Dropping Bodies: The Wrangler

[Milton]

Milton parks his car down the block from The Wrangler and pulls out his phone, reading through reviews of the bar one last time. Certainly not his scene, but better than slumming it with the unwashed masses on the streets.

He's dressed in his normal attire, a nondescript black suit, white shirt, black tie. He'd been sure not to have the suit pressed just for this evening. Tonight, he's playing the down on his luck businessman. Accordingly, he loosens his tie, undoes the top button of his shirt. Even goes so far as to look in his rearview mirror and tussle his close-cropped hair.

Disguise, 3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-12-14 10:47:25	Milton rolls 6 to Wits + Subterfuge + 1 (Equipment: Rumpled Suit) (10 Again)	2, 1, 10, 2, 2, 8, 8	3 successes

Satisfied with his efforts, Milton takes one more moment to stir his Blood, enough to counterfeit life and ensure he can hold down whatever he needs to drink while staking out the bar. He's loathe to expend the precious resource, but tonight it's a necessity.

Preparations complete, he exits his car, ensuring he has his phone, wallet, and keys. Locks the vehicle and begins his slow walk up the block, looking suitably dejected. As he advances toward the bar, he keeps glancing around, observing his surroundings.

Perception (Outside), failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-12-14 10:51:46	Milton rolls 6 to Wits + Composure (10 Again)	5, 3, 6, 5, 1, 4	failure

But nothing seems out of place.

Finally, he enters The Wrangler proper. Approaches the bar and takes a seat. Waits to be approached by the bar keep without calling attention to himself. He's down on his luck, after all. As the moments tick by, the Lord fidgets with his phone and casts his gaze about the room. Not sure what he's looking for, but keeping alert and open to anything interesting.

Perception (Interior), 1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-12-14 10:55:31	Milton rolls 6 to Wits + Composure (10 Again)	6, 4, 8, 6, 7, 1	1 success

So this is where the whole thing had started. The place where the unfortunate Mr. Harper had breathed his last...

Equipment: Smart phone, full-sized car, wallet with $500 cash.

[Milton]

book keeping

[Seryna]

Milton examines the bar and observes a woman approaching him. She is behind the bar. She has curly blonde hair pulled into a half ponytail and fair skin. She wore a blush pink top and had the black apron tied about her waist, signalling that she was wait staff. An order pad, pens and some rolls of silverwear peeked from various pockets.
"Hello there," She adopts a friendly, if superficial smile of wait staff. "Can I get you anything?

The woman is not the only one behind the bar. There is a man, about 5'8'', with a visible dragon tattoo in blue on his left arm. He is currently chopping limes with expert speed at the back of the bar.

Milton spots five others in the Wrangler Bar besides himself. Three bar stools down, there is an older Black man with a small scar beneath his left eye. It looks old. Yet the fresh black eye on his right eye looks only a day old. He's nursing a shot of whiskey, appearing morose. He wears a well worn flannel shirt, jeans, and well made, expensive leather boots.

Three stools down from the man, there is a young Korean woman. Her black hair is wrapped into a bun with two sharp wooden hair sticks, carved with a head of a snake. She wears professional attire - maroon jacket and pants, black dress shirt. High neck and modest, with an average priced gold chain around her neck. She is reading an Agatha Christie novel - Murder on the Orient Express. There is a glass of white wine in front of her.
At the table, there are two women who appear to be romantically linked, holding hands over the table. The one with her back to Milton is full figured, in her mid thirties. Her blonde hair is styled in loose ringlets that are becoming on her pale skin. Her date appears to be a few years younger, wearing several leather cuff bracelets on her left wrist. She has a kitten tattoo on her wrist that peeks when she moves the hand, flirting with her date. Her skin is olive tone, her black hair cut short and styled with gel in a spiked look.
The remaining patron is a young man dressed in an expensive suit. Milton recognizes garnet cabochon cuff links. He sips a glass of wine while looking through a leather bound notebook. For some reason, Milton is compelled to glance at the man again. When the man sets his wine glass down, he seems to catch a quarter from the air. He rubs his thumb along the coin, like a well practiced soothing behavior. Yet he had been drinking from a glass, when had he tossed the coin in the air?

