2020.12.07 The Curious Case of the Honey Pot

The Cool Kids 'Coterie' in The Curious Case of the Honey Pot!
Danger on the mean streets of Prospect turns to comraderie as fellow Praxis members have to work together to help each other handle a possible threat.
IC Date	December 7, 2020
IC Time	Night
Players	Guivre(ST), Colombe, Damien, Hannah
Location	Maple and Comet, An Alley way in Malkavian Domain
Spheres	Camarilla

Comet and Maple street is made up of smaller, business buildings along with some run-of-the-mill apartments and some various one to two story houses to boot. Occasionally one will see the rare victorian mansion on this corner of the street or two, but mostly the block is made up of smaller homes, cozy apartments and small-time businesses. Some hole-in-the-wall, Mom-n-Pop stores can be found around this area as well if one knows just where to look for some good Italian, Mexican and Chinese food. There is an older lady with neatly cropped short strawberry blonde hair and a cashmere turtleneck seated on a bench outside the Mexican place down the block... likely waiting for food.

The streets along this area are a bit more rundown, having seen some more wear and tear from ongoing traffic of numerous pedestrians and a plethora of cars from ages long past. The area in this neighborhood is fairly decent, with police cruisers coming by every now and then, though never staying for too long as they seem to have more important areas of the city to 'protect and serve'.

In the distance Guivre can be seen standing on the front porch of the Alternative Learning Center where the group was asked to gather. He is looking at his phone and casually waiting for the lot of them to arrive... probably reviewing resumes.

Colombe walks down the street, no doubt garnering a few glances for standing out of place. She is tall and gorgeous, walking like Charlemagne in Versace. She approaches the Altenative Learning Center, and greets Guivre with a nod. "Good evening."

Damien received the invite for the time and place and like any good Tremere he's right on time. Tonight the tattooed man is dressed a bit on the casual side wearing a black leather jacket over a black t-shirt, dark jeans and sneakers. Spottig Colombe he gives a wave then moves in to walk beside her, smiling as he says to her, "Good evening." Pointing to Guivre he adds, "I think this is our guy." A wave is given to Guivre as they approach, "Hey, are you /the Guy/?"

(ST POSE) As Hannah passes the Mexican Place at the far end of the block Something grabs them from behind! The invisible Something is wearing blood-stained rubber gloves of the long variety that go all the way to the elbow. The nasty arms wrap around Hannah from behind and try to restrain her in a bear hug/grapple! A struggles ensues but the rest of the 'Coterie' can't quite see the abduction from where they stand on the front steps of the Beauregard Alternative Learning Center. Hannah and the Something are just out of sight and it is trying to pull her into the alleyway behind the Mexican place.

Hannah is lagging a bit behind the others. For whatever reason, she opted to swing into one of the local bodegas for something or other, and she's only now making her way down the block. She looks like she's come for BUSINESS today ( https://tinyurl.com/y43soz56 ) in a youthful tweed suit jacket and matching shorts, with a cropped white tank underneath and black combat boots rounding out the almost-professionalk look. She stops long enough to drop a $5 into the older lady's hand as she passes by the Mexican place, and then moves past in preparation to cross the street.

That's when those arms seem to find her, and the Tremere lets out a sudden yell. "Hey!" she says, too surprised to be scared right away. She flexes her arms, trying to get free, and that's when she sees the rubber gloves. She lets out another yell as she attempts to break out of the bear-hug, combat boots kicking blindly.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Guivre rolls Wits(5) + Alertness(5) (10 dice) vs 6 for 4 successes. <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Guivre looks up casually when he hears the others approach, "Colombe, I presume?... glad to have your help." He nods to the Ventrue and then Damien shows up a few moments later and the Primogen nods his head with another amicable grin, "I am indeed, The Guy... although alot of my friends used to call me Jesus back in the old days. You see-" The Malkavian seems about to offer more of a story but the shout from Hannah causes him to look over sharply and declare, "That sounded like Hannah." He doesn't even hesitate before he is running off in the direction of the shout...

Those who are very observant might notice that the little old lady outside the Mexican Place is long gone, almost as if she never existed in the first place.

Colombe is surprised by Guivre's sudden movements, and turns her head to follow his movement. When she puts it together, she calmly lifts her phone and starts writing a text, looking concerned.

"Its a pleasure..." Damien's words are interrupted as that shout is heard. Lifting one dark brow he turns and starts to look for the source when Colombe and Guivre start to move. Worried for Hannah, he starts to chase after where they heard the shout originate from.

