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[pbp][nsfw][MonsterHearts] Paranoia's a Good Sign. It Means Eden Lakes is Accepting You!
"Yeah dude totally down. Just give us the caps." I giddily shove $50 into his hand and wink at Riccou who seriously does not look like he knows what is going on. But that's okay - I just needed some muscle.
Ricou stood behind Garth as the transaction went down. He tried to catch what was going on but was even more distracted by Aurora and Matthew. Seeing Matthew kiss Aurora had filled him with anger, he had to stop himself from charging the swim captain. Then Aurora kissed him back. The anger was gone quicker that it had arrived, chased off by jealousy. As the two walked out of view Ricou felt like someone had punched him in the gut. Remembering what he was supposed to be doing his turned his attention back to Garth just in time to see him wink at Ricou.
Ricou tried to look stoic, impartial but what was that wink for. What had he missed while watching Matthew and Aurora. Was this still going to be some strange sex thing? Why had he agreed to it? Garth looked happy enough. Ricou replied to his wink with a wordless nod.
"Makenna's bruises," I explain. "She claims you're under a lot of stress and are just overprotective. Whatever." I roll my eyes. "You need to stop. If I've noticed, other people might notice - like the gym teacher or her parents. All I want is your promise that you won't do it again. The adults won't be so generous."
Minion, roll 2d6+2 to manipulate Matthew into the promise
Yeah. Using a highlighted stat gives you xp. But you can only gain XP from that hightlighted stat once per session, which this "session" is going to end right before Matthew's party, letting the next session start there.
Garth and Ricou
The dealer hands over the drugs and leans in to whisper to the two. "So... I got some 'party favors' for that party Friday. I had a friend pick them up but the motherfucker isn't answering his phone. Head down to his place out there in Pinewood Trailer Park and see that he hasn't decided to hold a party himself. Do that and I say we are even. And I even let you know where that party is. Sound good?"
Aurora
Matthew sobers up a bit. "Yeah... I won't touch her. But she's playing you, feminazi. I don't hit her. She just likes to be choked. You know, she enjoys it rough."
Luke
Dan, Luke, and Mike had followed Aurora and Matthew and heard the whole thing. "What?" Mike whispers. "Makenna's a freak! Man... I so got to tell Beth." Dan hands Luke a $20. "Damn, I was hoping Aurora was the freak. She hotter than Makenna."
I'm waiting for Amigu before doing my in character response. Does this shake down/deal trigger my Catch of the Day? Whenever you don't understand what's going on or what someone means, and it gets you into trouble or leads you to make unwise choices, mark experience.
"Yeah dude that's easy. Ricou and me will do it on the way back home. Ricou I know you have some kitchen thing to go to but lets go see if we can find Molly first. Molly's my favourite party treat." I laugh and rib Ricou.
In a hushed voice Ricou replies, "So we go to the trailer park, we find this Molly Party-Favors, this guy gives you the party invite, and then you return my property. Everything works out even. Right?"
Aw I was totally setting you up to misread Molly as a potential love interest haha! But this works too
"Ricou. Look at me... would I lie to you? We get the Molly, we find out where the party is, we save the day. You get your weird rain coat back. Let's do this... Oh!"
I turn to the high girl. "So you have a car right Josie? Come along and we'll drop you off at your place on the way back. If you'd rather stay here that's cool too. I don't really care." I start walking off.
I want to turn on Josie in a too cool for school way (cold +2). I'm doing this to get one over the dealer, even though it's not in the best interest of the overall situation (+1 for recklessly pursuing my hunger for power).
To a fishman, Molly Party-Favors is totally a possible name/nickname. Let's roll with it that way.
Ricou followed as Garth started walking. He just invited this girl Josie like it was nothing. He knew Josie was a cheerleader, maybe this Molly was one too. It was going to be Josie and Molly with the two of them? Wait, two of them? There had been three... Ricou stopped in his tracks.
"I need to make sure Auroa is okay before we leave."
