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Tommy/Bones
Tommy was femme tonight, wearing her hair back in a tight pun, with a pink turtleneck and diamond teardrop earings. She wore black slacks with three inch heels. Her satchel was on the table, open, with a piece of stone sticking out, a journal and pen infront of her, and what looked like a wrapped bundle in leather.
SHe drank some coffee and had a carafe next to her. There was a newspaper that she paged through as she flipped it back and forth.
Ella
-Ella walks into Maddy's in a leather black jacket, with a light gray shirt and red heels. She brushes the hair out of her face as she looks around the room before making her way over to order a cup of green tea-
Tommy/Bones
She lifted her hand and waved to the newcomer, "Hey there! I'm Tommy! Feel free to come join me. I know a lot of people come here for socialization with others, so here I am," one could positively see the brilliant grin breaking through the archaeologist's face, and the warmth behind it.
Ella
"It's nice to meet you Tommy, I'm Ella. Let me just grab this tea and I'll be happy to join you. It's been a bit since I've been back so meeting a few new faces will prove to be quite fruitful, I'm certain." -She replies with a radiant smile as she picks up the cup and starts to make her way over to join her new acquaintance-
Tommy/Bones
"Wait... Ella... Ella.... Ella Widener?" she blinks and smiles, "Nice to meet you!"
Her coffee was brought back up to her lips, a small sip, before looking towards the singer once more, "I heard your latest on the radio on my way over!"
Ella
"That's me, yes." -a soft chuckle as she takes a seat across from Tommy if possible- "Well I hope you enjoyed it on the way over here, I know that my songs aren't for everyone and sometimes the popular ones just get looped."
Tommy/Bones
"I have a very eclectic music taste. I listen to stations from every genre, around the world," a chuckle as her doe-eyes focus on the Lost, "I've only recently started to realize what some fame is like. I mean not in popular media, mostly, but I had some articles published about me this month, and lots of interviews in things like National Geographic... how do you do it?"
Ella
"It's going to sound a tad cliché but I simply take it one day at a time and do my best to know when the best times to move about are. I'm exceptionally social by nature so normally talking with fans doesn't bother me all that much, it's when they try to go too far. Like learning where I live, while I'm confident in my staff, I still do like some privacy."
Tommy/Bones
"Oh. Staff. Maybe I should hire some... it would definitely help mi Papi... "
Ella
"Handling everything yourself is asking for disaster, always best to have at least a couple people willing to shoulder some of the burdens."
Tommy/Bones
"I am hoping to not have too much more need of it... maybe just," she sips her coffee, "It'd be nice if people weren't always calling. And then the guys I've had to call out, for casing my residence like I wasn't going to notice them. "
Ella
"Fame is a double edged sword, lots of people know who you are and are willing to go to more lengths to impress you or appease you. While at the same time some wish to learn things about you that can be used against you or they just get a bit too 'attached' to the idea of persona in which you project. You've had some unexpected visitors?"
Tommy/Bones
"Yeah. When your famous for finding ancient ruins... people expect, rightfully to be honest, someone to have artifacts at home. Not that they could find the door, but still. It'd be stress for my father."
Ella
"I mean I'm not certain I would expect them to be at an archaeologist's house to be quite frank. It would depend on that archaeologist's reputation. While I admit I am a little out of my depth here, I think many tend to give the more significant ones to museums, right? You might keep a few minor ones that don't significantly impact history but larger ones would most likely not be in your home."
Tommy/Bones
"Right. Still... people aren't always the most intelligent. However... they saw I saw them, and they moved onwards..."
Ella
"That's what's important, isn't it? That they left you alone? Or is more going on?"
Tommy/Bones
"Yep. I just worry. I can't exactly call the cops in this town."
Ella
"Fortunately I haven't had to resort to contacting authorities on anything that's happened with me thus far." -she takes a small drink from her cup of tea- "So what was the big break for you?"
Titania
There was a scraping at the door. Like a bird at a window before it opened to reveal a woman in black clothes. Black coat, pants and boots.
Raven and cat of shadow with her. Raven on her shoulder cat in her arms.
She wanders over to Bones sitting beside her a kiss on the cheek. No blush currently.
Ella
"Well that means that you probably didn't have the actual ruins in your home, now I suppose there could be something a bit more significant than just the ruins themselves."
Tommy/Bones
"Hello Titania," she returned the kiss to the corpse-like form of Titania's cheek, and welcomed her with an arm around her waist.
"This is my new acquaintance, Ella Widener, pop singer. And yes, there is, as it was an Awakened scholar's home, but we took out anything dangerous, and brought out the mundane artifacts for the site..."
Titania
"Hey Bones. Nice to meet you Ella." There is a smile on her lips though no recognition of the name.
A little wiggle at the contact. "I hope im not disturbing your evening?"
Ella
"That sounds like something that would be discussed with someone who knows more about the Awakened society than I do. I must admit I have a limited understanding of your structure and hierarchy. Forgive me, I am a little out of my depth on that specific subject but would welcome some enlightenment."
Tommy/Bones
"Oh, so Kindred, Lost, or neither?" she asked happily.
Titania
There is a tilt of her head at that, intrigued to see what Ella is. "Not Kindred." She adds. "That or masking her beast somehow."
Ella
"I believe that my representative would be Patchie, that is if nothing has changed in the two weeks I've been absent."
Tommy/Bones
"...Uhhh..." she runs a hand through her hair and thinks, "I know I've heard the name, but I can't recall off the top of my head. "
Titania
"Its not like you to forget something sweetie."
There is a chuckle at that.
"Am I making you flustered again."
Ella
"I believe we also have Jack Martingale. Maybe that name is more useful to you?"
Tommy/Bones
"Oh, I met Jack the other night... one of the Lost then. And no, Titania, it's just been a long few days," she sighed, shaking her head, "Too much and not enough at the same time."
Titania
There is a slight shake of her head. "Sorry."
