I've managed to get something down on paper, at least, to start the ball rolling. I hoped to see a few people online today for a mini-collab to pad out the responses a little to start with, but there was only Ally. So we had a micro-collab instead. Thanks, Ally. :)
I'm not entirely sure how best to go about this - probably it's best as a more-or-less structured round-robin, in which case I'd say it looks like Daye might be the next to respond, since the Watchers were mentioned... or if two or more of you are online together and want to do your own bits as a mini-collab in amongst this lot, go for it.
Also, I've done the introductions as a quick third person thing - figuring that pretty much anything anyone would say is already in their character profile or established as part of the story written so far. The only thing offhand that I can think of that I didn't specifically mention that may want to be is Daye's 'dreaming'. Also, if Reah wouldn't have talked about her enhancements, or if Chance wouldn't have talked about his other lives, then remove those - but remember that the White Hats will stand or fall on the quality of its information. :wink:
So, for now I'd ask that all of you download the file, check it over, and think about what you'd want to discuss about what's happened with your character over the past little while - and whether you wish to react to anything that's been said so far. Perhaps use this forum as a way of saying who'd like to say what and who would like to go next...
Sorry, I'm typing as I'm thinking here - or should that be thinking as I'm typing? Anyway, that might work best - if people write their bits as replies to this post... then everyone can see them at the same time, and we can work out if stuff needs to go before or after other stuff... Does this sound too cumbersome? Even if mini-collabs are done, they could be pasted as a post in here, too...
Right, now that I've rambled sufficiently to totally confuse everybody in the known universe... here's the file:
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Round-robin file - first meeting
Ok, talking with Neil and Heather we got to change a little bit the introductions paragraph.
Neil asked me to post this, since he cant, so you can change it in your files and respond to it if you want.
Some that was revealed came as a shock to some of the others, particularly Reah’s enhancements and Chance’s past ‘lives’. Jeet’s return from the grave was of interest to some, as well as his martial arts expertise, although he was careful not to mention anything about the amulet – just yet, anyway.
Round-robin file - first meeting
Okies, i've just done a little add on here. wether or not it gets used is another matter, but i currently can't think of anything for reah to add beyond her recent major cock-up which everyone is already well aware of :)
Alessa sighed. Tash was right, and so was Chance. Besides, what they didn’t know was that James had asked for something in exchange, although not directly. She nodded, and started telling what she knew of Morris. She didn’t look up while she talked so she missed the surprised looks of the rest when she mentioned Morris and her past connection with the Watchers’ Council. She almost failed a couple of times, but Chance’s hand clasped hers strongly, encouraging her to go on. When she finished there was silence in the room again
....
'Shing!'
"Bah!" Quin jumped with a start in her seat beside Reah as three long blades suddenly shot out the back of her cousin's proffered fist, slicing into the silence.
Sniffing, unaffected by Quin's jump and now pointed glare, Reah turned her fist before her, eyeing the deadly blades with an air of amusement....
She suddenly became aware of the eyes on her and peeled her own from the cybernetic enhancement that was just one of her many they were now all aware of, "Sorry," she apologised and shrugged, her blades swiftly retracting, concealed once again in her forearms, "Its just... been a long time since i've been able to do that infront of others i wasn't going to be... um.... Yeah." Reah purposely cut herself off, flashing a brief, uneasy smile before ducking her head and slumping deeper into the couch seat, subconsciously fingering her knuckles.
Round-robin file - first meeting
Ok, i have my part ready for now. there's a bit early on with kate and daye healing tash which i think might happen. if not, then scratch it. the rest is daye's tale, though not in detail
let me know. thanks
Her friends parted to let her through and once Tash had the door open she was glad she and Alice had moved the extra couches from her old apartment up here yesterday evening, just before she’d decided to go hunting. *Oh well, one good choice – and one bad choice. Fits karmically.* At least it meant she had enough informal seating for all those who’d come today. She offered seats, and smiled gratefully at Daye who oversaw the placement of several trays of Joshua’s nibbles on the coffee tables.
Once everyone was settled and helping themselves to the trays, Daye pulled Tash aside, gesturing for Kate to join them both.
“We can do something about this, I think,” Daye suggested to Kate, before turning to Tash. “That is, if you’ll let us.”
(Tash reply)
Daye and Kate joined hands, and both laid their free hand on Tash, concentrating. Tash was suffused with a warm glow and her wounds began to heal. The strength of their combined magic flowed through her as bones knit and bruises faded. Finally, after a time, Daye and Kate both opened their eyes simultaneously and smiled weakly at their friend.
“We’re spent,” Daye said softly. “That should make you feel better though.”
(Tash response, suggestion to return to the group.)
Daye listened to Alessa’s story in surprise. There was more here than she had realized and yet another questionable connection to the Watcher’s. More and more as time went on, Daye was left wondering exactly where the Council really stood in the battle between good and evil. Their narrow-mindedness had proven again and again to be behind many agendas. Daye found herself at odds as to what to think.
“I can’t think of what to say to you, Alessa,” Daye finally spoke into the silence. “I feel you’ve been unfairly used by the Council and by Watchers your whole life. I’m sorry for that.”
(Alessa response?)
“And now that I’ve begun, I guess I’ll go on,” Daye said. “Most of you know me in one way or another and a lot of my past is known to you as well. For the rest of you, and for the sake of some sort of continuity, I’ll go ahead and tell it all at once one more time.”
Daye proceeded to explain to everyone in the room who she was and what she’d been through, leaving nothing out. She told of her connections to the Watchers, her experiences with Mother Mariah and the ‘dreaming’, and about Maia, her family, and her possible destiny. When she’d finished speaking, she leaned back and sipped from the cup of tea in her hand as she scanned the room for reactions.
Round-robin file - first meeting
I promise to write this soon, I have to admit that lately I've been devoting more time to Fantastic Legends in an attempt to get the storyline there moving on a bit more so bare with me. Also I've been really busy these past few weeks going for job interviews and applying for postgraduate courses so again, sorry if I've been a bit slack with keeping up with the events here.
Just one other thing I wanted to mention, in my last post I mentioned Kate being invited to a celebration of the winter solstice, if anyone wants in they're welcome, it will probably be a 'normal' event (if you're a witch that is hehe) with perhaps only ONE semi-disastrous event taking place (but it shouldn't distrupt the festivities too much). All rugrats are welcome :D
If you want to take part let me know :D
Round-robin file - first meeting
Ok, here goes Alessa's response, :D
“I can’t think of what to say to you, Alessa,” Daye finally spoke into the silence. “I feel you’ve been unfairly used by the Council and by Watchers your whole life. I’m sorry for that.”
Alessa felt kind of dizzy as she looked into Daye’s face. *Ill used by the Council?* she had never thought of it like that, mostly she resented the Council for the unfair treatment they had dealt to Morris -they had proved to be disloyal and distrustful, not so much for her own sake. He had sacrificed much for her, his family, his position as a watcher, the respect of his equals… Alessa shook her head in distress, she didn’t like to think about how much she had affected those around her. How much she still was affecting them...
“Well, it hasnt been so bad.” She said, trying to lighten the mood. She smiled at Daye. “Some of the most important people in my life come from the Council;” she was thinking of Morris, Ernie and now Daye herself. As in a second thought she added, winking at her. “of course they were all rogue watchers.”
Daye responded with another smile, before turning to the rest again.
“And now that I’ve begun, I guess I’ll go on,” Daye said. “Most of you know me in one way or another and a lot of my past is known to you as well. For the rest of you, and for the sake of some sort of continuity, I’ll go ahead and tell it all at once one more time.”
Round-robin file - first meeting
Okay I've finally got somethings down. The first is just an intro and I'm not exactly sure where abouts to put it in the overall post so I'm just gonna put it here and maybe find a place when the whole thing has been compiled.
Block One -
Kate smiled and introduced herself to the rest of the group yet inwardly she felt a pang of sadness. There were so many people that should or would have been at a meeting like this and for one reason or another weren’t. She couldn’t help but think back to the time, almost two years ago, when they’d all gotten together before the expedition to Pasadena and The Beazor Complex. Now Sorrow, Victor, Tempest, Matthias and her own dear Luc were gone and Jade all but lost to them.
Block Two -
Alessa’s admission of being half demon also made a few eyes go round, most notably Jeet’s, but when Alessa casually mentioned her ability to shapeshift her human form to something different, nearly everyone in the room raised an eyebrow, including Tash. She smiled and mentally chided herself. *Never assume you know everything about your friends, Tash.*
Kate listened with contemplative patience while the various people introduced themselves, consciously aware of the few ‘new’ additions to what had once been a small group of white hats. Silently she reproached herself, *You’ve been too caught up in your own life… who are all these new people again??* She glanced around the group once more, some of the faces were noticeably familiar from the battle at the Hyperion yet she barely knew their names, and then there were others like Jeet and Quin whom she’d not even met before today.
With the introductions over, Daye leaned forward. “Now Tash, how did you get in such a state? But shouldn’t we do this another day? You look… tired,” she finished diplomatically.
