[Moebius]
Coffee shops truly are heaven, aren't they? Think of it, outside the world was nearly unbearable. The warmth of summer had truly abandoned Chicago, and still the wind hurried through the streets of the city, this time with icy teeth. You could dress for the weather, sure, but the moisture would probably get you. And even if you were completely prepared for all of that there was still the threat of people. Pushing, clamoring, detestable people. People that shoved past you on the sidewalk. Rude people that shouted at you in traffic, invading the sanctity of your car.
Perhaps this was why people liked the warm serenity of coffee shops. Perhaps that's why magi in particular tended to congregate in such places. The interior is warm, of course, and the ravaging (for a city) winds were no match for strong, resolute, glass. What's more, there are not many people in the coffee shop today only a few regulars ruminating in their own little corners of their own java and mocha flavored world.
A grey haired man sits with a cup of coffee in front of him, eying the steam as it rises and warming his hands on the sides. A couple stands in line, sharing the occasional glance and casual touch shared by those in love. A woman sits reading the paper. Her leg shakes incessantly under the table as she clicks her pen, twirls it in her fingers, and clicks it again. An empty coffee cup on her table topples from the motion, and she makes sure to keep at least one hand on the full cup just to be sure. And of course the Barista's are all working as the well oiled machinery that they were. A pimple-faced teen with a long, gawky neck greets each person with an over practiced, monotone slogan.
“Welcome to Perk-you-late, where its all about the bean. What can I get you today?”
[Charlie McGee]
Charlie generally was not a coffee person much to the annoyance of places such as this. He was the guy who would get to the head of the line and instead of earning a mocachino or frappichino or coffee blend cocoa...he ordered a chai or hot green tea. They had it of course, but it sorta broke the cycle of the other exotic blends of caffeine, sugar, and creams stirred together. Charlie waited in line patiently, taking his time...he bobbed his head as if listening to music.
But there were no ear buds...it was more like...a rhythm of life as if he were imagining a high hat and tempo going, just moving his legs in quasi-half step dancing as he thinks of a new lay up.
[Ashley McGowen]
Coffee shops really are heaven, and thank God there are so many of them on the Mile.
You see, any graduate student with the appropriate amount of pretentiousness faces the following dilemma: coffee and tea have grown popular in the past five years. The coffee shop life, once a refuge of the bohemian, of the intellectual - real and faux alike, of the emo kid with terrible slam poetry skills, has been invaded by sorority girls and soccer moms and businessmen. So there's a sort of cycle Ashley goes through when one shop becomes too popular and therefore a congregation spot for every dumbass wandering down the Mile.
Today it's this one, which appears to be relatively quiet. It's the end of the semester and she looks appropriately harried, rushing in for a caffeine fix and retreating to one of the tables with a large cup of tea, her laptop and her messenger bag, currently full of papers.
The sky is falling, so she doesn't notice Charlie. She sets things down at one of the tables and begins shuffling through her papers with one hand, taking a draught of tea with the other. The Hermetic hasn't quite lost her composure yet, but judging by the look in her eyes, that may be soon to come.
[Enid Geraint]
Enid is one of the young, the sorority girls waiting to happen. Or she had been, with her perkiness and bright, ready smile that were the first things to fall in the face of strange happenings and deaths, of friends lost in more than one way, of a world turned on its ear. She hovers right around college aged, but not quite there, and comes in in running clothes, clearly finished with the last leg and on her way home. But coffee was essential and coffee she would have, something with far too many modifiers and way too much caffeine, sugar and whipped cream. When she has the paper cup in her hand (because of course it was to go) she turns to survey the occupants, to see if she wants to stay for a few minutes, or . . .
"Hey, Ashley." It's pleased, that voice; she likes the Hermetic, enjoys her company, so of course it's her who gets noticed first. Then, there's further glance around until her eyes land on Charlie. "And you too," she says, though she's come across him a lot less often; it takes a few seconds to come up with, ".....Charlie." Then, though, her attention moves back to Ashley and the stack of papers.
"You need a hand?"
[Moebius]
The grey haired man gets up, fingers tapping absently at his table. There's something missing, it seems. He heads over to the condiment station, snatching up a few packets of sugar and tiny, packaged cups of cream as if they might have gotten away from him if he didn't move quickly. He takes a spoon with him as well and sits back down in his little corner. He starts by tearing one, then another packet of sugar and dumping it into the coffee. Then...he stirs.
Public displays of affection are really hit or miss with most people. On the one hand, the couple standing in front of Charlie could be seen as either adorable or sickening with the way they nuzzle one another, sneaking one last kiss before she peruses the menu board and orders. He, in the meantime, holds her purse and glows thoughtfully.
But then his eyes cast downward. He glances in her open purse and pulls out a brand new pack of Menthol Cools, and with it, he taps on her shoulder.
“Your smoking again?” he inquires.
“Oh. Baby?” She says disarmingly. It has no affect.
“Katie, I'm serious. I thought we agreed that you were going to stop.”
“How do we agree about something that only affects me?”
“It affects both of us!” He snaps back, obviously upset. “I care about you! I don't wanna see you die just because--”
“If you cared about me you wouldn't be so desperate to CONTROL me!” She shouts back, obviously more upset. She huffs, and storms out. The air in the coffee shop suddenly becomes colder by degrees. And a moment later he storms out after her, still holding her purse. The last thing they hear of the couple before the door seals shut again is him calling out as he hurries down the sidewalk after her. “Katie! Katie!”
The geeky Barista seems completely unphased. He turns his gaze to Charlie now.
“Welcome to Perk-you-late, where its all about the bean. What can I get you today?”
[Ashley McGowen]
They are hit or miss with most people. To Ashley, Sleepers are scenery. She never would have noticed the kissing couple were it not for the argument, which, given that the shop is fairly quiet right now, is audible for everyone.
The girl storms out. As unfazed as the barista, Ashley looks up from her papers at Enid. The girl is spared a slight, if distracted, smile. "No. I'm just...trying to edit a chunk of my thesis before I turn it in for review. It's due in tomorrow."
The smile broadens, in a manner that is edging in on panic, as she notices Charlie and gives the Akashic a nod.
[Charlie McGee]
"Hot green tea or chai tea if you don't have it."
Charlie watched as the two fought...he had vaguely waved to Enid with a smile, though a bit distracted with his internal music. But the disharmony from the two in front of him had shattered that little reprieve for the moment. He smiled after placing his order, digging out the cost in quarters and faded 1s before setting them on the counter and standing aside.
He wasn't going to hold other people up simply to wait until they got his drink right there and then....only jackasses did that.
[Enid Geraint]
Enid's drink was paid for with a twenty, and a dollar and clinking change were put in the tip jar, all before she stepped out of the way. Now, she looks sympathetic, and also as if she kind of can't wait to hit that point, where she's working on big, important things and nearing her goal.
