November 01, 2002
.11.01.02. - sewer rats [bastion-romani] *njb

[cont'd from previous scene]

(con't from 10/27 james/decker/erik scene)

(cnp from file)
to Carlos Romani, Sebastian Damien Miller: (james)
something crackles a strange energy as he walks through the alleymouth and follows
sends chills up one's spine, doesn't it

below, eh?
and a brow lifts
this better be more than simply taking a look in the sewers
he could have figured that out without their pleasent company
course... he's heard stories about things that lurk in city sewers that are far more.... interesting.... than the rats

he's not bickering about who goes first
he just goes
(into the mouth of....?)

Carlos Romani Mon 01:49AM EST He isn't that far behind Sebastian. He picks the manhole cover up with something akin to a grunt. He waits until they are all down below before he follows. He replaces the manhole cover once he has descended.

Decker Rohl Mon 01:48AM EST And, once again bringing up the rear, Decker descends the ladder into the manhole.

(seb)
It's dark down here, even with the fading service lights along the walls in rusting, slime covered brackets. Sebastian either doesn't care or doesn't notice. It's hard to tell, especially in this light. He seems to blend in with the murkiness of the whole situation. First the most part he stays to the edge of the water runway, but a few meters down he crosses over the rank water. Looking down each way of the tunnel there are rat eyes in the distance. Not close. Definately some 20 meters of so back. But they are there.

And so are several small eyes, glowing like tiny red orbs.


(carlos)
He trudges down the slime infested tunnel, the opposite direction to what Sebastian takes. The sounds of chittering rats can be heard echoing in the passageway and a gathering of shining black and red eyes can be seen swarming at the ends of the tunnel.

(james)
the scents down here don't seem to bother him
(better than that pine-sol, easier on the sinuses anyway)
his bootsteps a faint mimicry of Sebastian's
wrapped hands sliding into his pockets

remembering what was said about no harming or violence

there's one thing a Gnawer is good at
blending in
looking small
keeping out of the way
and that's just what he does

he's here to follow, and to be shown
so that's what he's going to do
follow, and observe

none of this bothering stuff
none of this violence stuff
just..... observe

dark eyes catch the little red glitters in the tunnel darkness

what have you gotten yourself into, Jamey-boy

without Decker at his back anymore
even beneath the tattered trench - he feels unavoidably cold

(seb)
Sebastian, for the most part, doesn't seem to notice the clinging, wet offal and rancid water soaking through his jeans and boots as he walks through the sewer channel to the other pseudo-walk way.

He lifts one hand in a gesture to silence all sound and movement coming from them - the intruders. He cocks his head to one side, in an very animalistic fashion, and appears to be listening for something... something that can't be seen.

Yes, James, what have you gotten yourself into.

(carlos)
He seems to reappear from the darkness, like a shadow deatching itself from the walls. He sidles up to Sebastian, speaking softly.

"Everything seems to be in order, Mr. Bastian, except for that disturbing presense."


(james)
while Sebastian steps into the water to cross
he's thinking of a better way
while he's a gutterball stray mutt to the bone, it doesn't mean he'll intentionally get himself dirty
a few steps back before the Ahroun skips to jump the channel
coattails spreading landing gear in cupped wind before second hand Cochran's scuffslide to a stop

and that's when the hand goes up
while the tails swirl around his ankles
the man does little more than breath
dreads swaying as he listens, too

even if he doesn't know what he's listening for
(never disregard an opportunity to learn, young cub)
glancing, curiously, as Carlos materializes form the darkness

(seb)
"I am under that impression to, Mr. Romani."

It doesn't sound like a rebuke, merely a reminder to the Italian Mafioso. A faint line knits his brows as he pauses again, seemingly to listen, then shakes his head faintly from side to side.

"It is nothing we can do anything about at this time, I suggest we ignore it for now."

(carlos)
"Whatever you say, Mr. Bastian."

