Bell, Book, & Candle - Main Shoppe(#3437RJM)

	The comforting smell of incense greets those who enter Bell, Book,
& Candle. The storefront window's wine velvet curtains have been drawn
shut, the lights dimmed enough to give the place ambience without causing
one to strain their eyes if they choose the perview any of the books that
rest in oaken bookcases that line the walls and stand in rows at one end
of the room. There's very little here in the way of New Age commercialism
- in fact, only one or two rows are devoted to current work, the rest are
aged works of occult that look like they should probably be in some
ancient castle somewhere in Europe. Each row of books has a small sign on
either side indicating the subject matter and alphabetical references for
each row, and the cheerful reminder that a salesperson would be glad to
assist the truely lost and confused. The other half of the room holds
shelves and cabinets containing all sort of occult items and oddities,
ranging from the commonplace and affordable, to the obscure and expensive.
	The only wall without bookcases is the one by the register and
near the door - instead, there's a hanging display of ritual swords, some
smaller shelves with more books settled dustily on them, and a metal
cabinet, commonly seen closed and locked. There's also a corkboard with
hand-written messages and flyers for the local pagan community's
convenience. The register also has a small sign next to the credit card
symbols that reads: 'By the power that I wield, a curse upon the hands
that steal!' and in smaller letters: 'Shoplifters will be prosecuted to
the fullest extent of karmic law, three times paid. Have a nice day!'
There's always at least one person at the register, and more often then
not, another person on the floor waiting to assist customers.


			*>IMPORTANT +VIEW<*

Contents:
Liu-Shen
Desiree
Isaac
Morgan
Willow
Hotep
Obvious exits:
Out <O>  Upstairs <U>  Backroom <BR>


Morgan says "Morning,Professor."

The IC time is 7:09 am on Sunday, March 25th, of the year 2001.
Light floods over the city, the waxing gibbous moon is banished by the sun.
(RL:IC time ratio is 1:1.5)

Monroe enters from the street, having excused himself to 'tend to a
customer', however he knew that one would be at his shop.

Isaac yawns and stands up. Stretching out and shaking slightly, "Well,
ladies... I think it best if I retire for the ni- no... morning, as it
looks like your crowd is comming in."

Morgan says "NIght, Isaac. Sleep well."

Liu-Shen looks at the man a moment and smiles, "Pleasant dreams, " to the
stranger.

Isaac nods and smiles toward the lady, "Thank you, ma'am. Night Desiree,
night Morgan. Willow, let me know about that book, please?"

Desiree waves to Isaac. "Take care of yourself."

Monroe bows slightly to Isaac. "Good morning, sir. It was good to meet
you."

Willow ah's. "I'm so sorry. Isaac...you were asking me about the members
of the council...this is one of them." she indicates Liu-Shen."

Morgan says "Oh! I'll forget this, so I should mention it now. The local
fae owe me a huge favor."

Liu-Shen blinks a few times then looks to Isaac after Willow indicates
her. "A pleasure to meet you ... Isaac. Xiu Liu-Shen at your service." She
nods her head respectfully and offers a hand.

Isaac blinks in surprise, and straightens himself a little, vainly trying
to straighten his hair and neglecting the seam print on his face from his
jacket, "Pleased to meet you ma'am" he takes her hand, "Isaac Reynolds, at
yours..."

Bardon enters the shop, the door chime tinkling softly. Bardon has
arrived.

Liu-Shen has just shaked hands with Isaac, "If you need anything, Isaac,
do not hesitate to get ahold of me." She sets her bag on the counter then
and looks over as Bardon enters.

Isaac nods and waves to everyone and exits the shop quickly, a buck and
change sitting on the windowside coffee table. Isaac leaves Bell, Book,
and Candle. Isaac has left.

Willow shakes her head. "I keep telling him he doesn't need to do that.
You know what, Morgan? Let's collect all those tips he leaves into a
kitty, and then maybe buy him something he needs when it gets hefty."

Morgan smiles. "Sure."

Monroe grins. "That seems very generous of him. Hello, Bardon."

Bardon closes the door behind him, an eyebrow lifting as he notes the size
of the crowd for this early in the morning. He steps aside as the stranger
leaves, chuckling wryly for some reason. "Good morning, all."

Desiree grins. "That's a great idea, willow.'

Willow chuckles. "Bardon, you /just/ missed our new Ecstatic."

Liu-Shen steps over and offers a hand to Bardon, "Good morning, Bardon..."
with a smile and pleasant air. "Yes, you did. Though I did not know he was
a Cultist." She glances to Willow amoment.

Willow says "I didn't want to come right out and say initially." she looks
to Liu-Shen. "I didn't want to blurt it out and possibly sound rude."

Desiree smiles smugly from her chair, winking at Bardon.

Bardon accepts the offered hand from Liu-Shen, inclining his torso in a
half-bow with a grin. "So that's the guy who just left, is it? I'll have
to meet him."

Liu-Shen turns then to Willow, "Might you have some tea brewed, Willow. I
have a long lecture to give this morning."

Morgan is up and on it immediately. She pours Liu-Shen a nice cuppa.
Morgan looks at Liu-Shen curiously for a moment.

Hearing the words 'Long lecture', Bardon unslings his didge and plops
comfortably into the nearest empty chair. "Umm...is this the kind of
lecture that should best be given behind locked doors?"

Liu-Shen nods, "Thank you Morgan," She pauses, "I certainly hope not,
otherwise the eighty students present will miss a lot. It is on the
Confucian influences in views of the Celestrial Court during the T'iang
Dynasty."

Xerxes has connected.

Morgan says "You know what? Liu-Shen and Bardon both have faerie forms."

Xerxes enters, closing the door behind him. Xerxes says "Good Morning."

Liu-Shen blinks at Morgan's comment and looks over to her as she takes the
cup. "I cannot control that." She takes a sip of the tea.

Xerxes picks up on the tail end of the conversation, "Faerie forms?"

Bardon inclines his head in a greeting to Xerxes before turning to reply
to Morgan's question. "I rather assumed that something was visible to
them, but wasn't aware you shared their sight Morgan."

Desiree offers gently, "It's good we have Liu here , actually. Maybe if we
can get Lucien on the phone, we can all hook up later today and talk."

Morgan shrugs a bit. "I'm enchanted at the moment... and Liu has four
arms!"

Liu-Shen gives Morgan a disapproving look, then sips her tea.

Willow tsks gently at Morgan - the silent hint to shush, and finds a seat
amongst all the hullabaloo.

Bardon ahhs, nodding his head a fraction. "I see." is all that he says for
the moment.

Willow actually, opts belatedly, to go find where Monroe is
standing/sitting. If the former, she stands in front of him and leans
back, and if the latter, she perches on his lap.

Morgan sighs. "Geez, its neat and I'm going to forget it anyway."

Monroe is sitting, unobtrusively, and he takes the perch gracefully. "I
did not know that - interesting. What does that signify?"

Xerxes comments tersely, "Indeed." He frowns as his thoughts turn inward.

Desiree looks to Liu-Shen and then at Willow, an eyebrow raised.

Liu-Shen rests against the counter as she sips her tea and sighs slightly,
giving in, "I believe Morgan refers to my spiritual nature which for some
reason which I do not fathom expresses itself in the faerie sight. She is
seeing my Avatar." She frowns again a bit and looks to her tea.

Willow looks over. "Morgan, let it rest for now. Another time is
appropriate for your questions."

Morgan says "ohhh... sorry." Morgan says "Anyway, seriously. The fae owe
me huge."

Willow looks to Morgan. "How so?"

Xerxes seems on the point of asking a question but drops it.

Desiree sighs and settles back to listen.

Monroe tilts his head at Liu-Shen's answer. "Interesting, indeed." He
blinks slightly at the sudden end to the subject, apparently not quite
sensing why it should be so, but nods to Morgan, as curious as Willow as
to the explanation.

Bardon too leans back a bit in his chair, clearly curious to hear Morgan's
further explanation.

Morgan says "I saved Kierik's life. I created a sacred flame to clense his
body of drug od."

Liu-Shen looks up to Morgan, "Kierik overdosed?" She looks concerned.

Xerxes says "He will honor that debt?"

Monroe recalls suddenly, she must have told him that before, but he didn't
make the connection.

