(2307) Sanctuary

[Chambers]

Panting and red in the face, a shorter man pushes his Street bike into the North nave and leans it against the wall. Looking about him at the building. It really is the spitting image.

Hefting a bulging backpack off his shoulders, with a loud clang as the shovel attached to the top slips loose hitting the stone floor, he unzips it and pulls out a set of dark blue robes, with slate grey trim and accents. Quickly Donning the garment, a handkerchief is produced to mop his face as he catches sight of the conversing group. ‘Ah hopefully just who I’m looking for, the Consilium of Sacramento?’
He calls over, with just a hint of a British accent.

He Pulls an off-white smoking pipe from a pocket he sticks it unlit into his mouth and makes his way over reaching out for a rousing round of handshakes.

[Witch]

Settling back on her heels with her arms crossed loosely across her chest, Witch turned her focus on Philip as he spoke.

After he finished, looking to her and Winter , she was quiet for a moment, her stance still. Gathering her thoughts clearly.

"I mean ... yeah, it does sound like Free Council reasoning but that could be because you are Free Council so..." The small chuckle that followed was small and maybe not as enthusiastic, but it was an attempt.

Letting her arms open she spread them slightly, "I'm not ... sure I follow what you are trying to say though outside the obvious fight fire with fire theme? Will a bullet kill a Seer? I mean - it could today, sure. But like ... that's because the Lie is strong. Because of well... history. Back in the days of Atlantis it might not have. But now we have Paradox and the Abyss and the Lie who make the bullet strong enough to kill a mage. Without those - a bullet might be no worse than a mosquito bite."

"Your example is flawed, I think. It's more like ..." But whatever she was going to shift the example to would remain unknown as an unknown man made a rather attention-grabbing entrance.

And that was before he pulled on ... robes? Really? And a pipe? Blinking it took a second for his question to process.

"Ah- yes, that is us and you would be?" She made no immediate move to shake the man's offered hand.

Unless Vincent objects, Witch is clearly including Philip in the "us" of the Sacramento Consilium and thus considering him acknowledged.

[Winter]

He closes his eyes for a moment, he breathes out, before pinching the bridge of his nose. "That's a different point of view, I guess", a few years ago he would have drilled the guy about how the world was a Lie and running the prison didn't make them any less than inmates with the keys to the inner cells. But he's changed, things have changed.
"Welcome to Sacramento, I guess", he says, echoing Witch's words, then another newcomer grabs his attention.

[Philip Crosen]

Had they just accepted him? He wasn`t sure, but what he was sure of, was that the mood had become lighter since he started his discussion about fighting fire with fire. And was that resignation? A different point of view? It sounded like that would have been a very interesting discussion as he seemed to be agreeing to disagree. He was very intrigued by Witch`s comment about bullet damage though.

" Thanks, it`s great to be here, but that`s an intriguing analogy, Witch, whether the damage ballistics of modern bulletsis dependent on the lie as a function of time. I`ll have to think.... "

Shrugging, he was cut off from going off into a longer thought process or discussion about the Lie as he noticed the newcomer and the discussion abruptly ended. He then took the offered hand and shook it.

"The name`s Philip, how are you? Sorry for not noticing you earlier. We were in the middle of a discussion about the Lie." He said, slightly apologetically.

[Chambers]

Watching each of the three before him as they spoke, weighing words, nodding as the young woman confirmed he was in the right place, offering a slight smile at the welcome offered by the more reserved looking chap, before momentary shock registers across his face, as Philip takes his offered hand, before quickly trying to regain the lost composure.
Someone actually accepted the handshake, damm it. There goes my easiest way to signal other Mystagogues. I’ll have to try a pass phrase instead.

He gives Philip a rigorous if short hand shake. Directing his introduction to the gathered three ‘Chambers.’ ‘Pleased to meet you, Philip, can’t say I’ve ever met one of awakened society so … humbly? named. And, there’s no need to apologise I would have been impressed if you had seen me earlier, given I just arrived, it’s my first time in this Consilium.’

