Library

As Patrick kept waiting, he got a bit bored, so he decided to ask Lark a question. "Hey Lark," he began, "could you sing for me?" She had a lovely voice, and he was curious if he could sing.

edited 18th Dec '16 6:31:52 AM by Vampireandthen

San Lorenzo, Cornelia's Shop

She indeed did, handing him the armor with a smile and polite headbow. "There you go, if needed I can also make small alterations to it so it fits better."

Returning the bow, Seawell took the suit and went into the dresser.

A few moments later, he emerged, clothes changed, walked over to a mirror, and smiled.

The padding was a bit stuffy, but not as heavy as he had expected (actually it was probably because he was in better physical condition now than he used to be) and it looked surprisingly like a trenchcoat. Add to it the cudgel (which he was holding upside down, making it look like a cane with a thick handle) and he looked quite hip, in his eyes anyway.

"Yep, this will do" he told Cornelia. "Hopefully I'll never have to test these, but I feel safer carrying them around."

Then he mused for a bit. He wondered if the centaur had received the same warning that he had. Probably, given her place in the city's monster community, but it didn't hurt to ask.

"Forgive my asking, but... did you get the email? From DirtyRat I mean."

San Lorenzo, Cornelia's Shop

Cornelia looked as the Faun reemerged from the cabin, looking happy enough. "Wonderful, and I hope this too." Hearing the question she tilted her head slightly "Nein, I don't think so, why are you asking? Actually... maybe, last time I checked was yesterday so maybe." She knew DirtyRat was the name of an informant for monsters, not the most unimportant of things seeing she was one herself. "Did the mail say something important?"

edited 18th Dec '16 10:59:30 PM by Sergey_Smirnov

Seawell stroked his short goatee, as he was wont to do, and said, "Well, it might be no more than a rumor, but Rat has heard that the Van Helsings are coming to San Lorenzo." He let that sink in for a moment. "That's why I'm buying these, to be honest. Not that I expect to have to use them, or even know if these people *are* real, but, just in case" he added sheepishly.

"You should take some precautions, too" he then said, but then realized she probably had an arsenal at her disposal.

edited 18th Dec '16 3:29:02 PM by Sijo

San Lorenzo, Cornelia's Shop

"The Van Helsings? That sounds like trouble, I don't know if they are real either... but if they are I assume..." The centauress let the idea circle in her head "I'll be stocking up on cudgels and padded armor in monster shapes."

Library Cafe

Lark frowned when Patrick mentioned singing. She had liked to, before the Change, but to do it now would be an...issue.

"I shouldn't. Siren's song is dangerous."

Having said that, she moved to the freezer and pulled out several mini-mousse cakes and cut each into four. She then placed each piece in a small plastic cup with a spoon and a drop of rassberry coulis, placing them on trap on display and handing one to Patrick.

San Lorenzo Port

The Van Helsing siblings considered the offer. On the one hand, they weren't sure if they could trust these girls to keep their presence a secret, and if word got out that they were in town, Lady Von Helsing would know. On the other hand, it was true that they didn't really know their way around San Lorenzo and could benefit immensely from having a guide. On a hypothetical third hand, Leopold was not a fan of this "Sloane" girl's attitude.

Surprisingly, it was the shy Maria-Beatrice who finally spoke up.

"Thank you. I believe my brother and I will take you up on that offer. After all, no one knows a city better than its residents, right Leopold?"

Leopold was much less on board with the idea, but he knew better than anyone that there would be no changing his sister's mind.

He gave a halfhearted nod. "Right, MB."

Library

Patrick looked at her pleadingly. He took a bite out mouss, and smiled. "This is great!" He declared. He swallowed, trying to keep his head on his shoulders as he did so. "I think I'll be fine to hear you sing. See," he took off his head at that part, "I'm a Dullahan." He smiled at her and held out his head.

Cornelia's Shop

The centaur's answer made Seawell smile; rather than being worried, she saw the profit angle. Pretty sly.

"Good for you" he said. "Well then, if I may have my card back, I'll be heading home now." He extended his left hand (he was holding his 'cane' on the other) palm side up to receive it.

edited 19th Dec '16 6:11:03 AM by Sijo

San Lorenzo, Cornelia's Shop

Cornelia bowed her head again "Of course." She smiled lightly and gave the Faun the card back. After that she waited patiently for him to get out or talk a bit more with her.

"Thanks for everything" Seawell said with a sincere smile. "I'll be back another time for the pants, OK?"

And with that, he nodded, and exited the store.

Yup, he was feeling pretty content now. Not just safer, but cooler. Eh, he probably looked silly, especially since he still was wearing the hat and shoes he had before, but he didn't really care about that.

Whistling merrily, he started making his way home.

It was starting to get dark...

edited 19th Dec '16 3:39:01 PM by Sijo

San Lorenzo, Cornelia's Shop

Cornelia bowed her head again and smiled "Thank you for your patronage." As he left she turned around, making her way up the stairs - veeery slowly. As she arrived there she shortly knocked at the door of her guestroom, loud enough to beheard but not really loud enough to wake somebody with a halfway deep sleep "Is everything alright or do you require something?"

