#okinawa

Beth blinks, then blinks again, her eyes wide behind her glasses, two galaxies held back by tinted, cheap plastic. "Spirit." She nods. "Yeah, ok." Her head tilts to one sides, a cascade of dark curls falling over one slender shoulder. "And they show up here often?"

*Tyler's still scanning the bar. It's late, and almost everybody has cleared out except for the desperate and very drunk. He shakes his head Usually they have some purpose..but I also have protection -ah! Ken you little shit, where's you been? *A small grey and white cat's face is poking out from the door that leads to the Crazy Horse's backroom. Ken meows back

*Tyler motions Cats and Spirits usually don't get along..Ken bravely hid it seems. Tell me Beth what did they say to him?

She watches Tyler. "And they did not like Murphy's singing? Still not getting it here.." Then she looks to the grey and white cat. "Hello there..." Then she looks back up at Tyler. "Lets see, that they missed him and they said 'why did you run bluesman...' It was all sort of strange. Oh yes they also said 'what have you done to my baby boy Calvin." She nods. Good memory it seems.

"So, um. We are going to get Murphy back? Right?" Still calm as can be, but clearly worried.

*He scratches his chin, looking at the clock above the horseshoe bar. He furrows his tan brow, his thick black eyebrows clashing with the lumps on his head, almost giving him the look of an Oni mask but in truth he's just thinking hard I hope we can. It sounds like something personal..not many know his full name. I can try calling them but...it's up to them if they want to listen. I should close up here..

*He announces Last Call. Ken creeps further out of the room and his attitude changes, he's suddenly lord of the bar floor, strutting his alley cat badness

She blinks, rapidly. Then looks down at the phone in her hand. "Do you think his name would be in here? Or perhaps someone on speed dial would know?" She follows Tyler, and as she passes the cat she inspects it, before offering fingers to sniff.

*Seems to be a regular ol' cat. Ken gives the fingers a kiss, making that sound that's in between a purr and a snort, a "Snert" as the narrator calls them. Sure enough, Beth has an Eshu's cell phone in her possession! Scrolling through she sees several names, some familiar and some not, a lot of them have notes under their names. Kenzie, his sister Suella, several DeBukes, Dolph, Zara, Madeline, Sassy, Tyler's, even Shawna has a number it seems. There's a number listed as "Cousins" but it's just a single number. His guitar case is still sitting on the stage, but his guitar has also vanished. Tyler is seeing people out while talking to Beth If I can't ask the Spirits why this happened, I know somebody nearby who WILL know. *As the last customers leave he nods to the doorman, letting him go for the night

She pats the cat lightly then looks back to Tyler. "His sisters number is on his phone. Surely she would know his name." She gives a bit if a smile. "That is if you need it." She nods. She almost looks as though she feels bad about maybe having to pry into Muprhys 'private"' affairs. Then her brow furrows as she settles into thought.

*Tyler gives a small nod to her It is his name. What dreadful mother would force their son to learn how to spell "Mississippi"? You should hold on to thatphone..funny, how long have you travelled with him? *He's putting up chairs and stools, shutting things down essentially, it's just the two of them now with the staff gone. He carries two stools over to the stage, sitting them across from one another. He sits on one, folding his arms. He's staring at the other stool now intently. He announces to the room Hello?

She blinks, as she follows him along. She keeps hold of the phone, as they might need it. Then she watches with curiosity as he starts talking to an empty stool. Her glasses pushed back on her hair, she looks fascinated . "M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i....I always found it fun to spell..." Whispered almost, to herself."

*He doesn't seem familiar with that cultural diddy, giving a small quirk of his eyebrow in amusement. He turns back to the stool at hand. He takes a pack of cigarettes out of his pockets and lights one, blowing the smoke about like a form of incense Where you at, Billman? My cat was too busy hiding to kick your ass where He stops and suddenly smirks. Nodding to something, he blows some smoke towards rthe empty stool* Oh I think you know why I'd be asking. ......And why not? .....*He mutters something under his breath Can you at least tell me if this is Local or is he just that good at pissing folks off internationally? .....*He sighs and nods No no I understand. Please let her know that we're inquiring about an invitation. ....Yeah man, you know I got your back. Thanks. *He puts out the cigarette, letting out a small cough. He seems to be brooding on something That was Billman. Marine stationed here back in 85, died over at Club 29 Palms and doesn't have much better to do than check on the bar life. *He gets up and crosses over back to the bar to put the stools up The Good News: he knows what took Murph. The bad news is that he can't tell us, he's to report to his true Master here, Madame Jusan..

