New Cannes (IC)

[Frosty]

"They're definitely the cream of the crop as far as coffee goes, and they're not cheap either. I mean, you can't afford to have many more, with your contract recently terminated and all. You sure you don't want to talk in private? I know of a juicy job offer..."

[Major]

"Oh I still have an income, so it isn't too bad." Amber says with a shrug as she takes another sip. In truth the Warden pay was terrible and really needed to be updated, but she didn't have to admit that. "You know all about my other jobs. Still, I suppose having another job could be nice. I'm almost done." She says taking one more slow and final sip before setting the cup down slowly.

[Frosty]

<the others just standing by and listening? Ok. I'd like to move on though. This little tangent has gone on for long enough.>

"Oh, go ahead and take your time. The longer you wait before you get on your way to restoring your modeling viability, the more freedom we have in setting what your modeling terms will be." Amber is sure that Aria meant 'we' to mean the White Court.

[Major]

"Geez so impatient. Don't you know it is rude to rush people enjoying their drink?" She asks, "No manners." She says shaking her head before standing up. "I'm done now though, thank you for your patience."

[Starbin]

Grim simply watched, enjoying a moment of indulgence with a halzelnut latte. In days before, he would have been happy with a free cup of lukewarm, brown water. Of course, this wouldn't be a regular occurrence, but right now he was feeling ... saucy.

As the ladies continued there verbal sparring, he simply watched, eyes going from Amber's healthy figure to Aria's alluring visage - attractive fitness chick versus porn star. Knowing it would mean something to Amber, he let his eyes linger on her a$$ for a little longer.

Hell, what were friends for?

[Frosty]

"Yes, I am impatient. I figured it's appropriate when innocent women are involved." says Aria as she leads you to a back room in the coffee shop, leaving unsaid the implication that Amber is apparently more worried about petty displays of power than actually saving people. Is the vampire trying to gain the moral high ground and *guilt-trip* Amber?

[Major]

Amber doesn't bite and just follows. She didn't trust the Vampire, nor did she believe that a few minutes meant anything. And she wasn't going to be guilt-tripped by a monster pretending to act like they had any sense of morals.

[Frosty]

Once everyone is seated in the back room, Aria says, "The ground work is all laid out. By having Amber becoming jobless in this expensive town, people will be less suspicious when they find out Amber has decided to take a job at the Dancing Dryads...also nicknamed Double Ds. Amber must act like she's a dancer desperate for the money, instead of like someone who's been hired to be an investigator. As I've mentioned to y'all a month ago, there is a disturbing trend for our girls to first become distant, and then either just wander off and disappear, or just die by apparent drug overdoses. We know it's not normal because something changes the girls' auras as well, and we literally can't feed on them. We need y'all to help investigate."

[Major]

"Shame they die. If it was just an inability to feed off them it wouldn't be such a bad thing." Amber remarks. "So any leads at all other than that? How many people work at your establishment? Any similarities shared by any of the dancing girls that vanish? And are there any currently with the changed auras?"

[Starbin]

Sitting down, Grim listened to Aria with half-lidded eyes, seemingly lost in space. Something about the situation, however, must have struck him as funny because he snorted suddenly. "Vamps everywhere, then ghouls, now zombies ... this is like a bad Elvira Spook-a-thon."

[DukeGod]

"Vampires are a natural part of the world. But this doesn't seem to be. We should break into the coroner's office"

[Frosty]

"Vampires are a natural part of the world. But this doesn't seem to be. We should break into the coroner's office"

It's quite funny to hear a doctor say that vampires are a natural part of the world. Aria grins and strokes Brando's arm. "My boyfriend is quite astute. The coroner idea is something you should look into."

"Shame they die. If it was just an inability to feed off them it wouldn't be such a bad thing." Amber remarks. "So any leads at all other than that? How many people work at your establishment? Any similarities shared by any of the dancing girls that vanish? And are there any currently with the changed auras?"

"If you count all the employees at Double D, we're at well over a hundred. There's some 50-odd pleasure girls. There's a few girls with currently changed auras. In terms of similarities, I don't see any similarities in backgrounds, but they're all young, big-titted, healthy or at least they all start out healthy, and not allowed to wear clothes."

[Major]

"So I would guess the ones with changed auras will probably be something to look at as well. Doc here can look at the coroner. Get me a list of the ones with changed auras and I'll try and monitor those ones while doing your dirty work." Amber says. "And based on your establishment, I hope my boobs aren't too small for you." She says sarcastically.

[Frosty]

"Based on what we know, your boobs should hold up well enough without support despite their size." says Aria, completely straight-faced. The sarcasm just rolls right offa her.

[Major]

"Oh and what do you know?" Amber asks raising an eyebrow. "You know that not everyone enjoys tumors growing out the chest and prefers a more natural size?"

[Starbin]

Grim listened to the eruption of the age old argument "How much boob is enough?" Is more than a mouthful a waste? Are comforted pillows too much? He sighed inwardly - this situation demanded a smart-a$$ remark, but anything he said might divert the discussion back to the mundane topic of zoned-out zombie girls ...which now that he thought about it, wasn't really mundane.

Clearing his throat, he looked over at Brando. "I hate to interrupt the proceedings of 'B-cup vs Double-Ds' but why would someone just target girls at a Dubbya Cee strip club? I mean, we've already decided it's some Big Bad, right? We'll call it he, for the sake of discussion ... but why would he just want hot girls?

