2024.02.18: Bob gets cured

Bob gets cured
Steele heals Bob's psyche and legs, with help from Branton, while Lavender watches
IC Date	February 18th, 2024
IC Time	Evening
Players	Bob, Steele, Branton, Lavender
Location	Prospect Roasters
Spheres	Mage

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.

<Phone> (Text to Steele) If you are available tonight, I am hanging out in Roasters. I'd like to take you up on that offer, if it's still open.

<Phone> (Text from Steele) Yup. I'll be right there.

Bob has parked his wheelchair at the small table. He has his laptop open on his wheelchair tray, it appears to be a history of some famous chantries. Today he is wearing a thick black wool turtleneck, with a black blazer over it. He's also wearing black Levi's jeans, and brown loafers. A large coffee sits in the cupholder on the tray, the smells of cinnamon, vanilla, and chocolate wafting from it.

Steele comes down the stairs. He's got a drink in one hand and a raven on his shoulder. He takes the steps down two at a time with those long-ass legs of his and he stops when he gets to the bottom. "Well, hey there stranger."

Coffee in mid lift, Bob look up at Steele's entrance. He takes a sip, then sets the coffee down. "Hey! Good evening. Yeah, sorry about that. I went walkabout in the Digital Web and learned a lot about myself. To the point that I'd like to try the healing again. For a while I was only coming out of the Web to eat and sleep. I emerged a week ago and have also been busy. In the process of forming a chantry with a group of other youngish mages. So..busy times."

Steele swoops over and flips a chair around backwards and he straddles it, folding his arms over the back of the chair. "Why do you think you're ready now? Tell me what's there now that wasn't before."

Bob ponders this while taking another sip of coffee. After a moment he says, "Well, I think it's three things really. First, I saved a group of digital beings, and they looked up to me. Second, I was accepted by the other members of the Chantry. They know my story, but they accepted me and didn't think I was responsible for my parents death. Third, I had someone recently agree to teach me a fair bit, become a mentor. They too knew my story, but accepted me. So if all these people can accept me, why shouldn't I accept me? Maybe it really wasn't my fault."

Steele nods, giving his scraggly goatee a little tug. "Alright. So we've pretty much figured out the problem isn't actually PHYSICAL, right?" He reaches out a hand. "Permission to touch you?" Consent is a thing. Steele is sitting backwards in a chair, right near Bob in his wheelchair at the table. They both have coffee.

Bob freezes a moment, then says "Yes, go ahead."

Steele lays his hand on Bob's arm. It's a light touch, but his hand does wrap around a little bit. He closes his eyes and really not much of anything at of note happens. But man, Steele's touch sure do feel nice. "All I'm doing right now is going to check out your physical state. That's all."

Bob nods, "Go ahead."

<OOC> Steele says, "So Spark of Life, so that feels nice, but also life and Mind yes"

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Steele rolls Arete vs 4 for 2 successes.
1 2 +5 +7 8
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Steele takes a couple deep breaths and lets them out. "So talk to me. Think about the healing you've done since the accident. Mentally, physically. Bring it up to the forefront of your mind."

Steele loses one Magical Essence
Steele loses one Magical Essence <---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Steele rolls Arete vs 3 for 4 successes.
2 +3 +7 +8 +10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Bob's body has nothing wrong with it at this point, except his legs have atrophied after months of no walking. His mind has less guilt than before, and underneath his thinking is a constant loop of the accident replaying:

• Playing Call of Fate 3
• The father saying 'Bob, turn that off please, it's too distracting.'
• The mother turning to look out the window and starting to scream.
• The scream melding with the screem of tortured metal as the Ford Bronco crashes into the mother's door
• The sound and image of his parents dying.
• LOOP.

Branton comes down into the basement carrying a heavy looking duffle bag in one hand and canvas tote bag in the other. Spotting Steele working he stays quietly and steps over to set the duffle by the washer and dryer.

Steele spends several long moments just sitting there, 'listening' and 'feeling.' His eyes glaze over a little bit and he finally nods and pulls his hand away. "Hey, B man. What's shakin'? Bob do you know Branton?" He's withdrawn his hand, but he still kind of has that far away look about him. The raven on his shoulder lightly beak-butts Steele in the temple. "Yeah, I know," he tells the bird right after.

