venice ♔ oh this town kills you when you're young

[rationalizes]

♬ Shoreline - Anna Ternheim

WHO || Gar, Kat, Myri, Buffy [Closed]
WHAT || Team Failboat investigates Angelo Nassi
WHERE || Venice, Italy; Notturno club
WHEN || July 6, evening.
HOW || Actionspam; SINGLE THREAD

It's a breathtaking evening in Venice.  Lights reflect off the canals that serve as the main thoroughfares of 'traffic' and happy tourists and locals amble about the streets, shopping, chatting, or just taking in the quiet air.   It's a pleasant 70 degrees and cooling for the night as the Knights make their way to the building labelled Notturno: the venue owned by Angelo Nassi, who they've come to question about the activities of Chad Becksworth and NOVA Records, hoping for a lead that will connect back to the Talisman they seek.

Dumage elects to do some 'digging' around the city in order to find out more information on the gnoll, so it's left to the four other girls to take on the task alone.  Gar once again makes sure to warn both Buffy and Myri of the potential perils of discussing their "Shadowkind" nature: here in Italy, there's a strong amount of prejudice against non-humans, or those from another world.

The club itself is located right off the river, which they enter through a winding alley after taking a vaporetto  from their hotel.   Gar heads up to the ticket booth when they enter the lobby, but comes back frowning.

"It seems they've sold out for tonight's performance," she says in a quiet murmur, casting a look over her shoulder as patrons move past, dressed in fancywear and conversing pleasantly.  "And they said we can't get inside without tickets." 

Comments

[savemyself]

[ gar and kat follow suit inside, and as buffy watches the woman stalk down the hall in the direction of the concert hall, she'd shortly see her almost collide with a stagehand, who she snaps at. he offers what sounds like an apology and then she grabs his arm and stops him, with a sharp question. he starts to explain something, gesturing down towards the girls and she follow his gaze, her expression seeming to gather storm clouds instantly. she drops his arm roughly, and points at the stage area, sounding exceedingly bossy about something, and then raises both eyebrows at him pointedly, before rolling her eyes and disappearing around the corner toward the stage. the poor stagehand takes a moment to recover before heading down to the open door, where he bows to them slightly. ]

Pardon signorinas. It seems Signior Giovanni will be unable to speak with you at this time, but extends his apologies, and would invite you all to attend at his palazzo tomorrow evening for dinner. He understands you have plans to leave back to America tomorrow, but has offered to pay to have your flights rescheduled should you choose to accept. [ another nod of his head and he passes them a card with an address printed upon it ] With his compliments.

[witchwoman]

[Myri is pretty sure this was NOT part of the plan, but it would only raise more suspicion if they refused, wouldn't it?]

That's very kind of him. [Myri says, waiting for the stagehand to leave before turning to the others.] Should we go? It wasn't part of the plan.

[Not that she hasn't deviated from a plan before. But this makes her nervous for some reason.]

[slay]

Angelo was spending time in this guy's backstage. [ she looks from myri to kat, popping a shoulder in a shrug. ] They've gotta be connected. Why waste an in?

[shootfirst]

Plus, I bet the food will be awesome. [ priorities, kat ] But c'mon, let's keep snooping around back here. Anyone asks we're looking for an exit. If this guy runs this place, he's got to have an office or something, right? [ and she heads out the door once more. search checks for those joining her \o\ a check of 14 or above will find the door with his name on it :3 ]

[slay]

[ buffy follows her out, but with a search check of 5, she quickly gets distracted by trying to nose in the other doors instead of spotting angelo's. ] Snoopage it is.

[witchwoman]

[Maybe it's because Myri is so concerned with practicing her reading, because she because she searched the hell out of that check with a 21 total.]

Perhaps... that one? [She points discretely to the door in question]

[rationalizes]

[ gar comes to a halt, glancing at the door and nods solemnly. ]

Well done. Kat? [ she looks at the other girl who glances around the corner and then points at the door as an 'all clear'. gar raps on the door lightly. ]

Signor Nassi?

[ when there's no response, she tries the door, which, unlocked, opens inwards at her attempt. the lights on inside, and a low voice growls something in italian. ]

We... we're sorry to interrupt. But we wished to speak with you. [ beyond gar, it's possible to see where the bizarre hyena-headed creature sits behind a large wooden desk, glaring at her suspiciously from behind a pair of shades. he raises a long clawed hand and gestures at them to come in.

"I don't have all day," he rasps. ]

[slay]

[ buffy follows them into the room, trying not to look too uncomfortable with the fact that she is talking to a hyena. she takes a round a minute to adjust. ]

It's about Nova records. Word is, you've dealt with them. [ she doesn't go further into it, because she figures he can fill in the blanks, and because, well, she wasn't sure how direct gar and kat thought was wise to be with this. ]

[shootfirst]

[ the gnoll affixes her with his beady little eyes, before leaning back in his seat, folding his knobby fingers together.

"At times. I'm in the music industry, and they're the biggest name on the planet. Hardly surprising."

kat rolls her eyes, and folds her arms, leaning against the door jamb. ]

We were thinking 'dealt with' in a more literal, slightly shady way.

[ as if it were actually a question of how direct kat means to be with anything. he tilts his head down, looking at over the top of his glasses, which comes off as slightly menacing (intimidate check 17, make a will save of 17 or more to remain unaffected! ... kat certainly isn't. )

"I don't know how you mean," he says, in a low tone. ]

[witchwoman]

[Myri fails with a 14, so consider her a shrinking violet right about now.]

But we-

We... we heard...

[Yeah no that thought isn't completing.]

