Sephar blinks as his private number rings his own circuits by the rat cage in the lab... and he picks it up by remote...
Pat says "Sephar."
Sephar murmurs sleepily, with a touch of static, "Oh. Hi, Pat. Good morning."
Pat says "It's four in the afternoon. Are you occupied?"
Pat . o O ( Those weird Lightning Servitors and their odd hours. )
Sephar blinks, chuckles, checks chron, "Nope. Not occupied at all."
Sephar . o O ( Yeesh... waking at the crack of noon! )
Pat says "I'd like to talk, if you would. Things impend."
Sephar says "Sure."
Sephar says "I'll be right by, then."
Pat says "Thank you."
Sephar hangs up thoughtfully.
Pat sets down the handset, looking over sheets of jotted notes.
Sephar then noses open his cage door and trots over to a window, picks up a passing pigeon and takes the pigeon Pat-wards, the mouse goes back to it's cage and closes the door again.
Sephar -pigeon wings its way across the city and settles by Pat's, finds a perch by the window and occupies Pat's TV... "Hi." says the TV...
Sephar says "What's up?"
Pat says "Hello, Sephar." He walks over to the window, laying a breadcrust on the sill and moving to sit down on the couch near the television. "How was the flight?"
Sepharpigeon pecks at the crust, feathers ruffling and then settling smooth. "Nice," says the TV, "especially after the lab. Good to focus on further away things."
Pat nods. "Things are going to be happening, Sephar. Very soon."
Sephar 's pigeon bobs, "Yes. Boss said so, too... said it's likely I'll be in a combat situation in the next three days, very high percentage chance."
Pat says "You've spoken with Jean?"
Sephar's pigeon bobs again, "Yeah. He likes his reports thorough."
Pat says "I'm not surprised. Mine was much the same."
Sephar says "Seems that I'm a target at the moment becuase of the Focal's data grab."
Pat says "What happened there? I've only heard references."
Sephar 's pigeon dances for a moment in hesitation, "Well, Liz knew about the Focal's group and we thought it would be useful to do *something* to them. I'd gone in just to maybe jigger accounts or pull some banking tricks... but there was a Vapula trap in their main machine..."
Pat swallows a mouthful of coffee. "That couldn't have been pleasant. I take it the way out was on the destructive side?"
Sephar 's TV hisses static for a moment, at the memory, "Liz and Daimon pulled me out by half destroying the machine, and I kinda reflexively dug as deeply as I could and pulled as much deep data with me as I could."
Sephar's pigeon bobs and assent at Pat's statement.
Pat nods. "And they'd like it back.
Sephar shakes its pigeon head as the TV says, "I think they probably know I balled up all the data and tossed it Heaven-wards, so they know they can't have it back."
Pat says "Revenge, then?"
Sephar says "Boss says it's a good chance they'll try good, old, hell-bent vengeance instead."
Sephar says "Yeah."
Sephar says "Not in so many words."
Sephar says "But, yeah."
Sephar says "Three days is the prime time, after that they'll likely give up."
Sephar says "And pull stakes, so I need to be around for them to kinda try for and around to follow them back or something."
Pat narrows his eyes. "You're not taking up a career as bait, are you Sephar?"
Sephar 's TV laughs, "Was wondering if I should be in a goat or something, instead."
Sephar says "Hopefully not."
Pat says "I'd have to object to my television being sacrificed. Three days, you said?"
Sephar bobs, "For highst probability of being in a fight."
Pat nods. "Chances are, my fellows will have arrived by then."
Sephar 's screen swirls thoughtfully then fixes, "Fellows?"
Pat nods. "Dominic has assigned a Triad to this area. They will be making contact with me."
Sephar 's pigeon blinks and the voice fom the TV is uncertain, "Is that bad? Or good? And are they combat capable?"
Pat says "I don't know what purpose they have been assigned to. But I can assure you of combat capability."
Sephar thinks about it for a bit and then the pigeon settles, "Keen, then. I'd like to meet them if that's possible?"
Pat says "I intended it. That's part of what I wanted to speak of."
Sephar's pigeon nods and cocks its head attentively.
Pat says "I'm concerned about the gravity of the situation."
Sephar 's TV swirls slowly. "Yes?"
Pat exhales. "Collectively, we are about to be visited by the eyes and hands of the Inquisition. Dominique did not see fit to inform me of their mission, although I assume they will do so themselves. I have concerns about the others, namely their reaction to this information."
