In Stitches Infinite wisdom about such things, he gave the opinion that they should approach and get themselves insinuated after dark.  Because that's when the things really happen, isn't it?

Samantha used her contacts to put them in touch with the SPD officer in charge of the surveillance of the Hells Angels operation.     Mike McConnel was a gruff bear of a man in his mid to late fifties, heavy-set but thick with muscle as well as fat.  His clothing looked rumpled and unkempt. He had a shaved head and a small grey goatee and wore gold-rimmed spectacles that seemed a size too small for his face.  But his eyes--as rumpled as he may have looked, it was clear that this was a career detective with a very strong attention to detail.

They'd met in Nexus Coffee Shop, well away from the hotels.  And Mike laid things out for them.

"Look," He said, "You've got some string-pullers.  I gotcha.  But we've been watching these jokers for three years, building the case.  We know the players and the more we gather, the more we stand to make a big impact.  My Captain says you've got the specs to do this, so all right.  But let's be clear.  You fuck this up for us, and it won't end well for anyone.

You're going in to watch, to look for signs of Exalt, am-I-right?  So, the guy we've got at the top of the dogpile is Maurice Dupennier.  He's a pledge, not even a patch.  And that's a part of what makes him more dangerous.  The pledges feel they got something to prove, want to get themselves seen.

Your guy, Semenov.  He's a new angel in this.  Russian Mob.  They don't normally play with the Angels.  We're thinking he was a courier.  But his takedown on Exalt charges makes us think this is a changing ballgame.  So, you want our backing on this, we want you to share what you find. 


--
OOC: Now, just to be absolutely clear...  In this world, where you are the hero, we pay lip service to such repercussions.  You don't leave a man behind, you may break the law, go against policy, etc. etc... but rescuing the victim or doing damage to the bad guys will, of course, make it all justifiable.  And while there may be threats of court injunctions and all sorts of other real-world crap, it's fluff.  I've no interest in playing that out!
This message was last edited by the player at 06:06, Tue 10 May 2022.

"Oh, trust me, we've got something these guys'll want. " Stitches smirked.  "See, they want the beauty in the area to draw the john..  But these two..."  Stitches indicated both Angel and Cythi, "they've got a lot more going on than the pretty.  And that's what'll get them by.  Brains and Skill, my friend.  Brains and Skill."

"Still, we understand." Stitches went serious.  "We want to work with you.  So, what do you need?"
This message was last updated by the GM at 06:18, Tue 10 May 2022.

McConnel grunted.  "Better hope so."

After a moment, he let out a big sigh. "What we need is ears on the inside.
 We've got outside eyes and ears, but they sweep the penthouses regularly.  We've placed a few bugs, but they haven't lasted long.  We can kit you out or you can provide a frequency, it doesn't matter.  We don't expect it to last long.

"As it happens, The Arctic Club is hosting a black tie party tonight for the Wrecked Energy Drink promotions team.  It's a gimmick and a networking thing.  But you know DuPennier is going to be there.  So... if you're up for a little high glamour?  We can probably get you in."

"Now, what do you need from me?"

--
So... How do you wanna approach this?  I've got plans, but wanna have McConnel give you whatever you might want or need before whatever happens happens and you can go do the hero thing!
This message was last edited by the player at 06:17, Tue 10 May 2022.

Cythi listens in and wonders if she might have been better off going to one of the other quests but decides in the end to leave it.  "It sounds like we have to go in as higher end girls of sorts or at least dressed up a bit."  She says realizing that sounds silly.  "What I am saying is definitely if you need us to do ourselves up a bit I am definitely willing to do so.  Although if they needed extra staff I may be better suited to that.  I am told that I make a good coffee barista and probably why I got good tips.  I think that works for cocktail waitress.  But then again it probably also works for just a girl in a club...."  At which point she looks at Gagamba hoping for a rescue.

The hair hanging over Gagamba's face hid any emotions she may feel as Stitch talked up their amazing abilities. She was pretty good at hitting things, but infiltrating a high class gathering? When Cythi looked at her, she had to resist the urge to say, "Don't look at me! I've never even been inside a club like this!" But that's not what McConnel wanted to hear. At least she knew her way around surveillance devices.

"We can plant your bugs where they might do some good." She said, in the spooky voice that she used to scare bad guys. "And maybe convince the right people to say the wrong things for you."

Stitches nodded in agreement to the ladies. “We got some room in the slush fund to get you ladies appropriate outfits with makeup and hair for the night if needed. Got to look the part after all right? I can also show up as one your dashing husbands. I have experience with these types of settings, and can guide you along the subtleties. My winning charm and ability to size people up may come in handy as well. Cythi can be our personal assistant fetching things for us which gives her reason to move about. The question is whether this is an invitation only event.”

"I remember Sammie before her shit went sideways.  She was a good cop.  Knew which side of the line to play things.  It ain't a skill you pick up easily or ever forget." McConnel said.  "I won't stop you from dressing up if that's the route you wanna go.  Way I see it, there are three avenues into that party.


We can probably get you an invite.  Media pass won't be hard to come by.  There's probably gotta be a casting call for Wrecked Girls eye-candy.  But I can tell you for certain that the Arctic Club wouldn't bat an eye for a couple of extra banquets staffers showing up."

"I recommend for me to go banquet staffer as while I am not sure I can do the eye candy as I am probably too young for it....I can likely pull off being a banquette person of sorts.  If you think it is better we go another route I will defer to suggestions."  Cythi says.  She does this as she is young.....sure she is attractive and even she can not doubt that.  But she also as undereducated as she is realizes she does not have the couth to play the higher class and might show too much discomfort to be eye-candy.  But then again whose to say as she has never tried.

(OOC - For metadata if not read on character sheet Cythi does have attractive*2. Seh is just over this side of 18

Angel looked at Stitch from beneath the locks covering her face. "Sure, I'll be your arm candy." She said. "Just remember," she added, "That's arm candy, not hand candy."

Stitches held up his hands defensively at Angel. “Okay okay. I get it. I do ask you don’t break any other guy’s arm if they make a pass. Let me try to diffuse the situation first. If I snap my fingers, it means they won’t listen and force may be necessary.”

He looked at Cythi with concern on his face. “You don’t know how they treat their female staff. You are nothing but pieces of meat to them that they can take free range whenever they want. I would feel more comfortable if you were part of the press or our entourage.”

"If it will work better then I will be part of your entourage and even if you really want I can play the arm candy.  But if an assistant is available I think I would feel that I could more fulfill that role then others.  But if Gangamba can help so I don't make a total fool of myself that would be wonderful."  She waits to see what the preference is.

"Thank you for the concern as well Stitches."  She says genuinely grateful and a bit surprised.

True to McConnell's word, arranging for them to be on the guest list was almost laughably simple.

BY the time they arrived, the party was apparently in full-swing.   There was a guest list. Supposedly.  But the entire affair seemed more like it was being run by a bunch of frat boys who'd already been dipping into the sauce.

The hotel itself was old-school high class, decorated in understated tans and golds.   The walls and pillars in the front lobby were decorated with framed photographs and artists drawings of many of the original pioneers who'd stayed or frequented the Arctic Club in it's original incarnation.

And though the staff kept an impeccable approach, you could hear the party from the lobby.

By the time they arrived upstairs, there were maybe two-hundred people or so there, and the room felt like it was maybe half full.   It had an enormous glass-paned ceiling above decorated with frescos at every turn, that gave the place the feeling of expansiveness.

A small dias was set up at the far end of the room, and a smattering of tables were aligned in a semi-circle around an open area that would, presumably, become a dance-floor.   A small bar had been set up on either side of the dance=-floor, and there were already clusters of people around each.

A woman was on stage, singing a rather raucous version of "Uptown Funk" to a quality karaoke.  She had to be a ringer: a tall, stunning black woman dressed like a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader without the actual logos.

Everyone was dressed up.  Suits and gowns were the norm, though every now and again a full-blown tuxedo or designer gown was visible.  Some of the local celebrities were there, too.  Not the least of which was tech giant Maximillian Mars and his companion Elyssa Von Voom.  He was standing back with an untouched drink in a martini-glass, while she spoke amiably with a couple of blonde girls in matching black sequined dresses.

Nobody even batted an eye at Angel and Cythi's presence.  If they felt like they were underage (they weren't), there were enough blonde bimbos in the room who looked like they were closer to fifteen than nineteen.


Just setting the scene proper.  Will move things along once you
The room itself:
https://www.hilton.com/im/en/S...p;rw=1214&rh=683

Cythi is not sure if she is thankful or not on what she sees here but one thing for certain is she felt uncomfortable as heck.  But now was the time to fake it until you make it which includes putting on a winning smile.

She would have begged not to be dressed as Arm Candy but in the end would have let it happen but only so much as wearing a fancy dress as she never wears makeup.  Still she has her natural glow which is likely enough.  At least in her mind.  But as stated she has her smile and even likely appears as air headed as she tries to focus on what she needs which is not to stick out.  And that seems like the bimbo way she saw is best and if it works she may see things that need to be seen.

"I have my eyes open!" She says to the other two if they can hear her.

It didn't take too long to get a certain amount of attention.   The hall, for all that it was opulent and redolent of a bygone era, carried the miasma of a predatory swamp in it's core.  Something to do with the people, no doubt.  This was, after all, a glorified night club.

Wrecked Energy drink targeted the young adult demographic--those who wanted to be seen as "extreme" and exciting.  The drink, locally bottled--was known for it's over-the-top commercial segments with the tagline "Get Wrecked!"  They were overt and obvious in that they were selling the fantasy of the unassailable protagonist, someone beyond mere mundane laws.

One of the hotel wait-staff came up to the three of them with a tray of hors d'oeuvres.  Stitches took one dainty little salmon sushi thing, and popped it in his mouth.  Then he froze for a moment.

Stitches watched one of the far walls with narrowed eyes.  then frowned. "Girls,  I'll be right back.  There's someone I need a word with."

