Breakfast at Alejandra's

	ST Last time on Dragonball GT… Our heroes heroically avoided an unknown threat that probably came from the gullet of Xibalba! Though it took from dawn until dusk and then half the night, the Children of the Lost Gods made it safe and sound to LA, where they were conveyed to lodgings offered by the Queen of Fallen Angels. After partaking of beer, tepache, and Mexican hot chocolate, they were each shown to their rooms (for there are many in the House of Cruz) and encouraged to further partake of Alejandra’s hospitality (provided that they don’t awaken Eloisa and Leon). Breakfast is to be an hour after dawn—and they would be eating with the other guardians of Los Angeles: Javid Yousefi, Pika Kahele, Cliff Rogers, and Linda Wu.
	Sanura Sanura would enjoy what I assume is a comfortable bed and wake when summoned.
	Ken Ken spends the time making himself useful with mending, cleaning, or other small bits of handiwork…. and making quiet conversation with anyone who happens to be awake
	Dovile Dovile does basically the same, cleaning her rifle and then vanishing to check up on old contacts.
	Dovile A few hours into the night she’ll swap watching of Lena with Sasha.
	Bear Bear’s more active than he’s been outside a garage in years. He’s very eager to touch base with his ward from before.
	ST The sun rises, spilling orange and gold onto the ocean’s surface, the gentle waves rolling the colors around. A cool winter wind blows off the water, at a temperature that could possibly be described as low as “chilly.” The doors and windows to Casa de Cruz remain closed to keep the chill out, putting the air in the household at pleasantly cool. Not long after the sun pokes over the horizon, the Queen of Fallen Angels’ consort (who introduced himself the night before as Ramon) moseys into the kitchen clothed in a simple, 3/4-thigh-length wrap around his waist made of a fibrous linen and dyed in various colors and patterns and begins pulling out pots and pans. Simple tattoos band his wrists and calves, looking a little like silhouettes of stylized teeth pointed towards his forearms and feet respectively. Soon after he starts work, the smells of cooking fill the household.
	Bear Bear’s been up all night. He’s tried to find a place to summon his forge, but failing that, tinkers with an override for that glow.
	ST Throughout the course of an hour, they begin filing in: First is Kahele, a square, stout fellow, his hair damp. He wears little more than a loincloth made from a very strange material that a practiced eye would identify as fishskin, and a short cloak of long, green leaves layered and tied loosely around his neck by a fibrous string. He laughs as he enters, tossing a glance over his shoulder as he doffs his leaf cloak, hanging it on a hook on the wall. One of his arms is covered in an intricate, interlocking tribal tattoo from the shoulder to the wrist. Following him is Rogers, a massive, muscle-bound fellow just a couple inches shy of Sasha’s height. Rogers wears a wrap around his waist bearing deep reds, bright yellows, and the occasional purple accent. It’s still weighed by the weight of wet, leaving a trail of water droplets behind Tied around his shoulders is a well-worn jaguar skin, which is the only thing about him that’s dry. He enters laughing, a thunderous, raucous laugh. “Hey yo, Ramon! We gonna have to take breakfast outside, huh?” He thumps the fish heavily on the kitchen table, sending water droplets splashing everywhere. Ramon looks to the ceiling. “Oh, c’mon, man. You’re making a mess of my kitchen.” “Caught this one with my teeth,” Rogers says, paying no mind to Ramon. “Check it out.” He lifts the tuna up by its dorsal fin and motions to the neat line of teeth marks in its back. Kahele laughs again. “You should’ve seen it—it flopped around, yanking his face this way and that way and —” he walks into the kitchen and pauses, eyes scanning over anyone who might be gathered there.
	Bear Bear sets down a cog he’s shaving and stands up. “You’ve gotten chubby, fish boy.” Bear stands up, sizing up the man that used to be one of his charges. The words are a brick, but there’s a message tied to it, a deeper respect and pride.
	Ken Ken’s been helping Ramon with breakfast prep and dishes. He looks over the fish, bite-marks and all, then says with mock seriousness, “Well now, starting without us eh?”
	Sanura Sanura wakes with the sound of laughter and joins them all wrapped in a robe that covers from shoulder to ankle. stocking feet on the kitchen floor, Her hair brushed and pulled back from her face. with her combs. She presses the back of her hand to her lips to hide a yawn. Her gaze moving over the arrivals and the .. addition to breakfast. She ponders a moment if Crook would try to make off with that fish and how comical she’d find that.
	ST Kahele freezes, staring at Bear in surprise and disbelief a good long moment or two. Then a wide grin breaks out, pleasant and warm, an expression that seems to belong on his face. “Could say the same for you, old man!” He closes the distance in a stride or two and makes to wrap Bear in a big, tight, back-pounding embrace. Rogers eyes the two, but lets his friend have space for his joyful reunion. Instead, he looks to Ken and nods briefly, lifting his chin. “Who are you?” “This is Ken. Came in last night.” Ramon says, motioning to him briefly with a spatula. “He’s cool, Rogers. One of Alejo’s people.” He then nods to the fish. “You gonna de-scale and gut that thing?” “Pfff, no,” replies Rogers, nodding briefly in greeting to Ken. “I did all the hard work, man, and I’m starvin’—I ain’t doin’ more.”
	Dovile Dovile slips quietly into the room from where she’s been watching absently on the roof of the great house. She takes a seat, furtherst from every avaliable opening.
