Pobble's head falls back until he's able to view Abel.
"Do you do?" he asks, folding his arms across his chest. His right hand fingers crawl across his left hand to the wrist and rub there, flaking off what looks to be dried blood.
"You should try. As a meeting ritual for our Cabal. Meet and greet.. I made it just for you.."
Abel shakes his head to Pob. "'Fraid not, but, like, thanks for the offer. I gave all that up when I first left 'Frisco." It doesn't look like he has fond memories of that part of his life.
This new abundance of objects appears to confuse Daisy. Surrounded in a landslide of smoking matterials, she makes feeble grabs out toward the joint. Finally, she catches hold of it, takes a single, long drag and passes it over toward Pobble.
"No shit, you're from the Bay, too?", she asks, then echoes, to Hiro, "No shit. He's from the bay, too."
Pobble takes the beast, managing to catch some falling burningness on his hand. Doesn't seem to bother him. He takes only a small draw, his eyes showing that perhaps he's already where he needs to be. Still, he makes another offer to Abel. "We left Frisco too. Brought it with tho." he scrunches up his nose again, sniffing before retracting the offer for long enough to have another small drag. "Sure?"
Hiro's eyes appear to be crossing. He stares up at the field of stars, blinking slowly, and slowly sinks backwards onto his elbows; exhaling in a long, narrow stream. "Zesty condiment, Pob my man," he congradulates the chemist, eyes rolling backwards to fix on a half-eclipsed approximation of Abel's eyes and forehead. "From the bay," he declares, extending a fist towards Abel; presumably to be thumped. "My -man-."
Abel nods to Pob and grins. "I'm sure." He thumps Hiro's proffered fist.
Very well. The blue meanie heads on back to Hiro.
Hiro's hand twists away, accepts the indigo zeppelin with an overdramatic flourish. "Muchos grassyass," he thanks Pobble, or -- perhaps -- merely states: the local choice of seating will result in a great deal of grassy asses. Another murderous drag, albeit slightly more casual, and he passes it off to Daisy again. "Whatchoo on, anyway?" he asks the punk girl, smoke curling out around the words.
"Blue. Thing," Daisy says. Obviously, she's on some kind of coherent speech inhibitors.
Pobble grins up at the sky. "Toldyaso." he says. Something seems to occur to him at that moment and he rolls over onto his belly to stare at Abel. "Where the hell did this Realm come from by the way?"
"S'huge," Daisy comments. "Hope the Nodes aren't here in Toronto."
Abel shrugs and talks with Pob, though he seems just a bit confused and amused by Hiro and Daisy. "Don't know. I think maybe one of the nodes are in Toronto, though."
Hiro's eyes roll about in their sockets of their own volition. He waves a hand meaninglessly. "Been thinking," he comments - uh oh; here it comes. His finger points, apparently to his surprise, at Abel. "You know anything about gnosticism, m'man?" Lovely. Completely lovely.
Pobble sighs semi-inaudiably and relaxes back onto his back. His eyes close and he zones out, concentrating only on the voices of those around him so that they are all that's real.
"Fuckin' Gnosticism," Daisy agrees, bobbing her head in time with Hiro's inquiry.
Abel shrugs a little to Hiro. "A little. Learning with the Chorus you pick up a bit on things like that." He grins. "What's the question?"
Hiro snaps his fingers in Daisy's direction, a nonverbal indication of her bogarting the furry blue wyrm. "Ah, yeah," he continues, gaze rotating to fix on Abel again. "So, the gnostic premise, right, is that the god that lords over us here, he's this like blind idiot type, right, like Cthulhu-style blind idiot god. Right. So. I was readin' the bible, 'cuz I blew the transformer outside our hotel and I was up, so - yeah. Dig: Genesis, right. All this shit about the earth and beasts'n, hell, Man takes a day just to cook up on his lonesome, for our great biochemist in the sky. But, like, no attention to the heavens. Totally glossed over. Firmament and all dat nonsense, you dig, but no mention of other worlds, other stars, et cetera et cetera." He's obviously rambling; it'll be a bit before he gets to his point.
The furry blue thing is rapidly shrinking throughout Hiro's speech, as though she's resolved not to exhale until he's finished talking. Lungs hardened to bricks of ash and scar by chainsmoking, she's able to take in a surprising amount of smoke before exhaling.
Abel is sitting with the Invisible College. "Well it's something like that," he answers Hiro.
Rhiamon wanders up the hill to the peak, from the cave beyond.
Rhiamon has arrived.
Millia walks from the forest, carefully picking her way though it as she heads into the fields. She must be in a good mood as seh is humming softly to herself as she strolls along/
Rhiamon returns to the grasslands, and strolls along the established path, idling picking a stalk of grass, and swishing it through the night air.
Siomen steps out of the ruins with Geero in hand, he glances around slowly
"So: islike," Hiro is sprawled out on the grass, snapping frantically at Daisy for the relinquishment of his furry blue joint. Pobble is kicked back somewhere near his feet, eyes closed and zoning out. He's speaking to Abel; struggling to convey some complex concept. "Now, yeah, dig, I'm not an atheist or nothin', def. not gnostic, kinda a-gnostic, agnostic, you dig." A-gnostic. Counter to thought. What an amusing slip. "But, rez, maybe th' reason that gets glossed over in the bible is 'cuz this demiurge, this sub-god, the bloke who like mindlessly, needlessly tortures us, he only has dominion over the Earth. Right? You diggin' this? He glosses over the heavens, there's that whole lack o' data in the bible, 'cuz he doesn't recognize them. Because his vision is, wotsit, occluded. Pretty much every astronaut who's left Earth's talked 'bout this feeling'f immense peace, calm, they come back talking all this 'one world, one people' stuff, dig. Maybe they get in contact with the real deal up there, the over-god."
Rhiamon waves her grass stalk to Millia and Siomen, never forgetting Geero, as they come into her field of vision.
Abel considers Hiro for a moment. "Well, as a Monist, I believe in only One God... Men and women wrote the bible. And just because something may be missing from it doesn't mean it was never written or never there. There are gnostic books and all sorts of religious works out there that never made it into the bible. The Chorus looks at Gilgamesh as one of theirs and he deffinitely traveled to other worlds."
Millia seeing Abel and Rhiamon smiles and waves to them both. She stops just behind Abel listening in on the current topic of conversation.
