silvermist1116

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Neko@Atrophy

Ophrenia laughed at Neko. "Chill. We won't get shot. I have a license." She watched Z pull up on her bike. She could tell the shape of the gun in the bag on her back. "I'm sure Z has one too." Just to tease her, she swung the gun into her hands and pointed it into the forest besides the motel. Gun safety rule number one, never aim the gun at a person you don't plan on shooting. She wouldn't make that mistake. She doesn't want to end up on the business end of Z aiming a gun at her if she thinks she's gone crazy.

She put her gun back where she had it and went to Jen, when she rounded them all up around a map, pointing at two paths they could take. Yikes. Both options are kinda meh. Either off into the swamp or take the long way 'round. "I don't think our chances look good if we take the short way. Why purposely run into gators when we can go 'round. I don't mind hoofin it on foot. I take it none y'all got a car?" She eyed Z's bike. It would only take one other person, but knowing how she know Z don't like people touchin on her, she don't think she'll offer a ride.

"Y'know if there's a car rental place in town? Car or no car, I vote we walk the road." Gator's aren't the only things they'll have to worry about. Leeches in the water would attach to her legs and stay there, until they could get her to a doctor to get them off. If there's leeches. She assumes there are.

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Ophrenia rolled her eyes. She didn't need some foreigner telling what's what about the country she was raised in. "Sweetie, you probably can't tell where I'm from by my accent 'cause you not born and raised in the States, but racists don't scare me. I grew up in a small town several miles away from a Confederate Cemetery. The people ain't no different from home. What you should be scared of is 'gators and what's been killin' people. 'Cause I bet the racists here ain't lynchin' the white folk that gone missin'." She purposely pronounced her Appalachian accent to prove a point that she shouldn't comment on nothing she don't know nothing about.

She hoped ol' foreign girl wouldn't need her gun when it came down to it. She ate her breakfast, rushing through it so she could make her stops in under an hour. She left a tip for the waitress, and headed out the cafe. The first place she stopped was the gun store. It looked like any other one she's ever been too. Guns in cases, on walls, and on racks. What she didn't expect was Morton, the old man that gave her a ride into town.

"Phrena! Good to see you again," Morton called out. In the time they spent talking about anything and everything, he never mentioned what he did for a living.

She didn't mind he got her name wrong. It's a little cute nickname. She'll take it. She walked up to the counter and pulled out her gun license from Tennessee. "This good here?" she asked.

Morton looked at it. "Depends. What you huntin'?"

"Don't know yet. Group and I are going up to the Black Manor in the swamp."

Morton gave her a look like she was crazy, but didn't question it. He grabbed a gun on a rack behind him. It was a shot gun, then pulled a pistol out of the case. He gave her three boxes of ammo each. She wasn't sure how she felt about two guns when she came for one, and three boxes of ammo she couldn't possibly get through.

"People goin' missin' lately. You'll need it."

He rang her up, the price under what she knew all that would cost.

"Given me a discount?" she asked.

"Don't worry about it."

She paid with her credit card, then walked out with each gun loaded. The pistol tucked into her skirt and the shot gun thrown over her shoulder by the strap. She carried her goods to a thrift store down the block and got a pair of black running shoes that were well wore, but in good shape. They were already broken in, so that saved her feet from new shoes pain. She bought a small crossover she could stuff with ammo. She arrived at the motel with a pep in her step and a smile on her face. She was ready to go. She made a quick stop in her room to drop off her boots and the extra ammo. She didn't imagine she'd run through all six boxes in a day. She took one box of each, organized what she could in her purse, then met the others outside.

"It's a good day to die hard."

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Ophrenia's mouth of was awfully dry when she got up in the morning. She and Z had hit the local bar to chat up the locals about where to find the old lady, but it hadn't gone as planned. There was a baseball game on and she got terribly distracted. She made several friends with the men at the bar, talking to them about different games that happened over the season. She drank her fill of drink, got treated to a few rounds of beer and treated in turn. It was a good night. A few of the guys gave them a ride back to the motel after sundown. She did remember Jen saying not to be out after dark. They were more than happy enough to drop them off after she said she knew Morton. Apparently the old man liked to watch the games at the bar, but all that traveling he did today must have worn him out.

She slept like a baby on the hard and lumpy motel bed. Drinking always put her right to sleep.

She got up the next morning and decided not to torture herself with hot clothing. She couldn't do anything about her suitcase being mostly all black, but she could warm something cooler and leave her beloved jacket in the room. She dressed in a tight black t-shirt with the anarchy symbol across the chest and red plaid and pleated mini skirt she tucked the shirt into. She'll have to suffer with her combat boots and invest in getting different shoes from one of the stores in town when she had the time. She didn't bother with her makeup and her hair was shriveled to hell. She wet it and put in leave in conditioner to get her natural curls bouncy, before leaving the room.

