2021-06-13 USCing this?
USCing This?
Participants: Mariella Benito Ghost Anthony
Storyteller: Saoirse
Location: Outside Doheny Memorial Library on USC campus
Date and Time: June 13, 2021 - midnight
Summary: A man assaults a woman on campus, late at night, trying to get his fix. Some people intervene as it seems that there is more to this than a druggie having some dependency issues.
Most college students are off campus, though there are a few that still linger. The evening air carries with it a slight chill for a summer breeze. Perhaps there's rain in the forecast? Or it's just enough of a relief from the blistering hot afternoons? Some will seek solace and refuge in it. Others dread the chill, perhaps for reasons of foreboding and discomfort. The Prentiss Memorial Fountain is lit up and quite active, spraying some mist into the air and adding to that evening's chill. To the southwest, the Doheny Memorial Library is also alight, showing some late-night activity for those overachievers that continue to study well in the wee hours.
The lighting around the campus is enough to provide decent lighting as long as one stays well within the worn paths; however, there are shadows around every corner. There are enough hedges to obscure the view of onlookers, especially this late into the night. In fact, in some cases, some of the lighting is in dire need of maintenance or repair. Lightbulbs are dim, or worse, they flicker to some unforeseen pattern. Perhaps the ghost in the machine is using some archaic form of morse code to offer warning to all those nearby. And it is here, that our tale begins...
A young Asian woman is exiting the library, looking over a piece of paper while drinking a beverage. The cup is emblazoned with the LiteraTea logo. She is dressed as one would expect for a warm California summer. Given the expense of the college, she also shows that she's well off rather financially by the fashions and styles she chooses to wear. While she may be an overachiever in terms of study, she's even more so when it comes to appearances. She is definitely a looker. She's oblivious to most of her surroundings though, as she's caught up in her review of whatever is on that piece of paper.
Mariella pulls up to the place on the back of a red and black Ducati. It's flashy and fast but she pulls into the parking lot at a reasonable speed, not wanting to draw attention to herself just because she's got a bike. Perhaps she's bold or perhaps the Hispanic vampire is just tough but she hops off the bike with no helmet, removes the keys and unzips the stylish, well-fitted biker jacket she's wearing. In accompaniment this is a pair of skintight black leather pants, a fashionable albeit simple dark grey tanktop and a pair of knee high riding boots complete with silver spurs. After she musses her hair there's a glance spared for Benito and Ghost to let them know she was ready.
It's not a rare sight to see Ghost down here. Those familiar with the campus have seen the biker already around on occasion. Not that's he's familiar, but he's not completely out of place. So when a mass of six bikes roll up onto the campus, followed by an entourage of Mariella and Benito possibly among others, people certainly look their way, a gang rolling up, but it is the South. Ghost must be here on business, since as he shuts off his bike and props it up on its kickstand, his crew stays put, waiting and watching, milling around where they are parked. Some things require more subtlety than six bikers rolling up on you. Instead of proceeding to his perceived destination though, he lingers, looking back at Mariella. Apparently waiting for her to come along and Benito too of course. Stopping by her bike he waits until she is ready and then upnods, heading for wherever he is on campus. His coat, black leather is undone, showing a tank top underneath, a plain thing with someone unknown logo and jeans. It does show off quite a bit of his tatts, and for college students it might just make them want to avoid him.
Sometimes, Anthony wanted to hang out around places and eavesdrop on potential power players down the line to approach among the mortals... but tonight, Anthony was more interested in meeting up with one of his spies. He has active business going on, and had a report to collect.
Tonight, his Mask was a fairly ugly looking Caucasian man, and he's wearing a casual white shirt with jeans, along with white sneakers.
He's already in campus by the time the others are pulling up, talking to his contact on a bench.
Right behind Mariella comes a small man on a motorcycle as well, pulling in beside her to park. He IS wearing a helmet because safety comes first. Not everybody is a savage. Benito hops off the bike and drops the helmet on the back seat, then unzips the leather riding jacket before looking to Mariella and giving her a nod of his head, falling in step behind her. The little Hispanic man, casts a brief glance at Ghost and Anthony but says nothing.
