Fantasy Fear and Loathing in New Orleans

[ninbinz]

The spell came together rather well, he could feel his chant molding his mauri until the energy filtered through his eyes. He wasn't prepared for what happened next. The walls began to glow softly at first, he likened the view to light refracting off of water onto other surfaces. Slowly the swirling patterns came into focus. Magic had always appeared like this to him, in varying patterns that often lead him to the idea that this was where his people first garnered their knowledge of carving patterns on Whakairo (Stylised traditional wood carvings) and the Ta Moko patterns.


He could see layers upon layers of patterns; niho taniwha represented some of the more simple patterns and ran up the walls in frequent intervals. mangopare patterns came less frequently and were often coupled with the niho taniwha patterns, next were patterns he hadn't seen before the were the most frequent patterns and shone just a little more brightly than their companions, he could see that they lead all over the house. He looked down at his decidedly lackluster phone and opened up the 'paint' app, with a steady finger he traced the pattern, not for its magical qualities but for its sheer cultural value. Kohu glanced over at his cane, then he caught something in the corner of his eyes. At first he thought it was the room but it was the coin Rasputin was holding. He looked down at the journal in his hands but to his disappointment he could see nothing, he fumbled with the paper once more and sighed that his spell had yielded no helpful results except for the fact that he now knew the entire house was warded.


"Agreed. And, if the neighbors are quick to question, I might have a few things up my sleeve. It's not the most difficult thing to create a believable badge or paperwork that would fool all but the law themselves."


Kohu came back to his senses at the man's comment. For a moment Kohu contemplated how odd it was that four complete strangers had come together 'almost' willingly to find out that they were responsible for apprehending or destroying a killer who has been murdering people, awakened people. The unlikelyness of the situation was comedic in a sense and something he had come to expect of the 'World of The Awakened' as his former master had put.


Kohu glanced over the journal once more before contenting himself and returning the journal to its former place on the table in case anyone else wanted to take a proper look at it. "I think we should all wash up and get ready to go if we're going to do this tonight, make sure we're prepared for whatever eventualities may arise. Oh, Ras? Do you happen to know anything else about the supernatural community in New Orleans?" Kohu queried trying to get himself caught up to speed, being in a new country meant new dangers, potential enemies or allies. He figured going to the aforementioned bar would be an experience in itself and he didn't want to be caught too off guard. He wondered to himself if there was anything newsworthy happening beyond the Axeman's murder. Aloud he wondered "Is there a supernatural news in America?" Kohu raised a hand to his face when he realised he had yet again blurted out his thoughts.


Embarrassed he looked down at his black leather shoes, in his head he tried to ignore his social faux pas by going over what little he understood of the journal.

 

[Kagura]

Excited that someone agreed with her, Sonya nodded along with the other girl's words, smiling as the others came together on her idea as well. Rasputin seemed amused briefly, before he reported the victims back for them. The first was an Euthantos, much like herself, making Sonya close her eyes briefly as she offered the woman her well-wishes in passing. It took Rasputin a moment to get past the second victim, and she understood why by the time he finished. They had known each other, making the case slightly more personal for him then it was for the rest of them.


The last victim, and the one they were probably headed towards, was another female, but an Etherite apprentice that was found by her mentor. Sonya frowned a little, the musgarers (police) were no help to them for the last girl, but she hoped they wouldn't need their help.


A low under-chant caught her ear and she looked to see Kohu chanting- or casting, a spell on the journal in front of him. He was trying to find something, but it seemed his eyes were disappointed when he opened them after an initial shock. Sonya wondered what he had seen, but he spoke instead of getting washed up if they were going to leave. The latter part of his question was directed at Rasputin, asking if there were any other supernatural happenings in the area.


"Before we leave- Is there any reason why all the victims are females?" Sonya finally decided to ask, wondering if sexual abuse took place in the victims. Or, if the same rang true for the killings of the past... She was okay with cleaning up a bit and making sure she had everything she needed, but she waited until she had the answer to this, first.

 

[Esme]

Ann cocked her ear towards Ras, giving a nod to the man in the sunglasses as he spoke. Folding her arms as he spoke, she nodded her head softly as he spoke about the first victim. Then the second name dropped. Her face darkened for a moment as her breath caught in her throat. Why the **** did it have to be Darleen?...God damn it.


Her left hand tightened into a face as it pressed into her side. This Axman had one hell of a thing coming for him, if she had any real say. In one move, he had done something she wouldn't advise anyone of, killed one of the few people An had met that held an actual, child like innocence that radiated life, and by the tone of his voice, hurt her mentor. She pressed her fist in harder, keeping her knuckle right between two ribs to keep focused on what was actually important.


As it seemed, her head had focused more than she meant it to, and as she fixated back on the others in the room, to find the suited man putting the journal back on the table. Keeping her right arm crossed across her, she picked the thing back up and looked it over for the first time. Pictures, news clippings, the old letter. She glanced over it, listening as the others spoke. Her eyes didn't leave the page until the woman spoke again, pointing out something with the victims.