	ST (To Dovile) Shortly after Sasha begins his own roof shift to greet the sun, he sends an image of Linda, seated on the roof which Dovile once occupied, eyes pinned on the horizon. With her back still turned to him, she says: “Good morning, Dobrozhe.” A steaming cup and saucer of tea was in her hand, and another resting untouched beside her. Sasha, without skipping a beat, replies, “Good morning. I’m afraid I’m not who you’re expecting, though.” Linda’s eyelids flicker slightly. “You presume incorrectly, Aleksander Petrov.” She takes a small sip of tea. A quick flash of surprise, sent Dovile’s way. “Ah… so I did. Please, call me Sasha. ‘Aleksander’ only really fit in Mumija’s mouth, and even then only when she was angry with me.” He takes a seat beside her. Then, after spilling a bit of tea out for the domovoi, he says, “So, have —” “We have not made acquaintance prior to now, Mr.—Sasha. I am Linda Wu.” She pauses, then flattens her mouth and regards Sasha directly. “I apologize for having interrupted you.” They speak a little more, but it doesn’t take long for Linda to fall silent, pouring more tea into her teacup from the teapot resting on her other side. She politely offers Sasha some when he finishes his tea, but otherwise doesn’t speak further, watching the sun rise. Sasha watches her as unobtrusively as he can manage. Finally, she says, “It won’t be enough, Dobrozhe. You and the others must decide whether the old leader is worth the cost it would take to retrieve him.” Sasha wrinkles his brow. “I don’t suppose you will elaborate?” “I… cannot. I have not the appropriate context to ascertain the meaning. Nor can I.” A silence falls between them.
	Ken Ken picks up his axe and sets to work on the fish, pausing to stick out a hand to Rogers. “Good to meet you, Rogers.”
	Bear Bear hugs the man without pretense or bullshit. Once its done, he pushes him back to arm’s length. “That smile suits you. Good to see you, Pete. We got a lot of catching up to do.”
	Sanura Sanura watches this all with still sleepy eyes to be honest she’d -just- woken up. Her gaze moves over her people gathered in the room and those who apparently protect this city. She waits for some sort of introduction as her eyes flick over the kitchen in search of coffee.
	Ken Noticing Sanura’s search, Ken points a thumb towards a pot of hot cocoa on the far counter
	Sanura Finds that it’s not coffee but is hard pressed to find fault with something so delicious. Smiling a little to Ken in thanks, she walks over and stirs the pots contents before pouring herself a cup and setting to melting a little more chocolate so the supply doesn’t run low for whomever made it. Her gaze turns curiously to Bear and his friend but she’d remain silent for the time being. Sleepy cat.
	Bear Bear sits back down, and gestures for Pete to do the same. “This here’s Sanura and Ken. Dovile’s out there on watch. Bunch of godlings I got stuck to in Bakersfield. Decent folk, apart from Ken being completely fullah shit.”
	Ken Ken cracks a grin at that last comment. “Ja, well, I am a farmer, of course I have lots of bullshit.”
	ST Kahele, grinning broader, pulls up a seat near Bear. As he’s introduced, he greets each of the others warmly in turn. Then he looks to Bear, a half-smile on his face. “Catching up is right! What were you doing in Bakersfield?” Crook pokes his nose covertly at the tuna from beside Ken’s elbow.
	Ken Ken gives the Sacred Guardian a stern look, brows raised. Then he reaches for a spare bowl and fills it with bits of fish offal, which goes off to the side for Crook. “There now. If you want more you will have to wait like the rest of us.”
	Bear Bear’s grin fades a little. “Since things went to shit, I’ve been looking for all the heroes and gods I used to keep in touch with, so I was runnin’ back’n forth all over the world, seein’ who was still up’n runnin’. Most uv’m got dead an’ I been collectin’ their tools’n weapons, passin’ em off to folks’d could use ‘em more. Got wind of havin’ a half-sister on the Greek side, so I went lookin’ fer her, ended up rollin’ right into a battle outside Bakersfield. Ended up plowin’ the Chariot smack into some giant’s nutsack, an’ it took me a few month’sa layover to get it all banged back out. Made a couple pleasant acquaintances, an’ decided to follow’m out when they got to rollin’. They came here, an’ here I am with’em.”
	ST Crook pulls away, sniffs the offal, and sits, tail sweeping in slight agitation against the floor.
	Sanura Sanura watches all this and snorts softly behind her cup. She glances to Crook. “The eyeballs are a delicacy I’ve heard” her tone teasing.
	Dovile Dovile shifts quietly in her chair and pulls out a small bit of bone to carve on as the cooking and conversation continues.
	Bear Bear blinks, turning. “Shit, Dove, I didn’ even hear you back there!”
	Sanura “And you never will” Sanura says almost ominously, though a smile curls her lips.
	Dovile Dovile looks up at him for a moment, then gives him a small nod. “Sorry.” She says, although it’s not clear if she really means it.
	Ken After feeding crook, Ken puts a second bowl of fish-bits on the floor for Tilvy.
	ST Kahele listens to the tale intently. “No kidding! A half-sister?” He glances to Dovile, and then his jaw drops slightly. “Shit, that’s right!” He chuckles to himself, pressing his palm to his forehead. “Wow. Guess it never clicked before. Sofie.” He looks to Bear. “Hey, where is she, by the way? Got an earthbending project in the works and the more help I can get the better.”
	Bear “Wait. Hold up. You knew about this kid?”
	ST Crook watches the dog being served a similar meal, then flicks a look Sanura’s way, his tail thumping. Golden symbols appear sharply over his head. He gave me the same offerings he would give a dog!
