Orpheus: the Action Adventure, part 35
Dec. 10th, 2004 01:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eveglassAll right, last night was Orpheus. Which means (cue drumroll) the latest Crucible Adventure! Click to read on, but be warned, it's a long one this week. Kyn, I expect lots of backrubs when you get back to town.
Orpheus: the Action Adventure, part 35
Day four after the fall of Orpheus. Lakuna, unsurprisingly, woke first, followed shortly after by Stacey. The others woke up in their own good time.
Lakuna, to avoid the effects of the spectre presence in her mind, decided to make breakfast. And she did... extensively. Eggs, pancakes, bacon, hash browns, anything to keep her hands busy. She dropped some breakfast off with a sleeping Dave, and Stacey ate some. Stacey also went in to check on Dave, and found him sleeping. (note: Maery and I both failed our rolls here)
After a while, Lakuna went back in to see whether Dave had eaten anything, and found him in an advanced state of shock. Stacey quickly rushed in afterwards, and confirmed what Lakuna thought. Both realized there was nothing they could do for Dave in Casa Ripley -- they needed medical equipment and possibly a doctor.
The two began to debate what to do. Stacey suggested that they have Trish, with Chet skinriding, drop Dave off at a hospital. Stacey had Lakuna wake Trish, while she herself went to wake up Chet.
Chet, meanwhile, was in his room, trying to stretch his dosage even further, from half-doses to thirds. With half-doses, he'd have enough for two days. With thirds, he'd have enough for three, but feel really sick for the duration. Acting tired but not necessarily unusual (for Chet, anyway), he told Stacey he would be down in a minute. He finished measuring the doses, took one, and came downstairs.
Trish did not like waking up so early. She staggered off to find Chales (at Stacey's suggestion), but not happily.
With the rest of the crucible assembled and informed, Chet offered some suggestions that did not involve bringing Dave to the hospital:
1. a homeless shelter in downtown Boston. pros: Dave could probably get the best care there, and it was probably the safest, medically and financially. cons: the priest would expect to know what's going on, and there was no guarantee that he wouldn't tell the police if they showed up. Also, getting to downtown Boston during morning rush-hour posed its own unique problems.
2. a heroin-rehab center (word starts with an M, but I forget what it is...). pros: they wouldn't ask questions, and could probably get us what we needed. cons: again in downtown Boston, probably unclean and unsafe.
3. a sketchy "cooker" (think Eric Stolze from Pulp Fiction): pros: in Springfield, so we wouldn't have to go through rush-hour traffic, likely has what we need, won't ask questions. cons: he's a shifty guy, and his price is high... and usually not money.
After a hurried debate, the crucible finally decided to go with #3. Everyone piled into the car (including Benoit in Spike (dog) form), with Stacey driving. She parked the car around the corner and Chet went to go see his old "friend".
This particular friend lived in a suburban house that might be mistaken for any other suburban house. After a deliberately calm discussion outside (so as not to concern his neighbours), the cooker let Chet inside and immediately had him remove his shirt to check for a wire. Chet appologized profusely for waking him up so early as he explained what he needed. The cooker, more to get Chet out of the house than out of any sympathy, gathered up the materials, took the $800 the crucible had managed to gather from the money they kept in the house, and gave Chet an envelope to deliver. Chet left out the back door, medicine in hand.
Meanwhile, a blue car with two men had pulled up about a half-block down from where the rest of the crucible were sitting in the van. Stacey was watching them, but they did not leave the van. Instead, Chet (finally) returned, and Stacey drove off, making sure that she wasn't followed.
As they made their way back to Casa Ripley, Charles asked to be dropped off at a bus station: he needed to do reseach to see if he could find a way to cure Lakuna. While the rest of the crucible bickered, Stacey pulled up to a bus stop and Charles and a projected Spike jumped out, promising to be back in four hours. She drove home with the Lakuna and Chet, who were actually doing quite a good job at stabilizing Dave in the back seat.
They returned, got Dave settled and stabilized. And then Chet, too, said he needed to leave. (Unbeknownst to the rest of us, to deliver the package the cooker had given him.) Stacey nodded, told him to be safe, and then went down to work out in the gym. (turning off the radio to block the sounds of "ow" that Ripley made whenever she used the punching bag)
At some point before the others returned, Lakuna came downstairs to speak with Stacey. She was upset that she hadn't been told that the rest of the crucible had decided Chet should take over as leader. Stacey thought that Chet had told her, but nonetheless tried to comfort Lakuna. (Whether it worked or not is up for debate.) The two women spoke for a while, and finally went upstairs to one of the living rooms to speak. Among other things, Lakuna was upset that others were allowed to leave the Casa alone, but she was not. She felt that she was not trusted. Also, she reacted poorly when Stacey mentioned her last forbode, where she nearly killed herself. Stacey said that she believed Lakuna was not trying to kill herself. Lakuna, flustered, stormed off. Stacey told Ripley to let her know if Lakuna tried to leave the Casa.
