026

[11/13/2014 9:40:46 PM] Canto: Soooooooooooooo. It's a new year! 1937!  you spend your holidays as you wanna, but you're back in California by January 3rd.

[11/13/2014 9:41:22 PM] Ella: Ella is still wearing an oversized christmas sweater.

[11/13/2014 9:42:02 PM] Jennawynn: Jennawynn looks like he might actually have a tan.

[11/13/2014 9:42:09 PM] Canto: In california!

[11/13/2014 9:43:05 PM] Josie: Josie is as alabaster-pale as ever! But she's cut her hair into a more fashionable wavy bob, and she's wearing glasses. Also, she has gained about five pounds.

[11/13/2014 9:47:30 PM] Canto: Theo also works for Hughes now, as an engineer and as someone who can help train you basic spells.

[11/13/2014 9:48:18 PM] Josie: Josie has probably told Rafe and Ella that she is no longer dating Howard. But that it ended amicably and friendly-like.

[11/13/2014 9:49:21 PM] Rafe: Rafe probably made an inappropriate comment and eyebrow waggle at the news before laughing it off.

[11/13/2014 9:49:55 PM] Josie: Josie teased back, of course.

[11/13/2014 9:50:28 PM] Canto: Hughes *did* throw one hell of a New Years Party, though.

[11/13/2014 9:51:02 PM] Canto: Movie stars!

[11/13/2014 9:51:18 PM] Josie: Josie danced with absolutely everyone willing, probably including Ella. She's not bad at leading, as it turns out.

[11/13/2014 9:51:49 PM] Rafe: Rafe certainly enjoyed that! ((Has he been slated for any movies for Howard in the meantime? That *was* the original reason for moving out here))

[11/13/2014 9:53:35 PM] Canto: Oh yes. He's already got Rafe booked for a romance, two war pictures, and a pirate film with Rafe as the villain.

[11/13/2014 9:54:22 PM] Rafe: ((Hehehe... of course Hughes is notorious for being such a perfectionist in his movies that they take *forever* to complete, so he's got time.))

[11/13/2014 9:56:32 PM] Canto: So yeah. You guys can pretty much have been doing whatever you want! Anything Ella wanted to be doing in her time off? Go visit her family? Go on safari?

[11/13/2014 9:58:27 PM] Ella: Ella probably visited her family, yeah. She actually has enough money to buy decent gifts for all her siblings, now, so that's nice.

[11/13/2014 9:59:01 PM] Canto: Maybe she took her family on safari?

[11/13/2014 9:59:42 PM | Edited 10:01:04 PM] Ella: (Probably not, Mom would have a heart attack!)

[11/13/2014 10:00:17 PM | Edited 10:01:26 PM] Ella: (and Dad would give whatever did that to Mom a heart attack, too!)

[11/13/2014 10:00:49 PM] Ella: (and the boys would probably get into all sorts of nonsense.)

[11/13/2014 10:04:54 PM] Canto: So is that a yes?

[11/13/2014 10:05:55 PM] Ella: (Nope.)

[11/13/2014 10:06:07 PM] Ella: (Very tempting, but nope.)

[11/13/2014 10:06:43 PM] Canto: So! It's January 8th when you're officially off your various vacations and Hughes calls you to his office.

[11/13/2014 10:10:42 PM] Rafe: Rafe shows up! Looking as charming and chipper as ever, though he is sporting some facial hair now.

[11/13/2014 10:10:45 PM] Josie: Josie turns up wearing a red suit! ... with *pants.*

[11/13/2014 10:12:00 PM] Ella: Ella appears in a floppy christmas sweater! It is notably different from the last one. This one has more snowmen.

[11/13/2014 10:14:11 PM] Josie: Josie still looks pretty damn good, though!

[11/13/2014 10:18:04 PM] Andrew: Well, here I am! What were your other two wishes, ladies?

[11/13/2014 10:18:48 PM] Josie: Well, I don't see any grapes or palm fronds. I feel cheated.

[11/13/2014 10:19:24 PM] Andrew: You have to be *very* specific with those genies.

[11/13/2014 10:20:21 PM] Josie: Apparently.

[11/13/2014 10:20:38 PM] Josie: That's a *lovely* beard. Very dashing.

