[[[[[[MONROE'S NOTES: Xerxes interrogates Monroe.]]]]]]


Main Room -- Telegraph Hill Custom Clockworks(#2274R)

	This is a small shop, converted out of the front parlor and front
room of the skinny, small brick house that this building used to be. Two
large display cases have been installed, filled with white light and small
pedestals lined with crushed velvet holding watches and clocks of all
description. Pocket watches nestle next to wristwatches and alarm clocks
and desk clocks, ticking and chiming inexorably away. The lighting here is
indirect and soft, a pale yellow that lends the wooden furnishings a
sepia, antique tone, though they all seem to be of modern manufacture. 
	<<+views installed>>

Obvious exits:

Simon reaches into his pocket and pulls out a large wad of bills. He draws
forth ten fifties very swiftly, as if his hands were use to dealing with
money. He replaces the wad as he speaks. "If you're the only one around
here who has it, then I guess any price you can place would be fair,
right?"

Desiree steps in quietly and looks around her, always delighted by the
shop and its interior. Seeing Monroe, she beams warmly and moves toward
where he is conversing with another.

Simon hands Monroe the money. "What's electronic mail?"

Monroe smiles to Desiree. "Good evening." he says to her, then nods
slightly to Simon. "That is one way of looking at it. I attempt to resist
the siren song of avarice, myself."


Monroe takes the money. "I believe it is like ordinary mail, except that
it is transmitted via phone lines."


Simon scratches his head. "ooh. Well then what's avarice?"

Desiree nods to the stranger as she comes nearer, though her eyes once
again move to Monroe. "Hiya, Monroe. What's shakin'?"

Monroe blinks. "Greed." he says. "Especially for money." He writes out a
receipt longhand and puts Simon's money, folding it flat, into a small
strongbox.

Monroe hands the receipt to Simon and lays the watch in a small velvet
case. "I guarantee the operation of the works for the first six months,
and will repair it at a nominal fee at any time after that."

Simon says "ooh... thanks mister. I always wanted a watch."

Monroe turns to Desiree, getting her meaning from context, apparently.
"Many things. The heavens and the earth." he says with a grin.

Simon takes the velvet case and walks out the door.

Simon steps through the outer door towards the street.
Simon has left.


Desiree chuckles as she watches the other guy step out. "Business is good
I see." She turns and grins back at him.


Monroe says easily, "Yes...I had two sales today, and another round of
mail order went out. How are you?"

Desiree sighs. "I'm okay, I guess. My band is giving me fits...they wanna
get back in the studio and then go on the road. My...vacation is going
overboard, they say."

Monroe chuckles a little and tilts his head. "But you feel constrained to
stay." he says, inquisitively.

Desiree nods and frowns. "After what I saw the other day, I guess so."


Monroe gathers up some of his papers and lays them to the side. He nods
solemnly. "That bespeaks a strong conscience and is very complimentary to
you." he says. "Have you had any more thoughts on the matter since last we
spoke?"


Desiree nods slowly, blushing a bit at the compliment. "Yes. Are you a
part of a chantry within our area?"

Xerxes enters from the street.
Xerxes has arrived.

Monroe says mildly. "No - the Hermetics want to start one, and include me,
but I have not received any details from their quarter." The close
observer might note a trace of annoyance in this, but only a trace.

Xerxes steps inside with a book tucked securely under his arm.

Monroe turns with a smile as Xerxes enters. "Hello, sir." he says with a
smile. "How are you?"

Desiree blinks as they are interrupyted, though she recovers quickly and
smiles.

Monroe looks between the two. "Have you met?" he asks politely.

Xerxes nods politely, returning, "I am as well as can be expected. Good
evening to you." He nods to Desiree, "Good evening, madam."

Xerxes turns to Desiree, but answers Monroe, "I have not had the
pleasure."

Desiree nods politely at the man in return. "hello," she says with a
smile.

Monroe indicates Desiree with a graceful motion of his hand. "This is
Desiree --------, of the band 'Livewire' - and a member of the
Ecstasists." Then Xerxes: "This is Xerxes ---------, of the University,
and a member of the Order of Hermes. I apologize for not remembering your
House, sir." (OOC: He does, however, remember both of your last names.)

Zapolya
You paged Xerxes with 'Thanks. :)'.

Xerxes adds, "Professor of History."
Xerxes returns his attention to Desiree, "Pleasure to make your
acquiantance, madam."
  
Desiree smiles, relieved somewhat. She was worried about what Monroe had
said as the man had entered. "Pleased to meet you as well, Dr. Zapolya."
She extends her hand to him gracefully.