Please note, this is where Kyn's magic botch-machine comes into play. For the whole night, we had all been rolling really well, sometimes as much as 6 successes, rarely below 3. For this particular task -- watching Lakuna -- Ian rolled for Ripley and doubled-botched. Lakuna immediately realized that there were two cameras trained on her at all times, and decided John was part of the conspiracy to keep her caged up.
Meanwhile (the first), Charles had gone downtown on public transit. Blending in with the crowd, he made his way to a reputable occult shop, run by a woman named Pina. They spoke briefly, and then Pina allowed Charles down to her library to do research. Charles began looking for what caused Lakuna to be possessed. Beginning with 30 books, he narrowed it down to 5, and was finally forced to ask Pina for help. Charles, as he began telling her the situation, realized he could not lie in that room, anf finally just told Pina the whole situation, in full, including the fact that he used to work for Orpheus. Together, they narrowed it to one probably book, which Pina allowed Charles to borrow (in an unusual gesture for her). Charles made it back to the Casa and began studying the book.
Meanwhile (the second), Chet went off to deliver the envelope. In it, that he had seen, was heroine, a dried and drained human finger, and a crushed flower. It was addressed to a man at a police station. Thinking fast, Chet bribed a bicycle courrier to deliver the package for him, knowing that it would be suicide for him to step into a police station with that package. Wihle he was outside and near payphones anyway, he arranged a meeting with an old drug-dealer aquiantance of his to get some of the drugs he needed to make his serum. They arranged to meet at a part about a 15-minute drive from the Casa, near the lovers fountain. Chet made his way back to the Casa to get funds to pay for the drugs.
Charles and Chet arrived back at nearly the same time. Charles asked Lakuna and Stacey (still, at this point, in conversation), if they had any money. Neither did, but Lakuna gave Chet two of her rings to pawn. Chet thanked her (in that awkward, "Chet dealing with Lakuna" way) and said he needed to leave again, this time with the car. Stacey allowed him, reminding him again to "be safe". He went off, after he and Lakuna pulled out Benoit's body from the back seat of the car.
Trish asked to go with Chet, and was turned down. Lakuna asked to go with Chet, and received a glare that could curdle stone. So Chet went off alone. Trish, however, was still stir-crazy, and decided to take Spike on a walk. Stacey reluctantly let her, telling her not to go too far (ah, but what 16-year-old ever listens...)
Chet made his way to the park and the lover's fountain, and realized that PLEs were out in force. Mostly blips and echoes, but a few more conscious ghosts as well. Trying to avoid them, Chet made his way to the fountain. There he met his friend, and they had a conversation about the new "CDs" that Chet and Paul had been "listening" to. Paul seemed freaked out by something in Chet's bag, and Chet only realized after he took his bag back, that there was a gun inside it (which he had definitely not put there). Trying to pacify Paul, Chet assured him that he had no ulterior motives and that he was as surprised as Paul. The deal completed, Chet was about to leave -- and Paul was shot in the forehead, a shot that nearly hit the back of Chet's head. Chet's shirt was covered in blood -- and he ran back towards the car.
As he neared the car, he saw a wall of red-level (ie: hostile) PLEs blocking him. He tried to dodge. He tried to run around them. One opened its mount to prepare to Wail... and then Chet realized that Trish and Spike were in the park, behind him. The PLE Wailed: bits of Spike flew backwards from the shock. Then Spike Wailed, and the PLEs flew back from the force. Chet yelled for Trish to get in the car, and she did not have to be asked twice. They piled in the car and sped off as spectres started emerging from the trees. And then they turned a corner, and didn't see any more.
They arrived back. Lakuna flipped seeing the blood on Chet's shirt and realizing that Trish was with him. Stacey made sure Trish was all right, and delayed the stern talking-to until Trish was a little more settled. Trish assured her that she would not be leaving the Casa again any time soon.
As the crucible got over the initial shock, and Chet took a shower to calm his nerves, people began to gather in the kitchen. As per usual, bickering and arguing ensued. Charles insisted they have no more secrets from each other and asked Chet, point-blank, "what's wrong with you?" (He had meant to ask "what are you sick with, that you need this medicine?", but it came out differently when he actually put the question to Chet.) Chet became defensive. Everyone hurled accusations or tried to do damage control (or both).
Finally, Stacey suggested that they all take an hour to calm down and unwind a bit. Reluctantly, they agreed. Stacey mentioned to Chet that when he was feeling better, he come speak with her, and she thanked him for making sure Trish was okay. (ie: it was 3 in the morning and Julie decided to go home)
So that was Orpheus this week. Who says we never do anything?
