2020-12-13: This Place is Haunted - Parker meets Another Underhill
| This Place is Haunted[1] - Parker meets Another Underhill | |
|---|---|
| Parker visits Lochlan at his funeral home, she meets his ghostly brother (Alexander Underhill) and the two discuss forming a mutually beneficial arrangment | |
| IC Date | December 13th, 2020 (back scened) |
| IC Time | mid afternoon |
| Players | Alexander and Lochlan Underhill & Parker |
| Location | Underhill Funeral Home |
| Spheres | Changeling & Shifter |
| Theme Song | Wall to Wall Cobwebs by Buckethead |
- This scene, while RPed on 29 Dec 2020, was set more than two weeks in the past by mutual agreement between the players involved.
Its been more than a week since Lochlan's Ananasi visitor showed him her human form. This time, mid afternoon on Sunday the 13th of December, Parker strides into the mortuary from the street like a 'normal' person. She approaches the owner, who is having tea in the lobby, almost as if she expected to find him right there. "Hey there," she says as she grabs a nearby chair and, rotating it as she moves it closer to Lochlan, sits down with her legs on either side of the narrow portion of the chair's back resting her arms on the wider upper portion. She then asks, "Hope the power outage didn't cause you too much trouble?" referring to the issue that, for the most part, was rectified about four days ago.
"Hello, Madame," Lochlan whispers over his tea, a macabre and genuine smile spreading over his pale face. "What a wonderful surprise to see you again. May I get you anything? Is this a social call or are you in need of my professional services?"
"Its tea time right?" Parker asks and, not waiting for an answer, goes on to say, "I'll have tea with you. It was a social visit anyway so that seems a good way to approach it."
Lochlan pulls his cell phone from his breast pocket, quickly rattles off a one handed text, and then places the electronic device away. "I will have my man bring you a pot of earl grey. Unless you wish to try my preferred brew?" Lochlan motions to the tea set, which even from a distance smells faintly of damp basements and burnt hair.
Parker grins and says, "I'll take a cup to try... but have your man bring that other kind also. Honestly, I've not ever had tea that wasn't sweetened and over ice before." She sniffs at the tea present with them and asks, "What exactly is this blend?"
"A special blend that includes a few rare spices, and exotic fungi that only grow on certain types of cadavers under certain special circumstances..." Lochlan takes a sip and smiles pleasantly, "Ahhh... but the real secret is to just harvest what grows in the eye sockets..." If someone didn't know Lochlan, they would think he is serious. Even those that do know him might find it difficult to tell, as it is no stranger sounding than some of his other habits... but is also the sort of thing he might find hilarious... if he ever laughed.
Parker doesn't know Lochlan well enough and so frowns. She tilts her head to one side and, slightly hesitatingly, asks, "Corpse-grown fungi... is that even safe for normal people?" She says this in such a way that it is completely clear that she is excluding herself and her companion in that classification.
"Well... certainly not for the people it grows in," Lochlan whispers, bemused by the thought. He pours a cup for Parker as requested, placing it on a saucer before asking in a hushed tone, "Sugar? Curdled cream?"
Parker just grabs the cup and says, "Gotta try it first and.... no, not spoiled milk. May as well put cottage cheese in your drink but I guess that's too turned for you," before she takes a sip of the drink...
- Parker succeeded in a Stamina roll to keep from vomiting.
... and she spits it out in to the saucer. And she continues spitting. All while making a disgusted face and gagging noises. "Ugh. You weren't kidding. No, never serve me food you're eating if you eat that way," she says and then it looks like she's about to ask something and bites it back, keeping her thoughts to herself and shaking her head about it.
Lochlan watches Parker take a sip of the 'special' tea, with an expression that is fascinated bordering on hopeful. Quickly his features become crestfallen, and he sighs out, "Oh well... it is hard to find a true connoisseur of tea." He picks up a napkin and offers it to Parker, "I have been told by others that a mixture of charcoal and tonic water is helpful for removing the flavor... of course when I tried it I did find it a remarkably refreshing cocktail either on its own or with a dash of Cynar."
