Log:Trick and Treat

2020/10/31 Night Marshal|Carpenter Neil Lee Grimm Lien Pamela Ellbeth Lennox 1

It's All Hallow's Eve! A night with varying significance in varying cultures. In Colonial Bay, it seems to be generally celebrated with scary vids, coma-inducing amounts of candy, or some combination thereof. For Lien, whichever her choice, it seems that some last minute shopping is involved.

She exits a small convenience store with two six-packs, one in each hand. One is cans of inexpensive beer; the other is bottles of top-end (relatively speaking) bottled water.

For Grimm, it's drinking and partying. This is HER night as far as she's concerned. She's just bounced from one club and is heading for another halloween party at a venue in Old Town. The "Dark Circus Halloween" event is behind held at a vintage private venue off the cobblestone streets of this part of town. Gabrielle would teleport, but she's been drinking, and you shouldn't rink and teleport.

Well...okay, so she does anyway, but she doesn't quite make it all the way to the club, and is left to walk the rest of the way. Part walk, part stumble. Gabrielle's powers also allow her to make some pretty realistic costumes. She's wearing a skin-tight black bodysuit with a red cobra emblem on her chest. There's a high collar, and the front is unzipped enough to show off her assets. She's also got her hair straightened, and is wearing black-rimmed glasses and dark red lipstick. She has a utility belt and some weapon holsters to finish the look.

For Neil, it's ... well, not really 'Halloweeny'. He's always been the serious one in the family, the 'straight-laced' one, and as a consequence does a most /excellent/ 'lawyer costume'. Or, you know, psychopath. Because they look just like everyone else.

Lien might be able to pass as a GI Joe extra, though she isn't dressed up. She does notice the familiar face, and other features, of Baroness Gabrielle. She lifts the six-pack in hand in a modified beer salute and wanders that way. Maybe her course is that way, anyhow. Maybe she's just curious of Grimm's getup. She can't easily punch her in the face with her hands full, yes? She's also leading with a smile.

You wouldn't hit a villainess with glasses, would you? Gabrielle may subconsciously have hoped that would be the case. Just when she was getting a really good buzz, here comes Ms. Punchy. Even though they've kind of brokered a peace, that punch still smarts. The smile is at least a good sign. Gabrielle waves a little at her approach and smiles back. She's in a good mood, after all.

Carpenter drew the short straw today, so he's been working much of the day. But...as a nod to the holiday, he's actually been wearing a fedora the entire day while on the job. And mostly speaking in noir-speak. The people in the office sure did appreciate that.

No, no, they did not.

But he's off work now at least, and he texts Gabrielle to see what she's up to as he walks into the area of Old Town.

Grimm gets the text alert. Her face lights up and she quickly texts back, <> It's not far at all.

Carpenter texts back, << On my way, doll. >> He pulls his coat tight, and he makes his way to the intersection in question.

Lien tucks the six pack (of beer) under the arm carrying the six pack (of water). This lets her pull out her own device to tap out a one-handed inquiry to Grimm.

LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE ENJOYING THE HOLIDAY. BIG PLANS?

She flips it back around to tap out an addition.

DIDN'T PICK UP AN ESCORT ALREADY?

She glances down Gabrielle and back up, smile turning more wry as a brow quirks up.

Neil is ... well, he'd /meant/ to go browse shops, to look for furniture that would be his instead of 'as expected', but today ... is not the day for that. Well, night. Instead, he stands with beer-and-water party girl on one side, Dangerous Supervillian Costume on the other, oblivious to both as he eyes a shop across the street.

Grimm actually giggles out loud at the text, then covers her mouth. Is she...giddy? Well, this is her night. << Great to hear, Copper. Or are you a Dick tonight?>> She'll figure out the slang someday. She smiles at Lien an nods. "Escort's on his way."

Grimm adds, "As for big plans...yeah, hitting up all the big parties til I drop."

The next text Carpenter sends to Grimm is just a gif of Bogart in The Big Sleep. The quote included is 'Somebody's always giving me guns.' He comes walking up a minute or so later.

Grimm checks her text just as Carpenter's walking up on her. She giggles with giddiness that is very rare for her. She's also got a big smile on her face at that. "Hmmmm. Maybe I should get changed to match him," she ponders aloud.

Lien is rather surprised by Grimm giggling, but her reaction is just to grin a bit more. She puts her qPid aside a second to pry out a can from the pack to offer it to her. Not that it sounds like Grimm needs one. When Carpenter walks up, the can is waggled in friendly greeting.

Carpenter lets out a long whistle as he catches sight of Grimm. He smiles and tips his hat to Lien and Grimm. "Evening."

Grimm turns at the whistle and avoids taking the beer. No open drinking in public, after all. "Hey there, Tiger," she says playfully and walks over to Jack to give him a hug. "Mmmm. The fedora's working for you. Or me," she chuckles.

Carpenter gives Grimm a hug. "This was the only costume I could really get away with today, with the way work was going, I'm afraid."

"Mmmm. Well I can change to match you. Or change you up to something a bit more...authentic?" Gabrielle grins.

Carpenter smiles and steps back, looking Grimm over slowly. "No. I..think you should stay dressed like that."

Right. Open container. And that seems to include the seconds it takes to make it empty. Too bad. Lien shrugs and goes to put the can in a pocket. It never makes it there, though, as she suddenly starts, dropping it to clap her hand at her neck and shoulder. The can hits the ground, punctures, and spins around a bit in a spray of alcohol abuse.

Neil turns his head at the clank-and-spray; the spinning can is guaranteed to splatter, you know, just about as many people as it can, and Neil is one of the souls unlucky enough to be in the zone du baptism.

Grimm offers a sultry smile and raises a brow at Carpenter. "Okay, deal. Would you like something a bit more elaborate then?" she motions to him. And decides to give him a previous. She snaps her fingers, and with a quick swirl of darkness, Carpenter's clothes look more vintage. As does he. Straight of a film noir screen in apparel, including grayscale coloring all around, harsh direct lighting and shadows across the face, and film grain overlay. She didn't have to change much about his coat and fedora, though. "Mmmmmm. Very nice..."

Carpenter looks down at himself and he chuckles. "Mmm...nice touch there. This'll work nicely."

In eyeing Carpenter's new outfit, Grimm notices someone behind him amongst those few party-goers or simple pedestrians walking down the street. A nondescript man, who glances her way as he walks. Staring, even, for a moment, with utterly black eyes. No pupil, iris, nor sclera, just solid black. Then he looks away and seems to keep walking.

Carpenter looks over to Lien, "You okay, there?" His eyes are drawn to the hand on her neck, rather than the dropped alcohol.

Grimm nods and smiles in approval, about to say something when something over his shoulder catches her eye. It distracts her enough that she doesn't immediately notice what's going on with Lien. She looks over finally to see what's going on. "What happened?"

