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[bloodbinds]

WELCOME . . .
( Roberts, Ava )

@ daimonori

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[compellingstatement]

Audio.
I'd rather you not record on anything.
Tape recorders aren't the only recording devices it can influence.

[bloodbinds]

'It'?
And you're not going to get a clear idea of what's going on if you don't record visuals.
But fine.
What time do you want to meet?

[compellingstatement]

The Eye.

[What else would 'it' be?]

Elias could alter video tapes.
And the security cameras in the new building follow me.

[He expects they'll follow anyone in the building when they're not being directly observed. If Jon had more force of will, he might have them removed... but they should be useful in case there's a problem with people breaking in.]

I can describe what I'm seeing well enough.
Meet me at the LIEs facility with the entrance at 8 PM.
That should be late enough for you?

[bloodbinds]

The more I learn of Elias, the more I want to kick his teeth in.
But fine.
No cameras.

[ She's still bringing her device, though. Would Polaroids work, she wonders... ]

That's fine.
I'll meet you there.

[compellingstatement]

Have I mentioned he has an evil laugh, too?

[Look, maybe Elias is watching from somewhere, but Jon is going to get in his jabs while he can.]

I'll see you there.

[Jon is waiting for her outside the building at the appropriate hour looking as sleepless and hunted as ever, perhaps even more-so as he's been trying to avoid wandering into any more people's dreams and twisting them into horrible nightmares. The day-long hangover hadn't helped, either.

He has his tape recorder out already and is fiddling with it, occasionally looking up and around quickly before returning his attention to the device.]

[bloodbinds]

[ Ava comes along shortly after, and perhaps it's unclear if she'd been waiting nearby or if she's simply strolling up, because she doesn't seem to be looking around for Jon. She just wanders his way. Dressed in black but for the deep purple of her shirt, her hair is pulled back to better fit beneath her hood if she should need it.

She gives Jon a little smile, mostly awkward. ]

Hey, Jon. You okay?

[ Because he doesn't look great. ]

[compellingstatement]

I'm fine.

[It's quick, reflexive, said barely before he looks up at her, tensing.]

... fine. And you?

[To avoid making this last longer than it needs to, Jon gestures to get them moving.]

[bloodbinds]

[ Well, that's...not a great response. Ava frowns, then sighs. ]

Yeah, same. Come on.

[ If that's how it's going to be. She walks with him through the few hallways and then through the next set of doors, where they are stopped by a staff member from LIEs that provides them with words of caution before they set out. Ava's gaze alights upon an inscription on the door before she pushes it open for her and Jon to pass through.

The change is near-immediate. Everything seems...black and white, blurred out, like looking through some kind of old photograph. It puts her hackles on edge and she's glad she brought her gun and knife, because this change isn't what she was expecting at all.

There is a timer on her wrist, counting down. Four hours. What the fuck? ]

[compellingstatement]

[Jon starts recording, reading out the inscription as they do step through.]

'The insincerity of man. All men are liars, partial or hiders of facts, half tellers of truths, shirks, moral sneaks. When a merely honest man appears he is a comet. His fame is eternal. It needs no genius, no talent. It's mere honesty.'

[Jon scoffs.]

One of the great philosophers of the world? Perhaps. With names like Duplicity and Insincerity I'd question the stock the natives of this place put into that sort of notion. Do they even believe an honest person can exist? Someone without this 'Deceit Gene,' perhaps? But their suppositions are contradictory. If all men are liars, then there can never be an honest man. Hmm... Gendered pronouns. Maybe some fairy contract nonsense with the technicality of women being the honest ones? A pattern to look for on the other side.

[He's focused enough on the city around them that he doesn't immediately notice the timer on his wrist once through the door.]

Everything's monochrome here. Black and white, spiraling outward. Very Spiral, just from that door and the way this entire place is set up. Nothing immediately dangerous from why I can-

Ava, what's wrong?

[She's staring at her wrist and he looks as well.]

Is that... is that a countdown on your wrist?

[bloodbinds]

[ Yeah, Ava is kind of ignoring much of Jon's wild speculation and monologue because she's a bit too busy trying to make heads or tails of what's happening, why things seem so much stranger, and to ensure there are no immediate threats to herself or Jon. And, of course, the timer on her wrist.

She turns back, offering for him to look at it. ]

Yep. Got just under four hours before something happens. Maybe we'll turn into pumpkins at midnight.

[ With her other hand, she gestures to his wrist. ]

You have one too.

[compellingstatement]

[Jon looks down at his own wrist, then jerks his arm away from himself when he sees it. Not that he can... take off his arm.]

Christ! What in the- There are numbers on our wrists like a digital timer. Counting down from four hours. I'll try to check if it's...

[There's a quiet hiss of static on the tape recorder as Jon focuses on his wrist.]

No. That... that's definitely there. Ah, maybe the locals will know something about it? Come on.

[He can see at least a few people walking along the pavement nearby. While this is all troubling, he doesn't want to immediately retreat. He mutters into his tape recorder again.] The native people here seem to be absolute albinos. Or... what's the opposite of an albino? Melanin... melanistic, isn't it?