She got to the cafe just when everyone else did. Jen was already there with the map of the town out on the table. Ophrenia saw a sign that the cafe served breakfast, until noon. She was right on time to order french toast and bacon with a cup of orange juice. She sat at the table with her drink, waiting for her food to be ready. And there was way too much going on between Neko being mad at Jen, and Jen not knowing how to string together a proper sentence. She was losing the plot quick with all her 'ums' and 'uhs' and elongated syllables. And now she wants them to go into the swamp to deal with a place that's likely to get them dead? What the fuck did she get herself into. She didn't think Eleanor was worth all this trouble, but she's a messy bitch for drama and curious shit.

She sipped her juice, quenching her thirst. "Cool, so we'll go to the swamp, go to an abandoned house that's guaranteed to get us dead, and then...Guess I'm in. I take none of you brought of gun, because if you think bats and wooden planks are going to do anything against gators, you've got another thing coming." Or whatever the hell else is out there. She's got her gun license in Tennessee, but California's got the squeaks when it comes to conceal and carry. She could probably find a gun shop in town that wouldn't mind she's registered in another state.

The waitress sat her plate down in front of her. She smiled and thanked her. She'll need proper shoes, a gun, and she's got an hour to make that happen. Sounds easy enough.

Tyrant Shell: The Answer of Rain (An Armored Core Inspired Mechapunk)

You know I'm down, and I'm still reading your PM. That's a lot of shit to get through.

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Mention: Zeltzin@Bartimaeus

Ophrenia walked out the door with Z. The image of a woman flashed in the window right before she left. She frowned. That was interesting. Spooky town and their ghosts. Or maybe it's the mix of humidity and the exhaust from the truck that just passed by. Anything was possible. She thanked Z for holding the door open for her.

"I'm very good at this. I just don't do well with dudes that mustaches are a few snipes away from looking like Hitler. I'm sure he says the n-word in private and probably committed a hate crime in college." She put her arm around Z's shoulder for a split second, then took it off. It was way too hot and she remembered that Z doesn't seem to like being touched. "But let's put that vexing man out of our heads and move onto plan B. The Black house. We could knock on the door and ask if the old lady will talk to us."

Seemed easy enough. She knew old people would open the door for anyone who knocked. Or in the case of rich old people, have a maid or butler or assistant do it for them. She used to be a door-to-door saleswoman for knives. She knew who to would budge and who wouldn't. Old retired people living on their pension and desperate to talk to anyone would gladly let her through the door. Not when she looks like she does now, but back then it was all uniforms and clean image.

"I promise I'll try harder this time. I doubt we'll run into anyone else that looks like him. Think the local bar will have people willing to point us in the right direction?"

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Mention: Zeltzin@Bartimaeus and Callum "5 degrees from a porn 'stache" Black @Punished GN

Ophrenia didn't take offense to Z moving her out of the way a bit. She saw what she was trying to do with her placating gesture. Callum was all but ready to kick them out and Z swooped in and saved the day, which was what she wanted...kinda It's good cop, bad cop reversed this time. Instead of her coming in as the voice of reason when they tried to get the secretary to get them in contact with the old lady, now it was Z's turn. Half of what she wanted and half her need to tell Callum what she thought of the...look he achieved. Whatever he was going for. It was a nice touch that Z took him off guard asking about Eleanor. He got quiet for a moment, hesitating right before he lied through his teeth and kicked them out.

"Sheriff Parts? Is his first name Private?" She looked at Z. Cops are a big deal, but she's not about to be punked by some cop name Parts. She'd get them sooner arrested cracking jokes at his name, than they would for being brown in the South. "Before we go, I just want to confirm you're aware that we're aware that you're a lying liar who lies." She pointed to everyone in the room for confirmation, but didn't really wait for one then gave a thumbs up. "Okay, great. We're all on the same page. And since you're a liar, you can bet your ancestors' slave owning wealth that you will see us again. Of course, I'll take reparations to guarantee you'll never see me again, but you're not going to cut that big a check."

She nudged Z with her elbow. "Let's go, before Sheriff Penis escorts us out of this...fine establishment." She whispered, "I've been kicked out of way better places." But she didn't actually whisper it. It was very much staged and in a near empty room anyone could hear her. She headed towards the door. Time to go to her Plan B, knock on the old lady's door and see if they can get answers that way.

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Mention: Zeltzin@Bartimaeus and Callum "5 degrees from a porn 'stache" Black @Punished GN

Ophrenia raised her hand away from Z when she slapped it away. She shook her hand out and grimaced. It didn't hurt and she didn't much care, but the lady was staring at her so she had to sell that Z losing her shit would be a bad idea for her if they didn't get what they wanted. She thought they were doing well so far. So well in fact, they summoned a cartoon villain from the '30s.