And he walked across the room, through the crowd, and loomed up in front of one of the wait-staff, a short, powerfully-built man with a shaved head and a clipped brown moustache.   Stitches was clenching and unclenching his fists, as if he was withholding a lot of repressed anger.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:13, Sun 05 June 2022.

And at that moment, someone  else came out of the crowd.

"Well, they'll let just about anybody in here, won't they?"  A woman's voice, low and thick, with the unerring blade of personal insult.

She came from behind them, a young woman in a black spandex dress that left almost nothing to the imagination.  She wore heels that made her taller, but she still only reached maybe five foot six.  There was barely an ounce of body-fat on her and she showed it off with casual pride.   Her features were elegant an, with a strong jawline leading to ears bedecked with rows of chains across multiple piercings.  She had dark eyes above delicately contoured cheekbones.  She didn't wear much makeup--she didn't need to.  Her hair was drawn back from her face by a simple black band angled such that one single gem lay at the bottom of her pronounced widow's peak.

If Angel hadn't heard the voice, she might not have recognized Portia, so out-of-character was Portia's style of dress.  But she did, and she did.  And the temperature in the room felt like it dropped by ten degrees in an instant.

Portia stepped in front and glanced at Stitches across the room.  "Sugar daddy?"  She said with an arched eyebrow, the taunt obvious. "Really?"

--
Gagamba;  Introduction of Portia for the scene/encounter.  No idea how it'll play out, but it's your complication, so you get a hero-point for it. 

Cythi at this point steps back and slightly behind Gagamba being not sure what to make and this person.  She is tempted to jump in defense and speak her mind but two problems.  One being she was too timid to do so at this point and this lady had way more courage....I mean look how she was dressed.  Still if she could muster the courage the other problem is that this would not be her area and likely she would make things way worse.

"Oh, don't worry." the woman said with a light laugh as she glanced over at Cythi.  "We're old old friends.  I'm just envious that Angel is in such fine company. "

She smiled and it was like the room lit up. "I'm Portia Reyes  I'm in marketing.  And you are?"

(OOC - Just realized I don't think I gave Cythi a last name so will go with Summers.)

Poking out from the back, "I am called Cythi..."  She realizes last minute likely this was not the place to give her real name.  "I am a barista at a café." In her own way she answers honestly.  She stays back hoping Gagamba will give some clarity.  For a moment she actually thought that she should give a made up name but realizes if Gagamba is known then it might be pointless.

"Well hello, Cythi." Portia nodded amiably.  "Are you... " she raised an eyebrow comically, and leaned in just a little, "Are you hoping to become a Corn Star?"

--
Wrecked Energy Drink has  a handful of flavours and one of it's tag lines is "Twice the sugar, three times the caffeine!"  It also sometimes advertises that it uses "Extreme Fructose Corn Syrul" in it's ingredients.  Definitely not for the faint of heart.  And, from that corn syrup tagline, the "Wrecked Corn Stars" were born...  Basically booth-babes who walk around in various costumes with the Wrecked brand all over them.  Wrecked trades mercilessly on innuendo as part of it's marketing strategy.  Primarily pointed to youth and twenty-somethings.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:37, Fri 17 June 2022.

Cythi shrugs back mainly as noise and mistaken what was heard, "No my parents did way to much for me to be a porn..."  She stops as the words enter her brain and process completed.  "Did you say Corn Star?  What is that?"  Now her face looks utterly confused.  "I doubt they would want me anyway."

Portia laughed, a genuine throaty laugh that seemed unabashed and unconcerned about anyone outside of their immediate presence.

"Wrecked's marketing strategy.  Send a bunch of cute girls out to all sort of events, sporting events, conventions, pacific raceway.  Dress them up in bright colors and give away free products.

Men are peacocks, drawn to the bright colors and the hope-beyond-hope that these pretty girls will give them the barest sliver of their time.   Everything men do is about convincing themselves that they're worthy.  And if they come to believe that an energy drink will--"  she made little air quotes "get it done!, then who are we to deny them?"

She took a step back and nodded, "You could do it.  The Corn Stars are a little over-ripe at the moment.  A dose of cute Midwest-style innocence would draw the shier boys. "

Portia opened a little clutch that matched the colors of her dress perfectly.  She fished out a business card and handed it to Cythi.  "If you talk to a recruiter, mention my name.  It'll either get you in or scare them off, depending on what you want to do with it."



--
The irony here is that before I posted, I must've deleted the other two options she'd presented...  ("Are you a vendor, with the media or...")  I suppose it's a little funnier if she cut right to the naughty bits...

Her eyes wide eyed and doe like blink for a second letting everything sink in.  Also remembering not to react on impulse and let it all sink in.  Even though there is no way in heck she would actually do it it may be a matter of an infiltration later.  So for that reason alone she nods,

"If you think I could do it I might be interested..."  She says even as she takes the business card.  She hopes that ends it and this other intimidating lady leaves them but also looks back at Gagamba hoping she interjects soon.

"Check. check.  Is this thing on?"

A woman's voice.

Some feedback, then the volume on the microphone was normalized.

"Hello all you lovely people!"  The woman who stood on the little raised dias was a whale of a woman, Perhaps six feet and change, she must have weighed near three-hunderd pounds.  She had a pear-shaped figure that was all hips and little else, making her head seem almost comically small.  She had long long black hair that seemed to eat up the light.  Obviously a bad dye-job.  She wore a shining silver thing that looked like it should have been a dress but seemed more like a full-on mumu, as if a mumu were designed by Chanel.

Portia turned to toward the stage, her hand visibly tightening on the little stem of the wine-glass she'd been carrying.

"Rebecca Wrecht."  she said.

"Well, you've all done it." Wrecht said, "You really did it.  I said you wouldn't be able to pull it off, but you managed to put Wrecked Energy Drinks on the bloody map!"

"We got the second-quarter figures back from Atomic Apple's launch and we've sold over two million units!  Wooohoo!"  Wrecht gushed.

A very drunk blonde lady stumbled in front of Cythi's view, giggling inanely.  She stopped for a moment, smoothed her own glittery dress, and smiled over at Cythi.  Her eyes were vacuous and distant.

Cythi, please roll perception: DC12.  I wana see if she keys into something...

Cythi still feeling like a fish out of water keeps it all in stride as she stays where she is while keeping her eyes open for things going on notes this Portia's persons reaction but having no context decides that hopefully she won't need to find out.  But that will depend on Gagambia.

Stll spotting the very drunk blonde lady does illicit some reaction as that could be someone in trouble and that is where she starts to move forward.

Perception - 14

(OOC -
07:07, Today: Cythi rolled 14 using 1d20+1.  oh right perception...one of her worst.)

Because  it's been a while...

There are (now) four of you at the Promo Party to celebrate the release of the Wrecked Energy Drink's new flavor ("Papa Cherry").

You're looking to see if there's anything related to Exalt (the drug that is able to trigger super-powers in some people--albeit temporarily) going on in the Arctic Club.  This isn't a take 'em down mission, it's an observe-and-report mission.

The promo party just happens to be at the Arctic Club where a known low-level courier with the Russian Mob has been seen, recently, possibly consorting with the Hell's Angels who are believed to be running a prostition ring out of the penthouse suites.   There is a surveillance operation underway, and the hotel is aware of it.  So, basically, this party should be like a magnet for the Hells Angels.

You have a side-objective, which is--if possible--to get a couple of surveillance mics into the Penthouse suites where the Hells Angels are alleged to do their thing.   Key figures to watch for are Andrei Semenov, the Russian Mafiya courier.

Portia, another stunning Filipino woman, with ties to Gagamba has just showed up, and is apparently with the Wrecked Energy Drink marketing team.

Oh... and there are a lot of bubble-butted bimbo blondes at this event....  Not sure if that's related or not.

Cameron entered the club with the others, walking at the back.  As soon as she entered the ball room, she put on her game face and focused on what needed to be done. When she put on her game face, the usual look of being lost disappeared to be replaced with one of confidence and focus. She was wearing a split thigh backless halter dress with wearing 7 inch stiletto heeled platform sandals pushing her over 6 feet of height.  She let her long, straight auburn hair hang down her back and over her shoulders. Her dress clung to her toned body like a second skin and if it wasn't for all the practicing in leotards, she might have been self-conscious but because of her gymnast training, she knew how to pull off confident and ignore whatever discomfiture she might be feeling.

Despite her 7 inch stiletto heels, she glided across the floor with perfect balance as she separated from the others to spread out and search more of the room.  She was a professional level gymnast, she was trained to balance and walk on her the balls of her feet. Of course she was also cheating a little bit and using her flight powers to hover herself just enough to essentially reduce her weight in half so there wasn't as much pressure on her feet as she walked around on the balls of her feet. She was pulling on all her lessons on how to present herself to the judges as she walked through the crowd, appearing utterly confident in what she was doing.

She was moving toward the sexy blondes with the idea that Dupennier and Semenov would be close to them.  She momentarily paused when the woman got on stage and started speaking.  She was surprised that the woman was obviously appearing as less sophisticated as the rest of the attendees.  She was obviously someone important to Wrecked Energy Drinks and probably high up as most people started to pay attention to what she was saying.  Cameron had stopped right next to the Wrecked Girls as she looked around for their targets.

(OOC: 20:55, Today: Ace rolled 10 using 1d20+7.  Ace looking for Dupennier and Semenov.)

Ace:
Neither Dupennier nor Semenov seemed immediately visible, but her placement allows Ace to hear a part of the "discussion" Stitches was having with  a short, powerfully-built man with a shaved head and a clipped brown moustache.

"No, the bottom line is that you owe me." Stitches said, his voice a low, menacing drawl. "And just because you left the company doesn't free you from personal debts.  So, you get me the god-damned list, or I will make your current employment very very uncomfortable."

The shorter man didn't seem particularly cowed by Stitches threats.  He glanced momentarily at the door to the back-of-house and took a deeper breath.  "You know it didn't work, right?   You left, and I didn't get the spot."

