2020-09-28 Loch Ness Locust

Loch Ness Locust

Participants: Christian Aspen Karner Kaden Vy Locust Caydence Jordan Vic Rosalia Zebastian Mal Los Perdidos

Storyteller: Aspen

Location: Pool & Patio - Cruce Manor

Date and Time: September 28th, 2020- 12:15 am

Summary: A hungry vampire, a pair of thieves, a biker in a pink speedo, a cop, and a Hello Kitty purse. Sounds like a good time.

Mood Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRD0-GxqHVo

The bright, waxing moon hangs heavy in the dome of the sky, wreathed in wisps of cloud that resemble the cotton candy sold at county fairs. It is a Saturday night, a golden September arcing over Santa Monica like warm honey, and the attendees at the pool soiree are in a good mood - people are talking, the punch is only marginally rancid, and only a handful of the mortal party-goers had raked in two near-sexual harassment suits since arriving. There are underwater lights in the pool, casting an oily yellow light, and a long-haired man with aviators passed out on the pool recliner in the corner is beginning to look sinister.

Discreetly placed speakers fill the poolyard with a mellow beat, drifting just below the level of discussion. A DJ booth is next to the bar with a latino man bobbing and spinning tracks.

A dimly lit path snakes up and away from the pool area, dotted with atmospheric garden lights planted in a zig-zag pattern all the way up. A few people wind their way up towards what appears to be a plateau of freshly planted sod overlooking the ocean and lights of the Santa Monica tableau. A few bistro chairs and tables are set up there, creating comfortable spaces for private conversations.

The gathering is saturated with the stuff of deception, and yet not a single lie has been uttered. Black-clad servers mill about, each in thrall to some greater master, taking down drink orders and serving hors d'oeuvres to those willing to try. Bagged blood is stored in several fridges behind an outdoor bar area at the head of the pool yard. The servers alternate between retrieving the dark substance along with wine and other alcohol on tap for their numerous hungry guests.

The guest list itself is comprised of only Kindred, ghoul or thrall. The Kine there are few, but serve an important purpose all the same.

A pack of bikini-clad women and a few men in boardshorts stand together, a few seated, coked up or drunk by the way they move in slow-motion freeze frame. They are clearly mortal, struggling under the burden of their unique states, hearts beating in a flurry, furious with life.

Christian is... predictably, standing by the DJ doing his thing. He glances at the playlist with a frown, considering the set with intrigue. With a nod to the man after an exchange about the sound volume, he goes about and grabs a glass of 'bloody mary' from the tray of a servant, along with a genial smile. Drinking the crimson concoction, completely relaxed as he greets a thinblood Westsider here and there, apparently happy to be hosting these events. Settling in one of the pool chairs, he watches as some thralls start to swim in the pool, though his look isn't one of tranquility but of vigilance.

Vy and Kaden are here, already, chatting, milling about. She's dressed in a red, two-piece swimsuit, which is covered by a white, open-knit, crochet style cover-up in the form of a mini- dress. Her hair is done in waves and held out of her face with sparkly combs, and she wears high, wedge heeled, open-toe espadrilles on her feet, the sort of shoes that require supernatural grace to ensure one doesn't break one's neck in them while navigating around a pool. Kaden's nearby, dressed in a pair of black boardshorts with a single red strip running down the outer edge of either leg.

As one of those black clad waiters approaches, she smiles, a broad, pleasant smile, then touches his arm. "Yes, I would - " she agrees. "Thank you, darling. Two - I think?" she looks at Kaden, tilting her head, but assuming he'll drink as well.

Long, beachy waves blend like a continual gradient with sun-touched skin, broken only by the pale pink of a bikini interwoven with golden cord. Aspen lounges back on a recliner, eyes on the pool, a mojito with mint leaves sweating in the curl of her fingers. Mrs. Cruce runs her fingers in idle patterns through wet, glossy waves and continues to idly stir her drink.

Dressed in a simple black tanktop that shows off his tattooed arms along with those black shorts, Kaden stands with Vy now that the party is kicking off. There is a smile to her as he watches the various guests arrive, waving to someone here or there. He nods to her question adding, "Yeah I'll drink too, thanks." With that he wraps an arm about her and nods towards Christian, smiling to one of their hosts as he keeps a close eye on the happenings going on.

Well check it out: so much activity... Zebastian is strolling in, accompanied by a very stylish Asian woman with a complicated haircut - they're laughing to one another, sharing some half- whispered bon mot between them, and looking ... like they vaguely knew it was a pool party? The woman is dressed in a black and white psychedelic swirl bathing suit underneath a neon green crochet dress, her stacked platform marble crocs festooned with glittery charms and irony. Zeb? He's in black waxed jeans cuffed over tactical boots and a hugely oversized sweatshirt with a warped neon green smiley face with a bullet hole between its eyes melting on the front. Not swimwear. Maybe he misread the RSVP.

Not that Zeb seems to care. The kid laughs and swats at the air around Mae, then turns - catching sight of Vy and Kaden, his hand lifts; fingers just about poking out from behind the cuffs of his sweater. Food and drink? Ignored! The kid glides over with a crooked smile for the two; "What're you drinking to?" Amused. A quick glance around to the various, uh, thralls and such - then back to Vy and Kaden, he chatters along teasingly; "Discretion?"

Arriving now, more or less on time, is one Karner Blue and entourage. Karner opens the garden gate and moves up the path, hands in his pockets. He is dressed in a boatneck shirt with three-quarter sleeves, a black collar, and thick, vertical black and white stripes. The shirt is tucked into black capri slacks with a black rope belt, paired with black leather slip-on laceless sneakers. On his head is a white panama hat with a black band, and he wears black Wayfarer-style sunglasses with mirrored blue lenses.

Despite hands being in his pockets, he's got Jordan's arm linked with his, and Vic is right beside him, though he has declined to link arms with the hulking man, apparently. Might be a little too Wizard of Oz for his taste. Karner's mouth is set, like /maybe/ he stands in judgment over /other/ pool parties after throwing so many pool parties in the heady days of yesteryear (i.e. a few weeks ago). But maybe not, because sometimes his face just looks that way.

The pool is a placid mirror, a clouded echo of the dark sky with white points above.

This is revoltingly short-lived.

A black-haired man with pale appendages and an even paler Speedo takes a running leap from the pool deck, pulling his knees in to his chest and banding them in tight with his arms.

"I AM A GOLDEN GOD!" he exclaims loudly, last words. He vanishes below the surface, the water smashing against the side of the pool and leaving trails of frothy sprume. Within seconds he materializes and climbs out of the pool, the water streaming from his body sheathing him in glasslike brilliance.

Beside him, a woman makes a noise that sounds suspiciously like spilling beer all over herself.

Lifting his glass to Kaden in a silent toast, Christian flashes his coterie-mate a smile, then greeting Vy in the same way. Glancing aside to his wife, Mr. Cruce seems very keen to observe her all of a sudden, his smile constant when he graces her with it, nudging her hand with his own. "Good planning, on the layout," he tells her, before sipping on his glass.

As Zebastian makes his entrance, he nods to the fellow Westsider, observing the man for a longer moment. "Evening, Zeb." A faint smile to him and he's glancing over at Karner Blue when the man makes his entrance. "Hey, Blue. Welcome to the festi--" The loud splash draws his attention as he sits up, though he seems to relax as Mr. Golden God resurfaces, completing his sentence then: "festivities."

Glancing about, Vy smiles up at Kaden, then waves toward Christian, leaving Aspen in peace, figuring the poor woman needs it.

"Zeb, Mae, hello," Vy greets the two, air kisses for Zeb (and Mae, if she'd be otherwise disappointed to not receive). "Fabulous, just fabulous," she comments to Mae, in complete sincerity. "Did you hear that I loved your set, last week, at the skate park?" she gives Zeb a playful look, like he better have passed that on. "I loved it," she adds, for emphasis.

Then, to the others: "Karner, Jordan, Vic, hello."

Jordan's clad in not much ( https://i.pinimg.com/564x/45/0e/c5/450ec50150312bd112c599b5f6775ed5.jpg ). But it's white, and it shapes and cradles her figure, displaying her street-kid scratcher ink and leggy figure and contrasting her dusky skin tone. She lightly reaches to tease the corner of Karner's mouth with a white lacquered fingernail, as if to encourage a smile - though she might get bitten. "Vy. Kaden." Where Vy is, Kaden is usually nearby. "How is everyone tonight?" she asks, seeing a few more familiar faces.

Aspen tips her head towards Christian, her lips curving over the rim of her tall glass. "Thanks," she replies. Her lime green eyes drop follow the 'Golden God' as he attempts another cannonball. Her attention shifts, sliding to Vy and Kaden. She raises her glass, her smile larger. Zebastian and Mae get an incline of her head, and she even sits up slightly, feet flat to the ground at the edge of the recliner. Karner, Jordan and Vic get a curious look, something muffled by the flow of half-naked people strolling from the pool and bar and back again.

Is this the place? Caydence wants to make sure she hasn't stumbled upon some random pool party in Santa Monica. But the overwhelming 'vampire' 'smell' (okay there is no smell, it's just a sneaky feeling!) easily leads her in the right direction and she follows some other random party-goers in thru the gate and lands upon all... this! And, her first thought is, she is waaaay overdressed! Do people really wear swimsuits to pool parties now? Caydence looks down on her Black loose woven mesh sleeveless top that lays over a black bra, and her very short, red plaid skater skirt accompanied by 7" heeled black leather ankle boots and sighs. At least her bra and panties are black, and match, because undoubtedly she is going to get thrown in. She grabs a bloody mary (nice) but only intends on carrying it, not ingesting it. She spots the 'couples'... Aspen and Christian, Vy and Kaden, that she knows, and gives a happy little wave their direction. And then she looks around, intent on meeting or re-acquainting herself to everyone. She has -not- brought guests with her this evening.

Karner notes Zeb, Vy and Kaden over yonder and raises a hand, smiling and waving at those three in a friendly fashion. He greets Christian in return with nary a glance at the pool and its Almost Famous imitator, like that's just sheer background noise. "Good evening, Cruce. Thank you /so/ much for the invite. I'm sure it's going to be a wonderful time." He doesn't bite Jordan, as it turns out, but he does grab her finger and shake his head at her. Hey, at least he /is/ smiling now. There's a nod to Aspen, because whether or not she remembers him, he remembers her, even if they did only meet once. And there is a curious glance to Caydence as she arrives and he observes the newcomer, whom he hasn't met.