Edited to add some corrections noted by Ian
Orpheus: the Action Adventure, part 35
Day four after the fall of Orpheus. Lakuna, unsurprisingly, woke first, followed shortly after by Stacey. The others woke up in their own good time.
Lakuna, to avoid the effects of the spectre presence in her mind, decided to make breakfast. And she did... extensively. Eggs, pancakes, bacon, hash browns, anything to keep her hands busy. She dropped some breakfast off with a sleeping Dave, and Stacey ate some. Stacey also went in to check on Dave, and found him sleeping. (note: Maery and I both failed our rolls here)
After a while, Lakuna went back in to see whether Dave had eaten anything, and found him in an advanced state of shock. Stacey quickly rushed in afterwards, and confirmed what Lakuna thought. Both realized there was nothing they could do for Dave in Casa Ripley -- they needed medical equipment and possibly a doctor.
The two began to debate what to do. Stacey suggested that they have Trish, with Chet skinriding, drop Dave off at a hospital. Stacey had Lakuna wake Trish, while she herself went to wake up Chet.
Chet, meanwhile, was in his room, trying to stretch his dosage even further, from half-doses to thirds. With half-doses, he'd have enough for two days. With thirds, he'd have enough for three, but feel really sick for the duration. Acting tired but not necessarily unusual (for Chet, anyway), he told Stacey he would be down in a minute. He finished measuring the doses, took one, and came downstairs.
Trish did not like waking up so early. She staggered off to find Chales (at Stacey's suggestion), but not happily.
With the rest of the crucible assembled and informed, Chet offered some suggestions that did not involve bringing Dave to the hospital:
1. a homeless shelter in downtown Boston. pros: Dave could probably get the best care there, and it was probably the safest, medically and financially. cons: the priest would expect to know what's going on, and there was no guarantee that he wouldn't tell the police if they showed up. Also, getting to downtown Boston during morning rush-hour posed its own unique problems.
2. a heroin-rehab center (word starts with an M, but I forget what it is...). pros: they wouldn't ask questions, and could probably get us what we needed. cons: again in downtown Boston, probably unclean and unsafe.
3. a sketchy "cooker" (think Eric Stolze from Pulp Fiction): pros: in Springfield, so we wouldn't have to go through rush-hour traffic, likely has what we need, won't ask questions. cons: he's a shifty guy, and his price is high... and usually not money.
After a hurried debate, the crucible finally decided to go with #3. Everyone piled into the car (including Benoit in Spike (dog) form), with Stacey driving. She parked the car around the corner and Chet went to go see his old "friend".
This particular friend lived in a suburban house that might be mistaken for any other suburban house. After a deliberately calm discussion outside (so as not to concern his neighbours), the cooker let Chet inside and immediately had him remove his shirt to check for a wire. Chet appologized profusely for waking him up so early as he explained what he needed. The cooker, more to get Chet out of the house than out of any sympathy, gathered up the materials, took the $800 the crucible had managed to gather from the money they kept in the house, and gave Chet an envelope to deliver. Chet left out the back door, medicine in hand.
Meanwhile, a blue car with two men had pulled up about a half-block down from where the rest of the crucible were sitting in the van. Stacey was watching them, but they did not leave the van. Instead, Chet (finally) returned, and Stacey drove off, making sure that she wasn't followed.
As they made their way back to Casa Ripley, Charles asked to be dropped off at a bus station: he needed to do reseach to see if he could find a way to cure Lakuna. While the rest of the crucible bickered, Stacey pulled up to a bus stop and Charles and a projected Spike jumped out, promising to be back in four hours. She drove home with the Lakuna and Chet, who were actually doing quite a good job at stabilizing Dave in the back seat.
They returned, got Dave settled and stabilized. And then Chet, too, said he needed to leave. (Unbeknownst to the rest of us, to deliver the package the cooker had given him.) Stacey nodded, told him to be safe, and then went down to work out in the gym. (turning off the radio to block the sounds of "ow" that Ripley made whenever she used the punching bag)
At some point before the others returned, Lakuna came downstairs to speak with Stacey. She was upset that she hadn't been told that the rest of the crucible had decided Chet should take over as leader. Stacey thought that Chet had told her, but nonetheless tried to comfort Lakuna. (Whether it worked or not is up for debate.) The two women spoke for a while, and finally went upstairs to one of the living rooms to speak. Among other things, Lakuna was upset that others were allowed to leave the Casa alone, but she was not. She felt that she was not trusted. Also, she reacted poorly when Stacey mentioned her last forbode, where she nearly killed herself. Stacey said that she believed Lakuna was not trying to kill herself. Lakuna, flustered, stormed off. Stacey told Ripley to let her know if Lakuna tried to leave the Casa.
