Logs:Infuriated Gay Spider Art

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Cast

Accipiter, Nevermore Usher, Layla Eaves

Setting
Log

Layla: The safehouse isn't the nicest place in the world, but it does the trick? As long as the trick isn't making good coffee, because the coffee that's brewing right now as Layla leans against the counter next to the machine is crap. She knows it's going to be crap, but at least it's going to be coffee. She looks tired, and since she has been spending most of her nights awake working on a project at Shiri Touati's gallery, there's a good reason for that.

Ever: Whatever it lacks in aesthetics, the Guardian safehouse has a certain je ne sais quoi that guarantees you're going somewhere most people should not go, and that quirky little affectation appeals to Ever. Long and lithe and lean, features comprised of sharp angles hardly softened by youthfully smooth skin, the Obrimos drips into the doorway that separates Layla from the rest of the world. She leans against the doorframe, even lets her head rest gently there, and drums her fingers along the aged, paint-stripped wood. "If you drink that, no one knows what will happen to you," she intones languorously, eyeing the coffee, and the size of the courage it takes to drink it.

Layla: "I'll feel better about the fact that I haven't had a moment of sleep in a few days, that's what will happen," Layla answers with a soft laugh, speaking in Arabic, which despite the sound of her English fluency is actually her native tongue. "I know that the coffee making me feel more awake is purely psychological, and as a Master of Mind I'm probably supposed to care, but I don't?" She smiles before asking, "what have you been up to? I've been busy."

Ever: Ever presses off the doorframe and slips inside the room, closing the distance and drawing out the word "تمام..." which, in English, most approximately translated to an unconvinced, somewhat sassy, 'Okay...'. She continues in Arabic; it's a bit less native sounding in her voice, and she probably learned it later, as a teenager. But of course, Layla knows that; she was there. "Walking down alleys, following leads on Seers, trying to find a suitable location for a good deal of damage-dealing that is not owned by the Arrow, not that they don't do good work, I just need a slightly more liberal admittance policy," she muses, flopping down into a beaten up couch, studying Layla where she is at the counter. "Why do you need to stay awake, anyway?"

Layla: The coffee pot stops burbling, which suggest it's done, so Ellie turns to pull the carafe out and pour some of the coffee into an old, chipped mug that seems to be advertising a 20 year old conference of some sort, but never defined what the acronym on it means. What is HTIP? Who knows. "I've been working on an art installation at Touati gallery for Pride Month. It's a big, last minute project, and since Pride Month ends next week there's not a lot of time. Is this for underground boxing? Your quest?"

Ever: "Underground boxing, would I?" Ever gestures at herself innocently. She pulls a face, answering her own question. "After everything with the Beshilu, and how unexpected that was, I thought it would be helpful if we could acclimate to conditions presented by more than just ourselves," she hooks a thumb, indicating around and at Mages in general. She leans back into the beaten up couch and slaps the cushion next to her, beckoning Ellie over wordlessly.

"And finding that Seer that tried to off one of the newly Awakened, but that's unrelated, that's just," and she waves a hand, doesn't finish, but it's implied, whatever it is. "Can I see?" she wonders. "Your installation. You're not done yet, but I have it on authority that an exception should be made, in this case."

Layla: "That makes sense," Ellie says as she dumps sugar into the coffee in an attempt to make it mildly less bad, and then starts on emptying individual creamers into it. "I became an Adept of Spirit this month, by the way. I might be getting dragged into helping with that situation, at least as far as efforts to repair the gauntlet." She brings the cup over and sits down next to Ever, close and at ease. "I'd be happy to show you! Right now it's one of those things where you'd have some vision to see the potential. I'm spending a whole lot of my time just dying things, which is tedious and exacting."

Ever: "Congratulations! I had heard that," Ever replies, leaning forward to let her elbows rest on her knees, hands clasped between and fingers interlaced. "Just be careful," she adds with a trace quantity of real concern. "I was at the Council meeting today; there was another Spirit Adept there, she said something along the lines of 'a Marquess is nothing to fuck with'. Not her exact words, but very close," she assures.

Layla: "No," Layla says in agreement. "High ranking spirits never are. Being an Adept makes me an honorary Countess, but spirits are powerful at that rank. Just because they feel they owe you deference doesn't mean they'll put up with your shit." She laughs. "Much like many mages, right?" She takes a sip of the coffee and makes a disgusted face. "Euugh."

