Demiurge says "Okay, I have Eduardo, Shannen, and Aron all wandering round trying to get a better location on the mysterious Symphonic noise."
Demiurge says "Would you care for one of those accidental encounters?"
Shannen will go to investigate, seeing as how enough hell has broken loose already.
Aron will certainly be more than happy to have the sudden appearance of someone else interrupt his bumbling search for the disturbance.
Demiurge says "Shannen, make another Per roll."
<
<
Demiurge says "Alas, Shannen fails to notice the otherworldly aura surrounding Aron."
<
Demiurge says "They might, however, notice the fact that both are wandering around with a
trying-to-listen expression on their faces."
<
Eduardo's own search for the disturbance is pretty pathetic, but on-going; assuming Liz went back
to Daimon.
Demiurge nods, thinks Liz did.
Demiurge says "Make a Per roll, Eduardo."
Aron certainly has the look of a tourist, as he stops at street corners and looks around hopefully.
Oddly enough, he has none of the accoutrements of the stereotypical tourist.
<
Demiurge says "Aha! Eduardo, you spotted that blond guy (Aron) as celestial. There's an aura of
some sort around him, and you're not sure whether he's demon or angel, but he's definitely a
celestial."
Shannen is trying to avoid looking obvious. Trying to look purposeful, but not obviously looking
around for something.
Eduardo starts to tail said celestial, already unhappy at letting one of the Fallen get off and not
planning on getting another get away. Just in case. And there *was* that disturbance.
Demiurge says "Aron, make a Per roll."
<
<
<
Demiurge says "Aron fails to notice the trenchcoated detective on his tail."
Demiurge says "By fiat, you're all, um, in the underground Mall."
Eduardo shoops along merrily, watching what this guy does. If he gets a chance to bump into him
without it being too obvious, he'll resonate.
Aron pauses occasionally, cupping a hand to one ear to hear better with the other.
Demiurge says "By coincidence, Shannen's bench is possibly within eyeshot of these capers."
Eduardo bumps into Aron on one of those pauses, muttering "Excuse me," as he does so.
Demiurge says "Roll, Eduardo. If you're resonating."
<
Demiurge says "Oh, _nice_ check."
<
Demiurge says "Gee, this guy is honorable enough... to be a Malakite. Did honorable things like
guarding children's dreams and serving in the Purity Crusade."
<
Aron's instinctive response is towards a defensive pose. Next, he checks his pockets. "It's all
right."
Eduardo turns back and smiles thinly. "I don't think I'd steal."
From afar, Aron resonates.
You paged Aron with 'roll?'.
<
Demiurge says "Hm. Most ignoble thing that he did this week was to let a Fallen walk away rather
than smiting them then and there. By his standards."
Aron considers the man and nods. "I suspect you wouldn't." He offers his hand. "Aron."
Eduardo pauses. "Eduardo." Another brief break. "Here." He offers his hand as he speaks.
Eduardo says "You heard?"
Demiurge says "Shannen, you may notice this, and possibly overhear the odd comment, if you're
just sitting round reading."
Aron nods. "I did." He looks about. "I haven't made much progress, I'm afraid."
Eduardo nods. "Took too long to get here."
Aron looks wry. "And my hearing's not what it used to be."
Shannen lowers her paper a little to peer over the top of it and suddenly decides that coffee would
be a nice thing right now. She folds the newspaper and pauses, tapping it against her hand for a
moment, ponderously gazing about and biting her lip.
Eduardo squints a little. "Ah."
Aron says "Do we search together?"
Eduardo says "I see no reason not to."
Eduardo says "And many to."
Eduardo's speech is somewhat archaic, oddly formal and definitely at odds with his rumpled
appearance.
Aron nods. "Are there any others to alert?"
Eduardo frowns. "There are. One knows."
Eduardo continues. "The others ... are comforting someone."
Aron nods. Quietly, in the celestial, he murmurs: "Taroniel, Virtue in the service of Dream."
Eduardo nods, replying similarly with "Edward, King in the service of Gabriel."
Aron looks around the area, thoughtfully. "You also sensed that it was underground."
From afar, Shannen smiles "Were they talking loud enough for me to make them out?"
Eduardo nods. "Yes. And that it was a Song."
Eduardo says "But no more."
You paged Shannen with 'You might have caught a few words, and you might have heard their
singing celestial speech.'.
Aron nods. "I have seen nothing in this mall. My suggestion is that we find an establishment near
the center of the city, and wait there for another disturbance."
Eduardo purses his lips. "If there is one."
Shannen stands up and begins looking around furtively, tapping her newspaper against her leg.
