Penny touched Kate on the shoulder, trying to reassure her friend, her mother. 'The hellcat has other uses.' Stiffly, wound as tight as a steel spring, Penny moved to face Jo. She stood close, her face drawn and pale with fear and loathing of Belial the Unworthy. 'Jo, please, go to the kitchen and fetch the makings for tea, and scones or biscuits. She paused.  'Down the hall, turn left, up the stairs, second right, down again, third left and no further, and you'll find the kitchens.' That should get Jo out of the way. No one deserved to encounter such a monster, not least a rookie hunter.

She turned back to the object of her nightmares, and spoke in a voice cracking like ice. 'Now, while the maid prepares refreshments, let us retire to the drawing room.' Manners, courtesy, protocol, all these things could be used as a shield. One could get bogged down in such details as easily as in the mires on the moor outside.

Penny led her hated guest out into the hall and to the drawing room, a dark brown affair over-decorated with Darkmoor history. The head of a great stag glared down upon with glass eyes, seemingly resentful of its fate. Penny perched herself on a certain chair, gestured Kate to sit near her, then directed Belial to another. She was playing hostess here. More importantly, this was her house, her land, and she was in charge here, even over the Prince of Darkness. She had to tell herself that, to act it out, to maintain some control. 'I would have to check the family records to find the last time we had a prince as guest in this house, but I'm afraid I cannot say we are honoured. Let us get straight to business. I believe it is time for you to explain yourself, sir.'
This message was last edited by the player at 14:03, Tue 15 Dec 2015.

"But... I...!" as Penny continued, Josephine's eyes, filled with hatred, flicked towards Belial,

"Fine. I'll be back in a minute. Save the punching of him in the face for when I get back!" she spit, turning in a huff, and storming out, grabbing Simon on the way by the shoulder, and tugging him along (Assuming he allows her to, of course).

Once out of reach, she whispers to him (if he followed),

"They want me making biscuits with something called strich-ine, or something similar? Wanted you to bless the tea as well. Can you do that?" she asked, raising an eyebrow towards him.

Simon's eyes went large, "They want you to poison the food?" He turned  back for a moment and then continued with Josephine toward the kitchen. "I can bless the water you make the tea with, turning it into holy water, which I gather is what they want."

Raising her eyebrows, Josephine's eyes immediately turned with her lips into a smile,

"They do? Excellent!" she said, glad to do exactly that for them, "See? I knew Penny had a plan!" she said, her pace quickening now that she realized she hadn't just been thrown to the side for no good reason.

With that, she took off into the kitchen with the Father, ready to go make some food!

Penny/Kate: Belial sits with grace, the corners of his lips twitching in amusement. You know I always did prefer this age to the others I've encountered. People were so well mannered back then don't you agree Kate? He says her name with a smile, sounding as though she were an old friend other than the means to his freedom, but then he did presumably see her quite often during the last nine months. Now, what is there to explain that you don't already know? I've kept Kate in the best of care during her pregnancy and the baby even more so. You should be thanking me if anything. I even saw to it you grew up in a fine house like this one. On top of all this I have not killed your friends in spite of the havoc they are wreaking on this place. The many you call father is most displeased about that I'm sure he gives a little smirk. I have been the soul of generosity my dear. As I said, you should be thanking me.

Jo/Simon: ooc: I'll let you guys take a 20 on preparations. Since Jo works at a bar I'm sure she's handled food before too, so I'll give you that too :) While I'm thinking of it though, are you going to poison all of them or just one portion for Belial? I should probably know that before I move on. Lol, I keep thinking of Kronk in the Emperor's New Groove when he was serving the poison. Hilarious scene!

Simon nodded, "Strychnine is rat poison. It might be easier to dissolve in the tea. Blessing the water will take less time than boiling the kettle. Let me suggest scones, easier to make and we are in Britain after all." Then he shrugged, "My parents are bakers."

He thought about it, "Strychnine has a distinct smell, we need to mask it but not overtly so." He continued after a short pause, "Also we should be careful and only poison the one cup. Perhaps separate trays, serving the demon as a show of respect?"

"Alright, I don't mind, whatever we gotta do. Your call, Father." she said in reply, nodding. She'd prepared food, and certainly drinks, her entire life. Covering up the smell wouldn't even be slightly difficult for her. In fact, she delighted in doing exactly that.

"So, after he start dying, I get to punch him first. Deal?" she teased the preacher, knowing he'd probably be uncomfortable with her words. She hoped he'd understand it was just banter to pass the time as they cooked.

Kate followed Penny to the drawing room and though she kept her weapon in hand she does lower it. Clearly Penny had something in mind and attacking Belial outright was not a good idea. She'd already tried a few times during her captivity and it hadn't ended well. Now without the baby protecting her it would be a death wish.

