Sicol C+R 2, eclectic boogaloo

•Teller|GM> ((How are they travelling to Alex? Car, foot, public transportation? Caul's leg is still bugging him.))
7:34 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ((Doesn't Wicht have like a driver or something))
7:36 AM <Lex|Ravel> ((How far is it? And how many of the Rabble need to be picked up?))
7:37 AM <•Teller|GM> ((It's not terribly far. But Caul saw about five or six Rabble in the room.))
7:40 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ((Some probably need to be literally picked up))
7:40 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ((Well since we're doing full rebellion. Can Caul nick a Zenith van? I remember him driving one))
7:41 AM <•Teller|GM> ((That's a good way to get caught. According to Wicht, at least.))
7:43 AM <Lex|Ravel> ((There's still some stuff im not sure on, is alex staying at that house? Calling an ambulance there might draw too much attention, along with us visiting))
7:43 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Alex is. What other stuff aren't you sure on? I can clarify before we start.))
7:47 AM <Lex|Ravel> ((Mostly it's just stuff about how discreet Alex, and by extension everyone who wants him to not explode, want to be about moving the rabble out of that house. Currently tossing up between calling an ambulance, bribing a taxibus driver, or asking the PRT for an unmarked van to help))
7:48 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ((Wondering that too honestly, Caul is a punk but Ravel is a vaguely respected PRT Hero. On paper.))
7:49 AM <•Teller|GM> ((That's a question for Caul, unless you feel like calling Alex up. Wicht is in favor of being discreet.))
7:51 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ((Damn, critical decisions this early in.))
7:51 AM <•Teller|GM> ((He also trusts Ravel if she wants to bring in an unmarked PRT van, though.))
7:51 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ((Of course he would. He's a child of privilege))
7:51 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ((Unmarked PRT van it is!))
7:52 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Okay. Writing the first post.))
7:52 AM <•Teller|GM> ...
7:56 AM → Megafire and Fulvus joined
8:02 AM <•Teller|GM> Caul remembers the last time he was in a PRT van. Chained up like an animal and crammed into a box, PRT officers with guns standing over him, prepared to put him back in his place if he didn't do things their way. His hands moisten slightly with goo at the memory.
8:02 AM <•Teller|GM> This time he's on the other side of things. Sitting upright in his seat like a proper person. There's a PRT officer driving the unmarked vehicle, allowing the heroes to keep out of sight in the back.
8:02 AM <•Teller|GM> They turn onto Jerome Avenue. It's a crummy little dead-end street. Ravel's not surprised that a runaway kid ended up in a place like this. ||
8:03 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Either of you can take next post.))
8:04 AM <Lex|Ravel> ...
8:08 AM <Lex|Ravel> At least there's less chance they'll be noticed if it's a one way street, Ravel thinks. "What a disaster," she mumbles under her breath. She's noticed she's been doing that more often lately. Idly, Ravel wonders whether the small movement is hidden, or accentuated by the mask she wears.
8:08 AM <Lex|Ravel> Standing up from her seat, Ravel checks through the window to see if anyone's out on the street. ||
8:09 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ...
8:10 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "It's n-not so buh-bad." Cowl says, rubbing his leg. Boy was he going to be sore tomorrow.
8:11 AM <Teruzi|Caul> He's mostly doing so to keep the moisture from his hands under control. He had sweaty palms before, but this was ridiculous. And yet, the memory of the shackles burn in his mind. The kind of memory that always hissed when thought of.
8:12 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "I puh-probably s-should tuh-talk to him f-first?" Cowl offers, unsure.||
8:15 AM <•Teller|GM> Wicht sits in his seat, resting his hands and his chin on his bat. "Maybe. He's got to be expecting Ravel, though, right? He told us to send her over."
8:15 AM <•Teller|GM> The street is empty - nobody's around to see the trio of costumed heroes paying a visit to one of the houses on their street.
8:15 AM <•Teller|GM> "Should I pull up here, or park in front of the house?" the PRT officer asks. The question is directed at Ravel. ||
8:18 AM Feastus → Faustus
8:20 AM <Lex|Ravel> "Park out front," she decides, glancing at Cowls leg. "It shouldn't take too long, and we'll want to be as close as possible for the pick up."
8:20 AM <Lex|Ravel> If the Rabble were fucked up enough they needed to be pieced back together... The quicker they could be moved the better. ||
8:21 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl felt like this was a distinctly bad idea. It's probably just the van but- He feels on edge. Really on edge.
8:22 AM <Teruzi|Caul> That time in the cell had been a bad one. He gulps and rolls his shoulders.
8:23 AM <Teruzi|Caul> It was fine. At most they would end up with the van carrying a bunch of corpses. Maybe even Alex's.
8:23 AM <Teruzi|Caul> He curses himself for thinking about it. Again. It was unusual for him to think about others like this. Usually he would be focused entirely on his own situation.
8:24 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "Duh-don't guh-give him a l-lecture" Cowl says, after a pause.
8:24 AM <Teruzi|Caul> But of course she was going to. Even Wicht couldn't help it.||
8:27 AM <•Teller|GM> The van pulls up along the sidewalk. The PRT officer taps his comms. "Just signal if you need me."
8:27 AM <•Teller|GM> "About that...don't be surprised if those suddenly stop working," Wicht warns as he steps out of the van. The look he gives the house in front of them is an unenthusiastic one. "He fucked up my phone when he caught me spying on him." ||
8:33 AM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel shut her eyes, steeling herself.
8:33 AM <Lex|Ravel> "Yes, Cowl, I'll try not to."
8:33 AM <Lex|Ravel> Going in, possibly wihtout a way to contact help wasn't great, but it was what it was. Seriously though, what was up with Tinkers? Aren't they meant to just do the one thing? Unless his phone-blocker thing only worked because it was inside someone?
8:33 AM <Lex|Ravel> Distracted, again. Ravel mentally runs through the apology she'd been stewing on for hours already. It doesn't feel like it's anything close to enough.
8:33 AM <Lex|Ravel> She puts her hand on the door handle, and looks back at the others. "Ok. Let's go." ||
8:33 AM ⇐ Megafire and Sidezero quit
8:37 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl nods. The phone thing was extremely rude anyhow. Alex had to know that. Children could be so obstinate sometimes.
8:37 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl lets out a sigh as he stands up again. His leg was aching, but it was a dull throb instead of a sharp stab.
8:38 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "Puh-probably should j-just k-kick a ruh-rabble g-guy in the n-nuts." He says in a serious tone.
8:38 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "They duh-duh-deserve it"||
8:38 AM <•Teller|GM> ...
8:40 AM <•Teller|GM> "Uh, what?" Wicht asks in confusion. He trails behind Ravel. "They do, but what does that have to do with anything?" ||
8:43 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ...
8:43 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ((quick one I swear))
8:44 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "It's c-called buh-bonding Wicht. L-look it up" Cowl says, confidently.||
8:46 AM <Lex|Ravel> ...
8:46 AM <Lex|Ravel> Striding towards the door, Ravel suddenly realizes she feels a lot worse about their chances. Too late now. ||
8:49 AM <•Teller|GM> The door opens up before they've even reached the porch. A young, harried looking woman - Caul recognizes her as Sydney - holds the door open with one hand and cradling an infant in the other. "Come in. Hurry up." ||
8:50 AM <•Teller|GM> ((*cradles))
8:51 AM <Lex|Ravel> ...
8:52 AM → Pink and Pinkhair joined
8:55 AM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel steps in, looking closer at the woman. Is this who Alex has been staying with? Did she know about the bomb? If Cowl and Wicht knew, how could she not? Shouldn't she have stopped him?
8:55 AM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel isn't sure what to say, so she settles for a nod. ||
8:56 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Oh god. More children. As if Coy wasn't a big enough baby. Cowl follows through.||
8:58 AM ⇐ Pink quit (Pink@net-vqhtj6.dyn.optonline.net) Ping timeout: 181 seconds
9:07 AM <•Teller|GM> Ravel notices a camera above the door as she passes through it.
9:07 AM <•Teller|GM> The living room is shabby, though it's in a lot better shape than Caul remembers. The plastic is gone and the lights are no longer flickering. Ravel spies a flat, junky metal platform in the corner of the room. She's not sure what its function is, but it's obviously Tinkertech.
9:07 AM <•Teller|GM> There's a middle aged man in the living room as well. He's wearing baggy jeans and grey t-shirt, both too large for his frame. Tellingly, his entire left arm is mechanical - an oversized, patchwork thing that seems to be all function, no elegance. It wouldn't be out of place alongside construction equipment. The hand only has three fingers, but each is about as thick as her wrist.
9:07 AM <•Teller|GM> "You must be Ravel," Sydney says. She bounces the baby up and down slowly. "We've...heard a lot about you."
9:07 AM <•Teller|GM> She looks at Wicht and Cowl, then back to Ravel. "No funny business, okay? He's serious about the bomb." ||
9:17 AM <Lex|Ravel> So she did know. Maybe Cowl thought giving Alex grief about the bomb wouldn't go over well, but that didn't mean she couldn't give this woman a piece of her mind. She wouldn't, if only because this was time sensitive, but Ravel can't imagine what is going through this woman's mind that she's apparently okay with the idea of a child implanting a bomb in himself.
9:17 AM <Lex|Ravel> Still, best to be as non-threatening as possible.
