Re: Little Moments Between Steptember and November, Meetings and Endings IC Thread 30

[Jeremy Silverstein]

[Serge's Apartment]

Nicole nodded to Serge's question. 'I got this-' raising her left arm for a moment '-as a cover, for several shit inks I got when I were your age. Which is why it has so much blackwork. So, was thinking... why can't ink be used again as cover - this case, 'cos the skin's fake? After all, you notice the patterns way before the skin itself. It's why I got my hand done, and with lots more blackwork.'

'At very least, it'll be less obvious... it's doing my head in, having to constantly check my sleeve's not ridden up and that. Plus... I remember what you did with that rat-changer a few days back... is it possible for you to do something so folk see the ink, the skin-colour bits and simply accept it's real?'

Serge bit his lip and thought for a bit. "The thing I did with Strawberry and the thing your asking me to do here are a bit different. I won't get into the details but I was showing Strawberry things that weren't there. Your asking me to make the people around you believe your arm is real when they look at it." the Ecstatic explained as he walked over to the desk and opened a drawer and began rooting through it.

"As for if I can do it? Of course! In fact it's really easy. Most people already believe an arm's an arm when they see an arm. I just simply have to enforce that belief. But I don't think you want me to constantly be around you maintaining this spell. That's where the tricky part comes in...." he said as he began to pull out different colored pens and laid them neatly on his table.

"But luckily for you, I did something similar to one of the drawings in this room. Enchanted it to paralyze anyone who looks at it. If I could do something similar, except putting it into the tattoos of the synthetic skin, I should be able to make it so that anyone who looks at your arm simply believes it's an arm and get on with their day. But....it will take a while. Is that all right with you?" he said turning around and leaning against his desk, glancing back at the Etherite to hear her opinions and gauge her reaction.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Adley, Colin, Nicole, Tane and Serge] (Cabal meeting 10 in the morning Wednesday 30/9 2015)

Colin hesitated for a moment at the description of vampires, then made another marginal note, "Now, Miss Bouchard, there are as many kinds of vampires as there are kinds of people, I should say - while they certainly qualify as an apex predator as such, they do forge all sorts of bonds with humans, not actually centered on the food chain... but that is perhaps a matter for another discussion."

"But they do eat blood and they have to get that from living human beings."
Bruce grumbled.

'Yeah, but then you get Feds crawling up your ass. Plus; detector shit don't check for thermite.'

"We could make the plastic explosives in the lab as well, now granted unstable matter is harder to mess around with, I don't know why..."
Bruce said and he glanced at Adley as if he expected the Hermetic to have the answer, Hermetics had their heads in the books constantly after all.
"However it can be done."
He finished.

He pondered, "Hum, this is a valid point... Still, Thermite is pretty hard to put out once it's ignited, so my concerns over using incendiaries for blasts remains... However, if you are interested, I could show you a method of detonating Tass directly, which would be a viable method of creating explosions without triggering most mundane detectors. But, a topic for later."

"Tass is much more expensive than chemicals."
Bruce grunted.

"Sure thing." Serge said as he ripped off a page out of the notepad and fished out a superman themed pencil from his jeans. He passed both to the Etherite keeping a careful eye on Jareth to make sure he didn't swoop in and take it.

The owl followed your pencil with his eyes, he wanted it, oh he soooooo wanted it, he did not make any moves though, however now that Nicole had the pencil he was doubly interested in her but he looked at her differently than the rest of the group, with everyone else he looked like he wanted cuddles or treated or just attention, with Nicole he looked at her as he might look at a juicy mouse or a rat and his eyes was fixated on her as he leaned forward.

[Warpmind]

[Cabal Meeting, 10 AM, Wednesday September 30th]

"But they do eat blood and they have to get that from living human beings."
Bruce grumbled.

He nodded, "True, but they have their own Law of Shades, which in practice means they hardly ever kill people for food. It makes them generally less predatory monsters than what you see in Dracula or those Twilight books... They're still dangerous, of course, but they're less of a danger than popular fiction would present them as."

"Tass is much more expensive than chemicals."
Bruce grunted.

He smiled wryly, "Now, doesn't that depend on the chemicals, and the quality of the Tass? My little trick can use Tass so extremely resonated as to be a health hazard to use personally; you'd want to avoid the corrupted stuff, of course, but there's still a number of ways to get less desirable Tass on a budget."

[Nicole's apartment, 7PM Thursday, October 1st]

'Inked ain't porn... well, not what most call porn.' Nicole replied, moving over to take the box. While there was several car and tattoo magazines in the pile, there was several handbills extorting trade union membership, a subtly-named Worker's World and another bearing a photo of the new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on the cover for some reason.

He nodded, "True, more like the Louvre Catalogue - only with far more appealing backgrounds and, hum, canvases."

'I did offer soda.' she continued, sitting down cross-legged in a clear spot on the floor and flipping the box open. 'Well, eighty-seven the manufacture date, you don't know how long it had been in stores... plus that's just the frame...' taking the pistol out of the box and immediately following the correct method to ensure it was unloaded '-my Mosin says "1899" on it, but most of the parts ain't true.'

He nodded, "I did have to partly dismantle it to get the jammed casing out - not sure what broke in it, though, so I didn't reassemble it afterward. Thank heavens for small favours, the cartridge fired properly, at least."
He frowned, "1899 Mosin Nagant? Doesn't that one take ridiculously hard-to-get ammunition? Or did you rebore it?"

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Adley, Colin, Nicole, Tane and Serge] (Cabal meeting 10 in the morning Wednesday 30/9 2015)

He nodded, "True, but they have their own Law of Shades, which in practice means they hardly ever kill people for food. It makes them generally less predatory monsters than what you see in Dracula or those Twilight books... They're still dangerous, of course, but they're less of a danger than popular fiction would present them as."

"True enough, it do not change that to them we are food."
Bruce grunted.
"And they can destroy Avatars."
He added sourly.
"And while I do not pretend to understand how all that spiritual bullshit work and I think the Union are probably right that it is a part of the brain, I appreciate my tinkering an being able to do shit with materials."

He smiled wryly, "Now, doesn't that depend on the chemicals, and the quality of the Tass? My little trick can use Tass so extremely resonated as to be a health hazard to use personally; you'd want to avoid the corrupted stuff, of course, but there's still a number of ways to get less desirable Tass on a budget."

"Yeah you can get the bad quality Tass cheaper for sure but not as cheap as me making the chemicals we need out of dishwater."
Bruce said and shrugged.

[Adley]

'No, I complained that you'd been going around for days like somebody had buried a cap in your behind without actually saying why, then about drawing a picture which ain't true.'

"I didn't draw any such picture, nor have I been ruminating over it. The reason I've been walking around looking like I've got...how did you put it, a cap in my ass? Has less to do with you and more to the fact that I actually /am/ in pain. I was injured and it can't be magickally healed, it's going to take at least four weeks to recuperate."

"We could make the plastic explosives in the lab as well, now granted unstable matter is harder to mess around with, I don't know why..."
Bruce said and he glanced at Adley as if he expected the Hermetic to have the answer, Hermetics had their heads in the books constantly after all.
"However it can be done."
He finished.

He blinked at Bruce. "Don't look at me. I haven't studied matter and don't know how explosives work outside of the basic premise. If I wanted something to explode, I  would probably use magick."

'What, do I have problems with a bunch of sun-dodgers who treat people as nothing more than dinner and love playing with their food?' Nicole said sarcastically. 'Well, sor-ry if I for some odd reason think that's wrong.'

Colin hesitated for a moment at the description of vampires, then made another marginal note, "Now, Miss Bouchard, there are as many kinds of vampires as there are kinds of people, I should say - while they certainly qualify as an apex predator as such, they do forge all sorts of bonds with humans, not actually centered on the food chain... but that is perhaps a matter for another discussion."

"True enough, it do not change that to them we are food." Bruce grunted. "And they can destroy Avatars." He added sourly. "And while I do not pretend to understand how all that spiritual bullshit work and I think the Union are probably right that it is a part of the brain, I appreciate my tinkering an being able to do shit with materials."

