How've You Been? ...Occupied

[Molly Quincannon] It's Molly's turn on sentry duty and once again, she has brought food. This time, it's peach cobbler (again; there are lots of peach cobbler leftovers. She practiced hard over the past week or so) and Molly's at the kitchen table with a book of logic puzzles and a cup of coffee. It's a pretty standard sort of scene, beyond the fact that Molly is currently barely recognisable to anyone who hasn't seen her since ... say, January, given sudden length and colour change of hair. Most people are getting used to it, but most people have seen her in the last month or so.

[Basil Gillingson] February was not a great month. It was short. It was nearing the turning of seasons. It also had the lovely little holiday of Valentine's Day, a celebration supposedly involving at one time the heart of a saint being delivered to an emperor. Most thought it as the nearing of Spring. Others would turn to say that soon March would come, the fall of Caesar. February was a precursor to bad things coming. Wicked things. Or disaster.

It was an accurate designation for the one known as Basil Gillingson. Basil who had disappeared under mysterious circumstances, not even a murmur outside the inner circle who knew what had happened. He shifted his tie as he approached the door. His eyes squinted around, taking in the lay of the land before he turned to knock once before entering. Basil was 'home', as close as he could call the place to be home.

[Molly Quincannon] The knock didn't register, but the door opening did. (Molly gets really focused on her logic puzzles. Then again, Molly gets really focused on everything.) So, even as she ticks off the final box to solve her puzzle, she gets up to have a look at the new arrival, cup of coffee in hand. Once, she would have just called out a greeting. Times have changed.

When she sees Basil, she smiles. "Initiate Gillingson." (See? She remembers, even after over six months, what he prefers to be called.) "Long time, no see. Hope you've been well."

[Basil Gillingson] Basil regarded her for a moment as he stepped inside, his fingers reaching to close the door. He lifted his nose just slightly, as if smelling the air, eyes turning this way and that...no scents of death hanging in the air like the last time he had been within the chantry itself. The blue orbs then turned to regard Molly, the face was no different but the hair and style was...off.

"A different look, Initiate Quincannon? It...looks slightly unkempt."

He could have said for worse but it was almost as if the Hermetic had chose his words differently after the hesitation.

"You are the only here I presume?"

[Molly Quincannon] "Unkempt suits me," is Molly's response. "Keeps me good and unnoticeable. Which is more important than it used to be, these days. I think, if you're up for it, you might need a briefing on what's been going on since last we spoke."

Then she shrugs. "Yeah, for the moment. It's my turn on sentry duty and it's not the full house it used to be, around here. Which is kind of a shame, but never mind. So how've you been?"

[Basil Gillingson] He arches a brow, his eyes flicking to the right corner for a moment as he thinks.

"...occupied."

He responds before moving towards the kitchen, taking his time as he goes through the process of trying to make himself some tea.

"And yes, a briefing would be preferable. I'll have to speak to the Deacon soon of my arrival. I am sure we will both have much to talk of...many things."

[Molly Quincannon] "Ah." Tea is easily found, and Molly sits down with her coffee again as Basil sets about making his tea. "Well, Administrative Dean McGowen is going to be a little tricky to find for awhile, I think - by design. I guess you didn't hear that Technocracy raided her place a few weeks back. They hit mine too, but I never tied mine to my name and my look was easily changed, so they haven't got a thing to pin on me. I don't have to hide as much. She's okay and everything, and she's getting some new ID so she doesn't have to worry too much that her Sleeper name was compromised, but she's understandably keeping low and off-radar right now."

Then she chuckles a bit - self-deprecation, rue, wry and maybe a tiny bit of bitterness in the amusement. "Believe it or not, that's just the tip of the iceberg." She'll tell him, clearly, but she's trying very hard not to bombard people with too many bits of information at a time, it seems. It's a bad habit, and one she's trying to break, no matter how much she'd love to just get everything out in one lump.

[Basil Gillingson] He listens, setting about finding a saucer and then little bits here and there...the cream...sugar. He sometimes liked honey but it was a bad habit he had developed from being around Yanks far too often. He remained quiet as she talked of the Technocracy though the mention of strikes gets a glance from him and a simple 'ah.'

He then set the kettle on as he turned to her, waiting while it boiled.

"I see. That explains many things. I have been away in England on unfortunate circumstances. How long has this been going on? And how proliferated are they in the area now?"

