Session Start: Sun Mar 16 17:31:46 2003

<ST> So, last we saw, Ken-Ken was pocketing train fare from 
Rendarien.

<ST> What do you want to do now?

<KenKen> "I guess our first stop'll be the teahouse in New York. Oh, 
but anyone got any questions for teacher?"

<Garland> "No?"

<Flora>  "Didn't the Duke say we had to go to Washington, Ken?"

<KenKen> "Maybe."

<ST> The big F troll enters Sariona's study.  He has a bag in his 
hand.

* Garland looks about to speak, then turns as the troll enters.

<F troll>  "Er, who's in charge here?"

* KenKen looks around for someone else to speak up. Darn. "Um." He 
raises his hand, looking uncertain.

* Arobryn give KenKen an amiable, thoughtful look.

<F troll>  "A PPPOOOKKAA???"

* Arobryn looks back and forth between the Troll and Garland.

* Garland smiles slightly to the side, then nods towards the Troll. 
"What's in the bag?"

* KenKen gives the troll a spiteful look.

<KenKen> "Do you know who I am?! Do you?"

<F troll> "That's for the boss to know and the new boss to find out.  
Tell me it isn't that pooka."

* KenKen has been hanging around Sidhe lately and puts on his best 
snotty voice. "Tell me, is the name 'Kenken' familiar to you?"

<F troll> "You're a pooka.  You're supposedly famous.  I don't 
believe it, myself."

* KenKen eyes him. "And *you* are?"

<F troll>  "I am the boss's head troll."  [proudly]  "All trolls are 
better than all pookas, anyway."

<KenKen> "Better at *what*, precisely?"

<F troll>  "At knowing quality."  Turns at once to Arobryn.  "Sir, 
you are clearly the leader here."

* KenKen mutters "Certainly not better looking..."

* Garland grins at KenKen's muttering.

* Arobryn blinks, and says, "His Grace said otherwise."

* KenKen winks at Garland.

<F troll> "Well, for this kind of thing, he mustof meant..."  [walks 
to Arobryn, and holds out the bag.]

* Arobryn sighs, and takes the bag, clearly amused by the Troll.

<F-troll>  "Count it.  I need you to count it."

* KenKen mutters, "And *well*, that's a jumped-up Commoner if I ever 
did see one."

* Arobryn sets the bag on a table, if there is one handy, and counts 
its contents on the table in front of the Troll.

<F-Troll>  "I was gonna be a baron.  Before.  Now..."  [shrugs 
unhappily]

<KenKen> "Still, messier, you are no Sidhe.  Not in looks or skill. 
Non?"

* Arobryn meets the Troll's eyes for a moment, then turns back to his 
counting.

<ST> [The bag contains dross.  This is a kind of portable glamour.  
It is in the form of glowing tickets.  The tickets mention a concert 
held last Mid-winter's eve.  There are 23 dross here.  That's the 
equivalent, upon destruction of each, of 23 glamour points.]

<F troll>  "I'd watch out if I was you guys.  Four a ya.  Ha.  I know 
two as kin take ya any time."

* KenKen asides to Garland, "I see why he didn't make Baron."

<Arobryn> [......pooka backward-sarcasm hurts my brain. :)]

* Garland lifts eyebrows and nods a bit to the troll, then asides 
back to KenKen. "It's the hair, isn't it?"

* Arobryn glances at the both of them, then looks up at the troll.

<ST> The Troll looks confused.

<Arobryn> "Anything else?"

* KenKen asides to Garland, "Well, the hair doesn't *help*."

<F troll>  "You're supposed to sign that there was 23 inna bag.  
Here."  [produces a pen and paper.]

<Arobryn> [Is it reasonable to assume this isn't some trap linked to 
the power of someone's signature?]

<ST> [you are wise.  Perhaps a Symbol of your house?  You could think 
of something else if you prefer.]

<KenKen> [I think that for 23 Dross, it's less likely to be a trap. 
Expensive one. but, you know.]

* Arobryn takes then pen, then looks over at KenKen.

<Arobryn> "He needs our leader's signature."

<Arobryn> [Or I can just pass the buck. ^^]

<f troll> "I gots great hair.  I gots strong fists.  I coulda bin a 
baron.  But now, boss don't trust me no more."

* KenKen comes over smugly and takes the pen. "And where is the 
leader supposed to sign?" He tailtwitches contemptuously at the 
troll.

<f Troll> "'Swhy ya gotta sign.  So the boss don't think I took 
none."

* Arobryn watches the troll's face, his own face serious.

<f Troll> "I dunno.  I don't care."

* KenKen eyerolls and signs KKtheMightyAndBrave in the appropriate 
place.

* Garland scratches his chin and waits.

<F troll>  "Sign 23 at the bottom. too."

<KenKen> [That way, he KNOWS it's from me.! ^^]

<Arobryn> [*snickers*]

* KenKen signs Ex-Ex-Eye-Eye-Eye.

<F troll>  "Jeez, you guys are toast."

<KenKen> "Oh, everyone loves a sense of humour." He winks.

<ST> The troll looks very unhappy.

<Garland> "And breakfast foods." He grins.

* Arobryn looks at the troll.

<Arobryn> "You may go, if that's all."

<KenKen> "Mmm!  I don't wanna be toast. I'd make a great Cheeri-o!"

<ST> [troll perks up.]  "You gonna get et?  That's what R -- I 
mean..."

<ST> <troll, to Arobryn.>  "Yes, Sir!!"  [turns sadly to leave.]

<KenKen> "Which one? Raggity Anne or Raggity Andy?"

<troll> "Yer boss tol me ta go."

* Arobryn blinks at "that's what..." and looks at KenKen.

<KenKen> "No, my underling told you to stay."

<ST> The troll pauses, confused.

* KenKen makes a vaguely apologetic gesture to Arobryn.

* KenKen says "Which of the twins, or both, wanted us to get et?"

* Arobryn looks back at the Troll, deadpan.