Lien hurriedly sets down the remaining five-pack and six-pack of water. She brushes at her neck and shoulder once more, scowling a moment before sighing. She then gives Carpenter a thumbs up while grabbing up her qPid again.

JUST STARTLED. THOUGHT I FELT SOMETHING.

A shrug.

BEEN WATCHING HORROR VIDS ALL NIGHT WITH A FRIEND. SEMI-HORROR. TURNS OUT SHE'S NOT BIG ON SCARY. WAS CRYING AT BAMBI WHEN I LEFT TO GET MORE DRINKS.

Grimm relaxes as Lien seems okay, then looks back to see if she can track where the strange-eyed man went.

Carpenter furrows his brow a bit as he notices someone beyond Lien who glances the group's direction and then turns to leave. He doesn't bother trying to say it in noir-speak. Instead he just says, "Think I saw a Triad guy look our direction. Not sure who he was eyeing, exactly."

"Really? I just saw a black-eyed guy staring before he walked off. I can't find him now," Grimm replies.

Carpenter thinks about it. "It could just...be in our heads, maybe?"

Neil closes his eyes and lifts a hand to protect himself from the spinning beer-shower, but after all there's only so much in a can. He's lowering said hand and shaking it off, when he finds himself looking at a couple of ... a frown, and his gaze shifts over to Grimm and Carpenter. "That's ... not what I saw." He pauses, his frown deepening. "/Thought/ I saw. Couple of kids with an egg carton. Thataway." His gesture is not towards where the others saw theirs.

Grimm nods lightly. "I -have- been drinking quite a bit." She looks towards Neil, the poor beer-sprayed guy, and Lien. "Did you two think you saw someone weirdly staring? I mean...I'm sure I know why people would be staring at my guy," she grins.

Lien looks between Carpenter and Grimm. There's nothing wrong with her neck, other than the scarring that's always been there. She blinks and looks to Neil as he speaks up, then back.

THOUGHT MY NECK WAS ON FIRE FOR A SECOND.

AGAIN.

AND I HAVEN'T HAD A BEER IN HOURS.

She looks forlornly at the casualty as it dribbles out the last of its contents.

There aren't that many about this late, though it is both a Saturday night and Halloween. And a full moon, even. The first on Halloween in 76 years. It's probably been a delight for Carpenter and company at work.

Near where Neil saw the potential eggers, he spies another teen. This one tagging, or just finishing tagging, a storefront in a bright festive orange jack o' lantern outline.

Grimm notices, near where the odd-looking looking man was, another man waiting to cross the crosswalk at a light. A rather unimpressive man, reading a book. Or he would be, if he wasn't looking at her over it, and smiling, and wasn't David Flyte. Wasn't he in an asylum? Prison? Somewhere not out on the streets?

Grimm gasps suddenly at the sight. She HAS been drinking, though. And she remembers enough that her eyes can't always be trusted these days. She reaches over to try and tug on Jack's sleeve. "Is...is that...do you see David Flyte over -there-?" she asks, indicating with a subtle tilt of her head.

Carpenter realizes he's been staring at Grimm. "Wait. Flyte? Here?" He turns to look in the direction indicated.

Grimm's catsuit is pretty form fitting, and the front zipper is zipped awfully low. She can forgive the observant detective for missing the Flyte sighting. "Yeah, the guy with the book," she whispers urgently.

Neil's gaze turns away from a tagger/'spray artist' towards the others' mention of David Flyte -- and then pauses, rubbing his eyes. "Wait. This ... doesn't seem right."

Lien quirks a brow as the others start to look about or comment, and then suddenly stops. Drops. And rolls So much for the drinks, but at least these go down with her and nothing seems to break. They're left behind as she rolls herself around on the pavement.

Grimm blinks as Lien starts rolling around. "Whoa, hey! Are you okay??"

Carpenter places his hand on his his chest, and he stumbles a bit. "Where...did the shot come from?" He looks around franticly, trying to find a shooter, apparently.

Grimm starts to panic from Lien, but then Carpenter's reaction scares her even more as she looks over to him. "What?? I didn't hear..." she can't even complete the sentence. She's drunk way too much today. She looks to his chest and hurries to his side to check on him. "Keep applying pressure! I've got you!" she says, fear in her voice. Teleporting while drunk is still a bad idea. But she'll risk it if he's been shot.

Neil looks one way -- stop, drop, and roll, right out of the 'what to do if you're on fire' manual. Looks the other way -- police officer looking for a shooter. "Miss," he says with sudden intensity, "I don't think it's real. I think there's a prankster of some sort."

Something may not be right. Only the keen detective heard the shot, felt the spatter. Considering what he experienced, Grimm seems to be in good shape. After a blink or second look, there's nothing out of the ordinary to see (or feel, or smell, or hear). There is no orange graffiti. There is a man crossing the street now that the light changes, but it isn't Flyte, nor is there a book. Lien finally comes to a stop in her rolling, panting and looking about rather confused.

Carpenter gasps and winces...checking his chest. He sees blood, even if no one else does. And then...it's gone. The pain. The blood. He gasps again, taking a deep breath. "What the hell is happening?"

Grimm blinks a few times. No blood on Carpenter. She breathes a sigh of relief. "Are you okay?" she asks tenderly, still concerned. He may not look injured, but it look like he felt it. Lien is suddenly fine. Neil's words finally cut through an she looks back to where Flyte was, but he's gone. "I...hmm...I don't sense anything psychic."

Neil mutters, "A minor triumph of logic on a night of institutionalized madness," but then he says more loudly, "I think there's a prankster around. Of some kind." He looks at Grimm, then grimaces. "I'll have to take your word for it, ma'am." Oooo, polite and everything. He's even going over to help Lien up off the ground.

Lien gets back up, waving away Neil's hand, confusion turning to embarrassment, which promptly turns to annoyance. Not at Neil, per se. She picks up her device, leaving the drinks on the ground, now; for their own safety.

OK. IF SOMEONE'S TRICKING, I'm GIVING THEM A TREAT. MY BOOT UP THEIR ASS.

This was supposed to be a simple trip and a fun night in. Immolation wasn't on the itinerary.

"Well, -somthing's- messing with our perceptions. I'm seeing things. Jack was hurt! Or...felt like he was hurt," Gabrielle replies. Her heart's racing now and she's breathing a little faster. "I really thought someone shot you," she says more with concern as she looks to Jack. "I'm so glad you're okay."

Carpenter growls a bit as he straigthens up. "Whoever did this better hide." He looks around again, trying to scan for whomever might be messing with them.

The night seems rather normal, for the moment. Until another shot rings out, from the convenience store, accompanied with the sounds of of clattering displays. The owner comes barreling out the door, holding a shotgun. "Get back here!"

Everyone sees and hears this.

Grimm is still looking to make sure Carpenter hasn't been shot. But he's angry, so he'll live if he was. She jumps at the other shot and looks towards the angry shopkeep.