His words were all to familiar to Kate. Many time's he'd suggested he'd been doing her a favor. And to that she responded in her usual way of crossing her arms and glaring silently. If looks could kill he would be drawing his last breath.

If a look could be said to shoot daggers, then Penny might have slain Belial outright with the force of her cold anger and hatred. 'I should thank you for growing up in a cold and loveless household? For the vile use and captivity of my friend? For stealing a child from her mother? Generosity had nothing to do with it. You sought only to bring forward the union of the two accursed bloodlines of Blaeden and Darkmoor, the forging of the key to your cage... I must say, you seem to have remarkable liberties for one supposedly bound within the Pit. It's as if you hardly need a key at all.' Penny probed. 'So what, exactly, do you need me for?'

Smiling Simon returned the quip, "Step into it, use your back and turn your hips. That is where the power comes from."

Kate/Penny: Belial seems unconcerned with Penny's accusations, merely smirking. Yes well, children never do appreciate what they have. Perhaps one day you will realize how well you had it he shrugs. As for my powers, this meatsuit I am possessing has made things considerably easier, but only a shadow of myself is free from the pit. Once you release me properly then I will obtain an actual body, flesh and blood of my own, not some borrowed puppet. his eyes gleam at the thought. Even Lucifer never will have that. Unfortunately you will be obliterated in the process and your flesh will become one of many sacrificed for my own but don't dwell on that my dear he chuckles.

Simon/Jo: As you finish up preparations Ian bursts in, gun drawn and then looks relieved upon seeing you. He looks absolutely awful, covered in blood and limping badly but he is upright at least. There you are! It's a nightmare out there! Every demon in this bloody place is after us! And you're making TEA?! he gasps.

Opening her mouth in a teasing smile, Josephine responded to Simon,

"Ooh, I like the little edge you bring, Father! Very tasteful!" she teased back, laughing at their little quips. So far everybody she'd met had turned out super nice, and she was really enjoying their company so far.

Hearing Ian burst in, Jo nearly dropped the tray with food and drinks, and only caught it by sheer luck, and a quick hand,

"Ian! Goodness, we're speaking with..." after a split second of explaining, she realized that it was ridiculous, "Well, now, we're umm, sort of having tea with a prince of hell or something like that." she swallowed, looking guilty as if she herself was behind it all or something equally silly.

Shaking his head he said, "It was penny's idea." As if that was all the explanation needed.

'I won't.' Penny answered curtly. This was interesting: was it the possessed victim himself that enabled Belial to have such liberty, or did Belial's unintended freedom merely grant him the power to seize the poor unfortunate's body? Would destroying the body then send him back to Hell? And if Belial were to have a body of his own, could he be killed outright? In any case, she would be in no position to make use of the fact, but her allies might. She gestured vaguely towards Belial's form. 'So, who is this unfortunate? Should I be welcoming him to tea too? And why, if I may ask, is his flesh not sufficient?' And what is your obsession with flesh? she wondered, scrutinising the demon prince, in appearance, manner, and reactions.


OOC: Sherlock Scan @ Belial: Investigate 20, Sense Motive 24, Spot 26
15:21, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 20,24,26 using d20+17,d20+8,d20+9. Sherlock Scan: investigate, sense motive, spot.

Penny/Kate: Belial chuckles. Oh I wouldn't be too concerned with him. He's a member of the Blaeden family, I need someone of Blaeden or Darkmoor blood in order to survive outside my prison. Hence you shall come in quite useful my dear, but you've some time left until I'm ready for you. In the meantime I think I've been quite magnanimous. I've given you quite a free reign to this point. I'm even willing to let you walk out of here right now, companions and all. I may as well let you enjoy your last few months of life.
Jo/Simon: Ian listens, eyes bulging. What!? At a time like this!? Does she know her bloody hell hound is eyeing Lily like she's a piece of mutton? Well, if I could see the bloody thing that is! And Lily is about to lose control and Cas is making a huge mess and all these wretched demons are making an even bigger one! If it's tea that she wants get it to her on the double! Tell her to control her hound while she's at it! he snaps. See if she can't get Belial to call off his men too. If she's having ruddy tea with him they  must at least be pretending to be civil. It's worth a try. Do you think she needs help? Because we could bring the whole party in to her if you like. Devil dog and all.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:29, Thu 17 Dec 2015.

Simon smirked, "You don't understand. We are making this tea with holy water and strychnine. It is a surprise for our demon friend."

Ian blinks, startled, and then a smirk crosses his bruised face. Well I sure hope it works! It will either do its job or he will be mighty riled by the time she's done with him. Maybe it's you all who need the help after all...