Looking to the other two ‘Likewise A pleasure, any way in particular I should address or be addressing yourselves?’
Then turning slightly to take in the space, nodding in slow appreciation. ‘It really is quite impressive, I’ve seen London’s a few times, is this one to full scale from foundations to bell tower?’

Looking back to Philip as he'd been the one to bring it up. The lie was divisive topic and as sure fire way to make enemies as soon as allies. After a moment to consider, 'As far as the lie is concerned, people have been discussing that since it set in, you'll have to let me know if you make any headway.'

[Witch]

Touching a hand to her chest, Witch gave a pleasant if neutral smile as she introduced herself, "Witch."

She paused, glancing to Winter to give him his own chance for an introduction before looking back to Chambers.

"Your first time in Sacramento then?" she asked as he mentioned London. "Just here for a visit or ..." she let the question trail off. No need to begin the process of asking questions if the man was just notifying them of a temporary stay after all.

[Winter]

"The name is Winter", he replies back, his eyes studying the newcomer. "There are some differences", he says of the building.

[Philip Crosen]

He was intrigued by his getup on closer inspection. A huge backpack on the floor, robes, a pipe and a shovel? Who runs around with a backpack and a shovel of all things?

"Chambers, was it? I have so many questions. But first of all, I`m very curious to know more about yourself. Like, are you coming from or going on a camping trip with that backpack? And what do you need a shovel for? "

[Chambers]

Winter s' studies would show a man in his early to mid-thirties, with enough weight to him to suggest comfortable living, whose eyes follow the conversation, speaker to speaker, still a touch red in the face and showing the signs of being a little nervous, indicated most obviously by chewing on the pipe when not speaking. As Witch introduces herself Winter would notice Chambers gaze seems to study her hand movement for just a second.

Ah a response sign, as Witch lifts her hand to her chest. And one indicating induction of the arch or higher, very smoothly done. With the introduction conveyed now I just need to move through the niceties.

Picking up Witch ’s trailing question. ‘No no, I moved across the pond to Sacramento, oh almost 6 years ago, to study part time, turned a 3-year course with a year of practical experience into 6 and 2 years respectively, but hey ho means I had time for travel and extra-curricular odds and ends. I’ve still got the last 2-year stretch of lectures and assignments, and given I plan to keep studying after thought best to come say hi, see about getting stuck in, putting my skills to use’

Noting Winter ’s comment about the differences he does look around again ‘You’ll have to point out those differences to me, it seems quite authentic. If a little … well empty if you don’t mind me saying, have I arrived at off hour? Everyone book holiday at the same time?' The remark came with an attempt at a smile.

Manoeuvring the look around into a turn around to look back at his bag as Philip enquired. ‘Oh that, you might have guessed by the bike I don’t really drive so I need to carry all the stuff you would take, you know maps, first aid supplies, and so on with me. The shovel, well it’s for breaking earth, moving sand … shovel things. During those two practical years I found it rather helpful to have one to hand.’

[Witch]

One of Witch's eyebrow's rose as she glanced toward Philip. Camping trip? Shovel? Those were the questions that he first wanted answered? She didn't quite shake her head but turning back to Chambers she gave him a chance to answer.

6 years.

And if she thought for a moment that his talk of courses and practical experience meant of the arcane kind, it was a thought quickly disabused. 6 years of ... college work. She fought to keep the scowl off her face. Another mage who thought it was fine to just ignore the local Consilium and focus on their own selfish agenda.

Reigning herself in, she closed her eyes and took a breath. Not quite counting to 10. Yet.

Maybe he hadn't been awakened for 6 years. Maybe he came over when he was still asleep and only recently awoke and learned. Maybe.

"No. Well. Maybe? Our official numbers are small at the moment. Many of those who were here a few months ago were called away leaving just us. And just to make sure I'm not assuming - you are looking to formally be acknowledged? Right?"

And if he said no, he was just here to pop in and say hello. Gonna continue living and working in your city but not contributing ... well.

She wasn't sure counting to 10 would help.