Luke grinned at the money before shoving the $20 in his pocket. "Hey Mike," he said in a soft voice, "do me a favor and find out where this party we're suppose to play at is going to be. I want to stick around here and see if there's even better gossip to come from these two."
Ricou heads off towards Auroa with determination. Before he reaches her he runs into the small group of people watching her and the swim captain. Not wanting to interrupt what ever is going on he stands with the crowd and studies the scene.
"Aw, poor boy. Says he's a swimmer, but he's out of his depth." I tap his nose with a finger and give him a smile. "You say she's playing me, but she's screwing you. Get your shit together, boy-king." I turn and leave, walking back towards Makenna and a newly pending conversation. With a grin to myself, I call over my shoulder: "Others are waiting."
As Auroa passes Ricou he straightens up his posture a little and speaks up. "I have to leave, I told Garth I'd help him find his friend." His voice gets quieter as he continues, "but I wanted to make sure you were going to be okay before we left."
"That's very nice of you to ask, Ricou." I do my best to not let my smile look patronizing, but I've got a feeling that I don't quite manage it. "But I wouldn't have come if I didn't feel safe enough. I just need to speak with Makenna, and then I'm on my way out too."
As Aurora returns from the walk, a few of the swim team guys catcall and whistle, but she pays them no mind. Makenna is still on the same bench as Aurora saw her last, but this time alone. She looks up at Aurora and asks "How did it go? Did you...?"
Luke
Mike goes off, texting someone furiously. Dan looks over to where Matthew was, but he's not there. "Um... Luke... Did you see where Matthew when?"
Garth and Ricou
Ricou catches up with Garth and together they head over to the Pinewood Trailer Park. It's getting dark by the time the two get there. The park is made up of a few single wide trailers, with all the classic trailer trash trimmings. Wood decks that look like they were built with spare lumber laying around, pink flamingos dotting the uncut yards, and cars from different years, some that could run, others that hadn't moved in years. Garth finds the dealer's friend's trailer, a ugly yellow trailer at the end of the road. All the windows are drawn, and no lights are on. Garth can hear a TV or radio playing inside though.
Before I respond, how did my roll to turn Josie on and have her come along for the ride end up?
"I turn to the high girl. "So you have a car right Josie? Come along and we'll drop you off at your place on the way back. If you'd rather stay here that's cool too. I don't really care." I start walking off."
I totally forgot about that. I'm sick right now and on cold meds atm. You got a 10, so she agreed to go with you and you guys took her car to this place. She's most likely in the car, passed out in the back seat.
Oh damn! Hope you feel better soon. Great, I'll role with that.
I look over at Josie who is sleeping off her buzz in the back. I haphazardly put a blanket over her like you might do to conceal any valuables you have in your car.
[fade]
Standing in front of the trailer, I turn to Ricou. "Okay dude. I don't know why this is the moment I chose to ask this but I guess we're in a fairly dicey situation right now. Brought upon us to no small part by me. So um. What's the go with your scaly skin suit?"
I think I sense Ricou tensing up "Look. I don't need the whole story but when I touched that thing it seemed... alive. So don't give me some Halloween costume bee ess. We all know Eden Lakes is a weird place where weird shit happens. If you tell me your flavor of weird it might help us work together and get out of this in one piece..."
"It went great, Makenna. Did exactly like you asked. He promised not to hurt you anymore." I pause to study her reaction. "I hope that's what you wanted."
Minion, roll 2d6+2 for The Constant Bargain
I'll take a String on Makenna.
"The skin is very important to me." Ricou's eyes move over the trailer park, he studies the landscape for a moment before talking. "But if your friend Molly is here the skin wouldn't be able to help us. Even if things get dicey, that's not the kind of power it has. I will still help you Garth, because I know you'll return my skin after this. "
"Matty?" Luke blinked and looked around. Not seeing the other boy, he shrugged. "Whoops, wasn't paying attention. Ah well, not like there was going to be anything else interesting happen now that Aurora left. Come on, lets head back." So saying, Luke turned and headed back to the cars.