"Cee Cee -- lookin' good, my man." Zebastian chimes in Christian's direction, giving him a little two-finger salute and half-grin in greeting - same for Aspen. When Vy addresses him, he leans in to air-kiss her in return -- laughing and nodding, hair swooshed over his shoulder as watches Mae give the Toreador an air-kiss greeting in return, then almost but not quite smiles. Hazy dazy, this Mae. Opposite to Zebastian, whose hands gesture as he chatters on to Vy animatedly; "Oh like, for sure - totally tore it up. We're thinking of next spots - maybe somewhere in Sawtelle - Food Hole's small, but a bolt cutter will get one into Stoner Park easy enough - what do you guys think? Where's next?"

So much chatter - so many people! The Malkavian's attention seems splintered, and just barely hanging on to Kaden and Vy in the process.

"You really are terrible at picking parties, Finn," a woman with a crisply cut blonde bob says nearby, from her present post at the cabana bar. She chews a wad of gum too large for her mouth, rolling it around in her cheek while placing her Corona on ice down on the counter, glancing now and again at the television mounted behind the twitchy bartender.

Her statement, directed at a man with a goatee and shaggy red hair, serves to only amuse him. He slaps a hand over his heart and makes a highly tragic expression, which cracks away into a roguish smirk. "Cordelia, you wound me."

Cordelia gives a look of arch disdain and turns away, nursing her golden bottle with pointed dismissal. She's wearing a long beige swim wrap over a black bikini and kitten sandals, nothing too memorable. The two fade into a quieter conversation augmented by an overly loud commercial jingle and the hollow clink of glasses.

Following along with Vy in greetings to all, Kaden smiles and nods his head, "Zeb, what's the haps? Mae, good to see you." Smiling wider he doesn't offer air kisses but he does offer a polite shake and a claps of one hand on his shoulder. Jordan gets a warm smile and a softly spoken response, "Doing well. Good to see you tonight. Glad you could make it." All smiles he follows that with another wave this time for Aspen along with a grin as he greets Vic and Karner too. "What up guys?" Looking to Vic he adds, "We doing this handshake... What did we settle on?"

The shake is held as he turns to give Caydence a wave, "Good to see you again." Returning his attention to Vic he says to Vy, "How deep should this shake go. Is the booty bump too much babe?" Looking back to Christian and Aspen he asks them, "Maybe some Kid and Play style dancing?"

"Anytime, man. Let me know if you need anything." Christian replies to Karner, drinking another sip from his drink before he's smiling over to Zeb for the salute, returning it in kind. Caydence's entrance earns a nod as well. "Hey there, Caydence! Welcome to the party," he calls out to the blonde. "Feel free to grab a bite, or a drink, or anything inbetween. If you need anything, let me know!" With a bright flash of a smile to her.

"I don't know, Kaden, anything goes, really. The, uh, dance floor," he gestures to the deck, "is all yours." Looking over to his wife, he asks, "Would you like to dance?"

"Food Hole is too small. Cut the bolts," Vy agrees with Zeb, her eyes glinting with amusement, her tone light - she doesn't need to dominate his attention.

She, too, is watching the comings and goings, probably keeping a mental list of who to greet and in what order. Spotting Caydence, she waves back, flashing a bright smile.

Then, hearing Kaden say the word 'booty bump', she gives him a particular sort of look - it's froster and salter than a bagel with lox dropped in a snowbank. "Mm, I think you know the answer to that, Kaden."

Aspen stands up, weaving her way through the attendees towards Vy, Kaden, Christian, Zebastian, Karner and the larger group as a whole. "Hey," she interjects, smiling at Vy and Jordan in particular. "Love your swimsuits," she approves, bobbing her head. To Kaden, she merely laughs.

Turning, she shifts her eyes up to her husband. "Oh, no, not tonight for me." Her eyes scuttle away in their sockets, perusing the group of highly drugged people grouped together on the other side of the pool. She slants Christian a hard look.

Vic is never part of a couple, unless you count Karner in which case it's more of a Statler and Waldorf relation, with Karner also playing the part of Astoria. The bruiser is wearing simplistically black board shorts with flip flops. A tee-shirt clings to his fit physique, and dark shades cover those piercing blue eyes. He's moving along with Karner and offering Vy-co-Den a joint smile and nod, "Sup you two?" he offers though he's also happily eye-effing Jordan in her not-there swimwear, no shame.

There it is. Jo smiles back to Karner, letting him keep her hand for as long as he wants it - impishly bobbing her eyebrows at him, because she can't not be a mischievous shit sometimes. "Glad to hear it Kaden. Evening, Zaint. Everyone looks in a good mood." She says, shifting her gaze to Vic and smirking when she catches him looking a little long at her flanks.

Noticing movement, Mae turns to watch Aspen -- then smiling, the girl bounces off in her direction, abandoning Zeb to the group. She can be seen trying to catch up with the hostess, aiming to share a quiet word or just make her presence known, who can tell. Does Mae look Vic's way? No! The guy is blanked.

Zebastian meanwhile is chattering along, giving Kaden a wink before he turns to Vy and nods, "Guess I gotta invest in some bolt cutters, then -- I'm sure nobody will mind, ja? Have you---" Zebastian cuts short, turning as Jordan calls his one true name. "Jo-jo beeeeeaaaans, ohmygod, /look at you/." Hands flap, as if cooling a body that hasn't been warm in a long, long time -- expression Bright! And! Vivid as he chatters on to her; "What's going /on/ in your =world=?" Asked so eagerly, and yet those pale blue peepers scan the edges of space -- watching a group over by the garden path, or just charting shadow people and will-o'wisps? Inconclusive.

Aspen is nearly steamrolled by Mae. She struggles to keep her drink steady, stunned by the sudden appearance of the girl within her personal bubble. "Oh, hey!" she says, shocked by the level of animation from this one; Aspen had suspected she might have more kinship with kitchen sinks than other people. "How are you?" Has she ever said a word to Mae before? Dubious.

Karner squeezes Jo's finger but eventually lets it go. He wanders a bit farther into the pool area -- still with Jordan, but she could certainly detach herself from Karner at any point and he wouldn't stop her. He begins to take a slow stroll around the pool area, taking it in, observing the guests, who is placed where, with whom, and maybe why, if he can ascertain it. At one point, standing not far from the hot tub, he simply stops and stares up at that huge moon, the amber light reflecting in the blue mirrored surface of his glasses.

Dropping the topic of the over complicated handshake, Kaden winks at Vy and gives her a nod.

"Aspen is right, great swimsuits." Giving the hostess a warm smile he grins wider at Christian. "Oh man. We should have a dance off tonight. Winner takes home... Something? Leftovers?" Chuckling at his own lame attempt at humor he turns back tot he group as a whole. "I think it's a great night to party, right? Thanks for having us Christian and Aspen. We'll make it a regular thing, party at your place." One arm wraps about Vy as he calls out to Karner, "What do you think Karner, you down for a dance off?"

Across the pool, a man with a cleanly shorn head breaks from a riotous group and begins to wind past the perimeter of the water's edge. He passes Cordelia and Finn, both of whom have turned their attention inward to the television set mounted behind the bar.

"I'm fairly sure those prople brought their own party favors, Aspen. Don't look at me like that." Christian nods a greeting to Vic, recognizing the tattooed stuntman from several moons ago. When Mae approaches Aspen, he tilts his head, watchful. Jordan earns a smile as he turns to greet her, then, with a slight nod of his head by way of greeting. "Hey, if you need anything at all, let me know, alright?"

Kaden earns a bright smile from him as he reaches out with his free hand to squeeze his coterie -mate's shoulder.

Mae is rather quiet, it's true: when she greets Aspen it's with a very soft Bel Air accent. "So well, totally. Thank you~? For like, inviting us? I wanted to saaaay, that if you needed help with the music? Just say." The girl slows as she spots the bald headed man, but then adds to Aspen: "Also like, are you guys four-twenty cool? Like, if I vape?"

Slipping away from Zebastian when he greets Jordan, Vy leans into Kaden for a beat. She moves in Karner's direction, like she's going to greet him, but then she stops, not wanting to interrupt his moon-gazing. "He's thinking," she chides Kaden, playfully, when he calls to Karner, and she keeps her voice low. About the dance off, she shakes her head, smiling, before leaning up to mutter something more quietly to Kaden.

Karner watches the man with the shorn head for a moment, but he's distracted by Kaden. "It depends on the music," he shouts back, one hand cupping his mouth so the sound carries better, though really, he rarely has trouble being heard when he wants to be. Theater training or something. Then he whirls and does an about-face, starting to come back over to where Vy and Kaden are murmuring to each other. "Unless you have something specific in mind, Strong. Vy, this looks incredible on you." Karner takes a step back to observe her full ensemble. "The espadrilles truly suit this look."

There is one blood doll in particular, a beautiful blonde with wavy hair and big, blue eyes the color of the bright summer sky. She stands out among the flock in a fire engine red swimsuit with a plunging neckline that shows off the deep golden 'v' of her sternum, accented by a gold and diamond watch on her wrist. She is lounging in a chair, limp, but deigns it time to rise. Stilted movements bring her to stand on wobbly feet where she weaves in place for several seconds. The sloe-eyed blond woman swallows thickly as if even that effort is too great.

Outside there is a distict rumbling of loud motorcycle pipes revving in the background. The sound comes closer and closer until it is quite evident that a new guest has arrived. Unfortunately for the others that guest is wild, untamed creature known as Locust.

Within a few moments the massive gangrel MC president comes rolling out onto the patio in an outfit that is known to some who attended the beach party some months back. Pinky has made it's return. The muscular biker comes waltzing in with a bit of strut to his step, wearing a hot pink speedo that leaves little to the imagination, and a thin strip on the backside that leaves his two buttermilk biscuits bare to the world. One of the world's biggest men is wearing one of it's smallest bathing suits. "Well, well, well, what do we have here....." He says, gazing out across the crowd to see who all is in attendance for tonights festivities.

Jordan doesn't blush, but she ducks her head slightly with the way Zebastian greets her, letting go of Blue just long enough to turn in a circle. That suit MUST be taped in place. Making swimming a dangerous act and to be avoided. "You're so sweet! We'll have to catch up, soon!" she says, leaning to smooch air kisses for Zeb - for once not terribly awkward, and hurrying to catch up to the date(s?) for the evening.

Zeb gives Vy a little wink as she slips away - attention flittering back to Jordan, as if to hear all the news about her world, it's just ... kid gets so easily distracted. The bald guy over yonder gets a slight glimpse, before Zebastian glances that beautiful blonde in the red swimsuit -- damn there are a lot of people here -- then looks back at Jordan. Confused? Hyped!