<troll>  "Who's askin?  An whatcha payin?"

<KenKen> "I'm paying with not tattling later."

<ST> The troll is at a dead stop now, trying to figure this one out.

<KenKen> "Me and Rendarien, we're like THIS." He links his two pinky
 fingers together dramatically.

<ST> The troll has his back to you.

* Garland nods to KenKen, then the troll. "Generous... but a good 
trade, I'd say."

<KenKen> [Well, then he doesn't see.]

<Arobryn> [His attention just on me, then?]

<ST> [yes]

* KenKen looks around for paper and a pen.

* Arobryn looks at him, and says quietly - relaxed, seeming confident 
there's no threat here -

<Arobryn> "Who wants us 'et'?"

* Arobryn rests his elbows on the table, and steeples his fingers, 
and keeps meeting the Troll's eyes.

<ST> [troll turns to face room, but looks only at Arobryn.]  "You're 
a real Sidhe.  You're a Titled Sidhe.  You need a bodyguard later, 
I'm your troll.  Right?  We got a deal?"

<KenKen> [pen and paper?]

<ST> [you have some in your sketch book.]

<ST> [there are some on the computer desk, too.]

<Arobryn> "Seems to me you're Rendarien's troll."

* KenKen quickly scribbles 'kick me' on a piece of paper, sticks some 
tape to it, then sneaks up on the troll who's very deliberately got 
his back to KenKen and is ignoring him.

<troll>  "That's what I usedter think, too.  But he's goin weird, all 
this schoolin an all."

<KenKen> [Gm, do I gotta roll to stick it to him without him 
noticing, or are we saying it works? ^^]

<Arobryn> "I don't want to offend my host."

<ST> [KK roll dex + stealth.  troll will roll per + alertness.  More 
successes wins.]

<ST> [diff 6]

<KenKen> [4 successes]

<ST> [KK, how many successes?  Troll has 4]

<ST> [you don't get stopped but he notices.]

<ST> [what do you want to do now?]

* KenKen turns the motion into, apparently, a pat on his back. "And 
such a good Rendarien troll you are, too."

* Arobryn puts the Dross-tickets back in the bag.

<ST> "I aint no Rendarien troll no more.  He's kickin me out.  Said 
so.  I'm leavin after I deliver this paper an get my pay."

<troll> "An don't you pat me onna back, you POOKA!"

<KenKen> "Well, I'm *sure* you'll be missed. Give Rolf a big kiss for 
me if you see him before you go."

<troll>  "Oh, he's already...  I mean, I wouldn't kiss that.. **!!%%
**"

* KenKen snickers.

<troll>  "So does we have a deal, Lord Arobryn?"

<KenKen> "Well, don't let the door hit you on your way out. Ta-ta, 
good fellow."

<Flora>  "I think you should take that paper off your back, Mr. 
Troll."

<KenKen> "..."

<ST> [:) watch Flora and Ken-Ken fight.]

<Arobryn> "Spell out the deal you propose."

<ST> [troll tries to feel for paper on his back.  rolled dex +athl, 
diff 6.  gets it.  Takes it off.  reads it.  Looks flares at 
Ken=Ken.]

<KenKen> "..."

<troll to Arobryn>  "No deal, if you deal with this dumbass pooka."

* Arobryn smiles, and repeats, "I wouldn't want to offend my host."

<ST> [troll whirls to leave.}  "Well, you won't offend him if you're 
not around to."  [marches out of the room.]

* Arobryn 's face loses what amusement it held the moment the troll 
leaves. He fixes KenKen with a *look*.

<Flora>  "Ken, why did you put that mean note on the troll's back?  
Couldn't you see he was miserable?"

* Garland rubs his eye briefly and watches the troll go. "... that 
went well."

<KenKen> "I can see he was an asshole!"

<Flora> "Holy wow, Ken, that's language!!!"

<KenKen> [looks angry and unhappy] "Yeah, German."

<Flora>  "Garland, did that sound like German to you?"

* Garland looks around at the others. "Lighten up, not like he was 
going to tell us too much we don't already know. We don't need to 
make a deal to find out that those twins aren't well wishers.

<Flora>  "Hey, Garland, you're right."

<KenKen> "Exactly. I just wanted to figure out if Brawn was working 
without Brain or if they were gonna try to get us together. I also am 
sick of being called a nigger by someone who can't spell his own 
name!"

* Garland looks to Flora and grins a bit. "Of course... I..." He 
stops and looks to KenKen. "... yeeeah. One or the other, or both 
together, it's all the same trouble."

* Arobryn stands up from the table and advances on KenKen.

* KenKen stands his ground.

<Arobryn> "Is there a REASON you want to start something?"

<KenKen> "Yes. Now, let's just go. Let's JUST go."

<Arobryn> "Did it occur to you that we could have gotten through that 
WITHOUT making an enemy?"

<KenKen> [1 success on Will]

<KenKen> "If he's Rendarien's enemy, he's already our enemy and he 
knows it. You should too. At least I was going to humiliate a pompous 
prick rather than get walked on."

<Arobryn> "Yeah, but now we have a /pissed off/ pompous prick, rather 
than an /indifferent/ pompous prick."

<KenKen> "And if Flora hadn't pointed it out, we would have been *far 
away* before he was pissed off. Your point?"

<ST> [KK roll manip + subterfuge or empathy, rest of you roll 
intelligence + subterfuge or empathy, diff 5 KK diff 6 rest of you.]

<ST> [results please]

<KenKen> [3]

<Garland> [no successes.]

<Arobryn> [3]

<Flora> [1]

<ST> [okay, so Garland, you believe that Ken Ken is dead on right.  
So does Flora.  Arobryn, you're not sure if KK is an idiot or what.  
You can keep on talking now.]

* Garland perks his eyebrows briefly and glances between Arobryn and 
KenKen. "Can we leave now? Or did anyone want to say prick again?"

<KenKen> "PrickprickPRICKprickprickprick. Prick. Okay! Let's go!"

