Questions? Plenty!

[Molly Quincannon] [[Oh hey, Naty! What's new? Perc + Aware]]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 3, 6, 8, 8, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Natyana Wapanee] [Y HALLO THAR YOU SEXEH BEAST! or wait.... was that a heat seeking missile flying through the district? wait wut? Per + Aware]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 5, 5, 6, 6, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6)

[Molly Quincannon] Time rings changes - anyone'll tell you it's so. Mages in particular know how fast things can change, and conversation with Molly over text illustrates at least one or two. Molly's still as cheerful as ever, as far as one can tell in text, but for one thing, the coffee shop she suggests is not Nat and Molly's old favourite but a spot in a boho sort of area called 'Joe's'. Joe's is a nice place, though not in the '50's truck stop' way that the name suggests. Instead, it's a comfy, casual, haphazardly decorated sort of place full of mismatched furniture and mismatched people drinking mismatched (but large) coffee mugs. There's a fireplace. There's kinetic sculpture and college art student stuff on the walls and a nice smell of pastry and good strong coffee. It's a nice place.

Molly would have mentioned that her look has changed. When she enters the coffee shop, she's clearly been understating the case. The first thing she notices is not, in fact, the physical. There's still the same Frantic buzz to Molly, but it's been directed into Searching, tethered by Tenacity and cranked a notch or so. Molly's levelled up.

Her hair is longer, all the layers grown out (which should be impossible, but ... some of her best friends are Life mages). She's a bit more toned, and a bit more scarred, all of which is demonstrated by the jean shorts and the 'One Inch Punch' wifebeater. Her hands are stained with oil and nicked in places. She's been busy. But the glasses are still there, as is the grin, and Naty - who has not changed nearly as much - is comprehensively hugged and actually lifted off her feet and spun around in a circle as Molly makes a noise that more or less resembles "Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

[Natyana Wapanee] The change of location is a minor confusion, a confusion to be investigated later. The look, the feel of the changes, the overall much lighter sense to Molly and being slightly beefier? FOOKIN AWESOME.

Molly is met in a head on collision for that hug. The little woman very much not changed in the least, except for the longer hair from lack of cutting it. She's in her standard attire for this time of year. Tank top and jean shorts, one berkinstock nearly being flung off her foot in the bounce and tackle of the favoritest friend greeting. She returns the squee of happy happy joy joy, fingers picking at the most obvious of changes just before her arms are thrown around Molly's shoulders for the biggest, snoggiest monkey hug she's likely had in well... maybe ever.

[Molly Quincannon] They are getting looks, these two, but what the hell. The squeeing and gleeing lasts for awhile and Molly, who very seldom starts a conversation with anything that even remotely resembles a conventional greeting, launches in with, "Quintuple. Shot. Mochas. That is why I love this place; because they will do them here and everyone else follows those ridiculous FDA regulations. Also, hi! We tried to keep the place tidy for you. Sorry about the tornado and the rain of fire and the rest of it. Things went a bit nuts last month. Then again, things have been on and off nuts for ages. I went to a wedding and finished the tutelage of not one but two apprentices and built a robot and I'm living aboard the Lafette now and no I have not indulged in the quintuple-shot mocha yet; I am just excited to see you!"

It's only then that she drops into a seat and grins in that usual sheepish 'I talk way too damn much' way.

And then adds, "Oh, and Nathan is a very good kisser. By the way."

[Molly Quincannon] [[Oh, and when she says 'last month', take it as read that she actually said 'a couple of months ago' because Molly has Time Sense and I don't.]]

[Natyana Wapanee] She blinks, staring at the entire onslaught of Molly talk, plopping into a chair herself and not even noticing the sideways gawking from the people here. She bursts into giggles and bounces in her seat, blinking some more as she files things away bit by bit and makes her usual attempts to keep up with it all, and, as usual, not giving her the look of 'yeah you talk to much' but that joyous look of 'OH EM GEE I FUCKING MISSED THIS!'

"Awesome, awesome, more awesome! I have NO idea what a quintuple shot mocha is but it sounds joygasmic as Nathan's kisses apparently are. So holy shit woman! You have GOT to fill me in on all of it! Will I need football padding? How's Atlas and Henri?"

