2022-02-14 A Very Merry Unbirthday

A Very Merry Unbirthday

Participants: Blossom Dante

Storyteller: Suelo (Beau)

Location: Hollywood Hills East

Date and Time: Feb 14, 2022

Summary: In his eternal wandering Beau comes across a curious location and his companions seek answers about the place. The rolls and ooc have been left in the log for Staff reference, as this plot progresses I will remove the ooc for ease of reading.

Mood Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdsZT7WKjW8

The Hollywood Hills East area is located within the eastern Santa Monica Mountains, east of where the Hollywood Freeway (US 101) cleaving through the Cahuenga Pass connecting the Los Angeles Basin with the San Fernando Valley beyond. This area boasts a lot of old Hollywood glamour history first sought after by movie stars in search of privacy, nature and views. This legacy continues as the rich and famous flock to sprawling Spanish Colonial Revival-style homes in trendy, secluded neighborhoods such as Beachwood Canyon, Hollywood Dell, Hollywood Knolls and more up along the brown loamy and stony shores of Lake Hollywood. The Hollywood Hills are known for stunning luxury homes with impressive views of the city below. Sitting on the south-facing slope of the Santa Monica Mountains, daylong sunlight is easy to come by. A fair number of homes seen from the 101 are suspended on the hillsides, jutting out over the steep slopes. Houses with stilt foundations and cross-bracing systems will leave one with uneasy thoughts of earthquakes and mud-slides, but which doesn't seem to affect their desirability. Architecture in the hills is diverse, from 60s-era hippie roosts to pricey mansions. With few exceptions, all are expensive. It's also where Griffith Park, the Hollywood Reservoir, and the famous Hollywood Sign can be seen as one drives by.

Beau walks with a confident stride, his boots crunching on the gravel as he kicks a can ahead of him, sending it rolling and bouncing down the road. The moonlight casts a pale glow over the Hollywood Hills, illuminating the winding roads and the grandiose homes that line them. The can he kicks is dented and worn, its paint long faded, but Beau seems to have formed an attachment to it. It's become his makeshift companion, a source of comfort in the darkness of the night. He kicks it with a sense of purpose, watching it skid and spin down the road, a faint smile playing on his lips.

The night air is cool against his skin, and Beau's senses are heightened as he takes in the sounds and smells of the Hollywood Hills. He listens to the distant laughter of partygoers, the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze, and the subtle hum of traffic from the nearby freeway. He's so lost in thought that he doesn't even notice the two of them until he is nearly next to them, at which point he glances over and without an ounce of surprise in his tone he issues out a casual, "Nice to see you both."

Attention flashes to Beau -- and his mouth opens to ask 'how did you know we were here', but, inwardly, he remembers something about Malkavians and always being in the right place at the right time. And so, that question is shelved.

"Good evening, Mr. Suelo."

Attention returns to the Nosferatu huddled close; "I do not believe that was Coca-Cola, Miss Mindwell. I believe the blood was laced with cocaine." He makes the wiser choice and does not attempt to peel the young, tiny woman off his form. He also doesn't encourage it, further.

"Beau! Oh, hiiii, Beau! Do you have Clovis with you? I think I'd scare him if he came out right now. I'm not feeling myself, I'm afraid." When Dante drops the bomb that she may have accidentally drugged herself, she wails a little. "Well how do I make it stop?? I've never done any drugs. I thought she meant Coca Cola! She said Coke!" WAAAAAAAAH. "Oh, nonono. I can't allow the Primogen to see me like this!! How long does it last? How do you get it out of you? Can I burn it off?"

"Hello, Blossom-dear." Beau nods, taking in the information from the Nosferatu. It makes sense now why Blossom was acting so erratic and jittery. He tries to keep his own demeanor calm, despite the situation becoming more concerning.

"Blossom, take a deep breath," Beau says, speaking as quickly as he can. "Focus on your breathing. Tell me more about what happened with the Gangrel and the blood. We'll figure this out together, but you need to stay calm."

Beau then says in a softer tone to Dante, "Dante, we need to get Blossom to safety," Beau says, his mind racing with possible solutions. "We can't risk her being in this state in the open... it is our responsibility to help prevent any potential breach. Can you guide us to a secure location where we can figure out our next steps? Do you have a car?"

