Monsters and (Gingerbread) Men

Kalen Holliday
[How awake are we?]

Dice: 7 d10 TN7 (1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) ( success x 3 )

Danny
(awareness if it's really needed)

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9) ( success x 4 )

Kalen Holliday
[And how distracted by Resonance are we?]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 5, 5, 6, 8, 8, 10) ( success x 4 )

Kalen Holliday
Kalen doesn't sleep for long at all.  And he isn't prone to spending much time dozing.  What are another five minutes of nightmares really going to get him.  So he wakes up, and starts coffee, and then pulls out cookbooks.  They've been read and there are little post-it notes with writing on them.  There is a new leather-bound journal, this one a lovely cobalt blue, for taking further notes in.  Of course there is.  Already, carefully transcribed, are the recipes for four different (but very similar) recipes for gingerbread men.  

He has ingredients too, all set out, and it looks, with the eggs nestled into bowls and ceramic containers of flour and sugar and glass jars with salt and spices, like a cooking show for people with the money to import bourbon-soaked vanilla beans (ready in case he makes it beyond gingerbread men) and organic sugarcane.  Practically everything on the counter is organic.  Traced to some source or another that Kalen finds up to his standards.

This is, perhaps, the most expensive gingerbread men experiment in the history of Denver.  Possibly Colorado.

And Kalen, with the kind of expression and resolve generally associated with the development of alchemical formulas, is very carefully measuring flour.  He maintains that he cannot cook.  And, by strict definition that might be true.  But he can follow instructions.

The truth about that is that Kalen has never seen any reason to learn to cook.  He's had people or restaurants for that.  Kalen's complete lack of experience cooking is entirely because he has other things to do.  Thus far, target practice has always won out over things like learning to make souffl s.  There are people, mundane people who do not need to devote their nights to saving the world, who can devote years to perfect salmon souffl .

And now he, and at least one of his cabalmates, are planning to learn to make Christmas cookies.  And that, finally, has brought him here.  Carefully sifting and measuring flour into a mixing bowl that has never been used, with a sifter that has never been used, and measuring cups that have never been used.  A preheated oven, which has once been used to roast a chicken.

Danny
*He's lean, he's built like a cat, all sleek angles and honed athletic grace. Clearly he takes care of himself, but it's the bohemian attitude he has for everything that is crucial somehow to just how Danny seems to function.  During his sleep, he shifts to curl around who he's with, he smiles a lot in his sleep too.  As if he's always on the edge of a known secret and he's content with his lot.

Now however he was upright and his usual bright chirpy self having had pronounced himself awake after about an hour of coffee. Now he was in the kitchen and looking around the books and the things that Kalen has gathered. He rubbed his hands with glee and grinned.* Right, lesson one.   Cookies. Do you want them to be hard or gooey?  What filling and we might want more decorations, and those little tubes of food colouring to decorate the trees.

*Then he marches over to Kalen and with both hands going to cup his face gently he kisses him.* Thank you. Seriously, thank you for understanding me and getting on board with this. *Then he strokes Kalens cheek again and rubs his hands in a business like manner before turning to look at the kitchen.*

Right good, you're sifting... but first we need to get the butter and sugar into the mix and cream it all up, trust me on this... *he nods.* Gooey are the best for baubles... but ginger bread men we want brittle, something with a decent bite to it. *He leans to pick up some crystallized ginger and nods.*

Kalen Holliday
"I was just going to follow the instructions and see which ones were the best," Kalen says.  "Because I have no idea."

He laughs and waves a hand in the direction of cabinets.  "There are things for decorations, just not out yet.  I am given to understand you have to wait for cookies to cool to decorate.  And I am not sure we'll get to trees today.  Unless we make gingerbread trees.

"Which is, I suppose, possible.  I was simply planning to test all the people cookie cutters on these.  And maybe the dogs.  Ginger people might want little ginger dogs.

"But, by that logic, I suppose, also trees.  There is a box of trees and reindeer and other Christmas themed cookie cutters in the box I have labeled, with great originality, Christmas."  Which Danny will find next to other boxes labeled equally originally with labels like, 'carnival' and 'dinosaurs' and 'plants' and 'animals.'  Also present, all kinds of cookie decorating supplies.  Down to gold foil and high quality food coloring. The kind you need for ridiculously vivid colors. Interestingly, the food coloring shows signs of having already been used.  It is the only thing that does, save for, tucked in the back, meringue powder.

Danny
*All he could do was laugh with delight.* Oh man you have really pushed the boat out on this one huh! *Well colour him impressed as all hell right now.*

Okay, the key to any success with this is going to be the instructions.  But, I also know a few decent ways to change things and bring about the same effect. *he moves closer and rests his hand on Kalen's back lightly, the way he always does.*

So what do you want me to do?

Kalen Holliday
"Well.  Of course you do."  Kalen sets the little bowl of precisely measured flour aside and begins to measure brown sugar.  Which he already knows to pack.  Look at that.

"But I don't know what it would be changed from.  I'm sure it is amazing.  But I already suggested you or Kharisma could make cookies, and Alexander wanted to maybe make them.  So...I have to figure out my cookies.  Or possible the first steps to Alexander's and mine.  Otherwise I'd have just asked you or Kharisma for your recipes."  He explains this as though he has given it way more thought than people should give Christmas cookies.  But then, he and Alexander are both looking for something.  And it has, in the end, both nothing and everything to do with learning to make cookies.

"But I'm getting her brownie recipe.  Like some family heirloom recipe.  Because, seriously...those are incredible."

Danny
Yeah I can well imagine. *he nods.* Okay... So you're the one doing it. That's cool, I'll just sit here drink coffee and sample.. *He nods.* Do I get a spoon with the bowl after each batch? And can we decorate them too! It only takes a short while to do it.

Kalen Holliday
Kalen laughs.  "Decorating them is probably the one thing I have similar experience with.  There are already bags of royal icing in the fridge."

"And of course you get to taste them."  He frowns.  What can Danny do?  What did he do for Kharisma?

"Do you want to line the baking sheets with parchment paper?  Or whisk the eggs?  We need two.  Eggs.  But four baking sheets."  Because of course he's memorized the recipe.  Even though he has it out, he barely glances at it to confirm the number of eggs.  More precaution, than anything.

Danny
*Danny nods, making his way to the sink to wash his hands and remove his rings. Then he makes his way over to get to work on the eggs.  It was simple to crack the egg on the side and hold the shell one handed..* So you said you and Alexander are doing them?  What do you want to do with these ones?

Kalen Holliday
"I'm learning about them.  So I understand them when we make them."  Kalen nods.  "So we don't set anything on fire.  And know what kind to make.  If they're going to be terrible, I want to know before we are making cookies for everyone.

"Not that we won't share these, because there are going to be a lot of them.  But...I assume not all of them will be good.

