Innocent Lost Plot Short & Sweet

[Seryna]

In the dark, the two react from someone stepping towards them by instinctively stepping back. The male steps towards the undeveloped construction. The woman towards the civilization of fast food restaurants in the distance.
The Daeva discipline stretches out and coils within the mind. The woman looks at Verity with careful deliberation. The man looks more scared.

Neither one speaks. The weighty responsibility is on Verity.

[Verity Carmen]

Reacting with fear is the best she could have hoped for. It's a lot better then violence. And Verity presses that advantage the window it grants to speak.

She avoids direct eye contact. Not knowing who she is dealing with it carries far to much risk. She stands full exposed hands slightly raised, takes a small, slow, step away from the shadows and cover the better to seem non-threating.

And musical tones seep out to fill the space between her and the two. ''I'm looking for whoever killed those students.'' Tipping her hand that she had been listening to know this was the topic of conversation. ''It seems whoever is behind it, is causing you both some grief as well.'' She looks to the male as she says it, then turning misty green gaze settles on the women. ''I want to stop it happening again.'' She had seemed most appalled by the Daevas read of the conversation. ''Answer a few questions I have, help me if you can. And the problem can go away.'' See we all stand to benefit.

[Seryna]

The man looks very uneasy and shifted from foot to foot.
"The two students at where? Which two students?"
"I believe that it's whoever he," A nod to the man who was having a hard time. "-saw drinking."

The woman looks startled. She could be scared. Yet she has kept some of her wits about her. She gives you a certain look. She is trying to convey something covertly without needing to speak it.

[Verity Carmen]

Verity nods slowly eyes trailing over this other women for the signs to guide her to the unspoken message. ''Yeah that guy.''

Pick up what she's putting down (interpret the unspoken message)2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-04-29 11:00:59	Verity Carmen rolls 5 to Pick up what she is putting down wits 3 empathy 2 (10 Again)	10, 5, 2, 7, 2, 8	2 successes

She looks to Peter, the one with what she needs. ''I don't think you did it. Your okay.'' Trying to be calming. ''Your to freaked out by it. This guy clearly crossed a line you won't.'' Make him feel better about himself. ''If you can tell me exactly when this happened, exactly where and anything, everything you can about blondie, the car he drove, all of it. You'll be doing a good thing.'' I don't know if he cares about that or not but hey the discussion is about killing kids so maybe. ''You'll be stopping it happening to anymore kids.'' Lets see if he really opposes it.

Tell me everything 4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-04-29 11:11:02	Verity Carmen rolls 13 to Tell me everything manipulation 2, persuasion 3, SL+2, DV +1, Awe +5 (10 Again)	1, 1, 5, 6, 5, 5, 10, 9, 4, 2, 8, 9, 1, 1	4 successes

[Seryna]

Verity can determine that saw drinking is a euphemism for a Kindred term. In this context, it likely referred to feeding.
Peter is not okay. His eyes are on Verity, yet he clearly is uncomfortable and continues to shift his weight. He looks like he is uncomfortable discussing this topic.
"It happened at 2 A.M. at Cedar Grove Park." He divulges. "It's that guy whose associated with the Blood of the Rose videogame. The one who still looks like a teenager. His name's Will. The car is a black Mustang, real nice looking. Before the um, blood."

[Verity Carmen]

The pieces fall into place, well some of them. She had no idea what the blood of rose video game was, but she would also bet money that was code for this will being a Daeva. A wayward cousin. She keeps her misty green eyes largely focused on Peter for just a few moments more. ''That's really helpful, you've done great.'' Now who on earth are you two?

She spreads her question out to incorporate the pair of them, place less focus on Peter, take him out of the spotlight. ''Do you know anyone else he hangs around with, where I might be able to find him?'' Because yes I'm going to need to do that aren't I. Not a prospect she looked forward to. ''And I'd like to give you two my number, in case you think of anything else that could help. Is that alright?'' A rather desperate hope, especially if she is giving her digits to unknown kindred as she suspects but the ripper needs to be stopped, and she works best with information.

[Seryna]

"I have seen him drinking at the Cedar park last Friday. I saw him drinking down at Club Entropy. But those are the only places." Peter shares. "He has been wearing a new leather jacket with a stylized golden rose applique on the back."
"Yeah, we will take your number. You want us to get in contact with you if we see you, or...?" The woman inquires. "And what is your name?"
Adair looks to the man, yet he is already inching away. He has moved two feet away in the last minute. He appears very frightened. The Blood has pulled his attention to Verity and he is still processing something that is not her.
"Did you catch my name? You can call me Adair. I'll give it to Peter later. He should go." She leans in slightly. "He is having issues processing some stuff. I will see him tomorrow, though. After the big party."

