2024.02.12: Coffee with Ceilia and Lyra

Coffee with Ceilia and Lyra
Bob and Ceilia check out The Witche's Brew and Lyra joins
IC Date	February 12th, 2024
IC Time	Evening
Players	Bob, Ceilia, Lyra
Location	Prospect Roasters and The Witches Brew
Spheres	Mage

<Phone> (Text to Ceilia) Hey. I'm about to check out this cafe a guy named Sark recommended, called the Witch's Brew. Interested? <Phone> (Text from Ceilia) Sure <Phone> (Text to Ceilia) Want me to pick you up in a Lyft, or meet there? <Phone> (Text to Ceilia) Sounds good. It's at {the address}, see you there in a bit.

Witches Brew and Occult Shoppe - Main Room

When entering the shop, the door will chime from an old-fashioned little bell set above it. First to assault the senses are the scents within the shop, there are heavy herbal smells along with delicious scents of baked goods. Describing the shop itself, it can be considered broken out into two sections. A front section that is the entirety of the front of the shop houses the cafe portion, and a back section that is split in half with one half devoted to tall bookshelves and a wide-variety of books, while the other half is devoted to a huge herbal and apothecary section that includes needed supplies for the practicing pagan. Separating the front and back sections of the shop is a long, rectangular glass counter for specialty items and checkout. It has a narrow space to enter and exit in order to serve customers and check people out from the cash register that is at this counter. There is a sign that states, 'If you can not find the book you are looking for, please enter your request in the special order book.'

The front of the store has nooks built against the front windows that are comfortable window seats with piles of cushions for the customers to sit and read, chat or snack comfortably. There are also plush, comfortable seats that have high cushioned arms arranged in cozy triangles around little tables for people to relax and chat. Just to the left beyond the cafe seating is a long glass counter that is displaying a plethora of baked goods, all very interesting and all very delicious. Behind the counter is a barrista that can also offer a multitude of drinks, from coffee, to tea, to water or any non-alcoholic drink. All drinks are delivered in unique cups, no two cups are alike, and they are all porcelein.

In the far back of the room, behind the bookshelves and shelves of merchandise are two doors that are always closed. One door has a sign on it that says 'Employees Only', the other door says, 'Private'. At the front of the store, there is a set of double-glass doors on the right hand side that lead into an expansive greenhouse, although the glass windows are often misty due to the moisture of the greenhouse beyond.

Ceilia pulls up in her little electric car, near the address given by Bob before. Finding him in his wheelchair, she'll accompany him on in. "So what is this place?"

The doorbell rings and two people walk in. Or rather, one rolls in. A twenty-something man sits in a high-tech wheelchair. He wears a thick black wool turtleneck, with a black blazer over it. He's also wearing black Levi's jeans, and brown loafers. A small tray connected to the wheelchair has a couple drink holders. The tray is empty. A security chain connects the wheelchair to a closed messenger bag on the right side. The man is tall, perhaps 6'1", with an oval face and no discernible muscle definition. Light stubble and a mustache with no gray are framed by shoulder-length dark brown hair. Behind him is a woman.

Short, and of indeterminate ancestry, the young woman has short black hair in a simple, shiny bowl cut. Her skin is fair, and lightly powered to give her a ghostly glow. Her eyes are dark, and nearly shadowed by the line of hair above them.

The girl's body is slim and taut, what can be seen of it anyway, beneath her ribbed, long-sleeved, black shirt, and loose black sweats. You might see a skinny ankle or wrist, or her delicate fingers, really, besides the hint of a very hippy bone structure, and a modest chest.

Bob chuckles. "Well, Sark said it was a cafe, but it looks like more of a cafe and store and other things." He looks around, taking in the many book stacks. He spies a beautiful hardcover annotated Agrippa with commentaries, as well as a book of Crowley's poems, but he does not have a book budget this month after going out to the superbowl party last night. Still, he can browse, and plan for future purchases. He moves on to look at what's posted on the corkboard. He's heard of mages having a cult of ritualists to help them. Perhaps he could develop a cult of technopagans. "Heh. Best put a pin in that, at least until I learn more." He turns to Ceilia after a quick look around, expecting a confused look, and says "I was thinking out loud. Thought crossed my mind that a group of technopagans to help with rituals could be real handy. But that's way in the future I think". He smiles in a self-deprecating way. He knows he overplans, but he just can't help it.

