Aural Fixation (pt. 3)

[Thomas Taylor] The Voodoo Lounge makes its own place in time. A broad ornate structure modelled after the Bozar stylings of the early 30’s; it is two stories high and encompasses an entire city block. The only modern mark is the purple neon sign that flashes its name and beckons the crowds to the sunken black leather and silver studded doors. The inside is palatial and pulsing. A black crescent shaped bar sweeps across the room near the entrance. Scores of small tables surround the dance floor in a seemingly random layout, and set discreetly in the rear are booths nestled in the darker corners of the club. The DJ booth is set near the ceiling, and a black and silver balcony traces the whole of the Club on the second story level. A spiral staircase leads to the second floor where the music isn't as loud for more intimate conversations. A short bar serves the upper area and its clientèle.

[Aural Fixation] They'd separated to get ready to go, and Morgan takes her part in this very seriously (as she does most things) - there'd been a quick shopping trip for the right dress, shoes and handbag for the circumstances at hand, a shower, doing her hair and makeup (not that she ever wears more than some eyeliner and mascara and a subtle lipstick), and then she was ready and off to pick up Thomas in the sort of dress that provides countless teenaged (and not so teenaged) celebrities with paparazzi crotch shots. And somehow, she still manages to look prim and proper, somehow.

(She knows what sort of impression she's likely to give off in a dress like this and hates it, for the most part. But she's also seen how easily girls dressed this way pose distraction to men, and it's quicker than trying to have an intelligent conversation. With a Sleeper. At a club. The mere thought induces rolling eyes and bored yawns.)

They get to the club and step in after a wait - it's later in the week now, and more people are coming out to play. Morgan's hand gets marked with the 'under 21' stamp when her ID is checked, and they move in together. It's piped in music for now but the DJ's in his booth, checking levels and equipment to make sure there's no repeat of circuit-blowing events, and Morgan's already got her eye on the job.

"Okay, so I'm distracting him, right? What are you going to do?"

She's not as close as she had been the other night, nor is she so distant as she'd been before that - he could [probably] touch her if he wanted, and she might not tense if he did.

[Thomas Taylor] Tom would have gone off home to get changed then meet her on the way to the club/at the club. No way is she seeing where he lives, no way in hell. A few problems had come up; he was running out of clothes. Well technically running of our clothes of the less holey nature. A deep sigh, the cigarette in his mouth (He was smoking up like a chimney with the chance he might be able to later) as he opens the suitcase and goes to the bottom. He was a pragmatic man, be prepared for any situation but still groans that it has come down to this. He did not want to seem like he was making the effort to appear to keen, which this looked like but at the same time how could he tell her he very few clothes. So he has to raid the back closet, some of his railroad wear. Of his time trying to make friends in the more romantic and trendy cliques used by other hollow ones, he had to raid some of his designer wear....

So when she picks Thomas up (a few blocks from his actual house) he is dressed in a very smart black shirt the top few buttons being undone making it seem more casual with just a hint of muscle showing, pure white belt holding up smart black pants and (wiped) converse, you would struggle to get him into shoes now, he loved them. He has a chain going from back of the belt to the front right pocket, which was more than for show (Foci).

He has had a shower, shaves and looks decent and can actually scrub up nicely. He straightens his cufflinks as they walk in, as always managing somehow to avoid getting ID, it helped he looked early twenties and Arcane did the rest.

So she asks her question, she may have noticed Thomas looking at her a lot in that outfit on the way here, like staring. But now they’re here he seems to have control of his more primal impulses. They were after all on the clock. “Well we ‘ave two objectives, yer’ze not just chattin’ ‘im up, you need to get a beed on ‘im find out if he is awakened, he should give off sumthin’ similar to the decks if ‘e is. Now if he ain’t then we know it ain’t vinyl or ‘is magic which by default makes it the decks themselves. Once we can establish that I check out the decks and at best we find out more info and we stop it, worse I break ‘im beyond belief then make a dash for the nearest fire exit.”

He looks to her, blue eyes seem slight with fire “I luv a robin plan.”

[Aural Fixation] "Alright, then," she says, and if she has noticed him staring, she doesn't comment, doesn't take it to heart - as far as she's concerned, she looks like a tart, and any extra attention she gets proves that she did the right thing. No, she hasn't taken what happened last time into account, the reactions around her - at least not as well as she should have. Now, though, she looks at Thomas and nudges him into a corner where no one will see - first things first.

"Kiss for luck?"

And she rises to toes to do so, not lingering but no peck either, and before Thomas has much chance to react, she's off to talk to a DJ. When you're a girl like Morgan, looking like she does, it's not that difficult to get to where you want to be - it takes minimal coercion and less lying (thank god) to get her to the DJ. To Thomas, it looks like she's flirting, and said DJ is taking to it well.

