2023.05.19 Trad Mage Meetup

2023.05.19 Trad Mage Meetup
The traditons meetup for May 2023, with some new faces.
IC Date	May 19th, 2023
Players	Viktor, Caressa, Phil, Robert, Miriel, Shinju, Paul, Chanel, Gwydion, Selene, Silvana
Location	Prospect Roasters Basement
Spheres	Mage

5/19/2023 19:38:10 Caressa is moving trays of foods and drinks from the dumbwaiter over to tables that have been set up along the wall. There are already carafes of teas, coffee, hot water, etc, standing next to stacks of cups. Her bag and things have claimed a spot on one of the couches for her.

5/19/2023 19:40:24 Viktor shows up a bit early, looking around at the setup. "Oh, a bit of a production, huh? Do you need a hand with anything?"

5/19/2023 19:45:09 Caressa sets down the tray of food, "Oh, thanks, I think I got it all though. There is always food at "book club", that is what my husband calls it." She explains, straights and turns to face him, "How have you been?" She asks with a smile, moving back to her stuff.

5/19/2023 19:47:28 Viktor grins as he grabs a seat at the big table, obviously in a good mood. "I can't complain, things have been going pretty well. A hiccup here and there, but it worked out ok."

5/19/2023 19:49:15 Caressa moves her bag to the floor and takes a seat, crossing her ankles. "Glad to hear it worked out. Hiccups are never fun."

5/19/2023 19:52:50 Viktor shrugs still upbeat. "Ah, it happens. In this case though I got away with just a couple of small bruises, so no big deal."

5/19/2023 19:57:26 Caressa smiles, "If bruises are the worst you get, then you got lucky. Sometimes it can end up much worse." Caressa is seated on the couch talking across to Viktor. The buffet tables are laden with food and drinks for the taking.

5/19/2023 20:01:31 The buffet tables are setup with trays of sandwiches and sides, and another table full of beverages; carafe's of teas, coffee, hot water, coco, etc.

5/19/2023 20:01:51 Caressa is seated on the couch talking across to Viktor.

5/19/2023 20:05:08 Robert makes his way down the stair, little winged lizard clinging to his shoulder. Not large, about half the size of his hand, perched on his shoulder. (Common parlance, a draco).

5/19/2023 20:05:53 Phil pauses about halfway down the flight of stairs, peering at Robert's pet. "I hope you're keeping that away from the birds," he says. "You know how distant cousins don't always get along."

5/19/2023 20:07:27 Gwydion does not enter from the stairs, he appears in the phone booth and steps out. Taking a moment he blinks a few times and looks around to see what's up tonight.

5/19/2023 20:07:46 Miriel comes down the stairs with a bounce in her step, and it seems the animal parade is continuing -- she has an orange Maine Coon cat perched on her shoulders, its claws toying with the tassels on her hippie-chick-classic peasant blouse. She blinks at the number of people already here and murmurs something to herself about getting out more often.

5/19/2023 20:08:07 Caressa looks towards the stairs as others arrive, "Welcome everyone!" A fluid motion towards the buffet tables, "Please, help yourselves and find a seat! We'll start introductions in ten minutes!"

5/19/2023 20:10:43 Viktor is seated at the big table checking on his own pet, which is a smart phone. He slips it into a pocket as the room starts to fill up, looking around at everyone with unmasked curiosity.

5/19/2023 20:11:49 Robert gives the little lizard a light head rub. "This little fellow stays close at hand, or in his personal terrarium. He'd be a quick snack to too many other critters I handle on a regular basis.( https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/11999706/medium.jpeg )"Well, there seems to be quite a crowd tonight. Have I been missing anything?"

5/19/2023 20:12:07 Shinju makes no special entrance, blending into the background as she simply goes to take a seat off in the corner somewhere. She does, however, nod to Viktor, sitting beside him at the table with a wink.

5/19/2023 20:13:44 Paul comes downstairs with Robert holding a bag of food in one hand and a large iced tea in the other. He gives a smile to Caressa, "Thanks, Ma'am." He glances at Robert, "At least he doesn't have the snake tonight."

5/19/2023 20:15:08 Chanel comes bouncing down the stairs, her blonde hair floating around her as she does. "Oh look at everyone here! Hello!!!" She comes bringing food with her. "I brought beignets!" Hospitality is always upfront with this one. She is a happy sort.

5/19/2023 20:15:41 Miriel moves to the buffet table, cat's head perking up to regard the possibilities. After a moment, the beast hmphs and settles back down. "Relax," she murmurs, pouring herself some coffee and sweetening and milking it. 'Milking' is TOO the right word for adding it to your coffee. She visually checks for... yep, there we are, turkey. She snags a sammich and some potato salad, along with napkins and a Coke, and finds herself a spot at the big table, smiling at the existing occupants. "Anyone else feel like they're on the world's largest blind date?"

