The Usual

Nathan Spriggs] [Perc + Aware + 1 diff!]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 (Success x 2 at target 7)

[K. R. Jakes] The resonance Nathan picks up on isn't one of the more familiar resonance signatures (supernatural sigils: signs) to Nathan Spriggs. But it isn't entirely unfamiliar. It's been a month, perhaps a little more, since they met in a neighborhood like this one in a bar that'd seen better, better days, since they'd had misunderstandings. It's been less than a month since the meeting at the White Fence House, all of the Awakened who were interested showing up. Kage hadn't said much then: she'd just said something to get the meeting moving and onto the topic of Shallows when it seemed like it was going to flounder about forever.

Unbenownst to Nathan, Kage has run into his resonance a time beyond that: when he was in the alleyway with Kaya, when he took her home with him, when the lights blew out and she, Ashley, Gregor and Emily investigated the alley, when he lied to Ashley over the phone about what happened.

The point is: they're not friends, they're not enemies, they're not even close associates -- but they have associates in common, and they both know it. Unless some other Mage has meanwhile come along with such an amorous [luminous] beloved / withering [draining] ending resonance.

There was Nathan, and she recognized him. The cigarette still wasn't lit; she was holding it to her mouth, and looking at him. Kage blinked, then gave the man -- they're the only two outside, crazy enough to brave the impending storm -- a slight nod.

[Nathan Spriggs] Twice before had he sensed this. Once it was clear, it was fully present, it was also unpleasant to deal with. The second time, it'd been a dim presence in a sea of sensations and feelings taken form. After all, that's what Resonance was, wasn't it? In any case, he slowly slid away from the post, returning her gesture.

He didn't know her, or pretend to, but grudges weren't something he generally held against others unless for some very solid reasons. None of which were present for the arguments and misunderstandings they'd had. Even though he was no longer a smoker, he still carried a lighter with him at all times for other uses. It was that which he dug into his pockets with his left hand for. A steady pace on a course to approach her. He was careful not to take an approach that seemed like a friend approaching, but it wasn't like a stranger off to offer someone else help either.

[K. R. Jakes] "Nathan," Kage says, when he's close enough for her to say his name. Whatever else Kage is, it is this: composed, controlled; contained, and graceful. She isn't a lovely woman, although her hair is vibrant, her skin is pale, her eyes are dark. She's plain: any beauty she has is average, not unexpected, and has far more to do with her personality than it does with her shape. She's got style, is what: a certain way of doing things. Cool-headed, level-eyed Kage. Her mouth quirks up. "I suppose it was about time for another convocation. What's got you blowing down the street?"

[Nathan Spriggs] As she spoke, Nathan's pace started to slow down steadily, until he was just a few feet from her. The blond man in the trench coat seemed much better than their first and last encounter face-to-face. No longer smelling of alcohol, or thin and looking years beyond his age. His skin was was less pale and more sun-burnt, like he spent a lot of time outside, his eyes were a clear blue and no longer clouded by doubts, though there was still something there.

Still, there was something about him, something that still seemed wrong. He was better, yes. But the lines on his face, his behavior, even his eyes still had a hint of worries and problems. He'd seen things, gotten involved in them, and he was weather-worn from it all. He also looked tired and fatigued, like he hadn't been sleeping well. Through it all though, he managed a slight smile for the woman at her words.

"The usual, murders, killer spirits and disasters waiting to happen. How have you been doing?" His tone was carefree and friendly for the most part, but there was a hint of truth in what seemed like a joke on what was up.

[K. R. Jakes] "Well - " Kage says, once Nathan has laid it out for her: murder, killer spirits, disasters that haven't yet happened but look like they're going to soon. Her left eyebrow quirks, and she tucks her cigarette behind her ear, rather than lighting it. The shoulders of her raincoat are beginning to gleam damply, mermaid's underwater adventure. She slides her hands into her pockets. " - sounds like a lot of fun. What side've the gun were you on? And good luck heading disaster off at the pass."

