Called 10

[11/7/2017 7:56:39 PM] Josie: When we last saw our protagonist, Rycroft Winslow, he had acquired, or possibly been afflicted by, a multiplicity of annoying fae, including but potentially not limited to, a monster-like blue animalistic fae nicknamed Faye, who appears to be some sort of a house spirit, and a skinny young man with elfy ears named Malag, who was nearly killed when Ry got attacked by a shapeshifting vampire and Ry subsequently captured.

[11/7/2017 8:01:56 PM] Josie: Ry is also somewhat afflicted by girls, including but probably not limited to his girlfriend, Rose Gray, the technologically-obsessed Prince of the city, and his other girlfriend, Tess Miller, Rose's chief bodyguard, who has been reassigned to bodyguarding Ry. The list of afflicting girls also includes Ry's ward, Lizard, a recently-turned Toreador artist who is somehow important to the fae for some reason which is as yet unintelligible.

[11/7/2017 8:03:47 PM] Josie: Ry has had to move away from his sweet loft, temporarily, as it was thought any fae in the vicinity would be able to track Lizard--according to Malag, so it sort of depends on whether you believe him or not. He certainly seems to be able to track her.

[11/7/2017 8:04:28 PM] *** Rook was not happy at his apparently new position of designated Fae babysitter. ***

[11/7/2017 8:08:39 PM] Josie: Indeed. It's one thing to have ONE vampiric ward/adoptive offspring, it's another thing to have a houseful. Which is what he has now. Faye is curled up in front of a sleek metal gas fireplace (most of this beach house is sleek and composed entirely of steel and glass and white tile--it's very much to Rose's taste so it may well be someplace she vacations on the regular), Lizard has her notebook on the kitchen table and Malag is tied to a chair, incongruously wearing a nerdy Tshirt and black jeans. If it weren't for the ears he'd look right at home playing Magic: The Gathering in the back of a comics shop or loading speakers into a van as part of a garage grunge band.

[11/7/2017 8:10:37 PM] Josie: He was also doing his best to escape, loosening his bonds and cutting up his wrists a bit as he did. This wouldn't be a problem but fae blood both smells really good AND is somewhere between LSD, cocaine, meth and alcohol for vampires, and it can leave you hearing milk and seeing into fourth-century Korea.

[11/7/2017 8:11:48 PM] Josie: It's been a couple hours since we left off, and against his better judgement, Ry indeed brought Tess and Lizard to the house, by the way.

[11/7/2017 8:12:14 PM] Rook: ((Ry also has a rat friend named Silver that he put into a nice iron cage to keep Faye from eating him.))

[11/7/2017 8:12:16 PM] Josie: Malag says Lizard is a Greensinger, but nobody's clear on what the hell that means, but it's important to Fae and Rose is trying to manage the political possibilities.

[11/7/2017 8:12:26 PM] Rook: ((Ry is Gangrel, so he can talk to animals.))

[11/7/2017 8:12:49 PM] Josie: Right! Silver is a nice person and may well have had some exposure to magic prior, as he's much smarter than ordinary rats.

[11/7/2017 8:13:40 PM] Josie: This house is warded against Fae in particular as well as, probably, everything else imaginable.

[11/7/2017 8:14:44 PM] *** Rook eyes Malag. "You should stop making yourself bleed.  This house is filled with people who would eat you." ***

[11/7/2017 8:15:22 PM] Josie: Malag: I'm not making myself bleed, I'm trying to get away from the crazy people holding me hostage!

[11/7/2017 8:15:35 PM] Josie: Malag: Wouldn't you?

[11/7/2017 8:15:52 PM] Josie: Faye wuffs from in front of the fireplace.

[11/7/2017 8:19:09 PM] Rook: Probably. But I would stop struggling against the ropes and making yourself bleed.

[11/7/2017 8:19:34 PM] Josie: Malag: I have a cramp! It's very uncomfortable!

[11/7/2017 8:19:45 PM] Rook: ((How did he react when he was show to lizard?))

[11/7/2017 8:19:59 PM] Josie: ((He hasn't seen her yet; she came in the back way.))

[11/7/2017 8:21:00 PM] Rook: ((Okay.))

[11/7/2017 8:21:43 PM] Rook: .... all right. I'm going to take the bonds off. Try anything and it's cold iron town.

[11/7/2017 8:22:07 PM] Josie: Malag: I'm not going to try anything! I know she's here.

[11/7/2017 8:22:39 PM] Rook: That's why I'm doing this. I don't think you'll leave.

[11/7/2017 8:23:14 PM] Josie: He opens his mouth to say something and then closes it.

[11/7/2017 8:23:57 PM] Rook: But understand that you're not leaving here. Alone, or with her, in whatever weird fantasy is playing out in your head.

[11/7/2017 8:25:30 PM] Josie: Malag: ... fine. What's your deal, anyway, human?

[11/7/2017 8:28:03 PM] *** Rook eyes him. "I'm protecting her." ***

[11/7/2017 8:28:29 PM] Josie: Malag: No, I'm protecting her. You're getting in the way.

[11/7/2017 8:28:55 PM] *** Rook eyes his bonds. "Great job so far." ***

[11/7/2017 8:29:09 PM | Edited 8:29:16 PM] Rook: Don't talk me out of untying you.

[11/7/2017 8:32:02 PM] Josie: Malag: You're the one who said you wanted to know what's going on! It's not my fault your stupid language doesn't have those words.

[11/7/2017 8:34:04 PM] Rook: And yet I'm blaming you anyway.

[11/7/2017 8:34:23 PM] Josie: Malag glowers and doesn't answer.

[11/7/2017 8:35:50 PM] Josie: Faye stands up and saunters over, sitting back on her haunches to look at Malagerin.

[11/7/2017 8:36:22 PM] Josie: Malag boggles at her. "You... what..." He turns to Ry. "What is THAT doing here?"

[11/7/2017 8:37:28 PM] *** Rook shrugs. "She followed me home.  I would ask what her deal is, too, but I assume it's also unexplainable." ***

[11/7/2017 8:37:53 PM] Josie: Malag: They eat people.

