2018.07.12: Something Scary

Something Scary
Cops meet up at the Smoke & Barley, only something happens that's scary and they leave in a hurry!
IC Date	Thursday Jul 12th
IC Time	16:56:19 2018, PDT.
Players	Lleutrim, Faith, Catherine, Samara
Location	The Smoke & Barley (Later the Cobre Desert)
Spheres	Mortal, Mortal+, ?

The smoke is just starting to get busy with the dinner push. A few families, a few singles out for an early meal, a couple guys getting an early dinner or a really late lunch. The smells, of course, are delectable...smoke, bbq sauce, meats on the grill... Catherine comes in and hesitates, apparently makes a minor change of mind and heads for the bar. She settles in and waits for Timor to get to her, "Cola please, and nachoes with the trimmings."

Lleutrim is here already, leaning against the far end of the bar. He's changed out of uniform how he's gotten off duty. His left hand has a bandage around it and he's got a bit of shadow underneath his eyes. Overall, Donnachaidh's starting to look a little rough, and also not shaving as much. He's wearing a black T-shirt with a nice 'Blue Line' flag graphic on it, jeans and his usual boots. He's nursing a glass of scotch instead of beer even though it's early in the evening. The bruises have healed yet he looks tired, worn down a little. Decidedly keeping to himself and not paying quite as much attention to people coming and going as he normally would as he leans against the bar.

Catherine sees Lleutrim and parks herself at the next seat to him. "so....penny for your thoughts. If there's any to be had at all. You look sorta rough to be having much in the way of thought at the moment. You ok?"

A few more patrons filter in, and behind them - a somewhat familiar face, though less familiar attire and hair. Worn down and loose, Faith's lockes have been trimmed from near ankle length to just past her hips.. just shy of the hem of her dress. She's holding a small clutch purse as she speaks into her cellphone quietly. "I miss you too Papa.. ..but you know I can't do that."

Donnachaidh turns his head and seeing it's Catherine, whom he was angry with the last time he saw her, he starts to look a little wary. A slow breath and he fingers his scotch he's half finished, "I'm fine." A faint negative moment of his head. No comment upon what is or isn't upon his mind. Instead Lleu takes a drink of the Scotch whiskey. After a rather long pause he says very low, "Wondering what the future holds." And dreading it. He looks depressed tonight. Not very talkative.

Faiths's arrival isn't noticed. It's decently busy in here and there is plenty of noise to mask her voice. Especially when Lleu's not being as vilgilant as he usually would be.

Catherine shrugs. "The future's a mystery," she says. She notes the depressed look. Hard to miss up close like this. "I thought my future was come to Prospect for a year or two and head back to Browning. Not likely now."

Faith weaves through the crowd, and busy on the phone, she finds a place to stand at the opposite end of the bar. If she has noticed Catherine or LLeu, the blonde woman isn't giving any tells. She gestures to what she wants, an amaretto sour, and turns so her back is to the other patrons as she continues her quiet conversation. Of course, she can watch the two in the mirror behind the bar with ease from this angle, even if she can't really overhear them.

Lleutrim's not looking at anything. Simply staring at the wood of the bar with his thoughts elsewhere. His scotch, poured neat with no ice or water added, sits in his hand. No reaction to Catherine's words this time. Quiet, still. Donnachaidh is quite unaware that Faith has been stalking him, particularly when he's been on duty. No /dreadful/ incidents so far but it's been close with him loosing his temper. Thankfully it's been a new moon the past few days, but not anymore.

Belatedly Lleu picks up his scotch and has another drink. He glances at Catherine, thinking she must have said something. He frowns, "I apologize for having gotten angry with you. I don't even recall now why I did."

Samara steps through an ornate wooden door into the bar and grill named ???Smoke and Barley???

Catherine shrugs. "I'm used to it...lots of my family have short tempers," she says. She snorts a little in amusement. "Yuri's is ummm, volcanic at times. But thanks, apology accepted of course. You're welcome to vent my way anytime you need."

Faith is standing at the opposite end of the bar from LLeutrim and Catherine, holding a highball glass in one hand, and hanging up a cellphone call with a sigh. She slips the phone into the small clutch she's holding, and takes a long pull off the warm colored liquid amber in the glass.

