Flawless [IC]

[ylvathrall]

The smile gets wider, and the pale woman says, "So is yours."

[Halae]

"... Uh, what?" Bethany is thrown. What was that in response to? She doesn't understand what Kaori means by that!

[ylvathrall]

Kaori waves a hand dismissively. "It's not important. You must have had a reason to come here beyond merely wanting to discuss philosophy with an old woman, though. What made you seek me out?"

[Halae]

"Ah, yes. See, there's a cult in town. A very dangerous one. I'm trying to find it, and evidence led me to looking into the slaughterhouse your... ice room is under," Bethany says, seeing no reason to keep that quiet.

[ylvathrall]

"Ah," Kaori says, her voice a sigh. "And you thought I might be involved in this cult, then? I can tell you, I am not. I have no taste for cults anymore."

[Halae]

"But maybe you know something that can help me find them," Beth says, "Perhaps you've been bothered by other mortals in the last little while?"

[ylvathrall]

"Have I?" Kaori muses. "Hm. Yes, there was a group, some time ago. They seemed to think I would want something to do with them, some sort of ritual sacrifice they were planning. I...disabused them of the notion. I got a lock of hair from the leader before he ran, if you'd like that."

[Halae]

"I'd appreciate it," Bethany says, "Though, I'm curious what you'd ask in return. I haven't known many supernatural types to be willing to just give things away."

[ylvathrall]

"They irritated me," the pale lady sighs. "So demanding. Assuming. They were tiresome. And you are a polite guest. So. That is enough."

[Halae]

Bethany nods, "Very well then - I'd appreciate the, ah, components you extracted from their leader," after a moment, Bethany says, "Would you like if I came by another time? Dressed a bit warmer, maybe, so that I could stay longer? I imagine having someone that can bring you news and the like might be helpful."

Augh, Bethany, you probably shouldn't do this! Who knows what kind of creature Kaori is? But she's also so lonely, and Beth can't seem to ignore someone in so clear a need of companionship.

[ylvathrall]

"That would be very kind," Kaori says after a moment. "I think I would like that." She goes to collect the hair from a drawer in the corner, and then smiles as you leave.

[Halae]

Well, that was much easier than expected. Bethany will say her goodbyes as she leaves. With the hair from the cultist leader, she can fairly easily make a tracking spell to start finding where exactly he's holed up. Should be a rather simple flex of magic, doable even while driving.

[ylvathrall]

It's a simple spell, woven quickly and with ease. Soon, Bethany is following the trace of magic, distinctive and potent, back towards the city. It's a long drive, but an uneventful one.

Once in town, the traffic is much thicker, making it harder to concentrate. But you manage, holding the spell together while weaving through bumper to bumper traffic. Eventually, you reach the area the spell is leading you to: a lower class, primarily Hispanic neighborhood west of downtown.

The spell points at an apartment building, rundown and dirty, and down. In the basement or the sewer, most likely.