01[19:27] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Thomas’ Acura does not drive particularly fast, but it accelerates faster than an ordinary car should, going from 0 to the speed limit before the Scions can blink. Three hours of driving pass uneventfully unless the Band desires to make them eventful.>
06[19:28] * @Claire_ sleeps
06[19:29] * @Jesse_Custer subtly turns down his music so Claire can get some rest
01[19:39] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <At the stroke of 4 PM, Jesse and Jocasta’s cell phones both begin to ring.>
06[19:40] * @Jesse_Custer picks up, speaking “This is JC,”
06[19:42] * @Tamas Jocasta yawns and digs for her cell phone out of whatever pocket it was residing, glancing at the display before answering.
06[19:44] * @Claire_ slowly sits up at the sound of Jesse’s cell phone, rubbing her eyes and looking around.
01[19:44] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The incoming display reads 555-8472. Both of you know that the 555 exchange does not exist and the number is, therefore, fake.>12 “This is Oliver. We’re coming up on it now. Follow my lead.”
06[19:46] * @Tamas Jocasta’s dark-lined eyes narrow for a moment, ending the call and replacing the phone in a different pocket.
06[19:48] * @Jesse_Custer checks the number, noting a familiar voice but not the one he expected, he makes a mental note of the matter and hands the phone to Claire. “Our rescuer called, says to keep on his tail. Not sure how he got an unlisted number though..”
01[19:48] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Jesse hears a click on his line before he hands the phone to Claire.>
[19:49] <@Claire_> Hm?
06[19:49] * @Claire_ stretches and sits up straight in her seat.
[19:51] <@Jesse_Custer> funny thing is, number he called from was one of them 555 numbers like in the movies.
01[19:53] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The Acura kicks into a higher gear as the speed limit changes, the engine roaring as the wide-bodied foreign car accelerates.>
06[19:54] * @Jesse_Custer snerks as he -tries- to keep pace “They didn’t build Escorts for speed, miss Claire.”
06[19:55] * @Claire_ reaches for her seatbelt as they pick up speed.
[19:55] <@Claire_> I’m not a car girl…where are we going?
[19:56] <@Jesse_Custer> Platform 9 3/4 fer all I know.
01[19:56] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The landscape outside the windows looks like the absolute middle of nowhere. Hours of driving through grassy plains and moist regions has turned to rocky hills, even though, by all rights, they should be nowhere near any mountains.>
01[19:57] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The Acura roars toward a wooden “No Entrance” sign in the road ahead, showing no signs of slowing down. As the car approaches, the sign folds forward, flattening in the brownish dust and allowing the car passage.>
06[20:01] * @Jesse_Custer keeps pace, the previous events of the night having dulled him to something that would otherwise be unusual
01[20:02] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The sign remains folded down until the X-Terra and Escort pass before it snaps back up. The Acura, meanwhile, takes a sharp right, disappearing behind a rock outcropping.>
[20:02] <@Jesse_Custer> okay.. County Road 9 3/4 then..
[20:04] <@Jesse_Custer> (is there road where he took the sharp turn or did he go all dukes of hazzard offroad?)
01[20:05] <@Conall`Curach> (Past the sign is all dirt trail.)
[20:07] <@Jesse_Custer> aw great,, suspension aint’ too hot on this thing, hope you’ve got your seatbelt on, miss Claire.
06[20:08] * @Jesse_Custer takes the turn after Mr. Oliver
06[20:08] * @Claire_ tightens it firmly.
[20:08] <@Claire_> Aye, capn.
01[20:09] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The Escort and X-Terra make the turn much wider than Mr. Oliver, but they still make it. Ahead of them is a large, dark cave, with tire tracks to indicate that the Acura drove straight in.>
[20:14] <@Jesse_Custer> funny, I didn’t remember this Oliver fella wearin some black rubber suit with a bat on it, did you?
06[20:14] * @Jesse_Custer follows the trail, albeit at a bit more of a sane pace
06[20:14] * @Claire_ shakes her head at Jesse’s comment.
[20:15] <@Claire_> Since the others know him I’m trying hard to not imagine this turning into a freaky funhouse like our first meeting was.
01[20:17] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Both vehicles disappear into the darkened cave, their headlights illuminating very little but flat stone floor…until with a heavy click, lights set high on the walls turn on, illuminating the passage and revealing it to be more like a metropolitan tunnel. Ahead are three passages, the center one marked “Resident” and the other two marked “Guest 1” and “Guest 2” respectively.>
01[20:18] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Guest 1 heads off to the left, and Guest 2 curls off to the right.>
06[20:18] * @Claire_ looks ahead.
[20:18] <@Claire_> What hand you write with?
[20:19] <@Jesse_Custer> well, he knows the others, so they’re probably the first guests.. *turns down the right tunnel*
06[20:21] * @Tamas Chrysander manuevers the XTerra into the ‘Guest 1′ passage, Jocasta’s heading turning, eyes moving about with cautious curiosuity.
[20:21] <@Jesse_Custer> though, I can’t shake the feelin, given houw things are fallin’ in to place as fine as you please, that you might not be righ ton the mark about the funhouse comment.
06[20:21] * @Claire_ squirms.
[20:21] <@Claire_> Don’t remind me.
01[20:23] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The two tunnels curl around, coming out into a room, the cars heading for a near-collision course with plenty of room to stop. Mr. Oliver’s white Acura is just ahead, but more significant, and remarkable, is the room that they enter into. It appears to be an exact replica of the Adam West-era Batcave, with the large placards on all the equipment labeling their function. Jesse can see the Bat-Computer and the Bat-Crime Analyzer, and Jocasta and Chrysander have an excellent view of the Bat-Atomic Reactor.>
06[20:24] * @Jesse_Custer finds a good place to park, stops the car and moves around to help Claire out “Alright, where’d they put the Bat Shark Repellent Spray?
01[20:25] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Mr. Oliver leans against the hood of the Acura.>12 “It’s in the utility belt in the display cases over there.”3 <He points to a set of five cases with glass sides, enclosing the costumes of Batman, Robin, the Green Hornet, Kato, and an odd man out, so to speak, a red costume with an odd black-and-white symbol on the chest and a black-lined cape.>
06[20:27] * @Claire_ steps out of the vehicle and looks around.
[20:27] <@Claire_> not a funhouse….not a funhouse…
06[20:27] * @Tamas Jocasta, were this a production of Japanese animation, would be in possesion of a fairly massive sweatdrop. She mumbles softly in Greek before exiting the vehicle that sounds… suitably snarky. And perhaps a tad disappoinetedly distressed.
[20:27] <@Jesse_Custer> Someone’s got way too much time and money on their hands.. though I have to admit, it’s pretty cool.