Lleutrim grimaces, his glass of scotch almost finished. His baritone is kept low, "My uncle... he's the one in our family with a terrible temper. I was always both fascinated and afraid of him, as a child." He's wearing a black T-shirt with a rough hewn 'Blue Line' American flag image over it, blue jeans and black combat boots. Donnachaidh knocks back the rest of his scotch and half turns to look for the barkeep to pour him some more Talisker ... when his grey eyes alight upon Faith. Movement is arrested and he stands very still, watching her.

And there is Samara, odd enough perhaps, making her way in. She has one of her earbuds plugged in, probably to help give her confidence with music for dealing with any large grouping of people. Not that she is expecting to walk in on half the damn prospect police department. Is it free meat donut day? To late now, running out would just draw more attention. Deep breaths Samara. There is a hesitation, a pause in her step, then a hurrying to the bar itself, raising up a hand quickly to get the attention of whoever is working bar. She orders a coke, and a side of fries, there, a reason to be here. But she mostly seems interested in trying to figure out if they actually sell the hot sauces here.

As he has turned, it can now be seen by Catherine at least that Lleu's nose looks like he might have broken it - very recently. It's swollen and discolored as if someone had hit him in the face with a 2 by 4.

Catherine follows Lleutrim's gaze, realizing he's spotted something or someone. Faith. Oh. "Well? go tell her 'hi.' Or ... something." Something accompanied with an amused sniff. Catherine mutters something as she takes a sip of her cola, too low for anyone but Lleu to really catch. Samara's arrival at the bar gets noticed. Catherine narrows her eyes and then recognition catches up and she nods.

Catherine mutters to Lleutrim, "Like... of..."

Catherine whispers "Like kiss her within an inch of breathless"

Whatever Catherine says low to him, Lleutrim turns his head sharply to look at her and growls low, "No."

Faith remains at the end of the bar, not yet seated. She's still looking into the mirror now and then toward the end of the bar where Catherine and Lleutrim are engaged in private conversation. The light makeup she is wearing conceals her tells as well as her scars.. her expression painfully neutral - except for those blue eyes. There's a distance in them. One that even spares Samara from the usual intensity of the blond woman's stare. She doesn't even bother to stare at Samara, rather, disengages her attention from the woman and looks back into the mirror.

It's only a moment before the neutral expression dissipates.. the glass in her hand falling to the floor of the bar with a rather loud crash. Faith's mouth remains hung slightly agape, as if taken aback or ..frightened?

Catherine looks back and forth between Faith and Lleutrim, face going slowly blank, the look she turns on Lleutrim, though is flat. Yep, he's in trouble now. "You looking to be scalped," she growls at Lleutrim as she gts up to go check on Faith.

Someone comes between his view of Faith and himself. Lleu glances at Samara yet he's still new to the Department and doesn't seem to recognize her. The bar keep makes his way down and when Timor looks to him, Donnachaidh motiones for a refill. The Talisker bottle comes back down off the shelf and opened up to pour the former Marine another half glass of scotch. Lleu mutters his thanks, then scowls at Catherine, "Excuse me." He steps away from the bar and is about to go and speak to Faith perhaps when she suddenly drops her glass!

Whatever he can see of her expression is enough. Lleu at once puts his own glass on the bar and looks quickly to try and see what has drawn Faith's attention even as his right hand has gone behind his back.

Oh goodness, the cops are getting antsy. One is dropping glasses, and yupp, yupp, Samara is way to familiar with an officer reaching for a weapon. Her hands go up, and then she just sinks down in front of the bar to a crouch, using it for cover and trying to stay out of any lines of fire.

Faith's color isn't easy to see, makeup concealing the depth to which she has paled. As LLeu starts to approach, she slides one foot around and places her hand on the bar to steady herself. She raises the other toward the approaching man, then looks down toward where Samara is crouched. Beat. Two. "Miss Samara. I don't feel well. You might want to move before I hurl on you in technicolor.." Faith's voice is tremulous, and her eyes are locked on the surfer girl. She doesn't seem to have even noticed she dropped her glass.

Catherine also steps a little aside, rather than risk getting puked on. "Faith?" THere's a fair bit of worry packed into the one word question. she glances behind her at Lleutrim, recognizing the stance and where he has his hand. "someone want to bring me up to speed?"