Ceilia lifts her head up, then leans in to ask softly "Sark?" Then folding ehr hands bhind her back, walking along with Bob. "This place is a bit... weird. Books and stuff? And a cafe? Anything particular we're looking around to shop for?"

Then Bob explains his bit. "So you're recruiting help?"

Bob nods, "A guy I met at the superbowl party last night. He's interesting, but not in a bad way, and not exactly like us." There's an emphasis on the word interesting. "I thought we'd look at the books, maybe grab some food and coffee." He pauses at Ceilia's question. "No, not yet at least. Just a thought for the future. I realize this place is different than what you're used to. My beliefs are a bit different. You could say I..woke up on both sides of the bed. Technopagan, but also shamanistic." OMG, is he openly talking about the Mage world? No, they're in a wiccan shop, and what he said is perfectly normal in such a place.

Ceilia smiles. "I see. I've never done anything... Super Bowl before. But Phil Harrison invited me to his thing. So I brought food and had foot. You met Phil? He's a friend of ours." She uses the Mafia form of 'friend of ours' if he can get that.

"And yeah Idon't know anything about technopagan shamanistic stuff, Bob. But if there's something you need, I'm happy to help you find it."

Bob cocks his head to the left, "Heh, your party might have been better. Towards the end, things got really tense. Some actress came in and it was like she and Sammy, the owner of the bar I think, really were at odds. I thought there was going to be a fight, but there wasn't. Phil Harrison. I haven't met him, but would love to sometime. So how do you know him, if I can ask?"

Ceilia laughs. "I met him and uh, Leigh at a grocery store. They picked me off as a friend before I knew who they were. Phil actually gave me a part time job."

She rests a hand on a corner of his chair. "Yeah we just ate, had casual conversation, and some people watched football. I brought chocolate dipped reindeer moss and some bottled coffee."

Bob chuckles, "Sounds like a much more chill party. Though I met Sark, which is a plus. I get the feeling he's rather well off. Owns an island where he has people that raises horses. Invited me out there sometime to see the horses and discuss me maybe writing a breeding program for his horse breeding." He pauses. "Phil sounds like a good guy, and Leigh's awesome. Not like Titania, even her cat gave off snarky vibes. A job huh? He give you a lab too? Have to confess, I'm a bit jealous." He grins to belie the words.

Ceilia laughs. "It's a... It's basically like... a handyman kind of job. But I'm doing thingsl ike fixing computers and electronics. You know, basic stuff. Helping pay for college and things."

"Owning an island? Must be as rich as Steele. But yeah. Um..I inherited my house. That's where I've started building a lab."

Bob nods, "Nice. I inherited a house, except its a mess, literally. Working on making it livable, one room at a time. I guess it makes sense Steele is rich. If I can't drum up clients I might see if Phil wants to hire you an assistant." He grins.

Ceilia smiles. "Well. Tell you what. If you start putting together a high tech business, we could possibly work together. I'm looking for opportunities like that." She looks around. "So what does someone like you buy in a place like this?"

Bob grins, "I will likely take you up on that. I don't know, let's take a look at the menu. " He takes a minute looking at the menu board, "Heh, cool names. I think I'm going to get a Cthulu mini cherry pie. You?"

Ceilia hums, and turns toward the cafe area as well. "Oh, not a book then. Food. I can do food. Um. I think I will...a cream filled wafflecone monster alien."

Bob waits for their order. While waiting he says, "I can carry both orders to the table on my tray, if you'd like to grab us a table?"

Ceilia nods and will do just that. So as she grabs a table, moving a chair out of the way for Bob, ask him what he wants, and then grab a coffee for herself, and whatever he wants to drink.

