Assassinatrix04

[10/28/2014 5:09:57 PM] Canto: So, last time, Crow was a Ghost Adventurer.

[10/28/2014 5:11:44 PM] Crow: Crow had then got the hell out of town!

[10/28/2014 5:14:38 PM] Canto: Yep! HEaded to Denver, where Jensen told here there was a dead drop waiting for her.

[10/28/2014 5:15:21 PM] Crow: ((Was it Denver or Chicago?))

[10/28/2014 5:16:33 PM] Canto: ((The dead drop was in Denver, but the people he's setting her up with are in Chicago.))

[10/28/2014 5:18:15 PM] Crow: ((ooh, right.))

[10/28/2014 5:18:25 PM] Crow: Crow still obeys the traffic laws like a good little killer.

[10/28/2014 5:21:48 PM] Canto: Well, no one is on your trail, thankfully! So driving like a maniac would just make people think you're a maniac.

[10/28/2014 5:22:00 PM] Canto: How long do you drive?

[10/28/2014 5:23:58 PM] Crow: Crow will either go til she gets there, or til she's very tired again!

[10/28/2014 5:25:09 PM] Canto: You can get there by nightfall!

[10/28/2014 5:25:35 PM] Crow: Crow does, in that case. And goes for the drop first.

[10/28/2014 5:27:09 PM] Canto: It's a locker in a bus station!

[10/28/2014 5:30:12 PM] Canto: You find a bag containing a new phone, some food and water, and a set of car keys with a tag that indicates said car is sitting in longterm parking at an airport.

[10/28/2014 5:31:06 PM] Crow: Crow doublechecks the locker, and then heads to get the car.

[10/28/2014 5:31:12 PM] Canto: Also a couple of new IDs.

[10/28/2014 5:31:28 PM] Canto: You can also turn in your rental car at the airport.

[10/28/2014 5:31:51 PM] Canto: You get a text from Jenson on the old phone:  Text this number on the new phone.

[10/28/2014 5:31:56 PM] Crow: Crow does. And hopefully gets her deposit back.

[10/28/2014 5:32:00 PM] Canto: yep.

[10/28/2014 5:32:01 PM] Crow: Crow pizzas him again.

[10/28/2014 5:33:10 PM] Canto: The new phone is an iPhone! Jensen texts back:  Everyone knows only spies and government agents on the run use burner flip-phones. Thank TV and movies for that.

[10/28/2014 5:34:15 PM] Crow: Crow texts him on the new phone. "Plus crooks."

[10/28/2014 5:34:20 PM] Canto: New car is a sporty little two door! Like a late 90s miata or something.

[10/28/2014 5:37:58 PM] Canto: Nothing terribly flashy. but very nice, and it does not scream 'I'm on the run don't look at me'.

[10/28/2014 5:38:30 PM] Canto: There's a bunch of clothes in the trunk, more food, and about 10k in moneys.

[10/28/2014 5:38:39 PM] Canto: Also some weapons.

[10/28/2014 5:40:28 PM] Canto: No firearms, but some blades.

[10/28/2014 5:41:45 PM] Crow: Crow likes this.

[10/28/2014 5:41:58 PM] Crow: ... I gotta get Jensen a nice Christmas present this year.

[10/28/2014 5:42:26 PM] Canto: The car is registered to one of your fake IDs, too.

[10/28/2014 5:42:52 PM] Crow: Crow takes a moment to memorize the details on that one.

[10/28/2014 5:43:37 PM] Canto: Pretty close to you, actually, same hair color, height, and weight, and he even used one of your old pictures.

[10/28/2014 5:43:47 PM] Crow: Nice.

[10/28/2014 5:45:16 PM] Canto: So, there you go. You're set for money for awhile. The clothes are nicer than the Wal-Mart stuff you've been wearing.

[10/28/2014 5:46:07 PM] Crow: Crow barely notices! She's not really into clothes.

[10/28/2014 5:48:08 PM] Crow: Crow texts Jensen with a little heart and then looks for a hotel.

[10/28/2014 5:49:33 PM] Canto: Easy enough! It's Denver! By the way, about 3000 of the money was in cash. The rest was in prepaid gift cards and travelers checks.

[10/28/2014 5:51:26 PM] Crow: Crow rents a room and heads for bed, pondering something which doesn't bear thinking about: Jensen's taste in women's underwear.

[10/28/2014 5:51:44 PM] Canto: Functional, apparently!

[10/28/2014 5:52:15 PM] Crow: Crow thinks: Aww, he knows me so well.

[10/28/2014 5:53:31 PM] Crow: Crow snoozles.

[10/28/2014 5:55:14 PM] Canto: She falls full into another memory!

[10/28/2014 5:56:21 PM] Crow: Crow thinks "Oh, shhh--" and then gets entirely absorbed, probably.

[10/28/2014 6:02:31 PM] Canto: She's super sore. The past couple of months have been full to the brim of training, training, training. Training with weapons. Training with martial arts. They find you have an aptitude with bladed weapons so they're starting to focus on that. Your contact with Dalton has been sparing, same with Doc, who has been present, but mostly as an observer, always checking things off on a clipboard. You've had some contact with the other two trainees from your initial group, too, who showed up after a time with newly short hair, like their heads were shaved and is just now growing back. They haven't had you cut your hair at all.

[10/28/2014 6:03:01 PM] Crow: Hey Doc, what's with the hair? Am I gonna have to cut it? I'll look real butch.

[10/28/2014 6:03:38 PM] Crow: Crow isn't really capable of looking butch; she's got too much of a figure even though she's lost most of her padding by this point. She does still have a bit.

[10/28/2014 6:04:47 PM] Canto: Doc:  Oh, we don't really care about your hair. You have a gift that they lack, however.

[10/28/2014 6:05:44 PM] Crow: Belching the National Anthem?

[10/28/2014 6:06:40 PM] Canto: Doc:  ... perhaps two gifts. Would you demonstrate that for me? I'm very curious about your digestive system.

[10/28/2014 6:07:30 PM] Crow: I'd need beer. And an onion flower.

[10/28/2014 6:08:00 PM] Canto: Doc:  Perhaps another time.

[10/28/2014 6:08:08 PM] Crow: Sure.

[10/28/2014 6:08:10 PM] Crow: I'm a cheap date.

[10/28/2014 6:09:03 PM] Crow: What's the other gift?

[10/28/2014 6:09:21 PM] Canto: Doc:  Anyway. Your ability to detect vampires. It is unique to you. We must use technology to replicate it in others.

[10/28/2014 6:10:21 PM] Crow: Oh! ... what's it mean? Can other people do it? Does it mean I'm like... the Chosen One or something?

[10/28/2014 6:11:47 PM] Canto: Doc:  I am quite curious about it. You are too valuable right now, but I would like your permission to dissect your brain should you die earlier than I.

[10/28/2014 6:12:02 PM] Crow: Sure!

[10/28/2014 6:12:27 PM] Crow: Just don't kill me for it. You can have it naturally. I'm sure vampire hunters usually don't live past 35.

[10/28/2014 6:13:14 PM] Canto: Doc smiles and presents you with a document. "Splendid!"

[10/28/2014 6:14:28 PM] Canto: It is an honest to goodness 'I give permission for you to dissect my brain upon my death' legal document.

[10/28/2014 6:15:00 PM] Crow: Crow signs it. She makes sure to put a little heart over the I in her name.

[10/28/2014 6:15:50 PM] Canto: Weirdly though, in the flashback... she can't see her last name clearly. She knows she signed it, and for all that she's in the moment.... she doesn't know her last name.

[10/28/2014 6:17:04 PM] Crow: Crow probably didn't even look at it at the time.

[10/28/2014 6:21:53 PM] Canto: Doc takes it. "Anyway... before I digress us once again, your ability can be replicated, somewhat, through science.  The other trainees agreed to have a special chip planted near their pineal gland, that allows them to detect the emanations of otherwordly energy.

[10/28/2014 6:22:54 PM] Crow: Does it do anything else?

[10/28/2014 6:23:43 PM] Canto: Doc:  No. Why would it? I designed it myself. I'll probalby have one installed the next time I have some time off.

[10/28/2014 6:24:21 PM] Crow: Crow shrugs.

[10/28/2014 6:24:28 PM] Crow: I dunno, might be cool to have an FM radio in there.

[10/28/2014 6:25:13 PM] Canto: Doc:  Well... hmm. Maybe if we hooked it up to the auditory nerves....

[10/28/2014 6:25:30 PM] Canto: Doc:  something for the Mark 2 implants, perhaps.

[10/28/2014 6:25:45 PM] Canto: Doc:  Anyway, you do not need such an implant, obviously.

[10/28/2014 6:26:34 PM] Crow: Right. I don't.

[10/28/2014 6:27:37 PM] Canto: Doc:  Thus, you do not need to cut your hair.

[10/28/2014 6:28:11 PM] Canto: Doc:  How is your training going?

[10/28/2014 6:29:06 PM] Crow: Pretty good, I guess. Dalton's an asshole.

[10/28/2014 6:29:42 PM] Canto: Doc:  Yes, yes he is.

[10/28/2014 6:30:12 PM] Canto: ((Though you haven't had much contact with Dalton at all. Just a couple of sparring sessions where he beats you handily. It's mostly been other trainers and experts.))

[10/28/2014 6:32:33 PM] Crow: Gives me the creeps. Thanks for keeping him off me.

[10/28/2014 6:33:53 PM] Canto: Doc:  Well, there's no real point setting you against him yet. You're still training. Soon you'll have to deal with him more. And his powers. Tell me, have you been hypnotized before? Besides your encounter with Dalton.

[10/28/2014 6:35:40 PM] Crow: Ahh, hell. Nope.

[10/28/2014 6:35:49 PM] Crow: I don't hypnotize easy.

[10/28/2014 6:37:07 PM] Canto: Doc:  No?

[10/28/2014 6:38:30 PM] Crow: Mmmnope.

[10/28/2014 6:39:01 PM] Canto: Doc:  Someone has tried?

[10/28/2014 6:39:07 PM] Canto: She is, as always, taking down notes.

[10/28/2014 6:40:06 PM] Crow: Yep, couple times. At parties.

[10/28/2014 6:40:49 PM] Canto: Doc:  Are you sure you've not been hypnotized, then?

[10/28/2014 6:43:09 PM] Crow: Yep. They wouldn't've been able to tell me with a straight face.

[10/28/2014 6:43:21 PM | Edited 6:43:29 PM] Crow: Well, unless you guys are hypnotizing me. I guess I wouldn't know, then.

[10/28/2014 6:45:08 PM] Canto: Doc:  Fair enough. We aren't, by the way. Not yet. I have developed a process which will grant you resistance against a vampire's coercive powers, though, and hypnotherapy is a part of that process.

[10/28/2014 6:46:43 PM] Crow: Oh. All right, if it's necessary.

[10/28/2014 6:47:14 PM] Canto: Doc:  It is. You simply cannot fight a being that can turn you into a thrall.

[10/28/2014 6:50:11 PM] Crow: No.

[10/28/2014 6:50:18 PM] Crow: And I *don't* want to be Dalton's thrall.

[10/28/2014 6:50:26 PM] Crow: Skinny dark and scummy is not my type.

[10/28/2014 6:52:50 PM] Canto: Doc:   This will not be an instant process, either. A combination of drug therapy, hypnotherapy, and self-meditation is what my process entails. It will take time. We'll do it alongside the physical training.

[10/28/2014 6:53:01 PM] Canto: Doc:  Your fellow trainees will go through the same process.

[10/28/2014 6:53:34 PM] Crow: I'm not real good at meditating.

[10/28/2014 6:53:50 PM] Canto: Doc:  Discipline will be important.

[10/28/2014 6:57:14 PM] Crow: Yeah?

[10/28/2014 7:00:34 PM] Canto: Doc:  Indeed. We'll have your first session tomorrow, after your training is complete.

[10/28/2014 7:00:48 PM] Crow: Session of what, hypnotoading?

[10/28/2014 7:01:25 PM] Canto: Doc:  Hypnotoading?

[10/28/2014 7:02:40 PM] Crow: ... it's from a TV show.

[10/28/2014 7:03:15 PM] Canto: Doc:  Oh, I don't watch television. Except for pornography.

[10/28/2014 7:04:47 PM] Crow: I don't need to know that. I didn't *want* to know that.

[10/28/2014 7:06:36 PM] Canto: Doc:  Well, yes, your first hypnosis session will be tomorrow after you're done training.

[10/28/2014 7:09:22 PM] Crow: Right. I'm ready, I suppose.

[10/28/2014 7:10:44 PM] Canto: Doc nods. "I'll see you tomrrow, then."

[10/28/2014 7:10:53 PM] Canto: The next day rolls around! roll dodge.

[10/28/2014 7:11:31 PM] Crow: Crow fails to dodge. :(

[10/28/2014 7:12:35 PM] Canto: So, you go through your day. Pretty standard day, run your miles, do your daily mini decathalon, that sort of thing.

[10/28/2014 7:13:22 PM] Crow: Crow works very hard.

[10/28/2014 7:15:54 PM] Canto: Toward the end of your training day, just as you're finishing up and putting the sword back up on the rack, Dalton shows up, smoking. "So.  How are you doing with all this sword nonsense?"

[10/28/2014 7:17:34 PM] Crow: I like swords better.

[10/28/2014 7:18:24 PM] Canto: Dalton:  Why's that?

[10/28/2014 7:19:52 PM] Crow: They feel better.

[10/28/2014 7:20:41 PM] Canto: Dalton:  gonna get you killed, you mean.

[10/28/2014 7:22:13 PM] Crow: Could do.

[10/28/2014 7:23:15 PM] Canto: Dalton gets uncomfortably close to you. "Most likely will do.  This is how close you have to be to do anything to me with that pigsticker."

[10/28/2014 7:26:59 PM] Crow: Aww, that's so cute, you're flirting.

[10/28/2014 7:28:33 PM] Canto: He grabs one of the swords. "Show me what you've got."

[10/28/2014 7:28:52 PM] Crow: Okay.

[10/28/2014 7:29:02 PM] Crow: Crow grabs one too, and slashes at him gamely.

[10/28/2014 7:29:49 PM] Canto: He's very fast, but you almost get his tie that time. "Getting quicker."

[10/28/2014 7:31:36 PM] Crow: I hate that tie.

[10/28/2014 7:31:52 PM] Crow: Crow grabs another sword and slash-slash-poke-slashes.

[10/28/2014 7:33:53 PM] Canto: He parries, backpedaling. For once, it doesn't feel like he's playing with you, like it has the last couple of times when you've sparred.

[10/28/2014 7:34:47 PM] Crow: Crow tries to position him so his back is against the wall.

[10/28/2014 7:35:49 PM] Canto: You manage it, actually, taking advantage of that fact that he seems to spend an inordinate amount of time trying to keep your blades away from his neck in particular.

[10/28/2014 7:36:24 PM] Crow: Crow isn't going for his neck. She is going for the tip of his tie.

[10/28/2014 7:36:49 PM] Canto: Seems reflexive more than anything.

[10/28/2014 7:38:38 PM] Crow: Crow feints for the neck a couple of times and then goes for the tie.

[10/28/2014 7:39:22 PM] Canto: It's a weak point --vampires can be killed by beheading. You're able to use this to steer him a bit. You cut his tie off!

[10/28/2014 7:40:54 PM] Crow: Ha!

[10/28/2014 7:41:22 PM] Crow: Crow backs off a little bit, defensively.

[10/28/2014 7:41:37 PM] Canto: He glares at you. "That thing cost two hundred dollars."

[10/28/2014 7:43:05 PM] Crow: Ah, figures. Well, I owe you two hundred bucks.

[10/28/2014 7:44:04 PM] Canto: His blade flicks out, catching you on the sleeve... you manage to parry it, so no blood is drawn. He's getting more aggressive now, though it'snot to his advantage. His strength doesn't help that much with swords.

[10/28/2014 7:44:57 PM] Crow: Crow focuses on defense, and staying calm, and watching for an opening to disarm him. Not literally.

[10/28/2014 7:45:12 PM] Crow: Crow just figuratively. You know, force the sword out of his hand.

[10/28/2014 7:46:28 PM] Canto: You do, sending his sword flying across the room.

[10/28/2014 7:47:56 PM] Crow: ... well, there's a first time for everything.

[10/28/2014 7:48:14 PM] Canto: He laughs. "Suppose there is."

[10/28/2014 7:48:24 PM] Crow: Maybe you're just a good teacher.

[10/28/2014 7:48:48 PM] Canto: "This is only the third time we've fought," he shakes his head.

[10/28/2014 7:49:46 PM] Crow: Yeah. Mind if I ask you some semi-personal questions?

[10/28/2014 7:50:23 PM] Canto: Dalton:  Guess not.

[10/28/2014 7:50:23 PM] Canto: He lights a cigarette.

[10/28/2014 7:52:47 PM] Crow: How much of you is still you? No bull. Like, is your first instinct to go for whatever weapon you would have before, or like, pounce?

[10/28/2014 7:54:51 PM] Canto: Dalton:  I'm not an animal. When I first changed, though, when the hunger first manifested... that was mighty hard to remember. I've killed a lot of people.

[10/28/2014 7:56:31 PM] Crow: So new ones might be kinda... feralish?

[10/28/2014 7:59:00 PM] Canto: Dalton:   Didn't say that. I wasn't an animal then, either. More of a monster. The power felt so good. It's not that my instinct was to just say 'rar' and tear things apart. More like I felt the power coursing through me, and it felt so good I didn't need weapons.

[10/28/2014 7:59:41 PM] Crow: Huh.

[10/28/2014 8:00:14 PM] Crow: Now a real personal one. Still like it, or would you go back if you could?

[10/28/2014 8:02:49 PM] Canto: Dalton:  Wouldn't go back for anything.

[10/28/2014 8:04:08 PM] Crow: Even being stuck here?

[10/28/2014 8:05:40 PM] Canto: Dalton:  Not so bad.

