Sacramento Antique fair

[Chambers]

There was little more to say on the matter of books and the buying there in of, the other option being of course to steal which from sleepers or their foes he had no qualms about. Of course other more esoteric options did exist but they to were equally inappropriate topics for the current location. "I found expanding my business worked quite well because I was also able to acquire the rooms above the shop front." And while the store allowed the two Moros in the city to practice and hone their crafts the rooms provided space for awakened business. "Even an attic or a basement can be repurposed but the again I don't know what kind of business you have in mind." It seemed like quite shift from what he knew of his fellow mystagouge she had never struck him as the business type.

He looks mockingly hurt, even if he is genuinely taken slightly aback. "I tend to be rather good with my time management, but even so if a single vendor has lets say a few dozen pieces taking the time to examine each to any degree does ad up." And anything worth doing was worth doing right and well, no need to risk haste and having to start over again.

At the mention of carts. "Now that you say that I do think the fayre has a cart stall near the entrance, I haven't paid it much mind given I don't buy what I can not carry." Probably why it had not leapt to mind. "Because lighter then they look or not." And on that he was a little doubtful wood could get heavy quickly. "They are still large and bulky things." Two of them were more then a one person lifting job without a doubt. "But it does seem like we are getting them so shall we find the vendor and then see about a cart to make this a bit more manageable?" If it was feasible for them to be transported he was not going to say no to some storage chests.

Books and texts did sound the more appealing direction of those being discussed. "It might not pay well but it is also something you seem to enjoy so that counts for something, and besides that if your translating textbooks or studies who knows what else you might learn along the way." Now that that felt like a very good way of doing it, her skill and service offering access to knowledge that might otherwise not have crossed paths with, and the pay being what it was a necessity of the current state of the fallen world.

Listening with increasing interest mixed into the politeness it was a direction he had never considered, but then again Aurora specialized in areas he did not. "Same sensory experiences hinting at common experience of the same source then?" If he had understood her correctly, which better to check. "Myself I am a little broader in my theme, take the soul for example what civilization throughout history doesn't have the concept of a soul? And how likely is it that they all came to such conclusion independently if it was not based in something." They of course knew beyond a doubt the soul did exist but its prominent feature in so many cultures hinted at a broader awareness of it.

[Aurora]

The Shaman looked like she was pondering what he said, “That might be true for some businesses, but if I followed what I wanted to do, and opened a brewery, it would leave little space for a library.” Chuckling, “Brewery equipment, on a business scale, even small, is massive. But it’s been a dream for numerous years, and I don’t think it’s one that is going to get off the ground anytime soon. I’m stretched too thin as it is with everything else, I have going on.” Between her Mysterium studies, deciding her next Mastery, and her languages, she had too much on her plate.

Smirking, she laughs, “Again, go with your gut. If there are a few dozen pieces, surely, you’ve been drawn to pieces before? A gut instinct if you will. Sometimes it’s right, and sometimes it’s wrong, but it’s learning to listen to it, and what it draws you to.” Looking to him, “You’ve never had that?” was it just her as a Shaman?

“Ah, see! There we go! We can get a cart. Maybe they’ll let us buy it, and set it aside until the crowd dies down and I can move my Jeep closer.” Worth a shot. Nodding, “Yeah, bulky does tend to get heavy quickly, but I think we got it. If not, I think I can talk us into getting a couple guys to lend us a hand.” She could be charming when she needed to be. “Lets do it! They’re going to be a great addition and the storage is going to be very useful.” They were going to need it sooner rather than later.

Nodding, “I would like to at some point further my education with it, use the work as a foot in the door type thing. But it’s something else that is long term and on a long list of things.” She really needed to trim her list.

The nod this time was more eager, “Exactly! It goes a bit deeper, and I’m still diving into it with my research. I can’t wait to see where it leads me, even considered writing a paper and submitting it to some of the places I’ve been using for my research.” And of course, the Mysterium, but she keeps that to herself. “The soul? Hmm, an interesting and very deep topic. But you do hit on a very key point, every civilization makes mention of one. Which really does make you wonder, even if you are not a believer, what exactly is a soul, and why does every civilization believe in one. Now that would make for a fascinating study.”

