Log:The Pretty Lights: First Blood

The Pretty Lights: First Blood
"WHO IS IT?!"
Participants Haruki, Cerise, CB, Franklyn, Green and ST	2017.08.31 First blood is drawn at Majesty Records. Part of The Pretty Lights plot.
Location Majesty Records
"Vinnie asked Ceebee to run away with her," Green says, in apparent non-sequitor. Only, it's so not, and it's said directly to Franklyn. "He agreed to it. Only to immediately welsh on that deal," she says. And oh, if she doesn't look so pleased to be filling in missing details. And to be talking about CB like he's not here. "I'd warn against running off with a drug-fueled teenager-" Is Vinnie a teenager? "-but who listens to me?" Green asks. She shrugs, ever so faintly, ever so innocently. And then she taps the screen, and the overhead music changes from Nine Inch Nails to the ever so soothing vocals of Gainsbourg's L'Homme à tête de chou. Green then looks away from the iPad to the pair. She'll ignore CB's shirt. He should know! And instead she'll focus on what's got people upset. "It's regrettably necessary. Some new trust. Then a new round of interviews and disclosing records. Because The Right Honorable Sir Green is, apparently, expanding his operation." There's a much put-upon sigh. How hard her life, daughter of royalty she is. "You are both welcome to join me. It'd be a lovely vacation," she offers. "I'd pay, of course." There's a faint smile, and a faint shrug. She's not happy, either.       And now a set... Inside Majesty Records, there's really nothing going on, save a small group of people chatting. Green, behind the counter. CB and Franklyn in front of it. Green is in a black mock-turtle neck and loose black trousers. Frank is in a men's dress shirt, and jeans. Yes, both women are in trousers. CB, well, he's dressed like CB. Jeans and a shirt with buttons. And to eyes that can see it? There's an odd cloud of static that exists in a state of Twilight. At present, it's drifting around the room, and eventually coming to rest beside Franklyn. It reforms itself into a perfect 2-dimensional rectangle, and soon is 'broadcasting' a very static-y image of Franklyn right back at her. The Franklyn show, until receptions pretty bad. Haruki enters the store, looking around curiously as he does so. "What's bauhaus?" he asks as he squints at the signs on the door. There's a surprise as he glances at all the people there. When Franky's casual deflection vis-a-vis the origins of her totally awesome outfit are exposed by C.B's enormous mouth, Franklyn just gives him a quick side-glance of Mild Warning. She's not too irked, it's only a peppering; she's totally #carefreewhitegirl, she can play it all off with a smile that's just a few shades too sharp to be entirely pleasant. So Franky goes back to chatting with Green -- they're all standing about near the counter, her and C.B. and Green. Franklyn's dressed in a white button up that's got at least two buttons actually done up, tucked into some dark indigo jeans that flair over platform clogs. Totally in some 1970s French magazine editorial of her own mind. "Yeah so-- oh, oh /really/? Well it isn't surprising, running away is so hot right now - who doesn't want a quick little hop to the Great White North? Seedy motel, some rented car under a fake credit card, no pressure, no problems, no promises..." Franklyn turns, and stares pointedly at C.B. as his voice rises and yells: her expression 100%% 'bitch, /what/?' - incredulous and intense, her head tilting to the side and eyes wide: totally challenging him to keep yelling. If she was wearing earrings? Now would be the time Franky would take them off, because obviously C.B. wants to fight and-- oh there he goes, calming down. Franklyn follows suite, standing up straight but still =looking= at him, as she murmurs tersely: "Behave." Then back to Green, serene smile slipping onto Franklyn's features easy as anything. Did she just glance to the side, right next to her? Maybe. But who cares. She's composed, she's cool, she's like a fucking cucumber. So fucking chilled out. Perfect. So chill. #ChillAF. "...New York? Oh lovely, I wouldn't want to crimp your style. You have fun with daddy's lawyers -- it'll be amazing." CHILL. SHE'S CHILL. #IcedOut #ColdLikeMinnesota Cerise is just the type of preppy hipster wannabe that picks up on trends right as soon as they start to get popular, and so it takes her all of 2 seconds between walking past the record store and slipping into it. At first, the woman does what most do when entering the store. She makes a beeline for a rack of records - jazz - and begins to flip through them. Doubtless, Cerise