"The Order doesn't particularly like vampires either as a whole, you know and for very good reason. But they are still...people, of a sort. Not human people anymore and highly dangerous, especially to us but also to Sleepers obviously. To reduce the to only what you described, though, actually does a disservice to the kinds of dangers that they can pose and also the way they go about things for the most part. But, a simple 'yes' would have sufficed." He looked over at Bruce. "It's not bullshit; your avatar is more than a part of your brain. Your brain is part of your physical body, but you also have a spiritual self. Your avatar is enmeshed with these aspects of us while we're alive. Once we die, it gets a new host, if things go well anyway. But yes, vampire blood is very, very bad for a mage and becoming one will kill the avatar." He frowned.

'You think I'm an idiot? Really? That I don't know where the lines are? We gonna have a little lecture on "societal norms" like why I shouldn't take a dump in a Master's office or sacrifice their pet to the Old Ones?'

"Now who's exaggerating?"

He looked up at Adley, nodding thoughtfully, "I did get some sense of her capabilities during the battle... I suspect part of the nature of her capabilities are... personally sensitive, mainly increased physical ability comparable to that of Dr. Lee. Unless she is ready and willing to share, I am not going to force the issue for now."
He looked up at Nicole, "Is my guess fairly accurate in that regard?"

"I'm a private person, but  the last time we had personally sensitive information withheld, things might have gone differently." He shrugged.

'I'm a gal who happens to wear a glove and can handle action. Which you already know. I'm also not bad in losing tails, meeting folk who'd just rob you and generally being rather hard to keep down when kicked.' looking at Adley directly.

"If you think this is me kicking you, you've never been kicked by me. And I'd rather keep it that way."

He smiled thinly and made a few notes on two of the pages, nodding thoughtfully, "Sounds like we have a volunteer for running Remedial Etiquette 101, then. We'll work out a schedule soon enough, I expect."

'Can't. Going to the spa with the girls that day.' Nicole replied, a blatant lie and intended to be.

He chuckled softly, "I believe we can manage to schedule around your... spa days. And I do believe getting into the subject of defecation in others' offices or pet sacrifices is a bit excessive - though a refresher on the proper forms of address to various senior Magi might be useful. You might not want to offhandedly express love and affection for a Hermetic of House Tytalus in public, for example; might give people the wrong idea..."

He gave her a look that just said, 'really?' "It doesn't have to be called 'remedial.' Besides, if some of us are going to Horizon there's probably stuff all of us could brush up on, it's...different there."

He made another note, "Quite, Mr. Yager does have a certain youthful enthusiasm, but I think perhaps he hides a bit more maturity than even he realizes... He certainly has a well-developed sense of empathy."

"I would agree with that, as far as I've gotten to know him."

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Adley, Colin, Nicole, Tane and Serge] (Cabal meeting 10 in the morning Wednesday 30/9 2015)

Bruce gave you a concerned look when you said you where in pain.
"It have not gotten any better Adley?"
He asked and it really had not, it was this sharp ache and a feeling of being out of it like right before a flu broke out, without being able to pinpoint the cause of the discomfort. Richard had given you some pills that where meant to boot your immune system and a list of vitamins to take to keep from getting sick when your life force where weakened and it helped but the pain where still there.

Bruce looked somewhat disappointed when you said you did not know why unstable and explosive substances where harder to create than stable ones but all he did was give a grunt. About Avatars though he said.
"I am not sure I buy the idea that there is a little man inside my soul that gets passed like a hand me down pair of jeans between incarnations, but that there is something there...I had a Seeking recently and I met...hum well never mind the idea of loosing that something is not comfortable I prefer to stay clear of vampires."
He said before reaching for another cracker and loading it up with cheese and ham.

[Adley]

Bruce gave you a concerned look when you said you where in pain.
"It have not gotten any better Adley?"

"Not really, no. It's kind of like having a pain you can't point at because it's everywhere." He reached over and took the tea that Colin had put out and drank some of it. "It's just going to be this way for a while."

"I am not sure I buy the idea that there is a little man inside my soul that gets passed like a hand me down pair of jeans between incarnations, but that there is something there...I had a Seeking recently and I met...hum well never mind the idea of loosing that something is not comfortable I prefer to stay clear of vampires." He said before reaching for another cracker and loading it up with cheese and ham.

"It doesn't have to be a 'little man.' And avatars aren't hand me down, more like...cumulative, I think. Maybe some of them even remember us when no one else might be left to recall our Names."

[Nicole Bouchard]

[Cabal Meeting]

Colin's Post:

'Tell that to the ones in Detroit.' Nicole said simply, crossing her arms, making it perfectly clear she was not going to be sold on any pleas of them being otherwise.

'But shit... is this a conversation we need to have right now?'

Colin's Post:

'Agreed. Burning time, we are.'

Colin's Post:

Adley's Post:

'Yeah. Expressions of love can so often backfire.' she replied in a faux-thoughtful tone. Then stared at Adley. 'But I exaggerated to make a point. That you have brought up an issue which ain't been raised. Said you didn't know squat about me, which leads me to the conclusion you're judging me on how I look alone. Now, let me set the record straight; while I ain't no smarmy diplomat type I can at very least avoid the major prat-falls. That if in doubt, I keep my trap shut and play the dumb grunt; yes sir, no sir, can't say sir.' eyes flicking to Colin for a moment.

Adley's Post:

'Call it "need to know". When it becomes an issue, you'll be a first to know. But that time is not now.'

Adley's Post:

'Okay, what huge fuck-up am I walking into here?' hands on her hips, giving the group an accusative look.

Anja's Post:

'Yeah, that is a real bitch.' she said simply, body language making it obvious the empathy was genuine on this.

Adley's Post:

'Believe it or not, but everything is about you, it isn't. I meant in general terms.'

[Will reply to other two scenes later]

[Nobody noticed Nick's note to Adley: https://chantrysteelhaven.forumotion.com/t175p25-little-moments-between-steptember-and-november-meetings-and-endings-ic-thread-30#24107

[Sent a PM, Great One]

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Adley, Colin, Nicole, Tane and Serge] (Cabal meeting 10 in the morning Wednesday 30/9 2015)

"Not really, no. It's kind of like having a pain you can't point at because it's everywhere." He reached over and took the tea that Colin had put out and drank some of it. "It's just going to be this way for a while."

"Yeah that kind of sucks, I wish I could help but yeah there is nothing I can do really."
Bruce commented and frowned.

"It doesn't have to be a 'little man.' And avatars aren't hand me down, more like...cumulative, I think. Maybe some of them even remember us when no one else might be left to recall our Names."

"That is actually kind of nice, I am not sure I believe it but it is kind of nice."
The Orphan artificer said and he gave a rare smile before eating the cracker he had been preparing.

'But shit... is this a conversation we need to have right now?'

"I think perhaps it boils down to the question of whatever or not you would mistreat a prisoner and also if we go and visit a Chantry that have vampire allies will you be able to handle that as Chantries tend to be testy if guests blow up their allies and Custos."
Bruce asked ad shrugged.
"For me why don't we just not bring her along if whatever we are doing will involve friendly relation with bloodsuckers."
He suggested.
"Simple as that."

'Agreed. Burning time, we are.'

Bruce grunted his agreement to this.

(OOC: Ok I am on my way out to run some errands I will look at it when I get back.)

[Warpmind]

[Cabal Meeting, 10 AM, Wednesday September 30th]

"True enough, it do not change that to them we are food."
Bruce grunted.
"And they can destroy Avatars."
He added sourly.
"And while I do not pretend to understand how all that spiritual bullshit work and I think the Union are probably right that it is a part of the brain, I appreciate my tinkering an being able to do shit with materials."

"The Order doesn't particularly like vampires either as a whole, you know and for very good reason. But they are still...people, of a sort. Not human people anymore and highly dangerous, especially to us but also to Sleepers obviously. To reduce the to only what you described, though, actually does a disservice to the kinds of dangers that they can pose and also the way they go about things for the most part. But, a simple 'yes' would have sufficed." He looked over at Bruce. "It's not bullshit; your avatar is more than a part of your brain. Your brain is part of your physical body, but you also have a spiritual self. Your avatar is enmeshed with these aspects of us while we're alive. Once we die, it gets a new host, if things go well anyway. But yes, vampire blood is very, very bad for a mage and becoming one will kill the avatar." He frowned.

