I was planning on asking Gavin if we needed legwork. The conspiracy kid at the scrap yard. Since he seems to want to stick his nose into this stuff anyway.
If no one else has taken the serial killer mission... I wouldn't feel right being in comfort at the Estate. As for the interview, I've continued my streak of making a horrible first impressions. Not sure yet, but might have too find an alternative method to accessing the information I was interested in.
I was planning on asking Gavin if we needed legwork. The conspiracy kid at the scrap yard. Since he seems to want to stick his nose into this stuff anyway.
That is an excellent idea.
The interview proceeds without any major hiccups that Kari would be aware of. Paula focuses more on her background, comfort with repetition, while Michael asks a few softball questions around ethics and HIPAA regulations.
This is a fairly low to mid level role, so they seem satisfied with Kari's answers.
"We'll be in touch with you in a day or two with an answer, you're one of the last people we've screened for the role, so you'll hear back soon. Do you have any questions for us?" Paula asks after wrapping up their side of the interview.
Exactly. You get the idea. Terrible place.
While we're on the subject of music, then, there are a few artists on Earth that are actually from Ruk and Ardeyn.
She leaves this without follow up, in case Terry's "we can talk music anytime" was actually a subtle "I'm done talking about it for now, though".
Could be either, really. Lovecraft recursions usually have nothing but negative impacts on those of us who visit, or have it visited upon us
If you start having nightmares about the Ancient One, please visit the infirmary
It's hard to convey feelings over text, but given that this text came without joke or smiley face, it's easy to suss out that she's being serious.
"God no. They looked like Klingon food to me. All right, whatever ritual you need to do, do it. You're about to have cha siu bao and it's going to change your life."
"Oh begonias, you're probably right! I bet it was something Star Trekky."
The ritual she observes before eating anything meaty seems to be quick and entirely internal. She closes her eyes, tilts her head upwards, then downwards, then opens them again.
"I'm so excited to try all of this, I don't think I can properly express it to you." She says, then takes a long sip of green tea.
The food arrives quickly, and Sabine looks like she's trying to restrain herself from putting everything on her plate, and then into her mouth, at once. She raises her plate to her face to smell most things before she samples them, and she seems to be trying to slow herself down so she doesn't look like an absolute monster at the table.
"These," she holds up the cha siu bao, "I would kill someone for."
"And these," she raises a piece of xiao long bao, delicately held between chop sticks, "reminds me a lot of something I used to eat when I'd visit Hazurrium. The ones in Ardeyn were mostly desert, and in the middle, a surprise flavor. One of my favorite treats there."
She looks at Charlie with a warm smile. "Now they're one of my favorite treats here."
"Which ones are your favorite?"
Will do.
"Oh begonias, you're probably right! I bet it was something Star Trekky."
"Begonias?" Charlie asks with a spreading grin.
"Which ones are your favorite?"
"The cha siu bao, but the shumai are a close second. Can't go wrong with the sesame balls, either." Charlie eats some more. "Well, here's the good news. It's very easy to get me to go out for dim sum. So any time you want it, it's just a translation away."
When the meal is over, Charlie escorts Sabine outside. His hand finds hers automatically as they come out into the Seattle evening. "We have some time before the movie, so I was thinking a walk? You're going to have to get your appetite back up for all the popcorn and candy you want to eat." He says this like he's trying to tease her, but there's too much genuine affection in his voice to get more than the mildest sting.
"I hope it's not too forward, but I was kind of hoping you would tell me about Summer Meadows?" he says.
Done. We have a Strange skull here that probably should be dropped at the Estate before we move on to the next thing. Unless Brian was able to figure out what it does.
To Baruchiel:
Really? Who? Trent Reznor from Ruk and Joanna Newsom from Ardeyn? Too obvious?
...Terry also sends a text, on his actual phone, to Gavin. He thinks for a moment about which tack to take, and goes with official-sounding.
Agent Terry here, from the scrap yard. We have word that some unusual objects are passing through Seattle via the local thrift shops. If you run across any, please get in touch immediately.
"Begonias?" Charlie asks with a spreading grin.
"What? I came from a conservative garden." She says defensively, "I'd get the spoon if I said anything worse." Then she laughs, shaking her head. "There are some universal constants, I guess."
"Well, here's the good news. It's very easy to get me to go out for dim sum. So any time you want it, it's just a translation away."
She nods enthusiastically. "The Estate offers pretty much anything you could want. But there is nothing like eating the food where it's made from scratch, with real hands."
After Charlie mentions shumai and sesame balls, she heartily agrees with Charlie's assessment through a mouth full of said shumai, choosing not to speak, but instead making happy good-food noises.