Ever: Ever bobs her chin in a nod. "All the more reason to be careful," she says, and then she says no more of it, and drops a hand onto Layla's knee to give her an encouraging nudge. "Show me your project, and then we'll go get real coffee. You need a break anyway. I'm a Master of Forces, we understand energy. The numbers are in. Come on," she cajoles.

Layla: Ellie smiles at the touch and the concern. "I'll try to be careful," she says. "Oh, did I tell you that I've made a couple of trips into the Mists? Are you even familiar with the Mists? I didn't know much before I went." She looks down at the cup of coffee, looks at Ever, makes a face knowing how bad the coffee is going to taste, and then chugs it before making herself get up. "If you want to go now, we can. I should warn you that I'm pretty sure Shiri Touati is a vampire. They're not human, anyway. Just don't be surprised by it, if we run into them."

Ever: "Familiar? Barely. Never been there, myself. What did you find?" At the realization that they need to go somewhere to see the installation, Ever looks around, nonplussed. "It's there?" Why on earth did she think it would be here? Guardians, they are just layered in mystery.

Her expression goes to something between mild disgust and grave concern when Ellie throws back the remainder of the coffee, and she draws her fingers across her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose in some kind of sympathy pain. But she shakes it off and rises to her feet, lingering comfortably inside a close proximity. "A vampire," she repeats, furrowing brows into another wrinkled line of concern while she studied Ellie for a moment. "Well, I hope they're friendly," she murmured conclusively.

Layla: "Yeah, it's there!" Ellie laughs. "Why would I do an art installation here? None of you thugs appreciate art." She's teasing, quite clearly, even as she brings her mug over to the sink to rinse it out and then wash it quickly. "They seem friendly enough, for an intelligent predator," she explains. "They have a strong urge to collect people. Artists. Not necessarily in a sinister way, more like it helps them to feel like a superior version of predator if they can discover talent better than their competition, if that makes sense? I doubt there's real danger for me there, or I wouldn't be doing it. I'd definitely be urging the Sleepwalker I'm working with to steer clear, too."

Ever: "Aspersions. A distinguished eye is good spycraft," Ever rejoins like that's even the point, following Ellie to the counter and throwing a dubious glance at the coffee machine -- if that's in fact what everyone has relented to call it, although jury could still be out. "I suppose if that keeps the beast in check," she muses. "Who are you working with? Anyone I know?"

Layla: "Uh huh," Ellie answers with a laugh. "You mean a discerning punch to the eye? Don't give the coffee machine that look. It might decide this is a hostile work environment and go on strike, and then we'll all be in trouble." She returns the mug to the shelf and leans against the counter in front of the sink. "Do you know Nevermore Usher? Extra cute goth extraordinaire?"

Ever: "Common misconception," the decidedly punchy Obrimos shrugs evasively, winking sidelong. "Although it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to upgrade, huh?" she wonders, giving the alleged 'coffee machine' another uneven glance. Its days are numbered. "Nevermore Usher," she muses in refrain, pawing a hand across the bottom of her face in consideration. "The name rings a bell, a sort of skull and crossbones bell. Ever, and Nevermore. I suppose now we have to meet," she quips, likewise leaning against the counter. "And a Sleepwalker?"

Layla: "Oh, I'd love it if we got a better machine," Ellie laughs. "Do you have the cash to spring for one, though? Maybe I'll get enough from this job I'm working on right now to be able to afford it. Or upgrade the one at home, and bring the one from home here." She nods her head and slides a little closer, where she can lean her shoulder against Ever's. "It's definitely an Edgar Allan Poe reference in her case. Nevermore -- The Raven. Usher -- The Fall of the House of Usher." She shrugs. "But yes, a Sleepwalker. A medium. Genderfluid. I'm not entirely sure if they're incredibly brave or just foolhardy."

Ever: "Having the cash to spring for one and making one appear are two different questions with two different answers," Ever replies in a non-answer. "You would think there'd be a housekeeping budget." She returns the slight pressure from the lean, meeting it in the middle, and tilts her head to the side until it's at enough of an angle to lightly touch and lean against Ellie's, at least for a moment. "A medium? Well, it could be both. Hopefully not neither. I'm sure you've mentioned them before, from the cons, yes?"

Layla: "I think it might have all gone to heavy weaponry," Ellie says, though she's probably not right in this case. "Either that or it's going to the donut budget, and everyone has been eating the donuts before we get here. Oh, yes!" She laughs. "I forgot that I'd mentioned that to you. I had no idea at the time that they were actually a medium, and not just a goth. They also just moved to Philly from Chicago recently."