	Sanura Sanura bites her lips and clears her throat softly. “Yes.. but a dog he loves… there fore it’s very good food” she tries to make it less offencive to the Sacred Guardian.
	Ken “Yours is on the table.” Ken points out. “I make the dog eat on the floor.”
	Sanura Sanura gestures with her free hand as if to say see.
	ST Kahele says, “Yeah. We met a few years ago—cutest and scariest kid I’ve ever come across. I think she was… 14 at the time? She was on a trade mission with Paige, Mark, Jeff, and Abel. Her first, apparently. Sharp, too—picked up on how to dance hula pretty quick.”
	ST Crook turns away from the meal and flicks his tail in dismissal, sauntering darkly out of the kitchen.
	Sanura Sanura bites her lower lip and glances to Ken. “Heh.. he’s an Egyptian feline.. even housecats were worshiped.. and he’s well above a house cat..” Understanding Crooks pique but knowing Ken didn’t mean offense she’s sort of torn.
	Ken Ken shrugs, not really worried about Crook’s grumpiness. “If the Almighty himself came to this table, he would be eating fish guts too. This is what happens when you show up before the fish is cooked.”
	Sanura Sanura smirks faintly and shrugs. Crook would get over it .. eventually.. she hoped. Sipping her chocolate she’d glance to see what Dovile is working on.
	Dovile Dovile’s only technically working, carving out buttons, incase they return to Bakersfield and Sanura needs more for her shop. Mostly she’s watching the ongoing reunion between Bear and Kahele and keeping an eye on the cooking, and Rogers.
	Sanura Sanura smiles faintly at the buttons “worried our pants will fall?” she teases gently, her own ears a bit on the conversations as she begins to waken finally though she’d honestly not have minded a few hours more of rest.
	Bear Bear ponders that. “Well, shit, that’s what I get for not asking. So how’s Ragnarok been treatin’ you, Pete?”
	Ken Ken finishes cleaning the fish, then sets about cleaning himself since he’s been up to his elbows in fish slime. “How many pieces do you want it in, Ramon?” He nods toward the fish.
	Sanura Sanura is glad not to have been in the muck of fish bits.
	Dovile “No.” Dovile responds to Sanura. “If they do, Ken will fix them.”
	Dovile She appears to think this is mildly amusing, although it’s not clear why.
	Sanura Sanura arches her brows slightly and since she doesn’t get it she shrugs one shoulder and resumes listening.
	Ken “Ah, yes. We did not have buttons when I was a boy. Well, fancy people over in Reykjavik had them, but if you wanted buttons you had to import them special from Denmark.” He nods as he talks, slipping into a more exaggerated accent. “On Grimsey we held our pants up with pieces of seaweed. Much more economical.”
	Dovile Dovile nods sagely.
	ST Ramon looks the fish over. “I think that might have to sit on a spit outside.” Rogers, who had been munching on a mango, gives Ken a look of utter incredulity at the Grimsey story. “The fuck?”
	Ken Ken says completely deadpan, “No, we did not have that either. You had to grow babies out of the ground like turnips.”
	Sanura Snickers softly at Rogers’ reaction. Then chuckling hearing Ken’s return.
	Bear Bear gets up to grab some cocoa. “I warned y’all.”
	ST Rogers eyes Ken and shakes his head. “Whatever you say, man.” He takes another bite of mango.
	ST (To Dovile) “So… am I right about one of us not coming back?” Sasha asks. “Yes,” Linda replies. Then she adds, “It matters little who you tell. Regardless of how much you prepare, none of you will be prepared.” Sasha falls silent once more at this. She pours him another cup of tea. “You will want to return inside once we finish this pot,” she reports. “Yesen will awaken from her nightmare.”
	Dovile Dovile gets up and leaves the room, button and small knife left on the chair.
	Ken In response to Ramon’s decision Ken hoists the fish over a shoulder, shifting the heavy part of it elsewhere. He takes it outside to find the spit.
	Sanura Sanura watches Dovile and then Ken take their leave. She finally feels awake enough to rise. “Can I help?” she questions of the cook.
	ST Ramon nods and hands over various fruits and vegetables for Sanura to chop.
	Sanura Sanura smiles slightly and sets her drink aside to lend a hand in chopping. She was going be quite skilled at this rate. “Do the others still rest?”she questions, not sure if there will be an answer.
	ST Kahele clears his throat uneasily as Bear puts the ball in his court. “Well… I don’t remember much between when the world ended and when ‘Jandra snapped me out of… well, this weird hypnosis-trance thing. For years I thought I was in some psych ward, hallucinating all the things that I was doing well… here. But since then I haven’t been up to much. Just keeping all the Angelitos and Angelitas safe with Moana, makin’ trade deal with my sisters and brothers under the waves, and, well…” he pats his hands over his broad stomach with a grin. “… livin’ the good life.” “As far as I can tell,” begins Ramon, sprinkling some spices in what looks like it’s going to be a sauce, “your girl, Lena, is sleeping. Eloisa is too. Alejandra has Leon—she’s out talking business and checking over your inventory. The big guy… Sasha, right?… is awake, but I don’t know where he is right now. The others I haven’t seen since I turned in last night.” He glances over to Sanura. “So you knew Alejandra before the end of the world?” He pauses. “I’m afraid you don’t look familiar.”
	Bear “See, that ain’t the first time I’ve heard about this brainwashin’ shit. Seems the Bakersfield crew had a bit of the same problem.” He takes a long drag on the cocoa. “So, you seen anyone else we both know from before?”