"Billman? So this Billman is dead, passed on I mean?" Her brow furrows as she rubs her brow with one hand. "Madam Jusan?" Said in just the fashion that Tyler said it. "Is she going to want banana bread and a little Buddah too? Because I am fresh out of both." In a bit of a huff she settles on a barstool, her long skirts flaring out around her. Her elbow on the bar, she rests her chin in the palm of her hand. "So we wait here?"

*Not sure about her reference I...have some banana bread if you need some? *He nods again I'm sorry, this is all so sudden. Like I said before, I can see and speak to spirits.. they have their own lords and masters, but when they need help, well I'm willing to listen. Most of the local dead around here are under the employ of Madam Jusan..she has leverage over them, and they are her eyes and ears. If we're going to find out what happened to Murph we'll have to go threw her it seems. Billman will let her know we want an audience, but we will need some sort of gift.. *drumming his fingers She's a "Sluagh"...have you dealt with them?

She smiles a little then. "Sluagh? Sure I have." She stares at her pack on the floor. It still seems stuffed, full to the brim. At least she knows how to pack? "I might have something." She scratches her nose, thoughtfully. "Then are the rumors true? Can Sluagh see and talk with the dead. I mean I know some of them look sort of dead..."

She can, anyways. There are not many resident "Fae" on the island but the ones who are here have carved out very strong niches. A devilish wretch, she finds my gift most interesting. *Folding his massive arms. He sighs I have some dross I can give her.. but she may want something more from you, she doesn't like outsiders.

She glances at her bracelet. "I have dross." Her brow furrows. "I would like to keep it though." She ponders for a long moment. "I have a few other things too. An old book..." She starts pulling said things out of her pack, and pockets on the side of her pack. "This old doll I got in a village in India, this rock I got from a river hag, a jar of snake eyes." She pauses. "Don't ask. A head of a teddy bear." She sets the fluffy head on the counter..."Lots of stuff really.

*He inspects the items carefully This stuff may work. One moment *He walks into the back area. After a few minutes he emerges with a jar, or perhaps a mug, that's in the shape of a cartoon Shisa Lion. He pours out the contents, nine pieces of wrapped chocolate candies. With Beth's vision she can see that they sparkle with drossy glamour. Tyler pockets two of them, puts the remaining seven in a small sack, and then replenishes the jar with two more candies It is late, I won't be suprised if we don't hear from her until tomorrow.

Dross jar

She gives a bit of a nod then she sighs. "I am sorry to ask it, but I don't suppose you have a place I can stay? I have yen." She does look tired now, and seems almost eager to close her eyes. "Or perhaps you know of a place nearby?"

I had a room set aside for you and Murph, as part of his payment. Two mats, but you can have both and push them together. *He motions for her to follow him through the backdoor that Ken had come through. Past the various bar supplies and a door that leads to a cellar is...a small studio apartment. Small kitchen, with two rooms leading further back. Tyler motions to the room with an open door. It seems to be a compact combo of a study and a gym, a desk with a computer and bookcase in one corner and a set of weights in the other. Above the computer is a map of Okinawa, various shrines and caves circled and stuck with pins. Two rather comfy looking mattress have been unrolled in the middle.

"Thanks, this looks wonderful." She sets her pack down, and her glasses, then she looks to Tyler. "Look, thanks for helping me, us, Murphy and I that is, thanks for helping us out. I'll owe ya, in the future." She gives a bit of a nod. The map then catches her attention an she studies it for a long a moment. Her head slightly tilted, her eyes focused. "Hello Okinawa.." Said quietly as she starts to take in locations.

