Nightshade

One of the icicles came deadly close to piercing her heart, luck or fate or whatever, deemed that one to bounce off her chest. Though the second one got her arm but good. It was just a bruise. "It's just you and me now, Sappy," she shouted righteously, "now how about you give me some information." The word Envy came from her mouth, but the spirit attached to the word made it almost unrecognizable to those without mystic knowledge. The Envy spirit bore into the tree's soul, searching through it's great catalog of sins. Floating towards the cat, she cajoled to it, "tsk tsk tsk, come here, girl, auntie Jess will take you away from this mean old wood block."

Gonna shoot Helltree with Past Sins Remembered. If it doesn't have a soul, it doesn't work. If you consider it "inhuman" soul, it'll save at half. Paralyze, DC 20. And if it fails, it must recite the last Envious thing it did. Writing this up now! Toughness: 1d20+10 11 Rerolling Toughness: 1d20+10 12 Well, good while it lasted. 25-12=13. I think she's down.

What would it be to take the cat out of the tree?

She didn't let the 'how does it taste' thing out of her mind. Ash was probably somewhere here on the chopping block. "Think salted cherries," she said with a matter-of-fact grin. She had no idea how she tasted in any way. Gluttony hadn't even asked for that. Though she was sure it would be on it's mind soon. Morgan, and most people, were like putty in her wiles. It came easy. "Ash," she let the word hand there with a questioning inflection. She tilted her head, "then again, if it's why you think I'm related, we've most likely met at the family reunion." She happily scoffed at the thought of a family reunion with the Witchbloods. So many had scattered to the winds. "Morgan," she eyed the butcher, "I'm here to test your more exotic meats," she kept the innuendo going. "Me and my assistant are connoisseurs of certain types." She looked over at Vera with an evil grin. "But first," she looked back to Morgan, "I'm sure you have a position open? A little bird on a grapevine says you might have some need for," she leaned forward and whispered, "assistance?"

Past Sins Remembered, DC 20 Paralyze. Must confess the last greedy thing he did if he fails

Jessica looked at Jack, "you doing good there, babe" she asked with a smile, "don't get too tired. We still haven't finished our lunch." Though she had other plans for the white-haired beast. What other trouble could they get in to? She looked at the two left. Sure, she could get them with the fire, but more collateral damage for the good Dr Metropolis to fix. So she continued to go one by one. Little dominoes, all of them.She looked at one of the drugged up thugs, "you there," she said softly, " I don't think you've been honest lately. Tell us something." The word 'Greed', like the last that word she said, was pretty unrecognizable to the non-mystic among them. The Greed spirit passed easily into him, trying to make him think about all the greedy actions he'd done. Trying to get him to confess.

Jessica followed Zhu, wondering what would happen if she replied to the text. She pulled out her phone and typed a message. Looking around the greenhouse she got a special exhilaration from walking down the rows. Sure the greed spirit wanted rare, but the things she could do with these plants was magical. Figurative and literal magic. Though Jessica realized that she would have to pay for these somehow. The only money she had that wasn't stacked in the ritual circle was the change she had from what she bought earlier. She kept quiet, thinking how she would be able to finagle this. "Hey Zhu," she said looking up from the Orzhav Magi Moonbloom - a purple grey stalk that only ever showed its plumage during rare eclipses. This would be the one she would sacrifice to the greed spirit. She beckoned the girl over with a hand "Do you have a list of prices?" She hoped it wasn't too much. She was also glad this was Greed and not Envy. Envy would tell her to dash with it. Whether she obeyed or not was if the ritual failed or not.

I'd like more threads!

Jessica stroked Zhu's neck as she faced down, listening to her further confessions. "You didn't hurt any anything but your pride, baby girl," she said in a comforting voice, "that's not the worst thing you can hurt at all. Trust me, I know." She could have gotten angry, her privacy had been invaded. But Jessica was an open person. If not for the whole 'moves around in pockets' deal, she wouldn't have a lock screen. Granted there were some things people didn't want to know about, but she wasn't rude. She kept her business to herself, unless someone wanted to know something about her. It was a learned policy. Not too long ago, especially in high school, she was too forward. A lot of people learned about magic from her. There were some interested and some terrified. To wit, it's not something you open with. After that she walked over to get her milk, she opened the thing quickly. The hot dog wasn't bad, the gluttony in her made everything palatable. It would have to be really stinking gross for her not to eat it. She downed the milk slowly, looking like some milk commercial from the 80s mixed with a healthy dose of late night television parody. She was listening to Zhu speak, as she counted the swallows it would take to finish off the small bottle. Eight in one go. A satisfied sound escaping her as she finished the bottle. "Well then, Zhu," she walked back to the counter, flipping the bottle in a near by container, "might you show me to this magical little place?"

