(Alien Call) Predators Taint

[Victoria Stamford]

Victoria wasn't sure exactly what the self ascribed alchemist was getting at for some time. He wanted objects, but only provided vague flowery descriptions of them. It wasn't until he mentioned them being anything, and she had time to think that she realized the man could mean in an abstract way, the meaning behind the objects and the concepts they represented.

They sound like used snake oil salesmen, but they aren't exactly asking for payment, a fact which should also make me suspicious. Nothing is free, she thought darkly as her suspicions stewed.

When Alice stood up and spoke, Victoria found herself agreeing with the albino. It certainly did interest her, damn her own curiosity, and she could always slay the little bastards if they looked like they were double crossing them. Furthermore, Alice's concerns about being double dealed were also valid.

"Yes it does," she said after some time had passed. "Do we find you here when he have procured the items?"

She started to relax a little regarding the beacon given both explanations from the men. If she was understanding the process right it wasn't necessarily kindred or anything to do with them, it might be things that represent a predatory strength. She would look into this further, this city didn't have a history of beneficial relationships with science occult researcher types. They would have to be cautious.

[Yumyumcrow]

The lean alchemist looked askance at Ale and visibly flinched when the curious strange albino emerged from the shadows. If he wasn't feeling herded before, he was now. With an effort he slid his eyes to Victoria.

"Yes. We... We established a camp here. Of sorts. Especially for you..." He paused, licked his lips. "We'll be around. Ah please. Use this place as your lair. It should be safe enough if you use the back entrance. If we aren't here, use this cell. We put a contact number in it, so we can come quickly once you have the objects."

He fished in one of his pockets for a cheap cell phone and gingerly held it out.

"If there were any of the others in town, they would surely have felt the Call of the Beacon..." The hunch back shuffled on his feet, feeling his companions mounting distress also.

"Your people are rare. Rare as hen's teeth..." The lean alchemist spoke once more, his gaze now carrying a questioning weight as it roved across the three Kindred. Even Alice detected the note in his voice.

[Alessandra]

Ale couldn't believe what she was hearing, Victoria and Alice were actually curious about what this side show had to offer?! She only hoped they were playing along to find out more, because if not, then those two had deeper issues.

She wasn't going to humor these jokers by saying anything. Nor was she going on some fucking scavenger hunt. Best thing to do was to end these idiots, take whatever the fuck was in that ball of excitement and be done with it. But if Victoria and Alice decided that finding these items needed to be done, they could count this Savage out.

[Alice Hart]

There's a sick sort of satisfaction that after she reveals herself, and hears the alchemist's bodies shift in the air. She'd done what the Italian savage hadn't. Maybe it was because the other women hadn't spoke yet, these alchemists might have just be reacting to the falseness of her state, the hollow mockery of her cadence.

At least they knew, or were fairly certain that whatever monsters that these people had been baiting weren't dwelling within Sacramento. But Alice had to wonder what sort of monsters would think this fearful, frozen heart-that-wasn't was a Beacon. A positive force to light their way.

The way the alchemist spoke made Alice take notice. Maybe they were finally realizing that the kindred they'd found were not the monsters they sought to trap.

"The nights are long...and everyone get's lonely." Alice's hollow voice whispers in answer.

[Yumyumcrow]

Silence filled the gloomy space like a suffocating presence. Even the sound of a passing vehicle seemed mute and distant.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2016-11-11 15:39:46		Alchemists to know things rolls 4 to Intelligence + Occult - 2 penalty (obscurity) (10 Again)		10, 6, 8, 5, 8		3 successes

The change happened slowly before the Kindred's eyes, and while Alice couldn't see it she could sense the general attitude and how it shifted.

It began slowly: a subtle change in the lean alchemist's face as he forlornly held out the cell; a hand set that no one took up.

Disappointment developed an edge of suspicion and insecurity. The alchemist's shared a glance as the lean man retracted his hand.

And in the awkward nothingness that followed, the hunch back started staring at the little plaster on his left hand. It was a simple gesture - turning his palm to get a better look. The plaster ran down the side of his hand and had been hidden from view until this point. His lean companion saw it, too.

The alchemists shared a glance. That glance moves to Ale and to Victoria. Then to Alice, sightless, wrapped in mystery.

Pause.

They step back. They shuffle slightly to the door...

[Yumyumcrow]

le BUMP. Last calls.

[Alice Hart]

Alice hears no movement, save for the alchemists.

She had no clue why Alessandra and Victoria Stamford were as silent and still, Alice assumed that they would take the lead on this conversation, but it seemed to fall on the Blind Doll instead.

"I apologies for my companions...their shock is great." Not a lie. or at least, that's what Alice assumes. "Surly you can understand that."

They couldn't just let these people lose with no means of contacting them again. Not when they had the power, and knowledge to make this frozen heart. Whatever it was. "May I please have that cell?" Alice reaches her hand out, hopping that her open palm would be taken as something polite and nonthreatening.

...and there might be information on the cell that the alchemists tried to hide or erase that they could dig up.

[Alessandra]

Ale chuckles, watching Alice take the cell and apologize.

"Sorry, can't I'm in shock so much as see this for the bullshit it is." she was not buying what they were selling and wouldn't risk her Danse for them. What they offered screamed danger to her and she wasn't about to ignore it. "And I don't trust them or anything they offer." plain and simple and she wasn't going to sugar coat it for anyone. It wasn't how she worked.

The Savage was still on edge as she watches the Kine, not taking her eyes off them. But if Alice and Victoria wanted to go on this little magical item hunt, so be it. The Italian had other things to focus on.

[Yumyumcrow]

The yawning silence was getting oppressive.

The alchemists knew it. The Kindred knew it.

The hunch back was not-so-subtly urging his companion to make good their escape before their route was cut off by the suddenly very scary not-people.

The lean alchemist complied but in a last show of composure he handed over the cell to @Alice . He may even have tried to speak further if his friend had not the opportunity to make an exit. Without moral support, the lean alchemist gave into his unease and followed without a word.

Their footsteps rang in the night, becoming faster, heavier and more erratic. And then fading into silence.

Only a few posts over the past few weeks, so I'm bringing this scene to a close. Saber Sloth Yog-Sothoth let me know if you want to continue with this plot.

Thank you all for letting me try out a hypothetical thats been sitting at the back of my mind for years.