Beau happens upon Blossom and Dante standing in the street, Blossom appears to be in distress:

Blossom peeks out from her cowl towards Beau. Her obfuscated Mask wavers a little, like a tiny pebble was tossed into the waves of a limpid pool. "I'm trying to stay calm," she says, a little more slowly. "Don't drop me in sewer. I'd be seen acting all weird." By whatever's down there, everywhere, presumably. She seems most paranoid about her fellow Sewer Rats thinking she's a fuck-up. "No Bar Sinister, either." Heaven forbid.

She lets go of her grip about Dante's waist, but still holds onto his clothing at the front a little. Her small hands are very trembly. "I feel a little grouchy too," she laments, self-aware at least to know she doesn't normally feel this way. "The Gangrel didn't mean it. She was just being nice. I didn't know what she meant by 'coke'." A beat. "I don't like it. It makes my brain feel fuzzy."

Beau hisses softly as he inhales thoughtfully through his teeth and then attempts to lead Blossom over to the side of the road at least, where he plans to plant his ass on the curb and wait for her to burn it off. "You can burn it off, I'm sticking by your side until you burn it off though. I fully endorse drug use, of course, but this is another matter." Beau lets out a slightly shocked cluck of his teeth when she mentions throwing her down a sewer, commenting, "Rude. I also don't think that equates to any kind of a solution. We're just gonna sit 'ere til you feels better. And then we'll go dumspter diving, I was on may way to a real swanky house up in the hills that's been getting remodelled, they's got a whole dumpsta' out front. Don't that sound nice?" Beau sends a sidelong glance to the Tremere, as if that were the punchline, "Yer invited too."

"With respect, I think he'd understand." Dante says, "..we feed off of whoever doing whatever at the clubs. Drugs and alcohol are a fact of life." He does follow in tow -- to wherever they decide to end up going.

"Or.. you know. You could just burn it." The warlock repeats his earlier suggestion, as that would be the smartest way to end this dilemma.

+LOSE/+BURN> Blossom burns 1 Blood.

Blossom exhales breathlessly, centering herself, as she toddles along to follow Beau where he sits on the curb. Her mind is like a goddamned racecar right now. It's hard to focus on anything and her pupils are all jumpy. Takes her a moment to concentrate on speeding that vitae, but she eventually does, and seconds later, looks a lot more calm. Dante's clothing is probably a bit more rumpled than it was before she was all 'Climb the Tremere' a moment ago, and she swallows and looks to him to apologize. "I'm sorry," she laments.

After a moment of chagrin, she looks between the two Kindred and says, "You two are my best friends, you know. I mean that. Clan's one thing, but it's nice to have buddies too." She looks to Dante with her grateful eyes. "I dunno what I woulda done if you hadn't been stalking me like a creepy person." A bit of a grin. She's ribbing him. "Seriously, though. I might have frenzied on someone or something." She smiles to Beau. "You're a real 'friendo'."

Beau frowns a touch and turns to face Dante, the clown picks up one of his fingerless glove wearing huckster hands and holds up a finger, "Firstly, she's got no tolerance, so this isn't the case of your usual club going fang banger feasting his way through the medicine cabinet, second thing -" Beau glances aside to Blossom as she does her thing and then diverts his attention back to Dante, "I don't know how much she took or how long it could take her to burn it off - so I'm being cautious, AND C, this isn't a case of your average drunk neonate because if drops her mask and we let her wander off in that state? We're at fault." Beau shakes his head as if this were all supposed to be common sense as he adds, "And with respect, you don't get high. Fact of life."

Beau looks back over to Blossom when she composes herself and she smiles warmly through the laugh lines etched with cracked grease paint, "You are too, a real friendo." A nod and then he asks as he eyes, "Feeling better?" A look back to Dante as he adds, in an amused if slightly teasing tone, "You were stalkin' her?" The clown chuckles.

"...no."

Dante responds, slowly, after Beau questions him. It's not said in a tone that promotes innocence; it is indeed possible that he was. However, he'd never admit to it.

