ooc: Hahaha! Nice try!

The rest of the night you somehow manage to sleep. In spite of all that has happened you are exhausted enough to rest deeply and in the morning Marcus wakes you and informs you it will be time to go soon. The clock on the mantle says 10:17. You must have been tired indeed.

Marcus informs you that your mother is going to be tested throughout the day but that no harm will come to her and that she has been given every comfort. Then he tells you that he'll meet you when you're done getting ready and you, he and Cas can go back to where your father was.

Before long you indeed find yourselves there. The place just as empty and abandoned as it was the night before, though that was to be expected.

He'll have needed to experiment on her. Look around for notes, signs, anything. We must know what he did. Castiel instructs, already scowling as he searches himself. You notice that Marcus seems uncertain around the angel, as if not knowing what to make of him. He doesn't seem entirely comfortable with the man.

ooc: Ok, go ahead and roll search/spot please.

Jo didn't like the sound of 'testing all day', but she had to trust the Men in Letters with her, because she sure didn't know how to fix it. A Hartley's stubborn attitude would only get them so far, after all. Depending on friends was just as important.

Turning back towards Castiel, Josephine ensured she was really near him, you know... just to help him out most of all. Very specifically helping him search. Sometimes, they even seemed to grab the same thing and flip it over... whoops!

She continued to search, aiding the angel the best she could. She wasn't afraid to get hands on in her search, if necessary...



Search 10, Spot 20

Castiel seems slightly uncomfortable with your proximity sometimes, more confused than anything else. Marcus gives you a suspicious eyebrow sometimes, clearly catching onto your "methods."

Fortunately something besides Cas catches your eye. A lever. Should you pull it, the wall slides open to your surprise and as the three of you go through it you discover a room filled with bodies, all in varying states of decay. Black fluid has dried on them, emerging from their mouths, noses and eyes. Failed experiments perhaps. Cas notes. You also note several symbols carved into the walls, scrawled across pages littered on tables and even on the floor. Witchcraft. Marcus notes with distaste. Advanced witchcraft. They must have done something serious to your mother since she's actually alive.

"What would kill a normal man or woman, won't touch a Hartley!" she said with a hint of pride in her tone, even though her wavering volume made it clear she was getting more nervous by the minute,

"She's going to be alright, right Castiel?" she asked, pleading in her tone.

Castiel looks back at you with a grave face, but then his face is always grave. I can promise nothing. If she cannot control herself and we cannot cure her then something must be done. Imprisonment at best. At least until we can determine if there is a cure. Naturally that doesn't make you feel particularly happy but Marcus, with a glare at the angel, is quick to balm your fears. What a pessimist. Don't worry Miss Hartley. We have the finest minds at the men of letters. We'll sort out something. No matter what he finishes with determination. Now, I have something of an idea. Perhaps we can use you to track your father. Would you permit me a bit of your blood please? A lock of hair too.

Looking a bit downcast at Castiel's words, Josephine didn't like the next idea, even if she DID appreciate Marcus having a good attitude to cheer her up,

"Mmm mm..." she shook her head no, "The only experience I have with magic and all of that is my body being ripped to shreds, and left in a broken husk. No thanks, we can find another way." she said, her voice wavering.

It wasn't that she didn't want to help, it was that she couldn't quite come to terms with her father being alive. THAT was going to prove to be a problem... to Jo, family was EVERYTHING. Suddenly her mother is alive, but a possible demon, and her father might have returned from the dead? Somebody knew her weakness, and was abusing it was the most likely reasoning, and as much as she wanted her parents, they were likely never coming back.

Marcus looks a bit stunned at your refusal but gives a slow nod of his head. As you wish it. He is silent a long moment, wracking his mind for something else to try. Castiel sees this and turns to you bluntly. I think you should do what he asked. He clearly doesn't have any other ideas. If you want to find your father, I don't think you have much choice. He says it with his usual flatness but glances at your expression and thinks better of it. I'm sure it won't hurt. If that's what you're worried about. I'll watch him the whole time.

