12510/Ghosts and Fishies

Ghosts and Fishies
Date of Scene:	01 December 2020
Location:	Drop Dead Investigations - O.G.
Synopsis:	Buffy meets Nolan to discuss a ghostly problem..
Cast of Characters:	Buffy Summers, Angel, Phantasm (Drago), Deadwatch

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Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers had heard of Drop Dead Investigations, and while she was a little leery at first, well..The guy seemed friendly enough and besides, in her line of work, supernatural happenings were pretty normal as far as 'normal' goes in her world.

Of course, she had come here on a whim, after having called to meet Nick and hearing Angel was in town too. She'd literally stumbled upon the place then remembered the business card he had given her.

Funny how that works.

"Soo, I guess this is the place, huh. Guess we'll have to have coffee later, wanna check it out?" she glances at Nick, pausing outside the front door to the aptly named place.

Angel has posed:
The Vampire With a Soul, or the being more commonly known as Angel, maneuvers into the shadows from, well, the shadows. His eyes scan the scene carefully, and tries to move as silently as possible, but for some reason, he wasn't as stealthy as he would want to be.

"Dammit..." Angel says under his breath, as he makes more noise than he would want to under these conditions. Even though it was his curse that reveals him fully from only a partial reveal seconds before.

Angel spots them both. Nick. Buffy. Both outside the main door to - Drop Dead Investigations. Someone honing in on his turf, or something more dire...and deadly? And why was Buffy here...with Nick?

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick, who is back in the glory of his knitcapped attire due to the cold weather, glances to the building. Hands shoved into his pockets, he gives a shrug. He hasn't really given Buffy much more detail than what he's already given her with the whole DHS incident. But, considering he's been laying somewhat low. Well, despite the new album release and speculation of a concert tour, and the mo- Ok. He SUCKS at laying low. He really does.

"Sure." The rocker replies, "Adding more to the group?"

Hearing a slight mutter but not quite the words associated with it, the performer turns, looking Angel's direction. The posture tenses slightly, only relaxing as he makes out who it is. He gives a tilt of the chin in greeting.

Deadwatch has posed:
Ah yes. It /is/ funny how it works.. Because if she hadn't been carrying the business card she wouldn't have probably found DDI anyways.. and maybe, just maybe, would have started forgetting she had even heard of it. Thats the way the subtle bit of magic he has woven works. Though it's not 100 percent proof. The vageries of the spell will alow people who NEED to find DDI and mean him no harm can find him as well.

Inside the 'office', a rennovated below-street bar that served as a speakeasy last century and had been forgotten ever since, Nolan sits behind the small bar he uses as a desk but he looks up as guests stand at the stairwell beyond the heavey steel door. It's not liek he didn't know they weren't there. Even the Vampire. ESECIALLY the Vampire. It's not as if he doesn't have enough 'eyes' around town.

"Might as well let them in, Anya." he says to the empty room.. "Ye I know you're not a maid, But I trust you more then the rest of these jerks." he says motioning around the STILL empty room. And then a moment later the door's multiude of locks UNLOCK one at a time.. and the door opens by itself.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers shrugs and smiles. "Maybe..This guy? Claims he can see ghosts. We still don't have enough details to figure out what happened to that cheerleader girl down in the sewers, but judging from what was left, I can only presume she died. Soo..."

She shrugs, peering in. "Shall we?" Of course, Buffy hasn't seen Nick in weeks and she was really dying for a coffee, but, she might not be around these parts in a while, and those Fish monsters might strike again, so...

"Right, let's go--huh?" she peers around, eyes narrowed. "Who's there?" eyes narrowed, and she too, tenses slightly, peering into the darkness.

Ohhh, and then there are the doors unlocking on their own. Buffy blinks..And takes a step back, peering warily at that door. With multiple locks? "Uh. Ooookay, spooky or what? I mean, should we just..Waltz on in or is this a trap or...?"

Angel has posed:
Angel appears. He was in his traditional garb. You know. Black overcoat. Black fashionable shirt. Black pants. Okay, a lot of black. His hair was perfect, like an LA movie star. His eyes were smoldering as they look at the door.

