Encounterlogs
Trevors Odd Encounter Sr Emmelline 241209
In the unique setting of The Trove Barcade, a quaint establishment adorned with nautical themes and vintage arcade games, Trevor and Antoinette find themselves enjoying a quiet night out. Their casual conversation, filled with personal anecdotes and mutual concerns, is abruptly interrupted by a brash young man who draws their attention toward a woman in a green sundress. Trevor, believing he recognizes the woman, decides to approach her, introducing a pivotal moment in their evening. Meanwhile, Antoinette watches on, monitoring the situation from a distance while engaging with the rowdy patrons around her.
The situation takes an unexpected turn when Trevor is inexplicably compelled to attempt to steal the woman’s purse, under the influence of mind control initiated by a bet amongst drunken patrons. This highlights the underbelly of Haven's social dynamics, where supernatural abilities can intersect with everyday life in troubling ways. Antoinette's timely intervention, physically stopping Trevor with a kick and her verbal reprimand, defuses the situation, demonstrating her awareness and quick thinking. Additionally, the situation underscores the close-knit connection between Trevor and Antoinette, as she is able to recognize Trevor's out-of-character behavior and act swiftly to prevent further consequences. As the young men responsible for the mind control hastily retreat under the pressure of confrontation, the evening concludes with Trevor and Antoinette reflecting on the bizarre events, leaving the barcade with a greater appreciation for their bond and a reminder of the strange world they inhabit.
(Trevor's odd encounter(SREmmelline):SREmmelline)
[Sun Dec 8 2024]
At The Trove Barcade
This room is dominated by a sprawling, weathered bar. The bar's surface, polished to a high sheen, is inlaid with a mosaic of colorful sea glass, glinting in the dim, lantern-like lighting.
The walls, painted a deep, oceanic blue, are adorned with an eclectic assortment of nautical paraphernalia. Aged maps, and faded flags are interspersed with vintage arcade game marquees. The ceiling, draped with tattered sails and thick, knotted ropes, gives the impression of being below deck on a ship.
In the corners of the room, clusters of arcade games flicker and beep, their colorful screens casting a kaleidoscope of light onto the wooden floorboards. The air is filled with the clatter of pinball machines, the electronic melodies of video games, and the occasional thud of an axe hitting its target.
Behind the bar, a vast array of bottles is displayed, their contents ranging from craft beers to exotic rums. The bartenders, dressed in pirate garb, deftly mix cocktails, their movements punctuated by the clink of glass and the hiss of a freshly opened beer.
North/South: Restrooms
Northeast: Games
East: Axe Throwing
Southeast: Competitive Games
Down: Laser Tag
It is night, about 30F(-1C) degrees, and there are a few dark grey stormclouds in the sky. There is a first quarter moon.
(Your target has been mind controlled by another into acting as their agent in a crime, compelled to perform a robbery or assault for this other agent. It is up to their allies to arrive and stop the crime and try to uncover the criminal.
)
Antoinette smiles to Trevor as they sit at the bar, "Yeah, I can understand that, of course. You have to do what you need to, to keep your people safe." She sets down her mostly empty beer bottle. "I guess right now the only person I really have to look out for is me, so it's a bit easier to decide to stay out of it like that." There's a pause and then adds, "But, you know, if you or yours ever need patched up or something, feel free to reach out."
It's a relatively quiet night at the Trove for both Antoinette and Trevor. It's a hangout session, the two are just having a friendly chat about Haven, and their lives. Nothing too much to write home about, though.
"It's funny," Trevor replies to Antoinette softly. "Could have used you the other night. I went hunting shortly after you went to bed, got myself into a little bit of a situation. Fortunately, there were some other doctors around, really patched me up!"
It's a normal night at the arcade. Various college aged teens hang about, playing the games and most likely some using their fake ids to buy a drink or two. The evening is generally quiet, minus one group in the corner who appears to be playing a drinking game of sorts. They appear to be swigging beer and drawing cards at a rather quick rate. With occasional cheers and laughter breaking through the otherwise fairly peaceful arcade. The sound of videogames can also be heard in the background, over the conversation of Trevor and Antoinette. A young man separates himself from the gang playing a drinking game and up to the bar, bumping slightly into Trevor in the process. "Oh sorry dude," he says with a little laugh, as he sways slightly, waiting in line for the bartender's attention.
Trevor turns his head briefly as he gets bumped by that young man. "You're good," he comments, before turning his attention back towards his conversational partner that is Antoinette.
Antoinette lifts her brows, "Situation, huh?" She gives Trevor a quick once over in an assessment-like fashion before giving him a smile. "Glad you seem to be alright though now." Her gaze shifts toward the young man as she gathers up her beer to take another drink. "Do you want another round?" She asks Trevor, since she might be able to catch the bartenders attention too after the younger man.
The young man unfortunately, seems to fail to notice the social graces, for while he's waiting to be served, he spots a young woman walking through the arcade towards a vacant table. Presumably she is waiting for someone, or is there for a quiet night's drinking. Either way, this young man gawks at her, and says to Trevor, "Oh dude! Look at her!," he says, pointing to the admittedly rather curvacious young woman. The woman wears a simple emerald green sundress, and a pair of sparkling heels. She carries with her a sequined handbag. In fact, if both someone and Antoinette were to look, they'd see that her bag, her clothing, her shoes show they're quite fancy. The woman herself is fairly pretty and striking, with black hair that has been pulled back in a tight bun.
The young man unfortunately, seems to fail to notice the social graces, for while he's waiting to be served, he spots a young woman walking through the arcade towards a vacant table. Presumably she is waiting for someone, or is there for a quiet night's drinking. Either way, this young man gawks at her, and says to Trevor, "Oh dude! Look at her!," he says, pointing to the admittedly rather curvacious young woman. The woman wears a simple emerald green sundress, and a pair of sparkling heels. She carries with her a sequined handbag. In fact, if both Trevor and Antoinette were to look, they'd see that her bag, her clothing, her shoes show they're quite fancy. The woman herself is fairly pretty and striking, with black hair that has been pulled back in a tight bun.
