Logs:A Rose By Any Other Name: Independence Mall

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Content Warning

Depictions of violence by and on police and protesters, description of violent injuries, social breakdown, and general mayhem.

Cast
Setting

Independence Mall near Independence Hall south of the Liberty Bell visitor's center.

Log

Maddy holds open a portal inside of the consilium hall, one that exits in the fourth story observation platform of the Jewish History Museum, about a block and a half distant from the mall itself. It is closed to the public due to the riot and has an excellent vantage point on the south side of the mall and the worst of the fighting.

Gardener immediately drops a shroud over the area to make it less interesting to the sleepers below and moves over to take up a post near one of the support pillars, looking down on the police and protesters from above. She murmurs into her sleeve and nods aside to the others. "I will cover you from here. Man is on his way from the west, and will take up a post on top of the Italian Consulate." She points down the street and across the green, to the copula in question. "Good luck. If you need help, run in our directions. You exit via the stairs, three stories down onto 5th street."

Dandelion huffs quietly. "Stairs, my knees' greatest nemesis." It's a joke meant to lighten the mood. She pulls out a compact mirror and a tube of lipstick, making sure she looks properly presentable, the utter image of white privilege, of the privilege of age and some money, fussing with her hair a moment to put it up in a bun before looking at Gardener, as one who likely understands how important presentation is.

Gardener mimes getting a smudge from the corner of her mouth, and once Dandelion checks for it, she offers an approving nod. Go get 'em, fellow white lady.

Kotahitanga is very much not the image of white privilege, being a 6'3" brown woman. Still, the fact that she's right next to Space Mom Dandelion should give her some protection-by-proxy. "Are you going to need help getting down them, Auntie?"

River is also looking at Gardener, though for less presentation-centric reasons, but she dutifully rallies to the task, looking every bit Dandelion's disaffected niece. "I'm not above granting a piggy back ride," she chirps sidelong to the Sleepwalker. "But it'll knock off some authority points."

Liezel falls in behind Dandelion as they arrive. "I'm just here to watch your backs. I'll follow your leads." She feeds a mote of Potentia into her Pattern, reinforcing it with Matter resonance. Just in case." She's in Kotahitanga's boat, being very much a light-skinned black lady and thus squarely in the brown folk camp of visual identification. "Thank you for the assistance." This is to Gardener, paired with a respectful nod.

Moira's already half way down the stairs to the street before she realizes it'd probably be better to wait up for at least some of the others. Waiting's not exactly her strong suit though. So she's got her tablet out again and seeing what sort of video streams she can find while she waits for everyone to catch up

"I'll accept the loss of my authority, in order to avoid slowing all of you down." She gestures for whoever wants to do a helping to do so.

The wailing of sirens and the constant din of screaming terrified people, shouting combatants, and the flurry of raining blows serve to remind everyone that is a fast developing situation. Police cars and ambulances are tearing through the side streets as though struggling with one another to see who can create the biggest pile of bodies, these healed, those wounded.

"Oh, I'm just kidding, come here, you tough ol' bird," River cajoles, ambling to Dandelion's side to give her not quite a piggy back ride, but certainly an arm for support. The affectation even lends a touch more credence to Dandelion's bearing, being tended to and minded in such a fashion.

Kotahitanga is more than willing to support Dandelion, but River's pre-empting means she doesn't need to. "If we're ready, let's get going." She says, catching up with Moira fairly quickly. "Do you know what vehicle they're in?"

"When we left they had been moved to a sort of triage area with the imam," Liezel offers quietly. "Ah... I have an idea."

"River, once we're down there, I think I want to stick by you. Our talents run similarly, and we can tag-team some of the talking thing. Does that seem like a plan?"

River gives a definitive bob of her chin as they draw a bit nearer, and tilts her head slightly to the side, canting it at an angle, looking for some satisfying click in the spine. Click. Ahh.