- Parker burnt a blood point to shake off any potential detrimental effects of having imbibe the Sluagh concoction.
A shudder passes over the Ananasi's form, almost as if a cold chill rolled down her spine starting at the base of her neck and terminating at her pelvis with her tail-bone. "I... I have different tastes in food is all," Parker says and then asks, "Do you ever eat live arthropods?" Clarifying by saying, "Spiders, scorpions, insects and the like."
"Spiders? No, I should imagine not. Their webs can be used both as seasoning and in a more decorative capacity on moldy-cake," Lochlan says 'moldy-cake' the same way someone might say Italian Rum Cake or Doberge Cake. Like 'moldy' is a common type of pastry, not a sign of spoilage. "But I am not a very talented chef myself, so it is only something I have seen done at parties." He pauses his rasping whisper for a moment to take another sip of tea and ponder the question, "Whether it be cuts of beef, or certain orchard fruits, many types of food can be enriched both in terms of flavor and protein with the addition of some worms or grubs... for example."
A tray with a second teapot and cup is brought out by Lochlan's man. After he sets it down in front of Parker he glances at his master without any overt expression other than an acknowledging nod after receiving the briefest of motion from the Sluagh indicating the hint of a nod to dismiss the man back to where he had been when the call was made.
Pouring her own tea as the man departs, Parker sips this and says, "Sugar, yes please," in response to its bitter taste. This time, as she waits for the sugar or the bowl of it, she finds she can't help herself but doesn't approach the question she wants to ask like the proverbial bull in a china shop as she says, "You mentioned a brother at one point and..." she switches from statement to question mid-sentence, "... that he's with us but deceased I believe?"
"Yes. Dear departed Alexander. He is probably loitering upstairs somewhere. He is somewhat put out with me lately," Lochlan whispers as he sets down his tea cup and dabs the thin line of his mouth with a napkin, "He wishes I would be more... outgoing. I think he just wishes me to have more of a social life so that he may peek in on it like it is some absurd television drama."
"He's lonely then?" Parker asks after adding more sugar to the tea than most people likely would. "Can anyone see him or just you?" she asks as she stirs the tea before taking a sip from the cup.
"Oh dear me, no. I should suspect he is not lonely at all. There is a very bustling underworld here in town, and he is not shy about going out on the town himself." Lochlan says with probably the closest to a mirthful expression that Parker has ever seen on his face, "No no. I think he likely just gets bored sometimes and my life is about the same as reading a paperback novel while waiting for the train." He tilts his head to his guest, "I suppose anyone blessed with the ability to see the deceased can see him. However, he is not able to manifest to the living the way some ghosts can. Instead, he makes himself known through other means." As if on cue, just a few moments later, static begins pouring through the speakers of the sound system that is installed in all the viewing rooms. Between all of them, it is loud enough to fill the lobby with a soft crackle.
Parker nods and drinks more of the sweetened Earl Gray tea as she listens, first to Lochlan and then to the static. "Is that him then?" she asks about the static before commenting, "The dead form communities, interesting."
"Every thinking thing in the world does," a voice gurgles over the static of the speakers, sounding very much like a drowned man trying to speak. The voice is similar to Lochlan's own, but obviously louder in timbre. If it weren't for the watery quality of it, one could almost imagine it to be what Lochlan might have sounded like if he had been born mortal. "I am Alexander Underhill..." the voice moans wetly, "And I'm curious about your intentions regarding my brother?" There is a vague -suggestion- in the question that sits upon the border of an -accusation-. Lochlan just rolls his eyes slightly and whispers, "He does love being dramatic.'
Parker laughs heartily at the words spoken though the speaker and then she asks, "Is that what you call it?" before she responds to the voice of Alexander by saying, "Intention? He's someone I can talk to. Could there be other benefits to knowing him? Possibly. I haven't planned anything yet. There's definitely benefits he can garnish however. Or..." she glances at Lochlan before asking, "Are there no risks that he might face that having an ally, even a potential ally, wouldn't be good to have?" to both the brother she can see and the one she cannot.
