"Let's get to it then," he said, moving to open the cupboard door then turning to face the watermelon. He clapped a couple of times, wondering if that would help set the watermelon coming towards him.

The melon pauses at the movement, rolling back to get a straight run at the source.

*zzzrl?* *zzzrl!*

"Try dancing!" Lazarus calls, hastening to catch up, then looks back to see the demon fruit in pursuit with alarming speed.

*zzzrl!*

"Yipe!" Harry skips awkwardly out of the way, leaving the goddamned watermelon to fruitbutt Adrian's shins.


[[vampire watermelon rolled 7 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 7. *zzrl!*. Adrian, Agility vs. 7]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:39, Thu 08 May 2014.

Adrian had spent some time in a dance hall or two, of all sorts, and so he took the suggestion Lazarus offered to heart, shuffling his legs apart hoping that the watermelon would pass right through and into the cupboard behind him.

OOC:

Agility: 8

13:41, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 7,8 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,(6+2)8.

Ignore the first roll, as good as it was. Forgot that Adrian is no longer under the effect of that buff.

The thing rolls around Adrian's ankles as he shuffles, rolling over his toes and trying to get under his feet.

*zrrl!* *zzzrl!*


[[roll Smarts or Agility as preferred to Trick it into the cupboard without ending up in there too.]]

OOC:

Agility Trick! 5

14:27, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 4,5 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,5. Agility Trick!

[[vampire watermelon rolled 8 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 8. Resist! No sell there. It's...considerably more agile than it's smart.]]

The watermelon presses itself against Adrian's leg in an effort to devour him, or something.

*ZZRRRL!*


[[vampire watermelon rolled 2 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 2. *zzrl!*.
Agility...not to crit fail. Low bar to hit, there.]]

Adrian danced back, dodging the latest roll from the watermelon, and as he did so, he had a thought. Going with the flow, he leaned back on his back foot as if teetering backwards, his front foot up in the air, hoping the draw the watermelon in towards him, but he wasn't exactly falling. "After I get out, shut the door, Lazarus!"

When it came closer he planned to jump, grab the doorframe at the top so instead of his leg, it would be tricked into moving back into the cupboard, and then swing out. First, he needed to see if he could outsmart a fruit.

OOC:

Agility to Dodge: 5
Smarts Trick! 14


14:52, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 14,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+6)14,1. Smarts Trick!
14:51, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 5,4 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4. Agility to dodge watermelon.

[[vampire watermelon rolled 3 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 3. smart melon?]]

The goddamn watermelon charges the movement, propelling itself into the back of the cupboard in a hail of bootblacking, silver polish and sundries.

*SLAM*

Mr. Lazarus dusts his hands off as muffled 'zzzrl' noises filter through the cupboard door and grins at Adrian, his spirits markedly improved by this small yet somehow intensely satisfying victory. "Well done, that man."

Adrian also felt unreasonably proud for having outsmarted the goddamn watermelon, and took a moment to catch his breath and savor the victory. "We really showed that watermelon who was boss," he said.

OOC:
Is there a chair or some object he can use to wedge the cupboard shut, or bar the handles so that it is more difficult for it to be opened from the inside?

Evans claps politely at the show. "Capital job, gentlemen!" he says. He looks at Harry Lazarus. "Mr. Lazarus, eh? Your friend Dr. Oswald Franklin was asking after you. He said the two of you had been separated. He wanted me to relay to you news of his well-being, which was decent when last I saw him, none the worse for wear after his adventures in Comanche country, from which he managed an escape."

He looks at Jake Lawrence. "Mr. Lawrence, would you kindly help me carry the wounded upstairs? I have no idea who is the more injured, so I'd like a chance to examine all the wounded before I begin treatment." He looks at Adrian. "Mr. Vega, can you find out what is keeping the rest of our party from rejoining us? I'm sure Mr. Lazarus would be happy to assist you. I'll mention the soaking of blankets to the others."

"Sure thing," Jake replied with a slight nod to Evans.

[[there are some nice heavy chairs in the dining room, though I doubt it'll get the door open any time soon.]]