He wants to know how she's doing, or he's just exchanging the same courtesies she's exchanging with him: Kage is a courteous creature, always. She's giving him a pensive look, wondering why, why his resonance has that echo of Kaya's twined beneath. "Me, I'm good. I just got back from Hollywood. Hey - " a sudden thought; a pause. "Hey," she says, after another moment. "Is your library offer still good, Nathan? Or did you decide to table that?"

[Nathan Spriggs] She speaks and he simply blinks, once then twice. Had he just heard right? After a few seconds of thinking carefully and a studying glance at her once or twice, he simply shrugs. "I'm amazed anyone ever paid attention to that, but yeah. Now that you mention it, it is still good," he says casually, genuinely amazed someone still remembered that though he didn't let it show. Then he slid down carefully and sat down on one of the steps. His coat which was new as he'd been going through them rather fast these days kept him for feeling any of the water.

"As for what side of the gun... Well, hard to say, but I guess receiving side. Wouldn't happen to know any Virtual Adepts who went by the nickname of Renegade, would you? With 3s instead of Es, that is."

[K. R. Jakes] "I'd like to take you up on it," Kage says. He was hiding that he was amazed someone else remembered that little offer: like it had happened ages ago, maybe years. Another lifetime. Certainly, enough has happened between then and now. But he was a good poker player, wasn't he? He'd been good -- at some point -- at schmoozing people. Kage doesn't seem to know he's hiding surprise; probably because she does not.

He takes a seat. Kage stays standing for a moment, and lightning splits the sky, a fork of lightning that draws her thoughtful gaze upward, narrows it. Then she leaves the little puddle of light the streetlamp offers to, against her judgment, take a seat on the stoop, under the edge of a roof where she'll stay dry, where she won't offer the lightning a target to illuminate. Her gaze slants down the street: careful of the shadows.

Then: "Can't say I do. Have you asked that Jon guy, or maybe Chuck? They're wired in. 'Hard to say', huh?"

[Nathan Spriggs] He took a moment to consider this all, the lightning in the sky had his full attention now. If there was something people who knew him could tell, it was that when he was deep in thought, his eyes wondered to the sky. On a night like this, that was especially the case. As the streets became illuminated momentarily by currents of electricity so high they turned the air around them into plasma, he stared in wonder. 'Beautiful' was all he could bring himself to mutter at the sight, a sight which he'd seen a million times before and yet never got tired of.

"Oh, no. We're already investigating. I was just wondering if I might find someone who knew him personally," he stopped there, giving it a moment before giving her a basic rundown if she'd missed anything these days. He found himself doing the same more and more these days.

"Didn't know the guy myself. He threw me a call out of nowhere, with some information on the Blue Horizon leak which is looking wrong all over. Details on that later. I go by his apartment and he's dead, fried by technomagic. Now we're running around trying to figure out who all is out for us specifically or if we just got involved in something else. That's why it's hard to say if it's really the receiving end or just the unlucky witness."

[K. R. Jakes] "Not I. They don't usually get out much, the net junkies," Kage says, easily. And then Nathan is offering her information, and Kage is listening to what he's saying, inquisitive, poised, gaze fixed on the the Cultist of Ecstasy who isn't quite like the stereotype of Cultists: at least, not today. The first time she met him, he was stinking drunk, had a gun in his pocket, pointed her way. That's why she asked him if he wanted a drink.

"But that's too bad. I know a little about the spill." Kage doesn't say the name: Blue Horizon. Who knows what might be listening? "A machine poet I know -- an Etherite, to you -- she's been, ah, getting involved with the toxic sludge. Can't fathom why, but everybody needs a pet, I guess," and there, a faint smirk. Kage doesn't actually think toxic waste that is sentient = a good pet. Nathan could probably figure that one out if he looked at her for half-a-second.

A pause. And: "I heard you gave someone the good death." Euthanatos term, that: the good death. Mercy killing.

