GM: None (RP Scene Logged by Adam)
Players: Adam, Pulse, Selene
Synopsis: A great RP scene that details Pulse's clash with a man from his past and a deep discussion about the Sixth World between Adam and Selene as it relates to magic and regulation.
Date: 03/17/2070
Setting: The Palatine Summit, during a Charitable Event, Evening
Selene has just joined Pulse near one of the floor to ceiling windows. He is standing with a group of other celebrities, including Tammy Tucker, the news caster.
There seems to be a small party happening at the Summit. There are fatcats in suit, fancy trophy wives and scary old harridans: A benefit dinner for some small african country that needs money. A frightening number of people here are italians.
Pauly, who has invited his friends, is resplendent in a custom-designed suit (one of his new line for Armante!), and has just turned towards Selene. "I think so. I've considered getting an apartment in this building. They even have a jewelry store downstairs, and free maid service!"
Selene grins, "I see. Speaking of jewelry.. well, never mind. We can discuss that in private." she demures, and then looks at his other companions, "Tammy. Nice to see you again." she says, sounding enirely friendly as she extends her hand, "HOw's the broadcasting business?"
Attending with a lovely woman on his arm, a man that looks like any other Japanocorp suit steps in. They are checked at the entrance of the 'party' and after some speaking and a charitable donation to the cause, step inside. After a few paces in— the two talk and the woman, a blonde with long hair and your standard little black dress, goes off to mingle as the suit goes to join Pauly and Selene's group. He headnods to Selene first and offers in a low voice to her as to not interject into Tammy-Pulse's conversation, "Evening."
Tammy flashes Selene a -deadly- smile, like acid dripping from a viper's mouth. "Oh, I'm just fine, Miss Savoie. Pauly's just told me the most -delightful- news. I'm wondering if I should put something in my newscast about it tonight, or wait to see if he's actually serious, this time."
Pauly coughs, suddenly looking nervous, and then looks over at Adam. He puts a hand on his shoulder. "Good to see you," he says. "glad you could make it. It seems like -everyone- in Denver is out."
«Auto-Judge[]» Pulse (#3231) rolls Etiquette:
7 8 10
Pulse is doing a -great- job of acting like he recognizes adam: the voice is familiar, but he can't place the face. Must have been drunk that night! Let's pretend, though!
Selene glances between Pulse and dear Tammy, "Oh? what possible news could he have that would surprise an investigative reporter of your caliber?" her own smile is almost genuine, the genuine smile of the cat who ate the canary.
«Auto-Judge[]» Selene (#609) rolls Etiquette for "because I can.":
2 5 10 14 15
Adam-Suit nods to Pulse a touch and smiles lightly, "Good to see you as well. It certainly does…" he trails off— keeping tabs on his 'date' only out of the corner of his eyes. He continues on, "I trust you and your associates are keeping well." Stopping on Tammy he gives the briefest of headnods.
«OOC» Adam will do the whole woodoovoodoo of his PhysMask if someone wants to break it— but on average its a 10-success Force 6 Physical Mask.
«OOC» Pulse says, "don't worry about it. i'll just pretend like i know who you are. it's fun!"
«OOC» Selene doesn't bother trying to break it.
Tammy's smile grows. "Oh, you know. Seems some young lady has -finally- hooked the big one. Let's hope her eyes aren't bigger than her stomach: he's a lot of boxer to handle."
Pauly nods. "You know it," he says. "Me and my associates. Keeping it real. Yeah." He looks back at the party, spotting Adam's date. "Damn. That's a fox. How, um… how have you been, since last I saw you? How long has it been?"
Selene's cheeks warm to just the slighest shade of pink under the makeup. The makeup that is *almost* hiding the slightly yellowish-green tone of a fading bruise. "oh, I wouldn't worry about it Tammy. I am sure whoever he has chosen is more than enough woman for him." She smiles, showing all of her teeth.
"Hmm," Adam-Suit says as he recalls the last meeting, "A bit. The last we spoke I regalling you on the 'hippies' of wood and thier effective, yet dangerous cultures." He give Selene a brief grin about that— as that should be enough for the two of them to know its him. "Ah the woman is a rental— not really my tastes, but it 'fits' for this eloquent event, y'know?"
Selene turns to Adam then, giving Tammy the cold shoulder before she can reply, "Ah, yes. I remember now." She looks across at the lovely lady companion of Adams, "No, I would say she is definitely not to the tastes you described to me, not at all."
Pulse smiles at Selene, then watches Tammy walk away. "Careful, love," he murmurs. "She could be a dangerous enemy." He turns to Adam, then, squeezing his shoulder again. "Ah! I remember now. Wasn't too long, actually. Have you tried the h'ordurves? They're to de for."
