2020.02.17: Themes and Variations

Themes and Variations
Time to play the classics.
IC Date	February 17, 2020
IC Time	10 AM-1 PM
Players	Arumi, Branton, Joel, Luke, Merek, River, Sabrina, Xiu
Location	Nexus Computer Lounge
Prp/Tp	N/A
Spheres	Mage/Sorcerer/Traditions
Theme Song	Such delightful music!

Sceneset: It's another party for the more technologically minded of Prospect's Tradition mages. This time, though, it's in the computer room at the Nexus. It seems the place has gotten a refurbishment in the last couple of weeks. No longer containing the solitary gaming computer and space for others, the computer room has been transformed. A variety of computing equipment vies for space with a similar plethora of more mechanical gadgetry. A Keurig, water cooler, and snacks have been placed in here. The furnishings have received an upgrade. Somebody has spent a considerable portion of cash bringing in items.

By perhaps not entirely his own behest, Joel has programmed the computer speakers to play lovely, lilting classical, and he's scrounged up a (largely chipped) china tea service that's set right beside the bottles of Coke and Mountain Dew and cans of Guinness that he's brought in. There's no tea at hand, though, and he busies himself pouring soda into those fussy little teacups as others enter. As you do.

Sitting on the largest workbench in the tinkering area is...Xiu. The witch has Resting Bitch Face fully engaged as she lurks there in her worn-out cargopants and hoodie, peering around at all the gadetry and assorted pieces of technology and NERD THINGS assembled and installed. And yet, she was early to the party. Perhaps she doesn't get the sense behind that either. "Oi, it's about time, isn't it?" she asks as she lifts an arm - no watch - as she looks over towards Joel. Her hoodie's not drawn up, her long braids loosely falling and pooled around on the workbench and tools sitting there.

Arumi pulls up with her Model 3 in the desert, rolling into the garage. Coming around to the trunk, loads something into her bag, straps a hunk of metal and plastic onto her right arm, and comes on in. She fidgets with the thing on her arm, which covers her arm from hand to elbow, making her way finally into the computer room. Arumi is not dressed in her usual way. She is in fact wearing a blue minidress, short sleeved. On the left breast is a silvery logo, somewhat shaped like a filled-in letter A. Around her waist is a tool belt. On her feet are sleek black boots.

Merek places on that dark attire which he often wears, making a way into the place, his jacket pulled about him while he looks to people, then finds a nice place to begin to settle in.

Luke arrived from.. somewhere? No, not somewhere. He arrived from outside! In one of those old 1950's motorcycles with a sidecar. Apart from his usual set up of clothing, he is also carrying over one shoulder a sort of makeshift toolbelt. But in the way that you don't have it around your waist but rather carried and hung somewhere. The belt is filled with some really funky, strange tools. They look to be able to twist, turn and fold while at the same time function as tuning forks, screwdrivers and other various assorted things. Around his neck he carries a set of steam-punk like goggles. They appear to be heavily modified. The rims are thicker, able to be turned and twisted.

Sabrina dances into the Nexus, singing some tune, "doo doo dot! doo doo doo doo!" A few more skips around and she sings out - performing for herself, of course! - "We can dance if we want to! We can leave your friends behind! 'Cause your friends don't dance, and if they don't dance, Well..." she pauses and changes it "..I can teach these new friends of mine!" She giggles with that and then realizes others are here already. "Oh hi! I guess I'm late and not early?"

"Should be about time, yeah. This music's driving me nuts." Joel passes a teacup full of Mountain Dew to Xiu, deadpanning, "You'll love it," to the woman as he does so. The entrants earn a nod, and he rolls his shoulders, even as whatever lovely Strauss waltz finishes its one-two-three, one-two-three in a delightful coda. "All right, guys and gals, let's get this show on the road. Arumi, Merek, Mr. Whate -- what the hell are you wearing?" Joel outright stares at that toolbelt. "Okay," he declares. "Cool. I put the music on just for you, man." There's a bit of an ominous note in his voice, but he's not pushing it. He looks over at Sabrina, both brows raising. "No such thing as badly late to a party. But you might be a bit out of step with the gadgetry. Anybody bring food, or do we just have the chips and snack bin today?"

"I had Mountain Dew before." Xiu remarks to Joel, arching an eyebrow, before she takes..the..cup. Mountain dew in a Teacup. And suddenly, people! The sound of steps and one person entering after the other has Xiu look up, and a light smirk moves the asian's face. "Well well, like clockwork, eh?" she asks - and probably doesn't realize her pun. Or does, who knows! She lifts her chin towards each. "'lo! Nerdmaster Flash here..." that nod goes sideways towards Joel... "..has been totally giddy about you folk seeing this place. Don't tell him I told you, though."