[Nathan Spriggs] Even good at hiding things as he was, her statement came out of nowhere. He gave an involuntary twitch at the words for a split second then went back to his usual calm demeanor. For a moment, he glances up to her, wondering how she knew all these things but deciding not to ask. "Ah, yes. I've heard about that. That Etherite's involved in a lot of things..." That was left there, he had no intention on elaborating, it just seemed like a musing.

"Yes, it is true. I won't say sugarcoated words like the right thing to do. But it was better than the alternative as far as I'm concerned." This time, he ended it with a tone that made it clear he'd rather not argue the details. "I'm guessing you also heard what happened with the possessed woman at [Insert Location] Park?"

[K. R. Jakes] He doesn't want to talk about what happened with the emo-kid and Kage can understand that, although perhaps she's surprised: he'd been so quick to talk about Dylan's death. Then again: he hadn't pulled the trigger, that time. "Nope," she says. "What happened with the possessed woman? Was Kaya around?"

[Nathan Spriggs] He ignores the insinuation on that for a moment, unless she's heard and is pretending not to or she knew about their current relationship. It was a whole mix of possibilities so it was best not to guess. "Don't see the direct connection, but yeah, she was. We came across an insane woman wielding a sword, apparently empowered by a spirit, she decapitated a guy in front of us. By us, I mean Riley, Kaya and myself. Though Ashley was spectating not too far from us." He pauses there to consider how to tell the rest of the story, the abridged version wasn't a option, she'd learn he fucked up sooner or later anyway.

"I lost it for a moment and tried to stop her by shooting her, not a smart idea. Got heavily wounded and was about a millimeter from death before Ashley came in and calmed her down. In the end, she was insane and thought we'd try to stop her. So she ran away, attacked a blockade of cops and got shot to death. The end. Naturally, I've fallen out of grace with certain parties due to being a moron and acting thoughtlessly." There was a point he was trying to head to with the story, but he didn't push it in yet.

[K. R. Jakes] Naturally, he says, I've fallen out of grace, and Kage offers him a brief flash of a smile -- touches her eyes, makes them darker, vibrant. "Hmm," she says, and it isn't much at all, that little sound; it's so quiet. She doesn't interrupt him yet. He seems to be heading toward a particular point, and maybe she's just not reading him right; they're hardly intimate. First name basis, but what is that, really? Associates. Who're quite civil, while they sit beneath a storm-choked sky, their conversation punctuated by the basso-rumble of the gods. "Hunh," she says, when he's done. "Glad to see you're not dead."

[Ashley McGowen] Two voices drift down the sidewalk, carried on stormy winds and muffled by the sound of water striking the pavement.

"...just mixed fucking messages all over the place."
"Sounds like it." Another voice, male, rimmed with sympathy and a touch of dry humor. "Just forget about it for now. Enjoy the lovely scenery."
"You know, I don't know why you always want to come drinking out here."
"Drinks are cheaper. Don't you think the knife gouges in the tables give them character?" asks the male voice, noticeably more slurred than his companion's. "Slums are the best place to drink to zombie Jesus."

They approach down the cracked sidewalk, the taller figure with his arm thrown around the shorter one's shoulders - probably for support, at this point. And as they approach, they're revealed to be one Hermetic (drenched, bedraggled, dark hair hanging into her eyes) in a soaked T-shirt and jeans that are nearly black with rain; a young man with blond hair and thick-framed glasses, better known to some as Sweatervest Boy or My Uncannily Friendly Neighbor.

They've drawn close enough to take note of the two figures sitting outside - blond hair and a trench coat facing amorous red - at which point Ashley pauses, nudging the young man with a shoulder. "You want to head inside, Justin, and I'll catch you later? I'm going to say hi to some people."

[Nathan Spriggs] Now he leaned back and stared up at the sky again, his lips curling to a smile at her word for a moment and then it was gone. The lightning was slowly stopping as the rain slowly lost intensity. "Point I'm trying to make, is there's a connection between what you heard about--" He stops there, a lump in his throat for a moment, he didn't particularly enjoy this subject. "About the 'good death' I administered. Not just that I'd rather tell a bad story about myself as accurately as possible instead of someone else."

