Demiurge says "Sephar, does the Kyriotate of Lightning have anything that it wants to be doing while the others are busy with other things, o Multitasker?"

Sephar says "Ooo. Hrm. Was doing some patrolling, was going to... ah! Yes. Mob connections/Italian connections to those that did the hit on the Tether."

Sephar says "Mostly data search and money trails into known Mob members, if Ed gave me any access to his police machines."

Sephar says "And if any of the car plates or calibers or gun/ammo types matched to known Mob folks."

Demiurge says "Sephar, the cars involved were found ditched. The gun/ammo types match ones used at previous Mob hits."

Liz says "How about this Mad Dog character?"

Liz says "Or anything on 'Sancuzzi'?"

Liz asks Sephar, naturally, not the GM. Sephar may then do his cool Lightning thing.

Sephar says "Yes. Both Sancuzzi as a data tag and the Japanese tech company that Daimon linked with Vapula."

Demiurge says "Sancuzzi is a well-known Italian business family, and a person in that family, a polished gentleman with a number of failed arrests for various tax charges. They all flopped."

Sephar says "Keen."

Demiurge says "There is some definite suspicion in the files that he's linked to the Mob, but no _proof_."

Sephar peers at files and starts to track banking records for the Sancuzzi family?

Liz has proof. The Seneschal of Lust said so!

Demiurge says "The Japanese company (Tokoda) is a minor tech importer, small luxury items. It specialises in exotic tamagotchis."

Liz has addresses for Sephar too. "This is his home address, this is his work address."

Sephar looks for a payment around the day of the hit, a medium large one for the amount of damage, a day or two before a day or two after.

Demiurge says "Roll, Sephar."

Sephar takes the addresses and tries to link the addresses to bank accounts and to tax payments.

<> Sephar rolls the d666 and gets 1 5 CHECK: 5.

<> Liz woo!

Sephar idlely and curiously looks at Web images of the exotic tamagotchi...

The Webpages, being made with Java, have flashing and blinking Tamagotchis.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 3 4 CHECK: 2.

Sephar jumps, "Evil, active GIFs!"

Demiurge says "Aha! Sephar, you've traced a payment from Focals to a holding company, to another holding company, to a company that's a subsidiary of a bank that the Sancuzzi family owns a large share in, the same day as the assault."

Sephar says "Hoorah!"

Sephar shows Liz the linkages.

Sephar says "Looks like the Game did underwrite the hit."

Sephar pokes at a few of the active Tamagotchi Java actions... possessing Liz's machine to make sure that no harmful scripting gets pulled along with them.

Sephar says "Or at least to see what kinds come across. "

Liz grins at Sephar. "Cool, Sephar. Nice job!"

The Tamagotchis dance across the screen, waving banners saying, "BUY ME".

Liz adds that into the report she's making to Trade, including the information she got from the Tether.

Sephar beams at Liz, tail waving a bit, and eyeing the dancing Tamagothis.

Liz recommends immediate and massive SEC and IRS probes.

Liz adds that Daimon suggests a physical 'Audit' of Focals: seize the property, all records, and take into custody all employees.

Sephar hrms, "Liz, next time we can, I think I'd like to get one of those exotic Tamagotchis to take it apart and see what's in it..."

Liz suggests, on her part, that the building be closely monitored until they get the Impudite out of Trauma, and then nab her in the sweep, assuming she gets out shortly.

Sephar pokes about the page to see if they can be ordered from the page.

Liz says "Sure. Do they happen to have a local distributor, perchance."

Liz blinks.

Liz says "Oh."

Liz says "Oh heck."

Liz says "Tamagochis?"

Liz says "For children, yes?"

Sephar peers up at Liz.

Sephar says "Yes."

Demiurge says "And adults, Sephar."

Demiurge says "Tamagotchis for all the family!"

Sephar says "Though adults get 'em too, I think."

<> Sephar cowers.

Liz says "Aron was in town to look at suspicious nightmare activities."

Sephar says "Oh."

Sephar says "You think these things have nightmares in 'em?"

Liz says "Let's assume that Bellman's is not just in the habit of supplying Calabim for watch out duty."

Sephar says "Wow."

Liz says "Suppose that those exotic tamagochis are Vapulan devices that, say, give a little boost to Nightmares."

<> Demiurge admires her players' paranoia. She really does.

<> Liz is a professional. Don't try this at home.

<> Pat says "That's alright. I was wondering if they didn't have little bits of Christopher in them."

Liz says "Or hey, maybe it's just a useful cover story."

Sephar peers and tries to link records of Tokoda with Bellman's or Focals.

Liz says "But we need to get ahold of one ASAP."

<> Sephar rolls the d666 and gets 1 2 CHECK: 4.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 6 3 CHECK: 3.

<> Sephar hi 5's Liz's paranoia

Sephar nods at Liz.

Liz says "We also need to talk to Stone."

Liz grins. She has a To Do list that'd blow the RAM on a Palm Pilot.

Sephar blinks, "Stone? Do you mean one of David's?"

Demiurge says "You can't find any financial tracks between Tokoda or the others yet, Sephar. I do note that Tokoda has only been around for a couple of months.""

Sephar says "Who were the backers that put Tokoda together?"

Sephar just wonders who the major investors are.

Liz says "Stone. Christopher, the Angel of Children, was in service to David when he died."

Demiurge says "It's a direct branch of a Japanese organisation, Sephar."

Sephar nods quietly.

Demiurge says "They're financing it direct."

Liz says "The Seneschal of Judgement suggested we talk to them about what happened to him."

Sephar notes the parent organization to tell the Boss about... and nods at Liz.

Sephar just emails it up. Nice thing about email, they can deal with it whenever.

Liz grins.

Sephar mails up the Italian connection and the parent org and a warning flag on the Tamagutchi.

<> Daimon says "Where is this conversation taking place?"

<> Sephar thinks it's in Liz's hanger or something.

<> Sephar says "Wherever Liz has her computer."

<> Liz says "Possibly in the car, while we drive to Trade. Liz asks Sephar to link back to her computer at work."

Demiurge says "Sephar can do the Kyrio thing, as Liz says."

<> Sephar says "Oh, right, I have a pigeon in the hanger."

<> Liz has the ultimate remote access device: a friendly Kyrio of Lightning!

<> Sephar grins.

Liz says "Anything else you think should be added, Daimon?"

Sepharmouse asks, "Or anyone you want me to send that stuff to?"

Liz gives the standard Trade Report email address, plus the 'Urgent, Marc needs to see this' one she uses for critical reports.

Sephar mails that for Liz.

Liz tells Sephar which encryption program and keys to use, too.

Sephar beams and does so happily.

Sephar says "Was there other data you wanted me to cross-corollate about the hit, Liz?"

Daimon does mention that he should thank Marc for the spiffy glasses, but he'll do that at the tether.

Liz says "Yeah, see if you can trace any businesses operating out of the building we were just in and cross reference with Sancuzzi. I'd like to know the business links between Lust and, say, Fate."

Sephar says "Sure."

Liz says "We might not use them, but it's good information to have. Possibly good information to Trade."

Sephar happily gets to try and match those financial records. Amazing what data Trade has on finances.

<> Sephar rolls the d666 and gets 3 4 CHECK: 1.

Demiurge says "Sephar, there are a number of businesses quartered in that building."

Demiurge says "Are you trying all of them, or the owners of the physical building itself, or what?"

Sephar nods.

Sephar says "Ah. Just a second. Mostly going to see if any of the businesses have coordinates that match up with how we got where Liz was."

Sephar says "Then matching those names up, if nothing there, then all of them."

Sephar says "If still nothing, then the owners of the building."

Demiurge says "None of the businesses seem to be geographically marked in the building as where the Lust-Tether was."

Liz uses her cellphone to schedule an urgent meeting with the Trade Seneschal on the way over.

Sephar says "Ah. Okay. Then I'll try all of the businesses in the building, first."

The Trade-Seneschal's secretary says that she may be able to arrange a meeting in a couple of hours.

Liz agrees, gets a definite time.

Daimon says "I've we've got time, we should track down your Stonie friend."

Liz checks her watch. "Well, we have a few hours. Now might be a good time."

Demiurge says "That'll take you a while, Sephar."

