The Antique Mall

Opening

It's been about a week since the events of the last Monday Night combat. Usagi has been trying to avoid most people, barring Nathan and Circeth. She has tried to talk to Moki but to no avail.

Nathan has been hard at work on his schematics. Circeth is aware that he's designing something that would wrap around his arms.

Circeth has been looking for places to lay their spores, and as well listening in for more details on the opposing areas.

What they're aware of, is that the Highlands was hit, and J-eezy is coming in to take over the place. A common name being heard is the "Retail Reaper". As a business owner, Circeth knows that the Retail Reaper is someone who has gone undefeated during the retail wars in the 50's. Him showing up is a sign of the end.

Circeth visits Katrina's office and relays the information to her. Katrina is naturally worried as she knows this is not good, and she ponders what to do. Katrina also lets slip that someone has been able to hold him back -- an open secret in the upper echelons. He recruits the best if he isn't killing them.

Katrina lays out a map, depicting the regions that everyone's visited. She points out a small location on the map, pointing out that it's an antique mall, and that a lot of crazy items can end up there. She instructs Circeth to go there, taking Nathan and Circeth, who she tells Circeth to get.

Katrina relays the information to Nathan and Usagi, and then mentions that Jimmy should probably get ready, prompting the group to realize that another person, a small anthropomorphic raccoon who holds sandwiches, named Jimmy.

After being briefed, the group heads out to the parking lot and get in the truck. Nathan takes advanced shotgun position, Usagi rests in the bed, Circeth sits in the passenger seat, and Jimmy drives. After an eventful drive, the group park at the antique mall -- a series of three buildings -- by a van with a wolf-head on the side. They hop out and hear some odd sounds.

As they look around, they see a tan woman with glowing gold tattoos. She wears a short red dress, similar to a performer's outfit. She appears to be doing some practice twirls and spinning a red and white stick which produces some odd noises. She mutters to herself, telling herself to go inside, to find it and that she'll know what it is.

Nathan, Circeth, and Jimmy approach. Usagi stands and watches by the truck. The woman notices them approaching and asks who they are. Jimmy introduces himself by complimenting her tattoos and showing his own tramp stamp. She introduces herself as Tori. Circeth asks what she's doing there, and she asks what's it to the group. Circeth explains that things have been tense in the area and that they're here to find things to help.

A woman with a long blue dress entered before Tori, and she's aware of it.

Nathan scours the ground for stones to infuse spells into, and does so as the others converse.

Eventually everyone heads into the antique mall and find themselves in what appears to be a grocery store, with fresh fruits and vegetables, a cafe, a frozen section, and other things.

Usagi heads to the back wall of the store -- the frozen section -- it's lined with freezers with no visible ways to enter an employees only area.

Usagi almost attempts to enter one of the freezers, trying to push into the storae area in the back, but is questioned by Circeth as to just what she's doing. Usagi mentions she doesn't really know, but something feels off. She then darts into another direction. Nathan looks at Circeth and asks if Usagi seems off. Circeth replies yes and immediately chases after her.

Nathan pounces up to the top of the shelf to follow and keep an eye on her. Circeth tells Tori that Nathan's behaviour is normal.

Usagi runs to Customer Service and runs into Imani -- her ex. She audibly gasps and calls out for Nathan and Circeth, who are close behind her, armed. Tori isn't far behind, twirling her staff.

A tiefling man with a leather jacket that has the symbol of the wolf on the van outside is talking to a man behind the counter with red hair, he seems bored and uninterested, looking past the tiefling in front of him. His name tag reads "Kevin", and he replies that he doesn't know, and he just works here. the two go back and forth, arguing that Kevin should know where things are.

Green kobold with a blue general store jacket like Kevin. His name tag reads "Oliver." He asks what he's looking for. The man tells the kobold that he's looking for a guitar as he heard through some rumors that a famous one was at this location. The kobold tells him that's probably on the 2nd floor -- of this 1-story building. The two deliberate on where the entrance is, noting that the building had fallen over in a tornado.

Usagi stares at a woman who has gold and bronze earrings, all white clothes, white hair, and a halo, which feels otherworldly. She asks customer service if there's clothing anywhere. Oliver points to a small outcropping of sports jerseys. Imani seems confused and asks if there's any clothes which normal people would wear.

Oliver tells her that there might be some things in the second building. As Imani turns away, she locks eyes with Usagi and freezes. Usagi is stunned, she says that she thought they killed her. Imani says that's not what she said. Usagi asks why she didn't say anything. Imani mentions that she didn't think she cared. Usagi runs up to Imani and hugs her, bawling into her shirt. Unsure whether she's happy or about to panic. Usagi mentions that Imani is her first friend

Imani looks to the rest of the group, noting that Usagi has made other friends. Nathan introduces himself, as does Tori and the other man.

