[Atlas Mason] A warm, sunny day, without being to disturbingly warm made it a perfect day for Atlas to use the patio at the chanty, he was dressed as he usually was, with his suspenders and corduroy pants combined with a white shirt, and he stood infront of the grill cooking fish on various planks of wood...some of it smells quite delightful, other parts, on wood that probably wasn't meant for cooking on, smells questionable, if not some what concerning.
Atlas however doesn't seem at all concerned by this, he seems to be having a grand ol time out there by himself.
[Ashley McGowen] Some day, Ashley may go through a week without exhausting herself emotionally and mentally. She remembers a distant time when this was something she could accomplish; it hasn't been in a while, not since she stepped up to assume responsibility for the chantry, into a de facto position of leadership for Chicago's mages.
She stayed out too late last night drinking. She may have just rolled out of bed an hour or two ago, which is the latest she's slept in...a long time. Her countenance certainly has that bleary, rumpled sort of look that would imply such, even if she showered and ate something before coming out here today. She's showered a few times since arriving home last night, in fact. It's not usually something she does compulsively, but after being in packed heat with a lot of bodies and their various fluids, it makes her feel a lot better.
The scent of something being grilled hits her when she's approaching up the street, and when it becomes clear that the source of the smell is the chantry itself, Ashley heads around back rather than going inside. There's a puzzled look toward the Etherite as she comes up behind him. "Atlas? Are you the only person here?"
[Atlas Mason] Atlas looks up from the grill and waves the tongs he was holding in greeting. "Indeed Ashley! appropriately definable social greetings to your personage on this most unobjectionable juncture! The atmospheric conditions are adequately proportioned to external environmental commestable preparation, Given to the conglomerational focal points superior BTU producing preparation plane I have concluded that this locality is the most efficient for this current endevour."
He waves her up onto the patio, waiting for her to join him even in her somewhat hung over state. He however is chipper, energized and all around friendly, quite often the exact state hung over people want to avoid.
If she does indeed join him on the patio she can see, and smell the difference in what hes cooking, all the fish are the exact same, all the same density, cut, and shape, as if they were test samples. But all of the wood he is using, is of a different type, cedar, birch, oak, maple. He has quite the collection.
[Ashley McGowen] "I didn't even know the chantry -had- a BTU producing preparation plane," Ashley says, tone dry as she approaches the grill. "I've never seen the damn thing used."
He's using a different variety of woods to grill the fish; Ashley is able to discern this only because they're slightly different colors, the patterns on the wood differ from type to type. She doesn't know exactly which trees they came from; smart woman, Ashley, but not a botanist. Besides, she's paying more attention to the smell, which is mouth watering.
She comes up behind him, peers for a moment or two. When she's closer, some subtle differences in her demeanor, to her appearance, could be noted by those sensitive to such things: she looks healthy, alive. Like a weight has been removed. "...You don't fish those out yourself, do you?" she asks him, when she picks up on the uniformity of the chunks of fish.
[Emily Littleton] There's only a handful of reasons that Emily might come to the Chantry. Grilling planes of appropriate heat specifications were not really on that list, sadly. Though it seemed appropriate, somehow, that the suburban house would come complete with a grill for its purposes of blending in and concealing the oddities that transpired there.
Maybe. Kinda. Somehow.
She's looking for someone, but that someone is more difficult to find than she had expected. He's not here, she knows it by the time she reaches the front door. He's not there, but there's a downstairs room that might be a good place to just sit and regroup. Nothing fancy, nothing magical, just basking in the unseen glory that is.
It could do a body good.
... Is that... fish? She sniffed cautiously to confirm her suspicions, then made her way out to the back patio.
[Riley Poole] Riley doesn't usually go out of her way to visit the chantry. She's only been there a couple of times, and those were for meetings of one kind or another. She's never been there simply to walk around and check things out, doesn't even really know its history. It just feels like the meeting place to her, place for business not pleasure. Despite the fact that it's a house.
Still, she happened to be nearby for a job. That's why it's not her Honda that pulls up, but a Geek Squad VW. It's also why, when she climbs out of the vehicle, she's dressed for work. The button-down she's often seen in is buttoned up and her tie is tied properly. And she's wearing an impractical and unfashionable black skirt over black tights. A thick black headband holds back some of her hair, leaving her bangs free to fall across her forehead, but is mostly for decoration.
Unlike Ashley, though Riley certainly had more to drink than she should have last night, she doesn't look bleary or rumpled. In fact, she looks very much awake. After all, she doesn't need as much sleep to recover as most people. She looks very well put together today, or at least as much as she needs to be for work.
As she heads up the drive, she catches the unmistakable scent of grilled fish. Rather than heading for the front entrance, she sets off along the side of the house toward the back, just in time to catch Emily disappearing around the corner. Riley's in better spirits than she was last night, is more herself than she's been for most of the last week.
Her smile is bright and sunny when she sees Atlas and Ashley by the grill, and she remembers the Memorial Day cookout. "Hey, guys. What's the occasion?"
[Atlas Mason] "Indeed I did, i extracted these particular specimen's recently from a variety of localities around the urban center within the past solar cycle, they were sustained within a portable environmental unit up until their termination for this experimentation phase."
He says as he carefully checks each piece of fish in turn, in addition to the already peculiar scene, there is a note pad with several facts and time frames, even compositions sat on the patio table, along with an alarm for each fish, with a tag and the fishes weight attached to said timer.
When both Emily and Riley come around the corner of the house in quick succession Atlas smiles brightly to each of them and once again waved his tongs in the air in greeting. "It is a juncture of experimentation Riley, I am colating the various data factors and parallel's between a particular specimen breed and their reactivity to a variety of prepartory and protective planes of deciduous and arboreal flora." He then turned back to Ashley.
"It would appear my experimentation has drawn a convergence of individuals, how exemplary!"
[Emily Littleton] ((Int+Enigmas: [Analytical] +1 diff, hangover))
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 5 at target 7) Re-rolls: 3
[Ashley McGowen] "I'd be happy to help you analyze the data," Ashley says, almost brightly, leaning an elbow against one of the planes to either side of the grill and watching him cook. There's a glance out of the corner of her eye toward Atlas, something quick and only slightly skeptical. "I take it you've, uh, analyzed the specimens for foreign chemical bodies? This part of Lake Michigan isn't exactly known for its cleanliness."
Riley's arrival is only noticed when she's gotten close enough to speak to the two of them; Ashley's left is toward the front of the house at present. There's a startled look, which then shifts to something more amused as she takes in the particulars of Riley's outfit. "None," she says. "I came over to check the bulletin board and he was out back. Did you just get off work?"
She's seen Chuck in his Best Buy gear, and she didn't think it was possible to be happier that she's escaped working in some horrible corporate hell position. Now she's sure that she was wrong.
[Emily Littleton] "Greetings, fellow footballers," Emily says, a smile spreading across her features despite the brilliance of the day and the rather piercing quality of her hangover. It's been awhile since she was hungover, which was rather remarkable given that she weighed next to nothing and drank like she'd had half a decade to perfect the art (she had... just not here).
"It smells great, Atlas. I'd be happy to assist with your culinary experiment, should you require additional data points." Apparently, hangovers help with the Etherite-to-English translation, as Emily's not having any trouble assimilating his speech patterns today.
"I was going to put a rematch note up on the board, but since we're all here, maybe we can work out schedules without a general notice."
There's a sympathetic look for the other girl, re: Best Buy attire. She's amazed that Riley tolerates it as well as she does; Emily would have a few choice words for someone, and then a new job search to busy herself with.
[K. Jakes] [?]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 4 at target 6)
to†Emily Littleton
[Riley Poole] Ashley and Emily look at Riley with sympathy, or pity, or something when they see her attire. The skirt seems to emphasize what everyone with eyes already knows about her, that's she's skinny. It's not the skinniness of someone with an eating disorder, or even really a high metabolism. Riley is just very active, always has been. She eats healthy food for the most part, can pig out like the worst of them at any time. She's just. Very. Thin. The skirt shows off long slim legs that are usually hidden by jeans, or just longer skirts.
Riley has ranted and raved and railed against the establishment, arguing for the right to wear pants just like anyone else, but her efforts only ever fall on deaf ears. And so she has to wear the skirt or get demoted back to blue shirt, and that's the best case scenario. So she puts up with it as well as she can, and she has mastered the art of the quick change. Except her change of clothes are in her car, not the work one, so she's stuck out among her friends in that stupid fucking skirt.
Deep breath.
Exhale.
Oh well.
She brightens at the prospect of food, as she nears and sees the array that Atlas has set up. "Ooh, me, too! I'll totally be a guinea pig if it's for a food experiment. Unless," and she glances at Emily, "it's at Chuck's place. Then it's better to starve."
[Emily Littleton] Witnessed.
to†K. Jakes
[K. Jakes] Earlier. This: Kage, in the study of her apartment, two laptops open, three books open, a notebook and a pen, a couple of sticky notes, a pen keeping her hair out of her face, intense gaze. This: the front door, opening; Kage, pausing -- reaching, and --
"Janet. I told you to knock."
"Bah. How'd you know it was me?"
"I could smell your hair gel."
"Not wearing any today."
"Oh - no Captain Planet 'do?"