Aron glances at the nervous woman, curiously, and then back to Eduardo. "If it was a Song, I
imagine there will be."
Eduardo follows Aron's glance, giving the woman a rapid -- if both thorough and decidedly
non-lecherous -- once over before turning back. "Unless they achieved their objective. I agree."
Eduardo digs in his pocket for a cigarette, then frowns. "Coffee?"
Aron nods. "My favored establishment is some distance away. So I will follow you."
Eduardo gives a thin smile. "I serve as a policeman. It lets me fill my Lady's aims. I know a good
coffee place nearby, and one where I can smoke."
Aron chuckles. "And it is an honorable post in itself."
Shannen stops her tapping and puts her newspaper in her purse, grabbing it and beginning to walk
along, grinning to herself now as she steps along towards the two foo-err others.
Demiurge says "Eduardo, Aron, you notice the woman approaching you."
Eduardo nods, voice and expression syncing as he says "Of course," though the latter adds the
unspoken 'Obviously, else I'd not do it'. He starts to say 'Shall we?" and then turns.
Aron follows Eduardo's glance and nods, politely. "Good afternoon, madam."
<
<
Shannen stops in such a way as to make a triangle and sticks her free hand out between the two
of them "Hi, I couldn't help but overhear you talking about coffee. I run a wonderful shop and I
think it'd be perfect. It's really not too far away, I think."
Eduardo squints.
Aron raises an eyebrow. "Can he smoke?" He nods at his partner in... well, not crime.
Eduardo just continues to squint.
Shannen ugghs softly, slightly taken aback and bites her lip. "Well, no, smoking is bad for the
chest, and I believe in a healthy chest." She frowns slightly and then brightens "Sorry.. but, well,
.." she squints back at Eduardo, giggling "Hey, don't look at me like that."
<
Eduardo pulls out his cigarette case and bangs it against his hand. He continues to squint.
Aron smiles, despite himself. "Though it leaves one need unfulfilled, it seems like a good offer."
Shannen continues squinting back at Eduardo, a very amused expression on her face like she
might begin laughing any moment.
<
Eduardo gives Aron a *look* and then resumes the figurative Mexican standoff with the woman,
seemingly completely humourless and quite content to stare at her until the end of his Word.
Aron grins and finds something against which to lean.
Shannen sticks her tongue out as well, still squinting, which makes a very odd sight, giggling
softly.
Eduardo asks, politely enough. "Are you enjoying yourself?" He still doesn't crack a smile or even
the ghost of a grin.
Shannen stops the giggling and tongue-sticking-out, but continues to squint "Immensely. I'm
Shannen. C'mon, let's all go get some coffee."
Eduardo considers a moment, then says "Eduardo." He turns back to Aron, and gives him another
look, this time a 'you better know what you're doing' one.
Aron shrugs, expression wry, and straightens. "Lead on, madam."
Shannen grins "I won!" and steps in between the two men, putting her hands on their backs to
lead them "Oh, you're going to love it. If it has coffee as an ingredient - drink wise - we have it.
Lots of plants, especially flowers. Important if you like green things. Lots of regulars, so there's
always conversation. And we're open at sunrise, if you like early coffee."
Aron glances at Eduardo, bemused.
Eduardo just stares.
Aron follows Shannen to the coffee shop, never quite losing his smile.
Shannen gives an extra-special smile to Eduardo, since he obviously needs some love. "So, what's
your name.." tapping Aron's arm with her head.
From afar, Shannen is gonna resonate these two big boys..
Aron chuckles. "Aron."
Aron nod at Eduardo. "That," he offers cheerfully, "is Eduardo."
Shannen nods. "So he said," giving that Winning Smile to Eduardo again "What do you two do?
Besides wait around in underground malls looking for strange women to take you to coffee
shops?"
You paged Shannen with 'Roll. ;)'.
<
From afar, Shannen is gonna zap Eduardo first.
<
You paged Shannen with 'Okay, you failed Eduardo, this one was Aron and you succeeded?'.
From afar, Shannen nods.
Aron looks thoughtful. "Well, is there anything else?"
You paged Shannen with 'Okay. Aron is commonly called, "Aron", he's an editor of childrens
books, got a good relationship with several authors, and protects their dreams. Bit of a loner
otherwise.'.
You paged Shannen with 'He's also an artist and a creative type.'.
Shannen pages: Protects their dreams. That's quite interesting.
Aron says, bemusedly, "But when I'm not hoping serendipity brings coffee, I'm an editor."
Shannen grins "An editor? Cool, what newspaper?"
