Los Angeles: Blood Moon - ❌💀labm-d2-montferrier-mysteries

Day 2 Location: The art gallery burned down Players: Alexander Montferrier(Slinar) ST: @!Your Hyennaes

As the night begins, Alexander droped the mask and got out of the Chantry. Taking one of the Tremere's vehicule, he goes in a little tour of the block, watching if anyone is following him, before going to park near the Toreador's burned down art gallery.

The building of the gallery was small semi-detached one-storey. Corrupted by fire it stood all black, embraced with dark scary stains of smoke on the walls.

Alexander began to look around, searching for lookouts using in augmented senses. [Auspex 1] Once sure no one was there, he began to look around the scene, thinking if it was something he would have done as a hunter, trying to get in the skin of the pyromaniac.

While he was roaming around the ashes, he found lots of broken bottles, it was absolutely not difficult for Alexander to find out by the type it was burning that the fire started both from inside and outside at the back street. Close to the garbage there were remainders of a huge plastic canister.

Montferrier looked at the plastic canister : "could it had been used to store gas ?" he asked himself. Looking around for security cameras, he started to extend his senses of smell to try to smell a puddle of gas somewhere around, left during the operation.

The smell caught the remainders of gas, more of that, the remainders of heavy smoke crawled into his nostrils to hit the brain and paint the horrific picture of a fire.

security cameras were on the angle of a jewelry store two buildings from the burnt building.

The former hunter has gone straigth to the jewelry, brewing a story plausible in his head to ask for the video tape ? Private detective hired to look out for who it was... That has always gone nicely... I'll see.

He looked if the jewelry was open, and if,did go straight in it.

At that time the shop was about to close, a few bodyguards were standing in the room. The shop was not big, but still needed and had a good defence. Montferrier could spot pretty modern alarm system.

Trying to appear as a simple private detective hired by the local shoppers to investigate on what happened on the gallery, to prevent it to happen again, he asked then if he could look at the camera. He also asked the version of the jeweller about what happened.

- Well we just arrived when the alarm system got activated, - the jeweller looked a bit lost, - fortunately for us or was nothing serious, just because of the fire car. Well, I'd like to show the videos, but I'm afraid I am not the one who decides the questions of security.

"Just watching the security cam, to be able to paint out a report for the shopkeepers of the neighbourhood. You know how occupied our policemen can be... and of course, if you allow me to see it, I'll be able to thank you in my report. Or if you prefer to stay anonymous, not say a word about you. Either ways, i'll give you a copy of the report once done of course, as a significant helper. You said something about a fire car too ?" he continued, trying to ease the jeweller and appeal to his sense of justice and ego.

The worker made a short glance at the security and added quietly: - When the shop closes, in about 15 minutes come to the back door. But that will cost if you really needed, you know? I could just give these to the police.

"That is not a problem, see you later." replied the Tremere.

After the time passed the guards were off, the owner closed the main door and put on the alarm system. He went around the building, carefully looking for the detective and seems had something in his pocket to defend. Just in case. He went closer to a closed back door.

Montferrier closed the distance to him, waving his hand as a sign of reconnaissance.

"Let’s see this quickly, before anyone notice."

The owner made a short sign with his fingers and hand, that probably meant that payment first

Alexander took from his vest some green money [Ressources 1] and pushed it in the hand of the owner, watching him silently.

The owner took the money and disarmed the back door. He still was alarmed with something just in case and seemed to be a pretty ok guy to defend himself. When the door opened, he provided the 'detective' to the security room. - I don't understand shit here... - he admitted.

Alexander begins to look at the security tape, trying to find the camera in the front and to review the records if the night of the fire.

It took him a little time to find the correct record. On the video he was a group of... students. Two of them were in local University jackets. And a girl leading the 'team'. Just before the fire. She seemed joyful and excited and pointed towards the side of the Elysium and then thy went out from the camera view zone.

The Tremere imprinted the look of the girl in his head, and has gone out immediately, letting the man close the thing up.

At the street He noticed a suspicious woman walking around the burnt place.

Alexander immediatly looked at her aura, staying in the shadows, not wanting to do anything before he was sure of who she was.

13:41

Not seeing anything, he stepped toward her, cautious of a potential embush.It's too nice to be true.

The woman seemed pretty busy with her examination yet to see Montferrier coming. She took a little light and made a photo of something.

Montferrier called her from ten feet away : "Hello there, doing some investigations ?". He stayed in the shadows if he could, and tried to listen if she had any heartbeat by augmenting his earing.

That was a bit weird. He did hear a heart. More of that - some really fast light heartbeat followed somewhere close to her. The woman turned. - Ah. Yes. I do... - she was carefully and attentively studying the man.

Alexander tried to locate where this second light heartbeat came from, while discussing with the woman. "I'm a local investigator, recruited by the local shopkeepers to understand what happened to this place, do you want to share our informations ? And can I enquire why you are investing it in the first place?"

A curious discovery was that the heartbeat went from... The woman herself. Close to her own heart. Nevertheless she didn't look like pregnant. Yet. - I am helping local police...

