(Sweet Dreams)

Sep 3rd, 2017 05:21 PM

Mr. Cheng's Herbs and Remedies is just a short bus ride from where you've found Mark, rest his soul. It's easy enough to find, too - while the concrete buildings, occasional heaps of trash and even people around you look bled dry of color, the shop - located on a street corner - features an enormous, dragon-shaped sign with the establishment's name written in fancy letters. Red-painted doors looking old enough to remember the Roosevelt presidency stand out like a bleeding scratch.

Some locals hang around, whispering to each other and eyeing you with suspicion when they think you aren't looking. A familiar smell reaches your nostrils and a sizzling sound - your ears. Someone's grilling pork.

The place you came here to visit waits for your move, like an alert tiger.

Going to take a backseat for the duration of any talk you might want with the fourth party member as well as Extended actions done during downtime between this and previous Scene (if you want any). Give me a signal when you want to advance things.

Sep 4th, 2017 08:43 AM

Turns out “Cheng’s” was not that far away, and Lev happened to get there first. The smell of good food was excruciating, but the Beast was here on business. Chow can wait.

He asked Ingrid to wait for him and not go in by herself. There was no guarantee that she would listen, or even that she was not already inside. But starting off with distrust and paranoia was counterproductive. So Lev just leaned to a wall, popped a cigarette out of a crumpled pack, and proceeded to absorb the ambiance.

This place was mighty depressing. Of what Lev was sure is that he’s not becoming a member of the Winter Court any time soon if this was their jam.

**Ingrid** · Sep 5th, 2017 05:02 AM

Ingrid arrives a short while later in dishevelled clothes that have seen much wear. Last season's baseball cap is pulled low on her face. Hands thrust into her pockets she appears to notice no one... Yet her footsteps bring her closer and closer toward Lev.

To mark her presence she simply coughs and sniffs loudly.

"Can I scrounge a cigarette?"

Her mouth quirks into a grin and her eyes flash welcome. She dares a glance at Mr. Cheng's Herbs and Remedies.

"Impressive place, huh?"

If Lev wants more information than the bare bones she gave over the phone, now is the time she supposes he'll ask.

Sep 5th, 2017 05:20 AM

“Oh... Hey!”

Lev is not the easiest guy to sneak up to, but Ingrid managed. And it looks like she did not even try. The Beast got out his battered cigarette pack, shook one out, and offered it to the Darkling, followed by a cheap Bic lighter.

“Yeah, I like the sign. So, what’s the deal here? The Chinaman gave someone the runs with bogus medicine?”

Lev was sure it’s much more serious, and his joke might be out of place, but he considered that a little humor is usually a good thing. And he’d rather apologize later, then miss an opportunity for a good joke. Or at least something he considers good enough.

**Thomas Land** · Sep 5th, 2017 08:00 AM

Parked down the street, the Mole-Man approaches on foot, appearing shortly after Ingrid.

Thomas is dressed 'casually' today. For him at least. Slacks and a brown crew-neck sweater over a white dress shirt. No tie. He looks slightly diminished (if that's possible) without his normally professorial attire.

He has time to prepare himself for this encounter as he approaches, wrestling with his instinctual fear of the giant predator waiting with the Spring Sovereign. Despite his bone-deep aversion to the Lion-Man, he can't help offering a disapproving hum directed toward Lev's joke as he steps up.

"Hm-hmmmmmm, perhaps it's, um, not as bogus as you think?" Despite this unusually forward talk from the Mole-Man, Thomas still looks furtive, unsure of himself. Beady eyes dart from Lev to Ingrid, "Hello, Ingrid," he says with a watery smile. Then his eyes are back on Lev again.

"So, um, sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. Nor did I, uh, mean to be rude. It's just, you see, assumptions can be, well, dangerous." He gives the Lion an apologetic look and timidly extends his Mole's claw.

"I'm Thomas. Thomas Land."

Speaking of extended actions, Woland -- If it's possible, Thomas will have tried to look into the Secret Garden a little bit more since the last scene, specifically the university email addresses attached to the site's users. Any particular rolls you'd like in connection with his little investigation?

**Seraphina** · Sep 5th, 2017 02:34 PM

The Nix had decided to go a little more casual than before. Clearly it made her stand out even more and she kinda wanted to avoid that. Well, as much as she could anyways.

So she walks up to the group in jeans with various tears and a white t-shirt. Gilded skin peaked out from the tears and her silver and gold mane hung pin straight around her shoulders and down her back.

There was a new face, a large one, with a lion look to him. Could probably handle himself pretty good in a fight she think, or at least be an intimidating force.

A smile appears on her lips, “Seems I’m a little late, sorry about that.” She hadn’t bought a car yet, and had to rely on the bus. Which sucked! “Maybe it’s time to buy a car or something.” Maybe a motorcycle! That’d be hot!

But she needed to focus on the matter at hand, “Hi, I’m Sera.” She says to the big guy. And offers a nod to Ingrid and Thomas. Hands shoved into the pockets of her jeans.

Her voice lowers slightly, still angelic, “So how are we going to do this? I have some concerns about the dream catchers we saw, from a previous encounter with dreams.” She didn’t get into it, not sure how to word it without exposing anything.