Ever: Ever gestures at her own eyes, and then points the same fingers at the coffee machine in a stereotypical 'I'm watchin' you, pal' affectation. "And they're working on the project with you?" She glances sideways at Ellie. "And they know that the gallerist has very specific dietary needs? How beholden are we, exactly, to their laws?" This was more of a point of curiosity voiced aloud. "Or any other laws. Is it just polite? What does that parley look like?"

Layla: "Nnnnno," Ellie says with a shake of her head. "I'm doing something bright and rainbowy, and I don't think that's their aesthetic. They're doing a more traditional gallery piece. They just happened to set up the meeting with Shiri to talk about our pitches, and we went there together." She shakes her head. "We're not really bound by their laws at all, or them by ours, but there are certain agreements. I'm pretty sure that if I told them that I knew they were a vampire, because I was a mage... it wouldn't really matter? It's business."

Ever: Ever gives an understanding nod. "No, I get that part, but like you said; if there was danger, you'd urge the Sleepwalker to steer clear. Is it a violation to tell a Sleeper or a Sleepwalker about vampires, is that a breach of their Masquerade like it's a breach of the Veil?" she elaborates, puffing out a long breath in an exhale. "Not that it matters. It's better that we're all on this side of it, anyway. Let the eggheads in the Silver Ladder figure it out."

Layla: "Oh, I see what you mean." Layla shrugs. "I don't believe so. Sleepwalkers are visitors at Maddy's regularly enough, and it hasn't become an issue. I think a lot of the staff is probably Sleepwalkers? As always, be careful what you tell them, and know you'll be responsible for what they do with what you reveal, I think is the official stance on it." She thinks about it only to shrug again. "Like you say. Eggheads. Though frequently we're the ones to drive their policy decisions, even if it means by supporting the opposite of what we want them to do, just so that they oppose us."

Ever: Ever lets her head slide to the side at another angle, and her pale, pink mouth curves into a grin. "The only person I talk a lot around is you." There's a beat, and then she jerks her chin over towards the door. "Real coffee. Art in progress. Fresh air. Come on. You'll feel better."

Layla: "Really?" Ellie asks, making it hard to tell if she's being serious or sarcastic. "If you don't talk a lot when I'm not around, I've never seen it." She sighs softly, pushes off the counter, and agrees. "Sounds like a plan. I've been inside way too much anyway, and it's far too nice to be indoors constantly."

Ever: "Really? You should try doing a better job sneaking around, then, Redactor," she emphasizes the word, punctuating it in a congenial tease. "Wonder what else you've been missing," she opines with a subdued, mischievous note, accompanying Ellie down the somewhat dilapidated corridors of the safehouse, through its stairwells and hallways, and into the evening air.


Layla: "Even when I'm sneaking, I'm still around," Ellie points out with another laugh. "You just don't know it." As they're leaving the safehouse she drops an Incognito Presence effect over them both, just so that nobody see's people coming and going. Not that Accipiter can't hide too, it's just that this way they can see each other.


Scenery Change


Ever: "If that was so, then it wouldn't come as news to you," Ever shoots back with a stubborn insistence that is by no means heartfelt. They start to walk for some little time in the direction that Ellie indicates as towards the art gallery. "How far along are you on the project? Or should I just, wait and see?"


Nevy: MEANWHILE, AT THE GALLERY

Nevermore is absolutely at the gallery for research. Not as an excuse to look at all the fantastic artwork on display, to marvel at the creativity on display or to secretly make note of any distinctive technical flourishes they could shamelessly incorporate into their own style at all. Just doing research.

They've gone with a purple button-up beneath their coat today, with slacks and shoes almost embarrasingly mundane in comparison.

Layla: "Oh, at the moment it mostly feels like I've barely started, despite being days into the work," Ellie admits with a groan. "Mostly because measuring carefully and then dying a million strands of thread in precise colors is the bulk of the work, then the rest is putting them up. There's not much to see except some guidelines that I was using for getting an idea of the layout I want."

Ever: Ever ambles alongside Ellie at precisely the pace she wishes to, affectation and carriage positively languid, practically carefree, and all the easier to blend in as a hip, recent grad navigating the post-economic collapse wonderscape of Philadelphia. "Did the idea start before the gallery, or did you think it up once you saw what they were putting together?" she asks after they've acquired proper coffee and are just about at the doors of the gallery.

Nevy: Nevy's engrossed in a piece that looks as though someone took buckets of maroon, black, and forest green paint and tossed them onto the canvas. They don't notice the newcomers immediately...

