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10:39, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Writer's Bloc.

Posted by StorytellerFor group archive 0
Storyteller
NPC, 36 posts
Thu 4 Jun 2020
at 02:09
  • msg #1

Writer's Bloc

It was more than a few hours before Liam heard anyone approach. The torpor of the day was still heavy upon him, so he couldn't do much but listen.

A woman gasped. "Shit... uhh... nice doggy?"

Liam heard Caleb stir, and trot over to the sound. The woman seemed uneasy for a moment, but Caleb was a smart dog, and didn't respond as threatened. It helped that her scent was all over Jack and Maeve.

The woman took a few steps closer. "Ugh, dolly," she muttered, and footsteps trudged slowly back up the driveway. After what seemed like an inordinate amount of time, the footsteps returned, accompanied by a loud metallic clanging.

As she hauled Liam up the driveway - a very wobbly ride - she cursed Jack for not dropping it off at the door, and remarked about being too hung over for this shit. Eventually, the sound of wheels crunching on gravel was replaced by smooth concrete.

There was the electric clatter of a powered garage door closing.

"There's no windows in here," Robyn said. "But I can't say the same for the other side of the door. I'm assuming you can let yourself out when you're... uh, ready. Just knock on the door. Gonna go throw up now. C'mon doggy, let's go watch me puke." This was followed by the sound of slippers shuffling along the concrete, and then a door opening and closing.

Not quite the welcome he was expecting.
Liam O'Farrell
player, 35 posts
Thu 4 Jun 2020
at 15:14
  • msg #2

Writer's Bloc

Will Power: 8/8
Blood Pool: 13/15
Health: Unharmed
Experience: 2




The sun bore down upon him like a weight. Liam could track its course across the heavens by the depth of his stupor, even unseen. Leaden limbs lay pinned to the earth until the last dim glow fled from the sky. At last he reached out to feel for the release. Darkness did not bother him in the least and he had no difficulty escaping his wooden prison. Climbing out of the box he smoothed down his wrinkled clothes and reached for his bag.

"Don't forget to check the fridge," he muttered to himself, looking around at his surroundings for the first time. Spying the refrigerator he made his way over and gently pulled back the door.
Storyteller
NPC, 37 posts
Thu 4 Jun 2020
at 18:46
  • msg #3

Writer's Bloc

The fridge was packed to the brim with Jack's Own. More than enough for Liam's entire tenure guarding Robyn, plus enough for bribery and trade. With Jack out of town these were soon to become hot items.

A gray cylinder stuck out among the bottles like a sore thumb. Liam recognized it immediately as a smoke grenade. Where there should have been labels regarding its contents, there was merely 'Last Resort' in handwritten sharpie.

Caleb was already aware of his master's stirring. Liam could hear him snuffling at the door.
Liam O'Farrell
player, 36 posts
Thu 4 Jun 2020
at 23:57
  • msg #4

Writer's Bloc

Liam picked up the smoke grenade and turned it over in his hand. After a moment he set it back on the refrigerator shelf, grabbed a beer and closed the door. “I hear you, Caleb,” he said. “I’m’a coming.”

A few moments later he was at the door of the house and opened it wide.

“Did you miss me?” He asked the dog.
Storyteller
NPC, 38 posts
Fri 5 Jun 2020
at 01:44
  • msg #5

Writer's Bloc

Caleb clearly had. With the added stimulation of a new house and a new person making all sorts of interesting smells, he'd clearly had a full day.

Robyn was stretched out on what appeared to be a very comfortable couch, watching what appeared to be some sort of vampire reality show on the television. She didn't get up when he emerged, but raised a hand in a half-hearted wave.

"Whatup, mister vampire?" she croaked.

[Roll Perception + Investigation, DC 5]
Liam O'Farrell
player, 37 posts
Fri 5 Jun 2020
at 02:24
  • msg #6

Writer's Bloc

Liam nodded, and raised his bottle in salutation. "You must be Robyn," he said. "I'm Liam."

He glanced at the television briefly.

"What are we watching?" he asked.

