Stealing All The Forks

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.*

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.]

Danny
(Okay. feel better soon hun)

Kalen Holliday
Kalen nods to Alexander and then let the two people coming to the table have his attention.  He sprawls back out again once Alexander is gone.  No threats here.  Sure.  Except...they are Mages.  Not all of them have to be able to move to be dangerous.

"They have fourteen kinds of pie," Kalen says.  "So naturally I have yet to try the cake."  He says this as though it makes perfect sense.  Logical deductions.  Totally.

"I'm Kalen."  He does not reach across the table, he leaves her her space.  Or keeps his.  Something.

Danny
I lurve cake. *he grins and takes another sip of that drink, just as the burger was brought over with his fries and the icecream float to go with it.  He picks out a chip and dips it in some BBQ sauce before munching on it. Before he shifts Kalens stuff carefully and without getting grease on them to set them on the laptop and push them towards Kalen, towards safety.*  So, what's your name then? I don't think we got introduced properly last night. And you didn't say it earlier when you mentioned Victors.

Hannah
"Pie?" There's a perk to her voice."PIE?" Oh she likes pie. "Cake is good.It has good shape. Smooth. Smooth on the top, round."

When Danny's food came, Hannah made an obvious attempt to put distance between herself and it. She wouldn't touch the place or so much as look at it.  What she did do, was steal a fry from his food, one that hadn't been touching the burger.

"Hannah. I'm Hannah. I forget. I always forget. Names. They wander away sometimes. I forget to look for them."

Kalen Holliday
"Uh-huh."  Kalen says, in response to the information supplied about the shape of cake.  He doesn't seem to find that half as odd as one might expect.

"I like the shape of blackberries.  Still round.  Still smooth in places.  But, you know, also interesting."

Danny
*He didn't miss the fact she stole food from his plate, just glanced at Kalen and nodded subtly. He moved the plate just a little, turning it so that she could help herself a bit more to the chips.*  You know what I find fascinating? Beehives. How the hell do those little fellas figure their tube things? They're all the same! Everywhere!!

Hannah
"Not the hair. The shape. Not the hair." She grabbed another fry, not seeming to realize or understand that she was taking Danny's food.

She blinked, glancing to the side at Danny and trying to avoid looking at the burger. "Scent. Bees smell. Bees use smell and direction and the sun to know where they're going. When bees come back from an adventure, they dance for the bees to show them where to go for honey. They use angle to the sun, and scent to say that the flower is this way and that way, even though sometimes they get it wrong." She moved her hands to her scarf, smoothing the fabric out as she talked. "Did you ever talk to a bee? They're really nice."

Kalen Holliday
Kalen takes a breath.  Yeah.  Denver.  Island of misfit toys.  Opinion...definitely not revised.

"I...no.  Never had the occasion to converse with any bees."  He still seems fine with the conversation.  But then, he doesn't really do normal conversation either.  "Dancing's cool though."

Danny
Well fancy that... I never knew that... Colour me impressed as all hell right now. *He nodded glancing at Hannah before he picked up the burger carefully and moved it the napkin so she could just go ahead with the plate unmolested.  Then he got up close and personal, taking the first bite and enjoying it.*

Dancing... *he nodded and swallowed.* One of the most primal things there is, goes right back to the beat.  I never knew bee's knew how to boogie though.

Hannah
Her voice elevates as she picks up another fry, putting it between her lips. "They do! They do they do! And they're real nice if youdon't..." She made a motion with her fingers as if squeezing or touching something. "They like pollen. Lots of pollen. So you give them flowers. But only the right flowers because if you give them the wrong flowers they won't like you that much, course it's ahrd to know the right flowers because they see different patterns and we don't see them." She just...talked, not so mindful of their presence. Hannah shifted in her seat, wiggling slightly out of her seat. "See? See they dance like this.." And she wiggled her butt, taking a few steps forward, then turning around and making a figure 8, meeting back at the beginning and wiggling as she stepped forward again. "And they vibrate their wings like this.." She shoot her arms out to her side, despite being in a diner, and maybe getting in someone's way. She has to dance the bee dance!

Lena Reilly
[[Per+Aware for magedar!  Spec: Uncanny Instincts]]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (2, 2, 3, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 10) ( success x 4 ) Re-rolls: 2

Lena Reilly
A nice, pleasant and fairly warm day in Denver usually means that Lena's out and about.  The DJ is far from the most social of mages, at least among the Awakened community itself, but she does enjoy being out with the sun on her face and people milling about her.  It's one thing to not engage people much, but the ability to watch life exist in a chaotic, beautiful clash around her is something that Lena can't often avoid.

Of course, that might be easier if she wasn't caught up in her own world.  But in this case, as happens sometimes, she absolutely is.  Finding Lena without music in her ears is a true rarity, and sometimes she's inspired.  That usually means that she's dancing as she walks, and that's the case now.  She's in a state of motion, her shoulders swaying a little and her hands twisting and turning as she walks down the street and toward the diner.  What she's dancing to is hard to guess; her earbuds are in and not loud enough to be heard outside of them.  But she's caught up in the moment and however people around her may be reacting to it...well, that's their problem.

As she passes in front of the diner, she picks up a familiar Resonance.  That heavy storm is hard to miss, after all.  She quirks a smile and, without missing a beat, hip-checks her way through the door.  Her hair is free and loose, falling over her shoulders and the "In Love With the DJ"-emblazoned tank top that she's wearing.  A pair of jeans and comfortable sandals completes the look, and she finally opens her eyes (funny how she wasn't running into anything) when she gets in, her sight falling on Kalen and the other two.  With a smile and nod, she starts to make her way over there.

Kalen Holliday
"Well.  I do generally refrain from petting bees.  I find that's best for all...."  He watches Hannah start a bee dance in the diner.  Huh.

"...for all involved.  Why don't we sit back down?  Tell me more about the flowers.  What kind of flowers do bees like?  How do I figure that out?  Do they like different ones, different bees?  Different flowers at different times?  I would hate to bring the wrong ones."

And then there is Lena, and he is moving to not take up an entire bench of the booth again so she can sit somewhere without pulling up any chairs and possibly displacing any dogs.

Danny
*Danny could've laughed watching the girl waaggle her trunk around like that, but then just as the smile began to broaden... Kalen spoke and he frankly, could've just hugged him there and then, the guy was trying.  He was really honest to god trying and that made such a difference. It helped him to relax more and he didn't worry about eating now,  Then Lena was coming closer and he turned his head to look at her as he took another bite of the burger.* Bee's are cool... *he managed before he continued to eat and swallow.* Little funk masters.

Hannah
[am packing up to head home.. keep going! BBS]

Lena Reilly
Hannah's bee dance draws an amused smile, but she's not one to complain or deride someone for dancing after all, is she?  She pulls the earbuds out and puts her iPod into her pocket, giving Kalen a smile.

"Hey, you.  It's been a little while...how are you?"

So as not to make them feel left out, she looks at the other side of the table and smiles to the both of the people she doesn't know.  "Hello."  She doesn't just sit down...that's never been her thing.  Some people have personal bubbles and she knows Kalen be okay with it, but joining a table without being invited is still a thing for her.

Kalen Holliday
"Hey, Hummingbird.  Join us.  We're talking about bees.  Sometimes with demonstrations of bees dancing.  Right now, though, picking out flowers for bees.  Apparently not just any flower will do.  If you pick the right flowers though, bees will like you.  Apparently they appreciate attention to detail.  Or, at least, to their desires.  Making them shockingly human."

He smiles.  "Our resident bee whisperer is Hannah, that's Danny."  He waves at each of them absently.  "This is Lena."

Danny
*He lifted his left hand and waved his fingers in a brief curl. Then picked up his drink again to take a sip.* Hey Lena..

*He would've offered introductions, but Kalen took care of that. He wore just his face today, not working so there was no need to have put his eyeliner on... besides, really? Was it safe to wear it during the day all the time? Probably not.*

You look familiar, do I know you?

Lena Reilly
She can't help but shiver a little when bees are mentioned.  She's not bee-phobic or anything, but it was a bee (of sorts) that got her into the whole Hydra mess.  Still, she puts on a smile.  "Not my favorite insects, but they have their charms.  Nice to meet you Danny, Hannah."

No hand extended to the two of them.  Just a little wave of fingers.  When Danny asks if he knows her, she smiles a bit.  "Maybe.  I DJ for a lot of the clubs around here.  Did it in New York and a few other cities as well.  I go by DJ Halcyon.  You're familiar to me too, actually.  Do you hit up a lot of clubs?"

Kalen Holliday
Kalen settles back against the corner of the booth.  He takes a sip of coffee and makes only a tiny grimace, then sets it back down.   He seems content to just let Danny and Lena figure out how they know each other for the moment.

He watches the three of them quietly.  He is curious about all of them, after all.

Danny
*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.*

Ahh.. yeah.. *He smiled lopsidedly and shrugged one shoulder again.*  Drothe.. *he supplied the name. Now it made sense, rock guitarist/singer, a good one too by all accounts, an ax-man with lightning riffs and fingers that danced down the fret-board; and now he was here in Denver. Not LA.* It'll be good to hear a set some time.

Lena Reilly
It clicks when he lists his stage name, and she smiles.  "Ooh, right.  I've heard of you.  Very cool...well, welcome to Denver.  From one music professional to another, it's a good place for us.  We have a pretty fantastic music scene here."

She turns her gaze back to Kalen, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.  "So what's new?  Have I missed anything exciting as of late?"

Hannah
Hannah slipped into her seat, doing her best not to bump into Victor as he laid on the floor near her. Her hands slipped to her scarf, smoothing the fabric a bit shyly as she looked to her lap. Her head hung, letting the hair slide around her face. Hannah reached over to slip a fry from Danny's plate, munching it like a rabbit.

They all talked, and Hannah reached into her bag to pull out her book. Her feet curled up into the booth, the bound object being placed against her knees. She was crowded, at least by the seat and the table, but it felt secure.  Lena had said hi, and Hannah lifted a hand as a method of greeting, and let it drop.

Kalen Holliday
"Mmmmmmmmm...I will definitely have to catch you up.  Probably nothing will actually explode in the near future."  He smiles.  "We can hope, at least."

He glances at Danny.  "Mmmmmmmm...don't be confused.  Not all the people you meet around me are musicians or dancers or DJs or something."

Danny
*His eyes moved to Kalen as he spoke then grinned.* Yeah, I figured....  *then he turned his attention to Hannah as she sat back down.* So, which bee's like what flowers then Hannah?

Lena Reilly
"Well, hopefully not."  She chuckles and finally moves to take a seat, leaving some space between her and Kalen.  She settles comfortably in, looking to the two newcomers as Danny asks about bees and what flowers they like.  It's not something in which she has any area of expertise and she's more interested in getting to know the two than offering her opinion, anyway.

She has a certain amount of ease in her posture as she settles in, although that's only to a point.  She's never been particularly comfortable when there are a lot of new people around.  Large crowds and one-on-one are both fine for her.  Crises...also fine.  When it comes to small groups that she doesn't know very well, that's a different situation.

Hannah
"Basil, mint, watermelon, melon, oregano, chives, berries, clovers, lilacs, bee's balm..." She focused on the book in front of her, turning to the appropriate page for an examination of old architecture. "Tulips, sunflowers, maple trees, black locust, sumacs, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, black-eyed susans, golden-rods, pumpkins..."

"Mostly wildflowers, and flowering plants that have long blooming cycles. The last bee to give me words loved blueberries." She shifted a little in her seat,turning a page as she focused hard on the words. She reached over, absently, to steal another fry.

Kalen Holliday
Kalen just nods. "Blueberries, huh?  I have a friend who makes fantastic blueberry scones.  Do you want some cake?  Because at some point Danny is going to run out of fries.  We wouldn't want him to be hungry, would we?"

He glances at Lena and smiles, "Things are mostly good, considering.  I've just been playing with some ideas, and considering one of our last conversations, I think maybe you'll have thoughts.  That's all."

Danny
*He was still tucking into the burger but leaving the fries for Hannah to munch down, taking his time as he enjoyed it, it wasn't terrible, but well, it was okay. It did the job. Hannah and her seemingly endless list of plant made his eye brows rise up slowly and he turned his head to look at her for a long moment, then he nodded after just making a sound.* Mmmhmm.

*Then his eyes lifted to look at the other two at the table, pausing from time to time he took a suck of the drink he had beside the plate, then reached over and nudged the plate of chips a little closer to Hannah. All in all, he was far more relaxed as he sat and got to know the people around him. Kalen wasn't talking, which was fine, it was almost possible he was  prone to silences he'd begun to realise. As if he needed time to adjust to what ever impulse he had in his head. Don't push... he'd been told repeatedly, so that's not what he tried to do, not trying to force an effort from the other guy.