"That's on you Lenny." Stitches said.  "I moved mountains to get you an interview.  It's not on me if you couldn't make it happen.  I got you your chance.  You blew it--not me."

Lenny shook his head, but held up his hand. "Okay, fine.  Jesus.  I do this, will you shut up about it? I coulda done anything if I'da meta on my roster."


And back where Cythi was, it occurred to Ace that the woman she was talking to was scanning the room like a predator of some sort.  And Gagamba--Angel--just stood there, slack-jawed and disengaged.  Like utterly disengaged.  Sightlessly staring off into space, even.

Cythi:

While Portia prattled on, she reached out and stroked Angel's shoulder, an almost loving gesture that spoke of way too much familiarity.   But Angel didn't say anything.

In fact, Angel didn't even react.  Not a shiver nor a sharp rebuke.  Even her hair was quiescent, unmoving.

Angel was breathing, but she seemed to be focused off in the distance.  At first it looked like she was watching Stitches with his "discussion" with the short man with the moustache, but then they moved a little, and Angel's eyes didn't track.

Portia seemed to notice at about the same time.

"She's having a seizure."  Portia said, as if she knew what she was talking about.  "Move up to her side."

Portia moved to one side of Angel and laid a hand on Angel's opposite hip.  "Let's see if we can lead her somewhere a little quieter."   she nodded towards the back-of-house door the hotel staff used to bring food and decorations from...

"Putangina mo."  Portia muttered, but loud enough that Cythi heard it. Then, in a soft voice, "Come with me, darling. Let's sneak a smoke where they won't find us."

If you've been around Angel enough, you've heard her mutter those words "Putangina mo" herself several times.

Cythi having not a clue if the Portia person was telling the truth or not decides that it might be worth it to find out if she is correct.  Moving to the other side she follows the instruction given and works in conjunction with the person she is still not sure what to make of.

"I hope you are ok Gagamba." she says but doubting that it was heard at all.  She makes note of the phrase again so she can look it up later.  She also notes wondering what these two were to each other.  "Miss Portia if needed I can get her out of here."

Ace frowned as she watched the state Gagamba was in and how the woman with her and Cythi was looking around.  She looked around, trying to see if anyone was noticing that Gagamba was completely out of it and see if anyone else was as well.  She was worried that someone had slipped her teammate a drug of some kind.  She slowly started to move to intercept Cythi and Gagamba while she was looking to see if the woman with them had some kind of accomplice in the background.


[OOC: 19:29, Today: Ace rolled 13 using 1d20+7.  Ace perception.  Looking to see if other women were in a similar state as Gagamba and to see where the strange woman with Gagamba and Cythi was looking. ]

THere are definitely some people pushing the boundary of intoxication, and more than a few with hyperactivity issues, which was probably not surprising given the almost criminal amounts of caffeine and sugar the drinks themselves provided...

But there didn't seem to be anybody else in a particularly soporific state.

There were a lot of little blonde things though.  Like Wrecked, itself had sought them out to populate the area.  Was that their chosen demographgic?

--
OOC:  Bottom line, a seizure was a narratively acceptable excuse for Gagamba's lack of interaction...  After two months without posting, I've group-Z'd her in preparation of dropping her soon.  Now, whether it's a natural thing or the result of someone's actions... still unknown.

(OOC - Actually figured as much on the reason for seizure)

Cythi continues to help Gagamba outside although does not intend on taking part in the smoke.

Speaking at an increased volume, "I probably will not have one but if this leads to fresh air please lead the way to where you want to smoke."

One thing Cythi is looking for is a chance to teleport Gagamba out of there and get her somewhere safe.  Or at least try a teleport heal.

Ace frowned as she listened to Stitches calling in his favor for a list.  She shook her head, as she kept an eye on Angel and Cythi as she moved forward, ready to back up Cythi as she and the strange woman exited through the back door.  Ace was delayed by running into all the bimbo like blondes who was circulating through the party.  There were more busty, bimbo-like blondes than the tall brunette would have expected as she smoothly stepped around another blonde as she got closer to the back door that Cythi and Angel went through with the strange woman.

It looked like Cythi had things under control, although she was going to try to stick close to provide back up in case.  But they were here on a mission, they needed to keep that going as much as possible.  So she kept scanning the room for Dupennier or Semenov, they had to be somewhere, but she was a bit distracted with her concern with Angel.

[OOC:
00:26, Today: Ace rolled 9 using 1d20+7.  Ace perception.
Ace trying to watch the room for anything odd and to find Dupennier and Semenov, but very distracted by her concern for Angel.
And yup, good way to take out Angel, but that doesn't mean you haven't folded in her incapacitation into your plot! ;) ]

Portia took Angel's arm, guided Cythi to do the same on the other side, and together they walked to the back-of-house doorway.   Portia told a story, her voice strangely mellifluous, apparently about her and Angel sneaking away from a party when they were children, to try to steal a bottle of wine from her father's wine-cellar.  They tried cigarettes for the first time and Angel nearly hacked up her lung.  It had been a secret in-joke for them for years...

Portia laughed, but it was forced, contrived.  And once beyond the doorway, she  regarded Cythi.  "Appearances are everything.   You're her friend, so don't let anyone see her like this.  Not her, not here."

Portia and Cythi guided Angel to a nearby chair.  The hotel staff were less of a concern, though one of the banquets staff did hover nearby, ostensibly keeping an eye on them being in an area of the hotel usually off-limits to the public.

That's when Cythi noticed a tall, gaunt man in a long black coat.  His back was turned and he had his hand extended to one of the little blonde things, his palm against her forehead as if he were pushing her away or exorcising demons.

The girl gasped and stood back, a little "o" of surprise on her face.  She pursed her lips and looked around at the blank white walls, the stacks of chairs and serving carts, of dirty dishes and other hotel supplies that lined the hall.

"Go. Mingle. Socialize. Be the life of the party. " The tall man in the black coat, speaking sonorous and sure. "Do whatever it takes. Find Rachel Wrecht and bring her to me."

The blonde cocked her head to one side, then she smiled and her entire face lit up.  She moved beyond him, toward the door Cythi and Angel and Portia had just come through, and pushed beyond them as if they simply weren't there.

He turned to watch as she sashayed beyond him and he turned out to be a fairly lean young man, with shoulder-length black hair and a small, neatly-trimmed goatee beard.   He wore a leather vest underneath the long-coat, but no shirt.  black very well-worn jeans that left little to the imagination.  They could have been painted on.   He wore no adornment, but his eyes seemed almost to glow with a subtle intensity.

"You..." He said carefully, "weren't supposed to hear that."

For all that Angel made the Portia to be she is actually confused why this woman seems to be so helpful.  Still that is a question for another day.  Today is about the task at hand.

Cythi wanted to get Angel out.  But this was too close to anything as it was potentially the source so she does something she knows she is going to regret as she pulls an award winning smile but also is at the ready to open a portal under Angel to get her out of there and to safety.

"I was not but I did. If you want I can help you find this person as it might work better if someone is not under effects.  But why are you looking for them?"  Cythi asks curious of the answer.

Ace was walking toward the door into the back areas as she kept looking around the party, looking for their targets.  Her eyes opened wider in surprise as one of the blondes came out of the door with the spaced out look on her face.  She stepped in front of the blonde with a smile on her face, "Hello miss.  did you see.." She was surprised as the blonde didn't have any reaction to her question and was just brushing past her.  She moved to step bacl in front of the busty blonde, "Excuse me miss?" She tried again as she did a two step dance of interposing herself in front of the blonde, trying to get a reaction out of her.

[OOC: She uses Agile Feint to stay in front of the blonde, blocking her progress forward as she tried to get a reaction out of her.  Skill Mastery Acrobatics:  taking 10+10= 20.]

Ace:
Oh, she succeeds, all right.  It's like a light-bulb went off in the girl's expression...

The blonde turned to face Ace, then her expression turned into the widest shit-eating grin ever, and she reached out with a tiny squeal of... well, it might have been delight or excitement if there'd actually been context for it.  Instead, it just rang hollow and tinny.

But the girl flung herself at Ace, trying to drape her arms around Ace in an endearing sorority-like hug of congeniality.

"Isn't this just the greatest?" the blonde asked breathlessly.  Her blue eyes were wide and her pupils were tiny pinpricks.  There was a light sheen pf perspiration on her upper lip and forehead and a small sheen of glitter that reminded Ace of... something.  something she couldn't quite remember.

OOC: That something would be Virginia's "fairy-dust" <I>if Ace had ever seen it action.  But the similarity and the memory-tug is probably just coincidental.   I have no plans for it at the moment.

Cythi:
Cythi, if you want, you can roll Awareness, DC13 to see if you can intuit Portia's motivation here.  From everything Angel has said, yeah... Portia is a total bitch and they've a long history of antagonism...

"It's just easier."  the gaunt man shrugged.  He kind of wavered in place for a moment, then offered a cheeky smile of self-amusement,, as if he was used to people discounting him and rolling their eyes at his antics.

"I lost my date."  He said, fixing Cythi with an over-the-top wide-eyed innocent expression.   "and that sweet little thing is going to help me find her--whether he wants to or not.  I think it's suitable justice after spiking his own date's joy-juice."

He leaned forward, half tipped-over, half bowed as he spread his hands in an elaborate gesture of not-so-modest reconciliation.  "Oh, he'll be fine.  A few minutes like that and he'll never treat a  girl like the dumpster behind the high-school bleachers.  Not in those heels, anyway. Call it... I don't know, call it karmic justice."   He actually giggled after that, a high-pitched--and probably drug-fueled--explosion of mirth.

Cythi of course if blissfully unaware what Portia's motivation here is.  Still it is a whatev's as she focuses at the task of hand.  Her brain stops and thinks for a moment on how to play this out.  At first she debates play it like a bimbo...there are enough of them here.  But then she realizes the initial approach would contradict that.

At this point she is not sure if he is doing wrong but yes he is....he has to be.  Still she almost wishes he was around with her family.  Still, "So what is it exactly you do to them?"  She asks kind of worried and not really wanting to let this person out of her sight as the action is too suspicious.  Although this might take her away from the mission or maybe will lead her to the information she needs.  That is the unknown.

