The following warnings occurred:
Warning [2] Undefined variable $awaitingusers - Line: 33 - File: global.php(816) : eval()'d code PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/global.php(816) : eval()'d code 33 errorHandler->error
/global.php 816 eval
/showthread.php 24 require_once
Warning [2] Undefined array key "style" - Line: 874 - File: global.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/global.php 874 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 24 require_once
Warning [2] Undefined property: MyLanguage::$lang_select_default - Line: 5014 - File: inc/functions.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions.php 5014 errorHandler->error
/global.php 874 build_theme_select
/showthread.php 24 require_once
Warning [2] Undefined array key "additionalgroups" - Line: 6953 - File: inc/functions.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions.php 6953 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions.php 5041 is_member
/global.php 874 build_theme_select
/showthread.php 24 require_once
Warning [2] Undefined array key "mybb" - Line: 1919 - File: inc/functions.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions.php 1919 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_indicators.php 41 my_set_array_cookie
/showthread.php 626 mark_thread_read
Warning [2] Undefined array key "additionalgroups" - Line: 6953 - File: inc/functions.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions.php 6953 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_user.php 733 is_member
/inc/functions_post.php 399 purgespammer_show
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "profilefield" - Line: 6 - File: inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code 6 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_post.php 467 eval
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "canonlyreplyownthreads" - Line: 642 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 642 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showimages" - Line: 700 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 700 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showvideos" - Line: 705 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 705 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "additionalgroups" - Line: 6953 - File: inc/functions.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions.php 6953 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_user.php 733 is_member
/inc/functions_post.php 399 purgespammer_show
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "profilefield" - Line: 6 - File: inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code 6 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_post.php 467 eval
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "canonlyreplyownthreads" - Line: 642 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 642 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showimages" - Line: 700 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 700 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showvideos" - Line: 705 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 705 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "additionalgroups" - Line: 6953 - File: inc/functions.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions.php 6953 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_user.php 733 is_member
/inc/functions_post.php 399 purgespammer_show
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "profilefield" - Line: 6 - File: inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code 6 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_post.php 467 eval
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "canonlyreplyownthreads" - Line: 642 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 642 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showimages" - Line: 700 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 700 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showvideos" - Line: 705 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 705 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "additionalgroups" - Line: 6953 - File: inc/functions.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions.php 6953 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_user.php 733 is_member
/inc/functions_post.php 399 purgespammer_show
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "profilefield" - Line: 6 - File: inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code 6 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_post.php 467 eval
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "canonlyreplyownthreads" - Line: 642 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 642 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showimages" - Line: 700 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 700 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showvideos" - Line: 705 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 705 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showimages" - Line: 743 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 743 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "additionalgroups" - Line: 6953 - File: inc/functions.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions.php 6953 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_user.php 733 is_member
/inc/functions_post.php 399 purgespammer_show
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "profilefield" - Line: 6 - File: inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code 6 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_post.php 467 eval
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "canonlyreplyownthreads" - Line: 642 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 642 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showimages" - Line: 700 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 700 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showvideos" - Line: 705 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 705 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showimages" - Line: 743 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 743 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "additionalgroups" - Line: 6953 - File: inc/functions.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions.php 6953 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_user.php 733 is_member
/inc/functions_post.php 399 purgespammer_show
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "profilefield" - Line: 6 - File: inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code 6 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_post.php 467 eval
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "canonlyreplyownthreads" - Line: 642 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 642 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showimages" - Line: 700 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 700 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showvideos" - Line: 705 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 705 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "additionalgroups" - Line: 6953 - File: inc/functions.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions.php 6953 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_user.php 733 is_member
/inc/functions_post.php 399 purgespammer_show
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "profilefield" - Line: 6 - File: inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code 6 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_post.php 467 eval
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "canonlyreplyownthreads" - Line: 642 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 642 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showimages" - Line: 700 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 700 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showvideos" - Line: 705 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 705 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "additionalgroups" - Line: 6953 - File: inc/functions.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions.php 6953 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_user.php 733 is_member
/inc/functions_post.php 399 purgespammer_show
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "profilefield" - Line: 6 - File: inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code 6 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_post.php 467 eval
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "canonlyreplyownthreads" - Line: 642 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 642 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showimages" - Line: 700 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 700 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showvideos" - Line: 705 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 705 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "additionalgroups" - Line: 6953 - File: inc/functions.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions.php 6953 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_user.php 733 is_member
/inc/functions_post.php 399 purgespammer_show
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "profilefield" - Line: 6 - File: inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code 6 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_post.php 467 eval
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "canonlyreplyownthreads" - Line: 642 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 642 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showimages" - Line: 700 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 700 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showvideos" - Line: 705 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 705 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "additionalgroups" - Line: 6953 - File: inc/functions.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions.php 6953 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_user.php 733 is_member
/inc/functions_post.php 399 purgespammer_show
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "profilefield" - Line: 6 - File: inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php(467) : eval()'d code 6 errorHandler->error
/inc/functions_post.php 467 eval
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "canonlyreplyownthreads" - Line: 642 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 642 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showimages" - Line: 700 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 700 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "showvideos" - Line: 705 - File: inc/functions_post.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/inc/functions_post.php 705 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1063 build_postbit
Warning [2] Undefined array key "invisible" - Line: 1497 - File: showthread.php PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/showthread.php 1497 errorHandler->error
Warning [2] Undefined variable $threadnotesbox - Line: 30 - File: showthread.php(1524) : eval()'d code PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/showthread.php(1524) : eval()'d code 30 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1524 eval
Warning [2] Undefined variable $ratethread - Line: 38 - File: showthread.php(1524) : eval()'d code PHP 8.1.27 (Linux)
File Line Function
/showthread.php(1524) : eval()'d code 38 errorHandler->error
/showthread.php 1524 eval




