2014.10.17:The Woman Who Waited II
| The Woman Who Waited II | |
|---|---|
| Damnit Harley | |
| IC Date | Friday, October 17th, 2014 |
| IC Time | After Midnight, then Morning |
| Players | Velok (Storyteller), Cig, Gar, Liesl, Zach |
| Location | Manchester, England |
| Prp/Tp | The Woman Who Waited |
| Spheres | Mage |
Log
It might seem surreal at some point. They can't possibly have just joined a group that's going to be saving the world or anything, can they? Clearly it was all just a joke and a cover to invite people over to his house. And yet, that announcement comes just as one might have expected. A time, Friday, and 'Pack Light'. Almost exactly on the minute, the limo showed up, and one by one all four of them were picked up. A portly fellow helps them all with the luggage, staying very quiet. The group is driven swiftly to Prospect International, driving up to one of the security gates instead of the actual terminal. After a brief discussion with the security guard to the driver, the group is racing off to the tarmac, where a rather fancy, clearly expensive private airplane awaits them. Everyone so far is polite, yet brief. Even the pilots, introducing themselves to each person and indicating they will be flying directly to Manchester, England. If questioned, they know very little, only that they get paid and are rather skilled. The plane is loaded and soon they're racing into the sky.
The trip started out late enough that it's fairly reasonable for everyone to turn their chairs into beds and relax, even if some people might not. However people decided to spend the time, the pilots voice eventually comes up on the PA to wake everyone up. "We'll be nearing the airport shortly. It's a rather gloomy day unfortunately. We'll indicate when everyone needs to strap in and we'll be pulling up to the private terminal. Everything is currently on schedule.
Gar stetches a bit as he wakes back up, "Well these are cetinly more comfortable seat then I was used to." he looks ot the others, "So you guys ready?" he asks.
Zach had spent a great deal of time looking out the window, and sleeping. He was awake now though and and chuckled at Gar's proclamation. "Ain't that the truth.." as his laughter died off he continued "..I'm ready, but I don't know what for. So yeah, just like old times..."
What a surprise, a gloomy day in England. Liesl has been awake for a little time, apparently conversing softly with Morningstar. Of course, she won't leave him behind. One of the pilots seemed a bit nervous at seeing the snake draped about her neck and shoulders, but as he wasn't paid to object, she passed onboard without issue. Then it's officially 'morning' and she looks over to the others. "Old times, hmm?" she asks Zach, "Not knowing seems to be par for the course, I've discovered," she says wryly. "It's impossible to be ready for everything, but ... we can do our best." She glances over to Gar, and then to Cig, her gaze resting just a little longer on the latter.
Cig packed 'light' and shows up with only a single strap backpack. The pack looks like it might be large enough to carry some personal belongings but little else. Cig is quiet when he boards, and looks as though he's pondering somethiing. He spends most of the plane trip over reading a book (and not sleeping) but is easy enough to engage in conversation should anyone wish to talk to him. He looks up what Gar breaks the silence. He gives the guy a bit of a grin (although, like most of his expressions it has a muted, diminished quality to it). "Sometimes knowing isn't any better," Cig indicates to the group in a distracted tone. He gives Liesl a warm smile when he sees her looking over at him.
Gar nods, 'Yeah and I think part of the reason he sent a varied group was the unknown quality." he looks to Zach, "Old days?" he then nods to Cig, "We just have to stay sharp." he then smiles to Liesl, "Well if you are at your best we don't have a lot to worry about, you learn things scary quick."
Zach laughs honestly in a slow deep voice, and speaks to Liesl on the tail end of it. "Yeah, guess it might be. Back in the Army it was always hurry up and wait, be ready for whatever you aren't expecting. Made me a bit paranoid, I guess." At Cig's statement he seems to take a moment and think, eventually nodding in agreement. Zach also packed light, as in nothing other than what he always wore. "So this guy we're after, this Simon..." He sort of left the words unfinished to allow himself the privilege of silence while offering anyone to complete it for him.
Liesl smiles back to Cig as he smiles to her. The subdued version of Cig is different, but as long as he can smile, she's not going to be /overly/ worried about him. She grins to Gar as he mentions her learning things quickly. "Student mode, I guess," she comments with a half shrug. She nods to Zach. "Not a bad way to be, a bit paranoid ... just don't let it be everything. Hopefully, we don't even encounter Simon on this trip. But, I do have to admit to fair amount of curiosity about him ... and what we will discover about him." She's got a knack for understatement. Anyone who knows her, can tell that she's positively seething with the need to learn more. And, Liesl probably packed the most, but it wasn't more than a mid-sized soft-sider. Considerably more than she had on her last 'trip', and /way/ less than the trip to Brazil, where the over-packing was part of the cover.