Still keeping an eye on Angel just in case.

Awareness roll - 5

20:09, Today: Cythi rolled 5 using 1d20-1.  Go awareness.

Cythi:
He appears to have no real interest in Angel.  Portia, however, stood with her arms crossed in front of her, a disgusted look on her face.  "Do to them?"  he asked, lifting a hand to his chest in a "who? me?" experssion.

"Gaunt." She said.  And though she didn't actually do it, the eye-roll was almost palpable from her words alone.

The gaunt man snapped back, his own eyes going wide.  "What?" he lifted a hand, looked around as if seeking the source of something.  "What was that?  I thought for a moment that someone called my name.  Almost like Portia, but no no no no, she would never do that!  After what she said and did, She wouldn't even acknowledge poor little Bastian.  I'm hearing things.  it's all that speed."  He giggled again.  "I musta got Wrecked!"

Portia sighed, loudly. "Aren't you late for dinner or something?  Where's your dealer?"

Bastian stood and regarded Portia with a long face, widening his eyes in mock sadness.  "Dealer is such an... ugly word.  They're simply purveyors of elevated forms of entertainment.  And I so want to be entertained..."

"Fucking junkie."  Portia muttered.  "Okay, Gaunt.  This is a private party.  Go back to Dupennier and the safety of your little coke-den.  It's not safe outside of the doghouse."

Gaunt mocked being shocked.  "It's not coke."  he said after a moment, apparently unable to come up with a scathing quick-witted response.  "It's blood and sweat... crystallized from the tears of angels."

Gaunt took a stumbling step forward and Portia--very quickly--stepped back out of the way.  "Don't let him touch you."  she said quickly., then glancing at Gaunt she offered, "He'll never let go."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:04, Thu 21 July 2022.

Ace was shocked as the blonde's eyes sorta lit up as she threw herself at Ace, dropping her arms around the tall heroine's neck and greeting her like a long lost friend and only Ace's quick reflexes saved her from stumbling as she caught the blonde.  Of course having a busty blonde draping herself across the auburn haired heroine caused Ace to blush furiously. It was a dream of hers to have a sexy, busty blonde throwing herself at Ace, but this didn't feel right.  There was something wrong with the woman as her hands reached out to steady the blonde and push her away gently. "Wooah, what's your name?" she asked as she tried to fight her blush and focus on the situation in front of her.

She was thinking that she needed to get to Cythi quickly, if whatever was affecting the blonde happened behind the door, then Cythi was walking into a much more dangerous situation than Ace was expecting.  As she was examining the woman's face, it looked like she was drugged up on something.  That was when she caught sight of the dust scattered across the blonde's face.  It vaguely looked like the fairy dust that Virginia scattered around at times.  As far as she knew, Virginia wasn't on this mission, did that mean another fairy was in the city?

"ummm...can you tell me what you took?" The tall heroine asked the busty blonde as she tried to get information from the woman



[OOC: Left it up to the dice roller on whether Ace noticed the fairy dust and it says yes!
23:36, Today: Ace rolled 23 using 1d20+7.  Ace perception. ]

Cythi realized that this is likely what they are looking for and that she had to do something or likely would lose the den.  It is at that point she makes a decision she hopes she regrets as she pulls her cellphone out and makes it look like she is going to get out of the way but have a trip and using slight of hand drop her phone in a pocket of his long coat.

She looks to Portia "Yes ma...."  And then follows through with the trip and drop of phone.  "I am sorry I tripped on something."

Her plan is and hopes he does not find it right away especially if messed up but use the phone to track to the den.  She realizes this means risking whatever he did to the others.


If no victory/hero points then roll is
Slight of hand - 9
If allowed then roll is
Slight of hand - 24




16:23, Today: Cythi rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  If available using hero point.

16:21, Today: Cythi rolled 9 using 1d20+5.  Slight of Hand.

"Nothing, I'm okay." She said breathlessly, leaning in close as if she was sharing the most juicy piece of gossip. "I just rode the Gauntlet."  she giggled, then caught herself.

The girl took a stumbling step back and regarded Ace, her eyes roaming up and down the young gymnasts body in a decidedly far-too-intimate way.   "I'm... wait a minute.  I know this one...  Oh yeah, I'm... Alysha!  I'm a freshman in my fourth year at UW, but my goal is to become a veterinarian, because I really love children!"

Alysha made a small grunting sound, as she pulled back from Ace, then shook her head.  "But... wait, wait, are you Rachel?  I need to find Rachel. do you know Rachel.   She's pretty, like you, but there's something... I really need to find Rachel!"


There's a similarity, but it's a visual thing only, not necessarily indicative of anything...  unless I decide to sue it later.

As Cythi "stumbles" to her knees, Gaunt goes down on his knees too, and helps her up.  He puts his hand on her shoulder and arm.

"Woah, woah, woah.   Hey doll.  It's okay.  They put all sorts of corrugation and striations in the cement here so that the staff have better traction.  Are you okay?"  He helps Cythi stand, then steps back.

"Get you hands off her." Portia sners. "Creep....  ugh!" She actually shivers.

"Oh, don't mind her.  Portia's just upset because things didn't work out the way she hoped.  Now her b-b-boyfriend is hoping to be her g-g-girlfriend.  At least for the night.  But when the clock strikes twelve, you know what happens to the pretty little princesses..."

Gaunt steps back and glances at Angel.  His face takes a serious expression for a moment.  "Your friend." he said, all trace of flighty idiocy gone, "please don't ask me things I can't answer.  But you need to get here to a hospital.  Like now..  She's running way hotter than she should be.  She's generating static all over the place."

"Ah, shit."  Portia said.  She pulled a small clutch from over her shoulder and fished out a cel-phone, then snarled. "Gah!  Give me a second.  I've got to get better reception out there."  She indicated the ballroom, from whence they'd just come. "Fuck with her, Bastian, and I'll make you forget.  Everything."  Then she whirled through the door into the ballroom...


--
Hero Point expenditure Accepted: Sleight-of-Hand threshold 24.  Gaunt failed to detect it.  The cell-phone is in his pocket unnoticed.

Absolutely nothing happens when Gaunt touches Cythi.  There was no power at play.  He was, really, just helping her up.

If it helps any, I'm totally modelling Gaunt on Klaus from The TV adaptation of the Umbrella Academy.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:09, Fri 29 July 2022.

She reacts to what is going on first, "Thank you for helping me up.  And while I am confused by what you say and not sure what it is you are speaking of I think I will just nod and agree.  "  And then the obvious niceness of Angel and not doing well.  "I will get her out of here."  She says to Gaunt and Portia hopefully before Portia leaves. If not she follows through with her idea.  "Just let me take her out the back door."  She says as she goes and helps Angel up.  And moves towards the closest exit.

She half debates telling the man what she did with the phone but the fact it was the mission.  She did swear to herself if he got taken in then she would go speak on his behalf.  But now it not the time.  Now is time to save Angel.

With or without help she moves to the closest exit and keeps moving until she gets privacy.  Although if Gaunt is there or Portia she does not care and teleports Angel to the closest hospital.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:20, Fri 29 July 2022.

Ace steadied Alysha, "The Gauntlet?  What are you talking about?"  The young heroine frowned in confusion at that response as she looked down the woman's busty body to look for signs of sex, but not seeing anything obvious. "Wait, veterinarians work on animals, not children," she flushed at how frankly the blonde was checking out her body as she balanced on her 7 inch heels and towered over the other woman.

"You are looking for Rachel?"  She was thrown by the sudden shift in the busty blonde's demeanor, "Why are you looking for Rachel?"  This was probably a very bad idea, but she wanted to keep the woman's attention on her, "I am Rachel."  She didn't feel threatened by Alysha, well the blonde was in shape, she didn't move like she had much training.

She glanced over at the door, as she heard a shout and saw the strange woman with Cythi and Angel come storming through the door holding her phone and caught a brief glimpse of Cythi helping Angel and a thin man standing close to them, but not making any threatening moves toward her two friends.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:45, Sun 31 July 2022.

Ace:

As soon as Ace admitted that she was Rachel, Alysha literally flung herself at Ace.  "Oh my god!  You're Rachel!  I'm, like, sooo jealous.  Gaunt wants you.  I don't know why, but I think he wants you to bake cookies for him, because he really likes ice-cream and you've got something he says brings all the boys to the yard."

"Come with me."  Alysha wrapped her arms around Ace's arm as if they were old friends and leaned in, giggling breathlessly.  "He's got this a real honest to Betsy unicorn.  But it's really small, and he's trying to find Rachel so that she can give it what it really needs.   You're, like, literal sunshine!"

She started pulling on Ace in the direction of the doorway where she'd just seen Cythi with Gagamba.

The quote (I wanna be a vetrinarian... etc) is classic Dr. Demento fare: Julie Brown "'Cause I'm a Blonde" - ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ol4oWChjzk )  It wasn't an easy one.  But I'll be adding in all sorts of similar pop references throughout the game with similar why not hero-point offerings.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:12, Sat 13 Aug 2022.

Cythi

Although if Gaunt is there or Portia she does not care and teleports Angel to the closest hospital.

Gaunt doesn't help.  He's concerned but acts sort of squeamish and flutteringly distracted.  HE starts to walk away, down the hall, towards the service elvator.

Portia helps.  She's not abandoning Gagamba, even if there is animosity between them.   There's something there, like, like this might be a family thing, even if they're not technically family.  Mind you, they might be.  But it's definitely that level of personal.

Ace was shocked at how exuberantly Alysha threw herself at the tall heroine. She had to take a bracing step back as her hands automatically went to the blonde's hips to brace her as she clung to Ace like a limpet. And started chattering about Gaunt and his tiny unicorn.  She wasn't sure who Gaunt was, he wasn't on the brief, but it sounded like he was responsible for Alysha's state which made him someone of interest.