He leans down in front of a wide pipe jutting out from the tunnel's stone wall and peers down the dark length. He turns around with a suggestive shrug of the shoulders.

"It seems clear."

(james)
now
there's a look that has been fairly common on the Ahroun's features, lately

confusion
perplextion
sheer, utter, and total lack of understanding what is going on

pick one
he's got it again
just watching, listening, and waiting

(seb)
He turns to James and gestures to the pipe.

"What you seek is down there."

Sewer water trickles out of the pipe, the sound of the water splashing into the running water of the sewer channel sounding so much louder now in the silence. Obviously, looking at Carlos, the Mafioso wouldn't even be able to squeeze into that hole - unless he joined Weight Watchers and lost a goodly amount of his... paunch. Maybe he'd be able to wedge himself in if his arms were detachable. Sebastian, himself, could quite possibly fit. He was of a lithe build. However, if he's known something was down there before, it is obviously he wasn't going to be the one crawling down that length of piping... which left... James.

(james)
"You've got to be kidding me."

crouched before the pipe, he looks between the both of them

one well-fed Mafioso
one lithe Mr. Creepy
and one broad shouldered well built taller than the both of them Ahroun

confusion has been replaced with incredulity
that's gonna be a tight fit

(seb)
He merely laces his fingers together, hands by his waist, and inclines his head to James with a very faint smile at the corner of his lips.

"If you would prefer, Mr. Romani can turn around and give you a moment's privacy."

(carlos)
He raises an eyebrow and considers the comment. Privcay? He shrugs and turns away.

"'Scuse me, ladies." His accent goes thickly Italian.

(james)
"What, you think you'd get your own private show, Bastion?"

there's a bit of a chuckle
somewhere deep down he's angry at the set up
the rest of him finds this entertaining
highly entertaining
already shrugging off his trench

"Give me something of yours you'd want back. You too, Romani."

(carlos)
He rummages through his pockets and then holds up the keys to the '53 Buick parked upside, without turning around.

"It's my baby."

(seb)
"Do you truly believe I haven't seen this particular show before, dear Jukebox?"

He also appears to be faintly - very faintly - amused. However, from this look of things he has a lot less to potentially lose than James does.

"You could not possible concieve the something of mine that I want back. But a token, perhaps..."

He extends an arm with his hand beside James' shoulder, but not actually touching him.

"Do try not to hurt Horatio."

And a large spider - larger than James' entire hand span, crawls out from the sleeve of Sebastian's long coat and scuttles onto James' shoulder where it perches, tensely alert and poised to possibly strike.

(james)
oh.... hand your keys to a Bone Gnawer, good move, mate
it brings a bit of a chuckle
but boy does that chuckle stop when the enormous venezuelean DEATH spider decides to cuddle up under his dreads (oh. my. god.)
he was made fun of, by his former packmates, for having a spider on top of his head
this? is fucking ridiculous

needless to say the witty comment about collateral and coming back out alive just sorta.... fades....

Horatio.
right.

"Common then, little buddy."

..... just a three hour tour, right?
keys sliding into a pocket of his BDUs
the trench handed to Bastion for safe keeping
and the Gnawer goes into the tunnel
homid
he's not going to shift infront of them no matter what they say
(oh yea.... tight fit, suck it in, Jamey-boy)
it isn't until he's commando-slither-crawled yards down the tunnel (and out of immediate sight) before bone twists and reshapes down
and it's still a tight fit
but at least he can sort've crawl now and not be quite as paranoid about squishing Horatio against the top of the pipe

(ST)
The length of the pipe only extends for about 50 meters before it curves sharply upwards, from where the water is dripping down. The inside of the pipe is a combination of rust and slime. The smell, quite frankly, is putrid and no doubt will cling to the inside of his nostrils for a long time to come.

