*** Topic for #GURPS: The Granite Madams Want Snow White's Head *** Topic for #GURPS set by William on Friday, February 1, 2002 6:58:15 PM *** Channel created at Saturday, March 16, 2002 4:02:23 AM [Recordkeeping notes: Game date/time, Saturday Oct. 13 2001, ~10-11pm] BA monkeys with stuff in his workshop/garage Fearless is driving ovr to Jack's place with Nicole in tow. Edward OOCly tries to recall what he was doing William hauls out the log... Jack is having his soul sucked through a straw katster: *slurp* Fearless: mmm... tasty. :9 Jack: a soul with a side of fries mmm---mmmm William: Ed: I think last we saw you, you had headed home to see if you could locate some information on Mr. Creeley, particularly an address. You were quickly successful, and relayed this information to Nicole. Also, Rath had gotten to you the name and work address of that contact he mentioned. Edward: Will: What time is it, anyway? Are they likely to be still open? William: Ed: It was Saturday, and there was a block party going on. It's about... hmm, given Ellis' and Elena's wanderings, I'd say about 10 or 11... and the party has broken up. Whether you'd get someone calling the Works, you're not sure. Edward: I'll call 'em tomorrow, then. *** William is now known as Will_GM Fearless: where is Ellis? Will_GM: Ellis is with Elena out in the neighborhood about the Works. Will_GM: Nicole and Fearless were in his office a bit of a drive away, downtown. Fearless looks at the channel listing... No, I meant the player *** katster is now known as Nicole Will_GM: BA is back at his place, and Ed is at his -- they may have crashed for the night. Will_GM: Jack is with Grace at another place entirely. Fearless: *cellphone* "Come on, BA, pick up..." Will_GM: Oh, the player. I was figuring Aris would get the hint when kats and I changed our nicks, but she may just be a few more minutes elsewhere. :^) Fearless: 'k Will_GM: We'll give her a few more minutes. BA picks up BA: "Uttenutten." Fearless: "Well, this is something, BA. Up for some late-night maneuvers?" BA: "Kinda busy here. Making upgrades to Rumble Strip." Fearless: "You want the truth about Snow White, right?" Will_GM: By the way, if the gang decides (once we get input from BA and Ed) that tomorrow is in fact better, tonight is not desperately urgent. We'd just have to see what happens with Jack and Grace in the meantime, won't we? :^) BA: "I know the truth. These 'angels' let a nympho agent through their net and are too stupid to swallow their pride and go cross-agency for help." Fearless: "The group's converging on Jack's place. It could get messy. If my reporter's instinct is right, this could end up getting like a mob princess gone amuk." Fearless: "And we know what happened the last time that happened." BA: "Sheez, I hate it when your gut puts in its two cents. Gimme a few minutes and I'll swing by your place." Fearless: "Not my place... Ninth and South, Jack's place." Edward works on Gatekeeper to burn off some excess energy Edward: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Edward (3d6) and gets 11. BA: "Meet at the corner?" Fearless: "Yeah. Bring Patch Kit, if Rumblestrip's out of commission." Fearless: "Oh, and BA?" BA: "Yeah?" Fearless: "Don't answer the phone 'uttenutten'." BA: "Whatever. Bye." Fearless: *click* Fearless: (that last line prolly has Nicole shaking her head) Nicole stifles a giggle. Will_GM: Okay, somebody in #spork poke Aris if she shows activity again. In the meantime, let's officially BA makes sure his gun has a full clip, a spare in his jacket pocket, and packs Speed Bump into the car. Will_GM: ---------- Game Start --------------- BA: Patch Kit's already in the trunk Fearless drives by the areas that contain the gambling dens, looking for Jack on the offchance that he's visible Will_GM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Will_GM (3d6) and gets 6. BA motors on over to Nineth and South Will_GM: Gambling dens being notorious for their lack of windows, Fearless, it's no go. :^) *** Ellis (aris@hh1120118.direcpc.com) has joined channel #gurps Ellis: Rehiyas Nicole: moo Ellis. Fearless: Will: "visible" meaning he'd be on the streets walking into or out of one Nicole just watches out the window at all the lights going by. Jack: ooc: hi ellis Fearless: oi, Ellis Will_GM: Still nope. *** Mode change "+o Ellis" on #gurps by Fearless Fearless: 'k Will_GM: Nicole: The lights get perceptibly