Monsterhearts: Ruse Cruise

[Grey]

Gabriel Knight





Gabe does his best to look like a model student, listening intently to the speech, but he's still bored out of his tree.


Then quietly horrified.


"Do they think this is cool?" He whispers to the others. Shout-whispers over the crappy music, anyway. He's cut off by Daughters' arrival, and after a moment of slack-jawed staring looks away, face burning with shame.


He elects to slip out and find his cabin.

 

[DreamingofRoses]

Robin





She rolls her eyes at Gabe's traditional 'I'm too cool for this' routine and then does her best to (unsuccessfully) stifle a laugh at the extremely noticeable blush on his face. Sighing, she reaches her leg over to kick Grant lightly in the shin. "Let's go, this is boring." The Fae doesn't wait up for him, however, she just stands and begins to make her way through the aisle, losing her natural grace for a moment to let her arm flop and 'accidentally' smack the back of Victor's seat near his head.

 

[Cirno]

Natalie


Scene Condition: Spurred On (+1 to Volatility)


"Ah, yes? No?" Natalie's brows lift slightly but she shows no other outward sign of confusion. Where had her parents run into Becca's? Dropping them off at Liza's?


She gives Osthryd a grateful look, but as her room mate continues, Natalie lowers her head, eventually feeling herself blush to her ears. Was she imagining all that innuendo or-or?

 

[Teh Frixz]

Natalie & Osthryd (@Mrs Hesperus @Cirno )


"Call me Rick." He stammers out a line from his past conquests. He leans in, thick body inserted between what his mind recognized as 'child' and 'fair game'. He slides an arm around Osthryd's waist, out of sight of the chaperones and Natalie both. "I'll let you two sneak off" He can feel the fine hairs on Osthryd's ear as he whispers in close. She can feel the heat of his veins, the air thick not with the scent of beer but of the coppery taste of AB-. "Just drop by my cabin sometime, 211. Becca won't be here tonight"


Like that he pulls back, miming looking closely at something on his can. "Both of you be smart. Go right to the nurse okay?" He speaks loudly, letting the group he wandered over from know all was well. His back turns and he starts back over to the group.


GAIN 1 STRING OSTHRYD (Becca's Dad)





Natalie, take a look in your pocket. Seeing her dad just reminded you. Becca passed you a note earlier today. The lined paper has been folded meticulously to preserve the content and has been written in green ink.


Hey Nat We wanted to invite you over to Cabin 124 tonight. Luke and Jack stole a bunch of drinks


Don't miss it okay? And don't let Osthryd know. She ratted on a group this year plus shes got like that weird accent.


Be there


Victor (@Captain Hesperus )


The hand comes out of nowhere, almost hitting you directly in the eyes you cannot seem to take off Daughters. Your teen-aged fantasies broken by the wafting scent of whatever smell that tomboy Robin was wearing. Like a damnable spring day it's stuck in your nose. Your cohorts laugh nervously, Luke and Jack especially. All three teasing how lost you just got. Your cohorts laugh nervously, Luke and Jack especially. "Don't be a loser Vic" They say. "You gotta chance with Daughters like we gotta chance dunking on Jordan. Let's go man"


Gabriel (@Grey


Others seems to slip out of your path. A skill born naturally or quite possibly from them knowing on some level that interfering with you path was an affront to a greater destiny. Either way it's a bitch to keep up with you as you neatly slip through the crowded exit doors and onto the deck proper. Students are all around, milling this way and that. You'll never know it but before you lies three choices.


A cry from Robin behind you


A gaggle of girls, sophomore and junior mix by the look of it, all sucking on Orange Julius and gesturing for you to come over


A figure in the shadows slipping through a Crew only door


Robin & Grant (@DreamingofRoses @Ayl )


Robin can hear the taunts her gesture caused floating behind her. Your attempt after Gabriel is slowed down by forces you recognize as foreign to your own. The world seems to darken around you for an instant until a sharp grasp on your shoulder shocks you out of it. Jack has pulled a sluggish Grant out of his seat as the three of you stand in the middle of the exiting crowd. It's still that half light outside, overcast thick as ever but you can feel the thrum of the engines as the ship starts putting the harbor in the distance.


Various chaperones are helping orient the students. You think you see Gabriel out there, scanning the crowd.


WAHT DOO YOU DOO

 

[Captain Hesperus]

Victor LaStrange


Victor fixed his minions with a glare so malicious that would have stopped a rhino mid-charge.


"What do you know?", he growled, "I'm a LaStrange, get it? The difference between you and me is that when I want something, it's a matter of 'when', not 'if'. My name alone carries more weight than everything you'll ever hope to be or have."