(james)
what he would give for a good draft right about now
he thought the pine-sol stuff out in the Barrens clung
this will have him unable to smell anything else for -days-

browpoints lift as Horation decides it's more comfortable on top of his head
the little hairs on all eight legs tickling the sides of his ears
What, better vantage point from up there, kiddo?
the shudder is mooooostly resisted
rough pads on the shaggy, shepardy-wolf slipping somewhat through the slimed rust
but he does the best he can
going up!

(ST)
The pipe, as it turns upwards, is only about half a meter high before it curves again back into a straight line of travel... going... god knows where.

(carlos)
He turns back around to face Sebastian after James has squeezed into the piping. He leans down and looks down the pipe length again.

"Five to one he makes it back and doesn't get his ass stuck."

How the fuck did he get in there, anyway?

The whole politeness sham dropped.

(james)
with Horatio comfortably on his head, he's able to brace back against the ceiling of the tunnel to get a little more purchase, though by all means relieved when it straightens out again
so far from the main shaft
even with a night predator's vision.... he can't see diddly
going by feel and sound alone
smell is pretty much canceled out

What the hell did you get yourself into, Jamey-boy, huh? Remember what happened to Dallas when he went crawling through the airvents on the ship? The Alien got him. You know what's gonna happen to you? Exactly. If the big freakin' deer eating tarantula doesn't inject 500 gallons of venom directly into your brain - the Alien is going to get you. You probably deserve it, too...... stupid cub.
(ST)
The straightened length of piping, a half meter above where the main shaft he entered through, continues for another good 50 meters before taking a sharp right turn and continuing on... still. Although there is a faint echoing sound of water dripping... perhaps it is where the water that trickles past his fur is originating from.

(seb)
Sebastian raises an eyebrow at Carlos and takes a look down the pipe opening as well, but by this point James is well out of view. He straightens up again, fingers still laced together.

"I have faith in the child."

(james)
instinctively, he wants to swivel those velvet ears forward to catch the dripping sound
but that might disturb Horatio
and we wouldn't want to do that now would we
not with those two inch long FANGS just above your eyebrows
the crouching, slinking, crawling walk is making his haunches hurt
but he keeps going

(ST)
At the end of the tunnel length that turned sharply to the right there is a T-Section. Choices, choices. Which way does he go now?

(carlos)
"This concerned parent doesn't trust 'the child' as far as he can throw him... Mr. Bastian"

Sarcasm drips from his words like molasses.

"Fifty-Fifty chance your spider bites him."

"Three to one he eats your spider."

Fill the air with noise, it's better than silence... even if it doesn't get rid of the smell.

(james)
his head tilts
looking first one way
listening.... smelling...... wondering if perhaps this is what female intuation would be used for
then the other way
listening..... smelling what he can..... he's quite aware of the rusting rotting sliming putrid concoction that has coated the insides of his entire olfactory system, now he's looking for something different, something beyond the smell of the tunnel itself
listening for something beyond what's already there
do we swim up river like the spawning salmon
or let ourselves drift down the orinoco flow.....
one brow lifts beneath a single leg of the spider

What say ye, Horatio....

(seb)
Sebastian remains silent among the barrage of bet offers, merely raising an eyebrow at the last one.

Mr. Creepy just got creepier.

"Sarcasm doesn't become you, Mr. Romani."

(ST)
The sound of dripping down the tunnel branching to the left sounds almost hollow, as if there was a cavernous area near the end. Down the right tunnel, there is merely the sound of water continuing to trickle it path down the putrid piping.

Maybe Carlos could place bets on how long it has been since this place has been tended to.

(carlos)
His mouth opened. Then closed. Opened. Closed. Like he was going to say something, but nothing came out.

But I really like sarcasm...

"I'm going to check the perimeter again."

(james)
the pinprick ripple of tiny (ha!) feet readjusting and sinking deeper into his fur and against! his! skin!
is not the answer he was looking for
but a cavernous echo is more promising than more tunnel-work
he's a Hood not a Rat Fink
at least he'll be able to stretch even if he's wrong

to the left we go

(carlos)
His mouth opened. Then closed. Opened. Closed. Like he was going to say something, but nothing came out.