"Shut up. It wasn't green, so it wasn't Captain Planet."
"Mm."
"Is now a bad time?"
"Uh-hmm."
"So I can stay?"
"Mm-mm."
"I was thinking, Kage..."
"..."
"Oh, about things."
"..."
"Really interesting things."
"..."
"And I came to the conclusion that I should bring a date."
"..."
"To Cary's birthday, you know? Who wasn't Cathy."
"Who isn't Cathy? Why not?"
"Well, we're fighting right now..."
"..."
"Anyway, I thought maybe you could re-introduce me to your friend."
"What friend?"
"You know, the short one."
"The 'short' one?"
"Come on. You know who I'm talking about."
"I don't."
"How many of your friends have I met? Four, two, three?"
"Too many, apparently."
"The one with the dog!"
"What?"
"I'm glad she wasn't one of your imaginary friends!"
"Ha, ha. Also, she's not even remotely ever going to be interested, Janet. So no."
"How do you know?"
"I just do."
"Come on - you can go for her Dad, I'll go for her. It'll be family bonding experience!"
"As incredible as that sounds, and as uncertain I am over whether or not I woke up in some hip and ironic version of Hell today, I'm still going to go with No, Janet. She's straight."
"How do you know? Did you talk about it?"
"I knew her boyfriend."
"Knew is past tense."
"No. Look, I really need to work on this."
"Come on, Kage, please?"
"I have a deadline."
"I'm not going to go away until you say yes."
"..."
"And I know where you go to work."
to†Ashley McGowen
[Atlas Mason] Atlas chuckles at Ashleys concern over toxicity levels and he gestures to the pad of paper, on it is a toxicity report...obviously in his own hand writting, it states an incredibly low percentile, in the .ooooo's somewhere.
"These specimens have all been screened and molecularly stripped of all afflicting or cancerous subtstances, along with all other symptomatic or aberrant factors. Their current toxicity rates are comparable with reports compiled on specimens extracted from the chronological line of over four hundred solar traversal cycles."
He beams at Emily as she offers to aid him in his experiment speaking in his own language, and smiles as well at Riley. Even if he knows that they are primarily there to eat, he seems quite pleased that they will at least share their findings with him.
"Most appreciable! He says as he waves them up onto the patio as he moves to turn a few more specimens, and then checks his graphs, and his timers. "The initial specimens shall be appropriately themally induced and prepared within the next 2.34 time units. Please appropriately locate yourselves as is dermally compatible with your internalized preferences." He says gesturing to the chairs.
[Ashley McGowen] Ashley glances over the pad of paper long enough to be polite. She also keeps her eyes from glazing at the numbers long enough to be polite. Following that, she gives the Etherite a nod - she trusts him - and goes to sit down in a chair relatively near the grill.
"I could rematch today," she tells Emily, slumping back in the chair and pushing her hair up out of her eyes. "After I wake up a little."
Things are still a little awkward, for her. Well, being together in a large group is awkward to begin with, but hanging between her and Emily is what happened yesterday, the topic of conversation the two of them will probably be very pointedly avoiding for some time. "So do you just hang out over the back of the ship and fish when no one else is around, Atlas?" That thought is considerably more amusing and less traumatizing than memories of either a possible infernal encounter or most of Northwestern's student body at last night's concert.
[K. Jakes] [ONE ROLL, THEN I POST IN, HONEST. percept+awareness? wot? r the mages i -like- here?]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Emily Littleton] Ashley's not bringing it up, Riley's not bringing it up, Emily's not bringing it up -- if all three of them affirm there's no elephant in the room, then it clearly doesn't exist, right?
If she doesn't want to sit across from Ashley, and be subject to that rather particular pointed gaze, she'll have to sit next to the Hermetic. That's where she settles herself after having a chance to review Atlas's notes. What was meant to be just a cursory scan of the data sheet turns into more than idle interest. Emily looks it over curiously, taking note of the columns and parameters he's tracking. She's analytical to the core, and these sorts of spreadsheets and notations are almost calming.
Perhaps she'd missed her true calling, in aligning herself with the Celestial Chorus. She sets the notebook down with a small smile, and takes up her seat.
"You have a ship?" she asks Atlas, picking up on the tail end of Ashley's comment and noting it's oddity. "Here, in Chicago?" There weren't that many ways to get a sizable vessel into the Lakes. It'd be interesting to hear about.
[K. Jakes] The red-haired Orphan closes the front door behind her. Click. The red-haired Orphan is laden (yes, laden [like kings of old w/ rings of gold & viking treasure & curses]) with a laptop bag metaphorically the size of Jupiter. Her cargos are olive green, her blouse is white, demurely buttoned, lace-at-the-throat, short-sleeved. Her hair is a fox's nest of red, red, red, kept in some semblance of 'okay, so I'm in public' by a highlighter and a pen, and she has five hematite rings on her left hand, one for each finger, one for her thumb, and she looks altogether ordinary, an ordinary sort've tired, an ordinary sort've awake, an ordinary sort've coffee cup in her right hand with a couple shots of espresso.
After Kage shuts the door, she locks it automatically, then unlocks it just as automatically, checks the board, wanders into the living room next to the kitchen to set up, hunts up a power outlet for her laptop's cord, hands-and-knees, if necessary, and that's about when the smell-of-cooking-food hits her. Kage pauses, gets her bearings, rests her chin on her knees while she pays attention to whatever her senses have to tell her today, like, what other Mages are about, and does she care to socialize with them.
The answer: hey, maybe. Maybe all three of them, + one. This is all to the good, right? So, after a careful sip of her coffee, which she almost puts down, then decides to take along with her (nobody'd mess with her stuff, right?), Kage nudges open one of the pretty patio doors and treads [creak] onto the pretty patio with a: "Emily, Ashley, Atlas and -- I'm sorry, I don't know your name yet. Hey! Is this a secret meeting, or am I welcome?" The academic isn't shy.
[Riley Poole] Riley's choices for seating, if she wants to stay with the group anyway, are fairly limited. If she wants to sit next to Ashley, she has to sit across from Emily, and vice versa. So she does neither; despite her shoes (which have a thick, sensible one-inch heel, but still) and the fact that she's not technically off from work yet, Riley crosses her arms over her stomach and keeps to her feet.
There's talk of the rematch, and Riley starts to smile as she watches Atlas work the grill. Atlas, her nemesis on the soccer (not football, we're not in England) field.
"I'd be up for it if someone has some shorts or something I could borrow. Or if you need time, Ashley, I can pop back to Best Buy and get my stuff."
Atlas has a ship that's moored...somewhere. There are plenty of docks along the coast where his ship could be kept, depending on the size. Riley's seen them by the Navy Pier. Or he could have his own place somewhere.
Rather than listening to his answer, Riley twists at the waist to see the redhead stepping out onto the patio with them, and she smiles that charming smile of greeting, all warmth and good will. "Hi. I'm Riley. And we're just a bunch of cats lured out by the smell of fish."
[Atlas Mason] "A rematch at this juncture would be an acceptable allotment of time units as this is the primary experiment of this time frame." He says cheerily before looking over to Ashley as she asks him about fishing. "The Lafette is indeed one of the localities from which i sublimate the H20 bodies to acquire commestible specimen's from a variety of subcategories. Emily can verify that I locate in a variety of physical environments to partake in such time allocations."
Emily reads over the notes that Atlas has been taking, and it is impressively thorough, from weight, to toxicity counts, to the tactile sensory input at various times during cooking as well as prior, aroma's exact BTU's transfered to the fish, age of the fish, and a variety of other factors all being used to identify similarities and useful data. When she finishes looking and she asks Atlas about his ship he turns and nods to her with a pleasant smile, happy shes asking it would seem.
"Indeed, I habitat aboard a modified Cannon class destroyer escort categorically labeled as the Lafette. It is located at this point 15.32 miles from our current position in the primary body of H20. It...arrived here during a catastrophic level reality phase shift, resulting from a error in the ships light space fold drive assembly."
He shrugs as if these things happen, and its just something yuo have to live with as one of the timers goes off as Kage comes through the door. "Kage! Your convergence timing is precise! locate yourself to an appropriate locality and you may assist in the experimentation." He says as he picks up one of the pieces of fish, with the wood and plates it, before handing it to Riley. "If you would, please note the variety of factors upon that clipboard in the post or present juncture of consumption." As he says it, less then five seconds later another timer goes off, another five seconds, another. He had it timed perfectly it would seem. The next fish goes to Emily with a smile, and then to Ashley, and Kage if she accepts.
[Ashley McGowen] The redhead gets a pleased - if surprised, vaguely suspicious - glance shot her way when she makes her appearance on the porch in the back. Ashley knows that Kage doesn't appear often in the chantry; she can't really come up with many reasons for -why- she would be here, exactly, or what she would want, given her professed dislike of Tradition mages.
"Hi, Kage," she says. "Go ahead and sit." She and Emily and Riley are arraying themselves so they don't have to look at each other, so that the things that they are trying not to think about can go unacknowledged. So that the elephant can go about his business in peace. The timer is going off with an eerie sort of precision, which is characteristic of Atlas himself, on some occasions.