5/19/2023 20:17:32 Viktor nods back at Shinju as she sits, then does a hard double take. "Holy crap! What are you- I didn't realize you were part of this?"

5/19/2023 20:18:27 Caressa laughs softly at Miriel's question. "Yeah, the meet-ups can feel like that till you get to know folks." Oo! Beignets! She rises and makes her way over to retrieve one. "Thanks for bringing them!"

5/19/2023 20:20:26 Gwydion chuckles and looks around at all the new faces before stepping over to the food and drink to fix himself a plate. Taking a seat he nods to Miriel "That's a good comparison, haven't heard it before. With this many people maybe its also the speed version?"

5/19/2023 20:21:30 Robert helps himself to one of the offered beignets. "Well, certainly a lot of newer faces since last we were here." he says with a nudge to Paul.

5/19/2023 20:21:45 Phil shakes his head at Gwydion. "Making it too easy for me, Slick. All right, I'll start: Are you now, or have you ever been, a Marauder? Raise your hand for yes, everyone."

5/19/2023 20:22:29 Shinju snacks on some of the free munchies she sneakily grabbed, smirking sideways at Viktor as she curiously glances over the magical crowd. "I don't, normally. Dragon told me I should 'see the other side of things' more... so here I am. Free food convinced me, you could say."

5/19/2023 20:25:23 Caressa tilts her head at Phil curiously but only for a moment. She whistles to get the crowd's attention. "Good evening everyone! First I'd like us to go around and introduce ourselves. I see a lot of new faces. I'm Doctor Caressa Smith, psychiatrist, MoonSeeker Verbena. You can find my contact info almost anywhere." She then looks at Phil, "You're next old man," she says while moving to retake her seat.

5/19/2023 20:25:47 Miriel chuckles at the first comment, and then actually bursts out laughing as Gwydion comes out with a question. "Oh, probably. Does that mean I have to introduce myself in under thirty seconds?" When Phil asks, she raises both hands, and goes, "Oooh, oooh, me, me!"
5/19/2023 20:25:47 The cat on her shoulders baps her upside the head with a large polydactyl paw and says, "Oh, you are *not*, silly woman. Put your hands down and give me some turkey."
5/19/2023 20:25:47 She snorts. "With an attitude like that, you get nothing." She reaches for the coffee first; yes, she has both coffee and a Coke. A glance is exchanged between woman and cat; the cat wins, and she sighs and peels a piece of turkey out of the sandwich and offers it to the cat. "Fine," she mutters. Then she falls silent at the woman leading the event begins to speak.

5/19/2023 20:26:39 Viktor cocks his head at Phil's question, mulling it over. It was one of those things that sounded like a joke, except is wasn't actually funny. He shakes his head and turns back to smile at Shinju. "Sure, free food is never bad. And I still owe you that dinner." 5/19/2023 20:26:39 Viktor then turns to Caressa and gestures towards Shinju. "She's the reason I only got a few bruises, instead of what might have turned into a serious beating."

5/19/2023 20:27:00 Gwydion grins at Phil when Caressa calls him old "You're getting on in years after all, I thought you could use the low hanging fruit." then he quiets to see how things go.

5/19/2023 20:29:03 Phil grabs a seat someplace and leans back. "Wait till you hit puberty, then we'll talk about old. I'm Phil Harrison, huckster, kind of an asshole, occupying the local Seat of Forces for... mmm, a while, now. /You/ knock it off" - he gestures to Miriel - "and Salem says you haven't fed him today."

5/19/2023 20:29:14 Robert glances at the lizard on his shoulder when Shinju mentions Dragon. "You haven't beem seeing people behind my back, have you?" and giving it's chin an affectionate touch. "Robert Daw. Lifeweaver, shapeshifter, veternarian, magicman."

5/19/2023 20:31:45 Caressa looses her smile for a heartbeat. She picks her phone from her pocket and shoots off a text between introductions. Her violet-silver eyes watching each person with a strange, but gentle, intensity before they move to the next person.

5/19/2023 20:35:57 Shinju nods at Viktor's recounting of her 'saving' him. When she's called out by Robert, she glances over at him... and his drsconic familiar, tilting her head for a bit before speaking. "Aw nah, not -that- kind of dragon... I mean--eh, doesn't matter." Noticing she has 'the stage' so to speak, she gets her intro out of the way. "Shinju. Drifter I guess. Normal turf's Chinatown. That's all."

5/19/2023 20:37:04 Gwydion grins at Phil's counter and nods as things move along "Gwydion McBryde, Adopted Verbena, local weirdstuff consultant, Professional Private Investigator, and bad thing that happens to bad things. I run Green Knight Consulting, we're in the book."

