Have fun being weird

Kalen Holliday

[How awake are we?]

Dice: 7 d10 TN7 (3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 9, 10) ( success x 2 )

Kalen Holliday

[And how distracted by Resonance are we?]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10) ( success x 3 )

Alexander

[Awareapathy. Hopefully botch-free this time.]

Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (5, 6, 6, 7) ( success x 3 )

Alexander

Autumn in the city is a changeable thing. It can change from a temperate ideal for the retirees who move to the city without reading around the marketing literature to torrential downpours that have ducks reaching for their umbrellas. The climate is kind at the moment, though. It’s late afternoon and the sun is starting its slow slide towards the horizon, towards dusk, towards the night. The sky is blue but cloudy. There’s potential there.

In Washington Park is a lake. It’s a lake a few of the Awakened are familiar with because of a visitor, maybe even a friend, who has made its appearance close to it a couple of times now. There is no scarecrow. There is an Alexander, sat right be the edge of the lake. He’s lying on his front on the bank, feet dipping into the water. His boots and socks sit on the grass next to him. His attention appears to be elsewhere. He’s trying to do what Sera said he should, and he is trying. Even after meeting the joy of Paradox for the first time, he’s still trying.

[Arete. Spirit + Entropy, looking at the Gaunlet. Looking for the patterns in it, where it might be stronger or weaker. TN4, no rush so -1 for taking time. Trying to save WP, he's not got a lot at the moment.]

Dice: 1 d10 TN3 (6) ( success x 1 )

Kalen Holliday

[Are we going to get close to that lake?]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10) ( success x 2 )

Kalen Holliday

Kalen approaches the edge of the lake slowly. Warily. But he does draw close to the edge, close enough that he could reach out and touch the water. He sinks to the ground in a crouch, facing Alexander rather than the direction Alexander is facing so that he can keep an eye on the water. There are no waves, no banks a rushing current would overflow, no real danger of the water coming to get him, but still he can't quite not watch it.

He can sense what Alexander is doing, even if he cannot quite grasp how spirit magic works. He can taste fate and something like shadows and mist. Something else. But Kalen, for all he's been pulled through the Gauntlet, for all he cannot quite leave the dead, has never learned spirit magic. There would be people who claim that is for the best.

He waits. Silent. Patient. Alexander will stop his working eventually. There is no need to startle him or stop him.

Alexander

He tries and he Looks and he sees. Looking is all he can do, all he knows how to do, and it’s something he should probably have tried to do more of. But when you don’t like some of the things that you see, when others try to show you things and they scare you off by getting a little too close, when you see more of the sadness, the pain, the suffering that goes with this wonderful life of theirs? Maybe it’s not so unexpected that he’s been a little slow to explore his abilities.

He does have some, little knowledge about their life though. He does know how powerless simply being able to see things makes him. He does wonder if that’s enough to be able to survive it all. And so he’s trying.

The effect doesn’t last long, though. His ability isn’t great, and he’s tired. Not so tired that he couldn’t push harder and Will the effect into lasting a little longer. But maybe it’s easier not to try at the moment, to trust in chance and reality to allow what it allows.

“Hey.” He’s known that Kalen’s been there, that Kalen was approaching, that Kalen risked coming to the edge of the water. The man doesn’t look like he’s about to run away from the edge – hell, he even tries to touch it – so Alexander stays put for the moment. They can always move later, if Kalen wants to.

Kalen Holliday

"Hey, Alce." Kalen does reach out now to squeeze Alexander's shoulder. "How are you?" There is, perhaps, a slight increase in the weight of the question. Alexander looks tired. Which...pot...kettle, except that Kalen is always tired.

He stays there, ready to spring because the water puts him a bit on edge. And Kalen on edge knows that if nothing else there are monsters to menace them. A good few of them won't emerge until the sun finishes her slow arc though the sky and past the lip of the horizon. Not all.

Still, he stays and his breathing is steady and he is content to watch the water in sideways glances. He's probably not offering his fingertips to any minnows today, even if there were minnows not chased away by the cold. Alexander missed that particular moment, that was Kalen and Ian and Serafine. Before mindscapes and a nephandus in a place of the dead. That was a softer version of Kalen. Lighter.

Alexander

Kalen gets a smile, as Alexander turns his head away from the part of the park where he’d been gazing to face him. “I’m…” He takes a minute to think. It’s been a busy week, after all, what with murders and spirits and Paradox and whatever the hell happened with Delilah. He settles on, “…tired. But good, I think.

“How are you doing?” And there’s maybe a little more meaning behind the question, given not-quite-so-recent events, than the purely sociable. Although given his willingness to get this close to the lake, the question is partially answered already.

This world of theirs, it changes them. They can only hope it’s for the better. But isn’t that what friends are for?

Kalen Holliday

"I'm starting to think I need to get over this water thing, because I hear Jacuzzis are amazing." Kalen smiles resettles, now facing away from Alexander and sprawled over the gravel, propped up on his elbows. None of this sprawling facedown though. He arches backward, regarding Alexander half upside-down with eyes that look serious, and he forces the smiling to stop happening to his face. "I do need some way to relax and the rate of crisis in Denver is really cutting into the time I would normal devote to drinking and one-night stands. Horribly inconvenient, that."

He manages to be faux-serious for another few seconds and then laughs. "I'm good. Tired, yeah. But good. We're going to set up things and I have a cabal and the half of the people I know in Denver who are speaking to me are very insistent that I am not in anything alone. It's...really strange to be in a place like this again." Again. But he does not say that with the usual attendant dose of crushingly depressing reality that probably this will also end badly.

Alexander

“I’m sure there’s someone in town with the ability to create a hot air Jacuzzi, if you didn’t want to get your feet wet.” Because, let’s face it, there probably is. Although adding another random idea of something fun and interesting to Kalen’s list of things that need to be done might not be the best of ideas of actually getting any of them into existence. On the other hand, it does sound fun and interesting and fun and interesting things can be good for getting away from everything else that goes on around them.