Adam-suit smiles faintly— one of those soft, cordial smiles, "I have not— but I plan on shortly. I wanted to greet you," and he nods to Tammy again, "and your friend here first." Looking over towards Selene he cant help but chuckle, "Yes— but always requires to maintain the appearance sometimes, no? Wouldnt want people to get the wrong idea." He chuckles lightly— still finding that one conversation humerous. And hey, with all the events lately, a laugh is good.
Selene tosses her hair back, and gives Adam a winning smile, "And who's a hippy now?" she winks, then gives Pulse a look, "oh, I am sure that I can handle her. Or you can. You wouldn't let one of your former conquests kill me, would you?"
Pulse is about to say something when the doors to the Summit push open, and in steps a human that stands actually several inches taller than pauly. He's dressed in a fantastic tux, custom designed, and his big cuban features are studded by a lot of bling. His long black dredlocks are adorned with golden baubles, and he makes a beeline for the trio.
"The Pulse," he calls, in a heavily-accented voice. "There you are, you giant coward. Hiding behind high-class ho's again!"
Pauly grimaces. "Carlos," he says. "Imagine meeting you here. Come to support Starving African Children?"
"I'm not certain," Adam-Suit begins, "that you necessarily will want an answer to either of those questions." He smiles a bit as his vision goes towards the party crasher. "Mmm— in any event— hippies— and uninvited guests— both follow one thing in common: They tend to not follow the guidelines and regulations put in place for a reason. In the end, the potential for communal damage is high." Ah yes, its not Adam if he isnt pontificating something.
Selene's attention is suddenly lured by the big, vry big and quite imposing man approaching. She looks up, way up, at the gentleman (or gorilla) in a suit and takes an involuntary step back as he approaches. Finally, she recovers, and smiles, "Oh, is this your friend… 'The Animal'? He really does live up to his name." Then, something in what Adam says raises her hackles, not quite to the point of being angry mind, but certainly … a debate has it's good points, "Oh really? Whereas, someone… say more like yourself, would be following the rules anyway, and by nature not be a potential hazzard?"
Pulse steps forward as Selene steps back, now ignoring Adam and the girl. "You're not welcome here, Carlos. This is a charitable function…"
"Do not hide behind yor skirts and your charities. You owe me a fight, abuela. Or are you too frightened by my latin heat, my manly manliness: I hear you were -unmanned- when you blew up."
At that last statement, there's a sudden -shift- in Pauly's posture. Those familiar with him can recognize the danger signs.
"I would say I, myself, am a poor point as I now exist 'outside' of society," Adam says— making it rather clear that its just illogical to attempt to be a role model in that scheme, "but prior to my position, yes, I would." He turns his head towards Selene, "Take my current attire. Under proper law and regulation— I wouldnt be here tonight. Likewise— someone less ethical than me could be as well— and none the wiser. Is that a threat to society? I think so." He has to talk in tiring circles of vagueness due to his surroundings— and the loud man nearby that looks like he may pounce at any second. Still, he remains calm and 'high class'— sorta like a man who is likely to casually drink a martini while the building is blowing up around him.
Torn, utterly torn between what would surely be a *fun* intellectual exercise in debating Adam, and the big, big, man insulting Pulse, she makes her first comment t to Adam, "Well, as anyone can tell you, personally, I am utterly harmless. And while I can see why many people would fear some.. hippies.. there is an issue of the right to life. I don't think that many can change what they are, legal or not." she holds up a finger "One moment." and then steps up next to Pulse, looks the big guy up and down… then down again. Right between the legs, "Hmm. You look more unmanned to me. 'Roids much?"
«Auto-Judge[]» Pulse (#3231) rolls Intimidation (Physical):
1 3 4 5 17 17
«Auto-Judge[]» Pulse (#3231) rolls 4:
1 1 4 7
Carlos sneers, turning back to pulse… but something has changed, even as Pauly has stepped forward.
No longer does Pulse seem the rich, affluent, slightly-buffoonish playboy that he so often plays. But nor has he adopted Reed's casual villiany, or the sneering arrogance of Rex. No, suddenly The Pulse is standing there: not as he was, but as he has become. The man killed and reborn, the man who's been shot a thousand times but still dares. Strength and speed and will and cruel, cunning intelligence: he's -not- an animal. He is Humanity: and for an instant, it's almost as if he has horns. "You will step back, Carlos," he says, voice cool and cold, dripping with menace, almost echoing with power. "And you will leave this place, escorted by the security staff. You will get your fight, now." As he speaks, Carlos shrinks back, suddenly afraid- and suddenly flanked by two security guards in tuxes. "You have called down the thunder, Carlos. And Now? I'm coming. And hell's coming with me."
Other people are noticing, now, and shrinking away even as Pulse seems to loom.
"God save your soul," he murmurs, and turns back to his friends even as Carlos is led away.
