2023.05.1:Virtually New in Town
| Virtually New in Town | |
|---|---|
| Viktor Hausman gets his newbie orientation. | |
| IC Date | May 1, 2023 |
| IC Time | Daytime |
| Players | Viktor, Caressa |
| Location | Prospect Roasters |
| Spheres | Mage |
5/1/2023 19:26:52 Viktor is seated at the Ms. Pac-Man table with an almost finished soda cup sitting next to him. He's currently staring down into the surface of the game screen, one hand operating it to the sound of a lot of retro bleeps and boop sound effects and music.
5/1/2023 19:32:56 Caressa wanders in wearing an infant on her chest. A huge purse/diaper bag combo slung over her shoulder. She gets in line for the counter and orders, "Irish Eyes, extra Irish please." Though too bad Roaster doesn't sell alcohol, fake Irish flavoring it is. After waiting for her drink, she carries it to a nearby table. Perhaps stealing a glance down at his in passing.
5/1/2023 19:41:50 Viktor glances up as Caressa moves past his table. It looks like he was headed for a decent high score, but gets distracted enough by her passing to get his last life wiped out by a ghost. He looks back down at the screen again as the taunting sound effect plays, then leans back with a sigh. Then he polishes off his soda and heads back up to the bar to order a new one. "Alright, I guess that's enough of that for now, anyway." 5/1/2023 19:41:50 He nods towards Caressa with a polite "Ma'am".
5/1/2023 19:47:39 Caressa turns her silver-violet eyes up to the voice, "Sir." She replies with a soft smile. "You'll get it next time."
5/1/2023 19:52:00 Viktor gives a short laugh and rubs the back of his head. "Yeah, maybe... Really though, these old games are pretty hard. Arcade games were always meant to eat quarters, too. Still, it's cool to see such an old school game here, and still in good working condition, too. I suppose it could be a replica, but it doesn't look like one..."
5/1/2023 19:57:16 Caressa glances to the table, "Probably real. There's an arcade in town called Timeless Tokens, if you enjoy video games. You looked to be doing pretty good though, better than I would...and do."
5/1/2023 20:02:04 Viktor grins sheepishly, then looks away from her and back to the arcade machine. "Timeless Tokens, huh? I may have to check that out, I do like to play some games here and there. I've gotten some practice, at least. Do you know what part of the city that's in? I just moved here recently, so I'm not too familiar yet."
5/1/2023 20:06:08 Caressa nods, motioning off to the east, "Just a block or two in from the boardwalk." She pauses to think, "Belvedere and Beach, if the place is still in business. Was last I checked. I should take the kids there some afternoon. Let them run out all the energy." She smiles, "How are you settling in so far?"
5/1/2023 20:15:52 Viktor reaches for his phone and slides it halfway out of his pocket, then with an apparent exercise of willpower pushes it back down to leave that research for later. "Alright, thanks. I'll definitely check it out when I get a chance. And the settling is... mostly settled for now, I guess? I got an apartment downtown and I'm pretty much moved in. Unpacking always takes longer than you think though, of course. I take it you're from around here, then?"
5/1/2023 20:20:04 Caressa nods, "Born and raised." She reaches into the oversized purse when her infant begins to fuss. She pulls out a bottle and gives it a few shakes while a small whiff of magick is directed towards it. Once it is well shaken, she pulls off the cap and offers it to the baby. "Where did you move here from?"
5/1/2023 20:30:50 Viktor watches the motion, raising an eyebrow as she moves to feed the infant. After a slight hesitation, he answers her question with just a bit more guarded caution and vagueness than he spoke with before. "Oh, uhhh, I came from up North, in the Silicon Valley area. Just a little bit of a trip, really."
5/1/2023 20:35:36 Caressa catches the hesitation in his voice and lifts her odd silver-violet colored eyes to him again. "Oh, I see." She chuckles, "I guess the question is then, are you an excentric medic, or a very methodical one." Yeah, his med pack hasn't been missed.
5/1/2023 20:43:38 Viktor places a hand on the IFAK reflexively at the mention of it, distracted from his concerns for at least the moment and bumped back into a smile. "Huh? Oh, a bit of both, I guess? Enough of both to keep this handy all the time, at least. You never know when you'll need it. Especially with what I've seen of my neighborhood, I'm betting I'll need to restock on Narcan before too long, at the very least."
