Habibi359

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations - An Urban Fantasy Adventure!

This woman's eyes shine like an emerald was the first thought Rob had in mind as he saw the woman who could have been called a geek. Big sweater, glasses and unwashed reddish blond hair made her look disoriented, confused or unfocused to the present day. Maybe she was shy at University of Washington (Judging by her sweater) and definitely uncertain or anxious at the PHI office. Though to be fair, few encountered supernatural and dared to tell the story. Fewer would think someone would believe and help them. For a lot of people these things were the most amazing thing in their life.

Just another Wednesday for people at Priest & Hawthorne Investigations.

Robert was writing Catherine’s tale on his Laptop, with occasional question written on his personal note book. On the right side of the laptop there was a wired mouse and steaming cup of coffee (black as the night sky with spoon of sugar to cut the bitterness). On the left side there was a tissue and on top of it a doughnut. Some kind soul had brought the sweeties very close to the racket. And as Robert was early enough, there were plenty of them left. Small things that made this job a bit happier. Just like the coffee's someone brought to his place at time to time. He didn't know who appreciated his work enough to give these small presents (or perhaps a crush?), but he had decided to not be vocal about it.

Robert took a break from writing to sip coffee. Emmaline, the professor with quite a career for 28 years old had started to calm down the witness (or client, depending if you're looking for a case or a job). A teacher and a student. Magician and medium. Who knows what more the two could have in common… Mandy had also been kind enough to bring some water to Catherine. She should see she was with professionals and in a friendly environment and calm down so she could focus. Sooner the conversation was over, sooner this group could start working with the case.

Robert grabbed a doughnut and took a bite out of it to chew upon. As Emma was bringing the witness back to the day of disappearance, Robert let his mind wonder. Ghost peeling away from reality. According to Catherine, she wasn’t the only one. Her skill to sense and see ghosts was interesting and most probably of use in this case. Robert wasn’t all into helping ghosts unless it stopped some haunting, but this was more like finding a missing person. When one goes missing, the uncertainty of their fate makes related people miserable. So he’d gladly do this job and give Catherine some relief. Besides, finding people was Robert’s specialty.

Robert swallowed the sweet, sweet doughnut and straightened up on his chair, pulling his brown vest downwards. A quick look with solemn face at Jacob. His daughter had been at PHI two times already (quite opposite of his father at the other time Rob had seen her) and Rob wondered whether he'd prefer Jacob on the field or spending time with his daughter and searching for information here at the office. It was Christmas, after all. He was hard working, but at times he wondered if the cost was too much for him and his daughter.

But it wasn't Robert's affair. So he turned his head at Catherine. "As professor Stern said. Let us return back to the day of disappearance... It happened at your home, if I understood right?"

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations - An Urban Fantasy Adventure!

A quick idea I thought. You could make a story and edit the questions in from our characters or put a pad where we'd edit in the questions.

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations - An Urban Fantasy Adventure!

Still on the tour, Naril? Come back fast, Mandy's doughnuts look too good :(

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations - An Urban Fantasy Adventure!

And I have enjoyed Jazz till closing time. Cosplaying my profile picture without hair and visor. Enjoying my last week of holidays before returning to the lectures.

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations - An Urban Fantasy Adventure!

As for everyone else, just so you know, starting on Tuesday I'm going to be in the GMT+1 timezone for a couple of weeks.

@Naril

Welcome to the eastern side of Atlantic!

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations - An Urban Fantasy Adventure!

Oh boy guys He's brought breakfast for everyone!

@jasonwolf

Oops. Note to self, avoid writing after midnight.
Another note, Earmuffs =/= Ear Warmers. /sigh

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations - An Urban Fantasy Adventure!

"Good morning and merrryyyyy Christmas to all of.." Radio stated before Robert slammed his alarm clock. Some days he enjoyed himself a tune or two before rising, but last days had been nothing but Christmas carols. He didn't hate them, but it wasn't what he enjoyed listening at in the mornings in his single bed. Robert had been single for two years since the last half year affair. He tried, but the job took it's toll. Or his women, rather.