The thought that jolted into her head at the question was surprising, even to her. And something she kept to herself. But, if that was truly the case, always a woman...well then, they had a good amount of bait if things didn't work out with more orthodox methods.

 

[ErisianDialects]

Alias' apprentice was good. Already thinking about how to get around the law. Ras approved. He had chosen well. Kohu was also a good choice. He hadn't lied, there was a good chance of that young man's motivations not distracting him too much. He would stop at the boys words however.


"Right now, it's pretty much on the edge of a blade. Katrina broke the city. Broke it badly. Power shifted, and it's still not the safest place to be. It never really was the safest place to be to start with. Heck, go back far enough and even the Amerinds thought this place was special. Europeans, Creoles, just brought other things with them. Nerves are strained, tensions are high. Hell, I've even been keeping a low profile. Well, for me. I ruffle feathers like the owner of a Norweigan Blue. I'm surprised Tricksie let me have the place for the night. She'd not even letting me stay here. I'm sleeping in the Dragon."


Which might explain a lot, really. If he more or less lived in cathouses when he travelled, and was presently sleeping in his car. Of course, the second question got him laughing to the point of a coughing fit that lasted a good minute.


"As for supernatural news, you're talking to part of it. Check out the tabloids. Learn to read between the lines. For every fake story about a UFO, you can pick up one where Elvis has been caught feeding again. I told you the problems I've heard by those few friends I have willing to talk to me, and what I've figured out from what I've been told."


He stopped at Sonya's question, thinking about it. It had been tickling around in his subconcious, but he didn't want to believe it. Up until recently, he hadn't realized how many of his old contacts were no longer contactable. He had been doing more groundwork in other areas, he did, as he point out, have his own jobs to do down here.


"If there is, it's a break from his old patterns. From what I gathered there was no interference, mind you, it was messy so there might have been and it was not picked up on. But I'm so old fashioned that It didn't cross my mind."


He nodded his head to Ann slightly, figuring out her emotions almost immediately. He knew she and Darleen had gotten on well as well, on the three occassions where they had met.


"Full disclosure, Ann knew Darleen as well. As I said, I got her the job, occassionally when I wasn't travelling, she was, and if she was nearby, I let her sleep on the couch."


Or wherever.

 

[Ozmic]

Still watching the other male, Null continued to be entranced by his actions slightly, almost watching as if studying the other for further investigation. It was a look that any familiar to him would recognize and one that was no stranger on his face. Nodding at the other's words and snapping out of 'study mode' for a moment, he spoke his agreement. "Good, good. I too have a few things that I can scrounge up or get at a moments notice. Not that I am trying to be a braggart, but I have various ways to get ahold of such things or create them. I cannot make them perfect each and every time, mind you, but this situation does not seem like one that would require such extreme measures. I have my doubts that we'll be experiencing much questioning."





Clearing his throat a little and blinking behind his dark lenses, he realized he was rambling and went quiet to listen again. The man mentioned cleaning up and getting to it tonight and he nodded once more, agreeing as he was sure the others would. The male asked something of Ras, however, and as they conversed he turned to the others and listened carefully.


Smiling lightly at Ras' words, he piped in to add his own voice to the conversation. "The Net has also been abuzz since Katrina. So many voice all crackling this way and that, quick to report onto forums and chatrooms about their various encounters with the abnormal and odd. The amount of groups dedicated to it has grown exponentially as well. Such a bursting forth of information isn't uncommon, but the subject matter is rather relevant."


Ras answered the blue-dressed woman and, as he did, something seemed to click in his mind. "Wait... I don't mean to cut you off, Rasputin, but I noticed just that somewhere in the literature you provided earlier." Moving quickly and frantically toward the reports, he flipped through them, reading at a near-inhuman pace. "Yes, here it is," he said pointing to one of the pages. "The reports state that it was mostly men that were attacked. Females almost seemed an afterthought. Wrong place, wrong time, got in the way of other targets."


He scanned more pages and tapped another name. "There was even investigation into ties with Mafia. There are some notes here as well that could prove to be useful." Blinking, he stood up again and regained his composure with a bit of a huff, almost seeming embarrassed. "I do apologize for butting in. I have a tendency to get a bit excitable when it comes to finding information before my train of thought derails."





The male gave a wary smile and stood again, moving away from the others and then letting the smile drop when Ras mentioned that Ann had also known Darleen, the victim mentioned before. "Ah, my earlier comments must have seemed very crass in the context of current events. My condolences." He puffed at his electronic pipe in silence, cursing himself and busying his hands and mind with his technology as he researched more of what he'd found in the book...

 

[ninbinz]

Rasputin was a veritable font of good information. The city was just as much a melting pot of woes as he had first believed. For a moment Kohu wondered whether Katrina was the aftermath of some hidden war, it wouldn't surprise him. Even in New Zealand there were plots under plots under plots, it was those selfsame plots that kept most of the larger factions in the smaller country from tearing at one another's throats. Kohu was hoping for information on the larger players in the region, the magic world was much like the 'underworld'; there were always personages of high interest. He wondered who those key players were in New Orleans but that wasn't the type of question you asked, you simply hoped for a clue. Otherwise one could definitely attract the wrong kind of attention and end up in the wrong kind of river.