“I imagine facing death together can make the whole one-night stand thing a harder too. It’s hard to avoid strings when there’s already a rope holding you together.” Or holding you apart, given how arctic Kalen’s relations are with Sid are these days.

“What would you like to do? If you could? And which is in the reasonable ability of either of us to make happen?”

The part about being in a strange place? There isn’t really anything to say to that. Alexander does nudge whichever part of Kalen he can reach, though. Probably a shoulder.

Kalen Holliday

Kalen laughs again. "As I have already explained to Serafine, somewhat unsurprisingly, and to Danny, somewhat surprisingly but because Serafine got me to agree to go on a date with him and then he wanted to know if I wanted to go on a date with him which was kind of ironic considering I think he normally has groupies or something and not noncommittal potential dates...I have no idea what I want.

"I mean, you know, the usual. World peace. Vanquish monsters. Save damsels. Look cool while doing it." He shrugs. "But things that are more for me? I don't even really get how to want them. With one notable exception but you cannot help me with it and it about made Serafine cry, so we'll just skip that.

"It's alright, Alce. I'm not unhappy. I do have people and I'm a little less terrified about it. There's no shortage of things to be horrified about right now, yeah. But...that's always been my world. This full of really incredible awesome things...it's nice.

"Maybe I just fail at expressing that I'm happy? I don't know. It's this weird new thing I'm trying, and I probably am somehow doing it wrong."

Alicia

Seconds before one of Kalen's favorite people comes careening down the hill towards the lake on the bicycle she still isn't 100% sure she's riding the right way a bell calls out:

chin chin!

Alexander

Alexander rolls onto his side, propping his head up with a hand. “Have you been on the date yet?” The question is accompanied by a smile. A curious smile.

“You forgot about opening a donkey sanctuary and teach orphans. Although I guess you’re already doing that second part. What’s your opinion on donkeys? Orphan donkeys?” Someone obviously doesn’t take the spectacle that is Miss World seriously. At least he hasn’t asked about the swimsuit competition.

“I’m not asking because I think you’re unhappy. You’re probably as happy as I’ve seen you, short of seeing the birth of The Message. I’m asking because it would be good to do something fun, and I want to know what you like doing. Camping out and telling ghost stories? Hiking? Breaking the speed limit? What does Mr Adrenaline Junkie like?”

He shakes his head at the last part. “I can tell you’re happy, and the people who care about you can too. And I refer you back to Alyssa’s lesson about telling people what to do if they tell you you’re doing it wrong. Which, I guess, could be fun for some people. They might get dizzy, though.”

Kalen Holliday

"So, I explained that I didn't not want to go on a date but I didn't really want things. And, you know, I thought that would be about the end of that, which would have been kind of sad actually. I was kind of sad I guess, when I did it. I ran into him here, or, I guess more right over there-" Kalen nods toward one of the nearby benches. "And we took a drive so we could talk about things away from people and ended up in the mountains and there were stars and he has this ridiculously amazing old convertible that...."

Kalen smiles and is that a tiny little blush? I might even be. "Anyway, we did not go on a date. He pointed out that there was no time limit on that date and if I ever wanted we could go on a date. We've hung out since and all, and he made roast chicken at the library which is the only time that oven has ever even really gotten used. It was...other than Kharisma no one has ever cooked things for me since...." Since his sister died. "Since I was really young."

"I've never been camping and telling ghost stories, but it sounds cool. It's getting cold for hiking. I just...I never...I don't even know what I like. It's weird. I know. But it's kind of true."

He looks toward the sound of the bell less because of the sound - there are a lot of bikes and a lot of bells - and more because he can sense Alicia. And a little bit because Kalen is also trying out strange new things like honesty and that is also weird for him. A little.

Alicia

Alicia is wearing black mid-calf boots and leggings and a long-sleeved black babydoll dress with lace sleeves. With her hair flying wild behind her and a cigarette dangling from her lips she looks like she escaped from an '80s music video.

The bike is blue and looks like it's older than she is even though it's in near-pristine condition. She must have bought it the same place she buys her clothing.

"Whoa!" she says in a muffled voice as she steps down hard on the pedal to brake the thing and nearly topples into the grass. Takes the cigarette out of her mouth to unmuffle herself. She has her massive handbag crammed into the bike's basket and it's clear she's new to the mechanics of bicycle riding by the way she wobbles to a stop. She keeps one foot on the pedal while the other braces the contraption and the hand not responsible for the cigarette stays on the handle. "Hey. What's up." A beat. "Oh, shit. You guys aren't on a date, are you? Am I interrupting?"

Alexander

“Are you sure? Because that whole going out to the mountains definitely sounds like it could have been a date. And being cooked for? Are these pre-date dates?” He grins and pokes a tongue out, gently teasing Kalen. He catches the pause in what Kale was saying, but leaves it be. Not the place, not the time.

“Well, then. That’s something to add to the list of things to try. We could pitch a tent out the back of the House, make a little campfire. Take a little booze. Tell really corny, clichéd stories. Drag some of the others along, it’ll be a blast.” He wonders if Sera would be up for it. Probably. “Maybe I need to take you out for a ride some time, if you’ve not been on a bike before? What’re your thoughts on karaoke?”

Alexander would make a few more suggestions, but there’s a frenzied ball of chaos arriving on a bike. And being rather chaotic, running a fairly high risk of falling off, crashing into at least one of them, before spiralling into the lake. Which would be unfortunate. Alexander rolls up onto his knees, though, as the barely-controlled machine gets closer. Just in case he needs to dodge. Thankfully, he doesn’t.

“Hey! Alicia, right?” Because he really should remember her name after the way they were introduced. Trying to kick the shit out of a vampire is the way to make a first impression, after all. “Naah, you’re not interrupting at all. This isn’t a date. Unless hanging out and talking crap in the park counts as a date.” He looks to Kalen, mock-serious. “Oh, crap. Is this a date?”