5/1/2023 20:50:09 Caressa tilts her head at him, watching him closely. From the way his expression changed, to the cadence of his speech, even that reflexive touch to the IFAK. "I should have been expecting that answer." She says as though the question backfired, and it sort of did. "Do you consider yourself more traditional or non-traditional?" Her odd gaze holding him a little more intently, she's definitely seeking information.
5/1/2023 20:56:44 Viktor takes a moment to glance around the room, considering his answer. He had been told that this was a safe place to meet some contacts, so... "Let's call it a newfound appreciation of traditional methods?" He pauses for a brief moment, then can't help himself but add some qualifiers to that. "But only when they're effective. I don't mean I use leeches or anything."
5/1/2023 21:00:10 Caressa shudders at the mention of leeches. "Oh dear gods! No! I mean, back in the day they had their purpose. It was a good idea at the time..but uuuggghh." She smiles, carefully putting the bottle back into the purse, then rising to her feet. She extends a hand towards him, "Doctor Caressa Smith, care to follow me to somewhere more ..secure?"
5/1/2023 21:07:01 Viktor shifts his soda cup to his left hand and reaches out to shake hers with his right, his alert-o-meter ticks back down the couple of notches to its earlier state. "Sure, if that's the library I've heard... at least a little about?"
5/1/2023 21:09:31 Caressa smiles and nods, "There is a library, yes. Let me show you the way." She leads back towards counter, places an order for a sandwich and asks that it be send downstairs. Then she motions him to follow through the doorway that clearly leads to the kitchen.
5/1/2023 21:14:04 Caressa leads through the kitchen and down into the basement. By the time her foot hits the last step, the dumbwaiter dings the arrival of her order. "Ah, right on time! I'm starving." She makes a beeline to retrieve it. "Welcome to the basement."
5/1/2023 21:20:06 Viktor follows Caressa down the stairs, starting to relax a bit more. If he did get the wrong place, it was too late to worry about it at this point anyway. He does take note of the security cameras on the way in, too. "Ok, so yeah, this does seem to be what I was told to look for. The details on the *who* I should look for were a lot more nebulous. Anyway, hi, I'm Viktor."
5/1/2023 21:24:37 Caressa nods, "Yeah, they never really say *who* to look for. For a few years now it has been sort of a come here and someone will follow." She smiles over as she pulls the plate from the little manual elevator, then moves towards a table, "Nice to meet you Viktor. This is my newest, Flint." A little nod, obviously to the infant she's wearing.
5/1/2023 21:32:30 Viktor gives a smile and nod down to Flint, then turns his attention back up to the Doctor. "I'm a bit new to... this community, but I am familiar with OpSec so I get it. I just didn't want to do anything stupid and blow it in public. So... You said you're a doctor?"
5/1/2023 21:36:30 Caressa settles carefully into a chair, "I did. Psychiatrist, specifically. Verbena. Yourself?"
5/1/2023 21:41:29 Viktor sets himself down into a chair and sets his drink on the table. "Virtual Adept. As far as official qualifications go, I technically topped out as a combat medic. I've learned more than a few things since then, but they didn't come with a certificate or degree. I imagine you know how weird things can get. Probably more than me, I bet."
5/1/2023 21:46:01 Caressa nods, "I awoke a good bit later than most usually do. I already had my practice setup, and had been out of med school a while. But yes, things do get weird. Combat medic..." She repeats the position ponderingly, "Which branch?" Then she turns back to her sandwich, working on a bite or two while waiting for his reply.
5/1/2023 21:51:38 Viktor glances away for a brief moment, his eyes darkening at the memories of that not very distant phase of his life. "Army, Ma'am. That was before though. I didn't get my peek under the hood of the universe until I was going to school, afterward."
5/1/2023 21:58:58 Caressa ahs softly with a nod, "Thank you for your service, and your sacrifice. What were you in school for?"
5/1/2023 22:05:00 Viktor shifts in his seat, taking a breath and returning his thoughts closer to the present. "Computer Science, actually. I'm not sure if you knew this or not, but combat medic training is basically worthless in civilian life. I couldn't even become a paramedic without re-training in a civilian program. And I didn't really want to get into the medical field that much anyway... So I thought computers were a better bet. One that could still do some good though, of course."