Angel's frown was palpatable as he moves closer to Nick and Buffy. Keeping his voice steady, Angel takes a quick moment to look sideways at Buffy, and says, simply. "Buffy." Then returns the chin nod at Nick, and without emotion, "Nick."

Hearing the doors unlock, Angel says, "Sounds like we are welcome to come in." Noting Buffy's reaction to the sounds. Not that Angel was going to take that at face value, keeping a hand on the sword hidden in his over coat. Plus, was that the sound of voices inside? Noaln's voice can be heard, barely, with Angel's vampiric senses. Barely. Did he hear...Anya?

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
If Nick didn't frequent Goodwill for his darkly toned attire, it may have been argued that they shopped at the same place. However, a side by side comparison would likely give Angel the win on nicer clothing. "Angel." He greets. Tone a bit friendlier.

Reminscent of the corvid he tends to turn into from time to time, he tilts his head curiously at Buffy's comment. "Cheerleader girl?" Nick repeats, not really expecting an answer as he watches the door creak open. He looks to Buffy, "I've only seen this before one other place but generally...Its kind of a universal 'come in'. I don't know who lives here so no idea on the intent."

Deadwatch has posed:
"It's not a trap!" comes Nolan's voice from within. "I'm just lazy! Oh.. and if the feeder with you is means me no harm, he is welcome to cross my threshold... And if he becomes an asshole, like.. With that sword of his I will, and /can/ revoke my welcome.

Yeah, sorta cocky fromm a cripple huh? Acting like he knows everything and all that..

"And wipe your feet! The help doesn't 'do sweeping'." he says in a way which, even from a distance, clearly has air quotes involved.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers glances back towards the shadowy figure and swallows. "Angel.." she blink a few times, voice softening. Truth be told she'd always had a soft spot for the vamp, all things considered. Oh, and even if she hadn't really gone out of her way to visit him in a long while. And things were probably still awkward between them, cuz yeah.

She smirks, quickly regaining her composure, quickly hiding whatever awkwardness she suddenly felt. "Heh, what are you doing here, got some ghosts of your own to hunt down? Well, guess you're in the right place, I mean, geez, why don't we all just waltz on in instead of hanging out here in the cold? Heh, I'll bet he got one of his ghosty lackies to answer the door."

She chuckles a bit and shivers. Was it from the sudden breeze, the idea that this guy even HAS creepy ghost lackies - or the sudden, untimely appearance of her former love? Yeah, life's a funny thing, isn't it? ANYWAY, Buffy strolls in, peering around. "Hello? Anybody home? Geez, what a creepy place.."

Oh, hey, there he is. She smirks. "Heh, Nolan. How you been? Err...Feeder?" oh, he must mean Angel. "Um...Riiight, Uh, it's okay, he's a good guy. He's with us." oh right. There's a door mat. Buffy is a good girl and wipes her feet.

Angel has posed:
With another nod acknowledging Nick's hello, Angel moves a step closer. Bringing up the rear. Only saying..."Cheerleader...?" In response to Nick's comment to Buffy. Was that the subtle hint of a smile moving at the edge of Angel's angst seeing Buffy's face and reaction?

Hearing Nolan's voice pierce the darkness, Angel's first instincts were that it was a trap. Everytime someone says it isn't a trap. Well. Angel winces at the several wounds he got after hearing those words more than once. Or ten times.

Stepping across the doorway, Angel nods at Nolan, and removes his hand from his sword. But is still ready, just in case. "Nice place you have here." That was meant to soften the blow of Buffy's "creepy" comments.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick's brows raise as Nolan shouts out his reasonining. Biting his lips at the lazy explanation. "Reason checks out. I'm good with going in." Because the other option is to stand outside twiddling his thumbs.

Also maybe if he goes inside he'll figure out what the cheerleader comment is related to.

Deadwatch has posed:
The 'office' isn't cold. In fact, it is pleasantly temperate for a basement suite in late december in Gotham. Nolan wouldn't have it otherwise after spending 13 years in various prison cells. Many of which weren't as well heated OR cooled, as they should have been.

