Praxis In New Orleans Part 2

Angie:  ::::It was nothing Stormy expected tonight. Firs Praxis, now the people here, and Vargas! Once inside the creaky door of Cypress Tides, Stormy locked it behind her and knew that they finally had privacy. The first thing she did was grab Vargas and hug her tightly with blood tears streaming down her face.::::: Oh my God! <d>



Vargas: Yep, Kiddo, I made it back from my Grandfathers Anarch holdings in Utah.     Still seems to be an odd idea, Anarch Free State territory, but it works for them <d>



Angie:  ::::Kevin was holding tight to Marie. He whispered to her.::::: I remembered something. I remembered Stormy. I'm so happy. Maybe this is a first step?



Angie:  :::::Stormy was still holding onto her until then and stepped back enough to nod in agreement.::::: Yep but it sure as hell won't work for New Orleans. That's why tonight happened. I have ....... no choice. ::::the last words were said with real sadness.:::: <d



Marie: ::::Marie nods to Kevin in understanding and she reassures him by patting his hand softly::::<d>



Vargas: Hey, don’t be so sad.   :::Vargas grinned big::   You have always been clever and resourceful, and now ::looking at Marie and Kevin::   Good friends. Plus, you know the Nos.<d>



Angie:  :::::Kevin just kept holding onto Marie because he both needed the support and it was his favorite thing to do. He smiled happily at her content to think and try to recall more things like that, such as why was Stormy so memorable?:::::



Angie:  Thank you Vargas. Of course you're right. I'm so happy to have all of you here. ::::She looked around to each one. Then she slapped her forehead!:::: Oh gosh! My manners! Please come on in and have a seat. ::::She walked them into the living room.:::: Who would like a blood wine? The Tremere made it. <d>



Vargas: Tremere made.    Hmmmm Do you think it’s safe?   :::Vargas ponders::;<d>



Angie:  Oh, yes. My ghouls overseen it made. It is their blood. Can you believe it? I, Stormy, have ghouls. :::::She said with a snort. Well she was beginning to act like herself now. Suddenly something in the Network spoke!:::: Why am I the adult?! (Lmao) <d>



Marie: ::::Marie walked inside with Kevin at her side they find the comfortable spot to sit on the sofa::::<d>



Angie:  ::::Kevin helped Marie onto the seat with a flourish once she found it for them.:::: Do you think that this is a good time to ask Stormy about it? Should we wait? ::::He awaited a reply while "ordering himself and Marie a blood wine. ??::::::



Angie:  :::::Stormy made her way to a elegant table/bar that was built and left to her by Toreador. After all this was the former residence of the last two Princes of New Orleans, Wydow and Black Jade. She silently poured all 5 drinks, smiling to Caprice.:::: With a sigh she leaned back against the bar that was far too fancy for her.:::: Does anyone have anything on their minds before I drop the proverbial emergency bomb? ::::She looked around to her friends.::::: <d>



Marie: :::::Marie accepts the blood wine from him and looks to him:::: it won't hurt to ask Stormy. We're here to find the answers we don't understand.  We do need answers.  <d>



Angie:  *"ordering"



Angie:  Okay. ::::Kevin tells Stormy everything and awaits her reply.:::::



Vargas: Answers are always good



Angie:  :::Stormy smiled to Vargas after hearing Kevin out.:::: Indeed they are. I think there are some Giovanni attempting to open up new business around town. Caprice, could you help with that information?



Vargas: :: Vargas looks expectantly:;



Angie:  :::::Caprice stood with her drink and bowed.::: Yes my Prince. <d>



Angie:  It might help if you searched around the shipping docks near my apartment. ::::Stormy said with an afterthought.:::::



Angie:  :::::Caprice bowed again already standing this time.:::: Yes my Prince. How do I find your apartment?



Angie:  ::::Stormy had to stop herself from shuddering. She wouldn't get used to that my Prince stuff.::::: <d>



Angie:  ::::Stormy gave Caprice a small smile.:::: Anyone up for a trip tonight?