[So, you're like, really good. I like the tunes you spin, and you're kinda cute. 'sup? (Distraction - Manip + Sub, WP)]
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 5, 6, 9 (Success x 3 at target 6) [WP]

[Aural Fixation] [Awareness]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Aural Fixation] [No, really]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 4, 4, 5, 5 (Botch x 1 at target 7)

[Aural Fixation] That . . . no, that's not right. There's a sudden blinding flash and Morgan can see everything, but can't process it, or where it's coming from the consumingwitheringdiscerningresonanceandglowingquintessencethatmakeseverythingrealandow; a shadow crosses her face briefly, but she keeps up the chatter with the DJ with only the slightest of hitches that he doesn't notice. There's no sign yet, and she knows Thomas is going to wait for that, so she waits (too long, with the way the DJ's looking at her, but at least no one's getting all weird like last time [yet]) until her vision clears to try again.

[HAIL KAHSEENO]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 6, 8, 8, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Thomas Taylor] "Kiss for luck?"

Then is pushed/nudged into the corner, not as much given as yesterday, more than earlier doing his finger count down...was it the magic? He is watching, he is waiting as with slow steady steps moves closer to the DJ booth (But still with the crowds) the mental barriers containing his arcane are let down, he becomes just another man, a plain one at that one not worthy of being hit by a man or hit on by a woman (Maybe the other way round the way things were going?)

He watches Morgans interaction carefully. He was waiting for the right time but also something else, protection? Lust? Arms cross as he waits watching the DJ drool over her...

Did he just frown?

[Aural Fixation] There's no magic yet, as far as he can tell - it's a normal night at the club. Up in the DJ booth, Morgan can feel it waiting, curling around her, can feel the resonance that's similar to but competitive with her own, and knows it's not coming from the DJ. She knows that he's not one of them, and also that, while he knows a great deal about what he does and how to work it when it's set in front of him, he knows nothing about the internal electronics or the magic it gives off. It's handy, being able to read people and auras (or whatever one wants to call them) at the same time.

She has no idea that Thomas is watching her - or maybe the DJ - and frowning. She does know, however, that the DJ is drooling over her, which will make it easier to keep him distracted during the break after his first set. Finally, after awhile of talking (and occasional physical contact that one only need see the set of her spine to know she doesn't like), she makes her way back down and moves unerringly to Thomas' side. That little rote of hers was a handy thing, for her anyway.

"He's nothing special, and doesn't know anything, and it's not the vinyl. Something to do with wiring, and I think with underlying harmonics on a subliminal level. We're going to have to make it through a set, but then he's going to meet me for a drink," she holds up her stamped hand to reveal that there's no remains of the stamp that marks her as underage, "and you get to sneak up there and do what you can. Cool?"

[Thomas Taylor] The frowns gone as soon as she turns towards him nothing to see here. He does not touch her, not just yet he saw her spine twitch...he will have to ask her about that, and why the hotel called her a different name. But that was for another time he does move close, as two friends would chatting in a night club.

He nods smiling “Le Fay, yer bloody robin, always surprising me...” His smile stays, thought perhaps cuter than before “’ky, as the sets playin’ am gonna try an scope out them harmonics? Perhaps with a bit of the old entrop.” He starts tapping his fingers against his leg carrying on “An maybe sum x-ray vision might be able to take the thing apart during the break...”

For a few seconds as Thomas looks up at the booth his face is one of focus, of extreme concentration. A focus only possessed by the few not the many. Morgan might be surprised to find his focus upon the mystic arts was impressive, he looks almost intelligent as he stops speaking, mouth moving as he plans, nothing he can really say she will understand just a gesture that he was thinking.

“An becareful...” He keeps focused on the booth “W’en we do a set not only might we be mojo’d but the sleepers too, an yer bloody sexy with that number on, am not gonna be ‘ere while workin’ on that so you call me if you need me, shout, magic, whatever...” He just nods, it sounded like a statement not a request.

He blinks, and then clicks his fingers “ I just thought of a new rote, forces and corrie, the cry for help...damn sum times am too robin.”

[Thomas Taylor] He then smirks "Or maybe the Booty call rote..." Was he trying to wind her up?

[Aural Fixation] Her answer to the last comes in the form of a fist to his shoulder, too hard to be playing and too light to be earnest. "I'm not completely helpless, you know. There's pepper spray in my purse and I've had some self defense classes. Also, I have these. I don't know if they'll help, but it's worth a try."

She pulls two pairs of ear plugs out of her purse, one of those tiny things that really only holds an ID, a credit card, a condom and some pepper spray, and hands one over.

"And I'll guard myself as well as I can. He's about to start playing," she adds with a nod up at the booth, and there's a flare of her resonance as that guard goes into place.

[Mind 1 ward-ish]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 10 (Success x 1 at target 3)

[Aural Fixation]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 10 (Success x 1 at target 4)

[Aural Fixation]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 3 (Failure at target 4)

[Thomas Taylor] He takes the punch, he was not expecting it but he was sturdy. His has a frown, but he see’s that fire there just in a different form. He takes the ear plugs and nods “Fair play pet, fair play...”

He puts the ear plugs in and just has to hope they work or his will is stronger now there expecting it. He nods to her, now the focus passing that he wanted a smoke. He tries not think about it, he needs to put it out of his head.“I don’t know if I sud ask you to dance, that might be wat kicked it off.” And if she can hear him. He looks back to her and winks with that cheeky cockney grin.

