"on second thought; this place thrives on eye candy; not that I am; but these guys look soft to me; maybe we should find a spot where I can change; wear just my pants and my chest armor; show my arms that way and neck; shorts would be better, I am wearing boxer briefs hmm; armor would look expensive; well, it is priceless handed down in my family so I am told for 3000 years, as is this sheild; I am sorta obligated to watch over it. Dressed a bit like that might attract some predators; but I think a real predator would know my role as i am now, but my suggestion would look less serious and perhaps more theatric; so might bring us some conversations; what do you think?"
Emily smiles at Aximeus and leans into him so that she can whisper, "Not the kitchen. The fork we are looking for is a device of torture... and likely something more considering it was stolen."
She looks to Danny and Emily grabs his arm... "Well we could all go together... There are always threesomes." She giggles playfully and winks at the young man. She adds to him quietly, "Not to mention, when I asked to have a look around, they wanted to know how I was paying..."
"Well, THERE's a switch! People looking to ME for money!"
Danny grins at Emily as she hooks elbows with both him and Axe. He obviously enjoys the attention. He points vaguely in the direction of one of the side booths, as if asking Emily if she's interested in what she sees, and leans in to talk softly.
"I like the sticking together part. If that fork is as dangerous as Nathaniel and the Doc think, I sure don't want to be alone with it!" Danny whispers, his casual smirk just a little to tight as he looks around the room.
Danny grins at a woman who seems to be eying Axe from the floor like a choice steak.
No, wait, she's eying HIM!
Not certain whether to be flattered or frightened, Danny automatically waggles his fingers back at her. She looks to be mid 40-something, her unconsciously aggressive stance and unflinching eye contact telling him that she's probably a top-tier business-woman. A little out of his usual league, but she can't be much worse than some of the beauty pageant queen-wannabes he's dated. Danny guesses she probably had to be a hard-case to get where she's at, and is looking for a boy-toy to blow of some steam. Lucky him.
Despite Danny's preference for girls his own age, he can't help but notice that her current outfit reveals she is remarkably well-built. For her age. She reminds him of Wonder Woman. And not that lame 80-ish movie with the no-name blond either. We're talking Lynda Carter. Danny imagines her in the costume, and his eyes narrow as his mouth curls into his 'what's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this' mode,...
"on second thought; ... ; what do you think?"
Danny blinks. That's the problem with having a vivid imagination. Too easily distracted. Danny tries to recall what Axe was saying, and somehow ends up with the large redhead in a Wonder Woman costume.
Danny shakes his head. "That's just wrong. Um,... yeah, actually not a bad idea. Normally I'd just shmooze till I found someone chatty as me. But here, maybe standing still and letting them come to us is a plan. Only problem,..."
Danny looks at Axe and Emily. "Look, I have a vivid imagination. And I'm always willing to try new things. But if we invite others to join us, then we're going to have to participate. I'm a good actor, but I don't know if I'm THAT good. Considering that some of these people look like they might have trouble comprehending 'safe words'." Danny says wryly.
"Look, David looks like he finally got the bartender to say more than 2 words. Maybe we should be ready with that performance idea of yours Axe. But let's not go full out and start inviting others unless we have too."
"ok, lez go see these rooms or circulate; sometin' I dont like just standing here and we aint gonna learn nothing in a booth; I seen tv though; see any reporters around, they cant help but brag about what they know, you guys are better at spotting stuff than me; I gets a headache from crowds; feel it on my temples like soft drums from all the press of their bodies, enough that I need a distraction even if it means picking some lady out of the crowd and bending her over for deep kiss; anything"
David allows a rare smile, knowing something about being a sellout. "I feel you. Long time ago, I did something honorable with my life. Something good. I made a difference, saved some lives. Here we are in 2010, and I'm not having the quiet, peaceful retirement that they sold me on two decades ago." He takes the refill, thinking to himself for a moment. "I'll just tell my employer that you were being a little reluctant with information. He's got more money than sense, always expects working class guys like us to do his bidding for his table scraps. We'll just keep it between us."
David drops another $100 on the bar and downs the whiskey in a gulp.
The hundred disappears from the bar.
'Well, this girl, she rented a room. Brought in her own bottom to try this fork on.'