[20:28] <@Jesse_Custer> my buddy keith tried diggin’ his own secret hideout cave once. cave-in wounds over 95 percent of his body..
[20:28] <@Claire_> So.
[20:29] <@Claire_> What are we doing here?
06[20:29] * @Tamas Jocasta snorts derisively, openly boggling in Jesse’s direction.
01[20:29] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Mr. Oliver motions to the two bronze poles in the back of the cavern.>12 “Take the Batpoles up to the library, my father’s waiting in the study.”
[20:30] <@Tamas> 8<7Jocasta Tamas8> ‘Cave-in wounds’?
[20:30] <@Jesse_Custer> so, wait, I thought your last name was Oliver, not Grayson…
[20:30] <@Claire_> batpoles…
06[20:30] * @Jesse_Custer looks to miss Whassername “yeah, when rocks cave in on top of a person, they leave wounds, right?
[20:30] <@Claire_> What is batty about them, I wonder?
01[20:31] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Mr. Oliver gives Jesse a shrug.>12 “You think every hidden place in the world is going to be ripped straight out of Aesop?”
06[20:31] * @Claire_ cautiously moves in their general direction.
[20:31] <@Jesse_Custer> (seriously,, the freakin’ BATCAVE as a terra incognita?? )
[20:31] <@Jesse_Custer> (I’m laughing my ASS off… thanks , seriouslly h)
01[20:32] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The Batpoles have tough padding at the bottom of them, a foot thick, with two switches on the wall marked “Batpole Rocket Return”.>
[20:32] <@Jesse_Custer> oh, we get to ride the batpoles? cool!
06[20:32] * @Tamas Jocasta has a quiet, terrible worry that the Lord of the manor is going to look distressingly like an elderly, bearded Liam Neeson. She glances at Jesse with scorn as the twins head for one of the poles of battiness.
[20:33] <@Tamas> 8<7Jocasta Tamas8> Normal people call those ‘bruises, fractures, and lacerations.’
06[20:33] * @Claire_ successfully navigating the labyrinth of brightly hued mechanisms observes the “batpoles” tenatively.
[20:33] <@Jesse_Custer> Miss, we bent prison bars with our bare hands.. I don’t think you’d find our pictures in the dictionary next to “normal”
01[20:33] <@Conall`Curach> 12 “You must admit, it was descriptive.”3 <Mr. Oliver opens the passenger door of his Acura, pulling out a large, heavy laptop computer and an assortment of cables.>
[20:34] <@Claire_> ‘kay…
06[20:34] * @Jesse_Custer jovially walks into one of the batpole recesses and hits the return button, eyes lighting up like a little kid.
06[20:35] * @Tamas Jocasta snorts and rolls her eyes again, whatever relationship existing between she and the MIB hardly seeming to make him entirely immune to her tongue’s lash.
[20:35] <@Tamas> 8<7Jocasta Tamas8> No.
[20:35] <@Tamas> 8<7Jocasta Tamas8> I mustn’t.
01[20:35] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Jesse knows that the original Batpoles returned with a compressed air mechanism. These Batpoles, however, do not. As Jesse tags the button, a safety cylinder of steel slides into place as the padded wad beneath Jesse’s feet roars, the underside rockets engaging and firing the platform up.>
[20:36] <@Jesse_Custer> Yeeeeeehaw!!!! *lets out a rebel yell as the thing flies up*
01[20:36] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The Man in Brown seems used to this treatment and chuckles.>12 “Head on up, I’ll be right behind you, I need to put this equipment away.”
06[20:36] * @Claire_ backs away slowly pulling her hat down over her ears as the rocket accelerates.
06[20:36] * @Tamas Jocasta and Chrysander apparently would rather achieve Total Victory and attempt to hand over hand their way up the nearest pole.
[20:37] <@Claire_> I do not like this.
06[20:37] * @Claire_ wears an expression midway between disbelief and horror.
01[20:38] <@Conall`Curach> (If you’d like to haul yourself up the 50’ poles, roll Strength + Athletics.>
[20:39] <@Tamas> !roll 6 2
[20:39] <Tunare> , 6 , 9 , 7 , 7 , 6 , 4
[20:39] <Tunare> Successes: 3
[20:39] <Tunare> Failures: 0
[20:39] <Tunare> Total: 5
06[20:39] * @Claire_ turns to the mysterious stranger.
01[20:39] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Jesse sees the bookcase open ahead of him as the platform slows, hovering in place. On the other side, there is a bust of William Shakespeare in the middle of a richly-appointed library done in shades of green.>
[20:39] <@Tamas> !roll 7 2
[20:39] <Tunare> , 3 , 6 , 3 , 1 , 9 , 4 , 9
[20:39] <Tunare> Successes: 2
[20:39] <Tunare> Failures: 1
[20:39] <Tunare> Total: 3
[20:39] <@Claire_> Ibis…is there a dumbwaiter or something?
[20:39] <@Claire_> Because…I mean how’s wardog gonna get up there?
01[20:40] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Thomas shakes his head as Delos bounds out of the X-Terra, moving toward the Batpoles and waiting for one to be unoccupied as patiently as a giant hound can wait.>12 “The Bat-Rocket Return System is rated for up to a thousand pounds. He’ll be fine.”
06[20:41] * @Jesse_Custer steps out, calling out to nobody in particular “that was cool, y’all, I wanna do it again!”
06[20:41] * @Claire_ softly whines a litany of curses before approaching the pole.
01[20:42] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Chrysander hauls himself up the pole, hand-over-hand, moving at a decent pace. Jocasta, however, gets about seven feet up before she starts to slide back down from the lubricant on the pole.>
06[20:42] * @Claire_ isn’t tall enough to look, down…but looks over to wardog.
[20:42] <@Claire_> You wanna go up with me, boy?
01[20:43] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Delos makes a motion at Claire. It’s kind of like a cross between a shrug and a sneeze.>
[20:43] <@Claire_> ‘kay…
06[20:44] * @Claire_ stands at the base of Jesse’s pole with Delos.
[20:44] <@Claire_> Okay…Send it back down please!
06[20:44] * @Tamas Jocasta throws what is probably something extremely profane in Greek after her brother, mumbling further and glowering about her as she slides downwards, daring anyone to say anything.
01[20:44] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Delos lets out a bark as he watches the pad slide back down the pole after about thirty seconds, before it comes back to the ground with a smack! of escaping air.>
[20:45] <@Claire_> gods dammit….’kay.
06[20:45] * @Claire_ steps forward cautiously onto the pad.
[20:45] <@Claire_> Ready, wardog?
[20:46] <@Jesse_Custer> aww, what are you worryin’ about, miss claire? it’s real fun.
06[20:46] * @Claire_ ‘s off colour eyes scowl up at Jesse.
[20:46] <@Claire_> It’s just one of my things, ok?