	Sanura Sanura grimaces softly hearing the tails of his trance. She nibbles at her lower lip softly and smiles a little “it sounds if all is well in hand” she murmurs before glancing to Ramon and trying to place him from her slight visit. She frowns slightly “I don’t expect you to know me or remember.. it was so brief a meeting if fairly memorable to me and mine..” she responds.
	Ken (To ST)Where is sasha right now?
	ST (To Ken)The roof.
	Ken (To ST)I’m guessing with Lena and Dovile?
	ST (To Ken)No.
	ST (To Ken)With Linda, actually!
	Ken (To ST)Ah!
	Ken (To ST)Evesdropping… are they talking about anything private?
	ST (To Ken)“I will instruct you in regards to your foresight,” Linda says. She pauses, pressing her lips flat, then tries again, “Once more I apologize for my poor etiquette. Would you like for me to instruct you in regards your foresight?” He pauses, then offers her a wry smile. “Thanks in advance for teaching me.” She eyes him a moment, then looks at her tea. “We will convene in my astrolabe after breakfast.”
	Ken After locating the fish-spit and spitting the fish, Ken scrambles up to the roof. He idly kicks some pebbles across the rooftiles to announce his presence before getting within “hearing” distance of Sasha and Linda. “Good morning!”
	ST At this the good, light mood drains from Kahele. “Ah… I was hoping you wouldn’t ask.” He interlaces his fingers and looks at them. “You remember Xiao Xiao and Big Toe Joe, right? Well… I… drowned them both, back when I thought I was hallucinating. Doc said it’d help me get better.” Rogers pats him on the shoulder. “Hey, we talked about this, Peek. It’s that mo’fucka’s fault. Not yours.” Kahele nods a little, but doesn’t seem heartened by his words. Meanwhile, Ramon returns to his cooking and shrugs. “Maybe. I was kind of… gone for a couple years, though.” Before Ken started kicking pebbles around, Linda produced another teacup and saucer and poured tea into it. As Sasha looks over and waves, she gently pokes Sasha’s arm with the edge of the saucer. He takes it without a second thought and holds it out to Ken. “Morning!” His smile is genuine, but a little cloudy. “Good morning, White Fox,” says Linda). She’s garbed in a simple sleeveless wrap dress that’s bound at the waist and comes just above her knees. It’s thick and a little stiff, appearing to the more practiced eye to be made of some kind of bark-cloth. Similarly swirling and geometric designs and colors adorn her clothing as does Ramon’s. There’s a graceful filmy shawl wrapped loosely around her shoulders. Delicate flowery designs adorn it.
	Bear Bear nods. “Figger’d they’d headed this way. I hadn’ put much of a hate-on for this Doc…now I’m ‘bout ready to run his ass over. But we’ll chew on that later. Better days, Pete. Better days.” He gives a half-toast with the cocoa.
	Ken Ken takes a seat in their circle, and accepts the teacup from Sasha. He gives each of them a warm smile and says to Linda, “You seem to have the better of me, Miss…” He tilts his head, waiting for an introduction.
	Sanura Sanura glances to Kahele with sympathy and understanding. A sigh on her lips before she returns to the work at hand.
	ST Kahele gives a half-toast in turn and continues catching up with Bear.
	ST The woman looks over to Ken, eyeing him as thoroughly as any stranger meeting a new person would. “Linda Wu.”
	Sanura Quietly she’d continue to chop food and hand it off to Ramon. “You’ve been with her since she was known as Ja Cuz?” she questions curiously.
	ST Ramon tilts his head a little, putting the food in various pots. “Well, quite a bit before that, though. I never knew her as Ja-Cuze, and didn’t see her again until after the world… well, ended.”
	Ken “A pleasure to meet you, Linda Wu.” He takes a sip of tea, then pulls out some rawhide and starts cutting off strips to make spare bootlaces for everyone. “Have you been long in the city?”
	Sanura Sanura smiles a little and turns her head a bit. “Childhood friends?” she questions with a faint smile, finding herself curious.
	ST He chuckles a little. “Kind of. I was her math tutor in high school.”
	Sanura Sanura quirks a brow and then gives a faint smile. “Strange to have found her again after such chaos isn’t it?” Turning her hand to continued help if guidance is given.
	ST “I…” Linda pauses, giving this question far more consideration than perhaps anyone else would. “A long time or a short time.” Sasha gives her a sidelong look, one eyebrow raised slightly. “It… is difficult for me to ascertain. Physically, I have been present in Los Angeles for seven years.” Linda pauses. “Does that suffice?” Ramon pauses, holding back a smile and looking at the ceiling. “She found me, actually. Funny story, that… but, ah… actually, not all that funny.” He looks at Sanura for a moment, considering, then continues. “Mictlan is a grim place.” He continues on breakfast, occasionally directing Sanura around the kitchen. “A gang leader named Tunante killed me. Then ’Jandra and Javid brought me back. But this was some time later, shortly after the world ended.”
	Sanura Sanura’s eyes widen slightly “you .. were dead then?” she pauses and one brow quirks softly. “She must love you very much to have braved such to bring you back…”
	Ken Ken shrugs. “As well as any answer would.” He smiles at her, then asks Sasha, “You are here to meet the sunrise?”
