Of Ash and Dust

[Alice Hart]

Alice nods, she just wanted to make sure. But she knew that their investigation would lead them into another location. She just wasn't expecting just what Robert found on the phone. "Shit." Alice curses. "Fuck." she breaths out, shaking her head. The phone left behind, in the path of those that sought a clue, a women named Dirge discovered nights ago, who's Blood matched hers..."There are no coincidences."

"Is it safe to assume that B was the one inside on fire that night?" they did that B's phone. "Do you think they survived their wounds?" Alice asks, reviewing what they'd found from the texts. Seven, six if B died. The Crypt a safe place in the world below, and the Bunker, a separate safe-house? "What chapel are they talking about? The Moore House? Another temple?"

Alice's quite for a moment.

"We...we can't continue this alone can we?" the question is softly spoken and half rhetorical. Searching for the scent of Robert, Alice turns to face him. "I hopped we could go farther alone, but...I know I'm a liability now. I want to be apart of this. I need to be apart of this. But I want to do it right." These charred bones left behind just above their heads deserved no less.

[Robert Cross]

Oh there are coincidences alright. Sometimes Cross thinks the world is nothing but. Though it doesn't matter in the end: the random is just as meaningful, and dangerous, as that which is fated or planned. Coincidences can still kill.

"Could've been," the Burned Man answers when Alice speculates about the identity of the arsonist. "But this Trudi also dropped off the map after her argument with Julia and Dirge." Self-immolation might've been her punishment. "Then again, Trudi could've gone rogue after tussling with the higher-ups. So, she's either ash or a weak link. Might be a lead. As for the temple, I'm not sure..." They've just uncovered a lot of information and Cross is still trying to process it. And then there's the fact that they now have all of these numbers, and a phone that used to belong to a member of the cell. If they play their cards right, they might be able to set up their own trap...

Cross can't help but agree with Alice's assessment of the situation: they need back up, more resources. Or at least a little time to work things out. One thing he does know though: "Yeah, we need help. But not because of you, not because you're some 'liability.'" his voice is soft, yet firm, in the dark. "Even if things were...like before, we'd still have to loop others in on this, if only the Reeve. They've got the numerical advantage and we're largely in the dark. No way we can take this on alone, at least not without a damn good plan..." Cross doesn't let on that he's nervous about approaching Lady Stamford with their new-found information. She'd expressed her desire to focus on other priorities and, while Cross knows he is free to investigate on his own time, he's not sure how she'll react to him pressing the issue.

Still, there's nothing else to do, they've got to make others in the Domain aware.

"Come on, let's get back to the car," he says, taking Alice's hand again. "We've got some planning to do."

[Alice Hart]

"True, Trudi could have gone rouge. If she did, we should prioritize finding her. Hell hath no fury, right?" Alice nods, wondering how much Robert could see in the tunnels and if she should even be nodding, "Should we check out the Moore House just in case?"

His gruff voice soft and firm, spoke, and Alice didn't know if she'd ever get used to Robert's trust and confidence in her. "Okay, if you say so." the Doll nods, a tingling feeling made her smilek, because Robert didn't just 'say things'. "We're not an army of two, I'm sure the Domain wouldn't leave group of known arsonist at large right?"

"Sure." Another nod, "At least with more then us in on this, there's more minds to work on a better plan..." Alice murmurs as she feels for the rickety ladder. Climbing up the unsteady thing isn't any easier then climbing down it, even with the thought of Robert behind her, ready to catch her if she falls.

When her head pops out of the opening she pulls herself up, before she waits for Robert to return to the world above, and make sure she would begin the trek back to his car walking in the wrong direction.

[Robert Cross]

"Yes," the Burned Man answers Alice's question about the Moore House, "I think that would be wise. If only just to be safe." Besides, Cross is interested in the Moore House for other reasons. Just because Gilroy has disappeared doesn't mean his burgeoning faith has disappeared with him. Not that he knows how to pursue the matter given the absence of the Lance's only representative in the city. But that's a concern for another time.

At her statement about the Domain dealing with the arsonists, Cross nods, "I should hope so..." And if it turns out that the Moore House has been targeted too, they may have an easier time re-approaching the issue with the Reeve.

"And yeah, more help on the matter would be good," he says as spots Alice. She's handling the climb like a pro. Still, the Burned Man still keeps his eyes on her the whole time. "But if it comes down to it, we can make things happen ourselves." They may have no other choice.

Once she's above ground, Cross ascends as well, emerging back into the ruins of the old farmhouse. If she has nothing else to attend to, Cross will take her hand and start leading her back to his car, eyes still searching the night warily as they move along.

  Perception, 1 suxx

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2016-09-15 11:27:13		Robert Cross rolls 6 to Wits3 + Composure3 (10 Again)		7, 6, 4, 1, 10, 5, 4		1 success

[Alice Hart]

Once Robert rises from below, Alice turn in a circle seeing without seeing, hearing the crunch beneath her feet, the scent of the charred ruin, the scent of gas as it creeped into her nose. "Okay," she nods, ready to leave, ready to use what they'd gained to carry on their investigation.

Taking Robert's hand, she feels him begin to lead her in the direction of his car.

[Yumyumcrow]

The surface is as they left it. The Farm is a scene of gothic splendour: ruins and overrun gardens, lush with summer foliage. The Kindred move unseen in the night and return to their vehicle.

Unless you guys have anything else you wish to do, I think this scene has run its course. I'll leave it up to you where you take your next move