9:17 AM <Lex|Ravel> "Yes, I know. I'd like to talk to Alex if he'll see me, but first... Where are the Rabble, and how bad is it? Are any of them still a threat?"
9:17 AM <Lex|Ravel> Even if they were, Ravel suspects Coy would take care of that, but it doesn't hurt to ask. ||
9:20 AM ↔ iri|Scorpio (was iridium248) popped in
9:26 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ...
9:27 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "Only to t-themselves" Cowl mutters, darkly. Babies were so weird. And thank god Coy was not waiting to say hi in the bubble- That might cause the poor heroine to unravel.||
9:30 AM → iri|Scorpio joined (iridium248@net-mci.6kk.156.175.IP)
9:30 AM <•Teller|GM> "Most of them are still recovering in the back," the man says, gesturing with a giant thumb. "No permanent injuries, but they're not gonna be a threat to anyone for a while. Alex is upstairs with the other ones." ||
9:33 AM <Lex|Ravel> ...
9:37 AM ⇐ Gundor quit (gundor@netadmin.parahumans.net) Quit: Soon may he return
9:46 AM <Lex|Ravel> Hearing that brought more relief than Ravel thought it would have. The thought of her actions leading to someone, even someone like one of the Rabble,  to have to live with something like that mans "arm", it made her feel sick. Not that she'd say anything like that to his face.
9:46 AM <Lex|Ravel> Though with Coy involved, physical injury wasn't the only permanent scar that might be involved.
9:46 AM <Lex|Ravel> "Probably best to leave them there as long as possible before bundling them into the van, if we're being discreet about this," she says after a moment in thought. "And seeing me is just going to rile them up."
9:46 AM <Lex|Ravel> Turning toward the man with the robot arm who seems somewhat in charge, she asks, "Can we head up, then?"
9:46 AM <Lex|Ravel> Who is this guy? One of the Rinaldi's original bodyguards? Someone Alex helped from the hospital attack? ||
9:48 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl nods towards Sydney and the old man with the cool freaking robot arm. Even if he was a bit of a bigot that didn't like Cowl's skirt. It was fine. Alex could be the better person.
9:48 AM <Teruzi|Caul> He's -not- looking forward to dealing with the rabble. He would suggest just gooping them into submission so they behave, but he's pretty sure Ravel is going to protest that. Tsk.||
9:52 AM <•Teller|GM> ...
9:53 AM <•Teller|GM> The man with the arm nods. "Go ahead." ||
9:54 AM → Sidezero joined (uid245947@hathersage.irccloud.com)
9:59 AM <Lex|Ravel> With a last glance towards where the man indicated most of the Rabble were, Ravel makes her way up the stairs. There are probably cameras watching her here, too. As she acsends, she listens carefully. She's not sure what she's expecting, sounds of pain from the Rabble, the sound of tools? Anything to give her an idea of which room Alex might be in. ||
10:05 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ...
10:05 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Coy was nowhere to be seen. Too bad the only thing worse than seeing Coy was not seeing her. Christ.
10:06 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl hopes the girl he gooped in the mouth has managed to calm down already. He felt a bit bad about that.||
10:08 AM <•Teller|GM> ...
10:10 AM <Lex|Ravel> ((is it Sydney or Sidney? This session and Caul's have it spelled differently))
10:11 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Whoops. Probably Sydney. I'll correct it.))
10:11 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Thanks.))
10:13 AM → Wellwick joined  ↔ Stoic popped in  •  Sidezero → Side|GM
10:25 AM <•Teller|GM> Wicht follows behind both of them, spinning his bat with an anxious regularity. He's probably thinking the same thing about  Coy.
10:25 AM <•Teller|GM> It's not a very large house. Ravel can easily hear the sound of loud voices as she ascends the stairs. She also sees the camera at the top of the stairs, peering down at her.
10:25 AM <•Teller|GM> She follows the voices to a bedroom just to the left of the stairs. The door is open, and through it she and Cowl see a television screen flashing with bright images.
10:25 AM <•Teller|GM> Alexander and one of the Rabble - Ravel recognizes her as Selma, from the hospital - sit in front of it, both of them mashing buttons furiously. There's a young man that Ravel doesn't recognize, but the streaks of purple in his hair mark him as one of the Rabble as well. Both he and Selma are wearing clothes that are /way/ too big for them; a sweatshirt with flaming skulls and a 'FUCK YOU' T-shirt, respectively, and baggy sweatpants.
10:25 AM <•Teller|GM> There's a girl here who looks about Alexander's age. Her clothes are oversized as well; a baggy black jumpsuit.
10:25 AM <•Teller|GM> "One second," Alexander calls out without looking. Selma, however, swivels around and drops her controller from excitement.
10:25 AM <•Teller|GM> "RABEL!" ||
10:30 AM <Lex|Ravel> ...
10:44 AM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel was getting really fucking sick of seeing this girl. First she breaks into and bugs her hospital room (not in that order), then she nearly gets eaten by a bear with superpowers (Swole's, she'd realized after the fight), and now here, after trying to attack Alec, which Ravel /specifically said not to do/.
10:44 AM <Lex|Ravel> "Selma." Ravel glares back at her, doing a decent job of tempering her expression into more of a "I am very, very disappointed in you, and also quite angry," look as opposed to the more "I am literally ready to fucking strangle you," that she feels.
10:44 AM <Lex|Ravel> "Did you know," Ravel starts,  crossing her arms, voice laden with biting sarcasm, "That the reason for this whole mess is that I wanted to prevent you people from getting yourselves hurt?" ||
10:45 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ...
10:45 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Oh great. They have names.
10:46 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "I t-think it's important t-to suh-say that t-they're to s-stupid to g-get that" Cowl deadpans, but says that to Wicht.
10:47 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "Nuh-not m-my place t-to say, of course." He goes on, looking straight at Wicht, not paying attention to the extremely energetic fan.
10:47 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Just take a swing, beast. That would be justification enough.||
10:50 AM → CaptNameless joined (uid208854@highgate.irccloud.com)
10:51 AM <•Teller|GM> ...
10:57 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ((*too stupid))
10:59 AM <•Teller|GM> The young man's eyes light up, but he balks at the tone of her voice. Selma's excitement fades a little. "No, Rabelyoudont- you don't unterstant wewerejusttrying to fint himforyou- like- like- like- youwantet."
10:59 AM <•Teller|GM> Her sentence is a disjointed mess, made even worse by how quickly she tries to force it out. She turns around completely, and now Ravel can see that one of her feet has a large metal boot clamped around it. Her left hand has what Ravel can only hope is a thin metal gauntlet on.
10:59 AM <•Teller|GM> "Yeah," the young man agrees quickly. "We were, just-"
10:59 AM <•Teller|GM> He can't even finish his sentence, but that's probably because of how nervous and excited he is rather than any actual issue.
10:59 AM <•Teller|GM> Alexander presses a button on the controller, causing a character on the screen to kick off another character's head. A large 'WINNER' banner flashes across the screen. He sighs, tosses the controller aside, and stands up.
10:59 AM <•Teller|GM> "Shh," Wicht shushes. He glances behind them, then moves into the room so that there's a wall at his back. "Play nice." ||
11:09 AM <Lex|Ravel> "If all you were doing was looking, then how come you're here, injured?" Ravel blanches a little on seeing the boot and guantlet. The kid was bad enough.
11:09 AM <Lex|Ravel> "Thank you for helping them, and I am so, so sorry for all this," Ravel says to Alex. "I'd hoped to explain to you why I made the mistakes I did, but I get it if you don't want to hear it."
11:09 AM <Lex|Ravel> She was trying not to let it get to her, but having all these children around was unnerving. ||
11:10 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl waves lightly towards Alex, shrugging somewhat.
11:10 AM <Teruzi|Caul> The rabble honestly didn't seem all that bright. It almost felt mean to be mean to them. But then again-
11:10 AM <Teruzi|Caul> What sort of underdeveloped baboon pees on a car?||
11:15 AM <•Teller|GM> ...
11:22 AM <•Teller|GM> "We justlooked andsheattackt usits- it's not our-" Selma says, large eyes quickly tearing up. "Im sorry Rabel. Please-"
11:22 AM <•Teller|GM> Alex looks a little disturbed. "I'll listen, Ravel, but there are things I want to say to you too."
11:22 AM <•Teller|GM> He looks over at Selma and the young man. "You guys can keep playing, if you want. Jade, can you stay with them?"
11:22 AM <•Teller|GM> The young girl in the jumpsuit just nods. ||
11:23 AM Thaliaway → Thalia
11:29 AM <Lex|Ravel> Great, Ravel feels bad for them now. But at least the girl apparently wasn't with them, despite also seeming to be in borrowed clothes.
11:29 AM <Lex|Ravel> "Yeah, I get that," she answers Alex. To Selma, she gives a softer look, more tired than sympathtic. "Look, I'll figure this all out, it's not /you/ I'm angry at, really. Just sit tight for now."
11:29 AM <Lex|Ravel> Technically the truth. It's the adults she's really pissed with. Herself among them. ||
11:30 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Selma's at least an old teenager, just so you know.))
11:30 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "Wow. T-that's tuh-tolerant." Cowl says, with an eyebrow raised. Oh right, right. Had to be nice.
11:31 AM <Teruzi|Caul> He had to balance it out, quickly!
11:32 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "She's nuh-not m-mad at you. P-probably just w-worried about the f-fact you're guh-going to g-get killed. It's a muh-matter of when, muh-more than if."
