Chapter 4: The Opiate of the Masses

[Toolah "Tuvi" Renee]

Tuvi reads over the news, quickly scanning the events of Cuba. Hmmm... seems Peter is doing his job.

When a copy of Calithin's contract on extra supplies comes, she takes her time to read over it. Being Dinari's assistant means she can make these kinds of decisions when he is too busy... or when he just doesn't feel like it.

Satisfied that the contract is in order, Tuvi has it sent to be finalized and copied then sent back to her. For some funny reason, she acctually wants to see Calithin again. Even if he is arrogant and annoying.

[Jack Kruschev]

Anthony awakes suddenly from a violent sleep.

"What the hell is going on?" he asks himself.

[Peter "Levitas" Barak]

The moment Bambi's fingers touched his own, Peter felt the spark leap from his skin to her's. That was one of the reasons that he wore the gloves: accidental electric transfur. It wasn't usually enough to harm, much like his aura, but even small electric shocks tended to annoy or at least confuse people. It was't like a static shock, it was vastly more potent, on the very verge of real pain. When she jerked back, he assumed it was because of the shock.

He rose with her as she tried to stand, keeping his hands close by in case she stumbled. His bare hand fluttered, not sure if he should offer it for balance because he was worried about shocking her farther. He'd likely already put quite a bit of current into her between the aura and skin contact. All of his extimidies tended to gather power: fingers, toes, ears, lips; when they contacted another person he gave them a shock, or a long steady low grade flow if they maintained contact.

"Don't worry about the chairs," he said, trying to sound comforting, "Just... um... try and collect yourself that was... almost a nasty fall." He knew he'd caught her perfectly, that she'd suffered no damage from the trip and likely nothing beyond a light brush from the inital jolt with the chair... but he also knew running electric power through a person did weird things.

By the same token, he didn't want to come right out and say he'd shocked her because 1) it was strange, 2) it would likely leave a bad impression, and 3) he might be legally liable for anything that happened and he didn't want to get sued.

But at the same time he was feeling what he thought was concern. It felt strange. He almost felt guilty because he hadn't been concerned for the people he'd recently screwed over in Cuba. That he was capable of actual concern made him worry about his ability to perfrom his duties correctly.

"Just sit down for a moment," he continued, grasping the nearest chair and attempting to right it while still keeping ready to brace her should she lose balance. "No sense in rushing and having another trumble, right?"

[Bambi Engel]

Bambi had felt a sort of distant pain when her fingers touched his, almost like when she was younger and had gotten some shoots. She moved carefully to the chair he had corrected and sunk down, shaking her head slightly. "No, but... I'm likely to have one by the end of the day anyway." She laughed lightly. "I don't know why but I always have to knock something over or fall myself a good few times a day, though it usually isn't this bad."

She glanced around the room as she spoke, at the upturned chairs. At least none of them had broken the windows or anything... This was slightly ridiculous though. A few moments ago she had felt like fleeing from him as if he was some type of big bad wolf, and then he was saving her from a fall. "I don't think anyone's ever caught me before, though. They mostly go for the things I knock over."

Turning her gaze downward, she ran her fingers along the arm of the chair lightly. After a few moments, she finally straightened up, pushing her glasses back up and smoothing out her blouse and skirt. "I apologize, again... I don't know how to make all this bother up to you, but I could leave you my personal cell phone. You won't have to go through the trouble of calling the HQ or anything. Sometimes automated messengers can be annoying to try to reach the people you wish to..."

So far, she didn't seem to be suffering any side effects from the electricity she had unknowingly been run through.

[††Venice "Cephrien" Ashgrove††]

Ceph and Sidapa had spent the next couple of hours moving through the Cuban City to try and collect more information.. though they were not able to get anything that they hadn't heard already. By now, they had ended up in a small city plaza, almost completely deserted with the exception of a few select citizens moving around.

By now, it was probably the best time to report.

"Call Violette and tell her what we've learned." Ceph spoke, sliding his hands into his pockets as he walked over to a curb and sat down.. obviously bored with the job that he had been assigned with.

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

"No, I guess I don't want a soggy one." I say quietly. I eye the fox and wonder if my roommates will care that there is a fox in the house now.

"I am not sure what to call him. I am not sure what a good fox name is. I will have to think on it."

I pour him a dish of water and take a seat at my small kitchen table.

"There is a meeting here later this week to discuss some political things.." I tell her to change the topic for a moment.

[Peter "Levitas" Barak]

"That would be wonderful, Ms. Engel," Peter replied, smiling, "Seems like alot to go through to get a girl's number, of course." He chuckled at his own joke and knelt down to retreve the remains of his glove from the underside of the tumbled chair, taking his eyes off of Bambi to do so and righting the furniture as he did. It was torn beyond use now, he'd have to get another set later.

