"How's It Hangin'?"

[Morgan Lake] [Per + Aware! (All will be revealed in post.)]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 4, 4, 5, 9 (Failure at target 6)

[Morgan Lake] [Arete, Mind 1, coincidental, -1 focus, -1 slow, +1 practice]
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 1, 6 (Failure at target 4)

[Morgan Lake] [Arete, Mind 1, coincidental, -1 focus, -1 slow, +1 practice, +1 retry]
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 7, 9 (Success x 3 at target 5) [WP]

[Morgan Lake] [WP]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 2, 4, 8, 10, 10 (Success x 3 at target 7)

[Morgan Lake] [and, for good measure, per + alert]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 4, 9 (Failure at target 6)

[Morgan Lake] There is this - Morgan has never stopped with her intent study of her surroundings on both the mystical and mundane fronts. Her study today is particularly intent as she attempts practicing the hated sphere she's been learning for something other than shielding. The magic itself works, she can feel it . . . her mind is sharper, quicker processing.

It doesn't help with the noticing what's going on - it's a nice day, cloudy and brisk, but nice none the less. She's one of the few who braves the patio table outside of a coffee shop down at the bottom of the Mile, just barely still on it, though she people watches quite well the whole time. There are things to notice - bright spots of color, business people headed home, or to pick up dinner and bring it back to the office, students cavorting and so on. In all of this, Morgan's red hair (defiant, something she refuses to change despite how it makes her so obviously . . . well, her) is another spot of color, though she, herself, is a spot of quiet and calm.

[Nathan Spriggs] [Perc + Aware; what are you thinking?!]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 4, 5, 9, 10 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Marianna Engmani] [Perc+Aware- Because all the cool kids are doing it]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 2, 5, 6, 6, 6 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Nathan Spriggs] It was a beautiful day as far as Nathan was concerned. Sporadic rain, nice little gray cloud coverage, most people found it dark and gloomy, but he knew how to appreciate nature. So today the Cultist (who was nothing like your usual) found himself taking a stroll around the city. The wind swept through the streets, some times quietly and mildly, other times with noticeable force, and his coat was blown up or to the side here and there.

Thankfully, his choice location for hiding weaponry was some place the wind wouldn't expose, so as far as anyone looking was concerned it was just someone having trouble with the wind. Then bam, no beautiful day could go well in this godforsaken city. The familiar feeling of magic swept through the air, like a scent calling to him. It was for only a moment, but he knew the direction it came from.

Most people would have the common sense not to look for trouble, not to check it out. But he knew better, knew hiding was useless and it was better to be prepared. So instead of heading off in the opposite direction, the blond Will-worker headed off in search of the feeling, of the source.

[Morgan Lake] There is resonance. It is, in fact, a resonance that's somewhat familiar to both Nathan and Anna, though it could also be attributed to any number of other people. It withers, this magic does, sucks everything around into itself and makes the world around it seem a bit grayer. It's trying to change, though - or rather, more is trying to be added to it. Whispered beneath that withering touch is a feeling of expansion.

And, if either of them is close enough to actually see the girl's face? There's frustration writ there, and irritation with herself. She should be doing better at something, obviously.

[Morgan Lake] [Per + Aware!]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Marianna Engmani] Perhaps today would have been prettier if there had been less issues, already up since the small hours of the morning, Anna had already been doing her rounds, leaving tribute here and there, and generally making nusance of things as she tried to keep the spirits somewhat sated. Which never happened. It was a like a 24/7 Knit and Bitch in her head.

And people wondered why she drank. The Dreamspeaker took a long deep breath, and then made a face. It seemed today there was another reason she'd probably think about hitting the sauce tonight. Magic. Withering and weird, it was enough to make her frown a little. "Oh come....onnnnnnnnnnnnnn." she moaned, dragging her feet as she went to find the source of this tomfuckery.

[Morgan Lake] Someone, there, is buzzing. That's Anna, Morgan knows - or at least the tiny Dreamspeaker is the only one the young Hermetic has met with such a resonance.

Someone else, over there, is subtly manipulative, and that makes the girl frown. There's only one person she knows who holds both of those traits, and she kind of hopes he stays . . . well, over there.

The source of this tomfuckery is, of course, the redhead, familiar to both of them, who sits at a patio table at a coffee shop. She sits here, while they are there. And she's practicing - nothing intrusive, nothing that reaches out with its withering touch, but instead something that dives within herself.