A small sigh, half-caught between relief and dismay. "I can get us started. His yarmulke is this way. We can go from there to where they dragged him and the young lady." Liezel starts to lead the way, keeping both hands in view, following the mournful little dirge that she hears as the trail to that important little marker.

"Lead on," Kotahitanga says, following Liezel, also careful to keep her hands clearly visible.

Dandelion follows, walking on her own two feet once they're off the stairs, but staying close to River and keeping an eye out for any cops who might come to impede the group's progress, like a mother hen with all her little chickadees.

Moira pulls out her old iPhone - it's ancient by tech standards, but it looks like a smartphone, and she hopes that in the chaos of a riot that'll be all that matters. She holds it up like she's recording as she trots along with the group.

The walk down the fire stairs from the observation deck-- there is an elevator, but Gardener instructed stairs for a reason --is entirely disused. It is clean, but clearly nobody ever makes use of this exit beyond its function as a fire escape. The door it exits from has no handle on the outside, just a key hole. It rests flush to the wall, and is painted the same unassuming earth tones as the brick. The street has fleeing pedestrians rushing north away from the riot and east away from the mall in general. Police run in all directions, some with automatic weapons, some with none. Some bleeding from injuries all their own.

For those with mage sight up, there's a quick double-flash of prime infused light from atop the copula of the Italian consulate. Man, no doubt, announcing he's in position. The very odd and specific arrangement of 'rainbow colored yarn with blood on it' is leading the team south and west, which is great and all, but there's a line of heavily armed riot police-- mostly with their back to them all --between them and their goal.

"He's that way. On the other side of that wall of riot police," Liezel murmurs. "I should suggest taking steps to protect yourself in advance, just in case. Any ideas on how to clear the riot line without undue attention- or at least the wrong sort of it?"

River scoots alongside Liezel and Dandelion, and clicks her tongue behind her teeth at the scene before them. "I have a few ideas, but not all of them are... subtle," she buzzes, flicking her eyes in the vague direction of Gardener.

"If I had time, I could sneak around them" Moria muses. "Or maybe make some of their tech go haywire?"

She glances at Liezel at the mention of steps to protect themselves, looking a bit of a request at her, before nodding at Moira. "Can you...send a signal? We could have someone--probably Liezel, you'd get the wording closest to right--send out a call for all units to pull back."

"That could work," Kotahitanga says, also darting Liezel a requesting look. "I can amplify it, if need be, but I'm not going to be much help on the wording."

Four fully armed riot cops come running down the street, carrying a fifth by his arms and legs. The mask of his helmet is shattered, as is the man's face. Blood pours from his injuries. They're running in the direction of a pair of ambulances blocking traffic on the corner of 5th and Market. They run right past armed protesters who actually give way, rather than intercede. Because fuck.

"Oh yea, that's easy" Moria says with a nod. Her eyes widen as the cops run by. After a beat she says "Problem will be getting them to believe it."

"That'll be Liezel's job. Or I can try it if she gets me the right wording." Dandelion nods.

Out of the portal Maddy created, one tiny grubby human with a ratty t shirt and jeans, muttering something about "pants" and "stupid limitations" and "so much work to do." Fox quickly assesses what's going on and starts pushing through the crowd to the people they know, hanging on to the straps of their backpack. They're small and squirmy, getting through crowds is pretty easy actually.

Kotahitanga nods to Fox when the other Child arrives. "You've been filled in, I assume?"

"... uhhhh," Fox answers. Which probably means 'nope, I woke up from a nap and heard Trouble and dove toward the Trouble'.

"We have two people who the Tree had sympathetic ties to, who may be newly Awakened, throwing fists in that riot. One is Rabbi Aaron Cohen of the Department of Interfaith Affairs in city hall, the other is an Asian woman who knows martial arts; I don't have a name for her."

"I think you should try it, Auntie. I can give you the words, but I won't convince anybody of anything," Liezel explains, glancing back at Fox as they arrive, blinking in faint surprise."

