Beware of Grandmothers

Demiurge says "Okay. Hitherby, Sephar, Pat, Sarah, and Daimon are in Pat/Sarah's car together, driving for the Octagon House that is the Tether of Stone."

<> Hitherby | "How many Kyriotates can you fit in a car?" "More importantly, how can you *tell?*"

Daimon sits in the car, pondering getting torn into itty bitty bits by servitors of Stone.

Hitherby pretends that she's driving and knocking down Calabim who leap out into the road.

<> Sephar giggles at Hitherby.

Pat watches the city go by, musing.

Sephar does not pretend to drive, or else it might accidentally possess the car, so just curl up in Liz's pocket and plays with the LED's on Pat's phone.

It is not hard to reach the Octagon House, it being past 7pm and the roads not too packed.

Hitherby is as always amazed at just how finely humans and humanized angels can steer a cahr just by pushing down one floorpedal or the other.

Pat locates parking with his keen perceptions, and indicates it to Sarah.

Sarah does the parking thing, and suggests that she stays outside with the car, to watch out for people who might be following them.

Hitherby hums to Sarah, "This is not necessary ..."

Sarah nods, then, and will go in with them.

Hitherby will leave a bug.

Pat steps out of the car, looking around for Calabim.

Demiurge says "Perception roll?"

Daimon steps out of the car, figuring he's gonna get flattened.

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

Demiurge says "No Calabim in sight."

Pat exhales, and looks at the ones who are not residing on his person. "Shall we?"

Daimon says "Sure."

Hitherby will be generous, and leave a whole 3-bug swarm atop the car.

Hitherby assumes formation, with the rest of her, on Pat's hat.

Pat walks up to the door of the House and knocks once.

Daimon follows Pat.

A small panel opens in the door, and a pair of eyes peer out. "I'm sorry, I'm afraid we're closed for the evening."

Daimon is wearing his HUG JUSTICE t-shirt, jacket draped over one arm. He turns around so the guy behind the panel can get a good look at the back.

Pat nods to the panel. "I am aware of this. It is imperative that I speak with Anna. It's about one of your membership."

Daimon does this in a very casual way.

Daimon, back to the door, blinks at traffic.

The pair of eyes peer at Daimon's t-shirt, then back to Pat again. "What name shall I tell her?"

Daimon turns back around, and gives the eyes a vague grin.

Pat says "Patrick will work. Tell her I'm a friend of the court."

There is a click as the panel slides shut again.

Daimon waits.

Pat adjusts his hat.

Hitherby hums, "Ahem."

Pat murmurs "Can you see alright?"

About five minutes later, there is a rattle of bolts, and the door swings open. A squat young man is standing behind it, in rolled-up shirt-sleeves and jeans, his hair buzz-cut. He says, "This way, please."

Hitherby hums, softly, "Yah." She's more or less around the edges, if the hat dips in the center.

Pat nods to the man, and leads the way into the House.

Daimon follows Pat.

The man pauses to close the door, and slide the bolts again, before he leads the way.

<> Pat checks out the man. He may be aware of the situation and in turmoil.

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

<> Pat, of course, would not know this.

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

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

<> Demiurge says "mmm hmmm."

<> Pat is afraid of that mmm hmmm.

<> Daimon just got resonated on by a Malakite, he bets.

The man's eyes flatten slightly, as he leads Pat and Daimon and Sarah through the corridors. The whole House is old, good architecture, with the occasional display case.

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

<> Sephar will likely just remain quiet unless the man attacks Daimon or something.

Daimon looks in the display cases.

Pat looks at the architecture.

In the display cases are architectural sketches or small scale models, famous ones.

Hitherby, with a nice 360 degree view, looks at everything. But sees very little.

The squat man comes to a stop in front of a door to which is attached a metal plate reading, "ANNA SERRAR, ASST. CURATOR".

He knocks on the door, and a sweet frail voice from inside calls, "Send them in, Ernest."

Ernest nods. He pushes the door open, and stands aside to let you in.

Pat nods. "Thank you, Ernest." He enters the office.