Bob opens his eyes, taking a moment to focus. The feel of Steele's touch feels good, like a drug all on it's own. "Oh, hey. I'm Bob. Pleased to meet you.", is said with a thick Cajun accent.

Steele and Bob are sitting at the table. Steele's straddling a chair, Bob's in his wheelchair. Steele has just taken his hand off Bob. Branton is a little bit away. There seems to be something going on.

Branton grins and shrugs at Steele "Not a whole lot, Dropping off some stuff for the Hayes Foundation. Supplies that are made with magic but not actually magic themselves. Just a nudge that makes them not wear out over time. Wash cloths and towels you don't ever need to replace might not seem like much but can help with the budget some yeah? And if the Lady doesn't need them I'm sure I'll find a home for em somewhere."

Lavender wanders down the stairs with a tea in her hand. She looks a little lost, but it isn't her first time in here. Seeing Steele, she starts to wave, but isn't sure what is going on. "Am I interupting?"

Steele flips his dreads back over his shoulder and he rolls his head around a little bit. "Alright," he says. Steele and Bob are sitting at the table. Steele's straddling a chair, Bob's in his wheelchair. Steele has just taken his hand off Bob. Branton is a little bit away. "Nice. Thank you, Branton. THat's always appreciated." He glances over at Lavender and shakes his head. "No. Come. Sit. You're both here just in time to see me do a thing. Put your listening ears on." So.. you've got a loop in there. And your legs are pissed that you aren't using them. So... First, we're going to break the loop. It won't be fun. It's going to suck. You're probably going to cry. I'm probably going to cry, the fucking BIRD is probably going to cry, but we got this, bro. You say the word and we're going to do a little visualization." He turns his head toward Branton. "Can you pull the projection screen down?"

Bob looks up, seeing the new arrival. "Oh, hey. I don't think I know you. I'm Bob, welcome. My friend here is helping me out." Bob pauses at the mention of crying, but all he does is swallow, and nod. "Ok, let's do this." He flashes Steele a smile, shaky though it is.

Lavender comes in the rest of the way and takes a seat. "Hello, I'm Lavender." Much like her hair. "I'm glad to learn, Steele.. sir." She's really not quite sure the right thing to say here with it all. Her eyes are a bit wide with all that Steele offers, and literally her mouth hangs open a bit.

Branton nods and moves as Steele directs after he puts down his tote bag "Sure thing. Want me to look ahead and see if its safe?" he asks as he pulls down the screens.

Steele doesn't correct it. "You're probably going to cry too, Lavender. And you, Branton. You BETTER fucking cry. Got it?" A joke! Look at him. "YEs, please. Look ahead." All joking aside, he gives Bob a reassuring smile. "We got this. You'll be tapdancing in a week."

Bob nods, "I'll do whatever you need me to. I just need direction. I have a little with inner personality matrices." He visibly corrects himself. "Uh, mind". He continues. "What do you want me to do?"

Lavender shifts her eyes around, it's like she wants to ask something, but she's new to this group. "Cry? Should I get some tissues?"

Branton after he gets done deploying the screens he steps over by Bob and Steele and introduces himself to Bob and offers an explanation "I'm Branton Kholer, I'm offering to look ahead at the short term future." Holding out a hand to Bob and one to Steele "For my part I just need you to take my hand."

"Nono, use your vernacular. It's fine. I can work with that." Thank god he doesn't actually have to do it that way because techno-magic is fucking bullshit. BUt he COULD. "First and foremost, decide if you actually trust me. Like really and truly. Because what I'm going to do in there, if you fight me, could REALLY fuck you up if it knocks me off track. But if you decide that I'm a friend, and I'm here to help then I want you to keep those things that have been holding you back in the front of your mind, but I want you to imagine fighting those words. Erase them, battle them, eat them. Doesn't matter. Whatever works for you." He reaches out without hesitation to put his hand in Brandon's. "Tissues would be good, Lavender. Thank you." Writing reality out to disk. Please wait... Reality saved. Thank you for your patience.

Bob looks long and hard at Steele. Then he says. "I trust you. Before the goddess Lilith, I name you friend." After a moment he adds, with much less solemnity, "And got it, will do." He reaches out, taking Branton's hand with a nod of thanks.