[Molly Quincannon] "Does what it says on the can," Molly says, nudging Nat's big-ass mug her way. "Mocha with five shots of espresso instead of just the one. Atlas is doing relatively well, though to be honest that's more of an 'as well as can be expected' thing after the shit he went through in April-May. Henri's not here anymore; something about a genius grant with some like-minded folks at Dalhousie. I think. But Stormwatch has got a new member, sort of provisional, with two more I'm gonna ask when I can track 'em down; some truly awesome people hit Chicago over the winter. The definite Stormwatcher is Callista; she's a Lois Lane-ish reporter type - though for local TV news instead of the Daily Planet. You'll like her. She's like me, without the geek and the tats and the non-stop gabbling and the jumping in where angels fear to treat. Which makes her not a lot like me at all except in that she asks a lot of questions and sticks her nose into any and all interestingness. She's just more careful about it than I am. Or was. I've got better. Oh! Here's a change for you!"

She rummages in her laptop bag and takes out Tupperware. When she opens it, there's a good smell of apple and cinnamon and MOAR PASTRY. "Apple turnovers," she says. "Made 'em myself. While you were away? I went gourmet. Comes of being the one who makes sure Atlas eats now. Least I could do after he insisted I crash on the Lafette and even setting me up some space to live in before it came to escaping the notice of the Mirrorshades. Which is why I say to stay away from the old garage for awhile, by the way. Really great guy gave me a heads-up and then a bunch of us helped him save the city. Again."

She grabs her mocha and chugs, then says, "Anything more, you're going to have to ask me questions. I could talk all day, you know that. And then I will ask you questions. Obviously. But coffee and Molly-cooking!"

[Natyana Wapanee] She pokes curiously at the mug, drawing it close and peering into it like there might be a goblin inside waiting to jump out and bite her in the nose. "FIVE shots? Holy shit...." She takes a sip, sending one eye into spasmic twitching from the high octane power of it. She blinks to stop the twitching and her eyes ping huge, giving a solid shudder and then a grin. "Yeah new favorite. Definitely."

Each piece of info is met with a nod, brows knitting some at the mention of Atlas being through something bad, another frown but mostly one of those 'aw damn... she's gone? really?' about Henri. Though a grant with other uber smart people? Awesome news, that makes her smile. And then a curious look. Callista, reporter, lots of questions but less balls. Hm. Could be interesting, that'll have to be a wait and see type of thing apparently.

And then the shock. Molly cooking something more than cup of noodle and pop tarts? She reaches over, flipping up the sides of Molly's hair, inspecting her neck, then reaches down and takes one hand, flipping it back and forth. Finding now random outlets and plugs, she pokes her head under the table, looking for the pod. Finding none, she pops back up and snags a piece of the turnover, peering at it before shoving it in her mouth, lips smacking as she samples the yumminess.

"Questions? Plenty! Why didn't you call me for backup, what happened with Chuck, is Nathan the new squeeze of awesomeness? Where'd you hide the pod, this Callista chick? What can she do other than ask alot of questions and be too subtle to get dirty with the rest of us? Who's this other potential or potentials? What about the other commandos? I heard Riley was back, does that mean Alex is back too?"

[Molly Quincannon] "First one's easiest," she tells Nat. "I didn't call you for backup because you were busy, there was no time most of the time and we had it more or less under control. Though that last time, we probably could have used you. Still, again ... no time. Though I'm getting to the point where I can probably slow it down or speed it up as I please." She grins a little at that. "I guess you probably noticed the ... erm, upgrade? I figured out who - what, whatever - my Avatar is. Beyond a bit of a dick. That was pretty awesome."

Then the bit about Chuck. "Well, let's see. First it turns out that he was actually against any rescue mission for me on the art-gallery-basement thing. Then he gave me shit for how I helped finally take that whole mess down. Then it turned out that he was actually cool with things that go against everything I believe in and was using things I'd taught him to violate my own beliefs. Then it turned out that he'd been lying to me about everything, right down to his own name, because he wandered into the House and various inner circles without telling anyone that he was at one point on Mirrorshades radar and they know where his family is and can use that as leverage against him if they ever want him back and want to pry information about us out of him. Then it turned out that he thought that pulling up every detail about a girlfriend's life - not me, by the way - and sticking it on a flash drive to give to her as a present would be a great thing to do. Then he gave me shit over actually giving a damn about any of this." After a pause and a shrug, she adds, "Then he left town."