He glanced back up at the front of the auditorium, whence Ms. Daughters had departed, stage left.


Victor LaStrange always gets what he wants. And he has more than one way of getting it, too


Then, as if a cloud covering the sun had suddenly blown past, he smiled and patted Luke and Jack on the shoulders. He pointedly avoided looking at Brent.


"Come on, let's see if there's any parties kicking off that we can gatecrash. I want a drink of something stronger than Virgin Daiquiris and coke."

 

[ehmygirl]

Osthryd of Northumbria


"That man is disgusting," she murmured once he was out of ear shot. She didn't look at Natalie, but she couldn't help but be aware of the girl's movements nor could she ignore the rustle of paper. She turned to her cabin mate and glanced at the note. "Did that horrible man slip something inappropriate in your pocket?"

 

[Cirno]

Natalie


Distracted by the note, she hears Becca's dad lean towards them, but misses hearing more.


"Wha? No! No..." She shoves it back into her pocket. She doesn't want to be complict in tattling.


She's not sure she wants to go to Becca's party. If Luke and Jack are there, what are the chances of Victor being present? On the other hand, she's had more than enough of this horribly inadequate (inappropriate?) adult supervision. If the whole trip's going to be like this, she'll be wishing she hadn't passed up the party. Yeah.


Natalie huffs out a breath. "Thanks, Osthryd, for, uh, earlier. Sounds like things are winding down in the hall though. You can rejoin them if you want? I think I'm good now. I can make it to the nurse's." She wrinkles her nose as she plucks free another stray paper projectile. "Or go clean up."

 

[ehmygirl]

Osthryd of Northumbria


She inclined her head. "If that is your wish, then surely, you are entitled to go about your personal affairs as you are your own woman and truly, in the day and age, there are none to tell you what it is that you ought to do. It is a most enlightened time. I shall see thee anon." She then heads, not towards the auditorium, but the deck where she can lie about and read. Reading was such a pleasure to her and, when the books she brought were all in dead languages, they were even more fun.


After all, who these days read Saxon, Old English, and even Latin?

 

[DreamingofRoses]

Robin


"Interesting," she practically gasps out as she shakes off whatever darkness had enveloped her. She offers a dazzling smile to Jack with a brief 'Thank You' before looking back at Victor with an unreadable expression. It takes a moment for her to readjust before she shakes Grant's shoulder. "Quit sulking and c'mon."

 

[Cirno]

Natalie


Nat heads towards Deck 6, Cabin 20 to wash her hair and grab a change of clothes.


Maybe it'd be good to find Robin? Then she'd have at least one friend at the party. Come to think of it, which cabin did she get assigned? Nat looks around, uncertain how to locate someone on this ship without blaring it through the comms.

 

[Grey]

Gabriel Knight





Pleased to be out of the worst of the crowd, Gabe can't stop himself looking back to see what's going on with Robin. He's sure there's nothing untoward about the person slipping into a crew only area - a discreet staff member, right? Couldn't be anything else. The girls can wait until his friends catch up.

 

[Teh Frixz]

Robin, Grant, & Gabriel ( @Mrs Hesperus )


You reach the deck, the Caribbean meeting you in spectacular fashion. For all your power and age, you are nothing compared to the secrets this place holds.


Rows of deck chairs are available, most of the population deeming it too cloudy to lounge and besides, they were busy exploring the ship. Only you and... A figure.


He seems out of place, too tall and dressed in a three button suit. Oddly enough, he has a beard. A spitting image of that ravishing young man back in England that took you on that trip into the moors...


His eyes catch yours, sparking blue despite the clouds.

 

[ehmygirl]

Osthryd of Northumbria


She liked it best when the clouds were out, obscuring the brightness of the sun for it reminded her of home. And sometimes, very rarely, she would find herself in a part of the world where she felt as if her feet were walking in the forests of the land of her birth. Oh, over the centuries Northumbria has fallen and has changed its name, and people now call it Yorkshire, but to her, it shall always be Northumbria. She didn't smile, nor did she frown when she thought of it. To her, Home was more than just England, but it is a time and a place. She wondered if it were possible, would she want to return to the 9th century. Probably not to stay, she admitted to herself. There was so much to this world in its vastness. And it was shrinking each day.


