View source for Logs:Worst Mistake

{{ Log
| chars = [[Arnaud]], [[Faith]], [[Five]], [[Haliburton]]
| summary = In which the gang corners Arnaud and Five, and chaos reigns in the night. Vampires come to the rescue!
| gamedate = 2022.10.21
| gamedatename = 
| subtitle = "You guys... should run..."
| categories = Changeling, Mortal, Mortal+, Vampire, Crime
| log = There is a gang in Auburn Gresham. It's not a huge gang, and they're not the best gang, and they're not the smartest - but they sell drugs, and do other crime, and they make do. A certain Lost has been riling them up lately; first he hurt the gang boss's brother rather badly, together with a hooded woman, and when they attacked him on the street, he fought them and they got scared off in some manner they can't QUITE understand. Either or, they've been keeping an eye out for Arnaud, cause he's as subtle as a bulldozer and doesn't care to hide or be careful.

Arnaud and Five wander down the street in Gresham, the former eating a bright red lolipop. He's relaxed and careless, not a worry in the world. So, when his old fighty gangster 'friends' move out in a group of ten or so, from an alley, the boss pointing a gun at Five, he stops and slowly takes the lolipop out. "Guys, you're ruining this. We were having so much fun with the fistfighting," Arnaud grumps at them, tensing up.

The boss - his name is Mark - does not seem amused. "Shut up, or I'll shoot the girl."

Chances are Arnaud and Five are being stalked by a certain hooded vampire wearing shades. Maybe she brought a friend?

<spend> Arnaud spends 2 (-2 points) of his Glamour pool, for Flames of Summer - +2 to all physical rolls plus other useful stuff.

+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 8 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: Stamina +Survival +Mantle
  Result: Exceptional Success! (5) -- (6 1 10 2 6 10 8 8 6 8)
+------------------------------------------- exceptional success! (public) ----+

+----------------------------+ Faith rolls 5 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: Resolve +Composure
  Result: Success (2) -- (3 10 1 6 5 10 7)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+

+-------------------------+ Haliburton rolls 4 Dice +--------------------------+
  Roll: Resolve +Composure
  Result: Success (1) -- (3 6 10 1 2)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+
 
Creepy alley monsters, scary shadow spectres, Five seems to almost eagerly rush head first into those situations. Something she knows in the back of her mind she can blast away with her abilities as a last resort. Mundane situation? With a GUN? Pointed at her?! Fives eyes are wide. A bullet can end in her less than a second. However, she can't help with her reckleness in a sense and almost instinctively puts herself in front of her Changeling friend. "I don't know what your guys' problems are but. Just back off before everybody has a terrible night. Alright?" Brows narrow, the young mortal doing her best to at least puff up herself to scare them off.

+----------------------------+ Five rolls 4 Dice +-----------------------------+
  Roll: Manipulation +Intimidation
  Result: Success (1) -- (2 9 1 6)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+

+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 5 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 2 +3
  Result: Success (2) -- (1 2 6 2 10 9)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+
 
It sure is starting to feel like Faith maybe follows Arnaud everywhere he goes. The truth is far more mundane in that they just happen to frequent the same areas a lot, and Arnaud attracts a lot of attention. Tonight she's actually with Hal, for a night out in one of the worst parts of Chicago. It's a vampire thing. Somewhere along the way the pair did notice Arnaud and Five, and ... started to follow them out of curiosity. It's the sort of creepy stalking that would definitely get them weird looks, if anyone was really able to notice the pair when they're just another pair of faces in the crowd. Unremarkable.

When Arnaud's making friends with with the gangsters /again/, Faith gives Hal a single look. As always it's hard to read her with the sunglasses on, but the corner of her mouth quirks up in a smile, and the Nosferatu goes from simply being hard to remember to completely vanishing, even as she's reaching for her knife.
 
It's not like Hal never goes to these parts of town, prowling among the sinners looking for a meal and probably a chance for some practice at hurting them in creative ways. As kind as he typically is to members of the Accords, he is still a vampire.

He smiles at Faith when she looks at him and mouths quietly, "Yes." And then he draws an actual curved katana sword that he's been wearing somehow. The wonders of Obfuscate! The next time anyone sees him they're likely to be too late.