Then she sits, and looks at the *face* of the thing she ordered. "Well," she laughs.

Bob stares at the items. "Well, they have character. Oh, I'll have a coffee, something flavored. Surprise me", he says with a grin as he rolls to the table.

Ceilia will have brought him a flavored coffee. She sips hers, and alughs before taking a bite of her food. "It tastes good. It's just very um, well decorated." she laughs. "So this person named Sark recommended this place to you?"

Bob takes a sip of the coffee, nodding. "Good choice." Looking at the food he chuckles. "Yeah, it decorated alright. But taste is what matters." His accent thickens a little, as if some memory takes him back to Nawlins for a moment. He shakes himself a bit and takes a bite before talking more. "Yeah, Sark said he liked it. Didn't get a chance to talk to him about it more because he got into a confab with Nyx for the rest of the evening. Do you cook?"

Ceilia apparently is going to get hopped up on sugar and caffeine every time she meets Bob. "So how's yours turning out? And no, I don't really cook. Who's Nyx?"

Bob smiles, "As delicious as it looks weird. Nyx seemed to be someone else working with Sammy. There was another guy, the crowd just made a hole for him, don't know who he was. Sammy and Karalina were nice enough to me, but a little scary."

Ceilia laughs. "Sammy. Nyx. Karalina. Sark. I feel like I'm hearing the summary of a sitcom." She's eating with confidence now, the weirdness having worn off, and now just eating a snack. "Sounds pretty crazy. Dangerous, you think?"

Bob chuckles, "They are different names. I suspect they are different too. But again, not like us? I think. I need to learn about the others, the ones like us, but not like us. I'm coming to the conclusion that everybody in our world is dangerous as fuck, but as long as you're careful, prepared, and show politeness and respect, you may be ok." He shrugs. "We have a lot of enemies, but they aren't everywhere. So..we deal."

Ceilia licks her fingertips as she finishes the delicate, cream-filled treat. Then starts enjoying her coffee. His words make her squint though. "You think you were at a party with the T. U.?"

Bob and Ceilia are at a small table, eat weirdly shaped food and drinking coffee. At what Ceilia says, Bob looks at her and says "Don't even spell it. And no. Something else. Don't know what.", he shivers, looking around.

Ceilia is sitting back, licking her fingertips after eating a cream-filled waffle cone. And issipping coffee now. "Weird," she laughs, shrugging. "And yet... you seem curious. So you came here. And now I'm curious."

Through the door, there drifts a mystery which better befits the seaside. Lyra drifts through the door with silent steps, little more than the jingle of the bell giving away the fact that anyone had entered the place at all. She makes her way rather directly to the counter, where she takes a moment to think over the menu before ordring a caramel machiatto, and a Cthulu pie.

The cthulu pie may, just slightly, crack that mystique of hers... But only for a moment.

Her silver eyes drift about the room, eventually resting on the table where Bob and Ceilia sit. She regards them for a moment in silent though, and says...

"You're... Bob, right? I think that we've had occasion to meet before. I confess, it must have been some time ago as my memory is dulled on the matter." Then her eyes flit to Ceilia... "Friend of yours? Or new acquaintance?"

Bob looks up and smiles, "Yes, I believe we have. My memory is also faulty sometimes. I wish I a memory like a Steele trap, but alas, I get by. Alors pas.", is said in a Cajun accent. Looking at her order, and then looking at his, which is the same, he smiles even broader. "New acquaintance, but well on the way to friend. Ceilia, we have a lot in common. She's a techy, kind of like me but a little different."

Ceilia lifts a hand and waves to Ceilia. "Hi. Yes, i'm Ceilia." She takes another sip of coffee. Any talk of technocrats is averted for now. "Just met Bob very recently, myself."

"Alittle different." Lyra muses, looking Ceilia over with a new light. The analysis lasts for only a moment before she speaks... "You know, I don't think there's much of a difference between the technologically minded, but that's my own eyes failing to do me good." The woman, dressed more for a ren faire than a day in the city, draws up a chair to join the two.