The rest is a little easier and a lot less long-winded. "Nathan is squeeze when Nathan's around. He buries himself in books a lot. I have to contact him by paper-plane-a-gram half the time 'cos he lets his cellphone die. But when I do see him, it's awesome ... and he used to be one of mine, so he at least gets me. Callista only doesn't get dirty with the rest of us because she's an Apprentice who's still finding her place. I get what that's like, so I'm happy enough to let her develop, y'know? She's one of the Zen folk, so that's important to her, too. The other commandos are Elizabeth - another Zen master, with a little more oomph and a very ... ascetic view on life - and Kim - deathmonkey, gunfight-goddess and nicer than she wants to be, I think. And Riley's back but Alex isn't; she doesn't seem upset about it and hasn't talked about him so I figure they parted ways. But she's teamed with Wren right now, though they've got sort of ambassadorial ties with we Stormwatchers. We're more general; they're specific anti-Mirrorshade. And ... well, yeah, that's answers to all the questions. Except for the one about the pod; there is none. Just between your nagging and Israel's foodiness, it got to be a thing."

She swigs more coffee and asks, "My turn now?"

[Natyana Wapanee] The first answer gets her a raspberry and a snort. "Life and death, woman. You know me better than that and I was already dealing with death, dealing with more death would've had me coming to hunt you down and kick you in the ass." Notes, more filing, sipping at the mug complete with twitches. She clearly hasn't had this high of a dose ever, nevermind not having the good stuff in general.

"Ok so... guess that means I have to meet alot of new people, can do, will have plenty of time. Death mark on the douche bag, if I spot him in town ever again he's fair game. Period. Can't really say all of it's a surprise, especially after the art gallery episode. I remember that one, and how he acted afterwards too." She frowns, shaking her head and sighs. "But you got something better out of it. So glad you got around to hooking up with Nathan."

She grins, leaning back in her chair and stuffing a hand down into her pocket, wincing just a bit but nodding. "Alright, ask away."

[Molly Quincannon] After a moment's thought, Molly grins and says, "Maybe I'll host a dinner party. Get you introduced to all the cool people. And anyway, I can't die. Not saying I'm immortal; just saying that the universe wouldn't be able to poke at me anymore. I swear, I am consensus' punching bag. So ... y'know; you're back now. You can be in on the next apocalypse; promise."

Then, after more coffee, she starts with the questions: "So how was home? How's the family? Did you at any point consider staying? How's Lara? She and Thomas have a ... I honestly don't know what kind of thing they've got going on because Thomas has got really cagely lately, but considering, I guess that's not surprising, but anyway, point is that he doesn't say much about what's up with her and I don't see her these days. You're still okay crashing with her, yes? And did you happen to trip over any weirdness while you were away, or is it just Chicago that's crawling with weird?"

[Natyana Wapanee] She grins big, nodding. "OHOHOH! Do it on one of those japanese long tables so we can all sit in bean bag chairs. I actually drove my mom nuts, threw out a couple of her old chairs so I could put in bean bags while I was there." She drinks down a large serving of the mug, taking a deep breath and nods.

"Ok, well home was... home. Every day I walked down to the store I remembered everything I hated about the place. Most of the old tormenters were still stuck there in mundane lives and more than happy to remind me of the old days. Took alot of self control not to charge bolt one of them in the ovaries so they'd stop overpopulating the trailer parks." Bitterness? nawwwww not at ALL. "So no, I had no desire what so ever to stay right from day one. I just wanted dad to get better, but he didn't. Turned out he wasn't intended to even leave the hospital again. Lara's looking pretty bad. Shook her up seeing me in the kitchen making dinner, and I thought she was going to kill me when she came charging at me screaming like a banshee on crack. SPEAKING of crack, I have that with me but need to hand it over later. Don't take it, just inspect. She wants to clean up, wants to get better. She didn't mention Tommy at all, which was a little weird since she knows I counted him like the black sheep brother. Guess I'll have to track him down at some point and poke at him."

She pauses, shaking her head slowly, the frown deepening. "I didn't have any ground shaking events while I was there, but that's a really small town, too. The trip to and from I kept sensing, but nothing that I could pin down to investigate. Just the heebie jeebies of feeling watched and all that fun shit. So the weird is out there, just apparently alot better at the subtle thing than the idjits here. OH, and Boomer is very happy staying back there with my mom and grandma. He got so fat in just those short months, seriously. I threatened to get him a treadmill and he went and tried to hide under moms chair, knocked her over and almost broke her hip."

[Molly Quincannon] Molly snorts. "Huh. Good luck with trying to track Thomas down. The only reason I still can is the memory. Most of the time ... you know that thing some people has where you don't notice or remember them unless they let you? Well ... he's not letting people much these days. I still make the effort, though. As to crack ... why is there crack? I mean, why is it crack I need to see? Not that I mind seeing it - won't take it, no; that's not really my bag - but I'll probably have to pass it along to Atlas or Nathan or someone if you want it heavily examined. Still, I can probably give it a basic go-over. Plus I could probably use it to track down who made it, which might be a bonus. Mostly, I'm taking it that this is not your average crack."

