(Blue Octavo) Group Therapy

Sep 28th, 2015 07:25 PM

So wrapped up in herself, Einstein can't read the people as she'd like. Meanwhile, Crowley with what facial features he has burned into his mind searches. Besides Jason – the obvious suspect –, there's at least a couple of others who might fit the bill. Here, the Enchanter might be more annoyed that the Murder did not, at least, step into the light.

Sharing makes a person vulnerable, it gives everyone power over that person. It takes trust, trust that this motley crue of people might help one another rise above and move forward. It's just like offering fellow cabal-mates your True Name in a sense.

Empathetic nods and a couple of whispers that it will be okay move through the crowd, even for Regina who convinces everyone around her.

“You have to take it one day at a time.” Jason advises Einstein. “Zero is not a number that you want anymore. Tonight, is your zero and tomorrow is the first day. We will keep adding to your number never will we subtract from it.”

**Crowley** · Oct 6th, 2015 03:50 AM

Crowley let the conversation wash over him while he surreptitiously eyed off the other likely candidates as best he could - he was not the most manipulative of people at the best of times.

As he did, the Enchanter tried to keep some distance between himself and the support group. Now that he was amongst them he recognised how much he probably needed the help. But he was not here for himself - he was following a lead. With that thought in mind, he struggled to remain objective and watched the ebb and flow of the group, trying to work out the social dynamics at play, especially where the suspicious duo he had spotted were concerned.

**Einstein** · Oct 6th, 2015 09:24 PM

Less distracted this time, Einstein tries to read the crowd again. She was fairly sure that, this time at least, she might be able to spot something.

failure

She was wrong. Once again, too focused on maintaining her charade of weakness - not something Einstein was suited to - her eyes fail to find any of the telltale signs of emotion, or the lack thereof. Regina chews on her lip and nods quietly at Jason, keeping her eyes downcast and pulling herself into a smaller space on her chair. "So...this might be...you know, rude, but...I heard there was a couple that died recently, and they used to come here? And, I figured, I mean, you guys might want to do a...you know, rememberance thing?"

If you can't spot an emotional reaction, force one.

Oct 7th, 2015 05:17 PM

So simple, to live within watchtowers – to fight amongst selves within Consilii and Assembly – and live within those bubbles. It's easy to forget that people struggle, survive, strive, and grow beneath them. The Awakened call them Sleepers, asleep to the Reality that each one knows like the feel of their own skin. Sleepers are awake, however to their own lives and each other. Sleeping implies a sophistry that doesn't exist amongst the sleeping masses.

Einstein, has forgotten this simple fact and it gets in the way of her reading those behavioral cues.

An abrupt silence fills the room, a tyrant preventing any speech and making syllables afraid to be heard. Many of them look down to their own hands, a way in which to be overlooked.

Finally, in an act that requires courage, Jason speaks. “Terrible thing. We set up a go-fund-me page for their family.”

**Einstein** · Oct 9th, 2015 08:12 PM

Einstein's teeth gnash together. The reaction wasn't totally unexpected, but it wasn't informative. Everybody going quiet and trying to avoid the subject could mean that they were complicit in the murder, or that they were legitimately normal people with a legitimately normal reaction to an uncomfortable subject.

Her hands clasp together, and she decides to push a bit more. "Do you...do you know what happened to them? Like...why?"

**Crowley** · Oct 9th, 2015 11:23 PM

Crowley really doesn't have to lie. He saw the murder with his own eyes.

"Oh God. Yeah... Uh... I'd like to contribute." His words are no lie.

He was starting to doubt their lead would go anywhere.

Oct 10th, 2015 06:45 PM

Jason doesn't say anything, turning his eyes back towards the rest of the group who shake their heads. Crowley's statement brings a murmured wave of interest into the support group. Jason, with a nose that similar to one swaddled in darkness offers the floor. “Please, then. Take your time in contributing.”

**Einstein** · Oct 12th, 2015 06:51 PM

With the lack of answers, Einstein lapses into silence as well, turning to look at Crowley to see if he had any ideas. She wished, for a second, that she was a bit better at the Mind Arcana, and able to push thoughts directly at Crowley. Silent communication like that would be handy for situations like this.

Instead she just stares at him, waiting to see what he does.

**Crowley** · Oct 13th, 2015 03:40 AM

Crowley is stumped. Well... not stumped. Not exactly. He's caught playing a role and he's got a couple of potential suspects but they are giving nothing away; not in this venue at least. The best he can do is take stock, make some mental notes, and let the group meeting run its course. Einstein will have to wait till they are well away before he will risk revealing his thoughts.

That the musician recognises his own need for the rehab group only complicates his thoughts further.

There is a hope - slim, facile, and desperate that he might be able to pick something up as the meeting drags on. He spends his time memorising the faces of Jason and the two others who might fit the murderer's profile. All the while he is apparently oblivious to Einstein's current broken persona.

Unless stopped, Crowley intends to ride out the meeting. He has memorised (I hope) the faces of the three most likely suspects. Unless something else happens that strikes him as... odd... he will be playing along for now.

Oct 14th, 2015 07:06 PM

… And suddenly, the meeting finds its end. The momentum of it murdered like a couple in a Sacramento suburb, by their very specter. Crowley knows that one of these people, rolling around in his thoughts, is the one; he just isn't sure just who.

Some individuals sneak out of the meeting, hoping to not make a fuss or not be noticed taking off. Others mill about, listlessly stirring in their coffee and taking the full measure of Einstein and her 'Sponsor.' The coffee is really only an accessory, just something to do with their hands.

No one really thinks they'll be drinking it.

Food Vultures – because every meeting like this has some – are packing up the store bought cakes and rolls to take home.

Any last actions?

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2015-10-06 03:44:57		Crowley tries not to look obvious rolls 5 to Manipulation + Subterfuge (10 Again, WillPower)		2, 10, 6, 2, 5, 5		1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2015-10-06 03:47:13		Crowley to observe group dynamics rolls 3 to Wits + Socialise (10 Again)		9, 3, 2		1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2015-10-06 21:20:37		Einstein rolls 2 to Read the crowd. (Wit + Emp - 1) (10 Again)		2, 1		failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2015-10-13 03:32:23	Crowley to pick out any unusual cues rolls 5 to Wits + Composure (10 Again)	9, 9, 4, 1, 8	3 successes
2012-02-09 18:46:51	Jim rolls 4 to Perception (10 Again)	7, 8, 6, 7	1 success

(Blue Octavo) Group Therapy

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