Xerxes takes Desiree's hand, and instead of shaking it, bows at the neck
and shoulders slightly over it, as he brings his heels together, but he is
not so forward as to actually kiss it.

Xerxes releases her hand gently as he assumes his normal straight posture.

Monroe does not think this is odd, apparently. "I have not seen you in
many days, Xerxes. The final examinations must have completely absorbed
you."

Xerxes says "Absorbed is a genteel way of expressing it, albeit accurate
to a point."


Desiree chuckles and curtsies prettily. She then frowns and coughs
delicately. "I hated final exams. Not that I ever went to college, but the
idea sort of makes me shudder."


Monroe also chuckles at Xerxes' remark. "I never finished, either." he
says to Desiree. "They were bad enouugh."


Xerxes says "Mr. Dennison, I had come to discuss a matter with you, an
appointment which has been postponed again and again, yet I do not wish to
deprive you of the charming lady's company."


Monroe says easily, "Is it of a private nature, sir? I have relied on
Desiree's discretion in the past and if it is merely sensitive, I have no
reason to doubt it today."

Xerxes turns to Desiree, almost apologetic that such a connotation was
taken, "I do not doubt the lady's dicretion; however, it may be something
which you wish to be conducted in private."

Monroe says easily, "Perhaps later tonight, then. Have you spoken to
Willow or Niles recently?"

Desiree shrugs slightly, glancing at Xerxes. "I can run along. I wouldn't
intrude." She turns and smiles at Monroe. "Give me a call Monroe. We do
have much to discuss...and if you feel that Dr. Zapolya might be
interested in what I saw with Johnson, feel free to fill him in."

Xerxes says "Not recently, no."


Monroe nods slightly to Desiree. "I definitely shall call you." he says,
as if it were a novel idea which he hadn't thought of.

Xerxes says to Desiree, "I look forward to our meeting again."

Desiree nods, not in the least upset or put off. "Likewise, Dr. I'll see
you soon, Monroe."

Desiree walks to the door and steps outside.
Desiree steps through the outer door towards the street.
Desiree has left.

Monroe says mildly, "Much has happened since we spoke last. What did you
want to ask me about?"

Xerxes says "I wanted to finally have that discussion with you, which
probably pertains to the perception that the Order has been guarded with
regards to information."

Xerxes says "As you mentioned upon my arrival."

Monroe chuckles. "Certainly." he says easily. "I have asked Niles many
times and always been put off by the promise that he would one day reveal
all, after speaking with you, Willow and Bardon. We are all busy people,
and I do not fault anyone."

Xerxes nods.
Xerxes says "Perhaps we should retire to less public surroundings?"

Monroe nods slightly. "Certainly." he says, and he moves out from behind
the workbench, gathering up a small stack of plans and sketches as he does
so. He turns the sign on the door to CLOSED and then moves to the back,
opening the door into the back room. When he does, the dog rouses itself
from its slumber, heaves its massive body up and pads, wearily, into the
back room. Monroe looks a little surprised at it, but makes no move to
block it. "After you, sir..." he murmurs evenly.

Xerxes nods and conducts himself to the back room.
Xerxes steps through into the back room.
Xerxes has left.

You step through the door into the back room.
Split-Level Apartment -- Telegraph Hill Custom Clockworks(#2367R)

 
 	 This area of the house has been renovated recently, tearing out
the walls that made it into small rooms and replacing them with more space
and better windows, though the actual furnishings are on the sparse side.
A gigantic steamer trunk stands in one corner - a pair of bookshelves are
half-filled, the rest of the books lying in piles nearby. An iron,
zigzagging staircase leads up to the second floor, which has been
converted to a loft bedroom. A large wardrobe stands open there, with
clothes peering out. The kitchen, which occupies one tiled corner of the
apartment, is especially sparse, with hardly an appliance in evidence. A
large wooden work table has been assembled recently and placed to one
side, out of the way of the comfortable-looking chairs and couch near the
west-facing window. 
 	 << +views set >>
Contents:
Xerxes
Obvious exits:
Out <O>


Xerxes turns to face you as you enter.

Monroe lays the plans down on the table in a neat pile.
You say "Would you like a cup of coffee or tea?"
Monroe indicates the kitchenette with a graceful hand.

Xerxes says "Tea, please."

Monroe moves towards the oven where the teapot is already on - did he have
another guest earlier today, or did he just plan ahead for Xerxes visit?
He turns on the stove and takes some clean mugs from a well-organized
shelf. While waiting for the water to boil, he gestures towards the chairs
near the west-facing window. "Please make yourself comfortable, sir, my
home is at your disposal."

Xerxes nods at Monroe's prompting and casts his eyes about to find a place
to sit.


Xerxes seats himself in one of the chairs.