"He needs some help putting his ship back together, actually," she tells Emily, when she sees the interest with which the girl is looking over the spreadsheets. Such numerical analysis is the bane of Ashley's existence and one of the things she most loathes about both marketing and Hermetic magic, but she knows that some people like its structure. It's useful to have allies that can appreciate that nonsensical language.
[Emily Littleton] "I've got some you can borrow," Emily tells Riley, and it's the first time she really makes eye contact. It's brief, doesn't linger. Polite without pushing personal boundaries overmuch. "Do you want me to bring them in when I get the football out of the car?"
"We're participating in a taste test," she tells the rowan-haired Other, just barely managing to stir up enough of that usual wry mirth to tinge her smile and color her eyes. The Orphan-for-now is wearied, worn thin. She is not radiant, is not Reverent. But hungover, yes, that she is somewhat. It's summer break, could Kage really blame her.
"And plotting a football rematch. Do you play?" a quirked eyebrow. "Soccer that is," she corrects herself before Riley can jump into to help with the Americanism.
All of this is threaded through Atlas passing out plates -- Emily does take one, and she takes this experiment seriously enough to note her likes and dislikes, in appropriately specific terms -- and Ashley mentioning he needs a hand putting the ship back together.
"If you need another pair of hands for repairs, I'd be happy to help," she offers. It could be good for her, get her mind off of things. "Admittedly, I have little experience with anything on that scale, but I can be taught!"
[Riley Poole] [I'm totally not a butthurt little emo kid: manip + subt]
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 8, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[K. Jakes] The surprised, vaguely suspicious look slides off her back like water off a duck's feather, but then, so does the pleased glance. But then, she is introducing herself to Riley. The virtual adept's smile is returned. Kage's smile isn't warm, but it is easy; draws lines around her mouth, around her eyes. No bad will. No bad wishes. No agenda [hidden (or otherwise)]. Kage is a courteous creature, and self-contained. "Riley? Nice to meet you, finally." That first Society of the Nameless 'Crow meeting didn't count; the few times Riley's name have been mentioned, passingly, to Kage: they don't even 'not count,' that's how far out of the number pool they are. "I'm Kage."
And Atlas mentions 'experimentation,' and 'good, you can participate in,' and something a little (inquisitive) wary touches her gaze. "Really," she says, because he's a Son of Ether, a Gentleman Inventor, a Machine Poet, and maybe the experiment is something nefarious (or at least, embarrassing [liable to explode]). "Is the hopeful outcome of the experiment high levels of deliciousness, or are we talking something test goggles will be required - "
"Thanks," she says, to Ashley's Go Ahead and Sit, and, "Oh," a little relieved, or disappointed, when Emily expounds, Taste Test, okay, that's fine. Kage accepts the fish. Won't be the first one to eat the fish, but she accepts the fish, with another smile, easy, "Thank you, anyway." Her coffee, she places on the table. The girls are arraying themselves so they aren't looking directly at each other, and Kage is a girl, so she notices Some Thing. "Ah, hm - is there anything in the fridge to drink, and if so, anyone want something? Iiiiii.... can make tea or coffee."
There's gotta at least be coffee.
[Okay, You Three, WTF is going on! *squint* Perc+Aware-as-Empathy?]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 2, 7, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)
[Emily Littleton] ((Manip + Subter: Nothing. We are cool as cucumbers.))
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 (Failure at target 6)
[K. Jakes] And add into that - "Well, I once earned seventyone dollars and sixteen cents with my hacky sack skills."
[Riley Poole] [headed home, folks, bbiab! just, uh, assume Riley's smiling politely for a bit.]
[Ashley McGowen] [Nooooo, nothing's up. I'm not trying to avoid thinking about that GIANT ORGY that was all over the news.]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Emily Littleton] ((Re-roll!: No, really, everything's fine. +1))
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 (Success x 2 at target 7)
[Atlas Mason] Atlas serves out the first round of fish quickly and there is still another five pieces on the grill apparently he staggered the cooking process, how he had planned to eat all of them in the amount of time he had allowed, was anyones guess.
If he noticed the oddity in which each girl was acting, doing their best to ignore each other, or at least to not bring up some shared memory he doesn't seem to notice, or he at least chooses to ignore it. He is completely absorbed in his 'experiment' or as others would call it...cooking.
However when Ashley mentions that he is in need of help with his ship, and Emily openly offers to assist the man turns and blinks for a moment, surprised perhaps before he nods a few times. "Most certainly, your additional man-hours would be of no inconsequential assistance! The required training is quite simple, and utilizes synaptic constructs and cognizant problem solving that you are certainly qualified to undertake. Perhaps in a near time juncture I can associate your personage with the particulars of the Lafette, and what we be undertaking in time."
He asks Emily, almost looking hopeful for the help, and certainly happy for it.
[Ashley McGowen] Ashley is actively trying to avoid thinking about something unpleasant. She's not avoiding Riley: it's Emily she seems to be avoiding. She looks a little jumpy, hangover aside.
to†K. Jakes
[Ashley McGowen] Ashley takes the plate, and takes it as an invitation to start filling her mouth with food to avoid saying something she'll regret. Emily summed it up some time ago: food goes in the mouth, foot stays out of it.
The elder Orphan gets an amused glance when she references her hacky sack skills: children of the early eighties, they are, and such things were widely played when they were both in high school. Given that she and Kage don't have the most relaxed of friendships, it's difficult for her to imagine Kage deciding to join in a soccer game with the rest of them - then again, it's probably equally difficult for Kage to imagine the same thing of her.
"You don't want the tea here," she tells Kage. "Wharil stocked the cabinet full of Lipton bags." A wrinkle of her nose: her opinion on such things has been expressed to both Kage and Emily, on separate occasions. "I haven't really bothered to bring over any of mine. But I think there's some coffee. And some juice. I don't want anything." One would think she would finally get around to it.
[Emily Littleton] The raven-haired Other is not well. She is frayed around the edges, like an old cloth, worn down and nubbly, rough under the fingertips, ready for the rag bin. Worn. Tired and threadbare. Used up. Thrown out. But this is Emily, so even threadbare and worn, she can pretty it up with a smile. There's sorrow at the corner of her eyes, ready to spill, and a tightness at the corners of her mouth: contained, welled up and then denied.
She has not been sleeping well enough. She has not been Reverent, though she is likely Unrelenting over something. She has not been Keeping Court; so many things overlooked, overshadowed, yet here she is, prettied up, smiling. Threadbare, worn. Smiling warmly enough to seem less hungover than she is. Less down-trodden.
More hopeful.
to†K. Jakes
[Emily Littleton] "Lipton?"
Nose wrinkle. Slight sneer. Displeasure. No no, this will not do. This disdain overtakes whatever else they'd been discussing, for a moment. This house of magic, this place of Reverence, this gathering place for the high and mighty -- Lipton? Dear God above, it was almost as bad as Chuck's sad little American sausages, charred and nearly brittle when they came in from the grill.
"... I think I'll make a good faith offering to the Chantry. Proper teas, a couple diffusers, and a tea pot. Just to save our collective sanity."
Lipton. Good God, no.
That being sorted, dealt with, set aside, she's able to turn back to Atlas and the project at hand. And the project to come. There's a broadening smile, genuine at that, for the thought of a new bit of engineering (an old bit of engineering) to understand. It might not be her magical calling, but the way things work have always fascinated Emily.
"I'm between semesters at the moment. So my schedule's fairly flexible. Let me know when to come visit, and what to bring, and I'll be happy to help." Oh elephant, even though Kage pokes at it with her Awareness, Emily's not willing or wanting to direct the conversation his way. Or even into an acknowledgment of that pachyderm. Poor, sad, lonely elephant.
[K. Jakes] Kage is a subtle creature, too. Whatever she notices, whatever she gleans by paying attention, she doesn't feel the need to comment on, because why should she? Instead, she (unconscious [subconscious]) echoes Ashley and Emily's wrinkle-of-nose when the bogeyman Lipton is mentioned. Discerning critics, Wharil. Discerning critics.
Speaking of discerning critics, it might as well be noted: Kage watches whoever eats with curiosity, and when they don't turn into a frog, or a monster, or come over suddenly with spots, or say a word which becomes electricity that turns all the lights on in the White Fence House and blacks out the city for ten city blocks, then she takes a small bite of hers. It's not that Kage doesn't trust Atlas, insofar as she trusts anybody. But it's good to be careful.
And if nobody wants anything, she'll settle in, comfortably, to listen to ship-talk [ardent curiosity] and, "Thank you, Atlas."
[K. Jakes] ooc: brb!
[Atlas Mason] It might taste a little off to some of them, as not all of the fish was cooked on cedar planks, Kages' was on a birch plank for instance giving it an almost minty flavor. The Etherite nods to the suspicious woman as she at last samples his cuisine, and it is very well cooked, very delicate. The man knows his fish if nothing else.
But his attention is quickly brought back to Emily. "I will be capable of supplying, manufacturing or augmenting any required tools or environmental layering you will require during any particular juncture of project Emily, your personage and capability is all that is required at this juncture. As to a time frame at which would be most suitable to your locality aboard the Lafette...after this convergence if you are inclined in the positive, or any juncture or time unit after will also be nominal, given to my general locality aboard the Lafette's physical structure."
He turns back to the grill and keeps working diligently, afterall this was science! and he had to see it through to the end.