Siomen nods to Rhiamon and smiles, he glances to the others and tilts his head, only catching part of the conversation at hand, sounds interesting.
Abel reaches a hand over his shoulder for Millia to take and smiles at her. "Hey Millia, The One's peace be with you." He nods to Siomen. "Hey Siomen, Geero, long time no see."
Hiro mulls this over wordlessly, eyes returning to the starry void overhead.
"Stephenson -- Neal Stephenson, you dig. He cloaked the entire concept in science fiction, but he believed that the old testament was guarded religiously, so to speak, kinda like, keepin' backups. Maintaining clean data. They tried't again at the end'f the bible, unnerstand: the whole 'pox upon thee' spiel to dis-dis-uh-courage, discourage people from altering the data. You think the information quarantine, the whole upkeep of the torah and the old testament broke down? That it's 'dirty' now, rez -- infected with opposing memes?"
Kid's totally out of it. It's doubtful he's noticed the new arrivals.
"On account of they're outside the range of the Sphere of the Archons. Dig: they call them the Lords of the Air. Satan. One of his titles is: 'Lord of the Upper Air'. Maybe it's vacuum," Daisy speculates. She's really reaching here; she waves the joint in the air, as though clearer thoughts could be summoned up from its vapour.
After a contemplative moment, she continues: "You plot all this shit out in gematria -- I don't do gematria, mostly, my man Hiro here does gematria -- and you come up with this: YHVH is balanced. In Y-H-V-H, Yod has a value of ten billion: the apotheotic ten. 10^10. Look that up on the charts, and you find it's a multiple of the firmament; the air itself. Hod has a value of the apotheotic eight. That's the same value as Earth. Which is why Y and H are together. Y-H. Heaven and Earth. V-H are his lesser domains: the fire and the waters, one of which he created the djinn out of, and the latter of which he moved upon. God moved upon the waters. No power over the waters, dig? On account of that he had to get them out of his way. Which is why when you're in a bathtub full of ice water or in space, the Archons can't see you."
Daisy is speaking at the same time as Hiro. It's difficult to pick out either's words.
"But all those are false elements. Which is why 'Elohim' -- six letters -- is the true name of God. Yod-heh-vau-heh is a decoy for idiots."
Siomen continues to listen to the conversation and frowns as he tries to puzzle out what the guy is going on about, he nods to Abel "it has been awhile"
Geero is totally fixated on the stalk and attempts to swat at it like a kitten.
Rhiamon grins, and weaves a figure of eight with the grass round Geero's paws, watching him swat at it. "Siomen ? I think his reflexes are improving.."
Siomen smiles "you've noticed, i have been trying to improve his gear systems little by little, but he is actully doing half the improving himself, like a child learning and tracking familiar patterns"
Millia takes Abel's hand smiling using it as a balance as she sits down with the group, "May the One's peace be with you as well. Interesting topic of discussion today."
Pobble looks pretty comatose.
Out of it for sure. Sleeping. A big throaty snore bursts from his lips and wakes him with a start. He sits up straight, having the grace to look embarrassed. He whistles to himself, very very quietly and shuffles back in the little group to make room for any potential sitting newcommers. "I agree wholeheartedly." he comments. A nod. A cigarette. Bosh.
Abel continues to consider Hiro and Daisy, and looking like he's enjoying the amount of thought going into the discussion. "Like, I'm afraid I don't know Gematria but I know some people who do in kind of an off hand way. And I've never read this stephenson guy. I don't know if the Bible and Torah were quarentined like you say, but if they were suposed to be, then with Translation, yeah it's been 'dirtied.' Part of the reason the translation to the vulgate from latin was because the information might be changed... not because, like, it was putting the info away from the priests and clergy to the masses.
Rhiamon beams at Geero, and rubs his head affectionately, adding absently, "And it wasn't written in Latin to start with. That was a couple of translations down the line..."
Abel shakes his head. "I don't think that was the main reason, Siomen. Orthodoxy is tricky stuff. Maybe some thought that way, though."
Hiro's head twists, his eyes roll, and this all comes to a head in some kind of half-assed focusing upon Siomen. "Nrrrgh," he ammends eloquently, undergoing a convolution of limbs to carpe malus: seizing Pobble's cigarette from between his fingers, and taking a prolonged, soddening drag before carelessly handing it back. "You should dig on Gematria, Abel-man," he recommends. "Shit. Fuckin' -- shit, yeah, and Stephenson. Memes-as-demons, man. Crazy." And he collapses back into the grass.
"Its all like that movie." Pob interjects. "With the guy who sees the bleeding woman in mehico.. an the bloody woman on the bed, and in the tube train." He nods, making perfect sense to himself. A big drag on that cigarette. The short sleep seems to have regressed his consciousness stakes just a little bit.
Rhiamon looks at Pobble, "Stigmata ?"
A big drag on nothing, since Hiro steals the cigarette just as he goes to smoke. Pobble doesn't notice. He looks to Rhiamon, "Where? Oh. Right. Yeah. Maybe."
Siomen looks at Abel "well think about it, most religions were not even born until Christianity was converted to English, mostly because the common man had never the choice to follow anything else. When Christianity was Latin, the common man listened to this priest and went, ok, i don't understand what he is saying, what he must be saying is right since God is who he follows. They followed because they believed what they were listening too was the correct path, Even if to them it was gibberish. When they actully converted it to English or Latin became a more common language to the populace, religions were born because people finally had a choice.. no i don't want to follow christianity because now i understand that i don't agree with the views"
"Look, it's easy to prove," Daisy says to Abel, as though explaining simple math to a child. The joint wobbles between her fingers and nearly falls into the pile of cigarettes at her feet. She's nodding as though she agrees. After a moment, she begins in on the explanation:
"The nature of matter is reproduction and degeneration. The, uh, heresiarch" -- she seems uncertain about the pronunciation of that word "-- the heresiarch Valentinius wrote 'Mirrors and fatherhood are deplorable, on account of they unnecessarily reproduce the material world'. He meant that the reproduction of material things degrades its essence. So if the essence of the Bible is reproduced into many forms, its essence becomes degraded, even if the words don't change. Which is why, uh, mass production is, uh, destroying nature; the Platonic essence, the ur-object, is being, uh, spread into these /objects/, man, and --"
She stops.
"-- shit. Where was I?"
Rhiamon rolls her eyes slightly, "Christianity isn't exactly an old religion.."