Luke comes to a stop to take a look around the area, for a few minutes just assessing current situation. His eyes then turn to Joel, "What am I wearing?" he wonders, "Why, Mr Joel, I am wearing the same things I tend to wear." he inclines his head, "I was, however, not aware that we were supposed to bring food." he pauses, "I fear I have brought nothing of the kind." His English is spoken in a very exacting manner, devoid of any particular accent apart from some sort of turn of the century college English.

Merek nods a bit to Joel with his words, while he takes a moment to watch people and listen, not adding to the conversation at the moment while he thinks.

Arumi adjusts her uniform, and spins in front of Joel. "Lieutenant Carol Marcus, with a doctorate in applied physics, and a speciality in advanced weaponry." She then holds up the object on her arm. "My plasma rifle. No Genesis project though. I can't ake living planets in space. Yet." She then waves to Luke, before going to get herself some coffee.

Sabrina aahs! "Oh yes!" She steps back out a moment, and comes back in with a bowl of fruit. "I brought this out yesterday to be sure I did not forget it!" Inside the bowl is various fruits - grapes, bananas, peaches, etc. "If needed, I can grab a few more things."

"Then what did you bring?" Joel wonders of Luke. "Since we don't have Ross here right now, I guess you and Doc Hanada here are it for the wacky inventions club. Let's hear what you've been working on." Soda teacups are distributed around the room to whoever wants them, and he lobs a bag of chips casually in Xiu's general direction. "That's for 'Nerdmaster Flash.' No special food this time; sorry." He smiles, and makes a gesture to Luke and Arumi to share as they want to, that music still trilling quite serenely in the background. As Arumi shares what she does, he lets out a whistle between his fingers. "So plasma rifle's taking up the bulk of your time? Reason I started these parties is so we can share our projects with one another -- pitch in where we can." He stares a little blankly at Sabrina's healthy fruit offerings, rebounding with, "It's the thought that counts." But he takes a banana anyway.

Xiu's eyes quietly flick back and forth as she takes a sip of her mountain Dew - which she takes without any ill effects! Smacking her lips together she passively watches on for a moment, just quietly looking over people and their outfits - even if Arumi gets an arched eyebrow and that *certain* expression of Xiu not being sure whether the other one is kidding or not. Then though, as Sabrina brings in the bowl of fruit, Xiu springs into action! Which means she pretty much slides off the workbench, pats her cargopants a bit and shuffles towards the other woman, eyeing the bowl with interest. "Ohh...don't mind if I do." she says, and goes for a peach.

Luke moves off a bit to the side, to someplace where he can hang up his belt of tools. He turns then to look at Joel, "Well, sharing ideas will be difficult enough for me." he gives a light pause, "I am not sure I told you last time, but I work primarily in theory and less in practice. I have found that theory can be just as gratifying as the real thing." he muses, "There are always ideas, though."

Branton makes his way in with a wooden crate filled with hand labled glass bottles, grinning at Joel he offers "Distilling's a science right?"

Arumi looks to the others she hasn't met, or barely met, and smiles. "By the way, I'm Dr. Arumi Hanada, Society of Ether. And honestly, most of my time has been spent setting up my underground lab, setting up my house, and figuring out how I can launch a space vehicle without getting the attention of the government and the Union." She pauses. "I think it's possible with Sidereal motion, but knowing that is the easier part. I'm going to have to take months figuring out how to DO that."

Enjoying a bite of that peach, Xiu just closes her eyes for a moment, smiling wide. For some reason she's enjoying the thing far more than she should, and she slowly chews before she licks her lips and swallows. Another bite, and she purses her lips a bit while wiping a drop of peachejuice off them with her free hand's thumb. Her eyes open and she nods, smiling wide, at Sabrina. Yep, somebody approves of the fruit selection. Branton gets a similiar nod, but Xiu's eyes are more set on that crate though, some curiosity showing for a moment as she swallows. "Spirits?" she asks, trying to discern any labels on the things. It's ultimately Arumi's words that cause her to turn, however, and she smirks. "'lo there. Well met. Xiu ("sheoo") Tong. Verbena." Yeeeeah....

Joel tilts his head at Luke. "So what's the latest bright idea you've had?" he counters, before adding to Branton, "Absofuckinglutely, especially it involves me getting drunk again on some sort of ice cream sundae beer or whatever that last one was. Does it?" From the sound of his voice, he sure hopes so. He spins around in the chair where he's placed himself, casual, pushing his jacket down to access somehing on his smartwatch. Joel tilts his head at something Arumi says. "Well, in my /professional/ experience -- " He's abruptly cut off, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19RL-iRn1Wk starts up. It's MIDI classical, so it might not be the /best/ classical music anyone could imagine at first, but probably acceptable if you squint for the first five seconds. Then the caterwauling dog kicks in. At least it's brief.