Note: Double-check terminology.

[He raises his voice and hand to gain the attention of two albino women who seem startled looking at the pair.]

Excuse me! I beg your pardon. Do you have a moment?

[bloodbinds]

[ Ava just...sort of follows, because Jon's worked up now, but the minute he starts muttering into his recorder, she reaches out and takes him by the shoulder to quietly hiss: ]

Keep your voice down. You are coming off as really fucking sketchy right this moment and people are going to overhear you and think you're actually out of your mind.

[ Ava turns her gaze to the two women who have definitely already decided they're a pair of lunatics, but she rolls up her jacket sleeve and shows the timer. ]

I'm really sorry to bother you. Can you, uh, explain this?

[ Both women seem unwilling to answer. But one of them finally says, "You don't belong here, you know? You need to leave before the timer goes off. You'll be in trouble otherwise. Now please, leave us alone." They keep walking. Ava frowns, pulling her sleeve back down. Clock's ticking. ]

Might be better to look for a cop or someone in authority. Not sure what'll happen when the timer clicks to 0 but...at least we know that leaving is the right thing to do when it happens.

[ Still not sure why, though. ]

[compellingstatement]

[Jon's lips twist in irritation. He's just recording what he's seeing. That's hardly something a lunatic would do! But he just holds up his recorder while the women speak, eyeing him and it with increasing wariness.]

If they even have anything like that here. Let's start with a map. Maybe there's a tourist information area somewhere? I want to see just how many spirals this place has. And I do need to offer some audio commentary. There's no point recording, otherwise.

[bloodbinds]

Okay, sure, but it's...really obvious you're recording stuff and people are going to find it weird.

[ You know. Just Normal People Things.

Ava walks with him down the next street, to where there's a library and what looks like a bus terminal. It's there that there's a map of the bus route but nothing more concrete than that. There don't seem to be many spirals...

...except, very notably, the center of the city that leads to a park and a few high rises circling it. Weird. ]

This isn't saying much. No full-fledged map with locales on it. I'm sure there's got to be one somewhere around here, though. Maybe the library? Or city hall? ...Oh, the library's probably closed. So there's gotta be somewhere people go. Maybe there's an app we can download?

[compellingstatement]

An app...

[He looks at the map they've pulled off the terminal, but that just advertises something for the bus schedule on your phone. Not that useful. The tape recorder hisses softly once more as his eyes light on a restaurant across from them. The sign is a fancy-looking cursive and reads 'Canteen and Eatery.'

The Archivist tilts his head.]

We should get something to eat.

[bloodbinds]

[ Ava's attention is drawn to the hiss of static, then to Jon, and then up to the sign across the street. The way he says it is concerning. She reaches out, putting a hand on his shoulder. ]

Wait.

[ Just a moment.

Her eyes are drawn to a trio heading into the restaurant, dressed nicely. This might end up being tricky. With a sigh, she straightens up and tries to look at least mildly presentable. Jon seems pretty set on it, though. ]

All right, let's take a look.

[ Across the street, to the door, where Ava's already on the lookout for a side-door entrance for workers if they can't get in. But they're allowed through the doors, where the waiter gives them just a bit of an odd look for their appearance, but asks if they're expecting a party or if it will just be the two of them. And then, on answer, takes them back to a private room.

...In fact, everything here looks private, though there is elated laughter coming from a few of the rooms as they pass. Trays and trays of food are being brought out. Some have bite-sized portions, others do not, some trays are beautifully portioned, like a piece of art. Everything looks decadent and expensive.

There's also a lot of red meat. ]

[compellingstatement]

[Jon tries to keep his muttering into his tape recorder a little lower this time, at least, naming off the restaurant as they go and noting that there's something odd about it. Sensibly, he stops talking when they get to the door, and doesn't resume until they're seated and drink menus are placed in front of them.]

It seems to be an extremely upscale establishment. Suspiciously decadent, I'd say for a place that titles itself a canteen. There's something here. I can just about feel out the shape of it. Something off. Maybe in the food? Could be magic.

[He looks up to Ava.]

Are you getting anything?

[He knows she has senses beyond his own.]

[bloodbinds]

[ Though silent all the way to the back room they're taken to, Ava's gaze is cautiously everywhere. Initially, she switches to Auspex, using it while Jon walks slightly behind her, but the moment he starts to enter her periphery, she has to look away. She doesn't want to get a good look at him when they're in the middle of a restaurant, even if the curiosity's been nagging at her for weeks.

He'll probably just look like he does in the dreams. But she wants to know.

When they come back to the room, she glances up and around, looking for cameras and finding none. Clientele discretion and plausible deniability, maybe, if something's nefarious here. ]

Be careful what you choose to eat and drink. Likely things are spiked.

[ But if they want information, they might have to make some bad decisions. When the waiter comes back, she orders a martini and a water. Her gaze is still on the menu, looking for anything suspicious enough to--

...Wait.

Ava frowns, looking at the menu better. There are three sides to it, broken up into the types of delicacies. Again, a lot of finger-food potions. And then there are things for 'the adventurous'. And a special that, curiously, has no name. The finest cut, cooked to your tastes, served in a specialty red sauce mixed with white wine. ]

I'm going to get the special and one of these...other things.