06[20:46] * @Claire_ waits for wardog to get on.
01[20:46] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Delos bounds onto the pad after Claire.>
[20:47] <@Claire_> Here it comes.
06[20:47] * @Claire_ hugs the pole tightly with a hand on the dog.
06[20:47] * @Tamas Jocasta crosses her arms with old school Tamas petulance and kicks whatever switch activates the rocket thing, looking at Delos like she’s considering disowning him.
06[20:47] * @Claire_ tries to tell Jocasta to wait but doesn’t get the chance, only a FFFFFFFUUUUU escaping her lips.
[20:48] <@Tamas> 15`14’1•3{{12 Jo switched her own, not Claire’s. 3}}1•14’15`
01[20:48] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Delos lets out a single barking laugh before both protective cylinders snap into place, the pads rocketing up toward the library. Chrysander is barely able to leap out into the library before the pad with his sister on it comes shooting up after him.>
[20:49] <@Claire_> ((well, pads plural…so I figure it still happened.
01[20:49] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Claire and Delos take slightly longer as the rockets roar against the load, but the pad eventually comes up to the top, the huge dog leaping out of the opening.>
01[20:49] <@Conall`Curach> (It did, Jo’s switch fired both.)
06[20:50] * @Claire_ is frozen to the pole.
[20:50] <@Claire_> why…..
[20:50] <@Jesse_Custer> afraid of heights, miss claire?
06[20:51] * @Jesse_Custer holds out a hand to help her out.
06[20:51] * @Tamas hisses mostly under her breath in Greek in what appears to be an extensive, sibling-love-hate tirade of vicious proportions. Chrysander crosses his arms across his chest in response, no change showing upon his cold, handsome features, but he does flex his biceps in the motion, which doesn’t seem to help.
06[20:51] * @Claire_ looks over at Jesse.
[20:52] <@Claire_> You might need to pry my hands please….
06[20:52] * @Claire_ speaks softly
[20:52] <@Jesse_Custer> come on, we’re not going to come to harm, here,, you’ll ve fine
06[20:52] * @Jesse_Custer talks softly as he goes to gently extricate claire’s hands from the pole
06[20:52] * @Claire_ steps down a little shaky.
[20:53] <@Claire_> Who designs something like this?
[20:53] <@Tamas> 8<7Jocasta Tamas8> People who aren’t acrophobic.
[20:54] <@Claire_> What is fear of excessively loud sounds?
[20:54] <@Jesse_Custer> we all have things we’re afraid of, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Me, my big fear is bein’ alone. and Clowns
01[20:56] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The library’s door is open, revealing an opulent living room ahead, the plush couches looking to be ripped straight out of ’70s fashion, with a huge, enormous, 13″ TV set up in one corner.>
06[20:56] * @Tamas Jocasta thinks for a moment before responding.
[20:56] <@Tamas> 8<7Jocasta Tamas8> Phonophobia.
06[20:57] * @Claire_ gives a thumbs up.
[20:57] <@Claire_> Bingo then.
06[20:58] * @Claire_ sighs heavily.
[20:58] <@Claire_> Alright, I’m better.
06[20:58] * @Claire_ pats Jesse.
[20:58] <@Claire_> Thanks.
[20:58] <@Claire_> Well then?
[20:58] <@Tamas> 8<7Jocasta Tamas8> 6<looks at Jesse with her death’s head leer for a moment, as if he really should not have just potentially revealed weakness to an enemy.> Monphobia and Coulrophobia… respectively.
[20:59] <@Tamas> 15`14’1•3{{12 Oh Em Gee that is the biggest teevee I’ve ever seen. 3}}1•14’15`
[21:00] <@Jesse_Custer> (except that Jocasta isn’t an enemy)
06[21:00] * @Claire_ begins on ahead.
[21:00] <@Claire_> Hello?
[21:00] <@Jesse_Custer> So, who is this father of his we’re supposed to be meetin’?
06[21:01] * @Claire_ peeks into the study.
[21:01] <@Tamas> 8<7Jocasta Tamas8> You’ll see.
01[21:03] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <From the living room, one exit heads out into a grand entryway, another is an open doorway to a tiled kitchen, and then there is a staircase nearby and a door at the end of a long hallway.>
[21:04] <@Jesse_Custer> he told us to go up, but didn’t tell us where in here ta go. now think, Jess,, if it’s like the tv show, where’d bruce keep the bat phone?
06[21:04] * @Claire_ decides that it might be a good idea to take off her dirty shoes before treading into the space, as well as her bloodstained jacket, folding it up neatly and laying it on top of her shoes before she enters.
06[21:05] * @Claire_ wears a short sleeved black top underneath, with a large flourescent white thumbs up emblazoned across the front. She looks much smaller without the bulk of the olive drab jacket.
01[21:05] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Jesse can see a red plastic phone next to the bust of Shakespeare.>
[21:07] <@Jesse_Custer> you’d think he’d meet us in here then, as this thing’s the big bit that starts all of the capers in the show.
06[21:11] * @Claire_ looks back at the others.
[21:11] <@Claire_> Hecate? You seem to know Ibis better than we do, got any ideas?
06[21:12] * @Claire_ adds.
[21:12] <@Claire_> About where his father might be.
06[21:12] * @Tamas Jocasta sighs on behalf of all of the Tamas’, Chrysander and traitordog following a moment behind her as she takes the iniaitive and heads into the library… only her apparent great esteem for the man and his family allowing her to stroll casually into an erstwhile unknown lair at the head of the pack rather than behind something or -one not blood related.
06[21:13] * @Claire_ nods to Jess and follows after her.
06[21:16] * @Jesse_Custer whispers in claire’s ear and stands up straight “Proverbs 16:18″
06[21:16] * @Claire_ jumps.
[21:16] <@Claire_> What?
01[21:16] <@Conall`Curach> (To clear up any confusion: Claire, Jesse, and the Tamases were in the library, looking out into the living room. Claire said that she went on ahead, so that put her into the living room. Jocasta just entered the living room as well.)
[21:16] <@Jesse_Custer> (for reference, the proverbs bit was said aloud)
01[21:17] <@Conall`Curach> (The directions from the living room are correct and do NOT include the door to the library since the only thing the library exits into is the Batpoles.)
[21:18] <@Claire_> ((Could we get to where we’re going please?))
01[21:18] <@Conall`Curach> (Well get moving then!)
06[21:18] * @Tamas Jocasta glances over her shoulder, wicked fire kindling in the motlen hues behind her wire-rimmed spectacle and retorts softly, 14″You first.”
[21:19] <@Jesse_Custer> Oh, but I protest, lady’s first.
[21:19] <@Claire_> Fine.
06[21:19] * @Claire_ jogs forward.