The busty blonde's talk about baking cookies and liking ice cream was confusing Cameron, so she was focusing on the basics, that Gaunt was responsible for her current state and he wanted Rachel for something, probably something nefarious since he was working behind the scenes to get the woman's attention.

"One moment and I will go with you," Ace exclaimed as Alysha started pulling on her arm as she glanced around the room to see what the other busty blondes were up too.  "Are your sorority sisters also looking for me?" Her plan to keep Alysha's attention on her seemed to be working, but she didn't want the rest of the blondes to find the real Rachel, so maybe she could gather them all on her and lead them all out.  "Maybe we should call them over so they can shine in the sunshine and see the unicorn and Gaunt again?"

She suggested as she braced herself from the busty blonde's pulling on her arm.  She wasn't trying to disengage from Alysha's pulling, just stay in place.  She could get away from Alysha any time she wanted and she didn't foresee escaping from more busty blondes was going to be any more difficult since she could just fly up into the air.

OOC: Kewl, I look forward to trying to figure out more references. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 03:22, Sun 14 Aug 2022.

At first Cythi tries her powers of healing on Gagamba thinking it was something other than a genetic condition.  But that not working and Portia seeming to genuinely care about Gagamba's health Cythi against her better judgement grabs Portia's and Gagamba's hand and performs a site to site transport to the closest hospital. Her aim is the emergency room but realizing that sometimes that this is as much a guess as it is hope that it works.

"Sorry if that was unexpected.  Just in case yes I have powers but right now I hope it is not a major freak out as she is more important." At which point Cythi turns, "I need help.  My friend has something wrong with my friend."  Cythi calls while looking for someone that can help.

If she has time later after the emergency has passed Cythi plans on asking how either of them know each other.  Well after she tells the rest about her cell phone laid.  Actually that brings to next problem as Cythi slips and tries to find Gagamba's phone.  If asked about what she is doing she will respond, "I must have dropped it somewhere.  I want to makes sure everyone knows about Gagamba."

Cythi:
I need logistical clarification.

She ported herself, Gagamba and Portia to Harborview Medical Center.  What did she do then?  Did she stay with Gagamba or did she return to the Arctic Club Hotel?

Is she trying to track her phone via Gagamba's?  If so, then where is she at the time she is doing this?
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:25, Sun 14 Aug 2022.

Cythi teleported with Gagamba to the hospital with Portia in tow if she wishes.  She is still there and calling for a doctor but looking for Gagamba's cell phone so she can message Stitches and anyone else to let them know Gagamba's at the hospital and that she dropped her phone to be tracked.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:26, Sun 14 Aug 2022.

Perfect.

As this whole distraction was to get Gagamba out of the scene....

Thankfully, the emergency room wasn't particularly busy that night.   Though security was obviously disconcerted by the sudden appearance of the three women, the obvious presence of a medical situation prompted their training to take over...

Let's consider Gagamba taken off to intake.  Portia will go with her.  As it turns out.... they are, apparently, family.   Or, at least... so Portia said.

That being taken care of using Gagamba's phone (Assuming she found it and used either her fingerprint of face to unlock it.)  She texts Stitches and any one else she has number of like Ace.



Cythi sends the text before performing another site to site transport and appearing where she had left from if at all possible and then walking back to the van, through the club if possible otherwise long way around.

Ace:

"Oh no, honey!" Alysha whispered conspiratorily, "You're mine!"  Then she giggled again, and tried to pull Ace toward the back hallway.  "They're all fakes, anyway.  They don't have the real thing.  They'd all swarm you like you wouldn't believe and there'd be nothing left after.  Like watching Punching Bag being swarmed by a bunch of groupie-fans!  You'd never get out of there!  I'm all you need!"

Something about Ashley's words filtered through, though.   She'd mentioned Punching Bag with a level of familiarity that dumb-blonde Ashley... well, it wasn't likely that she actually knew Kevin, was it?

Cythi

Cythi teleported back to the hallway from whence she'd come.  Gaunt had moved on and the only people in direct view were a couple of hotel staff at the far end of the halway.

Getting out to the van was simple and straight-forward, and nobody prevented her from getting there.  Except the same blonde girl--three separate times--asking if she was Rachel.

"Well, darling," Stitches drawled, "It's been a fruitful evening already,.  Sorry bout the walk-out.  But I scored us the Wrecked VIP list.    What's the situation?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:50, Thu 25 Aug 2022.

Ace heard her phone beep with a message and was able to quickly check the blurb saying that Gagaambe was safe and at hospital, but she didn't have time to reply as "Ashley" was pulling her toward the side door.  She was going slowly as she looked around, not seeing Stitches to signal him as she bite her lip nervously.  She had a terrible idea.  And the mention of Punching Bag only made the idea worse.

To delay for time, she asked, "Who is Punching Bag?" She was hoping that playing dumb would get "Ashley" talking more as she internally shrugged and decided to go with her bad idea.

"IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR RACHEL!  I AM OVER HERE!"  She shouted out across the room as she waved her arm in the air, her tall body making it easier for her to be spotted as she shouted. She turned back to "Ashley", "Yes you are!  You are quite the handful!"

She wasn't sure what was going on, but she didn't want any of these apparently drugged up blondes from finding the real Rachel, she was using herself as bait to draw them all over to her.

Speaking to Stitches, "I have found a chance to track the drug ring.  I planted my phone on this creepy guy I met in the bar through one of Gagamba's contacts.  I should mention she is in the hospital but due to something I think is beyond out control as while I tried to heal her it did not seem to work.  Anyway my phone should be trackable."  She says to him very hyper from the activity and a bit unfocused.

"Here is my contact info and if you can show me how to use that fine my phone app or however these things work."  Her skills with technology...or lack of showing through.  "At least that is what I saw on the tv shows."

"Oh right the guy's name is Gaunt if that is any help."

@Cythi:

Stitches went still.  "I'll check in on Angel.  Thanks for getting her to safety." 

He flicked a switch on the blue-tooth speaker attached to the laptop he had open.  "You get that Marcus?"

Marcus's voice came through clearly.  "Yeah.   Sebastian Gaunt.    I've got a file on him.  Hold on...  So, tell me.  Aer there, like, a couple dozen bimbo blondes running around all wearing the same outfit?"

Ace:

"I saw you with Giovanni, earlier. I--" Ashley began, but was interrupted.

"IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR RACHEL!  I AM OVER HERE!" Ace shouted out across the room as she waved her arm in the air,

It was like an electrical current had zapped through the room.

There were blondes everywhere.  Like, more than a dozen of them--and they all wore the same shiny red dress that was cut just a little too high and a little too low.  Ace's shout drew them like flies to honey.  They cut out of whatever conversations they were in, whatever dancing they were doing and oriented on Ace.  They didn't run at her, but it was clear that each one of them was walking with a purpose.

Ashley let out a big sigh.  "Oh, well, now you've done it.  I didn't want to share!"

The canned music switched over to the opening strains of Robert Palmer's, "Addicted to Love".

The first wave of three Ashleys--and they really were perfect matches for Ashley--were about five feet away...

Ace:

There's no way I'm doing this as one-on-one.  So, this means team-checks from the Ashleys... who are all minions.   I might let them get a shot or two in, but really, this is totally an opportunity to grandstand your abilities/powers, if you want to.

So, your call if you want to go mechanics or purely story-time.  I'm easy either way.

Ace's eyes widen as she sees all the blondes in red dresses coming towards her, there were more than she had thought and now they were all coming her way.  Well, she wanted to get all of their attention, now to lead them away from the guests.

"Oh, you recognized Giovanni?  How do you know about him?" Ace asked as she took Ashley's arm and started to urge her to continue leading the way to Gaunt, looking over her shoulder to see the first wave of Ashley's approaching with purpose in their eyes and steps.  She had their attention, now she had to lead them away from the guests. "Sorry for ruining your fun, Ashley, but you can still take me to your friend and claim credit for finding me." She tried to soothe the busty blonde as she lead the way through the side door into the back area.

As soon as she was thorough the door, she looked around to see what possible exits there were and how many other people were back here.  The intensity of the other Rachel's eyes put her in a defensive mood as she kept herself ready to fly up into the air and dodge/parry any attacks that came at her.  She was going to have to move fast to keep ahead of the oncoming wave of Ashley's.

She was wishing she had an easy way to contact Cythi and Stitches, but they didn't have hands free radios on them.  She pulled her phone out of her clutch, letting the clutch drop to the ground and started to call Stitches, since he was the contact point, "Stitches, I got an army of blondes following me and one is leading me to Gaunt." Hopefully Ashley wouldn't try to stop her from calling.



This message was last edited by the player at 20:49, Sun 04 Sept 2022.

Ashley grabbed Ace by the shoulders and fairly propelled her into the hallway she'd just emerged from.

The first three Ashley-clones were just pushing past one of the catering tables filled with an elegant water-cistern and a couple dozen water-glasses and a couple of plates of appetizer foods.

Ashley reached for the table and single-handedly lifted the edge of the table!  The glasses slid off, shattering and scattered all across the floor.  One of the hotel caterign staff shouted and leapt for her, but it was too late.  The glass cistern slid off and bounced once, twice, then shattered also, sending glass and water and ice everywhere.

It appeared to have the desired effect.  The first Ashley-clone slid across the water and landed on her rear.  The second went careening into the table itself, bounced her head off of the table and landed with  wreath of appetizer cocktails, little fake-crab meat thingies all draped around her.  She screamed.  The caterer screamed.

Then there was an flash of light and a bunch of pink and silver glitter literally exploded around the second Ashley-clone, blinding everyone.  Moments later, there was a seedy looking grey-haired fifty-something with a pot-belly and a goatee where Ashley-Clone-2 had been.  And boy did he look bewildered...

The third Ashley clone was quicker, though.    When the table was upended, she leapt--in four inch heels no less--over the table, as if she were an Olympic level gymnast.  And Ace would know.  She could recognize that kind of talent!

