Difference between revisions of "Herbal Essence"

Where we left off, our two bold adventurers - and the bird with the truck - are in the fine City of Hamtramck. They have traced the burger truck's headquarters here, while the truck itself is in Ontario, Canada spreading the Good Word. Jim is running the engine of the non-eco-friendly truck becuase it's cold, Kai and Jamila are behind the building walking up to spy (well Jamila is being sneaky, but not so much Kai), having examined the side garden and found it full of occult wonders.

They overhear activity inside once in position. Machines humming, and a person talking on the phone. A female voice. Young, full of uptalk and vocal fry. From somewhere out west. "I was, you know? But then, I needed the job? And the bus over here sucks?"

Kai huffs; she may not be sneaky, but she's at least not making a racket. Using her Quiet voice, maybe even south of what most people could even hear, she whispers: "Kid." But she holds on to hear another scrap or two of this phone conversation.

Jamila nods, her mouth turning down into a frown. She too keeps her ears perked, continuing to eavesdrop. She also listens carefully to the sound of the machines, trying to determine just what's going on in the room.

The conversation is ongoing over the hum of what sounds like a refrigerator that just switched back on, and probably a freezer that was going when they walked up. "Mr. Adamescu says the bus is fine, but I'm like, no? I hae to take 2 buses and wait in the cold? But then he starts rambling about life in Romania and I get out my phone. I don't know. Should I really quit?"

<<DICE>> Kai rolls intelligence + esoterica, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 6 successes (2 3 8 9 9 9 10, Specialty: Yes, Willpower: No)

"Romania," Kai murmurs, and closes her eyes a moment; clearly she's thinking here.

You paged Kai with 'Kai thinks about it, and it makes sense. Some of the herbal work she saw in the burger, and recognized in the garden, do fit with certain traditions she's run into. Obscure, minor. Nothing you'd find in a Council of any kind. Vaguely reminiscent of Voodoo in techniques used to dull the senses and make people compliant. Small town middle ages stuff.'

Jamila's eyes dart from side to side, and then focus back on the door. Still listening. Still frowning.

<<DICE>> Jamila rolls int+occult, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 3 successes (2 4 6 6 8, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)

Kai shakes her head. "Small time," she whispers. There's a moment of looking at Jamila's face, then she pantomimes knocking on the back door, waves her hand over her face like: do something about that? She won't actually knock unless Jamila gets cute again, though.

You paged Jamila with 'A couple of the herbs you've seen, are used by minor medicine people on the gulf coast to dull the nerves ritually. No major tradition but minor village stuff. Lone witch doctors, so to speak.'

Jamila rolls her eyes. She looks _divine_. All the same, she reverts to her breed form. And adjust her suit jacket just a little. Making sure to look real nice.

Jamila shifts into Homid!

<OOC> Jamila says, "Ima activate Sweet Hunter's Smile."

"No, Mr. Adamescu won't be back until tonight. He's in Canada eh? And he's going to make me sort the Canadian loonies."

<<DICE>> Jamila rolls charisma+subterfuge, difficulty 7 
<<DICE>> 4 successes (2 3 4 4 7 7 7 8, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)

So Kai knocks. There's a moment of hesitation, when she hears that Mr. Adamescu is out of town, but she knocks anyway.

Jamila just stands there looking harshly competent, her frown replaced by a barely-there smile.

The conversation abruptly shifts. "Kayla, oh god, they're at the door again. Call you back." She then is heard getting up, and opening the door. The girl answering the door is paler than Kai is. Blonde, ponytail, North Face everything to bundle up, bright red lipstick. She actually sees Jamila first. Pausing a moment, pursing her lips. "I'm sorry but they moved the panthers. I totally want to be your ally in solidarity and freedom though, but they moved your office. It's not here anymore and they didn't give us a forwarding address." She then makes a black panther salute, before sheepishly pulling it back.

<<DICE>> Jamila rolls rage, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 1 successes (5 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)

There's about two seconds of blank staring at friend Tori, and then Kai laughs. She doesn't probabaly -mean- to laugh, but. Things. "No, no," she says. "Not here for the panthers. Here for information? About a truck?" She says this like she thinks she'll be understood, but without any authority to it - like maybe she's more looking for a truck location for the day, say, or franchise information, not like she's undercover police. But of course, Tori can fill in whatever meaning she wants.

<<DICE>> Jim rolls 2 dice, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 2 successes (9 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
<OOC> Jim says, "and Tori makes the best streetwise roll of her life"

Well, so much for the barely-there smile. Jamila's lips curl down and her nostrils flare as she takes in a deep, calming breath. Her eyes all but shoot daggers at Kai, and then lock onto Tori. But she doesn't say anything. Not yet. Rule number one of Rage-club, don't try to be a smooth talker when you're talking the beast back down.

Tori visibly twitches at talk of the truck, whic fortunately distracts her from Jamila's hackles going up. But she looks between the pair, and grins as she nods. "Oh I see. Please, come in so I can close the door." She'll hold the door open for them. What's back here is a small prep kitchen on one side, and a small office onthe other side. Tori sits down at the desk, which is CRAMMED with papers. "Mr. Adamescu says if you want more of the secret spice blend, you're free to buy it, but I can't give it out. It's not as good if I do it, ven though I've seen him do it and I could totally do that, you know?"

Kai and Jamila can feel that that kitchen is not just a kitchen, though. Just... something about it.