Luke fishes a very nicely polished tool from his pocket. It looks like a screwdriver, except that the handle is thicker and it seems to have the capacity to spin! He studies a bit, "I have the distinct feeling you latched on to my comment about classical music and turned it into something a bit more .. satirical?" he smiles though to Joel, as if he was not totally devoid of humour, "I have many bright ideas, Mr Joel. Some flare bright, but burn out quick. Others flicker to life slowly, only to increase in strength." he pauses, "I have always been partial to theories surrounding the ability to travel.. without moving."

Sabrina grins, "Potassium is good for you." She does know some of this science stuff. She really does not know most of what is being said, but she takes a seat, and cannot help but listen to the music and seems to be analyzing it in her mind.

Arumi finally sits, slowly, with her coffee. "Based on my talking with Luke, he needs a proper lab before anything else will come. And Joel, in your opinion... what?"

Branton nods at Xiu and sets out the labled bottles, all the liquids are clear or nearly so. One labled strawberry, one labled milk chocolate, one labled hazelnut, and one labled blood orange "Home made. Most of my inventions and artificing aren't tech based but then I realized that the distillery learning I've worked through as part of my alchemical studies could count as science. Even if Science wasn't why I learned it." Then to Joel "You like those toblerone chocolate oranges? I got a cocktail out of this batch that'll be a real good time. And a chocolate covered strawberry combination that's not new to this batch but people keep asking when I'm gonna make it again." Then to Luke "You're way isn't how I do it but would observing someone translocating help your research?"

Xiu on the other hand just blankly stares for a moment as the music..the 'music' comes up. She looks over at Joel with an expression of 'dude, really?' while she takes another bite of the peach, turning it here and there to make sure her lips catch rolling drops of peachjuice - and then Branton is showing off bottles! She wipes her mouth with the back of her hand and lets her slanted eyes flick, reading the labels. "Mh, there is a lot of science in good brewing." she remarks easily enough before she lightly grins. "Just how strong is it? I mean, is it more 'burning with a sense of sweetness' or more 'sweetness with a hint of burning'? It looks clear, so..I presume the first."

Joel lifts a shoulder at Arumi's question. "The moment's passed," he remarks lightly, unpeeling the banana. He eyes Xiu as he takes a big bite of it, just a /little/ on the lascivious side. "Exploring my nature as the Verbena I'm meant to be," he drawls towards her. Looking back towards Luke, he smiles back. "Satire? From a Virtual Adept? Come on, Mr. Whateley, you know better than that. It's /parody/." And then, for a few long minutes, the music goes back to lovely tinkling classical again, as Joel points out, "Flare bright and burn out, flicker to life slowly and then increase in strength -- could say the same thing about us as you could about ideas, huh?" He reaches out a hand for whatever booze Branton might put in his hand. "Give it. You need an expert's opinion, clearly."

Merek lifts up a hand while he draws a magic flame to it, then he begins to juggle a few of those about, in different colors while he listens to people speak.

Luke finally lets his eyes turn to Branton and, well, wow. Bald. Very bald. How did he miss that at first! He ponders the mans offer before he slowly shakes his head, "I do not think that will be entirely helpful." he admits after some thought, "I have already managed to open a portal and, even though I only moved about six feet, it was enough to prove my theories. The portal itself was opened by tapping into the wavelengths of phased light as it moves from the Ether and passes through our Reality. As it moves, the wavelengths simultaneously exist in several locations at once. Now, what I do is let that light pass through a precisely cut focal point. Tuned right, it will split the light before it sheds its Etherical energies in such a way that it rips open a tear. A portal forms at that point, allowing you to step through." he pauses, "Now, it is the crudest way I can explain it, really, without showing you the math. I fear I forgot my blackboard at home though."

Sabrina turns to Arumi, and waves to her, and to Luke, "I'm not sure we have met. My name is Sabrina Reeves. CoX. My husband is an Etherite, so I kind of have some ideas on this all. It is nice to meet you both." She is a bit over her head with some of what is said, but she may know more than she gives into. "A portal? That is something."

Branton grins at Joel and mixes him a toblerone shot (1 part blood orange, 2 parts milk chocolate) and passes it over as he explains to Xiu "Mostly yeah. I did figure out a way to run it through multiple distilations to get smoother taste with less of a burn but that shit's dangerous. It'll sneak up on you and fuck you up. This method" he says with a gesture at the bottles "Is a balance of being able to taste like what its suppposed to and enough burn to be up front about what you're getting into." Then to Luke, Branton offers a grin "Sounds pretty impressive."

