13482/When Something Goes Bump in the Night

When Something Goes Bump in the Night
Date of Scene:	11 June 2021
Location:	Sunnydale, Avalon
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Phobos, Dracula, Nikki Hawkins

---

Phobos has posed:
    Moonrise wasn't for at least another day. And Alexander Aaron didn't know if he was going to make it.
    Oh it's not that the people there in the Magic Box were bad. They were quite nice actually. They were friendly and chatty and seemed to have a good vibe between them. But there was only so many times one can hear two Englishmen chat about the chemical and energy distribution properties of various enchanted metals and their use in conjuration before your eyes go all higgledy piggledy and you start contemplating if a broom is thick enough to thump the consciousness out of your Olympian brainpan.
    Though, to be fair, he didn't let it on too obviously. He made himself busy, dealt with what small tasks he found for himself, even puttered around in the back room with all of the various kung fu training equipment. Though that just made him a bit more homesick. Until finally after a few hours and relative quiet in the shop, he set out through the front door and took a seat on the stoop with his feet before him.
    A quick visit at a food truck that was just three storefronts down had been a nice thing, it's where he likely picked up the sandwich he was eating which was a deep fried peanut butter and banana sandwich. Being that the foodtruck's name on the sign was, 'Miracles In Peanut Butter', was only fitting. But to be fair, it was a darn good sandwich.

Dracula has posed:
Night time was the best of times for those beings who happened to have a nocturnal nature to them. The darkness bothered him not at all, for he could see within it as well as any predator. He had already claimed a victim and fed, and there had been a mild bump in the night when the near lifeless body had been let fall to the ground in the alleyway some miles from here. Dracula was much like a piece of the night for the black that he was dressed in.

His black hair fell in a layered cut in soft curls an inch or two above his shoulders, and he had a neat and tidy goatee and mustache. His dark eyes were so dark a brown as to be nearly black. A matte black silk shirt with a crimson pocketsquare was worn beneath a long black peacoat, a pair of black slacks and matte black leather shoes to complete the outfit. A black cane is carried in his right hand, though the end of it seldom ever touches the ground. He is tall, nearly six and a half feet, and his stride is smooth and graceful, showing nary a sign of hurry.

Shadows seem to skitter and slither and nigh almost bleed from him as he walks, meadering his way towards the Magic Box. It's a shop that he's been meaning to visit ever since coming here, but one that he's not found the time to do so yet. He knows of magic, and has practiced it for centuries. A brief glance is cast towards the food truck further yonder, but none of the smells from it attract his attention.

Phobos has posed:
    Another price the undead must pay for their immortality, to so forsake foodstuffs of such quality as a peanut butter and banana sandwich deep fried until crispy with a sugary crust. Curses be whatever foulness caused them this greatest of injuries.
    And all embodied in the blond youth taking his ease there upon the stoop. Wearing the equivalent of Rome's Toga only the modern American version, he has those blue jeans that are all the rage as well as white sneakers that are so ubiquitous in the world. A too large loose black t-shirt covers his chest with a masked pirate's skull prominent in the fore as a design upon it. Around that skull are the words, 'Good Work. Sleep Well. I'll most likely kill you in the morning.'
    Though if magic were a thing one sensed, they might well catch the subtle whiff around him in some prominence. Perhaps it has to do with something he wears, or perhaps the magic store itself. Still though, it's a curious thing.
    Then, once the vampire is close enough, he'll hear the young man's voice.
    "They're closed." Because they are, though there are lights on. Still, he has a look on his face that seems to say, 'you don't want to go in there, trust me.'

Nikki Hawkins has posed:
There are several reasons why Nikki would be wandering the streets at some late hour of the night. The turquoise haired female casually strolls along, and beside her is a weird looking put together with scrap metal robot. He's clunky, at best, and makes beeps and boops every so often. Nikki just regards her half-her-size robot buddy with a *look* and then looks around the street a moment.

"Nikki doesn't know where Nikki is. Squishy needs a better way to lead Nikki around." Is she serious? Joking? Who knows! The robot - Squishy - likely doesn't even know, but he'll beep-boop his way into possibly understanding. The robot and his companion continue walking down the street until they see two men, one standing and one sitting, outside of a shop that for all intents and purposes /looks/ to be open but she's close enough to have heard the one man say they're closed.

"If it's closed, why are the lights on? Why does he sit in front of the store if it's closed? Oh! Does it open late at night?!" The overly exciteable, ever curious, and obviously weird female inquires to everyone, and no one at the same time.