<Flora>  "The thing is, he thinks he can like me now.  Even if he 
doesn't like you, Ken.  So if he wants to tell Arobryn or me 
anything....  NO. Don't say PRICK.  I mean, Holy Wow. I just said 
it."

* Arobryn snickers.

<Flora>  I think you're nice, Ken, even if you swear."

<Arobryn> "He won't tell me anything /now/.  Not if I'm dealing with 
'this dumbass pooka'."

<Flora> "He knows you have to.  Don't worry, Lord Arobryn.  You're 
nice too."

<KenKen> "That's nigger to you, Arobryn."

<Flora> -- very distressed "Please, oh please don't fight."

* Arobryn gives Flora a wide grin, then gives KenKen a wider one.

<Arobryn> "'Nigger' it is, then!"

* KenKen grins back.

<KenKen> "I mean, if we're gonna be prejudiced, we'd betta go all out 
wit' dat, ya?"

<Arobryn> "So what's the plan, Fearless Nigger.  Leader.  Leader, of 
course."

* Arobryn 's shoulders are shaking with laughter.

* Garland rubs his forehead briefly, then looks to KenKen. "Ready to 
go?"

<KenKen> "Second star to the left and straight on 'til morning.  Or 
teahouse. Whichever we get to first. Got the dross?

<Arobryn> "Could we talk elsewhere though?  Daggers and smiles and 
all that."

<Arobryn> "Got the dross."

<Flora>  "And should we pack?"

* Arobryn pockets the bag.

<KenKen> "Um, pack if you like. Where we're going, clothing's not 
required!" ...he wishes he could remmeber what happens to Enchanted 
Kinain in the Dreaming...

<ST> "Arobryn, should we pack?" says Flora, anxiously.  "Garland?"

<Arobryn> [Would she own..... /anything/...... that'll actually carry 
through into the Dreaming?]

<ST> [everything real she carries will go with her.]

* Garland shrugs a bit. "Sure, but keep it light."

<ST> [it might look a bit different.]

* Arobryn nods.

<Arobryn> "All right.  Let's meet.  Hmm.  Outside the dorm in an 
hour?"

<Flora>  "I mean, not clothes, I'll take clothes, I've gotta have 
clothes, but I was thinking, food, and water, stuff like that."

<KenKen> "...Right, food and water. Um."

<Flora> [anxiously]  "Does that mean yes, Ken?"

<Arobryn> [We had a discussion about what we eat in the Dreaming, and 
I don't recall it being resolved.]

<KenKen> "Why would anyone need to EAT?"

<Flora, relieved.>  "He does mean YES."

* Arobryn nods.

* Garland grins. "Yeah."

<Arobryn> "Food.  Water.  Hmm.  Weapons."

<Flora>  "I have some delicious nutrigrain extra vitamins power bars.  
For karate days, you know"

* KenKen grooms himself, still a bit disgruntled from earlier.

<Flora>  "Ken, your tail is so sweet.  You want some of my power bars 
for later?"

<Arobryn> "Power bars sound like a good plan."

<Garland> "So is  an hour or so good for everyone?" He looks around.

<Flora> "I have a couple of dozen.  But what about water?"

<Flora>  "Sorry, Garland.  Sure, an hour."

<KenKen> "Sure, Garland."

<Flora>  "Outside the dorm."

<Garland> "Flora, are you gonna be okay til then?" Tilts his head and 
looks over.  "You seem better, but..."

<Arobryn> "We should be okay for water, but a few bottles wouldn't 
hurt."

* Arobryn walks over to KenKen, and puts out a hand.

* KenKen blinks over, tongue sticking out.

<Flora>  "Well, Garland, it's been quite a day.  I'm sorry. I think I 
shouldn't have said that about the paper, Ken.  I'm sorry."

<Arobryn> "We're going to need to work together, and I've even less 
interest in making an enemy of /you/ than of the Troll."

* KenKen looks confused. "Enemies?"

* Arobryn sighs, and shrugs.

* Arobryn lowers his hand, but still looks amiable.

<ST> [in case you're interested, the only train for Washington leaves 
in 75 minutes.]

<KenKen> "Why would I be mad at *you*? You weren't waltzing in here 
and acting high and mighty. As far as I know."

* Arobryn gives KenKen another LOOK.

* KenKen looks very very confused.

<Garland> "... Alright then!" He clasps his hands together.  "Let's 
get going before we get in another snit."

<Arobryn> "I'm just going to drop it, then."

* Arobryn looks at Garland.

<Arobryn> "We'd best hurry."

* KenKen looks *lost*. "....Wha?"

<KenKen> "Snit? I just - I was..."

* KenKen shuts up and sighs. He rubs his forehead. "Right. Equip up 
then get to the train station."

* Arobryn heads for the door, stops in the doorway, and says "Did I 
say an hour? Half. We're in a hurry."

* Arobryn leaves without waiting for a response.

* Garland starts for the door, then shrugs in agreement and leaves as 
well. "See you in half an hour."

* KenKen shrugs and looks tired. "Sure."

<ST> [if everyone's quite done, you can all meet in front of the 
dorm, flag down the perennial cab, and get to the train station with 
about 7 minutes to spare.]

<KenKen> [.....]

<KenKen> [.......yeah, sure.]

<ST> [just trying to get you there.  Sorry.]

<Arobryn> [Sure.]

<Garland> [lovely. :)]

<KenKen> [Just trying to RP.]

<ST> [sore back.  Forgive, all.]

<KenKen> [I understand. If it's going to be too hard, call a halt at 
any time, we'll understand. If not, I assume we're at the station.]

<ST> [you're at the station.  ;)   There aren't many people there.  
One old man you vaguely recall seeing in Monarch's downtown, maybe a 
shoemaker.  Two students.  One solitary person, rather blond, waiting 
down the platform.

* KenKen looks at the rather blond platform person.

* Garland leans against a column and looks around at the others on 
the platform.

