Hellos and Handguns

[Molly Quincannon] Molly has not in the least forgotten about Nathan Spriggs since the rescue. It's just been ... busy. She has checked in, mainly via text message, but she needed some space and assumed she wasn't the only one, all things considered. Still, recent bits of question from friends prompted a more face-to-face approach, so she actually called him - voice-call, not text - and invited him out for coffee. It's not the nicest day for it, but that's what indoor tables are for.

She's early - she's had shopping to do on the Mile, so she was in the neighbourhood - and selects a table towards the back but in plain enough sight. Not being sure whether Nathan's more fond of tea, coffee or other, she sticks with bottled water and figures she can ask what he wants when he gets there. For her part, she has her usual caffeinated monstrosity, though not the "I don't want to sleep" brew she'd been living on for a month. She looks better for it at least, though it would have taken some effort for her to look worse than she had the last time Nathan saw her for any length of time.

[Nathan Spriggs] It had been a strange week, amidst a whole month's worth of strange and dangerous events that'd just come to a close. A chapter in the Book of Life now closed and set forth for the next arc. Last night had been the high point of it, the living shadows, his shadow. Words spoken and heard, directions given and taken, all of it still weighed on his mind as he wondered what it was he was doing now.

Where was he going?

A split-moment's decision has him taking the bus at the corner in the opposite direction of where he'd been headed, home or as close as the hotel came to it, and he's wandering around town now without any real direction. Just killing time. Then his phone vibrates, a call from Molly, and he's giving a sigh just as it's taken to his ear and answered with friendly, if not absent-minded, tone.

Arrangements made, and a conversation wrapped up as speedily as he could, he now had direction. Direction which just so happened to be just a few blocks away, not a bad walk with the current weather. Hand in his blue denim jacket's pockets, he sets down the road to the little shop Molly had a chosen. Grinding to a halt as he arrives, pushes the door open and takes a step in, with a look around the inside for a sign of her.

[Molly Quincannon] She's easy enough to find, all in black as she is; she doesn't stand out the way some do, but she doesn't exactly blend in either. She spots him coming in and waves, watching him as he approaches. "Hey," she says, gesturing to the chair in front of which she'd set the bottle of water. "Didn't know what you would want, so I stuck with this. Hope that's okay. How're you doing?" Then she looks him up and down and asks, "New jacket? Don't think I've seen you in that much denim before. But then, every time I've seen you has been summer, indoors or both, so maybe not surprising."

[Nathan Spriggs] There's a small delay between when he notices her and when she's waving to him as step after step brings him closer to the table. Eyes watching the surrounding, getting a measure of the establishment's quality by how clean it was, how full, how happy the employees looked. After he's slid into his seat, he waves his hand as though to say not to worry about it when Molly gives her excuse on the water.

"I'm fine. You? How're you?" A question as he uncaps the water bottle and right before he takes a quick sip. A small, wry smile forming on his lips at her statement on his clothes. When he replies, it's with an exaggeratedly serious tone, so much so that it's clearly meant as a joke, "I was watching Brokeback Mountain the other day and figured I'd go for the whole gay cowboy look."

[Molly Quincannon] His final comment gets a laugh before they go any further into conversation, perhaps one of the best signs that the answer to his question is not going to be a total lie when she says anything other than 'awful'. What she says, in answer to his question, is, "Oh, y'know. Busy, mostly. Healing, building, learning, with a side order of wanting to punch somebody in the neck nine or ten times. I won't say it's all daisies and rainbows, but I think it's safe to say I'm healing up okay."

Then, after a sip of her coffee, she adds, "I hear you've been busy as well. Israel tells me you're running with the Guardians now. All official. How's that going? I got to talk to Solomon last week and from what I get from him and from what I know of Israel, couldn't ask for a much better crew." Then she frowns. "And on behalf of Nat as much as me, are you still hotelling it? Living-space-wise, I mean." The thoughtful, slightly worried frown turns to a wry little not-quite-grin. "People get concerned, y'know."

[Nathan Spriggs] Her answer gets a smile and a nod, maybe he figures it's not his business if she's lying or not, or maybe he just doesn't find it strange. People moved on, recovered. Even after things like those down in those basements, the nightmares still there but those would always be. "That's good, and who do you want to punch exactly? Or is it a generalized stress-relief someone?"

