Thread #14540

last time
the group investigated the town a little bit, talked to a witness under suspicious circumstances, and were told to make a trip to the Crooked Mouth
The bartender at the Crooked Mouth gave them Eddie Vernon's location and they went to find him
now they are on their way to see his studio so they can invest in his beautiful art

(Present)

(Still present)

Am I even real

Eddie leaves the store, heading to his "studio" with the team in stow. "It's abouts 5 minutes walkin in this direction." He stares at the ground as he walks in such a deliberate manner that it's hard not to notice his refusal to look up.

"Trying to avoid cracks, mister Vernon?"

"S-step on a crack... Break your, uhh, shit, y'know...
"
Eddie continues focusing on the ground as he responds, never once turning his gaze towards Thomas.
"Oh, yeah, shit. Break your monkey's back."

"You have a pet monkey? That's pretty exotic."

Eddie fails to respond. After a short walk, however, he stops walking and points to a building. The windows are broken and it appears to be abandoned. Hardly something someone could call a studio.
As he approaches the door, he stops and perks up like a bloodhound catching a scent. "Y-you guys go in first."

Thomas looks at VV and Felicity to see if they're up for going in first at a loon's request.

I give him a withering look, but walk ahead and enter through the door.

There are two very large and very angry men inside the building and they see you as soon as you enter. The insides of the building are in a state of disrepair - which might be expected from the outside appearance of the building, but judging by the baseball bats the angry men are carrying, it's a safe assumption that they have contributed to the damage. "Oi, who the hell're you?" says /// asks Thug A as Thug B looks ready to lunge.
Luckily, they are far enough away that Felicity could run if she felt it necessary.

Thomas heads in -oh.
Thomas is currently just outside the doorway.

"Do you two kind gentlemen know an 'Eddie Vernon' by any chance?"

Thug A spits. "Sure do. This here is his place. What do you know about 'im?"

>>15503
nvm i was going to say wrong thread but there's a lot ofthread
sorrey

>>15503
"I've heard that he's an eccentric artist. I take you two aren't big fans of his work?"

Thug A ignores the question. "You friends of 'is?"
Thug B taps his baseball bat on the ground.

"Hardly. We were looking for him on a small matter, but it's apparent he's not here."

#d6 (1)
Eddie lies down on the ground outside and doesn't make any sounds.

Thug B swings his bat into a wall, creating a large hole in the drywall - one of many.
Thug A grins, showing the few pearly whites still in his mouth. If you were a dentist, you might be wondering if he'd been brushing his teeth with Coca-Cola since childhood.
"What a coincidence, we're lookin' fer 'im, too! Why don't we 'elp each other out, eh?
"

VV looks down at Eddie. "Excuse me sir, might you owe these men money?"

Eddie looks up at VV and puts a finger to his lips. "Shhhhhhhhh."

"They a;ready see you, there's no need for this sad attempt at deception."

Eddie looks terrified for a moment. Upon looking around, however, he realizes that the thugs could not possibly see him because he is outside.

"Why, they seem to be headed this way right this moment. I think it's time to spill the beans, as they say."

>>15511
"I'm not sure what help we can be gentlemen. This and the local art gallery are the only places we were given while looking for him. If there's any other local haunts of his you might know of, we'd be happy to search them for you."

Thomas weighs his options and considers exploding the thugs.
But also realizes that that could have pretty bad consequences.

>>15523
Eddie looks like he's going to try to run away.
>>15524
Thug A spits again. "Art gallery? Fucker been sellin' them paintins again. Tch. Little shit's gonna have to pay up one way or another."
Thug B finally speaks up. "The boss is gonna be here soon, yeah?"
Thug A nods. "He's on his way, probably."

VV grabs his clothes. "Not so fast, I can help you out with that, though it may cost you."

a good time to sense danger

>>15528
Eddie replies in a whisper. "C-cost me what?"

(Sense Trouble #d6 (4) )

Sense danger!
#d6 (6)

>>15530
"We'll determine that later. Won't it be better for you to owe me instead of them? Look how much less rough I am."

>>15531
>>15532
Thomas and Felicity feel a chill run down their spine at /// when the thugs talk about their boss.
A shared premonition tells them that their boss could be here any second.

>>15533
Eddie whimpers and tries to struggle out of her grip.

"Well gentlemen we'll be sure to let you know if we come across him."
Thomas turns to leave and is going to walk right out if he isn't stopped.

Thug B shrugs. "He ain't here, maybe we oughta wait outside for the boss."
Thug A agrees. "I need a smoke anyway."
They start to follow Thomas outside.