Kalen Holliday

Kalen starts laughing at Alicia's question and then laughs harder at Alexander's response and it's a minute before he says, "One, I am trying not to date my cabalmates and two I would be shocked to find I was even remotely your type."

He clears his throat and looks up at Alicia, still smiling. "You're not interrupting a conversation about how I'm not dating to hilarious effect. You have...no idea how perfect your timing was. It totally spared me explaining things with statements like, 'how would I even know what being on a date is like?'"

Alicia

"I've never been on a date before either."

She says it so nonchalant just before she blows out a lungful of smoke it's almost like she's joking. Thanks to Ginger they both know better. Crazy time traveling father with a Technocratic crosshair between his eyes doesn't leave a girl much time to date.

"My friend TV makes it sound like you'd know if you were on one, though. Who are you not dating?"

Danny

*Speak of the Devil and he's bound to appear. The wonder machine, the 67 convertible blue soft top drives down towards the carpark for the park itself, then pulls in where the engine purrs as she crawls around looking for a place to park. Then with another final growl of perfection the engine falls silent, music could be heard up til that point, something about being Thunderstruck was blasting until that too fell silent.

The young man getting out of it was in his usual black jacket, a pair of shades on his face and jeans with not the usual pair of scruffy boots, no, instead today he had on his brothel creepers black and red to go with the red t'shirt he wore with a slogan on it. His hair was tied back from his face but tied into a long thick neat plait.

After locking up the car he made his way onto the park, pulling out a cigarette, tapping it thoughtfully onto the box before he used his zippo to light it. Then began to wander.*

Alexander

“The cynic’s opinion is it’s when you buy someone lots of food and drink with the vague intention of getting into their knickers and continuing the species. But I guess it’s more spending time with someone you care about. And no, so not my type. And I’m pretty sure I’m not yours, either.”

No, still not the prettiest.

“You could always ask.”

Kalen Holliday

"You're lucky Serafine isn't here or the next thing you know there will be a bottle of tequila and you will have agreed to go on a date with Alexander. Who is one of my favorite people in the universe, but you know...probably not your type either."

"I could always ask what being on a date is like or ask someone out?" He drops a whole six inches to be sprawled flat on the ground so he can playfully bat at Alexander. And it is definitely playing, but where most people would barely touch with a bat like that Kalen still uses enough force it's less delicate brush and more noticeable tap. "Also we may have to go with the cynical version. Because we spend time together and I care about you and if I make you explain how that would be a totally different relationship if we were going to start sleeping together I think we may both be traumatized."

He looks back to Alicia. "I am totally not dating that guy, actually." He waves at where he can sense, if not see Danny. "Because the cosmos has the best sense of humor today."

Danny

(Awareness)

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8) ( success x 2 )

Alicia

But, you know. Probably not your type either.

Alicia actually cants a glance over at him and doesn't do a damned thing to hide the fact that she's appraising him for her type or lack of type and how the hell would she even know what her type was Kalen. She takes a drag off her cigarette and squints back at the Hermetic.

Then she starts scowling as he tells Alexander he cares about him. Like she is actually interrupting something.

"Ugh," she says and adjusts her weight like she's about to pedal the fuck away from this conversation.

Danny

*OH there they were... his not date not sure what he was Kalen, Alex and Alicia or at least the swirling mass of chaos that was Alicia. It was quite amusing if you thought about it... a frozen chaotic storm was in that direction.

Changing direction he cut across the grass with those shoes and even lifted a hand to wave as he made his way across, for once he wasn't listening to music, instead he was actually just listening to the sounds of the city as he looked around him. He still couldn't shake that memory of what Grace had shown him, so it was no surprise he had a grin on his face when he got over to them.* Hey... How are things?

Alexander

Alexander rolls his eyes. “I’m not playing the dating game at the moment, anyway. And I meant you could ask whether something is a date or not if you’re not sure. Or ask someone out. I think either would help clear up confusion about what the thing was. Communication being good, and all that jazz.” Alexander’s face softens, though, as Kalen explains to Alicia how much he thinks of him.

“Flatter me all you like, you’re still not getting into my boxers.” He pokes his tongue out at Kalen. “Other than the whole biologically impossible thing, I dread to think what our kids would come out like. Troubled, most likely.”

“Hey.” He returns the greeting as Danny arrives by the lakeside. “At the risk of turning this into something romantic by sunset, you know what we need? Hot dogs. There’s a stand over the other side of the park, you guys want some bringing back?” Because this spot’s a good one, they should keep it. And keep watch in it for scarecrows.

Kalen Holliday

"We did communicate that it was totally not a date, for what that's worth. I just wouldn't know, but will continue in my attempts to force people to explain normal human things to me. If nothing else, I get some hilarious shocked expressions."

Kalen laughs. "Because genetics or because they'd have to hang out with us?"

He looks up at Alicia then, puzzled. "What? Am I not supposed to be nice? I thought everyone wanted me to stop being a jerk all the time."

And, back to Alexander. "Wait? Hot dogs are romantic? Now I'm really confused."

"Hey, Star."

Alicia

Wait? Hot dogs are romantic?

"Oh my god," she says. Now she is definitely peddling the fuck away from this conversation. She pitches the cigarette butt into the grass and blows out a terminal stream of smoke. Not to be entirely rude she lifts the now-empty hand to wave to the black-clad man and then focuses on getting the bike moving again without falling over. "Have fun being weird."

She chimes the bike bell twice again and then she's off.

Danny

Actually a hot dog sounds good, thanks.. *he reaches for his wallet to hand over enough to cover it.* Oh, onions, mustard, just... the whole thing. Thanks!!

*Hot dogs were not romantic? He just stared at Kalen.* How the fuck have you never seen Lady and the Tramp? *Then he had to admit that no, he probably hadn't... So out comes his mobile and he finds the video of That's Amore to show it to Kalen. There's an upnod to Alicia, but then she's gone and he's brandishing his phone at Kalen.* Take it and watch... Food is not just romantic, food is sexy..... Food in the right place.... *he grins roguishly.* Icecream.... chocolate sauce..... *He rolls his Rrr's and purrs at Kalen.* Messy is good... *the nod comes avidly.*

Alexander

“A little of both, maybe? They’d be subjected to some really bizarre conversations, if nothing else.”