06[21:19] * @Jesse_Custer follows closely behind Claire
01[21:20] <@Conall`Curach> (Define “forward” for me?)
[21:20] <@Claire_> ((down the long hallway with the door. I had to get an idea of the house again.))
01[21:22] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The door at the end of the hallway is unlocked. Inside, the walls are lined with books except for one slot just large enough to accomodate a hutchbar. A set of three rich leather chairs sit in the middle of the room, one of which is occupied by a figure wearing a loincloth, his long braids tied off into sort of dreadlock poofs on either side of his head, with more braids tumbling down his chest. He looks up at the Band.>1 “Ah, there you are. Welcome to stately Wayne Manor.”
06[21:23] * @Claire_ says nothing but simply stares at the figure with her off colour eyes.
01[21:25] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The figure blinks, rising and reaching up to his mouth.>1 “Do I have something on my face?”
06[21:26] * @Jesse_Custer shakes his head “could be worse, were it my paw you’d be seeing 8 feet of rippling blonde muscle in some fur.”
[21:26] <@Claire_> uhh…
[21:27] <@Claire_> can’t…unsee…
06[21:27] * @Claire_ rubs her eyes.
06[21:27] * @Jesse_Custer turns to the figure “Thank you for the hospitality.”
01[21:27] <@Conall`Curach> “Ah, yes, you’re Baldr’s son, Jesse Custer. And this must be Claire Sykes, Hermes’ girl, and the Tamas twins, spawn of the twins of Olympus themselves.”
[21:28] <@Jesse_Custer> At your service *nods his head respectfully*
01[21:28] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The figure waves his hand.>1 “My hospitality is regretfully slim at this time. I would I could show you my old home, but alas, it was lost many ages ago.”
06[21:28] * @Tamas Chrysander, Jocasta, and possibly Delos all offer the man deep, respectful bows for lack of a better custom or token of respect as soon as they have the physical clearance to do so, staying in line of sight but placing their backs tightly to on book-lined wall of the study, Jocasta’s eyes subtly tearing hungrily over the knowledge held within, devouring the names on the spines in the
06[21:28] * @Tamas languages she can read with as much supressed curiousity as possible, as they straighten once more.
[21:28] <@Claire_> Hi.
01[21:29] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The books on the shelves are varied and thick, most of which labeled in languages that Jocasta has never encountered, let alone learned.>
[21:29] <@Claire_> Who are you?
[21:29] <@Claire_> And you’ve seen my dad?
[21:30] <@Jesse_Custer> Were I to guess, it’d be somewhere on the Nile?
01[21:30] <@Conall`Curach> “Ah, pardon me, my years with only my son and wife for company have eroded my manners. My name is Kuros.”
01[21:30] <@Conall`Curach> “As for your father, Miss Sykes, I can’t say that I have seen Zeus’ psychopomp lately. He has been attending to more pressing matters.”
[21:31] <@Claire_> that sounds like him.
06[21:31] * @Claire_ ‘s tone is not enthusiastic about that.
01[21:31] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Kuros gives a knowing nod.>1 “Please, sit, help yourselves to the contents of my hutchbar.”
[21:31] <@Claire_> Ah, but thanks for sending, Ibis out to get us.
[21:32] <@Claire_> It could’ve gotten a lot nastier than it did.
[21:32] <@Jesse_Custer> if I may.
01[21:32] <@Conall`Curach> “Oh, I didn’t send my son. He came in response to Ms. Tamas’ call. I simply phoned him back…yes, Mr. Custer?”
[21:32] <@Jesse_Custer> (he was asking if he could help himself to the bar
01[21:33] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Kuros waves to the bar.>1 “By all means.”
14[21:34] * @Jesse_Custer has left #scionrpg
03[21:34] * Jesse_Custer has joined #scionrpg
[21:34] <Jesse_Custer> ((*crap,, stupid pidgin, hit the worng thing and closed the wrong window)
14[21:34] * Jesse_Custer has left #scionrpg
03[21:34] * Jesse_Custer has joined #scionrpg
03[21:34] * Tamas sets mode: +o Tunare
01[21:35] <@Conall`Curach> “Now, I suppose you’re all wondering what I asked you here for, yes?”3 <Kuros moves to sit, motioning for the Band to join him.>
03[21:35] * Tamas sets mode: +o Jesse_Custer
[21:35] <@Jesse_Custer> (bad close button! no biscuit!)
[21:36] <@Claire_> I admit I have been curious.
06[21:36] * @Claire_ looks at the chairs, and decides she can be quite comfy on the carpet, taking a seat.
06[21:39] * @Jesse_Custer gets into the bar, pulling out a cold bottle of Double Bock, he twists the cap off with his elbow, holding it high, he says “To a successful battle, that we live to fight another day!”, he then upends the bottle,, chugging the whole drink down, victoriously slamming the empty bottle down on the table with a resounding belch
[21:40] <@Tamas> 8<7Jocasta Tamas8> Classy.
[21:41] <@Jesse_Custer> (hey, he’s NORSE, we all have our pantheon based idiosyncracies. with Aesir it’s Arete (Drunken Oaths/Boasting) )
01[21:42] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Kuros gives Jesse a glance and a grin.>1 “I knew you’d do that. You may wish to sample the Jack Daniel’s.”
01[21:43] <@Conall`Curach> “Now then, I learned of your incarceration through my sister, Demosia. What I wish to know are details.”
06[21:43] * @Claire_ rocks back and forth.
[21:43] <@Jesse_Custer> Then we’re in the same boat, if you follow *takes his seat*
[21:43] <@Claire_> The prison one…or the crazy cave one?
[21:44] <@Jesse_Custer> figurative boat, miss Claire, not literal
01[21:45] <@Conall`Curach> “Perhaps we can help each other. Tell me what happened when you found yourselves aboard the Glasnost.”
[21:45] <@Jesse_Custer> best I can remember,, one night I was drivin’ around in my Escort, next thing I’m waking up in the hold of a ship with these folks and that Nick Fella.
[21:46] <@Jesse_Custer> wait, what? wasn’t that some funny thing the russians were doin’ back in the 80’s?
[21:46] <@Claire_> I think it was the ship.
01[21:46] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Kuros nods.>1 “It means ‘Openness’. The ship was rechristened after the policy.”
[21:46] <@Claire_> Nick -did- say it was a russian vessel.
[21:47] <@Claire_> Well, after we were there.
[21:47] <@Jesse_Custer> well, we ended up stuck in some cave, maze complex. bunch of crazy puzzles we had to figure out.
[21:47] <@Claire_> Nick claimed he was a scion of the aztec dieties.
[21:47] <@Claire_> How much of that was true…we’re not sure.
[21:47] <@Claire_> He uh…killed us.
[21:48] <@Jesse_Custer> naw, he didn’t that big thing with an octopus for a head did.
