Not Exactly Zen

[Kage Jakes] Magnificent Mile. All that glitters, see. All right here, tail-end of the festival of lights: all that glitters hides the cheap facades behind oh-so-expensive

Magnificent Mile: a name that implies grandeur, that implies slicker than slick money, implies city glitter (implies city facades [cracks]). Magnificent Mile: hotels, museums, nightclubs, shops, shops, shops, all bedecked in crimson that only looks tawdry if you bother to look closely (and why do that? [Why ruin the illusion?]). Welcome to the World of Darkness: holiday ho ho ho songs coming out of open doors, light that beckons, shadows that're dark, afternoon falling and a relatively inexpensive and comfortable coffee shop called Joe's.

Unoriginal. Bland. But nice inside - fairly empty; the holiday music relatively low; the decorations relatively sedate; the brownies - completely delicious.

And a certain Orphan disciple with redred hair curled up on the very purple couch in front of a very nice fireplace with a very, very, very large mug of hot cider, clearly claiming the space with a flung-out scarf and a well-placed boot.

[Kage Jakes] Because, earlier, this text to Molly: Hey, Molly! I have a new guy who'd like to meet some good people. Up for it? Going to be at - address.
to Molly Quincannon

[Molly Quincannon] One might ordinarily think that someone like Molly would be happiest doing her shopping online, and in some ways, they'd be right. She is a 21st Century Digital Girl, after all. However, there's something about the Christmas lights and the hustle and bustle and the experience of actual meatspace shopping that appeals to Molly's (frantic) nature. She is, in fact, the sort of person who gets most of her shopping done weeks before Christmas but still goes out on Christmas Eve to join the last-minute shoppers as they do their frenzied hunting for the ideal gift on no notice whatsoever.

But then again, no one ever claimed that Molly was particularly normal.

So Molly was out when she got a particular text message, at which point she fired a text back and, in her red stripey phoenix-scarf and Kermit hat and duffel coat and massive stompy boots and headed for Joe's. She knows Joe's. She likes Joe's. They're the only coffee shop in Chicago who'll sell her a quintuple-shot mocha. She comes into the coffee shop with her hands full of shopping bags and one of those looks on her face - one of the ones that says that she is happy and maybe she shouldn't be as happy as she is but isn't going to let such things spoil her good mood.

She also immediately goes blind as her glasses fog up. There are perils to having the eyesight of a newborn mole rat, particularly on days when moving from cold outdoors to warm, cosy indoors. So there's a fair bit of juggling as Molly tries to free up her hands to clean her glasses so she can actually see. Which in turn involves her standing in the middle of the coffee shop flailing bags everywhere.

[Molly Quincannon] Return text: Cool! On my way with way too many shopping bags - I love the holidays!
to Kage Jakes

[Alexander Liang] It is bitterly cold outside - a not-unfamiliar state of affairs in a place called "The Windy City", at a time once known as the "Death of the Year". So it is that when the door opens once more, the chill seeks to enter almost like a tangible force, before the way is closed once more, and warmth reigns once more.

The man who entered during that moment is fairly attractive, though whether or not his vaguely-not-entirely-Asian features seem more like a boon or a flaw in that department almost certainly lies in the eyes of the beholder. He's apparently dressed sensibly for the weather in a woolen dress-coat and black leather gloves, though the look seems to scream businessman so loudly that the blatant lack of a briefcase or shoulder-satchel seems to be an almost jarring absence.

Still, he certainly doesn't seem bothered by it himself. The faint smile upon his lips rests comfortably like a familiar expression, growing slightly wider once his eyes scan the shop and detect the fiery-red crown he was looking for.

If anyone actually knew what time he'd been told to show up here, they'd realize that he was apparently incredibly punctual.

[Atlas Mason] The magnificent mile was indeed the place of high technology and the promises of the new century. The great glass towers of the mile were impressive even in the gloom of the evening and through all the snow that had fallen. a monument to the modern age.

Joe's was just another part of the current age, the age of fast car's, super computers, seed AI's, designer everything and genetic marvels that slowly pieced together the secrets of life, the universe and everything. It's interior might have been relatively sedate but compared to many places out in the more destitute portions of Chicago, it was still well appointed.

But as Molly stands within the coffee shop attempting to clear her glasses and see the world about her, another gust of cold air drove into the shop as the door swung inward once more. The man who stepped through the doorway was anything but a man of the modern age, his baring his looks, and his clothing screamed of something older, of a different time with different values, not entirely removed, but certainly different.

He wore a dark brown leather coat, buttoned up along the side in the style of the old barnstormers of the early 20th century. Upon his feet were a pair of riding brown leather riding boot's much in the same style as the coat and upon his legs were...of all things, a pair of old slack's. The man's face was strong featured and aquiline, his jaw strong and pronounced. His eyes a deep blue like the ocean surveyed the scene with a intent curiosity followed by a slight curve of his lips into something of a smile. His dark hair was held back against his head, as if the strands had frozen there against his scalp, but a closer look would reveal that it was a pomade, or perhaps even an old oil that held his hair in that rigid form, giving already prominent features a harsher caste.

Its most peculiar when he simply turns and looks at the lighting though.