When he'd finished his burger he pushed took another drink of the coke he'd ordered and leaned back in his seat, resting his shoulders back against the cushions. His right hand and it's longer black nails lifting as he wiped the corners of his mouth on the napkin.*

No I'm good. *He chuckles.* But if you want cake or pie, let me know.

Lena Reilly
"What, because I've always exhibited such great judgment in the past?"  She says it with a bit of a grin.  Kalen's one of the people with whom Lena is fully comfortable in Denver.  They had their rocky start but that was due to outside factors and once they got to know each other, Lena warmed to him.  It's like she said once before (abbreviated version): Kalen 101 is What a dick.  Kalen 201?  I’ll kill you if you hurt him.

She's joking in this little bit of self-deprecation though.  She has her insecurities, but this moment doesn't involve them.  "Yeah, absolutely.  Any time you want to pass anything by me, you know that I'm game."

She turns her attention to Danny for a moment.  "So what brings you to Denver anyway?  Just a waystation, or something more permanent."

Hannah
"No. No no. Not bread. Blueberries. She liked blueberries. Not scones. Scones not flowers."

"Pie." She said it even before Kalen and Danny had even really finished. "Pie. Not bad color pie. No bad color pie. No." She shook her head slowly, hair sliding around her face as she did, reaching up to grab another fry again, stuffing it in her mouth one munch at a time. "Three. Three pieces. "

Danny
*He had to consider the question and the surroundings, then he shrugged one shoulder a bit again.*

Mostly?  Learning.. *he nods, making eye contact with her for a minute before he looked away again.*  trying to figure a few things out, get my head around a few things... *That was right, be vague and hope for the best, it was easier this way it sort of left a few things out but... he couldn't help that. Then he caught up with what Hannah had said and nodded.*

Right, so... uh....... *Then he blinked in surprise again and chuckled.* You want three peices of pie?

Kalen Holliday
"Well.  You know.  I can't speak to that.  I do know you have absolutely no problem telling me things you'd like me to do when I haven't asked, so I assume you'll tell me them definitely when I do."  He only sounds amused.

That doesn't really change at Hannah's pronouncement.  "Yeah?  What colors are good colors?  Do the colors have to match?  Should they all be the same color?"

Lena Reilly
She knows the point that Kalen's talking about; she remembers it well.  It was during that point in which everything was a haze for her, but it was also the first time in Denver that she willingly got close to someone in a physical capacity.

She smiles a bit...not at the memory, but just at Kalen's reference of it.  It's a reserved smile, amused but not ebullient.  "In all fairness, I was a completely mindfucked mess at that moment."  She might expound further, but her gaze quickly shifts across the table and she lets it drop.

"But yeah, I'll give you feedback, no problem."

Hannah
"Three."

She didn't need to elaborate did she? Three was just the best number. She reached into her bag for her green pen, ruffling her hand around. "Mr green..." Her legs dropped and she leaned over the bag to look inside, stuffing her head in it as if they would give her a better view. "Shh...I didn't. Its there. I know it is. I put it there. You saw me. "

"Good colors are good colors. Bad colors are bad colors. All same is not good. Bees don't like all same. Deer don't like all same. All same is not good colors." Hannah's book, forgotten now, slumped to the floor with a thud as she now focused all of her attention on her bag. The service job jumped a little, then rolled on his side. He stretched his nose out to sniff at the noise maker.

"Where is it? Did I forget again?"

Grace
[Awareness/Perception = resonance detection!]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (3, 7, 7, 8, 9) ( success x 4 )

Danny
*He nodded and reached for a table menu then handed it to Hannah.* Well, take a look and decide.  *No, he didn't want to fall foul of the girl losing it again with this matter and hang up she had with colours. Part of him was curious about which ones were bad, which were good and even more, why they were bad and good.   The conversation between Kalen and Lena made him a little bit curious but he didn't pry on that either. Somethings were best left un-asked... besides, he could imagine just judging from the reaction last night.  Still, the girl was now rummaging around in her bag to try and find what she needed.

He shifted in the seat and reached into his pocket for his phone, sliding  his thumb over the lit up screen before hitting the side switch to turn the screen off again, then he put it away, He looked at Lena once more..* So, what about you? Why're you in Denver and not in NYC holding your own with the DJs up there?

Grace
East Colfax is a rough street to put it mildly. It also houses a warehouse full of high-and-low-tech Etheric toys, and Kalen's new favorite place to obtain pie. So it cannot be all bad. Just mostly rotten.

Mostly rotten is still enough of a reason to watch out. And by this, we mean that Grace is not walking into the diner with her eyes firmly planted into her cell phone. She is at least paying some attention. And that means she gets to experience the the full flood of 'here be Mages' that is a sparkling, stormy, growing, dying beat. She looks over to the table.

Oh, so it's going to be one of those days. Like, a 60-40 chance of doom and monsters. That's what it means when they congregate like this, right?

Her eyes roll at the universe's perverse jests. Ha ha, universe, I am on to you.

Today, Grace is dressed in jeans, sneakers, and a grey turtleneck jacket. Does she ever dress in any other fashion? Not by her own free will, she doesn't.

In any case, she walks over, puts on a happy countenance. Hey, it might not rain vampires today. The sun hasn't set yet, right?

"Hey," she says, to everyone. Apparently someone is a woman of few words today.

Lena Reilly
She goes to answer Danny, but her cell phone rings.  She frowns and looks at it.

"Sorry guys, I have to take this call.  It was nice meeting you Danny, Hannah."

She slips up out of the seat and makes her way to leave.

[[Thanks for the scene, guys!  Getting a little crowded for me.]]

Danny
(Okay, see you later thanks as well)

Kalen Holliday
Kalen frowns a little, watching Hannah.  But she'll find whatever she wants or not and Danny is offering her a menu.  Presumably she can pick out things in the proper colors.

Deep breath, Holliday.  This is totally easy to fix.  You just need a Master of the Ars Mentis.  No big deal.  Just find one and figure out what they want in return for helping you and this won't even be a thing.  What's the worst they could ask?

"Ah.  Hi, Kit.  This is Danny and Hannah."

"I'll call you," he says to Lena.  "Take care."

Hannah
She purse he rlips, pulling her head out of the bag and lifting it, spilling the contents onto the table, regardless of where it all landed. Pens, pencils, notebooks, the shiny bracelet, paperclips that were bent out of shape. Erasers, pen caps that had been chewed on, a small bag of dog treats, a chew toy...

"Where is it?" Her voice lifted. "Sh! Shut up. I know! I didn't mean to! I really didn't!" Now she was running her hands through the things she had dumped until finally, her hands found the green pen. Hannah let out a slow and steady sigh as she hugged it. "Thought I lost you."

Another long sigh and she was glancing towards Grace through the strands of her hair, letting her eyes cast down as she pluckd the menu from Danny' hands. "That one." She picked a blueberry pie. "Three."

The dog next to her, with SERVICE DOG on his vest, lifted his head up as he detected the bag, and Hannah opened it, pulling out a few treats to hand to him. "Good. You're so good Victor." Her voice raising, but not in panic this time.

Danny
*He nodded to Lena as she went, then watched as Grace approached.* Hey Grace.

*In the meantime he was keeping an eye on what Hannah was up to, some how just felt kind of responsible around her. Which was fucked up, specially considering he'd just spent the past two or three years living out of the back of a car, motel hopping and touring. He watched with a frown appearing on his face as Hannah seemed to begin to get more anxious, then breathed out softly when she found what was was looking for.  Then motioned to the waitress for service, placing the order for three portions of the blueberry pie.*

Serafíne
Awareness.

Dice: 7 d10 TN5 (2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 7, 8) ( success x 2 )

Serafíne
"It's like - "  Sera is explaining something to Richard with a protracted precision.  Smiling around the words, laughing at the way they get themselves made somehow, somewhere, some way within the frame of her body.  She's explaining something to Richard while she's pushing open the door, hands skimming the glass frame, her golden head canted strangely as if she were listening to something no one else can hear.

"It's like - it's like - "

Which may be true.  She's stoned.  Pupils dilated, the black devouring the blue, though beyond the most intense of her hallucinations, which were more disturbing this trip than they usually might be.  Somehow though she's come down, and calmed down, and slipped into this phase where she feels both voluble and cocooned.

Meeting Richard a bit earlier was a coincidence.  Perhaps they smoked a joint.  Perhaps she then suggested that they go someplace for pie.  ("Chicken pot pie.")  Oh Sera, you're so clever.

And eating seems like a good idea.  She's looking, well, just a touch thin these days.

"Oooooh, Kalen's here."  To Richard, turning back to him as he comes in after.  "Fuck, I forgot what I was saying."

Grace
"Bye, er, Lena..." Grace says, trailing off when she realizes that the reason Lena's leaving is a phone call, and she probably won't even be heard.

But then, she starts paying more attention to the table's current residents, and glances to Kalen -- a silent communication of 'wtf'. Hannah, darling, you do not broadcast to the world that you hear voices like that. It's a great way to get involuntarily committed.

Then again, this is East Colfax. Everyone on this street has probably seen it before and couldn't care less.

"Yeah, I've met Danny. He bought me a gelato coffee thing," Grace says. "It was good."

The telltale ringing of Kalen's cell phone signals his abrupt departure. Everyone is getting calls today, it seems. [OOC: Ix is internet-troubled right now, so Kalen's going awaaaaay]

Serafíne
(Well, uh. nix the Kalen bit from my post, whatever.)

Richard
They did, in fact, smoke a joint.  And now Richard is ambling along in Serafine's wake, feeling very tall and very mellow.  Which is unsurprising, because he is, in fact, both very tall and very mellow at the moment.  "I forgot what you were saying too," he laughs, because it is true, and because it is humorous.  To him, anyway.  He reaches over her to open the door wider, drawing himself up, taking a deep breath.

"Chicken pot pie," he muses.  "I like turkey better.  Hey, wasn't that -- " well; doesn't matter, he's left.  "Do you know that girl?"

Him being the recently-departed Kalen.  That girl being his table-mate.  Obviously.  It is not quite cold outside, but Richard has a light jacket on anyway, which he shrugs out of now.  Beneath: buttondown shirt, jeans.  Nice quality.  Muted colors.  It's autumn, after all.

Hannah
With her green pen triumphantly in hand, and the dog treats slowly slipped back in her bag, she leans under the table to grab the book that had fallen, pulling it in her lap. Hannah bites her lower lip, no chews on it, as she she scribbles in her book, nodding her head. "Yes yes, that's right. I know that's right. You -don't- have to remind me."



Danny
*He motioned for the seat that was now empty across from both him and Hannah to be taken if they wanted to. Smiling at them as he did so.* This is Hannah.



Serafíne
Richard must feel especially tall when he's walking in Sera's wake today.  She's not wearing heels, just her Docs, so the extraordinarily tall swimmer is more than a foot taller than Sera herself.  She has paired opaque thigh-high stockings that resolve around her thighs in a silhouette motify of a Parisian skyline with her combat boots and cut-off denim shorts today, along with a men's tuxedo jacket that seems several sizes too large, the sleeves all rolled up, over, you know, a little black and pink bra.

"Her."  Sera is turning back to Richard, smiling now, aware of how her mouth curls, thinking strangely about the limits of her cheeks and what a strange thing lips are.  "And her and also him."

Confirming, you see, this small note of triumph in her voice as she glances back and up at him.  "I know fucking everyone."  No sign of the darkness that might've slipped its arms around her half-way through the joint, not anymore, not now.  "C'mon.  I'll introduce you.  Maybe you met Grace at Hawksley's birthday party?"

Grace
Grace slides into a chair at the table. The waitress didn't notice she was there, which isn't much of a shock really. So it's time to drag the mundane's attention away from the muttering girl and onto the one who can't be noticed.

She prods the waitress with a pointy tip of the menu. "I'll have blackberry. Cobbler, pie, I don't care. Oh, and ice cream. And a water. Thanks so much!"

Big bright smile. Please be distracted. Please don't notice the 'schizophrenic'. Yeah, Grace has heard of that before. Sometimes, with their kind, the voices are really real.

Richard
"I'm starting to think you do," Richard admits.  He gives Grace a second, considering glance.  "Maybe I did.  I don't know.  Too many people and too many drinks."