Daimon follows Pat.

Hitherby hums pleasantly to Ernest as Pat carries her in.

Ernest follows Sarah in, as she trails Pat and Daimon, and closes the door with a *shnickt*.

Sephar peeks out of Daimon's pocket as they go in.

Inside is an office strewn with lace doilies, little marble eggs, and architectural sketches: at the other side is a desk behind which sits a sixty-year-old woman with wrinkles and white hair.

Pat dips his head to the woman. "Good evening."

She is putting aside a piece of knitting as she rises from her seat, and her desk has one of those multiple-family-photo contraptions at the end.

Daimon does exactly as Pat does.

<> Pat gives Daimon a JudgmentCookie.

The woman says, "Good evening." Her voice is slightly cracked. "I understand you gentlemen wished to speak with me?"

<> Daimon says "Hey, I figure, Learn from the Master, man!"

Ernest lounges by the door, leaning against the wall.

Hitherby hangs on tightly as Pat dips his head.

Pat says "We did. In reference to Mr. Mubin."

She nods. "Please do take a seat, then. And perhaps you would be kind enough to introduce yourselves?" She lowers herself back into her own seat, folding age-spotted hands on the desk.

Pat finds a chair and occupies it. "Under which auspices?"

Daimon finds a chair near Pat's.

Sephar patters up onto Daimon's shoulder as Daimon sits down.

A note of acerbity enters her voice. "Under whichever you consider necessary to have my confidence. And that includes the mouse. Would you like some cheese, little one?"

Pat glances slightly and significantly at Ernest.

Ernest grunts.

Hitherby hums, cheerfully, "Hitherby, more or less. Domination of the Great One."

Sephar's ears go up and he squeaks, "Please, Ma'am. I'm Sephar, Dominiation of Lightning."

She nods, and reaches creakily down to one of her desk drawers, fishing out a slab of old cheddar, and a small bowl of slightly browning sugar. She places both on the corner of her desk.

Daimon will transport Sepharmouse to cheese, and then sit back down.

Hitherby turns to face inwards to evaluate herself, selects the most attractive dragonfly in the bunch, and flutters it down to the sugar to be admired and to eat. The rest turn back outwards.

Sephar squeaks, "Thanks!" to Daimon and then sits and nibbles cheese.

She says, "I am Sariel, Guardian of Stone, Seneschal of this Tether. You are Servitors of Judgement?"

Daimon waits for Pat to identify himself, mostly to figure out how he does it.

Pat turns back to the woman, face still. "I am Mazpatiel, Power of Judgment. My associate is Daimon, in service to the Most Just."

Sariel says, vaguely, "Your lack of full clarification on him is a trifle unusual."

<> Daimon stays nice and quiet.

Hitherby hums, "Actually, it seems to be fairly standard."

Pat nods. "I am aware of this. The situation is a trifle unusual. You have my assurance that all is in order."

Sariel nods. "Very well. Now, you have information concerning Terethel?"

Pat nods. "May I ask what your last contact with him was?"

Sariel says, "About three days ago, I think. He said that he had put some local angels onto investigating an appearance by Servitors of the Game."

Sephar meeps softly.

Pat says "Five days ago, he requested my assistance, along with others, to investigate said Servitors."

Sariel nods, listening. Ernest just broods.

Pat says "Two days ago, there was a disturbance in the Symphony, approximately southbound and beneath the surface. Several hours later, Terethel contacted me, inquiring as to a Vapulan Tether."

Sariel nods, brow wrinkling. "Yes, I heard something myself, but I could not leave the Tether at the time."

Pat nods. "Of course. Earlier this evening, we investigated Terethel's residence. Most notably, he was not present. In addition, there were several signs of a struggle, with an indicated end of a wounded body being taken from the apartment."

Sariel frowns further.

Sariel says, "Ernest, if you would be so kind?"

Pat looks sidelong at Ernest.

Ernest grunts again, nods, and opens the door, leaving the room.

Sariel says, comfortably, "Ernest will just pop up to the Catacombs and see if they've heard anything up there."