<init> Faith rolled 9, putting herself on the initiative roster at 14

<init> Five rolled 10, putting herself on the initiative roster at 16

<init> Arnaud rolled 3, putting 'Mark' on the initiative roster at 10

<init> No such switch. Valid switches are: clear, set, roll, and remove

<init> Arnaud rolled 8, putting 'All the Thugs' on the initiative roster at 12

<init> Arnaud rolled 10, putting himself on the initiative roster at 16

<init> Haliburton rolled 9, putting himself on the initiative roster at 14

<init> Haliburton directly set himself on the initiative roster at 11

<init> Faith directly set herself on the initiative roster at 13

<spend> Arnaud spends 1 point of his Willpower pool, for extra hurtin.

+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 8 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: Strength +Brawl.Grappling +2 +3 -7
  Result: Success (3) -- (7 6 9 3 5 6 8 8)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+
   
 
Mark snorts and the gang members snicker. Five's threat isn't working, and Mark waves his gun to indicate they should move down into the alley. "Move it, asswipe." (This seems to be a popular derogatory name for Arnaud.)

Arnaud drops his lolipop. Five moves in front of him and he gapes, and then he grins a slow and cruel smile, eyes lighting up with murder lust. "You just made the WORST mistake in your lives. See... I'm not the one you should worry about, even if I /am/ a psychopath." He moves to Five's side and rolls his head; he seems larger, brighter, and stronger. He excudes an aura of pure rage - and suddenly his body bursts into magical flames, right as he literally leaps at Mark, ignoring the gun. He bowls into the thug, arms moving in for a headlock, claws digging, jaw extending...the fire burning; he's probably not lying about being a psychopath. That's pretty crazy.

+----------------------------+ Five rolls 6 Dice +-----------------------------+
  Roll: Dexterity +Brawl.Grappling +3 -7
  Result: Success (3) -- (1 5 7 4 10 9 10 7)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+
 
FIRE!!! Five is almost distracted enough to just watch the pretty fire that suddenly surrounds her friend. If Arnaud wasn't already one of her best friends, he certainly would be now! But, she manages to pull her gaze away. Fighting! The Changeling seems to have the main guy handled for now, so she leaps into action, grabbing the nearest thug and starting to get him tangled up in her slender arms.

<spend> Faith spends 1 point of her Willpower pool, for I really am trying to one-shot a dude.

+---------------------------+ Faith rolls 15 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: Strength +Vigor +Weaponry.Knives +Obfuscate +3
  Result: Success (4) -- (9 1 1 5 2 8 1 4 9 9 2 4 3 7 2)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+
 
Everyone is looking at the dude that literally bursts into flames. Somewhere unseen, a vampire pauses at the sudden appearance of fire. But no one would ever know.

It comes out of nowhere. As the thugs are starting to try to maneuver their victims into the alleyway, suddenly there is Faith behind one of them. She reaches out, her knife glints and in the next moment she is about to open a man's throat. He's on edge just enough. Aware just enough. He turns his head with a 'huh?' and it saves his live. Her blade still cuts deep into his neck. Suddenly the alley is full of the thick coppery scent of of his life as his neck and shoulder is opened. She missed anything vital, but his hand is still lifting up to stop the bleeding.

Faith doesn't curse, or complain. She doesn't say a word at all. It's just a calm, almost surgical, kind of violence.

+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 7 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 7
  Result: Success (2) -- (2 8 3 10 1 4 5 1)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+
   
+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 7 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 7
  Result: Success (2) -- (1 7 1 10 6 6 5 9)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+
   
+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 7 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 7
  Result: Success (3) -- (8 2 3 5 7 9 8)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+
   
+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 7 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 7
  Result: Success (4) -- (7 8 4 2 8 9 9)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+
   
+----------------------------+ Faith rolls 3 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: Wits +Stealth
  Result: Failure -- (4 7 3)
+-------------------------------------------------------- failure (public) ----+

+-----------------------+ Arnaud rolls 0 Dice - Chance +-----------------------+
  Roll: [1d4]
  Result: Failure -- (3)
+-------------------------------------------------------- failure (public) ----+
   
+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 3 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 7 -4
  Result: Success (3) -- (7 10 8 10 7)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+

+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 2 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 7 -5
  Result: Failure -- (3 7)
+-------------------------------------------------------- failure (public) ----+
   
Faith takes some bashing and is now lightly bruised.

