Shadows of St. Clair 0.5

[22:22]	[GM]Moltar	[The suburbs of the New Territories lay just north of the urban center of Hong Kong, the new areas sprawled unevenly over the slopes. At this hour of sunset the fantastic skyline of the buildings to the south sparkle a bright orange color, precursor to the afterglow which takes over through the night. The clouds overhead make, if nothing else, for a very particular sunset today; the plumage that stretches across the sky seems almost
[22:22]	[GM]Moltar	palpable amidst all its colors and maybe even a little small. Within one of the small clusters of buildings in the area, someone new makes a quiet appearance that is nevertheless rather striking...]
[22:32]	NotThursday	is not actually that striking without the motorbike. It's back in the garage right now.
[22:35]	NotThursday	just leans against a building for the moment, thinking...
[22:39]	NotThursday	is currently just trying not to be noticed, as another grain of sand on the shore. Growing up in the city aids in this attempt.
[22:42]	NotThursday	gets up and walks along the sidewalk, looking this way and that, perhaps hoping to pick out something accidentally...
[22:46]	[GM]Moltar	[The immediate area seems to be slowing down with the change from day to night. Some more traffic comes in from the more urbanized areas while the movements of people seem to slow and people filter out of the streets over time. Unlike the areas of the city further south, where things show little sign of stopping at all, the area itself seems to slow in order to catch its breath; as it does so, a small group of people seems to have congregated in the middle of a small park.]
[22:48]	NotThursday	finds the cluster hard to miss in a slow area like this.
[22:49]	NotThursday	slowly drifts towards the park, but in a way that would not be construed as an exact beeline to the gathering.
[22:50]	NotThursday	is just taking a peaceful evening stroll in a park, which just happens to be within earshot of the group.
[22:51]	[GM]Moltar	[Closer inspection shows the group seems to focus on a single man who speaks to the rest of them, who filter in and out as he goes. He dresses in simple clothes, what you'd expect to see on someone who spends a lot of time out on the streets, and has orange hair kept in a moderately effeminate fashion.]
[22:52]	NotThursday	catches sight of the hair and nods. Yup. That's definitely the guy.
[22:53]	NotThursday	mills around past the back of the crowd, pretending to be a curious bystander like most of the rest of them.
[22:57]	NotThursday	wonders what kind of ridiculousness THIS square is shouting. They all have their pulpits and soapboxes, after all.
[22:59]	[GM]Moltar	Figure: "Most of the dynamiters will justify themselves by saying they're doing what they have to, that the ends justify the means. They're only half right, and half honest to themselves; the ends are important, but the means are no less righteous or poetic. I hold that the nature of their actions itself makes them artists, in fact, artists and dynamiters may very well be one and the same. Would anyone here claim otherwise?"
[23:00]	NotThursday	puffs back a patch of messy black hair in vague dissension.
[23:01]	NotThursday	DOES claim otherwise, but doesn't go blurting it out for everyone to hear. That's what THIS guy is doing.
[23:01]	[GM]Moltar	[The man seems to take notice of this person's reaction, considering most merely shrug at the question, he turns to regard this new arrival.]
[23:02]	[GM]Moltar	Figure: "You, perhaps?"
[23:03]	NotThursday	shrugs. Best not to make a spectacle of one's self, now.
[23:03]	NotThursday	"Iunno. Art's art. Dynamite's dynamite."
[23:06]	NotThursday	plays it cool for now. This guy looks like he might be one of "those" kinds of people.
[23:08]	[GM]Moltar	Figure: "Is it really that simple, now? Think of it like this. A bomber shows the feelings of an artist, in that he prefers a single great moment of clarity to everything else. The ability of the artists and dynamiters, in all ways, is the same; destroy old perceptions, abolish conventions with a stroke of the hand. Besides, if it weren't so, the most poetical thing in the world would be mathematics, wouldn't it?"
[23:10]	NotThursday	seems to have been made into a target for no good reason. Yup; definitely one of "those" kinda of people.
[23:11]	NotThursday	"Hey, look, you're saying that, not me. I don't know why you gotta point me out; I just got here."
[23:12]	NotThursday	"But, like, if you wanna go..."
[23:13]	NotThursday	"They say violence is the last refuge of the incompetent, and I don't call REAL artists incompetent."
[23:14]	NotThursday	"But that's me, man. You say whatever you want."
[23:15]	NotThursday	"Just don't go blowing up my bike or anything; just got her springs tightened."