Ever the snowflake in the desert, Adam motions his hand to the situation that has caused the tension in the air to be as thick as a slushie. "See? No problem. Have faith in the talents of your associates," he says with a small smile. He looks to Pulse— as that incident is something he'll ask about when things are not so public. Looking back to Selene he continues to break the awkwardness, "Well the 'hippies' do represent a gift and a problem."
Selene breathes out slowly, allowing the tension to fade as she turns back to Adam, "Now, what were we talking about?" she grins, "oh, yes, those darn hippies. Don't they have a right to exist as well?"
Life slowly returns to the party, but the mood is awkward for a while yet- and very few have the gumption to Approach the Pulse as he speaks with his friends.
Adam shakes his head lightly— motioning his hair back even though it doesnt appear out of place, "Its not a matter of having the right to exist or not. They are what is classified as 'Natural magic'." he looks at Tammy— as he realizes the more he talks, the less cloak and dagger he is going to be. Oh well, at least he is Open about it, "It has a right to exist— as in all things in nature. But cancer is also in nature— and when it becomes malignant— when it breaks guidelines set for similar cells— then it becomes a threat to the person as a whole and it either destroys it's host or it is cut out."
Selene smiles and picks up a glass of champaigne from a passing server, "Well, one could say the same of people whose talent is less natural. A stick of dynamite is hardly natural, but can be used to build as well as destroy. Should we ban dynamite, simply because it is potentially dangerous?"
"Ah," Adam says as he smiles a bit— getting a glass as well, "but you can see the difference between how the talent is acquired. Learned talent requires regulations and guidelines. It requires higher organizations such as MIT&T and the AAAT. It gives you tracking and it gives you enforcement for the community 'as a whole' to be kept safe— but the vigilance affects the mitigation of such an effect."
He sips his drink, "Banning any tool is barbaric— it is ignorant. This is also true with natural magic. The problem is not that naturally occurring magical talent exists. It is /where/ it exists. Natural magic comes from being 'chosen' and being 'felt'." There is a pause and a sip, "When 'power' is only felt, it is only a matter of time before the power consumes you. You become a cancer. You are cut out— as the alternative is ruination for the community as a whole."
Selene frowns, "How is unnatural magic any less consuming than natural? There are those that would say that natural talent is a gift from god, others.. well.. the talent is always natural, it's simply the manner in which the owner of the talent thinks of it." Another sip of her drink, "Depending on someone's birth, their parentage, their background, the same child could easily be trained in 'science' or born to 'art'."
Adam nods a touch and explains, "Its the mechanics behind how totemic magic works. A totem selects their chosen based on traits. They hold over them— the entirety of their power." He shakes his head and admits objectively, "They are not masters of their own destiny— only pawns of it." Looking to Selene he smiles a bit, "Though I have often hoped that a natural spirit of great influence would come to the aid of the gaiasphere it serves— too often have I seen the ways become corrupted by toxicity. I do not believe the Totems themselves govern their magic past their own designs." He shakes his head, "But whereas the art— the creativity— and 'feeling' of magic through you, making unto yourself a vessel for which it to affect the physical and astral realms— it requires you to lose yourself and accept it. There is no control. There is manipulation— there is guidance— as you can guide water in a pitcher. But what happens when the pour of the water becomes stronger than the hand the moves the pitcher? It all pours out. You do that with magic— and it leads to great, often destructive effects."
He motions a hand, "I am not saying my path is that of sainthood, either. The arrogance associated with the opposite— the control and, some may argue, 'unnatural' manipulation of magic can be just as dangerous. Greed can consume you and magic ceases to be a tool. It becomes a vice." Another pause, "Both of these reasons— are why law— why regulation need be and why vigilance is important. To stop the corruption before entire communities bake in a fireball— or before entire souls are crushed in toxicity."
Selene sighs, "I think you have a narrow point of view. I have known many kind souls, even in the shadows, who, usually with the assistance of their totems, embodied loyalty, or strength, or curiosity." Another sip, "of course, some also embody greed, lust, hate.. Ultimately, how that is expressed is nearly always more about the human's flaws, than the spirits. Some spirits demand more than others, of course." She leaves it there, as .. otherwise she might give away too much, in too public a place, "Suffice to say, I would not be around today, were it not for the kindness, loyalty, and sense of family embodied by a lowly criminal dog shaman."
"Heh," Adam chuckles lightly, "Narrow minded— I don't think I've been called that since my college years." He nods a touch on the commentary, "Perhaps I am. But my ideals come from observation— field trial— from facts and from theories." He motions a hand, "My mind has always been wired that way. A lock— for example— it keeps the honest person honest. Law— it keeps the honest magician honest. Those that actively defy the order— do so at their own risk— and the inability to do it very well openly where it can do the most damage." He motions another hand, lecture mode time, "The Human condition interests me greatly— but I do not absolve the totems of their own responsibilities. They picked the vassals of their charge the same way a manager hires an employee. They have it within them to fire them— but they do not." He shakes his head, "They have their reasons— but that, that is theory. One theory is that contrast is necessary. Shadow needs Light to exist and vice versa. Hence the innate toxic totems that do exist. But that also means it is up to that same 'Human condition' to govern the magic we wield. It is the responsibility we bear— or we neglect." With great power— comes great cliche lines!
