Aural Fixation (pt. 2)

[Thomas Taylor] Thomas was woken up by the maid; he got his pants on before opening the door he blinks, looks down then stares at her...

That how the day began he was ushered out of the room as he ran back in for the note still only half awake. He left the building topless, T-shirt in hand, note in the other and a massive smile on his face.

With that cockney swagger he made his way back home, and back to reality. He had an apartment if you called it that. It had been noticed that Thomas never brought anyone to his house, never even told anyone where it is....

He opens the door and walks in to the room that was his home. No carpet, no pictures just a dull fading and ripped wallpaper that came from the 60’s. He even had no glass in the window instead he put a bin bag over it and stapled it down. A mattress and covers lay in the corner, his kitchen in the other and one door that was his very small bathroom.

Still it was home, it was his. He looks to his old box that he called a TV and turns it on. He moves back on the mattress and brings out his universal remote control from under his pillow. Where the numbers had been he had drawn markings. Most were real hermetic symbols, an idea he read in a book that he made into his own. It was a correspondence ritual, one using mystical symbols and dropping them into a pool to scry your target. Tom was a hollow on though, he took the symbols, through eh rest away and chucked in some forces...he could scry using the TV, and with that dash of forces watch everything from the comfort of his own home.

So he starts, turning the TV on he focuses using the symbols on the remote control to tune himself in, he was wanting to get back to the club, to the DJ booth...

((Whats on the box rote, Correspondence 2, Forces one Diff 5, -1 for foci, -1 for rote, extended ritual diff 3.))
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 8, 10 (Success x 2 at target 3)

[Thomas Taylor] ((Extended))
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 2, 7 (Success x 1 at target 3)

[Thomas Taylor] ((Extended ritual))
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 4, 5 (Success x 2 at target 3)

[Aural Fixation] He gets what he wants - it takes some time, goodness knows how long, but there it is. The fuses are sorted now, and the place lit so that an electrician can look everything over and make sure it won't happen again; this early in the day, it's just him, the manager and one of the bartenders, taking care of stock and making sure the place is ready to open. It's the DJ box in specific that he wants, though, and the DJ box in specific he gets - he'll notice that the entire rig, from speakers to wires to deck is branded with the corporate name Aural Fixation. It's some pretty high tech, top of the line stuff, all of it . . . and it's a start.

Thinking back, Thomas may well recall that when the DJ returned from his break, he'd thanked Aural Fixation for its sponsorship in the form of the all new set-up. He may also remember Morgan saying it seemed like an effect created by Ars Mentis in conjunction with Ars Vis.

[Thomas Taylor] He presses pause on the TV remote and the screen freezes on the symbol. “Bingo...” Tom grins as he pulls out his phone, then the note as he types the number in...”Yer meant to wait a few days I know, but this ain’t exactly normal...” He grumbles that to himself as he puts the phone to his ear, the company name on the TV in front of him and phones Le Fay. His hand going to his pocket as he pulls out a smoke and stands, starting to wander in a circle, when not focused he always wandered.

[Aural Fixation] "Hello, this is Morgan," she says when there's a call from a number she doesn't recognize; if she'd expected Thomas to call at all, she certainly hadn't expected him to do so this soon. There's an expectant lilt to her voice, and the sound of papers rustling in the background - as if she's studying, maybe, turning pages. She does seem a rather consummate academic, and a driven one at that. (In reality, she's filing. Morgan hates filing, but she gets paid for it.)

[Thomas Taylor] First thing she hears is a Zippo lighting then smoke blown from a mouth “Le Fay, ‘ows tricks, ‘ope all is robin. Listen just thought I’d give you a crust up. Am goin to do sum checkin’ on sum equipment, you know the one from last night, the problem was not solved. Wondered if you wanted in an if nuthin’ else sumone knows wat the fuck ‘appened if I go on walk about...” He pulls the cigarette from his lips, the smoke curling around his face as he awaits her reply.

If there was one thing he was good at it was carrying on regardless, he treats her the same as he always had, you never would have thought that some hours earlier they were doing the naughty...