It's when she reaches the second set of stairs that an athletic Black man bounds over one of the hedges and nearly tackles the woman. The Black man is dressed in a black sport coat, a white Oxford shirt, and a black and gold tie. The observant would notice an Alpha Phi Alpha pin to go with the tie. While it should give the man a sharp appearance, everything is disheveled. The top button undone; the tie loosened while the pin still holds the tie in place as if it was worn properly. The jacket is unbuttoned with the sleeves pushed up. The Black man seems to be jittery and sweating despite the cooler temperatures. He grasps at the woman's arms with wide eyes that are bloodshot. Before he can even speak, it would seem that a stomach cramp hits him. He lets out a cry of pain as he double overs momentarily, though never letting go of 'his prize'. The woman tries to break free, but his grip is just too strong.
"Where have you been?" His words are rather slurred and hinting at a little bit of irritation and frustration. "Do you know how long you have been gone? I need my fix!"
Another cramp hits him, causing him to bend and twist away from looking at the woman. The woman screams for help as she jams her high heel into the man's foot. It should definitely register as a painful stomp, but the man just seems to ignore it or perhaps there's enough pain coursing through him that it simply blends in.
When the sounds of a woman screaming for help reach her ears, LaMuerta hones in on it immediately. As she had been walking towards the commotion anyways she just picks up her pace and closes the distance between the Asian woman and Black man. Once she is close enough that he can see her face she calls upon the supernatural presence of her kin; eyes dark into narrow pits of oblivion and her fangs elongate and are on full display as hair falls into her face for even more affect. She doesn't say anything at first, doesn't hiss but the malevolence of her true face might be enough to get this man to fuck off. "Let. Her. Go. Right. Now."
As the scream starts, Anthony looks up to the source... and doesn't move. When the man next to him looks in that direction as well, Anthony just shakes his head with a side glance to the man, "Campus security can handle it. Stay here."
Then, Mariella comes out of nowhere, and Anthony frowns in that direction, muttering under his breath, "why is she here?"
Ghost is readily approaching a man in both the shade and darkness of a tree. He's leaning against it, minding his own business, but his features are obscured from most views. Though it's pretty obvious the mans keep looking Ghost's way as he approaches while pretending not to. ironically for the black man, those in the know on campus, probably would realize this is someone who sells drugs, and can get you your fix. Just bad timing, or bad luck. Though anyone screaming grabs attention. Attention some people don't want. Ghost already knows Mariella's not going to like that and the shadowy figure he was meeting bolts. No thank you. But Mariella is faster to the punch w than Ghost, what she isn't, is as direct. he studies the man, he knows the sign of drug use, and he knows he's not reasonable, not that Ghost gives a fuck. He marches right past Mariella towards the man to pick him, physically off the woman. "She's asking, I'm not."
Right with Mariella, the little Hispanic man pauses only an instant when they find the woman getting assaulted. As soon as his domitor goes in to send the creep running in fear, Benito is right there with her as 'back up' for what it is worth. His gaze settles on the offender, ready to assist Mariella if she can't scare him off and he ends up turning to fight, but Beni doesn't look very threatening to be honest.
The Black man is a bit startled by the presence of another woman. In that confusion, his grip lessens on the Asian woman. For only a brief second, there's a hint of relief? However, her utterance and her tone seem to scare bejeezus out of him. And JUST when he's about to turn and run towards the fountain, Ghost grabs him and makes a much more direct threat. He starts to tremble, "Oh fuck..." comes his slurred words. Despite his condition, he nervously tries to spin away, having to slide out of his sports jacket. He is rather athletic, so he does have some agility to him to twist and contort out of being grabbed. The adrenaline caused by fear certainly helps him. As he's running away, he's pleading, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't know! I thought she was you..." He then mutters to himself, though perhaps enough to be overheard either by someone sitting on a park bench near the fountain or for those that are good at hearing, "Oh fuck, I messed up! I'm so fucked... God, why do you hate me?!" And with that, he's fleeing towards Prentiss Memorial fountain ... running by Anthony and his friend.
The Asian woman takes a step back, making sure to put some distance between herself and the Black Man. But she's certainly grateful for the help. Of course, she really has no desire to linger here anymore than she should, but she's not going to be rude and simply up and leave. Still, in the scuffle of it all, that paper she was reviewing has been dropped and caught by the breeze of the evening. For her? She doesn't seem to care. Not now. The fact that she was accosted right here on campus is enough for her to dismiss 'trivial' things.