believes she has wonderful taste. Cerise's clothes have the simple lines and understated cuts of higher-end clothing lines, even if they are simply jeans and patterned tee with longer sleeves. However they, and the leather purse slung over her shoulder, all show signs of wear, pointing to them being quite a few years old. As Cerise flips through the various records, she looks up now and again. Once, she glances to the group at the counter, and dismisses them nearly immediately. She flips through the records a little more and then her head tilts as if realizing something. Her head lifts again and again they rest on the trio, only this time her eyes are narrowed in thought as they eye up Green. A second later, Cerise is circling around the bin of records to approach. "Hey! Don't I know you?" It's up in the air who she could be addressing, but she does seem to be looking more at Green than anyone else. C.B.'s managed to turn scarlet. Bright red. His eyes flare up as he stares at Green; both ladies present would notice the lightning that crackles all around the top of his head. "She did not -- you don't know anything about it!" he stammers. He then turns to Franklyn and tries to explain: "I was drunk. It's just a stupid...it doesn't mean anything. Green's just trying to start trouble." He squints at Green at the vacation offer. "Much as I love New York, somehow I think what /I/ love about that town and what /you/ love about it are as different as Serge Gainsbourg from...whatever it was you were just playing," since he has no earthly idea who or what Nine Inch Nails is. Anyway. Franklyn is staring. Franklyn is...displeased. And C.B. looks...nervous? Very nervous, actually, but in a squinty-eyed sort of way. The squint only grows deeper the more "chill" Franklyn gets. "What's your deal?" he mutters to her, probably not expecting an answer. "It's true. I'm trying to start trouble," Green admits, holding out her hands as if surrendering. "I'm in a mood," she adds. "But, it's alright. I'll tell Vinnie you're not interested in her," Green offers. Trying to start more trouble. She then looks aside, to Frank. Her expression shifts, and it's back to resting face. Which is pleasantly neutral and pointedly devoid of emotion. "Franklyn," she says, her tone firming up. "You are invited. I would love for you to come with me. But if you do not, I'll face time every day. I promise," she tells the woman. "Promise," she echoes, in a whisper, with the faintest bit of adoration slipping across that neutral mask. Then Green sucks in a breath and looks up. Right, customers! "Hello, love!" she chirps, to Haruki. "Bauhaus is 80s trash that some foul-smelling goths decided was the second coming of Christ. It is not welcome here," she says, ever so prim and proper like. And then over to Cerise, who gets a polite smile. "Hello-... Oh! Yes, I saw you at Kip's bookstore, wasn't it?" she asks. A gesture to herself. "Amanda Green. Welcome to Majesty Records." Haruki looks between Green, Franklyn and the blushing CB. There's an arching of eyebrows there, a look of curiosity. He's not going to ask though. Nope. "Okay, no Bauhaus. It must be terrible." He's quiet, maybe feeling a bit out of place as he peers around at everything here. "So long as she's legal and consenting, I don't care where you go to fuck teenagers when you're drunk." FRANKLYN. Franklyn /why/?! But no seriously - her choice in words may be Frank to the point of brutality, but Franklyn genuinely seems unaffected at the prospect. C.B's red faced discontent is merely noted, smiled at, and a hand flicks her hair out of her face as Franklyn turns at the sound of Cerise's voice. Of course... Suddenly she's putting a hand to the side of her head, like maybe Franklyn's got a bit of a headache coming on. "What deal about what?" Weak reply to C.B., then Franky is glancing over at Green with... a frown. Franklyn is frowning openly now. Maybe someone's Mood is contagious. "...That is very generous of you, however, no. I won't be going to New York." So Fucking Serious. Then she attempts a smile - it looks pained at first, then it softens up. "I'll keep my extra external powercube charged for you; we can talk whenever you're done crushing lawyers into a thick paste." Aww. Then Franklyn is wincing and rubbing at the side of her temples -- her eyes following Green to Haruki as the woman refuses to acknowledge how great Peter Murphy is, the heretic. Frank side-steps, not quite knocking into C.B. but sticking close as she murmurs to, who? Everyone? "...I always preferred Brutalism myself." What a lovely day. WHAT A REALLY LOVELY DAY! Nothing seems