01[21:49] <@Conall`Curach> “One thing at a time. Can you explain the ‘crazy puzzles’?”
06[21:49] * @Tamas Jocasta murmurs 14’Tlazoltéotl..’ softly, her eyes closed in thought as she listens to the others recount their versions of the story.
06[21:49] * @Claire_ pulls out her notebook.
[21:49] <@Claire_> There was a stone podium.
[21:49] <@Claire_> A pentagram arrangement here.
[21:49] <@Tamas> 15`14’1•3{{12 Heh i was just about to ask if they retained the information in their notebooks 3}}1•14’15`
06[21:50] * @Claire_ flips through the pages to the rubbings she took and the notes on the door poems.
[21:50] <@Claire_> Here.
01[21:50] <@Conall`Curach> (They did.)
[21:50] <@Claire_> There were symbols.
[21:50] <@Claire_> Cuneiform, maybe?
[21:50] <@Claire_> and tokens.
[21:50] <@Jesse_Custer> funny thing is, one of the symbols was glowin’ black.. and the others were all blue and stuff when we found the tokens for beatin the puzzles
01[21:50] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Kuros takes the notebook from Claire, flipping through it and glancing at the pages as one might look at a flipbook.>1 “Not cuneiform. A precursor of cuneiform. That was the language of Atlantis.”
[21:51] <@Jesse_Custer> I’ve seen ancient greek at the seminary, and that looked nothing like what I learned.
06[21:52] * @Tamas Jocasta rocks a little, back on her heels and forward to her toes, just once, before she settles, watching Kuros from beneath heavily lidded eyes and listening in somber silence.
01[21:52] <@Conall`Curach> “Yes, it is far older. Did any of you happen to see the dais when all of the symbols were lit?”
[21:52] <@Jesse_Custer> we were kinda too busy bein’ melted
[21:52] <@Claire_> Did the atlanteans have anything written about a giant man squid that shot lasers?
01[21:53] <@Conall`Curach> “Would you believe, yes?”
01[21:53] <@Conall`Curach> “I have one last inquiry to make with you, if you would. Please describe this ‘Nick’ person.”
[21:53] <@Jesse_Custer> funny thing,, more of them tokens we found,,the more figures on the door the squid beast man.. thing was hiding behind lit up
[21:53] <@Jesse_Custer> had a suit, and a gun, and a deck of cards
01[21:54] <@Conall`Curach> “Was he tall, thin? Short, fat? Lithe, stocky? What sort of hair did he have?”
[21:54] <@Jesse_Custer> seemed resigned to being stuck down there, claimed he was witha nother group in the same circumstances, but that they all died in the puzzles we figured out.
[21:55] <@Claire_> Tall, average to strong build. Black hair.
[21:55] <@Claire_> stubble.
[21:55] <@Jesse_Custer> seemed real defeatist too. strange thing.. more progress we made,, far more knowledgeable he seemed to get
01[21:56] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Kuros nods as the door flies open, revealing a woman with similar dress and hairstyle to Kuros, grasping a sheaf of papers in one hand.>6 “I see you’ve begun your debriefing.”
[21:56] <@Jesse_Custer> (is she’s wearing classic atlantean? as in topless?)
01[21:56] <@Conall`Curach> (Word.)
[21:56] <@Jesse_Custer> (not asking to be a perv here)
06[21:57] * @Jesse_Custer averts his eyes and quickly stands up, removing his jacket and offering it to the woman
06[21:57] * @Claire_ glances up.
[21:57] <@Claire_> Did the atlanteans influence the minoans?
01[21:57] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The woman glances from the man to the jacket, as if he was proferring a dead fish.>6 “The Manor is plenty warm, thank you.”
[21:59] <@Jesse_Custer> but.. ma’am,.. *eyes still held tastefully away from her* There are other people in the room.
[21:59] <@Claire_> calm down, dude.
01[21:59] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The woman blinks twice.>6 “Your point being? I do not tell you how to dress in your home, Mr. Custer, do not deign to tell me how to dress in mine.”
[22:00] <@Claire_> They’re just boobs.
06[22:00] * @Claire_ rolls her eyes.
[22:00] <@Jesse_Custer> oh, right, different cultures… sorry ma’am. I’m just not used to ladies not covering up. *puts his jacket back on and keeps his attention on Kuros
[22:00] <@Claire_> You’d think they’re made of kryptonite or something.
01[22:00] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Kuros rises from his chair, moving to stand next to the woman.>1 “Don’t worry, Demmy, he’s just new-old-fashioned. Everyone, this is Demosia, my wife.”
06[22:00] * @Tamas Jocasta speaks quietly, almost to herself, after bowing with Chrysander in tow to Mrs. Kuros/Oliver, her eyes back upon the dreadlocked man. 14″At the end he was… wasted. What might be expected of a spawn of the Queen of Offal. Before we…. died… he said.. He owed us. He could not have ‘done it’… without us.”
[22:01] <@Claire_> Cheers.
[22:02] <@Jesse_Custer> Wife.. but I thought you said si… *head asplodes* I don’t know if i’ll ever get used to this whole Scion thing…
01[22:02] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Demosia gives Jocasta a look.>6 “You should watch yourself, young Jocasta. Tlazotéotl is a personal friend of mine.”
[22:02] <@Jesse_Custer> and what miss.. Hecate did you say? was right, about his look and his words.
06[22:02] * @Tamas spares Jesse a wicked, impish smile as she is apparently actively contemplating the bonde man’s involvement in the next free for all sparring session.
01[22:03] <@Conall`Curach> “Yes, I was just about to assure them that Toci couldn’t have sired him. She wouldn’t allow one of her Scions to breach a Titanic gate.”
[22:04] <@Claire_> That’s just what he told us.
[22:04] <@Claire_> She didn’t offend anyone.
[22:04] <@Jesse_Custer> one thing i”m curious about.. as we found them tokens,, figures on the gate lit up.
[22:04] <@Jesse_Custer> he also messed up her name pretty bad too.
[22:04] <@Jesse_Custer> like he was trying to get us to say it for him.
01[22:05] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Demosia simply smirks, leaving it to Kuros to explain.>1 “He was playing dumb, most likely. Trying to look harmless, not raise suspicion.”
[22:06] <@Claire_> So if he was a wasn’t a scion. What was he. And if he was, whose?
01[22:07] <@Conall`Curach> “And yes, that is part of the seal. It is designed so that whoever is loosening the guards on the door knows precisely that they are doing so, so that the Gates are not opened by accident.”
01[22:07] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Kuros turns to Claire.>1 “We believe that he was either a Scion of Nylarthotep or an avatar of the same.”
[22:07] <@Jesse_Custer> I have a better question. Titans did you-know-what to birth the gods in the first place,, what’s keeping the titans from doing it again with humans to make their own scions?