Dracula has posed:
Food and drink are not entirely forsaken -- Vlad can (and does) still eat and drink. He simply gains no nourishment from such things, for his hunger seeks sustenance of a different variety. His hunger is only sated by blood -- viscous, warm, delicious human (or humanoid) blood. A far more delightful meal, for him, than any food item could ever be. The very thought of it brings a crimson spark to the depths of his eyes, for though he is fed, the hunger never truly sleeps.

The sense of magic around the youth is a thing that is noticed by the elder vampire. He looks over the young fellow, then shifts his gaze towards the shop behind him, to look it over in turn. "An unfortunate circumstance, that they are closed. I shall have to return closer to wakeful hours in order to browse what lies within," Vlad says in a deep tone of voice, a thread of darkness woven through it. Not that the shop being closed would truly stop him, if he wanted to enter. He does sound disappointed. "The proprietor, it seems, hath left the lights on. Is such a normal oversight?" he inquires, a flicker of curiosity touching his voice.

The dark gaze of the vampire slowly turns towards the unusual girl that's approached, and he tilts his head to one side as he looks over both her and the robot next to her. "Someone who sits on the stoop of a business whilst having a bite to eat is not necessarily the owner of said establishment," Vlad says, one of his eyebrows quirking up a touch.

Phobos has posed:
    When Nikki is close enough to raise her voice and offer query, the blond young man in front of the store scrunches up one eye and gestures by pointing at at her first and then at the vampire with his free hand. After that he answers with a quick reply, "Because people live there."
    A beat, then he answers the next question, "And because I am staying there, so there's that."
    Then he glances over his shoulder and his eyebrows quirk. "Though, I could see owning a place like this. In a way. Maybe just a used book store. Not so much all the tchotchkes." But those curious pale hazel eyes slip away from Nikki after a moment's perusal to the curious being there. A look is given then to the robot as if encompassing him in his world view and linking him with the girl and the gentleman. Something about it amuses him.
    "Were you looking for anything in particular? I could maybe be convinced to do a door dash thing." For some reason that amuses him too.

Nikki Hawkins has posed:
The robot gives a series of what could be described as inquisitive beeps and boops. Nikki looks to the robot and shakes her head. "Nikki doesn't know, Squishy. Nikki might have to see about that later." Then she looks back to the building, to the man sitting on the stoop, and then to the other man standing. "Nikki doesn't want anything. She was just curious. She was out for a walk and saw people gathered so she thought she would say hello." Then she beams a smile, though her attention goes to Dracula after a moment.

"What's it full of anyway?" Course she can read, and she knows the name of the store, but in her experience stores can have names that do not mean anything about what they carry. Like Starbucks. Neither stars, nor bucks, but coffee. Delicious coffee. Then she's looking around, spotting the food truck, but she doesn't head for food just yet. Too curious as to the conversation she's currently sort of having. Squishy beeps again. "Shush Squishy!"

Dracula has posed:
The elder vampire turns his gaze to the story, studying it a touch closer in the wake of the young fellow's words. People live there, he'd said. "Interesting," Dracula says softly, the word slightly drawn out. He wonders about the effects such would have upon the threshold of the space, for it is a business as well which means open to the public and all who would seek to enter it. It is a curious sort of thing for him to ponder, given that thresholds are a certain... thing for him. The ones belonging to true homes are generally stronger in nature.

"A good and fair reason to be lurking upon the stoop," Vlad comments, his gaze turning back to the fellow. "There is something to be said for the smell of books, for the feel of them in one's hands as one reads," he muses, a hint of a smile touching at the corners of his lips. The shadows which had been drifting around him seem to now be brought under more control, stilling and then vanishing.

He chuckles softly, the sound dark and rich, and then he shakes his head slightly. "I look for naught in particular. There may be things within the shop that spark my interest, and I will only know if they do gaining a sense of their power, so to speak," he says, a hint of a smile tugging the corners of his lips.

The elder vampire turns his gaze back to the young woman, and he politely inclines his head towards her. "Oft not a harmful thing, that. A good eve, to you and your companion. As for the store... I have not been within as of yet, though I would expect that it may have tchotchkes of a variety of different magic," Vlad says, a smile touching at the corners of his lips. "My name is Vlad," he offers, to introduce himself to both of them.

Phobos has posed:
    "The store?" Alexander Aaron asks as Nikki inquires, then he looks over his shoulder again as if summoning the inside to memory and going over its contents. "Antiques. Books. Brick-a-brack. Mainly Englishmen."
    Though how much those cost is anyone's guess though likely tea figures into it somewhere.
    Turning back to those before him, the settled in Olympian finally takes a bite of the sandwich and chews for a time, smiling a little as his eyes close. "Ah. This is very good, but terrible for me." Though his metabolism as such isn't too terribly taxed burning off calories with the way beings such as him burn hot.
    Though he seems to straighten up a little at he mention and detail as to the quality of books, particularly old ones. "Oh yes," He offers agreement. "There is a certain quality to large numbers of books, even bad ones." He does look thoughtful for a time, but then chooses not to elaborate.