But I really like sarcasm...

"I'm going to check the perimeter again."

(seb)
"You do that, Mr. Romani."

A deathly soft tone of voice as he stares, eyes boring into the mafioso until the other man walks away.

(ST)
At the end of the tunnel brancing to the left is a shaft of flickering light pouring through a man sized grate. Also pouring through more rapidly at this point is thicker gushes of putrid, slime riddled water...

And was it his imagination or was that a remarkably large turd that just floated past?

(carlos)
He walks down the tunnel in silence.

This whole situation is so screwed. Uber-Creepy can probably tear my arms and legs off, but he can't hold a conversation worth shit.

(james)
that's. just. wrong
he ignores what's floating past him
he's feeling dirty even for a Gnawer
though doubtfully anyone will contest his right to a long, hot, steaming shower when he gets back
if he gets back

he takes a moment to arch and stretch his back and legs before moving up to the grate
rearing up to place paws on the wall
if wolves can give withering looks, that would be one right there to feel his belly soak with the rushing water (and whatever's contained therein)
peering through

one lupus Gnawer with a huge spider on his head

this oughta look reeaaal good

(ST)
Past the grate the pipe continues on, but there is a large hole in ceiling of it, where the light streams through. The air is stale, but not much could be worse than what he is currently snuffling around in.

And if the spirits could see... they would indeed be chortling their little spirit buttocks off.

(james)
hm.
a glance to the lock
the grate
the lock
rusty
but worth a shot

the Ahroun settles back onto his haunches
making sure he's in the center of the private little chamber of floating horrors
and shifts up
back to that tight fit again, it seems
he can't damn well do this without hands, and he's not about to bust the lock because that would be considered harm, so he's digging through the pockets of BDUs to pull out a keyring, while balancing Horatio on his head, while trying to not shift in the wrong direction to lose balance and go for a complete swim in whatever in holy hell is surrounding him
(would it really make a difference anymore, James?)
spirit candy, eh? good enough name
well he's using it, thinking about that little ol' lock, and rummaging through the keys

common..... daddy needs a new pair of shoes.......

seriously..... his will never recover from this insult
BINGO!
he's found the key, and it takes some force, but the lock pops and the gate swings open
now, to manage peeking up through that hole without falling back into this swimming pool

(carlos)
Eventually he wanders back down the tunnels to Sebastian.

"So... I heard rumors that New Jersey is missing."

Better to be talking to Mr. Creepy than alone with his own thoughts.

(seb)
"That appears to be the case, yes."

He continues to stand by the entrance of the sewer pipe, leaning against the wall like a dark desolate statue of a fallen angel.

(carlos)
Leans down and looks down the dark length of the pipe again. He points down towards the dark.

"Maybe he's down there."

A pause.

"I give it a hundred to one chance."

(seb)
"It is a possibility."

He nods once, watching the mafioso gesturing down the length of pipe that James has been crawling through for some time now.

(carlos)
"I don't hear any screams, yet."

Looks vaguely disappointed.

(ST)
From the angle he cranes his neck he can just catch the smell stale air of an area long unused. Dust and dampness. The light continues to flicker randomly, making it difficult to make out exactly what is beyond, but for all intents and purposes... it looks like a room.

(seb)
"That is a distinct positive to this endeavor."

He cocks his head to the side, listening also, but holds no faith that he would be able to hear anything... other than the death wails of the dying, should it come to that.

(james)
a room, how delightful, a room

this had better be worth it
or he might as well just stay down here
the Gnawer wriggles his way to, and through, the rusted hole

really should've dedicated another shirt, James, that beater was useless the moment you shifted and that rusted metal is sharp
he can feel it skimming over the ashed scars on his back
he can feel the warm trickle of blood welling to snake slowly through the slime covering his skin

this is healthy.
glad you're not some mere mortal, aren't you, Jamey-boy
course, if you were... you woudln't be here, would you....

but all comments are kept to himself
quietly slipping into the..... room?