Counsel / Council (Attn: all)
#21
Kalen was expecting that the news would not be good.  This is a different shade of horror from perhaps what he had thought that he would encounter.  Still, this is Alexander.  Whom he has referred to as both his brother and his griffon; among those in Denver, only Grace has also been referred to with any kind of possessive terms.  His fox.  His Virtual Adept.  His partner in crime.  And here she is, ready to charge in.

In these moments, he can remember a girl who did not yet know that she would be this marvelous creature.  He has always known.  Though, perhaps, not which of all the possible variants on that creature she would be.  That, to him, is irrelevant.  It is only all the blazing possibility crackling at the edges of his awareness ready to be made manifest he is drawn to.  It plays out from there as it must.

There are other worlds and other lives and he does not believe any longer that any loss can be eternal.  Love can be eternal.  Hope can be eternal.  Perhaps struggle and war and horror will also prove eternal.  So:

His fingers tighten on the mug cradled in his hands and he is quiet at first.  He listens.  He breathes.  And, let us be honest, he prays.  Of course he does.

But then his attention is wrested away from divinity and faith and abstract concepts to a single moment, through a series of related moments, and then to this particular moment.  Nick's cutting into the exchange between Grace and the doctor earns him a brief smile.  It even hits his eyes for a second, because whatever is going on, Kalen can feel a dizzying array of emotions at once.  Usually does, in fact.

"I can request a detailed report of the findings of another member of the Order who came here to assess the Technocratic threat and weigh our options for war.  We can speak with one other contact I am aware of, others with have them, and reassess from there with the full whole of what we know from there.  If he was dead, it would seem improbable that any such effort would be being made to hide that fact; so we may reasonably conclude that he is alive, at least, for the moment."

Kalen has to take a careful breath before he speaks again.  Measured.  Controlled.  As though this control could possibly extend to his thoughts.  To the too-fast pulse he can feel in the hollow of his throat.  "What we cannot reasonably conclude, is that the person we reclaim from them will be the same person that they took."  What he is not willing to conclude is apparently that they will be unsuccessful.  Reason can be damned there, apparently.

"We will need to be prepared not only to find him and to go out and get him, but to handle whatever complications there might be."  Whatever complications there might be.  You know.  In case Alexander's mind has been overwritten.  His memories taken.  Kalen does not elaborate there.