"Feeder.. It's a dergatory yet more accurate term for vampires." he responds as Buffy and her 'friends' enter the 'office'. "Why give them a more suave and culturally loaded name to grow their head with. "And nic eto see you as well."

His mismatched eyes glance over the pair of her associates, not looking at them per se but.. perhaps THROUGH them? And his brow raises with a bit of interest. "It's a dump." Nolan says to Angel. "But it's a nice dump, so, thanks." he says. "And nice /soul/ you have." he says in a friendly tone.. Then looks at Nick. "ANd I hope the one you're sharing a soul with is a /willing/ participant." he says, just as friendly.

He leans back in the old chair and with a grunt of pain lifts his braced leg on the bar/desk.

"Unique company you're keeping, Buffy." he says, then pauses and cants his head as if he hears something, then looks to the end of the bar. "It's the polite way of saying She's hanging out with freaks." he says to the empty spot.. then stops, blinks, and sighs as he turns back to the group. "Uhm.. yeah.. Sorry. So, this a social thing or you need some help?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers walks in further, getting a better look at the place. Heey, it's actually not that bad, a bit retro and unusual but, reminds her vaguely of the Blue Lady.

"Okaay, you might have a point there, but to be fair, Angel is a vampire with a soul. Sooo, he's not like other vamps. He's actually a good guy, promise." Wait what, she's actually sticking up for him for a change, instead of feeding him to the wolves? Maybe she's forgiven and forgotten. For now.

"Nolan, this is Angel and Nick, Angel, Nick, meet Nolan. He...Sees dead people, and...Hey!" she frowns, staring at the invisible person in the chair. "Heeey, they're not freaks! They're my friends! And you should know, in our line of work, it takes a unique set of...Skills, to deal with things that go bump in the night."

Buffy clears her throat, and nods. "Heh, social? Really? You think I came all the way out here to socialize with a nutcase and his ghostly ensemble? Hardly.."

She smirks, "Actually I need some help, figured you'd be the perfect person to help me." And finally, Buffy takes on a more serious tone as she pulls out a bag, sets it on the table - or any available table really. "Check this out. Cheerleader went missing several weeks ago. Last seen in the Manhattan sewers. This was the only thing I could find of her. that, and a rumour of alligator-eating fish-monsters. I need to know, is she dead? Can we still save her and are there others..?"

Oh yeah, the bag is full of rags, the remains of a cheerleader outfit. Nope, no bones, no flesh, or creepy grisly stuff like that. Phew, isn't that a relief?

Angel has posed:
"Well. Call me Angel. I prefer that to...feeder. And it isn't a dump...but I defer to your judgement." Angel looks around while pushing that comment towards Nolan. His instincts were on full alert as Nolan menntions his soul. "Thanks. It is unique." That puts him even more on guard.

Angel moves to the background, letting Nick and Buffy take the lead here. It was probably better. That way, he didn't get into Buffy's way. Unless she needs him. Again.

It was nice to hear Buffy defend him. "A good guy...right! That's me!" Angel keeps eyeing the doorway, and Nolan's direction. "Do you know this guy Buffy? Nick?" As Buffy does the introductions, Angel tosses a, "Nice to meet you." Nolan's way.

Watching as Buffy opens her bag, and does her thing, Angel keeps his hands visible, but is ready for action.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick blinks as Nolan directs the comment his way, a brow raising a bit. Not even Strange tried calling out the recruiting tactics used by Leo.

He parts his lips to speak but just manages a half shrug in response as Buffy goes into the details of the cheerleader mentioned earlier. Attention shifting over to that instead.

Deadwatch has posed:
Sighing histrionically, Nolan turns his gaze on The SLayer and raises his brow again in Spock Style. "They /are/ freaks. /I'm/ a Freak. Hell, /you're/ a freak. It's not a bad thing, y'now. Not like I care anyways, so long as they don't try anything funny. Actually, funny would be fine. Just nothing they THINK would be 'threatening'" he says with a grin.

To Angel he nods a WEE bit respectively, despite his nonchalant act. "Pleasure to meet you as well... Sort of a weird name for a vampire though. Sounds very Young Adult novel. You don't glitter do you?" he asks and then becomes silent.. and then grins more. "Nah, I'm just bustin your chops. I've heard a bit about you. And not ALL of it is bad." he admits.