[10/28/2014 8:06:39 PM] Canto: Dalton:  ... you don't need to understand me, Crow. I'm a monster. Just understand that you need to kill things like me.

[10/28/2014 8:06:42 PM] Canto: Dalton:  I embraced what I am long ago.

[10/28/2014 8:07:10 PM] Crow: ... well, that's fine, but you don't seem to *need* to be. I kinda expected you to freak out when I killed your tie.

[10/28/2014 8:09:56 PM] Canto: Dalton:  What, you expected me to fly into a rage and tear you apart with my bare hands?

[10/28/2014 8:10:16 PM] Crow: No, I expected you to get pissy and try to bite me.

[10/28/2014 8:10:44 PM] Crow: What did it feel like, getting bitten?

[10/28/2014 8:11:12 PM] Canto: Dalton:  I could show you.

[10/28/2014 8:11:44 PM] Crow: Yeah, I know. Didn't ask that, did I?

[10/28/2014 8:12:39 PM] Canto: Dalton:  Suppose not. Didn't hurt, if that's what you mean.

[10/28/2014 8:13:28 PM] Crow: Well that doesn't say much.

[10/28/2014 8:14:59 PM] Canto: Dalton laughs. "Felt pretty good, really."

[10/28/2014 8:16:43 PM] Crow: How many of us have you trained?

[10/28/2014 8:18:20 PM] Canto: Dalton:  I dunno. Fifteen, maybe twenty.

[10/28/2014 8:18:53 PM] Crow: How long do we usually last?

[10/28/2014 8:19:44 PM] Canto: Dalton:  How the hell would I know? My job's done once you're sent into the field.

[10/28/2014 8:20:54 PM] Crow: Oh come on, you want me to believe you don't hear things? Bullshit.

[10/28/2014 8:21:00 PM] Crow: Am I about the same as the others?

[10/28/2014 8:22:05 PM] Canto: Dalton:  Hard to say. You're good with the blades, most of them prefer the guns.

[10/28/2014 8:22:19 PM] Crow: Well that doesn't make sense. Pretty sure guns don't do much to you.

[10/28/2014 8:26:02 PM] Canto: Dalton:  One bullet doesn't kill us, true. We don't have organs to wound. We still have muscles, though, and skeletons. They'll heal, but it takes time. Guns can leave us pretty helpless. Assault rifles are pretty effect, too, if you aim a lot of bullets in the right place.

[10/28/2014 8:26:44 PM] Crow: Do you have to kill people if you bite 'em?

[10/28/2014 8:27:42 PM] Canto: Dalton:  That'd be pretty inefficient, wouldn't it?

[10/28/2014 8:27:57 PM] Crow: Yep.

[10/28/2014 8:28:38 PM] Canto: Dalton:  Lotta vampires do, though. Cause they don't care.

[10/28/2014 8:29:07 PM] Canto: Dalton:  Sometimes vampires make slaves just so they can have a steady source of live blood.

[10/28/2014 8:29:14 PM] Crow: Do you have to sleep?

[10/28/2014 8:29:36 PM] Canto: Dalton:  nope.

[10/28/2014 8:30:58 PM] Crow: Ever get hungry for other things?

[10/28/2014 8:31:57 PM] Canto: Dalton:  Nope. Can't eat it anymore.Don't want it, either.

[10/28/2014 8:32:44 PM] Crow: What about sex, drugs and rock and roll?

[10/28/2014 8:35:06 PM] Canto: Dalton:  I still like cigarettes. Still like a pretty girl.

[10/28/2014 8:35:08 PM] Canto: He winks.

[10/28/2014 8:35:14 PM] Canto: Dalton:  Never been into music.

[10/28/2014 8:35:57 PM] Crow: If you could, and get away with it, would you kill me right now?

[10/28/2014 8:36:28 PM] Canto: Dalton:  Nah, probably not. Seems a waste.

[10/28/2014 8:37:38 PM] Crow: Yeah? What *would* you do?

[10/28/2014 8:38:01 PM] Canto: Dalton:   Eh. I know a trap when I hear it.

[10/28/2014 8:38:26 PM] Crow: ... even if I wanted to, they're not gonna let *me* kill *you* either, doof.

[10/28/2014 8:40:37 PM] Canto: Dalton:  You couldn't anyway.

[10/28/2014 8:41:41 PM] Crow: I killed your tie.

[10/28/2014 8:43:06 PM] Crow: Do they ever *really* try to kill you?

[10/28/2014 8:44:43 PM] Canto: Dalton:  Who's *they*?

[10/28/2014 8:45:00 PM] Crow: Recruits. Or anybody else, I guess.

[10/28/2014 8:46:36 PM] Canto: Dalton: Oh, sure. Lots of em do. Sometimes that's they only way they can beat me, by not 'sparring' anymore.

[10/28/2014 8:50:15 PM] Crow: Lame.

[10/28/2014 8:50:20 PM] Crow: Doesn't bother you ever?

[10/28/2014 8:51:28 PM] Canto: Dalton:  Why should it? I don't care what people think of me. I behave here because I'm safe and comfortable here.

[10/28/2014 8:53:37 PM] Crow: What was the proto like?

[10/28/2014 8:55:33 PM] Canto: He frowns and puts the cigarette out on the palm of his hand. "Enough."

[10/28/2014 8:56:27 PM] Crow: All right, back to business?

[10/28/2014 8:57:10 PM | Edited 8:57:22 PM] Canto: Dalton:  No, I'm bored with all your questions.

[10/28/2014 8:59:03 PM] Crow: Bullshit.

[10/28/2014 8:59:49 PM] Canto: Dalton:  What?

[10/28/2014 9:01:21 PM] Crow: I said bullshit, you're not bored.

[10/28/2014 9:01:41 PM] Crow: But that's fine. We go back to politely trying to kill each other?

[10/28/2014 9:02:18 PM] Canto: Dalton goes over and picks up his sword.

[10/28/2014 9:06:53 PM] Crow: Bring it!

[10/28/2014 9:08:39 PM] Canto: He does, being a bit more aggressive this time.

[10/28/2014 9:12:04 PM] Crow: Crow is extra, extra cautious!

[10/28/2014 9:12:39 PM] Canto: He's bringing a bit more of his strength to bear, trying to force you back, force your guard aside, etc..

[10/28/2014 9:13:36 PM] Crow: Crow plays entirely defensively this time, just to see how he'll react.

[10/28/2014 9:17:02 PM] Canto: He's getting frustrated, you're not having a hard time deflecting his blows.

[10/28/2014 9:18:32 PM] Crow: Crow attacks, finally, suddenly and with a great deal of energy!

[10/28/2014 9:19:08 PM] Canto: You slam the blade out of his hand!

[10/28/2014 9:20:15 PM] Crow: I already took your tie, I'm not counting coup here.

[10/28/2014 9:21:16 PM] Canto: He's pretty pissed, but he pushes it down, pulling off the remnants of his tie and tossing it at your feet. "Once more."

[10/28/2014 9:25:33 PM] Crow: Right.

[10/28/2014 9:25:49 PM] Crow: Crow backs up a bit, and takes a deep breath.

[10/28/2014 9:25:59 PM] Canto: He grabs his sword again.

[10/28/2014 9:32:48 PM] Crow: Come on, then.

[10/28/2014 9:33:28 PM] Canto: He charges you!

[10/28/2014 9:34:05 PM] Crow: Crow again stays defensive at first.

[10/28/2014 9:35:48 PM] Canto: He stabs at your midsection.

[10/28/2014 9:37:32 PM] Crow: Crow slips to one side and continues being defensive.

[10/28/2014 9:38:01 PM] Canto: He swings wide at you.

[10/28/2014 9:41:24 PM] Crow: Crow parries and tries to twist his sword out of his hands again.

[10/28/2014 9:44:57 PM] Canto: You manage it! He's not focusing.

[10/28/2014 9:48:51 PM] Crow: Dude, are you okay?

[10/28/2014 9:50:29 PM] Canto: Well, he's not focusing because he's angry.

[10/28/2014 9:53:33 PM | Edited 9:53:44 PM] Crow: ... annnd that's enough of that.

[10/28/2014 10:01:04 PM] Canto: He pushes it down, and smirks. You feel the gnats in your head again. He's giving you a stronger dose this time.

[10/28/2014 10:02:49 PM] Crow: Urgh, cheater.

[10/28/2014 10:03:17 PM] Crow: Crow sets her own sword down and punches at him.

[10/28/2014 10:07:04 PM] Canto: He grins at you. You can practically feel his fingers in your brain. "No, no, none of that.  Tell me, what does counting coup mean?"

[10/28/2014 10:08:11 PM] Crow: Urrrgh.

[10/28/2014 10:08:13 PM] Crow: Crow fights it.

[10/28/2014 10:09:12 PM] Crow: Plains Indian... tradition.

[10/28/2014 10:09:53 PM] Canto: It's like the voice of god -- you have to obey. "Tell me more."

[10/28/2014 10:11:15 PM] Crow: Crow growls, breaking out into a cold sweat.

[10/28/2014 10:11:51 PM] Crow: Bravery. Best is to just touch them and escape.

[10/28/2014 10:14:21 PM] Canto: Your cell phone buzzes -- it's a reminder for your appointment with Doc. He's holding you firmly, though. The more time he holds you, the easier it seems to be to obey. "Come closer. You will not punch me.  You cannot raise a hand against me."

[10/28/2014 10:14:58 PM] Crow: Crow growls, and gets nice and close. Then she knees him in the groin, because he never said *anything* about not doing that.

[10/28/2014 10:17:22 PM] Canto: He growls. "You cannot harm me.  You cannot beat me.  Say it."

[10/28/2014 10:19:03 PM] Crow: Gnrrrr. IT.

[10/28/2014 10:19:15 PM] Crow: Crow redoubles her efforts, now *pouring* sweat.

[10/28/2014 10:19:53 PM] Canto: Dalton:  Do I need to take this up a step? I can.

[10/28/2014 10:22:05 PM] Crow: Fuck.... you. Dalton.

[10/28/2014 10:24:49 PM] Canto: Crow's phone rings. "You'd better answer that.  I'll accept your previous statement as an admission of your loss."

[10/28/2014 10:25:07 PM] Canto: He turns and leaves you there, releasing you only after he leaves the room.

[10/28/2014 10:26:41 PM] Crow: Crow falls on her knees, gasping for breath, limp as a noodle.

[10/28/2014 10:26:51 PM] Crow: Crow eventually answers the phone.

[10/28/2014 10:27:05 PM] Canto: Doc:  Agent Crow?

[10/28/2014 10:27:27 PM] Crow: Yeah?

[10/28/2014 10:28:05 PM] Canto: Doc:  We have an appointment. To begin your mental conditioning, yes?

[10/28/2014 10:28:41 PM] Crow: Crow groans.

[10/28/2014 10:28:45 PM] Crow: I think I got an early start.

[10/28/2014 10:29:14 PM] Canto: Doc:  ... Dalton? Do I need to speak with him?

[10/28/2014 10:30:31 PM] Crow: Nnnope. He's just pissy because I beat him.

[10/28/2014 10:30:38 PM] Crow: ... and I kneed him in the balls.

[10/28/2014 10:31:25 PM] Canto: Doc:  come to my office. This is what the conditioning is about, Agent Crow -- so that you are able to fight him.

[10/28/2014 10:33:02 PM] Crow: Okay. Just uh. Give me five minutes.

[10/28/2014 10:33:08 PM] Canto: Doc:  Of course.

[10/28/2014 10:33:16 PM] Canto: She hangs up.

[10/28/2014 10:34:53 PM] Crow: Crow rolls over and tries to stand up.

[10/28/2014 10:36:01 PM] Canto: You're shakey, but you manage to get to your feet.

[10/28/2014 10:37:16 PM] Crow: Crow heads for Doc's office!

[10/28/2014 10:39:07 PM] Canto: Doc:  Are you okay, agent?

[10/28/2014 10:40:01 PM] Crow: Yeah. He said I couldn't hit him.

[10/28/2014 10:40:04 PM] Crow: So I kneed him.

[10/28/2014 10:41:55 PM] Canto: Doc:  I see. Many vampires will not give you a chance for.... creative interpretation. Dalton is simply a sadist who enjoys people to be aware of his dominance.

[10/28/2014 10:44:03 PM] Crow: Yeah. Yeah, I was pretty helpless.

[10/28/2014 10:45:01 PM] Canto: Doc:  Are you ready to start, then?

[10/28/2014 10:45:44 PM] Crow: Yeah. I think so. Argh.

[10/28/2014 10:45:58 PM] Canto: Doc:  Argh?

[10/28/2014 10:49:18 PM] Crow: I feel like I've just been run over by a truck.

[10/28/2014 10:50:29 PM] Canto: Doc:  Would you prefer to wait until tomorrow? I can schedule it for the morning.

[10/28/2014 10:50:39 PM] Crow: No. Now is good.

[10/28/2014 10:50:46 PM] Crow: Fucking Dalton.

[10/28/2014 10:51:59 PM] Canto: Doc pulls down a screen in her office and inidicates a seat in front of it. "Have a seat, then."

[10/28/2014 10:52:18 PM] Crow: Crow sits.

[10/28/2014 10:53:41 PM] Canto: She turns the lights down. "You said you don't hypnotize easily.  I really must have your cooperation for this."

[10/28/2014 10:54:54 PM] Crow: Sure, Doc. Sure.

[10/28/2014 10:57:40 PM] Canto: She turns on a projector somewhere behind you, and the screen comes alive with a swirling, ever changing fractal pattern of colors that draws your eyes to it. "I designed this myself, based on my own knowledge of brain chemistry and... well.  It will do the job far better than your friends at their parties, I assure you."

[10/28/2014 10:59:16 PM] Crow: Mmm. Okay.

[10/28/2014 11:00:30 PM] Canto: Doc:  So just relax, and breathe deeply in, and out.... in, and out....

[10/28/2014 11:01:01 PM] Crow: Crow does.

[10/28/2014 11:03:56 PM] Canto: Doc has a surprisingly soothing, low voice for such a creepy lady, all of a sudden. "Watch the colors before you, and let yourself be pulled in by them.... while breathing in, and out...."

[10/28/2014 11:04:18 PM] Crow: Crow is totally susceptible right now.

[10/28/2014 11:06:31 PM] Canto: She guides you down into trance, her voice soothing as you watch the pattern of colors on the screen. "Can you hear me, Crow?"

[10/28/2014 11:06:42 PM] Crow: Yeah.

[10/28/2014 11:07:37 PM] Canto: Doc:  How do you feel right now?

[10/28/2014 11:08:09 PM] Crow: Tired.

[10/28/2014 11:09:26 PM] Canto: Doc:  I want you to feel a wave of warmth moving up from your toes up to your neck, and as it passes up your body, you will feel your muscles unknot and relax. Do you feel it?

[10/28/2014 11:09:41 PM] Crow: Mmmmmmmm. Yes.

[10/28/2014 11:11:05 PM] Canto: Doc:  Just sit there and let that warmth relax you, let it drain away your stress and worries and fears. And when it reaches your neck, tell me so.

[10/28/2014 11:11:20 PM] Crow: Mmm. There, neck.

[10/28/2014 11:11:32 PM] Canto: She lets you relax there for a few moments, doing something behind you, but you're not sure what, nor do you care at the moment, really.

[10/28/2014 11:12:45 PM] Canto: She comes back over. "Now, when I touch your forehead, the warmth will move up into your head, and it will relax your mind, relax your thoughts, and take you into a deep, deep state of relaxing trance.  Do you understand?"

[10/28/2014 11:12:59 PM] Crow: Yep.

[10/28/2014 11:14:43 PM] Canto: She touches your forehead lightly, and you feel that relaxing warmth seep into your mind.

[10/28/2014 11:15:18 PM] Crow: Mmmmmmmm.

[10/28/2014 11:19:20 PM] Canto: You drift in that very very comfortable warmth for an indeterminate amount of time, staring at the pretty colors. You're not aware of much else until Doc turns off the projector. You feel very refreshed and still pretty relaxed, but you're coming out of trance. "That's it, Crow, just drift back up until you're fully awake, fully aware again."

[10/28/2014 11:24:18 PM] Crow: Sure. Man, I feel better.

[10/28/2014 11:25:11 PM] Canto: Doc nods:  You did very well.

[10/29/2014 8:29:14 PM] Canto: So! When last we left.

[10/29/2014 8:29:52 PM] Crow: Crow had *dreamed*.

[10/29/2014 8:30:54 PM] Canto: Yep!

[10/29/2014 8:31:57 PM] Canto: She had recalled an encounter with Dalton. And most of her first session with Doc.

[10/29/2014 8:35:47 PM] Crow: Crow had! Did she dream more or wake up or phase into normal dreams?

[10/29/2014 8:40:28 PM] Canto: Hmmm. Good question. I'm thinking she dreamed a bit more.

[10/29/2014 8:40:42 PM] Crow: Crow diiiiid.

[10/29/2014 8:46:05 PM] Canto: So, she left Doc's office feeling pretty good, really! Refreshed, and relaxed, and thinking this hypnosis stuff isn't so bad! Which is a conclusion she is positive she came to on her own and was not the result of a post hypnotic suggestion!

[10/29/2014 8:47:52 PM] Crow: Crow is positive! And probably wrong!

[10/29/2014 8:49:22 PM] Canto: She did feel pretty good, though, lots of endorphins, like she had a good massage.

[10/29/2014 8:53:15 PM] Crow: Crow is reasonably cheerful, and still irritated with Dalton.

[10/29/2014 8:53:56 PM] Canto: He is still objectively a dick.

[10/29/2014 9:01:04 PM] Canto: So, next day rolls around! You don't have nother session with Doc until tomorrow.

[10/29/2014 9:07:42 PM] Crow: Crow does what she does! Training and the like.

[10/29/2014 9:16:48 PM] Canto: Yep! You're put through more grueling training! It is pretty gruelling stuff.