	ST Ramon nods, staring into the pot a while. “Yeah… I’d say she really should’ve moved on, but… well, things went to hell in Mictlan. And now I’ve got her and two beautiful kids. Still, I wish she hadn’t carried that wound in her heart so long.” Linda turns back to the horizon. “I am timing it, so that I can compare it against Tlilocelotlpilli’s speed through Acopa and note any variations.”
	Sanura Sanura smiles slightly “It seems the hurt born was worth it, if it’s brought you all such contentment in the end..” She wonders then how long he’d been in the underworld and more about the tail but she’d already probed too much.
	Ken Ken hums, interested. “The sun… it rises faster and slower in different places. Does Acopa…” he scratches his beard, looking for the right word. “Does it fit with the world differently in the north than the south?” He makes a motion with his hands of things locking together.
	ST Ramon nods a little, half to himself. Then he turns to Sanura. “So, you’ve known her as Ja-Cuze, then? It seems odd, to imagine ’Jandra as this big pop star. What was that like?” “Yes. And no.” Apparently Linda considers this answer satisfying enough. As Sasha drains his tea, Linda opens the teapot, to reveal it’s empty. “I guess that’s my cue,” he says. He nods his farewell to Ken and Linda before dropping off the roof through the window into the hall.
	Sanura Sanura glances over and gives a faint shake of her head. “Honestly all I can say is she was impressive.. fearless in her lyrics.. from what I was told” she shrugs “I never got to know her on a personal level before things went sideways.”
	Ken Ken nods, accepting the answer. He continues his work with occasional sips of tea, leaving space for Linda to talk if she wants while keeping an ear on the goings-on below.
	ST Ramon seems content to let the ‘sideways’ comment by. Linda seems just as content to remain silent. After a while, though, some of the other survivors file into the kitchen from various places within or without the house. And then, Linda stands and informs Ken, “Breakfast will be ready shortly.” She walks to the other side of the roof and drops to the ground. At that moment, Javid (https://db4sgowjqfwig.cloudfront.net/uploads/331631/aidin_saemian_as_javid.jpg) approaches the front door, wearing a linen cloak tied over one shoulder, which covers him down to his calves. He bears a basketful of all manner of berries. Linda opens the door for him (being as how both his hands are occupied) and he nods to her and walks in. As the berries come in, Ramon looks up and smiles. “Ah! There we go. Final touches ingredients, right on time.” “Mrs. Cruz will be late,” Linda reports. “She is attending to inventory with Ms. St. Clare. She wants us to start without her.” Ramon nods. Javid smirks a little. “You’re doing the thing again, Linda.” Linda gives him a very direct look. “No. She told me this before she left.” “Hah! She got you, Javid!” Rogers taunts. Javid looks at Linda, and a smile flickers over her briefly. “Well played.”
	Ken Ken rejoins the group at the same time as Linda does, giving Javid a friendly nod and an offer of help with the baskets.
	Sanura Sanura turns to the new arrivals and gives a smile to them. “Good Morning” nodding softly and moving to lend aid if it seems needed.
	ST As introductions are passed around among the guardians of Los Angeles and the survivors, everyone begins to migrate outside where the fish is. Breakfast is passed around and friendly conversation shared. Then Alejandra returns, Leon at her hip. She’s wearing a bikini and an ocelot spot-patterned sarong, barefoot like the rest of the Los Angeles folks, with feathered earrings and a pair of feathered armbands encircling her arms just below her shoulders. The chill hardly seems to matter to her. Eloisa, while not particularly ill-behaved this time around, becomes much more polite once her mother arrives, going so far as to take everyone’s dishes when they’re done (although she sneaks out of the kitchen to leave the dishes for someone else). Ramon takes Leon, and Alejandra has her own breakfast, speaking with the others. So far, the following has been ascertained: Linda has stabled the pegasi and arranged for them to be ready for transport tomorrow morning—and she’s also alerted Vince that Aida will be getting another tattoo. (“Well, I guess that answered the question I was about to ask,” murmurs Aida.) Alejandra’s invited the group to attend the sundown ceremony to honor Tlilocelotlpilli and to offer him power to make it through another night. Should the group be willing to discuss trade negotiations, Alejandra will be available to speak to them shortly after noon. Is there anything you guys are gonna share with this group?
	Sanura Sanura speaks up about perhaps having a tatoo done herself if the artist is free to do so… Trade is more than welcome and details to be hammered out later. [probably easier ooc right?] Sanura glances to her friends and family and then to Angela. “Do you have the drive yet? I think.. we should share what we’ve learned.. forwarned is forarmed.” She makes it clear that protest can be made to her choice if Angela decides not to do so..
	ST At this Angela says, flatly, “No, I don’t have the drive anymore.” Her gaze flicks to Derrick, who clears his throat. “I destroyed it,” he says. “Prior to…” He trails off, and seems as if he were going to let it stay that way. But then he squares his shoulders and says, “Prior to my loss of control.” Alejandra looks to him. “‘Loss of control’?” She glances among the group, clearly waiting on them to elaborate. Though it’s not an urgent question, it’s still taut with wariness.
	Ken Ken listens, but lets himself be unobtrusively in the background.
	Sanura Sanura takes a slow breath. “The drive in question held very volitile and inflamitory information. The revealing of such caused a great crisis in the hearts of some. There was an uproar and it is past” she murmurs. "The drive would have made it easier but we can yet tell you what it showed and you may make your own choice to it’s realibitly.. " she’d then breifly outline what was found.