<d>



Vargas: :: Vargas smiles::   Sounds good<d>



Angie:  Well, we've got plenty of time in the Grand Floridian anyway :::::as she looks around her uncomfortable Victorian mansion. Oh shit. She would have to do the thing. Oh well. She snapped her fingers for the ..... Nope.:::: Follow me to the stables. <d>



Angie:  This was their destination after she loaded them into her gray Camaro and sped across the New Orleans streets.:::: <d>



Vargas: Nice ride<d>



Angie:  :::::Stormy beamed at Vargas.::: Thanks! It's my baby.



(Caprice's #Mask of 1000 Faces#)



Angie:  ::::So, Stormy got out of the car and led them through the circle drive, through the front door ......



Vargas: :: Vargas scans the area, searching for trouble:: <d>



Angie:  ..... To the stairs because she hated elevators! She led them up to this room.....



...with a pop of the key card in her air tight door.:::: Please come in and be at home! <d>



Vargas: Thank you so much



Vargas: :: Vargas nods her appreciation::<d>



Marie: ::::Marie looks around the room and likes it the way it looks:::: Very comfortable.  <d>



Angie:  ::::She points to an oddity in the wall.:::: If you're still hungry there's blood bags in the hidden refrigerator safe there. :::::She hands Vargas a keycard. <d>



Angie:  :::Stormy smiled brightly at Marie and says sincerely.:::: Thank you!



Vargas: Thanks.     I haven’t settled back into the groove <d>



Vargas: Kevin.    Are you.    Hungry??::Vargas speaks slowly and deliberately;;



<d>



Angie:  You'll feel back at home in no time. ::::She smiled and hugged her friend again. She went over to the window and pulled back the Royal purple curtains. From here you could see almost all of the Warehouse District of New Orleans.:::: Caprice, this is a great lookout for suspicious activity. You may use my computer if you need it. Password: MakeMe. Down there are the loading docks. You might want to keep an eye out there. Of course I'll help. ::::She knocked over a huge file stack, all saying somewhere on them NOPD. She had obviously been researching and taking a lot of notes for some reason besides her normal stuff.::::: <d>



Angie:  :::Kevin gives Vargas a slight nod.::::



Vargas: If you drink up, maybe you will remember something. ::she says encouraging him::



Angie:  Ah, yes! :::::He was really sick wasn't he? He went toward the wall refrigerator safe and figured out how to open it. Was he getting worse?:::: Would anyone like a bag? <d>



Angie:  I would like a bag please <d>



Vargas: Sounds good.  :: Vargas agreed::



Angie:  :::He smiled at his Love and grabbed her and the others one, handing them out. Stormy was deep in thought and sucked hers down without even realizing it. After that she sucked on her finger.::::::



Vargas: Thanks ::smiling and sipping: <d>



Marie: ::::Marie takes her blood bag and starts to drink it she felt better when her thirst dimmed down::::<d>



Angie:  You are very welcome my new friend. :::::Kevin smiled at Vargas.:::::



Angie:  :::::Stormy suddenly said as if in realization...::: For now that's all I can do for you Kevin. Aside from the Giovanni issue.... ::::She sighed and sank down on the top of the desk, bothering the hell out of Caprice! She so didn't want to spill her own problem. But......:::: Damnit the two Princes are missing and I found a note. ]d>



Angie:  *Caprice who was working at the desk on the computer.



::leaning forward;   You use Auspex on the note?   :; Vargas looking hopeful



Vargas: Or is it digital only



Angie:  ::::Stormy slapped her forehead again!:::: No and no.



Angie:  I had to take over!



Vargas: Of course!



Vargas: No other clues??



Angie:  When we return to the Grand Floridian I will do that. I'm a dummy.



