Noir Amos

<Flipside>: Not sure how, but Amos had found himself in the underbelly of the city. The apartments stacked up high, almost obscuring the morning sky, though the thick fog of rush hour traffic and early morning smokers didn't do much to add to the view either. He sat at a cafe, the smell of slightly overcooked food, cigarettes and bad coffee filling the air.

Amos is far more used to this smell than he believed he is.
Amos is smoking as well, having ate some either overpriced meal earlier, and takes this time to think now that he's away from the constant demands of the school
<Flipside>: "Hey, y'all done orderin' or what?" the waitress asked as she loudly chewed her gum, looking at Amos with annoyance. She twirled some of her obviously-dyed hair around the tip of her pen, the sound of it clinking against her tacky golden jewelry also clear.
<Amos>: "Oh, right, yeah" he forgot what he was here for. He looks over to the menu.
<Amos>: "Some of that regular coffee, black."
<Flipside>: The menu looks like the average fare for cheap diners; bacon and eggs, burgers, sausages, with a drink of either coffee or some cheap local-brand soda. The waitress scrawled something into the notepad. You can only hope it wasn't to spit into your coffee.
<Amos>: "And some bacon and eggs. That'll be it"
Amos rather likes being out here mostly alone in the crowd of the city. Gives him that feeling of being part of the larger whole while still keeping to himself. After his time away, he's become accustomed to the grunge and dirt.
<Flipside>: "Alright." she said bluntly. She turned toward the kitchen, and shouted "Bacon and eggs with some coffee!"
<Flipside>: The man in the kitchen seems to acknowledge the girl with some vague grunt. The sound of sizzling seems to blot out whatever he has to say, as the waitress walks off to gather orders from what few people seem to be here.
<Flipside>: In the corner of the cafe was a stack of newspapers. A woman took one and sat in a seat as she began to read.
Amos for a second feels like he's not the worst bastard in the mile radius. Kind of heartening, in a weird kind of way. Also dark, considering the kind of things that are done in the loneliness of the densely populated city. He watches the chef and the girl in their transaction then looks back to the newspapers.
<Flipside>: From the corner of his eye, Amos can catch the word "Murder?" in the front page headline.
Amos raises an eyebrow. He's never been one to read newspapers back before his time away, but since then every single one catches his eye and he must know. He gets up and picks up one of them
<Flipside>: The headline certainly is eye-catching; "Another Nightmare Murder?". The picture is of a young man, in or around his 20s, a strange scar on his head.
<Flipside>: The waitress seems eager to get her opinion in, as she takes an order from the woman. "Folks are sayin' that the professor that taught 'em kids is responsible."
Amos looks over to the waitress, eyebrow raised
<Amos>: "Pardon?"
<Flipside>: The woman put the paper down, as the waitress turned around. She began to speak, before the woman cut her off; "Professor Artimeo Cortez, of the *coughcough* University."
<Flipside>: "Yeah, that one!" the waitress said, seemingly annoyed at being cut off; "All the victims are students of his, apparently they were doin' some weird cult crap."
Amos listens while reading, trying to get as much information as he can
<Amos>: "Anybody investigate it yet?"
<Flipside>: The woman rolled her eyes, and said "Research. They were researching dreams. And no, but supposedly the police are 'on the case'"
<Flipside>: "And we all know what 'on the case' means."
Amos strokes his chin a second. Dreams and cults, people disappearing, and the police aren't doing anything. He was going to probably go home and spend his time in leisure, but this is too interesting to pass up.
<Amos>: "Well, somebody aughta do something about that crap." he lets out a puff of smoke, reading onward
<Flipside>: "Well, when the perp is pulling a Kreuger, ain't exactly easy to catch the bastard." the woman commented.
<Amos>: "I guess" he says, already internally planning how to go about this
<Amos>: "Shitty situation, just gotta wait and see what comes up"
<Flipside>: "Bastard is actually enterin' dreams and killing folks. Or at least makin' vegetables outta them."
<Amos>: "And not a single suspect in the city, it seems"
<Flipside>: "Apart from the professor, of course."
Amos smokes, figuring he'll wait for his food before heading out
<Amos>: "Sounds like the first place to look"
<Amos>: "Hope some smarter lot than the fuzz take the damn initiative"
<Flipside>: "With a case like this, it's looking pretty likely."