Demiurge says "Fast as you are. ;)"

Sephar nods and has a while as other bits are busy.

Daimon says "Better then never, mon cherie."

Sephar will, in parallel look into who the owner of the building is, then.

Liz smiles at Daimon, and calls said Mercurian of Stone.

Sepharmouse curls up comfy on the warm dash.

The answering machine replies. "Hello! This is Terence Mubin. If you're getting this, then I'm not here, so please try my work number or leave a message. Thank you very much."

Liz smiles. "Thanks for getting Azalea her Mozart, by the way, Sephar. It was very cool of you."

Liz leaves a message asking Terence to call her at her cellphone ASAP, and tries his work number.

Daimon leans down and plays with the radio.

Sephar blushes, "That was fun. I like fixing bits, and it's easier with little hands."

A secretary answers. "Hello, Mr Mubin's office. Can I help you?"

Sephar says "No shorting things by accident."

Liz says into the phone, "Is Mr. Mubin in? This is Elizabeth Bradley. It's somewhat urgent."

Daimon finds a Jazz station. Satisfied, he gazes out the window.

There's a pause, then the secretary replies, "I'm very sorry, madam. He hasn't come in today."

<> Pat says "Oh, shit."

<> Daimon says "I knew he'd be dead. Because I would have done, as the GM, the same thing."

<> Pat is in paranoia overdrive.

<> Demiurge laughs.

<> Daimon says "He called. We never came. Thus, he's dead."

<> Arcangel wonders if Dai is off on another guilt trip.

<> Sephar says "Or he hid."

<> Daimon says "No way. Logic."

Liz asks, "Does he have a pager or an emergency contact number?"

<> Sephar says "And if we get there now..."

<> Pat says "He called, asked unsettling questions, and then disappeared."

The secretary says, "Only his phone number, I'm afraid. I can give you that if you like."

Liz says, "I have it."

Daimon looks at Liz, curious.

Sephar peers at Liz.

Liz says "I left a message. i'll hope he gets back to me. Thank you."

Liz leaves her name and number, just in case.

The secretary scribbles, and says, "Thank you very much." She unbends slightly. "He did call in sick yesterday, actually. Perhaps he's still ill."

Liz says "Ah. Has anyone dropped by his home to see if he's all right?"

The secretary says, "I'm afraid not, no."

Liz says "Hmm. All right. Thank you.""

Liz says "I'll be in touch later."

The secretary says, "Thank you very much. Good day." She puts the phone down.

Daimon says "And?"

Liz says "Called in sick to work."

Liz gives Sephar his home phone number, asks him if it's possible to derive the street address.

Liz says "I think we'll go check up on him."

Demiurge says "Not only is it possible, Sephar could navigate right down the phone if he really wanted."

Sephar does so, then.

Liz says "Sephar, wait."

Sepharmouse blinks.

Sephar waits.

Liz grins. "Let's be a little more organized this time. Let Daimon and I get there, and if you run into trouble in his house, we'll be faster on the backup this time."

Sephar says "True."

Sephar says "And if there's someone there, I might be able to startle them and distract them while you do what you do."

Liz says "Right."

Sephar crouches on the dashboard, then.

Sepharpigeon does the phone book lookup on public numbers to see if Terethel's number does link to an address.

Demiurge says "Sephar, you can identify the place. It's a fairly luxury apartment in a nice block of flats."

Sephar says "Keen."

Liz drives to the general area, and parks about a block away.

Daimon calls Pat from the car.

Pat, quite thoroughly tousled, reaches for his phone. "Yes?"

Daimon says "Hey Pat. It's me, Daimon."

Sarah considers the phone, blinking at it thoughtfully and wondering what *did* happen to her glasses.

Pat says "Oh. Hello Daimon."

Daimon says "How are you doing?"

Pat says "Much better."

Daimon says "Over the shock?"

Pat says "I believe I'm functional."

Daimon sounds a little relieved. "That's good. I know he can be a real pain."

Sarah blushes.

>From afar, Sarah tweak resonance tweak tweak

Pat smiles at Sarah and moves a strand of her hair out of her face. "That's putting it lightly. Where are you?"

<> Sarah rolls the d666 and gets 2 1 CHECK: 6.

Daimon says "We're on the road, in Liz's car, on the way to your friend of Stone's house. Um, I think I should just report everything."

Pat says "Feel free."

Daimon says "When we left your place, I called Terry and told him to stay away from Sancuzzi. Which means he'll go right over there, but if he gets killed, his problem. We stopped off and, uh, picked up some t-shirts. We have one for you! Two kinds - either LOVE JUSTICE or, um, LIGHTNING JUSTICE. Sephar likes the later better, but it's a long story."

Pat blinks. "T-shirts??"

Daimon says "So we went to the Seneschal of Judgment, and reported in. I told him that having us just go up to Sancuzzi or Bellman's door, knock-"

Daimon says "Yeah, T-shirts."

Sarah asks, puzzled, "T-shirts?"

You paged Sarah with 'Daimon is, hm. Well, where he said, and you know precisely where that is from you.'.

Pat nods to Sarah. "T-shirts. Go on, Daimon."

You paged Sarah with 'And you know that he is in danger in certain people's remote plans. Though not _currently_ closer.'.

>From afar, Sarah is relieved that he doesn't seem to be moving directly toward further danger, she presumes. The Game she knew about. :)

Daimon says "So anyway, I told him that just going up to their doors and knocking was a bad move. So either one of us needs to get information, and report back. I also asked about the debriefing of any Redeemed Kobalites - or others who have had the Boss's help, and he got weird about it, but at least sent the message on."

You paged Sarah with 'Not at the moment, no.'.

>From afar, Sarah whew. :)

Pat says "That makes sense."

Daimon says "Then we went to the Lust Tether to see the Kobalite Seneschal. He's in a bad way, but coughed up a name, 'Mad Dog'. Apparently a Sancuzzi bruiser. They're definitely Mafia, they're the ones who hit the tether. Proof of at least some sort of Game-Fate alliance right there."

Daimon says "Liz talked to the Seneschal more then I did, and I don't know what they talked about."

Sarah leans her head against Pat's shoulder, looking particularly content as she listens to the less helpful half of the conversation.

Daimon says "Then someone remembered some Stonie or another getting wacked, and we decided to check up on your friend. Well, he's not to be found. We're on the way over there now."

Pat slides an arm around Sarah, then stills. "Terethel?"

Daimon says "I think we've covered everything. We still need to stop at the Dream tether for reasons that elude me at the moment but it was my idea so it'll come back when required."

Daimon says "I think that's his name, yeah. He's not at work, he's not answering his phone at home."

Pat frowns. "How far away are you?"

Daimon says "And Liz wants to have some late dinner at Sistine's, I think."

Daimon leans over and asks Liz how far away. He comes back and says it into the phone.

Pat says "Wait for us."

Daimon says "Should we go there and wait for you, or go to your place?"

Sarah says quietly, "I know where he is, Pat. There's no immediate trouble."

Pat says "Go there and wait for us. Keep an eye open, though."

Daimon says "Sure enough. We can do that, no problem."

Pat says "Excellent. We'll be there as soon as possible."

Daimon says "Coolness."

Daimon says "Okay, we'll be waiting."

Pat says "We'll see you there. Take care."

Daimon says "See-ya."

Daimon hangs up the phone, and informs Liz that we'll be meeting Pat and Sarah at the house.

Pat hangs up the phone, and exhales slowly.

Daimon thinks it's weird to have a partner, but Pat is cool, and can probably adjust to this.

Sarah kisses Pat briefly, and gets up. However reluctantly. "Where are we meeting them?"

Pat sits up, and looks for clothing. "Terethel's home. They think he may be in trouble."

Sarah sorts out Pat's clothing from her own, giving a brief sigh at the increasingly sad state of the latter. "He was asking about Tethers, wasn't he?"

Pat nods, pulling his shorts on and slipping into his shirt. "The one he mentioned was Vapulan."

Hitherby's Pat's-house swarm stretches its wings and its little tiny legs, in preparation for travel. Something could happen on the way, after all.

Sarah buttons her blouse, giving it a faintly mournful look. "I hope he didn't do anything unfortunate."

Pat pulls his pants on. "It's possible. Davidians are known for being... persistent."

