It is currently 17:06 Pacific Time on Mon Dec 29 2003.
Currently the moon is in the waxing Half Moon phase (42% full).
Cockroach Mansion: The Basement
As the group makes their way into the basement, a group of three men are sitting
in cheesy old fold up metal chairs. Over-sufficent amounts of rope and
duct tape and gags have been applied to keeping these men silent and
immoblie. One of them however isn't going to be a problem, as his glassy
opened eyes peering lifelessly at the ceiling from his head which has
fallen back, tongue lodging in his throat having killed him in the middle
of the night.
As people climb down into the basement, you hear the muffled calls from behind
duct tape and rag gags screaming out at you.
Heading over to the three bodies, Jeremy stares at the dead one for a moment,
then uses his foot to shove the chair over. Thunk. "Good morning
gentlemen. I hope the th--.. two of you slept well."
Salem has thrown a red flannel shirt over his black t-shirt and is looking
remarkable casual. Tense, but casual. He circles around behind the
prisoners, hands buried in his pockets, his expression tight with
distaste.
While their mouths are silenced when Jeremy asks his question, when their
friend is uncerimoniously kicked over and ignored, eyes grow wide staring
violence and hate at the kin.
"The Don here has a few questions to ask you, but, since he doesn't feel like
speaking, I guess my friend here will have to ask them instead." Jermey
says, motioning to the rather large looking female behind him. "She is in
a bad mood, a real bad mood. You see, I woke her up this morning to tell
her about this problem that you caused upon my home." He says, arms
crossing over his chest. Staring at the other pair, he offers a quick
grin. "So.. we can do this the easy way.. or the hard way. The hard way
is going to suck for you, but be quite fun for us." Stepping forward, he
yanks the gag out of one of the mouths, staring. "What is your name and
who do you work for?"
Salem comes back around to the front and stands behind Jeremy, in full view of
the prisoners. The Walker folds his arms across his chest and stares
flatly at them.
The one whose gag is ripped away gives a loud grunt as the action is done, but
stays thinlipped and silent after wards. Looking over first Jeremy with
distaste then a bit more... passively over Salem, he turns his head to
look away from his interogators.
Staring at the man for a moment, Jeremy clears his throat. "Can you speak
English?"
A stream of Russian from the ungaged man that ensues, the violence of his words
making them seem perhaps threatening even from where he sits, is the only
answer Jeremy recieves.
"Ah. I see." Kneeling down, Jeremy takes the man by the chin and stares into
his eyes, before calmly saying. "Here, let me help you learn some English
then.... repeat after me...." He clears his throat. "Oh god.. Oh god..
please, stop. Don't tear that off. I need that... oh god.. don't kill me."
Signe's left her jacket upstairs and comes to the basement in a simple,
unmarked black t-shirt and jeans. She does indeed look fairly irritated,
and a very large, sharp, wickedly curved knife is sheathed in a cargo
pocket in her jeans. She watches Jeremy and the tied Russians impassively
for a moment and then leans over to whisper something to Salem.
Salem's jaw tightens, his lips compressing into a thin, hard line. He remains
silent, however.
He jerks his eyes away when the thin goth grabs his chin, but as Jeremy speaks,
his eyes trace a slow line back towards the kin's face. Spoken now with
such a thick accent one would have to be paying attention to understand
it, the ungaged man speaks. "My name is not important... and you know who
I work for."
From afar, to the room, Signe asks the Walker boss what we're planning to do
with these guys when we're done, how far can we go with the torture and,
well, if he considers it a veil breech if we shift in front of them. :)
"I honestly have no clue who you are." Jeremy says, staring at the man. "I have
no ties what so ever with the Russian Mob. And what sucks is that you
broke into my house, shot up my living room, and broke my new LCD
monitor." He pauses for a second and lets out a breath. "So, tell me. Who
do you work for?"
Salem listens to Signe, then shakes his head a bit. He takes out a PDA,
scribbles out a short note on it, and shows it to her. "Veil important
only if they live," says the screen.