"Ah, I shouldn't distract you overly much then," she says, but as much as she appreciates the seriousness of the task in front of Ashley, there's to what follows that she doesn't say, though she clearly wants to. "I started a martial arts class. Mostly Tai Chi. And I'm trading that for Chinese lessons. The teacher's c . . . ool."
It wants to be girl gossip, but stops just short. And the arguing couple? Well, Enid's a seventeen year old with a proto-crush. They get more or less ignored.
[Moebius]
Enid and Charlie both get their drinks with little fuss. It was a coffee shop, afterall. There wasn't much that could go absolutely wrong in here.
It was safe.
The jittery woman with the crossword table has an idea. She smiles as she points with her pen, counting boxes. Then, she smiles even further and writes in her answer in the puzzle, one hand gripping the pen delicately, and the other hand holding the newspaper in place. Then she glows with a quiet, private pride. She was doing the crossword in pen and had just written seven letters in a row which she was absolutely sure were the right seven letters for--
“Achoo! Oh Shit!”
The sudden sneeze, and accompanying body spasm was all the vibration required to finally tip over the half full cup of coffee. The 'Oh shit' was an accompaniment to her suddenly lifting the newspaper out of the way of the oncoming brown flow.
“Can I get another coffee over here?” She called to the barista, and in the meantime placed her newspaper in a safe, dry place. The woman moves to the condiment bar, snatching several napkins from the single napkin dispenser.
[Charlie McGee]
Charlie took his drink once it was made...moving towards a seat. He glanced over at the accident, making a slight sympathetic face before he looked in the direction of Ashley and Enid. He hadn't seen the Hermetic girl but he had been distracted after all. He makes his way over, sipping the drink...feeling hot flow into his arms and chest.
"Hey...funny to run into each other again..."
He grinned...coincidences were fun.
[Ashley McGowen]
Enid says that she shouldn't distract Ashley overly much, and then keeps talking. About her Tai Chi class and her c...ool instructor. With a patience and restraint that is very unusual for her, Ash looks up from the pile of paper she was shuffling through.
"Good for you. It's good for you to keep yourself busy right now, especially since you aren't in school," Ashley tells Enid, taking a seat at the table. She keeps her papers and bag confined to her end of the table so that Enid, and even Charlie if he is so inclined, feel as though they are free to take a seat there.
She looks up and turns a frown in the woman's direction, mostly for the disturbance. But it's over quickly.
"Hi, Charlie."
[Enid Geraint]
She'd said 'overly much', and goodness only knows what that means to the younger girl. Regardless, Ashley's bit gets a nod, and the girl falls quiet and just enjoys the company until someone spills. Enid has nothing else to do other than drink her coffee, so she excuses herself briefly to help.
"It didn't get your paper, did it? If so, I hope that's not the smeary kind of pen."
[Moebius]
"Nope!" She says with a smile. "Saved it."
Welcoming the help, The woman makes it back to her table with the napkins just in time to catch sight of the first few drops falling to the floor between the table and the window. She gives a sheepish glance to the baristas, who aren't even paying attention really. Then she mops up the mess on the table, sticks the wet napkins in one of the fallen cups, and dumps it all in the trash.
By the time she's finished with her clean up there's a piping hot coffee waiting for her at the counter. She tosses a cheery, but distracted 'Thanks' to Enid, pays, grabs her newspaper, and takes her seat again, ready to get back into her routine of hovering over her crossword and filling it out in pen.
Under the table her leg shakes idly. The vibration makes the empty cup stir slightly. She reaches out casually and places a hand on the full coffee cup, making sure to keep it steady. Wouldn't want that happening again, afterall.
Its only a moment after she's settled again that a couple walks in. The same couple, in fact. Though, probably smartly, Katie holds her own purse this time. They stand in line sharing the occasional glance and casual touch shared by those in love.
The barrista greets them in a bored monotone voice. “Welcome to Perk-you-late, where its all about the bean. What can I get you today?”
[Charlie McGee]
"What's going on?"
He helps himself to a seat, eyes briefly glancing over at the couple....just watching for a moment before he looked back over to Ashley.
"School work or something?"
[Ashley McGowen]
She has reached into her bag for a pen, oblivious to most of what is going on around the coffee shop. None of these people are important, and none of these people have anything important to say or do - thus, their daily lives matter very little to her. She hasn't even really bothered to take note of the couple coming back in.
Though once she does look up to see whether Enid is coming back.
"The first chunk of my thesis is due tomorrow. I'm trying to get it edited," Ashley says to Charlie. "...I'm kind of a perfectionist, I'm probably going to be up all night."
[Enid Geraint]
Enid is coming back, but not until after the girl's mess is taken care of, and she smiles at the couple on the way (though eww, smoking is gross). "If you're going to be up all night, I have some bread and cookies and stuff from my latest baking binge. I can drop some off later if you want."
[Moebius]
Public displays of affection are really hit or miss with most people. On the one hand, there was nothing wrong with the way the couple nuzzle one another, sneaking one last kiss before she peruses the menu board and orders. As long as it was kept in small portions. But, it seems, these two are simply insistent on doing it again.
And once again, he holds her purse and glows thoughtfully.
But then his eyes cast downward. He glances in her open purse and pulls out a brand new pack of Menthol Cools, and with it, he taps on her shoulder.
“Your smoking again?” he inquires.
“Oh. Baby?” She says disarmingly. It has no affect.
“Katie, I'm serious. I thought we agreed that you were going to stop.”
“How do we agree about something that only affects me?”
“It affects both of us!” He snaps back, obviously upset. “I care about you! I don't wanna see you die just because--”
“If you cared about me you wouldn't be so desperate to CONTROL me!” She shouts back, obviously more upset. She huffs, and storms out. The air in the coffee shop suddenly becomes colder by degrees. And a moment later he storms out after her, still holding her purse. The last thing they hear of the couple before the door seals shut again is him calling out as he hurries down the sidewalk after her. “Katie! Katie!”
[Enid Geraint]
".....is it weird that that just happened again?" Enid asks even as she moves over to Crossword Puzzle Girl's table. "Hey," she says, quietly. "Be careful of your cup, yeah? Would be a shame to spill coffee on it."
[Charlie McGee]
Charlie blinked...paused..then stared. Then his fingers reached to his face and he rubbed at his eyes...
"...any body...besides me...just got deja vu?"
Charlie meanwhile brought his fingers up...crooking them in a loose mudra....focusing his senses upon the realm...or the illusion illusion of the transient essence of time.
[Charlie McGee]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 2, 2, 3, 7, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6)
Perception 4 + Awareness 1
[Ashley McGowen]
"I'd like that, actually, Enid," Ashley says. And, again, she wouldn't really have noticed the couple coming back in (for one thing, they're on her left side now) but then the arguing starts. She's entirely tuned out to it until their voices get louder.
And then she, too, experiences the odd sort of deja vu as she wonders if they weren't just...