<ST> [KK how close do you want to go?]

<KenKen> [If we're on the platform, I can presumably see if I know 
him, anyway, as the word 'rather' implies he's attention getting.]

<ST> [good point.  You can see him.  He looks like an attractive 
blond guy.]

<ST> [you aren't sure if you've ever seen him before.]

<ST> [Is KK trying to discern if it is a fae he is seeing?]

<KenKen> [...sure. Let's Kenn.]

<Arobryn> [What's the roll on kenning?]

<ST> [roll perception +kenning, difficulty 7]

<KenKen> [1 success only.]

* KenKen kens!

<Arobryn> [1 success]

*  Flora does not.

<Garland> [1 success]

<Arobryn> [Should/can we do this on each of the people on the 
platform?]

<ST> All three of you except Flora know that the blond seeming human 
is really fae in disguise.  You can do this for all the people here.]

<Arobryn> [Ah, okay.  So we can't tell what Kith, then?]

<KenKen> [Totally sidhe.]

<ST> [Whew.  KK roll intelligence + alertness diff 4}

<KenKen> [2 successes]

<ST> [Ken Ken is sure right.  But how does he convince others?]

[after a brief cut argument...]

<ST> [Arobryn, you cannot possibly understand how a pooka thinks.  
You have every right to make an opinion about the blondish seeming 
mortal down the platform, same as KK did.  But then you roll to see 
how sure you are your guess is right.]

<Arobryn> [.....no.  I /RP/ how sure I am.  If my character's very 
/thought-process/ is dice-dictated, then what's left for /me/ to do?]

<ST> [anyway, I'll tell you all this for free, the reasons KK had for 
thinking this was a Sidhe were not right.]

<Arobryn> [That doesn't even matter.]

<ST> [Arobryn, what do you want to do here?]

<Arobryn> [Arobryn wants to look at each of the other people on the 
platform, and get information from wich to draw his own conclusions.  
Steve wants to determine what conclusions Arobryn reaches from that 
information without the help of dice.]

<ST> [go ahead.]

<Arobryn> [Thank you.]

<ST> [tell me where you're starting.]

* Arobryn takes a closer look at the old man.

<ST> [he is old.  He is carrying a suitcase and a shoe bag.  His 
shoes are brightly polished.  His hair is black.]

* Arobryn glances over at the two students.

<ST> [they look mortal.  About high school age.  One is a boy, and is 
trying it on with the girl.  The other is not really interested.  The 
boy has a walkman, and keeps offering it to the girl.  She is reading 
a book.  She is pretty, and he is kind of a gorf.]

<Arobryn> [Can I attempt ken on them?  And on the old man?]

* Garland looks over towards the exchange between the two teenagers.

<ST> [To Arobryn, yes.  To Garland, have you something in mind?]

<Garland> [maybe listening to what's being said?]

<ST> [Okay, go ahead and wander down the platform.  Or whatever.  
You're not really close enough to hear.]

* Garland wanders down the platform fairly nonchalantly, checking the 
time.

* KenKen just waits for the train and watches the blond fae idly.

* Garland sighs a bit and leans against the nearest column again, 
still within earshot of the couple.

<Garland> [Can I roll Kenning on them as well?]

<Arobryn> [So KenKen, Flora and I are still standing together?]

<ST> [yes.]

<ST> [to both]

* Garland looks over at the couple, then straightens and wanders back 
to where the others are waiting.

* Arobryn merely stands.

<Flora>  "I wonder when the train's coming."

* Arobryn checks his watch.

<ST> [the train is a couple minutes late, by your watch.]

<Arobryn> "Hmm.  Should be here by now."

* Garland gets in closer to them, lowering his voice somewhat. "Any 
of you notice anything about the couple down there?"

* Arobryn gives Garland a cheerful nod; no subterfuge.

<ST> [the train is audible.]

<ST> [the train is visible.]

* KenKen glances over to the couple.

<ST> [the train slows to a stop at the platform.]

* Garland grins slightly. "They shut up when I came over. Maybe Flora 
could get closer to them later on."

<Flora>  "Thanks, Garland.  You just say when."

* Arobryn nods at both of them.

* KenKen bounces and waits to board the train.

<Garland> "Thanks, Flora." 

<ST> <conductor:  WASHINGTON!  D.C.  ALLL AABBOOOOOAAAARRRRRD!}

* Arobryn approaches the door nearest where we're standing.

* Arobryn boards when the option opens, pausing to see that the 
others are coming.

<ST> [Flora looks at Ken-ken, waiting for him to do whatever he's 
going to do.]

* KenKen boards too, keeping an eye on the blond guy to see where he 
sits.

* Garland is following behind at a leisurely pace.

<ST> [the blond guy turns left as he boards, heading down the train 
to a farther car.]

* KenKen shrugs then. "Huh."

<Arobryn> [....is it a train that permits us to move between cars?]

* Garland boards.

* KenKen takes a seat, peering back to see if Blondie really has gone 
to a new car...]

<ST> [as far as you can tell, KK, he's gone to a farther car.]

* Arobryn takes a seat - are the others giving any sign of sitting 
together?

* KenKen turns back and would probably be sitting with the others, 
yeah.

* Flora will sit with Ken

* Garland takes a seat in front of KenKen, by the window.

* Arobryn sits with them.

<Garland> [Are there other people on the train?]

<KenKen> "...Sooo, did anybody else notice that blond guy?

<ST> [there are some women from the previous station, about five, all 
different ages, all wearing ordinary middle-aged women shopper 
clothing.]

<Garland> "Yeah," He turns his head a little.  "You recognize him?"

<KenKen> "No, but he was *such* a fairy."

* Garland laughs a bit.

<Garland> "That's all I got from him too."

<KenKen> "Upper-crust, by the look of him, high and snoot-mighty."

<Garland> "What about that old fella? Anybody get much of a look at 
him?"

* Arobryn nods.

<Arobryn> "Sidhe."