"There does seem to be quite a healthy Lost population in this city. Its nice."
Ella
"I don't know the exact numbers that might be within the city limits at the moment. You two seem quite close, I'm getting an obvious significant other vibe from the two of you."
Tommy/Bones
"We're dating, she's my Ancient Vampire, and I'm the goofy mage that she asks for social ques."
Titania
There is a raised eyebrow at Bones. "My beating heart. You say that like im good at sociolizing. Like you didnt want to murder me last night."
She smiles at Ella. "Turns out losing your Humanity is bad for inter personal relations."
Ella
"Normally wanting to murder your significant other is considered in bad taste."
-a brief pause-
"I would think that being around more people would help to improve interpersonal skills. So you might want to consider reaching out to more than one person, but that's just my opinion."
Tommy/Bones
She took a drink of her coffee in reply to Titania.
"She has been. She even had fun with the kid I used to babysit last night. Makes me realize that she's not a kid anymore to be sure."
Titania
There is a grimace at that.
"Yes and that was a mixed event. Guy has talked to me since then and he seems, okay. Just wanted to check in and ensure it didn't happen again."
She smiles at Ella, a forced smile but still.
"Im trying to. Long history with my own kind makes it complex."
Ella
"Then maybe find others and work from there back to your own? I plan on throwing a party some time soon. Mostly because I just enjoy hosting and having people meet each other. Not sure how many of those have happened recently, especially across the board. That's something the two of you could inform me on."
Tommy/Bones
"I'm not upset about the sex. I have sex with others, dearest Ancient. It's just hard for me to think of her like that..." and then to Ella, "We need a good party in town. I think the ony one that I have a hint of is your Solstice event."
Titania
"Nor is the sex what I am bothered by. I think that's a good thing. Probably. Sorry Ella. Distracted mind today."
She smiles at that.
"A party sounds good for you dear Bones and for some of your kind Ella."
Ella
"I admit I enjoy myself just as much as the next person but I am certainly not involved in this specific uh union."
-Ella just laughs it off like its nothing-
"I think parties are good for everyone, mingling allows people to create contacts across the board and meet others you might never encounter normally."
Tommy/Bones
"And this party could certainly use more joy. It's been a rough few months."
Titania
"A conversation for another time."
She nods.
"That seems like a nice time. Better than the recent months we have been facing."
Ella
"I would certainly put in as much joy into the creation of the party as I can. The goal is for everyone to be able to attend and enjoy their time together while possibly making new friends."
-A minor frown-
"What all has happened lately?"
Tommy/Bones
"Robocops, missing changeling Royals... rescue missions to a version of Mars and back... a good robot, his wife, and their friend retrieved... one of the Elders of the local Order... ascended... Uhh... and those are just the things I know about.
Titania
"There is also a group of Kindred cultists in town hunting our Elders."
Her face grows tense at that.
"Some old spirits causing problems and helping through it all too."
Tommy/Bones
"A Huntsman is around."
Ella
"Might you have a name of the Huntsman around? Kindred cultists hunting Elders are they after elder blood or something? That's the only thing that I can think of besides knowledge that would be of use. I would imagine that a newly made vampire isn't as powerful as one that's been around a long time. However, I'm basing that on the similarities in most supernaturals that I'm aware of."
Tommy/Bones
"Nope. But I've heard it from more than one Lost."
Titania
"The cultists dont seem to be after the Vitae. They seem to be killing them to cause mayhem. To make the city fall to ruin, their perceived sense of righteousness."
A pause and a nod as Ella speaks.
"That is correct, you grow more powerful as you grow older. It seems to be a universal truth among all the supernaturals. Its what leads some to believe we all have a similar origin. You ascribe to that theory dont you Bones?"
Tommy/Bones
That made them flush with pride, "Umm, uhh, Yes! I'm looking into that at present, yes."
Ella
"A somewhat strange irony isn't it? Most people fear getting old because of everything that tends to come along with it, at least for people that haven't been through things that we've been through. Now? I feel like we get more powerful but there is still one single thread that skill connects us. We get a little bit more disconnected unless we maintain contact with others."
Titania
"It is an interesting thing to think on. I would argue there are multiple threads. For example, aside from Kindred, all the supernaturals I have studied seem to have a fixed lifespan. I know that can get a little bit, loose, with the Awakened. Yours and the Forsaken is extended." Nodding to Ella. "But still finite."
Tommy/Bones
"All have some form of mind control. All have some form of shape change, all have some form of interacting with Spirit or the Dead..."
Ella
"I specialize more in connecting to human society and maintaining those connections. I do what I can to ensure peaceful interactions between all whom I work with, I have a bit of an aversion to conflict."
Tommy/Bones
"Is that a common trait among Spring? I met another who said something similar. They're about helping improve the mental health of others, and didn't seem combatty."
Ella
"That court is about desire, if that is the desire of the individual than it would make sense that they would go down such a path."
Titania
"That is a very vague basis to the theory. How do you explain the individual vast diffirences. Why I am dead and yet physically you are still Human? Whereas Ella is something else entirely."
Tommy/Bones
"I know of dead mages that can walk," she says with a little disgust at the idea, "But ... I'm slowly studdying it all. I didn't have the idea until our enemies started working together, truth be told."
Ella
"I mean . . . I'm basically just a rainbow given human form at this point to be completely honest."
Titania
"Dead Mages? They are like me?" A pause, followed by a grimace at her disgust. "Why are they different to you?"
A nod. "That seems to make sense from my understanding. Your Humanity is stripped away."
Then she stops. "That is incorrect. They attempt to strip it away, but you made it back. That means you held onto it, at least in a sense, a way."
Tommy/Bones
"You drink blood. They drink souls," she said softly.
Ella
"I feel like drinking souls is worse than drinking blood, though that's a personal opinion. Blood can be made again, to the best of my knowledge, once a soul is gone . . . well that's pretty much it. It's worse than death as the person becomes nothing more than a husk, right?"