[Aural Fixation] They mute things, the earplugs do, but not completely - and Morgan's been in James' company, which means she's getting significantly better at reading lips. She smiles, shrugs and leans just lightly into him; she may not be particularly keen on physical contact most times, in most places, but it's better with someone known than with a stranger. And Thomas is at least a little known - they're on the same side, at any rate.

"If you want to dance, we can dance." And there the DJ is, thanking Aural Fixation for the equipment and fixing the wiring problem from the other night, and going into his set. An eyebrow raises as she looks up at Thomas from the corner of her eyes. "We've got some time."

[die of decision - even = good, odd = bad!]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 8

[Thomas Taylor] “Actually pet, before we do...” He looks to her “An let me know if this is a sorry lemon, but wats with the touchin’ thing, like beyond personnel space, everythin’ robin?” He was honestly interested, strangely he cared why. Normally he only thought about himself, he looks down to her leant against him, half his gaze is on the DJ trying to retain some focus but it darts and holds on her more than the booth.

...must be the not smoking...

Justified to himself he holds out his hand on the side she is not leaning against, his skin on the palm looks worn and weather compared to her small and slender one she held his hand with last night. With that question not wanting to be initiator of the touch letting her decide not only if she wanted to answer him but dance.

[Thomas Taylor] ((Die of decision))
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 10

[Aural Fixation] ".....there was a thing," she says with a shrug. "I don't like being touched by people I don't know and trust, and I've always preferred personal space except when I'm with people I'm really close with." All of which is true, and spoken as her hand slips into his and they head for the dance floor - she doesn't know him all that well, yet, but she knows him well enough to have at least basic trust, if not implicit yet. And despite being true, it's obviously not the full story.

"So yeah, everything's 'robin'. It's not, like . . . abuse trauma or anything, and I'm not going to fall apart or anything." Not if she can help it, anyway.

Around them the first song plays and reactions are pretty subtle yet - people are quicker to laugh or cry or anger, but no one's throwing punches. Most notable, though, Thomas and Morgan are the least affected by it, at least so far - so maybe her earplugs are helping.

[Thomas Taylor] He listens to her, face is kept blank for a reason as he takes it in. He smiles faintly when she takes his hand and they take to the dance floor. With this in mind he keeps the dancing more distant, crazy magic not (currently) helping him dry hump her in public this time. It was not that kinds of DJ if it went like last night some R & B, dance. He can move, but it more controlled than last night not only because of him being careful not to but his glances to the DJ booth.

“Understood pet...” He says a few seconds into the dance, a small furrow that is quickly covered. So he dances with her nothing to complex or dangerous, just two young people having a dance to the people (and DJ if he looks.

“I didn’t like anyone touchin’ me was I was lil’ pet, am all robin now but yeah, I kind of understand.” He does relate but not in a way that might explain the full story, something had happened to Morgan that much was becoming clear to him, something serious.

[Aural Fixation] She also really, really doesn't like people touching her mind, which is why all the attempt at preparation tonight - she'd not been in much place to object before, but going into it knowingly is different.

"It's getting worse," she says and nods towards a couple of friends - if the group around them is any indication - start shoving each other. "You alright?" She's studying him intently, it's true, but she's also testing herself - she can feel her mood lightening, and she's not sure how much of it is because this is almost done and they'll be out of here, and how much is whatever it is that the magic does.

[WP, -2 diff for earplugs & minimal shield]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 5, 5, 8, 10 (Success x 3 at target 4)

[Thomas Taylor] ((does he do the happy dance? -2 diff ear plugs, no shielding, WP))
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 2, 3, 7, 10, 10 (Success x 3 at target 4)

[Thomas Taylor] “Is it...” He had not felt it this time, there was no anger present at all, some worry sure but not anger. He was in a happy mood. He looks to Morgan and nods “Am calvin pet, all robin.” He keeps dancing with her.

Thomas has had a mind shield a few times but has never had his mind touched knowingly, it was never one of the arts that came quickly too him. “We just gotta ‘old out pet, these are workin’!” He taps his ear eyebrow raised “This is gonna work...”

He sounds confident

[Aural Fixation] There's no magic yet, as far as he can tell - it's a normal night at the club. Up in the DJ booth, Morgan can feel it waiting, curling around her, can feel the resonance that's similar to but competitive with her own, and knows it's not coming from the DJ. She knows that he's not one of them, and also that, while he knows a great deal about what he does and how to work it when it's set in front of him, he knows nothing about the internal electronics or the magic it gives off. It's handy, being able to read people and auras (or whatever one wants to call them) at the same time.

She has no idea that Thomas is watching her - or maybe the DJ - and frowning. She does know, however, that the DJ is drooling over her, which will make it easier to keep him distracted during the break after his first set. Finally, after awhile of talking (and occasional physical contact that one only need see the set of her spine to know she doesn't like), she makes her way back down and moves unerringly to Thomas' side. That little rote of hers was a handy thing, for her anyway.

