[How awake are we?]
Dice: 7 d10 TN7 (2, 2, 4, 5, 5, 7, 7) ( success x 2 )
Kalen Holliday[And how distracted by Resonance are we?]
Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 8, 9) ( success x 4 )
Alexander[Ooh yeah, Awareness and stuff]
Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 7, 9) ( success x 2 )
Danny(How aware is Danny?)
Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10) ( success x 2 )
Kalen HollidayKalen is sprawled in his new favorite office, which is to say that he is lounging over a cracked vinyl booth, repaired in places with layers of duct tape. He's drawing looks, though whether that's because he's got just a brush of something shimmery on his eyelids and looks extra ghost-pale in all black, or because he's working on a laptop with an actual newspaper is anyone's guess.
He has coffee too. And, look, this is endlessly refilled diner coffee. He's drinking it without complaint. Not that there is anyone to complain to, really. But Dany has heard him talk about proper coffee and Alexander has seen him make proper coffee. Of course, Alexander has also seen him here.
He does not have pie at the moment. Only coffee. And work.
AlexanderCoffee. Work. And now Alexander.
He’d swung by Alyssa’s place, on the off-chance she was in. She knows rather more about spirits than he does, and he wants to ask about the ones he’d seen around the Black Orchid. The kind of things that it’s best not to chat about over the phone – Grace would be so proud at his level or paranoia.
Not entirely surprisingly, she had been out. But Kalen’s resonance had been felt on the ride past, and coffee and pie are good reasons to meet up with a friend. So if he’s paying attention, there will be the sound of a motorbike approaching, parking and the engine dying away outside, along with the feel of an oncoming ice age. So he arrives through the diner door, helmet in one hand. A quick conversation with the bored-looking waitress and he slides into the other side of the booth with a cup of dark, possibly stewed, filter coffee.
“Hey.”
There may be pie to follow. After all, there were plenty of other flavours they hadn’t gotten around to trying yet.
Danny*Danny was..... lost.... And not for the first time in his life probably. Somehow the route he'd intended to take had ended up with him here... in probably what could be safely described as "no man's land" as far as the city were concerned.
New housing mingling with old, sometimes dangerous... that would also mean there were mean dogs chained up in yards and groups of people collecting in places. Figuring that this might well be the safest part of the entire area, he stopped outside the diner and parked up, then frowned as he looked around.
Going into the diner though, he didn't seem overly bothered, or was that merely his outer confidence? Some times it was easier to just use his resonance like a shield, spark, spark spark spark... but at other times it attracted people like flies.
Today Danny would be wearing what was commonly known as something unremarkable. It wasn't cold as such outside, but he didn't want to take chances.
That newly done ink was carefully sheathed in his shabby chic combat boots, the tops of which were stuffed with the bottoms of a pair of faded blue skinny jeans. the chain for his wallet was attached to the belt he wore to keep them up. . A black shirt spattered with what looked like scratches of purple sat on his torso and over that he had a black leather vest, undone with leather ties down the side seams. Over which was his leather jacket itself.
He walked up to the bar after a quick and surreptitious look around without making eye contact with anyone in particular. But he was already alerted to the presence of Kalen, so hard to ignore that particular man and his swirling mass that heralded a storm. Then there was frozen waste that was Alexander. He didn't have the option of anything....... apart from yeah, that'd do. He rested his hand on the bar and smiled just a little to the girl.* Uh... Coke, full fat with.... *he frowned and then nodded as he chose.* A cheeseburger with everything, fries, oh and one of those icecream soda's on the side. *He pulled out his wallet and handed out the notes for her, then turned again to look and see who else was there. On the hand that put the wallet away there was a ring today, a big silver thing with a square top to it.*
Hannah[I'm TAing as I play, so don't wait for me to post ;p I'll insert myself when I can]
Kalen HollidayOh. Look. The cosmos hates productivity. Not surprising.
And seems as interested in smushing him together with Danny as Sera...? Perhaps slightly more surprising.
He debates, momentarily, the wisdom of slipping under the table and over to Alexander's side, but flopping on Alexander for comedy may have to wait for summer. He wasn't lying the other day. He does hate to be cold. So he unsprawls a little and nudges the things he has spread over the table into a corner so he's taking up something more like a reasonable amount of space.
"Hey, Alce," he says to Alexander. "I think our strange habits of random confluence may soon be the only thing keeping this place in business. It sure as hell isn't the coffee." He curls up against the wall, regards Alexander with a kind of laziness that indicates he must already have run his threat assessments on Danny. "How are you?"
Alexander“I’m good. Carrying on, y’know? How about you?” Alexander looks up from watching Kalen rearrange his things on the table to really look at him. It wasn’t so long ago that he had to be almost kidnapped to get out and do something vaguely normal with other people. There’s concern for how his friend is doing now.
Alexander holds the coffee cup between both hands, elbows resting on the edge of the booth table, looking over the top of the cup at Kalen. There’s the occasional glance at the newcomer. “You know him?” he asks quietly. Because he doesn’t, and there’s a slight tension in his posture at the table. Nothing blatant, but something Kalen would notice.
Hopefully this won’t involve brawling in a back alley. Again.
[And why not, Per+Awarempathy because dice are fun]
Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 4, 8) ( success x 1 )
Danny*He got his drink then made his way over to the table, slipping in to perch on the seat next to Kalen after choosing him to be the lesser of the two evils.* Well now... ain't this just great... *He set his drink down and gave Alexander an upnod briefly, then eyed that alleged coffee substance they were drinking.* That stuff'll kill ya.... *Yeah, from the king of the redbull shine.*
HannahIt wouldn't seem like it, but Hannah liked to have adventures. When the sun was out, and the shadows dissipated, she was more adventurous than ever. It was easiest, of course, when Victor was with her; everything was easier when Victor was with her.
Hannah liked coffee. She especially liked it because it made her more social sometimes, and it sometimes made the sounds go away.
You can do it. The soft voice muttered to her. See? Victor will help you.
Hannah was not easy to miss. She might have otherwise been a normal girl except that something was a bit wrong with her. "Yes, this is a good place." She said, her head tucked a little, hair hanging around her face. She wore a green cotton scarf wrapped around her throat, one bit hanging over her chest and the other over her back. Despite the weather, she wore a light fabric, loose long sleeve grey shirt with a another loose blue tank overtop, sporting some faded animal image on it. She wore a skirt, deep blue stockings and a pair of simple black shoes. With her was a retriever with a head haltie, and a vest laying over his back with the 'SERVICE DOG' listen in bold.
Hannah slipped in, a messenger at her side, and paused to assess exactly how to function in this diner; they were all different.
Kalen Holliday"Mmmmmm...we've met. Serafine somehow convinced me I should go on a date with him. I'll report back on that train wreck after it happens. Possibly by showing up at your place at four am with a bottle of whiskey."
He glances at Danny as he settles into the booth. "Don't get too excited. I think there's an unspoken somber and faded ambiance rule. And don't you drink paint thinner or something?"
He returns his attention to Alexander. "Alce, this is Danny." He smiles faintly and glances back to Danny, waves at Alexander. "Alexander."
And then his attention shifts again, this time toward Hannah. Who is that? Is she a threat? What is off about her?
[Awarepathy at Hannah because being weird in Kalen's presence means you get studied. At least until he's determined if you're dangerous.]
Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 8) ( success x 3 )
AlexanderThere’s a faint smile when Kalen explains that Sera’s set them up on a date. “I’ll make sure there’s some ice in the freezer and some clean shot glasses standing by. I thought you and Ian were... Dating?”
Danny walks over and the only available place to sit was next to Kalen. Alexander looks up at the stranger as his destination becomes obvious and gives no indication that he’s going to budge up to make space. Until he gets comfortable with the guy, he wants to be able to leave. Not that there’s any indication that that’s going to happen either. He does return the nod, though, and adds a “Hi,” when Kalen introduces him. It may not be the warmest of welcomes, and his resonance doesn’t help, but it’s not hostile as such. Just... wary.
Then? His attention turns towards the Hannah as well. He remembers some of the mages who had been around for longer talking about how there had been a sudden influx of newcomers around the time that he arrived and Awakened. It looks like the floodgates have opened again. Kalen’s attention on her flags her as a stranger. Someone to be watched.
Alexander[And because we're looking for threats, Per+Alert at Hannah]
Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 3, 3, 4, 5) ( fail )
Danny*He nodded again to Alce, then grinned before glancing at Kalen.* They don't have my particular brand of poison on the shelf so.. *he shrugged one shoulder and then frowned as he saw Hannah, leaning slightly closer to Kalen and adding Alex into it.*
Be nice... I think she's.... I dunno, broken some how. She went off at me last night, something to do with Red. Seems real skittish, but you'll see. Ian talked to her a bit. after Sera calmed her down, I don't know what set her off but she was huddling and curling up in the corner on the pavement outside a restaurant. *he picked up his drink and took a long sip of the near black engine cleaner his eyes finally moving from Hannah to Alexander again.*
Danny(Don't wait for Hannah, her player is doing stuff and will post intermittently.)
HannahShe lowers her eyes even further to avoid noticing any attention she might be getting. You need to sit. Hannah nodded slowly to herself. "First step. First step is find a place." You can do it. They're looking. You can do it.
Hannah took in a deep breath and slowly stepped forward, trying to put as much space as she could between herself and the other diners. The light was soothing in itself. No monsters here, not yet. "The smell is different."
Hannah found her way to a seat, a booth away from others, and she slid right in easily. Victor, the dog, sat on the outside. For his obedience, she stroked his head. "Good. Good." The bag was set on the seat. "Stay." And she let go of his leash to pull books from her bag and set them out on the table. "No. I know it does, but...."
Kalen HollidayKalen...well...almost chokes on nothing at all when Alexander suggests that maybe Kalen and Ian might be dating. "No. No." He shakes his head. "Not...no. We...no. Not even sleeping together anymore. That whole...coma thing got...intense and then just...yeah. No."
He listens to Danny, glances at Hannah, and nods. "Right. I'll try to be gentle. That...always works so well." Sure it does. He is perfectly capable of it with Sera. Grace. You know...people he knows.
He looks back to Alexander and smiles. "I was thinking we could use a place to hang out, you know, before formal formal introductions, with people who are just getting to know the city, and I was thinking maybe my place. I mean...it has decent security. Even if we accidentally bring home something awful. And there isn't much we can't replace if we decide to burn it down."
AlexanderKalen’s response about Ian is only half-heard and Danny isn’t so much forgotten about as ignored for the moment. His attention is on Hannah. There’s something very not right about her – the way she’s reacting to them, the way she tries to hide away from everyone else in the place, avoids making eye contact. Everything about her screams that she’s up to something.
He glances at Kalen but doesn’t return the smile. “Have you added a secret tunnel out of the place? You might be able to stop them getting in, but they can stop you getting out too.” His gaze returns to the booth and as much of Hannah as he can see.
She’s got to be up to something...
Danny*He couldn't help but listen to that idea and found himself nodding to it. Then piped up.*
Your place? *he turned to look at Kalen for a moment, not commenting on the whole relationship thing.* Sounds good.
*Then he sets his hand on the table, the one with the switch ring on it and pushes himself out of the seat, slowly making his way over like one might approach a skittish horse or something, well.... that's how he thought of it anyhow. When he was at the end of the booth he leaned on the edge of the seat facing her.* Hey.... You doing okay today? That's a nice dog you got there... I won't make a fuss of him, he's working.
Kalen Holliday
He watches Alexander and Danny, then Hannah again for a few seconds.
"Mmmmmm...well. Grace won't have advanced escape tunnel plans anytime soon. Soon enough, yes, but for the immediate future...point. Still. There aren't a lot of options." He sighs, and then reaches all the way across the table to touch Alexander's shoulder. "Hey. I'm not sure what's going on there, but I think she might be less skittish if we don't look at her like she's about to summon demons, huh? I mean, I know. Me. Social anything. Just a theory...."
He does watch, though not particularly intently, as Danny speaks with Hannah. But unless something changes...she doesn't seem like much of a threat. Not to him, anyway. He does frown, just a little.
"Unless you see something I don't. But...if there's anything to worry about there in any immediate sense...I missed it."
HannahIt was less his voice and more his shadow that seemed to alert her to his presence. Hannah had set a textbook on the table and had her notebook opened, a green pen sitting on the pages. Her eyes shifted to Danny, though never fully up, just enough to notice who he is...and slowly.
"I know who it is." She muttered. "I remember!" She hissed into the booth, then looked back towards Danny. Her lips pursed into a thin line and she dropped her eyes. "...Yes." She forced out. "But they're crying again. No one hears them, but carries them everywhere. "
Her chin shifted, her attention moving to the dog, a hand placed on his head. "Victor. He's Victor."
Danny*He smiles, even moving to a slow and easy half crouch to allow the men behind him a better view of Hannah.* He's a good one, looks clever too. I bet he's smart. *Then he looked at Hannah again.*
You know, if you want to, you can come over and sit nearer to us. We ain't gonna bite you none... *he leans a bit closer to her but only as far as the edge of the table.* Kalen, the guy with the laptop, he's a friend of Sera's. You met her last night, she wore those spikey boots?
AlexanderHe watches as Danny gets up and moves over to the other booth, wary. On edge. Waiting for something to happen, even if he just can’t put his finger on what it is that’s wrong. It’s just something in her manner, the way she moves, the way she acts... The same inkling when he’s watching someone who he just knows is about to do something illegal. It’s a sense he’s come to trust.
Unless you see something I don’t. He nods slowly, still watching the other booth. “I can’t tell you what, but there’s something that’s just not right about her.” He glaces at Kalen with a faint smile. “Well, more than usually not right when it’s one of us.”
HannahMaria always told her she should try to make friends. It was the hardest thing to do sometimes, but she should do it. Hannah smiled warmly. "He is. He really likes food. More than me." She's feeling much better. Some days are clearer than others. Some days she can't get the words out right. Victor always helps.
Then her smile slowly faltered and she lifted her eyes to look towards the other two. She was clearly looking at them, but she made sure not to meet their faces. "Sera?" Her lips tightened. "The woman with the half head?" Oh she remembered the shoes. She never forgets something like that. Or Danny's jacket, or Ian's coat.
Her eyes drop to her lap, considering the offer being made. A small nod came from her. "Ok." Because she should make friends, and she knew Danny..and Sera. And Ian. And the woman they were with, the one who gave her the bracelet that held the sun.
Hannah moved, picking up the leash after stuffing her books in her bag. "Stand, Victor." The dog rose, tail giving a slow wag as she slipped out of th ebook with her goods.
Kalen Holliday"Well. She does seem strange, but as far as I can tell...it's just because she's so skittish. She doesn't seem to mean anyone any harm." He stretches himself back out over the full length of the booth with Danny gone. Like a cat that has to take up all of the available space. "And if we haven't heard anything from Ian or Serafine...they're good with people, or at least understanding them."
He tracks Danny and Hannah, but it's much less of a thing that seems to concern him. He does not turn those eyes on her the way he did the day he met Danny. Alexander was spared that, but only because Kalen was distracted by the Avatar storm and then Alexander was saving Sera so...he never really got that look.
"She might need our help. Denver is a bit like the island of misfit toys sometimes. Which is cool. I doubt anywhere else would have kept me. But...maybe she just needs to be here too." And then Hannah is moving and Kalen does not curl back up but slides under the table and then up on Alexander's side, leaving Alexander the outside because only one of them probably cares much about being pinned right now. And that leaves Hannah having to deal with being next to neither of them.
He reaches over to close the laptop, not that the mapping program is precisely classified, and pulls not the laptop but his coffee to his new side of the table. "Everything will be fine, Alce. If nothing else, because we make it so." He murmurs, and he sounds so relaxed, so perfectly sure of that. Sometimes it's hard to reconcile all the moments of Kalen. Because they get so damned contradictory.
DannyThere you go. Its okay... I'll move into the corner that way you can keep Victor with you.. that okay? And you can go any time.. It's all good. *he kept his voice calm and steady.*
See? *he grins and gets comfortable, hauling his drink over to where he would be sitting now without disturbing Kalens stuff too much.*
HannahHannah followed, and when she sat in the booth, she made sure to keep enough distance between her and Danny that she wouldn't rub her elbow into his, or any part of her arm really. The dog took up the space on the outside of the booth at her side. The bag? She set it between her and Danny, setting up that obvious barrier.
Her hand reached out to stroke the dog gently as she kept her head down enough that she wasn't making eye contact with the two across from her. "I know." She said, feeling the tension between ehrself and the others. And what does one do now? Maria would say that people talk to one another.
"Do you like cake?"
AlexanderKalen gets a slightly strange look from Alexander when he says Ian is good with people. Sera, absolutely? But that guy? Admittedly their first meeting was less than stellar. The second involved guns and swords and corrupted nature spirits. The third? Ok, maybe the guy isn’t a complete dick. Maybe. And he was, at least, concerned about Sky...
Hannah and Danny – and Victor – start making their way over from the other booth. Quietly, before they get close enough to hear, he tells Kalen, “I don’t trust her. Really.” He gets another odd look at Everything will be fine... and the conviction behind it. The man can be more human than he ever realises before swinging back into... something else. He considers the two approaching and makes a decision. He stands.
For a few seconds, Kalen gets his complete attention – trying to reinforce his opinion that something’s just not right. “You be careful.” The moment passes and he looks at the others as they slide into the booth. “Have a good day.” His gaze passes over the other two as he turns towards the exit and, leaving a couple of notes on the counter for the barely-touched coffee, heads out into the street.
[Thanks for the scene – I go to take drugs and pass out on the couch.]
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