Eduardo waits until they get out of the mall, then digs out his cigarettes and lights up, with the
first evidence of satisfaction he's expressed yet. He also listens.
Aron shakes his head. "Oh, I'm not journalistic. There's too much tedium in the da to day, I'm
afraid. I edit children's books."
Shannen oohs, brightening immensely "I -love- children. They're so.. umm.. so.. small. That's it."
She taps Eduardo's arm with her head now "Hey, you actually almost look like you're going to
smile. Why not go all the way?"
Eduardo turns back, exhaling smoke (politely enough; he breathes it away from Shannen and Aron
both). "I haven't anything to smile about."
<
<
<
Shannen shrugs slightly "That's no reason. You're alive. You're apparently satisfied about
something. And you're going to get some really good coffee. That's at least three things. And hey,
look who you just met. You should be grinning madly just from that."
Aron says "So, Shannen, are almost to your coffee shop?"
Demiurge says, in a GM-type way, that yes, you are almost at her coffee shop.
Eduardo repeats. "Why?"
Eduardo gestures at Aron. "I'm glad to meet him."
Eduardo says "I'm still not smiling."
Aron offers, "And I'm not smiling because I'm glad to meet him, though that gladness does exist."
Shannen ugghs "It takes less energy to smile than it does to frown." and grins "Yup, almost there.
Leeeesssee, Wendy shouldn't be on duty. Probably Raina now. Yup. You two.. uggh. I'm going
to have to spike your coffee with something." She puts on a domineering voice "Ve have vays of
making you smile."
Aron glances at Eduardo, then Shannen. "I'm not sure that you do."
Shannen peers at Aron "You'd be surprised the kind of things you can get on the open market."
Aron purses his lips thoughtfully.
<
<
<
<
Aron follows Shannen into the coffee shop, expression still bemused and curious.
You paged Eduardo with 'Do you want to resonate her?'.
Shannen will wait outside for Eduardo to finish his cigarette. "Take your time. The coffee isn't
going anywhere. Unless we sell out or something along those lines. But that would be really really
really difficult to accomplish."
<
From afar, Eduardo does. :)
Aron says "Certainly, my appetite is not up to the teas."
You paged Eduardo with 'Not good Resonance day, I fear.'.
Shannen's place is mostly stone and wood. Lots of plants. LOTS of plants. It's two level, with an
apartment-like thing above it.
Aron nods to Shannen. "I'm going to go inside and get a headstart on that coffee, then."
Shannen grins "Okay." and sticks her head in the door "Raina, another victim." and cackles in a
friendly, but oddly disturbing way, before giving Raina a grin and wave. "I'll be back in a minute,
you two keeep smiling, okay?" and makes her way around the side of the building.
The helpful woman at the counter - presumably "Raina" - smiles and presents you with many
choices of coffee, cookies, cake, sandwiches, and the like.
Eduardo glances after Shannen, comments "Friendly," to Aron and then "Coffee. Black. Sweet
as an Angel's kiss," to Raina. "Please."
Aron says "Coffee. Black. Bitter."
Aron says "Please."
<
Aron nods. "She seems good enough, though I couldn't get a 'sense' of her."
<
Eduardo nods. "Neither could I."
Raina smiles again, and pours coffee for both of you, passing it across the counter.
Shannen runs up the stairs to her apartment, tossing her purse into a chair and hitting play on the
answering machine as she goes to change into something else more aesthetically pleasing.
Eduardo collects his coffee, tastes it, and then adds more sugar. Lots more sugar.
The answering machine says, in Liz's voice, "Shannen, this is Liz. Listen, I had a visit a little
earlier from a trio who work for the same folks Pat does. They're remarkably friendly and helpful,
but one of them got a little enthusiastic, which is never a good idea when you're visiting an
airport, so he's kind of scratched up. You know the local medical situation better than me, so I
gave them your number. They'll probably call or drop by. Don't sweat it. Daimon met them, and
they got off on exactly the right foot. In any case, I have to go report, but if you need to talk, you
can reach me at
Aron takes the coffee and blows some of the heat off it. He sips, wrinkling his lip in satisfaction.
Shannen blinks a few times, pausing at various moments while staring at the answering machine.
"That was the strangest Triad I've ever met." shrugging it off, she slips into white. Lots of white.
With flower prints as well. And then makes her way back into the shop.
Eduardo doesn't seem too terribly bothered by the heat of the coffee.
Aron takes another sip of the coffee before asking, "Who is the other that we should call about
this?"
Eduardo receives a call from the police station, and has to leave.