The little woman doesn't say anything, but her eyes widen with impressed delight. Fox holds on to the straps of her backpack and sighs: "Hot." A half beat later she adds, "So, plan? Or are we winging it?" There's some sort of 'wings' and 'Shapeshifter' joke in there. She doesn't make it.

(4 suxx to craft the message.) Dandelion pulls out a notepad and begins to workshop the radio message with input from the rest of the team, before tearing the sheet of paper off and handing it to Moira. "This ought to accomplish what we want."

Moira fiddles with her phone, muttering under her breath as she wills the patterns and mental formulas into the right configuration in her head. And then it clicks, and she knows she's made connection with the police walky-talkies. She clears her throat and reads off the words Dandelion gives her in the most authoritative voice she can manage.

River lets a tiny exhale go and burns away those gossamer wisps of potentia, laying a fortune-fixing blessing on Moira as she speaks her words.

Liezel starts in laying the groundwork. She's more than familiar with the sort of authority that's going to immediately trigger obedient responses, and she's not afraid to put that familiarity to use for their purposes. "Simple, straightforward. Don't say you expect everyone to do exactly what you want. Expect them to do it and they'll listen. They're looking for direction- if you sound like you have it, you'll have their attention." "None of them want to get beaten or shot- give them a job that lets them get that and still obey, and they'll jump."

Not all of the officers have their radios where they can hear them. No all of them still have their radios. Or consciousness, even. But the vast majority of them do, and the order sees an immediate effect on the police within view. The ones who have the means to safely begin backing away begin to do so. Those who don't seem keen on extricating themselves from their struggles enough to begin to do so. At first the crowd pursues the retreat, reclaiming ground they lost, pulling their own wounded back behind their lines as the police uncover their trampled and beaten bodies.

One officer, running away from the riot towards the two ambulances where the other five officers processed to, passes the group by without comment. Though his own radio now carries the audible shouting of a very pissed off member of the brass. It's hard to make the message out, but clearly he's trying to rescind that last order.

"I have an idea! I have an idea. Someone get me a bead on that voice. Find where that man is. The one trying to undo our work." The little Thyrsus hops up and down on her feet, scanning the crowd in the meantime. Looking for the rabbi and the woman in question. She's little, so it's hard for her to see over people's heads, but... "Or maybe the ones who are the nexus of what we're here for. I have... an idea."

"The ones we're here for are that way," Liezel explains, pointing at the shifting lines of the conflict. "If you mean the one on the radio." She shakes her head. She's really not sure.

(Ugh, him.) "That's Captain Beltran, on the radio, I think. Most likely." She pulls up her phone, trying to find a photo of him on the Philly PD website to share with Fox, in case the sympathy is needed.

"Ew, he looks gross," Fox opines, wrinkling up her nose. "If we don't have another way to turn off his yammery-yackity, I can do it, if I can find him." A heavy sigh. "Or. I guess I'll make sure the babies don't get their eggs smashed in the nest." She half-closes her eyes, and for those with their Mage Sight active, there's a brief flash of the smell of fresh-cut grass and petrichor, lending the same feeling that a person gets when they stare into the eyes of a faithful companion canid.

"Already on turning it off, Fox," Kotahitanga interjects, closing her eyes for a moment, the better to focus on the radio waves permeating the area. As the message cuts out, she winces slightly, opening her eyes again. "Done. For now, anyway."

"We should probably get moving then" Moria says, gnawing at her lower lip. "Standing around prolly makes us stand out, 'specially if we keep spacing out and muttering to ourselves" The last she says with a wink

"I'm here to help you all get your work done. Tell me what you need to do and I'll make sure you don't get disturbed. Are we going to try to collect the new ones? Is that a little too obvious?" Liezel's tone makes it clear she knows her particular brands of sorcery aren't the best suited to "subtle extractions."

"Okay! I'm going! I'm going to make sure they don't die! Oooh, they're that way!" Naika rocks back and forth on her feet and there's another flare of that nature-red-in-tooth-and-claw Nimbus with its edging of petrichor. And then she starts pushing her way off through the crowd, disappearing to any news cameras that might be recording. Or any other machines. Anywhere. This trick won't confuse a Panopticon agent, but it will mean that her FBI handler can't se her anymore. Assuming she has one. She probably has one. Who knows?

