While Russel organized items, others worked around him to wash and dry dishes, or tended to tasks elsewhere. There weren't many, but the help was appreciated, with Benjamin and Catherine giving their thanks. Anika and Rodney were possibly the least helpful, though Rodney busied himself with making sure his guests had what they needed for the night, Anika simply socialized rather than look for something to do.
Eventually you all settle down for the night around midnight. Whether you actually go to sleep or not is another matter. No parental figure looms over you, or checks in on you, to make certain you are resting. You're simply told not to stay up too late by Rodney's mom before she disappears into the room she shares with her husband.
After kissing Jamie goodnight, Anika retires to the room she is sharing with Maryanne and Mel. While she socialized before bed, if either girl wanted to do so, she eventually went to sleep.
Rodney did some exercises before bend. Simple crunches and push ups. During this time he conversed, if anyone stayed up to talk to him while he performed his nightly routine, then afterwards the dark skinned youth retired for the night. He snored too.
In time, all was quiet, except for the inanimate. The occasional hum of the refrigerator. The ticking of a clock. Beyond the windows of living room and Rodney's bedroom there were the sounds of a sick and dying city. The roar or honk of cars and overly loud engines that wouldn't have been present seven months ago. Let alone pollute the city with undesirable sound or chemicals.
Maryanne has plans, however. She bides her time. Waits. Observes Anika and Mel ...
OOC wrote:Firstly, all of you may choose to stay awake … for whatever reason. Everyone who is awake, or wakes up during this scene, will have the Fatigued condition. This includes Maryanne, as she is purposefully staying up. Maryanne will also be needing to spend that 1 HP for her Stealth.
If Mel decides to stay up, she may make an Insight check to pick up on Maryanne pretending to be asleep. Alternatively a -5 Perception check may be used to pick up on activity in the room if she is asleep. Mel may use Deception to pretend to be asleep or Stealth … if you can come up with a reasonable idea for it being applicable in the context of pretending to be asleep or going unnoticed during Maryanne peaking into Rodney's underwear drawer. In either case, Maryanne's Perception/Insight will receive a -3. There is a little bit of light from some electronics in the room with digital displays, such as an alarm clock, but it is still difficult to see in detail.
I am going to hold off on responding to Maryanne's actions until MrDent has supplied input for Mel's activity, or lack there of, at this point.
Since Mel had actively looked for potential improvised weapons in Rodney's room, make a Perception check. I'll let you know if she finds anything of quality of if she only finds fragile things that would break after one or two attacks.
In the living room … Jamie and Russel, make Perception checks. -5 if your characters went to sleep.
At this point I want everyone to begin keeping a public record of their HP and Conditions in their posts if they have not already.