Aron sips his coffee thoughtfully in the wake of Eduardo's disappearance. Found one angel, lost
him again and no word of any others. I'm doomed.
Shannen makes her way back down, grinning and such "Oh, mocha Raina." Giving a grin and over
to Aron's table "Don't you just love the coffee?" as she sits, looking at an empty seat.
Raina nods, and sorts out a cup of mocha, bringing it across.
Aron nods, then nods again at the empty seat. "Please." He leans back, cradling the coffee cup.
"Yes, it's quite good, thank you.'
Shannen smiles "Oh thank you so much, Raina." and grins "Seee, toldja so." She waits for the area
to be relatively otherwise clear, and leans forward on her arms, elbows propped on the table
"Sooooo.. you edit children's stories? What's some of the big ones you've done?"
Aron nods. "Oh, nothing terribly big, I'm afraid. There's a promising young woman, however,
named Jessica Bell who's done a series called the Seven Towers. It's for young readers."
Aron says "Not really children. I also just worked on a piece called The Clock Struck Eight, much
more appropriate for children."
Shannen oohs, nodding a bit and sipping her coffee. "What's it about?"
Aron smiles. "Oh, it's the story of a young boy's imaginary adventures, each of which begins after
his mother reads to him, you see. Each occurs when the clock strikes eight."
Shannen grins. "That's pretty cool. Inspiration for happy dreams, no?" She takes another sip "I
need to learn to write one day."
Aron says "He uses wits, courage, love, and all of those pure thoughts peculiar to children to save
his friends."
Shannen heys, grinning "There's a child deep down in all of us, you know. Or at the surface if
you're like me."
Aron chuckles. "I know," he murmurs. "Trust me."
Shannen winks "Of course I trust you. I only met you on the street recently and took you back
to my place."
Aron laughs. "Indeed you did. Quite daring of you, I might add."
Shannen grins and winks "Just pulling another soul into my web of coffee, cakes, and sandwiches.
Once entrapped, you can never escape." A pause "Well, you can.." She puts on a knowing look
and nod. "But you'll come back.."
Aron laughs, and considers the coffee. "I suspect I should be nervous.'
Aron pages: Too cheesy to resonate again, si?
You paged Aron with 'Sure, if you want.'.
Shannen cackles for a second, then stops "'Scuse me." and shrugs "Why be nervous? I'm a nice
person, only nice dreams in this little head of mine, I tell you."
<
You paged Aron with 'Alas.'.
From afar, Aron laughs. "I told you I was cursed."
<
Aron tries to hide a smile and achieves moderate success. "You've a fondness for dreams, then?"
Shannen puts on a shy smiles "Well, I like dreams as much as the next person - can't stand
nightmares, though. Frighten me to no end."
Aron sips his coffee, thoughtfully. "I've a particular dislike for nightmares, myself."
Shannen covers her mouth, giggling "I know. Okay, I've been way to silly, but I needed a
wild-child break."
Aron raises his eyebrows. He waits.
Shannen whispers through a grin "I know that you keep dreams safe. I keep flowers safe." She
lifts her eyebrows for a second.
Aron's eyes widen. He looks about, then back. He nods. "Can we speak here without being
heard?"
Shannen whispers, still grinning "That's why I whisper. We can go upstairs, that's my apartment."
A wink.
Aron coughs, and takes a gulp of his coffee. "Ah. Yes. Of course."
Shannen stands slowly "Cool. Just follow me."
Aron gathers up his cup and follows, looking thoughtfully at the flowers, as if for answers.
The flowers stare back. But if you're really really really imaginative, it almost seems as if the
Lady's Slippers are sticking a tongue out at you.
Shannen makes her way out, waving to Raina and grinning madly as she makes her way up to her
apartment.
Aron cradles his coffee, thoughtfully, and follows Shannen up the stairs. "It's a very nice coffee
shop," he offers.
Shannen grins "Thanks. And it's just bustling with good times and caffeine. Two very important
things in life, you know." She pauses at the top of the stairs and opens the door, motioning for
Aron to go first "Guests first.."
Aron quirks an eyebrow. He shrugs his shoulders, as if his back had developed a sudden itch, and
ventures into the apartment.
Shannen grins and follows after, plopping down on the futon by the large window "Have a seat.."
and motions at various comfortable places to sit - bean bags, mostly.
Aron, after a moment's consideration, folds himself neatly into one of the bean bags. "I suspect,"
he says wryly, "that we have not been properly introduced."
Shannen notes the beanbag, nodding, still grinning "You have good taste in bean bags, my friend.
Oh, well, I'm Shannen, but you know that already."
