Innocent Lost Plot Short & Sweet

[Seryna]

Teen couple found dead at local teen hangout – byline by Kate Singer
At approximately 6 AM this morning, two teens – Alexander Lathe and Eliana Cooper were found dead in Ms. Cooper’s vehicle. Mr. Lathe is seventeen and attends Sacramento High. Ms. Cooper is seventeen and is homeschooled by her mother. The coroner has not released cause of death at this time. This reporter was told by Det. Kramer of the Sacramento Police Department that it is suspected foul play. The vehicle was parked at Cedar Grove park overhand parking lot, casually referred to among local teens as ‘the Lookout’. Look for the update to this story at Night Time News with Nancy at 10 PM at KWBG channel.
This article was the most reacted to news when you arose for the night. The local online chatter is greatly concerned, and the link has been made on if this was related to the abduction and deaths of the men a few months ago. The progression to teenaged children is causing a stir. Verity recalls the concern that Ms. Clarke had passed on about two different teenagers who were leaving town to visit a college.
Verity Carmen

OOC

This is a Short and Sweet plot, designed to be run for a shorter period of time than a proper plot. Characters involved shall investigate the plot quickly. To this end, writers involved can request that the Storyteller close a plot scene when they are ready to move to a new scene. This plot has the pre - requisite of creating and interacting with a Vampire social scene. If you wish to join Short & Sweet, post here and complete the pre - requsite.

At the beginning of May, Verity can invite new investigators to a new chapter.

[Verity Carmen]

Rolling to her feet Verity feels the pang of hunger, the beast having taken its toll to keep her moving, and its demand for more. She soothes it for the moment she feeds regularly now, much better then the times on the road and it knows this, even if the platitude does nothing to actually dull the hunger.

It's one of those nights that checking her phone turned out to be a bad idea. Well that's not good. Is it supernatural in origin? maybe not people die every day. And most were not as lucky as she was to walk away from that. But it would mean higher alerts, it would mean more scrutiny, it would mean problems for kindred.

With the number of active and competent kindred, not as high as she would like and the number with time to spare on something like this even lower Verity commits to doing something. With names of a few other kids ringing fresh in her head from a meeting not so long ago she has a choice. A fresh crime scene likely crawling with police for her to bend to her will or track down what might be the next victims before they become so.

First things first. Verity sets a phone alarm for 21:58 to remind her to check in on the news when it updates. Now Locations.

A quick scan of the readily available news article, then compared to Ms Clarkes notes quickly generates a list of places of interest.

Sacramento high -- A shady figure is known to lurk around as is a potential ally in Ms. Clark (who told me of that figure) -- With high schoolers dead the connection should not be overlooked.

Cooper house -- Talk to the family see if anyone saw anything out of place recently -- A safer option, further from harm I think.

Cedar Grove park overhand parking lot -- Bodies found here, killed here? Don't know yet. Well I can't use auspex so unless killers do return to the scene, or there are witness that need some help spilling what they know maybe not the best use of my talents.

Easton works and the local charity shop -- Places of work if I can't find Ms. Clark promising upstarts elsewhere. Don't forget about the cousin Jana, confident enough to walk the streets at night is notable at the moment, and the younger sister I didn't get a name for.

Karwin Ave, closed convenience store -- Sneaky figure that felt off goes missing here.

Other options Include the PTA group. The basketball team. The student council

Verity is not a fighter and it looks like someone is out to kill. I'm at a disadvantage. What do I do best. I work with information. Knowing means I can subvert, disrupt and manipulate. That narrows her choices down. If needed I can come forward as a witness latter to talk to the police and tell them about the stranger regardless. I'm not supposed to interfere with them anyway. Remembering the Prince's laws.

She contemplates as he gets ready: Practical boots It's been a while and She can't believe she actually misses the heel. Heavy duty trousers with extra belt on pockets and her one concession to fashion tonight. A gold rose clip belt. Her Undershirt is lacey The plan is to go more for academic preppy rocker then hardcore metalhead. the top and skirt combo has similar Prep rocker vibes. The Jacket however is one of her more heavy duty ones, she won't go without protection tonight. However the Elastic and buckle gloves Help keep the look on the softer side.

The school it is. Verity begins searching the school website in the hope of finding some kind of event on tonight that would justify her presence at a high school. Packing an old rucksack with stuff as the loading wheels sort out her searches and grabbing the key to the minivan. An act of hope perhaps that she will need the seat to ferry saved youngsters home.

Equipment

Papers handed over by Ms. Clarke on Sam and Jessica Given the info sheets
Pepper spraySmart phone + charger
Reinforced clothing (leather jacket)
Telescopic baton
Knife
x1 handcuffs
Multitool

In a tatty backpack:
X2 glowstick, civilian
X1 handcuffs
Digital recorder
x2 rolls of duct tape
Binoculars
Urban survival kit (mostly for the maps)


Minivan (gear in the boot/trunk: x1 handcuffs, x3 rolls of duct tape, x2 headset commination systems, x3 glowsticks civilian, x5 glow sticks industrial, climbing gear).

Stats

defence: 3
armour: 1/0
speed: 9
Humanity: 7

[Seryna]

The school's web page brought up a calendar on an events page. The Varsity Girl's Tennis game vs. Rosemont Prep was happening right now. There was a play The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza (One-Act) (Don Zolidis) that was starting in twenty minutes.