to be a miss. There's the choral tones of arguing in the store as a young guy, around twenty slides in and starts towards one of the racks of music AWAY from the gang. He doesn't seem like he wants help. And Green would know this as the kid comes in every payday to pick up some sort of old ass CD. But he's paying customer at least. "Yes! Right! You're his, uh, standing date." Cerise sounds downright proud of herself for figuring it out, even though Amanda was the one who actually made the connection. She makes her way to the counter, and leans over it to offer a hand towards Green. "Cerise Hodgson. I'm working there now. Nice to meet you!" Not that anyone asked. She shifts ever so slightly to include Franklyn and CB in the greeting, before her eyes drift to the argument in the back. She frowns in that direction, dismissing it soon enough to greet Haruki, "The art school wasn't bad, but the band was never any good." Green will feel a sudden pressure. Like the weather starts to change around her. The pressure becoming more and more irritating. This happens for a few minutes and then it lifts without warning, like a shock leaving your body. Franklyn's head starts to hurt. At first it's like one of those irritating headaches that make you want to slap everyone who talks. But as light and sound pour in it becomes sharp and stabbing. Like an icepick to the back of the brain. "And you wonder why /I/ wonder if I can trust you," C.B. hisses at Green. "You and your fucking /moods/. You don't HAVE to take them out on others, you know. Just stay out of it!" This dynamic of the three of them tends to put /C.B./ in a bad mood. It doesn't help when Franklyn says what she does -- C.B. actually looks flabbergasted. And is maybe about to start yelling again, when suddenly... He SHRIEKS! Because the /thing/ in his pocket is buzzing. Oh, right, C.B. Alexander isn't at all used to carrying around a cell phone, much less keeping it on. Why is it on?! He hastily fishes it out of his pocket and speaks loudly into it, exactly the way your grandpa does when he's using his mobile. "HELLO?! Oh...Caryn." He rubs his temples and sighs. "Yeah. Okay. One sec. Gimme one sec." Putting the phone aside briefly, he mutters to no one in particular, "Be back..." And then starts heading for the door. Haruki gets a brief nod on the way out, C.B. having just noticed him. Cerise gets a glance, but he keeps heading out to the street. Green watches Franklyn for a moment. Pieces fall into place. Her smile is warm and loving once more. "Every day," she echoes. "And I'll tell you all about how awful it was, and whose suit fit them most poorly," she promises. She leans forward, like she might want to just grab Frank and give her a hug, but then, Frank is not looking well. Hm. Oh and CB is next to her? Is Green aware? For all she doesn't react to his hissing, at all, one might question that she can even see him. Green's eyes drift back over to Cerise. Right, Customers. "Pleasure, Cerise," she says, with a smile. Then a considering gaze. "Mmm. Brutalism versus Bauhaus school. Let's all get some wine and fight over it?" she asks. Green flashes a gaze over to her regular customer - someone who actually spends money! - and merely gives the young man a smile and a wiggle of fingers. It's flirty. Of course it is! And then everything else comes to halt when CB Alexander shrieks. Green's eyes go wide. She stares at the man, like he might be possessed. But no, just a phone. Green lets out a sigh, and then fixes a soft smile, and wiggles her fingers good bye. She'll not take any parting shots, merely turn to look back at Cerise. "So, working at Homepage... but wearing designer jeans. What a curiosity you are..." Haruki's lost in all of those words, not keeping up at all, as if he's missing some vital piece of information might put the puzzle together. When CB shrieks Haruki startles and moves out of the way and he takes a few breaths steadying his own nerves and just looks rather lost. The young man gives a small wave to Green, "Just checking for something." he states in a gruff tone. Probably a night shift worker not used to the day. When the arguing is going on though he seems to shrink closer to the racks, not wanting to be in the middle. Literally or figuratively. Franklyn's pained expression was one way - now? It is another; her hands move from her temple to the front of her forehead, and she side-steps again, not knocking into C.B. but /jumping/ as the man shrieks. She didn't even have enough time to catch that look of flabbergasted discontent! Nooo... Green and Cerise? They are not focused on. Neither is that