In the corner of his eye, Trevor manages to catch sight of that particular young woman, his gaze scanning from Antoinette to eye her passing through the bar. "Huh," he says, lifting a hand to run it through his hair. "I feel like I recognize her. I can't like.." he squints, inspecting that woman curiously even more. And then Trevor says to Antoinette, "I'll be right back, yeah? Grab us drinks, and I'll come back. This is gonna eat me alive if I don't find out who that is." Then, Trevor just moves off, wandering through the patrons to find this young woman in particular.
"Ooh he going to get some!," the young man says, hooting and generally making a lot of noise. Finally, the cue moves up and the man is at the bar. he orders a couple of beers, presumably for his mates, before walking off to retake his seat at the table, where the drinking game is taking place. Meanwhile, Trevor is able to find the woman rather easily, for she isn't going anywhere. "Hello," she says with a nod to Trevor. "Can I help you?" She sits casually, her handbag set in a chair next to her, her legs crossed.
"Hm? Oh, sure." Antoinette tells Trevor as she watches him move off toward the woman. She adjusts her seat a little, nosy as she is, she tracks Trevor's movements through the crowd and the woman who really was overdressed for this place. She looks to the man with a wry smile. "He's definitely taken, and not even by me. And he's head over heels. So if he's getting any, it's not from her." Referencing the overdressed lady.
Trevor finds that woman easily enough and just casually strolls right up to the table, "I'm not sure," he says, blue eyes inspecting the woman before him. "You might be be able to help!" A nod is sent to the empty seat across from the woman, "Mind if I join for a sec?" He asks.
The young man for his part is long gone, before Antoinette's remark can reach his ears. He continues drinking rather copiously with his mates, and resuming the drinking game. The crowd growing a bit louder as the night wears on. Meanwhile with Trevor, the young woman looks a little surprised, but shrugs. "Um... sure? I'm meant to be meeting my date here of all places but..." she looks about and shakes her head. "He's not here yet. What can I help you with?"
Antoinette gets her beer order in with the bartender, turning her attention toward Trevor and the woman to watch with some curiosity.
That's invitation enough for Trevor, and he slides himself into the chair opposite the woman. "Right," he begins, laying his hands flat atop the table. "First things first," he says to her. "I feel like I know you from somewhere." There's another curious inspection of her, blue eyes scanning her facial features for anything that might be a lightbulb moment. "It's the main reason I came over here to chat. What's your name, if you don't mind me asking? Maybe that'll ring a bell."
"Julia," the woman replies to Trevor, though she still has a rather dubious expression on her face. "What can I help you with?," she asks once again. Meanwhile, the card game at the other table appears to have gotten heated, judging from the raised voices, and multiple angry bangs upon the table. The reason behind it isn't known however. Only snatches of phrases can be heard such as, "It's not going to work." And, "You're not doing it right," Though what the situation might be would be difficult to tell.
Antoinette slips off her stool, collecting up three bottles of beer, moving closer toward where Julia and Trevor were, though her attention was half on the card game as well. She's about halfway there, because of her split attention.
Those angry voices has Trevor glancing up, his eyes searching for the sound - searching for threats or danger coming from rowdy drunk people. That threat doesn't seem immediate, so his attention focuses back on the woman in front of him, though he's keeping a wary eye on that group in the corner.
"Julia, Julia.." Trevor repeats the name back to himself, and then kinda comes up with nothing. "Okay, nah, I don't actually know you. Sorry about that," he makes his way to leave but stops, sitting back down. "You're waiting for a date, but he's not here yet? He or she, brought you to this place, and you're dressed all fancy dancy?" Trevor leans back in his stool, letting out an appreciative whistle. "Clearly whoever they are is completely missing out."
At the card game, some kind of truce seems to be reached, as the game seems to resume. The same young man earlier gets up, on his way to the men's room, when he sways into Antoinette. "oh wowo lady," he says looking at the woman closely. "you know your dude is going to get some. Don't interrupt. You not with him are you?," he asks of Antoinette, briefly paused in his tracks. "Because if you're not, you know, let the man get lucky!" With that, the young man breezes off. On his way to the men's room, he smacks Trevor on the back as if they're good friends saying to him, "You go and get it dude," hooting loudly once more, the man disappears. He's not walking all too straight, but he manages the trip. Back with Trevor, the young woman nods. "yeah, meant to be our first date," she explains, as she opens up her sequined purse, to glance at her phone. "Nothing yet, but... I'll give it another few minutes."
Antoinette scoffs as the young man sways into her, "Men." She murmured, ignoring the man's words and closing the distance to the table. She sets three bottles of beer down on the table, putting on a bright smile. "So, did you figure out where you know her from?" She asks Trevor, looking toward the woman again. "Hi there. I'm Toni. I figured I'd get you a beer too just in case you were one of Trev's long lost friends or something."
Trevor grunts as he's smacked on the back, turning to angrily glare at the guy. "I swear, these drunks.." Trevor glances over at Antoinette as she crosses the table. "It turns out," he says to Antoinette. "I do not know her, she just looks super familiar to someone I thought I knew, it's super weird." As Trevor talks to Antoinette he ever so slightly inches his stool closer to someone - it's subtle, though perhaps not for Trevor since the man is rather large. Though, it seems like he's making room for Antoinette, without so much as even waiting for an invite from someone. "For what it's worth, Miss, I think whoever it is, you're already way too good for them. Making you wait?" There's a 'tsk' sound from Trevor at that. "That's just completely disrespectful."
Trevor grunts as he's smacked on the back, turning to angrily glare at the guy. "I swear, these drunks.." Trevor glances over at Antoinette as she crosses the table. "It turns out," he says to Antoinette. "I do not know her, she just looks super familiar to someone I thought I knew, it's super weird." As Trevor talks to Antoinette he ever so slightly inches his stool closer to someone - it's subtle, though perhaps not for Trevor since the man is rather large. Though, it seems like he's making room for Antoinette, without so much as even waiting for an invite from Julia. "For what it's worth, Miss, I think whoever it is, you're already way too good for them. Making you wait?" There's a 'tsk' sound from Trevor at that. "That's just completely disrespectful."