Sep 5th, 2017 03:29 PM

@%1; Thomas Land - it depends on what you hope to find. The e-mails follow the pattern of "name.surname@university". With the amount of time Thomas has it requires no roll to know that they are active employees or students, some of whom he may passingly recognize as interested in the weird angles of the world. Any in-depth search would require either a Persuasion/Intimidation/Socialize/Subterfuge + Contacts roll for asking around or Wits + Investigation for following the paper trail they may have at Sacramento State. Tracking the online activity these e-mails have been used for is Wits + Computer. All of those are Extended actions with number of allowed rolls equal to dicepools and a target number of 5 succeses. Only one per character may be attempted.

If any of you'd like to find out about something else, please let me know. You are free to continue conversing for as long as you like.

**Ingrid** · Sep 7th, 2017 03:41 AM

Ingrid takes the cigarette and offered light. She draws and inhales with relish, eyes closing for a moment of pure joy. She makes to speak, but Lev beats her too it. In response to his well timed joke, a smile crawls up her face and she has to cough before she laughs.

"Oh if only!" Is her initial response, followed by another cough and a chuckle.

By that time, Thomas Land Seraphina have joined them. Eyes scouring the street, she shuffles closer, trying to make them huddle together. "Okay. So... Thomas, Sera... Meet Lev. Again. Lev, Thomas and Sera. I've asked Lev to join us as extra back up... 'Cause we are following leads now and I have a feeling we may shake something loose. And it would be nice to have and extra pair of hands, you know. In case..."

She drags on her cigarette, exhales and views the street quickly.

"I'll try and be brief for you, Lev. An employee of Funderland went missing and... eh... we all felt there was something odd about it. We found the poor guy... Um... Dead. In his home. No sign of a struggle, no drugs or anything like that. Place looked like he barely lived there. He had a strange scar or bite mark on his hand and... um... might have been drained."

She puffed on her cigarette, ending with a miserable attempt at a smoke ring. Glaring at the smokey blob fading into the air between them, she continued:

"Now we found he'd signed up to an online forum and probably met a girl there. The forum's content is mystical stuff. And its too close for comfort. Thomas had the best chance to go over that, if you want to know more, ask him. Now our guy had also decked his home out in all mystical protections and stuff - lines of salt, dream catchers and similar things. I found receipts linking his... erm... home improvements... to that shop over there. Mr Cheng's. Now I'm hoping we can find out when he was last around, and if he had friends, from Mr. Cheng. And anything else we can figure out. And yeah, I'm kinda hoping us poking around will cause something to happen. Something we can deal with and get answers from."

She paused for breath.

"Complicating factor. Our guy has a sister. The pushy type who wants answers. I've managed to neutralise her for now, but she is going to want an accounting of this at some point. And before I can do that we need to know what really is going on. She has confirmed that her brother went through a complete change in personality and that does seem to happen at the same time he got into the occult stuff."

She dared a look across the street.

"It all starts here."

Sep 7th, 2017 05:07 AM

The nervous man introduced himself and offered a handshake, which the Beast answered firmly, introducing himself as simply “Lev”.

It looked like Seraphina’s words caused a short anxiety attack in Lev. He tensed like a coiled spring, and nervously looked around. It looked like he was ready to run, but regained his composure fast and nodded to Sera. Thankfully Ingrid began the introductions, and Lev could stay silent, afraid that his voice might betray him after this minor panic attack.

As the Darkling was speaking, Lev took out another cigarette, lit it off the first, and started dragging on it hard, clearly calming his nerves. With such overt displays of emotion, it was understandable why he hated poker.

“Maybe “it” does not start here, but “it” clearly stopped here for herbal tea,” muttered Lev, when Ingrid finished her explanation. “Well, you guys do your thing. I’m following your lead.”

Of course the situation was weird. It would be weird if it was not. After becoming what he is, it was never simple. So, there was no surprise in Lev’s voice. And he did not ask for explanations and clarification. What’s the point in wasting everybody’s efforts and time on someone who understanding of this “occult bullshit” is limited with movies and cheap horror paperbacks.

He did not expect trouble here. Lev wasn’t above stereotypes, and in his mind’s eye the proprietor of this fine establishment was an elderly Chinaman with a face akin to an old leather boot and a very pronounced accent. But even the Beast didn’t think it was likely the geriatric will go all kung-fu on their asses.

**Thomas Land** · Sep 7th, 2017 12:04 PM

"Oh, Lev. Very good, very good." The Mole-Man looks up at the Lion with a watery smile. "Glad to, um, have you aboard."

He gives Sera a little wave of his claw-tipped hand when she approaches.

Thomas waits while Ingrid catches their new addition up to speed. When she mentions his investigations into the Secret Garden, he flashes the Darkling a smile that says Oh, I have some information on that front. It's one of the few times he looks genuinely pleased: when he has new knowledge in his possession. Though he'll have to wait until later to share it.

While she finishes discussing the matter at hand, Thomas looks up at the sign. He's actually quite excited to be here. It's his sort of place after all. Occult mysteries and all that.

"Yes, I suppose it does, hm, all start here," he echoes. "Shall we have a look then?" He nods his Mole's head toward the door.

(Sweet Dreams)

Treasured Nix

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