"We won't hinder your waiting then, men. We'll go on ahead."

Thomas sweats.

VV tugs on him as best she can. "Deal?"

>>15538
"Oi, 'fore ya' go. What's yer name?"

"Felicja Dabkowska. It's been a pleasure."

>>15540
Eddie hears the nearing footsteps of the thugs. "D-deal! Fine! Lemme go!"

#d6 (5)

#3d6 (1, 1, 6 = 8)

You hear another set of footsteps. Unexpectedly, the new set is /// new set clearly belongs to a lighter person than a boss would be expected to be.
It's the bartender from the Crooked Mouth. "What the hell is going on here?" She looks impatient.

Thomas cocks his head, confused.

"You're that freak from before. I see you found my godfather." She glares at Thomas. "What're you looking like a dog about?"

"Honestly I just didn't see this coming."

#3d6 (1, 2, 2 = 5)

"See what coming? I live here, bozo."

The thugs exit the building and see the group, Eddie, and the bartender.
Thug B appears to have left his baseball bat inside and returns back into the building to retrieve it.
Thug A grumbles and glares at the others but doesn't do anything.

I grab the bat and toss it to Thomas.

VV beckons Eddie and walks over to the thug.
"Excuse me, sir, would you be willing to let me purchase this man's debt to you?"

#d6 (1)
Thomas is hit by the bat

"You really are hopeless. Pick that up."

Thug A looks amazed at Thomas getting hit.
The bartender looks amused at Thomas getting hit.
Eddie looks terrified as VV brings him to the thug.
>>15562
Thug A spits. "You'd have to talk to the boss 'bout that."

Thomas picks up the bat.

"Oh, is that so? Does your boss have a phone number that I can contact them at?"

Thomas now gives a head-cocked look to VV.

Thug A cocks his head at VV.
The bartender stomps her foot on the ground. "What the hell is going on here?!"

#3d6 (3, 6, 3 = 12)

Yet another set of footsteps appears.
This set belongs to a very well-dressed man with slicked hair. Despite his well-to-do attire, however, he has the aura of a deadly wolf about him. Just by looking at him, anyone could see that he is the kind of man willing to do whatever it takes to get what he wants.
"Hello, friends!"
The bartender looks extremely annoyed.

Thomas' brain suddenly starts working again and now feels nervous.

>>15574
"Good evening, sir. Chansky, I presume."

The man looks pleasantly surprised and perhaps a bit impressed. "That's right. I'm afraid you have me at a loss, miss...?"

"Dabkowska, sir. Felicja Dabkowska. But I go by Davis as well."

"Well, miss Davis, it seems that you and your troupe have found my friend Eddie for us. I'd be very thankful if you'd turn him over to us."
The bartender scoffs.
Chansky lets out a chuckle. "Come on, Sicily. We're taking this deadbeat off your hands. Isn't that what you want?"
She doesn't respond.

VV drags Eddie into the room. "excuse me sir, would you be willing to sell this man's debt to me?"

Thomas wonders how VV drags him into the room.
He supposes that, in a strange way, the outside is in itself a room.

Chansky turns his attention to VV. "Why would you ever want a deadbeat like this? He's no good to a cute, little button like you."

Thug B has yet to return.

Thug B has been swallowed by the darkness.

"I have reason to believe he may be worth the investment."

"I'm afraid his debt is quite large, young lady. Do you think you can afford the cost of a human life?"
Eddie starts to struggle again. He wants to run.
Sicily makes a suggestion. "If you kick him in the balls, he won't move for a while."

VV looks at Eddie. "How much do you owe?"

Eddie shakes his head. "I-I don't owe nobody nothin! I paid my debts!"

Chansky is visibly amused by Eddie's reply. "Your little friend here is a murderer. And not just any murderer, he killed off someone that was very important to me and now my life has been made very difficult thanks to it. Do you think you can afford to make that all better, young lady?"

VV looks at Eddie. "Who did you kill?"

"I didn't kill nobody!" He starts struggling violently.
However, #d6 (1)
Sicily tosses a rock straight into the side of his head. The throw is weak and doesn't injure him at all, but it certainly surprises him and causes him to drop his guard.
Chansky laughs. "Does it matter who he killed? What's it to you? Here to investigate?"

I move closer to the bartender. "Did you have an idea that this is what Chansky was looking for your godfather for?" I ask her on the side.

"It's natural for me to want to know the nature of my investment and the price to be paid. I'm contemplating leaving him to your tender mercies if he does not want to cooperate with me."

"Just leave him to me. You don't need to get involved with this, young lady. You seem unusually invested in this deadbeat murderer!"
Although there's no evidence that Chansky has killed anyone in the past, the look in his eyes creates a certain irony when he calls someone a murderer.