Trevor grunts as he's smacked on the back, turning to angrily glare at the guy. "I swear, these drunks.." Trevor glances over at Antoinette as she crosses the table. "It turns out," he says to Antoinette. "I do not know her, she just looks super familiar to someone I thought I knew, it's super weird." As Trevor talks to Antoinette he ever so slightly inches his stool closer to Julia - it's subtle, though perhaps not for Trevor since the man is rather large. Though, it seems like he's making room for Antoinette, without so much as even waiting for an invite from Julia. "For what it's worth, Miss, I think whoever it is, you're already way too good for them. Making you wait?" There's a 'tsk' sound from Trevor at that. "That's just completely disrespectful."
The young man returns, presumably from his trip to the men's room, and breezes through, nearly bumping into Antoinette, given how much he's swaying. "Oh man," he says to Antoinette, "you ruinin the vibe! This man was going to get him some. Now he can't with you here. What a horrible wing woman," the young man says with a disappointed shake of her head. Julia in turn, shakes her head to Antoinette, "No I don't know..." and her words are cut off about then with the young man's brash words. Though menace to society he may be, he is soon gone, back to his table of friends. "Anyways, the young woman says, as she glances at her phone, once the rather boisterous man has gone, "I should probably go. I don't think my date's coming." At Trevor's words, the woman laughs. "Yeah, probably. But just the things that happen in Haven," she says as she slips her phone back in to her purse, and slowly slipping on her jacket, zipping it up and tying on her scarf, clearly bundling up for the cold outside. Her purse lies as it has been on the chair next to her."
"Go worry about your own vibe." Antoinette countered to the man with some annoyance as she slid into a seat and picked her drink up to take a sip. "Life's too short to be waiting around for people. Though I'm sorry you got all dressed up for nothing." She briefly flits a glance to the purse, seemingly in agreement with Trevor's assessment of the disrespect. "Don't forget your purse, hun." She adds casually with another sip of beer.
"I swear," Trevor grunts at the other disrespectful drunk man in the building. "If he talks about 'getting some' one more time, I might need to have a little chat with him out in the cold." Trevor slides just an inch or so closer towards Julia as she's bundling up. There seems to be something about him now, moving closer, and not to Julia, no, to that purse that's resting, oh so delicately right there. One of Trevor's hands slips casually down below the table where he attempts now to jack that purse without being caught.
And well...
Trevor is a large man, and being quiet and stealthy about something isn't particularly in his nature. Whatever his plans for that purse were, are surely bound to be noticed quite obviously.
the woman nods easily to Antoinette, she is still busy with doing up all the layers she's clearly brought. She isn't really looking at the purse, as she is conversing with the pair. Though then she notices Trevor holding the purse. "Oh yeah, my sister gave it to me," she tells the man. She clearly has no idea of what his motives might actually be, beyond just looking at it. "She said it'd add some sparkle to my outfit." Back at the table with the card game, the game itself continues, though they seem to be excited about something. Money is brought out, and piled up on the table, as if they were taking bets on something or other.
The woman might not be paying much attention, but since Antoinette was already looking at the purse, seeing Trevor go for it wasn't hard. There's a furrow of her brow, like it still takes her a second to register that him going for the purse doesn't make sense. She gives Trevor a kick in the shin, cutting him a -look- that conveys he better drop that purse even as she tells the woman, "It totally adds some sparkle, I wonder where she got it from." The noise from the other table is a little distracting though and she sneaks a peek back over.
Trevor glances at the door behind him. And then, something goes on under that table, and maybe Julia isn't privvy to the sudden kick to Trevor's shin. But he lets out a grunt of discomfort at it, frowning at Antoinette. "Yo," he says, "The hell?" But it seems like her plan has worked - Trevor just hands the purse back to Julia, with a, "Ah, here you go," and then just seems mostly a little confused at why Antoinette was kicking him in the first place. "It's a nice purse," Trevor the wise word on all things purses before he slumps back down into his seat glaring at Antoinette the shin kicker.
As Trevor hands the woman back her purse, for some reason, there is a loud cacophony at the card table. The money has been swiped away by a member at the table, and divided amongst about half the table. The other half seem quite upset, swigging their beers, and gesticulating. They appear however, to be gesticulating in the direction of Trevor and Antoinette. Though why that is, isn't yet revealed. Snatches of phrases can be heard again, given how loud they're being. "It would have worked" and 'I almost had it." and "Fucking unreliable!" In the meantime, the woman nods, seemingly unaware of what went on. She takes the purse and nods. "Thank you," she says, before she rises and walks out into the cold night air."
Antoinette looks more fully toward the table with slightly narrowed eyes, barely registering the woman leaving. Then she looks back to Trevor. "Don't you glare at me. What the hell were you doing?" She asks.
Trevor blinks at Antoinette, "I was... handing her her purse back?" It might not be an intentional lie from Trevor, maybe he really doesn't know what was going on. There is confusion etched in his face right now, a lot of it too.
"It didn't look like that's what you were doing." Antoinette states matter-of-factly, though there is a beat of pause like maybe she's second guessing her own assumptions. "...Sorry for kicking you." She reluctantly tacks on, attention drifting back to the other table, like she's mulling on something.
The cacophony continues at the table, where the game seems to continue. Though one young man, not the one from before, looks over to the pair of Antoinette and Trevor. he seems to clock the look that the woman gives Trevor. He separates himself from the table, to the disapproval of his mates, especially from the man earlier who had engaged both Antoinette and Trevor in conversation. Some gesticulating him to sit back down. The man simply shakes his head, seeming determined. he makes his way over to the couple. Though he doesn't appear quite as drunk as his peers. "I'm sorry," the man says, and this one, in stark comparison to the latter, is more softer spoken. "I don't mean to interupt but I wanted to tell you... well..." the man fidgets, seeming quite bashful. "Don't... you know, be too hard on him," he says and it's Antoinette he addresses, gesturing to Trevor. "My friend well... he's learning some things. Questionable things probably, at white oak. He swore he could make anyone do something they ordinarily wouldn't. I don't know why. And it was a bet see. And well... he saw you," gesturing to Trevor, "and he saw the woman, and he bet that he could make you steal her purse. Just thought you should know. He didn't mean anything by it. You know... he's just drunk and yeah. I doubt he'd have actually made it happen anyways."