"Really? Unscathed? ...and he's safe now, as much as anywhere around here's safe? I'm truly glad to hear that." He looks over at the kitchen. "I think Mr. Spades can walk, but he can be a tad uncouth."

Lazarus thinks a moment and then looks at Adrian. "Did you say buried you?"

"Unscathed as far as I could determine, though our meeting was not long. He seemed more put out by the loss of his equipment, which, given what he wound up managing to do with the damned things, may be for the best." Evans says. He gives Seven a quick once-over.

((OOC: How bad is he hurt?))

[[He's currently barricaded behind a table wedged across the kitchen doorway in a foul and paranoid mood, so you'll have to go look (and persuade him not to shoot Adrian again.) ]]

"His...? I don't see that he could cause trouble with that old stuff...unless he took a picture of the wrong person, I suppose...oh dear, does the Comanche chief think poor Oswald has stolen his soul? These savages have some odd notions about photography, I've heard."

"Raised from the dead, like Saint Lazarus, though not by God's own hand in this case, I think," he said.

"Rather more than that, I'm afraid." Evans says, nudging the door. "Excuse me, I need to move this." He says, directing his comment to the many beyond. "The creature has been neutralized for the time being, but I need to examine you so to see if you managed to escape the disease that claimed him."

While he waits for a reply, he returns the conversation to Oswald Franklin. "Apparently stealing souls was what the Comanche chieftain was after. From what I understand, the chieftain has Dr. Franklin take a picture of every brave in his camp, a picture that somehow came out in color through some sort of photographic technique. Then the shaman contacted a very dangerous aetheric entity, one that we believe lurks within an old mine near the town. We don't know what, exactly, occurred, but the braves who attacked the town had been rendered invulnerable to injury, and at the same time has lost all color in their flesh. We managed to capture the raiding party because a number of my deputies have abilities that can also tap into the aether. Have you ever read The Portrait of Dorian Gray? It's our theory that the shaman did something to mimic the effect of that tale, using the photograph your comrade produced as a focus."

"Oh." Mr. Lazarus looks at the immobilised jiangshi, then at Adrian, then makes a concerned grimace, unconsciously taking a step back. "You're not...hungry, I hope? We have eggs, I think..."

Evans soon distracts the man with worse news. "That's...that's awkward. But...does this mean that if the picture is damaged, all those Comanches will die?"

There's a cautious scraping from the kitchen.

Seeing Evans is about to be occupied, Lazarus looks to Adrian. Curiousity gets the better of him: "So...how long have you been...dead-ish? unalive? You're not pulling my leg, are you?"

Spades peers out, gun in hand. The other hand is stained more deeply with red streaks, pressed to the slashed cloth over his gut. "I've done nothin' but help here," he says warily.

"I don't know." Evans sighs. "I had hoped to consult with Dr. Ward and the other members of the Enlightened Society about the matter...but then all this happened."

He looks at Spades. "Which is why you are being moved upstairs so you can be treated, rather than me stepping aside and Letting Mr. Vega finish the job that thing started." Evans says crisply. "Also. Point of fact? If the very first words out of your mouth to a duly authorized representative of the law is 'I've done nothing,' the very first thought to cross said lawman's mind is likely to be 'what has he done, how bad is the problem, and how many people will I have to shoot before the problem stops?' I have had just about my limit of unwelcome surprises, so I suggest that, if you have in fact been nothing but helpful, then you shut up, let me get you up the stairs, and then keep out of my way until I can treat you. Do we have an understanding, Mr. Seven?"

"Jus' didn't want you arrestin' me for defending myself 'gainst unnaturals - again," Spades mutters, but will limp cautiously after Evans once the Marshal's out of the doorway. He doesn't loosen his grip on his gun, however.

James leaned against the wall and let the other jabber on. "Shall we get 'em upstairs?"

OOC: yeah I'm rarely on over the weekends.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:40, Mon 12 May 2014.

"Shut your hole and get up stairs. Only reason I didn't let that Celestial vampire do for you was that I thought it might turn you into one of it. You're lucky we have too much other shit to deal with right now to worry about murderers, or you'd be on the end of a fuckin' noose," he said to Spades.