A flare of nostrels, eyes and every sense alert, Lleutrim has stopped - poised. He briefly met Faith's gaze but her raised hand has stopped his forward progress and the drawing of a weapon. Another glance at Samara, then he's looking around the establishment to try and figure out what had spooked the Sergeant. Not a word is said, no question asked.

Samara, Samara just sort of... scoots...down the front of the bar, away from Faith, and hopefully danger. So much for hot sauce.

"Catherine.." Faith follows Samara's scooting with her eyes, as if the woman herself were a live bomb. "Help." The blond woman looks for a moment like her knees are buckling, the beads of perspiration breaking across her brow are not hidden by the makeup. "Please? You can shower later?" There's a strained element of desperation in her voice.

Catherine steps up and gets ready to grab, and does take one of Faith's elbows. "What?" definitely worried. "What's wrong?" she take a quick glance around, doesn't see anything, and so looks Faith over more closely.

That is enough for him. Lleutrim looks at Samara for that is what Faith seems to be staring at and the scowl he gives the little blond might melt steel. Donnachaidh comes up at once on Faith's other side opposite of Catherine, his baritone low, "What's wrong? Let's get you out of here and into fresh air." Still very, very protective and pricklish, Lleu motions towards the door - if the women will let him escort Faith out.

Samara seems to sink a little further, shaking her head to push some of her hair into her face. This was all a bad joke wasn't it? Her eyes move to the floor, and just when she had been doing so much better with people too. Right hand closes around the ankh at her chest. "I ummm...I should...be...errr....going."

Faith's arms suddenly grasp at Catherine and she gloms onto the woman like a child might a protective adult. Her face is buried in Catherine's shoulder, and something is whispered fiercely into the other woman's ear by the trembling Faith. Lleutrim isn't ignored, for as soon as he makes his grand gesture, Faith immediately releases her near death grip on Catherine and nearly falls into him. "Please yes.. drive me.. anywhere. Anywhere else."

Catherine oofs as she takes Faith's weight. She staggers a little when Faith falls into Lleutrim. "Tell me you have a car," she tells the man, "And that you can drive."she sounds more than a little tense after Faith whispers somethign to her but also like she's trying to hide it. "Now," she adds in Lleu's direction

"I have a car and I can drive." Lleutrim was drinking scotch and probably should /not/ drive but he seems very sober. Catherine gets a curt nod and with Faith practically in his arms, him not about to let her fall and hit the floor, he turns to help Faith walk towards the exit. Nevermind he's left his credit car with Timor for his drinking tab. He can come back for it later. There is one last flicker of his icy grey eyes in Samara's direction, then he's extremely vigiliant for everything else as they head for the door. He rumbles low, "It's not far. I'm parked out front."

Catherine hurries ahead and gets the door. The observant might see that her free hand is in her purse.

Ok, things were calming down. No guns. That was always a bonus. Samara pauses still for another long moment, just to be sure. Then she carefuly gets to her feet using a stool. "I ummm...bye?"

Faith allows LLeu and Catherine to get her out of the main dining room, leaving behind the shatter glass, the odd little surfer girl, and probably more than one rumor about the strange PPD Sergeant who can't hold her liquor.

A nod of thanks to Catherine for holding the door. Lleu gets his keys out and true to his word the Dodge Charger is parked right out front on the street. He helps Faith walk to the passenger side door, unlocks and opens it for her. "Leave the door open until I'm in. In case you have to throw up." He'd prefer it not be in the car but he's willing to take that risk. Lleu starts around to the other side, "Catherine, I'm taking her back to the hangar. Welcome to come."

Out at the car, Catherine holds the door open for Lleu to get Faith inside after he unlocks it. ""YOu two go on...I'll wait for Ivan...I dropped my car off to get worked on and he's supposed to be picking me up in an hour or so, but I'll call him and get him here sooner." She looks at Faith and says quietly, "And I'll let Yuri know what you said." Brown eyes fix on Lleutrim. Nothing said aloud but the look promises consequences if he doesn't take care of faith.