When the man makes a break for it Mariella does not pursue, she is definitely curious but the instincts that she goes by tell her to stay and check on the woman. With a stern voice that has a hint of compassion she asks,"You alright mija?" The paper that's been caught by the breeze is gestured to in an effort to try and distract her. "You may want to grab that."
Benito watches the man running away, glances at Mariella as if to question going after him or not. Instead he remains by his domitor's side as she checks on the Asian woman to make sure she is not injured. There isn't really much the little Hispanic man can do but remain nearby just in case he is needed, but that is just what he is for, his purpose in life.
As the Black man runs in the direction of Anthony, the Masked Nosferatu brings his right hand into his left sleeve, where one of his many concealed knife holsters are located, and grips the hilt. He doesn't pull it yet, but he's ready to defend himself and his spy if the man gets aggressive, "Just stay on the bench if this gets ugly, I can deal with this." Anthony orders of the man.
Ghost doesn't necessarily seem intent on hurting the man. He will if he ahs to, his expression is one of those. But as the man struggles and tries to get away, Ghost has no care to chase him. He's not big on the police or security of any sort. He he watches the man, certainly memorizes his features, and it left with a coat. He glances down at it once the man is racing off, but as he lets Mariella deal with the woman, probably for the best, for multiple reason, he's kind enough to go after her paper, if he can catch it, trying to stomp it to the ground and then pick it up from udner his foot. Not appearing toc are about it's possible delicacy.
On the piece of paper that Ghost recovers, there's a poem of sorts. The poem that the woman is written in the Chinese fu form AND written in English:
"In the autumn of the year jen-hsu, the seventh month, when the moon had just passed its prime, a friend and I went out in a small boat to amuse ourselves at the foot of the Red Cliff. A fresh breeze blew softly across the water, leaving the waves unruffled. As I picked up the wine jar and poured a drink for my friend, I hummed a poem to the moon and sang a phrase on its strange beauty. In a little while, the moon rose from the eastern hills and wandered across the sky between the Archer and the Goat. White dew settled over the river." (It stops there, though it seems as if it should continue)'.
The Asian woman is definitely flustered and is trying to catch her breath. She looks over to see where Mariella is pointing, only to see that Ghost is retrieving it for her. Well, it was a pristine piece of paper. Not so much anymore, but at least it's intact and will eventually return to her possession. She nods her head vehemently, though some of it is nerves, "Thank you. Thank you very much." She puts a hand to her chest in hopes of keeping her heart inside her chest.
"De nada mija, it's my pleasure to scare off assholes who don't understand that women aren't just out here for their pleasure." Mariella takes a look at the woman to see if she recognizes her from anywhere but bar that she just looks to Benito for him to come closer,"These are some of my friends and we were just coming to check out the library, you want for us to escort you somewhere?"
Was he included in that? Did she just call HIM a -friend-? Benito smiles at that, standing up a little straighter, his step a little bit lighter. His gaze also goes to the Asian woman again while Mariella is trying to re-assure her, studying the woman's face for a few seconds. He looks over toward Ghost and watches him try stomping on the paper to stop it.
Ghost traps the paper, leaving a big boot print on it. He picks it up, and most people might have the decency not to read it. But Ghost does, even as he starts walking the paper back over to the woman and Mariella. His eyes skim over it, maybe a couple times. Maybe he's just a fan of poetry because nothing about it seems particularly interesting other than it is good poetry. After finishing reading it maybe a third time, he reaches the two women and Benito, and offers the paper out to the Asian woman, pressed between his pointer finger and his middle one. It flaps briskly in the wind, but he has it trapped there tightly. He glances at Mariella, sparing her a softening look, and then his face is neutral once more, stoic, perhaps.
Indeed, for Anthony's benefit, the Black man is gone into the night. Once past the Prentiss fountain, it's unclear of where he goes. Obviously, far away from here. Mariella probably made him soil his britches.
The Asian woman again seems thankful to Ghost's assistance, collecting the piece of paper from him. She offers a polite smile, though it's clear that she'd much rather be away from the site of where she was 'attacked'. "Thank you all, once again." She swallows nervously, "I... I'll be fine. My uber should be along here very shortly." She does look towards the street where one might get picked up, searching for that black sedan that usually comes with Uber XL. And if on cue, there is indeed a car pulling up.