5/19/2023 20:38:47 Viktor raises his hand to the group in greeting. "Hello, everyone. I'm Viktor, also known as Stitcher42 if any of you move in digital circles. I just moved here a couple of weeks ago, so I'm still getting used to the place and everything. Uhhhh... I guess call me if you need tech support?"

5/19/2023 20:40:26 Miriel smirks at Phil, but doesn't counter his comment. At least not for the moment. She does, however, take a bite of her sandwich, and give some of the meat to the cat again. Once the circle of introductions works itself around to her, she waves to people with a lazy smile and says, "Miri Chandler, Dreamspeaker. And this is Fingers, star of social media and general pain in the ass." THe cat, for his part, waves a paw and yawns.

5/19/2023 20:41:21 Paul finishes chewing his latest bite of sandwich before glancing around and stating, "I'm Paul Barakat, Animal Whisperer amd Artisan mainly."

5/19/2023 20:42:39 Chanel has been taking the tray of beignets around and it is at least half gone already. "Momma always said, the way to a man's heart is through the stomach. So glad you all are enjoying these pure sugary love!" She looks from person to person, hearing introductions, and then offers when she can jump inbetween in with her Southern drawl, "I reckon it is my turn to share. I'm Chanel Davenport, owner of the Silver Skies Boutique. I love to design clothing, study art, and I can mix a fantastic amount of beverages! Mixologist and hostess. Mostly been working with my hands, making clothes, and designing, but learning more and more like my grandmere would teach me in the bayou." She most on to share more of her treats.

5/19/2023 20:44:36 Caressa nods, "Again, thank you everyone for coming. So, all the newcomers.. how are you all settling in? Are you all in need of anything at all?"

5/19/2023 20:50:16 "Real fancy putting all your magic crap underneath a coffee shop, ain'tcha?" Shinju states, laughing a bit. "Can't say too much though, 'cuz I'm needing seconds." She stands up, kimono flowing behind her as she goes to get more of the brought in food.

5/19/2023 20:52:59 Viktor pipes up again to answer Caressa's question. "Well, need is kind of a strong word. I thought it would be good to meet others in the club here, which we're already covering tonight. But my settling in is going well. I've got a place set up to live and work, and I'm learning the city pretty well. I guess I'll probably have to be doing some goal setting soon, now that the moving part is done. I don't suppose anyone here needs help with anything?"

5/19/2023 20:59:32 Robert says, “I think we ran fresh out of emergnecies, though not sure who has what projects”

5/19/2023 21:01:23 Caressa nods to Robert. "That is the next question. If anyone had anything going on that they need help with." She looks to Viktor, "We'll have to talk more about what you can do, but I may need some help securing my businesses. Depending on what you find if anything."

5/19/2023 21:01:43 "Apparently there's been some trouble about halfway from here to Tijuana," Phil offers, gesturing toward Robert. "Not sure how recently, yet."

5/19/2023 21:02:02 Miriel offers a smile to Chanel as she swipes a Beignet with a quick move from her seat. Hey, adults can eat the dessert in the middle of the meal, right? She's listening, at this point, intent on finding things out. And, of course, eating.

5/19/2023 21:07:26 Shinju sits back down, nudging Viktor with an elbow. "There's always trouble if you're 'round the right places. Probably nothing you're after, though."

5/19/2023 21:12:07 Viktor chuckles at Shinju, and maintains a wide grin through his response. "I didn't mean trouble, exactly... But I do try to be in the habit of leaving things better than they were when I found them, and we live in an imperfect world, so there's plenty of work to be done. I might work on securing better revenue streams and some reliable transportation first, but I'm sure I can be useful around here somewhere. Even if it's just setting up wireless internet for your parents or something."

5/19/2023 21:14:46 Gwydion quirks an eyebrow and looks over at Robert when he's gestured at but then offers to the room in general "If you run into something that's not like us and you need it identified you can call me. And I offer a bounty for anyone that brings me a knowing of something really *new*."

5/19/2023 21:21:06 Caressa mms, "Or if anyone has any other questions? Next month we'll meet up at my estate for back yard bbq and pool party." She glances to Gwydion, and sighs softly, then looks back to the others, "Gwydion doesn't have a monopoly on that. If you need anything just ask. Actually, you'll probably have an easier time reaching me than him."

5/19/2023 21:23:09 Caressa adds, "I'm also retiring from most of the 9-5 grind, so I'll have more time on my hands."

5/19/2023 21:24:15 Chanel looks between them all, and whispers something to Miriel with a smile on her face.

5/19/2023 21:26:43 Miriel smiles back to Chanel and replies quietly, the cat leaning in to eavesdrop.

5/19/2023 21:28:41 Robert says, “If it's bad enough a situation, I'm sure that finding help wonlt be a terribly complicated situation.”

