2020-06-03 TPC: Gas Samples
Gas Samples
Participants: Jason Clint Flynn and Ashlynn
Storyteller: Nate
Location: A warehouse and part of the 4,000+ acre preserve
Date and Time: June 3rd, late afternoon
Summary: Gasoline samples Jason retrieved from the North Gas Station are checked for Wyrm taint.
It's nearly four in the afternoon on this bright, hot and sunny Los Angeles day. Jason had pinged Ashlynn and gave a location for them to meet the kinfolk so that he can make a handoff for the fuel. Having picked an old warehouse covered in grafitti a few miles away from Skid Row, it's in an area that is long forgotten, save for the homeless that travel about. The warehouse used to be a front for an old candy factory called Candy Life, the old neon lights burned out save for the flickering of three letters. D. I. and E. Perhaps the Shadow Lord has a sense of humor.
The black Mercedes AMG GLE 63 S Coupe waits in the shadows next to the warehouse with the lights off and the engine rumbling as the kinfolk sits in the driver's seat. He has multiple cameras mounted within the car to capture everything around him in a three-sixty range. Paranoid? Maybe. Most of his kind is.
As he drums his fingers across the steering wheel, he bobs his head a few times as he hums, sipping on a Gamer Fuel by Mountain Dew special edition flavor with his face on it. It's a tropical flavor. It sells very well.
Dropping word with whoever of the ranked wolves might be findable in the Bawn, Ashlynn makes a quick arrangement to borrow a motorcycle from one of the kin on the Bawn, Ashlynn makes way towards the meeting place with a big, stinky Clint riding bitch and draped over her shoulders like a backpack. Laughably dwarfed by the massive Theurge's homid form, she zips along until they reach the warehouse. Slowing, she rolls up into the yard of the place, looking for where Jason might be.
One of those ranked Garou happens to be the Ritemaster. Lacking in transportation and not inclined to hop a bus to a secret meeting, Flynn does what comes natural to him - shimmy his way through the Umbral webs and pop out a few alleyways down so he can walk the rest of the short distance like any totally normal human being. He comes around behind Ashlynn and Clint moments after they pull up. "Hello." The man says as he glances in the direction of the sounds of an idling car.
Clint doesn't like cars or motorcycles. His arms are around Ash and long enough that he holds onto the gas tank instead of the usual hug. CLinging onto it with his eyes closed but a big smile from the feel of the wind blowing through his metaphysical hair. There's no hair. When the bike slows enough, he puts his feet down to sort of walk along with it. Upon seeing Flynn, he simply stands up to let the bike roll out form under him and he nods while looking around, sniffing at the air.
Once the others arrive, the black Mercedes' engine quiets down and the headlights turn off. As the doors open, the lanky kinfolk steps out and smooths down his clothes. After hipping the door shut, he pops the trunk and reaches in to take out two large red cans. He gives a jerk of his chin upwards in a 'sup' motion to them, then tilts his head towards the warehouse as he heads for a side-door. He nudges the door open with his foot, the padlock that appears to have been applied was knocked loose, then steps inside.
It's dark inside, but the kinfolk reaches into his pocket after he puts the cans down and pulls out several large glow in the dark sticks and snaps them until they glow a bright neon green and blue. He puts them down around the floor around the cans to give the small area a bit of light. It smells a hint musty inside, coupled with the old remaints of what the candy factory used to be. It's hard to get those smells out after several decades of productions.
Freed from Clint's mass, Ash drops the kickstand and swings a leg over, arching an eyebrow as she watches the can being fetched from the back of the car. Flynn gets an upnod. "Afternoon. Glad you could make it."
She hesitates a little before starting to follow after Jason. "I'm not sure this spot is going to work if you're thinking we're going to check it for taint here. Too much of the city, there's taint all over the place. Gotta get the stuff away from the city and the taint so it's easier to read."
"Of course." Says Flynn with a dip of his head towards Ashlynn. Clint is given a nod secondly before he moves to follow to where Jason indicates. "She's right." He confirms in his slow, measured way of speaking. "The gift is difficult to use in the city. Not impossible, but it's easy to mix up your target. We can check them here, but we should check them again elsewhere if the reading is unclear." He looks down to the gas cans with a narrowing of his eyes. "But my packmate did say the gas seemed wrong. So the gas is the most... suspicious."
Clint lingers outsie the warehouse. Looking around for some time before heading inside. He looks out more from just inside the doorway, eyes narrowed. He closes it slowly and meets the others. "Um...what they said. I can try." He steps over to crouch near the cans and sniff at the air with wrinkled nose. "Gas stinks." He shakes his head and grins. "I mean all gas stinks. I have not yet checked it."
There is a shrug of Jason's shoulders upwards as he reaches into his pocket to take out his keys. He flips them around his fingers and says, "Oh. Okay. Well ... I was just bringing them here for you. You guys can take it somewhere else if you want. I was just trying to be subtle." He gives a glance towards the side door, then starts for it as he looks to take his leave. "Good luck, team." He calls over his shoulder to them as he reaches into his pocket to take out his phone and tap away at it. "Don't worry about locking up."