"He's nothing special, and doesn't know anything, and it's not the vinyl. Something to do with wiring, and I think with underlying harmonics on a subliminal level. We're going to have to make it through a set, but then he's going to meet me for a drink," she holds up her stamped hand to reveal that there's no remains of the stamp that marks her as underage, "and you get to sneak up there and do what you can. Cool?"

[Thomas Taylor] The frowns gone as soon as she turns towards him nothing to see here. He does not touch her, not just yet he saw her spine twitch...he will have to ask her about that, and why the hotel called her a different name. But that was for another time he does move close, as two friends would chatting in a night club.

He nods smiling “Le Fay, yer bloody robin, always surprising me...” His smile stays, thought perhaps cuter than before “’ky, as the sets playin’ am gonna try an scope out them harmonics? Perhaps with a bit of the old entrop.” He starts tapping his fingers against his leg carrying on “An maybe sum x-ray vision might be able to take the thing apart during the break...”

For a few seconds as Thomas looks up at the booth his face is one of focus, of extreme concentration. A focus only possessed by the few not the many. Morgan might be surprised to find his focus upon the mystic arts was impressive, he looks almost intelligent as he stops speaking, mouth moving as he plans, nothing he can really say she will understand just a gesture that he was thinking.

“An becareful...” He keeps focused on the booth “W’en we do a set not only might we be mojo’d but the sleepers too, an yer bloody sexy with that number on, am not gonna be ‘ere while workin’ on that so you call me if you need me, shout, magic, whatever...” He just nods, it sounded like a statement not a request.

He blinks, and then clicks his fingers “ I just thought of a new rote, forces and corrie, the cry for help...damn sum times am too robin.”

[Thomas Taylor] He then smirks "Or maybe the Booty call rote..." Was he trying to wind her up?

[Aural Fixation] Her answer to the last comes in the form of a fist to his shoulder, too hard to be playing and too light to be earnest. "I'm not completely helpless, you know. There's pepper spray in my purse and I've had some self defense classes. Also, I have these. I don't know if they'll help, but it's worth a try."

She pulls two pairs of ear plugs out of her purse, one of those tiny things that really only holds an ID, a credit card, a condom and some pepper spray, and hands one over.

"And I'll guard myself as well as I can. He's about to start playing," she adds with a nod up at the booth, and there's a flare of her resonance as that guard goes into place.

[Mind 1 ward-ish]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 10 (Success x 1 at target 3)

[Aural Fixation]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 10 (Success x 1 at target 4)

[Aural Fixation]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 3 (Failure at target 4)

[Thomas Taylor] He takes the punch, he was not expecting it but he was sturdy. His has a frown, but he see’s that fire there just in a different form. He takes the ear plugs and nods “Fair play pet, fair play...”

He puts the ear plugs in and just has to hope they work or his will is stronger now there expecting it. He nods to her, now the focus passing that he wanted a smoke. He tries not think about it, he needs to put it out of his head.“I don’t know if I sud ask you to dance, that might be wat kicked it off.” And if she can hear him. He looks back to her and winks with that cheeky cockney grin.

[Aural Fixation] They mute things, the earplugs do, but not completely - and Morgan's been in James' company, which means she's getting significantly better at reading lips. She smiles, shrugs and leans just lightly into him; she may not be particularly keen on physical contact most times, in most places, but it's better with someone known than with a stranger. And Thomas is at least a little known - they're on the same side, at any rate.

"If you want to dance, we can dance." And there the DJ is, thanking Aural Fixation for the equipment and fixing the wiring problem from the other night, and going into his set. An eyebrow raises as she looks up at Thomas from the corner of her eyes. "We've got some time."

[die of decision - even = good, odd = bad!]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 8

[Thomas Taylor] “Actually pet, before we do...” He looks to her “An let me know if this is a sorry lemon, but wats with the touchin’ thing, like beyond personnel space, everythin’ robin?” He was honestly interested, strangely he cared why. Normally he only thought about himself, he looks down to her leant against him, half his gaze is on the DJ trying to retain some focus but it darts and holds on her more than the booth.

...must be the not smoking...

Justified to himself he holds out his hand on the side she is not leaning against, his skin on the palm looks worn and weather compared to her small and slender one she held his hand with last night. With that question not wanting to be initiator of the touch letting her decide not only if she wanted to answer him but dance.

[Thomas Taylor] ((Die of decision))
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 10

[Aural Fixation] ".....there was a thing," she says with a shrug. "I don't like being touched by people I don't know and trust, and I've always preferred personal space except when I'm with people I'm really close with." All of which is true, and spoken as her hand slips into his and they head for the dance floor - she doesn't know him all that well, yet, but she knows him well enough to have at least basic trust, if not implicit yet. And despite being true, it's obviously not the full story.

"So yeah, everything's 'robin'. It's not, like . . . abuse trauma or anything, and I'm not going to fall apart or anything." Not if she can help it, anyway.

Around them the first song plays and reactions are pretty subtle yet - people are quicker to laugh or cry or anger, but no one's throwing punches. Most notable, though, Thomas and Morgan are the least affected by it, at least so far - so maybe her earplugs are helping.