less frequent as Fearless leaves downtown and heads closer to Jack's apartment.... Fearless: Will: didn't expect it, but he has to at least attempt it. ;) Nicole is pretty much just thinking anyway. Fearless pulls up to the curb next to Ellis and Elena. Fearless: "BA's on his way. Anyone contact Ed?" Ellis: I dunno. Did we? Will_GM: Nope. Edward: I contacted you, I think, but we didn't discuss when we'd go in Will_GM: Ed emailed the address to Nicole's account. Nicole: No, Ed and I used a nifty little program on Unix systems called "talk". ;) Will_GM: Oh. Sweet. :^) Fearless helps Nicole out of the car and into her wheelchair, takes out the camera, and photographs Jack's place, looking for ways in. Fearless: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Fearless (3d6) and gets 6. Edward: write, actually. And all of ed's visible terminal logins are set msg n. Nicole rolls over to Ellis and Elena. BA finds a place to park his car, then sets up Speed Bump and Patch Kit and waits for Fearless to arrive Nicole: okee. damn. :P Fearless: hrrm... some pretty decent pics there. Ellis: "Hey, Nicole." Will_GM: Jack's apartment building is a plain row of similar brick blocks, with plenty of car space and the occasional child's plastic three-wheeler or baseball bat lounging on a balcony. Fearless: BA: I'm already there... Nicole: "Hey." *** Katalina (Duras@1Cust3.tnt1.jacksonville.ar.da.uu.net) has joined channel #Gurps *** Mode change "+o Katalina" on #gurps by Fearless Katalina: may I watch? Fearless: oi, Kat Will_GM: As always. Katalina: danke :) Edward: sure. Katalina: hey Shad ;) long time no see BA wanders up and slaps Fearless on the back. "Got a light?" Will_GM tries to think... Edward flashes Kat a V-sign and smirk, then goes back to working on Gatekeeper Fearless flicks his Bic, and lights a cigarette, then hands the lighter to BA BA pockets the lighter Will_GM: Okay, somebody help me out. Picture a medium-rent two-story apartment building, most people reaching the upper floor by way of stairs as is the case in most such buildings. Would the ADA require elevator access anywhere in the building? Because this is the kind of place that would obey regulations, but wouldn't add something like that unless necessary. Fearless: well, the place I'm in doesn't have elevators. Nicole: depends on how old the building is. BA: Will: Yes. Elevator access would be necessary for the basement and roof Jack: i think so, unless it has a waiver because it was built before the regulations Nicole: if they're building it new, yes; if it's old, no. Will_GM pictures the place as, well, predating the ADA. Allright. Nicole, unless someone's willing to haul the thing up a flight, you're quite obviously staying on the ground. ;^) Nicole looks at the building and frowns. "What floor is this guy on, anyway?" Will_GM: Fortunately, after a bit of searching for the number, Jack's apartment turns out to be first floor. Will_GM: The place is locked, and there are no lights on. Fearless checks windows. Fearless: any open? Will_GM: Jack, would you leave windows open? Ellis trades glances with everyone. "Do we have a plan, or do we knock down his door and gain the emnity of the local police?" Will_GM: Tonight, the role of Jack's apartment will be played by Jack. Jack: not on the first floor Nicole: "Well...if I had a good set of lockpicks..." *** Jack is now known as JacksApartment BA: "Why don't we come back tomorrow. I doubt anything's going to happen this soon. He just met the chick." Ellis: As long as it's not Joe's Apartment. We don't want any singing cockroaches. Fearless: "That's what I was thinking, the others had other ideas." Will_GM: The place seems decent; although the doggy door has a board across the middle, it's even varnished like the frame. Nicole, the locks are Ennis -- better than cheap, not quite a Masterlock. Will_GM: "Unwise, I think, to commit breaking and entry, in whatever form." Fearless: "He's obviously not home." Ellis: "Rhetorical suggestion." Nicole looks it over. Attempts knocking on the door, in the offhand chance somebody's sleeping. Fearless: "However... BA, how long is the battery life on Patch Kit?" BA: "Well, might as well keep an eye on the door, anyway." *pulls a micro-cam, a power cell, and a small trnsmitter out of his jacket pocket Will_GM: A small boy passes by you, looking curiously at the group but not saying anything, JacksApartm <----no answer BA: "No way I'm leaving Patch Kit here." Will_GM: BA: You can strip the system off of Patch Kit in a couple of minutes, but I don't think you'd be carrying one around. Nicole: "Yeah, I might be able to get this open without a good set of picks, but...I don't think we want to risk it." Fearless: where did the micro-cam come from? Will_GM: BA: You wanna do that? BA: Spare parts for the RC cars Will_GM: They're expensive, dude. Fearless: I can see the power cell and transmitter... BA: Never know when any part's going to fritz. Will_GM: If you're hot to use Patch Kit, however, I urge you to reconsider my description of the apartment. :^) BA: "Unless you want to tack a note to his door for him to call you, I might a swell mount this thing." Nicole checks the handle once more. Also, check on how well that board is attached over the doggie door. Fearless: "I think you'd best tear Patch Kit apart and mount its cam out of sight." Fearless: "I'll stay across the street keeping watch on the place, to see when they arrive." BA: "What d'you think this is for?" Will_GM: It's nailed on, about nine inches off the ground. (Apparently the original dog was fairly large; a small person *might* have been able to get through without that.) Ellis turns to Elena, smiles wanly. "I feel like I've been stuck in a James Bond movie." Will_GM: Ellis: Elena visibly pauses to get the reference, then nods. "This is the fringe of normality as you knew it." Nicole sighs, rolls back away from the door. "I thought somebody might have been able to pull that board off and unlock the door, but..." *shrug* "...no dice." Fearless makes a mental note to check with his contacts, to see about those lock picks Nicole mentioned. Edward: that'd be more twilight-zone than jb, actually. Fearless: yeah, not enough gadgets to be Bond Ellis: "Oh, I thought I recognized it from somewhere. Been here before a couple of times, but not from this angle." BA: *to Elena* "What's normality?" Will_GM: The boy is still looking at you, when his mother calls him back in. She glances at you a moment as she does so. Fearless: "I think we're attracting attention. I suggest we split up." BA: "I'm heading back to the house, then." Ellis: "Y'know, BA, we're--what Johnny said." BA: "See you guys in the morning." Will_GM: "Agreed. The morning might be better." Fearless: "I'll be back here tomorrow morning. Maybe later tonight, depending on some stuff." BA gets back to his car and heads home Fearless: "I have some errands to run. Nicole, your place?" Nicole: "Yeah, that'd prolly be the best at the moment." Will_GM: "I will make contact with you after Mass. Shortly before noon will suffice?" Ellis holds back. "I'll see you later, everyone." He catches Elena's eye, jerks his head back toward the door of the apartment. Will_GM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Will_GM (3d6) and gets 15. Will_GM: Elena throws Ellis a questioning look. Fearless: "Fine with me." .oO(Note to self. Get here around 9.) Ellis holds up a finger in a "one second?" gesture. Will_GM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Will_GM (3d6) and gets 12. Fearless takes Nicole to her place. "Pick you up around 10 or so?" Will_GM: She seems to understand. She announces, "Tomorrow then. I will await his return for a short while in this area." Nicole: Will, what's the next day? Will_GM: Nicole: Sunday. Fearless: Sunday? Ellis: "I'll hold back, too... we don't want to all leave at once. Give the impression we're the God Mafia or something." Nicole: "I've got services in the morning. I won't be free until one." Fearless: "Right. See you then." Will_GM: "very well." Will_GM: Elena moves off a short ways, taking in the surroundings. Nicole goes up to her apartment and goes to bed. Ellis comes over and stops by Elena. "I actually just wanted to hold back for a few minutes to look... slightly less suspicious. But I also wanted to know what you're planning to do when we find this... figment." Fearless: after dropping Nicole off, I drive over to a gas station, fill up, then over to one of my street contacts. Fearless: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Fearless (3d6) and gets 7. Fearless: streetwise 14... that's good Will_GM: Fearless: Yep. We'll RP it in a second. BA gets home, puts Patch Kit and Speed Bump on their chargers, and goes to bed Will_GM: *to Ellis* "That depends on what she has done, and how obstinate she is. The ban itself