<KenKen> "Huh.  ....*huh*."

<KenKen> "Reaallly.  Wow, that's living up to stereotypes!"

* Arobryn smiles politely, and looks out the window.

<KenKen> .oO(Shoemaker!  Hee hee hee.)

<Garland> "I really hope the two on the bench weren't those 
twins..." He wrinkles his nose slightly, recalling the kissing he 
witnessed.

<KenKen> ".........Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwow."

* Arobryn glances at Garland. "I'm pretty sure they were fae."

<Garland> "If so..." He whistles and shakes his head.  "Some 
dedication." A pause, then he looks to Arobryn.  "Same here, the boy 
sounded worried we'd find them out."

* Arobryn glances back to nod, then looks back out the window.

<KenKen> ".....Oh wow. Would it be weird if I said that that makes it 
almost certain that they're not *not* the twins?"

* Arobryn gives KenKen an inquisitive look, then glances at Garland.

* Garland looks at KenKen. ".... yes."

<ST> <Conductor> "Tickets, please."  [coming along the car, and 
stopping only at you four, confirming the fact that the other five in 
your car got on earlier than Monarch.]

* KenKen hands his over, a bit jumpy.

* Arobryn does likewise.

* Garland does so too.

* Flora does so too.

* KenKen wonders if they'll try to cause trouble onboard or attempt 
to get us in the Dreaming. Hmm.

<ST> "You'll be getting off at the last D.C. stop then," says the 
conductor, looking closely at their tickets.  "Make sure you don't 
get off at the main station by mistake.  Glass House Station, you 
want."

* Arobryn glances up, nods, then looks back out the window.

<Garland> "Thanks."

* KenKen grins and nods.

<ST> "Funny, you're the second group today."

<KenKen> "Oh yeah? Who was the first?

* KenKen has every appearance of a trustworthy young lad. Yep.

* Arobryn feigns disinterest.

<Arobryn> [Arobryn is good at feigning disinterest. ^^]

* KenKen , one might say, is the ideal confidant.

<Arobryn> [But one would be wrong. ^^]

<ST> "Oh, that young couple, sweetiepies they are.  Thought they'd 
want downtown, after all, there's only industry and that one little 
bit of a woods out there."  says the conductor to Ken Ken.

<ST> <conductor>  "Some festival or something going on?"

<KenKen> "Really? What do you think they could want there? I'm a 
writer, you know. I'm fascinated by what makes people tick... a 
festival?

<ST> <conductor, who has now collected all new tickets, settles in 
for a chat.>  "I dunno.  Just when a lot of you young people get off 
at the same pretty small place..."

<Arobryn> [Maybe we should have bought tickets to the main station.  
Er.]

<ST> <conductor>  "I could write a book of my experiences...  Is it 
hard, son?" (to KK)

<KenKen> "Hmmmm.  We're just going out there to explore the woods. 
Double-date." He smiles brightly. "I guess triple-date if the kids 
are getting off at the same spot. ...Oh, it's like sweating blood, 
sir. Like sweating blood. But rewarding!"

<KenKen> "Nothing good comes cheap, right?"

* Garland looks amused, so turns to look out the window more.

<ST> <conductor> "And there was that group of five earlier this 
morning.  From down coast, though.  Not nearly as clean-cut as you 
four."

<KenKen> "Really?" He pulls out his artpad and makes a note.  
"Shaggy, then? What kind of group of five? This is great material!"

<Conductor>:  I didn't like the look of them.  Bite your head 
off as soon as look at you, them five."

<KenKen> "Kinda mouthy?"

<ST> <conductor> "Come to think of it, they did give a lot of lip.  
And teeth, hey, they looked as if they'd been filed.  Hope you don't 
run into them."

* KenKen makes notes in book - Party of Mr. Rhett Capp. "Thank you, 
sir. We'll try to avoid them. Though I hear punks tend to be more 
bark than bite."

<ST> <conductor> "I've heard rumours.  But you being a writer and 
all, you don't want to be listening to me."

* Arobryn glances up at the conductor again, and nods, then looks 
back out the window.

<KenKen> "Rumours?" He leans close. "That's the best kind of thing 
for a writer!  We take the rumours and make 'em more interesting. 
Please, tell me anything you know about that area!"

<ST> <Conductor>  "There'll only be the one taxi at the station."

<ST> "So if you want it, you should get off fast."

<ST> <conductor>  Well, there's a couplea twins get on sometimes at 
the Main Washington Station.  You wouldn't like them.  Mean, real 
mean.  One's got silver hair and black eyes and the other's got black 
hair and silver eyes but they're twins except for that.  Mean to each 
other all the time, except when someone else interferes.  They always 
get off at the Glass House Station.  Sometimes they have three or 
four punks with them.  I heard there was a place ...

* KenKen leans forward, listening with fascination.

* Garland perks up and gives the conductor more of his attention.

* Arobryn is still looking out the window.

<ST> <conductor> ... they go to, try to break in.  I mean.  I hear 
them talking later.  Pretend I'm deaf, sure, and me with 20-20 
hearing!  They keep saying they're after the Japanese bitch. Sorry.  
Their language, not mine."

* KenKen nods, shaking his head at 'their language'.

<ST> <conductor>  They went yesterday night.  Didn't come back yet.

<KenKen> "....They *did*.  Huh. We'll have to make sure to avoid 
them."

<ST> <conductor>  "Well, I should be checking on my other passengers.  
We're just about due in to Central Station."

* KenKen nods and grins and him. "Thanks for your time, sir. Can I 
get your name?

<Arobryn> [Central as in Main Washington?]

<ST> [yes]

<Arobryn> [Lemme know when the conductor goes.]

<ST> [he's gone]

<Arobryn> "Should we get off here, and leave them behind?"

<ST> [==> KK, sorry, he would have told you his name is Thomas Jones.  
And wanted your autograph.]

* Garland shakes his head. "Nah, they might get there before us. And 
if there /does/ turn out to be only one taxi, we're sure to get it 
before them."