A small tap with his finger on the table as he takes another swig of water, bringing it down to mid-point already, and says, "Lot less busy lately. Much too much spare time." To those words, there's a small almost absent-minded quality to it as he enters introspection mode again for a split-second, bringing himself back to reality almost immediately after. "I'm still in a hotel, yeah. No more hopping around but I'm trying to figure out what to do about fixed living arrangements still. And the Chantry's right out as an option."

[Molly Quincannon] "Chuck," is the simple answer to the first, with a downcast glance at her coffee. "We had a ... bit of a talk about his worldview. You know, in general. Somehow, it's probably not a surprise that I find the concept of 'every problem has a hands-off solution if you take the time to double- and triple-check every fact and it doesn't matter if there are consequences like the suffering of someone you care about or random innocents or whatever for the delay' a little bit sickening, right now. Not to mention a bit bizarre, given everything." She shakes her head. "I really don't know why I even try."

The comment about the Chantry gets a frown - confusion. "Not doing the study grind thing? And why's the Chantry right out? I kind of thought I'd see you there when I stopped by to take measurements and readings for an external security camera rig. And made my little cabal official," she adds with a little grin. Glossing over that, she adds, "Well, I'm not great at househunting, but I can probably have a look online at what's available. Print some stuff out, if you want. Not get involved in any other way, promise; just ... get you the info and back away slowly." No rancour there - she knows he doesn't necessarily want people knowing where he lives.

[Nathan Spriggs] When she's first started to speak, just finished getting Chuck's name out, he gives her a wide-eyed expression and nod of understanding. That was all he needed to know, the rest of it just made him wince slightly in disgust but he chose not to comment. She wasn't responsible for his opinion, so there'd be nothing of asking her how someone could just sit back and watch people suffer without acting when it was within his power.

"Living in the Chantry's just too dangerous. Visiting as a whole now is something I'm keen on avoiding if possible, except for my rounds." He says offhandedly, just a fact that's probably well known by now. The Chantry hasn't been a place he's visited since the day when Kage called him to dispose of two Barabbi bodies. "I've got a place or two lined up, actually. So I'm fine. Thanks for the offer though."

"So you've entered into a Cabal, huh? Just you and that... tiny person, Natyana? Or is it a whole group?"

[Molly Quincannon] The wince of disgust gets a somewhat sympathetic quirk of the mouth that's not quite a smile, and a somewhat tired look. While she doesn't go into detail, it's fairly clear that this point got hashed out, to no satisfactory conclusion. Instead of that, she keeps listening to Nathan's explanation for his lack of desire to live in the Chantry. She takes in the explanation, and the assurance that he's got some places lined up, and nods and takes another sip of coffee. "Just so you know to call if you need help with anything, y'know?"

Then the bit about the Cabal, which gets a tilt of the head that's almost shy. "Started one, really. And it's not just me and Nat. It came up with Henri during our semi-traditional Ladies Who Lunch deal - y'know the kind of thing, where we sit and gab about all manner of stuff except instead of all that boring stuff like hair and nails and clothes and diets, we talk about inventions and if that isn't scary enough, I'm the voice of caution in that pairing, or at least I'm with-it enough to realise that mounting offensive lasers to a Rottweiler's head is a bad idea. Anyway, fact is that she was really enthused about the idea, and we're going to ask Atlas, Thomas and a new Vdept in town by the name of Wren - someone I know from online and a bit in the music scene. So we're three with a potential for up to six." Another sip of coffee and a shrug. "Dunno if it's the cabal remit or the fact that people are still looking for a decent in around here, but there it is."

[Nathan Spriggs] Rottweilers with lasers on their heads get a snort, a barely contained reaction at the idea. But more than that, he's seen Henri in action, he knows it's possible (she kept a magic-eating, matter-absorbing blob as a pet). So to that he chooses not to dive in for details. Better not to feed the nightmare fuel. Instead, it's one of those little mentions she makes that earn his attention with a curious glance. "New Virtual Adept in town?"

[Molly Quincannon] "More than one, from the sound." Molly, of course, is generally in the know. "And not just Adepts either. A few Orphans - one Indiana Jones clone, a street kid, some really rude and creepy freakshow of a guy who I didn't ask about Trad because frankly I couldn't stand to be in the same space with him for long..." For someone like Molly, that's saying something. "Anyway, the Vdepts are Wren - got a bit of a rep, but seems solid enough when it counts - and a guy who goes by Lord Bedlam who Ashley thinks would want to talk to me as a like-minded person. I'm not sure if that's an insult or what." That with a grin; teasing, obviously. "And then there's Isabel, who's not exactly new, but ... way untutored. We're trying to figure out something about that because apparently she nearly got eaten by a Needful Things kinda deal."