"Take care chica and call me if you ever want to get a drink or something," Mariella offers her digits if the girl is interested but otherwise now her focus has shifted. With a look given to Ghost and Benito she makes her way after the direction that the perpetrator took off in. "We need to find that chico and make sure he doesn't get too far. I have some questions, es muy importante. Let's see how far he's gotten." That quick aside happens on the way past the water fountain, conveniently just in time for Anthony to here her say as much, even if she doesn't necessarily know it is him, a member of her own coterie.
As the man is gone, Anthony relaxes just a bit, "you can go now. Seems safe." Anthony tells the man, before he stands up, walks right up to Mariella and company, and speaks as they move along. Mariella will immediately recognize Anthony's voice. So will Ghost, if he remembers the meeting. "What was just going on? I didn't see it, but if you're going in this direction...?"
Ghost upnods to the woman, paying her mind. He's drawing no attention to himself after she gets the paper back. His hands silently and for the most part stealthy rummage through a pocket on the sports coat. There is wallet removed and slipped into his own jacket pocket. It's a quick slip, only those perceptive or paying attention would even notice an exchange. Even if it wasn't as smooth as he would have liked. He then starts to examine the coat as he casually watches the woman head for her uber. Nothing to see here. He then folds it up over his arm, apparently planning on keeping that too. Walking towards Mariella, he touches her on her forearm briefly yo grab her attention and smirks. "We can find him pretty easy." He winks and then turns to Anthony, at first unclear who he is, that Obfuscate stuff. But eventually he figures it out, with the Mariella association. He gives a tentative upnod.
When Mariella turns to tell them they should have went after the guy, the little Hispanic man frowns and looks down at the ground, upset with himself for not trying to stop the assailant now. "Lo siento, senora." he says to her in a light voice, barely above a whisper. Then he walks with her, staying behind his domitor as she heads for the fountain, making sure he is out of the way but close in case he is actually needed for something.
Ghost's upnod receives in turn a silent expression of approval that turns into a smile as he touches her forearm but Benito distracts her with his apology. Gently, she reaches out to caress his cheek. "You did what you were supposed to amorcito, you've nothing to be sorry for." When Anthony makes his presence known she isn't even surprised. Either she anticipated he would be there or this particilar Hispanic vampire was totally aware of his modus operandi and thus not at all taken aback.
"Si, we need to find this dude. There's something about what he said that captured my interest and at the very least we need to make sure he's not going to be a problem later, comprende?" The last bit was directed to anyone who was listening to her and no one specific. "Fuck, I should have gone after him..." Clearly, LaMuerta thinks tracking him down will be difficult and time consuming.
While everybody else is trying to figure out where they might go look for this guy, Benito steps aside away from the group. He reaches into one of his pockets and digs around, pulling something out. Then he lights it on fire and lets it burn, tossing the last bit on the ground before it is burned up. Heading back over to where the woman was getting asaulted he begins looking around at the ground, Benito studies the area. He looks where they were just stepping, where the assailant was stepping, then walks a short distance to study the ground there. "Senora...this way." the little Hispanic man states, pointing down at the ground where apparently he can track the man. Then he is off! Benito starts to jog in the direction he believes he sees the tracks going, constantly looking to the ground for more signs.
As he looks around, Anthony starts to spring off in the direction of the Trousdale Parkway. "This way, I think."
As fate or luck would have it, both Anthony and Benito are running in the same direction.
Ghost figured that would bring a lot of question, but he glances around to make sure no one else is looking. Though to anyone who didn't notice him take the wallet, it just appears as if he's taking out his own wallet. One which he goes through, finds what he's looking for a pulls out an ID card. He shows it to Mariella and anyone else, in fact, he lets her handle it if she wants to. After he's perused it long enough to commit most of the important details to memory. Name. Address. He does give Mariella a brief raise a of a brow. "He did? Dude's fuckin' tweakin' He needs a fix, so he's desperate, possibly fuckin' hallucinatin' too. Shit happens a lot, specially on certain drugs. Might have also gone to a frat house." if the address doesn't match such. "Alpha Phi alpha." Ghost pulls out his cellphone next, typing a search for the Frat house in it. But people are suddenly moving. he gives Mariella raised brow, as if her call. Maybe Ghost doesn't care too much about catching the guy. Tweakers are out every night. it's pretty common in the south.