Hitherby whispers, softly, "There were two or three assailants. Which probably does not surprise you."

Sariel says, "Well, of course not. I mean, Terethel was only a lightweight, but even so, we do have _some_ standards."

Pat nods.

Hitherby chrisks agreeably.

Sariel says, "Would you like some tea, or coffee?"

Daimon looks mildly amused at the irony.

Pat says "Coffee, please."

Daimon says "No thanks."

Sariel nods. She gets out of her chair, and creaks over to the corner, where she puts a small portable kettle on and starts about making coffee. "Milk or sugar?"

Pat says "No thank you. It is possible though hardly probable that Terethel had attracted the same attention as certain others. Beleth has been setting her Destroyers at surveillance posts."

Sariel says, "Dear, dear. Go on, please." She continues to make some strong black coffee.

Pat says "One has been subverted. One has been destroyed. I do not know how many others are active."

Sariel finishes, and brings the cup of coffee across to Pat. She says, "Would you mind telling me why Beleth has set her Destroyers to do this?"

Pat says "Hell is at war with itself, moreso than usual. Factions are coming clear, alliances made. The incident at the Opera seems to have been a focal point."

Pat takes the coffee. "Thank you."

Hitherby flutters down a bug and kicks Pat's nose, but not very hard.

Hitherby flutters it back up. Focal point, indeed.

Pat crosses his eyes at Hitherbug. "Pun not intended."

Sariel eyes the bug, but makes her way back to her own seat, folding down into it.

Sariel said, "Did you find any useful information at his apartment?"

Daimon says "Yes."

Pat nods to Daimon, relinquishing speech to sip at his coffee.

Sariel gives Daimon a grandmotherly encouraging look, the sort that ought to come with cookies and hot chocolate.

Daimon says "From what I can tell, the servitor of Stone was busy researching several particular maps of the Washington DC sewer system at the time of his attack."

Sariel frowns. "Now why would Terethel be doing something like that?"

Daimon leans over, pulls his notepad out of the pocket of his coat, and flips to the corresponding page.

Daimon says "Well, he mentioned a Vapulan device. There was a disturbance underground. He was researching sewer causeways, and now he is most likely either being tortured or is dead. We have seen evidence of Vapulan and Game collusion. I believe they are all linked."

Sariel says, "I could wish that he'd been as eager to take notes and report in as you, young man. You're clearly very dedicated to your job."

Pat watches Sariel over his mug, resonating subtly.

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

Daimon gets a little grin. "Indeed."

<> Pat dances.

Sephar hides his eyes under his paws just a moment but then nibbles thoughtfully.

Daimon . o O ( Sephar is on to me! )

Demiurge says "Pat, her current emotional state is that she's worried about Terethel and the current situation. Her strongest emotions are concern and stubbornness. Their motivations are the War, Terethel, and her position as a Seneschal of Stone."

Demiurge says "List the action you want a reaction for. ;)"

<> Pat wonders idly how she'd react to knowing Daimon was a demon.

<> Demiurge says "Her first impulse would be to restrain him for immediate questioning, assuming there were no mitigating factors."

<> Pat will not mention this, then.

<> Daimon says "Let's not and say we did, Pat."

<> Pat says "Good plan."

<> Daimon says "I got me enough problems right now."

Sariel smiles. "Any letters, or messages, or anything like that? It's not _like_ him, not to report in or talk to someone. He's a very social person."

Pat says "Sariel. Can you think of any with an interest in protecting him?"

Sariel turns her attention to Pat. "Well, I would have, of course. And so would our Lord."

Sariel says, "And any Servitor of Stone, really. We are a united brotherhood, after all."

Pat looks at Daimon pointedly.

Pat then nods at Sariel. "Which is as it should be."

Daimon taps his notepad with his pen. "According to his secretary, he had not been in the day before, calling in and claiming he was sick. My theory is that he called in to do his research, and he was jumped after those who accosted him did the same as we - called his secretary."

Daimon looks at Pat, and raises and eyebrow.