(carlos)
"This literally stinks of New Jersey's M.O."

He always one to be paranoid, but the idea of New Jersey being near was sending his Aw-Shit-O-Meter off the scale.

"His games alays have had a nasty bent towards us."

(seb)
"His sense of humor is something less than conventional, I agree."

He looks over his shoulder, down the length of tunnel stretching beyond him.

"But that doesn't explain the disturbing presence, lest New Jersey has taken it upon himself to eat his way further up the food chain, so the speak."

(ST)
The room, for that was what it was, appeared to be an old, disused maintenance storage area. The pipe from which he had crawled was suspended by bracketing a few feet from the ground and continued through the far wall. Set in a wall is... well, wouldn't you figure... a door. In the direct center of the wall, set up upon a podium of sorts, is a closed coffin made of... well, one would need to peer closer to really tell. But it was off-white and looked faintly porous.

(carlos)
I've got him talking. Excellent.

"I haven't heard of anyone disappearing under suspicious circumstances lately."

(seb)
"Other than New Jersey, I'm assuming you mean."

He turns back very slowly to regard the mafioso carefully, before giving a bare shrug of his shoulders.

"My only concern lies in North Jersey, Mr. Romani. I look no further than the immediate threat to my territory. If you say that none have disappeared within Atlantic City, then so be it."

(james)
dark eyes slowly look around
pipe, brackets, dust, coffin, door, cracked concrete, pipe

...... coffin?

a brow most certainly lifts, almost laughing
no....
he's caught between a child's curiosity of finding the horror movie may be true
and the adult realization the horror movie just may be true and one really should go back from whence they came

(ST)
Other than the sound of rushing water (and god knows what else) through the pipes all around him, there is silence. Just James, Horatio and the coffin... (insert tacky horror music here)

(james)
okay
he's still caught
now, what he wanted to find was supposed to be at the end of the tunnel
he has found a coffin
does he necessary need to find out what's in the coffin?
this is the question at hand

because...
a. there's a door, and there may be the answer beyond that, this being a tacky Halloween prop turned distraction
b. we all know what sleeps in coffins, safe to assume that's what it is, and we go home now
c. opening the coffin could mean instant, painful, bloody death, because we all know what sleeps in coffins

and they don't exist
they're just stories told to make us respect the Rat Finks and keep cubs in line
right?
...... right.....?

damn this curiosity
damn being a Hood
damn this decision, which we already know is wrong and stupid, that is taking wet boots closer to the COF.FIN.
Hello? James? Did you swallow some of that water back there?

(ST)
Upon closer inspection the coffin seems, curiously, to be made out of ... bone. Not one length of bone, but many pieces from many different types of animals, to boot. It also appears to have no immediate locking mechanism of any sort. No bobby traps. It is just there. A strange place for it to be but there nonetheless.

Nothing comes jumping out from the shadows when he moves closer. No axe-weilding maniac comes charging through the doors. Nothing explodes.

Horatio does, however, detach itself from his dreadlocks and scurry down what is left of his clothing, across the floor and up on top of the coffin. It appears to be looking, exploring, testing.

It then stops and turns to look (you think) at James and taps a single leg against the bone, as if waiting somewhat impatiently.

(james)
he tries not to come out of his skin feeling Horatio suddenly scurry down his chest and over to the coffin
brow lifting a little again

"Oh.... now you've decided to play with the rest of us."

James? You're talking to a spider.

a part of him is glad there are no witnesses
though an Ahroun, he learned humility long ago
but this is still utterly ridiculous
nobody would believe him anyway
well.....