"You were giving me that joint," prompts Hiro, having totally lost the thread of conversation.
Pobble takes the cigarette back from Hiro and promptly drops it with a coughing fit. He looks at Siomen. "Say what? Most religeons were not pre-english Christianity?" he sounds incredulous, and cockney. Similar to how street vendors in london sound when they ask you who else would have such incredible deals.
Siomen glances at Pobble "I took christianity as an example you can place the same ideals on other religions too, and expecually look at the ones where it is not known to general populations, like witchdoctors in tribes, the whole tribe follows what a witch doctor perscribes because they have no clue how he is getting his information and so assumes it the right path because they do not understand it"
Rhiamon looks at the people sprawled on the grass. "I take it you're Invisible College members..?" she enquires.
Pobble nods vigourously, streching his legs back out as he sucks the last of the cigarette. Reaching up at this opposite angle, he plucks the last of the blue meanie from Daisy's fingers and hands it off to the pawing Hiro. "Indeed we are." His smile widens, "How on earth did you guess?" it continues to widen, until threatening to split his face before realizing its overstepped its bounds and relaxing.
"Of course, this isn't all of us."
Hiro had given up on the endeavor; slumping back down into the grass. It's very likely that his eyes are, in fact, literally wobbling -- a kind of lazy decaying orbit wobble -- in their sockets; scrutinizing the joint suddenly delivered into his hands. Why didn't he just snatch it up himself? "Much obligated," he mutters at Pobble. Obliged? Settling into place, he begins the decimation of the beast.
Rhiamon says "Well, there's two new cabals in town, 's far as I can tell. One Eastern, one not. You don't look eastern to me..". She turns back in time to twith the stalk from Geero's hand, and grins as he beeps indignantly at her.
"Sorry matey, but I notice we're being rude. Didjoo want any of the blueness?" he makes a vague gesture to the side, the wrong side. Correcting himself he motions to the large blue beast that Hiro has in his possession.
Rhiamon shakes her head, "No thanks. I work in language. Don't like it smothered..
Pobble wrinkles his nose at that.
Pobble says something in a language you don't understand.
"Neurolinguistic," it's amazing Hiro gets that word off, "programming?" The question has a hopeful slant to it; he probably wants someone to rant at about 'deep structures'. Daisy thought those were subterranean houses. The blue meanie is nearly decimated, now, anyway; he passes it off to Pobble.
Rhiamon raises an eyebrow. "I noticed a deterioration in your pronunciation a while back."
Pobble it seems just wanted to show off his cognitive abilities. He looks pretty wasted, but then you saw him earlier. He seems both more and less wired now. He sucks on the corpse of the joint in silence.
Rhiamon raises an eyebrow. She says something in a language you don't understand.
"That was choice of essence. I should reiterate. Language is hardly smothered by the intake of *all* foreign essence. Look at musical genius and Shakespeare's psychoactive habit,” sayeth Pobble.
Hiro looks between the two, entirely flabbergasted, and shrugs wordlessly. He collapses back into the grass, eyes rolling back in his head.
Rhiamon shrugs. "I'm not used to taking foreign substances. Well..except for mead."
Pobble says, "There's a lot to be said for it. A whole kaboodle. Its effects on the thought structures have a great impact on reality potential." A phone starts ringing from within one of Dr Steve's pockets. He reaches in and extracts it, the ring tone has a techno vibe to it and is sampled. One of those overly fancy and expensive phones. "Hallo?" he says into the device. "Oi oi monks." Nodding follows, with some muttering, and Pobble stands up. "Shit."
Pobble brushes himself down and tosses the last of the blue meanie to Hiro. "Pigboy, I need to go and pick up my Monkey. He's double parked in the box and has spotted encroaching police personages.
Friday, February 07, 2003
Thursday Feb 6th. Hooray.
Pobble picks up his cellular phone and begins to dial.
The phone is picked up at the far end.
Keene says "Hotline."
(Directed into the phone) Pobble says "Wotcha cock mate?"
Keene says "Ehh. Not a lot. Just tooling around, taking in the sights."
(Directed into the phone) Pobble says "Where you at mucker?"
Keene says "I'm at this tropical conservatory. The one in the note I left. It's a nice enough place, if you don't mind the humidity."
(Directed into the phone) Pobble says "I just rolled in to be honest guv, and I'm facking lost as all shit. Its like a bloody maze around here."
Keene says "OK. I'll see if I can't talk you over to here. What are you by now?"
From afar, Jet would be happy to help you out icly
(Directed into the phone) Pobble pauses. Looking around maybe. "Jarvis.. and College?"
Keene says "You're pretty close by. Let me see if I can't find you outside."
Keene steps out of Allan Park.
Keene has arrived.
(Directed into the phone) Pobble says "Gotcha mate."
Pobble clicks his cellular to disconnect the call and hangs up.
Keene walks out of Allan Gardens, phone to his ear. He looks around intently, trying to find his lost comrade as he takes his phone from his ear and puts it back in his pocket in a smooth movement.
Keene clicks his cellular to disconnect the call and hangs up.
There is a click as the phone at the far end is hung up.
Keene is looking at you.
"Evening, Pob," says Keene. "Lucky that you happened to be in the neighborhood. I haven't gone too far from here in the past day or two. There's really quite a lot to see." He starts walking back towards Allan Gardens. "How was your trip?"
Pobble snuffles quite considerably as he comes to stand next to you, wiping away a telltale dusting and dribbling from his left nostril. Most attractive. Those pupils are dilated good, perhaps the result of a new batch. He talks quickly, and his head is in constant motion, looking about, desparately trying to take in all the surroundings.
"Fucked mate, really really fucked. Don't ask. Last time I buy a fucking Lexus. Peice of shit. Expensive peice of shit."
Millia steps out of Allan Park.
Millia has arrived.
Millia wanders out of the gardens, heading past you all quietly.
Millia walks west along College to Church.
Millia has left.
Keene, unlike Pobble's amphetamine augmentations, has a nice mixed booze and Valium flow to him; which is to say he /seems/ normal unless you start dealing with reflexes. Of course, he's so accustomed to operating like this that he hardly seems impaired. He walks nice and slow back towards the gardens, even as Millia zips right by him, to be sure that Pobble doesn't get out of arm's reach.
"What happened to it? Did it break down somewhere, get stolen, what?"