[Kage Jakes] The fireplace, the couch, Kage -- off in a corner. But a corner with a most excellent view. And so:

Molly, over-laden with bags, flailing; Alexander, smiling faintly, attendant by cold, cold air; Atlas, just behind him, a relic from another time. Kage smiles, and if there's something a touch sardonic about it, well, Kage is often a touch sardonic, and there's more easy amusement than anything else. Or maybe it's just satisfaction: how's that for not having the Time sphere, huh? All three birds, all at once. She sets her mug of cider down on a hard-wood [burnt wood -- looks frozen and fired all at once; dark shapes in the glaze, which manage to look elegant rather than sinister], just over a napkin, and she says,

"Hey, Molly! Back here. Need help? Hey, you other two," and she is apparently abandoning her this is my couch, my fireplace station in the next moment to help Miss Quincannon, if someone else doesn't take the hint.

They're a somewhat odd collection of individuals, but it's the holidays, and people are strange.

[Molly Quincannon] Molly is not Israel. Molly cannot move with aplomb through crowded rooms without the benefit of her eyes or extracurricular senses that ... well, would probably be overkill. She probably hit at least one of the gentlemen who entered behind her with her shopping bags ("Oh! Sorry!") when she transferred the bags in her right hand to her left, pulled her glasses off ... and then realised she couldn't actually clean them properly without both hands. The sensible thing to do would be to drop her bags, but it occurs to her that she's blocking through traffic. So she turns in the general direction in which she heard Kage's voice, smiles brightly (at the wall three feet to Kage's left, but it's the thought that count) and says, "Hi, Kage!" while inadvisedly walking in that direction, glasses still in hand.

She gets three steps before she slams into a nearby chair full of college student. "Ack! Sorry! Um ... sorry..."

[Alexander Liang] Alex, for his part, has somehow managed to avoid being hit by a whirling bag of doom - stepping ever-so-slightly out of the way when one swings his way. Perhaps he's merely somewhat lucky.

And then Kage is yelling, and an eyebrow raises slightly at her words. Quick glances tossed towards the other newcomers (one arriving prior, but obvious - the other arriving after).

That flickering gaze darting back and forth, accompanied by a quirk of his lips. And then, after only a few moments, he steps back somewhat, as if allowing the two to reach Kage before he does.

And perhaps to avoid being smacked by the Flails of Consumerism.

[Atlas Mason] Atlas could hear all that was going on, he heard Kage's declaration of welcome and as well as Molly and Alex's responses. He also heard Molly move forward and run into a chair that had been staked out by one of the local college student's it was all important of course, but even as he did so Atlas couldn't help but look at the lighting in that little coffee shop, his eyes moving from one set of lights to the next, taking in the density, the contrast, the general...light.

An arm rises and waves in Kage's direction in greeting as he looks at one particular set of track lighting for a moment more before he speaks. "Kage, this social convergence has been located within a nominal archetype of modern relativistic architecture of a sound molecular composition, as well the light wave dynamic is of significant and noteworthy quality."

He then looks over at Molly and shakes his head slightly before adding in two cent's. "Molly adjust your forward momentum trajectory by four degree's clockwise for one meter, then readjust to your previous trajectory and continue until contact is made." Oh so helpful our Atlas.

[Kage Jakes] And Molly walks into a college student.
And Atlas is having a firefly she walks in beauty like the moment with the light fixtures.

These things are well in hand.

Molly and Atlas don't need to (or, rather, don't get a chance to) reach Kage before Alex does, because Kage, safe in the trust that no bastard is going to try and grab the purple couch and the easy chairs near the fire now that they're clearly earmarked for people who are real, helps Molly with her bags, "Don't hit me," she says, underneath Atlas's helpful direction, "I am not a thief; I am a helpful samaritan," as she grabs whichever are easiest to grab.

"You guys have amazing timing, you know. And I like Joe's, Atlas. It is well-lit. Not too dark, not too bright - pretty good all around. Glad to hear about the rest, though. C'mon, sit - or give me your orders. I'm buying."

That last offer includes Alex, although perhaps that's not clear quite yet.

[Molly Quincannon] Molly, who had turned towards Atlas rather than the four degrees clockwise suggested with the delighted cry of, "Atlas! Hey, hi! Recovered from the snowball fight? I-- Oh!" That's as she's divested of bags that rattle and crackle and even jingle by, "...Hey, Kage. Don't worry. If I tried to hit you at this point, I'd probably hit this poor guy in the chair. Again. Really sorry."
("Look, could you just get your jingling bags out of my face, lady?"
Molly rummages in a pocket and drops a candy cane onto the guy's table. Unfortunately, it lands in his coffee. "Sorry. Happy holidays?")

Then she polishes the condensation off her glasses and puts them on looking around and smiling at Kage this time. "Hey," she says. "Purple sofa, right? And if you're sure ... quintuple-shot mocha, please? They're the only coffee shop in town that'll put that much espresso into a drink for me. So who's new-guy?" She looks at the guy staring at the candy cane in his coffee. "This isn't him, is it?"
"No!"
"Well, I was only asking, jeez! Sorry!"