5/19/2023 21:28:50 Gwydion blinks and looks at Caressa "Excuse me? I'm super easy to get a hold of I have no idea what you're on about. My business phone number is listed and my office is right across the street from here. I pop up every once and a while at these things to make sure new folks know who I am even if I'm not around that much in person. I have never, not once, failed to answer a call for aid or for information. Just because you and I don't keep in touch does not mean I'm not around."

5/19/2023 21:30:33 Phil squints for a moment, then gestures to Gwydion. "Okay, G-man? You're at about a six there, you might want to take it down to a four or so. It's not exactly a stretch to imagine that you might be in high demand."

5/19/2023 21:31:35 Viktor turns to Gwydion questioningly. "What do you mean by *new*? Do you mean just new discoveries in our fields, or weird stuff in general?"

5/19/2023 21:33:37 Caressa smiles softly, a little nod in Phil's direction. Her attention diverted to elsewhere while her free hand reaches to play with her pendant.

5/19/2023 21:38:43 Gwydion decides that ignoring that is best and moves on, turning to Viktor "New to me. If you find a type of supernatural creature I haven't yet learned about and bring it to my attention I'll pay a premium in cash, tass, or favors. That said, I've run into a lot so its a hard bounty to claim. But if you run into something I do know about and you want to learn I'll teach you."

5/19/2023 21:39:43 Miriel goes wide-eyed and takes a swallow from her coffee. She's kind of gobsmacked. Viktor's question brings a nod from the dark-haired woman, and the cat on her shoulders just settles in to nap. She listens to the answer, and then hrms.

5/19/2023 21:40:18 Down the stairs, the sound of newly familiar boots coming down comes... And shortly after it starts? There is Selene! Clad in all black, with a pair of thick black shades on her eyes... In her right hand, she holds a deliciously decadent espresso-sugar-creme-whatever nightmare thing. A cavity in a cup, perhaps... And she pauses at the base of the stairs, peering around to drink in the new faces... So unfamiliar!
5/19/2023 21:40:18 "Hey there, everyone." She starts, "Selene Leahmnach. Matriarch of the Circle of the Grey Moon. Hedge Witch." Very candid!
5/19/2023 21:40:18 She enters the space, and drifts riiiiight on over to Miriel...
5/19/2023 21:40:18 "Fancy seeing you here... And you 'too' Fingers. Looking dapper."

5/19/2023 21:41:52 Chanel has taken a seat at the moment, but then rises to get the beignets and offer some to Selene, "Hello! Nice to meet you. Would you like a beignet?"

5/19/2023 21:43:01 "Y'know, maybe they don't -wanna- be known. Why do you gotta know everything about everyone?" Shinju idly comments.

5/19/2023 21:43:26 Viktor straightens his glasses and then waves to Selene, someone also unfamiliar to him. "Hi, I'm Viktor. Computer nerd. And also medic."

5/19/2023 21:43:36 Miriel scoots over to make room for Selene on the opposite side of her from Chanel, and finger waves, grinning. "Trouble's here," she says with a playful expression. Someone's in decent spirits, it seems...

5/19/2023 21:45:56 Caressa looks to Selene and gives the woman a little wave. "I've heard about you down there in Chula. Nice to finally meet you." She glances over to Shinju with an amused smirk. "I'll have to head out in fifteen. I have a month-old at home at will need me. But ya'll are welcome to stay and chat."

5/19/2023 21:46:23 Phil turns and gestures to Selene. "Yeah, speaking of-- I mentioned about there being some front-line action, maybe you can fill in a timeline? We were a little vague on that the other day."

5/19/2023 21:47:15 Robert gives Selene a wave, pausing that wave when his lizard hops from his shoulder to his waving hand for a warmer perch with better visability.

5/19/2023 21:47:17 Selene removes her sunglasses... And those strange, beautiful eyes look to each person who addresses her in order!
5/19/2023 21:47:17 "Oh, you know? I just recently ate... And I've got SO much sugar in this cup, I may keel over already. But..." She reaches out anyhow! Between two fingers, she plucks a beignet up and brings it with her to her seat! "I am 'not' one to refuse hospitality when it's offered. And this is certainly 'delicious' looking hospitality."
5/19/2023 21:47:17 As she settles into the seat beside Miriel? Viktor comes next! "Nice to meet you Viktor! Computer and medicine? That sounds like a useful combination... And like a combination I should totally leave in 'your' lane. And, Miriel- Trouble was already here... It's on your shoulders." She snickers just a bit at that... Then looks up towards Phil.
5/19/2023 21:47:17 "I can give you a time line. Where were you thinking I start? I 'could' just... Go, maybe?"

5/19/2023 21:52:42 Gwydion grins at Shinju "Ignorance and misunderstanding lead to fear and violence. I'm not saying that everyone should know everything, That's why the Rule of Shade exists. The Vampires call it the Masquerade, the Fae call it the Right of Ignorance, The Weres call it the Veil, and pretty much every supernatural society has a version of it. They're all about hiding from the general populace but they shouldn't be about hiding from each other. Keep your places of power secret and sacred sure but turning into a murderhobo just because someone knows you exist? Not cool."