'Tell that to the ones in Detroit.' Nicole said simply, crossing her arms, making it perfectly clear she was not going to be sold on any pleas of them being otherwise.

'But shit... is this a conversation we need to have right now?'

"I think perhaps it boils down to the question of whatever or not you would mistreat a prisoner and also if we go and visit a Chantry that have vampire allies will you be able to handle that as Chantries tend to be testy if guests blow up their allies and Custos."
Bruce asked ad shrugged.
"For me why don't we just not bring her along if whatever we are doing will involve friendly relation with bloodsuckers."
He suggested.
"Simple as that."

Colin nodded, "Vampires are, indeed, not germane to the membership issue."

"I'm a private person, but the last time we had personally sensitive information withheld, things might have gone differently." He shrugged.

'Call it "need to know". When it becomes an issue, you'll be a first to know. But that time is not now.'

He nodded, "I did accidentally give Miss Bouchard a once-over before the battle. I do not believe the sensitive information is of such a nature as to risk biting us in the buttocks like the... other matter."

Bruce gave you a concerned look when you said you where in pain.
"It have not gotten any better Adley?"
He asked and it really had not, it was this sharp ache and a feeling of being out of it like right before a flu broke out, without being able to pinpoint the cause of the discomfort. Richard had given you some pills that where meant to boot your immune system and a list of vitamins to take to keep from getting sick when your life force where weakened and it helped but the pain where still there.

"Not really, no. It's kind of like having a pain you can't point at because it's everywhere." He reached over and took the tea that Colin had put out and drank some of it. "It's just going to be this way for a while."

He frowned and nodded with a concerned look in his eyes, "The pine cone, right? I know the feeling of... pain everywhere, though for a different reason. It still hurts that bad?"

"Yeah you can get the bad quality Tass cheaper for sure but not as cheap as me making the chemicals we need out of dishwater."
Bruce said and shrugged.

He nodded.

He gave her a look that just said, 'really?' "It doesn't have to be called 'remedial.' Besides, if some of us are going to Horizon there's probably stuff all of us could brush up on, it's...different there."

'Yeah. Expressions of love can so often backfire.' she replied in a faux-thoughtful tone. Then stared at Adley. 'But I exaggerated to make a point. That you have brought up an issue which ain't been raised. Said you didn't know squat about me, which leads me to the conclusion you're judging me on how I look alone. Now, let me set the record straight; while I ain't no smarmy diplomat type I can at very least avoid the major prat-falls. That if in doubt, I keep my trap shut and play the dumb grunt; yes sir, no sir, can't say sir.' eyes flicking to Colin for a moment.

He grinned with amusement and looked over at Adley, "Would you like to explain the terms of endearment used in House Tytalus, or should I?"
He nodded to Nicole, "The Traditions are perhaps less prone to that sort of ground pounder attitudes; such forceful deference might be misinterpreted, too - especially if there's a language barrier. How is your Latin?"

'Okay, what huge fuck-up am I walking into here?' hands on her hips, giving the group an accusative look.

He put down his pen for a moment, and looked around the table, then sighed, "We have a... small judicial issue on our hands; the Senior Quaesitor for Boston has decided she has a particularly nasty bone to pick with our Cabalmate Beatrice Alexander, which ended up almost getting her gilguled last Thursday. We managed to ultimately prevent that and repair the damage to her Avatar, and the same Senior Quaesitor now carries a personal grudge against this Chantry, this Cabal, and me in particular. I may have caused her some unprecedented personal offense during the course of last week's events. There's also some indication that said Senior Quaesitor has some dirty laundry of her own, but I am not at liberty to discuss those matters in depth at this time. In summary, though, this Cabal has a problem with one particularly vindictive Quaesitor with a lot of resources and connections, and we're essentially doing what we can to prevent her from getting any legal angle to pursue us. Like Torquemada, if given the opportunity, she will find something to hang us with..."

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Adley, Colin, Nicole, Tane and Serge] (Cabal meeting 10 in the morning Wednesday 30/9 2015)

"Yeah that is a problem, and it is not just a issue wit Bee anymore, originally D'Angelo might have just wanted to take out Beatrice but since we stood up for our Cabalmate and did not just let her be...destroyed now we are all on the bitch's hit list and particularly Colin who she definitively don't like."
Bruce said and grunted.
"So yeah think of it this way Miss Bouchard if you join the Cabal you are going to gain friends that would be willing to help you basically no matter what you where up against but you will also end ip on the queen bitch of the legal scales' shit list along with the rest of us."
The Orphan commented.

(OOC: Errands run successfully with time for a coffee as well, where are my quest completed bonus, fanfae and EXP? )

[Jeremy Silverstein]

[Cabal Meeting]

The owl followed your pencil with his eyes, he wanted it, oh he soooooo wanted it, he did not make any moves though, however now that Nicole had the pencil he was doubly interested in her but he looked at her differently than the rest of the group, with everyone else he looked like he wanted cuddles or treated or just attention, with Nicole he looked at her as he might look at a juicy mouse or a rat and his eyes was fixated on her as he leaned forward.

"Man, you really want this. Damn, now I feel like a dick." Serge muttered to himself as the other talked around him. He ripped out the page from his notebook and showed the owl.

"How's it look?" he asked the curious bird. The picture depicted a realistic version of Jareth flying through the air with his wings outstretched and massive jet pack strapped to his back assisting in his flight.

"I didn't draw any such picture, nor have I been ruminating over it. The reason I've been walking around looking like I've got...how did you put it, a cap in my ass? Has less to do with you and more to the fact that I actually /am/ in pain. I was injured and it can't be magickally healed, it's going to take at least four weeks to recuperate."

Bruce gave you a concerned look when you said you where in pain.
"It have not gotten any better Adley?"

"Not really, no. It's kind of like having a pain you can't point at because it's everywhere." He reached over and took the tea that Colin had put out and drank some of it. "It's just going to be this way for a while."

This piqued Serge's interest and he looked at Adley with a concerned look on his face. "Your injured and can't be healed? What? Why? How?"

He put down his pen for a moment, and looked around the table, then sighed, "We have a... small judicial issue on our hands; the Senior Quaesitor for Boston has decided she has a particularly nasty bone to pick with our Cabalmate Beatrice Alexander, which ended up almost getting her gilguled last Thursday. We managed to ultimately prevent that and repair the damage to her Avatar, and the same Senior Quaesitor now carries a personal grudge against this Chantry, this Cabal, and me in particular. I may have caused her some unprecedented personal offense during the course of last week's events. There's also some indication that said Senior Quaesitor has some dirty laundry of her own, but I am not at liberty to discuss those matters in depth at this time. In summary, though, this Cabal has a problem with one particularly vindictive Quaesitor with a lot of resources and connections, and we're essentially doing what we can to prevent her from getting any legal angle to pursue us. Like Torquemada, if given the opportunity, she will find something to hang us with..."

"Personal Offence? What'd you do to her?" Serge said with a tilt of his head. "Oh and how's Beatrice doing by the way?"

(OOC: I award anja 3 xp for a successful errand run! )

[Warpmind]

[Cabal Meeting, 10 AM, Wednesday September 30th]

"Yeah that is a problem, and it is not just a issue wit Bee anymore, originally D'Angelo might have just wanted to take out Beatrice but since we stood up for our Cabalmate and did not just let her be...destroyed now we are all on the bitch's hit list and particularly Colin who she definitively don't like."
Bruce said and grunted.
"So yeah think of it this way Miss Bouchard if you join the Cabal you are going to gain friends that would be willing to help you basically no matter what you where up against but you will also end ip on the queen bitch of the legal scales' shit list along with the rest of us."
The Orphan commented.

"Personal Offence? What'd you do to her?" Serge said with a tilt of his head. "Oh and how's Beatrice doing by the way?"