[11/13/2014 10:20:58 PM] Josie: Do the ladies fall into your arms any faster this way, or is it about the same?

[11/13/2014 10:20:59 PM] Andrew: Is it? I wasn't sure.

[11/13/2014 10:21:36 PM] Andrew: Well, I haven't noticed a drop-off.

[11/13/2014 10:22:27 PM] Canto: Howard isn't there yet, but there is a lovely setup in his office with muffins and orange juice and coffee and fruit.

[11/13/2014 10:23:01 PM] Andrew: How was your holiday?

[11/13/2014 10:25:07 PM] Josie: Lovely! I ate too much, unfortunately.

[11/13/2014 10:25:23 PM] Josie: Josie makes a face, and grabs a bit of fruit, a muffin and a cup of coffee.

[11/13/2014 10:25:43 PM] Andrew: There's no such thing. And you, Ella?

[11/13/2014 10:27:25 PM] Ella: It was nice. All my brothers were there, too, for once.

[11/13/2014 10:27:39 PM] Andrew: Big family?

[11/13/2014 10:28:04 PM] Ella: Very big family.

[11/13/2014 10:33:13 PM] Canto: Howard comes in, scotch in hand, followed by Caspar, who's already smoking! "Sorry I'm late, gang.  I overslept a bit."

[11/13/2014 10:34:22 PM] Ella: Ella waves at him with a floppy, sweater-covered limb as he enters.

[11/13/2014 10:34:32 PM] Andrew: Morning.

[11/13/2014 10:34:37 PM] Josie: Josie smiles and waggles her eyebrows a bit.

[11/13/2014 10:34:49 PM] Josie: Thanks for the coffee, it's appreciated.

[11/13/2014 10:35:52 PM] Canto: Caspar:  Looks like we're back on the clock.

[11/13/2014 10:36:12 PM] Canto: he puts a manilla folder marked 'mysterious deaths' down on Howard's desk.

[11/13/2014 10:37:31 PM] Andrew: Have you considered using some of this for a science fiction thriller movie, Howard? Of course, you'd have to tame it a bit or the audience would never believe it.

[11/13/2014 10:39:11 PM] Canto: Howard:  Have to find the right screenwriter first.

[11/13/2014 10:40:24 PM] Josie: I'm sure there are Empowered writers.

[11/13/2014 10:40:35 PM] Canto: Caspar opens the folder. "Three deaths, in the same area of LA, each body drained of all its blood."

[11/13/2014 10:40:49 PM] Ella: Welp.

[11/13/2014 10:41:03 PM] Andrew: Sounds like a party.

[11/13/2014 10:43:53 PM] Josie: Or vampires.

[11/13/2014 10:45:21 PM] Canto: Caspar:  there were no visible wounds -- but that doesn't mean much, as most vampires have the ability to heal the wounds their fangs leave on their.... donors? Definitely victims in this case.

[11/13/2014 10:48:09 PM | Edited 10:48:12 PM] Andrew: Do we know of any in the area?

[11/13/2014 10:50:41 PM] Canto: Caspar:  No. Not all vampires are Council-aligned, as Ella learned after the Planet X incident.

[11/13/2014 10:51:28 PM] Canto: Caspar:  If there were a Council-aligned vampire here, we would know.

[11/13/2014 10:52:36 PM] Andrew: So what's the RoE? ...sorry, getting too into that war role. What are we doing? Find? Arrest? Kill?

[11/13/2014 10:53:23 PM] Josie: Give it a hug?

[11/13/2014 10:55:01 PM] Josie: I'm going to need a balcony and a semi-transparent white negligee.

[11/13/2014 10:55:03 PM] Canto: Howard:  Find. If you can apprehend, do it. But I didn't hire you to kill anything.

[11/13/2014 10:56:00 PM] Andrew: That's good. I'm not sure I actually could.

[11/13/2014 10:56:25 PM] Josie: I'm fairly certain I can.

[11/13/2014 10:57:12 PM] Ella: I might be able to, but I'd prefer not to.

[11/13/2014 10:57:24 PM] Canto: Howard:  Or, you know, re-kill something.

[11/13/2014 10:57:41 PM] Ella: Heh. True.