"Douchebag from the sounds of it," Cig replies as he folds his book over his thumb to be polite and keep his spot at the same time. He smiles a bit at Gar's assessment of Liesl's abilities. He regards her for a couple of beats before glancing over at Zach. Cig considers Zach's words for a bit before glancing back to Liesl when she speaks up. He's got some thoughts brewing but none that he's ready to voice just yet. Except for: "It might be a good idea for us to know a little bit more about each other -- strengths, weaknesses -- in case things end up going south. Knowing what each of us brings with his could be vital information if we're in a pinch," he observes.
Gar nods, "That seems fair, my own abilities are prety specialize, matters of life and athe spirit are what I do best, but I cna effect space and hte mind, anything beyond that and I am not much good." he smiles, "If I ever disappear it is a good bet i have decided to check things out on the other side for a bit."
Zach understood, and appreciated Stone's seeming ability to predict his next question. He would answer freely and honestly, hoping he would be understood... which he usually wasn't. "I am a doctor, and a Gothi, a priest of Odin the Allfather. I know the Runes and the power of blood; I work with Fate and Life." He was relaxed but still felt a bit exposed. It wasn't his way to reveal so much... but he had to trust these few magi.
Liesl nods agreement, "Well, I'm actually fairly recently Awakened, about seven months --- but, as Gar mentioned, I have learned quickly, and am pretty much a jack - or would that be jill? - of all spheres. I am far from being a Master, but I can be ... useful. My mundane life? I study geology. No idea if that'll come in handy, but one never knows."
Cig glances around to see who, other than he and the other three magi in the group might be listening, checks to make sure that their words remain private, then smiles at Gar and Zach's replies to his question, giving them both a look of gratitude when they choose to detail their abilities in The Art Liesl and him. He looks over at Liesl next. He knows her much better than the other two but looks as though he wonders what information she will provide. He gives her a smile after she's provided the group with some of her details. "I'm not very good at being in groups," he reveals to the group. "I have a curse on me that keeps me from getting too close to others," he states. Yeah, that's vital information. "I don't expect any trouble during this trip as I think that I burned it out recently along with my ability to willwork," he states. "I... have a wide range of skills, largely in the arts. I also lived in England for a few months a couple of years ago," he states.
Gar snods to Cig, "Well you are the one with local expeirence then. I spent two days in London on leave once btu well that was mainly the tourist sights and pubs." he then saysn, "Besides my calling I am a former soldier and a currennt handy man so I might be able ot get us out of a jam or two taht way as well.'
Zach nods, comfortable with everyone but somewhat concerned about Cig. Things would have to play out, and he tried not to be anxious - curses meant a lot of things to a militant Euthanatos. He looks from person to person, but remains silent now. He had said all he could, and now he was considering squad tactics. He seemed to enjoy the analysis as his eyes burned and lips grinned.
Morningstar has his head up near Liesl's ear, and after a moment she nods. "Morningstar has a few tricks u .. of his own." She totally wasn't going to say 'up his sleeve'. Nuh huh. Nope. "He can do some healing, so all the burden isn't on Zach, in case of injuries. He can see in the dark, He can go invisible and he can read English." She glances to him, as though asking if there was more he wanted to share. Morningstar looks around to the others. "That'sss good," he hisses softly.
"Do any of you have any... I don't know... issues that the rest of us should be aware of?" Cig asks. You know, like curses? He glances over at Zach and looks as though he understands some of the reservations that Zach might have about him. His attention shifts towards Liesl's... Morningstar. He watches the snake while Liesl speaks, then regards her face in the pause between her words and Morningstar's. His eyes move back to the snake when it/he hisses out its response. "He really does need to have his own website," he informs Liesl with an upward tub of his lips.
The pilot's voice comes up on the intercom. "Everyone, please take your seats, we're nearing final approach."
Gar grins, "Yu mean something www.hotsnake.com?" he then says, 'Nothing beyond the normal human fralities for me." he says, "Well and hte specialzation works both ways, what I am good at I am very good at, what I am not good at I cannot do." He then gets into his seat and buckled in.