Alexander looks a little confused as Alicia vanishes on her bike. “She’ll bring a knife to a fight with a vampire, but gets scared off by a perfectly sensible conversation about dating and hot sausage? She’s weird.”

Then again, aren’t they all?

“But you may be right. Ketchup-and-mustard-covered reclaimed meat products could be the anti-date. But I’ve had at least one date where they were involved, so your mileage may vary. Either way, want one?”

He makes the offer to Kalen and nods to Danny before pulling his boots on and wandering over to where he last saw the stand.

Rain

Kalen Holliday

[How awake are we?]

Dice: 7 d10 TN7 (1, 2, 5, 5, 7, 8, 10) ( success x 3 )

Kalen Holliday

[And how distracted by Resonance are we?]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 1, 3, 6, 7, 10) ( success x 3 )

Alexander Brandt

[Dices for Awares]

Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (2, 8, 8, 10) ( success x 3 )

Alexander Brandt

It’s late afternoon, although judging by the light levels it would be easy to assume that it was much later. The morning over the city had been clear and bright but, as is typical for the place, the weather has changed dramatically over the course of a few hours. Those with such things set up would have received warnings that a storm was approaching, spun off the mountains to the west. The promise for thunder, lightning and torrential rain has been filled. Streaks of lightning provide moments of illumination, followed at various intervals by the sound of the heavens being torn apart and put back together again by primal forces.

Which brings us to the small town of Morrison and the often-overlooked house that the Awakened of the city use as a gathering place from time to time. The magic that had been worked in the garden has faded away, leaving the only Resonance suffusing the place that of the Node itself. That feeling of rejuvenation is currently accompanied by one of... not cold – or not only cold – but the feeling of stasis. Of time being frozen for a fraction of a second at the heart of a comet.

Anyone arriving at the house wouldn’t see a blue bike parked outside – that’s been safely left inside the garage instead. The source of that static feeling currently clashing against the dynamism of the storm can be found out the back of the house, through the dining room doors and across the patio, mostly submerged in the pool. His head rests back on a stone and he almost drifts in the water, looking up at the stormy sky. Trying to lose himself in the storm.

A backpack has been left just inside the door, out of the way of the elements, and a bundle of clothing is stacked next to it with a towel on top.

[So we’re trying to meditate, but we don’t have any. So Int, +1 diff]

Dice: 2 d10 TN7 (4, 8) ( success x 1 )

Kalen Holliday

[Okay, because I need to know to write this post, how willing are you to touch water today?]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10) ( success x 2 )

Kalen Holliday

It might be possible to miss Kalen's approach with the actual storm to mask the sense of his Resonance and the sound of the rain to mask the sound of his approach. Still, it takes awhile before he appears. He does not leave clothes on the patio, but he does leave a couple of towels.

The first few steps into the rain he takes easily enough; he's perfectly at home in a storm. But his steps slow as he approaches the Node itself, and he eyes the pond warily. He can sense it, as he always can. He knows that it is warm, warmer than the rain. He has never more than touched the pool with his fingertips.

"Alce," he says quietly. He kneels at the edge of the pool, eyes on the surface of the water more than Alexander, just a little too wide.

Danny

(are we awake Danny?)

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 9) ( success x 3 )

Danny

*Danny had finally found his way to the house. It'd taken some time and a bit of getting lost, but he'd finally found the place. He got out of the car, pulling his collar up and huddling into it a little as he made his way up to the door. Then the natural ping of his in built echo location sent him around the back. It was with curiosity that he made his way around there. A large back on one shoulder, and a acoustic guitar case in one hand.*

Alexander Brandt

Storms have their own unique traits. Some are slow, brooding creatures which take hours to work out their anger on the world. Others explode with boundless energy, burning themselves out quickly. So when Kalen arrives, the feeling of him blends and merges with that of the storm overhead but there’s still enough differences in the qualities to tell them apart. He moves as he feels Kalen getting closer – close enough to have left the protection of the house – and sits up in the pool. The quiet calling of the name Kalen had chosen for him might have been drowned out by a rumble of the thunder, but Alexander knows that he’s there. And he sees the discomfort in his friend. He smiles, looking the other man in the eye, and tells him, “I’m ok. It’s ok. I’ll come out.” He moves to stand, showing off the swim shorts that he’d worn to come out to soak and watch the storm. He doesn’t have Ian’s belief that there are certain ways one should be attired when using such springs.

An aura of sparking – another mini storm, throwing off tiny bolts of lightning – announces the arrival of another. His head turns to look at the side of the house as Danny comes round. He sees the other man come round the corner, seemingly unbothered by the rain even with his cargo, and mentally shrugs. Physically, he nods and turns back to the house, heading towards the patio.

Kalen Holliday

Kalen nods to Alexander. He would have stayed out here - might have even tried to climb into the water if he got cold enough, but he does not try to convince Alexander that he is, in fact, totally fine to be near the water. And he tries not to look relieved when Alexander is out of the water, but as both Grace and Serafine have noticed, Kalen cannot stand people being in water. He may, once, have actually flinched when Grace mentioned SCUBA diving in Australia. He does reach out, warily, to skim the tips of his fingers over the surface of the water.

He always remembers water as so cold.

"One day," he says, more to the Node than to Alexander, and then rises and follows Alexander back toward the house.

He glances at Danny, who has a guitar out in the pouring rain and raises an eyebrow. "She'd've been fine inside," he says. "We're coming in anyway. Alexander is apparently not into waiting to see how long I can bear being by water today."

