Watchstanders: The Patrol

[Seryna]

The white van moves throughout the downtown area. The rear windows have a dark tint applied, yet Kindred are able to see some signs of movement within the van. The van stops at CJ Gas and a woman with an athletic build and caramel hair in an elaborate braid steps out. She is wearing a leather hip pouch that is outfitted, an occasional flash of glinting light shows a torch lighter, small Mag – lite and a wooden stake in a quick access pouch. She walks under the light and a heavy-set, dark-haired man approaches her.
“The Neighborhood watch coordinator has set up a few people who will be on the streets with us. We will be looking for the people you said.”


“Not people.” The woman states solemnly. “Keep the radio on.”
A group of three people step out of a nearby car and walk up to people standing outside of the nearby fast food restaurant. An iPad is held out for reference and words can be overheard, “Don’t go off with strangers,’ and ‘look out for charming people. Some con artists are in town.”
A Black man with natural hair kept two inches long pauses in the shadows near the group. Jake looks over the situation and places a text message.

[Helen Kingsley]

Neighborhood watches, eh ?

Fun stuff. Like way too often that can mean anything, really. Can be a gaggle of folks walking the sttreets with lamps and batons. Can be a bunch of people who always wanted to play cop or vigilante. Or a middle-ground dime-store variant somewhere in between. Well, only way to know at this point is to go give them a look-see. So that's what the Reeve does. She's picked together the stuffs she normally brings with her at the end of some work night, because why not.

As is, she makes her way to the location mentioned. Arriving near the scene, she locks her bicycle and walks the rest of the way, looking for her mysterious informant. Helen's dresswed in jeans, a jacket and a green Sacramento State sweater, coupled with her boots. She#s even dug out her ring, just in case.

Equipment: wallet with 100$ in cash, can of mace, burner phone, lighter, keys

[Seryna]

Jake is standing in the shadows of the gas station, CJ's Gas. He is dressed in a dark purple dress shirt so dark, it is nearly black. He is studying the restaurant with some concern as Helen locks her bike. His head looks to his side where a white van is parked. A woman with an athletic build and caramel hair is standing beside the van with the dark haired man. The two are looking over a map and occasionally glancing on the people across the street.

He walks slowly towards Helen and passes in a pool of light. As always, his Beast is obfuscated. "There are two groups. The White Van seems to be leading. One is driving in that maroon Kia." He states quietly to Helen. He uses his chin to indicate which three people are involved in the text that he sent Helen.

At the same time, two young woman show thier phone to the three members of the neighborhood watch.
"Someone did not show up in a picture?" The blonde, muscular woman asks the women. "Where was this? Could you please come with me? I would like to go see these women. It is very possible that you have done something important to protecting people here tonight."
"Yeah, sure. I want to get off the couch and do something to protect people." The dark skinned woman states.

[Helen Kingsley]

"Fun stuff."

Her expression as she shortly eyes the group doesn't fit those words, though. This shit is concerning. Like, really. "What do you make of it ? Suggestions how to go from here ?"

Not that she kinda has some sort of improv at hand, but why not see what the guy who's been here longest has to add ? Looks like some end of shift coffee is incoming...

(Blush added for bookkeeping didn't go through in the last post, I was totally sure it did...)

[Otto Schneider]

Having not had much success with gathering information for the Reeve's investigation, Otto had decided that keeping an eye and ear out for information related to the park that law enforcement had kept him out of would be the best way to find a lead. To that end, he'd decided that the occasional walk through the streets at night was the best way for him to gather information. The Priest didn't have much investigative talent, but blending in with the kine could sometimes yield insight.

On this particular night, he had been surprised to encounter a neighborhood watch. That surprise was briefly interrupted by the snarling of the Beast in his ear. While calming himself enough to not cause a scene in public, Otto rapidly scanned the area for his fellow predator and recognized the Reeve. He casually approached her before offering a quiet, indistinct greeting. "Good evening." He said simply, not immediately recognizing the other man she was speaking too. Given the public space, he opted not to address Helen by any specific name just in case she had a preferred pseudonym amongst the living.

