Risk Assessment

[Cosmo]

Three letters were addressed, sealed, and left outside the wings of the Arrow, Guardians, and Mysterium at the Circle of Creation. Three letters that beckoned Phoenyx, Winter, and Campanella to an address and were signed by a mage who, for better or worse, has likely made an impression on the mages of Sacramento. The time of the meet was to be eleven thirty at night, and all were told that Cosmo had invited the other mages. The place was one of culinary probability left solely as an address. A place where one could find either decent entrees or days of culinary distress depending on their comfort with risk and how clean the diner was.

Entering the address into google maps would reveal it to be a Denny's in west Sacramento.

Cosmo was waiting out front, in blue jeans and a black hoodie zipped half up. Summer was waning into autumn, and nights were finally beginning to grow cold. A cigarette was tucked behind the Ladder's right ear as he leaned against the wall by the front door. He glanced back in, noting the absence of foot traffic and the skeleton crew left for the overnight shift. His eyes then turned upwards, looking to the skies despite the light pollution that masked his desired canvas.

A sigh escaped, and his attention remained fixed on the heavens.

Xadun Vincent and Yumyumcrow are welcome to join in.

[Phoenyx]

Stay clear of West Sacramento. The Hierarch's instruction could not have been made any clearer, and yet shortly after, Cosmo's letter arrived. The First Talon has an inkling that is was an Archmagus - after all, what kind of person would be so powerful and still owe dues to a Concillium?

In theory, it would mean they couldn't be everywhere in West Sacramento.... unless they were skilled in Space, which was impossible to tell. It didn't fill her with confidence, deliberately pushing that boundary, but backing out of this discussion would make her feel worse. The naivete Cosmo had shown about security must have a source. Perhaps he did have a logical argument, and though Phoenyx couldn't see it right now, that was the purpose of discussing with him.

And so, she rode her scarlet-red motorcycle up to the invited location, and dismounted. The Arrow was dressed in her usual simple, practical attire - simple red top, loose and functional pants. He long leather duster over everything. She withheld a sigh - a public place meant their discussions could be far less candid, but whatever. The field was just another challenge to overcome.

She strolled up to Cosmo, offering a small smile. "Good evening. Is this a favoured spot of yours?" She asked. Kaze's lessons on small talk were paying off.

[Campanella]

The Hierarch appears on time.

This time, Campanella appears closer to his old self: dressed in a midnight blue business suit with a light coat and a claret scarf wrapped loosely over his shoulders. His hair is in order and his features are a little less spare and grim; the stubble remains - whether that is an afterthought or a new affectation remains to be seen.

He walks up smartly, his face breaking into a private smile he shares only with the other Awakened.

Campanella the gourmand cannot help but stare (however hard he tries to deny it) at the eatery they gather before. The sniff and the disapproving twist to his lips speak volumes.

"A fine evening to be out and about," he speaks with welcome familiarity, as between friends and associates.

"I am not sure I like the venue though. Have you heard that the food can be quite... challenging... some times?" Briefly, oh so very briefly, his gaze slipped onto the Apostate. And then it was gone.

Was the Apostate making a scene? Laying a challenge. Possibly.

But Campanella could not deny that perhaps the location was code for a question he's have to answer at some point.

[Cosmo]

The Heirarch's message was clear but, really, if he was going to let Shodan try to boss him around why couldn't Cosmo try and push the envelope? Campanella got away from this person unscathed, so maybe the Ladder could do the same and get that encounter he had wanted. And if nothing happened? Then Cosmo got to remind the Concilium he was right about how overblown their rhetoric had been. Nothing short of death or mutilation would make this meeting a loss for him.

The Theurgist turned his attention away from the heavens at the sound of the motorcycle. His eyes lingered on the bike for a few seconds before turning to Phoenyx. An approving smile greeted the Arrow before she said a word.

"Hey." He said with a nod of his head. "Not really but it's dead once the night shift takes over. I already tipped the waitress to seat people away from us so no worries about disbelieving the sound bubble."

And with that another approached. Cleaned up from his disheveled appearance, the Campanalla the Concilium was used to returned to his more refined dignity.

"Yep. It's twenty four hours though so just avoid the nachos and we're free to talk as long as we like."

