On the Big Screen

[Animus]

The theatre brought out mixed feelings in Animus. First, it was big. Large spaces with little in the way of life were always off-putting. But despite everything, the lived-in resonance called to him, softening the blow.

As he walks the halls, ears perk at an oasis of sound. The shaman turns, drawn in as a moth to flame. One flicker of higher life. Apparently he was early.

A knock at the door, before he quickly moves out of sight around the corner.

For old times' sake.

[Avis]

The soft pad of feet sounded from behind him, still some yards away. The click of a door closing followed in their wake. A quick look on Animus' part revealed his partner in crime, wearing pretty much the exact same thing she had been the last time they'd knocked at Asp's door, but sans shoes this time. Yeah, except for the bit of variety in her footwear, Avis' clothing was undeniably homogenous, the one time intentions of her cabalmate aside. Not that Animus knew about that, but it was something Avis thought about often.

Not now, though. Now she was wondering what movie they should watch. She had a few ideas, but who knew what the others were in the mood for?

"Yo, Animus. Good to see you," Avis whispered, hands and arms moving through a series of weird mudras along with the words. Except, no, wait, they weren't mudras. Not mystical ones, anyways. It was sign language.

[Star]

"Dude. Is she mad or something?"

He wasn't sure why they were hiding. Sure, they Totally Did Not hide when Zoey was Needing Space, but he didn't know that they had to hide from Asp, too. Arrows, yo. They'd probably seen Asp mad. Had he? Maybe. She'd gotten a little testy when they were Totally Not Racing up the nugget wall. Side note? Sheer vertical surfaces that you're tied to make hiding pretty hard. So, he wouldn't know.

His head swiveled from the door to the pair, noticing the signing. Ouch. Elder. Animus. Suck it up. Maybe the guy didn't have any friends. Trying to ignore the jelly? Like stuffing a big green bean bag into a tennis ball can. He jumped up and down on it until it fit. Popped on the plastic lid labeled You Know You're Being Irrational Right to seal it.

"Hi. Elder. Uh, Animus." One day? He'd figure that Form of Address puzzle out.

The pillow, yes, pillow, movies are Serious Business, was shifted under another arm and he waved. A socked foot pointed at the door questioningly. Movie Socks. They're like Business Socks, but for movies. Eventually, he'd buy some Fuzzy Slippers, but that hadn't happened yet. When the lights are out, no one notices the hole in the sock over your left little toe anyway, right?

He studied the pair of Arrows. Because popcorn.

[Avis]

Avis shook her head and put a finger to her lips, signalling quiet.

Its a joke, she signed, mimicking a silent laugh, hands to belly and everything. Then the expression of laughter was gone, replaced with a simple, but genuine, smile. I see the light in you, she signed again, hands ending with palms pressed together, hovering in front of her like she was about to bow to Star. She didn't, of course. She wasn't appropriating Namaste, just borrowing a fraction of the sentiment. She probably should have cut out the anjali mudra, too, but what the hell. It seemed to fit.

[Animus]

Animus watches Avis' hands curiously, then glances down at his own. His fingers twitch, but fail to form anything recognizable as words.

Flickers of memory. How many times had he been unable to speak, out of panic or grief? Could there be an alternative?

The train of thought is interrupted by the outburst within, coaxing an involuntary chuckle. "Our agent has already infiltrated. You may as well give up now."

[Star]

A smile crept out, and warmth ran up the back of his neck and over his ears. He always blushed at jokes. Come on.

He nodded, and his mouth opened to say something when the muffled yell filtered through. Seriously, bro? The cat, too? Whatever. Can't fade this, yo. Eyes darted up the golden walls that mad up their Four Walls, and he turned slowly...

A hand stretched out, echoing his Imago: sliding the surface of the wall behind them around in front of the door, singing a silent angelic hymn to the Aether to weave threads even as built a prison of his own Mana to contain the Dark Funk from spilling over.

Ambient Mana coalesced into a paper thin sheet replica of the wall, directly in front of the door. The Illusionist finally cast an Illusion.

That? That's how you hide.

Hands shifted, gripping the pillow. Might as well toss in an ambush, too, right?

  Phantasm, MtA p.227, 3 Mana spent to Mitigate, 1 Mana to Cloak, No Paradox

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-10-08 18:45:00		Star rolls 6 to Phantasm Looks Really Real! (Int + Crafts) (10 Again)		3, 6, 8, 10, 7, 7, 7		2 successes
2014-10-08 18:44:39		Star rolls 6 to Phantasmal Wall!-2 Spell Factor Increased Size? (10 Again)		4, 4, 4, 2, 10, 2, 10, 1		2 successes
2014-10-08 18:44:03		Star rolls 1 to Paradox is Bad, Bad, Bad (10 Again, Chance)		8		failure

[Avis]

That? Yeah, now that was teamwork! Plus one hell of an improv. The pranks they could pull together...

The question, now, was what could she do to enhance their cover, or maybe to ramp up the surprise?

Well, there was one thing she could think of. Animus had talked about agents, and she could play off of that.

The image of a grizzled man, age worn as grey in his hair, face stern as a mountain, dressed head to toe in black, appeared in her Mind's eye. An effort of will and she projected the image outward so that it would psychically mask her own appearance, her hands flicking in a series of quick, atlantean Mudras to help focus her mind. Unfortunately, the idea of appearing as a man was alien and squirmy, and the potency of her illusion suffered for it.

  1 success to Imposter :C. Resist with Comp+gnos

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-10-09 00:54:36		Avis rolls 9 to MIB (Imposter:int2+subter3+Mind4) (10 Again)		4, 3, 4, 7, 7, 2, 8, 4, 6		1 success

The Agent