(Attempted) Murder Friends
| (Attempted) Murder Friends | |
|---|---|
"Do all of your friendships work like this?" | |
| Players |
At a music festival, three strangers become best murder friends. In the eyes of at least one of them. |
It's the last day of the International Festival of Life, but that doesn't mean the energy has dispersed. It's a holiday, after all, and as the sun slides towards sunset, that means concerts, AND fireworks. Even the dealer stalls - selling every sort of street food, but with an obvious lean towards Afro-Caribbean and African-inspired favorites as well as crafts, indy music CDs, and all the rest - are staying open later, hoping to catch every possible dollar the festival might give up. It's crowded, and it's almost 90 degrees out, so the fact that almost every hand has a hand wrapped around a cool drink isn't surprising. Solomon is also not going against the crowd in this matter; he's got a ridiculously large drink with ice in one hand, and he's making his way through the press towards one of the stages. Just currently setting up are a young band known in some very small circles for 'acid rock, if the genre had started in Nigeria'. A small crowd is already gathered, sprawled out on the grass with blankets, or standing under the small shade offered by pitched canopies. Javi may not be ready to spend a whole lot of money, but that doesn't mean he's not going to enjoy the festival. There's plenty to do and see, and it's a pleasant way to spend a day even if being outside today is a //bit// on the unpleasant side. But that's what drinks are for! And shade, though he isn't taking advantage of that at the moment. Currently, he's staked out a spot near-ish to the back of the crowd but certainly within view of the stage, and has parked himself directly on the grass to wait for them to begin. He //is// nursing a drink, considerably smaller than Solomon's but enough to provide some relief from the heat, and he's also looking around, though more absently curious than as if he's trying to locate anything -- or anyone -- in particular. The heat should be something of a problem, but the Summer isn't too bothered by it. At least for now. He's out stretching his legs, enjoying the sights, and going with the flow. He's wearing a black t-shirt, blue jeans, and his usual black high tops. He's already made his way through, collecting various odds and ends that all find their way to a black, red, and green canvas bag. Almost stereotypically of an Ogre Namdi has been most preoccupied with the food and drinks on offer. Much of the Carribean food is something new to behold, and he's more than happy to enjoy every new taste and sensation. The announcement of new music draws his attention again. However, his enjoyment briefly stops when he catches sight of another Changeling. It's a diverse crowd - more diverse than most of the attendees know, with at least a couple of people who might not be all that 'human' anymore. But to most eyes, Solomon is just a rangy white guy with the kind of stare that puts people on edge. When Javi looks around, Solomon meets his eyes with that stare, just briefly. He takes a sip and starts wandering towards the younger man. Why? Who knows. It's a decent place to stand to listen to the band, at least. But he, too, pauses when he sees Namdi, and that at least takes the pressure of his stare off of Javi. He gives the unfamiliar man a brief nod. Before he can greet either of them, _if_ he planning on doing so, there's a stir near the stage. The lead of the band was stepping up to the mike when she presses her hand against her belly and makes a face. Then with very little fanfare, she pitches face forward and falls flat on the stage. Javi doesn't seem to have any inkling of anything more diverse than would be usual for a mundane Chicago. At least, his wandering attention doesn't catch on anyone in particular. That is, until he catches Solomon's eyes for the first time. He only holds it the first time for long enough to be incidental -- actually, he's quick to look away. Very quick, in fact. Maybe it's that unsettling quality the other man has about him. He does not look at him head on again. However, he //does// give some indication he's aware of the man moving toward him. He sits up a little straighter, and there's a tiny thread of tension in his face now, where it had been at rest a moment before. He doesn't actually move away, though. After all, people come closer to other people for no particular reason all the time. Right? He may have been tracking more than is obvious in the periphery, because when Namdi becomes the focus of Solomon's gaze instead of him, there's another brief glance, this time toward him instead. He's distracted from both of them, though, by the band, and he smiles wide enough that he must know enough about them to be excited about their performance. But that smile drops right off his face when the lead collapses. "Oh shit!" He's not the only one to exclaim about it, surely, but he also sets his drink down quickly and half-stands like he's going to do...well, something. Though //what// is not immediately apparent. Namdi was happy to take a long chug of his drink, briefly stopping to see where Solomon had looked