The cacophony continues at the table, where the game seems to continue. Though one young man, not the one from before, looks over to the pair of Antoinette and Trevor. he seems to clock the look that the woman gives Trevor. He separates himself from the table, to the disapproval of his mates, especially from the man earlier who had engaged both Antoinette and Trevor in conversation. Some gesticulating him to sit back down. The man simply shakes his head, seeming determined. he makes his way over to the couple. Though he doesn't appear quite as drunk as his peers. "I'm sorry," the man says, and this one, in stark comparison to the former, is more softer spoken. "I don't mean to interupt but I wanted to tell you... well..." the man fidgets, seeming quite bashful. "Don't... you know, be too hard on him," he says, addressing Antoinette, gesturing to Trevor. "My friend well... he's learning some things. Questionable things probably, at white oak. He swore he could make anyone do something they ordinarily wouldn't. I don't know why. And it was a bet see. And well... he saw you," gesturing to Trevor, "and he saw the woman, and he bet that he could make you steal her purse. Just thought you should know. He didn't mean anything by it. You know... he's just drunk and yeah. I doubt he'd have actually made it happen anyways." fix
Trevor bolts up right, and stares at the man who's just given out a bunch of information so willingly, and so out in the open. "Look," he says to him. "I'm going to start counting down from ten," there's an anger to his voice - a pot beginning to simmer. "And when I get to zero.." he trails off there, hoping this new man is smart enough to figure out exactly what Trevor's plan is when he gets to zero.
"Ten."
"Nine."
Antoinette gives the young man a polite smile as he explains what happened even as Trevor starts his count down. She adds on to it with a, "Please tell your friend that I know what he looks like now and that if he isn't more careful he might end up finding out what -I've- been learning at White Oak." And there's a subtle edge in her tone that might imply he doesn't want to find that out at all. And then she's sitting back, taking another drink of her beer as she flicks a look to the student that caused the trouble who was still at the table.
And Antoinette is maybe also silently following along with Trevor's countdown, watching intrigued.
"All right all right. Don't shoot the messenger. I'm sorry. I just didn't want you getting into trouble for it is all. I'll go," the man says, looking chastened, though to be fair he hadn't done anything. Regardless, he beats a hasty retreat. His mates, who had witnessed the reaction, all rise to hear what the man has to say. He quickly beckons to his table mates, gesturing them to leave. The group of youths quickly grab up their things, and collectively walk out the door, though admittedly they need to support a few of their more intoxicated friends out into the cold.
"Two," Trevor says, loudly enough to make sure the youths can hear exactly where he was in the countdown. And once they're gone, he glares at the door - fuming with rage.
"Jesus fucking Christ," he says, letting out an exhale of breath.
Lochana slides her glass of sweet ice tea between her hands on the table, taking the straw and swirling the ice blocks round and round in the glass. "Tea is new," she replies to Trevor. "Lochana like it. But Howl shop's mocktail tea is no good. Sweet tea is good." She chatters away with Trevor in her terrible broken English.
"I've never tried that tea mocktail," Trevor admits easily, only pausing in his thoughts to take a bite of his caesar salad. "So," he says then, once that bite is finised - it's mostly lettuce, but Trevor destroys that lettuce like a rabbit anyway. "Sweet tea..? And what else, what other teas? I'm not really the biggest fan of tea, so, tell me about them? Or, what your favourite drink is." As Trevor says the sentences and asks the questions, he frowns - probably realizing that all of this might be difficult to convey properly.
In the hometown's diner, all seems well. There's the comfort of lively chatter, the humdrum of normalcy. Then the air shifts, and suddenly, something feels sharp and wrong. A cry that's half pain, half pleasure echoes faintly through the diner's thick walls, loud enough to be heard by both someone and Lochana. Then the cry echoes again, louder this time, from the alleyway behind the diner, a guttural scream that sends a ripple of unease through the diner. For a brief moment, every conversation stops, every fork poised in mid-air. The clinking of glass, the hum of the jukebox, all of it fades into a tense silence. Eyes flicker to the windows, to the doors, but no one moves. No one else seemed inclined to act, too comfortable, too willing to ignore the obvious distress right outside.
In the hometown's diner, all seems well. There's the comfort of lively chatter, the humdrum of normalcy. Then the air shifts, and suddenly, something feels sharp and wrong. A cry that's half pain, half pleasure echoes faintly through the diner's thick walls, loud enough to be heard by both Trevor and Lochana. Then the cry echoes again, louder this time, from the alleyway behind the diner, a guttural scream that sends a ripple of unease through the diner. For a brief moment, every conversation stops, every fork poised in mid-air. The clinking of glass, the hum of the jukebox, all of it fades into a tense silence. Eyes flicker to the windows, to the doors, but no one moves. No one else seemed inclined to act, too comfortable, too willing to ignore the obvious distress right outside.
Lochana is in the middle of taking a breath to lurch into another clumsy monologue of too-short sentences and stunted vocabulary when the screams cut through the atmosphere of the diner. She, like all the other diners, freezes and her too-blue eyes snap to Trevor, widening. "No good..." she manages a little whimper.
If Trevor was a wild animal, all the hair on his body would most likely be standing up. He's not, so it doesn't, and besides his arms a covered by a warm overcoat so nobody can see that anyway. "No," he says, in complete agreement with Lochana. His blue gaze lifts, scanning outside the windows for signs of anymore trouble. Perhaps it was a wolf catching some sort of animal? That happens from time to time. Yeah, it's Haven. Wolves get in close, some animal wanders in from the forest where it shouldn't be.
Trevor's eyes drift past the diner's window as the low hum of converation continued around him. His gaze locks onto a figure just beyond the glass: A middle-aged man, wild-eyed and covered in blood that doesn't seem to be his own. His clothes were in disarray, his shirt torn open, revealing bloodstained skin beneath. The man's face was smeared with grime and gore, his expression a chaotic blend of panic and disorientation. His breath comes in sharp, ragged gasps as he glances nervously up and down the street, as though suddenly aware of the public eye.