Sarah replies, "Also known for encouraging teamwork." She straightens her jacket. "We can but hope."

Pat slips his tie around his neck and adjusts the knot. He's the sort to leave them tied. "At any rate, there is some concern. We should be there."

Hitherby flutters her Pat's-house swarm -- the one that's inside, at least -- into a neat brooch on Pat's shirt.

Sarah smoothes her skirt. "Definitely, yes."

Pat looks at the brooch. Considers. Walks over to the coatrack and picks up his hat. "Would this be more convenient, Hitherby? It'd be a better view, at the very least."

Sarah does glance at Pat once more as she checks her keys and tucks her notepad away. "T-shirts?"

<> Daimon says "T-SHIRTS!"

Hitherby hums thoughtfully, and then chirks, "Yes."

Pat says "T-shirts. Apparently, Daimon and Liz had t-shirts printed."

Hitherby flutters up and forms a starburst, facing outwards, on Pat's hat.

Sarah smiles, shaking her head. "Definitely Creation."

Pat says "Pardon?"

Pat picks up his holster from the desk and pulls it on, anchoring it to his belt and walking around to the drawers.

Sarah says "Daimon. I can't imagine him being happy anywhere else."

Pat opens a desk drawer and pulls out a locked metal box. "That would require Eli's participation."

Sarah glances over at said box, interested. "Ah. Well. Yes."

Pat unlocks the box, opening it and looking inside with an indecisive look. "I'm dubious as to the success of that."

Sarah folds her hands. "One might ask Aron."

Pat decides on something, and takes a large automatic pistol out of the box, checking it over before slipping it into the holster. "Have you met him, then?"

Sarah doesn't blink twice. "Briefly. He and Daimon had a minor confrontation, of sorts. Which ended rather abruptly with Aron's laughter, his confidence in Daimon's Redemption, and his disappearance on - official business, so to speak."

<> Pat says "Pat collects pistols. *blush*"

Pat closes the box and locks it again. "Official business?"

<> Demiurge says "All Elohim need a hobby!"

Sarah says "My guess would be that a certain wanderer might have expressed some interest."

Pat lifts an eyebrow.

Pat . o O ( Aha, Mr. Eli. We have you now... )

Sarah shrugs mildly, with a hint of a smile. "Everyone else seems to be."

Pat chuckles quietly, returning the box to his desk and closing the drawer. "There's no denying that."

Sarah says "Is that everything? Shall we be on our way?"

Pat pulls on his jacket and overcoat, and inspects the insectile decorations on his hat. "I do believe so."

Sarah gets out her car keys. "Good."

Hitherby hums agreeably.

Pat settles the hat on his head and moves for the door, opening it for Sarah.

Sarah thanks Pat with a smile.

Sarah drives Pat and Hitherby to Terethelhouse?

Pat follows Sarah out, locking the door.

<> Pat says "Any Calabim snipers on the roof across the street?"

<> Demiurge says "Fortunately, no."

<> Demiurge is struck by the image of Pat ushering Sarah out first, in that case. :)

<> Pat says "Any Djinn waiting to lead a hit squad to my porch?"

<> Hitherby is keeping careful patrol! Nothing gets by *her!*

<> Demiurge says "Nope. All seems quiet."

<> Hitherby says "No evil can hide from *Hitherby!*"

<> Pat says "Too quiet."

<> Demiurge says "As quiet as granite."

<> Pat says "Was the mess across the street 'taken care of'?"

<> Daimon says "Hitherby is all powerful."

<> Sarah says "Hitherby is *sturdy*."

<> Hitherby made a perception roll once, you know.

<> Demiurge says "It was indeed, Pat."

<> Hitherby says "Not many people can say that!"

<> Pat says "Groovy."

<> Demiurge says "There is only now a minor hole in the side of the building."

<> Pat believes we drive, then. :)

<> Sarah says "'only'"

<> Sarah drives!

Hitherby lazes around on Pat's hat, on the top of Daimon's seat, on the four cars of the Focals people, circles around the Focals' roof, hangs out with anyone she's forgetting, and patrols diligently around Pat's house.

Daimon is sitting in the passenger seat of Liz's car, writing some guitar tabs between the lines on a fresh sheet of paper on his notepad.

Sarah just, er, concentrates on getting to Daimon without getting in an accident, breaking any traffic laws, or irritating any other drivers.

Daimon mumbles something about power chords while waiting.

Hitherby says, wisely, to Daimon, "Sephar talks about those a lot."

Daimon says "Power chords?"

Hitherby hums agreeably.

Daimon says "Excellent. Then I bet Sephar can play everything ever written by Nirvana and Green Day."

Sarah drives. If nothing happens, eventually parks.

Sarah parks *somewhere*, at least, probably letting Pat and Hitherby off first.

Hitherby answers Daimon, "This would not surprise me."

Hitherby lounges on Pat's hat and lets him do the moving around thing.

Daimon says "Cool."

Daimon has new respect for grunge rocker Sephar.

Pat does this thing, moving out of the car when Sarah stops, looking up and down the street.

Demiurge says "Make a Per roll, Pat."

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 1 4 CHECK: 5.

Demiurge says "You can't spot any watchers."

Sarah parks, however close she can, and walks back.

Pat waits for Sarah, eyes peeled, the hair on his neck attuned to the slightest oddity. He also hopes he's not narrating aloud again.

Sarah rejoins Pat, calmly enough, not quite as paranoid.

Hitherby says, to Daimon et al., "The others have arrived. I can coordinate?"

Hitherby adds, "If there is any coordination necessary."

Daimon says "Sure. Of course."

Hitherby says, softly, to Pat and Sarah, "I can coordinate the two groups, unless you want to just meet up, in which case someone in one group should tell me where."

Pat says "Where are Daimon and Liz?"

Sarah replies, "We had been intending to meet, I think?"

Pat nods to Sarah, a bit abbreviated to avoid spilling Hitherby.

Hitherby asks Daimon, "Where are we, relative to the house?"

Pat starts walking in the direction of the house.

Hitherby adds, to Daimon and Liz, "Pat is just walking towards the house, so maybe that's the plan."

Hitherby hums amusedly, keeping her Pat-Sarah swarm with the more endangered Pat.

Sarah walks with Pat, thus making Hitherby's decision easier.

Pat looks around for a car with a pacing Ofanite near it.

Liz is about a block away, leaning against the hood of the car.

Daimon is still sitting in the car, writing something in his notepad.

Pat walks up to Liz and tips his hat slightly. "Evening."

Liz says "Pat. Evening."

Sarah accompanies Pat. Apparently rumpled clothing is becoming contagious. She distributes polite smiles generally.

Liz points towards the apartment building. "Nothing out of the ordinary, other than there being no answer at the phone."

Hitherby bobs to herself formally.

Pat says "Have you tried calling him since?"

Liz shakes her head. 'Give it another try?'

Daimon gets out of the car.

Daimon says "Hey."

Pat smiles briefly at Daimon. "Hello."

Sarah smiles brilliantly. "Daimon!"

Sarah still hasn't found her glasses, apparently.

Daimon says "Sarah!"

Daimon says "Hey Pat."

Liz smiles. "Hello, Sarah. You're both looking better."

Pat nods to Liz, pulling out his cellphone and dialing friend Terethel.

There are two rings, then the answering machine cuts in.

The answering machine replies. "Hello! This is Terence Mubin. If you're getting this, then I'm not here, so please try my work number or leave a message. Thank you very much."

Liz stays quiet.

Pat hangs up the phone, frowns.

Pat says "Still no answer."

Daimon says "I would suggest he ran into something big, nasty, and toting a lethal weapon."

Sarah says mildly, "It's reasonably possible he's out investigating."

Daimon says "It's reasonable that the people trying to kill us evened up the score for the Calabite."

Hitherby says "Or, he went shopping."

Pat says "Would anyone care to stay here and watch for him, as opposed to checking the house?"

Liz says "Sarah, he called in sick to work this morning. Not a good sign."

Daimon says "He's supposed to be at work. He called in sick. Shopping?"

Liz says "Considering."

Sephar pipes up, from the radio, "I'll watch. And he called in sick _yesterday_."

Pat says "Too many coincidences."

Sephar flutes, from the radio, "They said there wasn't anything today."

