A Very Hermetic Christmas Story, part 2: Nick v. the Intellectual Maenads

Gladstone, & co.

[Y'know. Pen, Perc + Empathy. Nick, how are you feeling/do you like this/is this terrible to you/Rob and Ari are totally wrong, right?]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 2, 4, 7) ( success x 1 )

N. Hyde

[Totally wrong.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10) ( success x 3 )

Gladstone, & co.

"You're welcome," Lysander says. "I was happy to do it. Perhaps next year, I'll show you more of the old place, and you'll be able to see without help."

Meanwhile, Pen looks at Nicholas for a steady second. This is not an up-from-under-the-eyelashes look, but this clear-eyed rest of a thing, silence between one heart beat and the other; she has a way of study, shadow on her brow which clears after that second has gone. Unfair Songrobin and Aridracona, at least it will be a pleasure to tell them that they are wrong: it is sometimes too much of a pleasure to tell Robin and Arianna that they are wrong. 

How many people are - 

"Ten, not including you and me."

N. Hyde

"Perhaps," Nick says, to Lysander.  This is more than idle supposition; it's reflective, even: thoughtful.  Nick enjoys seeing the world in a different way, and he has geared much of his magickal study toward this pursuit.

Pen says - ten, and Nick just nods.  To Pen, he appears perfectly put together, without any hint of how stressful the conversation with Lysander was or that he is waiting for the next shoe to drop now that they are sidling on into the main room.  Perhaps she misses the way his jaw sets as he steels himself.  "Anything I should know?"

This is touched with humor: perhaps he is hoping to jump between other magi to avoid Diana.

Gladstone, & co.

[Lysander. Are you steeling yourself? Does ten seem like a lot to you, poor little lovelorn Chakravanti in a Nest of Hermetics? Perc + Subt.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (4, 4, 4, 6, 8, 8, 10) ( success x 4 )

N. Hyde

[Psh, ten is nothing.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 4, 9, 9, 9) ( success x 3 )

N. Hyde

[Ten seems like a lot to Nick.  He is also maybe wondering whether he can blend into the background and just quietly listen and observe.]

Gladstone, & co.

[Wouldn't be a Lysander party without a Lysander Manip + Subt.]

Dice: 8 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 3, 3, 3, 6, 8, 8) ( success x 3 )

N. Hyde

[I see through you, sir.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10) ( success x 4 ) [Doubling Tens]

Gladstone, & co.

[Pen: *squint* Subtext? Undercurrents? C'mon guys.]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (4, 7, 8, 8, 9) ( success x 4 )

Gladstone, & co.

Nicholas was a surprise but Lysander has plans for Nicholas tonight and those plans don't involve allowing the Chakravanti to escape notice by being on the sidelines, this snowy glen graveyard churchyard sense of hallowed crow's wing whisper, something to comment on later, an observant outsider an outsider allowed to observe. Lysander plans on making Very, Very Certain that Nicholas is kept Entertained and Entertaining, which means one thing to Pen, who has not seen through Nicholas's assured and in control façade, and will mean another to Nicholas, who has steeled his jaw and dredged up his strength, and who has all this evening found himself often unfortunately in possession of a hint of insight into Lysander's character. The Prince with a Thousand Enemies is not by nature caring or warm. Untrue. He cares. He is warm. But his care and his warmth is not for people.

Anything I should know? "That you are clever," Pen says, with casual intimacy; as if Lysander were not there at all. "As clever as the moon, and the grain, and the wind. I think I should get you the ring around the moon and give it to you to wear. Doesn't that sound like a worthy quest? Oh! And be on guard around Gil. He is drunk."

Lysander is interested in the metaphors his Poet-Apprentice wants to bestow on her Chakravanti friend, and he doesn't bestow any mocking glances on the pair at this juncture in time. He says, "Traditionally, I give gifts tonight to all my guests. Most of them have already received their presents, but you'll find a box with your name on it by the bar. And yes, watch out for Gil. He is a cantankerous old bastard and a lecher of the worst order. I wouldn't allow a bad word about him to pass my lips but well here we are. He will tell you the same as soon as he meets you, and proudly, so," and there is a touch of wryness here.

Perhaps Nicholas notices that they're taking a different way back to the Solarium, the main room. Can feel the pressure of a mélange of resonance, a room filled up brimfull of Personality, the house soaking it up.

N. Hyde

"That's a very lofty quest," Nick says, and he is amused, and he is less willing to disregard Lysander's presence there.  He is aware that there is some plan the Hermetic has for him tonight, and he is not sure what it is - but perhaps it has something to do with the gift.  Nick is on guard, clever as the wind which can't be snared; or at least this is what he hopes.  "But I have no idea what I'd get you in return."

Pen is not looking at him as she says to be on the lookout for Gil, and the gaze he casts over her before turning his eyes ahead is affectionate, something tinged with wonder, and he keeps his face angled away from Lysander (it's not for him.)

"Duly noted," he says, of what they tell him about Gil.  "There's one at every party I suppose."  

Gladstone, & co.

Pen grins at Nicholas. "But you got me the quest."

"He will try to be courteous," Lysander says, and it sounds rather like a threat against poor Gil's life, but poor Gil if he actually is a drunk and a lecher probably is used to such things. Here is a bit of hallway that Nicholas is familiar with; here is Lysander, lengthening his stride to open the door for his guests, and here is the Solarium.

"Before you come in, you should check out that corner." Dim clamor of noise from those within, and a clear view of them. 'That corner' is through a narrow door almost invisible set into the paneling of the hall leading to the Solarium, a fairy door. Lysander doesn't wait for Pen and Nick to follow him or take his suggestion, whichever they'd like; he just winks then heads in.

--

Clear View of Inside the Solarium.

The Solarium is octagonal in shape. And glass, of course. Tall, tall glass windows, all sides except the one where the door is set: that looks like it is stone on one end, but on the other end as if it is warm wood paneling, and against this is set the bar mentioned, a host of glasses and bottles set up for just this party. There are some candles, floating in the air, suspended there by some fantastical expenditure of Will which also takes care that the wax not drip on the guests below. The candle-flames are reflected and echoed in the glass like witch-light stars and beyond the glass is the darkness of a snowy evening, dim shapes and vastness sweeping toward cliffs and the sea and a mosaic balcony and the balcony has trellises where fauns disport and there are dead vines bare scant and burning torches on the lawn. There are some mundane twinkle-lights, too. The Flambeau does like his glowing things, rock salt lanterns and other metal lamps hanging. The Solarium is certainly large enough for the whole party -- large enough for a larger party, too, an evergreen coaxed to grow inside so the room smells of candles burning beeswax and of pine.

There are snacks laid out, obviously well-loved snacks judging by the fact that there isn't that much on the platters.

There is a square gathering area, carved out by the setting of five couches and two chairs, and most of the party seems to be located there.

Diana is sitting in a chair, votary, black hair bloody red mouth terrifying, eyes snapping with terrible life as she says something pointedly to somebody Nicholas doesn't know, an older man with more salt than pepper in his hair, deeply carved dimples and a very square jaw, half-moon eyes that could be genial or not. He looks hard. There are two young women around his and Pen's age, one who has thick straight brown hair, dressed in a sharp crimson with startlingly blue eyes, a certain vulnerability of expression that makes her likable before she says anything, the other with dark skin and a crown-halo of kinky-curled hair, a short dress of yellow and a necklace which echoes a Peter Pan collar but is of gold or some precious metal, something which looks wizardly and pretty, and they are looking at a book together, with the first young woman occasionally lifting her eyes to the door. 

There are two men around Pen and Nick's age, too, perhaps one being just a year or two older, one with red ruddy hair curling, thick glasses and a sharp blue suit, rings on every finger, some nestled bit of silver at his throat, and this is often how one can tell a Mage isn't it? By their accessories, and the second man is best described as 'large,' Bear-Prince if anything, Orion the hunter, somebody you'd use the word 'hew' for, or 'thews,' some terribly cultured monster of a man. They are arguing, with the Bear-Prince of a man sitting on the couch and the ruddy haired bespectacled young wizard standing behind it. There is also a pale-blonde (Femme Fatale cut, waving) woman who looks like a contemporary of Lysander's, and is the first to notice them, although she is usually the last to be noticed, in spite of the dress she is wearing which is some fashionable and fashionably cut compromise between ritual robes and elegant party-wear, somebody who looks as if he must be her brother, so closely alike do they look though his eyebrows are thick and dark in contrast to the pale-blond hair and he will be noticed long before she is. He is smoking a cigar almost furtively, though via some chicanery the smell of the cigar smoke isn't filling up the whole the Solarium, and seated beside the man Diana is speaking to, an expression which teeters between amusement and tolerance on his face.

N. Hyde

Inside the Solarium: a den of Hermetics, arranged among the glow-lights and candle flames like a pantheon awaiting their entrance to some temple of the Will.  In this meeting here of gods and men, Nicholas Hyde is still aware of all the resonances he'd sensed earlier, tangling and mingling together in this space.  His own marks him as different, even if his Tradition did not.

His eyes flicked toward the corner, the fairy door, and he is wary enough that it would not be difficult for Pen to sense it.  "I want to look," he confides in her, "but Lysander also showed me the Green Door."

Still: he suspects that very little will be as mortifying-in-the-future as walking into the Solarium.  He has already locked eyes with a few people in the room - the dark haired woman in crimson, who looks approachable; the ruddy-haired man who the eyes can't help but be drawn to, the waving woman.  He glances back to Pen, apparently entirely willing to defer to her on whether they go through the door or not.  At least if he ends up asleep in a closet, he will not be alone.

Gladstone, & co.

Pen bends her head, the better to listen; then she laughs! This bright-ripple of surprise and amusement, and she pulls Nicholas toward the fairy door. Conspiratorial when she says, "If you stop looking because of other things Lysander has shown you or told you, you're usually trapped."

She opens the door, backs in; lets Nicholas decide whether he's going to follow himself. The fairy door leads to what might at best be called a closet, certainly. Tall, tall, tall, but no more than four feet by four feet, and the door slams closed behind Nick as soon as he's inside and no longer holding it. Slams closed with an air of finality, and then the show begins. Theatre. Performance. Mischief.

Lights go on above their heads and see descending there is a clockwork automaton mechanism which ticks into motion. The little room is illuminated; there are secret niches built into the walls, where things are displayed: they are surrounded by a curio cabinet. 

Above, it is a mechanical precious-metal-made celestial heavens sort of -- clock, maybe. A city; a rainbow bridge, which ticks into being, stretches out, all old burnished colors but it is a wonder. Little people moving, too, dragging diamond-glinting stars out of hidey-holes in the wall, music box clockwork music playing chime ding and then:

Oh, see. A little man with wings on his helmet, trundling down the rainbow bridge, just over them: holding a sprig of real mistletoe over Nick and Pen! Closer look. All the little figures are Norse gods, or Magicians. There's even Death, death's head, dancing with a maiden.

Merry Christmas!

N. Hyde

They both have to duck in order to get through the fairy door; Nick does indeed follow her in, intent enough on what's ahead that he is less concerned that the door slams shut behind the two of them.  Once it does, once he's heard it, a weight settles into the space somewhere around his bellybutton: is some Mind trick coming, or will they wake another Dragon?

But no: they are illuminated, they are painted with light, and Nick watches with all the fascination and wonder of a child looking through a kaleidescope for the first time.  This, too, is what magic is for.

"I did not expect that," he says, his words particularly enunciated as they are emphatic.  He almost doesn't notice the mistletoe, as he is studying each of the little figures, Death dancing with a maiden.  As soon as he does, there is some simple amusement - maybe Lysander has some Calvin left in him after all - and he tilts Pen's chin up and leans down to kiss her, stealing whatever few moments that he has.

Because they are about to go back into the Solarium, where the vague sense of existential foreboding that has followed him around all night is likely to culminate.

Gladstone, & co.

"You wouldn't, if Lysander explained -- or failed to explain," something heated, there; molten, "what was behind the Green Door."