[Verity Carmen]

Good grief when did school get so busy, and so public!

Verity will buy whatever tickets are needed for both online or when she arrives.
Taking her Minivan Only painted black with various band logos and show dates spray painted poorly onto it. She will Drive to the school hoping she has made the right decision.

Neither Event seems like it would have either of the two students she knows of at it but the questionable figure was seen at a sporting event so she will start with the Tennis match. Just before getting out of the car she pushes false life through her body all the better in blend in with and make her make op stand out.

Then she approaches the courts.

[Seryna]

The tennis court was punctuated by spirited shouts and cheers from onlookers in the stands. There were about twenty people in each set of stands. The players were on the court, giving it thier all. The PTA was operating a snack stand. Two middle aged women were accepting bills and handing out popular candy and snacks. The lights were on over the stands and courts. Yet there were plenty of shadows around the courts.
A look around the area shows a handful of teens standing near a tall tree, speaking with one another in a boisterous way. They are showing off for one another. Performing what is expected.

Forty feet from anyone and well into the shadows, stands an old tree. Underneath it, someone who is 5'0" stands and looks over the gathered people.

[Verity Carmen]

Okay so about what I would expect. With the exception of short alone and creepy over there. Ms. Clarke mentioned the figure felt off in someway.

First things first, cover. Verity will que for snacks providing a good excuse to look around more intently as she waits, her attention is focused mostly on the lone figure under the tree trying to determine what the deal is with that one. Are they watching someone specific? Or just a wallflower on the edge of the popular crowd? She heightens her hearing to levels only kindred can achieve to try and listen in on the group of boys. He was stalking a boy after all. the cheers becoming louder as she does is an unfortunate consequence.

When it is her turn. A startling revelation. She pats down her pockets. ''Dam it.'' Forgot my wallet. ''You don't have a QR code to scan to do?'' Trying to play off the slip is because she is a modern women who does all her banking online rather then not having brought it because she doesn't need to eat.

[Seryna]

The group of teens continue to behave like teens, showing off for one another. Two of the boys are talking back and forth.
"Did you see Rachel? That dress! Ha!" A genuine laugh.
"Yeah, what was she doing!"
"It's the style." The voice is put upon, slightly annoyed. One of the teen girls observing the boys.
"Would you wear that, Kelly?"
"Oooh." Two of the boys chime in, looking to the girl for a reaction.
"You think I would?" The tone is more amused. She smiles at the speaker, appearing in a good mood.

The figure in the darkness remains still. The head is aimed at the tennis courts. The person did not move or react to the people closest to them. The figure was short of stature, yet wore a unisex long tan coat that hid thier figure. The hair was dark, jet black in this light. The skin was pale, nearly alabastor.
The PTA member did not seem overly surprised. She pulls a device from her side of the table and slides it in front of Verity. "Go ahead, dear."

[Verity Carmen]

Okay so no Sam, No Jessica over there that I can tell.

She does pull out her phone with a grateful smile. ''Fantastic.'' Scans it to buy x2 packets of MnMs or other similar candy if those are not available. ''Thanks.'' And steps out of the que having got what she was after. One packet goes into a pocket the other she opens but does not eat yet.

The complexion of the figure reminds verity all to much of her own slightly mannequin like complexion when the blush does not run false life through her body, and on the rare occasion she has scrubbed her make up off. While her attention of the figure has not roused her beast to wrath or terror she knows a handful of kindred to whom such a reaction would also be absent.

Switching the focus of her listening to the ladies who just served her she knows she moves to pretend to watch the game when in fact she she is carefully observing the lone figure for any movement be it shifting weight, the tell tale signs of breathing, blinking. Those tiny things that kindred not doing does not bother her, she does not always remember, but would stand out if looked for by someone who knows to look for them.

[Seryna]

Some Kindred could resemble corpses quite accurately, or were so removed from humanity that they forgot to pretend the acts of respiration. As Verity continues to watch the stranger, it becomes apparent that this being is not one of those. The jacket clad being shifts occasionally, stepping one foot forward or back. They glance at the tree and around themselves, apparently checking something unknown. The person moves slightly, a hand brushing a stray hair from the face. The fact of breathing cannot be confirmed due to where the being was situated and that they appeared to be making a conscious effort to remain out of full view of someone from the proper school area.
The teenagers remain self absorbed, jostling and teasing one another. To a casual observer, there does not appear to be any ill intent. The match progresses, cheers occasionally punctuating the night air from the bleachers. The shadows around the trees grow longer. The area by the parking lot becomes shadow strewn, dark pockets form behind the exterior buildings and along the parkling lot that starts to resemble a deep, black void of light.

Someone moves out of the dark parking lot, pausing just outside of the full lights of the school lighting around the courts. The person is six foot, wearing a male's light black jacket. Shoulder length light blonde hair can be seen. They stand with their back towards Verity.

Please make a Perception roll

[Verity Carmen]

Perception failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-04-08 16:59:31	Verity Carmen rolls 5 to Perception Wits 3, composure 2 (10 Again)	6, 2, 4, 6, 4	failure