Still eyeing the bottles, Xiu lightly nods at Branton's explanation of..well, his little way of distilling the stuff. Or rather, the goal of this batch. She hmmhs, and lets her eyes flick back and forth between the labels, before she points at one. Then another. "Can I try a mixture of milk chocolate and hazelnut?" Oh yeah. Somebody's going for something toffeeish here, it seems. She grins at the man. "Please?" The mentioning of a portal has her raise her head for a moment and she peers over at Luke. Listens. And then tries to understand just *what* the guy is explaining there. "How the heck does light.." she begins in a murmur to herself and just trains off. What.

Joel rolls his eyes, moving to one of the all-in-ones. A thin smartboard slides down on the meeting end of the room, and Joel nods Luke towards one of the smartboard markers also in that section of the space. "Let's see the math, man." He reaches for the shot, downing it with a flash of teeth. "Great job, Kojak," he tells the artificer lightly, before adding, "Do me a favor. Make one you think represents me. Personaliy-wise. Something... sharp and spicy to start with, huh? Fireball cinnamon, but ultimately something pretty decent in the long run. Fireball cinnamon hot chocolate or something, I don't know. Call it Montezuma's Revenge." A beat. "Wait. That name's taken." He upnods at Sabrina, raising his brows at her in a silent question about something unspoken.

Arumi smiles around. "Sabrina. Great. Hi." She sips her coffee with one hand, then sets it back down to tap at her arm cannon, er, plasma rifle. "Until my recent readings I would not have understood what Dr. Whateley said, either. Dimensional Etherspace was completely unrelated to anything I was doing until I needed a way to get off of earth quietly. I may end up asking him for help with my ship's main drive." Then looking to Merek. "What's that?" she asks of the flame he made.

"Wait! Wait wait!" Xiu suddenly straightens and looks between Joel and Branton. She turns and hurries across the rooms for a moment, where the cheap snacks and items are stacked. Grasping something she turns, almost hunched over, something hidden behind the arms and the baggy cloth of her hoodie. Before she leans forward. And fills Joel's shot glass with Mountain Dew. Leaning back, she just beams brattishly.

Merek looks to the flames which he juggles, "Magical flame," he says, with a nod to Arumi.

River walks into the computer room and look s around as if she was caught unaware of a potential drinking contest. She smiles and waves to those present as she walks in offers a one arm hug to Xiu and merek as thats who she is closest to at the moment.

Luke pauses a bit, looking to Sabrina and giving a quick nod, "Luke Whateley. And contrary to Doctor Hanadas use of my Doctors title, I usually prefer Mr Whateley." he pauses, "Society of Ether, student of Dimensional Etherspace and the amazing aesthetics of a bygone Victorian Era." he inclines his head. His eyes then turns to Joel. He fishes out a very finely crafted 1800's type pocketwatch from his pocket. Flicking the lid open, he eyes the face of it, "You want me to show you the math.. I do not think we have enough time for that." he flicks the lid, closing it, to then put it back into the pocket, "I fear you do not have enough boards."

Sabrina respectfully bows her head to Luke, "Mr. Whateley, of course." Her eyes fall on Joel a moment and with a small shake of her head, her eyes turn toward Merek. She is a bit fascinated for a moment at what he is doing.

Merek looks then to Sabrina, with a nod, while he listens to Luke at the talk about math, thinking.

Joel grimaces a little at Sabrina's headshake. But he doesn't follow up verbally, smiling a bit dryly at Luke. That whiteboard whooshes back up again. "You're gonna show me someday," he declares. Banana in one hand, shotglass in another, he lifts the Mountain Dew to his lips, shooting Xiu a puzzled look as he does so. "Dimensional whatevercakes, be careful about what you're asking for, yeah?" he tells Arumi. "Something something collateral damage, and I like both of you, at least. Don't move too fast. This isn't me being a shitlord, either." He's quite serious on the warning he gives, even as he takes a swig of that soda.

Arumi looks at Joel incredulously for a moment, then snickers. "Too fast?" she chirps. Pausing then to finish her coffee with a deep sip. "We were in space like 125 years ago. There's nothing new or fast about any of this. It's tested, proven science." Seated with her arm cannon on, in her Star Trek blue dress, defending the Society.

"Bah." Xiu lets out as her joke seems to fly past Joel's head, and she actually takes a swig of the Dew, still eyeing the guy for a moment. As River walks in, she blinks and lifts an arm. "Oi! 'lo, girl." she says and accepts the one, armed hug for a moment, lightly grinning. "DIdn't expect you to be here." Look who's talking, Xiu. Look who's talking. With all that done her focus goes back to Branton, eyeing him expectantly.