"It's time for me to go. He's waiting on me. He don't like it when..." Yet he feels conflicted on sharing any more. He falls silent. Hs gaze pulled to Verity.

[Verity Carmen]

The Cedar park and ... the sodding entropy again ... how is that place involved with every problem that seems to come up? who owns it again? ''Thanks that's a good start.'' She takes a double beat stare when Peter says the next bit. ''He has been wearing a what?'' Her tone dripped ice, each a syllable a frozen note. This random stranger is stealing my thing! She does not look pleased and waves Peter quite even if he does not try to elaborate. ''No, No I got it.'' She pauses. ''Thanks.'' That bastard. I've been trying to make gold roses her thing for months now and this murderous wretch dares to do the same. A testament given by the very belt buckle she wore this night. Is it mortal pride or a flare of the beasts anger that this incompetent buffoon dare to ape her. Either way she focus very hard on listening to the only voice around, to stay in the moment.

Holding on to each word form Adair as if anyone might lead her to the dammed bastard Verity recalls she is meant to be socialising and unclenches her teeth. There is nothing I can do about it here or now, but I will. ''Yeah if you see me about by all means come have a chat. If you see him call me. My number is (gives number).'' She nods slowly when asked if she caught the names. ''Verity.'' Should she have lied? My name will undoubtedly make it back to this master they were talking about ... which is one hell of a risk but maybe one hell of an opportunity.

Eyes from the woman to the retreating man. ''Yeah I need to make a move to. Plenty to do.'' Looking between both what she suspects to be kindred not known to her. ''Keep in touch.'' Even is letting them go did turn out to be a crime or later problem she could not very well apprehend them or even keep them here if they didn't want to stay so better to leave while she is ahead, and still has her head.

[Seryna]

"It's uh, some fashion design. Custom. It would be like a biker's leathers, but this one is too pretty." His eyes have definitely taken in Verity's own attire. He makes a short nod in response to Verity's words.
"I'll have to be leaving now. Ms. Verity Good to meet you." He makes the effort of polite conversation. He leaves all matters of composure and turns and flees, running into the construction zone.
Adair watches Verity with more composure. There is a nervousness in her manner, yet she adheres to polite custom.

"My name is Adair Dacian. If you need clarification on a higher level, please feel free to contact my supervisor. He goes by the term Mr. Garreth Dacian. As he prefers mail, you can contact him at this address." A card is drawn out of a back pocket and offered to Verity.
The card has a stylized rose background and reads as follows:
Garreth Dacian, Socialite. I employ subordinates who all bear the surname Dacian and can function as my proxy. [address]
"You can reach me at 555 - 3971 if you have any further need. I should be going as well." A polite nod of deference is made towards Verity.

[Verity Carmen]

She watches Peters flight not trusting herself to utter a word, she knows what appliques are the first time she had bumped into the prince the leather jacket she had been wearing had one of a golden rose stitched to the arm. When I find this guy. Suddenly she has personal stakes in this hunt. Beyond the personal stakes of actually solving it that is.

Her head swivels back to the women this time. 'The man' has enough enough rope in the tug of war of her soul that Verity rarely truly looks like the mannequin the blood has made her but this motion is to perfect to precise to have been made by anything that used sinew and muscle in the way kine did. Stopping with the other squarely in her sights.

Only for the next in a series of fast past revelations to send her thoughts cartwheeling briefly away from pettily enforcing her claim to a logo and into free spin about the name. Dacian, as in Luke? She reaches out instinctively for the card. ''Thanks. If I need to I'll get in touch.'' Flipping it over to see both sides. ''If you can't reach me by phone.'' Where do I tell her to go? ''Ask for Verity Carmen around the clubs, someone will know how to get in touch.'' It endangered the few kine she relied on as allies in that area but it was a lot safer then her haven, and something screamed not to let on about the Nox.

She taps the number into her own phone with a nod. ''Got it. Hey.'' She stops, and looks up. ''Thanks you've been a massive help. Peter to.'' She tries for her most genuine smile. ''I'll make sure to handle this, so no one else needs to worry about how dangerous the nights are getting.'' And find out about the sudden brood of cousins that are moving into town.

She nods. ''Good to meet you Adair. Keep well.'' And Verity will turn to leave at the same time the other does. Making her way back to her minivan via a divergent route with frequent checks over shoulder and phone tightly in hand. hammering out a text.