San Lorenzo Port

"San Lorenzo is a fairly peaceful town, all things considered," Hildegard began, smiling giddily. "There was a surge in violence in the months immediately following the M-reactor's malfunction, but things have gotten to a manageable level. Most monsters typically keep to themselves. The ones who do commit crimes tend to be more desperate than anything else, and a little intimidation is enough to convince them to stay within the law. The ones who are repeat offenders tend to attack at night, so most of our patrols aren't until sundown..."

As Hildegard continued to rattle off exposition, Sloane eyed the Van Helsings. The man was easy to figure out - racist (speciesist?) against monsters, probably drunk at the moment given the half-empty bottle of booze he was holding.

The woman - MB - not so much. Looking at her made Sloane feel nervous for reasons she couldn't quite explain. She let the other guy do most of the talking, but it was obvious that he deferred to her. She didn't look like much of a fighter - maybe she was a magician like Myrna?

San Lorenzo Docklands - Starry Night

The early night air was filled with the smell of brine and humanity, the empty streets and flickering lights stretched out like a vast web. Their glow mingled with the waning light of the horizon, early rising stars reflected on the dark waters below. Seabirds and insects chirped amongst themselves until the Jötunn's careful footsteps agitated them into flight. Karl smiled sadly and shook his head, "Kalmeren, kleintjes, kalmeren~" His voice was deep but soothing, if a little too loud. With lungs that size volume control was a difficult task, as was avoiding tripping over trash cans or parked cars.

Karl van der Aajehof, or 'Karl The Child-Eater' as entirely too many of the local populace insisted on calling him, sighed to himself and continued to plod through the dock warehouses. At least the night's cloak protected him a little from their heckling, though it was a touch lonely. Tins of paint hung from each of his massive, stone-nailed fingers and clangs against each other. How he managed to purchase them, if he purchased them at all, was best left unsaid. The frost giants apparent serenity was tinged with anxiety, however. He had heard rumors that the infamous Van Helsings were on their way to San Lorenzo for reasons too terrible to contemplate. Karl hoped that they were simply rumors and that they were only an urban legend.

The smell of human was getting stronger and the giant heard voices getting louder. Karl stopped mid-stride, looking about for some kind of hiding place, "Godverdomme!" He muttered, finding nothing.

San Lorenzo Port

Leopold suddenly cut off Hildegard's exposition.

"Wait a minute, "commit crimes"? You're making those things sound like people!"

Maria-Beatrice sighed. This had been going so well too. And then she sensed someone (or something) else nearby.

"Shelf that for now, something's coming."

Cornelia's Shop

Sammy was taken off guard by the question. What did she need? She had her own room, and an actual bed! (She'd figure out the exact mechanics of lying down later). And she had a way to interact with objects for extended periods without dissolving them!

Actually, that last part gave her an idea. And maybe even a way to start paying Cornelia back.

"Umm... Do you maybe have.. colored pencils? It's, uh, been a while since I've been able to practice my art.."

San Lorenzo Port - Still Life

Karl heard the voices, once carelessly loud, cut off abruptly as he crouched at the corner. He heard a woman's voice hush them, apparently aware of his presence already, "Verdomme mijn voeten!" He swore under his breath, assuming it was his calamitous footsteps that had alerted the group. "Some-thing..." He lamented, leaning against the building and trying to calm his heart. It was foolish to panic - after all, they were most likely just citizens enjoying the sea air or dock workers staying late. The Jötunn swallowed, straightened him self.

Karl 'The Child-Eater' kept to the shadows the best he could, his best attempt at tip-toeing as he snuck a few cautious glances at the group from the corner of his eyes. A glint caught his coal-like eyes, the street lights reflecting off of something metallic, "Is dat-" Suddenly the giant was tumbling forward and crashed into the ground, tripped by pile of wooden beams. His paints were flung wide, fortunately only a few opening but one rolling towards the human group, "Kut!"

Lark, Library

So Patrick was a duhallan. It certainly explained the horse she had seen earlier. Well, she supposed it was worth a shot, and if it seemed like an issue she would stop.

Besides she hadn't sang in so long.

Taking a quick look around the library (it was later than she expected), she saw that it was pretty well empty.

"Tell me if I'm getting too loud."

Then she began to sing. It was ethereal, a wordless lament, voice layered upon voice. It rose in pitch, then decreased. It wavered. Sometimes it would just be her singing, others, an entire choir would join. Melodies and harmonies entwined, and the song offered promises. Promises of Patrick's wildest dreams coming true, of all his mistakes wiped away, of everything he ever wanted.

And then it stopped, as Lark closed her mouth and looked at Patrick.

San Lorenzo Port - Out for a Walk (Drift? Hover? Something)

Jack had been drifting aimlessly around San Lorenzo, avoiding larger groups of people. Individuals skirted around him, and ran from him on occasion; groups of people could be bolder... and much stupider. He'd rather not have an angry mob coming after him because he had accidently scared someone.