[Alexander Liang] Alex continues to hang back slightly, regardless of Kage's implied offer, as the other three converge. Perhaps he's taking in the other two, making mental notes and analyzing them, dissecting them. Or maybe he's just a more sentimental soul, letting old friends share in their greetings before forcing himself into the social equation and sending everything careening off into entirely new directions.

Or perhaps he's simply waiting for Molly to get settled to the point of not putting his life in jeopardy by getting any closer.

Still, he flashes Kage a wink and a smile when she catches eye contact for a moment, as if to let her know that he does, in fact, realize that her offer applies to him as well. And that he's not completely oblivious to her or the rapidly tangling knot around her.

[Atlas Mason] "Molly the frozen H20 state ammunition reserves have been replenished and my intrinsic chemical biological structure is indeed returned to nominal operation status baring a slight negative thermal variance in my armature digits."

Atlas stayed where he was for the time being, waiting for Molly to get herself and her bags in order and for the group to sort itself out. His eye's fell on Alexander and he gave him an amiable smile but said nothing to the man, not yet, he afterall didn't know if this was indeed the 'new fellow' he was supposed to be meeting.

He took his time undoing the fastener's that held his coat in place, and when that was done let the coat hang on his tall and somewhat lanky frame.

[Kage Jakes] Kage is a fairly reserved, cool-headed creature, in spite of whatever stereotypes might be associated with the color of her hair. It's difficult to ruffle her composure, and it's tricky to make her seem offguard; she certainly doesn't seem offguard now, in spite of the jinglng confusion, the unhappy (sleeper [human]) patron staring mournfully at the candycane in his coffee (but hey, Joe, now you've got a story to tell), Atlas, with his unique vocabulary, Alex, hanging back a little.

She stows the bags she took from Molly on the floor between the purple couch and the block-of-wood (art-piece [local artist? conversation piece?]) in front of the fire. It's warm, and that's a blessing, if you believe in blessings, because winter's finally decided to strangle Chicago into submission, and all the crimson decorations in the world hanging from storefronts outside won't make it seem any warmer than it is: which is not very. So the fire is good, because the fire is warm. Electric, it dances.

"No," she confirms, unnecessarily. "That's not new kid. New kid's quieter. Darker. Taller. Handsomer, no offense jack. And quieter. Quintuple shot?" A pause, and then mouth quirked: "If that's what the lady wants, that's what the lady gets. Atlas, nothing? How'd you get here? Not in your scooter?"

And whether or not Atlas does, indeed, desire a drink, she leaves them to the couch while she acquires drinks and maybe a cookie or two.

[Molly Quincannon] With her glasses cleaned, Molly can see, and as she moves towards the purple sofa, she looks around and analyses the faces around and about, trying to identify who Kage means even as she says, "Yes, quintuple shot. Hey, you've seen me dump six shots of espresso into a half-mug of strong coffee before and this surprises you? Now, let's see ... Quiet, dark, handsome, and ... redundancy from Kage! Or possibly emphasis." She turns to Alex, who does give that look of polite hovering, and points at him. "So ... that would be ... you? Hi; Molly Q. Kage has told me ... little snippets about you that are enough to intrigue me. Nice to meet you!"

Then, for Atlas, "Still cold in the fingertips? Well, you should've worn gloves! It's not frostbite, is it? It was fun, anyway. My first snowball fight of the season and it was in an awesome snow fort with an awesome friend! I am a lucky person."

Then, the little bundle of energy sits and gestures to the rest of the chairs, leaving a space for Kage, obviously. The question becomes: Does this person actually need more caffeine?

[Alexander Liang] So much for staying aloof, right? Alex laughs. "Apparently, yes, that would be me. Though I must confess, it's flattering to hear Kage put it in precisely those terms." Tall, dark, handsome? One supposes those might be applied to Alex, though he's certainly no muscled specimen of virility leapt off the pages of romance novels. "And oh dear. I dread to think what she might have said about me." He winces, but it's somewhat clear that it's mock dismay at best.

And then he holds out a hand. "Alexander Liang. Alex. I'm sure it will be a pleasure."

[Atlas Mason] With the situation finally in hand, Atlas does indeed move to take a seat, taking up a slight portion of the couch. He looks up at Kage just before she goes to move off and gives her an amiable smile mixed with a touch of something else before he nods. "At this juncture my nutrient extraction system would find a standard coffee bean extract diluted in H20 and supplemented with an animal byproduct infuser." He says casually as he looks over at Molly.

"My armature digits are suffering from thermal negation due to the necessity of utilizing my internalized energetic catalyst engine movation device to arrive at this locality, not from our previous convergence, that would indicate a systemic lose of oxygen and nutrient circulation as well as sever cellular disruption." He says like hes chatting about a favorite book or band a slight kidding tone in his voice.

He then looks at Alexander once more as he interacts with Molly, listening to the quality of his voice and his chosen verbal algorithms before extending a hand to the man. "Atlas Mason, it is at this temporal juncture a curious and undecided moment within the space time continuum to actualize your personage."

[Kage Jakes] What Kage?