His apartment was quite decent, with 700 square feet to fill with living room with small place cut for his bed, kitchen and separated shower and toilet. Like most mornings, Rob made an omelet and let it cool down while he took a shower. This morning he took extra time to shave his beard, and a rare ten seconds to look at himself in the mirror. The man from Minnesota no longer had the dark brown hair. Neither was his face rock solid but instead softened with the wrinkles. And the fire from his eyes had dimmed to some degree, no longer the piercing look nor the tough guy ten ears ago, but a tired man despite swimming and exercising several times a week.

He shook his head and dressed up at his wardrobe. Woolen trousers tad more thick that he usually wore, white shirt and brown vest to complete the look. He examined himself from the mirror attached to the inner side of the wardrobe's door before facing the cooled down omelet. He ate his breakfast while checking the day's news on his laptop. Then the E-mail from Sol, which said there was a new case. Which basically translated into that he couldn't come too late to the job. Not that he did usually, but some of these dark mornings were harder than others. Especially in winter.

After finishing the omelet Robert started to make his leave. He put on his winter jacket - A long black woolen jacket- and his fedora with ear warmers underneath before leaving to the PHI. He felt the top-break revolver against his hip in the holster and few moon clips in jacket's pocket. Not the most efficient model around, but it had served him a good twenty years; Only his bullets had changed to silver ones with PHI. Robert made one last look into the apartment as afraid to never see it again before he closed the door.

Weather had been worse that he thought, though the travel to the office was always quick one. Robert opened the doors leading to the office. It wasn't a normal sight, it was Christmas. Decorations were all over the place; A small Christmas tree had appeared on his own table and Jacob's workplace could have been from Santa's house. Morgan, Sol, Jacob and Emma had already came to the office, Jacob with her daughter to cheer things up at the place. He wondered who else were invited to solve the new case. He passed the mornings and made his way to rack, where he left his fedora, ear warmers and his jacket.

Robert liked the ancient building. It was one thing older than him, never changing, always welcoming Robert every morning. Even the iron racket was putting good mood on Robert's mind, always keeping his jackets. Even if computers and laptops and coffee machines were on the shelves, underneath it was the bricks and planks laid down decades ago.

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations - An Urban Fantasy Adventure!

Robert definitely has been in agency for a decade, perhaps fifteen years. Many uncomfortable years with the succubus *shudder*. She even might remember when his hair was dark brown.

EDIT: Makes me realize that would give him a decent experience with them paranormal activity over the years. Might put that in the profile.

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations - An Urban Fantasy Adventure!

I'd definitely play any of 'em. At the moment "You Can't Spell "Occult" Without..." would be the most interesting one because of some interesting backstory possibilities for the PHI. At times it's nice to see how people are doing after the cases :D

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations - An Urban Fantasy Adventure!

Name: Robert Miller jr. Or just Rob.

Gender: Male.

Race: Human

Age: He's 46, though the graying hair and wrinkles make him look over his fifties.

Appearance: Robert miller jr. is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weights 182 pounds. His hair is a mixture of dark and grey, short and if not messy, definitely not combed nor specially maintained. He doesn't keep beard but doesn't shave it daily, so there's stubble. His eyes are greenish between two heavy eyelids and small bags under the eyes, making him look constantly tired. Lips are thin and mouth isn't particularly wide. His face could have been cut from wood, with strong, thin jaw, slim cheeks, roman nose and high cheekbones. But his skin starts to show wrinkles and aging.

Rob wears dress shirts with vests and woolen trousers with mild colors, kept up by a belt with silver buckle. Shoes are made from brown or black leather, somewhat maintained but seen wearing. He has three sets of silver cuff links; two looking like half of a marble and third flat square with rose carving. Outside he dons either his long grey trench coat or a simple brown jacket and grey fedora.

Personality: The work at Priest & Hawthorne Investigations is a personal crusade for Robert. He did his job well before joining the PHI, but calm and professional Robert has found his calling, passion to work or meaning of life in the unit.

Robert lived three decades without encountering any paranormal activity. Hence he still isn't all friends with the supernatural abilities or beings, but during the years he has accepted that they are part of this world and not all of them are hostile. Some might even be useful.