"If that is not something that we can do here, there is somewhere I can take him.  Though, Alexander would prefer, undoubtedly, to remain here.  This is our home."
Reply
#22
Pen is alert and attentive. And sitting, now. Ankle on her knee, legs crossed like a man's, one hand on her ankle. Nicholas has heard about Alexander, Pen has met Alexander, but Pen doesn't connect Serafíne's story with anybody she's met.

"Two rumors going around could be factored in here. 

"One, and I personally count this as confirmed fact because of its source. The Technocracy's lab in Denver has recently had a 'fairly sizable influx of personnel.' This could actually serve us quite well. New staff means unfamiliar faces, an unclear pecking order, and loads of paperwork. Even if the lab in Denver happens to be hyperefficient and without flaw, they can't all be untouched by the callous hand of human error and now there are some new guys. This provides us with a -- decent -- stage to enact a Daring Extraction. Send someone in, undercover, to rescue this fellow, outfitting this someone with all the advantage we can scrounge together. In and out. Difficult, yes. But… with the right information - " Naturally, flicker of her attention to the Mercurial Elite here. " - and enough gumption, not impossible." 

"Two. And this one really is a rumour. Possible allies on the inside now, the inside being the Technocratic Union, the rumor being there is a group made unhappy by the choices the Union is making… especially as relates to igniting another Ascension War. Now if this is the case -- be prepared, ladies and gentlemen, for heavy speculation! Obviously, this one would be a really nice rumour to confirm. If this is the case, and members of this faction are already in Denver, could we presume they would be interested in a Traditionalist taken in for questioning as this Alex was? And, presuming that, could we not presume they might be on his side? Or, if not on his side, open to persuasion?

"What I'm getting at here is IF we have Magi skilled in Entropy Time Correspondence, if we have friends of Alex's who might possess some meaningful personal effect could we not roll the dice practice some form of -omancy and, using Alex, or rather the idea of him and the fact of him, to sort-of boomerang find these potential allies and make contact with them. 

"We can presume he is being held somewhere heavily warded," and this time her graylight eyes flicker-flame in acknowledgment of Serafíne. "I wouldn't be surprised if the Union's facility was in the UC Denver school of public health and dentristy, but this is because my prejudice says there cannot be a more thoroughly boring and yet also terrifying fortress for 'Reason.' The other member of the Order who Kalen mentioned should know."

Wandering, Pen. Refocus: "Anyway. Although Alex's person would be always heavily warded those we might contact will not be -- and thus vulnerable to a Find You Out spell."

"Be nice to have somebody already on the inside to help with that Daring Covert Extraction."

"As for his current state of mind, how much of a threat is the Union likely to deem this Alex? What is he like?"
Reply
#23
The Verbena frowns down at her glass as Dan begins.

That frown only intensifies when Serafine chimes in and by the time she's done the brunette's knuckles are almost white from the ferocity of her grip around her wineglass. There's voices, then. Grace and the Doctor and then over to others but all Kiara can truly hear is a ringing in her ears and the hot trickle of anger.

Worst fears can come true, too and this has (always) been one of hers. Only she had made certain assumptions regarding who would be the one taken. Perhaps that had been a gross sort of egotism on Kiara's behalf, to imagine she'd be the only one they'd target because of course they'd position the cross-hairs on someone like Alexander, with his connections and the ease of access to him.

Of course.

"Dionaea muscipula," she says quietly, after a sip of wine. "The Venus flytrap waits for insects to trigger not just one, but two tiny receptors before it springs shut. It waits for that exact moment. It's very clever." There's a sharp inhale, the Verbena lifts her eyes. "I agree with the Doc in that we need to be cautious about how we do this." A cut of dark eyes to Sepúlveda. She'd handed him off a glass of wine earlier - half the pagan's is already consumed though the flush that's risen to her cheeks doesn't seem entirely of its doing. There's a degree of anger in the Verbana, a tremor of unvoiced fury present there.

She pauses, waits for Kalen and Pen to speak, then, head tilted at the latter, says with the slow framing of forming speculation: "Advantage like altering their appearance. A new employee, a recent transfer. It would be incredibly risky, but - not impossible." A beat. Kiara's narrow shoulders curl in, she seems, momentarily, quite beaten down by the goings on, her fingers lifting to touch her temples, eyes closing briefly. "This building where we think he may be being held, it's possible that I can see into it from the other side. Step across and gain some insights.