nightshift worker spending his hard earned cash. Haruki get's a brief look, which is oddly... Suspicious? -- but it is brief, because Franklyn is trying to step out of... out of... Out of the overhead lights? REALLY? Her? Franklyn? Removing herself from the spot light? Yes. Was that a little whimper? Also a yes; it turns into rapid muttering. "Fuck, fuck, fuck..." They both may have felt different pressures and pains, but the next thing that happens is something they both will remember. The smell of burnt flesh assaults the noses of the two women all of the sudden. But there's something else that comes along with it. The smell of rot is strong. And then there's a sharp pain. Like someone jabbed them with a pin. Haruki and Cerise might realize there's some weirdness going on. The once clean smelling air with the soft vinyl undertones suddenly smells like...death. There's the pungent odor of burnt flesh and the scent of rot. It's enough to make one keel over. Like everyone else, Cerise gives a little jump when CB screams in response to his phone. Her eyes slide towards him but since the man seems to be walking out, her gaze soon returns to Green, where she picks up with some light teasing in the form of pushback, "Are designer jeans not allowed in bookstores? I didn't think there was a law." Cerise then pauses, her nose beginning wrinkle as she seems to be sniffing the air. Whatever they were talking about before seems to be forgotten as the woman asks, "Do you smell that?" At the same time, she appears to be *much* more alert, her eyes darting every which way, as if searching for something. Haruki catches a breath of death and tries not to throw up. He does at least manage it, although he does take a step back towards the door. "Green, are your drains blocked or something?" He frowns some, he looks around, there's a faint hint of suspicion. Happy and pleasant and everything's just fine... until Franklyn isn't fine. Did anyone pick up on the fact that Green might just have feelings for the other woman? Well, that might be why she looks suddenly worried, when Franklyn is looking so much worse. And then comes the smell. As used to - try not to think about it - as Green is to death and flesh and rot and heck evening burning flesh, she's not used to the pain that comes with it. "Cor blimey..." she mutters out, as her own eyes shut tight, and, soon enough, she's doing her best Franklyn impression. Which is to say, rubbing her temples and trying to not let what must be a terrible amount of pain drive her right to her knees. If Haruki or Cerise manage to look over, they'll note a tiny stream of blood is beginning to roll out of one nostril. When Background Noise dashes across the gauntlet he's met with...nothing. No spirits are snooping about. Though there are little motes of pain spirits starting to gather around, wanting to suck up the emotion from the situation going on. Dumb spirits and their feeding habits! Other than that there is nothing hanging out and making this happen. For once. "Fuck, fuck-- nine, eight, seven..." Franklyn's rapid muttering fades as she starts counting backwards from ten: eyes closing, she stands there with her hand on her face, palm pressed flat, like she was trying to force pressure onto herself and... Do what? Make herself feel better? Well she's certainly looking calmer. For like one second. Then Franky's fingers start to twitch, and she makes a groaning noise, lowering her head a whine of pain as her eyes open halfway. Maybe she's noticed she's got some lipstick or something on that pristine white shirt? Franklyn blinks again. Another petal of red blossoms onto the fabric, then another, then another--- "Amanda? Amanda, something is wrong - Amanda something is wrong, something is wrong, it's wrong, there's--" With every blink, her shirt gets more red. Franklyn raises her head, hands held out trembling in front of her. From her eyes run two streaming tears of blood. Why isn't she totally fucking panicking? Well, Franky seems like she's on the edge, but holding on. Just. At first, Cerise's gaze is very much focused out and away from the people with her at the counter, as she searches for what might be the source of the smell. She seems to almost be expecting to see something as she takes a few steps away from the counter. It's only during a chance glance back that she catches a glimpse of Green and Franklyn. Cerise needs no more than that to bring her back to the counter and after a quick appraisal, her attention focuses on Franklyn. Needed or not, Cerise reaches out to take the other woman's arm and support her, while guiding her to a seat. "Hey ... Hey ... You're OK, I got you... Let me take a look." All teasing is gone now, and Cerise's tone oozes gentleness as she attempts to sooth and reassure. All Amanda gets is a quick glance and a point as Cerise commands, less gently, "Sit." Haruki's got no idea what's going on, but this is bad. This is really bad. With his friends bleeding and something. "Outside." He says, propping the door open, trying to let some fresh air in. "Everyone out!" That's more to the existing customers. "There must be a gas leak. Get out." It's the logical explanation, isn't it. Only he's contradicting what Cerise is saying. He won't push her though. Get the other customers outside first and the shop cleared, which means that guy. What in the hell is going on in this store? The dude in the hoodie takes a look at the spontaneous bleeding going on and goes 'NEWP' as he heads for the door. Jerking it open and disappearing outside. The smell of burnt flesh and rot soon starts to lessen in the store, but isn't entirely gone. Green does not sit! No, she takes a deep breath, then looks off to the side. There's a quick glance, and then she gives a wave of her hand, almost dismissively. Whatever that means. She then pivots and, despite her own bleeding, makes her way around the counter and moves for Franklyn. "It's okay, love," she whispers out, in a voice so very soothing. What sweet lies she tells! She doesn't hesitate. No concern for blood. She simply reaches out and wraps up Franklyn in her arms. "What do you see?" she whispers, intimately close, as she looks around, with her eyes. Nevermind Franklyn has blood in her eyes! "Look," she says, her tone quiet but firm. Franklyn looks frightened - who can blame her really? There's this intense =focused= in her expression, as she stares through what is surely a bloody haze, like she was reading into the way those tears of blood are falling on the fabric of her shirt. What does she think she's doing, a little light driromancy? The girl must be shocked. So shocked, Franky's not even protesting as Cerise takes her arm, and starts leading her to rest wherever she is guided. Soon Green joins her, and Franky is shaking as she looks down at her shirt, blinking blood, staring at drops, gasping through whatever it is she's feeling as she tries to... Focus. There's a bubble of spittle and blood that bursts on her lip, as Franklyn rapidfire speaks; "This is not coming from within the room; I have never spoken to them before." Where's Green's arm? Franky is -GRABBING- at it, her beetle-shell green manicure digging into her forearm and she speaks -rapidfire-, hot and angry but low in volume. "Why did you not teach me how to protect myself?" Wild, angry, bloody eyes -- but Franky continues, hissing whisper. Those near by can for sure hear, even Haruki -- but Franky's trying to be subtle, only... Well... Urgency is wiping that away. "From afar, I do not know where - they see us, and we are being... Where are they? I don't know, I don't know, I don't..." Poor Cerise. She's getting the worst first impression of Franklyn - and damn, Franky can so often make /horrible/ spectacle of herself. "I need to look at her!" When Green comes around the counter, Cerise's first reaction is oozing with the righteous indignation of a doctor denied their patient. But something in those words causes the woman to pause, and she rocks back on her heels, allowing the two room. Given a moment more to process, Cerise is again looking around shop, looking for something. She doesn't find it, but she does catch sight of Haruki ushering the customers out and the few left who are hurrying. There's no time to ponder too long, because soon Frankie is talking. Rather than being put off, Cerise's concerned face edges closer to the other woman, asking urgently, "Who is it?" Haruki flips the sign on the door around to closed. He'll stand guard, preventing anyone else from entering, once everybody is outside. He keeps the door open, just in case it is actually a gas leak. "Sod off!" Green says, to Cerise. Yes, she's all fired up. And that's what a fired up Brit looks like. She keeps close to Franklyn, not noticing the terrible squeezing of her arm, or the nails digging beneath her flesh. She's focused. Because she, too, is looking. Franklyn starts to speak, and Green's nodding along, agreeing, like she sees it too. "Yes," she whispers. THen a deep breath. "Yes, well... Fuck!" she hisses. "I didn't know they were after us," she hisses out, a voice meant to be quiet but, well, Cerise and Haruki probably hear it. And then a breath, and Green snaps to action. "I showed you the runes," she