"As I said, Ms. Engel, do not concern yourself with the chairs, they are a trivial concern in the greater plan." He glanced at his ungloved hand, flexed the fingers, and then slipped it into his pocket before offering Bambi his gloved hand. "However, perhaps I should escort you downstairs. I would hope it unnessisary but should you need another 'daring rescue' I would be in a better position to provide one."

[Nadi Shaynan]

<TO TRISTAN>

Nadi then looked at the stranger as he approached her she smirked at the question “Well I spouse that it just the fact that I’m a bit bored… seeing one how I really have nothing better to do then walk around an unfamiliar city ” she said looking him in the eye as she spook to him feeling a bit uneasy now seeing on how she doesn’t trust people most of the time.

[Sidapa Amparo]

Sidapa calls Li Violette and leaves a message that he and Venice found out some information for her. He tells her about Allmart buying the land and that a group named Red Infinity escaped the chaos. Having left that report with her, he hangs up and turns to Cephrien.

"Well, we wait now until we get new orders. Sidapa thinks this place is a dump. You think so too?"

[Tristan Tuzanic]

"Yeah, this city is really boring. And there are too many religious freaks here." Tristan says openly. He sighs and looks up at the sky. It is still pouring.

"This weather is so annoying. I just wish I could live somewhere warm and sunny." He complains. He is just making small talk. This elf woman seems guarded. He wonders who she is or what group she is a part of.

[Nadi Shaynan]

Nadi continues to look him in the eye as he says this “Really...how do you know this place won’t clear up and become sunny” she said lifting one of her eye brows then say’s “ but I do think this whether in kind of depressing tho” she then looked around and thought to herself * here comes that craving again…. And this was starting to be a nice little conversation…* she then sighs trying to concentrate on the discussion for now making eye contacted again

[Bambi Engel]

Bambi blushed at the comment, having not thought about it being taken that way before making the offer. Of course, she was still too embarrassed by the whole situation to have her usual paranoia whispering at the back of her mind. "I mean, not to give you the wrong idea. It's just the only thing I can think of to help ease my conscious a bit and offer aid to you." She made one last glance at the chairs, flinching slightly.

Moving her gaze to his outstretched palm, she pursed her lips. She felt gratitude that he wished to help her so, but it would also awfully embarrass her. Then again, since when was her being embarrassed something new? Ah, well... Taking his gloved hand, she stood slowly. If she was more cautious than usual, she was pretty sure she could make it all right.

"That's very kind of you, I feel awful for all the trouble I've end up causing you though." Not to mention Global Bank would have enough reason to fire her if they got wind of this.

[Tuesday DeCastro]

Tuesday is now halfway through the front of another page, and the spirals are digging into her forearm as she writes, every so often, she would take a short break and just listen before coping down whatever Calithin said. She looked over to her mocha cappuccino, it was untouched, she took a sip of it now, it was getting rather cold.

When he compliments her questions, she goes a little pink in the cheeks, but it soon fades. "Thank you. I take my work very seriously, as I'm passionate about what I do. But its always good to have a subject who is willing to answer whatever I might throw at them."

She writes a little more, then returns her gaze to Calithin. "You probobly have work to get back to, so I just have a few more questions and then I'll be out of your way." She says, somewhat dissappointed, she was enjoying talking to him, but she knew this was strickly professional, she wasn't going to be friends or anything with Calithin.

"Manalism encourages women to act and dress more masculine. Do you agree with this? Or do you prefer to see your women feminine?" She briefly looks around the coffee house, several women are dressed as femininley as she is, then she looks back at Calithin, awaiting his answer.

[Peter "Levitas" Barak]

"Only a joke, Ms. Engel, think nothing if it. Not as funny as I meant it to be, apparently." He smiled, replaced his glasses, and lead the way out the door, back down the hall, and to the elevators this time.

"And as I have said, 'don't worry about it'. The chairs are not a problem," he began as the elevator doors opened and they stepped inside. "I'll be sure and inform Mr. Dollar and Mr. Vayne of the fine job you've done... and I didn't see any need to bring up the chairs. As I said," he smiled, "Don't worry about it."

The doors closed and the box began its decent back to the lobby.

[Calithin Crest]

"Both can be attractive. People naturally have different situations where they take more feminine or masculine roles... Few people are totally masculine or totally feminine, and I think that it's completely possible to pull both off and still be seen as attractive."

I pause and lean forward a little bit.

"However, in romantic relationships I've noticed lately that I take a much more masculine role... Which is strange because I don't necessarily see myself that way in other contexts, I don't try to act particularly manly or dominant... I think you just fall into a pattern of behavior, and that that just happens to be mine."

I yawn a little bit and can hear the rain falling outside.

"After the interview if you need a ride to where you're staying, I'd be happy to share a cab. It's raining far too hard to walk."