Aurora
Makenna jumps up and hugs Aurora. "Thank you. I know I shouldn't have asked you, but something about you just seems... I don't know... like you make stuff happen. People got talking after Ronny, so I figured that maybe there was something you could do when you asked..."
Ricou and Garth
Garth knocks on the door and it comes open. The door has been broken, like someone pushed or pulled hard enough to bend the metal door frame. Looking inside, the place is a mess. There is old newspapers, fast food bags, and cigarettes packs thrown haphazardly around the room. One of the small tables is broken, but it's hard to tell if that was because of a struggle or because of a messy junkie. The TV seems to be playing in a backroom but Garth and Ricou can't see it from where they are at.
Luke
As Luke and Dan start back, Luke can't help but feel like something is off. It's like something is out there. Or maybe it's just how the abandoned Slides feels when one is walking around a place that once was filled with life.
Just kidding. I'm like "Oooooh fuuuuck." and very very carefully step into the trailer to see if anyone is around. "Well Ricou, looks like it might be a moot point. Someone else has been here before us and trashed the place. This is bad juju... There's something you can understand right?"
I return Makenna's hug, then smile. "Oh, Makenna, as long as you promise to tell me the truth, you can tell me anything." I catch her eye and give her a prompting smile, waiting for her to acknowledge the request. "If you're straight with me, I think you'll see that we can be great friends. Like, what was this trouble with Ronny?"
Studying the bent metal Ricou nods in agreement as Garth talks. "Yeah, this looks bad. Still I suppose we should check the other room to see if your friend Molly is there. She may need our help."
Aurora
"Oh no, I don't have a problem with him. I was just saying when Ronny posted that stuff about you and how afterward he was messing up at practice and had to sit out that game against Carver High. People said you did something to him. Not that I believed it, of course."
Ricou and Garth
As Ricou and Garth reach the backroom, the front door slams shut, causing both of them to jump. Ricou turns and opens the backroom door. The smell hits him first, the smell of death. In the room there is a body on the bed, ripped apart. The chest is completely ripped open and everything inside is now gone, leaving just a hollow hole. Flies are buzzing around the room.
Right then, flashing lights of red and blue flood the trailer as a police car turns on it sirens.
Posts
Ricou tried to look stoic, impartial but what was that wink for. What had he missed while watching Matthew and Aurora. Was this still going to be some strange sex thing? Why had he agreed to it? Garth looked happy enough. Ricou replied to his wink with a wordless nod.
Comics, Games, Booze
Minion, roll 2d6+2 to manipulate Matthew into the promise
Garth and Ricou
The dealer hands over the drugs and leans in to whisper to the two. "So... I got some 'party favors' for that party Friday. I had a friend pick them up but the motherfucker isn't answering his phone. Head down to his place out there in Pinewood Trailer Park and see that he hasn't decided to hold a party himself. Do that and I say we are even. And I even let you know where that party is. Sound good?"
Aurora
Matthew sobers up a bit. "Yeah... I won't touch her. But she's playing you, feminazi. I don't hit her. She just likes to be choked. You know, she enjoys it rough."
Luke
Dan, Luke, and Mike had followed Aurora and Matthew and heard the whole thing. "What?" Mike whispers. "Makenna's a freak! Man... I so got to tell Beth." Dan hands Luke a $20. "Damn, I was hoping Aurora was the freak. She hotter than Makenna."
Whenever you don't understand what's going on or what someone means, and it gets you into trouble or leads you to make unwise choices, mark experience.
Comics, Games, Booze
Comics, Games, Booze
"Ricou. Look at me... would I lie to you? We get the Molly, we find out where the party is, we save the day. You get your weird rain coat back. Let's do this... Oh!"
I turn to the high girl. "So you have a car right Josie? Come along and we'll drop you off at your place on the way back. If you'd rather stay here that's cool too. I don't really care." I start walking off.
I want to turn on Josie in a too cool for school way (cold +2). I'm doing this to get one over the dealer, even though it's not in the best interest of the overall situation (+1 for recklessly pursuing my hunger for power).