The man seems to realize just how exposed he was, the blood and his disheveled state likely to draw unwanted attention. His wide, frantic gaze darts to the surrounding buildings, then back to the alley from which he had emerged. The tension in his body was palpable as he ducks quickly back into the shadows, disappearing into the dark mouth of the alleyway, as though reconsidering the wisdom of being seen in such a state.
The situation takes an unexpected turn when Trevor is inexplicably compelled to attempt to steal the woman’s purse, under the influence of mind control initiated by a bet amongst drunken patrons. This highlights the underbelly of Haven's social dynamics, where supernatural abilities can intersect with everyday life in troubling ways. Antoinette's timely intervention, physically stopping Trevor with a kick and her verbal reprimand, defuses the situation, demonstrating her awareness and quick thinking. Additionally, the situation underscores the close-knit connection between Trevor and Antoinette, as she is able to recognize Trevor's out-of-character behavior and act swiftly to prevent further consequences. As the young men responsible for the mind control hastily retreat under the pressure of confrontation, the evening concludes with Trevor and Antoinette reflecting on the bizarre events, leaving the barcade with a greater appreciation for their bond and a reminder of the strange world they inhabit.
(Trevor's odd encounter(SREmmelline):SREmmelline)
[Sun Dec 8 2024]
At The Trove Barcade
This room is dominated by a sprawling, weathered bar. The bar's surface, polished to a high sheen, is inlaid with a mosaic of colorful sea glass, glinting in the dim, lantern-like lighting.
The walls, painted a deep, oceanic blue, are adorned with an eclectic assortment of nautical paraphernalia. Aged maps, and faded flags are interspersed with vintage arcade game marquees. The ceiling, draped with tattered sails and thick, knotted ropes, gives the impression of being below deck on a ship.
In the corners of the room, clusters of arcade games flicker and beep, their colorful screens casting a kaleidoscope of light onto the wooden floorboards. The air is filled with the clatter of pinball machines, the electronic melodies of video games, and the occasional thud of an axe hitting its target.
Behind the bar, a vast array of bottles is displayed, their contents ranging from craft beers to exotic rums. The bartenders, dressed in pirate garb, deftly mix cocktails, their movements punctuated by the clink of glass and the hiss of a freshly opened beer.
North/South: Restrooms
Northeast: Games
East: Axe Throwing
Southeast: Competitive Games
Down: Laser Tag
It is night, about 30F(-1C) degrees, and there are a few dark grey stormclouds in the sky. There is a first quarter moon.
(Your target has been mind controlled by another into acting as their agent in a crime, compelled to perform a robbery or assault for this other agent. It is up to their allies to arrive and stop the crime and try to uncover the criminal.
)
Antoinette smiles to Trevor as they sit at the bar, "Yeah, I can understand that, of course. You have to do what you need to, to keep your people safe." She sets down her mostly empty beer bottle. "I guess right now the only person I really have to look out for is me, so it's a bit easier to decide to stay out of it like that." There's a pause and then adds, "But, you know, if you or yours ever need patched up or something, feel free to reach out."
It's a relatively quiet night at the Trove for both Antoinette and Trevor. It's a hangout session, the two are just having a friendly chat about Haven, and their lives. Nothing too much to write home about, though.
"It's funny," Trevor replies to Antoinette softly. "Could have used you the other night. I went hunting shortly after you went to bed, got myself into a little bit of a situation. Fortunately, there were some other doctors around, really patched me up!"
It's a normal night at the arcade. Various college aged teens hang about, playing the games and most likely some using their fake ids to buy a drink or two. The evening is generally quiet, minus one group in the corner who appears to be playing a drinking game of sorts. They appear to be swigging beer and drawing cards at a rather quick rate. With occasional cheers and laughter breaking through the otherwise fairly peaceful arcade. The sound of videogames can also be heard in the background, over the conversation of Trevor and Antoinette. A young man separates himself from the gang playing a drinking game and up to the bar, bumping slightly into Trevor in the process. "Oh sorry dude," he says with a little laugh, as he sways slightly, waiting in line for the bartender's attention.
Trevor turns his head briefly as he gets bumped by that young man. "You're good," he comments, before turning his attention back towards his conversational partner that is Antoinette.
Antoinette lifts her brows, "Situation, huh?" She gives Trevor a quick once over in an assessment-like fashion before giving him a smile. "Glad you seem to be alright though now." Her gaze shifts toward the young man as she gathers up her beer to take another drink. "Do you want another round?" She asks Trevor, since she might be able to catch the bartenders attention too after the younger man.
The young man unfortunately, seems to fail to notice the social graces, for while he's waiting to be served, he spots a young woman walking through the arcade towards a vacant table. Presumably she is waiting for someone, or is there for a quiet night's drinking. Either way, this young man gawks at her, and says to Trevor, "Oh dude! Look at her!," he says, pointing to the admittedly rather curvacious young woman. The woman wears a simple emerald green sundress, and a pair of sparkling heels. She carries with her a sequined handbag. In fact, if both someone and Antoinette were to look, they'd see that her bag, her clothing, her shoes show they're quite fancy. The woman herself is fairly pretty and striking, with black hair that has been pulled back in a tight bun.
The young man unfortunately, seems to fail to notice the social graces, for while he's waiting to be served, he spots a young woman walking through the arcade towards a vacant table. Presumably she is waiting for someone, or is there for a quiet night's drinking. Either way, this young man gawks at her, and says to Trevor, "Oh dude! Look at her!," he says, pointing to the admittedly rather curvacious young woman. The woman wears a simple emerald green sundress, and a pair of sparkling heels. She carries with her a sequined handbag. In fact, if both Trevor and Antoinette were to look, they'd see that her bag, her clothing, her shoes show they're quite fancy. The woman herself is fairly pretty and striking, with black hair that has been pulled back in a tight bun.
In the corner of his eye, Trevor manages to catch sight of that particular young woman, his gaze scanning from Antoinette to eye her passing through the bar. "Huh," he says, lifting a hand to run it through his hair. "I feel like I recognize her. I can't like.." he squints, inspecting that woman curiously even more. And then Trevor says to Antoinette, "I'll be right back, yeah? Grab us drinks, and I'll come back. This is gonna eat me alive if I don't find out who that is." Then, Trevor just moves off, wandering through the patrons to find this young woman in particular.
