(D2, EE, Motel) House of Strangers

[Jonathan Whitford]

"Reason I got from under the heel of our old bosses was because I was cautious and looked for the right time to strike. We're in a unknown situation at the moment, and I would rather us have some people I can rely on than have to wander around this place by my lonesome, relying on those who have know idea what we are. If Marlowe here is suggesting what I think he's suggesting, even though I just met you all, I'd be for it."

Jon kept sitting as he spoke, finally opening his wine bottle and began to slowly pry open the cork with his hands. "At least until we're done here, anyways." He looked over to the Brit and shrugged. "Back in my day, you were just the right age to drink. I'm not with the law here, and if you're one of us, no reason why you shouldn't be allowed to have a drink."

Though, the fields and the dimension point raised a excellent point of his lack of knowledge of the situation. "Since I just arrived, how about you all tell me what I've missed so far with this 'investigation'. Reader's Digest version, please."

[Reina Silva]

"Party would be fun, neh." Jean turned to Reina. "Wouldn't it?" He almost smiled.

"I didn't think you would like parties, but it would be." She'd slowly moved so her head was hanging off the bed.

"Not much has happened yet, far as I know."

[Jean Wellspeak]

"Food, drink? what's there not to like?" Jean asked Reina.

[Marlowe Phillips]

I gave the tall man an affirmative nod.

"A Motley. Usually, that's for groups with grand plans and long term goals. But, short term alliances of convenience or necessity can benefit from a temporary one, especially so far from an established Freehold."

I turned my attention to Blondie. "There's nothing wrong with a little faith, Jean. But, we should be wary of the threats of this world and from the ones beyond it. Regardless of whatever is here in Maize, there are things out there that hunt our kind and would like to drag us back to the other side. Without a safe haven to shelter us, we only have each other."

[Steve]

It seemed the large elemental had little to offer, more interested in making sure the others weren’t going to get in the way of his own business.

[Penn Umbra]

"I wouldn't mind having back up. Especially if we start kicking over stones that someone wouldn't want kicked over." He pulled the hood down from his head, the wispy vapor of darkness that made up his hair wild and unkempt in loose curls.

"As far as what we've uncovered? Only the beginning. There's something old here. Pre colonizer. You can see it in the three sisters crops, but I can't make heads or tails of it."

[Tiffani Noelle]

Tiffani giggles lightly at Jean when he became obviously confused about certain modern terminology - she had no idea just how far the temporal distance was between his past and the current present.

"Yeah, Jean, you have to be 21 years old to drink in this country. Because - I can only assume something magical happens at midnight on your 21st birthday that gives you a supreme sense of judgment and responsibility to handle, say, a beer. Of course, the government thinks you're plenty old enough to die in a war at age 18 ... or have babies, or get married, or consent to sex, or drive a car, or be tried as an adult ... but damn, man, that beer. No way ... you have to be 21 to handle that monster."

She watches Reina with a certain level of envy, a tiny grin playing on her lips - watching Reina relaxed on the bed with her head hanging over the edge.

"So, anyone give any thought yet to going into the corn ourselves instead of sitting here waiting impotently for whatever it is that's about to happen? Plus, some of you have those tricky wireless phones with Google on it - and someone with a car might even drive to the nearest town with a library. See what we turn up about this place's history. I doubt whatever we're facing is a first time thing."

[Imogen Baker]

Imogen shook her head when Tiffani mentioned underaged drinking, she wasn't anyone's parent and she didn't have any issues with it. They weren't exactly normal, after all, and she might have done similar drinking when she was younger. She might have partaken but she was fine enough with just her Oreos, having brought them here herself. However, she did imagine Marlowe would have only good whiskey on him. A private detective with bad whiskey didn't seem to quite fit the bill.

She looked questioningly at the others to see if there was a volunteer for the library idea. The last thing she wanted to do was to spend her time at an old library. The field was far more fun. "I get the feeling that all of the important details are probably found with the people here than some books a few towns away. Nobody here quite sticks out, it seems."

[Marlowe Phillips]

"Newspaper archives are what we'd want." I spoke up after listening to the comments a suggestions bouncing around the room. "If there are any for a paper that covers Maize. It's probably better to speak with some of the locals, if we want to learn the town's history. Looking into the fields isn't a bad idea either."

"Do we want to band together, then? Do we want to form a Motley? Even if it's just a loose association, where we're inclined to help one another if needed."

[Imogen Baker]

It wasn't a marriage and they were the only outsiders in town, the most peculiar outsiders too. Imogen was willing to tag along and see where it went. She did have a car to bail if things got too hairy, at least. She raised her hand up at Marlowe's question. "Sure, I'm willing to chip in however I can."