The other two confirm it. "God damn it, I have 6000 words due tomorrow," Ashley says with a sigh, and then looks up, preparing to reach under the collar of her shirt for the gold link in the small chain of different metals. First, though, she looks at the woman Enid is speaking to and tries to get a sense of whether there are energies active in the area.
[Ashley McGowen]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 2, 5, 5, 8, 8, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Perc + Awareness]
[Enid Geraint]
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 2, 5, 5, 6 (Success x 1 at target 6)
(Per+Aware, hoooooooooo!)
[Moebius]
to Ashley McGowen
There is something at work here, now that she knows to look. Its a glinting something on the edge of her senses. But, too distant perhaps, or too well hidden to be focused upon. It was however, ordered. Terribly so. As if it had been planned for millenia.
[Moebius]
The jittery woman with the crossword puzzle smiles at Enid. "Don't worry." She says. "I've got it." And then, that look falls away and is instantly replaced by a look of complete enlightenment. She smiles as she points with her pen, counting boxes. Then, she smiles even further and writes in her answer in the puzzle, one hand gripping the pen delicately, and the other hand holding the newspaper in place.
She glows with a quiet, private pride. But share's it with Enid.
"That's seven letters. In pen!" She was doing the crossword in pen and had just written seven letters in a row which she was absolutely sure were the right seven letters for--
“Achoo! Oh Shit!”
The sudden sneeze, and accompanying body spasm was all the vibration required to finally tip over the half full cup of coffee. The 'Oh shit' was an accompaniment to her suddenly lifting the newspaper out of the way of the oncoming brown flow. She barely has time to give Enid an embarrassed look.
“Can I get another coffee over here?” She called to the barista, and in the meantime placed her newspaper in a safe, dry place. The woman moves to the condiment bar, snatching several napkins from the single napkin dispenser.
[Charlie McGee]
"...its like the club all over again...but what's causing it this time..."
Charlie frowned a little...glancing around. Last time, there had been others not affected....not in sync quite with the terrain..the place. But that also been some sort of dream...a legend...a story. A story that needed an ending. He wondered if this was similar.
[Ashley McGowen]
Ashley frowns, sensing that very rigid, ordered...something at the edge of her senses. Something like a taste at the back of the throat, a tune that sounds incredibly familiar if you could just remember what song it goes with.
"No, this isn't like the club. This is magic, I think. Very methodically done," Ashley tells Charlie quietly.
[Enid Geraint]
Enid already has napkins in hand to help clean up the mess, and so she does - this time, she peeks at the crossword puzzle to see what seven letter word was. ".....I always do my crossword puzzles in pen," she mumbles, knowing there's something tickling, but not knowing what, or . . . well, why, or any number of things. "Sometimes I have to check the dictionary, is all. But it's hardly cheating if you're learning something, right?"
[Moebius]
The woman makes it back to her table with the napkins just in time to catch sight of the first few drops falling to the floor between the table and the window. She gives a sheepish glance to the baristas, who aren't even paying attention really. Then she mops up the mess on the table, whispering to Enid. "I'm such a klutz. They're gonna kick me outta this place.
She sticks the wet napkins in one of the fallen cups, and dumps it all in the trash. By the time she's finished with her clean up there's a piping hot coffee waiting for her at the counter. She pays, grabs her newspaper, and takes her seat again, ready to get back into her routine of hovering over her crossword and filling it out in pen.
Under the table her leg shakes idly. The vibration makes the empty cup stir slightly. She reaches out casually and places a hand on the full coffee cup, making sure to keep it steady. Wouldn't want that happening again, afterall.
Its only a moment after she's settled again that a couple walks in. The same couple, in fact. Though, probably smartly, Katie holds her own purse this time. They stand in line sharing the occasional glance and casual touch shared by those in love.
The barrista greets them in a bored monotone voice. “Welcome to Perk-you-late, where its all about the bean. What can I get...you?”
[Charlie McGee]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 2, 5, 8, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)
Perception 4 (Insightful) + Alertness 1
[Enid Geraint]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 3, 3, 7, 7, 8 (Success x 4 at target 6) [WP]
(The cool kids are doing it [Per+Alert])
[Ashley McGowen]
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 4, 4, 8 (Success x 3 at target 4)
Ashley, frowning at Charlie, decides to try to see whether or not there's an effect about the place. It's unlikely that she'd be able to unweave it, but, well, it never hurts to be sure.
[Activating Primesight.]
[Charlie McGee]
Charlie frowned....he had nothing...lips pursing a little as he looked around for something out of place..he had thought the kid was off...but he was hearing things.
[Moebius]
to Ashley McGowen
There is indeed an 'effect' about the place. As Ashley adjusts her perceptions to take in the weavings of the universe, she can see the errant strays of things that didn't belong. They permeated the place like a cloud of magic, even wafting off the couple like vapor trails.
When Enid moves, however, the clouds give way. She doesn't flow within this effect, isn't a part of it. It flows around her in fact. Perhaps its a nature of her being awakened, because she can see Charlie doing the same, as well as herself. The magical effect, whatever it was, seemed to have an exception just for them.
[Enid Geraint]
Enid's brow furrows, and, since she's still standing by Crossword Puzzle Girl's table, she takes the first cup and puts it where it belongs. Maybe changing something little will stop the loop? It's worth a try, anyway.
[Moebius]
Public displays of affection are really hit or miss with most people. On the one hand, there was nothing wrong with the way the couple nuzzle one another, sneaking one last kiss before she peruses the menu board and orders. As long as it was in small amounts. These two, however, seem annoyingly devoted to the same public act over and over.
And yet again, holds her purse and glows thoughtfully.
And yet again his eyes cast downward. He glances in her open purse and pulls out a brand new pack of Menthol Cools, and with it, he taps on her shoulder.
“Your smoking again?” he inquires.
“Oh. Baby?” She says disarmingly. It has no affect.
“Katie, I'm serious. I thought we agreed that you were going to stop.”
“How do we agree about something that only affects me?”
“It affects both of us!” He snaps back, obviously upset. “I care about you! I don't wanna see you die just because--”
“If you cared about me you wouldn't be so desperate to CONTROL me!” She shouts back, obviously more upset. She huffs, and storms out. The air in the coffee shop suddenly becomes colder by degrees. And a moment later he storms out after her, still holding her purse. The last thing they hear of the couple before the door seals shut again is him calling out as he hurries down the sidewalk after her. “Katie! Katie!”
[Ashley McGowen]
"There is magic here, but we haven't been affected by it. The Tellerian is just moving around us," Ashley explains to Charlie. "Though I wouldn't say it's...one large thing. It seems like a lot of things here are affected."
The Hermetic frowns thoughtfully, looking from thing to thing within the coffee shop. "Do you have a means of trying to unweave it, Charlie?"
When you happen across something strange, obviously the thing to do is poke it.
[Charlie McGee]
"...not...really. I can sense what is going on time wise...but not sure how to break it down..."
He frowned a bit...glancing around...looking for some nuance now...something out of place.