Then she sighs. "Anyway, I'm glad you're back, I'm sorry about your dad and I'm glad Boomer's happy, even if he's not with you. Gonna miss having pets? ...You can't have Neal or Hardison. Yes, I rescued Neal and Hardison when I vacated the garage. And the pretty orchid Israel bred specially for me. So I flee for the hills with potted orchids, ferrets and my mug collection. I'm just wacky."

[Natyana Wapanee] "Well it's not literally crack. Might as well be for the reaction I saw out of Lara just being near it. Some special enhanced little pills. She said she hadn't had any in about a month but you'd swear she was still in heavy withdrawls to watch her stare at them. I want to know who got her hooked and make sure they don't get to do it to anyone else. She said the bitch skipped town already though."

"I miss Boomer, I give it another couple of weeks before I get mom calling me threatening to turn him out in the wild. In which case, I'll bring him home, but I wasn't going to come home not knowing what I'd be coming home to just yet, you know? So the old haunt is booby trapped, any way you can clean it off and get it back? Or are you happy on the good ship? Not that I blame you, I loved that place, but I bet you're just in nerd heaven with all the gadgets and fun." She grins, nodding fondly to Molly. "Glad you got the kiddies out safe."

[Molly Quincannon] The first bit gets a sigh, then a wave of her hand. "Oh, skipped town. Yeah. Well. That'll work. I'll get Atlas and maybe Israel on the what and how, after I've done a bit of scrying to work out the who and the where-now. As to the rest ... well, hate to say it, but it happens. A lot of people go after my Trad that way - Mirrorshades, Fallen, anyone who knows the ... stereotype, I guess. That's part of why I find my own ways of reaching a different state of consciousness. Fasting and sleep deprivation and caffeine works just as well for me."

More coffee goes down. "As to the old haunt ... not so much booby-trapped as watched. I can't even check in from a distance right now, because they know that one of us can scry space and time - though they don't know it's specifically me. I didn't use my name on any of the paperwork, see. That's why the look change, though. No name, but probably a description, so that had to change. Good thing I work from home now; the office'd never understand. As for the good ship ... I'm happy there, but frankly, mostly I think I'm staying 'cos I think Atlas likes the company. It's a big ship and he gets lonely, I think, even if he'd never admit it. I'd really like someplace ... bigger? Where I could work on the new car and only have a few yards to get to bed? But it's fun. And yeah, Henri's robotics manuals and the library and everything ... and that's how I built Zoing. I have a coffee-bot!"

[Natyana Wapanee] She nods, frowning thoughtfully at all the tidbits. "Well you know the drill lady. Wherever you need me. And I got no major business to pull me away from anything. Are the same people still the frontfaces? I do still need to do checkins there, but don't know if it's all the same or what. That's just quick phone calls though, still have the numbers if nothing's changed and can be done on the fly."

The mug consumes her face for a moment as she inhales more of the strong stuff and twitches, then giggles. "Atlas will never admit to being lonely. He loves to have the company around, and really it's the only way even he can be sure he gets the proper sustenance and all that good fun shit. Hell I had to keep slipping back over there even after I moved out. Turned into a daily route that took up a big chunk of every day. Would make enough food for three houses then leave the house and deliver to you, Atlas, then back home to make sure Lara got out of bed and ate something. Least with you at the ship now I get a two for one, but you're cooking and cooking some good stuff from the look of it." She does, in fact, lean over to snag another piece of the turnover to nibble at. "What the hell is a coffee bot?"

[Molly Quincannon] Molly sighs and ticks off on her fingers. "Ashley's gone. Just sort of blew town after an argument with Solomon, but that's probably just as well because I think it was getting to her, the whole feeling like l'etat, c'etait elle. Or going to her head. Or both. And she got a little miffed when no one listened to her just on the basis that she's all-powerful lady. Like I say, the attitude got a bit ... I mean, I like her and everything but she did sort of crawl up her own ass towards the end there. Or looked like it, but then again, who knows what goes on in her head? Anyway, she dropped the Deaconship, disbanded her crew and wandered off to Boston. So mostly the 'in-charge' people are the Guardians - meaning Solomon, Israel and Nathan - and ... well, us. Though we've made some good changes in that time. For one thing, it's not all down to one person who decides who gets into the House anymore. It's a little more convoluted now, but it also opens up more people around and able to vouch for noobs, which means that there are fewer noobs wandering around all House-less, so to speak. Which is good because there are at least two nooblets who came into this in some really funked-up circumstances. Which reminds me ... I have a favour to ask you once I'm done the run-down."