From afar, to Salem and Jeremy, Darkfeather rewrites, "You earned yourself the
following from the raiders." | 3: Silenced 9mm Smith And Wesson (8 shot
clip, threaded barrel and elevated sights because of the large diameter
of the silencer). | 1: HK Mk23 Mod0, a .45 13-shot pistol with silencer
and a special tactical light/laser module mounted under the barrel. | 4
pairs of double locking handcuffs. | 4 high quality black carbon V steel
combat knives. | 8 military issue concussive flash bangs. (Not
particularly safe for /too/ close quarter combat usage) | 4 sets of
rapelling gear. | 4 combat retractable asps with solid steel ball tips. |
6 clips of 9mm NATO rounds made for silenced weapons and 2 clips of
.45ACP rounds for silenced weapons. Got 2 functional sets of night vision
goggles, 2 broken sets. Think thats about it.
Signe mutters, "That's what I thought. Well, I guess it depends on whether we
decide they live, then." Maybe that last part is said loud enough for the
two Russians to hear.
Jeremy pages: Thats a pretty darn good treasure we got :) So what is Salem
ganna allow Jer to keep?
Salem simply nods and clears the PDA screen before stowing it back into his
pocket. Folding his arms again, he observes the opening interrogations
carefully, keeping his ear trained for any falsehoods.
The man seems to be about to respond to Jeremy when he hears the muffled
conversation of the other two. "I work for people who would make whatever
you do to me feel like accupuncture... but..." He looks over directly at
Salem, "we were just after the fomori..."
You paged Jeremy with 'He'll make him share it with Rina. :>'.
".. The Fomori?" Jeremy trails it off slowly as he glances over to Salem and
Signe, then back to him. "What Fomori? Who?"
Salem arches an eyebrow and stares back at the man.
Signe mirrors Salem's reaction, and the Get's stance is much less relaxed.
The ungaged man just nods his head at Salem in answer. "We've seen what he can
do... grow twice his size into an *ugly fucking* tank." A few of the
words revert to Russian as he curses. "You people got a *fucking* demon
living with you, and you don't even know it... *idiots*."
Snaik pages: Someone whispers directly into your ear; "Ssiiilver."
"This is why I don't do drugs, you start to see things. I don't believe in
demons, sir." Jeremy says, jerking the man's face back to his, staring at
him. "And what you are saying is ludicrous. Less comic books for you and
more doses of reality from here out, OK?"
Salem's expression remains bland while the Russian speaks. As Jeremy answers
him, the Walker cocks his head as if listening to something, then glances
over to the side.
Signe shares a glance with Salem, but for the moment says nothing--letting
Jeremy do the talking to the Russians just yet.
The man bares his teeth, gnashing them together in Jeremy's face. "I know what
I've been told, *fucker*. And I know what I've seen... seen em before.
Been offered to become one even... but no fuckin' demon gonna take me.
You think you scare me, *punk*?" At this, the gagged man's eyes grow wide
and he starts trying to scream through his gag, looking directly at
Salem. His chair jumps slightly as he tries to use his legs to back away.
Snaik pages: The voice whispers again, though you can't see anyone, "He can see
us."
Signe finds what the Russian says intriguing, that's clear from the glimmer in
her eyes. Her question comes in a rather serious tone, "What's this word
you use, 'Fomori'? What's it mean, exactly? And where does it come from?"
Jeremy lets out a soft breath and shifts his eyes to the man for a moment, then
glances at the ungagged one. As Signe speaks, he lifts up to his feet and
backs off, letting her do the talking instead.
Salem, the Demon (though he hasn't been called that in years), narrows his
eyes, then looks thoughtfully at the gagged man. He wrinkles his nose,
and his expression of distaste deepens.
The ungaged one looks to Salem, as does the gagged one who is still trying to
scream out in fear. "He knows. He tell you."
Signe turns a glance on Salem, herself, trying to see whatever it is the scared
Russians see. Finally, looking at Jeremy, she adds, "I'm not sure this is
getting us anywhere. Upstairs for a moment?"
When Signe says this the gagged one lets out a shrill piercing that even
carries well through the gag, eyes wide like he sees the image that /is/
fear itself. This draws the attention of the ungagged one as well, who
looks over to his comrade. "*He can see them.*" He murmurs all in
Russian, then follows in English, "He sees the dead, and you people are
always followed by the dead."
"Cool, we'll make a movie out of it." Jeremy says with a shrug as he nods to
Signe, then starts making his way upstairs.
The gagged one looks straight forward, right at the wall for a moment, then
bucks with such force that his chair bounces up and flops over on its
side. His screaming renewing its fervor, the gagged and fallen man looks
over to the 'fomor' with pleading eyes as his scream is devoured by fear
and reduces to a pitiful sobbing.