That makes her think of something; takes her, in fact, away from the mechanical cosmos spinning over their heads, the metal-work filigreed heaven, until something in the way Nick inhales or exhales sets her attention more finely on the present, and she smiles at him and his expression, before setting her own upward.

Her eyes are closed after the kiss; a pensive furrow between her brow. When she opens her eyes, they're gleaming gone mercurial capricious with grave mischief. "How about a lipstick ring until I find my way to the moon?"

And she'll do it, too: leave a ring of her lipstick under his collar like a secret. The lights go out eventually, a minute or two in: the show's over. Pen says, in the dark, "Tally ho!"

And he'll have to open the fairy door, and go back into the hall first, because Pen will not body check Nick out of the way.

The Solarium door is askew. Pen'll give Nick a questioning glance; and she looks - well. She probably manages to hide exactly what she is feeling at this juncture in time with the skill of the Patron Saint of Liars - 

[pause in post, for a roll.]

Dice: 3 d10 TN6 (4, 7, 7) ( success x 2 )

N. Hyde

[Oh Pen.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 4, 5, 5, 7, 10) ( success x 3 ) [Doubling Tens]

Gladstone, & co.

- well, more or less. She puts up a good front, but weather can be misleading, and she is a touch apprehensive, worried about some One inside that room, some specific person.

Still! Swashbuckle time, right? She opens the door proper-like and ushers Nicholas inside. A house of doors.

N. Hyde

Tally ho, Pen says in the dark, and she can't see it, the way his face breaks into a smile in the blackness: teeth and all.  By the time he has opened the door and stepped forward, blinking for a moment as his eyes readjust to the light, it is gone.

Nick has rearranged his collar to cover her ring, only a hint of that furtive smile present as he directs his gaze back toward the Solarium.  He can be ushered inside, though his eyes catch on Pen in the seconds after he has stepped through the threshold.  It isn't so unusual that anyone would be apprehensive in a party like this, but perhaps he is surprised to see her apprehensive.

"Is there someone here that you want me to distract for you?"  Chivalry is not a thing that comes naturally to Nick, but, well, he can put himself on the front lines occasionally.

Gladstone, & co.

"No." And she lowers her voice to a whisper, leaning close. "You have two seconds to choose your destiny; who shall I introduce you to first?"

He does have two seconds to decide. They're already being noticed. Not by everybody, but the blonde woman who neither of them has probably noticed yet, by Horace Lysander, who is at the bar and has been joined there by a nondescript man in his mid-to-late forties with a distracted air and another man, Hispanic, handsome as the devil, mid-thirties, late-thirties.

N. Hyde

Nick's eyes dart from person to person: Lysander and Diana (no) he has already met, and the others...well, most of them are arguing or having some sort of intense discussion or another, which is exactly the thing Nick would have expected in a party of Hermetics.  Intense discussions all around.

The Chakravanti jerks his chin toward the two young women reading a book.  "They look friendly."

N. Hyde

Init!

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (6) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

Pen: +7.

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (4) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.

Zelda: +6

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (5) ( fail )

N. Hyde

Nick - 11

Gladstone, & co.

Alexandra: +8

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (9) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

Lysander: Oh no you don't! +8

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (6) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

Diana: Oh, is it the Euthie again? +6

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (7) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

ORDER OF SOCIAL COMBATTERY.

Alexandra: 17

Lysander: 14

Diana: 13

Nick & Pen & Zelda 11. (Pen: Argh, this is terrible.)

Gladstone, & co.

[Alexandra, Perception + Empathy on Diana.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9) ( success x 4 )

Gladstone, & co.

[And now on Nicholas.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 4, 4, 6, 10) ( success x 2 )

Gladstone, & co.

[And now on Pen.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 3, 6, 10, 10) ( success x 3 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Pen's a liar.]

Dice: 3 d10 TN6 (2, 7, 8) ( success x 2 )

Gladstone, & co.

[So is Diana.]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (5, 6, 8, 8, 10) ( success x 4 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Damn it. Tie-break. Alexandra.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10) ( success x 3 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Diana.]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (4, 4, 5, 6, 9) ( success x 2 )

N. Hyde

[Nick is definitely a liar.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 6) ( success x 2 )

Gladstone, & co.

[We break this tie, RIGHT NOW! Alexandra.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9) ( success x 2 )

N. Hyde

[Tie break!]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4) ( botch x 1 )

N. Hyde

[Empathy - Alexandra.  Don't botch this, Nicholas.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 10) ( success x 3 ) [Doubling Tens]

N. Hyde

[Empathy - Pen.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9) ( success x 3 ) [Doubling Tens]

N. Hyde

[Empathy - Diana.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 5, 5, 5, 10, 10, 10) ( success x 6 ) [Doubling Tens]

Gladstone, & co.

[Alexandra is a liar.]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (3, 3, 5, 9, 10) ( success x 2 )

N. Hyde

[Nick is feeling fairly apprehensive at the moment.  There are a lot of powerful people in this room, and he's a bit in awe of that, including the setting and surroundings.  He is also not feeling especially confident about his ability to discourse intelligently with Hermetics about things that are mystically related.]

Gladstone, & co.

The young woman with thick, dark straight hair is alert; alert, and seeking - sweeping a look at Diana, whose movement she has noticed (uh oh), and then a closer look at Nick and Pen (do I think it would be kind to rescue you), for humanitarian reasons.

Nicholas sees that: Pen is resigned to his choice; of course that would be the one. Her principle reaction is resignation. And Alexandra sees the same, but with more context.

Diana, meanwhile. Diana has noticed Nicholas and decided that he will make the perfect illustration to a point she is making, and it is sure to be nasty for him; there is a sense of brisk dismissal, cold pleasure in the fact that - something. She also seems to be annoyed at the man she is speaking to, and really looking forward to rubbing his nose in the shit. 

Gladstone, & co.

Alexandra carefully straightens, a directed (frontal assault [natural leader, baby]) beam of a smile for Pen and Nicholas. "Hey Pen, Pen's friend, over here."

And she scoots to the side, so there is a gap between herself and the dark skinned young woman (Zelda, who looks startled, catching the book which Alexandra lets go before it touches the couch, and only turns her head afterward) on their couch.

[Char + Leader, just to keep Diana from interjecting right now.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 10) ( success x 3 )

N. Hyde

As they approach the dark haired young woman, the one with the open face and likeable demeanor, Nick smiles; in the brief seconds before they make contact he is fully prepared to be friendly and engaging, in spite of how apprehensive he happens to be feeling at this moment.  Pen - one corner of his mouth wavers, because of all the choices he could have made in this room, he seems to have picked the One she was concerned about speaking with.

Good job, Nicholas.

And oh, Diana, he has seen her too.  Perhaps she won't approach him if he seems to be otherwise engaged - perhaps he can move around the room between conversations until the end of the night and wait her out.  He does not put great faith in this idea: and Alexandra saves them.  Nick has picked up on Pen's attitude toward Alexandra at this point; it is only this sensitivity that keeps his relief from being a palpable thing.  "Hello," he says, as they near Alexandra and Zelda.  There is a glance to Pen, as at the moment he is "Pen's friend."

Gladstone, & co.

They have to go around the Bear-Prince and the Ruddy-haired Man, cut in to take the offered seat on the couch. Zelda has gathered the book into her lap, and gives Nicholas a long and level (contemplative) look, socially aware enough to be reserved so it isn't quite staring. Pen had already been socializing before she left to find her mentor and Nicholas; there are no new hellos for Pen. There's already a sense that she found her place in the group tonight (enchant them and you never need deal with them). 

"This is Nicholas Hyde, bani Chakravanti. Nick, this is Zelda Marina Merlyn Kerissa, bani Bonisagus, and Alexandra Helen Antimony Bright, bani Flambeau."

Alexandra offers her hand; stands, if Nick hasn't seated himself yet. Zelda does not stand, either way, and Pen, well - Pen is letting Nick take point here.

N. Hyde

Nick has not yet seated himself; he does so eventually, but first takes the hand that Alexandra Bright offers.  There's a warmth in his handshake and in the eye contact that follows that is so easy most people don't recognize that it's practiced, too, over long repetition and many many new introductions throughout the day.

"It's a pleasure to meet both of you," he says, and following that he does seat himself (it makes it much more difficult for Diana to sidle her way into the conversation, for one.)  "Pen and Robin have mentioned your names."

Then, to Alexandra, with some gentle humor, "Thanks, by the way."

Gladstone, & co.

Alexandra's grip is firm, her hands callused in an interesting way; weather-worn, weapon-worn, and her blue gaze direct.

"I've heard about you as well," Alexandra says. From who?

Zelda inclines her head, graceful as a bust of Nefertiti or some other delicate goddess-creature, when Nicholas expresses pleasure, and casts a hooded glance up at Pen. No; over at Pen; Pen has seated herself now, edge of the couch but still she is seated. The hooded glance becomes a graceful blink. The shadow of the movement ripples on her golden collar. 

Alexandra's knees are turned toward Nick and Pen and Zelda, her hands clasped loosely around them. Knowing twinkle in her eye at the thank you. "De nada," Alexandra says. No wink, though she sneaks a quick look toward Diana, before settling her attention back on the magi assembled before her. "It's Christmas; a time for miracles. So how long have you been around the area, Nicholas? It seems strange we haven't met before now, given your closeness to Pen and Robin. I like, what's his name, Thane. He's flirtier than I thought a Verbena would be, even with the reputation!"

N. Hyde

Nick's eyebrows arch just a fraction as Alexandra says that she's heard about him too: he does not know who she would have heard about him from, recently initiated as he is.  Robin, perhaps.

He is relaxed, and this is a truth: though beneath that, it is difficult for him not to notice the glance that passes between Zelda and Pen.  He knows nothing about Alexandra, really, or what there is about her that could have upset Pen, and this layers some caution beneath the general apprehension that was already present.  Still, he is seated comfortably, one leg stretched out in front of him, leaned forward (the better to listen.)

"I only moved down here this past summer.  I was up in Boston before that."  She mentions Thane, Thane's flirtiness; and Nick is more aware of Thane's flirtiness tonight than on other nights perhaps, given that it is the reason his sister is not here with them.  His smile is a touch rueful.  "The general reputation of Verbena doesn't quite prepare people, I agree.  It's difficult not to like him."

N. Hyde

[Init!  Nick +5]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (6) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Pen! +7]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (9) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Zelda +6]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (10) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Alexandra +8]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (1) ( botch x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Martin Alertness.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (2, 2, 3, 3, 7, 7, 10) ( success x 4 ) [Doubling Tens]

Gladstone, & co.

[Martin +7]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (2) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.

Order this Round!

Zelda, Pen: 16

Nick: 11

Alexandra, Martin: 9

Gladstone, & co.

Martin: the big, Bear-Prince of a Hermetic, arguing by the couch they're sitting on -- he's heard something, and he's about to break into the conversation all demandingly.

Alexandra: definitely about to say something charming, maybe ask something of Pen or Zelda, totally unaware that Martin's about to speak over her/anybody.

N. Hyde

Nick: About to ask a couple of questions to bring Pen and Zelda into the conversation and start a discussion.

Gladstone, & co.

Pen: Wits + Expression, Wits Specialty ho!

Dice: 8 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 3, 5, 5, 8, 8, 9) ( success x 3 ) [Doubling Tens]

Gladstone, & co.

Pen rests her elbow on the back of the couch, and says before Martin's done sucking in a breath, "Yes, Martin? If it's something about multi-Traditional cabals and how they aren't particularly well-thought out as a 'concept' and the theoretical models, blah, blah, save it. You haven't even been introduced yet."

Martin, mouth open, blinks. His jaw hinges snapped back shut click.

Zelda gives one quiet chuckle, something that is whispery; barely there as a sound, shoulders lifting UP then down, and then - "I don't like Thane very much. He talks too incessantly, but you seem fine. Do you like to read?"

Ignore them, her question seems to say.