[Molly Quincannon] After sipping her coffee, Molly launches on infodump. "Well, we first got wind of them back around Halloween. There was a Node - emphasis on 'was', but I'll get to that. It was pretty unstable, had been popping in and out for centuries, but it caused some serious havoc at its site - unfortunately, an old asylum. Technocracy had also caught wind of it, established a base, and we had to hit the place and drain the node. That was around January, and if you see any news items about how Grant Park is kind of blooming way too early? That's probably why; we vented the power of the node into the park rather than keeping any of the Tass, 'cos we didn't really want the Technocrats tracing the flow back to us, I guess. Anyway, during the initial planning for that hit, Ashley and I did some scrying of the site and while they didn't tag us specifically from that, they got the bright idea to hit everyplace they identified as carrying a heavy Correspondence ward at the time we did the scrying. They waited about a month after the Node went down to hit us, and we got advance warning, which is a whole other story. Right now, we don't know what their strength is in the city, but we've got other problems, unfortunately, so seeking them out hasn't been high on the list."

[Basil Gillingson] He listened to the babble as she spewed the information, slowly nodding after a moment before as he stood there, his hands resting clasped behind his lower back. He took in the information, nodding slowly to indicate he was listening.

"So the possible node has been shunted so its useless. They in turn retaliated. Who was targeted and have their been any casualties or injuries? Do we have intel on them ourselves?"

[Molly Quincannon] "Not quite." Molly's used to being vaguely misunderstood. "They retaliated because of the scrying. They haven't got around to hitting us over the node thing yet. I figure that's going to be way worse, but it needs actually finding us to do it, and so far, we've been keeping off-radar. So far, the only people I know about who they know about even vaguely are Ashley, possibly Israel, Nathan and Solomon ... and me to a very small degree - as in, someone who lived at the site I was formerly living on did something, maybe, if they could actually figure out that someone with my name was living at that site at any point." She grins a bit then - that one's mostly pride. "Most of the injuries happened when we actually hit the node in the first place, but that was awhile ago now, so everyone's fine."

The bit about intel gets further pride. "I have some names, some phone numbers that I've pulled some details from, stuff like that. It's all individual stuff, but it might be useful if we ever settle down enough to actually do something with it. As it is, like I said ... we've got other problems, and they actually look like they're going to be worse for us."

[Basil Gillingson] "I would like to request a list of this for my own purposes....I will not be acting on the information but I like to have an idea of whom my enemy is as best I can."

He drummed his finger on the counter for a moment, eyes glancing to the kettle then back to her.

"But it sounds that with the current magi here, you have all fared...well. Decent at least. My congratulations on accomplishing such endeavors. But try not to let it go to your head. It will indeed get worse before better. I have engaged in the Ascension War against the Tower for three decades."

[Molly Quincannon] Molly ponders that, bemused and ... not exactly suspicious, but ... wary. "But ... if you're not going to do anything with it on your own, what's the point of having such detailed information? I mean, if you're just going to hold onto it and wait until we can actually hit them - after we've dealt with Rogue Council shenanigans and someone or something from beyond the Gauntlet messing with Sleepers anyway - that information's going to come out to the whole strike team anyway. So why ask for it now, just for yourself?" She shrugs. "Sorry, but I get enough trouble for going off and doing stuff with this kind of intel on my own. I don't to add 'I provided the means for someone else to do it and didn't even ask his intentions before giving said information' to the list of things people can bawl me out for."

[Basil Gillingson] Basil narrowed his eyes for a moment, a glower that seemed to indicate violence in the near future. At first, it seems her refusal has sparked it until his words came out, like venom.

"...you failed to mention the Rogue Council's involvement. Why are they here and how have they been 'involved' or doing shenanigans, Initiate Quincannon?"

The mention of the Rogue Council has Basil's blood boil as the Hermetic was likely not one eager to have any mention of the miscreants that some saw as saviors, others as rebels.

[Molly Quincannon] "Well, up until recently, the Rogue Council's involvement was peripheral, uncertain, or both." This reaction from Basil gets raised eyebrows - she's seen reactions to the Rogue Council before, but never like this. "You know what they're like, if you know anything about them - sometimes their missives aren't from them at all, or just wrong... In one case, something we were told was sparked off by Rogue Council orders turned out to be a personal vendetta by a mage driven insane by Technocratic experiments." Molly's still apparently very pissed off about that one on so many personal levels, and saddened by it all as well. "Anyway, first mention of them we really got was January, right after the scrying attempts that eventually led to the raids on Ashley's place and mine. They sent flash drives containing a recording of people who sounded rather a lot like Technocrats discussing how they couldn't identify the people who'd actually done the scrying but could investigate the places that were warded at that date and time. We dug into that as deeply as we could while not making the potential hit a self-fulfilling prophesy on the Rogue Council's part, but came up with nothing. The next time was ... not actually Rogue Council at all, or probably wasn't, or wasn't entirely - that mess just defies description anyway. Most recently was something we thought might be Rogue Council, because it was the warning that got Ashley and I away from our homes just in time to miss the raiding Technocrats ... but it turns out that it was just a mage with his own motivations, not Rogue Council at all."