[Ashley McGowen] "What has you over here?" she asks Kage, with a sidelong look toward the Orphan, once she's set her plate aside. The Hermetic, in spite of some residual jumpiness given this weekend's events, is slumped in the chair and deceptively relaxed. Kage sees through this, of course, but has declined to comment - why would she?
There's ship-talk, and she's turning a little of her attention to it, mostly because she's happy to have facilitated such a thing. She likes Atlas, and Ashley is capable of spontaneous small favors for people she likes: it's one of the little oddities about her character that would at first appear to be discontinuous with the rest of her character. Until one gives it a little more thought, that is.
[Riley Poole] The finally at the end of that nice to meet you gets a bit of a raised brow, curious. She recognizes Kage vaguely from her first meeting at the chantry, but she hadn't stayed long to meet the other mages who had gathered. She probably should have, but she also probably had other things to do that day.
Emily offers her some spare shorts, and she gets an lukewarm smile. Apparently getting wasted together didn't do much to alleviate the strain that's fallen over their friendship. Most of them don't notice, but one of them does. She quite clearly sees the touch of frost in Riley's smile, the tightening of her jaw. The usually open and painfully (brutally) honest woman is doing what she can to close that off, though, hide it away so that it doesn't divide her from the Orphan further.
She nods her head. "Yeah, if you don't mind, that'd be great, Emily." Oddly, she had no intention of playfully correcting Emily's Englishisms. When Emily corrects herself, Riley's attention has already been diverted by the prospect of working on Atlas' mysterious aquatic vessel. And of course by the man himself handing her a plate of fish.
"So what's the deal with these? I assume you're cooking each one differently." She wanders over to the clipboard in question, looks it over. "And if you need an extra extra pair of hands, I'm free. Especially if you for need help with technology. I can wield a hammer pretty well, but my technical expertise lies in diagnostics, and the repair and maintenance of electrical systems." Here is where she would tap the little button her tie, the one that says GEEK SQUAD. Because the VW parked out front clearly isn't enough to let customers know who she works for. But, Riley has doubts that Atlas would know what that means. Unless he's downloaded said information into his robot brain.
[Emily Littleton] She's usually possessed of a rather obvious competitive streak, Emily is. She's driven, inquisitive, a quick learner; with that personality and in that climate, one tends to develop a rather pointed sense for competition. Riley chimes in, lists out her expertise, she's wearing her proficiencies on her sleeves ...
... And Emily smiles a bit more softly, and goes back to taking notes on the fish experiment. When she gets a break from overanalyzing the appropriate adjectives, the Orphan chimes in, "Riley's pretty great with electronics, Atlas. She's probably more help than I am."
Which is a yielding, stepping back thing to say. Something she doesn't often do. But if Atlas is going to take an understudy, better one with the requisite skills, yes? Emily's neat, tight script fills the boxes in as necessary on the clipboard.
[K. Jakes] "This is good," Kage says. "But it tastes - different. What did you do to it?" A beat, and, "Is Henri helping you with your ship?" Emily and Riley have technical know-how. Kage does not. She says, "And damn, I feel like I should offer my skills, too. I'd be happy to sit quietly in a corner, reading."
Another beat, and, Ashley, who isn't to know how it is she's involved in Kage's current reason for seeking refuge at the White Fence House: Ashley gets a smile [smoke & moonlight & devils] that crinkles the corners of Kage's eyes. "I do pop by, just occasionally, to see whether or not the safe house is still safe as houses can be." Then, more specifically: "I brought some work. Was planning to take advantage of the serene atmosphere." There's no irony there. She isn't making fun. She really expected quiet and noone else around.
[Atlas Mason] He seems so pleased, even excited that Emily was offering him her help in return, and he seemed just as pleased when Riley offered up her services as well, he thinks on that tapping tongs against his chin briefly as he thinks, jumping slightly att he heat of them, given that they had just been over open flame.
"Your aid would be equally appreciated Riley, additional assistance is accepted regardless of skill level, the act of data apprehension and absorption is set at the apex of concern. The Lafette was designed and its primary purpose was to be utilized as functional methodology for such activities, if it can be utilized for its primary purpose regardless of the linear path taken to it, so be it."
He seems outwardly excited by the idea of actually having people onboard again...but his face actually falls for a slight moment as Emily decides to back out, before he steps towards them waving his hands in the air tongs flying. "Negative, negative. As I have inferred, the data you will assimilate and the skills gathered are relativistically equal in priority! I genuinely infer to your continued application of your knowledge aboard the Lafette." He turns to Kage at that and points the tongs at her.
"Your personage as well Kage, the Lafette contains a data archive requiring copious reconstruction."
[Riley Poole] "Besides," says Riley, warmth starting to creep into her smile in spite of herself, "you could learn a lot. And it'll be fun." Hard work most likely, but still fun. Electrical and mechanical repairs are things she genuinely likes to do. She likes finding herself buried in parts, digging her way back out by building something new.
She looks at Emily for a second, then she breathes in through her nose, her eyes widening and shifting away. "What kind of data is the Lafette designed to apprehend?" she asks, finally taking a bite of her fish. She chews thoughtfully. When Emily's done with her notations, Riley adds her own to the appropriate boxes.
[Ashley McGowen] Emily retracts her help, and Ashley gives the younger Orphan a look. The tension between her and Riley hasn't gone unnoticed by the Hermetic: she was there, after all, when the cause of all the trouble surfaced, when Riley told Emily to stop being an asshole, when Emily described what was going on. She got the distinct impression that there's been much more between them than what she's witnessed.
"I'm sure there'll be something you can do, Em," she says, with a pointed grin in the girl's direction. "I offered Atlas my help, and I'm pretty useless when it comes to technology." This is, in fact, a lie. Or modesty, who knows which. Ashley has a keen interest in how things work and has dissected a lot of equipment - it simply isn't where her primary focus lies.
[Emily Littleton] Oh yes, this is going swimmingly. Emily steps back, and gets goaded to step forward again. Avoiding conflict is not working, conflict itself is not working, it's unacceptable to have a temper tantrum in the middle of a culinary experiment because you just don't fucking know how to behave like an adult in the face of social adversary.
Thank goodness they're all out of high school -- which she has heard is a terribly dark time in a human's development -- or this might turn into less of a delicate dance and more of a shouting match.
About that football...
"Okay, okay," she says, holding her hands up in mock-defense. "I'm in."
There's a smile there, still, but it's a little less steady than most days. Emily's no slouch with technology, even if she's no Virtual Adept either. But she's a pretty deft hand with what she does know. This is painfully close to argument she and Chuck had, once, with Ashley as an audience, so she doesn't let it go much further. Doesn't want a repeat.
Instead, she excuses herself politely to go grab a few things from the car. It's not an awkward must-leave-now excuse, but it's probably clear to them all that Emily's feeling a little socially ungainly this afternoon.
[K. Jakes] The Lafette contains a data archive requiring copious reconstruction -
gets an amused chuckle [ash & smoke, thorn & silk]. The cant of her eyebrows is sardonic, but the cant of her eyebrows is almost, always, sardonic; expressive, anyway. The chuckle ashes itself into a brief smile, one've the rare ones, strikes out incandescent - touches the plain woman with gorgeousness, for about a second. "Quietly read in the corner, got it."
A salute, Naval style. Sloppy, though. When Emily excuses herself, Kage watches her go, reaching up to poke a finger into the total mess that is her current mode of hair-style, scratch her scalp, says something like, "All right," but since Emily is coming back, there's no goodbye. At least, not unless it seems clear, once Emily has returned, with things, that she's not staying. Then: regret, and promises of phone calls. That kind of thing. Casual, though. Not concerned, or meaningful -- heavens no.
[Atlas Mason] Atlas seems to sense the tension now, in particular when Emily seems uncertain and awkward. He looks about at the women who remain, as emily had run off to gather things and raises a brow his hands set upon his hips like a school professor expecting an explanation from rambunctious students who have done something foolish in class, under his watchful gaze.
He thinks on it for several moments and then opens his mouth to speak, before something else connects, another theory popping into his mind as he looks between the young women around him, and he closes his mouth and turns back to his fish. Ashley salutes him, Navy style and the man chuckles briefly shaking his head.
"Appendable noteworthy data Kage, In any official or unofficial capacity....i was relegated and integrated into the massed armed conglomerate of land based forces, not aquatic based."
[Riley Poole] [nuffin' to see here, Mr. Roboto: manip + subt]
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 5, 7 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Atlas Mason] [What you thinkin Poole Per+Empathy]
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 1, 1, 1, 2 (Botch x 3 at target 6)
[Riley Poole] Emily holds up her hands in mock surrender and leaves to get things from her car. Atlas looks around at those who remain, hands on hips. Riley does her level best to school her expression into something blank and unreadable. If he looks her way, she averts her eyes, takes a bite of her fish, nothing to see here. She doesn't know what's up with Emily, no sir, Professor Atlas, sir.
She relaxes back in her chair, crosses her legs demurely at the knee (although a truly demure woman would would cross her legs at the ankle and tuck her legs to the side), and continues to eat the fish steak.
"This isn't too bad, Atlas." Impressed. Having grown up with her father, being friends with Chuck, Riley doesn't have much faith in the cooking abilities of men.