"I was thinking that if we do making cookies while you are making things for Thanksgiving, we could decorate cookies and maybe make some of the ones you need a press for.  We can set that up in advance, so all we'd have to juggle is the oven.  And not so much counter space.  We can use that table for decorating."

Danny
*He nods in agreement.* That sounds good. I was thinking of maybe having a hogs head as well as a Turkey. For christmas... *he narrows his eyes thoughtfully.* well we'll get to that later.

With thanks giving, what do you think about? Honestly? Lets take it back to it's values. *he taps the whisk on the side and moves the mixture towards Kalen. Right, so greaseproof paper.

*He smiled again.* Thanks giving with my parents always involved everyone.  Friends would come by, there'd be drinks with some of the faculty at our place.  Their kids would come along and we'd all just go chill out in the poolhouse or the basement.  I had the entire of that place done out.  But it was good times.  *he nods.*

Kalen Holliday
Kalen pauses to watch Danny while he talks about values.  His hands on the whisk.  The way his hip leads into the turn for parchment paper.  But not his eyes.

"Honestly?"  He says softly.  "All I remember about Thanksgiving is that other people got turkey.  And pie.  I'm sure we did have it, when I was very young."  Before his sister died, though he does not mention her now.  "But I cannot remember."

"Christmas.  Birthdays.  Any holiday, mostly.  I remember, just barely, one Christmas.  And then that is all until a few years of formal holidays in the Chantry.  Which I did not plan or prepare for.  There was food then, turkeys and hams and roasts and geese and vegetables I didn't even know existed.  And Marcellus and I exchanged gifts for Christmas.  I've gone for holiday mass in Santiago now, the last few years.

"But mostly...mostly what I remember about holidays is that they were for other people."

Danny
*He paused and turned to look at Kalen. Then steps closer and kisses his temple before going back to what he was doing.* Well not this time.  Christmas, Thanksgiving, all of it... we're going to bond together with it. It'll do us all a shit tone of good after this past year.

It'll be good for the Chantry as well, it'll infuse her with warmth.

Kalen Holliday
"We did do some holiday stuff at the House.  I missed a lot of it because I was...."  Freaking out.  "In Santiago."

Danny
*With an up nod he smiles and makes sure the tins are ready. Then goes to watch what Kalen's doing, one hand hovers perilously close to the bowl.*  This time is going to be good. It's a family thing. *he shrugged as if it all made such good sense to him.*

Kalen Holliday
"I know.  That's why I'm doing it."  Kalen gives Danny a curious look.  "I'm not worried about it.  I just want to have this cookie thing figured out in time."

Danny
You'll get it figured out.  Also, to help with time did you know you can freeze premade cookie dough? Just take it out the day you bake them and cut them into shapes. *He pauses and grins.* When they're all cooled we can all decorate them.  What do you think?

Kalen Holliday
"We never froze it, but I know you can refrigerate it.  We never made it so far ahead to need it frozen."  He smiles.  "I was thinking to just bring ready to decorate gingerbread cookies.  And then dough for the cookie press ones.  Still fresh cookies.  But, less to bake because you'll need to be baking too.  And whoever.  You might have kitchen help.

"Or maybe no one will come.  I don't know."

Danny
Aw I'm sure people will come. *He smiles again.* But we do need to make sure that people know about it.  You've told Elijah have you?  And Arionna, she gave me to pass on to him her phone number.

Kalen Holliday
"We can't bring her to the House," Kalen says quietly.  "She has no concern for anyone outside herself.  Practically over everything else.  She can't be trusted to know where it is.  If it suited her she'd bargain with it.  So no.  I'm not inviting her.

"I worry about her.  But that's no reason to endanger people who trust me to protect them."

"Elijah knows.  I figured we could just post to Ginger again, too."

Danny
*He nods in agreement to both the things that Kalen says.* What have you said to Elijah about it?  I'm not sure what happened to her, but she's got issues.

Kalen Holliday
"Nothing, yet.  I haven't seen him yet.  But I'll let him know."  He sighs.  "I hope she learns to trust us, gets to a point where we can have some expectation she won't betray us.  But...for now...as much as I hate it.  She's on her own.

"I might have Elijah bring her here sometime, that's partly what this place is for.  But not the House.  Losing some books and a structure is one thing, but risking a Node is another entirely."

Danny
I agree whole heartedly.  She's really clever, that much is clear, but she's got no idea how to cope with social things.  I think she's never been given the chance.  How do you deal with an injured stray?

Kalen Holliday
"With immense patience."  Kalen shrugs.  "Kharisma had to do it with me.  But she and Jack and I...I needed them.  And I knew that.  Suddenly the world was full of things I'd never seen.  And I knew that they could help me.

"I don't think we'll have a chance until she decides she wants help.  I'm not entirely sure she'll survive learning that she can't be on her own.  That even of we don't see the world, all of us, the same way, we can still work together.

"Right now...she wants to be right.  She wants to be the only one who is.  And...magic is complicated and personal.  It's based on the ways in which we interpret the things that we experience.  What is true for how one of us does magic is often not true for another.

"Until she gets that, she's not going to work with us.  She'd have to be able to respect other positions for that.  I'm not mad that she hates Christianity.  She can spend the next three decades trying to convince me, and that in itself wouldn't bother me as far as faith.  But the underlying thought that she is the only one with valid knowledge and experience in a conversation...that's the problem."

Danny
She uh... *he frowns and turns to face Kalen.* She shape changed, she said she was being chased by something in the forest, a mountain cat I think and she flew. She actually shape changed into an owl to get away.

*He stops to gauge Kalen's reaction.* I dunno... I mean she's woodsie, she's old fashioned, kind of like that whole mad cat lady thing.  The way I deal with her is I just bear in mind that she's got issues socially. And what she says is absolutely what she means, but she doesn't have the filters in her head to tell her to play nice.  You know?

Kalen Holliday
"I find that endearing.  Don't mistake an assessment that she can't work with others and can't be trusted for anything it isn't.  All things considered, I rather like her.

"But what was it she said, about ruling with the heart and fatal mistakes?  We can't bring her to the House until she can be trusted.  And I'm not sure that will ever happen."

Danny
Maybe not.... *he mulls it over.* But you never know what's going to happen do you, well... *he gestures.* You know what I mean.  TIhe thing is, she's got skills, and if that turns out to be something we can help her to understand I think it'll be to our benefits.  But I do get what you mean about trust. Trust is earned.  Maybe Elijah will find another side to her?

Kalen Holliday
"I'm hoping so.  I can see it sometimes.  But...at least for now...she's not ready."

Danny
No, she's not. *he sighs softly.* I just.. I dunno, I guess I can see that anger in her and, I don't even know if it is anger any more, it's her coldness.  You know?

Kalen Holliday
"I do.  I know."