Though there was no sign of fear on her face, Jessica reflexively jumped as the cleaver slammed down. Morgan was just as he looked in the pictures. "Nice to meet you, Morgan," she said leaning forward, playing into his obvious glare, "my name is Killian. I'm here about a certain kind of meat that you specialize in," she said suggestively. She looked at Vera as if she were interrupting their conversation. She looked back to Morgan, pressing forward again, "I also hear you have, let's say, certain people in your employ." Jessica was not sure if the other red woman was an employee or meat, but she was eager to find out either way. Hopefully Vic was snooping around, getting information, while she distracted Morgan. Hopefully, she could get Morgan to answer a few questions without him knowing. Hopefully Vera would scram before she got into any trouble.

Jessica sighed, relieved. "It's OK, babe," she smiled and laughed, "if nothing is missing or messed up, I'm fine. The arcane information in there, I'm sure you cant understand, much less use. And the pictures and texts?" She grinned, "I'm pretty sure that's where all the red face came from." She softly lifted up Zhu's head to look at her again. "Nothing malicious, right?" It looked like the girl was truly sorry. Jessica wasn't going to hold it against her. "Now, about that herb garden," she said before taking the last bite of the hot dog, "I'm looking for a list of what you have in stock." She went over to the cold storage to get a bottle of milk. Free was always good for her.

Bluff: 1d20+11 22 Add +8 if Attractive applies Knowledge (civics): 1d20+2 4 Hahaha. No.

Jessica had never been in a butcher shop, but if she had to imagine one, this is what it would look like. The little old lady was out of place though. Her butcher shop had nicer people in it. Ah well, you can't have it all. She went up to the counter, looking at the person on duty. Acting wasn't her deal, but lying came easy to her. Especially to those who favored her. "I'm here to speak to Morgan. It's for a meeting." She nodded toward Vic, "my assistant will be taking notes on your establishment. Pay her no mind."

Zhu's normally coy act was growing weirder. Jessica thought it was just her tripping over herself because she wasn't used to Jessica. Not like that hadn't happened before. About the time Zhu mentioned the phone, she noticed someone familiar in the photos. Jack. From Claremont. He and Jessica were at Original BurgerShack on the Boardwalk. Nothing more salacious than a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and her winking while standing in front of him to show their height difference. Certainly something the overactive mind could chew on. Jessica's phone did buzz after Zhu mentioned it. Pulling it out of her hoodie pocket, there was a text from an unknown number. Jessica thought she's check her Jessica looked confused at the phone and then the girl. Strange things were afoot. She walked towards Zhu. Slowly, methodically, with a smile. "I'm not mad," she said looking down, putting her hand on Zhu's cheek, "Impressed, actually. I just want to know what you did." Her voice lowered, "I'll know if you're lying, sweet girl." Some parts intimidating and friendly at the same time. And here she was just to get some herbs.

Jessica grinned at the 'performance'. "You got the part," she said amused, "truly I was on the edge of my seat." She looked over to the bat Vic was thinking about taking, "no," she said looking to Vic again, "I'm pretty sure assistants don't carry baseball bats. Interferes with the note taking. Besides," she took a step back and looked around, trying to spot if they were spotted, "there are things I can do much worse than slapping them with a bat." She looked to Morgan's Meats and waved on Vic, walking towards the building. "Before we get in here," she about faced to look at her future apprentice, "I need you to promise me, if I have to do things to save you, just trust me." She looked to assure Vic about her ungainly sin magic. If Jessica was right about what they were doing in there, well, she was not leaving anything behind. Vic already left an impression on her, and she wanted to get to know her more.

Edited the former post to make sense.

Jessica knew not that Zhu was scanning her phone, but the young girl's red skin was delicious. So full of what she wasn't supposed to be doing. The drop of the milk bottle sealed it. Of course she wasn't paying for it, but she felt responsible for it nonetheless. "Yeah, babe," she giggled, "sorry about that." She pulled back up and reached in her pocket. The greed spirit drained her of almost all of her cash. Luckily she had a ten dollar bill in her back pocket. She knew how that got there, and would have to thank her mother later. It was almost Kara's birthday! Jessica really hoped this greed ritual paid off. "Don't worry about that, dear. It was just a distraction," she put the ten on the counter, "I am eating that hot dog though. Those stickers are cool. I'll share if you want."