Titania
"That was my thought as well, that seems to be a far less sustainable food source. Though, mine is, complex. At my age I can no longer feed from Kine. From Humans."
Tommy/Bones
Finger guns were made towards Ella, "Right in one... once it's consumed, it's gone. You can get another one and replace it in the first... but there are... " a look at the word Kine, then a smile at the correction, towards Titania.
Ella
"If you can't feed on humans anymore and most likely the younger you are the less restricted your feeding is. So I would assume someone just "born" could feed from animals and humans, where someone like you . . . might be forced to maybe drink from another supernatural?"
Titania
"Someone closer to their Embrace, yes. The younger we are the less restricted our feeding options. Children can feed from anything. As they grow they are unable to feed from Animals. Eventually to me. Only able to feed from other Supernatural creatures."
There is a pause as she thinks. "It is one of my biggest problems with the theory I think. That we are unable to survive without the others. How would that develop? We are like the Leeches of Supernatural society."
Tommy/Bones
"SPirits eat other spirits. Ghosts eat ghosts, goetia eat goetia... I can take the potentia from another mage... but I'm thinking it might also have to do with the shattering. What we call the CElestial Ladder. Whatever divided magic from Humans, what we call the lie."
Ella
"I must admit I am not a fan to referring to ones self as a "leech of the supernatural society" I feel that it does you a disservice."
Titania
She shrugs. "It is far, very far, from the worst title I have been given, or used for myself."
A look to Bones. "Why do they all self Cannablise?"
Tommy/Bones
"To eat the essence. To gain power. To take what is theirs and make it their own.
Ella
"I'm afraid my knowledge on such subjects is limited here as well so I would have to differ to someone whose interacted with them on a more consistent scale."
Titania
"I think im just bothered by the way they have developed. There are similarities, but, the different kinds of each Supernatural. Different kinds of Kindred are very, distinct."
Tommy/Bones
"True...true..." and then she started yawning, "oh... sorry.. I think I should get home. Maybe actually sleep instead of magically boost things."
Ella
"That sounds like something that would eventually start to take its toll on your body. Perhaps you should consider it." -she smiles- "I can take care of the tab."
Titania
She nods at Bones giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Do you mind if I come to yours today? Im not quite ready to rest yet."
Tommy/Bones
"You are always welcome, my Ancient," a smile. They climbed out the back of the booth with their stuff, before meandering out the portal, "Have a wonderful night, Ella!"
Ella
"You two as well, enjoy your evening."
Titania
Titania stays sitting, thinking on everything that has happened and crossed her mind.
Ella
"Are you thinking of sticking around, Titania?"
Titania
"The night is young and long. My favorite time of year really."
She smiles. "I know where im going for the day, that is the important part."
Ella
"I think we can definitely agree on that, we've got quite some time before the sun even begins to rise."
Titania
"Oh? Your a night owl yourself?"
Ella
"A little bit of one, yes. I must admit I'm curious, you've been a live for a long time, do you ever miss the day time? Forgive me, it's my own curiosity, I don't know where I'd be at myself if I lived over 100 years."
Titania
"That, thats a difficult question to answer. Yes and no. I miss the daytime, however, what I have gained for its loss is immense. I am immortal, physical prowess beyond most and the time to pursue my interests."
There is a bit of a look out the window as she chews at her lip.
"I last saw the Sun in June of 1233. Felt its warmth. Now it scares me. Its an odd thing to think on."
Atalo
Shortly after Bones' exit, the portal finds use again. A canine's head pokes in followed by the rest of Cerberus as the German Shepherd pads inside. Shortly after comes Atalo, a figure in jeans and a coat who also happens to have a shield and axe that, as is usual, he surrenders at the door. He casts about and upon spotting Ella and Titania heads their way, Cerberus in tow. "Good evening once again Mystikoi." He also offered Ella a slight nod in greeting, forming something of a soldier at rest position, hands clasped behind his back.
Ella
"That's a long time to live without having felt the warmth of the sun on your body."
-She pauses-
"I'm not even sure I'd want to be immortal, I feel like I'd miss a lot of people along the way and hell, I'd at least need to keep a diary or something to make sure that I remember everything that I've been through during my life."
-A glance towards the person next to her, she offers a nod of acknowledgement-
Titania
"It is. I keep a journal. I have recently opened them to review. To understand the Human I used to be."
Then she smiles at Atalo a wave. "Good evening Atalo, how are you tonight?"
A hand stroking along the back of Mei, the shadow cat in her lap.
Atalo
"Atalo Ceres." He offered to Ella quietly before looking to Titania, giving a glance to Mei with a slight cant of his head. Cerberus padded forward to try and sniff at the cat. "There are benefits to it, as well as the costs. Though I do miss the sun." He added quietly. "And I am well Titania, thank you."
Ella
"I'm Ella Widener, it's a pleasure to meet you. It's nice to know that there's a similar way of thinking there. I mean you can't always trust your own memory so writing something or typing it down is often a very useful tool to ensure accuracy of your past."
Titania
Mei sniffs at Cerberus before bouncing onto his back.
Titania chuckles. "One day I will curb you of your curiosity of Canines. You look like a cat Mei, they will be interested in you." A click like sound comes from the back of her throat and Mei swirls back to her lap.
"I like to think the benefit out weigh the cost, however, I understand that not all will feel that way."
Atalo
There's a huff from Cerberus at this sudden feline ambush and he looks over his shoulder, eying the shadow before taking a few careful, testing steps until she returns to Titania. Atalo's mouth twitches in a rare grin. "But be careful with writings. The ruthless or devious might find ways to alter them in subtle ways. Still, I agree with Titania that I've gained more than I've lost, and thanks to several in the city, I've regained even more." He carefully sat, hands now resting on the table and clasped.