5/19/2023 21:56:32 Caressa gathers her things, rises and head towards the stairs. "See you folks next month, or just call between then."

5/19/2023 21:57:22 Phil offers Selene a shrug. "Whatever you think is most important, seeing as some of us might need to help with the next round. And there's always a next round, sooner or later."

5/19/2023 22:00:15 Viktor looks between Phil and Selene. "The next round of what, exactly?"

5/19/2023 22:00:46 Paul as usual continues to eat quietly but listens intently to what is being said.

5/19/2023 22:01:12 Miriel Mmms and nods to Phil at that. "Even I know that, and I'm a friggin' hermit." Another bite of the sandwich. Another swiped Beignet. She offers a mouthed thank-you to Chanel and then sits back to hear about the trouble -- which is, to her, news that needs sharing.

5/19/2023 22:03:02 Selene nods.
5/19/2023 22:03:02 "Yeah. I can do that... Well, there was a very, very recent issue with a Nephandus who had set up shop under the city. This was when Mrs. Grey was still here obviously... Dealt with as easily as it could've been dealth with, without so much as a single death of ours... Technically." She clears her throat, evidently aiming to brush right over that. Like a rhetorical dust bunny. 5/19/2023 22:03:02 "They were worshipping an ancient aztec earth deity, who may or may not still be at large. I'm erring on the side of 'still at large, but temporarily subdued.' And that's... Just the largest of the things. Most imminently?" She shrugs, leaning back in her seat with her beignet AND her coffee.
5/19/2023 22:03:02 "People have been losing their minds on main street... Like, more than just road rage. We've had issues with distribution of substances laced with some kind of Wyrm nonsense... But it doesn't look the same as that."
5/19/2023 22:03:02 Hedge witch knows about the Wyrm, and Aztec earth deities.
5/19/2023 22:03:02 "As far as... 'Pressing' goes, that's the most pressing I've got."

5/19/2023 22:04:17 Chanel looks with interest, wondering just what this situation is going on. She hears Wyrm and she seems to recognize it.

5/19/2023 22:14:31 Robert says, “A circle of protection from empathy and good sense?”

5/19/2023 22:17:45 Phil blinks once, looking to Robert. "That's probably the right answer to something. But what, exactly?"

5/19/2023 22:18:25 "My thoughts exactly." Selene asks, also looking to Robert... Chompin' on a beignet.

5/19/2023 22:18:57 Miriel Ohs and says, "Oh, are we playing Cards Against Humanity and nobody told me? I know that one!" She grins and the cat swats her again. She eyes him and says, "Keep it up, smartass, I know where you sleep."

5/19/2023 22:23:13 Robert motions to Selene with his free hand. "To the added road rage incidents that don't look like the drugs. Of course, might just be different drugs, ir a different delivery system."

5/19/2023 22:26:59 Phil considers the explanation, such as it is. "So you think someone's making literal Idiot Balls and leaking them into the economy? Not /that/ big a stretch from people who are just doing it for the money. And the hookers and blow, and so on and so forth."

5/19/2023 22:28:41 "Well... Road rage might be a misleading term I uh... I guess." Selene says, scratching the side of her cheek with the now empty hand, free due to the murder of the beignet.
5/19/2023 22:28:41 "People are... Just straight up walking into oncoming traffic. Babbling nonsense while they do it. I guess it could be some kind of drug going around but... I know people who know stuff about that. I haven't been to ask them yet, but I figure if there was a serious problem that they might've told me about it." She shrugs, settling back into her seat with her coffee, glancing over to Fingers and Miriel...
5/19/2023 22:28:41 "...He knows where you sleep too, you know. I'd be mindful of throwing the gauntlet down with a feline with opposable digits."

5/19/2023 22:30:36 Gwydion blinks and the nods when Robert explains "Like hiding runes around the intersection to set up a field effect or something? Could be a thing. I'd suggest getting someone to have a look around in the area where its been happening, or giving the victims a once over. Got any post-cog talents or anyone with good magic detection abilities down that way?" He offers to Selene "That's really messed up sounding."

5/19/2023 22:35:51 Viktor clears his throat and sits up straighter. "Do you have times and locations of examples? I can probably get into the traffic cameral logs and look for evidence there."

5/19/2023 22:42:19 Miriel considers. "Trances brought on by something," she opines. "If we can figure out where, I don't mind taking a swing around and looking for anything that sticks out. And if we have times, yeah, checking cameras would work, too." She then reaches up and scritches FIngers between his ears, and feeds him another morsel of turkey. The cat doesn't seem inclined to murder her. She flashes Selene a smile, and then turns serious. "What do you think, you want me to just look these places over?"