Pat taps his jacket pocket.

Sariel nods, slowly. "I suppose it seems logical." She watches the cavortings and gestures with an aged female eye.

Daimon says "Occam's Razor. That is the simplest explanation for what happened."

<> Pat says "Mental note. Work on hand signals SOON."

<> Daimon cuddles his huge intelligence.

Sariel says, "Have you got another Kyriotate in your pocket, young man?"

<> Pat says "Cuddle it enough to understand my cunning judgment signs."

<> Pat smiles.

<> Daimon says "I'm trying to figure out what the hell you're trying to tell me."

<> Daimon says "You cryptic bastard."

<> Pat says "The tape you tucked into your pocket?"

<> Daimon says "OH. Duh."

<> Demiurge | Pat signs, "Draw your gun in your pocket, Daimon, we're going to have to take this place down."

Daimon pulls the tape out of his pocket of his jacket.

<> Sephar falls over laughing.

Daimon passes it to the Seneschal. "This was on the servitor's answering machine."

Sariel frowns at it. She turns it between her fingers. She says, "Hm." She finds a small tape recorder, and fits it into it, and listens to the messages play through.

Daimon says "The second is Zebina, Ofanite of Trade."

As Sariel listens to the first message, the male voice, a definite crease develops between her brows.

Sariel nods, absently.

Pat resonates.

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

<> Pat is clueless.

<> Daimon resonates on the Seneschal. Two can play at this game!

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

<> Pat says "She is ancient and inscrutable!"

<> arcangel says "Doing as well as Pat, eh?"

<> Daimon says "Your evil influence is messing with my dice, man."

Pat says "Do you recognize the voice?"

Sariel says, "Yes, I do." She reaches across to stop the tape. "Or at least, I know who it sounds like, but I can't understand why Christopher should be talking like that."

Hitherby makes a startled sound.

Hitherby says, "Christopher is dead."

Pat blinks and sets his coffee down. "Pardon?"

<> Pat says "There is Plot here, young Daimon!"

<> Daimon rushes to the logs to jog his braincells.

Sariel says, crisply, "I am very well aware of that, Domination. He was of our brotherhood."

Pat says "I was not. You have my condolences."

Daimon makes a few notes on his notepad.

<> arcangel says "Daimon is a *good* apprentice Servitor of Judgment!"

<> Daimon says "We are knee deep in plot, dude."

<> Daimon wants to learn a hand signal to convey that there message.

<> Pat would say the game is afoot, but that has improper connotations.

<> Demiurge snickers.

<> Sephar says "Quite."

<> arcangel just snickers too.

Daimon says "Does anyone know what projects Christopher was involved in?"

Sariel nods, briskly. Her face is unrevealing as she says, "I do not know offhand, no, except that he held the Word of Children. I would have to inquire of my Lord to know more."

Pat purses his lips, considering something. "I think that would be appropriate. There is an explanation required."

Daimon . o O ( Like why Christopher was hiring Frees. )

Pat . o O ( Bingo. )

<> Daimon says "I want HAND GESTURES."

<> Demiurge will see what she can do. :)

There is the sound of steps outside, and the door is yanked harshly open. Ernest stalks into the room, looking yet more moody than he did earlier.

Sephar squeaks quietly, "Children... Liz said something about children having nightmares recently, and we were looking into a supposed Vapulan possibility for that."

Pat looks at Ernest, expression flat.

Ernest says, gratingly, "Soul-dead. His Heart is shattered."

Sephar meeps softly.

Daimon simply takes a note.

Sephar squeaks, "I'm so sorry."

Pat nods, briefly. "He will be missed."

Hitherby says, quietly, "I am sorry, as well."

Ernest's expression doesn't lighten appreciably. He grunts, "Kind of you," as he settles back against the wall again.

Daimon says "Then the hypothesis was that he was removed to someplace where this could be done in private and in convenience. Possibly a Hell based tether."

Sariel says, "You say that he was asking about a Tether of Vapula?"

Pat nods. "The Hubble laboratory."