OOC: LOLOLOLOL I'm laughing out loud as Castiel's blunt "He clearly doesn't have any other ideas..." You've NAILED him with that, hahahahaha!

Jerking slightly at Castiel's blunt words about Marcus, Josephine's lips tried to turn up into a smile at the edges, unable to help it, but she grew more somber as he continued,

"What would you advise me to do, then, Castiel? Of course I want my father back, but my mother has come back a demon hybrid, and my father has been dead for quite some time. Somebody knows my weakness for family, and it feels like I am being exploited. Would you trust it, or would you live with the memory of your father before he 'came back' and try to come to peace with it?" she asked, searching his eyes closely,

"I WANT my family back together, Castiel, but I don't believe this is them..." she said softly, a bit ashamed at her own misgivings.

ooc: Hahaha, yay! I'm so glad! :)

Castiel listens, face calm as ever, but he does give a slight nod. You are right to be suspicious. Demons are not to be trusted. But this is about finding the demon, not your father. You must separate the two. Of course, if he were smart he would find a new host, so it could be all for nothing. Even so, it's the only course we have right now. You must steel yourself.

Meanwhile Marcus speaks up, beginning carefully. There is something else you should know. If your father is being possessed that means...he's alive. Demons don't possess the dead. That said, I cannot promise he is still alive now if the demon found another host. He bore many injuries, there's no telling what state his body is actually in, but he's been alive this whole time Josephine. I'm sure that makes this all harder but you deserve to know.

Josephine wrinkled her face a little bit, hearing that her father had been alive this whole time, and a tear snuck out of her eye. She must've gotten some dust in there, or something, because the stupid stream wouldn't slow down.

Hearing that she needed to separate the two, Josephine nodded her head, her lips pressed tightly together. She was resolved to do exactly that, even though if Castiel could read minds, her mind was definitely prepared to fail in that exact regard the second her father showed up once again.

"Then we move, and we move fast. Here is my hair..." she pulled a single strand free and handed it to Marcus, "You need to take the blood somehow..." she said, holding a hand shakily out to Cas.

Good girl Marcus says appreciatively, taking the hair. He proceeds to take out a compass of all things and place the hair inside. Cas seems unsure what to do with your hand but Marcus quietly slips him a small knife and the Angel pricks you lightly. Marcus then drips that into the compass too and after he has his proper ingredients, he goes into the corner to mutter for a while, eyes shut in concentration. It takes several minutes and Castiel seems content to wait silently for him, completely oblivious to human concepts such as awkward silence, though the air is thick with it. Should you try to make small talk it goes about as well as can be expected, which is to say it's mostly unsuccessful. The angel seems only good at talking business from what you can tell. It's both endearing and aggravating.

At last Marcus holds up the compass with satisfaction. It's not perfect, but it will have to do. What this does is shows us where your blood is. We have three points to attend. See how the hand keeps spinning and stopping? he moves close to show you and you're surprised at how nice he smells. Is that Sandalwood? He continues. There, see that? It stopped on you. Obvious enough. Then...look, look, look! See? It's south? I'm pretty sure that's your mother at headquarters. Now....there it is! West! I think your father is west!

"Ok..." Josephine says nervously, and as Castiel pricked her finger, she let him get a sample, then she gripped his hand with both of hers, refusing to let go. For some reason it comforted that horrific feeling she was having in her stomach, so she held on, knowing he'd probably be oblivious to what she was doing. Didn't matter: she was doing it to make herself feel better, so he'd deal with it.

"Now, how many people do we bring with us? We can't just go marching there, and hoping, right?"

Castiel does indeed look confused by your grip and he gently tries to squirm out of it but, seeing you are determined, he turns to Marcus. She's not letting go. Is this normal?