Ella
"It's hard to know for certain without actually experiencing it personally, however I really don't have an intention of experiencing that myself. I've already gone through my own trials and come out the other side, I am content at the moment with what I have. It took time to get where I am and I do plan on going farther. That way I'll have some more influence to lend to those who need it."
Titania
"You already have an extended lifespan. I imagine you will experience some of what we do, even if not to the same extent. Extended, not eternal."
She looks to Cerberus smiling before looking to Atalo. "She can be a curious sort." Hand stroking Mei.
Atalo
"I am unsure if any are truly eternal. We all fade in the end." He shook his head. "And I am being maudlin, apologies. What I have learned for myself is that as much has changed, much is also the same. People are still as they were, forming families, relationships, making mistakes and either learning or repeating them. Sometimes doing better, sometimes worse."
Ella
"I know we have an extended lifespan and I'm fine with that. We'll see just how long it goes, I'm hoping for quite awhile." -She looks over to Atalo- "That tends to be how humanity works though more of less, isn't it? Make mistakes, make families, forge bonds, and the rinse and repeat it all over again to some extent."
Titania
"May your life be long and prosperous then."
She looks to Atalo with a tilt of her head. "We had been discussing the origin of Supernatural creatures, the theory of a combined ancestor."
Then a shake of her head and a chuckle. "Apparently everyone but me has maintained their humanity."
Atalo
He slanted a gaze to Titania. "I will find out when the next movie night is and invite you. And, mm, yes. I think humanity as a whole has learned better in some ways, though it remains a struggle.
As for a shared ancestor.. I know little of such things myself. Though we do share bonds in a number of ways."
Ella
She stands and places a few bills on the table "If you two will excuse me, I have somewhere that I need to stop before they close for the night. I hope to see you both soon. This was an enlighteningly experience and I look forward to talking again in the very near future." -she gives each of them a smile before heading out-
Titania
"I would appreciate that very kindly."
A nod to Ella. "Have a good night."
Her gaze then turns to Cerberus. "Is he bound to you? Im curious. Does he allow you to maintain your humanity?"
Atalo
"Good evening Ella."
He nodded at Titania. "Cerberus has the gift of the blood and is a ghoul, yes. And his presence helps, though it was also the stubbornness of others that restored some of what I'd lost. Those connections matter, Titania. You have at least one, your bond to Bones and you will likely find others."
Titania
She nods continuing to stroke along the back of Mei.
"Perhaps, time will tell. It was so long with just these two for companionship that I feel I am very out of practice. Others have been helping though, one of the Lost has also been learning and is going to be talking to me {at a time} about how both our paths are going."
Atalo
"I had no one. Not until Cerberus and he was only in the past decade, after I awoke. And then there were others. I.. it was fear partly, I think. Forming connections means future pain. However, it feels clear to me you retain humanity, even if you are distant to it. Your experiences are your own and not mine, but we have both faced similar trials."
Titania
"Im glad that you found him then. It is nice to have someone to keep you company."
There is a tilt of her head. "In what sense. Distant? Hard to tap into?"
Atalo
"Yes. A feeling of being worn, tattered. I struggled with grasping others, with empathy. I followed strict rules without understanding context, and hurt friends at least once because of it. But they refused to let me stay a fossil." A light chuckle.
Titania
"My last friend died in the Wars. I was lucky enough to meet Bones. They helped shock me out of my own. Shell. As it were."
"I tend to walk over people, thankfully some people saw through it. Even if only recently. Philly is truly a lovely city."
Atalo
"I found happiness here. And, yes. Friends are stubborn." Another faint grin. "And Bones seems very intriguring."
Titania
"Are they? Given how he died. No, that makes sense."
She smiles. "He is smart and thoughtful even if he often blunders over his own words. She wields a power that even I cant compete with."
Atalo
A cant of his head. "Most of the Awakened do. Is that part of what drew you to them?"
Titania
"Not originally. It was their mind, the way that they were so interested in my past, not because of what I was. But because of what I knew, what i had experienced. When we first met they had just done a 15th century dig. They were amazing that I was born 2 full centuries before then."
A tilt of her head.
"I dont think the power ever came into it honestly. She was genuinely interested in me. Perhaps it was a fetish, Vampires are hot and all that. But now. They are just easy to be around."
Atalo
"You might be hot, I'm unsure if that applies to me." A nod. "I keep meaning to ask them about the Greek ruins he found. And, I agree. It's important to look past someone being Awakened, or a vampire, or centuries old and see them. That was another lesson I learned."
Titania
"Your Kindred. For some that would be enough. As to beyond that. I'm not the best judge there."
A tilt of her head.
"I struggle with that. Always sizing up the room. Who do I take first, who is the biggest threat, exits, entrances. With Bones around the answer is them. I can't take them in a fight a for some reason that mellows me."
Atalo
"You're a soldier. Evaluating an environment isn't just from being a Kindred. Tell me, is it because Bones is beyond your ability and there is no real point in studying them from a tactical point of view?"
Maria
Suddenly, Maria. She's wearing tinted glasses and an overcoat along with a pantsuit and shell number that's missing the jacket. She shrugs out of the coat, hangs it up, and starts inspecting the bulletin board.
Titania
"I think so yeah. If I tried to fight them. They would shunt me to the Sahara in the middle of the day. Even j would he hard pressed to survive that."
She turns her eyes to Maria. Voice a whisper. Instantly back to analyzing.
"What do we have here."
Atalo
"Mm. I prefer battles I am in a position to win." He paused as Maria entered, like Titania turning to consider her. "Good evening." He offered quietly as Cerberus also glanced her way.
Maria
She's turned sort of away from them, reading the board. She fishes out her phone, snaps a picture, then tucks her phone away.
"Someone you've met," she finally answered, turning to face the pair. Atalo earns a polite smile and a tick of a wave. "Evening yourself. I'm Maria."
She doesn't presume to offer Atalo her hand, but she's watching Atalo's to see if handshaking is expected.