Snaik pages: Another whisper in your ear. "You should take out his gag. He will
talk."
Signe scowls a little at the man, but she follows Jeremy up and tugs at Salem
to come as well.
The ungaged one just shakes his head, and looks away at the wall furthest from
either the Walkers or his comrade. The gagged one continues his pathetic
mewling that is cut off by the gag, arms and legs straining to be free
from their bonds as they jerk around bound to each other.
Salem exhales a silent, sighing breath, then gives Signe an irritated look,
waving her upstairs. He himself lingers behind. With a shake of his head
he stalks over toward the gagged, screaming prisoner and kneels down
behind him.
The end comes quickly, painlessly -- the Walker's hands cradle the gagged man's
head, and then, with a sharp *twist*, he breaks the man's neck. It's a
merciful killing, and he even seems regretful about it.
Straightening up, Salem shrugs out of the flannel shirt and lays it over the
newly dead man's face. Then he covers the older corpse's face as well,
with a handkerchief. Only _then_ does Salem head upstairs, leaving the
third alone with the dead.
Signe watches Salem silently and then slips upstairs with a small sigh. When
she gets to the parlor, she turns back to look thoughtfully at the Walker
elder and his kin. "I don't know what the hell this is all about--I'm
pretty sure Rina's the only one who can help with that. But, these guys?
I dunno what they're seeing down there." After saying this, the Get looks
meaningfully at Salem, as if maybe he has the answer for this.
The gagged man, looks up to Salem with pleading and crying eyes as he begs with
screams for something unknown. As he grips his head, the crying lowers to
a nearly silenced sobbing for moment before his neck is snaped.
Finally, as the group leaves the basement and is in the parlor, door closed
behind them... there is yelling first, then screaming begins anew. It
appears as if something is discomforting the only living person in the
basement.
Upstairs now, Salem's expression is grim. He takes out the PDA, writing
quickly. "Ghosts. Was quieter until recently." He glances back in the
direction of the basement, and his expression turns more dour.
Jeremy glances back to the door and nods. "Saw one this morning on my way to
Signe's place. Um.. bloody looking guy with no fingers, was cut up an had
welts. I asked him if he can talk to me, an he disapeared. That was it. I
think they aren't really trying to scare anyone, just communicate."
Signe doesn't seem to understand at first, despite the use of the PDA. She
looks confused. As the realization hits her, her eyes light up. "Oh! I
get it. Heh. Amusing." she glances between Jeremy and Salem once and then
argues, "But, that doesn't explain his belief in you as fomor. No
offense, Jack, but either you fucked up, or there's somethign even
weirder going on. either way, I think we need to have another half moon
out here."
Salem clears the screen, frowning, his eyes narrowed. His expression turns
thoughtful for a moment, as if he's searching his memory. In the end,
though, he just shakes his head and shrugs.
"But he used one of our words. Maybe someone else screwed up instead and put
the blame on Salem?" Jeremy asks.
The screaming has stopped, or at least has stopped being loud enough for people
to hear upstairs.
Signe nods to the kin, emphatically in fact. "A distinct possibility. Hell, if
that's the case I'll be happy, even if it means we've got yet another big
bad to add to the list of things that need killing. But, the first thing
we need to do is clear Salem. Make sure there's nothing..wrong with him.
" she looks at the Walker sidelong for a second before continuing. "Which
means I need someone with the gift of spotting taint and seeing true
forms. If he passes, all's good and we can turn our attention elsewhere.
And I have a feeling Jack'll pass. But, first, cover the bases, you know?"
Salem's eyes narrow at the Get. He snorts, shrugs again, then stalks over
toward his usual chair and takes a seat.
Jeremy nods his head and clears his throat. "I will speak to Aubrey then and
see if Crescent Wing can help us out then. They are full of healers and
spirtiualists and stuff like that."
Signe looks pleased. Salem's reaction is ignored for the moment. "I'd
appreciate that," she says, with a nod. "Since I'm not leaving Salem's
side til we get it settled. You think you can scare someone up soon?"
Jeremy reaches to his belt and slips off his cell phone, snapping it open. He
offers up a quick grin, then heads off into the other room. "One miracle,
coming up."
Joshua's bare feet sound down the hall: the youth finally worked up enough
nerve to come downstairs and investigate the strange screams he heard.