off to. His gaze flits over to Javi just for a moment until he hears the noise from the stage. He swears under his breath, and starts to finish off the remnants of that comically large cup he acquired along the way. He starts to move through the crowd, but it proves to be difficult. Mostly due to his size, but also as he stops every so often to apologise for pushing his way past people. Namdi lets out a ragged sigh as he gets closer, going still for a few moments to see if he can get a look at the woman that isn't through the crowd. A lot of heads turn when the lead hits the stage. Especially when her bandmates shout. Javi isn't the only one who rises to his feet, and Solomon //shamelessly// takes advantage of the way Namdi is pushing through the crowd to follow in his wake. Unlike Namdi, he does not apologize, but his glares clear a few people out so there's an easily followable trail behind him. As Namdi pushes through to the stage itself, he can see the lead: she's a dark-skinned woman with long braids, early twenties, and has rolled onto her side. She's clearly ill, wretching a bit, although nothing's coming out. Her bandmates have gone to her side, and one is on the phone, calling for a medic from the operations people. Someone asks her what's wrong, and she groans. But a few words can be made out here and there. "Bitch" and "poisoned", mostly. Javi's drink is forgotten once he's on his feet, and he starts to make his way through the crowd toward the front, too. He's quite a bit smaller than Namdi -- maybe 5'9" or 5'10" at the most, and pretty wiry -- so he has an easier time slipping through, but he was also further back to begin with, so the distance alone is a factor in how quickly he can get close enough to see anything. In fact, he ends up converging with Namdi, and then by extension Solomon in his wake, more or less when the former stops to get a better look. And he's close enough to catch whatever's intelligible of what she's saying. His eyes widen, and he cuts a look toward the other two who seem to be of the same mind as him. Apparently he's forgotten that Solomon has just creeped him out a little bit. "Yo," he calls, turning back to the stage, "you guys need help?" He doesn't rush in, but he seems prepared to carry out whatever might be necessary that he can actually accomplish. Namdi doesn't sense nor see the man stalking behind him until he's in front of the stage. He set shis bag down, something he's likely to regret later. "Wha-" He stops, shakes his head, and still tries to process it. "Someone poisoned you?" he asks with a tilt of his head. Heads turn as Javi and Namdi speak up, especially on the stage, where the band members are hovering. "What, are you with security?" one asks, dubiously. From behind Javi and Namdi, Solomon says, "I do work with the police on occasion." He even pulls out something that looks like an official looking ID. It's got the CPD seal on it. Ignore that from CLOSER, it says something about being a consultant. "Can you tell us what happened?" Like he's just cheerfully creating an 'us' out of the two complete strangers who all decided to be nosy at the same time. The lead, known to //fans// as Corrine, starts to say something, and then turns over just in time so that when she throws up, it doesn't immediately splash down her front. There's also not much to it; mostly liquid. She clearly hasn't eaten much today, but both Javi and Namdi can see at one corner of the stage, the place where she was prepping; there's an open water bottle tucked by her kit. Solomon steps closer to the stage and the vomit and...is he sniffing it? He absolutely is. He says, "Odd scent to this. Bile, yes, but there's something...weird. Off. Could very well be poison." "That...jealous...skank," Corrine manages to get out. "Musta spiked my water. Fuck her." "Uh..." Because yeah, Javi definitely isn't with security. That much is obvious. He also doesn't seem to be about to come up with a credible excuse, judging from his expression, but when Solomon speaks up he casts another quick look in the man's direction. There's a moment of indecision, but ultimately he lets himself be folded into the trio without argument and focuses on the answer. Of course, then Corrine throws up. He doesn't seem particularly phased by it, except that it's concerning, especially in light of what Solomon says about it. Well, okay, maybe he's a little phased by the guy smelling it, but he'll think about the ick factor later. Right now, he hoists himself up on stage and heads for the bottle, with the intention to bring it back for inspection -- though carefully. It probably won't be good to have him be the next one to collapse. Namdi doesn't say anything just yet until Solomon moves over to start investigating the puke. Nothing too surprising just yet. At least until he catches sight of Solomon sniffing at it. It gives the Ogre pause for a bit. Even after being lumped in with the strangers all looking into it. "Jealous, you said?" Namdi asks as he forces himself to look away from Solomon. Then another welcome distraction as Javi hops up. His gaze follows the young man until he gets back, and he turns back to Corrine. "Who exactly is this skank that poisoned you? Are they here