Party Time

It is early evening when Aron descends at the Monument. Aucune, who is passing by, informs him that Azalea came down shortly earlier.

Aron nods his thanks. "I will be back," he says, "when circumstance allows. I would bend Phaleris' ear when he has the time."

Aucune nods. "I'm sure he'll be glad to hear about it. Walk safely, Taroniel."

Aron says "And you, Aucune."

Aron gathers himself up, stretches into his body, and drives the Audi towards Sistine's.

The Audi driven by Aron arrives at Sistine's at about the same time as Shannen and Zebina. Fortunately, there is room for both in the parking lot out back.

Sepharpigeon peers down from the roof at all the folks driving in.

Liz steps out of her car. "Hello, Aron. It's good to see you looking well."

Aron nods. "And you." He looks around. "It seems odd to be back."

Shannen is a bit slower to getting out, smiling brightly "Hi Aron." She tilts her head a little "Odd?"

Sepharpigeon waddles to the edge of the roof and then flutters down to land on Liz's shoulder, whistle's the notes of its name.

Aron nods. "The time spent elsewhere was thick." He turns towards Sistine's. "Shall we?"

Liz pats Sepharpigeon. "Hello Sephar. It's good to see you, too."

Liz says "It was."

Sephar rubs its cheek against Liz's and just settles contentedly.

Liz heads into the restaurant, leaving Sephar on her shoulder.

Shannen follows after Liz, smiling at the pigeon "Cute." and then to Aron "Thick?"

Tania is sitting in the kitchen, well out of Marath's way. She's in a black miniskirt and waistcoat, with striped tights and Doc Martens, and is tapping her heels to a Discman while studying a piece of music.

Marath is in the middle of cooking stuff. She pauses to wave a spoon at the angels, and say, "Aron! Good. Azalea's upstairs if you want her."

Liz says "Thanks Marath."

Liz says "Hi, Tania. How're you?"

Sephar balances easily on Liz's shoulder, looking about.

Shannen grins "Hello Tania, Marath." and plops down somwhere out of the way. "What's going on?"

Tania has her head in her music and the discman, and doesn't notice people coming in. She hums to herself.

Shannen shakes her head at Tania, grinning and then stands up to walk over to her. "Tania?" a bit louder.

Tania blinks, looking up startledly, then turns the discman off and slips the headphones down. "Oh, hey, hi."

Liz says "Hello, Tania."

Aron flashes Marath a smile. "And a fine hello to you, Marath." Wryly, he makes for the stairs and jogs up.

Tania looks across. "Hi. Ah, I'm sorry I couldn't get back to you earlier, I only just found out where they're having the party. It's over at Chris' flat."

Liz says "That's fine."

Liz smiles.

Aron strolls down the hallway and knocks on Azalea's door.

Tania nods again. She slips the headphones off and coils them into her pocket. "Chris is having a sort of retrospective housewarming because he's got a new boyfriend. It's going to be very vinyl."

Azalea answers, "Come in."

Liz says "Oh, what kind of retrospective? Seventies?"

Upstairs, Aron steps into the room. "Good evening," he murmurs.

Sephar mutters softly by Liz's ear. "Vinyl. I should find a Crow, perhaps."

Liz laughs softly.

Sepharpigeon ruffles, pleased and watches the door for someone to approach it. When someone does, it flies out and looks for a crow, or a raven or a black bird flying about.

Upstairs, Azalea looks up from her reading, a large tome.

Tania says, "Sort of. All the music's going to be records. Some people were saying they were going to do costume, too, but I think they'll chicken out."

Upstairs, Aron raises an eyebrow, curiously. "Interesting reading?"

Upstairs, Azalea says "Not terribly."

Outside, after some searching, Sepharpigeon spots a crow preening itself.

Upstairs, Azalea says "The Old Testament."

Upstairs, Aron nods. "The old kingdom."

Upstairs, Aron says "You might have liked those days."

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

Liz says "Hmm. Perhaps I should have gone for something more retro in look."

The crow's consciousness is banished to the Marches, and Sephar controls its body.

Shannen smiles at Liz "Don't worry about it."

<> Sephar keeps the pigeon to stay on the roof and the crow flies back to Sistine's and perches outside, watching.

Tania really looks at Liz for the first time. "No, no. You look really good." She blinks. "Yeah."

Upstairs, Azalea says "It's possible."

Liz says "All right."

Upstairs, Aron nods. "I can show you, sometime, what it was like."

Liz says "I'd like to give Aron a minute or two more alone with Azalea. Then I'd like you to tell them as much as you can about the drug."

Shannen takes a seat "How've you been, Tania?"

Liz says "They both specialize in dreams, you see."

Tania hesitates, then nods. "Okay. But how do you know it's not just a drug drug? Something like E or pot?"

Liz says "We don't."

Liz says "I'm hoping it is. If it's legal..."

Shannen sits quietly, listening.

Liz smiles. "Then maybe I have an in on a great new product."

Tania nods. "Yeah, I guess I hadn't thought of that.

Tania says, "And you'd do it as fair trade, responsibly and everything?"

Upstairs, Aron glances about the room, and then back. "Zebina has some information on a potentially interesting drug."

Liz says "Oh yeah. And your friends and whoever came up with it would get a fair percentage and everything."

Upstairs, Aron says "I was going to join her downstairs to learn more. You're welcome to join us."

Upstairs, Azalea says "We've spoken about it."

Tania nods.

Upstairs, Aron nods. "Update me?"

Upstairs, Azalea says "Why would I update you, when Zebina is the source of the information, and she's right downstairs?"

Upstairs, Aron says "So that I have your thoughts in hand when I speak with her."

Shannen keeps a straight face. Yup. Then speaks, smiling "What music is that, Tania?"

Upstairs, Azalea says "I haven't been thinking about it."

Tania brightens. "Nozze di Figaro. I'm working on Susanna's part."

Upstairs, Aron looks wry. "I see. Away with me, then." He nods and takes his leave.

Shannen grins. "Cool. I know the name Figaro, but that's about all. What's it all about?"

Aron exits Azalea's room and heads town the stairs.