Danny
So I guess we just take our time, keep and eye on things and let things figure themselves out? Perhaps she'll do Elijah good?

Kalen Holliday
"He might."  Kalen laughs.  "He's not going to be much good in a fight, I don't think.  As a rule.  But...he has a lot of other skills.  Ones I don't have.  And once he learns to use his brain on occasion, I think he'll be pretty brilliant."

Danny
I'm sure he will be. But that's why in a weird way they compliment each other.  I think they'll do eachother good in the long run. Bring him out of his shell a bit and, it'll do her good to know that not everyone is an enemy.

*He looks to the work Kalen is doing.* So, how's it going. I think we're about ready to roll aren't we?

Kalen Holliday
"I think so.  We just need to let the dough sit for a bit first.  I guess we could flour the countertop."  He smiles a little.  "Elijah will be so excited about all of the cookies."

Danny
I'm sure he will be. I'm going to make some whisky orange muffins. *he grins.* And maybe some toffee and ginger bread muffins... if you're good. *He grins.*

So, tree's, men... stars, gingerbread stars go well. And peppermint balls, I'll show you how to make peppermint sweets, you can knock them up in about ten minutes and there's no cooking. Cinnamon balls is the same principle. But if you shape the peppermint dough when it's still just soft; you can dip the mint in melted dark chocolate after.

*He grins.* It's my moms recipe.

Kalen Holliday
"You may overestimate my interest in cooking," Kalen says with a smile.  "I am mostly interested in not cooking."

Danny
*He chuckled at that.* Uhuh, I get it now, you're going to flirt with the oven then walk away... Heartbreaker. *he laughs.* C'mon then, let get this lot rolled out and shaped.

*he watches as Kalen preps the surface, leaning back against the counter with his arms folded.*

Kalen Holliday
Kalen is not a stranger to flouring surfaces.  He sprinkles flour and spreads it out.  Puts out the dough to roll.

"Look.  I've never made any pretenses with the oven.  The oven knows we don't really have a future."

Danny
*He snorted his amusement at that.* It's not going to turn into some.... *he stopped what he was about to say, because Kalen would probably say how yes, Ovens can become monsters. Given the right incentive.  Instead he laughed again.* It'll be fine. Just keep to the recipe.

Kalen Holliday
Kalen laughs, and half-heartedly bats at the dough with a rolling pin.  Apparently that he's not really done before.  "I'm not worried about the oven.  I think it has a thing for the toaster anyway."

Danny
I would be more worried about the dishwasher and the laundry machine. *he confides in Kalen, holding his hand up as he talks behind it to prevent the appliances listening in.*

Okay... rolling the dough.  Have you ever given a back massage?

Kalen Holliday
Kalen arches up one eyebrow like the answer to that question should be obvious.  Of course...it isn't, perhaps, the most obvious thing.

"Yes."

Danny
Right well, use the rolling pin like you're massaging it up someones back slowly? *he shrugs and smirks.* And this I honestly can't wait to see. *He moved back so he could indeed just watching.* 5 millmeter's thick is the ideal. Half a centimeter.

Kalen Holliday
"Yeah, that has no relevance.  The motions are entirely different.  Maybe for bread dough, but not for this."  He glares at the dough a bit, but after  second gets the hang of rolling it and getting it to do what he wants.

Danny
And watch out for splits. *he grins.* You're doing well actually.. *He squats down and checks the width.  It's good... what about that side?

Kalen Holliday
"I know how cookies work," he says with a laugh.  "And, figuring out depth and all of that, I can do.  I have seen this done a good few times, and I have eyes.  You aren't working with a five-year-old."

Danny
Well... *he shrugs standing up and moves away.* I'll go make coffee then.  What shape are you going to use?  I have to admit, I can't wait to have one.

Kalen Holliday
"No idea.  What shapes do you want?"

Danny
MMM...... *he stretched slowly and then nodded.* Stars and tree's.

Kalen Holliday
"I thought people made gingerbread mostly into ginger bread men.  Stars and trees and all from sugar cookies."

Danny
Mix it up!! *he shrugs.* In Germany they make big fluffy cinnamon biscuit cake things.   Go on then, gingerbread men.

Kalen Holliday
"It doesn't matter.  I just thought...."  He leans over to get the box with trees and stars in it.  "What would I know about it?"

Danny
Do whatever feels good? *he shrugs again.* Go with whatever you want to do, it's the thought of doing it, then the time given making it that matters. It shows you care.

Kalen Holliday
Kalen shrugs.  "These are just experiments.  They aren't to show anyone anything."  He cuts a few stars and puts them on one of the cookie sheets in a neat row.

Danny
Now remember they'll spread a bit, I dunno if it says that in the book you're following.  So give enough room round the edges or you'll have to amputate someones leg or arm.

*He watched as well, then ventured closer.* Want me to re roll?

Kalen Holliday
"This part I've done before," he says softly.  A line of trees joins the line of stars.

Danny
*He comes closer to watch grinning.* Those look good.

Kalen Holliday
He could say that of course they do, because they are exactly what Danny wanted.  Kalen...well, he wanted to draw little buttons on gingerbread men.  Give each of them a tiny little smile.  Because he has decorated cookies yes, but not for Christmas.  He colored pictures of them, on school tables.

And he says they aren't to show anyone anything.  They are experiments.  But almost nothing he does is really ever casual.  He spent too long learning to watch other people, to project exactly what he wanted to.

"It's hardly difficult," is all he says.  "You should know."

Danny
*He laughs.* I'll get you a gingerbread house kit as well then in that case.

Kalen Holliday
"How hard is it to get icing and graham crackers?"  Kalen asks.  "Those little milk cartons."

Danny
It's pretty easy to get.. *he shrugged.* Why?

Kalen Holliday
"So why would they make kits?"  Oh, Kalen.  Kalen.  Those aren't real gingerbread houses.  "But I guess that could be fun."

Danny
Well you make the walls, the kit has the template and instructions on how to make it. How to use the icing to get a desired effect... *he shrugged.* Then you build a landscape around it..  but the gingerbread walls are all made from.. *he gestures.* Gingerbread dough.

Alyssa Solomon
Alyssa doesn't visit Kalen's place as much as other people might think.  For cabalmates, they have a fair amount of time that they spend apart, which Alyssa would joke is probably better for each other's physical well-being.  (Yes, it's only a joke.)  In truth, she has her work and he has all the things that he does, which keeps them both busy.  There are other reasons, but that's probably the biggest one.

That doesn't mean that they never hang out though; just that it doesn't happen often.  And so occasionally she decides to stop by and check in, make sure that no one's on fire that shouldn't be.  Because some people need to be on fire, but not all of them.  That's what she's doing today as she shuts the door behind her.  She hasn't gone over the top today, but at least she's made up which is a change from the last time she saw Kalen.  She's going old-school with the classic Death look: hair black and curly, pale skin with eyeliner ending in a curly-Q at the corner of the left eye.  Black tank top under a Victorian-style jacket, nice-sized ankh hanging around her neck, jeans and heeled boots.  She left the parasol at home though, because that's only for special occasions.