[11/7/2017 8:38:07 PM] Josie: Faye rolls her eyes and goes back to her fireplace.

[11/7/2017 8:38:54 PM] Josie: She's still in her foxlike form--but still blue and with excess tails.

[11/7/2017 8:39:03 PM] Rook: Good to know.

[11/7/2017 8:40:19 PM] Josie: Malag: ... are you still going to untie me or what?

[11/7/2017 8:40:34 PM] Rook: Probably.

[11/7/2017 8:41:02 PM] Rook: Especially know that I know you're afraid of her.

[11/7/2017 8:41:58 PM] Josie: Malag: I'm not afraid of her. I've hunted them before. ... and been hunted by them.

[11/7/2017 8:43:10 PM] Rook: Even better. No hunting her. She has full permission to go crazy on you if you step out of line, though.

[11/7/2017 8:43:33 PM] *** Rook takes a knife and goes to cut him free. ***

[11/7/2017 8:43:45 PM] Josie: Faye wuffs again, smugly.

[11/7/2017 8:44:53 PM] Josie: Malag: You have an Unseelie --- in your living room! ... an Unseelie ... great. You don't have words for that either, obviously.

[11/7/2017 8:45:02 PM] Josie: He sighs, and cooperates while Ry cuts him free.

[11/7/2017 8:45:24 PM] Rook: That one I know.

[11/7/2017 8:46:24 PM] Josie: Malag: No, there's a name for what she is. A specific one. It doesn't come through right.

[11/7/2017 8:52:12 PM] Josie: Malag: ... "fox bastards" is kind of in the right vicinity.

[11/7/2017 8:52:54 PM] *** Rook grins at Fae as he sets him free. ***

[11/7/2017 8:53:31 PM] Josie: Malag stands up and stretches, moving very carefully and slowly and side-eying Ry.

[11/7/2017 8:53:38 PM] Josie: Malag: I know she's here, you know.

[11/7/2017 8:53:50 PM] Rook: Of course you do.

[11/7/2017 8:54:10 PM] Rook: So why did you come for her?

[11/7/2017 8:54:31 PM] Josie: Malag: ... I wanted to see what she was like.

[11/7/2017 8:55:56 PM] Rook: .... Okay.

[11/7/2017 8:56:04 PM] Rook: Where are you from?

[11/7/2017 8:56:37 PM] Josie: Malag: Faerie. ... Faerie. ... really? That's seriously what you call it? English is the worst.

[11/7/2017 8:57:22 PM] Josie: Malag: Do you have any---. ... no, clearly not. Does anybody have healing magic here? At all?

[11/7/2017 8:59:30 PM] Rook: I might, but you won't like it.

[11/7/2017 8:59:41 PM] Josie: Malag: Why not?

[11/7/2017 8:59:52 PM] Rook: It involves drinking my blood, that's why.

[11/7/2017 9:00:06 PM] Josie: Malag: Ugh, that's disgusting, why would I do that.

[11/7/2017 9:03:38 PM] Rook: Healing. It's fine just heal the normal way. What did you do in Faerie?

[11/7/2017 9:04:10 PM] Josie: Malag: I used normal magic. Obviously.

[11/7/2017 9:04:56 PM] Rook: Not for healing, in general.

[11/7/2017 9:05:30 PM] Josie: Malag: Training, mostly.

[11/7/2017 9:06:20 PM] Rook: A soldier?

[11/7/2017 9:06:38 PM] Josie: Malag: I guess you could say that.

[11/7/2017 9:06:47 PM] Josie: Suddenly, he makes a break for the closed kitchen door!

[11/7/2017 9:07:29 PM] *** Rook would like to throw the knife I'm holding at his leg. ***

[11/7/2017 9:07:53 PM] Josie: Roll a d10!

[11/7/2017 9:08:34 PM] Rook: (( 8! ))

[11/7/2017 9:09:22 PM] Josie: He takes the knife right in the leg and yelps, but keeps staggering toward the door!

[11/7/2017 9:10:20 PM] Rook: Faye, can you grab him please?

[11/7/2017 9:11:09 PM] Josie: Faye lopes over, getting in between Malag and the door, grinning toothily and drooling a bit.

[11/7/2017 9:11:16 PM] Josie: Malag: ... oh come on.

[11/7/2017 9:12:33 PM] Rook: Don't kill him yet, but definitely *taste* him if he doesn't sit back in his chair.

[11/7/2017 9:12:49 PM] Josie: Faye wuffs.

[11/7/2017 9:13:18 PM] Josie: Malag: ... fine.

[11/7/2017 9:13:38 PM] Josie: He glowers at Faye and then back at Ry, staggering back to his chair and bleeding copiously from the leg.

[11/7/2017 9:13:57 PM] Josie: He still smells amazing! Roll a D10 to keep yourself from nomming him again.

[11/7/2017 9:14:26 PM] Rook: (( 6 ))

[11/7/2017 9:14:42 PM] Josie: You're not that hungry, and also, you remember the disconcerting feeling of tasting plaid.

[11/7/2017 9:16:11 PM] Rook: ((It would solve a lot of problems, but yeah, not worth it yet.))

[11/7/2017 9:16:32 PM] Josie: Malag: Look, you know I'm not going to hurt her.

[11/7/2017 9:16:55 PM] Rook: Faye, lemme ask you something. Is anything weird going to happen if he meets her?

[11/7/2017 9:17:07 PM] Josie: She nods.

[11/7/2017 9:17:25 PM] Josie: Malag: Hey! Why would you take her word for it?

[11/7/2017 9:17:49 PM] Rook: Faye is my friend. I haven't had to stab her *once*.

[11/7/2017 9:18:02 PM] Josie: Faye wuffs smugly.

[11/7/2017 9:18:10 PM] Josie: Malag: You didn't have to stab me either!

[11/7/2017 9:18:20 PM] Rook: I beg to differ.

[11/7/2017 9:18:34 PM] Rook: Faye, what's going to happen if he meets her?

[11/7/2017 9:18:38 PM] Josie: Malag: Nothing weird is going to happen!