[Ashley McGowen] Emily excuses herself, goes to get the shorts for Riley, and then her intentions to leave again become clear. There it is: the tightening of the Hermetic's mouth, a sharp sigh, only half-suppressed. It's something she would have hoped last night's conversation would have helped. Emily will be hearing about it when they see each other next; that's almost a certainty.
"You were in the army?" Ashley looks toward Atlas, raises her eyebrows. She should have expected that, though: she knows about his special project, knows what happened during that particular occurrence. It shouldn't come as particularly surprising that Atlas was part of that same war. "World War II, right?"
[K. Jakes] "World War Two?" Voila! Surprise.
[Atlas Mason] Atlas nods to Ashleys inquiry about which war he served in. "All viable personages with knowledge utilizable in the defense of the geo-political landmass of Great Britain were inducted into the land based armed deterrent forces and assigned brevet ranks. Unlike the majority of such inductee's I was an integrated part of several operational plans as well as their direct physical and chronological undertakings."
He nods to Kage as well, assuring her that he is indeed telling the truth, and not just making up some really silly joke about being ancient. "Most encumbent members of the conglomeration identified as the Son's of Ether utilized their skills and assimilated data in the aid of the conglomerated allied defense platform and forces."
[Israel Cohen] [[Per+Aware; getting it out o' the way!]]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 3, 4, 6, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 6 at target 6) Re-rolls: 1
[Riley Poole] Riley'd had a forkful of fish on her way to her mouth when Ashley asked her question. It had stayed there for several seconds, the woman's dark eyes opened wide with surprise. The fork is returned to her plate, the bite going unconsumed for the time being.
And Riley sits up a bit straighter, and she frowns, thinking.
"Did you age through all of that time, or did you come here with your ship's catastrophic level, uh, reality phase shift?"
[K. Jakes] K. R. Jakes's magickal signature is unique (that's the point [every one is different]). This, then - ardor, burning; O, ardent, O, verbing of the word beloved, Ah! amor, amorous, candescing, the touch of it, that giddy Spring-flush knot, dynamic, movement, that. Balanced perfectly against winter's withering, draining-away, the leeching-out of vitality, endings, engenderings and then every once upon a time has a and they lived and it's the white blank space after the period where it all goes [withers (nothing)].
This mage, she has recently been toying with the Quintessential energy of life, has recently had her fingers in it, glows with it; this mage, she has recently been looking through the Veil, reaching, far, far, further than far, into places on the Otherside, this mage, she has recently been sharping her own Mind against a stone, slsh, slsh.
Not powerful, she. Not yet a Disciple. Israel knows that resonance, does.
to†Israel Cohen
[Ashley McGowen] "The Sons of Ether broke from the Technocracy," Ashley tells Kage, with a sidelong look toward the Orphan after Atlas has made his explanation of what his Tradition did during the war. There's another glance toward Atlas, as though to confirm, before adding, "I'm not sure exactly when it was...around the turn of the last century? The actual date escapes me."
It's not only her own Tradition that she's invested a lot of time into learning the history of. Ashley has a rather substantial library, and she's made use of it for such things; it's good to know, for dealing with them as allies. It was one of the things Bran made sure she learned. "They affiliated mainly with the Allies since the Technocracy chose to support the Axis powers."
[K. Jakes] The red-haired Orphan is so certain of herself, so composed and quick to adapt, and she so often keeps her own counsel, listens thoughtfully, understanding, that it is easy to forget that she has gaps in her knowledge when it comes to things that any member of the Nine can be expected to know [after a year, at least, of training]. That she has her own names for the Traditions, that she sub-divides some of the Traditions according to her own particular naming system -- it can be surprising. Maybe she didn't know the Gentlemen Inventors broke from the Technocracy at all; it's likely she didn't. The surprise stays, a stain on her expression, although it changes textures: curiouser and curiouser. She doesn't pile on any questions. Not now, anyway - not yet.
[Atlas Mason] "My physical biological chemical structure did indeed undergo nominal physical alterations in conjuncture with the chronological passing of existence. It was not until the standardized roman numerological date of 1941 that my physical structure undertook a event and juncture which suspended all physical and biological chronological progression with the exception of trace particulars."
He then looked over at Ashley nodding in agreement. "There is no particular date upon which cessation from the conglomeration of the Technocracy, but yes your estimations are correct within a ten solar traversal cycle period. Personal research indicates towards a point some ten solar cycles prior to my biological conception."
Several more timers go off, and Atlas goes about plating more fish, and dolling it out to each of the remaining women, this time, saving an additional piece for himself, as Emily had left.
[Israel Cohen] She's been there all along.
Which is not to say there, among them, of course. But nearby all the same. Beneath them, to be exact. How long she's been down there is anyone's guess, though it's been since before Atlas arrived and decided to start grilling.
Perhaps she's been aware of them all along; those who trickled in and what order; those who have since left and the three who still remain. It's just as likely that the awareness only comes later, now, as she emerges from the basement [which is really not much like a basement at all; not any you are likely to find], brushing dust from her hands, from her knees, from the folds of her jeans. She's shrugging out of the cardigan she'd donned down below as she crowns the last step and opens the door, letting it slip from bare shoulders. Very often she is seen in clothing that is tailored, well put together, with a sense of style that touches older eras with nostalgia. Today it's the jeans, a simple black tank top, converse sneakers: Dressed for work or comfort or maybe a little of both.
Her plan had been pilfering something to drink and nibble on from the fridge, then making her way home [where ever that is, no one here knows, as of yet]. But something changes the plan: A sense of them, the others, perhaps. More so a sense of one in particular. It perks her up, chin lifting, head tilting in one of those gestures like a curious little bird [at times more like a cat].
Changing direction she moves towards the back door, guide cane click-click-clicking her passage in a light staccato measure. At the door she listens, the voices muffled... one voice she cannot make out for it doesn't exist just at the moment, but the sensation.
Unmistakable.
When she opens the door quietly and steps over the threshold out to the patio there is a broad smile along her features, like aha!, like I knew it!... like contented pleasures of pleasant surprises.
"So it is you. Not that I should be surprised.. I was fairly certain there couldn't be many a woman named Kage in our little circle."
Then, not wanting to be rude, she turns her face lightly in the general direction of where she feels them; unseeing hazel eyes never focusing anywhere exactly. "Hullo, Ashley... Atlas... and... Riley, yes?"
[Ashley McGowen] Kage doesn't have anything else to add, any questions either for the Hermetic or for the Etherite. Ashley doesn't press: she knows Kage well enough to know that when she does want to know something, she will ask questions. Likely rather pointed ones, ones that it's difficult to determine the goal of.
There's a twitch of her mouth, something quick, momentary, as she looks toward Atlas. "When -were- you born, anyway?" She doesn't seem awkward, troubled about his age, regardless of how Atlas himself feels about it, whether he feels out of place. To her it's merely a curiosity, something that happens to people in an Awakened world.
Israel makes an appearance, then, and Ashley glances up and over in her direction. "Hi, Israel. I didn't know you were here," she says, tipping her chair briefly on its rear two legs and then letting it fall forward again. And she'd been doing such a good job of sitting still.
[Riley Poole] [manip + subt: some day this will get old. today is not that day.]
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 2, 8 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Riley Poole] Riley isn't actually very good at hiding what she's thinking, or what she's feeling. It's a trait that makes others warm to her more quickly. One always knows where one stands with Riley Poole. Mostly, one just has to look, and not very hard.
Like now. Atlas says that sometime around 1941 he stopped aging. There's a flicker of something across the apprentice's face, something she catches and tries to stamp down, much like she had the day she saw the scars on his torso.
Luckily, the approach of another mage diverts her attention. She smiles even though she knows Israel can't see her expression. It's there in her voice, though, which is not high pitched and overly girlish. Nor is there an accent to place her into any region in the world except right here. Her words are flat, without any upward or downward lift, no lilt, no drawl.
"Hey, Israel," she greets cheerily enough. The tension comes to her less quickly now that Emily's gone.
[K. Jakes] Kage is, in fact, regarding Atlas closely, paying him careful attention, studious, pensive, and her gaze is all tarnished up with [that curiousity] consideration. "Are you glad to be here?" is what she asks, finally.
And - lo! Enter, the doll-like [bird-boned (delicate)] orphan/Orphan all fo-ound you, all kne-ew it, all Ah Hah!, pleased. Her appearance sparks (and from a spark, a flame; and from a flame, illumination; and from illumination, a star, and from a star - ) a smile, easy, a little crooked. "Israel," she says, and the plate with its new helping of fish is placed on the table, and she stands to touch Israel's elbow, gentle, but firm. "If you meet another woman named Kage, period, I'll eat my hat and want proof. Mind you, someone just calling themselves 'Cage' to sound impressive doesn't count. How are you?"
That she doesn't correct Israel, doesn't look dismayed, when that woman uses the word our (we all have our compulsions [our sticking points]) speaks worlds to whether or not Kage likes her. And - " - Atlas, did you say what the difference between pieces of fish was?"