"Knock knock, filthy Hollower in the house," she calls out as she exhales from a clove.  "Come out, come out, wherever you are!"

Kalen Holliday
Kalen looks at Danny for a few seconds, expression unreadable, but then, whatever the Hell that expression is it dissolves as he hears Alyssa.

He goes bounding off toward her, grinning.  "Hey, Angel!"

Danny
*Danny checks the sheets of biscuits, then dashes forwards to break off a tiny bit of the cookie dough and is back where he was all innocent a moment later, with a hidden treasure in his mouth. Raw Gingerbread dough... Oh now all he needed was chocolate icecream.  He hurriedly makes sure it's all gone before they get into the room again.* Hey... How's it going?

Grace
[Awareness?]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 4, 5, 9) ( success x 1 )

Alyssa Solomon
"Oh look, the gang's all here."  She chuckles a little bit as she slips out of the jacket, tossing it aside on a couch.  She unhooks the holster clip and sets that on the coffee table.

"Or most of the gang.  Or some of--"  She pauses.  "Actually, I don't even know who the fuck the gang is anymore.  Ah, fuck it.  Two people are here.  That's a gangette.  How goes it?"

Kalen Holliday
"Awesome.  We're making gingerbread cookies."  Kalen flashes her a grin.  "It was going to be gingerbread men but then Danny wanted stars and trees but there are angels and we can make some just for you."  That is an excited tone, not as showy as some of his more public tones.  But they both know about shows, don't they?

"You should come with me and Alexander and probably Grace to pick out the tree.  But not until after Thanksgiving.  Which you should also come to."  He is still smiling, because Kalen still gets ridiculously excited about having people to invite to things.  "Fortunately Alexander assures me that it is very difficult to fuck up getting a Christmas tree.

"How are you?"

Danny
Gangette. *he laughed.* Now that's an interesting term. It does work though in it's own way. How are you Alyssa?

*Didn't he just look like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth... And Kalen had already asked that.  Instead he made his way to wash a few things.* Do you want me to put them in the oven or just get on with washing up?

Grace
Grace stumbles into the kitchen wearing blue jeans and a gray t-shirt with a spoon on it. This spoon is wearing dark sunglasses and bending out of the way of some bullets. You know the movie. Hell, even Kalen probably does.

She looks like she's forgotten to coffee today. And it's how late in the day?

"Oh. No wonder I heard so much going on in here. Today's the day Kalen sets fire to the kitchen. I forgot," she says, sniffs, and makes her way over to the stove to grab a kettle.

So much for 'hello'.

Alyssa Solomon
"Oh, it's easy as shit to fuck up getting a Christmas tree.  Alexander apparently hasn't seen The Charlie Brown Christmas, Christmas Vacation or just about every other Christmas movie ever made."

She grins a bit.  "At least you're not going plastic though.  Christmas is surrounded by enough fake bullshit, I've always thought fake trees were just taking it over the top.  Hey...guy whose name I should remember but don't."  They've only properly met once, after all, and that was very briefly.  "And hey Grace.  You look like I usually feel."

Kalen Holliday
"We have to cut enough for all of them and bake them at the same time so we can take half out in seven minutes and half out in ten and see which ones are best," Kalen says to Danny.  Because...there are experiments to do.  Serious, serious experiments about cookies.

He finds the angel cookie cutter and cuts a few of them, layering those onto the sheets too.

"Hey, Kit.  Nothing is on fire.  Yet."

"Mmmmmmmm..." he says to Alyssa.  "I think he wanted me to calm the fuck down.  We'd had enough of a moment already.  I made him promise to help anyway.  And to decorate.  I think he was a little amused."  He smiles.  "That's Danny.  My boyfriend.  Like my actual boyfriend, not like your definition of boyfriend.  We go on dates and everything.  He is trying to help me make cookies, even though I am a jerk.  Apparently we are going to make gingerbread houses."

His eyes light up.  "You want to make haunted gingerbread houses next Halloween?"

Danny
Danny. *He supplies helpfully for Alyssa, and Grace as always made him smile with her candour.*

I'm sure he's not going to burn down the kitchen. As for tree's we're going to need a few.  Big one's that we'll all have to decorate. It's going to be so cool. *He grins.*

We do go on dates. *He nods.*

Grace
Grace gives Alyssa an odd look, while she tries to figure out what that comment means. She looks down at her shirt. Alyssa usually feels like she's in The Matrix? Or, Grace looks terrible, which is how Alyssa usually feels? Yeah. Okay. Probably the latter.

"Oh. Well, you look less like shit than I do I guess? Congrats?" she says, and shrugs.

She takes the kettle over to the sink and fills it. Just let's get the caffeine on. Then brainwork like figuring out the right things to say to people can happen.

"He's sure he's going to burn down the kitchen," she says, to the sink. "Did you pick up fire extinguishers? Alton Brown says those are a must. So I believe it."

Alyssa Solomon
"Needing caffeine," she clarifies to Grace.  "You look like you need caffeine.  I usually need caffiene, because of private eye hours."

Kalen calls Danny his boyfriend, and Alyssa has a thousand quips that come to her head.  It's to her credit that she doesn't launch off any of them.  See, she's got restraint some time.

"I don't have a definition for boyfriend, because I don't have boyfriends.  Hell, I barely even have fuckbuddies anymore.  This town has the social life of a Big Bang Theory cast member, before the hot chick moves next door."

"But nice to meet you Danny--again.  Unless the last time I met you was a dream and we're in an episode of Dallas or Lost, or Twin Peaks."  She makes her way toward the kitchen.

"Haunted gingerbread houses sound awesome.  What's the current betting odds on 'Doesn't burn the house down, but does make smoke billow out?'  I'll put down a tenner."

Kalen Holliday
"Someone is even more excited about holidays than me," Kalen says.  "And can cook turkeys.  Without setting anything on fire."

He rolls his eyes at Grace as though the night before he hadn't suggested one fire extinguisher might not be enough.  "But, for the record, we have fire extinguishers."

There is a little huff at Alyssa.  "Yeah, well.  This is why I ask Alexander all the relationship questions now.  It's his favorite.  His last response when I texted him in the middle of the night about it was 'ask Serafine, I'm going back to sleep.'"  Kalen sounds amused, so that probably isn't the whole story.

He laughs at Alyssa's bet.  "Fuck.  Some of you have so little faith in me."

Danny
*He laughed hearing that from Kalen before he commented on the haunted house, he shook his head and chuckled at Alyssa too..* For the haunted thing,it could be done you know, a little bit of dry ice for example.. I'm sure you whizzkids could do it.