[22:08] <@Claire_> Oh.
[22:08] <@Jesse_Custer> ny… nyah.. who?
[22:08] <@Claire_> ((Does H.P. Lovecraft exist in this universe???)))
01[22:08] <@Conall`Curach> (I beg your pardon, I cannot spell. Nyarlathotep. And yes, he does.)
[22:08] <@Claire_> ((Because I’ve read it, and Claire probably would too.))
[22:08] <@Jesse_Custer> (ia. ia 4th wall fthagn)
[22:08] <@Claire_> I thought he was fake.
06[22:08] * @Tamas Jocasta lowers her eyes in something dangerously like submissiveness, her head following a moment later is what is apparently apologetic silence. After a moment passes, she responds in a softer tone. 15″No offense was meant, Lady. At my last knowledge and research of the Atzlanti, such words were titles, not insults. They were not intended as such.”
[22:08] <@Claire_> Unless Howard was his prophet.
01[22:09] <@Conall`Curach> “That is what he wanted you to believe-“6 “DO NOT SPEAK THAT NAME IN MY PRESENCE, MORTAL!”3 <Demosia’s outburst shakes the room.>
[22:09] <@Jesse_Custer> (for reference, who is she yelling at?)
06[22:09] * @Claire_ covers her ears.
01[22:09] <@Conall`Curach> (Claire.)
[22:10] <@Claire_> Daaamn…
[22:10] <@Jesse_Custer> while I can understand some upset if a person’s upset you that badly,, us being ignorant as to why,, I’d like to think we deserve an explanation.
06[22:10] * @Claire_ falls back onto the carpet.
06[22:10] * @Jesse_Custer gets up and reaches down to help her up
01[22:10] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Kuros lifts an arm to gently stroke Demosia’s shoulder.>1 “She didn’t know, darling. That…person, the one who wrote so prolifically about the Outer pantheon, he was a Scion of the same.”
06[22:11] * @Claire_ shakes her hands at jesse.
[22:11] <@Claire_> Well I -used- to like his work….
[22:11] <@Claire_> At the Mountains of Madness was a classic.
01[22:11] <@Conall`Curach> “His purpose was to awaken the memories of the Outer gods in mortals, and he succeeded. Everything that we worked to seal and forget slowly started to unwind.”
[22:11] <@Jesse_Custer> wait, Mister…. you said your name was Kuros.. right, sir?
06[22:12] * @Claire_ rubs her face in her hands a bit.
[22:12] <@Claire_> hate yelling.
01[22:12] <@Conall`Curach> “Yes, I did.”
[22:12] <@Jesse_Custer> I thought you said they were a pantheon, that means they’re gods,, why would they not be on our side?
[22:12] <@Jesse_Custer> I thought the titans wanted -all- gods dead, even the evil ones like Set and Loki
[22:12] <@Claire_> Well, the literature made them out to be far older and far beyond the understanding of humans, and even our own gods.
01[22:13] <@Conall`Curach> 6 “The Outer pantheon consists of corrupted gods and corrupted Titans. They exist outside the god-Titan conflict. They want us -all- gone so they can use humanity as their own playthings.”
06[22:13] * @Claire_ glances up to Demosia again.
[22:13] <@Claire_> Unless he was lying about -that- or something.
01[22:14] <@Conall`Curach> “In order to unwind our sorcery, he had to tell the truth about a great many things. The original Outer god and Titan do pre-date the gods and Titans of this world, yes.”
[22:14] <@Jesse_Custer> so if they exist, and wer ethought to be stories.. I have a question about another god that some folk think doesn’t exist *gives a sad look towards Jocasta before turning his attention back to Kuros*
01[22:15] <@Conall`Curach> “You are intending to ask about YHWH, yes? I am afraid that I do not know. I am before his time.”
06[22:15] * @Jesse_Custer nods
[22:15] <@Jesse_Custer> Thank you. It’s appreciated.
06[22:15] * @Tamas Chrysander and Jocasta shudder, even the male twin trembling, as if they are used to divine wrath and expect something completely terrible to follow, they lean slightly together, shoulder to shoulder, standing their ground though there is open fear in Jocasta’s eyes for a few fleeting moments. They lapse into total silence, whatever knowledge Jocasta’s occult studies might provide
06[22:15] * @Tamas towards the conversation, lost.
[22:16] <@Claire_> So…are the other things he wrote about true too?
[22:16] <@Jesse_Custer> But, correct me if I’m wrong, what your’e saying is, this war we’re fighting isn’t the first,a nd win or lose won’t be the last?
[22:16] <@Claire_> the Yith? The Dream Worlds?
01[22:16] <@Conall`Curach> “Some are. Some are not.”
[22:17] <@Claire_> Well, The Old Ones have got a lot of allies then.
01[22:18] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Demosia smirks.>6 “The ‘dream worlds’ are not. The Outer pantheon was sealed in many places, terrae incognitae and other locations out of reach. One such place is Morpheus’ realm.”
[22:18] <@Claire_> And we opened the door for them, eh?
[22:18] <@Jesse_Custer> The Matrix?
01[22:19] <@Conall`Curach> “No, you are not a battery. The realm of dreams. The realm where you, the Glasnost, and this ‘Nick’ person were drawn into.”
[22:19] <@Claire_> So we let them into a dream world?
[22:19] <@Claire_> Still not good.
01[22:19] <@Conall`Curach> “No, you let them -out- of one.”
[22:19] <@Claire_> Wasn’t that story about the Silver Key all about traversing dreams?
[22:19] <@Claire_> So they’re loose in all dreams?
01[22:20] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Kuros shakes his head.>1 “It is far worse. What you inadvertently let loose has returned to the mortal realm.”
[22:20] <@Jesse_Custer> I hate to say it, but you’re talking about stuff I had no idea of. last fiction books I read were Harry Potter. folks at the seminary said they were evil, so I had to take a look for myself.. All the anger and outrage over ’em seems kinda silly after the fact.
[22:21] <@Jesse_Custer> if this is anything like any comics or stories I grew up on. “you break it, you fix it”
06[22:21] * @Claire_ takes off her hat and sets it in her lap.
[22:21] <@Claire_> So what’s the plan now?
01[22:22] <@Conall`Curach> “At your description of a ‘thing with an octopus head’, I would imagine that you loosed some of Great Cthulhu’s offspring.”
[22:23] <@Jesse_Custer> oh! I saw something about him.. When I was baby sitting for some church kids one day, they turned on this cartoon, something about the grim reaper.. the show was called “Collect Call of Cthulhu”
01[22:23] <@Conall`Curach> 6 “Unfortunately, the only dream-realm containing spawns of Cthulhu was the prison of the King in Yellow.”