[Aural Fixation] "Smoking's bad for you," she says automatically when she hears the zippo and guesses at why it's being lit. "And it smells bad. Just sayin'." Then there's the rest, and she's thoughtful. "I'm at work right now in Bronzeville, but I get off soon. I don't know how much help I'll be, but maybe I can provide some distraction, or something. And it's a good call, letting someone know what's up; I didn't like the feel of it last night."

The resonance had been the same as Thomas', yes, and she obviously likes him alright - but it had been a different thing. Or is, in retrospect; she wasn't exactly in a not liking anything place last night.

"Want me to pick you up, or meet you somewhere?"

[Thomas Taylor] “Aye smokin’ is bad for me, but the worlds fucked, wats a few years lost eh pet?” He grins as the smoke goes back in his mouth “Well I ‘ave me bike but a pick up wud be sound.” He gives her a street corner a few blocks away that was nicer than his pile of crap. “An if you ‘ave a lappy bring it, might need to do sum computin’, ain’t got one yet pet, so wat lemon you want me there?”

[Aural Fixation] "I've got my lappy with me, so we're good," comes answer to the last first. "If you're coming here, you can get here right at four. Any searches done here can be blamed on Mal." That's with a smirk; it's handy, really, working for a PI. An address for the place is given, and then, "Are you close? If not, I can come pick you up and we can come back. There's a crummy Chinese place close, if we need food, and a gas station convenience store with crap coffee."

She sounds like nothing's happened between them as well - almost. Her speech comes a bit more quickly (nervously) and sounds almost like a normal eighteen year old girl's.

[Thomas Taylor] “Aye smokin’ is bad for me, but the worlds fucked, wats a few years lost eh pet?” He grins as the smoke goes back in his mouth “Well I ‘ave me bike but a pick up wud be sound.” He gives her a street corner a few blocks away that was nicer than his pile of crap. “An if you ‘ave a lappy bring it, might need to do sum computin’, ain’t got one yet pet, so wat lemon you want me there?”

[Thomas Taylor] “You ‘ungry pet, I can pick up sum Chinese on the way, no problems, might as well walk to you, I got the lemon, give me time to think an wat not.” Yes he did think, thought he was partially distracted now talking to her, mainly remembering the events of last night

“Well, I make get there four-ish, pick up sum grub on the way an this Mal can ‘ave a right robin feel...” He chuckles, it was a joke. “But yeah, sounds like a plan!”

[Aural Fixation] "A good feel of what?" It's a joke lost in the translation; his Cockney may as well be a different language than her upper middle class Chicago for how well she (doesn't) understands him sometimes. "Anyway, yeah, if it's not too much trouble. I forgot to bring a lunch today and didn't feel like going out. See you around four."

Given that he didn't leave the hotel until around noon, and then worked on the rote, that doesn't give him as much time as one might think - scrambling will get him there on time, but just barely. It's a good thing she said 'around' four, really.

The place she works is an inauspicious one story building, half barbershop and half unmarked office, but there she is to let him know he's found the right place - sitting on the wall around a dead flowerbed, watching for him to arrive. Today it's a black pencil skirt that hits around her knees and a short sleeved, Asian inspired blouse in red with gold and black embroidery - she looks professional with her hair tied up and back just so, in those clothes. A posh totty, indeed.

"Hey. Good day?"

[Thomas Taylor] He did not scramble as it were, a rush yes but not a scramble. He has a shower, buys some chewing gum (smoking made him smell bad apparently) and goes to the Chinese ordering a mixed starter and about 5 main meals...he never asked what she liked so got a selection.

When he walks outside her work he is perhaps 15 to 20 minutes late. Chinese takeaway bags in both hands. He had no time for a shave so looked a little rough. Still he had put on some clean clothes. Fresh jeans but still ripped, a plain white (clean, it is a miracle or perhaps matter magic) T-shirt. He always dressed plain as it were, white or blacks.

He does smile when he sees’ her, that cockney grin wide “Afternoon pet, got us sum grub.” He holds both bags up. He decides it was better to perhaps avoid any speaking of the events last night save the DJ, she would no doubt be embarrassed, be ashamed...still he does look over her once, quickly hoping she did not notice.

[Aural Fixation] She is not embarrassed or ashamed - or wasn't - perhaps surprisingly. Complete ignoring of what happened leaves her a bit awkward, but she respects it and is as distant (both physically and emotionally) as ever. "Thanks," she says with a smile that doesn't quite reach studying, assessing [discerning] eyes, then leads him inside.