Then he looks to Nick, who hasn't responded yet and shrugs. "Guess you're the quiet type, huh." he notes. "Thats fine. If Buffy vouches for you, it's all cool." he says, but there is a hint of something more.. serious behind it.

Back to Buffy. He pulls his feet off the bar with a pained oof and a clink of the legbrace, then leans over to look at the bag. "Well, missing cheerleaders aren't that uncommon." he says. "Though dissapearing in sewers is sort of a new one on me. As for alligators nin Manhattan sewers? Thats a myth. The Morlcks would have eaten the gators. Or so I've been told. Gotham sewers, though I would believe,." he says, as he reaches for the scraps of costume and the moment he touches them his face goes from skeptical to...

Hr straightens sharply , mouth falling agape.. mismatched eyes going wide as the lights in the office dimp and shadows grow.. and the temperature lowers. Black oil like tendrils fill his eyes, first the schlera and then the pupil itself as his head rolls on his shoulders and he gasps for air.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers makes a face. "well, y'know, 'freak' is a strong word. I prefer 'special'. Or 'gifted'." she smiles, "Like I said, they're with me, you can trust 'em."

Buffy cant help but burst out laughing at the 'Twilight' reference though. "Uh..No, he wont glitter like some silly teen fantasy. He's..HE's like any other vamp you'll come across, demon inhabiting a human body, will burn up in light or sacred water. Only difference is, he has a soul. 'nuff said. Can we please stay on topic here?"

She sighs and doesn't even bother to explain what Nick's all about. Cuz lately, she's not entirely sure herself, what with his sudden, extended mysterious disappearances, and being target practice for...Who again? She hasn't quite figured that one out yet.

ANYWAY. Back on topic. Buffy slips onto one of the barstools, glancing at him expectanctly.

Okaaay, she totally wasn't expecting that! Teeth clench, tensing slightly. She hadn't brought any weapons other than her stakes..Not like you can fight ghosts with stakes, but..

"What did you see..?" Buffy leans forward a bit, watching him with a mixture of curiosity, tension, anticipation..A whole range of things, actually.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Pale eyes look back over to Nolan as he comments upon his lack of vocalizing at the moment. "Sometimes... you learn more being quiet." He replies, looking back to the costume. Glancing back up to Nolan at the mention of Gotham. His head tilts again, mannerism reminscient of the Raveny influences underneath as he observes the flow of darkness covering the eyes. Part of him wonders if he should have brought his bookbag. But then again, the call had indicated it was only going to be a coffee run.

Deadwatch has posed:
Usually a Psychometric link isn't this sudden, or powerful. But there are always exceptions, especially with objects that held emotional meanings or were involved in situations of great trauma. Cheerleading must have been this girls life, something she invested much time and energy and emotion into. perhaps over /years/. The resonance of that literally ingrained over and again into the uniform. But so were the last moments of her life, the terror and hopelessness and despair literally dye-ing the now tattered ruins of cloth the color of....

"Death" he intones, his voice sounding both raspy and echoey, yet still absolutely clear.. "So Dark.. So Cold.. Gaping mouths.. So many teeth.." he rasps.. "Monsters.. We strike at them and they bleed.. Bleed red. We KNOW we is going to die!" he giggles now, madly. "They are eating us from the feet up.. From the finger tips.. The pain, oh god the pain! Our mind is shattering.. shattering.. /Shatters/" And now Nolan starts to laugh manicaly. "Hahahahahah. Innsmouth. Just like Innsmouth!" he giggles creepily, hollowly. " Why did we read that book! STupid fish people! Inbred mutant fish people!"

He isn't possessed by her spirt, because that spirit is gone. It is just her her final MOMENTS, her final memories while being driven by the madness of pain, which he is reliving.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick listens quietly, frown deepening as Nolan goes through the dialogue. A description of being consumed alive is not a pleasant one. But not only is the news unsettling, but-

The musician observes, seeing if Nolan is capable of snapping himself out of this on his own. In the meantime, his own hands slide out the pockets. Hands lowered, the fingers thread together save for the pointer and thumbs which instead kiss their counterparts on the other hand. A similar motion to when he had to use Raphael's Flask on Buffy and friends. Probably not needed. But.