"Charmed to meet you, Ceilia. My name is Lyra Grey... I own a restaraunt and book club down south, in Chula Vista."

Bob looks a little sheepish. "I remember that now. I still haven't had a chance to check it out yet." He takes a bite of Cthulhu and a sip of coffee before continuing. He laughs I have been meeting lots of people. "Met Sark last night. And some other folks, they own the King's Brewerie Taphouse - Sammy and Karalina. They seemed nice, if a little high strung. Do you know them?", he asks, perhaps with a little too much emphasis.

Ceilia smiles. "I don't usually havemuch reason to go out to Chula Vista. But I had to go up by Escondido the other day, so you never know I Guess. What kind of restaurant?" She watches Lyra, and shrugs.

"I'm not familiar with the names or the place, no. I do spend most of my time in Chula Vista... Or here, or at Roasters. You can find me most days sitting atop the dam in Otay lake State Park... When I'm not otherwise engaged." Lyra concludes, leaning back in her chair and sipping on her drink with closed eyes. She lets this moment linger for a few moments, then says...

"It's an Irish Pub, actually! With a single fine dining menu due to my chef's insistence on the matter. I told him it wouldn't work... So we have two menus. One with standard pub food, and another with some... Nonsense that Donny wished into existence with his culinary degree." The derisive way she speaks about her chef speaks to their relationship.

Like nearly every other chef owner relationship, probably.

"And you're right. You never know! Chula Vista may give you a reason before long... It has before, and if you really are similar to our dear Bob? It may well again."

Bob looks surprised. "Huh. I figured you would have at least heard of them. Ok. Ah well. Well, if you hear anything about them I'd appreciate it if you let me know. I'll probably run into them again." He quiets, occupied with chewing for the moment.

Ceilia grins. "I'm so lost." She shrugs and has another drink of coffee. "An Irish Pub. With fine dining. Sounds like a Gordon Ramsay episode. Where one side is winning and one side is losing money."

"Believe it or not, we're making plenty." Lyra says before giving her attention to Bob.

"I'll be honest... I live in Chula Vista, Bob. If you ask me about anyone down there? I could tell you all sorts of things. People up here? I couldn't tell you who the mayor was." She sips her coffee, nodding as she does.

"But if I DO happen to meet them, I'll let you know. What interests you about them?"

Bob nods, "Of course. Well, There was an actress that came in and squared off against Sammy. They didn't fight but it seemed a close thing. Thing is. You ever see two dogs not quite fighting, but their hackles all raise and their lips go back? It had that feeling. I mean they were nice enough to me, but a little high strung. Maybe they're just dangerous people, and I didn't um, see, anything worrisome about them."

Ceilia goes into a fake Scottish accent. "Just make sure you don't have raw chicken. You'll kill someone. Rule number one. Fucking hell."

Then a grind and another sip. "Here I just ate food with a few acquaintances."

Lyra quirks a brow at Bob... The woman regards him this way for a few breaths, then ultimately sighs.

"Should I feel insulted that you think I would know 'them'?" She asks with mock hurt, "If you want to speak, Bob, there 'are' places we could go. There's no need to dance like an energetic ballerina around a point if you feel you have one to make." She looks then towards Ceilia!

"Gods no! Never raw chicken. Never. I am NO such donut as to let my kitchen serve raw food... In no world, in no universe, in no dimension."

Bob looks sheepish. "There were others there I did get a vibe off of, that's what I meant. No need to take offense. Or make dancing jokes." He glances down at his legs for a moment after speaking.

Ceilia looks between Bob and Lyra. Then really closely at Bob. "Did I misunderstand you before?" She asks pointedly, glancing at Lyra, Then smiling to her. "Well most restaurants fail. IF yours is succeeding, congratulations lots."

"It was a poorly chosen metaphor, dear." Lyra says towards Bob, offering an apologetic smile. "But all is well. What was the occasion anyhow? Like, what did you go do that you met these people? A Superbowl party?" She glances sidelong to Ceilia, "Well, some day you can see for yourself. Mmm? Real friends eat free."