Tania grins. "Well, it's about the Count and how he's used to exercising the droit de seigneur and how Figaro manages to keep his fiance Susanna safe and get the Count back to the Countess who's still in love with him."

Tania says, "And there's lots of other stuff going on, too, but that's the main bit."

Liz smiles.

Sephar pages: Is there a window near Liz and Tania?

Tania says, "It's Mozart, of course."

You paged Sephar with 'Yes. And it's even a little open.'.

Aron quietly procures a cup of coffee - black, of course - and heads for Liz's table.

Shannen blinks and nods "I know Mozart." she smiles "I'll have to make a note to go to see it. How else are you?"

Sepharcrow, after waiting a while, flies over to a window near Liz and Tania and, on finding it open, squeezes in and flutters to land on Liz's shoulder again.

Liz says "How are things with Azalea, Aron?"

Aron says "As they always are. Well."

Sepharcrow settles contentedly in the same spot the pigeon was in and watches and listens with beady black eyes.

Tania says, "Oh, I'm fine." She looks up at Aron.

<> Azalea says "Aron lies."

<> Aron says "Aron skillfully manages the truth."

<> Demiurge says "Aron can lie if he wants to. :)"

<> Sephar says "He's not a Seraph. "

Aron says "Today's flavor of well is different from yesterday's, of course."

Shannen smiles "Great." and follows her gaze to Aron as well, raising an eyebrow "That's a creative answer."

Aron offers Tania a slim hand. "We haven't met. My name is Aron Riel."

Aron slants a wry look at Shannen but says nothing.

Liz decides to let it go at that.

Shannen grins back brightly.

Tania takes his hand nervously. "My name is Tania. Tania Sheridan."

Tania says, "Are you an angel too?"

Aron raises an eyebrow. "Do I seem so bright as that?"

<> Hitherby | Tania says, "Actually, judging by the angels I know, it's more a question of how dim you seem."

<> Sephar falls over laughing.

Tania says, "Um. I'm not sure. You don't look shining. But all the others are angels."

<> Eduardo says "I think it's a good thing Tania has never met Eddie."

<> Demiurge says "True. He might blind her. :)"

<> Shannen coughs politely.

Aron glances at Liz. "Am I an angel?"

Shannen coughs politely.

Liz says "I suppose some might argue, but giving you the benefit of the doubt, yes."

Liz smiles as she says this.

Aron looks wry.

Liz says "One who keeps impressive company, I might add."

Tania blinks. "I thought Marath said we were all equally close to God."

<> Shannen says "But some are more equal than others. 8|"

Sepharcrow bobs at what Tania says.

Shannen nods, smiling "We all are. Liz is just joking around a little." She sticks her tongue out at Liz for a second.

Aron says "But a person can be impressive, and just as close to God as you or I."

Tania nods. "That's true. Gavin - my teacher - is very impressive."

Liz looks unperturbed.

Liz says, very gently, "I'm certain he is."

Shannen puts on a look of calm. "How are you, Aron?

Aron says "Quite well."

Aron sips his coffee and glances at Liz. "About this drug?"

Tania closes her score of music, and bundles it into a shoulder-bag. "Just how many people are _coming_ to this party?"

Shannen gives Tania a very sympathetic look and bundles herself out of the way of the Malakite on a mission. "I..don't know. I haven't invited anyone--Liz?"

<> Shannen says "Poor Tania. Being abused by all these angels."

<> Demiurge says "Hey, nobody said being a Soldier of God would be easy."

Liz smiles at Tania. "Your choice, Tania."

<> Aron says "It could be argued that it is, by definition, difficult."

Liz says "I would like to go. I would like either Aron or Azalea to have a look. I think Shannen would like to go just because she like parties."

Tania thinks. "I may be able to get three people in, okay. It's just that it's not _that_ big a party, and I thought you'd want to be not too obvious."

Shannen smiles at Liz and then nods to Tania.

Liz nods. "I had not planned on bringing a crowd."

Sepharcrow murmurs, "I should just stay here, then?" to Liz's ear.

Aron asks, quietly, "What sort of a party is this, Tania?"

Tania looks at Aron. "I'm not sure about how big a drug it is. It's just this stuff, called Vision. I tried some. It gave me really good dreams." She pauses. "Oh. It's just a party. Sort of a housewarming but too late."

Liz grins at Sephar. "I don't know what the invitation status is vis a vis crows."

Tania says, "It's going to be all vinyl music, and Belle and Thomas should be there, and they were the ones who had it before."

Liz says "What do you think, Tania. Would people mind if I had Sephar on my shoulder?"

Tania says, "I bet nobody else will bring a crow. Zeffie brought an iguana last time, but it got into the kitchen."

Shannen eyes Liz for a second and then smiles.

Liz says "Mmm. Hear that, Sephar? We'll put you on iguana guard duty."

Aron considers. "Tania," he says mildly, "I'd like to ask you a favor. And I'd like to ask it before you use this drug."

Sephar bounces.

Tania nods, sits up straight, and folds her hands in her lap.

Sephar caws mild laughter at the guard duty bit, though.

Aron says "I'd like to visit your dreams."

Tania swallows.

Tania says, quickly, "Okay," then shuts her mouth again.

Aron reaches out and touches a finger to Tania's brow lighty. "You are allowed to say no, Tania."

Tania's eyes cross at the finger for a moment. "I may be, but..." she hesitates. "It might be important, or you wouldn't ask me, would you?"

Aron nods. He settles back, quietly.

Tania says, nervously, "Okay, then. Is this now, or after I take some of the stuff, if we can get it?"

Aron says "After."

Tania nods again.

Sepharcrow just watches with beady black eyes.

Tania glances up at the crow. "You're one of the bodiless angels, the possessers who dominate people?"

Sephar bobs at Tania in agreement.

Tania rubs at her head.

Tania says, "Okay."

Sephar cocks its head.

Tania says, "Well, this is just so weird, you know? I just have to accept it and try and keep on going."

Tania says, "I guess."

Sephar bobs another nod, then caws a rusty, "Yes."

Tania checks her watch.

Sephar hops to the table, pecks a few crumbs.