Hitherby says, "On the positive side, I didn't hear the Game researching his Role."

Liz smiles at Pat. "I'm not exactly good at subtle entry. I'll stay out here."

Liz says "I think you and Daimon would be the most... unnoticeable."

Daimon says "But we know exactly jack about Bellman and Sancuzzi."

Daimon says "Or who they are investigating."

Pat nods to Liz, and looks at Daimon.

Liz nods.

Liz says "Sarah, would you care to wait with me?"

Daimon could be, again, unnoticable man, although he's draining his essence quicker then he'd like.

Liz has 7 essense. She can lend Daimon 1 to get his glasses rolling.

Hitherby settles her swarms down again, one on the car, and one back on Pat's hat.

Sarah agrees, "I'm perfectly willing to wait with you, Liz."

Pat adjusts the brim of his hat, rolls his shoulders, and looks at Terethel's house.

Daimon nods, and pulls the glasses case out of his pocket.

Demiurge says "Pat, Daimon: you're aware Terethel's apartment is on the fourth floor."

Liz believes that Pat is also chock full o' essence right now, on account of the Calabite earlier.

Daimon pulls out the glasses and puts them on, returning the case to his coat.

Sarah murmurs aside to Liz, "T-shirts?"

Pat looks at Daimon. "Shall we?"

Daimon grins, and shows off his LOVE JUSTICE t-shirt.

Daimon says "Indeed."

Daimon will activate the glasses.

Liz smiles at Sarah. "If it keeps Daimon happy, and is reasonably innocuous, why not?"

Sarah blinks at Daimon.

Sarah... flushes.

Pat eyes the shirt, shakes his head, and starts for the building.

Daimon says "Oh, come on, Pat. It's cool."

Pat chuckles. "It's amusing. Let's go."

Daimon says "The seneschal seemed to like 'em..."

<> Daimon rolls the d666 and gets 4 5 CHECK: 5.

<> Daimon says "AUGH. There goes one essence."

<> Demiurge says "Ack. The glasses fail."

<> Demiurge says "However, Daimon, it is dusk."

<> Daimon says "Damn. How long until I can try again?"

<> Demiurge says "Collect a point of Essence."

<> Demiurge says "You can try again at once, if you want."

<> Daimon says "Okay, so I'm back to 5."

<> Daimon rolls the d666 and gets 4 1 CHECK: 1.

<> Daimon says "There. Now they turn on."

<> Demiurge says "Click."

Unnoticable Man follows Pat on in.

Demiurge says "Daimon is now just vastly unnoticeable. Try and roll your Per minus 3 if you want to try and see him. ;)"

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 1 4 CHECK: 6.

<> Hitherby idly rolls to see if she heard the disturbance (the first time; maybe the second time it would be masked.)

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 5 6 CHECK: 4.

<> Pat does this thing with a vengeance.

<> Sarah rolls the d666 and gets 4 6 CHECK: 5.

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 1 3 CHECK: 6.

<> Hitherby doesn't bother rolling her Per minus 3. Divine Intervention would be wasted on this :)

Sarah fails again to notice when exactly Daimon wanders off.

Liz loses him fairly quickly, and shakes her head. "Okay, I'm impressed."

Demiurge says "Pat sees Daimon, nobody else does. ;)"

Liz says to Sarah, "You might want to sit in the car. Just in case we need to go somewhere in a hurry.

Pat enters the building, and looks around for a quick way to the fourth floor.

Demiurge says "There is a main set of stairs, and there are also lifts, and there are back stairs."

Demiurge says "The whole place is neat and moderately luxurious."

Daimon follows Pat, because he's a stand up comedian, not a private detective.

Pat unconsciously adjusts his posture, and looks at the empty space that is UnnoticableMan. "Stairs?"

Unnoticable Man says, "If that's the best way to approach this."

Liz checks her gun, her car keys, and switches her 'emphasizes long, shapely legs' shoes to a pair more suitable to quick action.

Pat starts moving to the stairs. "The last time we spoke he had questions about Technology. I'd rather stick with the stairs."

Sarah leans against the car with the door half-open instead. "I think I'd prefer to be able to go to the apartment in a hurry. The car really isn't suitable."

Unnoticable Man says, "Sounds like a plan."

Demiurge says "Main stairs or back stairs, Pat?"

Hitherby's outside swarm hums quietly. "I will keep close track of him for you," she promises Sarah, "as soon as I figure out where he is."

Sarah agrees, "Thank you, Hitherby." It's a good thing she doesn't need too much reassurance.

Liz gives a chuckle.

Liz says "So, Pat seems to be rather better now."

Sarah blushes all the more brightly. "Er, yes."

Pat starts up the back stairs.

Unnoticable Man follows Pat.

Liz says "Good. I'm glad. It was utterly terrifying, watching him with Andre... *brr*."

Liz says "How are you doing, Sarah? You've been so supportive of all of us through this."

Demiurge says "Pat, Daimon, you reach the fourth floor safely. From your understanding of the place, Terethel's room should be just along the corridor and round to the right."

Sarah shudders, wrapping her arms about herself. "I don't know which would have been worse, listening or being there."

Pat walks down to the end of the corridor, and stops.

Hitherby, lounging on Pat's hat, feels not the least tired from all those stairs.

Unnoticable Man follows Pat just behind.

Liz orbits around, and gives Sarah a small squeeze.

Pat says "Hitherby, how subtly can you check corners?"

Demiurge says "Pat, Daimon, you can both smell fresh cigarette smoke."

<> Pat says "Terethel doesn't smoke."

<> Pat says "Shit."

<> Daimon says "We do, but that's beside the point."

<> Demiurge says "It smells like clove cigarettes."

Hitherby hums softly, "I do not understand your question. But I can move quietly."

<> Daimon says "Oh MAN. It's a Vampire Poser!"

Sarah turns another smile to Liz, then, and squeezes back without trapping Liz against her. "I've been quite all right, in general. It's good to have people to take care of."

<> Daimon says "I'm the goth one here!"

Unnoticable Man says "Clove smokes. Cute. How gothy of them."

Pat says "Can you divert a bit of attention around the corner and tell me what the hallway outside of Mubin's apartment looks like?"

Liz smiles. "Well, if there was ever a group that needed taking care of..."

Sarah hides a smile. "Yes. Well."

Sarah brushes futilely at her skirt. "I do wonder if they're watching my apartment."

Liz says "Probably."

Hitherby walks two bugs thoughtfully to the edge of Pat's hat and they jump, sailing down neatly to the floor with only one or two wingbeats to stabilize their descent. Then they crawl cautiously and quickly out (at the far side of the corner, unless it's a T) and peek.

Liz says "I talked to Azalea about it."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 4 6 CHECK: 3.

Pat reaches into his jacket and loosens his gun in the holster, just in case.

Liz deliberately doesn't look around for Azalea.

The corridor runs straight for a while, then turns back in parallel to the one Daimon and Pat are standing in. There is nobody in the part that Hitherby can see.

Sarah sighs aloud. "That's really rather unfortunate."

Liz says "She said there were eight of them, with four assigned."

Hitherby considers.

Liz says "Calabim of Nightmares, of all things. Not exactly a subtle tail, but..."

Sarah says "You, Daimon, Pat... and me, most likely. Unless they've found some way to track the Kyrios."

Liz nods.

Hitherby rules out invisible people using Occam's razor, crawls back to Pat, and buzzes up to his hat.

Hitherby says, softly, "No one I can see."

Pat says "Thank you."

Liz says "Azalea's following me. We have it worked out. Pat, Hitherby, and Jordan got the second."

Sarah adds, mildly, "I wonder why not Djinn..."

Hitherby, by the car, says, "If they can track me or Sephar, they can track both of us."

Liz says "I assume the ones assigned to you and Daimon are around somewhere, probably being more careful."

Pat steps around the corner, not quite skulking but still a bit cautious.

Sarah pauses.

There are no mysterious noises. The corridor seems empty.

Liz shrugs. "I've no idea. Another mystery, alas."

Sarah says "I wouldn't recommend Daimon use his credit card."

Unnoticable Man carefully follows Pat.

Pat heads for Terethel's door.

Liz says "Actually..."

Demiurge says "Make a Move Silently, Pat, or are you not trying to be overly silent?"

Sarah says "Yes?"