He has seen, read and experienced enough in his years to not be shaken too much, but that's not to say one can't see things affecting him. Twitch at his lips or clutching his fists before relaxing tell more than enough when cases get serious to him. And when he's serious, he focuses on the case to get it done like a locomotive. He's not afraid to rough people up if it means getting forward.

Out of cases or on breaks Rob enjoys conversations and activity to relax his mind before next case or continuing his current one. For Robert a relaxed mind without too much trouble is an effective tool.

Powers, Traits, and Abilities:

He has spent four years in marine corps, where he was taught the art of shooting things with variety of weapons. He wields his pistols professionally and he is accurate with rifles, all way up to 200 yards. With sniper rifle he can shoot to targets 500 yards away in right conditions. He has decent hand-to-hand capabilities (krav maga, judo, boxing) and he still keeps himself fit to be prepared just in case.

He has contacts in and out of law due to his years as a County Detective and few towards paranormal activity after his cases with PHI. Robert's sources might prove useful to gain artifacts, books, information or equipment for a case at hand.

Robert has a knack for surveillance and inspection. He tails people in and out of cities, he does surveillance from safe distance, he asks around for information related to people involved in the cases and if needed, he will bug the apartments or put a tracer under a car. When it comes to people, it's "Job for Rob".

Background:

People sometimes ask how a man from decent Minnesota family with promising career in Law enforcement ended up in Priest & Hawthorne investigations. There is one official case file and several stories to answer that question, but on average the tale goes like this:

Years ago there were some peculiar news about missing persons around the state of Washington. Priest & Hawthorne Investigations were sent agents to investigate this as rumors about cultists started to pop at the same time. During the investigations they found out about a small cult which made contact with priests, rabbis and other people. PHI wasn't exactly sure what the cult had for sale - though related to missing persons, it wasn't probably anything good- so they prepared themselves against variety of threats.

They finally found the cult in Mattawa. The cult was once again selling their "miracles" to the church members in exchange for money, shelter and well, people. They had the town figured out but the cult's location was still at large. Time was running out to find out who were hiding the cultists and what they were planning.

Two days later still in the middle of investigations the police and ambulance going to pick up six cult members, two who had been shot. PHI later came to reclaim what was left from the artifacts, burned books and whatever information that was left in their hideout. It wasn't long to find out they were dealing with a demon demanding sacrifices for his own amusement. In exchange he demonstrated supernatural powers and promised more for those joining him. At least according to stories.

They later went to interrogate the cult members, who revealed that some dark brown haired man had came to their apartment with assault rifle. It was their cult leader who was possessed by the demon, and the confrontation between the two ensued. Man had no idea how to expel the demon or slay it, but he knew that throwing salt and contact with his silver cuff links were able to repel it. Fierce battle between the two wounded two cult members and forced the cult leader to escape.

PHI investigators next searched the man that had called the police. They quickly found out he was called Robert Miller jr, a former county detective. It didn't take long for them to call his phone and arrange for a meeting to listen what Robert knew. The rumor has it that Robert had hunted the cult for 8 months thanks to a case he was involved in. It started with a missing witness to a case - generally assumed to be related with catholic priest, though some suggest conspiracies- that had Rob puzzled for a week before finding out the people involved. He had found the girl alive and well, but he had also taken his first step into supernatural world. Leaving behind the logic of natural world he took a leap of fate studied demonology. Naturally books and urban stories were numerous. Facts were hard to come by but Robert had taken his time to piece together at least something to deal with the demon he tailed.

The follow up is well known though. The Priest & Hawthorne Investigations agents and Robert cooperated to find the cult leader and expel the demon. Robert had done a remarkable job finding the possessed one and cornering him with the PHI personnel. They kept Robert's number in case there was a need for his man-hunting skills.

Another case not too long after their first meeting and Robert was invited to Priest & Hawthorne Investigations. They quickly found out that finding people wasn't the only thing Robert was decent at.

Robert doesn't specify why he stays at PHI. "Money and an interesting career" is his usual answer when asked. Some suggest the first counter with paranormal was quite special for Robert, like opening of a new world. Others say the girl he first saved was sent in asylum and Robert still feels guilt. Whatever the exact reasons are, Robert keeps doing his job with determination.