[Thomas Taylor] He listens to her, face is kept blank for a reason as he takes it in. He smiles faintly when she takes his hand and they take to the dance floor. With this in mind he keeps the dancing more distant, crazy magic not (currently) helping him dry hump her in public this time. It was not that kinds of DJ if it went like last night some R & B, dance. He can move, but it more controlled than last night not only because of him being careful not to but his glances to the DJ booth.

“Understood pet...” He says a few seconds into the dance, a small furrow that is quickly covered. So he dances with her nothing to complex or dangerous, just two young people having a dance to the people (and DJ if he looks.

“I didn’t like anyone touchin’ me was I was lil’ pet, am all robin now but yeah, I kind of understand.” He does relate but not in a way that might explain the full story, something had happened to Morgan that much was becoming clear to him, something serious.

[Aural Fixation] She also really, really doesn't like people touching her mind, which is why all the attempt at preparation tonight - she'd not been in much place to object before, but going into it knowingly is different.

"It's getting worse," she says and nods towards a couple of friends - if the group around them is any indication - start shoving each other. "You alright?" She's studying him intently, it's true, but she's also testing herself - she can feel her mood lightening, and she's not sure how much of it is because this is almost done and they'll be out of here, and how much is whatever it is that the magic does.

[WP, -2 diff for earplugs & minimal shield]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 5, 5, 8, 10 (Success x 3 at target 4)

[Thomas Taylor] ((does he do the happy dance? -2 diff ear plugs, no shielding, WP))
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 2, 3, 7, 10, 10 (Success x 3 at target 4)

[Thomas Taylor] “Is it...” He had not felt it this time, there was no anger present at all, some worry sure but not anger. He was in a happy mood. He looks to Morgan and nods “Am calvin pet, all robin.” He keeps dancing with her.

Thomas has had a mind shield a few times but has never had his mind touched knowingly, it was never one of the arts that came quickly too him. “We just gotta ‘old out pet, these are workin’!” He taps his ear eyebrow raised “This is gonna work...”

He sounds confident

[Aural Fixation] "I hope so," she says and relaxes just enough to dance in a little closer - her choice, this time, and like him she wonders how much of before was the magic and how much was actually them.

Around them, the effect builds, gets more obvious, and they stay in their little bubble as created by earplugs and knowing they're working together; it's a good thing, particularly as, for now, it keeps other people from bothering Morgan overly much despite her dress calculated to draw attention. (There are other women here in similar dresses with better endowment and fewer well muscled scrappers who are clearly there as . . . dates, or friends, or whatever.)

"He plays for an hour to an hour and a half, then takes a break for half an hour. Think you can do what you need to in time, or do I need to keep him distracted longer?"

[Thomas Taylor] When she dances closer he lets her and dances with her, the ear plugs were working fine, and he enjoys the dance, nothing else said thought he had a more content smile on his face than at any other time she has seen him so far. He had even forgotten about his smokes.

He was fairly sure this was not working now so he relaxes a touch and leans in to answer Morgan, not touching her but his cheek is quite close to hers and that ear he has chosen to speak into. “Well that just ‘ave to be ‘nuff pet, am gonna try and take it apart, counter the magic if I can but I think with this mojo thats outta the question. If not then am just gonna try and mystically take it ‘part, ‘port different bits from it if I can find the key component...it operates on a similar wavelength to me, I can feel it...comsumin’ sud ‘elp me castin’ on the fucker.” He licks suddenly dry lips as he pulls back so he is facing her again “If worse comes to worse, I pick up the decks and throw it to the floor with a lucky smash, an I make a run for it through that fire exit.” He points to the one nearest the booth, he had picked it out earlier “An I meet ya a couple blocks away, or I can just go me pope if you wanna stay out, be no danger after that’s gone.” He thumbs the decks.

“An only one of us need to run away from this place, we on the same page Le Fay?” He smiles, it is not cheeky it is positively charming [i]enticing[i/] even. “I see a regular detective duo comin’ outta this”

[Aural Fixation] "Wait for me, I'll find you," she says, holding up the thumb she'd cut (he can still see the remains of the small wound if he looks close when the lights hit her) for the rote earlier to mark her point. "I'll want to be sure you're alright, and we can decide whether we stay out after that or not, yeah. But whatever else, we came in as a team, and you make sure your team mates are alright before you go on to something else."

A slower song comes on and she pulls him in - they're putting on a show, they may as well put on a show. And the better it is, maybe the better it'll keep others from bugging her later.

[Whee, building effect, WP +1 diff for duration]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 3, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 2 at target 5)

[Thomas Taylor] ((A show eh, come on down Thomas, WP +1 diff duration))
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 5, 8, 10 (Success x 2 at target 5)

[Thomas Taylor] He does not read her mind but moves into her as she does him, one had moves to her lower back, but not the ass this time, the other does find hip as he moves with the slower song. God was this good, his mood was just getting better and better. Not only were they going to succeed, he got to dance with Le Fay, and everything was going to plan.

He actually makes an effort to dance, leading her in places but nothing formal or to sexy, just a bit of fun, a bit of a show.

“Am glad you didn’t bugger off at the Noah’s the other week pet, yer real robin.” A happy nod, a cheeky smile as his cheek touches her forehead ever so slightly in the dancing Thomas really starting to move and doing everything that he can to get Morgan to do the same.