[11/13/2014 10:59:41 PM] Canto: Caspar pulls out a briefcase and opens it! In the case is a tarnished silver crucifix, with a point at the end. "This will paralyze a vampire you stab with it.  They'll go limp as a noodle and be unable to use any of their powers for a few hours at least.  But it'll only work  a couple of times.  Three at most."

[11/13/2014 11:02:30 PM] Canto: Caspar:  Not that we're sure this is a vampire. But blood loss does suggest it, and I'd rather you be prepared.

[11/13/2014 11:03:55 PM] Ella: That's true. It could be something unexpected, like a form of ambulatory bloodsucking fungus.

[11/13/2014 11:04:25 PM] Ella: By the way, I finished that book you lent me.

[11/13/2014 11:04:37 PM] Canto: Caspar:  The one about predatory fungi?

[11/13/2014 11:04:48 PM] Canto: Caspar:  You don't say.

[11/13/2014 11:05:08 PM] Ella: Maybe I'll be able to sleep again in a few days.

[11/13/2014 11:05:41 PM] Canto: Caspar:  The three bodies were found within a block of each other, over the course of a couple of weeks.

[11/13/2014 11:05:44 PM] Josie: I'm not sure I want to borrow that one.

[11/13/2014 11:06:07 PM] Andrew: Does that match feeding habits?

[11/13/2014 11:06:37 PM] Canto: Caspar:   It does.

[11/13/2014 11:07:21 PM] Canto: Caspar:  There's one potential witness. He's currently in police custody but is apparently not all there.

[11/13/2014 11:07:39 PM] Canto: Howard:  I've pulled some strings to get you guys a visit with him.

[11/13/2014 11:08:54 PM] Canto: Caspar:  He hasn't told the cops anything -- he's a minor felon with some priors on his record, so they think he's just trying to avoid incriminating himself.

[11/13/2014 11:09:22 PM] Andrew: Andrew nods.

[11/13/2014 11:09:57 PM] Andrew: Think it's a result of being a witness or was he already.... vacant?

[11/13/2014 11:10:51 PM] Canto: Caspar:  Not sure. That's what you guys will be able to find out.

[11/13/2014 11:11:29 PM] Canto: Caspar:  You're going to be his lawyer, Rafe.

[11/13/2014 11:11:46 PM] Andrew: Andrew grins. "I can do that."

[11/13/2014 11:12:06 PM | Edited 11:12:20 PM] Canto: Caspar:  See if you can get him to open up to you.

[11/13/2014 11:12:29 PM] Josie: Probably a transparent negligee would work for that, too.

[11/13/2014 11:12:37 PM] Andrew: I have one of those.

[11/13/2014 11:12:48 PM] Canto: Hughes:  There's precious little it wouldn't work for.

[11/13/2014 11:13:11 PM] Andrew: Do we know anything about him? Particularly his name? His lawyer should probably know that.

[11/13/2014 11:15:03 PM] Josie: Josie grins.

[11/13/2014 11:16:08 PM] Canto: Caspar hands you a piece of paper! Guy's name is Randolph Furman. From the wrap sheet, he's apparently a fence -- he's been arrested before for selling stolen goods. He's wanted for questioning on several robberies and they think that maybe he's done some drug trafficking but they don't have any proof on that.

[11/13/2014 11:18:56 PM] Josie: ... do you suppose he's trafficking people now?

[11/13/2014 11:21:29 PM] Andrew: I resent these accusations. My client has never done such a terrible thing.

[11/13/2014 11:23:07 PM] Josie: Ugh, lawyers.

[11/13/2014 11:23:20 PM] Andrew: Andrew grins.

[11/13/2014 11:24:22 PM] Josie: Can't he be something less repulsive, like a cockroach?

[11/13/2014 11:24:35 PM] Andrew: Oh wait 'til you *see* him.

[11/13/2014 11:25:43 PM] Josie: Oh dear.

[11/13/2014 11:25:45 PM] Josie: Josie sighs.

[11/13/2014 11:29:10 PM] Andrew: Anything else we need to know?

[11/13/2014 11:30:34 PM] Josie: Are we going to be secretaries, then, or is Rafe doing this part solo?

[11/13/2014 11:31:08 PM] Andrew: Paralegal assistant and law student on internship? Or even a partner?

[11/13/2014 11:31:42 PM] Canto: ((Sorry, had a lockup.))