The reference to somebody not appearing on camera caught his attention and he turned slightly to try to hear the conversation better.

Equipment

Antique Rosary, Smartphone, $400 cash

[Seryna]

"I have two thoughts. The first is that a lot of these situations tend to fizzle out, as they fall into disagreements or hiearchy arguments." Mr. Jake spoke quietly, barely audible. "However, I note soemthing concerning - the caramel haired woman from the White Van is delegating and letting that maroon Kia group approach people on thier own." He watches the group of people at the restaurant. "If they have leadership..." He trails off. His attention moves to the maroon Kia group as the two women follow the others into the Red Kia. The group seems to be looking at a Map ap for a moment in the car.

The White Van shifts into gear and circles the block. The dark haired man and caramel haired woman remain talking in front of CJ's Gas.
"I am going to go check with my group and make sure they are looking for people who look like monsters." The Dark - haired man is saying to the woman.
"Alright. I am going to go back to making the rounds downtown." She types something into her phone. The white van appears and idles in the road beside her.

[Helen Kingsley]

"Evening. Found our nice spot, I see ?" She nods as Jake speaks. "Almost like they've organized. And I don't mean the usual organized, but organized-organized. Leadership, routes, the works. You know what that calls for ? I could use some coffee. I'll be right back."

With that, she makes her way to CJs gas to see if she can get a coffee. Regardless of whether she gets one or not, she'll stop by any of the patrol folks that are still outside when she comes back out.

"What are you folks up to ? Collecting for something or some awareness campaign ?"

[Otto Schneider]

Otto's gaze followed Helen as she made for the convenience store before turning to Mr. Jake. The Priest had a hard time getting a grasp on the man, his gut told him that he and the stranger were alike, but the Beast was shockingly subdued. There were a number of possible explanations, but the Ventrue decided not to tip his hand too quickly. "Nice to meet you." Otto nodded his head in greeting. "It seems like we have a mutual acquaintance. I'm Thomas." He extended a hand towards Mr. Jake along with a pseudonym. It was nothing personal, Otto rarely used his real name outside of Court.

As soon as the Reeve came out of the gas station, his gaze started to follow her. He was just as curious about the kine, but figured that keeping to the background was the better move for the time being. A herd of prey might be willing to stand up to a solitary predator, but they might scatter if they felt too threatened. Even if they did not literally pack up and leave, putting them on alert wasn't the best plan. Instead, Otto opted to hang back and listen in, training his sense of hearing to pick up as much of the distant conversation as he could.

[Seryna]

Helen notices that the woman who has done a lot of talking this evening looks Helen over closely. Her eyes take in Helen's coffee cup and right down to Helen's attire.
"I am sure that you have noticed that our streets have become dangerous." The woman states. "A few friends and I have responded to the news of kidnappings and disappearances. We are alerting our neighbors to the danger. Do you live in the area?" The woman jerks her thumb. "I live just a few minutes up Broadway. This hits home for me."

Helen notes that the two people are looking at her. The man pulls out a pack of cigarettes from a pocket.
Otto and Mr. Jake watch as the people in the red Kia secure the map. The red Kia pulls out into the street and heads out into the night. What could these mortals be doing? What will this affect for the other Kindred and yourself?

[Helen Kingsley]

Helen shakes her head. "Kinda creepy, no ? I mean, people getting snagged. Funnily enough, there always needs to be incidents first before something happens." She shrugs, always has been that way, always will be. "I just work in these parts, with the less fortunate folks. I guess you can imagine how they feel about stuff like this. It's bad enough with the usual idiots kicking up shit, nobody needs wrongly wirde folks on top of that, makes you almost feel we're on the wrong side of the Mexican border." She scratches her chin and drinks some coffee.

"So, any tips or things to watch out for specifically, or just spreading general awareness ? I mean, you guys done this before ? You're making it look pretty efficient and organized. Pretty impressive, if you ask me. You accepting donations ?"