PPD Patrol Car #6913(#16056)

The interior of this Prospect City Police Department Patrol Car is very neat and tidy. Scanning equiptment as well as a computer control board with small monitor are set into the dash and over the center consule up front between the two seats and angled for the driver's use. A small shielded camera is mounted both on the front and back dashes to record exterior activities while on duty.

A sturdy black steel grid separates the two front bucket seats from the single long backseat so that passengers can not reach the Officers. All door windows and locks are controlled from the driver's seat up front and may not be opened from the back.

Catherine peeled out to handle... stuff, and Faith slides into the vehicle and buckles up. "Please drive.. anywhere." Her voice is still incredibly tense, and her hands grip at the upholstery of the seat as if she's afraid of being ripped from it. She peers into the mirrors, watching the entrance of the Smoke and Barley as if it were the gates of Hell.

Lleutrim gets into the car and closes the door, setting the locks and putting his seatbelt into place. The keys then go into the ignition and as soon as he starts the Dodge Charger, he puts the windows down so Faith can have some fresh air. He gives Faith a worried look, then once she has the door closed he'll carefully pull out into the street and start driving. Rather than go fast and reckless, Lleu drives carefully as if he'd stocked the trunk with beer and he didn't want it sliding around and tipping over.

After a minute or two once they are moving along, he asks low, "Are you all right?"

Faith replies quietly once out of sight of the restaurant, "I won't hork in here.. I swear. Just.. keep going, please." Not exactly an answer to the question he asked. Her breathing is still fierce, and she hasn't stopped sweating like a ten year old being interrogated to put the fear of God into them.

Lleutrim listens, giving a look in her direction now and then as he drives. He's watchful though, checking the rear view mirror to watch for anyone following them. "If you have to, don't worry about it. I can get it cleaned." If he's harboring any anger, it's beneath the surface. At the moment he seems focused and calm. "There's bottled water under the seat if you think it might help." In a few minutes it looks like he is driving out of town and heading for the desert.

The woman seems to be absolutely fine with the idea of driving out of town. She's not beckoning him to stop, or even slow down. Her hands slide around her waist, and after twenty five minutes or so of strained vigilance, she finally starts to relax a little bit. "I'm sorry I'm here.. I didn't mean to intrude on you. I totally wanted to respect your not wanting to see me anymore."

-That- gets a look from him. Lleutrim eyes Faith while he's driving, then his gaze is back on the road. "You aren't intruding. And I never said I didn't want to see you anymore - like ... not ever." The car picks up speed as they leave Prospect traffic behind and hit the highway. Her hangar is out on hwy 42 but he's not going there just yet. "I ... just need that son of a bitch not to be showing up in my flat, Faith. A little distance between you and me for a week or two and maybe I can get my personal shit sorted out." More of that anger lurking in his tone.

A little further out and he's pulling off onto the side of the road. Lleu stops the car and puts it into park and kills the engine. The stars are out. It's peaceful way out here away from the city. He asks real low, "You feel up to walking a little?"

She removes her heels and lays them on the floor of the car, stepping out in silk stockings that will no doubt get ruined by the gravel. "I'd like that.. walking," Faith answers as she looks back toward you. "You wrote that you wanted me to stay away from you, for a while. You can have your space.. you can.. leave me here if you want? I'll be fine." The young woman looks back to her shoes, as if to retrieve them.

Lleutrim sighs and rests his wrists on top of the steering wheel. "I'm not sure what I want, Faith. Except that I don't want to loose my job and I don't want to loose you." He looks at her, "I'm not about to leave you out here in the desert." He gets out of the car and closes the car door, then starts to pace a few steps looking at the night sky. It at least is magnificent - a dazzle of stars like diamonds cast upon the blackest velvet.

"You're not going to lose me Lleutrim.." she closes the car door and then slowly walks around it. "I know you're confused." If you allow her, she's slide her pinky through yours and give it a soft snug once more. "I don't have answers I can give you Lleu, only the promise that you will have them all soon." She turns her body so she's facing toward you now, not toe to toe, but close. Lifting her chin, she looks up to meet your eyes. "You don't trust me, and that's okay. Everything in your world is turning inside out and you're trying to figure out what's causing it. But take a breath.. because you can still rely on the only thing that's kept you alive through everything you've encountered so far. You can trust your instinct - just like you did in the bar tonight. You didn't think, plan, follow any protocol. You did what your gut told you to do.. and you got me out of there."