Millia arrives from the west.
Millia has arrived.
Millia walks under the archway and enter the gardens.
Millia has left.
Pobble has a phone in his hand, and he seems to notice this and licks the back of it in a straight, quick line before depositing it in his labcoat. He takes a deep breath, then sniffs. Deep breath. Calm.. Well, Calmer. "So this is it eh?" he says absently, to himself mostly. "What mate?" Confusion. A moment passes, and he stops moving towards the building. "Oh. Right. Broke down. Kaput.. I gave them shit, told them I'd sue etcetteraa etcetteraaaa." He heads onwards, starting to come down from the brief coke fix. "I'm thinking a Hummer to be honest as the next gig. Get everything in then eh."
"Hell to park the thing," comments Keene, as he heads inside.
Keene walks under the archway and enter the gardens.
Keene has left.
You walk under the archway and enter the gardens.
Pobble nods. "Yeah. Fuckin right." Yes, he does seem to swear a lot. Maybe its just the drugs talking, I hear they can do that nowadays. Talk that is.
A set of double doors made of ornate metal and glass.
Keene walks along at a leisurely pace, moving in the general direction of the conservatory. "Too bad about the Lexus, all the same. Next time we'll have to get an Etherboy to look at your ride to be sure everything works for a few years." He fishes his flask out of one of the pockets of his jacket, offering it to Pobble. "You want a drink, man? You seem tense."
Pobble stops dead again, staring at the flask. Only a second passes before he catches himself, and he nods - smiling his appreciation. A big fat swig, while he fishes about in a pocket for something. He comes back with a tiny sky blue pill, rolling it between his fingers before dropping it with the second swig. "That should be better.." Screws the top back on, hands it over. "Can I interest you in anything Guv?
Keene allows for Pobble's usual appetite for liquor, smiling very faintly while Pobble equalizes himself with a few bolts of smooth Canadian whiskey. Keene sinks his money into two things: his suits and his liquor. He only drinks top shelf. It's no wonder that he doesn't have much else to his name. Still, it's not like he can't get anything he wants with a moderate application of his natural talents.
"I'm good for right now," he says, accepting the flask back graciously and returning it to the inside of his jacket, continuing the trip towards the conservatory. "I'm just starting to really feel the numbness spread. But thank you, as always."
Pobble grins wide, showing off those British teeth. They're not all that bad, slightly crooked but shiny white. Better than many specimens from across the sea. "Anytime." Now he's in the swing of things. Middle ground, a nice haze that'll last. The thing with Dr Steve is that he'll get slightly high just thinking about taking drugs. Once they're down the hatch, he'll start to think he's comming up within a minute or so.
The game face appears, same one as used when dealing with murderous drug dealers and crack whores. He's entering the Zone, trying not to embarrass you too much maybe. Trying to improve your sparkly image.
Keene appreciates Pobble's occasional attempts to not horrifically screw things up for Keene's image management plans. Were it only Pobble and Hiro, Keene would have a fairly easy time keeping them in line, but the more volitile members of the cabal require almost two Keenes to keep remotely civil.
All the same, Keene doesn't seem too concerned about anything at the moment. He gradually makes his way across a bridge and into the tropical conservatory, humming to himself tunelessly as he walks.
Keene enters the conservatory
Keene has left.
The scents in the room bring on another sniffling fit as the pollen and cocaine mix in unpleasant ways within Pobble's nostrils. "Facking stinks in 'ere donnit?" he says, rather delightfully. A big ubersniff is followed by a hacked up wad being spat onto a nearby treetrunk. Looking around he recomposes himself, "Where to now?"
Keene cruises along at a leisurely speed, not watching Pobble as much now. The calming influence of whiskey helps Keene out of tough spots a lot more than reasoned arguments or applications of Ars Mentis. He moves along through the gardens, following a careful path that he memorized the first time he came to the realm.
"Alright," he says, "just follow behind me, and I think we'll be let in. We have to pass by some landmarks in a particular order, though I don't know which ones are important."
Pobble nods silently, falling into step right behind you in a slightly annoying way. Not purposefully annoying, just coinkydink. "Lead on Peachy."
The drugs numb the rage. Keene, instead of muttering, merely chuckles: he proceeds to follow the exact path he took with Hiro earlier to get into the realm, down to every last pause or hiccup in pace. Ultimately, he passes through the two columns that are actually germane to the lock sequence, reaches the back door, and opens it up -- crossing over into another dimension.
Keene slips between two colums in the Conservatory. A small door behind the pillars swings closed just thereafter.
Keene has left.
You slip between two columns and through the Gate.
A Dark Cave
Now that was a bit on the weird side. Doctor Steve looks suitably disorientated as he spins about in the cave, slightly stupid looking grin crawling its way onto his lips. "Groovy.." he murmers..
It almost seems he'll leave it at that, but he can't seem to resist a loud 'Wooop', just to hear the echoes.
Keene steps into the cave with a squish, steadying himself on the wall as he emerges from the swirling blackness. He waits patiently for Pobble to follow, letting him orient himself and indulging his woop before starting onward again. As one would expect, he complains about `nature'.
"They really need to put a sump pump in here or something," he says, beginning the slow process of moving along the edge of the stream into the main part of the realm. "A sump pump, a boardwalk, maybe some torches ... I mean, how much could it cost to make some philgosten-powered torches? We're members of the Hermetic Order, for Christ's sake, can't we pop for some lights?"
You say, "I hear ya." He follows behind you, as carefully as one can be while mildly wasted.
"You know.. It occurs to me that maybe we could just put one of those things in here, all lit up like."
He stops for a second, clicking his fingers in an attempt to clarify his thinking. "One of those things like they have in Florida. Scooty scooty with the big fan?""
"A hovercraft, Pobble," says Keene, moving forward towards the opening of the cave. "Me, I think a boardwalk with a golf cart would be just as well. I think they like the peace and quiet."
He continues along, gradually getting back out into the open air. "Wait until you see this," he says.
Keene heads upstream, vanishing into the darkness beyond.
Keene has left.
You travel along the streambed, against the current. Slowly, you ascend the slopes and crags of the cave, until eventually a pillar of light lances through the darkness.
Cavern Entrance
Faint Light dips in through the massive opening at the rough, craggy end of the cave, casting a quiet bluish glow to everything within the cave entrance. The breeze which was only hinted at deeper within the cave can be heard whistling at this hole. The stream continues up and out of the cave, disappearing off into the rolling fields before you.