Then she goes on. "Wharil left. Haven't seen Emily or Jarod around in months, but ... well, they might turn up. Basil's been sighted a time or two. But really? When it comes to organisers of our little community? It's us, kid. The Guardians are the Voice of Tradition; we're the change-makers. It could work. Oh, and we're moving the House. To someplace in Chicago where consensus doesn't slap us for breathing. Or doing anything else. Seriously. Damn near Paradox-free zone!"

[Natyana Wapanee] "OHOH! That like... ok well that project I was working on? Did anyone ever finish the leads on it? Would that be the new place? And yeah... I liked Ashley but really she seemed way too full of herself and easily weighed down. You can't let the minions see that shit or you're just making yourself fair game. I'm really liking what I hear about these changes though, so count me in on whatever's needed, you know that. Volunteer me if you have to." She does frown though hearing about Wharil, Emily, and Jarod disappearing, and another frown at Basil sightings. No love returned for the stick-in-the-ass Hermetic there.

"Buuuuuuuuuut I think I can help on that zoning either way. I almost had it before, with my little project of finding another shiney happy place so if there's backup needed.... not really sure how to go about it... think that's what hung me up with the project, but the cat told me I have what it takes." She shrugs at that, draping an arm up over the back of her chair and waiting for more info.

[Molly Quincannon] Molly shakes her head at the first thing. "No; from what little I heard about it, that was a maybe and it didn't pan out in the end, so far as I can tell. Though I think there was going to be some kind of fight over it if it had panned out, so maybe it's for the good. Anyway, no, we're actually moving the old power well to the new place; apparently with the lot of us working it, we can actually do it via some of the underground stuff. Which means we the Stormwatchers ought to go down and make sure that area's clear and stay clear. No, this was ... long story, but basically there was this Sending - spirit construct thing made by the people who survived the Storm, out in the Deep - that went nuts and was doing some serious shit and we helped dismantle it and when we did ... well, it had committed so much fuckery to consensus in that area that it turns out that consensus bows to us there. We don't know if it'll last, but we're in the process of moving so that's a thing. Also, there's a ... secondary thing I'm working on as well ... though that's not the favour. This new place isn't going to have a shiny happy place, if that's what we're calling it; it'll just be a place where everyone can hang out, go to ground and leave the politics at the door. Beds, showers, gym, kitchen, stuff like that. I've got premises and I've pretty much finished the electrics and now I just have to furnish it. Sol hates the idea. Says it's divisive. Sol can stuff it."

She swigs down most of the rest of her coffee and carries on. "The favour ... involves a noob. See, remember Ellie? Well, she roomed with me for awhile and then went to room with a ... someone who wasn't quite like us but was different kind of special. Ellie called her 'fire-sprite'. The fire-sprite went through serious shit and woke up in the process. Ellie, with some shiny SAT scores and a few strings pulled on my part, got a scholarship at Tulane so she's off in NOLA, and ... the noob could use a friend. I think she thinks I'm insane or it'd be me, but ... well, I figured if you were up for it, you could give her a different perspective than Israel-mothering and Solomon. Oh, and Basil. I hear she met Basil. That ... well, yeah, Basil's a bit of a dick."

[Natyana Wapanee] She nods, blinking and noting everything about the moving, the concept, the plan. "I like that. Definitely like that, leave the politics at the damn door. We're a community, we're supposed to help and support eachother. Yeah I'd say Sol can stuff it, and I'd be less nice about saying it. So I'll leave the dealings of that to you, just point and I go. And by shiney happy place I mean the well of awesome battery recharging. Although.... if the one I found is going to be left for pot I may be able to pull some maneuvering to secure it as a backup. I do have a little bit of business sense and some extra cash since I sold the shop. Just an idea for an option there."

"Fire-sprite sounds really familiar, think I met her before I left. She was low key at first, then graduated? If it's the same one, you can leave it to me, that's fine. If she remembers me that is, if not, I'll just start over with her. Not a big crisis. Ellie was that nice kid that joined us on the driveway lounging party that one day, wasn't she? Israel's awesome, but kind of hard to learn from I think. Solomon I never actually met, but he sounds like a full of himself fat head and Basil.... that poor girl. Yeah I'll help there."