N. Hyde

Pen, and Pen's equipoise, startles Nick for a moment; he had not realized the Bear Prince was about to leap into the conversation.  Behind Martin, the red-haired man has given a sharp roll of his eyes behind his glasses, temper flicking outward, a solar flare that dissipates in the dark; which is to say that it likely goes unseen.

Nick might've had a word on multi-Traditional cabals, but instead Zelda asks him a question.  "I didn't for a long time, but I do now," he says, and if he is honest it's because he's found he has a lot of catching up to do among people who grew up reading.  "What were the two of you reading before we came by?"

Gladstone, & co.

Alexandra does not jump in to interrupt Zelda and Nicholas's back and forth, although she does cast a glance back toward Martin, to see what he's going to do (if anything).

He is not going to do anything. "I'm right here," Martin says. "Why don't you introduce me?" 

N. Hyde

[Init: Bran +5]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (7) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

Edited Order:

Zelda, Pen: 16

Bran: 12

Nick: 11

Alexandra, Martin: 9

Martin: Bully an introduction, and then commence with the Thing He Was Gonna Say, albeit maybe a touch more nicely, because GOD Pen don't you KNOW - 

Alexandra: Observant for now!

N. Hyde

Nick: Attentive look to the two new guys!  I am so glad I am not in the center of this!

Bran: Politely break in and try to keep him from bullying the initiates.  Jerk.

Gladstone, & co.

"Because you and Bran were having a conversation he seems to want to continue, for whatever reason," Pen says. Don't be rude, Martin. Though; she is aware it is rude not to introduce someone so blatantly angling; still, she digs her heels in. "You can't just hop from argument to argument as soon as you feel like you're losing one."

Zelda was on the verge of answering Nicholas when Martin began to exert his presence; she tilts her head back in order to study him, gravely. Then she reaches a hand across Pen's lap, and touches Nicholas's, very lightly, very softly, soft as a snow flake landing, see, to draw his attention back.

"It is my Christmas gift from Horace; do you know any other languages?"

N. Hyde

The man who was speaking with Martin has moved forward now, and there's a sort of warrior's grace in his limbs and his bearing; he is Charged, as though he'd soaked up the sun's light and holds it within his core still now that it's sunk behind the horizon; he is Valiant, even in this situation where Pen has Martin in hand.  "Excuse us," he says to the collective.  "Martin apparently can't hold his whiskey.  Martin, my suggestion is to quit while you're ahead."  This, amiable, if only the slightest bit smug.

Nick's eyes are moving from stranger to stranger, here interested, here concerned: he has noted tempers flaring, and he has heard, if only in passing, a few of the names being mentioned here.

Zelda's touch on his thigh brings him back to his conversation, and his eyes settle back on her once more.  "I knew some Spanish growing up," he says, and his voice is tinged with regret, "but I've lost most of it at this point.  I take it you do?"

Gladstone, & co.

"I'm sure Nicholas will be delighted to meet you later," Alexandra says, smiling and watchful; she meets Pen's eyes, to share a look, then says, "We all know more than one language," in this kind way. "It's part of the curriculum, although many of the languages are 'dead' languages. Zelda's something of a savant."

Meanwhile, "I am holding my whiskey right now," Martin rumbles, his voice gone to a very low register, and he holds up his glass to prove it. He frowns at Pen, frowns at Bran, frowns doubly so at Nicholas. Some of the antagonism has drained due to deferment; it's like a dream, in that poem - what happens to it? "Fine!" He says, deciding to fix his eyes on Bran. "First I win this argument, then she introduces the penny mystic."

N. Hyde

[Nick init!  +5]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (3) ( fail )

N. Hyde

[Bran init!  +5]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (10) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

Pen: +7

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (10) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

Zelda +6

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (10) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

Alexandra: +8

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (2) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.

Martin: +7

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (10) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

[okay, tie-break for Pen and Martin. Pen first.]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (10) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Martin.]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (4) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.

Order for Next Time

Pen

Martin

Bran

Zelda

Alexandra

Nick

N. Hyde

Nick: I'm unfamiliar with that term.  Please tell me what it means?

Gladstone, & co.

Alexandra: Wait this out; check to see what Adults Are Paying Attention.

Zelda: A manipulation subterfuge, no, it's okay Nick, that's nothing. >.>

N. Hyde

Bran: Quiet disapproval.  You are really going to regret this when you sober up, Martin.

Gladstone, & co.

Martin: OH IT MEANS -- well maybe when we're INTRODUCED -- blather, blather.

Pen: IT IS ON BITCH. Aka, oh, a WP roll to see how intense this is, and then a challenge. Hopefully while Zelda is distracting Nick. Sure.

Gladstone, & co.

[Pen's Willpower. I am so, totally, not losing my temper, my temper is being loosed with great purpose.]

Dice: 3 d10 TN7 (4, 9, 9) ( success x 2 )

Gladstone, & co.

Pen: whips around. No; she doesn't whip around. Her elbow was still on the back of the couch, but instead of turning back to Nicholas and Zelda and Alexandra, there's a beat. There's barely a beat; Pen turns her head sharply, leans further over the couch like some starlet leaning out of a convertible and says, with gravity, "An alternate proposition: you, me, outside, quick and now."

[Charisma and... intimidation, let us say. Specialty certainly applies. Don't botch, girl.] 

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10) ( success x 4 ) [Doubling Tens]

Gladstone, & co.

[Martin... Wits and, let's say, Empathy.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 3, 5, 7, 7) ( success x 2 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Then: WP.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 3, 5, 6, 10, 10) ( success x 3 )

Gladstone, & co.

Martin is belligerent, or at least shading into belligerence: he doesn't like the look of the four-eyed Ruddy-Haired scrap of valor, charged, giving him all but a head-shake, and it sounds like the penny mystic is about to, and anyway, it also looks like they're all - so he's turning back again one finger up like don't say a damned thing, Bran, his shadow falls far see, and Pen gets in first and: he looks down at her, and blinks, and then: lip-curl, somewhat nervous condescension.

"Really."Quick flick-of-a-glance that-a-way. "If you ... well, you're not going to, for what? If you insist but for what? You could just be well-mannered, but fine," and Bear-Prince steps back, and that-a-way was toward the door. See. Simple. Okay, okay.

N. Hyde

[Are you kidding me?]

Dice: 4 d10 TN7 (2, 2, 6, 10) ( success x 1 )

N. Hyde

Here's a great irony about Bran Summers: he is the sort of leader who likes harmony to the extent that his temper flares when it can't be achieved.  He believes they should be united together for some common purpose (and perhaps that is what he is here tonight to do - to drum up support for God knows what), and his temper is a sunburst, difficult to control and contain once loosed, and he'd spit some Dictum which would silence them all.  The irony is that it would achieve precisely the opposite of what he wants.

He manages to silence himself, but as he looks at Martin there is fury and there is disapproval in that glance, something that says that if Bran were not so aware that he is a guest in a man's house he'd have found his jaws clamped together in seconds flat.  "The well-mannered thing would be to apologize and go get yourself a glass of water."  Then, magnanimous, his grey eyes flick toward the group of initiates.  "I apologize."

Gladstone, & co.

[Alexandra: Doo-dee-doo, anybody noticing this kerfluffle? Perc + Alert.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 10) ( success x 3 )

N. Hyde

[Nick: Manip + Subtlety.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 4, 8, 8, 10) ( success x 3 )

N. Hyde

[Bran: Are you stupid?]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 4, 9, 10) ( success x 2 )

N. Hyde

[Yes.  You are.]

Gladstone, & co.

Zelda: Hmm?

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 1, 4, 4, 10, 10) ( success x 4 ) [Doubling Tens]

Gladstone, & co.

Alexandra: ???

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 5, 5, 7, 9) ( success x 2 )

Gladstone, & co.

Martin: +1 diff, distracted by challenge.

Dice: 6 d10 TN7 (2, 5, 5, 7, 9, 10) ( success x 3 )

N. Hyde

[Contest.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 3, 8, 9, 9) ( success x 3 )

Gladstone, & co.

Dice: 6 d10 TN7 (3, 3, 3, 5, 5, 6) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.

[Well then.]

Gladstone, & co.

[Meanwhile, who notices this? Lysander is over by the bar, talking. +1 diff for conversation. Perc + Alert.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN7 (2, 2, 6, 6, 9, 10) ( success x 2 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Diana. Right at the other couch, so...]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 10) ( success x 5 )

N. Hyde

There is a way in which Nick's eyes flicker between the three Hermetics who are speaking.  He assesses, and the internal calculations he makes are rapid as they have to be in these situations.  Pen: there's a sort of tender bemusement that perches there on his eyebrows for a few seconds, but he doesn't want to undercut her.

So if it's going to be a duel, he settles on unsettling Martin (whatever benefit Pen can get, after all).  The bemusement that had colored his expression seconds before becomes more evident, as he fixes a pair of very earnest eyes on Martin.  "I'm getting the sense that people are upset," he says, "but I don't think that's a term I've heard before.  Can you explain it to me, in case I don't get a chance to hear from you later?"

Gladstone, & co.

[Zelda, Manip + Subt. Willpower.]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 4, 7, 8, 8) ( success x 4 ) [WP]

N. Hyde

[Nick: Eh?]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 4, 6, 7, 7, 7, 10) ( success x 6 ) [Doubling Tens]

N. Hyde

[Bran: what is even happening right now.  I'm so mad.]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (4, 6, 7, 7, 8) ( success x 4 )

Gladstone, & co.

Zelda bites the inside of her cheek, generous mouth twisting slightly. Her gaze is fixed on Nicholas, and if there is some setting of her shoulders, some pulse-leap at her throat, some - reactive, flicker-sidelong glance desire to stare - well who is to say?

Zelda might be an enigma.

Isn't, but might be.

Zelda quietly reaches out to touch his thigh again and draw his attention back and away, even going so far as to interrupting him at: I'm getting the sense that people are upset, but I don't think that's a term I've heard before. Can you explain it to me, in ca - 

There. There's the interrupt: "Oh no. Everybody is fine. Nick, there is a lot of meaningless slang in our Order, and that one is particularly meaningless; like saying 'man' if you are from California or 'eh' if you are from certain regions of Canada."

But Nicholas is insightful: curse, sometimes. Not now, necessarily: he can see that Zelda finds Martin's term a shocking thing to throw around now, and that she is trying to distract him from whatever it is Martin-and-Pen(-and-Bran-and-possibly-Alexandra) are going to say because she wants him to not feel alienated.

Gladstone, & co.

He will also get a sense that:

Zelda knows what he is doing, or what he was doing, and wants to forestall that kind of prickly weaponized innocence too.

N. Hyde

Nick: Hm.  That's interesting.  Is Pen going to lose this fight for real?  I can back off and be good.

N. Hyde

[Bran: Contest.]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 5, 6, 7, 9) ( success x 3 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Quick tie-break! Hear that, chat? Quick. Tiebreak.]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (2, 4, 6, 8, 10) ( success x 3 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Fufjfldfdlsfdlfd. NO. QUICK.]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 4, 4, 9) ( success x 1 )

N. Hyde

[Plz chat]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (5, 6, 7, 8, 10) ( success x 4 )

Gladstone, & co.

Bran, from Zelda, reads: everything Nicholas did, and more. That she (believes) knows Nicholas is playing at innocence, has some shrewd idea of what he's about, but still, and even so, and thus. That she wishes to distract him, because she does not want him to feel alienated; she finds 'penny mystic' a shocking term to, in this context, in front of Pen, throw around; she finds Martin shocking, distasteful, and so. But she also wants to give Pen and Martin a chance to leave without getting anybody else in trouble.

Gladstone, & co.

Alexandra: Uh oh, Diana incoming. Ask Zelda to show Nick something way over there, then stay with Pen to help. Yeah.

Zelda: Um, show Nick something over because wh - oh! OH! Oh. Yeah. Over there. Sure?

N. Hyde

Bran: Gonna keep smoothing things over.  C'mon guys.