Carpenter turns to look in the direction that the new shot came from, and he hurries over in that direction, trying to figure out what's going on.

Grimm follows along, trying to see or sense who this guy was shooting at.

Lien doesn't startle at the shot, but does turn towards it to evaluate it. When it looks to be the guy from behind the counter with a simple double-barrel shotgun, she's notably less concerned.

Other pedestrians aren't really assuaged by that and either run for cover or, for the brave and/or helpful, towards the storekeep to see what's the matter. The man with the gun looks more than a little fretful as he looks up and down the street while holding, though not brandishing, the weapon. "Which way did he go?! The man in the mask! He was going to rob me! Call the police!"

Carpenter shows his badge to the shop owner. "Detective Carpenter, CBPD." He looks up and down the street to try to spot the would-be robber.

Grimm slows as she catches up with Carpenter. "I didn't sense anyone," she whispers to him.

There are no immediate suspects apparent to Grimm or Carpenter. One of the helpful pedestrians shrugs, saying he didn't see anyone come out of the store.

The storekeep lowers his weapon when the Detective identifies himself, though scowls some as he looks up and down again as if that would help. "He was just here. He' couldn't have ran that fast..." Unless he was a meta, of course... but then he probably wouldn't be scared of buckshot, in that case.

Carpenter says to the shop owner, "Can you describe the robber?" Though he's definitely wondering if this man is being affected the same way they were. Bringing their fears to the fore.

"He was wearing black pants, black hoodie, and this big scary pumpkin-face mask," the owner offers. It's not very helpful. Was it mentioned that the police probably hate Halloween?

Grimm waves her hand briefly to dispel the magical disguise on Carpenter so he can do his job. He's no longer in monochrome or dramatically lit.

Carpenter nods as he takes down the description. "He wasn't seen at all. I'll keep an eye out. Did he take anything?"

Grimm looks around for anyone else having hallucinations around them.

Lien just watches from where she was standing, and picks up her groceries. She's not set on walking away just yet, and decides she'll attempt to save one of the beers from the fate of the first. By cracking it open and chugging it, of course. With any luck, it'll be gone before Carpenter is done with his interview.

The man shakes his head, and his fist around the shotgun. "No! He wanted money, but I gave him a piece of this instead!"

Grimm doesn't see anyone acting out of the ordinary at the moment. She doesn't even notice Carpenter's shadow move oddly. Not until it rears up to loom behind him, with large claws and teeth. Hey, could that be Cliff? Or his cousin?

Carpenter says to the store owner, "Um...alright. Just give me your name, and I'll write a report up. Thank you for your time, sir. We'll keep an eye out."

"Jack, behind you!" Gabrielle warns as shadow tendrils around her shoot forth to try and grapple the shadow monster. She still can't sense any psychic interference, and doesn't risk Jack's life on that.

It's not until shadowy tendrils reach out that the shopkeep seems to notice the shadows. His face goes ashen and he reflexively lifts the shotgun up and the other barrel goes off. When the flash passes, her tendrils close upon...

Carpenter flinches as the shop keeper fires the shotgun, and he turns to look at the target. After all, Grimm did JUST yell a warning, too.

Grimm winces as her shadow tendrils are shot. It feels weird, but isn't enough to destroy them or injure her.

... Nothing. Her tentacles clasp around nothing. Whatever was there, if it really was, is gone, now. Aside from slightly stinging tentacles and a possibly surprised Carpenter, there is one formerly helpful passerby who is now fleeing and one very terrified shop owner.

Grimm blinks several times and dismisses her tentacles. They fade out quickly. "Dammit, that...seemed so real...that shadow monster that belonged too Victor was rising up behind you," she explains to Jack.

Carpenter nods to Grimm, and puts his hand on the shotgun, trying to lower it. "Sir. There's a meta messing with people's heads tonight. Everyone's been seeing things. Myself included. I suggest...you not fire that again tonight."

Carpenter knows that may not be...entirely accurate. But it's close enough. And hopefully the guy will stop firing his shotgun.

"It's empty..." The owner admits, thought rather forlornly as he drops it and backs up several steps. He's looking between the Detective and Grimm now, as if he's not sure who he should be more afraid of...

Grimm looks to Carpenter. "How do we track this meta? I can't sense anything, and usually I can tell when these things happen."

Carpenter nods to the shopkeeper. "Hold onto your shotgun, but please don't fire it again tonight. I don't want a bystander hurt by accident."

Lien has her groceries in hand again (and an empty can in her pocket). As she considers whether hanging around with someone messing with heads is a good idea (because she thinks it isn't), she reminds others that she's still present with a loud belch. Whether it's intentional or otherwise is up to interpretation.

The shop owner nods and steps up just enough to collect the weapon and then backs away again. "I won't. I need to... get back to my store..." He backpedals his way into the Zip-E-Mart.

Make that two empty cans in her pocket. Lien is eco-friendly, and wouldn't litter.

Grimm looks over to Lien at the belch. "Who saw something first?"

Carpenter thinks about it and points to Lien, "She sensed something first. On the neck and shoulder. When I looked over her shoulder, I thought I saw a Triad guy."

Grimm waves Lien over.

Lien starts to shrug, unsure of what other people were seeing or not seeing. When Carpenter speaks up, it turns into a nod of acknowledgement and potential agreement. The beckoning by Grimm gets a blink and brow quirk, but she steps over.

It's near-midnight on All Hallow's Eve! Witching hour on witching night! Entirely coincidentally, Gabriel Grimm is present. She and Lien stand together (now that Lien had just stepped over). Carpenter is across the street from them outside the Zip-E-Mart convenience store.

Given the hour, there aren't a flood of pedestrians, but the date makes it perhaps more travelled than it might be otherwise. Mere moments past, not one, but TWO loud reports of a large firearm were heard from the vicinity.

Carpenter is dressed pretty much normally, with the exception of an additional fedora on his head. That's his only nod to a costume this evening.

Ellbeth was in the process of stepping out of one of the strange little curio shops in Old Town. One that was open at midnight. One that always seems to be shut during the day. She hears the gunfire inside the shop, which is what prompts her to step outside, and look about the source of said gunfire.

Grimm is currently dressed as the Baroness from GI Joe for halloween. Black latex catsuit with weapons belt, holsters, and a red cobra on front, and the addition of a pair of black-rimmed glasses and straigthened hair. She waits as Lien heads over. "It's weird that not everyone is going crazy. And that not just metas are affected."

Grimm has been partying since dark and has had a drink or three this evening. She's trying to connect the dots, but her brain makes it feel like they're moving a bit.

Pamela is heading back from a party, in a rather unoriginal cat costume. She doesn't have her superhero costume with her, but she figures her costume and makeup affords sufficient disguise, so she leaps into action, dashing in the direction of the gunshots on all fours.