He stood up and moved away from the group towards the bar and poured himself a glass of water. He giggled under his breath, he was wasting a fully stocked bar on a glass of water. He shook his head and carried his tall glass of cold water back to the table and sipped at it quietly waiting for someone else to make the first move. He wasn't an apt socialite and didn't wuite know how to progress the situation forward. He had an idea "What about the local flora and fauna? Anything I should be particularly weary of in this part of the world?" He asked. He had known that there were certain creatures in New Zealand that didn't appear elsewhere in the world in his meetings with foreign Awakened.


Kohu had nothing more to say and while Rasputin was there at their disposal, he didn't have anything to ask him. The book had provided him with a good scope of information but much of it was outdated. He did jot down a bit of information that he had garnered from the journal into his phone. He replaced the phone and took a deep breath, he was in America for the first time but it didn't look like he would get time to see the sights. Of those present he assumed he was the most foreign so despite his urgent mission he felt an urge to be a tourist. He sighed to himself and took a deep breath. It was time for them to get moving unless they had more queries.

 

[Kagura]

Rasputin took the time to address Kohu first, and the latter answer made Sonya grin to herself. The gypsy was close enough to New Orleans that she had been caught up in at least the after effects of Katrina. Baton Rouge had been taken by those who evacuated the city, and her community was strong with supernatural word-of-mouth. There had been all sorts of legends passed around, some made up - some not... she wasn't exactly innocent either. According to the other man in the room, the 'net' was also covered in stories of abnormalities. Sonya didn't have much interest in technology, so this was probably the only news to her.


The man had a thought come to him when she was originally phrasing her question, and flipped through the book before Rasputin answered her. He hadn't meant to interrupt him, but it seemed the man had noticed something in the journal. Eventually he pointed it out, noting that the previous victims were male in the past, raising her suspicion. Seemed like it was a copycat... maybe the opposite sex of victim meant the opposite sex of killer?


He also mentioned some links to the mafia, which she shrugged uselessly at "I'm sure with such a heavy presence in New Orleans they have connections to a lot of things..." Including Sonya, as the turf came with knowledge of who else worked it. The man apologizes to Rasputin for interrupting, who simply confirms the fact that females are different from the pattern. Then the man seemed to look at his gingered apprentice, letting them know that "Ann" had known Darleen as well.


Sonya inclines her head at the girl, "Sorry for your loss" is what she limits herself to after much internal debate. There were many things she could've added, but she left it in its simplest form to avoid conflict. Technology-man seemed done with the journal, so she pulled it over to her, leafing through the pages again as Kohu asked an odd question. "I'm not sure what you have where you come from..." she told him truthfully, debating internally over what was rare here.


Momentarily, she stopped on a page, looking at the photograph of one of the news articles as she smoothed it over. It was a little worn, but with a second glance she was sure of it. "Is that...you?" she glanced up at Rasputin, pointing at the figure in the photograph and finally catching the date of the article. The reminder of the year had her stepping back, in the direction of Kohu as she realized the implications.

 

[Esme]

Ann nodded her head towards the two's words. Shit, she glanced at Ras out of the corner of her eye. She'd seen him like this before, pumping himself full of booze, not sleeping, but this was too recent for him to be looking this bad. So then, what was? Just as the gypsy woman's question entered the airwaves they all shared, the dots collided like wrecking balls in her head.


"Shit."


She blinked, not having meant to speak aloud. Shooting a glance towards the guys, she moved towards the gypsy, pegging Ras hard. "Would you uh, mind if we take this question into private, Gentlemen? It'll just take a moment but it's not something for open air."


She smiled politely at the blue woman, before looking back at Ras. She cocked her head towards the reception hall, and it's open doors, her way of telling him to head in.

 

[ErisianDialects]

Ras grinned. The virtual adept was quick on his feet about forgeries, that was good, mostly. He was quick to read between the lines as well, another plus. Darleen would be missed, but that was who he was. He would nod about the mafia, but then, he knew all about that line of reasoning. It was nothing new to him.


he just knew to his core that it was not the same this time around.


"Let me think. Gators, snakes, spiders. They're the worst natural things you might run into if you're unlucky. Always a few stories about them roaming around the sewers. Apart from that, oh, maybe swamp apes. Maybe. I'm yet to figure out exactly what the heck those are, or if they even exist."


At least Ras wasn't pulling any cards like dropbears.


"Too humid for sasquatchii. Then there's the usual thieves, grifters and charlatans. But those are worldwide."


Or maybe not.


He would smile and close his eyes, pouring himself another glass that seemed to half evaporate as he put it to his lips. He knew his limits, he always did, and didn't often make mista... oh *******. How the hell could he have left that in there.


He opened his mouth to reply when Ann beat him to it, and he blinked. he would stand, wincing a little, like a child with his hand caught in the cookie jar. He would walk into the reception hall, waiting to be torn a new one.


Sonya and Ann disappeared into the room as well, for five minutes at the most. Sonya would walk out ahead of Ann, followed by Ras. Ras' nose was bleeding, the start of a black eye forming on the left side of his face, his footsteps out of time with his feet, and when he spoke, he looked like a badly dubbed kung fu movie, his lips forming words almost a second before the sound appeared.