must be enforced -- she must be made to leave Earth. If she is willing, we will escort her to an Ethereal Tether and see her through. If unwilling, we will have to destroy her body." Will_GM: "However..." Ellis: "However?" Will_GM: "There are two more important considerations. One, we must see to the humans she has made contact with. The Granite Madams consider it of vital importance that the ideas and behaviors she supports and accommodates be stamped out. The second is to try to keep her from returning in the future." Ellis: "So... you really have two problems, one more immediate and one more important?" Will_GM: "Essentially." Ellis: "Is there anything that I... that we can do to help with the second?" Will_GM: "We can keep her on Earth long enough to deal with the latter two considerations, if necessary." Will_GM: "Hmm." Ellis: "Keep her on Earth? Rather than send her home?" Will_GM: "You mean helping with keeping her from returning?" Ellis: "... I just got third-level confused." Edward: keeping her incarcerated on earth would give her a perfect 'distress' to be in. Not advisable, I'd say if I were there. Will_GM: "You asked about what you could do to help. With keeping her from returning in the future?" Ellis: "I think that's what I mean. How does keeping her here help to keep her from coming back?" Ellis: "Ah. I meant with either part, but I suppose so, yes." Will_GM: "Oh. No, that is separate. I referred to simply keeping her her to gain any information she had that might be of use to us." Ellis: "Ahh." Will_GM: "There are basically two ways to keep the Damsel from returning and wreaking the same havoc. First is to destroy her completely. But that can only be done in the Marches, which humans can only access with any safety if they are Dreamers. Second is to Change her." Will_GM: "Ethereals are basically assemblages of ideas. Add an idea to the mix which is sufficiently powerful, and it can affect her being. If done right, she would no longer even desire to come to Earth and do the things she does." Ellis: "Hmmmm. The latter sounds more healthy." Ellis: "... It also sounds more difficult, but then, all the good ideas do." Fearless: Fearless' Fast Talk can come into play, there.;) Edward: Hmm. So essentially brainwashing someone rather than killing them? Fearless: basically. ;) Will_GM: "You would prefer the latter route?" Will_GM: Elena clearly sinks into deep thought. Ellis: "I'm morally opposed to killing intelligent... beings, I suppose. Call it my Catholic conscience." Ellis: o/` I could really use / To lose my Catholic conscience / 'cause I'm getting sick / Of feeling guilty all the time... o/` Fearless: *snrk* *** JacksApartment is now known as Jack *** BA is now known as BASleeping Will_GM: Elena says quietly, "Whether this Ethereal is truly intelligent or not is a matter of some considerable theological uncertainty...." She looks up and says more boldly, "But I also find the latter course has the best prospects overall. I think it is acheivable. The question, though, is what concepts, and how." Ellis: "Um... Women's Lib?" Will_GM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Will_GM (3d6) and gets 10. Will_GM: You manage to see Elena suppress a grin. "Right up my alley." Edward puts on his new Alanis Morisette CD as his coding progresses Ellis: "Good. ... How do we do that, then?" Will_GM: She grows more serious. "I am not entirely certain. I know it can be done. I will have to speak to some more knowledgeable angels about this." Ellis: "That sounds good. You do that, I'll go catch some sleep, and we can meet here tomorrow afternoon with the others?" Will_GM: *nod* "Very well." Will_GM: Okay, let's switch over to Fearless' scene.. Will_GM: Fearless, you figure a local fence you know by the name of Wee Willie may have what you're looking for. Jack: ooc: I hope nobody named Wee Willie EVER has what I'm looking for ;) Edward: ba da bum ching. Fearless walks into a bar he knows, and looks around for Wee Willie. As soon as he's off the streets, he lights up Will_GM: Willie's doing his usual thing with a man and a couple of boom boxes in the corner. Fearless walks over to that area, and stands there, trying to catch his eye Will_GM: Money changes hands, and the man goes, leaving the stereos. Fearless: "Hard work there, Willie?" *** rob` (rbos@h24-69-226-148.vc.shawcable.net) has joined channel #gurps Will_GM: Willie looks up. "Whatchu