[22:23] <@Jesse_Custer> (HASTUR! HASTUR!!)
[22:24] <@Claire_> I’m sorry my…eh…
06[22:24] * @Claire_ looks up at Demosia like she’s a bomb.
[22:24] <@Claire_> “that guy’s” lore.
[22:24] <@Claire_> is not as up to date.
[22:25] <@Jesse_Custer> “The best lie is one that’s wrapped in a shell of truth”
01[22:25] <@Conall`Curach> “Thank you for not saying his name. As you currently are, you would not last more than a few moments against the King in Yellow, as you discovered in the dream. For now, we will have to content ourselves with trying to halt Nyarlathotep’s plans elsewhere.”
[22:26] <@Claire_> The Crawling Chaos.
[22:26] <@Claire_> How do you stab smoke?
[22:27] <@Jesse_Custer> I suppose you could burn it, blow it away, condense it into something with cold. *shrugs*
[22:28] <@Claire_> C’mon…it was a metaphor.
01[22:28] <@Conall`Curach> 6 “With a vacuum cleaner. Nyarlathotep will not simply wave his hands and blow open more prisons. They are designed to resist direct assault indefinitely.”
[22:28] <@Claire_> So he’ll try to get more scions to help him?
06[22:28] * @Claire_ looks to Kuros.
06[22:28] * @Jesse_Custer shrugs “sorry, once we learned how to make spud guns, most of my chemistry class kinda tuned out.
[22:29] <@Claire_> do you know anymore of these prisons he will try to access?
06[22:29] * @Jesse_Custer raises a hand
01[22:29] <@Conall`Curach> “Yes. He will attempt to circumvent the gates’ protections. They are designed to require teamwork and unity to open, so that if we did need to open them for some reason, we could, but if the Titans tried to use them as shock troops, it would be difficult. Yes, Mr. Custer?”
06[22:29] * @Claire_ looks up at him.
[22:29] <@Jesse_Custer> if I may, you’re saying he needs someone else to open the doors for him.
06[22:30] * @Claire_ nods
01[22:30] <@Conall`Curach> “I am, yes.”
[22:30] <@Claire_> You got it, Jess.
[22:30] <@Jesse_Custer> which means other scions. sounds to me like the best thing to do would be get on the horn with all the other gods and let them know what’s up
[22:30] <@Jesse_Custer> get the word out, spread it around to all of us in the trenches so we know what ot look out for
06[22:30] * @Claire_ slides her cap on backwards, and returns her attention to the gods in the room.
[22:30] <@Claire_> I assume you’ve done that?
06[22:30] * @Claire_ eyes flicker.
[22:31] <@Claire_> Unless whatever has my dad occupied has your couriers down too.
01[22:31] <@Conall`Curach> 6 “Unfortunately, that is not an option. Despite my brother’s skills as a Psychopomp, simply popping into the halls of the Overworld would be self-defeating.”
01[22:32] <@Conall`Curach> “Have any of you ever seen Atlantis on a map?”
[22:32] <@Jesse_Custer> I think I understand
[22:32] <@Jesse_Custer> Nobody’s heard of Atlantis outside of myth,, and I get the idea that’s hwo the rest of the gods want it?
[22:33] <@Jesse_Custer> and, with how much you mention it, y’all are likely gods of Atlantis,, so you showing up would kinda poo all over the whole “DOn’t talk about atlantis” thing.
[22:33] <@Jesse_Custer> now, I may just be puttin’ 2 and 2 together and gettin’ 22.
01[22:34] <@Conall`Curach> “In a sense. Demosia and I are most of the remaining gods of Atlantis, yes. But the gods are aware of our existance.”
06[22:34] * @Jesse_Custer looks around at all the silence “And I ge the idea I should be shuttin’ up now?”
01[22:35] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Demosia turns to Jocasta.>6 “When my son introduced himself to you, he claimed to be the son of Djehuty, is that correct?”
[22:36] <@Claire_> I didn’t catch that actually.
[22:36] <@Claire_> Our interaction was a bit brief.
01[22:36] <@Conall`Curach> 6 “I was not speaking to you, Claire.”
[22:37] <@Claire_> ((didn’t see it.))
[22:37] <@Claire_> ((retcon?))
01[22:37] <@Conall`Curach> (No need.)
06[22:39] * @Tamas Jocasta’s apparently comatose state lifts, if briefly, not meeting the woman’s eyes as she simply offers the faintest of nods.
[22:40] <@Jesse_Custer> Wait, wait.. first Mister Kuros here said Mister Oliver was his son,, now Miss* nods respectfully at Demosia* says she’s his ma.
[22:40] <@Jesse_Custer> wouldn’t that mean that, technically, he’s not exactly a Scion?
01[22:41] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Kuros shakes his head.>1 “The union of two gods does not automatically produce a god. Our son was born a Scion, as were all of you.”
01[22:42] <@Conall`Curach> “Djehuty, or Thoth if you prefer, agreed to watch over our son when we could not.”
01[22:45] <@Conall`Curach> 6 “The issue with simply appearing within the Overworld and declaring that Nyarlathotep has returned is that the other gods do not entirely trust us. Gods of knowledge, of secrets, they know that we are trustworthy. But gods like Thor, Loki, Hades, Haphaestus, Shango, Erzulie, Guan Yu…they are not so trusting.”
[22:47] <@Jesse_Custer> Loki’s a lord of Lies himself, he’d rat you out for kicks and giggles.
01[22:48] <@Conall`Curach> “Quite. There were much more than just the two of us Atlantean gods. Two of us were destroyed, and the remaining three…they have joined the Outer pantheon.”
01[22:51] <@Conall`Curach> 6 “The gods are concerned that they were not the only three. Corruption is not always apparent.”
[22:52] <@Claire_> That could be a bit of a problem.
[22:52] <@Claire_> So we need to gather our own evidence then?
[22:52] <@Jesse_Custer> from wha I’ve gathered, gods are much like people, only more powerful
[22:52] <@Claire_> And disseminate it to our respective parents?
01[22:52] <@Conall`Curach> “It is why you four must not speak a word of us to the forces of the gods above. We can give you leads, but that is all.”
[22:52] <@Jesse_Custer> mighty, yes, but still vain, petty, bigoted. With respect, sir and Ma’am.
01[22:53] <@Conall`Curach> 6 “Did you not hear my husband tell you that three of our kinsmen turned upon their brothers and sisters to join the ranks of the corrupt? You need not qualify your remark.”
01[22:55] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Mr. Oliver’s silhouette approaches behind Kuros and Demosia, gently knocking on the wooden door.>12 “Mother? Father? They’re ready.”
06[22:56] * @Jesse_Custer looks up “They?”