Monroe brings the tea over shortly. "What inquiries can I help you with?"
he says easily, sitting in an obviously-favorite armchair, books piled on
the table next to it. (Most of them appear to be about the Great
Depression, though the top one is a used copy of a textbook: 'An
Introduction To Modern Neuroscience')

Xerxes says "I have heard your story from others' lips. I should like to
hear it from your own."

Monroe laughs a little. "Admirable." he says, pleased. He sips his tea and
then lays it aside. "I was born in 1820, in Philadelphia. I and my
brothers originated the first plan to mass-produce timepieces, and I was
the lead designer of the work. The work attracted the attention of a group
which at the time called itself 'Iteration 9', and they Awakened me. I
displayed an aptitude for manipulating the time plenum, and was therefore
initiated into the Timekeepers and sent West to Yerba Buena - it would be
renamed San Francisco a year after my arrival." You can hear the capital
letters in 'West'. "Disagreements developed between myself and certain
influential members of the Order of Reason, and I was cut off from the
Quintessential support of the Order. Shortly thereafter, an accident with
the chaotic resonances...oh, today it is called 'paradox', swallowed me up
out of the time plenum, where I languished for over a hundred and fifty
years. I emerged in 1996, was discovered, thankfully, by a small cabal of
Ecstasists, and introduced to the world of the Traditions. The Etherites
have graciously consented to my membership."

<OOC> Xerxes says "Ack!"
<OOC> Xerxes's glad he's not on telnet.

<OOC> Xerxes says "It's one of my pet peeves. Please don't do that again."


<OOC> Monroe says "Sorry - did you want to interrupt him at some point?"
<OOC> Xerxes just doesn't like being spammed, that's all.
<OOC> Monroe says "Okay."
<OOC> Xerxes says "And, although I hadn't thought of it in those terms, it
doesn't allow someone to raise a point or question."
<OOC> Monroe says "I *do* make long impassioned speeches at points. That's
just the nature of the character, though. If you would rather me give it
in pieces and let you question and ask stuff, that's fine."

Xerxes says "So, you were not a member of the Electrodyne Engineers?"


Monroe says mildly, "No - the electrical fluid was not considered
sufficiently reliable for any practical applications. It was still very
much something to be explored rather than used, as it is today,
ubiquitously."


Xerxes frowns, but it is in innermost thought.


Xerxes says "However, you cound yourself as a member of the Sons of 


Monroe nods slightly. "Yes. The organization to which I belonged is,
apparently, quite dead, and the Etherites have been nothing but
encouraging in my researches."



Xerxes nods, considering.
Your alter egos are now gone.


Xerxes says "Were you aware of the pogroms instituted against the
opponents of the Order of Reason?"


Monroe nods slightly. "In previous eras - and we heard rumors of renegades
tainted by demons, madness and personal feuds. We were constantly warned
to be vigilant against such ideas as they were clearly not founded upon
reason."

You say "The Iterators were especially strict, as such actions were
considered a waste of valuable resources of the Order."


Xerxes says "Do I take that to mean you have had no direct knowledge of
their efforts to exterminate the Traditions?"


Xerxes says "I was unaware that the Iterators were so squeemish about the
taking of life. They do not seem to suffer from such misgivings today."

You say "If you mean - did I witness any of these attempts? No, I did
not."

Monroe says easily, "Squeamishness does not enter into it. People are
valuable and not to be wasted."


Xerxes takes care that his tone is not accusatory, "I quite agree;
however, history has led me to believe that the value attached to human
life is not something for which the Order of Reason is known.

Monroe nods, agreeing. "There was some consensus that many of the earlier
wars had been a mistake - and since my departure, they appear to have gone
wholly mad and completely abandoned any attempts at accomplishing anything
valuable."


Xerxes says "I beg your pardon? Is it your contention that an entire
faction of the Order of Reason reproached itself for its previous
campaigns?"

Monroe says mildly, "Is that so hard to believe? Many of these wars
occurred hundreds of years before even I was born and were terribly
wasteful. Has your Order never thought that it has made a mistake?"

Xerxes says "Yes, it is hard to believe. The litany of chantries felled
and the magi therein slaughtered or driven away has caused us to regard
their efforts with a sincerity born of an almost crusade-esque spirit."

Monroe says evenly, "There was always some debate about the wisdom of past
or present endeavours. Reasonable discussion of ideas was the foundation
of the Order's decision-making process, and dissent was encouraged as the
most effective means of testing doctrine. Not all the terrible things done
were considered wrong, but all invited scrutiny, and some did not hold up
to it."

You say "Today, I feel our worst crimes were the ones we failed to
notice."