Tania says, "What time do you want to get there? Near the beginning, medium, or lateish?"

Aron considers. "When is convenient for you?"

Tania shrugs. "Any time, really. I'm not doing anything this evening." There's a faint trace to her of someone trying to act like a cool, calm, collected Bond heroine.

Liz says "What time would you normally arrive?"

Tania says, "Medium, I guess. That's when most people will be getting there."

Liz says "Then Medium it should be."

Liz says "Tania, don't be too concerned."

Aron says "We're not really so embarassing as that."

Tania blinks. "I didn't say you were, did I?"

Shannen smiles "I can keep them in line. Well, no, I probably can't. But I'll try."

Sepharcrow chuckles softly.

Tania shrugs. "It's only people there. I mean, they're people I know. _They_ aren't going to be demons."

<> Sephar says "Poor, innocent girl-chick."

<> Shannen nods and cuddles her.

<> Sephar ahems.

<> Demiurge laughs.

Shannen nods, smiling "I know. Uggh. Well, I'm there to socialize. Okay, new subject before we all stress out too much over the party."

Tania says, "Okay."

Tania looks over at Aron. "You look okay. Kind of like one of those Seventies programmes."

Tania says, "And if we go in fifteen minutes, we can get the Metro and be there for about medium time."

Sephar bobs a nod at Tania.

Sephar chuckles at her comment about Aron.

Aron says "Seventies programmes."

Aron shakes his head and chuckles.

Tania shrugs. "I like Xena better."

Liz mmms.

Aron says "Tch."

Liz says "If you like, I have a car."

Liz says "Nothing personal, mind. I just like to drive."

Shannen grins and looks around "Well, that's fine with me. I'd like to go with Tania.."

Tania says, "We can drive if you like, but I'm not sure what the parking round there will be like."

Liz says "That's all right. I have a knack for parking spaces."

Tania says, "Okay, then."

Sephar flutters back onto Liz's shoulder.

Tania says, "Shall I introduce you all by the names I know you by, and what do I say you do?"

Liz says "Liz, Shannen, and Aron will do, I think."

Tania says, "Okay."

Shannen smiles "Shannen..Richards if they need a last name. And I run a coffee shop - you must stop by sometime, it's heavenly."

Liz says "And don't forget Sephar."

Liz pets Sephar.

Sephar caws and rubs against Liz's finger.

Aron sips his coffee, quietly.

Tania says "Oh well, everyone will want to try and feed the crow."

Sephar perks.

Tania says, "People are like that."

Sephar ruffles feathers happily.

Shannen grins "And Sephar is such a cute crow."

Tania says, "Is that deliberate? Acting cute to be disarming?"

Sephar blinks black eyes at Tania.

Tania says, "Okay, stupid question. Sorry."

Sephar cocks its head, thinking a moment, then slowly shakes its head.

Sephar chuckles, "Not stupid. No stupid questions."

Shannen grins "Sephar is just naturally cute."

Sepharcrow blinks both eyes at Shannen at that.

Sepharcrow looks like it would blush if it weren't completely black.

Tania says, quickly, "Shall we go? I can give Liz directions."

Liz nods.

Sephar settles by Liz's throat.

Liz says "I'm ready if the others are."

Aron finishes his coffee. "One moment."

Aron jogs upstairs and quickly changes into a more casual outfit - which is to say a different pair of black slacks, another black turtleneck and a black leather jacket, but now with a pair of round spectacles.

<> Sephar beams at Aron!

<> Sephar says "Bohemian Angel!"

Liz looks amused.

Liz says "Very...French of you. Don't let Daimon see you, or we'll never leave the restaurant."

Aron adjusts the wire rims. "Whyever not? Oh, and is this sort of party to which one would bring a bottle of something?"

Liz says "Ah, good point."

Tania nods, and pats her bag. "I got a couple of bottles. I didn't know if you lot would remember."

Sephar eyes Aron.

Sepharcrow then flies and perches on Aron's shoulder.

Aron considers Sephar, then nods. "Most appropriate; thank you."

Tania says, "Oh my god, that is so cool."

Sephar bobs a nod.

<> Eduardo | Sepharcrow thinks .oO (And the birdshit will show up well on the black leather!)

<> Sephar matches!

<> Aron says "My attack crow."

Aron flashes Tania a brief smile. "Shall we, then?"

Tania stands up. "Okay." She gives a Dupont address.

Tania looks to Liz.

Liz says "Right. Everyone to my car."

Liz says "Or to Aron's car, if you want a snazzier car."

Aron says "Oh, your car will do admirably, I think."

Liz says "It does look rather more college studenty, yes."

Tania grins.

Sepharcrow clucks a chuckle.

Liz tucks everyone in, makes sure they're wearing seatbelts, and drives partywards at a speed calculated to get them there efficiently but untraumatized.

<> Demiurge says "trauma or Trauma? :)"

<> Aron says "What is this 'Trauma'?"

<> Aron ducks.

<> Liz says "Both, in fact."

<> Sephar grins at Aron.

They arrive safely.

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

There is even a parking space less than five minutes away.

Liz parks neatly. "Everyone out. Mind your step."

Aron steps out and holds the door open for Tania.

Sephar tucks neatly next to Aron's throat for the ride and perches again on his shoulder as they get out.

Tania gets out, ducking her head, and slings her bag more securely over her shoulder. She says, to Aron, "Can I ask what Archangel you work for?"

Liz locks the doors.

Aron nods. "Though the answer you receive might not be exactly what you intended. I work for the shining Lady Blandine, of Dreams."

Tania blushes. "Ah, sorry. Why wouldn't I expect that?"

Aron says "Because I serve the Archangel of Creation."

Tania says, "Oh! Like Daimon. Right."

Aron's lips crook. "Like Daimon."

Tania leads the way towards an apartment block. "Have I said something else wrong?"

Aron says "You have said nothing wrong at all, since we met."

Sepharcrow simply bounces on Aron's shoulder as he walks, balancing quietly.

Aron says "I was only amused."

Liz walks along smoothly, keeping and eye out. Just in case.

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

Sepharcrow watches as well.