((I don't know why but I want to dance with this woman! Dex & Performance))
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 8 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Aural Fixation] [I'm an athlete, not a dancer, can I keep up? Dex + Athletics, +1 diff for not actually being the more standard skill.]
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 2, 2, 8, 8 (Success x 3 at target 7) [WP]

[Aural Fixation] She laughs, pleasantly surprised when he whirls her about so - she's not that great a dancer, but she knows her body and how it moves, so what she lacks in style and specific skill, she makes up in more general aptitude. Which is to say she keeps up and looks alright doing so, but it's not particularly pretty.

"I'm glad, too. Molly irritated me badly, but Natyana seems alright. And you . . . oh, I don't know. I might be able to stand you, a bit. You're almost tolerable."

It's teasing, of course, as they swirl around - just a couple more songs and it'll be break time, time to do their thing. Morgan's more nervous than she'd ever let on, between the 'seduction' of the DJ and everything else, but it's hard to keep that in mind with the music playing and Thomas' arms around her.

[Thomas Taylor] She does not need to be pretty, she knew her body, was an athlete and wore that dress. Thomas tries to lead her as best he can, he keeps her close unless the song changes and even then tries to keep some contact. It is not the same as last night it is more honest affection, more happy.

He laughs as they dance, he does risk a touch of her hair while there moving on the floor (Keeping up appearances of course) but it matches the moves, he even has a little bit of a solo dance making himself look a bit like a joker, but he was just in a great move and this music was really growing on him.

“Yeah, Info can be a bit of a prick, Nat is calvin, James is on the nights lads out, think he cud do with it...an yer posh totty that I can stand...plus yer a potter.” He counters to her tolerable. He too was joking, teasing her in gentle fashion.

He does before the slow dance end lean in and steals a kiss, he risks it no time for her to register it really a second or two at best if she does not pulls away. Not possessive or forceful, but also not weak or careless.

(Missing something)

[Thomas Taylor] He takes the punch, he was not expecting it but he was sturdy. His has a frown, but he see’s that fire there just in a different form. He takes the ear plugs and nods “Fair play pet, fair play...”

He puts the ear plugs in and just has to hope they work or his will is stronger now there expecting it. He nods to her, now the focus passing that he wanted a smoke. He tries not think about it, he needs to put it out of his head.“I don’t know if I sud ask you to dance, that might be wat kicked it off.” And if she can hear him. He looks back to her and winks with that cheeky cockney grin.

[Aural Fixation] They mute things, the earplugs do, but not completely - and Morgan's been in James' company, which means she's getting significantly better at reading lips. She smiles, shrugs and leans just lightly into him; she may not be particularly keen on physical contact most times, in most places, but it's better with someone known than with a stranger. And Thomas is at least a little known - they're on the same side, at any rate.

"If you want to dance, we can dance." And there the DJ is, thanking Aural Fixation for the equipment and fixing the wiring problem from the other night, and going into his set. An eyebrow raises as she looks up at Thomas from the corner of her eyes. "We've got some time."

[die of decision - even = good, odd = bad!]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 8

[Thomas Taylor] “Actually pet, before we do...” He looks to her “An let me know if this is a sorry lemon, but wats with the touchin’ thing, like beyond personnel space, everythin’ robin?” He was honestly interested, strangely he cared why. Normally he only thought about himself, he looks down to her leant against him, half his gaze is on the DJ trying to retain some focus but it darts and holds on her more than the booth.

...must be the not smoking...

Justified to himself he holds out his hand on the side she is not leaning against, his skin on the palm looks worn and weather compared to her small and slender one she held his hand with last night. With that question not wanting to be initiator of the touch letting her decide not only if she wanted to answer him but dance.

[Thomas Taylor] ((Die of decision))
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 10

[Aural Fixation] ".....there was a thing," she says with a shrug. "I don't like being touched by people I don't know and trust, and I've always preferred personal space except when I'm with people I'm really close with." All of which is true, and spoken as her hand slips into his and they head for the dance floor - she doesn't know him all that well, yet, but she knows him well enough to have at least basic trust, if not implicit yet. And despite being true, it's obviously not the full story.

"So yeah, everything's 'robin'. It's not, like . . . abuse trauma or anything, and I'm not going to fall apart or anything." Not if she can help it, anyway.

Around them the first song plays and reactions are pretty subtle yet - people are quicker to laugh or cry or anger, but no one's throwing punches. Most notable, though, Thomas and Morgan are the least affected by it, at least so far - so maybe her earplugs are helping.

[Thomas Taylor] He listens to her, face is kept blank for a reason as he takes it in. He smiles faintly when she takes his hand and they take to the dance floor. With this in mind he keeps the dancing more distant, crazy magic not (currently) helping him dry hump her in public this time. It was not that kinds of DJ if it went like last night some R & B, dance. He can move, but it more controlled than last night not only because of him being careful not to but his glances to the DJ booth.

“Understood pet...” He says a few seconds into the dance, a small furrow that is quickly covered. So he dances with her nothing to complex or dangerous, just two young people having a dance to the people (and DJ if he looks.