22:13, Today: Liam O'Farrell rolled 6 successes using 7d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed, Specialised system with a target of 5, rerolling 10s.  Perception + Investigation.
Storyteller
NPC, 39 posts
Fri 5 Jun 2020
at 03:07
  • msg #7

Writer's Bloc

"What We Do in the Shadows," Robyn replied, hitting pause. "It's about a bunch of misfit vampires on Staten Island. They're... a lot more pleasant than most of the real-life vampires I've met. No offense. I'm Robyn, by the way."

The woman appeared to be in her early thirties, but it was hard to tell with the bags under her eyes. Liam had seen his share of hangovers in his day, but this was a doozy. Her mousy brown hair was a tangled mess. She was wearing a baggy hoodie and well-worn track pants.

Having said his hellos, Caleb quickly hopped back up on the roomy sofa by Robyn's feet. Judging by the speed at which he settled, he'd already claimed the spot.

The main room of the house was an open-concept kitchen, dining and living area. The curtains were drawn on the large windows that covered the south wall, but Liam doubted they'd be sufficient to protect him from the sun.

Judging from the furniture and the general size and condition of the house, Liam surmised that she did all right for herself. Judging from the state of things, she was also a slob. Discarded snack wrappers and half-empty cans were on every surface. There were quite a few empty liquor bottles in the recycling.

Messiest of all was what Liam assumed was one of many writing areas. The empty silhouette of a laptop was the only clean area on the table facing the bay window. The rest was piled with stacks of notes, old indecipherable reference books, and most important of all, the Tome of the First Tribe. It was unlocked, but closed. Its secrets ready for the taking.

As Liam crossed the room, something odd caught the corner of his eye. A familiar face in a framed photo on the wall. It was Sunshine Leibowicz, erstwhile new age store owner. Liam knew her better as Ms. Mandala, one of the Third Tribe's inner circle, before she was killed. Judging from the way they were posed, the two had been close.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:22, Fri 05 June 2020.
Liam O'Farrell
player, 38 posts
Fri 5 Jun 2020
at 15:08
  • msg #8

Writer's Bloc

Liam twisted the cap off of his bottle and after a moment's consideration dropped it into the recycling bin with a *clink*. "Most of us are assholes, but I know a couple of good ones," he agreed.

He drained the neck of the bottle and glanced around the living room. Caleb had taken the other half of the sofa so Liam eased back into a stuffed armchair.

"Good is a relative term. We do have to eat."

"I see Caleb is making himself right at home," he said with an arched brow towards his ghoul.

"You can shoo him off if he's bothering you. He's pretty good with English and French, at least for a German Shepherd. His German isn't very good. I don't speak it around him very much."

Sent you a message on discord as well. Trying to sort out what Liam knows about Sunshine and what he does not. Its been a while, and it was primarily Ian's arc.
Storyteller
NPC, 40 posts
Fri 5 Jun 2020
at 16:22
  • msg #9

Writer's Bloc

"Oh, he's all right," Robyn said, forcing herself to a seated position. She winced as she did so. "He's a good nursemaid and a decent listener." She glanced at the clock. "I guess we should make a run into town to pick him up some food. Maybe some toys, too." She patted his head with her foot. "Not sure what you're gonna eat, though. Snacking on me isn't part of the deal."
Liam O'Farrell
player, 39 posts
Fri 5 Jun 2020
at 16:52
  • msg #10

Writer's Bloc

Liam glanced back at the recycling bin, beer paused halfway to his lips. “I’m not sure my liver could take it,” he said with a grin.

“Don’t worry about me. I still have some friends in town. I’ll check in with them before I go hunting. I’m sure the ‘rules’ have changed, and if I’m here to protect you I don’t want to bring any suspicion back on this house.”

“Caleb would certainly appreciate it though. He isn’t a picky eater.” He paused to take a drink.

“How have things been in the city? Can you just drop into a store to pick up food? Jack and Maeve made it sound like the whole place was locked down tight.”
This message was last edited by the player at 16:53, Fri 05 June 2020.
Storyteller
NPC, 41 posts
Fri 5 Jun 2020
at 18:17
  • msg #11

Writer's Bloc

Robyn snorted in mock laughter at Liam's comment about his liver. "Hey buddy, when you crack a world-ending mind control conspiracy, let's see how you celebrate."

She hauled herself up off the couch, and held her head. "Ugh, I gotta make some tea for the road. Gimme a few."