	Sanura Once it’s explained she’d continue “I think we’re all well aware of what that man is capable of.. and his wretched machinations are perhaps understood for their intensity in the wake of such monstrous and grand plan..” her lips turn in a frown “Understood in their place in his plan.. yet not forgotten or forgiven.”
	ST Alejandra nods, considering this information, then looks over to Linda. “Thanks. Linda already warned us to expect trouble. We should be as prepared as we can be by the time the end hits. And I’m not surprised Panaretos is behind all this.” At mention of the plan to restore the gods, Alejandra seems much more caught off-guard. She leans forward in her seat, staring at Sanura intently. Her eyes are a cat’s yellow, and her gaze just as focused. “You really think this will work? No one remembers the old gods anymore. Even if they could come back, they probably won’t be nearly as powerful.” Kahele scoots forward in his seat too. “But it’s worth trying anyway. The gods know the cosmos better than any of us, and maybe even possibly help… whatever it is that’s set up shop in everyone’s brains.” Alejandra pauses, considering. “This is a new cosmos. The old gods may not fit anymore. We need new gods. Our efforts would be better spent on populating new pantheons.” Aida interjects. “The old gods have, can, and will adapt, and they have far more experience than any of us combined. We should do everything we can to bring them back, otherwise there is no hope for cosmic balance.” “Both?” Sasha suggests. Linda nods. “The new genii will be able to gather the required levels of power more quickly, and the prior genii can help guide those who are new to the workings of the cosmos. And we could do with more supernaturally powerful allies, as our time is very limited.” Alejandra pauses, considering further.
	Sanura Sanura looks to each in turn as they speak and nods to Alejandra’s question of her belief. “If the Gods are free it will help restore the balance and the right way of things.. even lessened they are still Gods.. I’ve begun teaching the children in Bakersfield.. even if their parents are forever lost to the truth the children can learn of the Gods and see them worshiped for the aid they will provide once freed.” she pauses. “That aside I would see my Mother and those I hold dear freed of chains, and those who put them in such punished for their hubris and blasphemy. Further and more for the pain and suffering they caused the world in their over reaching and power mongering.” She sighs “We all, who are worthy, will find place among the stars.. along side our predecessors.”
	Ken Ken leans back against the wall, eyes narrowed in thought. “This world is no more new than the world is made anew each day. If these gods have seen a thousand years and more go by, they will not be brought to their knees by such small change as this.” He sweeps a hand out, indicating LA and by extention the world.
	Sanura Sanura smiles to Ken and gives a slight nod of her agreement with his estimation of things.
	ST Alejandra takes a deep breath, then leans back in her seat. “Alright, I’m convinced. But there’s one thing you’re wrong about: this is not a small change. I’ve seen Mictlan. I’ve seen Acopa. The cosmos is far different now, slowly been eaten away by the Titans. You all yourself said that Fate has been unraveled. Whatever we make of it now, it’s never going back to the way it was. I’m going to continue my efforts to raise us all up here.” She pauses and looks pointedly to each of them. “Speaking of which, there’s room for more temples on Compton.”
	Sanura Sanura nods her head in agreement. “I find no fault with securing your own places.. and in that, keeping the mortals around you more safe and giving them a .. sense of comfort as well I’d imagine.” She purses her lips softly and glances to the others trying to gage their reaction to the mention of temples.
	Ken Ken seems confused. But maybe they’re offering to build temples for the other godling’s pantheons?
	Dovile Dovile appears to be missing the meeting.
	ST There’s quite an array of reactions, from Derrick’s polite but very firm refusal, to Sasha’s blithe neutrality, to Angela’s incredulity, to Oskar’s shrug and grunt of assent.
	Sanura Sanura nibbles her lower lip softly and her brow furrows. “Would such do any good to those who are not yet Gods?” She considers further. “That may do well for some but those who are not known here it would only be a waste of effort would it not?”
	ST Alejandra spreads her hands. “Don’t knock it till you try it, right?” She takes another deep breath. “I mean, the Angelitas and Angelitos would have to see for themselves that you’re all worth worshiping, which means you’d have to stick around for a bit to prove it to them, but it might be worth it.”
	Ken “Are there things you need help with here?” Ken looks curiously at them. He clearly doesn’t mind a short delay if it means helping people.
	Sanura Sanura consders this and works at her lower lip softly. “I think it may be worth it..” she smiles a little and regards Ken. “And if we can be of service then all the better” she looks to the rest of the group for any seeming objection. To Sasha she questions. “Do you think your sister would see the worth of such a delay?” Not wanting to make all aware of their ability to speak mind to mind with ease.
	ST “Sorry, but the gods are at stake here,” Aida says firmly. “I’m not willing to let more time go by than strictly necessary. The rest of you can do what you like—I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning.” Derrick nods. “Likewise.” “So your tattoo is strictly necessary?” Oskar comments darkly. “I may not get another chance,” Aida points out. “The less unfinished business I have before I die, the better.”
	Sanura Sanura hmms softly and tilts her head a bit. Folding her hands in front of her. " The Gods have held this long.. years have passed.. it is important but I favor better preperation than haste. I would go once and later have it done properly and with more lives returned safe than lost."
	ST Sasha rubs his arm a little. “Dovile doesn’t like the idea of a delay. And I’m not sure I do either. Last time I was in Peklo, I was there for over a year without realizing it, and it took me years to get there in the first place. We only have three years to work with here.”
	Sanura Sanura nods her head slightly and spreads her hands. “Well then we’ll consider it more today and take vote at.. say noon.. so if we are to pack up we will have light to do so” She looks to both teams. “I think the vote should be taken as a group that we still are and all abide by it.. any objections?”