You walk out of the cave, your eyes adjusting to the bright sunlight. Entering the grasses of the field, you walk for a ways, until you have reached the highest peak.
Rolling Fields
"Now that took forever." says a somewhat pissed off looking Pobble.
The fields and hills and views don't seem to impress him all that much. A bus stop or indeed a newfangled style hovercraft probably would more so. He takes a deep breath, causing him to sniff and wipe at his nose.
"Remind me to bring the Box next time so I don't have to go back so quickly."
Connelly looks at the person talking,"What? Who would *WANT* to leave here?"
Abel wanders up the hill to the peak, from the cave beyond.
Abel has arrived.
Keene leads Pobble out of the cave, looking a bit winded himself. When he and his companion get to the top of the hill, he stops, putting his hands on top of his thighs. Yeah, it's break time for the suit. Hermetics don't walk through musty old caves if they don't have to. He's definitely going to consider putting together an `improvements' fund so that the trek can be made a bit less strenuous. For the benefit of others, of course.
"Yeah, sorry about that," Keene says. "These guys build big. I mean, look at all this," as he gestures with his right hand. "There's got to be a frigging ton of Nodes under this group's control to maintain all this. I bet Tass comes out when they sneeze."
Keene's attention then moves to Connelly, blinking once. He must not have noticed him initially.
Abel walks out of the hole in the hill not too long after the others, carrying a lit candle to light his way.
Pobble snickers, taking something from his pocket and slipping it into his mouth. He chews for a few moments in silence, the look on his face illustrating that whatever it was, wasn't that plesant.
"I can only imagine.." he says, scanning the horizons. The response to his complaints draws his attention finally, as if he'd forgotten about it. He goes to say something, then stops. Then goes to speak again, and stops. Shaking his head, he gives up on the whole 'trying to speak' malarky.
Connelly sighs..."This is one of the most beautiful places around...reminds me a little bit of the land around the Ruins of Tara..."
Keene gets his wind back, straightening back up and smoothing his suit carefully after a moment or two. "I'm not too familiar with those," he says, "but you're right, this is a very pretty Realm. I'm just not accustomed to having access to a Realm quite this large, you see. The largest one I'd ever been in before this one was the size of a small, very cramped house."
He smiles graciously, moving over down the hill a little bit to greet Connelly. "I'm Steven Keene; that's my associate, Dr. Alder. We're part of the Invisible College." He puts out his hand to shake with a practiced cheerful expression. "And to whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with this evening?"
Abel sees a group congregating ahead and makes his way toward them. "The One's peace be with you," he calls, announcing his presence with word as well as the light of the candle.
Connelly nods,"Dr. Jane Connelly, ER Trauma specialist, and Verbena.
Abel is looking at you.
Connelly doesn't offer her hand, as she is sitting in the grass...and that would require her to stand up...considering she looks like she just woke up...
Pobble waggles his thin fingers, not seeming to be the hand shaking type. He moves to stand near Keene.
He has the audacity to sniff at Connelly. Really sniff, as if smelling something pungent.
"I say. Would you happen to be Irish?" he asks, with just a hint of obnoxiousness. The call of the One's peace draws his gaze away and a wan smile is offered to the approaching kid.
Keene gets a feeling of imminent doom. Such a feeling is common whenever Pobble starts talking about what Keene has broadly categorized as `British Isles issues' in his presence. This is, unfortunately, one of the areas where his immense powers of persuasion simply find no purchase. Not that he hasn't *tried*...
Fortunately, Abel comes along, and provides a wonderful distraction. Casually retracting his hand for the moment, he orients himself towards the younger man with a congenial expression.
"Good evening!" he says. "And may the One's peace find its way to you as well. Steve Keene, Invisible College." He puts out his other hand to shake. Why? Because that's just what he does in social situations.
Jess wanders up the hill to the peak, from the cave beyond.
Jess has arrived.
Dr Pob wrinkles his nose, slight distaste showing briefly. It doesn't last however, being replaced with a wry smirk as he twils about, labcoat and blue 'pigtails' flying out with the movement. There's a muttering with the motion, and those with acute hearing may catch what could be the word 'Fuckers'. Maybe not tho eh?
He flashes a more charming smile to the Abel fellow. "Awright mate." he says jovially enough. Any traces of the previous moment's incident have vanished. This incident vanishing has been accompanied by a further dilation of the pupils.
Abel makes hs way to the trio and smiles as he looks at the unfamiliar faces. He accepts Steve's hand though. "Abel Elison, Beacon in the Ark Cabal and Singer of the Chorus."
Jess looks around curious and heads over towards Abel now
Connelly looks, and sees Jess coming.....and waves! She looks to Abel,"Well...as I said....Jane Conelly, Verbena, currently no Cabal, as I have not yet been officially recognized by the Circle....er...sorry...Chantry Head
"Ah, Mr. Elison, a pleasure to meet you," says Keene, who seems to be as happy as anything shaking hands with anybody who comes by while tossing his name and the name of his cabal out there. Indeed, Keene is in the process of shaking Abel's hand firmly, disengaging it just before the procedure becomes tiresome.
His attention then moves from Abel, to Pobble, and then towards another new face: Jess. "Good evening," he directs to her.
Jess smiles brightly to Keene "Hi." she replies as she steps a bit closer to Abel.
Abel nods politely to Connelly. "Ms. Connelly."He then turns to see who Keene is talking to and Grins when he sees Jess. "Hey Jess. Like, What's up?"
Noticing that his compadre is getting into the Social Swing, Pobble goes as far as to offer his hand to Abel for shaking. He's smiling a big fat happy smile. "Awright." he reiterates, hand stuck out there for shaking. The other hand makes a wave for Jess as he glances briefly over in her direction. "Oi oi." he adds.
Abel sees Pobble's extended hand and shakes it as well with a smile.
Jess slinks an arm around Abel for a hug before letting go with a smile to Pobble
Pobble beams at the hand shaking, hastily moving over to put his hand in the shaking queue for the newest arrival - Jess. His free hand slips into a pocket, comming back with a crumpled cigarette which he slips behind his ear, held in place by the material of the bandana. This handshaking isn't so bad. He seems quite keene on pressing the flesh with Jess and Abel.
Jess is looking at you.