[Milton]

He gives the bartender a weary smile, feeling the warmth of blood in his cheeks. As usual, it's a source of slightly discomfort, this fake life. Not a bad thing at the moment, it plays into his role, this twinge of real disquiet.

"A scotch please, single malt. Macallan will do if you have it." Yes, even his voice is different when lungs and heart are involved. How very odd.

Bland, brown eyes scan the crowd. And stop on the well dressed young man. Of course. The others seem completely foreign to him. Beings from a different planet. But this one, he's seemingly a member of Milton's own tribe.

As the Lord watches, the coin appears out of thin air. So, interesting too.

"Send one to that gentleman as well, please." He adds, nodding toward the magician.

[Seryna]

The bartender nods to him, and brings the drink as he makes the request for the magician. She looks over and pauses, remarking.
"He's back tonight. He's taken to people watching here over the last week. I am sure he will appreciate it."

The bartender walks the drink over to the man, who leans in to speak quietly to the bartender. Milton manages to overhear "From the gentleman? Thank you."

The bartender is walking back towards the bar when the man lifts the drink, delicately sipping it. He turns to find you, meeting your eyes and lifting the drink. A small inclusive gesture, a refined one, was made to Milton. For all purposes, it looked like the man was beckoning Milton to join him at his table.

[Milton]

Milton accepts the drink with a small, relieved smile. He sips it. In sunnier times, he would have enjoyed the hints of peat and smoke. Now, it is just a liquid that doesn't belong in his mouth. Nonetheless, he tries to look satisfied.

"Thank you," he says to the bartender, polite as ever, absorbing the information she offers without much of a reaction. Internally, though, he notes the opportunity: if this gentleman has been here all week, he might present a welcome source of knowledge. Or he could somehow be involved. Risk and reward.

The seeming invitation seals it. Milton rises from his chair, just a hint of slowness to his movements: he's a man who's clearly tired, but trying his best to hide it.

He leaves cash for the drinks and tip on the bar and makes his way to the magician's table.

"I couldn't help but notice your trick with the coin," he begins, looking sheepish. "Fascinating, really. Do you mind if I join you?" He touches the back of an unoccupied chair, but doesn't sit just yet.

Happy to make a carousing roll, or another roll as appropriate. Just let me know!

[Seryna]

Go ahead and make the carousing roll

The man looks briefly surprised. "Someone paying attention? Curious. Yes, have a seat." He rubs his thumb on the coin a moment, setting it in his shirt pocket.
"You can call me Roderick. Can I inquire what you like to be called?"

[Milton]

"It is a rarity these days, I know," Milton replies, slightly amused at the man's surprise.

He assumes the proffered seat, setting his own Scotch on the table in front of him. "Milton. It's a pleasure to meet you Roderick."

The Lord sips his drink, it's flavor still lost on him. "The bartender mentioned you've been here all week. Were you waiting for someone to notice your trick? Or is it just the ambience?" The questions seem to be in jest, but Milton attends closely to the magician's answer.

Carousing, Target Suxx: 4

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-12-30 23:15:23	[01] Milton rolls 5 to Manip + Socialize (10 Again)	1, 3, 9, 10, 4, 4	2 successes

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-12-30 23:15:23	[02] Milton rolls 5 to Manip + Socialize (10 Again)	5, 1, 8, 7, 6	1 success

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-12-30 23:15:23	[03] Milton rolls 5 to Manip + Socialize (10 Again)	3, 1, 4, 8, 6	1 success

[Seryna]

The man looks over Milton for a moment, casually taking in his dress. He appears to have a discerning eye. Roderick watched the bartender move away from their table before replying. Roderick looks at Milton as he does so, revealing green eyes.

"The ambiance is lovely. Yet, no. I heard that there was a bit of trouble here awhile back. Someone asked me to keep a look out for their friend, whom they were supposed to meet here.
Yet, the trouble." He sips his drink.

"What about you, Milton? What brings you to the Wrangler?"

[Milton]

"Trouble?" Milton asks, raising an eyebrow. Another sip. Tepid.

"And here I thought I'd found a spot to quietly enjoy a drink." A wry chuckle.

"What kind of trouble are we discussing?" He glances around. "It seems quiet enough."

This is, indeed, an intriguing development. For now, Milton decides to play this out. Let the man talk. Perhaps he'll get somewhere with simple conversation.

If not, there are more persuasive methods.