says. Time to learn," she orders. And then, rather roughly, she grabs Franklyn's free hand (stealing it away from Cerise if need be) and takes hold of the woman's finger. She swipes Franklyn's finger across the woman's own cheek, capturing up the blood that's there. Next, she leans over, holding Franklyn, guiding her hand, and she starts to use Franklyn's finger as a stylus, and Franklyn's blood as ink, and on the cover of an unfortunately placed Supertramp album (Breakfast in America), she starts to invoke protection. "Nunc autem ab his, qui se defendat nocere nobis..." she whispers out. Then a hiss to Franklyn. "Say it," Green insists. "Nunc autem ab his, qui se defendat nocere nobis." "Who is it, who..." Franklyn stares up at Cerise for a second, dumb struck and wide eyed as she nods and nods... Franky barely responds as Green wipes blood from her face. Then Franklyn is moving, reaching into her bag -- out comes... A gold iPhone? Yes. The screen is blanked, but Franklyn holds it under her face and just -blinks- at it, droplets of blood falling on the surface. Jeez - Franky must be losing her mind, because while Green is using her -other- hand as a stylus to do witchy shit on a Supertramp album (great track, that), Franklyn's lifting a thumb and tracing a bloody drop along the edges of the blank iPhone screen in one smooth circular moment, murmuring something under her breath. Sounds repetitive. Poor Haruki - he's got to deal with all this chaos, all the time. Will he ever hang out with her and Green and not be subjected to a mess Next things next, Franky is just staring down at the blank screen, rocking back and forth and... oh she better not be going into shock. But... Maybe she's not? Because Franklyn's got this -look- in those bloody eyes of hers; they may be glazed over as she stares down at the iPhone, but that expression is stubborn as hell. "Nunc autem ab his, qui se defendat nocere nobis..." As Franklyn focuses on her screen, there's nothing that happens. The woman stares into the screen until there's a slight light that flickers across it before the phone starts to smoke and there's a bit of electricity that arcs from it, but it doesn't hurt her. That's followed by the scent of melting plastic. Haruki's stopping anyone else from entering this madness. He's also keeping the door open, so any noxious fumes can escape. Because... well... that's all he's good for. Haruki the human doorstop. Well there's worse jobs certainly. Cerise doesn't say or ask anything else, now. She just crouches beside Franklyn and Green and watches. Her expression is concerned for Franklyn's health, obviously, but her eyes also soak up everything that is happening, eating in every movement that the two women make with avid curiosity. "Nunc autem ab his, qui se defendat nocere nobis..." it comes once more form Green's mouth, and then she finishes the last swipe of Franklyn's bloody finger over the album cover. There. Done. She then looks up at the woman, then over at her phone. Her eyes go wide. "Oh, Frank!" she says, though it's not sure if it's concern, or protest, or what. Green sucks in a deep breath, and then she finally releases the other woman's hand. "Did you see anything?" she whispers out, quickly. Yes, she must have figured what that was about. Or at least has a good guess. It's only as an after thought - well after, obviously - that she looks back over, to Cerise and Haruki. She flashes a perfectly polite smile. Nevermind the blood running down her nose, or how she's half-collapsed on Franklyn writing runes in blood. "... Bugger that. Hardly ideal. But nothing to worry about," she says, with that same smile. Which is British for 'I hope we don't all die'. "NO." Franklyn jerks, but doesn't drop her phone as the much loved gold iPhone flickers and starts to crackle with electricity. That happens to her more often than she'd like to admit! But right now? It seems to have infuriated her. The phone is shaken furiously, although when the scent of melting plastic starts up, she lets it slide out of her hand and onto the floor. "FUCK." Was Franklyn supposed to be doing something? Chanting? Focusing? Sitting pretty? Oops. Not gonna happen. Moving to stand, Franky lifts her hands to her head and tugs at her hair, making a very -angry- sound of discontent. Furious, shrill, frustrated. On the plus side? The bleeding from her mouth and eyes seems to have stopped. "What /is/ it? Who? Do =you= know?" Franklyn's turned her bloody focus down on Cerise -- although Haruki gets a very suspicious look for some reason, albeit brief. Franky looks... Franky looks a bit insane right about now.