Block Three -
Reah purposely cut herself off, flashing a brief, uneasy smile before ducking her head and slumping deeper into the couch seat, subconsciously fingering her knuckles.
Galen raised an eyebrow at Reah in surprise, glancing at his wife as if to ask ”Did you know about that?” Kate shook her head at Galen’s silent question but Reah’s… alterations certainly answered a few questions of her own, like her disturbed aura and the fluctuating emotional state that she’d picked up on back in October.
Once again she rolled her eyes inwardly at herself, *Just what have you been doing this past year? Living with your head in the sand?* Now she realised just how important this official gathering would be, for one it would hopefully eliminate such moments as this.
Block Four - (again not exactly sure where to place this, probably after some of the talk about James and Morris)
Galen cleared his throat, “I’ve noticed a significant increase in vampire related deaths over the past month, they’re becoming bolder again, their numbers increasing. I think the news of Dathan’s demise has finally gotten around and our undead friends are beginning to return to the fold.”
He glanced at Kate, his eyes a little sad and morose and she knew that he was talking about the young boy that had been found a few days ago. He’d taken that case really to heart and now she could feel his pain freshly again. She took his hand in her own and squeezed it supportively.
“Well I’ve been working on a few things myself that could come in use,” Kate spoke up, taking the focus away from her husband. “Spells and things that might help with general patrolling at the very least. There’s this one I’m working on at the moment that is actual contained sunlight, there are a few problems that I need to work out such as visible light levels and intensity factors but it’s coming along quite well.”
Galen looked at her in surprise and Kate laughed, “Well what do you think I do all day? Watch soap operas and change dirty nappy’s?”
And that's it for now :D
Round-robin file - first meeting
Well, :D Heather will have a hell of a time putting all this in place. :d
I was thinking Alessa would ask for some way of protecting from Morris’ spells, it hasnt been posted yet, but she’s felt quite defenseless against that lately, so this may be a response to Kate’s talking of spells.
Alessa watched the exchange between husband and wife with amusement. They surely looked in love. She remembered his protectiveness when she had paid them a late visit asking for help to rebind Chance’s inner demon. Then she concentrated on the witch’s words, spells' talk interested her, especially after her latest encounter with Morris.
“Kate...” she started. The woman turned to her with a smile still in her lips. “That’s something i wanted to talk to you too,” she added, “you and Daye, actually. Is there a way for us to protect ourselves against magic?” Then she told them in a few words about the “puppet” spell Morris had cast on her while rescuing Cole. She didn’t want to find herself in such situation again.
Round-robin file - first meeting
And in response to Alessa...
While everyone else engaged in various talk about the increased vampire activity that Galen had mentioned, Kate and Daye gathered together as they talked with Alessa about various protection spells and amulets that could repeal a vampire’s thrawl or a similar spell of control. It was an uncertain topic since none of the ways could be considered a sure-fire way of preventing such an attack as everything depended upon the power of the spell or vampire. There was much to be considered and books to be consulted that would test the White Hat’s combined research force for the first time.
“I think I know of such a spell and there are several ways of enchanting amulets with certain protection spells that should ward off an attack.” Kate thought for a moment, totally in her element of discussing magic, “for a specific person it would probably work better if we had a personal object of theirs but I’m sure there are ways to work around it if not.”
The three women continued to talk, and finally arranged a time to go through things in greater depth and hopefully give Alessa the power she needed to resist any further attack from the vampire Morris.
Round-robin file - first meeting
id like to add something along thess lines (it will make more sense after my current post goes up)
Jeet watched the faces of the people around him as he listened to the various conversations; it was obvious that he wasn't the only person who was finding most of this information surprising. He decided it was time to tell everyone about Evie and his encounter with Whistler *maybe they can help* "I...I'd like to explain a few things about myself" he said nervously as he looked to Tash for some sign it was o.k. to continue. The various other conversations stopped and Jeet was now aware all eyes were upon him, he explained his arrival in more detail and about Toni, he went on to explain about Evie and Whistler before deciding it was time to come clean about the amulet "As I explained, I believe the reason I am here in L.A is to protect the amulet, over the last week or so I have begun to understand why it is so sort after" Jeet walked over to an empty space in the room "If you would just allow me to demonstrate, the amulet has a symbol above each point of a 5 pointed star, firstly to hide" Jeet closed his eyes and concentrated as hard as he could and from the noise coming from the people in the room he knew he had become invisible "to defend" he said as he reappeared "Tash if you would be so kind" He smiled as he pulled one of his Escrima staffs from the inside of his jacket and held it out to Tash "Whenever your ready” he kept his eyes open this time but the concentration on his face was still evident. Tash nodded as she raised the staff and went to bring it down on Jeet’s head. Before she had got the staff within 3 feet of Jeet’s head her arm bounced off an invisible barrier and she dropped the staff “Thank you Tash” they shared a smile as she sat back down “There are also Symbols representing To heal, To see and To Fight but they can wait for another day” He returned to his seat and looked around the room, he was suddenly very conscience that everyone was staring at him and it was made worse by the fact he felt quite weak now but he new that wouldn't last long “so if anyone has any ideas of what I should do please let me know” He added sheepishly. *please don’t let there be any questions* he sunk into his seat.
its abit long and not that greatly written as i had to snatch 5 minutes,hope it was ok to use tash,feel free to change in anyway as long as the basic concept of me explaining about evie whistler and amulet is there,it would be great if any1 would add in bits or wanna ask questions of jeet afterwards so just let me know,sorry again its abit rough around edges.
Round-robin file - first meeting
Alice remans quiet for most of the intros
“My name is Alice.” Alice stopped and paused. ” Wait. If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it right.” Alice’s eyes lowered to the floor. “My name is Alicenoko. I’m almost fifteen hundred years old. I’m from a savage dimension, from witch I abandoned when Victor and a mage named Talhu mistakenly summoned me in 568AD.After one hundred years of adapting myself, and my rune casting to your world, I started doing the things my race perform best at, making war and killing. I’ve killed for kingdoms, for counties, for sport, for profit and for fun. “
“I spent centuries traveling the world learning many of your government’s methods of assassination. I specialize in finding weakness where there wasn’t any before” Alice smiled with pride. “ Hell. I trained some of the finest killers this world has ever known.” Alice stopped and looked around at the censured looks on the faces of everyone in the room. “But I’m getting a little off subject.”
“ I guess one of the best things I can bring to this group is knowledge. I know about some things, Things you won’t fine in any book. There are monsters out there that give me nightmares. Fiends that don’t just feed; they plan massacres like a mother lists her groceries. If Tash had told me about her vision of the white hats a month ago, I would have laughed in her face. I didn’t think any group, no matter their skill would have a chance of denting the balance of fate. But I learned a hard lesson about fate from Victor, and if Tash thinks we can do this. I say evil beware.
******************
ok so its wasn't the Saint Crispen's day speech :)
Round-robin file - first meeting
Ok, I've finally got back to a real internet connection and have pulled together all the varied bits of this meeting that we've got so far. Our bits are all colour coded as close as possible to our timeline colours, except I've left all my stuff in black (I don't think anyone could stand that much green on a page :wink:).
WH Meeting 2nd Draft
I would ask that each of you give this a read through and check for two things:
1. Any alterations you'd like to make to anything written so far.
2. Any new stuff you'd like to add, to advance the collab further.
So far we've covered James' status, Alessa's problems with Morris, information from Galen about vampire activity, information from Daye about the 'dreaming', information from Jeet about the amulet, and assorted other bits and pieces. Feel free to comment on anything said already, or add anything new that you think should be passed on. Though at this stage, I don't think there's much that can be added. Kate won't be wanting to talk about Nikolai at this point, I'm sure - but he will be joining the group later in January anyway.
However, there may be some stuff still to be revealed. If so, let 'er rip. :) We may wish to add some discussion about elements we've learned about so far, but in any case it's getting to a decent length now and we probably should start thinking about how we want to finish this off.
Bear in mind that as well as the regular (I'm thinking once-weekly) White Hat meetings, there will also be smaller gatherings for training sessions in physical combat, vampire/demon recognition, mental strengthening (both for psychic and non-psychic characters) and magic training for those with the ability. And possibly 'dreaming' training, if Daye is able to pass that knowledge on.
Apart from this one meeting, I don't envisage we'll ever need to actually write one up again - but possibly some of you would like to arrange smaller collabs to cover some of the training aspects, to show the advancement of your characters' skills.
Great stuff so far. Thanks to all of you for getting behind this. :)
Round-robin file - first meeting
Well, I had talked to Kris and John about their chars sharing a surprised look or something when Alessa mentioned her shapeshift abilities... since they are looking for a shapeshifter.
I dont know if you are going to include that or not guys. :)
Round-robin file - first meeting
uhm...oh, yeah, that was an idea we discussed (which apparently promptly left my mind), and adding it in is fine with me...
how are we going to wrap this up, then?
Round-robin file - first meeting
The last thing on the file is Jeet's explanation of his amulet - perhaps someone wishes to make his worst nightmares come true and actually ask a question. :wink:
As for an overall wrap-up, we may need to either use this forum as a rough and ready collab room if we want to go to pure dialogue, or it might be simpler if I do a paragraph or two summarising our plans to begin training sessions, etc. But I don't want to do that until everyone's happy that they've exhausted all possible responses and comments on anything that's been revealed so far - which is the reason for my points 1. and 2. in the post above.