[Nathan Spriggs] The search was simple enough, scanning the surroundings in search of a familiar face, he remembered where he'd felt this before. A girl, he hadn't gotten her name, but she was young, fairly skilled with people and a ginger. Wouldn't be hard to pick out through the crowds, right? Wrong.

Last they'd seen of each other, it had been an unpleasant evening, or rather night, all around. Churches, singing emo kids, zombified listeners, death. Enough crap to give anyone a right headache. Still, using magic in plain sight was unintelligent, and while she might already be made, he decided he might as well go over and tell her as much.

Having only caught a whiff of the Resonance, no steady trail to search for, he was scrambling to catch it again. Then he stopped, staring in disbelief. There she was, a bit of distance away. Not even hiding. Just... there. Maybe she had noticed him too, maybe she hadn't. From there, all he had to do was approach, calmly and steadily, without forcing his way through the crowd too much.

[Marianna Engmani] "Ginger, if you bring the hurt down, I swear to god...I will so tell your nanny." Anna warned slightly, a grin on her face as she invited herself to join the girl on the veranda, "And hell, she looks like she'd kick your ass." she laughed, sitting down and leaning back not really threatening not really meaning any warning she actually gave. Just her teasing, looking at the redhead over her catseye glasses, trying to figure out what she's doing.

"So how are you doing?" seemed appropriate to ask as she looked around for a barista, or at the very least, a menu to page through, after all, she was a pretentious scenester at a coffee shop, she had appearances to keep up. She wanted to add: Are you fucking high? But it seemed in poor taste to add attention to an already potentially bad situation. Besides...those who live in glass houses...

[Morgan Lake] "Oh, Ashley totally could kick my butt." There's a grin, then, as Anna joins her - she'd liked the Dreamspeaker well enough when they met, despite (or maybe because of) the adverse circumstances of it all. And it's telling, perhaps, that the girl knows exactly to whom Anna's referring as her nanny - though, if asked, she'd probably say something like Ashley's as close to an older sister as she'll ever come, being an only child and all.

"And I'm alright. Just . . . focusing. Not going to bring anything down."

Never mind that she obviously has - two older mages in as many minutes. But it's not paradox, at least - and it's her they notice, not the magic she's done.

[Nathan Spriggs] The sight of Marianna joining up with the girl doesn't go unnoticed, which makes him slightly uncomfortable. Was it a pre-arranged meeting? Even if it wasn't, they'd both been at the church that night, hopefully conversation wouldn't turn to it. In any case, shrugging it off, he continued the approach.

"Hey, Anna and... I don't think I ever caught your name but hey," his tone and features contained none of the unease he'd felt at the potential resurgence of the church incident. He still had nightmares from time to time due to guilt. Necessary it had been, didn't change the fact the kid was a human being.

[Marianna Engmani] Anna orders a caramel iced latte, then sort of waves a hand at the girl "If I order a brownie, you'll help me eat it right?" But instead of waiting for an answer, she asks for the brownie too and then shrugs. "Well, I suppose she'd have to." Especially since Morgan seemed to be Ashley's apprentice. "But if you fuck up royally, I you'd have it coming." She winks, stretching a few moments before pulling out some marbles from her pocket and rolling them about in her hands.

"Well that's good then, keeps me from having to make awkward phone conversations..." she then started to drop the marbles one by one onto the ground, watching them roll away from the veranda to the street. "Should I ask what you're doing? You know...just in case of the worst?" The Dreamspeaker laughs a little, leaning back and closing her eyes slightly until she heard a voice call her name.

She sat up and blinked, "Oh, hi Nate...how's it hanging?" Though in a heartbeat, she came to the conclusion: She really didn't want to know...

[Morgan Lake] "I don't think I caught your name either," is the first, though Anna solves that problem by calling him Nate; she looks at him, studies him (weighs him [finds him lacking]). "I'm Morgan."

Nothing about that night had been necessary, but, to be fair, a lot of it had nothing to do with them as far as Morgan can tell; it had been about the kid, and whatever he'd made his deal with. A rabbit, he'd said, and he'd borne a 'tattoo' of a blue diamond. She still doesn't know about the similar thing that she bears, just that she hasn't had that card far from her since she got it.

But then there's Anna's question, and her eyes slide to the other woman, a smile curling her lips. There's no judgment here, just an easy rapport. "I'm learning," she says and taps her head subtly - Mind, then. "And I thought I'd try something I hadn't yet. Just . . . concentration, you know?" The enhancement thereof, she means.