Carpeted in something darker than beige, but not enough so to be brown or gray, the office is drab; it sucks the color out of anyone, which is a part of why Morgan goes for bright color or sharp contrast when she's here, perhaps. One wall is lined with filing cabinets and there's a couch along the wall opposite, perpendicular to the receptionist's (Morgan's) desk. There's a door on the filing cabinet wall, closed, with frosted glass at the top and 'Malcolm [last name I don't remember]' in black across it. Her laptop's already plugged in and open at her desk, so that's set and ready to go.

[Thomas Taylor] He follows her in, so different from last night, but that was the exception not the rule, this was the Morgan who dragged him to a coffee shop, the one that ran. He smiles that was not really a bad thing but just kind of made him believe the magic was perhaps more to blame than he wanted it to.

He looks around as he walks in finding a place to put the takeaway down, he fingers his smokes then with some willpower resists and does not smoke just yet...it smelt don’t you know. His eyes wander around the place, taking it all in. He was in a PI office...he felt he needed to be on guard like someone could jump out and suddenly lay the smack down on him...they have bounty hunters in America...bounty hunters, he saw one call Dog on the TV.

“Aural Fixation pet.” Once he knows there alone “Did my lil’ TV thin, scried it out, you mentioned sumthin’ ‘bout mind last night...I think...” They did share some words between kissing he was sure

"You look nice by the way..." Should he say, not say it so he thinks balls to monty and says it anyway

[Aural Fixation] There's a low table by the couch with a few magazines spread out on it - the waiting area, apparently, for when her boss' clients come to call - it will serve for dining table, and often does. Morgan indicates that Thomas can lay it out there and pulls up a browser window to pull up information about the company; google is excellent for at least preliminary results, and she is all business . . .

just a little bit softer around the edges with the compliment, and a murmured, "Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself."

. . . as she does so. "Aural means of or relating to the ear. Fixation is obvious, as is the bad wordplay. According to their website, they sell high end, high tech DJ gear, and testimonial says they occasionally gift stuff to really popular clubs, because the shout outs they get net them at least as much in free advertising as selling the systems outright would. Not a bad review anywhere. And I said Ars Mentis and Ars Vis - Mind and Prime. Those were the signatures I mentioned, anyway."

[Thomas Taylor] He puts the Chinese down as she hits Google; it’s all he would have started to do. He pulls out the starts, the meals piling them up and doing his best to resist lighting a cigarette, it was worse because he was resisting, because it was on his mind though it fades when she mentions he looks not too bad. He talks as he places and stacks the magazines.

“Last night, the mojo was between the deck an speakers, an only ‘appened wen the DJ was playin’, ergo I was guessin’ the decks, now the issue is if it is the company ‘as do it, or sum freelancer ‘as voodoo up this bad boy...an purpose, wats the bloody purpose save for serve mood swings, I don’t see the point.” He finishes putting everything out.

He puts down two cans of coke, it was like a picnic with WAY too much Chinese food for two people

"Ta da, dinner is served...." He stands to the side, both arms stretched like a TV presenter at the table stacked with food and the pile of magazines that just so happens to fall over and onto the floor with comedy timing to his 'ta da'...

"Bugger" He goes to catch them but fails dropping to his knees and quickly gathering them up

[Aural Fixation] "There are a couple things it could be, I think. Looking at their stuff, a lot of it's computerized - the turntables are still manual, old school, but that's about it. I'll help," she adds on, and drops to her knees next to him to do just that - gathering the couple that have slid under the couch, and a few escaped subscription cards. If and when he looks her way, this provides him with a lovely view of her bottom in that skirt, not that she's paying attention to things like that. Instead, she's still talking.

"So, it could be something in the programming, or the records themselves - though, my dad has some of those records. If it was them, it'd have to be those specific ones. But for reasoning . . . there's energy in emotion. It's part of what makes us who and what they are. So, maybe whoever did this has a way to spin that into tass or something. It was almost like . . . remember the haze? It was almost like a harvest."

[Thomas Taylor] He nods gathering the magazines offering her an apologetic smile but instead does indeed get that bottom shot and stops and has a moment to stare...thank god he could multitask unlike most men.

