Leave Your Politics At The Door

[Administrator] Callista Alexander, welcome to Lakeshore (Now)

[Administrator] Molly Quincannon, welcome to Lakeshore (Now)

[Callista Alexander] Facing out over the lake, the Adler Planetarium is possibly one of the more exposed, windswept locations in the city. It is open but, given that it's not peak tourist season and the local schools apparently have other places to take their wards, it's also relatively quiet. Quiet enough for conversations about the less-than-ordinary to go without notice, at any rate.

Callista's sat on a bench looking out into Lake Michigan. She's dressed in a thick, dark green combats, brown woolen jumper, and an ankle-length leather coat to keep the worst of the wind off. There's also a green wooly scarf tucked under the collar of the coat.

In her hands, an insulated cup of tea is being held. Partly to let it cool to a drinkable temperature, partly to warm her hands.

On the lake, a few larger boats are being pushed around on the waves. Smaller craft are sensibly tucked away behind the breakwater, visible in the distance to the north.

[Molly Quincannon] Molly likes the windswept weather. It gives her an excuse to wear her scarf. She had to be out and about anyway (mostly because she's pretty convinced that she'll drive her shipmate nuts if she hovers over him all the time), and a call from Callista is always appreciated. She always has good intel, for a start.

So Molly wanders over - the usual duffel coat, the usual shades-of-russet scarf with the phoenixes embroidered on it, the jeans, the Docs, the ... okay, the Red Sox hat is new. But there's also an insulated picnic bag that apparently contains... "Fudge brownies and pizza bagels. Not to be consumed in the same mouthful." This as she sets down the picnic bag - Molly apparently never starts a conversation conventionally. Though she does, eventually, get around to "Hi there. How's it going?"

[Callista Alexander] ((Meh, just 'cos it might affect what I'm writing. Per+Aware))

[Callista Alexander]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 2, 6, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Callista Alexander] Three things you can be sure of: Death; Taxes; No risk of starvation when you know Molly. With the area so lacking in people, it's not too hard to get an impending sense of Frantic energy. So it's not entirely unexpected when Molly announces her arrives with food. Good, hot food.

"Going good! Very good. Even better, now there's brownies and bagels. How're you doing?" As she shuffles to one side of the bench, she gives a short apology. "Sorry for the lack of caffienated caffiene, I wasn't convinced it would still be hot. Or, in the wind, standing."

Curious, as ever, there's a question. "How's Regina?"

[Molly Quincannon] [[Ah, hell, why not? Awareness]]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 3, 3, 4, 7, 10, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Molly Quincannon] "Pizza bagels, no less," she replies with a bit of a grin, removing from her picnic sack a Tupperware container full of bagels that have been sliced in half and covered in pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and, in some cases, toppings, then baked. "I didn't know what kind of toppings you'd like, so I sort of got an assortment. And I brought my own caffeine, but thanks for thinking of me!" She pulls a thermos out of the picnic bag, looking a bit sheepish. "You'd think I was a girl scout in a former life."

The question about Regina gets a nose-wrinkle and half a shrug. "Better, I think. She's not at my place anymore. Lucien found her someplace that can help her heal, up in the mountains someplace. Remote, very hush-hush, not a lot of space, but I think it was designed for helping people with ... well, the kind of things she's going through. She's a good kid. Brave. She faced up to the Sending well. I think she's going to be okay." A thought occurs. "We took it down, by the way. We pinned it, I verbally bitch-slapped it, Lucien dismantled it. And everyone got out of that ... pocket the Sending stuck them in alive. And then some. I also got knifed by a cult-crazy. Small-C, thank you very much."

Then, as if her list of what-she's-been-up-to had been little more than 'cleaned ferret cages, did shopping, took out the trash', she asks, "How've you been?"

[Callista Alexander] Callista's lips purse and she lets out a little "Ooh..." as she looks over the selection. She pulls out a plain cheese-and-sauce piece to start, as it was just sat on the top screaming Eat Me!. She settles back, cup held between her thighs, and nibbles at the food as Molly talks.

She gives a sigh as Molly explains. "I've thought a few times about whether we could have done anything differently, gotten her out before that damned Sending got its grubby little hands on her. But short of driving through the park and grabbing her, I'm not sure what else we could have tried. Then even that would have been a bad idea, because we'd just be stealing her away from Daddy before the idiot pushed her forwards. I'm glad she's alright, though. How's Elizabeth been taking it?"