Layla: "The idea came first," Ellie says, not nearly as carefree as Ever. Tonight she seems to be more anxiety than ease, someone not fully comfortable in her own skin. Ever knows her well enough to know that it means little, because Ellie usually appears to be exactly who she wants to be. Mostly because she can make herself whoever she wants to be. "I've had it for a while, I just wasn't sure how to do it in a useful way without a gallery to show it in. It would just be a nuisance in the apartment."

When they reach the doors she lets herself in, and the security guard seems to recognize her since he looks up, waves, and goes back to what he was doing. The fact that she has company seems not to matter to him. "I wonder if Nevy is here," she says , looking around.

Ever: Ever doesn't question the slightly off-balanced disposition or the way the security guard just shrugs and lets them in, but mentioning that the art piece would be a nuisance in the apartment certainly gets her curiosity. "Exactly how big are we talking, here?" she wonders quietly, like the gallery is a library.

Nevy: Nevy's head perks up at Ellie's voice, and they bustle off in that direction. When they see Ellie, they grin and wave. "Hey!"

Layla: "Floor to ceiling, about twenty feet long," Ellie is starting to explain when she hears Nevy's voice. "I guess that answers the question, there they are now. Hi Nevy!" she answers with a hesitant smile and a wave, before she hooks Ever's elbow with her arm and starts dragging her that way. "Nevy, I want to introduce you to one of my friends. Nevermore, Ever. Ever, Nevermore."

Ever: Ever compliantly allows herself to be tugged towards the voice and the voice's attendant figure. "Hey there," she smiles at Nevermore, reaching out to offer a hand for shaking. "I've heard a lot about you. Good things," she assures with a friendly wink.

Nevy: Nevermore meets the mages with a florid, elaborate bow that doesn't quite knock into any of the exhibits." They blink at the names and size up Ever with their own friendly smile. "I don't know, I feel like if Nevermore and Ever shook hands, the poetic paradox might plunge this place into a perpetual pandemonium."

Layla: "Please don't even joke about that," Ellie says with a wince. Been there, done that, no desire to repeat it. "I was bringing Ever by to see the work I'm doing, even though there's not that much to see, yet. How are you doing? Coming along well?"

Ever: At the particular mention of 'pandemonium', Ever only widens her congenial smile by a touch, glancing sideways at Ellie once, and then gives a friendly bob of her head. She drops her hand back to her side, her other elbow still well-hooked by Ellie's arm. "I've heard you're an artist, too," she says to Nevermore, shifting tracks.(edited)

Nevy: Nevy chuckles and extends their own hand. "I was just kidding. How do you know Ellie?"

They smile at Ellie. Whether Ever accepts the handshake or not, they open their arms to offer their friend a hug. "So far. I've finished a project, and I think I'm gonna start some research for what I'll be doing for here. See what I might expect to find, you know?"

Layla: Ellie does let go of Ever's arm in order to hug Nevermore. "We've known each other since before I moved to the US, believe it or not," she tells Nevermore. "I guess my oldest friend, at this point. I don't keep in touch with anyone else from back then." She looks at Ever and shrugs. "Guess you're old now. At least in friend years."

Ever: Brooking another grin, Ever shakes Nevermore's hand - no pandemonium! Phew. The paradox is endured, and the tall, leanly built Obrimos' skin very nearly gives off a faint static discharge, but not quite. She glances sidelong at Ellie. "I can live with being old. At least in friend years," she rejoins. "Ellie was going to show me what she's been working on, although I have received numerous assurances that it's not nearly as impressive as the final piece will be. But, I insisted. I may be an unwashed yokel, but I do like pretty colors," she jokes, a bit deadpan, until the chuckle rises from the back of her throat. "Shall we?" she gestures to the both of them. "Who's giving me the grand tour?"

Nevy: Nevy makes a pose of exaggerated surprise. "Showing off early? Scandalous!" They drop the act and grin. "Sounds like fun. I've been looking around this place for half an hour so far. Some of the works they have on display are incredible."

Layla: "I've been around you when you're unwashed, Ever. I'm pretty sure you're washed yokel right now," Ellie says in a mockingly chiding tone. "I can smell the difference." She starts walking as she explains to Nevermore, "there's not really anything to see yet, which is why I don't mind showing it. There aren't even pretty colors, since I'm still dying everything! I feel like I haven't sleep in days." She hasn't. "I'm surprised you aren't half way through your project already."