“Yeah, the vinyl was on me list, but ‘ave limited experience with mind or prime pet, ‘owever wat if I got the decks up on the TV, cud you scan ‘im like? It’s a lil’ rote I got, some corrie a dash of forces and presto scry on TV, in colour an HD if you got it, cannot fuckin’ wait till 3D TV, be the bloody bomb.” He smiles, his face only partially moving. She should get a paper round he thinks to himself as he watches.

He is still staring at her bottom and she would no doubt catch his head turning away sharply, his hand running over his cropped hair as he does he best to look inconspicuous.

[Aural Fixation] "I have limited experience in everything," she answers with a snort, catching him shortly after that when she's rising to put the magazines on top of the filing cabinets; it loosens her up just a little, and he gets a knee bumping his shoulder ever so lightly, briefly, as she moves back to sit on the couch. "But my lappy's got TV programmed into it if you want to use that, or there's that beast."

With the last, there's a gesture to a cheap, old TV mounted to the wall up near the ceiling over the filing cabinets.

"I did mention that I'm an apprentice, didn't I? But I can sense things, anyway. Maybe I'll be able to catch something that'll give you more to go on."

[Thomas Taylor] “Ouch...” He mocks when she bumps him as he looks to the Tv then to the one on the wall...his eyes ligten up “Pet, don’t knock it, thats golden, do the job just nicely as well, custy!” He moves over turning it on...

“Now then just need me remote...” He looks to her “Pet, I don’t really care if yer only ‘alf awake, a germans a german an I think yer more learned than I am..” He looks back to the TV hitting it on the side till he finally gets static “Le Fay yer a potter, gives you knowledge I don’t ‘ave access too an if I’ve judged you right yer well up on study, an form an practise.... all in all an assist to this operation, so welcome to the team”

He digs deep in his pocket, the remote was small this could be done...

((I hope thats something in your pocket rote, Correspondence 2 Matter 1, -1 for foci, -1 practised, Diff 3, two sux needed))
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 2, 4 (Success x 1 at target 3)

[Thomas Taylor] ((Extended, Diff 4))
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 4, 8 (Success x 2 at target 4)

[Aural Fixation] It's lucky, really, that he carries off the rote - or skilled, perhaps. Either way, Morgan watches him with a raised eyebrow as she takes a seat on the couch, having pulled a beautifully turned wooden wand (never does she look so much like a Weasley - or a Potter - as when she has that in hand) from her laptop case to set on the coffee table, away from the food. She opens the two cans of coke and the starter container, then finds chopsticks so she can start eating when he's seated too.

She borders on skinny, yeah, but he's carried her - she's heavier than she looks. She also eats way more than it seems like she could.

"Thanks. It's been awhile," she says in answer to the welcome - and it has. She doesn't have a cabal, and hasn't been on a team since cross country last fall. She kind of misses the camaraderie, if she's honest with herself.

[Thomas Taylor] He grins as he pulls the remote from his pocket; he turns it over his hands and then puts it on the search mode to get it infrared in tune with her TV. As he looks to her and throws it besides her “Bit of a modern day take on an old potter ritual pet...” He starts opening some of the Chinese, he was talking as he did. What she might notice as he speaks is his passion for magic, it still carried wonder in his voice, still some awe and respect.

He did not normal speak about his rotes, his magic to anyone, his art was so out there, so different most traditions never got it, how he blended so much...he was a hollow one after all.

“Original was puttin’ them numerical and alchemical runes on stones an droppin’ them in water, air an earth sybols, never fire mess up the effect, opposite element, fire burns not see’s...so in order to scry a target, fascinatin’ stuff pet, I might not be a fan but you potters ‘ave sum of the most lush reads...anyroad...yeah that’s it, well I took them symbols, threw that old medical stuff out the window, added a dash of forces an I give you the remote to live TV, big brother with just a push of the red button...” He looks up to her his attention was on the boxes of Chinese.

He looks confused not in a bad way “Not sure why I ranted ‘bout that then, just figured you might like to know, appreciate it?” He looks to her a moment “The red light at the top will flash three lemons wen it ‘as linked up, then I’ll do me mojo, you shake yer wand.” He smirks as he says that, a light hearted chuckle that he could not keep at bay “Pet, am buyin’ you a witches hat, you would look adorable...” He raises his hand “Also robin for corrie and the lil trick I pulled...”