To Lazarus he replied. "Sure ain't. Been dead just about a day, and it was him that murdered me," he said, gesturing to the departing Spades.

[[Yikes. Browbeat the Arrogant guy whilst he's wounded and make it clear the local law's on the side of the dead whilst he has a gun in his hand, why doncha...ever heard of a cornered rattlesnake?

Magic 8 ball, is he that twitchy?
21:46, Today: Alouette got the result "Yes - definitely" on the magic 8-ball. Oh boy.]]

Seven twitches. He's lost his monocle somewhere and his showman's costume is dirtied and torn, but his gaze is utterly steady. Then the fingers twitch, too: a blur of rising steel and the bone flash of pearled handle as he raises up to shoot Adrian in the chest.

*BANG!*

[[The Seven of Spades, rolled 8,1 using d10-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 9,2. shootin'. I forgot a couple of Edges there, but eh. Hit, Raise.
The Seven of Spades, rolled 13 using 3d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5,5. damage can has? 1 Wound Shaken for Adrian.]]

Lazarus jumps, eyes wide. "Don't-!"

Spades already has his gun aimed straight at Evans, breathing hard, eyes wild. "He was dead, tinhorn! Ain't voodoo keepin' him up, no...magic c'n do that, none! He talks like a live man, there is a spirit there - cain't be a soul, not if he's dead, and he is dead, I know it - that is a demon, a demon of lies pulling around that man's skin, an' the Yankee's in league with it so help me, you move and I'll shoot you." The last is snarled at Evans, who is close enough to see the sweat standing on the wounded man's forehead.

The living room door closes as Dave steps forward, armed and frowning. "The Hell's going on?"

He could have tried to get the drop on Seven earlier, but that would have made him a murderer himself. Now he was acting in self defense, and the defense of others. Even in Blackthorn, that should mean something, though maybe this was a world in which one couldn't afford to observe such niceties. Seven of Spades had gotten away with murder so far, as had William Pierce. There were reasons for that surely, but it had become a fight for survival in Blackthorn now, and they were more trying to keep the bad things at bay than upholding the law.

But Adrian was ready for this, and so he tried to brace himself for what came afterwards, though he had clearly underestimated the quickness of Spades. He pulled up his gun quickly, trying to prevent him from shooting the Marshal.

---

OOC: It was intentional. My anticipated consequences were that he'd either walk away, or that we'd be in combat and I'd get to fight him. I didn't anticipate the consequence of being shot, but somehow mechanically not being in combat.

I'll be spending a White Chip for a Soak roll. Adrian has Iron Jaw, giving him +2 to Soak rolls and Vigor d12+2:

18:32, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 6,5 using d12+4,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3. Soak.

Not enough...18:33, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. Red Chip.

Vigor: 8 overcoming Shaken and soaking 1 wound.

Then to try and interrupt him from messing with Evans

18:49, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Red Chip.
18:43, Today: Adrian Vega rolled 7,4 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,4.

Agility: 10


This message was last edited by the player at 23:57, Mon 12 May 2014.

[[*slides chip back* If you soaked the Wound, you can't be Shaken by its excess; 6 is enough.]]

The dapper Mr. Lazarus stares as Adrian just stands there and takes a bullet, then pales as the dead man raises his huge gun. "Deputy! If you aren't what he says you are, don't kill him in, um...please don't. Otherwise I'm...afraid I'm going to try and have to stop you."

"Please, we're on fire, we have a vampire in the house-" he turns to Spades, "-what're you doing? This is madness - don't you see, it's what the Serpent wants!"

Behind Adrian, the Mighty Dave steps up, ready to defend Lazarus.


[[The Seven of Spades, rolled 10,2 using d8-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of (8+3)11,3. Agility. Tie. Hm. Since there's no clear defender here, I'll say for drama's sake that the shots'll be simultaneous.]]

"Wha..." Evans says as more gunfire snaps around him. "Oh for Christ's sake!"

((OOC: 17:44, Today: The Amazing Evans rolled 2,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3. Agility. Evans can do nothing but sputter right now.))