As to how she's been? "Oh, I've been carrying on ok. Researching cults and their founders, trying to track down the biblical Son, taking down powerplants. Pretty dull stuff, really." She grins, looking sideways at Molly to see her reaction.

"I'm... happier, though. I think what's been going on has helped me get off the fence and start taking part in things a little more. If you see Kim before I do, tell her thank you. She disappeared before I could really talk to her after out little diversion kicked off."

[Molly Quincannon] "There are things you learn over baseball and beer with a Master at the twists and turns of Fate," Molly says, going for a pepperoni-and-black-olive bagel bit. "Everything happens for a reason. And ... sometimes bad things have to happen for things to come out right. I wish she hadn't had to go through that, but ... if she hadn't been there, tangible proof of the laws it broke - laws that the shred of itself that was still the person who made it adhered to ... well, it wouldn't have come off so well. I hate that it had to be her, but ... you didn't see the other two kids. What it did to them. Better she have to endure a little hardship, with as much support as possible, now than to spare her and think of I don't know how many other kids turned ... not even Fallen. They were ... mutated. Not even human anymore. Fomori, was the word Solomon used. That was the Sending's work. I spent a lot of time around Regina. I helped soothe her nightmares as best I could. Really, Elizabeth was the mother figure and I was the ... 'cool aunt', I guess. Cupcakes and lip gloss and stuffed animals. And with all that, if there was even a chance that sparing her would have meant more of what that Sending did..."

It hurts her to say this. It physically pains her, it's clear. But it's also a fact. Sometimes, the many outweigh the one.

The bit about the diversion gets a giggle, though. "I will. And I heard about that on various sites. A few people I run with, net-wise, think it was a little too old school. And a few hate you for killing their Warcrack games. But otherwise, awesome. What's this about the biblical Son? I guess that Absalom guy is stillwandering around. I have not forgotten about that asshole."

[Callista Alexander] She listens as Molly explains. That there are reasons for things to happen. That bad things happen to good people. That people get stronger for being exposed to the world. The viewpoints of a few of the Awakened in the city, all rolled into one. But that it's painful to talk about is obvious. Hell, even Ashley would be able to see that there's something up.

So Callista listens. It's what she does, and if it helps? It's all for the good. And if the listening doesn't? Assuming Molly doesn't pull away, she wraps an arm around Molly and gives her a hug. No trite cliches, or words of wisdom. Silence, for the moment.

As the moment ends, Callista pulls away and smiles at Molly's comments about the diversion. "Too old school? Hey, I'm damned proud of that! Admittedly, Kim did most of the work on the night, but I still wouldn't have missed it." The smile fades, though, at Absalom's name. "Yeah, he's still out there. Somewhere. And doing an amazing job of staying hidden. I have spent hours trawling articles and squinting at photos trying to track down... something. Anything about him. It's almost as if he just appeared out of nowhere. Nobody can hide that well. I don't know if you would have any better luck searching for him, but my sources have about run dry."

She gives a little snort, bordering on amusement. Not quite, though. Unless you know someone's who's offering some livestock, a parrot, and a flying horse?"

[Molly Quincannon] The hug is accepted, gratefully; Molly doesn't say anything, but - careful of the bill of her baseball cap - rests her head very briefly against Callista's. It's very obviously a verbal thanks. It's not easy admitting some things. Support makes it easier. Sometimes, you don't have to say a word.

Other times, however, you do. "Yes, too old-school. I know some guy operates out of Albuquerque who's got about three different kinds of viruses that'd do what you guys did with no one actually having to be there. Unfortunately, it wouldn't have been quite so localised, but I'm good that people think it's 'newb terrorist with no clue or maybe no ambition' than a deliberate hit that might get people focused on the blackout zone. I may have cast a few nasty aspersions on your efforts myself. With my fingers crossed behind my back, of course. You have to do that when you lie, y'know. Negates the bad karma." At which, of course, she grins.