A deep, calming breath to get rid of the memory of the kid's lasts moment, which seemed to be amplified by the darkness and the downpour. "The woman, while I didn't see it myself, supposedly had a red spade tattoo under her eye. Glowing with spirit energy. The kid, this time I did see it, had a glowing blue ace on his hand and I'm sure you heard what he could do. Both times we were called to the place beforehand, different methods but still. So if you see anything out of the ordinary, keep your eyes peeled. Something nasty's playing a game it seems."

For the time being, Ashley's presence was unnoticed, he was still dealing with the memories of the kid and paying attention to the fading rain.

[K. R. Jakes] [oh shit]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 2, 4, 10, 10 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[K. R. Jakes] "I figured," Kage says, when he tells her there was a connection: and she listens to him make it, interested, quiet, grave. Then, oh, then: Kage's eyebrows both rise (quick) and she takes a swift breath (cut [knick]), that she lets out slow, slowly, and she shakes her head, saying: "Playing cards suites, huh? What an asshole. Whoever it is. Leave those symbols alone."

Ashley's presence did not go unnoticed by Kage. When Kage saw the diminutive (Hungry) Hermetic, she lifted her hand in a motionless wave, then tugged the cigarette out from behind her ear, stowed it in her pocket instead of keeping it there. " -- do you know if Kaya has any speculations on the energy or the kind've spirit that made it?"

[Ashley McGowen] Ashley extricates herself from the other grad student's grasp, which would be less difficult if he weren't drunk; he hasn't reached the point of falling down, but the Sleeper is decidedly uncoordinated. "See you later, 'Nessa," he says, with a wave that is unnecessarily broad.

Ashley watches him make his way inside before winding her way over to the Orphan and the Cultist, thus far blissfully ignorant of the fact that what they are discussing is pertinent to her apprentice. She's shoving the thick wet mop in her eyes away; her soaked clothing and the slimming of the dark halo usually around her head has the effect of making her look even smaller than usual.

"Evening," she says, coming up next to Kage - and though Nathan is there it's clear that the greeting was directed more to the Orphan. Nathan doesn't go unacknowledged, though; a glance flicks in his direction once. There's something that might be a nod.

[Nathan Spriggs] His gaze slowly moved down from the rain to her, enough so that he missed the wave she gave the approaching Hermetic. Then a nod, he remembered her mentioning something about it. "I... remember she mentioned that it felt extremely old and extremely powerful." An apologetic sort of expression followed, at the lack of information on the matter.

Then he gave a bit of a jump at Ashley's sudden arrival. It wasn't that he didn't know someone had been approaching them from the sound of the footsteps, it was that he assumed it was a passerby. It seemed he'd been horribly wrong. A mental note was made then and there to never assume anything again. He turned his head to glance at Ashley and gave her a nod, though nothing else. Then, his eyes darted back to Kage.

"So how about you, how was your trip?" Maybe he was trying to redirect the conversation, maybe he really meant it. Which one it was no one but him really knew. "Any interesting stories of Hollywood?"

[K. R. Jakes] Kage is good at inscrutability (see?). He says that whatever it was, playing this game, according to the Dreamspeaker: it was old and extremely powerful. That isn't a lot. That's about as useful as the Sphinx from Mystery Men's comments, really, and perhaps as true. And still, and still, she studies the toes of her shoes, thoughtful, pensive, and still yet grave. Then she says, snicking a smile: "My trip was good. And I didn't run into anything half so interesting as all of you've been running into. Hey, 'ley," she says, and then: "Happy resurrection day." The sky suddenly explodes into a light display: somewhere, Dr. Frankenstein just resurrected his monster; the lightning is purple, is vibrant, is violent.

[Ashley McGowen] Ashley, disregarding whether or not Nathan might want her to, sits down on the step next to Kage. She's already too wet to care about the water that's puddled a little on its surface, or the mud. It washes off, and the Hermetic is the sort of person who enjoys storms, who derives an odd sort of exhilaration out of the pelting rain and driving wind.