Meanwhile: Mae is led off to the DJ booth, where she makes introductions to the other DJ. Totally normal, nothing weird there; #justghoulstuff.

"Of course, Jo-jo." Zebastian chimes in Jordans direction--- his head tilted, eyes looking to the dark skies. Engines rumbling in the distance. The kid's nose twitches, then he moves --- drifting, as if oblivious, vaguely in the direction of the blonde woman in a red swimsuit. Eyes on the sky.

Someone cranks up the music. The tune is something by Wyclef, a flashback that begins soothing but hits hard with the bass. A glance to the DJ booth clarifies that someone else has replaced him, a man who appears to be in his 40's with a dusky skin, a gold nose ring and white tank top.

A gust of wind sweeps down on the gathering from above, fluttering towels and scattering a sheaf of napkins on the bar counter.

"Oops," says a man in a daring neon orange mankini, looking thoroughly unapologetic. His towel slips from his waist in a mad dash, revealing a single thread of floss in the deep seam betwen his buttocks. A tangle of coiled hair floats above his head, a corona of wispy brown. He leans lightly against the bar, bare hips jutted back, face looking inward towards the drink selections. A finger plays idly with the piece of ABC gum that Cordelia left behind, picking at it.

Pause.

"Dude, I can see your secret freckle." A man rises from his pool recliner, the full moon a little too close for his comfort.

The man with the afro glances back and grins wide, revealing his teeth, sharp distractions all in a row.

There is a soft whisper back to Vy before he lets her go to speak with Karner. Watching her slip away he laughs at Karner's response. There is a nod to Christian at the warm greeting and he grins. "Well. I think it's a good turn out for sure." Motioning around the party he points to the orange mankini and chuckles, "Vy wouldn't let me do anything like that. She's too good to me."

"Oh, thank you, Karner," Vy smiles, beaming at the compliment about her shoes. She leans in, now, for those air kisses. "These were a gift from Mack, a few years ago - I think an ex- girlfriend of his had left them behind, I was pissed, and he was desperate," she shares. "But, I was excited that they were vintage - and then later figured out /how/ he had them - and he was in trouble again," added, with a wink.

When Kaden points out the orange mankini, Vy blinks, then nods. Looking down, she touches his board shorts. "These are perfect. You don't know the things I had to do to get them."

The cueball head gets a faceful of Zebastian, who seems to have materialized somewhere between he and the blonde. He sneers at the obstacle before stepping around the Norwegian and continuing on his way.

Zebastian doesn't even seem to realise he's interrupted Cueball's advance on the Blonde Woman -- though it doesn't keep him from spinning in place, pivoting in a smooth twist to distractedly watch, eyebrow arching in an expression of unimpressed curiosity to Cueball's sneering behaviour: ruuuuude.

Somewhere near the DJ booth, Mae has drifted off as the older DJ goes about his set - puffing on a vape, the soft scent of purple haze terpenes drifting, as the girl checks her phone. Typical.

Locust pauses for a moment, looking around the party several times with a seemingly unimpressed look upon his face, "Holy fuck. I drove all away across town for this shit." He shakes his head slowly, and does what he does best: Cannonballs. The behemoth biker begins to move at an exceedingly quick speed, muscles churning and flexing with each rapid motion of his thick legs as he runs towards the pool. Hopefully people are going to be making a clearing for the 'plane' to land because just like that he leaps up into the air, tucking his knees up into his chest with arms wrapped around them, barreling straight for the pool water. Hopefully he doesn't hit anyone.

A few people gasp, struggle and splash to get out of the way of Locust's incoming bulk. SCARY.

Beside the DJ booth, Aspen speaks in dulcet tones to the man spinning tracks. She gestures over to Mae, face animated, before the replacement to the first DJ cups his hand and pulls his fingers in, once. He's looking directly at Mae.

Brightly, Aspen steps aside and nods to the young woman.

Aspen whispers to Mae, "All yours. The other guy had to take a piss and hasn't come back. Or something. I'm not sure this guy is that good, really.""

Karner gives Vy those air kisses, but he's distracted by the arrival of Locust, because who wouldn't be? He grins and shakes his head, chuckling at that very memorable swimsuit. Karner's one of the ones who's had the dubious distinction of seeing it before. Then he returns his attention to Vy and Kaden. "Yes, this shirt is vintage as well, apparently, purchased by my stylist. Summer 1961." He looks like he'd really like to say a lot more about that, but he doesn't. Then he tries to push Vy and Kaden back. "Watch out, darlings. Big man coming through..." Karner's seen the devastation Locust's body can have on a swimming pool firsthand. He also takes a quick glance around for Jordan and Vic, seeing where those two have gone off to, though it might not be far at all.

Caydence makes her way to the edge of the pool, attempting to find a place that is the virtual center of the party, where everyone might hear her if she yelled out. Crazy girl. And then? That is exactly what she does! "Hey! HEY EVERYBODY!" She has a glass but nothing to really clank against it sadly, so she gives up on that idea and raises the sound of her voice further, trying to avoid Locust's cannonball. SPLASH! "First? I'd like to send a shout out to Aspen and Christian for putting together such a cool party! And, thanks for inviting me, and all of us!!" She claps, or attempts to clap but it's hard with the bloody mary glass in hand. She raises her voice again as the (hopeful!) applause dies down. "Second? Can I get all the girls here to take a moment and give your guys a smooch? A really nice, big one... Because... I want to make sure I don't end up flirting with any guys that are already 'taken'!!" She laughs. "Don't want to make any frenemies, after all!" She laughs. "Thanks again for having me."

Posted near Caydence, a few black-attired servers give a collective shudder at her announcement.

"That is the sight of hell," Christian remarks about the man in the orange mankini, his face contorted in disgust before he turns away, looking for Aspen, apparently. Locust's appearance has him nod a greeting to the man in passing, lifting a reddish drink before gesturing to the people walking around with trays. With a welcoming, but brief smile to the man, which fades into puzzlement when the man runs off to cannonball the pool. That's a move that makes the host reminisce of Trent, his coteriemate. he walks on to find out just where Mrs. Cruce is. Leaning in to murmur something to her, he glides his hand across Aspen's shoulder, kissing her temple before moving away.

With a grin to Caydence, he grabs a fresh glass of 'bloody mary' and lifts it to her in a salute.

Aspen glances up, twisting her head on her neck to smile at Christian. Her head leans into his shoulder, briefly, before she turns her attention back to Mae and the tolerably good DJ. Well, not before flashing a big grin to Caydence with a wave.

"I like it - " Vy begins to compliment Kaden's shirt, then takes a few steps backwards, ducking out of the way of the splash by using Kaden as a shield. Blinking, she shakes her head, then mutters something to him and Karner before turning her attention to Caydence. Applauding the Cruces, too, she tilts her head at the request, then laughs, politely, and obliges by giving Kaden a quick kiss on the cheek.

Jordan is just a few feet behind where Karner is, looking up from adjusting the butt part of the swimsuit in time to watch Locust streak by. "Fire in the hole!" she calls out, laughing, then slapping Vic's ass and moving closer to where Blue is.

The woman in the red swimsuit drops her eyes demurely when she is approached by the man with the shaved head and wayfarer shades. Shirtless with only denim-wash jeans and flip-flops, he moves like a bad omen.

There is no time nor effort spared for introductions, greetings, or warning.

The vampire's hand clamps down on the sides of her neck, vise-like, palms cupped over her trachea, fingers choking an artery. The pressure on her larynx causes the girl to stumble, eyes pinpricking as the world slides into a subtle blur. She makes the feeble attempt to slap his hand away, but the effort is in vain.

He backhands her, hard, while still holding her in a professional strangling hold, loosening and tightening without thinking about it. She sags against him, dangling by his grip before her eyes flutter shut. A soft /snick/ and a pair of needle-like fangs emerge, sliding out of his gums with ominous intent.

In the next second he strikes like a snake, twin daggers sinking home while one hand bands around his prey's back.

Silence, save for the chorus of crickets.

A single rivulet of red trickles out from beneath the man's suctioned lower lip like spilled wine. It travels down the woman?s neck and slips over the sharp, dramatic line of her shoulder to splatter across the concrete below.

The bald man continues to consume her like a disease.

Her peers begin murmuring amongst themselves, shifting listlessly about like frightened deer in a clearing. They are too jacked up to note her purpose in relation to theirs, but they seem to understand something isn't right. The atmosphere is thick, vicious, and slow-moving. They stare like faceless bowling pins at the spectacle, eyes tired and vacant.

A violent shove, and then the woman is dropping like a solid stone to the rough cement. A sharp /crack/ rings out as her head strikes alongside the pool deck, bones creaking like a spring door, a bloom of blood darkening and filling the porous divots in the concrete. Her weak hand reaches forward, grappling the hard ground in mute appeal; it slicks itself with vermillion in the piteous puddle below it.

She goes still. Slowly, the thinblood straightens, eyes like ice and a streak of faded red scrawled across his face like a stroke done in rough charcoal, a nightmarish canvas.

Her attacker, a thinblood, makes an exaggerated show of wincing in horror before unleashing a sickle -shaped smile to a group of his friends observing nearby. The vampire holds up his hands in mock innocence and saunters their way, leaving the broken blood doll where she fell. A dark, throaty laugh trails after him, drawing smiles and fist bumps from his comrades. He even hoots and raises his fist to Locust's cannonball.

Vic doesn't care that Locust is here, he might be the only one. He's busy glaring over at Caydence briefly and then there's a clap to his ass and he grunts a bit, flicking a glare after Jo's ass and zeroing in for one of those homing missile slaps that echoes through the area. Then he's back to grinning lopsided and predatory. The cannonball is noticed though, and he grunts, "Six outta ten?"

Christian is having a good time, enjoying seeing people enjoy themselves, and of course something happens to ruin that. He's halfway through his drink when he notices something unfold right before his eyes.

The man with the shaved head is given a look, unamused look, especially given his overall approach to the entire thing. Making his way to the man, he leaves the glass on the pool table while he walks with purpose, assessing the woman that has fallen out cold on the pool deck.

"Hey, asshole, not so fucking fast." The man's usually jovial tone is replaced by something more vicious, something more violent. The fact that he has friends here doesn't seem to matter much to the host.

"You're going to check in on the girl's pulse, and then we're going to have a conversation, or I will rip your throat out of your neck and force it up your ass."