Carpenter sees Ellbeth appear, and he hopes it's not another trick of his eyes. He says to her, "If you're responding to the gunfire, a shopkeeper fired a shotgun twice. There's some kind of prankster causing people to see things, and whoever it is caused the shopkeep to see a person trying to rob his shop."

Ellbeth nods. "I see. That's a pun by the way. Ms Grimm, can you tell whether 'tis magic that causes thy to see that which is not? Mayhap if 'tis the mind affected I can root out such a prankster."

"It's not magic. It's not psychic," Grimm confirms as she stands next to Lien. "Carpenter and I both saw things, too. So did she," she points to Lien.

Ellbeth turns through a full circle, seeking out any psionic influences.

The girl in the cat costume approaches. "Not magic or psychic?" She sniffs the air, thinking something chemical is the next thing to check for.

Lennox enters in his 'modern fantasy' 'costume' of leather duster over scale mail and sword; he's been to a party or two but, restless, is walking the streets.

A lawyer, Neil Lee, mutters something about not being equipped for this and hurries off sown another street.

Lien rolls her shoulders in a shrug and lifts a four-pack of beer in a greeting to the arriving people. At this rate, she'll need to buy a new six-pack before she makes it home.

Weirdos always got to start something and interrupt halloween, Grimm thinks. And just when she was excited about getting Jack to go to a party and loosen up.

Reaching several of his semi-frequent customers, Lennox pauses, nodding greetings. "Misses van den Brand and Grimm. Detective Carpenter." He nods courtesy to those he doesn't know. "A party in the street?"

Ellbeth smiles, "Complete with an un-courtly jester it seems."

Grimm raises a hand to Lennox. "More like a prankster on the loose. Always something this time of year."

Carpenter nods and waves to Lennox, "Not an official party, exactly." He pauses and nods as he takes in Lennox's costume, "Nice outfit, by the way. Very realistic looking."

Ellbeth comments, "More that irritating he, she, or it may be, but let us recall this is the night from young tricksters, so should the juster be young be hgentle I do implore you all."

Pamela says, "What kind of tricks have been played?"

"It better be," replies Lennox to Carpenter, but lifts eyebrows at the 'trickster' news. "Ah. Well, miss," and this he addresses to Ellbeth in his peculiar accent, "that depends on what it does."

Grimm frowns a bit at the nasty tricks. "I've seen someone watching us. And a monster from my recent past looked like it was about to attack Carpenter."

Carpenter furrows his brow. "I saw myself get shot. And...a Triad member. I suspect...we're seeing our own fears?"

Carpenter points toward the shop, "That guy saw a robber, for example."

Pamela springs up to the rooftop, partly so she can look about better, and partly to let the others know she's a meta too.

Ellbeth sounds suddenly more serious, "Have these incidents occured one at a time and are they observable by all or just the target of the illusion?"

"I couldn't see what Carpenter saw. But I could see his reaction to thinking and feeling he got shot," Grimm says as her brows knit together with a bit of anger at whoever did that to him. "No one's seen the things I've seen."

Pamela gazes into the darkness, looking for anyone suspicious.

Grimm looks towards Pamela and points her way hesitantly. "Everyone else saw that, too, right?"

Carpenter nods to Grimm, "Yeah, I saw her jump up there, too."

Ellbeth says, "That's consistant with a psionic. I've not detected any such activity since arriving but neither has anyone reacted. If, Ms Grimm, you refer to the young woman jumping to the rooftop, yes I saw that."

Lennox glances afternthe leaping girl. "Why do I suspect alcohol has also been a large part of your evening, Miss Grimm?"

Carpenter glances toward Lennox, "It may have been. But it hasn't been a part of mine."

Ellbeth chuckles, "Heroes with identities to conceal might be wearing a different costume tonight."

Pamela calls down to Grimm, grinning, "Why, are you afraid of girls in cat costumes? Since you're saying that these illusions show people's fears."

"What? I'm not THAT wasted yet," Grimm says defensively, though she's not thinking as quickly as she usually does. Her plans for getting trashed were for the next big party venue.

Grimm squints a bit at Pamela's comment. She's right, and yes, Grimm is inebriated and hadn't thought that out.

Grimm also won't admit a thing or confirm Pamela's taunt.

"Well, you know," deadpans Lennox, "sexy twentysomething catgirls /are/ a deep-seated fear of mine."

Carpenter sighs, "I know people are making light of this...but the visions have me feeling jumpy too."

Pamela says, "How many have there been? ANd were they all around here?"

Grimm looks to Jack with an expression of concern. "You had a pretty rough vision. Not as bad as Lien. It looked like...like she thought she was on fire."

Ellbeth says, "They seem to have stopped though. The instigator may have departed. If it is or was a pdionic we usually need to have line of sight. Out here in the street there are clear lines of sight to many locations. That would not be true for an illusion in the shop of a robber. Can you recall if there was anyone in a position to see inside the shop. maybe through the window?"

Carpenter says to Pamela, "A couple each, at least. As well as the shopekeeper being affected. All in this general area."

Pamela says, "I might be able to smell whoever did this, if we can work out where he or she was, about."

Lennox considers everyone's words, then takes a few steps down the sidewalk until he can see in through the shop windows to where the shopkeeper is likely to have been. Once there he pauses and looks around for any decent tucked-away spaces.

Grimm shrugs. "I don't even think there was any in the shop, and there are a bunch of people moving about to different bars." Even now, the street is pretty busy with costumed people and cars. "If it was psionic, I should've sensed something, though. And I didn't sense a thing in any of the incidents."

Ellbeth ponders, "If not magic or psionic, that leaves tech or chemical as highest probabilities."

Pamela says, "That's why I've been seeing if I can smell anything."

Ellbeth nods to Pamela, "Have you?" she asks.

Carpenter furrows his brow, as he thinks about it. "The only 'fear' related villain I can recall in recent memory was a mentalist sort."

Grimm turns to Jack and says softly, "I haven't seen anything new. You?"

Carpenter shakes his head, "Not since the shopkeeper was out here."

Lennox strolls back down. "Enh. Seems likely one of the Fair. As it was once explained to me, a lot of their glamours extend to masking your perception of them."

Pamela says, "Maybe you scared him off."

Ellbeth says, "A sufficiently skilled psionic can work without being detectable. Just what such a skilled operative would be doing playing childish pranks is bewildering."

"Or maybe the shotgun blast did," suggests Lennox.

Grimm nods slowly--and a bit drunkenly--at Ellbeth's suggestion. "Huhhh. Know anyone that skilled?"

Lennox looks over at Alberta West concealed bemusement "You do not think those with a great mastery of such powers would not engage in pranks for their own amusement, or that of their friends?"

Ellbeth nods, "One... and a half. But he's a likely to play silly pranks as I am to win at arm wrestling against Titan."

Lennox looks over at Ellbeth with poorly-concealed bemusement "You do not think those with a great mastery of such powers would not engage in pranks for their own amusement, or that of their friends?"