[Nathan Spriggs] He listens closely for a moment and then leans back on his chair with an expression akin to 'it never ends, huh?' "Isabel I've met, nice girl if not... yeah, untrained. Unaware. Everyone else, man, I've missed a lot haven't I? So what's the name of that guy who was creepy? Sounds like someone worth looking into." Which he didn't mean in the meet-and-greet sense, entirely, either.

[Molly Quincannon] For the first time in this conversation, Molly looks actively uncomfortable. Not evasive, exactly, but surely something happened on meeting that one that she'd really rather not think about. "Vito. Morelli," she finally says. "Like I say, I haven't talked to him ... much, anyway ... but he's creepy and from what I hear from Nat, he's probably connected. I also don't think he likes women who don't behave like ... y'know, pretty little ornaments very much. Plus he thinks 'Who the fuck are you?' is a civil greeting. Real charmer."

Then she sighs. "He's also palling around with Lara, and you can imagine how that thrills me, given as how Nat has actually moved in with Lara. They're an item and knowing that Lara left her last lover to get his head blown off by that psychotic stalker whose soul-shard Lara's got ... it doesn't exactly fill me with confidence." She finishes her coffee at a swig. "I'm keeping an eye out. It's about all I can do. And trying really hard not to have a shit-fit over that entire relationship."

[Nathan Spriggs] These are the days when he regrets not keeping up, and is glad for it at the same time. The expression on his face paints a clear picture that's worth a thousand words at this whole clusterfuck. Pure, goddamn confusion. He'd never heard the full story on Lara, and now this little tidbit. Plus the relationship stuff, with some guy by the name of Vito who seemed to be connected (Italian, perhaps?). Add to that the fact that Nat, who he'd only met about twice, was in the middle of the shitstorm and he... well, perhaps sticking his neck into this wasn't the best of ideas.

Instead, in a slow tone like trying to swallow in all the details, he asks, "So, uh... When did all this happen exactly? Also, Lara was a bitch, I think we've been over that one... Match made in places that aren't quite Heaven?"

[Molly Quincannon] "Depends which bit you mean." Molly ponders, then shrugs. "I met Vito on September thirteenth, but texts from Nat indicate that he's been in town a little longer than that. And ... I dunno about 'bitch'; I've actually seen Lara be useful. Or offer to be useful and then do the least useful thing that could still be called useful, but useful in terms of actually getting innocents out of a potential crossfire. And there was something about stopping a guitar that was sucking life-energy out of people, but she didn't really go very far into that one. Anyway, point is more that she's ... ah, self-motivated to unpleasant extremes. I don't think the two of them would be very good influences on each other, to be honest. She really doesn't need any more encouragement to be a selfish, self-serving, sorry excuse for a Cultist. And I don't see this Vito shit doing anything but encouraging ... bitchery. But maybe Nat'll serve as her better angel. I can hope."

[Nathan Spriggs] "Or Natyana'll get dragged into it in a bad way," he adds, with the final droplets of water drained from the bottle moments later. Always the voice of reason, even the bad sort of reason that proves your hopefulness was misdirected. "But yeah, in my book, I think that's textbook definition of 'bitch'. Everyone has their good moments, and the bad."

[Molly Quincannon] That gets a sigh. "Yeah. She just sees the best in everyone, Nat. Until they give her a reason to think otherwise. And Lara's appealing to the part of Nat that needs to be loved and needed in the ... physical way. Basically finding that the way to Nat's heart is through her libido. I don't think I can convince her that Lara's motives aren't pure, though. Not the way things are right now. All I can do is keep an eye out. And I do. I just don't make a thing of it or she's going to try shutting me out to keep her romantic life, now that she has one. It means a lot to her. And Lara knows that. She has to."

Then she blinks and adds, "Oh, as far as Morelli goes, he owns a restaurant." She gives the name, then shrugs. "I was thinking on checking him out through a few channels, but haven't got around to it yet. Too much else. Bojutsu. Mind. Acquisitions. Which reminds me. I wanted to ask. You're good with a gun, right? I'm ... coming into possession of one, and I need someone to teach me to shoot."