Angie:  Ah crap! We travel again so I can retrieve it and read it. Oh! ::::: Remembering something she hands Vargas a police report that has her name on it as the officer.:::::



Vargas: Intriguing



Vargas: ::scans the report::



Angie:  I joined the NOPD after you left. You inspired me. :::::She smiled to Vargas.:::: As you can see Black Jade's bar, The Poison Apple on Canal Street burned almost to the ground. I was first on scene.



Vargas: Damnation!   Arsonists?



Vargas: Lupines maybe?



Vargas: Any clues?   <d>



Angie:  I don't know yet. It's all possible. What I did find we'll need to head back for. ::::She gestured for them to take another ride.::::



Angie:  ::::back to the Camaro:::::


Angie:  Vargas would you please grab my files? ::::Stormy asked nicely::::



Vargas: Alright.    Maybe.    Just maybe.  Kevin might get insight from this.    ::grabs files::   Sure, Boss



Angie:  ::::Stormy laughed. Caprice grunted like Vargas, too, had disturbed her work. On the computer screen Vargas could see what looked like a bunch of camera feeds, but where did the cameras come from?:::::



Vargas: Who does your camera work??::Vargas sounded curious::<d>



Angie:  ::::Stormy gave Caprice another keycard and instructed her to lock up when done, after which they would take another wild ride through the streets of New Orleans and make it safely back to Cypress Tides (The Grand Floridian)



Angie:  She would lead them back to the living room and lock the front door and ask to be excused for a moment. After a few minutes she had sprinted up and down the stairs with a wooden box amazingly not burnt. She held it in front of them for a moment and asked...::: Would anyone like more blood wine ??? <d>



Vargas: I am fine.  :: Vargas smiled:;   Thanks <d>


Marie: Thanks I have enough.  :::::Marie smiles::::<d>



Angie:  ::::Kevin wanted more. She filled another cup for Kevin and handed it to him with a smile.::::: Okay! I found this at the scene. It was the only thing in her office not burnt by the fire. :::::She let them get a good look at it. It was inscribed "Black Jade, Eternal Love - From Wydow"::::::<d>


Angie:  ::::Kevin piped up after finishing the bag...::::: The library! Yes I'll try that. ::::He was nodding.::::<d>



Vargas: What’s inside?  :: Vargas looks very intrigued:: <d>



Angie:  ::::At that moment there was a thump on the roof. A very loud one. Then there was another on the ground at the window.:::::



Vargas: ::looks around alertly::



Vargas: Expecting someone??



Angie:  :::::Dark black wings covered the window for a moment then he appeared. Gangrel.:::::



Vargas: A friend....



Angie:  :::::He lightly tapped on the window with a single claw tip.:::



Angie:  ::::Stormy smiled at him and held up a finger for one moment.:::: Sometimes I still need to show him the door. Goes to drag him around and inside.:::::



Vargas: Nice wings ::Vargas smiled::



Angie:  Yes indeed a friend. ::::Stormy handed Vargas the box to look over.:::: (will have to post that next time)



Marie: :::;;Marie giggles:::: that was so loud. <d>



Vargas: ::handles the box carefully:;



Angie:  ::::Gangrel looked like he grew an additional 6 feet with her words. He was a proud Gargoyle. He bowed to Vargas.:::: Thank you mam.



Angie:  ::::Stormy looked to Marie.::: Oh he always is. The loudest! ::::Stormy snorted.::::



Vargas: ::laughs::   I’m Vargas, an old friend of Prince Stormy.   I’ve been out west for awhile



Vargas: You , uh, know anything about the fire?



Angie:  :::::Gangrel rubbed his chin in thought.:::: A little. I flew over it several times trying to figure it out but I had to get out of there quick because the media almost got a shot of me flying over. It was a close call!



Vargas: Any sign of Lupines?  Or human pyros?    Or,   Kindred?    I once knew heard tales of Kindred pyromaniacs



Vargas: Odd as it may seem



Vargas: :;looks up at the Gargoyle:; <d>



Angie:  ::::Stormy swirled around to Vargas in a fit of laughter.:::: I swear I didn't do it!