starin' at, Johnny?" He pulls out a pad and scribbles something down. rob` peers in, hey. Will_GM: Hi rob. Fearless: oi, rob rob`: ignore me. :) Katalina: hey rob Jack: hey rob Fearless: "Nothing much, apparently. One of the reasons you never get caught dealing in these stolen goods." Fearless: "I'm looking for something for a friend." Ellis: BBIAB Will_GM: "Stolen? I don't know nothing about no stolen. Man has some property and needs some quick cash, I deal in high-collateral-loss loans, that's all I'm saying. Whatcha lookin' for?" Fearless: "Something..." *lowers his voice* "... along the lines of a set of lock picks. Nothing special to them." Edward: and he's cutting his own throat on every deal? Fearless: he sells the stuff for a profit every time. Will_GM: Willie does a doubletake, then smirks. "Hanging out with some low friends these days, ain't you?" He chuckles and writes something down on a pad. "Picks, huh? Yeah, I got a spare set. They'll cost you." Fearless: "What're we talking?" *** Mode change "+o rob`" on #gurps by Fearless Will_GM: Willie looks over at the bartender, nods about something. "Siddown, will you? You look like a cop." Fearless sits, smirking. "A cop? Would a cop be asking about this kind of thing?" Will_GM: *snrk* "Yes. It's called a sting." Katalina: hehe Will_GM: He fishes about in his jacket, and pulls out a thin roll of canvas that clinks slightly. Fearless: "What's the damage for these?" Will_GM: "$300. They're one of my own sets. I'll get a replacement myself later." Fearless: "I'm sure you will." *looks up and around, to see if anyone's noticing the exchange* Will_GM: Nah. It pays not to notice Willie conducting his business in this bar. Fearless reaches into his pocket, and pulls out a wallet. He counts bills before pulling a few 50s and a few 20s out, and hands them to Willie in a folded roll. Nicole: the bar's open. Fearless then pockets the picks Fearless: 3d6 Will_GM: Willie counts them quickly and professionally, then hands you the roll. "You get caught with these, I don't exist, remember?" Dicesuke throws the bones for Fearless (3d6) and gets 9. Fearless: the picks vanish as I move my hand over them. Will_GM: That was so _Matrix_. Sorry. ;^) Fearless: Sleight of Hand. BASleeping: :) Fearless: he's gotta practice BASleeping: Later folx Katalina: see ya UL *** BASleeping is now known as UpLink Jack: bye sleeping Fearless: "Who doesn't exist?" *smirk* "Thanks." Fearless: cya, UL *** UpLink has left channel Will_GM: "Yep. See you." Fearless stands, gets a coffee to go, and walks out the door. Will_GM: Other than seeing how Jack and Grace are faring, anything else any of y'all care to do tonight? Edward: Nothing that can be done at night or on a sunday. Fearless: not yet... but Fearless was gonna head to Jack's place earlier than the rest... *** Signoff: Ellis (Client closed connection) Will_GM: ? Will_GM: Fearless: check. Fearless: "Jack! Where's my @#$%^! column!!" Jack: ooc hehehe Jack: ooc: speaking of which, Will, my column was at the bottom of that email Nicole is sleeping. Will_GM: Okay, let's turn to Jack. Will_GM: Jack: yeah, I've got it. Jack: Do you want to start at the apartment or at Ortleibs? Will_GM: Apartment. Jack and Grace get there before the guests, hopefully Jack will offer Grace a drink Will_GM: We move back a ways from the scenes just played out; it's now about 7 that evening, and Jack and Grace are just getting to the apartment. Jack: Does Grace have any reaction to the apartment? Will_GM: "Oh, no thank you. I don't drink." Jack: Does she rifle through book? CDs? *** Ellis (aris@hh1120118.direcpc.com) has joined channel #gurps Will_GM: She's looking about the apartment now. "Oh, so many books. You must be a very well-read man." Will_GM: re Ellis. Ellis: ... ow. *** Mode change "+o Ellis" on #gurps by Fearless Jack: "Water? Juice? I have apple and, what the Hell, CranTangerine or something." Will_GM: "Water will be fine..." Jack brings her a glass of ice-cold water. Jack gets out the Sharp cheese, the French bread, the wine, the bag of mini-Kit Kats. Ellis: Ooooh, Kit-kats. How romantic. :) Jack keeps an eye on Grace, though, while he's setting up. He hasn't yet decided if she's looking for something to pawn for drugs Will_GM: Grace picks up the shot glasses, puzzling over them. Jack: "Those are real Scotch glasses, not the tumbler crap they give you here in the States." Jack walks over to show