+--------------------------+ Arnaud takes 7 Lethal +---------------------------+
 Initial Health: [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] - 0 of 9
 Final Health:   [X][X][X][X][X][X][X][ ][ ] - 7 of 9 
  
 Arnaud takes ungodly lethal and is now badly bleeding.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Five takes significant lethal and is now noticeably bleeding.

<spend> Haliburton spends 2 (-2 points) of his Vitae pool, for boosting strength.

<spend> Haliburton spends 1 (-1 points) of his Vitae pool, for Vigor damage.

<spend> Haliburton spends 1 point of his Willpower pool, for Kill.

+-------------------------+ Haliburton rolls 14 Dice +-------------------------+
  Roll: Strength +Weaponry.Swords +2 +4 +3
  Result: Success (2) -- (1 1 7 1 3 7 3 7 8 5 7 7 9 1)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+
 
Somehow in the middle of this throng of idiots in the street there is a man in a suit with a freakin SWORD who just went unnoticed as he waded into the melee, somehow managing to shrug off his terror at Arnaud's fire. He wades past most of these morons and suddenly with one swipe he becomes acutely Noticed. There he is with a sword coming back to a guard position, grinning widely as the head falls clean off of the shoulders of one of the men who just attacked Five.

"Be a good man and chase your own head down the street..." he quips, grinning madly. Haliburton seems to find himself to be quite funny!

+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 6 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 7 -1 (wounds)
  Result: Success (2) -- (5 9 1 8 4 4)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+
   
+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 1 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 2 -1 (wounds)
  Result: Failure -- (7)
+-------------------------------------------------------- failure (public) ----+
   
+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 11 Dice +---------------------------+
  Roll: Strength +Brawl.Grappling +2 -1 (wounds)
  Result: Success (1) -- (4 2 7 7 6 5 10 2 4 5 1 1)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+

+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 1 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 1
  Result: Failure -- (5)
+-------------------------------------------------------- failure (public) ----+
   
<spend> Arnaud spends 1 (-1 points) of his Glamour pool, for Seven-League leap cause running very soon seems smart..

<spend> Arnaud spends 1 point of his Willpower pool, for more hurting.

+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 8 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: Strength +Brawl.Claws +2 +3 -7
  Result: Success (2) -- (2 9 2 2 9 5 6 4)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+
   
Arnaud gets stabbed twice and that hurts. A lot. He can feel it and nothing gets your brain started like proper pain; he and Mark tussle, the latter breaks free and Arnaud decides that fighting ten thugs at once and grappling is a BAD idea. Even so, the hurting he has taken doesn't seem to cause him any problems as he viciously swipes Mark with his claws, dealing damage with the fire as well. He realise - to his relief - they're not alone here either. Is that... Faith? And someone else? "Five, you alright?!"

<spend> Five spends 1 point of her Willpower pool.

+----------------------------+ Five rolls 6 Dice +-----------------------------+
  Roll: Dexterity +Brawl.Grappling +3 -7
  Result: Failure -- (2 7 5 2 3 5)
+-------------------------------------------------------- failure (public) ----+

+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 2 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 2
  Result: Failure -- (4 6)
+-------------------------------------------------------- failure (public) ----+
   
+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 2 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 2
  Result: Success (1) -- (4 9)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+
   
+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 2 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 2
  Result: Success (1) -- (6 8)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+
   
+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 2 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 2
  Result: Success (1) -- (8 4)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+
   
+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 2 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 2
  Result: Success (2) -- (10 1 8)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+
   
+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 2 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 2
  Result: Failure -- (6 4)
+-------------------------------------------------------- failure (public) ----+
   
<spend> Faith spends 1 point of her Willpower pool, for great stab.

<spend> Faith spends 1 (-1 points) of her Vitae pool, for best stab.