“I didn’t like anyone touchin’ me was I was lil’ pet, am all robin now but yeah, I kind of understand.” He does relate but not in a way that might explain the full story, something had happened to Morgan that much was becoming clear to him, something serious.

[Aural Fixation] She also really, really doesn't like people touching her mind, which is why all the attempt at preparation tonight - she'd not been in much place to object before, but going into it knowingly is different.

"It's getting worse," she says and nods towards a couple of friends - if the group around them is any indication - start shoving each other. "You alright?" She's studying him intently, it's true, but she's also testing herself - she can feel her mood lightening, and she's not sure how much of it is because this is almost done and they'll be out of here, and how much is whatever it is that the magic does.

[WP, -2 diff for earplugs & minimal shield]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 5, 5, 8, 10 (Success x 3 at target 4)

[Thomas Taylor] ((does he do the happy dance? -2 diff ear plugs, no shielding, WP))
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 2, 3, 7, 10, 10 (Success x 3 at target 4)

[Thomas Taylor] “Is it...” He had not felt it this time, there was no anger present at all, some worry sure but not anger. He was in a happy mood. He looks to Morgan and nods “Am calvin pet, all robin.” He keeps dancing with her.

Thomas has had a mind shield a few times but has never had his mind touched knowingly, it was never one of the arts that came quickly too him. “We just gotta ‘old out pet, these are workin’!” He taps his ear eyebrow raised “This is gonna work...”

He sounds confident

[Aural Fixation] "I hope so," she says and relaxes just enough to dance in a little closer - her choice, this time, and like him she wonders how much of before was the magic and how much was actually them.

Around them, the effect builds, gets more obvious, and they stay in their little bubble as created by earplugs and knowing they're working together; it's a good thing, particularly as, for now, it keeps other people from bothering Morgan overly much despite her dress calculated to draw attention. (There are other women here in similar dresses with better endowment and fewer well muscled scrappers who are clearly there as . . . dates, or friends, or whatever.)

"He plays for an hour to an hour and a half, then takes a break for half an hour. Think you can do what you need to in time, or do I need to keep him distracted longer?"

[Thomas Taylor] When she dances closer he lets her and dances with her, the ear plugs were working fine, and he enjoys the dance, nothing else said thought he had a more content smile on his face than at any other time she has seen him so far. He had even forgotten about his smokes.

He was fairly sure this was not working now so he relaxes a touch and leans in to answer Morgan, not touching her but his cheek is quite close to hers and that ear he has chosen to speak into. “Well that just ‘ave to be ‘nuff pet, am gonna try and take it apart, counter the magic if I can but I think with this mojo thats outta the question. If not then am just gonna try and mystically take it ‘part, ‘port different bits from it if I can find the key component...it operates on a similar wavelength to me, I can feel it...comsumin’ sud ‘elp me castin’ on the fucker.” He licks suddenly dry lips as he pulls back so he is facing her again “If worse comes to worse, I pick up the decks and throw it to the floor with a lucky smash, an I make a run for it through that fire exit.” He points to the one nearest the booth, he had picked it out earlier “An I meet ya a couple blocks away, or I can just go me pope if you wanna stay out, be no danger after that’s gone.” He thumbs the decks.

“An only one of us need to run away from this place, we on the same page Le Fay?” He smiles, it is not cheeky it is positively charming [i]enticing[i/] even. “I see a regular detective duo comin’ outta this”

[Aural Fixation] "Wait for me, I'll find you," she says, holding up the thumb she'd cut (he can still see the remains of the small wound if he looks close when the lights hit her) for the rote earlier to mark her point. "I'll want to be sure you're alright, and we can decide whether we stay out after that or not, yeah. But whatever else, we came in as a team, and you make sure your team mates are alright before you go on to something else."

A slower song comes on and she pulls him in - they're putting on a show, they may as well put on a show. And the better it is, maybe the better it'll keep others from bugging her later.

[Whee, building effect, WP +1 diff for duration]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 3, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 2 at target 5)

[Thomas Taylor] ((A show eh, come on down Thomas, WP +1 diff duration))
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 5, 8, 10 (Success x 2 at target 5)

[Thomas Taylor] He does not read her mind but moves into her as she does him, one had moves to her lower back, but not the ass this time, the other does find hip as he moves with the slower song. God was this good, his mood was just getting better and better. Not only were they going to succeed, he got to dance with Le Fay, and everything was going to plan.

He actually makes an effort to dance, leading her in places but nothing formal or to sexy, just a bit of fun, a bit of a show.

“Am glad you didn’t bugger off at the Noah’s the other week pet, yer real robin.” A happy nod, a cheeky smile as his cheek touches her forehead ever so slightly in the dancing Thomas really starting to move and doing everything that he can to get Morgan to do the same.