[Basil Gillingson] "So....you're not sure if you have the Rogues here or if its just one or a whole group nuffling about? Lovely."

He walked over to the stove to take the kettle off, soon pouring the hot water onto the tea...letting it soak for a bit now as he mulled it over.

"But it is safe to say we have other players involved in this whole account as well as a genuine threat as its clear the Technocrats have targeted your homes, yes?"

[Molly Quincannon] "Oh, we're sure we have the Rogues here. One bore their signature, and they knew ... way, waaaaaay too much about me. There aren't many who don't know me personally who'd know some of the things they said, and anyone who does? Well, they'd have approached me differently. But no, we don't know if it's just one or a whole group ... 'nuffling'? What does 'nuffling' mean? And ... you seem to have a problem with the Rogue Council in general. Since I'm the one who's done most digging into their missives so far - hell, besides Ashley, I'm the only one I know about who's heard from them at all, and the only one who's had a personalised message left for them by the Rogue Council - I kind of have a vested interest in hearing about it if there's a problem there. They ... know things."

Then she nods. "Technocrats have targeted our homes. I think they've hit dead ends on both of us now, at least, but we have been hit. They're still out there, and it's in our interests to be careful. Which is going to be hard when, like I said before, someone or something from across the Gauntlet is getting her or its jollies handing Sleepers boatloads of power in stressful situations, causing mass property damage and generally being a pain in the ... backside. Plus she or it can cut us off from our Avatars, at least temporarily, which..." She can't even finish that sentence; she just shudders. Understandable, perhaps, if she went through it.

[Basil Gillingson] "I have a problem with the Council because there is nothing that polices them...they can be a boon at times but most often they defy anything they perceive as a 'power' or opposition. Would you like me to count on my hand how often the Hermetics in England have been perceived as a threat by this Council? They practically forced us to come to the table and make a non-aggression pact there for the 'greater good'. Then in Ireland they misaligned a node's leylines...Scotland we had reports of a cabal's location given away to opposition. And Wales? Wales is a shitstorm but it always has been. The locals there are not friendly, especially the outside forces such as lycans."

He rubbed his fingers over his smoothed scalp for a moment as he waited on his drink, pausing again.

"The Technocrats are the threat but it sounds like whatever this is is beyond a normal spirit's capabilities. I cannot name anything within my knowledge that has that capability. Beyond a paradox spirit."

[Molly Quincannon] There's a lot of information there, and Molly's Curious. Some of it she can tap into the VA's gossip network to get hold of, but... "Lycans? You mean, like, werewolves?!? ..........Wow. Wales must be a fun place." Yes, just a touch of sarcasm ... but only a touch. Personally, Molly'd love to meet a werewolf. But she's a little weird, and there's a reason people think she's got a death wish. "As far as the rest of it goes ... personally, I get why they might maybe want a guiding hand, but I don't think finding a middle ground between total anarchy and ... its opposite measure--" Molly has a modicum of diplomacy, y'see, and isn't going to suggest that the Hermetics are totalitarian dickwads ... not to the face of a Hermetic who she's seen go sparky-electric at the slightest provocation, anyway "--is so bad. Non-aggression pacts aren't that bad either, though ... I guess no one likes to be forced into anything."

The bit about spirits gets a frown. "Well, my source referred to whatever was doing this as 'her'. I have ... not so much a description, but the means to get one. Personally - and it's just a theory, but ... I'm thinking Marauder. The mention of what happened to Horizon came up, and I kind of figure surviving that sort of thing is going to drive anyone a little over the edge, to put it mildly. But I plan to find out. Just ... other stuff comes first, and sentry duty's part of that."

[Basil Gillingson] Basil took the tea bag, placing it in the trash once it has soaked before adding the cream and sugar, Basil a two lumps man as he stirred it then tapped the spoon the side before taking a sip. He grimaced as he had been home and gotten better but it was...tolerable.