[10/29/2014 9:16:54 PM] Canto: Grueling!

[10/29/2014 9:17:13 PM] Canto: Weapons, martial arts, etc. you don't see Dalton again for the next couple days.

[10/29/2014 9:18:32 PM] Crow: Crow is gruleled! Thoroughly.

[10/29/2014 9:20:58 PM] Canto: GRUEEEEEL.

[10/29/2014 9:22:03 PM] Crow: Crow works hard!

[10/29/2014 9:22:45 PM] Canto: You spend some time with the other two trainees, too.

[10/29/2014 9:23:59 PM] Canto: Who are both pleasant enough. Judy and Sam.

[10/29/2014 9:24:11 PM] Canto: their hair is starting to grow back.

[10/29/2014 9:30:16 PM] Crow: ((Woah, this didn't light up for me! Sorry!))

[10/29/2014 9:30:26 PM] Crow: Crow compliments them on the sleek new look, though!

[10/29/2014 9:35:08 PM] Canto: Judy grins. "It's definitely not as bad as I thought.  i barely have to wash it.

[10/29/2014 9:36:57 PM] Crow: My head's too fat to rock that look, but you have a nicely-shaped head. Lucky.

[10/29/2014 9:37:29 PM] Canto: Judy: So your vampire-sense... what does it feel like?

[10/29/2014 9:38:03 PM] Crow: You know that prickly feeling you get when someone's watching you? It feels kinda like that.

[10/29/2014 9:41:46 PM] Canto: Sam:  Mine feels likea buzzing, almost. Like I'm getting a text in my head.

[10/29/2014 9:42:16 PM] Canto: Judy:  Mine's more of a tingling.

[10/29/2014 9:46:13 PM] Crow: Aww. Now when you meet a man who gives you a tingly feeling it'll be a *bad* thing.

[10/29/2014 9:46:22 PM] Crow: Speaking of, how're you guys doing with Dalton?

[10/29/2014 9:54:11 PM] Canto: Sam:  Ugh. That guy is the worst. Can't lay a hand on him.

[10/29/2014 9:56:34 PM] Crow: I don't think I've ever actually tried to lay a *hand* on him.

[10/29/2014 9:56:42 PM] Crow: I mean, that *would* require touching him, right?

[10/29/2014 10:06:20 PM] Canto: Judy:  I managed to shoot him in the head once. Then he made me empty the rest of the clip into a target dummy, put the empty gun to my head, and pull the trigger.

[10/29/2014 10:07:27 PM] Crow: How sweet of him.

[10/29/2014 10:07:29 PM] Canto: She makes a >_< face.

[10/29/2014 10:09:39 PM] Canto: Judy:  He's the worst.

[10/29/2014 10:10:26 PM] Crow: He is a gigantic asshole.

[10/29/2014 10:15:33 PM] Canto: Sam:  Totally.

[10/29/2014 10:15:49 PM] Crow: He must not be as good with a sword.

[10/29/2014 10:17:22 PM] Canto: Sam:  Why do you say that?

[10/29/2014 10:18:50 PM] Crow: Well, I kind of beat him with that. Kind of. He did the mindcontrolly thing with me too. Best I could do was knee him in the groin, but only 'cause he didn't tell me not to.

[10/29/2014 10:23:03 PM] Canto: Judy:  Huh. He must not have given you the full effect. When he does it to me, it's like I zone out and all I want to do is serve him. Misinterpreting commands doesn't even occur to me when I'm under his control.

[10/29/2014 10:23:56 PM] Crow: That's probably it.

[10/29/2014 10:24:01 PM] Crow: It does help to really piss him off, though.

[10/29/2014 10:25:44 PM] Canto: Judy:  Ugh. The worst.

[10/29/2014 10:27:05 PM] Canto: Judy gives you her pudding!

[10/29/2014 10:27:29 PM] Crow: Oooh, thanks. You're the best!

[10/29/2014 10:28:00 PM] Crow: Makes sense that he's not as good with a sword. I mean, he's not that old for one of them.

[10/29/2014 10:28:27 PM] Canto: Judy:  No?

[10/29/2014 10:31:16 PM] Canto: Judy: He hasn't actually really... shared with me.

[10/29/2014 10:31:19 PM] Canto: Sam:  Me neither.

[10/29/2014 10:33:07 PM] Crow: It's less sharing and more guessing. The way he talks he can't predate, like... 1930 or so, I don't think.

[10/29/2014 10:34:42 PM] Canto: Judy:  Maybe he likes you?

[10/29/2014 10:36:02 PM] Crow: I don't think so.

[10/29/2014 10:37:45 PM] Canto: Sam:  He doesn't really even talk to me.

[10/29/2014 10:37:58 PM] Canto: Sam slides his pudding toward you!

[10/29/2014 10:39:53 PM] Crow: BEST DAY.

[10/29/2014 10:39:58 PM] Crow: Crow devours all the pudding.

[10/29/2014 10:40:12 PM] Crow: I asked him a bunch of questions. I think he's pretty willing to talk if you don't get too personal.

[10/29/2014 10:44:32 PM] Canto: Judy grins. "I think he might like you.  he never hangs around long enough for me to even ask questions.

[10/29/2014 10:45:40 PM] Crow: He is definitely *not* my type, Judy.

[10/29/2014 10:46:13 PM] Canto: Judy:  Not saying he is. That's a grin of... ugh, ewww, shoulder-shiver.

[10/29/2014 10:49:20 PM] Crow: Yeah. I like 'em breathing. And not assholes.

[10/29/2014 10:53:38 PM] Canto: Judy chuckles. "So, Doc is pretty creepy, eh?"

[10/29/2014 10:56:44 PM] Crow: Ullllltra.

[10/29/2014 10:56:54 PM] Crow: She doesn't like Dalton either though, so she has that going for her.

[10/29/2014 10:57:57 PM] Canto: Judy:  Yeah. Well. I hope this hypnosis stuff works out. I'd really like to punch him in the face.

[10/29/2014 11:01:13 PM] Crow: It's less satisfying than you'd think.

[10/29/2014 11:02:16 PM] Canto: Judy:  Damn, you've punched him, too!

[10/29/2014 11:03:37 PM] Crow: Sure.

[10/29/2014 11:03:52 PM] Crow: Not while we were fighting, though. He smoked at me. I haaaaate smoking.

[10/29/2014 11:07:31 PM] Canto: Judy:  Yeah, you were a firefighter, right?

[10/29/2014 11:07:45 PM] Crow: Yeah. You wouldn't believe how many fires cigarettes cause.

[10/29/2014 11:07:50 PM] Crow: Also they smell.

[10/29/2014 11:09:07 PM] Canto: Judy:  And he smokes like a chimney.

[10/29/2014 11:10:38 PM] Crow: Well, he probably doesn't have to worry about it killing him.

[10/29/2014 11:12:37 PM] Canto: Judy:  I guess he still breathes, though.

[10/29/2014 11:15:33 PM] Crow: It  might be optional.

[10/29/2014 11:26:17 PM] Crow: Maybe. I don't know. You'd think they'd tell us more about weaknesses and stuff, there's probably a lot of stuff to memorize.

[10/29/2014 11:35:16 PM] Canto: Judy shakes her head and her phone buzzes. "Welp.  Time to go meet the creepy lady."

[10/29/2014 11:36:31 PM] Crow: Good luck!

[10/29/2014 11:36:48 PM] Canto: She smiles and waves, heading off.

[10/29/2014 11:38:04 PM] Crow: Crow waves too.

[10/29/2014 11:38:55 PM] Canto: Sam:  I should go too, I have a class to get to. See you tomorrow.

[10/29/2014 11:39:57 PM] Crow: Bye!

[10/29/2014 11:39:58 PM] Crow: Crow waves.

[10/29/2014 11:41:47 PM] Canto: He leaves!

[10/29/2014 11:42:52 PM] Crow: Crow is alone with her pudding!

[10/29/2014 11:42:57 PM] Crow: Crow soon has no more pudding!

[10/29/2014 11:44:02 PM] Canto: All the pudding is gone.

[10/29/2014 11:44:11 PM] Canto: Her Dalton sense tingles.

[10/29/2014 11:44:37 PM] Crow: Crow looks around for him.

[10/29/2014 11:45:13 PM] Canto: He plops down at your table.

[10/29/2014 11:45:18 PM] Canto: He's smoking.

[10/29/2014 11:45:29 PM] Crow: Ugh. Can you not do that, please? Gross.

[10/29/2014 11:46:26 PM] Canto: Dalton:  I'm an addict. You should have some compassion.

[10/29/2014 11:46:44 PM] Crow: I have to breathe. YOU should have some compassion.

[10/29/2014 11:47:36 PM] Canto: Dalton:  That sounds like a 'you' problem.

[10/29/2014 11:48:29 PM] Crow: Trade you for it.

[10/29/2014 11:50:14 PM] Canto: Dalton: Nah.

[10/29/2014 11:50:39 PM] Crow: Okay. What do you want?

[10/29/2014 11:54:29 PM] Canto: Dalton:  What, I can't come and socialize? Get up, we're gonna have a tussle.

[10/29/2014 11:55:05 PM] Crow: Now? But I just ate.

[10/29/2014 11:55:11 PM] Crow: You *never* come and socialize.

[10/29/2014 11:55:34 PM] Crow: Besides, I already killed your tie.

[10/29/2014 11:56:23 PM] Canto: Dalton:  I want a rematch.

[10/29/2014 11:57:24 PM] Crow: Or you wanna test the hypno-training.

[10/30/2014 12:01:59 AM] Canto: Dalton:  One session isn't enough to give you a chance. I'm not an idiot.

[10/30/2014 12:03:29 AM] Crow: Yeah? You come to me in my *free time* with my tummy full of pudding and nothing to do for a whole hour and you wanna go, and you smoke in my face?

[10/30/2014 12:04:49 AM] Canto: Dalton:  Fine.

[10/30/2014 12:05:15 AM] Canto: He puts his cigarette out on the table and leaves. He doesn't take the butt with him.

[10/30/2014 12:06:33 AM] Crow: Gross!

[10/30/2014 12:06:36 AM] Crow: Crow follows him.

[10/30/2014 12:06:52 AM] Crow: That's better.

[10/30/2014 12:07:31 AM] Canto: He looks back. "Oh, so now you're coming."

[10/30/2014 12:07:47 AM] Crow: Sure. You put the cig out.

[10/30/2014 12:07:49 AM] Crow: Crow shrugs.

[10/30/2014 12:09:41 AM] Crow: That's all I wanted.

[10/30/2014 12:09:58 AM] Crow: Where to, O Illustrious Pummeler of Me?

[10/30/2014 12:10:20 AM] Canto: He leads you to the training room!

[10/30/2014 12:10:50 AM] Crow: Crow follows.

[10/30/2014 12:11:01 AM] Crow: Okay. Hand to hand, swords?

[10/30/2014 12:11:32 AM] Canto: Dalton:  Swords. That's your preference, right?

[10/30/2014 12:11:47 AM | Edited 12:11:54 AM] Crow: Yep.

[10/30/2014 12:12:15 AM] Crow: Crow grabs two of them. Mmmm, machete shaped practice swords.

[10/30/2014 12:12:32 AM] Crow: Whyfor the rematch?

[10/30/2014 12:15:52 AM] Canto: Dalton:  I have a fragile ego. And I've not had a trainee ever go from clueless to beating me in so short a time.

[10/30/2014 12:16:51 AM] Crow: I was in pretty good shape. And you get sloppier when you're pissed off.

[10/30/2014 12:17:19 AM] Crow: The other trainees think you like me, by the way.

[10/30/2014 12:17:32 AM] Crow: Crow stretches her arms a bit and then gets ready.

[10/30/2014 12:18:39 AM] Canto: Dalton:  Why is that?

[10/30/2014 12:18:56 AM] Crow: Not sure.

[10/30/2014 12:19:23 AM] Crow: Okay. Come at me, bro! .... but don't taze me, bro.

[10/30/2014 12:21:49 AM] Canto: He attacks! He's not good with a blade.

[10/30/2014 12:22:36 AM] Crow: Crow lets him for a little bit. Has he put on a new tie?

[10/30/2014 12:25:21 AM] Canto: Yep!

[10/30/2014 12:26:12 AM] Crow: Crow after maneuvering him around a little bit, goes for the tie again.

[10/30/2014 12:29:32 AM] Canto: He manages to parry you the first time!

[10/30/2014 12:30:09 AM] Crow: Crow goes back to being patient, and bides her time playing defense until she spots an opening to try again.

[10/30/2014 12:31:21 AM] Canto: He's a bit more cautious this time.

[10/30/2014 12:32:50 AM] Crow: Crow tries to think ahead several moves to get him into a more vulnerable position before she goes for the tie the second time.

[10/30/2014 12:33:58 AM] Canto: He's still not hard to maneuver. He's fast, but not terribly graceful, he's strong, but not very nimble.

[10/30/2014 12:34:22 AM] Crow: Crow maneuvers him into a vulnerable position and then tries for the tie again!

[10/30/2014 12:38:02 AM] Canto: You flick it off!

[10/30/2014 12:38:11 AM] Canto: Dalton:  Oh, bugger.

[10/30/2014 12:38:21 AM] Canto: He's not as angry this time, though.

[10/30/2014 12:38:33 AM] Crow: Better.

[10/30/2014 12:38:42 AM] Crow: Must not've liked that one as much.

[10/30/2014 12:39:00 AM] Crow: ... it wasn't as ugly as the first one. Mustard really doesn't suit you, Dalton.

[10/30/2014 12:39:33 AM] Crow: Crow sets herself to trying to disarm him again. That might take a while, but she's very patient.

[10/30/2014 12:45:30 AM] Canto: It does, he's fighting a lot more self consciously this time.

[10/30/2014 12:46:51 AM] Crow: Crow bides her time again, and concentrates on defense, waiting for the right opportunity.

[10/30/2014 12:47:03 AM] Crow: You're a winter.

[10/30/2014 12:47:59 AM] Canto: Dalton:  What are you on about? He flicks his blade out toward you, overextending his arm a bit.

[10/30/2014 12:48:54 AM] Crow: Crow seizes the opportunity and tries to wrest his sword away.

[10/30/2014 12:49:36 AM] Crow: I mean your coloring means you're suited to cool colors, like blue and green, maybe purple.

[10/30/2014 12:54:31 AM] Canto: You manage to disarm him, and he screws his face with a stoic expression. "Fine.  I'll take the advice."

[10/30/2014 12:55:15 AM] Crow: Aww. Thanks!

[10/30/2014 12:55:22 AM] Crow: Another round?

[10/30/2014 12:55:40 AM] Crow: Gettin' kind of worn out, but I guess that doesn't happen to vampires much.

[10/30/2014 12:57:09 AM] Canto: Dalton pulls off what's left of his tie. "No.  Not right now. "

[10/30/2014 12:58:03 AM] Crow: Okay.

[10/30/2014 12:58:21 AM] Crow: Crow offers him her hand to shake, though she's a little unsure of whether he'll like... try to bite her or something.

[10/30/2014 12:59:27 AM] Canto: Dalton looks at her hand like he's crazy. "We're not friends, Crow.  I don't like you.  You're good with a blade.  Better than I am.  That's all."

[10/30/2014 1:00:56 AM] Crow: Handshakes aren't for friends.

[10/30/2014 1:01:05 AM] Crow: Friends hug. Or inappropriately grope.

[10/30/2014 1:01:29 AM] Crow: ... I have some weird friends.

[10/30/2014 1:01:49 AM] Canto: Dalton:  What are handshakes for?

[10/30/2014 1:03:05 AM] Crow: Opponents, rivals, frenemies, coworkers.

[10/30/2014 1:03:31 AM] Canto: Dalton takes her hand, reluctantly.

[10/30/2014 1:03:45 AM] Crow: Crow shakes his hand. Is it cold and dead? Or just slightly cold?

[10/30/2014 1:05:40 AM] Canto: Slightly cold.

[10/30/2014 1:06:44 AM] Crow: Sometimes people who respect each other. Now I owe you two ties.

[10/30/2014 1:11:03 AM] Canto: He holds onto your hand, and he smirks. You feel him slide into your head. This time is different though. He's not just taking control of your body, or directing your actions -- it's more like how Judy described it. He goes into your head and you suddenly feel dazed, and a little tingly, and actually pretty good as you suddenly realize that you will do anything he tells you to do. For the moment, as far as you're concerned, the whole reason you exist is to obey him to the best of your ability.

[10/30/2014 1:11:30 AM] Crow: I kinda figured.

[10/30/2014 1:11:53 AM] Canto: Dalton:  Then why did you give my your hand?

[10/30/2014 1:13:01 AM] Crow: I hoped you wouldn't. But it's part of training.

[10/30/2014 1:13:22 AM] Crow: Figured you'd bite me at some point too.

[10/30/2014 1:14:31 AM] Crow: Already decided to let it happen.

[10/30/2014 1:15:07 AM] Canto: Dalton smirks. "Before I mind-controlled you?  Why?"

[10/30/2014 1:15:44 AM] Crow: Yep. Couple reasons for that.

[10/30/2014 1:18:04 AM] Crow: One, deliberately allowing it paradoxically denies you control, in a way. Two, I need to know what it feels like. Three, there's lots of gross things you could make me do, but you *probably* won't kill me, and they *probably* wouldn't want you to do that. And four, this is part of the training and needs to be done.

[10/30/2014 1:19:38 AM] Crow: Crow smiles. It's just a friendly smile.

[10/30/2014 1:20:25 AM] Canto: Dalton looks at you levelly for a moment. "Smart one, aren't you?"

[10/30/2014 1:20:43 AM] Crow: Crow shrugs.

[10/30/2014 1:21:19 AM] Crow: Or reckless. I like new experiences too. That's prob'ly five.

[10/30/2014 1:21:59 AM] Crow: Don't use fuzzy handcuffs.

