You say "Eduardo's player says we can assume that Eduardo phoned Hubert and Chephirah to tell them that this Terethel guy, a Mercurian of Stone, had spotted a Servitor of Asmodeus hanging round the Opera House."
You say "And was asking people to look into it."
Chephirah says "How kind of him."
Long distance to Chephirah: Demiurge suggests that on her way to the coffee shop, Chephirah had a car accident happen right nearby, and in her friendly Cherubic way, stayed to help and get people out.
Zebina is currently watching one of the dress rehersals.
You say "It's now about 7pm."
From afar, Chephirah beams. That works fine.
You say "So, what are Hubert and Chephirah going to do?"
Hubert says "Take public transit to the Opera House, unless Chephirah has a better idea."
Demiurge pictures the Opera House: a towering concoction of masonry, rearing against the evening sky, with the odd crow and pigeon perched up there on the roof.
You say "Okay. You've reached the Opera House. You're aware there's the public entrance round the front, which is still open and selling tickets for another half-hour or so, and the stage door round the back."
Hubert says "What's playing?"
You say "Nothing is currently playing. There are big posters about the new opera, _Fiat Justitia_, that's opening the day after tomorrow."
Hubert says "What are they selling tickets for, I mean."
You say "It looks from the posters that they're selling tickets for _Fiat Justitia_. Either that or season tickets or _Friends of the Opera_ membership stuff or whatever."
Hubert will mosey up to the booth and pick up a informational brochure to peer at until such time as he notices Chephirah's presence.
You say "_Fiat Justitia_ is apparently the work of a brilliant young artist, Matthew Stockman, who was recently killed in a tragic traffic accident. An opera in English, it's all about a tyrant father and young lovers and liberty and justice."
You say "(Further plot details can be provided if necessary.)"
Sarah S. considers. If Sarah could afford a ticket, Chephirah decides now is a good time to buy one. (If nothing else, it can be ignored if necessary, and besides, she likes opera.)
The young woman at the desk looks up from her work. "What night would you like a ticket for, ma'am?"
Sarah S. asks, "Is," (quick check at the posters), "the day after tomorrow sold out?"
The woman lowers her head to punch several buttons. She looks up again. "I'm afraid that we're sold out of all but a few seats in the gods, ma'am. And we only have those because a party just returned their reservations."
Sarah S. looks briefly and politely blank. "What a pity for them. The night after, perhaps?"
The woman checks her computer again. "I'm afraid we're sold out of everything but some seats in the gods then, too. You might have luck with a ticket agency, ma'am, but I can't honestly be sure. This opera looks like being popular."
Sarah S. smiles. "I'll try that, then. Thank you." And retreats at least a little way. Humans. Wonderful creatures, but so... complex.
The woman nods politely, and goes back to fiddling with her computer and notes and things. The foyer is deserted, other than the down-at-heel detective - Hubert - lounging by the wall.
Hubert scrutinizes the brochure he holds minutely, as if fresh insights into the universe were inscribed therein.
Sarah S. selects a brochure of her own, and drifts over to Hubert.
Hubert looks up, and mumbles a greeting.
Sarah S. nods her head. "Good evening."
Hubert murmurs, "Not really. Find anything?"
Sarah S. says "A popular opera."
Hubert says "Hmm. Eduardo say anything more to you?"
Sarah S. says "I don't think so, but I don't know your basis for comparison."
Hubert says "Go to the opera house. Demonic activity. Take a look. Here I am. I'm looking."
Hubert says "Know where to find Terethel?"
Sarah S. says "Pat should know, I think; I'm afraid I don't."
Hubert says "Where's Pat? Some descriptions of who we're looking for would help."
Sarah S. says "I don't know where he is at the moment; I can supply you with his number later."
The woman at the counter begins turning off her computer, putting away books of tickets, and the like. A security guard wanders out to stand near the doors in a thoughtful way. From inside the opera house, very faintly, the sound of music drifts out
Hubert looks over in the direction of the music, then starts to step away from the opera house, beckoning for Sarah to follow.
Sarah S., not unreasonably, follows.
Hubert says "Rehearsals. Probably another way in."
Hubert heads out of the building, intending to, not to put too fine a point on it, case the place.
You say "The Opera House is on the nice genteel area of town, but round the back it's getting nearer to the cheap and red-light district."
There's a stage door round the back, with a light above it. There's also a _big_ pair of doors that's probably used to move scenery through, but that are now shut. There are windows, but they're quite high. The roof looks complicated and with loads of bits on it.
Hubert is just trying to get an idea of how many and what kind of entrances and exits there are.
You say "There's the main entrance round the front, the small stage door round the back, the big doors for scenery which are clearly bolted and barred securely, and that's about it. Windows are some way up."
Daimon follows Zebina around, because it seems like a cool thing to do.
Demiurge notes that Daimon and Zebina can run into each other inside the Opera House, if they want.
Bump.
Zebina blinks.
Daimon blinks.
Zebina is sitting in seats back up under the balcony watching the rehearsal.
Daimon is sneaking around, looking for more evil Game servitors who just aren't very nice but like his pens.
Zebina seems to neither be sneaking or looking at Daimon's pens. Mostly she's just watching the performance.
On stage, the main rehearsal is over, but now various chorus parts and soloists are getting told by someone in a black toupee how they got it all wrong. He looks like the director of the piece.
Daimon plops into a seat and watches the rehearsal.
Daimon makes a toupee joke under his breath.
Zebina sees the other person sit down?
Sure, probably just a few seats away.
Zebina looks over at him.
Daimon is slouching to the best of his ability, and makes quiet comments about bad toupees and Hair Club for Men.
<
Zebina doesn't hear him.
Zebina doesn't lipread either. This is possibly fortunate.
Zebina does recognize him as the man she saw at the stage manager's door, though.
Daimon has changed to making comments about Rogaine with Monoxinil.
Zebina flicks a strand of hair over one shoulder, and looks over at the young man again, seeing
he's making comments, but they're obviously not meant for her.
Daimon leans back in the seat, putting feet up on the seats in front of him, and tries to absorb
what he is terming 'terminally bad opera in English'.
Daimon tries not to die from the terminally bad opera being conducted by a man in a cheap
toupee.