'Well, eight hours later and she and miss bottom left the club with a pair of the ugliest people I've seen stink up this place.'
'They poured the bottom into a limo along with the girl and drove off. I'd say that was around eight hours ago.'
'After they left The Mistress came down from the rooms looking as smug and happy as a cat that had eaten a bird.'
'Now, if you're willing to get a fork of your own then that brochure I gave you does list some really good deals.'
looks around
Alertness
looks around
Alertness
4d3-8
You don't see anything new beyond the obvious interchange of people enjoying a very different set of entertainment rules.
Danny looks over the floor again, his eyes drifting slowly but surely back to the lady who was giving him 'The Eye'. He watches her for a moment, trying to see if he can tell if she is a frequent visitor to the Toy Box, thinking that maybe what they need is info from a 'regular'.
Danny growls in frustration. The atmosphere in the club is making him jumpy, throwing off his 'vibe'. He never has this much trouble reading a person in a 'normal' nightclub! He starts to hum, trying to focus, but again the atmosphere throws him off, and most times it works better if his subject can hear him anyway. He taps the railing tensely, then makes up his mind.
"Your half right Axe, WE won't get any info standing here, but you two might. You two walked in like you own the place. Keep that up. Don't mingle with the 'commoners', there are plenty who will come to you for an audience. Just stand here and keep looking around as if waiting to pass judgment. One of your many 'subjects' will be along shortly with a royal petition I'm sure. Patience, like in hunting, it's all about patience." He smirks.
"Meanwhile, I'm going to talk to a regular!" He grins. "At least I think she's a regular, hard to tell in this joint,..." He mutters as he strides off, his gaze making it clear to the lady that although he's taking his time, and looking around at the various 'entertainments', he's heading her direction.
'No need to appear too eager after all.'
Danny can't read the woman as she relaxes and plays with the fruit in her drink. She does seem to enjoy his attempts to appear not too eagre like a cat watching a mouse hole.
She seems to know if she waits long enough that the mouse is going to show up and it is just a matter of time and patience.
Emily listens to Danny and nods. She follows the direction of the man's attention and comments, "You need to be careful as well. She could be a trap waiting to be sprung. All the same... good luck."
The woman plays a little more trying to keep up the act before she takes up her blackberry and types out a quick text and sends it to Monroe, "Any luck yet?"
She has got it stuck in her head and from her small satchel she carries everywhere she removes a medium sized leather bound book. "Keep a watch for a moment Aximeus, something is bothering me. I cannot place it, but White Court means something..." She flips through looking for White Court.
Emily listens to Danny and nods. She follows the direction of the man's attention and comments, "You need to be careful as well. She could be a trap waiting to be sprung. All the same... good luck."
The woman plays a little more trying to keep up the act before she takes up her blackberry and types out a quick text and sends it to Monroe, "Any luck yet?"
She has got it stuck in her head and from her small satchel she carries everywhere she removes a medium sized leather bound book. "Keep a watch for a moment Aximeus, something is bothering me. I cannot place it, but White Court means something..." She flips through looking for White Court.
David's phone buzzes with Emily's text message. After reading it, he simply puts the phone back in his pocket and heads her direction after thanking the bartender again. Coming up behind her, he says, "You know an old man like me doesn't text." He slides up next to her, snatching a quick glance at her mysterious book without being remarkably obvious about it. "It seems that a young lady of questionable morals had the Fork. She left earlier today with a pair of ugly fellas in a limo. Now, the drivers gotta keep good records, so we might be able to follow up on that. The bartender also mentioned a 'Mistress' that we might want to look into."
"The bartender also mentioned a 'Mistress' that we might want to look into."
"Presumably he meant the proprietress of this fine establishment. I'd suggest arraigning a meeting while we're in the neighborhood."
After quickly skimming through her book and gives a sigh before puting it away for now. "Nothing stands out on this White Court thing. I suppose I will look later when I have time."
She smiles at Monroe returns, "You do not have to text back I suppose. But it gets a message to you without being too disturbing. I did not know if you were done down there or not."
She looks to Nathanial, "Do we want to meet the woman?" She shurgs, "I mean, will she have anything useful for us?"
After quickly skimming through her book and gives a sigh before puting it away for now. "Nothing stands out on this White Court thing. I suppose I will look later when I have time."