Colin cleared his throat, "Ah, I persuaded the senior Quaesitor present for the ritual that Quaesitor D'Angelo's Avatar merited an examination prior to her participation... she did not approve, but were compelled by the legality of my request. I think that stung her pride a bit. And then, during the battle, I had the gall to refuse being arrested by her after she tried to prod at my Avatar, after I took down the Caul from the inside and had the audacity to come out essentially unharmed. A desperate tactic which, I might add, I don't think anyone else would have been able to pull off, so I would not recommend anyone to try to do it in the future. And then, the same Quaesitor who found it justified to examine her Avatar let me off the hook with a proverbial slap on the wrist instead of far more... invasive punishments under her gentle authority."

((OOC: Fanfare, huh? Will this do? ))

[Colin's shop, Monday, September 28th, 7 PM]
((OOC: Might as well do this since you're staying home after all... I'm going to assume Colin got Ameli's silver dagger without too much trouble earlier in the day, if that's all right?))
Colin sat down behind the register and looked over the silver dagger, freshly cleaned and sanitized, then called Kristina, keeping a wary eye on Jareth to ensure he didn't get too tempted by the few free-hanging pieces.

[Adley]

'Yeah, that is a real bitch.' she said simply, body language making it obvious the empathy was genuine on this.

He glanced at her, waiting for some other bit of sarcasm or back bite to follow up and when it didn't come he nodded. "I will be fine, it will get better as the weeks go on, but until then..." He shrugged.

"Yeah that kind of sucks, I wish I could help but yeah there is nothing I can do really."
Bruce commented and frowned.

He frowned and nodded with a concerned look in his eyes, "The pine cone, right? I know the feeling of... pain everywhere, though for a different reason. It still hurts that bad?"

This piqued Serge's interest and he looked at Adley with a concerned look on his face. "Your injured and can't be healed? What? Why? How?"

"Thanks, there is nothing to heal it but time. I took a potion during the last battle to effectively ignore it temporarily, but that can be quite dangerous. It's best to just let this sort of wound heal on it's own, because it's easy to overdo it and injure yourself worse. And it can only be healed with time. It was totally worth it, but until then every time I wake up it feels like the wrong side of the bed. As for the how, it's a bit complicated, but I used a rote that involves a sacrifice of your own life energy to make Quintessence. I needed the Quintessence to use to save us from a rabid avatar that had been weaponized."

"That is actually kind of nice, I am not sure I believe it but it is kind of nice."
The Orphan artificer said and he gave a rare smile before eating the cracker he had been preparing.

He gave a small smile back. "Well, 'not sure' is better than sure that you don't."

'Tell that to the ones in Detroit.' Nicole said simply, crossing her arms, making it perfectly clear she was not going to be sold on any pleas of them being otherwise.
'But shit... is this a conversation we need to have right now?'

Colin hesitated for a moment at the description of vampires, then made another marginal note, "Now, Miss Bouchard, there are as many kinds of vampires as there are kinds of people, I should say - while they certainly qualify as an apex predator as such, they do forge all sorts of bonds with humans, not actually centered on the food chain... but that is perhaps a matter for another discussion."

"I think perhaps it boils down to the question of whatever or not you would mistreat a prisoner and also if we go and visit a Chantry that have vampire allies will you be able to handle that as Chantries tend to be testy if guests blow up their allies and Custos."
Bruce asked ad shrugged.
"For me why don't we just not bring her along if whatever we are doing will involve friendly relation with bloodsuckers."
He suggested.
"Simple as that."

"The reason I asked is I wanted to know if you would have issues with custos or prisoners...or guests. Why are you here from Detroit, anyway? Did they send you to help out with hellweek?"

'Thanks.' Nicole said, taking them and leaning over the table. 'Perhaps I should ask you for fricking references too...' she muttered darkly, writing something. Then she straightened out and shoved the paper towards Adley. In rather shoddy script it read:

'Adept Dmitry Smirnov, House Thig. Dry Dock Laboratory, Detroit.' 'There. Enjoy my file.' she quipped sarcastically, giving Serge back his pencil.

He took the note when it was passed over to him, frowned a little over it and then seemed interested in her penmenship. "Am I allowed to share with the class, or at least our cabal leader?" he asked her. "Also, go ahead. I am Adley Roth Hicks, bani Flambeau of the Order of Hermes, filius Jeffry Amaris Morgan. I've been here since I was in Boston University, I awakened during my apprenticeship here under Master Morgan as I continued to study Philosophy and Language there. My preferred spheres of magick are Spirit, Prime and Forces. I'm a lingusitics and Greek language professor at BU, where I teach a few classes to earn some money. I can read Latin, Greek, Coptic, ancient Persian, and am working on deepening my understanding of Hebrew. "

'Yeah. Expressions of love can so often backfire.' she replied in a faux-thoughtful tone. Then stared at Adley. 'But I exaggerated to make a point. That you have brought up an issue which ain't been raised. Said you didn't know squat about me, which leads me to the conclusion you're judging me on how I look alone. Now, let me set the record straight; while I ain't no smarmy diplomat type I can at very least avoid the major prat-falls. That if in doubt, I keep my trap shut and play the dumb grunt; yes sir, no sir, can't say sir.' eyes flicking to Colin for a moment.

"Jesus Christ. No, I'm not judging you on how you look. I was surprised to see someone as tall and strong as you are, it's not every day I see someone that's built like that. But that was mainly wondering if push came to shove what kind of offensive threat you were going to be, other than that I don't give a shit how you look, personally. Other people might, though. What I am judging you on is what I've seen you do and what you've said, and how I've observed you act. Granted, those are not a lot of things, since it's been a week. But in that week, I've observed your attitude which is exemplified in this conversation, and then there was the vampire thing, /which is why I brought it up./"

'Call it "need to know". When it becomes an issue, you'll be a first to know. But that time is not now.'

He nodded, "I did accidentally give Miss Bouchard a once-over before the battle. I do not believe the sensitive information is of such a nature as to risk biting us in the buttocks like the... other matter."

"Alright, fine." He glanced at Colin. Well, he trusted him.

'Okay, what huge fuck-up am I walking into here?' hands on her hips, giving the group an accusative look.

He put down his pen for a moment, and looked around the table, then sighed, "We have a... small judicial issue on our hands; the Senior Quaesitor for Boston has decided she has a particularly nasty bone to pick with our Cabalmate Beatrice Alexander, which ended up almost getting her gilguled last Thursday. We managed to ultimately prevent that and repair the damage to her Avatar, and the same Senior Quaesitor now carries a personal grudge against this Chantry, this Cabal, and me in particular. I may have caused her some unprecedented personal offense during the course of last week's events. There's also some indication that said Senior Quaesitor has some dirty laundry of her own, but I am not at liberty to discuss those matters in depth at this time. In summary, though, this Cabal has a problem with one particularly vindictive Quaesitor with a lot of resources and connections, and we're essentially doing what we can to prevent her from getting any legal angle to pursue us. Like Torquemada, if given the opportunity, she will find something to hang us with..."

"Backing it up to the start, we found out that...Beatrice, our Verbena cabalmate, is a widderslainte. She is under her mentor's protection, he is a powerful Verbena and as long as she followed a badly worded staying order, then she would be left alone. But she broke it by accident, or more to the point, the wording loophole was abused, which got the Quesitor's attention on us. She was then given the sentencing of having her avatar destroyed in a rite known as 'gilul.' We managed to save her from being wholly destroyed with another bit of law precedent, but not before the rite was started and she is still healing. This is now more or less common knowledge of everyone in our chantry. Now, when I found out she had a Fallen avatar, I was obviously upset at having a widderslainte as a cabalmate. But she is definitely not like most of them, and I think...maybe she can be saved if we can figure out how to do it, though that is far from a popular belief. Still, you should know what you're coming into, because it's going to be a long fight."

"Personal Offence? What'd you do to her?" Serge said with a tilt of his head. "Oh and how's Beatrice doing by the way?"

