(Adventure) A Disc

**Cosmo** · Feb 10th, 2019 07:42 PM

Cosmo's lips purse together into a thin seem as the unintended consequence of his actions became clear. The unwillingness to accept the card and the expression on her face makes it clear the lady behind the counter felt threatened, and that wasn't good for the Apostate. Phoenix's ease with the shop keep seemed the better approach, and Winter was probably not helpful in helping her feel more at ease. Capitalism though? That he could work with.

"I apologize for the over-zealousness, can we try this again?" He said, looking down to the card he already had on the counter and back to the shopkeeper. "Five hundred now for the objects. Then you point me to the nearest ATM and I produce another five hundred for you."

He did his best to smile and relax to seem nonthreatening, given that was never the intention.

"My friend over there just asked to have it placed on the card, and this way you get a bonus and either more money to the business or bragging rights with your boss after you bartered such a good deal for them. Seems like everyone wins right?"

Of course the Awakened won more then the sleepers who cared about stacks of green matter, but that was something they didn't need to know. As long as the relationship stayed symbiotic and the items weren't lost to a dusty Athenaeum Cosmo called it a win.

Also 3 suxx to buy stuff

Roll

**Phoenyx** · Feb 11th, 2019 01:51 PM

Phoenyx came back with the figurine and set it next to the disk, rolling her eyes at the financial dick-waving of the two men.

"When you two are done with the rulers and posing?" Phoenix says pointedly. "We all want the piece, but this gets us nowhere. Several of our friends could offer useful insights into it. Trying to claim it for one's own vanity is not wise." the Arrow says, looking between them. "We are best served working together. But if you wish to continue, by all means." The Arrow steps back and leans nonchalantly on the doorframe, watching.

**Winter** · Feb 12th, 2019 07:28 AM

The Arrow doesn't know, because had she been aware of the real nature of the item, she would have been much less dismissive and more concerned about its ownership than she was otherwise showing.
But the Guardian can't let go. The disk is a Grimoire, it is his sworn duty to make sure no such item ever falls in the hands of the unworthy, especially somebody whom he never met before.

The mind of a Sleeper is a curious thing, capable of marvelous acts of ingenuity and at the same time utterly devoid of defenses. A bundle of neurons and gray matter that somehow ignited itself into the awareness of a soul. An Awakened will is different, it's a tsunami of celestial fire that washes clean the shores of the world. When the tide recedes, reality shapes itself accordingly. But this time his intent is to nudge, not to overpower.
Through the lenses of the kaleidoscope of time, the Guardian sees himself tinkering with the woman's. His arm ready to spring forward and seize the right future, the most beneficial probability wave to collapse unto their present.
Second time's a charm, and the seed of a thought is injected into the clerk's psyche. "Hmm, the older man seems to care a lot more about the disk. Maybe if he matches the offer..."
The Guardian pulls another fistful of bills from his wallet. "I'll match his offer, full cash", he says.

1 success

failure

3 successes

Stats

**Yumyumcrow** · Feb 14th, 2019 01:58 AM

If only one could have been a fly upon the wall watching this display of negotiating brilliance. In the end, pure greed won out.

The shop assistant was greedy. Greedy for the cash. Greedy for the acclaim. Greedy for the sale. Her eyes danced between Cosmo and Winter as they duelled it out, one with cash and one with card. It was a close run thing, in the end - and quite possibly Winter had a hand in making it so when the Mind Glyph bloomed from his aura.

Breathless, the gypsy woman grasped at the Guardian's offer. And while she certainly received cash in the hand, Winter found himself burdened with the stone disc, a statue figurine with enough cultural flourishes to pass for something from South Asia... And a cardboard box filled with oddments and photographs. The woman retrieved the box from the back room (and with some reluctance) handed it over.

The root-thought that Winter had implanted had done its work.

The duel for possession of the stuff was fantastic to read. However I am trying to move the story forward. In this instance Supernal magic beats natural persuasion.

There will be other opportunities - now that I see I have a hook

**Winter** · Feb 14th, 2019 04:18 AM

Well, if that wasn't a case of trickle down economics. The Guardian nodded to the woman, forking his hard earned cash. But there was no pain in this purchase, it felt good, and whether it was merely the fulfillment for a job well done or the gratification of having stolen a handful of candies out of the younger man's hands, he reveled in the thought.
He'll bid farewell, collect his recently acquired belongings and carry the box toward the door. And then he'll pause.

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Pride and envy were the first sins.

The Guardian stops in his tracks, looking back at the two Magi he speaks, "So, you two need a lift back to the Archaeological society? Too much cataloguing work to carry out for a single person". The younger man had put his wealth on the line to get an enchanted item out of a Sleeper's pocket. There was merit in his actions even if it was just money, and that merit was the basic unit currency of respect.
They'll study the item, and then the Guardian will decide whether it'd be wiser to keep it in the open or stash it in a dusty Oubliette.

Stats

**Phoenyx** · Feb 14th, 2019 07:34 PM

Phoenyx smirks. "Sure. This is a cultural artifact for me - I'd like to see what they make of it."

She falls into step alongside the Guardian, trenchcoat flapping int he breeze.

**Cosmo** · Feb 15th, 2019 10:52 PM

Cosmo could only watch in irritation as the storekeeper took the cash. The unprecedented shift in reality that allowed will to trump charisma was something the Theurgist would remember. When things were down to the wire it wouldn't be skill, luck, or circumstance that made the difference, but simple and unnecessary Hubris. The next time Cosmo thought to try something he'd have to remember to drop some kind of magic in tacit acknowledgement of the new order.

"I'm parked around the block." Cosmo said as he scooped up his card and returned it to it's leather holster. "I'll meet you there."

With an eye roll he walked past the mages and exited the shop.

I'm good to switch to the Circle if Crow doesn't have any objections. Who wants to start the scene?

**Yumyumcrow** · Feb 15th, 2019 11:21 PM

One new scene coming right up

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2019-02-10 18:26:20		Cosmo rolls 7 to be persuasive (Manip+Pers+SL+Resources) (10 Again)		4, 7, 10, 10, 5, 3, 7, 8, 6		3 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2019-02-12 07:03:45		Winter rolls 8 to Glimpsing the future (10 Again)		4, 3, 1, 2, 8, 2, 7, 6		1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2019-02-12 07:16:02		Winter rolls 7 to Inspire Improvised (10 Again, WillPower)		4, 3, 5, 2, 2, 5, 2		failure

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2019-02-12 07:16:19		Winter rolls 7 to Inspire Improvised (10 Again, WillPower)		10, 1, 9, 3, 2, 10, 7, 6, 7		3 successes

(Adventure) A Disc

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