Daimon looks over at the woman.
You say "The music actually sounds quite good. The man in the toupee is taking the chorus
through, and through, and through one section. Most of the orhcestra is relaxing."
Outside the Opera House, Hubert mutters, to himself, "Call Pat. Get name of Mercurian. Call
Mercurian. Get description of Servitor. Find Servitor..."
Daimon grins in a friendly sort of way. "Uh, hi. I ran into you earlier, didn't I?"
Outside the Opera House, Sarah S. follows, rather less distractedly. "A reasonable series of goals.
Do you have any that can be accomplished in this area?"
Zebina says "Well, not exactly ran into, but yes. You were the one outside the stage manager's
door. Do you work here?"
Daimon says "No, I was just looking for some people I knew."
Zebina says "Oh, all right. So are you here to watch the rehersals?"
Daimon says "Well, for now, sure. I figured, I was in, I'd watch. What the heck."
Zebina nods. "Yes, that's more or less what I figured. I have tickets to opening night, but really
I prefer seeing things put together as opposed to working so.
Daimon gestures at the stage. "This sort of thing really isn't my scene. It's okay, but it's modern
pop opera, which isn't quite the same as say, Figaro. But, if I'm here and can listen for free, cool.
I'm there in spades."
Zebina says "You're an opera buff?"
Daimon says "Just a music lover, really."
Outside the Opera House, Hubert muses, "Call Eduardo too." He turns to Sarah. "Why don't you
call Pat and I call Eduardo? Try to find the Mercurian."
On stage, the Man with the Toupee waves at the solo bass, who steps forward and begins to run
through an aria about the dreadful price he has paid for power, and how his support is cruelty, and
his iron grip that of fear.
Daimon says "His voice has excellent vibrato, and a very rich tone. Too bad it's being wasted on
this. Maybe he's young."
Zebina nods, and gets distracted off into the music for about a minute. She listens intently, and
then says, 'What? You think? I think it's very nice. Powerful themes."
Daimon says "Power and cruelty and fear. There's enough of that in the world without needing
to sing about it. The piece is decent, though."
Zebina mmms.
Zebina gets up, moves over a few seats, sits down with one seat separating her and Daimon.
"Sorry. I was having trouble hearing, and besides, I don't think the people on stage want to listen."
Zebina says "Now, you were saying?"
Daimon says "I was just ranting and raving about there being enough fear in the world without
needing an aria to it, more or less."
Zebina says "I don't think it's a paean, more of a cautionary thing."
Outside the Opera House, Sarah S. says "I don't believe I have Pat's number with me. Is there
anything we could do here, do you think?"
Daimon says "Hmmmm maybe. You could be right."
Daimon shrugs in a vague sort of way.
Zebina smiles. "So, you're not working here. Are you a musician?"
Daimon says "Sometimes, in my off hours. I played bass in a jazz band out on the West Coast for
a while called 'Solid Food' - you don't wanna know. Actually, I do some stage work, and some
writing. More stage work now a days."
Zebina nods. "An actor, then?"
Outside the Opera House, Hubert fumbles in his pockets, then shakes his head. "Unless you can
look inside now."
Daimon says "Not quite, unless my agent has something to say about it. No, I do stand up."
Zebina blinks. "Stand up?"
Daimon says "Comedian? I'm a stand-up comedian."
Zebina is enlightened. "Oh, I understand. Like Lenny Bruce and George Carlin."
Outside the Opera House, Sarah S. says "I suppose we could try. I'm not familiar with these
things."
Daimon says "Quite a bit like that, yeah. Although my income is largely supplemented with script
work."
Zebina nods. "Would I have heard of you?"
Daimon says "Maybe, I was on Leno a few weeks ago."
Zebina says "I don't watch much TV, I'm afraid."
Daimon says "Probably safer for your brain that way."
Daimon grins.
Zebina thinks back. "No, I don't recall. Maybe I've heard your name?"
Daimon holds out a hand. "Lightner. Daimon Lightner."
Outside the Opera House, Hubert says "Which things?"
Zebina shakes. "Elizabeth Bradley. Please to meet you."
Outside the Opera House, Sarah S. gestures toward the Opera House. "That, really. Though I
suppose there's nothing wrong with trying doors and being persistent."
Zebina says "Although I'm afraid I still haven't heard your name until today. I'm sorry."
Daimon grins. "Actually, it's a bit of a relief."
Zebina says "Oh? Troubles?"
Daimon says "No, I just like the feeling of knowing someone who has no idea what I do. It's a big
relief.""
Zebina looks a touch puzzled, but nods. "All right. So I shouldn't ask for an autograph, then?"
Outside the Opera House, Hubert looks in the direction Sarah gestures. "Prefer to know what
or who I'm looking for first."
The bass finishes his aria. He steps back, and a woman who is clearly the heroine of the piece
steps forward to sing a short piece, where she agonises over whether or not she should leave her
father and flee with her lover. Several other young women in the chorus eye her with the looks
of those who wish they were singing the heroine.
Daimon says "If you want one I'll give you one."
Outside the Opera House, Sarah S. says "Descriptions may not be current. Such things do
change."
Daimon says "I vote she should leave her father and flee with her lover. Or else she'll end up
marrying the nice boy down the street and a houseful of kids and a killer mortgage on that
townhouse in the downtown area."
Zebina says "That's all right. I think I've already gotten your opinion of the opera. An autograph
is sort of..." she waves her hands in a sort of nondescript way, "by comparison."
Outside the Opera House, Hubert says "Somewhere to start."
Daimon says "Ah yes. Why have an autograph when I can charm you with my wonderful
personality?""
Daimon grins in sort of a half-assed sort of way.
Outside the Opera House, Sarah S. blinks once or twice, processing that. "This is somewhere to
start."
Zebina laughs. "But isn't that what comedians are supposed to be good at?"
Daimon says "I would hope so. I'd be a failure if I wasn't a charming bastard."
Outside the Opera House, Hubert says "A description is somewhere to start. This is probably
breaking and entering, or trespassing."
Daimon leans back in his seat, and brushes some of the hair out of his face.
Zebina smiles a bit, leans back, and enjoys the singing a bit more.
Outside the Opera House, Sarah S. says "Those are bad?"