((I don't know why but I want to dance with this woman! Dex & Performance))
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 8 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Aural Fixation] [I'm an athlete, not a dancer, can I keep up? Dex + Athletics, +1 diff for not actually being the more standard skill.]
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 2, 2, 8, 8 (Success x 3 at target 7) [WP]

[Aural Fixation] She laughs, pleasantly surprised when he whirls her about so - she's not that great a dancer, but she knows her body and how it moves, so what she lacks in style and specific skill, she makes up in more general aptitude. Which is to say she keeps up and looks alright doing so, but it's not particularly pretty.

"I'm glad, too. Molly irritated me badly, but Natyana seems alright. And you . . . oh, I don't know. I might be able to stand you, a bit. You're almost tolerable."

It's teasing, of course, as they swirl around - just a couple more songs and it'll be break time, time to do their thing. Morgan's more nervous than she'd ever let on, between the 'seduction' of the DJ and everything else, but it's hard to keep that in mind with the music playing and Thomas' arms around her.

[Thomas Taylor] She does not need to be pretty, she knew her body, was an athlete and wore that dress. Thomas tries to lead her as best he can, he keeps her close unless the song changes and even then tries to keep some contact. It is not the same as last night it is more honest affection, more happy.

He laughs as they dance, he does risk a touch of her hair while there moving on the floor (Keeping up appearances of course) but it matches the moves, he even has a little bit of a solo dance making himself look a bit like a joker, but he was just in a great move and this music was really growing on him.

“Yeah, Info can be a bit of a prick, Nat is calvin, James is on the nights lads out, think he cud do with it...an yer posh totty that I can stand...plus yer a potter.” He counters to her tolerable. He too was joking, teasing her in gentle fashion.

He does before the slow dance end lean in and steals a kiss, he risks it no time for her to register it really a second or two at best if she does not pulls away. Not possessive or forceful, but also not weak or careless.

[Aural Fixation] [We'll go with WP before posting this time, standard diff]
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 3, 4, 5 (Failure at target 6)

[Aural Fixation] [die of decision - good mood is good]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 4

[Aural Fixation] He kisses her and there's the briefest moment of tension before she kisses back - does not pull away, does not resist. It's not the hot, rushed needy kisses of last night, nor the relatively chaste kiss of this afternoon at the office, but something that speaks of kisses under the bleachers, at dances; it's a sort of youth, an eagerness of discovery. And then there's the DJ signing off for his break, leaving the floor - already reacting to the magic he spins unknowingly - with the house music. They don't come down in the interim, and the haze of emotion, undirected, lays thick in the air. There's just one thing before they part, and a flicker of conflict in those hazel eyes.

"James is . . . yeah, he's a good guy. Good luck, yeah?"

And she's headed to meet the DJ at the bar, which leaves James to do his thing.

[Thomas Taylor] Tom watches her walk away a moment then his hands come to his cufflinks as he straigtens each one James Bond style. "Eeny meeny miny mo which one of you decks will be my ho" As he goes to sneak tot he DJ booth, Arcane and his own stealth making it pretty hard to spot him.

((Sneaky, Sneaky, Dex & Stealth + Arcane))
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6 (Failure at target 6)

[Thomas Taylor] ((what never, he tries to recover))
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 5 at target 7) [WP]

[Thomas Taylor] Once by the decks he cracks his knuckles and prepares to work. ((Landscape of the mind with forces 1 & matter 1 to see inside the decks via corrie and see where the power flows and other forces and understand at least the different matter types of components inside. Diff 4, 2 sux needed))
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 2, 6 (Success x 2 at target 4) [WP]

[Thomas Taylor] ((Then when he can view whats inside, Locate Disorder and Weakness Entropy 1 to find the weak spot, what he would need to break/remove/destroy to break it on a more permanent basis. 1 sux needed, extra sux on power making sure he gets it right. Diff 3))
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 6, 10 (Success x 3 at target 3) [WP]

[Thomas Taylor] ((Correspondence 2, there something in my pocket on the chip, diff 5, practised, - 1 foci, diff 3, 2 sux needed))
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 1, 10 (Failure at target 3)

[Thomas Taylor] ((Extended, snow diff 4))
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 3, 8 (Success x 1 at target 4)

[Thomas Taylor] ((Extended))
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 3, 9 (Success x 2 at target 5) [WP]

[Thomas Taylor] Thomas was feeling weak, his resolves was almost up, but he was doing it with a smile, happy. As he ducks under the decks and starts ripping out as many wires as possible, doing his best now to wreck the rig

((Wreck the rig, Strength & Tech))
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 1, 1, 3, 10 (Failure at target 6)

[Thomas Taylor] ((come on, trying again))
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 1, 4, 9, 10 (Success x 1 at target 7)

[Aural Fixation] It takes effort and concentration, but Thomas finds what he's looking for - the chip that seems to be causing the problem, which he gets to study later. Then, there's attempt to break the decks where they are, which doesn't work . . . so he sends them crashing to the floor below in a clatter, which gets yells of 'what the fuck' and similar. The DJ, there with Morgan (and the other people who keep approaching her, to a lesser extent) looks to see his equipment falling and freaks out, heads over to check out what's on the floor before heading up to the booth, leaving Thomas time to get away.

A little later, after fending off advances, Morgan (a little stiffer and tighter wound for the wear) makes her way out to meet him. All in all, it's a job done.