Were there better culinary choices? Absolutely, but none in a location that served Cosmo's desires so perfectly. Much like real estate, tonight was nothing if not location, location, location.

"Should we wait for Winter or head in?"

His eyes flicked back and forth between the two mages, ready to walk or wait at their desire.

[Winter]

The Guardian seethed, he wasn't a sociable person to start with, and years ago he had concluded that the best way to perform his duties would be to keep interactions with other Awakened on a transactional level. People would often misunderstand basic pleasantries and common decency for a free out of jail card, and it bode ill with his work ethics.
Still, there was no reason to refuse the quite not-so latest arrival's invitation. There had to be a reason for convening a meeting in such a discreet location, things that couldn't be said in the open. And curiosity was part and parcel of the Guardians' job anyway.
The Obrimos parks his car. He knows this place, fancy enough for him, perhaps a bit too low-brow for Cosmo - though, appearances can be deceiving - and certainly far beneath the Hierarch's or anybody else's posh standards. But again, the Hierarch and Aurora dined at the Cortez. He smirks.
He pinches the bridge of his nose; lately Sacramento diners have attained quite the reputation and a more careful approach might be necessary.
His eyes roll back in their orbits, with the power of the supernal at his fingertips, the strands of Pandemonium are woven in a blanket around himself. Good enough; he tucks both hands in the pockets of his blue jeans, and lazily crosses the tarmac and the Group.
"Good evening", he says with a voice still hoarse with smoke.

  2 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2019-09-27 03:57:03		Winter rolls 8 to Incognito Presence (Wits + Subt[o.spec] + Mind) (10 Again)		1, 5, 2, 10, 5, 1, 2, 2, 8		2 successes

Spells

Incognito presence, pot 2

[Phoenyx]

Phoenyx clocks the smile at her motorcycle. It was her favourite thing in the world, a thrill of adrenaline and guilty pleasure.

An eyebrow raises as the Hierarch shows up. I thought it would just be us. He wants to try and make this all official? Fine.

"It is," she offers Campenella in reply, offering a tiny smile. "It is good to see you looking well, sir."

She looks at the building again, frowning slightly. Winter?

Surely enough, the Sentinel arrives. "I suppose we're all here. Shall we go in?"

[Cosmo]

"Good evening."

Where the Sentinel seethed Cosmo smiled. He was getting his way after all, and some context to the dramatic words that had been traded at concilium. Why would he not?

"Yep. I got us a table already so just follow me." And with that he was off and into the building to a circular booth in the back corner. He went ahead and scooched into it, grabbing one of the four menus that laid on the table.

"Order and then we get to it?"

He ordered his raspberry iced tea before unfurling the menu, looking to the others before continuing.

[Campanella]

Campanella's eyebrows rise in horror surprise.

"Of course," he says quietly, a pulse momentarily appearing at his jaw.

He follows the Apostate into the establishment, grunting in approval at the lack of clientele and obscured nature of their booth at the back.

He did not like the texture of the seating or the table. He wasn't too enthused about the wrap her purchased with his coffee, either...

[Winter]

He trails the group, taking his time to assess the room for potential threats. He waits for everyone to sit down, then he slides inside the booth. His back against the wall while his attention is divided between his peers and the entrance. "Just a tea for me, black, lemon".

[Phoenyx]

Phoenyx sits on whichever side puts her back against the wall, allowing her to see the surroundings. She orders an iced tea, and folds her hands in her lap in front of her, and waits for the waitress to pass out of earshot, watching for any nearby Sleepers.

"I suppose we should begin," she says in a low voice with a slight smile. "I originally suggested to Cosmo he and I should meet to discuss his thoughts from the previous meeting, and to lay any misgivings to rest rather than have them fester and cause more issues. Why he has invited you both," the Arrow inclines her head towards the Sentinel and Hierarch, "I am not yet sure, but I am sure he will tell us and you are welcome to join us. I am confident your thoughts will be insightful." The Arrow sounds completely sincere, because she is. Winter supported the security measures, Campenella had consented... This should be even easier than the Arrow had hoped. Still. No point getting ahead of herself.

The Obrimos looks at her Ladder pathmate. "Would you like to begin? If not I have one or two topics we could discuss."