The voice that emits from the static gargles wetly, "My brother is quite naive when it comes to anything that still has a beating heart... Just remember he already has an ally who can reach you... anywhere..." and with that the crackle of the speakers slowly fades, the voice growing quieter and quieter until it is nothing more than a static whine. Lochlan frowns severely as he looks up into the empty air, "I must apologize for my brother..." he whispers, "He means well, but like so many ghosts, he does love an opportunity to issue an ominous warning... As far as an offer of alliance... if I am being honest there are not many dangers that I face in my day to day life. I leave the adventuring to the knights and squires." The severe looking young man then pauses, "However, I am always in need of friends who can help me gather information."
Parker nods about the brother but doesn't comment on it. She also showed no concern at the threat. She smiles at the breathy voicing of the word 'information' and says, "One of my specialties," on the topic. She then says, "I've been looking for a stable place that I can have some control over also. But an antagonistic presence would cause problems for what I need the place for," without any further description offered at this time.
"It just so happens that the mansion is really larger than my needs, even with the business taking up most of the first two floors," Lochlan whispers as he steeples his fingers, "Would you be interested in renting a room, as it were?"
Parker nods and asks, "Would you be able to assure me that Alexander wouldn't be entering my room without my permission?" she pauses a moment and says, "You also, actually," continuing to explain, "I own my queen a certain action that while I'm not delinquent for I really aught to get to sometime soon."
"I will speak with Alexander regarding your privacy, should we come to some kind of arrangement," Lochlan assures in a hushed tone, "However, I will note that this is a house of the dead. And I cannot promise the good behavior of every ghost that might wander through. Though, to be frank about it, whoever your current landlord is, I am fairly positive he cannot make such a guarantee either."
Parker nods thoughtfully and then asks, "You say rent, what sort of arrangement are you thinking of suggesting?"
"I would propose that I allow you access to an unoccupied room of your choice within the funeral home, guaranteeing your safety and privacy as much as it is within my power to do so. Furthermore, you would have free access to the kitchens, bathrooms, and the common areas of the house, including those areas used for the business but only during non-business hours. As part of this agreement, you would be obliged to respect the privacy of others living in the funeral home, and to ensure the safety of the funeral home to the best of your own ability," Lochlan whispers rapidly in a manner that is almost mechanical... like a lawyer reading over boiler plate, "I would suggest that rent take the form of secrets. Specifically, a secret each week that I do not yet know, made payable between Tuesday and Thursday of each week. Late rent payable the following week at a rate of twice the amount delinquent, with the renter not becoming more than two weeks delinquent at any time. Should that scenario occur, I would reserve the right to set terms of repayment or provide you with a notice of eviction, upon which time you would have one lunar cycle to settle the repayment fee, find other arrangements, or be forcibly evicted..." Lochlan finally pauses to catch a breath, "Do these terms sound amendable as a loose framework?"
"Other than the fact that there is no way for me to know what secrets you do not already know," Parker states coolly. "So I would be making an honest attempt at payment and all you have to do is tell me you already knew a fact," she explains before asking, "How would I know that you aren't taking facts without crediting me it as a new fact you weren't aware of?"
"You would have my Oath," there is something about the way Lochlan whispers this... even the word 'Oath' sounds somehow immutable, "Though I should be clear up front. I do not require facts. I have access to a modern computer, and thus I can obtain almost all the facts I require. What I would be looking for is secrets. The combination to the vault at the saving and loans on the corner of Chestnut and Third in Philadelphia. The real name of the prostitute that the general manager of the local Shake Shack sees on Wednesdays. I am not an owl. I do not collect just any type of knowledge."
"This is acceptable," she says as well as, "I understand the difference. Similar to what you told me about yourself when you... showed me what you showed me," that last hints at the fact that while she remembers something was shown she doesn't remember the details. She then says, "I will take your oath," and asks, "Is there some formality for that, Mr. Underhill?"
"Formality?" Lochlan whispers with a profound smile, "But of course there is formality. But I will write up the agreement in more specific detail and make it available for your review before either of us signs anything."
- ↑ Quoted from This Place is Haunted