Attention turns to the Nosferatu, and nods to her. He says nothing else on the matter. "What is this place?" His head tips towards whatever door he saw her exit.

"It's a beauty spa," Blossom tells Dante. "Owner's a Gangrel named, uhm, Lilana. She's marrying her Sire. I'm making her dress." She rubs an eye. "Even though she gave me coke." Shudder.

She smiles at Beau a little crookedly. "People do that for actual fun? Golly." No judgement, though. Then... ut-oh, l'il Nossie's getting an idea, "You guys. You guys! We should be a Coterie! Oh.my.gosh, I've always wanted to be in a for really-real Coterie. Seriously, the three of us? We'd be amazing!"

Beau winces a little and even goes so far as to lean away from the both of them bodily, "Eh, I dunno about that, my lifestyle doesn't exactly promote the sort of consistency required to remain in a coterie. I-uh really appreciate the idea though, real kind of you to offer." Beau's smile withers back from warm to simply polite and he pushes back to his feet once it seems like that cocaine has worked its way out of her system.

"Anyhow, if you're feelin' better? I should be on way, the dumpster calls." Beau whistles sharply once and a pigeon takes flight from a lamp post down the street, to which he points and sweetly explains for Blossom's sake, "There's Clovis now, he's the one who found the dumpster. I'm following him."

"I don't think we're allowed. I don't know. I've never asked. I'd probably need permission and I think that'd be too much,"

Dante, clearly, isn't interested in joining a coterie. He doesn't maneuver to leave, like Beau does, he just stands still and watches the two other kindred with interest.

Heart-stomp. Blossom wilts a bit. "I like dumpsters," she calls out loud enough for Beau to hear, but she seems unsure as to whether or not he wants her to come along now after his wince and lean-away. Her elbows extend back, arms going a little T-Rex-ish at her sides for a moment, hands flopping down. It's a weird thing she does when she's nervous -- they'll notice it pretty quickly after a few times of her doing over interactions. "I mean... I'm okay now to meet... Clovis." SIGH.

"I just thought it'd be cool," she explains to Dante. "And like, effective too! We all have very special minds. I mean, we wouldn't have to sign our names in blood or anything. Or give up loyalties. Our special individual stuff is what could make us better together." A lopsided smile.

Beau walks backward for a few paces as he remarks, "You can come along if you want?" He then spins on a pivot and starts whistling and walking, glancing back only once more to see if they were following him down the road. The clown does glance skyward every so often, truly checking to see where Clovis was flying and following the pigeon as best as he can as they weave through this affluent neighborhood.

Beau, the Malkavian, decides he's had enough time with these normal kindred and excuses himself momentarily to do Malkavian things. Be it chase after a bird, or have a private conversation with a bird, it's a fine line of distinction.

Dante, the Tremere, shakes his head at Blossom's idea. That's all he does. It's a wordless 'no'.

"So how long have you been addicted to cocaine?" Clearly, it's a joke. But with Dante's 'always serious' demeanor, it doesn't sound like one.

"About as long as you've been crushing on a Nosferatu enough to stalk her," Blossom retorts with a chuff, lifting a hairless brow. She lets Beau walk up way ahead, then looks to Dante anew. "That idea you had for a date? Pops won't let me," she says. "And, given how generous that idea was, but I have to decline it, Imma let you off the hook in general. I won't pick on you anymore about the 'date' thing. I get a lot of dumb ideas. I guess my newest one was this Coterie thing. I can admit to being dumb, but I'm not stupid."

"Sometimes, to get to a place we belong, sacrifices have to be made. If I had to summate the entirety of my existence in one sentence: it would be that. But it also applies here."

Dante tells Blossom in a quiet tone of voice -- and it doesn't seem like he's disappointed with what she says. "For what it's worth, my side is equally as hesitant. But -- I think the best course of action is to get to know us, and serve the Camarilla."

"Serving the Camarilla is never outside of my focus," Blossom maintains, whisking her white cloak about herself as she starts to move to follow Beau, very curious about where he's leading them. "Are you coming?" She asks Dante, wisps of long white hair sneaking out to blow about her hood as she moves up the street.