Titania
A tilt of Titania head at that.
"One that was being so much nicer before."
A chuckle. As she watches.
Atalo
"Hm." It takes him a second to adjust to that before he does indeed offer Maria his hand. "Atalo." He answered quietly, glancing between her and Titania. "You forgot?" He asked the latter, tone slightly curious.
Maria
"Before when?" Maria asks, folding her bare arms over her stomach and turning out an ankle. Up goes the eyebrow in question. Her eyes watch Atalo for a moment before she seconds that question with her smile.
Leta
I would say it's been quite some time since Maddy's has seen a Leta on hallucinogenic substances, but let's be real. She's here every Sunday night. She's wearing an all-black outfit with ankle boots beneath a tunic-length coat with golden filigree along the collar and hem, and her wavy blonde hair appears to have been tucked into a scraggly bun. There is some loud-ass music -- if you can call harsh noise music -- blaring from a pair of white earbuds that can be heard even across the restaurant floor.
"Thank you," she tugs a pair of little black tea shades down the bridge of her nose to smile at the person who handled her call-ahead order, and then -- incredibly presumptuously -- elects to come and sit down with everyone else. Despite knowing none of them.
I mean, hey. Confidence is sexy. Or insane. It's hard to tell with her sometimes. She flashes a smile exactly as though she belongs.
"Hello. I'm Leta. I also don't want to sit by myself, and my usual friends are nowhere to be found. Congratulations."
Titania
"She was being such a good little pet to Vinny last I saw. Just didn't associate the two."
Then Leta sits and her eyebrow goes up a touch.
Atalo
"Hm." Atalo makes a thoughtful rumbling sound at Maria and Titania's interaction, absently scratching Cerberus behind the ear. He does pause as Leta sits, blinking once as he adjusts his train of thought and nodding at her. "Atalo. We are considered unusual friends then?" A pause as he mulls his last sentence. "That was an unintended joke." He decides.
Maria
Maria watches Leta walk in and past and through with the slightly bemused interest of someone who's been to the really good parties and wants to know right now why nobody invited her.
This weirdo actually gets her walking forward, albeit cautiously, nearer the vampires.
"I guess I must be a lot more deferential on the clock and in that room. Something to think about, maybe." Maria rubs at her head as though musing on her own shortcomings. It doesn't take her long, though.
She doesn't sit, she just leans against the neighboring table and watches Leta.
Leta
Leta produces a set of silverware and cuts off the smallest piece of her french toast before she smiles at Atalo. "You certainly are now! You're not quite my usual crowd, but I sense that we'll become fast friends." She accidentally drops a piece of her breakfast near enough that Cerberus can get it -- stopping momentarily to wink at the dog -- before she pauses, and turns to Titania.
"Oh, don't let me stop you from continuing. If it helps, the only way I'm liable to remember the conversation in full is if I revisit it inside my Sherlock Holmes Mind Palace." She quirks her eyebrow and does an odd little wiggle that encompasses nearly the entirety of her 100-lbs-soaking-wet noodle-frame.
Titania
"Maria dear. You are always on the clock. Atleast in my experience."
She smiles at Cerberus watching him eat.
Mei once again bouncing into his back. Titania letting her for now.
Atalo
"That is your choice, of course." Atalo answers Maria. "And also what is decided by the one you serve. Vinny's not a familiar name to me." Leta gets a slightly puzzled look. "I am.. hm." He casts about the room, but those he's familiar enough with to seek help with input aren't present. "I don't know how I draw in friends." He admits quietly, glancing at Cerberus as the hound scarfs the 'accidently' dropped food.
Maria
"I have some ideas," Maria offers in that way that implies he's whatever the Greek word for a DILF is. "You have a real chill affect. Look like you give good hugs, too." You know. For a dead guy. She sounds sincere at least.
"Been nothing but good to me so far, too. Don't think I ain't noticed."
Leta, though. "Hey. Lady? Where. Uh. How's a girl reach that mind palace? You holdin'?"
Leta
"It's the dog," Leta answers without missing a beat. Or without finishing chewing the monstrous bite of food she crammed into her mouth. "It's always the dog, man. You'd be surprised how far people will go out of their way just to pet a dog. Even a weird one. Even one sitting next to a surly man. It is absolutely ludicrous."
Leta tilts her head from side to side. "... but for my case in particular? I just have a soft spot for incredibly surly-looking men. Grumpy... ahh. DILFS, I think. That's the word? Words. It's words. I dunno what it is, but I'd make a deadpan statement about something psychologically out of date -- a joke about Freud, maybe -- if my brain was working properly at the moment."
The Mastigos turns and looks at Maria as though noticing her for the first time.
"Oh. Hmm. It's... not really attainable by, umm -- sorry, I'm going to make some assumptions, but -- Vampires? The Bound?" Leta throws up her shoulders in a shrug. "It's a very specific type of wizard thing, but if you want to get in on this..."
She produces a little plastic container filled with what appear to be acid tabs, and offers it to Maria.
"You can have one. Don't take more than that, or I'll have to re-write space time and un-offer them to you."
Titania
There is a tilt of her head at the use of Dilf.
"Daddy id like to fuck? Am I keeping up."
A raised eyebrow to the acid tabs then a nod to Leta.
"Yes. Old and out if practice."
Atalo
"What is DILF? Oh." A glance at Titania. He falls silent again, patting Cerberus quietly as he works to digest the conversation, eyes moving between Maria and Leta as they both offer up thoughts and interpretations.
Maria
"If you think I'm dropping here or walking out of here with one hit, you're just being silly. I'll drop it back in my house and trip there. What am I gonna store one hit in?" She eyeballs the sheet and gives the 'don't be that person at the party' face. "You want cash? How much?"
"Not for nothing, fella. But if this weren't a one mouth throat, I'd let you lie to me about paying for my college. That's the truth." She's grinning again, her nose scrunched a bit.