I may be able to get some help from the spirits in the area, too. They see a lot more than we imagine."
Reply
#24
His wife was Verbena. Some of the gathered know this already. Some of the gathered know what befell that woman already.

Sepúlveda's anger is not Kiara's anger. Though his love belonged to her tradition their furies do not well from the same spring. The Etherite does not seem angered by this though by the sounds of it he is informed.

As Kiara speaks he listens. His glass is as emptied as is hers. His eyes flick to Pen's after she has finished speaking.

"This new laboratory." The fuck does he have to lose. "I'll go." For those who don't know: "I work for the county, as a medical examiner. I have some training in Mind. Say I go in after this Alexander, under official pretense. If I had another backing me up, I could gain some intelligence." A beat. Aimed towards Grace: "Do not mistake the Technocrats for gods, Gracia. They have the same hot blood as do we; they have no choice but to cooperate, though, eh?"
Look. I have school. And RP. And all my other time is taken up by sheer, unreasoning panic. I don't have time for Reddit.
-- ixphaelaeon
Reply
#25
"Alex is an apprentice."  Sera answers Pen's question, "He's an orphan and he's always seemed pretty straight-laced to me.  His magick isn't strong enough to break reality.  I can't imagine that he's a prime target for the Order.  Ever.  Kidnapping him and holding him - "

Flat-mouthed, here.  Something sharp and angry cuts through the scrim of her exhaustion.  Her small hands are fisted and there is something something something -

Dan cuts in.  "The way we see it, there are two ways we get Alex back.  One is go get in there somehow and take him back.  The other is to get them to give him back, and hell, maybe to think it was their idea to give him back all along.  If we have to do it the first way, it sounds like everyone here is willing to do whatever is necessary to make it happen.  

"But if the second path is viable, it seems like it's the safest for everyone here, and especially for Alex.  Hell, if they let him go, there's no reason he couldn't resume his own goddamned life and job.  Now, I don't know much about the internal workings of the Technocratic Union, but I watched a helluva lot of the original X-files, so I am pretty convinced I have some idea about how shitty, controlling bureaucracies work.  If we, somehow, get the less militant faction to frame this  Agent Weston as a crazy Fox Mulder type, kidnapping innocent fucking apprentices who are suspected of nothing more than being wrong-place wrong-time wrong-day, maybe they can force his release."

Dan takes a deep breath: inhales through the nose.  Exhales the same way.  These little gears turning as he marshals his thoughts.    

"We've got what, two - " a glance at Sera, " - maybe three ways back to them.  That guy who contacted Will last summer.  This - entity? -  who's been in contact with Kalen.  Which, I'm not sure I really understand?  And Pen's idea, which I think Sera has the magick to pull off if no one else does."

"Grace, I think it's fair to conclude that Ginger is compromised, but they don't know that we know.  Maybe you start putting your hacking skills and magick to work by making it seem as if we are still using it.  If they've cracked our code and we know they've cracked it, we can use Ginger to feed them false info, or false leads, or hell, just string them along until we really need to feed them something.  I'm also thinking that maybe you could do something with any compromised phone numbers: some kind of rote spell to replicate pre-compromise use.  You know: make it seem like someone's still calling, texting, surfing the 'net just as much as ever.  Amplify the noise they have to sift through to actually find us."

"Then there's Leah.  If you haven't met her, you probably shouldn't.  Best to be able to say, truthfully, that you don't have any goddamned idea who the girl in the picture is.    But I don't know: maybe we take it another step.  Maybe we fake her death far away from Denver, dramatically and convincing enough that the Order mothballs their investigation of her for another five years.  That, I'm not sure if it's achievable, or what we'd need to make it real enough to convince the order.  But it would give her - and us - and maybe Alex - some breathing room.

"I mean, if it has to be daring rescue, it'll be daring rescue.   But maybe it doesn't have to be."
But my heart is wild and my bones are steel
And I could kill you with my bare hands if I was free.