"They aren't bad," Daimon says, commenting on the singing. "They'll have a good opening and
get decent reviews."
The man with the toupee waves for the soprano to fall silent. He then sets the chorus to working
through a large-scale piece again.
Outside the Opera House, Hubert says "Humans don't like it. Can cause trouble."
Daimon sighs, and turns to Elizabeth. "Hey, would you like to go out and get a drink?"
Outside the Opera House, Sarah S. says "Ah. I suppose we should avoid it, then."
Zebina says "A drink?"
Outside the Opera House, Hubert says "Going to phone Eduardo to find the Mercurian."
Daimon says "You know, like a beer or something. There are probably a few bars right around
the corner."
Outside the Opera House, Sarah S. says "All right. Shall I wait out front? There's always the
chance that something might walk by."
Outside the Opera House, Hubert says "Good idea."
Outside the Opera House, Hubert wanders in search of a pay phone.
Zebina says "I don't know.. I'm supposed to get back to the hangar tonight and get some more
paperwork done..." she sighs a bit, and listens to her Ofanite nature, "Sure. But I'll have
something non-alcoholic if you don't mind."
Outside the Opera House, Sarah S. wanders in front of the building.
Outside the building, the streetlamps lay halos of light along the pavement. The odd person
wanders by.
You say "Sarah, make a Per roll."
Daimon says "Non-alcoholic is fine. I'm just looking for a more personable enviroment."
Zebina says "I can always come back tomorrow and watch them do the dress rehearsal."
Daimon says "Sure."
<
You say "Sarah, you notice a guy down the street, hanging back in the shadow of a house. He
looks as if he's watching the Opera House himself."
<
You say "He's a thuggish-looking type with a squat build, ripped leathers, and dark hair in a
ponytail. Doesn't seem to have noticed you in particular."
Sarah S. stations herself outside the Opera House, doing her best to look as if she's settling in for
a long, dull wait for someone inside.
Zebina nods to Daimon, and gets up, straightening her jacket.
Daimon stands up, and brushes himself off. "After you.." he says, mostly because Elizabeth is
ahead of him in the aisle.
The singing of the chorus follows them as they leave.
Outside the Opera House, Demiurge says "Hubert finds a pay phone. What number is he ringing?"
Daimon wanders a way out to the stage door, where he came in.
It's still the same podgy guy on the door. He opens it for Daimon and Zebina to leave.
Zebina walks ahead of Daimon for a bit, straight to the same door, even though she didn't come
in that way.
Daimon says "I'm new in town, so this is going to be a bit of an adventure."
In the phone booth, Hubert calls Eduardo's desk, then home, then the station to see if he's checked
in/on assignment, in that order, leaving a message if applicable.
Zebina says "Hmm? Oh."
Zebina thinks. "Most of the bars I know are around the airport."
Zebina says "But there are probably a couple of decent ones around here. Any particular type?"
In the phone booth, Demiurge says "The station says that he's out on an assignment, and they're
not sure when he'll be reporting back in."
Daimon says "Just someplace sort of small, with no karaoke."
Zebina laughs.
Zebina says "Okay."
Zebina says "Let's see, small, no Karaoke."
Zebina thinks about it.
<
Zebina says "Nothing comes particular to mind."
Daimon says "Well, then we go on an adventure."
Daimon grins in a friendly sort of way.
Zebina grins back.
Daimon pages: Does the role come with say, a hotel room? Or should I call for one.
Daimon starts heading toward the main street, being Captain Oblivious.
You paged Daimon with 'You have to book your own hotel rooms. :)'.
Daimon pages: Okay, what time is it?
In the phone booth, Hubert leaves messages then, and tries to remember if he has any idea where
Terethel is can be found.
Demiurge requests that all three of Daimon, Zebina, and Chephirah make Perception rolls.
<
<
Daimon says "Why, I'm PERCEPTIVE!"
<
In the phone booth, Demiurge says "Unfortunately, I don't think that Eduardo passed on his
address. He mentioned the guy was a civic architect in his role, name Terence Mubin. You could
try the phone directory."
<
In the phone booth, Hubert makes use of the yellow pages, and then the white pages.
You say "Okay. Sarah, you notice a couple of people coming round the corner, but don't
recognise them at this distance."
You say "Zebina, you fail to notice any skulkers."
You say "Daimon, you notice two skulkers. One a woman (Sarah) loitering, the other a thug-type
in ripped leathers and dark ponytail loitering separately in a more hidden way."
Daimon says "Hmmm. Resonate on them."
Outside the Opera House, Demiurge says "You find work and home numbers for this guy."
You say "Do the roll thing."
Daimon says "Chick, then guy."
<
<
Daimon says "I get exactly jack."
You say "You fail on both. Admittedly, it was at a distance."
In the phone booth, Hubert gives him a call at work and then at home. (While he doesn't expect
him to be at work, he's being thorough.)
Daimon says "Is there a phone booth in front of the opera house, or anywhere in eyesight?"
You say "There's a phone number a short way down the road, but some guy's using it."
Daimon says "Does it have a phone book?"
In the phone booth, Demiurge says "No answer at work."
You say "Looks as if it might have."
Sarah S. continues to loiter, looking around at passersby and occasionally checking her watch.
Daimon says to Elizabeth, "Well, I have to make a phone call before we go on our Adventure into
the Wilds of DC at Night - which might be dangerous. Do you mind?"
Zebina says "Not at all."
In the phone booth, Demiurge says "On the phone number, it picks up after about five rings. A
hassled-sounding voice says, "Hello there. This is Terence Mubin. Can I help you?""
Daimon walks over to the phone booth.
Daimon pretends to ignore the woman and the guy, committing them to memory.
You say "Inside the phone booth is a rumpled-looking man, busy with the phone. (Yes, it's
Hubert.)"
Zebina digs around in her jacket, pulling out a somewhat battered looking cellphone. "Here, you
can use this if that phone's busy. Local call, yes?
Daimon stuffs his hands in his pockets, and waits.
Daimon says "Yeah, let me just grab around this guy to snag the phone book. Thanks."
Daimon does some rather rude things with muttering 'excuse me's and trying to snag said phone
book.