+----------------------------+ Faith rolls 6 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: Strength +Vigor +Weaponry.Knives +3 +2 -6
  Result: Success (4) -- (8 10 10 6 6 5 4 9)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+
 
Five seems to be nearly overwhelmed by all the chaos that suddenly happens. Sure, the fire was awesome enough.. but then a familiar face jumps from the shadows, then another! Then she gets STABBED! In an almost cliche manner, a hand reaches down to where she was stabbed, wiping the blood and looking at it for a moment. Blink blink. She's not in as bad shape as Arnaud, but for a mortal she's still pretty wounded. It's enough to shake her nerves and she starts to feel... something bad starting to rise up in her. She takes a swing at one of the thugs, but they easily manage to evade her, causing her to trip up and even stumble to her feet. "You guys... should run..." she says very shakily as that feeling inside her continue swelling.

Five takes some bashing and is now badly bruised and bleeding.

<spend> Haliburton spends 1 (-1 points) of his Vitae pool, for Celerity.

<spend> Haliburton spends 2 (-2 points) of his Vitae pool, for boosting strength.

<spend> Haliburton spends 1 point of his Willpower pool, for extra dices.
 
The guy might be avoiding Five's clumsy swing with a little chuckle even, but glancing aside gives Faith all the opportunity she needs. The woman is weird, in her sunglasses and all. The hood of her jacket has slipped from her head with the swift movements, but the sunglasses stay on, designed for her face and these rough movements.

Her knife lashes out, as she tries to stab the guy right in the /eye/. He twists, and for his troubles gets a nasty new scar from the corner of his eye all the way to his ear lobe as Faith's blade opens his cheek. It starts to bleed heavily.

Faith just grins, and it's a grin of too many teeth.

+-------------------------+ Haliburton rolls 5 Dice +--------------------------+
  Roll: Strength +Weaponry.Swords +4 +3 -7
  Result: Success (1) -- (10 2 1 3 2 6)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+

+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 1 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 2 -1 (wounds)
  Result: Failure -- (1)
+-------------------------------------------------------- failure (public) ----+
   
+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 2 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 2
  Result: Failure -- (4 6)
+-------------------------------------------------------- failure (public) ----+
   
+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 2 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 2
  Result: Failure -- (4 7)
+-------------------------------------------------------- failure (public) ----+
   
+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 2 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: 2
  Result: Failure -- (2 6)
+-------------------------------------------------------- failure (public) ----+
   
 
Suddenly in the melee Haliburton does an incredible flash of speed as he seems to suddenly just be beside Mark, slashing the man's entire chest cavity in an effort to teach him not to bring a gun to a swordfight. "Next..." he says with a sigh, casting eyes about in a search for his next target.
 
The NEXT - the three uninjured thugs, and those that still can move from Faith's attacks, do their absolute best to scramble and get the hell out of this insanity!

+----------------------------+ Faith rolls 3 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: Presence +Blood Potency
  Result: Success (1) -- (2 8 7)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+

<regain> Arnaud regains 3 points of his Glamour pool, for thugs that first are angry and then SCARED.
 
The smell of blood is heavy in the air, and it drips from Faith's blade. As the last three start to break and run, Faith steps in front of one, capturing his attention for just a few moments. She lifts the knife, but not to attack him. Her tongue runs over her lips, and the Beast coils out from her with a lazy, languid stretch that is mirrored in her body movements. Hal can easily sense her predatory aura, as it sidles up to the thug, metaphorically whispering sweet nothings in his ear. It promises a world of delight and sensation.

This leaves the thug half torn between wanting to reach out and grab Faith to do wonderful, awful, sinful things right here in the midst of all this death and violence. But the danger is still too great, there's too many unknowns and even the vampiric Beast can't convince someone to drop their guard so easily. So the very confused thug still flees, looking over his shoulder, and feeling kind of disgusted with himself.

Faith laughs, a lilting thing, lifting the knife to her mouth to lap at the blood still on it as she turns to look at the others.

<spend> Haliburton spends 1 (-1 points) of his Vitae pool, for celerity.
 
Oh, he's going to run, is he? Hal swipes his blade through the air to shake the blood from it and then suddenly is elsewhere again, only this time he's in front of that last fleeing thug to stick a foot in front of him so he trips and wipes out on the concrete. It's a nice low-effort takedown, followed by Haliburton falling on top of he man to BITE him and then drink him, draining him fast and completely until he is nothing but a still husk. Nobody flirts with Faith and gets away with it!
 