Tania stops at the entrance to the apartment house. She presses a button for the second floor, and says into the little buzzing grille, "Hello? It's Tania, with friends."

The grille buzzes again, and a male voice says, "Come on up!" There's a click from the door.

Tania pushes the door open, leading the way in.

Liz says "After you, oh creative one."

Aron enters, expression wry.

Tania leads the way up to the second floor, and heads along to an apartment which is evidently the Party Apartment, given the noise coming from it.

Tania leans on the doorbell until she is finally admitted by a girl of her age, in dreadlocks and WANNA FISH tshirt. The girl peers over Tania's shoulder. Nine Inch Nails billows out from the room, together with the smell of booze, chili, cigarettes and sweat.

Tania says, "Hey. That's Aron, that's Shannen, that's Liz, and that's Sephar who's a crow and who is the real thing."

The girl shoves dreadlocks back. "Hi. Come on in." She stands back from the door.

Aron nods, quietly, silent and appropriately soulful. He enters.

Liz bounces in, looking nearly perky in contrast to Aron.

The place is packed enough that nobody is going to notice four more people. Half the mob doesn't seem to know the other half anyhow, so there are introductions going on all over the place. There's a sign on one door saying BEDROOM. COATS HERE. NO FUCKING ON BED. Nearby, someone in black with sleeked-back bleached hair is saying, "You don't understand. These are the end times. I have attained the conversation of my holy guardian angel. Everything's doomed, man."

Aron angles that way. "Doomed, you say."

Tania, having peered round, leans back to yell quietly at Aron and Shannen and Liz and Sephar, "They aren't here yet!"

Aron nods to indicate that he has heard Tania, and continues on his way.

The bleached-blond turns to Aron. Then blinks. Then frowns. "Yeah. This is the apocalypse, man. The earth is destroyed. We're all just wriggling around pathetically." He frowns again, taking in Aron's appearance.

Aron's lips twitch ever so slightly. "What, precisely, constitutes pathetic wriggling?" He arches a slender eyebrow.

Sephar peers.

Liz grins, lets Aron alone with whoever that is, and party-surfs. She's not a Mercurian, but she's not exactly shy.

The bleached-blond draws himself up straight and slender. "We're deserted by future and hope. All that we can do is lament the passing of the world and write requiems for the tragedy."

There are plenty of knots of people discussing music, or sport, or politics. One virulent group is complaining about the DC football team.

Aron considers the blond man's audience, and then says quietly, "No requiem worth hearing was ever written without hope."

The audience is drifting slightly towards Aron.

<> Aron says "Don't you go dissing hope in front of a Dream-worker, man."

<> Liz says "Maybe it's the Balseraph of Bad Timing?"

<> Aron laughs.

The bleached-blond throws his hair back elegantly. "All we can hope for is to celebrate Mother Gaea while she endures! Perhaps, in the greater purity of that, there is hope." He looks at his audience. "Through the purity of the Earth."

<> Demiurge says "Is this guy a pseud? Why YES."

<> Liz says "He's not even from New York either."

A black-haired girl with plentiful kohl looks big-eyed up at Aron. "Have you Dreamed the Dream too?"

Across the room, Shannen is blending into a group that is discussing daycare parenting innocently.

A young black man with a buzz-cut calls to Liz, "Hey, sister, you into rap?"

Liz smiles at the man, and with her deep New Zealand accent replies, "Haven't heard a lot of it, actually."

The man says, "Then you gotta hear some." He's loading up the CD player with some unmarked discs. "None of that opera stuff. This is way older." With his free hand, he offers a can of cider.

Aron crouches, the better to bring her to eye level with himself and the crow. "Dear child," he says softly, "I've Dreamed many. What's your Dream?"

<> Aron would like to resonate this group, see if anyone stands out an exemplary mortal.

<> Aron says "This little conversational pocket, that is."

Liz resonates the man and his discs. What do they mean to him.

The girl smiles, in lipstick that is far too mulberry for her. "I Dreamed the Dream. A man who has Dreamed the Dream cannot truly die. Whitestar here has been telling us about the apocalypse." The girl, however, seems way more interested in Aron at the moment.

<> Demiurge says "Liz, you perceive that the discs were from a "fell off the back of a lorry" batch that he got for himself, and he is deeply fond of them because he loves the music."

<> Demiurge says "Aron, hm. There are five people in the group. Try Per rolls, with Blond as the first and Kohl as the second."

Aron makes a soft sound. "Dear child, no man can truly die, no matter his Dream."

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

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

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

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

<> arcangel says "Backfire."

<> Aron says "D'oh."

Liz smiles to the man. "Surely."

Liz listens to the music.

<> Demiurge says "Okay. The blond is a self-centred man whose three most ignoble acts in the past year were to fail to sleep with one girl because he was afraid of a court case (failure in courage), to put several chunks of ecological-purposed money given him into his own account, and to walk out on a lover who he felt embarassed by."

<> Demiurge says "Kohl-eyes - her most noble act in the past week was to donate half her money from her job to a Protection of Children foundation."

<> Aron says "Holy god."

<> Demiurge says "The third is a young, sincere-looking man, who has the potential to be a good and genuinely _nice_ person, and who is currently straightforward and honourable."

<> Demiurge says "His worst potential is to become a weak-willed drone, following any current cult and totally accepting its belief systems and living by them."

<> Demiurge says "After that, you blew it."

<> Aron says "Indeed I did."

Liz listens to the music and sways with Ofanite grace to the beat.

The music that Liz is listening to is decent rap, by some guy called Jim Crow, with a strong voodoo slant. It has a _lot_ of energy to it.

The man with Liz grins, and dances along with her.

Aron says, quietly, "I would like to see your Dreams. May I?" His eyes remain fixed on the kohl-eyed girl.

Liz grins at the man.

The kohl-eyed girl's lips part. "Oh yes. Gladl..."

Aron smiles and leans forward to kiss a blessing upon her brow.

The bleached-blond coughs. "Emerald Windhawk is part of _my_ Circle."

Aron straightens, slowly enough for Sephar to keep a grip on his shoulder. "And to what do you dedicate your circle, Whitestar?"