[Nathan Spriggs] "Ah, I'm Nathan." Then he simply watches her for a moment, silently studying her just as she had him. Not taking out a seat, or sitting down, he didn't take his presence for granted though he didn't plan to leave unless kicked out either. Simply standing there, watching the two and listening to their conversation.

He understands her gesture but holds back on saying anything just yet, Mind was one of the Spheres he never had any interest in, for certain reasons. "Everything's decent enough. Or about as decent as it can be with what's going on all over."

[Marianna Engmani] "Hmmmm....good call." Anna mimed back the motion of tapping a finger against the temple. "One of my favorites." the way she hummed before she talked, and the low rumble of her voice almost was in tune with her resonance as she spoke, buzzing along as he paid and tipped the barista as her food and drank came, in a moment she broke the brownie in three pieces and laid them out on napkins, it was not a request, its seemed Nathan and Morgan were going to have some, whether they wanted or not.

She took a long sip of her coffee and then hummed again. "Don't fuck up though...you ever have a migraine? Its like that...plus bleeding out of all of your head orifices. I've seen it...not pretty." Oh such a lovely topic of conversation while food was offered, but she kept things genial at least. "Oh please Nate, its not that bad, a bit messed up, but generally benign all things considered..." she waved a hand around nonchalantly.

[Morgan Lake] "....."

There's blinking [fear], and an effect dropped quickly enough that there's a sort of vacuum left - a popping of sorts as senses adjust to the lack of it. Morgan doesn't comment (on that), though - just nods her understanding, and ignores the fact that she felt the blood drain out of her face at mention of such a possibility. Instead, there's a sip of her mocha and a bit of her piece of brownie crumbled so that she can take a bite of it.

"You . . . um . . . what's it mean if dead people show up in your dreams?" There's a point to the question, really.

[Nathan Spriggs] At the offer of brownie, Nathan took it as an invitation and finally pulled out a seat and joined them. Then he simply stares at Morgan for a moment, considering it carefully. "Dead people you knew? Or like ghosts entering your dreams?" Her question had been vague, and there was a big difference. For now, a response to Anna's comment was put on hold, bigger things to discuss.

[Marianna Engmani] Bobs a bit, going to some song that she wasn't sharing, no doubt in her head as she finally picked up on whatever it was that Morgan brought up. She thought about it for a spell, sure, she dealt with the dead...on occasion, but for the most part, she found the act distasteful. After all, Anna hardly dealt with real people because they were assholes, dead people were worse...they had nothing to fear anymore. Mortality had a way of keeping people humble. Which ghosts were not. "Depends, are they souls...or just dreams?"

"If they're souls, then they have unfinished business they want attended to, if they're just dreams...well could be your subconscious is telling you something..." It could be either or, but Anna wasn't a psychologist, and she wasn't going to snoop around too much to tell whether or not there were ghosts haunting Morgan unless she was specifically asked. Because well...ghosts were assholes. "Why? What do they do?"

[Morgan Lake] Nathan's question goes unanswered - sort of - for now; there are more important things, yes. "I . . . have nightmares sometimes, of something that happened not all that long ago. He kind of helped me out of it. And the time before that, he was playing piano and singing - that didn't feel so much like my dream as . . . I don't even know. I don't dream about pianos in the middle of gardens, though. And when I dream, I usually don't remember - but I remember both dreams he was in, everything about them."

There's a pause then, another sip of her drink and her eyes focusing on her hands around the cup. "It's that kid. You know, emo singer boy. From the church."

[Nathan Spriggs] Her comment sort of answered his question nonetheless, now he looked up to the roof, considering it carefully. The brownie went untouched for now, though not for much longer. If the situation didn't sound so serious, he might have actually felt bad at the mention of the boy again.

"Wait, you're... seeing the boy from the church in your dreams? Does he say anything, or do anything?" He knew fuck-all about spirits, right now his mind was figuring out if it was a message of a kind or something else. The Dreamspeaker could handle the GhostBusters bit.

[Marianna Engmani] "So that...Autumn, you still see him from time to time in your dreams?" Anna rubs her chin and looks deep in thought. "Does he seem to want anything? Or say anything?" Just seeing a dead person in your dreams didn't mean anything, it was what was requested that made it something. "I mean, what you saw involving him was...traumatic, it could just be...well flashed into your memory. Like when you leave a bigscreen on a paused dvd too long. Some people call it...psychic resonance...as far as new agers go." Anna nodded as Nathan asked about the same thing she did.