[ For the adventurous. Go hard, right? ]

[compellingstatement]

[He can't actually eat anything, but he can drink, at least. Jon orders a bottle of the cheapest Rosé on the menu because apparently they don't sell by the glass, and he's decided he probably shouldn't have martinis for a while after the binge with Hawke. A wine is safer.

Probably.

He describes the menu in detail as he's looking it over, reading out names and descriptions and scoffing at the price of everything.]

I'll get one of the meat and cheese boards. That should give us a selection of what they might be serving. Is your bracelet charged up that would actually let you... eat any of this? I can't.

[He supposes they can always trying to squirrel some of it away for testing, though.]

[bloodbinds]

I have a feeling we're not going to be able to take anything home.

[ It's not because the place is sketchy, but she gets the distinct feeling it's like one of those fancy places she's heard of where you eat what's on the plate and you can't take any home. Too good for doggy bags, that sort of deal. Though, she has to wonder if the plates are even that large. Some places like this just serve tiny portions so there's no need to take anything home.

The waiter comes back and Ava orders the special and "whatever you might recommend" from the adventurer's list, which earns her an approving nod. It's when the waiter leaves and closes the door that she takes her necklace off, biting down on her thumb to draw blood. The change is instantaneous, her skin going paler, her eyes seeming brighter. But it doesn't, really, make her look monstrous - if anything, the necklace makes her seem just slightly more plain. More normal. As a vampire, Ava looks more eye-catching, though neither more alluring or more attractive. Just someone you might want to look at, someone you might pay more attention to.

She presses her bloodied thumb to the jewel, coating it. ]

It was but...just to be safe, I'm gonna add a little more. If it's spiked, I'm still going to feel it. The problem with being like me, we can still be affected by things in our blood once we eat.

[ Like the drugs or nicotine in someone's system, or the alcohol. ]

[compellingstatement]

[Jon's order receives a much less approving look. As does his general... everything. But their drinks are placed on the table and she uncorks the wine for him, trying to get him to sniff said cork and do a tasting. Jon just hurries her on with an irritated wave, telling her to pour it. If they're serving it here, it's probably fine. Probably.

Ava's explanation of the effects is mildly concerning.]

If you start to feel anything we probably ought to go. The wine seems... fine from what I can see.

[He eyes his glass suspiciously, takes a sniff, then a small sip.]

Hm! It's... good, as well.

[Time will tell if there's more than just alcohol in there.]

Maybe we should interrogate the waitress. Or some of the patrons...

[Clearly the ideal move in this case. Jon's eyes turn toward the door. He's hungry.]

[bloodbinds]

But I'm sure it'd be fine if you felt anything, right? Relax. I don't plan to drink too much.

[ Enough to get an idea if something's up, at least. When the necklace's stone seems brighter in color, she puts it back on, and her appearance changes once again. She takes up the martini, sniffs, and then sips it. ]

Yeah, it's good. It's...actually better than most of the drinks I've had before.

[ Probably because it's top shelf, but she isn't so sure. Ava gives him a long look. ]

Why don't we wait, first? I'm not telling you no...but the minute you do that, you're going to raise some alarms, and then we're going to have to leave. But when the waitress comes back with food... Yeah, we can ask questions, maybe. Just can't be too long or she'll be missed.

[ So getting a proper Statement is probably out of the question, for the moment. ]

[compellingstatement]

[He will not relax! Jon just frowns at her as she tastes her own drink, watching for some kind of violent reaction to the magic powering her crystal. It doesn't come, though, thankfully, and he takes another sip of his wine. Being told to wait is... sensible, he supposes.]

It doesn't need to be long.

[That... came out far more sinister than he'd actually meant it to. Jon sighs at himself and takes a longer sip of his wine.]

Right. You're right, of course. Private rooms for all of this, though. It's a bit odd, isn't it? The fact that they even let us in. I'd think a place like this would have reservations out to Christmas.

[bloodbinds]

[ That earns another look, but it's one of concern, not one of consternation. ]

Please try not to. This is our first visit into this city and if they call the police, it's going to be our last, and then you won't Know anything beyond what you get here.

[ She doesn't even want to be encouraging, but if she can at least appeal to Jon's rationality, maybe that'll help? In either case, she leans back in her seat and considers. ]

It's...possible that they had open spaces. But you're right, it's... It's such a nice looking place and so upscale that I'd think that people would be lining out the doors every night. There has to be some kind of catch.

[ And something smells off about this place. Not necessarily unpleasant, but there's a smell in the air that she's smelled before and can't quite place. ]

[compellingstatement]

I know. I... yes. I'll try. I have my knife. And presumably I'll be vomiting blood if I do anything.

[He doesn't particularly want to test Lilith's curse. Especially not with it likely to cause problems for Ava.]

We still- I still need to sort that out. [It's not her problem right now. It's his.] I don't suppose you have any books on curse-breaking, or something?

Maybe the food's actually awful. Or it's some sort of... Lotus Eater thing that all the locals know about? If you feel like you want to stay here forever, do mention.