[Chambers]

That seemed like a surmountable problem to the Moros. "If it did not come with anything you could use in the sale, would you not be able build a loft above the brewery to add space? Or maybe a shed or extension out the back?" And that it did not seem like a immediate adaption or change only made the options more viable. "Oh yes being stretched so thin is far from the most pleasant of experiences, but well it is what is." He to felt the pull of each every need of the consilium, path and order, he might be less active in the field then just about any mage going but the boring behind the scenes jobs still need to get done and as they fell to him well he did them. "However in some ways that is no bad thing on this front it gives you more time to find the right place, or save for something bigger then you might have first thought about." No need to say what the extra space was for.

He knows nothing is meant by it and takes it in stride. "I have made in the moment decisions before, or choices based on imperfect information where I have to trust instinct to substitute for what I don't know or have." Who had not, and then again his had not always been right either. "That does not mean I prefer to work that way. I've made impulse decisions in the past and they tend to go much more poorly for me then when I can study and plan and break a problem down." With that in mind. "And in this example for all I know every piece of the dozens is fake and i would be destined to loose regardless of the gut choice. Better to take the time to make a better choice then rush and make one I regret because it was made in haste." If something was worth taking the time to do, it was worth taking the time to do right.

Nodding as he pulls out his wallet. "I think the fayre puts the carts on and you can rent them, so we might not need to buy but then again I could be wrong I have never paid all to much mind before." But he ha come enough to recall a sign for carts near the entrance once his mind had been jogged onto the topic. Handing over the ask for prices in cash, no haggling or negotiating and a little extra when the vendor is asked to hold the items while a cart is fetched. "Let's go see if they have any left them shall we." Of course if the carts had all gone they might be in a more sticky situation. "And while I do not doubt how persuasive you can be." Not wanting to type cast but Aurora was quite the striking beauty. "Let's hope it does not come to that we're two intelligent and capable people we should be able to find a way to move a few heavy objects." It was not pride that stopped him, rather a dislike of getting sleepers, what he assumed to be sleepers, involved in anyway with anything that could then relate to the mysterium and awakened business, arms length or further was best where such things were concerned. Even the things that seemed trivial.

It brought in contrast just how difficult mages like Asclepius must have it, being an emergency responder with long shifts and on cal lat a moments notice but still able somehow to make time for awakened duties. In many respects they had it easy. "Do yo have a favorite subject to translate at the moment?" Moving the question away from ideas of business and profit and focusing it instead on to what are hopefully more enjoyable and rewarding elements.

Speaking of a long to do list this was the first he had heard of the Shaman looking to engage in academic writing of any sort, an interesting development to be sure. "I imagine the research to find links between myths and legends of things that share psychical features is going to be quite the broad study?" What culture didn't have its demons, its ghosts, its monsters and evil things that lurked at the edges and in the dark. An to make a thorough study of it would be a immense under taking. "Yes it's those points of similarities that really hold my interest the things that for lack of understanding the cultures I tentative call beliefs, the immaterial elements that crop up again and again. Why? How? What kept an keeps inspiring this civilization to document those ideas." If they had been no more then flashes in the pan then knowledge of such beliefs would not have survived to the current day, yet they had.

[Aurora]

“It just doesn’t seem like a good use for space when it comes to something like a brewery. Have you been inside one?” she asks, “I wouldn’t want to build my library in one, they can get very warm and that invites moisture if not properly vented. So I would rather have my library some place built for such an endeavor. I would feel more comfortable with my books housed in a space designed specifically for them.” Just her preference. “I just need to stop taking on more things once I finish one thing.” Laughing and shaking her head.

Having to agree, “It’s not an ideal way to work, that is true. But sometimes, you get lucky and find something. I suppose it’s that little part of me that still likes to take a chance, and sometimes, lady is still on my side. Not often, but sometimes. And if it’s a bust, then I just donate it when I clean out my closet.” No real loss.

The Shaman had expected a little bit of haggling, but seemed none would be had.

Shrugging, “I’ve talked people into helping me before. Don’t forget, I’ve bought pieces in the past to fix up, and most people are usually happy to help.” But she wasn’t going to argue.

“Favorite subject? Hmmm. History has been quite enjoyable so far, at least, the history of the language I’m learning. The country and its people, I find it helps the learning process and I get to learn about a new country at the same time. But overall, it’s Egyptian that is my favorite, I keep going back to that one. It was one of the most difficult so far, for numerous reasons, but the most fascinating.” That one would take hours to explain.

“It is a broad study, but I’m hoping to narrow it down a bit. Perhaps by region or something similar. If I go too broad, I think I will miss something and lose sight of the bigger picture. What I would love to do is take a trip and study the areas myself someday. Now that would be fun, go in and see the places with the most sightings, see if I can spot anything.” Chuckling, “Hey, you never know.” Doing her other research on spirits, ghosts and haunted locations was a lot easier, being a Shaman with a bit of Death magic.