Well. Just in case. Might as well.

Deadwatch has posed:
Can he? Snap himself outf of this? Pfffft. He's been doing this since before Nick and Buffy were even born. Deep in his mind, Nolan is dragged along, under, the phsyic wave like it's an undertow, but he pushes.. pushes 'upwards'.. and breaks the metaphorical surface finally.

The ordeal ends with a strange half scream, Nolan's hand pushing deeper into the pile of wrags, writhing around, and finally being pulled out, clasping something, as the vision releases him and he falls back into his chair. The oily blackness bleeds OUT of his eyes, returning them their normal mismatched colours of one blue one amber and his cheeks streaked with.. whatever that blackness is.

Panting for breath, Nolan shakily pushes himself straight and runs his free hand through the mop of messy red hair he sports. "That was.. Fuck, I hate that." he half whispers.. He then looks angy, very angry.. "She is definately dead.. She didn't even get to CROSS over. Her spirit DISCORPORATED." And he slams the OTHER hand flat on the bar/desk. "I couldn't catch anything in the vision that showed EXACTLY where she dierd! But this..." he pulls back his hand and reveals a.. small coin on a necklace chain. "It's her /Purity/ Pledge Coin.. They TOOK her purity when they broke her spirit. This.." He picks up the chain, the small coin dangling, "This will show you the direction the ones who took her, are."

Holding the necklace as still as possible it.. starts to swing in one direction, just a bit.. like it is defying gravity.. It doesn't swing back. "I can imbue the necklace with.. something.. that will let it work for you as a direction finder."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
As Nolan breaks through, Nick's hands break apart. Fingers flexing a few moments before the hands slip back into his pockets. The slowly relaxed smile that forms is quickly aborted at the mention of not being allowed to cross over. That's likely the lowest blow possible. Taking away the final step. The lips take a downward turn once more as he watches the display with the coin on the chain, listening to the explanation, "Hmm. So, like a spiritual dowsing rod, or compass."

See? He CAN talk.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers had stepped away from the action for a moment or two to take a call, but she reappears beside Nolan, watching him with a soft frown. "I'm sorry. I wasn't there to save her.." eyes narrow, lips hardenned with resolve. "But I can still stop this from happening to other people."

She nods, looking at the necklace. "Okay..But how much is that gonna cost us? And..Did you say mutant fish?" Buffy sighs, shaking her head. "Just as I suspected. It's not the last time we've run into these creatures, but somehow I get the feeling they're more powerful than before. Willow was right, must have further mutated...Dammit.."

She grits her teeth, "Should have killed 'em when I had the chance."

Deadwatch has posed:
Nolan Voight sets the necklace gently, reverantly, down on the old bar's surface.. "Yeah, like a dowsing rod.." he says o Nick, still sounding.. strained thinking about the girl's spirit. He has spent his life AMONG spirits. He's more comfortable.. more sympathetic to them.. than he is to the living. ANd if he is surpriosed Nick said anything, his anger to the situation covers that.

Looking to Buffy he shakes his head. "It was not your fault. Manhattan has DOZENS of capes who should have stepped in. EVen the damned 'Sorcerer Surpreme' lives there.. so I'm told." he says between grit teeth. "And it's not gonna cost you ANYTHING. /I/ paid the price to empower the spell that binds the seekr spell on the necklace." he promise.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick's lips thin out, fists clenching inside his pocket. "I can't speak for the others, but Strange ends up getting called away from Manhattan for a lot of extra-dimensional bullshit. For all the power he has, he can't do everything." He pauses, "...I'm not sure he's on this plane at the moment."

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers smirks and shrugs, "Gee, that's pretty generous of you...But I can't help but feel this is gonna come back to bite me in the butt in the future." at any rate, she has to tend to her sister and so she grabs the necklace and nods to Nolan.

"Heh, you really know your stuff, it's been a pleasure doing business with you Nolan..Thanks!" she turns and starts to leave, nodding to Nick, "C'mon, I still owe you coffee." and Buffy's already heading for the door.