5/19/2023 22:43:31 "Understatement." Selene says to Gwydion, considering what he asked for a moment...
5/19/2023 22:43:31 "Well, I'm decent with psychometric impressions... I can also levitate journal AND a pen at the same time, and my brain's pretty tough to crack. But as far as relevant talents go? The impressions left on objects and people, I can handle... But hiding runes around the intersection? That sounds like Hereditary... That one scene, where the sister was having an allergic reaction an-" She awkwardly clears her throat at the mention of the movie, probably... Not having intended to mention it.
5/19/2023 22:43:31 Viktor's engagement, though? That draws her attention with a bleary blink. Like she'd momentarily forgotten that computers were even a thing.
5/19/2023 22:43:31 "That's... An amazing idea! Totally, there should absolutely be at least a couple cameras around there. I mean, it's main street... Why wouldn't there be? I don't have any times in my mind right 'now' but, if you wanted to come down, I could let you talk to somebody who might be able to get them?" Then to Miriel!
5/19/2023 22:43:31 "Yes! If you could. I can come with you to make sure you don't, you know, run into the business end of a pointy thing." Then, those eyes flit to Gwydion!
5/19/2023 22:43:31 "...What was your name? I don't know if you mentioned."

5/19/2023 22:48:31 Gwydion nods and grins at Selene "Gwydion McBryde, Adopted Verbena and Professional Private Investigator. And One of our side's pointy things. Also if we need to get a group down that way I can grab one of my firm's unmarked vans. Seeing as we have a bunch of good ideas."

5/19/2023 22:50:07 Chanel is listening, and sounds like things are will in hand. Not much for her to add, nor know she can do aside from pass the beignets around.

5/19/2023 22:57:07 The normally quiet Paul interjects, "Mister Gwydion is a good man to have around. He'll help you out with just about anything."

5/19/2023 23:00:37 Viktor glances around as the conversation bounces back and forth. "Well, I'm not sure we have to actually go down there in meatspace, but I'm up for anything to help if I can."

5/19/2023 23:01:10 "Gwydion, got it... And you?" Selene says towards Viktor, just before indulging in another sip of her espresso sugar murder death latte.
5/19/2023 23:01:10 "Just to give uh... A reiterated, fuller introduction. I'm Selene Leahmnach. Lyra Grey's student, and Matriarch of the Circle of the Grey Moon... A-and a hedge witch." She takes out her phone then, tapping the screen a few times...
5/19/2023 23:01:10 "Why don't we circle numbers around? We can figure out a time for us to all cram into Gwydion's van and get this show on the... Hopefully, pedestrian free road... Preferably soon, before the news starts to REALLY notice." And then Viktor says a thing!
5/19/2023 23:01:10 "...Meatspace? I'm gonna need uh... An elaboration on that."

5/19/2023 23:03:26 Robert starts toward the exit. "Well, it was good to meet you all. If you're going to to vanquish some evil, please do keep us in mind. "He says with a pat on Paul's shoulder.

5/19/2023 23:03:53 Paul gathers up the trash from the table and heads upstairs with Robert.

5/19/2023 23:04:12 "Shoot, shoot, shoot..." that's the sound of hurried footsteps as a Aleysa appears, rushing down the stairs, squeezing right by Robert and Paul as they leave and she blinks towards Selene. "Did I miss it all?"

5/19/2023 23:05:44 Phil is just getting up, as if to excuse himself in turn, only to turn and offer Aleysa a faint smile. "Not quite. Some people had to take off - I was about to," he adds, confirming that opening gesture - "but the rest are planning a field trip."

5/19/2023 23:07:02 Gwydion grins at Viktor "You must be a Virtual Adept then?" Then to Selene "Meatspace means physical reality. The space your meat exists in. Which is to say he wasn't saying going down in person but was planning on getting into their computers from here." Then to Viktor "The Surveillance vans for my firm are pretty well equipped, with net access even." Then to Aleysa "Nope. Several of us are still here."

5/19/2023 23:09:09 Chanel rises and takes what is left of the fresh beignets over to Aleysa, "Would you like one? Made them fresh before coming in here earlier."

5/19/2023 23:10:51 Silvana steps down the steps holding a cup from the coffeeshop upstairs. She pauses as she looks around "It looks like I am really really late"

5/19/2023 23:11:12 Viktor gives a laugh and nods at Gwydion's answer. "Yeah, he's got it. To be fair though, I was talking like that before I awakened. And I'm pretty sure I can pull that trick off with just what I knew before then. But yeah, Virtual Adept and all of that now."