Liz tells Sarah about how Sephar changed the information in the Game records for Daimon and Pat's credit cards. And for the rest of us, too. Numbers are slightly off, other information. Just enough to really mess up an investigation.

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 5 4 CHECK: 2.

<> Pat blows it.

Demiurge says "Okay. All those in the corridor, make a Per roll."

Hitherby, by the car, hums smugly. Sephar is a Kyrio, after all, and this reflects well on all of us.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 3 3 CHECK: 6.

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 2 2 CHECK: 6.

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 6 1 CHECK: 2.

<> Daimon rolls the d666 and gets 3 6 CHECK: 3.

For a moment, Daimon and Pat perceive a flicker of shadow round the other corner, where the corridor bends again, as though somebody standing just out of sight there had shifted to try and see what was happening,.

Unnoticable Man stands still, trying to be unnoticable.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 5 4 CHECK: 1.

Sarah gives a reasonably pleased smile. "That was extraordinarily clever of Sephar."

Liz nods.

Liz says "Sephar is extraordinarily clever."

Liz says "I don't think it will keep them off us entirely, but it might mask some of our activities."

The radio makes a happy noise.

Sarah says "Indeed."

Pat frowns. "Eyes open." He keeps walking towards the door.

Unnoticable Man, trying to be unnoticable, follows Pat.

Hitherby hopes nobody decides to club Pat on the head.

The shadows by the corner do not move again. The door itself seems as normal as ever.

Unnoticable Man tries to get himself into position so he can see a little more about the shadows by the corner.

Pat knocks on the door.

Hitherby attempts to figure out how to close her eyes, as keeping them open somehow doesn't seem as clever when there is no choice.

Demiurge says "Daimon, as you shift position, you can see a woman standing in the shadows by the corner. She's African, hair cornrowed to her head, in a trenchcoat, elegant fine-boned features, _and you recognise that Vessel_. It's Ashley, a Sister of yours."

Sarah smiles toward the radio. "It should certainly do that. And, it's true, it would be rather difficult to keep them away altogether. It's been necessary to be a touch... noisy lately."

There is no answer to Pat.

Ashley watches Pat, eyes narrowed. She does not appear to have noticed Daimon's presence at all.

Unnoticable Man blinks.

Unnoticeable Man walks over toward Ashley.

Pat checks the doorknob.

Ashley doesn't track Daimon at all. Her attention is on Pat.

Unnoticeable Man sneaks behind her.

Liz nods.

Liz says "Very."

Demiurge says "Locked, Pat."

Liz says "How are things going, Hitherby?"

Still Ashley does not notice Daimon.

Unnoticable Man reaches up from behind Ashley, and puts his hand over her mouth, while at the same time whispering into her ear, "Don't scream."

Hitherby wing-mutters, outside, "Pat is nervous. I have not detected any concrete danger, however."

Pat never did too well in his B&E classes.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 4 4 CHECK: 3.

Ashley's eyes go wide. She murmurs, very sotto voce, "I'm not sure quite _which_ of my Sisters you are, but how badly do you Need it?"

Demiurge says "Daimon, try an Int roll to see how much you remember about Ashley."

Unnoticable Man says "Don't fuck with me."

<> Daimon rolls the d666 and gets 6 3 CHECK: 5.

Demiurge says "You remember that Ashley has done work for quite a few Princes, and picked up several attunements, but never War or Fate or Nightmares that you can recall. You don't remember her being currently Sworn to anyone. She's a tolerable person."

Daimon thinks that this makes no difference, he's not playing 'let's make deals' games.

Daimon is tense enough to throw her out the window right now, if he wasn't such a wimp.

Ashley says, soft, "Did he send you to look after him too?"

Demiurge says "Pat, Hitherby, try a Per roll."

Daimon whispers "No."

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 5 4 CHECK: 2.

<> Pat says "Damn."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 2 1 CHECK: 2.

<> Hitherby says "Hey, cool."

Demiurge says "Actually, you do hear what might be a faint whisper from round the corner, though it's difficult to be sure. Hitherby _does_ make out a definite murmur."

<> Pat says "Is Daimon still around?"

Ashley murmurs, "Then what the hell are you playing at?" Her hands are in the pockets of her trenchcoat.

<> Pat /failed/! Outperceived by Hitherby, oh the humility. :)

<> Demiurge says "Daimon is not next to you, no."

Pat blinks. Looks at where Daimon used to be.

Hitherby, with a heavy wingbeat and a momentary buzz, shoves Pat's head. Just a bit.

Pat looks towards the corner.

Unnoticeable Man whispers "Take your hands out of your pockets, slowly."

Demiurge says "Pat, from your angle, you can see Ashley now: she's standing very still, and Daimon is behind her, one hand over her mouth."

Ashley looks up, feeling Pat's glance, and her mouth quirks mockingly. She slowly slides her hands out of her pockets, showing them empty.

Hitherby adds, to Sarah or Liz, "Someone's talking nearby."

Pat walks in that direction, hands hanging at his sides.

Unnoticeable Man says "Very good. I won't pull the trigger on the gun in your back then."

<> Daimon says "She can't see me, so lies are fun."

Liz says "If you need us in there, Hitherby, just call."

<> Pat says "We've secretly replaced the gun at Ashley's back with a banana."

Liz looks tense.

Ashley says, mildly, "Somehow, I don't think you're the people I'm supposed to be trying to sort out. Can we talk?"

Hitherby, if she can see Ashley herself, gives a brief description to Liz and Sarah.

Unnoticeable Man says "You can talk all you want. Start by why you're here."

Pat comments, equally mild. "I believe that's possible."

Demiurge says "Everyone can now see Ashley."

<> Daimon grabs her needs.

Demiurge says "Roll, Daimon."

<> Daimon says "Skin contact! Wooo!"

<> Daimon rolls the d666 and gets 2 6 CHECK: 4.

<> Pat likewise goes for her heart.

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 3 6 CHECK: 6.

<> Pat says "SO. CLOSE."

<> Pat cries.

Demiurge says "Main need is to protect Terethel, Daimon. Also fulfil her contract, get to hang around on Earth, pick up a few Geasa, keep her Vessel intact, avoid the Game, don't get Mom into trouble."

Daimon . o O ( Hmmmm. )

Daimon lets go of Ashley, and takes a step back, back to being Unnoticable.

Ashley twitches, and takes a step to one side, to put her back against the wall.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 2 6 CHECK: 2.

Daimon says "Why protect him? And who is holding your contract?"

Pat moves to stand opposite Ashley, leaning against the other wall and giving her a healthy dose of PI Eye.

Sarah does not look all that worried. Just now.

Hitherby, outside, says, "Apparently there will not be bloodshed."

Ashley says, amused, "How badly do you need to know that?"

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 2 3 CHECK: 6.

<> Demiurge says "Pat, level 6 needs? :)"

<> Pat says "Yipes."

Sarah says "Oh, good."

Daimon says "I will happily fulfill your Need not to show you the direct route to your Heart."

Ashley says, "And I'll do the same for you. Isn't it fun to be Sisters?"

Liz asks Hitherby, "Celestial? Demon? If so, which band?"

Hitherby answers Liz, "Lilim."

Daimon says "Although it comes to my attention that your cooperation is negligeable in this matter, and that maybe putting you in handcuffs for a while and driving you out to a field to put a bullet in your brain might be a more feasible course of action."

Daimon says "My patience is thin right now. You've been warned."

<> Pat says "Main Need is to determine the situation. Higher Needs are to please Dominic, Redeem Daimon, and consider asking for a sabbatical."

<> Daimon bluffs like the wind, baby!

<> Demiurge says "Daimon, roll an Emote on this one? I'm not sure how good Daimon _is_ at convincing death threats."

<> Daimon rolls the d666 and gets 4 4 CHECK: 4.

<> Daimon bluffs like the wind, baby!

<> Daimon loves this acting thing.

Ashley says, more certainly, "Well, if the angel feels that he wants to kill me, he can go right ahead. Then again, the angel might be interested in a slightly better bargain."

Pat says "The angel is listening."

Ashley says, thoughtfully, "I haven't been in there yet. If he is dead, my contract's done, and I've gone and screwed it up."

Ashley says, "We take a look together."

Pat says "I want one answer first."