There's a glance to the motorcycle she borrowed, and the on-foot, Umbra hopping Flynn. Brows furrow and she rolls her shoulders. "Thanks man, we'll get it taken care of." She says, shaking her head slightly, then looking to Flynn. "Yeah, that's what he told us. Said he couldn't pinpoint HOW it was wrong, just that it was off somehow. Spose we can give it a shot here, but man, there's going to be so much clutter in the read. There's a big sprawl of forest, that national park or whatever. Could be a good spot if we can figure out how to get it there. I doubt I'd even be allowed on a bus."
"It's fine." Flynn says towards Jason. "The city is a dangerous place. We make due with what we can. Thank you for bringing it. If you want to stay and observe, you can. If you have other duties, that is fine." He leaves the kinsman to stay or go of his own accord as his eyes turn towards Clint. He asks of the other Theurge, "You have the necessary gift?" The Adren gestures towards the cans, the movement of his hand more of a 'go ahead' kind of sweep. "If we need to move, than we will. Others have cars and trucks we can use."
Clint looks towards Jason, head canted to the side as he listens. He lets outs heavy breath and turns to listen to Flynn. He nods in affirmation. "I do. Umm...hold on." He rummages in his fanny pack until he finds a strip of cloth that get's ripped in two. It's not really necessary but he does it anyway. He opens each can, gets some gas on the rags and takes a LONG deep breath of each with it close to his nose.A rub of his nose and he plops down to sit on the floor and stare at the cane. His face goes slack as he concentrates on the cans. Brows push together and he stands up, walking around to the other side of the cans and sitting again. More concentrating and starting with a shake of his head. He opens his mouth and sakes his head with a finger up. "One moment." He moves again, this time taking a few circles around the cans and randomly sitting to stare again. "I...I..can not find wyrm taint." He holds up a hand, thumb and finger very close togethr. "Very little. But I expect very little from gas."
As he pauses by the door, Jason lets out a soft sigh under his breath. Every instinct is telling him to 'run', but something nags him at the pit of his stomach. He eases back and forth on his expensive sneakers, then lets out a groan. ".. Um.. okay, you guys can get in the car and I'll drive you to where you think would be better." He says as he gives a motion towards the Mercedes parked out front. "If you think it will help. I know this is important." He keeps fiddling with his phone, squeezing it and turning it around in his hands.
"I think we all have it." Ash says to Flynn, watching Clint get his samples and settle in to do his thing. Looking towards Jason, she nods to him encouragingly. "Nothing is better than something, but that doesn't rule out a taint? Does it?" she asks, looking back between the other wolves. "Do you want to give it a go, Ritemaster?" she asks, focusing on Flynn. "Or would rather we take Jason up on the offer to get somewhere a bit less generically 'stinky'?"
"If it isn't trouble." Flynn says to Jason, though the flatness of his tone leaves the exact meaning behind the words a bit ambiguous. His attentions returning to the younger Garou, he states, "It doesn't. The Wyrm is best at hiding. This place may help. For now, I am just here as a teacher and to watch over you. I would like him to get more experience." He dips his head towards Clint. "Let's try where we know we should succeed. Then we'll decide what to do. You hunt where you have the advantage. This is no different."
Clint hangs his head a bit, looking at the ground. "A cleaner place could help." He motions towards the gas cans with a roll of his shoulders. "It..might just be hard to tell with..." One arm sweeps around in a grand motion to indicate everything around them. He closes the cans and stands up, carrying one in each hand. "Are you sure that I can fit in your car?"
"Sure, it's a Mercedes. Built for NBA and NFL players. You can sit shotgun, or just shift if it's easier." Jason says to Clint as he is already making his way out the door. He pauses for a moment to give a glance about slightly left to right, then taps a button on his fob as the engine rumbles to life remotely. "It's no trouble. It's fine." He says in a soft, assuring voice as he keeps fiddling with his phone, turning it around and around in his hands.
Ashlynn moves to collect the gas cans, picking them up with ease. "We can make sure to cleanse you car, too, just in case. "Are the seats leather? Cause if he is hairless in lupus, you might be suction cup butthole prints. Like those hairless cats." There's a playfully sly glance thrown Clint's way - totally cruising for a bruising, but unable to resist teasing the metis.
"Sit in front." Flynn insists to Clint. "I can sit in lupus behind, you can push the seat back. Just make sure the window is down." He says the last part with grave seriousness towards Jason before taking to the wolf form. He's silver and white, clean limbed and looking far more noble than most Glass Walkers. With a soft whuff, the rear door opens for him without so much as a touch and he hops in the passenger side and sits himself down like it was just another day. For the Lupus, maybe it is.