[Atlas Mason] [Per+Emp What you on about now Riley]
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 3, 4, 5, 5 (Failure at target 6)
[K. Jakes] [Actually, good question? What is up, Miss Riley?]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 4, 8, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)
to†Riley Poole
[K. Jakes] [Speaking of What's Up. What is up, Mister Atlas? I'm Studying You Closely. Are you cool? Do you mind talking about this? Are you lying at all? Are you tired because you're old? Is the fish poisoned?! Aware+Percept.]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 3, 4, 8, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)
to†Atlas Mason
[Riley Poole] [Atlas said he stopped aging at 1941, and Riley thinks that's really really really really reallyreallyreallyreally sad. But she also thinks sympathy would be unwelcome/make him uncomfortable, so she's trying to hide it.]
to†K. Jakes
[Atlas Mason] [LOL the fish is not poisoned, hes not lying, and he isnt tired at all, hes also pretty cool with talkin bout this sorta stuff]
to†K. Jakes
[Atlas Mason] "My date of womb expulsion and environmental exposure was in the roman calendar year 1912 in the month of March." He says to answer Ashley's question before smiling to Israel and waving his greetings, before holding out a plate of fish to the woman.
"Israel would your personage care to partake in my experiment, I am testing a sampling of fish for flavor and differences within the variety of flora they are prepared upon."
He answers Kages second question, before turning to the woman specifically and nods.
"I am quite pleased to remain functioning for as chronologically inclusive as is determined possible."
[Israel Cohen] "I was downstairs," is her explanation to the Hermetic, her right ear inclined slightly towards the woman. "I..." The words drift slightly; the fade away, like something has caught her attention, something has downright ensnared it, leaving her with an expression at once curious and introspective, like she's sussing something out. Clarity comes; it dawns slowly over her features, lightening its countenance once more. Sorrow parts away - the initial lifting of that perpetual veil begun when she'd realized Kage was there, the action now briefly completed. She smiles; a softness to it [relief] and acceptance to it [joy and hope renewed. The expression is slight, the little tells quiet and never flamboyant, but their impact genuine and strong. "You seem very well, Ashley." The mezzo-soprano of her voice is hushed, though the drive behind her pleasure is poignant. And likely to only be understood by two people currently present.
That is all [for now] -- she moves on as is appropriate to the setting.
Smiles are things that are heard in her world: The way the lips turn, the mouth forms, the passage of breath over the softness of tongue, the canyons of teeth - smiles alter tones; some supply warmth and others not so much. It is surprising what you learn to pick up on in the nuances of sound or touch or taste or smell when the fundamental human sense is denied you. So Riley's smile is noted, the touch of cheeriness appreciated. "Good to run into you again."
Then Kage is rising... for all of Israel's awareness [with a capitol 'a' to be sure], her uncanny perceptions, there are some things that still cause the briefest tension of wariness in her form; of hyper-sensitivity to alertness [that one day may become paranoia as sometimes exhibited by the older man so often in her presence and she, indeed, in his]. When the red-haired woman touches her elbow there is that quick shift to tautness, there and gone again. A compulsion quickly mastered, and possibly only noticed by Kage herself. She speaks of the issue of the name; the blind woman quirks an eyebrow upwards, dark and slender. "So you would eat the hat before the proof, eh? Duly noted." The Devil is in the Details, they say and both women are likely the sort who - if given half the inclination - could spar over those for hours. Then dry humour fades and she uses the other womans touch as a homing point, from there stretching up the few inches it takes to lightly touch her cheek to the other woman's [alabaster against fair olive; brilliant roan against mahogany]. "I'm still ahead of the G.B.W's... you?"
Atlas offers up Fish -- she inhales deeply, a look of keen interest flitting over open features. "I'd love to... all the fish involved had scales and gills, yes?" Atlas has previously shown himself knowlegeable of what comprises the Kosher laws, but out of habit she checks nonetheless... if a certain glint to her eyes is any indication she certainly hopes the answer is yes.
[Ashley McGowen] Womb explusion, says Atlas, and the Hermetic raises her eyebrows at him and flashes a wide grin. She doesn't really cease to be amused by the peculiarities of the Etherite's speech, or that he seems so unconscious of how it's heard by others. Or the -reactions- of those others to what he says, besides.
There's a sidelong glance toward Kage and Israel. Somehow, she isn't surprised that the two of them know each other. Not with who Kage used to keep company with. Not with the way the two Orphans are. The fact that Kage doesn't reject that 'us' doesn't go unnoticed, either: that she feels some solidarity with other Orphans. Maybe Ashley shouldn't be surprised, but she is, and she's not much better at hiding her emotions than Riley.
She can hear that parting sorrow in Israel's voice, can see the smile that beams in her direction for a moment. Israel's commentary draws another grin from the Hermetic, in turn. "Yeah, I'm doing okay."
She is.
[K. Jakes] The word 'womb' + 'expulsion' = Kage, sweeping Atlas a brief (ew [isn't that an interesting juxtaposition of images]) look. And the Orphan isn't adept at steering the blind without offending them, and this isn't Amelie, so she doesn't keep ahold of Israel's elbow, doesn't guide her to the table, although she accepts Israel's european-style greeting, the touch of cheeks to cheeks, returns it [cool cat (understated flamboyance)], "I'll pull out a chair for you," she says, and does, having disengaged.
When the blind woman asks about the G. B. Ws, Kage's eyebrows quiver. Her voice is cool, but not cold. Neutral, this, with a dash of wry: " - well, first I'll have to buy a hat. By the time that's done, I'd expect the proof in triplicate." Beat. "As for GBWs - well, I'm here." Here, specifically: in the chantry. It's not a very telling statement, but Kage isn't a very telling person - not in groups, and not, some would argue, one-on-one.
I am quite pleased to remain functioning for as - Atlas says, and Kage's attention returns to him. She's moved spots, to make more room for Israel; has given Riley a questioning is-this-okay-that-I-just-squeeze-around-you-here look. But her attention is on Atlas, when he answers, and she says, "That's not exactly what I meant, but I'm glad to hear it."
And Ashley's doing okay, so it's Ashley's turn to get a studious [pensive (oh really)] look. And Kage takes a bite of the new piece of fish Atlas has put down on her plate. Mm, fish. Or is it: AHGOD FISH -- womb expulsion. Association, ew!
[Riley Poole] Womb expulsion gets a double take. Ashley grins, and Riley laughs outright. Her chuckle is low and light and surprised.
"Wow, I've never heard it described that way before." She doesn't continue, doesn't tell him what kind of imagery that phrase evoked in her mind. Kage will pull out a chair for Israel, and Riley quickly rises to her feet. "You can have mine. I should get going, anyway. If I don't return the car the guys at the store're gonna think my last job kidnapped me or something." A bit of humor there, tinged with something else. Before Chuck came along, Riley always went on jobs alone, despite her misgivings or her uneasiness. She also checked in a lot, let the guys know she was alright on the days she couldn't snare some unsuspecting coworker and force them to go with her. But, since she's Awakened and especially in the last few weeks, she knows all too well that some harm could suddenly befall her, not just from some sweaty palmed shut-in, but from Other Things, as well.
"It was great seeing everyone again. Ashley, Atlas, we should get together for that rematch soon. Maybe this weekend?"
Whatever the answer, the tall Virtual Adept makes her goodbyes and makes her way back to the VW parked out front.
[Ashley McGowen] "Give me a call, Riley," Ashley says, and gives the VDept a wave as she gets up to leave.
[Atlas Mason] "It would not be scientifically accurate to associate the laymen's term 'fish' with these specimens if they did not have the afformentioned physical anatomy Israel, you have assimilated data and experience noting that I am if nothing to the contrary, scientifically accurate."
He says to the woman, reassuring her of the fact that his fish really are fish, and not bottom feeders or anything else that would violate her particular sensibilities. He at last picks up a fork, and one of his pieces of fish and digs in, eating happily even as Kage gives him an eww look and then associate fish and womb together and loses her appetite. "Would you care to specify and pinpoint your query Kage so that I may accurately disseminate the appropriate data for your assimilation and actualization?"
Riley stands to go and Atlas nods in her direction a friendly smile. "In a near time juncture indeed, we shall test our capabilties once more."
[Riley Poole] [w00t! thanks for the play, all!]
[Israel Cohen] Grins are heard like smiles are heard; but they hold a tone-shift all their own; they dazzle the ears [or send cold chills; some grin like sharks, you see]. Warmth continues; a buoyancy of some fundamental belief [desire. need.] tonight given sustenance. Understated by chiming; noticeable for those with sharp attentions for such details. Or if only because of the [blissful. but always temporary] alleviation of lamentations [pain].
There is talk of chairs being pulled out, the heard shuffle of motion - Kage following through on her words; Riley rising to leave, "Be well, Riley," a rather archaic [but then, she has been called a relic before] farewell, but the quiet undertone is earnest [especially given the times, the city]. Then, to Kage, as she settles down, laying aside her cane. "You're here, yes," And if Kage's statement wasn't very telling, Israel's is more so because she finds the fact intriguing. Compelling. Perhaps just a touch satisfied? But by and large the root of her contentment is merely to find an old acquaintance [friend?] well and whole. "Tell you what, if I find someone you'll know: I'll bring the hat myself."
Atlas assures her the fish is, indeed, fish; a touch of his warming [oddly charming] brand of chastisement and her smile broadens, slightly lopsided, bemused; somewhere tickled. She also doesn't seem to have any qualms about the idea of womb expulsion and fish.. with fingers sensitive as a cats whiskers she lightly familiarizes herself with the layout of plate and utensils, the location of the food itself.. and begins to eat, one brow arching again, more firmly clueing in on the resumption of the conversation she walked in on.