Hannah rolls Strength vs 7 for 0 successes. <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> The Abductor rolls Strength vs 7 for 2 successes. <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Given they're on a busy street, Hannah does not opt to immediately start blasting with her Tremere tricks. She struggles, teeth grit, and lets out another yell, "FIRE! FIRE! HELP!" Because sadly, studies show that people are more likely to react to that than calls for help. The young woman's face pulls back, attempting to get a look at her attacker...but then something unseen seems to make her eyes go wide and her body start with surprise. She violently shakes her head as though to clear a thought, which must be why she is unable to get free.

(ST POSE) The Aductor continues to struggle with Hannah, trying to get her into a half nelson and getting the job accomplished despite the screaming from Hannah. A whispering buzzing voice comes out of the robed figure with the rubber gloves and its sickly sweet breath pours into Hannah's ear as it remarks, "No one can hear you scream..." The beast is pulling Hannah backwards into the Alley and quickly disappearing from the view of those running down the street toward them.

Colombe is quickly left behind by the two men as she walks toward the corner, her eyes scanning the area aggressively. Meanwhile, a large blonde man who is clearly a hired bodyguard merges with Guivre and Damien just in time to see Hannah get pulled down a sewer hole.

Damien sprints to the mouth of the alley and spots Hannah just as she is pulled into the sewer. Shaking his head he looks back towards Colombe then to the other two men. With a nod he sprints down the alley and toward his clanmate and the sewer.

(ST POSE) As Damien, Guivre and Colombe's bodyguard round the corner at the end of the alley they arrive just in time to see Hannah being pulled out of sight by what appears to be mass of black rags with nasty limbs sticking out of them at weird angles. As the heros gather The Abductor lets out a gutteral inhuman cry and tries to escape... it lets go of Hannah the very SECOND that Guivre rushes toward it with Celerity.

Hannah is freed and still on the surface but the Malkavian Primogen disappears down the hole after the creature... hopefully Damien is wise enough not to throw a moltov cocktail down the hole after them.

Hannah is dragged kicking and screaming (like a sailor) toward the sewers, but other than kick her feet and yell, she does not seem strong enough to break out of the abductor's hold. Luckily, as Guivre rushes with celerity she is suddenly released, and the Tremere whips around in time to see the mess of rags skuttle down the manhole with Guivre on its heels. She hesitates, looking at her clanmate and then Colombe, before suddenly issuing a loud, "SHIT! Come on!" And then she moves to climb down after the two others.

Damien was trying to get Hannah before she got in the sewer, but even though she was free, she went in anyways. Waving his hands in the air Damien yells out, "Yoooooo! What the fuuuuuuuuu-!" Trailing off he shakes his head and pulls a large knife from its sheath at his belt before following after Hannah and Guy into the sewer.

Colombe's bodyguard follows Damien into the sewer. Colombe catches up in time to see Hannah is fine, and heading into the manhole. She rolls her eyes, and tucks her phone away. She walks, in her divine Michael Kors heels, to join the group. In the sewers.

(ST POSE) Once in the sewer, our camera pans over a concerned Guivre as he looks up and down the empty tunnel with a frown, "I lost it, I have no idea how.. I was moving faster than it but the second we turned the first corner down here it disappeared." Guivre shoots a fleeting look back up at the light shining down from the open manhole cover and comments, "We shouldn't even be down here, this is Nosferatu domain." He shakes his head and herds them back to the ladder with a few waves of his hand, "C'mon, things like that set traps for things like us down here. We need to talk to a Nosferatu if we're dealing with some variety of sewer dweller." For all his madness, he's a capable sort of crazy and he shoots a concerned follow up look to Hannah. "Are you alright? Maybe we should head back to the learning center and get our bearings.. way our options."

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Guivre rolls Intelligence(5) + Subterfuge(4) (9 dice) vs 6 for 3 successes. <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

In her head Colombe hears In Guivre's voice: "Get the hell out of here. That isn't me, I'll catch up with you. I had to hide."

So there they are, all lined up on the ladder heading into the sewers one by one with Hannah leading the other Tremere and Ventrue along the way. She stops at the Malkavian's urgings, however, effectiveliy blocking everyone in the descent, and she gives herself a look over before saying, "I'm fine." A pause. "Except I've got more of that...stuff..." She lifts a shoulder to look at her back where a sweet, sticky, coppery substance appears to have coated itself in places along her clothing and hair. "Man, the one goddamn time I try and wear a suit..." Groaning, she moves her booted feet back up the ladder, her bionic hand lifting to give Damien a poke in the butt as she prods him back up toward the surface. "Learning center it is."