Gladstone, & co.

Martin: Detach from couch-group. Gonna go fight yo.

Pen: Detach from couch-group. Gonna go fight yo.

Gladstone, & co.

"You did nothing to apologize for, Bran, you're a perfect gentleman," Pen says, and she stands as she says it, dress all silver-light running down a mirror, stream-tumbled; "And I will be well-mannered, Martin." Oh, man: she makes Martin sound like a rude word for shit-hole. And also, somehow, that sentence: a threat. "Water first."

Martin: "I don't need water," and his voice has gone even lower, even more shadowy; there's a growl to it, almost: his gaze drops to Nick, again. Nick, who - well. Whatever, penny mystics are dumb. "And I don't need to apologize, just look at - "

Pen: "If you - "

Martin: "Bah."

To the door, then. 

N. Hyde

The knowledge that the delicate balance he's been striking all evening might have been upset for the sake of one of his house-mates defending the honor of a simpleton might have set Bran off again.  Still: he notices Zelda, and he notices that perhaps he missed something, and there is this keen glint of interest for both of them in eyes windowed behind steel-rimmed glass, there and gone.  

The initial moment in which his temper had threatened to engulf Martin and perhaps Pen as well has passed, and Bran offers Pen a somewhat terse smile as the two of them go to leave.  The corner of his jaw is tight.  Perhaps his flicker of insight has him feeling generous to Zelda and Nick though, because as the two duelists turn to leave, Bran turns around and notices - ah.  

"Diana," he says, and his smile is warm as grass in summer.  He starts toward her, to head her off before she can reach the group still on the couch.  "Every party, I swear.  Earlier I meant to ask you how your research has been going, by the way."

Gladstone, & co.

"Have you ever seen a book bound in actual unicorn hide?" Zelda says, after she intercepts Alexandra's look. There's a little startle and quickness which Zelda is clearly not used to in her voice; she smooths her hands over her lap. "I'll show you, if you'll follow me. Perhaps you can tell me how Robin is doing. I do not find Robin easy to think about."

Alexandra - well! Bran is on top of the Diana Problem, which leaves only: oh. Responsibility. "I'll come with you two," she says, to Martin and Pen, pausing to smile at Nicholas. Sincerity, rue: "Talk to you soon."

N. Hyde

There is a lot happening just now.  Nick, who might not have allowed himself to be redirected had most of this situation not been so foreign to him, sends an anxious glance flickering after Pen and Martin.  This, he does not bother to conceal, or perhaps cannot.  "I haven't," he says to Zelda, "but I should go with them."

Alexandra is, but that does not seem to be a deterrent.  He is half-rising, prepared to follow unless Zelda should stop him.

N. Hyde

[Nick init +5]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (5) ( fail )

N. Hyde

[Bran init +5]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (5) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.

[Alexandra +8]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (8) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Pen +7]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (3) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.

Zelda: +6

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (2) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.

Martin: +7

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (10) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

Diana: +6

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (6) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

Frederick: +5

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (2) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.

Lysander: +8

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (4) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.

ORDER OF RUMBLING. or not.

Martin: 17

Alexandra: 16

Lysander, Diana: 12

Bran, Nick, Pen: 10

Zelda: 8

Frederick: 7.

Gladstone, & co.

Frederick: is Diana's conversational companion, relieved by a distraction, but also ready to be amused; hey, what's going on beyond the redhead?

Zelda: She's not going to try to stop Nick, per se. Just detain him a little longer with some questions. He won't be able to catch up anyway, right?

Pen: Avoid, avoid being stopped by anybody/mentor. Stick by Martin all companionable, yo! Well, no, not a liar. But 

N. Hyde

Nick: Okay.  I will stop and ask how bad it is going to be if I follow.

Bran: No drama here tonight, please.  Please?

Gladstone, & co.

Diana: Oh, Bran. *claws sink in* Did you mean to do that and why was that is it because you foresaw you would be covering something up what is going on over there anything I should know tell me now mean lady shenanigans mean mean mean.

Lysander: Ehhh........ we'll do an empathy read of people, then decide.

Alexandra: Yep! Out we go! And I'm going to talk quietly to Martin and Pen about how to do this, while trying to talk them out of it.

Martin: What the fuck is everybody's problem! Starting to feel actually wroth instead of just bemused annoyed privileged, but also super super covert and away we go.

Gladstone, & co.

[Martin! Wits + Stealth. Yeah. +1 diff.]

Dice: 5 d10 TN7 (1, 2, 2, 8, 10) ( success x 2 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Alexandra! Charisma + Leadership.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 4, 6, 8, 9) ( success x 3 )

Gladstone, & co.

Lysander. By empathy, we mean subterfuge. Perception + Subterfuge ooooon let's see warming up with the easy one, Pen.

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (3, 5, 5, 8, 8, 9, 10) ( success x 4 )

Gladstone, & co.

[No, pft.]

Dice: 3 d10 TN6 (7, 7, 8) ( success x 3 )

Gladstone, & co.

Lysander: now what about Nicholas.

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (5, 6, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9) ( success x 6 )

N. Hyde

[I am a mountain.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 9) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

Lysander: Alexandra, what's up.

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9) ( success x 2 )

Gladstone, & co.

Alexandra: Nothing, I am perfect, everything is fine. 

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (3, 4, 4, 8, 8) ( success x 2 )

Gladstone, & co.

[L: ?]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (4, 5, 5, 5, 7, 7, 8) ( success x 3 )

Gladstone, & co.

[A: >.>]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 4, 9, 10) ( success x 2 )

Gladstone, & co.

Lysander: And Bran, you seem to be involved...

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 6, 9) ( success x 3 )

N. Hyde

[Bran: Pfft.  Me, involved?  This is beneath me.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (3, 4, 4, 5, 8, 8, 8) ( success x 3 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Lysander: Really.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9) ( success x 3 )

N. Hyde

[Really, it is.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 5, 5, 7, 8, 8) ( success x 3 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Come again?]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 4, 6, 6, 9, 9, 9) ( success x 5 )

N. Hyde

[I was with a Tytalan for six years, man.  I have had my fill of party drama.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (2, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 10) ( success x 6 )

N. Hyde

[This is, perhaps, the most transparent Nicholas has been all night.  He is feeling unsure of himself: he wants to do whatever he can to help Pen, but cues from Zelda have made him cautious about following them.  Much of his caution has to do with not wanting to offend Lysander, who has been a good host, and not wanting to make the situation any worse than it is.  He is not feeling as emasculated as might be expected from a man his age, but he is embarrassed that his presence has caused this.]

Gladstone, & co.

He is huge. Martin. He can't leave like a shadow, he can't leave unnoticed; he is a mountain. Still, his leave-taking doesn't have to look suspicious, and it doesn't. There's nothing about him that draws any particular attention. He holds the door open, pointedly, for Alexandra and Pen, and Alexandra:

well, Alexandra is saying something quietly to the both of them. Both of them look very much like friends leaving, just to chat.

Almost. Unless one is perceptive. Lysander is perceptive. He can see Alexandra, working on taking charge, and he can see Pen, furious, and Martin, confused but furious, and -

Eh. He lets them go. He has the opportunity to try and stop them, but he doesn't insert himself into that narrative. His pale eyes have swept the room, resting (studying [searching]) those who seem to be involved in the untethering of a little group of his guests, and Nicholas: well. He excuses himself from the bar, and heads over to Nicholas and Zelda. And Diana, Frederick, Bran: tangential celestials. 

Diana blinks at Bran. Warm, charming Bran. If she were fond of him, it would be difficult to tell: she isn't fond of anything, except destiny, her numbers, her studies: learning, knowledge, crossed destinies, curses. Cold calculations: Bran? well. Diana blinks at him and says: "Really, Bran. And why is that, I did not realize you were interested in my particular school of focus. Are you certain you are not interested at this juncture in time because you are trying to cover for somebody? Where is Martin off to?" 

N. Hyde

Nick is on his way after Pen and Martin and Alexandra, prepared to do whatever he can to intervene even though it looks like Alexandra is doing a good job all on her own.  Nick doesn't know what he'll do; he just wants to provide support.  He is trying to conceal the worried tilt of his brow, but it shows to anyone who is looking.

He has the sense, though, that Zelda will try to detain him again, and he can see Lysander coming.  His gaze follows Martin and Pen, still stuck and tearing away, then he stops.  He is only partially facing Zelda still.

Bran, for his part, laughs.  "So suspicious," he comments, in that offhand amused sort of way.  "Martin didn't especially care for my thoughts on the evolution of runecraft.  I don't know where he's off to."  A beat.  "I realized I didn't know much about you, actually, and half the purpose of a party is to get to know people better, isn't it?"  

Gladstone, & co.

Nick said: he should follow them, go with them, leave; Zelda is still committed to not stopping him, per se, but: detain. Deter, hold back: stay. Are they standing now? Did everybody rise? 

"Why should you go too?" Beat. "Does she still fight with Robin all the time?"

Frederick rests his elbow on the back of his couch, amusement deepening at the corners: just so. "What thoughts on the evolution of runecraft were those?"

--

Exeunt, Alexandra, Martin, Pen.

Gladstone, & co.

[Zelda. +6]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (5) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.

Diana: +6

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (9) ( success x 1 )

N. Hyde

[Nick +5]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (2) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.

[Fred +5]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (8) ( success x 1 )

N. Hyde

[Bran +5]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (8) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Lysander +8]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (8) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

Lysander: 16

Diana: 15

Frederick, Bran: 13

Zelda: 11

Nick: 7

N. Hyde

Nick: React, if necessary.  Ask some veiled questions.

Gladstone, & co.

[Zelda: Converse, harming nobody. Oh, hello Lysander.]

[Fred: Curious waiting.]

N. Hyde

Bran: Well, let me tell you about that!  Smile smile.

Gladstone, & co.

Diana: Hmmmmmmmmmmmm........................ empathy read on Bran, then maybe intimidate him into stuttering, just for the pleasure of being a bitch.

Gladstone, & co.

Lysander: Oh, oh. Will delay, join conversation after whatever they're saying now is done. Then hello.

Gladstone, & co.

[Diana: I am empathic.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 5, 7, 7, 9) ( success x 3 )

N. Hyde

[Only in an evil sort of way.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (2, 5, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9) ( success x 5 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Mm. I am intimidating. Stutter, Caspian's apprentice.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 4, 4, 6, 9, 9) ( success x 3 ) [Doubling Tens]

N. Hyde

[Please.  I trained under Hannibal.]

Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (3, 3, 7, 10) ( success x 2 )

N. Hyde

[Charisma + Expression.  I do know lots about runecraft actually.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (3, 3, 4, 7, 7, 9, 9) ( success x 4 )

N. Hyde

Why should you go too?  Nick has drawn in a breath; there is another thoughtful glance that flickers after Pen and Martin, and he does not answer this question, recognizing it as rhetorical.  And really, what could he do?  

"She does still fight with Robin," Nick says, because he is courteous enough.  "Never bad enough to have called for certamen, though.  I'm not even really sure what the procedure is, for the Order."

Gladstone, & co.

Zelda recognizes that the jig is up, so to speak. "They aren't going to fight certamen," she says solemnly, meaning to reassure Nicholas.  "They're probably going to Gladstone's gym, after visiting the armory."

--

Meanwhile, Diana is chilly. And chilling, and she perhaps paints her mouth with the blood of infant children, and has winter in her heart; and she raises one chilly eyebrow at Bran, giving him this sluice of an up and down glance, like: oh, yes, sure, 'dazzle' us with your thoughts.

Frederick: just interested, see. Hopeful, even, though he glances back at the room before Bran really begins spinning his web.

N. Hyde

Gym is not a scary word; armory is.  As Zelda speaks, Nick seems only partially reassured; his body is still halfway turned from her, toward the direction that Pen and Martin took.  "How bad do these things get?"  Zelda does not seem alarmed, and to some extent he is trying to take cues from her.