[11/13/2014 11:32:39 PM] Canto: Caspar:  No, you'll all three go in together. Secretaries, aides, what had you. You'll have to dress the part. No heavy Christmas sweaters, Ella.

[11/13/2014 11:32:51 PM] Ella: Aww.

[11/13/2014 11:34:40 PM] Josie: Ella would make a marvellous law student.

[11/13/2014 11:35:26 PM] Ella: Ella grins

[11/13/2014 11:44:51 PM] Andrew: Andrew looks at Ella. "If you don't have anything, I think I have something in your size."

[11/13/2014 11:45:04 PM] Canto: Caspar:  so go in, get what information you can get from Randy. We'll figure out where to go from there.

[11/13/2014 11:45:17 PM] Canto: ((No idea what's wrong with my laptop. Keeps freezing up.))

[11/13/2014 11:48:08 PM] Josie: Right.

[11/13/2014 11:48:15 PM] Josie: Let's get started.

[11/13/2014 11:48:34 PM] Andrew: Quick trip to get changed then.

[11/13/2014 11:48:35 PM] Canto: Who takes the crucifix?

[11/13/2014 11:51:18 PM] Josie: Josie lets Rafe take it.

[11/13/2014 11:51:35 PM] Andrew: Andrew doesn't want it! lol

[11/13/2014 11:51:40 PM] Josie: Do you have anything that'll fit me too, Rafe? Preferably something a little too tight?

[11/13/2014 11:51:48 PM] Andrew: I'm sure I do.

[11/13/2014 11:52:05 PM] Ella: Ella grabs the thing if nobody else does.

[11/13/2014 11:52:18 PM] Josie: Oh, good.

[11/13/2014 11:52:47 PM] Andrew: I think you'd quite like my closet, Josie.

[11/13/2014 11:52:50 PM] Canto: so you guys head out to play dressup?

[11/13/2014 11:53:58 PM] Andrew: (Sure!)

[11/13/2014 11:54:43 PM] Canto: To Rafe's closet!

[11/13/2014 11:56:13 PM] Andrew: Andrew leads them to his little collection of rooms. Two of them have been filled with clothes racks brought from his home in New York. One room is men's clothes. He leads the two of you to the other room, full of women's clothing in a few different sizes, styles, and differing levels of repair.

[11/13/2014 11:56:48 PM] Josie: Goodness.

[11/13/2014 11:56:54 PM] Josie: I don't know what to think about your sense of taste.

[11/13/2014 11:57:41 PM] Andrew: Well... one day I may need to be a poor housewife, the next a rich matriarch. I have clothes to suit any need.

[11/13/2014 11:58:19 PM] Andrew: Andrew nods towards a rather sparkly rack in the corner. "And some are just for fun."

[11/13/2014 11:59:30 PM] Andrew: Andrew points. "You should both find something on that rack that will work."

[11/13/2014 11:59:46 PM] Josie: I want... verging on trashy, but not *quite* there.

[12:00:16 AM] Andrew: Andrew grins. "Well... maybe on that one over there then."

[12:00:38 AM] Andrew: I'm going to go put on Andrew. Call if you need me.

[12:02:10 AM] Josie: Not even a kiss goodbye? I do believe you're heartless.

[12:03:35 AM] Andrew: Andrew grins. "Clothes aren't enough? You'll find some jewelry in the chest over there. The gaudy costume jewels are in the top two."

[12:04:40 AM] Andrew: I'm sure I can trust you two.

[12:04:57 AM] Andrew: Andrew laughs and walks to the other room.

[12:05:10 AM] Josie: I'm sure I can't.

[12:05:56 AM] Josie: Josie takes the dress Rafe chose and pulls off her own clothes to put it on. She goes for a moderately gaudy pair of earrings, but that's it.

[12:06:57 AM] Ella: Ella rifles through the racks for something lawyery.

[12:07:23 AM] Canto: Easy enough to find a smart ladylawyery flavored outfit!

[12:08:36 AM] Ella: Ella tries it on!

[12:09:12 AM] Ella: This actually fits surprisingly well.

[12:10:15 AM] Andrew: Andrew meets them in the living room. He's a bit older now, with a comb-over and a bit pudgy. He's wearing a cheap suit that fits poorly.

[12:10:28 AM] Josie: You look lovely, Ella.