Zach considers this as he checks to make sure his belt is buckled and all that. "Yeah, uh... I can be real hard to follow sometimes, a lot of people don't remember my face." (Arcane 3)
Liesl buckles in as well. "I guess in regards to Simon, I'm a liability, because Velok cares about me, and Simon has demonstrated that he wants to hurt the ones that he cares about. Personal handicaps? My intense curiosity, probably. I do try to be circumspect when I poke my nose into things, though."
Cig actually gives a full-throated chuckle to Gar's reply then nods to Zach. He glances back over at Liesl when she speaks up again, buckling himself in as he does so. "It sounds like you also threw a monkey-wrench in Simon's plans during your last encounter with him. That probably either has him admiring you, pissed at you, or both," he suggests. He gives Liesl another smile when she mentions her curiosity. Then the plane is starting to descend and he glances out the window to look at a Manchester morning.
It's a little shaky, the landing, but everything comes through in the end. The private jet lands and taxi's into a private terminal. Faces to windows would show that they pull up next to a limo, already waiting for them. Black, this time, instead of the white limo that arrived to take them to the airport originally. As the plane continues to pull into the terminal, the ones looking can get the first view of who is there to greet them. Not the experienced British man they might have expected, but instead a...girl. With bright yellow and pink hair and black/pink..selective clothing, the girl leans against the limo with one leg propped up, foot resting against the door. Her face is masked with a white coating and black eye shadow and black lipstick, contrasting her otherwise tanned skin. ( http://tinyurl.com/lsqwecl ) She waits until the airplane door pops open before reaching out and clapping her cloved hands together. "Hi!" She says in a rather shrill, high pitched voice.
Gar blinks a bit, 'I was not expecting this." he then says, I will say one thing Velok hads made sure we have traveled in style." he htne looks ot the woman with the painted face, 'You the one?"
Zach had landed in what he considered a battlefield. He was silent and alert, his hands in his pocket and his body language casually relaxed. For now he would let others do the talking.
Liesl has been looking out as well, but then had to switch sides of the plane when they pull up next to the limo. This obviously is not the man that Velok showed the picture of, and he /did/ specifically say that the man would not be in disguise. So, this must be someone else. Who? She doesn't know, and like Zach, goes silent, and into observation mode. She does still smile though, it's an easy response to the bright, shrill greeting. She glances to Cig briefly.
Cig didn't drink or eat on the flight over but does pocket a mini-bottle of vodka from the bar on his way off the plane. He glances at the others that he's travelling with when the Harly-Quinn look-alike chimes a greeting at them, guaging their reactions before giving the girl a closer look. "Hey love," he replies to the pale-faced girl in a friendly tone. He focusses his attention on her, letting the others keeping an eye out for any trouble that might be headed their way from the sidelines.
The high pitched voice keeps talking, as if all of them actually were talking instead of remaining quiet. "You must be..." She says, her hand coming forward and crooking as a finger lazily points towards each one in turn. "Gar...aaaand Zach. Oooo, nice beard. Aaaaaand Liesl. You're gorgeous." The girl takes a moment to look Liesl up and down, perhaps a little TOO long for it to be considered merely friendly, then finishes. "And Cig. Cute. Very cute. You can call me love...anytime." A small grin plays across her lips. She pushes her foot against the limo, falling forward onto her high heels and waltzing closer to the pair. She leans over and tries to sneak a kiss onto Liesl's cheek. "Welcome to England!" Her accent is very obviously not British, almost sounding American, like a valley girl. "At first Mr. Hastings was just going to send you a limo but I begged him to let me come along. I wanted to see you four!" She practically dances back and opens up the back door to the limo. "I'm going to take you to him, and then I'm going to take you where you need to go next, and then you're all on your own, but first! I'm H/aaaaaa/rley." She stresses the a, then goes to stand by the door. "I know you had a long flight but Mr. Hastings said if you were worth his time, you'd have all been well rested on the plane. If not, better catch up quick in the limo!"
Gar laughs, "I spent time in combat, I know rack time when I see it." he then looks ot the others, "Well ready for a ride?" he then looks aroudn the area ot check ot see how much attention is on them.
Zach wasn't satisfied this was legit, but he decided that an ambush expected might be an ambush survived, and merely let his paranoia grip him a little bit. He was exceptionally careful, and there was no trace of a smile on his face. He watched the others react and nodded to Gar in response.
