"Oh, Miss Leblanc!" Professor Herringbone says. "What a pleasure to meet you. Please let me know if you have any trouble. Would you like me to get you a life jacket?"
Edited by Nodrog on Oct 27th 2020 at 7:44:52 AM
The Light That Blinds
Lucien
Ah, the Leblanc family. He'd heard of them. New money types, who always won the stock market for whatever reason. Lucien's father said they cheated using magic.
"You most likely met my parents," he said, absently drumming his fingers on his leg. "They enjoy mingling with the upper crust." And not bringing me along, lest I embarrass them.
Deciding to change the subject, he said, "I come from a long line of mages. I can trace my ancestry back to the Hundred Years' War. Over the years, we've dabbled in many magics...like, say, the creation of familiars."
This, really, was Lucien's not-exactly-subtle attempt to find out what, exactly, Precious was.
"Kept me waiting, haven’t you? Tch. No matter. Dawdle all you’d like. In the end, your defeat remains inevitable."
Precious Leblanc
Precious, relieved of the need to cross the boat to retrieve a life boat herself, immediately resumed her seat, arranging her skirts about her knees and smiling politely at the Professor.
"That would be lovely, sir, thank you kindly."
She took the offered lifejacket, and after examining it for a long moment placed it gingerly over her shoulders, securing the buckles after a moment of hesitation. She brushed a hand through her hair to smooth it over the garish new accessory, attempting to maintain a somewhat dignified air despite it.
She then returned her gaze to Lucien, appearing politely interested as she calculated how best to give him the information for which he was so clearly fishing, without making it known that he had been caught out. Many had attempted such roundabout means of puzzling her out, though none had done so quite as...ineptly.
"If your family has involved itself in the creation of familiars, perhaps your parents were two of the many mages who made contributions to my creation. Although, if that were the case, they would undoubtedly have mentioned such a thing. I'm given to understand that my animation was something of a feat of magical innovation."
Her eyes wandered, as if lost in thought.
"And come to think of it, my parents did always disdain familiars, yoked beings that they are. The creatures lack the so-called sentience achieved in myself."
She raised a hand to her mouth, widening her eyes as if startled at her own words. A show of humility, for the comfort of her conversation partner.
"Beg pardon, I did not intend to be so blunt, nor to speak of irrelevant matters such as this. If you don't mind my asking, what is your magical specialty?"
Rhinestone Cowboy
Sarah was once again sitting quietly when the professors called for everyone to get their life jackets and find a lifeboat as well. I mean, she could fly but she had no idea how close they were to land and flying all night would be out of the question, especially if she was floating when the sun rose.
"Great, just when I thought I could finally relax, we get into a boating accident. Luna, you mind if I stick close to you? You're the only other vampire here that I've met."
Lover of anime, video games, old-school Rock & Roll music, yaoi, horror, motorcycles, classic cars, trains, and historical fiction
"Ov course not!" Luna reached out, pulling the other vampire girl into a sudden hug. "Ve vill be close friends, yes? Do each others hair, tell each other secrets, make sweet music of the night..."
Professionally unprofessional.
Hearing that it was time to depart, John put his tools back in his suitcase and closed his robot arm back up. He'd have to pick this up later, and he'd most likely have time to.
He walked over to the ferry, handed his luggage to Pat, and got on the boat, taking a life jacket. He had heard about these things, supposedly made it harder to drown when put on properly. One key issue: he had no idea how to put it on. He could ask, but he had an image to maintain. And he was not willing to just admit that he had no clue how to put it on.
If he had been more in touch with society since his birth, perhaps this wouldn't be an issue. But alas, simply acting like he didn't need to put it on at the time because of his trust in the sturdiness of the ferry should suffice for an excuse.
As he got on the ferry and saw the two other students already on, he recognized one of them as a construct. As far as he was concerned, they were just organic robots made by magic, which was, to be frank, kinda wack. At least psychics had more sense to their powers.
With all that being said, he couldn't help but feel like the two were important in some degree. Especially the construct, he felt like she was important in some sort of economic circle. He could've sworn that he was told something about how she was important and all that from his dad or something.