He is perhaps among the least martial of his own Tradition, though, and he knows fights with other magi can get ugly among those more skilled with weaponry than himself.

---

Meanwhile, Bran's warmth is only somewhat diminished in Diana's presence, and not for long: Hannibal's student does stutter somewhat at first, but he plays this off as a perfectly natural reaction to being put on the spot by Frederick.  There is this way his eyes move toward the other man, a third party suddenly added, and he hesitates.

Then smiles, and launches into a description of recent adaptations to the old Arts, how they are moving forward with the times and changing shape and how those meanings must inevitably alter too, and how some of this, well, maybe it's a good thing.  It's innovative.  He articulates himself well and clearly, point and counterpoint, meeting both Diana's cold cold eyes and Frederick's as he speaks.

Gladstone, & co.

"How bad do what things get?" 

Enter, Lysander. Notos: the wind is swift, when it comes, at the end of summer, ushering in autumn's golden dying; the wind is swift, and sharp. The question is asked with a remarkable lack of demand: Lysander is just choosing that particular phrase as his entrance.

"Nick, Zelda. I noticed you two need a drink. Anything I can get you?"

[Lalala, manip subt.]

Dice: 8 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 9, 9, 10) ( success x 5 )

N. Hyde

[Can I see through you this time?]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (2, 2, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8) ( success x 4 )

Gladstone, & co.

Lysander suspects nothing, and just wants to make sure that Nick and Zelda are well-watered. No traps at all.

N. Hyde

Lysander again: and Nicholas does not quite dread his appearance, but there is again this uncertainty.  He is unsure of the correctness, so to speak, of what Pen has done, and does not wish to get her in trouble with her mentor; part of him fears he may have already done this.  Still - from Lysander, there is no sign of the web of traps laid earlier.

As to drinks, Nick glances first at Zelda; the glance is somewhat unreadable.  Then, "Whiskey.  Thank you."  His discomfort with having someone else, particularly the host, get a drink for him is palpable, though he is also aware of decorum.

Gladstone, & co.

"You're finicky, for one of the Chakravanti," Lysander says. "Be at ease; we want you here." His eyebrows are up, as if he takes this statement as something apt to be challenged: the look he gives Nicholas, like he might slip the knife under his skin and peel him upward.

Zelda says, quietly, "A club soda please, Horace."

N. Hyde

Lysander says he is finicky, Zelda orders a club soda, and he is prepared to die of embarrassment regardless of whatever reassurance Lysander offers him.  "I appreciate that," he says, to Lysander.  Perhaps he does.

Gladstone, & co.

[BUT DO YOU. Perc + Subt for Lysander.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 2, 2, 7, 8, 10) ( success x 3 )

N. Hyde

[I can't even, as the kids say.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (3, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9) ( success x 5 )

N. Hyde

Nick totally appreciates it.  He is appreciative of the fact that Lysander is going out of his way to be a good host.

Gladstone, & co.

Lysander waits a beat.

He asked them, after all, how bad do what things get. If Nicholas doesn't seem ready to answer him in the space of a moment (Zelda is, as is usual, a quiet presence; she says nothing, dreamily, and Lysander lets this pass), then Lysander simply says, "You should open your present soon. When Pen gets back; where did she go?"

[inits again! +8 Lysander.]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (3) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.

[+6 Zelda.]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (1) ( botch x 1 )

N. Hyde

[Nick +5]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (2) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.

Lysander: 11

Zelda, Nick: 7

N. Hyde

Nick does not seem ready to answer in the space of a moment; he seems a touch distracted at the moment, though Nick frequently seems a touch distracted.  It is not uncommon for him to go about his life using his Sight (even for as much trouble as it has gotten him into in the past.)  He is not doing that now, but his daydreaming qualities remain.

He brings his full attention back to Lysander, at the question.  "She went somewhere with Martin and Alexandra.  I'm not sure exactly where to."  Not an untruth.

Gladstone, & co.

"Hmm," Lysander says. "One whiskey and club soda coming up."

He leaves Nicholas and Zelda to it, getting caught eddy-swirl in this conversation and then that on his way back to the bar, the handsome hispanic man being the only one still manning it.

Zelda looks at Nicholas, like she is debating with herself about what to say to him next. Zelda is not necessarily easy with other people. "There are a number of people proficient in the art of healing, should anything go amiss. The people of House Flambeau will often fight, being of natures given to hot tempers."

N. Hyde

Nicholas looks back at Zelda, and while he is often at ease with other people, it is difficult for him to be so just now.  "I suppose that's kind of reassuring," he says to Zelda.

There is a moment's silence in which he struggles to find a question to ask that doesn't involve asking whether he is handling this situation terribly or how likely Pen is to end up skewered.  The stormclouds rolling in now don't hang over him very often in his adult life, and he is doing his best to summon the wind to blow them away and break them apart.  "So you used to be in a cabal with Pen, right?"

Gladstone, & co.

"Yes." That's all; surely such a question is the prelude to another, follow-up question. Zelda fingers the golden collar, bright yellow sharpest color in the room, and she is facing Nicholas directly (is he still half-turned toward the door?), so her look cannot be sidelong.

N. Hyde

Ah: Zelda does not like to talk about herself.  What do two introverts do at a party together?  Ideally they would not have been abandoned in such a place; Fate, fickle as it is, had other plans.  There is a beat that suggests that Nick did not necessarily have a follow up question planned, because so many people would have continued on blithely.

He has, by now, turned away from the door.  He is watchful, waiting for Lysander's return and to make sure that the bespectacled man is adequately distracting Diana (and yes: he is still quite passionately articulating his opinions.)  "Where did the two of you meet, originally?"

Gladstone, & co.

"My library," Zelda says. Is she supposed to give context to a fantastical story? There is a pause, and she is considering it. Says, after a brief moment, "But do you mean to ask how we became to cabal up or how we were friendly for a time? I do wish to know how you and your cabal get on, if you are comfortable discussing your cabal here."

N. Hyde

Nick does not like to talk about himself, either.  Then again: as comfortable as he frequently is with silence, this is a situation that is far outside of his comfort zone.  "That is what I meant to ask, yes," he says.

And then there is a pause; finally he dips his head in silent assent.  "The cabal is still very new to me," he says, "and I think we're still figuring out how we're working together.  I think I benefit more from it, to be honest, than I would have in a cabal with only other Chakravanti.  I constantly hear new ideas, and it challenges me to look at new perspectives.  I think all of us will be better for it, once we know each other better."

Gladstone, & co.

"What are the others like?" Zelda asks, curiously. Her curiosity is a curious thing in and of itself, for it feels mild, compared to the intensity most of her brethren are able to bring to bear upon any given situation (including Penelope, and of course Lysander). Perhaps that makes her curiosity more friendly. "I do not believe anybody truly likes being challenged with new ideas, or only the rare person will actually feel happiness at having their own opinion overturned, but ... " Zelda trails away. "It must be nice not to have others of your Tradition around to demand you follow a certain path. Were you in a cabal with other Chakravanti beforehand?"

Gladstone, & co.

[Meanwhile, Alexandra... Manipulation + Leadership.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN7 (2, 2, 3, 3, 7, 9) ( success x 2 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Pen. WP.]

Dice: 3 d10 TN6 (7, 10, 10) ( success x 3 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Martin, pfah, WP.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 3, 6, 6, 8, 9) ( success x 4 )

Gladstone, & co.

+7 Pen.

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (3) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.

+7 Martin

Gladstone, & co.

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (1) ( botch x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Doo-de-doo, Meleelite.]

Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (4, 4, 6, 10) ( success x 2 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Doodeedoo. Avoid, avoid.]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 6, 6, 7, 9) ( success x 4 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Doo-de-doo. Split, baby.]

Dice: 2 d10 TN6 (7, 7) ( success x 2 )

Gladstone, & co.

[And.]

Dice: 3 d10 TN6 (5, 7, 9) ( success x 2 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Urk.]

Dice: 2 d10 TN6 (6, 7) ( success x 2 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Uuuurk.]

Dice: 3 d10 TN6 (2, 4, 9) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

[OW.]

Dice: 3 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 7) ( success x 1 )

N. Hyde

"Well, you said you've met Thane, so you know him and Robin," Nick says, and there is - something in his expression here, some shadow.  It was only last night.  "And I don't know whether you've met Elizabeth Courtright or not.  Liz is a Chorister that joined us a little after I did.  She's a very sweet person.  Calls us to be better, I think."

Or did.  Now honestly Nick is not sure, and perhaps he was premature in thinking that this was what Liz's role would be.  Perhaps she has another he can't guess at yet; he is still learning much about his new friends.  Zelda suggests that it is a rare person who truly likes being challenged with new ideas, and at this Nicholas shrugs.  "I wasn't.  I was Disparate before that and I didn't have a cabal.  I still meet with the other Chakravanti in the area pretty regularly, but I think cabals are based as much on trust and mutual regard as anything else.  I trust the people I'm with now."

Gladstone, & co.

[Z: ? Rlly?]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8) ( success x 1 ) [Doubling Tens]

N. Hyde

[Yep.  Or did until last night!]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6) ( success x 2 )

Gladstone, & co.

"That is a very idealistic view of social politics," Zelda observes. "But Pen and Robin were always very idealistic." Zelda considers, for a moment, what she is to say next. She doesn't quite want to introduce Nicholas to some new person, and throw him to the wolves. But she is not very good with people, and finds herself feeling awkward when responsible for someone new. Like Nicholas. She touches Nicholas's elbow to get him to move with her toward the side of the room. 

Lysander returns, bearing drinks.

N. Hyde

"You sound as though you don't approve," Nick says, and he could say more on the nature of idealism, and whether or not it necessarily excludes pragmatism (or any other -ism, for that matter).  But he waits.  Zelda touches his elbow, and he allows himself to be directed toward the other side of the room.

And as Lysander returns, Nick makes eye contact, and he smiles: perhaps in the vain hope that it is not too late to start having fun at this party.

Gladstone, & co.

"I do? Oh, thank you Horace," Zelda says, taking her club soda. The glass is a tall one, bubbles streaming upward. They catch candlelight; they look enchanted. She stirs the ice around with the wooden stirrer Lysander has thoughtfully plunked into her drink.

Lysander smiles at Nicholas, too. And certainly, the smile seems to touch his eyes; seems to recall that whatever metal is there, now, it was once forged in warmth, in heat; it was once molten, malleable, a changeable thing: it had no hard shape, not yet. Lines around the eyes, around the mouth. He seems to like Nicholas, doesn't he?

Doesn't he.

Zelda says, "I don't know. What do you think the worth is of idealism?"

N. Hyde

Doesn't he.  Nick is not sure.  And: it is entirely possible Lysander could like Nicholas, while disapproving of his involvement with Pen.  Nick hasn't ruled that one out.

Still, he takes the drink.  "Thank you, again."  He looks at Zelda.  "Well, it's pretty difficult to move anything forward without a sense of how things ought to be, isn't it?"

Gladstone, & co.

"One does not need to be an idealist to have a sense of how things ought to be," Zelda says. "One can be a pragmatist and achieve the same effect, with more hope of success."

Lysander: well. He doesn't immediately vanish, having brought the (kids) Chakravanti and Bonisagus their drinks. He listens, with an air of curious complicity; he isn't interrupting because he doesn't have anything to say, and his purpose is still:

to make certain Nicholas is not feeling adrift.

N. Hyde

"Do you think they're exclusive?" Nick asks, and: he certainly has his own opinion on that, though he is genuinely curious about Zelda's.  He has shifted his stance to accommodate Lysander, though the potential of having the Adept weigh in tugs at the ends of his nerves in a way that unravels them just a little further.

He has had a drink: very brief, and very cautious.  He needs to have all his wits about him here.

Gladstone, & co.

"Yes," Zelda says. And silence. She is not a conversationalist, not the way Robin and Pen are, or even Evelyn. She was the quietest member of their cabal; is still, often, the quietest in a room of quiet people. 