Xerxes says "Your previous statement was that the Iterators considered
efforts against their opponents were a waste of time. Considering the
relative success of the Order of Reason during the 1800's, arguably their
age of true ascendancy, I find this hard to reconcile with the previous
characterization."

You say "Not all efforts against their opponents took the form of shooting
them. In fact, no reasonable man could possibly think in the age of the
cheap printing press, that any philosophical conflict could possibly be
resolved with violence. Men fall, but ideas are eternal."

Xerxes says "Perhaps no reasonable man, no, but there are sufficient
quantities of unreasonable men that war has not become extinct in the
nearly five centuries since Johann Gutemberg popularized his version of
printing."

Monroe chuckles slightly. "No - but not all wars are as philosophical as
those fought for the nature of man's place in Creation."

Xerxes says "So, if I may attempt to articulate your position, the Order
of Reason simply disagreed with the Nine Traditions and did not take
violent action against them?"


Monroe shakes his head slightly. "There was *some* violent action, but it
was not the focus of the Order's activities, nor its preferred method. And
some persons within the Order accounted for a vastly disproportionate
share of the violence."

Xerxes says "Our own history does not reflect this cessation of
hostilities."

You say "It seems that those persons have, in the interim, exterminated or
excommunicated all the other points of view. And so much for reason as the
decision-making process."

Monroe shrugs. "I tell you of my experience at the Institute and my
correspondence with other Timekeepers and Iterators. Even a single
renegade of the Order could lead a maddened attack at any time - I do not
doubt that the pages of your histories are full of them. I do not attempt
to account for each, or for any. They are not mine to account for."

Xerxes says "Due to the ubiquitous success and pervasive presence of the
Order of Reason during the 1700's and 1800's, I cannot view iwth veracity
that those who took arms against us represented a malcontented minority."

Monroe says, quite mildly, "Perhaps I and all my colleagues, mentors and
associates were the minority and all the texts and documents which I read
were concocted for our benefit by maddened thugs who desired nothing more
than the total extermination of anything vaguely resembling our ideals and
who had decided to start with the Traditions. I must stand on my
experience as strongly as you stand on your histories, though."

Xerxes nods, once.
Xerxes says "Very well."

Monroe says easily, "I am not sure what purpose this colloquy has,
however, since in the intervening time, it is quite clear that the Union
*has* been conquered by maddened thugs and grasping salesmen."

Xerxes says "I do not believe the characterization of their recent
undertakings were ever in doubt."

Xerxes says "There is another issue, that of the question of the threat to
stability of a Cabal and potential Chantry posed by the relationship which
you and Miss Rosenberg enjoy, something about which I believe Professor
Collingsworth has discussed with you."


Monroe says, with a dry little smile, "He tried. I am afraid it is a
strictly personal matter between myself and her, and I do not consider it
an appropriate topic for discussion with you, Professor Collingsworth, or
any other man. I would not betray her confidence."

Xerxes says "Be that as it may, interpersonal relationships being subject
to forces more mercurial than the winds themselves, I hope you can
understand our concern."

Monroe nods slightly. "I understand, but I regret to say I cannot assist
you in the matter. Whatever concerns you may have you shall have to
grapple with unaided by any word of mine."

Xerxes says "You misconstrue my intent, sir. I mean not to pry into your
personal matters, but merely to state that it is our position that we feel
compelled to undertake measures to ensure our own security and safety.
Should the winds of change tear at the bond you have formed, we must
ensure that the shearing forces felt there do not spill unto avenues where
they do not belong."
Xerxes says "We do not seek to intrude; we seek to see it contained."



Monroe says, perhaps a little sharply, "You may do as you please. I can
have no objection to any safeguards to your security which you may enact
for any reason, personal, public or otherwise. It is your offer to extend
and you may attach whatever provisions to it you care to. If I find them
objectionable, you may rest assured that I will inform you directly."

Xerxes says "I would anticipate as such."

Monroe relaxes a little and sips his tea.

Xerxes nods as he says taht, by the way (posing is off this evening)


Xerxes says "However, the point should be made that, given the nature of
our opponent, who are, as you yourself put, has all the moral fiber of a
maddened thug, there are occasions when personal sensibilities must be
sacrificed for security. I begrudge the necessity, yet, the eventuality
may arise. I say this for courtesy's sake."

Monroe puts down his mug. "Courtesy." he repeats. "One might call it that,
I suppose. In that case, I acknowledge your courtesies and have no further
comment upon them."

Xerxes says "I did not make the point for malice, sir. The sad fact of
this reality is that, in time of conflict, often some things must be
sacrificed."


Monroe nods slightly. "I understand." he says, crisply.

Xerxes stands.