<> Demiurge has this image of Aron going round puncturing Goth Scepticism. :)

<> Aron grins. "It is antithetical to hope, which is a subset of Dream! My eurotrash bonhomie defeats your goth brooding!"

Whitestar brings one hand to his chest. "To the preservation of Mother Gaea and the bringing of New Light into the World."

Aron says "Despair."

Aron says "Preservation."

Aron says "These two things are inimical to each other."

Whitehawk tosses his head again. "Is it my fault if the world is tragedy encompassed in darkness!" He pauses. "Perhaps it is my fault. Perhaps it is the fault of all of us. We have failed our Mother Gaea." His chin bows to his chest.

Aron's eyes evince amusement, behind the wire-rimmed spectacles. "Tell me, Whitestar, do you love the earth?"

The CD throbs with a lot of energy. The man dancing with her asks Liz, "So, you new here? I haven't seen you at one of his parties before."

Whitestar nods gravely. "We must all love the earth and understand our innermost tie to her."

Liz flicks off the headphones, and says, "Say again, please?"

The man asks Liz, again, "You new here? I haven't seen you at one of his parties before."

Liz says "Ah, no. First time."

Liz says "Tania over there," points her out, "brought me."

Aron shakes his head. "One *must* not love anything; one simply does." He turns to the circle. "Preservation is a decent thing; nurturing is extraordinary. Duty is an admirable thing; love is sublime. Despair is a seductive thing; love is divine."

Tania gravitates through the crowd towards Liz. A new group of people is coming through the door, two men and a woman, the woman still talking on a mobile phone.

The young man nods, interested. The kohl-eyed girl is simply watching Aron and waiting for pearls of truth.

Sephar flares its wings dramatically.

Liz says "How about yourself? I like the music. Lovely beat to it."

Whitestar says, "But of course we _must_ do things! How are they going to be done if we do not do them?"

Aron says "These things must be done, I do not disagree."

The man says, "Been coming a while, sister." He beams at the praise to the music. "Hey, Jim Crow's doing a concert soon. You interested in tickets?"

Aron says "But it is not duty that should bind you to their doing. Have you walked in the rich earth, then, and felt the loam between your toes?"

Liz says "Surely, if the price is right. I'm on a budget, you know."

Whitestar says, "Certainly I have." There's a faint twitch to his eyes.

Aron fixes pale eyes on Whitestar, and continues. "Have you laid serene in a silver pool and listened to the night? Have you run laughing in the grass?"

Whitestar tosses his head again. "I have a higher purpose. I have been Called to explain to those within these streets who hear the Dream and who need to Know."

Aron says "By whom?"

The man grins at Liz again. "No problem, sister. It won't break the bank."

Whitestar gestures to the others in the group. "My brothers and sisters. Together, we will come to an Understanding."

Liz says "Talk to you again then, shortly."

Liz says "Thanks for the listen."

Liz turns towards Tania.

Aron offers, dryly, "An understanding, I am sure."

Tania says, when close enough to Liz, "They're here." She nods to the group by the door, where the woman is putting away her celphone with an annoyed look.

Liz nods to Tania. "Thanks. Introduce us?"

Whitestar says, "Mocking me changes nothing."

The kohl-eyed girl says, rapidly, "Drinks?" She looks up at Aron. "Can I get you anything?"

Aron shakes his head. "I did not mean mockery," he says seriously. "I've a trick I do, and I'll do it when Emerald returns."

Aron nods to the girl. "Wine, please."

Emerald makes her way through the crowd to the table where all the bottles are.

Tania nods to Liz, beginning to shove through the crowd towards the three by the door.

Liz grins once more at the young man, and then follows Tania.

Whitestar folds his arms. "Tricks. They are the province of showmen, not those with understanding."

Aron smiles. "This is a party. Let me do my trick."

Aron says "It's a simple trick, really, and one I picked up a long time ago."

Emerald returns with a glass of white wine for Aron, a glass of water for Whitestar, and more glasses of wine for the rest of them.

Aron takes the glass, and taps his chest with a long finger. "I can hear the song of the heart, you see."

Tania pushes through the crowd till they get to the trio still by the door. A bulky-shouldered young man is busy arguing with the first man of the trio, who is actually in a business suit.

Emerald takes a breath. "You can?"

Whitestar says, "So can any being with understanding." He sounds disgruntled, and sips his water piously.

Aron nods. "I can." He nods again, to Whitestar. "I do not dispute that."

Liz puts on her best co-ed face as she comes up behind Tania.

Aron moves up to the steadfast man. "May I?"

The steadfast man seems surprised to be singled out, but nods.

The man in the business suit says, to the other, "And I said no. We're not dealing, we're sharing. So don't push it."

Tania whispers to Liz, "The guy in the suit is Thomas. That's Belle with him. And I think the other guy's Steve Morton, I don't really know him."

Aron crouches, and cocks his head as if listening. Sephar probably hops to his other shoulder. He closes his eyes, and then begins nodding as if to a beat. "There's a bass line here - something solid. Not an ostinato line but the strum of a double bass. You could build a symphony on that." He opens his eyes and looks up. "Be sure, though, that you are the one to pick which symphony, hm?"

<> Demiurge says ""Thomas" is in a trenchcoat over a suit. "Belle" is in a loose waistcoat over a sleeveless top and multiple skirt-layers. "Steve" is in tshirt, jacket, and jeans."

<> Liz says "Ah, all right."

Steve Morton excuses himself from the other two at the door, and heads into the crowd. He nods to Tania and Liz.

Liz nods back.

The steadfast man looks thoughtful. "That's a neat way of putting it."

Aron says nothing, but rises. He moves to Emerald. "May I?"

Emerald says, "Oh, yes."

<> Demiurge says "Er, you can probably imagine the tone in which she says it."

Liz says to Tania, quietly (for the crowd), "Introduce us?)

The broad-shouldered man stalks away from Thomas, who pauses to murmur something to Belle. She nods in return.

Aron cocks his head, to put an ear towards her heart. He makes a show of listening, again. "Ah, a brighter tone this one - a melody. And, hm, something else." He smiles, suddenly. "The laughter of children."