[Nathan Spriggs] He chuckles for a moment, it's not a lighthearted thing entirely but it's close. A bit of amusement at something. "Ah, yes. The old 'I just want to be loved.' I wish you luck with that one." With those words, he's digging through his pocket for something, a note to write down the address. It's not that he couldn't remember it without it, just habit. "Unfortunately, I can't help you with relationship talk. Shooting things, though, there we cross into my areas of prowess, sad as that fact is. So yes, just ask and I shall showeth. What model are you getting, by the way?"

[Molly Quincannon] The chuckle gets a similar one from Molly. "Nat tried to send me to Lara for relationship advice," she says with a roll of the eyes. "Imagine my reaction. It's probably good for a laugh. And don't worry - sometimes it's enough just to vent without having advice and stuff. Shooting things? It took me awhile to make any kind of decision - so many models and I didn't know any of them from a hole in a tree - but I went for a Para-Ordnance in the end. Compact P10-45. It looked and sounded from the specs I read like a good fit for me. Not too big, goodly number of rounds in the clip, and the whole range seemed good for accuracy. I don't think I could rock a Glock." Then she grins a bit. "And that's not sad. Everyone's gotta have a skill set, and yours has proved really helpful."

[Nathan Spriggs] "Glocks are nice, they're small and easy enough to handle. But more than that, they're reliable," a pause there for a mischievous sort of smile, "I'm not a polymer kind of guy, though. You won't see me using much asides from a Glock when it comes those. Best gun ever made, the M1911A1, of course they've gone down in quality over the years... The originals though? Goddamn works of art." This was where he had the homefield advantage. Take the relationship talk away and turn to guns and he felt right at home.

[Molly Quincannon] Molly listens - she's a good student when she really wants to learn a thing. "Huh. Obviously should've come to you when selecting. What makes the M1911A1 - the originals, I mean - so awesome? Also, what's up with the polymer versus ... I guess metal ... argument? What makes it better? Like I say, I could calculate you a trajectory in the time it'd take to snap your fingers but I've ... well, I've never exactly been on the right end of a gun. Anyway, for someone of my size and build, what would you have recommended?"

[Nathan Spriggs] "For one, the quality. It was an extremely well made gun, the design itself is made so you can open it up and undo it with it's own parts like they were a toolbox. The durability too. Which is an argument pro-metal guns in general, even if they tend to weigh more. The stopping power, obviously. And well, it's a damn classic." Here he was, Nathan extolling the virtues of good guns. Most people would listen in on this conversation and find it strange, but he goes on and on still, because he doesn't care. "Anyway, for you. I'd recommend a Glock 26 actually, maybe a Beretta M9. Almost no recoil, good capacity and size, not too heavy and reliable. Both use 9mm rounds."

[Molly Quincannon] "Well, being able to dismantle it with its own parts sounds like enough of a bonus to me; may have to see what can be found on that end. Never hurts to have a backup, and it's amazing what you can find on the underground's version of eBay." There are few things Molly enjoys more than learning new things, particularly from someone who enjoys the subject they're teaching. "Though funny you should say; Beretta M9 was my second choice. I guess it was the compact thing that sold it for me. Hrm." She looks thoughtful. "Wonder if my contact's actually acquired the thing yet. If I thought Beretta and you think Beretta..." She shrugs. Or I can stick with my first choice and live with my mistake, I guess."

Then she looks over at him, evidently curious. "So ... while I really want to start with just straight shooting before I try anything fancy, so don't think I'm trying to run before I can walk ... have you ever done any ... um, enhanced shooting? The kind of stuff you see in movies like Wanted, I mean. Also, whoever did that comic was, like, the most obvious Euthanatos recruiter in the world, it occurs. I wonder why people let things like that go out."

[Nathan Spriggs] He considers for a moment before shaking his head with a wry smile on his face. "Nah, not really 'enhanced' shooting so much as enhanced targeting ability and the like. Mostly with Entropy," a pause there as he stifles as a laugh at her comment, and tries to force himself into looking serious again, "Haha, it was kind of ironic. I think it was so obvious people wouldn't believe it if they saw it, not the people we need to be careful about anyway."

[Molly Quincannon] Molly considers Nathan's theory, then nods. "That's one theory. The other theory is that the people we have to worry about cooked it up deliberately to ... y'know, fictionalise it all. To make people who are having it explained to them for the first time say, 'Hey, man, you've been watching too many movies' and that kind of thing. It would explain why the Fraternity self-destructed and the last two Matrix movies were such crap." She frowns, blinking as if in sudden revelation. "Man, now I think I creeped myself out. Because that would really suck if it were true."