Jess blinks and looks at Abel "Who is this?"
"Hi," says Keene to Jess just after she asks Abel for information, allowing Pobble to act as hand-shake proxy. "I'm Steve Keene, and this," indicating Pobble, "is Dr. Alder. We're with the Invisible College. It's nice to meet you, miss ...?"
Abel lets Keene introduce himself and his compatriot.
Jess hooks a thumb to herself and Abel "We are the Beacon in the Dark... my name is Jess."
Pobble nods his assent. "You can also call me Pob. Or Dr Steve." He nods again before flashing another smile. The actions seem to happen in order, as if he currently can't do them simultaneously.
Keene smooths his tie against a small breeze. "Hello, Jess. It's very nice to meet you and your cabal." He looks to Pobble. "We're off to sight-see a bit. It was very nice to meet all of you."
Pobble looks to Keene, confusion forming films over his eyes. "You're leaving me for these people you hardly know? That's not a terribly nice way to welcome me to town mate, issit?"
Abel nods. "Alright Pob." He turns to Keene. "Would you like someone to show you around the realm?"
"I was hoping you'd come with me," Keene says, with the patience of a parent with a dull-witted child. His attention returns to Abel. "Oh, I've been given the tour -- I'm just going to give Pob here the benefit of my experience."
Jess nods "Well good luck.. dont let the animals btie:
Abel grins. "Oh. Alright then. Well peace go with you, then, and Providence guide your steps."
Understanding dawns on Dr Steve's features and he nods, relaxing to a point close to comatose and moving over to Keene, ready to head onwards. "I need to pick Dave up too. I left him in the box." Another smile to all but Connelly. "Nice ta meetcha folks."
"Yes, very nice to meet you all. We'll be careful." With that, Keene begins the careful, deliberate process of leading Pobble along, heading towards the ruins. "Mind your step, Pob..."
Pobble beams once more, heading off into the melting fields with his guide.
Keene has left.
Pobble picks up his cellular phone and begins to dial.
The phone is picked up at the far end.
Keene says "Hotline."
(Directed into the phone) Pobble says "Wotcha cock mate?"
Keene says "Ehh. Not a lot. Just tooling around, taking in the sights."
(Directed into the phone) Pobble says "Where you at mucker?"
Keene says "I'm at this tropical conservatory. The one in the note I left. It's a nice enough place, if you don't mind the humidity."
(Directed into the phone) Pobble says "I just rolled in to be honest guv, and I'm facking lost as all shit. Its like a bloody maze around here."
Keene says "OK. I'll see if I can't talk you over to here. What are you by now?"
From afar, Jet would be happy to help you out icly
(Directed into the phone) Pobble pauses. Looking around maybe. "Jarvis.. and College?"
Keene says "You're pretty close by. Let me see if I can't find you outside."
Keene steps out of Allan Park.
Keene has arrived.
(Directed into the phone) Pobble says "Gotcha mate."
Pobble clicks his cellular to disconnect the call and hangs up.
Keene walks out of Allan Gardens, phone to his ear. He looks around intently, trying to find his lost comrade as he takes his phone from his ear and puts it back in his pocket in a smooth movement.
Keene clicks his cellular to disconnect the call and hangs up.
There is a click as the phone at the far end is hung up.
Keene is looking at you.
"Evening, Pob," says Keene. "Lucky that you happened to be in the neighborhood. I haven't gone too far from here in the past day or two. There's really quite a lot to see." He starts walking back towards Allan Gardens. "How was your trip?"
Pobble snuffles quite considerably as he comes to stand next to you, wiping away a telltale dusting and dribbling from his left nostril. Most attractive. Those pupils are dilated good, perhaps the result of a new batch. He talks quickly, and his head is in constant motion, looking about, desparately trying to take in all the surroundings.
"Fucked mate, really really fucked. Don't ask. Last time I buy a fucking Lexus. Peice of shit. Expensive peice of shit."
Millia steps out of Allan Park.
Millia has arrived.
Millia wanders out of the gardens, heading past you all quietly.
Millia walks west along College to Church.
Millia has left.
Keene, unlike Pobble's amphetamine augmentations, has a nice mixed booze and Valium flow to him; which is to say he /seems/ normal unless you start dealing with reflexes. Of course, he's so accustomed to operating like this that he hardly seems impaired. He walks nice and slow back towards the gardens, even as Millia zips right by him, to be sure that Pobble doesn't get out of arm's reach.
"What happened to it? Did it break down somewhere, get stolen, what?"
Millia arrives from the west.
Millia has arrived.
Millia walks under the archway and enter the gardens.
Millia has left.
Pobble has a phone in his hand, and he seems to notice this and licks the back of it in a straight, quick line before depositing it in his labcoat. He takes a deep breath, then sniffs. Deep breath. Calm.. Well, Calmer. "So this is it eh?" he says absently, to himself mostly. "What mate?" Confusion. A moment passes, and he stops moving towards the building. "Oh. Right. Broke down. Kaput.. I gave them shit, told them I'd sue etcetteraa etcetteraaaa." He heads onwards, starting to come down from the brief coke fix. "I'm thinking a Hummer to be honest as the next gig. Get everything in then eh."
"Hell to park the thing," comments Keene, as he heads inside.
Keene walks under the archway and enter the gardens.
Keene has left.
You walk under the archway and enter the gardens.
Pobble nods. "Yeah. Fuckin right." Yes, he does seem to swear a lot. Maybe its just the drugs talking, I hear they can do that nowadays. Talk that is.
A set of double doors made of ornate metal and glass.
Keene walks along at a leisurely pace, moving in the general direction of the conservatory. "Too bad about the Lexus, all the same. Next time we'll have to get an Etherboy to look at your ride to be sure everything works for a few years." He fishes his flask out of one of the pockets of his jacket, offering it to Pobble. "You want a drink, man? You seem tense."
Pobble stops dead again, staring at the flask. Only a second passes before he catches himself, and he nods - smiling his appreciation. A big fat swig, while he fishes about in a pocket for something. He comes back with a tiny sky blue pill, rolling it between his fingers before dropping it with the second swig. "That should be better.." Screws the top back on, hands it over. "Can I interest you in anything Guv?
Keene allows for Pobble's usual appetite for liquor, smiling very faintly while Pobble equalizes himself with a few bolts of smooth Canadian whiskey. Keene sinks his money into two things: his suits and his liquor. He only drinks top shelf. It's no wonder that he doesn't have much else to his name. Still, it's not like he can't get anything he wants with a moderate application of his natural talents.
