I'm not complai....
The man stands up when he hears Cole coming.

Bloodweaver1 said:

"Perhaps all three." Says Cole as he walks up behind Beth up to the man with a friendly smile and a polite nod of his head.

Click to expand...

The man faces Cole. He cocks his head to the sideways and glances back at Beth, "Who's yo..."

Bloodweaver1 said:

"But first I was wondering if you can help me and my charming friend here. What can you tell us about this shop here?"

Click to expand...

The mans face relaxes a bit. "Not much. They sell herbs and stuff. Why do you care?"

[sblock=Mez]You've accumulated 4 successes (vs his 1); you can probably get a bit more out of him before you have to roll again. Since you don't have forgetful mind he'll remember everything about you, this conversation, including any sorts of uncharacteristic behavior he might have.

By default without commands to the contrary, someone who's mezmerized generally acts normally. I.e. he doesn't turn into a zombie until you start giving instructions like "stay still, don't speak". So he'll move around a bit, talk, whatever.
He won't be able to look away from you or act to prevent further mesmerization unless you do something dramatic (i.e. stab him or something).[/sblock]
[sblock=Where people are standing]Beth's in front of the shop.
The guy is at the end of the alley near the wider area; preventing Cole from coming into the area.
Cole is in front of him.
Archer's further back, behind the dumpster. (And probably visible unless Festy posts to say he's doing something else).[/sblock]

Dr. Seuss said:

"Not much. They sell herbs and stuff. Why do you care?"

Click to expand...

"Cool," Beth smiles. "I like herbs." She approaches the doors and windows to get a better look at the inside, and to see if any of them can be opened easily.

industrygothica said:

"Cool," Beth smiles. "I like herbs." She approaches the doors and windows to get a better look at the inside, and to see if any of them can be opened easily.

Click to expand...

Well... maybe we can work something out. I know a guy, got some premium bud. The man keeps his eyes on Cole as he speaks.

[sblock=The shop]
The shop itself is brickwork and looks old.

As mentioned above there's a chain link roller on the front.
I'm having a devil of a time explaining what I mean but we used to have them in NY all the time. The bottom and top are is solid, but there's like chain grill on front. They roll up and down.
It's held on by a padlock.
To open the door you'd have to get through that.

The front door also has a lock on it. Presumably it's locked. It opens inward.

You could break the windows instead of opening the door. (But realistically if you're getting through the metal shutter I don't think you'll have a problem with the door. But I'm wrong frequently... so maybe there's something I'm missing.)

Other methods of entry aren't apparent.
If you can think of something then do bring it up; I may have forgotten something obvious.

There is presumably a second and third story to the building but there are no windows up there (Or there aren't now. There were at some point, but they've been bricked up, Beth's keen sight can make out the breaks).
[/sblock]

Cole Braddock

“The owner is an old friend of mine. I have been recently informed about some tragic news that must be shared.” Says Cole as he smoothly turns back behind him and motions for the others to bring up the stash they found in Arthur’s apartment. “However, we can stand to both profit from this situation. Tells me everything you know about this store and where I can find my friend and this… is yours.” Once Cole receives the drug stash he holds it up the light and then tosses it in the general direction of the drug dealer.

Bloodweaver1 said:

“The owner is an old friend of mine. I have been recently informed about some tragic news that must be shared.” Says Cole as he smoothly turns back behind him and motions for the others to bring up the stash they found in Arthur’s apartment. “However, we can stand to both profit from this situation. Tells me everything you know about this store and where I can find my friend and this… is yours.” Once Cole receives the drug stash he holds it up the light and then tosses it in the general direction of the drug dealer.

Click to expand...

[sblock=The stuffs in the car]The car is out of sight, down the street and around the corner (per Archer's request that it be parked there)[/sblock]

No s___. He looks at Cole for a minute. Well you one up on me. I don't know the dude. I'm just here as a representative. I heard this place was all above board though. So either you probably got the wrong info.

That's what I know. The shops protected. And I'm here to show that there's protection. Or something. Total waste of time, who's gonna break into this place?

But if you got something you want to transact, maybe we can work something out.

[sblock=Assuming Cole leads him to the car]
Cause that makes sense, I guess. Nobody has a cell phone to call Diego or Biggs and tell them to bring the drugs around.[/sblock]

Grass filled lot around the corner
The man seems reluctant to leave the shop with people hanging around the front, but Cole's way-with-words compells him to accompany them. The man's eyes go wide when Cole opens the back of the car and shows him the block of hash.
"Wow. Yeah. We can do business."

Cole, Diego and Biggs are nearby.

In front of the shop
Beth and Archer have remained behind in front of the shop.

Archer has joined Beth outside of the shop.
[sblock=Archer]As you look at the shop you hear something. It's a heartbeat. From inside the shop; close but tricky to pin down. After a moment you can pick out breathings as well. The breathing is shallow, rapid and very quiet.

[sblock=OOC]Beth missed this roll earlier. I should probably have penalized it a bit more (and I probably will in the future) but your first die was a 10, so even at -5 you'd still have gotten a success.[/sblock]

No matter how you crane your head or look around you can't seem to see anyone in the shop. And you don't hear any other sounds of movement. Whoever's inside is staying completely still.
[/sblock]

In better light the "exotic-looking man" is obviously south-east Asian or a pacific islander decent. His English is completely localized.

Small black geometric tattoos cover the back of his neck and wrists.

[sblock=Cole, Diego -- Do you spend blood to appear normal?]In the darkness of the alley it wasn't an issue but out here in the light your pale white skin and dead looking flesh will become apparent at some point.

Traditionally, Cole, the Scot insisted that you keep "the blush of life" active at all times when interacting with mortals (at least outside mortals you dealt with when you were trading, not the servants of course).
He was a formal old bastard.

Diego, this probably won't occur to you unless you think it would, or Cole's doing it. You're also leaning against the car, and not participating in the transaction.

You can chose to
1. Activate it
2. Activate it if he gets close to you (for some reason)
3. Not activate it (i.e. even if you wind up interacting with the guy for some reason)[/sblock]