"So, not the mafia, and as you seem to have already figured out since it was a different type of prey back then, not the same person. Shall we organize dinner?"

 

[Esme]

Ann walked back out after Sonya, rubbing at her eyes. They were puffy and red, bloodshot, and her nose seemed like it had acquired a recent bout of allergies. However, she was having trouble holding back the hint of a smirk as she shook her head. Pressing the base of her palm against her eye and pulling outward, she gave up on getting them to stop hurting.


Moving back by her bag, she reached over the bar's counter, grabbing a few napkins and using them instead. She went over the night's plans in her head, better acquaintance, murder scene break in, and a possible visit to a seedy bar. But organizing a dinner, well...perhaps?


Her stomach rumbled in regards. She nodded, but said nothing.

 

[Kagura]

Sonya came back ahead of the others, remembering that she hadn't got the chance to apologize to Kohu before leaving the room. She had bumped into him on her way out, unsure of following Anne at first and stumbling into him as a result. "Sorry, Sir" she finally issued, not using his name without being formally introduced to him first. Surprisingly, Anne and Rasputin were not far behind her- although they looked a lot worse for wear than when she had left them.


The reminder of the magic they were familiar with was clear in her mind and she smiled in her realization. Luckily, Rasputin admitted exactly what she had wanted him to, rather than have her accidentally reveal something the two would rather keep quiet. Besides, Sonya knew the mafia personally, and she knew that they didn't like being questioned- especially about business that wasn't theirs.


So now that the information was out in the open, Rasputin, black eye and all, was offering them supper. Anne merely nodded, staying quiet in what Sonya assumed was a disheveled state and Sonya herself smiled. "A traditional family dinner? or take-out?" she wondered looking at the others present "I'm sure tech-y here has had his fair share of take-out that he could educate us on..." Sonya's lame attempt at a joke falls flat mid-sentence, and she's rather monotonous when she finishes, gesturing at the man in sunglasses

 

[Ozmic]

Null raised a brow as the woman in the blue dress made a startling discovery. He looked over it from behind his glasses, but before he even had the time to comment, the three had sauntered off to the next room for a private meeting. "Well, that doesn't exactly set the precedence for a good amount of teamwork, does it?" he stated plainly, puffing at his pipe thoughtfully while looking at the other male in the now-empty room.


Shrugging it off, he went back to his research, keying blindingly fast with one hand as page after page shot up on the screen in his shades, his eyes flipping over them wildly like a man possessed. This was all hidden from plain sight of course, so he hoped he wasn't making himself out to be some sort've madman to his new acquaintance. Another beat passed in silence, the only sound being the rhythmic clacking of his fingers across the foldable keyboard.


He only stopped when the others moved back into the room, startling him just slightly. He cleared the information and turned toward them. Rasputin was bleeding and the movement of his mouth seemed out of place with the words that followed. A brow raised behind his glasses, but Null said nothing, more than a bit shocked at the change of subject so quickly. His eyes went to the other female, noticing her features as well. And finally came the woman in blue behind them, apologizing to the other male as almost an afterthought.


"Well, I'm assuming we're just to glaze over... whatever it is that happened there. Fine by me. Organizing dinner sounds good and all, but if I recall, we were to try and hurry to head toward the scene, yes? As much as my stomach may roar in protest, that is." He smiled a little, trying not to see too rude. The comment from the woman in blue made his smile waver slightly, but never fall. "Perhaps at one point, yes ma'am. However, since being erm... Awakened, I've been much more careful of my choice of diet and well being."


He rubbed his chin a little and continued. "Tech-y?" he repeated a grinned. "I suppose, condescending as that blanket of a term may be, that it's rather warranted as we've not really been introduced. I suppose, if we were to grab up something quick for food and be able to more properly introduce ourselves in the process, I could hardly disagree to such a plan."

 

[ninbinz]

Sonya, Rasputin and his apparent apprentice left the room, Kohu found his thoughts echoing Null's words. It frustrated him that there were already issues so early on in their mission, he thought that the sudden schism might develop further and provide more hindrance in the future but he kept that to himself, content enough to leave it be despite how it irked him. He looked over at the man wearing the thick glasses and saw that Null had spared him a glance and immediately Kohu was curious about what the man deduced about him. Kohu thought himself just a little conceited but humored his curiosity anyway, there was little else to do.


Kohu couldn't help but want a bit of privacy to seek counsel but alas no opportunity had been provided so he stood by quietly and politely. The room was quiet with just he and Null occupying it, though Kohu felt it was not awkward. He felt that the quietness was simply a part of being veritable strangers and thus; natural. The silence he thought was almost companionable if he didn't feel that Null was somehow distracted.


When the trio returned he noticed small differences, the biggest of those differences sat blatantly on Rasputin's face while the smallest was a smirk on his apprentice's face. Kohu took no mind of Sonya bumping into him he smiled awkwardly at her and shrugged as though to say 'It was nothing'. When later she apologised to him Kohu shrugged again, it was of little consequence anyway, too small a thing to make an issue of anyway. "You don't have to call me sir 'ma'am', the name's Kohu." he stated offhand.