"We need to be sure they're safe, at the very least. Even if they end up in the hospital, they need to be debriefed and protected." Dandelion follows after Fox.

The net effect of everyone's very clear and direct order to withdraw and Possibly Beltran's screaming and then being cut off is that the vast majority of police are withdrawing, but confused. Their radios are now no longer functioning, since the channel is being scrambled, which means command and control is breaking down and individual clusters of cops are acting with their own best judgements. For the most part this means the riot police fall back to their original stations, and the other responders are trying to escape to their vehicles, bikes, and vans. It leaves the crowd in the square alone with the EMTs and firemen, the latter of whom have moved to join the front lines with fucking fire axes and, in one case, a fire hose. Watching a bike cop go spinning down the sidewalk under 80psi hose water is a thing of beauty.

Moira blinks, equal parts surprised and impressed. She lets out a low whistle. "Wow. And people say I'm impulsive!" But she follows along after Fox, though she keeps a wary eye on the responders and rioters. Attention can shift, especially in chaotic situations.

Kotahitanga nods, following her Sibling. And Space Mom Dandelion.

Dandy is on the move, and Liezel is in tow. It's times like this that make a girl ponder the important things in life. Like efficiency, and the effect of interrupting a chain of command.

Though the method she's pondering is a little more permanent.

Still, no call for that- Moira's got everything under control, and she's just here for security. Which is to say she's following.

River's slipping along in through and around the chaos, within proximity of Dandelion and Liezel, efficiently plotting a course towards the freshly Awakened. Hopefully.

The triage area has been abandoned, largely, by police. Save one or two who are sticking around to help defend the victims and the EMTs alike. The two that remain have removed their covers and badges and aren't in riot gear. Beat cops, maybe. Possibly park police. A national parks service ranger is also there, directing resources and helping with first aid.

The Imam is being transferred to a gurney, and Mei and Aaron are already there. Aaron has a line in him, is on a backboard, and has his head wrapped and braced down. He does not look good at all. Mei appears to be in better shape. Most of the fuss seems to be on monitoring the Imam's life signs at the moment.

One hand shoves down into Naika's pocket and the technoshaman pulls out her cellphone, starting to flip quickly through the apps, as though she's got something on there that's going to fix this situation. There's another flare of petrichor for those what have Mage Sight active, weaker than the one that happened before, and the little Thyrsus looks up through the ragged black locks of her hair, green-and-gold eyes focused on the Rabbi, knitting back the worst of the wounds before he can be properly gotten into an ambulance and assessed. His life's still a world of fucking pain, she doesn't wipe it all, but she takes the worst of it. "He won't die," she mutters to the people following after her, as though it was not a certain thing until just now.

Liezel turns a tiny, appreciative nod Naika's way. That's not something she could have done, and she appreciates that it's been given to the poor new Mage. "Auntie?" She murmurs, glancing at Dandy and the others. She does, however, step up towards those moving the Imam. "Please." She says simply. "Which hospital?" She leaves it at that. She's not any deft hand at deception, and expects an honest question with an easy, short answer will be best received.

Plus, brown lady asking where the brown man is gonna end up is probably gonna scan just fine.

River floats in between the three of the, the Imam, the small asskicker, and the Rabbi. She scans the three of them while Naika gets to work, sapping damage from their bodies. "We can't hang out here," she mentions the obvious.

"We're taking him to Jefferson University," the paramedic answers while she and a partner raise the gurney up and begin rolling it towards the back of their RA unit. "Nobody rides with him, I'm sorry." Given the condition they thought he was in, this makes perfect sense. They roll the gurney into the back of the ambulance, the legs swing up, and the pair disappear inside with a slam of the doors. A pair of thumps on the cabin wall has the ambulance sirens and lights kick in, and it begins to roll away.