Desiree blinks. 'Kierik, the big dude? On what?"

Bardon maintains his silence for the moment, evidently having not much to
say on the matter at the moment.

Willow says archly, "He'd better."

Morgan says "Kierik is a troll. Their all about honor.... though he's an
ogre so I'm not sure"

Desiree mutters, "Sacred falme?" once under her breath.

Morgan shrugs. "But he was being held hostage by a cult of dianics who
were drugging him to use him for ectstatic rituals."

Willow blinks for a moment. As if trying to fathom that. "You know," she
says slowly, "That is /just/ the sort of thing that would happen to him."

Xerxes nods affirmatively to Willow, setting his jaw.

Xerxes says "I find that quite believable."

Liu-Shen shakes her head slightly, "I'm sure he would say he enjoyed
himself." She frowns again and sips her tea.

Monroe listens carefully, but says nothing.

Xerxes says "Rather." Desiree just listens now as well, not really knowing
the guy herself. Willow says "But either way, that's an excellent
accomplishment at your stage, Morgan. Very good."

Morgan says "He was almost dead."

You say "That sounds very serious. What sort of drug was he forced to
use?"

Someone knocks from Meridian St. and Lake Shore Dr. -- Downtown West.
Willow shouts, "Who is it?" Liu-Shen looks over towards the door.

From Meridian St. and Lake Shore Dr. -- Downtown West a male voice shouts,
"Me."

Willow looks annoyed and gets up to step outside. Willow leaves Bell,
Book, and Candle. Willow has left.

Bardon snorts softly. "Dollars to donuts, I'd be willing to bet that's
Lazarus."

Xerxes says "Why is that?"

Morgan says "Multiple drugs... I'm not sure which. I've seen enough ODs to
recognize"

Desiree nods over at Bardon. "Exactly my guess as well. Must be the mystic
thing."

Monroe also looks somewhat annoyed that his lap is Willowless suddenly.
"It sounds as if you have done well, Morgan." he says pleasantly.

Morgan shrugs. "It was... well, it was a big thing. I think I felt
Sekhmet."

Hotep perks his ears. "Really?" he drawls knowingly.

Bardon inclines his head in Morgan's direction. "Well done indeed, if
that's the case."

Hotep doesn't have a pinky (or a mouth, really) but if he did, he'd be
doing the Doctor Evil pinky face thing.

Morgan nods. "I think so... I didn't have a potion prepared to clense out
that much shit... so I had to add witchhazel to my healing draught and
pray to Sekhmet... and she transformed it into a sacred white flame.

Monroe says "What?" intelligently. You say "I'm sorry....oh, I see,
Sekhmet is a name." Monroe pinkens slightly, at his own ignorance.

Lazarus enters the shop, the door chime tinkling softly. Lazarus has
arrived.

Xerxes turns to Bardon, "It would appear you are correct."

Morgan says "She's the Egyptian Lion Goddess of Vengance and Healing."

Lazarus says "Mornin' folks."

Liu-Shen tilts her head towards Morgan... "She's a rather powerful deity.
Deserves much respect." Liu-Shen looks over to Lazarus and nods good
morning.

Willow has arrived.

Xerxes nods to Lazarus.

Lazarus hangs up his trenchcoat and heads down an aisle.

Willow steps back inside, locking the door. Then she rather forthrightedly
makes her way back to Monroe's lap.

Morgan nods. "I've been doing a ritual to her everyday for months now."

Bardon chuckles at Xerxes' comment, nodding his head in apparent
agreement. "Morning, Lazarus." he states softly.

Monroe ahs, "I see." he says, more out of politeness than any deep
understanding. He willingly gives his lap back to Willow.

Lazarus says "Hi Bard'n." Lazarus looks up at a shelf, taking down a book
as he skims it.

Willow says "It's quite fascinating. She's the day sister to the evening
lady - my own Bast."

Desiree smiles at Lazarus as he comes inside.

Morgan says "Can you imagine Willow and I as sisters?" Morgan laughs.
Xerxes appraises both women in question critically.

Liu-Shen considers for a moment before adding, "The Egyptian pantheon is
most demanding. I would imagine precautions are taken?" She apparently has
not issue in their existence or that Morgan and Willow commune with them.

Lazarus takes a few more books and grabs a chair and the end of a table,
trying his best to remain sociable yet continue his work.

Willow looks to Liu-Shen and confesses, "I'm not quite sure what you mean
by precautions, per se?"

Desiree listens idly, about in the same boat as Monroe.

Lazarus says "Try to help someone, and almost get your intestines cut out.
That's gratitude for ya..."

Lazarus says "Sounds like you folks've been having interesting times,
lately."

Bardon flicks his gaze in Lazarus' direction, then shrugs slightly. He too
appears rather interested to hear what Liu considers 'proper precautions'.

Lazarus pushes his glasses back to the top of his nose.

Liu-Shen tilts her head after sipping her tea once, "Gods, such as those
from Egypt, are not entirely Enlightened and therefore have certain base
demands for their service. They do not see themselves as entirely open
contributors to the well being of humankind. So in asking for their aid, I
would think that precautions would be taken to help ward against their
sometimes fickle, divine natures." She blinks once when she finishes.

Monroe blinks and murmurs, "An excellent point. I'm glad I only have to
/learn/ geometry, not placate her."

Monroe glances up at Lazarus curiously after Liu-Shen's answer.

Lazarus scrawls some odd-looking diagrams and looks over the books, each
one openned to a certain section.

Willow says with some delicacy, "Bast occaisionally demands...trialing
services, it's true. But I have never felt myself in danger or in fickle
regard, even when I have failed her."

Morgan says "As long as a perform a ceremony evert day she won't destroy
Egypt."

Willow grins a bit at Morgan.

Bardon's lips curve upwards in a bit of a smile. "It's wisest to deal
honestly with the Iwa, in whatever form they may take, and to pay your
debts in full."

Monroe seems rather heartened by finally, finally, finally finding some
advantage, however miniscule, to being an engineer instead of a mystic.

Liu-Shen ahs, raising her hand to make a point, "It is the fact that she
would hold the option or the threat of such danger over your heads which
proves her nature. I mean only to look after your own welfare." She tilts
her head as if considering something, "There are very few, what we would
call pantheons who do not exist by this nature."

Xerxes listens to the discussion go back and forth, his own opinion on the
matter not evident. In face, he seems more interested in whether or not
there is tea to be had.

Willow makes her own. "Liu-Shen, you assume mistakenly that she has done
so. Which she has not." Willow looks to Xerxes. "I'm so sorry. Did I
neglect to get you a cup?"

Xerxes says "No. I neglected to ask. Is there tea to be had, please?"

Willow says "Behind the counter, please feel free to help yourself."
Willow says, as carefully as she can manage, "I don't feel it's my place
to criticize the nature of someone's Avatar unless they ask, and feel I
have the knowledge to do so."

Desiree glances wryly at Willow as she walks by, her earlier comment not
escaping her.

Lazarus reaches in his pocket and pulls out a d30, placing each one on two
of the diagrams before spinning the dice like tops.

Xerxes nod and ventures behind the counter to serve himself.

Liu-Shen considers Willow's words a moment, then looks to Morgan. "My
sincere apologies, Morgan. I did not know that your relationship was so
close." She looks truely apologetic as she speaks.

Bardon reaches into his jacket pocket, extracting a silvery flask and
unscrewing the lid. "Ahh." he states with satisfaction after taking a sip
of the liquid therein, evidently a hot liquid to judge by the steam
wafting upwards from the flask. "Say Liu-Shen...speaking of threats and
danger, do you have any information about what happened at the Shrine the
other night?"

Desiree looks at Lazarus and then at the die...and then back to Lazarus.
She shakes her head and turns to gaze at Bardon.

Lazarus looks at the stopped dice, noting the numbers. He puts the dice
away, but leaves the books and papers where they were. He turns his chair
to listen to the sudience for a while.

Willow looks up. "The Shrine?" she says with concern. "What happened at
the Shrine? The one in the Japanese Gardens?"

Morgan has disconnected.

There is the audible report of crockery being placed down a bit more
firmly than advisable, but there is no accompanying sound of cracking or
breakage. Xerxes asks, "Something happened at the Temple?"