Daimon, who did not know this, writes this down. His notepad is going to turn into the Relic: Notepad of Plot at this rate.

<> Pat is not not not going to walk into a Vapulan Tether. Nuh-uh.

<> arcangel says "He doesn't want to see their line of tattoos?"

<> Pat says "Something like that."

Sariel nods. She taps a finger on the desk. "And do you know any reason he would have been investigating the sewers? Something else that he spoke to you about?"

Pat shakes his head. "Not that I recall."

Pat says "There is another matter that requires investigation, however."

Sariel says, helpfully, "Please go on."

Pat says "Christopher's 'assistance' did not arrive in time. She took part in our investigation, however. And refused to divulge her employer."

Daimon wonders if he should cough up her name.

Sariel frowns again. "What sort of assistance was this, Power?"

Pat says "Understand, Guardian, that I am speaking of investigation. No formal accusation has been levied."

Sariel says, "Naturally."

Sephar blinks just once over its cheese but keeps on nibbling quietly.

Pat says "The assistance in question was one of the Free."

Sariel's eyes go all the way from hazy happy turquoise to pinpoint frozen sapphire. From behind you comes the sound of a Malakite's jaws abruptly meeting.

Pat remains expressionless.

<> Pat tries to resonate Sariel again.

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

Daimon also remains expressionless, although the option to wet his pants has briefly crossed his mind.

<> Pat makes it this time.

Demiurge says "Pat: current emotional state: shock. Strongest emotions: unwilling belief that Christopher might do such a thing, knowing him, and concern as to what else he might have done, for his sake, and for other Stonies."

Pat says "You understand that the truth must be discovered."

Sariel says, flatly, "Of course," her eyes and face revealing nothing except blank agreement.

Pat nods. "If your Lord is not aware of this, he may wish to be."

Sariel says, "We will notify him at once. May I ask you to contact us if you find out anything relevant to this?"

Pat says "Of course. I would ask the same."

Pat produces his business card from a coat pocket and sets it on the desk.

Sariel nods. She spends a couple of minutes fishing round in her desk drawers before she finds a card of her own, which she offers to Pat.

Pat takes the card, pocketing it. "Thank you."

Daimon asks to reclaim the tape from the answering machine.

Sariel nods, reverting to grandmother mode. She offers it back to Daimon.

Daimon takes it, nods, and slides it back into his coat pocket.

Sariel says, "Is there anything else that I can do for you gentlemen?"

<> Demiurge has three words. David. Binah. Grandmothers.

<> Sephar grins.

<> Daimon says "YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAH!"

Hitherby says, quietly, "Sariel, I do not believe that you will accept this offer. Nor am I pleased to be making it, in truth. But should you choose a retaliatory strike against the Prince of Technology, and if you desire it, I will assist. I say this, I make this offer, in all truth, so that you will know that -- even those he knew very little earned that much from him. As a part of his memory."

Sephar squeaks quietly, "As will I, of course."

Sarah nods quiet agreement.

Sariel reaches over to pet the mouse, with a granite-hard finger. "Thank you very much, my dear. That's a very kind thought, and I may well ask for your help in the matter. For the moment, I'll be grateful for anything you can find out."

Sariel says, "Thank you. All of you."

Pat stands. "Justice will be done, Sariel. There is no other option. I thank you, for your time and assistance."

Sephar rubs gently against her finger and nods.

Daimon stands up, just like Pat.

You paged Sephar with 'When she pets you, you do get the impression that though she _looks_ old and frail, she's about as solid as granite, and would hit as hard.'.

Hitherby gathers her dragonfly from the sugar bowl back to the hat.

Sariel rises herself. "Go in unity."

Daimon reaches over to retrieve young Sepharmouse.

Ernest grunts again, and hauls the door open.

Sephar patters quietly to the edge of the desk, nearest Daimon.

Pat nods, respectful. "In His name."

Sephar hops into a pocket and curls up quietly.

Hitherby pretends to be driving the PatHat, knocking down Calabim who leap out into the hallway.

Sariel nods again.