[Molly Quincannon] Molly nods. "Yeah, I know what you meant. But batteries sometimes aren't as shiny as we thought. It's not so much left for pot as ... well, it just isn't shiny. Not anymore. At least, that's the vague buzz. No one would tell me much about it anyhow, probably 'cos they'd think I'd blab it all over everywhere. Anyway, it's not that it's being abandoned; it's just that it went dead."

The rest of it gets a frown. "Actually, I think from what I'm hearing ... she's lower-key now. She was ... oh, man, the terms I've heard. Artificer, static sorcerer, psychic - just not in the sense of mind-reading. Firestarter. Now she's building from the ground up as an Apprentice. And yeah, Israel is awesome though I don't think she's as hard to learn from as all that; just I figure it's good to know different kinds of awesome, y'know? And Sol's not so bad once you get used to him. If you refuse to take his bullshit and prove yourself useful while going about it. He's saved my life twice now. I've got all the time in the world for him, for all he gets on my nerves sometimes. Plus I think he's good with the noob. As to Basil ... yeah, less said about that the better. But yeah, Ellie's the nice kid that joined us in parking lot lounging that one day. She and I got a lot closer, and I helped her get a bit of a start in life. I still get postcards and emails now and then. I'm just glad I could sort of launch her on her way, y'know? It's good to see them try their wings."

[Natyana Wapanee] She nods, frowning a bit. "It's a phaser, comes in and out, you have to catch it when it's in to stabilize it. I'll keep an eye on it incase it does come back. That's something I didn't get a chance to pass on because of the secrecy I was sworn into. But yeah, actually, it might come back. Just have to catch it."

She nods though, and returns the frown. Not a disapproving frown, a thoughtful one. She chews on the inside of her lip and tilts her head back, taking a deep breath. "Alrighty. This is all workable, and all kinds of awesome. I been going out of my mind with nothing to do and focus on to keep the senses sharp. Give the girl my number, and I'll be more than happy to help her out. She's already got the groundings, so it's not like I have to worry about any accidental wake up calls there."

[Molly Quincannon] That first gets a roll of the eyes. "Look, I kind of get it, y'know? But the whole point is that we are a community. The communcation problems, the secrecy, all the rest of it? It has to stop. I mean, I get the wanting to have a thing that isn't co-opted by high-ups, but it's not like that anymore. For one thing, we are the high-ups now. For another thing ... it's that kind of knowing what everyone else knows that sometimes makes the difference between having something and losing it ... life or death sometimes. I get not blabbing some stuff, but resources that should be community things ... I don't care what Thomas' prejudices are, but we're too few and under too much scrutiny to keep things that might save lives from each other. I may take stupid risks to learn what I learn, but at least when I have learned it, I spread it to people who might be able to use it. Sometimes secrets need to be kept. Where a recharge point is? That is not one of them. No more secrets. Okay? It can't be like that anymore. Otherwise we end up running around with chickens with our heads cut off and we're all screwed. So no more. No more 'I was sworn to secrecy about this thing that everyone needs'. Because for serious - you missed the other potential node. The one that the Mirrorshades got to crawling all over before we could establish a stronghold. I took a great many volts to the head when we yanked that one away from them, and we couldn't even keep it. We had to drain it out and now the plantlife in the whole area's kind of awesome, I admit, but ... see why we don't keep that stuff secret? You could have ended up with Mirrorshades nabbing not only a recharge point, but you guys too. And by extension, the rest of us. No more. Okay?"

The rest, she just nods to. "Will do. Or, if she ends up too shy to call, she works a convenience store in Cabrini. You'll know her when you see her, believe me. Just look for ... well, a fire-sprite."

[Natyana Wapanee] "Nonono, that's not what I mean by the backup plan. Security measures, not anything high and mighty and covert about it. Better us have it than bad guys is what I was saying, nothing to do with the political games and secrecy. Besides, the only thing higher-up about me there is ever going to be is my pants size from being so lazy and inactive the last six months. Had nothing to do with that part of it, that's why I didn't say anything about it before. I'm looking at it now strictly for that extra bit of potential that could help us all later. Think you know me better than that anyways, that whole secrecy thing was all his gig, he had to brow beat me to get me to agree to it and it took me like two months just to locate that one. I want to know where they all are for all our sakes, not to keep to myself or just one or two people. Every one of us benefits and grows stronger with that kind of knowledge."