N. Hyde

Zelda is not a conversationalist, and so Nick does not try to force her into conversation.  He says, "You said you were going to show me a book?"  Because he is not prepared to mingle without a buffer.  Might've been, had things gone differently tonight and had he not been called a penny mystic by one person already.

Gladstone, & co.

"Do you want to see it?" Zelda sounds shy, and she glances from Nicholas to Lysander. It is not a permission-seeking glance, but it is a curious one, or even: 

ah, here it is. An expectant one, because Lysander, while not someone who must always be in command (what a lie; in his way, he is always in command, even if it is only of himself} of the situation at hand, is also not one to let a possible answer to a question go by without trying to reach for it.

"Far be it from me to keep anyone from their books, but do you think they're exclusive, Nicholas? Do you consider yourself an idealist?"

N. Hyde

Zelda asks whether he would want to see it, and he is surprised that she should be shy: she offered.  Perhaps it is also that Nicholas is secretly surprised to find a Hermetic who is shy about anything.  "Of course," he says, but this is before Lysander - 

Nick is still cautious.  He stands with one of his arms folded across his chest, his glass lightly resting against his shoulder, his other hand gripping that elbow.  It's as casual as it is slightly closed off.  He is not using his counselor body language, tonight.  "I think other people would call me one."  A beat.  "I think we can expect the best of others and situations without losing discernment for things as they are.  Which, admittedly, might be an idealistic answer."

Gladstone, & co.

"Mm." Lysander. "Is that the reason you would say others might call you an idealist? You expect the best of others and believe you do so without losing 'discernment' for things as they are?" 

N. Hyde

Nicholas: still cautious, still careful of his words.  He would be regardless; perhaps less reserved with them were it, for example, Pen asking the questions, but still, in a sense, refining as he speaks.  And aware, still, of the setting.  "Possibly.  I've generally heard it more in the context of my belief that balance in the Wheel is possible, and that it would right itself without our help.  I don't think that's to the exclusion of the understanding that it is out of balance as it is and that we can help the process."

Gladstone, & co.

"You were an Orphan for some time before you were initiated into the Chakravanti, is that correct, Nicholas?"

N. Hyde

Nick's hesitation is nothing, the space of an inhale: perhaps Lysander doesn't notice.  "I was.  Almost two and a half years."

Gladstone, & co.

[Lysander: *peer*]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 4, 6, 6, 9, 9, 10) ( success x 6 ) [Doubling Tens]

Gladstone, & co.

[Erk, no doubling tens. 5 suxx.]

N. Hyde

[Subtlety?]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10) ( success x 4 )

N. Hyde

[Nicholas's hesitation is because he picked up earlier on something from Lysander, some sense of disapproval toward Disparates, some sense that there might be something personal behind it.  He is wary; he suspects a trap here.]

Gladstone, & co.

Lysander has been fairly good at reading Nicholas Hyde tonight. Not all the time. Not every moment. The Chakravanti whose magickal signature feels like a reverence, a sacrosanct space, a church-yard at gloaming, well, that guy: he remains somewhat mysterious. But Lysander even knows something Nicholas might not be aware of himself, remember, and sometimes his perception cuts in like a knife. And he reads Nicholas right now, well enough, though his eyebrows crawl upward at such a great length of time. He thought Penelope was bad.

"What about your time without guidance made the choice to devote yourself to 'the Wheel' and its balancing a likelihood? What made you believe in that stewardship?"

N. Hyde

Time without guidance, Lysander says, and this time it's Nick's eyebrows that raise just a fraction.  However, this he chooses to let move past, because Nick did have guidance; however, whatever guidance he has had is a personal thing (and perhaps something he hasn't even discussed at length with Pen yet.)

"I received guidance at the time when I was personally unbalanced," he says, simply.  "I'm not sure that would have happened on its own, or if it had, what unnecessary suffering I might have caused.  I came to understand that I had a responsibility."  And this is a personal answer, perhaps moreso than he is comfortable with, and yet intrinsic to who he is, both before and after Awakening.

Gladstone, & co.

"Mm. Is it your responsibility to eliminate the unnecessary?"

The question is asked as a gauge, a temperature-taking, to be followed by something else. Nicholas's phone vibrates, or chimes, or does nothing at all but a little green light blinks and blinks.

Zelda is quiet, but watchful and observant. 

N. Hyde

His phone vibrates in his pocket; Nick ignores it.  There are times when that is the only sensible thing to do, potential emergencies or questions about weekend plans be damned.  "Unnecessary suffering?"  The qualifier here is important; he senses this.  "Maybe.  Or at least to do nothing to add to it."

He is aware, in the periphery, of Zelda and her watchfulness.  Trying to process two people absorbing his words just now is too much though, so his eyes remain fixed on Lysander.

Gladstone, & co.

Nicholas's host, his lover's teacher, the warrior of House Flambeau, does not come across as a hot-tempered man: not necessarily. He tries to present himself as more affable, more easy-going and friendly-hearted than he is, but he is not necessarily cruel for cruelty's sake. He is callous; he is manipulative. He cared very deeply once for some Thing that he still serves with the choices he makes. He is strong-minded, and difficult to pin down; difficult to give shape to, quite.

Flambeau are mercurial. Lysander says, an abrupt change: "I fear I'm being rude, picking at you and your motivations. Some might say it is very noble to live righteously in your own spirit, and that is enough." Warmth, see. Mild warmth, mild hint of a smile. "Let me know if I can introduce you to more 'intellectual maenads,'" he borrows Pen's phrase, just so.

"Are you outdoorsy, or is it just the Verbena? Apollonius is drunk, but you might be interested in his foraging stories. Some of them have crossed into other other realms."

"His stories have made me seasick before," Zelda states. "On dry land."

N. Hyde

[That was abrupt.  What's going on here?]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 10) ( success x 4 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Nothing.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 10) ( success x 4 )

Gladstone, & co.

[...?]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (3) ( fail )

N. Hyde

[Contest.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9) ( success x 2 ) [Doubling Tens]

Gladstone, & co.

[Fightfight.]

Dice: 8 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 6, 6, 8, 9, 10, 10) ( success x 6 )

Gladstone, & co.

TRAPS. No, there are no traps here. This is a moment of mercy: Lysander has decided not to spring a trap, because this is a social occasion, and whatever his feelings about the boy his student has decided to sleep with, he wants to show him to a good advantage among his colleagues. He doesn't think Nick is showing to good advantage right now.

N. Hyde

It is hard not to feel defensive suddenly at that abrupt shift: Nicholas, as has been established, is insightful (and sometimes that's difficult).  Noble, well: Nick is not sure what he thinks of that, perhaps because he does not think of himself as particularly noble (does any Chakravanti?)  And he is not sure whether Lysander does, for that matter, either.  "I'd like that," he says, and maybe he would, because there is some mild warmth there in him too.

Apollonius: his eyes search the room for whoever that particular man might be.  "I spend a lot of time outside," he says, which is the truth.  "I'd be interested in hearing about that."

Gladstone, & co.

The blonde man who has been furtively smoking a cigar has given up that ghost; he is leaning forward to engage with the redhead who stepped in earlier, Diana (who looks like she is about to eviscerate a child, gleefully), and Frederick. Salt and pepper man, with those long slashed dimples that sense of hardness, blue blue eyes. He could be Alexandra's father (he is not, but it's something about the striking juxtaposition of blue eyes with hair that is meant to be dark).

So Lysander leads Nicholas, and Zelda too, because Lysander is a good host and he sweeps everybody up together, to the bar after all. The handsome hispanic man and the nondescript man are both still there. 

"Allow me to present Fausto Mithradates Cuchullain Gavriel, bani Tytalus, and Apollonius Aurelius Avery Adonaïs, bani Criamon. Fausto, Apollonius, allow me to present Nicholas Hyde bani Chakravanti. He's in Pen's cabal, with Robin."

The very very very handsome man has flashed a soulful look toward Nicholas, Lysander, and Zelda impartially; soulful looks are the natural state of things, when one's eyes are quite so dark, so lovely. He offers a hand.

Apollonius grows no less nondescript upon closer attention. He is average; boring. A weedy man, narrow of shoulder, lanky perhaps of limb although not quite lanky enough for true lank. Has hair of an indeterminate brown, or is it blonde? Difficult to say not because of any Mystery, but because genetics didn't care to settle the matter. 

"Hullo." 

N. Hyde

There are two men he is meeting now, and it leaves out the blonde man and the blonde woman, but then again one part of that duo is off with Diana.  Nicholas has no desire to revisit that conversation tonight: let Bran handle it, with his quick smiles and hair the color of rising dawn.

His own name sounds meek and common, alongside the names they've chosen for themselves.  One of the questions he has had: why the hell do they choose so many when two or three suffice to make an introduction, but he suspects that would be a rude question at this juncture.  His hand meets Fausto's (an interesting choice, he thinks), and he offers the same firm and friendly shake he gave Lysander.  "Hello," he says, and offers the same to Apollonius.

Then, to Fausto, "Do you know Robin also, then?"  Well, he gets the impression that they all know each other, the most intense hivemind ever to materialize on Earth.

Gladstone, & co.

He isn't wrong. New England can be insular, and this is a party for Lysander's cabal mates and those he has decided to favor (?) with an invitation (or those his favored guests have decided to invite along).

"We have the same, eh, teacher," Fausto says. He is older than Robin by at least five years, possibly (probably) more. Handshake is a brief squeeze from Fausto, perhaps because one of the rings he is wearing is very cold and the other very hot, and both of these temperatures will impress themselves upon Nicholas's hand. He has a rather thick French accent, and it's easy to imagine him devastating anybody's heart: that voice, those eyes, general air of confidence. Fausto of House Tytalus, ladies and gentlemen. "Who is absent from these proceedings, in case you were wondering where he is too. What is it you, eh, you are a very, you feel to me like a cathedral; is today a holy day you celebrate?" 

N. Hyde

The temperature of the rings: it catches him off guard, and it's evident in the slight twist in his expression when he withdraws his hand.  Fausto is likely used to this.

The other man tells Nick that he feels like a cathedral, and the pull of a corner of his mouth suggests that this is a thing he has heard before, or similar.  "My family does," Nick says, "but I do not."  It's not said with any specific passion or dispassion: that sort of religion is simply something that has never spoken to him, so to speak.  "It's not strictly intentional - not a magickal effect to mark the day or anything."

It makes him wonder whether Liz has done anything to mark the day.

Best to move on, Nicholas.  He glances to Apollonius, then.  "Lysander mentioned that you were given to...foraging?"

Gladstone, & co.

"Did he now did he indeed," Apollonius, with a muddled blink.

"I'll leave you to it," Lysander interjects. Hand on Nicholas's shoulder again, just at the base of the neck, and then the Flambeau is moving on: this time toward the blonde woman and her brother-or-not-brother. They give the impression, but impressions are fleeting.

"Just a moment, Lysander, I would have another word," and Fausto gives Nicholas an apologetic (charming) grimace, then follows the Flambeau away. Zelda leans against the counter, sipping on her club soda, and casting a glance toward the door before fixing her attention instead rather doggedly on Apollonius.

"I do consider myself a man able to scrounge anything, blood from a stone it can be squeezed, water from a flame sure thing, truffles, piffle, phoenix feather, why certainly, map which will take you through the near umbra and into the deep locked away by Orion Segundus these many years, the lost child, berries that are good to eat, even fae; I like to find it all. Especially rewarding I find is the searching outdoors for glades, for shallowings, those places where why once you wouldn't even believe me if I told you."

He gives Zelda a warm smile, Apollonius. As if she has not believed him before.

"Verification is a time-honored tradition," Zelda says.

N. Hyde

Lysander's hand near the base of his neck gives him a slight start again, though less so than before; anyway, Nick is focused on Apollonius now.  He inclines his head, polite, toward Fausto as the other man goes to leave.

The exchange between the two Hermetics makes him smile, perhaps enough to feel comfortable to take a second small sip from his glass.  His eyes have a glint of interest, a sharp sort of bird's eye attention.  "Do you do that with any specific purpose, out of curiosity?  Or just to find it?"