Using Fill With Sin. It's a DC 25 Will save vs Damage.

Jessica looked at the other bugged out goofballs. It was pretty goofy looking. Exaggerated to cartoon extent, like she mentioned. Not like the guy who she was with. Jack and his sublime form. "Now, let's see if you listen to reason or if you get smacked down," Jessica spoke to the ones Jack wasn't wrestling to the ground. "Not to brag or anything but I'm pretty resourceful myself." She was silent for a second, "too big of words? How about this one?" The word that came our of Jessica's mouth was 'Sloth' but with more mystical additives enough to sound like a word they'd never heard before. The other roid rager felt the carnal spirit enter him urging him to slow down a bit. Jessica looked to him, leaning in and whispering, "I'd listen if I were you."

Reminding myself to change the post when I get back tonight.

Jessica was anything but a late bloomer. She showed off with a stretching yawn. The jeans and pullover hoodie she'd been known to wear through the winter - to blend in and not look any more weird - fit her snugly. "Well Zhu. I'm sure you'll find other ways to wow them. Cute looks aside, you seem to be well versed," she said taking a bottle of milk, a hot dog - which she took a bite of, some playing cards, and a sticker book of Freedom League heroes, "also, I do enjoy getting to know people," she said changing the subject, "I'm just sorry I can't trade you any information back." She put the random stuff on the counter. The talk of herbs was just what she wanted to hear, "oh, dear, you don't have to entice me, this is exactly the reason I came here. The herbs I mean." She grinned and leaned closer, a soft tone, "it's amazing what you can do with them with the right knowledge."

Jessica looked at the dumbfounded teenager with a smile as she tried to put words to thought. The girl looked like she'd never been at a loss for words ever. It was something Jessica had experienced a million times before. The empty stares not the empty words. OK, the empty words too. "It's fine dear," she grinned, "you probably get stares too, being so gosh darn cute." The girl did look familiar, little did Jessica know that she'd watched several of Zhu's videos. "Alexa, huh," she said looking through the store, keeping conversation, "you must get it all the time. The machine name, I mean." Looking at some of the oddball things that convenience stores carried. She didn't want to seem suspicious, she'd slide into the conversation about the garden soon. But then again, she thought Zhu might assume that of her anyway. Still, act smooth. Jessica looked at the shopkeeper, "so, what do you know? I mean, I'm probably not the only strange thing you've seen in your... thirteen, fourteen, fifteen at most years?"

Jessica couldn't help but smile and stare at the pretty girl as she let herself give into Pride. It was one of the very few times Jessica was quiet. Vic's words broke the silence. Jessica had already gone over the first few lessons in her head when Vic had agreed. "No you're not," she said under her breath rebuking the 'mess' comment to herself. But Vic was right, they had to have something to do about the problem at hand. "Well, you did capture some evidence," Jessica said tearing her eyes away from Vic to look at Morgan's Meats. "A direct approach could be viable," she said thinking out loud, "since we know nothing, if Morgan doesn't know anything, I could come in as an interested party. You could be my assistant." She paused for a moment and then asked, "how good are you at looking like you know how to take notes and nod? I'm pretty sure you've gone undercover," smirking at her own pun while still looking at the maybe sinister meat processor. "If this goes egg-shaped though, I have a sure fire escape plan."

Good times, good times.

Jessica enjoyed her rituals. Sure the carnal spirits were more demanding that just a simple everyday task, but it was a time for her to unabashedly cut loose with the spirits that powered her magic. Though she couldn't do it all in one go. It would last night upon nights for some. Wrath, Lust, Gluttony, and Sloth were 'easy'. But Pride, Envy, and Greed demanded so much from her that she hardly ever ritualized them. Unless she needed them. The cash was flowing low, so she wanted to press Greed in to action. Greed demanded expensive things. She'd already dumped her (near empty) credit cards, debit card, cash, notes, jewelry, and other valuables in a small circle made of salt and her own blood. But now? It only wanted something rare that belonged to someone else. It didn't matter how Jessica got it, but Greed wanted it. A light bulb of an idea popped in Jessica's mind. There was buzz around a new garden for reagents in the Southside. Specifically Lincoln. She wondered if she'd be able to make it in time. Sure enough, they were open. Though there was just one person tending shop. She looked young. Jessica wished she had her mother's ability to tell people's age and sizes by sight. But she was pretty sure that was a school age kid. She sighed and walked around the store as the girl mopped. "How's it goin," she smiled and waved at the girl. As she looked around the store, she tried to make conversation, "I'm Jessica. How's your night been?"