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

[Graf]

The dealer stares at Cole in stuptified amazement.

He looks around for a minute, and then back at Cole.

Then back at the massive brick of drugs.

Then back at Cole.

Sure man. Whatever you say. Future services. Cool. He keeps a wary eye on Cole while pulling the brick out of hash out of the truck.

The store's just a store man. We provide protection. Some folks from the old country take the s___ they got for religious purposes, like I said.

You say it's something else. Maybe to you it is. But it's just a store to me man. I'm supposed to sit out front, fly the flag and all that.

He looks funny at Cole when he shows a single, abnormally long fang. But doesn't seem particularly scared.

So you, ah, wanna deal again you just let me know. The man offers Cole a tattered card with a cellphone number. People call me Spats.

 

[Bloodweaver1]

Cole Braddock

“Excellent. Mr. Spats. The pleasure has been all mine. Until we meet again.” Says Cole as he nods his towards Spats. Then with another motions he dismisses the drug dealer and motions for Diego and the others to join him back at the shop.

 

[Graf]

Spats grins and gives Cole a half bow. Then he's off down the street. He manages to get the cellphone on just as he disappears out of sight around the corner.

Cole and Diego move back toward the shop.
Biggs opts to stay with the wheels.

[sblock=Beth and Archer's conversation]It seems reasonable that you could each get one solid post in before Cole and Diego arrive back at the shop.[/sblock]

 

[industrygothica]

[SBLOCK=OOC]To b perfectly honest, I don't think Beth has much to say at this point. Her focus is going to be more on getting into the shop than anything else.[/sblock]

 

[Graf]

Out front of Gkao Spices Shop

Cole and Diego round the corner of the alley. The alley is unlit and thus fairly dark, but they can see Archer and Beth standing further down, in front of the Gkao Spices Shop.

[sblock=OOC]Here's some stuff already posted.
[sblock=Alley environment]The alley is dark. The sign from the store is up high enough to catch some ambient light, but on ground level seeing is difficult. Cole's eyes are starting to adjust but it's hard to make out more than rough shapes in the dark.
Archer and Beth, naturally, can see in the dark.

The alley itself is about 6m (~20 ft) long and 2m (6ft) wide, before opening up into a wider space in front of the shop.
The wider space is probably 4m x 4m (~12ft x ~12ft).
The dumpster is mid way down the alley, against the wall. Its big enough to make it hard for more than one person to pass through that section of the alley.
The guy on the stool is sitting on the left side, with his back up against the wall (he isn't visible until you're on top of him, and couldn't see out of the alley).

The shop itself is fairly unremarkable looking. Gkao is stenciled over the glass window on the left and Spices on the right. Inside the windows lots of dried plant matter (spices presumably) hang.
The shopfront is covered with a chain-like roller over the front.

So far there is nothing to indicate there is anyone inside the shop, or that it's operating a secret night time shift (as Archer suggested).[/sblock]
Origiinal Post

[sblock=The shop -- more detail]
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]
From this post.

[sblock=Diego -- Larceny]If you get closer you'll be able to tell the security on the shop is weak. No alarm, standard locks. What little visibility there is to the main road is obscured by the dumpster.

Breaking in would be trivial for you.[/sblock]

[/sblock]

 

[OnlytheStrong]

Diego smiles as he looks the place over. "Tell me again why we're here?"

 

[Festy_Dog]

Archer waited silently for an answer from Beth, but none was forthcoming. When the others turned the corner he whispered one last statement.

"Think it over."

Diego smiles as he looks the place over. "Tell me again why we're here?"

"The dealer has departed? Delightful," he alliterates, "What we're doing then depends on how much time we have to work with."

Archer hands a small business card to Diego for Gkao Golden Spice, and while doing so listens for the shallow breathing and rapid heartbeat he had heard inside the shop a minute ago. He dulls his other senses in favour of strengthening his hearing for the task.

"Found that back in the apartment. Currently our best lead on my sire."

 

[OnlytheStrong]

Diego looks at the card, "So we're going inside? Ever think of what we are gonna do if your sire is in there?" He looks at the store window, "I ain't sure this is a good idea here. Hell, looking for our sires is a bad idea." He pauses a moment then decides, "Screw it, can't live forever right? You want in this sh@#hole?"

 

[Bloodweaver1]

Cole Braddock

"Yes please Mr. Diego. However if confronted we do not have to immediately respond with rash actions do we? Lets try to keep that in mind." Says Cole as he patiently waits for the skill thief to do what he does best. Meanwhile he turns to Archer and asks, "You pick up anything in there?"

 

[Graf]

[sblock=Archer]You can still hear the heartbeat and quiet rythmic breathing. Whoever it is is either staying very very still or something.[/sblock]