As he took a seat in the ferry, he stretched a bit, also stretching his robot arm out of habit, which accidentally activated the blade, luckily not hitting anyone or anything, but it did make an audible noise of the blade slightly popping out of the palm. As this happened, John instantly had the blade retract and reverted his robot arm back to normal, putting his robot arm back down.
The Light That Blinds
Lucien
...well, this girl seemed rather arrogant, but she was the only one who'd attempted conversation with him thus far. Besides, Lucien himself wasn't one to talk—he knew how much he was worth. That being absolutely nothing.
"My specialty is in ice magic," he replied. "One of the better abilities. I could probably freeze over this whole ocean if I wanted to, and—"
A loud shing cut him off, causing him to jolt. "What the—?!" Lucien looked around, searching for the source. "Did someone bring a weapon?!"
"Kept me waiting, haven’t you? Tch. No matter. Dawdle all you’d like. In the end, your defeat remains inevitable."
Precious Leblanc
Hmm. This young man was cocky and uncouth, but she'd dealt with worse. Society types did like to brag, especially when intoxicated. And because of these prior experiences, she was quite firm in her disbelief of Lucien's frankly ludicrous claims of power. She also suspected that some subtle flattery would be appropriate in response.
However, before her conversation partner could continue with his blatant braggadocio or give her room to interject, they were interrupted by the sound of sharp metal being drawn. Her head snapped toward the noise, eyes locking on to the student with the robotic arm. There was no blade currently in sight, but she did not doubt what she had heard. Her eyes narrowed.
"I do hope you have informed the faculty in advance that you are...armed."
Edited by furnacedoor on Nov 2nd 2020 at 10:38:46 AM
Basil had finally managed to find a suitably isolated seat when he heard the arm malfunction. Naturally curious about its source, he surveyed the area, his eyes eventually coming to rest on John. Never one to mince manners, he immediately said in a perfectly calm voice "are you here to kill people with that implement?".
It occurred vaguely to him that this was not the most fortunate turn of phrase, but by then the words had already left his mouth, and he cared very little for etiquette anyway.
Edited by bobbitwormhobbitwyrm on Nov 2nd 2020 at 1:01:23 PM
Professionally unprofessional.
Now how the hell am I going to explain this to them? John nervously thought to himself as he saw the distress from the mage. There wasn't any good way to say that his prosthetic arm had a blade built in, and the lasers were a whole different problem entirely.
Now usually he would've kept quiet, if it wasn't for the fact that he had not only been called out, but by a horrible pun, no less. God, it was like kicking a man while he was down.
"I would like to clarify that the activation of the blade was a complete and total accident. I have no ill will against anyone here and have informed the faculty of all of the capabilities and features of my prosthetic." John said, sounding quite professional, but only because he had recited the phrase multiple times in case a malfunction happened.
"If there's any questions about the technology I have on me, I will answer them." John said, looking to be serious, but still a bit stressed out.
A figure in a brown robe pushes forward. "Ah, yes... I have questions about your so called technology...".
Two more figures in brown robes begin to push forward from out of the crowd, moving to flank Precious is the first figure continues to talk to John.
Mundane rolls:John [6], Precious [5], Lucien [6]. They all make it.
The figure talking to John pulls his robe back and reaches for what John recognizes as a Taser on his belt.
Precious notices the two men now standing beside her are similarly armed. Such weapons are almost never used in the paranormal world.
Lucien gets a glimpse of the weapons also.
Edited by Nodrog on Nov 10th 2020 at 10:54:45 AM
The Light That Blinds
Lucien
Ah. It was just one of the students being an idiot. Nothing new there. Lucien was about to resume the conversation when they were approached by two robed people.
"We're in the middle of something," Lucien muttered to them. "Can you—" He stopped as the two of them...flanked Precious. Huh. That could mean many things, and few of them were good.
Then he saw the weapons, and his eyes widened.
Immediately, Lucien leapt to his feet and cupped his hands around his mouth. "TWO PEOPLE BROUGHT WEAPONS ON BOARD!" he yelled, pointing to the robed people. "THEY HAVE WEAPONS, SOMEONE RESTRAIN THEM!" He didn't trust his combat capabilities enough to intervene in any other way.