He nods There's never a dull moment with that man. I don't know what he did to anger those two but...he shrugs* We'll see. The Man has more lives than a cat. Sleep well Beth, we'll see if we can't straighten this out tomorrow. *He turns to go but pauses in the doorway We share a wall...my apologies if you hear me speaking, sometimes I get visitors.

"You get visitors, I have dreams, so same to you. Sorry if you hear me dreaming." She looks back to the map, studying it for a bit before she goes to her pack to get out that book once more. Some light reading before falling to sleep.

She chuckles as she spies the cat. A pocket inside the bag, has a small plastic bag, inside are two, small, pink, knitted balls...filled with catnip. She takes one out and rolls it across the floor for Ken. Then she takes off a few layers of skirts, and shirts...dressing in layers. Helpful and it leaves more room in your bag. Then she settles in, listening close to Tylers voice. Trying to hear the story for herself.

*It seems to be a story from a Manga book. He's acting out the dialog for Astro Boy and his battles with the evil Dr. Tenma, sound effects included. For being a softspoken giant he has a decent flair when he puts some effort into it, a paternal tone shining through. Nearing the end of the chapter "...Not when I have those aarvarks you forgot about, everyone forgets the aardvarks Astro Boy!" ......I know, right? I think he'll pull through though.... ..good night Hiro, travel safe. *And it goes quiet. Nobody can be heard leaving. Ken has bested the catnip intruder and is now curled up and guarding Beth's feet

Beth closes her eyes, and even though she is still worried for Murphy, she also has faith that all will be okay. They have lived through random hands, German sluagh, and huge spiders...what's a few spirits in the greater scope of things really. Then off to dream land she goes.

*As she dreams, a familiar vision comes to her, just like the night she ate that strange candy. A dark desert highway stretching for miles and miles. In the distance the sound of a whip cracking. Further up ahead the same strange long line of Shisa/Foo Dogs flank the sides of the road. The same redcap driving a herd of dodo birds as they haul a footlocker down the hot pavement. This time, as he turns to look at you, he asks the same question What the hell do YOU want?! *Thunder strikes and suddenly the sand has turned a hot neon green, the lightning strikes the sand and then travels about as if on a circuit board. One of the Shisa dogs steps down off of it's pedestal and starts to walk towards the two of you

She blinks. "Who are you?" She asks. "Do you have a name?" Forever calm in the the face of danger. Its a cap. Some have said Beth seems to have very little common sense. She eyes the Shisa dog.

((Slack crashed, re-typing meh))

(Ack!)

*The cap looks at her incredulously. He slams his boot down on top of the footlocker, causing the Dodo's to lurch to a halt..although they appreciate the respite. The cap's face is cracked and weathered, a "scary old man" in line with Dennis Hopper. His blonde hair is slicked back like an evil david bowie, but blood is clearly the lubricant. * What the fuck is this shit?! First it's kids and now -you're not even fae, who the hell is fucking things up over there?! *He kicks the footlocker* Sister as far as you're concerned I'm Mr. Nobody, and you've got bigger concerns. *He points to the several Shisa dogs that have started to slowly stalk behind the two. The Dodo's notice the lion-dogs at this point and start to haul the footlocker on their own accord.

"Why can you talk to me? My visions have never talked to be before." So curious. Then she eyes the dodos, then she eyes the Shisa dogs. She binks. "Okay Beth, enough lucid dreaming, you can wake up now." Her eyes are wide and for a moment she seems to be pondering jumping on that foot locker herself. After all you don't have to be faster than the lion dogs, only faster then the other people you are with. Right?

*The redcap smirks "Your" Visions? *He walks in front of the Dodo's and, with his finger, traces a circle. Then a smaller circle. Turning the smaller circle, it's as if he opened a door in Reality itself. He kicks the birds and footlocker through, smiling to her as he closes the door. Good luck with that nonsense. As he closes the door, she briefly catches a glimpse of the other side. It looks like the room she's in..and is that her sleeping? The "door" closes and she's suddenly left with a bunch of hungry lion-dogs. They stop, staring at her*

*One of them asks What have you done to my baby boy?