"Ooh he going to get some!," the young man says, hooting and generally making a lot of noise. Finally, the cue moves up and the man is at the bar. he orders a couple of beers, presumably for his mates, before walking off to retake his seat at the table, where the drinking game is taking place. Meanwhile, Trevor is able to find the woman rather easily, for she isn't going anywhere. "Hello," she says with a nod to Trevor. "Can I help you?" She sits casually, her handbag set in a chair next to her, her legs crossed.
"Hm? Oh, sure." Antoinette tells Trevor as she watches him move off toward the woman. She adjusts her seat a little, nosy as she is, she tracks Trevor's movements through the crowd and the woman who really was overdressed for this place. She looks to the man with a wry smile. "He's definitely taken, and not even by me. And he's head over heels. So if he's getting any, it's not from her." Referencing the overdressed lady.
Trevor finds that woman easily enough and just casually strolls right up to the table, "I'm not sure," he says, blue eyes inspecting the woman before him. "You might be be able to help!" A nod is sent to the empty seat across from the woman, "Mind if I join for a sec?" He asks.
The young man for his part is long gone, before Antoinette's remark can reach his ears. He continues drinking rather copiously with his mates, and resuming the drinking game. The crowd growing a bit louder as the night wears on. Meanwhile with Trevor, the young woman looks a little surprised, but shrugs. "Um... sure? I'm meant to be meeting my date here of all places but..." she looks about and shakes her head. "He's not here yet. What can I help you with?"
Antoinette gets her beer order in with the bartender, turning her attention toward Trevor and the woman to watch with some curiosity.
That's invitation enough for Trevor, and he slides himself into the chair opposite the woman. "Right," he begins, laying his hands flat atop the table. "First things first," he says to her. "I feel like I know you from somewhere." There's another curious inspection of her, blue eyes scanning her facial features for anything that might be a lightbulb moment. "It's the main reason I came over here to chat. What's your name, if you don't mind me asking? Maybe that'll ring a bell."
"Julia," the woman replies to Trevor, though she still has a rather dubious expression on her face. "What can I help you with?," she asks once again. Meanwhile, the card game at the other table appears to have gotten heated, judging from the raised voices, and multiple angry bangs upon the table. The reason behind it isn't known however. Only snatches of phrases can be heard such as, "It's not going to work." And, "You're not doing it right," Though what the situation might be would be difficult to tell.
Antoinette slips off her stool, collecting up three bottles of beer, moving closer toward where Julia and Trevor were, though her attention was half on the card game as well. She's about halfway there, because of her split attention.
Those angry voices has Trevor glancing up, his eyes searching for the sound - searching for threats or danger coming from rowdy drunk people. That threat doesn't seem immediate, so his attention focuses back on the woman in front of him, though he's keeping a wary eye on that group in the corner.
"Julia, Julia.." Trevor repeats the name back to himself, and then kinda comes up with nothing. "Okay, nah, I don't actually know you. Sorry about that," he makes his way to leave but stops, sitting back down. "You're waiting for a date, but he's not here yet? He or she, brought you to this place, and you're dressed all fancy dancy?" Trevor leans back in his stool, letting out an appreciative whistle. "Clearly whoever they are is completely missing out."
At the card game, some kind of truce seems to be reached, as the game seems to resume. The same young man earlier gets up, on his way to the men's room, when he sways into Antoinette. "oh wowo lady," he says looking at the woman closely. "you know your dude is going to get some. Don't interrupt. You not with him are you?," he asks of Antoinette, briefly paused in his tracks. "Because if you're not, you know, let the man get lucky!" With that, the young man breezes off. On his way to the men's room, he smacks Trevor on the back as if they're good friends saying to him, "You go and get it dude," hooting loudly once more, the man disappears. He's not walking all too straight, but he manages the trip. Back with Trevor, the young woman nods. "yeah, meant to be our first date," she explains, as she opens up her sequined purse, to glance at her phone. "Nothing yet, but... I'll give it another few minutes."
Antoinette scoffs as the young man sways into her, "Men." She murmured, ignoring the man's words and closing the distance to the table. She sets three bottles of beer down on the table, putting on a bright smile. "So, did you figure out where you know her from?" She asks Trevor, looking toward the woman again. "Hi there. I'm Toni. I figured I'd get you a beer too just in case you were one of Trev's long lost friends or something."
Trevor grunts as he's smacked on the back, turning to angrily glare at the guy. "I swear, these drunks.." Trevor glances over at Antoinette as she crosses the table. "It turns out," he says to Antoinette. "I do not know her, she just looks super familiar to someone I thought I knew, it's super weird." As Trevor talks to Antoinette he ever so slightly inches his stool closer to someone - it's subtle, though perhaps not for Trevor since the man is rather large. Though, it seems like he's making room for Antoinette, without so much as even waiting for an invite from someone. "For what it's worth, Miss, I think whoever it is, you're already way too good for them. Making you wait?" There's a 'tsk' sound from Trevor at that. "That's just completely disrespectful."
Trevor grunts as he's smacked on the back, turning to angrily glare at the guy. "I swear, these drunks.." Trevor glances over at Antoinette as she crosses the table. "It turns out," he says to Antoinette. "I do not know her, she just looks super familiar to someone I thought I knew, it's super weird." As Trevor talks to Antoinette he ever so slightly inches his stool closer to someone - it's subtle, though perhaps not for Trevor since the man is rather large. Though, it seems like he's making room for Antoinette, without so much as even waiting for an invite from Julia. "For what it's worth, Miss, I think whoever it is, you're already way too good for them. Making you wait?" There's a 'tsk' sound from Trevor at that. "That's just completely disrespectful."
Trevor grunts as he's smacked on the back, turning to angrily glare at the guy. "I swear, these drunks.." Trevor glances over at Antoinette as she crosses the table. "It turns out," he says to Antoinette. "I do not know her, she just looks super familiar to someone I thought I knew, it's super weird." As Trevor talks to Antoinette he ever so slightly inches his stool closer to Julia - it's subtle, though perhaps not for Trevor since the man is rather large. Though, it seems like he's making room for Antoinette, without so much as even waiting for an invite from Julia. "For what it's worth, Miss, I think whoever it is, you're already way too good for them. Making you wait?" There's a 'tsk' sound from Trevor at that. "That's just completely disrespectful."