Colin cleared his throat, "Ah, I persuaded the senior Quaesitor present for the ritual that Quaesitor D'Angelo's Avatar merited an examination prior to her participation... she did not approve, but were compelled by the legality of my request. I think that stung her pride a bit. And then, during the battle, I had the gall to refuse being arrested by her after she tried to prod at my Avatar, after I took down the Caul from the inside and had the audacity to come out essentially unharmed. A desperate tactic which, I might add, I don't think anyone else would have been able to pull off, so I would not recommend anyone to try to do it in the future. And then, the same Quaesitor who found it justified to examine her Avatar let me off the hook with a proverbial slap on the wrist instead of far more... invasive punishments under her gentle authority."

"If you're not sure what a caul is, it's what turns a normal avatar into an Inverted, Fallen one. It's what Nephandi do to become Fallen. It tears your avatar to shreds and puts it back together wrong. It's missing something afterward, and all the mage will want afterward is oblivion, and possibly taking everyone and thing out with it. Even the magick that the Fallen use and their language is destructive, tearing out chunks of possibility from the Tellurian itself. Please, no one ever go into one of them," he said, looking at Colin. "His case is far from...typical. Also, I may have had a heart attack when I found out and I'm not yet 30."

He chuckled softly, "I believe we can manage to schedule around your... spa days. And I do believe getting into the subject of defecation in others' offices or pet sacrifices is a bit excessive - though a refresher on the proper forms of address to various senior Magi might be useful. You might not want to offhandedly express love and affection for a Hermetic of House Tytalus in public, for example; might give people the wrong idea..."

He grinned with amusement and looked over at Adley, "Would you like to explain the terms of endearment used in House Tytalus, or should I?"
He nodded to Nicole, "The Traditions are perhaps less prone to that sort of ground pounder attitudes; such forceful deference might be misinterpreted, too - especially if there's a language barrier. How is your Latin?"

He glanced at Colin and finally relented with a bit of a smile, the stubborn dug in heels look  shifting - a little. "Calling your mentor 'beloved' in certain circles is a signal of sorts to the right ears that they're your personal rival and to stay out of the way of their fights.  Of course, it is not just for apprentices to call their mater or pater such, calling someone your 'filia' or 'filius carus' would mean they're your backstabbing, two-timing, ungrateful apprentice, as well. The more adjectives of endearment that are used, the more ironic and deeply heated the rivalry."

'Believe it or not, but everything is about you, it isn't. I meant in general terms.' 

"You just happened to glare at me? Anyway, I think that's all I had to say..."

// thanks, I did miss that message - I didn't see what the note actually read.

[Jeremy Silverstein]

"Backing it up to the start, we found out that...Beatrice, our Verbena cabalmate, is a widderslainte. She is under her mentor's protection, he is a powerful Verbena and as long as she followed a badly worded staying order, then she would be left alone. But she broke it by accident, or more to the point, the wording loophole was abused, which got the Quesitor's attention on us. She was then given the sentencing of having her avatar destroyed in a rite known as 'gilul.' We managed to save her from being wholly destroyed with another bit of law precedent, but not before the rite was started and she is still healing. This is now more or less common knowledge of everyone in our chantry. Now, when I found out she had a Fallen avatar, I was obviously upset at having a widderslainte as a cabalmate. But she is definitely not like most of them, and I think...maybe she can be saved if we can figure out how to do it, though that is far from a popular belief. Still, you should know what you're coming into, because it's going to be a long fight."

"Beatrice is a widderslainte?" Serge said tapping his chin with his pen as he tried to remember if he knew that information or not. "Well it doesn't really matter to me. The widderslainte I've met here have been pretty cool dudes. Hope she's doing all right now."

Colin cleared his throat, "Ah, I persuaded the senior Quaesitor present for the ritual that Quaesitor D'Angelo's Avatar merited an examination prior to her participation... she did not approve, but were compelled by the legality of my request. I think that stung her pride a bit. And then, during the battle, I had the gall to refuse being arrested by her after she tried to prod at my Avatar, after I took down the Caul from the inside and had the audacity to come out essentially unharmed. A desperate tactic which, I might add, I don't think anyone else would have been able to pull off, so I would not recommend anyone to try to do it in the future. And then, the same Quaesitor who found it justified to examine her Avatar let me off the hook with a proverbial slap on the wrist instead of far more... invasive punishments under her gentle authority."

"If you're not sure what a caul is, it's what turns a normal avatar into an Inverted, Fallen one. It's what Nephandi do to become Fallen. It tears your avatar to shreds and puts it back together wrong. It's missing something afterward, and all the mage will want afterward is oblivion, and possibly taking everyone and thing out with it. Even the magick that the Fallen use and their language is destructive, tearing out chunks of possibility from the Tellurian itself. Please, no one ever go into one of them," he said, looking at Colin. "His case is far from...typical. Also, I may have had a heart attack when I found out and I'm not yet 30."

"I've heard several stories of the cauls from the prisoners. They always seem to flinch when it's brought up. Can't believe anyone would willingly jump into one." Serge said with wide eyes as he glanced at Colin. "That's some hero level luck you got there Mr. Wainwright. Or maybe your just the chosen one."

"So this Quaesitor is just looking for any reason to arrest you guys? Just cause she wasn't able to have her way with you? Sounds a bit petty." Serge said in a confused tone, not sure he was getting everything.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Adley, Colin, Nicole, Tane and Serge] (Cabal meeting 10 in the morning Wednesday 30/9 2015)

"Man, you really want this. Damn, now I feel like a dick." Serge muttered to himself as the other talked around him. He ripped out the page from his notebook and showed the owl.

"How's it look?" he asked the curious bird. The picture depicted a realistic version of Jareth flying through the air with his wings outstretched and massive jet pack strapped to his back assisting in his flight.

When you spoke to him Jareth flapped his wings, took off and landed on the back of your chair, he pecked slightly at some bright colors on your drawing seaming more interested in the bright colors and the paper itself that the drawing as he cooed happily.

Colin cleared his throat, "Ah, I persuaded the senior Quaesitor present for the ritual that Quaesitor D'Angelo's Avatar merited an examination prior to her participation... she did not approve, but were compelled by the legality of my request. I think that stung her pride a bit. And then, during the battle, I had the gall to refuse being arrested by her after she tried to prod at my Avatar, after I took down the Caul from the inside and had the audacity to come out essentially unharmed. A desperate tactic which, I might add, I don't think anyone else would have been able to pull off, so I would not recommend anyone to try to do it in the future. And then, the same Quaesitor who found it justified to examine her Avatar let me off the hook with a proverbial slap on the wrist instead of far more... invasive punishments under her gentle authority."

"Yeah that will probably do to piss her off and get you solidly on the woman's shit list."
Bruce said then he frowned.
"Also try not to jump into any more portals to hell or whatever the fucking Cauls are."
The other Orphan grumbled.

"Thanks, there is nothing to heal it but time. I took a potion during the last battle to effectively ignore it temporarily, but that can be quite dangerous. It's best to just let this sort of wound heal on it's own, because it's easy to overdo it and injure yourself worse. And it can only be healed with time. It was totally worth it, but until then every time I wake up it feels like the wrong side of the bed. As for the how, it's a bit complicated, but I used a rote that involves a sacrifice of your own life energy to make Quintessence. I needed the Quintessence to use to save us from a rabid avatar that had been weaponized."

"A Avatar used as a weapon, shit how is that even possible?"
Bruce said then he grunted.
"I get it that there is nothing that can be done for your Adley but it still suck."
He said and frowned again.

He gave a small smile back. "Well, 'not sure' is better than sure that you don't."

Your Orphan Cabalmate just grunted at this.

"So this Quaesitor is just looking for any reason to arrest you guys? Just cause she wasn't able to have her way with you? Sounds a bit petty." Serge said in a confused tone, not sure he was getting everything.

"Well we did say petty, vindictive bitch did we not Mr Yager that is a pretty fitting description."
Bruce grumbled.

(Colin's Workshop)

You called Kristina and the Verbena quickly picked up the phone, you could hear her children playing in the background.
"It is I Mr Wainwright, what can I do for you?"
She asked.
"Eos please do not climb on that....Eos!"
She commanded her daughter.