"Mr Joel." Luke replies to Joel, shaking his head slowly, "There is a reason why I prefer theory over practice. Theory will let you create worlds without any risk, seeing that your ideas hold fast. If your Math does not run its course, with a complete calculation, then it is not a theory you want to move too fast on or you will end up crushed by the weight of your ideas. No, theory. Tried and true theory." He really seems to like the idea about sticking to theories!

"Sidereal space is... okay, sure," Joel remarks, smiling a bit thinly around his drink. "Just don't hang yourself out to dry. I'm only good for Digital Web shit. In meatspace, that's all y'all, as the saying goes. And, Mr. Whateley, we should get you on the Digital Web sometime. See what theory can do with even the briefest sketching of practice layered over it, like putting clothes on a hanger. I think you'd find it interesting, with your bent, if you'd let yourself get into it. Let me know." He pauses a moment, considering. "So, Arumi, you're launching a rocket. Luke, you're doing some 3D chess Victorian theoretical thingamajig. Branton, you've got your little bartending empire going on." His gaze swings to Merek. "What've you been up to recently, Merek?"

Branton glances over at Merek and his flame fondling before commenting Xiu as he mixes her drink "Its on theme at least but yeah, the Nutella shot is another often requested combination."

"Hah, it's really called that, huh?" Xiu wonders as she watches Branton mix the two things together in the shotglass. She patiently waits, seemingly amused that it has an official name - but honestly, not too suprised. There is rarely a thing where people get more creative than when it comes to naming all sorts of drinks and variations. Her eyes flick over towards Merek as Joel addresses his question at the man, looking curious - especially given that Merek, like her and River, are kind of the off ones out here.

Merek looks up to Joel and seems to think about it a moment. "Well, after I recover, I am beginning to work on my starship, in addition to planning Horizon Realm expeditions when that's prepared. I am developing my AI to fully automate my node and sanctum. I apply knowledge at this point." He flicks away that flame into the air while he nods, "Capable intelligence was an ancient mastery, I am planning to put it into practice, I do want it to go beyond test standards for 'intelligent' learning capability in thought, I want to apply the ability to think, which means developing an entire system for the moral as well as ethical learning."

Sabrina looks to Merek to hear what he has to share. Although River gets her attention for a moment. "Power a lawnmower? Is that something one would try for? I thought we were aiming for electricity for those."

Arumi didn't notice River untils he spoke, and tilts her head. "You... we spoke at the beach. It's funny seeing you here. Dr. Arumi Hanada, Soceity of Ether." She'll then get up briefly to refill her coffee before sitting again. To Merek, she nods "AI. That could be useful for me in the future. For now though I'm sticking with human crew. Mostly me, but Bobbi wants to ride along and play music on the far side of the moon."

Luke, having run out of a bit of steam (haha) in explaining his ideas on the manipulation of lightwaves as it passes from Etherspace through present realities and nixing Joels idea of showing his math on a board, decides then that he is thirsty. So, he slowly moves towards the excitable Virtual Adept, crossing his arms over his chest, "I am curious, Mr Joel. Did you remember my tea?" he wonders.

Branton points at Sabrina and nods in response to River's question "Yeah its potent booze but distilling stuff strong enough to strike you blind is /easy/ getting something out the other end that actually tastes like something reliably takes a lot more skill. Got a couple different flavors in today's offering. Though I suppose if it was an ethenol engine this would work." Then he adds "This is though is off the shelf mortal science, no enlightenment required. Completely mundane just with an excellent operational budget."

Xiu blinks - and just stares at Merek for a long moment, blinking again. "Wait. Wait wait wait, hold on." she says, standing more straight as she eyes the man. "You are making a *Starship*. And an *Ai*?" She seems more than a bit baffled, as she glances about the, well, technomancers before she looks back at...the Chorister. "I am so confused right now." she murmurs as she blindly takes the drink Branton made for her and downs it with a blank expression...and then glances down at the shot glass. "Oh man, this is good.."

"The most essential thing to this space travel, is the spice," Merek teases Xiu, while he nods a bit to the woman. "The Old Kingdom and ancient Atlantis practiced with science way before the modern advent. I'm just adapting the teaching to the new age."

Joel considers for a moment. " 'In the beginning'," huh?" He seems more than a litle skeptical of Merek's claims. "All things in heaven and earth. I guess, if you squint real hard, that works for a Chorister. But listen, I ain't interesed in being proselytized to or brainwashed into one world belief." He rolls his shoulders, something else said making him blink. But here's Luke. "Tea. Right. I -- uh -- I got a tea set." He motions to the crappy china cups, and shoots Sabrina a clear look requesting help for tea procurement. "Hayetah wehaares haares, something something, I wasn't paying attention in my two months of Hebrew school either." And that's as far as he gets quoting the Torah. It may be as far as he remembers.