The young man returns, presumably from his trip to the men's room, and breezes through, nearly bumping into Antoinette, given how much he's swaying. "Oh man," he says to Antoinette, "you ruinin the vibe! This man was going to get him some. Now he can't with you here. What a horrible wing woman," the young man says with a disappointed shake of her head. Julia in turn, shakes her head to Antoinette, "No I don't know..." and her words are cut off about then with the young man's brash words. Though menace to society he may be, he is soon gone, back to his table of friends. "Anyways, the young woman says, as she glances at her phone, once the rather boisterous man has gone, "I should probably go. I don't think my date's coming." At Trevor's words, the woman laughs. "Yeah, probably. But just the things that happen in Haven," she says as she slips her phone back in to her purse, and slowly slipping on her jacket, zipping it up and tying on her scarf, clearly bundling up for the cold outside. Her purse lies as it has been on the chair next to her."
"Go worry about your own vibe." Antoinette countered to the man with some annoyance as she slid into a seat and picked her drink up to take a sip. "Life's too short to be waiting around for people. Though I'm sorry you got all dressed up for nothing." She briefly flits a glance to the purse, seemingly in agreement with Trevor's assessment of the disrespect. "Don't forget your purse, hun." She adds casually with another sip of beer.
"I swear," Trevor grunts at the other disrespectful drunk man in the building. "If he talks about 'getting some' one more time, I might need to have a little chat with him out in the cold." Trevor slides just an inch or so closer towards Julia as she's bundling up. There seems to be something about him now, moving closer, and not to Julia, no, to that purse that's resting, oh so delicately right there. One of Trevor's hands slips casually down below the table where he attempts now to jack that purse without being caught.
And well...
Trevor is a large man, and being quiet and stealthy about something isn't particularly in his nature. Whatever his plans for that purse were, are surely bound to be noticed quite obviously.
the woman nods easily to Antoinette, she is still busy with doing up all the layers she's clearly brought. She isn't really looking at the purse, as she is conversing with the pair. Though then she notices Trevor holding the purse. "Oh yeah, my sister gave it to me," she tells the man. She clearly has no idea of what his motives might actually be, beyond just looking at it. "She said it'd add some sparkle to my outfit." Back at the table with the card game, the game itself continues, though they seem to be excited about something. Money is brought out, and piled up on the table, as if they were taking bets on something or other.
The woman might not be paying much attention, but since Antoinette was already looking at the purse, seeing Trevor go for it wasn't hard. There's a furrow of her brow, like it still takes her a second to register that him going for the purse doesn't make sense. She gives Trevor a kick in the shin, cutting him a -look- that conveys he better drop that purse even as she tells the woman, "It totally adds some sparkle, I wonder where she got it from." The noise from the other table is a little distracting though and she sneaks a peek back over.
Trevor glances at the door behind him. And then, something goes on under that table, and maybe Julia isn't privvy to the sudden kick to Trevor's shin. But he lets out a grunt of discomfort at it, frowning at Antoinette. "Yo," he says, "The hell?" But it seems like her plan has worked - Trevor just hands the purse back to Julia, with a, "Ah, here you go," and then just seems mostly a little confused at why Antoinette was kicking him in the first place. "It's a nice purse," Trevor the wise word on all things purses before he slumps back down into his seat glaring at Antoinette the shin kicker.
As Trevor hands the woman back her purse, for some reason, there is a loud cacophony at the card table. The money has been swiped away by a member at the table, and divided amongst about half the table. The other half seem quite upset, swigging their beers, and gesticulating. They appear however, to be gesticulating in the direction of Trevor and Antoinette. Though why that is, isn't yet revealed. Snatches of phrases can be heard again, given how loud they're being. "It would have worked" and 'I almost had it." and "Fucking unreliable!" In the meantime, the woman nods, seemingly unaware of what went on. She takes the purse and nods. "Thank you," she says, before she rises and walks out into the cold night air."
Antoinette looks more fully toward the table with slightly narrowed eyes, barely registering the woman leaving. Then she looks back to Trevor. "Don't you glare at me. What the hell were you doing?" She asks.
Trevor blinks at Antoinette, "I was... handing her her purse back?" It might not be an intentional lie from Trevor, maybe he really doesn't know what was going on. There is confusion etched in his face right now, a lot of it too.
"It didn't look like that's what you were doing." Antoinette states matter-of-factly, though there is a beat of pause like maybe she's second guessing her own assumptions. "...Sorry for kicking you." She reluctantly tacks on, attention drifting back to the other table, like she's mulling on something.
The cacophony continues at the table, where the game seems to continue. Though one young man, not the one from before, looks over to the pair of Antoinette and Trevor. he seems to clock the look that the woman gives Trevor. He separates himself from the table, to the disapproval of his mates, especially from the man earlier who had engaged both Antoinette and Trevor in conversation. Some gesticulating him to sit back down. The man simply shakes his head, seeming determined. he makes his way over to the couple. Though he doesn't appear quite as drunk as his peers. "I'm sorry," the man says, and this one, in stark comparison to the latter, is more softer spoken. "I don't mean to interupt but I wanted to tell you... well..." the man fidgets, seeming quite bashful. "Don't... you know, be too hard on him," he says and it's Antoinette he addresses, gesturing to Trevor. "My friend well... he's learning some things. Questionable things probably, at white oak. He swore he could make anyone do something they ordinarily wouldn't. I don't know why. And it was a bet see. And well... he saw you," gesturing to Trevor, "and he saw the woman, and he bet that he could make you steal her purse. Just thought you should know. He didn't mean anything by it. You know... he's just drunk and yeah. I doubt he'd have actually made it happen anyways."