[23:22]	[GM]Moltar	Figure: "What are you saying, exactly?"
[23:23]	NotThursday	shrugs again.
[23:23]	NotThursday	"That what they're doing ain't art. Thought that was pretty obvious, myself."
[23:26]	NotThursday	"I mean, come on, nobody cares about what you're saying when you blow stuff up. They just care that you blew stuff up and now you're a terrorist."
[23:27]	NotThursday	"Thought everybody knew that after all that Middle-East mess, y'know?"
[23:28]	NotThursday	"Learn from the past, man."
[23:34]	[GM]Moltar	Figure: "So then? If art and poetry aren't the expression of the inherent disarray within the spirit, the pure expression of things an artist just knows within their core, then what is? The conventions of mathematicians would be the most purely artistic thing yet conceived. And even then, wouldn't I express an idea in such a way unless I truly, honestly, just knew that it was the way?"
[23:37]	NotThursday	"This is the part where people start walking away."
[23:37]	[GM]Moltar	[He seems slightly irked.]
[23:38]	NotThursday	starts doing so. This man needs to learn how to interface with the common person or he won't be convincing anyone.
[23:40]	[GM]Moltar	[He turns back to his other listeners, although many begin to follow his opponent's example.]
[23:41]	NotThursday	is taking a little gamble here; the guy might actually have something interesting to say behind all the preaching.
[23:43]	NotThursday	leaves the park and ducks into the lobby of a nearby apartment building.
[23:43]	NotThursday	sits down on the bench in the lobby and keeps an eye on the park from afar. Just in case.
[23:46]	NotThursday	rummages around a backpack for an old MP3 player and clunky pair of over-the-ear headphones. Music can help soften even the hardest moods, and it's not like this mood is even very hard.
[23:46]	[GM]Moltar	[After a while, and after the sun has finished setting, the man from earlier walks by, but peers inside and seems to lean on the window just beside the door.
[23:47]	[GM]Moltar	He seems to be waiting for something.]
[23:48]	NotThursday	is far more occupied with retro Yankovic music, but behind messy hair a pair of eyes notice the lurking man.
[23:49]	NotThursday	looks for a few seconds as any person would but then turns away, putting a hand to the headphones for better audio quality. Your move, Orange.
[23:53]	[GM]Moltar	[He seems to eventually get sick of waiting and walks inside, stopping just next to his once-listener.
[23:54]	[GM]Moltar	Figure: "Have you got time right now?"
[23:54]	NotThursday	looks up and gives him the courtesy of sliding off one of the earphones.
[23:54]	NotThursday	"What?"
[23:57]	[GM]Moltar	Figure: "Come along. There's something you should have a look at."
[23:58]	NotThursday	goes |:/
[23:59]	NotThursday	"Gonna need a better reason than that, stranger."
[00:05]	[GM]Moltar	Figure: "You see, this evening you managed to do something pretty remarkable. Hasn't happened in a while; I think the last person who did so was some guy in all black over in Tsim Sha Tsui. You managed to irritate me. You see, I got the impression that you thought I wasn't serious about being with the dynamiters, and there's only one way I can think of that would truly wipe that out. I'm risking a lot, but I'm going to prove to you that isn't so. How about it, hm?"
[00:08]	NotThursday	stares at the man. Is this guy for real...?
[00:09]	NotThursday	stands up and slings the backpack over a shoulder.
[00:09]	NotThursday	"You so much as touch an explosive device and I break the hand that touched it, you hear?"
[00:10]	[GM]Moltar	[He smiles and nods, turning around and walking to lead you out of the building and down a street. He seems to have a very precise idea of where he's going, although he doesn't say where that is.]
[00:11]	NotThursday	keeps the music running but slips the headphones down to better hear the surroundings.
[00:11]	JulesGregory	"By the way, the name's Julian Gregory. I think it's only fitting. Yours?"
[00:12]	NotThursday	"..."
[00:13]	`Mu	"Mu."
[00:14]	`Mu	almost breaks a smile. Such an ambiguous name is basically meaningless.
[00:16]	`Mu	makes a note to write his name down later. Might be useful, might not.
[00:17]	JulesGregory	"I see. Well, in any case, just one thing. Can I get you to keep quiet about what you're going to see? For the sake of practicality."
[00:17]	`Mu	stares at him apathetically.
[00:18]	`Mu	"You call ME out and then tell me to keep quiet? Why call me in the first place?"
[00:18]	`Mu	shrugs.