There's Alessa's shapeshifting to explore, Alice's revelation of her seedy past to exclaim about, questions to ask of Jeet about his amulet, questions to ask of Daye about the 'dreaming', discussion on what to do about the vampires James and Morris (though Morris has already been somewhat covered), and plans to make about who wants training in which disciplines - and who will be doing the teaching of those disciplines.
Issues which haven't yet been raised (and won't necessarily want to be raised, but I mention them as examples) are Nikolai's symbiotic relationship with L'Than, Cole's reluctance to use his magical abilities, Chance's growing obsession with Dray'chen's sword, the mysterious gypsy girl Adriana that Alessa and Chance have encountered - to name but a few. Also, nobody's actually told the story of Proserpexa - although the danger is well over, it might be handy to have that out in the open.
Hmm, methinks I might do a little appending of my own here...
Round-robin file - first meeting
Well, this is a mini collab with Neil, since i decided to ask him a question indeed. :D *evil girl*
***
Alessa watched Jeet’s stunt with round eyes. She looked at Chance besides her and voicelessly mouthed, “I want one of those.”, all she got was wink.
Chance had been silent most of the meeting, intently listening to everything that happened. She had hoped he would bring the topic of his sword to the arena, but he hadn’t so far. She suppressed a shiver when she thought of Dray’chen’s sword, obviously he wasn’t ready to talk about it yet.
She looked again at the Asian, who was steadily looking around. And indeed a question came to her mind.
“Jeet.” She coughed when everybody focused on her, and she smiled nervously. “How come you speak English so well? I mean… well, I’m a language teacher, well “was” one...” She trailed off, some of the people in the room was smiling indulgently at her, Chance in their number. “Sorry, I’m just curious.” She added with an exasperated sigh.
Jeet smiled at the young woman, this was one of the easier questions he could have been posed with, and made him feel a little more at ease. "As previously mentioned I met a gentleman called Toni; no doubt you will all meet him soon enough. He runs a Dojo downtown but is also quite apt at the odd spell or two." he finished explaining about his original meeting with Toni.
" Is there anything else anyone wants to know?" Jeet casually looked around the room.
Round-robin file - first meeting
Ok, I've done some stuff that can either lead on to more talking (if needed) or can lead to a full wrap-up. It follows on directly from Ally and Neil's mini-collab there. There are bits that refer to other characters (well, quite a few actually), and if there's anything there that you think your pc wouldn't do or talk about, post a reply to correct it. :)
"Is there anything else anyone wants to know?" Jeet casually looked around the room, after the sounds of laughter died.
Tash felt oddly smug. She’d never dared think about just how this meeting might go – all she’d worried about was getting enough people together to make it worthwhile. But watching everyone in animated discussion about the various issues that had been raised gave her a warm glow inside. Sorrow’s citadel of willing flesh and blood was becoming a reality, before her very eyes. She just hoped it would prove strong enough to withstand whatever trials lay ahead. If there was one thing she’d learned about Los Angeles in the two years since she’d moved there, it was that the city never let you rest. Some new monster was always ready to crawl out of the woodwork.
*Hmm, speaking of which…* Tash caught Reah’s eye, then Darian’s. “Actually I’m going to change the subject again, I’m afraid, Jeet.” Attention turned to Tash again as she spoke. “I’m fairly confident that this chapter has been dealt with, but I think the rest of you should know what happened, in case something similar ever crops up again. But I don’t think I’m the best person to tell it.”
There was silence for a beat then she said, “Would you like to start?”
Tash directed the question at Reah, who hunched her shoulders for a second before straightening up. Tash grinned at the friendly glare Reah sent her way for putting her on the spot like that, but she began talking anyway, describing the events surrounding Proserpexa’s defeat. Darian, Alessa, Chance and Tash chipped in at various stages, and even Cole summoned the nerve to mention the disturbing dream he’d had about Alessa and Chance’s deaths. When Reah reached the part where she’d killed Paul Nesmith, Alice sat up and blinked. So, Paul was dead now – it was no more than he deserved, she was sure.
The tale drew to a close, and Darian gave Cole a reassuring hug as Alessa described how the future Cole had just seemed to disappear into nothingness as the timelines sorted themselves out. The young boy had heard everything about this by now, but it was still hard for him to fathom.
“I’d already conceived of bringing us together in a more organised fashion,” Tash said over the quiet murmurings that greeted the story, “but this helped to show me that it really would be possible, and useful. When I saw into the future Cole’s past, I saw how it was only through organised groups such as this that humanity had any chance at all. Sure there’s Ulle, the Watchers, and a host of other groups, but for us here in LA we’ve really only got each other. Through Daye we can liaise with the Watchers’ Council – I’m sure they won’t object to sending information on occasion, especially if we alert them to any danger that will impact more than our local area. But I’m led to believe the Watchers can be a little narrow-minded at times, so for now I’d be inclined to keep them at arms’ length.”
She needed a steadying breath before she continued, “When we lost Sorrow, of course, we lost our connection to Ulle, but I do have his files which contain a wealth of information. As for Sindell…” Tash paused and glanced at Kate, “well, let’s just say that there have been problems with them in the past.”
All eyes in the room remained on Tash, and she felt a little uncomfortable at being the centre of attention like this. Still, she was the one who’d wanted this, so she had to deal with it.
She pressed on, “I’m afraid this won’t be an easy group to belong to – it’s not just going to be delicious pastries and a get-together every week. There’s lots to be done – training, research, organising our resources. And keeping eyes and ears open. Information and knowledge – that’s what we’ll stand or fall on, I believe. Whatever anyone sees or hears about, no matter how insignificant it might seem, could be the piece that completes a puzzle. That’s what we have to bring to each meeting.”
“So,” she finished as brightly as possible, “is there anything else anyone wants to discuss? Otherwise we might go on to drawing up training schedules and setting a time for next week’s meeting.”
Round-robin file - first meeting
...and I've just noticed, in posting that, that Ally's post seems to have changed. Did you edit it after posting, Ally? The version I have includes Chance making a joke...
Jeet smiled at the young woman. This was one of the easier questions he could have been posed, and it made him feel a little more at ease. "As previously mentioned I met a gentleman called Toni; no doubt you will all meet him soon enough. He runs a Dojo downtown but is also quite apt at the odd spell or two." He finished explaining about his original meeting with Toni.
“It’s good you aren’t teaching anymore, love. Or this Toni would put you out of business,” said Chance with a smirk, but he almost immediately regretted it. He knew how much she missed teaching.
However Alessa laughed, as did almost everybody else in the room. It was good to have something to laugh about in the middle of all these serious matters.
"Is there anything else anyone wants to know?" Jeet casually looked around the room, after the sounds of laughter died.
***
Any reason that's not there any more? I kinda liked it. :)
Round-robin file - first meeting
I like it Heather, I'm more than willing to let that be the closing for my character.
Round-robin file - first meeting
seems like a good place to stop, but can you add a small bit in for me and john during the bit where alessa tells her story?
At the mention of Alessa’s shapeshifting abilities, Daye and Alice exchanged a meaningful glance. They would have to try and get Alessa alone after this meeting and find out exactly what she could do, because any knowledge about shapeshifter’s they could get would be more than they had now. Maybe something Alessa knew would turn out to be a lead in finding the shapeshifter they were looking for, the one who murdered Jimmy. Daye hoped that was so, because she’d grown very frustrated with the cold trail she was currently following.
Round-robin file - first meeting
Ok, I've added Kris' bit just after Tash does the eyebrow raising thing at Alessa's ability to shapeshift to more than just her demon form.
And it seems that Matt wrote a bit that meant he probably wouldn't be making jokes, hence Ally's editing. I have got a copy of that from Ally, but I'm not sure if it's Matt's final version - for starters it involves a conversation with Kate that he'd almost certainly want to hold after the meeting rather than during. So Matt, when you've worked out the version you want included, post it in this forum, ok? :)
Round-robin file - first meeting
Ok, there's a bit to go with Jeet before this, but I want to run it by Neil first.
This then goes before Tash's bit but after Alessa and Jeet's.
He turned and faced the group as a whole. “Right, you’ve all got the much abbreviated version of my life. I’ll save the detailed version for a later time because it’s a long, depressing tale. Maybe over a bottle of vodka in some dump at three in the morning. Bob’s is usually a lively place about that hour.” Several in the group sniggered. Most, Chance noted. It seemed a fair amount of them had had the distinct displeasure of passing through Bob’s Bar on at least one occasion. “I believe this organisation has a lot of promise. I’ve been a part of many in my time and I’d like to think I know what makes them fail and what makes them succeed. I can offer training, contacts, information. And, above all else, muscle.