[12:10:35 AM] Josie: Josie eyes not-Rafe.

[12:10:37 AM] Josie: And you don't.

[12:11:30 AM] Andrew: Careful... or I'll tell you about the history of that dress you're wearing.

[12:11:32 AM] Andrew: Andrew smirks.

[12:11:54 AM] Josie: I'm not that easy to shock.

[12:12:31 AM] Ella: Well, you certainly look lawyery, I'll give you that.

[12:13:06 AM] Andrew: As do you. Are we ready?

[12:13:18 AM] Ella: Should I pick out a pair of glasses, or would that be a bit too much?

[12:13:49 AM] Andrew: It's wholly up to you. There are a couple frames with plain glass lenses in the chest.

[12:13:59 AM] Josie: I'm ready.

[12:14:06 AM] Josie: Got a notebook?

[12:14:13 AM] Andrew: I didn't think I'd get to use so much of my closet so soon!

[12:14:26 AM] Andrew: Andrew grabs a briefcase. "I do."

[12:15:44 AM] Ella: Ella picks out a pair.

"I'm good."

[12:16:48 AM] Andrew: Let's go, then. Oh! And the name's Andrew. Andrew Collins.

[12:17:34 AM] Josie: Mr. Collins.

[12:18:00 AM] Josie: Josie smiles.

[12:18:17 AM] Josie: Josie lapses into a bit of a southern drawl.

[12:18:45 AM] Andrew: Andrew leads the way!

[12:19:19 AM] Canto: you go to the police station where they're holding your client!

[12:20:27 AM] Andrew: Andrew heads up to the front desk and hands the officer a very official looking business card. "Andrew Collins of Dumas and McPhail Criminal Defense firm. We're here to speak to a client- Randolph Furman."

[12:21:18 AM] Josie: Josie smiles brightly.

[12:23:48 AM] Canto: The cop leads you to a small room where your client is waiting! He looksmovie like the prototypical movie stoolie/informant/low-level mob guy.

[12:25:41 AM] Andrew: Thank you.

[12:26:14 AM] Andrew: Andrew places his briefcase on the tble and pulls out the information about him and a yellow legal pad and pen that he hands to Josie.

[12:26:35 AM] Canto: The cop leaves you! Randy eyes you. "Who are you?"

[12:26:49 AM] Josie: Josie writes that down.

[12:27:12 AM] Andrew: Andrew Collins. I'm a lawyer and I'm here to talk to you about what you saw.

[12:27:23 AM] Canto: He eyes Josie.

[12:27:28 AM] Canto: "What's she writin'?"

[12:27:58 AM] Andrew: She's my assistant. Just taking some notes so I can remember things better.

[12:28:40 AM] Canto: Randy:  I didn't call a lawyer.

[12:29:03 AM] Andrew: Don't need to. Not this time anyway.

[12:29:14 AM] Josie: Josie writes all that down!

[12:30:35 AM] Andrew: Why don't you tell me why you're in here.

[12:32:38 AM | Edited 12:32:47 AM] Canto: Randy:  I dont need to say nothin.

[12:34:09 AM] Andrew: Andrew sighs and sits down across from him, lowering his voice. "Look, I know you do some... retail work for one of my buddies. He asked me to come down and talk to you. He doesn't want to get wrapped up in this any more than you do. Talk to me and I'll see what I can do."

[12:35:39 AM] Josie: We already been paid.

[12:35:39 AM] Canto: Randy:  What buddy?

[12:36:17 AM] Andrew: Andrew frowns. "You know I can't mention his name. Not here."

[12:38:33 AM] Canto: Randy:  I don't wanna go nowhere.

[12:39:31 AM] Andrew: Got a lady you're hiding from?

[12:41:29 AM] Canto: Randy:  I told em what I saw, and they think I'm crackin up. Fine by me. They'll stick me a nuthatch instead of back in general.

[12:41:41 AM] Josie: What'd you see?

[12:46:15 AM] Canto: Randy:  ... you got a cigarette?

[12:47:31 AM] Andrew: Andrew pats his jacket pocket. "No, must be fresh out."

[12:49:25 AM] Canto: Randy sighs. "Arright.  I was sitting there, waiting for a friend.  See this couple comin down the street.  Pretty late."