Pat turns, nodding to Ernest as he departs the office.

Daimon follows, and does the exact same thing Pat does.

Sarah accompanies Daimon, quiet as she has been.

Ernest escorts the visitors out, trailing behind like a good Stone Malakite who's just lost a fellow-Servitor.

Daimon shrugs on his jacket.

Ernest opens the front door, undoing the bolts, and holds it. He grunts, "Keep us informed. Terethel was a wimp, but he was our wimp."

Sephar gets a good look at Ernest while he's still in view, for later, perhaps.

Pat turns, at the outer door, and looks at Ernest. "He was a good person."

Daimon blinks at Ernest. Once. Twice.

Ernest says, meaningfully, "Yeah."

Pat nods.

Ernest waits, patiently. Outside it is full dark.

Pat leaves the House, reaching into his overcoat.

Pat checks again for Calabim.

Daimon has already had dusk essence and wasted it, but it's nice to see the night again.

Demiurge says "Roll, Pat."

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 1 3 CHECK: 5.

Demiurge says "Can't see any Calabim, no."

Pat frowns. The hunters of the night are cunning and stealthy.

Daimon says "What now, fearless leader?"

Daimon, standing out in the parking lot, lights up a cigarette.

Sephar says "Should we look into the sewer area?"

Sephar says "See what connects to it or whom? Or something? The Hubble base is way out of the city, so I don't think there's a direct connect there, but it bothers me."

Sarah does not chide Daimon on the cigarette. She's never heard of a vessel getting lung cancer.

Daimon says "No. We do not physically go."

Pat lights a cigarette of his own, looking out into the night. "Dead Davidians. Word-bound angels hiring the Free. War. Rebellion. I need to think."

Daimon says "Not at night, not unarmed."

Sephar chirps, "Okay."

Sarah murmurs absently, "We're not unarmed."

Daimon raises his eyebrow. Something about really big Word-bound angels hiring the Free.

Daimon says "_I_ am unarmed. And I'm a huge target."

Pat says "Tell me about the Lilim, Daimon. Specifically the one at Terethel's."

Daimon says "Her name is Ashley, and she is a Free I'm associated with. She's been known to work around, has picked up a nice little cache of attunements and skills. She was not interested in getting dragged back to Hell by Lilith, so she took the job. As long as she was employed, she had an excuse to be on the move."

Pat nods. "Any consistent contracts?"

Daimon says "Not that I am offhand aware of."

Sarah wonders, quietly, "How many Free have been hiring out to Heaven?"

Pat nods.

Pat looks around, alert through the screen of smoke, just in case a Calabite shows up.

Daimon says "Hell if I know. You'd have to ask someone. Like Marc."

Pat removes his phone and dials Liz.

Daimon settles on the hood of the car.

Sarah smiles to Daimon. "I wasn't expecting an answer. Only curious."

<> Pat says "Out of curiousity, is there a difference in Heart-shattering when a celestial is soulkilled as opposed to Falling/Redeeming?"

<> Demiurge says "What an interesting question. No, you can't tell the difference from the remaining shards."

<> Pat says "Oh, HELL."

<> Daimon says "Precisely."

<> Demiurge says "If someone had been watching the Heart at the time, they might be able to see otherwise, but that doesn't happen often."

<> Daimon says "Our brains work in tangent."

<> Pat is going to be distinctly upset if he runs into an Impudite with a taste for opera.

<> Pat nods to Daimon. "Judgment mindmeld."

<> Daimon says "At least he'll be well dressed."

Daimon sits there, on the hood, knowing that he survived scrutiny from a Malakite of Stone without a hiccup, trying to decide what to do next.

Daimon is leaning toward getting shitfaced, actually.

Pat listens to the phone ring.

<> Pat says "Clearly, Terethel has been working with the Game all along.The Opera was a ploy to get rid of some of the angelic forces in the area."

<> arcangel says "Paranoid PC."

<> Pat says "It makes sense!"

Daimon ponders. "We need to go back to the Opera house."