Speaking of which, we need to do something about James. I’ll admit he helped us with Cole, and I’m thankful for that, as much as I hate it, but we can’t just leave him be. I’ve fought him on numerous occasions and, as Tash can probably testify, he’s a tough bastard that just doesn’t know when to quit. He’s got access to a large amount of resources; weapons, armour, vehicles, magic supplies, maps of buildings, etc. This may come as a surprise, but both Darlome and Vincent, they were at the Hyperion if you remember,” There were several nods, “Work with him or for him. Darlome’s a demon, that’s easy enough, but also a mage and a strong one at that. From what I can tell, Vincent is some form of psychic, telekinetic I’d say, who’s power is amplified by the device he wears on his arm. Go figure.
Where James is, those two can never be far behind. James is smart, predatory, and savage. Just like every other bloody bad-ass vampire. Except this one has an interesting weakness, if you can call it that. I think he’s schizophrenic, the other personality going by the name ‘Ripper’. Ripper’s like James but a hundred times worse. Fortunately he seems to be dormant with James as the dominate personality, at the moment. How this changes, and how they are aware of each other, I don’t know. I’m not a head doc, but I’d imagine it’d be interesting to take a look at him, right Tash?” He nodded at her.
Tash’s eyes widened. A schizophrenic vampire? That could explain a lot, she thought. She glanced down at herself, felt the bandages that still covered her neck and chest, and let herself be aware of the pains and aches that still plagued her body despite Daye and Kate’s healing magic. “Interesting, maybe. But also dangerous. You’re right, he’s a seriously tough bastard. And who knows, right now he could be dust already, or under the protection of those guys who freed me. It’s hard to say. He might be hard to get close to about now. But he does need to be dealt with, if he’s still around. It’ll take a number of us to really get him, though. It’s a matter of which vampire death is more urgent – his or Morris’. I think right now Morris is more of a direct threat.”
Chance nodded. “Yes, then there’s Morris. We severely cut back on his operations in LA when we rescued Cole, but I don’t know by how much nor how long it would take him to recoup his losses. Probably not long enough.” He took a deep breath. “The way I see it, James is a nasty bugger but it’s Morris I think we have to watch out for. He’s a mage and he’s got the brains and ambition to go with it.” Chance looked away and chewed his bottom lip for a moment. “I…I can’t fight him on my own. I’d like to say I could, and in my prime I would easily have done so, but I’m still not…used to, well, you could say myself. There’s a few kinks I have to work out before I’m back into top form again, and whilst I’m doing that I,” He looked to Alessa, “We, could do with all the help we can get.”
Tash smiled at Chance, “That’s what this group is all about. Nobody has to face anything alone any more. We can all pitch in to take out Morris, then we’ll worry about James.”
+++
And this bit goes towards the end, just as the meeting starts to break up.
+++
Chance drifted over towards Kate and Galen. “Excuse me Galen, Kate, but… I haven’t had a chance to say this yet. Thanks for trying to help with my…problem a while back. I hate to have to ask you this after what you did but I have another favour to ask. A…friend left a detailed explanation of the spell she used to bring me back. Just in case it, y’know, happens again.” He reached into his pocket and took out a crumpled, folded piece of paper and handed it to the witch. Alessa looked on with her brow furrowed. She wasn’t aware of any of this.
Kate unfolded the paper, wondering just what it took to rebind a demon like Dray’chen after her attempt had failed. What she read in black pen and was presumably Chance’s scrawled handwriting, was so surprising it shocked her to the core, and for a moment her features were a mask of horror.
“What’s wrong?” Galen asked, catching her brief look.
“Nothing.” Kate muttered, regaining her composure. “Just…haven’t tried something like this before.” She came up with, re-reading the note.
There is no spell. The only option you will have is to kill me.
This might be hard for you to understand, but please, just bare with me.
No offence, but I don’t think you can repeat what Pandora did. I don’t think anyone can. It’s a potentially explosive spell that could lay waste to half a city block. If you tried it and it goes wrong, you could not just get killed yourself, but so could a lot of other people.
Apparently, the chances of success are decreased significantly after each attempt. Which means the first time it was hard to do, and this time next to impossible. I imagine that it was only brought off because of the emotional bridge Alessa provided. A bridge which is, so I’m told, now burnt. I hate to imagine how difficult it would be for somebody experienced in such a spell to try it on me a third time, let alone you. I don’t know what it would do to you if it went wrong. At the very least it would kill you and countless innocents besides.
I don’t want anybody to take such a huge risk.
If Dray’chen is released again, kill me. That’s the only option and the only one I want you to consider. Don’t bother with the spell. As far as everybody should be concerned, there is no spell. Get Darian, I’m going to talk to him, and kill me as soon as you know, before I can hurt anybody again.
Don’t tell Alessa. She has no idea about this and I don’t want her to. Please don’t talk to anybody else about this either, barring Darian, just in case.
I know it’s morbid, and it might be hard but it’s the only way. The consequence is getting somebody else to do it, somebody I don’t know and don’t trust, and giving Dray’chen more time to kill while you do so, or letting Dray’chen loose on the world again.
I can’t, won’t, let that happen.
I’ll do all I can to keep him locked inside, unto death if necessary. What I’m asking you to do is in the event I fail. With such a responsibility I must plan for that eventuality.
Thank you.
Kate quickly folded the paper up and put it away, looking straight at Chance. He returned her gaze with a determined seriousness in his eyes, then gave a grim nod. “Thanks.” He whispered one last time, then he and Galen devolved into a close conversation about the rising vampire population as they made their way out of the apartment with the rest of the group.
“So, the vampire’s are on the rise again?” Chance asked.
Galen nodded grimly. “Didn’t take them long, did it? Once word of the Brotherhood’s demise spread they soon started springing up again.”
“Anywhere in particular?”
The detective pursed his lip in thought, then he named several areas of LA.
“Right, I’ll swing by them tomorrow night. See if I can curb their numbers a little.”
“Need any help?” Galen asked.
Chance shook his head. “No, I think I can take care of it.” His thoughts flashed to Dray’chen’s sword. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’ve got it covered.”
Round-robin file - first meeting
This bit is to go right at the end... The bit with Chance, Kate and Galen has been decided to go as a separate post, 'cause I just couldn't get it all to flow properly at that point. So most of their convo will be in the corridor behind Tash's closed door. :)
“So,” she finished as brightly as possible, “is there anything else anyone wants to discuss? Otherwise we might go on to drawing up training schedules and setting a time for next week’s meeting.”
Nobody stood forward, so they worked up a preliminary schedule of tutoring, Tash offering the training room next door for use whenever anyone needed the space. The afternoon was growing late by the time everything was settled, schedules set and contact numbers passed around, and people began drifting out the door, promising to return the following week. Small knots of people formed and broke up again as people bid their farewells. Tash noticed Chance in deep conversation with Kate and Galen as they headed out the door, while Daye and Alice left with Alessa in tow, heading downstairs. Darian and Cole left quietly, not having said much during the meeting, and Jeet trailed down the stairs after the pair. Then she found herself in conversation with Reah and Quin, who invited her to have dinner with them later on.
The door closed and Tash leaned against it, relishing the quiet again in her suddenly empty flat. A grin spread slowly across her face then she pirouetted across the lounge room floor, carefully avoiding the extra furniture that cluttered the place as she unconsciously echoed Alice’s earlier sentiments.
“Evil beware.”
Round-robin file - first meeting
Well, sorry about this, but as I told Heather, in today's collab with Meghan her character asked for some help, so i want to include this in the post too. I dont know where, you pick the best place Heather. :D
***
“There’s something else I want to talk about,” Alessa said, and proceeded to tell the rest about their meeting Adriana, the sister’s attack and her fears about the Russian mob looking for Dominika. She could see that Darian had straightened in his chair, and was listening intently. Maybe Adriana hadn’t told him about all this, or maybe he was just surprised Alessa knew the gypsy at all, however he didn’t say a word.
“She’s afraid,” she ended, “and I promised her that I would tell you about her. Maybe we can help?” she asked tentatively while looking at Tash. She didn’t tell them about Adriana’s tryst with James, but she made a mental note to warn the girl about the vampire. After all they had talked about him in the meeting her ideas about James had taken a sudden twist.
Round-robin file - first meeting
OK, this bit goes before the other bit I've written.
So next it would be:
Round-robin file - first meeting
*dusts hands*
Right, I'm not going to put this in as a download, but am posting it here so everyone can see the formatting and so forth. This is the final version as it stands right now - I'll simply ask that all of you read through it and let me know if there's any tweaking you'd like done before it gets posted for real. I'm hoping to post this as soon as possible, unless there's story elements for characters that need to be posted before the meeting still. But at this stage I believe everyone's pretty much up to date and waiting for the meeting to take place.
*****
Thursday, 21st December 2006 – 3:10pm
Poplar Avenue
Despite the cabby’s attempts to engage her in conversation, Tash had spent the journey home in silence, panicking about how late she was going to be. As it turned out, the traffic in LA had one of its rare free-flowing moments and they slid through the freeways like silk. She left a substantial tip for the driver then steeled herself for the long climb to come; never mind that everyone would be waiting for her.
Sure enough, by the time she reached the second floor landing she could hear the murmur of voices. And after she’d struggled half way up the third flight of stairs she saw the gathering of people milling about the third floor landing. The murmuring stopped in a wave, starting from those closest to her as everyone noticed her, and Alessa hurried to help her up the last few steps.