[Chambers]

That was a fair point. "No actually I don't think I have been inside one." It didn't discredit the shed idea but Aurora seemed set against so the topic is pivoted. "Well the other consideration is would opening a brewery free up any space in your current apartment?" He had been there a few times now sure, but Aurora would know her set up best. "That I fear might be as close to impossible a task as having a to do list that feels manageable. I would settle for task only getting added when another is finished rather the piling on as they seem to do." Problems were not so considerate as to wait for a time as would be most convenient for them to arise.

Besides all of this he did of course have his mage sight active, and cloaked naturally and nothing was standing out in any way that would be deemed substantial. "You can get lucky yes." Fate was very much a thing they both knew that. "But I prefer to sift through the hay pile to find the needle then pick up a piece and hope it is." How much more time could you waste on fakes and dead ends, better to search for an actual lead, in his view anyway.

Had he touched a nerve? Unsure on that matter, it seems perhaps best to steer the conversation away from I a little. "Well If they do have a cart we can use that should solve things easy enough." And that he hopes would do well enough. Walking in the direction he thinks, hopes, the carts were.

Now academic studies this was a much more interesting conversation. "Yes I can see how the historical context could really added to understanding." A small smile slips past his easy quiet countenance as the topic of Egypt comes up. "An empire that spanned so long it had historians who studied it previous eras while it was still going." One of the great empires of the ancient world by sleeper reckoning and he had many suspicions of his own. "Did you know I was in Egypt when I first joined the company?" It had been one three countries he had been visiting with his own sleeper, studies.

It was her study after all, but well it felt like the kind where going broad would accomplish more then narrow. "Now a sighting of your own really would be something." And if there was any credence to the myths Aurora was far more likely then most to be able to make such things happen. "Would you use your company vacation time to go, or plan for something else?" There were time speaking in coded language was a serious pain, this was one.

[Aurora]

“I’ll have to bring you to a brewery tour sometime. They’re actually a lot of fun and pretty educational believe it or not. A few local breweries host them.” She enjoyed them. Then a laugh, “Not at all. I don’t have a whole lot of equipment, but I am amassing a lot of books.” But she didn’t seem too upset about it. “I got one huge thing done, so I feel like a big weight has been lifted. But now I feel like by focusing on that, I let a lot of things slide, so now I feel like I need to play catch up.” But she also knows that is probably something completely in her head.

A nod, “I get that. But I’ve been wanting to work on honing my gut instinct and listening to it. It hasn’t been too successful with finding anything special, but, doesn’t mean I’m not having fun trying.” It seemed to work better with people and spirits. She was also a bit iffier on having her spells up lately. Sure, she had ways to cloak them, but it still felt…wrong. But the more she did it, the more she would get used to it.

“The carts are very useful.” No disagreement there.

As the talk moves toward Egypt, “The history is just so massive, I get so lost in my studies at times,” a quite laugh and shake of her head, “a whole night is gone and the sun is coming up. I didn’t know that! You’re very lucky, it’s been added to my list of places to visit. Did you enjoy your time there?” now would she get to visit? That was a whole other topic in itself.

Chuckling, “That it would. But from my understanding, those seem to be quite rare.” Could some magic help make it happen? Maybe. Would she want to capture one for study? Oh absolutely! But, there was no safe place to hold such a creature. “You know, I wasn’t aware there was company time for such trips, I might have to look into that.” A thoughtful look, “I do have other research planned as well, but I don’t see that needing time off as I can most of that here in town.”

[Chambers]

That would certainly be a new experience. "Well I won't judge before I try it, I do assume drinking is not required though?" While mandatory drinking seems unlikely it was probably better to ask and make sure. "I've been trying to go alcohol free for about two tears now." To some success even. "Well then yeah I am almost fresh out of ideas." Short of getting very good at space magic of course but that itself was highly demanding of time and effort. "As is the way with those larger goals , they do tend to become rather all consuming." And the level of focus required to achieve them came with it's own sacrifices. "But maybe less catch up and more a refreshing change of pace, now your grand goal has been achieved the time to focus and cross off some smaller ones will I hope seem in any ways easier." Even if they ended up being stepping stones to the next larger goal.