Amos nods. Sounds like he'll have to take this, nobody else has the slightest clue about dreams or cults for miles, possibly entire states
<Flipside>: The waitress bought the food to the table. It looked just as Amos had expected; greasy and slightly burnt. The coffee was pitch black and smelt like it too.
Amos snubs his cigarette in his finger when nobody is looking, unharmed and puts it in the ash tray, then takes a drink of that coffee. Tastes like shit, but that's what it exists for.
Amos eats his food, putting together what to do once he finds this professor Cortez
<Flipside>: The woman grimaced as she drank her own coffee, still reading the paper.

Amos finishes his food
<Flipside>: The woman suddenly glanced at Amos, and asked "Wait, why're you so curious about this anyway?"
<Amos>: "Interests me, y'know? In my line of work these sort of things become much more worrying."
<Flipside>: "Your line of work, eh?" she looks at the paper, muttering to herself.
<Amos>: "Last thing I want is some Freddy bastard going around."
<Amos>: "Y'know where this university is? I'm thinking I'll try to push some things to get something"
<Flipside>: "Last thing anyone wants is some Freddy bastard."
*** TheWrongWayIsOut is now known as Wrong_Way
Amos has resumed smoking
<Flipside>: "So, ya got a name?" the woman asked.
Amos thinks for a second
<Amos>: "Why ya askin?"
<Flipside>: She seems to grin, before saying "Just... interests me, y'know?"
Amos raises an eyebrow.
<Amos>: "Name's James"
<Flipside>: "James, huh? Nice name, suits ya. I'm Claudine."
<Amos>: "Well, Claudine, you know where this university is?"
<Flipside>: "I might just know, yeah."
Amos lets out a puff of some. He's getting the impression she has an angle about this
<Amos>: "Mind sharin'?"
<Flipside>: "Depends on how quick you are with the food."
Amos has eaten his bacon and eggs by this point
<Flipside>: "Well then, ready to go?"
Amos gets up, cigarette still in his mouth and a puff going out once again. One of these days he's going to buy some that aren't more expensive than his whole budget.
<Amos>: "Sounds about it"
*** Sol is now known as Sol_shower
<Flipside>: The woman gets up, adjusting her jacket. "Well, you look like you'll fit."
<Amos>: "I'll fit? Huh. You plan on walking or am I going to have to drive us?"
<Flipside>: "Nah, it's just that I got a motorcycle. Ain't known for being a vehicle for two."
<Amos>: "Right. You lead the way, I'll follow" he takes some cash out of his vest, places it on the counter to pay for his meal
<Flipside>: "Sure thing." she said, walking out of the restaurant.
Amos steps out, he quickly changes shape into that of a bird, the only striking feature being its yellow eyes. He flies above, keeping a birds eye view as she leads the way
*** Sol_shower is now known as Sol
<Flipside>: Claudine boards her motorcycle, the sound of the motor audible even from that great height. She looked around, and drove straight down the road.
Amos flies above, following. So, he's gonna have some help it seems. He has no clue what this Claudine can do, but if he can get the information he needs it'll have to do
<Flipside>: It was clear she knew where she was heading, as soon enough she parked right outside the university. It was a modern building, largely made of glass, curved and circular in design.
Amos lands on a nearby fire hydrant before shifting back into human form
<Flipside>: "Well, here we are." Claudine says, looking at the building.
<Amos>: "Thanks. I'll be heading in, I figure somebody around here knows whats going on and Cortez is the first on the list"
<Amos>: "Anything else I should know before heading in?"
<Flipside>: "Well, apart from the fact that if you think I'm staying here you're wrong?"
<Amos>: "....Fine."
<Amos>: "Just what can you do? We're dealing with some dream threat here, don't want to be dragging some civvie in"
<Flipside>: "Hey, don't you worry, I can hold my own in a fight." she twirls her pistol around before holstering it once more. "Let's just say I have powers, and leave it at that."
<Amos>: "Alright Claudine, come along then."
Amos begins walking into the school in search of the professor Cortez
<Flipside>: "Heh, you say that as if I needed permission." she said, as she followed Amos into the building.
<Amos>: "I figured you'd come anyway, might as well make it formal"
<Flipside>: "Fair enough." she said, as the two entered the main building. The receptionist looked at the two, waving at them. "Excuse me, are you two here on business?"