Sephar murmurs, "Daimon."
Pat says "Yes."
Sephar 's TV swirls slowly, and the neutral voice says, "But she said he was okay... is there anything you think we can do to help them work with the triad?"
Pat says "I believe that's my purpose here."
Pat says "However."
Sephar's pigeon bobs gently.
Pat says "Daimon may panic. Worse yet, one of the others may overreact. The Inquisition has an undeserved reputation."
Demiurge . o O ( The Inquisition is coming to town! Lock up your Creationers! )
Sephar. o O ( giggles a lot )
Sephar's TV murmurs, "Indeed."
arcangel . o O (And some Creationers like it...)
Aron . o O ( Oh goody. )
Pat says "Do you have any views, friend?"
Daimon . o O ( I'll protect you, Aron! )
Sarah dials Pat's cellphone, as she's corporeal by now.
Aron . o O ( Of course you will, Daimon. )
Pat's cellphone rings. He answers it quickly and a bit anxiously. "Hello?"
Pat . o O ( I am /not/ going to be tied to a bed this time. )
Sephar's pigeon dances quietly. The TV swirls in clouds of light and grey, silver, and Sephar waits
quietly as Pat's on the phone.
Sarah says "Pat? Good afternoon. This is Sarah. Am I interrupting?"
Pat sighs, relieved. "Sarah. Good afternoon. I'm speaking with Sephar at the moment."
Sarah says "Ah, I see. Is it private, or would the pair of you mind a bit more company?"
Pat looks at the nearest Sephar. "Any objections to a third?"
Sephar says "Not at all. More thoughts would be welcome."
Pat nods. He says, into the phone, "It's no trouble at all. Do you need directions?"
Sarah says "Directions would be most welcome, yes."
Pat gives Sarah the nearest Metro stop, and directions from that point.
Sarah scribbles these on her pocket notepad, gladly. "I'll be there shortly."
Pat says "We'll see you then."
Sarah hangs up, and does Metro-y things.
Sephar's color swirl a bit, "I think that they'll do okay if we could tell them why the triad is in the
area, but without a why, it really does leave things open to bad interpretations."
Pat hangs up the phone and leans against the arm of the couch. "That's the problem. I don't know
why, and I have no guarantees of knowing once they get here."
Sephar's pigeon bobs then, "Well, I guess we'll find out then."
Pat nods, sipping coffee. "They should be warned, though." He drains the mug, standing up and
walking to the kitchen half of the apartment. "Do you think that would be a feasible path? Warn
the others that there is no reason of yet?" He starts fixing a new pot of coffee.
Sephar says "I guess the question is will they worry much more than necessary if we do?"
Sephar says "Though it's fairer to give them all the data."
Sephar says "I mean, I don't like the fact that I might be hunted, but it's better to tell you and let
you deal with what you can deal with, fully informed, than to not tell you for fear of worrying
you. But then your nature makes that easy."
Pat scoops grounds. "They're not worried about the Inquisition at the moment. Because they
know nothing about it. Posit: The Triad is here for an unrelated purpose. We inform the others
of their imminent presence. Agitation ensues. Result? The Triad takes note, and redirects inquiry."
Sephar 's pigeon pecks a bit at the crust, toes wrapped about it.
Sephar's TV dryly says, "Yes. That seems the likely model."
Sephar says "Even if there is no reason for agitation. Do they do that on purpose, Pat?"
Pat nods, filling the water tank and turning the brewer on. "Make note of agitation? Absolutely.
There should be no reason to fear an inquiry."
Sephar's TV sighs a soft sigh of static.
Sarah knocks at the appropriate door.
Pat says "They have nothing but rumor and reputation to form view on, Sephar." At the knock,
he moves to the door and looks through the peephole. He opens the door with a faint smile.
"Sarah. Good evening."
Sarah answers the smile as she's let in. "Good evening, Pat." She glances around the apartment,
a few steps inside.
Sephar's pigeon bobs on Sarah's entry.
Sephar's TV runs color rainbow from top to bottom in a proxy of a bow, "Hi, Sarah."
Pat says "There's coffee brewing. It should be ready shortly."
Sarah curtseys toward the TV. "Hello - Sephar, I'd imagine? Thank you, Pat."