'Indeed?' Penny raised an eyebrow, and commented flatly 'How kind... Well, perhaps when the tea arrives, you allow me a moment to contact my allies and, ah, call off the dogs, at it were?' She could still hear the howls, and hoped Juliet was playing merry hell with the demons – the hounds so did love to tear apart their oppressors. If her companions had the fiends on the run and were slaughtering them, then Penny was content to let them, so as to thin their numbers and scatter them. Still, she hoped they were yet safe and well.

She noted the growing wear and exhaustion in Belial's Blaeden body, in comparison to when they'd first met, some ten or more subjective months ago for him, at least. Though he was well accustomed to the body, there was a pronounced lean to the right, and a tiredness in the face and eyes. He was losing control, the body decaying, but slowly. He was confident in his posture, though, a confidence borne of arrogance. 'I take it that you mean to claim me as a host, is that it? Well, you will find me ill-fitting, I assure you.'
This message was last edited by the player at 23:48, Thu 17 Dec 2015.

Trying to follow Ian's words about the hell hound, problems, and the bad stuff going on, Josephine realized that this was one of those situations, like in the bar, where it was better to look pretty and be very enthusiastic, rather than contributing anything herself,

She did exactly that, just batting her eyelashes at both of the men until they told her to get a move on, as she was quite excited about holy-poisoning a devil!

Penny/Kate: At Penny's request he gives a nod. Of course, of course, though if you make too much trouble for me you can consider your friends lives forfeit. I don't have to be this generous you know. As for you being my host, no, I'm afraid a woman's body does not suit my particular tastes. My flesh must come from either a Blaeden or Darkmoor and it will take a lot of it to create my body. You will simply be the sealing agent, binding the two bloodlines together and solidifying my new form. There won't be anything left of you, but no one would recognize your body once it has become part of mine. Don't trouble yourself there. He sounds as though he's half amused and half reassuring you at the same time.

ooc: Momentarily tea will arrive and you can react accordingly to that when the time comes in case I'm not available to post.

Jo/Simon: By now the tea is done and if Simon wishes he may accompany Jo to deliver it, or he can hang back with Ian.

Simon has no choice. Now that Josephine knows that there is a demon/devil in the other room, he doesn't exactly have much of a choice in following her back or not :P

Belial's plot was stranger and more grotesque than Penny had anticipated, and this gave her rather less options for evading. Shifting uncomfortably, disturbed to her heart and soul, Penny tried to comment in a casual manner 'I believe I've heard this before – Shelley's Frankenstein. And exactly how many bodies do you need? Would you be a Frankenstein's Monster, some ghastly homunculus, a freak-show exhibit? I really do not see the appeal.' She could hear Jo approaching with the poisoned tea; when she arrived, she could work what exactly she had planned. For now, if she could draw out more information, get Belial to reveal what he intended, then they might work out more of his scheme.

Belial chuckles. No. Nothing so simplistic as that. The flesh will be transformed perfectly. My new body will be flawless. A pity you won't be around to see it. By now Jo and Simon (unless vehemently against the idea) arrive with the tea. It looks surprisingly nice considering the rush but then Jo does work in a bar and you realize likely arranges food quite often. Belial glances at the pair with an unworried smirk and then away as though they aren't worth a second look.

'Ah, but I suppose you need me alive until that time, however?' Penny inquired, probing for some clue as to what Belial needed, and how she might foil it. 'I've noticed your demons trying not to kill me, though they are pushing their luck in trying to hurt me, I must say. I advise you order them simply to flee. After all, accidents will happen. My premature death would be quite inconvenient, wouldn't it?' Penny pushed, feeling emboldened, a cocky air overcoming her fear. She rubbed her shoulder and the bruises received from being hurled into the bookshelf, quite meaningfully.  Her importance to Belial's shocking scheme gave her some degree of safety, one she might exploit.

She noticed Jo arrive with the tea-set. 'Ah, excellent. One must always have tea, no matter the circumstance. Hold a moment.' She rose, approaching her allies, announcing 'Mister Belial has promised safe passage for all of us away from here at the conclusion of our meeting. I must, ah, call off the dogs. Where are the others?' For those who were starting to know her well, Penny was putting on her slightly larger-than-life, excessively courteous air to mask her discomfort and fear. She certainly wasn't happy to be meeting Belial, but she was trying to use this moment. For what, however, she wasn't yet certain.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:40, Wed 06 Jan 2016.

Belial makes a face at your words. Yes, I'm afraid some of my subjects are a bit...hasty. I do need you as unspoiled as possible but I cannot control the passions of underlings. Your safety would be more guaranteed if you stopped trying to interfere my dear he informs you matter of factly. That said, I suppose I have ways of dealing with the situation if you are ever harmed to excess. I would just prefer not to, so don't think yourself safe if you try to use death to escape me. I have connections you know he chuckles.

At your questions of the others he waits patiently for Jo or Simon to answer, ever the polite host.