Tania steps forward, and grins. "Hi! Belle! Thomas! Hey, this is Liz." She looks over her shoulder dramatically. "And this is my white rabbit Pooka."

Belle laughs. It sounds like some sort of old shared joke. "Tania, hi there. And hi, Liz, whoever you are."

Thomas just nods, shrugging his trenchcoat off.

Liz says "Hi."

Emerald grins happily. "That is _so_ true. You don't know how true it is."

Liz says "How's it going."

Aron just smiles. He turns to Whitestar and raises an eyebrow. "And you. May I?"

Belle says, "Life is real, life is earnest, what can I say? I just want more chocolate and less weight on my thighs."

Thomas says, "Honey, sweetness, the last time you had weight on your thighs was when you were seven."

Whitestar's nose twitches. He says, ungraciously, "Play your trick, if you want to."

Aron waves a hand. "Only a trick, after all." He cocks his head, listening. His eyes drift closed. "I hear a distant thunder - timpani of the apocalypse, perhaps. And there is the brassy clarion of triumph and duty - it's a good sound. But, hmm."

Liz says, amicably, "Pooka needed a date, so Tania brought me along. How're you doing?"

Aron says "There's something else, here; a lonely flute, I think. The trees mourn something lost, some redemption stolen. It sounds very sad, I think. It must be hard for you."

Whitestar snorts. "You're dramatising. Stop trying to powerbase."

Belle smiles. "Doing fine, thanks. Life has its moments, whatever the pseuds say. So, whatcha do? One of Tania's musical friends?"

Aron murmurs, calmly, "As I said, just a trick." He smiles.

Aron says "A thing to do at parties."

Liz says "Oh, sort of. I'm more into backstage work. Tote that barge, lift that barrel. Can't carry a tune in a bucket, you know."

Emerald looks between Aron and Skyhawk. Carefully, she says, "Seeing you're always telling us to hear and interpret wisdom from all sources, Skyhawk, could we hear a bit more about the Dream from this guy?" She looks to Aron.

Thomas folds his trenchcoat over his arm. "All this busy toing and froing."

Belle says, "Someone's got to do it. Don't lose your coat this time, honey."

Thomas chuckles, and nods, turning to make his way to the bedroom where coats are being dumped.

Liz resonates Thomas and... the coat!

<> Demiurge says "The coat is important to Thomas as one of his Status Symbols, a really good quality Burberry trenchcoat. It matters a lot to him."

<> Liz says "Aha. Thomas is a Yuppie."

The young parents talking with Shannen happily continue on with their stories about how little Bebe is just teething, and how _adorable_ she is.

Shannen listens enjoyable, smiling and saying important questions like "Do you have any photos?" and "I just bet she IS adorable."

Catherine, mother of Bebe, smiles a lot. She does indeed have photos. Little Bebe is sprawled in many attitudes, in white and pink dresses.

Sepharcrow watches mildly from Aron's shoulder.

Shannen adores little Bebe "She's SO cute." She sighs softly and confides quietly "I wish I had a little one of my own."

Catherine's husband Dai pats Shannen on the back. "Don't worry. Some day you'll find the right life-partner."

The CDs have been wrenched away from the CD player, and someone has put a load of Abba records on instead.

Shannen grins "I know. But I'll still wish."

Aron watches Whitestar, curiously.

Whitestar takes a deep breath, and makes a good stab at looking broodingly noble. "Certainly. Wisdom may be found anywhere. Even here."

Catherine murmurs to Shannen, "Having relationship problems?"

Aron nods. "Even here," he says, quietly. Then, abruptly, "You are all doing well, you know. To give to help the earth - there's good in that."

There are nods all round the small circle.

The record player blares DANCING QUEEN.

<> Aron says "YES"

<> Jo says "Aron, you are outed!"

Shannen blushes faintly and speaks softly "I..well..sort of. It's more like lack of relationship problems. And work problems." She sighs softly "I travel a great deal and haven't been able to really maintain any real relationship."

<> Aron says "Feel that beat on the tambouriiiine, oh yeah!"

Dai considers that. "I'm probably saying stuff that a lot of people have said before, but have you tried getting in touch with people who share your interests? A lot of guys are understanding about travelling these days."

Aron pauses. "Just," he cautions, "just remember *why* you give."

The sincere young man says, "For the earth's sake. To protect and guard her and the other people sharing her. It's the world-soul. The gestalt. We are the dream. We are."

Aron nods. "A worthy goal. But while there is Dream, there are many dreams within it."

Emerald pipes up, "You mean the bit that we all have to pursue our own dream while trying not to damage other people's?"

Shannen frowns slightly and shakes her head just a little "No, not really. I should show a bit more initiative, but I didn't think of it either." Her blush continues "How did you two meet?"

Catherine and Dai look at each other, then Catherine says, "In this folk rock techno band. I was keyboards, he was bass. It was love at first sight."

Shannen grins "Okay, I need more recreational activities, too. Love at first sight..." she sighs a little dreamily but recovers, smiling.

Aron nods to Emerald. "Just so."

Catherine asks, helpfully, "Well, what do you enjoy doing?

Whitestar tosses his hair again. "This is all well and true. I remember the times that we have discussed this before."

Sephar preens black feathers on Aron's shoulder, quietly running feathers through its black beak.

Whitestar says, "And it seems an act of wanton cruelty to bring a poor drugged raven into a party like this."

Aron looks amused. "Does he seem drugged, then?"

Sephar keeps grooming itself, unconcerned with human appraisal.

Whitestar says, snappily, "It seems hard to believe that a _natural_ bird could easily endure this sort of human discussion."

Shannen ponders for a second "I run a coffee shop, so that's my big hobby." She grins "Painting, singing - although I am HORRIBLE at both. I love the opera."

Aron looks wry. "Your friends have endured this discussion; I imagine my avian friend is more than capable." He turns to Sephar. "Go visit Whitestar a spell, won't you?'

Catherine blinks. "Oh, yes, you came in with Tania, didn't you! She's such a nice person, really friendly. Do you do anything at the opera, or just enjoy it?"