[Aural Fixation] "It's very precise, you know, the motion. It's one thing they got right in those stories - as much as I loved reading them, there are some serious problems that I never would have recognized before. And I know about runic scrys; I spent awhile studying them not so long ago. There's actually a lot that can be done with runes, if one gets the hang of them. I haven't, yet."

There's a pause as she looks at him, hesitates, then shifts just a bit closer when she leans forward to catch a piece of beef and pepper out of one of the containers, and stays leaned forward to allow most of the sauce to drip off into the box rather than onto her clothes. "It's okay to talk about it - I like to hear about other methodologies. Even if they don't fit in well with my own paradigm, it's good to have a broad understanding of what's out there. Which is to say, I do appreciate it - both the history behind it and the way you've adapted it to work for you. Thanks for sharing."

The bit about the witch's hat gets a laugh, pleased as well as amused, and this time it carries up to her eyes - it makes quite the difference, that lighter look. It scares away some of the distance. "I have a Gryffindor Hogwarts uniform somewhere, complete with necktie and scarf. I haven't worn it in awhile, though - maybe you'll get lucky and have opportunity to see it."

[Thomas Taylor] He smiles more also, she had an infectious smile did Morgan, it was a shame she hid it so often. His eyes sparkle a touch, no rage there today, no nothing of the sort...she talks of uniforms and she can see his adams apple move as he swallows the thought...still business, yes business...

He moves closer to her, he has to cast the magic through her, but make the connection intimate for her. He puts an arm over the back of the chair as he passes the remote to her. “Okay pet, I already checked this out, so go to red button, recorded TV, and it will bring up the last viewed TV schedule, which at the moment is Voodoo TV...” He puts one hand over hers and the remote and moves her figners with his own, eyes on the TV as a finger rubs against one of hers a little to much, and he shifts so he was sat right besides her and Thomas focuses, finds his centre.

“This cud take a lemon pet, sorry, but if I fuck this up reality likes to slap me, ‘ard an in the face...you sud be robin eatin’ with yer other german”

((Whats on the box rote, diff 3 with foci and rote but 5 sux needed now as extending perceptions to Morgan to allow her to cast magic through the link))

[Thomas Taylor] ((gah no roll made))
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 7, 9 (Success x 3 at target 3) [WP]

[Thomas Taylor] ((Extended))
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 5, 10 (Success x 2 at target 3)

[Aural Fixation] [die of decision!]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 10

[Aural Fixation] There's overt, obvious touching and for a breath, two, three, Morgan goes very, very still. She looks at the hand holding her chopsticks, now empty of the bit of food she'd gathered, then her hand on the remote and his on it before looking up at his face; by the time her eyes (hazel, now gray, now green, now brown) make their way to his, she's swallowing the bite she hasn't chewed enough so that she's not still chewing like a cow when she's looking at him.

"It's . . . okay," she says when her mouth is clear, watching him intently for a moment before looking up at the TV and shifting so she fits into the curve of his body, allowing him to hold the remote (and thus her hand) more comfortably. "This is more interesting, anyway." And it really is - the only people she's tried to work magic with before are Ashley and Basil. This is a different thing, entirely.

[Blanket sensing, Corr/Forces/Life/Mind/Prime, -1 focus, +1 for crazy combo, +1 distracted, 7 sux necessary, extending]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 3 (Success x 1 at target 5) [WP]

[Aural Fixation]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 10 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Aural Fixation]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 2 (Failure at target 6)

[Thomas Taylor] It was quicker than last time, perhaps recorded TV did work. Morgan would find herself in control more than Thomas, though his hand on the remote was there to guide her, to show her the ropes. This kind of sensing may or may not be new to her. It is then that he realises in his focus of casting she had moved to fit to his body. The arm over the back of the chair raises up slightly, like a spider crawling from the darkness and with the faintest of touches goes across her shoulder.

It is his turn to go silent, to watch her, he loved watching, he learnt some of his best rotes from others, there styles, there charm...ever mage had them...was it just him or were Morgan’s eyes actually changing colour?