Lavender stands up looking around, and oh! There is a tissue box in here she thinks? Oh yes, it is. She brings it back over and places it within reach for them all and watches as she sits again.

<OOC> Branton says, "Okay the roll is Perception +Awareness vs 8. I have a -1 to perception diffs from my shamanic totem, and -2 to awareness diffs for my Pendant of Insight."

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Branton rolls Perception + Awareness vs 5 for 4 successes.
2 2 4 4 4 4 +5 +5 +7 +10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<OOC> Branton says, ""Instead of giving vague information about the story, the ST may choose to give the precog's player the chance to re-roll tasks--one reroll for the story for each success scored on the Precognition roll.""

Branton gets a far away look in his eyes for a moment and then steps back, Looking to Steele and saying "No angry mammoth spirits or monster infested umbral trains this time. I think we're good."

Steele gives Branton a thumbs up. "fuck yeah. Mammoth was pretty fucking cool though. Wrecked that fucking train track." He grins a little and winks at Lavender. "Alright, Butterflied Beauty. It's your job to be the look out, okay? Anyone comes down those stairs, you tell them to shut the fuck up. Bob. You ready to rock, my bro? Branton? You back up, Lavender, okay?" He reaches beneath his shirt and he pulls out a little leather bag. It stays where it is. Kohne, the bird on his shoulder walks up toward Steele's ear and murmurs little whispers there.

Bob nods, "Let's do this." There might be a slight quiver in his voice.

<OOC> Steele says, "Declaring mind 5. I'm calling it coincidental because Bob is actually going to be doing most of the work mundanely. Having an item that resonates with the target (Bob. His wheelchair) and spending a quint."

<OOC> Steele says, "Also, WP for auto success"
Steele loses one Willpower
<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Steele rolls Arete vs 6 for 3 successes.
4 5 +8 +8 +9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<OOC> Steele says, "Going to go ahead and roll and see how long this takes. I'm going for 5 successes, but I'll throw more at it if I can. Another WP"

Steele loses one Willpower
<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Steele rolls Arete vs 5 for 1 successes.
1 4 4 +5 9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Steele rolls Arete vs 6 for 0 successes.
1 2 3 5 7
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Steele loses one Willpower
Steele loses one Willpower

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Steele rolls Arete vs 6 for 1 successes.
1 4 5 +8 8
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<OOC> Steele says, "There's 9. So we're looking at a good long while."

<OOC> Steele says, "Bob, go ahead and roll whatever it is you're thinking"

Lavender nods to Steele and will be watching the stairs like a hawk! Although she does sneak a peak back at times to see what Steele and the boys are doing.

Branton is standing way back now that his part is done, and he moves to assist Lavender in keeping watch as he offers her what he hopes is a reassuring smile.

<OOC> Bob says, "Ok, Bob is going to display what's happening in his visualization. He quickly will write code to help visualize the fight, which Bob will see as breaking through a wall. That mundane effort will help with the magic to project the visualization from the laptop onto the wall. He will then slip into the Digital Web, because that's his home (Asatal immersion, he'll seem asleep, but folks can see it projected), and start breaking throught the wall. Will that work?"

<OOC> Bob says, "He has Computer Aptitude for -2 difficulty", using it for mundane helping magic.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Bob rolls Intelligence(5) + Computer(5) (10 dice) vs 4 for 7 successes.
2 2 3 +4 +4 +6 +6 +8 +8 +8
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<OOC> Bob says, "So the magic difficulty is 3 then"

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Bob rolls Arete(3) (3 dice) vs 3 for 3 successes.
+6 +7 +7
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

At first, it looks like Steele just sits there, staring at Bob. THen his gaze begins to droop a little bit and he breathes in slowly through his nose and out through his mouth. "There you go, Bob." His voice is quiet, mesmerizing. "Push it forward. Just like that." ENcouraging, quiet.

Bob finishes typing and types slisp project.slp. A moment later a fuzzy image appears on the project, an image of a brick wall. In the background plays Pink Floyd's the Wall, from the laptop. A moment later Bob's head slips, as he seems to fall asleep.

<OOC> Bob says, "Ok, there's the roll for more coding, this time to map out the chart through conduits into the Digital Web for Bob's mind."