Ellbeth half smiles as she shakes her head. "Not the Illusionist. He's as sober, dull, and responsible as a life long church warden."

Lennox squints at Ellbeth. "Hmmm."

Grimm looks to Jack and smiles with some regret. "I'm guessing date night is cancelled so you can write up a report."

Carpenter shrugs, "I can write it up quickly on my PDA and send it off, I think. No charges are being filed, as of yet. Just give me a couple minutes.

Grimm nods and smiles, her mood brigthening at that. "Okay, Ti...detective," she catches herself. There ARE people around. And this is a professional situation. "Though if afterwards, you just want to go home, I understand. Your vision was pretty traumatic."

Ellbeth chuckles, "What? Cancel a date? Tonight of all nights? No. Reports can wait. I didn't know you were dating though, Ms Grimm. Congratulations."

Grimm looks to Ellbeth. "Life long church warden? Huh? What's the story with that?"

Grimm blushes a bit. She's just realized she's more openly admitted to dating. And after being so careful in public since she's dating someone without powers. "Thanks...?" she squeaks out a bit. "I mean, yeah. Thanks. I am," she smiles a bit. Because booze.

Ellbeth says, "Oh, Ms Hrimm, there is no story. That's what comes of being a life long church warden. I couldn't stand the boredom myself."

Pamela climbs back down the wall to join the others, her rooftop vigil having been unsuccessful.

Ellbeth puts out a hand to Pamela, "Ellbeth Wyrd. But call me Elly."

Grimm still looks confused. "What on earth is a church warden?"

Ellbeth says, "A lay member of a church. Often a retired volunteer with nothing else to do."

Pamela smells the air as she climbs back down toward the ground. "Something smells strange..." She moves closer to Lien, still sniffing

Lennox's eyebrows remain up. "Not in my experience, but perhaps it's something lost in translation," he replies to Ellbeth. Pamela's feline return draws his eye, though, and he watches her prowl along, apparently following some sort of scent.

Carpenter is busy typing up his report, but he glances up at Pamela when she comments on a smell.

Pamela says to Lien, "The smell seems strongest near you." She sees if she can track it to anywhere else taking Lien as a starting point, getting down on all fours to do this.

Grimm raises a brow at the cat girl on all fours sniffing the street.

Carpenter grins and looks to Lien, "You didn't pick the haunted beer, did you?"

Pamela says, "Haunted beer?!"

Grimm laughs at Carpenter's suggestion.

Lennox watches Pamela as well, but not, likely, with quite the same attitude as Grimm.

You say, "Ye old haunted six-pack. It's a tale as old as time."

Ellbeth looks to Grimm, "But a tale I haven't heard. Do, please, relate it."

So much for peeling off another brain grenade. Lien blinks at Pamela and quirks a brow. A cat-woman crawling around her on all fours... that's not something she's seen in quite awhile. Then she mentions smell and her other brow quirks up and she eyes her more. As Pamela crawls around in a circle, once she's behind Lien, she not-exactly-subtly lifts an arm and sniffs. Pit check.

Her arm then sudden drops with a look of horror at carpenter's suggestion and she now switches to eyeing her four-pack suspciously. the water is set down so her ruggedized qPid can come out for a quick one-handed type.

TASTED FINE TO ME...

Lennox deadpans once more, "Where do you think the term 'spirits' came from?"

"Well, it was a dark and stormy night..." Gabrielle starts in a spooky and ominous tone, but she can't wipe the grin off her face.

"... and the libertine monks of St. Cecilia-of-the-Shroud were working on their latest experimental batch of hops and barley," continues Lennox. /His/ expression is perfectly serious.

Pamela says, "Do you think it could be the beer? She smells a lot of that too, but I didn't think there was a connection..."

Ellbeth grins, "I could NEVER get away with opening a novel with a sentence like that." she says a little enviously.

Lennox's eyebrows lift and he (finally!!) looks away from the prowling Pamela and at Ellbeth. "You've never been to the ruins of the monastery of St. Cecilia-of-the-Shroud?" he asks with apparent surprise. "It's a famous place. Well, for imbibers of spooky beer, anyhow. According to the story, they /do/ get drawn there, and must lend their efforts to those of the monks for a hundred years and a day before being set free -- but the libertine monks /were/ most excellent makers of beer, so most of them stay on. Or so I've heard." He finally grins wide, teeth a double row of white in his black visage.

Carpenter chuckles. "I was joking about the beer thing. I think that was coicidence. A drink was dropped when she experienced the first vision. So...probably not the beer. At least this time.

Ellbeth grins back, "Fair warning. I steal stories, change their clothes, and use them in my writing. So if you open a book and see something familiar. check the author's name."

Lien has an epiphany and lifts up a finger in lieu of a giant LED appearing over her head. The beer is set down, carefully, so she can type properly and better display the results.

I CAN ALWAYS GET RID OF IT, HERE AND NOW. JUST IN CASE.

She's smiling, which... probably means she's isn't talking about dumping it out. She looks to Carpenter. Then at the beer. Then back to Carpenter. then back at-

Lien opens her mouth in a silent gasp and damn near drops her qPid.

Carpenter blinks and looks at Lien. "What is it?"

Lennox waves a hand in dismissal, going back to watching the athetically-attractive (and dammit, underage, but that doesn't mean he can't enjoy watching) Pamela. But then there's the gasp and shock, and his expression sharpens into that of a predator as his focus snaps to Lien.

Ellbeth was looking at Lien, so would expect to see if a mental power was used.

"Oh no," Gabrielle says at Lien's reaction. "Are we about to get another wave of it?" She tries to look around for hints or clues of its origins.

Pamela too tries to spot anything strange - to sight, hearing, smell or indeed touch.

Ellbeth doesn't sense anything amiss. Actually, she doesn't sense anything at all. Not from Lien, Grimm, Carpenter, or anyone else. No sense of their emotions, or mental state. It's like everything is suddenly muted to the mundane.

As Pamela inhales, she gets a deep whiff of -OHDEARGODWHATDIEDANDTHENVOMITED. It's hard to describe, really. No, Lien didn't belch.

(Or somehow managed to do it silently).

Lennox suddenly feels... tired. Joints start to ache in the cold. When was the last time he felt so sluggish? Can he even remember such a time?

As Gabrielle turns to look out for someone or some thing, she spies a smile that was behind her. A familiar smile. A greasy smile. "Hey, Gabby..."

This time, Carpenter does catch a glint of metal before he sees the muzzle flash. In the split-second before the report sounds, though, he realizes the shooter isn't aiming at him, but The Baroness. Maybe he's a Joe.

Pamela pounces back to the rooftop on reflex, trying to escape the disgusting smell!

Ellbeth immediately activates two psionic disciplines, spheres of life and protection.

Carpenter tries to tackle Grimm, to get her out of the line of fire, since he's pretty sure she's about to be shot at.