[Enid Geraint]
The guy doesn't make it as far as the door; Enid, all casual-like in the way only a teenager can manage, steps across his path just in time to stop him (or make him trip over her or walk through her or whatever weird thing might happen - she thinks she's prepared). "Hey," she says to the guy. "Let her go, yeah? And maybe swing by the drug store to pick up the patch and take her to a nice dinner."
Obviously Crossword Puzzle Girl isn't the only one stressed out.
[Moebius]
"What? Comes his initial reply. He's flustered, holding a purse like an idiot and chasing after the woman he loved was hard enough without a red haired Teenager suddenly standing in his way. He gives Enid a dark look at first and steps from side to side, still peering out after 'Katie'. Or trying to anyway.
“Achoo! Oh Shit!”
The sudden sneeze, and accompanying body spasm was all the vibration required to finally tip over the half full cup of coffee. The 'Oh shit' was an accompaniment to her suddenly lifting the newspaper out of the way of the oncoming brown flow.
"Let her go?" The man barks incredulously. "What do you know kid?"
And with a forearm shove he pushes his way past Enid and out the door.
“Can I get another coffee over here?” She called to the barista, and in the meantime placed her newspaper in a safe, dry place. The woman moves to the condiment bar, snatching several napkins from the single napkin dispenser.
[Ashley McGowen]
As they make their next exit, Ashley watches them go, suddenly intensely curious. She has no idea who put the effect here - the Technocracy, for all she knows, in which case fucking up the effect would be highly worthwhile.
"I wonder what would happen if we locked the door," she says. "Or what will happen when the napkins and everything run out."
And, heading over to the coffee shop's door, this is what she does. She pulls it closed and reaches down for the small knob that is used to click the door shut at night, and then watches out the window. Ah, experiments.
[Charlie McGee]
Charlie just cocks his head...all of this seeming to go over the Akashics head at this point.
[Enid Geraint]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 3, 5, 6, 8, 8 (Success x 4 at target 6) [WP]
(Wits+Enigmas)
[Enid Geraint]
"I . . . don't think the napkins will run out," Enid says with a frown, moving from where she'd been pushed to join the table. "Or, maybe. Her answer - the one she's on when she sneezes and knocks over her coffee - is Moebius. Like the strip. All one-sided and Escher-ized and stuff. You said we're not effected, right?"
Enid's a smart girl - not so talented with magic (yet), maybe, but as she'd said, she always does her crossword in pen. She should be able to figure this out.
"I moved the empty cup, I stopped the guy. Change things, yeah. I've got her coffee this time," she calls to the barista with a sunny smile. "And you know what? Upgrade it to something yummier if she wants."
[Moebius]
"Well aren't you sweet?" says the woman just as she makes it back to her table with the napkins just in time to catch sight of the first few drops falling to the floor between the table and the window. She gives a sheepish glance to the baristas, who aren't even paying attention really. Then she mops up the mess on the table, sticks the wet napkins in one of the fallen cups, and dumps it all in the trash.
A moment later there's a bump at the door. A rattling and a thud as the couple peer inside. They knock on the glass and shout loudly. "Are you closed or something?"
The barrista looks...not nervous but...confused. He starts to speak, saying "Welcome to--" But stops himself, looking down and blinking slightly.
And the man with the grey hair stops stirring his coffee. He reaches at his table for another packet of sugar and suddenly becomes aware of the others in the coffee shop. His eyes don't go to the barrista or the Crossword lady. They go to Enid. And to Ashley. They stop on Charlie lightly, but turn back across the two young ladies in reverse order.
He stands up and, with a nervous set of motions that had him keeping his eyes on the two...he ducks into the restroom.
[Charlie McGee]
"So...are we...trapped...or not?"
Charlie cocked his head, confusion evident on the Akashic in this one. Science was not something that complied with Charlie very well.
[Ashley McGowen]
Moebius. A loop of, in this case time, that is twisted in such a way that it can be followed endlessly without ever crossing an edge. A paradox. Ashley rests her chin on her hand, pressing her thumb against her mouth, looking thoughtful.
"I wonder what would have -caused- something like..."
She trails off as the couple begins pounding at the door, suddenly brought back to the world. She flashes a grin at the couple outside. The grin looks like victory.
Then the grey-haired man darts toward the bathroom, and Ashley starts after him. "Wait! Do you know what's - " And she stops, pausing and looking at the men's sign on the door. Occasionally even a Hermetic is daunted by common social mores.
[Enid Geraint]
"I don't think we are," Enid says, and then watches Ashley be daunted where a seventeen-year-old jock, whose boyfriend was also a jock, who palled around with other jocks, isn't necessarily. She follows Ashley and opens the men's room door cheerfully, though she doesn't look in, just in case she finds herself face to face with something she doesn't want to see.
"Excuse me, sir? Do you know what's going on?"
[Moebius]
"N-no?" Comes an unsure reply from one of the bathroom stalls, followed by mutterings of "Sugar. Needs more sugar next time." and "Definitely too much cream. Definitely."
Meanwhile, the couple move off in their own direction, seeking caffeinated beverages elsewhere, but not before making one last open handed slap against the glass door. Its enough to attract the attention of crossword lady, who'd been spilling her coffee for...who knows how long really? Meanwhile, outside, the sun has dipped even lower beyond the horizon. She stands, suddenly panicked, and begins gathering her things, which doesn't include the newspaper and crossword puzzle.
[Charlie McGee]
Charlie glances and gets up to follow...knowing a girl running into the restroom will get stares before too long...going to follow her inside as well.
[Enid Geraint]
Enid's not going in, she's just standing in the doorway with it propped open enough to speak to whoever's inside. "How many sugars? And how much cream? I'll take care of it for you, if you want." Any temptation to quote Rainman is thankfully (barely) suppressed.
[Moebius]
to Ashley McGowen
The effect was waning. Whatever they'd done, however they'd done it, it was fading to nothing. Except...for this guy. When he ducked into the bathroom she could see it all streaking behind him, still bright, though dispersed widely.
And not to mention wildly. It arcs out like lightning, looking for the nearest conductor. The energy seems to reel backwards from Enid and Ashley, but it reaches out the barista before snapping back to the grey haired man. And soon after they heard the response and mumble from the bathroom stall it starts to fade even further.
Into nothing.
[Moebius]
This time there's no response from the man in the bathroom stall.
There is, however the sudden dip in temperature and the sound of the front door opening and closing as the crossword woman leaves.
The geeky, long necked barista finds them at the bathroom entrance. For a moment he seems to ponder what they're all doing there. Then he simply says: "We're like...closing now?"
[Ashley McGowen]
Enid moves past Ashley, and, dismissing the sign, she shoulders in the door after the girl. She stands just inside the bathroom and looks around for the man, who is babbling about sugars and cream. The effect is dissipating.
A Paradox effect, perhaps.
"You were at the center of this," she says, sounding more certain of that than she actually is. "What did you do?"