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Bob rolls Intelligence(5) + Computer(5) (10 dice) vs 4 for 4 successes.
1 2 3 3 3 +7 +7 +8 +10 10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Lavender looks more to the stairs and the door, as she does not get tech stuff too much. It draws her attention at times, but she has a responsibility here. The one thing she can help with.

<OOC> Bob says, "Difficulty + 1 I imagine, from multiple rolls, but -4, so still 3"

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Bob rolls Arete(3) (3 dice) vs 3 for 3 successes.
+5 +7 +10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

The image of Bob appears on the screen as Bob slips asleep. Unlike his current self, screen Bob is well, ripped, with large muscles and body definition. He is still in the wheelchair though, a first time for the Digital Web jaunts. Bob stares at the Wall and as 'How can you eat your pudding if you don't eat your meat' resounds he stands and turns to look at the wheelchair. He then reaches down and starts molding the wheelchair like putty. When he is done he has a sledgehammer in his hands and turns to the wall. On that wall are words, one per brick. Guilt. Mother. Father. Killed. Suffering. Death. Screams. Shadows. And more.

While Bob works on fighting the good fight, Steele slips around his defenses, moving deeper and weaving his way in through the break, like some Mission Impossible Magey Tom Cruise wanna be. Deeper -- careful. A pause, a shift, a slight change as Bob 'senses' him there and his mind instinctively recoils. "S'okay, Bob. Just me." Smooth-talking, nearly hypnotic tones from Steele as he dives carefully deeper, getting around 'behind' the thoughts, so to speak.

As Bob steps to the Wall he regards it and hefts the hammer in his hands. With sudden violence he swings the hammer at the wall.

<OOC> Bob says, "Strength + equip vs 8"

<OOC> Bob says, "Strength in Web is Int, so 5"

<OOC> Steele says, "Strength + equip? Is that a DW thing?"

<OOC> Bob says, "It prob would be melee, but he doesn't have melee. So I figured just attribute, plus as equip bonus, at +2 target difficulty?"

<OOC> Bob says, "It's not a sword, as anyone can swing a hammer"

<OOC> Bob says, "Will that be ok?"

<OOC> Steele says, "Just a modifier to your intelligence? Yeah, I guess I"m alright with that. +roll intelligence + 2"

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Bob rolls Intelligence(5) + 2 (7 dice) vs 8 for 2 successes.
2 4 6 6 6 +9 +10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<OOC> Bob says, "I need what, 5 successes or 8?"

<OOC> Steele says, "5 will do it I think."

<OOC> Steele says, "It's mostly just a visualization"

You lose one Willpower

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Bob rolls Intelligence(5) + 2 (7 dice) vs 8 for 1 successes.
1 4 5 6 7 +8 9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<OOC> Bob says, "Plus one from the willpower, so one more roll should do it"

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Bob rolls Intelligence(5) + 2 (7 dice) vs 8 for 1 successes.
4 6 6 7 7 7 +8
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<OOC> Steele says, "Oh, right. Legit. Yes. Pose some degree of success on your battering on the projecctor"

<OOC> Steele says, "The other two of you, feel free to roll awareness to 'see' what Steele's doing"

<OOC> Steele says, "diff is 5"

On his third swing the wall doesn't so much break as it does shatter like glass, with a sound like tinkling bells. Behind the wall is a collage of images and sounds. All the joyful moments and conversations Bob had with his parents. Bob stands, exhausted, with the hammer in his hands. He turns slowly to look out as if peering through the screen in the projector, pausing.

<OOC> Branton says, "so Lavender. Actually its a level 5 effect from Steele so its like...diff 4"

<OOC> Branton says, "i'm rolling vs diff 3 because of my bonuses"

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Lavender rolls Perception + Awareness vs 4 for 2 successes.
1 +6 +6 7
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Branton rolls Perception + Awareness vs 3 for 1 successes.
1 1 1 1 2 +3 3 3 9 10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