She leans back and downs the rest of her mug, setting it down with a sigh. "I mean shit, woman. You saw how crazy it was making me not telling you about it when I had it. I think no more secrets is a perfect start. With the little one, you can count on it. I'll give her a couple days for messages to relay and her a chance to call me, if I don't hear from her in the next 48 I'll start scouting the store for her."

[Molly Quincannon] "I'm just saying don't let him browbeat you into that kind of thing, is all." The rest of Molly's mocha vanishes. "I get why and everything, but ... Thomas has his own thing going and I respect that. But he's not ... very community-minded. His choice, more power to him, but it's not how I roll. Thing is, no one can be back-up if they don't know you're doing it until after you've done it, see? Like ... when I went to track Riveira. No one knew I was doing it until after I did it, and look what happened. I more or less learned that one - though I've backslid a few times. Though the weirdest that got me was getting hugged by a blackballed Mirrorshade who I reduced to tears with the healing power of homemade pizza. Anyway, so ... next time ... tell other people, at least. So at least they know where to look and what might have happened so they can be careful while they look. But I think I get it and I think you get it too, so ... next meeting, you get to tell them about that little project. Mmkay? And whatever Solomon says, I figure that the secondary, battery-free place will get people interacting more, get more crews forming and so there'll be more voices at Council. Which'd be good. So ... yeah, all respect for Solomon mostly but on that one, he can suck it."

[Natyana Wapanee] She nods and does a little heart cross. "Midget's honor. Will give you full reports prior to diving headlong into crazy projects that could benefit all of us to be in the know on. If you can give me that courtesy, I can do the same. Though, I did at least try to fill you in without breaking the promise, so it wasn't a total shut out thing. I just didn't do so great at it. I'm really loving this new setup, the shift, the balance. Has alot of potential to be completely awesome and grow real solid. So where do I fit in with it? What can I do beyond the day care duty to help blossom this little flower we have on our hands"

[Molly Quincannon] There's a bit of consideration, and then she says, "Well, like I said, the secondary battery-free place could use some furnishing. I was thinking of hitting Vegas or something; when you can count cards like I can, you don't need fabricated luck, but both never hurts. But between pooling resources, trawling the dumps and hitting Freecycle, every little bit helps. You're good at general vibe and look and textiles and things. The two of us together and whoever else we can rope in could make the new premises nice and comfy in next to no time with minimal financial input. Um ... visit Atlas, and you can meet Zoing - which is the coffee-bot, and to go back to the question you asked ages ago, a coffee-bot started life as an old vacuum cleaner but got gutted and fitted with a coffee maker, a hot water heater, arms, a webcam-eye and some reasonable AI. You'll like Zoing. He quotes 80s movies and sings Tom Lehrer." She thinks some more. "...Help me cook for crew dinner party at some point in the next couple of weeks? I was thinking barbeque on the deck of the Lafette, but I can be flexible. Help me clear out some bits of Undertown near to the new House site. And ... open this."

Of course she's brought presents. And there's even a couple of candles (one shaped like the number two, the other shaped like the number one), which she sets on top of one of the apple turnovers and then lights with her Zippo lighter. There's also a rectangular box (wrapped in Santa-zombie paper) that contains a bottle of very good champagne, and a smaller box that contains a silver ID bracelet with the ID tag flanked by turquoise beads. On one side of the ID bracelet (the one facing out) is etched a wolf, like the one on Nat's tattoo. The one on the inside is what appears to be a mongoose.

"I'll spare you the singing of happy birthday," Molly says. "I know I can't carry a tune in a bucket with a lid on it."

[Natyana Wapanee] The coffee but run down makes her raise an eyebrow worriedly. "This didn't involve the dismantling of a fiesty vacuum that liked to chase me around, did it? Noted for sure though, Atlas is a must-visit. Furniture shopping will be had! And dinner parties! Huzzah, gonna be busy and fun. Crucial components to life right about now. I could probably talk Lara into pitching in, I think she really needs the distractions right now and to surround herself with the wholesome fun. Whatever it was she went through, she's not talking much about it and that worries me. Alot. If she was running circles with Tommy I'd probably do better tracking him down to get info out of him, but we'll see on that. I'm not going to push either end for the whole make peace and happy thoughts so don't worry, and if you don't want me bringing her around that's ok too. Baby steps seem to be the way to go these days."