"We have some time before the movie, so I was thinking a walk? You're going to have to get your appetite back up for all the popcorn and candy you want to eat." He says this like he's trying to tease her, but there's too much genuine affection in his voice to get more than the mildest sting.
"I'd tell you that I saved room for popcorn and candy, but that'd be a lie. A walk is a fantastic idea. Besides, if I keep eating like this, my wings won't take… wait," her eyes go wide and she stops to stare at Charlie. "I can eat anything. I don't even have wings! I don’t have to worry about lift!"
Another couple passing by give her a weird look, and she blushes, but maintains the grin, all the while lowering her voice slightly. "I'll go a little easy on the treats. I'd hate to have to come back to Earth just to go jogging."
"I hope it's not too forward, but I was kind of hoping you would tell me about Summer Meadows?" he says.
At this question, she leaves her fingers entwined with Charlie's, but she looks mildly concerned.
"I'm so sorry if you've noticed, it's… well normally I'm in much better control of my emotions," she begins by way of explanation. "If you don't mind a very short explanation on fae ah… anatomy and biology?"
I'm not sure who either of those people are, so they might be.
After a few minutes...
Trent Reznor does seem a little Rukian, but I can't be sure from such a short listen. I'll ask Fenwick about it, and see if he recognizes him.
Another minute later.
Fenwick told me I'm 'ridiculous', which could mean yes or no.
Another minute.
I don't suppose you've heard of Enya? Or Loreena McKennitt?
Gavin responds almost immediately.
Oh man I thought you were just yanking my chain before, like when you ask a girl for their phone number, and then they give you a fake one, and then you have to find them on Facebook and ask why they gave you a fake number? Why not just be honest?
Anyway, you got it, boss. It seems like everything in Duvall sort of just... went away. If that was you and your group, good job. People are still in mourning but there's not this weird sense of dread hanging over everything.
Done. We have a Strange skull here that probably should be dropped at the Estate before we move on to the next thing. Unless Brian was able to figure out what it does.
Good idea. Drop that off, let Ms. Manners know about what you found, and let's all get at least one good night's sleep. Then we're off to California to catch a killer.
Another couple passing by give her a weird look, and she blushes, but maintains the grin, all the while lowering her voice slightly. "I'll go a little easy on the treats. I'd hate to have to come back to Earth just to go jogging."
Charlie uses this as an excuse to lean a little closer. "It's a special occasion," he says. "You're seeing Jaws for the first time."
"I'm so sorry if you've noticed, it's… well normally I'm in much better control of my emotions," she begins by way of explanation. "If you don't mind a very short explanation on fae ah… anatomy and biology?"
Charlie blanches. "I'm sorry. That was supposed to be a softball getting-to-know-you question. It's not supposed to be at all stressful. I'm happy to listen to anything about anatomy or biology or theology, but if it's not something you want to share, you don't have to. I can tell you all about my boring parents and my boring siblings."
"It's a special occasion," he says. "You're seeing Jaws for the first time."
"Oh! That explains why you asked about sharks," she says with a laugh, leaning in to Charlie's lean. "I might jump in the theater, though. Lean into your shoulder a little. I can't remember the last time I watched media for fun, rather than academically, and I tend to get a little… immersed." She says all of this while maintaining eye contact with Charlie. Like she's making a promise rather than warning him of anything.
"I'm sorry. That was supposed to be a softball getting-to-know-you question. It's not supposed to be at all stressful. I'm happy to listen to anything about anatomy or biology or theology, but if it's not something you want to share, you don't have to. I can tell you all about my boring parents and my boring siblings."
"No!" She says, then lowers her voice a little, "no. You have nothing to be sorry for. I just always have to be mindful that people I'm talking to don't feel lectured at. It's very easy to assume that someone new to the Strange won't know a lot about worlds other than their own, but… I don't want to assume that and make you feel treated like you don't know things. Does that make sense?"
After the air is cleared there, she takes a deep breath.
"So the fae are creatures of magic and emotion, to boil the explanation down to its very essence. On Ardeyn in particular, the fae that don't leave, they are widely known for myths I'm sure you're familiar with. They're very… free with their love, with their angers, grudges, spite, passion. All of it. Civilized, but still, everything is on the sleeve, so to speak."
As she settles into the explanation, she seems to relax.
"And because we are creatures of emotion and magic, there is… I guess the best way to describe it would be the way we affect the world around us in moments of particular emotional spikes. It's those moments that define us, literally. So, I am of Summer Meadows. I was born on a seven moon rise during Suntide, the second month of summer in Ardeyn. With my emotions comes the warmth of the sun, the thick atmosphere of getting lost in a lush forest, the meadow you come upon to lay down in for a quick nap… or something more intimate." She looks at Charlie again.