"It has nothing on one of the major vampiric courts? I'd suggest getting a different book."
"The White Court vampires feed on emotion, not blood. Usually pleasure, but sometimes pain and the like. Hence why the people who head upstairs come back down looking so... drained. They were, just not in a pphysical sense."
She looks to Nathanial, "Do we want to meet the woman?" She shurgs, "I mean, will she have anything useful for us?"
"It would give us the identity of whoever had the fork. Probably more reliable than tracking down her driver, and definitely faster."
I will stay in my role and idly follow Emily keeping watch and taking Danny's advice and trying to look draw some predator in the know to me that might give us a clue. If they go see the proprietess, I will go as well.
"Drivers are usually well paid and very loyal; is a position of trust, you know; and working for someone powerful; well, might not be an easy nut to crack through intimidation unless the person is a weasel; but, if said person is loyal; then if someone approached them like a guy interested in the security of said boss type; then, said driver might have an interest in helping." says to Emily reading the text over her shoulder.
Danny catches the woman hiding a smirk at his path, and realizes he's not always as smooth as he thinks he is. However, he refuses to give in too easily, and continues to make his way around the room, trying once more to get in touch with the vibe of the club before he actually approaches her,...
"Vampire Court?" Emily says with some concern. "I am sure it is in there, Grandfather had many dealings with vampires. I will have to sit down and looks through the book more carefully." the woman says in response to Nathanial's remarks.
As she watches Danny head off, "I am for meeting with the Mistress of the House, but I am not the most personable person. Danny there seems to be the one who is the smooth talker, but he seems to have his eye on a woman already."
"I despise vampires of any flavor; they try to feed near me I will disembowl them and I mean it; humanity doesn't need those parasites though I dont know nuthin bout no white ones."
Danny you have already figured out that the club has a cycle where people appear to have mostly planned meet ups. You do notice that there are a few people that don't seem to have planned meet ups and then suddenly 'meet' someone by their behaviour and move over and start talking to what should be a complete stranger.
You realize that there appears to a 'second' club where the 'hook-ups' are occurring. You had thought that most people were talking or texting to friends and likely quite a bit of that is going on but you have also realized that there appears to be some sort of web based forum with chat groups connected to the club.
Lightly chatting with a couple of people they show you the site on their phone. The site has various pictures of people that have recently been in or are in the club. It has various messages in a 'want add' section broken down into various categories dependent on interests. There are forums discussing various topics both current news events and sexual topics.
-----------------
The waitress comes over to Aximeus and Emily and she has a tray with two drinks on it.
The first class is filled with double malt whiskey and the second is filled with wine.
The waitress then points out two women in the bar who sent over the drinks. The pair are sitting at a table and watching.
The waitress says 'The lady that sent the whiskey would also like you to have this,' she holds out a flogger. She then says, 'The other lady sent this along with the wine,' she holds out a leather collar.
What would you like to do?
I try to ignore her, hand on sword handle, and wait for Emily to take lead casually looking without trying to look at the waitress and what she looks like and wondering if she might be one of these white vamps or if she has fang marks on her cause every vamp I ever seen looks like some beast from hell after you strip off their fleshmask, but a waitress is more likely a thrall unless this is just some kind of wierd kink dressing up as a waitress.
thinking better of it,
"what can you tell me about the ladies that might spark my interest, I have....standards, who are they, not some rabble I hope"
I try to ignore her, hand on sword handle, and wait for Emily to take lead casually looking without trying to look at the waitress and what she looks like and wondering if she might be one of these white vamps or if she has fang marks on her cause every vamp I ever seen looks like some beast from hell after you strip off their fleshmask, but a waitress is more likely a thrall unless this is just some kind of wierd kink dressing up as a waitress.
thinking better of it,
"what can you tell me about the ladies that might spark my interest, I have....standards, who are they, not some rabble I hope"
'Well, they're regulars. Thick as thieves that pair. Professional moms. Major thing they do is charity events. Both organizing and attending. They're husbands are often world trotting to New York or London or farther places to hear them talk. Despite being professional moms, they have full time nannies for they're kids which means they generally have pictures in the wallet but rarely spend more then the occasional soccer game or birthday time with the family.'
Looking at Emily
"I doubt they are of interest to us then, mothers tend to...conservatism; that do you think Zhoie?"