Anna's face however was soft and concerned for poor Morgan, "I suppose, if you'd like...I could try my best to look in on it, but I'll admit, dead people are assholes."

[Morgan Lake] The first gets a shake of her head. "He helped me out of the nightmare part, most recently. Like, it didn't happen that way - well, not exactly. It was Uncle Zeke . . ." Another shake of her head, and that topic brought up short. No need to say too much. "Anyway, he let me out and then we were in the garden thing again, but without the piano this time. And we talked for a while, then I woke up. But . . . Well, anyway, he's only been around the twice, and we talked both times. The first time, he said thanks for trying to help him, and the second time, I tried to find out more about what he made a deal with."

There's a hint of a smirk, with what comes next. "His reference was Donnie Darko. Mine was Alice in Wonderland."

[Nathan Spriggs] Nathan looked grave for a second as she finished explaining it, then he nodded slightly, looking down at the brownie as though searching for patterns and messages in the chocolate. "Yeah, best way I can describe it is... someone reenacting a fucked up version of Alice in Wonderland. I'm glad he helped you out with whatever it was, though." Then he turned back to Anna, serious and looking determined at something.

"Anna, I know I've asked for a fuckload of help lately though most of it hasn't panned out, but I was discussing something with Ashley the other night.. Well, I came to realize, that maybe if we check out the church... Maybe one of them noticed whatever is behind this, since I have a feeling something as powerful as that wouldn't be missed."

[Nathan Spriggs] ((Er, maybe one of the spirits there** Had to edit on the go.))

[Marianna Engmani] "Awful nice of him...if he's not a bother, I would just see it as a blessing, you know...a guardian angel of sorts." Anna didn't seem like it was that much of a concern, then again, she was dogged by spirits night and day, thankless bastards who always wanted something, and she was a general hardass about it, so if a nice dead emo boy came to your aid like a knight in shining armor...why bitch about it? "But if it gets ugly, you let me know, I'll take care of it, one way or another."

She pointed at Morgan, trying her hardest to give a stern look, but fuckitall, she couldn't really be fucked to care about being too tough. "You want me to check out the church...what about...what's her name? I mean...I can but I assumed you and her..." she rolled her hand as she talked, not really against it, but it seemed weird to her.

[Morgan Lake] ".....no, he's not a bother. But things have been different, lately. Since the second time, I mean." Nathan's given a glance, then a shrug. "Well, anyway. I guess it's probably nothing, right?"

Nothing to worry about, anyway, just a puzzle to solve. And, perhaps, a way to practice another Sphere she doesn't yet have under her belt. And, of course, the academic Hermetic isn't so tactful as Anna is.

"Aren't you and Queen Melodrama banging? Shouldn't you ask her?"

[Marianna Engmani] "Yes. This." Anna jacked a thumb at Morgan as she started to munch into her brownie.

[Nathan Spriggs] Maybe they expected him to be particularly offended, though he'd been amused by Anna's side-stepping. When Morgan went out and said it all out, he simply chuckled for a moment then shook his head. "Close enough but not quite." At that, he leaned back against his chair and started on his brownie for a moment.

After it was half-way through, which was soon, he decided to elaborate a bit. He wasn't emotional enough with people to stop being objective and logical when it came to work. "Not to mention she can't talk to urban spirits like you can. Also, don't mind me, really. You can say she's batty, nuts, psychotic, have a party. I'll only say this, there's reasons behind it, hard to believe as it is. Spirits are assholes, like you said. And some particularly bad ones are haunting her, like Nephandic bad."

[Marianna Engmani] "Well, everyone has a rough time, how we deal with it...that's the sign of strength of character." She says it almost darkly, her mind for a moment going to dark places almost instantly, but she shook her head, and then pointed at Nathan. "The less I know." Was all she said, Anna knew, her type were medicine workers, and she didn't want to be the one that had to cut the disease out by the source. Which might even go as far up as dealing with Kaya.

The Dreamspeaker rubbed at her temples for a moment, groaning, "But if you want me to, I can check the church."

[Morgan Lake] ".....you can tell me," Morgan says, all wide eyed innocence (or maybe eagerness, depending on how one chooses to take it). "I'm curious about . . . well, everything."