Pat nods, closing the door and moving back to prep another mug. "We've been discussing a bit
of a dilemma. Any input would be welcome."
Sarah says "If I can give any, I shall, gladly. Which dilemma?"
Pat says "Very shortly, a Triad will be arriving."
Pat says "I've not been told the subject of inquiry, and I've had no guarantees that I will be told.
I have, however, been instructed to assist them in any way required."
Sephar's pigeon pecks at a rather ragged bit of bread crust.
Sephar's TV murmurs quietly, "And mayhem may insue. Or at least we're afraid it might."
Sarah finds a seat, with whatever degree of caution is required. "I don't know that it's that much
of a disaster." Her cheer is faintly forced.
Pat's apartment is cluttered, not cataclysmic. "I think the main concern is overreaction."
Demiurge says "Please, everyone (that is, Pat, Sephar, Sarah) make a Perception roll."
<
<
<
Demiurge says "Okay. You all heard something happening across town, vaguely central.
Someone, or several someones, were using Songs, and someone took Celestial form. Also, Pat,
you get the impression that it was at a downwards angle from where you are. Underground."
Demiurge says "It's dying away now."
Pat frowns. "In the tunnels?"
Demiurge says "It could have been in the sewers, yes. Or in someone's cellars. Or something."
Demiurge says "It's a bit far away to get a really accurate directional on."
Sarah sits up a little more sharply. "Oh, dear. Not again."
Sephar's TV says, "Again?"
Pat says "One quiet day is apparently too much to ask."
Sephar's pigeon chuckle-coo's.
Sarah murmurs, "Apparently, yes."
Sephar says "Should we go find out what that was?"
Sarah says "It would be a touch difficult."
Pat pages: Was I able to tell what the disturbance was?
You paged Pat with 'It sounded like several people using Songs: you thought you recognised
Celestial Harmony, among others: and someone going Celestial.'.
You paged Pat with 'You can't tell whether angelic or demonic, though.'.
Sephar bobs at that and settles again, to peck at the crust. "Busy around here."
Pat says "It didn't feel severe."
Sarah says "Still, one does wonder."
Pat says "Were either of you able to pinpoint it?"
Sephar shakes its pigeon head.
Sephar says "Somewhere near town centre, but too far away to pinpoint."
Sarah says "Much the same, yes."
Pat shakes his head. "Something to keep an eye out for, but I doubt we'd be able to find the spot
at all, let alone in time.
Sarah says "I suppose it's time to read the newspapers again."
Pat nods, filling two coffee mugs and carrying them out of the kitchen nook. "Have there been
any words on why the surge in activity?"
Sarah says "Not to my knowledge."
Sephar 's pigeon shakes its head.
Pat frowns. "Hrm." He offers one of the mugs to Sarah.
Sarah accepts the mug with a thank-you, holding it between her hands to warm them.
Pat sits down with his own mug. "Have either of you spoken with Liz?"
Sarah says "I had other things on my mind than - ahem. Interrupting."
Pat blinks. "Interrupting?"
Sephar says "Daimon and Liz seem happily occupied with each other."
Pat says "Ah."
Pat says "That would explain why she's not answering her phone."
Sarah says "I assume they'll be in touch - sooner or later."
Pat nods. "They're the ones I'm most concerned for."
Sarah says "For good reason."
Pat says "Yes."
Sephar's pigeon bobs quietly.
Pat says "The question, Sarah, is whether or not they should be told what little information there
is, or whether we should wait until a more concrete picture emerges."
Sarah sips at her coffee.
Pat says "Do you have a view?"
Sarah says "If they aren't told anything, there's a chance they'll become aware of it via the arrival
of the Triad at their door. I doubt that this would reassure Daimon of the general trustworthiness
of the angelic."
Pat nods. "We don't have much of a reputation, even amongst the Host."
Sarah says "I'm, er. Afraid not, no."
Pat says "Unsurprising."
Sephar's TV chuckles, "Actually it's a pretty huge reputation... just not... comfortable for some."
Sephar says "I mostly agree with Sarah, they need to be told something, as much for their trust
in us as anything. It might give Daimon time to come to grips with the idea instead of just
panicing when they show up."
Pat says "But, would he listen?"
Sarah murmurs, "Many, I'm afraid." She takes a breath. "I suppose we should make effort to do
so in person, as well?" It's almost hopeful.
---