Marcus, rolls his eyes. It is if you have a face like yours. Just ignore it. Now, our clingy friend is right, he gives you a dry look of amusement as he continues. We can't go alone. I don't know exactly how far west we're going either, it's not that exact of a...well science isn't the word now is it? Anyway, I think we should take a dozen men or so, see what that does for us. We'll have to pack for a trip too. No way of telling how long we'll be. I assume you'll be coming with us?

Castiel looks uncertain at this request, still glancing at you as though unsure what to do about your hands. My time here is limited. My powers in the past are less than they should be and will only weaken as time goes on. But...I need to know what is going on. I will stay a little while longer, if you promise to give my hand back he adds with a frown.

Slapping Castiel softly on the cheek, Josephine looked offended,

"Look, if this relationship is going to work, you need to understand that sometimes I just need to be held so that I feel better." she said flatly, leaving it at that.

Turning towards Marcus, she wrinkled her brow and nodded,

"A dozen should be enough. I'm already ready to go." she said, even though she was full of shit. She didn't want to waste time.

Turning back to Castiel, she moved his hands to her shoulders,

"Squeeze softly to relieve pressure in my shoulders. I'm stressed, and this will help." she said, fully content telling Cas exactly how to be a human.

Blunt thing aren't you? Marcus observes with a dry look, watching the clearly confused Castiel struggle to obey. He looks confused more than anything. Uh...we really should get going... he mentions, obviously feeling like he can't move now that he's been put to work on your shoulders.

Meanwhile Marcus continues his instruction. You may be ready my dear, but the rest of us need some time. I'll have to pick some hunters. We'll have to take wagons. Trains aren't possible I'm afraid. You look like a hardy girl. You alright sleeping under the stars and roughing it with us men? Ah, but then it looks like you know how to keep men in line eh? Or is it just angels? he smirks.

Leaning into the shoulder squeezes, satisfied, Josephine opens her eyes to look at Marcus when he speaks. After a moment of thought, she shakes her head,

"All men are the same. Very direct, and I've found if you tell them exactly what you want, they are quite amazing at providing it." she shrugged, a generic male compliment, certainly, but it was true. Women who complained about men generally just didn't know how to direct them properly.

"Castiel and I can spend some time working the kinks out of my back and shoulders. You gather the hunters, and of course I can handle sleeping under the stars. I'll be ready when you are. Come find us when you're prepared, and we'll both join you." she said flatly, closing her eyes again to feel the rubs once more.





Mwahaha Castiel is my shoulder rubber servant angel now!

It takes a while to ready everything and by the time Marcus is set, it's mid-morning the next day. There are three wagons, full of men and supplies and Marcus and you sit in the front of one while Castiel sits behind, easily accessible but seemingly pleased to have time and space to think. He isn't used to the jostling of the wagon though, and you catch him saying how he preferred the impala, whatever that means. Meanwhile Marcus has you drive the wagon while he confers with the compass. Judging by how often the needle moves, it seems that your father is likely still alive, or at the very least someone is moving his corpse a lot, because the compass leads you on a steady trail west. This continues for some six days, only stopping to rest the horses as needed, for fear of losing them.

It is stiff, rear-numbing work and when at last the compass is still you are more than relieved. Eventually you reach the city of Eerie Pennsylvania, where the compass has indeed ceased. Marcus frowns. I can do a bit of experimenting with it, but this may be as close as it gets. We'll have to search the city. Hm...I hear lake eerie is supposed to be beautiful. Perhaps when all is done we can at least take a look at it. It's supposed to be very worth seeing he gives a small grin. You feel though that he is trying to take your mind off things. It won't be long before there's some kind of confrontation with your father. It likely won't be pleasant...

I think these men can camp outside of town for now. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves by bringing so many in at once. Do you think you can find accomodations for the three of us though? Try to get a good price if you can he adds, handing you several bills.

ooc: Go ahead and pick out what type of hotel you're looking for and roll diplomacy too, so we can see what kind of price you get. Let me know if you have any plans too.

Nodding, Josephine had her mind elsewhere, biting her lower lip nervously. Leaving Marcus' side immediately, she grabbed Castiel by the sleeve and dragged him along,

"Come and protect me, angel." she said bluntly knowing that with him it was best that way, "And what in Earth is impala?" she asked, a little confused on that.