You sense Willow tenses in his lap. The shrine is where she wants to hold
the wedding.

Willow says "Not the Buddhist temple...the Shinto shrine. Opposite side of
town."

Xerxes nods, understanding, but the concern on his face isn't dispelled.

Liu-Shen turns to look at Bardon and frowns, giving her a serious
expression. "Yes. The monks called me immediately. It appears that there
was an attempted murder in the Shrine itself ... as well someone nearly
immolated two monks, purposefully." Her demeanor changes a bit and she
sets her tea cup down but pauses to let that sink in before further
explaining.

Willow looks unhappy. Folks may recall, this is where she wished to have
her wedding, and even if she hadn't, such a disturbance of a sacred place
would bother her greatly.

Monroe looks grim. "Horrible." he says. "Have the police any suspects?"

Lazarus says "By the way you're saying 'nearly', I assume it didn't
succeed?"

Xerxes's expression darkens, but he doesn't speak, awaiting the facts to
trickle in.

Bardon nods his head slowly, his expression clearly denoting that
Liu-Shen's words are not a surprise, but having his suspicions confirmed
brings no pleasure to the man. His lips narrow, brow furrowing as he
listens further.

Desiree nods seriously. "Yes, any idea of who and why?"

"Yuji, one of the Shrine's elders," Liu-Shen continues, "identified them
both to the police who remarked that they were Victor Morson and Katina
Yoshimira, though I don't know what they have done about it yet.
Apparently they were attacking a man in the Shrine and disregarded the
safety of two monks, including Yuji, who had thrown themselves on the man
to protect him. Victor Morson attempted to burn the man while the monks
were on him, disregarding their safety and the sanctity of the Shrine."
She pauses, "I have been standing watch at the Gardens, though I am afraid
I cannot become a vigilante myself, though I have warned Morson before not
to cross my path. If he is brought to me, his justice will be swift." This
is not the serene, calm Liu-Shen that most usually see. She is more stern,
commanding. If Morgan were here and could see with her faerie sight her
avatar it too would be different.

Willow looks incredulous. "A Japanese national desecrated a Shinto
shrine?"

Monroe follows the story with a distasteful look on his face. He puts a
reassuring hand on Willow's shoulder from where he sits beneath her.

Desiree frowns, just listening for now.

Xerxes's eyes blaze, almost literally, "Mr. Morson again comes to our
attention."

Lazarus says "I keep hearing those names. And they never sound like nice
things to hear."

Xerxes says "That anyone should do this is reprehensible. That a member of
the police should do it is an order of magnitude worse."

From deep within Bardon's chest, a low feral growl emits. "Could you
confirm both of those names to me Liu-shen? It's important..." he finally
manages to get out, although faint traces of that almost animalistic noise
can be heard in the overtones of his voice. A perceptive individual might
also notice that his finger are curling and uncurling rhythmically.

Xerxes says "Murder and arson by a member of the constabulary."

Desiree wonders aloud, "Who is Morson, and what's his deal?" She blinks
and says softly, "A cop?"

Long distance to Willow: Monroes turn to shift uncomfortably comes now.
The squeamishness against lynching, likely.

Liu-Shen raises a hand for a bit of order, "Let us not overreact. Both are
not to be arrested by the city authorities, though I do not think our own
justice should be disregarded. The Shrine has always been a place of
sacrality for us." She looks to Bardon, "Yes, their identities can be
confirmed. I know both personally, though this Katina less. Morson I have
had enough dealing swith."

The teakettle suddenly begins to whistle again as steam escapes from its
spout. Xerxes dutifully takes it off the burner and sets it aside.

You say "Why will the city authorities not arrest them?"

Xerxes nods to Desiree, "He is a policeman, yes. He has exhibited the
tendency towards harassment of the citizenry. Niles, for one."

Lazarus says "What's he harass the proff for?"

Willow looks down at her hands, troubled by her emotions and the reasons
for them. She looks up quickly. "He's been harassing Niles? I know he'd
created problems for the fae."

Desiree tilts her head to the side and asks, "Niles? Whatever for?"

Xerxes says "If I recall correctly, he harassed him for possessing a
firearm. Niles presented the appropriate papers, yet this apparently did
little to dissuade Mr. Morson."

Desiree listens, a troubled look on her face.

Willow looks down at her hands again.

Bardon draws a long deep breath, nodding his head at Liu-Shen's answer. "I
see. Thank you for the confirmation, Liu-Shen. With luck, neither this
Victor Morson nor Katina Yoshimira will trouble Larson's citizens
shortly."

Xerxes says "However, this situation is quite beyond the pale. Murder,
attempted murder, and arson, as well as desecration, which unfortunately
is not a punishable civil offense."

Willow looks to Bardon. "Are you expecting to handle this solely on your
own?"

Desiree glances at Bardon and frowns even more deeply.

Liu-Shen tilts her head, "As Bardon states, their offenses have stacked up
terribly and they will be dealt with. As for Morson's harassment of the
fae here in Larson, I expressed to him that if I were to receive report
again of his actions that I would be forced to destroy him. He apparently
has finally decided to disregard my judgement."

Bardon shakes his head slowly, though the anger in his expression that
flared at the mention of those two names is only slowly fading. "No...I
expect that there will be a concerted effort to right these wrongs,
Willow."

Monroe turns his head a few degrees, to hide an expression of disgust and
shame. If Willow did not remain on his lap, he would rise and leave, by
his body language. When he looks up again, the expression is gone, his
face is blank and eyes empty of any indication that there was ever
anything there at all.

Desiree shakes her head. "But why the shrine? What was the purpose of
that?"

Lazarus says "Perhaps they thought a suspect was there." Lazarus says
"Then again, at the rate things are sounding, who isn't?"

Liu-Shen considers Desiree's comment a moment, "That is unsure. Yuji said
there was something unnatural about this man they were attempting to
murder, and so asked him to leave quickly and not to return."

Desiree nods, listening closely.

Bardon takes a moment to compose himself, the last hints of that growling
tone finally faded away. In fact, his tone of voice is utterly emotionless
as he offers up another comment. "Morson is one of Riker's people. Which
probably explains a lot."

Xerxes says "Regadless, there should be a reckoning for these crimes. If
not by the civil authorities, then by someone." Xerxes glances at Bardon,
"Similar attitude?" Desiree nods. "Why can it not be done through civil
authorities?" Liu-Shen nods to Xerxes, "If he is brought before me his
reckoning will be forthwith. But if the civil authorities stop him before
that all the better," looking to Desiree. Lazarus says "Proof. Taking care
of their own."

Monroe says quietly, voice dry and empty of judgement or emotion of any
kind. "How generous."

Willow says "I doubt whomever they were hunting were Sleepers. And if
Bardon has a vested interest in one or both of them, that means that
neither of them are Sleepers. Hence, not leaving much that mundane
authorities will be able to do to them."

Willow says this equally tightly, her body becoming stiff in Monroe's lap.

Lazarus says "perhaps a relation...?" Lazarus picks up one of his charts,
looking it over. "Could be." He draws a few more lines.

Monroe disputes Willow's point, but doesn't argue. He just keeps his mouth
shut and his eyes blank.

Bardon nods his head in clear agreement with Xerxes' query. "From all that
I know of the man, yes." He pauses, half-turning to face Desiree. "Morson
himself is more than the civil authorities can handle, given what we've
seen of the capabilities of Riker's people in the past. I'm loathe to put
Sleepers lives at risk, especially given the man's attitude towards
endangering the innocent. I mean, trying to set the monks on fire?"

Xerxes says "A valid point."

Liu-Shen nods to Bardon, "His crimes are inexcusable and are not mundane
in nature."

You sense Willow starts to rise, sensing that he's not pleased with her
stance, nor particularly wanting his lap occupied at the moment. Long
distance to Willow: Monroe lets you go.

Desiree nods and asks, "What exactly is Morson that he alone is more than
the authorities can handle?"

Willow rises slowly from Monroe's lap, frowning in thought.

Lazarus says "We can debate that until the cows come home and turn into
Big Macs, but the fact that he's inflicting it in mundane means narrows it
down slightly."

Monroe rises just behind Willow. "Please excuse me." he says crisply and
very, very politely to the assembled, with a slight bow, his head and
shoulders dipping.