Unless we find out he doesn't, that's the common link to start with.

Why her place?" . He looked back at Aria, sipping on his coffee drink.

[DukeGod]

"Size? If its run by the White Court, the Dancing Dryad must be one of the biggest clubs in town. Areas with huge amount of game are easy to hunt on, principally if the prey doesn't leave it even after we've hunted them"

Okay, that was a bit too much feral of his part...

[Frosty]

Aria gives off a throaty laugh, which is the aural equivalent of Viagra, giving all males within hearing distance instant boners. Even Amber can feel a bit of the arousal.

Brando, being very familiar with all of this, is pretty sure that Aria isn't even consciously using her supernatural mojo. It just kind of drips from her like other things that drip from her quite often.

"Honey, the White Court has had control of the entertainment and fashion industry since their inceptions. Who do you think *sets* the standards of what most people find attractive? Trust me when I say that we are poised perfectly to rake in the profits and the feeding. The happy-meals come to us, begging for the things that we tell them they want. As for your tits, they will do just fine. We've all seen the catalogs you're in. Plus you've got the confidence that is oh-so-important in this business. Now, when can you start?"

Spoiler

Show

Amber can delay a bit if she wants, so she can call in more Warden backup. Since they're short-handed, they might just send you Elizabeth, Unbeknownst's character. Liz has two Warden parents, but Unbeknownst didn't say whether or not Liz is a Warden, so we'll have to see.

[Major]

"How long from the time the aura's change to the death or disappearance usually?" Amber asks, "I'd prefer to be able to set some things up to help if there is still some time. What's the work schedule?" Amber asks with a deep breath. She really hated having to do this job, but as had been established before it was important.

[Starbin]

Grim glanced down at his erection, nodding his thanks to Aria. He murmured to himself, "Nice to see the equipment still works." As the vamp and Amber continued to discuss the job, he sighed and raised his hand in mock surrender. "Okay, okay ... just so Amber doesn't have to do this alone, I will volunteer to sit in the audience. Of course, you'll need to wave the normal cover charge ... and maybe free drinks ... perhaps a lap dance or two.

Just to keep my cover, you understand."

Spoiler

Show

As you can see by my signature, I'll be in the land of no wi-fi for 4 days ... sorry if I slow the game down, but press on w/o me, if necessary. I'll catch up on Tuesday

[Frosty]

"It's difficult to say, Amber. From our point of view, a person's aura is gone very soon after death, as once someone is dead, there isn't any emotions to feed off of. I can't tell you from a magic point of view since I'm not adept at that."

Aria looks at Grim and grins. "Gee, you're all self-sacrifice here. Ready to take one for the team eh?"

[DukeGod]

"Well Grim, you can't appear together with Amber or that will be suspicious. So, you're coming with me to the coroner for now"

[Starbin]

Grim shrugged. "Doesn't really float my boat, but if you think I'm that well known in these parts that my mere presence will alert the Big Bad, color me flattered."

[Frosty]

"So, those two will check out the corpses and maybe see something useful. If you want, Amber, you and I can head over to the Dancing Dryad and I can give you a tour right now, set you up for your new source of income."

[Major]

"Oh joy. I can hardly wait." Amber said in a monotone voice.

[Starbin]

Grim stood and stretched, glancing over at Brando. "Well, I guess it's guys night out at the morgue.

Pah-tay ..." He looks less than thrilled to be here. Of course, he rarely looks pleased to be anywhere doing anything.

[DukeGod]

"Argh. Fine I'll make it up to you, later we'll pass by the DD's, grab one of those girls without aura and I'll turn a blind eye on you oogling at her during exams to see if I find that drug. I'll also giver her a shorter than usual gown..."

Brando turns and waits for Grim to follow

"But you better help a lot in the morgue"

[Starbin]

Grim shrugged. "have I given you reason to expect otherwise, oh might Doctor?". Grim followed Brando out.

[Unbeknownst]

Leaning against the front of her old bus, Liz stared at the entrance to the 'Club'. Rubbing her thumb along her chin, she debated whether or not to wander in looking for a job. She knew she was pretty adorable, but he clothes didn't exactly show that off as well as they could. She looked down at herself, her skintight, white, wife beater showing her in shape, and well muscled body, along with her rather exotic tattoos. Her cargo-pants were baggy, but they complimented her top fairly well, and her combat boots helped finish off a tomboyish outfit. Actually, now that she though it over, she looked pretty good. Especially with the bob-cut she preferred her hair to be in.

Sighing, she looked back up at the 'Club'. She needed money, and she really wanted to figure out what was happening to the women that worked there. Nodding with determination, she picked up her overly large messenger bag, slung it over her shoulder, and marched towards the entrance, her bag bumping against her behind at every step.

[Frosty]

Grim and Brando make it over to the morgue. It is a relatively slow day today it looks like, with not a lot of people walking in and out of the building. The guard at the front desk gives you two a bored look as you two walk in.

Aria has given Amber a ride over to the Dancing Dryad, and Amber can at least glean a *bit* of satisfaction as the expensive surround-sound music system in the car seems to sputter a bit. As Aria parks the expensive Ferrari in front of the club, you both see the strangely-dressed (strange because she IS dressed, which is a relative rarity at DD) woman in front of the club. Amber has worked with her once before on something in another state.