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Post by Krakenbox on Jul 17, 2021 16:06:37 GMT -8
As Kai stops Anthony from breaking off, he flushes a bit. A few of the others roll their eyes, some laughing as they give the trio a thumbs up. With Ivory's reaction he shrugs, expression pinching like he was about to say something defensive before letting it go. She was right that this wasn't the time.
"It's okay I'll burn yours," said the one Anthony had abandoned earlier.
Tony was clearly still up and nervous, glad for a direction and Done with constant surprises.
"Um." He messaged his temples, eyes red and irritated from smoking and the fire. "When I was thirteen, Arthur paid off that kid's mom so she wouldn't try to charge for that assault. Both of you kept that a secret—or he asked you not to say anything, or you didn't know—but the school secretary told me when I was in trouble again that that was the only reason I wasn't in juvey, to scare me," he chuckled, clearing his throat. It was a bit of an overshare, but it was really something only Ivory would know.
He took a passive element to Kai's suggestion and leadership, crossing his arms as he tried to ground himself with the temporary respite to float. The younger student and sorority sister from earlier were coming over to bring some of the grill to the group, trying to encourage a closer cluster with the last few minutes of twilight.
Aello was already eating her hot dog as she came over, waving to the three before nudging Tony.
"You okay?" she asked through the food. When she got a non-committal response, she looked back at Kai and Ivory. "What's up?"
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Post by Kai Rose on Jul 17, 2021 16:19:02 GMT -8
When Aello floated by, she gave Serena a nod. "Hey, buddy. Wanted to chat about what you've seen is all. You folks must have really felt like you needed help. What've you seen so far? Anything we can use to identify what we're dealing with?" Breaking a Seal wasn't a small issue normally in their society. "Also, just to confirm you're you - who'd you have a spat with at Yule and about what?"
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Post by Aello on Jul 17, 2021 17:02:21 GMT -8
"Uh-" Aello blinked at Kai, taken aback by the question. Her attention swept from Ivory to Anthony. The Pale Dragon would remember that first encounter that drove Aello to run out of the party and hide in the hot spring, with Ivory scared about the future of her son. "I don't think that's appro-" "You're telling them about the crazy shit John ran into, right?" the blonde piped, shoving Anthony's hotdog into his hands and grinning to Kai and Ivory. "Serena and Tony apparently ran into one on the trail-""Fuck off! No I-" "Bruh! You looked like you were going to piss yourself. Of course you did!" he laughed. "You called your mom? I can't get a bar at all do you have like a secret phone service for rich people?" Anthony's side-eye was surprisingly intimidating. "Woah! I'm not joking- I'd have done the same! Kai looks like she can crush someone's head with her thighs alone... Can I get your workout regime?" Aello snorted onto her beer, wiping the fizz from her nose as she choked. "Shut up, Grayson! We're being serious. No one believes you because of this shit, you act like nothing's wrong."
Grayson shrugged, looking more ecstatic that his experiences were being validated with multiple people. The older sorority alumni's expression was sour, raising her voice in frustration, "That fucking smell is coming back. Does no one else smell it?" She was on the periphery of the gathering, and seemed to be checking in that she wasn't imagining things. There wasn't, but it was as if the statement manifested the stench. It was way worse than Kai and Ivory had experienced—like someone was cooking rotting meat on the grill. Grayson retched, while Anthony was pale. He dropped his food as he held his arm over his nose, waving for the group to pull back into the cabin.
The effect seem to spread, the bulk of the gathered dropping what they were doing as they kicked dirt over cigarettes, or grabbed sticks and anything else that could count as a weapon. Others laughed, alarmed and annoyed as they tried to speak reason or call their friends paranoid dipshits.
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Jul 17, 2021 18:09:21 GMT -8
A lot went on really quickly that Ivory didn't really have time to verbally react. She did raise her eyebrows at Kai's question looking to the Polychromatic with abundant surprise. With Anthony nearby that was... a bold question to have Aello answer.
"Maybe another question would be-" Ivory started, only to be interrupted by the blond boy's return. To say that she was unamused by the jab at her son and the unsolicited flirt to her motleymate was an understatement, but she kept her cool.
"At this point I'm really wishing you didn't shotgun my beer," Ivory joked with her son in an attempt to offer some levity. It wouldn't do any good to scold the kids when they could be used for information. Everyone had their ways of dealing with stress, Grayson seemed to lean on humor.
At the smell, Ivory covered her nose with her sleeve, watching as the group largely seemed to react with an abundance of caution. A concerned glance is leveled at Kai as Ivory pondered what was happening. Something was piercing a veil that wasn't meant to be pierced. The Pale Dragon was unfamiliar with this sort of scenario and knew little about how she should react, hence her reliance on her more martial and investigative motelymate.