There is no Kage. Not any longer. Or, rather, the Kage that was is no longer near, because she is at the counter, off and away, waiting for a man in an expensive-looking coat [he could have been a bear in another life (and his eyes are very dark)] to finish his very complicated order. Which is for the best, really, perhaps because Kage is musing on whether-or-not Atlas would have tried to order his cafe americano (yes? We'll see) in those precise words.

Or maybe she just wants to give the traditionalists time to get aquainted without interference.

[Molly Quincannon] Molly is used to Atlas. Molly is also used to people who aren't used to Atlas. So she translates, but she translates in a way that isn't directly translating. "Ooh, yeah. I guess the bike is pretty much a finger-freezer in this cold. So I repeat, gloves are good! But glad to know you haven't got frostbite anyway. So how's the 'secondary set of wheels' project?"

Then, to Alex, she just chuckles a little. "Oh, just said you were someone I ought to meet. Which could mean many things, and I am curious. In ... many ways," she adds with a grin as she removes her Kermit hat. "So ... new to Chicago? Sorry we haven't kept the place warm for you. Winter does tend to destroy all our efforts that way."

[Alexander Liang] "Well, in that case, I'll put aside my terror at what horrible tales she may have spun." He offers a wide smile at that - and even in the short time they've all been interacting, there is certainly a sense that he smiles a lot. Now, how many of those smiles are sincere, of course...

"As for the cold, well, I'm from New York, so I'm at least somewhat used to chill winters in the city." And then he chuckles. "Well, perhaps not quite as cold as it gets here, though."

And then the smile goes from polite to amused again. "If nothing else, I think it'd be far better to tolerate nature's patterns than it would be to find you've all torn the sun out of its orbit to insure the city has eternal summer."

Of course, no one here would ever try to do something like that, right?

Right?

[Atlas Mason] Atlas taps his finger against his chin as if in contemplation of such an idea, and then after a few moments quiet contemplation he seems to discard the idea and his face becomes clear and thoughtful, but this time on less insane and unusual thoughts.

He turns his gaze to Molly once more and shrugs nonchalantly. "Negative thermal and arctic climatological features have reduced the projects forward momentum by fifty point three percent as I am currently attempting to acquire appropriate environmental protective insulation and shielding for the vessel, this has proven more difficult then initially projected."

[Molly Quincannon] Maybe not all of Alex's smiles are genuine, but all of Molly's are. This one in particular is absolutely delighted, and she explains why by the simple expedient of saying (after a noise best phonetically rendered as 'squee!!!'), "I less-than-three En-Why! I went to college there! Very eye-opening place, college! And En-Why-Cee, in point of fact! That's awesome! Did you spend much time in the East Village? Huh. Wonder if we knew any of the same people, though a city that size, not likely. Then again..." She shakes her head, blushes a little and says, "Sorry. I just keep finding out that people who are awesome spent time in my favourite city ever. Which shouldn't surprise me, as awesome attracts awesome. I mean, we all found Chicago, right? Though since opposites attract, we often get mega-suck too. So ... yeah! Anyway!"

For Atlas, there's a thoughtful frown and she says, "Well, let me tap some of my contacts and see what I can find on that score. Or I could ask Nathan." The smile is now ... well, it's a softer thing, and a little bashful, but she recovers quickly. "His contacts, I think, are closer to home. But what sort of insulation you looking for, specifically? For all I know, I've got some spare scrap from working on the TARDIS."

[Alexander Liang] Is he barreled over or taken off-guard at the excited ramble? If so, he doesn't show it (well, not much, anyway). Maybe what he saw of her entrance was enough to give him a good idea of what he was going to be dealing with.

"Ahh... no. I'm afraid I never spent much time around the East Village. Most of the time, I was either a bit farther south, or a bit farther north." He shakes his head. "And yeah. Eight million people in that small a space, it'd probably be a huge coincidence if we wound up knowing people in common." And then the smile is amused again - strange how that expression rarely seems to change, yet still manages to shift through any number of variations (maybe it's all in the eyes?). "Then again, coincidence is sort of our stock in trade, yes?"

[Atlas Mason] Atlas looks to Molly and answers simply. "I require enough reinforced steel for increased safety under standard nautical guidelines to appropriately deflect and negate any solidified H20 encountered in the river system or the primary H20 body, as well as abroad, this will also assist in the negation or reduction of damage taken from sub aquatic and aquatic sublimation sources."

He says with nod, and then sits quietly allowing the pair of them to talk.

[Molly Quincannon] It doesn't take long for Molly to access her home inventory; she has a Memory. "Well, from what I remember about the size of the thing? I haven't got quite that much steel at home. But my acquisitions contact should be able to help out with that. Just let me know how much you need and I'll drop him an email. Anything else? And how's the engine looking? Navigation systems looking good?"

To Alex, she nods. "Yeah, Chicago's Chinatown's pretty good but kind of pales by comparison to New York's. But yes, coincidence is our stock in trade ... or can be. I have to admit, I'm good with the whims of fate in general, but that mainly makes me a ... right place, right time sort of girl." There's a bit of stress on the word time, just barely enough to be caught, but enough for anyone in the know. If one knows one's Trads, and their speciality spheres, Molly's just said what Trad she's with. "What about you? Any nifty stocks in trade? And have you known Kage long? And yes, I always ask this many questions. Ask Atlas. He's used to me."