Hubert turns, partially, to look at Daimon. "Hello?" he says into the phone. "Yes. I work with
Eduardo."
Daimon says "I just wanna borrow the phone book for a minute, man. That okay?"
In the phone booth, Demiurge says "There is a pause. "You're one of his associates, on, um, the
bright side, like?""
Zebina wraps her arms around herself a bit and taptaptaps her foot on the pavement, seemingly
impatient to move along.
Daimon does some waving of the cellphone and manuevering to grab said phone book.
Daimon grins a lame grin at Elizabeth.
You say "Given how close Hubert and Zebina are, they probably recognise each other."
Zebina gives a little wave, which could be to either Hubert of Daimon, depending on how you
want to look at it.
Hubert squeezes partially out of the booth, stretching the cord. "Yes," he says into the phone. He
peers, puzzledly, at Zebina. "I'm outside the opera house. Do you have a description?"
Daimon makes a mad dash for the phone book, and hopefully comes away with it.
In the phone booth, Demiurge says "Oh, right, you mean the Calabite of the Game? Thuggish guy.
Brown hair in a ponytail. He was wearing leathers. Name's Kushiel."
The phone book comes out to the full length of its chain, which isn't much.
Daimon tries bending around the guy in the phone booth, looking for the number to the Holiday
Inn.
Zebina taps a bit more.
Daimon frantically looks for the number, to get moving.
You paged Daimon with 'You hear the odd snatch of conversation through the receiver. "...ite of
the.. ponytail. He was .. iel."'.
Hubert grunts. He asks the person on the other end of the phone, "Where did you see him?"
Daimon looks back over his shoulder.
Daimon mouths something and then keep looking in the phone book.
Sarah S. peers toward the cluster around the phone booth, from time to time, and settles back to
looking bored.
Zebina says "Mr. Lightner, you might call information instead. It's a free call with my service."
In the phone booth, Demiurge says "There's a pause, then the man on the other end says,
"Hanging round In the phone booth. Like I told your friends, I figure he's after a Renegade, and
may have friends with him.""
Daimon says "Oh. Duh."
Daimon leans out, and looks momentarily incredibly stupid.
You paged Daimon with 'You hear, "..anging round outside.. told your friends, I .. after a Rene..
with him."'.
Daimon says "Thanks."
You paged Eslin with 'You probably recognise Zebina, if you're looking hard.'.
Daimon gives a really weird look to the guy in the phone booth, then dials information.
Zebina sighs a bit.
Daimon holds the phone between his shoulder and his ear, fishing around in his pocket for a
smoke and the associated lighter. He leaves the harmonica IN the pocket.
Hubert says, to the phone, "Alright. A team, do you think?"
In the phone booth, Demiurge says "The voice says, thoughtfully, "Well, those guys seem to head
round in groups. Just like our own dear Triads of Judgement. I figure he's got friends, yes.""
You paged Daimon with 'You hear, ".. those guys seem .. our own dear Tri.. figure he's got..."'.
Daimon pages: Okay, can I call a Holiday Inn yet? :)
You paged Daimon with 'Sure. You get the local Holiday Inn.'.
Daimon pages: Too much plot, not enough sex. Let's get movin. :)
Daimon pages: I.... book a room! For me! For a few days.
Hubert peers at Zebina again. "We better find out what he wants, then," he tells the phone.
"Thank you."
Zebina watches Daimon take his time with an information call. "Is there a problem with my phone,
Mr. Lightner?"
Daimon says "No, I'm just trying to make a reservation. I'll be done in a second. I'm really sorry
this is taking so long."
Zebina says "Ah, all right."
You paged Hubert with 'You hear Daimon booking a room, for a few days.'.
You paged Daimon with 'Certainly, sir.'.
You paged Daimon with 'Glad to oblige.'.
When all is done, Daimon hands the phone back to Zebina. "Thanks. The magic of Visa has
shown me the way once again."
Zebina flicks the phone shut, and disappears it into a pocket.
Zebina says "Sure. Now, about that drink."
Daimon gestures down the street.
Daimon says "Off to Adventure, I believe."
Zebina walks off with Daimon, laughing quietly. "Not too much Adventure, I hope."
<
Zebina says "But perhaps I might remember a suitable bar, if you'll follow me this way."
Zebina good God I just got a divine intervention for choosing a place to have a drink.
Daimon follows Elizabeth down the street, hands in pockets.
Daimon laughs at the irony. Kobal, my main man, watches us from above.
Hubert watches Zebina and Daimon head off before he hangs up his receiver.
Daimon strikes up conversation on the way about STUFF.
You say "Indeed, Daimon and Elizabeth find a simply wonderful place to drink, and avoid all
kerb-crawlers."
From afar, Hubert wonders if he knows Zebina's cell phone number. :)
Demiurge notes that the Mysterious Man is still watching from the shadows, Chephirah, though
he doesn't seem to be paying any particular attention to Daimon and Elizabeth.
Sarah S. oh, goodie
Hubert waits perhaps a quarter of an hour, lifts the phone receiver, and begins dialing another
number. Guess who? :)
Sarah S. waits. Patiently. While trying to look bored and impatient. :)
The guy in the ripped leathers emerges from the shadow. He begins to stalk across the road, in
Chephirah's vague direction.
Zebina blinks as her phone starts ringing.
Sarah S. adds looking at the guy in ripped leathers to her somewhat limited repertoire of recent
actions. She does rather more of this than she has of the rest.
Zebina digs it out of her pocket, flips the mouthpiece open. "Hello?"
Daimon blinks as well, because Zebina should be on a modem. :)
The thuggish-looking guy comes mooching across the road to halt near Chephirah, thrusting his
chin forward. "Waiting for someone, hon?"
Sarah S. takes a half-step away. "I don't believe we've met," she answers, with mingled distaste
and disapproval.
Zebina says into the phone, "This is she. May I ask who's calling?"
The man in leathers follows a half-step behind. "Yeah, right. So you're just standing here for the
good of your health, right? Right? Or you waiting for someone with a sense of humor? That it?"
Zebina speaks into the phone, "Yes, I heard. How can I help you?"
Daimon raises an eyebrow.
Sarah S. says "If I were, clearly I haven't found him yet. Is this any of your business?"