"You too," she says to Kage, with a look that says that she's been reminded of it all day. "But these days it's just an excuse to eat a lot of sugar, for me." The recovering Catholic is not allowed to forget, by her mother least of all.

Resurrections aside, she glances between the other two quietly, generally preferring to gradually pick up on what the conversation is about than to ask.

[Nathan Spriggs] Nathan didn't react as Ashley took a seat, he'd already assumed she would. He'd accepted the natural absolutes of life, without magic involved that is. Water was wet. Women left. Fire burned. And Ashley, well, she ruined his day (and probably vice versa). He didn't need Time magic to foresee how this would play out. He'd say something. She'd pick it out. He'd argue back. And presto change-o, they'd butt heads. But not today. Today he decided he'd keep quiet, keep calm no matter what.

"Hey, Ashley, happy Easter," he glanced at her and gave her that much, he wasn't religious so he went with the neutral term but it was basic courtesy. Now back to Kage, a momentary smile at her reply. The corner of his eyes appreciating the beautiful lightning strike. It seemed God did enjoy cruel jokes on people. "That's just as well. I'd like a week that's not 'interesting'. But, for now I guess we have to make do with the cards dealt to us."

[K. R. Jakes] "We were discussing the incident of the mad woman with a sword," Kage tells Ashley, when both Traditionalists let the conversation flag toward mere pleasantries. "And Kaya's opinions on the spiritual -- whatever; marks. Left behind." Nathan wishes for a week that isn't interesting, and Kage studies him for a serious, solemn moment. Then she says: "Really? What would you do with your time? I can recommend Pasadena for relaxation's sake. There's one of you guys who hangs out there these days: Jeff. He's got hands of relaxation if you can stand them."

[Ashley McGowen] "Staying busy is good for us. You get complacent if things stay quiet for too long," Ashley tells Nathan, though she knows quite well that it's being run ragged that he objects to. She'd probably express appreciation for that as well, for being run into the ground, burning the candle at both ends - no, scratch the probably. She would.

She turns her head to look at Kage when the spiritual marks are mentioned (she'd been sitting with the Orphan at her blind side) and frowns, wracking a slightly tipsy brain for a detail she feels as though she should be recalling. Then she does, and a furrow forms between her brows. "Yeah, she...I was going to try to help her. Mad with grief, like..."

Trail off, resume. "I think it was beyond what I could have done to repair, though." But only just.

[Nathan Spriggs] For now, he stayed quiet, observing the situation, considering it. He didn't dare chip in on the park matter, that was the exact opposite of his planned course of action for this encounter. Instead, he gave Kage an incredulous look at her suggestion. "You seriously think I'd go to one of my colorful associates for rest and relaxation? Last I checked, the standard diet of cocaine and caffeine pills in power drinks was bad for sleep. I just don't want to see people die in horrific ways every week, I'm afraid I'll get used to it." He ended it with a smile, however, showing he was just joking, at the first part anyway.

Then a glance to Ashley, and for a moment, he actually considered saying something, some 'encouragement' like he'd given at that deli once a long time ago. When they were more or less on neutral terms. Instead, he opted for something neutral but helpful. "I have an idea on how we might be able to get a better look out for the thing that did all this."

[K. R. Jakes] "I was using 'you' in a more general sense," Kage says, mouth quirking. "I don't tend to recommend cocaine and caffeine pills, however appropriate the latter sounds when a deadline is looming." Then: he doesn't want to see people die horrific ways every week, and at that, the Orphan frowns slightly, looking at the toes of her shoes again. Ashley can't see Kage, not unless she looks at her, the way they're sitting, so she doesn't see how thoughtful the Orphan is, but perhaps she can tell anyway, sense it, they know each other well enough (don't they).

There's a sound of acknowledgment when Ashley explains, drunk Ashley, tipsy Ashley, says that it was beyond what she could have repaired. It's one've those sounds that's so far removed from human language one needn't even try to give it words. She's playing with scenarios, riddling herself: putting things together. "Is your friend going to miss you, 'ley?"