Monroe then turns to head for the stairs going upwards.

Xerxes says "Is it accurate to say there is a consensus that /some/ action
should be undertaken by us?"

Lazarus flips a coin. "Sure." Monroe replies to Xerxes as he goes: "There
will be momentarily."

Bardon turns to answer Desiree's question, though he pauses at Monroe's
actions. "I take it you think we should leave this to the police?" he
murmurs softly.

Lazarus doesn't even bother to see which side came up.

Willow crosses her arms over her chest tightly. Apparently there's a major
difference in her opinion with that of Monroe's, and not being a very
socially oriented person to begin with, is perhaps handling it badly
inside her head. Without a word, she heads for the tea pot.

Liu-Shen considers, "I believe something must be done. If not by us I am
concerned as to the safety of any police officers who go after them."

Willow says softly, "Or even if, once they are in police custody, they
escape justice because of their extra capabilities."

Xerxes says "Bardon, I believe you were on the point of answering
Desiree's question regarding Mr.Morson."

Desiree nods resignedly. "So they are extra-normal, then. Let me ask
this...what effects, what potential repercussions might there be regarding
us?" Desiree nods at Xerxes prompt. Desiree says "That is, if we do go
after them, so to speak."

Bardon inclines his head in agreement with Willow. "Desiree, you asked
what Morson is capable of. From what I've seen of his people, they can
move as quicker than Johnson could in a fight, heal quickly enough that
even when they look dead they rise again like Lazarus..." He glances over
at Lazarus. "The biblical one of course." he states with a faint flush
before continuing. "They're damn strong and tough...one of them crashed
through a solid metal door without slowing down."

Lazarus smirks. "Coincidence in my name? Nope." Lazarus listens to the end
of the conversation. "Wait a minute..."

Desiree blinks. She glances at Lazarus, and then blinks again before
turning back to Bardon. "He is a HitMark? What sort of...thing can do
that?"

Lazarus snatches his ledger and speeds through until near the end.

Willow shakes her head. "He's something else." she murmurs.

Lazarus looks around. "Someone shout a few expletives for me."

Xerxes says "Which is precisely why he poses a threat to the civil
authorities who otherwise would be the best force to contend with this
situation."

Lazarus says "I think I might've spotted someone vague capable of his
feats. I just hope they don't meet."

Monroe just gives Bardon a long steady gaze, pausing at the foot of the
stairs. He looks from person to person as if Bardon's question was
answered in their statements, then smoothly, like a perfectly designed
stair-climbing machine, rises towards the apartment above.

Lazarus says "has anyone seen what weapons he uses?"


Willow says suddenly, "Monroe?" She doesn't turn around, but it's obvious
she's asking for his attention.

Bardon's shoulders lift and lower in a slight shrug. "He's something
different than a HITMark, Desi. He looks human, and his Weave of Life
shows that he's definitely not a machine of some sort. Their Weave is
distinctive enough once you know what to look for, though. Oh, something
to look out for...their auras look pretty similar to ours, so be careful
about approaching someone if you're not positive they're a mage."

Monroe pauses halfway up and looks down at Willow. "Yes?" he asks.

Xerxes says "Mr. Dennison, from your expression, it appears you have
concluded everyone in this room advocates killing the individual in
question."

Liu-Shen glances at Willow and Monroe a moment with a touch of concern
while listening to Bardon.

Desiree glances at Xerxes and nods, distaste upon her face at this
prospect. She turns and gazes at Liu-Shen and Bardon as she asks, "Again,
what potential consequences might we suffer if we were to go after them?"

Xerxes says "It depends upon our intended course of action."

Bardon grows silent to listen to Monroe's reply to Xerxes' words, although
it's clear he intends to reply to Desiree afterwards.

Monroe says quietly, a little tightly, "You are mistaken, Professor. I
have concluded nothing of the kind."

Xerxes says "Until we know what, if anything, we are to do, we cannot
evaluate the possible repercussions."

Desiree nods. 'I'm listenting. I'd like to understand exactly what we are
dealing with before we go anywhere else with this."

Xerxes says "Then please explain what has unsettled you so." Xerxes says
this to Monroe.

Lazarus says "It's not exactly what it is that worries us, is knowing what
he isn't and what might be."

Willow turns around. "We have a responsibility." she says, the sound of
the statement like that of a revelation, recently and painfully learned.
"We have a responsibility to those who can't respond as we can, or expect
to survive as we might be able to. Not because of thirst for revenge, but
because our power demands responsibility. We could chose to allow the law
to do this, and that choice will cost lives, and it will certainly not
bring either to justice." her voice becomes terse as she looks at him. "If
you could do then what you can do now -would you have done nothing-?"

Liu-Shen steps away from the counter a bit, perhaps to draw attention to
herself, offering a calming expression. She looks to Willow and smiles
slightly but says nothing now that she has spoken.

Lazarus holds up his hand. "Hey guys?"

Desiree nods at willow. "I agree, we do at that, and I'm not saying
otherwise...but I'd like to know what's what before we all start jumping
out windows. Anything we do from now on has to be related back to the
Chantry, and we need to remember that carefully whenever we make
decisions."

Lazarus says "What sorts of weapons have these people used?"

Willow isn't paying any attention to anyone in the room but the man she's
looking at.

Xerxes turns to Lazarus, "I do not have that information."

Bardon purses his lips slightly, still waiting with evident interest to
hear Monroe's reply.

Lazarus says "Because I might've met another accomplice."

Xerxes says "Please explain."

Lazarus says "Or at least a potential contributor to the cause."

Lazarus says "Last night, there was this kid waiting for someone. I went
over to see if she was alright, considering she was maybe 11, and it was
almost 4 am."

Monroe's hands grip the staircase railing. His voice carries just exactly
over the distance from the staircase to the ears of his furthest listener
and not an inch further, his shoulders and voice tight and cool. "No. You
are correct. But I do not see the victim before me. Before me I see the
/mob/. And it is against the mob I would have acted. If there is
responsibility, it falls to /stopping/ your action. Which I lack the will
to even attempt in the face of such a puissant /consensus/." He
practically spits the last word. Then gathers himself slightly. "I must
apologize to you all. I was raised in a less tolerant time. I fear I hear
other words when you speak, and see other faces."

Lazarus says "She suddenly gets really confrontational, saying that I'm
insulting her and that she was going to kill me."

Lazarus says "All of a sudden, it's like there was a bulge in her
trenchcoat that wasn't there before. Like it was almost as big as her
whole body."

Xerxes says "Mr. Monroe, I do not believe anyone in this room has
advocated precipitous action. We have not even decided upon what course to
take. I believe you do us a disservice to characterize our ruminations in
such a fashion."

Liu-Shen watches Monroe as he speaks and continues to do so in silence
when he finishes and others speak. Mr. Dennison, even

Lazarus says "She then tells me about how her parents died in France a
long while ago, and then showed me the fat wallet she had. She then storms
off."

Willow puts her hand out, requesting as hostess, a stay in the other
conversations, for the moment.

Desiree looks at Monroe and makes a face before smiling. "Monroe! I
haven't even received a straight answer yet on anything. Relax."

Lazarus says "It's almost like some big rifle or sword came out of
nowhere."

Lazarus says "The gail wasn't right in the head."

Desiree doesn't look real happy about that fact either.

Xerxes sighs testily as he appears to have remembered something,
"Unfortunately, I must be going. Matters demand my attention."

Bardon takes a moment to translate Xerxes' statement, then nods his head
once in clear agreementwith his statement. "Hell, I have perfectly valid
reasons to head out and top the pair of them Monroe...but have I rushed
out? No. Have I made *any* mention of killing them? No. What I /did/ say
was that they should face the consequences of their wrongs...no?" Lazarus
shrugs.

Desiree xsmiles troubledly at Xerxes and nods.

Lazarus waves to Xerxes.

Xerxes has disconnected.

Monroe is /very/ testy with Xerxes. "What would you characterize it as,
then, Professor? Can you magick Liu-Shen's ultimatum of destruction upon
interference with the fae, with the accompanying statement - not a threat,
a statement, I assure you - that should Officer Morson fall into her
hands, his destruction would follow quickly into a kind invitation to
discourse? Perhaps through alchemy you can transform Bardon's rage and
glib assurances that Morson would not long trouble the citizens of Larson
many more days into a pleasant suggestion that should be considered,
subdivided, and balanced?" He sighs as Xerxes leaves. "I should withdraw
before I make any more difficulties."