Zebina shrugs a little at Daimon.
The man shrugs at Sarah. "Figure a nice girl like you shouldn't be hanging out in the dark like
this." He gets a half-step closer. "Bad things can happen."
Zebina speaks into the phone, "No, not really. I was at the opera house, but I'm walking out for
a drink with someone. I should be back at the hangar later tonight. Is it urgent, or could we talk
then?"
<
Sarah S. straightens, looking huffy and otherwise declining to play her assigned role in this
confrontation. "Girl? I /beg/ your pardon?"
Hubert pages: Iffy. 6 when he needs an 8 and a minimal result. :)
Zebina says into the phone, looking puzzled, "All right."
Long distance to Hubert: Demiurge assumes you were resonating for truth? She believes she's
telling the truth. :)
Daimon says "Wassup?"
Hubert peers out into the dark, trying to distinguish the figures in front of the opera house.
Zebina says "I'm not sure. Something business related, but I was just asked to hold."
The bulky man says, to Sarah, "Who you waiting for, girlie? Come on now, they say confession
is good for you."
Hubert pages: Nope. I'm trying to notice Sarah getting menaced. I think I see someone out there
talking to her, but I have very little idea who he is or what about. :)
Daimon says "Ah ha."
Long distance to Hubert: Demiurge thinks you just see the outlines of the figures. You might pick
up that the man is sort of pushing, body-space-wise.
Zebina keeps walking, waiting for the voice to come back on her cellphone.
Daimon says "Well, if you have to work, I can take a rain check."
Sarah S. replies, "They also say washing every week or so is good for you. Have you considered
trying it?"
Zebina says "Hmm? Well, unless it's an emergency charter or something I don't think..."
The man grunts, "Bitch," and reaches out to grab Sarah by the shoulder.
<
Daimon says "Okay, well, cool."
You paged Sarah with 'Make a dodge roll?'.
Sarah S. pages: Why do I think that roll looks bad? :)
<
Zebina nods, says into the phone. "All right. Where would you prefer to meet if that happens?"
Despite Sarah's attempt to wriggle away, the bulky man gets a hold on her shoulder. He leans his
face into hers. His breath smells bad, overlaid with far too much peppermint.
Zebina blinks again, then hangs up. "Mmm. That was a bit odd."
Zebina puts the phone back into her pocket.
Hubert hangs up the phone, and squeezes out of the booth.
Daimon says "Yeah? Can you share, or is it just business?"
The man grunts, at Sarah, "Talk. I figure you have to be with them. Where are they hiding?"
Zebina says "Business. He's supposed to call back."
Daimon nods.
Daimon resonates on Zebina.
Hubert ambles toward the confrontation, not particularly obviously, but probably not entirely
inobviously either.
Sarah S. coughs, and turns her face away. "Them, sir? Really. How vague."
You paged Daimon with 'Roll. :)'.
<
Daimon pages: I know exactly jack. HAH!
You paged Daimon with 'Life can be hard for Lilims. :)'.
Daimon pages: Especially this one. But I'm cute.
Daimon furrows his brow, and keeps walking, trying to make more idle conversation.
The man gives Sarah a shake. He's squat, with ripped leathers, and a ponytail that would probably
be brown in a better light. "C'mon, girlie. Talk. You don't want me to get the Bal in on you."
You paged Sarah with 'It's a tooth-rattling sort of shake.'.
Zebina thinks it's another block or so to the bar.
Zebina looks up at it. "This should do."
Daimon shoves his hands in his pockets.
Daimon says "Looks good to me."
The man appears not to have noticed Hubert.
Zebina prods the door open, walks inside.
Daimon follows Elizabeth into the bar.
Sarah S. blinks, shaken; regains some measure of balance. "Really? Oh. I suppose not." And aims
a fist up at his jaw.
You paged Sarah with 'Roll. ;)'.
From afar, Sarah S. . o O ( Oh, good, I *can* hit him. ) :)
<
Zebina looks around. "My, this looks surprisingly nice."
Sarah S. drat :)
Daimon says "Not bad. I'm impressed. Do you live around here?"
Zebina figures for a 111, they've got everything she ever liked on the menu. Even cheese fries. :)
Heavenly cheese fries. :)
The bulky man jerks his chin aside, and the fist goes whizzing past. He takes a step towards the
wall, clearly with an intention of bouncing Sarah into it a few times.
Demiurge nods to Zebina. :)
Zebina says "Sort of. I use Washington as a hub. It's a good place for doing business. It's not quite
as well located as, say, Athens, but it's easier to get contracts and the like."
Zebina looks about. "Bar, or table?"
Daimon says "Table is fine."
Zebina nods.
Zebina asks the hostess for a table, and a couple of menus.
Hubert fumbles in his rumpled trenchcoat, producing a wallet, which he flips open to display a
badge. "Police! Hold it, mister."
The man turns with a growl, still with his hand locked round Sarah's shoulder. "Get outta here,
cop. I'm just having a quiet little talk with my girl here."
Zebina looks over the menu. "Oh, this will do very nicely."
Zebina orders a cup of the chowder, and a small caesar salad.
Zebina says "And, ah, here we are."
Daimon thinks, this being the perfect bar, he'll order a pint of Sam Adams Draft off tap and a plate
of cheese fries.
Zebina orders a glass of beer, imported from New Zealand, of course.
Daimon says "And so we are."
Daimon grins a charming care-be-gone grin.
Zebina smiles back pleasantly. "So we are. And I'm still not precisely sure how that happened, but
that's all right."
Daimon says "We were talking about music. I figured we would have interrupted the rehersal, so
we relocated to a better location. A much better location, I may add."
Hubert doesn't take his eyes off the man. "That right, miss?"
Zebina nods. "It is nice. I hadn't been in here before. I think I probably passed it once or twice
once before, though."
Sarah S. reaches up for the man's wrist. "I really don't think so."
Daimon says "So anyway, what is it you do?"
Zebina 's mouth gives a little uptick. "Ah, I was beginning to wonder if you were going to ask."
Zebina says "I'm a charter pilot."
Daimon says "I take it you see the world, then."
Zebina says "Fair bit, yes."
The man grunts, "Hell with this," and tosses Sarah towards Hubert.