Ashley says, "I'll consider it."

Unnoticeable Man crosses his arms.

Ashley says, "What's the question?"

Pat says "If we're trading for it, it's immediate. No favors owed. I ask, you answer. You ask, I answer."

Ashley considers. "That sounds fair, except that there's one thing I won't give you an answer on. It just costs too high. No offence."

Unnoticable Man raises an eyebrow.

Pat says "That being?"

Ashley says, "You ask first, I tell you if I can answer or not."

Ashley says, "If not, you get another question. Then it's my turn."

Pat says "Who's the contract with?"

Ashley says, "And that's the question."

Pat says "I figured as much."

Ashley says, "I'll tell you that it's not a demon, and that's for free."

Pat lifts an eyebrow.

Pat says "Fair enough."

Ashley shrugs.

Ashley says, "Your cooperation would make things easier. We're not all bargain-dragging green brainless floozies."

Hitherby, outside, makes a grumpy noise.

Unnoticable Man grins a little bit. "Just most."

Liz blinks at Hitherby. "Something wrong?"

Ashley says, "Want a different question? That was for free."

Sarah leans patiently against the car.

Pat says "Why is he in danger?"

Ashley says, thoughtfully, "I wasn't told that, but I had the impression he knew something he shouldn't."

Ashley says, "Why do you think he's in danger?"

Unnoticable Man says "He doesn't answer his phone."

Hitherby wing-mutters softly, outside. "Pat is bargaining with her. I assess her as 'not a threat', but I am beginning to have concerns that -- with the number of non-threat demons we are interacting with, one will slip by who -- does not qualify."

Pat says "The last time I spoke with him he was asking questions about infernal Tethers."

Ashley nods.

Ashley says, "Okay."

Liz smiles a little bit. "I think I understand..."

Ashley says, "Want to go in together?"

Pat says "I seem to have left my tools at home. The door is locked."

Sarah says mildly, quietly, "It's all information. That may help later."

Ashley smiles, briefly. "I'm good with locks."

Hitherby explains to Sarah, "I would not like him to have a Geas on his soul. Not after the price we paid last time."

Pat says "Ah."

Ashley says, "Or how about the Invisible Girl behind me?"

Unnoticable Man says "If you can't see her, you don't have to worry about her, now do you?"

Pat smiles, thinly. "It's her first day on the job."

Daimon puts a mental sticky note on his brain - Kick Pat Later. Hard.

Ashley says, "I'll give her brownies and milk later." She moves away from the wall, heading towards the door.

Pat follows Ashley.

Unnoticable Man follows, getting pissed at the sheer number of people who know him too well.

Sarah replies, "Neither would I. I think we've all gotten accustomed to the idea of - not accepting candy from strangers, so to speak?"

Hitherby doesn't move. Pat is simply wearing an unusual hat.

Ashley goes down on one knee by the door, removing a set of thin wires from an inner pocket. She says, as she begins to fiddle with the lock, "Nobody picked it earlier. I checked for scratches."

Pat says "I noticed that, yes."

Unnoticable Man suggests "Any disturbances in the Symphony? Snipers from the building next door?"

Ashley chuckles, then frowns as she concentrates on the lock. "Nothing I know of. I only managed to get here an hour or so ago."

Unnoticable Man says "I read a thought puzzle a few weeks ago about a closed box murder. So it can be done fairly simply."

Ashley says, "You put a radioactive particle and poison gas in?"

Hitherby says, outside, "A moment." Then she drifts upwards to survey the windows on the fourth floor from the outside. Not that she expects to see anything, or that she's going to take a long look -- but broken glass or a wide-open entrance or shapes moving around that look furtive would be interesting.

Demiurge says "You can't see anything obvious, Hitherby. Some windows have their curtains drawn, some don't."

Unnoticable Man says "No, it's done with a slingshot and an open window."

Hitherby returns to Liz and Sarah. "No signs of non-professional breakin, and the lock was not picked," she comments to them.

Sarah says "That's detailed, at least."

Pat watches Ashley work, neutrally.

Ashley finishes, and there is a click. She straightens, and turns the handle: the door opens slightly.

Ashley slips her set of wires away.

Pat steps out of immediate line-of-sight, and motions for the other two to do the same.

Daimon moves out of LoS.

Liz orbits the car, keeping an eye out around the streets for signs of unusual activity.

Ashley slides back against the wall to the side of the door. She mouths to Pat, "Three, then I kick it open?"

Pat shakes his head. One foot lifts, and pushes on the door near the hinges.

Sarah leans patiently against the car.

Ashley nods. She stays back as the door slowly swings open, showing an empty corridor.

It's the typical apartment corridor, carpeted in a deep grey shade. There's a door off it to either side, and one at the far end.

Hitherby hums, idly, to Liz and Sarah, "What kind of Archangel hires a Lilim to protect an angel? Or why would Lilith do the same?"

Sarah frowns. "Pardon?"

Pat walks through the door, into the corridor.

Hitherby says "The Lilim was hired to protect Terethel, and not by a demon. She was very unwilling to reveal her client. That indicates an Archangel or Lilith, yes?"

The apartment is entirely silent. On the walls hang a couple of Japanese line drawings of mountain ridges.

Unnoticable Man follows Pat. Unnoticably.

Liz blinks at Hitherby.

Ashley moves in a couple of paces later, eyes flicking to left and right.

Liz says "Ah. Or an Ethereal, perhaps."

Hitherby says, outside, "Hm. Point."

Unnoticable Man looks into the rooms.

Sarah says, mildly, "Or a Soldier, I'm afraid."

Right-hand room seems to be a dining room and small kitchen, with no signs of disturbance. Left-hand room looks like a working study, and some sort of disturbance happened there.

Hitherby points out to Sarah, "She would not fear a Soldier or an angel."

Liz says "A powerful word-bound? She might."

Unnoticable Man walks into the study, trying not to touch anything.

Unnoticable Man looks down at the scattered papers.

Sarah says "Unwillingness to reveal her client does not necessarily reflect fear specifically of the client."

The room is dimly lit by the last of the light filtering through the drawn curtains. It is a simple mess: the computer monitor is cracked and tipped to one side, the table at the centre of the room overturned and magazines spilled across the floor, one chair shattered and two others displaced, a bookcase tipped away from the wall to spill books across the floor, a drawing table disarranged, and a wide smear of blood down one wall.

Hitherby bobs, outside. "Agreed. I was summarizing. It was important, seriously important, that the identity of her client not get out."

Ashley peers through the doors, as Daimon has done, and her lips tighten. She steps into the left-hand room, unconsciously avoiding Unnoticeable Man.

Sarah murmurs, "Doing work for a Soldier might be considered embarrassing. Remember that we're not altogether familiar with the mindset."

Unnoticable Man says "Pat."

Unnoticable Man goes to check out the computer. Even with it cracked, does it look functional?

Demiurge says "It does, Daimon, yes."

Demiurge says "In fact, it looks as if it's still on."

Hitherby wing-mutters softly, outside. "Cognition requires limits and hypotheses to function. Even thinking outside parameters requires those parameters."

Liz . o O (Uh oh...)

Unnoticable Man uprights the monitor, and slides behind the keyboard. What is running?

Sarah murmurs, "Yes, Hitherby, but we don't know this one's priorities."

Ashley eyes the uprighted computer, and watches the cracked screen.

Liz says, tensely, "Hitherby, what's going on up there?"

There is currently a browser running, and still up. It's got the url of a site with maps of the local sewer systems.

Unnoticable Man whips out his pad of paper, and starts making notes. He goes digging around in the browser history.

Demiurge says "Most recent: sewer system. Directly before that: another site re the sewer system. Directly before that: site of links to maps of sewer system. Directly before that: altavista search engine."

Unnoticable Man makes notes, and writes all the URLs down.

Demiurge says "Daimon, you can notice that the final url had been moved to a chunk of window focusing on a particular area of the sewer system."

Unnoticable Man opens up the cache and starts opening the cached web pages.

Unnoticable Man also copies the sewer map onto his notepad.

Demiurge says "There's a load of recent stuff about opera. Also some recent architectural digests. But most recently, all the sewer pages."

Unnoticable Man says, "Funky and Weird."

Unnoticable Man looks around on the drive for files - saved documents, spreadsheets, that sort of thing.