Beau follows Clovis, keeping his distance as the bird flies over the Hollywood Hills, leading him to a large estate that appears to be undergoing renovations. As they arrive, Beau takes in the sight of the empty and quiet property, noticing a dumpster filled with furniture and house parts outside, behind a tall stone wall with a wrought iron gate. "You failed to mention the wall." Beau whisper-shouts to the bird as Clovis finds a perch on the wrought iron gate, continuing the conversation as the others catch up, "Well, yes of course it looks very small from above.. we've talked about this ol'boy."

Curious, Beau approaches the gate, his investigative instincts kicking in. He examines the gate closely, noting its intricate design and sturdy construction. He looks for any signs of security measures such as alarms or cameras, but doesn't immediately notice any. Finally, he looks back over his shoulder and addresses the two of them, "You guys wanna climb it?" The clown gently rattles the gate, locked.

+ROLL/+DICE> Dante: Perception + Alertness vs. 6 -> 2 successes. (10 8 4) +ROLL/+DICE> Blossom: Perception + Alertness vs. 6 -> 3 successes. (10 10 8) <OOC> Dante says, "For my pose. I'm going to assume no kine are around?" <OOC> Beau says, "Forgive me if I just start STing, I've got ideas. No danger though." <OOC> Blossom says, "Ditto that." <OOC> Beau says, "No kine." +ROLL/+DICE> Dante: Willpower vs. 6 -> 0 successes. (9 8 3 3 2 2 1 1) <OOC> Dante says, "Doh! lol." +LOSE/+BURN> Dante burns 1 Blood. <OOC> Blossom grins. Man, I hate when that happens to me. +ROLL/+DICE> Beau: Dexterity + Acrobatics vs. 6 -> 4 successes. (10 8 7 6 3 2 2) +LOSE/+BURN> Blossom burns 1 Blood. <OOC> Beau says, "I'll drop a desc of the area once we're all over the wall" <OOC> Dante snickers. +ROLL/+DICE> Dante: Willpower vs. 6 -> 1 success. (10 7 4 2 2 2 2 1) <OOC> Dante says, "yay" <OOC> Dante will explain the rolls on his pose. +LOSE/+BURN> Dante burns 2 Blood.

"I'll tell you if I see anything dangerous," Blossom says, mysteriously. "Look for erratic and loud squeaking." It takes a few seconds, but Blossom backs up, those T-Rex arms at her sides bunching up, her head tucking, her body shrinking, until -- *POOFIE* she's a tiny little albino bat. Her clothing is left in a lacy puddle behind her, and she flaps over the wall. She's fucking fast, as a bat.

The fence -- and gate -- is looked at by the Warlock, and, with his arms tucked against his figure, he remains completely still. His eyes close, however, this can't be told due to the dark glasses he wears.

And nothing happens.

Shaking his head with a bit of disappointment, he tries again, and, after a moment, his body launches into the air -- as if he was flying -- and vaults the entirety of the gate with magic. Feet are planted on the ground right behind the gate with ease.

Beau's keen eyes scan the tall stone wall, searching for a way to gain access to the estate. He quickly assesses the height and distance, calculating his options with the precision of a seasoned acrobat. With a confident smirk, he springs into action. With a calculated plan forming in his mind, Beau takes a few steps back, his muscles tensing in anticipation. He breaks into a sprint, his body moving with fluid grace as he approaches the wall. As he reaches it, he leaps into the air, twisting his body into a daring corkscrew spin.

His fingers find purchase on the rough stone, and he propels himself upward, using his momentum to propel himself higher. He kicks off the wall with a burst of strength, flipping over the top with a breathtaking display of acrobatics. He lands on the other side in a controlled roll, absorbing the impact with practiced ease.

Beau stands up and dusts himself off as he glances across the way just in time to catch Dante apparating, "Show off." Beau snaps a lapel and then looks to the sky to locate their bat friend... and maybe his bird.

The estate sprawls across several acres of land, hidden from prying eyes behind a tall stone wall adorned with ornate wrought iron designs. Despite its grandeur, the mansion appears to be in a state of disrepair. Faded paint peels from its walls, and broken windows mar its once-elegant facade. Renovation efforts are evident, with piles of construction materials scattered around, including lumber, bricks, and tools.