[Ashley McGowen] "I think she was asking whether you'd rather be somewhere else," Ashley says to Atlas. Maybe she thinks that Kage needs the clarification: she herself has wondered at what point the woman was driving on many an occasion. Kage has been called inscrutable before - mainly by Ashley, but the Hermetic is sure there are others who would agree, and she isn't sure Atlas is capable of grasping such nuances. "Like, whether you'd rather be...here, regardless of how long you've lived."
The Hermetic watches as chair-pulling occurs, as Kage does that small courtesy for the smaller Orphan, as Israel sits and assures herself that the fish conforms to kosher law. Ashley has no such worry about what she eats. She isn't terribly discerning at all, really, when it comes to such things. She's glancing toward the fish, more hunger, then going to get another piece and focusing on it in turn. That studious look of Kage's goes unnoticed, and there are small tells that Kage can see: bright eyes, none of that heavy darkness that's sharpened her resonance and given it teeth, none of that pallor that's clung to her skin of late. Full breaths. Subtle, but there to be seen.
[K. Jakes] Riley leaves; Kage takes the Virtual Adept's seat with a courteous - " - nice to meet you - " And, to Israel's offering, that she'll bring the hat herself, Kage's mouth quirks: "As long as it's a hat I'd wear - no plastic flowers, no Los Angeles sports logos - we have a deal, Israel."
And Ashley, in helpful guise, clarifies her question for Atlas, and Kage, who, indeed, hasn't taken another bite of the (delicate [delicious]) fish, flicks her eyebrows upward. "Yes. I was asking whether or not you're glad to be here - now, in this location - this city, this year - just as you are. Whether your rather for another story is so much stronger, or - " and there, a brief shrug. Kage's weakness isn't for uber-technologically precise speech patterns -- it's for poetry.
[Atlas Mason] "Ahh....no the chronological time frame of my existence and its current particulars and positioning within the existential ether is adequate and appropriate. In any other configuration...it would not be unique and sychronized with my personage." He says briefly and certainly as he turns off the grill and closes the lid.
He then moved towards any available seating and lowered himself into it, fish in hand as he took another bite chewed thoroughly and then set down the plate. Watching the remaining women who were around him, some men might comment on how damn lucky is to constantly have good looking women around him...he...just doesn't seem to view things that way.
[Israel Cohen] A deal, indeed. Another tweak of her lips; a small matter settled, the continued air of fondness. Indeed, the company in which she finds herself is altogether more than satisfactory. In different ways and through different means she feels a connection to each of them; some moment of bonding in various distances in the past that have marked each of them as more than mere acquaintances. There are few people she encounters with whom she doesn't naturally strive to be polite; with whom she doesn't extend some measure of her compassion. But there are some where the interest is more deeply rooted; some who etch a stronger mark that goes beyond a simple habit of being kind [and, at times [too often?] soft-hearted].
"This is wonderful, Atlas," Is her first comment, after finishing her first few tastes and then, "Adequate and appropriate aside, I'm glad you've found yourself here... the same is true of all of you. 'Here', I think, presents of unique opportunities."
[Ashley McGowen] Ashley draws her legs up into the chair with her, wraps an arm around them while she directs her attention to her plate for a little while. She, too, seems content with the company for the moment, or maybe she's just generally content. For once. In spite of yesterday, in spite of the note that was dropped down her shirt a few days prior. There's a sort of confidence there, calm assurance untainted with the heavy melancholy that's pervaded her moods for quite some time. Things will be okay.
"Anywhere presents of unique opportunities," she tells Israel, transferring a large chunk of fish to her mouth. There's a glance in Israel's direction, a raise of eyebrows that Israel can't see.
[K. Jakes] [Ka-a-age? manip+subt!]
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 5, 7, 9, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)
[K. Jakes] And that answer of Atlas's is apparently sufficient, because Kage nods (once [brief]), makes a thoughtful sound in the back of her throat, something not-quite-musical, and takes another bite of the [new] fish. The blind woman [re-discovered, re-found: revelation, darling: that's what you are] has a moment of sincere eloquence and Kage, listening, head canted to the side just so, says, after a beat, after Ashley's comment, without any apparent guile - "There are worse places to be than Chicago and less interesting 'opportunities' to argue with."
[Atlas Mason] "Concurred." Atlas says simply to what all those present were saying and thinking before finishing up his fish. He picks up the notepad and jots down his findings before reaching out and collecting the rest of the pads as well.
The man then stood and smiled and nodded to each person in turn. "It is at this juncture however that I must locate my physical structure to the geophysical locality of the Lafette. The exterior and interior protective casings are nearing the point of sound operational conditioning. If I conclude my repairs upon the last to junctures required, the vessel will again be capable of stable trans H20 locomotion."
He says so excitedly, maybe he was thinking of taking the destroyer out for a cruise....terrifying much?
[Israel Cohen] Ashley's comment brings Israel's answering smile to nearly the point of a flash-grin. She would expect no other sentiment [belief. mantra] from the woman, really and it suits. She nods - point taken, point agreed on.. then waves a hand towards Kage's direction. "Every place has its potential and, yes, it could be worse... but not every place has quite what this Chantry has." Soft-spoken per usual, still there is a meaningfulness beneath it [passion. not the fantiscm at times displayed by Solomon, but passion, still. other women feel it most keenly for material of fleshly things - she, god help her, feels it for ideas. ideals.]. "And a convergence of individuals who seem, by and large, willing to work with one another and make something of it. Ten - hell, five - years ago that rarely happened outside of the internal workings of Traditions themselves."
Atlas says he must go and she seems regretful of it; in the simple sense that his presence will be missed. But his excitement concerning the Lafette softens what sadness underscores social regret; bring back the smile... nevermind that her eye briefly twitches at the thought of the Lafette being taken out for a spin. "Be careful, Atlas, yes?"
[Ashley McGowen] "Copious social gratitudes for the consumable energy source, Atlas," Ashley says to the Etherite, as he announces his intent to leave. Ashley raises a hand and gives Atlas a lazy wave, something that's little more than a quick flick of the fingers, as she sets her now empty plate aside. Her tone is flat; she delivers the tech-speak without even the wry air that she usually puts on when she's (attempting to be) joking.
A sidelong look slides toward Israel as she mentions what this chantry has, and then, for barely a second, it moves to Kage. There's a moment longer of something thoughtful, calculating, as though she's working toward a decision, before she gives Israel a nod. "I was talking to Catherine last week," she says, as Atlas moves off. "She let me hear music."
[K. Jakes] Her voice is touched (kissed [stroked]) with laughter when she replies. Because: what'd Ashley, did she just - ha! Ashley gets a luminous, dark-eyed glance -- amused. "This was relaxing, Atlas," she says, by way of farewell. What she means: this was relaxing, surprise!, and pleasant. "No madmen and no monsters. I look forward to doing that quiet reading on the Lafette," and then, a nod. Serious, grave [as a ballad-song, as a the snap of a wish-bone, which segues into -- ] and then she has listened to Israel, and said, "What does this Chantry have?" Bare-bones. Sparse. Spartan.
And -- Catherine let Ashley hear music. That might explain how happy she seems, how at ease. Something, maybe understanding, filters into Kage's glance, and she says, "Who? How? Why? Like those spirit-things who told you a story?"
[Atlas Mason] "Comestible Ashley, the precise terminology would be Comestible." The man says with a slight smile as he picks up his timers and moves to head out, a brief wave to those around him. He speaks for Israel's sake letting her know that he is indeed leaving.
"I will continue to operate and advance any action plan along proscribed guidelines for actualized and continued physical and cognizant existence Israel, be 99.999% certain of that likilhood." The man says as he moves off, headed for his bike, a short time later, the roar of its engine can be heard carrying him, and his data on fish tastiness, of to his ship.
[Thanks for the play guys!]
[Israel Cohen] Amusement [again, that fondness; that marrow-deep contentment, like a sigh upon stretching out on clean sheets and comfortable bed after a long day; like inhaling fresh, steamy sea air that invigorates as it soothes] colours her countenance at Ashley's tech-speak; at Atlas' good-humoured correction and assurances... of some sort, at least.
The sound of his bike roaring away, "That man is something of a treasure. A bit of a wonder in and of himself." Musing words; kindly words.
Sightless eyes slide towards Ashley's direction; the approximation is close but the real sensation of eye-to-eye contact will never exist. She nods, slowly, the mood not grave, not pious, but reverent all the same. Not so much in regards to Catherine her[it?]self, but rather an understanding of the power behind such an outwardly simple statement. "She let me paint."
Ashley, in her own way, will likely understand the strength of it.
Her ear inclines towards Kage; a bit of that happiness at the chance [re]meeting resurfacing; a small ripple, but briefly there. "A little over a century ago a member of this Chantry - Catherine of the Verbenae - sacrificed her life to keep the Node from dying. It's an old ritual, a powerful one. Rare, but not unheard of. But usually those who sacrifice themselves are never heard from again. But Catherine lived on, in a way... I suppose the best way to put it is that some kind of mystical symbiosis has occurred. The Node is Catherine. Catherine is the Node. They exist together. I've never encountered anything like it, not in person or in studies."