“Sorry I’m late,” Tash croaked. “I met an old friend and he just insisted I stay for drinks…”
Half a dozen voices started up again, asking questions, but Tash held up a hand. “Yes, I’m ok to continue. Let’s get inside, then we can start and I’ll tell you all about it.”
Her friends parted to let her through and once Tash had the door open she was glad she and Alice had moved the extra couches from her old apartment up here yesterday evening, just before she’d decided to go hunting. *Oh well, one good choice – and one bad choice. Fits karmically.* At least it meant she had enough informal seating for all those who’d come today. She offered seats, and smiled gratefully at Daye who oversaw the placement of several trays of Joshua’s nibbles on the coffee tables.
Once everyone was settled and helping themselves to the trays, Daye pulled Tash aside, gesturing for Kate to join them both.
“We can do something about this, I think,” Daye suggested to Kate, before turning to Tash. “That is, if you’ll let us.”
Tash smiled weakly, revealing just how worn she felt in both body and spirit. “I wouldn’t object to a little healing, I must admit. I think the drugs they gave me at the hospital are beginning to wear off.”
Daye and Kate joined hands, and both laid their free hand on Tash, concentrating. Tash was suffused with a warm glow and her wounds began to heal. The strength of their combined magic flowed through her as bones knit and bruises faded. After a short time, Tash could feel the worst of the pain dissipating and drew back from her friends’ restorative touches. She was by no means completely healed, but she didn’t want to delay the meeting any further. Daye and Kate both opened their eyes simultaneously and smiled at their friend in resigned understanding.
“We’re not finished,” Daye said softly. “That should make you feel better though.”
“Much better, thanks.” Tash stretched, feeling the remaining general soreness, but the edge had been taken off the sharper pains and she no longer felt quite so bone-weary. “We should get back before the others eat all the food,” she quipped as she headed back to the living room.
Darian made Tash sit down and rest while her friends organised their own drinks, and soon she found herself clutching a hot mug full of aromatic coffee that she sipped appreciatively to soothe her still-raw throat. Once everyone was settled, some of her guests munching on Joshua’s delectable pastries, Tash started. Her voice was croaky and she had to pause frequently, but she persisted doggedly.
“Thanks for coming. You know why we’re here – I’ve explained more or less in detail to all of you that the idea is to have a regular time to discuss any odd things we’ve come across that might be pertinent to a larger picture, to arrange mutual training sessions, set up a proper research facility, and all that. Most of you know each other already, some better than others, but I thought it would be good to start with full introductions, including any special abilities we each may have that are useful.”
Tash started the ball rolling, detailing her experience and abilities, then she turned to Darian who sat next to her on the couch and asked him to continue. After Darian came Cole, then Kate and Galen, whose connections in the LAPD might come in very handy at times, then Daye, Reah, Quin, Alice, Jeet, Alessa and finally Chance all had their say.
When it was her turn, Kate smiled and introduced herself to the rest of the group yet inwardly she felt a pang of sadness. There were so many people that should or would have been at a meeting like this and for one reason or another weren’t. She couldn’t help but think back to the time, almost two years ago, when they’d all gotten together before the expedition to Pasadena and The Beazor Complex. Now Sorrow, Victor, Tempest, Matthias and her own dear Luc were gone and Jade all but lost to them.
Some that was revealed came as a shock to some of the others, particularly Reah’s enhancements and Chance’s past ‘lives’. Alessa’s admission of being half demon also made a few eyes go round, most notably Jeet’s, but when Alessa casually mentioned her ability to shapeshift her human form to something different – not just to her Verbati form – nearly everyone in the room raised an eyebrow, including Tash. She smiled and mentally chided herself. *Never assume you know everything about your friends, Tash.*
At the mention of Alessa’s shapeshifting abilities, Daye and Alice exchanged a meaningful glance. They would have to try and get Alessa alone after this meeting and find out exactly what she could do, because any knowledge about shapeshifters they could get would be more than they had now. Maybe something Alessa knew would turn out to be a lead in finding the shapeshifter they were looking for, the one who murdered Jimmy. Daye hoped that was so, because she’d grown very frustrated with the cold trail she was currently following.
Kate listened with contemplative patience while the various people introduced themselves, consciously aware of the few ‘new’ additions to what had once been a small group of white hats. Silently she reproached herself. *You’ve been too caught up in your own life… who are all these new people again??* She glanced around the group once more; some of the faces were noticeably familiar from the battle at the Hyperion yet she barely knew their names, and then there were others like Jeet and Quin whom she’d not even met before today.
Shing!
“Bah!” Quin jumped with a start in her seat beside Reah as three long blades suddenly shot out the back of her cousin's proffered fist, slicing into the silence.
Sniffing, unaffected by Quin's jump and now pointed glare, Reah turned her fist before her, eyeing the deadly blades with an air of amusement. She suddenly became aware of the eyes on her and peeled her own from the cybernetic enhancement that was just one of her many they were now all aware of.
“Sorry,” she apologised and shrugged, her blades swiftly retracting, concealed once again in her forearms, “It’s just... been a long time since I've been able to do that in front of others. I wasn't going to be... um... Yeah.” Reah purposely cut herself off, flashing a brief, uneasy smile before ducking her head and slumping deeper into the couch seat, subconsciously fingering her knuckles.
Galen raised an eyebrow at Reah in surprise, glancing at his wife as if to ask, “Did you know about that?” Kate shook her head at Galen’s silent question but Reah’s alterations certainly answered a few questions of her own, like her disturbed aura and the fluctuating emotional state that she’d picked up on back in October.
Once again she rolled her eyes inwardly at herself, *Just what have you been doing this past year? Living with your head in the sand?* Now she realised just how important this official gathering would be, for one it would hopefully eliminate such moments as this.
Alice remained quiet for most of the introductions.
“My name is Alice.” Alice stopped and paused. “Wait. If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it right.” She lowered her eyes to the floor. “My name is Alicenoko. I’m almost fifteen hundred years old. I’m from a savage dimension, which I abandoned when Victor and a mage named Talhu mistakenly summoned me in 568AD. After one hundred years of adapting myself and my rune casting to your world, I started doing the things my race perform best at, making war and killing. I’ve killed for kingdoms, for countries, for sport, for profit and for fun.”
“I spent centuries travelling the world learning many of your governments’ methods of assassination. I specialize in finding weakness where there wasn’t any before.” Alice smiled with pride. “Hell, I trained some of the finest killers this world has ever known.” She stopped and looked around at the censured looks on the faces of most in the room. “But I’m getting a little off subject.”
“I guess one of the best things I can bring to this group is knowledge. I know about some things, things you won’t find in any book. There are monsters out there that give me nightmares. Fiends that don’t just feed; they plan massacres like a mother lists her groceries. If Tash had told me about her vision of the White Hats a month ago, I would have laughed in her face. I didn’t think any group, no matter their skill, would have a chance of denting the balance of fate. But I learned a hard lesson about fate from Victor, and if Tash thinks we can do this, I say evil beware.”
Tash smiled warmly at Alice. She’d already known about Alice’s dark past, and was glad her friend had felt secure enough here to lay it all on the line for this collection of demon hunters, especially after the reception Alice had received from Daye just a few days before. Tash found herself nodding slightly as the rest of the group absorbed what Alice had said.
With the introductions over, Daye leaned forward. “Now Tash, how did you get in such a state? But shouldn’t we do this another day? You look… tired,” she finished diplomatically.
“I’m fine,” Tash smiled, though truth be told she wanted nothing more than to lie down and sleep, to try to ease her hurts. But this was important. “And yes, I should tell you what happened, because it’s exactly the sort of thing we need to look out for.”
After a bite of sandwich and another gulp of a fresh mug of coffee that had appeared as though by magic in her hands, Tash told of how James had ambushed her after her fight with the other vampires, and his vendetta regarding Ebony. She also spoke in broad terms what had happened after she’d woken up chained in that room.
When she finished with the facts, she mused, “I know I saw James at the Hyperion – in fact, he was the one that Vincent and Darlome spirited out of the hotel. I’d be curious to know where they are now, whether they’re his friends or his victims. So along with Morris, that makes two power-boosted vampires that I know of roaming around this city – Alessa can tell you more about Morris. The thing I’d like to know is: what did those commando guys want with him? There was something familiar… oh God, of course!”
Tash slapped her forehead and ran her thought processes aloud. “That smile... it looked just like James' grin. It was the same, I'm sure of it. But the guy was human...”
Alessa’s head had snapped up when she heard about James, and she exchanged a quick glance with Chance. The infuriating man only raised an eyebrow, the “I told you so” look clearly written on his handsome face. She opened her mouth as if to speak but couldn’t, and looked at Tash again. She listened with growing disbelief as Tash described the hours she had spent in James’ hands.
Sensing Alessa’s mixed emotions, Tash was distracted from her musings on the commandos and turned to her friend. Alessa looked into Tash’s swollen eyes, and shook her head. She would speak later.
Tash kept her gaze firmly on Alessa, “The idea here is that we're about sharing important information. Do you know something else about this vampire called James?”