It's simple, that, and she, too, launches into her brownie with the appetite that only an athletic teenager can muster - she is one, after all. An athletic teenager, not a brownie (though she'd been one of those, too, complete with knee socks and silly little tie).

[Nathan Spriggs] ((BRB, switching comp))

[Nathan Spriggs] ((And I return))

Nathan watched the girl with some apprehension, curious enough about everything to risk using magic in public? Maybe she was just curious and wanted to know what the Technocracy looked like. After a moment of finishing what was left of the brownie slowly, he looked back to Anna.

"That'd be appreciated." He gave her smile for a moment after that and turned right back to the curious girl who might one day get in to something she couldn't get out of. "I'll explain it later if you still want to hear, it's a long story. For now, how much of what's been going on in the city do you know about?"

It wasn't a question to measure how involved in things she was, it was just curiosity, like someone hoping to find out a new fact on a co-op investigation from a partner or co-worker.

[Marianna Engmani] "No, I'm not interested in the least. I don't enable weakness." Anna frowned, finishing up her coffee with a grumble, perhaps he hadn't heard her correctly, but the Dreamspeaker viewed magic, and social behavior with a very Darwinistic eye. "But I can check it out. But I'm not going out without backup. And that's final." she pointed at Nathan and then flashed an all too toothy grin at the man.

[Morgan Lake] "I'll go with you, if you want. You'll have backup." Observe [practice (makes perfect) grow]. Help. Learn something new. These are important things! "And, who knows. I'm not as experienced as you yet, but maybe I'll notice something you don't."

[Nathan Spriggs] He leaned back and watched the two for a moment, shrugging at Anna sounding like Ashley. They'd probably be pals. Then he watched Morgan for a moment, as she seemed to perk up and offer to be backup. Why did he always end up in situations like these?

"I'll go too. I can probably Imbue some weapons beforehand in case anything attack us. Those Shallows are a goddamn danger..." He chipped in his part, then just went right back to watching the situation unfold.

[Marianna Engmani] Anna shrugs. "You have eyes, I'm not one to say shit about whether or not you're experienced, as far as I'm concerned." She smirked a little, to be honest, she and Ashley didn't get along in the least, the Dreamspeaker just couldn't get a stick up her ass that far. She couldn't be that super serious, however, she held her own Tradition to a much higher standard than any other. "Any help is welcomed."

[Morgan Lake] It's lucky, really, that he hadn't said the things he thought - but maybe Morgan picked them up in his expression. She's an astute little thing, after all, and doesn't enjoy being looked down upon. Regardless, Anna gets a smile (and there's no doubt that Morgan can get a stick that far up her ass, and may be well on her way to having it there) and a nod. "You've got my number. Give me a call when you want to go."

Then, there's the matter of Nate's earlier question, and she shrugs. "I saw the note about sentient goop, like everyone else has. And I know about the emokid. But most of the time, I keep a low profile, and study a lot. Practice, too."

[Nathan Spriggs] He nods at that, no further comments on the matter, so the news about the Chinatown thing hadn't gotten out. Nor had Emily or Ashley seemingly told anyone about the Lincoln Park thing. It seemed as far as most were concerned, the city was pretty quiet. Oh, how he wished it were true.

"Any particular skill set you're good at?" Now it was sounding more like an interview, he'd learned from the Lincoln Park thing to never underestimate anyone. Everyone was good at something, some times surprisingly good.

[Marianna Engmani] "Oh yea, anytime, same thing with you too, I mean hell even if you want to hang out or something." Anna said it, of course it was hard to tell if she was serious or not, but she was at least friendly. Though when Nathan started to talk about skill sets, she looked at him like he had grown a fucking horn out of his head. "Dude, Nate, this is real life, not some lame game of DnD...jesus christ." she laughed, finishing up her coffee and shaking her head.

She rolled her face in her hands for a moment. "Anyways...its not always what you're good at that sets you apart. I mean...wow, just wow. I invited her, I vouch for her competency, in all regards, and I'm pretty damn sure she won't let me down." she gave Nate the bird and then laughed some more. "And i don't even know her."

[Nathan Spriggs] Nathan looked at Anna for a moment, then he shrugged. "I know, but it's better to know nonetheless. Especially with the stuff running around, I've seen enough people die around me these past few weeks. Thank you." The last part was spoken with a tone that suggested that was the end of that, no further discussion necessary.