Nikki Hawkins has posed:
"Vlad talks funny.." Nikki assesses in a moment before looking between the two men again. "Stoop man talks kinda funny too...like they're from somewhere else." Then she's looking around again, perhaps peering down a small alley way that's close enough for her to look at before her attention is drawn again. Firsly to Vlad, who's introduced himself and then she smiles. "Nikki is Nikki. Squishy is Squishy." She says it simply, and then her attention is drawn again by something. Anything. Seemingly quite easily distracted by even the simplest noise, or a passing car, someone yelling across the street. Night time is an interesting time for noises.

Dracula has posed:
The elder vampire tilts his head to one side as his gaze lifts to the store, studying it for a long moment. Oh, he can sense that there is magic within the store, but to discern the various and assorted types and such would take longer to determine. He chuckles softly at the young fellow's assessment of the store, then brings his dark gaze back to the youth.

"Such things might be terrible for one's health but that generally applies more so if one has a condition that makes them bad or if one were to eat them all of the time," Vlad comments, a hint of a smile touching at the corners of his lips. "Moderation, as they say," he adds, inclining his head slightly towards the fellow. "Mmm, yes, I will need to return here when the shop is properly open, then."

His gaze turns to the girl, then, and he tilts his head to one side as he studies her in unblinking fashion. "There are times when I might have a yen to do so," Dracula comments, watching her. "As you have sussed out, I am not from here, at least not natively. My home is in Europe," he explains, apparently feeling indulgent, to a point.

Phobos has posed:
    "Not too far off." Is Alexander's answer about his origins and then offers, "West Philadelphia, born and raised." For some reason that amuses him as well. For he is a man of simple humor at times. Though he finally pulls himself up to his feet, rising with the aid of one hand upon the nearby street lamp and then turning while he still holds the half sandwich carefully in his free hand.
    A breath is taken and his eyes lift up toward Vladimir, those calm hazel irises meeting the man's glance with an open appraisal. "Everything that exceeds the bounds of moderation has an unstable foundation."
    Though no introduction is forth-coming, no feeling of compulsion made for whatever reason. As if some threshold had not been passed and he did not have that obligation. So for now he is Stoop Man. But what might trigger that obligation may well be anyone's guess.
    What he does ask, however, is asked when he looks sidelong toward Nikki and he says gently, "Are you looking for your parent or legal guardian?" Since clearly she seems to have a little girl lost vibe going for her.
    Yet a quick glance of the area assuredly shows that no such protectors are around. He holds up a finger. "I need to go back in, but if you are lost, knock on the door and someone will likely answer." That having been said he steps to he side and he alleyway, heading toward it. Over his shoulder he waves, "G'night."

Nikki Hawkins has posed:
Nikki makes a face and then shakes her head. "Nikki doesn't need a parent or guardian. Nikki isn't a BABY!" She calls after Stoop Man as he rises and makes his way back into the shop slash home. Then she shrugs and looks around again, Squishy makes a series of beeps once more, almost seeming inquisitive. Either the robot is partly intelligent, designed to make certain noises, or is on the fritz.

Honestly it could be all three at the same time and only Nikki would likely know.

Daringly, Nikki moves up more, getting herself closer to Dracula, looking him over a bit. "Vlad is from Europe? Vlad sounds like a Russian name. Russia is...part Europe and part Asia." Then she seems to get distracted all over again, but also not distracted at the same time. She's just a regular run of the mill mortal human who is out past her bedtime. If...24 year old women have bed times that is.

Dracula has posed:
If Dracula doubts the origins of the young fellow, at least he doesn't call the man out on it. Though he does seem a bit touched with amusement as well. He watches the fellow rise to his feet, and then he gives a nod. "Indeed, that it does," he agrees, about moderation. It is an important thing. And one of his eyebrows quirks up at the question about a parent or guardian, a question which causes him to remain still and curiously turn his gaze to the girl. "A good night to you," he offers, giving a glance and a nod to the fellow before his gaze turns back to the girl and her robot.

Her reaction to the question is... interesting. One of his eyebrows quirks up a touch. And a smile tugs at the corners of his lips as he gives a nod. "Aye, Vlad is from Europe. They call the country Romania," he says, inclining his head towards her. "Where are you from?" he asks, curious.