<
Daimon says "Anywhere interesting?"
Zebina says "Depends on what you consider interesting."
Zebina says "I've seen a lot of airports."
Zebina smiles.
Daimon grins. "I mean someplace interesting outside of airports.
Zebina says "Some really pretty ones, too. Well, maybe not the airports themselves, but some of
the locations are stunning."
Zebina says "There's this one little strip down in Peru that you'd swear has a left turn mid-runway.
If you don't slow down enough on landing, you run right off a cliff, across the valley, and into a
mountain."
Daimon says "I tend to see alot of LA traffic jams. I assure you, those aren't stunning."
Zebina says "Gorgeous view, though."
Zebina says "Sometimes you even see a condor or two on approach."
Daimon says "Especially when you're heading into the mountain."
Zebina smiles. "That part I wouldn't know."
Daimon says "Me, you have to strap me down to the seat in a plane. I'm just not fond of airlines."
Zebina says "Really? That's too bad."
Sarah S. stumbles, catching herself or at the very least trying to, to one side of Hubert; she picks
herself up and turns to face the man in leathers again.
Zebina says "Planes are quite wonderful, really. Marvelous machines, if you know what you're
doing."
The man flexes his fingers. "Come back, girlie. We haven't finished yet."
Daimon says "Well, I get to thinking, here I am, and I'm a pretty crazy guy, all things considering.
And there might be someone crazier in control of the plane. And maybe he gets to thinking, 'What
would it be like if I dive into the ground?'"
Daimon says "So I get nervous and drink alot of vodka on the flight."
Zebina looks slightly miffed. "Really, Mr. Lightner, I can assure you that I haven't ever met a
single pilot who was fixated on crashing."
Sarah S. says "I'm /quite/ sure of that."
Daimon says "I like to be able to see where I'm going, and if anyone is going to be a nut, I'd rather
it be me. Not that you would ever do that."
Daimon says "I didn't mean to be offensive."
The squat man lumbers towards Hubert and Sarah, though clearly targeting on Sarah, muscles
bulging under his leathers.
Zebina smiles. "That's all right. I do a lot of flying in the so called third world, and some of the
domestic airline pilots I know think I'm a little crazy for doing things like flying into dirt strips."
Sarah S. takes a brief moment to look about, perhaps for other witnesses.
Daimon says "See? That I couldn't do. I'd lose my little packet of peanuts all over the floor."
The street seems otherwise deserted, or at least nobody is in sight. Except, perhaps, Eduardo.
(Boy, isn't that convenient?)
Zebina says "It's not so bad, really. You just pay attention to the risks and know what your plane
can do."
Sarah S. smiles toward the man in leathers, almost kindly. "Actually, I do believe I might have
been looking for you."
Zebina says "And once you fly in and out of a place a few times, you get used to it."
Daimon says "Well, I'll leave the flying to you. You sound pretty damn confident."
Hubert frowns, stepping to one side. "That's enough. I'm going to have to ask you to come down
to the station with me."
The man growls, "Eat gasoline and die, cop." He lunges past Hubert, heading for Sarah.
Sarah S. sighs, "So impolite," and with all due foolishness or (over?)confidence prepares to meet
him head-on.
Daimon eats a cheese fry.
<
You paged Sarah S. with 'Dodge roll? :)'.
You say "So close, and yet so far..."
<
Eduardo pauses on the corner, just outside the cone of light from a streetlamp; a dark-skinned
man in the ubiqitous trenchcoat.
The man overestimages his lunge, and Sarah slips out of his grip as he clutches for her. He
stumbles a step, then turns, baring teeth that almost look pointed.
Eduardo mutters to himself. "If I was human I'd curse," the words too soft to carry even into the
streetlamps glow. He stares down the street, towards the incipient brawl, then starts to jog slowly
in that direction.
Zebina slips some habanero sauce (yes they have Melinda's Pepper Sauce here, if it's a Divine Bar,
perhaps one of Eli's tethers?) into her chowder, and takes a spoonful. "Mmm, delicious. Very
fresh clams."
Daimon says "It's quite a place. I'll have to remember it for next time I do shows here."
Zebina sips her beer. "Goodness, it's fresh. How did they do that?"
Sarah S. aims another punch, as he's been so kind as to come in range for, well, various relatively
subdued forms of mayhem.
Sarah S. pages: No claws. No claws. No messing with Symphony. Not yet anyway :)
<
Zebina says "I'd have sworn this stuff didn't travel well outside of fifty miles from Auckland."
Daimon says "I'm telling you, I'm impressed. So what do you do when you aren't flying?"
<
Zebina laughs a bit self-deprecatingly, "Customs forms."
Daimon laughs. "You fill out forms when you're not flying? Come on, you must have some
interests."
The man is taken squarely by Sarah's punch, and is jolted back a step. His hands work at his sides,
and he growls in his throat before lunging for her with a swinging cuff.
<
Zebina says "Blue Sky claims we'll get your cargo to its destination faster than anyone, including
DHL and FedEx. The only way to do that is to get things through customs quickly."
Hubert reaches for his shoulder holster. "Stop, or I'll shoot!"
<
Daimon says "Well, I suppose. I don't deal with that much, really."
Daimon says "You've caught me on a subject in which I have no knowledge, surprisingly enough.
I'm impressed."
Zebina says "Oh, well, I have this old Lockheed Electra that I've been restoring. Same type of
plane that Amelia Earhardt flew. It's just about at the point where it's flyable. Beautiful old plane."
Daimon nods in a 'I know absolutely nothing but I'm listening' sort of way.
Zebina says "I'm planning on taking a vacation and flying it cross country when it's ready."
Daimon says "See? A vacation. Vacations are good for you. They keep your mind healthy."
You paged Sarah S. with 'That was a straight wallop. You're just sitting there blinking at the
pretty lights for a moment.'.
Zebina says "Should be fun. I plan to stop at some of the small regional airports, and then maybe
fly down to South America and visit around there. Depends on how much work I have to do."
Sarah S. echoes grunt and stumble, in her turn. Or, actually, rather more than stumble, hitting the
ground quite heavily and, well, staying there.
Eduardo calls out. "Hubert," his voice short, sound clipped - his own badge hauled out and a
nightstick in his other hand.