She's seen a lot of weirdos from her time in LA, but that's west America weird. He most definitely didn't fit with any of the weirdos she grew up around in Tennessee. His whole...everything rubbed her the wrong way. Like who makes the personal choice to look like that in this century? A villain that's who. A tall villain. A long legged villain in the middle of a Louisiana swamp town. Great. She's doubting if Eleanor's worth all this trouble, but he introduced himself as Callum Black so he's gotta be related to her in some way. He's not the one they needed to speak to and she didn't care to keep up the charade if this wouldn't get them their goal. It'd be a bust as soon as they tried to talk their way out of showing him a lie, anyway.

"Wow. Shouldn't you be tying up some white woman on the tracks to heist a train?" She gestured to the disrepair of the building. "Seems like you need to. The renovation budget is like three decades behind. We can't sue you for the bike. The damage doesn't exist, but we can sue you for whatever disease we're breathing in." She scratched the back of her neck. "I'm getting kinda itchy. Are you itchy Z? She's itchy. How much for a disease borne pathogen from your family's back water swamp abomination?"

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Mention: Zeltzin@Bartimaeus

Ophrenia grinned. "Time to ruin someone's day." She hated to do, especially in a lie. She's worked a ton of customer service jobs and nothing said 'shit on my day' then someone bitching about something that had nothing to do with you. But it also got fast results from the ones that wanted you out of their face. She hoped they were in for the fast option. '

She opened the door, holding it open for Z, then followed her inside. The place looked as bad on the inside as it did on the outside. Wall paper from the '70s peeled on the walls. There were ladders with buckets of paint in section where the wall paper was taken off to give the building an update. The ceilings had those popcorn bumps and water damage. Maybe when it was done, it wouldn't look like they'd get asbestos poisoning just from breathing. There was a lady at the desk. She could've been anywhere from age 55 to 80. It was hard to tell with her white hair, few wrinkles and her floral granny suit.

She went right up to her, giving her signature creepy smile to unsettle her. Her bright eyes piercing through her soul. "Hi, so we have a bit of a problem and we heard from some locals that a woman named Mary-Louise is the person to go to fix it." She patted Z's shoulder. "You see some kids, we were told they're names are Genesis and Cody, vandalized my friend's friend's bike. She's an absolute nut about her bike. Like ready to commit murder for it. Anyway we can get this resolved peacefully? I'm not trying to catch a charge over some no good kids causing problems, you dig?"

I Remain Quest (A cruise ship horror set on a boat where you decide the fate of the cast!)

Mundane.

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Mention: Zeltzin@Bartimaeus

Ophrenia didn't feel a particular way about Z turning her down for a roommate. To each their own. She was trying to save money by going halves, but whatever. The walk from the cafe to the motel was short. In this heat it felt like forever and she was very disappointed when they arrived at the motel and that too didn't have A/C. Or at least A/C from this century. There was an A/C hanging out the window the lobby. She didn't expect anything less in their room with their two beds. She grinned at Z teasingly. Wiggled her eyebrows and resisted the urge to blow a kiss at her. That would be too much for a total stranger.

They were given a room on the first floor. Not ideal. She liked second floors, but Z had a limp and they had a lot of walking to do so it would probably be best for her leg at the end of the day when they came back.

*********

It was another short walk to the office building. It said public relations across the front. There was work being done on it. Considering how old the town is, she's surprised none of the other buildings seem to have work being done on them. They're probably in a line up. Black family buildings first, then everyone else gets their turn.

"Hope we don't breathe in asbestos or get lead poisoning. Speaking of, let's not drink the tap water." She didn't want to know what swamp tasted like nor did she want whatever illness causing microbes were in it either. Z suggested two ideas that had Ophrenia's eyebrows in her hairline. Neither of which would be a good idea for them, especially not with her in the picture.

"Thoughts, compañera?" Z said.

"Do you not see me? Do you not see you? We'd be clocked right away saying anything about business dealings. I know these types. We don't fit the part of business partners. I don't have a suit in my bag and I'm sure you don't have one either. Let's just ask about the old lady like Jen suggested." She snapped her fingers, something Jen said right before they left clicked into place. "Remember she said that the old lady love her kids and grandkids. The grandkids' names were Gen-something and Cody, right? And they're troublemakers. We go in say we want to talk to Mary-Louise about her grandkids. Something about one of them scratching your bike or spray painting it or setting it on fire. They might connect us right away. Could be a good strat to get our foot in the door."

She gave Z a once over, then moved her hand in a motion referring to Z's face. "You're going to have to do something about that to get it to work though. The stoicism is hot, but we need anger, righteous fury. Something that says 'Some little punks fucked up my bike and there will be hell to pay.'"