He supports the remote and her hand fully, offering guidance but not control; she had to work her magic which meant freedom of movement. Still he leans in slightly and smell her hair, he could quite easily be just taking a breath of fresh air....honest

[Aural Fixation] The color change of her eyes is a trick of light and shadow, of mood, of the color she's wearing - they're not actively changing eyes, but being of an indeterminate, muddy sort of color, they appear to do so on occasion. So it's not completely Thomas, but a trick of perspective.

The chopsticks have been put down and her wand taken up in her free hand to wave in patterns that look rather like a conductor directing an orchestra - precise, indeed - and a few words murmured, almost whispered. He can feel it, her resonance - so discerning now, looking for details, with that withering feeling twined through it, around it, pulling at him.

His hand lands on her shoulder and there's a momentary catch in the waving, the murmuring, but she carries on - adjusting ever so slightly to be more comfortable.

[same rote, still extending. Round 2.]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 3 (Failure at target 6)

[Aural Fixation]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 3 (Failure at target 6)

[Aural Fixation]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 3 (Failure at target 6)

[Thomas Taylor] He cringes when she stops just for a moment, instinct was telling him to move his arm back, then commons sense chirped in and told him that might just distract her again...So he almost freezes, he can feel her signature around them, her resonance surround them.

He felt at the same time like he was back in class under the teachers discerning glare and on a beach in Spain withering under the sun...neither bad feelings just ones he has not had for a long time.

He looks to the food but he could not get to it, does not really need to, he had his ‘germans’ busy. He is watching the wand though, her focus the words are ignored for the wand, the grace the elegance....a wand you say...

[Aural Fixation] Focus, Geraint, focus, she yells at herself internally and takes a deep breath, trying to clear her mind so she can do this, so she can see the traces and report on what she finds. Never mind that she's blushing, embarrassed at taking so long; one can guess that she's used to being head of the class and quick to learning, to success. She doesn't take so well to this, to perceived failure in public.

[YOU CAN DOOO EEET, same rote final round of extending without having to try over]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 8 (Success x 2 at target 6) [WP]

[Aural Fixation]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 6 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Aural Fixation]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Thomas Taylor] Thomas is watching the TV, eyes averted from her so she did not feel under pressure when she blushes. He knew how she felt, he honestly did, he did not like failure either, public or otherwise. His voice is quiet when it speaks barely a whisper. “You sud ‘ave seen it first lemon I tried to do this rote, reality blindsided me, marched me out to the shed bent me over took off it’s belt and said ‘Thomas, you ‘ave been a bad bad boy!”

A little jest to lighten the mood, that’s even if she heard him

[Aural Fixation] [modified WP to see . . . something, shh!]
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 2, 2, 10 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Aural Fixation] She didn't hear, actually; when she hunkers down and focuses, even after curling to be held against him, more or less, young Miss Lake is an intimidating sort of girl, the kind who doesn't let anything get in her way. There's no doubt that one day, she'll be a force to be reckoned with . . . if she doesn't explode from self-repression first.

It's taking forever. She feels like an idiot and is far too conscious of Thomas' hand on hers, of his arm around her, to pay as much attention as she should, and her work suffers for it . . . but eventually, it clicks. Her eyes are a bit distant, looking at some middle ground, but there's a girlish bounce at her eventual success. Her head turns just slightly, but she catches sight of him out of the corner of her eye and thinks better of whatever she was about to do, instead drawing the arm holding the remote and her hand on it around her and leaning against him.

"Mind - probably to enhance emotions. Prime to pull the energy from the affected and shape it. And Life . . . to enhance internal chemical reactions?" Which would explain the number of people in tears, or fighting, or nearly fucking. "I think that's it. All I can sense, anyway - and it feels like it's consuming. So maybe it's meant to feed something, or just to gather fuel for whatever it is they want to do. Do you think it's Aural Fixation who rigged it?"

[Thomas Taylor] Thomas was focusing on the TV, only turning when she gives that girlish bounce, his eyes meet hers as the head turns and she pulls his arm around her and leans into him...him...His mouth drops slightly then he quickly regains composures as she speaks. His hand over her shoulder shifts, staying there if anything encircling her more his fingers tap on her upper arm as he ponder this. “Aural Fixation, its robin guess, perhaps on their free deck there given out, but we still cannot rule out the DJ playin’ them...”