>>15612
"Didn't know that piece a' shit killed anyone. Not surprised, though. Guess I shoulda put two-and-two together. He must a' killed Higgensworth, that guy was always collecting books."

VV shrugs. "Be that as it may, he has some potential value to me. If he is indeed a deadbeat, it's better for you to see some money instead of nothing at all, is it not?"

"He's got his use to me." Chansky frowns for the first time since appearing. "I'm not playing games here, girly. If you hand him over, I'll make it worth your while. What do you want for him? I'm not keen on hurting girls."

"So you are not willing to dispense his debt to me?"
VV turns to Eddie "I can't help you if you don't tell me what you did, you know?"

Eddie starts struggling again. He clearly refuses to admit to anything.

VV shrugs. "Fine! When that gentleman over there is hitting you with his club, I think you'll realize how foolish you've been".
VV turns to Chansky, "He has a studio, yeS? I'd like to strike a deal for ownership of all of his personal property."

>>15616
"Listen here Sicily, I've taken a liking to you, so I've got to apologize for lying to you earlier. I knew Higgensworth was dead before we even came to Orangetown. Hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
"Now I've got to do something that might be extremely stupid."

>>15632
Chansky shakes his head. "Sory, but I need some of his personal property. How about you give /// let me take what I need, and you can have the rest?"

#d6 (1)
Never mind.

I walk towards Chanksy and the others. "Sir, I'm sorry for this, but we have an FBI order to investigate the murder of a Higgensworth, a case in which Vernon has become an important detail in. I understand you have your own problems with the man, but we need to collect him." I show the note with Dan Eagleman's [forged] signature on it.

Thomas sweats profusely.

Will anyone react negatively if Thomas tries to make his way behind Eddie

Thomas tries to make his way behind Eddie.

>>15638
"You guys are feds?"

Sicily looks annoyed but stays out of the way and watches.

>>15636
"May I inquire as to what it is you need from him?"

"Pssst Eddie." Thomas whispers to Eddie. "Where's your booooooook?"

>>15642
"After a sense. We left the National Guard outcamp in the Everglades earlier today, and arrived in Orangetown to investigate the murder of Higgensworth."
"The FBI delegation there has full control of the murder investigation at the moment.

>>15646
"How much are they paying you for this?"

He turns to VV. "He's got a book that he stole from the friend of mine he killed. I want it back."

>>15645
Eddie whispers back, "that's a secret"

>>15647
"I'll explode you before Chansky does if you don't help me here."

>>15648
"Sicily has it." he whispers.

>>15649
"Thank you kindly. Also your art was kind of cool."
Thomas steps away from Eddie.

>>15647
"It's a matter of obligation, sir. Our arrangement with the investigation team is a mutually beneficial relationship.

>>15651
"I'm sure I can make you a better deal." Chansky shrugs. "Let's talk it out."

>>15647
"A book, is it? And I can have all of the rest of his property? Can you give me a description of this book?"

#d6 (4)
Sicily feels like something annoying might be about to happen.

>>15653
"It's a book. It has a cover and it has pages between the front and back cover."

(Yeah Thomas is going to start talking to her again.)

Thomas feels like he's been insulted but doesn't know why.

Sense annoyance
#d6 (3)

VV looks at Chansky charmingly. "Surely you have more information than tat. I happen to be a bit of an expert when it comes to books, I could help you find it with more information. If you are willing to let me have the rest of his property, yes?"

Chansky laughs. "You've got chutzpah, but no, sorry. Eddie is right there and he's going to tell me exactly where it is. You can have everything else after that."

>>15652
"I'm sorry Chanksy, but I intend to see this case through to resolution. If Vernon really is a murderer--and considering the circumstances I can imagine whom--then he'll face justice properly and fairly. In the meanwhile I'm sure you can collect his personal property to repay these debts."

>>15665
"I'll tell you what. Hand him over to me, I'll get what I want, and you can have him back after that, to do whatever it is you want. I'm trying to be reasonably here, but you lot aren't making it easy for me. "

VV looks to Eddie.
"This is your last chance to help yourself here, this man looks to be quite a bit of a villain. "

Eddie suddenly screams. "My heart! Help!" he falls to his knees.
With VV's knowledge of first aid, however, she can clearly see that he is faking it - and rather poorly at that.

VV watches to see the reactions of the room.

Sicily looks uninterested.
Chansky is watching but does not appear to be convinced.

Thomas has been watching Chansky and VV's back and forth .