Emily takes out a twenty and places it on the tray, "Please, send our regrets with whatever they are drinking. Let them know that tonight is a special night for Axe and I," she cuddles with Aximeus, "We will see if we cannot play later."
She looks up at Axe, "Do not judge too harshly Hon, could always be fun. But tonight, you are all mine..."
After the waitress leaves... "Monroe, what are your thoughts? Mistress or driver... If this is a place of Vampires, would the mistress not be a head vampire running the place? She looks to the others as well.
"Without leverage on the Mistress, I'd say to go for the driver. It shouldn't be remarkably difficult to ask around and find out who the driver might be. Most of them, while discreet, are willing to let a little bit of it slip for some cash, so long as it can't be traced back to them." David begins moving for the door. This place is not his kind of joint.
"I kinda agree with Monroe. And if she is White Court, I am not in the mood to become dinner." she says in low tones to Aximeus and Nathanial for their thoughts on the matter as she watches Monro make his way to the door.
---------------------
Effects a yawn as if bored....
"guess we should stick together and head out"
Emily nods at Aximeus and takes up her phone and texts Danny, 'Heading out now. Are you staying?'
She then taps the phone and it rings and she pretends to answer it, "Uh huh... Oh no. Okay, right away."
She looks to the others and says in a loud concerned tone, "We need to go Axey, Mom was just taken to the hospital..." With that she takes the large man's hand and heads out after Monroe.
Danny glances aside at the woman once more. He's gotten a feel for the club, and found out about it's website, which is almost as good as lead as the fork itself. But he can't help but wonder what kind of a, professional, woman goes to a club like this? Is she the kind who needs to unwind by letting someone else be in charge? Or does she need to blow off steam by doing things she can't get away with at work,...?
Danny starts slightly at the feel of his cell going off in his pocket. Embarrassed at his own jumpiness, He fishes it out and glances at the message on the screen. It's from Emily. He thumbs a quick reply.
'OMW'
Danny looks up, and sees the woman he was heading towards looking directly at him, an unmistakably inviting eyebrow raised in question. His heart skips a beat, and he realizes it's in fear, not excitement. (Not that the two are mutually exclusive,...) Reluctantly, Danny admits to himself that he just, might, be out of his element here. He raises his cell and waggles it with a wry grimace, then shrugs his shoulders apologetically in a 'Whattaya gonna do?' manner.
Danny raises his nearly empty glass in salute, and finishes it off with a gulp. On impulse, he turns back and throws her a wink and a 'maybe next time' grin before sauntering towards the door.
After all, he might need to talk to her again, about something, important. He meets up with the others at the entranceway, and bows before Emily and Axe, gesturing for them to precede him with a grin.
"what now guys; we talking to this driver; if he didnt talk to us he would probably call his boss and report it; then we could maybe beat the answer out of him or at least take his phone if you think that would help; I aint up on triangulatin cell blocks; but I heard it could be done, any of you up on that? This queeny and the bull thing in conjuction with the zombies is still botherin me; you think this fork connects somehow? thing that gets me; if this driver his here; where is the woman with the fork if he didnt drive her somewhere, like why is he here and not there?"
Back at the van... Emily will look to Nathanial and ask, "I am not knowledgeable on the magic stuff, but the link you have from the hair, it doe snot last long does it? Should we try to find who it belongs to, and then attempt to find the driver when he gets off in the morning?" She looks to the rest of the group for the last query.
"sounds good to me, anyone hungry but me? Anyone have any police connections to find out why the museum fiasco was covered up and by whom? <looking at Mr. Monroe>"
David tries to shake the taint of the place off him as he leaves. Having gone to quite a few Mardi Gras and having been on both sides of the parade barricades, the place didn't shock him, but it did make him feel quite in need of a shower. He's also quite thankful that he didn't shake anyone's hand while in there.
To the others, he turns to say, "This ain't my town. This ain't even my country. I can make a call to see if a friend of a friend of a friend knows anything, but don't hold your breath. Let me make a call."