The rest gets an unimpressed raised eyebrow - not at Callista, of course, but... "No. No one can hide that well. Not if you've got someone who hacks the DMV on a regular basis and has backdoors into CPD's computer systems on your side anyway. He's gotta have something. Though the name's obviously ubercrap. But what's this about livestock, parrots and flying horses? I know there's an exotic bird shop, but ... I can't go near there right now. It's next door to the home of a now very dead Mirrorshade. No, that wasn't us. Ask about the Four Horsemen sometime. It's a fun story. If you like clusterfucks." Yeah, there's some bad blood there, clearly.

[Callista Alexander] Pulling the lid off the tupperware box, Callista pulls out another piece of bagel. Black olives and mushrooms on this piece. "Everyone's a critic!" Mock-indignation, accompanied by a wide smile, show Callista's certainly not taking the criticism to heart. Pulling a bit of olive off and tossing it in her mouth, she explains the reference.

"I found an ad in the personals section of the Trib. And no, I'm not a regular reader, before you ask, I just had time to kill and somebody had left the page open" She smiles again. "Amongst all the random letters, there was a full advert. Someone looking for a fair wayfarer and guide, with an offer of some mules, cows, and a parrot. It finished off saying that 'the pegasus is free next Friday', and signed Peitho." She shrugs.

"The names, and the references, don't mean anything yet. The pegasus would have flown, or trotted, back on the 8th. I was going to ask around the Trib offices, see if I could find out where the advert came from. I don't suppose you could look into it, could you? I'd hate to owe one of those second-rate hacks a favour."

Professional snobbery? Absolutely!

[Molly Quincannon] "Hey, watch what you call my friend!" Teasing. Mostly. Then she shrugs and chuckles. "To be fair, Spike's not a reporter, so I'll assume that's not who you're mentioning. But all that to say that I've got a friend at the Trib, and I can sure as hell ask there, and do a bit of poking and prodding of my own. Surprised I haven't heard about that one already, actually," she adds, mostly to herself. "Spike knows I love the weird, and that's as weird as it gets. Did you get anything about the references? I'm pretty sure, even on short acquaintance, that you're the kind of girl who'd be all over cracking that particular code. Which seems less DaVinci than Dali, thinking about it. Just for sheer weird."

[Callista Alexander] A grin accompanies the reply, "Did I say second-rate? I meant to say world-class bastions of integrity! Either way, I just haven't had much of a chance to dig into it much more, yet. Work's been keeping me busy, and I've had assignments to research and submit. It's just taken a bit of a back seat until things settle down a little, but I will be poking it around some more soon."

There's a sudden thought, of another temporarily-dead lead. "While you're nosing, see what you can find about a guy called Jonah Mosh. I've managed to find out that The Way were kind of his cult before the Sending turned up. His flock all shaved their hair off and left him for you-know-what when he wouldn't do the same. There's some nasty history surrounding him, but he's another one with the gift for dropping out of sight. I'm sure he'll pop up again soon, but he might know something more about a certain white-skinned psycho."

[Molly Quincannon] Anyone else (well, almost anyone else) would be digging for a notepad right about now. Molly doesn't bother. Molly doesn't have to. Molly, in fact, just looks gleeful. "Ooooooh, names. Names are good. I'm just glad I work from home and multi-task well. Just send me an email with everything you've got, if you don't mind taking some time to collate it and type it up. It's always helpful to have a foundation to build on. We keep each other informed, okay? I don't like the idea of stepping on your toes by accident. I'd hate to trip up the investigative goddess that is you." Again, teasing ... but not really joking, exactly. She certainly means the compliment as much as the request.

Then a thought occurs. "Oh, hey, while I've got you - I've got a bit of a project brewing that you might be interested in, once it starts getting going. Though if you're really really busy, I get not wanting another iron in the fire. But it's ... sort of Community stuff. As in, trying to find a new or at least workable way to make sure we can actually be one." And by capital-C Community, she clearly means 'magi'.

[Callista Alexander] "Flattery like that will get you anywhere, Miss Quincannon." Callista grins before downing the last of her cup. "I'll put something together for you in a couple of days. I should have a little slack time after the next assignment's in."

They say that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. The best way to Callista's attention? A few details surrounding something that she'll be interested in, enough to get her trying to piece together the trail of bagelcrumbs.

"Do tell! I can't commit to anything just at the moment, but I'm certainly interested in knowing more. And I'll certainly get involved if, and when, I can."

