Morning rush fills the diner, steam on the windows, plates clattering, coffee scent thick in the air. Thadeus spots Marcus Thorne in a corner booth, bent over his phone with a half-finished coffee beside him.
Thadeus takes the seat opposite him. Across the aisle, a waitress passes with a tray, and the normal noise of the room keeps the moment from feeling private.
Marcus is still here, still looking at something on that phone.
Marcus Thorne
...Yeah. Send it to me now. And keep the angle on the house.
Marcus lowers the phone a little, noticing Thadeus at last. His expression shifts from focus to guarded interest.
Marcus Thorne
You picked a busy place. That your way of saying you want answers?
“Thadeus responds angrily, "You're damn right I have questions. Why did you break into my house last night? I should call the police and have you arrested!" Marcus scoffs, "I have no idea what you're on about. I was at the music festival for rest of the evening. Why haven't you called the police yet?" Thadeus pauses, thinking carefully on how to respond. He answers, "I'm trying to avoid involving my friend." Marcus smirks,"Elizabeth, right? She's got quite the sordid past, doesn't she?" Thadeus remains silent for the moment.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +1)
Thadeus Jovanović
You're damn right I have questions. Why did you break into my house last night? I should call the police and have you arrested.
Marcus Thorne
I have no idea what you are talking about. I was at the music festival the rest of the evening. Why have you not called the police yet?
Thadeus Jovanović
He is watching my reaction more than the accusation.
Thadeus Jovanović
I'm trying to avoid involving my friend.
Marcus Thorne
Elizabeth, right? She's got quite the sordid past, doesn't she?
The table goes quiet for a beat, but Marcus keeps his smirk. He has not answered the break-in, only circled closer to Elizabeth.
“Thadeus poses another question to Marcus. "Since you seem to know so much about Elizabeth, why do you think someone would break in to where she's staying?" Marcus ponders, then replies,"If they know your partner's past, I'd imagine they would've wanted some vigilante justice," Marcus grins seems larger after that revelation. Thadeus thinks on it, "Elizabeth and I made things right, who would still have a grudge with her?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -3)
Thadeus Jovanović
Since you seem to know so much about Elizabeth, why would someone break in where she's staying?
Marcus Thorne
He lets the question sit, eyes flicking once to the phone and back. Then his grin widens, not because he has proof, because he has a story.
Marcus Thorne
If they know your partner's past, I'd imagine they wanted vigilante justice.
A spoon clinks somewhere behind Marcus. The diner noise keeps flowing, but the booth feels tighter now.
Thadeus Jovanović
Elizabeth and I made things right. Who still holds a grudge?
Marcus Thorne
People with long memories. People who think history needs punishing.
Marcus taps one finger beside the phone, like he is choosing what to say next, and what to keep.
Director's note
Have the customer in the dining hall begin murmuring about a growing noise out
“As Thadeus considers asking his next question, the sound of angered shouts echoes from behind Thadeus and Marcus. They quickly turn around to see a fight ensuing outside of the diner.”
SUCCESS (Fair Perception, rolled +2)
Thadeus turns with the rest of the room. Chairs scrape. Forks pause midair as the diner’s attention pulls toward the front windows.
Outside, a knot of people shoves and swings under the streetlights, voices rising hard enough to cut through the glass.
Marcus Thorne
He watches the commotion for half a second, then glances back at Thadeus with fresh interest.
Marcus Thorne
Well, that’s convenient.
At the next booth, a customer mutters that the noise is getting worse, and more heads turn toward the door.
Thadeus catches the clash for what it is, not random chaos, but a distraction drawing the diner’s eyes away from the table.
Marcus’s phone stays on the laminate as he angles his body toward the window, waiting to see whether Thadeus chases the trouble or stays put.
Director's note
Have the other customers in the diner start panicking and screaming at the sight outside
“Thadeus takes a closer look at the commotion outside, and sees something that makes his heart drop. Law enforcement officers are pinning down a man in tattered clothes that keeps trying to bite them. The officers don't seem to notice, but the individual's skin is very pale, and their eyes are empty and listless. The cops think the man is on drugs, but Thadeus can see the truth - the man in tattered clothes is an undead zombie. One of the officers get bit in the process, causing him to recoil. The other officers drag the man in tattered clothes to a police van and toss him in, while the bitten officer is taken to the hospital. Thadeus looks back at Marcus, "You saw all of that, right?" Marcus remains silent, fear creeping into his eyes.”
SUCCESS (Fair Perception, rolled +2)
Thadeus leans toward the window, and the street outside sharpens into a sickening scene. Police bodies press down on a man in torn clothes, but the man keeps snapping at them like an animal that forgot how to beg.
His skin is too pale, his stare too empty. One officer jerks back with a shout as teeth catch his arm, and the others start hauling the suspect toward a van.
