Nazareth Awakened - Chapter 02: Wives of Solomon

[Shayuri]

Chance nods at Law's litany, even though she felt like grinding her teeth in frustration. There was still Harper and Agnasci, of course, but Law was kind of a cornerstone. Harper was often in his own world; hard to relate to. Agnasci such trust issues that it was coming between him and the others. As much as her own freewheeling approach often conflicted with him, Chance knew that they needed Law.

So.

"I refuse to believe that we can see what we've seen, do what we've done, and get stymied by a little scheduling problem," she said stubbornly. "We're gonna fix this. If time's an issue, maybe there's something I can do about that."

 

[TillForPie]

"Keep this closed." That was Gloria's last instruction to Agnasci before disappearing into his closet, shutting the door behind her. She looked him in the eyes when she said it and though he might have shrugged it off, there was the hint of a threat of violence in her stare.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The next morning, on Monday the 13th of January, the four mages arrive at Nazareth Secondhand Books, finding a black Acura RLX parked outside. They exchange looks and head into the shop. Faye seems on edge today, and merely instructs them to wait. It seems Penrose is busy with something important.

At about 8:15 AM the Employees Only door opens and a man they've never met (and the first stranger they've ever seen in the store) emerges, Penrose hotfoot behind him, face dark with fury. "- when you were just Odin's errand boy." He's practically spitting the words, though he looks as exhausted as ever.

"Times have changed." Penrose's guest is young, no older than his mid 20s. He's wearing skinny jeans and a waistcoat over a white button-up, its sleeves rolled to his elbows. He's slender and has short black hair and a nose that looks as if it's been broken and re-set a few times - he's of about average attractiveness overall. "Things are different." He shrugs in an attempt to appear casual about whatever he and Penrose are discussing but it's clear he's holding back a grin.

"Yeah, now you're the council's errand boy." Penrose's hands are balled into fists at his sides and he looks ready to attack. His students thought they saw him angry the night of Mad Dog's death but that was nothing compared to this. "You've really moved up in the world."

The man isn't quick with a response and after a moment's pause instead turns his attention on Penrose's waiting students. "You lost?"

"They're not sleepers," says Faye, her voice icy.

"Don't you talk to them." Penrose moves forward and his guest instinctively steps back before recovering with a small smile. "You've delivered your message. Get out."

To say things are tense between the two men would be an understatement but the younger of the pair seems to be enjoying it. "Newbies?" His eyes are bright with curiosity as he appraises each of the students in turn, his gaze perhaps lingering longer on Chance. With a snap of his hand a business card has appeared in his fingers and he extends his arm to offer it to whoever is closest. "In case any of you are interested in joining us in the 21st century."

"I told you to get out." There's the spark of magic as the temperature in the room drops very suddenly by about 20°F. Penrose is looking murderous, and his antagonist somewhat nervous - but the man keeps the card extended for another moment.

 

[Shayuri]

Chance gives the man an apologetic smile.

"You'd probably better go," she says gently.

 

[Mosier]

After hearing Chance's reply to the guy, Agnasci reaches forward and takes the card.

"Thanks," Agnasci says. He even seems to be genuine, even glancing over the card before stuffing it in his pocket. Agnasci is pretty sure this gesture will be enough to convince the guy he "won," and let him leave without losing face.

As soon as the man is out of the store, Agnasci pulls the card from his pocket and casually tosses it in the trash, making sure Penrose sees him do it.

Agnasci is struck by a sudden amusing realization. At least now I know there's someone out there who pisses Penrose off more than I do.

 

[GlassEye]

Harper, Thyrsus mage

[section]

Harper had something he had intended to tell Faye but he couldn't remember what it was. He leaned against the counter near where she was. A title on the spine of a worn paperback caught his eye, 'Alien Revealed', and he picked it up to flip through it but realized from the torrid cover that it really had little to do with aliens. He flipped its pages anyway, just to give himself something to do while they waited on Penrose. A spray of motes, golden in a shaft of sunlight, reminded him.

"He's allergic to dust, you know. Penrose." He sets the book down. "He's always scratching that rash on his hand. Some cortisone cream might help. Or maybe allergy shots, if you can convince him."

