<@Brett> [Date: Friday: April 15th. Time: Unknown. Location: Herman's cabin.] <@Brett> [Previously: You met Herman. Yeah, that's pretty much it. Stupid internets.] <@Brett> [Start] <@Brett> ["I'M unaccounted for?" Alysha, or Iris rather, points at Herman. "Who's the guy who literally vanished off the face of the earth?"] * Shiho gives Nigel back his coat and looks around at the bookcases. * Sonia raises her hand just slightly. "Except from some guy on the internet." * Nigel tilts his head. "I don't think he literally vanished off the face of the earth. I mean... here we are, clearly on the face of the earth, and he is here." * Herman looks a little sheepish. "Yeah, I'd... uh, honestly kind of forgotten I'd given him that. Glad I did, though. I haven't been able to spare the energy to call people." Yeah, well. He has a habit of knowing crap he shouldn't. <@Brett> [Iris eyes Nigel. "We're not on earth at all."] * Nigel shrugs. "I suppose technically..." * Gordo warms his hands by the fire. "It's a good turn fer us that ya did." Anyway... sorry. Manners. Have a seat and make yourselves at home. Ask before you touch anything questionable. I'll probably say no. * Shiho looks over at Herman, then folds her hands behind her back and keeps looking at things. <@Brett> [Iris sighs and takes a seat. "I was looking for you for a long time. We could've used your help. Sebastian's looking for the Mandala, along with a whole host of other people. I don't know how they found out it's appearing soon."] * Herman frowns, walking over to sit down himself. He eases into a chair across from her. "Really? How did something nobody can talk about become public knowledge?" * Montana ... looks? It is not nearly as fun as taking things. He keeps an ear on the conversation, because why not. <@Brett> ["Good question. I mean Sebastian was there, but...." She shakes her head. "I'm at a loss for the fomori and that cult." She gestures at you guys. "I put a team together to try to stop them, but it'd be a lot eaiser with your help."] * Nigel is intent on the conversation between Nigel and Iris. (I'd hope that Nigel was paying attention to what he said! :P) We were told by Athena. Maybe something similar happened with them. (Ahahahaha XD) (Herman and Iris) (sorry. Cat is distracting) * Sonia says, "Ain't really the team I'dve picked to protect the fabric of the world." <@Brett> [Iris frowns. "I hope not."] * Shiho silently points out something weird looking to Montana and makes an exaggerated confused face. * Nigel thinks for a moment. "Are gods exempt from the rules?" Well, if the world fit in the back of a cargo plane, it'd be bout perfect. * Montana laughs. "Gordo's got a point. We need a bigger plane or some sorta shrink-ray-spell." <@Brett> [Iris nods at Nigel. "Yeah."] * Montana goes over to look at whatever it is Shiho's examining. It *is* really weird. * Herman glances over. "Don't touch that," he warns. "There's about a quarter chance it'll suck your soul right out of you." * Gordo moves farther away from it. Hands are behind my back, sir. * Nigel nods. "Well there are a whole host of things that could have happened, then. We know Ares is somehow tied up in this, and The Bringers of the Tenth Night have been causing problems, as well... Apep could somehow be to blame. Though, I surely hope not." * Montana takes a long step away and has his hands where everyone can see them. * Nigel looks up to Herman and clears his throat. "Sorry... The occult is sort of my specialty. I wrote a book, actually." <@Brett> [Alysha nods. "Apep could have told the Bringers, I guess... Does he even talk to his followers? And MMO's in league with demons. Orias might have told them...." Alysha shakes her head.] <@Brett> ["Either way, it doesn't really matter. They know."] * Nigel shrugs. "If Apep is able to talk to his followers than they have made more progress than I thought, and we have some big problems." * Herman nods at Nigel. "Sounds messy," he says. "Afraid I haven't read your book, though." * Nigel shakes his head. "I was... encouraged not to publish it by Cambridge... before they told me to stop going to work for a while." * Herman turns his attention back to Alysha. "I'm happy to advise and provide whatever I can, but I can't really afford to leave here. If I *could*, I'd have