- Phosphorescent, Song for Zula
Reply
#26
Oh, she wants that. Dan is discussing going in and taking Alexander back by force and there's that scratch and illumination, like a match-head drawn against the side of the box. That flicker of fire that dances through Kiara's dark eyes where she stands cradling that wine glass against her chest. She's silent for much of this - the debate, the turning over of decisions and probable routes.

In her mind's eye she sees it: the reckoning.

The laboratory up in flames, Alexander freed and the others - fleeing like rats from a sinking sink. Cowering and ruined.

There's little room for mercy in the Verbena's fantasy, in the hot-blooded whiplash of it as blood and vengeance play out their pretty imaginings in her grim little tucked in expression; the fine pull in of her brows as she pours another glass of wine. It trickles out with a tidy little glug, droplets of dark red painting the sides of the glass.

Then she frames the bench with one hand. Lets the wine scrap away the edges; dull the roar of payback. The jangle of it against her nerves; pulsing in time with her heart.

It doesn't have to be a daring rescue - but part of Kiara Woolfe desperately wants for it to be. "Faking her death might not be impossible if it comes to that. With the right tools. Manipulating certain aspects. It just has to be convincing, not perfect." She lets her eyes tick to the Doctor, then Kalen. "There are ways we could probably pull that off." Kiara doesn't offer details on what that idea might require. DNA altering. Pattern changing on a base level.

"Especially since at least two of us have medical training." Her dark eyes tick away, she breathes in sharply. Says no more.
Reply
#27
She squints at Doctor Sepúlveda. He must think her extremely stupid. She never claimed they were gods, so why is he telling her that? Except if it's to tell himself, even as he signs himself up for an undercover mission -- with his inability to say five sentences without pissing somebody off. Martyrdom complex? Maybe. He's also the one most likely to pass himself off as a scientist, because he, well, is one. If he's willing, Grace won't argue with that.

But, Gracia? 

Nevermind. Arguing is a distraction.

Sera gets a quick nod. It was already in Grace's plans to use Ginger for whatever it could, be it passing messages to whichever person now holds Alex's phone, or spreading disinformation. Making it look like it's being used would be easy enough. Generate some fake threats, generate some fake messages about the fake threats.

"I can do that. I can also try to confirm if Ginger has been accessed, although if they're smart, they're hiding that. Anybody who has it, though? Might want to ditch your phone. At least, for a while. There's protections in place to keep the network from being sussed out, but anything's possible."

Usually, that is a good thing. Anything is possible! Go, ride your T-rex into the oceans of possibility! But it goes both ways.

"Kalen can provide you a replacement," she volunteers, for him, because she can, and because she knows him well enough to realize that's about as much an imposition as asking him to grab her a beer from the fridge.

She's not so much thinking about it when she wanders over in Kalen's direction. It's just a thing that happens. She bumps up against his side, like a cat showing affection. No arms, no hugs, just that. It'll be okay. It'll be okay -- that's the thing that she's trying to tell herself.
Reply
#28
Kiara's head-cant and the slow dawn of speculation. Advantages like, the Verbena says, and the spark of some acknowledging light sifts up through Pen's serious eyes. Quiet thumb and middle-finger snap, ending in a Yes Like Those finger-gun point. Sepúlveda volunteers. Pen leans forward. Rests her elbow on her knee, chin on her thumb, forefinger curled around her mouth. Serafíne. Attentiveness. Dan. The bells of Ys are drowned and silver; they only peal-out sorrow, fog-drenched and soon-lost; shadow-dappled, salt-wave sea. 

During all the listening, she takes the top off her coffee spares a quick glance into cup damn it empty puts cup back down on the table. Pulls a moleskine out of her coat pocket or a pencil out of her bag and makes a few illegible notes.

"Let's see. I have Andrés and Kiara - " Questioning flick of a glance. (?) " - interested in the physical role of going in to rescue Alex. I have Grace manipulating lines of communication we might now expect the Union to now have access to or be aware of to spread misinformation and miscommunication. Grace: might you also use your contacts to attempt to get information on Technocratic protocol in this city or elsewhere? Risky, but an appropriate use of 'hacking,' I think. And that goes for anyone who might have contacts with knowledge of the Union's ways. If we do send Andrés and Kiara or whomever in to the lab, we will want to arm them with the very best ability to spin bullshit into gleaming sterile badges of Technocratic union. That is, belonging. We also want the least danger possible, yes?"