Ashley says, "Strange and unspeakable. What did he want down there?"

Daimon looks at Ashley, "There was a disturbance... yesterday... that came from underground. I would suspect this is part of it."

Demiurge says "There are a load of saved files, Daimon, but most of them seem to be graphics files like foundation.gif or the like. There's also a load of business letters and blanks."

Daimon says "I'll skim the letters with the most recent datestamps."

Ashley frowns. "And he knew too much about it."

Daimon says "We all know too much. That's the nature of the Game."

Pat looks over Daimon's shoulder. He frowns. Goes to look at the blood.

Hitherby answers Liz, "Daimon is talking to a machine. Apparently, Terethel wanted something underground where the disturbance was yesterday."

Demiurge says "The most recent letters are all related to Terethel's business identity: they're relating to commissions as an architect or civic planner."

Demiurge says "Daimon, make an Int roll."

Daimon lights a cigarette, sits back, thinking.

<> Daimon rolls the d666 and gets 3 1 CHECK: 2.

Demiurge says "You've realised that the dating on the browser urls relates to yesterday _morning_."

Daimon says "Pat."

Daimon says "_Pat_."

Liz says "Oh, hell."

Pat is examining the blood. How old does it look? "Yes?"

Daimon says "Pat, he's dead. He's been dead since the phone call."

Liz says "Ask Pat and Daimon if Sephar would come in handy."

Hitherby hums puzzledly to Liz, "Are telescopes normally found underground? I had understood him to be ..."

Demiurge says "Pat, the blood looks about twelve-eighteen hours old. It looks as if someone or something hit the ground and bled, then was dragged along to leave a smear."

Ashley swears, though perhaps in deference to Pat's sensibilities, it is not in Helltongue.

Sarah sighs mildly. "Generally."

Daimon looks at Ashley. "Hey, you're out of a contract. Think of the bright side."

Ashley says, "Yeah, I failed."

Daimon says "Hardly your fault. He was long dead before you ever arrived."

Pat squats, sighting along the blood smear to determine which way it was dragged. "I think a full story is in order."

Hitherby, outside, asks, "Liz, is it worth betraying my presence to the Lilim to do so?"

Sarah says "Telescopes are not normally found underground, no."

Daimon goes back to digging through the files.

Ashley says, "So what gives?"

Ashley begins to poke among the papers, in a helpful way.

Daimon says "I have a feeling this entire mess is not contained to Hell."

Pat says "How much do you know about Terence Mubin?"

Demiurge says "Pat, try an Int roll."

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 3 2 CHECK: 3.

Liz says "Good question, Hitherby. I don't know."

Sarah says "No, it most likely isn't."

Liz smiles. "Fortunately..."

Liz pulls out her cellphone, and dials Pat's cellphone.

Pat answers his phone. "Yes."

Demiurge says "Pat, you could theorise that someone was hit while at or near the desk, and then dragged away from it."

Liz says "Pat, Liz. Would you like Sephar's help up there?"

Demiurge says "This would fit the way the computer monitor had been damaged."

Ashley says, in reply to Pat's question, "Not much."

Pat says "It's a mess up here, Liz. Someone caught him at his computer."

Daimon says "Maybe you should cough up who you work for."

Pat says "David needs to know."

Liz says "Oh, dear God. Vessel Killed? Worse?"

Ashley shakes her head, once.

Pat says "Gone. No body."

Daimon says "Geased not to say?"

Liz says "I'll ask Sephar to come up through the phone."

Ashley says, "Indebted."

Daimon says "Hmph."

Daimon gets up away from the computer to search the rest of the apartment quickly and unnoticably.

Sephar flutes, from the radio, "Sure." There is a crackle as it moves from radio to phone, and up to Pat's phone.

Sarah glances at Liz, sharply. "What did he say?"

Liz smiles. "Thanks Sephar. You're a wonder."

Liz says "Pat, call if you need us."

Sephar says, from Pat's phone, "The computer? And anything else?"

Liz hangs up.

<> Hitherby says "Demi, as I understand it, there's a blood trail that sort of stops?"

Liz says "Terence is gone."

<> Demiurge says "Yes, Hitherby."

Liz says "He was caught at his computer, and dragged away."

Liz says "We need to inform his Superior."

<> Daimon is searching the rest of the apartment.

<> Demiurge says "Daimon, are there any things or items you're specifically looking for, or checking?"

Sarah frowns. "We need to learn what we can, first. His Superior may already know, I don't know what contacts Stone has here."

Liz nods.

<> Daimon says "Just making a pass through first to find, say, a BODY or some other interesting things."

Liz frets, mostly by walking round the car, widdershins, a few dozen times.

Hitherby hops a bug down, going off the edge of Pat's hat diametrically opposite to the Lilim, and wanders that way as quietly as she can. Attempts to sniff out what happened from there -- whether there's a scent trail, a path that there used to be blood on, or, well, anything that the Tracking roll I'll likely blow can tell me?

Demiurge says "Terethel's bedroom is nicely laid out. He wears silk pyjamas. No signs of disturbance, no hidden documents."

Hitherby will be walking, unless someone puts a foot too close.

Demiurge says "The kitchen is also neatly set out, with a good range of spices, vegetables that look at least a day old, and some nice sherries in the wine cabinet."

Daimon snags a banana if there is one and slips it into his pocket.

Demiurge says "There is a banana."

Daimon is but a peel, but still, sometimes you need to shove a gun into someone's back.

Demiurge says "Okay, Hitherby. Any scents are at least twelve hours old. There's the person the blood came from, and you think there may have been two or three others."

<> Liz is listening to the Titanic soundtrack through this. Her tension level is therefore heightened considerably!

Pat stands, turning to look at Ashley.

Daimon, if done, will return to the liberry.

Ashley tilts an eyebrow.

Pat says "How much is not much?"

Hitherby attempts to trace the strongest-smelling of them all -- unless you were reporting the end results of all such investigation, in which case she doesn't. :)

Demiurge says "That's the end result, Hitherby."

Ashley says, "I knew what he was, if that's what you're getting at, and I had this address."

Pat says "And that you were supposed to? Protect him? Watch him? Offer him a backrub?"

Hitherby hops up as high as she can without wings (on Pat) and climbs back up to the hat.

Ashley says, curtly, "Protect. What were you here for?"

Daimon, on return, will start searching the scattered papers.

Hitherby murmurs, outside, "There would appear to be two or three assailants."

Hitherby adds, "Then. Not now."

Demiurge says "Daimon, the papers all seem related to his work or leisure interests: architecture, opera, civic responsibilities.""

Demiurge says "There are some very nice architectural sketches there."

Daimon walks over, and starts searching the desk. He must have known SOMETHING.

Pat says "We've reason to believe he was in danger."

Demiurge says "Daimon, something clicks, as you catch sight of his phone, _and his answering machine_."

Daimon . o O ( What a weenie to be interested in CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES. )

Daimon walks over and looks at the flashing light. How many times does it flash?

It's flashing in a way that indicates two messages.

Daimon presses the button, thinking one is the message from Liz.

Pat queries Ashley. "Were you told what to protect him from?"

A deep male voice, with a friendly tone to it, says, "Terethel? Look, keep your head down. I'm checking it out. There's someone coming by who'll give you a hand: she's unconnected for certain. I've arranged a meeting. More later."

The machine then repeats Liz's message which she left earlier.

Ashley's eyes have moved to the answering machine. Her face tightens very sharply.

Daimon opens the answering machine, removes the tape, and pockets it.

Pat says "You recognize the voice?"

Daimon will play the entire tape on a regular player later.

<> Daimon says "Old messages, you know."

<> Daimon says "They may live on the tape."

Ashley says, "No, it is a total stranger to me, and you can see exactly how sincere I am about _that_ fucking much."

Daimon says "Seneschal of the Stone Tether, I would bet."

Ashley doesn't answer. She says, "I have to go."

Pat says "Not yet."

Ashley says, "My contract's void. If I hang around here, I'm in violation of certain arrangements that Invisible Girl there has to know about."

Pat looks at Daimon. "Is that true?"

Daimon says "I'm assuming she's geased to split."

<> Liz says "And the 'Titanic' soundtrack moves along to the point where the ship is sinking..."