Alessa blushed, and lowered her eyes. “It’s just that I was surprised. James has been... helping me lately.” She raised her eyes and started to speak again. “In fact he helped us rescue Cole from Morris- ” She stopped at Chance’s angry snort.
“He is a vampire, Alessa,” he said, and everybody in the room guessed this was an old argument. “If he helped it surely was because he wanted something in exchange!”
“But he did help us!” Frustrated, Alessa looked around and met the unflinching gazes of everybody around. “If it weren’t for him, Cole here would be a vampire himself by now!” Alessa found Tash’s eyes and added, “This vampire in particular is not our common vampire, I’m sure of it. I... I’m sorry Tash.”
She inhaled deeply, trying to put some order to her thoughts. “However, I know where my loyalties lie; if he did this to you he has to be stopped.”
Tash nodded and said quietly, “He wanted to make me a vampire last night, Alessa. And then torture me for eternity. I think Chance is right – if he helped Cole then I'm sure it wasn't from altruism.” She offered a brave smile to Alessa. “So, tell us more about Morris and what he's been up to. It looks like the two vampires are connected by more than the Hyperion after all.”
Alessa sighed. Tash was right, and so was Chance. Besides, what they didn’t know was that James had asked for something in exchange, although not directly. She nodded, and started telling what she knew of Morris. She didn’t look up while she talked so she missed the surprised looks of the rest when she mentioned Morris and her past connection with the Watchers’ Council. She almost failed a couple of times, but Chance’s hand clasped hers strongly, encouraging her to go on. When she finished there was silence in the room again.
Daye listened to Alessa’s story in surprise. There was more here than she had realized and yet another questionable connection to the Watchers. More and more as time went on, Daye was left wondering exactly where the Council really stood in the battle between good and evil. Their narrow-mindedness had proven again and again to be behind many agendas. Daye found herself at odds as to what to think.
“I can’t think of what to say to you, Alessa,” Daye finally spoke into the silence. “I feel you’ve been unfairly used by the Council and by Watchers your whole life. I’m sorry for that.”
Alessa felt kind of dizzy as she looked into Daye’s face. *Ill used by the Council?* She had never thought of it like that. Mostly she resented the Council for the unfair treatment they had dealt to Morris – they had proved to be disloyal and distrustful – not so much for her own sake. He had sacrificed much for her; his family, his position as a Watcher, the respect of his equals… Alessa shook her head in distress. She didn’t like to think about how much she had affected those around her. How much she still was affecting them...
“Well, it hasn’t been so bad,” she said, trying to lighten the mood. She smiled at Daye. “Some of the most important people in my life come from the Council.” She was thinking of Morris, Ernie and now Daye herself. As in a second thought she added, winking at her. “Of course they were all rogue Watchers.”
Daye responded with another smile.
“But there’s something else I want to talk about,” Alessa said, and proceeded to tell the rest about Adriana, the sister’s attack and her fears about the Russian mob looking for Dominika. She could see that Darian had straightened in his chair, and was listening intently. Maybe Adriana hadn’t told him about all this, or maybe he was just surprised Alessa knew the gypsy at all, however he didn’t say a word.
“She’s afraid,” she ended, “and I promised her that I would tell you about her. Maybe we can help?” she asked tentatively while looking at Tash. She didn’t tell them about Adriana’s tryst with James, but she made a mental note to warn the girl about the vampire. After all she had heard about him in the meeting her ideas about James had taken a sudden twist.
“Well,” Tash replied, “I’m not sure there’s a lot we can do about the sister’s ‘psycho boyfriend’, though I’m happy to put Dominika up here if she’d like – Adriana too, if she wants. At least they’ll be harder to find, though here isn’t always necessarily perfectly safe, as most of us well know.” A small titter went around the room from those who’d been in the building during its more colourful moments.
After the laughter subsided Tash continued, “As for Morris, he’s definitely in our purview. I think we can safely say we’ll be doing our utmost to take care of that problem as soon as possible.” She smiled at Alessa. “If you’d like, invite Adriana and Dominika over here and we’ll see whether they’d like some temporary accommodations here.”
Alessa threw her a bright smile. “That would be perfect. I'll do that,” she said. Apart from the safer part, living next to Darian would also help the girl forget about her interest in a vampire.
Soft murmurings filled the room, but nobody seemed quite sure if they should speak up or not. Daye found herself clearing her throat, muting the whispers. “Well, now that I’ve begun, I guess I’ll go on,” Daye said. “Most of you know me in one way or another and a lot of my past is known to you as well. For the rest of you, and for the sake of some sort of continuity, I’ll go ahead and tell it all at once one more time.”
Daye proceeded to explain to everyone in the room who she was and what she’d been through, leaving nothing out. She told of her connections to the Watchers, her experiences with Mother Mariah and the ‘dreaming’, and about Maia, her family, and her possible destiny. When she’d finished speaking, she leaned back and sipped from the cup of tea in her hand as she scanned the room for reactions.
Listening to Daye describe how she and Sorrow had attempted to track her using the ‘dreaming’, only to lose the thread at the site of the G’rnathan portal, Tash found a lump forming in her throat. Both Sorrow and Victor made noticeable gaps in the group she was gathering together here, and even though it was a combination of things both men had said to her that had brought her to this point she found she’d trade it all just to have them back. Lost in her reverie, she slowly noticed that Daye had stopped speaking.
The others were blinking and shaking their heads in awe at what they’d just heard, and Tash thought she should ask more about how the ‘dreaming’ worked – whether it was limited to spellcasters or whether a psychically attuned person could tap into it. But the silence had gone on too long, and Galen’s gentle coughing aborted Tash’s question, as he moved onto new territory.
Galen cleared his throat, “I’ve noticed a significant increase in vampire related deaths over the past month. They’re becoming bolder again, their numbers increasing. I think the news of Dathan’s demise has finally gotten around and our undead friends are beginning to return to the fold.”
He glanced at Kate, his eyes a little sad and morose and she knew that he was talking about the young boy that had been found a few days ago. He’d taken that case really to heart and now she could feel his pain freshly again. She took his hand in her own and squeezed it supportively.
Tash nodded, “I’ve noticed a rise in vampire numbers too, on my hunts.”
“Well I’ve been working on a few things myself that could come in useful,” Kate spoke up, taking the focus away from her husband. “Spells and things that might help with general patrolling at the very least. There’s this one I’m working on at the moment that is actual contained sunlight. There are a few problems that I need to work out such as visible light levels and intensity factors but it’s coming along quite well.”
Galen looked at her in surprise and Kate laughed, “Well what do you think I do all day? Watch soap operas and change dirty nappies?”
A ripple of soft laughter filled the room, some of the women exchanging knowing smirks with each other at Galen’s look of feigned chagrin.
Alessa watched the exchange between husband and wife with amusement. They surely looked in love. She remembered his protectiveness when she had paid them a late visit asking for help to rebind Chance’s inner demon. Then she concentrated on the witch’s words; talk of spells interested her, especially after her latest encounter with Morris.
“Kate...” she started. The woman turned to her with a smile still on her lips. “That’s something I wanted to talk to you about, too,” she added. “You and Daye, actually. Is there a way for us to protect ourselves against magic?” Then she told them in a few words about the puppet spell Morris had cast on her while rescuing Cole. She didn’t want to find herself in such situation again.
While everyone else engaged in various talk about the increased vampire activity that Galen had mentioned, Kate and Daye gathered together as they talked with Alessa about various protection spells and amulets that could repeal a vampire’s thrall or a similar spell of control. It was an uncertain topic since none of the ways could be considered a sure-fire way of preventing such an attack as everything depended upon the power of the spell or vampire. There was much to be considered and books to be consulted that would test the White Hats’ combined research force for the first time.
“I think I know of such a spell and there are several ways of enchanting amulets with certain protection spells that should ward off an attack.” Kate thought for a moment, totally in her element of discussing magic. “For a specific person it would probably work better if we had a personal object of theirs but I’m sure there are ways to work around it if not.”
The three women continued to talk, and finally arranged a time to go through things in greater depth and hopefully give Alessa the power she needed to resist any further attack from the vampire Morris.
Jeet watched the faces of the people around him as he listened to the various conversations; it was obvious that he wasn't the only person who was finding most of this information surprising. He decided it was time to tell everyone about Evie and his encounter with Whistler. *Maybe they can help.*
“I... I'd like to explain a few things about myself,” he said nervously as he looked to Tash for some sign it was o.k. to continue. She nodded encouragingly. The various other conversations stopped and Jeet was now aware all eyes were upon him as he explained his arrival in more detail and about Toni. He went on to explain about Evie and Whistler before deciding it was time to come clean about the amulet.
“As I explained,” he finished, “I believe the reason I am here in LA is to protect the amulet. Over the last week or so I have begun to understand why it is so sought after.” Jeet walked over to an empty space in the room. “If you would just allow me to demonstrate: the amulet has a symbol above each point of a five-pointed star. Firstly, To Hide.”