They're there: Grace's table, where Grace herself has just sat down.  Now she's attended by two rather unusual individuals.  Richard is, as previously mentioned, enormously tall; quite lean.  He manages to be golden, hair and skin and everything, even as the days shorten.  And then there is Serafine, who even in flats(!) manages to look ... well.  Out of the ordinary.  Sometimes Richard wonders how she dresses herself in the mornings.  Hers is a fashion quite beyond even his gallic sensibilities.

Danny
Hey Sera..  How are things today?  *Danny by contrast was dark with long black hair and mahogany brown eyes, lithe in form and shorter easily than Richard by a country mile, but taller than Sera.  He smiled again at the pair of them before picking up his coke to finish it, then finally make a start on the sickening mess in the other glass. What was once an icecream float, was now a cloudy..... thing... He stirred it with a straw thought to mix it further then began to drink it, his eyes drifting to Grace as she ordered.*

Hannah
People. People keep appearing and Hannah curls more into herself, trying to shrink in her space on the booth, using the book to try and hide behind.  Her eyes slipped from one to the next, trying to decide if whatever was happening was worthy of escape.

As Grace took a seat, Hannah quickly reached out for what objects remained on the table from her bag, and began to shove them back in quickly. "I was thinking the same. You're right. Better to." The book was snapped shut and shoved into her bag. Hannah slid out of the booth slowly, picking up the leash to the service dog hanging by her. The idea of giving a wave or a goodbye hadn't crossed her mind. Instead, she pulled her bag on her shoulders and with a few words, squirmed her way out of the diner.

Serafíne
"Graaaaaaace."

So, yeah.  They amble or maybe rock up to the diner booth and Sera plants her hands on the end and Hannah picks herself up and squeezes out or whatever.  Too many people: whatever.  Sera's dark (dark) eyes flick upward to meet Hannah's.  This glance down at the service dog and a supple shift of her slender hips out of Hannah's way as the other woman makes her escape.

"Danny.  This is Richard."  Sera tips her chin up up up and her head back back back in a way that makes her long hair much, much longer.  Oh, neat.  Feel how long it is, wriggling all down her spine.  Confidentially, leaning in as if she were telling everyone a remarkable secret, all sotto voce, "He's a giant!  A nice one though.  We're kind of stoned."

Richard
"Danny.  Grace."  Richard nods at them, sort of lazy-loose, as he drags a chair out and drops easily into it.  "Oh.  Mind if I sit?"

Danny
*The corner of his mouth lifted in amusement as he took in Sera's state. He chuckled softly with a shake of his head then holds his index finger and thumb apart a fraction.*

Just a little bit, I think you can do better than that...  *Then his eyes slid to Richard, then went up, up up.... before nodding in agreement.* He looks like one!

Hey man.. *he lifts a hand in greeting to Richard.* No come on in... Get comfortable.

Grace
This is not an uncommon thing to happen to Grace, that she arrives, and suddenly everyone needs to be elsewhere.

"Oh, well, see you, Hannah."

Graaaaaaaaace.

Truthfully, she knew Sera was around. Around about somewhere. It's hard to mistake that sensation of her, that feeling of being on the verge. Grace bends her head down over the back of her chair, to look at Sera and the giant upside-down.

"Seraaaaaaaaa," she says, and there is an upside-down smile to go with it. "When aren't you stoned?"

There is also a little wave for Richard in there somewhere.

Serafíne
"I'm actually," Sera clarifies to Danny, and she does it leaning-forward, her tattooed hands on the chipped tabletop, her thumb framed by mica that catch and pull the tracers of light through the corners of her vision.  Ooooh, hands.  Something about her manner makes it seem ever-so-confidential, like she's sharing secrets, but everyone within earshot can hear her.  "more than a little bit stoned. "

Then, a mild and still somehow beatific little half-smile at Grace.  "You remember Richard from Hawksley's party.  He was on the couch."

The one on her lawn.

The one that showed up on her lawn.

Back to Danny, see - "They got it on Craiglist."

The couch, she means.  Not that he has any fucking idea what the hell the creature is talking about.  Sera reaches across the table, then - somehow despite her rather negligible height, she still seems to have rather long limbs, and snags  a couple menus from where they are clipped with the napkins and salt and pepper.  Hands one to Richard to peruse and starts her own review.  Though she finds it rather hard to focus on words and pages when there are remarkable things happening in her peripheral vision.

Serafíne
When aren't you stoned? with an upside down smile.  That question might be rhetorical but Sera looks up from her menu at Grace long enough to answer it.  "When I'm fast.  ing."

Which she kind of is now, though obviously not from, you know, drugs.

Tarrin Rasvelg
The one joy in his life is riding. There's something about roaring his motorcycle down a road that feels freeing. It's probably the concentration he needs, or the fact that no one is going to interrupt his moment, or it might just be that he can let his instincts take over.

He's paused at a light when he sees the impala. A car like that isn't something you see often, particularly not the dark blue one. Tarrin takes the option to meet up with its owner, and glides his ride over to park. The purr of the crockrocket comes to a close and he slides off, making his way into the diner as the helmet is brought to his side.

A leather jacket to keep away the wind is worn with a simple pair of jeans and a pair of boots. The 'sides' of his hair were turned into small braids and allowed to swoop back with the rest of the blonde locks. He didn't need to be invited; he knew Grace and Danny.

Danny
*He had to chuckle, he just didn't have a choice in that. It was happening before he could stop himself. Shaking his head a little to go with it. Then he smiled again at Sera.* Ahh, right...  *he nodded sagely to that, remembering vaguely the last time he got wasted on a beach in LA, then the events after it with another chuckle.* Least you're having fun with it... *he lifted one hand to trace patterns in the air before Sera's eyes, his nails were black on that hand, shorter than the other one as he fanned out his fingers, opening his hand then closed it slowly before he repeated the process.  If in doubt, play with the stoner, add to the visuals.

Then his attention was taken by Tarrin appearing in the door and the sound of the bike that went with it.  His hand was still raised, still fanning and curling up his fingers then opening them into the fan again even as his eyes remained fixed on Tarrin, now that was  nice distraction and he slid over in the seat once more making room for the man.*

Richard
Richard -- menu in hand, looking for chicken pot pie -- looks up as he catches motion out of the corner of his eye.  It's Danny.  He's wiggling his fingers around.  Richard frowns.  Under the table, he nudges Serafine's shoe with his own.

"Is that guy casting on you?"  To the tune of, is that guy bothering you?

Grace
"I do remember Richard, though we didn't really meet meet," she says, then rights herself again. "I'm Grace. We should have a talk. We should all have a talk. Except Sera. Sera knows Ginger."

Oh, if only Grace knew how well Sera knows Ginger. It's the voice, see? All in the voice.

"I'd rather not talk about it in public, but you know. Sometime."

Serafíne
That nudge ensnares Sera's attention.  She's sitting there with her forearms braced against the edge of the booth and a menu in hand and Richard's searching for pot pies and Sera is - yes - fascinated by the way tracers of light smear in the wake of Danny's hand as he moves, such that she cannot quite unstick herself.  But then: Richard, his foot against hers, and she breathes in and turns her head all sharp and fixes him with a look that takes far too long to achieve the final degree of focus, but what the hell.

She is: smiling, so wide that she looks more than a little bit haunted.

But what the hell, don't we all?

"No," to Richard.  "He's not.  I think he's trying to give me something to look at.  Fuck if I know."  Then Sera is nodding, agreement with Grace.  "Ginger is Grace's phone sex line.  You guys should totally talk.  Some time.  She's very private too so.  You can say anything."

Tarrin Rasvelg
[forgot.. awareness]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9) ( success x 2 )

Richard
"Richard," was his answer to Grace, some moments past.  The introductions are short and sweet.  Or at least: short.

"I thought Ginger was -- " Richard begins, but then stops.  Penny drops.  He smirks.  "Oh, funny.  Well," he flips his menu around, slides it over toward Serafine, taps with a finger.  "I found the pot pie.  Want to get two to-go?"

Tarrin Rasvelg
He slides in next to Danny, unzipping the jacket and sitting it behind him. "Hey Danny." He gives the guy a small nod, then one to Grace. "I have a package on the way for you. Don't let me forget." And then of course, there was Richard and Sera, two people he didn't know. He might have greeted them normally except...well at least Sera didn't look all the way there.

Danny
*No, he wasn't doing anything like that. It was merely one cultist playing with another's senses the way they always did. And he'd hope that some day Sera would do the same for him.

Then Tarrin was there, and he found it hard to move away from him again.   The smile on his face growing even more, but eventually he shifted to give Tarrin just a touch more room, reluctantly though.* I won't let you forget... Is it... car related? *he lifted his other hand, the right to rest the elbow on the table and then leaned his chin on the upturned palm just staring for a while at the blonde beside him.*  Have you met Sera and Richard?

Grace
Oh. Sera. Grace's eyes open a touch wider, and her face starts tinging toward the red spectrum. Her phone sex line. Like she's some kind of telephone-based madam.

"A package? What? You bought something for me?" she says, and at least it's something to say that's not about Ginger.

Serafíne
So Tarrin.  Hi Tarrin.  Sera flashes him a peace sign with her left hand.  Which also, quite incidentally, shows off the tattoos on her fingers and palm: scissors, the blades on the index and middle finger, the handles on the palm, one handle turning into or being consumed by a shark, whose tail curls down her wrist.  And, the impression of script edging her palms.

Then back to Richard, "Yeah, let's get them to go.  We've got Oktoberfest and still have some of that summer shandy left back at the house.  So you get to be in whatever season you want.  No more tyranny of time.  C'mon."

And just like that she is unseating herself, reaching over to pull Grace closer for a brief, intimate little drop of a kiss on the crown of Grace's head.

"See you guys."

Tarrin Rasvelg
Tarrin looks between Grace and Danny for a moment, letting his lips curl into a small smile. "Yours..." He looks at Danny. "Is already in. And yes, it's car related." And to Grace he turned to give her a small nod. "Don't get excited. It's nothing big."

Finally he focuses on the other two. "No." Whatever semblance of smile he had having vanished. "Tarrin." The tattoos along her palms aren't ignored or unnoticed.

Danny
Yeah.. .seeya... *he drifted his eyes back to Sera with that smile.* Have fun with it.

*Then he was turning his gaze to the conversation and back to Tarrin as Grace and he spoke.*

OOooh... *He couldn't help that grin growing wider.* Oil and... *Yeah, now the grin was growing like the cheshire cats from Alice in wonderland... he just kept that smile and sighed softly.*

Richard
"Catch you later, Grace.  Nice meeting you, Danny.  Tarrin.  We'll talk more next time, all right?"

He rises in Serafine's wake, like waves in sequence.  Menus in hand, they head over to give kitchen their order.  For a while they can be seen loitering around the waiting area, Serafine talking, Richard listening, Serafine animated, Richard subdued and smiling.  Eventually their food arrives.  Eventually they head out the way they came, and are gone.

In their wake, the air seems a little staler.  A little less alive.

Serafíne
(Thanks for the scene guys!  Bed for me.  :D)

Danny
(laters Sera)

Richard
[i am heading off soonishly myself!  thanks!]

Grace
Sera pulls at her, kisses her head, and despite the discomfort of being that close to someone, Grace allows it. Smiles even. This is the way of Sera, and let it be said that Sera is the only person in Denver who could rightfully get away with this.

"Goodbye," she says, always saying goodbye.

"Oil and what?" There's an in-joke in this somewhere, and currently Grace is not in. She may just be the target of the joke. It's been known to happen.

Tarrin Rasvelg
And then there were three. Tarrin lifted a brow slowly. "Am I that scary?"

He shakes his head a little, flagging down the waitress for a cup of coffee. That same brow remained perched and Tarrin looked to Danny and then slowly to Grace. "Mechanics? Tools? Cars?" When he looked to Danny again, he rolled a shoulder in a shrug, brushing it off perhaps. "I can repair that gasket before it gets worse."

Danny
*He was just enjoying his own private thoughts, seemingly unaware of his having said anything at all.... that smile still stuck on his face.  But then he registered what Tarrin said and... what he'd said.... the blush started from somewhere in his shirt, then his throat, then up to his face and the grin became somewhat different as he cleared his throat slightly and turned his attention to Grace again.*

Excuse me? *And finally yeah, the words made sense... he nodded.* Okay... good. Thanks.  Yeah, tomorrow?  *Then he added.* No you're not scary...  Not at all.

Grace
Oh! They're just talking about car-things. Right.

The waitress Tarrin finds has been hovering around carrying a blackberry cobbler and water and having trouble locating the person who ordered it. Grace grabs at the plate. "That's mine. I've got the blackberry."

"I'm probably the scary one," Grace says. "I tend to ward people off. Or just annoy them off. A great talent, really."