now?" Let's face it; noses wrinkle on a lot of faces when Solomon leans in and sniffs the puke. At least he doesn't taste it? And Javi is easily able to snag the water bottle. As he picks it up, he notices some tiny flakes of white residue caught in the grooves of the cap. For her part, Corinne eyes Namdi warily...but something about the man's demeanor has her trusting at least enough to croak out, "Lori. Fucking Lori. She wanted to take lead on a couple songs today. Told her to fuck off, and she threw a temper tantrum." Fans of the band would recognize the name: she's the second singer. She's not on the stage right now. One of the other band members, tentatively, says, "I don't think Lori would do that. I mean, not Lori. She's probably just sulking in the trailer." The band member on the phone pipes in to say that the medics are on the way. "What the fuck?" It's murmured softly as Javi examines the bottle -- specifically, the cap. He leans in (again carefully) for closer inspection, his brows pulling together as his lips press together more firmly and turn downward. No poker faces here. But maybe he's just not trying right now. He's only half-hearing Namdi's conversation with Corrine and the band, though he does look up when he hears the name 'Lori' -- it's pretty clear he recognizes it, and he //also// looks surprised, another expression written very clearly on his face for anyone to see. "Well, there's definitely something here," he says once he's shaken his head quickly like he's trying to clear it. "On the cap, see? It's, like, a powder or something. Dunno what. Look." He holds the cap out a little gingerly toward Solomon and Namdi so they can see for themselves. "That don't come from water." "Lori?" Namdi echoes. "Hmm." The name clearly rings no bells. "Have you seen this Lori around?" He starts looking around himself, currently without much of a poker face. His gaze goes left and right maddeningly until he turns back to the band. "Where's the trailer at?" As the question comes Namdi looks over that bit of the bottle Javi . "Thank you," he says with a brief smile. "You were right about it poisoning you, but you do not have warmer days ahead. This may hit you for a while." "The trailer's that way," the band member says, and points off towards a part of the park that's been cordoned off for performers and dealers. "...did Lori seriously try to kill Corinne?" "I'm gonna kill her," Corinne says. She actually tries to stand up, but then collapses back with a groan. She clasps her hand over her mouth to keep from vomiting again. She mumbles something else; the prospect of murder features heavily. Luckily, about this time, a little golf cart with medics show up, and they start making their way to the stage with a stretcher. Solomon looks from the woman, to the bottle in Javi's hand, to the approaching medics. With unseemly good cheer, he suggests, "Why don't we pop around the trailer and see? It'll take a bit for the police to arrive, and if word gets back to her before then, she might run." So he's volunteering the three of them to keep that from happening? Apparently so. Once everyone has gotten a look at it, Javi caps the bottle again, closing it tightly so that the flakes are trapped inside. There's a quick flash of his own smile in response to Namdi's, and though it's fleeting considering the circumstances, it brightens him considerably for a moment before it's gone again. "Sure thing," he replies with a thumbs up, though anything else he might have said about it is stopped by Solomon's suggestion. His eyebrows raise as he turns to look at the man, and he's quiet for another second or two as he looks from him, to Namdi, then back, then at Corrine. "Yeah," he admits, if a little reluctantly. Well, it probably makes sense that he wouldn't necessarily want to run //toward// a potential poisoner. Sure, he'll //do// it, but he doesn't //want// to do it. "Probably should. You wanna give this to 'em?" He hands it off to the band member with a nod toward the medics before they head off. "You are not in a position to kill a house fly," Namdi retorts as his lips setting into a frown. He looks off and over to the trailer, and the sound of professionals arriving draws his attention there. He moves away and out of the way, and shoots a concerned look over to the singer before looking over to Javi. The proposition from Solomon and Javi draws a light hum. "I suppose so. It cannot be any worse than the last time I followed a stranger somewhere." He chuckles, happily so. "I do not think I will wind up halfway to death and confused beyond measure this time." "Tell the medics what happened, and ask them to send police to your trailer," Solomon advises the band members. He also steps to the side when Namdi does, and gives Namdi a quick smile. "Aw, c'mon. Don't say that. The day is young! We might get lucky." To Lost eyes, the little feelers at the corners of his mouth wave with excitement, and the faceted blue eyes gleam. He tilts his chin towards the trailers. "Let's go, then. I'm Sol, by the way. You two have names you wanna share? In case we have to scream them in pain or something?" As soon as Javi hands off the bottle, he steps back and out of the way of the medics to allow them