[Warpmind]

[Cabal Meeting, 10 AM, Wednesday September 30th]

"The reason I asked is I wanted to know if you would have issues with custos or prisoners...or guests. Why are you here from Detroit, anyway? Did they send you to help out with hellweek?"

Colin looked up, pen poised to write, "Now there's a pertinent question for you... We know Mr. Yager was sent out to spread his wings and fly on his own, but Detroit is a bit of a drive... what did happen in Detroit?"

He took the note when it was passed over to him, frowned a little over it and then seemed interested in her penmenship. "Am I allowed to share with the class, or at least our cabal leader?" he asked her. "Also, go ahead. I am Adley Roth Hicks, bani Flambeau of the Order of Hermes, filius Jeffry Amaris Morgan. I've been here since I was in Boston University, I awakened during my apprenticeship here under Master Morgan as I continued to study Philosophy and Language there. My preferred spheres of magick are Spirit, Prime and Forces. I'm a lingusitics and Greek language professor at BU, where I teach a few classes to earn some money. I can read Latin, Greek, Coptic, ancient Persian, and am working on deepening my understanding of Hebrew. "

He arched an eyebrow at the note, then shrugged.

"Backing it up to the start, we found out that...Beatrice, our Verbena cabalmate, is a widderslainte. She is under her mentor's protection, he is a powerful Verbena and as long as she followed a badly worded staying order, then she would be left alone. But she broke it by accident, or more to the point, the wording loophole was abused, which got the Quesitor's attention on us. She was then given the sentencing of having her avatar destroyed in a rite known as 'gilul.' We managed to save her from being wholly destroyed with another bit of law precedent, but not before the rite was started and she is still healing. This is now more or less common knowledge of everyone in our chantry. Now, when I found out she had a Fallen avatar, I was obviously upset at having a widderslainte as a cabalmate. But she is definitely not like most of them, and I think...maybe she can be saved if we can figure out how to do it, though that is far from a popular belief. Still, you should know what you're coming into, because it's going to be a long fight."

"Beatrice is a widderslainte?" Serge said tapping his chin with his pen as he tried to remember if he knew that information or not. "Well it doesn't really matter to me. The widderslainte I've met here have been pretty cool dudes. Hope she's doing all right now."

He nodded, "She's essentially the sweetest little dark angel you could imagine, though perhaps a little less anomalous than she's generally given credit for - we've met a few this past week who are... decidedly not the little bundles of evil they're assumed to be."

"If you're not sure what a caul is, it's what turns a normal avatar into an Inverted, Fallen one. It's what Nephandi do to become Fallen. It tears your avatar to shreds and puts it back together wrong. It's missing something afterward, and all the mage will want afterward is oblivion, and possibly taking everyone and thing out with it. Even the magick that the Fallen use and their language is destructive, tearing out chunks of possibility from the Tellurian itself. Please, no one ever go into one of them," he said, looking at Colin. "His case is far from...typical. Also, I may have had a heart attack when I found out and I'm not yet 30."

"I've heard several stories of the cauls from the prisoners. They always seem to flinch when it's brought up. Can't believe anyone would willingly jump into one." Serge said with wide eyes as he glanced at Colin. "That's some hero level luck you got there Mr. Wainwright. Or maybe your just the chosen one."

He cleared his throat, looking momentarily embarrassed, "Yes, well, perhaps it's a bit of both... In any case, I had sufficient reason to think I had a chance of getting out intact. As it happens, my Avatar is something as rare as a shard cluster - pieces of uncountable broken Avatars gathered into a new whole, so what happened was that she... detonated and flensed the Caul from the inside, then picked up all the fragments and reformed afterwards... It hurt like Hell, and I have more Fallen fragments in my Avatar than ever - but the core is pure and pristine still."

"Yeah that will probably do to piss her off and get you solidly on the woman's shit list."
Bruce said then he frowned.
"Also try not to jump into any more portals to hell or whatever the fucking Cauls are."
The other Orphan grumbled.

He grimaced, "If it helps, the affection is mutual - and no, I have no intention of repeating the bloody miracle. If I never get within a hundred miles of another Caul, it'll be too soon..."

He glanced at Colin and finally relented with a bit of a smile, the stubborn dug in heels look shifting - a little. "Calling your mentor 'beloved' in certain circles is a signal of sorts to the right ears that they're your personal rival and to stay out of the way of their fights. Of course, it is not just for apprentices to call their mater or pater such, calling someone your 'filia' or 'filius carus' would mean they're your backstabbing, two-timing, ungrateful apprentice, as well. The more adjectives of endearment that are used, the more ironic and deeply heated the rivalry."

He smiled thinly, "While sarcastic terms of endearment are not the standard in the rest of the Traditions, it's the sort of little things that can help you immensely in navigating society if you're aware of them."

"So this Quaesitor is just looking for any reason to arrest you guys? Just cause she wasn't able to have her way with you? Sounds a bit petty." Serge said in a confused tone, not sure he was getting everything.

"Well we did say petty, vindictive bitch did we not Mr Yager that is a pretty fitting description."
Bruce grumbled.

He glanced over at Adley, pondering for a moment, "Let us just say there is reason to believe her motivations go well beyond the merely petty, but that the matter is sensitive. I would recommend looking up The Fragile Path - specifically, the Revelation of Akrites Salonikas the Seer. The honoured Quaesitors D'Angelo are twins... and much will be heard of them in the coming months and years, I believe."

[Colin's shop, Monday, September 28th, 7 PM]

You called Kristina and the Verbena quickly picked up the phone, you could hear her children playing in the background.
"It is I Mr Wainwright, what can I do for you?"
She asked.
"Eos please do not climb on that....Eos!"
She commanded her daughter.

He smiled thinly, "Did I call at an inconvenient time? I'll be quick... I am meeting with one Mr. Ameli in an hour's time, the Kiasyd who crossed our path this week... He's rather lost and alone, and I should like to reference him to you as a gesture of goodwill. Is there a particular set of contact information I should give him, or will simply your phone number and the address to Morningstar do? I would presume your fellows at the Chantry might object to a fey vampire dropping by, though..."

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Adley, Colin, Nicole, Tane and Serge] (Cabal meeting 10 in the morning Wednesday 30/9 2015)

He cleared his throat, looking momentarily embarrassed, "Yes, well, perhaps it's a bit of both... In any case, I had sufficient reason to think I had a chance of getting out intact. As it happens, my Avatar is something as rare as a shard cluster - pieces of uncountable broken Avatars gathered into a new whole, so what happened was that she... detonated and flensed the Caul from the inside, then picked up all the fragments and reformed afterwards... It hurt like Hell, and I have more Fallen fragments in my Avatar than ever - but the core is pure and pristine still."

"So basically you have a frag grenade Avatar, damn but that is cool."
Bruce said then he gave Colin a concerned look.
"But yeah no do not do that again Colin!"
He grunted. Mia though was quite pleased at being called cool but less pleased about being called a frag grenade.

He grimaced, "If it helps, the affection is mutual - and no, I have no intention of repeating the bloody miracle. If I never get within a hundred miles of another Caul, it'll be too soon..."

"Well no I do not imagine there will be much love lost between you."
Bruce said.
"And good stay away from the Cauls."

He glanced over at Adley, pondering for a moment, "Let us just say there is reason to believe her motivations go well beyond the merely petty, but that the matter is sensitive. I would recommend looking up The Fragile Path - specifically, the Revelation of Akrites Salonikas the Seer. The honoured Quaesitors D'Angelo are twins... and much will be heard of them in the coming months and years, I believe."

"Unless we take their asses down before they have the chance to do any damage that is."
Bruce commented wryly.
"What do the Fragile Path have to do with this though is not that about a bunch of dead guys?"

(Colin's Workshop)

He smiled thinly, "Did I call at an inconvenient time? I'll be quick... I am meeting with one Mr. Ameli in an hour's time, the Kiasyd who crossed our path this week... He's rather lost and alone, and I should like to reference him to you as a gesture of goodwill. Is there a particular set of contact information I should give him, or will simply your phone number and the address to Morningstar do? I would presume your fellows at the Chantry might object to a fey vampire dropping by, though..."