River says, “Knew an old verbena once that made a saling ship the flew, but I dont think it was space worthy. I mean could have been I supose." She then smiles to branton and says "I been tinkering with mead, but for flavor not horse power.”

Sabrina sees the look, and rises so gracefully, and helps out to get the tea prepared. "You say that Merek, and I cannot help but imagine the Spice Girls in Space." Because sometimes you really really want that. A grin to River then, "For a second, I was nervous you spoke of horse flavored mead, but realized that would just be a terrible idea and no one really would consider that." The tea is about ready.

"The One isn't as defined so easy as that, people don't recall that Hermeticism and even the Chorus began its foundation in the Middle East," Merek mentions then. "My family owns a tech company as well. There's that."

Luke watches Joel look to Sabrina for Tea Assistance. And, without saying much, he watches Sabrina get to work on it. He pauses a few moments more, letting people talk AI around him with Merek before he clears his throat a bit and asks of Sabrina, "Green? Black? Fruity?" he wonders, seeming to be curious as to what blend she is brewing.

Still eyeing her shotglass for a moment, Xiu turns before she looks up at Branton. She lets out a grunt - and holds out the glass, raising her eyebrows along the way. The silent question is obvious, really: 'May I have another, pretty please?'. She actually can't help but lightly smirk as she goes through the motion. "I give it my seal of approval." she remarks. Which is clearly 100 more biodegradable than Joel's seal of approval, in her mind.

Branton snickers at Joel's comment about religion and adds "For my own part I know that the gods are real, just also that most of them are dicks. If you want I could arrange a meeting and you could judge for yourself but that's drifting a little off theme for the day." At Xiu's request he mixes her another of the same since she didn't specify.

"Waeet hassamayim et elohim bara baresit," Joel concludes after another moment's thought, summoning up some more ill-pronounced Hebrew. "Cool, and the Batini are all about Mount Qaf. Talk to 'em about al-Hajj, but you'll have to work on your al-Layl. And just 'cause my guys have only been on this side of the aisle for seventy, eighty years, doesn't mean I'm eager to rejoin the flock, so to speak. Sometimes you gotta be careful about drawing connections where there's no enough space to sustain 'em." Audibly a little uncomfortable with that line of thought, he pushes himself up from his spinny chair to look at the tea. And then the 'opera' starts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oavMtUWDBTM -- Branton just gets a /look/. "Yeah, had enough of that for a lifetime."

And Xiu seems quite happy with Branton mixing another Nutella shot. She downs it and licks her lips before she atually wanders over to the snack area and sets down the shotglass, happy. Not that she can't handle alcohol - those that have seen her might know better - but she seems to be moderate about it. Instead the next swig is Mountain Dew again, because why not? "Gesuundheid." she pipes over at Joel and then makes her way over towards Sabrina and that tasty bowl of fruit again.

Arumi hears the others speaking in foreign languages, so she whips out some ancient greek. <<The state is defined by answering falsehood with a barrier of truth, but when built, it is inevitable that these walls will be assailed. So it is for men seeking excellence. So it is for the cosmos.>>

Sabrina closes her eyes, hearing the opera? She just has a smile as this is well... something to say the least. She pours the tea into a teacup, already on a saucer, "Would you like any sugar, or milk, Mr. Whateley?" She offers it to Joel to take to his traditions member or else she will.

Merek switches to a perfect Ancient Greek, then he speaks to Arumi, <"Are we musing in philosophy?"> he asks.

River says, “I see my godess like all the time. Well her body. Just have to walk out at night and look up. Iv met her once in spirit and Ill never forget it." She watches Xiu take the shot and grins as she ponders something to herself."”

Xiu...watches. And listens, even as her hand reaches for a Banana in the bowl. Quietly peeling it, she lets her eyes wander from person to person for a moment, before she absent-mindedly sticks the banana into her mouth...and actually shuffles towards Joel without taking a bit at first. Once she reaches her destination, she murmurs around it"Iph you don't name phis room phhe 'Babel Room' I will be maph." And with that said she shuffles away again, finally taking a bite.

Luke, being Mr Whateley, does not get a reply on what kind of tea it is. He does intercept the tea, however, before Sabrina brings it to Joel to deliver to him. He is a rather hands on Mage in such regards! "Well, I suppose I will have to sample this mystery tea then." he says, "A lump of sugar, if you have, though?" he asks of Sabrina.

Arumi winks to Merek and switches back to English. "Just quoting Aretus, as he explained to Priam why it was important to venture out into the world and explore new frontiers." Then she finishes her coffee, leaving it black.