Leta
Leta offers a nod of approval at Titania and thumbs up. "Nailed it in one, Dads I'd Like To Fuck. Honest." She pauses for a moment, and turns back to Maria. "Well, why not? What could go wrong? I'm high in Maddy's like all the time, actually -- dunno what's wrong with kids these days, in my day when a stranger listening to weird music offered you free drugs you just popped them right into your mouth and said "hey man, I love Phish. This is going to be great."
Someone, clearly, is unaware of their Dating A Life Mage That Can Fix Her Mistakes privilege. "I don't want your money, especially not if you're trying to pay for college. I'm still trying to pay off my loans, and I spent most of the time huddled over a toilet."
Titania
"Glad I'm slowly learning at least."
She chuckles looking at Atalo.
A hand reaching up to pull Columba from her shoulder and give him attention.
Maria
"Cos home is a penthouse apartment with a gourmet kitchen, live music, and my Hitachi, and this is a converted subway car full of waffles." She has a point. "I'll beat street by $20 a hit. Come on."
Atalo
"I." He makes a quiet huffing sound, glancing at Cerberus again. "You are all welcome to visit my shop." He places a small card on the table with the address and details to the thrift store. "But I need to go." A pause as he glances at Maria, then Leta. "The wards will protect you from any harm here, I believe." Still looking slightly off balance by the conversation he nodded, offered a quick smile and stood, calling Cerberus to his side. "Good evening." He made for the exit, about to use the portal when he stopped, remembered to grab his axe and shield and then left, both items fading from mind and sight as he did.
Fox
For every person, there's at least one other person who says things that make them go 'hey, I love you, what the fuck?'
Fox is that person for a lot of people, and judging by the fact that she pushes the door open and then says, "Hey, Leta, babe, what the fuck?" before she has a chance to do anything else, for Fox, that person is Leta.
Grubby, tired, wearing a huge t-shirt that says MY WIFE IS THE CITY OF MYRNE AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS T-SHIRT and flip flops, Fox knuckles her eyes just inside the door. Maybe she's wearing pants. Maybe not. Does it matter?
Titania
"Last I checked there are at least 2 others here for a good time. I'm sure we can get you a Hitachi if you need it though."
Then she turns as Fox enters and cackles.
Leta
Leta turns her head faster than you can say "who wouldn't want to drop acid in a subway car full of waffles?"
"Fox! What did I do wrong this time? Wait- I didn't do anything wrong!" She, of course, is still holding out her drugs and trying to get someone to drop acid in a breakfast joint. "I'm a licensed psychologist! I know what I'm doing!"
Maria
"You are not a particularly good drug dealer, though. Were you aware of that?" Maria plucks the baggie from Leta and begins nosing around in the bag, muttering something about needing an xacto and tweezers.
She glances over to Titania and seems puzzled. "Are you suggesting we fuck? Like. Here?" Maria stands from the table she's leaning on, pushing on the table a bit. She seems dubious for reasons of engineering, clearly. Fox's arrival is taken in stride. She offers a wave with Leta's acid. "Hi. Maria. I tried to commit a felony with her but she's being all misdemeanor about it."
Fox
"Nothing," Fox answers with a high, sharp laugh, baring her mouthful of sharp little vulpine teeth in something like a grin. "I just have to keep you on your toes so you don't get complacent." She flip-flop flip-flop down the subway car and climbs over whatever she has to climb over to insert herself into Leta's lap. "You have a real job and I don't," she informs the Mastigos, flinging her arms around Leta's neck. "Buy me waffles and lamb bacon."
"That's weird," she answers, the light catching her eyes like a deer caught in a flash. "Usually Leta loves felonies." A noisy kiss that turns into a zerbert on Leta's cheek.
Titania
"Im saying im much better than a Hitachi."
There is a chuckle and a smile watching Fox enter.
Leta
"Okay good. 'Cause. I'm like a psychedelic-themed superhero," Leta nearly falls out of her chair with a hefty oof, because Fox is 75% of the muscle currently precariously balanced in this chair. "I once saved, like, the entirety of Philadelphia while high on peyote with my whole-ass hog-and-tits out."
Leta flicks her wrist, producing a pair of tweezers from her sleeve, and offers them to Maria.
"I do technically have a job, yes. Though I'm far from the Sugar Momma in our home. I'm pretty sure Zoya makes way more goddamned money than me." There's a pause. "Okay, we are suspiciously wralthy. Yeah, sure. My wallet is in my front jacket pocket."
"... I do love felonies. But I advise against fucking in the middle of Maddy's. This is an upstanding establishment."
Maria
"I have to say, if Philly was gonna be saved? Figures it'd be by a high as fuck transfemme." Maria knows her town, and yep. Only thing she had wrong is nobody here is beating on a Giants fan.
"Look. I have had a really fucked up coupla weeks, and I just want to trip balls without tripping wards. If I stuff this in my clutch and walk outta here, there gonna be a problem? I'm offering money. For drugs." She shakes the baggy. "These specific drugs."
She appeals to Fox, clearly the sane one. "Does she have Venmo?"
Fox
"That is actually true, I was there. She saved the city with a naked ass. Hi, you can call me Fox. This is my Leta, I licked her first, she's mine. I'll share, though." This is tossed like a coin to your Witcher to the others at the table and she zerberts Leta's cheek again before rummaging in Leta's jacket pocket for her wallet and flagging down the server.
"So don't fuck sitting down, be upstanding, like they say in British courts," Fox interjects cheerfully. "But seriously, don't, I'm Joking, Maddy, If You're Listening." One can hear the capital letters.
"Oh nobody cares about drugs here, really. 1312, take the acid, it's fine."
Titania
"I was mostly teasing. But now I am intruiged. I'm learning Philly is a very interesting city."
She chuckles at Maria insisting to pay.