"I'm good for right now," he says, accepting the flask back graciously and returning it to the inside of his jacket, continuing the trip towards the conservatory. "I'm just starting to really feel the numbness spread. But thank you, as always."
Pobble grins wide, showing off those British teeth. They're not all that bad, slightly crooked but shiny white. Better than many specimens from across the sea. "Anytime." Now he's in the swing of things. Middle ground, a nice haze that'll last. The thing with Dr Steve is that he'll get slightly high just thinking about taking drugs. Once they're down the hatch, he'll start to think he's comming up within a minute or so.
The game face appears, same one as used when dealing with murderous drug dealers and crack whores. He's entering the Zone, trying not to embarrass you too much maybe. Trying to improve your sparkly image.
Keene appreciates Pobble's occasional attempts to not horrifically screw things up for Keene's image management plans. Were it only Pobble and Hiro, Keene would have a fairly easy time keeping them in line, but the more volitile members of the cabal require almost two Keenes to keep remotely civil.
All the same, Keene doesn't seem too concerned about anything at the moment. He gradually makes his way across a bridge and into the tropical conservatory, humming to himself tunelessly as he walks.
Keene enters the conservatory
Keene has left.
The scents in the room bring on another sniffling fit as the pollen and cocaine mix in unpleasant ways within Pobble's nostrils. "Facking stinks in 'ere donnit?" he says, rather delightfully. A big ubersniff is followed by a hacked up wad being spat onto a nearby treetrunk. Looking around he recomposes himself, "Where to now?"
Keene cruises along at a leisurely speed, not watching Pobble as much now. The calming influence of whiskey helps Keene out of tough spots a lot more than reasoned arguments or applications of Ars Mentis. He moves along through the gardens, following a careful path that he memorized the first time he came to the realm.
"Alright," he says, "just follow behind me, and I think we'll be let in. We have to pass by some landmarks in a particular order, though I don't know which ones are important."
Pobble nods silently, falling into step right behind you in a slightly annoying way. Not purposefully annoying, just coinkydink. "Lead on Peachy."
The drugs numb the rage. Keene, instead of muttering, merely chuckles: he proceeds to follow the exact path he took with Hiro earlier to get into the realm, down to every last pause or hiccup in pace. Ultimately, he passes through the two columns that are actually germane to the lock sequence, reaches the back door, and opens it up -- crossing over into another dimension.
Keene slips between two colums in the Conservatory. A small door behind the pillars swings closed just thereafter.
Keene has left.
You slip between two columns and through the Gate.
A Dark Cave
Now that was a bit on the weird side. Doctor Steve looks suitably disorientated as he spins about in the cave, slightly stupid looking grin crawling its way onto his lips. "Groovy.." he murmers..
It almost seems he'll leave it at that, but he can't seem to resist a loud 'Wooop', just to hear the echoes.
Keene steps into the cave with a squish, steadying himself on the wall as he emerges from the swirling blackness. He waits patiently for Pobble to follow, letting him orient himself and indulging his woop before starting onward again. As one would expect, he complains about `nature'.
"They really need to put a sump pump in here or something," he says, beginning the slow process of moving along the edge of the stream into the main part of the realm. "A sump pump, a boardwalk, maybe some torches ... I mean, how much could it cost to make some philgosten-powered torches? We're members of the Hermetic Order, for Christ's sake, can't we pop for some lights?"
You say, "I hear ya." He follows behind you, as carefully as one can be while mildly wasted.
"You know.. It occurs to me that maybe we could just put one of those things in here, all lit up like."
He stops for a second, clicking his fingers in an attempt to clarify his thinking. "One of those things like they have in Florida. Scooty scooty with the big fan?""
"A hovercraft, Pobble," says Keene, moving forward towards the opening of the cave. "Me, I think a boardwalk with a golf cart would be just as well. I think they like the peace and quiet."
He continues along, gradually getting back out into the open air. "Wait until you see this," he says.
Keene heads upstream, vanishing into the darkness beyond.
Keene has left.
You travel along the streambed, against the current. Slowly, you ascend the slopes and crags of the cave, until eventually a pillar of light lances through the darkness.
Cavern Entrance
Faint Light dips in through the massive opening at the rough, craggy end of the cave, casting a quiet bluish glow to everything within the cave entrance. The breeze which was only hinted at deeper within the cave can be heard whistling at this hole. The stream continues up and out of the cave, disappearing off into the rolling fields before you.
You walk out of the cave, your eyes adjusting to the bright sunlight. Entering the grasses of the field, you walk for a ways, until you have reached the highest peak.
Rolling Fields
"Now that took forever." says a somewhat pissed off looking Pobble.
The fields and hills and views don't seem to impress him all that much. A bus stop or indeed a newfangled style hovercraft probably would more so. He takes a deep breath, causing him to sniff and wipe at his nose.
"Remind me to bring the Box next time so I don't have to go back so quickly."
Connelly looks at the person talking,"What? Who would *WANT* to leave here?"
Abel wanders up the hill to the peak, from the cave beyond.
Abel has arrived.
Keene leads Pobble out of the cave, looking a bit winded himself. When he and his companion get to the top of the hill, he stops, putting his hands on top of his thighs. Yeah, it's break time for the suit. Hermetics don't walk through musty old caves if they don't have to. He's definitely going to consider putting together an `improvements' fund so that the trek can be made a bit less strenuous. For the benefit of others, of course.
"Yeah, sorry about that," Keene says. "These guys build big. I mean, look at all this," as he gestures with his right hand. "There's got to be a frigging ton of Nodes under this group's control to maintain all this. I bet Tass comes out when they sneeze."
Keene's attention then moves to Connelly, blinking once. He must not have noticed him initially.
Abel walks out of the hole in the hill not too long after the others, carrying a lit candle to light his way.
Pobble snickers, taking something from his pocket and slipping it into his mouth. He chews for a few moments in silence, the look on his face illustrating that whatever it was, wasn't that plesant.
"I can only imagine.." he says, scanning the horizons. The response to his complaints draws his attention finally, as if he'd forgotten about it. He goes to say something, then stops. Then goes to speak again, and stops. Shaking his head, he gives up on the whole 'trying to speak' malarky.