"I am the mother of twin toddlers Mr Wainwright there are always things to do."
Kristina said and you heard her resting the phone on her shoulder as she lifted her kid down from the dresser she was climbing on making the kid giggle.
"You can give him my phone number, do not send him to Morningstar this is very important is would be a big problem if any of his kind where to find out Isabella is there, now this man you are meeting are likely of another faction than Isabella are from but even so it is best not to take any chances, but you can ask him to call me."
She instructed.
"And be careful, I do not know much about their kind but the faction they are from are brutal and would kill you just because it is fun if they so feel like it."
The Verbena warned.

[Nicole Bouchard]

[Cabal Meeting]

Anja's Post:

'Erm... why is it looking at me like that?' clearly rattled by this development.

Anja's Post:

'Have I done anything to suggest I would do that?' Nicole replied, crossing her arms and looking over the group.

Colin's Post:

Adley's Post:

'Latin?' Nicole echoed, a little thrown at this. 'Not a word. What's the point in learning a language which died before Boston existed? Hell, even the Church has dumped it, and they love everything which is stupidly out of date.' the dismissive tone clear. 'Anyway, that's the fucking point of a crew - that we pool talents and specialise. I do the diplomacy when words fail.'

Adley's Post:

The penmanship was a blocky but legible print, the kind usually seen in those who'd given up writing - and perhaps school in general -  by sixth grade. To his question, she gave a "go ahead" shrug, and said nothing.

Colin's Post:

Anja's Post:

Adley's Post:

A pause as this sank into the large woman's mind. Eyes widened, then narrowed. Body flexing out, like she wanted to kick or smack something, but faded. When she did speak, it was surprisingly calm, quiet - and icy.

'So you're all camped out right in the middle of a huge fucking minefield and you-' glaring at Adley for a moment '-have the front to lecture and shoot haughty looks at me? Oh, and trying to drag in the kid-' nodding towards Serge '-in blind too?'

'If this shit is as big as you're all treating it, you will reek of death and few will wanna go near you in fear it's catchy. Is that why the Chief asked a couple of out-of-towners to do this, hmm?' her body language making it clear a line had been crossed. 'Now, no stranger to shit, I ain't. I don't leave others in the lurch either. But quit the fucking charade and be honest - you need all the help you can get.'

Adley's Post:

Colin's Post:

'Detroit only heard after we'd won.' Nicole said bluntly. 'Came to Boston 'cos it was suggested to me, as Detroit didn't appeal no more.' tone wooden, body language showing she was completely closed down on this subject.

[Again, will do other scenes next.]

[Warpmind]

[Cabal Meeting, 10 AM, Wednesday September 30th]

'Erm... why is it looking at me like that?' clearly rattled by this development.

He glanced up at Jareth and frowned, "Bugger if I know, he's never looked at people like that. Well, except Strawberry, but even so..."
He sighed and opened the bedroom door, pointing in there, "Alright, Jareth, in you go for a little bit."

'Latin?' Nicole echoed, a little thrown at this. 'Not a word. What's the point in learning a language which died before Boston existed? Hell, even the Church has dumped it, and they love everything which is stupidly out of date.' the dismissive tone clear. 'Anyway, that's the fucking point of a crew - that we pool talents and specialise. I do the diplomacy when words fail.'

He arched an eyebrow, "It does help in reading older texts that were written back when Latin was the preeminent scholastic language. And knowing more languages than English is always useful; especially if it's a common language in the society in which you move."

"So basically you have a frag grenade Avatar, damn but that is cool."
Bruce said then he gave Colin a concerned look.
"But yeah no do not do that again Colin!"
He grunted. Mia though was quite pleased at being called cool but less pleased about being called a frag grenade.

He smiled wryly, "Essentially, yes, but I'd rather not advertise that particular ability. People might think I'm glad to do such things..."

"Unless we take their asses down before they have the chance to do any damage that is."
Bruce commented wryly.
"What do the Fragile Path have to do with this though is not that about a bunch of dead guys?"

He nodded, "The Fragile Path is for the most the story of the First Cabal... except Salonikas' prophecy. That part deals with the future... or more precisely, there's ample indications it deals with the actual present."

A pause as this sank into the large woman's mind. Eyes widened, then narrowed. Body flexing out, like she wanted to kick or smack something, but faded. When she did speak, it was surprisingly calm, quiet - and icy.

'So you're all camped out right in the middle of a huge fucking minefield and you-' glaring at Adley for a moment '-have the front to lecture and shoot haughty looks at me? Oh, and trying to drag in the kid-' nodding towards Serge '-in blind too?'

'If this shit is as big as you're all treating it, you will reek of death and few will wanna go near you in fear it's catchy. Is that why the Chief asked a couple of out-of-towners to do this, hmm?' her body language making it clear a line had been crossed. 'Now, no stranger to shit, I ain't. I don't leave others in the lurch either. But quit the fucking charade and be honest - you need all the help you can get.'

He nodded, "And debate over potential invitation aside, you would have been adequately briefed on the situation before you'd be asked to make the decision. The summary, though, should essentially cover all the pertinent points of contention."
He smiled thinly, "And you are correct - we do need all the help we can get; but from the Cabal's perspective, we would like to know if you would prove an asset or liability before extending the invitation. And I think perhaps we've reached the point where we can vote on whether or not to formally invite you, unless there's any other questions anyone would like to ask of Miss Bouchard?"

'They didn't know until afters.' Nicole said bluntly. 'Came to Boston 'cos it was suggested to me, as Detroit didn't appeal no more.' tone wooden, body language showing she was completely closed down on this subject.

He nodded thoughtfully, making another little note in the margin.

[Colin's shop, Monday, September 28th, 7 PM]

"I am the mother of twin toddlers Mr Wainwright there are always things to do."
Kristina said and you heard her resting the phone on her shoulder as she lifted her kid down from the dresser she was climbing on making the kid giggle.
"You can give him my phone number, do not send him to Morningstar this is very important is would be a big problem if any of his kind where to find out Isabella is there, now this man you are meeting are likely of another faction than Isabella are from but even so it is best not to take any chances, but you can ask him to call me."
She instructed.
"And be careful, I do not know much about their kind but the faction they are from are brutal and would kill you just because it is fun if they so feel like it."
The Verbena warned.

He smiled, "Duly noted... I believe Drake mentioned, come December, that the chap is from... Sabbat, was that right? Not entirely sure about the factions, as such - that's not a clan like the Tremere or Malkavian, right? And yes, I will be careful - I will finish up preparations for self defense, should it prove necessary, but i believe he will respect the rules of offered sanctuary."
He grinned slightly, "And say hello to the kids for me, would you?"

[Nicole Bouchard]

[Serge's Apartment]

Serge's Post:

'That's what I was thinking; Occam's Razor and all that. And even if you can't do anything special, at least having it patterned right will at least make it easier to pass in low light.' Nicole replied, giving a nod to Serge's ideas. Though she didn't get a good chunk of what he meant.

[Nicole's Apartment]

Colin's Post:

'Well, what is porn, really?' Nicole retorted, now starting to give the pistol a visual once-over, her tone rather relaxed on an issue which often annoyed women. 'Ultimately, the desire to at least see what you don't or can't have. So those fancy chef shows are food porn, house-hunting ones property porn... Inked is tattoo porn - the works by artists who have year-long waiting lists, who charge much more than you can afford and you ain't got the pain threshold or guts to go though with it...' placing the part on the floor and sucking her teeth for a moment, then getting up off the floor.

Colin's Post:

'The chamber's from 1899. Rest of it is a hodge-podge of parts.' she continued, wandering over the room, one hand scratching herself. 'There's millions in the States; Russia sold 'em off dirt-cheap in the 90s. Used to be able to pick a good one up for less than a hundred bucks.' grabbing a small, battered tool-box and going back to Colin with it.

