Inoue almost certainly did not have supernatural stamina, although she did seem admirably fit for a teenage girl.

"Sounds like an exciting evening," Inoue says. She squirms nervously at the prospect of fighting the undead, but puts on a brave face. "Like, in the wild? I do not think my combat training is complete enough for that... by myself. But with you by my side I am sure we can handle anything." She tries for a confident smile.

Inoue fidgets uncomfortably. "I am glad your Watcher gave her approval," she says neutrally. She then swiftly moves on, turning excited. "Oh!"

"Well, you see," Inoue starts, gesticulating wildly. "There's a lot of spirits and ghosts and fae and kami out there who want to influence the mortal world, right? But a lot of them don't have the power to cross the boundary between the material plane and theirs. I give them that power, and they give us information and strength and abilities we would never be able to access otherwise. It's an incredible rush!" She looks down at her arms. "Oh, no, these are- well, this is from someone knocking a brazier over on me, and this is from an accident in weapons practice, and this... uh... nevermind that one!" She laughs awkwardly.

"I saw you following us a couple of times" Elissa said "Which was pretty fucking brave of you actually. It's much safer if we are together I think. The vampires... they are not messing around dangerous... I think when they rise from the dead they must get a free injection of kung fu training. You'd be safer with us"

Elissa looked distinctly uncomfortable at the direction the conversation had gone. She didn't want to have that whole 'deceit' conversation again, but even a moron would know that Inuoe hadn't got all those wounds in the way she'd described. Still now was absolutely not the time to get into a discussion on the value of honest in relationships. She'd tried that before and bombed out. She was just as uncomfortable with the discussion of how Inuoe 'did' her magic.

So the best thing was a change of topic

"We should tell you what we've found" she proferred. "We found that there is a 'boss vampire' or 'bossess' called Drusilla. We met a faerie who charms people into making them dance for her... and that dancing is adictive. We're thinking for going to the 'Talon' tonight to see if we find any vampires there ... assuming we can spot them ... and after that going back to the cemetary where we found the faerie and we killed two minion vampires. To see what is happening... does the faeire come back? Does Drusilla send some more minions to find out what happened"

"Do you want to come along?"

"Do you know anything about those things: Drusilla and the Fae? At least the Fae might make a difference from all of the hanging around in cemeteries that Elissa and I've been doing. Though it sounds like you've not been up against one of the fanged ones mano a mano. I'm more worried about the mosh pit at the Hurricane that Elissa keeps threatening to take me to. From what she's said, it sounds more dangerous then a pit of vipers."

With nobody in sight, she performed a forwards flip, landing effortlessly and continuing to jog.

"I love that I can do that shit now."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:40, Fri 18 Feb 2022.

I saw you following us a couple of times. "Oh, drat. I was trying to be unintrusive; I hope I did not make you uncomfortable." ... must get a free injection of kung fu training. "Well yeah! They are demons, violence comes as naturally to them as breathing does to us."

Inoue listens patently as Elissa lays out what is known, humming thoughtfully to herself in places. Ann immediately follows up, picking up with the questioning where Elissa leaves off. Inoue hums once more. "Drusilla... Dru~sil~la... ah, I would have to check my books to be sure, but I vaguely recall a mad vampire seeress by that name. My sisters are intensely interested in all things oracular."

Inoue laughs softly and claps for Ann as she shows off her physical Slayer prowess. So cool! Inoue would need the help of a possessing spirit to do that half as cleanly and she'd still be nursing some pulled muscles the morning after.

"As for fae..." Inoue continues, "best as I know, fae are responsible in their own esoteric manner for keeping the magic of the physical universe charged. They embody natural or philosophical concepts from whence they literally derive sustenance. They don't really think like humans because of that... or demons, or spirits, or anything else for that matter. So we cannot just walk up and punch your dancing fae in the face; we need to figure out why she is doing what she is doing and help her stop. Something could be making her sick, manifesting as a... eating disorder, metaphorically speaking!" She hums uncertainly. "Well... usually, at least. There's exceptions."

"Talon... Is that the club I occasionally hear about in the halls?" She winces a little. "Loud music, carousing... sounds like a difficult place to center myself. What is a mosh? Whatever it is, I am sure it has more to fear from you than the other way around!"

"Actually it was pretty impressive" Elissa replied "It said you were serious about helping, and were willing to take risks. Really quite serious risks." there were other interpretations too ... like maybe Inuoe was a bad girl... but Elissa didn't read Inuoe that way.

"A seeress... that's scary. I guess that means 'has visions' or is it more 'can see the future'. And if she can see the future can we change it? I've heard the Watchers" Elissa didn't mention Alice by name "talk about Prophecy in some sort of awed tones"

It was interesting Inoue's reading of the Fae. Elissa had only the tales of Shakespeare to draw on, and they didn't talk about those sort of topics. "Are you up for coming to see her then? After the Taboo. Oh.. a Mosh pit is ... it has to be seen and experienced. It's more scary than going to see the Fae I think. You can come if you want.. What about it Ann? There's a Mosh this weekend. Fancy getting your Bother Boots on doing some stomping?"

... and were willing to take risks. "I would lay down my life for my sacred duties!" Inoue declares without a moment's hesitation, brimming with pride. Any Deenelmaite sister would do the same!

"Visionaries, prophets, seers, oracles... it is a muddled mess," Inoue says breezily, "and they're not all made equal. I am sometimes bestowed with visions by the spirits with which I commune, but they cannot tell me anything they themselves do not know."

Inoue frowns a little at all this talk of clubbing and moshing and- "Bother Boots?" she mutters. "Ah- yes! Yes, I would love to meet this fae dancer that has been giving you trouble. As for the Taboo- wait, is it Taboo or Talon?- I suppose I could... try it... once?" She winces, feeling like she should not have agreed to this. But she must learn the enemy and their habitats.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:03, Fri 25 Feb 2022.