Clint eyeballs Ashlynn. But only when she's not looking at him. "I can tuck my tail." He pats his legs, indicating his pantleg. "I could also wear my pants." Yes, pants on a wolf. He leans way down to look into the car dubiously. "I am still not sure." He opens the door and goes in head first, then his knees. FOllowed by the car rocking side to side as he shifts this way and that until he gets seated right. Tapping his hands on his knees and fidgeting.
"The seats are leather, yes, but they're also treated." Jason assures as he climbs into the driver's seat. "And I'm fine with whatever guys. I'm not going to be upset with naked wolves or people in my car. It comes with the job." He says. Once they are settled, he'll program a destination into his GPS, then rumble out of the alley and into the main intersections of the city. He isn't one to hang out long, opting for a highway as quick as he can so that he can coast more freely. Now that it's after hours, the traffic shouldn't be as jam packed.
Settling into the back after dropping the gas in the trunk and making sure it won't move, the Fury gets comfortable. "I appreciate you doing this for us, Jason. Helping to unravel this puzzle is going to important to figuring out how best to handle that chunk of highway. Between this and seeing if you and Tigerlily can help us suss out a supply chain, I think we'll get some good info to work with."
Circuit Tracer settles in for the ride after making sure there's at least a cracked open window for him to stick his nose past to breathe in the fresh city smog. He's mostly quiet and contemplative for the trip, staring out at the scenery like his mind was somewhere else as the buildings slowly shrink from skyscrapers to office buildings to strip malls, then homes and patches of empty space. Maybe it's just the waning crescent moon that has him off in his own world, or maybe he just has nothing to add at present. Leave it to the Lupus to make being crammed in a tiny space between a kicked back passenger seat and the rear seat somehow look dignified.
Clint rolls the window down. Something surely everyone will appreciate with his certain odor quickly filling the passanger compartment of the car. As the get moving, he wriggles and scrunches until he can get his head out the window. Eyes closed with a smile while they go along the freeway. It's as close as he'll ever get to feeling the wind in his fur. When they get there, instead of pulling his head back in, he just opens the door around it to get out.
As they drive and drive, Jason puts the small proto-pack far out along the stretch of freeway to where the world becomes more sandy and barren. The wildfires and the lack of rainfall has made most of the long stretches of freeway dead and unlivable. As he turns into a side street intersection, he takes them a few miles out until he pulls off into a small unused park. After parking the car, he climbs out and takes a few steps away from the Garou, doing a quick round of walking in circles.
Hopping out along with the others, Ashlynn stretches, then relaxes. Heading around to the trunk to fetch the cans of gas. "Where do you want these, guys?" she asks, more than willing to do the heavy lifting.
Flynn makes his way out of the car and takes a moment to look around while still in lupus. His nose is turned into the wind, his ears turning this way and that. To the keen of eye, his ears move in sharp and almost mechanical movements like a radar dish might. << No one is near. Only small animals. >> He declares before he gives one last, lingering look to their surroundings. Dead as things may be across much of the area, it's strange if only for the lack of the city. With a rough exhale, he returns to his human form and moves back towards the group gathering about the gas cans. "Use the car as a shield from the road."
Clint is quickly getting to work on checking the cans. Before they're even set down. He points at a spot that he walks a circle around. Sniffing at the air and getting himself ready before he plops down on the ground to sit and wait.
Ashlynn puts the cans down and backs up, moving to take more of a watching position than one too worried about the task of checking out the gas. "What do you think?" she asks, looking back over at the other wolves, then looking towards the pacing of the kin.
Flynn takes a brief time walking around the chosen location, looking towards the car and the road and the nearest bits of vegetation. "It will do." He declares finally. "If they still seem unconcerning, then this may be human-based than spirit-based. We will see." And he steps back then to clear space for Clint to do his work and not be in his way.
Clint closes his and takes many slow deep breaths. Getting his mind as calm and centered as possible for him to. His eyes open slowly and he stares at the cans with his brows pushing together in concentration. Just like the first time he moves a few times before he eventually shakes his head slowly with a heavy breath. "I can still find no taint. No more than normal."
"Maybe it's not the gas itself, but when it converts into smog. Snake said he smelled something in the gas." Jason calls over to them from a distance. "So maybe once you put it in the car and you start to drive, that's when the change happens. It attracts smog spirits right?"
"Could be. The only other thing I can think to do would be to have the gas analyzed?" Ashlynn says, brows furrowing. "It IS interesting though, isn't it?" She considers. "There were a ton of the hoglings. A lot more of them than the Furmlings, but one of the Furms was a jaggling. Took a lot to bring it down. Could the furms be feeding on the hoglings?"
There's an affirming nod from Flynn at the theory. "Possibly the Furmling is fueling the growth of the Hoglings. Engines make fire, fire makes smoke." He gestures towards the car. "The Furmlings were drawn to the source. The Hoglings marked the trai-- the freeway. If the gift detects nothing, I will take a sample to look at further."