[Morgan Lake] ".....no, I kind of get the need to judge someone else's strengths and weaknesses if we're forming a team. Like a relay. But . . . we're not going to be a team forever, just for this one thing. And my strength that might actually apply here is observation. But I can also bake like no one's business, and I'm a pretty good runner."

[Solomon Quicksilver] Cold. And clear. And with a faint wind. He had on his strange shoes with the toes. Jeans, that seemed a little more silk-like than jeans had any right to look. A long sleeve black flannel hung over his thin frame on top of a black t-shirt with a white standby symbol on it. His hair was getting longer, and sort of shaggy. Hanging down to the bottoms of his ears. But he still wasn't quite growing a beard. Maybe he wouldn't for another couple years. Maybe it'd start tomorrow.

Thin white wires hung from his ears, earbuds snugged away. An ipod in his front shirt pocket. He had to get out. Staring at books all day in that house...the house that brought so many memories he couldn't identify. So many memories that weren't his, but were similar. It always creeped him out a little, when he found his feet finding the stairs perfectly in the early mornings before his brain was fully awake. When he found himself grabbing things out of cupboards and demanding that certain things had certain cupboards they belonged in, without knowing why. He needed escape, for a bit.

The world of the living. On streets that brought back memories that he knew weren't his, by their age. The way street lights were electric now, and the bustle of cars. He wanders the street. Eyes moving around, wide, soaking in new things. Breathing the air.

[Marianna Engmani] Anna shrugged, she was probably too tied to the city. "People die all the time, its sort of what they do. They're born, they live, they die...and from what I hear, rinse, repeat." She wasn't cruel, but she could be ruthless when it came to her observations about nature. "Especially within a city, where there is just so much put into so little."

She humms a little and laughs, zoning out a bit as she listened to the two.

[Nathan Spriggs] At her response, Nathan gave her a smile, he liked her so far. Maybe he was wrong, she was pretty smart after all. "For the record, my strength are I'm good with a gun and creating temporarily Imbued items if necessary... As well as investigations and I have informants all over the place from my days in corporations as a stockbroker."

He gave her his own information in equal trade first, so she wouldn't feel this was one sided. "If you ever need help with anything, gimme a call. Anyway, the reason I ask was the following. A few days ago, a contact of mine who was a Virtual Adept was murdered by technomagic hacking into something, we managed to look into it and find some information on the matter here and there. Right now, Jonathan and I, assuming you know him, are setting up teams to investigate two particular locations mentioned. For now, it'd be stake outs and the like, so your abilities might be useful.

"But just so you know, it could take a more violent turn, we have no solid information on them or their movements. Except they're capable of and have committed murder, with Awakened magic."

[Morgan Lake] There's a wry snort, then, and a muttered, "'They' aren't the only ones." It passes, though, this moment of normal teenager-ness, and leaves her finishing off her mocha and absently picking the brownie crumbs off of her napkin. And yes, that is an odd, vaguely suspicious look Nathan gets at the mention of working in finance, though in the end, she shrugs. "I'm an understudy, right now. But I won't always be, you know? When I start school in the fall, it'll be pre-law."

Assuming, of course, that she can get everything together enough to start school in the fall - this semester off, supposed to be spent in an internship, is killing her. But then, it's not really a semester off - she's forcing herself through the undergrad levels of Hermeticism quickly, with a ferocity she seldom exhibits, but for where it applies to her studies.

"Oh, and I speak both Mandarin and Cantonese fluently, and can read it as well as writing the calligraphy. Not that that's likely to be much help."

[Marianna Engmani] "I speak bastard French and a dead language." She threw her hand up waving it about dismissively as she looked at the lot of them. "I never graduated college, and I don't care to. In fact, the only thing I've managed is making some very powerful connections, and keeping a very good reputation within them." Anna said it with a bored sound to her voice. "I also have a pet albino." she smirked ever so slightly, but she didn't give too much away or sell herself too short, she was growing tired of this, and it was starting to show.

[Solomon Quicksilver] And he approached their little table. It was chilly to be sitting outside. Even in the day time. Even though it'd been nice before. He glances at the people at the little outdoor tables as he comes closer. And he suddenly recognizes Enid. Or rather, Morgan. Yeah, he was supposed to call her Morgan now. He'd have to remember, Morgan. Morgan wtfwasherlastname. That's her name. Bane of his existence. Always trying to clean things. At least she cooked... But when a man leaves his underthings in the drier you don't touch them, no matter how badly you need to do your own laundry!