She leaned over the deck to look into the water and fought the urge to leap into its crystal depths. She had no real need to breath, and so she could remain below water for ages. A figure, however, caught her attention. Turning her face, her heart leaped in her chest. In a place where people wore as little as possible, why would there be a man dressed so formally? Recognition came with the surprise. Suddenly she felt as if she were not properly attired. When had she last seen him, if indeed, it was him? Five years ago? Ten, twenty, a hundred? It hardly mattered.


Deciding to speak to him, she approached. Her scent proceeded her even as her footsteps were silent upon the deck. She didn't pause until she was a respectable distance. "And what brings thee to this lonely place good sir, surely thou art not lacking for companionship shouldst thou desire of it. Speak thee then so that I might know the timber of thy voice for there is on other way to recognize friend from a stranger when both wear the same comely visage upon a noble shoulder set. Art thou truly a friend of old whom I have seen not in a score of years or art thou merely his same-face who hath come to this place barren of kith and kin and far from the shores of the Engle-land where we both drew our first breaths?"

 

[Cirno]

Natalie


Natalie sighs. Well, at least she could explore the ship at the same time. And figure out where Victor would frequent so she could avoid it for the rest of the trip.


She starts at the knock. The woman doesn't look like a parent chaperone. Maybe she got lost looking for her cabin? Natalie opens the door to greet her with a polite smile.

 

[Captain Hesperus]

Victor LaStrange


"Dammit, I thought you were supposed to carry that thing everywhere?", Victor sighed, "Fine, you two go get your thing and we'll wait. Don't fuck around and get back here."


Victor crossed his arms and leaned against a wall. Stupid ass-mar, why do things like this always get in the way of his enjoying life? Victor decided that once he had power, he would find a cure for asthma. And charge millions for the cure. The thought made him smile.

 

[Ayl]

Grant





Not litte was his surprise when he got picked up by some gorilla and carried around, until finally put down. His stomach was now outright growling. Maybe it was time he had his own "dinner", though that would require him being a lil' bit sneaky, while everyone else was dining. The thought of his personal, hidden fridge full of raw flesh was enticing.

 

[DreamingofRoses]

Robin


She rolls her eyes at Jack's corniness then leans into Gabriel's back to whisper in his ear,


"We may have a problem. I'm going to try to find out more, but keep your guard up." Robin grins at the girls before straightening and tapping Grant on the forehead. "You awake yet?"

 

[Teh Frixz]

I don't know, what can I do?


What can I say it's up to you.


I know your right, just me and you.


I can't go on.

​

Osthryd (@ehmygirl )


From his hand comes a cracking sound. His formal wear clashing hard against the overtly tropical drink in his hand, the origin of the sound as bits of the cheap glass fall from his uninjured hand and into the sea to eventually be transformed into the soft edge sea glass. His eyes fall down upon you, face expressionless but the windows to the soul seemed to scream dozens of conflicting emotions. Excitement, confusion, grief, joy, bottomless despair and of course love.


"Osthryd?" A man of few words, this one slips out. Gospatric, the Great Earl, left nearly speechless by a shade from his undiscovered past. "Prithee...Please do tell. Tell me how you are here now?!"





His visage is similar but unlike yours, has seemingly been through great change. Even as you approach, you sense power within him. Power shackled and power to be feared. Your vision clouds as a vision attempts to seep into your mind but something blocks it. Then, with an almost electric jolt, his hand carefully touches your shoulder. Slowly, like a man attempting not to disturb a cloud of fleeting smoke.


Natalie (@Cirno


"HI!" The greeting drags on in pitch and tone not often seen outside the fae choirs before she continues without taking a breath. "As you probably know, I'm your cruise director Mrs. Daughters and your name was put forward by someone to be one of our 'Student Directors'. You are one of the kids here that is most 'down with it' and 'jiggy' and 'cool' so we've come to you for your suggestions and insight onto what would make the guest body happy!" Her foot slides in to avoid the door from being slammed shut. Each word out of her mouth sounded like it was being read from a cue card, yet her eyes are squarely on yours.


"Your continued help is appreciated by everyone here and your service will be rewarded! And don't worry, this won't detract from your vacation at all! Just be sure to come by my office after breakfast tomorrow!"


Victor (@Captain Hesperus )


With speed that should have been put to use serving you, the pair bolt and hurry around a corner. Only you and Brett remain behind with Brett crossing his arms and leaning on the pearl white wall. For whatever reason, you could tell he was unsatisfied and those unsatisfied were those that would soon start plotting. Your eyes flick to his and you can tell he's already working through a plan.


Unlike Luke and Jack, Brett had some position and while not as illustrious his family rivaled yours in power. His dad had struck it big investing in a couple start up companies after fleeing IBM. All that Brett ever said about it was something about fruit and windows, but it wasn't where the wealth was coming from but how it was being used that concerned you.