01[22:58] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The god and goddess part to reveal Mr. Oliver, looking very out-of-place in his tailored suit next to the figures in loincloths. He reaches into his pockets, producing four small cellular phones.>
01[23:00] <@Conall`Curach> 12 “The Norse have made cellular phones that route through the Overworld, called iGjallars. These are similar, but they route through the terrae incognitae.”
[23:01] <@Jesse_Custer> so, you’re saying these phones will call here?
01[23:01] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Mr. Oliver moves through the band, handing a phone to each of them.>12 “They can call here, yes. They can get service nearly anywhere.”
01[23:04] <@Conall`Curach> 12 “And since they route through secret places, the caller IDs of the recipients read as bogus numbers. You might have noticed when I phoned you from the Acura.”
01[23:06] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Kuros nods.>1 “Thank you, Thol…Thomas.”3 <Mr. Oliver nods in return, moving to take a seat.>
06[23:08] * @Claire_ looks at it.
[23:08] <@Claire_> Does it accept microSD cards?
06[23:08] * @Jesse_Custer notices the correction
01[23:08] <@Conall`Curach> 12 “Of course.”
[23:08] <@Jesse_Custer> A god phone, and you wanna play Mp3’s on it?
01[23:08] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <The phone has a solid steel flip-cover, emblazoned with a pentagon, with a crown in each vertex and a helmsman’s wheel in the center.>
[23:10] <@Claire_> Hells yeah.
06[23:10] * @Claire_ pulls out her galaxy S and tries to find the battery cover.
[23:10] <@Claire_> And it never runs out of juice, right?
01[23:11] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Thomas nods softly.>12 “It has a kinetically charging battery. Just shake it if it’s getting low. All the memory is solid state so you won’t hurt anything.”
06[23:12] * @Claire_ gets on her knees and bows several times to Kuros.
[23:12] <@Claire_> Got my reverence, Yo.
06[23:12] * @Jesse_Custer shakes his head, chuckling “I suppose you wouldn’t be too happy if we ran up some crazy long distance bill on these things?”
06[23:13] * @Claire_ pulls our her IEM’s and pops them in, a wide grin spreading across her face.
[23:13] <@Claire_> Good times.
01[23:13] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Kuros gives Jesse a confused look.>1 “Long distance?”
06[23:14] * @Jesse_Custer looks at Kuros as if he just asked “What’s a Car?”
01[23:15] <@Conall`Curach> 12 “It’s an internal network. Don’t worry about running out of minutes or incurring roaming charges. If the place that you’re calling from doesn’t get signal, the phones won’t work at all.”
01[23:15] <@Conall`Curach> 12 “Not as phones, anyway.”
01[23:16] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Demosia nods gently.>6 “Nothing is long-distance from a terra incognita.”
06[23:16] * @Jesse_Custer nods “Thank you kindly.”
[23:18] <@Jesse_Custer> Your hospitality is most welcome, I suppose we should be heading out soon to.. find a hotel?
[23:19] <@Claire_> I call shower.
01[23:20] <@Conall`Curach> “There will be no need for that. Stately Wayne Manor is fully equipped. You may stay here, as our guests, tonight.”
06[23:21] * @Jesse_Custer stands up and bows deeply “You’re most kind. I do have one question.. does this place have a Gymnasium? Baldr’s been on me to keep after my physical trainin’ but after gettin’ kicked out of the house it’s been forever since I’ve gotten to use a proper weight set or heavy bags.”
01[23:21] <@Conall`Curach> 12 “There’s some data on the Outer pantheon on the iNcognitae as well. Feel free to flip through it.”
[23:22] <@Claire_> Thanks!
[23:22] <@Claire_> We’ll have to figure out a course of action.
01[23:22] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Kuros lets out a genuine laugh.>1 “I have the Batcave in my basement, Mr. Custer. Of course there’s exercise equipment.”
01[23:23] <@Conall`Curach> “There is a fully-equipped boxing ring and training gym, you are welcome to use it. If the Batpoles are daunting, my son can show you the stairs.”
[23:23] <@Jesse_Custer> daunting? don’t be goofy, that was some real fun.
[23:23] <@Jesse_Custer> were we not here on business i’d be ridin’ that thing now.
06[23:23] * @Claire_ is tuned out and heard nothing about stairs.
01[23:25] <@Conall`Curach> 6 “Kuros and I have some planning of our own to do, and some information gathering as well. We will contact you via the iNcognitae’s text mail feature if we discover anything of note.”
[23:26] <@Jesse_Custer> (I do believe tielle fell asleep on us… sorceryne shows her 45 minutes idle and she’s not responding to my PM’s)
[23:28] <@Tamas> 15`14’1•3{{12 I am awake. 3}}1•14’15`
01[23:28] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Mr. Oliver glances to the rest of the Band.>12 “You guys mind if I have a word with Jocasta for a few?”
06[23:29] * @Jesse_Custer gives a knowing look and looks at chrysander “What do you say, after a good shower, we hit the gym? ”
06[23:29] * @Claire_ looks around at the people talking.
[23:29] <@Claire_> Shower?
01[23:33] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Kuros and Demosia retreat to the living room, turning on the television and sitting at a couch. Demosia sets down her sheaf of papers on a coffee table, pulling them out of the stack far beyond what the stack should contain.>
06[23:34] * @Tamas Chrysander watches Mr. Oliver as he requests his sister’s time, silvered moons waning to thin crescents. Jocasta’s head is still down, be she asleep, comatose, or just regressed into a mute state in which she matches her brother.
06[23:36] * @Jesse_Custer frowns a slight at being utterly ignored, and shrugs “guess I’ll just work out on a heavy bag.”
01[23:41] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Mr. Oliver glances to Chrysander.>12 “I can say please if it would help.”
06[23:43] * @Claire_ pops out an earbud and walks into the living room.
06[23:43] * @Jesse_Custer shrugs and heads back down to the escort to get his gear and a clean change of clothes
[23:43] <@Claire_> Sorry…but, where’s the restroom?
01[23:45] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <Kuros looks up from the sheaf of papers.>1 “Each guest room has a full bath, Ms. Sykes. Help yourself.”
[23:46] <@Claire_> Thanks.
06[23:46] * @Tamas Chrysander rumbles a low, primal, animal sound, that could be assent or a threat, but pushes off of the study wall with a last flicker of his pale eyes between sibling and other. His hand runs over Delos’ head as he moves out of the room and back to the batpoles as well, patting Delos’ head and sliding down to their vehicles as well to retrieve their gear.
06[23:46] * @Claire_ smiles and heads upstairs to claim a room for herself.
01[23:50] <@Conall`Curach> 3 <As the Band settles in to stately Wayne Manor for the night, they are armed with information. What burdens will this information weigh upon them? Find out next week, same Bat-time, same Bat-channel!>
All The Worlds, A Stage 