Zebastian's fractured attention -- already torn between Aspen and Christian and Locust's Wild Cannonball and that weird Cueball head moving -- is snagged, when Caydence makes her announcement to the gracious hosts and follows it up with some kind of ... request, about guys and girls and--- huh. The kid's head tips to the side as he studies her, flummoxed apparently. No comment. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. What the Norwegian kid does do is drift backwards, and then backwards again, and then once more until he is positioned closer to that winding pathway that heads closer to the trail leading elsewhere. Does he dash? Nah. Just, takes a Quiet Moment.

...a vantage point to watch... Whatever the fuck is happening. There is a look, over to where Mae is? Around about the time there's that backhand from Cueball and the blonde. Mae is already moving, back to where Zebastian is -- DJ booth abandoned, in favour of retreat.

Malachi and Rosalia arrive, perhaps fashionably late, or perhaps merely semi-on time. The ghoul is dressed in a light gray Patagonia t-shirt with the silhouette of a mountainous landscape clads Malachi's upper body, and down lower he wears a pair of swim trunks with randomized overlapping patterns of blue, light blue, red, and white beach flowers. Down lower, Malachi wears a pair of brown leather sandals. On his shoulder is a green canvas duffle bag, which seems to be stuffed to the brim with something that makes it bulge near the center.

His arm is cuffed around Rosalia's, who's dressed in a long jacket to protect her against the night air, as well as a pair of strappy little blue heels. Malachi is smiling, chatting lightly with Rosalia as the two enter through the back garden gates and into the pool area, where Malachi stops to gaze around the party with a soft hum.

One look at the scene before her turns the blood in Aspen's veins to ice. She is deaf-mute, and what she sees makes her wish she were blind.

Her electric eyes flare wide in amazement. "Wha--what," she whispers raggedly, clenching her clammy hands into fists. She watches the mob of women and men, all in a tight circle and barely cognizant, much less standing.

A pervasive, ineffable sense of unease fills her. She looks for Christian, finds him, and in her gaze is every last look of someone holding the suspension of disbelief that -this is not real-. A monsoon like tidal wave is left shooting from the pool as the crazy gangrel finally breaks the water. Gonna be hard for anyone to avoid that thing. But, just like usual something bad happens when he jumps into the water, tonight is no different and as Locust raises up from the water he seems completely oblivious to the altercation that just happened, "Is this fucker heated? Water feels like silk on my cheeks." He says, a hand coming up and wiping water off the bald parts of his head. He turns as he see's people looking towards some sort of commotion, notices the chick laying on the deck and some people that are upset, "OH FUCK IT HAPPENED AGAIN!" He yells out, thinking he launched another dead body from the water.

Vy hasn't been tracking the blood dolls, necessarily, although that crack on the pavement gets her attention, and, if that wasn't enough, Christian's words certainly did. "Karner, darling. Let me reintroduce you to Aspen," she says, suddenly, in that 'I'm ignoring this but not ignoring this tone'. Then, whether or not Karner follows them, she takes Kaden by the hand and positions them both more closely to Aspen.

Karner was watching Caydence, lips pursing and eyebrows raised as she makes her announcement. He's about to murmur something to Vy when the thin-blood does something unthinkable, and Karner just looks stunned now, staring at the entire scene. When Locust yells, he briefly puts a hand over his mouth before taking it away quickly, nodding to Vy. "Ah, yes, Vy, darling, please do." He will indeed follow along after her and Kaden, though he keeps an eye on Christian and that ruckus out of the corner of his perception.

"Why bother talking to him?" Jordan calls over, drawn by the scent of blood and the sounds of violence to watch the spectacle. In truth, though, she backs right up to Karner's side, flanking him as she watches. "But we may want to similarly dispose of the witnesses, hmm?" she encourages, lips turning up into a vulpine, sly little smile. "Be glad to help. For a price." Ahhh, the cammies taught her well: nothing offered without a price tag attached.

Cueball turns back from his friends, who have suspiciously fallen silent. Pivoting to face Christian, the man laughs deeply and waves a hand in front of his face, eyes still shielded by his shades. "No can do, bro. Peace." He holds up his palms, mockingly placating. Although his friends back up a bit, he remains standing, a sly smile curving one corner of his mouth.

The man with the red hair pulls away from his blonde companion, elbows and body leaning casually back against the bar, head turned sidelong.

Cordelia hops off her seat, moving with purpose towards the bleeding, supine form. Once closer she clamps a hand over her lips to stifle a strangled cry.

"Are you alright?" she inquires, saccharine-sweet. She drops to her knees and touches the woman's temple. When the woman fails to move, the blonde checks her pulse, fingers moving along her neck. "Here, let me help you." Her hands busy themselves with attempting to lift the prone woman's slight bulk.

"Finn! A little help?"

Cue Finn. The man at the bar swaggers over, listening to her suggestion with polite attention, envincing no visible signs of disapproval or approbation. "What's up, Cor? Oh, shit!" He steps back a bit, hand cupping his unshaven jaw.

"She ok?"

"I don't know," Cordelia replies, grunting with the effort of the lift and tutting disapproval when it fails. "Help me and we'll find out."

"Yeah, yeah," Finn affirms, stooping to run his hands conspicuously along the arms of the unconscious form. With a grunt, he helps Cordelia heft up the body upright.

"Let's take her over to the grass," Cordelia instructs, pointing to a thick patch near a slant of shadows at the side of the house, fists now planted firmly on buxom hips.

"You got it, luv." Finn hauls the woman up, bridal style, and makes for the indicated spot without delay.

Vic is clearly not getting paid to do anything about this because he's just watching with the same completely unamused tone that a boyfriend has when he's dragged through the mall; that soul- dead thousand yard stare that hints towards something else lurking. Instead he just turns an amused look on Jordan. Course Rosa and her companion marching in do earn a look and a rather interrupting sound of a shrill wolfwhistle for Rosie, despite still being covered by the jacket. page vy christian=What are you guys planning?

Karner places a hand down on top of Jordan's head: smush. "/Down/, girl," he says, not really a suggestion. "It's an awful thing that's just happened. Cruce is dealing with it, hmm? It's his duty as host. If he needs the backup, why don't you help him then?" He can't /really/ tell her what to do, of course, but there is a certain firmness in his town. And he does happen to glance up and see Mal and Rosa make their way in, finally. The pair get a small, measured smile and a nod of his Panama hat-clad head.

"You don't come to my house and do that." Christian is apparently too focused on Cueball to care about anything else, or listen to offers of help. This is something he can surely handle on his own. Without a second warning he reaches for the man's neck, intent on grabbing him there in a head lock, his gaze intent on the edge of the pool where he has just bludgeoned the girl.

Dragging the man towards the edge of said pool, he casually, or perhaps overly violently, starts to smash the man's skull sideways onto the edge of the pool, once, twice, thrice, for good measure. There is a struggle from Cueball, but it seems that the party's host is able to overpower him completely.

Once the man is downed, at least for now, there is a kick for good measure as he walks away. "No worries, he's still alive." He smiles, reassuringly, to the mortals involved. Turning to Cueball again, he snarls:

"Get the fuck out."

Having been kind of just going with the flow, Kaden catches on to stuff getting rowdy and looks to Vy. Nodding at their unspoken communication he looks to Aspen then slips away to back up Christian, free of charge and without being needed to ask.

The first thing that draws Rosa's attention is the commotion surrounding the vampire and his victim. Her brow furrows, and she comes up onto her toes in an attempt to see what's going on. Alas, she is too far away and too damned short, to be able to see it from where she is.

Which means that Vic's whistling easily draws her attention away. She affects a playful little grin, then glances down to her wrap coat, held to her form by one warm wrapped about her waist, then offers him up a coy shrug.

She'll get halfway to pulling it off to reveal an outfit absolutely identical in every way to Jordan's slinky little number, excepting that Rosa's is black-- and the blue shoes, of course. It won't be until Christian snarls, that she recognizes something awful just happened. She takes a step forward in concern, then takes a step back, to shrink down beside Mal and let the host handle his unruly guest.

Aspen stares at the pair bewilderedly, uncomphrending, face a blinding stretch of emptiness. Finn shoves past her and jostles her out of her stupor. Her eyes are salty and blurred, so she swipes at them with the back of her hand. She looks at Christian fully, wishing the layers of the mysterious weight she holds will dissolve with the shadow of her pleading eyes, which bear darker circles beneath and deeper lines above than her twenty-three years of life should warrant. She makes a slow, laborious route towards the side of the house where Finn and Cordelia vanished despite being left near Karner and his entourage.

Looking to Cordelia and Finn, for a beat, as they move the woman off to the side of the house, Vy reaches for Kaden, grabbing his upper arm, then looks to Karner, as well. "Follow them?" she suggests, then speaks, low, not wanting to disrupt the others: "I think there's some sort of - foul play, petty thievery going on? I'll let Christian know." When Aspen goes that way, too, she squeezes Kaden's arm. "Now, please?" And then she's off, trying to get Christian's attention. Zebastian remains where he is - now joined by Mae - off the trodden path and hanging out by the hedges --- half-watching the goings-on, but making zero attempt to intervene; just observing, face obscured by hair as he turns to murmur something to Mae...

Are they laughing with one another? No matter! Just observers on the sideline, nothing to be concerned about. The kid is distracted enough that he doesn't seem to notice the new arrivals, or the complicated machinations of Aspen and Christian's other party guests.

Cueball doesn't see what hits him.

One moment, he's cracking his shit-eating grin Christian's way, and the next he's being brutally bludgeoned into the cement. His head smacks again and again into the side of the pool, accentuating the whump-whump-whump of the water smacking the pool filter. In fact, the tempo seems to synchronize.

Collapsing, Cueball goes unconscious. He is in no shape to deal with the last words issued by the host, and in fact his friends scatter like leaves in the wind.

Malachi's arm wraps around Rosa to tuck her in somewhat against him as the commotion happens, his head leaning down to murmurs softly to the woman as he guides her out of the way of the exit. You know, just in case rowdy elements come through it! His attention briefly caught by the whistle, and Karner, Malachi hums lightly as he peers at Vic from afar, then gives Karner a slight wink.

Continuing into the party, Malachi takes a look around, gauging everyone here and the happenings about them as he keeps quiet for the time being. The duffle bag, at least, gets dropped next to one of the chairs around the pool once they're far enough to be near it.

The blonde in the red swimsuit is out like a light, completely insensate to the world. Her hair fans out before her, a river of wheat that bouys the relaxed outline of her face. The gold watch on her wrist is missing, perhaps conspicuously, if one were looking for such things. Finn, Cordelia are not in attendance.

Jordan positively pouts when Karner tells her to behave, leaning to surely whine at him plaintively, before sliding her gaze to Vic. There's a huff after she whispers to Karner, "Fiiiine." she grumbles, clearly pouting when she wraps an arm around Karner's waist like a short leash.