bloody well been back in England by now." * Nigel shrugs. "Not important, though... Carry on." (Swap those.) <@Brett> [Iris raises an eyebrow. "What's so important that it's kept you from contacting anyone for twenty years?"] * Nigel sighs and mutters, mostly to himself. "You and me both. I've been dying for a good cup a tea. No one can make a bloody cup of tea on the continent." * Shiho offers to Herman and Nigel, "I have a digital copy of the book on me, if you want to hook my phone up to a computer." * Herman leans forward, setting his elbows on his knees and folding his hands. "Have you looked at the sky here, Iris?" He turns his attention to the others. "Any of you?" * Nigel shakes his head. "'fraid not. Was too worried about dying of hypothermia." <@Brett> [Iris blinks a few times. "The sky? Is something wrong with it? I've never been to fairyland before. I just assumed that was how it looks."] Not sure what it was supposed ta look like, honestly. Stole my hair dye. * Sonia gestures upwards in sort of a spiral method. * Montana nods. "Yeah, it rippled, kinda?" It did? Fuck. * Herman puts a hand to his face. "I gotta refresh the wards." ... Should I ask what nearly ate us one the way in? Okay... * Herman rubs at his eyes, then says, "The other world - the one from *before* Iris jumped into the mandala - is still intact." He gestures up. "That's the weakest spot between the two of them." <@Brett> [Iris stares at Herman. She starts to say something, but her voice catches. She clears her throat, and asks, "Say again?"] * Gordo blinks. "Huh..." The old world wasn't destroyed. It just replicated itself... far as I can tell. Soo, hypothetically speaking, can we put Iris back? Or do we jus' wind up with three worlds? <@Brett> [Iris gives Herman a confused look. "It was destroyed," she says. Then shakes her head. "I mean, I thought it was destroyed. I had no way of knowing...." She looks at Herman. "What happened over there? Does Karin know? Is Alysha alright?"] Fuck if I know. People who aren't named Iris don't just jump into the mandala. I wouldn't advise it again. (Swap those.) * Herman sighs and says to Iris, as gently as he can, "I don't know." I came here to try to figure some of that out, and I ended up spending all of my time trying to stop them from crashing into each other. I'll, uh, keep tha' in mind if the opportunity presents itself. <@Brett> [Iris glances from Herman down at her hands. "I..." She doesn't continue."] I'm sorry, Iris. If I could see the other side, I would. * Nigel narrows his eyes. "So what you're saying is that we are dealing with parellel worlds that are existing simultaneously, and are duplicates of each other? Are there duplicates of the two of you over there, as well?" * Herman addresses Nigel: "I don't know." But if we *are* copies, it's strange that those memories are intact. * Herman glances at Alysha. "And that Iris is that body." <@Brett> [Iris looks up at Herman. "No insight on why that happened?"] <@Brett> [She glances at her hands again. "Why I'm in my niece's body?"] * Nigel nods, "I agree... Although, if the worlds were duplicated at the moment that you thought the other world was destroyed, I suppose it is theoretically possible that you would have retained your memories up until that point, and then they would have diverged. After all, you were already aware of the mandala." He stands up and starts pacing, because this is the kind of thing that Nigel thinks * Nigel on a lot... "Do ya happen to have a kettle? I'm wrestle a fomori for a cup of tea right now."] * Herman gestures offhandedly towards the kitchen. "It's on the stove. Tea's in the second cabinet up to the right." * Nigel nods and goes to make tea. * Herman then says to Iris, "What were you thinking when you jumped into the mandala?" * Gordo moves away from the fire in case anybody else needs to get warmed up and takes care not to touch anything if he can help it while the people who've had more than the crash course in the world is weirder than you thought. <@Brett> ["I was thinking I had to stop Shibamura," Iris said, then after considering for a few seconds.. "And that I'd probably die." Then a bit longer, "Then I I thought about what would happen to the people I left behind."] * Herman nods, prompting: "And those people...?" <@Brett> [Iris's