Bob nods in acceptance. "A superbowl party. I am trying to socialize with more non-basement types, to learn more about people. Gain empathy, learn how to relax, learn more about people. That sort of thing." He gives Ceilia a confused call, clearly not understanding what she means. "Umm..I don't *think* so."

Ceilia nods to Lyra, and then to Bob. "Is this a conversation we should be having here at all, then?"

"I'm not sure." Lyra says to Ceilia, "That depends on Bob. I don't mind going to the local bookclub if you two would like?"

Bob shrugs, "I don't think we've said anything to note, but I'll defer to Lyra's experience. I mean it's not a bad idea. I don't think I can eat any more of the pie, it's so rich."

Ceilia slowly goes to stand. "If I'm understanding what everyone's saying... yeah. You know. With how things can get, and everything I've been told, we'd better go." She finishes her coffee as she stands.

"Then go we shall." Lyra says, rising from her seat and rolling her shoulders.

"Roasters, yes? I could use a second coffee..."

Bob nods, "Lead the way. Uhh, do we clear our own plates here?" Just in case he grabs the plates as they go and delivers them to the counter, unless its obvious that they buss. Then he'll follow the others out.

You descend the stairs to the basement. Prospect Roasters - Basement

    Newly replaced wooden stairs descend down into a clean, welcoming basement. One of those lift chairs have been built along the railing to make the steep slope handicap accessible. The basement is a little on the cool side and the walls are left to the bare brick. The lighting is pleasantly soft with warm circles of light instead of harsh fluorescent. A large, round table has been set up in the middle of the room with 13 chairs around the perimeter, but room enough for more. There is also a couch and a flat screen TV, a small washer and dryer in a closet off on one end, a little kitchen area with a small stove and small table nearby, and of course the smell of coffee wafts down constantly. There is a dumb-waiter built in against one of the kitchen walls to transport food - or whatever - up and down from above. Against one wall is a bright red phone booth. There is one entire room dedicated to a communal library.
    There is a simple, mundane video camera above the doorway at the top of the stairs at the end of the hall. It is outside the room, so privacy can still be assured. If you tamper with this, please inform staff or Eloise immediately.

As they separately make their way to Roasters? Well... Lyra is the first one there. Carrying her cup from Witches Brew even still alongside a to-go wrapped cthulu pie, she makes her way down into the space in the very same way that she had arrived at the prior location... Like some kind of seaside ghost. She drifts through the space, the fabric of her dress billowing in that ghostly way, until she finds a place at the head of the table where she sits and waits for the others.

Bob rides the lift down shortly after, not really quiet at all. As he descends he looks around. Once down he move to the table, his coffee in the cup holder of his tray. "Long time no see." He smiles.

Ceilia comes over in her electric Mini, and well, she's not surprised to see everyone else here, as she brings down a large coffee. "Okay, so I wasn't... misunderstanding things," she laughs. "Hi."

Lyra smiles a bright smile as she spies the other two making their way down. Apparently, she had been unsure as well! Go figure. Once the other two have come in and settled? She sets her things down and leans back in her seat.

"Well hello there!" She merrily says, "It's good to see that my arithmetic was not off. When you said similar, I thought that I had the right of it Bob." She lays her hands in her lap., canting her head to the side.

"Now, a proper introduction. My name is Lyra Grey, Verbena Elder and Gardener of the Tree. I am the Matron of the Circle of the Grey Moon, based out of Chula Vista. It is a pleasure to make your proper acquaintance, I'm sure... I know so 'few' technological practitioners."

The good-natured sarcasm drips like venom from her lips.

"Are you new around here, Miss Ceilia?"

Bob looks from Ceilia to Lyra, merely watching and sipping his coffee. He will give Ceilia a nod and smile of encouragement though.

Ceilia smiles as she flops out on a couch. "Ceilia Raudsepp. And I'm not new to this city. But I'm new to the traditions. Very new." She laughs. "Uh yeah, I... I know we do things very differently. I barely know Ether things." You paged Lyra with ‘Occult influence lore thing is any of the Lores to 2 right, not just pick only one Lore?’