Harper shrugs and is about to say more or change the topic to something else when the door opens and Penrose and the stranger come out. He had thought the car Magellan's and is a little surprised when it turns out to be someone else. He shifts position so he can observe the conflict.

He's relieved when Chance and Agnasci respond to the stranger so that he doesn't have to. Harper isn't ready to break with Penrose yet and certainly not in a way that would obviously burn bridges. He clears his throat and shoves his hands into the pockets of his hoodie.
​

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[Rubberneck]

Law watches the battle in a state of bewilderment. The fact that someone other than them were here and the fact that that person was certainly not welcome was shocking to Law. Only someone with big brass ones or someone with power behind them would be so bold. Law is about to back up his mentor but Chance and Agnasci address the man before he does so Law finds it unnecessary. Instead he tries to look as intimidating as possible and watches his every move. Law wants to use magic but at this point Penrose might absolutely lose it if someone stepped out of line.

 

[TillForPie]

"Easier said than done," Faye says to Harper prior to the arrival of the two quarreling mages. It's clear she's anxious. A dog-eared copy of a book called Brazen is ignored on the counter nearby rather than in her hands as Harper's come to expect.

The unnamed mage shifts uncomfortably under Law's gaze. Law isn't a particularly big guy, more dextrous than strong, but having been around the block as many times as he has he can tell this guy is probably a pushover. It'd be a surprise if he's ever been in a fight. "Something on your mind, slick?" he asks, again giving off the impression that he somehow enjoys these pressure cooker situations.

"I'm not telling you again," warns Penrose, taking another half-step forward.

Agnasci takes the man's card and scans it briefly, giving the impression that he's doing it for the stranger's benefit. In reality he's trying to memorize as much of it as he can as quickly as possible.

[sblock=Scanning the card]Roll: Intelligence 2 + Composure 2 = Success with 2 successes
Agnasci manages to commit the number on the card to memory[/sblock]

Wizard
Herald of Phoenix
Famulus Minor, Silver Ladder​

Beneath the name and titles is a phone number with a 480 area code, marking Wizard as a likely resident of an east Phoenix metro city like Chandler, Tempe, or Paradise Valley. All much nicer places than Nazareth. To the left of the text is a light blue icon that shifts painfully under Agnasci's examination - it's a rune. The Mastigos feels like he's right at the precipice of being able to truly see it, but he's just not there yet. Agnasci's confident he'll be able to remember the number for at least a short while.

Penrose's unwelcome guest heads out the door and gets into the Acura. Penrose turns his angry stare on Agnasci but seems mollified when his student tosses the card into the trash.

"Those bastards are taking everything." Penrose's voice is heavy with bitterness.

Faye pipes up, her tone reassuring: "That's not true. They're leaving you the hallow under the store, aren't they?"

Penrose isn't having any of it. "Leaving me? They're all my discoveries! They're not theirs to take, damn it!" He stares daggers back at Faye, who shrinks away with a helpless shrug. "Rob's already got cabals lining up. One's already been approved!"

"Is it anyone we know?" asks Faye hopefully.

"Newly-formed. Neonates, all of them. Know what they're calling themselves?" he asks, though of course Faye wouldn't know. She shakes her head to confirm that. "Boundless Nazareth." Penrose snorts with derision.

 

[Shayuri]

"So...like us?" Chance asks. She sounds, if anything, perhaps a little too nonchalant about it. A little too blase'.

In reality of course, the idea of having a bunch of other young, inexperienced mages around to trade ideas with and work with was really exciting!

 

[TillForPie]

"Worse," he responds. "They're Free Council."

Penrose's students don't know what that means, but Faye winces. "I'm surprised any Free Council would be given a hallow."

"He approved the cabal that would piss me off the most."

 

[GlassEye]

Harper, Thyrsus mage

[section]

Harper frowns. He'd speak up but it's moments like this, when Penrose is distracted, that he lets slip things he hadn't planned on telling them. Free Council; Harper wonders what that is, chews his lip a moment before deciding to say something anyway.

"You must have some sort of recourse? I mean, you discovered them, so you should have some sort of rights. Or someone you can appeal to. Or, or what if you already occupied them?"

​

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