“If it is causing emotions you might be right pet, it might draw the opposite one out, so anger for you last night, ‘appiness for me....” It made some sense; you could not have the Ying without the Yang.

“Well, either way were gonna need a closer look at the decks, try and examing the enchantin’, perhaps speak to the DJ, if done right it can all be kept on the downlow with no on suspectin’ a thing.” He tilts his head to Morgan “Yer gonna be best at this pet, with yer prime an yer beeter knowledge you cud glean more info from the decks, also yer pretty, the DJ will no doubt let ya talk to ‘im, perhaps you cud get a feel for ‘im, check out if he ‘as mojo or not.”

It’s not that Tom wanted to put her in harms way, he was just doing what anyone should do, use the best tools available for the job, and Morgan was better than him in this case. She might doubt herself being an apprentice but Thomas obviously does not, she was after all better than him.

[Aural Fixation] "I guess it's a good thing it resonated roughly half and half, good and bad. Would have sucked way worse if it'd all been bad that was encouraged. I wonder what they're feeding, if that's right?"

She shrugs, and though she's hungry, the food gets ignored for staying in his arms; some part of her mind is already rationalizing this, the reason she's allowing him to touch her at all, let alone why she's in his embrace. It can't possibly be that she's spent months separating herself from everything and everyone around her as completely and efficiently as she can (except for Ashley, who is mentor, big sister, and surrogate mom both, and Atlas, who's slowly becoming a father figure), with the odd and recent additions of James and Thomas.

(But it's still James that she reached for in the morning, in the park.)

"Are we going tonight? I'm going to have to change. This is cute and all, I think, but it's certainly not club wear."

[Thomas Taylor] It was James, Thomas was just going with the flow, he expected this to end quickly, if anything was actually happening. He nods “Strike while the iron is hot pet, well if you wanna go get changed, I’ll throw sumthin’ on, we’ll...” He stops...look what happened last time. Still he could not, would not let her go in alone in case it did go wrong

“Were just gonna ‘ave to the take the chance we can be strong an not grope each other, or anyone else.” Those fingers keep tapping, he wanted to smoke but he was fighting it, to keep the smell at bay...

[Aural Fixation] [ohai, I know you're jonesin' and it's sweet of you to do it for me . . . (WP)]
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 4, 6, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6)

[Aural Fixation] "You can smoke, but not in my car. I'll wait for you," she says easily, and shifts. "Go grab one now, we should eat first. And we'll discuss the rules when you get back?"

Because of course there are rules, and of course she's in charge, never mind that she's only apprentice to his initiate. She's also a 'Potter' to his Hollower. She simply assumes he's going to do as she suggests, because that's the way things are - for Hermetics, for team captains, for girls voted 'most likely to make it to supreme court', for pretty, once popular young things.

[Thomas Taylor] Suddenly his hands move from around her as he stands, permission to smoke accepted he moves to go outside walking out of the door then back in again a confused, sceptical look on his face ”Rules...” He blinks then waves his hand at her “Hold that thought, don’t go gettin’ too far ahead pet...look...” He looks outside then back to her his tongue playing over his lips he wanted to smoke so badly he seems indecisive.

“Be back in 2!” And then he is gone, outside on the wall she met him on enjoying what seems like the first smoke in hours.

[Aural Fixation] There's surprise for a moment, when he looks so concerned at her mention of rules - they're quite simple, really - followed by amusement. But then he's outside to smoke, and she's inside eating, picking some from each carton and eating liberally. She'd forgotten lunch, as she said, and is an athlete - of course she has an appetite to match. Eating means she's not idle while she's waiting, and it also means she feels better when he returns.

[Thomas Taylor] He enjoys his smoke even if it was rushed...rules what on earth they needed rules for. Thomas was not a rules kind of guy (could you guess) so any motion for something that he thought might step on his freedom was met with resistance...but what if she was not referring to the club but to them...rules could lead to more...well whatever it is.

He walks in, only after chewing on some gum for about 30 seconds, Morgan should feel honoured he is actually going to some effort not to revolt her completely. So he walks back, swaggers like the cockney man does, he stands before her and then says

“I ‘ave no idea wat you wantin’ rules for, so just to make sure I don’t put this foot...” He lifts up his right foot “..In this mouth...” His left hand points to his mouth making him look a little silly “Am gonna let you go first...” A sensible move he thinks...