Bardon clears his throat softly. "Monroe, you're jumping to conclusions.
Yeah I'm pissed off about their actions, with valid reason I'd say. But
assuming that the statement that they won't be troubling Larson's people
for long means killing them...that's frankly insulting. There are many
ways to pull someone's claws without slitting their throat."

Lazarus blinks at Monroe's soliloquy. "What I wouldn't do for some cliff
notes right about now."

Liu-Shen has reconnected.

Desiree glances at Monroe and nods, shrugging. "He has a point, you know.
I think we need to think things through, from every angle, and see what we
have on our plates. Can we get a full story on these guys? What the hell
are they? How can they attack us? Can they attack us? Who backs them, what
sort of recriminations may come our way if Morson or his girl get
whacked?"

Morgan has connected.

Bardon clears his throat softly. "Monroe, you're jumping to conclusions.
Yeah I'm pissed off about their actions, with valid reason I'd say. But
assuming that the statement that they won't be troubling Larson's people
for long means killing them...that's frankly insulting. There are many
ways to pull someone's claws without slitting their throat." <repose for
Liu>

Desiree glances at Monroe and nods, shrugging. "He has a point, you know.
I think we need to think things through, from every angle, and see what we
have on our plates. Can we get a full story on these guys? What the hell
are they? How can they attack us? Can they attack us? Who backs them, what
sort of recriminations may come our way if Morson or his girl get
whacked?" <repose>

Liu-Shen looks to Monroe and says calmly but sternly, "Monroe. My
statement on justice is not one related to mob rule, nor this apparent mob
here." She pauses, "I will exact justice on Victor Morson despite the
opinions expressed here not because we deem him as a threat but he has
committed crimes against what I see as sacred. It is my duty to protect
the Shrine. I will do so without need of consultation from others." She
falls silent again, glancing at the others a moment with that stern
expression.

Monroe practically hisses, voice cold and accusing. "Do you take me for a
/fool/, Bardon? Do you honestly expect me to believe that because your
temper has had time to cool that your previous words' meaning is somehow
altered? The past is immutable and fixed. You cannot take the murder from
out words spoken then by pleasant assurances spoken now." He nods slightly
to Desiree, trying, valiantly, with just a little bit of success to calm
himself down.

Monroe replies to Liu-Shen. "I cannot speak for you and do not pretend to.
You do not require my suggestions and I respect that. Hence my
withdrawal."

Morgan blinks and seems a bit thrown by the violence when she comes back
from the storeroom with more tea.

Bardon rises too his feet, slinging his didge over his shoulder. "I don't
take you for a fool Monroe...but you apparently take me for a murderous
sociopath. My thanks for your candor." he says in a tightly controlled
tone of voice. "It's refreshing to hear some true honesty, and know
precisely what people truly think of you."

Bardon adds as a brief addendum. "But before you decide what someone's
words mean...either read their mind or get clarification first."

Lazarus has disconnected. Lucien has arrived.

The room is tense as Bardon is standing and facing Monroe who is on the
stairs. Liu-Shen is also looking less serene, but still calm while the
others watch.

Willow has disconnected.

Morgan frowns a bit. She sets down the tea service and moves over to take
Willow's hand.

Monroe narrows his eyes. "It does not take a sociopath, whatever one of
those are, to desire vengeance and you know that very well. Clearly you
are in the majority. You should not complain of it." he says crisply.

Desiree glances at Liu-Shen and says softly, "She does owe it to you, and
to all of us. She is a Deacon of this Chantry. As such, she has a duty to
also protect our society. Liu-Shen, or Bardon...or whoever. I trust that
whatever is done, that the seci=urity of what we have built here is kept
foremost in mind."

Morgan whispers. "Maybe we should create a security chief?"

Willow has connected.

The jingle of the door chime precedes Lucien's arrival, the gentleman
looking no different than ever before. Still wearing that dapper suit and
bowler, with umbrella in hand, he has absolutely no idea that he is
walking into a tense situation. However, it doesn't intimidate him, and he
acknowledges those present with a cheerful, "Greetings!"

Desiree looks at Bardon and then at Monroe. "Can we please stop flexing
testosterone, guys? Huh? Monroe, if you please, sit and be a part of the
discourse. Bardon? Please?" Liu-Shen has partially disconnected.

Morgan sets down the tea service and walks over to take Willow's hand,
reassuringly.

Bardon returns Monroe's gaze steadily, not backing down a single iota.
"Well Monroe, since you're evidently capable of reading minds today, why
don't you..." He pauses at Desiree's words, drawing a deep breath in an
attempt at calming himself. "I think I have a right to answer an
accusation like murderous intent without proof, but at your request..." He
unslings his didge once more, lowering himself slowly into his chair once
again.

Monroe wavers. He was about to go back upstairs. "I am being overly
brusque. The subject strikes, as I am sure you have surmised, very close
to my heart. I cannot say that I could fairly calculate the benefits and
drawbacks of direct action as if I were balancing my money-ledger or an
equation."

Liu-Shen has disconnected.

"Come now, lads, what's this about?" Lucien asks with more gregariousness
than usual. He approaches Bardon and Monroe, willing to accept the lashing
out that may ensue, "I thought I had come into a pleasant gathering, only
to find insulting barbs and unfriendly discourse."

Monroe wavers slightly, back and forth, on the stairs. He was about to go
back upstairs. "I /am/ being overly brusque. The subject strikes, as I am
sure you have surmised, very close to my heart. I cannot say that I could
fairly calculate the benefits and drawbacks of direct action as if I were
balancing my money-ledger or an equation." (repose)

Bardon returns Monroe's gaze steadily, not backing down a single iota.
"Well Monroe, since you're evidently capable of reading minds today, why
don't you..." He pauses at Desiree's words, drawing a deep breath in an
attempt at calming himself. "I think I have a right to answer an
accusation like murderous intent without proof, but at your request..." He
unslings his didge once more, lowering himself slowly into his chair once
again.<repose for Desi>

Monroe is up on the stairs and was, until Desiree's request, about to head
up them into Willow's apartment. Now he's more unsure.

Desiree smiles at Bardon and then looks at Monroe. "Monroe, would you
please cool yourself and sit, talk this through? I think that you may have
been a bit hasty with Bardon, don't you?" She glances at Bardon quickly
and then back to Monroe.

Monroe descends back to the front area, re-fixing his face in the mask of
politeness he wore before. "I'm sure I must have been." he says quietly,
re-taking his seat. Though you can't tell from his face, his shoulders
look worn down and defeated, as if he has been beaten in some vicious and
important game.

Willow murmurs brokenly to Morgan in reply.

Desiree sighs softly and smiles over at Lucien. "We have a problem, and
while discussing it, there was amisunderstanding."

Lucien clicks his tongue, "What is the problem at hand?"

Morgan whistles, low. "Shit."

Bardon leans back in his chair, resting his didge across his lap while his
fingers trace out the patterns carved therein. Apparently, this serves as
a calming exercise for the man, as his expression slowly loses the anger
formerly displayed so prominentlly.

Desiree nods over to Bardon. "Apparently there was an attack by one Victor
Morson and Katerina something or other, at the Shintu temple. Murder,
attempted murder, bad stuff. They were attacking a man there and also
apparently attacked some monks that tried to defend this man. Liu feels
strongly, as does Bardon and Niles, and Willow as well, that we should
act. What to do, who we face, and what are the consequences of taking
action...all of this is on the table." Morgan raises a hand.

Desiree smiles at Morgan. "You may speak frely, Morgan. No handraising
necessary." Willow nods her adamant agreement.

Lucien waits for Morgan's input. He has all of the details, and is
currently dissemenating them in his mind.

Morgan says "Well, it seems to me that Victor Dorkoson is wanted by the
cops. Couldn't we frame him for this crime, since he did commit it I
supose it'll be just supplying extra evidence... and let the sleeper
authorities deal with him? I mean, he isn't a vampire or anything, is he?"
Lazarus has connected.