[10/30/2014 1:22:13 AM] Canto: Dalton: Real handcuffs only, eh?

[10/30/2014 1:22:33 AM] Crow: No, leather restraints. You can really hurt yourself with real ones, or the joke ones.

[10/30/2014 1:23:20 AM] Crow: Anyway. What do you want me to do?

[10/30/2014 1:27:10 AM] Crow: Does it make it easier if you touch someone?

[10/30/2014 1:27:30 AM] Crow: Is there anything interesting in my head that I should know about?

[10/30/2014 1:28:00 AM] Crow: Like... a latent fear of red sporks or something?

[10/30/2014 1:31:02 AM] Canto: Dalton:  I can't read your thoughts. Only control them by telling you what to think. And yes, proximity does help with many vampires. Not me, I could have done this across the room. But something to keep in mind, i suppose.

[10/30/2014 1:31:21 AM] Canto: Dalton:  I was going to take a little of your blood. But not now that you're expecting it.

[10/30/2014 1:31:31 AM] Crow: Crow shrugs.

[10/30/2014 1:31:40 AM] Crow: I've kind of been expecting it all along, so.

[10/30/2014 1:33:23 AM] Canto: Dalton:  Still, I was thinking, you take my tie, I take your blood, seemed fair. But you've taken the fun out of that.

[10/30/2014 1:34:09 AM] Crow: They were not good ties. Believe me, I was doing you a favor.

[10/30/2014 1:35:46 AM] Canto: Dalton:  Enough. You'll obey me, yes?

[10/30/2014 1:35:51 AM] Crow: Sure.

[10/30/2014 1:36:02 AM] Crow: Did you know silkworms die for silk?

[10/30/2014 1:37:04 AM] Crow: They're boiled to death.

[10/30/2014 1:38:00 AM] Canto: Dalton:  I did not ask you about silkworms.

[10/30/2014 1:38:28 AM] Crow: I know! But you should buy good ties because silkworms die for them.

[10/30/2014 1:39:37 AM] Crow: I will buy you good ties.

[10/30/2014 1:44:19 AM] Canto: Dalton:  No need. I have many. But you will give me your shirt. The one you have on.

[10/30/2014 1:44:32 AM] Crow: Ooh, baby.

[10/30/2014 1:44:53 AM] Crow: Crow takes her shirt off. She's got a pretty black bra on underneath.

[10/30/2014 1:45:29 AM] Crow: Next time you should tell me in advance, I could wear a cuter bra.

[10/30/2014 1:48:45 AM] Crow: Want this one?

[10/30/2014 1:48:49 AM] Crow: I could take off my pants.

[10/30/2014 1:49:10 AM] Canto: Dalton: ... good idea.

[10/30/2014 1:50:16 AM] Crow: Awesome!

[10/30/2014 1:50:18 AM] Crow: Crow does.

[10/30/2014 1:50:43 AM] Crow: Crow 's underwear match!

[10/30/2014 1:51:08 AM] Crow: Now what?

[10/30/2014 1:52:32 AM] Crow: Wanna cuddle?

[10/30/2014 1:57:34 AM] Crow: Crow smiles up at him.

[10/30/2014 1:57:50 AM] Canto: Dalton:  .... no. You... are not easily humiliated, are you?

[10/30/2014 1:58:25 AM] Crow: I could dance on the table if you want.

[10/30/2014 1:59:28 AM] Crow: Or, I know, you're pretty cold. I could try and warm you up some. I doubt it'd work for very long though.

[10/30/2014 2:00:56 AM] Crow: 'specially in here. It's not that warm in here.

[10/30/2014 2:04:21 AM] Canto: Dalton is silent for a long moment. "You know what what I want you to do?  You know what would make me very very happy?"

[10/30/2014 2:04:39 AM] Crow: What?

[10/30/2014 2:04:54 AM] Crow: Crow gets really *really* close.

[10/30/2014 2:10:15 AM] Canto: Dalton: From this point forward, you will *only* call me 'Master'. Even after I release you,t his command will remain lodged in your mind. No matter how hard you try, no matter what word or name you use to refer to me, you will instead use the word 'Master'. Understood?

[10/30/2014 2:10:36 AM] Crow: Ooh, I like that. Are you gonna give me a collar, too?

[10/30/2014 2:10:48 AM] Crow: Is there a leash?

[10/30/2014 2:11:39 AM] Crow: If I misbehave do I get spanked?

[10/30/2014 2:11:49 AM] Crow: Crow sounds... terribly, disturbingly hopeful.

[10/30/2014 2:13:46 AM] Crow: I can be very, *very* naughty... master.

[10/30/2014 2:14:57 AM] Crow: Crow makes sure to draw that last word out.

[10/30/2014 2:15:19 AM] Canto: Dalton:  Mmm. No, I think this will be enough, for now.

[10/30/2014 2:15:29 AM] Canto: He slings your clothes over his shoulders.

[10/30/2014 2:15:36 AM] Crow: Aww.

[10/30/2014 2:16:45 AM] Crow: Isn't there anything *else* I can do for you?

[10/30/2014 2:20:53 AM] Canto: No. You're going to stand here, at attention, in your underwear.

[10/30/2014 2:21:27 AM] Crow: Awesooooome.

[10/30/2014 2:21:43 AM] Crow: Can you send Doc in? I wanna see the look on her face.

[10/30/2014 2:21:53 AM] Crow: Or Judy. Hehehe.

[10/30/2014 2:22:36 AM] Canto: Dalton:  When I leave, you're going to count to 100, aloud.

[10/30/2014 2:22:54 AM] Crow: Yessssss, my master.

[10/30/2014 2:23:49 AM] Canto: Dalton:  When you're done, you'll be fully yourself again. Got it?

[10/30/2014 2:24:01 AM] Crow: Sure. Do you like Star Wars?

[10/30/2014 2:24:20 AM | Edited 2:24:34 AM] Canto: Dalton:  No.

[10/30/2014 2:24:33 AM] Crow: Awww. How come?

[10/30/2014 2:24:37 AM] Canto: (brain fart)

[10/30/2014 2:25:23 AM] Canto: Dalton:  I just don't. I'm your master, I don't owe you any explanations, do I?

[10/30/2014 2:25:55 AM] Crow: No, but some masters like to talk.

[10/30/2014 2:26:19 AM] Crow: I could help!

[10/30/2014 2:27:03 AM] Crow: Crow starts untying his (murdered) tie.

[10/30/2014 2:27:33 AM] Canto: Dalton:  Enough. I don't need your help. I just want you to obey.

[10/30/2014 2:28:38 AM] Crow: Yes, my maaaaaaaaaaster. And you don't even know why that's funny because you don't like Star Wars!

[10/30/2014 2:29:37 AM] Crow: Crow unties his tie and uses it to tug him down a little bit so he's closer. In kissing range.

[10/30/2014 2:30:51 AM] Canto: Dalton:  What are you trying to do?

[10/30/2014 2:31:03 AM] Crow: Have fun?

[10/30/2014 2:31:24 AM] Crow: Are you anti-fun, master?

[10/30/2014 2:31:37 AM] Crow: You shouldn't be anti-fun.

[10/30/2014 2:32:11 AM] Crow: I have a nice ne-eck. You can biiiite it.

[10/30/2014 2:32:59 AM] Crow: All the nibbles.

[10/30/2014 2:35:02 AM] Crow: I could be your universal donor.

[10/30/2014 2:39:44 AM] Crow: Are those fangs or are you just happy to see me?

[10/30/2014 2:39:56 AM] Canto: Dalton sighs. "Enough of this.  Stand at attention."

[10/30/2014 2:40:23 AM] Crow: Crow obeys! She's having a hard time not laughing, though.

[10/30/2014 2:41:35 AM] Canto: Dalton:  You have your orders. Obey them.

[10/30/2014 2:41:40 AM] Canto: He leaves the room!

[10/30/2014 2:41:51 AM] Crow: Crow shouts ONE TWO THREE etc.

[10/30/2014 2:42:25 AM] Canto: Once you hit 100, the spell fades away.

[10/30/2014 2:43:22 AM] Crow: ... wow, that was really trippy. Master is quite an asshole. ... master. Master? Well that master.

[10/30/2014 2:44:20 AM] Crow: Crow doesn't care too much that she's in underpants, and goes to check her tray to see if there's anything left on it. There isn't.

[10/30/2014 2:44:24 AM] Crow: Rats.

[10/30/2014 2:44:59 AM] Crow: Crow waves at anyone in the lunch room.

[10/30/2014 2:45:31 AM] Canto: Well, she's in the practice room now. They left the lunch room.

[10/30/2014 2:45:50 AM] Crow: ((Yeah, she went back to it to check.))

[10/30/2014 2:46:02 AM] Crow: ((And put her tray away like a good girl.)

[10/30/2014 2:46:14 AM] Canto: She gets a few eyes, yeah, though there's not a lot of people in there.

[10/30/2014 2:47:10 AM] Crow: Crow puts her tray away, and ambles for her room.

[10/30/2014 2:47:19 AM] Canto: And this isn't the weirdest thing they've seen Dalton  make a trainee do.

[10/31/2014 4:24:56 PM] Canto: Sooooo. Crow had an encounter of with Dalton that she's pretty sure she still won, even though he stuck her with post hypnotic command she won't be able to shake off for awhile.

[10/31/2014 4:26:31 PM] Crow: Crow is pretty cheery. And probably clothed again, although maybe not. Depends on the ambient temperature, really.

[10/31/2014 4:29:02 PM] Canto: They keep it a 68 degrees in the base.

[10/31/2014 4:30:08 PM] Crow: Crow probably puts clothes on, then!

[10/31/2014 4:30:11 PM] Crow: Crow gets chilly.

[10/31/2014 4:35:18 PM] Canto: Some time goes by, a couple weeks. Training training training, with an occasional sparring sessino with Dalton.

[10/31/2014 4:36:10 PM] Crow: Crow does not change her attitude toward him in any significant way.

[10/31/2014 4:36:37 PM] Crow: Crow will add "baiter" as soon as she can, though. :) And will probably practice it to try to break the conditioning faster.

[10/31/2014 4:37:48 PM] Canto: She can't just yet. But he lays off her -- he's all business with her, straight sparring, no grudge matches or anything like that.

[10/31/2014 4:39:47 PM] Crow: Crow will kill any of his ties that aren't green, blue, black, white, gray or violet, though.

[10/31/2014 4:41:00 PM] Crow: Crow for his own good.

[10/31/2014 4:41:24 PM] Canto: He stops wearing ties to sparring matches. He also shows up for more of her other classes --hand to hand, for example.

[10/31/2014 4:43:10 PM] Crow: Crow continues downplaying any successes to the other students, while also carefully, subtly working out how their experiences are differing from hers.

[10/31/2014 4:43:47 PM] Canto: How so?

[10/31/2014 4:45:03 PM] Crow: Crow tries to work out if Doc is treating them differently or if Dalton is, or if their course of training is differing from hers.

[10/31/2014 4:45:34 PM] Crow: Crow also tries to get any information on Doc, Dalton or the program she can, but again, as subtly as possible and without prying.

[10/31/2014 4:48:35 PM] Canto: They don't know much more than you. Apparently Judy is a bit ahead of you as far as hypnotherapy goes, she's starting to be able to resist Dalton's weaker, motor-control type of mind tricks -- 'drop your weapon', the kind of stuff he does in the middle of a fight to get the advantage without totally taking over your mind, to reflect the weaker forms of mind control you'd be dealing with from younger weaker vampires.

[10/31/2014 4:49:14 PM] Crow: Crow tries to work out if there's anything she's doing differently, or if it's just the hypnotoad stuff working in her favor.

[10/31/2014 4:52:39 PM] Canto: It could have to do with background or personality -- Judy is imaginative, but comes from a military background so she doesn't have the aversion to authority you do, so maybe she's a bit more susceptible to hypnosis.

[10/31/2014 4:53:09 PM] Crow: Crow wouldn't even listen to herself if she were an authority.

[10/31/2014 4:57:15 PM] Canto: But then, Judy is also an assertive type herself, so maybe not? Hard to say.

[10/31/2014 4:57:37 PM] Crow: Crow likes her. She likes both the other students.

[10/31/2014 5:01:40 PM] Canto: Anyway, your phone buzzes. Time for your special time with Doc.

[10/31/2014 5:01:57 PM] Crow: On  my way.

[10/31/2014 5:02:01 PM] Crow: Crow sighs and heads over there.

[10/31/2014 5:04:36 PM] Canto: The sessions typically leave you feeling pretty good.

[10/31/2014 5:05:42 PM] Crow: Crow still knows that her mind is being mucked about with, though.

[10/31/2014 5:07:06 PM] Canto: True. Doc is standing strolling around her office, mumbling to herself about 'synapse hardening' and 'autohypnotic response' as she taps her pen to her lips.

[10/31/2014 5:08:10 PM] Crow: Is that good?

[10/31/2014 5:10:49 PM] Canto: She turns toward you as speak, as if she wasn't aware of you walking in. It could well be the case -- Doc alternates between creepy, ultralogical automaton to mad scientiest pretty readily. "Ah!  Crow.  Crow.  Yes.  You are making decent progress.  Say 'Dalton'.

[10/31/2014 5:11:59 PM] Crow: Crow sighs.

[10/31/2014 5:12:20 PM] Crow: Mmmalton.

[10/31/2014 5:12:56 PM] Canto: Doc:  Yes, yes. Good good. Again.

[10/31/2014 5:13:18 PM] Crow: Mmm. Mm. Dalton.

[10/31/2014 5:14:27 PM] Canto: Doc:  This is a result of the power of the initial suggestion wearing off as much as it is the conditioning speeding that process up. Still -- good progress. Are you taking all your pills?

[10/31/2014 5:15:53 PM] Crow: Yeah.

[10/31/2014 5:16:11 PM] Canto: Doc:  Any side effects that you have noticed?

[10/31/2014 5:17:54 PM] Crow: Urges to eat pudding? But I have those anyway.

[10/31/2014 5:18:40 PM] Canto: Doc:  So no changes to appetite, digestion, or sleep patterns?

[10/31/2014 5:20:02 PM] Crow: Nope!

[10/31/2014 5:41:35 PM] Canto: Doc:  Good good.

[10/31/2014 5:42:13 PM] Crow: Crow smiles.

[10/31/2014 5:44:46 PM] Canto: Doc:  Yes, you're making excellent progress. How much do you remember from our sessions?

[10/31/2014 5:45:40 PM] Crow: Uh... sitting down?

[10/31/2014 5:46:32 PM] Canto: Doc:  What sensations do you recall?

[10/31/2014 5:46:55 PM] Canto: Doc:  Do you often see my floating head with fire coming out of my mouth in your dreams?

[10/31/2014 5:47:09 PM] Crow: ... uh, no. Should I?

[10/31/2014 5:48:07 PM] Canto: Doc:  Well, I've been seeing that in my dreams. Just wondering.

[10/31/2014 5:48:28 PM] Crow: Oh wow. Well, that's disturbing. Maybe you should see a therapist.

[10/31/2014 5:49:14 PM] Canto: Doc:  I do!

[10/31/2014 5:49:20 PM] Canto: Doc: Three times a week.

[10/31/2014 5:49:27 PM] Crow: Oh, good.

[10/31/2014 5:49:29 PM] Crow: Good.

[10/31/2014 5:49:30 PM] Canto: Doc:  ... they keep dropping me as a patient.

[10/31/2014 5:51:10 PM] Crow: Aww. That sucks, what for?

[10/31/2014 5:53:27 PM] Canto: Doc shrugs. "I'm smarter than most of them, I think."

[10/31/2014 5:54:38 PM] Crow: Could be that. You might also tell them scary things.

[10/31/2014 5:58:01 PM] Canto: Doc:  They want me to be honest.

[10/31/2014 5:58:20 PM] Crow: Yeah, exactly.

[10/31/2014 5:58:31 PM] Crow: Keep trying, maybe you'll find the right one.

[10/31/2014 6:06:25 PM] Canto: Doc:  You're very lucky to have me as a hypnotherapist. I am quite good at it.

[10/31/2014 6:07:48 PM] Crow: Yeah, I think so!

[10/31/2014 6:07:56 PM] Crow: I always feel good after sessions, and stuff, anyway.

[10/31/2014 6:09:15 PM] Canto: She smiles. "Well.  I have enjoyed our non-sanctioned interaction.  Shall we get started?"

[10/31/2014 6:10:04 PM] Crow: Yeah, sure.

[10/31/2014 6:14:43 PM] Canto: It's been a few weeks now, so you're pretty well conditioned to go into trance as soon as she brings up the pretty shifting colors to stare at.

[10/31/2014 6:14:55 PM] Crow: Crow does, obediently!

[10/31/2014 6:20:47 PM] Canto: Doc:  Crow? Can you hear me?

[10/31/2014 6:21:21 PM] Crow: Yes?

[10/31/2014 6:29:04 PM | Edited 6:34:11 PM] Canto: Doc:  Your trance is a warm pool of water, the perfect temperature. Hot, but just on the border between relaxing and and uncomfortable. This is special water, and you can breathe in it, you needn't fear drowning, or anything while you are in the water. You are standing in this pool, and the depth of the pool -- and where the water comes up to on your body -- is an indicator of your depth. How deep are you? How many feet?

[10/31/2014 6:29:45 PM] Crow: ((Hrm, might want to reread that, something's not quite right.))

[10/31/2014 6:32:04 PM] Crow: ((A word is missing or something.))

[10/31/2014 6:47:58 PM] Crow: Fifteen feet.

[10/31/2014 6:49:24 PM] Canto: Doc:  Go down to twenty feet and float there.

[10/31/2014 6:49:25 PM] Canto: She moves over to her desk and presses a button on her intercom.

[10/31/2014 6:51:03 PM] Crow: Mmmm. Pressurey.

[10/31/2014 6:51:16 PM] Crow: My ears popped.