Ann was happy to see that Inoue and Elissa seemed to be getting along this time. Though talk of a mad vampire seeress wasn't exactly comforting.

"I've not heard of a club called the Talon. Maybe you two are thinking of the Taboo? Perhaps you should try it Inoue; I've had many a fun night there. Let the loud music and carousing take you over. Perhaps being centred all the time isn't good for you."

As to Elissa's comment, she replied, "I'm not going to wear Bovver Boots. There are some fashions I refuse as a conscientious objector. But I am up for giving the Hurricane a try this weekend. Assuming the Fae or vampires don't kill us in the meantime."

"But let's worry about tonight first. Slaying and a movie. Sounds like a fun night."

"It's proper name is Taboo, but I've taken to calling it the Talen just as a poorly translating pun. Partly because I miscalled it the first time I mentioned it: I'm new to the area you see" Elissa explained. "Which doesn't help with making things clear... sorry. Don't worry the music isn't totally terrible. At least it's loud enough and we get to dance. There's even some nice eye candy: buff guys and hot girls"

This message was last edited by the player at 19:36, Fri 25 Feb 2022.

"The Tablon," Inoue tries as a compromise between the two, "dancing, buff girls and hot guys, and a hunt this evening it is! I can hardly wait. Thank you for having me."

The trio jog, and skip, and flip for a while until they happen upon the Piece. Inoue had not yet been in this part of town so it was the first time she had seen the enormous cast-iron street light. It was... significant, in a way she could not adequately place. "Hey... what's that?" Inoue questions her exercise partners, unwittingly gravitating towards it like a moth.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:00, Tue 08 Mar 2022.

"It's a lamp post..." Elissa said stating the obvious. But also indicating that she was listeing to whatever Inuoe said about it. She looked at it herself, but it looked remarkably just like a lamp post. If a little ugly

Ann looked at the lamppost. It had always been there, and she'd never paid it any attention.

"Just an ordinary lamppost, if a bit funny looking. What does that say on it? Reality Checkpoint."

She tapped it.

"Iron. That's interesting. Iron is a weapon against the Fae. I wonder if it is more than it seems."

"Do you know about the Iron Ward Inuoe?" Elissa asked thinking on what Ann had said. "A few nights ago Ann and I were on patrol and we saw our first vampire. At that time a fey on a flying horse tried to get into Cambridge. He was stopped by an iron gate that appeared in front of him. Ann's watcher implied it might be some sort of long lasting spell maintained by the watchers. This is Iron... and you are feeling funny about it... Could it be related?"

It's a lamp post... "Then why does it feel so... so... jindai?"

"Iron ward..." Inoue hums. "I am more of an expert in letting things in (under controlled circumstances of course!) than keeping them out, but, hmmm..." She strokes her chin thoughtfully. "Elissa, remember the night we met? Afterward, I channeled a local spirit into myself. We danced throughout the city, and made a point to touch some kind of iron ward to prove that we were not fae. Let me think..." She tries to recall anything she could from her romp with Herne; it was difficult, as she was trying to remember things from a conjoined memory that she was now only half of, but maybe she had been left with something...

As she racks her brain Inoue puts her hand on the self-titled Reality Checkpoint, intently focusing.

As Inoue puts her hand on the Reality Checkpoint...

Elissa watched Inoue carefully. She was doing the same kind of checking that Elissa would do if she was seeing what was in a carefully wrapped Christmas present. Perhaps using 'mystical senses'... something the Elissa would have sneered at a little while ago: before she saw a man on a flying horse.

"Anything?" she asked after waiting a while

Inoue's eyelids flutter. "Eeee-to..." She looks around, eyes unfocused, looking much like the day they had first met but perhaps a little less giggly. "It is... hard to describe. It is as if two realities intersect at this point..."

She shuts her eyes tight and takes a deep breath, and when they open again she seems to be firmly back in reality. She smiles to Elissa. "I want to come back later with my gohei," she says. "Would you like to see what I saw? It is weird and cool!"

"Ahh..." Elissa looked panicked for a moment "Is that a magic thing? Like a spell casting. I think... I think I'm not yet set up to look at that. Like what if what is there looks back at me? I think... I think I have more respect for you Inoue that you will do this, but I don't really want to see it. Colour me old fashioned... What about you Ann? Are you up for it?"

The fog is beginning to dissipate somewhat as the sun comes out.

Ann ran her hand over the lamp post again, drawing comfort from how solid it felt.

"I should really check with my Watcher."

She looked guiltily over her shoulder as though making sure that Alice wasn't keeping an eye on her.

"But I suppose it can't hurt to check it out. Especially if it looks trippy."

Inoue cocks her head at Elissa, grinning. "Are you nervous~?!" she teases. "I never thought I would see you nervous about anything. I am glad you respect me though!"

"Okay, Ann!" Inoue says, clapping her hands excitedly. "How about tonight, just after we visit the Tal- the Tab...lon. The Tablon! Hehehe."

"Let Ann see" Elissa suggested. "I have to admit it feels a little funny. Almost like two places in one. Not really sure how to describe it." she held two fists and bumped them together "Sort of bumping into each other like this."

"OK, let's have a look after the Taboo. I imagine that doing it at night will make it scarier."

She stood back, eyeing the lamp post.

"For now, one more lap of Parker's Piece at a fast pace?"

Inoue nods. "Yeah, sure!"

(OOC: I'm tapped for scene content now! Ready to call it finished if ya'll are, though we'll probably be returning to this shortly!)

If you're all agreed, I think Inoue's right

Yes, Ann is done in this thread for now.