File: Eva, child of MK Ultra II.jpg (206 KB, 1280x720)

206 KB JPG

It's well into night now; the streetlights cast the city in a dull orange glow, mixing with neon signs and the lights coming out of shop windows. The towering buildings and narrow streets don't seem so hostile as they did earlier in the day, and plenty of people are out wandering the main streets. Xavier's directions to the hotel Delacroix runs offer some help, but in the many-forked roads of Vanity City, you easily miss a turn and start to go astray. You're still in the good part of town, for now...

Eva's almost eerily quiet as you drive, just looking out the window at the passing people. She's really quite young; a girl her age should be just starting highschool, or in the middle of it-instead, she's here with you, helping track down a bloodthirsty demon.

>Discuss Vampires
>Discuss Eva
>Attempt to re-orient self [Roll 3d6; lower is better, average of 1st three rolls taken]
>Ask Eva for directions
>Ask someone on the street for directions
>write-in

>>33992902]
>Ask Eva for directions
>Discuss Eva
then once we get closer
>Discuss Vampires
I won't be able to participate much sadly, since sleep soon, but I'm looking forward to catching up tomorrow!

>>33992902
>Discuss Eva
Man, Ultra was some bad shit.

Rolled 2, 4, 2 = 8

>>33992902
>Attempt to re-orient self [Roll 3d6; lower is better, average of 1st three rolls taken]
>Discuss Eva
What's her deal, right?

Rolled 1, 6, 1 = 8

>>33992902
>Attempt to re-orient self [Roll 3d6; lower is better, average of 1st three rolls taken]
>Discuss Eva

Maybe we can ask her more about crazy albino-lady too, later.

File: guishen_0169EV20190_000.jpg (17 KB, 313x188)

17 KB JPG

>>33993009
>>33992997
>Success!

"Hey, Eva, can you hand me that map?" She quietly gives you the fold-up map of the city you bought before you came; you pull into a small parking lot and try to work out where on earth you are and where you need to go. Delacroix runs a high-end hotel; it has plenty of parking in the basement, and the good relations between your group and hers mean that you shouldn't have any trouble getting her attention.

Looking at the city map hurts. Everything's drawn on it in extremely tiny font, all in the same color; whoever drew this map was a god-damned asshole. At least your vision is good, there's no way anyone who needs glasses could navigate by this. Soon you figure out which of the myriad branches of the city you're in, and turn around towards the hotel.

"So..." you start, thinking about something that's been bugging you for a bit. "Eva...How does a girl your age get to work monster hunting?"
"I was born for it," she says, as though that answers everything. There is a moment of silence while you figure out how to continue.

"...Care to elaborate?"
"...Do I have to?"
You think, for a bit. The way she's answering these questions...
"Well, I'd like it, seeing as how you know more about me than I do about you...just avoid anything too painful."

She nods, then sits there thinking silently for a bit. When she speaks, it is calm and measured.
"Magic is not the only way to become superhuman...a while ago, our organization had the US research psionics..."
"Wait, like, telepathy?"
"I am not done."
"Oh, sorry."

She takes a deep breath, and keeps going.
"They succeeded...that's how I was made...We didn't have normal families...and most of my siblings died, or had to be put down..." Eva is quiet, for a bit.

"They wanted to use us as soldiers, but the organization saw to that...People...shouldn't kill other people."

>ask if she wants a normal life
>express sympathy
>ask what she can do
>discuss vampires
>write-in

>>33993632
>express sympathy
Bit liberal with the ellipses there.

>>33993632
>ask if she wants a normal life
Seems the least condescending.

>>33993632
>express sympathy
>ask what she can do
Vampires come after.

>ask if she wants a normal life
If her heart isn't in it forcing her to fight is just going to get her killed.