<KenKen> [/me would have made up a pretentious name and signed it. 
^^]

* Arobryn nods.

<ST> [of course you would, KK.]

<Arobryn> [Tempestuous Kawfi! ;)]

<ST> <Flora>: "What did all that mean, Ken?"

<KenKen> "....Um, it meant that Raggity Ann and Andy are hanging out 
with a bunch of big nasties."

<KenKen> "Who will try to get us et.

<ST> <Flora>  "We won't let them." [determinedly]

<Arobryn> ["I hope they don't eat us.  I'd miss us." :P]

* KenKen nods at Flora.

<ST> [the loudspeaker announces D.C. Central Station.  Three times.  
Loudly.  The women with shopping bags etc. gather up their stuff.]

* Arobryn has stopped looking out the window; is instead following 
the conversatoin between the other three.

<ST> [as people move forward to the exit, two people come into car 
you are in.  They move to the front and sit down.  They are the two 
young lovers from Monarch.]

* KenKen gives Garland a significant look.

<Arobryn> [Which pair of us is facing them?]

<ST> <loudspeaker>  "Last Call!  Washington D.C.  Central Station.  
Next Stop, Glass House Station!"

* Garland is looking more at the couple as they enter then he is at 
KenKen, but looks back to the other three shortly.

<ST> [which of you is sitting facing forward?]

<Arobryn> [Din't decide, I don't think.  I think it's me and Garland 
across from the other two.]

<ST> [the doors are about to close.]

<ST> [okay, say you and Garland are facing forward, so you two can 
see the couple.]

<Garland> [Okay.]

* Arobryn glances up at them, then looks across at KenKen.

* Arobryn nods towards Flora.

<ST> <Flora>  "You want me to?"  [whispering]

* Arobryn shrugs at her, glances at Garland, then looks at KenKen.

<ST> [the doors close, and the train begins to move.]

* Garland looks to Flora and smiles. "Sure."

* ST <Flora> smiles, slips from her aisle seat, and wanders towards 
the front. [kay, here I have to roll for her.]

<ST> [each of you can roll perception + alertness if you want to keep 
track of her, diff 9]

<KenKen> [fail]

<Arobryn> [fail]

<Garland> [1 success]

<ST> [all of you just lose track of her.  The female teenager, 
however, seems briefly to freeze.]

<ST> [the female relaxes, and carries on staring stonily ahead.]

<ST> <loudspeaker> "Glass House Station, ten minutes!"

* Garland looks up briefly as announcement is made, then looks out 
the window to see what it's like out there.

* Arobryn twitches, slightly, and halfway-glances down towards where 
the 'lovers' are sitting.

<ST> [you see large expanses of industrial waste, with no sign of any 
chimerical beauty atop.  But in the distance, you can see a green 
spot, quite large, full of trees, you think.]

* KenKen watches out the window.

<ST> [the woods are within walking distance.  KK role intelligence + 
alertness diff 5)

<KenKen> [1 success]

<KenKen> "So, which do you like better - taxiying or walking?"

<ST> <loudspeaker> "Glass House Station, two minutes.  Passengers 
please remain seated until the train comes to a full stop."

<Arobryn> "Taking the taxi would deny them a taxi."

<KenKen> "...Well, yesh. But, well, it'd also... nah, any mundane'd 
know where THAT is, anyway!"

* Arobryn studies KenKen's face as he speaks.

<ST> <Flora> [sitting back down].  "Hi.  Er.  Hello.  Hi.  Yoohoo."

<KenKen> "....you! Hi."

* Arobryn looks at Flora, intently, but says nothing. He looks away 
again after a few seconds.

<ST> <Flora> "So, they only said one thing.  They said, "The twins 
may have really wrecked things."

<ST> <Flora> "That is, the boy said that.  The girl didn't say 
anything.  I thought she saw me for a minute, but then it was okay."

* KenKen blinks. "...Oooh."

* Garland glances over at the couple, then back at Flora.

<ST> [the train is slowing to a stop.  The young couple are standing, 
ignoring the loudspeaker's instructions.  They have moved to the door 
where the stairs will be lowered to the platform.  They are first in 
line.]

* Arobryn glances at the rest of the group, to see if any are moving.

* Garland gets up and also starts for the door.

* Arobryn gets up and follows.

* Flora follows too.

* KenKen follows along, bringing up the rear.

* Garland gets behind the couple at the door, fairly casually but 
rather close.

<ST> [everyone is looking forward, right?]

<Garland> [yes]

<Arobryn> [Yes]

<ST> <Flora> [yes]

<KenKen> [Yes indeed.]

<ST> [okay, so you'll have to roll perception + alertness.  
Difficulty 10 for all but Garland; 9 for him]

<Garland> [no successes.]

<ST> <Flora> [one success]

<KenKen> [1 success]

<Arobryn> [nothing]

* KenKen glances back.

<ST> <Flora>  "But I thought..."

* Garland turns to look at Flora slightly.

* KenKen eyebrow quirks and turns back to the group to murmur. 
"Blondie's at a station he didn't buy."

* Arobryn blinks, concentrates for a moment, then shrugs.

<ST> <Flora>  "That's illegal!"  [indignantly]  "I should report him 
to the conductor!"

<KenKen> "What's laws, anyway?"

* ST <Flora's eyes grow round. "Ken!">

* KenKen hushes her, winking.

* Garland grins a bit and turns back around.

<ST> [Flora's eyes widen to a grin.]

<ST> [who is looking at who?]

* KenKen looks back ahead, not attracting attention from the Blondie 
if he can help it.

* Garland is looking at the two ahead of them.

* Arobryn is watching Garland and the couple at the door. Glanced 
back at KenKen when he spoke.

<ST> [okay, then all three of you, and Flora, notice that the boy is 
suddenly looking a lot more blond.  And more fae.  And more familiar.  
And more Sidhe.]

<KenKen> [....someone we know?]