Jeet closed his eyes and concentrated as hard as he could and from the noise coming from the people in the room he knew he had become invisible. "To Defend," he said as he reappeared. “Tash, if you would be so kind.” He smiled as he pulled one of his Escrima staffs from the inside of his jacket and held it out to Tash. "Whenever you’re ready.”
He kept his eyes open this time but the concentration on his face was still evident. Tash nodded as she raised the staff somewhat stiffly and began to bring it down on Jeet’s head. Before she had got the staff within three feet of his head, however, her arm bounced off an invisible barrier and she dropped the staff, wincing with renewed discomfort that she quickly masked.
“Thank you, Tash.” They shared a smile as she sat back down. “There are also symbols representing To Heal, To See and To Fight, but they can wait for another day.”
He returned to his seat and looked around the room, suddenly very conscious that everyone was staring at him. It was made worse by the fact he felt quite weak now but he knew that wouldn't last long. “So if anyone has any ideas of what I should do please let me know,” he added sheepishly. *Please don’t let there be any questions,* he thought as he sank into his seat.
Alessa watched Jeet’s stunt with round eyes. She looked at Chance besides her and voicelessly mouthed, “I want one of those.” All she got was wink.
Chance had been silent most of the meeting, intently listening to everything that happened. She had hoped he would bring the topic of his sword to the arena, but he hadn’t so far. She suppressed a shiver when she thought of Dray’chen’s sword; obviously he wasn’t ready to talk about it yet.
She looked again at the Asian, who was steadily looking around. And indeed a question came to her mind.
“Jeet.” She coughed when everybody focused on her, and she smiled nervously. “How come you speak English so well? I mean… well, I’m a language teacher, well was one...” She trailed off; some of the people in the room were smiling indulgently at her, Chance in their number. “Sorry, I’m just curious,” she added with an exasperated sigh.
Jeet smiled at the young woman. This was one of the easier questions he could have been posed, and it made him feel a little more at ease. "As previously mentioned I met a gentleman called Toni; no doubt you will all meet him soon enough. He runs a Dojo downtown but is also quite apt at the odd spell or two." He finished explaining about his original meeting with Toni.
"Is there anything else anyone wants to know?" Jeet casually looked around the room.
Chance chuckled whilst giving Jeet a steady look. “Jeet Su My, eh? And I thought you were just a legend.”
“You’ve heard of me?” Jeet asked.
“Of course I have. The warrior monk who, so they say, was sent by the gods for some greater purpose and would one day return to fulfil his destiny.” Chance shrugged at the look Jeet was giving him. “When you live as long as I do, in my line of work you pick up a lot of prophecies like this. Mind if I…?” he trailed off, motioning towards the amulet Jeet clasped in his hands. The man paused for a moment, then handed it over, almost reluctantly.
Chance played the amulet in his own hands, tracing the runes with his fingers, his eyes closed and muttering under his breath. A shadow passed over his face. Then his eyes snapped open and he hurriedly gave it back. Jeet took it gladly.
“Take my advice, be careful with that,” Chance warned. “I couldn’t get much out of it but what I could get… there’s something powerful trapped in there. Something you don’t want to mess with. If I was you I’d use it as little as possible. I’d also say get rid of it, but I know firstly you wouldn’t do that, and secondly it couldn’t be in safer hands than the famous Jeet Su My. Other than that I can’t tell you anything, but I may be able to put you in touch with a few people who can.”
“Thank you. Any help you can give me will be most appreciated, and you're right about using it too often. Every time I use it, it leaves me very drained. Sometimes I can hardly move. Luckily, it doesn't last long.” Jeet lowered his head slightly as he put the amulet back on.
Chance turned and faced the group as a whole. “Right, you’ve all got the much abbreviated version of my life. I’ll save the detailed version for a later time because it’s a long, depressing tale. Maybe over a bottle of vodka in some dump at three in the morning. Bob’s is usually a lively place about that hour.” Several in the group sniggered. Most, Chance noted. It seemed a fair amount of them had had the distinct displeasure of passing through Bob’s Bar on at least one occasion. “I believe this organisation has a lot of promise. I’ve been a part of many in my time and I’d like to think I know what makes them fail and what makes them succeed. I can offer training, contacts, information. And, above all else, muscle.
“Speaking of which, we need to do something about James. I’ll admit he helped us with Cole, and I’m thankful for that, as much as I hate it, but we can’t just leave him be. I’ve fought him on numerous occasions and, as Tash can probably testify, he’s a tough bastard that just doesn’t know when to quit. He’s got access to a large amount of resources; weapons, armour, vehicles, magic supplies, maps of buildings, etc. This may come as a surprise, but both Darlome and Vincent, they were at the Hyperion if you remember,” there were several nods, “work with him or for him. Darlome’s a demon, that’s easy enough, but also a mage and a strong one at that. From what I can tell, Vincent is some form of psychic. Telekinetic I’d say, whose power is amplified by the device he wears on his arm. Go figure.
“Where James is, those two can never be far behind. James is smart, predatory, and savage. Just like every other bloody bad-ass vampire. Except this one has an interesting weakness, if you can call it that. I think he’s schizophrenic, the other personality going by the name ‘Ripper’. Ripper’s like James but a hundred times worse. Fortunately he seems to be dormant with James as the dominate personality, at the moment. How this changes, and how they are aware of each other, I don’t know. I’m not a head doc, but I’d imagine it’d be interesting to take a look at him, right Tash?” He nodded at her.
Tash’s eyes widened. A schizophrenic vampire? That could explain a lot, she thought. She glanced down at herself, felt the bandages that still covered her neck and chest, and let herself be aware of the pains and aches that still plagued her body despite Daye and Kate’s healing magic. “Interesting, maybe. But also dangerous. You’re right, he’s a seriously tough bastard. And who knows, right now he could be dust already, or under the protection of those guys who freed me. It’s hard to say. He might be hard to get close to about now. But he does need to be dealt with, if he’s still around. It’ll take a number of us to really get him, though. It’s a matter of which vampire death is more urgent – his or Morris’. I think right now Morris is more of a direct threat.”
Chance nodded in agreement, “Yes, then there’s Morris. We severely cut back on his operations in LA when we rescued Cole, but I don’t know by how much nor how long it would take him to recoup his losses. Probably not long enough.” He took a deep breath. “The way I see it, James is a nasty bugger but it’s Morris I think we have to watch out for. He’s a mage and he’s got the brains and ambition to go with it.”
Chance looked away and chewed his bottom lip for a moment. “I… I can’t fight him on my own. I’d like to say I could, and in my prime I would easily have done so, but I’m still not used to, well, you could say myself. There’s a few kinks I have to work out before I’m back into top form again, and whilst I’m doing that I,” he looked to Alessa, “we could do with all the help we can get.”
Tash smiled at Chance, “That’s what this group is all about. Nobody has to face anything alone any more. We can all pitch in to take out Morris, then we’ll worry about James.”
Tash felt oddly smug. She’d never dared think about just how this meeting might go – all she’d worried about was getting enough people together to make it worthwhile. But watching everyone in animated discussion about the various issues that had been raised gave her a warm glow inside. Sorrow’s citadel of willing flesh and blood was becoming a reality, before her very eyes. She just hoped it would prove strong enough to withstand whatever trials lay ahead. If there was one thing she’d learned about Los Angeles in the two years since she’d moved there, it was that the city never let you rest. Some new monster was always ready to crawl out of the woodwork.
*Hmm, speaking of which…* Tash caught Reah’s eye, then Darian’s. “Actually I’m going to change the subject again, I’m afraid.” Attention turned to Tash again as she spoke. “I’m fairly confident that this chapter has been dealt with, but I think the rest of you should know what happened, in case something similar ever crops up again. But I don’t think I’m the best person to tell it.”
There was silence for a beat then she said, “Would you like to start?”
Tash directed the question at Reah, who hunched her shoulders for a second before straightening up. Tash grinned at the friendly glare Reah sent her way for putting her on the spot like that, but she began talking anyway, describing the events surrounding Proserpexa’s defeat. Darian, Alessa, Chance and Tash chipped in at various stages, and even Cole summoned the nerve to mention the disturbing dream he’d had about Alessa and Chance’s deaths. When Reah reached the part where she’d killed Paul Nesmith, Alice sat up and blinked. So, Paul was dead now – it was no more than he deserved, she was sure.
The tale drew to a close, and Darian gave Cole a reassuring hug as Alessa described how the future Cole had just seemed to disappear into nothingness as the timelines sorted themselves out. The teen had heard everything about this by now, but it was still hard for him to fathom.
“I’d already conceived of bringing us together in a more organised fashion,” Tash said over the quiet murmurings that greeted the story, “but this helped to show me that it really would be possible, and useful. When I saw into the future Cole’s past, I saw how it was only through organised groups such as this that humanity had any chance at all. Sure there’s Ulle, the Watchers, and a host of other groups, but for us here in LA we’ve really only got each other. Through Daye we can liaise with the Watchers’ Council – I’m sure they won’t object to sending information on occasion, especially if we alert them to any danger that will impact more than our local area. But I’m led to believe the Watchers can be a little narrow-minded at times, so for now I’d be inclined to keep them at arms’ length.”