Tarrin Rasvelg
"Don't have a fever or anything, do you?" He eyes Danny for a moment, and then gives him a slow nod. "Yeah if you have the time. Bring it by, I'll get it together."

"You, Grace?" His attention shifting to her, and inwardly finding the waitress issue amusing. "With your charm? Hard to believe. You're more amusing to hang around, not so much annoying. Special taste, maybe, but not annoying."

Danny
*He nods at the words.* No, I'm fine.  Just been a long day and not much sleep, so now I'm getting just that little bit spacey... *he smiles.* Coffee.... I'll drop by some place and get coffee then that'll be me. Done.

*He looks over the pie then his eyes drift up to Grace again.* it's lack of understanding that causes fear of the unknown, people should be a little bit kinder to each other some times.

Kalen Holliday
And back wanders Kalen.  Just in time to steal a bite of Grace's pie.  Which he does pretty much the second he resettles at the booth, whether or not he has to steal Grace's fork to do it.

"Sorry," he says absently.  "That was my priest."  He smiles, and it is the same kind of warm smile Sera can get get from him.  "He says hi, by the way, Kit."

"Hello again," he says to Tarrin, and that smile changes into something brighter but also less intimate.  And then his eyes sweep over all of them.  "Did I miss anything interesting?"

Grace
"You haven't gotten pissed off at me yet, Tarrin," she says, as though it's an inevitability.

"Tell him hi back," she says to Kalen, seemily quite unconcerned about the fork-stealing or pie-stealing going on. Thing about it is, she doesn't really see it as stealing so much as sharing. Obviously there is a bit of a disconnect here, if Grace thinks she is so poor with people and yet is close enough to Kalen for him to just swoop in and share a dessert.

"You missed Sera. So that was interesting. Also I think I ran off Hannah. Somehow. There are no world-ending terrors here, though."

Tarrin Rasvelg
Tarrin watches Danny for a moment and then gives a slow nod. "Probably best."

He gave a small nod to Kalen as he returned. "Now we can meet properly, or as properly as anyone else." At least Kalen didn't seem stoned, or out of his mind. Bonus points for that.

"Somehow I doubt you'll do that, Grace. Having a difficult time creating a scenario that results in being angry at you...unless you steal all my silverware without replacing it. You just don't touch a man's silverware." Humor, not his strong point...at least not obvious humor.

Danny
*He groaned softly as his phone went off with a short alarm burst that sounded like a guitar laughing, just one more thing. Then he slowly got to his feet with his hands on the table and put his feet on the couch to being climbing behind Taran to get out of the booth.* Nope... you just stay.... there...

*he was now behind him and had another odd moment of that need to clear his throat softly, but the moment passed as he slide out of the booth and set his feet onto the floor.*

I'm going to head off to that land of sleep... *He does a half hearted salute as he turns to say good bye to Kalen and Grace.* Take care... *then he turned his eyes back to Tarrin.* And you... I will see tomorrow....

*now didn't that sound like a threat, or a promise or something.* I'll call when I finally surface.

Danny
*He made his way out, heading to the Impala and let himself in, soon enough Rainbow was blasting out into the evening of the city, and Danny was gone.*

Kalen Holliday
Kalen waves to Danny, "Night."

He turns his attention back to Grace.  "That one...I wouldn't worry about spooking.  I get the impression much of the world does that."  There is a whisper of something gentle in his voice, but whether it's meant for Grace or Hannah is hard to guess.  "But no world-ending terrors is definitely good.  I'm not entirely sure I've recovered from the last ones yet."

Grace
"You don't?" Grace says, and turns a side-eye to Kalen. "You hear that? You can't touch my fork ever again. Stupid rules."

She huffs, and spears some blackberry cobbler with her fork. Stolen back.

"Yeah, I know what you mean about the recovery shit. Why can't they just let us take our trip to Australia in peace? Every week it's something else. And we can't go visit any kangaroos. The world would stop."

Tarrin Rasvelg
Oh well, he's climbed around by the lankier one, trying to keep his place while he maneuvers around. As Danny wanders off, he lifts a hand in a mock wave. "Drive safe." Given the state of tired he was in...

Tarrin looked back to the other two, his coffee finally making it. After doctoring it up with cream, and no sugar, he took a slow sip of it, using the cup to hide the small smirk he had. "Why kangaroos?" Because of everything they've said, that's what interests him more. Why kangaroos...

Kalen Holliday
"No.  It protects only the forks of men."  He tries to keep a straight face to go with his lecture tone.  "I can take as much of your silverware as I want.  But mine...mine is protected by rules.  Probably written in Latin.  Rules written in Latin are more official.  Sumerian is very official, but some of those rules are outdated, you see."

He turns to Tarrin, and again, his expression loses some of the softness.  Gains brightness.  "No idea.  She picked the kangaroos.  I'm baffled."

Grace
Grace narrows her eyes at Kalen, "This is so unfair. Old Latin rules about silverware? I'm going to take all your forks now. And your spoons. You will just have to deal."

There is blackberry cobbler to be had. And she has some, with a kind of wonder on her face that some restaurant on East Colfax has cobbler like this.

"And penguins," she says, mouth full. "Penguins are cool."

Ian
Diners in East Colfax weren't exactly the kind of haunt where one would expect to find Ian. And true to form, he wasn't there because he'd had a craving for coffee or pie or breakfast-for-dinner. He walked in behind a pretty brunette, who made her way confidently over to the counter and flagged down one of the servers. She had a light accent - something British. And she smiled, all warmth and charm, when the waiter approached to take her order.

She asked for two slices of pie (one cherry, one chocolate peanut butter silk) to go. Neither of them were for Ian, who paused as he stepped through the door to glance at the mages gathered around one of the tables. He nodded to Grace and Kalen, smirking lightly, but didn't immediately attempt to approach their table. Instead he fell in beside the woman he'd arrived with, leaning back on his elbows as he murmured something which she evidently found amusing.

Tarrin Rasvelg
"Though if it was written prior to 1960, it really only means white men. Because latin rules are racist like that." He used his cup as a mild form of a gesture, to make his point. "But not his knives?  You'll take his forks and spoons, but leave him the dangerous silverware?"

"So no kangaroos for you?" He lifted a brow at Kalen. "Let me guess..." His brows furrowed as if he were concentrating, trying to visualize Kalen and some creature together. "Koalas?"

"I don't think you're going to find penguins in Australia, Grace."

Kalen Holliday
"Oh," Kalen says with a laugh.  "She's not worried about that.  She knows all about my tendency to fall under buildings and into comas.  I'm more likely to trip and stab myself than to get her.  I'll have to like call Alexander and beg him to go get my silverware for me.  Or, more likely, refuse to admit I need help getting it back and just buy more."  He rolls his eyes.  "Which someone will undoubtedly also steal.  On principal.  She hates rules."

He mock-glares at Grace.  "You had best do something interesting with all the silverware you hoard."

It is only after that he looks away, meets Ian's eyes for all of a second, and nods.

Grace
"Linus Torvalds found penguins in Australia. He was pecked by one. And it was so cute he made it the penguin mascot for Linux," Grace says, chewing. "So. Cute. They're called fairy penguins."

Her head raises up at the impression of a large jungle cat, mysterious and graceful. Ahh, Ian is here.

Sometimes, people feel like snow or cold or ice, and it's hard to place them amongst all the other icy beings that flock to Denver (and with Denver's white-capped mountains it's not hard to guess why). And then there's people like Ian, people like Eleanor, people who cannot be mistaken.

"I'll let you borrow some. If you ask nicely," she says to Kalen. "And I wouldn't take his knives, because he might need them to slay vampires or something. I'm not cruel."

Ian
It was always a little awkward when one ran into a group of acquaintances from one social sphere while spending time with someone from another. Kalen and Grace, and to a lesser extend Tarrin (who'd only met him briefly) knew a different piece of Ian than the woman standing beside him at the counter. Ian might have introduced her, or he might not have. Ultimately he never got the chance, because shortly after they arrived, her phone buzzed.

As the woman spoke to whoever was on the other end of the line, her expression shifted to one of frustrated concern. She dropped her voice to a low register, speaking quietly with her face turned away from Ian.

After a minute, she hung up the call. By then her order had arrived, and she paid with a sigh. "I have to go. I'm so sorry."

Whatever Ian's response to this development, he kept his reactions carefully schooled. There was a soft shake of his head, and a faint lift of his shoulders. "It's fine. We'll reschedule."

"Oh, am I someone you actually schedule time for now?" A lift of amusement touched her eyes for a moment, but she didn't wait for a reply. "I'll call you tomorrow." She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. Something soft and lingering. Then she grabbed her food and made her way outside, leaving Ian behind.

To stay, or to go? That was the question. Ian glanced over at the mages' table consideringly, then finally walked over and pulled up a chair. "How are you all this evening?"

Tarrin Rasvelg
"Huh. Penguins. In Australia. Well, you'd know. I stand corrected." Tarrin set the coffee cup down, finally letting his own attention slide to Ian and the woman he was with.

"Fall under buildings?" His attention shifted back to Kalen, giving him a slightly quizzical look. "You're accident prone, and related to green witches. Well, I guess that's a good thing to know." He sat back in his seat. "Computers operate under rules...or am I wrong there too?"

As Ian joined, he gave a small drop of his chin to him. "Alive."

Kalen Holliday
"Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit."  His eyes roll.  "Werewolves.  If I'm using silverware on anything, it won't be vampires.  We have chairs for tha-"  His eyes light up and he grins.  "We need to figure out a werewolf thing for the Halloween party!!!"

"Not bad," Kalen says to Ian.  He looks like he's running on more caffeine than sleep, but that's hardly he unusual.  He seems...maybe not great, but Ian hasn't seen that since the night they got dragged into an alternate reality.  He does seem both present and amused.

"Oh...it's never accidental.  I attract an entirely different kind of trouble."

Grace
"Every rule can be broken, especially the ones that involve computers," there's a little smirk there. Breaking all the laws of computing and bending them to her will is kind of her everything. And when you consider the universe to be a computer...

"Eating cobbler," she asserts to Ian. "How are you? How do you feel about werewolf pinatas? But what would we fill them with? Moon pies?"

Ian
There was a temporary air to the way that Ian sat down with them. He flipped the chair backwards and leaned forward to rest his arms atop it, glancing between their faces. Kalen and Grace were on one side of the booth, with Tarrin on the other. Ian could have slid in beside the Hollow One, but he didn't. Instead he made his own space there at the end of the table.

He asked how everyone was doing. Alive, Tarrin said. Not bad, Kalen added. Eating cobbler, Grace concluded.

"So I see," Ian responded. Grace asked about werewolf pinatas, and Ian just... raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess, you're having a Halloween party."

Tarrin Rasvelg
"Hm." He made a small sound, crossing his arms over his chest as he, mostly, listened to the group. "Color my intrigued. Grace has a thing for tiny spoons and caffeinated ice cream, you attract a 'different kind' of trouble." Tarrin glanced to Ian. "And what's your special skill?

Otherwise he was mostly quiet. Now and then he'd take a small drink of his coffee. Whatever affairs they were talking about were their own.

Kalen Holliday
"We already are having vampire pi atas," Kalen says with a sigh.  But then he smiles again and his eyes light up as he looks over at Ian.  "We are attaching those ridiculous gummy hearts to them.  And then having at them with stakes.  You'll hate it.  You should come.  I promise at least the bar won't be there to be ironic."

Tarrin barely gets a glance when he sums up his interest based on that list.

Grace
"Maybe you should go as a werewolf. So I can steal your silverware to protect you from it," Grace says, and eats some cobbler. Somehow, she only ever manages to eat sugary insubstantial meals lately. It's time for more ramen.

"Ian's special skill is that he could probably leap up on to the back of my chair and balance on it. If, you know, the chair were more firmly affixed to the floor. He did that to me in a park once and it was so cool."

Ian
Tarrin asked Ian what his special skill was, and Ian looked at him with this slow-curling wry amusement. The look was heavy with implication. He could have found a lot of different ways to answer that question.

In the end, Grace offered an answer for him. Ian exhaled a quiet huff of breath - this small hint of almost-laughter. Then he added, "That's one, anyway. You'll have to get to know me to figure out the rest."

As for Kalen's party, Ian shot him a look that mixed amusement and skepticism. "I'll think about it."

Tarrin Rasvelg
There wasn't much he could offer to their party plans. Traditionalists had their own things they did (he figured they were as such) that didn't often include those who tried to keep out of the weirdness. That was alright by him. When Grace spoke he glanced to her, lifting a brow at the prospect. He might have even said something except that Ian's comment interrupted just close enough to make him laugh just a little. "I'll keep that in mind."