[rationalizes]

[ gar doesn't seem afraid either. this ain't her first gnoll rodeo. ]

We have it on good authority that you in fact sold samples of your genetic tissue to agents of NOVA Records. A strange transaction for a record company to be making, don't you agree?

[ despite her insistent tone, he just grins, which is awfully freaky with that mouthful of razor sharp teeth.

"Stranger still for somebody to show up on my doorstep asking about it." ]

[slay]

[ with a will save of 18, buffy just squares her shoulders and narrows her gaze, the opposite of intimidated. ]

Yeah, well, we didn't come all the way to your doorstep just to get told you don't know anything about it. What did NOVA want with your DNA?

[shootfirst]

[ "That's none of your business. Now how bout you fine ladies scram before I have to call security?" He reaches out to where his diamond topped pimp cane leans against the desk beside him, grabbing on to the top of it and leaning forward slightly. "I don't know who let you back here, but they're gonna get an earful."

In one ridiculously smooth motion, Kat's foot catches the door and yanks it closed, and as it slams, she slips her gun out of its concealed holster, leveling it right at the gnoll, who freezes in place, but doesn't stop grinning, though it adopts a more dangerous edge. ]

Better idea. How about you talk and we don't have to make a mess here?

[ gar's eyes widen, and she mutters "Kat" under her breath in disbelief but angelo just keeps staring at the blonde, beyond the barrel of the gun.

"Just who are you broads, anyways?" ]

[witchwoman]

[Seeing Kat in control makes Myri slightly less nervous. She steps closer.]

You should know that she's serious. [She gestures to Kat] I haven't known her long, but long enough to know that she's not exactly... patient.

[rationalizes]

[ gar nods, adding her own attempt at menace. it is... slightly effective. ] I have known her long. And I can attest that nothing would make her happier than you giving her an excuse to fire.

[ the gnoll looks between each of them in turn, and then raises his left hand in a gesture of surrender as he slowly gets to his feet, still holding the cane.

"Fine, fine. You want to know what NOVA wanted with my DNA? Something about experiments. That's all I know, swear to the gods." ]

[slay]

[ buffy eyes the can warily, taking a step forward. ] How about you put that cane down and tell me what kind of experiments? [ yeah, that's not good enough for buffy, whose sense motive check is 25. and a cane can be a weapon and she doesn't like him having it as he gets up in his surender. ]

[shootfirst]

[ his grin turns straight up feral, and abruptly he depresses two points on the side, and a wicked looking hilt springs upwards, as a thin sword comes springing out of the top of the cane sheath. angelo brings the sword around in one quick movement, right up towards kat's extended gun arm, but she yanks it out of the way just in time and the sword cuts through air instead. ]

Sonuvabitch!

[witchwoman]

[Myri's fast to act, trying to use the beast's own fear tactics against him. She casts a spell to fill him with a feeling of dread, but unfortunately, his willpower manages to win out.

Darn.]

[slay]

Okay, that's it. See, I only ask nice the first time. Welcome to the hard way. [ she vaults over the desk to swing a kick at his hand and knock his cane-sword away, grabbing it as she lands beside the desk and leveling the blade at him while she straightens back up (atk 28, dmg. ] I'm gonna ask you again. What kind of experiments is NOVA doing with Shadowkind DNA? [ intimidate check 9. she can't help it. no matter how badass the disarm, she's 5'3" and a buck ten soaking wet. ]

[shootfirst]

[ his shoulders slump as he glares between these blondes pointing weapons at him.

"I told you, I don't know. I needed the cash, and Becksworth approached me with the offer. Said it was revolutionary stuff. Medical. I figured it was for a good cause." he shrugs. "What do you care?"

kat glares back at him, before frowning and looking at the others. ]

I think he's telling the truth.

[witchwoman]

We care because we think they're using it against those like you.

[Because even when she's talking to someone who just tried to stab them, Myri tries to connect.]

And we want to put a stop to it.

[rationalizes]

[ the gnoll grinds his teeth for a moment, eyeing myri warily.

"You have some kind of proof of that?" ]

Not yet. But that's what we're attempting to find. If there's anything further you can tell us, Mr. Nassi, it could save lives.

[ He shakes his head.

"That's all they told me. I didn't think to ask anymore. Chad Becksworth has Shadowkind in his employ. I figured a guy like that would be on our side." ]

[slay]

[ sense motive 14. she doesn't lower the weapon, suspicious. something isn't adding up here. ]

A guy like you doesn't need cash. If you really don't know anything, why the jump to violence?

[shootfirst]

[ actually, he seems to be telling the truth??? wacky. but he does scowl and add:

"You clearly have no idea what things are like in this town. People start asking questions about what you're doing, it's only a short time before you wind up dead or worse." He rolls his shoulders, and cracks his neck, glancing over their brandished weapons. "And don't act like you know what I need. How do you think a guy like me operates a legitimate business in Italy? I'm paying out my ass to every mob shill, government spook, and terrorist hate group who looks my way. And I still gotta watch my back in case somebody shows up at my door waving a freaking gun at me." He shoots Kat a glare, and she sort of lowers her weapon, as well as her eyes, sufficiently chastised. ]

If it's that bad, why don't you just move?

[ He rolls his big ol' hyena eyes at the suggestion. "I got family here. And more than that, it's about making a stand. We let 'em start just runnin' us off with their scare tactics, it ain't gonna stop here in Italy. It'll reach us, wherever we go hiding." ]

[witchwoman]

[gdi, Myri is relating too much to this guy's story. She can tell that Kat is getting the idea to not be so brash, but she's not so sure about Buffy... And since Buffy is the one voted Most Likely to Kill Someone With Her Bare Hands, she steps over to her friend, hoping to be a quiet and calming presence for... well, everyone.]

Sometimes you just get tired of running.