The group heads outside and Circeth casts detect magic and feels the holiness of Imani, the infernal presence of Usagi... and another infernal presence in the Cafe. Her spores also detects a presence in the meat department. Circeth also notes that there is magic that feels innate to the area. Similar to an anomaly at the mall but not quite the same.

As they walk, Tori begins cleaning Jimmy off with a bit of wool.

The group makes it to the Cafe and find it's styled oddly -- more like a diner with 50's seats. Behind the counter is a busboy with 50's busboy garb, and the woman in the blue dress is also there.

Usagi feels uncomfortable and attempts to leave, but is stopped, feeling the presence of Audrey, who is making eye-contact with Usagi.

Audrey calls out that Usagi is the charity case. Usagi seems confused. Audrey flashes the pamphlet that was left on Usagi's bed. Audrey mentions that Usagi is hungry, implying that she's not been feeding as a succubus. Usagi seems offended and comments that's not her business. Audrey shoots back that it's their job and that Usagi doesn't even know the new way to go about that now.

Imani asks for help as well. Audrey is oddly combative, pointing it as rich that she was the one asking for help. Imani quickly tries to slide the topic away

The gang goes to investigate the other presence, finding a tank of lobsters who raise their claws as the group passes by. Jimmy and Radical both can communicate with the lobsters, who express worry that some of their brothers have been taken and pulled away from their trial by combat to earn their righteous place in Crawlhalla.

Usagi and Imani spot one of the refrigerators, and it seems to be leaking. They open the door and get pulled into a new space -- the true antique mall. They chat a little more and Usagi mentions Moki, and the mistake she made, and how she feels like Moki probably hates her. Imani tries her best to comfort her, wanting to do the right thing for Usagi and help out.

Tori, looking in the candy aisle and comes across a pack of balloons that feels familiar. She picks the pack up and is whisked away to another place. It feels warm. She sees herself at her parent's circus once again. A child approaches her nervously, with a star on her cheek. She nervously says hi. Tori asks if she had a good time, and the child nervously nods yes. She then asks if the child wanted anything. The child points at one of her balloons. Tori smiles, and performs her magic, making a balloon animal of a dalmatian. She asks if the child likes it. The child laughs and hugs Tori tightly, before Tori smiles and takes another yellow balloon, putting blue spots on it also like a dalmatian and handing it to her. The child runs off to her parents and Tori looks up, and notices she's at the second location, not too far away from Usagi and Imani, and they meet up.

Circeth, while looking around the perimeter, notes a small square window which looked like it was something else which was now filled with glass. The whole place seems like it wasn't originally a grocery store/antique mall. She approaches the slot and bends to look through. As she looks through, she sees a parking lot full of 90's-esque cars and overhears a conversation between two people. A regular greeting followed by one mentioning "I hope I'm the first happy face you see this evening." As she stands back up, she finds herself in the second area, by the others.

The others don't notice Circeth come in as she enters the group. Usagi only notices several minutes later and is relieved.

The four discuss how they got to the location. Circeth and Tori noted that they both saw a memory, but Usagi and Imani did not. Circeth thinks that since it has been so long that Usagi and Imani haven't seen each other for so long, then perhaps them meeting was enough for it to count.

Radical browses through the CD aisle and stumbles a certain CD by Jimmy. "A ticket to Margaritaville" he pulls the ticket off. It flys up as he turns, and he's whisked away to a giant Margaritaville blender and is aware he's at the second section

Nathan, who looks intently outside notices a faded sign that's rectangular and tilted, it doesn't look like it belongs to the antique mall, which sits on the left side. He squints at the piece of metal, and he feels a tap on his shoulder. Nathan turns around and a man asks him if he's okay as he's staring intently out the window. Nathan is caught off guard but replies he's just looking out, and he asks what that the sign outside is. The man simply replies that it means he's going to have a good time tonight, and then he leaves with his kids. As Nathan turns around, he is whisked to the second area

// ??? Abe Lincoln mannequin, Uncle Sam mannequin. Uncle Sam is holding Jimmy.

Nathan manages to burn the Uncle Sam mannequin to a crisp using a grenade with create bonfire in it. Usagi finishes the Abe Lincoln mannequin with scorching ray.

Jimmy is deep in his own head, hyperventilating, yelling about someone named Markie. Tori tries to comfort him with a balloon animal. He releases his grip on the firearm he holds and takes the balloon animal. He then heads off for a moment to smoke and de-stress.

Nathan tries to look for the stone from his grenade, and finds it crumbled into ashes like a brick.

The group approaches a large pirate ship, feeling the presence of something important to her. It's marked "Sovereign land" They head inside and Circeth looks around. She's called out by the pirate owner, who mentions that she can't just be doing that. She says that she'd like to trade and is looking through his wares. He points at the sign.

Circeth mentions that he has something of hers, mentioning her address. One of his crew members