It could be done with a church too? Or is that too ambitious? And; no, Kalen's not going to burn the house down.

*He looks from face to face then shakes his head at Grace.* How are things with you?

Grace
"Oh, yeah. I am at that," Grace says to Alyssa. "I thought at first you might mean my shirt or something. Don't mind me. I'm not with it."

She puts the kettle on the stove and turns to lean against the wall, eyes crawling up the opposite corner of the room.

"I'll put some down for 'has to use the fire extinguisher'. No, Kalen, we have no faith in your cooking ability. Especially after you continually state how difficult it is not to summon demons while doing silly cooking tasks. You brought this on yourself."

Alyssa Solomon
There's a small but distinct drop in her mood when Serafine's name gets even mentioned.  Someone has some lingering issues there.  But she leaves it behind and the grin comes back in force when Kalen mentions there's little faith in him.

"Oh, don't get me wrong, Kalen.  I'm sure that you're great with food preparation.  But you're a fuckin' Flambeau.  Nothing against you guys--you know I like you a lot better than most Houses.  But when it comes to cooking, I expect an overabundance of flames."

Kalen Holliday
"I was more concerned that you felt the fire extinguisher wouldn't be necessary," he says.  He adds another little row of angel cookies to the sheets.

"I was thinking little marshmallow ghosts.  But not...you know...dry ice and all."  He looks over the cookies.  "Okay.  I think they're bakeable."

Danny
Wait, you... summon demons while cooking? *He had to laugh more at that... Staring at the group of them and retreating to a place he could sit down after he'd washed up the first batch of utensils. He tossed the oven gloves to Kalen as he got comfortable.*

(I'm going to need to bail I'm afraid, there's a funeral I have to go to tomorrow. Sorry!! Just fade him out of the scene if that's okay with you all?)

Danny
(Thanks for the scene)

Grace
Grace goes about the business of making coffee. The grinder buzzes, but since Kalen got a top-of-the-line model, it doesn't buzz too loudly. Coffee goes in the french press carafe, and after the kettle whistles, it's ready to go.

She laughs at Kalen's joke. More concerned the fire extinguisher wouldn't be necessary. "Well, in that case, we have the utmost faith in you."

Alyssa Solomon
"I'll do you one better, I'll bind a few spirits to the marshmellows.  Then you really will have marshmellow ghosts."

Kalen Holliday
"I'm not sure how I feel about real marshmallow ghosts."  He pops the cookies into the oven.  "Let's see what we do or don't light on fire, shall we?"

He leans back on the oven.  Danny's off a bit, leaving them be.  And it isn't that he doesn't trust Danny, but....  "Have you talked to Alexander lately?" He asks Alyssa.

Grace
"I heard he was there for the whole... cannibal thing," she says, and shakes her head. "He seems a little off, but I can't blame him."

Alyssa Solomon
"I haven't talked to anyone lately, including Alex," she says with a shrug.  "I tried to help out with the cannibal thing but Serafine and I had a difference of opinions on things and she wasn't exactly willing to compromise, so I backed off."

Kalen Holliday
Kalen listens to them both.  He's a bit lost about how people keep having these experiences with Serafine, because he doesn't see quite the same things.  Granted, he doesn't tend to argue with her.  That all he wants to do is adore her might be a key part of that.

Serafine isn't what he's worried about right now.  "He was there.  And from what parts of it I do know...it wasn't the easiest place to be.

"I've spoken with him a few times since."  There is a pause as Kalen tries to figure out how much of it to talk about.  Probably not much.  "And he'll be alright."  He looks over at Alyssa.  "But maybe give him a call?  I think he could stand to know he has friends right now."

Grace
"I'd give him a call, but I don't know how well that would go. We haven't always been what you'd call 'best buddies' exactly," Grace says, and turns to the coffee to dispense some into one of the mugs that accumulate next to the sink. It's not as strong yet as she'd like, but it is caffeine.

"Mmm. Yeah. Sera doesn't like violence," Grace says, lets that hang in the air as she walks toward the door. "I'd help with the cookies, but you know. Stuff. Stuff needs doing. Now that I've got my coffee I might be able to do it."

[And I have to go! See you guys, thanks for the scene!]

Alyssa Solomon
She scowls suddenly at Grace's statement, but stays silent until she's gone.  She doesn't say anything in response to Kalen, just lets the Virtual Adept go and waits until she's gone before she looks to the Hermetic.

"As just evidenced, Kalen...I'm not anyone's friend in this city.  Kind of yours, I guess, and that's about it.  Everyone else pretty much just fucking tolerates me the rare times I show up around you, so they can snark about how I'm such a violent sociopath."

Kalen Holliday
"I've never gotten the impression Alexander dislikes you."  He glances after where Grace vanished.  "Besides, I'm shamelessly using Danny to invite people to things so they'll show up.

"Grace has weird thoughts about a lot of people.  I don't know why."  He frowns.  "But she was the first real friend I had in this place and we work, even if she gets along with fewer and fewer people lately.

"What about your new abrasive friend?  You ever end up getting coffee?"

Alyssa Solomon
"The other Hollow One?"  She shakes her head.  "Not yet.  Maybe at some point, but we're really probably not going to be friends.  I'm in support of the Hollow Ones being considered a Tradition and he's not.  That divide within us is...well, imagine a Chorister talking religion with a Verbena.  They might be able to get along, but friends probably isn't going to happen.

"And I'm not telling you not to hang out with Grace.  I'm telling you that I'm getting sick of her constantly shitting on me and one of these days I'm going to snap on her ass.  She either treats me like shit or acts like I'm about to shoot her in the head every single time we meet.  Just about always has, and I'm tired of it.  I don't think Alexander dislikes me, but I suspect he doesn't particularly feel an affinity for me either.  You know we've actually been in each other's presence maybe five, six times?  Not more than that.  When I say I haven't talked to him recently, I mean that I haven't talked to him since July.  I know that's on me too, but I've put offers out there and he hasn't followed up.  There comes a point in time when you just give up."

Alyssa Solomon
[[Edit to "telling you not that you shouldn't like Grace"]]

Kalen Holliday
"I know he wants to talk to you.  He tells me he wants to get together and roast marshmallows.  Sometimes he's...."  Cold?  The man with the Frozen Resonance?  "Really far away."

Kalen frowns.  "I...ran into him a few days after I woke up from that coma and he told me he'd been reading to me and I maybe lost it a little.  There may have been hugging.  Like, a lot of it."  But that isn't entirely true either, maybe.  Because he remembers Serafine telling him Alexander didn't like to be touched, but Alexander letting him get away with it.  Talking about absent fathers and the nature of the universe.  What happened in the umbra the first time they met the Message bound them and Serafine in ways he doesn't know how to explain.

Kalen drinks tequila now.