And that was largely the extent of his butting in. He was content to sit there, drink his coffee, and observe; Grace was always entertainment enough.

Kalen Holliday
"Huh.  I suppose I will need a costume, won't I?"  One might think he had given no thought to a costume.  Those people...probably hadn't had Kalen appear where they were trying to work to present them with an elaborate costume and pronounce they were going to carnivale.

He nods in response to Ian.  Another night perhaps, he may have kept playing.  Said something about always being serious about the bar.  But he is tired, so Ian gets a nod and a half smile.

Grace
"Were-lion?" Grace suggests. "I'll still steal your silverware."

"I don't know what I'm going as. Last year I didn't get to try out the whole Annoia, Goddess of Things that Get Stuck in the Drawer thing. I was... yeah."

Last year, around this time, world-ending terror arrived in Denver. Nobody knows just how close Denver came to becoming the epicenter of an Ebola outbreak that would make the latest horrifying news headlines look like the sniffles.

Ian
Ian could have just as easily been classified as an outsider himself. And yet here he was, being invited to a Halloween party, in spite of his stubborn avoidance of group activities (threesomes and impromptu games of soccer aside.) But Kalen could be hard to say no to when he had a mind to be charming.

"You should go 70's glam rock. Glitter. Platform boots. The whole deal."

Grace went from werewolves to werelions, and Ian very pointedly did not make any comments about werecats.

Tarrin Rasvelg
The hour was growing late, even for him. He slipped into his wallet to slide out a few dollars and set it on the table to handle the coffee. "Nice meeting." He gave a small nod to Kalen, then shifted his attention to the group as a whole. "Enjoy your night."

He slipped out of the booth, grabbing his jacket and sliding it on, grabbing his helmet as he headed back out to his bike. Was a nice little break in his routine.

Tarrin Rasvelg
[Night guys! Ty!]

Kalen Holliday
Kalen laughs softly at the suggestion he go 70s glam rock.  "Mmmmmmmmm...I do like glitter.  Perhaps."  But there is a kind of weight to that amusement that suggests he might actually do it.  "I've already been a lion, so werelions are out.  At least for a bit."

"Night," he says to Tarrin.

Grace
"True. And I have been a fox. So I cannot be one anymore," she says, eats her blackberries and sugar. That's all that's really left in her bowl.

"There will also be a bonfire and marshmallows," Grace says, to Ian. "We will try not to set anything important on fire."

Ian
Ian slid his chair aside to give Tarrin space to slip out of the booth. Kalen gave serious consideration to Ian's costume suggestion, while Grace mentioned bonfires and marshmallows.

"It's not a real Halloween party unless someone has to call the fire department."

Ian grinned as he stood up. "I'm need to head home." (Presumably he'd been about to go do something other than head home not all that many minutes ago, but plans changed.) "See you guys later."

And, with that? He followed Tarrin out the door.

Ian
[Edit: "I need to head home."]

Kalen Holliday
Kalen huffs at that pronouncement, then nods.  "Good night."

He glances at Grace.  "Home to pick out party favors?"

[Translate as: Fade before some people fall asleep mid-post.....]

Grace
"I have some wood filament. We can make 3d printed stakes with people's names on them," Grace says, grins. "Though maybe not names. That might be too telling... hmm."

[And faaaade!]

Let's (watch you) Fight!

Ian
[Who is winning this match? Ian's Dex+Brawl]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 5, 7, 7, 8, 9) ( success x 4 )

Ian
[Jae-shin's Dex+Brawl]

Dice: 8 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10, 10) ( success x 7 ) Re-rolls: 2

Ian
The air was a bit chilly that evening, but Ian scarcely noticed it. His pulse beat a quickened rhythm through he veins as he and Jae-shin sparred, dancing around each other in the grass. Both were barefoot and shirtless, their skin flushed and slightly sweaty from activity. It'd been a long hour of this: no words, just two bodies in motion. Elegant and lethal all at once.

For a while, Ian held his own against the Akashic. And that was victory enough, really. There'd been a time when Jae-shin would have grounded him within seconds. Now anyone looking on would think them evenly matched.

But there was always a point when Jae-shin stopped fighting like a teacher. At least, when he was with Ian. It happened when Ian swung a kick that landed a little too hard on his side (there'd be a bruise there the next day,) and Jae-shin caught Ian's leg and flipped him onto the ground. Ian landed hard, and the breath shot from his lungs. He could feel the grass and the dirt scraping against his unprotected skin, and he tried to roll out of the way, but Jae-shin was on him too quickly, pinning his arms behind his back. Ian gave a hard, frustrated wrench, but it only served to jar his shoulders.

Finally, he laughed, and dropped his head to the ground. "Fuck you."

Ian
[Edit: through his veins]

Elijah
Elijah Poirot was not a martial creature. He was not a terribly physically adept creature beyond- well- we don't talk about one's prowess in polite company and Elijah, bless him, could round to being polite company on most days. He could have been any number of things. He broke a guy's nose once, but he'd been panicking at there was magic involved and everything hurt and the other man had put him on the ground within a matter of seconds afterward because that's what orderlies do sometimes when a patient is a danger to himself or others.

He wasn't a martial creature, but it didn't mean that he wasn't fascinated by the physical, that he wasn't enthralled by movement and the various things it could communicate.

His mind wasn't on girls or his current screw ups, it was on his own breathing, and breathing, as he had learned, was an incredibly important and complex thing. He inhaled deep and felt his lungs expand, exhaled just as deep and felt composure leave him. And there were sounds. Sounds of something interesting and Elijah, darling Elijah, was content to follow the sounds with that wide eyed curiosity that seemed to suit him so well.

There were familiar figures, and perhaps he shouldn't have been watching like he was entranced, like this was just as remarkable as dancing or as music or any other art form, but this was physical and this was astounding and Elijah was finally in speaking distance and-

"Holy shit, you guys, do it again," in awe. Because that suited him.

Ian
Anyone who knew Ian knew that he was not a creature prone to submission. Even now, pinned to the ground with Jae-shin perched atop him, he did not truly surrender. His muscles tensed, and his eyes sparked defiantly. He was angry (not at Jae-shin, but at himself for losing.) But he was also more alive than many people were used to seeing him. The competitive aggression that lay between them was laced with friendly familiarity, and for a moment when Ian craned his head back to look at Jae-shin, the air around them seemed to spark.

Did Jae-shin like having Ian pinned beneath him? Maybe a little. Ian swore, and Jae-shin broke his steely composure for a moment, grinning down at him. He leaned in and whispered, "Next time, be faster."

Elijah came upon this scene, and maybe if he had not Ian would have done something other than roll his eyes. But there was no use in wondering about what-ifs. Do it again, Elijah said, and Jae-shin laughed. He released his hold on Ian's arms and stood up.

"Maybe another day. I don't want to be too hard on him."

Ian shot Jae-shin a withering look as he rolled over and got to his feet.

Elijah
Ian never seemed like the surrendering type. it was admirable, beyond that it was entrancing, enthralling, that force of will being strong and intense and intent Even now, pinned, he wasn't the type to just give in, even if it was just for sparring. There was a sort of chemistry between the two of them- Jae-shin and Ian. Something that was alive and alight and that was worth watching. Intrigued wasn't the correct word, but it did have the same tone as how Elijah had watched.

"So," he starts, "supposing someone was completely and utterly and one hundred percentedly clueless regarding whatever you guys just did… how do you go from clueless to amazing?"

A beat.

"Basically that was the coolest thing I've been witness to all week, you two are fucking lethal poetry."

Ian
"Do you want a real answer to that?" Jae-shin seemed amused by Elijah's question. "It takes a lot of time and commitment."

For all his flaws, focus and commitment were not things that Ian lacked. (One would imagine a dancer wouldn't get far without them.) And he'd come rather an impressive distance in his training since arriving in Denver. Elijah though? Ian eyed him skeptically.

"Thanks. I think." (The compliment was rather a mixed blessing, considering he'd lost the fight.) After a moment he said, "I can show you a few things, if you want."

Elijah
Elijah? Was not a creature of focus and commitment. Elijah could not commit to much of anything, and that much he knew.

"Hmn," he responds, "time and commitment?" it was strange, because he knew he wasn't a committing creature. He knew he wasn't a focused creature, or really even a dedicated creature, but that? That seemed cool, and not only that but it seemed useful. Elijah had a number of knowledges and talents, but something that involved defending himself? Well, maybe that was something that he really should have devoted more time to.

Ian said he could show him some things, if he wanted.

"Of course I wanna see some things, the fact that you guys made things look easy is, oddly enough, testament to how incredibly freaking difficult it must be."

Grace
[Dex + Stealth (Arcane 2) = How well can Grace sneak up on people?]

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

Grace
Oh, why is Grace here? At the park in the evening of all places?

Someone's being followed. Someone is the mayor of a 7/11 and an all-night pho place on Foursquare. It's amazing how easy someone is to track in the days of social media and geotagging, and that's all Grace needed, really. She didn't even have to utilize the special shit -- an app specially designed to trace Elijah.

He can opt out at any time. But he has yet to disagree with her argument that while the Techs are sending him nastygrams, it would be nice to be able to know where he's been kidnapped to.

Consequences suck. Like being ambushed in the park while you're just trying to forget about things and learn some martial arts skills.

"Oh, this should be fun. And a little hilarious. Can I take the video? We can turn it into a GIF and make him falling on his butt his cell phone start screen," Grace says, seeming to suddenly appear out of nowhere.

Ian
[Per+Alertness -2 for Arcane, -2 diff for acute senses]

Dice: 4 d10 TN4 (2, 2, 5, 9) ( success x 2 )

Ian
[curse you arcane!]

Elijah
[Do I notice a grace? Per+alert, -2]

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

Ian
They were on a stretch of open grass framed by two rows of trees. In the distance, if the light were up, you'd just be able to make out the lake. But it was late, and the sun had long-since disappeared. Jae-shin walked over to where they'd left their bags. He pulled a towel out of his and used it to dry the sweat on the back of his neck.

"He's all yours," he said to Ian. "I have to be up early tomorrow." Ian shot him a lingering glance.

"Sorry about that kick."

Jae-shin just shook his head, as though to imply that it wasn't a matter of any importance. "See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah. I'll let you know if rehearsal runs late."

Jae-shin was already on his way to his car by the time Grace appeared (suddenly and out of nowhere.) Ian looked at her a little sharply, less out of anger than surprise. He wasn't an easy person to sneak up on.

"Apparently we have an audience." Ian fixed Elijah with an appraising gaze. "Alright. Let's see what you can do." Ian stepped closer to Elijah and balanced himself lightly on his feet. "Try to hit me."

Elijah
[OMG I'm supposed to do what? Dex+brawl]

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

Ian
[Dex+Athletics (evasion)]

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

Elijah
He raised a hand to say goodbye without saying it. He couldn't help but want to watch Jae-Shin go. And there was a lingering glance, something quiet and understated and something like a tiny grin lingered on his face and it was nice for Elijah to be less… well… mopey. He was decidedly less mopey. Or perhaps it was just the joys of watching a handsome man depart. He was too young to be a lech, but certainly one was never too old to appreciate art in motion.

Poetry aside, he turned his attention back to Ian only to hear Grace and-

He jumped. He jumped thought he heard something but couldn't quite place Grace at first. Once he does, he grinned and shrugged, "there is footage of me doing much more stupid things on the internet, let's do this."

He took a stance, something that wasn't quite build for fighting, but was balanced enough and poised enough and could mirror well enough and… well… he took a swing at Ian. And missed. Completely. It would have been a decent enough hit, but at that juncture he didn't have the element of surprise and all he got was a good solid swing at the air. Elijah blinked, clearly surprised.

"I think trying is the operative word here," he said.

Grace
Grace knows. She's had time enough to get used to the fact that if she ever wants service at a restaurant, she's got to employ liberal use of attention-grabbing antics or else it's likely the waitstaff will forget she exists. She's seen the look of wary shock on people's faces before -- how she tends to have that element of surprise.

It's why she announces herself.

She shoots a grin at Elijah, holds up her cell phone. If only she had a folding chair and some popcorn...

"Remember! Float like a bee! Sting like a butterfly!"

Ian
[Wait were you just checking out my Akashic friend? Alertness!]

Dice: 6 d10 TN4 (2, 4, 6, 6, 8, 9) ( success x 5 )

Ian
It wasn't really all that surprising that Elijah might find Jae-shin attractive. And Ian, well. He chose not to comment on the manner in which Elijah's eyes trailed over the Jae-shin's body. Grace made good on her threat and pulled out her cell phone, and Ian tossed an amused smirk in her direction. "It's the other way around."