"I hope you understand I'm your ticket out of here, Horatio, some of that back there is too deep for you to crawl through, and I don't think spiders swim."

at least not huge, hulking, archeopteryx eating spiders

fingers gently (tentatively) touch the bone
running over the many little surfaces
actually fairly..... fascinated.... at the craftsmanship
insert red flag and alarms going off.... here..... that someone would craft something like this, and just how would one going about crafting it, hm???
though he's not about to just rip the top off and yell surprise! to whatever's in there just yet

(ST)
In a brief moment of senility, James might actually think that the spider is looking at him with a type of 'so, what are you waiting for?' type look. Save that spiders don't have facial features, per say, and that would be attributing way too much human emotion to a bug, right?

He arches his front legs, looking as if he was poised to strike, but just maintains the poise... his stillness eerily similar to Sebastians... in that creepy kinda way.

(james)
insert a lengthy silence here

Mr. Creepy
traversing sewers
hidden storeroom
one. bone. coffin.
why wouldn't Horatio be communicating with him?
if he wasn't, that would almost seem..... normal.

normal was forgotten back at the motel, somewhere.

fingers scratch back through dreads to pull the damp (ew) strands out of the way
wondering if he should knock first
and isn't there something in the horror movie survival guide that expressly warns against doing something like this?

muscle bunches and he opens it anyway

(seb)
"He is taking his time, isn't he?"

In a very human gesture he looks at his blank wrist, as if he were wearing a watch and was watching the passage of time.

(ST)
The bone is cool to touch and, oddly enough, James' fingers don't collect dust as he touches the coffin.

The lid is surprisingly heavy, but as suspected, it wasn't locked...

But what is inside would no doubt make the fun of crawling thrugh the sewers seem like a day in Disneyland.

(ST)
Eyes, blank and devoid of any sentience, stare up at James, locked into a face contorted into a canvas of shock and, well, surprise. The face, itself, looks only vaguely human. If some people have been hit by the ugly stick, this guy had been beaten with the whole tree. Pustual boils and slimy ulcerated flesh cover the majority of the mans(?) face, disappearing under fetid remains of a 1960's suit. His arms are clenched to his side with his hands adjusted (apparently) so that the hands, coated with the supuration from various crusty abscesses, cling to a small metal box (which looks like it originally was a cookie tin).

Besides the grotesque nature of the body in the coffin, which eerily seems to be staring accurately at where James is standing (trick of the light?), the only thing out of place (okay, besides the box) is the fact that a broken off shaft of wood is implanted in the bodies chest.

(james)
he just stares
just. simply. stares.

correction
he backs. the fuck. away.
dark eyes locked on the black pools that might be eyes
heart about to jump up out of his chest
he's just as shocked to see the body as it appears to be to see..... whatever.
(you can't tell me you expected to find nothing within?)

that's not real

(ST)
Horatio was smart enough to move out of the way while the lid was pried open and unlike James, it is apparently unphased by the... juicy contents of the coffin. It scurries over the body, although apparently picks its target spots carefully considering a few places seem a little more... pliable... squishy... than others.

It clambers onto the tin and taps at it with long, hairy legs and apparently is waiting for James to do something other than look like a stunned fish out of water.

(seb)
Sebastian leans down again and peers into the darkness of the piping and sighs softly.

"I don't particularly wish to explain this to his people if he has managed to get himself stuck."

(seb)
"Was anyone able to assertain where these pipes may come from?"

He looks up at Carlos, while examining the opening of the pipe and staring into the darkness. Eerily, his eyes glow red like hot coals.

He looks up, caught of guard, as if he hadn't been paying attention.

"Colin was known to have an auxiliary haven in this vicinity, but we don't have specifics and the rats, obviously, don't like it down here."

(ST)
Horatio waits patiently (or so it seems) on top of the tin clutched between putrid-flesh riddled hands of the descicated corpse.

(seb)
"Perhaps we should endeavor to explore that venue of possibility, in case out friend has managed to get himself into something of a... predicament?"