<> Pat says "When we succeeded, it threw the timetable out of whack, and he staged his own disappearance to continue to work with the Game as a Fallen."

Pat says "Hm?"

Daimon sucks nicotine and tobacco.

Sarah asks softly, "For what in particular, Daimon?"

Daimon taps his finger on the hood of the car. "We still don't know why Focal's was investing there. I mean, Fate, Nightmares... an Opera?"

Pat says "They were there because of the Kobalites, I thought."

Daimon says "Does it not strike you irregular that there was more interest there then just putting down Kobalites?"

Hitherby hums, "Investigation is good. Although one might guess that they were hoping Kobal would move to protect his Renegades if the Game grew near."

Daimon wonders. He closes his eyes and lets his brain go to work.

Pat says "There was more interest?"

Sarah says quietly, "It might be interesting to find out when Focal's invested, in relation to when the Renegades moved in."

Daimon says "I remember, distinctly, picking up Needs about investment. Now, they had started investing purely days before we all got there. I passed it off as a cover story."

Daimon says "As a cover story it makes sense. They needed a reason to get in there and track down the Renegades. But I just want all bases covered."

Pat nods. "Sensible."

Daimon says "Based on what we know about Focals, they weren't Renegade hunters, they were laundering money. These are not hunter-killer types, and the Game is too specialized for this kind of cross purpose work."

Hitherby admits, "We still don't know why the playwright died."

Pat says "Hm. They'll be in the middle of a show at the moment."

Daimon says "We basically walked away from the Opera, knowing just as much as when we walked in."

Daimon pokes and prods the air with his cigarette. "It's a better lead than going through the sewers or walking up to a Mafia Don right about now."

Sarah agrees, "That is true."

Daimon frowns. "I would like to know what Vapula is working on, or what the angle is here."

Daimon shrugs. "There are too many leads right now, actually. At least for us to cover in adequate time."

Hitherby says, "Then we need to apportion ourselves out so that the appropriate people address each."

Pat says "I was hoping, in this, to allow Stone the chance to take care of its own. I did not expect this turn."

Daimon says "Your man is probably _dead_. He was probably tortured for information and murdered. That is more rational then forced Falling."

Pat nods. "Quite probably, yes. There is still the matter of Christopher."

Daimon says "So we have Focals, Bellmans, Sancuzzi, the Hubble Telescope, the Opera, Stone, Frees running around, the Lust-Media and possible Humor alliance, Civil War in Hell, and no answers."

Hitherby adds, "We also wish to startle the Focals people into a run for the Game Tether -- I had thought you had some plan where that was concerned?"

Daimon says "I had a theory about making fake email. Oh, and my own personal death warrant. Let's not forget that."

Pat says "Pardon?"

Pat hangs up the phone. "This is an unwise place to plan."

Sarah murmurs, "I want a library." She stretches both hands, thoughtful.

Pat looks at Sarah. "There's one a few blocks from here."

Daimon says "We need to go somewhere and sit and think."

Daimon . o O ( And get shitfaced. )

Daimon thinks about suggesting Sistine's.

Pat . o O ( We're on the job. No drinking. )

Daimon does in fact do this. "If we go to Sistine's, we can get food."

Sarah suggests, "The two of you could sit and think while I research."

Daimon points out that Kobalites do their jobs better while shitfaced.

Pat says "Sistine's is a poor choice at the moment."

Daimon says "Why?"

Daimon says "Too many people?"

Sarah glances to Pat. "Why?"

Hitherby says, "One reason we're not progressing very fast is that we're avoiding the enemy. As we *didn't* do on our most informative trip today, because worry for Terethel overrode our paranoia."

Daimon says "Hitherby, I can't afford to end up in Trauma right now."

Pat nods to Daimon. "It's a night for subtlety."

Daimon says "Back to Pat's apartment? I don't think Libraries will be open right now."

Hitherby suggests a park she knows. "They don't mind bugs there, and there's a little human-eatery-place nearby. It has lots of bugs, too."

Pat makes a face.

Daimon tosses up his hands. "Look, anything is better then HERE."