<Amos>: "Yes. Where is a Mr. Cortez"
<Flipside>: "Oh, Mr. Cortez? He'll be on the second floor. From the main elevator, keep going right, you'll find him soon enough."
<Amos>: "Thanks" he says, heading up to the professor's room
<Flipside>: Claudine walked with Amos to the main elevator. "So, what's your story, James?"
<Amos>: "Unless you want to be spending the next day listening instead of hunting this guy down, I don't think now is the time to tell it"
<Sol>: save logs]
<Amos>: "Just leaving it at I'm the bogeyman, and my job is stopping other ones"
<Amos>: "Be they actual monsters or not"
<Flipside>: "Hmm, how very poetic. Well, if that's what ya want, Mr. Bogeyman."
<Amos>: "Hey, when you got time like mine you can come up with those sorts of things"
<Flipside>: "I'll take your word on that. My life ain't the most peaceful one."
<Amos>: "Yours about the same length?"
<Amos>: [lawgs for maw http://pastebin.com/X8DUc2nq
<Flipside>: "In terms of years? Well, we'll leave that a secret, shall we?"
<Flipside>: "But I won't deny I've had my spots of trouble, like everyone else."
<Amos>: "Years don't matter much, I've done things in 5 years that men who've reached a century of age have failed."
<Amos>: "Just matters what you're doing"
<Flipside>: "You sure sound like someone who ain't had it easy."
<Amos>: "You can probably count the days when I haven't on two hands."
<Amos>: "Point being is that so long as something good comes out of it, all the shit is worth it"
Amos continues walking down to the professor
<Flipside>: "Maybe it is, but in my mind, it's a case of the payoff equaling the effort." she said, as she followed Amos.
<Amos>: "It better, anyhow"
Amos keeps going right
<Flipside>: The two walk down a corridor, the right wall has a long window built down the whole length, covered by a curtain.
<Flipside>: As they make their way down, the curtains open up, a face pressing against the glass as it screamed/
Amos looks over in surprise
<Flipside>: It was the face of a man, in his 30s. He was wearing what appeared to be an animal pelt on his head. His labcoat was open, and he was not wearing a shirt underneath. On the lab coat was a nametag, reading "Dr. A. Cortez".
<Amos>: "I think this is our guy"
<Flipside>: "Seems like it." Claudine said, looking into the room, rather than at Cortez. The room was furnished more like a children's playground; a plastic tent in the corner, accompanied by pillows and plush toys. In the adjacent corner was a computer, a young student sitting on it and watching the data flow. From the ceiling hung baubles and trinkets, including...
<Flipside>: ...what appeared to be a mandala. This was all accompanied by a low, and somewhat sinister, red glow. You were also pretty certain you could hear some kind of music playing in the room.
Amos looks around, figuring he should approach the student
Amos tries to enter the room
<Flipside>: The door seems to open without any trouble. Cortez notices Amos and Claudine enter, looking at them somewhat wild-eyed. "Ah, visitors!" he says, approaching the two.
<Amos>: "Mr Cortez, I presume" he is suspicious from the, well, screaming from earlier
<Flipside>: "I am indeed Cortez. Now, what may I do for you?" he asked, as he picked a pillow up from the floor.
<Amos>: "We're investigating the strange happenings around here, would you mind answering some questions?"
<Flipside>: "Happenings? Here? Oh, yes yes, ask away." he said, wandering over to the tent, lying down and resting his head on the pillow.
Amos looks around for somewhere to sit
<Flipside>: "There are some chairs by the door." the student said, still looking at the screen. "I'm Andy Griffin, by the way."
Amos takes a seat, sits down
<Flipside>: Claudine follows suit, sitting beside Amos. She rests her elbows on her lap, looking at the professor. "So, what are you researching, Professor?"
<Flipside>: "Dreams, my girl!" he says, his eyes opening wide. "What we see and sense, how our day, diet, environment affects it!"
<Amos>: [brb for a minute]
<Amos>: [diggin this so far]
<Flipside>: [coolio]
<Sol>: looogs
<Flipside>: http://mibpaste.com/nPdFYZ here they are man]
<Amos>: [and back]
<Amos>: "I'm aware of that, more than you know. Tell me, just /how/ are you researching this?"
<Flipside>: "Through a new type of device." Griffin answered, as Cortez seemed to ramble on.
<Flipside>: "With it we can examine brain patterns, heart rate, et cetera, all during a person's sleep."