Then, though, she chuckles herself. "But at least they're inspirational, in a way. I was thinking ... well, Forces can up the friction in the air through which an enemy bullet travels, slow it down enough to maybe not do quite so much damage on impact, or reducing the friction around bullets fired at enemies to give them a bit more punch ... ooh, upping the kinetic energy would be good too. Anyway," she adds with a bit of a blush, "I'm not getting as far ahead of myself as I sound. I guess I just ponder the possibilities, y'know? Quiet time's the best time for that. Besides, I'm ... motivated in the region of gunshot wounds." Nathan of all people knows why she might be, of course.

[Nathan Spriggs] He just shrugs at Molly's own theory, giving it thought in the dark depths of his mind as he did all worries when he didn't want to show it. "Could be. No use in crying over spilt milk, ultimately. Not like I agree with their methodology." It was a thought, sure. But he'd discussed the Euthanatos method with Wharil before, the things he didn't like about it. Glorifying murder for once. "The Matrix, ah... how sad that it turned out like that when the first had so much potential."

Then tapping against the table with his finger again, throwing her ideas around in his mind. "That sounds interesting actually. Unfortunately, my understanding of Forces is far too low for me to even know what you can and can't pull off with it when the chips are down. Worth looking into with someone who'd know more, though."

[Molly Quincannon] Rather than get into why she thinks the last two Matrix films sucked (which would take a good thirty-six hours of full power-ranting and might get old after awhile), Molly addresses the last bit. "Well, if you ever do want that crash course, let me know. Increasing and decreasing your basic forces ... that's actually fairly easy. Well ... y'know, relatively. Within my capabilities, anyway. It's actually more the firearms end I'd need to get more to grips with. I don't know the forces involved, exactly - beyond kinetic energy for the travelling bullet, a spark to light the powder, that kind of thing. Things I don't know until I learn to shoot is how much friction and air currents and that kind of thing are going to affect trajectory. Once I know that ... well, that's when I can really start seeing the tricks. That'll be fun to practice. Plus I'd have to work out a time-delay on anything I do because there's generally not the time to work through ForceFeed in the time it takes to pull a trigger. Which means Time-scrying ahead a couple of seconds to make sure you don't miss your window of opportunity, and..." Then she shakes her head and gives Nathan a sheepish grin. "I ... did I mention I think too much?"

[Nathan Spriggs] He waves his hand at her grin, responding with an amused look of his own. "Hardly. Though admittedly, you lost me at air currents. Maybe I'll take you up on that offer soon... Right now, things have been a bit strange in the personal-but-magical kind of sense." He doesn't mention the discussion (argument[fuck you, asshole]) with his shadow the night before, what people called the Avatar. Both because it feels too personal right now and because, well, Molly hadn't met her own. No need to make her feel self-conscious.

[Molly Quincannon] Maybe Nathan doesn't mention it, but Molly wouldn't be Molly if she didn't ask questions. "Oh really? Anything I ought to know about? Well, no, wait, scratch that - anything that you're actually willing to talk to me about? You know I'm going to wonder anyway, but if it's not a security issue and you don't want to tell me, I'll just let curiosity gnaw my liver and leave you in peace. I've got practice at that." She grins; a little wry, but that wry is not directed at Nathan precisely. It's a 'no hard feelings if you decide not to elaborate but you know me' grin. "Either way, whenever you want to take me up on the lessons, you know how to get in touch with me. I find teaching brushes up my own skills, anyway. Practice is good."

[Nathan Spriggs] [Because it's been way too long, my old friend; Manip + Subterfuge]
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 7, 9, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6) Re-rolls: 2

[Molly Quincannon] [I'm in ur face, analysin ur movez]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 3, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6) Re-rolls: 1

[Nathan Spriggs] It's with a smooth tone that's , a 'nothing serious' expression that looks just real enough to make it past, that he responds. There's really no sign that it isn't something he would want to talk about. "Just my senses have been out of whack lately, ever since shortly after the Chantry assault, I've been feeling things stronger than ever before and clearer. It's throwing me off." Besides, the best lies always had truth to them, and his words were true in the case he was describing to her. It just wasn't what he'd originally meant.