[00:18]	`Mu	"But sure. Whatever."
[00:19]	JulesGregory	"Alright. I think... we'll call a cab."
[00:21]	JulesGregory	pulls what looks like a phone out from his pocket and presses a button twice; a little light on the device lights up and, sure enough, a taxicab rolls up to the two in a matter of minutes. Gregory opens the door and gestures towards the inside.
[00:21]	`Mu	looks inside first.
[00:21]	`Mu	"...After you, Mr. Greg."
[00:22]	[GM]Moltar	[There seems to be nothing special about it.]
[00:22]	JulesGregory	gets inside in silence.
[00:22]	`Mu	follows suit.
[00:23]	`Mu	"Just to let you know? You touch a bottle of chloroform and I'll break your hands too."
[00:24]	`Mu	is cool and calm. You've got to be assertive with strange people, after all.
[00:28]	[GM]Moltar	[The cab takes the two from street to street, winding up at a large late-hours restaurant in Kowloon. The cabbie, saying nothing, lets the two occupants out after Gregory merely shows an identification of some sort, and the two are immediately seated at what seems to be a reserved table built into an opening in the wall, hidden from the view of the rest of the patrons.]
[00:30]	`Mu	looks at the opening of the wall before sitting down.
[00:30]	`Mu	also looks and the floor and wobbles the chair around a bit.
[00:31]	`Mu	"In case you're wondering I'm waiting for the revolving floor to flip this table into the wall."
[00:31]	`Mu	, regardless, does sit down after this.
[00:32]	JulesGregory	"Would you care for something to eat first? The Eastern food isn't good here, I'm afraid, but I can recommend the game."
[00:33]	`Mu	"Spring roll and'a glass of water, since you're asking."
[00:36]	JulesGregory	looks a little strangely back at Mu but orders from a waiter nonetheless.
[00:37]	[GM]Moltar	[It arrives in short order. Mu's food is decent, but nothing special.]
[00:39]	`Mu	just waits for the point where Jules starts preaching again, while kind of enjoying a mediocre spring roll.
[00:44]	JulesGregory	"I hope it isn't too bad. There's somewhat of a discrepancy between the elegant inside and the more or less unimpressive look from outside. But it's all modesty; we're all very modest."
[00:44]	`Mu	motions to him with an uneaten third of the spring roll.
[00:45]	`Mu	"You say as you stand on the street corner trying to tell people that dynamite is art."
[00:47]	JulesGregory	merely shrugs.
[00:48]	JulesGregory	"By the way, once we're done the table's going to start to spin a little. I wouldn't want to be unfair to you, so just remember that in case you think you're seeing things."
[00:49]	`Mu	motions again with the roll.
[00:49]	`Mu	"I told you."
[00:51]	`Mu	starts looking down at the floor and wall again, trying to find the seam.
[00:54]	[GM]Moltar	[The table and couch begin to move, but rather than move into the wall they seem to gradually move downwards instead.]
[00:55]	JulesGregory	"It's a kind of screw. We'll be down there in a moment."
[00:57]	[GM]Moltar	[The elevator seems to come to a stop on a level below, showing a tunnel. Moving down them, you find that there are others, and that they all seem to lead towards a thick steel door with a small panel on it.
[00:57]	`Mu	"Hmm. Down. Down's different."
[00:59]	JulesGregory	presses a button on the panel. An electronic voice asks him who it is.
[00:59]	`Mu	considers saying how moving secret floors aren't really the best form of secret passageways, but whatever. At least they're trying, and that's a start.
[01:02]	JulesGregory	"It's Bill Joy."
[01:03]	`Mu	repeats the names, trying to remember them. Jules Greg, and Bill Joy.
[01:04]	[GM]Moltar	[The door opens. Behind it the walls seem to be lined with some sort of plastic, but closer inspection reveals that the lining is made of closely interlocked firearms hung up on the wall. There are also some cases of explosives.]
[01:06]	`Mu	looks around and nods slightly. Interesting. Ridiculously ostentatious, but... not bad.
[01:06]	`Mu	sees the explosives and looks at Jules.
[01:06]	JulesGregory	"Sorry about the formalities, I hope you understand we have to be pretty careful. Anyway, I'll tell you what this is about. You happened to bump into me on a day where we have a meeting scheduled under... unusual circumstances, I'll call it. One of our leaders, most unfortunately, has perished, and we're here to appoint a successor. Trust me, though, I'll be walking to the meeting in the morning with the title of Thursday."