5/19/2023 23:11:41 Selene slowly nods at the explanation. "Gotcha... Gotcha... So it's kinda' like the Umbra? Or at least, it probably wouldn't be too wrong for me to conceptualize it that way?" The lil Verbena's trying!
5/19/2023 23:11:41 "And yeah! Aleysa. You're lately on time. No need to worry... There's just been some weirdness in Chula Vista that Miriel, Gwydion and Viktor are going to help try to piece together. People are being... Influenced somehow. Either under it, or whatever else. Whatever it is it's just... Making them walk into oncoming traffick. Current working theory is... Maybe main street has some kinda' weird enchantment on it. OR maybe it's some kind of drug..?" Selene muses over the past discussion aloud, before noticing Phil rise. "Hey, it was nice seeing you Phil. Drive safe- or whatever it is you do to get home."

5/19/2023 23:14:22 Aleysa boggles at meatspace and surveillance vans and field trips and looking from Gwydion and Viktor and then there's a Chanel offering fresh fried dough and she accepts the familiarity of a beignet with a grateful thanks. But then Selene is explaining what's going on and her eyes widen even as she chews at the food in thought. "If it is some sort of drug... I might at least be able to figure something out with that?"

5/19/2023 23:16:10 Miriel nods her agreement to her inclusion; at the moment, she's passing around a paper for people to get and exchange numbers. Paper! So last century!

5/19/2023 23:19:23 Silvana looks around curiously for a moment to try and figure out what is going on.

5/19/2023 23:19:53 Phil nods, gesturing vaguely upward. "Parked about a block down. I'm planning to stick around the city - I don't /think/ this is a huge diversionary tactic, but it ain't impossible - but I'm available too, if it gets hairy enough." He leaves behind a small stack of business cards (Thorn Building, phone number and web site), along with a stack of not-business cards (Bicycle, mix of red and blue backs, each with a separate phone number handwritten on the face).

5/19/2023 23:20:28 Viktor looks askance at the paper, then up at Miriel with a few blinks. "Uhh, I don't carry a pencil."

5/19/2023 23:22:19 Gwydion reaches into one of the many pockets on his coat and gets business cards to hand out and then he collects the numbers on the paper and grins to Aleysa "Alchemist? Life Mage? Both? I'm Gwydion McBryde bani Verbena. Private Investigator."

5/19/2023 23:25:11 Selene looks down at her purse for a moment... 5/19/2023 23:25:11 And another moment.
5/19/2023 23:25:11 And another.
5/19/2023 23:25:11 ...Nothing happens, and she lets out a frustrated, quiet hiss. She reaches in with her hand, and slides a pen across the table to Viktor with her NORMAL hands instead. She takes solace, afterwards, in the consumption of that overindulgent beverage which still has yet to be depleted. A few pulls on that, and she sets it down with a secondary sigh.
5/19/2023 23:25:11 "Whether it's a drug or not... It'd still be a huge help for someone to be around who could check. Chula Vista... Kinda' has a history of having problems too big for a pair of people to solve. It's why Mrs. Grey needed so much help... All she could do to keep things as they were."

5/19/2023 23:27:24 Viktor signs the paper with the offered writing utensil, then gives a wave to Aleysa the newcomer. "Oh, right, late introductions. I'm Viktor, huge fucking geek. We are in the informal part of the night, right?"

5/19/2023 23:28:19 "Healer. Aleysa Duchamp, also of the Verbena," she identifies herself without the extra formality of all the bani this or that.

5/19/2023 23:35:48 Gwydion nods at Viktor "Yup. I'm pretty sure we are." Aleysa gets a nod "I started out as an Orphan and got adopted later on. So my training's a little all over the place but I make it work. And I'm pretty good at translating between members of different paradigms." Then he nods and makes sure Aleysa gets a business card too.

5/19/2023 23:35:57 Silvana looks a little confused for a moment as she steps aside as she looks around "Silvana Bethancourt, Sorceress, and a Jack of many traits" she nods.

5/19/2023 23:40:35 "Oh, well if we're informal..." Selene says, closing her eyes for a moment and... Changing LITERALLY nothing!
5/19/2023 23:40:35 "Selene. She who is unprepared for her many responsibilities. Informal part of the night." She looks at the business card to Aleysa... And she grins just a touch.
5/19/2023 23:40:35 "Different paradigms? You make it sound like you understand more than two. Do you actually? Or do you just get the premises of many?"

5/19/2023 23:46:42 Viktor shifts in his chair, messing with his phone a bit before looking back up and letting his smile fade into more seriousness. "Oh, right, details. Beyond geek, I'm a Virtual Adept, medic, and well, stuff like that. Maybe a little specialized? But I'm here to help, in general."

5/19/2023 23:46:54 Gwydion grins at Selene "Oh I've gotten the hang of several over the years. Pretty much any time someone takes the time to explain their process for Magick I can work along side. Its odd but it works for me considering I started with coin flips, duct tape, and a zippo lighter as my foci."

5/19/2023 23:47:36 Silvana turns and headz back out the door she came from.

5/19/2023 23:48:04 Chanel asks when she hears things said, "There was a real formal part?" She shrugs. "Chanel Davenport. Designer, Mixologist." And beignet maker.