Lucien says "If the man and woman are both sleepers, Morgan, then that is
the just course of action. Otherwise, it is we who may have to intervene."

Desiree nods."I'm still waiting for someone to tell me what exactly Morson
and Katerina are."

Desiree says "if they are not ordinary humans, that is."

Morgan says "Well, I've seen him in the daylight, so he isn't a vampire...
and I think we'd know if they're mages... so that leaves werewolf and
immortal and faerie and I can tell you for SURE he isn't a faerie."

After a moment, Bardon reprises his earlier statement. "Morson is one of
Riker's people. He's capable of inhuman strength and endurance, heals so
quickly he can return from death...Monroe and I both shot Riker
point-blank, and despite blood everywhere and no pulse or breathing...he
got better and stood up again. They can also move damn quick...quicker
than Johnson could, for those who knew him."

Morgan nods. "Immortal. I know a few."

Desiree nods. "Is he an immortal? One of them sword carrying freaks?"

Bardon nods his head once in reply to Desiree. "Yes, though I wasn't aware
that was their name for themselves."

Lazarus blinks. "He's a McCloud? of Clan McCloud?

Monroe points out. "Why would his nature matter? Clearly Morson is already
sought by the civil authorities. It would be an almost trivial task to
locate him and pass this location to the authorities. If these immortals
do not wish to be uncovered, they will take action against Morson
themselves. Either way, he is dealt with without our acting as judge,
juries and executioners but instead as any decent citizens with
exceptional knowledge might act. It would be slightly more difficult,
though certainly not impossible to give the authorities a complete
itinerary of his movements at every moment of every day and night between
now and the end of the week, so that they might lay an ambush."

Desiree nods. "From what Kasey told me, and she dated one, they have no
special powers other than an ability to remain hidden if desired and their
recuperative powers, as well as somewhat greater strength...nothing that
would necessarily get them out of prison."

Morgan considers. "Well.... hmmm... ummm.... lifetime imprisonment might
suck for someone who can't age."

Lazarus says "Someone in a RPG once tried to pass off that since he didn't
age, that he should be able to do other stuff. I thought it was a bunch of
twinking..."

Willow says "Except they're also formidable in battle and they keep
getting up unless you cut off their heads. That's a /lot/ of potential
innocent lives lost in recovering him." Bardon draws a long slow breath.
"To my mind, the problem rests upon how many policemen would die in the
ambush attempt, or other innocent lives?"

Willow says "I'm not competent enough in Conjunctionis to teleport other
people yet."

Morgan shrugs. "Cut off his head, then.... or, find out if these guys have
a society like us and see if maybe they'll punish him."

Desiree shakes her head. 'From what I understand, they all go around
cutting each others heads off. I doubt they have a governing society." She
ponders this and then says, lightly, "That also would mean that there
would be no recriminations if we were to...eliminate the problem."

Lazarus smriks a bit. "Sounds like something up my alley."

Monroe is about to make some polite reply to Willow and Bardon, but the
conversation takes a suddenly bloody turn and he just sits back in his
chair with a blank look on his face.

Morgan says "Do we know WHY he attacked the shrine?"

Lazarus says "He tried to burn someone... anyone know of particular folks
who really hate fire?"

Morgan raises her hand. "I detest burning alive."

Lucien smiles in Morgan's direction, "Find me someone who supports it."

Lazarus says "Vampire hunters?"

Bardon continues to trace his fingers over the patterns on his didge.
"From what little I know of them, their social interactions consist almost
totally of chopping eath other to bits. Which doesn't mean it has to be
our way. Surely we can work out some way between us to bring him safely to
the police? Once he's unarmed and in a jail cell, I doubt he'll be able to
escape. Personally, I was thinking along the lines of sending a Nightmare
after him on a nightly basis...Allow him no sleep until he turns himself
in."

Morgan says "That makes sense, in a way... Morrison came here asking for
books on vampires."

Desiree laughs despite herself at Morgans reply. "Yeah, true. I hate that
too." She grins and then says, "Might we organize a way of *helping* the
police in the capture of the culprits, thus ensuring their capture while
remaining indirec t?"

Lazarus says "Perhaps pooling our talents to insure that he is
defeatable."

Desiree looks at Bardon. "That is badassed. See? Indirect. I like that."

Monroe nods slightly. "That is a fine idea. Probability loci can be
focused upon him from afar, ensuring the worst possible outcomes for his
actions." he says amiably.

Morgan says "Can't anyone here just whop out a pendulum and find his ass,
then inform the police.. and then use magick to seal him in his house?
Like wards?"

Lazarus smirks, rattling his dice with a purpose.

Desiree sits back and smiles as the ideas begin to flow.

Lucien says "Lowering the melting point of his car's tires, would put him
in a spot of trouble if chased."

Morgan says "Wouldn't heating the air inside by less vulgar?"

You say "Precisely, Morgan. That would be an excellent example. I can
locate the gentleman - if I have some idea of where to start."

You say "Or we could simply drain the compressed air remotely. Fascinating
stuff, compressed air." Monroe is much more comfortable with this sort of
talk than the other kind.

For the first time since tempers flared, Bardon's lips quirk upwards in a
faint hint of a grin at Desiree and Monroe's comments. "I happen to be
especially adept at dowsing, thanks to the aid of my Lady." he adds as an
aside. "Finding him isn't difficult. It's working out what to do.
Personally, I think melting the tires could cause trouble...uncontrolled
vehicles cause accidents. A bit of work with the Heart of the Stone could
simulate slashed tires though, and he couldn't even get started. Or was
that what you had in mind?"

Morgan hmmms, considering. "Personally, I'm all for leaving him out of my
ritual of protction and then sending him to Egypt."

Monroe nods slightly. "Wires could be removed from his engine. The
gasoline fuel as well. I think we should make a list of what we each can
do remotely, and then undertake the search." Willow tsks. "And damage the
Sphinx?"

Morgan hmms at Willow. "ISekhmet would leave the rest of Egypt alone.
She'd just tear his body apart with her claws. I bet he couldn't survive
that."

Lucien shakes his head, "Let us please leave out the nonsense regarding
sending him to Egypt, please. While I would much like to avoid the wrath
of the Egyptian deities, it isn't something any of us are capable of
doing, and moot."

Bardon nods his head in agreement with Monroe. "I think that a concerted
effort to right these wrongs will be simple for us to achieve, no? Our
main concern must be the protection of the Sleepers...I don't want to see
a single innocent get hurt in all this. The kind of person who'd try to
burn a monk..."

You say "I think that assisting the police in this fashion is perfectly
acceptable. Any further direct action would, I think, prevent him from
presenting a defense or confronting the witnesses against him, and
transform us from a group of concerned citizens eager to take positive
responsibility into a vicious Star Chamber."

Morgan says "Turn him over to the Vampires."

Lazarus says "Two men enter, one man leave. Then we take out the winner."

Desiree looks at Monroe and clears her throat delicately. "Don't you think
that is a bit of a harsh comparison, Monroe?"

Lazarus says "Morbid."

Lazarus says "You know..." Lazarus says "This could work out." Lazarus
debates telling people about his full idea. Then again, they got all
uppity with violence and death... wimps.

Morgan sighs, shaking her head. "Wow... I just got really nasty there."

Lazarus says "No you didn't."

Monroe looks at Desiree blankly for a moment. "No." he says firmly. "I
think it is generous. The Star Chamber never could have ordered
decapitation and could not strike from afar. If we act directly, there is
no opportunity to be heard, to call or confront witnesses, to present
mitigating evidence, and, likely, no opportunity to even beg upon one's
knees for mercy. Nor is there a limit to the depravity of punishment we
could concoct. Nor is there an appeal from our decision or a redress from
an erroneous judgment on our part." He then adds, equally firmly: "But we
have chosen today, I think, rightly. The police seek him, they have the
duty to find him, we shall assist in that duty."

Willow looks at Monroe. "What if he escapes? What if they both escape?"
She seems willing to rest on this solution...but wants to know what will
happen if it is proven to be the wrong one.

Lazarus says "Then we go to the proverbial plan B."

Morgan considers. "I have an idea."

Desiree looks at Lazarus and then at Morgan. "Yeah she did, Lazarus. We
don't need to bring the goddam vampires into this, do we?" She turns to
Monroe and laughs. "The Star Chamber performed many evils on amany men,
Monroe, and you know this. We have done nothing more than discuss
alternatives. Correct?"