Lennox grunts softly, one hand slowly closing into a fist. "Ah, yeah. I know you." And the next word out of his mouth earns movies R-ratings, at least in Russia.

Grimm spins about at hearing that voice and the nickname He gave her. She gasps and stumbles back a step. . o O (It's not real. HE'S not real.)

Grimm wasn't expecting Carpenter's sudden but inevitable betrayal. There's a small yelp as she's tackled by Carpenter.

Ellbeth takes a cue from the reactions around her and looks where others are looking.

Carpenter tackles Grimm onto the grass by the street, "I saw a shooter, aiming for you. Get a shield up or something."

Grimm isn't sure if it's real or not. She looks from Jack, to the Jonathon only she can see, then back to Jack. Without even a gesture, a dark dome forms around them, hiding them from sight. No light reflects off this void.

Pamela looks down from the rooftop, trying to see if she can see anything that the others are seeing. Or indeed anyone who might be causing all this.

Lien drops hard on her butt to sit, staring at the ground between her feet. Tears are shed. For a moment.Then she's left blinking... and grabs up the four-pack to clutch it tightly. Seems it didn't vanish, afterall.

As well, whatever crawled up Pamela's nose is suddenly gone.

Ellbeth didn't think anything happened from her efforts, when suddenly everything is back (and her sphere is already up).

Lennox feels fit as a fiddle.

Carpenter and Grimm no longer see Jonathon nor any shooters. Then again, they're also now cozied up in an opaque bubble.

Grimm catches her breath after landing on the softer grass, smiling up at Jack. Even though she's scared, she's flattered that he acted to protect her. "My hero," she says softly to him. And not even as a joke. It's an honest, smitten statement.

Ellbeth asks plaintively, "Did anyone see anything?"

Pamela looks about in all directions, looking for a culprit.

Carpenter doesn't hear a shot. So he looks a little sheepish. "Or...I might have hallucinated again. You can probably drop the bubble.

Lennox shakes his head. "No. But I think I might be the only one who doesn't expect to. Of course, I know how it feels to be the blind man in the land of the Sigthed, so ..."

No one in the area seems suspicious at the moment. The group has drawn a few odd looks from the passersby, between Pamela and Carpenter leaping, Lien weeping, the black bubble, the life bubble, and so on.

Ellbeth says, "How so?"

Pamela says, "Nothing. It all stopped at once, right? When the smell stopped."

Lennox looks sideways at Ellbeth. "You're an author; you must read. What things are out there, legends for humans, who can make you imagine a nightmare, or what they think might /be/ your nightmare? Subtle, but ..." He shakes his head. "If we were in their lands, I'd say it was a whisperer, but we're not, so ..."

Grimm smiles up at Carpenter. "I was seeing something scary, too. You still saved me from that. I'm tempted to do something while we have a little privacy bubble," she whispers. She leans up and brings her lips to his ear, as if about to make good on her word. But instead, she whispers into it, "But...we got a case to solve, Detective." Such a tease! She rests her head back down on the grass and puts her arms around his waist. Suddenly, darkness swirls about them, followed by foreboding whispers, and the pair appear next to the bubble's exterior, and standing upright. "I'll have to blast that bubble to get rid of it."

Lien looks up at Pamela and shrugs. Taps her nose, shakes her head. Maybe she didn't smell anything? She turns to look at Lennox, hestitantly setting down her happily-reunited beer in favor of her device to comment.

NIGHTMARES? IS THAT WHAT THESE ARE?

Ellbeth nods to Lennox but also comments, "I wouldn't detect such. However I would expect that such would stand out like a signal fire on a hilltop to Ms Grimm."

Carpenter blinks as he's standing upright again, feeling disoriented. "Eesh." He takes a moment to get his balance back.

There was a reason Grimm was holding him around his waist. She gets that same feeling when others teleport her about. "Sorry, I should've warned you." She looks to Lennox and Lien at the talk of nightmares. "Nightmares are usually my domain, but this is something I'm not quite familiar with."

Grimm adds for Lennox, "I don't feel anything supernatural. Or evil..."

Ellbeth says, "I detected no use of psionics."

Grimm looks about again. "No dimensional disturbance or a rift to a nightmare realm or dreamscape. And I don't physically sense anyone else lurking about. What's this thing about a smell?" she looks to Pamela.

Pamela jumps back down again. "You didn't smell anything? So that was just me? Hm. Maybe the smell has nothing to do with it at all..." She looks about. "I hate not being able to see or hear or smell or feel anything about what's going on here!"

Ellbeth adds, "In fact I detected nothing. Even my usual sensitivity to emotional stats was muted.

Lennox shakes his head a little. "If a nightmare, I think it's unfamiliar with ... the territory, so to speak. Besides, I don't think this is /real/ nightmare work. They feed off a lot greater level of panic, don't they? And they target one person. No, this is ..." He shrugs. "How do you hide magic? With more magic."

Lien frowns and stands up, brushing off her pants before picking up her qPid. Then she points at Pamela after tapping up.

WHAT DID YOU SMELL?

BESIDES BEER.

Pamela says, "It smelt - like death, decay, only much much worse - I can't really describe it. It makes me sick just thinking about it..."

Lien blinks and sniffs at herself again. Did she really smell that bad?

THAT'S WHAT YOU SMELLED AROUND ME??!!

Grimm frowns and thinks a bit. "So that's what Lien smells like? I thought you were smelling something before we all started seeing stuff."

Lennox looks up at the sky. "That isn't what she actually smelled. It's what she /thought/ she smelled."

Pamela says, "Oh, that smell! No, that was different. That was just something ... off. Nothing so bad."

Carpenter furrows his brow. "Could it be a spirit of some kind messing with us? Not technically magic, I guess...but something supernatural?"

Ellbeth drops her protective spheres and condenses water from the ambient air to form a low lying ground mist a feet or so high. "When you cannot see what is there, sometimes to can see what is not. Look for voids in the mist."

Pamela says, "Whatever the funny smell is, it's strongest around you. And I don't think it's the beer."

Grimm shakes her head to Carpenter. "I can usually sense stuff like that, too. Unless it's something really rare, I don't think it's that either. What was it Ellbeth said? It could be chemical."

Lien gives Grimm a stink eye... before she realizes that maybe Grimm wasn't actually piling it on. She borrows Grimm's frown and thinking look. She's pointing at others, casually, as if counting or recounting, then to the Zip-E-mart. All while listening to the others, at least partially. With the mist's arrival, she blinks at it in surprise... then stares at it a moment.

Then she starts waving her arms and hands around in suddenly flailing and starts backing away from everyone.

Grimm rubs her chin, trying to think straight. "If the mists could reveal its physical presence, I would've felt it, too." She looks to Lien's counting and sees her panic and walk away. "Ah hah!" She points to Lien. "You were the first that was affected...then it was Jack, me, and that bystander near by...hmm....did you get beer from that market?" she points to where Mr. Shotgun works.