"He's pretty into the idea of learning to bake cookies.  And decorating them.  And trees.  I get if here is complicated because of Grace, but maybe come to the one we decorate at the House?"

Alyssa Solomon
She frowns a little, listening.  There's a bit of a conflicted look that passes over her face when Kalen talks about Alex, before she shakes her head and finishes off the clove she's smoking.

"Yeah, maybe.  I don't know, I feel generally as tolerated there as I do here.  I get that I'm a bit of a bitch sometimes, but I've been thinking like I might just not be cut out for being part of this city's general Awakened community for a while.  We'll see, I guess."

Kalen Holliday
Kalen sighs.  "I get that sometimes this place is...weird.  And...I guess you should do whatever you think you should do.  But I want you to stay."

There is a pause.  "But I also want you to be happy, so...."

Alyssa Solomon
That makes her crack a little grin.  "Well, I'm not leaving the city.  Not right now, anyway.  I have a perfectly good occult investigation business going on after all.  You're not getting rid of me that easily.

"I'm just saying..."  She sighs.  "I don't know.  I'm saying I'm tired of this bullshit, but there is no fix short of me blowing a gasket which will just make things worse, so I'm preparing to content myself with being the strange chick who stops by and doesn't ever really know what the fuck is going on with anyone."

Kalen Holliday
"Well.  You don't have to hang out all the time, I guess.  I don't know.  I'm frustrated too, but I don't...have a perfectly good occult investigation business?  I don't know.  I'm still trying to figure out how to help a bunch of people who mostly want to be all suspicious because of where I come from.

"Gotta love a town where politically it seems easier to be an Orphan than a Hermetic."  He laughs.  "I can't say I entirely blame them.  There are places I could go, easier ones.  But I don't."

Alyssa Solomon
"That, my fine firey friend, is because you're either a masochist or an optimist."  She walks over to the counter and hops up on it, sprawling slightly.  "Or an optimasochist.  Or a Masoptimist.  Or all of the above."

She smirks.  "Me, I just want to have a good spot to roast marshmellows from when it all explodes."  Which is a joke, of course.  She doesn't actually want to see the whole thing fall apart and she wouldn't celebrate.  But she can joke about it.

Kalen Holliday
"Yeah.  Marshmallows are weird for me.  I've done them twice.  Both times someone ended up crying.  But Alexander likes them.  I think he likes to get away from people sometimes.  It's sounding kind of good right now, actually.  Fires and something like quiet.

"Hopefully not in the wake of a giant explosion."  He smiles a little and pulls half of the cookies out of the oven.  "But I so rarely get what I want."

Alyssa Solomon
"I can get that," she says when Kalen mentions Alex liking getting away from people.  "Hell, I'd be worried if he was a magic-using cop who didn't want to get away from people sometimes.  He has to deal with the absolute worst possible poor examples of humanity.

"Are there any explosions on the horizon?  Outside of your baking, I mean."

Kalen Holliday
"I'm still looking into that club, chasing down some leads.  One does not simply start a war with leeches."  He sighs.  "And one of them has principals.  He even let us go."

"The technocracy has Alicia's father and one of them is at least pretending to have principals."

There is another sigh, this one heavier.  "I find myself in the rather uncommon position of thinking that if it can be managed our best option may be an admittedly uneasy peace on both counts."

Alyssa Solomon
Her painted brows furrow, and she runs a hand through her hair.  "Yeah, I saw the whole thing with the latter on Ginger, but didn't really want to chime in on the mass panic.  I don't envy Alicia on that.  As for the fangy corpsified types..."

She hops off the counter, goes looking for something to drink.  "I guess as long as 'uneasy piece' doesn't mean I can't blow one's head off if I see it attacking someone."

Kalen Holliday
"I'm not sure it's even a little possible.  But...if there is an option for less violence, I'd rather like to take it.  There are ghosts, and a lot of them.  So...I'm definitely up for killing one of them.  There may be a wider organization, and I'm trying to look into that.

"I just...half of what we fight lately seems to be us.  I can't not wonder if...I don't know.  If I'm going to kill anything, even an already dead thing, I want to be sure about what I'm doing.  That's all."

Alyssa Solomon
She pauses there.  She has a lot that she could say, but she doesn't.  Instead, she looks at him, hand paused in the process of pulling out a glass from the cabinets, and cocks her head.

"Do me a favor and finish the thought.  You can't not wonder if...?"

Kalen Holliday
"We really have some moral high ground after all.  If we are, at least by nature, better than monsters."  He sighs and pulls the second half of the cookies out of the oven.  "I'm beginning to doubt it."

Grace
A bit later, Grace walks in again carrying an empty mug, looking a lot less tired and perhaps even a bit chipper. "I smelled cookies. Also, my mug is defective. It lacks coffee."

"What are you doubting?"

She's rather ignorant of the conversation going on, as evidenced by the lack of dourness expressed. Someone's finally awake. Or at least the brain is running at optimal speed.

Alyssa Solomon
"Hey."  She sets the glass down and walks over to him.  The woman full of snark, jokes and barbed quips is dead serious as she puts a hand on his shoulder, turns him to face her.  Grace is given a quick look, but she doesn't acknowledge her yet.  She has something more important to say.

"There is worlds of difference between them and us.  We're infuriating, pig-headed and quite often we're assholes.  But first off, we don't actively pray on humanity and we stop those that do when we can.  Don't ever start thinking that we're no better than them.  That kind of doubt is the kind of thing that cripples us.  I want to grab a lot of the people in this city at this point and shake them like I'm an English nanny, but we aren't monsters.  We're people, and thus fallible and capable of terrible mistakes.  But we're still people, and fighting for the right thing is not only important, it's what makes us who we are.  Got it?"

Kalen Holliday
"Humanity," Kalen says softly to Grace.  "Ours.  That of monsters.  Humanity in general.  Pretty much any way you can take that."

He doesn't fight with Alyssa, and he listens to her. Quiet.  "There is a difference between examining what the right thing is and giving up on fighting for it.  I'll still fight monsters, it's pretty much what I do.  But we aren't all good and I'm not entirely sure they're all evil.

"It just means I want to really look at the things I kill before I kill them.  I can't say I value justice and not actually pursue it.  That's all."

Grace
"Ah. Well," Grace says, her face drooping out of its casual ease. "I would say that if a thing is not monstrous than it can't really be called a monster, huh? Monsters are monsters because of what they do, not because of what they are, really. And there's plenty of humans that could be called monsters. Plenty that could be called saints too, or whatever good label you want to put on them.

"This is about that one vampire I tracked right? Well, you know, if I met a vampire who got their sustenance from animals or whatever, like one of those vegetarian vampires out of Twilight, I'd... Well, I want to say I'd kill them on principle, but you know. I wouldn't. Even if they sparkled."

But that guy? He charmed Alicia and tried to drag her out into the alley. So far, the morality score on his side is not looking so good as far as Grace is concerned. She does not say that. Not yet anyway.