Sepharcrow chuckles, hops up into the air with a quick, sharp clap of wings to get air under them, and lands neatly on Whitestar's shoulder and peers at him with black eyes.

Belle says, to Liz, "So, what do you think of the party so far?"

Shannen nods in whichever direction Tania happens to be, or whichever way she went "She IS. I only enjoy it. I don't think I have the time or talent to actually take part." She pauses "But that would be a wonderful experience."

Whitestar flinches before he can control himself. His gaudy earring trembles temptingly.

Sephar reaches forward to nibble an earring.

Whitestar says, "Get it off me!" He flails.

Liz looks over at Whitestar and Sepharcrow. "It's all right. Getting better, too."

Sepharcrow ducks the flailing, steals an earring, gently, and flies up into the air above Whitestar.

Whitestar makes a grab for the crow. "You lousy bird! GIVE THAT BACK!"

Liz says "So where do you know Tania from?"

<> Sephar imagines one is a hook, not a backing earring.

Shannen blinks and turns her hed slightly to watch, biting her lip and looking all concerned "What's..happening?"

Emerald is reluctantly giggling, though trying not to. The sincere man is choking somewhat. The others are just gawping. Whitestar is going red in the face.

<> Demiurge says "Yeah, hook."

Sephar drops the earring into Whitestar's grab, cawing a laugh and then drops to Emerald's shoulder to peer at Whitestar.

Belle says, "Oh, Tania and I know each other from way back, right. All the way to music school, though we went different ways. Which reminds me, Tania, I need to talk to you a moment."

Whitestar grabs at the earring and pants.

<> Shannen says "Mental note: explain subtlety to Sephar."

Sepharcrow gives him the utterly avian, head at a 90 degree angle, look.

Emerald looks at Sepharcrow with big fascinated eyes. "It looks so intelligent!"

Aron drops a kiss onto Emerald's brow. "Always remember why you give. It's rather more important than the giving itself." He smiles at Emerald. "I'll leave him here with you for a bit, then."

Emerald says, happily, "What does it like to eat?"

Aron says "Anything and everything."

Sephar peers at Emerald's ear. (is there an earring there?)

<> Demiurge says "Shiny ankh."

<> Sephar says "Ooo."

Tania says, "Um, yeah, sure."

Aron nods his farewell and steps back towards the party.

Emerald grins. She begins to shoulder through the crowd towards the food table, one hand reaching up to steady Sepharcrow.

Sephar nibbles very lightly at Emerald's shiny ankh, perhaps more ticklish than pecky.

Belle says, "Excuse us just a moment, Liz? This is kind of private."

Sepharcrow also balances nearly on the shoulder.

Aron . o O ( must inform someone about that girl. )

Emerald giggles. "Hey, careful! That's silver."

<> Daimon says "NO ANKHS!"

Liz smiles. "Of course, Bell. Good to meet you."

<> Daimon bans bad symbolism in this game.

Liz flows back into the party.

Sepharcrow determines that the ankh cannot be removed, so perches.

Aron angles towards Liz.

Liz changes her flow towards Aron.

Belle is speaking quietly with Tania, and reaches into the pockets of one of her layers of skirts, offering something.

Emerald cheerfully offers Sephar sushi.

Whitestar is sulking noisily.

Sephar squawks happily and eats.

Liz asks Aron, "Having fun?"

Shannen returns to the conversation with Catherine and "Dai". "Where do you two know Tania from?"

Dai says, "Oh, she just hangs around with this mob. A friend of a friend, you know."

<> Liz says "Demi, can I resonate Belle from here?"

Thomas has returned from the bedroom, still in business suit, and is making his way towards Belle and Tania. Steven, in tshirt and jeans, seems just one of the other partygoers, over by the food table.

<> Demiurge says "Yes, if you make eye contact, and if you tell me which object on."

Thomas has returned from the bedroom, still in business suit, and is making his way towards Belle and Tania. Steven, in tshirt and jeans, seems just one of the other partygoers, over by the food table.

Aron murmurs, to Liz, "Quite. Any leads?"

Liz points out Belle and Thomas and Steven.

Liz says "That's the trio we want to look at."

Tania, a little unwillingly, nods and takes something small from Belle.

Liz suddenly sneezes, louder than necessary. When and if Belle looks over, she resonates her and the object she's handing over.

There is a general turning of attention. There are also several offers of handkerchiefs, raw oysters, cough mixtures and shoulder stretches.

<> Sephar giggles at the raw oysters.

Shannen nods "That's really how I know her, too. We kinda met at the opera, but it was mostly a 'hi' and bye' thing. Liz.." she motions with one hand in some general direction "..introduced us for good." She blinks at the sneeze.

The object that Belle is handing to Tania is very important to her. It's a sample of the drug she's producing.

Liz nods to Aron. "That's the stuff."

In fact, several people attempt to force these remedies on Liz, who apparently sounds as though she has consumption.

Liz fends off several remedies, and requests orange juice and/or herbal tea.

Sephar cocks his head with the sneeze, sees that they're okay, so resumes eating the fish off the sushi bits, then pecking a bit more slowly at the rice.

Orange juice is produced.

Liz smiles and sips gratefully.

Belle continues to murmur quietly to Tania. Tania looks worried.

Liz says, to Aron, "The packet's very important to her, and she created it. More than that, I don't know."

Thomas joins the two women, and is about to say something when Belle's celphone rings. Belle answers it, with an expression of annoyance.

Tania begins to drift backwards and away.

Aron nods. "She created it, curious." He watches the woman, carefully. "I should very much like to see Tania's dreams in that."

Liz says "And I should very much like Sephar's people to have a sample."

Shannen glances over in the direction of the phone before returning to her conversation "Do you two still play in the band? Or other things?"

Liz says "We should probably be ready to leave on short notice, just in case."

Aron says "I am always ready."

Liz says "Collect Sephar if you can. I'd dearly love to know what that phone conversation's about, and Sephar's just the crow to do it."

Catherine and Dai both nod. Catherine says, "We do, yes, though not as often, now that we have Bebe to look after."

Liz nods and drifts back towards the young black man she was talking to before. It's useful to have a line on cut rate tickets, assuming they're not forged.

