Hell week.

[nick_garou]

I met up with Val earlier this week and we had a fairly lengthy talk over dinner. She gave me the scoop with the other mage that's been in town for nearly 2 years. Based on Val's description of how I, Charley, and Ila registered with her sensory-based gift, it sounds like Ila's not very powerful. Possibly a Cultist with a dash of Entropy and Time, which, frankly, is nothing to sneeze at. Also of interest? Ila has prior experience with Fae (new one to me), Ratkin (met one before), and was previously engaged to a garou. (Apparently it didn't work out--and she didn't die. Wonder if the garou survived?) Trying to run her down. Our paths will cross eventually.

We also discussed the organization that abducted Ex. Val info-dumped me. I'm still sifting through the paperwork and following in her footsteps to make sure nothing was overlooked. She was /damn/ thorough. I am really glad I hired her on for my PI business. I think it's done her some good, too--freeing her up more and getting her away from all the death involved in working homicides for the SCPD.

Val's also got a trip to Morocco in the works. The pain spirit that'd attached itself to Laila earlier? Sent from her grandfather for being disobedient. (WTF, seriously?) Val's going to deliver a message to gramps that if he keeps meddling, she'll sterilize herself and he'll get no offspring. Butt out and he'll get offspring, but it'll be when she wants and with who she wants. (You go, girl!) Seriously? The Shadow Lords are repeatedly proving themselves to be asshats. I asked Val to--if she can swing it--bring me back some spices and an indigenous mint plant. Moroccan mint to make authentic Moroccan mint tea? Yes, please. (Half tempted to go myself.)

Popped out to Edgewood a couple days ago. Seems like chili weather so I brought groceries for that--minus the meat. I suspect they'll make a venison-based meat chili. What should have been a mundane visit nearly got me killed--and on a new moon to boot. Sue and Charlene were hanging in the kitchen, chatting, so I joined in. Samantha's name got brought up and before I knew it, Sue was asking--telling actually--me to tell him what Samantha has said to Reed that might have nearly provoked him into a frenzy the week before. Hell if I know (without peering back through time). I had bigger fish to fry--Thomas had just made me as a mage and there were garou present--so what one young Wendigo said to a new cub? Not too damn important at the time. Thing is, Sue used some sort of gift. It registered as a Mind attack, so I raised shields and defended myself and replied to him that I didn't recall what was said. Apparently that was the wrong answer or he was pissed that his gift had failed him, because he got ANGRY after that and whipped that gift out a second time. Fortunately, by then, I'd recognized it as that investigative gift Salem'd used on me repeatedly ages ago in a coffee shop back before he knew what I was. I wasn't as skilled back then and he got puzzled by whatever feedback he was getting. With Sue, I just shunted the whole thing down so there was zero response/penetration. So the second time Sue pulled it out, I let my defenses down and rolled with it. Told him I didn't recall what was said or what transpired but that maybe Samantha had said something to trigger him, but I couldn't recall any details beyond that. Even that seemed to piss him off more. Thank God Charlene was there. I thought he was going to come across the kitchen table for me--and then Reed and Moxie showed up. Sue calmed back down, then I exited stage left.

Sent Salem an e-mail telling him I nearly got made by someone who had that gift he had. Asked him if he'd swing by my place sometime during the half or gibbous moon, and work with me so I could get some practice defending and sending false feedback to someone using that gift. Salem offered to work with me on that and other gifts that might be troublesome. That.... went way better than I thought it would. I was worried he'd be afraid that I'd use it against him or the Walkers, but apparently he's not concerned about that (or didn't think of it).

Last night Val and I met up in Harbor Park to catch up. Mouse dropped by and gave us both christmas gifts from her grandparents. I got a hand-knitted hat and scarf that looks like it was made with remnants from the fluorescent side of a Yarn Barn. I think the hat is going in the corner of a closet, but I might actually get some mileage out of the scarf.

Think I've managed to drive of that fire elemental. I'll keep an eye out for the next week and continue making the place inhospitable. With the heat off (safe for some pipe warmers to keep them from freezing), my cat is constantly in my lap, by my side, or sleeping on top of me. Kind of nice, even if I know he's just using me.