5/19/2023 23:52:27 "What was the duck tape for?" Aleysa blinks a little in surprise. "I got trained by your stereotypical cranky old lady that lives in the woods. So pretty much classic witch stuff you'd expect usually."

5/19/2023 23:54:48 "Sounds like you used to work similar to Phil... I have to wonder what kind of a story it must be to go from Ace Hardware to Hocus Pocus... And you know?" Selene says, turning to Chanel... "I guess there wasn't 'really' a formal part. It's a social, right? And, seriously, these... What are they? They're 'amazing,' really. Is that... Puff pastry? Or something else?"

5/20/2023 0:00:26 Gwydion grins at Aleysa "Matter effects where I fuse things together. Duct Tape Can Bind All Things." Then he nods to Selene "When I came to Prospect one of the biggest parts of my introduction to the Traditions was going around and interviewing members of different ones. To try and pick out where I'd fit."

5/20/2023 0:03:51 Chanel doesn't have a lot more to add to this all, as her experiences with all of this are few and far between. She does offer on the question of the treats, "It's magic." She winks. "Really the trick is getting the water the right temperature. Got to be between 110 and 115 degrees. Any more or less - and you fail. The yeast has to proof, and then you got to use the right flour and then the perfect fry. And without the confectioners' sugar? Honey, you ain't got nothing." It's a southern thing.

5/20/2023 0:08:48 Viktor is clearly doing some texting on his phone, before looking up and trying to hide his wide grin and slot back into the current conversation. "I got my start in the software field. As it turns out though, that does seem to apply to a lot of things."

5/20/2023 0:09:47 "The Verbena net can be wider than many would think... even some Verbena," Aleysa adds for the Ace Hardware to Hocus Pocus. "As some look to fuse old with the new, there's a small but growing group of techno-pagans out there. I still prefer the plant network to computer networks though."

5/20/2023 0:16:15 Selene sighs... "Mrs. Grey would snap at you for calling techno-pagans Verbena. But, then, she's also snap at you for saying the same of wiccans... She's a Gardener. And I have to admit that alot of her perspective rubbed off on me with regards to... I guess, paradigm purity?" She scratches her cheek uncomfortably, but shrugs it off.
5/20/2023 0:16:15 "But I'm just a hedge witch. If I ever get there, I'm sure it'll 'just' make sense." Blink. Blink.
5/20/2023 0:16:15 "...Totally make sense."
5/20/2023 0:16:15 To Chanel, she finally looks. Glad to have the opportunity to get distance from her apparent Paradigmism! "It would 'honestly' not surprise me if it WAS magic. You know, when I was 'very' young? I used to want to be a pastry chef... Cakes, in particular. The first time we put the money aside for the ingredients though? I uh... Kinda' royally messed it up... So I abandoned that dream pretty early. You're 'amazing' though... Those were made a while ago, right? They still taste fresh!"

5/20/2023 0:25:11 Gwydion grins and shrugs at Selene "Some folks are just like that. I came to things a little oddly and it made me non-standard. She probably wouldn't have liked me that much." Then to Aleysa "Want to see the Quintessence Storage Crystal I made on a 3D printer?"

5/20/2023 0:26:14 Viktor glances up from his phone his attention perking at the mention of a 3D printer. "Hell I want to see that!"

5/20/2023 0:29:15 "And that attitude is precisely why the Gardeners are losing their grip, such an insistence on only the old ways and the old blood... a rigid old tree will snap in a storm that younger trees flex right on through," Aleysa tsks towards Selene. "I may not understand the techno-pagans or..." A look over to Viktor. "But even though our methods may differ, if we're still connecting to the same essence of life and doing our best to protect that, it's similarity enough. At least for me." A shrug.

5/20/2023 0:34:36 Gwydion fishes out a necklace from inside his shirt, a golden chain with a many faceted diamond like gem the size of a peach pit. To mundane eyes it seems brightly polished but unremarkable "I call it 'Carreg O Olau' The Stone of Light. I worked out the runes for the power containment spell and printed the sphere in layers of them a top each other."

5/20/2023 0:42:08 Viktor looks back up from his phone, a happy grin still sticking on his face. "Oh yeah, I'm betting my methods don't match any of yours, but I still want to help. So we can probably make that work out, right?"

5/20/2023 0:43:36 "Old ways, new methods," Aleysa smiles and points to Gwydion and his 3d printed crystal as Case Study #1. "And our ways don't have to always match... as things come up, people can work where their own strengths lay. Like I'd be hopeless if having to deal with surveillance cameras."

5/20/2023 0:49:23 Gwydion nods at Viktor and gestures over at the Phone booth "That was a community group project and there were mages of many different traditions working together. I bridged the workings together to make that portal to the Chantry's Node. We'll work it out."