Ever: "I had to make sure my personal yokelage was clean for this high occasion," Ever quips back. She follows along, content to listen and watch quietly as displays are pointed out to her, taking a few wide, arcing walks around the perimeter of some rooms and sections.

Nevy: Nevermore shrugs, falling in with the others. "These things take time," Nevy says. They purse their lips. "If nothing else, I'd rather have some idea who and what we might run into, if we run into someone. Context for the work, and it'll make it safer when we do the thing."

Layla: "Oh." Ellie stops and looks around, but there's nobody around at the moment, so she scoots a little closer to Nevermore. "I should tell you something about Shiri," she says, and she beckons with a crook of a finger for Nevermore to lean closer. She shoots a glance at Ever, who knows what this is probably about, and why Ellie would want to offer a warning.

Ever: Ever tips her chin at Ellie in a knowing nod and leans back slightly, giving the impression of more privacy even if, still, she knows what this is all about.

Nevy: Nevy frowns, then glances around to make sure they're not being be-eavesdropped. "Is it about how they're... y'know...?" They hesitate. "Y'know." They raise their eyebrows.(edited)

Layla: "A sucker?" Ellie says quietly, with a bit of a smile. "I guess you already knew? I wanted to be sure, if you didn't." Then she shrugs. Apparently it's not something that worries her a ton, she just wanted to be sure Nevy knew. "Well, let's go check out the work I've done so far, and you can all ooh and aah over nothing."

Ever: "I'm ready to ooh and aah," Ever confirms, apparently wholly unbothered by the admission and exchange.

Nevy: "I mean, I figured they were... you know. Part of the whole... thing," They wave their hands vaguely. "From how they reacted when they saw my necklace. And... I mean... they held a business meeting after dark. I know a few things about eccentric artists..." They pause after that, letting the statement linger. "...But that's... kind of unusual."

They smile and gesture. "After you, oh art lady."(edited)

Layla: "Well, it's true, and also probably not a big deal if you're being careful."

Ellie leads the way to where the space for her setup is, and true to all of her talking about how there's not much to see, at the moment it mostly consists of handfuls of strands of cheap twine and some metal rails that have been bolted to the floor and ceiling. This all gives some impression of the scale of what she's going to be setting up when it's done, but there's definitely nothing that resembles art. Except maybe the art of disappointment.

"Here we are," she said. "Like I mentioned, I'm still working on dyeing mostly. I've got everything measured and cut, but I have to dye every strand of the thread that I'm using with pretty precise colors so that it looks like a spectrum, rather than a series of monochrome bands. It's boring work, and not much to look at yet."

Ever: "I am detecting infuriated gay spider," Ever quips, whistling low and looking over the setup, twine running every which way, some dyed, some not dyed, some here, more there.

Nevy: Nevy tilts their head. "Did I already offer another pair of hands? That kind of thing must get pretty tedious if you're doing it all by yourself. At least I can offer someone to chat with during the process, even if you don't want me to handle the project?

Layla: "Exactly!" Ellie says, like nobody but Ever ever gets her. "What could be more me than infuriated gay spider?" She laughs and gives Ever a hug, appreciative of the understanding. "The tedium isn't that bad, honestly, but I'll let you know if I need help. At some points I'll need someone to hold things in place, for sure. Unfortunately I don't actually have eight limbs." She lets out a little sigh. "I probably should get back home to the dyeing I'm doing, though. I just needed a little break."

Ever: Ever rumbles another low chuckle when Ellie hugs against her, pale blue eyes still looking over the scope and size and materials that will, at some point - probably soon - conspire to be art. "I'll walk you back. Nevy," she says to the other artist. "It was very nice to meet you. I suppose there will be some kind of grand opening that I'll see you at?"

Nevy: "Alas," Nevermore says. "Fare well, Arachne. Let not Athena's displeasure dissuade thee from thy weaving." They grin and look at Ever. "I..." They hesitate. "I'm not sure yet, honestly. I hope so. It'll be fun to really dress up." The grin widens, and someone might wonder what Nevermore thinks is "really dressed up."

"It was nice to meet you, too!" They say. "Are you a hugger?"

Layla: "Hah. I never tend to let anyone's displeasure dissuade me from anything. It kind of comes with the territory." Ellie offers Nevermore a last hug before starting to head back toward the exit. "Stay safe! Create well!"

Ever: Ever gives Nevermore a beguiling smile, the kind that people give politely and knowingly when the answer is 'no'. "I don't know if the paradox could quite handle that yet," she replies graciously, offering a parting handshake instead before she's in-step with Ellie, going, and then gone.