"I believe with what we have discussed what IS most clear is that we should make a concerted push to see about ... well, if we have ourselves, or if we have more than ourselves. To that effect we have Kalen and a partner, or even better, two partners! exploring one avenue of information. Sera, and a partner or two, exploring another. Even if no one else has the power to pull off such a boomerang pow-chicka-plao Finding, surely there may be some who are not quite as advanced but are able to Work with you and lend their support to the ritual?"


"Huge help in case of daring rescue, huge help in case of daring rescue that involves lying and getting them to 'give' us your Alex. I'll be honest here: I don't believe we can convince the Union in Denver to just release Alex back to his old life sorry old boy about that misunderstanding dust-off dust-off. I'd like to be flexible here: if it looks like we can arrange something to that effect, great! But there are no 'innocent fucking apprentices' to the Union. There are potential recruits, there are Sleepers, and then there are those who are dangerous. I believe we are to them what Nepha - no. What Marauders are to us. Or rampaging Spirits. Too dangerous… a problem to be solved."

Her spine straightens a little: oh! Struck by remembrance! Right!

"Speaking of problems to be solved and spirits, earlier you - " (Kiara) " - mentioned talking to spirits and potentially going over to the Other Side in order to get perspective on the area in question. I don't know if I'd personally recommend going across just in case one got stuck in -- I don't know: I don't know what kind of anti-spirit Magick wards the Conventionalists might have put up. But I like the idea of knowing what they know or having some sort of spirit ally on tap to distract the Union with at a key moment or, or, well in reserve for later if needed.

"Nicholas here is adroit when it comes to dealings with spirits. Perhaps you two can come up with something together?"

"As for Leah, I like where the discussion is going. I have let's see hmm Andrés, Kiara, and Kalen? on 'fake a body' duty. Leah and her cabal should probably be told about that plan and they can probably, should - certainly, help with the faking of some outrageous magickal - " Pen wiggles her fingers " - Leah catastrophic burn-out elsewhere."

Her forehead crinkles: concerned and her mouth slants to the side. Fingers go tap-tap on her ankle.

"What are we neglecting to think of...?"

Glance around.
Reply
#29
A long time has passed in which Nick has been quiet. He, too, has had his own fantasy while listening to the others speak. Nick's involves the human connection between the people in this room and whatever hypothetical faction might exist within the Union, that understanding and common purpose, that maybe there are as many shepherds and healers among them as Agent Westons.

He fantasizes that perhaps this will be enough to avert a war. That the Alex he meets will be the same Alex everyone here remembers. That he will not be called to be executioner when the aftermath of every war grinds the Wheel to a halt.

But this is fantasy, and one man doesn't change the fundamental nature of the human heart with Will alone. He knows that.

He probably would have remained quiet, had Pen not mentioned his affinity for working within the spirit world, that he is slowly becoming a creature of both this reality and that Other. He makes eye contact with Kiara then, a second time, and the glance is at once meaningful and opaque: there is a sort of tired readiness in it. "Let me know how I can assist."
Reply
#30
Nick gets the benefit of Kiara's full interest, then. This slow-tick of dark eyes and the crawl of those red lips upward at one corner. "Well, Nicholas here, we should talk. You can come by my apartment and we can discuss having a little tête-à-tête with the locals." There's something almost lazily flirtatious to the Verbena's quip, to her overall tone.

A lack of predatory intent behind it, though there's a sense of the potential in the brunette to re-acquire it, should it have been thought necessary to bring him aboard. Still, she lets her glinting little gaze settle in there before her eyes return to Pen. She settles a hip into the counter. The momentary lightness seeping out in the wake of - everything.

The purpose.
The lingering marr of Alexander's kidnapping.
The brief glimpses there behind Kiara's mask of some private heartache, some unvoiced agitation she throws back against with her bright, disarming smiles and the flash of white teeth.

Andrés, then. This little draw up of the Verbena's shoulders. "You too, Doc. If it's all systems go for a daring rescue, we should probably talk."
Reply


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)