"So..." He starts "...I know you've got something going on in your fat head, you want my opinion?"


Robin, Gabriel, Grant (@Grey @DreamingofRoses @Ayl )


The flick against Grant's head gives off an absurdly hollow thunking sound that breaks Jack from his all too obvious staring at their backsides as they flock away. He shakes his head once as if to clear it before looking back at his friends. "I'm serious, we are totally in if we go to that party. No more four musketeers, we could all get like a cruise girl....or boy and maybe this trip won't suck as much, Right Gabe?"


He looks up despite being taller at Gabriel as normal humans tended to do. Something about Gabriel drew people to him, looking for leadership and seeking his approval.

 

[DreamingofRoses]

Robin


Robin keeps herself draped over Gabe, considering Jack's statement with all the due intensity of a quickly-becoming-bored 17 year old. She pouts at Jack's comment, "What's the matter, Jack, I'm not good enough for you?" She laughs in ringing bells and straightens, clapping her hands delightedly. "I'll go. At least it beats hanging around the cabin with you three." She nudges Gabe, "It's cool if you don't come. After all, how much trouble could I possibly get into on my own?" The words were innocuous enough, but the tone, and the direct look she gives to him, sounds distinctly like a challenge. "Or, we could find Nat and invite her to come along." She grins provocatively at her friend.


"Either way, I need to change. I'm not going to crash a party in shorts and a tee-shirt." With those words, she begins to head towards their shared cabin.

 

[Cirno]

Natalie


She jerks back, losing her grip on the door as the lady advances. Just. What. Oh god. Nat is so not down and jiggy with this.


This is some awful prank, pinning her under the cruise director gaze, caught between personal embarrassment and secondhand embarrassment. Faintly, she says, "I think you have the wrong room?"


Because Osthryd was likely as down with it as she was attractive. No wait. Nat turns redder. That is, her room mate didn't deserve this. This. Whatever this was!

 

[Grey]

Gabriel





Gabe rubs the back of his head, sighs, and finally grins a little wearily.


"Getting changed and maybe a shower sound good - they might have better music by the time we get back."

 

[Teh Frixz]

Natalie (@Cirno )


"Oh no no! We know exactly who you are dear and we are sure that we aren't picking the wrong person to help us help the assemebled students on the cruise. After all, presentations like today aren't easy to do and by reaching out to the youth, much like yourself, we find the challenge diminishes!"


Her foot slides out as the card is handed over, almost forcibly.


"See you tomorrow, student director!" And with that, Daughters hurries off at speed seemingly impossible in heels that high.


The card is heavy, laminated with those sharp plastic edges. Oh and it seems to have a black bar for swiping and a cabin number on it too. The other side says 'STUDENT DIRECTOR' in bold writing with your name below it.


What do you do?


Gaberiel, Robin, Grant (@DreamingofRoses @Grey @Ayl)


"Oh! No I mean... Like...uh... Wait wait up!" Jack loses himself during Robins little taunt towards Gabe, coming out of his little daze with Robin already heading back to the cabin. He hustles after, calling your name once. Like a villager chasing a wisp, he does his best to keep up.


Again Gabe is left behind with Grant, the tall outsider barely breathing as you two stand awkwardly together. Grants eyes seem to barely register Gaberiels presence, both of them glossed over in thought.


Gabe can still hear the faint strings of high pumped full octane music being played out of the auditorium. So far it seems they haven't switched genre yet.


(And for good record, @Captain Hesperus , @ehmygirl @WlfSamurai )

 

[Captain Hesperus]

Victor LaStrange


"Holy hell, now you're psychic? You read my mind? Okay, what number am I thinking of? Or better yet, which 90210 girl am I thinking of?", Victor taunted for a moment, before cooling off, "What's on your mind?"


He leaned nonchalantly against the wall, fingers thrust into his pockets and thumbs in his belt loops in what later 'body language specialists' would call a 'crotch-framing' stance. His eyes flicked out from Brent to watch the rest of the room scattering. A couple of pretty girls with massive bouffant hairdos were wandering past, their conversation turned to which of the Backstreet Boys was cutest. Victor scowled. Backstreet Boys. He'd been at a dinner reception with them and they were nothing without their stylists and make-up artists. Honestly, they were all show. But he was the real deal. And one day those silly little girls would learn and understand and they would fall down in worship at his feet, casting off their pathetic adoration of a bunch of primped and perfect pretty boys...


Brent was speaking something and Victor forced himself to listen.