[11/7/2017 9:19:36 PM] Josie: Faye: Not sure. Castle people do weird things. They match, though.

[11/7/2017 9:20:46 PM] Rook: I thought it might be something like that.

[11/7/2017 9:21:26 PM] Josie: Malag reddens. "What's that supposed to mean?"

[11/7/2017 9:23:39 PM] Rook: Whatever you happen to think it means. Stay here. Faye, if he tries anything, eat his leg. Or his arm. Your choice.

[11/7/2017 9:24:13 PM] Josie: Faye growls cheerfully and Malag takes the knife out and tries to put pressure on his wound.

[11/7/2017 9:27:06 PM] *** Rook takes the knife back, too. ***

[11/7/2017 9:27:46 PM] *** Rook leaves the room, and locks it behind him. ***

[11/7/2017 9:28:31 PM] Josie: Easily done! What's he going to do?

[11/7/2017 9:29:01 PM] Rook: Going to find Tess and Lizard.

[11/7/2017 9:29:40 PM] Josie: Easily done! They're in the kitchen. There we'll stop for the night, though.

[5:55:12 PM] Josie: Ry heads into the kitchen to find Tess and Lizard! Lizard is drawing in her sketchpad with charcoal, so all the fingers on one hand are black. Tess is knitting something out of soft pale blue yarn.

[5:58:03 PM] Rook: I kind of want to eat him.

[5:58:15 PM] Josie: Tess: He's that bad?

[5:59:21 PM] Rook: A bit insufferable, and he wants to meet Lizard. A bit too much. I think something weird might happen if he meets her.

[5:59:53 PM] Josie: Liz: ... like what? Will I explode or turn into a rat or something?

[6:00:23 PM] Josie: Silver, from his travel cage in the corner of the room: It's not so bad.

[6:01:15 PM] Rook: I don't know. Maybe you fall in love with him or something. He's Fae, after all.

[6:04:01 PM] Josie: Liz: Like in a storybook?

[6:05:35 PM] Rook: I don't know. Faye said that the two of you 'match'. So what if he's the guy who fancies himself the farmboy knight coming to rescue the princess?

[6:06:24 PM] Josie: Liz: I'm not a princess, though, am I?

[6:08:27 PM | Edited 6:11:48 PM] Rook: Something like royalty, I think, as far as the fae are concerned. But what happens in the storybooks when the knight saves the princess? They fall in love. And the dragon dies, and I think I might be the dragon in this situation.

[6:08:45 PM] Josie: ((I think you lost a word there?))

[6:11:21 PM] Josie: ((I think I might be the dragon?))

[6:12:00 PM] Rook: ((Oh, right, I thought I wrote it.))

[6:12:29 PM] Josie: Liz: Love at first sight isn't really real, though.

[6:13:11 PM] Rook: Yeah, but magic is.

[6:13:58 PM] Josie: Liz: I'll bite him if he tries to kill you.

[6:14:13 PM] *** Rook smiles. ***

[6:14:26 PM] Josie: Tess: ... I like the sentiment, but I don't think that's a good idea. Fae blood does weird things.

[6:14:50 PM] Rook: I dont' recommend it.

[6:15:00 PM] Josie: Tess: I ate my couch.

[6:15:07 PM] Josie: Liz: All of it?

[6:15:24 PM] Josie: Tess: Well, no. Just the armrest.

[6:15:49 PM] *** Rook raises an eyebrow. "... I could smell plaid." ***

[6:16:14 PM] Josie: Tess: ... and you were also speaking languages you don't speak.

[6:16:18 PM] Josie: Liz: ... well, what would I do, then? Can I turn into a panther and bite him?

[6:17:14 PM] Rook: Just let Tess pummel him.

[6:17:37 PM] Rook: Or let Faye eat him.

[6:17:57 PM] Josie: Tess: Do we know if she has any gifts yet?

[6:18:37 PM] Rook: I don't know. Her sire was Toreador, right?

[6:18:54 PM] *** Rook looks at Liz! "Have you noticed anything... strange?" ***

[6:19:34 PM] Josie: Tess: Right.

[6:19:40 PM] Josie: Liz: ...

[6:19:50 PM] Rook: ... okay, dumb question.

[6:20:05 PM] Josie: Liz: Like being a vampire and living with a vampire with two girlfriends and having a pet fox that's blue with seven tails?

[6:20:59 PM] Josie: Liz: Or having people spend a lot of money on me? Or...

[6:21:53 PM | Edited 6:21:57 PM] Rook: Have you noticed.. the world around you moving awfully slow?

[6:22:03 PM | Edited 6:22:11 PM] Rook: While you move the same speed?

[6:22:37 PM] Josie: Liz: ... in line at the grocery store?

[6:22:52 PM] Rook: I mean, since you've been a vampire.

[6:23:08 PM] Rook: That's a thing Toreador can do sometimes.

[6:23:13 PM] Rook: Moving real fast.

[6:23:51 PM] Josie: Liz: Oh. I don't think so?

[6:24:29 PM] Rook: How about your senses being sharper, seeing auras?

[6:26:24 PM] Josie: Liz: ... well, I do hear better now, I think. But I don't know if it's that much better.

[6:28:08 PM] Rook: Hmmm. What are Toreadors other tricks?

[6:28:13 PM] *** Rook looks at Tess! ***

[6:28:44 PM] Josie: Tess: Oh, the "I'm the prettiest" thing they do, that's a big one. Leon mentioned that.

[6:30:02 PM] Rook: Oh, oh, right. Yeah, Toreador can make people notice them. Kind of like fae glamour, now that I think of it.

[6:30:25 PM] Rook: .... but you might have other tricks, too. Most Gangrel can't hypnotize, but I can.

[6:31:20 PM] Josie: Liz: Oh. I haven't noticed anything different. I hope I'm not... broken or something?

[6:33:00 PM] Rook: Oh, no. You'll figure it out, don't worry. It hasn't been that long.

[6:33:48 PM] Josie: Liz looks to Tess. "What about you?"

[6:34:05 PM] Josie: Tess: Oh, I'm mostly just pretty resilient.