And then, Nathan, trying to be helpful. Kage is the one who asks. "What's the idea?"

[Ashley McGowen] "We were here to meet up with his boyfriend and a couple of other people, so no," Ashley says, and there's the unspoken caveat: not if it's important. It's an odd thing, that these days she goes to her few Sleeper friends in order to relax, in order to vent. Their lives seem a lot more simple than hers does. They ask her about things like relationship problems and how far she's gotten on her thesis.

Her Awakened friends(?) and colleagues ask her about the dead and dying, the spiritually maimed, the lost and broken. And these days, she's looked to as a person who can do something about it.

She's not ready, but people so rarely are. "What's your idea, Nathan?" she asks, though she hasn't yet made the connection to emo-boy. Hasn't yet realized the larger issue. It doesn't matter. Ashley McGowen is pensive tonight, and more often than not, alcohol takes a good deal of the edge off of her personality besides.

[Nathan Spriggs] He looked to the sky again, deep in thought, connections were being made, ideas came to him. This one in particular had been slowly forming in his head since the day he went to the chantry. The very same day he got into a nasty argument with Ashley. "How much do you know about the new Dreamspeaker, Marianna?"

The question itself led to a bigger point, just like his story before, and just like before he didn't want to force it through. He'd explain by step so nothing was missed. "The first incident took place in a park, in a fairly isolated area as far as the city's concerned at that. But the second resurgence of the spirit, in the kid at the church, it was in an urban area," he spoke carefully, calculatedly. The link wasn't obvious yet, but if they knew Marianna and her specialty, they'd make it. If not, he'd elaborate from there.

"Marianna told me the day we met, she deals with urban spirits. I have no idea how it works exactly, but apparently things like... that sign over there," then he pointed at a Stop sign at the end of the street. "They have spirits inhabiting them from what I understood. If a spirit with a presence like the one we're dealing with appears, it would probably not be missed by weaker ones, which means if Marianna isn't just out of her rocker, everything all over the place should have at least noticed it or will notice it if it appears. If we can talk to her and get her to check out the church, what the things inside have to say. Maybe, just maybe, we can get an idea of what we are dealing with or at least it's nature."

[K. R. Jakes] Marianna must be that Anna person Enid was talking about. The lightning splits the sky, again; followed by more thunder, dark, rolling out like an engine (doom [apocalypse]). Kage listens to Nathan's proposal, and then she takes a deep breath, stands, and says: "You could ask her to ask whatever spirits she sees in the cityscape. And I should head back homeward; the family's going to wonder." The last big holiday she wandered away to unwind after a big family gathering, she aquired a Marauder. She didn't want to aquire anything like that this time. "'ley, I'd like to talk to you soon. Nathan," she says, acknowledging him, a farewell: "Let me know about the books."

And then? After hearing whatever parting words they have to say, Kage leaves. It's easy, leaving people. Just watch.

[Ashley McGowen] "Might as well run it by Anna, then," is her suggestion to Nathan, accompanied by a shrug. She has fewer ties to the matter than Nathan does, or so she thinks, and thus little reason to personally involve herself.

Ashley is a touch surprised when Kage gets up to leave, judging by the way her eyebrows raise as she follows the Orphan with her eyes. But Kage is a flighty creature, at times, and yes - inscrutable. So not too surprised.

"All right," she says. "Just give me a call or come by when you have a free night."

[Nathan Spriggs] He nods at Kage's words, followed by Ashley's suggestion. Not much else he can say or do, since it required a third party present and actively aiding. In any case, as Kage starts to head off, he got up as well. Stretching a bit before turning to her as she wals away. "Will do. Just in case you need me for something, I live about two blocks down, [insert location] street."

Then he turned back to Ashley, deciding not to leave yet. He wasn't about to let her wander around drunk, that and it'd be rude to just head off immediately. She didn't seem as nasty tonight.