Vargas: Not your style!   I know!   But, there could be others.    Marie, have you sensed any possible hidden kindred activity?  ::looks over to the Toreador:: <d>


Angie:  :::::Gangrel looking hopeful this would help.:::: One Kindred that I didn't recognize.



Vargas: Really



Vargas: Any wild guess on clan?



Angie:  Gangrel: Like I said the media and I had a close call. She ran out of the back of the bar. Dressed like a Toreador would. <d>



Marie: :::::Marie muses and goes into a deep thought::: I think I may have sensed a few out there with hidden talents.  I can't remember where. But it was sure close by. <d>



Vargas: ::nods::



Angie:  ::::Stormy and Kevin nod.::::



Angie:  Gangrel: I think y'all should visit House Tremere New Orleans.



Angie:  I also think Marie could check the credentials of her Clan. Maybe someone might slip up.



Vargas: Maybe someone who slipped under the radar.



Vargas: Might give clues to Kevin’s problems



Angie:  ::::Gangrel nodded.::::: No one disappears from the face of the earth, right?



Vargas: Rarely



Vargas: Usually there is some trace



Angie:  ::::Gangrel bowed his head at that sad mention. So much there to feel for Clan Gargoyle.:::::



Angie:  :::Stormy wasn't scared of the big lug even if everyone else was. She walked up to him and put her arms all the way around him and stayed there.::: <d>



Angie:  Well Vargas, I don't want to be any trouble but I need a right hand. Would you do me the honors? ::::Stormy said, clearing her throat. She forgot she was latched onto a Gargoyle.::::<d>



Angie:  :::Suddenly there was a loud moan from a resident spirit. Just sayin.::::


Vargas: Of course



Vargas: Hey!   What was that???



Angie:  ::::Stormy grinned from ear to ear. Next she did the Bill and Ted thing.:::: Excellent! ::::Air guitar ??::::::



Angie:  Stormy: Oh it was a ghost.


Vargas: ::still looks a little stressed:;    I think.    Hmmmm Giovanni might talk to spirits.   But, I am not certain



Angie:  ::::Kevin looked up.:::: I can try. Do you want me to? ::::He looked around the room taking a vote.:::


Vargas: Please do


Marie: ::::::Marie yawned and she sits down waiting for them::::<d>



Angie:  ::::Kevin got up and closed his eyes.::: Are there any spirits that want to talk? :::::Before they answered his eyes shot open and he ducked to the floor arms around himself like Marie first found him in St. Louis #1.:::::<d>



Vargas: Hey.  It’s okay <d>



Angie:  ::::Gangrel yelled and pointed at Kevin.::: Y'all that's not a normal ghost! Yes New Orleans is haunted everywhere you go and so is this old Antebellum Plantation but that's not normal! <d>



Marie: :::::Marie kneeled beside Kevin and places her arms around him to give him support:::Hun...you okay? <d>



Marie: :watch s;;




Angie:  (Need both of your Stats - Strength + Perception)



Vargas: (8 I think.  Will look for sheet later lol



Angie:  (Vargas 4 succ)



Angie:  ::narrows her eyes and looks intent::;


Angie:  :::::Stormy let go of Gangrel and had finally settled her nerves enough to sit down beside Vargas if she was sitting?::::: I'm not sure if the missing Princes is malicious or not. Somethings not right. <d<



Vargas: Definitely not right



Angie:  ::::She nodded her head to the box for Vargas to open it up.:::: It's odd. Look. <d>



Vargas: ::opens it slowly and carefully::



Angie:  ::::Inside the box was the note Stormy told them about on the very top.:::: (I forgot the exact #Auspex# level this is.) She was only looking at the note very intensely. #Perception ÷ Alertness#



Vargas: (4dice)