[6:35:13 PM] Josie: Tess: And I can punch pretty hard.

[6:37:44 PM] Josie: Tess: Learned that from some Brujah friends back in the day. Comes in handy but you have to be careful around people or they get hurt.

[6:48:53 PM] Rook: Do you think you can punch through a shark, Liz?

[6:49:15 PM] Josie: Liz: Eww. Why would I do that? Sharks are endangered.

[6:49:28 PM] Rook: A wereshark then.

[6:49:52 PM] Josie: Liz: I don't... think so?

[6:51:17 PM] Rook: Well. I think you'll be fine, Liz. You haven't really had a chance to learn anything, but that's going to be a part of things once things get settled down.

[6:51:47 PM] Josie: Liz: Will things settle down?

[6:55:56 PM] Rook: .... I hope so. I know Grey needs to iron things out with the fae. Which is greatly aided by crazy fae guys not coming to rescue you.

[6:56:21 PM] Rook: Also, the Tzimsce, which is something we need to start thinking about.

[6:56:37 PM] Rook: Who sent the warghoul to my building?

[6:56:42 PM] Josie: Liz: I don't need to be rescued.

[6:56:59 PM] Josie: Tess: Yeah, but apparently the guy in the living room doesn't understand that.

[6:57:06 PM] Rook: I know you don't, and you know you don't. But prince charming doesn't know that.

[6:57:23 PM] Josie: Liz: Maybe if I just tell him that, he'll go away.

[6:57:31 PM] Rook: He won't.

[6:58:26 PM] Josie: Liz: ... how do you know?

[6:59:13 PM] Rook: He's convinced himself he's the hero in his story. But you're right, I don't know that for sure. I'm mostly worried about what might happen if you meet.

[7:00:28 PM] Josie: Tess: Yeah, we don't know if you'd spontaneously explode or merge into one person or turn into a fae god and start remaking the world in the image of Faerie.

[7:02:22 PM] Rook: Yeah, what she said.

[7:03:24 PM] Josie: Liz: Well I wouldn't do that.

[7:05:33 PM] Rook: The point is just that we don't know what would happen. Could be nothing, could be everything.

[7:05:37 PM] *** Rook shrugs. ***

[7:06:16 PM] Josie: Liz: ... and we're living in the same house?

[7:06:32 PM] Rook: .... don't get me started.

[7:06:49 PM] Rook: It wasn't exactly my idea.

[7:07:08 PM] Josie: Tess: Maybe we should just get it over with and see what happens.

[7:08:27 PM] Rook: ... you're probably right. If only because it's going to be impossible to keep them in the same house. He'll slip away at some point, somehow.

[7:08:37 PM] Rook: Liz?

[7:09:49 PM] Josie: Liz: ... are you sure?

[7:10:08 PM] Josie: Tess: I'd rather have it happen when we're not under attack or something.

[7:11:20 PM] Rook: And he's still weak. He's dealing with a knife wound in his leg.

[7:11:51 PM] Rook: And if he does anything untoward, Tess will pulp him.

[7:12:04 PM] Josie: Tess cracks her knuckles meaningfully!

[7:12:25 PM] Josie: Liz: Well... all right.

[7:14:35 PM] *** Rook sighs, and goes back to the room. ***

[7:14:42 PM] Rook: Wait here.

[7:14:58 PM] Josie: Liz: OK.

[7:15:18 PM] Josie: Malagerin is still sitting there, bleeding a bit from the knife wound.

[7:16:12 PM] Rook: All right, Prince Charming. Will you behave if I let you meet her?

[7:16:39 PM] Josie: Malagerin: I'm not a prince, I'm--wait, seriously? Really? Sure I'll behave.

[7:17:19 PM] Rook: Keep an eye on him, Faye.

[7:17:35 PM] *** Rook turns and nods at Tess and Liz. ***

[7:21:27 PM] Josie: Faye wuffs.

[7:21:55 PM] Josie: Tess walks in first, followed by Liz, as Malag stands up to look, leaning on the couch behind him.

[7:22:44 PM] *** Rook just watches, and turns on his Aura vision while he's at it. ***

[7:23:15 PM] Josie: ((What does that do again?))

[7:27:30 PM] *** Rook just keeps watching! ***

[7:27:51 PM | Edited 7:28:01 PM] Josie: He just watches as they come in, peers behind them and then looks back at them. "Wait, where's... wait, you're her?"

[7:28:18 PM] Josie: He eyes Lizard with what can only be described as extreme skepticism.

[7:28:23 PM] Josie: Faye whuffs.

[7:28:36 PM] Rook: Hey. Don't be rude.

[7:28:37 PM] Josie: Lizard crosses her arms defensively.

[7:28:56 PM] Josie: Malagerin: Sorry, I just... I expected her to be, I don't know... bigger.

[7:29:26 PM] Josie: Lizard: You try living out of dumpsters for three years and see how big you get. Besides, you're even skinnier than me.

[7:30:05 PM] Josie: Malagerin: I'm not skinny, I'm just not a lardy mortal that sits around all day eating pie, or whatever it is you people do all day.

[7:30:19 PM] Josie: Lizard turns to Ry: "Is eating him still an option?"

[7:32:46 PM] Rook: It's *always* an option.

[7:33:16 PM] Josie: Malagerin: It's not my fault she looks like that.

[7:33:41 PM] Josie: Tess: Hey, you can stop being an asshole any time, kid.

[7:34:08 PM] Rook: ... are you *actually* mad that someone you never met before doesn't look like you thought she would?

[7:34:42 PM] Josie: Malagerin: I'm not mad I'm just, like, they're supposed to be, you know... Epic.

[7:34:42 PM] Rook: .... And don't give me any fae 'this doesn't translate right into your limited language' bullshit.

[7:35:03 PM] Rook: Who is *they*.

[7:35:25 PM] Josie: Malag: Greensingers!

[7:35:40 PM] Josie: Liz: Maybe I'm not a Greensinger, did you ever think of that?

[7:36:06 PM] Josie: Malag: No, because you obviously are one. Maybe there are different kinds.