Coffee shops truly are heaven, aren't they? Think of it, outside the world was nearly unbearable. The warmth of summer had truly abandoned Chicago, and still the wind hurried through the streets of the city, this time with icy teeth. You could dress for the weather, sure, but the moisture would probably get you. And even if you were completely prepared for all of that there was still the threat of people. Pushing, clamoring, detestable people. People that shoved past you on the sidewalk. Rude people that shouted at you in traffic, invading the sanctity of your car.
Perhaps this was why people liked the warm serenity of coffee shops. Perhaps that's why magi in particular tended to congregate in such places. The interior is warm, of course, and the ravaging (for a city) winds were no match for strong, resolute, glass. What's more, there are not many people in the coffee shop today only a few regulars ruminating in their own little corners of their own java and mocha flavored world.
A grey haired man sits with a cup of coffee in front of him, eying the steam as it rises and warming his hands on the sides. A couple stands in line, sharing the occasional glance and casual touch shared by those in love. A woman sits reading the paper. Her leg shakes incessantly under the table as she clicks her pen, twirls it in her fingers, and clicks it again. An empty coffee cup on her table topples from the motion, and she makes sure to keep at least one hand on the full cup just to be sure. And of course the Barista's are all working as the well oiled machinery that they were. A pimple-faced teen with a long, gawky neck greets each person with an over practiced, monotone slogan.
“Welcome to Perk-you-late, where its all about the bean. What can I get you today?”
[Charlie McGee]
Charlie generally was not a coffee person much to the annoyance of places such as this. He was the guy who would get to the head of the line and instead of earning a mocachino or frappichino or coffee blend cocoa...he ordered a chai or hot green tea. They had it of course, but it sorta broke the cycle of the other exotic blends of caffeine, sugar, and creams stirred together. Charlie waited in line patiently, taking his time...he bobbed his head as if listening to music.
But there were no ear buds...it was more like...a rhythm of life as if he were imagining a high hat and tempo going, just moving his legs in quasi-half step dancing as he thinks of a new lay up.
[Ashley McGowen]
Coffee shops really are heaven, and thank God there are so many of them on the Mile.
You see, any graduate student with the appropriate amount of pretentiousness faces the following dilemma: coffee and tea have grown popular in the past five years. The coffee shop life, once a refuge of the bohemian, of the intellectual - real and faux alike, of the emo kid with terrible slam poetry skills, has been invaded by sorority girls and soccer moms and businessmen. So there's a sort of cycle Ashley goes through when one shop becomes too popular and therefore a congregation spot for every dumbass wandering down the Mile.
Today it's this one, which appears to be relatively quiet. It's the end of the semester and she looks appropriately harried, rushing in for a caffeine fix and retreating to one of the tables with a large cup of tea, her laptop and her messenger bag, currently full of papers.
The sky is falling, so she doesn't notice Charlie. She sets things down at one of the tables and begins shuffling through her papers with one hand, taking a draught of tea with the other. The Hermetic hasn't quite lost her composure yet, but judging by the look in her eyes, that may be soon to come.
[Enid Geraint]
Enid is one of the young, the sorority girls waiting to happen. Or she had been, with her perkiness and bright, ready smile that were the first things to fall in the face of strange happenings and deaths, of friends lost in more than one way, of a world turned on its ear. She hovers right around college aged, but not quite there, and comes in in running clothes, clearly finished with the last leg and on her way home. But coffee was essential and coffee she would have, something with far too many modifiers and way too much caffeine, sugar and whipped cream. When she has the paper cup in her hand (because of course it was to go) she turns to survey the occupants, to see if she wants to stay for a few minutes, or . . .
"Hey, Ashley." It's pleased, that voice; she likes the Hermetic, enjoys her company, so of course it's her who gets noticed first. Then, there's further glance around until her eyes land on Charlie. "And you too," she says, though she's come across him a lot less often; it takes a few seconds to come up with, ".....Charlie." Then, though, her attention moves back to Ashley and the stack of papers.
"You need a hand?"
[Moebius]
The grey haired man gets up, fingers tapping absently at his table. There's something missing, it seems. He heads over to the condiment station, snatching up a few packets of sugar and tiny, packaged cups of cream as if they might have gotten away from him if he didn't move quickly. He takes a spoon with him as well and sits back down in his little corner. He starts by tearing one, then another packet of sugar and dumping it into the coffee. Then...he stirs.
Public displays of affection are really hit or miss with most people. On the one hand, the couple standing in front of Charlie could be seen as either adorable or sickening with the way they nuzzle one another, sneaking one last kiss before she peruses the menu board and orders. He, in the meantime, holds her purse and glows thoughtfully.
But then his eyes cast downward. He glances in her open purse and pulls out a brand new pack of Menthol Cools, and with it, he taps on her shoulder.
“Your smoking again?” he inquires.
“Oh. Baby?” She says disarmingly. It has no affect.
“Katie, I'm serious. I thought we agreed that you were going to stop.”
“How do we agree about something that only affects me?”
“It affects both of us!” He snaps back, obviously upset. “I care about you! I don't wanna see you die just because--”
“If you cared about me you wouldn't be so desperate to CONTROL me!” She shouts back, obviously more upset. She huffs, and storms out. The air in the coffee shop suddenly becomes colder by degrees. And a moment later he storms out after her, still holding her purse. The last thing they hear of the couple before the door seals shut again is him calling out as he hurries down the sidewalk after her. “Katie! Katie!”
The geeky Barista seems completely unphased. He turns his gaze to Charlie now.
“Welcome to Perk-you-late, where its all about the bean. What can I get you today?”
[Ashley McGowen]
They are hit or miss with most people. To Ashley, Sleepers are scenery. She never would have noticed the kissing couple were it not for the argument, which, given that the shop is fairly quiet right now, is audible for everyone.
The girl storms out. As unfazed as the barista, Ashley looks up from her papers at Enid. The girl is spared a slight, if distracted, smile. "No. I'm just...trying to edit a chunk of my thesis before I turn it in for review. It's due in tomorrow."
The smile broadens, in a manner that is edging in on panic, as she notices Charlie and gives the Akashic a nod.
[Charlie McGee]
"Hot green tea or chai tea if you don't have it."
Charlie watched as the two fought...he had vaguely waved to Enid with a smile, though a bit distracted with his internal music. But the disharmony from the two in front of him had shattered that little reprieve for the moment. He smiled after placing his order, digging out the cost in quarters and faded 1s before setting them on the counter and standing aside.
He wasn't going to hold other people up simply to wait until they got his drink right there and then....only jackasses did that.
[Enid Geraint]
Enid's drink was paid for with a twenty, and a dollar and clinking change were put in the tip jar, all before she stepped out of the way. Now, she looks sympathetic, and also as if she kind of can't wait to hit that point, where she's working on big, important things and nearing her goal.