Connelly sighs..."This is one of the most beautiful places around...reminds me a little bit of the land around the Ruins of Tara..."
Keene gets his wind back, straightening back up and smoothing his suit carefully after a moment or two. "I'm not too familiar with those," he says, "but you're right, this is a very pretty Realm. I'm just not accustomed to having access to a Realm quite this large, you see. The largest one I'd ever been in before this one was the size of a small, very cramped house."
He smiles graciously, moving over down the hill a little bit to greet Connelly. "I'm Steven Keene; that's my associate, Dr. Alder. We're part of the Invisible College." He puts out his hand to shake with a practiced cheerful expression. "And to whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with this evening?"
Abel sees a group congregating ahead and makes his way toward them. "The One's peace be with you," he calls, announcing his presence with word as well as the light of the candle.
Connelly nods,"Dr. Jane Connelly, ER Trauma specialist, and Verbena.
Abel is looking at you.
Connelly doesn't offer her hand, as she is sitting in the grass...and that would require her to stand up...considering she looks like she just woke up...
Pobble waggles his thin fingers, not seeming to be the hand shaking type. He moves to stand near Keene.
He has the audacity to sniff at Connelly. Really sniff, as if smelling something pungent.
"I say. Would you happen to be Irish?" he asks, with just a hint of obnoxiousness. The call of the One's peace draws his gaze away and a wan smile is offered to the approaching kid.
Keene gets a feeling of imminent doom. Such a feeling is common whenever Pobble starts talking about what Keene has broadly categorized as `British Isles issues' in his presence. This is, unfortunately, one of the areas where his immense powers of persuasion simply find no purchase. Not that he hasn't *tried*...
Fortunately, Abel comes along, and provides a wonderful distraction. Casually retracting his hand for the moment, he orients himself towards the younger man with a congenial expression.
"Good evening!" he says. "And may the One's peace find its way to you as well. Steve Keene, Invisible College." He puts out his other hand to shake. Why? Because that's just what he does in social situations.
Jess wanders up the hill to the peak, from the cave beyond.
Jess has arrived.
Dr Pob wrinkles his nose, slight distaste showing briefly. It doesn't last however, being replaced with a wry smirk as he twils about, labcoat and blue 'pigtails' flying out with the movement. There's a muttering with the motion, and those with acute hearing may catch what could be the word 'Fuckers'. Maybe not tho eh?
He flashes a more charming smile to the Abel fellow. "Awright mate." he says jovially enough. Any traces of the previous moment's incident have vanished. This incident vanishing has been accompanied by a further dilation of the pupils.
Abel makes hs way to the trio and smiles as he looks at the unfamiliar faces. He accepts Steve's hand though. "Abel Elison, Beacon in the Ark Cabal and Singer of the Chorus."
Jess looks around curious and heads over towards Abel now
Connelly looks, and sees Jess coming.....and waves! She looks to Abel,"Well...as I said....Jane Conelly, Verbena, currently no Cabal, as I have not yet been officially recognized by the Circle....er...sorry...Chantry Head
"Ah, Mr. Elison, a pleasure to meet you," says Keene, who seems to be as happy as anything shaking hands with anybody who comes by while tossing his name and the name of his cabal out there. Indeed, Keene is in the process of shaking Abel's hand firmly, disengaging it just before the procedure becomes tiresome.
His attention then moves from Abel, to Pobble, and then towards another new face: Jess. "Good evening," he directs to her.
Jess smiles brightly to Keene "Hi." she replies as she steps a bit closer to Abel.
Abel nods politely to Connelly. "Ms. Connelly."He then turns to see who Keene is talking to and Grins when he sees Jess. "Hey Jess. Like, What's up?"
Noticing that his compadre is getting into the Social Swing, Pobble goes as far as to offer his hand to Abel for shaking. He's smiling a big fat happy smile. "Awright." he reiterates, hand stuck out there for shaking. The other hand makes a wave for Jess as he glances briefly over in her direction. "Oi oi." he adds.
Abel sees Pobble's extended hand and shakes it as well with a smile.
Jess slinks an arm around Abel for a hug before letting go with a smile to Pobble
Pobble beams at the hand shaking, hastily moving over to put his hand in the shaking queue for the newest arrival - Jess. His free hand slips into a pocket, comming back with a crumpled cigarette which he slips behind his ear, held in place by the material of the bandana. This handshaking isn't so bad. He seems quite keene on pressing the flesh with Jess and Abel.
Jess is looking at you.
Jess blinks and looks at Abel "Who is this?"
"Hi," says Keene to Jess just after she asks Abel for information, allowing Pobble to act as hand-shake proxy. "I'm Steve Keene, and this," indicating Pobble, "is Dr. Alder. We're with the Invisible College. It's nice to meet you, miss ...?"
Abel lets Keene introduce himself and his compatriot.
Jess hooks a thumb to herself and Abel "We are the Beacon in the Dark... my name is Jess."
Pobble nods his assent. "You can also call me Pob. Or Dr Steve." He nods again before flashing another smile. The actions seem to happen in order, as if he currently can't do them simultaneously.
Keene smooths his tie against a small breeze. "Hello, Jess. It's very nice to meet you and your cabal." He looks to Pobble. "We're off to sight-see a bit. It was very nice to meet all of you."
Pobble looks to Keene, confusion forming films over his eyes. "You're leaving me for these people you hardly know? That's not a terribly nice way to welcome me to town mate, issit?"
Abel nods. "Alright Pob." He turns to Keene. "Would you like someone to show you around the realm?"
"I was hoping you'd come with me," Keene says, with the patience of a parent with a dull-witted child. His attention returns to Abel. "Oh, I've been given the tour -- I'm just going to give Pob here the benefit of my experience."
Jess nods "Well good luck.. dont let the animals btie:
Abel grins. "Oh. Alright then. Well peace go with you, then, and Providence guide your steps."
Understanding dawns on Dr Steve's features and he nods, relaxing to a point close to comatose and moving over to Keene, ready to head onwards. "I need to pick Dave up too. I left him in the box." Another smile to all but Connelly. "Nice ta meetcha folks."
"Yes, very nice to meet you all. We'll be careful." With that, Keene begins the careful, deliberate process of leading Pobble along, heading towards the ruins. "Mind your step, Pob..."
Pobble beams once more, heading off into the melting fields with his guide.
Keene has left.
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