She eyes Molly, and cracks up laughing, hands clapping together before she picks up the box. "Zombies... really? Reminds me of that movie I saw last week.. which oh OH! that's totally gonna call for a movie night with beer and pizza. Fucking hilarious zombie movie if I ever saw one. You probably already saw it, but don't care. That's going to call for a girl's night." She carefully opens up the box, peering in. Her eyes lighting up at the champagne with a happy little squeal, then she picks up the smaller box and peeks inside. "Dammit woman.... how do you do that? I'm going to run out of limbs for all the awesome shit you get me, you know that right?" She takes the bracelet out and puts it on, turning it and inspecting it with glee and happy sighs. She reaches down, digging a hand into her bag and extracting a smallish bottle, dark glass, corked, with some dark amber liquid inside and a label with permanent marker lettering on it that says 'Molly's Mix'. She pushes it across the table and grins widely as she leans forward to blow out the candles and dig into the turnover once more. "Drink that, and don't make plans for the rest of the night. It's a special home recipe I got from grandma."

[Molly Quincannon] Molly laughs. "Oh, come on; if you think that Henri left without Dilly, you're deranged. No, this was an old vacuum cleaner I found in the local scrapyard. As to Lara ... well, maybe we should all three of us meet up for coffee before we pitch into hours of renovation work together. I don't know if I'm still as good at getting her to spill as I used to be but maybe I've still got the touch. So ... yeah, definitely baby steps. Maybe she could use a bit of a nudge from a fellow Ecstatic. She's not the first I've seen to get hooked on something, even if that something's a bit less mundane than the stuff I've seen. Man. I thought smack was bad."

To the commentary about the bracelet, there's a giggle. "Well, that's why they come off. You can pick and mix that way! And besides, bracelet's the one thing I never got you. The wolf's you, obviously. Mongoose is more me. Rikki-Tikki-Tavvi, y'know? 'Run and find out'?"

Last but not least, the bottle, which gets a look and then, after uncorking it, a sniff. "What, now? What exactly's in this, if you don't mind me asking? Not that I don't trust you but it's nice to know what's in things I'm drinking. My rule of thumb has always been 'never eat or drink anything whose ingredients you can't pronounce' ... which should make me eat a lot healthier than it does but I took advanced chemistry so I can pronounce a lot of long convoluted chemical names pretty easily."

[Natyana Wapanee] She giggles, nodding satisfied at Dilly's safety. "That thing was great excersize every morning. Had to run just to make it to the bathroom and I will never forget the day we made Atlas cuss. Wish I had recorded that. Ok, so heading to the ship is on the must do list, and yes, meeting with Lara. But I'm telling you, the look of pure hunger in her eyes just looking at the stuff, not even touching it was enough for me to know this is dangerous shit she's got herself mixed up with. It's been a month and it still has a solid grip on her to go back for more. I took what's left of it, and you can bet if I ever find this bitch that got her stuck on it there won't be any more problems with her."

She grins down at the bracelet, and giggles before drawing the necklace out of her shirt and patting it. "I don't take any of them off, Molly. They're like... more sentimental to me than anything. The whole friendship bracelet theory I guess. " She swings her feet, grinning ear to ear when she takes a whiff, stuffing a mouthful of the turnover in and chewing before she answers. "Let's just say... it's a little something I like to use to help me out at meditation time every night. All natural, nothing bad, but damn if you won't see alot of dazzling colors."

[Molly Quincannon] When Nat pulls her necklace out from the neckline of her shirt, Molly does the same with her half of the "FFS We're BFFs!" pendant. "I think I know what you mean," she says with a grin.

The bit about Lara gets a sudden blink, like she's just thought of something. "Y'know ... I know she's got the talent to break herself of an addiction. If the drug's stopping her from wanting to, maybe help from me will help her be able to break the habit, so to speak. Flag that up to her when you get a chance, and see if she'll go for it. It's better than telling Israel and having her go all mother-hen. Don't think Lara'd go for that. Anyway, give it here; I'll see what I can track about it and its maker. It'll go with my dazzling-colour brew in my bag as a reason to feel daring just walking down the street."

After tidying everything away (except the turnovers; those are apparently for Naty to keep, and there's enough left over to share with Lara too), she stands up. "In the meantime, I've got reservations for two at a really awesome restaurant out by the university and if we leave now, we'll have enough time to linger over espresso martinis at the bar before our table's ready!" She offers an arm. "You're twenty-one now. I owe you drinks! So shall we?"

Assuming that they shall, so they do - dinner with espresso martinis and a good bottle of wine and generally tasty noms and general celebration not only of a belated birthday, but of the Hell-Popple coming home.