[Molly Quincannon] Molly ponders and then nods. "Yeah, I can see how that might be strange. Kind of." She grins a bit. "Though it's kind of funny, coming from a former Cultist. When I manage to kick my senses into high gear, it's something to ride and experience and use as I go, not ... I guess pondered over enough to really seem strange and off-throwing. But everyone copes differently, and I guess it's probably different just ... finding things coming in stronger and clearer, rather than ... well, when I've been practicing with Mind, for instance. Finally picked that up, by the way." She sounds so very proud. "I had to rip apart the code I had as a baseline down to its foundations and rebuild from first principles, but I ended up with..."

She rummages through a pocket, locating an item connected to her belt by a chain like the sort the skater-kids use to secure their wallets. From that pocket she retrieves what he might recognise, if he's ever even seen recent Who, as a sonic screwdriver. "...This."

[Nathan Spriggs] Most people wouldn't peg him for someone who watches any decent amount of television, or movies, or really has much of a life outside of his books and business. But they'd be wrong. So when she shows him the creation, he's arching a brow at it with an expression that says 'really...?' "So what happens when you learn Time travel, a police booth?"

[Molly Quincannon] Molly laughs, delighted. "Oh, dude, no! That'd be devastating to my poor car! But then again," she adds with a mischievous grin, "you've seen my car, right? Hey, I'm thinking when and if I ever pick up Spirit, I'm building a PKE meter." Then she ponders, looking inspired. "Oooh, proton pack. I ever get to that point, I ought to talk to Henri about it." Then she shakes her head to clear the system specs she's drawing in her head and turns her attention back to Nathan. "Anyway, it was the best broadcast system I could come up with. The app was one thing but because the impulse needs to access the brain via recognisable channels - eyes and ears, minimum. Hence light and sound. Best bit? Like my iPhone, it's portable and looks like just something else to play with. Hidden in plain sight."

[Nathan Spriggs] This is where the Paradigm differences show up, the disagreements in beliefs and views. She's talking about how it needs to access the recognizable channels and while he understands what she means, there's a lopsided smile at the screwdriver and what it's meant for. Like he isn't quite sure what to think. "Fair enough. But let's not go into proton packs and building things, okay? I'd rather we stayed on a wavelength of relative Magely normality. Whatever that is."

[Molly Quincannon] "Oh, fine. Not like I guess all spirits need frying anyway. But come on; I would rock the Ghostbusters thing." Then she grins. "I notice you didn't say anything about my not being allowed a PKE meter. Awesome! But don't worry; that's not up there. I'm still working on Prime and when I'm done rocking that, Henri's going to teach me Matter."

She wrinkles her nose, then readjusts her glasses when they slip as a result of the nose-wrinkle. "Relative Magely normality. Yeah, that's an abstract if I ever heard one. I swear, people can't even decide what a nervous breakdown looks like. Or doesn't. Anyway. Never mind. What do you do with the copious free time that you were complaining about?" This may or may not be an attempt to change the subject.

[Nathan Spriggs] "Read, walk, y'know, the usual boring stuff." He says while watching her closely, like measuring if what she said was true, about the PKE meter that is. More disasters coming their way? Henri was a bad influence on anyone, and it worried him what the trio could get up to. "Well, if it's Matter, I've recently figured out some more stuff to it myself. Like transmutation, which is definitely cooler than it sounds. Says a lot, doesn't it?"

[Molly Quincannon] Molly actually looks a bit taken aback. "I don't think reading is boring. It's a great way to learn, entertain and practice creating solid mental images. I mean, as visualisation exercises go, reading's aces; you're turning a collection of words on paper into a three-dimensional audiovisual experience for your own personal experience using only the power of your mind - and I mean, in a way that not even movie studios with billion-dollar budgets can manage. When you think about it, that's kind of awesome. Makes you wonder why more people don't read. Laziness, probably."

She moves on after that, and if he's watching her that closely, there's a sense that she's dealt with spirit issues - good and bad - in the last month, but is not precisely worried about anything on the horizon. Then again, this is Molly; she seldom worries about these things until she's half-dead. In any case, mostly the mention of the PKE meter is blue-skying the way she does when she has ideas churning around her head. She moves on to the Matter thing, smiling at him. "Well, congratulations! I figure even the basics would go really well with Forces and Entropy, y'know? Analyse the material, figure out where the weak point is and how hard you have to hit it to make it break. If you need it to break, that is. But transmuation does sound awesome and Henri showed me her device for that but ... I dunno; not sure that's going to work for me. How do you do it?"

[Nathan Spriggs] Fadeee