"What the devil? Vic, Jordan, this way, would you?" What, you thought Karner was going to follow Kaden /without/ his entourage. No way. And since Jordan's wrapped around him again, she will once more get forcibly pulled.

Uh oh there is a bloody man laying near the pool the territorial waters of Locust who has already staked his claim. A thinblood remains half beaten laying near the pool, bleeding and Locust is licking his lips at the bit. That's shark bait. Broad strokes then come from the massive pink speedo clad biker and he is moving full force to the limp noodle of a man that is left. "SHARK BAIT." Locust annouces as he comes to the edge, massive arms wrapping around the thinblood, and then dragging him into the depths of the pool.

Held by Vy, there is a look her way then Kaden nods in understanding. "Ok, be safe." Giving her a smile he then turns and looks after Fin and Cordelia. Motioning for Karner to follow he leads the way to the side of the house and spots Aspen over the form of blonde in a red swimsuit, knocked out cold. Motioning to the woman's wrist he says, "Her watch?" Looking in the direction Fin and Cordelia went he continues on.

Like spilled trash, the bald man slips into the water and dips far below, his body ensnared by the diving biker.

Vic just exhales a slow breath of annoyance as he's /summoned/ like that. There's a slight squint and for a moment it looks like Karner may end up the next sacrifice to the great Locust-ness Monster. A singular twitch of his upper lip and the stuntman acquiesces by reaching out and poking Blue in the ribs hard, prodding him along like one might encourage a cow to the slaughter house.

Cordelia and Finn reemerge from the side of the house, the former strutting over to a nearby server to roughly pluck up a shot of Alabama Slammer from his tray, which he quickly attempts to right. She makes a quick swig of it, tossing it sideways into a patch of grass. The latter ambles by, hands shoved coolly in the pockets of his jeans, one pocket bulging prominently. Unlike Cordelia, he isn't wearing swimwear but opts for denim and a long, loose shirt that billows open at the front to show off the long line of his abdominal muscles.

The two continue on together, moving back to the gaggle of thralls who stare vacantly off into different directions. There's something abominably farcical in the way they make elegance of useless things, like the agonizing sadness in their eyes, the incline of their heads towards no one, maybe each other. All are hopeless gestures that look like waiting, waiting for nothing at all but the end.

Cordelia flutters her lashes and blows a long, artful kiss, which Finn pretends to catch and clutch lovingly to his chest. Jordan is easily swept along, suppressing a giggle at whatever reply Karner shot back at her. The threat of violence doesn't seem to bother her nearly as much as being told to hold off joining in on it.

Aspen is checking the blonde woman's pulse, which thrums weakly. Grimly, she looks up to Kaden and Karner upon their approach. "She's still alive. I can watch her here."

After a soft smile cast to her ghoul, all of Rosa's attention gets stolen away as Karner and the others move to leave. Her brow furrows. She pouts over to Mal, then step-steps to intercept Karner afore he can vanish. "And where are you going, mijo?" What would normally be flirtatious, comes out riddled with genuine concern over the bloodshed.

"Stop that, Victorinox." Karner says that with a certain frosty imperiousness, but he doesn't actually try to do anything to Vic, so. How offended can he really be? But before he and Vic and Jordan get too far away from the party, he's being stopped by Rosa. "Oh! Hello, darling. I love the shoes." Karner grins his big grin down at tiny Rosa and her blue heels. Of course. "We were going to check on some...shenanigans, though it rather seems like everything's under control..." It's not really under control at all, probably, but he was trying to be polite.

Christian simply watches as Locust drags the thinblood into the depths of the water, his expression unreadable. He's completely silent, completely still. Like restrained violence that is slow to dissipate in his bearing.

"Christian," Vy speaks their host's name to get his attention, then squats down next to him, speaking quietly: "Those two," she nods toward Finn and Cordelia. "Petty thievery, I think - something more's amiss than just a lack of self-control. You'll let me know if you'd like any assistance in adjusting their manners? Aspen went off after the girl. I sent Kaden and Karner after her."

Locust and cueball disappear down into the bottoms of the pool. Then with a sudden motion they come back up near the side and 'ol cueball already limp and beaten form is slammed directly into the side of the cement pool with those gargantuan arms that are wrapped around him. Admittedly it looks less like a shark thrashing about and more like a gator thrashing it's prey about. Regardless powerful legs push off the side of the pool as Locust dips back beneathe the water again, dragging the limp man with him. It appears there is gonna be a second assault on the otherside. He may not get a chance to leave the party at this rate.

Cordelia is attempting - or fabricating, at least - some conversation with a man in blue swimming trunks. He fails to fixate on her face, merely weaves to-and-fro on the spot. She leans in as if to hug him, arms coming down and around his hips, skating easily over the material covering them.

Finn is alternating between smirking and glancing behind him, clearly on the lookout.

"Give him a chance to leave without a timeout box, Locust," Christian calls out to the Gangrel biker, before his attention is taken by Vy. Nodding to the Toreador, he considers her, then the people that she indicates. "I want them dealt with," he tells Vy. "But not to the extent of Mr. Cueball, here. Just make sure they're deprived of other belongings and maybe given a black eye for their trouble. Definitely will need K's help on this, so I'll come with." And, truly, he seems ready to.

"Ah." A sweet little smile takes hold of Rosalia's lips as she smiles up at Karner. She shifts one of her hips off to the side, and adopts a more casual posture-- "Well, then-- ehm..." But she can't help but blink curiously at Vic, as a sparkling amusement swells in her features.

"'Victorinox' de verdad?" There isn't anything remotely comforting about her grin, nor the way she looks over her shoulder to beckon Mal with an extended hand and a curl of her fingers, "Darling!" She calls out to him, then fixes her vicious grin back on Vic, with only one little glance thrown to Mal, to make a request: "My phone, por favor?"

Over by the garden path: Zebastian is still chattering along quietly to Mae, in their own little bubble which apparently excludes intervening in any of the ongoing shenanigans in favour of their own in-jokes. Oh sure, maybe Zeb is paying somewhat attention to what's going on -- there are occasional glimpses to action by the pool and what not from his vantage point, but the kid seems totally disinterested in engaging in anything more than a little gossip with his companion.

"Victorinox?" Oh man. Jordan doesn't bother to try and hide the laughter at Vic's expense. She's awful, sometimes, really. Untangling from Karner just enough to greet Rosalia with a kiss to the corner of the twinly dressed woman, she smiles to Mal when he is beckoned forward.

As Rosalia drifts away from him to confront Karner, Malachi is left to his own devices. Leaning down to retrieve his Juul from his bag, he takes a brief hit of it, exhaling cherry-flavored smoke with a soft sigh before slipping it back into one of the pockets and zipping it back up. Receiving a request from Rosalia, Malachi kneels back down and unzips another pocket, retrieving her phone and moving over to hand it to her with a warm smile. "Here you go." Once given, Malachi leans in to whisper something to Rosa.

Stepping away, the ghoul makes his way around the side of the house where Aspen and the downed woman disappeared to, and moves to kneel down next to them with a warm smile. As if everything is fine in the world. Over there, Malachi speaks to Aspen as he examines the woman quietly.

Vic levels Rosie with a look, "You /could/ be terribly mean about this, but it doesn't end well for your phone or our friendship, yeah?" he offers a sharp smile. He also gives Karner and expressly deadly look, "What've I fuckin told you? But you always gotta be fuckin special," he is grumble growling and at this point looking for something to ruin. Currently the options are Karner, Jo, Rosa, and Rosa's phone in the hands of Mal.

Mal reaches up to touch the woman's throat, then puts some pressure on it to begin to stop the bleeding there. "Could you get me towel and some Tylenol?"

Karner glances between Rosa and Mal, then back to Rosa. "New beau?" He met Mal that one time, so the man isn't a stranger to him, but...this connection between Rosa and Mal is a new thing, as far as he's concerned. But this is said before Mal returns with the phone and a whisper. Then he spreads his hands, smirking at Vic. "I think you should be proud, Vic. It's an excellent name. You wouldn't care for me if I weren't special, hmmmmm?" He seems to have left the Finn and Cordelia hubbub to Los Perdidos, although maybe Vy could rope him back in if she wanted to.

Aspen looks up from her kneeling position on the ground next to the prone woman. "Do you have medical training, Mal?" Nonetheless, she rises to her feet and heads back into the poolyard to retrieve the requested item. In short order she returns, handing it to him with a silent stare."

Nodding, Vy rises from her position by Christian's side. She moves over to Cordelia, and she seems to be taking a far more gentle approach to all of thi. "Hey - " she approaches Cordelia, tilting her head, palm outstretched as she glides forward in those vintage espadrilles that apparently belonged to her sire's ex girlfriend. "Can we talk? Please? I'm worried about you." She holds out her right hand, as if wanting to escort Cordelia away for some girl talk.

Mal accepts the towel, pressing it to the woman's throat to better stem the bleeding as he hums in agreement. "I do, actually. Nothing doctor-esque, but enough. Tylenol? And some bandages if you have any?"

Cordelia is completely molded up to the man in blue swim trunks by this point, a seductive pose if it weren't covering for the face she is checking interior pockets below the waistband of his shorts. Scandalous.

Jordan knows that look on Vic's face and just smirks, sidestepping a little and beckoning the larger grumpypants closer. "I'd tell you my name, but it belongs to a dead girl. And it was boring. Jordan is a much better name. You look like you could be a Ryan. Or a..." She giggles. "Chad." It's a bit like baiting a bull, really. Look at the red cape, not the small Rosalia.

Another loud 'THUMP!' echoes throughout the pool area as Locust slams the limp man into the side of the pool again. He rises up fully, a hand gripping the cueball like head, and fangs barely protruding from his upper lip and just past his mustache, "It's your party...." He says towards Christian with his free hand out, thumb tilted upward, and teeter totting between going up or down similiar to the scene from Gladiator. "I'll rip his fucking head off right now." The grip tightens. You can tell what answer he wants in those feral eyes. But that is not the answer he recieves from Christian. It is well known Locust doesn't abide by rules and laws. But he does respect anothers man's property. So, he releases his grip and throws the limp thinblood out onto the deck, "Trash pickup doesn't come until Thursday." He tells them all, and then he is backstroking back into the middle of the pool.

Aspen blinks rapidly, somewhat taken aback, but she nods and leaves once more. This time she goes inside the manor, lights flicking on and off, square of light alternating across the garden path. Within five minutes she returns, offering Mal a box of Tylenol and some loose, gauze bandages. "It's all I have," she says."