File: guishen_0072EV10235_000.jpg (206 KB, 1280x720)

206 KB JPG

>>33993661
>>33993716
>>33993751
>>33993849

Well, this is awkward. They don't really cover "how to comfort a child supersoldier" in courses on forensics and criminal psychology. There are people from your university buddies who could do it, Susan would be great at this sort of thing, she loves kids-but you were always more focused things like the Son of Sam or Zodiac. A more active form of adressing society's ills, you called it.

"I'm sorry to hear that," you say. "To be denied a peaceful life, by someone else's choices..." There is more awkward silence as you trail off. "Do you ever find yourself wishing you had a more normal life?"
"Ah, no," she says. "Um, well...Sometimes I think I would, but...There is a thing Xavier said once."
"Oh?" You can't help but raise an eyebrow as she mentions it.
"That 'With great power, comes great responsibility'."

She smiles slightly as she says it; the cheesy comic book narration seems to give her comfort.

The Grand Vanity Hotel looms up ahead, a glittering black skyscraper, dotted with lights. It stands out from the orange glow of the city at night, a towering obsidian work of art amongst the more drab historic buildings surrounding it. It's here that Isabella Delacroix runs her escort services, one of the more secretive attractions in town. And though it's not obvious, she has connections to almost every single pimp and prostitute in the city. With the murders all happening downtown, she should be a helpful lead...as long as she doesn't rip your throat out.

>Topic change to vampires
>groan about how much of a nerd Xavier is
>ask if she's really alright with all this
>congratulate her on finding something she likes
>focus on what eva can do
>write in

>>33993661
She'd communicate entirely through blank stares if she could.

>Topic change to vampires

>>33994198
>>Topic change to vampires

>>33994198
>Topic change to vampires
>focus on what Eva can do
We can have a heart-to-heart again later, it's game-face time now.

>>33994198
>ask if she's really alright with all this
>ask her about X-Men.
>focus on what Eva can do

>>33994198
>Topic change to vampires
>focus on what eva can do

>a glittering black skyscraper, dotted with lights
Not what I was expecting at all.

>>33994297
Right? Might be a classy place.

>>33994221
>>33994244
>>33994245

Okay, now you're in the den of the beast. You park your car in the underground lot, not bothering with the valet.
"So, vampires. What's the rules with them? If I eat garlic pizza, will it melt their face off?"
"No." Eva is dead-serious as she answers your absurd question. "Sunlight and consecrated weapons are what you will want. Other weapons can work, but they heal fast. To kill them for good, you must destroy the brain or the heart. The brain is the seat of the mind; the heart, the seat of the soul."
"Do we even have any weapons like that?" you ask, as you head through the garage and towards the lobby.
"Aina gave you the Athame...that would work. I have one too."
"Cool, cool...Oh, and since you're an X-man, what can you do?"
"X-man?" She looks at you, puzzled. Apparently Xavier didn't expose her to that particular brand of superheroics.
"...Nevermind that part. You said you've got some kind of superpowers, right?"
"Oh, yes. Biofeedback techniques and quantum disentanglement...Um, super-strength, speed and short-range teleportation. Xavier calls it 'the weirding way', for some reason...but, we should not get into a fight!" She seems very alarmed at this, waving her arms in an exaggerated 'no' gesture. "Miss Delacroix is very old. Vampires of her age have a hypnotic voice, and their own unique powers...she has had a long time to get very, very good at not dying."

File: smell the money.jpg (917 KB, 1024x768)

917 KB JPG

>>33994635

The lobby is so richly decorated you can practically smell the wealth. Spotless marble floors and pillars help support a cavernous lobby, decorated with ancient statues and paintings that just feel expensive. There's a massive crystal chandelier above, which would probably cost more money than you will ever make in your life.

A mountain of a black man in a suit approaches you as you walk in, smiling widely. His skin is as dark as skin comes, his body a block of muscle. "Aha, Miss Summers! The Mistress is expecting you. Please, come along.