[7:36:50 PM] Josie: Liz: What's that supposed to mean?

[7:37:16 PM] Josie: Malag: Well, maybe some of them are epic and others are like you?

[7:37:31 PM] Josie: Liz: What do you mean like me??

[7:37:44 PM] Josie: Malag: Little and dumpy?

[7:37:47 PM] *** Rook smacks him upside the head. ***

[7:38:03 PM] Josie: Liz: I AM NOT DUMPY!

[7:38:29 PM] Josie: Suddenly the world seems to slow down to a halt. Roll a D10!

[7:38:46 PM] Rook: ((6!))

[7:40:29 PM] Josie: Time seems to stop for a moment and it becomes almost impossible to focus on anything in the room but Lizard, who seems to be ten feet tall, impossibly beautiful, glowing and the most fascinating person who has ever walked the planet. It almost hurts to look, but it's even more difficult not to look.

[7:41:22 PM] Josie: Tess drops to one knee, Faye whines like a terrified dog and Malagerin just stares, eyes wide.

[7:42:07 PM] Josie: Ry rolled just high enough that he can react.

[7:43:14 PM] *** Rook tries to cover his eyes. "Lizard!  Can you turn that off?" ***

[7:43:39 PM] Josie: It's almost painful to do so but he manages!

[7:43:49 PM] Josie: Lizard: Turn what off?

[7:46:00 PM] Rook: The glowy thing! You're ten feet tall! And, you know, radiant, and you might burn our eyeballs out.

[7:46:39 PM] Josie: Liz: What?

[7:49:19 PM] Rook: Look at the others! Look at Tess and Faye! I think maybe you should try to focus. Take a deep breath, try to relax a bit.

[7:49:56 PM] Josie: Liz looks at them and seems confused; the effect blinks a couple of times and fades out.

[7:50:30 PM] *** Rook sloooooooowly uncovers his eyes. ***

[7:50:32 PM] Josie: Tess stands up and heads for the drinks cabinet; Faye hides under the couch.

[7:50:47 PM] *** Rook smacks Mal again. ***

[7:52:00 PM] Josie: Mal shakes his head, doglike. "What... what..."

[7:52:16 PM] Rook: Stop being a jerk.

[7:52:18 PM] Josie: Tess: Well, that answers the gift question, anyway. Holy shit.

[7:52:32 PM] Josie: Mal: I didn't say anything! She just... she...

[7:52:42 PM] Josie: Liz: I have no idea what's going on!

[7:53:39 PM] Rook: You turned on some kind of power. A lot of it.

[7:53:52 PM] Josie: Liz: I did not! I don't know how to do that!

[7:53:58 PM] Josie: There's a knock at the door.

[7:54:07 PM] Rook: Well, this guy made you very angry.

[7:54:14 PM] Rook: .... i'll be right back.

[7:54:15 PM] Josie: Liz: I didn't do anything!

[7:54:28 PM] Rook: It's all right, Liz, you didn't do anything wrong.

[7:54:31 PM] Josie: Tess: Look, you didn't do anything bad, Lizard. It's actually a good thing.

[7:54:39 PM] Josie: The knocking gets more insistent!

[7:54:44 PM] *** Rook pats her arm as he goes to answer the door. ***

[7:55:14 PM] Josie: Liz: I don't understand...

[7:55:25 PM] Josie: Tess starts answering her question while Ry heads for the door.

[7:56:00 PM] Josie: He can look out the window at the person standing there easily enough, since the whole damn building is mostly made of glass.

[7:57:47 PM] Josie: It looks to be a young man in his early 20s, though from the paleness of his face it's probably a vampire, so could be of any age. Ry doesn't recognize him--he has dark, curly hair and he's wearing a dark suit open at the collar, with no tie, and a dark purple vest.

[8:01:55 PM] *** Rook opens the door, and stands in the doorway. The door is not open enough for him to come in. "Yes?" ***

[8:02:11 PM] Josie: Man: What just happened?

[8:02:37 PM] Josie: He has a slight accent--it's hard to tell but it might be Italian.

[8:02:47 PM] Josie: Man: Is everyone all right?

[8:05:37 PM] Rook: Everyone's fine. Who are you?

[8:07:06 PM] Josie: Man: Armand Conti. Gray sent me to watch over you.

[8:07:36 PM] *** Rook checks his phone! ***

[8:08:36 PM] Josie: There's nothing on the phone, but Ry does remember Gray mentioning two Lasombra "helpers" she had monitoring Ry's situation--Gillian and Armand.

[8:08:54 PM] Rook: .... what did you see?

[8:09:59 PM] Josie: Armand: Well, the house is made of glass. I mainly keep my attention elsewhere to spot intruders, but then... that happened, and I could not look anywhere else.

[8:10:21 PM] Rook: ... where were you?

[8:10:33 PM] Josie: His accent seems to drift a bit, all over Europe. Germany, eastern Europe, Italy, France.

[8:10:43 PM] Josie: He points to a rock about 200 yards down the beach.

[8:11:03 PM] Josie: Armand: Easiest to stay hidden in the shadows.

[8:11:26 PM] *** Rook nods. ***

[8:11:37 PM] Rook: Well, everything is okay.

[8:11:49 PM] Josie: Armand: Gillian has taken my place for now, and called another to take hers.

[8:11:58 PM] Rook: Lizard seems to be very.... potent when it comes to Presence.

[8:13:12 PM] Josie: Armand: ... I thought she was newborn.

[8:14:10 PM] Rook: She is, but there's a lot of weirdness around her. Not to mention her sire was  pretty much crazy with Fae blood.

[8:15:30 PM] Josie: Armand: Troubling.

[8:17:21 PM] Rook: You're telling me. But it's under control.

[8:18:31 PM] Josie: Armand: Do you have any blood available? I ... unwisely attempted to resist.

[8:19:04 PM] Josie: Armand: ... ask Gray first if you wish. You don't know me.

[8:20:32 PM] Rook: ... wait here, I'll get you a bag.