"So you are eager to share some informations ? I'll be happy to help our police, but I'm also need to fill my report to get paid. What about you and me helping each others?" he said, trying to appeal to her. While doing that, he used the blush of life to look more human. Some blood was drawn to his cheeks, and his breath began to be heard, as he had need to inhale after this tirade.

She turned and it was finally a chance to see her face. Nice and simple with a bit of southern blood. - Well, I am not supposed to. You should know that, but do you have anything on the case? (edited)

"I'm not supposed too either, as I am nothing but a concerned citizen, with nothing for the moment. If I am a collaborator on the other hand.."

- Who is your client then? - She got a little interested anyway.

'Local shopkeepers as I said."

- Which one?

"Can't say, it's in my contract. And you, you're helping local police, or are a part of ?"

- I only help. I am not working in the police. And I'd say they're still a lot shawinistic to let many women take the deal, - the chuckled.

"One more reason to help each other out. You'll prove those one your prowess, and I'll get my money and maybe answers. What do you say ?" He smiled to her, handling his hand toward.

- Uhmm... Well, okay. Let's try it. Should not make any bad, - she sighed, - I don't remember you. Usually I see a lot of detectives roaming around police cases.

"I'm quit new to all of this, I recently had investigations to do alone, and researchs. But now I'm up to this task. What I found for now is that there was several students moments before the fire who were excited and pointing at the gallery. They were leaded by a girl, and some of them wore the local University Jacket. Any young troublemakers in mind?" he said, before passing a hand on his chin and cheeks, on his eternal three days beard.

- University? - he seemed surprized, - That's interesting because I am working in one of them just now. Huh...

He began to describe the symbols he saw on the jacket. "You say work in one of them? What studies ?" he asked, seemingly interested. "And do you have other clues?" just after she answered.

- I'm providing several disciplines like religion, history and a part-time metaphysics club to attract students, - she laughed. And then offered Alexander her hand. - Linda Mason.

- Your university you're lookig for is the one that I work in.

Alexander smiled, happy to discover a new mortal after so many years, and shook her hand. The warmth of her reminding him of his grim condition, and he smiled, sadness burrowing deep in his heart. "I could be attracted to this club myself." he said, trying to be as nice and charming as possible. "Perfect! You think you could maybe gather some intels on those students while I continue my investigations ? Maybe you have another lead you would want me to follow? Oh, and here is my number." he wrote down his number on his notebook then gave it to her.

- Well, you saw the girl, maybe we could just visit the University archives to find the needed face?

"That would be wonderful. Shall we go now? Or can I just say that I'm working with you?"

- You can meet me during the day in the university and we can attend the archives. She accurately started to get out from the burnt area,

"It would be better if you sent me those, I already have personnals matters to attend tomorrow and I'm over-booked. I don't work this late by pleasure, trust me."

- I would. But I don't know who is the girl. That's you who have seen the faces.

"Fuck." he said, passing both of his hands on their face, pressing his eyes. "What about meeting you there tomorrow evening, let's say 9 pm." he told her, face style in his head.

07:04

"Plus, I could always find her with the ritual I learned." he thought.

- Oh. That's a bit too late, but I'll try to figure it out, - she looked concerned.

10:49

- Do you have a business card?

"Oh, no that's why I gave you the my number." he replied with a smile. That said, Jules departs, searching for a secluded place where he could do the ritual of the Illumanited Prey peacefully.

There were a lot of places Alexander could do that. So after a nice good-bye he found the closest convenient spot at the back parking of the closed cafe.

Alexander untied the white satin ribbon attached around his wrist, and began to breath in it, thinking of the girl at the lead of the youngs people, before letting it fall on the ground. He then took a matche and light it, letting the matche consume the ribbon. Smelling the fumes, he focused on the girl, of what she meant, of where she could be.

Little fire tongue licked Alexander's fingers, making him to drop the rest of the ribbon. As soon as this happened he heard a weird voices in his head. - Megs, that will be just Fan-tastic! You sure noone will find us? - Of course. We'll hide the shit at the old train station... The last words were indistinct and disappeared, leaving the light burn that didn't cause any harm. But definitely could. Montferrier heard of Auspex can have strange effects whipe developing.

@Slinar [Alexander Montferrier]

Alexander smiled, beginning to lick his finger slowly. "The old train station. Where could that be?"

The Hound of the Tremere took his phone and called the other Alex. "Hey there, i have a lead on who burnt down the art gallery. Old train station, youngsters. Where are you ?"

-"Oh, hello! Oh I am checking out another lead associated with the nightclub. Apparently a group of anarchists killed the invaders and hid the stuff at a factory. I'm currently checking it out with a friend."

"Good, I'll go check it out with Herr Bauer. Stay safe." he said before hanging up. He then called Frederick Bauer : "Herr Bauer, Montferrier calling, I got what seems to be a prey, you want to be part of the hunt ?"

"I AM ON MY WAY"

#❌💀labm-d2-old-train-station