[Alexander Liang] He laughs. "Questions are fine. And it's not as if I don't half-consider this all something akin to a hazing ritual anyway. Here I am, my secrets laid bared to the world, my soul on the balance pans of judgment." He shrugs. "Not as if I have access to all that many "No Comment" sort of trade secrets anyway."

"As for my stock in trade, well, I suppose I'm more of a "gets things done" sort of guy. Though at the moment, my ability to get things done isn't particular significant. Hazards of moving to a completely new city - a lot of the old connections and favors become a bit useless." The smile turns a bit rueful. "Have to win over a whole new set of hearts and minds first."

Did he stress the "minds" part of that last sentence? Or is that just wishful thinking on the part of someone already looking for pre-determined patterns? Still, it's possible...

[Atlas Mason] "All other primary, secondary, and teritary systems within the secondary transit vessel are nearing completion with minimal degredation to the process. Your assistance in this particular action plan is noted and catagorized as a primary positive."

Atlas nod's to Molly's offer of assistance, her willingness to help acquire the necessary materiel to finish the vessel's structure appreciated simply by the look on his face. He continues to listen to Alexander without immediate comment, it would seem he was taking the quiet approach to this particular individual, as he certainly seemed to be a talker.

He takes a moment to look over towards Kage at the counter, waiting to see if she was any nearer to completion of her self appointed task of beverage hunter.

[Kage Jakes] Kage has - indeed - completed her self-appointed task of 'beverage hunter.' Joe's is the kind of place with mismatched cups that tend toward ginormous, and it is only because Kage is a coffee-shop ninja that she isn't dropping and spilling the over-sized saucers and cups, sending them crashing to the ground in a hot-hot-hot rain of porcelain and beverage-themed pain.

And, because it's Kage, when she returns and takes - with a brief half-smile for Molly - the place the dark-haired holiday shopaholic left open, she doesn't immediately jump back in the conversation or say what'd I miss, assuming that she'll just catch up within a sentence or two.

" - hope that's right, Atlas." Okay, so she says something, referring to the drink.

[Molly Quincannon] Molly studies Alex at that point. It's a friendly sort of study, but it's a study regardless. "Eh, we don't haze people," Molly says. "Not really, anyway. I mean, if we did, it'd be Lincoln Logs in your sock drawer, maybe. But I'm vaguely twisted, so never mind. Maybe I should let Kage make more hefty introductions, seeing as how she's known you longer than any of us. I mean, are we code-speaking? Do we bother with the code-speaking?"

Then Kage appears, and Molly gets her cup of chocolatey caffeine bomb with a squeak of thanks. "Whee! This'll keep me going for at least an hour. Thank you, Kage! So, now, one of you needs to tell me how you two met, Kage and Alex. And what brings an Alex to Chicago. And then Atlas can ... I dunno, drink coffee, watch us all talk or maybe even join in! Atlas," she says, meant for Alex, "is a bit of a genius, actually. Some of his builds and rebuilds on stuff are legendary."

[Alexander Liang] "As long as it was only Lincoln Logs..." A momentary smirk. "Still, it tends to be something of a constant in social dynamics. Someone new is introduced, and there's always a bit of a shake-down period while people decide for themselves if they're going to find themselves hating this presumptuous new fool, or falling head-over-heels in love. Naturally, I sort of prefer the latter. But I can cope with the interview process."

He nods to Kage as a coffee is passed into his hands, though no sips are taken yet from the steaming beverage. "And sure. Let Kage introduce as she will, or tell wonderous tales of our epic meeting, and I'll just sit here and object when she gets all the details wrong." He smirks. "Should only have to object a dozen or so times."

[Atlas Mason] Atlas takes the offered coffee and looks it over momentarily, considering the mug and then the liquid within it, one finger is dipped within and pulled out quickly, a furitive testing of the liquids temperature he nod's at his findings and then sips it before smiling to Kage and nodding. "The particular make up of this liquid comestible is acceptable Kage." He says with thanks before raising a brow and looking towards Molly.

"I have been a participant in this socialized data transference. I am also allowing this individual identified via heritalogical marker's as Alexander Liang to reach the half life point of his foreign element, once familiar cohesion is present within the unit then further transference may occur, prior to that juncture however, it seemed an appropriate choice of methodology to allow his pattern's to dictate discourse."

[Kage Jakes] "Heftier introductions? I can do those," she says, and takes another sip of her - now cool, cooling - cider, wetting her throat. She doesn't put the cup down, but instead rests it on her thigh. As soon as she sat down, she crossed her ankles, demure. Was there ever any doubt at all Kage would be up for some 'code' talking?

"Atlas, Machine Poet," Kage says, gesturing to the self-same, now that the cup is balanced and she doesn't need both hands to hold it. "Molly, Seer, without the S, no appliances in sight - well, I suppose that isn't entirely true. Molly's really very handy. She and Atlas here might make a formidable team, really. And you haven't met Henri. Molly, Atlas, this is Alex, Ninja of Zen. Jet Li Mystic." The thing is, her tone isn't particularly flippant throughout this -- it's fairly commonday, maybe even dry, because that's Kage: calm, collected.