[10/31/2014 6:53:52 PM] Crow: Just keep swimming, just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming....

[10/31/2014 6:56:33 PM] Canto: Doc:  shhh. You can feel the bottom of the pool beneath your feet now, can't you. YOu are as deep as you can go.

[10/31/2014 6:56:47 PM] Crow: Mmm.

[10/31/2014 6:56:48 PM] Canto: She puts something on your temples, those slightly sticky sensor things.

[10/31/2014 6:58:07 PM] Crow: Crow does not react, really.

[10/31/2014 6:59:40 PM] Crow: What do we do, we swim, swim.

[10/31/2014 7:02:37 PM] Canto: Doc:  Crow.

[10/31/2014 7:02:43 PM] Crow: Yes?

[10/31/2014 7:08:41 PM] Canto: Doc:  I'm going to turn off the colors now. BUt you'll be able to remain deep in trance. Do you understand?

[10/31/2014 7:08:48 PM] Crow: Suuuuuure.

[10/31/2014 7:08:58 PM] Canto: She clicks off the pretty colors.

[10/31/2014 7:09:20 PM] Crow: Crow stares trancily anyway.

[10/31/2014 7:12:43 PM] Canto: She looks at her iphone, hooked up to the sensors on your head. "We're going to go for a walk now, Crow, and you will remain as you are, deep in trance, mentally relaxed, open and receptive, yes?"

[10/31/2014 7:13:51 PM] Crow: Suuuure.

[10/31/2014 7:17:57 PM] Canto: Doc:  You want to know one of the best things about trance, Crow?

[10/31/2014 7:26:24 PM] Crow: Yes.

[10/31/2014 7:29:06 PM] Canto: Doc:  If I suggest you don't find something painful, you won't find that thing painful. Do you feel that tingling at your temples? It is a low-level directed electrical current that will aid in the process of making your resistant to vampiric mind control. Were you not in trance... it would be very alarming, to say the least. But now, it feels like a tingling, a pleasant sensation, yes?

[10/31/2014 7:29:57 PM] Crow: Yes.

[10/31/2014 7:31:09 PM] Canto: Doc:  Which is why it's very important to stay in trance. Now get to your feet... we're going to go the training rooms.

[10/31/2014 7:32:49 PM] Crow: Okay.

[10/31/2014 7:32:51 PM] Crow: Crow stands up.

[10/31/2014 7:32:58 PM] Crow: ... swimming, swimming...

[10/31/2014 7:35:07 PM] Canto: She leads you to the training rooms, where Dalton awaits, putting out a cigarette as you enter.

[10/31/2014 7:35:27 PM] Canto: Dalton:  Shit, starting on phase 2 already with her?

[10/31/2014 7:37:01 PM] Crow: I smell Daaaaaalton.

[10/31/2014 7:37:14 PM] Crow: Swimming, swimming.

[10/31/2014 7:39:24 PM] Canto: Doc:  She's more willful than most of our trainees -- if it weren't for her natural abilities, we'd have washed her out already. Deep obedience conditioning wont' last for long -- I'll have to keep reaffirming it on a regular basis to keep her in line. And even then, I'll ikely have to mind-wipe her before long before she builds up a resistance.

[10/31/2014 7:39:35 PM] Canto: Dalton:  She worth all this trouble?

[10/31/2014 7:40:14 PM] Canto: Doc:  Absolutely. We don't know why she can do what she can do, but she's too dangerous to leave out int he wild. She needs to be under our influence.

[10/31/2014 7:40:30 PM] Crow: Hi Dalton! Are you swimming?

[10/31/2014 7:41:04 PM] Canto: Dalton:  ... calling me Dalton again?

[10/31/2014 7:41:38 PM] Crow: You can't smoke under water.

[10/31/2014 7:41:41 PM] Crow: Crow hugs him.

[10/31/2014 7:42:15 PM] Canto: Doc:  Are you ready for some training, Crow?

[10/31/2014 7:43:01 PM] Canto: Dalton is not a hugger. >_>

[10/31/2014 7:43:53 PM] Crow: Crow is, especially when she's underwater, apparently.

[10/31/2014 7:43:54 PM] Crow: Yes.

[10/31/2014 7:44:10 PM] Crow: Crow lets Dalton go and pats him on the head. Pat. Pat. Pat.

[10/31/2014 7:46:20 PM] Canto: Doc comes over and puts more of those sensors on Crow -- arms and legs, stomach and back.

[10/31/2014 7:48:15 PM] Crow: Crow doesn't really react.

[10/31/2014 7:51:36 PM] Canto: She sets a current through those. "No pain, Crow.  Just a pleasant tingling.  Now you're going to take your weapons from the rack.  This process will speed the development of muscle memory."

[10/31/2014 7:54:01 PM] Crow: Muscle memory.

[10/31/2014 7:54:47 PM] Canto: Dalton takes a weapon from the rack too.

[10/31/2014 7:59:01 PM] Crow: Crow doesn't really react.

[10/31/2014 8:00:54 PM] Canto: Doc:  The man you see before you isn't Dalton, Crow. It is that vampire you saw in the fire. Vampires prey on humans, Crow. And you protect humans from the vampires. Attack the monster.

[10/31/2014 8:01:22 PM] Crow: Crow hesitates.

[10/31/2014 8:01:36 PM] Crow: ... but I *smell* Dalton.

[10/31/2014 8:02:51 PM] Canto: Doc gives Dalton a look. "It's not him, Crow.  He just smokes the same brand of cigarettes and uses the same brand of aftershave.  I'm not a figher Crow, and he's going to attack me."

[10/31/2014 8:07:14 PM] Crow: Maybe you're enchanted.

[10/31/2014 8:07:59 PM] Canto: Doc:  Give it another five feet, Crow.

[10/31/2014 8:08:09 PM | Edited 8:08:40 PM] Canto: She adjusts something on her iPhone.

[10/31/2014 8:10:36 PM] Crow: Crow backs up five feet!

[10/31/2014 8:11:50 PM] Canto: Doc:  Five feet deeper, Crow. Just keep swimming.

[10/31/2014 8:12:02 PM] Crow: Swimming, swimming.

[10/31/2014 8:12:24 PM] Crow: Crow blanks out a bit more.

[10/31/2014 8:13:08 PM] Canto: Doc:  This vampire is going to harm me, Crow. I need you to protect me.

[10/31/2014 8:13:46 PM] Crow: Crow nods, and wordlessly moves forward to attack. Cautiously, slowly and defensively.

[10/31/2014 8:15:19 PM] Canto: The vampire is agressive, but also cautious, making probing attacks to test your defenses.

[10/31/2014 8:16:09 PM] Crow: Crow plans to be a defensive wall while waiting for, or maneuvering toward, an opportunity to lop its head off.

[10/31/2014 8:22:11 PM] Canto: It manages to score a hit on you, but overextends his arm, giving you an opening.

[10/31/2014 8:22:50 PM] Crow: Crow slashes at it!

[10/31/2014 8:24:06 PM] Canto: You cut at it, and you feel the machete slice through flesh!

[10/31/2014 8:24:42 PM] Canto: Doc:  You did it Crow. The vampire is dead. Just keep swimming. Relax. I'm safe.

[10/31/2014 8:25:01 PM] Crow: Crow backs off.

[10/31/2014 8:25:18 PM] Canto: Dalton holds his neck, which is cut open, but healing rapidly. "Damn.  Guess she holds back when we spar."

[10/31/2014 8:25:54 PM] Crow: Dalton?

[10/31/2014 8:27:12 PM] Canto: Dalton:  I'm fine. I just arrived. I see you did well and killed the vampire that was attacking our Doctor here.

[10/31/2014 8:28:43 PM] Crow: It was bad, right?

[10/31/2014 8:29:41 PM] Canto: Dalton:  All vampires are bad, Crow. They prey on humans. They kill people.

[10/31/2014 8:30:13 PM] Crow: You don't kill people. 'cause we don't let you.

[10/31/2014 8:30:40 PM] Canto: Dalton:  Yeah. I'm a death row inmate on a very strict work release.

[10/31/2014 8:31:59 PM] Crow: Right.

[10/31/2014 8:34:51 PM] Canto: Doc:  All vampires are bad. That's why you're going through all of this Crow. Your sacrifices will make you a protector, a guardian.

[10/31/2014 8:35:14 PM] Canto: Dalton:  You gotta fight the bad shit, Crow. Someone does.

[10/31/2014 8:35:27 PM] Crow: Some vampires are *more* bad.

[10/31/2014 8:36:04 PM] Canto: Doc:  Yes. Dalton is here, we can monitor him -- that puts him at 'least bad' on the scale.

[10/31/2014 8:37:32 PM] Crow: Least bad. Except the smoking.

[10/31/2014 8:39:19 PM] Canto: Doc touches some controls on her iPhone. "Now we will repeat the situation."

[10/31/2014 8:39:27 PM] Canto: And you do! over and over and over again.

[10/31/2014 8:39:39 PM] Canto: Crow wakes up in the here and now.

[10/31/2014 8:39:42 PM] Crow: Crow does. Dalton is about to have a *lot* of near-death experiences.

[10/31/2014 8:40:40 PM] Crow: Crow *freaks out*, and has to go throw up.

[10/31/2014 8:42:26 PM] Canto: Now, in the light of day, she probably doesn't remember *everything*. But she gets the gist -- she knows there was a vampire named Dalton. He helped train her. She remembers snippets from her actual initial training and reprogramming. But she doesn't get the full transcript, so to speak.

[10/31/2014 8:43:40 PM] Crow: Crow takes a shower. A very very long one. Like, probably the water might go cold.

[10/31/2014 8:44:14 PM] Canto: And she doesn't recall what happened to Dalton, not yet.

[10/31/2014 8:44:38 PM] Crow: Crow is freaked *way* out that she might have killed him.

[10/31/2014 8:46:18 PM] Canto: She does not recall!

[10/31/2014 8:46:39 PM] Canto: She hears her phone ring.

[10/31/2014 8:47:08 PM] Crow: Crow stumbles out of the icy water, still pretty teary (she's cried in there a little bit) and answers the phone, trying not to drip on it.

[10/31/2014 8:47:12 PM] Crow: Yeah?

[10/31/2014 8:47:27 PM] Canto: Jensen:  .. you okay? You don't sound like yourself.

[10/31/2014 8:47:36 PM] Crow: What happened to Dalton?

[10/31/2014 8:47:51 PM] Canto: Jensen:  ... who?

[10/31/2014 8:48:20 PM] Crow: Dalton! He was a vampire, he helped train me! He was an asshole but I'm afraid I killed him! I need to know what happened to him!

[10/31/2014 8:49:59 PM] Canto: Jensen:  ... I swear, I don't know, Crow. you were handed off to me after your training was completed. you know how 343 works -- compartmentalization. I always suspected they must have had some vampires captive, or something, but... I'll do some digging, see what I can find.

[10/31/2014 8:50:44 PM] Crow: O... okay.

[10/31/2014 8:50:46 PM] Crow: Crow sniffles.

[10/31/2014 8:50:49 PM] Crow: Good.

[10/31/2014 8:50:51 PM] Crow: Sorry.

[10/31/2014 8:51:02 PM] Canto: Jensen:  It's alright. Stuff is still coming back to you, I take it.

[10/31/2014 8:51:23 PM] Crow: Yeah.

[10/31/2014 8:51:29 PM] Crow: ... Doc was nicer to me then.

[10/31/2014 8:51:34 PM] Crow: In her kind of... way.

[10/31/2014 8:51:52 PM] Canto: Jensen:  ... she was?

[10/31/2014 8:52:41 PM] Crow: Yeah. Probably just to get better results.

[10/31/2014 8:53:16 PM] Canto: Jensen:  ... I can't imagine her being comforting no matter how nice she is.

[10/31/2014 8:54:13 PM] Canto: Jensen:  The reason I called you is that the people I'm setting you up with are going to meet you in St. Louis. They're on a job. There's three of them. They're -- odd.

[10/31/2014 8:54:21 PM] Canto: Jensen:  But they're good people.

[10/31/2014 8:56:09 PM] Crow: Odd? What job?

[10/31/2014 8:57:50 PM] Canto: Jensen:  I'm not sure. Some kind of rats-in-the-wall infested mansion type job.

[10/31/2014 8:58:04 PM] Canto: Jensen:  Except the rats are monstrosities.

[10/31/2014 8:58:20 PM] Crow: Maybe I could help.

[10/31/2014 8:58:48 PM] Canto: Jensen:  That's what I was thinking. Impress them off the bat. I'll text you the address you can find them at.

[10/31/2014 8:59:05 PM] Crow: Okay.

[10/31/2014 8:59:06 PM] Crow: Crow sniffles.

[10/31/2014 8:59:10 PM] Crow: I don't feel very impressive right now.

[10/31/2014 9:05:08 PM] Canto: Jensen:  You'll be fine. You've been getting hypnotized and reprogrammed on the regular for who knows how many years. We knew there'd be mental fallout.

[10/31/2014 9:05:26 PM] Canto: Jensen: You're strong, you'll make it through.

[10/31/2014 9:05:53 PM] Crow: You're so sweet.

[10/31/2014 9:05:55 PM] Crow: I miss you.

[10/31/2014 9:06:05 PM] Crow: Crow tries not to cry and faaails.

[10/31/2014 9:06:21 PM] Crow: Crow is a terrible stone-cold assassin!

[10/31/2014 9:08:23 PM] Canto: Jensen:  It just seems bad right now because you're isolated. You like company. And an audience.

[10/31/2014 9:09:36 PM] Crow: Yeah.

[10/31/2014 9:10:36 PM] Crow: Crow blubbers at him a little bit and then stops crying after a while.

[10/31/2014 9:10:37 PM] Crow: ... sorry.

[10/31/2014 9:11:03 PM] Canto: Jensen:  It's all right.

[10/31/2014 9:12:07 PM] Crow: ... thanks.

[10/31/2014 9:12:36 PM] Canto: Jensen:  I'd better go.

[10/31/2014 9:16:56 PM] Crow: Okay. Thanks though. ... bye.

[10/31/2014 9:17:01 PM] Crow: Crow hangs up. NO FLIRTING AT ALL.

[10/31/2014 9:17:06 PM] Canto: Jensen:  Be careful.

[10/31/2014 9:20:10 PM] Canto: So, does she head out?

[10/31/2014 9:20:46 PM] Crow: Crow does. Doesn't bother to fix her hair or anything, just *goes*.

[10/31/2014 9:21:19 PM] Canto: If she drives HARD, she can get to St. Louis by nightfall.

[10/31/2014 9:22:48 PM] Crow: Crow does, but she'll only stop there if she's actually tired.

[10/31/2014 9:23:03 PM | Edited 9:23:10 PM] Canto: Isn't she going to meet the people?

[10/31/2014 9:23:13 PM] Crow: ((I thought they were in Chicago?))

[10/31/2014 9:23:31 PM] Canto: He said they were on a job in St. Louis and to meet them there.

[10/31/2014 9:23:57 PM] Crow: ((OH DUH HELLO. Durrr. See why I'm lost all the time?))

[10/31/2014 9:24:42 PM] Crow: Crow *does* go to meet the people. She tries to clean herself up a bit first, though, and dyes her hair again. This time it's black, back to her original color, but in a hairband.

[10/31/2014 9:26:11 PM] Canto: You find the site Jensen says they're at. There's an RV parked outside of an old, squallid looking factory. No one in the RV, it doesn't look like.

[10/31/2014 9:28:17 PM] Crow: Crow knocks on its door.

[10/31/2014 9:29:15 PM] Canto: No answer!

[10/31/2014 9:29:40 PM] Canto: You hear a commotion coming from the door to the factory, though.

[10/31/2014 9:29:56 PM] Crow: Crow runs to it.

[10/31/2014 9:32:18 PM] Canto: A woman bursts out of the door! She almost bowls you over! She's large, muscular, statuesque and has a short shock of bright green hair. She looks at you out of breath. "You!  You're the girl, right?  You got a blade?  We need a blade.  I'm Ruby.  Hi.  Sword! You need to cut off its head when it comes out!  It got my sword.  Ate it right up.  So, sword!

[10/31/2014 9:34:01 PM] Crow: All I have is a dinky-ass knife. Had to toss my machetes. I mean, I can try, but uh....

[10/31/2014 9:34:41 PM] Canto: ((Jensen got you new machetes.))

[10/31/2014 9:35:13 PM] Crow: Oh, wait. No, hang on.

[10/31/2014 9:35:17 PM] Crow: I forgot, they're in the back seat.

[10/31/2014 9:35:22 PM] Crow: Crow runs and gets them!

[10/31/2014 9:35:30 PM] Crow: Crow doesn't usually carry them around, that would be weird!

[10/31/2014 9:36:48 PM] Canto: Ruby:  We got twenty seconds I figure. Fomori. They're not the fastest runners. Asymmetrical biology does not lead to high sprint speeds. I'm Ruby. Did I mention that?

[10/31/2014 9:37:28 PM] Crow: What's a Fomori?

[10/31/2014 9:37:32 PM] Crow: I'm Crow.

[10/31/2014 9:37:37 PM] Canto: Ruby put her hand to a bluetooth headset on her ear. "Monsters."

[10/31/2014 9:37:59 PM] Crow: Any weak points?

[10/31/2014 9:38:17 PM] Canto: Ruby:  Jasper, you there? How's the purification coming?

[10/31/2014 9:38:59 PM] Canto: Ruby:  *to you* Oh, they're loaded with them. They're just *big*. So cutting off the head is the best bet. Usually they keep their brains in their heads.

[10/31/2014 9:40:18 PM] Canto: Ruby:  Felix! You still have north covered?

[10/31/2014 9:42:02 PM] Crow: Okay.

[10/31/2014 9:42:08 PM] Crow: Three people?

[10/31/2014 9:43:20 PM] Canto: Ruby:  Right. Me. I'm Ruby. Jasper is an exorcist. Felix is a weirdo with a sniper rifle.