His pace slows slightly as he starts to walk past them. Glancing at the other faces. New and not so new.

[Morgan Lake] Enid Geraint, now Morgan Lake - her new name is actually easier to remember than her old, though it's not quite so good of a fit, so far as she sees it. Still, it's equally Arthurian, and makes her feel close to the father she can't see any more, the mother she doesn't want to (or so she tells herself).

"D'you know Solomon?" The question's for Anna, of course - she sits with Anna like she might with a girlfriend, close and conspiratorial. She could be murmuring gossip. "He's my roommate. Or rather, I'm his - it's his house."

[Nathan Spriggs] Nathan smirked at Morgan's comment, but didn't answer due to Anna's own 'resume', which got a momentary chuckle. Then Solomon approached, the table was gonna fill up now. As Morgan explained she was his roommate, Nathan looked at Sol in surprise for a moment.

"It's been a while. How's it going?"

[Marianna Engmani] Anna leaned in towards Morgan and then shook her head. "I do not, he's cute though." She said it rather unabashedly as she looked Solomon up and down, of course, she only said it because well, it seemed that all of Ginger's buddies seemed a bit like a stick in the mud, and he didn't seem to look like the exception to the rule. "Ohhhh your roommate huh? Oh god, maybe I should introduce you to mine...sorta spaz, but fun."

[Solomon Quicksilver] Shit, he was spotted. And he didn't have beer. And they probably didn't serve beer here either. Fucking A.

He straightens up a bit. Raising himself to his full 5'8" height. Slender, without being skinny. Pale. Managing to seem sort of preppy/liberal/hipster despite or maybe because of his clothing. He shakes his head to toss his hair back a bit out of his eyes. He needed a haircut.

"Hey." Giving a nod of his chin to Nathan. "Hey Morgan." A hand comes up and tugs the wires from his head, rolling them around two fingers quickly and stuffing them in his pocket. Pressing a button on his ipod through the shirt. "And uh... I haven't met you." To Marianna.

[Morgan Lake] "Hey, Solomon. This is Anna," Morgan says, and it's clear the two women are at least on their way to being friends, even if they haven't gotten there yet. Despite Morgan's strategically placed stick, it must be said. "Anna, this is Solomon. He's one of ours." Which could be confusing, depending on how well one knows all the parties involved - it could be taken as Anna also being Hermetic, or . . . well. Anyway.

"Doing alright? If you're out for beer, remember I need a couple for bread."

[Marianna Engmani] "No you haven't."

It seemed the obvious was being pointed out, and Anna hated to be left out. "I'm Marianna, nice to meet you." She waves slightly, but didn't hold out a hand to shake, Eustace told her once that preppy was contagious, like herpes, or at the very least pink eye. She knew it was bullshit, but that was just a chance she didn't want to take. It looked like this boy had a very advanced case of the preppies...cute as he may be.

"One of ours...I really like how open ended that is Ginger, I'm gonna guess, but I'll keep it to myself, but I'd like to think...that like myself, he dresses in drag and howls to the rising moon upon rooftops." It was hard to tell if she was joking, her facial expression never changing from the queer little smirk she had going on. "...or naked, naked is always good."

[Nathan Spriggs] Nathan leaned back and let the introductions go, he had nothing to chip in yet. Though he did have some business to discuss with Solomon later. In private, probably, though he didn't quite care either way.

[Solomon Quicksilver] He flicks a glance back and forth between Marianna and Morgan. One of us. Wonderful. He was suddenly being lumped in with us. Plebes! "Well then."

Smiling faintly. His cheeks turning faintly pink at Marianna's words. "I'm Solomon Blackstone Quicksilver." Bowing his head a little to Marianna. "And if you're asking me to get naked for you, I think it's the wrong venue. Maybe elsewhere."

His eyes flick to the extra chair. His hand going to rest on it. A silent question, should he join them?

[Marianna Engmani] Anna tilted her head, looking Solomon up and down and then shaking her head solemnly. "No, never." She said it with a very grim certainty. "I would not want to see you naked, hell, I'm not even sure if Ginger is right...you might be somethin' but you aren't on the same boat as me." she covered her face a little, almost looking mock-embarrassed to be seen with him. Part of her thought 'thank gods'.