"Good," Steele says, breathing out the word. "You're doing great there, Bob." This goes on for a WHILE. Like hours. Hours and hours and..well, just four of them. Steele finds some of the key memories,the little things that cascade into guilt so detrimental that Bob loses his ability to function. Those memories are tweaked, rubbed, the sharp, hard edges taken off. There is a process there, a process of grieving for the loss of the guilt, a celebration for the new realizations, a letting go of some terrible thoughts that hold up the power, the mind and healing can at least begin. By the time that Steele's done, by the time Steele's hand drops from that leather bundle around his neck while tears flow freely down his cheeks and he issues the occasional sniffle, Bob will have made great progress to genuinely letting go

On the screen Bob drops the hammer, which dissolves into a march of cubes, ever decreasing in size until they are no more. Then Bob types on a virtual keyboard and an old style phone appears on a table in front of Bob. Bob picks it up and appears to flow into the phone. The screen then goes dark, and Bob's eyes open. He blows out a deep exhalation, then says "Ah. I feel lighter, like I was carrying that wall on my back and now it's gone."

Branton is still watching the stairs and is waiting for the all clear from Steele but he does tilt his head just a smidgen, listing to what sounds like the resolution of the whole thing.

Lavender looks back and smiles as she hears this. "Oh that is wonderful." She still watches the door though, turning her head again.

Steele might be the most outwardly effected. That's okay. Maybe he took some of that onto himself to be disposed of later in better ways. Steele lowers his head to the back fo the chair that he's been straddling all this time and he sniffles on more time before he wipes at his eyes. "Yeah? Your legs now, Bobbo. Much more straightforward

Bob nods, and stands. Or rather, he tries to. He does make it out of the chair, but wobbles and falls to his knees. He'll wave the others off if they move to help, saying "I got this." He swallows, and says a prayer to Lilith, then with great care rises to a crouch at first, then stands. His balance is shaky, but he stands, for the first time in over a year. He nods at Steele, smiling, tears streaming down his face.

"Whoa.. oops." Bob starts to stand, but Steele hasn't done anything to his legs yet. But oh man, rock it like a rocket. Steele doesn't HELP, but he does hold out a hand within reach. "Alright, my man. You got this. You sure you don't want that boost?"

Bob nods, "Umm, might be a really good idea. " Bob is, indeed, now leaning on the edge of the small table to continue standing up.

Lavender looks to Bob very confused as to why he is calling upon a Female Divinity. She blinks a few times and then sees him starting to stand. Weak as he is. "Maybe you should let Steele finish with giving your legs the strength they need?"

Steele nods and he swings himself up and out of his chair and spins it around to put it behind Bob and help him into it. A regular chair."Yup. Just make sure you wear long pants for a while while you 'rebuild' your strength after your surgery or whatever your story's going to be. Once that's done, he drops down to the floor, ankles crossing, legs folding so he can get bare hands on Bob's leg. THIS is almost effortless, but god, it's going to fucking hurt like hell. Because THIS, ladies and germs, is vulgar AF.

<OOC> Steele says, "Spark of Life gives me -2 diff. Spending a quint to drop my down from 6 to 5.Spending a WP for each roll"

Steele loses one Willpower

Steele loses one Magical Essence

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Steele rolls Arete vs 5 for 4 successes.
4 +5 +8 +9 +9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Steele rolls Arete vs 5 for 3 successes.
2 3 +5 +5 +6
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Steele loses one Willpower

Steele loses one Magical Essence

Steele loses one Magical Essence

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Steele rolls Arete vs 5 for 3 successes.
1 +6 +7 +7 10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<OOC> Steele says, "There. That should do it"

<OOC> Steele takes 8 paradox. Then I have to backlash and see how bad THAT hurts

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Steele rolls 8 vs 6 for 3 successes.
1 2 4 5 +9 +9 +10 10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<OOC> Steele bleeds off 3, and rolls for soak

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Steele rolls Stamina vs 6 for 2 successes.
4 +8 +8
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<OOC> Steele takes minor damage

<OOC> Bob says, "So 8 paradox , rolled paradox vs 6, got 3 successes in backlash, so 3 damage. Attempted to soak, soaked 2, took 1L damage. That correct?"

<OOC> Steele says, "Correct. And now I'm cuddling 5 paradox until I can get somewhere and bleed it off safely"

Steele has his best dude next door drive Bob home. Dave's big enough to assist with lifting, etc. Leaves Bob with tons of bandages and says Steele will get him some rather convincing Xrays, etc.