The others can hear his side of the conversation as he calls an old buddy from his patrol days who is married to a Fed. "Hey, Jake, it's David. How you been doing?" He listens for a moment politely, as you don't just leap in to asking for favors without at least checking in on how your old friend is doing. "Oh, man, I can't wait to see him. I hope to be done here and back home soon. Hey, speaking of, I got a favor to ask. Does Dana still know that guy up in the Vancouver PD?" He waits a minute again. "Yeah, that's the one. Would you mind gettin' her to give him a call? I'm looking for some information about a museum piece up here in Toronto that got stolen in a pretty brazen burglary a few days back. Any chance she can make a few calls and see if she can get the ORI? All right, I appreciate it. Knock a few back for me. I'll see you next time I'm back in town!"
After he hangs up, he returns to the group. "I got somebody looking into it. For now, I'm going to follow my lead on the limo driver. Anyone want to come? I don't mind goin' at it alone."
I try to ride shotgun in the car; covered sheild at my feet.
"so; where we goin?"
Danny follows his companions out of the club, giving a shudder as they exit that is not entirely due to the cold.
The shock of the cold and the fresh air combine into the equivalent of a slap in the face for Danny, who gratefully inhales deeply to clear his head. He throws the gatekeeper a nod and a wink, and hurries to tumble into the van with the others. Even though the van is cold, it is a haven of warmth compared to outside.
He reaches into his jacket and rubs his chest, (he learned that from 'Batman Begins') as he tells the others what he found out about the club's website.
"Saved by the Cell!" He says to Emily with a grin. "I was trolling for more info, but I think I was about to go swimming in the deep end! I think I'll stick to the kiddie pool from now on!" He smirks.
Danny pouts thoughtfully as David makes a cell call, and considers the options that the others are tossing around. He muses aloud, asking questions as they come to him at random,...
"I admit that finding out the woman with the fork was there is a turn of luck, but do we even know how to FIND her driver? And what do we do when we find him? OK, I'm not naive, even if the driver is 'just' a driver, he probably knows something. But what we're really looking for is the fork, and by default the woman that probably has it, right?"
"I'm no magic expert, but isn't Em right Nathan? Should we use the hair sooner rather than later? And if it's the hair from the blonde we heard about,... well, if she has the fork, she's the one we really want to talk to, right? Of course it also means that she probably lifted it herself during the party,... so she's quick,..."
"I'm kinda nervous about what the Winter Court, or the Queen, wants with this 'Cooley Bull'. I'd ask around, but I think I used up all of my favors just finding out about the troll brothers. Of course now I have something specific to ask about. Of course, after seeing what happened to the troll brothers,... um,... maybe we should go look for this woman?" he smiles.
"what the hell do you mean swimming; and somebody remind me; what is the deal with this fork; and if trolls are involved; we need to find them and put them out of business as they eat people from what I hear. Lot of peeps are appartently after this fork; so; what are we gonna do with it once we do find it? last think we want is some group comming after us for it and not be ready"
Back at the van... Emily will look to Nathanial and ask, "I am not knowledgeable on the magic stuff, but the link you have from the hair, it does not last long does it? Should we try to find who it belongs to, and then attempt to find the driver when he gets off in the morning?" She looks to the rest of the group for the last query.
"It might last another day, but yes. It would be in our best interests to divine the source of the hair now, rather than later."
"Of course, I don't really need any of your help for this. If you wish to question the driver tonight, just drop me off at my apartment first."
Emily looks to Nathanial in the rear view mirror and answers, "I am up for a little divining tonight. Just tell me where we need to go."
The woman watches the road and after some directions to the wizard's apartment drives on, on the watch for any unwanted company. She will take a few unnecessary turns and streets before arriving.
"Alright, we have a plan!" Danny grins.
"Um,... so, what do we do, actually?,..."
"I am kind of curious about how this magic work; waddawe need to get for it to work"
--------
am up for collecting ingrediants and following the hair but will follow along with whatever.
David rather distrusts magic, especially after Nathaniel's last spell. "Make sure that when he says to take a step back, that he really means to call the Fire Department ahead of time because he plans on blowing up the whole block..."
David rather distrusts magic, especially after Nathaniel's last spell. "Make sure that when he says to take a step back, that he really means to call the Fire Department ahead of time because he plans on blowing up the whole block..."
Nathanial glares at David before continuing. "I can handle the ritual by myself. I just need you to gather supplies. I need a glass mirror, a granite pestle..."