"Ah, I shouldn't distract you overly much then," she says, but as much as she appreciates the seriousness of the task in front of Ashley, there's to what follows that she doesn't say, though she clearly wants to. "I started a martial arts class. Mostly Tai Chi. And I'm trading that for Chinese lessons. The teacher's c . . . ool."
It wants to be girl gossip, but stops just short. And the arguing couple? Well, Enid's a seventeen year old with a proto-crush. They get more or less ignored.
[Moebius]
Enid and Charlie both get their drinks with little fuss. It was a coffee shop, afterall. There wasn't much that could go absolutely wrong in here.
It was safe.
The jittery woman with the crossword table has an idea. She smiles as she points with her pen, counting boxes. Then, she smiles even further and writes in her answer in the puzzle, one hand gripping the pen delicately, and the other hand holding the newspaper in place. Then she glows with a quiet, private pride. She was doing the crossword in pen and had just written seven letters in a row which she was absolutely sure were the right seven letters for--
“Achoo! Oh Shit!”
The sudden sneeze, and accompanying body spasm was all the vibration required to finally tip over the half full cup of coffee. The 'Oh shit' was an accompaniment to her suddenly lifting the newspaper out of the way of the oncoming brown flow.
“Can I get another coffee over here?” She called to the barista, and in the meantime placed her newspaper in a safe, dry place. The woman moves to the condiment bar, snatching several napkins from the single napkin dispenser.
[Charlie McGee]
Charlie took his drink once it was made...moving towards a seat. He glanced over at the accident, making a slight sympathetic face before he looked in the direction of Ashley and Enid. He hadn't seen the Hermetic girl but he had been distracted after all. He makes his way over, sipping the drink...feeling hot flow into his arms and chest.
"Hey...funny to run into each other again..."
He grinned...coincidences were fun.
[Ashley McGowen]
Enid says that she shouldn't distract Ashley overly much, and then keeps talking. About her Tai Chi class and her c...ool instructor. With a patience and restraint that is very unusual for her, Ash looks up from the pile of paper she was shuffling through.
"Good for you. It's good for you to keep yourself busy right now, especially since you aren't in school," Ashley tells Enid, taking a seat at the table. She keeps her papers and bag confined to her end of the table so that Enid, and even Charlie if he is so inclined, feel as though they are free to take a seat there.
She looks up and turns a frown in the woman's direction, mostly for the disturbance. But it's over quickly.
"Hi, Charlie."
[Enid Geraint]
She'd said 'overly much', and goodness only knows what that means to the younger girl. Regardless, Ashley's bit gets a nod, and the girl falls quiet and just enjoys the company until someone spills. Enid has nothing else to do other than drink her coffee, so she excuses herself briefly to help.
"It didn't get your paper, did it? If so, I hope that's not the smeary kind of pen."
[Moebius]
"Nope!" She says with a smile. "Saved it."
Welcoming the help, The woman makes it back to her table with the napkins just in time to catch sight of the first few drops falling to the floor between the table and the window. She gives a sheepish glance to the baristas, who aren't even paying attention really. Then she mops up the mess on the table, sticks the wet napkins in one of the fallen cups, and dumps it all in the trash.
By the time she's finished with her clean up there's a piping hot coffee waiting for her at the counter. She tosses a cheery, but distracted 'Thanks' to Enid, pays, grabs her newspaper, and takes her seat again, ready to get back into her routine of hovering over her crossword and filling it out in pen.
Under the table her leg shakes idly. The vibration makes the empty cup stir slightly. She reaches out casually and places a hand on the full coffee cup, making sure to keep it steady. Wouldn't want that happening again, afterall.
Its only a moment after she's settled again that a couple walks in. The same couple, in fact. Though, probably smartly, Katie holds her own purse this time. They stand in line sharing the occasional glance and casual touch shared by those in love.
The barrista greets them in a bored monotone voice. “Welcome to Perk-you-late, where its all about the bean. What can I get you today?”
[Charlie McGee]
"What's going on?"
He helps himself to a seat, eyes briefly glancing over at the couple....just watching for a moment before he looked back over to Ashley.
"School work or something?"
[Ashley McGowen]
She has reached into her bag for a pen, oblivious to most of what is going on around the coffee shop. None of these people are important, and none of these people have anything important to say or do - thus, their daily lives matter very little to her. She hasn't even really bothered to take note of the couple coming back in.
Though once she does look up to see whether Enid is coming back.
"The first chunk of my thesis is due tomorrow. I'm trying to get it edited," Ashley says to Charlie. "...I'm kind of a perfectionist, I'm probably going to be up all night."
[Enid Geraint]
Enid is coming back, but not until after the girl's mess is taken care of, and she smiles at the couple on the way (though eww, smoking is gross). "If you're going to be up all night, I have some bread and cookies and stuff from my latest baking binge. I can drop some off later if you want."
[Moebius]
Public displays of affection are really hit or miss with most people. On the one hand, there was nothing wrong with the way the couple nuzzle one another, sneaking one last kiss before she peruses the menu board and orders. As long as it was kept in small portions. But, it seems, these two are simply insistent on doing it again.
And once again, he holds her purse and glows thoughtfully.
But then his eyes cast downward. He glances in her open purse and pulls out a brand new pack of Menthol Cools, and with it, he taps on her shoulder.
“Your smoking again?” he inquires.
“Oh. Baby?” She says disarmingly. It has no affect.
“Katie, I'm serious. I thought we agreed that you were going to stop.”
“How do we agree about something that only affects me?”
“It affects both of us!” He snaps back, obviously upset. “I care about you! I don't wanna see you die just because--”
“If you cared about me you wouldn't be so desperate to CONTROL me!” She shouts back, obviously more upset. She huffs, and storms out. The air in the coffee shop suddenly becomes colder by degrees. And a moment later he storms out after her, still holding her purse. The last thing they hear of the couple before the door seals shut again is him calling out as he hurries down the sidewalk after her. “Katie! Katie!”
[Enid Geraint]
".....is it weird that that just happened again?" Enid asks even as she moves over to Crossword Puzzle Girl's table. "Hey," she says, quietly. "Be careful of your cup, yeah? Would be a shame to spill coffee on it."
[Charlie McGee]
Charlie blinked...paused..then stared. Then his fingers reached to his face and he rubbed at his eyes...
"...any body...besides me...just got deja vu?"
Charlie meanwhile brought his fingers up...crooking them in a loose mudra....focusing his senses upon the realm...or the illusion illusion of the transient essence of time.
[Charlie McGee]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 2, 2, 3, 7, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6)
Perception 4 + Awareness 1
[Ashley McGowen]
"I'd like that, actually, Enid," Ashley says. And, again, she wouldn't really have noticed the couple coming back in (for one thing, they're on her left side now) but then the arguing starts. She's entirely tuned out to it until their voices get louder.
And then she, too, experiences the odd sort of deja vu as she wonders if they weren't just...