Gladstone, & co.

[Wits + Esoterica. Discourse about Cool Spirit-y Quest-y Forage-y Things, especially Wonders. Do it, Apollonius! Do it so well that the ST can skip over specifics!]

Dice: 8 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 6, 6, 6, 7, 8, 10) ( success x 7 ) [Doubling Tens]

Gladstone, & co.

[Thank you, Apollonius. As an NPC, you have won the day.]

N. Hyde

[Intelligence + Cosmology!]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 10) ( success x 4 )

Gladstone, & co.

What follows is, perhaps, what Nicholas had initially girded himself to meet at a party of (powerful) Hermetics before Pen texted to let him know that she was waiting downstairs. Apollonius is a prime specimen and nothing could be clearer now. He rubs the hooked bridge of his nose (as if his nose had been broken once before. Even that small flaw is barely worth description - a sign of life which is  He is: exacting, erudite, and extremely pedantic about what he knows and what he believes.

He is also something of a tall tale teller or he obscures the kernel of narrative inside a great big encyclopedia of trivia. The trivia is interesting, certainly: fast-talking Apollonius knows a great deal about finding things, and things to be found, and things which were Lost Long Ago, are Losing Themselves Now, about that which is Unnamed, that which is just beyond the threshold, something which calls. That's the ghist of what Apollonius says, after discoursing (and he allows Nicholas to break in now and then, and Zelda too) about how once the mythic world and the chimeric world were closer together and it was easier to do this or that and the world was bigger, then, was bolder, brighter, how one might find this if one goes about it this way about how sometimes simple ingredients for spellwork are a bitch to find and blah-dee-blah blah blah all the uses for things Found and for Losing Things all the potential reasons one might have (and it is always a Use, really)after all of that essentially his answer boils down to:

"'Just to find Hah! There are such visions out there for those who open their eyes and look, and what they tell us about our own courses! What nobler purpose?"

N. Hyde

Nick had prepared himself exactly for this.  He was ready.  He spent the couple of hours after Anna left with Thane but before Pen arrived browsing through all of his books, many of which are dog-eared and well worn and have been borrowed from friends (he knows some fairly well established and rather generous Chakravanti, after all).  He didn't memorize trivia, but instead: refreshed himself on topics that were likely to come up, refamiliarized himself with the terms that they were likely to use for topics related to the spirit world so he didn't trip himself up using his.

He is glad of that, just now.  He is able to follow well enough, though he doesn't follow Apollonius down the rabbit hole of trivia when the Hermetic waxes on.  (Rabbit hole?  No, this is a warren.)

And he is interested.  His questions are curious and won't shame him later, and neither will the contributions he offers.

When the Hermetic finishes, Nick's next question is earnest, and shy almost.  "Do you have any advice for me, then, as I'm beginning to look?"

Gladstone, & co.

"Stick to one quest at a time," Apollonius says, sagely. "And make certain you have a tether, so you do not lose track of the world. That is how one either becomes a lost thing oneself, or how one finds oneself a Marauder."

Gladstone, & co.

[Time for the duelists to sneak back into the party. Alexandra first. Dex + Stealth.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 2, 5, 6, 6) ( success x 3 ) [WP]

Gladstone, & co.

[Martin. +1 diff, because HUGE.]

Dice: 5 d10 TN7 (3, 7, 7, 10, 10) ( success x 4 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Pen. >_>]

Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 5, 10) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Pen: No, I am as sneaky as Alexandra! With a higher diff.]

Dice: 4 d10 TN7 (2, 6, 6, 10) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

[ONCE MORE.]

Dice: 4 d10 TN8 (1, 2, 4, 8) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Fine.]

N. Hyde

Nick nods, soaks in this sage advice and reflects on it; and he will take it to heart, too, as he delves into locating Shallowings and communicating with the spirit world more and more in the coming years.  His burgeoning responsibilities will come to overshadow his sense of wonder and desire to explore by the time they move to Denver: he will be wearier and warier then, but he doesn't know that now.

"That's good advice.  Thank you."

He's asking Apollonius about books he's found particularly enlightening (and Zelda, too, if she is so inclined to contribute), when the duelists finally creep their way back into the Solarium.

Gladstone, & co.

This is how they creep.

Alexandra, first. Cheeks flushed, eyes bright, thick straight hair particularly glossy somehow, a flake of ruby red; she looks around, cautious, before slipping into the Solarium, making a sign with one hand behind her back that is the All Clear. Martin comes in next and nothing about him has changed. He still hulks; he still casts a long shadow. Sharp eyes might notice some minor change, but sharp eyes are unlikely to see him come in. He is surprisingly sneaky for someone so large, with such power of presence; then again, bears themselves are surprisingly quiet and surprisingly quick. One never expects them to move as they do, and then they wield terror. Penelope is the least stealthy, which probably surprises no one. The young woman slips in after Martin, a shiver of silver light gleaming on a lake and red-fire hair which is somewhat tousled.

The three immediately begin behaving as if they were always just right there duh having a totally normal conversation right there where they have been this entire time. Totally.

Apollonius asks Nicholas what languages he is able to understand, just as Zelda did earlier. And when he receives an answer, he shakes his head as if it is a shame, and scrunches his face up before he can figure out a book or two to recommend.

Zelda is better at books than Apollonius is. He admits it, too.

"Ask a Bonisagus or a Shaea if you want help building your library."

("He's talking to Apollonius."

"Martin, there can be no excuses."

"But it can wait until...")

"I," Apollonius says, "should perhaps find somebody to write my memoirs for me, while I dictate." He eyes Zelda, speculatively.

"Hmm," Zelda says.

This is when Martin's shadow falls across them all. He clears his throat. "Apollonius, Zelda." He doesn't quite glance over his shoulder at Alexandra or Pen who are - oh. There they are. Alexandra by Apollonius's side now, and to Nicholas's. "Hello." He offers a hand to Nicholas. "We weren't properly introduced before."

He blink blinks.

N. Hyde

Ask a Bonisagus, Apollonius suggests, and Nick, too, glances toward Zelda, remembering how she'd been ready to take him to go see some other book earlier.  Bound in unicorn hide.  He might have had more to say to her then, but there's talk of memoirs, and if Zelda happens to glance in his direction there is some amused spark in Nick's eyes.

That is when Martin's shadow falls across them, and Nick half-turns to face the man who dwarfs him, even though he is not particularly small (nor large.)

There is a large hand thrust toward him.  Martin blink blinks.  Nick also blink blinks.  Then, as though it is an afterthought, a mere oversight, he says, "You're right, we weren't," and shakes Martin's hand.  "I'm Nicholas Hyde.  Chakravanti.  I don't think I caught your name earlier."

Nick definitely caught his name.  This is a lie, even if it is one to allow the man to preserve his dignity.

Gladstone, & co.

[I am going to mean everything I am about to say, man. Willpower.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN8 (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8) ( success x 3 ) [WP]

N. Hyde

[Sure you do.]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 5, 7, 7, 8, 10, 10) ( success x 7 ) [Doubling Tens]

N. Hyde

[Perception + Alertness?]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (3, 6, 6, 7, 9) ( success x 4 )

N. Hyde

((Oops - diff 7, only two successes!))

Gladstone, & co.

"Jean Martin," Martin says. After a beat, he adds, "bani Flambeau."

Unlike many of the Hermetics in the room, Martin is perhaps unique in his lack of rings. He does not have a single one; there is no glint of metal at his throat or at his wrist. He is unadorned. The only adornment which would be appropriate would be a crown; it still seems that way, even though he is looming.

"Over here for a second, man?" He tilts his head to the side, like: c'mere this-way-please. Once they're separated from the group, Martin says:

"I'm sorry about my behavior earlier. I was a dick and didn't mean to be. Bran was just so wrong, I was all riled up to start with and I, eh, didn't mean any slight."

This is complicated because Martin didn't mean any slight, back before: he was just arrogant; he was just prejudiced. He'd mean it now, out of pure spite. There's anger running beneath: He can't believe he is obliged to apologize to this worthless nobody.

Wounded pride, shame, all of these are bad things. Belligerence is difficult to dissipate, especially when one feels one is wronged, regardless of how many initiates get lucky in a fight. He is trying to mean it enough to satisfy -- something. 

And Nicholas, who is sharp-eyed, will notice signs of blood under Martin's nails, in the crease of his palm. Martin smiles with rue; it is false. It is false as any false heart ever was. "I'm sure you know how it is."

N. Hyde

This leaves Nicholas with a decision, or perhaps several.  He could accept Martin's apology and let the man simmer down as he goes back to the rest of the party.  He could find a way to let Martin know what he knows, build question upon question as Lysander might have done, as Nick might do in many other circumstances.

He could find a way to make himself an enemy tonight.

Being called a penny mystic did not make him angry; he has been called worse by better.  It's the man lying to his face that crystalizes there in the pit of his stomach, stops up his lungs.

Nick is frequently a kind man, and like many kind men, he is aware of when his kindness is being imposed upon.  "I'm afraid I don't know how that is," he tells Martin, as his gaze sweeps over Martin's princely mien, light for a moment where it seems he'd wear a crown, notes the blood beneath his nails and in the crease of his palm.  In the end they come back up to meet Martin's.  "Lies don't become you."

Gladstone, & co.

[My temper is totally in check.]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (2, 2, 6, 9, 10) ( success x 3 )

Gladstone, & co.

Martin does not look as if he wants to punch Nick in the face. He does, but he doesn't look as if he does, not because he is hiding his dislike so much as because first he looks nonplussed and then he manages to have mastery over the temper which would induce him to do so.

"You don't know what you're talking about," Martin says. He wants to follow it up with another insult, but he just runs his tongue over his teeth. Settles on, "But I guess that shouldn't be too surprising."

He can always say he meant 'because Nick doesn't know me' if he's taken to task by Alexandra or Penelope.

Blink blink. "Can we be cool?"

N. Hyde

Nick has seen this look before.  Nick has seen this look, once or twice, before someone actually did punch him in the face: this is the way of teenage boys.

It should probably be his cue to stop, and retreat, but Martin says he doesn't know what he's talking about.  So instead his eyebrows just raise a fraction, and he says, "I don't know.  Can you be cool?"

Gladstone, & co.

For as long as he has to be.

"I'm trying, man," Martin says, with a shrug. He folds his arms over his chest. Good arms, stay folded. There may be some blood in the creases of his palms and under his nails, but there is no sign of injury. "I'm trying tonight." Emphasis on the last word.

N. Hyde

As confusing a night as it has been, Nick doesn't particularly have much desire to fight here with Martin, at least not in any kind of oppositional way.  He hears that emphasis, and he draws his own conclusions about what it means, and he has already made his point.

"A for effort, I guess," he says, and then, "We can be cool for tonight.  Is that it?"

Gladstone, & co.

"Yup. Well no wait, you really like Penelope right?"

He's just a concerned friend. Sure. Martin looks Nicholas over closely, sifting for something gold-panning mining for a certain thing. 

[PERC + EMP. Plus WP.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 5, 5, 6, 10) ( success x 3 ) [WP]

N. Hyde

[Eh, she's okay I guess.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (3, 3, 5, 6, 6, 7) ( success x 3 )

Gladstone, & co.

[-_-]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (3, 4, 4, 6, 8, 10) ( success x 4 ) [WP]

N. Hyde

[contest]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (3, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10) ( success x 3 )

Gladstone, & co.

[Suck it, Penny Mystic. Penny Liar, too. HAHA.] 

N. Hyde

Yep.  Nick really really likes Penelope.  A lot.  There's something that appears in his expression when Martin asks him this question: furtive, as though he's not sure how to respond, as though he's not sure what to say, and also: his eyes flick over to Pen and they are traitors.  Most people would miss it, but Martin is on point here.

N. Hyde

"I'm with Pen.  Of course I like her.  Why?"

Gladstone, & co.