	Ken Ken hums thoughtfully. “Well now, Starbringer… we hardly need to stay together in this, eh? They are going on a different journey.” He nods to the Duat team. “Why not decide each group to itself?”
	Sanura Sanura tilts her head. “Because while we split ways we are of one family and one purpose.. I would have us all on the same path.. at least as much as our missions will allow for. Were I able to take into account the other group already from us I would them as well.”
	ST Aida crosses her arms but remains silent, quiet conviction shining in her eyes like the light of the full moon.
	Ken Ken spreads his hands in a gesture of acceptance. “Aye, as you say. But,” he glances at Allejandra with a questioning expression. “I cannot in good conscience leave people in need. Are your people in need of our help?”
	ST She shakes her head. “No, we’ve done very well for ourselves here. Should you decide to leave, we’ll manage as we always have.”
	Ken Ken relaxes and nods agreement to Sanura’s democratic plan.
	Sanura Sanura looks to each of the other faces for further objection.
	ST “I will… defer to the others’ wishes,” Derrick says haltingly. Angela shakes her head. “My vote’s going to be for leaving as soon as possible, and it’s not going to change. There are lots of Underworlds to visit, just a few of us, and not a whole lot of time. I’m not power hungry enough to risk jeopardizing that.” She pauses, wincing as she realizes what she’s said. “Uh… I didn’t mean…” But then considers her words again. “That’s kind of what it is, isn’t it? I mean, that’s what it sounds like to me.” Susan sighs. “I fear I’ll have to abstain. My place is with my group, regardless of the vote.”
	Sanura Sanura grimaces faintly at the term power hungry and clasps her hands in front of her. "I suppose it could be called such and yes it would make us stronger.. and more powerful.. but the reason for that power and what we do after is what would make all the difference. If you try to make yourself king for jewels and throne then what good are you? She murmurs “Yet if you lead your people with the wish to protect and aid them.. and your movements are for such..then is the wish for power to be viewed with disdain?”
	Ken He seems increasingly perplexed by the whole discussion, but Sanura’s comment finally makes something click. “Ah… these temples you mentioned - they would be temples to us?” Ken says it with a combination of surprise and mild amusement.
	ST Derrick watches Sanura, eyeing her. Then he glances to Ken and offers a brief, curt nod, before regarding Sanura again. He tries to catch her gaze. “Sanura. The pursuit of power too easily becomes an end in itself, regardless of how noble your intentions are. There is no way to know where to stop, how much is enough, until it’s too late.” “I wouldn’t send a half-trained recruit into battle if I could help it,” Oskar points out. “You need the strength, discipline, and know-how to survive. And bigger guns sure help too.”
	Sanura Sanura grimaces and nods her head. “That would be the idea” she murmurs to Ken.. clearly not eager for it. Her attention on Derrick as he speaks and she nods her head. “That is true.. and yet.. we all will gain in power eventually.. it is in our natures. Most of us at least.” She corrects herself. “In taking such a .. direct route to it.. I would see that the power is gained when we need it most.. in the mission to come.” Her nod given to Oskar. “That is my point.. I want to bring the Gods back.. I want as many of us to return from doing so as we can make possible with means fair and moral.. if grandeous and discomfiting..”
	Ken Ken works hard to keep his expression from showing how silly he thinks the idea is… after all, it’s important to respect other people’s beliefs. He clears his throat. “I will stand by your decision, Miss Menmatre. As for myself, I do no see the need for such a thing. But if we stay, I am sure to find work of some sort.” He shrugs.
	ST Derrick looks at Oskar. “To what end? The more powerful we get, the greater danger everyone around us is in. Bigger guns lead to more collateral damage, after all. How much, then, is acceptable?” He offers a thin smile. Then he turns to Sanura. “Turning back from this path is much steeper than starting on it.” Though he doesn’t elaborate, his tone, the weight in his gaze says it all. He speaks from experience. Oskar crosses his arms. “You heard her. You don’t like it? Then vote at noon. Plain as that.” Derrick falls silent and tilts his head in concession.
	Sanura Sanura looks at Derrick, she does get his meaning. She pauses then and frowns. “I’d also remind all that we aren’t the only ones in search of resources .. and well we know they are influenced to give no care for any collateral damage.. as they do not believe it real..” She nibbles at her lower lip softly. “we walk a dangerous line no matter what choice we make.” She pauses and then glances to Aida. “Upon reflection we take differing paths as is.. if your team wishes to leave they should make that choice for themselves.. as will those I’ll travel with.” She nods her head slightly.
	ST Aida looks to everyone on her team, then nods. The decision has already been made, as far as she’s concerned. That settled, Alejandra seems ready to ease out of breakfast… until a thought occurs to her. “I don’t see Mark with you. Is he back at Bakersfield? Javid managed to find his heart and I intend to return it to him.”
	Sanura Sanura’s eyes widen and she looks gleeful and then saddened. "Damn.. " she sighs softly. “He was with us for a time but.. he’s gone in search of his friend.. Micheal” she pauses “I wonder.. if there’s some way to reach him” she considers as she glances to the others. “Do any of you know of a way? I’m eager to see an end to his suffering..” she murmurs with a look to Alejandra. “Do you know who did that to him? I last saw him with you and then he was as he is to this day..”
	Ken Ken perks up. “I can show him the way here, if you describe him to me.”
	Ken He then immediately thinks better of the idea. “Ah, that is, I can show him the way to myself. But that would lead the poor fellow on a merry chase, eh?”