Lazarus says "This doesn't surprise me. What's the idea?"

Morgan shrugs. "Capture them both and put them on trial. Select someone
else as a judge... someone we can trust. Let Monroe be the defense lawyer
and Bardon the prosecutor."

Lazarus shakes his head as Desiree turns him down.

Desiree looks at Morgan and tries real hard not to laugh. She really does
try.

Lazarus says "And what would this accomplish?"

Monroe looks very closely at Willow. "Willow." he says quietly. "I make
these arguments not for /his/ soul, which is surely damned to the pits of
hell. I make them for /ours/. If we lack the ingenuity to give him
justice, we should not use our power to distribute vengeance as we see
fit."

Lazarus says "First off, you're going on the assumption that The System
Works." Lazarus says "On top of that, you have to factor in the jury. Can
we say Rodney King?"

Lucien's brows lift. It's easy for him not to laugh, because he has been
through one of the more strict boarding schools Twycross had to offer.

Lazarus says "You leave too much to the fickle chances of other people who
can never know the true reason."

Morgan says "I'm serious! The fact of the matter is, we can't bring all
the evidence to bare on him, nor can we use magickal stuff, in court.
However, Monroe's right. He deserves a trial... so we should give him one.
A real one..... after all, didn't whatshername the Euthanitos get a trial
for being in Hekkalar or whatever? I read about it in one of the horn book
compendiums.""

Willow says "That's not an answer. I want to know what will happen if they
escape, and we've tried it this way. Or worse - escape and cost lives."

Desiree shrugs. "If justice mundanely fails, then we can discuss the other
alternatives at a later date."

Lazarus says "Just how much later?"

Lucien asks aloud, "Why did Victor commit the murder?"

Desiree shakes her head. "If there is a chance to solve this problem
without getting directly involved, don't you think it should be
considered? Can't we try it that way before we head facefirst into
confrontation?" She looks at Lucien and nods. 'A damned good question,
Lucien." Desiree says "We don't know diddly about any of this, do we?
Other than it was at a temple, that is?"

Morgan shrugs.

Willow says "He may have been after vampires. Which while as an action I
can somewhat condone, the place in which he chose to do so is absolutely
vile, in both his disregard for the sanctity of the place as well as the
sanctity of the monks - vile for any means in which he would disregard an
innocent."

Morgan says "The ends don't justify the means."

Monroe says, a tense tone in his voice, "My answer will be the same then,
Willow. If we are confronted directly with a situation where force is
needed, of course I will acede to its use. But the exigency is not now
before us. Riker threatened you bodily and I shot him through the eye with
a rifle. I would do the same for Morson. There is a great distance,
though, between Riker menacing you and Morson, currently in hiding from
the police. It is that distance I decline to deny the significance of."

Lucien says "I may be delaying decisive action, but maybe it was for the
best that the murder was committed, if you'll forgive my utter discrepancy
for morals with that statement." He looks to Desiree, "If we punish him
otherwise, it will be for his choice of location... far less severe than
anything else and still condone the rights to do so, since Liu-Shen is of
our Chantry and her property will be respected."

Bardon lifts his head, emerging from his thoughts at Lucien's comment.
"Let's not forget attempting to flambe some monks for daring to attempt to
prevent violence in their sacred site."

Lucien nods to Bardon, "Yes, forgive my ignorance."

Desiree nods. "Okay. Granted. On all of what was just said, okay?
So...what should we do?"

You say "I think the plan we have settled on is a good one. Shall we
undertake the search?"

Desiree continues, after Monroe has spoken. Clearly she wants to know
what's on their minds. "What, go hunt them down and cut their heads off,
just like that? If not an indirect course of action, then, what doi you
propose? Bardon? Willow? Laz?"

Monroe blinks. "Goodness, no, I, er, I meant the other possibility.
Assisting the police from afar."

Morgan says "I think he means hunt them down and help the police capture
them."

You say "Yes, quite." You say "By 'search', I meant temporo-chronesis
searching." You say "Or....scrying...for the rest of you."

Lazarus says "Yo?"

Lucien touches his chin with his finger, "Why not approach the man simply
and make our inquiries known? Ask him why he did it, and that any harm
upon our liaison would result in tipping off the police and wrath of the
rest of us."

Desiree shakes her head. 'Not Monroe...the others. I think maybe there is
an undercurrent here...am I wrong? An undercurrent that feels like we
should go and do something, tie up loose ends, deal with it ourselves."

Bardon sighs softly. "Personally, I have to admit that I have absolutely
zero belief that the authorities will come even close to justice if he's
captured...I mean, everyone remember the OJ Simpson trial about five years
ago? Lucien's idea actually has some merit...and I still think my
Nightmare idea has merit, no?"

Desiree says "Liu-Shen tried that. It didn't work, Luc."

Lazarus says "Well, personally the people we're talking about, if we can
call them that, are a threat to those around them, and most probably
themselves."

Lucien clicks his tongue, "And the result?"

Lazarus says "It's like walking up to a level 8 manticore and saying "Bad
dog. No cookie." Scold it and threaten all you want, and if you're lucky,
it'll ignore you."

Desiree nods, smiling. "A gross assumption or two there, if I might say
so. We still don't know why the attack was made. Possibly for a good
reason? Maybe the Immortals like to play policeman like other extranormals
do. As to if they threaten themselves? They may threaten, but it isn't
themselves. We don't know much more."

Monroe says quietly, "My reasons for desiring to assist the authorities
have nothing to do with their ability to dispense justice. It has to do
with our /inability/ to perform that function." He nods to Desiree.
"Precisely."

Lazarus says "I mean others as in the NPCs."

Desiree says "I don't dispute the location was poor, as was the overspill
with the monks...I'm just saying we don't know much...certainly not enough
to be planning anything *other* than an indirect attempt to aid the
police. Not like there aren't cops that are special, too."" Bardon frowns
slightly. "That doesn't explain burning the monks..." he murmurs half to
himself, although he quiets as Desiree mentions the same. "Special cops? I
didn't know there were any on the force here...aside from Morson."

Willow tilts her brows. "The only 'special cops' I'm aware of are
Blackhats and Mirrorshades."

Lazarus says "Besides, even if they are going around helping mankind, they
should at least have a vague idea who they're trying to cleanse. And
perhaps the consequences." Lucien readjusts the bowler on his head, "They
would get the job done, truth be told. But at what cost to our safety."

Monroe remains quiet, perhaps not quite following the thread of the
conversation. Too much jargon. He did remember what 'cops' meant after a
moment.

Lazarus says "Or if he is a sort of vampire hunter, at least try to point
him in the right direction, so that he doesn't go after those who still
have a pulse."

Desiree says "pose nods to Lucien. "And folks, we have to pick our spots,
especially as we get established here. We need to be a alot cautious about
what causes we champion, and how we go about it.""

Lucien says "In the words of the Phanton Phreak Elite group... preparation
today ensures a tomorrow with no more wanking Unionists."

Lazarus looks at Lucien. "In English?"

Bardon gives Lucien a sidelong glance, a faint hint of a smirk forming
before his expression becomes more serious. "Just to clarify...we turn
Morson over to the cops. He's a cop too, and gets away with a slap on the
wrist. That ends the situation? I'm just trying to understand the possible
outcomes here..."

Morgan says "Isn't he a cop that was thrown off the force? If Desiree
makes a big fuss over it with the mediea..."

Desiree says "pose shakes her head. "No Bardon, I want you to think of the
process, the big picture. What would you do, then? Propose something other
than getting him into the hands of the police?"

Desiree says ":shakes her head. "No Bardon, I want you to think of the
process, the big picture. What would you do, then? Propose something other
than getting him into the hands of the police?""

Desiree says "ooc Hang on, my client is freaking." Desiree has
disconnected. <OOC> Bardon snugs Desi. Been there... Desiree has
connected.

Desiree sighs.

Willow has remained silent and unhappy through most of this. "For every
life that is lost in this action, it will be on our shoulders." she
retreats behind the counter, looking rather like she wants to curl up in a
ball somewhere.

Desiree shakes her head. "What would you do, Willow?" Desiree says "I
still haven't heard any suggestion other than aids to helping the police
get them."