Ashley-Clone-3 followed them into the hallway, as Ashley pushed Ace further down the hallway, making for the freight elevator at the far end...  which, conveniently, had just come down to the mezzanine floor, where they were....

"Yes there are quite a few and I was warned to be careful although Gaunt said he had no intention on doing anything.  To be honest he said he transformed one person so I am not sure that is part of what they can do or not."   Cythi says.

"Did you want me to go back in to do more recon.  I can but I am also now without a phone."  She asks ready to walk back in.

"Intel on Gaunt is sparse at the moment.  Failed musical performer who got called out on a reality show for using Autotune.   But apparently, he is always surrounded by a gaggle of bimbo blondes.   I'll try to get into the STAR and UWMAD databases and see what I can find."  Marcus came back.

"Your call darling." Stitches offered a shrug.  "If you're not feeling out of your depth, keep going.  A "misplaced phone" can be explained away easily enough..."  Stitches grinned.  "Especially by an innocent star-struck young fan."

So, your call Cythi, what do you wanna do? And how do you wanna do it?  I can run with it no matter what you do.

Ace yelped as she was pushed by Ashley toward the hallway, she stumbled a single step from the push, giving Ashley time to grab the table and tip it over, sending water and glass splashing across the room.  Then the screaming started, the caterer for all the lost work as the cistern shattered and then Ashley clones were screaming in pain and shock.

The redheaded heroine flinched away as light burst from the Ashley clone that hit her head.  Blinking quickly to try to clear her vision.  Only to see the Ashley clone replaced by a beer belly old man, she was totally not expecting that!

"What the, fairy dust??  but..." She stopped midsentence as the third Ashley was leaping over the table like a professional athlete, which Ace gave the woman full props for!  As the first Ashley was grabbing at her wrist to pull her down the hallway toward the freight elevator, she spun around and kicked the athletic Ashley in the chest, sending her flying backwards as more Ashleys were charging into the caterer's room.

"Where are we going?"  She called out to the Ashley pulling her down the hallway toward the opening freight elevator door as she looked over her shoulder to see more Ashley's charging after them.

(OOC - I am open either way to whatev's  :) )


"If you need me to go back in I would do my best as there may be more in there to meet although if you really want there is the fact I can play up how I lost my phone.  Is there a device that lets us copy phones or anything I should be looking for?"  She asks actually seeming to relax a bit more with the role.

"Actually this person who know Gagambia suggested I become a cornstar or something like that as well."

Ace
"Gotta get to Gaunt!"  Ashley One said almost breathlessly. "They wont' stop.  We've got to keep moving.   Gaunt can turn them off.  He's a really big fan and he so wants to meet you!"

SO, bottom line... do you let Ashley One pull you into the freight elevator?

I'll post more once I know where things are going.

Cythi
"It's not as quick as in the movies." Marcus said through the speaker.  Then, after a moment,  "But all we're on the hook for is planting one of the SPD'd bugs somewhere in the penthouse.  All we want to do is see if there's any obvious signs of Exalt.  If we can plant the bug, we can run off of McConnel's intel."

Cythi:
"Yeah.  Okay.  Play the phone angle."  Stitches said, nodding.
 "Get inside, act all nervous or... well, you do you.  Plant the thing and get out.  I mean, obviously, you've got no problem getting out.  But you don't necessarily want to out yourself as a meta.  Not going in anyway."

--
OOC: Reminder, because it's been a while.
Mike McConnel is the Seattle PD stakeout lead who's bee surveilling the Hells Angels prostitution ring in the penthouse of the Arctic Club (and other hotels around pioneer square).

Maurice Dupennier is the guy they're after.  He's a Hells Angels pledge--not a patch, meaning he's looking to prove himself, make a name for himself.

Andrei Semenov is a Russian Mob guy who was recently released on bail after Exalt charges were laid.  It's unclear what he's doing with Dupennier.  Russian Mob and Hells Angels don't normally mingle.

If the wiretap or a bug you plant catches any discussion of Exalt, or there's any direct evidence of Exalt, then you've done your job and can walk away from the mission and count it a success.

Ace quick stepped after Ashley, moving toward the elevator with the blonde as she went down the corridor.  She was in a quandary, she didn't want to attack innocent people being forced to do things against their will, but maybe having all the Ashley's with her when she encountered Gaunt was a bad idea as well.  Since it sounded like he had complete control of them.

She was also trying to remember anything that Virginia had ever said about how her fairy dust worked.  One thing she figured was that she was better off making sure that it didn't touch her.

They didn't quite make it to the freight elevator before a couple of more Ashley's caught up to them, Ace using their momentum to redirect them into crashing into walls on either side of her as she spun out of the way of their arms grabbing at her.  Stunning them as she bounced, gently-ish, against walls before she let Ashley-one drag her into the elevator as it opened up.  She had to stand just inside of the doorway and push Ashley's back and way, using one Ashley to trip up the next couple of Ashley's while waiting for the door to close.  This sorta felt like a zombie movie.

Turning toward Ashley after the door had closed and the elevator started rising up, she noticed what button the blonde had pressed, "Excellent, I like meeting fans?  Can you tell me anything about Gaunt?" She fished for information. "Did you come to the party with him or some friends and meet him here?"

Yes, letting Ashley pull Ace into elevator with a little bit of combat on way. :) Although she is more focused on delaying the other Ashley's since it appears they are being controlled against their will.
Trying to question Ashley-one about Gaunt to get info about him.  Or see if Ashley-one remembers how she got to the party:
22:12, Today: Ace rolled 16 using 1d20+4.  Ace Investigation roll .
Trying to remember what Virginia has said about Fairy Dust:
22:15, Today: Ace rolled 21 using 1d20+2.  Ace intelligence roll for memory on Fairy Dust.

Sorry Ace & Cythi, I'm up against a deadline and I really need to get my ass in gear on finishing up a bunch of photo-edits.  I'll try ot get this update posted tomorrow...

"OK will do!"  Cythi says as she puts on her best...well her face on although this will take some acting as to make it look like she lost her phone.  But still as was said she has a cute look and maybe just maybe if she can get her eyes to cry someone will fall for it.

So she stops and takes a moment to let the situation with Gagambia sink in and starts to worry about her and then becomes sad at that letting some tears come out.  Then focusing at task at hand she walks in doe in eye look and walks up, "Has anyone seen my phone.  It is in a pink case with Hello Kitty on it!"  She says aloud and starts to walk aroudn randomly asking people.

Ace:

The Ashleys were almost a force of nature and there were just so many of them.  Maybe a dozen of them crowded into the service hallway, pushing Arctic Club catering staff out of the way and barreling ahead toward them.

But Ashley-one was faster and more... focused? Intent?  Together,. they'd made it into the service elevator and were on their way up to the tenth floor.

Ashley stared back at Ace for a moment, eyes blank and... vacant.  "He's dreamy."  she said slowly, almost as if reciting a line in a newspaper.  "I mean, we just met, but, like, he makes everything awesome!  He could do me forever and I'd still want more, you know?  When he sings, it's like hot metal and methedrine! Poppers and pyrotechnics!"

The elevator came to a sudden halt, jolting them with the sudden deceleration.  The lights flickered and went out, and the entire elevator was cast in a dull red emergency light.

Ashley grabbed Ace's wrist.  Eyes wide, teeth gritted in fear or excitement, AAshley-One she  pushed herself in close and whispered, "Don't let him touch you!"  The intensity of her expression was almost overwhelming.

The lights came back on almost immediately and the elevator started moving again.  Ashley stepped back and began to hum a little song...

"Everything is awesome!
Everything is cool when you're part of a team!
We're gonna win forever!
Let's party forever!
Everything thing is better when we stick together!"

Yeah, the theme to the LEGO movie.

The sudden change of state was distinctly different that Ace might be questioning whether the whole interlude of the elevator stopping had actually happened.  Ashley-One, for her part, showed no signs of anything amiss, as she happily sang her little song in a quiet voice.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:00, Wed 12 Oct 2022.

@Cythi
Clarification, please.  Where is she when she's doing this walking around asking about her phone?   In the Northern Lights Ballroom where the Wrecked Energy Drink event is happening, in the back hallway where she'd run into Gaunt and Ashley?  Or did she port up to the tenth floor?  I'm okay with any of it, I just need to know what to describe for you.

(OOC - I figure she just walked back in the entrance that she started, but you know what why not have some fun and yes ported to 10th floor.  :)  )

Okay. That would allow me to synch Cythi & Ace up together as soon as Ace gets there (after her next response, most likely).

Ace kicked an Ashley clone back as the door was closed and then collapsed in relief against the back wall as the elevator started rising up.  Well, she had gotten most of them coming after her and away from the real Rachel.  The clones left behind would either stand outside of the elevator and wait for it to come back down or go running for the staircases to run up to 10th floor, either way they should be out of action for awhile.

Straightening up as she talked with Ashley to get a feel for Gaunt, the blank look in her eyes and dreamy voice sent chills down Ace's spine.  Whatever this man did to Ashley was to be avoided at all cost.

Suddenly the elevator stopped, as she flexed her knees and braced herself with her flight powers to keep stable as she reached out to keep Ashley from falling, only to have the blonde as the lights went out and emergency red lights came on.  Ashely grabbed her elbow with a strange facial expression and gritted out a warning about being touched by Gaunt.

Before Ace could question Ashley or really process what was going on, the lights came back on and the elevator started back up.  Ashley started singing a silly song.  Ace thinks it was from a kids movie, but she wasn't really sure and it just added to the creepy feeling she was getting.  She wasn't sure what just happened, but she was going to take the blonde's advice and not let Gaunt touch her if at all possible.

Having some time, Ace pulled out her cell phone and called Stitches, "Hey, I don't have much time.  I am going up to 10th floor to meet someone called Gaunt.  I think he used some kind of fairy dust to create a lot of mind controlled clones, blonde and busty."  She kept her eye on Ashley, ready to dodge or parry any attempt by the blonde to grab the phone from her hand.  "They were looking for me, Rachel," she stressed the name Rachel in the hope that Stitch's would catch on that she was pretending to be Rachel.  "Whoever this dude is, he is special and dangerous. I hit one of the blondes and they went from blonde, busty and beautiful to a fat guy that needs to get out of his house more often."