Pat looks at Sarah. "What sort of research?"

<> arcangel . o O (Library-Tethers are always open to Servitors of Destiny.)

Sarah replies, "I was thinking of looking a touch into Focal's again. And crossreferencing with Bellman's. And the Hubble, and the Opera, for that matter. Daimon and I made a list earlier."

Pat nods. "Could you drop us at home, then?"

Hitherby says, thoughtfully, "Daimon, you do realize that your point is more or less irrelevant to mine?"

Sarah agrees, "Oh, certainly." She smiles.

Daimon says "Yup."

Hitherby hums quietly. "Okay."

Pat dials Liz, as the Golf moves through the streets.

Liz answers her phone, "Hello?"

Pat says "Liz. It's Pat. There is news."

Liz says "Go ahead."

Pat says "We're on our way from David's. Terence is Heartbroken."

Liz says "Oh, no."

Liz says "Any more information on how?"

Pat says "No. But we've found who hired the woman."

Liz says "Who?"

Pat says "Christopher."

Liz says "Good God."

Pat says "Yes."

Pat says "It will be investigated."

Liz says "Does anyone have any idea of what Christopher or Terence were up to?"

Pat says "Unfortunately, no. Terence was not the sort to give regular reports, and the only information on Christopher is his recent passing."

Liz says "All right. The maps Terence had, do we have a pinpoint on whether or not they are congruent with the disturbance the other day?"

Pat says "They are. This is unsurprising."

Liz says "We should investigate immediately."

Pat says "I intend to start the process as soon as we reach my apartment."

Liz says "All right. I'll meet you as soon as I get Talia safely to Sistine's."

Pat says "The girl from the Opera?"

Liz says "I want her to be introduced to Marath as quickly as possible. I don't think it's safe for her to be walking around with the knowledge she was taught without protection."

Liz says "Yes, the singer."

Hitherby hums approvingly in Pat's car, able to hear both ends of the conversation. "So we will arm ourselves more and go that way?"

Pat says "I agree. Daimon has suggested the opera be investigated further. I suggest that be slated for tomorrow."

Pat blinks at the nearest Hitherby.

Hitherby says, "Liz said we should investigate immediately."

Hitherby hums in faint confusion. "I guess I misunderstood."

Liz says "The opera can wait. I'm not sure the girl can."

Pat nods to Hitherby, and speaks into the phone again. "Of course. Are you on your way there now?"

Liz says "Yes. I'll be at the opera shortly. Sephar and Hitherby are with me, and can let you know if I run into trouble."

Pat says "Perfect. We'll see you shortly, then."

Liz says "Indeed. Godspeed, Pat. Take care of yourself."

Pat says "Godspeed."

Liz hangs up, and gets a move on over to the opera.

<> Demiurge is afraid the opera runs till 10 pm, so unless Liz wants to haul Tania out partway through, you're going to have to wait timewise till then. It's now about 9pm.

Pat slips his phone back into a pocket.

Liz is, at the very least, going to have a look at the opera. Tania's probably safe until it's done, assuming she's at the opera and out onstage, but the instant it's over...

Demiurge nods to Liz.

Demiurge says "The opera itself seems to be running nicely. :)"

Liz says "Good for it."

Liz is happy that the departed composer's work is going so well.

Liz presumes she can, somehow, get inside?

Demiurge says "Sure, Liz."

Demiurge says "You can get in through the stage door, as they recognise you. ;)"

Liz gets in, walks around backstage, keeping an eye on things, looking for Tania.

Tania is in her place in the chorus, and seems happy and cheerful enough.

Liz gets to a quiet place backstage where she won't be audible from anywhere else, dials Pat.

Pat answers the phone, immediately after unlocking the apartment and letting people in.

Pat says "Yes?"

Liz says "Pat, Liz."

Pat says "Hello."

Liz says "Opera's about an hour away from being over, and it'll be about thirty minutes after that before I can drop Talia at Sistine's. I'll be at the Metro station about ten minutes after that."

Pat says "Alright."

Liz says "Bye."

---

Fiat Justitia