The squat man turns towards Hubert, and shows his teeth again. "Big cop got a big gun, has he?
Like playing with guns, do we?"
Daimon grins. "You should visit something other then airports."
You paged Sarah S. with 'Just take an artistic second to get your breath back? :)'.
Sarah S. pages: Or several. Ow. Ow ow. :)
Zebina laughs. "Well, down in South America there are some places where you really have to fly
in to get to see the local area at all."
Zebina says "I used to do a fair bit of sailing when I was younger, but not so much these days.
Sailing was a first love, but flying's a stronger one."
Daimon says "Do you do archeology like trips? Hanging around ruins, that sort of thing? Or is
it monkey-spotting?"
Hubert assumes a standard firing stance, steadying the gun with his off-hand. "Don't move.
Eduardo, get his hands."
Zebina would like to sail around the world sometime, too.
The man's brows knot with tension.
<
Zebina says "Oh, sure, the sights are great. The people too, really."
Daimon says "That would be nice, but I couldn't do it. I'm an attention whore. I'd go nuts with
just myself. I mean, I would never get away."
You say "Everyone make a perception roll, please. Daimon and Zebina too."
Daimon says "Exploring would be cool, but solitude... I couldn't do it. I'm just not that amusing
to myself and they'd have to fish me out half mad."
<
<
Long distance to Hubert: Demiurge figures you take some minor damage to hands and get the
flash in your face, so you're blind for ten seconds or so. Training makes you duck in time to avoid
the worst.
<
Sarah S. . o O ( blind! )
Zebina smiles. "It's not so much the solitude I like as the sense of travel. You wake up every day
in a new town or a new part of the world. You can *feel* yourself moving, seeing new things."
Hubert staggers back, throwing an arm in front of his face, as his gun spontaneously detonates.
Zebina says "You look around and there's a bird you haven't ever seen before, or people you've
never met."
Daimon says "I move from town to town on tour, but I don't think that's the same thing. Me, I'm
a people person."
Zebina says "It's really very exiting."
Daimon says "I bet."
You say "Daimon, something Symphonically disturbing happened back towards the Opera House.
Zebina, you notice nothing."
Daimon grins.
<
Daimon looks back over his shoulder toward the Opera House.
Zebina blinks. "Mmm? Is something wrong?"
Daimon says "No, I thought I heard something."
You say "Eduardo, you realise something Symphonic just happened then. Sarah, you kind of
figure it must have been Symphonic, but your ears are still ringing."
Zebina says "Well the jukebox is that way..."
Daimon says "No, no, it was outside."
The man in leathers snickers in his throat, and lumbers towards the sprawled Sarah.
Daimon waves a hand. "Probably nothing."
Zebina says "It is Washington. You never know, although this is a nice neighborhood. Should we
step outside and have a look?"
Daimon says "I'd like to pay the check first, if we could."
Daimon fishes around for his wallet, and whips out an American Express.
Daimon waves down the waitress.
Zebina says "Ah, that one I recognize. Have you ever met Jerry Seinfield?"
Daimon says "Yeah, once."
Eduardo grabs for the punk's hands, dumping his badge back onto its cord as he does so.
Sarah S. pushes herself to roll away, and starts to pick herself up, unsteadily.
From afar, Hubert is positive something Symphonic happened there, since he's got positive ID on
the guy. Can I instead try to make an Intelligence roll to realize he's a Calabim?
You paged Hubert with 'Sounds fair.'.
<
You paged Hubert with 'That can only have been .. a Calabite!'.
From afar, Hubert's int is 8. That seems pretty conclusive. :)
The punk grunts, and turns to swing a ham-like fist at Eduardo.
<
Zebina says "I have to ask, does he act that way in real life, too?"
Daimon says "A bit. Mostly, with all comedians, it's sort of an exaggerated act."
Zebina says "So you're more, ah, 'you' onstage?"
Zebina finishes her soup and takes a few bites of salad while the waitress is off running the card.
Daimon says "I'm more obnoxious, sure. It's the stage."
Zebina says "Hmmm."
Daimon says "Of course, all the world is a stage, as the Bard said."
Hubert shakes his head from side to side, to clear it. He says something under his breath.
<
The punk is snagged by Eduardo, who gets a good grab on one wrist, though he manages to plant
a blow in Eduardo's ribs.
Hubert pages: Time for the ethereal song of harmony. :) One Essence, only on the Calabite.
Long distance to Hubert: Demiurge nods. Roll. :)
<
Eduardo's hands close on the punk's wrists, snapping shut even as he takes a elbow to his gut;
wind whistling from him.
The punk's eyes suddenly go flat, seeming to lose their violence, and his face drains of emotion.
He stands quietly in Eduardo's grasp, no longer struggling.
You say "Perception roll, please, everyone."
<
You paged Hubert with 'That lasts a whole minute. :)'.
<
Zebina <-- perceptionless tonight.
From afar, Hubert knows. :)
<
You say "Zebina, you see nothing. Daimon, something made a very tiny "tink"."
<
You say "Eduardo, you realise something Symphonic just came from Hubert's direction."
Daimon looks back over his shoulder again.
You say "Sarah, you realise that Hubert just let off a Song."
Zebina asks, "Another something, Mr. Lightner?"
The punk says, calmly, "Ya really shouldn't have started this."
Sarah S. straightens up, slowly. "Well. Thank you."
Daimon says "Yeah."
Daimon furrows his brow.
Hubert says to Eduardo, "Subdue him fast, now. I don't think anything will hold him for long."
Eduardo nods, reaching behind his back and producing a set of cuffs as he starts to Mirandize the
creep. While doing so he takes the opportunity to resonate off him.
Hubert says "That won't work, Eduardo. He'll break them like he did my gun."
The punk says, "You cannot hold me," still with that eerie tone of calmness. He closes his eyes,
bowing his head.
<
You paged Eduardo with 'Boy, this guy is mean. He's a loyal and faithful bruiser, noble in that his
code of honour keeps him serving Asmodeus, but he's also a vile thug who enjoys stomping
Renegades who tried to escape from Hell very messily.'.
<
Sarah S. finds a convenient wall to lean against. "He has friends about."