Nikki Hawkins has posed:
"Vlad from Romania. Stoop Man said Vladimir. Is Vlad a nickname? Nikki is just Nikki. She's from Queens, New York. Just going around looking for things she can use to build robots like Squishy here. Though Squishy is the only one that ever worked right." Squishy, in turn, makes a few boop-beep noises. Almost in an R2D2-esque manner. Nikki looks at Squishy and then shakes her head. "Nikki doesn't know. Squishy should quit asking. Nikki is talking to someone right now, unless he doesn't wanna talk anymore and then Nikki and Squishy can go..." She starts bouncing on the toes of her feet then, looking around once more, distracted suddenly by a sound in the distance. Likely sirens.

Dracula has posed:
There's a soft chuckle from the elder vampire, and he gives a nod to the girl. "Indeed, Vlad is a nickname and one that I have had for a while," he comments. There could be any number of reasons as to why he indulges her by granting her such information, but he does. He casts a glance towards the robot, and then back to Nikki. "Is there something in specific that you seek for building a robot? Perhaps I might be able to lend you some manner of assistance," Dracula offers, a smile touching at the corners of his lips. One of his eyebrows quirks up at her words for the robot. "What is it that he keeps asking you for?" he wonders, curiosity getting the better of him. "If you wish, we can walk and speak at greater length?" he offers, lifting his left hand to gesture in the direction that she had been walking before coming over to them.

Nikki Hawkins has posed:
"Nikki needs sheet metals. Like aluminium and steel. Plus coils of copper and brass. And wires. Lots of wires. Nikki can often find stuff in old cars and trash bins!" The girl explains excitedly and then she tilts her head. "Huh? Oh. Squishy is just rambling. He is talkative but he never really says anything." This much more and then the elder vampire is offering Nikki company and she smiles. "Oh! Yeah! We can walk and talk...but Nikki might shoot off if she sees something..." Mostly something shiny. She can usually catch it and then she goes diving.

Dracula has posed:
The elder vampire listens as she explains her needs, and he gives a small nod once and then a second time at the end of her list. "Such things would, perchance, best be acquired from a scrapyard, would they not? Old vehicles are a good source of sheet metals, mostly. At least, those that are not made of fibreglass," he offers, his tone thoughtful in nature. He shifts his weight then, and he moves to start walking in the direction that Nikki had originally been heading, his steps unhurried. "Perchance I might be able to lend some measure of assistance. I understand such things can be weighty," he says, turning to look to her, a ghost of a smile touching his features. "Abandoned buildings also seem to be fair places for wiring, sometimes. If scrappers have not already salvaged such things."

Nikki Hawkins has posed:
Nikki seems to fall right into step with Vlad, and Squishy falls into place just behind Nikki, wobbling along as he tries to keep up. She seems to think on things a bit before shaking her head some. "Nikki isn't looking for much right now, she has stuff at home. But if Nikki finds little things while she's walking and can fit them into her pocket, she'll do that." Offering this about herself as they walk and then, as they pass another little alleyway, Nikki suddenly bolts down it and dives - head first - into a dumpster. The imagery of a young lady, ass-out of a dumpster in the middle of the night...well it's probably more funny since Dracula saw it happening. People coming up to that sort of sight are usually more on the concerned side. Plus, there's no telling what compelled Nikki to dumpster dive in the first place.

Dracula has posed:
"Ah, I see. I take that as meaning that you have some manner of work room at your home?" Dracula asks, a flicker of curiosity coming to his voice. He glances briefly towards the robot, simply watching it, and then his attention turns back to Nikki. He gives a nod when she mentions that she's looking for little things, and when she charges towards the dumpster, he stops. And he stares after her, exhaling a breath that he doesn't need but which simply makes people more comfortable. Then he lifts his left hand and makes a slight gesture, materializing a thick black canvas bag. Quietly, he ghosts down the alley, his gaze held upon her. "There is an easier way," Vlad offers, tilting his head faintly to one side. Watching her, and waiting to see if she will permit him to aid or not.

Nikki Hawkins has posed:
Nikki would have likely given a nod to Dracula before she was all including distracted by something in the alley. It's almost like she's done this before, and likely many more times than one can count on fingers and toes. After a bit of time, long enough for Dracula to come down the alley, she triumphantly holds up her findings. A couple of tossed cellphones and a little spool of wire. He eyes move to the man with the bag and she tilts her head one way and then the other. "Nikki found them!" She announces then and - perhaps to make Vlad feel like he's helping - she tosses them into the bag he's carrying. Course she's now covered in gods only know what kind of dirt and grime, and there is a single banana peel resting smooshed on top of her head. All of its several yellow peeled skins spread out looking like she's got a yellow octopus trying to suck out her brains. Squishy makes sounds, but for the moment is ignored by the woman.