Damien shakes the bladed end of his knife in the direction they all assume the bundle of rags ran off in. Quoting Egg from Big Trouble in Little China he adds, "You come out no more!" Muttering darkly he moves to make his way back to the ladder, grinning and adding to Hannah, "Nice suit by the way. Next time wear less handles or something." Cackling he adds to Colombe, "Looking good as ever." To Guivre and the body guard he nods then heads back up with his knife held in his teeth like a pirate.

Colombe is visibly relieved that she will not be going into the sewers. Her shoes are saved. Then she looks very alarmed. And she looks at the people who have managed to come out of the sewers. And says, "That's not Guivre, and we need to RUN."

(ST POSE) There is a subtle buzzing coming from the air around the "Malkavian" and he waits at the bottom of the ladder for them, moving up last and talking in his usual animated fashion as he goes, "I'm wicked happy you guys could come out and help me with my event tonight, sorry about all this crazy shit-" Colombe's words get a hiss and the creature starts to bound up the ladder behind them looking for all the world like a haunted Guivre with souless black eyes. A manhole cover sits nearby..

The action freezes, the world slows down and we enter a state of bullet time as the Coterie has exactly two minutes to react before the Malkavian makes it to the surface.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Hannah rolls Willpower vs 5 for 3 successes. <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Guivre rolls 2 (2 dice) vs 7 for 0 successes. <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Hannah is confused by Colombe's words, but she is just now climbing out of the sewers to react. Startled, she whips around to face the hissing-wannabe-Guy, and jerks her palm out in his direction out of instinct. The kindred is thus suspended a few inches in the air, unable to move, as she says, "Fuckety fuck. What is going on here??"

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Damien rolls Intelligence + Occult vs 5 for 4 successes. <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> The Abductor rolls Charisma + Intimidation vs 9 for 1 successes. <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Colombe's expression changes to one of overbearing radiance. She shines like an unholy beacon of pure commanding majesty, crushing the will of those around her to even think of hurting her. Aiming mostly at the creature in the clutches of the formidable Hannah's mind clutch. Little fake Guivre. She looks down upon the creature, from her awe-inspiring altar of greatness.

Damien was going to tease his clanmate more but then he hears that serious tone from both Hannah and Colombe. Turning he catches sight of Hannah using her power to levitate the fake Guy just as he takes his knife in hand once more. Shaking his head he speaks soft words of power while cutting his palm, his vitae coating the blade before bursting into flickering green flame. Readying his knife he looks around then says, "Just say when."

(ST POSE) The Fake Guivre frozen in the clutches of Hannah's mind vice is just able to communicate and it continues to use its stolen voice, the black eyes flashing between the brilliant slate gray of Guivre's and the souless black of The Abductor's as if the creature were too angry to contain its Maquerade and maintain the performance.

"Hold fast friends, you may not understand my methods but rest assured I act according to Boons far greater than your or I can truly understand and I am no enemy of the Praxis. We are but pawns on a bigger board, if you strike me down something worse will come in my wake and it comes from within." Masterful speech befitting the Malkavian but truly from a deceptive entity all the same, "Let me go now and seek out others of Clan Nosferatu, ask them about them about my mission... I am not your enemy or your ally, but war with us is ill advised. Others often lose before they realize they have been engaged.." Respectful of the Ventrue presence in the room and able to react only accordingly the creature inclines its head, "I have prestige with Clan Nosferatu."

Hannah's gaze never leaves the chameleon, and her hand remains outstretched toward him in a physical manifestation of her own concentration. "I can do this all fucking day," she lies to the thing, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. She hears Damien's affirmation behind her, which makes her feel more confident and jerks her chin over to encourage he appraoch more closely. "I have plenty of friends in clan Nosferatu," she returns back to the thing, "And I reckon they'd be reeeal interested in you. If you're so harmless, why'd you try and pull me down there? No one will hear me scream, huh? Asshole."

She pauses to throw her voice to Colombe, saying, "Use your hoodoo and ask him something. I got him for now."

Colombe attempts to use her commanding presence to command the Abductor into a truthful answer. "EXPLAIN yourself, thing of the sewers."

"All my friends are from Clan Nosferatu and I never heard of you." There is a moment of thought then he adds, "Who are you?" Damien steps closer, moving in a diagonal line from where he stands to move more to the side as to be out of the way of Hannah, Colombe, and the body guard while closing in on the fake Guy. With his burning blade at the ready he waits for their trapped guest to answer.