The young black man appears to be sulking somewhat about the hijacking of the music by Abba, but he brightens up as he sees Liz approach.

Aron makes for Emerald and Sephar, that said.

Tania glances behind her, and makes her way in the direction of the food table and Aron, given that the two now coincide.

Liz smiles at the man. "Not to your taste?"

Emerald looks up happily. "Your crow is _miraculous_. I can feel the gratitude when I feed him."

Shannen nods, whispering something about such a wonderful dear "What do you two do otherwise?"

Sephar flips his wings neatly onto his back and peers up at Emerald and Aron.

<> Shannen wants to know what Emerald is smoking and where she can get some @_@

The man shrugs. "Hey, sister, I guess I gotta be tolerant about these no-taste philistines. You want to hear better, you talk to me."

Catherine turns out to have a day job as a secretary at a local law firm, while Dai is a interior designer.

Aron says "Oh, he's not *my* crow. He's a friend, mostly."

Aron smiles.

Liz says "What would you suggest, then?"

Sephar gives Emerald a little bow, neatly cleans up the last bit of rice and then hops up onto Aron's shoulder to nip a bit of his hair and then settle comfortabely.

The man says, "Come along to the concert, sister. Friday night, and dance till the morning.

Emerald looks wistfully at Aron and Sephar. "I've never had that sort of empathy with any of my animal friends."

Shannen gapes slightly at Dai, in awe "Really? I may be in need of your services." She grins "I want to redo my flat, but the inspiration..well..it's not pretty."

Belle mutters into her phone, looking a little less annoyed.

Liz says "Ah, and where would this concert be?"

Tania hangs near Aron, though not too close.

Aron makes a soft sound. "Oh, it will come. And empathy with people is a magical thing of its own." He turns, as Tania approaches.

The man gives an address in Adams-Morgan.

Sephar makes a soft *chuck* sound, and peers about as Aron's attention centers on Tania.

Liz notes it down. "A private party, is it?"

Tania says, doing her best to sound innocent, "How much longer are you going to want to be?"

The man says, to Liz, "Tickets only, sister. Gonna rock the place."

Aron reaches into his pocket and withdraws a slim card case. He produces a card and hands it to Emerald. "If you need to talk."

Liz smiles. "And how much would the ticket be?"

Emerald takes it, and slips it into her jeans pocket. "Thanks. You know, I get this feeling that you are so _real_."

The man says, to Liz, "For you, sister, just fifteen, because I like a sister who knows how to *dance*."

Aron clucks softly. "No more so than anyone else, just differently."

Emerald smiles at Aron and Sephar, then drifts back into the crowd.

Someone has put a record of old James Bond theme tunes on. "When you were young, and your heart was an open book, you used to say live and let live..."

Liz says "And how many at this concert?"

Shannen smiles at Catherine and "Dai" "Oh yes, if you two are -ever- around my shop, feel free stop in and say hello. I live right above it, so just pop upstairs or something. I need to steal Dai's talents for my flat. Uggh. It's not a nice sight."

Sepharcrow turns a bit on Aron's shoulder at the song, head cocked to listen, then turns to eye what's at Aron's back.

The man says, "Loads, sister, loads."

Liz laughs. "Well, then, a ticket, if you please."

Tania says, as quietly as one can in a noisy crowd, "They gave me some more."

Catherine and Dai both nod and agree. Dai, in particular, is happy to give Shannen the benefits of his advice.

The man passes Liz a ticket, on red paper, and collects fifteen dollars.

Liz resonates the ticket and the man. Just to be sure.

The ticket, to the man, is a ticket to a concert of good music, which he is glad to sell to someone who'll appreciate it.

Liz happily passes along the fifteen dollars.

Aron moves with Tania, and nods. "When you are ready, so am I."

Shannen smiles happily "Wonderful!" She pauses and grins, blushing as well "And if you know any eligible bachelors.." She coughs politely "Excuse me."

Belle mutters into her phone. Her face is clearing.

Sephar crow sighs and possesses Belle's phone to listen in.

<> Demiurge says "Will roll."

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

A male voice says, down the phone, "We have a definite on that copy. Dee's De Heptarchia Mystica. And we have a possible on the Levi, but he isn't sure he can get it."

Belle mutters into the phone, "We need some more connections. We can't keep on relying on Matthews for everything."

The male voice says, in obvious pedantic imitation of someone, "Dr Matthews, if you please."

<> Pat says "Bad books! Bad books!"

The man who sold Liz the tickets continues to chat with her, about music and the Man.

Sepharcrow's attention is caught by the names of the books and Matthews.... Matthews...

Catherine and Dai bid a friendly goodbye to Shannen.

<> Shannen says "Could be worse. She could be asking for 'The Invisibles.'"

<> Sephar laughs!

Belle says, "As long as you can get it sorted. Get Thomas if we need to talk terms." She pauses. "Look, this isn't the time. We can talk later."

The male voice says, "All right. Good luck." There's a click as his end of the line rings off.

Sepharphone peers at the last number dialed, memorizes it from the phone's memory.

The number is memorised.

Sepharphone just stays for as many minutes as it can while the crow balances and watches the party with black eyes.

Shannen smiles to the couple once more and begins walking the crowd, looking for people to get introduced to. And maybe saunter over to Aron.

Liz looks amused about the music, and reasonably sympathetic about the Man.

Belle does not make any more phone calls. She drifts over and begins socialising with people.

Sepharphone looks around a bit inside Belle's purse by the light of its own display, then slips out and away as she makes small talk.

Liz finally excuses herself, hopes to see the young man at the concert, and bids him adieu.

Belle's purse has much the usual sort of garbage, to such an inspection. Notebooks, pens, bottles of aspirin, tubes of makeup, tissues, mess.

Tania murmurs, "I'm ready any time you are."

Shannen takes a moment to try an eggroll and attempt to socialize with those occupying the food table.

Liz wanders back to Aron and Tania, just in time to catch her last line and add, "I'm ready."

There are still egg rolls, and the people round the food table are happy to talk.

Tania leads the way out, and the others follow her.

---

Fiat Justitia