Joel smiles at Xiu's joke. "Hebrew, not German. Well, 'Hebrew'," with scare quotes, "as much as I remember. Deleted a lot of it at some point to make more space for relevant information." He looks towards Sabrina and then towards the teacup, and then towards Sabrina again, as Mr. Trololo delivers his delightful song to the computer room at large. "Who's this -- ah, him." A nod to Luke, who's moved to get the tea for himself, and the Adept's hands flick up a little casually. "I like two lumps," he drawls to Luke. "Usually pretty ample ones too. Hopefully the same size, for easy handling." He moves to reclaim his spinny chair, which he seems quite fond of.

"I am familiar with a lot of these things," Merek mentions to Arumi, it probably would be known to him, he does shift a bit of his attention to people, "Still philosophy." He takes a drink from a flask.

Sabrina has the cup with lumps of sugar in it and little tongs to remove them. She has a cup for herself as well. "It is some sort of Licorice. Mr. Joel shared it with me the other night." She offers the sugar to Luke first, and then to Joel.

Branton looks to Arumi and adds "Whether it happens in a hundred years or a thousand years or a million years, eventually our Sun will grow cold and go out. When that happens, it won't just take us. It'll take Marilyn Monroe and Lao-Tzu, Einstein, Morobuto, Buddy Holly, Aristophanes .. and all of this .. all of this was for nothing unless we go to the stars. Captain Jeffery Sinclair, Babylon five." After a beat he amends "Just because its ficton doesn't mean its wrong."

"Only because the consensus wants to believe it. Imagine it, a murder commited by all men just by power of thought and belief," Merek says.

Arumi grins to Branton. "Science fiction is important because it isn't real. Or at least, people accept it as a vision of the future, and so it prepares their minds to break out of the Union mold. But... control won out with them, and that's why I'm at this meeting today. We, in this room, are the future of humanity, and its salvation from stagnation."

Joel stares blankly at the sugar as it's presented to him. "I was talking about boobs," he states. "But thanks. I'm good with this." He taps the Mountain Dew, and then grins a bit sharply at Branton. "All that will remain will be information, converted into a new, condensed form. And cockroaches. Definitely cockroaches. But hey, if we all get online, then all this meatspace shit becomes utterly immaterial. Turn on, tune in, jack off. I think that's right." He knows it's not right, audibly, and then jabs a finger at Arumi. "Bingo. Including our friends from outside the space we have in common, too." A glance at Xiu and Branton in turn.

"Ah.. yes. Yes. Licorice.." Luke replies to this, taking the cup of tea once the lump is in it. He appears somewhat sceptical it would seem, as to wether or not the thing will actually be good tea or not. He looks to Joel, "Now, as to your idea about this.. Digital Web of yours. I have given it some thought and I simply feel that it is highly outside of my comfort zone. It just seems so.. out of touch. Ah, for me, that is."

Xiu, in the middle of taking a sip of Mountain Dew again (and the bottle being almost empty by now), glances over first at Joel - then looks down at herself for some reason - then looks at Branton - then at Merek - and finally at Arumi, the latter whomshe turns towards to a bit as she lowers the bottle. She seems to be about to say something...and then decides not to, as her glance just wanders down along herself again and then towards Joel. "Oi. I can offer two of those saccharin tabs."

River smiles to Xiu and elbow bumps her "Penny for your thoughts?"

Joel leans in, studying Luke closely. "I'll make you a bet, Mr. Whateley. You a betting man?" His hands clasp together for himself, fingertips pressing together. "Give me one shot with you on the Digital Web, and I'll prove it to you that I can make it inside your comfort zone. I know your drink of choice, for starters. It'll take a little redesigning here and here. But the space I built's open to both our groups, and even if it's pretty modern, nothing's saying we can't have some sorta... Tesla coils hanging out in the corner or somehing. He was as much of a hero as Turing was, anyway. You'll see the usefulness of it, and I'll make it more amenable to you. Care to take the bet?" He reaches for the Coke instead of the Mountain Dew. Since nobody's grabbed the chips, he gathers them closer to him, as things seem to perhaps be winding down.

Arumi looks over to Xiu, and smiles. "Spit it out, come on." Then finishing off her second cup of coffee before she giggles. "I still need to check in on that stuff sometime, now that my proper lab computer is set up, Joel."

River smiles to Arumi and ask "So did you ever get to try or still want to try surfing? I mean I got my old starter board if your up for it."

Branton has been mixing up a couple of sample shots and putting out little signs 'Toblerone', 'nutella', 'chocolate covered strawberry'. And three more rows with blank signs "I still need names for the combinations of hazelnut and strawberry, hazelnut and blood orange, and blood orange and strawberry. That'll be all the pairings from this batch."