She just walks over to the coffee carafe and pours herself some more.

Alyssa Solomon
She lets Grace give her argument, and she doesn't particularly look like she disagrees.  She doesn't disagree with Kalen's assessment either, and she nods a bit when the two of them are done.

"You're right, we're not all good and they're not all evil.  Look at Cunty McItaly and her Thankinyan fetish.  She wasn't good.  I know there was a little debate about that and I didn't speak up much as I wasn't really involved in all that, but she made a choice.  Good intentions, hell, yadda yadda yadda.  When you knowingly choose to free a Deep Umbral Lord, you've passed benefit of the doubt in my mind."

She sighs and shakes her head.  "Examining is fine.  But don't doubt.  Good men who start doubting the intrinsic morality of mankind...that's how people turn evil.  Questioning is good.  Doubt and pain are what turned some of the people around me when I was growing up into bad people.  They lost focus and they lost perspective by wandering into those muddly grey areas.  Tunnel vision isn't always such a bad thing, is all I'm saying."

Kalen Holliday
"Don't worry, I'm pretty sure that isn't where I'm going."  Kalen smiles a little.  "And even if I try...I picked my cabal very carefully.  If you and Alexander can't stop me, I know at least you'll shoot me."  Which he means as a point in her favor, naturally.

He doesn't comment on Lucia.  Victoria.  He understands where Alyssa is coming from.  But he also meant it when he told Elijah that there was no sin that could not be absolved. And that complicates where he stands on some things.

"Where I should be going is to take one of these cookies to my amazingly patient boyfriend."  His smile widens, just a touch.  "I'll be back in a few to decorate at least a few of these.  For practice."

[And I, alas, need naps.]

Grace
Grace snorts at 'Cunty McItaly'. Oh, but Alyssa can turn a phrase, can't she? But then, the conversation continues. Doubting the intrinsic morality of mankind? Well. For the answer to that doubt, you'd have to pin down what morality actually means. Everyone's got a different opinion on that. Mostly boiling down to 'what I do'.

"Nobody's ever going to have to shoot you, Kalen. You're too catlike. We'd just have to dangle some string in front of you," she says, trying to inject some humor into the whole horrible idea of Kalen turning evil and having to be put down. She can't even imagine it, really.

"I would be a terrible cookie decorator," she says, wandering over to the racks with her coffee in hand. "What about you, Alyssa? I mean, you do a great job with your... You know. Face."

There is a point there where Grace replays the last bit of conversation in her mind and realizes how stilted that came out. Makeup. Alyssa does a great job at her makeup. There are words for things. Yes.

Alyssa Solomon
Alyssa could take offense at that, but she doesn't.  She gets what Grace was getting at and she chuckles a little, shaking her head, gesturing to her made-up face.

"Nah, this is a totally different situation.  I can do this in my sleep.  Literally, I once put on a full look when I was technically asleep.  It wasn't fancy, but it worked.  Baking though...that isn't really my thing.  You'd think that they're similar skillsets but they aren't.  Kalen's probably better at it than I am."

She finally gets a bottle of alcohol, not really concerned with what it is.  Tequila, it ends up being.  She pours herself some and caps the bottle.  "You may not be a decorator, but you've got to be good at the baking, right?  It's kind of like...I don't know.  Edible programming, right?  Recipes, logic, all that sort of thing."

Grace
"Bah. Baking is chemistry. Complicated organic chemistry. The extent of my usual involvement in it is a microwave and something left-over. For as much shit as I give Kalen over his cooking ability, I'd probably do worse. At least he's extremely good at following the instructions, huh? Exacting. Like if he were one teaspoon off it might actually have summoned a demon," she says, smiling at the ginger-people on their cooling rack.

"I tried doing full-on makeup once or twice. Trying to be normal. Not really making it. Everything's usually okay until I get to the eyeliner and mascara part. I usually smudge everything because doing it precisely just leads to me getting liquid liner all over my nose or in my eye or something else bizarre."

She shrugs, smiles a bit, as if that's not really something that bothers her. Why do it if you're not good at it and don't really care?

Alyssa Solomon
"Eh, makeup isn't about being normal unless you want it to be."  She hops back up on the counter and swirls the alcohol in the glass.  "For some people its about the opposite, standing out in the crowd.  For some it's about showing what you're really like, however freak flaggish it may be.  I was like that with it at first too, though.  I had all this knowledge about rituals and esoterica and I could tell you which Gnostic angel belonged to which order, but put some kohl in my hands and I was completely useless."

She smiles a bit at the memory.  "Took my Hollow One sponsor to teach me how to do it right, and even then it was a long, grueling process in which I thought I was going to blind myself nightly."

Grace
"Really? Sounds kind of..." Enforced? Fitting into a norm? A lot of work for something superficial? Her face goes through a round of discomfort as she again tries to figure out what to say.

Come on, Grace. Play nice.

"Hard. Did they make you do it?"

Alyssa Solomon
"Oh now, he didn't make me to anything.  I wanted to know."  She shrugs and takes a drink of the tequila, relishes the burn down her throat.  "I was kind of lost at the time.  Didn't know what to do and like any good fifteen year-old, I decided that going dark and brooding was the way to go.  Of course, it didn't hurt that I was sleeping in a goth club, but it just seemed to fit.  Christopher took one look at my fucked up raccoon eyes and said 'I'll help if you promise never to look like that again.'"

She grins.  "And thus began the first step of my induction into the Hollow Ones.  Well, more like the first tenth of a step, but same difference I suppose."

Alyssa Solomon
[[Oh no.  Not "Oh now."]]

Grace
She snorts again at the 'fucked up raccoon eyes' statement. That's about how Grace's attempts at heavy eye makeup go. "Guess I could have easily ended up going in another direction, had I landed in a different place at the right age."

She takes a gingerbread cookie while she's talking, and pokes around at the decorations until she runs across something that makes her blink a couple times.

"Oh for the love of... Gold?" she sighs heavily, sarcastically. "Kalen bought food-grade gold leaf for the cookies."

The indignities that must be suffered under the whims of someone with more money than he knows what to do with, eh?

Alyssa Solomon
Grace isn't the only one that snorts at that.  "Jesus Christ, Peter Murphy and Robert Smith.  I swear, that man doesn't understand the meaning of the word 'understated' sometimes."

There's no real irritation in Alyssa's tone; it's more wry amusement than anything.  "But then, if he was great at subtlety and understatement he wouldn't be Kalen.  So I guess I'll take it, you know?"

Grace
"True. True. I mean, the deep pockets do come in handy sometimes when we're buying computing equipment," Grace says, not with any real irritation either. At least that's one thing they can agree on: Kalen isn't horrible.

It's a start.