eyes widen. "The three of you," she says, her voice almost a whisper. "And Karin." She grabs her head. "Oh god. Am I.... Did I do this?"] * Gordo looks at Iris uncomfortably, clearly not certain if he should go over and try to comfort her or not. * Herman frowns sympathetically. "Not exactly. But the mandala takes your thoughts and makes them reality, and you were in the center of it. That one probably got out and..." He gestures. "Did that." (-your) <@Brett> [Iris looks to Herman. "That's why Pavla isn't dying anymore. She kept her looks because I didn't know what she looked like before, but she lost her other gen-modded abilities."] * Nigel returns with a pot of tea and a few cups. One of which is full. He sits back down and sips it, and then just closes his eyes for a bit. "Now that's some proper tea, that is." <@Brett> ( No, that's the cursed tea ) (Did you not look at the labels, Nigel?) (Now, on full moons, he turns even more British.) (Werebrit.) * Sonia says, "Guess that's why you're dead too, huh?" <@Brett> [Iris glances at Sonia "More like stopped existing," she says. "My last thought was wishing I was with my best friend. Next thing I knew..... Well, I was."] * Herman nods. He looks at Nigel. "Pour me a cup, will you? One sugar." * Nigel nods and does so. * Nigel hands Herman the cup and sits back down. * Sonia waves her hand in the air in a see-saw motion. "Whichever works. Guess I have to start believin' all this shit happened now." * Gordo rubs his head. * Shiho stretches and goes to look at whatever Montana's currently eyeing. <@Brett> [After a minute, Iris shakes her head. "Alright. We've still got a mission to do." She looks to Herman. "And you can't leave here?"] * Montana is examining a crystal that looks like it has an entire forest in it. * Nigel sighs. "So... Perhaps we should bring up the reason we came all the way out here in the first place. Not that all this isn't very useful." Not unless you want the worlds crashing into each other. Or find a way to keep them from doing it so I can. * Herman sighs into his tea before sipping it. Well, uh, why are they tryin' to crash into eachother? That's, a wee bit outta my reach. * Shiho murmurs, "Oh, nice," over the forest. * Montana steps aside so Shiho can get a better look. "Think I see some deer in there. Least... I think they're deer." What else would they be? * Herman says to Sonia: "I think they want to be the same world again." He frowns. "I wanted to get Mab to help me on this, but nobody's seen her since before I got here." * Montana shrugs. "Elk? Moose? I dunno if there's a difference." * Nigel nods. "It makes sense. The worlds trying to both exist in the place that they feel like they should, that is." Uh... so why do they wanna be the same world again? You're makin' it sound like they need therapy. Maybe they do. It's just a theory. * Nigel nods and looks to Iris. "We uh... we should probably bring up the whole evil psychic clone trying to kill you thing. Shouldn't we, miss?" <@Brett> [Iris blinks at Nigel. "I nearly forgot about that."] * Nigel sighs. "Color me unsurprised." Maybe it's a regional naming thing? <@Brett> [She turns back to Herman. "We came across an old Asahara lab in Serbia, and now there's a psychic remnant of a dead clone out to kill me." She pauses, then adds, "It sounds like he was engineered from that long ago for just this purpose."] That's our Alysha. (laugh track) * Herman blinks at Iris. "Really? How is that possible?" <@Brett> ["At first I thought it was a prophecy." She frowns. "But now I'm wondering if it's Shibamura. He was in the Mandala with me."] <@Brett> ["Or his ghost was, anyway."] * Herman frowns. "Yes... if he lived back then... that would make sense." * Montana looks over at the conversation, then says to Shiho, "Got me. You ever see one in person?" I'm guessing it's still trying to kill you? I saw a herd of pudu once when I was still with Harry. Tiny little deer-things. <@Brett> [Iris nods. "Yeah. And I can't deal with it myself. I lost my abilities."] (change to singular pudu, apparently they don't like herds) * Montana nods, still looking at the forest-in-miniature. Mostly it's just been trying ta frighten us. * Shiho looks back to Herman. "Excuse me, sir? Where can I get one of these?" * Herman frowns. "That's a