Yeah, Kai glances inside, tips her head. Doesn't go in. "Nono," she says. "You've misunderstood. We're not here for the spice. We're here for information. You know, about a truck? Or do I need to wait for Mr. Adamescu?" Casual name-dropping! Maybe she's supposed to be dropping by for that.

<<DICE>> Kai rolls Manipulation + Subterfuge, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 1 successes (1 6 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)

<<DICE>> Jim rolls 2 dice, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> FAIL (2 4, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)

Jamila also does not go in. Another deep breath to help perk her metaphorical ears back up. She puts her barely-there smile back on, and tries her hardest to sound non-threatening. She probably fails at that last, but for her Sweet Hunter's Smile. "We're looking for information about a truck. Can you help us? We would really appreciate it."

<<DICE>> Jamila rolls manipulation+subterfuge, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 2 successes (1 4 4 5 5 6 10, Specialty: Yes, Willpower: No)

<<DICE>> Jim rolls 2 dice, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 1 successes (3 8, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)

Tori is slightly baffled by them not coming in. She sighs, re-zips her purple jacket, and gets back up. They do both seem to know what they're talking about. "Okay?" she says, coming outside and closing the door. "So what would you like to know about the truck? It's not registered? It has fake plates because Mr. Adamescu wants it confidential?"

"Why?" asks Kai, and bites her tongue a moment. "It - seems /super/ successful." She tips her head at Tori a moment, looking her over.

<<DICE>> Kai rolls Arete, difficulty 4 
<<DICE>> 3 successes (4 6 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)

You paged Kai with 'There'a w ord for this girl: basic. Nothing magical about her in any way.'

You paged Kai with 'But the kitchen is Special. Subtle carvings on the cutting board. Old woods on the knife handles.'

"People can't seem to get enough of his food," Jamila says, nodding in agreement with Kai. "He's already been gone every time I try to get to the truck in time. The food must just be flying off the grill."

Tori adjusts her scarf a little. Everything she's waering is brand new. Probably a freshman. "It is, but..." she then leans forward "We don't pay taxes or get inspections or anything, you know? He always works in the truck. I'm here to watch the house when he's not here. But I'm probably going to quit because it takes 2 buses to get here from Wayne State. Kind of sucks."

"Long way to go every day," Kai agrees, then sighs. Not -super- dramatically. "Ok, well - I guess if what we can do here is get our hands on some spice -" she glances at Jamila, gives a tip of her head toward the door. Then, to Becky - I mean, Tori - she says: "I'll want to see what we're getting before we pay. You know?"

Jamlia nods, agreeing. "That's a real trek. You must really need the money," she says, trying to be sympathetic to Miss All New Clothes. She glances toward Kai and then back to Tori, waiting. Show us the stuff, Becky.

Tori nods gravely. "I do! College is so expensive. And I have to wash my car all the time out here. And books, and new outfits, and... God how am I ever going to manage this?" She'll open the door though "Help yourself though. Do you guys mind if I call my friend while you're looking?"

"Nah, that's fine," Kai says. "Just - show me the stuff first? And give me the word on price." There's a glance at Jamila, and briefly at that desk full of papers, and she'll haul Tori along for long enough to find out what these guys are selling their stuff for.

Glance at Kai, glance at the desk full of papers, glance back at Kai. Jamila nods. Message received. She'll get her snoop on.

Jamila walks in, and then peels off as the white chicks discuss spice mixes. Like they do. She meanders over toward the desk and just glances down at all the papers. She doesn't even touch anything. She just looks to see what's on top.

Tori does lead them back on in, closing the door with a shiver as soon as possible. "Okay um, the spices are all fresh cut over here?" she asks, walking into the kitchen, and gesturing. "Mr. Adamescu says I'm not to touch the knives or the cutting board, but I'm good at cooking. I cook all the time at Delta Zeta." The papers, when examined by Jamila, are going to prove rather plain. Payments for the house - to the name of someone who is associated with the NBPP actually - are apparently all done by the book, but off the *legal* books. The truck is owned outright, but needs regular maintenance. The building is constantly needing little repairs, as the NBPP landlords are very much hands off.

"What does he think you're gonna do," Kai says, "juggle with them?" A joke, says the look on her face. "And you have finished spices somewhere?"

Papers all seem in order, really. Jamila makes a mental note about who they pay the rent to, and then wanders off toward the kitchen from which Muad'Dib's spice flows. She steps up behind Kai and rests a hand on the back of her shoulder. All done snooping.

Tori grins and nods. "Totally, right?" Completely oblivious about the snooping and return of Jamila. "I think... he keeps most of the cut herbs in the fridge..." She turns around, leans into the fridge, and pulls out a bag. Hermetically sealed, but not Hermetically sealed. "This is most of the herbs, but he doesn't put the home grown ones in until the morning he goes out."

Kai's teeth scrape over her lower lip. "Yeah," she says, "I want the whole deal. Tell you what." She gives Jamila a glance, this time, clearly affectionate. "You got a pen and paper? Have Mr. Adamescu call me. I can make arrangements with him." Given said items, she'll jot down her actual phone number. Because why not.

Jamila glances at Kai, offering a smile, and then looks back toward Tori. Kai's going to give her phone number, so there's no reason for Jamila to give out anything other than a smile. But, she manages to offer one of those. "And I hope you manage to find something closer to campus. Nobody deserves a commute like that," she says, shaking her head and then muttering. "Two busses."

Tori is happy to give the phone number of the truck. "This is Mr. Adamescu's personal number, but he never answers it when on duty. Try him evenings. And you're right. I'm quitting tonight. Thank you both."