Time may be on their hands, patience may be a virtue, but there is going to be a limit - for everyone - how long they are going to stand around in one place in the middle of a sewer tunnel.


Looks thoughtful for a moment. He nods.

"I'll send a scout."

He then wanders off down the tunnel towards a swarm of beady eyes and the sound of chittering can be heard.

He returns a few minutes later.

"There is no need to send a scout, from what I can figure out just on the outskirts of the deadzone there's been a recent closing off of a tunnel or door. Although, what is recent for them is beyond me."


(james)
it's a few long minutes of silence
then the tapping storms through his senses like a tiny little machine gun

oh. yeh.

and while the body may not seem to be in the exact position to reach up and grab him
his approach states he damn well believes it may
stake. heart. vampire. dead. right?
right-o.
even though, when his hands reach for the box
(this is a seriously bad idea, James)
he looks almost apologetic

"I'm sorry man. I don't have a choice."

well.....
the reach pauses
and he digs into his BDUs again, and pull out the matchbox and Carlos' keys
the first match is wet
the second match is wet
the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth match are wet
lucky number seven
when it flares, he holds the key against the smooth inner lid of the coffin, soot creating an outline of the key.... fingers wiped through the rusted slime on his pants to scrawl '53 Buick has it beside the negative key, and only then does he reach to retrieve the box and spider, carefully, from the rotting grip

"Look, if you get mad for someone taking this box?" a bandaged hand points to the scrawled message "You look these guys up. Don't kill the messenger, hm?"

talking to the spider
now talking to the staked corpse
you're doing real good, Jamey-boy
he wastes NO time in wiggling back into the pipes

(seb)
They are about to depart from the scene, when there is the faint echo of someone worming their way through the interir of the pipes. A very faint sound, but it is there nonetheless. Sebastian cocks his head to one side and listening, holding up a hand for Carlos to wait, incase the mafioso took it in his head to just up and leave.

(james)
okay
wiggle, close gate, lock gate, shift, BAIL
he just...... he doesn't even think about what remnant slime is on the box when he picks it up with his...... oh god.... mouth...... to ease progress through the tunnels
Horatio clinging very tightly to his scalp
he's using the slippery tunnel floor and gravity to his advantage
making that right hook to get back into the correct tunnel
and he only slows down when he can smell the other two (barely)
the shift popping once more
and it makes the progress those last handful of yards .agonizingly. slow
finally wiggling his way back to the tunnel with Mr. Creepy and the well fed Guido

pale, bleeding, shirtless, and filthy

but in one piece

(seb)
Sebastian looks rather impressed by James' reemergence and steps back from the pipe opening to give the taller man room to extricate himself from the slimy opening.

"Congratulations, Jukebox. I see you have found something in return for your truobles."

He follows Sebastian's suit and steps well away from James.

"So, whaddiya find in there?"

The whole polished, polite facade has gone out the window.

(james)
he looks like he could just hug them he's so happy to be out of that tunnel
and he almost does
out of spite.

a brow lifts at Carlos
and this sudden change of behavior

"I agreed to share what I found out with Bastion, not. you."

he holds a hand out for his trench
plus it gives Horatio a bridge to walk back to his..... master......
but he still has good grip on that tin

(seb)
Sebastian holds out James' trenchcoat and retrieves his beloved Horatio in turn. He glances at Carlos and cocks an eyebrow in what looks like a silent warning of sorts.

Great, I just stuck my proverbial foot in my mouth and now Mr. Creepy is cranky.

He nods his head in a polite apology, regaining his composure.

"My pardon, Mr. Bastian. Mr. Jukebox."

"So, dear Jukebox, what was at the end of the tunnel, if there was indeed an end."

He returns his full, darke-eyed attention at James, apparently ignoring Carlos and snubbing his apology in the process.