Liesl clearly misses a lot of opportunities by being straight. Though, being monogamous might have more to do with it. As the woman tries to kiss her cheek, she has to stretch up very high, even with her heels. Morningstar doesn't make it easy, either. But, Liesl does smile at the compliment, and doesn't seem to mind the long look over - she's obviously used to it, and usually when she's wearing a whole lot less. "Thank you," she replies, and then, the door to the limo is opened, and she gives the group a glance. Ah yes, ladies first, hmm? She moves towards the door, to give it a Look, and if clear, gets inside.
Well, either it's legit or their enemy already has a bead on them. Cig gives Harley an encouraging grin when she flirts with him. He sticks casually close to Liesl while he continues to look Harley over. "Your outfit is very... becoming," he tells the squeaky-voiced woman in an mild but appreciative tone.
"Thanks sugar!" Harley responds immediately to Cig. She seems to have no reservations about Liesl leaning in or anything, simply waiting. The limo is clear of people and things, with plenty of space for the five of them. She reaches out when, or if, Cig gets into the limo to try and slap him on the ass. Gar gets a pleased smile, but Zach...her eyes lay on Zach for a lot longer, and her smile fades. "You must be the special one." She says quietly, tilting her head and letting one of her pigtails brush against her shoulder. "Hopefully you won't feel too out of place." Her voice is remarkably serious, even with the high pitch and the oddly bubbly atmosphere. She waits until everyone can get into the Limo before she can scoot in herself. "Have you guys named yourself yet?" She asks.
Zach seems to take some offense at that, actually. "the fuck that's the supposed to mean, I ain't got no Wyrd." He doesn't move towards the limo then and is the last to get in, which he does not mind.
Gar looks around and says, "Careful guys somehting just happened." he tells the rest so not answering the question that is posed. "Not sure what is up."
Liesl pauses as Gar speaks up. "That was me. I was just checking the car. It seems fine, nothing in there waiting to jump us." She does climb inside then, and scoots over so there is room for others to follow. Liesl also doesn't seem to care if this will cause offense to Haaaaarley ... but, given her earlier comments, doesn't expect it will. As long as she's legit, anyway.
Cig seems to expect Harley's ass slap and tries to catch her hand as she makes a grab for his butt. If he's successful and she allows it, he'll draw it up to his lips and press a light kiss against the surface of his hand. The motion is more easy grace than showiness, and he'll let go of Harley's hand once it's achieved. He'll wait outside to limo to let the others into the car first then keep the door held open for Harley before slipping into the limosine after her, letting Zach follow last if that's his intent. If Cig is aware of anything happening he doesn't show it.
It's a good thing the girl is wearing so much white makeup, so it's not possible to see the blush. Only the giggle before she continues waiting.Harley slips into the limo then before Zach, scooting over a bit, then hovering and plopping down next to Cig. She turns a bit in the expansive seats, kicking up her legs and laying them over Cig's lap and, presumably, Liesl's. "I'm hurt." She says somewhat sarcastically, bringing a gloved hand up and pressing to her chest. "You didn't trust me?" She asks Liesl. The shocked look on her expression gives way to a smile. "Well good. You all may actually survive." She waits till the door to the limo is fully closed and the bags are unpacked, the limo racing across the tarmac. "I work with Mr. Hastings, as I mentioned. He had to continue negotiations and wasn't able to wait around, so he sent me." She dangles her hand in the air near Cig, swaying it this way and that, though it's possible she's just fishing for another kiss. "It's the damn Ecstatics and their rules." She mumbles, then shakes her head. "We're going to go to our little base of operations, temporarily. Mr. Hastings doesn't like to stick around in one place too long, but occasionally there are gatherings we need to attend. Luckily this coincided with one." She doesn't actually look to anyone in particular, mostly stares at her dangling hand. "Waste of time, I said, but Velly and Mr. Hastings were rather insistant."
Gar looks over to Lisel and smile,s "Alright." He does not relax much is any though. It is a moment later when he hears Velly and that brings a grins to his face.
Zach is somewhat on edge now, but he choses to save his questions for the right target in this case, and for now he would listen and watch. He wasn't scowling, but there was no smile or sound from him. His thoughts for now were his own.
Liesl arches a brow at Harley as she claims to be hurt, but then gives a curt nod when she hears pretty much what she expected. This Mr. Hastings seems to be a cautious man, with a certain amount of expectations of the people he works with. Harley's mumblings about the 'damn Ecstatics' gets another raised brow, but nothing more.
