Phantom Threads Pulled Taut

[Abacus]

Abacus sat precariously on one of the couches in the corner of the room, towards the back with one of those ornate, art deco lamps. A ceramic mug of piping hot coffee sat on an end table nearby. A book was wedged between his fingers. He read it at an odd angle, with his other hand cradling his face.

He had been reading Law's Empire for a good half hour before his mind started to wander.

What was the deal with mages and coffee shops? Were they all just closeted Bohemians, drowning their ennui, insomnia, and inflated sense of selves in caffeine? For someone who made a living in statistics, this was a glaring question that Abacus never thought to probe more deeply.

Nonetheless, here he was. He didn’t order anything special. Black was simple. Sugar made it somewhat more tolerable. He had heard the several orders before his own. Extra foam. Caramel drizzle. Cortado. They were all just differing amounts of milk and espresso. He couldn’t call himself a purist, but he was definitely boring by all twenty-first century accounts.

Maybe the café, like the Circle, served as a crossroads. Neutral ground where destinies could intersect. Where Harry meets Sally. Where the mission is accepted. Where you buy the souvenir mug for your mother and almost drop it.

Fate’s funny like that, and oddly consistent to boot.

[Mage ST]

Please read this post about the proper labeling and placement of threads. This is not a private location, and should not have used the 'private' prefix.

The OOC section should be regularly checked for new posts.

[Abacus]

"Just brushing up on theory."

He finished the paragraph that closed the chapter. Finally...he was getting to the good stuff. The actual argument! But now he had company, and as capable as he was at multitasking, the effort needed to do so would simply come off as impolite to anyone on the receiving end.

"What are you drinking?"

[Abacus]

"Black. With some sugar."

He put the book down on the weathered cushion next to him. He appeared to visibly relax while readjusting in his seat. He crossed a leg and drank some of his coffee. "Legal philosophy. This one focuses on judges."

"How do you know it's balanced, if you've never had it before?"

[Abacus]

"There's an adage about avoiding putting all your eggs in one basket. It's handy wisdom. And you won't get in trouble for sharing it."

Speed reading was one of the first things taught to Mystagogues. At least...it was the first thing he had to learn. How ironic that he walked the Path of Thistle and his first lesson was time management.

He went on about the coffee. It didn't really need elaboration. But he listened anyway. He supposed it was good practice for what came next.

"I read it once when I was in school. I got it, but I really didn't care for it at the time. But...given the circumstances at the office, I thought it good to refresh myself on what it had to say."

[Mage ST]

Shodan gets a phone call and leaves.

[Abacus]

Abacus would merely sigh and return to his book and his coffee.

We are subjects of law's empire, liegemen to its methods and ideals, bound in spirit while we debate what we must therefore do...