her. Will_GM: "Hee. A special glass for Scotch." Will_GM: She puts it back. Jack: "Several distilleries got together and commissioned a glass that would accentuate the taste." Jack sees she's not all that interested and changes subject. Will_GM: She looks around the apartment a bit more. She seems quite curious about the TV. Jack: "My friends should be here any minute. They're a lot of fun." Will_GM: "Wonderful. Are they like you?" Jack: "Uh oh," Jack thinks. "I knew it. She wants to pawn the TV." Will_GM: Grace pokes the screen with a finger Katalina: ooc: take her to a salvation army homeless place ;) Will_GM: "What's this do?" Jack: "Like me? Nah. Layli is a PhD in psychology, Max is an archeologist, Bob is an artist and Dawn and Eric are just a lot of fun." Jack stands stunned at Grace. Jack: "What? What does what do?" Will_GM: "This. The glass thing." Jack: "The TV? Are you joking?" Will_GM: Grace looks hurt. "I'm sorry. I just didn't know what it was...." Jack: "No that's all right but...you never seen a TV before?" Will_GM: "I've been... sheltered. I didn't have much growing up." Jack: "Oh, well, then if...here." Fearless: and that statement can be taken more than two ways Jack gets the remote and turns it on. Will_GM: Grace watches, surprised. Katalina: occ: show her some soaps ;) Jack: It's seven? He turns it to the Lehrer Newshour. Will_GM: Her eyes widen. "Oh, I know this! This is that thing all those Nybbasites talk about!" Jack: "The what? The Nubby-who?" Will_GM: She frowns. "Bad people. They're always hanging around back where I come from, trying to get us to do things. I'm glad I got away from them." She smiles at you brilliantly. "And now I'm here with you." Jack: "Was that the motorcycle gang you were talking about?" Edward: bbiab rob` wanders off; goodbye. Will_GM: "Hm?" Will_GM: Bye rob. *** rob` has left channel #gurps Will_GM: "Oh, them. No. Different bunch." Will_GM: She looks around the apartment again. "Did I smell food?" Jack is more convinced that she needs some mental help, plans to ask Layli for advice. Jack: "Oh here. I'm sorry." Jack gets her cheese, bread, chocolotey-caramel goodness. Will_GM: "Thank you." She sits down daintily at the table and munches on the bread and cheese. Eats like a bird. Will_GM: At this point, the bell rings, and the first few of the friends arrives. Jack greets them, introduces them to Grace. Jack reports to them who said they would be late, who is playing tonight at Ortleibs. Edward: b Will_GM: Grace stands, smiles, and drops a curtsy. "It's very nice to meet you all." Jack: A curtsy? Probably stops all conversation. Fearless afks for a few *** Signoff: Katalina (Read error: Connection reset by peer) *** Katalina (Duras@1Cust3.tnt1.jacksonville.ar.da.uu.net) has joined channel #gurps Jack: If Layli is one of the arrivals, I will leave Grace in their presence and pull Layli aside Will_GM: Layli was indeed one of the arrivals; Kim and Bob will arrive together. (If I remember the couples right.) Jack: Great. Jack tells Layli all about Grace Will_GM: Dawn, by the way, apparently thinks the curtsy is "Sooo cute!" as she and Grace begin talking. Jack: "She shows up with a weak story about being stalked by a motorcycle maniac... Jack: SHe's genuinely scared, but of what Jack can't tell Jack: Wacky behavior like with the TV Jack: "Persecution ideation with the Nybbasites trying to make her do things Jack: Can't see any physical signs of drug use: dilated eyes, rapid speech, lip quivers Jack: She won't even drink Will_GM: Layli looks over at Grace. "Jack, you know I'm not going to analyze somebody on the fly. Let me meet her tonight, see what's going on. Remember, I won't have too long. I had to get out of the house for a bit, but babysitters cost money." Jack smiles. "That'd be great. I can't figure her out and, of course, that bugs me to no end." Jack chats with her about Thadeus and Aliyeah for a bit Will_GM: "I know what bugs you, hon." She winks and walks back over to the group around Grace. Jack smirks a bit Will_GM: Dawn is still chatting at Grace. Grace, though, is watching Layli. Will_GM: There's just the hint of a frown on her face. Jack will open his address book, call Julie at Ortleibs and find out what time they start their first set Will_GM: About an hour. Jack: ooc: uhoh Will_GM snickers madly. The stereo is playing "Independent Woman." %^) Jack will lubricate the party with wine, water, juice, Scotch