[Molly Quincannon] "Well, you probably at least know that we've got someplace ... erm, quasi-formal. It's a little less Knox-like now, to be honest, so people can actually go without being vetted by one single person who's almost never around. But all the same, it's ... formal. And gets political without meaning to. So what I'm trying to do is set up a ... well, not so much a Chantry as a Sanctuary. No Node, mostly because I can't find one and even if I could, or could get help to do so, it'd mean power struggles and a whole lot of crap I don't want. What I want is someplace where we as a group can sit down, talk amongst ourselves, maybe crash if we need to after a mission or whatever. Gym, bar, kitchen, beds, showers, decent but not too potent library maybe. So far I've got the building locked up, and I can do a lot of the work myself, at least on the electrics. But it's going to need manpower, at least some funding or someone with contacts that'll help the money we have spread a little further, and people to spread the word. Also maybe someone with painting aptitude to make a sign that says 'Leave Your Politics At The Door'," she adds with a grin. "Sound like the kind of thing you'd be into helping out with?"

[Callista Alexander] "I've not actually been there yet, but I know there is a house open to at least some of the locals. I hadn't heard that things had become more... relaxed there, though. Would this be anything to do with a certain diminutive friend of ours stepping back from the community?"

"Anyway, yes! I'm definitely up for helping out with it, where I can. I can't really help with funding the thing, as I don't have any way of disguising where the money goes. But I might be able to help with things like getting approval for extensive renovations. I have a friend of a friend who might be able to whisper in an ear or two to smooth things along."

"As for the lack of a Node, I imagine that does make things somewhat simpler. Less for the 'shades to take an interest in, too."

[Molly Quincannon] "It might indeed," is Molly's response to the rest of it. "Stepping back right out of the city, from the sound. Seems as though she decided the last minute, 'too late' point in the Sending-squishing proceedings was the perfect time to dig her heels in, got butt-hurt when no one was on her side when she wanted to make it her personal genie-in-the-lamp or whatever, and seems to have more or less vanished. That and she was telling newbies that their only options are 'join our cause or get nabbed by Mirrorshades'. And I wondered why everyone avoided the House like the plague. Kibo's shaven nuts what a mess."

She regards the pizza bagels, and then passes them over (to Callista; apparently she means to have Callista take them home for later snacking) for the brownies. And the coffee. "Anyway, help with the planning permission stuff would be awesome, though I think I'm gonna have to set up a meet with you and Nathan about that one. As to the money thing ... I wouldn't worry about hiding where it goes, if you have any to spare. I can usually fake a trail when it comes to money. But don't worry if you can't, either; I'll just hit Vegas or Atlantic City or someplace if I run short." No, she is not joking.

[Callista Alexander] "I've only bumped into her the once, and she wasn't talking about join us or the guys in 'shades will eat you' Saying that, she did seem like she'd already made up her mind about stepping back from the house. I guess that the run-in over the Sending pushed her that little bit too far. I hope she'll be ok, though." There's a touch of sympathy in Callista's voice; Ashley hadn't directly done anything to get on her bad side.

"Don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting Nathan, yet. So, yeah, give me a yell when he's around and you guys want to meet up. Or just drop me a note with the where and the what, and I'll send my contact a bunch of flowers and a note."

[Molly Quincannon] Molly smiles a little - sad, worried, aggravated, but fond - at the touch of sympathy in Callista's voice. "Yeah, me too. I'm not too worried about her though. She can take care of herself, and seems to like doing so. Maybe she just took on too much because she's got control issues, I dunno. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, all that. A break might be just what she needs."

The bit about Nathan - oh, much fondness there; blush-levels of fondness. Clearly there is a thing there. Quite likely reciprocal, to judge from her expression. "Oh, he's around. He just buries himself in books a lot. But I'm dragging him out more these days so when I'm next ... ah, 'poking through his bookshelves'--" more blush, little grin, clearly double-entendre "--I'll let him know. He'll want to meet you anyway. I think he's feeling out of touch."

And then, because it's blowy and a little nippy and crumbs are getting everywhere, she says, "Look, c'mon; let's go look at the Planetarium for awhile. They'll let us bring snacks; I know they will." (Especially, says her tone, if they don't notice said snacks.) "I need some break-time and company I don't have to stress over the mental health of so much. And we both need to look at pretty constellations."

There is no room for argument here. There is exploration! And fun! And all that sort of thing! At least for a little while, they can be just folks.