(ST POSE) "As I explained, I am just doing as I was told.. there are experiments to perform, we must find subjects for our tests. We mean no harm... the Greater Good.." The Fake Guivre is still frozen but the subtle buzzing sound starts to swell to an even fever pitch as things pour out of the fake Guivre's face. His eyes, his nose and ears, especially his mouth... a flood of bees begins to pour out the paralyzed Kindred in a rush of buzzing.

A darker hue of red than normal honey bees the things that pour out of the Fake Guivre envelope Hannah's face and cause her to lose her telekinetic grasp on the prison, dropping instantly back into the manhole and leaving behind an angry cloud of kamakaze bees who sting and bite and fill the hole with their angry presence as their Master gets away into the darkness.

Hannah's eyes fully roll at the mention of greater good, her mouth opening to retort something sassy -- which is absolutely TERRIBLE timing, because that's when the bees suddenly spray forth and attack. Her face is instantly covered in the buzzing, crawling things, and she releasesd a loud yell as she violently whips her face and hair around, attempting to get them off. Growling, she attempts to break free enough to at least be able to concenrate and potentially blast these suckers away with another telekinetic blast.

Colombe has no defence for bees, but she rushes forward to help Hannah anyway. Using her hands to swat at the bees on Hannah's face.

Damien grabs at empty air as the fake Guy falls from Hannah's mental hold. Cursing at the miss and the bees he sheaths his knife and works to help fend off the bees. Slipping off his jacket he starts to flap and slap at the swarm.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Hannah rolls Willpower vs 6 for 3 successes. <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

There is an angry scream of rage and disgust, and then Hannah back-pedals until she is far enough away from Damien and Colombe to suddenly aim a strong telekinetic blast away from her face and against the stone alley wall. The bees are pushed and pressed by an invisible force, and then the Tremere drops to her heels to frantically swat at her hair and make sure they're all gone. "What. The Fuck." She says, taking in a deep breath and then giving another head-bang of her hair.

Looking up at her companions now, she forwns and then jerks her head toward the sewer. "Okay. What just happened? And where is the /real/ Guy then?" A pause. "...Also, I should probably fill you two in on something relevant."

The bees start to spread out and soon enough their cloud is little more than a littering of insects strewn in the air along the alley's length. As their Master gets farther and farther away their desire to complete its wishes fade and they float heavenward or back down the holes in the manhole... all of them dispersing and disappearing. (Except the ones that Hannah T-k blasts to smithereens.)

The alley is also strewn with dozens of dead bees who gave their life for their Master.

RIP <Phone> (Text from Hannah) testing mr. guy 1...2...3...?

<Phone> (Text to Hannah) I'm heading back to the Learning Center, I had to double back and run off it tried to vomit something at me. I wasn't fuckin' with that, are you all still alive?

<Phone> (Text from Colombe) Stay safe, we are ok.

<Phone> (Text from Hannah) uh. so. we went in the sewers after u, but it was wearing ur face and attacked us. with bees. i think u may really need a professional exterminator.

<Phone> (Text to Colombe) I'm heading back to the Learning Center, I had to double back and run off it tried to vomit something at me. I wasn't fuckin' with that, glad you are all still alive.

<Phone> (Text from Hannah) we r gonna head to the center now, ttys

<Phone> (Text to Hannah) Wtf.omw.

When they arrive at the Learning Center, Guivre is seated inside with some muck in his long hair but otherwise looking unharmed and a bit filthy. "I'm assuming none of you have enough auspext to see that thing? I think I can project the image of it, into your minds... if you're willing. I was able to see right through the Obfuscate. We're dealing with some sort of Nosferatu."

"I have no special sight." Colombe replies. "That was a disgusting pile of rags, as far as my eyes were concerned. That makes sense. Feel free to show me it's true form, Guivre."

Hannah arrives with the others, looking dishheveled and very annoyed. She enters the building with her arms crossed, frowning, and then plops down to sit in whatever the learning center has available. "Yes," she says simply, "Show us what the hell we're dealing with."

Making his way back in with the rest of the Cool Kids, Damien looks around then smiles. "But how do we know THIS is the real guy. Someone grab him!" There is a grin then the tattooed Tremere motions he's ok with Guy doing his thing to give them the intel.

"I saw that thing using my face, nasty creature.. rest assured, it is truly me. I don't think the creature would be so eager and willing to reveal its trueself to all of you. Please, open your minds and focus on my third eye..." Not the literal one, he is Malkavian afterall, pointing to his forehead and then sort of beaming the picture of the Nosferatu out to each of them with a monastic sounding chant.