She needed a steadying breath before she continued, “When we lost Sorrow, of course, we lost our connection to Ulle, but I do have his files which contain a wealth of information. As for Sindell…” Tash paused and glanced at Kate, “well, let’s just say that there have been problems with them in the past.”
All eyes in the room remained on Tash, and she felt a little uncomfortable at being the centre of attention like this. Still, she was the one who’d wanted this, so she had to deal with it.
She pressed on, “I’m afraid this won’t be an easy group to belong to – it’s not just going to be delicious pastries and a get-together every week. There’s lots to be done – training, research, organising our resources. And keeping eyes and ears open. Information and knowledge – that’s what we’ll stand or fall on, I believe. Whatever anyone sees or hears about, no matter how insignificant it might seem, could be the piece that completes a puzzle. That’s what we have to bring to each meeting.”
“So,” she finished as brightly as possible, “is there anything else anyone wants to discuss? Otherwise we might go on to drawing up training schedules and setting a time for next week’s meeting.”
Nobody stood forward, so they worked up a preliminary schedule of tutoring, Tash offering the training room next door for use whenever anyone needed the space. The afternoon was growing late by the time everything was settled, schedules set and contact numbers passed around, and people began drifting out the door, promising to return the following week. Small knots of people formed and broke up again as people bid their farewells. Tash noticed Chance in deep conversation with Kate and Galen as they headed out the door, while Daye and Alice left with Alessa in tow, heading downstairs. Darian and Cole left quietly, not having said much during the meeting, and Jeet trailed down the stairs after the pair. Then she found herself in conversation with Reah and Quin, who invited her to have dinner with them later on.
The door closed and Tash leaned against it, relishing the quiet again in her suddenly empty flat. A grin spread slowly across her face then she pirouetted across the lounge room floor, carefully avoiding the extra furniture that cluttered the place as she unconsciously echoed Alice’s earlier sentiments.
“Evil beware.”
Round-robin file - first meeting
To follow Chance's confessional about Morris:
Daye listened to Chance's words, feeling sick at heart. There was no reason that he or Alessa should even consider taking on Morris on their own. Morris was an ex-Watcher and it was gross incompetence on the part of her organization that he hadn't been put in check long before this. They'd abandoned him when Morris made a decision they didn't agree with and then did nothing to stop him when he was turned. Daye was angry with the Council once again for their narrow minded approach and the tragedy it caused.
"Well, I for one, promise you that I'll do whatever it is in my power to do to see that Morris is stopped," she said. "I don't like to think that someone who was trained by the Council is out there wreaking havoc and the Watchers haven't apparently done a damn thing about it. There was a time when we actually policed our own."
***
To follow Tash's statement about keeping the Council at an arm's length.
Daye nodded her assent at Tash's words. At this point allying too closely with the Council would not be the best option. Discounting the basic nature of their philosophy, at this point there was a sense of disorder and near panic in the ranks of the Watchers. Following the loss of so many Slayers recently, the Council had been shaken to it's very core. There had been a reorganization leaving Ambrose Delancre at the top, and Daye was really uncomfortable with that idea. She knew it was her personal bias that left her feeling cold at the thought of Delancre with so much power, but she couldn't just dismiss that. It was definitely better to keep what they were doing away from the watchful eye of the Council.
***
Also, I was wondering if Galen would have anything to say about Adriana's problem. He is a cop and it seems to me that her problem might arouse his interest.
Round-robin file - first meeting
In reply to Daye pledging to help with Morris:
"Yes, yes. I can remember such a time." Chance nodded. "Unfortunately, it appears the Council has fallen in it's standards in recent years. A shame, really. It was such an excellent organisation once..." He trailed off, his eyes glazed, remembering another place, another time. "But no more." His eyes snapped back. "I've heard of some of the changes and...well, I'm glad the Council is not moving against Morris. I think it's for the best that we deal with him on our own." He smiled warmly. "And in that your help will be most welcome. Thanks."
Round-robin file - first meeting
And to follow Chance's words:
***
While listening to Chance and Daye discuss what to do with Morris, Alessa felt a surge of pride so intense that for a moment she couldn’t almost breathe. And she was actually part of this group. Her life had changed so much in the past months that she couldn’t believe it. Not only had she found Chance, but a group of people who cared for her problems and with whom she could open herself. She felt Tash’s eyes on her and turned to look at the woman. She answered her friend’s smile with a beam of her own, and turned again to Daye.
“Thank you,” she said as well, and smiling at the rest of the 'White Hats', she added. “to all of you.”
Round-robin file - first meeting
Ok, I know that it's nice to be able to add bits and respond to things, and God knows there were plenty of things I'd have liked Tash to talk about and respond to that she didn't, simply because it didn't fit the flow of the post or it would just push the length out way too much.
But when I said 'tweaking' I meant just that. Tweaking. Maybe my meaning wasn't quite clear when I used the term. What I mean by tweaking is: changing a word if one seemed out of place, or if someone had phrased their character's dialogue in a way that they thought wasn't quite right and wanted to shift it around a bit... that sort of thing. I've truly tried to put these paragraphs in and keep the flow, but I'm sorry - most of it simply restates stuff that's already been said and only serves to bloat the post even more than it currently is. I'm getting down on my knees and begging that no more new writing be done. This is the final version, as I said when I posted it in here... tweaking only, please, from now on, if anything.
I hate to quash any creative juices that may be flowing, and if there are long conversations that arise from this meeting then by all means go for it, and if there are any emotional epiphanies to be made then I'm sure most people could manage to wake up the next morning still feeling the warm glow of cameraderie. But this first meeting itself was meant to be (as I'm pretty sure I explained to all of you) just introductions so every character knows every other character's background, skillset and knowledge base, and they can work out complementary areas for training, and to share a bit of the recent happenings so we can all be up to date on what all the other characters are up to.
I know it's hard to sit back and look at it without wanting to add stuff, especially when you've seen the bits that other people have added in the last round appear in their full context (bearing in mind that the individual additions were available in public). But I asked for additions for the first draft, and I asked for additions for the second draft. All those additions were made publicly, through the forum, so everyone had a chance to respond to them while the "writing" phase was still open. The one I posted Friday afternoon was the final draft, and you'll note I no longer asked for additions.
The first draft and the individual additions have been on the board for up to four weeks now - plenty of time for everyone to have written all the bits they needed to write, and to make sure they made the points they wanted their characters to make. Ally added a quickie with the Adriana thing which I allowed simply because it had only arisen from a very recent collaboration and she hadn't known about it earlier. That addition was meant to be my final surprise... until I logged on tonight.
So, if Galen does wish to contribute anything about Adriana and Dominika's problems, I'm sure he can contact Poplar Avenue later on and discuss it with Tash and Adriana if she does move into the apartment downstairs (and I have it on good authority that she probably will :wink:). And if Daye, Chance and Alessa wish to get together to discuss Morris some more, then again it's quite possible to continue a conversation after the meeting. In fact, I know that Daye, Alessa and Alice are already continuing a conversation downstairs anyway.
I hope I'm not coming across as too harsh - I'm not really trying to tell anyone off here. I just want to make sure that this meeting doesn't ramble on and cover too much ground that's already been covered in other posts (or earlier in the meeting post, for that matter). I've been very glad to see that most people have written their detailed descriptions as "so-and-so explained all about such-and-such", which helped keep the length down considerably.
You've all done an excellent job, and I thank everyone profusely for joining in this mammoth undertaking. Just... don't write any more, ok? :wink:
Round-robin file - first meeting
Oops, language nuances again. :wink:
Sorry, Heather, no more writing, cross my heart.
Round-robin file - first meeting
Fine by me. No more.
Round-robin file - first meeting
I've had a read through and all looks fine, great, wonderful! :) *jumps up and down at the thought of getting this hog posted* *realises she still has to wait for X, Y & Z to post before she can get the fricken Solstice over with* :evil:
Round-robin file - first meeting
Oh, I quite understand the feeling, Lou. :)
At least, so far as I know, this meeting post should be able to go up straight away. I asked if anyone had any story that had to go up before this, and so far nobody's said they're not ready yet - so keep fingers crossed, this should be posted either later today or tomorrow. :D
Round-robin file - first meeting
sorry, didn't mean to start anything. i'm fine with it. i can even mention the morris thing in the post with alessa and alice, i think
Round-robin file - first meeting
Meep :oops: sorry i've been something of a miss none existant of late :oops:
USUALLY - of late - i'd started to fit in writing and working and socialising and sport and what not all in one cosy little package.... but unfortunately, as this last week or so goes, when i wasn't working, i was passed out on my bed or floor. :wink: think my body was trying to tell me something, hehe
ANYwhos, nothing overly bad, and i shall overcome it and try to get more stuff up again.
sorry i didn't input as much as everyone else into this, but tomorrow's another day, and a day OFF at that :D my one and only. writing shall i be doing! and hopefully i'll be able to catch up with some peeps too :mrgreen:
shall not get careless with my time again - true i'm planning on taking up karate thurs nights - but that only goes till about nine :) so alls good.
the post does look great. *prays for a moment she can sit down to read it start to finish* :oops: