This is for adding a Search Category to the thread.
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The young man complied, and Aοleen inwardly rejoiced. Something at least was working properly. Walking in this building, she wondered whether how long it has served as a makeshift Haven of sorts, and if she could use the surroundings to her advantage if things got heated...
Behind the man, she could see his body frame, and guessed he must have served as Herd to the woman. It spoke volumes about her that she hardly seemed to care about them. It didn't bode so well for Aοleen either, alas.
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After a few seconds of navigating the interior of the building, the young man leads Aileen to what is probably the only open space left in the warehouse. It has been gutted, and left untouched. The exits are all locked or barred, and most of the windows high overhead are broken out, but the concrete ground is sparse and empty. Cracked from age, with grass peaking in a few places, and many scars from the placement of whatever machinery that used to be placed there, but still empty.
As they get close to the open place, Aileen feels the pull toward the mysterious woman change direction. Except it isn't, really. It's only becoming more precise. Up. She knows the woman is up there, before she ever takes the time to look.
And there she is. Smoldering seductive looks tightly wrapped once again in riding leathers, she cocks an amused smirk at Aileen's presence. She is leaned against the railing of a catwalk, spanning the gap of the open space some fifteen feet up in the air. The sight of her incurs the Predator's Taint, but of course sensing nothing from the Mekhet, she is unfazed. There is something beside her leg, and slightly behind. Long and rigid, as perhaps a staff.
There is a wink given to the young man, who immediately takes off back the way they'd came. He seems to be purposefully avoiding eye contact with Aileen, this time.
"Hello again." Her smile slides to a devious grin. "It's been some time. I hope you've been well?
"Be a dear," she continues, conversationally, "and bring me that curious little box."
Just 2, lol
Aileen's resistance is the usual Resolve + Composure + BP model. MotIH does of course apply.
The people look no less comforted by the sudden appearance of two more strangers into their hovel, but none of them speak. Two of the men, in their prime, have a hard cast to their gazes. Weary, worn, and afraid, but perhaps ready to act if they feel themselves threatened. The middle aged man and woman continue to steal nervous glances toward the way Aileen and her escort departed.
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The short walk in the abandoned basement was enough for Aοleen to slowly realize what was happening. It was real. She had been manipulated, expected, and prepared for, by someone whose motivations were unknown, but whose determination was obviously strong.
So she was there at last ! Her Beast was strong, of the kind Sobek liked to crush and destroy for their audacity, but Aοleen's superior mind knew better, and reined in the Beast. She refrained a shiver at the sight of the long thing beside the woman. In her worst fears, it could only be a sword, the kind of weapon used to bring Final Death to vampires.
She shook her head at the given order, and replied as someone in full control of herself, if ill at ease. "Good evening. I have been well so far. I think it is safe to say it was the same for you." the Shadow said, looking around for an actual resting place.
"I'm sorry about the box, but it's been entrusted to me by someone else, and I'm afraid I can't part with it. Perhaps you could just have a talk with her, and resolve the matter together ? What do you need it for, if I may ask ?" she said, gaining time, and perhaps information.
For the first time since her Embrace - and a few times during her training for her first Coil - she feared for her life.
It is an awful sound. The uncomfortable shuffling of the half-dead men and women in the hovel is terrible. Strange, but the Mekhet instantly hates it.
This is not their territory. They are interlopers. The stony-gaze of the men near by confirms it. David is glad that he chose to keep Emma close rather than sending her ahead and the Mekhet passes a nervous look of his own towards the Gangrel.
David persists. He heads headlong deeper into the warehouse following the middle aged man and woman's glimpses towards a specific direction.
The Shadow Mortician just hopes he isn't too late.
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Emma follows close to David. She feels more comfortable with David now that she has seen him in action. At least now she doesn't feel the constant need to protect him. "Damn." She whispers as she realizes she can't hide her beast and will be sensed as they approach. Perhaps she should hold back. Or change form.
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There is a crash, somewhere between the two pair of Kindred. Something that sounds like steel pipes, and various similar detritus, cluttering the ground and a wall. In this environment, it's the equivalent of a cave-in.
David and Emma soon encounter the shirtless young man with the sagging pants meant for a frame that's less hungry than his. He is in full retreat, now. Eyes widen at the sight of two more Kindred, and he does his best to evade their clutches and continue on.
At the sound, the woman on her perch looks up from Aileen's face, focusing on a point beyond her. Focusing on the crash itself, like it's a signal.
"Very well," she smirks. Maybe impressed with the Mekhet's resolve. Or maybe just amused. "The fun way, then."
Aileen is right. The snap of the woman's wrist casts off a scabbard, which sails away to soon clatter to the ground. It reveals a very nondescript sword with a curved blade. Cruel in its utilitarian nature, and lacking any sort of embellishment. It's made only to kill, and perhaps forget about later.
She shifts her weight, obviously intending to vault the rail.
Bigpaw - when you return, roll Init for Aileen, please. If Emma and D-Reg try to engage the Mortal, he will be Willpower + Dodging for -8
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Momentarily, David pauses. The sound of the crash pricks his ears and sounds to him like the orchestral collapse from the Rites of Spring. They were expected, it seems, and prepared for. “Did you hear that,” The Mortician breathes to Emma as he starts again, rushing forward.
The young, shirtless man slides out of their clutches as they pass. David never had a chance to catch him, so doesn't expend the effort.
Instead, David shifts the focus of his senses to the scents around him. If their most obvious way in is blocked, he reasoned, there might be another and the flow of fresh-air might betray it.
David's worry for Aileen dances on a knife's edge between fear and frustration. She is the hostage of a Kindred he did not know, for reasons he can't fathom yet, in a place that was most certainly theirs. Too many obstacles stand between him and Aileen and too many inches. David was glad for Emma's presence but it is a whispered prayer to Osiris that sat unsaid on his lips.
Shift of Heightened Senses to : Smell
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Emma stayed tight behind David. She was not about to chase down someone so insignificant, not when someone was in danger up ahead. Besides, they may get caught unaware if they became distracted by someones herd. Instead Emma was prepared to change into a mountain lion and go on the attack or maybe she would just use her claws teeth and kungfu skills if needed. She mentally sighed, a fight would feel so good to get rid of the pent-up frustrations of life. "We move on your word." She whispered in David's ear.
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OOC
She couldn't help herself. Aοleen gasped as the beautiful woman drew a blade, and prepared herself to face the unknown: a fight.
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Quicker than Aileen can react, the woman hits the ground smoothly. She absorbs the shock of impact with grace, allowing the natural cast of gravity to bring her to a safe squat. It's a runner's squat. Which is tantamount to a coiled spring.
Mentally releasing the catch, the spring uncoils in a drive of deadly energy. Her hair tosses dramatically as she charges straight toward the Mekhet. An almost perverse lust for contact paints her face. Under any other circumstances, it might be downright cinematic.
The villain spends her first action to vault the rail, and lands safely enough to retain her action for her next turn (she didn't fall flat of her ass and become forced to spend her next action standing up). If Aileen wishes to use Cloak of Night, it will expend her action. WoD mechanics generally do not allow for move-action-move or action-move style tactics. So, Aileen will either need to allow her adversary to see where she is headed before disappearing in order to gain some ground, or cloak immediately and not begin moving until her next turn.
As for David, he smells a whole lot of mildew. Some rust. The air is stale and unmoving, beyond what the young man has stirred in his wake. By the way, he leaves a trail of sweat in the air. Rapidly falling, but easily followed in either direction. This place doesn't get much ventilation. A quick look up to the exposed rafters and the second story windows all painted shut and opaque confirms why. They are painted thick enough that none of them have been completely broken.
(Skeleton Keys) Keyhole
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