[Ashley McGowen] "My mistake," Ashley tells Atlas. Generous. She inclines her head in the Etherite's direction as he makes his assurances, tells them where he's likely to be. "He's definitely unique," she says to Israel. A manner of agreeing, most likely, uncomfortable as Ashley usually is with expressing fondness or giving praise. It's just not something that's done.
Then: Catherine, the node. A quiet understanding when Israel tells her what Catherine let her do. "I've read once or twice about it occurring," she tells Israel. "I just...never expected to see an example, much less actually...I mean. I connected my Mind with hers, and that's..." There's another glance toward Kage, something that sticks, holds, as though to impress significance.
"...I can't even describe it," she adds. "But I...she healed the wounds I had from the demonlings, last week. And the Jhor is gone. I can tell."
[K. Jakes] "I like him," Kage says, of Atlas. And that is high, high praise - a direct admission of like [approval] from Kage for a traditionalist. "He doesn't seem to have any of the usual flaws Machine Poets have. And his motorcycle is cool." Amusement, gleam-of-something-sinuous in the murk, water, dark - see?
This is true.
Kage is never careless, but she can be incautious; has been incautious, when confronted with certain things, when she decides (ardent [bright]) to act. Kage is a brave creature, and this can, and has - oh, Israel's seen it; Ashley too - looked a lot like a lack of common sense. Still: she isn't actually incautious. Kage is a thoughtful woman, and subtle, too, so she is watchful, wants to know, always, always, what is wanted [yearned for (tell me your desire)].
This is also true.
Kage has a steady head, a steady heart. Watches Israel and Ashley both, steady, steadily, and reads what there is to read, listens to what there is to listen, doesn't quite Look to confirm that the Jhor is gone (still - courteous [always]), but still, she is attentive. Manages not to frown at the mention of sacrifice, not exactly. Manages not to ignore the way her flesh goosebumps, manages not to look around for Him, manages to read it as something other than ritual regicide, as martyrdom and sainthood. Manages to be pret-ty damned interested, of course.
"I wonder if she is glad, then." A beat. And, "Why? Ashley, Israel - why did she heal you; why did she give you things you no longer have, that were once yours - temporarily?"
This is also true.
Kage is mistrustful. And Kage has an inclination toward devil-dealings, where one has to be careful.
[Israel Cohen] These things, these discussions. They are important, of course. Sometimes more so when they occur in such a causal environment. Agreement is valuable: It forges connections. All three women understand the power and importance of connections [correspondence]. Perhaps, however, variations and difference of opinion and approach are all the more necessary. To prevent stagnancy. To challenge. To question what might become the danger of blind [ha, ha! or groan?] faith [don't titter].
Israel and Ashley speak of wonders. Of things not easily described [they must be lived. they must be experienced]. Of gifts; gifts of a personal nature not easily bestowed by anyone or anything else. Kage is interested [yes, kitten, see the yarn? see the glow?], but mistrust colours her words, too. [why, yes, indeed, I see it. and then I ask: for whose entertainment? for what gain?]. To these things Israel seems pleased instead of perturbed, thoughtful, though not as if for the first time...
...somewhat amused. She knows her views will not be mirrored by the others.
Which is likely how it should be.
"Pure conjecture on my part? Love." Ah, that word again. Ashley has heard her speak on it before, in various ways. Kage, too. In a world where cynicism is the accepted norm, it is a topic not often well received. It can be met with a lot of eye-rolling, a lot of condescension. Or, wide-eyed [blind. naive] dreaminess and pseudo-romantic rose-tint. "It's my personal explanation for why she even exists as she does. Love. Sheer unwavering devotion. To a cause. To a place. To those closest to her and those to come. I'm not saying love without self-interest... it fulfills her, even now. It isn't all self-sacrifice and humanitarianism. Love that manifests as a knowledge that to help preserve and save what she holds the most dear is aided by trying to make those who come to her that much more whole, that much more touched by something greater. So she acts like a balm, a balm not easily attained elsewhere. Ashley and I are both very capable in the art of Neshamah - the Ars Mentis... Mind. But," here there's a look of difference a correct-me-if-I'm-wrong, cast out in Ashley's general direction, "Neither of us could fully recreate what she provided. Not without a sensation of indulging in self-delusion. She isn't coddling or needy... she is sensual; at times earthy, at time other-worldly. She feels.. human in Sentience and yet not. But Love and Devotion to the defense of that Node is how best I can describe it, for myself, at least."
[Ashley McGowen] Kage asks that question: what did Catherine want? Why would she give them these things, why would she allow them to experience something that they thought to be lost? There's a glance toward Kage, again something that lingers. Understanding, there. If she hadn't experienced it herself she would probably be asking the same thing. But there's also this: it didn't come without a price.
"With a lack of belief and the decline of the Old Ways, she's losing herself," Ashley says, throwing her arm around her folded legs again. The Hermetic leans forward, resting the side of her jaw against them, as though her head is too heavy. Directs her attention toward Kage once more. "I'd say she was winning over loyalty and devotion in order to preserve herself. The same thing any good leader does." Her tone isn't that of a cynic. It's a simple acknowledgment: this is how things work, this is how things are, it doesn't take away from the significance of what happened or from how she felt. Really, perhaps she and Israel are even saying the same thing. Ashley isn't a cynic of the variety who sneers at love or emotion, after all.
There's another pause, something contemplative and half-turned, before she says, "If you want, I can show you what I remember."
[K. Jakes] [Hm. Control?]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 7, 8 (Success x 3 at target 7)
[K. Jakes] Kage doesn't scoff. Doesn't mock. There are no subtle tells that'd say, liar, liar, she needs a grain of salt to swallow this meal. Salt, for protection; salt, for true visions; salt, for Ophelia's flowering garden, for her weed-crown - nope. Not in the slightest. No cynical, whiskey-please quirk-of-her-eyebrow, no how-about-some-snake-oil, hear-it's-great-for-the-complexion for either Israel or Ashley. Rather, Israel says love, and Israel says sheer, unwavering devotion, and Kage looks wistful, at least for half-a-second. After all, she's not unfamiliar with the concept; hasn't she seen it? Self-interested as it is.
The mistrust, the skepticism, isn't dialing itself back. Somewhere in all that, there's a brief note of wry bitterness, too. Kage listens, and she listens with the sort've intensity that one can feel, something in the air, ardent/distant, and finishes the fish. Thanks again, Atlas. She reaches into her pocket before she remembers she doesn't have her cigarettes [doesn't smell like cigarettes to Israel (no tobacco stain left-over, nothing ingrained in her clothes - still)], and rests her other elbow on the table, propping her chin on her fist.
"I think I'd say a good leader spent more time leading than campaigning," she says. And then, "Well - " Hesitation. Self-aware quirk of her lips. " - I'd like that, but how?"
[Israel Cohen] "She has a point, you know," This to Ashley after Kage's first comment; with that same lightness [gentle thing; soft thing - but not always; no, not anymore] of humour, the touch of wryness to it. Reaching up a hand and rubbing along a slender, fine nose with one knuckle. "I'm not so sure if Catherine - while alive - was more the leader sort or the priestess sort. My guess would be the latter. There are things a shaman or priestess or what have you might indulge in that a leader cannot... or shouldn't."
Then Kage's response to Ashley's offer [an offer, yes, good good] of showing her and at that the woman actually chuckles, a breathy sound that matches the light airiness of her mezzo-soprano voice. "'But how', she says." The words are not condescending; they are laced with tenderness; they are barely-there chiding: Open-Your-Eyes [ah, such daily ironies], it says.
Then she is rising, "I need to head home. And I know the rules, Ashley... but really, it's something best experienced first hand. If you were there with her I'd see no harm in it." A suggestion. Her own vote on the matter. Then, "Kage, how can I reach you? I'm going hat shopping you see.. I'll need to know where to deliver it."
....after getting the information and saying her farewells, she'll be gone, guide-cane marking the path before her.
[Ashley McGowen] "I'd agree with you," Ashley tells Kage, of leaders. Kage knows. This is because Kage knows Ashley from before: wasn't it Kage who asked Bran Summers whether he looked outside his vision? Wasn't it Kage who saw him stumble, grope for words, who saw him consumed by his cause?
But there's a time before that, when Kage didn't know Ashley, didn't know of her existence or Bran's or Justine's. Didn't even know the Awakened world existed at all. It's the way stories begin: once upon a time, there was a young man who made his friends love him, who inspired them to reach (claw to heights), who made them want to Work for him. Love's a selfish thing. It fades when one is asked to give too much of themselves. Maybe that's why Israel says: cannot, shouldn't.
Ashley reaches beneath the collar of her shirt, hooks her thumb through the iron link in the chain, pulls it forward and splays the fingers as though to wave. Kage just gets a look. Monsters: they ask for permission to cross a threshold. Israel gets a look, one that says that yes, she knows the rules too, but doesn't offer any real indication of whether she'd break them for Kage.
"See you later, Is," she says, as the Orphan makes her way off down the pebbled path to the front of the house, guide-cane tapping on the stones. Her gaze directs itself back up to Kage, after that. "I'll be careful," she adds. Just in case Kage needs the extra reassurance.
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