[8:21:38 PM] *** Rook closes the door behind him and heads to the kitchen! He does text Gray. "Lizard has very potent Presence.  Rattled Armond from his post.  Giving him some blood from fridge." ***

[8:22:55 PM] Josie: Rose texts back after a few minutes. "Not sure if Presence is good or bad. If Armond is rattled it must have been something."

[8:24:05 PM] Rook: "It was much more powerful than it should have been.  Maybe fae magic stuff."

[8:24:21 PM] *** Rook gets a bag of blood and brings it to the front door! ***

[8:26:16 PM] Josie: Armand has stepped back into the shadows, but steps forward again to take the bag as Ry opens the door. "Thank you. ... I would like to meet her sometime. When convenient."

[8:26:47 PM] Rook: Mmm. Well, talk to Gray about that.

[8:27:07 PM] *** Rook closes the door and goes back to the others! ***

[8:27:33 PM] Josie: He bows politely.

[8:28:27 PM] Josie: Lizard and Tess have gone back into the kitchen, Faye is still hiding under the couch and Malagerin is still sitting on the chair, looking a bit stunned.

[8:29:19 PM] *** Rook looks at Faye. "You okay?" ***

[8:32:36 PM] Josie: Faye: I'm fine!

[8:32:42 PM] Josie: She doesn't come out.

[8:34:44 PM] Rook: Okay.

[8:34:46 PM] Josie: Malag: ... that was... more like what I expected.

[8:35:00 PM] Rook: Careful what you wish for, Prince Charming.

[8:36:21 PM] Josie: Malag: I feel like she scraped my brain out and then put it back in backwards.

[8:38:47 PM] Rook: Well. Maybe she didn't put the asshole bits back in.

[8:38:51 PM] Rook: What now?

[8:40:13 PM] Josie: Malag: I'm not an asshole, I'm just... I'm not from here.

[8:40:44 PM] Josie: Malag: I don't know. She's amazing.

[8:42:03 PM] *** Rook rolls his eyes. "You *insulted* her." ***

[8:42:17 PM] Josie: Malag: Not on purpose!

[8:42:24 PM] Josie: He stands up, brushing himself off.

[8:42:35 PM] Josie: Roll a d10!

[8:43:51 PM] Rook: ((8!))

[8:45:37 PM] Josie: He's not bleeding anymore.

[8:46:19 PM] Rook: ... when did you heal?

[8:47:20 PM] Josie: Malag: What?

[8:47:44 PM] Rook: Your leg. Where I stuck you.

[8:48:54 PM] Josie: Malag looks down and moves the jeans side to side.

[8:49:00 PM] Josie: Malag: Huh. I don't know.

[8:50:55 PM] Rook: Well merry Christmas.

[8:51:22 PM] Rook: You stay in here while I talk to the others. Faye, you gonna stay in here or come with?

[8:51:24 PM] Josie: Malag: Merry what?

[8:51:33 PM] Josie: Faye grunts. "Stay."

[8:52:00 PM] Josie: Malag: Fine, whatever, just tell her... um... tell her I said hi?

[8:52:38 PM] *** Rook rolls his eyes. "Right, right." ***

[8:53:07 PM] Rook: .... might want to try 'I'm sorry', too.

[8:53:20 PM] *** Rook leaves him in that room and locks it behind him again! ***

[8:53:34 PM] Josie: Easily done.

[8:54:14 PM] Josie: Liz is sitting down at the table staring at her sketchpad, looking glum.

[8:54:29 PM] Josie: Tess has gone back to her knitting but she keeps looking at Lizard out of the corner of her eye.

[8:54:56 PM] Rook: .... you okay?

[8:55:08 PM] *** Rook sits down at the table. ***

[8:55:49 PM] Josie: Liz: I don't know. Everything is weird and Tess keeps looking at me weird!

[8:56:15 PM] Josie: Tess: I am not! ... okay, maybe I am, but, you know, that happened and now it's really hard not to worship you or something?

[8:57:48 PM] Rook: No worshiping Lizard, Tess. Let's have that as a household rule.

[8:57:53 PM] Rook: Don't worry, kiddo. It'll probably wear off.

[8:58:23 PM] Rook: If it makes you feel better, I don't want to worship you.

[8:58:35 PM] Josie: Tess: I'm not, it's just kind of distracting.

[8:58:45 PM] Josie: Liz: I don't want anybody to worship me.

[9:00:25 PM] Rook: Nobody is.

[9:00:43 PM] *** Rook looks at the sketchpad. "The page is looking awful blank." ***

[9:01:21 PM] Josie: Liz flops over and puts her head on the table and puts her arms over it. "I know! People are just being weird!"

[9:01:53 PM] Josie: Tess: Sorry! If it helps, I'm actually always weird. I mean, when I was born gas lights were fancy and newfangled. Now we have Candy Crush and helicopters.

[9:02:10 PM] Josie: There's a bleep from Ry's phone!

[9:03:13 PM] Josie: It's a text from Rose. "What HAPPENED to Armand?"

[9:05:00 PM] Rook: "Nothing bad.  He burnt a little blood trying to resist Lizard's.... effect.  Aura.  Presence.  Why?"

[9:05:57 PM] Josie: Rose answers: "Nothing, he just wants to meet her and he never asks for anything. You know how they are."

[9:07:08 PM] Rook: "... fae stuff, then.  There are some after effects from Lizard's. ... outburst."

[9:08:34 PM] Josie: Rose: Are you OK?

[9:10:55 PM] Rook: "I'm all right.  Tess is... mostly okay."

[9:13:10 PM] Josie: Rose: Mostly?

[9:16:13 PM] Rook: "She said 'it's really hard to not worship Lizard'.  I'm hoping it.... wears off?"

[9:16:46 PM] Rook: "Anyway.  Faerie guy made Lizard mad.  And she.... just reacted with this 'outburst'."

[9:17:00 PM] Josie: Rose: Clearly I'm in the wrong clan. Outburst? Can she control it? She needs to be able to control that.

[9:18:43 PM] Josie: Rose: As far as Armand goes... it's up to you. He's been with us for decades but you never quite know with them. Useful though. The shadow stuff freaks out some of the superstitious elders, but that's their problem.