Inside the diner, chairs scrape and a customer at the next table starts muttering about the growing noise outside. Then the mutter breaks, and panic spreads through the room as people see the bite, the blood, the stumble of the wounded officer.
Thadeus Jovanović
You saw all of that, right?
Marcus stays silent. The smugness leaves his face by degrees, and fear creeps in where confidence used to sit.
Marcus Thorne
No joke. No stunt. He saw it too.
Outside, the officers shove the pale man into the van and slam the door. The bitten cop is already being rushed away, while Marcus keeps looking at Thadeus like he has just realized the world is larger and uglier than his questions.
“Thadeus tries getting Marcus's attention, calling his name three times before he turns to look at Thadeus. Thadeus says, "So I don't know what it is you think you know about Elizabeth. Frankly, I could care less what you think. You need to back off, or there will be consequences." Marcus briefly gets confidence back, asking, "Or what, you're going to threaten me?" Thadeus shakes his head, "No, that creature will, and hundreds more after. You saw that thing bite an officer. That creature is not of the living, and will quickly turn those that are part of the living. Elizabeth has save humanity from that kind of evil for a long time. If for nothing else, then at least honor my ask to leave her alone, for me."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -1)
Thadeus calls Marcus's name once, then again, then a third time. This time, Marcus finally drags his attention off the window and looks at him.
Thadeus Jovanović
So I do not know what it is you think you know about Elizabeth. Frankly, I could care less what you think. You need to back off, or there will be consequences.
Marcus Thorne
Or what, you're going to threaten me?
Thadeus Jovanović
No. That creature will, and hundreds more after. You saw it bite an officer. It is not of the living, and it will turn the living fast. Elizabeth has been saving people from that kind of evil for a long time. If nothing else, honor my ask and leave her alone, for me.
Marcus Thorne
His face drains as the words land. The bite outside stops looking like a headline and starts looking like a warning.
Marcus Thorne
...You are serious. So what, this is bigger than Elizabeth?
Marcus lowers his chin, the confidence gone for good this time. The window glare catches the booth edge, the coffee cups, and the black line of fear settling between them.
“Thadeus nods in affirmation, "The problem here isn't Elizabeth. There are things in our world that defy explanation. I've seen them. You said you work for City Pulse, right?" Marcus nods yes. Thadeus continues, "Did your publication know there would be the agitators at the music festival?" Marcus responds, "Absolutely not. That was unrelated to why I was asked to go the festival. Why?" Thadeus shakes his head, "There may be more to your newspaper than you're aware."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +0)
Marcus gives a tight, reluctant nod. The diner noise swells around them, customers murmuring about the growing racket outside.
Thadeus Jovanović
The problem here is not Elizabeth. There are things in our world that defy explanation. I have seen them. You work for City Pulse, right?
Marcus Thorne
Yeah. I do.
Thadeus Jovanović
Did your publication know there would be agitators at the music festival?
Marcus Thorne
Absolutely not. That had nothing to do with why I was sent there. Why?
Thadeus Jovanović
There may be more to your newspaper than you know.
Marcus goes still, then looks past Thadeus toward the window again. Outside, the arrest draws fresh screams from the nearby tables, but his attention stays on the possibility now hanging between them.
Director's note
Thadeus provides Marcus his cell phone number
“Thadeus observes Marcus further, thinking, "Marcus isn't acting here, this seems genuine. He had an interest in Elizabeth, but for his employer, not himself personally." Thadeus then speaks to Marcus, "Listen, take whatever story you want back to City Pulse, just please leave Elizabeth out of it. If you want more information about myself or what happened at the festival, feel free to contact me here." Thadeus ends with, "We should probably leave before the scene gets any louder." Marcus stands up with Thadeus, and offers to shake his hand, "You certainly are interested, Thadeus. If I have any other questions, I'll be sure to contact you." Thadeus replies, "I hope you do. Thank you sir." Marcus and Thadeus leave the diner through a back entrance, avoiding the growing chaos at the front. Thadeus sits in his vehicle, observing as Marcus drives away.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +0)
Marcus is not performing. The fear on his face is real, and it shifts the whole table.
Thadeus Jovanović
Listen, take whatever story you want back to City Pulse, just leave Elizabeth out of it. If you want more about me or the festival, contact me here.
Thadeus Jovanović
We should probably leave before this gets any louder.
Marcus Thorne
You certainly are interested, Thadeus. If I have any other questions, I'll contact you.
Marcus rises with him and they head for the back entrance while the front of the diner erupts in noise.
Outside, Marcus separates at the curb and drives off, leaving Thadeus in his vehicle with the din fading behind him.
Quest Complete
Find out Marcus Thorne's intentions
Attribute Upgrade: Perception Fair→Good