'Made from solid, ideal for hunting. Which means ammo - or guns - ain't gonna run out any time soon.' plonking the tool-box beside the pistol, sitting back down and flipping the box open.

[Letting others reply to Cabal Meeting]

[Warpmind]

[Nicole's apartment, 7PM Thursday, October 1st]

'Well, what is porn, really?' Nicole retorted, now starting to give the pistol a visual once-over, her tone rather relaxed on an issue which often annoyed women. 'Ultimately, the desire to at least see what you don't or can't have. So those fancy chef shows are food porn, house-hunting ones property porn... Inked is tattoo porn - the works by artists who have year-long waiting lists, who charge much more than you can afford and you ain't got the pain threshold or guts to go though with it...' placing the part on the floor and sucking her teeth for a moment, then getting up off the floor.

Colin smiled wryly, "As for me, I simply never had much of an interest in getting tattooed - and with my apprentice, I don't think it would be a good idea to do so; she'd be scared out of her skin at the thought of me getting poked with something as dangerous as needles... but I can still appreciate the artistic skill of the tattooist, and the patience of the, er, tattooee. As for the definition of porn, perhaps not so much things one cannot have, as a cheap way to get one's jollies without making an actual investment in it..."

'The chamber's from 1899. Rest of it is a hodge-podge of parts.' she continued, wandering over the room, one hand scratching herself. 'There's millions in the States; Russia sold 'em off dirt-cheap in the 90s. Used to be able to pick a good one up for less than a hundred bucks.' grabbing a small, battered tool-box and going back to Colin with it.

'Made from solid, ideal for hunting. Which means ammo - or guns - ain't gonna run out any time soon.' plonking the tool-box beside the pistol, sitting back down and flipping the box open.

He nodded, "Still, I'd have thought the chamber would be built around an obsolete cartridge; I do know the Soviet Union upgraded their standard 7.62mm ammunition a few times during its existence, I'd assume Czarist-era munitions would be some of the first to go. Unless they only changed the powder load and bullet materials, rather than cartridge size, of course..."
He sighed as she picked up the pistol, "So, how's the patient looking?"

[Jeremy Silverstein]

[Cabal Meeting]

When you spoke to him Jareth flapped his wings, took off and landed on the back of your chair, he pecked slightly at some bright colors on your drawing seaming more interested in the bright colors and the paper itself that the drawing as he cooed happily.

"You like the colors Mr. Owl? I'll let you have it if you tell Mr. Wainwright to accept me into the cabal." Serge said holding the drawing up so that Jareth could see all of the colors. He still maintained a good grip on it so and kept an eye on the mischievous owl Jareth making sure he wouldn't just take it all of a sudden.

He cleared his throat, looking momentarily embarrassed, "Yes, well, perhaps it's a bit of both... In any case, I had sufficient reason to think I had a chance of getting out intact. As it happens, my Avatar is something as rare as a shard cluster - pieces of uncountable broken Avatars gathered into a new whole, so what happened was that she... detonated and flensed the Caul from the inside, then picked up all the fragments and reformed afterwards... It hurt like Hell, and I have more Fallen fragments in my Avatar than ever - but the core is pure and pristine still."

"So basically you have a frag grenade Avatar, damn but that is cool."
Bruce said then he gave Colin a concerned look.
"But yeah no do not do that again Colin!"
He grunted. Mia though was quite pleased at being called cool but less pleased about being called a frag grenade.

"Ok that's the coolest description of an Avatar I've ever heard. A frag grenade avatar." Serge commented with a chuckle.

"Well we did say petty, vindictive bitch did we not Mr Yager that is a pretty fitting description."
Bruce grumbled.

 
"Y-yeah. I guess you did." Serge said nervously. In truth, he didn't ever remember any of the cabal members saying anything about petty. Colin had only mentioned her being vindictive, but Serge decided that wasn't a detail to mention right now.

He glanced over at Adley, pondering for a moment, "Let us just say there is reason to believe her motivations go well beyond the merely petty, but that the matter is sensitive. I would recommend looking up The Fragile Path - specifically, the Revelation of Akrites Salonikas the Seer. The honoured Quaesitors D'Angelo are twins... and much will be heard of them in the coming months and years, I believe."

"Unless we take their asses down before they have the chance to do any damage that is."
Bruce commented wryly.
"What do the Fragile Path have to do with this though is not that about a bunch of dead guys?"

He nodded, "The Fragile Path is for the most the story of the First Cabal... except Salonikas' prophecy. That part deals with the future... or more precisely, there's ample indications it deals with the actual present."

"The Fragile Path? I heard of that book. Never read it though. Wouldn't mind reading it. The adventure of the First cabal sound like an interesting read." Serge said beginning a new drawing in his notepad.

'So you're all camped out right in the middle of a huge fucking minefield and you-' glaring at Adley for a moment '-have the front to lecture and shoot haughty looks at me? Oh, and trying to drag in the kid-' nodding towards Serge '-in blind too?'

Serge looked up from his drawings, as if wanting to say something, but decided against interrupting Nicole's icy argument.

[Serge's Apartment]

'That's what I was thinking; Occam's Razor and all that. And even if you can't do anything special, at least having it patterned right will at least make it easier to pass in low light.' Nicole replied, giving a nod to Serge's ideas. Though she didn't get a good chunk of what he meant.

"Yeah! Exactly what I was thinking. Occam's Razor. The best answer to any problem is the simplest one." Serge in a voice that indicated he was thinking along similar lines.

"It took 10 hours to get that new tattoo of yours right? I can only assume the one along your arm took longer. Copying someone else's work will take less time. Copying them well?......Wellllll that'll take a bit longer." Serge said as he began to test the various pens he had brought out. Scribbling on his hands to test that they work and that the colors were the ones that he wanted.

"You don't actually need to be here when I'm copying them. Just need a good look at your arm and the synthetic skin and I can do it from memory. But you being here would certainly make things a lot easier for me. Would you be willing to stay while I draw it?"

[Nicole Bouchard]

[Serge's Apartment]

Serge's Post:

'Not always. Cutting a burn mark from a carpet would be the simplest way to solve that problem, but only by creating a "hole in carpet" issue.' Nicole said with a little smile.

Serge's Post:

'I think I can beat that. Come with me.' giving a gesture to the door.

[Nicole's Apartment]

Colin's Post:

'Everything's dangerous. Could die from Blu-Tak, a cinema chair or a cat water bowl.' Nicole replied dismissively, starting to root around in the tool-box - it being as organised-looking as the room - and found a small flashlight and tested it. 'True, there's some folk who just can't be bothered with the hassle... but that usually means they don't actually want it that much.' using the flashlight to inspect the darker parts of the pistol.

'But what's up with your apprentice, then?'

Colin's Post:

'It's that "sunk cost" thing.' the Etherite replied, now performing the rest of the field strip Colin had started. 'Solid round, already had millions of decent rifles to use it... so why change? Only got ditched 'cos flanged rounds don't do large clips well and are touchy about magazine feeding.' levering out the barrel. 'And obsolete only means "something better is out there", not that it's now crap.' finishing off with the recoil spring.

Colin's Post:

'Extractor full of crud, rusted barrel, worn springs, suspicious-looking plate.' Nicole commented. 'Pass me that rucksack by your feet.'

[Jeremy Silverstein]

[Serge's Apartment]

'Not always. Cutting a burn mark from a carpet would be the simplest way to solve that problem, but only by creating a "hole in carpet" issue.' Nicole said
with a little smile.

"I don't think cutting carpet is simple at all. Replacing the whole things seems simpler. Or just ignoring it. But I guess everyone's definition of 'simple' is different." Serge said with a chuckle.

'I think I can beat that. Come with me.' giving a gesture to the door.

"Ohhhh we're going on an adventure. Where we going? Actually don't tell me. It's better if it's left as a surprise." Serge said with a smile as he placed a handful of pens into his pockets and grabbed a pill bottle from a nearby table, placing it similarly into his pockets.

"Look at the floor when you leave, unless you want to explore the fascinating world of never-ending sentences." he warned as he walked out of his room and followed Nicole to wherever she was leading him.

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