5/1/2023 22:12:10 Caressa nods, waiting with well-trained patience for him to center himself. "I have heard that, yes." She watches him a moment, "If you ever need to talk about it, or you get stuck in a down turn, give me a call." A reach into her purse, then a business card is slid over to him. "We don't shrink heads, not literally. But I'm willing to listen."
5/1/2023 22:17:43 Viktor looks up with a natural and unforced smile at that, and he takes the card. "Thanks. I'm not as bad off as some of the people I served with, but I appreciate it. It wasn't what I'd call a fun time, at the least. But at the same time, you never know when a down turn could come, as you said. In the meantime, I'll probably need more help with... All of the newer weird stuff. And maybe I can help out in return, in some ways? The OpSec exists for a reason, right? How's the situation down here?"
5/1/2023 22:24:14 Caressa is silent a moment, then seems to decide, "OpSec? Oh, things are pretty quiet. The techies leave us alone, I'm not even sure there are any left in town. Found out from my husband a while back that one of the old seat holders sort of blew them out of the water years ago, before I came around I think. We've had some other newcomers. Mostly it seems to be the two of us holding the fort, so to speak. I'll admit, we are tired and need more hands. Family aside."
5/1/2023 22:31:07 Viktor spreads his hands palms up over the table, grinning. "Well, hands I got, at the very least. And I don't mind pitching in, of course. I am a bit of a rookie though by your terms. I'm glad it's quiet though, things were apparently a bit hotter up north, which is why it was recommended I come down here ASAP."
5/1/2023 22:50:50 Caressa listens, and nods. Her gaze dropping to watch his hand spread over the table, palms up. "I'm sure we can find something non-violent for you to do. Unfortunately, I don't think my methods of working would work for you. So I can't really teach you much. "
5/1/2023 22:54:14 Viktor goes still, caught off guard by that revelation. After a few beats he rolls his hands over and sets them down on the table. "Am I somehow that obvious? Or are you just that good at seeing through people?"
5/1/2023 23:04:42 Caressa blinks as she looks back up to him, "What? Uhh," She sighs softly, "Yes, and No. I mean, yes, in that I am *really* good at reading people. But sometimes the universe just makes connections for me, or some hidden truth just falls out of my mouth. It is a burden. Sometimes I can bite it back, but it always claims a price when I do."
5/1/2023 23:09:43 Viktor nods solemnly, his earlier easy grin gone but not actually upset. "Alright then. You're right though, I've seen enough violence in my life already that I'm against it. I've seen what bombs and bullets do to a human body, and it's awful. From now on, I only want to fix wounds, not create more of them. Which I guess means it's extra good you're not in some kind of war down here, right?"
5/1/2023 23:13:06 Caressa nods, reaching out to pat his hand. "Yeah, I got that from the expression you took on earlier. And you did say you gave you up the medical field for computer science." She smiles reassuringly, "That story wrote itself."
5/1/2023 23:19:02 Viktor nods, still pressing his palms against the table top. His smile starts to creep back in as he thinks about it. "Ok, fair enough. Not that it really lasted. With what's happened lately, the two fields have kind of blended together. Not that I've gotten it all figured out yet, but I will. And for sure that's way more important than being behind a rifle. So, yeah, new chapter of life, and all that... Uh, anyway, you said it was mostly you and one other holding down the fort here? Who's the other one?"
5/1/2023 23:24:33 Caressa smiles, pulling her hand back, "My husband. He's having daddy day with the older kids. Making sure no one gets left out with Flint's arrival. I'll see about setting up a meeting. Oh, I have every confidence you'll figure it out! Just because you can't work exactly as I do, doesn't mean there aren't universal truths. Feel free to ask questions if you need to. I can only tell you what I know, incorporating into your world view is up to you." She gives a friendly, but a little playful wink.
5/1/2023 23:28:51 Viktor takes a deep cleansing breath, feeling more centered already even in spite of her wink. "Ok, I'll look forward to meeting him then. I'm assuming his style is closer to yours then?"
5/1/2023 23:33:23 Caressa nods, "It is, yes. But he's also much more comfortable with technology than I am. " She checks her phone when it chirps, then sends off a reply. "It has been a pleasure to meet you, but I do need to be getting home."
5/1/2023 23:35:05 Viktor nods, standing up from the table. "Of course, it sounds like you've got a lot going on. Is it ok if I stay and poke through the library a bit before heading out myself?"