[9:21:28 PM] Rook: "It's fine.  I'm just hoping it wears off.  I'll keep you up to date."

[9:21:59 PM] Rook: ".... hopefully she can control it.  Fae guy made her pretty mad."

[9:22:07 PM] Josie: Rose: I can get a Torrie there to help teach if you need it. And Armand might actually be good for etiquette. Kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

[9:22:11 PM] Josie: Rose: What did he do?

[9:25:08 PM] Rook: "He was visibly and verbally disappointed that Lizard didn't match whatever he had in his head for a 'Greenspeaker'."

[9:25:54 PM] Josie: Rose: That's it? I guess it's lucky she didn't just punch him through a window.

[9:35:34 PM] Rook: "So he insulted her, and bam.  Glowing Lizard Goddessmode."

[9:36:03 PM] Josie: Rose: And it affected everyone in the room?

[9:37:45 PM] Rook: "Yeah.  And apparently reached to where Armond was posted."

[9:38:26 PM] Josie: Rose: He is NOT supposed to be close enough to be affected by something like that. I'll have to talk to him about it.

[9:38:52 PM] Rook: "How close is he supposed to be?"

[9:39:16 PM] Rook: "He said he was 200 feet away."

[9:39:58 PM] Josie: Rose: ... not his fault, then.

[9:42:05 PM] Rook: "No.  It might be fae magic.  Or vampire stuff mixed with fae magic."

[9:43:34 PM] Josie: Rose: ... keep an eye on it.

[9:44:27 PM] Rook: "Of course."

[9:45:08 PM] Josie: Rose: Good luck!

[9:45:50 PM] *** Rook sets his phone down. "Liz, Prince Charming wanted me to tell you 'hi'." ***

[9:46:10 PM] Josie: Lizard looks at him like he's crazy. "Why?"

[9:48:07 PM] Rook: I guess you impressed him.

[9:49:48 PM] Josie: Tess: Some-one has a cruuuuuush.

[9:50:57 PM] Rook: Don't give him the time of day until he apologizes and *means* it though.

[9:52:34 PM] Josie: Liz doesn't blush, but only because she can't.

[9:52:41 PM] Josie: Liz: He's an ass!

[9:52:50 PM] Josie: Liz: I'm not going to talk to him.

[9:53:35 PM] Rook: Good, don't.

[9:53:48 PM] Rook: I still have no idea what to do with him.

[9:56:26 PM] Josie: Tess: Well, the ocean's right there.

[9:57:34 PM] Rook: It has occurred.

[9:58:42 PM] Rook: Rose says we're going to start on Lizard's training though, if that's all right.

[10:03:24 PM] Josie: Liz: Sure.

[10:03:31 PM] Josie: Rose: And make sure you find her a better name!

[10:04:10 PM] Rook: Whatever that was.... it was really powerful, but useless unless you know how to control it. And this will help with that. Maybe help you learn other tricks, too.

[10:06:38 PM] Josie: Liz: Well... all right, as long as you're the one doing it.

[10:07:14 PM] Rook: I'll need some help, but I'll be there the whole time. Maybe I *can* teach you to be a panther.

[10:08:11 PM] Josie: Liz: That would be great!

[10:08:37 PM] Josie: Tess: Who's going to help? Gray?

[10:15:26 PM] Rook: She said some Torrie to teach LIzard the clan stuff.

[10:16:22 PM] Josie: Tess: I hope she picks someone good. They can be kind of... well, you know.

[10:16:33 PM] Josie: Liz: They can be kind of what?

[10:16:39 PM] Josie: Tess looks to Ry for help on that one.

[10:17:40 PM] Rook: Easily distracted. Flighty. ..... you know the stereotype of the "artiste"? Lots of Toreador latch onto that.

[10:18:15 PM] Josie: Liz: Oh. ... I guess I won't fit in very well, then.

[10:19:06 PM] Rook: Pfff. Don't worry about that. Lots of Torries are just normal folks. Tattoos are big. I knew one who was a roller derby girl.

[10:19:45 PM] Josie: Tess: Now that's a sport.

[10:20:11 PM] Josie: Liz looks relieved. "Oh. Good. ... I feel kind of lost, is all."

[10:21:18 PM] Rook: It's all right, Liz. Don't worry -- no matter what, we're not going anywhere.

[10:23:41 PM] Josie: Liz: ... thank you. Both of you.

[10:24:23 PM] Josie: Tess: No problem! ... it's kind of hard resisting calling you "mistress" or "Miz Lizard" right now.

[10:24:47 PM] Rook: Misliz.

[10:26:04 PM] Josie: Liz: ... I'd rather just be Lizard. Or Liz.

[10:27:09 PM] Rook: I like Lizard, too.

[10:27:45 PM] Josie: Faye peeks in from the doorway.

[10:27:50 PM] Rook: You all right?

[10:28:02 PM] Josie: Faye: I'm fine!

[10:29:29 PM] Josie: Lizard yawns.

[10:30:12 PM] Josie: Tess: It's getting near dawn. Maybe you better head to bed.

[10:30:21 PM] *** Rook nods. "Good idea." ***

[10:30:32 PM] Josie: Liz sighs. "Yeah, probably. I'm not getting anywhere anyway."

[10:30:56 PM] Rook: You'll be okay. Inspiration will hit tomorrow.

[10:32:17 PM] *** Rook looks at Tess. "What do we do about Prince Charming?" ***

[10:32:39 PM] Josie: Liz stands up, hugs Tess and then hugs Ry, and heads downstairs to the bottom part of the split-level, where the other bedrooms are.

[10:33:08 PM] Josie: Tess: I don't know. We could put him in a bedroom, I suppose. Or tie him to... something.

[10:33:47 PM] Rook: To be fair, I don't think he's going anywhere.

[10:33:59 PM] Rook: Faye?

[10:34:09 PM] Josie: Tess: Yeah, but I don't want him going into Lizard's room and staring creepily at her or something either.

[10:34:12 PM] Josie: Faye: Yeah?