A large open dumpster stands nearby, filled with discarded furniture and house parts, indicating that significant work is being done on the property. A blueprint of the estate's layout is pinned to a bulletin board, revealing the ambitious remodeling plans, with detailed notes and annotations.

Despite the ongoing renovations, there is an eerie silence that hangs over the estate. There are no signs of activity, with no construction workers or personnel in sight. The atmosphere is abandoned and mysterious, with an air of neglect and curiosity.

SQuueak-squeak sure does sound a lot like 'Show off!' as the wee white bat darts about Dante's levitating head. She can fly at 20 MPH as a bat, and she has the area quickly perused to make sure it's safe for all before she reforms into her sorta-Blossom humany Mask and drops to the ground -- clothing on! WOOP! "Coast is clear of immediate danger, but I think there's a body in the dumpster. Like... a corpse. I'm not sure." "Huh."

He's already over the gate. That's all the magic was for. No response is given to the words or chirping denoting him a show off, and Dante meanders towards the dumpster -- assuming there's but the one.

Beau's eyes go wide, "A body? That sounds like more trouble than it is worth, I was just here for the free stuff.." Beau side eyes the dumpster warily and keeps his distance as he paces back and forth a few times before asking, "How not sure are you? Like, seventy five percent not sure?" Beau hmms and wavers his hand back and forth through the air as he tries to gauges their next move, "Who wants to poke it?"

Blossom is seriously not poking it. That's the Tremere's job. "Dante like, has no emotions about anything ever, so let him do it," she pipes in with. Her long fingers come together at her sternum in a mesh of digits. "I mean, if it's a crime scene, we should be careful, but I'd say I'm a little sure it was a human body." A shrug. "I was also recently trippin' balls, so maybe it's a mannequin." Blossom. having never done drugs but having heard the term 'trippin' balls', probably thinks 'trippin' applies to all forms of intoxicant.

Dante isn't going to argue if people thinks he has no emotions. There's no statement of correction or protest. In fact, he says absolutely nothing at all.

The Tremere then maneuvers to open the latch of the dumpster, and, inside he discovers:... Among the discarded furniture and debris, he spots a man slumped over, sprawled out in an unconscious heap. The man's unkempt appearance and disheveled clothing immediately catch Beau's attention, and a sense of familiarity washes over him. As he approaches, Dante realizes that the man bears a striking resemblance to Beau's great-great-grandson. The resemblance is uncanny, from the mop of unruly hair to the scruffy beard and weathered features. The man's clothes are ragged and dirty, and the stench of alcohol wafts from his prone form.

Beau's own emotions are conflicted as he looks down at the man, proceeding to take a confused step back so as to remove the fellow from his line of sight over the edge of the dumpster. He looks genuinely spooked, and confused, and so he glances to the Tremere, "Is this some kinda wizard trick?" At least the clown is letting a confused smile sneak onto his own face as if pleasantly surprised by the advent of an apparent prank, "I didn't take your for a trickster."

Blossom rises up on her toes, trying to catch a peek. "What's in there? Lemme see." She's taken a bit back by Beau's reaction, apparently. "Is he alive?" She wonders first. Next, "Mister Suelo, he looks an awful lot like you."

Dante, upon detailed search of what may constitute a 'quick glance', sees nothing particularly out of the ordinary about the corpse. He doesn't even see much of a resemblance there. Attention darts between the corpse, and Beau, and Beau, and the corpse.

"I don't do tricks."

Clearly, the warlock has absolutely no idea what the clown is talking about.

Beau crosses his arms over his chest, "I refuse to get in there and check.. I've crawled into a great many dumpsters in my time but never one that contains my doppleganger. Tha's timetravel 101, don't touch yerself." He sends them both a parentally stern glare just in case there were any snickers for his word choice, then after a beat - snickers about it, and moves on.

Beau starts to walk around the outside of the dumpster and looks between them, "One of you check and see if that's me, from another time line... I've always said I had trouble with linear time but I didn't think I'd end up doubling back on my ownself." Shook.