"As for how we met, it was actually a long time ago -- we had violent friends in common, so while they were out, being violent, we were in, discussing the future. I was actually fairly surprised when he decided to come to Chicago. Hadn't realized I made it sound like prime real estate," and there her tone is, perhaps, a touch -- well. Something. Not bitter, not exactly, but -- more opaque than usual. Let's say that. Or maybe she's just being sardonic. It is, after all, Kage.

[Molly Quincannon] Molly grins and rolls her eyes, but it's a pleased-and-bashful thing rather than anything else. "Yeah, Seer about covers it. Especially after the other day. Man, that was something. Though yes, there are appliances, even if I tend to refer to them more as 'gadgets'. I've come up with some nifty new ones lately, in fact. Anyway, please to meet you, Ninja-of-Zen. Violent friends in common, huh? Iiiinteresting."

Then, to Kage properly, she says, "I think Atlas and I do make a formidable team, in point of fact. Though we've yet to really take it beyond the building of engines and snow forts."

[Alexander Liang] "Oh yes, Grasshopper. Velly preased to meet you, chop-chop." He rolls his eyes at Kage, sardonicism dripping from every word. "That's really the best you could come up with? Really?" He shakes his head in seeming mockery of her over-the-top sense of code.

[Atlas Mason] Atlas listens to Kage's considerations of who they were, it was a view into her mind, and the structure within where she put everyone and what sort of label she placed upon them. His own label made him smile ever so slightly, as did Molly's. When it came to Alexander's however Atlas frowned as his brow's furrowed a look of confusion settling across his features.

"The term and label Jet Li, is currently unquantified general language dissection and cross referencing would catagorize this individual as a air to fuel combustion engine producing thrust within the Lee of an unknown object or vessel, or in reference to a light jet, though under what structural connotations this refers to I am uncertain at this juncture." He looks the man up and down. "His internalized osseous tissues do not seem to be of a reduced density." He looks at Kage at that point and seems continually perplexed.

"Additional input is necessary."

[Kage Jakes] "How did the other day go?" Kage says, her gaze shading into something [grave-moss, cool-stone, solemnity] serious. "I had qualms. What if kinds of qualms, after leaving."

Kage gives Alexander a sidelong glance, and maybe, maybe suppresses a smirk [the ghost of one is there, anyway]. Before she can say anything in reply, Atlas. Ah, Atlas. Kage's expression is touched by something a shade rueful, and she glances at Molly, sort of a, Help? He's your cabal-mate, thing.

"Hmm. Additional input. Molly? Would a youtube video solve this?"

[Molly Quincannon] "It probably would, yes," Molly says, her MacBook (one of two laptops in the ubiquitous laptop bag, this one her dedicated travel-surfing machine) already coming out. A few taps and clicks later, she hands the slim laptop to Atlas, saying, "First tab's the Wikipedia entry, second tab's Youtube. Basically, big name in martial arts movies, but ... additional data acquired."

The response to the other day gets ... well, it's a weird thing. The blush and bashful and awwwdorable comes first, and then a blink as she recognises the solemnity of the question, and the bit about qualms. Perhaps someone had that dinner. Perhaps it went well. But Molly composes herself and answers the question in the spirit in which it was meant. "It went well. Nothing of the what-if about it, don't worry. Just a little scoping out the lay of the land. Foresight may not be twenty-twenty the way that hindsight is, but it can be very, very useful. If a little distressing. Still, not the best venue. Suffice to say that we're looking at some ... potential altercations."

[Alexander Liang] Does Alex follow the train of conversation? Perhaps. Who knows who he's met or what he's been told up to this point? Nevertheless, whether or not he understands (or even if he's just drawn a ridiculously off-the-wall and totally wrong impression of things), he doesn't comment. Not really his place. Not yet.

And so he sips his coffee, perhaps studying the other three (yes, even Kage) each in turn. Or perhaps just politely listening.

[Atlas Mason] Atlas takes the computer, and well...has to figure out how to use a laptop, the whole idea of a mouse, and more importantly, a trackpad seems to be somewhat foreign to him. He starts to work at it though, and eventually the video starts to play, and he watches it with curiosity.

[Kage Jakes] Kage is not the sort of person who gives Knowing Looks, so Molly is spared any sort of Give Away reaction when she blushes (awwwdorable [we've been here before]). "I'm amazed and surprised," she deadpans, and then: "Foresight's a neat trick, at least, and one I'd be tempted to overuse." Then: a pause. Kage frowns, and shifts, reaching for her bag. Why? Because her phone is going off - she glances at the caller, then says - "Hey, I'll be right back. Must take this if I'm not going to be huddling on the streets this Christmas, all blue-fingered and beggary," and with that, she excuses herself, taking herself to the least-occupied corner of the coffee shop to speak to whoever it is on the phone.

[Molly Quincannon] Molly snorts. "You'd be tempted if you've never done it. Believe me, it's not all that. Too many possibilities, and all you're getting is a better, surer look at the same kind of guesswork and possible outcomes that common sense would generally give you anyway. Besides, you're always going to end up with something you don't like, and then you end up trying to change it. How well did that work out for Jocasta, huh?" She shakes her head. "All that to say, useful in small doses, so long as you remember the rules, but the headache alone means it's a 'use only in emergencies' thing."