The young mage could feel the pit of his stomach deepen at the mention of food, he realised he hadn't eaten since his last flight and was famished. "Dinner I think could be really good" He commented. It struck him as odd when he realised that the subject had changed so quickly though Null hadn't spared a moment before uttering his own opinion that Kohu found echoed his own once again. He supposed the issue was moot though and let it lie.


Null sounded impatient, Kohu could understand it. He supposed that they all had a reason for wanting to get the thing over and done with, to get on with the rest of their lives. His own interest in the 'quest' was purely self involved. He had a feeling though; that rushing would lead them nowhere quickly but taking their time would be detrimental. "Maybe an early dinner is called for, if we rush we might run right into police, staking out the place would be a sound approach." He commented looking at his walking stick expectantly. There was a secret there that he wasn't yet ready to share, it seemed like it could prove useful to keep it to himself until the right time arrived.

 

[ErisianDialects]

Ras sighed and rubbed his forehead, giving a look to Ann. She would recognise it as the 'This is why I don't make a fuss about it' look. Buried friends, family, and enemies.


"Nutshell. I was there last time around. I was told by the council on Horizon to take down the demon doing it, and blame the mafia, who had, I will admit, summoned it. Because the lot of them back then were still powerplaying morons unaware for the scope of the game they were playing. That's how I got Jay's diary. From him, in person. He showed me most of it early on, and let me make notes at the time. I've made more since. I can't help but see the old case. You lot. Fresh eyes. I lost a couple of damn good friends last time around taking it out."


He rubbed his forehead, taking out an eyedropper of something, putting it in his eyes.


"It's a fact I was hoping you lot would miss, must have missed myself in a photo, old age does that to you."


He blinked a few times, before his face drew into a smile. It was a scary smile, like he was more there, and less. Like he was communing with something, somewhere.


"Mac's at the warehouse now, if you go out to get takeaway, the offer for this place still stands for the night. There should be enough room in the shark if you need it, Ann has the keys. Try to not beat up my baby too badly. There's no cops at Paula's, somehowhow the papers about it got screwed up, so besides a few bits of evidence, it's clear for the moment, too early to break in there though. I'd suggest after midnight. If I hadn't been known to be elsewhere I would be a person of interest. I introduced them all to their mentors. It's why Mac isn't talking to me."


His lips and the words were still badly mismatched, he wouldn't be shaking that effect any time soon. Which pretty much neutralized him dealing with the normals.


"Trust me, don't trust me, nothing is true, everything is permissable."


He would stand up, picking up his bottle, leaving the diary. Mages. The older they got, the more secrets and gameplaying became like catnip to them. It seemed there was something in the eyedrops that at least got him shooting straight. Even if he did start giggling as he walked towards the stairs up to the rooms.

 

[ninbinz]

So Ras had revealed his involvement in the case as it was some years ago. Kohu watched the man's face shift from apparent normalcy to a sort of chilling smile, it was something he had seen on only one other man's face: His teacher's. Kohu remembered when his teacher had that look on his face, generally it mean he was looking into the Gauntlet or spying something from afar, though he expected Rasputin's look was only vaguely similar. Kohu looked around the room to the collective of people around him, Rasputin left their company of imparting a few more tidbits of knowledge to them. "So, we don't quite have a plan of action so much as we have a list of things we need to do," he remarked offhandedly. It appeared to him as thought the figurative mountain was getting bigger and bigger, Ironically they knew so much and yet so very little at the same time. Kohu shook his head at what he assumed was going to be a very long stay in New Orleans.


"So, anyone know where we should get a bite to eat? I could eat a horse right about now." The young shaman looked at the two women and the other man, they were an eclectic group of individuals that at least was certain. He knew there were other traditions Te Ora told him as much. At the very least Kohu knew he had to keep looking over his back for the rest of his life, he simply hoped that the people in his company weren't among them. The house was still swirling collection of moving patterns, it was as though he were standing in a sea and every spell was a creature, here and there he spotted a few small spell though he could only guess at what he was seeing. Many of the patterns were so familiar to him but they possessed a 'difference' he couldn't put his finger on. Above his swam a large shark like pattern; a mangopare but beside it swam a giant shape almost like whale in form but it was made up of patterns he had never seen before. Again he took out a piece of paper and tried his best to copy the patterns down. His eyes followed the large pattern as it swam from the roof and down the wall to lurk just beneath his feet. Then he realised what he was doing and quickly stuffed the paper away, he would have time to copy the patterns later that night.

 

[Ozmic]

At Ras' words, Null quirked a brow again over his glasses, but said nothing at first, letting him continue. Of course the words struck him as odd, but a lot of things had since he'd been Awakened. Stoking his chin thoughtfully, he made a mental note to check things like that out and find more information on the subject as well as find out just what Ras was putting into his eyes. Not that it was anything too bizarre, the male was just dreadfully curious as he generally was about this 'new world' he'd been tugged into.