<Amos>: "So, you are merely studying the physical aspect, a kind of medical experiment?"
<Flipside>: "Not exactly. We also record sleeping conditions, time, diet, and various other outside factors, as well as whether or not the person dreamed, and if so, what exactly occurred."
<Flipside>: "The physical and psychological aspects."
<Amos>: "I see"
<Amos>: "Well, we are currently investigating a series of murders that are connected to dreams. The nightmare killer"
*** Maw is now known as Dibbles
<Amos>: "I believe you may be connected, or may have something to offer to this case"
<Flipside>: "Oh, I see." Griffin says, looking at Amos. "What exactly do you want to know? We'll answer as best we can, but we can't say we know all the answers."
<Flipside>: At that moment, a young woman rushed into the room, hurriedly tying up her hair in a ponytail. "So sorry I'm late, just got back from the hospital and- Oh, we have guests?"
Amos looks to the woman
<Amos>: "Yes, and you are...?"
<Flipside>: "Oh, uh, right. I'm Stacy Knight, one of the students here."
<Flipside>: Claudine turns around, facing Stacy. "Knight, related to the latest victim of the Nightmare Killer?"
Amos looks over, interested
<Flipside>: "Ah, uh, yes, that's me..." she replied. "My brother, Thomas, he was the recent victim."
<Amos>: "We are investigating his case. Tell me, did you see anything strange before?"
<Amos>: "Anything that happened around the incident?"
<Flipside>: "Umm, no. He went to sleep, with the device on his head, and the next morning he had the mark and wouldn't wake up."
<Amos>: "I see."
<Amos>: "Griffin, Cortez, comments? This could well be an affect of the device"
<Flipside>: "Sorry James, but that's not the case." Claudine said. "This device is used in various other universities, but only in this one has such a thing happened."
<Flipside>: "So it's not the machine, but something else."
<Amos>: "Of course, I am saying that the device could have been tampered with or something reacted to it"
<Amos>: "Something is different here"
<Flipside>: "The question is, what?" Claudine asked.
<Amos>: "That's what we're investigating"
<Flipside>: "The machines haven't been tampered with." Griffin said. "I've examined the hardware, and me and the Professor can confirm it has not been altered in any manner."
<Amos>: "Then it is something else. If I had to hazard a guess, something inside of the dream"
<Amos>: "I am fully aware and experienced with dreams, I know the world that lies within it. There are things who can prey on dreamers"
<Flipside>: "Things, or people?"
<Amos>: "Both"
<Flipside>: Claudine looked at the notebook. "Unfortunately, without a witness, we don't know what it is hunting them."
<Amos>: "Then we should lure it, no?" he says over to her
<Amos>: "This is magical in nature. There are rumors of such things around this school" he says back over to Cortez and Griffin
<Amos>: "Tell me what you know of it"
<Flipside>: "Umm, no such rumors, I'm afraid." Griffin said.
<Flipside>: Claudine looked around, and suddenly walked over to Griffin. "Where's the device?"
Amos thinks back to hearing something about "weird cult crap" as well as the strange behavior of Cortez, he looks to Claudine
*** Sol is now known as Planetary
<Flipside>: Griffin looks confused, babbling somewhat, "Oh, uh, uh, we have it safely locked away."
<Amos>: "I think we should see it"
<Flipside>: "Yes, please." Claudine said.
<Flipside>: Griffin stood up with a sigh, leading Amos and Claudine to the wall opposite the door. He pulled away the poster covering it, revealing a safe built into the wall.
<Flipside>: He pushed a few keys, and with a hiss the doors opened. Inside was the device, a strange, helmet-like machine, equipped with a visor and headset. It looked more like a military machine than a scientific device.
<Flipside>: Claudine instantly stepped forward, grabbing the machine.
Amos looks in close, to inspect it
<Flipside>: "You don't mind if I borrow this, do you?" she asks Griffin, turning to face Amos. "Because I think I have a plan."
Amos nods, believing he's thinking the same thing
<Flipside>: Griffin just nods, unable to get a word in.
<Flipside>: "Well then, we'll just be on our way. Thank you for your time." Claudine said.
<Amos>: "Should you see anything, tell us. The names James Frank"
<Flipside>: "And I'm Claudine Duracoire. Private detective." she said, as she walked out of the room.
Amos walks out as well