11:32 AM <Teruzi|Caul> There. That should take the edge off.||
11:32 AM <Lex|Ravel> ((yeah, Ravel's just counting her as a bit younger cause of the crying. Also, I imagine she looks a little younger in the oversized shirt. She's still mad, but teenagers are always dumb))
11:32 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Very fair.))
11:34 AM <•Teller|GM> ...
11:38 AM <•Teller|GM> Selma rubs her eyes with the back of her hand. Wicht elbows Cowl sharply and whispers, "Dude."
11:38 AM <•Teller|GM> Alex steps out into the hallway and shuts the door behind them. He seems tired. Downstairs, the noise of a baby fussing can be heard.
11:38 AM <•Teller|GM> Alex leads them a few steps away from the door and crosses his arms. He looks at Wicht, then Cowl, then finally at Ravel. Despite the metal vest he's wearing, he looks more or less like a normal kid at the moment. Grumpy, but normal.
11:38 AM <•Teller|GM> "Go ahead." ||
11:40 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Might just pause here before we get into the discussion.))
11:40 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Since Teruzi has to go anyway.))
11:40 AM <Lex|Ravel> ((Yeah that's cool))
11:41 AM <•Teller|GM> |||
11:41 AM Lex|Ravel → Lexicon
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1:48 AM ⇐ You disconnected: Connection closed for inactivity
8:25 AM → Lexicon joined  •  FaustAndAbout → Faustus, Teller → •Teller|GM, Teruzi → Teruzi|Caul  •  Channel mode: +nrt
8:53 AM <•Teller|GM> |||
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8:58 AM <Lexicon> God, Ravel thinks,  he's tiny.
8:58 AM <Lexicon> "I- Again, I'm so sorry about this. I tried to solve three problems at once, and only made things worse.  I genuinely was concerned for you, and I was also trying to distract the Rabble from going after someone who /would/ kill them.  As in, I've actually personally seen them do it in an alternate universe. But the biggest part was, I did it to get in contact with you.  I wanted, want, to hire you.  That thing in Yocona, where the
8:58 AM <Lexicon> Wards got hurt? That was my fault, and it's worse than they've been letting on. I- This was going to be my way of trying to make things right."
8:58 AM <Lexicon> Sighing, Ravel tries to recall how she'd hoped it would turn out, before she'd made the speech. If she thinks about, even then there'd been a bad feeling. But yet again, she'd ignored it. Because she'd been so sure about one thing; she couldn't have done nothing.
8:58 AM <Lexicon> "I honestly thought you'd claim the reward yourself, and it'd all be over within the day. Dumb, I know, but that's how this ended up happening." ||
8:58 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ...
9:00 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl listens with apprehension, ready to cut in and silence Ravel if needed. His flippant attitude hiding his loss at what to do.
9:00 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Were the wards that badly hurt? He had heard that Pioneer was hurt in the fight but-
9:01 AM <Teruzi|Caul> He stops clenching his hands with a long exhalation.
9:01 AM <Teruzi|Caul> What was it that his father used to say?
9:01 AM <Teruzi|Caul> 'Hell is full of good meanings, Heaven is full of good works'
9:02 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Once more, the words of his parents come to mind. And he is not able to disagree. This had been somewhat of a mess.||
9:04 AM ↔ Dolyn nipped out
9:06 AM <•Teller|GM> ...
9:10 AM <•Teller|GM> Wicht does a double-take at the mention of the alternate universe, but instead of interrupting he just looks sideways at Cowl.
9:10 AM <•Teller|GM> Alex shifts from one foot to the other as he listens to Ravel's explanation. "So what do you want from me, then?" ||
9:10 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Note that Finial's recovered. Pioneer's still thoroughly blind, though.))
9:11 AM <Lexicon> ((oh right, he is? Well, at least i can help Pioneer))
9:11 AM <Lexicon> ((Kinda thought he'd be the worse off. What with... being inside the building and all))
9:12 AM <Teruzi|Caul> (('tis but a flesh wound))
9:12 AM <•Teller|GM> ((He was injured, but being rubberfied by Culverin gun at the time of the collapse saved him.))
9:12 AM <•Teller|GM> ((*Culverin's))
9:12 AM <Lexicon> ((Oh neat))
9:23 AM <Lexicon> Ravel is pleasantly surprised, she had been expecting more of an outburst already (she tries desperately not to think the word 'explosion').
9:23 AM <Lexicon> "I'd be grateful if you could see what you can do for Pioneer. I was meant to be looking out for her, but she was... blinded. By Ember."
9:23 AM <Lexicon> Belatedly, she adds, "And I can pay you. At least as much as you used to charge. More, even if that's what you want." ||
9:24 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ...
9:24 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl feels his stomach do a jump. Blinded? What? That's horrible.
9:25 AM <Teruzi|Caul> He clicks his tongue when Ravel mentions money, but opts not to say anything. Again. His hands are crossed over his chest.
9:26 AM <Teruzi|Caul> He looks at Wicht. They were hearing some pretty unexpected things today.||
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9:30 AM <•Teller|GM> Alex just nods. "I'll help her."
9:30 AM <•Teller|GM> He sounds surprisingly reasonable for a boy with a bomb in his chest. "I think I can do a better job on Wan now, too. I've treated a lot more of Coy's victims."
9:30 AM <•Teller|GM> "I have conditions, though." ||
9:33 AM <Lexicon> Ravel winces internally. This probably won't be good.
9:33 AM <Lexicon> "Okay," she asks cautiously, "What are they?"  ||
9:34 AM <•Teller|GM> ...
9:45 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Social roll please, Lexicon.))
9:45 AM <Lexicon> ((Charm?))
9:45 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Base.))
9:45 AM <Lexicon> $1d6 Social
9:46 AM <Lexicon> $roll 1d6 Social
9:46 AM <•[ATM]> Lexicon "Social" [5]  = 5
9:49 AM <•Teller|GM> "First, the heroes and the police and everyone like them have to leave me alone," Alex says. From the way he's listing items off on his fingers, it sounds like there are a lot of conditions. "Second, you have to drop the charges against Coy. She's going to be-" he thinks for a second "-working with me, and she's not going to do the stuff she used to."
9:49 AM <•Teller|GM> "Third...you have to deal with the Rabble," Alex finishes. The way he says the last sentence sounds weird to Ravel in a way that worries her. Like she and Alex might have very different ideas of what dealing with the Rabble might entail. ||
9:51 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ...
9:52 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "D-don't overestimate how muh-much influence Ruh-Ravel c-can have" Cowl says, surprised that he's even talking.
9:53 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "I nuh-know w-what you want, b-but it's n-not realistic t-to think she has t-that cuh-kind of pull"
9:54 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "The suh-same way I c-can only kuh-keep Zenith away b-by n-not t-telling where y-you are." He goes on. Wicht was going to probably fuck that up of course.
9:55 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "I t-think suh-something else w-will have to be wuh-worked out with the puh-prt itself. N-not with suh-some ... wuh-well intentioned heroine."||
9:55 AM <•Teller|GM> ...
9:55 AM Lexicon → Lex|Ravel
9:56 AM <•Teller|GM> "She's the whole reason three heroes, Coy, and the Rabble are even /here/," Alex counters. "Those are my conditions." ||
9:56 AM <•Teller|GM> ((*Alex counters stubbornly.))
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10:00 AM <Lex|Ravel> Her lips press into a thin line as Ravel listens to his conditions. "I've got some stuff to say about those first two, but... What exactly do you mean by 'dealing with' them?" While she's following up that legitimate concern, her mind races to figure out how to approach the other issues in a way that didn't leave her with an explosion. ||
10:01 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ...
10:02 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "Wuh-wait. I t-thought it w-was b-because she-" Damn. Cowl is blushing. That felt really stupid.
10:02 AM <Teruzi|Caul> The fact that he has issues saying it makes him feel ashamed. First stuttering and now this.
10:02 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "You nuh-know. Luh-luh-love." He says, as his voice gets quieter and quieter.||
10:02 AM <Lex|Ravel> ...
10:03 AM <•Teller|GM> ...
10:03 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Jinx. Go ahead.))
10:03 AM <Lex|Ravel> ((retracting mine))
10:03 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Okay.))
10:03 AM <•Teller|GM> ((I'll go then.))
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10:08 AM <•Teller|GM> "What?" Alex makes a face at Cowl. "I don't know. She's just...weird and kind of crazy. But she's only here because she followed the Rabble who followed me because of what Ravel said on the radio." ||
10:08 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ...
10:09 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Hey, Lex had dibs.))
10:09 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ((Oh! Sorry))
10:09 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Lex can let you cut if they want.))
10:10 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ((S'alright, mostly banter. Which I suppose is a thing in conversation, eh))
10:10 AM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel's head snaps around to look at Cowl, completely lost. Love? What?
10:10 AM <Lex|Ravel> From what Alex just said... Coy?  As serious as this all is, Ravel finds the idea of mentally checking out of this conversation incredibly tempting. ||
10:10 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "What?" Cowl makes a face at Alex. "D-didn't you t-think to a-ask her ab-about it?"
10:11 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Geez. How self centered could you get.
10:11 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ||
10:11 AM <•Teller|GM> ...