When the other male mentioned not going until midnight, however, the Virtual Adept frowned thoughtfully. It wasn't one of displeasure, however, but one of deep contemplation. "Yes, yes. That will give us time to do some more research and to get to know each other a bit better over a meal of sorts. Should make working with one another much more efficient overall, I would imagine."


Kohu spoke about lists of things to do and Null nodded toward the other once more. This was good. They seemed to agree on many things. It would make the hassle of disagreement minimum, he hoped. Not that a good disagreement wasn't warranted now and again, but if they were to be a team of sorts, it may serve to place a rift between them early on. His mind shifting this way and that, the bespectacled male nearly didn't hear the mention of where they should get food.


"Ah... I could look a few places up, I suppose unless we would want to get something delivered. Even if we do go somewhere, I would push toward taking 'to go'." He stopped for a second and thought of something, then continued. "My erm... ocular enhancement here does not always bring the best attention in public places, I'm afraid, and such a thing might take up too much of our precious time in explanation."


Giving another nod as if this made perfect sense, Null began typing again in a search for a suitable food source. "Does anyone have any suggestion in what type of cuisine we'll be ingesting tonight?"

 

[Kagura]

Although Sonya wasn't very keen on social situations, she saw that what Null had said about the private meeting made the air tense. The other man who she had apologized to introduced himself as Kohu and she repeated it back with the same pronunciation, forcing herself to grin. Rasputin took it upon himself to clear the air after giving a look towards his apprentice, explaining what the two girls had just learned. Apparently Sonya had come across what he had missed in the clippings, and she took a moment to smooth over the photo now.


There was still the ever prevalent question of food and while Kohu shared her general thoughts, the man in the shades once again shed some negative light on the issue. Not to mention he took her joke rather poorly, leaving somewhat of a bad taste in her mouth. "As much as we hurry, they'll still be dead" she stated rather cruelly, despite the fact she was the one to suggest the plan of heading there as soon as possible. In the end he did agree to supper, if, at most, for the pleasantries.


Rasputin gave them their final bits of information, that a "Mac" was at the warehouse and Paula's place was clear. This meant nobody was about to disturb them, but in a place where Sonya was completely comfortable with. As Ras had mentioned, though, it was too early now- reminding the gypsy that it was only the afternoon. It seemed now that the man had said it, the visual adept agreed easily enough, making Sonya sigh. The joys of getting to know this fellow...


Then Rasputin said something odd before picking up his bottle and leaving to head up the stairs, giggling as he went. Sonya was visibly confused, and worried about the man before Kohu seemed to recover first- mentioning they only had a to-do list rather than a plan. Sonya only shrugged, she had an idea of what she wanted to do after she was fed. It seemed this Kohu was following along as he asked about places to eat.


As Sonya thought of close-by food sources the tech-guy actually brought up something that she herself hadn't thought of. Momentarily perturbed, though, she shot him a critical look before listening to what he had to say. Getting take-out was probably the best option in any matter, as anybody could be listening. Then when he asked for possible suggestions she threw out what she remembered from her previous trips to New Orleans.


"There's an Indian place about a block away take -out or delivery?" she suggests shrugging, closing her eyes as she visualizes the street "Sri Lankan? Italian? Pizza place?" she continues.

 

[Esme]

At the technological man's statement, Ann held back a sharp remark. She knew what happened in that room, outside of what was actually disclosed to them, had nothing to do with the case. If he had an issue with them glazing over it, oh well, she didn't need to make that vocal and piss someone off. Ras, at least, deserved better from his apprentice in that regard. Her thought process derailed itself rather quickly, as she glanced at Ras using his eyedropper.


Alcohol and LSD, how did that combination end up again? Well, at least one took a nulling affect on the other, even if it was only slight. But his reaction was never a good one, and it left a sick hollowed feeling in her gut. As he moved to leave them, her eyes followed him as she tossed out a soft, "Be okay, okay?"


Keeping on him for a moment more, she nodded and turned back to the group as they spoke of food, and how it'd help the group as a whole to feel each other out.


"Uh, for what it's worth, you wouldn't be the oddest thing they've seen down here, I mean, town of voodoo and mardigras, after all. And, there might be the off chance someone in one of these places might know something if they overhear, but in the same breath, it could be equally bad. " She nodded faintly, before casting a look over the amount of room they'd have here, "More surface area for plans, and papers here though."

 

[Kagura]

Anne had brought up a good point, a point, in fact that Sonya herself had thought of when the techy dude even thought he would look weird. She wondered how he would feel if she ever decided to dress in full gypsy attire- shocked maybe? Still it didn't help anything with the food problem other than they had more room to lay out materials here.


"Do we have materials here?" she wonders, "I mean besides the journal...anything to write with?" she looked around quickly. She wasn't sure how free to roam they were in the house, just the fact that Rasputin sleeping upstairs might mean upstairs was off limits. "So- I'm going to make an executive decision and say Indian because it's closer. I already know what I want but I'll look around for a take-out menu..." she trailed off, meeting eyes with the three of them as if they would challenge her.


"Unless of course you can do that on your glasses, too" she notes, taking the easy shot at the man before she stepped out of the room. Sonya began searching the house for anything of use...papers, pens, take out menus, those weird phone contraptions.