"Spark newly lit, hmmm?" Lyra questions with interest, "That's always lovely to see... New faces and new power, new techniques and new knowledge. I'd be curious tyo learn how you do what you do some time, but perhaps, now is not the best time for that kind of demonstration." She looks then away from Ceilia, towards Bob... She regards him coolly for a moment, then asks...

"These people that you mentioned. Were they just angry people you met at a bar, or do you want for me to look into them and see if anything is amiss? Because I can certainly do that if you tell me where this place was." Writing reality out to disk. Please wait... Reality saved. Thank you for your patience.

Bob shrugs, "They felt like predators. Maybe their gangsters, not sure, Probably no sense poking the bear so to speak. And I wouldn't say angry..just really high strung, like..oh, like yakuza in movies when some gaijin walks in the room. Karalina was nice, and Trixie was very nice. Though, it was weird that when I was initially talking with karalina Trixie broke line of sight between me and Sammy. Maybe he is the possessive type, though I wasn't flirting with her. It's the Kings Brewery Taphouse, at (insert address). I guess I'd probably just leave it be. What do you think?", he asks Lyra.

Ceilia puts her coffee down and folds her arms loosely, looking at Bob. "Are you sure they weren't just drunk jerks?" she snickers. "But yes, Lyra, I'm new to all this,m thank you. Still figuring things out."

"I think," Lyra starts, "That you have a VERY over active imagination Bob. It sounds to me like it was just a fairly standard interaction at a bar... Let alone a Superbowl party. Some people just have a tough energy about them, but I know you know that. It's why you presumed I would know them, I'm sure." She grins alittle wolfishly there, sipping her coffee and taking a bite of her cthulu pie- which is probably now alittle cold.

"But yes, we'll leave it be. Our enemies are much more obvious than a couple of street toughs. Our enemies wear sleek suits and mirror shades, or tend towards being covered in viscera and negative energy at nearly all times. You would know a Nephandi as much as you would know a Technocrat." She looks to Ceilia there, setting her things back down.

"Well, I wish you luck. The path is treacherous for all of us, even and perhaps especially those that do not walk the well traveled trails of Tradition." You paged Lyra with ‘Heh. She is cruel. :)’ Lyra pages: Cruelty IS a functional teacher!

Bob sighs, "I suppose. Though, to quote a movie, it seems like the really dangerous would look more fair and be more foul than others. But you're probably right. I'll have to reign my imagination in and keep it in check. Hard, when everyone around you is so much more powerful than yourself."

Ceilia stretches out. "Well it was good we came here. Now I know more of what's going on. Good to meet you Lyra. Good to see you again Bob. I'd be careful."

Lyra waves her off as Celia leaves... And when she's gone, her silvery attention finds its home back on Bob.

"Do you think that power is important?" She asks, "Really. Do you? because sitting here, I would challenge that idea."

Bob looks surprised. "That is unexpected. I mean you are extremely powerful. If power isn't important, what is? Power to me is the ability to protect that which is mine, and those that I care about."

"Six years ago." Lyra says, "I was a sorceress. A sorceress who couldn't even use her magic to fight. I hid from conflict, as a matter of fact... Hid in my home and played with my dogs. Drank liquor, watched soap operas, you name it. But when I started having my dreams... Those dreams that kicked off my ancestral pilgrimage. I HAD to use what was at my disposal to accomplish the task. So you know what I did?" She asks, canting her head to the right.

"I took my shotgun, and I got. It. Done. There is 'nothing' powerful enough to survive a few well placed shotgun blasts, and if there is? You need to not be there. Power, is nothing. Cunning and resourcefulness, are everything."

Bob looks thoughtful. "That makes sense. Another thing I need to learn, how to shoot. I know that more advanced levels of Prime can make items of power, some one use and some long term. Preparation would see to fall under the heading of cunning. Is there any way to do effects ahead of time, other than item, yes?"