"Thank you." Rosalia purrs graciously to Mal, upon receipt of her phone. She takes it immediately into her hands and begins to tap something out on it, stopping only long enough to lend her ear to her ghoul as he whispers to her. She'll levy a concerned little look on him, then give him an approving nod. "Por favor." She rasps furtively to him.

And then it's time to pout at Vic, like he just ruined her entire night! She looks down at her phone, depresses her thumb to erase what must be a loooong stripe of text, sighs and lowers her phone in one hand. "Fine." She smirks at Vic. "Ehm!" Then flashes an abashed smile to Karner. "Something like that, si. Mal is my, ehm..." Her lips scrunch into a thoughtful purse. She regards her ghoul for a moment, then beams that smile of hers at Karner, as she dismisses his concerns with a flick of her wrist, "A companion. A friend." She'll decide that's enough explanation, by turning her attention on Jordan.

"Jordan does suit you, mija." She purrs as she extends an arm to slink it about the woman's

A redheaded woman ascends the diving board, form perfectly poised in her white one-piece as Locust backstrokes towards the middle of the pool. Everything about her is smooth, sleek and lissome, streamlined for ease of motion and brimming with power. She makes a runway walk of it to the end of the board, executes a perfect swan dive over the biker, pale silhouette against the pitch dark sky, a contrail of diamond droplets glittering behind her, frozen in time.

Another woman, treading water nearby, looks up, transfixed, high cheekbones bisected by the sluice of trailing water. Her face betrays naked longing.

"I'm Violetta Jones, darling," Vy says, with a quiet laugh, her tone unassuming. It's just an introduction, not a pronouncement. "Who are you? I mean. I can tell you're gorgeous, but yet, strangely, here with a guy who is punching way above his weight class - " her gaze slides to Finn, pointedly. "Who I am starting to thhink is a terrible influence." Her voice is quiet, gentle, meaning to be conversational without having to shout. "Let's talk?" she offers out her hand again, then nods toward the side of the house.

Mal smiles and accepts the bandages and Tylenol, sitting them down next to the woman on the ground as he motions towards the towel. Using a hand to pick up the bandages, Malachi keeps pressure on the wound while unwrapping them, then removes the towel to begin wrapping them around her throat. Not too tight, but tight enough to stem the bleeding. Then, once he's done, he pins it in place and picks up the bottle of Tylenol. "It's enough, thank you. Tylenol will help her ease into a rest from here. If she's still alive in the morning, give her Ibuprofen, then set her loose. She should be fine if she wakes up. If she doesn't, call an ambulance." The cap is popped off, and two Tylenola re taken out, which Malachi slips into the woman's mouth and moves a hand to her throat to gently ease them down.

Christian nods at Locust, a quick jerk of his head that communicates his appreciation, however grim. Turning towards Finn, the host takes matters into his own hands and seizes the thief by his shoulders. To Kaden he gives the barest ghost of a nod. A prompt.

"Violetta Jones?" Cordelia's face slackens slightly. She releases the drugged man, eyes watching Vy with a glassy sheen. "Yes, let's go." The change in attitude might be unexpected to an estranged bystander, but nevertheless she follows, ambling towards Vy with a willing gait. She even takes the outstretched hand. Fast friends, these two.

Vic must be something other than a bull, but he does still give Jordan a few steps closer so that he's sort of press-looming over her. The mention of other names just making him shake his head, "Vic. Vic is what I like," he states simply before looking over the petite woman that's more leg than she has right to have in that skimpy piece, there's a moment where it looks like the grumpycat isn't gonna budge until he's smiling broad. Though it may sadistically have something to do with making Rosie pout! Finally his attention settles on Karner and he sighs, not really wanting to argue with the Dandy on the specifics of what Vic may or may not like about the other man. The conversations around them earn small focus, he is here to keep Karner out of trouble and with so much happening around it may be more difficult than usual.

What a garden/pool party, eh? Zebastian's attention flirts around, soaking in the special kind of ambience that persists throughout the evening's unfolding events -- though the hyperactivity of earlier has been muted down into a kind of fascinated albeit hazy observation; like either the Malkavian has checked out, or the kid didn't exactly check the label of his medicated pre-party flavours. Oops.

Mae has found her Juul -- cherry scented vapour wafting, as the girl idly finger-combs a lock of Zeb's hair -- and he turns to her, murmuring something or another to his companion - who simply nods, in total agreement.

There is always one eye on Vy it would seem, even as Kaden is in the middle of serious business. Noting that conspicuous looking item in Fin's pocket, the tattooed man waits until Christian grabs him before slipping the stolen watch free from Fin's pocket. Shaking his head he backs off and holds it out for Christian and the rest of the group to see. "These two are the worst kind of thieves... Caught."

Aspen looks aghast. "I won't just leave her here in the garden. We need to get her inside. Can you help me lift her over to a pool recliner for now?" Aspen pushes up, grabbing the blonde under her armpits. She nods over poolside, near the cabana. There's an empty chair there. "You've stopped the bleeding, looks like."

You sense Mal laughs, shaking his head as he motions to Aspen. "Hey, don't worry about it, you're the host. I'm stronger than I look, perks of being a ghoul. Yea, though, definitely near the pool. Better to keep her where we can watch." Kneeling down, Malachi moves the towel onto the woman's stomach, then slips his arms under her to lift her up like she were a small child.

Zebastian is speaking softly to Mae in that melodic voice: "Say I am mad and give my madness rein, to wreck itself; the worst that can befall is but to die an honourable death. More hateful still the miscreant who seeks, when caught? To make a virtue of a crime..."

Aspen smiles fondly at Mal. "Thank you!" She assists him in carrying the downed woman back to the recliner."

Jordan manages to avoid flinching away from the loom o Vic, drawn closer by Rosalia. Who gets a quick cheek peck before Jo rises to tiptoe and tries to whisper to Vic, smirking, then drifting a step or two to keep an eye on things.

"You've heard of me?" Vy seems thrilled, that her reputation precedes her. "I just - wanted to discuss - matters - delicate matters - away from - " she says, quietly, as she leads Cordelia off to the side of the house and away from the view of the partygoers, unless someone chooses to follow them.

"Okay, let's kick them out," Christian remarks as he starts to drag Finn out, once all the belongings that pertain to other people have been since taken from the Bling Gang. Should be just a few steps all the way to the garden gate and then suddenly he's unceremoniously booting Finn and telling him, "Don't come back!" Vy's handling the blonde, so that's a job well done there. Watching so that the man doesn't try to finagle his way in once more, he turns, and makes his way to the party.

Finn is hyperfocused on watching Cordelia's curious exit with Vy; they leave like two girls headed off to the bathroom together. He hardly notices Christian grabbing him with Kaden bringing up the rear. "Hey, what --!" he says, surprised. The man begins to struggle in earnest. "Let me go!"

"Ah, I see." Karner smiles a touch at Rosa. Perhaps that's enough for him. Now that she's fully uncovered, too, he takes a good look at her, then looks over Jordan again. "Perhaps a photo of you two together, hmm?" He's briefly distracted by the sight of the redhead on the diving board, because...well. That's impressive. For a number of reasons. And a brief glance to Vy and the others, too, still keeping an eye on that a bit, especially as the hubbub starts up. "Vic, if it gets violent, help them, won't you? It's polite." Though he sounds a little blase about it. Vic's /first/ duty is still protecting him, for sure. However...

Locust has now crossed to the other side of the pool, settling up near where Karner and the rest of the group are at. He pulls himself up out of the pool about halfway with his elbows rest on the side of the pool, "You know if you didn't get all riled up about the other names they probably wouldn't even bother call you that shit." He gives a glance over towards Rosa and Jordan his fellow gang mates, and grins a bright smile at the two as he notes there outfits, "You ladies are gonna have to tone that shit down or there is gonna be a blue veined whale sighting in this pool." The burly biker begins to let out a belly laugh, rolling his head back and forth, "Time to relax and have some fun anyways. Ya'll too fucking serious."

A navy-uniformed police officer materializes out of the shadows casting the side of the house into pitch. Strange, no one has heard sirens. He is followed by a taller man, one less officiously attired.

The second man has a riot of dark curls, plastered flat to his skull by the flat of his hand. A pair of striped boxers and bunny slippers, topped by a fluffy white robe. The neighbor, imperious with fury, with the dignity backed by a property line, saying, "They have been at this for hours, officer. My family and I are trying to sleep!"

Then, without warning, a sudden sharpness edged in from the corners of his eyes when he spots Vy and Kaden carrying off more victims for their heinous purposes.

"MEEEGAN!"

Another sharp, indrawn breath. "Andre!" The man staggers back a step. He retains a look of dismay that actually begins to falter into total despair.

There is no sound but the faint hum an engine on the nearby residential street, unbearably remote.

From there, the situation devolves rapidly from bad to humiliating.

"I found you. I finally found you," Officer Bixby says serenely, relief like water on his tongue. "I've been searching all over, but I found it." Or, rather, his wife did. Pulling out a sparkly, glitter infested satchel folded in two from inside his shirt, LAPD's finest proudly hands Vy a genuine faux-leather Hello Kitty purse in the shape of the overly branded feline. He ignores Cordelia.

Bixby had spent the entire last two weeks accosting anyone that might look remotely like Vy, questioning and complaining and receiving remarkly little sympathy for his trouble.

"I need liquor," Aspen interjects, nearby. "I desperately, desperately need liquor."

A wistful note softens the edge of Bixby's voice and he puts his hands in his pockets, looking supremely awkward now that his life's directive is complete. "That's it, I guess." He rocks back on his heels, casually finger guns Aspen, and turns around to make his way back to his squad car at the front of the house.

"What just happened?" John asks, despairing.

"Nothing remotely holy," Aspen returns, cowing him with her glare. A pause, then she bursts into action, tailing after the retreating officer. "Bixby! You need to take these two in!"

John puts up a token protest, but he's not about to linger and make nice with the people who threw him into the trunk of their Civic. He turns, bolting after Aspen, but not before stabbing a finger in Vy and Kaden's direction. "This isn't over."

The mortals all spirit away into the darkness, leaving the vampires to linger in the waxy light of the moon and stars.

Silence, and then the orange mankini raises a glass of dark red liquid in a cool toast from near the bar. He's chewing on a blot of hard, pink gum.

Sweet satisfaction.

It's after a few moments that Malachi emerges back from around the corner of the house, the woman that'd suffered an unfortunate biting accident earlier being carried in his grip. Her neck is bloody, but freshly bandaged, and if it weren't for that she'd simply look to be asleep. Mostly!