"My drink of choice, I fear, is not liquorice tea." Luke replies to this, "Peculiar as it is in taste, though." he takes a sip from it, "And you seem to forget I am a man of theory, not practice. Betting is a thing highly wrapped up in practice. That would mean moving on from theory." he pauses, "I am not sure how to say no without being rude, Mr Joel. I do appreciate your offer. But when it comes down to it, I simply have far too much to do, to go galavanting away in something so far removed from what I hold most dear." he does smile to the man though, "At some point, though, I will have to show you my calculations for Dimensional Relocation via Ether-anchored Light Frequences."

Sabrina sips lightly from her tea, although eyes what Branton has. "I do wonder how that might taste in the tea. Although I am sure it is better without it."

Xiu's eyes flick between River and Arumi there for a moment, as both of them seem to want to hear her held back thogughts. She taps her chin with the cap'd mountain dew bottle she is still holding, and then lifts her tongue to her upper teeth before she lets it flick down on a clacking motion. "Nah, nah. Not the right moment for those." she decides, before she glances over at Branton. "Hazelnut and strawberry? Easy. Breakfast delight." She smirks and then adds "You know, hazelnut spreads, strawberry jam and all that."

Joel nods at Luke, unruffled. "What I mean is, there's more theory on the Digital Web as you might expect. You might hold it more dear than you think. But if I look at your calculations, you gotta join me on the Digital Web for exactly as long as it takes me to solve those calculations. It'll be fun," he encourages the other man. "Live a little. Experience things. You never know. You might actually get laid," he drawls to the Etherite, joking rather than harsh, before pushing himself up from his chair. The music is back to normal classical, even if it is 'Flight of the Bumblebee' overlaid as a doubletrack atop 'O Fortuna.' He adds briefly to Arumi, "Sure. But note the visitors policy outside of our stuff," with a bit of emphasis for whatever reason.

Branton nods at Xiu and considers "If only the fourth was pancake flavored. Or french toast. Might have to do a brunch series. Might be a while, I mostly do this as a hobby break from my other alchemical research."

It's funny how fast Xiu's expression can turn from 'I'm okay' to 'the world is a hellhole of misery and pain, craaaaawling iiiiin my skiiiiiin' as...well....*somebody* has decided overlaying Flight Of the Bumblebee with O Fortuna was a great idea. "One moment." she tells Branton. And of course her immediate next glance aims her eyes at Joel, and she quietly stares at the guy for oh so long. Staring daggers. Sharp, bloody daggers of her own pain. She downs the rest of the mountain dew and tosses the bottle (capless) at his head. Not painful at all, but hey, it will get his attention. To the stare that could kill puppies. Or Bambi. So many incarnations of Bambi.

Luke simply shakes his head slowly at Joel, "Mr Joel. I fear you misunderstand my meaning when I say Theory." he lets out a light sigh, "But, perhaps there is another way for me to accommodate your overly eager attempts to get me into this.. web.. of yours. It might take a little while though." he gives another pause, taking a sip from his tea. He then puts the cup down, fishing out that pocket-watch of his again. He flicks the lid open, resting the watch in the palm of his hand as he peers down at the face of it, "Ah." he flicks the lid closed, putting the watch back into his pocket, "I fear that it is time for me to get going. I have a few things that I must attend to." he gives a nod to the Virtual Adept, "Mr Joel. It was a pleasure to meet you again. I thank you for the invitation." he gives a look around, "A pleasure to meet you all." he then gives Joel another nod of his head, "Until next time."

River looks to Xiu worried, well also steps back a pace as she does not want to see her friend angry as she can only imagine that that means." She does tilt her head as if to silently ask if everything is okay.

Joel mutters, " 'Overly eager'," a little wryly. But he nods. "Sure. I'll see you there," he remarks, waggling his fingers in Luke's general direction -- just as the soda bottle hits him in the head. "/Ow/," he deadpans, rubbing his disheveled hair and turning a rather immature pout at Xiu. "Are we breaking up?" But he stands, retrieving both the empty Mountain Dew bottle and his own Coke. "Th-th-th-that's all, folks!" he adds comically, just as the music hits, yes, the Looney Tunes ending theme and stops right there. Playlist over.

"You are making me die inside." Xiu delivers deadpan to Joel, before she glances over at Luke and smiles again. Lifting a hand she waves at the man. "Have a safe trip!" she tells him - making a mental note to actually exchange more than just those words with him next time, before she glances over at River. "...hmh?"

Sabrina has been enjoying her tea, not much to add to it all. As they begin to head out, she waves to each. "Hope to see you again!"

River waves as she smiles. Shes not really that close to anyone leaving as to give hugs, but still they get a smile and a friendly wave.

Merek nods a bit to people, while he stands, "You all be well!"