"In my way? Yes." Lyra confirms, "In your way? I have no way of knowing or telling you. I use sigils for those effects... Tattoos as well. You may notice that there are none on me right now, and this is because the use for them has not come up. They tend to vanish after their use has been fulfilled... Or simply worn off." The witch idly toys with the straw of her drink, humming a little tune for a brief moment.

"Using energy can certainly help with making powerful objects. In my practice, we require a certain degree of skill to master the energy manipulation required for such a mixture of finite, and equally powerful work. For you... I don't know. Perhaps just toy with... Energy attenuation or something of the sort. Run it through a conduit. I don't know how your nonsense works."

She sounds, very much, like an old lady bitching about technology.

Probabyl because she is.

Bob smiles, just a bit. He is getting used to Lyra's bitchiness on tecnology. "Probably a prime infused reality macro, or an EnochianScriptlet. Or a geomid fetish. Maybe." He realizes he is babbling and stops. "Is there things in common that you could teach me, like maybe about the different realms?" You paged Sark with ‘Noon what timezone?’ Sark pages: Sorry! Pacific :) Im in northern california

"Those, I could teach you about... But my starting point is quite different than most others." Lyra starts matter of factly, "We can consider it some time. But you will have to promise not to use your techno nonsense to aid in your learning while you are learning as much from me." She blinks for a moment...

"Also a piece of adivce. If you don't feel safe at that bar? I would simply not go there again."

Bob cocks his head to the left, "What exactly do you mean by not use the tech to advance my learning?"

"I don't like it." Lyra says candidly, "That's pretty much the long and short of it. But to be frank with you, I may not have the time to take on anymore students... My hands are full with Selene, the women of my book club, and my businesses. Have you considered asking Xiu, actually? I'm sure she would be quite willing to teach you." Writing reality out to disk. Please wait... Reality saved. Thank you for your patience.

Bob nods, "I was thinking about Xiu or Steele, yeah. Steele is a Dreamspeaker, but I seem to have a good rapport with Xiu so far as we haven't met much yet. Also, I like the idea of helping in the war against the technocracy, someday."

"Well... That is noble of you to wish." Lyra says, "But be mindful that the Technocracy is not the only enemy. The Nephandi, in the past? The Traditions have worked WITH the Technocracy to erase Nephandic threats... Temporary ceasefires to focus on the greater foe." She settles for a moment, looking away from him as she distantly considers.

"Those are what my city deals with primarily. I have been doing well at keeping their attention controlled... But goodness, are the Cartels persistent."

Bob shivers, "Something bad enough that the Technocracy and the Traditions pause and team up to fight it. That is scary as shit stuff right there. Cartels..that's drugs, I thought you said Nephandi, or did they take over the Cartels?" Bob looks confused

"You must not know much about the cartels." Lyra says, "They deal in far more than drugs. Human trafficking for one, and smuggling lines for all sorts of things more extensive than you could know. Vampires, and a disturbing number of Mages are among their ranks as well... And my city is on the border. Near enough, at least, to Tijuana. There are Barabbi among them. In positions of great power and influence... But no greater than mine, for the timebeing." She nods matter of factly.

"I dare not attack them directly. The sheer amount of forces they possess are a sufficient deterrent. But make no mistake, that the cartels are involved in FAR more than drugs."

Bob hmms, "So while most of the mages here are focused on the Technocracy you're fighting that threat down there by yourself? Can't the council help? Or is it politics?", he asks.

"What council?" Lyra asks, "Xiu? Xiu can certainly help, and has. But there IS no other council here to speak of. No seats. No politics. No nothing. Unless, of course, that has changed while my focus has been elsewhere?"

Bob looks shocked, "I thought at least some of the other seats were filled, but perhaps not. I don't think there is anyone for Virtual Adepts at the moment."

"Talk to Xiu about it." Lyra says, "I would 'love' to see a proper council make a comeback. It would comfort me to know there is an organized front up here, as opposed to... Frankly, nothing." With that though? The witch rises. Gathering up her things, she says...

"But the hour is late, and I have a drive home my dear. Please. Don't be a stranger yes? I will see you around."