"There are many reasons why I did not want a non-aggression pact with Technocracy. So no, being forced into one was not enjoyed by any means, Initiate Quincannon. The Rogue Council is not an entity I like having to tolerate...if I knew who they were...well...some would no longer be around to cause any further complications."

He sipped at the cup lightly, setting it aside for a moment.

"As far as it being a Marauder, I pray it is not. Or worse, a survivor of Horizon...that means she's far more dangerous than anything I think we are able to handle."

[Molly Quincannon] "...........Non-aggression with Technocracy. See, you didn't say who that non-aggression pact was with." She wrinkles her nose at that. "Wow. That puts the whole Four Horsemen deal into a whole new light. They were saying that the Rogue Council wanted to start the Ascension War up again. This 'infinite shades of grey' thing blows goats for nickels, seriously." She puts a hand to her head, muttering, "That whole deal gave me enough of a headache without that bit of intel. Though I guess if I'd known before we found ourselves up to our necks in it, it might have come out differently."

She sighs. "Well, it's got a spiritual component, but my source talks about her like she's ... not a spirit, put it that way. That only leaves a couple of options, really, and it's the more dread-worthy two. And given the stuff he was about to say about whoever-and-whatever-she-is before she actually came down and caused the kind of havoc as she did at the Green Mill on Saturday, I'm thinking it's probably the latter. Or both. Either way, I'm going to find out more, but ... somewhere warded, he said. And I'm hoping to get a good look at her. I know a place she's been, and it's easy after that." She shrugs. "I'll let you know when I've got something more, but she's been messing around with people and it's just ... not right. I'm all for trying to take back a bit of consensus, but not at the expense of Sleepers' sanity."

[Basil Gillingson] "From what I can tell, the Council doesn't have a centralized structure...more like a bunch of cabals that have different agendas but use the name of the Rogue Council to implement them. So it is not surprising while one group is advocating war or pushing towards it, another is preventing or at least making it difficult."

"Very well. It is not as if I can do anything at this venture...I have to inform the Deacon first of my arrival as well as missives from the Hermetics in England to be passed onto her before I am allowed to participate in anything."

[Molly Quincannon] Molly nods at the bit about the Rogue Council, thoughtful. "They're like terrorist cells, then, basically. Which on one hand is a great way to work, but only if you've actually got a centralised agenda. If you don't ... well, then it's just a massive case of FUBAR. Yeesh." She sticks a hand in her hair, tries to ruffle it and fails - long hair doesn't ruffle the same way as her normal haircut did. Disentangline her fingers, she adds, "Well, I guess there's also the fact that if they make the Trads sit down to non-aggression pacts, and the Rogue Council crews do something that looks warlike in a way that can't really be pinned to the Hermetics or whoever, then if they move against you, they've broken the non-aggression treaty first and you're within your rights to retaliate and still keep your word. Which is pretty important, and really kind of sneaky." She shrugs. "Just another theory. I've got a million of them, and they're all nuts but nowhere near as nuts as the facts, sometimes."

The bit about his not being allowed to participate in anything gets a perplexed frown. Molly's a Cultist, and they've got no real hierarchy, little in the way of structure, and it's not really their way to forbid much of anything, least of all involvement. "Why would you need to speak to Ashley about stuff before you're ... allowed to get involved in things? Is ... something wrong?"

[Basil Gillingson] "No, nothing is wrong, Initiate Quincannon. It is standard protocol."

He gives a thin smile as he cupped the tea again, finishing it.

"My House merely had a matter for me to attend to and I've been reassigned to here now that it is over."

He walked to the sink, washing it out before placing it on the rack.

"Either case, thank you for the information. Now I will not feel ignorant to the events of the city since my departure. I will have to contact the Deacon at a later time it would seem."

He walked back, inclining his head.

"With that though, I should head home...I haven't even been to it yet. I do hope you had a good holiday this past winter."

[Molly Quincannon] Molly accepts the deal about 'standard protocol' - she may not get the whole Hermetic way of dealing with things, but she at least knows a little bit about how much they value protocol. It's only when they expect her to follow Hermetic protocol when she's not a Hermetic that she has a real problem. So she smiles a little and says, "No problem; that's what I'm here for. And if you need to talk to Ashley, I can give you the number for her father. All contact with her is going through him until she gets her new ID sorted out, and if it's a protocol thing, I'm sure she'd want to hear from you."

Assuming he wants the number for Jim, she recites it from memory and bids him farewell, then goes back to her logic puzzles and her general sentry duty shtick.