[10/31/2014 9:43:50 PM] Crow: Weirdo good or weirdo bites the heads off live chickens?

[10/31/2014 9:44:05 PM] Canto: Ruby:  He's mostly tame.

[10/31/2014 9:44:20 PM] Canto: Ruby:  He sings over the line. A lot.

[10/31/2014 9:45:43 PM] Crow: Does he have a good voice?

[10/31/2014 9:45:50 PM] Crow: ... I've never really worked with a team before, so um...

[10/31/2014 9:46:25 PM] Canto: A monster comes bursting out of the door! It's a long... thing made of distorted animal and vaguely humanoid body parts. It smells really bad.

[10/31/2014 9:47:20 PM] Crow: Crow runs at it.

[10/31/2014 9:52:53 PM] Canto: You spot a head! It looks like a bird head. Like the head of a skesis from Dark Crystal.

[10/31/2014 9:53:15 PM] Canto: Oh, and your spider sense is going *nuts* at this thing. DANGER DANGER DANGER

[10/31/2014 9:53:43 PM] Crow: Crow is going to try to dodge it and climb up it so she can *get* to the head.

[10/31/2014 9:54:47 PM] Canto: You do it! It's big, but not terribly spry. The harest thing is keeping your balance once you're on its back.

[10/31/2014 9:55:34 PM] Crow: Crow clings to it, and only uses *one* of the machetes to try to hack at its head, very calmly.

[10/31/2014 9:55:58 PM] Canto: It's got ichor instead of blood. But you hack at it! And hack. And hack.

[10/31/2014 9:56:19 PM] Canto: Eventually it stops writing about.

[10/31/2014 9:56:58 PM] Canto: Ruby:  Nice! Jasper just cleansed the nest, so the rest of them will headed to the north entrance. Can I borrow one of those swords?

[10/31/2014 9:57:19 PM] Canto: Ruby:  That was the Guardian -- the rest of them will be much smaller.

[10/31/2014 9:57:24 PM] Crow: Sure.

[10/31/2014 9:57:27 PM] Crow: Crow tosses her one.

[10/31/2014 9:57:32 PM] Canto: Ruby grins. "Thanks!

[10/31/2014 9:57:36 PM] Crow: There's *more*? Gross! I'm gonna need SO many showers after this.

[10/31/2014 9:58:47 PM] Crow: Which way's north?

[10/31/2014 9:58:50 PM] Canto: Ruby is of uncertain ethnic origin:  Her accent is vaguely west indies, but she seems a mix of asian, causcasian, and african ethnicities.

[10/31/2014 9:58:53 PM] Canto: She points!

[10/31/2014 9:59:14 PM] Canto: And starts running that way.

[10/31/2014 9:59:19 PM] Crow: Crow follows her!

[10/31/2014 10:01:13 PM] Canto: The north side of the building has a large loading dock, and smaller versions of the thing you just killed are starting to come out of it! you get a text.

[10/31/2014 10:03:15 PM] Crow: Not now Jensen!

[10/31/2014 10:03:27 PM] Crow: Crow grabs it with her left hand and peeks, and then jams it back into her pants, not answering.

[10/31/2014 10:04:55 PM] Canto: It's from unknown. It says "HI!  XD  I'll try not to shoot you." Then monsters start dying to sniper shots.

[10/31/2014 10:05:35 PM] Crow: THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR TEXTING!

[10/31/2014 10:05:56 PM] Canto: Ruby makes a face. "At least he's keeping to patter songs." She tosses you an earpiece.

[10/31/2014 10:06:07 PM] Crow: Crow slices at a few of them herself, grabbing her second machete as she does.

[10/31/2014 10:06:21 PM] Crow: Crow catches it and stuffs it into her ear, with an "ow!"

[10/31/2014 10:06:46 PM] Canto: Sure enough, there's a voice singing.

[10/31/2014 10:06:57 PM] Crow: ((Does he have a good voice?))

[10/31/2014 10:07:15 PM] Canto: I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical,

About binomial theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' news,

With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.

I'm very good at integral and differential calculus;

I know the scientific names of beings animalculous:

In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,

I am the very model of a modern Major-General.

[10/31/2014 10:07:18 PM] Canto: Not bad.

[10/31/2014 10:07:29 PM] Canto: And the shots are in rhythm.

[10/31/2014 10:07:34 PM] Canto: With the song.

[10/31/2014 10:08:16 PM] Canto: He's definitely got a voice for the patter songs and not for ballads.

[10/31/2014 10:08:20 PM] Crow: Don't you think "With Cat-like Tread" would be more appropriate?

[10/31/2014 10:08:47 PM] Canto: Ruby:  Don't encourage him...

[10/31/2014 10:09:02 PM] Crow: Crow guts one of the creatures!

[10/31/2014 10:09:08 PM] Canto: Felix:  The whole song's outdated really. Gimme a sec.

[10/31/2014 10:09:17 PM] Canto: Felix:  Reloading.

[10/31/2014 10:09:19 PM] Crow: It is not, it's a classic.

[10/31/2014 10:09:36 PM] Canto: The bullets stop and he stops singing, though he's still humming.

[10/31/2014 10:09:42 PM] Crow: I want some pirate sherry, dammit.

[10/31/2014 10:10:02 PM] Canto: The shots start again!

[10/31/2014 10:10:05 PM] Crow: Crow picks a monster and tries to tear his head off.

[10/31/2014 10:10:06 PM] Canto: I can fire at a target and I'll hit it every single time

I run the angles in my head while struggling with this very rhyme

I calculate the fall rate of a bullet shot a thousand yards

I perforate the thick heads of a thousand eldritch demon guards.

I can make a simulation of an atom bomb and build one too

Or flank a dozen men and ambush ten of them out of the blue

I'm an expert in explosives incendiary or arcane

I can nail a yaoguai with an arrow standing upwind in a hurricane

[10/31/2014 10:11:30 PM] Crow: Crow laughs.

[10/31/2014 10:11:47 PM] Canto: Soon enough, you're standing amongst a bunch of dead monsters. They stop coming.

[10/31/2014 10:12:24 PM] Canto: Ruby:  Not bad, but your syllable count was off.

[10/31/2014 10:12:49 PM] Canto: Felix:

In matters combat tactical

and ballistics theoretical

I am the very model of a modern major general

[10/31/2014 10:13:08 PM] Crow: Yeah, but you're a lot more competent than the one in Penzance.

[10/31/2014 10:13:11 PM] Canto: Felix:  And you are no fun, Ruby.

[10/31/2014 10:13:32 PM] Crow: ... okay, are there more?

[10/31/2014 10:13:33 PM] Canto: Ruby grins at you. "Not bad, Crow."

[10/31/2014 10:13:51 PM] Crow: Crow smiles back.

[10/31/2014 10:14:01 PM] Crow: It's Laughing Crow actually, but that's too long.

[10/31/2014 10:14:07 PM] Canto: Another voice comes over the line. "That's all of them.  I cleansed the nest, so no more will be growing here.

[10/31/2014 10:14:22 PM] Canto: Ruby:  Nice, Jasper.

[10/31/2014 10:15:26 PM] Crow: They grow? ... creepy.

[10/31/2014 10:15:48 PM] Canto: Jasper:  Yes. They're actually closer to plants than animals.

[10/31/2014 10:15:55 PM] Crow: ... really?

[10/31/2014 10:16:06 PM] Crow: Crow picks one of the corpses up and inspects its structure.

[10/31/2014 10:17:17 PM] Canto: He's right -- it's like dense, kinda gross plant matter mimicking things like musculature to move around.

[10/31/2014 10:17:44 PM] Crow: Wow, that is *super* fucked-up. I wonder what happens if you pour weedkiller on 'em.

[10/31/2014 10:17:57 PM] Crow: We're gonna need a *really* big spray bottle.

[10/31/2014 10:19:36 PM] Canto: Jasper comes out! he's an older guy. Maybe in his sixties, though fairly buff, with a shaved head, a long white beard, and a vaguely monklike robe/coat thing. "Weedkiller mixed with holy water keeps the nest from growing and is part of the cleansing."

[10/31/2014 10:19:54 PM] Crow: Slick!

[10/31/2014 10:20:10 PM | Edited 10:20:37 PM] Canto: Ruby:  This is Jasper. He's our prerequisite guy who pores over old books and speaks a million dead languages.

[10/31/2014 10:20:31 PM] Crow: There are prerequisites?

[10/31/2014 10:20:43 PM] Canto: Ruby:  He's our Giles.

[10/31/2014 10:21:40 PM] Crow: Oh, Buffy. Right. I... really only ever worked with one other person.

[10/31/2014 10:22:04 PM] Crow: I guess I'm Riley, then. Only my boss didn't turn out to be evil. He's super nice.

[10/31/2014 10:23:00 PM] Canto: Jasper:  Albert.

[10/31/2014 10:23:16 PM] Crow: Who's Albert?

[10/31/2014 10:23:58 PM] Canto: Jasper:  I guess he goes by Jensen these days. Albert Farrell.

[10/31/2014 10:24:11 PM] Crow: HIS NAME ISN'T EVEN JENSEN???

[10/31/2014 10:24:52 PM] Crow: Crow whips out a phone and types YOUR NAME ISN'T EVEN JENSEN?!?!?!!?!

[10/31/2014 10:24:52 PM] Canto: Jasper:  When he started working with the government he took on an alias.

[10/31/2014 10:25:28 PM] Crow: Crow texts it on off!

[10/31/2014 10:25:38 PM] Crow: ... I'm gonna kill him SO HARD.

[10/31/2014 10:26:43 PM] Crow: Farrell. Farrell. Well he does look like a Farrell.

[10/31/2014 10:27:13 PM] Canto: Jensen:  Of course not. Doc's name isn't actually Doc.

[10/31/2014 10:27:25 PM] Crow: Crow texts back: MIND. BLOWN.

[10/31/2014 10:27:39 PM] Crow: Crow then adds a coffee emoji for no reason.

[10/31/2014 10:27:58 PM] Canto: Jensen:  If your name hadn't already sounded like a code name by itself you would have been called Elizabeth Smith or something.

[10/31/2014 10:29:22 PM] Crow: Crow texts I AM NOT A SMITH.

[10/31/2014 10:29:52 PM] Crow: Crow has dropped the corpse, by the way.

[10/31/2014 10:30:14 PM] Crow: Okay, now what? Flamethrower? Burial?

[10/31/2014 10:32:17 PM] Crow: ... chocolate cheesecake and decaf?

[10/31/2014 10:33:31 PM] Canto: Felix shows up with a dufflebag and a rifle slung over his back. He's a shortish guy with dark brown hair, Buddy Holly glasses, large green eyes and a lanky build.

[10/31/2014 10:34:01 PM] Canto: Jasper:  Now that the nest is cleansed they'll basically turn into dessicated plant matter by the time the sun comes up.

[10/31/2014 10:34:12 PM] Crow: Worst salad ever.

[10/31/2014 10:34:32 PM] Crow: Aw, he sings *and* he's cute.

[10/31/2014 10:34:47 PM] Canto: Ruby:  At this point yeah, dessert and showers is usually the order of the day.

[10/31/2014 10:35:29 PM] Crow: Uh, I don't really have a place to go exactly, at the moment.

[10/31/2014 10:35:47 PM] Canto: Felix:  I have an RV.

[10/31/2014 10:36:00 PM] Canto: Ruby:  That shower is tiny.

[10/31/2014 10:36:23 PM] Canto: Ruby:  We'll going to get a hotel room.

[10/31/2014 10:36:29 PM] Crow: One?

[10/31/2014 10:36:33 PM] Crow: Crow waggles her eyebrows.

[10/31/2014 10:36:54 PM | Edited 10:37:04 PM] Canto: Ruby:  A couple. For those of us that don't want to sleep in the explodomobile.

[10/31/2014 10:38:51 PM] Canto: Felix:  I like that name for it better than 'incendiary deathtrap'.

[10/31/2014 10:39:15 PM] Crow: Is it an incendiary deathtrap?

[10/31/2014 10:39:51 PM] Canto: Ruby:  He keeps all his explosive stuff in there. And his ammo. And I think he has a rocket launcher.

[10/31/2014 10:40:13 PM] Canto: Felix:  And it's not exploded *once*.

[10/31/2014 10:40:16 PM] Crow: You have a *rocket launcher*?

[10/31/2014 10:40:26 PM] Crow: *Why* hasn't it exploded once? Don't you believe in *fun*?

[10/31/2014 10:41:49 PM] Canto: Felix:  I mean, the RV hasn't exploded once. Of course i've used the rocket launcher.

[10/31/2014 10:42:03 PM] Canto: Jasper:  It is almost always overkill.

[10/31/2014 10:42:18 PM] Crow: Oh, good.

[10/31/2014 10:42:23 PM] Canto: Felix:  It's a *rocket launcher*. We don't fight a lot of helicopters.

[10/31/2014 10:42:36 PM] Canto: Jasper:  They why do you have it?

[10/31/2014 10:42:43 PM] Crow: Why *wouldn't* he have it?

[10/31/2014 10:42:45 PM] Canto: Felix:  ... I don't understand the question.

[10/31/2014 10:42:57 PM] Canto: Felix:  Rocket. Launcher.

[10/31/2014 10:43:17 PM] Canto: Ruby:   ... well. Welcome aboard, Crow.

[10/31/2014 10:43:31 PM] Crow: Thanks!

[10/31/2014 10:43:44 PM] Crow: So you just... go from place to place in an RV killing shit?

[10/31/2014 10:44:09 PM] Canto: Ruby:  Well, for longer trips we take seperate cars.

[10/31/2014 10:44:19 PM] Canto: Ruby:  But that's the jist of it.

[10/31/2014 10:44:28 PM] Crow: How do you know where to go?

[10/31/2014 10:46:50 PM] Canto: Jasper:  Lots of stuff gets passed down the grapevine. There's a whole network. Message boards, phone calls, 'help there are monsters' fliers hung up at flea markets. Albert passes us stuff occasionally, too.

[10/31/2014 10:47:34 PM] Crow: *Albert.*

[10/31/2014 10:47:43 PM] Crow: ... I'm not over that, clearly.

[10/31/2014 10:48:00 PM] Crow: Okay. We gonna go for a cafe or something or does somebody cook, or is there stuff in the fridge?

[10/31/2014 10:49:06 PM] Canto: Felix:  To the explodomobile.

[10/31/2014 10:50:12 PM] Crow: Okay! Which of you have girlfriends? Or boyfriends? Or vows of some sort? I wanna know so I don't accidentally hit on you.

[10/31/2014 10:50:34 PM] Crow: Of course my heart belongs to *Albert*, and some guy I meant in a bunker watching Gilligan's Island one time, but.

[10/31/2014 10:50:57 PM] Canto: Ruby:  We're pretty much all single.

[10/31/2014 10:51:17 PM] Canto: Ruby:  I have had a long string of lovers, though.

[10/31/2014 10:51:29 PM] Canto: Ruby:  Jasper is a Jesuit.

[10/31/2014 10:51:31 PM] Crow: I hope they were good ones.

[10/31/2014 10:51:43 PM] Crow: Oh, a priest! Okay. I'll try to be nice. Or not nice.

[10/31/2014 10:51:51 PM] Crow: You  know, nice, but not *nice.*

[10/31/2014 10:51:59 PM] Crow: If that makes sense.

[10/31/2014 10:52:34 PM] Crow: I'm not usually very uh, tactful.

[10/31/2014 10:52:41 PM] Canto: You guys head to the RV. Which is pretty nice, really.

[10/31/2014 10:52:56 PM] Canto: Ruby:  You'll fit right in. We are all social disasters.

[10/31/2014 10:53:02 PM | Edited 10:54:05 PM] Canto: Felix:  speak for yourself.

[10/31/2014 10:53:34 PM] Canto: Ruby:  Felix, you have a mixtape which is entirely 'You're the Best Around' from the Karate Kid.

[10/31/2014 10:53:50 PM] Canto: Felix:  .... it's a great song to snipe to.

[10/31/2014 10:54:11 PM] Crow: I didn't think anybody listened to Gilbert and Sullivan either.

[10/31/2014 10:54:35 PM] Canto: Felix:  My tastes are eclectic. Used to be that was a *good* thing.

[10/31/2014 10:55:32 PM] Canto: Felix:  Ruby considers herself the Leonardo to our ninja turtles.

[10/31/2014 10:55:53 PM] Crow: Crow nods.

[10/31/2014 10:56:11 PM] Canto: Ruby:  I'm the normal one!

[10/31/2014 10:56:29 PM] Canto: Felix:  Except you turn into a motormouth, just add adrenaline. Or caffeine.

[10/31/2014 10:57:07 PM] Canto: Felix:  Leonardo was about two things! Being the leader, and for some reason never using his swords to stab *robots*.

[10/31/2014 10:57:21 PM] Crow: Which one are you, then?

[10/31/2014 10:57:29 PM] Canto: Felix:  All he did was defliect lasers with them.

[10/31/2014 10:57:41 PM] Canto: Felix:  WHICH WOULDN'T EVEN WORK.

[10/31/2014 10:58:10 PM] Canto: Felix:  Raphael.

[10/31/2014 10:58:58 PM] Crow: .... I don't think I'm uh, radical enough, to be Michelangelo.

[10/31/2014 10:59:27 PM] Canto: Felix:  The ninja turtles are just a modernization of the Four Humours anyway. It all lines up.

[10/31/2014 10:59:51 PM] Crow: It does?

[10/31/2014 11:02:06 PM] Canto: Leonardo is Yellow Bile. Donatello is Black Bile. Michaelangelo is Blood. Raphael is Phlegm. Though arguments could be made to reverse Michaelangelo and Raphael.

[10/31/2014 11:02:25 PM] Canto: Ruby:  I have already stopped listening. Though I did catch that you called me bile.

[10/31/2014 11:02:38 PM] Crow: It's not a bad thing.