Lennox frowns at Pamela, then at Carpenter, then at Ellbeth, and Pamela, and Grimm, and finally Lien. Her flailing makes his eyebrows go up; this is unusual behavior, but he can't think of anything that would /match/ ... "Okay, I draw the line at hydrophobic possession."

Ellbeth thinks .oO(Good. Test case.) Letting the mist fade she ports over to Lien and activates another sphere of life, including immunity to toxins and biological agents.

Lien scowls more at Grimm, but stops her flailing to type. She's then startled as Ellbeth suddenly appears at her. A few rapid types to hold up the device at Ellbeth.

I THINK I KNOW WHAT IT IS.

IT'S ME.

GET BACK ARE YOU NUTS?!

SOMEONE TOSS ME MY WATER.

[To Grimm] Pamela says, "What is it you've figured out?"

Carpenter fully expects to get another vision. When Lien gets one, it seems to set off others. He takes a deep breath and braces.

Lennox glances around, then steps forward quickly to bend down and rifle through Lien's dropped items to find her water and toss it to her.

Grimm squints and thinks slowly. "I think...maybe...people Lien's been in contact have been affected." Of course, Lien already says she thinks it's her, but Grimm needed to get her drunk thoughts out.

Lien catches it and sets the qPid aside for a moment. While it is ruggedized and is water-resistant, no reason to press it. She opens up one bottle from the pack and starts ...pouring it over her own head. When that's empty, she grabs another, continuing to give herself a cold shower in the street until she's managed to douse herself... and used up the bottles, just for good measure. Not at all how her evening was supposed to go, but...

Carpenter raises a brow. "Umm....okay?"

Grimm waits until she's sure she doesn't have another episode. She takes a breath as Lien goes off to dry off, then looks to Carpenter. "I guess that means answers later. I can't believe you tackled me to save me," she says with a warm smile.

Carpenter chuckles. "Why can't you believe that?"

Grimm chuckles and smiles. "Actually...I guess I can," she leans in to give him a quick kiss. "You never cease to amaze me. You think you got shot in the chest, and your mind was on solving where the shooter was. You think I'm about to get shot, and you tackle me and risk getting shot yourself. I think you're one of the bravest people I know," she says in awe.

So, All Hallow's Eve hasn't exactly gone as planned for several, and Porter isn't even anywhere in sight! Lien's quick trip turned not quick, rather self-immolating (even if in her head). Now she is sodden and cold after having self-doused, though not exactly to put out the flames. She implied some insight as to what was happening, and now she's rapidly putting empty bottles into a bag so as not to litter in front of a policeman. Yes, there was also the matter of shotgun discharges, phantom shooters, bad smells, and tackling of Baronesses in the street.

Carpenter looks to Lien, "You said it was you? What the heck was that about?"

Grimm straigthens her fake glasses as she looks to Lien as well.

Lien gets her things stowed, then scowls. She holds up a finger to the pair in a gesture to wait one, then steps away to the trash bin outside the Zip-E-Mart. In goes the bag, empty bottles and even the remaining full cans. It's alcohol abuse, clearly, but she'll do pennance later. After taking a moment to adjust her wet jacket, she steps back over, qPid (perhaps the most dry thing on her person) pulled out and ready to show upon arrival.

IT'S A HUNCH. IF I'M RIGHT, IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

ANY CHANCE WE CAN LET IT GO?

IF NOT, CAN WE DEAL WITH IT NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET?

Carpenter raises a brow. "Let it go? I need an explanation. We can do it elsewhere. But if you're right, I want to know why I was seeing shooters."

Grimm looks about just in case. She still hasn't seen a shooter, but she keeps expecting to see something else. "And if it's you somehow, we should get you away from the public anyhow."

Carpenter nods to Grimm, "Another good point.

Lien can't countermand Grimm's point and concedes it with a half-nod. A silent sight and she looks between them.

WHY SHOOTERS? I'D GUESS YOU DON'T WANT TO GET SHOT. IN YOUR LINE OF WORK, THAT'S A COMMON HAZARD.

DOESN'T BOTHER ME SO MUCH; I'M USED TO GETTING SHOT AT. I DON'T CARE FOR GETTING BURNED ALIVE, THOUGH.

She pauses, then adds,

IF I'M RIGHT, THE WATER SHOULD'VE WASHED IT OFF. YOU TWO MIGHT WANT TO TAKE A HOT SHOWER SOON, THOUGH.

"Washed what off?" Gabrielle looks to Carpenter, then back to Lien in concern. "Are we going to keep seeing things until we do?"

Carpenter glances to Grimm and back to Lien. He was about to ask the very same question.

Lien looks between them again and has to consider much less before tapping out a rapid response. She holds up the device for them, trying not to grin. And failing.

THE QUICKER YOU TWO ARE SCRUBBING EACH OTHER AND NOT QUESTIONING ME, THE BETTER.

I'D SAY YOU WOULD KEEP SEEING THINGS, BUT I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.

Grimm smiles to herself a bit at Lien's suggestion, though she's still mystified. And then she realizes, there goes halloween.

Carpenter actually growls. "Tell. Us. We don't have time for your . You could have ing already told us, and we'd already be gone. Instead, you're choosing to be difficult about it. For some ing reason."

Lien is a bit surprised at the detectives annoyance and taps a direct explanation.

I THINK I WAS EXPOSED TO SOMETHING ACCIDENTALLY, BUT DIDN'T REALIZE IT AT THE TIME. CHEMICAL. PHEROMONES? FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM. SUBTLE. NOT SOMETHING EASILY PICKED UP. NOT MAGIC OR MINDBENDING OR OTHER VOODOO.

Grimm is a little surprised how angry Carpenter is, but considering what he just went through and felt, she gets it. "Are we contagious? Spreading it around?"

Carpenter looks at Lien for a moment, and then says, "What was the source, do you think?"

Lien shakes her head at Grimm and offers a brief response.

CATGIRL SMELLED SOMETHING ON ME, SO IT WAS ON ME. HIT PEOPLE NEAR ME. YOU. HIM. THE SHOP GUY. DON'T THINK IT'S ON ANYONE ELSE. JUST FOLLOWED ME. LIKE BAD COLOGNE.

Grimm nods slowly. "So...we should probably all go straight home and avoid getting close to others until we can think straight." She looks around for anymore visions.

At present, there seem to be not mystery snipers. No Qliphothic horrors. No glaring Triad members. Much less any Qliphothic horrors wielding large calibre weapons and sporting gang tattoos (and those would really be conspicuous).

Carpenter furrows his brow, "Maybe it was what you felt on your neck? Someone hit you with it?"

Lien frowns and shakes her head, almost stabbing the qPid with her finger.

THAT WAS MY NECK FEELING LIKE THE SKIN WAS MELTING OFF. AGAIN. AT LEAST IT WAS QUICKER THIS TIME.

Grimm winces at her response. "Any idea where you could've been exposed to this stuff?"