>gape at how expensive this place is
>whistle and come along
>Ask about how he knew you were coming
>give him a big hug to disguise a check for weapons
>ask him about his boss
>write-in

>also augh I need to remember line breaks

>>33994685
>whistle and come along

>>33994685
>whistle and come along

>>33994685
>Ask about how he knew you were coming
>Follow along.

>>33994685
>gape at how expensive this place is
>Ask about how he knew you were coming
This place is pretty crazy.

>>33994685
>whistle and come along

File: isabella delacroix.jpg (259 KB, 850x1038)

259 KB JPG

>>33994706
>>33994720
>>33994766
>>33994828
>>33994914

You whistle as you follow the man to the elevator.
"So, how did you know we were coming?"
"The mistress is very well-informed, he says, his smile like that of a cat playing with a mouse. Yeah, there's no way he's going to be any less insufferably vague.

He inputs a special code on a small keypad, not bothering with the normal buttons, and the elevator rockets upwards through the building's 75 floors. Despite the great distance, the ride is quite short, and soon you step out into the business area for Miss Delacroix. This room is smaller than the lobby, with lower ceilings, but the opulence continues. it's done up in a more minimalist, oriental style-the room is practically black and white, and paper screens seperate the private booths from the rest of the room. Floor-to-ceiling windows take up the far wall and one to the side, offering a majestic view of the city. Beautiful young women flit about in slinky black dresses and a variety of other costumes; you see a bunny costume, and one girl in a cheongsam, but cocktail dresses are in the majority by far. It's all...

...rather embarassing, actually. These people move with grace and fluidity, and you...well, you're you.

Miss Delacroix's meeting room is located to the side, and is done up in a similar style. It notably lacks normal chairs, instead having a set of couches, one of which she is calmly sitting on as you enter. A bowl of fruit and a knife sits on the coffee table in between the couches, and there's a door off towards what you guess is her office.

There's that tugging on your heart again, as you walk in; it is not intense or painful, but a low, quiet sense of something being...wrong, with her.

She smiles.
"Ah, so the illuminated ones have a new friend...well, how may I be of service."

>write-in

>>33995349
>Well, introduce ourselves politely, and explain our lead and how she might help
Hopefully she has some idea of how we could go about finding this woman.

>>33995349
>A pleasure to meet you. I've heard you're the one to talk to regarding a certain...delicate matter on my plate, and so I approach in hope of enlisting your aid, or at least advice, on this.
I gotta go sleep, thanks for running!

>>33995349


>>33995499
Seems about it

>>33995499
>>33995546
>>33995555

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Dela-"
"Please, call me Isabella," she says, interrupting you. "There's no need to be so formal."
"Well, Isabella, we've been investigating the recent spat of serial killings, and were wondering if you could offer us any relevant information. All the killings so far have happened downtown, and if you've heard anything that could help..."

"Ah." She says, her face souring. "This killer business...Yes, this is troublesome. Very troublesome...Well, I can tell you one thing. You see-"
She stops talking as one of the girls from outside comes in.
"Mistress, I'm here for-" she stops, realizing her mistake. The girl starts to sneak away and apologize, but Delacroix holds up a hand.
"Now, now, Eva and Alexandra here are in on the secret." You bristle slightly at the mention of your hated actual first name.

The girl nods, and closes the door behind her. As she walks over to Delacroix, you can see her trembling slightly. She kneels in front of the vampire, who takes the fruit knife, slices into her wrist, and holds it down for the girl to drink from. She does so, going after every single drop of the vampire's blood as though it were the most precious drink on earth. When one or two drops slip down Delacroix's arm, the girl stretches her neck and tongue to go after them.

"Now, where was I...Ah, yes." Delacroix continues. "The killings. I strongly suspect that there have been more than your police have admitted; two of my girls have gone missing in the past few months. And while the streets may be dangerous, the petty thugs and gangbangers know better than to lay hands on my property. One of my more regular female patrons has gone missing, as well..."