With that she headed off to find cheap, ground level accommodations for them all, trying to save money but not super cheap... Decent hotels and such.


28 lol hoping that's enough

Castiel dismisses the question, realizing he said more than he ought to. He's an odd man, you're used to his enigmatic nature.

You soon find a hotel that looks to fit your needs. It is older and small, but in good shape and the owner gives you a fair price easily. Naturally you get two rooms. One for you and one for the men as it isn't decent for a woman to sleep in mixed company, at least that's what the woman at the desk is clucking away about. She goes on and on about the lake and how you really must look at how massive it is, though of course it's not so big as the other great lakes, but their's is considerably more charming. On and on and on she drones. These people seem obsessed with their wretched lake!

The city is larger than expected, and she tells you there are about 40,000 people there, which does not bode well for finding your father unfortunately.

Once the rooms are procured and Marcus comes to unload your belongings, he informs you that a search of the town is in order. We should look for hunter signs, see if anyone has set up shop here. They may be able to help us. Otherwise we could be here for weeks. Maybe they noticed something off, I don't know, it's worth a try right? Marcus sighs tiredly.

ooc: Search check please! :)
Feel free to also try gather information.

Josephine looked slightly bothered when Castiel dismissed her question, and she lifted a pointing finger at him,

"I'm going to remember that, Castiel. Stop trying to be all mysterious and sneaky with me... we're a team!" she said, glaring for a second, but he could probably tell she wasn't REALLY angry at him.

At Marcus' words, Josephine begins searching with the others, but its fairly clear that she's much better at asking people for information than she is at searching for things on her own, so she forces the Angel to go with her, once again, figuring his sharp eyesight would see things, while she could cover up his blundering in social situations.



ooc:
Search 7+1 = 8
Gather Info 12+16 = 28

By the time the search winds to an end, it's 7:48 and dark, though there are still some restaurants and bars open, which is usually where you find talkative folk anyway.

You don't see anything out of the ordinary, but you do hear tell of a reclusive man by the name of Henry Barton, who runs a small apothecary on the edge of town. He's known to sell more obscure herbs and things and from what you gather as to the rarity of these items and tales of his demeanor, he could very well be a hunter.

Marcus is still searching on the other side of town, but Cas suggests you two check out this new lead and after a bit of haggling with a cab for a fair price, you find yourselves on a deserted street, a small dark shop at the end of it. There seem to be living quarters above and there's a light in the window that makes you think someone is home. Should you knock though, no one answers. In fact, the light in the window is removed and the curtains pulled shut. Whoever this Henry is, he's not friendly.

Josephine was so sick of grumpy secretive people, but she knew her strength was her charm... Even if her ego insisted it was her intimidation that was best.

Approaching the door, she called out,

"Henry? Henry, please... please come help! You're my only hope!" she went mysterious and pleading, baiting his interest.

It takes a moment but you hear a man's gruff voice from the other side. How do you know my name? Go away! Find someone else to help ya!

"Does that matter? Please... Help me! she tried sounding desperate,

"Are there no good people in the world anymore who help each other when in need? What must I do to get you to help me save my father and mother?" she hinted, baiting him in.

There's a pause long enough that you actually think for a moment that he has gone back upstairs but at last the door opens a few inches and you see the face of a grizzled older man, none too happy to see you. I'll let you in, but your friend stays outside. I don't know either of you and I'm not about to let you outnumber me. You don't like it? Then go somewhere else.

Should you agree to his terms he grudgingly lets you inside, though you notice he is armed. Yup. This has to be a hunter. The inside of the place is actually the shop itself, his living quarters are upstairs. The shop is well arranged and stocked. Filled with bottles, creams, medicines and an entire section of more natural remedies, many of which you recognize as being used in hunting. He doesn't give you long to look around before getting to business. What's your name and what in blazes do you want?