Arnaud is hovering between stay and fight, or run, but thankfully he doesn't have to chose thanks to timely Vampire intervention. Every neighborhood needs a friendly vampire to sweep in and murderise your enemies, really. Arnaud looks down at himself - there's blood everywhere. He's beens stabbed once in his belly and once in his back, and the knife in his back is still there - he tries to reach for it to pull it out as it's grating on some bone, even as he walks bleedingly over towards Five; he seems not so concerned about either Haliburton or Faith, the latter given an odd look for what she is doing there. "Five? You alright?"

The fire surrounding him begins to dim out, which will make interacting with the vampires much easier. He casually steps over Mark, who is dying, to reach his friend. "Can you pull the knife out, I can't reach."

<regain> Haliburton regains 6 points of his Vitae pool, for Drinking a thug to death.
   
<spend> Faith spends 1 (-1 points) of her Vitae pool, for healing.
Faith receives some healing for bashing and is now fine.

+----------------------------+ Five rolls 4 Dice +-----------------------------+
  Roll: Resolve +Composure +1 +1 -3 -1 (wounds)
  Result: Success (2) -- (3 2 10 6 9)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+

He is a white male of average height with light brown hair kept in a conservative haircut. He looks healthy enough, if pale and perhaps on the thin side. His motions are graceful and sure, but deliberate. He likes to wear suits and look professional, but from time to time may be seen slumming it in a polo shirt and jeans.
 
Sure, Five has been able to stand up against the supernatural before. But, those situations previously were just one crazy thing at a time. Multiple supernaturals? And she got stabbed? AND SHE FEELS LIKE SHE'S GOING TO EXPLODE? That's too much for the poor mortal. Although her mind manages to not completely break, everything was still enough to shake her to her core. "...yeah. Yeah..." She replies a bit out of it to Arnaud, again looking at the palm that's full of blood now. She looks at Arnaud first, then her gaze shifts to Faith. "You can help, right..?"
 
Lapping at the blade carefully like she's got a lolipop of her own, Faith's fangs are easily seen. She lowers the knife, grinning as Hal sets off after the thug she tormented. He's in for a nice meal of anger smothered with dread, with a twist of disgusted lust mixed in for spice. She steps over to Five and Arnaud, staring at them. "You're really quite the mess, Mr. Arnaud. Will you live?" She ask, her polite and professional tone kind of at odds with the murderess she was a moment ago. Or maybe it's just perfectly fitting. But her fangs there, and the way she kinda looks at Five is definitely something just a little bit hungry. "I could help, Ms. Five. But nothing is free now, not again."
 
"The first one is always free. It's how they reel you in," Arnaud says with dark humor, nodding at Faith; he doesn't look surprised. "I'll live," he says and tries to reach for the knife on his back - it's stupid to pull it out, but nobody claimed he was smart. "Fuck." He ignores the knife and walks slowly over to start dragging corpses into the alley, taking two of them by the legs. "I'll get rid of these, if you wanna help me carry them towards that door there," he says and upnods to a steel door at the end of the alley. "I need to hurry. I'm going to fall over in... about ten minutes." He glances back at Faith. "One coin enough to patch me up when I fall over?"
 
It's a good long moment before Hal gets up from his last victim, walking slowly back while licking the blood off of his sword not unlike what Faith did. It's better than leaving wipe-marks on the clothes of the victims. Once he nears the others he looks to the Lost and then to Five and then back to Arnaud, who is working his ass off to move bodies. That's heavy work. "I suppose we saved your lives, didn't we?" Sudden grin.

<spend> Arnaud spends 1 (-1 points) of his Glamour pool, for opening a portal to the hedge and throwing in corpses and bloodied weapons.

+----------------------------+ Five rolls 5 Dice +-----------------------------+
  Roll: Manipulation +Athletics -1 (wounds)
  Result: Success (1) -- (2 6 3 7 9)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+

+----------------------------+ Faith rolls 6 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: Wits +Medicine
  Result: Success (2) -- (3 10 10 4 3 7 5 2)
+-------------------------------------------------------- success (public) ----+

+---------------------------+ Arnaud rolls 1 Dice +----------------------------+
  Roll: Wits -1 (untrained empathy)
  Result: Failure -- (5)
+-------------------------------------------------------- failure (public) ----+
   
 
Even though it's pretty clear that the Changeling is the one that she trusts the most out of the group, Five limps over toward Faith's side. "Understood," she tells the Haunt as she gets closer to her. The mortal does her best to not appear as she really is, hiding a wince as she holds herself upright. "Price..." Wince, breath, catching herself. "Price can be discussed?" she requests, not above paying the vampire for her services but not wanting to quickly volunteer a coin. Looking over toward Haliburton, her green-eyed gaze lingers on the Mekhet before she nods again. "Thank you... everyone." In this moment, Five knows she's a weak point in the chain of supernaturals.
 