Danny

*What was he wearing today? Well, it was post noon in the afternoon, the weather was atrocious, so he wore what anyone sensible would wear. Jeans, combat boots that were undone as usual, but this time his dark green t-shirt was hidden by the done up leather jacket as he appeared from the corner of the house and made his way over and into cover quickly, running his hand through his hair.. it was too late, the wave in it was becoming more pronounced already. The smile at Kalen's words was radiate and warm as he followed them inside, then looked around the Chantry from what he could see, the big table. Then set the guitar case down and slowly removed his backpack.*

Hey... Thanks... Yeah she might've but... *He shrugs one shoulder.* How's it going? *he waves at Alce.*

Alexander Brandt

The first time Alexander had come here, he’d misinterpreted Kalen’s reaction to his touching the water as having done something wrong. Since then, he’d learned a little more about his friend. Experienced a little more and seen the aftermath of his watching a Nephandus drowning in the black, evil River Styx of his own making. He sees how his being there worries Kalen – more than his normal, background level of worry that the world is about to tip into disaster because he’s not doing enough to save it from itself – and he’s not a cruel man. That’s why he moves out of the water, regardless of what Kalen feels up to trying. If he chooses to, he’ll help. But he’s not going to force anything by staying put.

He does knock into Kalen as they walk back towards the door, though. “You alright?” he asks, loud enough for Kalen to hear but quiet enough to be drowned out before the words reach Danny.

Just inside the door, Alexander grabs the towel he’d left on top of his things and starts drying off. A couple more towels have made an appearance. He tosses one to Danny and then passes the other to Kalen so that they can both dry off too.

“Who are you two talking about? Is someone else arriving?”

Kalen Holliday

Kalen makes a little amused huff when Alexander knocks him, mostly drowned out by the rain. "Mostly," he says quietly, leaning into Alexander so that he can be heard without raising his voice. "Don't worry."

He takes the towel Alexander hands him and runs it over his hair. "No. No one else I know of." Was it not evident Kalen had just referred to a guitar like a person? He refers to the servers like people sometimes, but mostly only Grace knows that.

"Ah. That she. She's already here. And a guitar." Kalen smiles. "Though you know how it is. Now that we're here...." He slips out of his shirt, which is soaked and not the kind of thing one can dry with a towel. There are visible scars, Kalen's gotten in his share of fights with things with knives and claws and guns, but Kalen is used enough to those that he doesn't even think about them. Just not dripping all over the floor.

Danny

*He unzipped his jacket then removed it, the green t-shirt was missing it's sleeves and it left the ink on his arms on display. He lifted his hands with the towel in them and tried to dry off the worst without it turning into a disaster, no straightners... Then slowly removed his sodden t'shirt to try and dry that too before setting it on the back of a chair to dry.

Glancing to his hair he did what he could and smiled then carefully re folded the towel.* Huh? Someone else is coming? Who? Oh.. *Then he nodded, even frowning for a moment seeing the mess of Kalen's body. He himself, wasn't scarred. He did however have this wonderful beginning to his back peice started. The outline ran from down in his waistline of his jeans and up to his lower shoulderblades where it blossomed out as if a strange alien looking design was in the works. (See Picture)* Sooo.......

Alexander Brandt

Kalen says not to worry, but he does. He sometimes wonders if he really knows how many people do worry about him. But the question goes unasked and, instead, he nudges Kalen again with an elbow. They step inside and various items of clothing come off as people try to get dry. Alexander bucks the trend by putting on his tshirt – red, nothing interesting about it – and wraps the towel around his waist before heading towards the kitchen to get the kettle on. Not before pausing at the sight of Kalen’s battlescars. He absent-mindedly rubs his side at the reminder of what has, and what is likely to, happen as he stands with Kalen.

A voice comes through the door from the kitchen. “How do you know it’s a she? Did you ask it?” It was a logical question for the security system, so why not a guitar?

Kalen Holliday

Had Danny asked it? Kalen does not know.

Also, he doesn't quite understand the looks they give him when they see those scars. He's had worse, though Alexander never saw those scars. He saw the effect of them, but Kalen walks easily enough now, with lingering effects of explosions and comas only if you'd seen him before.

"Sooooooooooo...?" He asks Danny.

He swipes the towel over his hair again, then slips out of his shoes. His pants stay on, and he starts to follow Alexander toward the kitchen, still fussing with the towel in his hair.

Danny

Huh? How did I know? *he frowned at the question.*

She just is... And you can't refer to her as an it.. she'll get offended. No seriously, it's like engines. You know? *He smiled, reaching down to pat the case, then straightened again and kicked off his boots following suit as if he assumed he was supposed to, then followed after them.*

Well,.. this is... Bigger than I expected?

Grace

[Awareness/Perception! Resonances???]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 6, 7, 10) ( success x 3 )

Grace

The sound of rain disguises the sound of Grace's arrival, but it doesn't stop the sensation of her -- lighter, subtler that most, but still present and perhaps a bit discomfiting. The sensation of something honed to a keen sharpness -- and it's on the move. Like knives, jolted.

Someone else is coming. A she, even. Although she is not a guitar. She bursts in the front door, holding her gray jacket over her head to keep the rain off, then shakes it dry in the entryway. The rest of her remains fairly dry, and what else would she be wearing but jeans and a t-shirt? (This time, the tee is a gray one with a flux capacitor blueprint diagram printed on the front).

"Hey, guys!" comes a voice from the foyer, to announce her presence more than anything. Sneaking up on people with a lot of combat experience can be disastrous.

Alexander Brandt

Alexander is already by the sink, filling the kettle from the tap, when Kalen walks in. “Tea? Coffee?” he asks the two men, turning his head to look at them as they come through the door behind him. There’s a smile at Danny’s confusion, although it’s friendly rather than mocking. “You’ll have to get used to the strange conversations that sometimes spring up around here, particularly around certain people.” He glances at Kalen when he adds, “How’s the non-sentient robot laser tag coming along?”

He yells in reply to Grace’s arrival. “Hi Grace. Kitchen. Coffee?”