Aron sets the been bag to rustling as he settles back. "I did."
Shannen tilts her head "Did or do?" and turns sideways to lay down on the futon on her side
"Watcha doing in Washington?"
Aron sips his coffee, then sets the cup aside. "I'm an editor, I told you." In the celestial, "Do me
a favor? Tell me who you are in this tongue." His smile is nothing if not apologetic.
Aron . o O ( . o O ( Watch, she's a Lilim and I've just signed away my soul. ) )
Shannen sticks her tongue out at Aron "Okay okay." and slips into a more angelic tone of voice
"I'm Shannen. I'm a Friend of Novalis." and sticks her tongue out again.
Aron says, ingenuously, "You keep sticking your tongue out. Does it protect you somehow?"
Shannen slips her tongue back in her mouth and grins "It's my way of being defiant in a polite
manner. What'bout you, huh?"
Aron says "I'm always defiant in a polite manner."
Aron's lips twitch. "Or did you mean something else?"
Shannen rolls her eyes a little, still grinning "Of course I did. I'm curious about what you.." she
pauses and nods knowingly "..really do."
Aron matches the grin, finally. "Taroniel, Virtue of Creation in the service of Dream."
Shannen hmms softly "Creation? Oh, cool! I like you already." and winks "How do you like DC?
Seen any of the sights? Want a tour?"
Aron smiles. "I like it, not many, and if you're giving it, of course."
Shannen grins "Cool. Tomorrow morning is probably best for me. Uggh, have things to do tonight
before dusk. Have any special reason for being in DC or just hanging out like the rest of us?"
Aron reclines against the bean bag, lacing fingers behind his head. "I'm hunting Nightmares,
actually, and so I'd love to meet 'the rest of us'."
Shannen ohs and taps her finger against her chin "I suppose I could introduce you. Oohhhh, I
know! We can all have like a party or something somewhere! I like that idea!"
Aron drawls, "I know a fine establishment. The chef is without compare."
Shannen says "Welllll, I was thinking of a picnic, but a restaurant is nice, too. What kind of food
and prices and other things that people would ask about in order to avoid going?"
Aron hides a smile under cover of his hand. "The food's on me, and the chef specializes in Italian
fare, though she's got a broad repertoire."
Shannen ooohs "Italian. Nice, very nice. And you're paying?" She brightens immensely "Great!
That is quite cool of you." She pauses "Just how do you hunt nightmares here?"
Aron rubs at his chin. "Well, for the most part I'm limited to hunting its agents; I'm told there are
some in town, you see."
Aron says "I was hoping to enlist you and 'the rest' to aid in the task. I'd be more than happy to
help you with something in return, of course."
Shannen ohs and ahhhs "I thought you meant literally. Okay, that makes much more sense to me
now. Hmm.. enlisting us might be a problem, but I don't know how the others are about it. I'm
.kinda. busy, but only when I'm needed. Umm, I'd be happy to help anyway I can."
Aron runs his thumb over his lips. "Well, I have to get literal sometimes. A problem?"
Shannen says "Well, I don't know if the others are busy or not or would want to help or things
like that. We've had a little experience lately and are kinda taking some time off from that.."
Aron digests this for a moment. "Time off. Wouldn't want to help."
Aron says "Ah, I did mention Nighmare, didn't I? I sometimes get forgetful."
Shannen pauses for a second, looking a little confused and nodding slowly "Yes.."
Aron nods, thoughtfully. "But you think your friends will be, ah, unmotivated to help shorten
Nightmare's reach?"
Shannen hmms thoughtfully "I really don't know, honestly. Most likely, they'd be willing to help.
It's just that, well, the Game might be after us after a little thing we did to them.." She smiles
sheepishly.
Aron smiles. "Oh, well that's entirely different. Tell me how I can help."
<
<
<
<
<
<
<
<
<
Shannen umms, frowning somewhat "I really don't know. I haven't had any trouble, but I don't
think I'm really the big fish.."
Aron grins. "Then I can count on you. You don't know how grateful I am."
Shannen grins "Grateful enough to buy me dinner?"
Aron laughs. "Yes, with some left over. You can tell me about your friends over manicotti and
chianti."
Shannen grins "Sounds good to me. At this place where the cooking is heavnly?"
Aron nods. "Heavenly indeed." He unfolds, easily, and leaving the all too comfortable bean bag
behind. He offers his arm.
Shannen takes Aron's arm and rolls off the futon, using him to help support her lifting.
Aron seems adequate to the task of human support, and content to have the warmth of Shannen
at his side. The place to which he leads her is, of course, Sistine's.
---