He had drifted towards the harbor, attracted by the night sky and the open water. He was... hesitant about the open sea, now. The wraith didn't know how it might affect him. He had been meaning to get someone to help him test the effects of water on his form, but he hadn't had the time lately, with everything going on. He'd have to ask Ros or Patrick some time.

A loud crash distracted him from his thoughts. The cloaked figure whirled around, shadows swirling around him as he prepared for a fight... only to see a fellow monster on the ground, paint cans rolling everywhere. With a sigh of relief (and guilty feelings for being relieved) Jack drifted towards him, unaware of the hunters.

"Are you alright?" He asked, extending a claw to the fallen giant, the temperature around them dropping a few degrees. He'd never seen a monster like this guy, but he was still a monster. They had to stick together.

Library

Patrick stared at Lark. He was processing what he had just heard. The song had been....beautiful. Divine. Heavenly even. Now, he was just staring at Lark. Taking her in. Letting his eyes run up and down her body. She was beautiful. What her song had offered him. He wanted it so bad. He stared to take a step forward, holding his head out towards her....

The brutal and harsh sound of a horse's a whinny caused him to scream in pain, and drop his head. He could hear the rough, cruel bellows of his horse. It's voice snorting at him.

You cannot erase what you've done! You are a spirit of death! You use the spine of a person as a weapon!

Patrick's body was shaking with tension, while his head lay on the ground, groaning.

Street, near Port

Seawell was shaken out of his relaxed mood by a series of noises. First, there were the sounds of- giant steps? nearby. Wait, didn't the 'child-eater' giant live by here? Not that he believed that particular story, if it were real they would have taken him down by now. Still he didn't care to meet someone who could crush him even by accident.

Then came a noise of something *big* falling to the ground. That's it, I'm outta here, the faun thought, and bolted.

Except San Lorenzo's streets could be confusing, especially at night; instead of moving away from where Karl laid, he moved *towards* him.

San Lorenzo, Cornelia's Shop

Cornelia gave a nod with a smile (of course the slime would not see that gesture). "Yes, although sadly its nothing too fancy, but I should have some." She went away to search for a bit and soon indeed returned with some colored pencils, nothing special but at least something. As she got to the door again she was about to enter, although still knocked before opening - not that there was a high chance of her walking into the room as the slime was changing or anything along the lines, but hey, common courtesy "May I come in?"

San Lorenzo Port

Hildegard was about to respond to Leopold's...odd statement, when a paint can rolled towards them.

It was a Jotunn - possibly the same one accused of murder and cannibalism a short while ago. He had been acquitted on all charges, but he could still be a threat - not that he looked like one splayed out on the ground, surrounded by paint cans.

A wraith suddenly showed up, offering to help the Jotunn with the paint cans. He didn't seem to notice any of the hunters, and neither did the faun running towards them.

It could have been a coincidence, but having three monsters show up during a meeting between hunters (even an informal one) seemed too big to be one.

Hildegard readied a crossbow bolt - rubber, in case none of them really meant any harm. It wouldn't kill them, but it did hurt like hell, as Hildegard could attest.

"State your business."

Sloane, meanwhile, stepped in front of the Van Helsings. "Don't do anything stupid, m'kay? This is our territory, and genocide's not really our style."

Seawell skidded to a stop as soon he as spotted the giant lying on the ground. Then he saw the 'dark ghost', and then he saw the woman pointing in their direction with- a crossbow?!

"Wait! Don't shoot! I haven't done anything!!" he gasped, rising both hands (but not dropping his 'walking cane'.)

San Lorenzo Port - What We Are In The Dark...

"Niet erg sierlijk..." The frost giant groaned, shaking his head as he lay on the ground. He trumped a great, stony finger on the pavement and sighed before looking up to the voice above him. The figure was like a shadow wrapped in a fashionable trench-coat, Karl relieved to see a fellow 'monster' rather than heckling people, "Yes... Yes, I am quite alright - thank you!" He returned a warm smile, apparently unfazed or unaware of the cold surrounding the wraith's claws, "But I have vandalized the pavement, it seems..." He added, scratching his chin as he stood, towering over the scene as he remembered what had made him trip.

Karl frowned as he saw the crossbow, fears confirmed - they were hunters, a revelation that inspired a flash of fury the giant tried to ignore, "Oh, uh... Hallo!" The Jötunn greeted with a friendly wave, "I was just going home - I did not mean to... interrupt anything, my friends." He explained, nervously picking up the paint cans nearest himself and eyeing the one rolling towards the hunters. The one with the crossbow, a young woman in anachronistic leather, wasn't very welcoming though her friend was at least advising against wholesale slaughter of innocents. The other two... They seemed odd. A teen-aged girl with a powerful air and a man who reeked of alcohol. In the distance he saw a figure approaching, though he smelled as much of animal as he did of man - most likely another monster.

"Please, I - we mean no harm. My name is Karl van der Aajehof..." Karl introduced himself with a slight bow, taking a cautious step towards the hunters, "I am just a painter, you see?" He indicated his paint cans and then suddenly thrust a hand forward to shake theirs - clearly a reflexive action, given the hand was too large for them to hold.