[10/31/2014 11:02:48 PM] Canto: The interior of the RV is quite nice, actually, very clean.

[10/31/2014 11:02:56 PM] Crow: Crow looks around interestedly.

[10/31/2014 11:03:14 PM] Crow: Do we sleep in shifts while somebody drives or just all sleep at the same time?

[10/31/2014 11:03:16 PM] Canto: There's just a lot of weapons jammed into available storage spaces.

[10/31/2014 11:04:15 PM] Canto: Ruby:  Depends on how long we're on the road. We're staying at a hotel tonight, too, but it's not a bad idea to sit a bit and mellow out.

[10/31/2014 11:04:27 PM] Canto: Jasper makes coffee.

[10/31/2014 11:04:53 PM] Crow: Right. You get kind of hyped up. Well, I do, anyway.

[10/31/2014 11:05:19 PM] Crow: Crow sits, if there's a spot.

[10/31/2014 11:05:31 PM] Canto: Plenty. It's a decent sized RV.

[10/31/2014 11:05:50 PM] Canto: Felix fishes out a box of donuts from the food storage.

[10/31/2014 11:07:14 PM] Crow: Dooooooooonuts. Gimmegimme.

[10/31/2014 11:07:26 PM] Canto: He passes them over!

[10/31/2014 11:07:46 PM] Crow: Crow grabs one and passes them on. She takes a chocolate one if there are any.

[10/31/2014 11:08:35 PM] Canto: There are!

[10/31/2014 11:09:55 PM] Crow: Crow nibbles it.

[10/31/2014 11:09:58 PM] Crow: Thanks!

[10/31/2014 11:10:07 PM] Crow: It was a really long drive.

[10/31/2014 11:13:45 PM] Crow: I'm really glad to meet you guys though. Thanks for letting me be here and all.

[10/31/2014 11:15:54 PM] Canto: Jasper pours coffee. "Albert really thinks you're something.  And we're a bit useless with vampires.  Only Felix has killed one."

[10/31/2014 11:16:50 PM] Crow: Well, it... kind of depends on how the mental conditioning holds up.

[10/31/2014 11:17:20 PM] Crow: Now that I'm not being hypnotized and drugged anymore I'm not sure I'll be able to avoid being mindcontrolled.

[10/31/2014 11:17:22 PM | Edited 11:17:55 PM] Canto: Ruby:  You still have more experience and a better edge than any of us. Felix only killed one from a hundred yards away.

[10/31/2014 11:18:21 PM] Crow: Well, if I get all weird, shoot me.

[10/31/2014 11:18:52 PM] Canto: Jasper:  Well, that's grim.

[10/31/2014 11:19:09 PM] Crow: I don't wanna hurt anyone.

[10/31/2014 11:21:16 PM] Canto: Jasper:  He didn't send you to us because we'd put you down humanely. He believes in you. He was always the optimisitic one.

[10/31/2014 11:22:08 PM] Crow: ... oh my god. Oh my GOD LITERALLY. He wasn't a priest, was he? TELL ME J--ALBERT IS NOT A PRIEST.

[10/31/2014 11:24:26 PM] Canto: Jasper:  We met in Seminary, but he didn't take his vows, no.

[10/31/2014 11:24:43 PM] Crow: Oh thank *God.*

[10/31/2014 11:25:04 PM] Crow: Crow devours the rest of her donut, despondently.

[10/31/2014 11:27:41 PM] Canto: Jasper:  Don't worry. You okay? You don't look so good.

[10/31/2014 11:28:56 PM] Crow: I need a hug.

[10/31/2014 11:30:29 PM] Canto: Felix comes over to give her a hug, as he is closer than Jasper. Ruby doesn't seem like a hugger.

[10/31/2014 11:31:12 PM] Crow: Crow hugs Felix.

[10/31/2014 11:31:13 PM] Crow: Mmm.

[10/31/2014 11:31:59 PM] Crow: How much did J--A... Farrell, how much did Farrell say about me?

[10/31/2014 11:33:46 PM] Canto: Jasper:  That you were a very skilled vampire hunter who broke her leash. That he trusted you and liked you.

[10/31/2014 11:34:08 PM] Canto: Felix:  He said that if we hurt your feelings he would hunt us down.

[10/31/2014 11:34:43 PM] Crow: Aww. He's the best.

[10/31/2014 11:35:06 PM] Crow: Okay, here's the thing. They kept me from being susceptible to vampires in a couple ways.

[10/31/2014 11:35:33 PM] Crow: Training and practice helps, uh, but they also drugged the shit out of me and did a lot of stuff with hypnosis which I don't remember.

[10/31/2014 11:35:56 PM] Crow: Jasper prob'ly remembers but the rest of you guys may not remember cassette tapes.

[10/31/2014 11:36:25 PM] Crow: Basically, the cool thing about them is that you can erase them and rerecord on them a bunch of times. Eventually the tape wears down and you toss it.

[10/31/2014 11:37:30 PM] Crow: I dunno how many times I've been erased and I don't remember all the stuff from before either. ... things like my address as a kid, locker combination in high school, my last name, that kind of stuff is not ... really in my head anymore.

[10/31/2014 11:37:39 PM] Crow: Crow has not let go of Felix, by the way.

[10/31/2014 11:39:43 PM] Canto: Jasper nods.

[10/31/2014 11:40:15 PM] Canto: Felix frowns. "That's awful. "

[10/31/2014 11:40:21 PM] Crow: It's not great.

[10/31/2014 11:40:46 PM] Crow: I'm starting to remember stuff now, but I don't know if it's all totally real, or if I'm still vampireproof.

[10/31/2014 11:41:28 PM] Canto: Jasper:  We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

[10/31/2014 11:44:07 PM] Canto: Felix:  We don't fight vampires that often. And I doubt that what they did to you will just wear off all at once.

[10/31/2014 11:44:28 PM] Crow: No. But I might get crazier too. I dunno.

[10/31/2014 11:45:34 PM] Canto: Felix:  I have the best tranquilizers.

[10/31/2014 11:45:42 PM] Canto: Ruby:  ... sorry, we don't do reassuring that well.

[10/31/2014 11:45:58 PM] Crow: Hot.

[10/31/2014 11:46:15 PM] Crow: What? No, that's fine. Uh, Farrell's not exactly cuddly most of the time either.

[10/31/2014 11:46:34 PM] Crow: He mostly glowers and pretends he wishes I'd be proper. It's awesome.

[10/31/2014 11:49:52 PM] Crow: You guys are awesome too, I can already tell.

[10/31/2014 11:50:02 PM] Crow: It's just, uh, the last time I had a team I kind of killed them.

[10/31/2014 11:50:40 PM] Crow: Which wasn't *my* idea, but.

[10/31/2014 11:52:09 PM] Canto: Felix:  Well, there you go, wasn't your fault. You were a murder-slave at the time. But you're not now.

[10/31/2014 11:52:58 PM] Crow: Right.

[10/31/2014 11:53:20 PM] Crow: Crow finally lets him go. Finally.

[11/5/2014 12:38:12 AM] Rycroft: So, when last we left, Crow had met up with her new friends Jasper, Felix, and Ruby, professional monsterers.

[11/5/2014 12:39:43 AM] Crow: Crow had awkwardly hugged Felix!

[11/5/2014 12:40:21 AM] Crow: I think you do reassuring fine.

[11/5/2014 12:40:36 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  I always suspected I would be good at it.

[11/5/2014 12:42:44 AM] Crow: Never tried, huh?

[11/5/2014 12:43:10 AM] Rycroft: Felix shrugs. "Not so much, no."

[11/5/2014 12:44:07 AM] Crow: You guys must be way more tough than me, then. J--Albert has to be reassuring a lot.

[11/5/2014 12:44:21 AM] Crow: ... um, also I let a vampire go. Two, actually.

[11/5/2014 12:44:56 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  I'm sure you had a good reason.

[11/5/2014 12:45:05 AM] Rycroft: Jasper: Not all of them need eliminating.

[11/5/2014 12:46:43 AM] Crow: One was a pacifist. The other one maybe *possibly* wasn't killing people. Probably.

[11/5/2014 12:47:37 AM] Rycroft: asper:  Well, there you go, don't worry about it.

[11/5/2014 12:48:00 AM] Rycroft: Ruby:  C'mon Felix, get this explodomobile on the road so we can get to our hotel.

[11/5/2014 12:48:08 AM] Crow: Yeah! Who finances you guys?

[11/5/2014 12:49:42 AM] Rycroft: Jasper:  Generally a lot of our work is... volunteer work. Some jobs are funded.

[11/5/2014 12:49:53 AM] Rycroft: Felix: We do it free for the poor and charge the rich.

[11/5/2014 12:51:47 AM] Rycroft: Felix gets behind the wheel.

[11/5/2014 12:52:09 AM] Crow: So, lots of ramen noodles, then.

[11/5/2014 12:53:13 AM] Rycroft: Ruby:  Not really. A CEO will pay a *lot* to get a banshee out of the 13th floor bathroom.

[11/5/2014 12:53:51 AM] Crow: ... excellent point.

[11/5/2014 12:53:53 AM] Crow: Crow grins.

[11/5/2014 12:54:18 AM] Crow: We got another job in the hopper at all, or are we waitin' around for a call?

[11/5/2014 12:57:18 AM] Rycroft: Jasper:  Not at present. We never have to wait around long, though. And I figure you can use a couple days to get used to us and acclimated.

[11/5/2014 12:58:52 AM] Crow: Prob'ly should do some training exercises or something, yeah.

[11/5/2014 1:00:37 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  anything you want from your car? It'll be safe here for the night.

[11/5/2014 1:01:41 AM] Crow: Yeah, I'll get some stuff.

[11/5/2014 1:02:03 AM] Crow: Crow smiles tentatively, and leaves the RV to grab her bags out from the car. All of 'em, basically.

[11/5/2014 1:02:41 AM] Rycroft: They wait for you!

[11/5/2014 1:04:02 AM] Crow: Crow doesn't go back in immediately, but listens to eavesdrop for a second or two first!

[11/5/2014 1:07:22 AM] Rycroft: Felix and Ruby are arguing about the radio station. He does not care for Country and Western. She apparently does. Felix compares it to the caterwauling of a bipoloar ostrich. Ruby accuses Felix of hyperbole. Felix tells her that that literally makes him more angry than any human has ever been ever.

[11/5/2014 1:07:52 AM] Crow: Crow smiles, and goes back in.

[11/5/2014 1:08:38 AM] Rycroft: Jasper is sipping some tea as they argue. It's mostly playful arguing.

[11/5/2014 1:08:39 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  All set?

[11/5/2014 1:10:52 AM] Crow: All set.

[11/5/2014 1:10:54 AM] Crow: Crow has a ton of stuff.

[11/5/2014 1:10:57 AM] Crow: Where do I put this?

[11/5/2014 1:12:29 AM] Rycroft: Jasper indicates a spot where you can put it! It's a pretty good sized RV, so.

[11/5/2014 1:12:56 AM] Crow: Crow stows it.

[11/5/2014 1:13:13 AM] Crow: Crow is still a bit shy just now.

[11/5/2014 1:14:01 AM] Rycroft: Jasper:  Better strap in. Felix has had this thing for a couple years now and still doesn't know how to corner in it.

[11/5/2014 1:15:04 AM] Crow: Fun!

[11/5/2014 1:15:07 AM] Crow: Crow puts a seatbelt on.

[11/5/2014 1:15:20 AM] Crow: So uh, how did you guys get into monster slaying?

[11/5/2014 1:19:32 AM] Rycroft: Jasper:  I started in seminary. I attracted the notice of a few higher-ups that were training people for this work. Same story for Albert, too.

[11/5/2014 1:20:18 AM] Crow: And you're a priest? There are priest monster-hunting posts?

[11/5/2014 1:20:57 AM] Rycroft: Jasper:  Well, there are exorcists, right?

[11/5/2014 1:21:43 AM] Crow: I... don't know, are there? Full-time ones who travel around exorcising?

[11/5/2014 1:22:09 AM] Rycroft: Jasper nods. "Yeah. I'm just kind of an extension of that."

[11/5/2014 1:24:27 AM] Crow: Cool. What about you, Ruby?

[11/5/2014 1:25:53 AM] Rycroft: Ruby:  I was a cop who saw something she probably shouldn't have in a basement. Did some digging and found a bunch of similar cases that got all covered up because they couldn't deal with them. Then I did some more digging and found some people that did deal with them.

[11/5/2014 1:27:54 AM] Crow: Ooh, a cop, really? I bet that was awesome. Did you ever fire your gun into the air whilst going "Rarrrgh?"

[11/5/2014 1:28:55 AM] Rycroft: Ruby:  I was never the best shot, to be honest. And they dont' like it when you fire your gun into the air while saying anything, really. I was just a beat cop when I found the den of ghouls.

[11/5/2014 1:30:05 AM] Crow: A whole *den*? What are ghouls?

[11/5/2014 1:30:15 AM] Crow: ... I've mostly been on vampires, that's it.

[11/5/2014 1:31:44 AM] Rycroft: Jasper:  They're undead, like vampires, but without the powers or the hygiene or even the strength -- they mostly have numbers, and they feed on dead people.

[11/5/2014 1:32:06 AM] Crow: Ugh.

[11/5/2014 1:32:14 AM] Crow: Though vampire hygiene isn't always the very best.

[11/5/2014 1:32:25 AM] Crow: Some of 'em smoke and like Axe body spray. It's awful.

[11/5/2014 1:32:54 AM] Rycroft: Ruby:  Yeah, these ghouls were being kept in a basement while a bunch of drug dealers would toss dead junkies down to them. It was an ugly scene.

[11/5/2014 1:34:53 AM] Crow: Wow. ... inventive, though, gotta give 'em that.

[11/5/2014 1:35:50 AM] Rycroft: Ruby: Yeah. Turns out it turned the ghouls into addicts for junky flesh.

[11/5/2014 1:36:37 AM] Crow: Maaaaan. So what happened?

[11/5/2014 1:38:18 AM] Rycroft: Ruby: Well, the problem sorted itself out -- one of the dealers expoded his lab, which burnt the building down, including the ghouls.

[11/5/2014 1:38:24 AM] Crow: Crow grabs another donut.

[11/5/2014 1:38:31 AM] Crow: Fire works on ghouls. Got it. Man.

[11/5/2014 1:39:11 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Fire works on just about everything. Except fire elementals.

[11/5/2014 1:40:52 AM] Crow: Cool. Or hot, whatever. What about you, Felix, how'd you get into this?

[11/5/2014 1:42:00 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  My family's been doing this for years.

[11/5/2014 1:42:50 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  It's a family business, I guess you could say.

[11/5/2014 1:43:20 AM] Crow: .... your name isn't Belmont, is it?

[11/5/2014 1:44:08 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Like the video game guy?

[11/5/2014 1:44:08 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  .. yes, yes it is.

[11/5/2014 1:44:22 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  I assure you that it's a coincidence, though.

[11/5/2014 1:44:25 AM] Crow: Can I see your whip?

[11/5/2014 1:44:40 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  But we just met.

[11/5/2014 1:45:04 AM] Crow: Aww. Okay, can I sleep with you?

[11/5/2014 1:45:24 AM] Crow: ... no seriously, I don't wanna be by myself in case they put like, a suicide command in my head or something.

[11/5/2014 1:45:56 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Sure. I was gonna sleep in here while these two get hotel rooms anyway.

[11/5/2014 1:46:28 AM] Crow: Oh good. Starting to get sick of hotels anyway.

[11/5/2014 1:46:55 AM] Crow: The Belmonts never could *kill* Dracula. Just force naps on him, repeatedly.

[11/5/2014 1:47:31 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Well, they used a whip, that might be the issue.

[11/5/2014 1:48:57 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Are vampires particularly vulnerable to whips?

[11/5/2014 1:49:30 AM] Crow: Nope.

[11/5/2014 1:49:36 AM] Crow: Pretty much blades only, I'm afraid.

[11/5/2014 1:49:56 AM] Crow: The other hunters used guns some, but I'm not sure what they *did* with them exactly.

[11/5/2014 1:50:03 AM] Crow: Usually it's more of an annoyance to them than anything.

[11/5/2014 1:50:50 AM] Crow: You killed one with a gun, how'd you do it?

[11/5/2014 1:51:54 AM] Rycroft: Felix:   I exploded his head.

[11/5/2014 1:52:24 AM] Crow: Oh. Yeah, that'll work for most of 'em.

[11/5/2014 1:52:29 AM] Crow: For a protovamp you need to burn the body.

[11/5/2014 1:53:30 AM] Rycroft: Jasper:  Have you met many of them?

[11/5/2014 1:53:45 AM] Crow: Uh, just the one that I remember.

[11/5/2014 1:54:35 AM] Crow: He was kind of a huge dork.

[11/5/2014 1:56:13 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  ...strangely comforting.

[11/5/2014 1:56:35 AM] Crow: That'd be one of the ones I didn't kill.

[11/5/2014 1:57:31 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  The one I killed was a cult leader.

[11/5/2014 1:58:27 AM] Crow: Yeah, a lot of 'em keep harems.

[11/5/2014 1:58:40 AM] Crow: Kind of a self-renewing refrigerator for them.

[11/5/2014 2:00:11 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Ew. Well, once I popped him, his cult kinda dispersed.

[11/5/2014 2:00:48 AM] Rycroft: Felix pulls up in front of a little hotel.

[11/5/2014 2:01:17 AM] Crow: The hypnosis is pretty intense while it's on. And you feel like an idiot afterward.

[11/5/2014 2:03:23 AM] Rycroft: Felix: So... like some stage hypnotist at an airport hilton who makes you think you're Lady Gaga.

[11/5/2014 2:03:25 AM] Rycroft: He eyes Ruby.

[11/5/2014 2:03:36 AM | Edited 2:03:44 AM] Rycroft: Ruby:  I choose not to talk about that.

[11/5/2014 2:03:53 AM] Crow: I bet you were amazing!