>Inquire further about girls
>Inquire further about patron
>mention the evidence you do have (Be specific on what you exclude)
>Ask about the girl just drinking her blood in front of you
>Property?
>ask about her thoughts on the killer
>write-in

>>33996141
>>Inquire further about girls
>>Inquire further about patron
>Ask about the girl just drinking her blood in front of you

I feel like being uncouth.

>>33996141
>Inquire further about girls
>Inquire further about patron
>Ask about the girl just drinking her blood in front of you
>Property?
>ask about her thoughts on the killer

>>33996141
>Inquire further about girls
>Inquire further about patron
>ask about her thoughts on the killer

"Well, what an you tell me about the girls?"
"Not much more than I already have, I'm afraid. I do keep a good watch on my property-but, with the street walkers, there is only so much you can do in such a dangerous world. I have, on occasion, had a girl run away-but two, within a month of each other? That's simply unheard of. No, it must be foul play; I expect they went the way of the late Miss Douglas, carved up and devoured over a month."

"I see..." you say, more out of a desire to avoid silence than anything else. "And the patron?"
"Jacqueline Aldash-Navani. A strange woman, but a dedicated customer, and I am not in the business of judging other's sexual tastes. By all accounts, she has simply...vanished off the face of the earth. Of course, she had her fair share of rivals-she owns a good number of properties that are potentially quite valuable, and she has foreclosed on many a small family. Now those properties sit in legal limbo, until her estate is sorted out."

"Mhm...and the killer?"
"Undoubtly a newcomer to the city. They would have to have arrived in the past few months...They do not seem to be aware of what I do to those who harm my property."
"...Property?"
"Ah, sorry. A slip of the tongue." She makes a sheepish smile at you, though the effect is lessened by the fangs hiding in her mouth. "What I mean is, these girls help provide me with income. In exchange, I take care of and protect them. I give them clothes and beds and food...along with little something special."

>cont.

>>33997017

You try to hide the scorn in your voice when you next speak, but aren't very successful.
"Your blood, then? Is it grape-flavored?"
Delacroix giggles.
"Oh, no, nothing like that. But they love it, all the same..." she ruffles the hair of the girl sucking at her wrist. "Isn't that right, Rebecca?"

Rebecca looks up into her master's eyes, and nods once.
"Ah, perhaps you should try it sometime, Alexis! I'm told it's quite relaxing." Rebecca nods again, then stands up and takes a position in the corner by the door. "It really is quite fine..." her voice is honeyed, and your head gets a little foggy.

Your cellphone starts vibrating against your leg.

>Politely decline
>rudely decline
>ignore question, answer phone
>write-in

>all options require rolling, same rules as above. You don't need to roll three times though, so if you get a good one first time, keep it!

Rolled 4, 6, 5 = 15

>>33997084
>Politely decline
then
>Answer phone

Rolled 1, 1, 4 = 6

>>33997084
>Politely decline

>>33997141
>>33997177
Current average is 11, I'll give another 10 minutes for a third roll if anyone goes for it.

Rolled 3, 3, 5 = 11

>>33997141
I second this.

>Politely decline

>>33997141
>>33997177
>>33997472
>Narrow Failure! Still, this isn't something there was much opprtunity to defend against, so...


"...No thank you, I really-" you say, turning the blood sucker down.
"Oh, come on, Alexis. It won't be that bad."

You think about it for a second. Well, there's not that much blood, and that other girl was enjoying herself a hell of a lot, so...what the heck. It might be worth a shot.

You stand up and start to walk towards Delacroix, when Eva grabs you by the back of the collar and pulls you bodily back down to the couch you've been sitting on.
"Hey, watch it!" You say, but Eva is holding a knife, which has the funny effect of ending all conversation. She points it at your pants pocket with the vibrating cellphone, her face completely devoid of emotion.
"...You should answer that."