The pair move to settle her down into a reclined pool chair, where Malachi takes the towel that'd been placed on her stomach to clean her neck off as much as he can manage, then folds it up and tucks it under the woman's head, which he gently arranges to loll to the side into a more comfortable manner. "There we are." Malachi says softly, then stands next to the chair and observes his work before shifting his attention back to the newest dramas and the groups near the pool. Mal pages: Understood! Making sure I'm not double posing you somewhere xD

"Officer Bixby?!?" Vy blinks at the officer when he presents her with the faux-leather Hello Kitty purse. She takes it, wraps her fingers around it, and then clutches it like she's been given the Holy Grail and Bixby is her Indiana Jones. She favors him with a dazzling smile, then blinks, relieved, when he's gone.

She doesn't answer to the name 'Meegan'. She knows no one named Meegan. She just blinks, confused, at John, then shrugs and continues to lead Cordelia off, for some girl talk. "Men are /so/ strange," she murmurs at her. "I mean. Seriously. Does that happen to you two? Random dudes saying random things to you in the hopes of getting your attention? Ugh, gross - " and then they're off to the side of the house for a few.

Vic leans an ear to Jo's whisper and smirks a bit wryly, the indecently dressed woman receiving a sudden and intensely sharp ass smack since there's basically nothing to prevent it. "Promises promises," he counters but he's grinning that lopsided smirk that dimples his cheek some. Locust's input on things just earns a snort "Yeah, but if I didn't give 'em a lil reaction now and then, they'd get bored," he winks to the other bruiser and seems in good enough spirits. Swapping from ornary to personable on a dime, yanno, cuz that's how he do.

Returning from the side of the house, Aspen is despairing between flummoxed and concerned. She is still holding a box of Tylenol and some extra bandages. Wherever Christian and Kaden took Finn - well, she's not entirely sure. Cordelia is still with Vy somewhere near the front, so it leaves Aspen to assist Mal for the moment.

"Here." Depositing the supplies on a side table without much fanfare, Aspen looks on as Mal tends to the unconscious blonde. "Good job, Mal," she says, throwing him a supportive smile. "She hopefully will come to soon."

Jordan squeaks, rocking from the weight of the ass smack and looking a little vindicated in whatever she'd said to him. "Awww, Locust? Only brought the blue veined whale? Shit, I was hoping for the purple headed yogurt slinger!" She calls back to the shark in the pool. Settling in, though, she strikes a pose, draping an arm around Rosie's shoulders and turning a bit. This is her pretty side.

Hey look at that: Zebastian has drifted from his spot with Mae over by the garden shrubbery, and appears over by the lounger where Mal has placed that poor mortal woman. He glimpses towards Aspen, giving her a rather dreamy smile before addressing both her and Mal with a very melodic and hazy; "It is known, ja? Studies show Tylenol reduces empathy. Why could that be?"

That is... a greeting. Mae has turned aside, ignoring the others in favour of puffing on her THC vape and gazing off indifferently. No word for the police or palaver over yonder from either of them. They seem both classically barred out - totally xan'd. Westside special: barbiturates and THC. No cap.

With a nod to Kaden, Christian slaps the man's back companionably before seeking out Aspen again.

"I'm glad to see she's not going to need a hospital. Would be one hell of a problem to explain." His expression looks uncomfortable for a moment, a glance given to his wife to assess her reaction to all this.

Looking over to Mal, afterwards, he nods his thanks to the ghoul, stopping in his tracks after Zebastian's interjection. "Ever known anyone with a headache who had time to be empathetic?" With a grin to the man, he inspects the blonde once more before stepping away.

This time he heads on over to Rosalia, so as to greet his guest. "Hey. Sorry I didn't talk to you earlier. I was dealing with a mess. Welcome to the party, let me know if you need anything."

The pink speedo clad biker emits a laugh at Jordan's comment, rolling his shoulders slowly, "He ain't slung yogurt in quite awhile. More like a womb broom these days." The latino biker continues his cackle as he regards Vic, "This is true. You got to entertain your audience. That's he taught me." A thumb given to Karner before he begins pulling himself out of the pool now, water dripping off his form, "Pretty drama filled night. I wasn't really expecting all that shit." Locust calls out, rolling his shoulders before stretching a bit, "So, what shall we do now....."

"Hey, Zeb," Aspen returns, looking rather ragged and over-wrought. She turns a pale, worn-featured face in his direction, tired eyes sullen. "Is that supposed to help things?" She waves in the prone woman's direction. "Looks like she's out. I'd say she's at 0 empathy, but not on behalf of the Tylenol." Something calculating slips across her face, and then she turns away to find Christian looking at her.

A glimmer of anger swims far below the surface, if her husband were any normal audience to her moods - which, by luck, he is.

Five minutes or so later, Vy returns without Cordelia (and, without the purse, it doesn't go with her outfit). She swings by Christian, first, murmuring to him while pressing something in his hand. She passes her hand over Kaden's back, looking up to him to be sure that he's okay and not scratched. A glance to Aspen, an inviting smile, if she's needed, but she doesn't press. Then, she recirculates, checking in on the others. Zeb and Mae, first, then Karner and his entourage: "Is everyone alright?" Float like a butterfly. Spotting Rosalia and Mal, who she hasn't yet greeted, she smiles, offering: "Good to see you!"

Zebastian gives a delayed nod to Christian -- nodding to what he says with a dreamy smile and quite possibly zero comprehension. He pauses, watching as the man of the house steps away, then turns to look at Mal... Pausing, then leaning in to ask something quietly...

...before turning to look at Aspen, studying her features with slow but thorough consideration. His head tips. "Hey... You do not find, nei? That the unconscious mind has its own form of empathy? Even those in a catatonic state, rest or recovery, can glean a sense - on some level, ja? Of which way the wind blows..." He fades out, then turns and looks at Mal, then out into the middle distance, "...even if the conscious mind is blind to it..."

Orange mankini stalks past Christian, lofting an interested eyebrow, thick like a caterpillar. He raises his glass, still chewing Cordelia's old gum, and saunters past Karner with a glance towards the ground (or, Karner's lower half?) with an appreciative bob of his head.

There is a nod to Christian as Kaden replies, "Good work. Glad it didn't get too crazy." Giving his companion's shoulder a squeeze he smiles to Aspen then grins as Vy returns. She gets a good look over to make sure she's ok and he nods, slipping a hand to the small of her back to follow along with her, making sure everyone is good and backing her up.

Karner gives Locust an overly elaborate bow when he calls him out like that. "Oh, Vy, we're perfectly fine over here. And you?" A nod to the Hello Kitty purse, if she still has it. "What's the story with this...cat-thing accessory?" Briefly distracted by orange mankini, Karner puts his hands on his hips and rather grumps at him, nodding in return. "I've got a theory that pool parties invite trouble. Lowered inhibitions plus water equal a recipe for certain disaster." He oughtta know!

"Ah, no worries." Malachi responds to Aspen with a little wave of his hand. Tilting his head as Zebastian and Mae appear, Malachi listens to those exchanges, a faintly amused look on his face as they speak. Nodding in return to Christian, the ghoul tilts his head to receive that whisper from Zebastian, and snorts in response before whispering back to the man and leaning back up.

"I'm not high or drunk enough for this conversation." he informs both Aspen and Zebastian, a slightly crooked grin being directed Mae's way as he greets the woman. "Hey, Mae, how's your arm? Mind giving me two or six hits of that?" A hand is extended, and faintly pleading eyes are directed her way. He perhaps tries to look pitiful, but the creepy air that tends to surround Malachi ruins it regardless.

Aspen smiles tiredly at Vy, missing mankini's brush-through with Christian and Karner. Zebastian's broken musings pull her back, however, and she looks more than a bit poleaxed. "I think the unconscious mind is capable of what the unconscious mind is limited to. Why, is this some kind of suggestion that we put her under hypnosis when she wakes up?" It's meant to be a joke, but it's the weirdest hour of the morning, so it kind of falls flat.

As an aside, a smile and a wave is sent Vy's way from Malachi to return the greeting with a "Hey Vy!"

'Womb Broom' tickles Jordan's funny bone, the dusky gangrel letting out a loud laugh. "Is the upgraded a model a street sweeper?" she tosses back to Locust, glancing to Blue and then Vic, drifting towards the former and sliding an arm around his wast like proper arm candy ought to.

The pool attendees are now starting to thin. A few ran out when the first blood spilled, a few more when the police officer showed up with his prize, and yet a few further when the orange mankini strutted his stuff across the poolyard. The few remaining are those insensate, too drugged to care, or gawking. The pool is turning tranquil once more, just a few bubbles from the drain below.

The tortured, fallen body of Cueball is still lying sideways along the lip of the pool, his body a broken testimony to Locust's attentions.

"Her name is Hello Kitty, darling. She's a third grader who lives outside of London," Vy says to Karner, about the purse. She's about to stash it for safe-keeping, as it doesn't go with her outfit, but she can't help but answer Karner's question, willing to quietly educate him about Sanrio's kawaii star. Her fingers move over the bag, fondly touching the cat's ears, as if the bag's takes her to another space in time. "Anyway - Mack threw out my bag in a rant about how I dressed. And Officer Bixby.... found it for me."

Turning her head, she smiles at Mal. "Are you enjoying yourself, so far? The Cruces are excellent hosts."

Pausing, then, she considers Cueball. "Could - " she looks at Kaden, wondering if he can read her mind. "Messy," her nose wrinkles.

From behind her vape pen, Mae smiles at Mal -- studying him for a moment, before she exhales a plume of thc vapour in his direction, "So totally good~." The Ghoul chimes in that softly spoken Bel Air accent, leaning in to offer him her vape gladly.

Zebastian on the other hand, seems to be dealing with some kind of ethical/philosophical conundrum - considering what Mal says, before his attention is snapped up by Aspen. "Huh?... Nah, 'course not -- its all a dream anyway -- it just gets a person thinking, ja? ...Are you familiar, Aspen? With hypnosis?" His smile broadens softly, and pale blue eyes study her face gently -- apparently oblivious to anything and everyone else, as he asks in that melodic accent; "What would you alter, if you had a singular wish, ja?"

Locust begins to laugh as well at Jordan's reaction, crossing his arms now across his broad chest now. "Hmm, what to do now." He wonders, turning from the group and beginning to look around the pool area to see who is left about, "I need some entertainment." Yes, the gangrel biker is always in need of entertainment. He gets sidetracted easily.