 

[ninbinz]

All Kohu heard was "Indian" when he realised that he had zoned out, looking around he felt like he'd been away for months but when only moments had passed. "I could do Indian" he remarked to himself. He looked down at his phone again and opened the browser searching for a store in their area. Kohu clicked on the closest Icon to their general location and followed it to a menu. Kohu sat his phone down in front of Sonya "There's a menu to the closest store there if you need it" he replied offhandedly.


Kohu looked at Null, and decided that the man was strange not for his glasses which were admittedly odd, but, for his manner. There was a quality there that he could not put his finger on but it almost announced that Null was not your ordinary man, even by the standards of a mage. "Actually Null, I think mass media has done us all a favour, most people nowadays are simply content to stare and make assumptions, only the truly observant might make a subject of us. Together, all four of us would make a strange sight, we don't look like your average group of people." Kohu supplied absently. "But I am happy with any option, at this point I could swallow a horse and still have room left" he went on chuckling to himself. Kohu looked from person to person which only gave more credence to his off hand comment. "Something just came to mind, I think it might be good if we exchanged numbers, we might split up at one point and communication is important, also, at some point we might want to discuss our strengths and perhaps weaknesses, it would be prudent to know how we can rely on one another." Kohu looked down at his walking stick again, noting that he might have to share with this group of people it's peculiar talent for speech.

 

[Ozmic]

The following is a joint post between all roleplay participants with the exception of our GM. =]


Null would be lying if he said the woman in blue, Sonya, wasn't beginning to irk him. The repeated jokes at his tech, insulting his gifts, were beginning to put a slight boil to his blood, but he simply exhaled at the first. At the mention of Indian food, he agreed as well, hungry for anything edible and not terribly picky on what type of food it was.


Giving a nod to the one he thought had been called Ann, he shrugged. "Perhaps not the oddest, but attention drawing to other Awakened. I'm a bit far from any of my well known contacts and not everyone on the 'Net can be trusted without background checks done," he stated matter of factly, hoping that his words weren't coming off as harsh or disagreeable.


At the mention of materials, he stayed quiet, opting to use his tech to his advantage in taking down notes and 'plans'. When Sonya made another quip at the other and walked off, he bit back a return volley and clenched a fist, turning toward Kohu again as he began speaking of mass media.


He smiled. "I would normally agree, but with my erm... background and tradition other Awakened can spot a VA rather quickly." He thought this over for a moment and shook his head. "Perhaps, though, I am just being paranoid. I must admit, I am generally suited to doing most of my work behind a screen and keyboard. Not that I haven't the skills for what we're up against, I just tend to take extra precaution when it comes to dealing with places I'm unfamilar with and the population that fill them."


Null chuckled a little. "I'm sorry if I seem to be over-analyzing things. This little get-together shouldn't be sullied by such a thing, I hope." As if trying to shed his mask of oddness, the male reached up and removed his glasses, pocketing them and blinking a few times as if even the dimness of the room was glaringly bright. "Once we get dinner, perhaps I can explain a bit more about myself and we can all get to know each other a bit better." The male thought for a second. "Speaking of dinner... I'll probably have to do the number 13 - Malai Kofta Curry. Love the stuff, if I'm to be honest."


Once his order was out've the way, Null gave his number to the others quickly. Of course, as he was giving his to Sonya, she had to make a quick quip about cellphones and not owning one. "I don't actually own a cellphone- Rots your brains," she started, extracting a viably bloodshot glare from the Virtual Adept as she continued. "As for my weaknesses and strengths? Well I dual tradition in both life and entropy... the balance of the world."





Kohu replied, though he regarded Null expectantly. "I'm sorry but....VA? I'm not familliar with the term," he explained, a bit sheepishly. "There are very few mages in New Zealand so I'm a bit behind the times, which is ironic." He felt a little embarassed by his lack of knowledge in the area of traditions, his teacher was jealous of him and often withheld knowledge on the fear that Kohu would take up a different tradition. "Those are your most proficient spheres, no?" He asked toward Sonya, continuing the conversation.


Ann watched the group chat. When they passed around numbers, she tossed out hers, punching theirs into hers. She was worried, and her eyes kept flicking towards the stairs, but she knew Ras would be okay. He was always okay in the end. Except when he wasn't... As orders were tossed out, she glanced over at the menu quick, before dialing in a number, and stepping closer to the bar, exchanging words and ordering everyone's selection choice.

 

[Kagura]

When Sonya got back with the materials and some alcohol she had found, the people in the room were still chatting away. It was mostly conversation between the two men, and as they talked, Sonya quickly noted the fact she would take the number 5 combo. As she laid out the materials, she noted that she had never answered Kohu's questions about cell phones.


Sonya's opinion on the subject was quickly voiced, dusting off the table as she drew a crude layout of the Euthanto's shop. Although they had one, she drew it much bigger now, idly listening as the boy's continued talking and Ann went off to order the food. "My most proficient spheres? Probably not...but I know a lot about them" she shrugged her shoulders, knowing from her mentors there were so much to the spheres she didn't know.