There is a moment of tension, and then it passes, and then you glare very, very hard at the vampire, and answer your phone.
"Who is it?"
"Alexis? You're not still working, are you? It's 10 o'clock, you should be out going to a bar or something!"
"...Oh. Hi, mom."
"Don't you 'Oh, hi mom' me! You know how much I worry, with you working all around the clock like that, especially since your engagement with Joshua fell through!"
"Yeah, whatever, don't remind me," you say, pinching the bridge of your nose. "Look, now's not a really good time..."
"Oh, why not?" your mother asks. "You wouldn't happen to be pulling another 14-hour shift, would you?"

>lie
>admit that you are working
>tell the 100% truth, even down to vampires
>keep her on the phone while you walk on outta there
>write-in

>>33997951
>keep her on the phone while you walk on outta there
Excuse yourself because you have to talk to your nosy mom and walk out of the room

>>33997951
>admit that you are working, and interrupt the call right there. No need to be so rude.

>>33997951
>>admit that you are working

>>33997951
>keep her on the phone while you walk on outta there

Excuse yourself because you have to talk to your nosy mom and walk out of the room

File: Nosy parents are a terrif(...).jpg (35 KB, 500x375)

35 KB JPG

Did somebody say a tie? Well in that case, by completely arbitrary processes, I choose... >>33998039
>>33998073 !

"...Actually, mom, you know what? I am. I started working at 8 AM today, I got in, and I've spent the past 14 hours working."
"Well, there's no need to push yourself so hard you can't have a life!"
"Yeah, sure. Tell that to the dead."

Your mom is quiet for a while. Ah, crap, now she's actually going to be hurt.
"I just want you to have a happy family, Alexis. And, well, if you can't see that-"
"Okay, look, sorry." Oh god everyone's staring this is terrible. "Look, I didn't mean that mom, I just...really enjoy work. That's it."

She is quiet for a bit, and you find yourself pinching the bridge of your nose again while you tap your left foot.
"You're just like your father," she says.
"Yeah, well, maybe that's not a bad thing. And don't worry, I'll get home."

You hang up, and look back at the assembled group of people. All eyes are on you.

>apologize for mother and leave
>just leave without saying anything
>give Delacroix a number to call you at if she finds anything
>threaten the vampire in case she ever tries to hypnotize you again
>write-in

>>33998569
>threaten the vampire in case she ever tries to hypnotize you again

>apologize for mother and leave

>>33998569
>just leave without saying anything

>>33998569
>give Delacroix a number to call you at if she finds anything

File: 4693b970a5208888280c54f15(...).png (507 KB, 763x714)

507 KB PNG

These posts are like all mutually incompatible

argue amongst yourselvs for the next 13 minutes; after that I just let some dice decide.

>>33998633
>>33998672
>>33998668

If we piss her off by being abrasive, she can make our job very difficult and dangerous for us. It costs us nothing to be at least polite, and we can gain from her assistance. And its not like we could actually threaten her.

>>33998569
>>apologize for mother and leave
Oops forgot to vote

>>33999071
Then let's just thank her for the info and leave.

>>33999143
>>33999149
Also we should give her a number because a whorehouse owner always knows shit

>>33999294
Except for the fact that said whirehouse owner just tried hypnotising us so any number should be the bussiness number

>>33999466
Of course it would be the business number.

>>33999466
Why would we give her a private number? I assume a number means business

>>33999532
Well first of all do we even know our business number? Second why would we assume a major player who we assume has had previous contact with our group wouldn't already know how to reach us?

>>33999685
Its a implicit request to keep sharing information, irregardless of wether she has the number ot not. And there is a difference between our business phone, and the phone number of our office.

>>33999685
>Well first of all do we even know our business number?
Well its a work number and we're an investigator. I certainly hope we at least have it in our phone or memorized like any good investigator would have. People usually have work cellphones

> Second why would we assume a major player who we assume has had previous contact with our group wouldn't already know how to reach us?
Because we're new and we're trying to get new leads.