[11/5/2014 2:04:00 AM | Edited 2:04:06 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  She really was.

[11/5/2014 2:04:36 AM] Crow: Crow grins.

[11/5/2014 2:04:49 AM] Crow: Can't read my, can't read my...

[11/5/2014 2:06:11 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  She did Bad Romance, too.

[11/5/2014 2:06:34 AM] Crow: With the dancing?

[11/5/2014 2:07:19 AM] Rycroft: Felix nods and grins.

[11/5/2014 2:09:22 AM] Rycroft: Ruby facepalms.

[11/5/2014 2:09:28 AM] Crow: Wish I'd seen it.

[11/5/2014 2:09:46 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  I'll show you the cellphone camera footage later.

[11/5/2014 2:09:56 AM] Rycroft: Ruby: GoodNIGHT, Felix.

[11/5/2014 2:10:37 AM] Rycroft: She grabs a bag and leaves, though she has a smile on her face. "Welcome aboard, Crow.  Hope you survive the experience."

[11/5/2014 2:11:24 AM] Crow: Crow waves and grins.

[11/5/2014 2:11:29 AM] Crow: G'night!

[11/5/2014 2:13:03 AM] Rycroft: Jasper smiles. "See you two in the morning.  It's your turn for breakfast, Felix."

[11/5/2014 2:15:06 AM] Crow: ... I hope you don't expect me to cook.

[11/5/2014 2:17:51 AM] Rycroft: Jasper:  We take turns. Either you make a meal or you pay for a meal.

[11/5/2014 2:21:46 AM] Crow: Pay it is.

[11/5/2014 2:21:58 AM] Rycroft: Jasper: And dont' worry, it's Felix's turn anyway. He makes pretty good french toast.

[11/5/2014 2:24:05 AM] Crow: I just don't wanna kill anybody by trying to cook, that's all.

[11/5/2014 2:26:50 AM] Rycroft: Jasper: You can't be that bad.

[11/5/2014 2:27:25 AM] Crow: I'm not good.

[11/5/2014 2:29:39 AM] Rycroft: Jasper:  I'm curious now. At some point I will *insist*.

[11/5/2014 2:29:49 AM] Rycroft: Jasper:  For now, have a good night.

[11/5/2014 2:29:59 AM] Rycroft: Jasper:  glad to meet you, Laughing Crow.

[11/5/2014 2:30:02 AM] Rycroft: He extends a hand.

[11/5/2014 2:30:39 AM] Crow: Crow takes it and shakes it.

[11/5/2014 2:30:43 AM] Crow: Glad to meet you too, Father Jasper.

[11/5/2014 2:31:26 AM] Rycroft: Jasper:  Just Jasper, please.

[11/5/2014 2:33:17 AM] Crow: Just Jasper, then.

[11/5/2014 2:33:19 AM] Crow: Crow smiles.

[11/5/2014 2:33:40 AM] Rycroft: He leaves!

[11/5/2014 2:35:07 AM] Crow: Well, onto the orgy.

[11/5/2014 2:36:01 AM] Rycroft: Felix: don't you need more than two for that?

[11/5/2014 2:36:20 AM] Crow: Aren't you willing to make an effort?

[11/5/2014 2:36:33 AM] Crow: Nah, I'm just used to freaking out Albert, that's all.

[11/5/2014 2:36:58 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  should I act more aghast?

[11/5/2014 2:37:19 AM] Crow: Nah, you're fine.

[11/5/2014 2:38:11 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  ... you wanna sleep in my bed? No funny business, I promise.

[11/5/2014 2:38:23 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Well, available on request.

[11/5/2014 2:39:23 AM] Crow: Yeah, that sounds good.

[11/5/2014 2:39:37 AM] Crow: ... no offense, but I'm pretty sure I could break you in half if you did something I *didn't* want.

[11/5/2014 2:40:16 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Granted.

[11/5/2014 2:40:40 AM] Rycroft: Felix unfolds the lounge area into a goodsized bed.

[11/5/2014 2:40:58 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  It's the definitely the most comfortable bed in here.

[11/5/2014 2:41:41 AM] Crow: Are there other ones too? How many does it sleep?

[11/5/2014 2:42:19 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  There are two other smaller beds.

[11/5/2014 2:44:39 AM] Crow: You sure it's okay if I stay with you?

[11/5/2014 2:46:05 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Of course. You want some tea? Jasper made some and I can't stand the stuff.

[11/5/2014 2:46:31 AM] Crow: Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks!

[11/5/2014 2:47:23 AM] Rycroft: He pours you a mug and passes it over.

[11/5/2014 2:50:46 AM] Crow: So what'd you *really* wanna be when you grew up?

[11/5/2014 2:50:51 AM] Crow: Crow takes it, and sips it.

[11/5/2014 2:51:12 AM] Rycroft: It's some herbal concoction.

[11/5/2014 2:52:38 AM] Crow: 'cause nobody with a family business starts out wanting to do it.

[11/5/2014 2:55:14 AM] Rycroft: Felix smiles. "A musician, of course.  THought that'd be it up until college, when my brother died on a job.  Tends to make things a bit more... real, I guess?"

[11/5/2014 2:57:09 AM] Crow: ... man, I'm sorry.

[11/5/2014 2:58:06 AM] Crow: But let me guess, you wanted to start a rock band and be famous?

[11/5/2014 2:58:57 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Famous? Not really. But I wanted to join an orchestra.

[11/5/2014 3:00:26 AM] Crow: Trumpet?

[11/5/2014 3:01:26 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  I can play trumpet, clarinet, and guitar.

[11/5/2014 3:02:47 AM] Crow: Horn players have the best lips.

[11/5/2014 3:03:41 AM] Rycroft: Felix waggles his eyebrows.

[11/5/2014 3:05:31 AM] Crow: ((Is Ruby still here?))

[11/5/2014 3:06:20 AM] Rycroft: Nope, Ruby left first.

[11/5/2014 3:06:59 AM] Crow: Is it okay if I stay? Really okay? Is Ruby gonna get jealous or anything?

[11/5/2014 3:07:54 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Ruby? Nah. We're friends, is all.

[11/5/2014 3:08:47 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  ... this can be an upsetting job, you know? It's not unusual to want some closeness after a job, or after upsetting revelations. We're all used to it.

[11/5/2014 3:10:51 AM] Crow: So you and she never had a thing, huh?

[11/5/2014 3:12:49 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Well, I didn't say that. When we first started working together we were at each other's throats. Then... we were at each others throats in a different way. Just briefly, though. We're much better as friends then as lovers, you know?

[11/5/2014 3:13:40 AM] Crow: Is it awkward?

[11/5/2014 3:15:08 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Nope. It was nice, but it was just a thing, you know? Something we had to work through. Like we had to work through hating each other first.

[11/5/2014 3:15:19 AM] Crow: I just don't wanna make things bad.

[11/5/2014 3:16:50 AM] Rycroft: Felix: You won't. The three of us haven't been together for that long, you know? So there's no long-term dynamics for you to figure out. Me and Ruby worked together before Jasper put us together, and he'd been looking for a fourth when Albert got a hold of him about you.

[11/5/2014 3:17:21 AM] Crow: How come? Seemed to me like you guys were doing pretty good!

[11/5/2014 3:18:44 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Four is ideal. Two up-close types, one bookworm, and one me.

[11/5/2014 3:21:03 AM] Crow: ... I never worried about stuff like this before. Now I don't know how much of me is still me or what-all's in my head.

[11/5/2014 3:21:41 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  How long since you broke their leash?

[11/5/2014 3:22:05 AM] Crow: What day is it?

[11/5/2014 3:22:54 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Thursday.

[11/5/2014 3:24:33 AM] Crow: Uh, a week, then.

[11/5/2014 3:27:16 AM] Rycroft: Felix gives you a squeeze on the shoulder. "You'll figure it out.   And hey, you're not alone now, okay?"

[11/5/2014 3:30:15 AM] Crow: That's... kinda what I'm worried about. Are you a hugger, much?

[11/5/2014 3:30:56 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Aren't all snipers?

[11/5/2014 3:32:05 AM] Crow: Uh, actually, usually they're withdrawn to the point of near-sociopathy. I don't know why I know that.

[11/5/2014 3:32:46 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Well, I'm a hugger.

[11/5/2014 3:32:46 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  I might not be a good sniper, then.

[11/5/2014 3:35:28 AM] Crow: Crow hugs him.

[11/5/2014 3:35:32 AM] Crow: I don't see why you can't be both.

[11/5/2014 3:35:43 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  no, that's ridiculous, I'm amazing.

[11/5/2014 3:36:27 AM] Crow: I'd be the last one to complain.

[11/5/2014 3:36:39 AM] Rycroft: He hugs her back!

[11/5/2014 3:40:15 AM] Crow: You're not expecting anything, are you? I mean... I flirted with Je... Albert... a lot 'cause it freaked him out, right?

[11/5/2014 3:41:11 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Expecting? Oh, you mean sex? No. That seems to be the last thing on your mind. And I'm not a dick, so.

[11/5/2014 3:41:43 AM] Crow: Okay, good.

[11/5/2014 3:42:25 AM] Crow: Crow does kiss him. But gently, and with her mouth quite closed. Then she lets him go and rifles through her suitcase to find her PJs: shorts and a tank top.

[11/5/2014 3:47:29 AM] Rycroft: Easy enough! Felix kicks off his shoes and pulls his shirt off, then settles back onto the bed. he's got a Peter Parker thing going on -- small frame, but pretty solid muscle, with not a few scars on him and a tattoo  on his upper arm with a T-Rex in a crosshairs that says 'BORN TO HUNT DINOSAURS' under it in block letters.

[11/5/2014 3:48:25 AM] Crow: Crow eyes it.

[11/5/2014 3:48:27 AM] Crow: Have you ever?

[11/5/2014 3:49:11 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Someday, I hope.

[11/5/2014 3:50:09 AM] Crow: Might taste like chicken.

[11/5/2014 3:51:23 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Well, if the current evolutionary theories are right, then it's chickens that taste like dinosaurs.

[11/5/2014 3:53:05 AM] Rycroft: Felix points to a door. "Bathroom's in there.  Got a small shower if you wanna clean up any."

[11/5/2014 3:54:13 AM] Crow: Thanks!

[11/5/2014 3:54:29 AM] Crow: Crow strips, largely oblivious as to whether he looks or not, and hops in.

[11/5/2014 3:55:36 AM] Rycroft: There is indeed a small shower in there! And a sink and toilet and all that other stuff.

[11/5/2014 3:57:07 AM] Crow: Crow washes up, with her own shampoo and stuff, and hops out and dries off. Again, she really does not care if he looks.

[11/5/2014 3:58:28 AM] Rycroft: When she comes out, he's got the small TV on and is watching The Court Jester.

[11/5/2014 3:58:40 AM] Crow: Oh my god, I love this movie. Move over.

[11/5/2014 3:59:01 AM] Crow: Crow plops down next to him once she's got her jams on, still dripping a bit.

[11/5/2014 4:00:27 AM] Rycroft: He does so, scooting over a bit. The bed is roughly queen-sized, so plenty of room.

[11/5/2014 4:01:28 AM] Crow: The chalice from the palace holds the pellet with the poison and the vessel with the pestle holds the brew that is true.

[11/5/2014 4:01:34 AM] Crow: Crow totally puts an arm around him, though.

[11/5/2014 4:05:42 AM] Rycroft: He lets her! he can sing along with all of the songs. And he does.

[11/5/2014 4:06:23 AM] Crow: Crow does too, managing to stay on-key almost the whole time!

[11/5/2014 4:14:03 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Hey, you're pretty good.

[11/5/2014 4:14:49 AM] Crow: Nah, but I do like to sing!

[11/5/2014 4:17:34 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Everyone does. Most people are too embarassed to do it in front of other people, though.

[11/5/2014 4:19:18 AM] Crow: I don't really *get* embarassed.

[11/5/2014 4:21:01 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Were you a performer?

[11/5/2014 4:22:29 AM] Crow: Sure!

[11/5/2014 4:22:33 AM] Crow: Poledancing.

[11/5/2014 4:22:47 AM] Crow: ... by which I mean "firefighter."

[11/5/2014 4:23:30 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  ... I didn't think that was a performance event.

[11/5/2014 4:24:02 AM] Crow: I did burlesque as a hobby. I just like to say poledancing to see how people react. And it's *kind* of true, we did have a pole.

[11/5/2014 4:24:45 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Oh, okay. I thought you were a performer of some sort. You're way too hammy to have been *just* a vampire killer/firefighter.

[11/5/2014 4:25:03 AM] Crow: Aww, thanks!

[11/5/2014 4:26:05 AM] Crow: It takes one to know one, though.

[11/5/2014 4:26:31 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  It does.

[11/5/2014 4:26:41 AM] Crow: Freaked out a vampire that way once.

[11/5/2014 4:26:54 AM] Crow: He was trying to humiliate me by having me, get this, *take my clothes off in public.*

[11/5/2014 4:27:11 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  I take it that he didn't know about the burlesque.

[11/5/2014 4:27:34 AM] Crow: Nnno.

[11/5/2014 4:28:30 AM] Crow: So I got real vampy and he didn't really know quite what to do, so he left me alone.

[11/5/2014 4:28:34 AM] Rycroft: Felix laughs.

[11/5/2014 4:29:52 AM] Crow: It worked!

[11/5/2014 4:30:33 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Vampy as in.....?

[11/5/2014 4:31:03 AM] Crow: You know, seductive. The sexy voice. And I pulled him right up to me with his tie. All that cheesy stuff.

[11/5/2014 4:31:37 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Huh. so he was squicked out by it?

[11/5/2014 4:32:10 AM | Edited 4:32:21 AM] Crow: Yep. I don't think he was too into sex in general anymore.

[11/5/2014 4:33:05 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  I read a theory that the older they are, the less they're interested in it except as a way to prey on humans.

[11/5/2014 4:34:37 AM] Crow: Could be. The proto didn't seem to quite get it. Though he'd written smut.

[11/5/2014 4:38:13 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Was it good?

[11/5/2014 4:39:07 AM] Crow: I don't knoooow.

[11/5/2014 4:39:26 AM] Crow: I want to read it so *bad.* But he never said what they were titled.

[11/5/2014 4:44:07 AM] Rycroft: Felix laughs. "Well, maybe some day you can ask him."

[11/5/2014 4:44:50 AM] Crow: I hope so. I kinda have a crush on him. Sorta.

[11/5/2014 4:46:08 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Oh yeah?

[11/5/2014 4:47:42 AM] Crow: Yeah. He's right about Wuthering Heights.

[11/5/2014 4:48:14 AM] Crow: And I had this really weird dream where we were characters from Jane Eyre.

[11/5/2014 4:49:10 AM] Rycroft: Felix: I've never read either, I'm afraid.

[11/5/2014 4:49:26 AM] Crow: It's a gothic romance.

[11/5/2014 4:49:41 AM] Crow: Also he was watching Gilligan's Island and *seriously thought* they might get off the island.

[11/5/2014 4:49:57 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Well, I knew that much.

[11/5/2014 4:50:04 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Huh.

[11/5/2014 4:50:16 AM] Crow: ... it's stupid, I know it's stupid.

[11/5/2014 4:50:52 AM] Crow: Also I *might* just want to get him alone in a room and grill him about books. I'm not exactly sure.

[11/5/2014 4:51:19 AM] Crow: And I'm definitely not used to having cuddly feelings about vampires. Most of 'em are asshats.

[11/5/2014 4:55:46 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Maybe it's a consequence of whatever they did to you wearing off? Strange inclinations and feelings?

[11/5/2014 4:56:49 AM] Crow: I don't think he did anything.

[11/5/2014 4:56:58 AM] Crow: You think I have strange inclinations, dooooo you?

[11/5/2014 4:57:21 AM] Crow: What do you think I'm thinking about doing to you *right now*.

[11/5/2014 5:00:10 AM] Rycroft: Felix: Well, crushing on a sexless proto-vampire who didn't do anything but read some of the same books as you and didn't understand the status quo storytelling of late sixties TV is kind of strange.

[11/5/2014 5:00:22 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  You're wondering if I was kidding about the whip.

[11/5/2014 5:00:55 AM] Crow: ... well I wasn't but *now* I am. Were you? Whips are really hard to manage and not good in a tight space, so I never got into those. ... as a weapon, I mean, obviously.

[11/5/2014 5:01:31 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  Nope.

[11/5/2014 5:01:57 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  But I'm a monster hunter and my last name is Belmont. I've been getting a whip as a joke gift at least twice a year since I started this business.

[11/5/2014 5:02:35 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  I'm pretty good with it, but I've never had cause to use it.

[11/5/2014 5:04:56 AM] Crow: You're *not* joking. Wow, so they based a video game on your family, seriously?

[11/5/2014 5:06:46 AM] Rycroft: Felix:  I'm like 99% sure it's a coincidence.

[11/5/2014 5:07:17 AM] Crow: I seriously doubt it.

[11/5/2014 5:07:28 AM] Crow: Nah, I was totally not thinking about whips.

[11/5/2014 5:07:52 AM] Crow: I was thinking about... *other* things.

[11/5/2014 5:08:05 AM] Crow: Crow lays a hand on his chest... and then tries to tickle him.

[11/5/2014 5:09:55 AM] Rycroft: He is apparently ticklish!

[11/5/2014 5:10:36 AM] Crow: Crow tickles him a bunch, then, unless he protests or says stop. Withdrawal of consent stops play!

[11/5/2014 5:13:47 AM] Rycroft: He eventually waves you off to catch his breath.

[11/5/2014 5:13:59 AM] Crow: Crow lets him.

[11/5/2014 5:14:28 AM] Crow: You know you *can* tickle back.

[11/5/2014 5:16:07 AM] Rycroft: He does!

[11/5/2014 5:17:01 AM] Crow: Crow countertickles and tries to defend herself! Much squirming ensues, probably.