That was when Elijah went for the hit. And actually, it wasn't a terrible attempt. Not especially impressive, but the aim was good. If Ian had remained still, the punch would have landed on his shoulder. But of course, Ian didn't stay still. He ducked out of the way in a swift, fluid motion. The way he did it, it almost looked like dancing.

"Alright." He approached Elijah and stood just to the side, settling his body into an attack stance. "Pay attention to your core. The attack is going to come from here." Ian touched his abdomen, indicating the muscles there. "Where you place your feet is important to your balance and momentum. The motion is in your whole body, not just your arm."

And then Ian illustrated by throwing a slow punch, giving Elijah a chance to watch the way his body moved. When he was done, he turned to face Elijah again.

"Try one more time."

Elijah
[try again?]

Dice: 3 d10 TN6 (5, 8, 9) ( success x 3 ) [WP]

Ian
[Evade?]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10) ( success x 3 )

Elijah
Heavens, oh heavens, he was actually paying attention. Not that Elijah wasn't capable of paying attention, but he was a young man who was accustomed to the bar being set very… very low in terms of what peoples expectations of him were and what the expectation was of him to be. There wasn't usually a bar to measure himself against, which was at once liberating and incredibly… incredibly frustrating. But, at that juncture, it didn't matter. The past didn't matter and it wasn't anything other than just a reflection of something that was now.

Everything was now and everywhere was here and people weren't pieces of themselves, but rather a whole being.

So, he nodded, as though the fact that his motion being with his whole body made sense. Elijah nodded, pursed his lips and kept his attention on Ian instead of keeping his imagination from wandering over physicsl touch and memory like some overeager puppy. He paid attention, nodded, and was ready to try again.

This time, it was a little better, or at the very least Elijah was more cognizant of his body. How it moved, how every piece worked together and how it wasn't just a motion of the arm but a transfer of motion and force from one's core to the rest of their body to the outside world. He took his swing, and this time, he tried. He tried and while he still didn't connect, it was… it was a feeling he could place a little better.

Grace
Grace should not be throwing stones inside her glass house over here. Elijah would stand a good chance of kicking her ass. Still, she giggles into her phone as she watches and records all of her friend's misses for posterity.

She's also listening to Ian, absorbing some of the wisdom of fighting, even if she's not participating herself.

"Butterflies sting like crazy, Ian, I don't know what you're talking about!"

Ian
In Elijah's defense, Ian was a difficult target to hit. But that time? He almost did. And that was impressive enough in its own right. A punch was thrown, and Ian felt the rush of air brush his chest as he pulled back, pivoting on his heel. "That was better." He slid his tongue over one of his canines and grinned. "My turn."

In the interest of fairness, Ian gave Elijah a moment to digest the fact that he was about to have a punch thrown at him. Then he stepped forward and struck with his fist.

[Dex+Brawl]

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

Elijah
[Oh fuck, evade! Evade!]

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

Ian
[go Elijah!]

Elijah
He had a moment. Okay. Okay. Ian was going to throw a punch at him?

When was the last time that Elijah had someone throw a punch at him? It had been at least two years, and he hadn't been sure what he was doing and there had been someone there to pull them apart and Elijah was not a scrappy person, but he was six feet tall and people tended to assume he was much better at things than he actually was because he could fake enough competence to make himself seem like the type of person that could hold his own in a fight but frankly? The fact that Ian warned him that it was his turn to retaliate was the only thing that kept Elijah from saying ohjesusnotintheface. He had time to prepare.

So, he moved. the wake of the blow just barely being felt and he turned just right and he was focused and at the right time he did get out of the way, and it was, quite literally, the very best that he could have done at that juncture.

And he was proud of himself.

Just a little.

Grace
Both of them are stinging like butterflies tonight, it seems. Which is admittedly a little nice. Grace doesn't have to take Elijah back 'home' and make sure he gets a bag of frozen peas at least.

"Hey! Not bad, Elijah! He was really going at it too!"

That should make you feel better, dude. Confirmation that Ian wasn't pulling that punch for the newbie at all.

Ian
Ian probably could have put more effort into the strike, but he certainly hadn't been playing it easy for Elijah's sake. To be fair, if the punch had hit its mark, Ian would have stopped there. One doesn't throw real punches during a sparring match (else he and Jae-shin would be walking around with broken ribs and bloodied noses.) Especially not while sparring with someone you've slept with.

Ian didn't want to hurt Elijah, and he certainly wasn't trying to.

But that wasn't the reason why his strike missed its mark. Elijah could be quick when he wanted to be, and Ian pulled back when his fist hit the air, his expression subtly surprised. He nodded with approval, as though to say: alright, you aren't as terrible at this as I thought you'd be.

"That was pretty good." He relaxed his stance into something more casual, glancing at Grace and the cell phone camera she had pointed at them. "Honestly, if you want to be able to handle yourself in a fight, the best advice I can give is to just get used to getting hit. It's not fun, but it'll help when it matters. Most people, when they get hit, they kind of go into shock. And then you can't think clearly. It's just fight or flight. You need to be able to push through that and keep your head."

After a beat, he stepped away, moving to where he'd left his bag in the grass. "You'll need to find someone else for that though."

Elijah
"I wanna do this again," he admits, though there is no real need to admit much of anything. He has delight on his features. There was something physical to do. Something that he could focus and funnel his energies into and something he could pour his whatevers into.

but if he was going to get any better at this, he was just going to have to get used to taking a hit. Beyond that, he was going to have to get used to keeping his head together, and that? That was something that he could get behind. That could be something that he would benefit

"You're a pretty damn good teacher, I can't take credit."

A beat, "hey, Grace, wanna go to have pho?"

Elijah
"Ian?"

Grace
She ends the video recording with a few stabs of her fingers. And, she's a little sad Elijah didn't end up taking a spill that she could use for teasing purposes, but eh.

"Yes. Yes let's. I want some of that coffee with the condensed milk. And maybe an avocado smoothie. Does your all-night place make them with real avocado?" Grace says, still not looking up from her phone screen. But she does walk toward the two others, contented smile on her face.

"You did good, Elijah. You know I just like to give you shit because I like you, right?"

Ian
"Nah, I need to get home. You guys have fun though." Ian pulled a t-shirt out of his gym bag and slid it over his arms and torso. He pulled his shoes on a bit lazily, leaving the laces tied so he had to stretch them open to get his feet in. When he was done, he hoisted the bag onto one shoulder.

"Later," he offered to Grace and Elijah. Then he walked off toward the parking lot.

Alexander is a pretty princess.

D. Rothe
(The other one will drop, right?)

Lucy
[gone!]

D. Rothe
(Thanks!)

Lucy
[performancing]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7) ( success x 4 )

Lucy
[and also awarenessing]

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

D. Rothe
(You guys set the tone. :-) I can't make any performance rolls, but I can tell you some stats?)

Kalen Holliday
[How awake are we?]

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

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

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10) ( success x 2 )

Lucy
The time is early evening, the place: a bar with an open mic.  The young woman at the microphone bearing an acoustic guitar is tall and made a couple of inches taller with the help of the three inch sole of her knee-high black boots.  She is dressed in a short black dress, sleeveless, with a silvery embellishment running from shoulder to hem.  Her hair is a spill of dark magenta waves, curling down over her shoulders.  Fishnet hose, thick dark makeup, and a twist of silver wrapped around her thin and pale upper arm complete the look of Lucy.

And of course there is that chill, that frost, which winds and twists and threads its way through the crowd, drawing attention to the stage with more than just her charisma.

She's singing and strumming and stomping her heel, and the room is stomping their heels right along with the Dreamspeaker:

'Cos since I've come on home, well my body's been a mess

And I've missed your ginger hair and the way you like to dress

Won't you come on over, stop making a fool out of me

Why won't you come on over Valerie, Valerie, Valerie, Valerie?

Kalen Holliday
He's usually paying more attention, but today he hears Lucy's voice drifting out of a doorway before he recognizes the taste of frost in the air as something other than winter coming already.  Monsters hunt in winter too, and of all the things monsters do that he cannot forgive dragging him out into the snow is certainly one of them.  It may be a lesser evil, being forced out into the cold.  May.

Lucy draws attention, red hair and clothes that draw the eye.  And, you know, she is singing at a microphone.  And so it is easy enough for him to slip into the bar and order a martini, settle at a table toward the back of everything to watch.  He sets the drink down to slip out of a gray coat, but settles back into it more like a cape before picking the martini back up again.  There's no glitter today, just jeans and a soft mossy gray long-sleeved hooded shirt.  A battered canvas messenger bag on the floor at his feet.

He does not make a show of greeting Lucy, but if she looks back, he raises his glass to her in a brief salute.

D. Rothe
*Drothe had gotten himself a drink early on and was watching the crowd, watching people.  Tonight he wore simple things, he had on a pair of black skinny suit trousers, a dark blue shirt that was mostly done up, and his leather jacket on over the top. On his feet he had a pair of black brothel creepers. For once he wasn't wearing his shabby combat boots. On one hand he had a large silver ring. His hair was still just that little bit too long, dark and it fell in long dark waves.*

D. Rothe
*He was leaning forwards on the table he'd gotten himself, one hand moving the straw around in the glass he'd gotten himself.  Watching the girl on the stage sing with interest. In one ear was a cross, and a few rings, in the other it was mostly rings and a few long scaffold bars. He'd spent time on his appearance, his eyes were lined in kohl, he had a lip balm on and his fingers were as usual painted black. The fingernails he used his left hand were shorter than the fingernails on his right.



His foot tapped in time to the music, his lips even moved in time to the song, but he didn't interrupt.*

Lucy
It takes Lucy a moment to realize the storm she feels is not an echo of the rains that have been passing through the city in waves the last few days, dropping water in drizzles and torrents and the occasional flash flood of gumball sized hail stones, but a person.  It is a feeling that is familiar to her.  When the door opens and in comes the Hermetic, Lucy does not falter in her singing as she carries into the next phrase, but she does smile to see him.  He goes to order a drink, and of course she can't immediately hop down off the stage to say hello.  She's a little busy for the time being.  She is not to a point where she feels comfortable asking her Avatar to conjure August's food from nothing, after all, and she and her sister should probably like to eat, too.

Besides, there is the tug of some other sensation.  The bar is not terribly large, and though it's a Wednesday night it's also an open mic night and there are many people in to listen to the local talent.  It makes it hard to pinpoint its location and besides.

"Well sometimes I go out by myself and I look across the water

And I think of all the things, what you're doing and in my head I make a picture..."

There is a movement in the back and of course her attention is drawn there.  Smiling as she sings, she returns Kalen's martini-salute with a wink.  Then she's stomping her heel again, swaying her hips as she closes out the song.  There, on her right thigh, is a rather large tattoo, too intricate and obscured by the criss-cross of her hose to be made out clearly.

Why won't you come on over Valerie, Valerie, Valerie, Valeri?  Yeah Valerie!" she concludes with a flourish.  Swinging her right arm high up over her head and smiling with wide, dark red-painted lips, leans to the microphone.  "You guys've been great."  Her song over, she makes her way off the stage to the sound of a hearty applause.  She has to put her guitar away and then perhaps she will take some time to speak with the management, all friendly-like, about a more permanent gig of some sort.

[lucy will be distracted for a bit because now it is time for me to jet!  hopefully you will still be going when i get back!]

D. Rothe
*He raises his hands to applaud, nodding even more in appreciation to the musician on the stage.  But all too soon she's gone, that tattoo had gotten his attention as well.  He had his own ink, well who didn't now-a-days?  But his was hidden under his shirt and boy was he glad for that jacket with the icy "aircon" going on.  He looked on around to see who might be next.*

Kalen Holliday
Kalen is not interested in taking the stage.  He does not want to play or to sing or to recite poems to the patrons of this bar.  Judging by the fact that the glass in his hand rarely makes to his lips, he doesn't seem terribly interested in drinking, either.  Last time he went to a club, it turned out to be infested with vampires.  The time before that he was dragged into a Mindscape (ruining a very promising date).  There was a armed robbery while he was just trying to get some coffee once.  Trouble just follows him, like a very enthusiastic puppy.  Perhaps it only wants love.  Perhaps he should throw it little treats.

Anyway, he doesn't often get drunk in unsecure locations.

His attention follows Lucy for a moment, but once she engages the manager it drifts off again.  And there, unfamiliar, is that sense of pulsing light.  His eyes sweep the bar, once.  Twice.  Settle now on Drothe.