She gets his pinky finger and he doesn't draw away from her. Faith has his entire attention, focusing on just on her. His busted nose aches and his brows furrow. "What do you mean, I'll have answers soon? How do /you/ know what the fuck is going on with me?" Aye, anger stirs, makes him draw a few deeper breathes as he studies what he can see of her face in the darkness. His voice is very low, his nostrils to flare like he's trying to pick up scents. Of her, of anything strange. "What /did/ happen in the bar, Faith?"

"I saw something dangerous." Her words are soft, still low. Her gaze is on your own. "I didn't know if it was there for me, or for you, or just really shitty random luck." She raises her free hand to touch the side of your scruffy cheek. "But I needed us to leave." She doesn't answer the first question, stroking her fingers over the hard line of your jaw. "It scared me. That wasn't an act."

Donnachaidh does not touch her in return. Surely he'd like to, she knows that, but Lleu won't let himself do it. He almost steps away from her hand, hesitates and then doesn't. He continues to leave his finger linked with Faith's, "What was it?" There is anger in him to have to ask her /again/. Yet he shakes his head, "All I saw you looking at was that girl. She didn't look like much - except scared." His fingers curl into a fist, forgetting for a second that he might crush Faith's slender finger in his frustration.

Faith's touch against his jaw starts a little with the strong grip on her little digit, the corner of her mouth twitching as she feels the pressure - but she chooses not to say anything, not yet. "I can't give you answers yet Lleutrim." Her eyes are soft with misery, "I want to, my love. But I know that it's not my answer to give. You'll understand, soon. I swear you will."

Her finger he lets go only to turn and slam his fists down on the hood of the car about as hard as he can! BANG! That's the second time he's whacked it in the past few days and very possibly he's just left faint dents in it. Poor Dodge Charger! Lleu snarls and paces off into the night some distance, seething. At /her/ or at the world in general or undoubtedly at, "That FUCKING Russian! He's the root of all of this, isn't he? I should have shot that son of a bitch!" Maybe Lleu's thinking he will do it yet!

"God damn it!"

Faith remains at the car as Lleutrim stalks away.. reaching out to place her hands on the small dents just left in the hood. She leans forward a little, bowing her head - her stands almost a perp spread as she takes a slow, deep breath and exhales. She doesn;t look up as she answers, "He's not. That's not your instinct talking, that's your testosterone." A mild little smirk plucks at the corner of her lip, the humor invading her tone - inappropriate for the moment or not.

Donnachaidh turns around fast, "What do you fucking know? I've been learning a few things about your /friend/. How he likes to go around dominating other people, pissing them off. Meets up with a bunch of militant survivalists in the woods south of the city. I've been warned off not to mess with him but a bullet right between his eyes may be exactly what needs to happen, Faith. YOU are so fucking wrapped up in him you can't even SEE what he's doing!" Yeah, Lleu's pretty pissed off! Shouting at her!

Faith reaches behind her neck with one hand, turning to peer up at the man as he fumes and seethes. Given he hasn't actually approached, she remains bent over the hood slightly with the other hand still on it. "You've been spying on Dragomir?" The questions is almost incredulous, streaked with equal parts amusement and bewilderment. The shouting seems to have no real effect. Her voice remains as soft as ever. "He's not the enemy Lleutrim."

"Isn't he??" Lleu shakes his head and so far he's keeping his distance from her but he begins pacing like a caged animal. "He orders you around like you /belong/ to him. And /you/ act like you couldn't be fucking happier about it!" Definitely seething pissed. "He kicks my ass and lectures me like I'm some halfwitted recruit. Dares to order /me/ around, demands ridiculous compliance to his every whim if I'm to see you or even take you out to a dance! SHOWS UP in my God Damned flat like he owns the place, for God's sake!"

Jesus his heart is hammering. Lleu starts suddenly to stalk towards Faith herself with his hands made into fists like he's going to come beat some fucking sense into her! Then he stops abruptly. Stares at her a second. Lleu turns just as suddenly and starts walking off into the desert.

She'll wait for him at the car, even if it means she falls asleep in the passenger's seat tonight.