VV looks at him. "They're going to break your legs, you know? Actually, you're an artist. If it were me I'd break your hands instead."

Eddie blurts out, "Sicily has the book!"
A look of annoyance and surprise covers Sicily's face.
Chansky, too, looks surprised. "Is that true?"
Sicily groans and picks up a large rock and makes her way over to Eddie. "I'm really sick and tired of this stuff."

Thomas places his hand on his face.

#d6 (6)
Sicily slams the rock into the side of Eddie's head. He bleeds profusely and stops talking.

Chansky looks really upset.

"Well that happened. Now what?"

Chansky approaches the unconscious Eddie and begins rummaging through his pockets.
From Eddie's back pocket, Chansky pulls out a small, black book. "A journal."

#1d6+2 (3 + 2 = 5)
VV Snatches it!

what did you spend and use
athletics?

Yeah, forgot that.
Athletics.

Chansky is taken by surprise and the book is snatched from his hands. "Hey! Give that here!" He reaches into his jacket.

#1d6+2 (5 + 2 = 7)
Fleeing!
VV does her best to bolt out of the bar with the journal.

>The bar
>The bar
>The bar
>The bar

are you ok rika

Whatever building we're in.
Or wherever we're at.
I'm running.

WE ARE OUTSIDE

#d6 (6)
Chansky erupts into a sprint after VV.

Preparedness Athletics Explosives
#d6+2 (1 + 2 = 3)
Uh how prepared is Thomas today
Fuck
Do I always have an explosive on me

not prepared

"Sicily was your godfather telling the truth about you having this "book"?

Sicily clicks her tongue. "I don't have the damn book. As far as I know, he's always got it with him."

#d6 (5)
eddie's eyes flicker open

"It would have been nice of the damn thing had just dropped into in a fire or something. I just wanted to get to the bottom of this damn murder."

#1d6+2 (6 + 2 = 8)
More running away

#d6 (4)
Chansky continues to chase VV. He pulls a revolver from his jacket and fires a shot. In the heat of the chase, however, he misses miserably.
The sound of the gunshot echos through the city.

>>15732
Sicily sighs. "I don't want to be involved in any of this bullshit. "
She notices Eddie's eyes opening and looks visibly disgusted.

"How can you shoot at me? I'm with the FBI, you can't do that!"
#1d6+2 (1 + 2 = 3)

#d6 (4)
Chansky tackles VV to the ground. "I can do whatever I damn well please!"
He attempts to grab the book from her.

1#d6+2 (3 + 2 = 5)
Athletics roll to grab the gun!

I run toward the scuffle, drawing my gun from my bag.
Leveling the gun at Chansky, I say "you're not the only one armed here. Drop the gun and step away from

>>15742
#d6 (6)
The two struggle over the gun, neither able to immediately take full possession of it.

Chansky releases the revolver and slowly stands up with his hands in the air.

"How terrible! You SHOT at me! I nabbed that book fair and square!"

"That book belongs to me, you little brat." Chansky is clearly very angry about being cornered like this. He wonders where his thugs are.

"It seems like to me that it's involved with the murder of Higgensworth. Isn't it the responsibility of investigators to collect evidence?"
"If it's truly yours, and we find it of no value to the investigation, I'm sure you can petition to have it returned to you from the National Guard."

"I'll have you know that I an English nobility. There's no shame in being bested by me."
VV opens up the book and begins to flip through it.

Thomas looks around to see if the thugs are visible from where he's standing (which is probably a moderate distance from the others, he didn't run after anyone)

>>15754
Every page but one is empty. The one page with content is a detailed drawing of a bald man with a crooked mouth - although the character's mouth starts on the right side, it curves downward into the chin. It is a bizarre drawing.

>>15753
"You're going to regret this."

VV shows Chansky the book. "As per our agreement, everything that isn't your book is mine!" She tears the page out of the book and tosses the blank jorunal to him.

"Regrets are a part of life, Chansky. But I think I'll avoid cooperating with Mafia without regretting it. We'll be taking Vernon with us."

Chansky grumbles angrily under his breath. It's hard to make out the words, but it sounds like he's grumbling about his casino.

"Miss Vane, collect his gun. Chansky, we are returning to our escort. Do not follow us. I'm sorry our interest were set against the yours.

VV shows off the gun. "I have it! I guess I should hold on to this."

And so the team grabbed Eddie and returned to their generous driver.
Sicily, not wanting to stick around with an angry Chansky, followed with them.

And they all lived happily ever after.
until they got back to camp and found that most of the national guardsmen were nowhere to be found!

Dan, however, was very easy to find, boisterous as he is.

"Oh."