Jack: lol Jack: "Grace, what music would you like to hear?" Will_GM: Layli, of course, having to head home later tonight to be with the kids, won't drink; and Max is a driver. Dawn, however, appreciates your taste in Scotch, and gladly accepts. Will_GM: Kim and Bob also show up now. Fearless: back Jack introduces them around and to Grace Fearless: Will: I was afk *** Mode change "+o Katalina" on #gurps by Fearless Jack: After about 15 minutes, Jack'll head everybody to the door. Will_GM: Grace greets Kim and Bob politely. Will_GM: Jack: Grace latches on to you as you all pile into your respective cars. Jack: ok Will_GM: As you drive there, she asks, "So what was that with... Layli, was it?" Jack: "Hmm?" Will_GM: "What did you pull her aside to talk about?" Jack: "Layi's great. Best woman that ever dumped me." Will_GM: "Oh. *She* dumped *you*?" Jack: "I know, hard to believe. Heh heh heh." Jack remembers Grace doesn't do sarcasm well. Will_GM: "Heh." Jack looks over at her. Will_GM: She looks pensive. Jack: "What's the matter, Grace?" Will_GM: "You don't still have feelings for her, do you? I mean, I'm who you..." She looks over at you. Will_GM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Will_GM (3d6) and gets 11. Will_GM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Will_GM (3d6) and gets 15. Jack: "You're what, Grace? The woman I just met today?" Will_GM: Nothing happens as a result of the rolls you just saw. Jack: lol Katalina: heeh Ellis: Of course, of course... Fearless: shyeah, riiiiiiight!... ;) Katalina: ooc: suuuuure! Will_GM: "That's... true. We did just meet." She sits back in the seat. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be pushy." Will_GM: +"obvious" Jack: "Hey that's allright. This is Philly, after all, the city that pushes you back." Jack: "To tell the truth, I can't figure you out, Grace." Jack resigns the cloak and dagger arm-chair psychology and figures he'll just ask her. Will_GM: "There's not really all that much of me to figure out. I'm just a girl looking for a guy to help her get through the world." Jack nods. "That sounds good. I do the same thing, not a guy but you know what I mean..." Will_GM: Literally. That's *all* there is to her. :^) Jack: lol Jack: "But what if I'm the wrong guy? Layli found out I was the wrong guy, for her anyway, after years of dating. You've only known me a day." Will_GM: "Less... I just met you a few hours ago. I don't know, I guess I'm an incurable romantic. Is there anything wrong with that?" Katalina can almost see the 'batting' of eyes hehe ;) Jack smiles. "No, not a thing. In fact more of us would make a better place. But it does get your heart broken a lot doesn't it?" Will_GM: Grace looks odd for a moment, then shrugs. "We all have to perservere. Some day I'll find the right guy. If I didn't believe that there was a Knight in Shining Armor out there, I don't know what I'd do with myself." Jack: "That's the problem. Every knight has a flaw and every bastard has some good points." Jack: "Let me take that back, that's not a problem that's the great part in life. Every flawed person is redeemable." Will_GM: Grace shudders. "The Good Book tells us so. Every man is a sinner, and every sinner is savable. But... I mean... there *is* an ideal out there. And if you stop looking for it, you'll never find it." Jack: "Sure, there's an ideal but not in one person. Each person, you know, reflects the ideals they like and try to be the best at them they can be. But no *person* is perfect." Jack grins. "Every Clinton has his Lewisnky." Will_GM: "Who has his what?" Katalina: hehe Will_GM: You arrive at Ortleibs. Jack gets out of the car and locks it up tight. Worse neighborhood than home. Jack: "Clinton. You know. The President." Will_GM: "Oh. Of course." Fearless: "*ex*-president" Jack: Ortleibs is a jazz club that used to be a bowling alley, so it is long and narrow. Ellis: Bah, he's still President Clinton as a matter of title. Katalina: depends on what year it is ;) Will_GM: 2001, October. Katalina: *grumbles* bummer 'tis the Bush.. Jack joins the group at some tables pulled together and orders. Fearless: Orc ;) Jack: He gets their three mushroom soup and a steak. Jack: "Do you like jazz, Grace?" Katalina: (umm that sounds yummy...) Will_GM: "This is jazz? It's allright." Jack: "The most perfect...it's a little like what we were talking about." Jack: "It's the style of music that