10:21 AM <•Teller|GM> Alex continues making a face. "She's been acting weird for a long time. I told her /I/ don't, but she won't listen. She just-"
10:21 AM <•Teller|GM> He looks like this is an embarrassing topic. Kind of funny that this is what gets to him, out of everything that's going on. "Uh, just don't worry about it."
10:21 AM <•Teller|GM> He looks back to Ravel and straightens his face, trying to regain his composure. "I mean...you shouldn't just throw the Rabble in jail and abandon them."
10:21 AM <•Teller|GM> "They...look up to you, and they want to help. And-" he looks back towards the bedroom door "-I know they're /really/ annoying and they're all crazy, but that just means they need you even more." ||
10:24 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "Oh. I guh-get it. Y-you fuh-follow your own adv-advice." Cowl says nodding his head. Trying his very best not to sound smug.||
10:25 AM <•Teller|GM> ...
10:27 AM <•Teller|GM> Contrary to Cowl's expectations, that just makes Alex look sort of sad. Wicht bumps Cowl unsubtly in the side. ||
10:28 AM <•Teller|GM> ((*Cowl's words just make Alex look sort of sad.))
10:30 AM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel spares an annoyed glace at Cowl. Did he really have to antagonize the kid with the bomb in his chest. Then she gets right back to feeling somewhat sick.  Stalling, she holds up a hand.
10:30 AM <Lex|Ravel> "Sorry, I've got to clear this up right now, but are you talking about /Coy/? Is- what, is she here? And she has a crush?" She sounds as lost as she feels. "How is that-?" ||
10:32 AM <•Teller|GM> ...
10:32 AM → Side|GM joined (uid245947@hathersage.irccloud.com)
10:33 AM <•Teller|GM> Alex looks at Ravel in confusion. "What?" ||
10:34 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ...
10:34 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl looks at Wicht, surprised that he even got an elbowing this time. Then he realizes what it sounded like.
10:35 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "Oh! N-no. That's n-not wuh-what I muh-muh-meant" He says, flustered. His stutter getting worse.
10:35 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "Y-you just suh-suh-seem l-l-like y-you wuh-want to k-k-keep her around." Cowl says stumbling over his words.
10:36 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "It's n-nice." He says, trying and failing to put his feelings into words.
10:36 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "D-don't t-talk about her l-like she isn't here." He says to Ravel. She sure could be rude.||
10:55 AM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel looks around, really hoping she didn't somehow miss seeing a six foot tall snake fish monster.
10:55 AM <Lex|Ravel> Giving up, she just raises her hands in surrender to this absurd situation, then brings them down in front of her mouth.
10:55 AM <Lex|Ravel> "Okay, I'm really confused now, but we can deal with /that/ mess later."
10:55 AM <Lex|Ravel> Getting back on track, she tells Alex, "Look, I'm not sure what else can be done with them. If I'm with them, they get riled up and try to fight villains, which goes very badly. If I stay away, the same thing happens, but with less of them. There's just no winning with them."
10:55 AM <Lex|Ravel> "The thing with the PRT staying away, and the amnesty for Coy..." Ravel thinks hard. "I'm not exactly in the director's good graces, but something might be able to get worked out for the first part, /maybe/." She stresses the maybe a whole lot. "The only thing I've heard of that's anything close to the Coy part, is hints about people joining the Protectorate in exchange for leniency, which I-" She stops, a thought occuring. Peices
10:55 AM <Lex|Ravel> started to fit together, the confusion of the last exchange clearing up a little.
10:55 AM <Lex|Ravel> "Or... would it be the Wards, in this case?" Ravel words it as best she can, watching Alex carefully. ||
10:55 AM <•Teller|GM> ...
10:59 AM <•Teller|GM> "Wards," Alex says slowly. He still doesn't seem to fully get the earlier confusion. "I don't think she'd agree to join, though."
10:59 AM <•Teller|GM> He looks between Ravel and Cowl. "I...don't know what to do with Coy either, but she promised to behave if I let her stay. I don't know if she will but I have to try." ||
11:01 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl nods.
11:02 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "W-when I ... cuh-confronted m-my puh-parents-" Cowl says, slowly "The PRT w-was luh-lenient w-with me"
11:02 AM <Teruzi|Caul> 'Caged, like an animal. Desperate. Throat sore from shouting. Eyes red from sobbing'
11:03 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "Suh-somewhat."
11:03 AM <Teruzi|Caul> 'Pounding the door. Ignored. Waiting silently. Ignored. The cell slowly becoming a cage of goop and frustration.'
11:04 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "I duh-don't t-think they wuh-will b-be as luh-lenient w-with her. But, y-you c-can heal puh-people fuh-from her puh-poison." Cowl says, remembering that extremely disturbing first outing of his.
11:06 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "T-that's b-big, right?" He asks. To be honest, he had recovered just fine by himself. But Coy was not exactly ... the same she was in the docks.
11:06 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ||
11:07 AM <•Teller|GM> ...
11:11 AM <•Teller|GM> "Yeah," Alex says. "If we get into fights with anyone, I can make sure the other people aren't crippled for life."
11:11 AM <•Teller|GM> Wicht looks over at Cowl. "Okay, so maybe there's precedent for the PRT pardoning people and letting them join other groups. But, still...do you like Coy?"
11:11 AM <•Teller|GM> "She's...okay, sometimes, I guess," Alex says.
11:11 AM <•Teller|GM> "That doesn't sound like a yes," Wicht argues. He looks over at Ravel. "And I know you don't like the Rabble." ||
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11:19 AM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel nods as well, taking in the information. "There could be something that could be done, hopefully. If nothing else, it's better than her just doing whatever she was before." If she could explain that Coy was underage, there might be a way to convince the director to go through with it. Coy's file was /scary/, and if Alex could keep her in line... She didn't really like the idea of leaving a kid to handle Coy, but it seemed like
11:19 AM <Lex|Ravel> he was the only way to keep her from killing whoever she wanted.
11:19 AM <Lex|Ravel> To Wicht, she replies, "No, I don't. But they're here because of me. It'll be tough, but if I have to deal with them to help Pioneer, to fix my mistakes, then that's what I'll do."
11:19 AM <Lex|Ravel> Finally, Ravel decides it's time to give a condition of her own.
11:19 AM <Lex|Ravel> "But, Alex, if I can get everyone to leave you alone, if I can get the heroes to lay off of Coy... I need you to see someone. I know about the," she gestures to Alex's chest, where she can only assume the explosive sits, waiting, "And I know that asking you to just remove it won't go well, but I have to do something. We could organise a therapist, completely confidential, they don't tell us anything, but you've gone through stuff
11:19 AM <Lex|Ravel> that no one should have to. I know it sounds patronising, but you're still a kid." Genunine emotion colors her voice, but she pushes through.
11:19 AM <Lex|Ravel> "No one can deal with everything alone, Alex. Please, let someone help you." ||
11:19 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Charm roll, please.))
11:20 AM <Lex|Ravel> $roll 2h6 Charm
11:20 AM <•[ATM]> Lex|Ravel "Charm" [6] (3)  = 6
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11:23 AM <•Teller|GM> Alex makes another face. "I don't need a therapist, and I don't need help."
11:23 AM <•Teller|GM> Wicht hesitates. He looks like he really wants to say something, but he holds back, waiting for Ravel to respond. ||
11:24 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "Of c-course you t-think that" Cowl says out loud. He's looking at Wicht, instead of Alex.
11:25 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Still he turns towards Alex.
11:25 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "B-but, um, uh, um, if it c-could ensure a s-smooth duh-deal with ... t-them" Cowl says, then stops.
11:26 AM <Teruzi|Caul> He shrugs.
11:26 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "Muh-maybe you c-could cuh-consider it." Cowl says, choosing his words carefully. "Cuh-Cassette p-probably would w-want me t-to go."
11:27 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "I agree w-with you. You d-don't nuh-need a t-therapist. B-but you d-do need help. At t-the v-very luh-least you n-need help in kuh-keeping off y-your b-back"
11:28 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl needed to help Alex. He needed it more than Alex needed Cowl's help, probably.
11:28 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "Or y-you nuh-need help w-with guh-groceries. Or luh-learning how t-to drive." Cowl goes on, rambling.
11:30 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "It's n-not all b-bad help"||
11:30 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Social, please, Teruzi|Caul.))
11:30 AM <Teruzi|Caul> $roll 1d6-1 Social
11:30 AM <•[ATM]> Teruzi|Caul "Social" [3] -1 = 2
11:38 AM <•Teller|GM> Alex doesn't seem to pay much attention to what Cowl says, except for the part about a smooth deal. He sighs. "If I talk to someone, then I want something else in return."
11:38 AM <•Teller|GM> "I took some of Pioneer's metal, from the house you guys knocked down. It's /really/ good." There's a light in his eyes. "If I can get a steady supply of that, then you have a deal."
11:38 AM <•Teller|GM> He rubs the back of his head. "And, she doesn't have to if she doesn't want to, but maybe we could work on stuff together sometime. The wall around the Brotherhood mansion is really cool, and it gave me a few ideas." ||
11:43 AM <Lex|Ravel> This is... honestly way better than Ravel had hoped. He'd be maybe seeing a therapist, and meeting with Pioneer too. It was almost perfect. It was what she needed to sell it to the PRT. Ravel smiles wide.
11:43 AM <Lex|Ravel> "I'm sure that will work just fine. I'll have to check with Pioneer, but if you can help her, I don't think there's any way she'll say no."