The cacophony continues at the table, where the game seems to continue. Though one young man, not the one from before, looks over to the pair of Antoinette and Trevor. he seems to clock the look that the woman gives Trevor. He separates himself from the table, to the disapproval of his mates, especially from the man earlier who had engaged both Antoinette and Trevor in conversation. Some gesticulating him to sit back down. The man simply shakes his head, seeming determined. he makes his way over to the couple. Though he doesn't appear quite as drunk as his peers. "I'm sorry," the man says, and this one, in stark comparison to the former, is more softer spoken. "I don't mean to interupt but I wanted to tell you... well..." the man fidgets, seeming quite bashful. "Don't... you know, be too hard on him," he says, addressing Antoinette, gesturing to Trevor. "My friend well... he's learning some things. Questionable things probably, at white oak. He swore he could make anyone do something they ordinarily wouldn't. I don't know why. And it was a bet see. And well... he saw you," gesturing to Trevor, "and he saw the woman, and he bet that he could make you steal her purse. Just thought you should know. He didn't mean anything by it. You know... he's just drunk and yeah. I doubt he'd have actually made it happen anyways." fix
Trevor bolts up right, and stares at the man who's just given out a bunch of information so willingly, and so out in the open. "Look," he says to him. "I'm going to start counting down from ten," there's an anger to his voice - a pot beginning to simmer. "And when I get to zero.." he trails off there, hoping this new man is smart enough to figure out exactly what Trevor's plan is when he gets to zero.
"Ten."
"Nine."
Antoinette gives the young man a polite smile as he explains what happened even as Trevor starts his count down. She adds on to it with a, "Please tell your friend that I know what he looks like now and that if he isn't more careful he might end up finding out what -I've- been learning at White Oak." And there's a subtle edge in her tone that might imply he doesn't want to find that out at all. And then she's sitting back, taking another drink of her beer as she flicks a look to the student that caused the trouble who was still at the table.
And Antoinette is maybe also silently following along with Trevor's countdown, watching intrigued.
"All right all right. Don't shoot the messenger. I'm sorry. I just didn't want you getting into trouble for it is all. I'll go," the man says, looking chastened, though to be fair he hadn't done anything. Regardless, he beats a hasty retreat. His mates, who had witnessed the reaction, all rise to hear what the man has to say. He quickly beckons to his table mates, gesturing them to leave. The group of youths quickly grab up their things, and collectively walk out the door, though admittedly they need to support a few of their more intoxicated friends out into the cold.
"Two," Trevor says, loudly enough to make sure the youths can hear exactly where he was in the countdown. And once they're gone, he glares at the door - fuming with rage.
"Jesus fucking Christ," he says, letting out an exhale of breath.
Lochana slides her glass of sweet ice tea between her hands on the table, taking the straw and swirling the ice blocks round and round in the glass. "Tea is new," she replies to Trevor. "Lochana like it. But Howl shop's mocktail tea is no good. Sweet tea is good." She chatters away with Trevor in her terrible broken English.
"I've never tried that tea mocktail," Trevor admits easily, only pausing in his thoughts to take a bite of his caesar salad. "So," he says then, once that bite is finised - it's mostly lettuce, but Trevor destroys that lettuce like a rabbit anyway. "Sweet tea..? And what else, what other teas? I'm not really the biggest fan of tea, so, tell me about them? Or, what your favourite drink is." As Trevor says the sentences and asks the questions, he frowns - probably realizing that all of this might be difficult to convey properly.
In the hometown's diner, all seems well. There's the comfort of lively chatter, the humdrum of normalcy. Then the air shifts, and suddenly, something feels sharp and wrong. A cry that's half pain, half pleasure echoes faintly through the diner's thick walls, loud enough to be heard by both someone and Lochana. Then the cry echoes again, louder this time, from the alleyway behind the diner, a guttural scream that sends a ripple of unease through the diner. For a brief moment, every conversation stops, every fork poised in mid-air. The clinking of glass, the hum of the jukebox, all of it fades into a tense silence. Eyes flicker to the windows, to the doors, but no one moves. No one else seemed inclined to act, too comfortable, too willing to ignore the obvious distress right outside.
In the hometown's diner, all seems well. There's the comfort of lively chatter, the humdrum of normalcy. Then the air shifts, and suddenly, something feels sharp and wrong. A cry that's half pain, half pleasure echoes faintly through the diner's thick walls, loud enough to be heard by both Trevor and Lochana. Then the cry echoes again, louder this time, from the alleyway behind the diner, a guttural scream that sends a ripple of unease through the diner. For a brief moment, every conversation stops, every fork poised in mid-air. The clinking of glass, the hum of the jukebox, all of it fades into a tense silence. Eyes flicker to the windows, to the doors, but no one moves. No one else seemed inclined to act, too comfortable, too willing to ignore the obvious distress right outside.
Lochana is in the middle of taking a breath to lurch into another clumsy monologue of too-short sentences and stunted vocabulary when the screams cut through the atmosphere of the diner. She, like all the other diners, freezes and her too-blue eyes snap to Trevor, widening. "No good..." she manages a little whimper.
If Trevor was a wild animal, all the hair on his body would most likely be standing up. He's not, so it doesn't, and besides his arms a covered by a warm overcoat so nobody can see that anyway. "No," he says, in complete agreement with Lochana. His blue gaze lifts, scanning outside the windows for signs of anymore trouble. Perhaps it was a wolf catching some sort of animal? That happens from time to time. Yeah, it's Haven. Wolves get in close, some animal wanders in from the forest where it shouldn't be.
Trevor's eyes drift past the diner's window as the low hum of converation continued around him. His gaze locks onto a figure just beyond the glass: A middle-aged man, wild-eyed and covered in blood that doesn't seem to be his own. His clothes were in disarray, his shirt torn open, revealing bloodstained skin beneath. The man's face was smeared with grime and gore, his expression a chaotic blend of panic and disorientation. His breath comes in sharp, ragged gasps as he glances nervously up and down the street, as though suddenly aware of the public eye.
The man seems to realize just how exposed he was, the blood and his disheveled state likely to draw unwanted attention. His wide, frantic gaze darts to the surrounding buildings, then back to the alley from which he had emerged. The tension in his body was palpable as he ducks quickly back into the shadows, disappearing into the dark mouth of the alleyway, as though reconsidering the wisdom of being seen in such a state.