Suddenly the elevator dinged as it arrived at the Tenth floor, "Gotta go, backup would be appreciated." She disconnected from the call and put her phone away as she smiled at Ashley, "Shall we go see Gaunt?" She asked pleasantly as she stepped behind Ashley to let the blonde lead the way.

Cythia & Ace -- both!

The elevator opened up into a very short hallway, with three doors accessible from teh small, very ornately decorated ante-chamber.

The carpet was blood red and the walls were a cream-white with subtle swirls in the texture.  A large replica of a John Waterhouse Painting--Borias--stood over a small delicate writing table and a red-cushioned chair--both apparently from the Victorian era as well.  There was a single white orchid in a long-stemmed crystal vase.  A pad of paper and a gold-colored pen sat on the table.  There didn't appear to be any writing on the pad.

The door immediately to the left appeared to be a closet for housekeeping supplies.   The door to the right had no label but did have a small peep-hole.  Unusual for hotel suites.  But then, this was the penthouse floor.

Immediately ahead, across the ten or twelve feet of the room they were in a frosted glass door said simply "Garden".

Ashley led Ace across the room, impatiently, and pushed on the Garden door as if she'd owned the place.

And it opened out into a green vista of verdant glory.

Wooden latticeworks provided a basic structure, but the entire rooftop was modeled after an Elizabethan hedge-maze, with over-sized shrubbery that had been carved into various animal forms--mostly bears.  There were all sorts of alcoves adorned with tables and chairs for lovers to make secret trysts or write epic poetry... subtlely lit by hanging lamps fashioned to resemble candlelight in hand-held lanterns.

The "maze" was a series of concentric circles leading to a meeting area at the center where an open space had been cleared and a dance-floor had been put down.  Several tables had been set-up, as if in preparation for an upcoming event.  The dishes and glassware, had not yet been put out.  Overhead, the night sky was clear and the despite being one of the shorter buildings in the area, the stars shone brightly.

Though Ashley had rushed into the scene, she stopped abruptly, her expression of anticipation changing to trepidation.

There were four men in the center of the dance-floor area.  One was a heavy-set balding white man with a thick goatee, wearing a blue Adidas track suit.  At hi feet, on his knees, a tall thin man in a long black coat.  The track-suit guy loomed over the black-coat man with his hands loosely around the black-coat's neck.  Words were being exchanged, but Ace couldn't hear them. The other two were men in non-descript dark suits that positively screamed "lackey!"  or perhaps "henchman!"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:36, Thu 20 Oct 2022.

Cythi!
I'll let you write Cythi's entrance here.

The black coat-man is Gaunt.  You've met him, so you'd recognize him.

Both of you!
The track-suit guy is Maurice Dupennier, the one Seattle PD believe is at the top of the local prostitution ring.  Both you and Ace could say that you've seen his photos during your consult with McConnel with the Seattle PD.

"Oh no... Nononono!"  Ashley quickly pulled Ace into one of the lover's alcoves.   "They can't kill Gaunt.   What if they kill him?  They can't do that. That would mean that I... I can't be like this forever.  Not Gaunt.  I love Gaunt,  But Everything is Awesome.  You have to help him!"

There is no immediate evidence of any weapons on-scene.   However, the posture of the two of them is very much master & servant.  If Dupennier were behind Gaunt--not facing him--it would look like a set-up for a gangland execution.  Gaunt's arms are behind him... unfettered, but out of view.  HIs long black coat is open revealing a bare chest.  There appears to be something dark on his chest.  Possibly blood.

Dupennier holds Gaunt's chin and is talking low and fast, his face within inches of Gaunt's.  His expression screams arrogant disdain.

Before cythi ports she looks at her clothing and rips parts of it thinking she is super happy this is not something super duper nice.  Then the next thing she does is smack herself in the face to get the 'sparkle eyes'  Or at least eyes that are teary.  And she teleports somewhere in the room and plays this up the best she can.

Look of panic on her face looking mildly assualted or accosted and letting the waterworks go if she can.  Seeing Gaunt she actually runs up to him, "Mr Gaunt.  I am so happy to see you here as after taking Gagambia to the hospital and leaving that....that person there I came back to the party as I seemed to have lost my phone.  Some totally nice guy said he would help me find it but I think he was ore interested in making out or worse."  She plays up the naivety she has but plays it with reality.

Deception - 16 (21)
Persuasion just in case she needs it and deception fails - 6 (11)



Rolled out of order
21:53, Today: Cythi rolled 6 using 1d20+4.  Persuasion (+5 for attractive *2).
21:56, Today: Cythi rolled 16 using 1d20+2.  Deception (+5 for attractive 2 if applicable).

Ace was disappointed that Ashley lead her to the roof, she was hoping that she would be led to a penthouse that DuPennier or his gang used for bugging. She was really impressed by the maze garden on the top floor though as she let Ashley pull her forward.  Suddenly they came around a corner to see Gaunt being threatened by DuPennier, she quickly placed a hand over Ashley's mouth and pulled her out of sight, gesturing for her to be quiet.  She gestured for Ashley to stay in place as she moved to the corner so she could watch what was going on between Gaunt and DuPennier, just in time to see Cythi appear and acting in a panic about losing her phone.

It was a good act, but the worse time for it.  And there was a time limit, the rest of the Ashley clones were on their way as well, hopefully, but unfortunately they would just create chaos.  Cursing under her breath, they were supposed to observe and maybe get a bug planted, approaching DuPennier was not part of the mission.  Although if he tried to kill Gaunt in front of them, that might be enough to get DuPennier arrested. She looked behind her to make sure Ashley was still behind her and signaling her to keep quiet.

Whispering quietly, "Lets walk out, we are going to be pretending to be up there to see the garden.  With so many witnesses around, they aren't going to want to do anything illegal," Ace explained to Ashley quickly.  "Act surprised when we come around the corner and see them." The red head hoped her own acting skills were up to the task of acting surprised.

Taking Ashley's hand, she boldly walked out of the alcove, "These gardens are fantastic!  Thank you so much for showing them to me," she giggled at Ashley as she swayed smoothly in her stiletto heels around a corner and coming into sight. She immediately stopped walking and widened her eyes in surprise at was going on in front of her.  Although she was ready to dodge any attack by flying upwards. "Oh!! Umm....??" She blinked her eyes nervously as she moved between Ashley and the mobsters protectively.


OOC: 01:17, Today: Ace rolled 16 using 1d20+4.  Stealth: being quiet.

01:34, Today: Ace rolled 9 using 1d20+3.  Persuasion/Deception. Acting surprised to see the men threatening Gaunt.  +2 circumstance bonus from Attractive if they find Ace attractive; total: 11

Your acting is, apparently, convincing enough.  But Ashley is still an Ashley...

As Cythi stepped forward, the heavy-set track-suit guy held his position--holding Gaunt's chin in his hand with enough pressure that Gaunt's face was all jowly.  But he turned his face to face the uninvited guests.  "Otvali!" he snarled, harshly.

Gaunt lifted both his hands in a "what-can-you-do?" expression that seemed entirely out of context with the supposed intensity of the situation.  He seemed more amused than intimidated.  But his expression changed in a moment, as he registered who was with Ace.   One of his Ashleys!

Both of the guards stepped forward, one moving to Cythi, putting an arm out to direct her back towards the entrance she hadn't emerged from.  The other to block their view of whatever was going down between Dupennier and Gaunt.

"Wait!"  Dupennier said.  "She's one of your Betties."  He nodded at Ashley.

"Ashley, actually."  Gaunt said.

Dupennier shook Gaunt's head back and forth making Gaunt go fish-lipped.

"What?" Gaunt said, eyes wide his voice a higher-pitched whine.  "She is!"

"Why every time you're on your knees, women come running?"

Gaunt tried to shrug.  "Healthy living?"  he held a shit-eating grin.

Dupennier rolled his eyes and pushed Gaunt back, releasing his grip.  Gaunt sprawled back to lay on his back. "Go." He said. "Take your whores inside.  Get their rake, then get them back to work.  Longer she's up here, longer she's not down there."

Ashley waved, her hands pressed together in front of her.  She was clearly excited; Ace could fairly feel the suppressed glee from where she was standing.

Gaunt stood and shook himself out , straightened his jacket and heaved a heavy sigh.    He offered a foppish half-bow and walked carefully over to Cythi.

But he stopped in front of Cythi.  He laid a hand on her shoulder, but his eyes didn't leave Ashley's.   "You... you lost your phone?"  He asked as if it had just occurred to him what she had said.   He was astute enough to tell that this entire situation was contrived, but he couldn't see the angle on it.

"Ladies..." he put his arm around Cythi, like a long-lost lover or a drunken ex-boyfriend.  "let's head inside for a moment.  I've got some pinks and some blues and a line of snow before we move on to what's next..."

From her vantage point, Cythi heard one of the bodyguards mutter to the heavy-set track-suit guy. "I'd trade the Ashley in for that one." 

Gaunt walks Cythi over to Ashley & Ace.  "You've brought me veritable peach!" he said loudly enough for Dupennier to hear, his arms flamboyantly all over the place.

"Now.  Turn around and walk with me.  Like you know me and like me."

"But I do like you!" Ashley whispered conspiratorily.

"I know."  Gaunt said dismissively.  "Lets just get into the suite, then get out.  The faster we do this, the better.  Doo-Penny's not bright but he's not exactly stupid, either."

So, are you going to let Gaunt guide you?

Cythi happy that her ruse was accepted for now should Gaunt find the phone.  If worst came to it and he found the phone she figures she would lie and say was trying to find a way to chat with him again.  Still no need for that for now.

"Yes I think after I lost it before I took Gagambia to the hospital  I had to borrow hers to tell people what happened.  And then came back to look for mine."  She says in response to the phone.