<Arobryn> [Boy out of the couple, not blondie, right?]

<ST> [tada...  more clearly by the second, the boy out of the couple 
is certainly looking like Rolf!]

<Arobryn> [Frick 'n' Frack. ^^]

<Garland> [... aarrrrrr.]

* Arobryn watches for KenKen's reaction.

<KenKen> [...matey?]

<ST> [now, you can use a roll if you want, since your suspicions are 
certainly aroused.  To see if the female is roanna.

<Garland> [Matey to the MAX.]

* KenKen eyebrow-raises and, in fae mien, tail-swishes. But doesn't 
say anything.

<Arobryn> [Kenning, or....?]

<ST> [Roll is to break a spell.  Use Perception + Kenning, difficulty 
10.

<Garland> [no success.]

<Arobryn> [1 success]

<KenKen> [1 success]

* KenKen nods at Garland and taps his nose.

<ST> [the train lurches to a stop.  EVERYONE has to roll to keep 
their feet.  Roll dex + athletics, diff 4.  Tell me number of 
successes.]

* Garland is looking the wrong way to see KK.

<Arobryn> [3]

<Garland> [4 successes]

<KenKen> [2. bwa]

<ST> <Flora> 4

<ST> <Rolf> 4

<ST> <Roanna> 3

<ST> <blondie> 4

<ST> Ken-Ken, where are you in this crowd?

<KenKen> [...Between the Blondie and my party.]

<ST> [okay, so when you stumble and lurch into the back of a seat 
handle, no one else gets bothered.]

<ST> [Arobryn, where are you exactly?]

* KenKen OWs.

<Arobryn> [Behind and a little beside Garland, facing the door - and 
Garland and the twins, I assume.]

<ST> [you're behind roanna.  She teeters backward.  You teeter too.  
Roll d10, 1-5 you teeter forward, 6-10 backward.]

<Arobryn> [forward it is.]

<ST> [lovely... /me gives evil grin.  The two of you bump into each 
other, big time.  What do you do?  You have the advantage here, since 
she couldn't see.]

<Arobryn> [Do we both keep our feet, aside from the bump?]

<ST> [Hmm.  Yes, I think so.  Your momentum might cancel.]

* Arobryn simply stands and watches for her reaction, ready with a 
wan smile.

<ST> [any of the rest of you who can see what is going on can do 
something if you want.  Split second here.  She's got great 
reflexes.}

* Arobryn is /ready/, /could/ go for his sword....

<KenKen> [nothing for me, I hit a chair.]

<ST> [decide on sword by the time I count to ten after I read this 
aloud once onscreen.]

<Arobryn> [Hand on my hilt.]

<ST> [She's alert, standing, furious, facing you with her sword in 
her hand.]

* Arobryn draws and steps back.

<ST> <Roanna>  "How dare you, you oaf!"  [She pushes Rolf backward to 
get sword room.  The conductor sees her pointing a carrot at you.]

* Arobryn simply smiles politely, sword up.

* Garland backs up against the wall more or less, to get out of her 
way.

<ST> Initiative, everybody.

<ST> [that means, roll wits + alertness, diff 4.  Lowest number goes 
last.]

<Arobryn> [3]

<Garland> [6 successes]

<ST> <Roanna> 9 successes

<KenKen> [...botch.]

<Arobryn> [KenKen passes out. ^_^]

<ST> <Rolf> 3 successes 

<ST> <Flora> 4 successes

<ST> <Blondie> 3 successes

<ST> KenKen what are you going to do?

<KenKen> [Since I botched ,I was thinking I wasn't gonna get a 
turn... um, I guess I'll attempt to do that confusey spell, hang on, 
I'll get the book out here...]

<ST> [you do it last.  That's what a botch means in initiative.]

<ST> Arobryn and Rolf and Blondie will all act at the same time.  
What are you going to do Arobryn?]

<Arobryn> [If I defend, I don't get a turn, right?  I'm looking at 
the quickstart combat rules.]

<ST> [you can parry at any time as long as you have dice in your dex 
+melee pool.  you don't need to say you are going to do it.  You can 
just say, I'll hold my action.]

<ST> [Rolf will try to draw his own sword, but there isn't room.}

<ST> [Blondie will pull the emergency cord on the train.]

<ST> [Next, Flora will go.  She is to far back to help with physical 
attacks except on Blondie.  She will ask Ken-Ken if she should go for 
Blondie.]

<ST> [Next Garland?  You've already moved back but you're close to 
Roanna.  What do you want to do?]

<ST> [you see we always start with the lowest initiative and say what 
we want to do.  Then anyone with higher initiative can say, "No, you 
can't do that, I'm going to do this instead."  And eventually when 
all declarations have been made, highest initiative goes first.]

<Garland> [For now... I guess I'll hold my ground.]

<ST> {Roanna will divide her dice pool of 8 dice into 5 and 3, 
reserving the 3 for a possible parry.  She will not say she might 
dodge, becuase her dice pool for dodging is dex + dodge and is only 6 
dice, and you have to use the smaller dice pool of dex + melee or dex 
+ dodge if you're going to split your dice pool so as to have dice 
left for further actions.]

<ST> [does that make sense?]

<Arobryn> [I think so.]

<ST> [okay, everyone's declared.  Roanna goes first.  She attacks 
you, ARobryn, with her sword.  She used 5 dice.  Difficulty is 6 
(it's a short sword, hence the carrot.)  She gets 3 successes.  She 
only needs one in a melee attack.  The damage done by a short sword 
is 2 dice Plus Roanna's strength.  So she will roll 5 dice with a 
difficulty of six to see what damage she does to you.  She does two 
boxes of chimerical damage, unless you soak.  Roll your stamina + 
chimerical armour, diff 6, tell me the successes.]

<Arobryn> [1]

<ST> [Okay, so she does 3 - 1 boxes of chimerical damage to you.  
Cross off two boxes under chimerical damage.]