"I met Agents from the Estate, I learned about what the Strange was, and what it meant, and I found myself fascinated with it. In order not to overwhelm or distract other students while I was in school, I had to work very hard to keep my emotions in check. Unfortunately for most people, and for humans in particular, they tended to associate my... aura, specifically with sexual arousal. And while that's certainly not wrong, it's not the only kind of arousal. So it confused people, led them to think I wanted something more than friendship. Or it upset people who felt like I was imposing on their free will by 'taking them' where they didn't want to go."
She doesn't shy away from watching Charlie's reaction to all of this information.
"And I didn't mean to do that to you. I suspect that because we seem to be enjoying a very nice connection," at this, the shy smile returns, "that this hasn't bothered you too much yet. But I am doing my best to keep even keeled. It's an aspect of who I am that has been valued, fetishized, rejected, shamed, and enjoyed in the past. And, well," she takes another deep breath, "I like you very much, Charlie Speck, and I hope it's an aspect of who I am that doesn't make you feel uncomfortable."
After she gives him some time to absorb that, she adds, "and I would love to hear about your family, and the life you lived before we met. I don't find those details boring at all. They are the network of happenstance that shaped who you are now."
See you all back at the estate for translation to California then?
Kari asks the right but slightly unusual questions. What is the current environment and culture in the department, that type of thing.
At the end, "I'm really excited to put my education to use in the real world." A bit of a smile, "Ms. Jone, Mr. Atkins, thank you for taking the time to interview me and I hope to be working with you in the near future."
After getting some sleep post-interview, Kari will take her time to translate back to the estate.
On arrival, she's send a query through the official system if any in-person interview is needed to supplement the written report she submitted.
And the following texts - all marked non-urgent to not interrupt sleep cycles if there is such a function:
Congrats on the release from medical jail. Let me know if you need any food delivers now that you might not have Abby and Baruchiel at your beck and call.
Hi Professor. If you have the time today, I'd like to get in a good practice session before our next mission. I had my butt handed tome by a knife-weilding manica and I'd like to be better before the next psycho.
back from earth
but we're going out again tomorrow os if i miss seeing you i get you've a ton to do
two faced, it sounds like the same sort of thing.
"Mean Girl is just the troupe, from that old movie in the 90s, it isn't gender specific." She laughs, "In my particular case, it was a girl in the same dorm as me." She turns introspective, "I fully admit looking back, there were red flags, but I didn't see them. It is two-faced, its drawing someone in, getting them to like you and looking like you are the positive good person, when you don't like or even dislike them." She shakes her head.
Smiles, "I was an utterly nerd when I started at the school and got razed for it. You aren't allowed the space to be an introvert in a boarding school." She shakes her head, "Just means I notice the small red flags now and avoid the people who raise them. It isn't a bad life skill."
"I can't remember the last time I really… enjoyed the food here at the Estate. There's something about having immediate access to literally any kind of food I want that takes the joy of sharing a meal out of it. Thank you for joining me." He says earnestly. "And I hope we can take a ramen journey together sometime soon, too."
Kari looks embarrassed, "I... gave up on the food system." A shrug, "I ordered a burger from a joint near the coffeehouse and..." She grins, "It's like the replicators on Star Trek. They can duplicate anything but it doesn't have the touch of food that is made by real hands, with pride and love that goes into it."
"Once I realized that, I just had the replicator give me the nutrition tablets." She catches his eyes and holds them, "If I'm not going to enjoy something, I don't see the point in faking it."
There is a pause, "I'm not good when I'm in places where I need to fake things in general."
Terry looks away from his tablet. "I can drive, but it will take longer," he says to Brian.
eYes to both Enya and Loreena McKennitt.
Are they from Ardeyn or just a convenient example? I have a lot of follow-up questions, but I will let you finish telling me first.
Terry pokes at the tablet to try and figure out how to text sound files.
Then he gets distracted by tagging people's names with the recursions they're from (as far as he knows).
Then he texts Because it would answer a lot of questions. to Zaika instead of Baruchiel.
Followed by Recall.
Retract.
Un-text.
Hi.
And then sends Because it would answer a lot of questions. to Baruchiel where it belonged.
Yes, that was us. There is something larger going on, and we need eyes on the ground.
Do you know Jimmy D's Exposing Seattle Secrets podcast?
He knows things, but is not "in the know."