D. Rothe
*He'd picked up his drink again and pulled out a sheet of paper to make notes on, slightly hunched he nodded his head before he put pen to paper.  His head swayed in time to the music that came on next, even if it were terrible, he'd probably still find a beat to it.  A sense of being watched made him frown and he set the pen down, then frowned slightly as he picked up his drink, took a sip through the straw, his eyes flitting around the club from face to face to spot the viewer.*

Kalen Holliday
There are people who look away when you notice them watching you.  Maybe offer a little smile of apology.

Kalen just keeps watching.  Perfectly calm, glass held aloft, almost dead still.  The music is a thing that happens around, breaks in waves across skin.  He is not part of it.  Not drawn into it.

D. Rothe
*He keeps his eyes on the man watching him, was there a bit of a challenge in the stare? Some might think of it as such, but the corner of D.Rothe's mouth lifted in a smirk. He couldn't help it, he just did it out of reflex. His head tilted and he leaned to the side slightly looking to see what it was Kalen was wearing. Then set the glass down and steepled his fingers with a questioning look on his face. But nope, he didn't break that stare.*

Kalen Holliday
The corners of Kalen's mouth twitch a little at that smirk.  And then again when Drothe looks to see what he's wearing.  Otherwise, he stays still.  Eyes steady.

D. Rothe
*He lifts his glass again, then get to his feet lazily.  As an afterthought he picked up his pen and the paper.  Then began to thread his way to the bar. Shaking the glass at Kalen a little, then mouths.* Drink?

Kalen Holliday
Kalen gives a slight shake of his head, looks down to the barely touched drink in his hand, and then back up.  He does not call across the bar, does not rise to go over and speak at a normal human distance, does not even mouth anything.  Things he does do...well, thing, really...is go back to his statue impression.

D. Rothe
*There was an amused expression on the face of D.Rothe now.  He shakes his head and rolls his eyes a little, then places an order for a refill, pays for it when it's done and then weaves his way over to the man seated.  The corner of his mouth lifting into that smirk again.* See something?

*It was a simple enough question, one that he added on with another.* She was pretty good. *He nodded after the girl who'd sung so well.*

Kalen Holliday
He sets the drink down as he is approached, then leans back and stretches out a bit to nudge out a chair with one foot.  "There is an entire bar full of things to see."

Kalen glances at Lucy, then nods.  "Yeah.  She is.  Do you know her?"

D. Rothe
*He shakes his head taking another sip of the drink. Moving his other hand to take the seat then gets comfortable, his dark hair falling across his face a little before he raked it back. Then set his drink down.* Nope. Just rolled into town a few days ago, I'm checking out the local talent.. *He shrugged a bit.* Need to find out who the competition is before I get set into a new club.

Kalen Holliday
"Clubs around here can be hit or miss.  Some are probably okay, but I have awful luck with them."  He shrugs.  "I may just build an underground bunker.  With a proper bar."  There is a slight pause.  "Probably inevitable, really."

D. Rothe
*His eyes rose hearing that.* Hey now, that's not a bad idea. Call it Atrium or something. *he shrugged, then offered his hand.* Danny.

Kalen Holliday
"I meant for me.  Guests perhaps, but not an open venture in such a sense."  He reaches out and takes the offered hand.  Squeezes, just once, firmly.  There is no shaking, just a squeeze and release.

"Kalen."

D. Rothe
*The shake was the same, firm but fair as he leaned back in his seat getting comfortable.* All bars need music.  Could prove lucrative to the right owner with the right musicians.

Kalen Holliday
"The right owner would be interested.  I, however, am not."  He bats absently at the hilt of the little plastic sword skewering an olive.  "I wish you the best of luck in finding someone who is."

D. Rothe
*He shrugged just a little.* It's fine. I've got one or two gigs lined up.  *It was refreshing to meet someone that had no idea who he was. Coming to Denver was a good thing he decided as he let his eyes drift around the bar once more, then back to Kalen.* So what is it you do?

Kalen Holliday
"Whatever, mostly."  Again, a shrug.  "Consistency is boring, after all."

D. Rothe
Yeah tell me bout it. *He nods with a lopsided grin, then takes another sip of the drink.* Shit gets stale it sort of loses momentum, then it's.... mundane.. *he shrugs a bit,* You gotta keep pushing the boundaries, gotta keep finding that new line to move down or how else can anyone grow? *He set the drink back down again.* S'why I'm here. Not L.A.

Kalen Holliday
That gets a little huff.  "Just in time for winter?  Do you hate yourself or are you just insane?"

D. Rothe
*He snorted.* C'mon, Denver winters are near legendary.  *he chuckles.* Besides, where else would I want to be to get the best ice sculptures?

Kalen Holliday
"As practically a circle of Hell.  And deservedly so."

D. Rothe
*Now he couldn't help but chuckle more, shaking his head he picked up his glass again and took another drink.* Serious as a heart attack, right?

Kalen Holliday
Kalen sighs and takes a sip of his drink.  "Just wait until ice starts raining from the sky.  Then you'll wish you'd gone to a not L.A. place like Cancun."

D. Rothe
Right, cos the Mayan's had it right... all that blood. *he shakes his head again, then he watched people once more for a few seconds before glancing at Kalen.* Take it you don't like snow or ice.

Kalen Holliday
"I come from a place that is actually warm.  It's already too cold for me.  But, I suppose this is why we have coffee.  And hot chocolate.  And Jacuzzis.  And airplanes.  Perhaps I'll finally get to Australia.  I hear I have to see the kangaroos, or something."

D. Rothe
Hot chocolate... *he rocks his hand out flat in a so-so gesture.* Coffee though?  Yeah, coffee's good, I'm the kind of guy that'll drink it cold all year round though.  Why'd you stay if you hate it so much?

Lucy
Lucy's chat, as it turns out, includes the owner, a bartender, and a patron.  They form a little cluster by the bar, the bartender disappearing now and again to see to this or that drink, but she's not alone over there so she has time to chat a bit.  Lucy stands, one knee slightly bent, weight resting into the other leg, guitar case in one hand and a jacket held over the other.  Occasionally she glances sidelong across the bar, to the man in the green shirt.  Sees him staring down a dark-haired man.  Glances again, sees they're still staring off.  Glances again, sees the dark-haired man's joined Kalen's table.

Eventually, of course, these occasional glances get noticed.  The conversation is brought to an end, the owner reaching out for Lucy's hand, his other reaching out to clasp over it, shaking her one with both of his, but there is a pause.  Eyes widening.  A look of concern.  He turns to the bartender, has her pour out a bourbon for a singer too polite to beg it off (she's fine, she's not sick, not dying, her skin just happens to be the clammy cold of a corpse, it's okay).  Lifting her guitar case first she shows she has no free hands, really for a drink.  Someone relieves her of it, and finally, Lucy is free to roam.

And of course she roams her way right over to Kalen and his new friend.  Resting a hand over Kalen's shoulder - making sure to avoid direct skin-to-skin contact with his neck, she asks, "What do you hate so much?"  And then, "Hi, I'm Lucy."  No offer of a hand, though the greeting is friendly enough.

Kalen Holliday
"Winter, Snowdrop.  This is the first place I've ever lived that gets this cold."  He huffs  "And then, naturally, I take up with you and Alexander."  But he makes no move to dislodge her hand, any more than he flinched away the day he set his palm to hers.  He does not like the cold.  He does like Lucy.

"This is Danny.  Danny, Lucy."

"There are other things to like about Denver than the weather."

D. Rothe
*His hand lifts in a brief wave of fingertips, the shortened nails there a black ripple from little finger to index and nothing more. He was comfortable as he picked up his drink again. Taking another sip from the straw.* Hey. Nice work on that song you did then.*Then his attention is on Kalen again with those rich mahogany red brown eyes.* Yeah?  Mountains, I hear the trails are good, shame i can't ride a horse. .

Lucy
Lucy lifts her glass, returning the little wave with more of a salute.  "Thanks."  Without looking at Kalen, she gives his shoulder the slightest squeeze before releasing him.  It seems an age since they last saw each other.  July, she thinks.  Before she and Delilah drifted away for a while.

Pulling up a chair, she settles herself on its edge and sets her glass down on the table, relieving the glass of her frigid touch.  "Nice to meet you, Danny," she says.  Then, brows furrowing, she tilts her head, studying the newcomer curiously.  "You look familiar, have we met before?"

D. Rothe
I was in a coffee house a few days ago, maybe you've just seen me around here and there over the past couple of days. *He smiled as he said it, cheerful disposition and all that.*  So, Kalen does this and that, what is it you do apart from open mic nights?

D. Rothe
(Sorry, jumped the gun)

Kalen Holliday
He watches them speaking, relaxed, but silent again.  He picks his martini back up, but he doesn't drink from it.  They can talk about...whatever it is people talk about.  Sports.  Weather.  Music.  Things that are not vampires and power and politics.  And wonder.  Still, even now, sometimes wonder.

Lucy
He was in a coffee house but Lucy shakes her head.  No, that couldn't be it.  She can't place him, can't remember him, because who would think a singer on his way toward celebrity status would be just wandering around in Denver of all places?  She lets it go and takes a drink before setting her glass down again.

With a smile she says, "Oh, just about the same, really.  Singing just pays the bills sometimes."

D. Rothe
I hear you on that one. *he grins lopsidedly again. Perhaps it was the grin? Maybe that was it.* We all got to pay our way and those bills just keep on piling up.  Still, I'm here now, I might even consider putting some roots down. *he picked up his drink once more to take another sip, then lifted his glass higher to examine the contents.* I'm going to need another redbull.

Kalen Holliday
Kalen's eyebrows draw together a little at thought that anyone might ever think they need more redbull.  That is right up there with Alyssa's beer as far as things he is not interested in drinking.  He glances at his martini.  Not even half gone.  No more drinks for him.

"They do."  He looks over at Lucy, still frowning.  "Hey.  Stay away from the Black Orchid.  Both of you."

Lucy
"Hear hear," she says, lifting her glass to Rothe for a toast, like what he's said about bills is the sort of thing one toasts to.  For Lucy, obviously it is.

Whether his drink clinks against hers or she simply lifts it in another salute, she is taking a drink when Kalen looks at her all frown-faced.  Lucy's brows lift above her narrow, bright green eyes.

Then she's frowning.

"What?  Why?"

D. Rothe
*Of course he lifted his drink to chime it against Lucy's.

Now it was Drothes turn to raise his eyebrows slightly at that, a bit of a command to the mans words, but he nodded slightly at the words.* Right.  Okay.

*Then Lucy spoke and he gave ground to her for the man to answer. Watching their faces even as he raised his hand for another round of drinks for those who might want it.*

Kalen Holliday
"Because I said so?"  He sighs.  "It's a long story that begins with me attempting to grab a drink and ends with the kind of madness that comes of me going to clubs.  Or the mall.  Or...hell.  Anywhere.  I'm amazed nothing has exploded yet tonight."

He takes a sip of his drink.  "It's not the safest place.  I can explain more later."

Lucy
Lucy's frown turns to a look of surprise, then incredulity.  "And who are you to tell me what to do?" she asks evenly.  Then she's rising, nimbly leveraging herself up from the chair without managing to expose any more of her thighs than were already visible.  A feat of magic in itself, though there is no sudden drop of temperature to herald it.

"Last I checked, you weren't the boss of me," she says, looking at him with disappointment in her spring green eyes.  At present, the only one who can require anything of Lucy, no questions asked because I said so, is not at this table.  Not technically, at any rate.

"Danny, it was nice to meet you.  Maybe I'll see you around sometime.  Good luck with the roots."

D. Rothe
Uh, sure... *He frowned and almost got up to go with it, but didn't. instead he just looked between the pair of them.* I miss something?

Kalen Holliday
"Go, then.  Don't let me stop you from getting yourself eaten because you can't trust me long enough to wait to get a more comprehensive explanation.  Enjoy that."  Kalen waves, a little waggle of his fingers.

He looks back to Danny.  "Just that apparently no one trusts me.  Whatever.  You can go get eaten too.  Or not.  I'm not sure why I bother at all around here sometimes."

Lucy
[WP]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (3, 5, 7, 9, 9, 10) ( success x 4 )

Lucy
That's when Lucy's chin lifts.  She is cold to the touch, full of frost, but she was always warm to him.  Once upon a time she liked him, thought that maybe he liked her, too, until he realized he's just a flirt, nothing more.  But they were friends.

The look she gives him is like ice.  The first frost of winter to be followed by howling winds off the mountains.  If she could, maybe her cheeks would flame with indignation, but she can't so she doesn't.  For a moment her eyes flick to her abandoned glass, still at least half-full of bourbon.  "You forget who you're talking to, Kalen.  When you go, tonight or a hundred years from now, I will be the one who guides your spirit across.  Not the other way around."