<ST> Okay, next up, Garland.  You said you were going to hold your 
ground.  You cannot change that now.

<Garland> [Yeah... unfortunately. :)]

<ST> [Though you could, if holding your ground became somehow 
impossible becuase of what has just hapened.  Even then, a new action 
would be 1 higher in difficulty.  This is a learning experience, 
guys, nobody's going to die here.]

<Arobryn> [Thank you.]

<ST> [Next up?  Who was it?]

<Garland> [Flora, wasn't it?]

<ST> [thanks.  Okay, Flora says to KK, should I go for Blondie?  
She's pulling the emergency cord!"

<Garland> [... is Blondie no longer a guy?]

<KenKen> "Stay safe!"

<ST> [oops.  Gave it away.]

<KenKen> [Dammit, Jelly-sea too?]

<Arobryn> [Well, you did /now/. :P]

<ST> [KK you don't have to answer Flora.  If you're concentrating on 
a spell that will go off at the end of the round, that's okay.]

<KenKen> [....oh.]

<ST> [pretend you didn't answer that.  So now you have a choice.]

<ST> [KK]

<KenKen> [well, i'm concentrating on Fuddling R&R, so.]

<ST> [If you were concentrating on that, fine.  You don't even HEAR 
Flora.]

<ST> [So, Flora will hesitate and waste her action.

<ST> [Blondie pulls hte emergency cord.  The conductor looks 
relieved.  These people should all be getting off and they're not.  
He doesn't know what to do.  And hitting each other with a carrot and 
a -- what is it you're holding, to his eyes, Arobryn?]

<Arobryn> [An umbrella.]

<ST> [cute]

<ST> [lethal umbrella.  Does it have little teddy bears on it?]

<Arobryn> [Sadly, no. :P]

<Arobryn> [Arobryn doesn't want to be limited to girls who can see 
its fae form. :P]

<ST> [Kay, so Arobryn and Rolf go next.  Neither of you can do 
anything.  It is not impossible for Arobryn to hold his action, so 
hold his action he must.  Rolf already couldn't do anything.]

<Arobryn> [So when the /cops/ show up, I was wielding a decent 
improvised /weapon/, and she wasn't.  *WHEE*. ^^]

<ST> [So now we're down to you, KK.  You're casting Fuddle, right?  
On BOTH targets?]

<KenKen> [On the other hand, she drew her banana first!]

<KenKen> [Yeah, I think they're close enough together for scene 1, 
right?]

<ST> [you didn't strike her once, Arobryn.  The conductor will swear 
to it.]

<Arobryn> [*snickers*]

<ST> [yep, KK.  Okay, here goes.  First spell cast.  Fuddle is 
manipulation, right?]

<KenKen> [Yep, and chimerical]

<ST> [how many pips do you have in manipulation?]

<KenKen> [4.]

<ST> [cool.  Now, you are aiming at Sidhe.  How many pips do you have 
in Fae?]

<KenKen> [3]

<ST> [so your dice pool is 7 dice.}

<KenKen> [I only have scene 1, are they close enough togehter?]

<ST> To calculate the difficulty number, you have to tell me what 
level bunk you're using.

<ST> [yes.]

<KenKen> [Bunk level 2, I think.]

<ST> [Really.  Then the spell won't go off until the end of the next 
round.  Are you sure?]

<KenKen> [...1 then.]

<ST> [probably safer.  Okay.  Difficulty number depends on your and 
their banality.  Yours is...]

<KenKen> [3]

<ST> [their's is higher.  Your difficulty number is 5 + 4 - 1 + 1 = 
9, unless you want to use a glamour point or two to reduce the 
difficulty.  We're almost done here for tonight, go for it.]

<KenKen> [will use two points of temporary glamour. Why not. ^^;;]

<Garland> [yaay!]

<ST> [5 is the banality of one of the two twins, 4 is the usual 
number, 1 is the bunk level, 1 is because she's aiming at 2 targets.]

<KenKen> [HA!  FOUR SUCCESSES!]

<KenKen> [They're fuddled for... a day. ^^]

<ST> FOUR successes.  Wow.  Okay, it doesn't say you have to divide 
the successes among the targets.  So R&R are both fuddled, since 
they've done their actions this round, for one day.

<ST> [so, KK saves the day.  R&R think you're their best friends, or 
somebody not worth noticing.  All of you.  For a day.]

<Garland> [/me laaaaughs.]

<KenKen> [/me grooms. ^^]

<ST> [The train is stopped.  The door is open.  The conductor is 
gathering reinforcements.  Blondie is coming up from behind.  What do 
you want to do?]

* KenKen gestures and leaps out the door!

* Garland makes for the door!

* Arobryn lowers his umbrella, backs away a touch, then ducks out the 
door.

<ST> <Flora>  "Wait for me!"  [she jumps out behind you.]

<ST> [Thanks, Garland.  There is one taxi in the parking lot by the 
stadium.  The driver is standing there, bored.]

* Garland looks about for the aforementioned taxi, finds it, then 
glances briefly at the others before heading over.

* KenKen scoots after.

* Flora runs too.

* Arobryn runs after the rest.

<ST> <taxi driver> "Where to, folks?"

* Arobryn blinks, and LOOKS at KenKen. KenKen-speak taxi directions. 
Crap.

<KenKen> "Glass house!"

<KenKen> [/me thinks that's right? ^^;;]

<ST> <Taxi Driver>  "Oh, you mean the Tea House.  Don't know why it's 
called the Glass House.  Never drink tea, myself."

<KenKen> "Maybe it's glass tea!"

<Arobryn> [..............wooooooooooooow. :D]

<ST> <Taxi Driver>  "Ah, er, yes.  I see.  Ah.  Get in....then, if 
you're sure you're okay."

* Garland smiles a bit, then heads around the otherside of the cab to 
get into the passenger front seat.

<KenKen> "I like tea. And glass. So it's a good thing!"

* KenKen clambers into the back.

* Arobryn climbs in after.

[Game Off]