"Um. I'm not to fond of babies...you know." She eyes the dogs, thinking fast. Perhaps the trick Murphy taught her will help her out here. She starts bouncing on her toes. "Miss Suzy had a steam boat, the steam boat had a bell, Miss Suzy went to heaven, the steamboat went to hello operator please give me number nine ...." And she moves to jump over, and hopefully, beyond the Lion-Dogs, perhaps even back into wakefulness?

She sits up quickly, breathing hard. Then she blinks and looks over at Ken. "Did you see a redcap come through here?" Asked of the cat. "Never mind." She stands, getting dressed quickly. Rearranging her skirts and tops, so she can at least look a little different, a little brighter. A brush is found and forced through the long tangle of dark curls. "Okay. You got this Beth." Then she starts for the door, eggs and rice do smell good.

*Tyler's wearing blue jeans and an olive drab tshirt. He's hunched over the small stove scrambling some eggs as a rice cooker burbles in the corner. He looks up and nods to Beth Good morning, I trust you slept well? *The rice cooker dings and the top pops open Hey, great timing.

"Well enough." She has enough in her to offer a small smile. "Did you sleep okay? Smells great." She moves over to where he is, but does her best not to get in his way. "Breakfast, that should help. I don't suppose you have coffee?"

*He nods to her, getting some bowls he scoops the rice in and then adds the scrambled eggs to the mix. While the pan is still hot he adds some slices of spam. After it's been heated he cuts it up and adds it to the bowls. Pulling chop sticks from a drawer, he sets the bowls on the small table in the corner along with a handful of sauces including ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, and soy. Going over to the fridge he takes out a couple bottles of Boss Coffee, that fella's mustache and pipe letting you know that you're the Boss of this morning. He sits at the table My apologies if my reading kept you up.

"No." She smiles. "It was nice. It reminded me of home. Its never quiet in the caravan." She adds a bit of soy to her a rice. She handles the chop sticks like a pro! "It's hard for me to sleep in places that are too quiet." She takes a few bites and smiles again, clearly feeling a bit better for the food.

I didn't have any siblings, "One is enough!" As my father used to joke. *He adds some hot sauce to his bowl and digs in. After a moment Hiro never learned to read. His bigger brother used to read to him though..the problem is that he has vintage tastes, I need to track down the next issue in that series, and it was discontinued in the 70's. *Poking at his food I don't mean to talk about such things over breakfast. Did you get any insights?

"I bet I could help you find it, that next issue. I am good at finding things. Usually." Another couple bites then she frowns. "I think so? But I am not sure. I am not even sure what I had as a dream as we know it. Maybe I was in the dream..." Mumbling a bit to herself. "But this thing about a baby boy keeps coming up, and lots of lion-dogs. There is a red cap too. An old cap, with a herd of dodo birds."

*He frowns to her That's....strange. Redcaps will pass through occassionally, sometimes on merchant ships..but otherwise there aren't any regulars here that I know of. The Lion-dogs.. do you know the story behind the Shisa? Some say the Chinese invented them, but Okinawans will tell you differently. Guardian Spirits, they protect the Heavenly Palace of the Gods supposedly. *Motioning out a window to a neigboring rooftop that has two Shisa statues on top People believe the two Shisa will scare away bad luck and evil spirits *pointing to the one with it's mouth open in a roar While also protecting your Good Luck *Pointing to the one with it's mouth closed as if holding something in Some say they guard Okinawa itself. As to your....whatever it was..perhaps there's a connection? That one woman said the same phrase about a child? *Rubs his chin Their clothing were in the colors of Shisa..What did Murph do? Asked exasperated*

"He is an Eshu." She gives a small grin. "What has he not done?" She points out. She listens to the story about the Shisa. "Did he steal a child? That I doubt. Perhaps he failed to protect one? Or perhaps its a child of some sordid affair he had in his youth!" Her eyes brighter with each and every theory. "I do hope the sluagh will get back to us soon." Then she finishes up her breakfast, sighing as she does so.