<> Demiurge says "She is referring to Lilith pulling back all the Frees."

<> Daimon says "Oh yes."

<> Demiurge says "After all, if her contract's void, she's now Free."

Pat nods, then looks at Ashley. "Split."

Daimon says "She needs a new contract, or she's going to end up in Hell sipping Mai Tais."

Daimon says "Sucks to be Free in this day of Enlightened Interest."

Ashley tips a faint salute. "You dealt fairly, angel, Sister. I'll remember it." She turns, heading back for the door.

Pat pulls out his cell, dialing someone in Etecius' office.

Daimon smokes another cigarette.

Pat lights one of his own.

A secretary answers. "Can I help you, sir?"

Hitherby flutters out a bug, when Ashley has been gone a bit, to make sure that she is really gone.

Hitherby doesn't search the place, just checks the hallway outside the room we're in.

Ashley leaves the building via the back stairs. She is gone.

Pat rattles off the Role name of one of the Dominicans on staff. This is nothing to bother Etecius with.

Hitherby comes back and hums, softly, "There were between two and three assailants."

Daimon says, with some finality, "Our next stop needs to be the Stone Tether. Although I have no idea where that is at."

Pat nods to Daimon and wiggles the phone.

Liz will probably be very happy about that, given her impending appointment at the Trade Tether. (Hint.)

The Dominican is put through. "Steven Matthews here. What can I do for you?"

Demiurge says "(You know it's a Cherub of Judgement, one Stephan, Pat.)"

Hitherby says, "The Illustrious One of Stone will be pleased, at least, that a number of them were required."

Pat says "Steven. It's Patrick. I need a few names. One of David's boys got himself into a spot, and they need to know."

There's a brief pause, then the voice replies, "You probably need to talk to someone at the American Institute of Architects, then. You know, up at the Octagon House."

Pat nods. "Who do I ask for?"

Pat . o O ( We are Judgement. We watch. We know. )

Hitherby . o O ( We are Animals. Wait, that doesn't sound right. )

There's the sound of a riffling notebook. "Ask for Anna Serrar. She's a Cherub and the Seneschal."

The voice says, "Proper name's Sariel."

Pat drops into Enochian, briefly. "My thanks, Stephan."

Stephan sings back, "Between comrades, it is natural. Godspeed." He sets the phone down.

Pat hangs up the phone. Turns to Daimon. "How do you feel about walking into one of David's Tethers, Daimon?"

Daimon says "I think it will be a learning experience."

Pat nods. "You didn't happen to turn up anything resembling a spare key to the apartment, did you?"

Daimon says "No, unfortunately."

Demiurge says "The lock is deadfall, though."

Demiurge says "Set the bolt and close it, and it'll lock automatically."

Pat wants to be able to get back /in/.

Sarah leans against the car and frowns, a great deal.

Sarah says quietly, "Bellman's."

Liz nods. "We need to get in there, find out what they're up to."

Sephar mutters, from Pat's phone, "Or I could just work the lock for you."

Liz says "Or make sure they're in no condition to do anything locally."

Sarah says "And whether they have..."

Sarah trails off and simply nods toward the building.

Liz says "Oh... the catacombs."

Liz says "God... what an awful place to be."

Pat nods to his phone. "Good point."

Sarah says quietly, "We do know that we had followers."

Sephar hums a few tones, contentedly.

Pat does a last check of the apartment for anything that stands out as a clue.

Hitherby says, softly, to Sarah, "I am willing to go in. With Sephar, if possible, and with Daimon, if that trick of his -- is enduring."

Demiurge says "Alas, Pat, nothing stands out."

Liz says, quietly, "I don't know, Hitherby."

Sarah shakes her head, quietly. "That's not something we should try alone."

Daimon just follows Pat around, unnoticable.

Liz sighs. "And I'm reluctant to ask Azalea. For her to seem curious might attract attention..."

Sarah pauses. "What trick of Daimon's?"

Liz says "The glasses, Sarah."

Pat walks out of the apartment, then.

Daimon follows Pat right on out.

Sephar says, from the radio, "They're leaving the apartment."

Hitherby says, to Sarah, "I have been told that one cannot simply -- call in the Malakim and point them at the Tether. That it must be studied *first*. I suspect that the outside is not sufficient."

Liz says "Thanks, Sephar."

Sarah gives Liz a puzzled look.

Pat makes his way out of the building.

Sarah agrees, "It isn't sufficient, no. But perhaps best left to - considerably more thought."

Liz smiles at Sarah. "Notice how Daimon just sort of seems to be able to disappear on us? Marc gave him a pair of relic sunglasses. He puts them on, and he's not there anymore, so far as most folks are concerned."

Daimon follows Pat. Unnoticable.

Sarah glances around, puzzled. "He isn't..." She acquires a distinct frown.

Liz says "Can't you sense him?"

It is now about 7.30pm. A thorough investigation takes a while.

Pat walks out of the building, slouching considerably. These things always bring out the gumshoe.

<> Liz says "Demi, what time is my appointment with the Trade Seneschal?"

<> Sarah rolls the d666 and gets 1 2 CHECK: 3.

<> Demiurge says "In approx 20 minutes, Liz, which is enough time from where you are if you go within the next five minutes."

Hitherby hums quietly. "I continue to hold to the opinion that avoiding confrontation is not an effective strategy. Not because I do not appreciate the beauty of a day without battle, but because we seem to engage in many confrontations in any case, and none of them chosen."

Sarah glances toward the building, looking relieved. "Yes."

Liz says "Good."

Liz smiles at Sarah.

Liz says "I'm glad *someone* can keep track of him."

Sarah says "I agree that avoiding confrontation is not an effective strategy. Timing confontation and arranging it to our advantage, though..."

Pat walks over to Liz and Sarah.

Sarah gives a wry smile.

Hitherby says, to Sarah, "Perhaps if you could give an example."

Liz nods to Pat.

Daimon follows Pat. Unnoticably.

Hitherby says, from Pat's head, "Hi, Pat. You're back!"

Sarah distracts her attention to Pat, with some relief.

Pat says "Terethel is either dead or gone. Daimon and I are going to David's Tether. They need to know."

Liz nods.

Liz says "I need to get to the Trade Tether. I have an appointment."

Daimon says "I need to send a thank you note to Marc, though. Maybe I should just send it on."

Liz smiles. "I'll carry one for you, if you like, Daimon."

Daimon unnoticably whips out his pad, leans against Liz's car, and writes something up.

Liz says "Sarah, would you like to stay with Daimon and Pat, or come with me?"

Liz bets this is a no-contest.

Sarah says "I'll go with Daimon and Pat, if you don't mind. If only to protect David's people."

Sarah smiles.

Liz laughs.

Liz says "All right."

Daimon pulls the page off of his notepad and hands it to Liz.

Liz puts the page into her pocket without looking at it.

<> Liz says "Demi, is the opera playing tonight? If so, would Tania be there?"

Daimon smokes a cigarette. He still doesn't take off the glasses.

<> Demiurge says "Yes, and yes."

Liz opens up her trunk.

Liz says "Sarah, here."

Liz presents Sarah with a LOVE JUSTICE and a LIGHTNING JUSTICE t-shirt.

Sarah gives Liz a slightly puzzled look. Until she sees the shirts, at which point she laughs, flushing a little again.

Sarah folds them over her arm. "Thank you. Please don't mind if I don't change till after we've visited the Tether..."

Liz grins. "Daimon and Sephar's fault, I'm afraid. I just knew where to have them printed up in a hurry."

Liz says "Not a problem."

Liz fails to mention that balanced scales, which are on both shirts, are a symbol of Trade as well as Justice.

<> Demiurge considers calling this The Day Of Tether Visiting. ;)

<> Daimon says "Indeed!"

Sarah simply smiles.

Daimon says "Everything is, when it comes down to it, my fault."

Sarah blinks, and glances over at Daimon.

Liz grins at Daimon. "Don't get egotistical on me, Daimon."

Daimon says "No? Not even a little?"

Sarah reaches to adjust her glasses, and settles for rubbing her eyes instead.

Daimon is still unnoticable.

Liz says "Maybe a little, but not too much."

Daimon says "Oh, okay then."

Daimon just leans and smokes.

---

Fiat Justitia