Colombe closes her eyes to fully appreciate the horridness of the creature, and she is not disappointed. She is generally very empathetic to the struggles of the Nosferatu, and her expression reflects this same sentiment, in spite of the bees. Attacking Hannah, however, is unforgivable. She opens her eyes. "It is concerning that the thing claimed to be just doing business as usual."

Hannah isn't really sure how to accept an image into her brain, so she just sits there with her eyes closed, and waiting... But waiting is hard, so she impatiently sneaks a peak at Guivre. That's when she sees it -- that horrifying face -- and she physically recoils with a wince and turn of her head. "Oh," she says, clearing her throat, "A Nosferatu, if I've ever seen one. Looks a lot like my ex-boyfriend." She's not as diplomatic as Colombe, as usual. Clearing her throat, she tacks on the observation: "And it said that it was doing it for ...experiments. Needing subjects. That, coupled with the greater good, sounds a lot like some...medical experimentation gone wrong. Or something. Although the talk of boons was confusing."

Damien settles in and gets comfortable, opening his mind as Guy instructs them to. When the picture flashes into his mind he purses his lips and then looks from one to the next of the other vampires. When Hannah speaks of her ex he can't help but ask softly, "That's what Nino really looks like?" Shaking his head he looks back to Guy then nods along with what Colombe and Hannah both question about the strange meeting. "Yeah. Who was it and is it doing work the praxis would be ok with?"

"I didn't get to speak to it but I would most rightly assume that we can't trust a damn thing out of its mouth." Guivre has a pronounced frown as he admits, "I would be rather in debt to most of you, if you could find some Nosferatu to talk to about this... I'm not their favorite person in the city. Although, I do have some favor with Martino. I think, as much as a fellow Primogen can.. we often vote similarly on the council." A beat and then the Primogen, "Rather than outright offer you a Boon for this favor, I promise I can help each of you to use this as a stepping stone. Find your way and your voice in the Praxis.." A pause, "I hate bees." Its a new development.

"/Fuck/ bees," Hannah agrees with a shudder, "...I mean. Except the good ones that keep agriculture and general plant stuff going. Those are cool. But fuck that guy's bees in particular." She looks at the other two, weighing their expressions, and then says, "I will gladly help you, Guy. I'd even do it /without/ the promises of social riches, but that only sweetens the pot." A beat. "The...honey pot, that is." ........... She has a shit-eating grin, as she looks at the other three Kindred expectantly.

Without much of reaction yet without missing a beat Guivre silently puts his hand out for a high five from Hannah.

"I'm definitely in. A creature like that who has possibly committed diablerie." Colombe's eyes flare brightly with a rigtheous fire. "Must face justice."

"I'm in but please..." Damien looks between the group, "Don't high five that terrible pun or wanna be joke." Grinning he puts up his hands defensively to show he is just joking about the honey-pot crack.

Hannah jumps out of her seat to high-five Guivre, and then makes a lap with her hand out to run past anyone else who wants to high five her...which is no one...so she just settles for a victory lap before plopping down with a grin. "Anyone else hungry? I could eat a lumberjack. Anyone have something similar in their DMs or should we all go out to celebrate a reason to cozy up with the Nosferatu? I hear the sewers are wonderful this time of year."

Guivre nods to all of them his high five is returned he nods (once more) smartly to Damien when he remarks, "Wit should always be high fived." Yeah, that's definitely the real Guivre. "I'm starving and we have alot of work to do, maybe we should spread out.. hunt and meet back up somewhere convenient tomorrow or the next night after you all have a chance to find one of the Nos." "Do keep in touch though, text often, we're going to have to tell the Sheriff about this or the Scourge.. before the week is out." Guivre adds ominously.

"Understood. I can report to the Sheriff, in my capacity as deputy." Colombe offers.

To Colombe Guivre remarks, "I trust you to do the right thing Deputy, but remember.. its is a political game, who ever takes out this threat will be rewarded for it."

"I'll talk to Nino," Hannah says to the others, looking around, "Since Guy is familiar with Martino, and Coco, you've got Ed. Damien..." She sends a loooong glance in his direction, "You...can just, um. Keep brushing up on those skills, because the Nos hate you and we need your martial skills in case one of our enemies actually gets close enough to grapple again. I don't do the punchy...stabby stuff." A groan then -- she looks over to Colombe and rolls her eyes. "Are you /sure/ that's a good idea? Telling Paige?"

Hannah slowly rises to her feet, the motion slow, languid with a juvenile sort of sulk. "Maybe keep it on the DL until we know more?"