11:43 AM <Lex|Ravel> It's only the knowledge that she'll have to work with the Rabble somehow that keeps it from being a total victory. ||
11:43 AM <•Teller|GM> ...
11:43 AM ⇐ Divock quit (uid166648@192.184.10.9) Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
11:48 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Base social rolls please, Lex|Ravel and Teruzi|Caul.))
11:48 AM <Lex|Ravel> $roll 1d6 Social
11:48 AM <•[ATM]> Lex|Ravel "Social" [2]  = 2
11:49 AM <Teruzi|Caul> $roll 1d6-1 Social
11:49 AM <•[ATM]> Teruzi|Caul "Social" [1] -1 = 0
11:49 AM <•Teller|GM> "Wait," Wicht says. He rubs his temples. "Wait, wait, wait."
11:49 AM <•Teller|GM> "Dude, this isn't right. You can't force Ravel to put up with the Rabble. Didn't you kick Sydney's violent ex out of this house? This would be like if you made Sydney start dating him again."
11:49 AM <•Teller|GM> Alex frowns at Wicht. "It's different."
11:49 AM <•Teller|GM> "It's the same. Just because they don't hit her doesn't mean they're not abusive."
11:49 AM <•Teller|GM> Alex glares at the final word. Ravel and Cowl are both pretty sure Wicht used it intentionally. Both hands clenched, Alex says, "/It's different/." ||
11:50 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Actually, sorry.))
11:50 AM <•Teller|GM> ((*Ravel is pretty sure))
11:51 AM <Teruzi|Caul> ...
11:52 AM <•Teller|GM> ((Cowl can decide whatever you think is appropriate, just so you know, I'm just not going to explicitly help him pick up on things until he stops rolling 0's.))
11:52 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "D-do you t-think the PRT wuh-won't m-make her d-deal with t-them?" Cowl says, then he sees Alex clenching his fists. His stomach falls.
11:53 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "They are- t-they are tuh-toxic. T-they keep escalating." He says, his voice getting heated.
11:53 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "You nuh-know, I w-was in the car t-that they attacked. T-they tuh-tried to s-stab me!"
11:53 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl turns to face Wicht, feeling his face grow hotter by the second.
11:54 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "Her fuh-fucking fans. Her fuh-fucking puh-problem. She d-dragged t-them here." Cowl almost spits at Wicht.
11:55 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "Your high fuh-fucking horse c-can get fuh-fucked. T-they hurt Hamasaki"
11:56 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl stops, when he realizes he's swearing.
11:57 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "Y-you are ruh-right. He c-can't force her." He says, more evenly.
11:57 AM <Teruzi|Caul> "B-because she nuh-never should have luh-let it g-get to this p-point."
11:57 AM <Teruzi|Caul> Goo drips from his fingertips.||
11:57 AM <Lex|Ravel> ...
12:05 PM <Teruzi|Caul> $roll 2h6-1 Deception
12:05 PM <•[ATM]> Teruzi|Caul "Deception" (5) [6] -1 = 5
12:05 PM <Lex|Ravel> $roll 1d6 Wits Is Cowl a boy
12:05 PM <•[ATM]> Lex|Ravel "Wits Is Cowl a boy" [4]  = 4
12:06 PM <•Teller|GM> ((Cowl seems like a gal.))
12:09 PM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel's hands are over her mouth to cover her horrified expression.
12:09 PM <Lex|Ravel> "You were- God, I'm sorry Cowl, I had no idea."  She couldn't blame Cowl for feeling that way. How had she even been able to stand to be in the same room as her?
12:09 PM <Lex|Ravel> Her head hangs, shameful. "And you're right, I shouldn't have. I'm so sorry you had to go through that." ||
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12:09 PM <•Teller|GM> ...
12:16 PM soulpelt|Manos → soulpelt|
12:20 PM <•Teller|GM> Wicht looks at Ravel. "No, you-"
12:20 PM <•Teller|GM> He turns to Cowl angrily. "You know what? Sorry the Rabble attacked you...but fuck you. You need to unbunch your panties and get your head out of your ass, because you're not helping here."
12:20 PM <•Teller|GM> He steps next to Ravel and puts a hand on her shoulder. "She made a mistake. That doesn't mean she should have to put up with these toxic morons. They belong in prison."
12:20 PM <•Teller|GM> "They're just...crazy stalkers. God. She's a victim as much as anybody. You two, /of all people/, should know it's not her fault."
12:20 PM <•Teller|GM> Alex just shakes his head again. He seems firmly stuck on this point. "You don't understand...and...you don't need to, since this is between me and Ravel." ||
12:21 PM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl clenches his fists this time around. Then he stops.
12:21 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "Okay" He says simply.
12:22 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "I duh-don't think y-you understand. B-but Alex is ruh-right." How to put his feelings into words? An ugly knot of sensations is making Cowl's stomach feel bloated and twisted.
12:23 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "I'm s-sorry I b-b-b-" Oh. Maybe it's a good thing he can't say that word outloud.
12:23 PM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl hates the fact he has to blink back tears.
12:24 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "I s-shouldn't have s-shouted. B-but you're duh-doing the opposite of helping. Y-you j-just w-want to t-tell us w-what to do." Like them. Like everyone else.
12:24 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "She's a hero" At least in theory. "She c-can muh-make a d-deal w-with him"
12:25 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "I'll s-shut up- B-but suh-so should y-you" Cowl finishes saying, trying very carefully to swallow what he wants to say.
12:25 PM <Teruzi|Caul> Wicht was a friend. He didn't understand shit. But he was a friend.||
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12:36 PM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel smiles sadly at Wicht, gently taking his hand from her shoulder. "It's all right, I've had to deal with groups that've gotten toxic before. I just attract the wrong sort, I think. Granted, this is a little more, hm, volatile, but I'll figure it out."
12:36 PM <Lex|Ravel> Granted, Ravel acknowledges to herself that she'd mostly dealt with it by getting away, which hadn't worked in this case exactly. Though maybe with a bigger group, she needed a bigger move. She'd been thinking it over, and decides she's confident she could convince the PRT to transfer her across the country, if she needed it.
12:36 PM <Lex|Ravel> "I'll be ok." She's not sure if that's a lie. ||
12:42 PM <•Teller|GM> Wicht looks as if he kind of wants to punch Cowl, but it's obvious that he's outnumbered. He steps back.
12:42 PM <•Teller|GM> "Okay," Alex says. He slowly unclenches his fists. "Do you need to call someone, Ravel? Or do you want to talk to your fans now?" ||
12:53 PM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl simply crosses his arms. Slowly willing himself to calm down.||
1:07 PM <Lex|Ravel> "I think I'll need to talk to someone, before I can make any kind of agreement with the Rabble." God, Ravel really hoped she could get in contact with someone in charge. She also gives Wicht a sympathetic look. It would have been nice if Cowl hadn't spoken up, she might not have had to deal with the Rabble. ||
1:13 PM ← iridium248 left (iridium248@net-h5p.35d.156.175.IP)
1:13 PM <•Teller|GM> Alex nods. He still looks tense, but there's also some relief visible on his face. "I guess that's it."
1:13 PM <•Teller|GM> He starts walking backwards, moving towards the bedroom. "You can call or come back later after you've talked to whoever you need to talk to."
1:13 PM <•Teller|GM> "But...the Rabble takes up a lot of space, so don't take too long." ||
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1:17 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Right." Now, to figure out how exactly she's going to do that.
1:23 PM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel looks for a quiet corner of the house, where she might not be overheard. Or watched, she thinks, glancing at the camera. She might have to head out to the van if she doesn't want to be listened in on.
1:24 PM <Lex|Ravel> Hell, based on what Wicht had said, even that might not be enough. Tinkers, honestly.
1:24 PM <Lex|Ravel> She heads down the stairs. ||
1:25 PM <•Teller|GM> ...
1:25 PM <•Teller|GM> ((Teruzi|Caul, I can run you in #WDSicolBend2 if you want to have words with Wicht while Ravel is away.))
1:26 PM <Teruzi|Caul> ((Sweet))
1:29 PM <•Teller|GM> It's not a very large house, and Sydney and the man with the metal arm are still downstairs. Ravel ends up back in the privacy of the PRT van, where hopefully only the PRT officer can hear her.
1:30 PM <•Teller|GM> The call is answered quickly. "This is Lieutenant Harris." ||
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1:34 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Ravel here." How to phrase this? "Listen, I need to talk to the Director. I've got some important information, and a way to solve some pressing issues. Can you put me through to her?" ||
1:35 PM <•Teller|GM> A short pause. "The Director is busy. If it's urgent, I can put you through to the Deputy Director." ||
1:37 PM <Lex|Ravel> "It is." Damn. Ravel hopes the Deputy has the power to make a deal like this. ||
1:42 PM ⇐ iridium248 quit (iridium248@net-h5p.35d.156.175.IP) Quit: http://www.kiwiirc.com/ - A hand crafted IRC client
1:45 PM <•Teller|GM> "Okay. Putting you through now, Ravel."
1:45 PM <•Teller|GM> A few seconds later, "Deputy Director Kendrick. What's going on?" ||
1:48 PM <Lex|Ravel> "I've just spoken to Alexander Rinaldi, and... well, a lot of things came out of it. Primarily, he's willing to help Pioneer, and see a therapist on some conditions. The conditions aren't the only complication, though." The bomb might end up being one of the easier things to explain, and that isn't a great sign for the kind of day she's having. ||
1:54 PM <•Teller|GM> "Hm," Kendrick hums. "Who tipped you off about his whereabouts?" ||
2:01 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Two Zenith heroes." She gets the feeling that's not exactly what he was asking. "The Rabble found him too, which was... part of one of the larger complications. The Rabble stumbled on Alex, they weren't doing anything but watching, but Coy had followed them. She apparently attacked them because she wanted to protect Alex." That was such an odd sentence. To forestall Kendricks obvious question, she quickly added, "They're all alive,
2:01 PM <Lex|Ravel> though. Alex fixed them up, and told the heroes to call me." ||
2:06 PM ⇐ Wellwick quit (uid211357@brockwell.irccloud.com) Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
2:07 PM <•Teller|GM> "Okay," Kendrick says. "Nothing too terrible so far. When do you get to the part I'm not going to like?" ||
2:10 PM <Lex|Ravel> Best to just rip off the bandaid. "Alex hates the idea of anyone telling him what to do, controlling him. So he's implanted a bomb in himself." ||
2:12 PM <•Teller|GM> There's a pause that's several beats long. "Got it. What else?" ||
2:12 PM soulpelt| → soulpelt|sleep
2:19 PM <Lex|Ravel> "I was able to talk to him, and he agreed he'd see what he can do about Pioneer's eyes, if the heroes and PRT would leave him alone, drop charges for Coy, and that I'd deal with the Rabble, personally. Specifically, not by "abandoning them".  I was able to get him to agree to see a therapist, so long as he gets some material from Pioneer, and he gets to work with her. She could be our way of keeping an eye on him, without him
2:19 PM <Lex|Ravel> using... yeah. "
2:19 PM <Lex|Ravel> She almost forgets, there's so much going on. "And Coy is a minor, who might be infatuated with him, and he thinks he might be able to keep her from hurting people. " She heaves a sigh.
2:19 PM <Lex|Ravel> "That's about it." ||
2:23 PM <•Teller|GM> "Okay," Kendrick absorbs this information. "Are you in a position to talk freely?" ||
2:25 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Maybe. Alex can apparently block cellphone signals for regular phones, but he was okay with me making this call, and I think he's playing video games with some of the Rabble right now." ||
2:29 PM <•Teller|GM> "Okay," Kendrick repeats for a third time. Ravel is pretty sure he's using the word to stop himself from muttering 'what the fuck' or some other unprofessional phrase. "What's your assessment of the situation?" ||
2:30 PM ⇐ Lid quit  •  Faustus → Feastus
2:37 PM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel one hundred percent empathises with Kendrick. She takes a breath. "I think," she says cautiously, "That we should give it a shot. We'd be sure Alex is getting some kind of professional help, and a possible freindship with Pioneer, not to mention that what this could do for her. We're not really able to go after Coy anyway, so this way we might at least get some warning if she tries to go after someone." She bites her lip.
2:37 PM <Lex|Ravel> "The thing with the Rabble is more of an issue, but Alex made a point that they are my problem. I'm just trying to do what I can to fix my mistakes. I called because, well, the Director took quite a bit of time to let me know my judgement wasn't the best." Also, she can't authorise this herself. ||
2:41 PM <•Teller|GM> "Did he explain the conditions for the bomb he put in himself being set off? Is he only endangering himself, or did he plan to harm others with this explosive?" Kendrick queries. ||
2:43 PM Feastus → Faustus
2:45 PM <Lex|Ravel> "It's just him. I think it was his way over never being controlled against his will again. He's apparently that serious about it." ||
2:52 PM <•Teller|GM> "The main thing we get from this is restoration of Pioneer's vision, and, given time, a potential asset in Rinaldi," Kendrick says thoughtfully. "The price is Tinkering materials, a pardon for Coy, and that you deal with the Rabble. The first is trivial, the second doable, and the third is highly problematic."
2:59 PM <•Teller|GM> "There are a few ways I see this playing out. Have you already settled on terms with Mr. Rinaldi? I cannot go into details if you're not certain of secure communications, but we have been preparing other ways to 'deal' with the Rabble that can be implemented very quickly. All of them much more preferable than you reversing your decision to 'abandon them'." ||
3:07 PM <Lex|Ravel> "I'll be honest, that sounds... very concerning. But, there might be a way I could convince him to drop that part of it. It's not even a deception, but I noticed it was a sore spot for him, and apparently for Cowl, too. It got heated, so I tried to steer the conversation away from it. I'd be worried about pressing the subject though, considering everything," she replies. The 'everything' in her last sentence is somewhat emphasized.
3:07 PM <Lex|Ravel> ||
3:11 PM <•Teller|GM> "Yes. Considering everything," Kendrick repeats. "What would be your plan of action regarding the Rabble if I did authorize this deal?" ||
3:17 PM <Lex|Ravel> "I don't even know, yet," she admits. "This call was partially to give myself some breathing room to figure it out."
3:17 PM <Lex|Ravel> With a dry chuckle, she half-jokes, "Snowdrop managed to master some sense into the ones that attacked her, maybe we drop them in with her." ||
3:24 PM <•Teller|GM> "Excellent plan. I'm sure her power comes with no drawbacks at all," Kendrick says. Thoughtfully, he adds, "Would be a good idea to run them the affected fans through an MS gauntlet at some point, just in case."
3:24 PM <•Teller|GM> "Before we do anything else, we need to see if Pioneer would even consent to be operated on by a Tinker that has put bombs in people before." ||
3:27 PM <•Teller|GM> ((*-them))
3:30 PM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel nods, even though he can't see her. "Yeah, that's important. But Alex wants the Rabble gone soon. I've got a van, but I'm not sure what to do about them. Could buy some time if we took them to a hospital or somewhere to be checked over, I think there's a few experiencing lingering problems, from Coy or the treatment. Even if I convince him to drop the condition with the Rabble, we've still got to deal with these ones." ||
3:35 PM <•Teller|GM> "If you can get him to drop the condition with the Rabble, the deal is authorized. Don't push him too hard."
3:37 PM <•Teller|GM> "Do not accept the deal otherwise, until I am able to speak with Pioneer. She is...otherwise occupied at this time," he seems annoyed. "The possibility of restoring her vision is the only part of this deal that is worthwhile. The other parts-"
3:39 PM <•Teller|GM> "Rinaldi needs help, that much is clear, but this is no different from the time DeWitt poisoned you." That time. Last night. She can still faintly feel the stab wounds. "The message we want to send is not that the PRT will capitulate to the demands of those who do unreasonable things. That just encourages people to keep doing unreasonable things." ||
3:50 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Mm," she answered. Kendrick was ex-CIA or something, and she didn't quite agree with his thinking, labling Alex as a "potential asset". It smacked of exactly the kind of thing Alex was threatening to blow himself up for. The reminder of DeWitt wasn't helping either. What would happen, she wonders, when the PRT can't find a clever way around threats like that. It was scary enough, realizing she might not have accepted the trade for
3:50 PM <Lex|Ravel> her own life, but what about the PRT? What were they willing to do to send that message?
3:50 PM <Lex|Ravel> "I'll see what I can do." She didn't like the idea of leaning on the boy's weak spot regarding abuse, but really, Wicht had a point. Maybe if she sat him down, explained about what they were like... The hospital and Peter both stand out as examples in her mind. ||
3:59 PM <•Teller|GM> "Check in every hour or when you have an update," Kendrick replies. "I'll contact you once I'm able to get into contact with Pioneer."
4:01 PM <•Teller|GM> "Good job, by the way. This /just/ might mitigate the worst of you going on the radio show in the first place." ||
4:05 PM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel is rapidly running out of agreement sounds to make. "Tell me about it. God, this is not how I thought it'd go." More to herself, she mutters, "Stupid alternate dimension me, making me paranoid." Amazing, the only person she can offload blame onto is also herself.
4:05 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Bye." ||
4:11 PM <•Teller|GM> "Bye." Kendrick hangs up. The PRT officer up front stretches a little, but continues to wait quietly. ||
4:19 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Well." Addressing the officer, Ravel lets them know, "This might take some time, so if you think it won't draw much attention, you could move the van back up to the start of the block, might be a better spot to see anything coming our way, just in case. I'll call when we need a pick up either way." ||
4:21 PM <•Teller|GM> The officer nods. "Someone mentioned a possible issue with the comms earlier. Is me being out of earshot still a concern?" ||
4:24 PM ⇐ JustLurking quit (uid195947@brockwell.irccloud.com) Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
4:27 PM <Lex|Ravel> She grimaces. "I'm afraid that if it comes to that, there's not a lot you'd have time to do. Besides, if a regular fight does break out, you'd have to be pretty far not to hear a foam grenade go off." With the bomb literally inside Alex, there wasn't a lot /anyone/ could do.
4:27 PM <Lex|Ravel> "I don't suppose you have experience negotiating with volatile child tinkers? Or crazed stalkers?" Ravel asks. ||
4:29 PM ⇐ Ellardy quit (uid178344@tooting.irccloud.com) Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
4:29 PM <•Teller|GM> "I make a volatile four year old go to sleep every night, and I'm pretty good at dodging calls from my ex-wife," the officer offers. He puts the van into drive. "I don't think those would translate to this situation, though." ||
4:30 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Yeah, probably not," she agrees. She hops out of the van, and quickly reenters the house. ||
4:39 PM <•Teller|GM> ...
4:41 PM <•Teller|GM> The man with the metal arm is still in the living room, though he is currently sitting down on a chair and napping. Sydney is elsewhere - from the sounds of the fussing baby, in the room through the door on the other side of the room.
4:41 PM <•Teller|GM> The house is, otherwise, quiet. This is probably a good thing. ||
4:45 PM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel takes a moment to look around. She's tempted to quickly check on the Rabble, but if they spotted her... No, it'd only make for more trouble, unless there's some way she could guarantee she wouldn't be seen. Best just to head back up stairs and talk to Alex. ||
4:50 PM <•Teller|GM> She only sees Wicht loitering at the top of the stairs. He straightens up when he sees her coming. "Hey. How'd the phone call go?" ||
4:52 PM ⇐ Druza quit (uid209687@hathersage.irccloud.com) Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
4:53 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Ok. They're trying to get in touch with Pioneer, see if she's up for it, but they won't go for it while the whole thing about the Rabble is involved. Guess I should have pushed harder on your point, but I think me saying might have been counter-productive."
4:55 PM <Lex|Ravel> She lowers her voice somewhat. "You were pretty insistent with your word choice with Alex. It's something important to him?" ||
4:56 PM <•Teller|GM> Wicht looks towards the bedroom, then nods. "He and Cowl were both abused, and it sounds like it was bad. I think it might be..."
4:56 PM <•Teller|GM> He trails off, trusting her to get the point. Trigger events were never fun to talk about. ||
5:03 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Yeah." Fuck, this feels scummy. She's trying to help, but its not exactly heroic to use someone's trigger event to get them to change their mind. Still, she wasn't sure what else to do. ||
5:05 PM <•Teller|GM> "I think...if you try to argue with either of them about it, you might not accomplish anything except pissing them off," Wicht says. He's playing with his bat, probably so that he has something to do with his hands.
5:06 PM <•Teller|GM> "But just because they won't listen doesn't mean you should go through with it?" he adds hesitantly. "You shouldn't have to do this." ||
5:13 PM <Lex|Ravel> "The issue is what might happen, if I piss them off," Ravel notes. "Thanks, though. I'm not looking to argue with them, really. Ideally, I could sit down with Alex and explain the kinds of things the Rabble has done. There's a few things that makes the point you were trying to make even clearer."
5:13 PM <Lex|Ravel> She gives Wicht a look. He was so level-headed, for all that his old name and vigilante methods implied.
5:13 PM <Lex|Ravel> "I really do appreciate it, the way you were standing up for me." ||
5:16 PM <•Teller|GM> He's too frazzled to look truly happy, but he does give her a smile. "No problem. At least one person here should be looking out for you." ||
5:21 PM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel smiles back, and it's only a bit forced. "Hah, yeah."
5:21 PM <Lex|Ravel> She knocks on the doorway. "Alex? Can I have a word?" ||
5:21 PM Thalia → Thaliaway
5:26 PM <•Teller|GM> "Idowant to help!" Selma says eagerly. "Whateveryou need, dayor night!"
5:26 PM <•Teller|GM> Her next words make it pretty clear which hero she prefers, however, as she lights up at the sound of Ravel's voice. "HIRAVEL!"
5:26 PM <•Teller|GM> Alex turns away from Cowl to look at Ravel. "Yeah, sure. Jade-"
5:26 PM <•Teller|GM> "I'll watch them," Jade responds. Alex gives Cowl a final look, then steps back out into the hallway. ||
5:34 PM <Teruzi|Caul> ...
5:34 PM <Lex|Ravel> ((Whoops, forgot about those, you go first))
5:34 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "She s-said okay" Cowl mutters, annoyed. He stands up and goes out to the hallway, nevertheless. No point in risking defeat against Coy. He barely managed to maintain the status quo.||
5:35 PM <Lex|Ravel> "I spoke with the PRT. They're calling Pioneer to see if she's up for it, but, though your first two conditions are doable, they won't take the deal while the condition with the Rabble is part of it." Quieter, she continues. "And honestly, while I was trying to work it out, I realised they were right, that Wicht was right. Me and the Rabble... It wouldn't work out."
5:35 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Alex, I need you to understand that I liked being an independent hero, the freedom of it. But I had to join the Protectorate, because of the Rabble." ||
5:36 PM ⇐ Dolyn quit (Dolyn@net-9pf5lr.mo.charter.com) Quit: Leaving
5:37 PM <•Teller|GM> Alex sighs a little bit. "I knew it." He looks at Cowl. "You were right about the PRT."
5:38 PM <•Teller|GM> He looks back at Ravel with a surly expression. "So you don't want to make the deal anymore?" ||
5:44 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "No. She w-want's to d-deal. And y-you want t-to help P-Pioneer, right?" Cowl says, cursing the situation. He was bad at talking.||
5:44 PM <Lex|Ravel> Off to a bad start already. "I do, Alex, I really do. And maybe, if I had the authority, and it was all down to me, I'd go for it. But everything I've done so far has just made things worse, and- and I /know/ that me going back to the Rabble wouldn't help matters." Uncomfortable with the next part, Ravel hugged at her midsection. "Have they mentioned what kinds of things they've done? What /Selma's/ done, even?" ||
5:45 PM <•Teller|GM> ((Social roll, please, Teruzi|Caul and Lex|Ravel.))
5:45 PM <Teruzi|Caul> $roll 1d6-1 Social
5:45 PM <•[ATM]> Teruzi|Caul "Social" [1] -1 = 0
5:46 PM <Lex|Ravel> ((Just base, or is Ravel's enough of an emotional appeal for Charm/))
5:47 PM <•Teller|GM> ((If she starts on the stories she'll get charm. This is a base.))
5:47 PM <Lex|Ravel> $roll 1d6 Social
5:47 PM <•[ATM]> Lex|Ravel "Social" [5]  = 5
5:50 PM <•Teller|GM> Ravel can see on Alex's face that this point is extremely important to him. Maybe he even knows it's not a great idea, deep down, but he's feeling rather than thinking right now. He also looks a little guilty. She could probably badger him into helping Pioneer for free, except for the fact that badgering the boy with the bomb in himself might not be the best idea.
5:52 PM <•Teller|GM> "I already know that they're crazy and awful," he says, but he's shaking his head even as he says it. "I want to help, but...that's the deal. It includes them too."
5:52 PM <•Teller|GM> Wicht looks like he wants to argue some more, but he refrains. ||
5:53 PM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl wants to say more. He really freaking does. But he's not good at knowing what to say. He stands there somewhat awkwardly.
5:54 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "If- If t-they suh-say it's o-okay. C-could I assist Ruh-Ravel? I d-don't-" Cowl wrings his hands. He just had to blow up at Wicht. Idiot.
5:54 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "I d-don't want to fuh-force her to d-do it. It's wrong." Cowl says, looking at the floor and then at Alex.
5:54 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "It's wrong." He says with more certainty.||
5:55 PM → Gordeox joined (uid268330@192.184.10.9)
6:06 PM <Lex|Ravel> The Zenith heroine's offer startles Ravel at least as much as anything else that's happened today.
6:06 PM <Lex|Ravel> "No, Cowl," she says, louder than nescessary. At a more normal volume, "I won't get you involved with them as well. You can't be pulled into it too."
6:06 PM <Lex|Ravel> Her face is full of sad sympathy when she turns back to Alex. "I know this is important to you, Alex, but sometimes," she trails off for a second, then manages to keep going. "Sometimes, you can't help everyone. Or at least you can't help everyone at once. And I've tried, okay? Before I came here, I was doing everything I could to keep them out of trouble, to calm down." The memories weren't pleasant.
6:06 PM <Lex|Ravel> "But nothing worked. I mentioned earlier, groups have gotten toxic around me before. The only solution was to get out, but that wasn't even enough here. I changed cities and they broke into my hospital room and bugged it." She shudders. Selma was literally feet away. It had been her idea.
6:06 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Maybe someone can help them." Ravel looks into Alex's eyes, hoping she's not pushing him too hard. "But that's not me, not right now." ||
6:11 PM <•Teller|GM> Alex gives Cowl a /look/. "Nobody's forcing her. She's the one who came hunting for me because she wanted something."
6:11 PM <•Teller|GM> He turns back to Ravel, frustrated. "Somebody has to help them. If you won't do it, then I will."
6:11 PM <•Teller|GM> "Even if they don't really want me. They want /you/. Who else /can/ help them?" ||
6:13 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "T-that's not ruh-really t-true. She m-might d-do it just t-to help Puh-Pioneer" Cowl shrugs, giving Alex a look of his own. Not that the thought that would do any good.
6:14 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "W-wait. Do y-you t-think you c-can help them?" Cowl asks, surprised.||
6:14 PM <•Teller|GM> ...
6:16 PM <•Teller|GM> "She'd be getting something in return," Alex says, sounding very firm about this concept for someone his age. "It would be a deal. Nobody is forcing anyone."
6:18 PM <•Teller|GM> He sounds less firm, however, when he answers his question. "I don't know. You said you'd help them, and you don't seem like you know what you're doing either."
6:19 PM <•Teller|GM> Wow. "I'd have to try, at least." ||
6:23 PM → Divock joined (uid166648@192.184.10.9)
6:30 PM <Lex|Ravel> Sam, is very, very tired. She just wanted to fix things, and be a superhero. Ravel though, can't afford to give up.  "I know they /want/ me, but what do you think I should actually do? They're addicts, Alex, except it's not drugs, it's me they're addicted to. I could give them what they want, but I'd just be hurting them more, in the long run." At this point, they're just hitting their heads against a brick wall. Neither sideis
6:30 PM <Lex|Ravel> getting through to the other. Maybe a compromise would work. After all, therapy for Alex is already on the table...
6:30 PM <Lex|Ravel> "I want them to get better too. What if, and this is a real longshot, what if I could organize that the Rabble got help? Real, actual professional mental help. It'd be difficult, there's what, almost," Ravel does a quick count in her head, "Thirty?"
6:30 PM <Lex|Ravel> "The PRT doesn't want them out on the streets, but if they could get better... Could do some sort of group therapy thing, with me there for a bit to make sure they actually come. I'll be honest, I don't know anything about that kind of stuff, but... If I set that up, would that be enough? I'd only be helping the ones who were willing to step forward, but it's better than all of them ending up in prison, or worse." ||
6:32 PM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl raises his eyebrows. He makes sure not to say anything to screw that offer up. Although he does look at Wicht.||
6:38 PM <•Teller|GM> Wicht gives the tiniest shrug of his shoulders back at Cowl.
6:38 PM <•Teller|GM> Alex thinks for a few moments, then just gives her a sad look. "You...just don't want to deal with them, do you?"
6:40 PM <•Teller|GM> He sighs and looks down. He seems really tired too. "It's fine. They're crazy. Who would want to deal with them?"
6:42 PM <•Teller|GM> "I'll...figure something else out." ||
6:44 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Alex..." Ravel searches for words, and can't find any.
6:45 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Alright. Looks like we can't make the deal happen, but I'll get the Rabble out of your hair, and do what I can to keep the PRT off your back."
6:46 PM <Lex|Ravel> Finally, she's run out of things to try. It really sucks.
6:46 PM <Lex|Ravel> "I'm sorry this didn't work out." She really is. ||
6:47 PM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl looks at Wicht as if to say 'It wasn't my fault this time around'
6:48 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "W-wait. Alex, g-given that n-none of us nuh-knows how t-to help" Cowl begins talking, without actually knowing what the hell will he say next.
6:48 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "S-shouldn't we, uh-" Shouldn't we what? What Cowl?
6:49 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "I muh-mean, s-shouldn't we l-look fuh-for s-someone who c-can?" Cowl finally stumbles.
6:50 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "Okay, s-so Ruh-Ravel c-can't deal w-with them. And honestly, I d-don't buh-blame her. And they d-did t-try to stab m-me."
6:50 PM <Teruzi|Caul> Wait, what was the point he was making?
6:51 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "But I-" Fuck.
6:51 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "I d-don't luh-like giving up on puh-people. I d-don't nuh-know how t-to help. But I d-do want to."
6:51 PM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl rubs the back of his head.
6:52 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "I nuh-need time. We n-need time. C-can you p-please keep t-the duh-deal in hold?" That was a sorry attempt at communication. But it was what Cowl had. At least he was honest about it.||
6:53 PM <•Teller|GM> ((*on hold))
6:53 PM <Teruzi|Caul> ((Was about to say, yeah))
6:56 PM <•Teller|GM> Alex looks between Ravel and Cowl. To Ravel, he says, "You can just leave them here for now, then. I should double check Selma's bloodwork anyway. Her speech isn't as clear as it should be right now."
6:57 PM Faustus → FaustAsleep
6:58 PM <•Teller|GM> He also looks a little guilty. "Of course the deal's still open. I want to help Pioneer...but I have to help them, too." ||
6:58 PM <Teruzi|Caul> ((Lexi, can I do a quick follow up?))
6:58 PM <Lex|Ravel> ((go for it))
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6:59 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "If, um, uh, if we c-can s-show you a s-satisfactory m-middle ground." Cowl raises a hand before Alex can get stubborn and deny such a thing.
6:59 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "As unlikely as t-that muh-might s-seem" He goes on.
7:00 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "on a w-way t-to help the ruh-rabble, um, uh, w-would you cuh-consider a-altering the d-deal?"
7:01 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "T-theoretically"||
7:01 PM <•Teller|GM> "Altering it how?" ||
7:02 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "R-Ravel. N-not suh-saddled with the Ruh-rabble. B-but the Ruh-rabble d-dealt with"||
7:03 PM <•Teller|GM> Alex sounds a little suspicious. "I guess. If it's not just...arresting them, or throwing them away." ||
7:04 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "No. N-not t-throwing anyone away." Cowl says with conviction.||
7:09 PM → ColdGold joined
7:16 PM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel furrowed her brow. That's what she thought she was suggesting. Maybe she wasn't clear enough? Regardless, she's grateful Alex is open to the idea.
7:16 PM <Lex|Ravel> "You've got something in mind?" She asks Cowl. "I do want to help them." ||
7:18 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "N-not exactly. I w-would have t-to talk with Cuh-Cassette. N-no puh-promises, but it m-might work out" Cowl answers, neutrally.
7:19 PM <Teruzi|Caul> ||
7:21 PM <•Teller|GM> "As long as she doesn't try to make me do anything," Alex warns. Cowl had been quite clear about what he thought of Cassette in their first conversation.
7:23 PM <•Teller|GM> Wicht does his best to keep a straight face and not look at Cowl. Cassette would want to help Alex as badly as badly as he wants to help the Rabble. She'd probably hug him too. ||
7:29 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "She s-shouldn't g-get cuh-close at all" Cowl reassures Alex. "T-trust me. I'll b-buffer her away"
7:29 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "Good?" He asks Ravel.||
7:31 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Better than how it was going to go. Thanks, Cowl." She wasn't sure how she thought Cassette could help with all this, but Ravel would take what she could get at this point. ||
7:34 PM <•Teller|GM> Alex is clearly not used to playing host. He's shifting back and forth on his feet again, waiting for someone else to say something.
7:34 PM <•Teller|GM> "I guess we should get going, then," Wicht finally says. "We can see what Cassette thinks about...whatever it is you have in mind." ||
7:35 PM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl nods awkwardly.
7:35 PM <Teruzi|Caul> "Uh r-right. Suh-sorry, Alex. S-shouldn't cuh-crowd the p-place. T-talk to y-you later?" Cowl says unsure, moving downstairs slowly.||
7:40 PM <Lex|Ravel> "How long do you need to check over the Rabble again? I'll come by again and collect the Rabble as soon as you think they're recovered." Selma's slurring was concerning, but Ravel would prefer them away from Alex as soon as possible. ||
7:41 PM <•Teller|GM> "...and do what with them?" Alex asks. ||
7:45 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Probably check them over again. It's not that I don't trust your work, it's just, with powers involved, anything could happen. But that's probably it. It's not like we can arrest them for doing what I asked." Ravel's not even sure if thats the truth, or if she wants it to be. ||
7:49 PM <•Teller|GM> "Okay," Alex agrees quietly. "Get Dr. Heiland to take a look at them. He was one of the doctors who helped me when Coy poisoned Wan. He should know what to test for." ||
7:50 PM <Teruzi|Caul> ||
7:54 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Heiland," she repeats, trying to memorise it, "Right. Thanks. Should I take them now, or-, here," she pulls a pen and a notepad out of one of her pockets, and scribbles down the number for her Protectorate phone. "Use this," she says, handing the paper over. "If I can help with anything." ||
7:57 PM <•Teller|GM> Alex accepts it. "You can pick them up tomorrow." He looks like he's thinking. "Maybe the filter pump was overworked with so many people attached to it, or the compressor wasn't getting enough power..."
7:57 PM <•Teller|GM> It's how Pioneer gets when she's getting ready to Tinker, if slightly less babbly. He's going to be in his own world soon.
7:57 PM <•Teller|GM> "I'll call." ||
7:57 PM <•Teller|GM> ((Last posts?))
7:59 PM <Teruzi|Caul> ...
8:00 PM <Teruzi|Caul> Cowl sighs relieved. That had no reason to work at all. None! And yet it did. Now he just had to figure out how could Cassete POSSIBLY help without getting directly involved. That conversation was going to suck.
8:00 PM <Teruzi|Caul> And yet, he still finds it in himself to look extremely smug as he eyes Wicht.
8:01 PM <Teruzi|Caul> Finding a therapist that didn't call themselves that would be the first step, the rest of the steps would be ... winging it. He really had no idea of what he was doing.
8:01 PM <Teruzi|Caul> But at least he was doing -something-
8:01 PM <Teruzi|Caul> And poor Ravel wouldn't have to suffer her rabble for now.
8:02 PM <Teruzi|Caul> Damn. He hoped Selma would be knocked out by Alex. That way she wouldn't be in a state to text.||
8:02 PM <Lex|Ravel> "Great." Ravel left Alex to it. It wasn't a win, but it also wasn't as much of a disaster as she'd feared earlier. She'd give Wicht and Cowl her number too. They were good kids.
8:02 PM <Lex|Ravel> Ravel headed downstairs, and called the trooper with the van. ||
8:06 PM <•Teller|GM> Wicht gives Cowl a look and rolls his eyes, but follows both of them downstairs and back to the van. They're not out of the woods yet, but...they're at least limping in what they hope is the right direction.
8:06 PM <•Teller|GM> Now to talk to Cassette. ||
8:06 PM <•Teller|GM> ||||