"Kept me waiting, haven’t you? Tch. No matter. Dawdle all you’d like. In the end, your defeat remains inevitable."
The first man looks surprised, then orders "Brothers! Plan Theta-two! Seize the abomination!"
All three men pull smoke grenades from their robes, pull the pins, then throws the grenades behind them. The two men move to try to grab Precious. The first man glares at John. "The Order of Edison shall be for you next, blasphemer! Science is for humans!"
Order of Edison: An order of fanatical human mundanes who believe that science and technology should be exclusive to humans and hate any form of technology being used by monsters. Members of the brotherhood carry special pendents that render them immune to the veil.
Edited by Nodrog on Nov 10th 2020 at 11:09:23 AM
John swings with his robot arm Monster roll, 1 dice: [3] One success. Trained opponent: two successes required. The man manages to dodge the punch and begins to head toward the growing cloud of smoke.
Lucien gestures, summoning a layer of ice on the ground monster roll, 1 dice: [1]. One success. Trained opponents: two successes required to stop the men. The men just shift their feet, breaking out of the ice and revealing the fact that under the robes they are wearing black tactical gear and combat boots.
Edited by Nodrog on Nov 10th 2020 at 12:00:53 PM
The Light That Blinds
Lucien
...well, Precious was about to be taken away and absolutely no one cared. Time to take matters into his own hands.
"Well, don't just help us!" Lucien yelled at...pretty much everyone else on the ship, gathering ice magic in his hands. "STAND THERE!" He flung the magic directly at the hooded people's feet. It didn't work.
"I mean, it's not like they've got freaking TASERS or anything!"
Edited by LilyTheLitten on Nov 10th 2020 at 10:02:34 AM
"Kept me waiting, haven’t you? Tch. No matter. Dawdle all you’d like. In the end, your defeat remains inevitable."
Professionally unprofessional.
Seeing that the man talking to him is reaching for a damn taser, he decides to take action. Hearing from Lucien that the other men had weapons, John realized what this meant. The order of Edison had been something he had heard a lot about for years, but now was his first time actually dealing with them. John may have not had much interaction with the outside world beforehand, but he knew enough to know that a taser wasn't something a common person was supposed to have on him. And one of the members of the damned order of Edison, no less. Their ideals sickened John, it was nothing short of racism towards monsters.
John re-activates the blade palm, the blade popping out properly, this time with intent to harm, but not kill. "You said you were interested in my technology? Then let me show you the effectiveness of the blade." John says, then using the blade to slash at the arm of the man.
"What's a taser?" "Isn't that the brown thing, grows in the ground, good when you slice it up and fry it?" "-cough- Is there supposed to be that much smoke?" "What's going on?"
The crowd is beginning to react to the smoke and the ground suddenly being covered by ice. One student, wearing pointy slippers and woolen pants/coat, finds their footwear living up to the name and falls to the ground.
The man John attacks is forced to dodge again. "Brothers! Phase two!" he orders, pulling out a slightly different looking grenade.
Edited by Nodrog on Nov 10th 2020 at 12:33:33 PM
Precious Leblanc
"Unhand me, you cretins!"
Precious neatly ducked the hands reaching out to her and darted across the boat, slipping slightly on the ice that had appeared at her feet but quickly righting herself.
"Your manners are the true abomination here," she muttered to herself, straightening her skirts. Keeping her eyes locked on the figures, she turned her head to shout to the prow.
"Three robed individuals are attempting to kidnap me. Some assistance would be appreciated!"
And then they rounded on her with tasers, which was not ideal.
Edited by furnacedoor on Nov 10th 2020 at 10:33:04 AM
The tazers fire, four little metal darts hitting Precious and then... having absolutely no effect on her.
Other figures are beginning to react.
The man holding the new grenade grabs the pin. "Brothers! Alternate phase three-a!" he orders, then closes his eyes, his face muscles clenching tight as he pulls the pin.
Edited by Nodrog on Nov 10th 2020 at 12:36:43 PM
The Light That Blinds
Lucien
What's a taser?
Lucien froze (ha). His eye twitched. Once. Twice.