The knife is finally slipped away, and Faith inhales as Five gets closer. The human blood is so tempting, and she's not even that hungry. "We can discuss it, yes. You do not appear to be bleeding to death just now." So she shifts then, to help Arnaud move the bodies. Faith's strong. Stronger than she really looks like she should be, honestly! "A coin would suffice, yes." She agrees quickly. She glances up at the steel door he indicated.
 
"Hah! You think I couldn't have gotten away? I only stayed cause you showed up," Arnaud says. This would be more convincing if he didn't have a knife in his back, but... Haliburton HAS seen him run like the wind before. "I'm not paying you for that too. I'm Arnaud, by the way, and as you can see I am /cleaning up/. Leave Shorty out of this, and you--" He points at Five. "You don't pay for anything, this is my mess." He and Faith drags all the corpses to that doorway. He then holds his hand against the very normal door there in the darkness of the alley. He whispers something in French, and there is a skittering sound following, and from his palm spreads something that looks almost like bugs, or moving sand, till it covers the whole door - and then there's suddenly no door at all, but a portal to another world. Beyond it are thorny vines and razor-sharp grass, a purple and pink sky, and trees from nightmares. "Whatever you do - do NOT go in there. Just chuck these bodies in, quick." He goes about doing just that, treating these corpses as if they're trash, not a single emotion shown on his face. He does hurry, cause portals don't stay open forever - and indeed, the last corpse thrown in, the portal is closing itself.
 
Hal does lean close to Five though, checking her over it seems. He puts a hand on her shoulder, touches her hoodie.

Then wipes the last of the blood from his blade off on the hood. There. Now he can sheathe it.

With a reassuring pat on the shoulder Hal leaves Five to Faith's capable hands and then begins helping hoist bodies easily and with recently stolen lifeforce, cheerfully chucking them like limp sacks of garbage into the door to Dimension X. "What happens if I do go in there, Mr. Arnaud?" he asks, adding after, "Oh, I'm Haliburton, by the way. Good to meet you."
 
While Arnaud is busy chucking poor thugs into the hedge, Five leans in to whisper something quietly to Faith. A look is given to the Haunt, the mortal serious about whatever was said as she gives a quick nod to the distracted Changeling. Even though Hal getting all up in her bubble is definitely odd, the injured mortal can't help but lean just very slightly into his touch. She gives him a LOOK when he wipes the BLOOD on her hoodie, but she doesn't object for whatever reason. Then the Mekhet is walking away and she's back to sticking close to Faith. Her focus shifts to Arnaud though, the same question that Hal spoke lingering in her mind. Still, there's another question there. "You okay.. too?"
 
"Ms. Five is her own Accorded being now, Mr. Arnaud." Faith says simply, and maybe she'd say more but suddenly there's a /portal/ to an actual other world open right there before her. She's heard of the hedge, but actually seeing it is something else. It's everything she imagined and yet nothing like it all at the same time. "Well. That sure is something," she mutters, tossing the bodies with the same sort of callousness that Arnaud displays. Hal's got the curiosity to ask the questions, so she stays quiet on the matter. There's a glance to Five, dark glasses regarding the mortal for a few moments, and just a small nod before she looks back to Arnaud. "Anyway, I am glad to see you are capable of handling your mess, yes."
 
Arnaud narrows his eyes at Haliburton as he's that close to Five, and looks only nominally less on edge when the other vampire comes along helping with the bodies. Their grizzly work done, he steps back, throwing in a few of the knives in the last second - still somehow standing up, impossibly so. The door returns to a normal door in an alley, and Arnaud spends a moment looking around for traces. Not much to do about all the blood, but there's no corpses and no weapons. "You would die of the sunlight," he tells Haliburton, giving the vampire a toothy grin. "Time is whatever in there. It might be night for a week in a row, and then day for five months. So - don't go in if you want to live." He glances between Faith and Five, walking over; he staggers and puts a hand against the wall in the alley. "I'm fine. Just a little tired, that's all. It's all cleaned up, so we should get the hell out of here. My apartment isn't too far. Can you treat me there?"
 