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Post by Kai Rose on Jul 17, 2021 18:40:03 GMT -8
Rowan being a cock at Yule didn't seem like all that weird of a question, but Kai got the sense that perhaps Aello was thinking she meant something different. In any event, they were back among the kids and Kai was not likely to get her answers just yet. The Summer kid hadn't been confirmed yet, and --
"Greyson, once we're all home, come by Apollo Athletics. Give you the student rate. Saddleless horseback riding. Forget your trainer. You'll never need leg day again."
She let out a quiet groan as she smelled it. Rotting meat, like death. "Gross." she said, gesturing the group toward the cabin. A room they could secure for the moment, rally up, figure out what the hell was going on. Take control of the scenario. Keep it calm. "All right, guys. Clearly, there's someone fucking around with your campsite, which can't be fun for a weekend away, hey?" She hiked a thumb at Ivory. "No wonder you're freaked out. Someone's being an asshole, I bet, and the cops'll figure that out once we get cell service. Good news, though. If you think partying at this lake was worth your weekend, the party you can have at Tahoe will blow your minds. Just saying."
The trick wasn't to dismiss the feelings. Weird shit was happening, after all. Rather, validating their concern but giving a more sensible explanation seemed a better play. She looked to Ivory, giving it made sense to give the Hunterheart the chance to lead here as she moved toward the cabin. She muttered to Abigail, "They're clearly really worried. You want to keep 'em calm and encourage them to roll out of here in an orderly fashion with us while I take a quick look around?"
Let the Spring do the Spring Thing.
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Post by Anthony Cartwright on Jul 17, 2021 19:11:07 GMT -8
"I didn't say I saw shit," Tony hissed to Kai and Ivory, sounding equal parts desperate and angry. "I promise. I didn't."
Ivory was right, things were happening fast. The air was clammy and thick, with a moisture alien to the Mojave's environment. The mundies were bickering, tugging friends or snapping warnings as a few brushed them off--angling for the lake instead to escape the carcass smell or even offering to swap cabins. The alumni that seemed to take natural leadership rolls looked increasingly agitated as people started splitting up.
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Jul 17, 2021 19:34:38 GMT -8
Ivory granted a nod to Kai, looking to Anthony as he spoke. "It'll be fine, just try and get folks to start packing their things, okay?" the Pale Dragon offered. Then she moved between the groups trying to divide themselves, took a breath, and spoke, her voice hollering out to make sure both groups heard her. "Alright, so let's be real," she began, "This shit stinks and frankly someone's probably fucking with you all. They've also been clever enough to keep it up throughout the whole night, right? Let's be honest... tonight is kind of a bust. So unless you all really want to stick around and keep smelling literal ass throughout the night, I think it's a good idea to call it and head back to Vegas. We can move as a group to the cars and stay tight in case whoever is trying to fuck around tries to spook the group. More eye roving around and what not. Then we'll drive back together. When we get back in cell service, John can call the cops and figure out what killed his dad's pigs and who is making his property smell like shit." "Summer ain't over," she continued, " You guys can always plan a night somewhere else in a couple weeks or something? Anything would be better than smelling this shit."
And then the Pale Dragon paused, looking to the groups to see who she's swayed and who she hasn't. Kai was a soldier, but her tongue lacked Ivory's silver. The dragon could at least do this. Still, Anthony's state of mind was concerning to the Pale Dragon. Why was he so afraid? Ivory's gaze shifted back to him, wanting to ensure that he was doing what she had suggested. If something was influencing him, Ivory wanted to get him out. And quick. Stray-Ivory — Today at 9:01 PM Cabin: Persuade the kids to pack up and head back to Vegas: Manipulation + Persuasion + WP @dicecord-CoD roll 9 Dicecord-CoD BOT — Today at 9:01 PM stray -Ivory rolled 9 dice and got 4 successes. 5 5 10(3) 1 4 2 8 6 10(10)(7) Stray-Ivory — Today at 9:10 PM Cabin: Forgotten bonuses to base pool from last roll SL 1 + Connected @dicecord-CoD roll 3 Dicecord-CoD BOT — Today at 9:11 PM stray -Ivory rolled 3 dice and got 2 successes. 8 10(7) 5
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Post by The Wyrd on Jul 18, 2021 23:28:04 GMT -8
"You're good, man. I believe you." She put a hand on Anthony's shoulder, giving him a friendly squeeze of the shoulder. Things were ramping up quickly, and she needed him calm and focused. The fact was, she had a charity maven, a teenage rookie not even fully through basic training, and a human university student who had seen just enough to be worried... or useful, if things went bad. She shouldered her bag off as Ivory went about leading and handed it to Tony. She lowered her voice, speaking to him quietly as Ivory did her thing. "Tony, right now, all I need is for you to take this inside. Chill for a few, collect yourself and relax. It's going to be okay. There's some water in there you can have. I need to go take a look around. Six-one-six-three is the code I'll say when I get back. Cool?"
She gave him a thumbs up and an inquiring face, giving him a moment to say anything else he needed to before she took to scouting. Before she left, she let Ivory know what she was up to and gave encouraging words. She was doing well.
Then, bow in hand and vest on chest, she got to work. Ever alert and paying careful attention, Kai was in fine scouting form.
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