She doesn't wait for his response, but storms away finally, to collect her guitar and her jacket and exit out into the night.

D. Rothe
What the hell did I do?! *His voice went up in pitch in his surprise even as his eyebrows shot up and he turned his fingers to point at himself.* Hey.. Now you just hold on a second. I ain't done nothin... *Yet. But he didn't add that bit. His eyebrows met in a frown again.*

*Then he fell silent as they discussed openly a little something else.* I uh...

Kalen Holliday
"Underground.  Bunker."  He says very seriously to Danny.  "Where I will drink with the three people or so in the world who can stand me.  Perhaps two, by the time I get there.  Perhaps just me.  However it works out."

D. Rothe
*He nodded, raising his eyebrows again slowly.* Consider your words of wisdom noted. Avoid the black orchid and uh... any strange holes in the ground with music coming out of behind blast doors. *Then the corner of his mouth was lifting again.*  I take it you don't get to socialise much.

Kalen Holliday
"I get to socialize all the time."  Kalen flashes a quick grin.  "Mostly with passing to abysmal results."

D. Rothe
*At that he shook his head still smiling.* Yeah... I could kind of give those sorts of socialising a miss personally.

Kalen Holliday
"I'm...good with cats?"  He smiles a little.  ".....................also people who are good with feral cats?"

D. Rothe
Feral cats? The type that climb up under the hood and end up getting all caught up? *he asked again, pushing the glass away when he realised it was empty.*  What am I good with... *He shrugged a bit.* People. I guess?

Kalen Holliday
"Yeah.  The ones who mostly don't let you pet them and won't take food from your hand.  That kind."  He glances at the empty cup.

"Drink?"

D. Rothe
*He looked at it then nodded.* Go on then, redbull, vodka, no ice.  Yeah somehow I can see you being happy dealing with the prickly kind.

Kalen Holliday
His nose crinkles about the redbull.  "Fine.  But under protest.  We'll save teaching you to drink something less like antifreeze fot the second date.  Metaphorically speaking."  He leaves his martini and heads for the bar.

D. Rothe
*He blinked in surprise at that... lifting his chin and frowning a bit before he turned his head and let his eyes follow Kalen as he walked to the bar, for once he was lost for words but there was a chuckle on his lips none-the-less.* Uhuh.. *He waited for Kalen to come back, pulling out the sheet of paper and the pen, jotting down a few more words as he did so, they'd still be there available to read when Kalen came back from being served the drink.* Thanks..

Kalen Holliday
Kalen returns and sets the drink beside the paper.  The paper gets only a glance.  It's not really any of his damned business.

He settles back into his chair and reclaims his martini.  "Anyway.  Now that you've seen what a typical night with me is like."

D. Rothe
I don't think this is that typical.. from what you've implied it's more dramatic and with more uhhh..... *He frowned picking up the drink to take a sip.* intensity? *He snorted faintly as he swallowed.* Besides, you only picked a fight wiht the one person so far.  I'm far harder to piss off.

Kalen Holliday
Kalen takes a sip of his drink, mostly hiding a smile.  "Good.  I do love a challenge."

D. Rothe
*Now he chuckled again shaking his head.* oh right, that's the plan.. piss me off, that way I'll hate you like everyone else does.. *He nodded his approval.* Aiming to be an international man of mystery?

Kalen Holliday
He laughs at that.  "I do look fantastic in a suit.  But, in this case, I just have a fondness for olives.  I never really had them when I was young.  So...now I tend to grab them pretty often.  And they seem just naturally given to floating in drinks with little plastic skewers."

D. Rothe
*He laughed again.* so you like your martini extra dry, a touch of olive in it and don't tell me, shaken... but never stirred. Perhaps I should call you Bond... But no, you've a penchant for cats. Blofeld would suit you better.

Grace Evans
[Awareness???]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (2, 4, 5, 8, 9) ( success x 2 )

Kalen Holliday
"I think, actually, that you may meet someone a lot more suited to Bond if you put down roots after all."

D. Rothe
*Now that there seemed to be more people in the bar, Drothe was getting warmer so he removed his leather jacket at leisure and rolled up his sleeves a little, ink there on display, on one wrist was the infinity symbol, or one of sorts on the inside of his other forearm were words that could be seen. What looked like Saeva in heavy black italic ink.*

Yeah? *He shook his head and took another drink, leaning forwards at their table and resting his elbows on it.* What makes you say that?

Kalen Holliday
"Because I think he might actually be an international man of mystery?"  Kalen laughs.  "Okay.  Not quite.  But his car.  There should be a better word.  It is like art."

D. Rothe
You have my attention Mister Blofeld. *He purrs, lifting his hand to cup his chin staring at Kalen.*  What car does he drive? Mine, has its moments when I want to scrap it and start driving something more modern.

Grace Evans
So, Grace knows where Kalen is because of course she does. She knows this bar because of her ex-studenthood. But she's not comfortable here. This is the look of someone who's distinctly keeping an eye out, because who knows what lurks in the nights of Denver? Well, Grace knows (of) a few of them too.

She's got on a super-expressive and noticeable outfit of jeans, sneakers and a black t-shirt at the moment, which -- let's just say, between that and her natural Arcane, it makes her hard to notice. She could be anyone, really.

Eyes scan the crowd, looking for someone, until she finds him and makes a beeline toward the two. And who is this? Who are you?

She slides her way into a seat at the table, and sliding seems to be her thing (like a faultline). Sliding sharpness. A focused avalanche.

"Hi," she says, to Droth.

"You found a friend?" she continues, this time to Kalen.

It doesn't even occur to her that she might be butting in.

Kalen Holliday
"Fantastic.  The car is fantastic."  He turns to Grace.  "Yeah.  This is Danny.  Anyway, between me and Hawksley, who is James Bond?"

D. Rothe
Hi. *Drothe replies to the greeting and smiles.* Yeah, he's trying to put me off though.

*Then he paused and  lifted his head suddenly with a frown as if something had just occurred to him. Then sighed and picked up his drink to take a longer swig of it, properly this time. A few short glugs and it was gone. Then he set it back down.*

Well, thank you for the drink. I'm afraid I have to be moving on though, got stuff to do.  *He does at the least sound regretful though while he gets up slowly and picks up his leather from the vacant seat Lucy had left behind.*  We should definitely talk again.  Then I'll tell you all about James Bond. *Then he smiled once more at Grace.* Nice to meet you, fleeting though it was. I'm sure we'll meet up again another time. (Mainly as it's nearly 4am!! Where has the time gone!!)

Grace Evans
"Phh. You. Obviously. I mean, Hawksley doesn't have a gun fetish. That I know of," Grace says, and lifts her chin as if to lend a joking authoritative weight to the statement.

"Aww. I'm sure we will. We tend to do that," she says to Drothe.

D. Rothe
*He waved.. heading out the door with a grin on his face, people looked as he left, then he was gone.* (Nini and thanks!)

Kalen Holliday
"Later.  Drinks that don't taste like antifreeze.  James Bond.  Sounds awesome."  He waves.

"Yeah.  But, you know, Hakwsley has that car....."

Grace Evans
"What car?" Grace says, because she does not know of the car in question. Yes, that's right, all the times she's met with Hawksley she never put two and two together and came up with 'that's his car'. Maybe she just doesn't want to think that badly of someone?

Kalen Holliday
Kalen smiles.  "His car is kinda fantastic.  And really hot.  Drink?"

Grace Evans
"Yes. Yes I will. He has a hot car? Why would anyone want a car that's hot all the time? Or are you saying you're sexually attracted to his car? Because that is a thing. Did not expect that of you, though," she says, and it sounds very much like if someone were to have a sexual attraction to cars, she wouldn't judge. She says her little joke so dry and matter-of-fact, she might as well be discussing the weather.

Kalen Holliday
"I was joking about being attracted to his car."  Kalen rolls his eyes.  "What kind of drink you want?  Please tell me it does not involve redbull."

Grace Evans
"Eww. I am a Monster kind of person. And I wouldn't mix it with alcohol. That's just wrong," Grace says, makes a face. "And before you get on to me about the Monster, I know we have good coffee, but sometimes I need to chug caffeine all night and it's convenient. I don't even have to stop coding in order to stay awake."

She sniffs. Smells like pot in here. Well, it's right close to the Uni, and it is Denver, so... Ahh, the smell of pot and bar patrons -- it does take a girl back.

"I don't know. A beer? I don't want to get hammered. Had too much of that this week with Elijah already. He has a severe love affair with tequila."

Kalen Holliday
"Okay.  No tequila."  Kalen smiles.  "I can do beer.  One minute."  And he wanders off toward the bar, and back with a beer, which he sets in front of Grace.  "Merry Christmas."

Grace Evans
This is the way Kalen works, Grace has figured out. He doesn't always ask what you want, and just obtains things for you in the hopes of figuring out what it is you like. So she has to twist the bottle around to figure out what it is he got for her, which she completely expects to be the most top-of-the-line brew this place has to offer.

She lets him do that. He does so want to be helpful.

"Happy Halloween," Grace replies, and twists the cap off of the bottle. "Oh, speaking of which... Halloween pinatas?"

Kalen Holliday
Kalen grins.  "Ghosts?  Pumpkins?"  His grin fades not at all.  "Bonfire.  I'd say we could attack scarecrows, but...you know...friends.  So, no attacking scarecrows.  Pretty much everything else if cool.

"We should do the bonfire though.  Alexander wants to roast marshmallows like you wouldn't believe.  It's actually kind of adorable."

Grace Evans
"Vampires. With candy inside," Grace says and shoots Kalen a grin that says just how much she'd love a vampire pinata to beat up.

"I don't want to beat up the Message, it's true. He is a cool... you know, he's just cool," Grace says, because she can't come up with an appropriate term for an 'owl angel spirit sending' in public.

"Oh agreed on the bonfire and the marshmallows, as long as we don't burn the house down. That could be bad. I love roast marshmallows. We should make smores."

Kalen Holliday
"We should."  He grins.  "Vampire hunting would be better if all the vampires were filled with candy.  We definitely need to give them each one of those gummy hearts.  We could stick one to the outside and try to stake them!!!"

Grace Evans
It is said that multiple exclamation points used in casual conversation is a sign of insanity. They are probably right. But Grace's eyes light up anyway, with the prospect of staking a gummy-heart vampire that explodes into candy bits.

It is a nice mental image.

But still. Even though she's grinning and crazy-eyed herself, she shushes Kalen. "Okay, so maybe the whole bar doesn't need to know how excited we are about staking vampires? Because someone might take it seriously? But yeah. I like that idea so much."

There's a beer in her hand. Oh, yes. Beer. Forgot about that. She takes a swig.

Kalen Holliday
"I take my staking vampires in their gummy hearts very seriously and I do not even care if they know."

Grace Evans
She imagines a super-serious Kalen stalking and staking a vampire pinata with a gummy heart tacked to the outside and the mental image is enough to cause a giggle-fit.

"We'd make the best vampire pinata hunters."

Kalen Holliday
"Definitely."  He grins.  "Who are we convincing to stake vampires dressed as a princess?"

Grace Evans
"You. Or Alex, even. He would make a marvelous princess," Grace says, and drinks some more beer.

Kalen Holliday
"As much as I really want to now, I do not think I can convince Alexander to dress up as a princess."

Grace Evans
"Heee. Princess Alex. Staking vampires like Buffy. And you, taking it serious as hell, because you do," Grace says, and the giggle fit continues.

It just keeps getting better and better.

Kalen Holliday
"Okay.  Technically that would be prom dress.  Or something."  Thankfully he gets that reference.  Seriously.

Grace Evans
"Yes. You don't think we can convince him? I mean, considering what's been going on, he'd make the perfect Buffy. He has to say yes."

After all, he was in a fistfight with the undead. Granted, he may not be in the mental state yet to make fun of that fact, but still. Grace certainly is.

Kalen Holliday
"I'm not sure he'll see it quite like that.  But...we can try."

Grace Evans
"What about Alyssa?" Grace says, playing with fire now. "I could see her in pink taffeta."

Swig.

Kalen Holliday
"She might. We should definitely try to convince people that costumes."  He grins.  "We should give out party favors.  We definitely need to plan some amazing party favors."

Grace Evans
"And candy for the pinatas. Like cherry something. For realism."

Yes, realistic blood candy. To go with the gummy heart. But that probably goes without saying.

"Party favors... You have any ideas there? I suck at planning parties."

Kalen Holliday
"I'll have to do some research, but I'm sure we'll come up with something."