Selene waves it off, "Nature, on its own, is neither good nor evil. It does have a balance, but there is no evil in the lion killing the wildebeest, it is as it should be. Now, totems have nearly as much variability as nature, and many are strictly man made. Idols, as a type… those are human archetypes. They embody human strength and human weakness, in my limited experience, they tend to exert the strongest influence. I believe, ultimately, because they are creations of meta-humanity." She waves her glass out to the side, and with a flourish lifts it to her lips for a drink. "Perhaps an example is in order. There is nothing *inherently* evil about The Horned Man. An ancient god of fertility, he came along with the waxing of the sun in the spring, with the rut and birth of new fawns, the planting of crops. Absolutely necessary to the cycle of life. However, he also embodies lust, desire, instinct. And Humans fear that."
Selene says "Meta-humans like to forget that they are creatures of nature. Do everything in their power to avoid that reality."
Selene says "At their peril."
Pulse returns from his conversation with a certain Jake Rillinger, and smiles at his two friends. "So, my friend… have you won Miss Savoie over to your one true path yet?"
"I can't say I agree with the later," Adam says regarding the creatures of nature bit, "but that argument is as old as time— as old as evolutionary psychology. We could talk about that for a long, long time." Motioning a hand (again) he says, "I think we have eschewed this topic with 'science versus nature' or even versus magic itself, from the boundaries and regulations it resides in. The American Association for the Advancement of Thaumaturgy, which Dunkelzahn's Will mentioned directly, is an organization meant to educate the public about the nature of magic itself— and that magic and science are equal parts of humanity— and metahumanity— 's heritage. This does not differentiate between shamanic, hermetic, wujen, or any varied flavors of how magic manifests." He motions a hand, "It is not that a lion kills a wildebeest. This is natural. It is required. If the lion failed to kill them, the ecosystem would be damaged by overpopulation of wildebeest. But what happens when the lion population— or any other dominant predator holds too much domain over it's surroundings? It destroys it. In that— even the predator must be culled. Is that natural? I do not know, as the Sixth World extracts this simple wisdom in different ways. We cull ourselves— as is necessary— by law and to keep the infrastructure itself safe. That is what I support— not some ancient argument about which manifestation of magic is the most righteous." He chuckles and points out, "Though had you had this conversation back when I was younger, I would have called the lot of shamanics a bunch of ungrateful ferals. My time in the field has taught me what you say is very true— it is the person, not the method, that determines the nobility of how they utilize the gifts that they have."
Once Pulse returns, just to illustrate her point, Selene draws close to him, running hands over his broad shoulders and leaning in close to his neck. She inhales deeply, "its still there, under the machine, raw power fueled by instinct, entirely human." She lays her hand on his arm and looks back at Adam, "What would happen if the predator holds too much domain over it's surroundings indeed? Have you looked around you? That filth in the reservoir is not solely magical, it was polluted with chemicals long before that thing took root there, the mistakes of man, not magic. While I can *understand* the fears of the general population, I would be afraid of anyone that can knock down a half dozen big trolls with a thought too… I still think that restricting or punishing all magicians for being what they are, being good at being what they are, is somehow anti-life, about control rather than safety. Perhaps that makes me an anarchist?"
"It makes you an intelligent woman that I am fortunate to know," Adam says tactfully— but his soft, direct voice always has that purity of sincerity to it. He looks to Pulse, "You too. Minus the woman part." He winks, "And intelligent." He takes a sip of his drink before looking back to Selene, "And about the reservoir— yes, it has given me great pause and— I have made a personal decision about it."
Pulse stares at Selene for a moment, then at Adam. "Ah. You two are talking about things… well beyond my ken." He smiles, his earlier menace dissippated, replaced with that good-natured smile that the trids love. "I'm just a simple prizefighter who made good- now engaged to the prettiest Witch in Denver." He gives Selene a chaste peck on the forehead. "But from what I remember… perhaps our friend is right. Sometimes the spirits that come with a totem can override the will of men… it is a challenge that comes with the power."
Selene grins at Pulse, "of course you would say that. And, I will not deny that they exert influence. I still think that the idols are totems of man, and by man. And as such, too much like man." She shrugs, "Anyway… " and raises a glass, "To differences of opinion, and may the AAAT never come looking for me."
Adam raises his glass, "I'll drink to that."
Pulse raises his own glass. "Hell, they can come looking for me. I'm as magicless as a doughnut sandwich with extra pickles."
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