Kalen Holliday

"Totally not the question for me, Alce." Kalen grins and then turns toward Grace's voice. "Hey! Kit! Non-sentient robot gladiatorial combat, where are we at?"

He leans back into one of the counters, turned so he can see Alexander and Danny. "Yes," he says. "Anything warm. It was so much less freezing doing that in the desert." And, despite that comment, he doesn't seem terribly bothered by the cold.

"Once Grace is here, I can tell you about my day yesterday and we can see what we can see." He glances at Danny.

"Um. So. Alexander is in my cabal and Grace and I are pretty much partners in crime and I guess you're okay...so...welcome to planning sessions." And that might not sound like much. But this is Kalen. Getting to be in on his plans is kind of a thing. Getting to be in on his plans with a sort of relaxed, 'whatever' is...farther than most of Denver has gotten.

Danny

Coffee... *he calls then turns when he hears Grace, yeah there was that back art, the outline of some sort of skeleton of his spine that he's sat for, the shoulder blades, tribal ribs... hips and pelvis but it also looks slightly alien as well. There's bruising around each point on his shoulder blades, along his spine like a dark halo had been etched in around it, but he doesn't move as if it hurt him.*

Yeah, thanks, I guess I need to just get used to how things go on here.. *Then he nods to Danny's words before he moves in closer to Kalen and nudges his arm lightly.* You doing okay? *He sounded concerned, but wasn't going to linger too much.*

What goes on in planning sessions?

Grace

Grace's head pops in from the left of the doorway, quickly followed by the rest of her. "Coffee? Yes."

"Non-sentient robot gladiatorial combat? Well, uh... robots are yet to be achieved, but I've got some sensors and I've got some lasers," a deep breath arrives here, as her eyes start scanning the ceiling instead of looking at people. "Also infrared guns, and I've got some conductive thread to sew the sensors on to things. I also got these LED strips that you can make change colors, so when you get hit somewhere, you'll blink. Oh, and some buzzer thingies. I think it'll all work. Once I put it together..."

She slides into the room, still talking, not really paying attention to the state of the guys in the room, the ones with their shirts off or on? Yeah. She's watching the ceiling.

"Oh yeah! And a little recording device to connect to our servers so that we can keep score and track statistics and stuff. It will be awesome. But I figured we should work on the human gladiatorial combat first before the non-sentient robot combat, because I want to play laser tag."

What goes on in planning sessions, Danny? If Kalen and Grace are there, they talk about robotic gladiators and come up with detailed plans for their Danger Room. That's what.

Alexander Brandt

Kettle filled and set to boil, Alexander goes through the motions to make coffee. He’s been here often enough now to know where everything is with ease. So the counter fills with a bag of beans, grinder, French press, and four cups. Sugar is fetched and places on the counter island with a couple of spoons, and cream from the fridge.

“Sitting out in the rain? Or dunking yourself in a pond? And which desert?” There’s genuine curiosity in his tone. Like: how did Kalen end up in a desert?

What goes on in planning sessions? “Why, the same thing we do every night, Pinky. Try to take over the world! Or, you know. Try to stop unpleasant things from trying. Have you been warned away from the Black Orchid, by the way?”

Grace walks in as a thought strikes Alexander, who walks out again. But just for a minute. “Be right back,” he calls as he goes to his bag and starts fishing around in its depths for something. The kettle can do its thing unattended and, if you believe the proverb, may do it faster for not being watched.

Kalen Holliday

Kalen doesn't so much exactly answer Danny's question. He does lean into him a little as he laughs at Grace's reply. "Okay, okay. We'll order the laser guns and a bunch of straw bales and you know...Halloween party with a straw maze and laser tag."

"Rain," he says, only slightly more seriously. "I don't get on with much more than puddles of water."

Try to take over the world. And here, perhaps not at all unexpectedly since he hadn't gotten to the thing he only wanted to explain once, Kalen flinches. Grace is mostly looking at the ceiling and Alexander is looking for something, so they might miss it, but he's leaning into Danny so there is really no way to play that off.

"That," he says softly. "Or part of that." Pause. "You know someone asked me if I was just another power-mad Hermetic intent on forcing the Order on everyone, yesterday?" And his voice is so carefully still soft and even and controlled.

Danny

*He laughs softly shaking his head at Grace's sci fi bumph, then shakes his head a little. Yeah, his hair had started to curl slightly at the ends, softening the effect of it all.* Man that sounds like Laser Quest or some shit... Or Pacific Rim...

*At Alexander's 'Brain' and the brain he grins, then comes out with a good impression of Pinky.* Narf!!

*His hand comes up to ruffle Kalens hair a little though then lingers just a little on his head before moving to rest lightly on Kalens shoulder before his eyebrows shoot up.* Really? Dayum.... *He shook his head.*

Grace

Grace actually cracks up at Kalen's description of what happened to him yesterday. "Seriously? Someone said that? Did you politely explain to them how you have a Virtual Adept in residence who's teaching you how to code and making robots? Or would that just be me, the power-mad Adept intent on forcing technology on everyone?"

Grace grins, looks over to Kalen, but then... he looks so serious, doesn't he? "I don't force. I just prove to people how awesome it is."

Alexander Brandt

“If you need victims to test-run the thing when you get it running, yell. I still think it sounds like a whole lot of fun once it’s up and running. I’d offer to help but…” But I can just about work out which end of a screwdriver is which.

“I didn’t think you got rain in the desert. On account of it being a, y’know. Desert.”

Then he’s in the next room, but not for long. When he reappears the towel has been discarded and he’s got black combats on, feet still bare. He’s carrying back a phone, but not the usual one that Grace and Kalen might have seen him using. This one? Is a near-the-bottom-of-the-range phone. One that he plans on using for… riskier things? He offers it to Grace. “I’ve been meaning to give this to you for a while to work your magic on.” He doesn’t go into any more detail that that – he doesn’t know if Danny’s invited to the super-special messaging club yet. The phone is unlocked and, should Grace look in the phonebook, there’s only one entry. Someone called Delilah.