"You're welcome," Christian replies to mankini as he passes by, eyebrow twitching a little. "Have fun." With a nod to Rosalia, then, after the greeting, he dutifully starts to stalk back to where the blonde lies unconscious, stopping by for a murmured conversation with Vy. He smiles at her, at the end, before looking over to Aspen. He certainly knows her angry look. Getting closer, he comments something in a lower tone of voice to her, before glancing over to Zebastian.

In complete stillness, he tilts his head to the Malkavian, then back to Aspen. In a subtle way, he might obstruct the sight of her for a moment.

Caydence says "So now... don't be shy about those kisses, girls!" Caydence attempts a little levity after... all -that-! "And of course I'm not gender discriminating. If you've got a beau of any flavour, protect them from my flirts with a kiss!" She laughs." From afar, Zebastian(zeb) laughs; can he use perception + alertness with his Auspex diff modifier to evesdrop?

Karner's arm snakes back around Jordan's waist, too, but he does seem to be a bit perplexed by a bag with an adorable cat who is also a girl. What?! But that's the patented Sanrio explanation, and that's the one Vy's just given him, too. "Why, that's wonderful serendipity, darling." When she turns away from him, he turns to stare at Locust, like he's waiting to see what the biker will do. Then Caydence goes back to her shpiel, and he looks over at her. Lowers those blue mirrored Wayfarers just a touch.

Aspen looks up, then, eyes locked on Zebastian's face. A small muscle clenches in her jaw, a tic in her cheek, a wobble of her furrowed brow. "Is this a trick question?" she parries, not quite sure if the question is leading or not. She relaxes perceptibly as if mulling the question over further, until Christian's hip starts to frame one side of her peripheral vision. Her chin pops up, annoyed, and she grinds her teeth. "Christian, what are you doing?"

"Miss Starr!" Malachi calls Caydence's way with a slight grin. "Good to see you!" He motions her over, briefly, but then turns his attention to Mae so he can pluck that vape from her hand. "Thanks." he says to his fellow ghoul, taking a hit from the vape, then exhaling, then taking another hit, and exhaling... He turns and peers at the conversations around him, taking one additional hit even, and exhaling perhaps more smoke than is strictly healthy before passing it back to Mae.

"Thanks." Malachi says, giving the woman a wink, along with a slight cough, just before stepping away from the little group a bit and plopping himself down into one of those reclined pool chair.

Looking to the pool there is a nod of his head back to Vy. "Of course." Nodding to Christian and Aspen to show he's got it covered, the tattooed man moves to the pool and collects the downed man from the edge of the pool. He's careful as he figures the best way to drag carry him away from the party and out and off the property.

Looking to the pool there is a nod of his head back to Vy from Kaden. "Of course." Nodding to Christian and Aspen to show he's got it covered, the tattooed man moves to the pool and collects the downed man from the edge of the pool. He's careful as he figures the best way to drag carry him away from the party and out and off the property.

Kissing? Jordan turns her head to study Caydence, likely missing some important part of this whole... thing. Because she smooches Karner, then Rosa (again, poor dearie), then Vic, starts hunting for Locust, because if she must give people kisses, by god everyone that lean and quick gangrel can catch is going to get kissed.

Zebastian smiles at Aspen, his head tilted - that expression of hazy, dreamy, barred out curiosity cocooning his already soft features like a cottony caul. There is no anxiety - or recognition of that tension of her jaw - just gentle consideration. "Why would it be a trick question?"

In a similar sense, Mae seems in no rush to take her vape back from Mal -- she just winks back at him, accepting the vape and watching as the guy suppressed a cough and goes to sit. A shoulder is shrugged, then the ghoul takes a dainty puff before looking back out to study the sky.

Zeb meanwhile, seems oblivious to all that's happening around the party, except Aspen -- not even Christian nabs his splintered attention. Kid's in his own little bubble, apparently.

Caydence hears Malachi call her and grins. "I like the way that sounds Malachi! Good to see you!" She draws a little closer. "I saw Miss Rosalia for just a brief bit during the chaos. You'll have to introduce me again when things are calmer."

Karner slides his sunglasses back up and chuckles at Jordan and her drive-by kiss. "Now, now, Jordan, what if I want to be flirted with? Caydence is going to get the wrong idea." He's only speaking for himself, of course. Then he turns his attention up to the big moon again, hands moving to slide into his pockets. He hasn't yet sat down or had a drink during this entire party, and appears to be continuing with that particular course of action.

Orange mankini does whatever a man in thin v-shaped swimwear does; he stops, a confident cast to his hips as he poses with much artifice poolside. Eventually his brown eyes land on Locust. A moue forms on his lips, followed by a fingertip press, and then he swaggers back towards the biker, moving slowly behind him while trailing a slightly damp digit along the line of his shoulders.

A saucy wink, and then the man with the afro heads back to the bar, presenting all with a view of his glorious, departing ass cheeks.

Oh, and that secret freckle.

Malachi laughs, nodding to Caydence as she draws a bit nearer. "Of course! Don't worry about that, it'll happen." he assures the woman, his hands moving to push himself back up and off that chair as he turns his attention towards Zebastain, Aspen, and Mae. "Everything you say is a trick question, Zebastian." he teases the man, directing him a slight grin as he steps to the side and grabs a glass of some liquor from a tray either abandoned or held by a passing server.

Taking a sip of his, Malachi hums, commenting 'Vodka tonic' as he flashes a smile to Caydence, and leans in to murmur to the woman lightly.

Locust places a hand up to Jordan so that she kisses his hand, and then begins to shake his head slowly while smiling from ear to ear, "You can't claim us all." The Motorcycle president calls out to his prospect, and then waggles a finger at her. The behemoth's eyes tilt towards Caydence now, and his brows furrow at her words, a laugh escaping from his lips at her call to flirt, "Sounds like a recipe for you to go home with more than some hurt feelings." He says with a big belly laugh that causes his muscular body to contort.

But Locust is immediately distracted. There's been an elephant in the room for some time and that is the orange mankini man. Now, he is bringing himself in the vicinity of Locust. "C'mere cuty pie." The biker growls out, a finger waggling at the man to draw him closer towards himself clad in nothing a but a bright pink speedo, muscles, and tattoos. "I got just the thing for you."

When Kaden drags Cueball, Vy follows after him - she needs a safe place to stash her kitty purse, ater all. "Thank you, Kaden," she can be heard murmuring after the man.

Vic gets kissed and then blinks a bit before staring at Karner forlornly. This gaze shifts over towards Caydence for a moment and then he smirks a bit to his constant companion, "All yours bud," he says before trailing after Jo, "You keep teasin me like this it ain't gonna end well for dat ass," he announces rather boldly and without shame.

"Thanks, Kaden," Aspen allows, struggling to her feet. What a crap day. Even Zebastian is starting to make sense, in a way. "It's complicated. All of it is." She throws up her hands, apparently waving a white flag, and gives Christian a shadowed scowl. "Lead the way, sir," she relents, motioning him forward.

An apologetic smile is thrown for Caydence, then Karner and Jordan. "Apologies, I'm needed inside. Thank you all for coming." A tight smile follows, even as she pats Zebastian on the shoulder. "We'll have to pick this up later, I'm afraid. I'd love to debate empathy and the unconscious state, but I'm needed inside." A smile to Vy and Kaden, and then she follows her husband away.

Smooch! It might be a hand, but it still gets a smooch. "Claim..? What? No some chick was all 'Don't be shy with kisses and gender doesn't matter'." Jordan says, looking back at Vic and smirking. "You keep promising you're going to wreck my ass, and I keep pining away, waiting for your attentions. I'm afraid old age is going to get me first." she taunts Vic, glancing to Locust and shifting her weight uneasily before smiling it off.

"A better question is: why would someone like hypnosis? Objectively speaking, I mean. It could be taken either way, right?" Christian's brow furrows suddenly, as he turns to Aspen. Some look is exchanged with his wife, then, grey eyes stormy before they flick over to the house. Happy when she complies, then, he smiles an apology to Zebastian before starting to lead the auburn-haired woman into the house proper.

"Sorry for taking her away, but she and I do have an outstanding topic to discuss." Having said this to the kid, the host leads Aspen into the house, with an easy, tranquil pace. "Vy, K -- you guys call the shots." He calls out to his coteriemates, nodding to them.

From his place leaning casually against the bar to show off in best relief the long, pallid line of his thin limbs, mankini shakes his head at Locust in a slow, seductive roll. He purses his lips, an air kiss, and then trundles away with a shake of his pelvis and a fluff of his fro towards the garden gate.

If Locusts likes pools, then he hasn't seen the last of mankini. Not by far. The game has only begun.

"Is that what it is? Complicated?" Zebastian asks Aspen -- taking a moment to look away from her and out at the ... rather chaotic spread of party debris that litter the pool deck. They are considered seriously, and the kid bobs his head. "Ja, ja, 'complicated'."

Doesn't seem like he completely agrees though ... it's just Malachi has quipped at him, and the ghoul get an eyebrow raise in response. He looks at him and Caydence, and for a moment it's like Zeb is going to reply--- only Christian is speaking, and the kid slowly looks over his shoulder, smiling in a rather baffled way, his head tilted to the side. Pleasantly baffled.

"I don't understand?..." And apparently Zeb never will -- with Christian and Aspen stepping away, he just lifts his fingers to wiggle at them in departure... Before moving to belatedly look back at Mal and Caydence. "Do you?"

The guy is dumped somewhere far enough away to not be a problem for the house or the party before Vy and Kaden return. He's got her hand in his and he's smiling as they find the party calmed a bit after all that excitement. Looking to see who's still around and what's still going on he calls out to Karner, "Was that dance off canceled?"

Well. Vic was gonna let it slide, but it looks like Jo's gotta go and call him out in front of everyone. Sorry Karner, Locust, the rest with sensitive eyes and ears. With a slow smile, he reaches up to take his shades off and he hands them over to Karner like the man is his purse for a moment. "Hold these, gonna be a bit," at which point Jordan will be introduced to Vic's shoulder in her gut before the big bastard simply scoops her up, one hand on her ass as he just carries her towards the pool house. She wants to bet on the check, the man's gonna cash it.

Karner watches Aspen go, a little fingerwaggle to her as she leaves. He's then left standing there alone, arms folded, seemingly lost deep in thought until Kaden interrupts his reverie. "I told you, Strong, it entirely depends upon the music you're thinking of. I may need to have someone else dance in my stead." And then Vic is handing him his shades, and Karner looks insulted. "Why, I never! Hmmph." He deposits them on a nearby table and goes back to folding his arms like some sort of curmudgeon who forgot this was a party.