The other two confirm it. "God damn it, I have 6000 words due tomorrow," Ashley says with a sigh, and then looks up, preparing to reach under the collar of her shirt for the gold link in the small chain of different metals. First, though, she looks at the woman Enid is speaking to and tries to get a sense of whether there are energies active in the area.
[Ashley McGowen]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 2, 5, 5, 8, 8, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Perc + Awareness]
[Enid Geraint]
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 2, 5, 5, 6 (Success x 1 at target 6)
(Per+Aware, hoooooooooo!)
[Moebius]
to Ashley McGowen
There is something at work here, now that she knows to look. Its a glinting something on the edge of her senses. But, too distant perhaps, or too well hidden to be focused upon. It was however, ordered. Terribly so. As if it had been planned for millenia.
[Moebius]
The jittery woman with the crossword puzzle smiles at Enid. "Don't worry." She says. "I've got it." And then, that look falls away and is instantly replaced by a look of complete enlightenment. She smiles as she points with her pen, counting boxes. Then, she smiles even further and writes in her answer in the puzzle, one hand gripping the pen delicately, and the other hand holding the newspaper in place.
She glows with a quiet, private pride. But share's it with Enid.
"That's seven letters. In pen!" She was doing the crossword in pen and had just written seven letters in a row which she was absolutely sure were the right seven letters for--
“Achoo! Oh Shit!”
The sudden sneeze, and accompanying body spasm was all the vibration required to finally tip over the half full cup of coffee. The 'Oh shit' was an accompaniment to her suddenly lifting the newspaper out of the way of the oncoming brown flow. She barely has time to give Enid an embarrassed look.
“Can I get another coffee over here?” She called to the barista, and in the meantime placed her newspaper in a safe, dry place. The woman moves to the condiment bar, snatching several napkins from the single napkin dispenser.
[Charlie McGee]
"...its like the club all over again...but what's causing it this time..."
Charlie frowned a little...glancing around. Last time, there had been others not affected....not in sync quite with the terrain..the place. But that also been some sort of dream...a legend...a story. A story that needed an ending. He wondered if this was similar.
[Ashley McGowen]
Ashley frowns, sensing that very rigid, ordered...something at the edge of her senses. Something like a taste at the back of the throat, a tune that sounds incredibly familiar if you could just remember what song it goes with.
"No, this isn't like the club. This is magic, I think. Very methodically done," Ashley tells Charlie quietly.
[Enid Geraint]
Enid already has napkins in hand to help clean up the mess, and so she does - this time, she peeks at the crossword puzzle to see what seven letter word was. ".....I always do my crossword puzzles in pen," she mumbles, knowing there's something tickling, but not knowing what, or . . . well, why, or any number of things. "Sometimes I have to check the dictionary, is all. But it's hardly cheating if you're learning something, right?"
[Moebius]
The woman makes it back to her table with the napkins just in time to catch sight of the first few drops falling to the floor between the table and the window. She gives a sheepish glance to the baristas, who aren't even paying attention really. Then she mops up the mess on the table, whispering to Enid. "I'm such a klutz. They're gonna kick me outta this place.
She sticks the wet napkins in one of the fallen cups, and dumps it all in the trash. By the time she's finished with her clean up there's a piping hot coffee waiting for her at the counter. She pays, grabs her newspaper, and takes her seat again, ready to get back into her routine of hovering over her crossword and filling it out in pen.
Under the table her leg shakes idly. The vibration makes the empty cup stir slightly. She reaches out casually and places a hand on the full coffee cup, making sure to keep it steady. Wouldn't want that happening again, afterall.
Its only a moment after she's settled again that a couple walks in. The same couple, in fact. Though, probably smartly, Katie holds her own purse this time. They stand in line sharing the occasional glance and casual touch shared by those in love.
The barrista greets them in a bored monotone voice. “Welcome to Perk-you-late, where its all about the bean. What can I get...you?”
[Charlie McGee]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 2, 5, 8, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)
Perception 4 (Insightful) + Alertness 1
[Enid Geraint]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 3, 3, 7, 7, 8 (Success x 4 at target 6) [WP]
(The cool kids are doing it [Per+Alert])
[Ashley McGowen]
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 4, 4, 8 (Success x 3 at target 4)
Ashley, frowning at Charlie, decides to try to see whether or not there's an effect about the place. It's unlikely that she'd be able to unweave it, but, well, it never hurts to be sure.
[Activating Primesight.]
[Charlie McGee]
Charlie frowned....he had nothing...lips pursing a little as he looked around for something out of place..he had thought the kid was off...but he was hearing things.
[Moebius]
to Ashley McGowen
There is indeed an 'effect' about the place. As Ashley adjusts her perceptions to take in the weavings of the universe, she can see the errant strays of things that didn't belong. They permeated the place like a cloud of magic, even wafting off the couple like vapor trails.
When Enid moves, however, the clouds give way. She doesn't flow within this effect, isn't a part of it. It flows around her in fact. Perhaps its a nature of her being awakened, because she can see Charlie doing the same, as well as herself. The magical effect, whatever it was, seemed to have an exception just for them.
[Enid Geraint]
Enid's brow furrows, and, since she's still standing by Crossword Puzzle Girl's table, she takes the first cup and puts it where it belongs. Maybe changing something little will stop the loop? It's worth a try, anyway.
[Moebius]
Public displays of affection are really hit or miss with most people. On the one hand, there was nothing wrong with the way the couple nuzzle one another, sneaking one last kiss before she peruses the menu board and orders. As long as it was in small amounts. These two, however, seem annoyingly devoted to the same public act over and over.
And yet again, holds her purse and glows thoughtfully.
And yet again his eyes cast downward. He glances in her open purse and pulls out a brand new pack of Menthol Cools, and with it, he taps on her shoulder.
“Your smoking again?” he inquires.
“Oh. Baby?” She says disarmingly. It has no affect.
“Katie, I'm serious. I thought we agreed that you were going to stop.”
“How do we agree about something that only affects me?”
“It affects both of us!” He snaps back, obviously upset. “I care about you! I don't wanna see you die just because--”
“If you cared about me you wouldn't be so desperate to CONTROL me!” She shouts back, obviously more upset. She huffs, and storms out. The air in the coffee shop suddenly becomes colder by degrees. And a moment later he storms out after her, still holding her purse. The last thing they hear of the couple before the door seals shut again is him calling out as he hurries down the sidewalk after her. “Katie! Katie!”
[Ashley McGowen]
"There is magic here, but we haven't been affected by it. The Tellerian is just moving around us," Ashley explains to Charlie. "Though I wouldn't say it's...one large thing. It seems like a lot of things here are affected."
The Hermetic frowns thoughtfully, looking from thing to thing within the coffee shop. "Do you have a means of trying to unweave it, Charlie?"
When you happen across something strange, obviously the thing to do is poke it.
[Charlie McGee]
"...not...really. I can sense what is going on time wise...but not sure how to break it down..."
He frowned a bit...glancing around...looking for some nuance now...something out of place.