"How about we talk a plan of action while the food gets here?" she suggests, "So we're going to the Euthanto's shop first...according to Rasputin there should be no cops around. If there are we already have a forger in place..." Sonya starts off strong, the ideas flowing in her head at miles a minute. "So what are we thinking here? Should we split off and have some people on the second floor and others on the first? We can put someone else outside?" the suggestions come quickly, as her eyes maneuver around those present.

 

[ninbinz]

Kohu was eager to eat and his stomach quite literally agreed with him. Sonya answered his question not just the one he had verbally asked but the one he was asking himself, other disciplines referred to them as spheres as well, it wasn't just a term his teacher liked to throw around the place.


When Sonya returned to the room, she was laden with a few resources and a stray bottle of alcohol, he found it odd that despite there being a bar of sorts, there was a random alcohol bottle just sitting around. Sonya asked about making a battle plan and Kohu had to commend her foresight. Kohu removed his phone and took a photo of the rolled out house plan. "I think a plan of action would be good to sort out now rather than later, separating is probably another good idea but we may need a surefire way of communication" Putting his phone away Kohu leaned in to take a better look at the paper.


"Excuse me but would you mind letting me up too? I'd like to see what trouble you're going to get me into Kohu, not to mention how rude you're being not introducing me to your friends! You'd think the old man would have taught you better." It took Kohu a moment to register who was talking but when he did realize where the voice came from, his heart sank. He hadn't wanted him to talk, he needed to hold on to at least one card but alas it was not to be so. Chastised and embarrassed Kohu lifted up his 'scepter so it could see the table. "Everyone, this is Geoff-" "Don't introduce me as Geoff! My name is Te Kahikatea, a pleasure to meet you all." Kohu shook his head, very few 'non-Maori' could pronounce the name even if they did live in New Zealand. "That's alright, you can still call him Geoff though" Kohu went on despite the aura of animosity suspected his scepter was trying to give off.

 

[Esme]

With the phone pressed against her ear, she leaned against a door frame. They were listing off specials and deals that they had going on, and Ann frankly didn't feel the need to interrupt. With an acquired skill of over the phone food ordering she'd honed over the years, she set the order, doubling her own selection for the sake of Ras. Answering the odd questions as they came, like the address and number in case they got lost, she kept her eyes on the ceiling.


Hanging up she set it on the bar and wandered back to the group, returning to Sonya's questions. "Well, do we really have a reason to go down to the shop? I mean, if it got ransaked or something sure, but otherwise, would he have had a need to go into it? " Ann eyed one of the papers, "And if we do split up, I'd say run by text or contanst going call, with you, " She gestured towards Sonya, " would be in a team of two. I think a running call might be better if something happens and we need to drop everything and run, or someone gets hurt..."


Another voice spoke and for a moment, Ann accepted it. At least until she realized it was different than everyone else's...and was coming from the stick? She blinked once then squinted her eyes at it. "It...talks."

 

[Ozmic]

Null smiled politely at Sonya's quip about cellular phones and gave a chuckle, biting back a reply that was equally full of snark and opting for a glare instead. "Well, we'll agree to disagree then, ma'am," he said with a raise of both brows before turning toward Kohu again.


"VA means, quite simply, Virtual Adept. We tend to be a type that channel our abilities through varies forms of technology as I'm sure you can gather." He chuckled lightly before continuing. "It's difficult to explain, but we've very interesting views on the world around us. 'Magic', like anything else in the universe, is part of a complex system of laws and mathematics. The trick is learning to alter reality through calculations and the re-purposing of data."


He coughed a little and flushed, almost looking embarrassed. "I did not mean to go on a tangent there. It's... odd when put into words, I will admit." He busied himself with punching in phone numbers for a moment and went to grab another partial glass of whatever he'd been drinking at before. Returning to his seat, he nodded to Sonya's suggestion and looked to the others before speaking to gather their views on things.


When Kohu mentioned communication, however, he perked up. "Well, I have been thinking that over. I know we just exchanged numbers, but if you would all like, I may be able to gather some temporary phones and Bluetooth headsets." Looking toward Sonya with a small smirk, he continued. "We would be able to open up a constant line of communication without risking personal information leaking around somewhere we shouldn't be. That is, if everyone would be agreeable to such a thing, AND if I can get to them at my home."


Not explaining this, he started again. "Well, we could split up and cover more ground especially if a line of communication is always-open. I'm not quite certain as to how, but we can discuss that further looking over these plans. I'm unsure if we will need someone outside, but it could be useful as well in case things go awry or someone eludes the rest of us from within the place." He stopped for a second, mind going over possibility after possibility, the 'gears turning' at a maddening rate.


Before Null could compose another suggestion, however, another voice spoke and caused his brow to raise questioningly. When Kohu lifted his scepter and it began speaking, the male tilted his head and watched it with interest. After a beat of silence, he spoke again in greeting. "Well met, Te Kahikatea," he replied, echoing the pronunciation nearly perfectly. "Or Geoff, I suppose." At the moment, the man felt nearly speechless, though he had many questions. Time and time again, the world of the Awakened astonished him in new ways.