He sits with it for a bit longer as they walk. "I like you a lot," he starts. "I imagine that's fairly obvious. And I do like the way you smell, though I hadn't planned to comment on it, just because it feels weird to admit to that. Even though everyone does it. But still."
"I don't feel like you're manipulating or taking advantage of me. I suppose I didn't really understand, and probably still don't if I'm being honest, that you're not really human. You look it, you act like it, but you're not. You're fundamentally a different being than me, and yet we still have this connection."
The sigh he breathes is ragged, relieved. "I'm a little reserved emotionally too. Not because I'm a magical being of summer joy or anything. I think because... I spent the last several years being lonely. I was so lonely that I didn't know I was lonely, if that makes sense? And then, my life gets turned upside down and you IM me out of the blue, and we start talking, and it feels right. I'm not alone. And then I meet you, and, well... you're beautiful in a way that I didn't know existed in the real world. And you open your mouth, and you're this brilliant theoretical metaphysicist who knows more about the nature of reality than I can dream. And you want to spend time with me watching a shark movie."
He looks at her. "You want to know what's intoxicating? It's not your scent, it's not your wings, it's not your eyes, it's not the streaks in your hair, it's that. You've judged me worthy of your time, and I find myself wanting to spend every single second proving you right."
Not really any risk - Ms. Jones and Mr. Atkins both seem to like Kari's pleasant demeanor and the questions she asks, and they let her go with a "If you think of anything else, don't hesitate to reach out, we'll be in touch with you in a few days!"
Ms. Manners responds to Kari's question about visiting in person vs. a submitted report by saying;
An in person visit isn't necessary, but I do like to see my Agents from time to time just to make sure they're doing okay. So if not now, then please be sure to visit after your next mission. I believe your pod has taken and completed two now, right?
Fenwick does take a while to respond, likely to do with being asleep when the message initially went out. So it's a good an indication as any that there's a 'do not disturb' feature available for the Estate messaging system.
Thank you! What did they tell you? They make me sound like such a monster
I'm not gonna say no to a cookie or three, though, if you want to meet up soon? I'd be interested in hearing how you're finding everything now that you've got a couple of missions handled
There will always be a stronger knife-wielding psycho, but of course I have time to work with you! Glad to hear you made it back safely from the stabbing
Assuming you're not still stabbed. It didn't happen at the Estate, right?
So glad you made it back safely! I'll be hornet
Honest, good grief; I had some ramen without you. But I thought about you while I enjoyed it. Hopefully that mask
… makes it better?
"I fully admit looking back, there were red flags, but I didn't see them. It is two-faced, its drawing someone in, getting them to like you and looking like you are the positive good person, when you don't like or even dislike them."
Aleph shakes his head. "What's the cliché, hindsight is 20/20? It's very easy, and normal, to overlook red flags when you're putting your best foot forward in a situation with another person." His eyes widen slightly, and he looks embarrassed. "I'm sorry, it's been a while since I've counseled someone in official capacity, I don't mean to counsel when you're not looking for it."
Once Kari gets through her explanation of the food system, Aleph laughs.
"It's very different. There are a lot of things about the Estate that are really fun for a few weeks, and then you just sort of fall into a pattern of ordering the same few things, sticking with what's tried and true, and treasuring the times you get off campus to eat real real food. Made with hands, pride, and love, as you say." He frowns slightly. "Unless you're like Valen. They've made it a mission to try everything once and I'm not sure they know the meaning of the word 'routine'. But maybe that's routine for them. Anyway."
There is a pause, "I'm not good when I'm in places where I need to fake things in general."
He returns the gaze, and takes a few moments to decide on his response before speaking again, with a half smile.
"I'm not either," he says gently. "I hope you believe me when I say I've enjoyed this time with you, and would like to do it again sometime, then."
They are both from Ardeyn. Enya, Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin, is fae. I don't know her personally, but I know her surname used to be Eithne of Endless Oceans. Loreena McKennitt is human, but lived in a village near enough a fae settlement to have picked up… tendencies.
Eithne's music had a very different effect on those who heard it in Ardeyn. She was banned from Hazurrium for 'interfering with free will'. It wasn't her fault, it's merely the nature of the fae. But here she is, for humans on Earth to enjoy, hopefully for many years to come.
After maybe a half hour or so, Terry gets a response from Zaika as well.
Hi! I definitely didn't get a bunch of other weird texts from you before the greeting, so your retraction definitely worked.
Buuuuut I'm gonna try to guess the question to your first text
Is the answer: Why is Zaika so awesome, and why does everyone speak so highly of her?