Please note, this is where Kyn's magic botch-machine comes into play. For the whole night, we had all been rolling really well, sometimes as much as 6 successes, rarely below 3. For this particular task -- watching Lakuna -- Ian rolled for Ripley and doubled-botched. Lakuna immediately realized that there were two cameras trained on her at all times, and decided John was part of the conspiracy to keep her caged up.
Meanwhile (the first), Charles had gone downtown on public transit. Blending in with the crowd, he made his way to a reputable occult shop, run by a woman named Pina. They spoke briefly, and then Pina allowed Charles down to her library to do research. Charles began looking for what caused Lakuna to be possessed. Beginning with 30 books, he narrowed it down to 5, and was finally forced to ask Pina for help. Charles, as he began telling her the situation, realized he could not lie in that room, anf finally just told Pina the whole situation, in full, including the fact that he used to work for Orpheus. Together, they narrowed it to one probably book, which Pina allowed Charles to borrow (in an unusual gesture for her). Charles made it back to the Casa and began studying the book.
Meanwhile (the second), Chet went off to deliver the envelope. In it, that he had seen, was heroine, a dried and drained human finger, and a crushed flower. It was addressed to a man at a police station. Thinking fast, Chet bribed a bicycle courrier to deliver the package for him, knowing that it would be suicide for him to step into a police station with that package. Wihle he was outside and near payphones anyway, he arranged a meeting with an old drug-dealer aquiantance of his to get some of the drugs he needed to make his serum. They arranged to meet at a part about a 15-minute drive from the Casa, near the lovers fountain. Chet made his way back to the Casa to get funds to pay for the drugs.
Charles and Chet arrived back at nearly the same time. Charles asked Lakuna and Stacey (still, at this point, in conversation), if they had any money. Neither did, but Lakuna gave Chet two of her rings to pawn. Chet thanked her (in that awkward, "Chet dealing with Lakuna" way) and said he needed to leave again, this time with the car. Stacey allowed him, reminding him again to "be safe". He went off, after he and Lakuna pulled out Benoit's body from the back seat of the car.
Trish asked to go with Chet, and was turned down. Lakuna asked to go with Chet, and received a glare that could curdle stone. So Chet went off alone. Trish, however, was still stir-crazy, and decided to take Spike on a walk. Stacey reluctantly let her, telling her not to go too far (ah, but what 16-year-old ever listens...)
Chet made his way to the park and the lover's fountain, and realized that PLEs were out in force. Mostly blips and echoes, but a few more conscious ghosts as well. Trying to avoid them, Chet made his way to the fountain. There he met his friend, and they had a conversation about the new "CDs" that Chet and Paul had been "listening" to. Paul seemed freaked out by something in Chet's bag, and Chet only realized after he took his bag back, that there was a gun inside it (which he had definitely not put there). Trying to pacify Paul, Chet assured him that he had no ulterior motives and that he was as surprised as Paul. The deal completed, Chet was about to leave -- and Paul was shot in the forehead, a shot that nearly hit the back of Chet's head. Chet's shirt was covered in blood -- and he ran back towards the car.
As he neared the car, he saw a wall of red-level (ie: hostile) PLEs blocking him. He tried to dodge. He tried to run around them. One opened its mount to prepare to Wail... and then Chet realized that Trish and Spike were in the park, behind him. The PLE Wailed: bits of Spike flew backwards from the shock. Then Spike Wailed, and the PLEs flew back from the force. Chet yelled for Trish to get in the car, and she did not have to be asked twice. They piled in the car and sped off as spectres started emerging from the trees. And then they turned a corner, and didn't see any more.
They arrived back. Lakuna flipped seeing the blood on Chet's shirt and realizing that Trish was with him. Stacey made sure Trish was all right, and delayed the stern talking-to until Trish was a little more settled. Trish assured her that she would not be leaving the Casa again any time soon.
As the crucible got over the initial shock, and Chet took a shower to calm his nerves, people began to gather in the kitchen. As per usual, bickering and arguing ensued. Charles insisted they have no more secrets from each other and asked Chet, point-blank, "what's wrong with you?" (He had meant to ask "what are you sick with, that you need this medicine?", but it came out differently when he actually put the question to Chet.) Chet became defensive. Everyone hurled accusations or tried to do damage control (or both).
Finally, Stacey suggested that they all take an hour to calm down and unwind a bit. Reluctantly, they agreed. Stacey mentioned to Chet that when he was feeling better, he come speak with her, and she thanked him for making sure Trish was okay. (ie: it was 3 in the morning and Julie decided to go home)
So that was Orpheus this week. Who says we never do anything?
Edited to add some corrections noted by Ian
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
rock on!
Date: 2004-12-11 07:28 pm (UTC)