"Morgan, Nate...Mr...Quicksilver...I hate to run off an' all, but I have stuff to attend to, keeping the world safe, you know...capes, tights, the whole nine yards, so I have...to make like a fetus and head out." she stands up, offering her chair to Solomon as she stretches a bit. "You all have my number, so please, don't be shy if you need me." ((This is me darting out, I got work in the weehours of the morning. Thanks for the scene!))

[Morgan Lake] An eyebrow raises, amused (So ashamed to be lumped in with me, are you? I'll show you a thing or three.) as she looks up at him. "Sit, if you want. I finished my mocha a while ago and should probably get back to work."

As far as Solomon knows, that's all Morgan does do, is work. On whatever paper Ashley's assigned, or she's taken upon herself. On the Sphere she's learning. On cleaning up the house. On baking. On anything that keeps her occupied, keeps her from thinking about other things she'd rather not - it doesn't even really matter what.

"But I'll hang out for a few if you don't mind the company." Of a lowly apprentice is amusingly appended, but not out loud.

[Solomon Quicksilver] He pulls out the chair. Bending down a bit and sliding his butt into the chair amiably. Grinning over at Enid. Bane of his existence! He can't help it if he has to catalog all the books in his new mansion.

"Don't worry, I never run out of beer. And I'm getting some income now. So I can keep better stocks of it." But she knows all about his love of beer. Considering how often he wanders around the house, sometimes with a foggy look in his eyes, examining random spots on the wall, knicks in the furniture, and caressing the spines of books. She's probably used to him drinking.

[Nathan Spriggs] As Anna retreated, it was just the three of them, which he didn't mind mostly. He still had things to talk to Morgan about, and also some things to check over with Solomon. Better if he had them both in the same place. But first things first. "So, any idea when we'll return to our study sessions, Solomon?"

[Morgan Lake] Just as Solomon is used to her not drinking, but for the occasional half-glass of wine with dinner, if it calls for it, though she'll cook and bake with abandon, with whatever ingredients are called for in the moment. "And I told you. I don't exactly have an income right now, but I can get a tutoring gig or something similarly under the table. And I do have my savings. Groceries once a week isn't going to break me, or interrupt my plans."

Bane of his existence, indeed - he's lucky to have her. She's the Felix to his Oscar, in some ways. And now, there's a rueful smile.

"Though, I'm not old enough to buy beer and don't have a fake that says I am, so you'll have to deal with that. Anyway. What brings you out, old man?" She teases him - he, who is a little younger than she.

[Solomon Quicksilver] He smiles faintly. "I told you not to worry about it. As long as I don't end up shot or something by one of the people I'm dealing with, the income is steady."

A glance over at Nathan. He pushes hair out of his face again. He'll definitely need to get it cut again. "Soon, I think. Sorry I've been busy for a while. Digging through piles of books. My hands are still covered in dust from it." He lifts his hands and turns them over, looking at them, inspecting them for a moment.

Turning his attention back to Morgan. "I suppose I needed some air. My head is spinning from all those pages."

[Nathan Spriggs] The exchange between the two was so amusing he didn't even move to interrupt it, he'd almost guess they were a couple, who knows maybe they were. It wasn't until Solomon responded to his question that he decided to get involved in the conversation again, that and an indirect mention to his 'teachings'.

"No problem, I've been handling my fair share of crap too. Just gimme a call whenever you're available. I've managed to at least tap into it enough to see things in the way you showed me. So I'm kinda figuring it out on my own right now." Then he was back to the coffee he'd ordered while they were arguing, sipping it quietly and waiting for a response or another argument between the two.

[Morgan Lake] Nate guesses, in thought, at them being a couple, and how comical this would be to both of them if only they knew. They argue and fight like siblings at least as often as not, but that's neither here nor there. "You know what? I have a paper to finish revising, and some new research to start. I'm gonna head back to the house." She doesn't call it home, yet - it doesn't seem right to. "And the books will be back on the shelves, in proper order. So there!"

She sticks out her tongue at Solomon, then rises. "See you later, Nathan." And she's wandering away.

[Solomon Quicksilver] He turns his head a bit. Rolling his eyes at the young Enid. Lifting a hand to shake a finger at her. "Those books are going back in a proper order, not that alphabetical crap. You touch one and I swear I'll put spiders in your slippers or something." Grumbling, like an irritable old grump much more senior than his youthful appearance suggests.

Then he turns back to Nathan. "Glad to hear you've made progress. It's working for you eh?"

[Morgan Lake] ((Thanks for the scene!))