Leta
"I expressly forbid you from paying me for these drugs. Not because I am trying to avoid a felony, but because I do not need the money, and I have shared more drugs with more people for less personal gain."
Leta attempts to wipe off her slobbery cheek by rubbing it along the large shoulder pad of her coat.
"... Also, I don't have a Venmo, sorry. That said if you're hell-bent on committing a felony with us, uhhh? We can figure something else out, I'm fucking sure. But like. I'm not a drug dealer, I'm a drug... uhh."
"Okay it sounds bad if I say I'm The Candy Man But For Drugs, but. It's just purely about the love of the game."
Maria
"Is her supply clean for addicts? I'm always looking for safe clean shit. I run into a lot of users getting used, and a clean needle and horse source can save a life here and there." Maria produces a business card from her clutch. It looks like a watercolor of the Virgin Mary, features a phone number, and a note of her perfume.
When Leta answers under her own power, Maria is happy to redirect. "So you do have safe supply? I'm happy to respect your game or whatever as long as at the end of the game?"
She points at her palm. "Drugs."
Titania
"You know that isn't gonna hit where you want it to don't you Maria?"
Fox
The Matter Master blinks her eyes in a slow, cat-like way. "You can always call me to check supply," Fox yawns, draped against Leta, which is a funny thing bc Leta is like a wet noodle compared to Fox's tightly-packed swimmer's muscle. She is shorter, though, at least. "Sorry, did both of you have names, or should I call you Better Than Hitachi and Felony Enticer?"
A flash of her sharp little smile as the bacon arrives and she picks up a piece and crunches on it. The staff here knows to make it crunchy enough to shatter.
Leta
"Yeah. It's a clean supply of drugs. Though, I mostly stick to psychedelics, and the more... ahh?" Leta offers a shrug. "The classically hippy shit. I have a very specific niche as a psychonaut... but I'm sure we could -- between the pair of us -- figure out a supply line on that for you."
Leta looks up, and makes puppy dog eyes at Fox.
"... can I steal a piece of your bacon?"
Maria
"It's Maria. It was just one out of context word in a lot of frank drug and sex talk, so I don't mind ya missed it. But, yeah. Maria. Nice to meet you." Maria must have learned not to just offer to touch everyone randomly. Cos she just offers a wave where a handshake might otherwise do.
"Testing's not so much my worry. I can find all the fentanyl fucked horse in this town, it won't get my junkie cousin high. You know?"
They have her card. She's done her best. A deal can be brokered when sobriety is slightly less compromised.
"Is it cupcakes, Titania? Those always wind up on my hips."
Titania
"No. Its Vitae and you know that. At least I hope the kid told you you would crave it."
Fox
"Oh yeah, right, Maria. I blame Leta. She distracted me." She noses at the side of Leta's nose. "Oh, that's easy to clean, you can call me for that, too. Public fucking service. People should be able to get high without dying." She reaches one hand up and scratches at the neckline of her shirt where it falls low on her chest, revealing a circle of yellow and gold with a sniper woman in a WWII Soviet uniform in front of it. Then she picks up a piece of bacon and holds it out to Maria first like she's about to say the body of Christ, given for you, all solemn and mystical. Only after Maria takes or rejects the bacon does Fox give some to Leta. "Like honestly the first things people do in new environments is figure out how to get high, the War on Drugs is a racist propaganda campaign, it blows."
She stretches. "Drugs can hit however you want, whenever you want, if you have the right trip sitter."
When Maria addresses Titania and Fox finally knows everyone's name, she gives the Elder an appraising look, and eats another piece of bacon.
Maria
Maria points at Fox and assures Titania, "I like this one. Speaks her mind." She looks back to Fox and adds, "You're fucking right, too. I'd love to clean up the supply in this town." She does some fishing, then.
"K&A still runnin' this city's horse? Do we know where the fentanyl is getting in?"
Leta
Leta chomps the very crunchy piece of bacon, and then offers another little wiggle. What an odd duck she is.
"Thank you, sweet Fox!"
... she reaches around the Thyrsus, and forks a bite of French toast, which she somehow manages to navigate safely back to her mouth without spilling syrup on anything or anyone.
"... and yeah. What Fox says. Have fun with the acid." Leta tilts her head from side to side, and then shrugs. "I'd love to answer that for you, but I'm super duper not from around here. That's a local question."
Thank you, Leta. You're very helpful. Not. Still, you're tripping. You're allowed to be useless for a little while.
Titania
"They do seem nice. More your and Vinny speed."
Maria
Maria accepts the bacon by leaning forward to nip it with her teeth and pluck it away. She munches on it quite happily, too. Licking her thumbs and all.
Fox
"Hi, what the fuck, do I not exist?" Fox offers cheerfully, her smile (it's a smile, probably) getting really wide. It doesn't correct anybody about any of the pronouns used for him so far, so she must not have a preference. "I've directly addressed you repeatedly, Titania. So is this Rude On Purpose or what?"
Sorry, Maria. No K&A answers yet.
Maria
Maria just calmly eats her bacon and suckles on the pad of her thumb.
Leta
Leta's eyes go wide at that, and she turns to Maria. "You should ask that big lady who used to work here. She would know, I bet."
What lady? You have no fucking clue. When did she work here? Who can say. Leta doesn't appear to, either. Oh well.
Titania
"Sorry Fox. This is my mind struggling to keep up with the recent events and not come off entirely too rude."
She pauses. "You may call me better than a Hitachi if you would prefer. A pleasure to meet you."
Fox
The Thyrsus stares at Titania for a moment as she speaks, and there's a soft ah in the back of her throat, as if she's just sorted out something. Mollified, she grunts, "Okay," and then takes another piece of bacon. "I'm only not offering you food because you don't eat it," Fox clarifies.
Instead, she offers a second piece to Maria. "I don't know shit about where to get drugs. I make or grow my drugs. Or I check Leta's supply for her." The Mastigos really does have Perfect Trip Sitter Privileges, doesn't she?