[12:50:52 AM] Josie: Describe 'em.

[12:50:56 AM] Andrew: Andrew glances at Josie to make sure she's ready to take notes.

[12:50:57 AM] Josie: Josie writes this down!

[12:55:49 AM] Canto: Randy:  Lady was good lookin. Blonde. Long hair. Tight dress, in all the right places. Guy was this tall drink of water. No hair. But not old. Like he just got sent to basic or somethin.

[12:57:18 AM] Andrew: Then?

[12:59:19 AM] Canto: Randy:  Guy was wearin' a suit and a long coat. Lady was... I dunno, not drunk, maybe on somethin else? Walkin steady, but didn't seem all there. Guy wasn't touchin her, though, they was just walkin together.

[1:00:01 AM] Canto: Randy:  Now, I'm outta sight. They didn't see me.

[1:04:49 AM] Canto: Randy:  So the guy, he reaches into his coat. Pulls out this silver gadget. Puts it around her neck.

[1:07:10 AM] Josie: ... huh.

[1:07:14 AM] Josie: Josie writes all this down.

[1:07:23 AM] Josie: Like a necklace?

[1:07:30 AM] Josie: Did it have diamonds on it? Pearls?

[1:07:53 AM] Canto: Randy:  No, more like a collar. Then he hooks this tube up to it.

[1:08:11 AM] Andrew: Out on the street?

[1:08:58 AM] Canto: Randy:  Wasn't nobody around. This was late at night, in a place where no one comes to that time of night. There's no shops, no bars, no nothin.

[1:10:58 AM] Josie: So what happens next?

[1:12:54 AM] Canto: Randy: .... he opens his shirt.

[1:13:29 AM] Canto: Randy:  ... it's like.... he's got a bunch of open wounds there. But he ain't bleedin'.

[1:14:39 AM] Josie: Josie *eyes* him.

[1:14:42 AM] Canto: Randy:  He takes the other end of the tube and jams it in there. Blood goes from the girl to the wounds. The wounds close. Girl just stands there.

[1:15:05 AM] Canto: Randy:  Till finally, the wounds close all the way, and she wobbles and falls over.

[1:16:04 AM] Andrew: Did you see where he went after that?

[1:17:33 AM] Canto: Randy:  Nope. He took the thing off the girl, and left her on the street. I went to the girl. Poked my head out too early though.... I swear he saw me, then took off down the street. South, I think. That's all I know.

[1:18:42 AM] Andrew: Maybe it would be safer in here for you for a bit then.

[1:19:08 AM] Canto: Randy:  .... what, you believe me?

[1:19:46 AM] Andrew: Let's just say I've had some... weird clients.

[1:20:12 AM] Josie: Freak show.

[1:20:22 AM] Canto: Randy:  Weirder than this?

[1:20:34 AM] Andrew: This is pretty weird.

[1:25:06 AM] Josie: ... what *else*.

[1:25:13 AM] Josie: I know you're not sayin' everything.

[1:27:13 AM] Canto: Randy:  ... I think I recognized the girl. She worked down at Rosie's on 41.

[1:29:31 AM] Josie: Diner or *other* kind of establishment?

[1:30:19 AM] Canto: Randy:  ... how do you not know Rosie's? It's a... gentleman's club.

[1:30:41 AM] Josie: Well I ain't *from* here.

[1:31:07 AM] Canto: Randy looks at Andrew:  Though if anyone asks, it's just a cigar parlor, you know what I mean?

[1:31:52 AM] Andrew: Andrew grins.

[1:32:59 AM] Josie: Men sure do love their cigars.

[1:36:08 AM] Canto: Randy:  Anyway. That's all I got.

[1:39:50 AM] Josie: Josie nods.

[1:39:52 AM] Andrew: You girls have anytjing else for him?

[1:40:03 AM] Josie: Well, that's all he's got, Mr. Collins.

[1:40:19 AM] Josie: Josie thinks at Andrew and Ella: He told us everything he remembers.

[1:40:47 AM] Andrew: You want to stay here a bit longer?

[1:41:59 AM] Canto: Randy:  I ain't in any rush to get out.

[1:42:44 AM] Andrew: Andrew stands. "Ok. Thanks for talking. We'll be in touch."

[1:45:32 AM] Josie: Have a real nice day!