Geth roll 2d6+3 to turn on Josie
Ricou followed as Garth started walking. He just invited this girl Josie like it was nothing. He knew Josie was a cheerleader, maybe this Molly was one too. It was going to be Josie and Molly with the two of them? Wait, two of them? There had been three... Ricou stopped in his tracks.
"I need to make sure Auroa is okay before we leave."
Comics, Games, Booze
Before I forget, we should remove my string on Riccou from the tally
Comics, Games, Booze
I'm not. But somebody probably is.
Comics, Games, Booze
Comics, Games, Booze
Comics, Games, Booze
Comics, Games, Booze
As Aurora returns from the walk, a few of the swim team guys catcall and whistle, but she pays them no mind. Makenna is still on the same bench as Aurora saw her last, but this time alone. She looks up at Aurora and asks "How did it go? Did you...?"
Luke
Mike goes off, texting someone furiously. Dan looks over to where Matthew was, but he's not there. "Um... Luke... Did you see where Matthew when?"
Garth and Ricou
Ricou catches up with Garth and together they head over to the Pinewood Trailer Park. It's getting dark by the time the two get there. The park is made up of a few single wide trailers, with all the classic trailer trash trimmings. Wood decks that look like they were built with spare lumber laying around, pink flamingos dotting the uncut yards, and cars from different years, some that could run, others that hadn't moved in years. Garth finds the dealer's friend's trailer, a ugly yellow trailer at the end of the road. All the windows are drawn, and no lights are on. Garth can hear a TV or radio playing inside though.
What do you do?
"I turn to the high girl. "So you have a car right Josie? Come along and we'll drop you off at your place on the way back. If you'd rather stay here that's cool too. I don't really care." I start walking off."
I look over at Josie who is sleeping off her buzz in the back. I haphazardly put a blanket over her like you might do to conceal any valuables you have in your car.
[fade]
Standing in front of the trailer, I turn to Ricou. "Okay dude. I don't know why this is the moment I chose to ask this but I guess we're in a fairly dicey situation right now. Brought upon us to no small part by me. So um. What's the go with your scaly skin suit?"
I think I sense Ricou tensing up "Look. I don't need the whole story but when I touched that thing it seemed... alive. So don't give me some Halloween costume bee ess. We all know Eden Lakes is a weird place where weird shit happens. If you tell me your flavor of weird it might help us work together and get out of this in one piece..."
Minion, roll 2d6+2 for The Constant Bargain
I'll take a String on Makenna.
Comics, Games, Booze
Geth roll 2d6+2 to shut down Ricou
Oh oh!
Comics, Games, Booze
Aurora
Makenna jumps up and hugs Aurora. "Thank you. I know I shouldn't have asked you, but something about you just seems... I don't know... like you make stuff happen. People got talking after Ronny, so I figured that maybe there was something you could do when you asked..."
Ricou and Garth
Garth knocks on the door and it comes open. The door has been broken, like someone pushed or pulled hard enough to bend the metal door frame. Looking inside, the place is a mess. There is old newspapers, fast food bags, and cigarettes packs thrown haphazardly around the room. One of the small tables is broken, but it's hard to tell if that was because of a struggle or because of a messy junkie. The TV seems to be playing in a backroom but Garth and Ricou can't see it from where they are at.
Luke
As Luke and Dan start back, Luke can't help but feel like something is off. It's like something is out there. Or maybe it's just how the abandoned Slides feels when one is walking around a place that once was filled with life.
What do you guys do?
Comics, Games, Booze
Comics, Games, Booze
"Oh no, I don't have a problem with him. I was just saying when Ronny posted that stuff about you and how afterward he was messing up at practice and had to sit out that game against Carver High. People said you did something to him. Not that I believed it, of course."
Ricou and Garth
As Ricou and Garth reach the backroom, the front door slams shut, causing both of them to jump. Ricou turns and opens the backroom door. The smell hits him first, the smell of death. In the room there is a body on the bed, ripped apart. The chest is completely ripped open and everything inside is now gone, leaving just a hollow hole. Flies are buzzing around the room.
Right then, flashing lights of red and blue flood the trailer as a police car turns on it sirens.