Then she grins a little at Alex, sheepish. "So ... yeah, in addition to the Seer thing, I tend to be the go-to girl for intel, doomy or otherwise. On that subject, have you met Ashley yet? She's ... sort of the welcome wagon, in a way."

[Alexander Liang] "Well, could be worse. Like if the metaphor was less like Jocasta and more like Cassandra." He takes another sip of his coffee. "And yes, I've met Ashley. I think she's currently checking to make sure I'm not an alien space clone or something, before I get an invite to the clubhouse so I can play with the cool kids."

[Atlas Mason] The video having been watched at last, Atlas simply closes the machine and offer's it back to Molly. He takes a few moments to digest the information and then looks at Alexander one more time before nodding to himself. "Upon actualization of this current cultural data, the reference now is appropriately adequate as a coded identifier, well chosen." He takes a moment to drink his coffee as it had grown cool, and if it went to much longer it would be undrinkable.

"Ashley is diligent, she will clear your personage of any questionable status, eliminating the need for aberrant labeling in due course." He assure the man across from him.

[Molly Quincannon] Molly takes her machine back and chuckles at Alex's comment. "I don't think it's that bad, really. We've just had some ... issues, lately and before that. She's a little more careful these days. If you'd seen some of the bullshit she's had to weed out, I don't think you'd blame her. But I'm sure you're pretty well cleared, so long as you've met her and talked to her for more than five minutes. Kage as a friend is an awesome recommendation around here, just in general. So who else have you met? Hopefully we don't have to apologise for any of them."

Then, to Atlas, "Thanks. There were a lot of related vids, but I figured that one would do. You're handling the laptop pretty well, too. Any chance we're going to see you in cyberspace anytime soon?"

[Alexander Liang] He grins. "You're number two and number three, respectively. Guess Kage really likes you guys." And he waves off the earlier comment. "Not particularly worried about or bothered over background checks, though. If nothing else, feels sort of nice to know that not just anyone can wander along and get the seal of approval. Means I'll have to worry less about any future arrivals."

[Atlas Mason] Atlas smiles at Molly and shakes his head, the smile a rueful one as she asks if he will be anywhere near cyberspace within the near future. "Such occurances are not projected within the current temporal stream, nor simulated within any near, alternate, or opposite streams. However aberrations are common within this geographical locality, and probability dicates that there will be alterations." He shrugs then just before his watch starts to beep.

He looks down at the old and beaten watch and frowns. In the next moment the man is rising to stand, buttoning his coat as he did so. "This juncture is entering its completion phase, and there are several experimental units requiring my direct and tactile interpretation." His voice is apologetic as he looks between the pair, and then over at Kage in the far corner.

"Relay my disposition and appreciation for the offering of social interactivity to Kage as I do not wish to disturb her current data transfer." He says as he takes a few steps towards the exit before turning and looking at Alexander.

"Your personage is welcomed to this urban center and general geophysical locality. In a near juncture we will discourse and disseminate data in a more thorough manner, if you would find such actions favorable." He says with that amiable smile. At last he turns and nods to Molly, that amiable smile growing to something slightly more before he at last turns to go.

[Molly Quincannon] Molly smiles and waves at Atlas. "Will do! Later! Remember to let me know how much reinforced steel you need so I can set something up, okay?" Then, with a mischievous little grin, she adds, "I will have you playing World of Warcraft yet, I'm telling you!"

Alex gets a little grin and a blush. "Well, I shall have to thank her for the vote of confidence. I get the feeling that I come across kind of gabby. But I'm well-meaning, and I don't eat people's spleens for breakfast. Spleen is technically more a lunchtime food anyway." She's teasing, of course. But she gets a bit more serious as she says, "Yeah, I think future arrivals are probably not going to have half the ... um, unpleasant surprises that a few direct questions dug out of a couple of ours, insofar as the House goes. Among other things." Ooh! Finally something that gets a less than pleasant emotional response from Molly; those last three words dripped bitterness.

To her credit, she shrugs it off quickly. "So what does bring you to Chicago? And don't say plane, train, automobile or bus, okay? You know what I mean."

[Alexander Liang] "Ehh, I don't mind gabby. If anything, sometimes the enthusiasm can be a bit refreshing. Especially in the face of the more cynical and world-weary individuals among us." He smirks. "Not that I'm exempting myself from that, of course."

And he finally stops smiling as she goes on about more... serious events. Perhaps he puts on the more pensive face solely to seem more understanding and supportive in the face of brooding. "Suppose that's always a risk that has to be faced. Though less so when people keep their eyes open, and know what to watch out for. Innocence lost but wisdom gained?" He shrugs.

[Atlas Mason] [Thanks for the play folks, have a good night. Ghost, was good playing with you, hopefully ill catch you again sometime soon, but for now I sleep so..night!]

[Molly Quincannon] "That's ... a really nice way to put it," Molly tells Alex with a wry little smile. "But I admit that I like my innocence. Though if it's a choice between 'ignorance is bliss' and the other thing ... I'll take the other thing every time. And you're still not answering my question about why Chicago, of all places. I promise this will be the last time I ask, and just say if you don't want to answer. I ... have some issues ... with people not even acknowledging I've asked a question. Some ... people did that to me ... among other, more physically damaging things." She looks apologetic, but she also looks a little stressed. Apparently, something Big went down at some point, though Molly is trying to downplay it.