access so they can do their work. He has another job to do, anyway. However, unlike Solomon, his response to Namdi's last comment is a wide-eyed look that is decidedly //not// excited. Incredulous, yes. And that's even without being able to see any feelers or multi-faceted eyes or anything else like it. "That sucks, man." This is said aside to Namdi as they begin to make their way toward the trailer. He casts a quick glance over his shoulder at Sol, and a hint of that earlier unease is back as he looks at the man, but after another moment he offers, "Javi." "Namdi Niambi," the Ogre offers, his smile now fading. "Luck is a cruel mistress, and your luck an even crueler one." He can only put up that stony visage for a beat before lets out a laugh despite how odd circumstances are. The smile stays on his face, and a fanged one to fae-touched eyes. "A lot of things suck, as it were, but all we can do is work through it. Yes?" "Javi. Namdi. Nice to meet you both," Sol says, with a perfectly polite little bow of his head. They walk through the crowd; the stage is drawing more and more attention now that the medics have shown up, so moving against the flow of the crowd is a trial, for a moment. Then they break free, and it's a clear shot to the staff areas. It's also fairly unsecure - there's an official entrance, for sure, but the rest of the area is only cordoned off with 'do not cross' yellow tape, and it would just be a matter of a moment to sneak past. Sol pauses, looking from the bored security guy checking IDs, to all that expanse of crossible tape. "What do you think, gentlemen? Talk our way in, or embrace chaos?" "Uh...I guess, yeah." Now Javi's //definitely// uneasy, but as Namdi points out, there's no doing anything much for it now. He gives his shoulders a little shake as if dislodging something from them, and a hand comes up to wave somewhere near his head like he's flicking away a bug. Whatever he's doing, it isn't directed at either of the other men -- maybe it really was a bug! "Yeah," he replies as he refocuses, "you, too." He quiets as they continue along, stopping when they get close enough to observe. A quiet huff escapes him at Solomon's question "I ain't gonna be able to talk my way in," he admits wryly. "Rather try and sneak by." But he doesn't yet, looking up at Namdi for the final word. Namdi hums in thought, and looks over to Solomon. "I am not good at talking my way out of things. I prfer not to," he admits. He looks over to the light security work, and then back to Javi. "I like the way you think, Javi. Truly, a gift." He offers the young man a smile. There isn't too much Namdi can do to hide himself. He can pace himself on when he moves, and does so without gaining too much attention. Slow, steady, and without too much noise as he moves along quietly. "Ah, good. We're all equally anti-social. See, these are the sort of things friendships are built on," Solomon says, with a quick smile. He doesn't seem at all bothered by the sneaking; after all, they have permission. Sort of. Kinda. So he follows Namdi as they find a quiet spot where no one is looking, and slide across the line into the staff area. Narrow little makeshift 'lanes' are marked out by campers, trailers, and pull-behinds. Namdi chose an excellent place to cross, though, because the band's trailer isn't that far down the row, and it even has a little sign out front with the band's logo. Oh, and a woman that Javi would recognize, anyway, as the second singer, backing out of the trailer with a large pack over her back. Maybe she's going for a nice, relaxing walk? ooc Hello, Mae! Scene is at the African-Carribean International festival, where a singer has been poisoned by her rival. Javi, Namdi, and Sol are being nosy FOR JUSTICE and are about to confront the rascally criminal. Javi wasn't expecting Namdi's compliment. At all. He blinks, his eyes widening again with surprise bordering on shock. His head tilts backward to give the man a more appraising look for a second, like he's judging whether or not it's serious. However, after that study another smile flickers across his face, brief but genuine, before Sol's comment draws an equally brief snort of amusement. "Yeah," he replies, "guess so." He follows after the other two, quietly enough that he's likely to have had some practice with this sort of thing. This time, his looks around are much more purposeful, keeping track of where they are and looking out for anyone who might be nearby. Once they're in view of the woman with the backpack, though, he stops, lifting a hand to point at her. "That's Lori," he murmurs. "She's got somewhere to be, huh?" It does not bode well for her innocence, that's for sure. "It sounds as if you have very strange friends." Namdi's voice is just barely above a whisper as they move. He creeps as close to the shadows as he can with his movements. Someone his size isn't particularly stealthy, but he's all too familiar with skulking about. He didn't pay too much attention to the woman exiting immediately, but then Javi calls her by name. His head tilts, and Javi's question is met with a contemplative hum. "It does appear so. We should perhaps go see where that might be, yes?" he asks while moving towards her.