She stumbled her way to the kitchen area and switched on the kettle. "Jack and Maeve were right," she said in response to his other comments. "Fortunately, it means there aren't many watchdogs around to catch you when you break in and take shit. The big worry is the aerial patrols, and we already found a way around them."
Liam O'Farrell
player, 40 posts
Fri 5 Jun 2020
at 23:55
  • msg #12

Writer's Bloc

“Oh? How are you managing to do that?” Liam thought back to his prior attempt to elude the aerial patrols with Nex leading him on. It seemed like a rather harrowing way to pick up dog kibble at ten in the evening.

As Robyn made her way into the kitchen, Liam rose and circled the living room. He paused before the photo of Sunshine and leant in for a closer look.
Storyteller
NPC, 42 posts
Sat 6 Jun 2020
at 00:06
  • msg #13

Writer's Bloc

The photo appeared to have been taken at some sort of retreat. They were standing in a lush sunny field, and in the background, Liam could see various figures, scantily yet extravagantly clad, and a blurry yurt. Robyn had her arm around Sunshine, who was resting her head on Robyn's shoulder.

Robyn chuckled as she opened a cupboard. Out came various jars full of herbs, roots and mushrooms. "Well, I don't know if you know much about shapeshifting, but they're not out there fitting vultures and eagles with tiny headsets. They're up there for a whole shift, no radio, no communication. They know scheduled patrols and convoys, but that's it. If you look like you're supposed to be there, they just tune you out. That was the tricky bit."

As she spoke, she picked out small samples from the various jars, and dropped them in a large mortar. She then pulverized the concoction with a quick and practised hand.
Liam O'Farrell
player, 41 posts
Sat 6 Jun 2020
at 00:14
  • msg #14

Writer's Bloc

“I know a thing or two about shapeshifting,” Liam replies, still trying to make sense of the photo. “Is - is this some sort of wizard thing?” He asked.
Storyteller
NPC, 43 posts
Sat 6 Jun 2020
at 00:38
  • msg #15

Writer's Bloc

Robyn laughed weakly as she sprinkled the contents of the mortar into a steel tumbler, topping it with hot water. She screwed the lid on and gave it a shake. "Nah. Some mechanic work though. C'mon."

She led Liam back to the garage, past his empty crate, to a vehicle underneath a tarp. She pulled back the cover to reveal a genuine VFPD interceptor. A crumpled uniform was on the driver's seat.

"Vamps don't work the beat," Robyn said. "Are you someone they'd recognize?"
Liam O'Farrell
player, 42 posts
Sat 6 Jun 2020
at 00:47
  • msg #16

Writer's Bloc

Liam shook his head. "Not any more." He smiled. There was a time his face was plastered across Camarilla safe havens throughout the city. So he got a new one. Or rather he kept a version of his face, but older. And only a handful of kindred in the city would know him now.

"You've done this a few times before I take it?"
Storyteller
NPC, 44 posts
Sat 6 Jun 2020
at 00:55
  • msg #17

Writer's Bloc

"Yup," Robyn said. "As long as you don't use the lights, they aren't going to come putting their noses in." She took a sip of her tea and shuddered. It appeared to perk her up immediately. "And just in case, how's your German accent?" She stepped over to a tool cabinet and opened it. Liam could spy another uniform suited to a Texan with a dad bod hanging on the rack, along with a black trenchcoat and wide-brimmed hat. She was after the armband and lapel pin on said coat. Liam recognized the emblem immediately as that of the Redwatch.
Liam O'Farrell
player, 43 posts
Sat 6 Jun 2020
at 00:59
  • msg #18

Writer's Bloc

"Fließend," Liam replied. "Is that for me?"
Storyteller
NPC, 45 posts
Sat 6 Jun 2020
at 01:10
  • msg #19

Writer's Bloc

"Yeah," Robyn said. She took another sip, and shuddered a little harder. "They're basically the SS around here. It helps that most of 'em were in the actual SS. If we get caught, just pretend you're a Nazi and they've interrupted your Naziing. You'll have to do the talking, because I'm gonna pretend to zombie out. Cops are basically an armed taxi service. The crime rate is zero, so whenever they're not shipping krauts they're manufacturing the illusion of crime. I could say something topical, but you don't strike me as a news junkie."

She unzipped her hoodie and started donning the uniform.
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