Martin rubs his hand over his mouth before tucking it back into his crossed arms; what did the gesture hide, if anything? His eyebrows flick upwards and his voice is a low rumble. "Yeah. She's pretty great. That makes sense. You seem to mean it."

Pause. "Good luck with that. We all look out for one another. And ...good luck fitting in tonight, man. It seems like you're doing just fine though."

[Manipulation + Expression.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (3, 6, 6, 7, 8, 9) ( success x 5 )

Gladstone, & co.

Martin: is, and the Bear Prince has an exquisite command of nuance here, trying to imply a few things. 1. Yeah, Pen is pretty great. Maybe I know just how 'great' she is, eh? Bullshit alpha male crap. 2. Yeah, Pen is pretty great, i.e., meant for greatness, i.e., who the fuck are you, little nothing boy? 3. Nick needs luck. Because there's no way it's going to last; Martin's damned sure about that. 4. Part of the reason there's no way it's going to last is obviously because Nick is an outsider. 5. Again, Nick totally needs luck, he is not fitting in or good enough to fit in without pity making room for him at the table so to speak. Just fine is code for as best as can be expected. 

N. Hyde
There are a few reactions that war inside Nick at the moment.  Martin's taunts touch on hurts that are half-healed and deeply buried, in the way of most adults who were troubled in childhood and adolescence.  Those waters run deep.  But there is also that; Nick is an adult, and he recognizes insecurity and wounded pride (and posturing masculinity, so often a byproduct of the two) for what it is.

He smiles at Martin in a way that suggests a warm sort of camaraderie, that implies that he understands Martin just as Martin understands him.  "Yeah, you do too.  Fake it 'til you make it, right?"  A beat.  "I guess I'll see you later."

Gladstone, & co.
"Yup." Martin looks at Nicholas like he'd enjoy turning the man into a clot of ash, then watching it skid smear shatter on the ground. But he smiles pleasantly, rubs the side of his nose, and leaves Nicholas to rejoin Apollonius, Zelda, Alexandra, and Pen.

But wait, Nicholas has left the herd. Danger, young zebra. Danger.

N. Hyde
[Init: Nick +5]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (5) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.
Zelda: +6

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (5) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.
Pen: +7

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (1) ( botch x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.
Alexandra: +8

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (2) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.
Lysander: +8

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (2) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.
Diana: +6

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (4) ( fail )

Gladstone, & co.
Martin: +7

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (7) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.
Frederick +5

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (7) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.
[Oh, and Apollonius. +6]



Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (8) ( success x 1 )

N. Hyde
Nick does not look like he'd enjoy turning Martin into a clot of ash, but perhaps there's something sharp in his smile, in the way his gaze levels as the Hermetic turns to go.  It's been said that Nick is not cruel, but there's also this: it's difficult for anger and compassion to exist together, in the same space, and there is a duality to all life.

He, too, plans to go to rejoin Pen.  Maybe he feels a little better tonight about holding his own, in his own way, regardless of whatever most of the Hermetics here think.  It's only then that he notices he's off by himself, so he takes a sip from his whiskey and starts moving back in the direction of Pen, Zelda, and Alexandra.

N. Hyde
[Bran +5]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (7) ( success x 1 )

Gladstone, & co.
Apollonius, Martin: 14

Fred, Bran: 12

Zelda: 11

Lysander, Alexandra: 10

Diana, Nick: 10

Pen: 8.



DECLARES.

Pen: Oh good Martin is going away he must have apologized successfully yay Nick.

Diana: Yes yes blather on OH GOOD LOOK HEY MARTIN OVER HERE BRING YOUR FRIEND YOU JUST LEFT BRING HIM NOW I COMMAND IT.

N. Hyde
Nick: Flee.  Flee back to the group.

Gladstone, & co.
Alexandra: Sigh. Sacrifice self for the cause. Ask Zelda to borrow her book, then head towards the couches.

Lysander: HEY MARTIN, you are very popular suddenly, I want to know all about that new bandage just under your arm yeah I can see it I know what you were up to but now you get to TELL ME.

Zelda: ... Give book, but cautiously.

N. Hyde
Bran: I can't distract Diana anymore.  Gonna head back to Martin.

Gladstone, & co.
Fred: Continue conversation over Diana w/ Gil.

Martin: Oh shit. Tactical retreat. Tactical retreat! Which means back to Diana, and a blatant OH HEY BRAN I LEFT A THING FOR YOU IN THE HALL COME SEE to try and shake Lysander.

Apollonius: Welcome Nick back! Fail to be effected by most of the Things Going On Around The Room, because you just want to talk more/listen more.

Gladstone, & co.
"Welcome back, Nicholas!" Apollonius says, as soon as Nick turns back towards Apollonius and the ladies (a very fine rock band, Apollonius would no doubt say, a very fine rock band name indeed). "I was just telling Penelope and Zelda that they should, I'm sorry my dears I do forget you don't work so closely together any longer, but I was just telling them that they should go along with you on a 'nature walk' so to speak if you ever feel like leading one."

He notices what's going on. He just doesn't care, or fully parse it.

Martin notices what's going on, too. He definitely cares. He can see the movement that is Diana, rising to gain his attention; sees it at the same time Bran gets up, begins to come back towards him, and there, there, the fucking one that you say clever girl to just before it gets you, Lysander off to the side stretching in that way he has before --

Martin is not in the best mood. He adjusts his sleeve and, with great will and purpose, says, "Ah! Bran!" Rumble-thunder boom, turning his back to Diana (and keeping Lysander out of his direct line of sight) as he does, "Hey, step outside with me for a moment?"

He tries to put out the sense that this is important business, not to be interrupted.

(Meanwhile, Frederick: is not much fussed. He bids Bran a courteous fare well when he gives up distracting Diana, a knowing twinkle (perhaps) in his eyes, and continues to listen and discourse.

Hermetics. They like theories. And philosophy. And interesting topics of discussion, round-table, talk one over the other, ideas spark spark spark.)

[Martin: Manip + Expression. Another WP bites the dust.]



Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) ( success x 6 ) [WP]

N. Hyde
Nature walk, Apollonius says, and the look Nick gives Zelda and Pen is a touch amused.  He's clearly continued on the same topic in Nick's absence, even after Nick was stolen away by Martin.  Then again: Nick wasn't gone all that long, and Apollonius did manage to talk quite a bit, at some length, about the spirit world.

"I would love to take you both along with me, if you wanted to go," he says, and the offer clearly extends to Zelda too, even though he doesn't know her well.  It's not an empty offer, the way some might make when such a suggestion was made to them at a party.  Nick's smile is a touch reserved, even if it is mostly for Pen.

Bran: he's a neutral party here, and while he enjoys political and social intrigue and he's having fun, his motivations remain his own.  Martin wouldn't have had to shout him down; he's happy to swoop in and save the other Flambeau in fact.  Bran might have found the idea of a Hermetic and a Chakravanti together somewhat precious, and might have appreciated Zelda and Nick in their own right, and he might be inclined toward mercy for poor vanquished Martin now.  Bran also enjoys the social power he wields.

"Sure," he says, as he comes up beside Martin.  "What do you need?"

Gladstone, & co.
Alexandra. Alexandra doesn't really sigh, but there's a touch of resignation come to her shoulders which bow inward. Red, it's a vibrant shock of color; a color to be noticed. Flambeaux are not shy, or retiring, or known to be so. She smiles with understanding at Nicholas as he heads back, touches Pen's upper arm as she turns to Zelda and asks to borrow her book.

Zelda blinks, then carefully hands it over with an air of supreme mistrust. "Be careful in your handling of it," she says. The corner of her mouth quirks; it isn't smile, it's a slant-tic of concern.

"I will be, Zelda. I promise." And Alexandra, she heads toward the couches, pausing at Martin (who does a very credible oh shit gotta go now important can't talk) and Bran, a slant to her eyebrows that means something but is expressed only in a Conspiratorial Look in the end. Knowing Look, maybe, and then:

"Diana," in a voice of respectful, bright and golden inquiry. "Did you see the mistake in this book? It reminds me of that text you showed me..."

Oh ho. Lysander considers Martin: suddenly snatched up, like a cheeto in the jaws of a seagull, and rather than chase him down just

well. He is patient. He needn't chase anyone. They're in his house, after all.

Diana: half-risen, mouth open -- fore-stalled by a number of people just being that much quicker. When her teeth click together, certainly some star somewhere dies. She doesn't say farewell to Bran or seem particularly bothered by Frederick's talking; she frowns, and might've bypassed Martin entirely to sweep that Chakravanti up again but Alexandra is a successful distraction.

"Oh? ... " Eyebrows arched.

And Pen.

Pen, whose wit is often quick, quicksilver, sharp and direct; Pen is last to realize that the mobile of her tradition-mates has moved, machinations turning. Pen touches her arm where Alexandra's hand was after Alexandra leaves; it isn't wistful or wishful, but a reaction just the same.

Pen meets Nicholas's amused look with an expression that is - oh, complicated of course; perhaps a shade more intense than usual, and Penelope is an intense young woman. It's just a moment; let it pass and transform. Amusement sparks acknowledging (gentle) humor in return, lake full of gloaming, see, that quite haze where anything is possible - and she begins to smile, slow.

A beat too long after 'if you wanted to go,' and Zelda's, "Ah. I suppose that could be educational."

Wait. Smilesnapsawaypeopletalkingtomewhatheywhat? Pen opens her mouth like she's going to say something; gathers herself, a different kind of (more reserved, glittering) smile instead, impartial for Apollonius and Zelda.

"Of course I want to go, but you would be leading the blind and describing to them what it is you see, for I have no skill at all, Apollonius, not in that Art."

What does Martin need. What a good question.

"You might want to leave your drink behind," he says, as he ushers Bran through the doors. He just needs a moment. A moment to revel in a moment in which he might gather himself.

He'll tell Bran as much too, once they've left the Solarium. "That Chakravanti is a dick; I just wanted a moment. Thanks, Bran."

N. Hyde
Nick makes it over to Apollonius and Zelda and Pen, and the look Pen gives him is complicated before that slow smile, and Nick knows that Pen put Martin up to apologizing to him.  So perhaps he gets all of it, or maybe there's more.  Regardless, he reaches them and hooks an arm around Pen's waist, the gesture as graceful as it is casual, as desirous of contact as it is a nonverbal way to encourage her to relax: Bran has swept Martin off, and things seem to be going better, at least for now.

"I'll figure out how to give my Sight to you," he tells Pen.  "Lysander showed me, earlier."

He has no idea what would be required, or whether he could do it right now, but still this promise of Someday.  Nick is still young enough and unfettered by duty enough to promise those Somedays; this is a time when magick is a more joyful thing to him, not something borne of necessity.

He will lose some of that, a few years from now.  But not yet.

Bran leaves his drink behind, drops his hands into his pockets as he trails Martin out.  As Martin says the Chakravanti is a dick, Bran only smiles.  "Well, you did call him a penny mystic," he says, and then he claps Martin on the back.  It's comradely, their earlier argument forgotten.  "Penelope got you good, huh?"

Gladstone, & co.
When Nicholas checks his text messages there will be one from Thane.

Emoji of a party hat. Emoji of a tree. Emoji of a lighting storm. Emoji of a bee. Emoji of a dancing elephant. Emoji of a clown. Emoji of a holly branch. Emoji of a quizzical but dapper alligator in a top hat.

There will be some from Rob, too.

R: Hey, how are you holding up?

Forty minutes later.

R: That good, huh? I am so looking forward to hearing about your Christmas.

R: Though I rather wish you or Pen were around now. I'm bored out of my (skull emoji)

N. Hyde
[Intelligence + Occult.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 10) ( success x 3 )

N. Hyde
[Wits + Academics.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (4, 4, 7, 7, 7, 10) ( success x 4 )

N. Hyde
[Charisma + Empathy.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (2, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9) ( success x 5 )

Gladstone, & co.
[Erudite Christmas Evening: accomplished!]