"Oh I think there's more to it than that, Santa Muerte's hand guides us this night." Mariella says in response to Ghost just in time to see Benito returning to the fold to summon her attention. When he takes off she doesn't hesitate knowing damn well that her ghoul knows what he is doing. "Dulce Benito," is all she utters in response to him before setting off and keeping pace with him relatively easily enough. She doesn't even need to rely on her supernatural speed.
No, Benito isn't supernaturally fast nor does he have unlimited stamina like some dead people might. Unfortunately he is just a ghoul. Still between the Vampiric blood in his body and the sheer will to impress his domitor, the little Hispanic man runs as fast and as long as he can to catch up to the 'tweaker' they let go. All the way he keeps looking down at the ground for more tracks and follows them as swift as he can, not even looking over at Mariellaa.
The name on the driver's license reads: Malcolm Strickland. The address reads as some place in an area that would classify as the 9th District of California. Why is that important? Because for those who MIGHT be in the know, or would eventually check the ShrekNet for details - the 9th District is the governmental district for South Central, and the last name of Strickland might ring a few bells as Margaret Strickland is the current Council Woman for the 9th district. She was elected based on her attempts at cleaning up the 9th district, wanting to have a more punitive approach to dealing with criminals - especially thugs and drug dealers. She was going to clean up the mess! Could this be her son? The address would be in a 'relative short distance' from campus, but this is LA... nothing is ever a short distance. It takes forever getting anywhere.
As for Anthony and Benito, it's clear that the path they are running is towards Trousdale Parkway. There's a silver Mercedes that was in a parking space relatively close which has backed out and is starting to swerve it's way to the north. He can kind of stay in between the lines of the parkway. Much like a toddler can stay in between the lines of a coloring book. Well, mostly. It is at night and the USC campus is not overly crowded for the summer session. Though, things will certainly get interesting.
Ghost watches Benito curiously, a curious little Ghoul Mariella has here, apparently quite useful. But he's distracted back to Mariella at her words and gives a smirk. "If every tweaker I saw in the night that passed me, tried to rob me, or assaulted someone was something to investigate, is fate, well shit, I don't think I'd do anything else." His smirks grows a little mischievous. It's just the South living in LA. But I trust you. Kids rich, that's for sure." However he determines that, probably by the district they live in. Ghost knows the South like the back of his hand. He puts the ID away and then follows, sifting through the rest of the contents of the wallet, assuming the two leading this know where they are going. Though he whistles a sharp whistle back towards the bikes, grabbing his crew's attention. They nod, acknowledging, but stay put. Then he continues his distracted following, watching where he's going out of his peripherals.
Now that they seem to be on the trail Mariella notices Anthony seems to be leading by his own methods and that has her intrigued, surely it will be brought up later. For now she follows the pair and looks aside to Ghost to keep her abreast of any developments she should know like,"Oye, papi. You will tell me if we're in your boy's turf right? Last thing I wanna do is piss off Skelter and the rest of the Southsiders more than I already have." The beautiful Hispanic vampire laughs under her breath.
As the car starts to speed away, Anthony looks at it... and almost immediately stops. "No way we're catching that without a masquerade breach..." Anthony mutters to himself, then, he starts to walk back towards Mariella...
As his gaze follows the 'tracks' Benito points at the silver Mercedes, which is OBVIOUSLY the guy they are after. "Ahi! Senora, ahi!" he says and finally slows down some, to catch his breath, letting the people who don't need to breath continue chasing it down. After all some of them might have extra speed to catch it. Benito sure does not. The poor little Hispanic man puts a hand on his side and continues to walk in that direction, panting to get some air and aleviate the stitch in his side.
For proximity's sake, the car has quite a lead on the group. There was some 'time' between Malcolm running past Anthony and then the sudden desire to chase after him. Now mind you, Trousdale Parkway is not an actual 'highway' or 'parkway'. No, it's a road that leads through campus. However, it will eventually hit 34th street which is a 'real' road of sorts. That's the direction in which the car is heading, though it's making sure to drive through bicycle lanes or onto sidewalks or something along those lines.