On this it seemed they were understandably rather different. Hardly surprising they were after all rather different people. "I will say your gut instinct has served you well before now, when our colleague from the other department needed help you summarized the problem and solution in no time." Whatever the spirit had done to Skye, Aurora had worked out just from descriptions of the events what needed to happen. "So I will not say there is nomerit to method, it simply is not how I go about my own problem solving." By his reckoning why assume, when he could know.

Findign the [url=https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eda9c3665bf8326852b7c4d/e6b0dfa2-b225-46e8-9cb3-6d29419190cb/SAF-2023-June-EDIT-0436.jpg?format=500w] cart hire [.url] was not to hard one it was looked for however the carts themselves left a little be desired for the purposes they would need. "What do you reckon could we make that work?" Tilting his head a little to try and see if there was an angle that looked more likely. "For the removable parts maybe? Or even just to balance on so the wheels make things easier?" It still wouldn't be perfect.

Egypt certainly was an empire that didn't get enough credit for just how long it had endured especially compared to other equally famous but much more short lived endeavors. "Massive and equally broad, it might be a manageable study if it was somehow smaller but there is such a great deal you need to know during each age to really even try to grasp it." Like any civilization studying one part in isolation would fail to grasp most of the context. "I did not see as much of the place as I would like as I am sure can be imagined my joining the company had me ... rather busy." Lessons mostly. "But all in all yes I would say I enjoyed it well enough. I'd recommend a visit if the chance comes up." Plenty to be learnt, plenty to be studied. "When you lose track of time like that you know you have a good topic on your hands." A lot better then those nights where burning the midnight oil felt like a draining but necessary slog of creeping moments that turned minutes into hours.

Offering a small supportive smile. "Rare yes, but plenty enough accounts persist of people who claim to have seen or encountered what your are studying." Sure most of those would be sleepers, but creatures did exist even if the lie of fallen reality changed memories, distorted perceptions and stopped sleepers from grasping what they saw and encountered. They still know they saw something and enough research could well dig out grains of truth. "Practical experience in your field is never a bad thing so yes do look into what the company can offer to help out." There particular branch of the mysterium might be well rather skint as resources went all in all but mentors and sponsors could be had for almost any project of study that came to mind. "If it does it does, I not then equally so. Take the time you need to take on these matters, no sense rushing them." he for one was quite content to encourage Aurora in her academic pursuits, particular those the order might benefit from.

[Aurora]

A shake of her head, “They do offer free samples, but you don’t have to drink them. Some even teach you how to properly identify how each of the main ingredients gives the beer its flavor. I mean, it takes time to properly be able to pick everything out, but it’s a fun thing to learn about and see what people can taste. All and all it’s meant to be educational to those that want it to be educational.” She was actually good at picking out the flavors, but that was to be expected. “I had no idea, but congrats on two years! That’s quite the accomplishment.” And maybe she’d stop bring beer up. Nodding, “I don’t have anything big planned, so I foresee a downtime of smaller things.” She was allowed to take a small break.

“Oh, well that was applying logic to the problem. Having been in the field as long as I have, I have the luxury of apply what I’ve seen, and what would only logically make sense. It comes with experience.” Plus, when you tune out all the noise that wasn’t helping the situation and focus solely on it, it helps. “Everyone has their own way of doing things, and what works for one doesn’t work for another.” So if his way worked, then it worked.

Hands on her hips, she looks at the options, “Huh, well.” This wasn’t ideal. “Def for the removable parts, but we are going to have to balance, which isn’t ideal, but I think we can make it work. With some luck and taking it slow.” Nodding. “But if we balance it right, I think it’ll work.” This is a time she’d like to use her Space magic. Just move the chest to the Mysterium Wing with a simple spell. But, that’s not how life works.

A nod of agreement, “I figure I might need to try and narrow it down to really get anywhere. But when I try, I then find something else that is just as fascinating.” Laughing. “Can one ever see as much of it as they would like?” seemed like a valid question. “And I’m sure the company had you very busy.” She wondered what it would have been liked to have be recruited by the Mysterium instead of the Ladder. Would she have gotten to do more? “Oh, it’s on my travel list. But I have too much to keep me here right now. Though some day I’ll make it there.” Maybe for the company.

“I think I’d be more adapt to focus on the studies that I can do around here. I don’t have as much time put into them at the moment, but that can be easily rectified. Very easily. I know a few locations that I can visit to get it started even.” Hell, she knew a ghost. Not a very friendly one, but it was a ghost. “I’m able to adapt these studies to what I have, and I have more,” pausing, considering the location, “reliable sources for one right now. But it is good to know that there are resources I can reach out to. That will be a huge help in the future.”