Maria
Diner bacon may not be heroin, but it's close. Maria accepts the next piece, watching Fox and Fox alone as she goes about the business of finishing the morsel.
She settles back against the tabletop again. "Well. It was good I met you two, then. Do you need any lead time for your services? I'd rather handle this on call than have to keep a brick of gold lying around. But, yeah. Makes sense. Snap your fingers, right? More or less kinda?" She shrugs, indifferent. Then asks very outdifferently, "What else can you guys do? It's interesting finding out which dumb superstitions make the cut. Can y'all cross moving water? Are y'all seventh kids? Seriously. I'm living in thrall to the dead to know."
Leta
"Oh, I wasn't joking when I said I can manipulate the fabric of space time, but... no. I'm not a seventh daughter. I'm just a stoner from Texas who works in a forensics lab, and I get really mad about governmental non-intervention, and deregulation." Leta crams another mouthful of food.
"Wait a second, living in thrall to-- wait, are you a ghoul? I didn't think that was actually allowed here?"
Leta, not super up-to-date on Philly's vampires it would seem. Also didn't get that joke.
Titania
"I appreciate the thought none the less Fox."
A nod of understanding.
"Its. Complex. Ghouls are complex."
Fox
"No, I'm a middle kid." Which somehow probably explains a lot about Fox, honestly. "But yeah, I'm a trans human from Philly whose brain broke open in St. Petersburg. None of us know why this happens to some of us and not others." Fox presses her lips together at revelation of ghoulness, and her nose wrinkles up as her teeth bare briefly. Her golden eyes flick to Titania, then Maria, and she picks up an entire tiramisu waffle with one hand and shoves the whole thing into her maw in one go, whipped cream falling down her wrist and getting all over her face. And in sudden determined silence, her cheeks working hard, she chews.
Titania
Titanias head tilts at Fox. Then she chews at her lip.
"Care to share with the class? I really would like to know. She's not mine for what its worth to you."
Maria
Maria keeps tearing little pieces off her strip of bacon, taking very precise and little bites. Pausing often, still, to clean her fingers. She keeps watching Fox, though she finally does end up looking down and away to the door if her staring is challenged with a glance back.
Fox
"You don't know me," Fox begins as Leta passes out and becomes furniture for vulpine Thyrsii, "so I'll forgive you for not knowing that if I wanted to say something, I absolutely would."
Her golden-eyed gaze fixes on Maria for a long moment, then turns back to Titania. It's a rather singular sort of gaze, that. "But you're cool with it? It's 'complicated'?" she asks.
Titania
A nod. "I understand and will note this going forward."
A pause at Fox's gaze. "Cool with what? Ghouls? Maria? Please be a little more specific. I am still learning the nuances of modern and friendly conversation."
Fox
"Blood-enforced will-suppressing slavery," Fox answers with totally flat effect, while breaking the last piece of bacon in half and handing half to Maria.
Maria
Maria accepts the bacon and hold it in her hand for a bit before nibbling off another small bite with a little crunch. She brushes some of the hair from her eyes and looks back to Fox casually. A little nonverbal lift of the bacon in thanks.
Titania
She nods at that. Taking a moment to think.
"I think there can be a time and place where it is acceptable. For instance the Ghoul I met yesterday who would have died if not for the Vitae she was given. I do not know Maria's exact circumstances though I have opinions on her Reagent that will likely flavor any opinion I do form."
Another pause her hand stroking the back of Mei. "I dont think they are as needed as a lot of our society seems to think. I do not have any Ghouls currently, nor have I for a long time."
Fox
There's a small gesture of one hand. "A great many sins are forgivable in the many of pikuach nefesh," Fox answers, not explaining the phrase in the slightest. "But that ain't maintenance." Her gaze slides to Maria, then. "You don't need to tell me shit. But if you ever want a different circumstance, I've worked with all kinds of addicts. It's not my business to tell you what kind of substances you put in your body, as long as you choose to."
She picks up her other waffle and shoves the whole thing in her mouth as if to say and that's all I have to say about that.
Titania
She pulls out her phone having learnt and opens google, reading supernaturally fast. A nod of her head.
"In my opinion it depends how the Reagent treats the Ghoul."
Then a pause and a tilt of her head. "Do you have experience with breaking bonds or just addicts in general?"
Maria
Maria stares at Fox in the face of all of that, wordlessly taking another bite of her bacon.
"Nobody in this room asked me shit since the topic shift. Don't see why we should start now. Please." She gestures Fox along over to Titania and finishes her bacon.
"Gonna grab a smoke anyway."
She crunches her bacon and starts for the actual door to the outside, not the portal.
Fox
"I should have. You're right. I'm sorry." And with that, Fox draws a sigil in the air with her left hand. The wedding ring on that hand catches the light - it's a slick, smooth steel ring with silver, gold and copper inlaid on it - and then she shakes her head like a dog trying to get water out of her ears. Rummaging in Leta's pockets, she tosses a handful of bills on the table and scoops up the Mastigos like she weighs as much as a sheet of tissue paper. It's not like Leta isn't just a wet noodle in a suit anyway, but Fox, messy as she is, carries her cadremate as if she's as precious as a diamond and as fragile as an eggshell.
Was there a question? Fox didn't seem to hear it.
Maria
"We're good," Maria assures Fox. When she realizes what it is she's witnessing, she's up on her feet and heading for her coat by the door. "Probably should get these tabs home." So that's what she's doing, probably.
Titania
"Have a good night Fox and Maria and Leta once you wake up."
She picks up her two pets heading for the door, waiting to give anyone that wants to the chance to say goodbye.
Fox
"Okay," Fox agrees with both of them. She makes another gesture with her free hand and picks up a napkin, which now has a number written on it, and this is why Fox will never have Wisdom 8. The napkin gets handed to Maria, and Fox carries her stoner baloner girlfriend out the portal.
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