I do know that podcast, that guy's a loon. There have been a couple of maybe/almost stories he's touched on, but yeah, I think you're right. Knows things, but not even enough to be dangerous.
Is there something specific you wanted me to keep an eye or ear out for that might have been on his podcast?
……."You want to know what's intoxicating? It's not your scent, it's not your wings, it's not your eyes, it's not the streaks in your hair, it's that. You've judged me worthy of your time, and I find myself wanting to spend every single second proving you right."
Sabine has only enough presence of mind to move off of the sidewalk onto a strip of grass nearby so as not to disturb people walking by the pair as they talk. While Charlie shares his feelings, her eyes widen slightly, but she's listening intently and without that sense of waiting for her turn to speak.
And once he tells her what he finds intoxicating, her face reddens progressively, her eyes sparkle, and she stands on her tip-toes to cover his mouth with a kiss.
It's not the hesitant kiss of someone unsure of how it'll be received, and it comes with nothing more than the faint floral hint of perfume. In this place, she is human. Her lips are soft, and she doesn't linger long enough for the kiss to turn into anything unseemly for a first embrace in a public location.
She steps back a little with a bright smile on her face, looking a little dazed.
"You, Charlie Speck, are not alone. I am here with you." She says quietly, locking eyes with him. "And this is a beautiful moment."
She seems to want to say a lot more about what he shared with her. She starts and stops several times, then shakes her head with a laugh. "I'm not a magical being of summer joy. I'm just a woman, one who is very much looking forward to eating too much popcorn and watching a very famous movie with a wonderful man." She tilts her head a little. "I hope I didn't throw a wet blanket over the evening?"
Two missions, Ms. Manners but we had a debreif with you after Ardeyn so only one minor step into Halloween Land since we've spoken in person. I'll make sure to report in person following California.
Happily havent pissed off anyone here enough to get stabbed yet.
At your convience, working with you is my utmost priority atm :)
When they do get together, starts with a cheeky grin. "It's only been a few days, but I hope they've been good ones professor. I hope we did break anything too important by overloading the room with the dummies."
I'll bring you something better than a cookie.
And Kari goes up to the restaurant where she and Aleph had dinner and asks for a desert the chef's choice (passing on how good both the oatcake and impossible pie were if Chef Alsep is in the kitchen).
estate ramen, totally forgiven. real ramen in tokyo or ruk and we might need to hae words
nothing to worry about in the mission since all the kids made it out scotfree. admit to being a little worried about them getting into worse trouble on their own because at least one if not more have have a spark and now have an inclining of whats possible.
is that wh...
no. thats work talk. sorry
"I'm not either," he says gently. "I hope you believe me when I say I've enjoyed this time with you, and would like to do it again sometime, then."
"Most enjoyable time I've had in a long time." Kari says honestly.
To Baruchiel:
Watermark. Shepherd Moons. Paint the Sky with Stars. She's fae.
A few minutes later. My mind is still in the process of being blown -- metaphor -- by this information.
And quite a bit later. I am listening to these songs again and trying to decide if this changes my feelings about them. Maybe it should but it doesn't.
To Zaika:
I am a human who uses technology. Nothing weird or wawkward about that.
Why is Zaika so awesome and yet she spends her time tending to others? Is she sec
The appropriate amount of time later to account for someone counting slowly backwards from ten to one, the next texts come in.
Why does the keyboard have delete so close to send?
Because it would answer a lot of questions.
Long day but I didn't get stabbed. Do you see physical wounds from other recursions or only ones that happen at the Estate?
Ugh sorry random work question was not what I meant to ask.
Terry sends information for the most relevant podcast episode. "I will give you a business card proper when next we meet."
It's not the hesitant kiss of someone unsure of how it'll be received, and it comes with nothing more than the faint floral hint of perfume. In this place, she is human. Her lips are soft, and she doesn't linger long enough for the kiss to turn into anything unseemly for a first embrace in a public location.
Charlie's fingertips rest lightly on her hips, as though he can't quite believe she's there.
She steps back a little with a bright smile on her face, looking a little dazed.
He leans forward, eyes still shut before he realizes the kiss is over. He opens his eyes like he just woke up from the best dream. [smaller]"Wow,"[smaller] is all he manages.
"I hope I didn't throw a wet blanket over the evening?"
He slowly recovers, the smile going from dreamy to present. "Not even a little," he says, his hand finding hers. "Let's get to the theater. Have you had Earth candy before? Personally, I like Junior Mints, but there's a lot to be said for M&Ms. You might be a Sour Patch girl, I don't know." The words are light, but the way he stands closer to her now, his hand assured on hers, says that what they shared matters.