	ST The others seem at a loss. Mark had slipped away as silent as a shadow. Once there’s an opening in the conversation, Alejandra pauses and says, “Mark’s told me that I took his heart in the first place. I admit, don’t remember doing that, but I… can’t really doubt him.” Ramon and Javid exchange a look, but neither of them seem surprised or alarmed. “But it was Izanami who turned him into what he is now. The heart fell into her hands somehow, and Mark literally can’t say how. He couldn’t last time I checked, anyway.”
	Sanura Sanura gasps softly and her teeth for a moment set on edge. "I left him with you to guard your back.. " she whispers “he, a mortal took that on eagerly and.. that was his payment?” She looks down at tightly clenched hands. “How is it that he forgives such?” she questions with a sharp look. “He even refused to give your name as the one that killed him when I promised him retribution..”
	ST Alejandra sighs, but draws herself up, meeting Sanura’s questions firmly. “I wish I could answer that. But I just can. Not. Remember. All I know is that Mark is a good guy who doesn’t deserve this fate, and I know that, had I, in fact, sacrificed him, I certainly wouldn’t have intended for this to happen. And now… I can give him his heart back so he can finally be laid to rest properly.”
	Sanura Sanura takes a slow breath and nods her head. “The proper order set to rights is more important now than the cause of the imbalance.. especially since you seem to be very much integral to the stability of this city and the safety of it’s people. Mark has forgiven you so it’s not my place to hold grudge..” She looks back at her hands which slowly relax. “Especially as you will see a promise I made fufilled when his heart is returned, so for that I thank you”
	ST The Queen of Fallen Angels lifts her chin, eyeing Sanura. Despite her firmness, and her respect, she doesn’t seem terribly threatened by Sanura. After a moment, she says, “Well. I can keep it safe here, or I can give it to you to give to Mark when you see him.”
	Sanura Sanura was never a threat to anyone.. still she was one to ire at times despite inability to back it up as they say. She smiles faintly. “I think you’re like to see him before I do.. if you do and you see his heart returned.. He will go to the after life will he not?”
	ST Alejandra tilts her head. “That’s the plan. Mark seems to think it’ll work.”
	Sanura Sanura nods softly and takes a breath and smiles “If you do then.. remind him of my good wishes and the love of Abel and Jeff.. and wish him light heart on his passage… please”
	ST Alejandra nods.
	ST (( Okay. Voting time? ))
	Ken ((Sure thing))
	Sanura [Sure Sanura would refrain from voting, letting the team make the choice]
	Ken (I believe Mel wanted info on the general conditions in the city?))
	Sanura [basically are there places in obvious need where we can have effect in a short stay]
	ST (( Yes. Okay. The city’s actually in pretty good shape. While some people live on islands, many live on branching networks of wooden pathways and stilted houses. Everyone’s got fresh water, good food, and plumbing. While there’s no Health Scion, there are plenty of doctors and nurses plus a solid foundation for making more; while there’s no Fertility Scion, there are a fair number of greenhouses and other such arboreums that are built to house very effective artificial ecosystems. Linda has constructed these arboreums—and not only are they functional but they were designed with a very artistic eye. People get around by jet boats whose engines are powered by vegetable oil —no emissions. Again, Linda’s construction. In fact, she’s responsible for many of the infrastructure innovations here, and it’s all elegant in its simplicity, requires no or very minimal electricity, and bears many layers of purpose. Overall the people seem pretty happy and rather laid-back. Things are shared and traded fairly freely among them. They can get away with this kind of lasseiz-faire-ness because the islands’ populations are fairly small—it’s clear that, if this archipelago-city were to get larger by a few hundred people this model would no longer work… but it seems to work for now. General law that everyone seems to abide by is “Don’t be a dick.” Alejandra facilitates any disputes—Rogers is a pretty apt advisor in this regard. ))
	Bear “I ain’t got nowhere to be, and I can bang out some solar panels, maybe build some boats. Long as I got something to tinker with, I wouldn’t mind spending some time, get to catch up with Pete, see where I can help.”
	ST (( Okay. We gon’ vote? ))
	Sanura [sure.. oocly ?]
	Ken ((Works for me. Ken abstains.))
	Bear (Bear’s neutral. He brought his setup with him.)
	Dovile ((Dovile is all for leaving, tommrow morning prefered.))
	ST (( Lena and Sasha both want to get the gods back ASAP too. ))
	Ken ((So it’s settled…. leave tomorrow?))
	Sanura [welp yuep that’s that then]
	Dovile ((Well, you know, if someone besides the Bogovi had voted….))
	Dovile ((The Russian Mafia would have come for them.))
	Dovile ((Good choice, guys.))
	Sanura [heh well that and it would have still been three to two with Ken not voting and all]
	ST (( Okay. We’re ready to proceed. Anything anyone else would like to address? ))
	Sanura [can we trade anything for further resources?]
	Sanura Perhaps services of some sort, blessings? that the others can’t provide?]
	ST (( Sure. We can deal with that next time, though. ))

Campaign of the Month: February 2017

God-Touched

In which our heroes meet the Fallen Angels

Comments

Boldly Going In which the Children of the Lost Gods REALLY put themselves out there

On the Road In which there's nothing behind them, everything ahead of them, as is ever so on the road.

LA-Bound In which the Children of the Lost Gods set off on their next journey

To the Ends of the World... In which the dream team parts ways with Bakersfield

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