embraces improvisation...everything isn't written down, pre-planned and perfect..." Nicole: Yeah, by matter of title, all former presidents are referred to as "President So and So." It's why it's confusing with two Bushes. Jack: "It's made up on the fly, within certain rules, a constant striving towards perfection." Ellis: I guess we just have to kill one of them. Katalina: ( hehe 2 bushes... more the merrier?? ) Ellis: HI ECHELON Will_GM: Grace orders tea and stirs it. "And so what you get out of it, is pure spontaneity. Which leads to something perfect which does exist: the perfect moment." Edward: nuke 'em both. It's the only way to be sure. Fearless: *snrk* Aliens ref Jack nods heartliy, excited at what seems like a new depth to the curtsying Grace. Katalina: ( hehe like the Genesis song.. with Regan pushing the red button instead of the nurse's button ) Jack: "The perfect moment. That's good. I'll use that. But only a moment, then it is gone and the band is striving again for that perfect moment." Jack: "It's all in the search, in the attempt." Will_GM: "But if a perfect moment can exist, why not a string of them? Why not a perfect second? Hour? Life?" Edward: because a moment, by definition, has no time. Will_GM: Your friends, by the way, are just following the conversation amusedly; Layli more listening to Grace's part. Jack: "Can't sustain it. You get tired. You're lip gets blown out. You hit a wrong note. The bar closes." Jack: "But you always know that, well at least until you die, you can go at it again the next day." Will_GM: "Part of the experience. You don't say, 'It was there but I lost it.' You say, 'I had the best night playing -- we closed the place down.'" Jack: "What's the Wordsworth? 'To seek, to strive, to yearn and not to yield." Fearless: o/~ Life's a journey / not a destination o/~ Jack: "Sure, that's a bit semantics, but sure. Every note is beginning and ending at the same time." Katalina: ( every dog has it's day ) Fearless: different song, Kat, but... Jack: "The perfection you look for is intimately tied to its own fading away." Katalina: I know ;) Jack: "It's all part perfection and part tragedy: love, music, life, everything." Jack: "That's what makes things beautiful! If a rose lasted forever, we'd get tired of them and never send flowers to each other." Jack realizes everyone is staring at him and gets a little embarrassed. Will_GM: Grace seems to get frustrated. "Tragedy. Who needs it? Why can't the girl get rescued and live and love someone and finally have something she can always hold on to?" Will_GM: Jack, Kim and Max are nodding in agreement with you. Will_GM: Dawn, though, seems to be rapt up in what Grace is saying. Katalina ponders on what Grace juz said...wouldn't that be nice? Will_GM: Bob is seeming detached, and Layli is giving Grace a piercing look. Jack: "Ah, literary criticism! Excellent! Ever wonder why the fairy tale ends with they live happily ever after? Becasue it's not interesting at that point. The only interesting thing is the struggle in the story before the perfection." Will_GM: Grace settles in over the food, saying "Difference in taste, I guess. To me, 'happily ever after' is the best part." Jack: "Sure it's nice. You have to try for it, right? You can't give up. But, look, do you know anybody who has had a relationship that didn't go through tough times?" Jack works on his soup, musing. Will_GM: Grace seems to slide into thoughtfulness. Will_GM: This is mostly the fault ofthe GM for starting to have trouble defending a viewpoint not his own at 1:15 a.m. ;^) Katalina: hehe Fearless: *heheh* Katalina: 1215 here Jack: "But people that know that everything isn't going to be perfect can tough out the bad times. The people I know that want everything to be perfect always cut and run." Jack: ooc: do you want to call it a night, WIlliam? Will_GM: I'm thinking. Will_GM: We're really doing very well, especially from the story's point of view. Katalina likes :D Jack: ooc: im tired, but i'd be happy to keep going. tis fun! Fearless: let Kat play Grace. ;) Will_GM: But I do think that if we're going to maintain the same quality I'm going to have to call it a night, yeah. Jack: ooc: nice to have a problem that isn't solved by shooting it! Katalina: hehe Will_GM: Ars: ... That's not a bad idea. Will_GM: I'll think about it. Katalina: cool :D juz let me know Will_GM: -------------- Session end -----------------