Back to Kalen. He rolls his eyes as he makes his way back to the kettle. “Alyssa gave me some advice on how to deal with people who get hung up on the whole Orphan thing. You can probably imagine how it went, and I hope you offered similar instruction to them.”

Kalen Holliday

Danny gets to pet him, but then Kalen rarely shies away from contact. "Yeah, I know. But you guys kinda know me." He settles a little more heavily against Danny.

"But yes, really. And she was serious. I did not tell her I was practically living with a Virtual Adept or do anything I expect Alyssa would have suggested to you in regard to comments on your rater deliberate lack of a Tradition." And, here, at least, he sounds a little amused.

"But, I do think it raises the point that I should maybe...I don't know. Present some of this like more of a team effort? I just don't want to volunteer you guys for things. I mean, I have not yet asked you if you'll say run workshops on some basic self defense or some kind of security system set up. I mean, we could run monitoring from the Library, that's what we've been headed for, we just got derailed by both the people on that being comatose. And, you know, we could make the map more public knowledge. I've started to get a list of people willing to help with various subjects and things.

"I mean. I think they're only fighting because they think I want this for some kind of conquest." He glances at Alexander. "I mean, you know I don't hold refusals to join the Order so badly. But, I don't know. Maybe it could seem like I'm trying to just claim all the new magelings for my own private army? I mean...I don't get it. But I don't see the Order at all from the outside anymore."

He clears his throat and glances at Grace. "And, you know. You do practically live in the place they're quite possibly coming to do a lot of this. Not that you didn't know that was the plan the whole time, but it's been mostly just ours a long time now."

Danny

*He appeared content to just have his arm round Kalens shoulders and his hand resting there on it. It just seemed to be something natural to him, regardless to onlookers and their thoughts. He had this athletic grace to him, as if he was kept in shape by other means than actually doing anything like jogging or something. But he was by no means a meat head either. His hand moved down from Kalens shoulder to rest on his hip, a slightly more comfortable pose perhaps.* Hey, this is the first I've really actually heard about any of this... So... *he shrugs his other shoulder.*

Tell me what you need me to do, if I can help... Oh... and I know a guy that's really good with engines... IF that helps? * He looks from face to face.*

Grace

"Ooh. Speaking of forcing technology on everyone..." Grace says, taking Alex's phone with a happiness. "I'm glad to help."

With that, she sits at the table, unloading her laptop bag of its contents -- a sleek machine and some cables. The laptop hums to life, but it's not a loud noise, more a creaky whisper.

"Now, Danny. I am going to be installing the Ginger protocol for Alex today apparently. It's a thing we use in Denver to have discussions without the Techs listening in like they totally do. I have been put on a watch list before for my text messages. Another person recently got contacted by a fucking Technocrat for their Googling activity. So we need to be careful about what we do online, right?" Grace says, while setting up the device. The cables get perused as she looks for the right connector. The phone gets plugged in to her laptop.

"Sera told you it was a phone sex line, and that's kind of correct. It is a phone sex line that has been hijacked for our personal use. You call the number and you don't have my encryption, it works like a normal phone sex line. You call it with my protocol enabled, you get something different. But to your phone company, it looks like you really enjoy erotic phone conversation. Which, you might. I don't care."

She stops in the middle of her spiel to address Kalen. "I know. I am all for the idea. You know that. It just means that the laser training arena needs to be big."

Alexander Brandt

“First.” He leans back against the counter. “Don’t take what they said personally. If they were trying to be personal then they should have been looking past the particular cool club you chose to join and looked at what it is you’re trying to accomplish. Can this person say that they’re trying to create a safe place for us? Train us? Help us when we end up out of our depth? Because if all they’re going to do it hurl criticism from the back row then… well, they can take Alyssa’s advice and swivel until the world stops spinning.”

The kettle finally makes its presence known, so he turns to turn hot water into hot coffee. “Kalen, you do remember that whole little talk we had with Alyssa, right? I’m more than happy to train people where I can. To be honest, I’d much rather there were more of us beating on our pointy-toothed friend that night rather than us with two new guys who didn’t know what they were doing. I’d rather my allies didn’t have as much chance of hurting me as the guy they’re supposed to be helping to stop.”

He turns to look at Kalen when he asks, “At what point have you ever tries to keep any of this to yourself, or used it as a way of holding something over any of us?”

Coffee happens, and shortly after the press sits on the counter island next to the other bits and pieces.

Kalen Holliday

Kalen has not entirely caught up to the fact that for all he may have spent a considerable amount of time on his own at various points in his life and for various reasons, he is so completely not alone now that this notion that he's somehow still holding himself apart from the world is, in fact, ridiculous. He does not try to fight with that now, just smiles a little at what they all say.

A year ago he had stood in the House and casually told Shoshannah that nowhere was safe and nothing was safe. And now, here he is, with coffee he didn't have to make and friends. And maybe he knows that there isn't any kind of fortification he can expect to stand forever, but he feels safe.

"So I suppose we'll have updates for Ginger then." There is a slight pause, and he looks down at the ground. "Thank you."

Danny

*His eyebrows shoot up again in surprise at that revelation from Grace. Then he nods listening before he chuckles at the thoughts of his phone activities from the company's point of view.* Yeah, young male... sex lines are hardly unusual.

*He listens to what Alexander says and smiles a bit at his words.* Training is something I could do with, I mean, real training. Not too sure about the whole combat thing, I've never really had to fight apart from the one time in high-school. But that was more like... well, it wasn't a fight in the sense you guys mean. *With a smile he draws the fragile thing closer to him a little.* It's all good... Just roll with it okay? *His voice was lower, but the others would probably hear it.*

So, can I get in on this phone thing? *He had his other hand moving to pick out his samsung and hand it over.* And how exactly can I be of use? I know nothing about fighting, I know enough about musical programming to do that, but I guess with the right help I might be of some use?