[Aural Fixation] One finger rises, first to indicate she has a mouth full of food (chewed so delicately, with manners, and completely swallowed before she speaks. "One: no more drinking than is necessary to maintain a cover. If either of us is drunk, it's an unnecessary risk. Two: nothing that might get us caught, or thrown out. No fighting. No smoking inside unless you're absolutely certain you won't get caught. Three: if it's the same thing as last night and reason is compromised, we get out and try again another night. Four, we each know where the other is at all times. I have a way of doing this, but you have to let me cut you just enough for a drop of blood," she says calmly, and holds up a small utility knife.

To her, all of this is just common sense - but it seems a better idea to lay it out so they both understand than to have it go unsaid.

"I'll find out what I can up in the DJ booth and let you know when I have him distracted and you can come up. Okay?"

[Thomas Taylor] She bombards him with the ‘rules’, the rules for the club...ah it made more sense now, and he felt a little silly as he removes the hand pointing to his mouth and lowers his foot as he listens to her.

He raises his hand, fingers raised to tick off her checklist. “1) Spoil sport, but yeah fair cop, 2) Don’t fret, reality like to let me slip by unnoticed, in fact am surprised you ain’t started to forget me (There were reason of course, perhaps he did not want her too) 3)Reason compremised, get out, again robin idea, 4) I can do this two, but I can use me corrie to feel the whole club, an another bloodletter eh, well there must be something to this, you want finger, wrist, arm, leg?”

It was common sense and thought at time you might not think it Thomas had this sense. “Pet, sounds like a robin plan, do we ‘ave a plan if we start...” He gestures his head but just comes out with it “..if we start shaggin’ again?”

[Aural Fixation] [first things first - why do you have to be so cute in your roughneck, blue collar way? (modded WP)]
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 1, 4, 6 (Failure at target 6)

[Aural Fixation] He doesn't make it to his last question before she's leaning forward and kissing him - it's not long, not lingering, but maybe it puts paid to the idea that last night was all whatever magic was around the club. What it is, is very interested, but restrained. There are more important things at hand than kissing.

Then, she leans back and his last question settles, bringing a blush to her cheeks. "What was it you said? 'Don't be a fool, wrap your tool', if I remember correctly. But I can't afford a hotel room two nights in a row, so we find a cheaper place off the Mile, or a bush." She's joking, has to be. Maybe. "I'm not against sex, in or out of love. Obviously. Sometimes, people need to get off."

There's that taken care of, and she's a bit callous about it despite her relative lack of experience. "And only blood for Ars Vitae, and it doesn't always need to go that far. This . . . is different. Your finger will do - thumb, actually."

She nicks her own and squeezes until a drop of blood rises, then does the same for him before pushing their thumbs together - an ancient, and now childish, bonding. Blood brothers. Again, words are murmured, and he can feel her resonance thickening the air again.

[Corr + Life, where's a missing part of me?]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 7 (Success x 1 at target 3)

[Aural Fixation] [and again, for added oomph]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 5 (Success x 1 at target 4)

[Aural Fixation] [just in case!]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 9 (Success x 1 at target 4)

[Thomas Taylor] Of course he was ticking off his list when she leans forward and kisses him, it surprised him, he barely gets time to kiss her back before the embrace is broken and he carries on. His head tilts a chuckle over playful lips as she quotes him , then says something that makes an eyebrow raise.

"I'm not against sex, in or out of love. Obviously. Sometimes, people need to get off."

He knew she had a bad side, a naughty side. Then she is talking about magic and he is all shop again, he is watching her, listening to her and this bonding, he lets her magic flow over him, that discerning withering....he then grins

“Yeah, that hotel was lush pet, but beyond me at the mo, I’ll save me pennies...” He smiles, a funny smile, a cheeky smile “you know, if all goes well we might as well anyhow right?” He offers her a charming (enticing) grin, he did have charm, she called it cute roughneck blue collar.

“Anyhow, no lemon to chat, to the Le Fay mobile!”

[Aural Fixation] [to be continued - completed - ASAP!]