Then she hears



Figuring it probably reference to Ace but for now but just in case they were meaning her  she thinks it is best that she let Gaunt guide and as such does not hesitate in doing so.  Al while she does not think Gaunt is a good person she for some reason feels she can trust him enough.  Might be the interaction with Portia as well.  Still she was not sure if Ace was going to follow suit but she was not a mind reader and sadly only a porter.  And the advantage of being a porter was if danger got too intense she could get out of there! "I will follow you easily wherever you want to go right now!"

She even thinks to herself, Is this way of being chivalrous?

Ace frowned as she retreated from the garden area, "umm..yes, we will just...go with Gaunt." She nodded her head as she walked out of the area with Cythi, Gaunt and Ashley.  Her fingers twitched as she wanted to remove Gaunt's hand from Cythi's waist as they walked toward the elevator. But Gaunt was taking them to the elevator and hopefully down to Dupennier's apartment.  This might be the best chance of them seeing if there was Exalt drugs and maybe they could plant a bug.

The biggest worry she had, was that Ashley was going to introduce her as Rachel, at which point Gaunt might get suspicious of her, since she will not be the Rachel he sent the Ashley's to bring to him.

For the moment, she was pretending she wasn't with Cythi, maybe that would give them an advantage if things started going down.

Gaunt led them out of the gardern and back into the foyer antechamber.  He crossed the small space and rapped on the unmarked door.

A moment later, it opened and a young man, dressed in a very expensive French-collared business shirt and dress slacks that cost more than most people's rent, gave a briefly quizzical expression.  He had precisely-coiffed lustrous brown hair and the five-o'clock shadow that screamed intense care.   He gave Gaunt a once-over, sniffed, then opened the door further.

The insides of the penthouse suite was decorated in golds and tans with accents in black and white.  It was a modern feel, a distinct difference from the Victorian throwback of the rest of the hotel.

Gaunt pushed beyond the man who answered the door and led them into the main room.  It was an open concept design with an enormous front room with a sunken seating area and a fireplace, glass walls on two of the sides, providing a view of the city, the Smith Tower in particular.  Once, it would have been a magnificent vista, but it had been curtailed bit-by-bit by the expansion of more and more high-rises which blocked the view.

There were a half-dozen people on the balcony beyond the glass-walls, and two men sitting in the sunken seating area.  They paid no attention to you.

Gaunt led you immediately to the right, and through a set of gold-colored double-doors, into a bedroom.  It was conservative for all the gold in the area.  Still a hotel room.  A king-sized bed, a framed oil painting of some sort of marshy landscape.  A n antique style writing desk and lamp, a wide-screen television.

And on the bed, dressed in, of all things, a giant fluffy panda onesie, was a blonde woman.  She was reclined on the pillows, with one hand over her head and the other across the covers in front of her, as if pretending to be a twenties' style starlet in grief.  And she snored quietly, contentedly.  The resemblance to Ashley-One was perfect.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:24, Wed 09 Nov 2022.

"So..." Gaunt turned to Cythi. "I'm sorry, my little dove.  Your phone.  I hadn't seen it.  I mean, after you left, I suppose the hotel staff should have a lost and found.   But, you've kind of slipped into a very dangerous space and you really need to leave before the really bad men out there take a special interest in you."

"And you." Gaunt turned to Ashley-One.  "You are special beyond words.  Beyond hope.  I don't know what I would have done without you! You are the light of my life.  To bring me this... this wonderful woman!"

Ashley-One fairly gushed with unabashed pleasure, cooing her delight at the praise.

But then he turned to Ace.  "I didn't think Rebecca would actually bring you here.  You know she's using you, right?  I know, I know!"  he waved his hands around airily, "She's your mother! She'd never do you wrong!  But wake up, girl!  She's Ursula to your Ariel.  And your secret's out.  The guy in the garden.  He wants you for himself.  I... I don't want you for what you can do.  I don't want to make you do anything.  Nothing's worthwhile if it isn't offered freely." He flicked a glance at Ashley-One.

"I just..." He sighed heavily.  Over-dramatically.  "You aren't alone, Okay?  You don't have to do this alone.  I can help get you out.  But you have to trust me.  Do you want my help?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:46, Wed 09 Nov 2022.

Ace followed Gaunt down into the apartment a little nervously, especially as she saw that there were other mobsters in the main room hanging around.  But Cythi could get them out at any moment and she could always leap out a window.

Noticing that no one was paying particular attention to them, Cameron let herself stumble in her 7 inch platform stiletto heeled sandals and dropped her clutch on the floor next to an end table.  Kneeling down on one knee, she quickly gathered up her clutch, pulling a bug out of it and sneaking onto the bottom of the end trouble, out of sight unless someone went looking directly there.  She flushed as she got up and kept walking with Gaunt, Ashley and Cythi into a back bedroom.

She looked around the bedroom, as widening as she saw what was probably the original Ashley laying out on the bed as Gaunt was talking with Cythi and congratulated Ashley-one for bringing her to him.  She crossed her arms and cocked a hip as he started trying to con her into accepting his help.  "I don't know who you are or how you think my mother is using me." She stated disbelievingly.  Of course Rebecca wasn't her mother and was clueless about what her supposed relationship was with Rebecca. "And I am certainly not trusting a stranger just because they ask me to." She really wanted to punch this guy out, but she was worried that would blow their cover. "This is not what I was expecting," she stated, letting her nervousness leak out, "I should just leave with her." She pointed at Cythi,  The redhead was wondering when the army of Ashley's were going to arrive, they might make a great distraction, although she also wondered if she should grab Ashley-prime to bring with them as well.

Cythi tries to keep knowing exactly where her phone is still she can't help but in a way like this Gaunt person.  He seemed troubled and she has a soft spot to help troubled beings.  But in this case.

"If worst comes to it it is a phone.  All my stuffed was stored on the cloud so I just need a new phone."  Cythi says smiling.  "If you want we can all get out of here easily."  She knows that Gaunt has likely seen her teleport but not one hundred percent sure.  Still she makes the offer!

Gaunt looked at Cythi with a curious expression, as if he hadn't expected the offer.  "That.s... oh, doll.  thank-you..  But let me just do this first."

He stepped back and put his hand around Ashley-One's hip.  "Thank-you, lovely lady."  He said as he nuzzled at her neck, whispering in her ear--loud enough that everybody in the room heard it.  Ashley-One fairly coo'd with the attention she was getting from him.

Gautn continued, his voice strangely mesmerizing, even vaguely menacing, "Remember... when you wake up, it was all a dream.  None of it was real.  But you will remember what it's like the next time you ignore a girl's protests.  No-one likes to be powerless.."

Gaunt touched his other hand to Ashley-One's forehead and she shivered.  And as she shivered, a shower of pink and silver glitter fell from her like a bad glitter-bomb, leaving a circle of pink and silver all around... well, him.

He was a short man, a weight-lifted obviously.  Powerfully-built with shoulders almost as wide as he was tall.  He had a shaved head and a clipped brown moustache.   He wore a tailored grey pinstriped suit but his eyes were sunken and vaguely haunted, glassy, even.

Cythi had seen Stitches towering over him, clenching and unclenching his fists before he'd gone back out to the van...  Some sort of bad history between the two men.

"Okay.  Now would be a good time to go."  Gaunt said.  "It'll be a couple of minutes before the chain-reaction hits the others..."  He reached over to try to take Ace's hand.  "Now that you're safe, there's no point in them hounding you, right?"


--
OOC: I find it incredibly amusing this set-up.  So, I'm going to continue to run with it that Gaunt thinks Ashley-One brought him Rachel.  He thinks Ace is Rachel.  I'm sure he'll be disappointed when he learns otherwise.  But I'd much rather we draw this out than that you disavow him of that opinion right now!

Ace/Rachel pretended to be confused by Cythi offering to get them out of there easily, since as far as Gaunt knows, they don't know each other.

Then Gaunt went over and whispered to Ashley, releasing whatever power he had on her as she changed into a he.  A man that she had seen Stitches talking to. "What the hell??"  Ace/Rachel jumped back from Gaunt and the guy as she tried to appear shocked as Ashley turned into a man. "What did you do to her... errr...him!  And You think I am going anywhere with you now?"  She asked as she backed away from him, remembering Ashley's warning about being touched by Gaunt. "And what did you do to the blonde on the bed?" She asked as she did her best to sound nervous, which she was as being subtle was not her strong suit.

She turned to look at Cythi, "I don't know what is going on here?  It looked like they were doing drugs out there and somehow he changed that guy into a copy of the blonde."  She spoke to Cythi as she moved to be closer to her teammate as she nodded at the blonde unconscious on the bed, who was probably a innocent bystander or a witness of what goes on up here.  She was trying to indicate to Cythi they should leave without Gaunt but maybe grab the unconscious blonde.


OOC: Yes, this is a fun situation.  And once he learns she isn't Rachel, then she can punch him in the face! ;)

Unfortunately for Ace any indication kinda flew over Cythi's head who was not the master of subtle or hints at all.  "Don't worry as it is a power he used much like the one I am about to use to get us out of here."

This is also because of the confusion she has for Gaunt and almost feeling like he may have been some form of anti hero.  And that made her partially respect him.  Still though this was not the time nor place for this and as such she focuses on teleporting them all to the same hospital that she took Gagambia too.  But to make sure they are willing offers a hand for them to grab to make the decision.

She closes her eyes and visualizes the location and in a blink of the eye she transports them all.  "I figured this would be best place that way we can check on Gagambia and we can all go to where we need to next." She smiles actually proud of herself for thinking of this.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:39, Sat 26 Nov 2022.

Two considerations:

From your text, I'm assuming you teleported to the hospital Gagamba's at.  Correct?

Also... how does the teleportation, look and feel?  What would Ace experience?  Would she have any say in the matter?  A portal she's got to set through is gonna be vastly different from a touch and "pop!" you're gone...

Correct.



I visualize it like a transporter from Startrek.  Although probably a bit faster considering although good point is if she would willingly go or not.

I will edit post to offer a hand that way it is Ace's decision.