[Alexander Liang] "Ahh - sorry. No offense." The smile is back, apologetic this time. "If I've been avoiding it, it wasn't entirely conscious. More just because there really isn't all that significant an answer." He shrugs. "I thought a change of scene might be nice, I knew at least one person here... could do worse. No cosmic destiny or complicated plot. No running away from a tragic past or sins left unresolved. Just... happenstance."

And then the amusement again. "Or, at least, so I think. I'm sure it's possible that I'll eventually find out down the line that I'm just a pawn on the chessboard of life getting pushed around by plans not my own, but, for now, I'll continue thinking I'm the master of my own Fate. Even if it is a bit aimless at the moment."

[Molly Quincannon] At that, Molly relaxes. "Hey, change of scene is a perfectly adequate reason to choose Chicago for your habitat-related needs. It sure was mine, and I didn't even have the excuse of 'I knew someone in the area'. Well, not really. An online handle, sure, but we've still never met in meatspace. You know how it goes. Anyway," she adds, "I for one would like to welcome you to Chicago. You seem really nice. Also ... no offense taken," she adds, and man does she look apologetic and sheepish. "Really, it's me who should be apologising. I thought I was more over that than I was."

[Kage Jakes] Kage, in the corner of Joe's, sighs - and perhaps it's not technically loud enough to carry, but her body posture changes in a manner that is loud. The cellphone: snapped shut, tapped against her thigh, once, twice, thrice - and that's when she returns.

"Sorry about that," she says, and once again: demure, self-contained when she curls up on the couch again. Maybe one of Molly's bells goes jingle-jangle in one of her bags, when Kage's foot touches it - an accident. Kage's gaze drops to the bags, then up. Apparently, this time she thinks she may have missed enough of the conversation to bear asking, and so -

"- what did I miss besides Atlas's departure?"

[Alexander Liang] Alex seems about to respond, and then Kage is there, and he smiles. "Well, I just finished telling Molly about all of your most embarrassing personal moments. I'd forgotten just how many there actually were!" And then he winks at Molly

Nice? Maybe. But that doesn't mean a man can't joke now and again.

[Ashley McGowen] There was a time when seeing Awakened colleagues around town in random places would have fazed Ashley. Convergences, the way Israel calls them, have happened in other cities - magi just seem drawn to each other that way - but never with the frequency she's experienced here. A Technocrat, of course, might call it a confirmation bias: she goes about her daily life and doesn't run into people on many occasions, after all, and there are a lot of days when she goes without seeing other magi unless she specifically calls them.

But damn, it does seem to happen a lot.

She hasn't yet noticed the magi within Joe's; she's stopped outside, tying Zane's leash around a lamp post so that he'll stay in place while she goes in to get a warm drink before braving a while longer in the cold. Zane doesn't seem to mind the weather; he is, in fact, jumping around through a virgin drift and bending his head down to eat the snow, his enormous ears held up like sonar dishes, the tips flopping up and down when he springs and bobs. Ashley scruffs an ungloved hand through the fur on his neck and then steps into the shop, and a swirl of icy air heralds her arrival.

And, as it happens, she arrives just in time to see the others, and to hear Alex's comment about embarrassing personal moments. There's a cheerful, "I could tell you about a few of Kage's."

[Molly Quincannon] Molly chuckles and says, "Not that much. Discussion of the cost of wisdom being innocence, and any talk of embarrassing personal moments ... well, I shall keep those behind my meticulously maintained personal firewalls. Honest." She's not terribly convincing, perhaps, but the teasing is all in fun.

Then it's Molly's turn to receive a phone call - and when Molly's iPhone starts buzzing 'Take This Job and Shove It', Kage at least knows that something amusing is about to happen. Alex might have a clue when Molly rolls her eyes and says, "If it's burritos again, I'm going to crack skulls." Then she picks up her phone. "Molly here." She gives an apologetic look and starts struggling into her outerwear with the phone wedged between her shoulder and ear. "Guys, I may have to bail. No, I was not talking to you, though I should be. I'm listening, seriously." She looks back up at Alex and Kage and says, "Yes, this sounds like a bailing thing and... No!" That was probably directed at the phone. "No, a server will not function after it has caught fire and then filled with flame-retardant foam! How the hell did it catch--?" Now she looks purely horrified. "What do you mean, 'you wanted to see what would happen'? What did you think was going to happen when you put-- Just ... don't. Touch. Anything. I swear you're getting fired this time, Mitch. No, I don't care. The server case is not your kitchen. Now, how far did the fire spread before you caught it? Oh, fuck off!"

She's gathered her bags as best as she could by this point and, with an apologetic wave to Kage and Alex, and a comment of, "She's seen this before. Get her to explain how my place of business hires brain-damaged baboons for their hardware tech needs. Yes, I was telling people about you; shut up and give me a damage report! Nice to have met you, Alex; bye!"

Then Molly's out, cursing into her phone.