Cig's demeanor is easy and relaxed as Harley plop her legs onto his lap. He glances at Liesl when those legs extend out onto her lap as well, looks over at Gar and Zach to see how they're handling things, then gives Harley his attention again. His lips tug upwards with amusement when he finds her hand cobra-ing around near his face. He takes it and draws it down so that it's between both of his hands then begins to give Harley's hand an absent massage while he glances towards the driver at the front and does a lazy eye-tour of the inside of the limo while the others chat.
No customs, and only a brief stop at security. Everything seems completely prearranged. Harley shows no worry at all of even where they're going. And yes, they drive on the left side of the road. "So I says, why not just let me do it? And Velly was very clear that I wasn't ready for it, and then Mr. Hastings AGREED, can you all believe that?" She starts to ramble a bit, though it's not hard to glean certain bits of information. Somehow, this 'Velly', which is pretty obviously a nickname, and Mr. Hastings are in some way her superior. "and I couldn't believe that. I'm completely ready. But noooooooooooooooo. And then Mr. Hastings said I should go to Prospect but then after that bitch showed up now all of a sudden I have to stay with Mr. Hastings and Velly gets to...UGH. It should be me, not that outsider." Her demeanor completely changes when Cig takes her hand and puts it between his, smiling. "Awwwwwwwwww, you're cute. I'm going to have to keep you." The limo continues to race before Harley remembers that she actually has a purpose. "Oh. Yes. When we get there...only you are one of us." She says, raising her free hand and pointing to Zach. "Everyone else must consider themselves guests. Don't intrude on anyone meditating. The Euthanatos rarely have organized chantries like everyone else might have. Mostly just safehouses. Places to find peace. Don't disturb anyone's peace, no matter what you see them doing."
Zach wasn't quite expecting that, but since he intended to demand who told this girl he had Wyrd he figured he was going to the right place to do it. He wasn't much for traditions and etiquette but he was also no fool. His eyes narrowed a bit as he composed himself and let his gaze wander between his companions and the occupants of the vehicle. The girl was never mentioned, and if she did turn out to be legit he intended to remember to give velok a piece of his mind about suprises. He thought for a while on the potential of an entire chantry filled with Euthanatos... what peace one could find there... what safety. Perhaps he wasn't incapable of a slight grin afterall. His guard of course, did not come down.
Gar focuses more on where they are goign then what is going on in the limo. He has bene in dangerous rides before and his sinstincts take over as he looks for snipers and ambush spots.
Liesl listens, and probably comes to her own conclusions about what Harley prattles on about. She's not going to take anything she hears at face value, or let her assumptions take on the force of fact. But, the admonition that all but Zach are guests gets a brief nod of acknowledgement. This shouldn't be a problem, she always feels like a guest in any chantry she's ever been in. Not always a welcomed one. So, nothing new.
Everyone seems to have their role. Liesl does the magickal reconnaissance. Zach keeps a look out for dangers within the limo while Gar watches out for snipers and ambushes. Cig? He's the cute one (although maybe that's only because Liesl's not biting, or kissing, or...). He gives Harley a nod to acknowledge that he heard what she said about everyone but Zach being a guest at the chantry.
There's an odd sense, the longer they're in the limo. The sense that this girl that was sent to meet them is incredibly, ridiculously thick. Which is the oddest thing of all, considering that she's so closely associated, yet trust was a big deal mentioned. Why would someone who seems to be right out of a teenage high school cafeteria be meeting them on an assignment like this. For a super serious mission, it certainly seems to not be starting out so. Eventually Harley's bickering died down. Not because no one was responding, but more because her mind wandered away. "I like you guys. I hope if you die, it doesn't hurt too much." She lets her attention wander to the window as they continue on through town. The farther they go, the more urban things get, until they start to pull underneath a highway. The limo nears a warehouse, and suddenly Harley bounces in the seat, her legs pressing firmly down against Liesl and Cig. "We've arrived to the Asrama." The 'Asrama' looks rather old and abandoned, just a single story expansive building with a large metal door. Harley is the first one out the door, climbing over Cig, Liesl, and Zach to slip her way out of the limo and hold the door open. "Don't worry about your luggage." She instructs, tapping her foot. "Come on, chop chop. Mr. Hastings is expecting us!"