Arnaud points at Five again. "I know she is, but this is still my mess. She had nothing to do with it."
 
"You think?" asks Hal lightly. It's hard to tell whether he means to say he might survive or whether the night really would last a whole week. Looking around the alley himself, he makes a small 'hmp' noise and seems satisfied. It's clean enough to give no one any real clues to follow. Not that would help them with the truth. "Useful trick, that. Wish I could do it. How long do you have?" At the end there he actually regards Arnaud. "You have transportation?"

<spend> Five spends 1 point of her Willpower pool.

<spend> Five spends 1 point of her Willpower pool.
+----------------------------+ Five rolls 3 Dice +-----------------------------+
  Roll: Presence -1 (untrained persuasion) +3 -1 (wounds)
  Result: Failure -- (1 3 3)
+-------------------------------------------------------- failure (public) ----+

 
Five's gaze easily turns toward Arnaud once more, especially at his insistance of covering for her. The young woman shakes her head at him. She's promised to never lie to him so she simply says, "It's okay." /She's/ not okay, but she seems to lose focus on the others around her for a moment, turning it inward. Underneath the hoodie, muscles shift and move, some of her litheness being replaced by sturdiness. Even if she's still pretty injured for a mortal, she manages to truly hold herself more upright. Slightly. Reopening her eyes, she looks over toward Arnaud, attempting to convince him to let the matter go of who's to blame for the situation they've all found themselves in. "Is this okay...?" she quietly asks Faith before veeeeeery gently leaning a little against her. She /does/ have a knife still sticking out of her after all!
 
"Do you have medical supplies? I should be able to treat you there." Faith agrees easily enough. No doubt she'll have her own supplies nearby. There's medkits in every car she might possibly be in these days! One doesn't always have time to rush people directly to her clinic, after all. "I'll get what I need, regardless." Then Five is leaning in close to her, and Faith leans back a little, staring at the human even as she shifts to support that lean just a little bit. "You need to be careful," she says quietly, steeling herself a moment before inspecting the wound proper. "Obviously it is not fine, but you can still move, so leave it there until we get somewhere safe and I will look at it properly."
 
"I'll make it back home," Arnaud replies to Haliburton, giving the vampire an odd look. Maybe he doesn't want to say too much and reveal more about what this power does. Then, realising Five is actually also injured, he straightens up and hyper-focuses on her with mixed emotions. In the end he says nothing, and starts walking as fast as he dares towards Peach Tree tower. "Apartment 302, Peachtree Towers. I can make it there faster if I run and climb - you can meet me there? Five, you can join me if you want. Just cling on." Maybe he doesn't wanna leave her alone with the two vampires.
<spend> Arnaud spends 1 (-1 points) of his Glamour pool, for Boon of the Scuttling Spider.
 
Hal just watches Five with a somewhat bemused expression. He isn't sure if Five is faking it or why she'd fake it, but he is having a little trouble understanding why she's having such trouble. "I imagine having the blade sticking in causes some discomfort." he offers. Then he watches Arnaud take off and says loudly, "Really? In public??" Disapproval!
 
As the Changeling starts to make his leave, Five pulls out her phone and shoots off a quick text. Of course, she tries to conceal it from Faith as best as she can but it's a bit hard when she's using the vampire as a crutch. Still, once the text is sent, the phone quickly goes back into her pocket. "I'll be there later," she tells Arnaud. There's a beat before she quietly but clearly adds, "I promise." Then she looks to Hal, brows narrowing ever so slightly. "Situation is fine. Me..." She gives a glance to Faith, trusting in her medical skills. "I'll be fine. Enough."
 
Arnaud makes some sort of gesture at Haliburton - possibly a rude one - and then he's suddenly disappearing up a wall, like a lizard, scaling the dark wall of an alley and disappearing up on the roof. A second later he's seen leaping from rooftop to another, traversing easily 20 meters in that jump. If he's going to show everyone everything, he might as well go all out.


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