Angie:  ::::Inside the box under the note were more notes from Jade to Wydow and vice versa. Love notes the likes of may have never been read before. There were also elaborate inscriptions to Jade from Wydow.::::



Vargas: ::softly:: sweet



Angie:  (4 succ for Vargas, 3 for Stormy)



Marie: :::::Marie watches them with the box wondering what's inside::::::<d>


Angie:  (Vargas can see a lot more than Stormy this time. She sees the colors of love, longing, and depression in equal measure. There was more to these emotions than a mortal would feel. It was strange. There was also a slight note of chaos.....::::::



Angie:  :::::Stormy saw what she feared. It was very intense and interesting. The colors merged in her view in a very strange way. She blinked and looked at Vargas.::::



Vargas: Strange.   Beautiful



Vargas: Bizarre but beautiful



Angie:  Stormy: Yes but it merged to form something else. I've never seen this before.



Vargas: Me neither.    Never heard of anything like it



Angie:  Gangrel: I also saw Jade and Wydow enter the bar on an earlier fly-by.



Angie:  :::Stormy shook her head.:::: These two Princes were friends of mine. ::::She held up an amulet she had worn since she could remember. It was Wydow's first act as Prince.:::: This is blood magic from Wydow. It stops bullets.



In the heart of nature, the supernatural runs free. -Clanbook Gangrel



Angie:  (I need Marie's stats on the combat #Perception +  Awareness#)


Marie: (Perception 3 Awareness 3)


Angie:  (Lori the roll is a failure, Janet from last time 4 succ)



Marie: (Ok)



Angie:  (I'm rr on that)



Angie:  (Lori you now have 1 succ)



Vargas: What the Hell?  :; Vargas looks around alertly::



Vargas: What is going on, Marie?    Any ideas?   <d>



Angie:  ::::Kevin was scrounging down on the old wooden floors trying with all of his might to communicate with the ghost attacking him. Vargas jumped in and the apparition stopped screaming and it had weakened a good deal. Marie was on her heels and knocked it another blow and it faded in and out. Headway was made. Kevin thought that he might have broken through the veil a little and understood one piece of information.::::: Who is Augustus Giovanni? <d>



Vargas: I.    don’t know.     I knew some Giovanni in D C,   But not Augustus.    Is this a new local?



Marie, you are tuned into local society— any rumors??



:Marie: ::eyes on p



Vargas: Marie and Kevin.  <d?>



Angie:  (Kevin #Perception+Willpower# (diff 7))



Angie:  ((6 succ)



Angie:  :::Kevin straightened up and dusted off his clothes. He wanted nothing short of immaculate and perfection.::::: It seems that I was attacked by an "old soul but I did make some progress. ::::::He said smiling.:::::::


Marie: :::::Marie looks to them::::: odd. It's possible it may be a local.<d>



Vargas: Any new businesses in town?   Ones that have a hint of kindred ? <d>



Angie:  ::::Those two awesome women had knocked out the ghost before Stormy, on their heels, had realized what was going on and got into the atrium.:::::: Marie I really need you to snoop around that Clan of your's and dig up some Intel on the Toreador in town due to the missing Princes. Also it looks like Kevin has made enough progress for you to help him gain more knowledge. Didn't he say something about a library before this attack? I think his condition has improved since he's gained more knowledge. <d>



Vargas: ::looks at Kevin expectantly::  Insight.  Coming back to you? <d>



Angie:  Yes, I think so. ::::He grins at Vargas.:::::



Angie:  ::::Stormy sighs and moves back into the living room. She sat down in a chair facing the couch.:::::



Vargas: ::looks concerned;; Do you think the Spirits have influenced you, or , perhaps Some Kindred?    What does it .... feel like? <d>



Angie:  ::::Kevin nods to Vargas and leads Marie to the sofa.::::



Vargas: And.    I do not wish to be rude, Kevin, but..,,,,,What clan do you feel.   Is your s?



Vargas: :: Vargas tried not to look Toooo Curious::