San Brujera Confidential - Old Hex Blues #1

 - 1 -

I knew the lady was trouble the moment she knocked at the window of my office. Mainly because my office was on the fifth floor.

‘Your elevator is out of order’ She answered the question that I was about to ask, sitting gracefully on a levitating broom like a horse. But the rules of courtesy conducted me to conjure some snappy comeback.

‘And I bet the stairs were too much for your legs.’ And what legs those were. Starting somewhere around where fibers ended and continued all the way down her dress.

‘So, are you going to let me in or we’ll continue to trade pleasantries and gazes?’

My guts and hair standing on the back of my neck told me to say ‘no’, close the window shut and board it. My empty wallet though had more valid arguments.

‘Come on in, Veronica Lake. Make yourself at home.’

I step aside to let the broomcade to gracefully float inside.

‘Cute. But you’re way off the target, detective. [roll 2d10 on Witch’s names and Surnames: 6 / 3] My name is Beatrix. Beatrix Denu.’

[Roll Mind 8 + 2d10 (5+10 = 15 (+4 mod) // 12 vs d100 DN: 001% - Extremely Hard = 18. Fail]

‘A pleasure.’ I said courteously. And that was a genuine courtesy, that you usually treat strangers with. And it may have been wise to treat a woman who can teach me how to croak with a snap of her fingers, with respect. “I am…

‘No need to introduce yourself, Mr. Nash. I know what you are’ With the same grace she jumped of her sorghum steed.

I shrugged.

‘Anyone would if they opened a newspaper once or twice… Or stopped by my office door.’ “Elliot Nash. Private Investigation. Confidential Agent.” Was written on the glass of my door. Coughed out some dough on it too, I gotta’ tell ya’. Who would know that in the city where every granny can conjure a salamander to heat up her teapot it would be such an ordeal to find a guy who would paint a few letters. You’d also think that hiring a guy in a Mandrake’s suit who could fireball the letters in my door would cost more than a guy in overalls with a tin can of paint.

But laws of market proved me otherwise.

‘Gotta’ say though, I was surprised when I heard the stories about you. And I didn’t believe them first. But now, when I had a look at your place, I can see it’s true. You really don’t use magic’ She turned on her heels looking me right in the eyes. She had this glint in the corner of her pupil, the one that reminded me of a little girl in the zoo seeing a penguin for the first time and a selfish wish to possess a funny bird.

[Played on Character’s Complication C1 – Bigotry: Don’t use magic]    

 ‘Just like the newspapers said’ Another shrug, not without pride and with nothing to hide.

‘You don’t believe in it?’

‘Oh, I certainly do’ The lady being one of a reasons I do. ‘I just don’t use it.’

‘And why is that Mr. Nash?’

‘Personal reasons’

‘Which are?’

‘Personal’ I tried to be polite and genuine. Lord knows I tried, but I couldn’t hide the steel completely under all those gentleman manners. And Ms. Denu caught on quick. That’s why she didn’t continue that line of questing, but the way she slightly pouts it was obvious she was not satisfied with the answer.

I didn’t care.

Besides, like any woman I knew she was fast to change the subject.

‘You are something else, Mr. Nash’

‘That’s what the people keep telling me. But there is still no discount’

[Roll on Event focus 53 / 26: Adversity the Physical]

[Oracle question Chaos Factor 5: Is Ms. Denu targeted by adversity? 50/50 chance on d100 = 68 - No]

[Oracle question Chaos Factor 5: Does Ms. Denu want to hire Nash to target the ‘Adversity’? 50/50 chance on d100 = 99 – Extreme No]

[The answer – Nash is the target of Adversity!]

[Oracle question Chaos Factor 5: Does Ms. Denu want a “memento” from Nash’s past? Somewhat likely chance on d100 = 03 – Extreme yes!]

‘I am not here to hire you, Mr. Nash. I’ve come here to collect.’ Something about the way she said that made me take a step back. Behind the sanctuary of my desk.

‘Should have brought scythe instead of broom, if that’s the case’

‘Oh no, Mr. Nash. Don’t get me wrong, you are cute, in your own way, but I’ve come for what is rightfully mine, but if you keep standing in my way...

A quick motion of a wrist and a fire appeared in her open palm ‘I might “take” you as well...’