Lazarus says "If the undead get taken out, then we don't get any more
shoulder burden. No lost lives because they're already dead." Lucien says
"We should assign a group to monitor him, and make sure he keeps out of
trouble in the meantime."

Morgan slides her arms around Willow in a comfort hug.

Lucien looks toward Bardon, "One of your spirits would greatly assist in
this matter."

You say "I also have the ability to track people's locations across time."

Desiree looks at Bardon after hearing Monroe and Lucien's comments. "That
sounds workable, no? 24-7 surveillance?"

Bardon too sighs softly, turning to reply to Desiree. "There are crimes
that the authorities won't even consider. Desecrating a sacred site, for
starters. Sleeper justice won't do one thing about that. I think that
irregardless, they should both bear some consequences for that
action...hence my Nightmare suggestion, which apparently keeps getting
forgotten." He pauses, nodding once at Lucien. "I'm certain a tracker
would be simple to arrange. I've been thinking...It may be possible to
convince one of the Iwa to remain near him, and should he act in such a
manner towards Sleepers again...."

Monroe suggests, "I have not forgotten it. I would propose that we list
all possibilities for remote action and make our decisions upon actually
/finding/ him. If there are unexpected difficulties in finding him, it
would be superfluous to spend much effort in deciding on a specific
follow-up plan."

Willow says, "I haven't forgotten, Bardon. I actually think it's a good
idea, as it's not so much a punishment as a motivator of their own
consciences...should either of them have any." Desiree smiles at Bardon.
"I didn't disregard it,Bardon, but all you're doing is driving him to turn
himself in, right?"

You say "Certainly." You say "Such forms of persuasion are perfectly
acceptable." Monroe is perhaps a little overeager to agree with Willow on
something.

Bardon nods his head once at the various replies. "Frankly, I believe they
should /both/ pay in some regard for their desecration irregardless to
whatever the Sleeper authorities decide to do for his mundane crimes. Even
if they /do/ turn themselves in...can any argue that they shouldn't have
some sleepless nights over those spiritual crimes?"

Morgan hmmms. "Community service?"

Desiree laughs. "If that is what is to be done, no...I have no problem
with that at all, Bardon."

Willow says pointedly, "Not from me." her tension seems to ease a tiny bit
for some (obvious!) reason.

Monroe says, patiently, to Bardon, "And if there are mitigating
circumstances we are not aware of?"

Willow says "Then the dreams will reflect that. It's the conscience
motivator, after all."

Lucien remains silent. It's best that way.

Bardon tilts his head a fraction to one side. "To my mind, there are no
mitigating circumstances to desecrating a holy place...but I freely admit
to bias in that respect. It's as Willow says though...I won't be guiding
their dreams personally, the Iwa will point the way based on their own
minds."

Monroe looks to Willow, then back to Bardon. "Oh? Good, good. Then yes,
that's all right with me. I was unaware of that portion of the process."
he says.

Morgan says "What if they're socieopaths and have no conscience?"

Willow says softly, "Bardon has the right of it. Whatever their reasons,
whatever their motivations - they violated sacred ground. I would be
remiss in my duty as a priestess, and Bardon would be remiss in his role
as a shaman if we neglected that issue." she looks to Morgan. "Excellent
question."

You say "I believe this action is meant to supplement, not replace, other
action, Morgan."

Desiree says "Is there any way we could somehow...tie their physical body
to a certain geographic area?""

You say "That is beyond my ability, though I can make it very difficult
for them to escape, should a chase begin."

Bardon lifts one hand slightly. "I will ask of the Iwa that should they be
lacking in conscience that the Nightmare report such to me. In which case,
I will take a more personal hand in their dreams."

Morgan hmmms. "What about a faerie geas?"

Willow shakes her head. "I would prefer to leave them out of this."

Desiree nods fervently at Willow's call on that one.

Lazarus says "We have enough paranormals as it is."

Lucien sighs, and looks toward his watch. Faeries... how trite.

Bardon's hands return to lightly tracing the patterns on his didge. "I'd
also like to keep the Fair Folk out of this if at all possible. Things are
complicated enough."

Morgan shrugs. "Just saying they owe me a favor."

Lazarus says "Cool. Start collecting interest."

Monroe falls silent again, clasping his large hands together and staring
at them with an introspective expression, lost in a memory of some kind.

Morgan rolls her eyes. "Their also my friends!"

Lucien clears his throat, "The Fair Folk aren't putting us at risk."

Morgan nods. "I'm sorry... stupid me.. forget I said anything."

Lucien says "If we did, it would provide us with no joy in our lives."

Lazarus sighs. He closes a book, resting his head on it.

Desiree glances at Lucien and squints her eyes. She softly asks, "Huh?"

Bardon appears slightly surprised at Lucien's statement, but seems to be
in agreement.

Lazarus beings to snore quietly a moment or so later.

Lazarus has disconnected.

Morgan hmmms. "Make sense to me."

Lucien smiles, "Precisely."

Desiree nods, raising an eyebrwo. 'Whatever, I'm lost then.

Lucien says "It was a compliment."

Morgan smiles. "Thanks, Lucien."

Willow walks over wearily to Monroe, standing behind him and putting a
gentle hand on his shoulder.

Monroe says, almost to his hands, quiet and easy, "I am sorry if I made
any trouble. I have no room to judge others' versions of justice. It was
hypocritical of me, the one with the least insight into the world of the
'supernatural'..." (He clearly is not comfortable with the term) "...to
bring judgment on how its laws ought function."

Bardon, still running his fingers over his didge, flicks a hint of a smile
in Monroe's direction. "It's okay Monroe...nice to see someone else can
fly off at the handle besides me. I was beginning to think I was the only
one." he adds in a light-hearted tone of voice.

Desiree smiles at Monroe and says, "I like when a man has passion for a
cause, Monroe. And I understand your concerns." She looks at Bardon and
smiles.

Monroe smiles wanly. "I wish that I could say my judgment was hasty and
temperamentally-based. But it was considered and crafted. Its /holder/ is
merely ignorant."

Someone knocks from Meridian St. and Lake Shore Dr. -- Downtown West.

Bardon nods his head once at Monroe's words. "Then allow me to dispell a
small portion of that ignorance. Killing of /any/ of Gaia's creatures is
not something I take lightly. I give prayers to the animals whose flesh
forms the meat I eat. I sing praises to the plants whose fruits and seeds
nourish me. The coffee plants...ahh, for them I perform many services in
return for their wonderful beans. I have only killed what most would call
a human being once: Riker." He pauses for a moment. "Just a side of me the
rest of you might have a misconception about."

Monroe nods, politely, to Bardon, but stays silent.

Morgan says "I'll check on it." Morgan gets up and heads for the door.
Morgan leaves Bell, Book, and Candle. Morgan has left. Morgan has arrived.

Bardon watches idly as Morgan attends to the door. "Anyone we know?"

Willow starts to let her hand slide off Monroe's shoulder, as if she's not
certain he wants it there.

Niles has arrived.

Morgan comes back in, leading Niles.

Niles enters, following Morgan. He removes a beaten leather jacket that
has definitely seen better days - in a stylish sort of way. It just looks
as if it's been on plenty of adventures with its owner.

Long distance to Willow: Monroe tenses slightly as you withdraw. He wants
you there - a bridge, maybe, to the present?

Willow leans down and kisses the top of Monroe's head, and leaves the hand
on his shoulder.

Bardon sits on one of the chairs, his didge resting across his lap while
his fingers trace out the patterns thereon. "Niles...good to see you."

Lucien nods his head to the newcomer in greeting.

Monroe says amiably, "Hello, Niles." he seems fairly subdued.

Niles nods to Bardon, Lucien, and Monroe in turn, with a quick smile.

Desiree smiles as Niles enters.

Morgan says "You missed the fun, Niles."

Willow says faintly, "Oh, is that what it was?"

Desiree gazes now at Bardon and shakes her head. "Just so you know,
Bard...I never had any misimpressions."

Bardon nods his head once at Desiree's words, a hint of a smile forming.
"That's reassuring, Desi. My thanks."

Lucien has disconnected.

<OOC> Monroe's guests arrive. Monroe excuses himself much more gracefully
than he did before.