"Well, I'll jump in there, if someone wants to give a boost," Blossom volunteers. "But it might not be a good idea, Bobo." A glance to Dante. "If we got his fingerprints and maybe, I dunno, a strand of hair, we can see if he's related to Mister Suelo?" She starts to wriggle up the side of the dumpster, hoping someone will be good enough to shove her over the edge.

If only Dante didn't have experience in space-time from when he was alive -- he may be the only kindred to truly appreciate the threat we have right here, on our very hands.

The Tremere vaults into the dumpster, and pushes the body towards a light source, so he can get a better view of the man. Dante comments aloud, "I see the resemblance now .. but I'm not quite sure if it's a dimensional anomaly."

Yes. He's speaking of this as if it's an actual 'real' thing.

The man in the dumpster stirs, groggily coming to. He blinks bleary eyes, squinting up at Dante with a confused expression. His speech is slurred as he mumbles, "Wha... What's goin' on?"

The man squints up at Beau, his gaze unfocused as he asks, "Dad?" He tries to sit up, but his body wobbles unsteadily, and he ends up slumping back against the dumpster. Then he looks over to Blossom, "Am I dead?"

Beau, for his part, ducks behind the edge of the dumpster and out of sight as he runs to the opposite end of it in the direction of the house. Clown's on the run.

Blossom kicks against the side of the dumpster, ballerina slippered feet flailing. "How about checking his pockets for some ID for something?" she suggests, growling a little as she's left to dangle there while the badass Tremere just leaps in like some frog back into its pond. "I'm a little height-affected here, gents!" Then, silent as she hears another voice address Dante as 'Dad'. She strains to pull herself up, peering down again as the man sees her and asks about his own morality. "Uhm... no. What's your name?" That matters to her even more than Beau running away. Running clowns can be found.

Clearly, Dante Bishop cannot be this man's father -- Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon references abound.

"I'm not getting involved in this at. all."

Not only could this be a huge masquerade breach, the whole thing is: "....too damn Jerry Springer for my ass." He'll vault right back out of the garbage dumpster and begin to walk away, pretending like he saw absolutely nothing at all.

The drunken doppleganger drifts back to sleep on a slab of marble with a couch cushion for a pillow when Dante releases him, calling out something, "You tell Marge she can come find me her damn-self, this is MY house." And then he is out again, unlikely to be roused by anything short of extreme force.

The clown, much like the wizard, is already washing his hands of all this... he's gone.

<OOC> Blossom says, "What should I roll with Scrounging?" <OOC> Dante says, "Wits, I think?" <OOC> Dante says, "Or perception" +ROLL/+DICE> Blossom: Wits + Scrounging vs. 6 -> 4 successes. (10 9 8 7 5 4 2) <OOC> Dante says, "jeebs" <OOC> Blossom says, "He is raped of his shit." <OOC> Beau says, "Go for it, he won't fight back so you can just pose taking hair. And if you want to make a scrounging roll to see what you find that's cool. You can make an investigation roll for the property too. Yeah, Wit for scrounging perception for invest" <OOC> Beau says, "You get his wallet. I will page the contents." <OOC> Blossom says, "I'm taking hair too. Not taking blood, though. Respect." You paged Blossom with 'A debit card, four credit cards, a single photo of a woman with long blue hair, no cash. It is a nice slim leather wallet but it looks old, at least ten years old but it was a designer piece at some point in its life. The ID lists this address, his name is Reginald Beauregard the Fourth and he is 38 years old.'. <OOC> Dante +votes! <OOC> Beau votes! Thanks guys, was fun.

"Awww, whatever," Blossom grumbles when Dante gets all righteous. "He's like, comatose!" She mumbles under her breath as she rolls Beaularganger all around and frisks him better than any cop would ever dream of doing. She misses nothing. Nada. "First time I ever seen a Tremere walk way from learning about another Kindred." MumbleMumble.

From afar, Blossom(Boo) doesn't steal his shit, but snaps photos of everything with her phone. You paged Blossom with 'Noted!'. You paged Blossom with 'He's blackout, so he won't remember any of it'. From afar, Blossom(Boo) nods. :)