[10:34:48 PM] Rook: Can you sleep in Lizard's room? Or is that not okay right now?

[10:35:04 PM] Josie: Faye: 'course I can.

[10:35:24 PM] Rook: Okay. Don't let him in her room.

[10:35:29 PM] *** Rook gives her a scratch. ***

[10:36:03 PM] Josie: Faye leans into it a bit, and then zips down the stairs after Lizard.

[10:39:07 PM] *** Rook looks at Tess. "You all right?" ***

[10:40:12 PM] Josie: Tess: Yeah, I think so. Man, no one's ever put the whammy on me that hard before.

[10:40:42 PM] Rook: Yeah, it was all I could do to cover my eyes.

[10:40:50 PM] Rook: And even *that* hurt.

[10:42:17 PM] Josie: Tess: ... do you think ... well, do you think there's something she's not telling us? Or maybe that she just doesn't know herself?

[10:43:09 PM] Rook: The latter, definitely.

[10:43:31 PM] Rook: That wasn't Presence. Or... *just* presence, anyway.

[10:43:57 PM] Rook: I don't think she's holding anything back on purpose. But her memory got swiss cheesed.

[10:44:15 PM] Josie: Tess: Well, if it was, it wasn't Presence like a novice would know. Not like that.

[10:45:48 PM] Rook: We have no idea what a vampire/fae can do or is capable of. I mean, I suppose we do now. You still feeling it?

[10:48:19 PM] Josie: Tess: Yeah, some.

[10:48:31 PM] Josie: Tess: It's kinda hard not to go down and like... swear fealty.

[10:49:23 PM] Rook: Well, don't. Hopefully it wears off by tomorrow night. Though I regret not asking Liz to ask you to cluck like a chicken.

[10:50:19 PM] Josie: Tess: Aww, but I'd do that for you, too!

[10:50:57 PM] Rook: ....noted.

[10:52:25 PM] Josie: Tess: All you have to do is ask.

[10:53:26 PM] Josie: Tess: Who was at the door, by the way?

[10:53:40 PM] Rook: Armond. He felt it from 200 feet away.

[10:53:51 PM] Rook: It drew him like a moth.

[10:54:03 PM] Rook: .... to a powerful fae vampire girl.

[10:55:04 PM] Josie: Tess: The creepy shadow guy, Armand? The extra security Gray got?

[10:55:18 PM] Rook: Yeah.

[10:56:31 PM] Josie: Tess: ... I don't know, I don't trust them.

[10:56:54 PM] Josie: Tess: But I feel like we're going to need more than a shotgun to keep guys... and even girls... away from Lizard if she can do that.

[10:57:11 PM] Rook: Yeah.

[10:57:37 PM] Rook: We need to teach her some stuff. See what she can pick up.

[10:57:50 PM] Josie: Tess: I wonder where that Howitzer went.

[10:58:31 PM] Josie: Tess: ... you know much about Lasombra as a group?

[10:59:09 PM] Rook: Not a whole lot. I know most of 'em are Sabbat, and they do the shadow thing and don't have reflections.

[11:00:37 PM] Josie: Tess: Yeah. Normally they hunt down defectors, and it's not pretty when they find them. But there's a reason most of them are horrible, I guess.

[11:01:12 PM] Rook: You should teach her how to punch.

[11:01:19 PM] Rook: I'm going to teach her how to shapeshift.

[11:01:19 PM] Josie: Tess: That is a very good idea.

[11:01:41 PM] Rook: .... I get the feeling that she'll be able to learn any disciplines she sets her mind to.

[11:03:13 PM] Josie: Tess: Careful, maybe you're starting to catch the "OUR PROMISED QUEEN HAS ARRIVED" vibe.

[11:05:53 PM] Rook: Nah. I just mean, she busted out much stronger Presence then she had a right to. And for the most part, vampires can learn most disciplines. I learned Dominate and Auspex.

[11:06:25 PM] Josie: Tess: And I learned the punching. True.

[11:07:28 PM] Rook: Anyway. It's almost dawn. Cluck like a chicken?

[11:08:45 PM] Josie: Tess: Buckbuck, bugawk! Let's go to bed. I suppose we better put elf guy in the guest room.

[11:08:58 PM] *** Rook grins. ***

[11:09:02 PM] Rook: Yeah.

[11:09:04 PM] Josie: Tess: Do we know what his name is?

[11:09:08 PM] Rook: Mal.

[11:11:21 PM] Josie: Tess: That's it? No... Prince of the Seventh Forest or something?

[11:12:30 PM] Rook: Malag, I think. I don't think he's royalty or anything.

[11:12:37 PM] *** Rook goes to the room he's in! ***

[11:14:46 PM] Josie: Tess follows, wordlessly.

[11:15:11 PM] Josie: Malag is reading a book that was on one of the tables. It's an art book.

[11:15:29 PM] Rook: Hey. How're you faring?

[11:15:56 PM] Josie: Malag: I'm fine. Where'd she go?

[11:16:34 PM] Rook: To bed.

[11:17:17 PM] Josie: Malag: Oh. ... you sleep during the day?

[11:18:56 PM] Rook: Yes. Come on. We're going to put you into a slightly more comfortable room.

[11:19:29 PM] Josie: Malag: All right.

[11:19:51 PM] Josie: He cooperates and is soon in his own room, leaving Ry and Tess to head back upstairs to the master suite.

[11:20:34 PM] *** Rook wants to put him in a room as far as possible from Lizards. ***

[11:22:37 PM] Josie: Easily done.

[11:23:01 PM] Josie: Anything he wants to tell him, or Tess?

[11:24:52 PM] Rook: I'm locking you in. I'm sure you understand. I have not forgotten the stabbing and attempted stabbing. But this room will be a bit comfortable. Just... stay in here. Watch tv, read books, whatever. Don't go near her.

[11:25:03 PM] Rook: Got it?

[11:25:14 PM] Josie: Malagerin: Yeah, sure. Fine. I won't.

[11:25:47 PM] Rook: All right.

[11:28:13 PM] Josie: And there we'll stop for the night! 'cause it's late. :)