Carefully poking his head around the corner, he steps into the parlor
hesitantly.
Salem's gaze has drawn inward again, mismatched eyes narrowed as he thinks. One
hand rubs his chin absently.
Signe finds a chair opposite Salem and plants herself there, where she can
watch him. The Get looks relaxed for the most part, slouching a bit and
waving to the cub as he comes in.
Joshua relaxes as he see's Sig waving. And no dead bodies. "Hey Miz Sig." He
say upbeatly, smiling. "'s whats' going on, y'all watching a movie?" He
shuffles over to the back of the couch and leans on it.
"Something like that," Signe says to the cub, grinning a little. "How are you
settling in?"
Joshua nods enthusiastically. "Yep. Mister Jeremy 'n I went to clean up his
apartment 'tday." He frowns before adding. "Some Russians shot it up er
somethin'." The smile takes its place back, though. "But it was fun,
being outside the Mansion anyhow. I got to eat Chinese."
Jeremy hangs up the phone and heads back into the parlor. "Aubrey and Taslyn
are on their way over."
Salem stirs out of his thoughts to glance over at Joshua, then to Jeremy as the
kin announces incoming visitors. He nods once, then lapses back into
thought.
The motorcycle pulls up the driveway, which marks the arrival of the two Fianna.
Signe gets up on her feet when the Fianna arrive. She nods to Aubrey and has a
slight grin for Tas. "Thanks for coming over on such short notice," she
says, despite not at all being the master of this house. With a gesture
to Salem, she gets right to the point. "I need him checked out. True
form. And someone to look for taint."
Salem gives Signe another sour look, then pushes to his feet and stands, arms
folded across his chest.
Joshua's brow furrows at the sudden flurry of activity, none of it making sense
to him. Edging his way to Jeremy, he casually pokes Jeremy. "Um... Mister
Jeremy. What's going on?" He ask, really quietly.
Jeremy he motions to the two Fianna, then to Salem. "Just a check up, like you
would at a Doctor's. Except they have these supernatural type powers
called gifts. I'm not the best at explaining it.. cuz I'll never have a
grasp on what they do exactly or how they work."
Taslyn hops off the bike and looks to Aubrey as to where to go. She follows and
meets Signe first of all. Her eyes open wide when she is asked.
"Welcome... And you want Salem checked out?" Tas looks quite confused and
walks over to Salem. She gives him a bit of a sniff. She looks up at his
eyes and studies for a moment.
Joshua archs a brow, turning his head up to Jeremy. "... yes, but when I get a
checkup, usually I don't do it in the living room and usually I don't do
it with a room full of people around." Again, Josh speaks quietly to
Jeremy.
Jeremy nods his head and taps his skull. "They can see and smell things beyond
the normal layer of what we can smell and see, or even hear. Its like a
check up for your inner child."
Salem keeps still for the visual and spiritual examination, though seems a
trifle impatient about it. He stares blandly back at Taslyn, his scowl
deepening when the cliath meets his gaze.
Taslyn looks back to Signe. "As much as I think you want to hear something
else, he's garou. Pure and simple." She gives Salem a bow of her head.
"Forgive the look, Rhya." She looks around to everybody else. "What is
going on here?"
Joshua looks dubious, however, looking back to Aubrey, then at Taslyn. "They
say their watching a movie. I don't think they actually are." He calls
out to Taslyn.
Jeremy glances down to his cell phone as it suddenly goes off and blinks. He
opens it up and answers. "Hello?"
Aubrey follows Taslyn in through the door a little more slowly. The knife-moon
Fianna looks towards Jeremy as he picks up his phone, the young woman
saying nothing at all. She remains behind the party, only having given
the half-moon of her tribe a ride here from outside the city-limits.
Signe, on the contrary, looks positively delighted and relived at the Fiannas'
determinations. She grins back at both of them. "Good," she says,
glancing at Salem, nodding, and repeating it. "Good. Now, we can turn our
attention to whatever really /is/ doing this."
Jeremy furrows his brows slightly and checks the caller ID on the phone, then
says back into the phone. "Alright, what buisness is it you speak of?"
Salem, however, has a glance at the clock over the television and excuses
himself from the discussion. Not that he'd be saying much anyway. He
heads out, pausing at the hall closet to gather up his coat and gloves.
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