"But he lets me pick the tech stuff out, which means I can steer him away from having a solid-gold laptop case or whatever," she says, and bites her cookie (arm first, without looking -- poor cookie is going to suffer).

Alyssa Solomon
"Is it wrong that I kind of want to get him a solid gold laptop case for the holidays so that I can see him preen over it and you roll your eyes in exasperation?"

She says it with a Cheshire cat grin.  It's a good-natured ribbing, without any kind of malicious needling present in the tone.  She takes a swig of the alcohol, kicking her feet slightly in her seat on the counter.

Grace
Grace shakes her head. "Oh that is so wrong. Evil. Not even halfway good."

She bites her cookie in half, and mumbles: "Don't even give him the idea."

"You know, these are really... not bad," she says. "Could use more ginger maybe. I'll see if Mr. Exact minds a slight adjustment to the recipe. I'll see if he thinks it'll summon ginger monsters."

Alyssa Solomon
"Ugh, ginger monsters.  Soulless bastards."  She couldn't help it, Grace set that one up perfectly.

On a whim, she hops off the counter and walks over, picks one up and takes a bite.  There's a pause, a slow chew and a considering look, before she nods a little.

"Okay yeah, not gonna lie.  These are pretty good.  Kudos to Chef Flambeau."

Grace
"You know, I have yet to actually see him catch anything on fire? I have told him what a shame this is. Maybe that's why I bug him about it so much," Grace says, and leans up against the still-warm oven door.

"We're doing a shitty job of acing the Bechdel test right now," she adds, laughs a bit.

Alyssa Solomon
"Eh," she grunts with a little shrug, leaning back against the counter.  "The Bechdel Test is flawed to shit anyway.  Useful, don't get me wrong, but way too binary for my tastes.

"Besides," she says, "I have two counterpoints.  One, we had a full conversation about makeup and how I learned to put it on, so we technically have passed for the conversation as a whole.  Second, we're not doing it because Kalen defines us.  We're doing it because he's about what we have in common, to be honest."

Grace
"True. Maybe that's my problem. I don't have anything in common with people, aside from the whole... magic thing. Which, okay, honestly, let's face it. I see it all so differently I can't even learn or teach it. And Kalen. Occasionally I'll have Kalen in common with somebody," Grace says, quirks up a little smile at Alyssa. Like us, see?

"Or the only thing I have in common with someone is that we both went through horrible shit together. There's that, too."

Alyssa Solomon
She considers that for a long moment, black lips pursed.  Grace is right, to be sure...there isn't a lot that they have in common.  Or at least, that they know of.

"Well, I'm willing to bet that there's something more than that.  We just don't know anything better."  She cocks her head, watching the Virtual Adept for a long moment.

"I don't actually know much about you, now that I think about it."  Clearly, she had already thought about it moments before, but that's neither here nor there.  "Tell me something I didn't know yet.  Story time with Grace and Alyssa."

Grace
"Something you don't know yet. Hmm," Grace says, and covers her mouth with her hand as if pondering. "I shaved my head once when I was a rebellious teen. Talk about standing out in a crowd, huh?"

She looks at her cookie while she talks, lest dreaded eye-contact be made. But eventually she has to get rid of the prop, and it goes down the hatch.

"Wasn't really me though. Was for everyone else."

Alyssa Solomon
"Shaved your head?  Nice."  She tries to imagine Grace with a shaved head and it doesn't take her that long before she nods.  "Yeah, I can see where it probably wasn't your style.  I think it'd be a good look for you though."

She takes a sip of the drink.  "What prompted you to do that?  As opposed to wearing it in a mohawk, going goth or getting a safety pin through your left nostril, I mean."

Grace
"I didn't want to be attractive to anyone. It was too much effort trying to figure out people's weird reactions to my puberty," Grace says, and shrugs. "I wasn't doing it for allegiance to punk or anything like that. Just me trying to... I don't know. Gain some control. Didn't work really. Just pissed off my mom."

She shifts on her feet, goes after another cookie.

"What about you? Tell me something I don't know."

Alyssa Solomon
"Hmmm."  She runs a hand through her hair, frowning a little as she thinks.  She's talked a little bit about certain aspects of her history with Grace and others, so she bypasses them.

"Did I ever tell you my mother was a Washington lobbyist?  My father wasn't anything quite so visible, but he was a definite power player.  Had membership of a ton of societies like Skull & Bones, Freemasons and such, and used them a lot.  Obviously, Hermetic too, but I'm pretty sure you knew that."

Grace
"Woah. Shit. That's uh... Quite some power huh... powerful parents," Grace says, and her face betrays a mix of sympathy and discomfort. Despite the fact that Alyssa ended up at a goth club at fifteen, it says nothing about her parental relationships of the present.

It's uneasy for her, speaking of people she doesn't know.

Alyssa Solomon
"Yep, they were a real power pair."  She finishes off the glass and sets it next to her on the counter.  It's casual at this point; she's not that same person and she moved on years upon years ago.  She throws Grace a sidelong smile.  "I was kind of a real shit growing up about it, too.  They raised me studying Hermeticism.  Mom wasn't Awakened, but she was a Consor.  And I was a bit of a teacher's pet in my little Awakened version of prep school.  Bit of a Regina Goerge...pretty snotty to everyone around me."

She shrugs.  "Sometimes bad shit breaks you, sometimes it makes you stronger.  I ended up stronger, which is good because I would have been a complete nightmare if I'd continued on that path.  I'd have been exactly the kind of Hermetic we all hate."

Grace
"I was a teacher's pet too. But I wasn't snotty, I don't think. Just afraid of other kids. I couldn't talk to people my own age, you know? I probably would have been terrified of you. Or hated you. Probably a good thing we never met as kids," Grace says, and smiles a far-away thing.

"It's such a good thing, that we actually change with age, huh?"

Alyssa Solomon
She huffs in amusement, nodding.  "Yeah, it is a good thing.  For sure.  Because I would look terrible in a plaid skirt these days."

Yep, it's joke time again.  She winks at Grace.

"This has been fun, but I should go and make sure the ritual stuff I've got mixing together at home hasn't somehow turned into some new type of biological nitroglycerin and blown up my apartment.  I already lost my security deposit and I'd hate to have to pay for all collateral damage.  I'll catch you later, though?"

Grace
"Well, you know, when you paint the walls with blood, it kind of tends to make the landlord angry. Who knew?" Grace says, a smile on her face, a little hopeful that Alyssa sees it not as the insult it appears to be on the surface, but the kind of jab you only make with those you're comfortable with.

Fake it till you make it, isn't that what they say?

"Yeah. Later. Come see us, you know. Whenever."

Alyssa Solomon
She does take that as a good-natured jab; that kind of humor she can deal with well.  She smiles a little bit, more sincerely, when Grace says to come by whenever.

"Thanks.  I might.  Say bye to the chef for me.  I'll call him later."

And then she's heading out, into the city.