Then, he screeched in frustration, whirling around to the rest of the boat and glaring at them. "You all! Listen! These men—" He pointed to the hooded people. "Are trying to kidnap Precious LeBlanc and probably want the rest of us dead! They have tasers! Electricity! Mundane weapons! How have none of you noticed yet?! What is wrong with you people?!"
"Alternate phase 3-a!"
"What—?" Lucien turned, then paled at the sight of the grenade. "AND NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO BLOW US UP!" He quickly formed a ball of ice magic and hurled it at the man with the grenade.
Edited by LilyTheLitten on Nov 10th 2020 at 10:43:44 AM
"Kept me waiting, haven’t you? Tch. No matter. Dawdle all you’d like. In the end, your defeat remains inevitable."
Precious dodges, swirling away in the smoke. There is the faint sound of a splash.
"She's in the water!" one of the two mooks shouts.
"Target lost! Game over, man, game over!"
The head Brother cries out as a ball of ice forms over the grenade. There is a large flash, bright enough you can see the bones of his fingers through the skin.
Everyone (except the mooks) are temporarily blinded by the flash.
Precious Leblanc
Well, that just would not do. Even if this attack had no effect on her, her attackers were likely gearing up to try again. Best to extricate herself from this situation, posthaste.
With a withering frown toward the incompetent doll-nappers, Precious backed up to further immerse herself in the smoke cloud. Once obscured, she slid the life jacket quickly over her head, not bothering to undo the buckles, and held it over the side of the boat before letting it fall into the water below. If she was lucky, they'd think she'd fallen in with it.
Now left with just her original black dress and pale porcelain skin, Precious blended in quite well with the thick smoke that filled the air. And, as she didn't have lungs, she felt no need to react to what must have been an extremely irritating respiratory experience. She crept slowly backwards toward the confused, shouting crowd.
If they weren't all blown up in the coming seconds, she was confident in her ability to blend in.
Edited by furnacedoor on Nov 10th 2020 at 10:54:53 AM
Basil had previously not been paying great attention to the ongoing chaos. There was not, after all, very much he could do to effect the situation, and he didn't not perceive any threat to himself, so inactivity had seemed the right choice. Not that he noticed the men had begun to use actual explosives, he quickly decided he wanted no part in what was occurring and jumped of the boat, shifting into octopus form the moment he hit the water.
Basil enters the water, a second (or maybe even first?) home for him. He's able to perceive through the murky water a bright flash as the flash grenade goes off but most of the flash is blocked by the boat, which is now above him. Basil is not blinded.
Crouching low and hiding in the smoke, Precious can see the bright white light filtered by the smoke but isn't blinded by the light. She could see if she stood up from the smoke.
On the boat:
"Butternuts... that stings!" the leader of the trio says, clutching his now badly frost-bitten and blistered hand. "Brothers, can you see?"
Brother A: "Yeah..."
Brother B: "Kinda... kinda blurry, even with my eyes shut."
Leader: "Target is lost... engage alternate phase three-a-a!"
Brother A: "Um, wait, do you mean three double a or three a again?"
Brother B: "Which one is three double a?"
Leader: "Run away, you fools, run away!"
Edited by Nodrog on Nov 10th 2020 at 1:10:37 PM
Precious Leblanc
Precious tilted her head, pondering her response to the undoubtedly rude comment on her inhuman status. Ultimately she decided to let it go in the interest of propriety. Still, she stood to retrieve a life jacket before answering Lucien's question.
"I am Precious Leblanc, daughter of Verdun and Odetta Leblanc. Lovely to meet you, even on a night such as tonight."
Precious decided to assume that her parents' names alone would be enough to make clear her association with the prominent Leblanc family, new-money French expats known for their success in using their skill in arithmancy to manipulate the stock market in their favor. To be any more explicit in that regard would be unbearably gauche.
She tapped her cheek softly with a finger as something occurred to her, the action producing a barely audible clicking sound.
"I am surprised to have only made your acquaintance now. I believe one of our dinner parties was attended by a Vaugeouis or two, no more than a year ago. Of course, I could be wrong."
Precious did not believe that she was wrong. She rarely was about these sorts of things.