"I understand." Liezel leaves it at that and steps back towards the others. "They are taking that one to Jefferson University Hospital. I imagine it likely they will do the same with these, yes?" She speaks quietly, quickly. River isn't wrong.

Moria winces as the sirens start up. It's obvious she's starting to get antsy, though whether from the noise, the people, or the combination isn't obvious. "Now what?" she asks, shifting from foot to foot

Kotahitanga glances between the other Awakened, and Dandelion. "Probably. Seems like that's our next destination, in any event."

“We know where they’re going now. We can work on coordinating lawyers for them, and figuring out who should maybe be there when they wake up. But doing that as a large group seems like it could draw attention to them.”

A second flare of petrichor and wet earth as Naika just stands there looking at her phone like it's super awesome. She doesn't push closer, but slides around to one side. "I can look like family," she murmurs quietly, rolling her shoulders and continuing her work. Making it better, without making it too much better.

“I can start talking to my legal contacts, if that would be useful to you all. I’m not exactly a healer, or able to speak to what they’re experiencing right now.”

"I'm dressed all kinds of wrong for cosplaying a legal eagle" Moira says quietly. "But if I have some time, I can do the sneaky sneak"

“I can coach you all on the words to use. So if we go in as ‘legal eagles’, you’re my team. But I’m fine if you decide to play toward other strengths.”

"We don't have to go in immediately, there should be time to change" Kotahitanga points, glancing at Dandelion. "That could be helpful, Whaea."

"They're about half as bad as they used to be," mutters the tiny Thyrsus. "I didn't want to overdo it." She blinks, tucks the phone away. "I'm probably better as a therapy dog," she points out quietly. "Or someone's service animal."

Mei and Aaron are loaded up, similarly, the ambulances they're being transported in rolling gingerly across the grass before thumping onto the street, blaring sirens, and turning to speed west towards the nearby hospital. Ambulances transporting police are likewise pulling off, clearly heading to other hospitals in the city to keep the two populations separated.

The ranger has acquired a bullhorn and mounts one of the benches in the mall, clicking it to life. "Attention everyone! The National Parks Service has opened a corridor north out of the park. Walk this direction, past the Liberty Bell Information center. We hold the north side of the park. We have ambulances waiting for the injured, the buses are running, and foot paths are clear. Get out of here while you can."

River blinks once at Naika's proclamation, but, in fairness, there's hardly room to argue. She watches the other two get taken away in similar fashion, and then turns her attention towards the ranger, absorbing the announcement through narrowed, skeptical grey eyes.

Moira shrugs at the reassurances. "I can play accountant pretty easy. Or, like I said, go in unseen. Either way's fine with me as long as it gets us out of here"

“Let’s get out of here and regroup. We can figure out who would be best to great the fresh meat, and make plans elsewhere.” She puts an arm around Liezel lightly. “You, my girl, need to have more faith in yourself. Solid coaching earlier. And Moira, you did perfectly with the Voice of Authority.”

"Sounds like a plan," Kotahitanga agrees. "Back to the Museum, then?"

"I mean I could, but... " The little Thyrsus's lips draw back just a bit. The thing about Orphans of Proteus is that when they use their Attainments a lot? They start picking up little (or not so little) tells. Fox? Fox has fox teeth, and while 'shark-toothed lawyer' may be kind of a thing, there are places where Naika's talents are better shifted elsewhere. She stops that not-really-a-smile and flutters her hands in the air. "Let's go."

Liezel tucks up one corner of her mouth, but it's mostly because it's what she thinks she's supposed to do. "Thanks, Auntie. I just said what I would have wanted to hear in a firefight." She nods towards Moira. That was pretty stellar, after all. "Yes. Let's go. I- think I might stay. Make sure as many as possible get out north. I'm not comfortable leaving the grounds before its over."

First in, last out dies hard.

Dandelion kisses Liezel on the cheek. “Be careful. Call me when you get back out.”

"Yes, Ma'am." This is, definitely acceptable.