shame." Pause, then, "Not that I mind you getting in touch with me, but- huh?" He looks at Shiho. "Liverpool. I know someone who makes them; I can give you a referral, if she's still in business." Please, thank you. I could do with less of its brand of frightenin'. * Herman smiles at Shiho. "Just remind me before you leave." Amen. * Herman nods to Sonia, then says to Iris, "As I was saying, this really sounds like a job suited for a psychic. Why not Xuan-Fang or Mitsuji Ueda, or... Keiko Hanano?" * Nigel nods. "It was why we were so eager to track you down. There are only a handful of options that we have to take care of it. And I didn't want to deal with the Fae for anything more than travel." (Swap those.) (Swap_ ) <@Brett> [Iris shakes her head. "Xuan died last year. Mitsuji's too unpredictable. I doubt he could find out about the Mandala through mind reading, but I'd rather not take the risk, what with being pretty helpless about it and all. And Keiko?" She rolls her eyes.] * Sonia squints a little over her glasses. "That sounds like one option you don't like, and two other options you don't have." (Here's a plan. Don't trust Jamie.) (she's not a psychic) (so we don't have to) (It's true.) (Also, haha, THAT is true, Mitsuji would be like THERE'S A MANDALA? TIME TO GET IT.) <@Brett> [Iris glances at Sonia, then at Herman. "I was hoping you could handle it."] (Clearly what we need to do is get Atlas or Hercules to hold the world while Herman goes off and fixes it.) * Herman sets his cup down and looks Iris over. "I can try," he says after a few minutes. "But it'll take time." How long can you afford to stay? * Nigel shrugs and looks at Irysha. * Shiho is now known as Wingdance * Wingdance is now known as Shiho <@Brett> ["Not long. The Mandala appears by the end of this year. And there's only two keys still not in the hands of anyone in the know."] * Herman rubs at his chin. "I probably need a few days. Maybe longer, and that's just to figure out what to do about this." And then he looks at the others. "But nothing says everyone has to stay." * Nigel clears his throat. "I could help. Maybe... I mean, I don't know any really complex magic. Just tricks and such, but I am excellent at research." ( Can I PLEASE help Herman please please please? I'm your biggest fan!) (no homo) (I'll have you know that I am a big fan of the homo.) We don't exactly have reliable transportation in an' out of here. (Hey... it's not like Herman is like... Ra or Horus or something. Then Nigel just wouldn't be able to speak) <@Brett> [Alysha looks to Nigel, then Herman, then back to Nigel. "No, I'm the one it wants. I'm the only one who needs to stay here. And I need you guys to go to Hong Kong."] (But Nigel really IS good at research. Specifically this research. It's like... his job) <@Brett> ["The keys are important. Who ever has the most has the most effect on the Mandala. We can't afford to let the other groups get any more than they already have."] * Nigel nods to Iris. "How about we stay the night here. I'll help as much as I can, and then we'll leave in the morning... You know... in as much as there is morning here. I think we're all exhausted anyway." <@Brett> [Iris looks to Herman. It's his crazy cabin.] I ain't. I like the idea of you staying here anyway... Out of trouble. ( Not all of us are toasters, Sonia!) I can make room. It'd be apreciated. (i'm not a toaster) (so cruel) (montana, get your brother in line) (*tosses Nigel out the window*) (a strong line) (*tips hat*) * Shiho bows to Herman. "Please keep her safe. It might be difficult, she doesn't make it easy." She'll be fine. * Herman looks at Alysha in a 'what's that mean?' sort of way. * Shiho mutters something that might be, "That's what you think NOW." <@Brett> [Alysha grins and shrugs at Herman.] She likes to forget she's old * Nigel nods and smiles. "Well... we should get to work then, yeah?" * Herman stands slowly. "Yes, well... let me show you to your rooms. If you want to stay up a little longer, Nigel, I could use some help with the wards before bed." * Nigel nods. "Of course." (And is this a good ending point? ^^) <@Brett> [Alysha grins at Sonia. "Those early years were harsh, but I didn't know how much fun it'd be to be a teenager again."] Sounds like a fine plan. <@Brett> ( Yep ) <@Brett> [End]