Grace

Grace starts installation, opening up a console with its white text on black background that looks like she could be doing anything. For those who have seen her Work, it even looks a lot like this, but this is no Working. It's mundane. There's no spike of sharpness to the air while she does it.

"You can get in on this phone thing. If you're okay with it. It's illegal. Not that I think you're going to care too much about that necessarily," she smirks over at Danny. "Also it could be dangerous. There are a bunch of measures built in to make it so that tracking people down using their shared use of the program would be very difficult. Difficult is not the same as impossible. It's encrypted and hidden, but that doesn't mean that it's perfectly safe. Nothing is. It's just a whole hell of a lot better than sending your friends an email about the latest Magickal whatever. "

Tap tap tap. She actually starts humming while she goes.

"I think we're in business, Alex," she says, disconnects the wire, and hands Alex his phone back.

"You'll find a new contact in your contacts list. Ginger. Call it, say 'Hello, Ginger', and you'll get a voice menu. It's pretty self-explanatory from there."

Oh, Alex. There is another number in your contacts list. 1-800-FAT-GRLS. Enjoy.

Alexander Brandt

Alexander leans on the island, watching Kalen as he thanks them and looks down. Shortly after, a very ripe peach from the fruit bowl is sailing through the air at him. It hits his check with a very squish thud – not hard enough to hurt, but hard enough to make a bit of a mess. “As Alyssa isn’t here to thwap you this time, I’ll step in for her and tell you to stop being an idiot.” He’s grinning as he says it, which fades to a smile as he continues. “Try not to forget that you’re not alone, eh? You don’t have to it all.”

Danny says that he isn’t sure about the whole combat thing. “We’re not talking about turning every one of us into a two-legged death machine. We’re talking about knowing enough to get the other guy down quickly and get away. Or, at the very least, have a hope of getting out of the way when there’s a piece of fruit flying towards you.” He pokes his tongue out at Kalen. “You want to help? Tell us, or tell Ginger, when weird crap goes down. It’s easier to deal with the Mage-eating nasties if we know they’re coming.”

He takes the phone back from Grace but doesn’t call up immediately. He’d prefer to be aware from anywhere important before he starts placing calls that might, one day, get tracked. Looks like he might have been listening, Grace.

Alexander Brandt

[And because it's late and I'm typoing like crazy. It hits him in the chest, and he doesn't have to do it all.]

Kalen Holliday

Danny pulls him closer and he does go with that, eyes closing for a second. And so he's listening to Grace and so ridiculously calm that he doesn't even see that peach coming. He startles a little, then realizes what hit him about when the poor (now very bruised) peach hits the floor.

Blink. Blink. And then he is laughing and his real laugh is a low, rich sound that isn't far off from that occasional amused purring tone.

"I'm sure she'll be very proud of you, stepping up when she's not here to throw things at me." He shakes his head and settles back against Danny again. "And yeah, will do."

Danny

*He nods to that.* Got it, difficult but not impossible and yeah.... *He smirks at that comment about the Fat Girls.* Uh, boys... Put mine to Pretty boys... *He didn't glance at Kalen, not in the slightest at that comment... Noope... but he did end up sucking both his lips in with a grin on his face and bit them slightly to keep his mouth shut, then his attention moved to Alex when he spoke again and he nodded, releasing his lips.* Okay... Yeah that I can deal with. Gigs can be a bit hectic, I dunno... *he shrugged that shoulder again.

Then he turned his head to Kalen... frowning a bit at the peach before he laughs at the look on his face.* I'm not going anywhere.. I made a promise, when I make a promise I stick to it. I'm here for the long term. *He would have to detach himself from Kalen slightly to give Grace the phone, but he did it and slide it gently across to her on the surface. Then just went straight on back to him. Affectionate little bugger wasn't he? Straight back to the body contact. Stealing glances when he could, enjoyment there on his face, his eyes a rich warm mahogany red/brown. Like morgans dark rum.*

Grace

Grace accepts the new phone with a little nod to Danny. Aww. Danny and Kalen. They're wrapped around each other, and it finally occurs to Grace that Kalen has found a new 'friend'.

He almost looks peaceful and happy again. Seems like that mood goes in a strange oscillating loop sometimes.

"Well, I'm not a two-legged death machine. That's not really where my talents lie. This is where I do my best work," she says, nods to the laptop. "But still, considering Denver is what it is, it would be nice to know how to get myself out of a bad situation. Like that one time when the theater rioted."

Alexander Brandt

“Better,” he says, still smiling, when Kalen laughs. Alexander pushes down the plunger in the press and starts pouring out four cups of coffee. “And what can I say, she’s a good teacher.”

He shrugs back at Danny’s half-commital response. “It’s a bit of a two way street. There are people in the city who will help dig you out of whatever hole you happen to land in. But, then, it’s only fair that you return the favour when they need someone with a shovel. Even if the only help you can offer is a warning that something’s coming… Like the whole vampire infestation out on East Colfax.”

To Grace, “I can teach you some of the basics of self-defense if you like?” Because he was genuine about his offer to teach. There are lots of things that he’s only starting to learn about himself but others – how to survive a fight – are things he’s happy to share.

He’s about to ask about cream and sugar and all the other paraphernalia that usually accompanies coffee but there’s a small interruption from the other room. The sound of a mobile ring tone. It’s not a particularly interesting one; one of the tunes that comes with the phone, but not the default. “Sorry, excuse me a minute.” He grabs one of the mugs and makes his excuses as heads into the other room to answer it.

[And fades into the background…]

Because we make it so

Kalen Holliday

[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 Holliday

Kalen 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.

Alexander

Coffee. 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 Holliday

Oh. 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.*

Hannah

It 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 )

Alexander

There’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.)

Hannah

She 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 Holliday

Kalen...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."

Alexander

Kalen’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."

Hannah

It 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?

Alexander

He 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.”

Hannah

Maria 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.

Danny

There 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.*

Hannah

Hannah 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?"

Alexander

Kalen 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.]