And with that, he steps out and calls out, "Lori?" She turns, looking confused at the three men she's definitely never seen before, and who do not, in any way, look like cops. She hesitates, then seems to assume, "Yeah? Look, if you're asking about our break-down plan, you gotta talk to Tomi, man. She takes care of that shit. I just sing." "And poison your lead singer, apparently. I can see why you wouldn't want to take on anything else, with all that on your plate." Lori freezes. Then? Well, she turns and starts running. Javi does not comment on whether or not it makes sense that Solomon's friend club would be very exclusive. But perhaps he doesn't have an opinion on it! He's pretty focused on Lori now that they've found her. "Yeah," he agrees quietly with a nod after Namdi's suggestion, "let's-..." However, he cuts off as Solomon just goes for it. There's another incredulous look -- but despite the surprise, he also looks a little impressed at the man's nerve. Of course, then she's running, and there's only a split-second before he takes off after her. "Oh hell no!" He's pretty quick -- quick enough to grab her, but possibly not strong enough to hold her by himself. Following doesn't bode too well for Namdi. A couple of meters is fine, but anymore might be pushing it. Then Solomon calls out the woman's name. He waits to see the reaction from the singer, and it seemed fine for just a split-second. Then she books it, and he starts grumbling. It takes Namdi a second too long to react, but Javi's more than fast enough. When he does catch up to her after the young man, he starts to assist in restraining Lori while looking over to Solomon. "Do all of your friendships work like this?" he asks while trying to keep her from getting back up again. Lori immediately starts calling all three men everything in the book that isn't fit to print - then, just as quickly, starts screaming about how 'that selfish bitch' deserved it for trying to kill her career and how she hopes the woman puked her guts out all over people. Which, as it happens, makes the security people who came running at the sound of screams do a double take. And on their heels are the actual cops. It's about twenty minutes of excitement to get sorted out, wherein the band vouches for the three of them when they arrive, and Sol turns out to actually be a consultant for the CPD, and he even knows a couple of the cops who arrive. There's a grudging lecture about not being vigilantes, and then the trio are freed to go on their way. Only then does Sol answer Namdi's question. He waggles his hand back and forth. "Last one involved dumpster diving and giant roaches. This is probably better? And good legs, Javi; you're quick." He, of course, just cheerfully strolled behind them both during the chase. "Girl, shut up." It's grunted more than said as Javi keeps his hold on her until Namdi can come help. He doesn't add too much more -- it's quite possible he'd like to know the answer to Namdi's question to Solomon, too, but they're busy getting berated by a poisoner, so that does take quite a bit of his attention. And then being questioned, during which he keeps mostly quiet, deferring to the others present and only answering things that are directly asked of him (and even then, with as few words as he can). He's quite obviously relieved when they're set free, and he wastes no time in getting the heck out of there, as uncomfortable with the presence of the cops as he is with the presence of a literal poisoner. "Yeah," he says with another flick of his hand in reply to Sol's compliment, though less like he's swatting a gnat this time, "did track in high school. Guess it came in handy today. Wouldn't've kept hold of her for long, though. Nice job." This is directed at Namdi with a nod of appreciation. "To be honest I kinda thought you made that consultant shit up." But again, he sounds a little bit impressed as he casts another look at Sol. All of the name-calling means little to an Ogre. He rolls his eyes at all the excuses, and shows little concern for her nor her words. Then he gets an answer from Solomon that causes him to do a double take. "Wait. What?" "Think nothing of it," he directs at Javi when they depart from Lori. "It was a good thing that was done today, and one I cannot say that I expected. A good thing, that." Solomon grins at Namdi. "Trash and unusually large roaches. So, consider this a step up." He snickers at Javi's comment about his dubious credentials. In response, he takes out his wallet, and offers both men a business card. It proclaims him as Dr. Solomon Jessup, assistant professor of entomology at the University of Chicago. "You're both interesting. Give me a call. We'll grab lunch. Might not even be interrupted by attempted murder--alas, not every meeting can be enjoyable as this one." Javi nods at Namdi's reply -- they can, at least, agree on that. "Yeah," he says, "it was good. But yeah, definitely not, like...what I thought I was gonna do today." Shockingly enough. He looks over at Solomon when the man produces a card, and though he eyes it a //little// skeptically for a moment, he does end up taking it, looking it over quickly before he pulls out his wallet and slides it inside for safekeeping. Another snort, and he shakes his head, shooting a wide-eyed look at Namdi as he tilts his head toward Solomon in a very 'is this guy for real?' sort of way. However, despite that it's pretty clear he's also curious, and so he adds, "Yeah. Sure. See you." He lifts a hand, waving it a little vaguely but widely enough to include both of them, before he adds, "Take care." With that, he turns away, heading back in the direction of the park. And possibly a drink he'll actually get to finish. | |