[01:07]	`Mu	puffs a lock of hair back again.
[01:08]	`Mu	"Good for you."
[01:08]	`Mu	"I DON'T trust you, but... good for you."
[01:09]	`Mu	"So this is...?"
[01:09]	`Mu	motions to the everything.
[01:10]	JulesGregory	"You see, we're led by a... council, who in turn report to our ultimate leader. If only I could describe the impression that the President leaves... I've never heard of Sunday having been wrong, and many of the things I do I do a certain way at the President's urging. But enough about that. This is a hall we use to congregate, and today it'll be used to elect the next occupant of the position of Thursday. We're a tad early, but the rest should arrive soon enough..."
[01:11]	`Mu	looks dully at the man.
[01:11]	`Mu	"But it's all modesty. You're all very modest."
[01:12]	`Mu	says with extreme sarcasm.
[01:13]	`Mu	sits down on one of the boxes of explosives.
[01:14]	`Mu	"So am I running the video camera, or do you need me to take meeting minutes?"
[01:15]	JulesGregory	"I'd be content for you to watch. After all, I did bring you here to see, didn't I?"
[01:16]	`Mu	"No. You just brought me here."
[01:17]	`Mu	"We'll see if I see or not."
[01:18]	`Mu	stuffs a hand into a pants pocket huffily, but it's also to turn off the MP3 player.
[01:18]	JulesGregory	"I didn't bring you here for no reason. And, if nothing else, I promise you the rest of the evening won't be too boring."
[01:18]	[GM]Moltar	[Almost as if on cue, other people begin to pour in and occupy the seats in the hall. There seems to be an unspoken sense of urgency as the meeting begins, with a few words said for Thursday and a call for nominees to the position. Out of all of those present, Gregory is the only one to put himself forward. He is called upon to make a short speech, so that the other members can decide whether or not he is suited for the position.]
[01:29]	JulesGregory	"Dear friends, I don't think it's necessary for me to put forward my beliefs, since I believe the same thing as everyone here. Throughout the world today our beliefs come under attack time and time again, and though they are often misunderstood, they never have changed..."
[01:40]	JulesGregory	continues for a time, stating among other things that the dynamiters aren't truly the enemies of society and that, thanks to their convictions, they are meek but remain capable of changing society from within merely by drawing its attention to the correct things and suggesting along the way so that it makes the right decision. Although there is applause throughout, there is less over time.
[01:42]	[GM]Moltar	[The chairman of the meeting, having listened to the speech and watched the reactions of all the members, stands up a moment later.]
[01:43]	[GM]Moltar	Chairman: "Seeing as there is no opponent for the nominee at this time, I will ask: Does anyone oppose the election of Gregory?"
[01:44]	`Mu	looks around the room from the corner. Really...? Anyone, no one? Come on, that speech was terrible.
[01:45]	`Mu	really hates doing this, but, if no one else is going to...
[01:45]	`Mu	"...I object."
[01:47]	JulesGregory	looks at Mu, extremely surprised at the development.
[01:48]	JulesGregory	"...Miss Mu?"
[01:48]	`Mu	looks back and frowns.
[01:48]	`Mu	"Did I say I was a girl?"
[01:50]	`Mu	"And don't look at me like that. He said does ANYONE oppose."
[01:50]	JulesGregory	tugs on his collar.
[01:50]	JulesGregory	I merely assumed...
[01:50]	`Mu	interrupts.
[01:50]	`Mu	"Yeah you did."
[01:50]	`Mu	:|
[01:51]	[GM]Moltar	[The attention of those present is now firmly fixed on Mu, collectively giving an expectant look.]
[01:53]	`Mu	doesn't care. Someone just needed to say it, is all.
[01:55]	[GM]Moltar	Chairman: "If that is the case, the meeting is willing to entertain your objection, Mu. However, we would hear an explanation for your objection."
[01:56]	`Mu	sighs.
[01:56]	`Mu	"Ahh, great, puttin' me on the spot..."
[01:58]	JulesGregory	looks on along with everyone else, crossing his arms and clearly thinking while analyzing Mu's actions.
[01:58]	`Mu	"Look, all I'm sayin' is that speech he just gave sucked, in my opinion.  If I was going to vote someone in I'm sure not going to elect anyone off of that."
[01:59]	`Mu	"I mean, he talks about being misunderstood like it's an occupational hazard or something.  I call it a PROBLEM, especially when, say, you try to convince people that people who blow up stuff randomly aren't terrorists."