Carlos dons his quite civility again like armor

(james)
"Horatio was quiet helpful, Bastion. He pointed out for me to open the coffin and look inside. Quite a tasty little fellow was leftover in there. Had this strange thing sticking out of his chest."

idly spoken while shrugging the trench back on
when he gets back?
he's stepping into the shower fully clothed
boots and all

"He was really surprised to see me."

(seb)
"A coffin? How curious."

A lengthy silent pause that allows the sound of running water and the skittering of claws against rock to echo around them.

"Really? Surprised? How strange, indeed."

Carlos just stands there, appearingblissfully unaware of the implications of Jukebox's comments.
Then he looks purposefully at the tin box

Sebastian looks at the tin and gestures from James to it.

"If you would like to do the honors, Mr. Jukebox, as you were the one to retrieve the item?"

(james)
there's a thoughtful nod

"He was very surprised. Speechless even."

there's a bit of a smile
that's what he found
he's not committed to saying anything about what he did
smoothing out the lines of the tattered trench in idle time
then dark eyes drop to the tin

"Oh.. yea... I found this tin, too."

holds it up, whatever vestiges of light happen to be hiding down here bouncing off the tarnished structure in a fashionable twist and turn
see? pretty.

"Dunno what's in it yet, though. When I find out? I'll come callin'. Goodnight, gentlemen."

you can bet he remembers his way out of the tunnels
he's heading to that shower

(seb)
"Jukebox...."

This is the first time that James' has probably heard the first traces of annoyance and it is intimidating, even spoken as softly as it was.

(james)
the tall Ganwer turns
filthy, tired, spooked, and sore
a brow lifting in the frame of dreadlocks

"Yes, Bastion?"

(carlos)
Carlos steps away from Sebastian. Quite a fair distance actually. He's heard that tone of voice before. The results are never pretty.

(seb)
"I do not suggest you open that outside of our presence. New Jersey has been known to have many hidden dangers."

James has been a Garou for some years. He knows the tone of voice; the implied warning without being a threat. The implied caution without stateing the obvious. The voice of an elder dominant male.

In those words are depths of many things seen and experiences, many years transversed, at odds with the youth of his face and build.

(carlos)
Carlos has stepped back into the shadows, almost blending in. His hand under his jacket out of reflex.

(james)
the Gnawer looks at the other man
ragged, filthy, dripping
holding that warning gaze
chin moving in a thoughtful nod

"Fair enough."

glancing down at the box
New Jersey, eh?
then back up to Bastion.... and Carlos cowering in the shadows
a bit of a smirk crosses his lips, just barely, just faintly
he understands well what could come of that tone, but he's not about to hide from it

"I will heed the advice. But I'm not going to open a strange box, with two men I hardly know, down in a place where I'm obviously at a disadvantage and outnumbered. I think I've had enough adventure for your benefit for one night, and I would rather not overstay our welcome in these tunnels. Time was of the essence, gentlemen, and I think we've spent enough time down here."

(seb)
"When you in the mood to proceed with our deal..." a distinct reminder of what was agreed upon... "I will find you."

And there is something in his tone that says that no matter where James' crawls up to hide, he will indeed find him... one way or another.

He inclines his head politely, a note of farewell to the young Gnawer and turns - coat flaring out around his legs in that almost cliche gothic image - and walks down the tunnel to James and gestures for the mafioso to accomany him.

"Coming, Mr. Bastian."

He removes his hand from under his coat and walks, side by side, down the tunnel with Mr. Creepy.

And the two of them just seem to disappear into the shadows, fading out of sight the further they move away...

(james)
oh, he knows, he remembers
that was why he didn't open the box
(self-preservation played a large part of it, too, of course)
he has to talk some things over with his packmates, first

"Goodnight Bastion..... Romani."

for all he knows this could be a puzzle that opens the gateway to hell
and he's not about to solve it without telling them to run, first

Posted by james at November 01, 2002 12:00 AM