[Enid Geraint]
The guy doesn't make it as far as the door; Enid, all casual-like in the way only a teenager can manage, steps across his path just in time to stop him (or make him trip over her or walk through her or whatever weird thing might happen - she thinks she's prepared). "Hey," she says to the guy. "Let her go, yeah? And maybe swing by the drug store to pick up the patch and take her to a nice dinner."
Obviously Crossword Puzzle Girl isn't the only one stressed out.
[Moebius]
"What? Comes his initial reply. He's flustered, holding a purse like an idiot and chasing after the woman he loved was hard enough without a red haired Teenager suddenly standing in his way. He gives Enid a dark look at first and steps from side to side, still peering out after 'Katie'. Or trying to anyway.
“Achoo! Oh Shit!”
The sudden sneeze, and accompanying body spasm was all the vibration required to finally tip over the half full cup of coffee. The 'Oh shit' was an accompaniment to her suddenly lifting the newspaper out of the way of the oncoming brown flow.
"Let her go?" The man barks incredulously. "What do you know kid?"
And with a forearm shove he pushes his way past Enid and out the door.
“Can I get another coffee over here?” She called to the barista, and in the meantime placed her newspaper in a safe, dry place. The woman moves to the condiment bar, snatching several napkins from the single napkin dispenser.
[Ashley McGowen]
As they make their next exit, Ashley watches them go, suddenly intensely curious. She has no idea who put the effect here - the Technocracy, for all she knows, in which case fucking up the effect would be highly worthwhile.
"I wonder what would happen if we locked the door," she says. "Or what will happen when the napkins and everything run out."
And, heading over to the coffee shop's door, this is what she does. She pulls it closed and reaches down for the small knob that is used to click the door shut at night, and then watches out the window. Ah, experiments.
[Charlie McGee]
Charlie just cocks his head...all of this seeming to go over the Akashics head at this point.
[Enid Geraint]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 3, 5, 6, 8, 8 (Success x 4 at target 6) [WP]
(Wits+Enigmas)
[Enid Geraint]
"I . . . don't think the napkins will run out," Enid says with a frown, moving from where she'd been pushed to join the table. "Or, maybe. Her answer - the one she's on when she sneezes and knocks over her coffee - is Moebius. Like the strip. All one-sided and Escher-ized and stuff. You said we're not effected, right?"
Enid's a smart girl - not so talented with magic (yet), maybe, but as she'd said, she always does her crossword in pen. She should be able to figure this out.
"I moved the empty cup, I stopped the guy. Change things, yeah. I've got her coffee this time," she calls to the barista with a sunny smile. "And you know what? Upgrade it to something yummier if she wants."
[Moebius]
"Well aren't you sweet?" says the woman just as she makes it back to her table with the napkins just in time to catch sight of the first few drops falling to the floor between the table and the window. She gives a sheepish glance to the baristas, who aren't even paying attention really. Then she mops up the mess on the table, sticks the wet napkins in one of the fallen cups, and dumps it all in the trash.
A moment later there's a bump at the door. A rattling and a thud as the couple peer inside. They knock on the glass and shout loudly. "Are you closed or something?"
The barrista looks...not nervous but...confused. He starts to speak, saying "Welcome to--" But stops himself, looking down and blinking slightly.
And the man with the grey hair stops stirring his coffee. He reaches at his table for another packet of sugar and suddenly becomes aware of the others in the coffee shop. His eyes don't go to the barrista or the Crossword lady. They go to Enid. And to Ashley. They stop on Charlie lightly, but turn back across the two young ladies in reverse order.
He stands up and, with a nervous set of motions that had him keeping his eyes on the two...he ducks into the restroom.
[Charlie McGee]
"So...are we...trapped...or not?"
Charlie cocked his head, confusion evident on the Akashic in this one. Science was not something that complied with Charlie very well.
[Ashley McGowen]
Moebius. A loop of, in this case time, that is twisted in such a way that it can be followed endlessly without ever crossing an edge. A paradox. Ashley rests her chin on her hand, pressing her thumb against her mouth, looking thoughtful.
"I wonder what would have -caused- something like..."
She trails off as the couple begins pounding at the door, suddenly brought back to the world. She flashes a grin at the couple outside. The grin looks like victory.
Then the grey-haired man darts toward the bathroom, and Ashley starts after him. "Wait! Do you know what's - " And she stops, pausing and looking at the men's sign on the door. Occasionally even a Hermetic is daunted by common social mores.
[Enid Geraint]
"I don't think we are," Enid says, and then watches Ashley be daunted where a seventeen-year-old jock, whose boyfriend was also a jock, who palled around with other jocks, isn't necessarily. She follows Ashley and opens the men's room door cheerfully, though she doesn't look in, just in case she finds herself face to face with something she doesn't want to see.
"Excuse me, sir? Do you know what's going on?"
[Moebius]
"N-no?" Comes an unsure reply from one of the bathroom stalls, followed by mutterings of "Sugar. Needs more sugar next time." and "Definitely too much cream. Definitely."
Meanwhile, the couple move off in their own direction, seeking caffeinated beverages elsewhere, but not before making one last open handed slap against the glass door. Its enough to attract the attention of crossword lady, who'd been spilling her coffee for...who knows how long really? Meanwhile, outside, the sun has dipped even lower beyond the horizon. She stands, suddenly panicked, and begins gathering her things, which doesn't include the newspaper and crossword puzzle.
[Charlie McGee]
Charlie glances and gets up to follow...knowing a girl running into the restroom will get stares before too long...going to follow her inside as well.
[Enid Geraint]
Enid's not going in, she's just standing in the doorway with it propped open enough to speak to whoever's inside. "How many sugars? And how much cream? I'll take care of it for you, if you want." Any temptation to quote Rainman is thankfully (barely) suppressed.
[Moebius]
to Ashley McGowen
The effect was waning. Whatever they'd done, however they'd done it, it was fading to nothing. Except...for this guy. When he ducked into the bathroom she could see it all streaking behind him, still bright, though dispersed widely.
And not to mention wildly. It arcs out like lightning, looking for the nearest conductor. The energy seems to reel backwards from Enid and Ashley, but it reaches out the barista before snapping back to the grey haired man. And soon after they heard the response and mumble from the bathroom stall it starts to fade even further.
Into nothing.
[Moebius]
This time there's no response from the man in the bathroom stall.
There is, however the sudden dip in temperature and the sound of the front door opening and closing as the crossword woman leaves.
The geeky, long necked barista finds them at the bathroom entrance. For a moment he seems to ponder what they're all doing there. Then he simply says: "We're like...closing now?"
[Ashley McGowen]
Enid moves past Ashley, and, dismissing the sign, she shoulders in the door after the girl. She stands just inside the bathroom and looks around for the man, who is babbling about sugars and cream. The effect is dissipating.
A Paradox effect, perhaps.
"You were at the center of this," she says, sounding more certain of that than she actually is. "What did you do?"
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