[02:01]	`Mu	"That's what everyone sees, right? People blowing stuff up. And that's ALL they see. The rest doesn't matter."
[02:02]	`Mu	"It's like... Yeah, you're right in principle, but you're still wrong in practice. Good luck changing the world with that."
[02:04]	`Mu	pauses, trying to remember a phrase.
[02:04]	`Mu	"Ahh, what's that saying... practice, practice what you preach, yeah?  Well, they don't match up."
[02:05]	`Mu	"Flip it around, and they still don't match up.  There's you're problem there."
[02:07]	`Mu	"So, like... Do what you say and say what you do, or something."
[02:08]	`Mu	"Either start finding a more artistic way to get on the news, or start preaching about how Nobel was a savior and dynamite is love."
[02:09]	`Mu	"Anyways, that's... it, I guess? You can grab your guns and shoot my kneecaps out now."
[02:09]	`Mu	looks at the wall.
[02:10]	`Mu	"Oh wait. You can't. You welded them to the wall."
[02:10]	`Mu	"That was stupid, too."
[02:11]	`Mu	is fully-prepared to start punching things if it comes to it. These folks don't seem the type, but... ahh, whatever.
[02:12]	`Mu	more banks on the fact that no one's going to try anything stupid while sitting on a case of dynamite.
[02:13]	[GM]Moltar	[One of the dynamiters speaks to Mu once she's finished.]
[02:14]	[GM]Moltar	"But, Mu, who would you offer for election rather than Gregory?"
[02:18]	`Mu	"Do I look like I care? I'm just here because I walked away from his pep rally and he wanted to prove he was the real deal."
[02:18]	`Mu	"If I wasn't here you'd find someone eventually anyways, so just pretend like I'm not, or kick me out."
[02:21]	`Mu	slips the headphones back on, signaling that this conversation is over.
[02:21]	`Mu	doesn't turn the music on, though, and can still hear quite well.
[02:23]	[GM]Moltar	[The chairman holds a vote and, for now at least, Mu's objection is sustained. However, once the chairman asks if there is anyone else to put up for election, one of the others nominates Mu. There is some murmuring, but only Gregory looks truly upset at the development.]
[02:26]	`Mu	's sudden surprise at hearing the nomination is fortunately hidden behind a hunched head and shroud of hair. Really? Nominate the dog that wandered in out of the rain that might have rabies? Mu wonders why the police are so concerned with these people...
[02:30]	JulesGregory	"No, that can't be! That isn't... Gregory commands-"
[02:30]	[GM]Moltar	Chairman: "What difference does it make? You aren't Sunday. Nor are you Thursday."
[02:33]	[GM]Moltar	[Gregory's hold on the group is broken, and in a few moments they have turned on him. In short order Mu has formally been nominated and, despite Gregory's protests, when the chairman asks to see if there are objections there are none.]
[02:37]	`Mu	keeps the facade up despite being knocked back completely by the turn of events.
[02:41]	[GM]Moltar	[Within the scope of three minutes, Mu has received a sheet of paper confirming the appointment as Thursday of Panthalassa, along with a cell phone that apparently belonged to the preceding Thursday. The meeting ends in a flurry of hands, sounds and handshakes, and at the entrance Mu is again face to face with Gregory.]
[02:42]	JulesGregory	...
[02:43]	`Mu	just looks at him with a straight face.
[02:43]	`Mu	"...No one to blame but yourself."
[02:45]	`Mu	doesn't dwell on it. It IS his fault; he brought Mu in the first place.
[02:45]	JulesGregory	"...Maybe. Regardless, you have an appointment with your new associates in the morning. I guess the least I can do is explain things on the way there."
[02:47]	JulesGregory	begins to walk back the way they came, quite pensive and looking positively fuming despite making no sound.
[02:47]	`Mu	"No offense, but? You suck at explaining things.  Kinda why you're here, isn't it?"
[02:48]	`Mu	"Time, and place. I'll figure it out."
[02:51]	JulesGregory	"...Mandarin Oriental. 9 AM."
[02:57]	`Mu	"Thanks."
[03:01]	[GM]Moltar	[Gregory briskly decides to find his own way out. Just as you leave, you discover it's near morning; the quickest way to get to Central is probably the subway, and it's certainly running at this hour. The nighttime glow of the city, much stronger now that you're in the middle of it, will in a few moments give way again to the sun as it climbs up again from the east.]