Carpenter nods in agreement with Grimm.

Lien's response isn't heartening as she shakes her head even as she types.

I CAN'T ANSWER THAT.

Carpenter raises a brow. "Can't, as in you don't know the answer? Or won't, because you're holding back?"

Grimm frowns faintly at the answer and lets Jack handle this.

Lien purses her lips, typing out a brief additional line without clearing what was present.

I CAN'T ANSWER THAT.

THERE IS NO THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Carpenter frowns, "So, you're holding back, because you 'know better'. Got it. We wouldn't want to be able to trust each other, now would we?"

Grimm folds her arms over her chest and thinks a moment. "What, is this classified or something?"

Carpenter snorts, "If it was classified, she could just say that and be done with it. Instead, she's being evasive. Again."

Lien frowns and works on a response. After some writing, she pauses, wipes, and starts anew. The device is finally rotated around with a shrug.

IT'S CLASSIFIED.

SO WE'RE DONE.

Grimm frowns at the response and sighs. She looks to Carpenter, unsure of what to do.

Pamela enters from Colonial Heights.

Carpenter reads it, and then says to Lien, "Uh huh. Your definition of 'no threat to public safety' is wrong. I'll try to remember that the next time some trigger-happy shopkeeper is firing his shotgun at shadows." He pauses, collecting his thoughts, "I don't trust you. Especially now. Given what I just said, you could be claiming it's classified now when it's not. Just because I said it would have been a way to end the conversation."

Grimm looks back to Lien. "You said you couldn't answer out in the open. Would you be able to tell us more if we had more privacy?"

Pamela keeps her distance from Lien (since Lien seemed to think that best) but is listening in.

Lien frowns at Carpenter's response, though the scowl softens, marginally, as she considers Grimm. There is a pause before she stats writing out a response, as well as another pause for (presumably) some backspace use and rewrite.

IF CLASSIFIED RUBS YOU WRONG, THEN CALL IT PERSONAL. YOU MENTIONED TRUST. WHY SHOULD I TRUST YOU? A BADGE DOESN'T GIVE YOU THAT FOR FREE.

Ellbeth has moved with Grimm and Carpenter and is listening/reading the discussion.

Carpenter folds his arms, "You're right. It's a two-way street. So, what have I done to make you distrust me?"

Grimm looks confused for a moment, and thinks on all the things she knows about Lien from piecing together her shattered memories. She starts to open her mouth to say something, then hesitates. Finally, she closes her mouth again.

Felix leaves Old Town and enters MagLev System.

Felix has left.

Ellbeth offers, "If this is really classified information I can step out of hearing and sight?"

Pamela nods in implied agreement to Ellbeth's offer.

Finally, an easy question for Lien, and she smirks.

NOTHING AGAINST YOU, BUT NOTHING FOR YOU. TRUST IS EARNED.

She glances to Grimm's look of confusion and thought a moment and eyes her somewhat warily a moment. Her eventual addendum seems driven more by Ellbeth's comments, however, and a glance about.

THE STREET'S GETTING RATHER CROWDED.

Pamela shrugs. "I'll head off then. I'm curious about what that smell was, but maybe that's a bad idea in a cat costume." She grins.

Ellbeth grins, "The night is young. I know a guy who throws great Halloween parties." She is looking at Pamula.

Grimm finally comments to Lien, "This is really strange. Even for you." And that's coming from the queen of strangeness.

Carpenter shrugs and says to Lien, "And right now, I have my tally as nothing for, and one against." He shakes his head, "Whatever it was, you did a wonderful job of messing up my evening after a very long day. As it is, I already had to write up a report about the incident here, and now I have to go get cleaned up...or deal with a potential hazmat situation. So...yeah, thanks for that." He goes to step away, and adds one more thing, "Don't do anything else I'd have to write a report for."

Pamela says, "Sounds great, but I really should ge t going anway..."

Pamela leaps to the rooftops and disappears.

Ellbeth gates out to go to the party.

Carpenter mutters, "Like drinking in public, which I already overlooked."

Lien nods to Carpenter, offering a more rigid, or possibly more flippant, variant of her typical two-finger casual semi-salute.

WASN'T TRYING TO RUIN ANYONE'S EVENING, MINE INCLUDED.

WON'T DO ANYTHING YOU NEED TO REPORT.

Not that she's planning, at least.

As for Grimm, Lien just gives her a shrug. Followed by a point at the retreating Carpenter and then a shift to scrubbing motions on herself.

Carpenter is clearly just blaming Lien for the situation, since she's being tight lipped about what the original source might be. It's not like he has another choice in the matter. He looks to Grimm, "I'm going to head home and get cleaned up. You're under no obligation to come along, of course. Maybe she trusts you?" He shrugs and walks over toward the MagLev.

Trusts Grimm? Hardly. Gabrielle studies Lien for a moment, to gauge her and to attune to her for later. She turns and walks after Carpenter, coming up alongside him and offering her hand to him. "Obligation? No. But do I want to? Yes," she says with a soft smile to try and make him feel a little bit better. "Maybe she'll be more talkative once she's dry and changed."

Carpenter takes Grimm's hand. "I'm not going to hold my breath on that." He chuckles quietly.

Lien will definitely feel better once she's warm and dry, though the end of the interrogation is a good start. She could take the MagLev, but it's not that far and better, in this case, to not, so she trudges down the road with minor squelching.

"Good, I don't want to have to perform mouth-to-mouth to resuscitate you--wait..." Gabrielle grins slyly after that.

Carpenter chuckles. "At the moment, I'd like to make sure I'm not a danger to those around me, more than anything." He sighs, "I had thought...that I have done a good job at earning the meta community's trust. Apparently not as well as I had thought."

Grimm squeezes Jack's hand and smiles gently. "You have. Really. She's just...like that. I told you how she punched me in the face after I reassembled her fractured mind, right?" she sighs, and looks back over her shoulder. "It's really weird for her to be so secretive. And bad at it. Maybe...maybe she's protecting someone."

Carpenter nods. "Probably." He thinks about it. "Here's my guess: She was helping someone get their feet and become a vigilante. That chemical is a weapon being used by the person in question. And it was spilled on her by accident while preparing the ammunition."

Carpenter says, "That's why she wouldn't reveal it. Then again, she could just SAY what I just laid out, and I would have been fine with it."

Carpenter says, "This is just speculation. But it's the answer that most lines up with what we saw and experienced."

Grimm nods as she walks hand-in-hand with him. "Hmm...could be. I think maybe asking her off the street might help. But then again...maybe it's something you'd have to pursue if she told you. Or she thinks that."

Carpenter nods. "Part of the reason I thought she might tell you but not me. The badge carries baggage with it.

"I'll take a crack at it and let you know if I find out anything," Grimm offers.

Grimm leans against him a bit as she whispers conspiringly, "She can't run away from me, anyway. At least, not now."