Daimon gets his AmEx card and shoves it into his wallet.
Zebina wipes her mouth with a napkin.
The punk's skin seems to ripple, then his body falls away, vanishing as his Celestial self forms. A
grubby, bat-winged creature, horned and red-skinned and burly. Without making any attempt to
struggle, its wings unfurl.
Daimon says "Okay, ready to go outside?"
Eduardo shakes his head slightly, a grin that is in no measure either comforting or humorous
appearing on his lips. "My, punk. You're just the sort of scum my Lady likes me to deal with."
Even as he speaks he hefts his nightstick, swinging it in an arc more akin to a chop with a sword
than a scientific application of a PR24 - stroke aimed at the demon's head.
Daimon laughs.
Zebina stands up, adjusts her jacket, nods. "Sure."
You say "Major Symphonic disturbance. Perception rolls, please."
Zebina looks around. "I'll definitely have to come back here, though."
<
<
<
<
<
You say "Okay. At ground zero, everyone realises that this demon just took Celestial form.
Daimon, you realise something noisy just happened at the Opera House. Zebina, you realise
someone just took Celestial Form, up by the Opera House."
<
Daimon blinks in surprise, and gets up from the table.
The demon cries out in pain as Eduardo's nightstick slams into it, and goes down on its knees a
moment: then its wings unfurl again, and it jumps into flight, an ungainly, nasty move.
Daimon heads outside.
Zebina follows Daimon, noting Daimon's reaction just in tune with the disturbance.
Eduardo pages: Rar. Me buff Mele man
Zebina calls, "Daimon, wait up. What's the rush?"
Daimon looks at Elizabeth, then makes a big show of looking around.
Daimon says "I swear I heard something."
Long distance to Eduardo: Demiurge grins.
Zebina says "That's three somethings you've heard."
Zebina looks around the restaurant at the patrons, who seem undisturbed.
Daimon says "Maybe I'm hallucinating wildly."
Zebina smiles. "Do you hallucinate often?"
The demon's wings claw at the air as it begins to gain height, an ugly figure against the cloudy
night sky.
Daimon says "No, not really. Not without some fun happy help."
Zebina says "All right."
Zebina says "Well let's go outside and have a look round, then."
Daimon starts walking in a slow sort of looking around way to the Opera House.
Zebina says "From up that way?"
Daimon says "I think so. I'm not entirely sure."
Zebina says "Perhaps we should call the police?"
Daimon says "Maybe. What if it's nothing? Then we've called them for nothing at all."
From afar, Eduardo spends 2 points of Essence on NC Wings.
<
Zebina says "Walk back and have a look?"
Daimon says "Sure. Sounds good to me."
Long distance to Eduardo: Demiurge grins. Now pose the great dark wings and your takeoff. :)
Zebina laughs. "You're a funny Yank."
Daimon gets out another cigarette and lights it in a thoughtful, yet nervous way.
Daimon says "Why, thank you. I try."
Zebina says "Most Americans don't seem to want to get involved. Especially ones from big cities."
You say "Perception roll, please, all."
<
<
Zebina is really completely oblivious tonight. Obviously Daimon is stealing the essence from her
die rolls.
Eduardo crouches a moment, and then there is a rippingsounds as massive, dark feathered wings
unfurl from his back; black and ominous as they span the street and he launches himself into the
air after the demon.
You say "Daimon, someone just used a Song down by the Opera House. Zebina, duh."
Hubert looks at Eduardo and then up at the rising demon. He sighs.
You say "I figure everyone else just saw it."
Zebina looks cute and oblivious, then.
Daimon walks faster toward the Opera House.
The demon looks back. It gives a horrible, gurgling groan as it sees the dark-winged pursuer, and
tries for more height, arcing towards a nearby building.
Eduardo brandishes his nightstick in a manner that suggests he'd far, far rather have a much larger
blade in his hand; an archaic grip totally out of place in the current world.
Zebina keeps pace with a surprising amount of ease.
Daimon mouths something.
Zebina says "Did you hear it again?"
Daimon says "Something really weird."
Zebina peers around, obviously curious but somewhat confused.
Hubert makes his way to Sarah. "Hurt?"
Sarah S. looks toward Hubert. "Go to help, or wait for whatever might have heard?"
The demon is fast, but Eduardo is gaining on it. It alters its course, diving towards the wall of a
multistorey carpark.
Eduardo folds his wings, dropping in a predator's stoop towards the demon; aiming to catch it
before it reaches the dubious sanctuary of the car park.
From afar, Eduardo can just see what using that hands of flame thing in there would do. Oh god.
Hubert says "Think we'd better wait. And get out of sight."
Long distance to Eduardo: Demiurge is so tempted...
The demon arcs through the wall, as Eduardo's nightstick passes through it without affecting it.
It turns to jeer, mockingly.
Sarah S. gives a longing glance upward, and sighs. "Pity. It knows what we look like."
Eduardo's own grin widens, the classic 'oh yeah?' of the fighter. He dumps the stick, letting it
tumble to the ground below even as his hands become enveloped in a nimbus of green flame. "I
mentioned who my Lady was, didn't I?" he says.
The demon screams something abominable, and ducks _through_ the bonnet of a car as it tries
to evade Eduardo's hands.
Hubert says "So will everyone else if we don't move. Come on." He puts his abraded hands into
his pockets and begins to shuffle off.
<
Zebina heard the scream perhaps?
Sarah S. sighs; recovers her glasses, dusts herself off, and follows after Hubert.
Eduardo rolls around the car, narrowly avoiding seting it, too, alight. He comments. "Scared?"
his face harsh in the fluorescent's white glare.
You say "Everyone can have heard the scream."
Zebina looks around. "What in God's name was *that*?"
The demon snarls, "You will writhe at the hands of my Master!" and ducks right _through_ the
floor. Going down.
Daimon says "We can either investigate or run. Your choice."
Long distance to Eduardo: Demiurge figures that as it can still pass through solid matter for
another minute, it can probably escape Eduardo.
You paged Eduardo with 'Thus allowing us both to head off, as he spends a while hunting it?'.
Eduardo pages: Sounds cool.
Hubert makes his way to the phone booth, and pauses. "I should call."
---