File: 1404494859632.png (1.16 MB, 900x1165)

1.16 MB PNG

"...Sorry. My mom, she's kind of..." it strikes you that of the four people in this room, there is a very real chance that you are the only one with a living mother. Awkwaaaaaaard...

"Uh, thanks for the information. If you find anything else out, give me a call." You give the vampire your business number, and she repeats it to herself, memorizing it.
"Yes, I will. And your mother does have a point, you really should relax more often. Why, right here, I offer-"
"Yeah, sure, sounds great, I'll do it some other time. Eva, we're outta here." The girl nods, and follows you out to the elevator and back towards the garage.

Soon you're back in the car, driving towards the office. Now that you know where you're going...nope, nope, driving's still hard as hell, whoever designed this city is an asshole, you gotta struggle with the map again. But it works, and it doesn't hurt your head as much this time, and then you and Eva are back on the road.

>Thank Eva
>Discuss Aina
>Discuss Eva's life
>Discuss [other staff member]
>write-in

>>33999818
>Thank Eva

>Thank Eva
>Ask if she knows how to prevent that sorta thing in the future.

>>33999818
>Thank Eva

>>33999818
>Thank Eva
>Ask Eva what would have happened if she hadn't stopped us

>>33999870
I second this.

did op died?

>>34000467
No, but I'm writing the closing out post for this thread.

File: Alex Summers.jpg (258 KB, 848x1001)

258 KB JPG

>>33999866
>>33999870
>>33999873
>>33999899

"Hey, Eva..." She stays looking out the window as you search for appropriate words."Thank you...for stopping me back there."
She doesn't even turn to face you.
"...You are my partner. I did my duty."
"Well, I know adults who won't do that, so take the compliment and keep it." You catch the slight reflection of a smile-but she sees you notice, and her face quickly sets back to its normal unemotional setting.

"...If you hadn't stopped me there, what would have happened?"
"She would have fed you her blood," Eva says, stating the obvious, "And she would hold power over you. Her girls do not run away, because of that power..." something occurs to her suddenly, and she makes the pitiful "I just fucked up" face common to small children and dogs who pee on carpets.
"Um...I should have told you, earlier..."

"Don't worry about it. As long as I didn't drink the stuff, we're all fine." A thought occurs to you, while you're driving. "But that hypnotism thing...I'd rather not have that happen again. Is there any sort of way to defend against it?"
"Resistance and preparation," she says. "Kazuki and Aina have similar tools. If you practice against those...it will help. And, you need training, anyways..."

"Yeah, that's for sure...I'll see you tomorrow, alright?"
She nods.

***
Eventually, you drop Eva off at the office-apparently she sleeps in the basement, whatever. You go to your own place, some cheap apartment John got set up for you to stay in while you're working on the case. You're asleep pretty much the moment you lie down on that lumpy-ass bed you've been given.

Tomorrow means more hunting, more tracking, probably some kind of mind duel thing, all kinds of shit...but right now, you need to friggin' sleep.


The hunt will resume later.
For now, the hound rests.

File: sigillum_dei_aemeth_by_bl(...).jpg (125 KB, 600x605)

125 KB JPG

>>34000626
>and on that note I need to friggin' sleep too
>follow on twitter if you want updates on when the next Alienist Quest rolls around, account's in the OP
>leave comments or Ask.FM questions if you want to make me feel loved/actually have comments and questions
>and do please upvote the threads on sup/tg/, numbers going higher makes me feel good
>like, they're numbers
>that get bigger
>how is that not the best


Future things to tackle include some training, maybe actually meeting Kazuki, possibly handing over more evidence to Annabelle, and the interrogation of the werewolves.

>>34000716
Thanks for running, and good night.

>>34000626
>not joining Eva in the basement
boooo

>Your are
I don't want to be