[log] i'm haunted by the lives that i have loved
[13:27] * Martel is not, thank God, actually wearing his armor; he misses it a little, it was pretty and cost a lot of money. Still, he's clearly out of place in the setting, but bright eyed and interested. ...Yes. There is a great big white-haired dude poking around in things. This will end well.
[13:28] * Maria is...still not showing very much; more of a hint under her little strapless top than anything else. Also, she's apparently just going to wear miniskirts...forever. She meanders in and stops just by the doorway, leaning against the side. "Well, hey."
[13:29] * Martel glances over his shoulder, and then turns properly. "Hello, there." He's a tall man; probably in his late thirties, early forties at most.
[13:30] Maria: "It's...no, it's totally always this dead anymore, but it used to be lively!" She grins, cheerful, and heads for the bar. Nothing alcoholic, of course. "You want anything?" ...she doesn't work there, she just does this.
[13:32] Martel: "Not yet." ...Morals are for other people. Ohhh god don't look at the pregnant teenager. Quick, distract him with something from ~*the present*~.
[13:33] * Maria has a cell phone? :D? She is actually texting something to her boss (she's being house mom/costume girl for the remainder of her pregnancy). "Well, okay, let me know, huh? I'm buddies with the dude who own...ed this place, iunno where his broke ass is." The way she talks might be enough to be weird on its own, let's not lie.
[13:36] * Martel has been poking around the nexus a bit, so it's not the /first/ he's heard, but so far all these strange people haven't...got any less strange. Pretty much. "Poor way of running a business," he observes, although yes. Markedly more interested in the cellphone than the conversation.
[13:38] Maria: She notes the interest in the phone and holds it up, obligingly. "Extremely, but he bailed on his family, so I guess the biz was next to go, you know? You looking at this?" Her phone's background appears to be a photo she took of a very frightening plant of some kind. (She thinks it's pretty!)
[13:40] * Martel leans forward -- his hair falls with the movement and he's slightly imposing probably out of nothing more than habit. "Yes. What do you call that?" (He thinks the plant is neat. To be fair, he's probably debating the likelihood it's poisonous and potentially useful. Old habits die hard, even when you have.)
[13:43] Maria: "It's a cell phone, just a, um--remote communication device, I guess it'd be called. It sends text messages, pictures, voice conversation, stuff like that." Maria sort of notes imposing...ness in the way you'd expect her to, which is to say it's something she observes but doesn't seem to feel much. "They're pretty common in my country, anyway."
[13:45] Martel: "Clever little thing." His tone is the kind of admiration of someone who is, of course, thinking of all the different ways this could be useful to /him/. After a moment, something seems to occur to him and he smiles, just a hint of teeth. "Martel. If you'll let me greet you?" he holds out his hands, palm up, as if he expects her to give hers.
[13:47] Maria: "Oh--um, of course!" She obliges, curious. Yeah, he's giving her a certain Machiavellian vibe, but uh...really, the Nexus does sort of invite that attitude with its incredible usefulness, doesn't it? "I'm Maria."
[13:49] Martel: "Maria," he repeats, and then turns her wrists with his hands and kisses each palm -- with possibly peculiar gentleness, considering he doesn't come off as...delicate in any way, shape or form. "You're an interesting young woman in an interesting place, Maria. It's a pleasure."
[13:51] Maria: This IS a custom that is new to her, not quite the French thing (...as she thinks of it) but something else. Still, the Nexus yields all sorts of people. "Aww, thanks! Nice to meet you, too. Are you new 'round here? The Nexus, I mean, but Stigmata as well -- I know it's kind of a funny name for a bar."
[13:52] Martel: "That I am. 'Stigmata', though--I can't say I know the word." :3? Don't you want to tell him things? :3? ...no. ._.
[13:54] Maria: "Stigmata, it's...ah, from the Judeo-Christian religion where I come from--it's really common even in the Nexus, worlds that have it around--it's this phenomenon of the very devout developing wounds like Christ's. Christ's the mortal representation of God, he was martyred." She indicates her wrists. "It starts with bleeding from the wrists, since the dude got crucified."
[13:57] * Martel touches his thumbs to her wrists lightly when she indicates them, then lets his hands drop as he laughs. It's not a quiet chuckle, but it's not a belly laugh, either.
[13:58] Maria: "Okay, it can't be the blasphemy making you laugh." She raises her eyebrows, but she's smiling a little, too. "Even if that's why /I/ think it's funny." >_>
[13:59] Martel: "It wouldn't translate very well," Martel says, affecting innocence.
[14:03] * Maria sighs VERY dramatically, and totally ridiculously. "Well, okay. But I'm totally curious."
[14:04] Martel: "That'll get you in trouble," he drawls, like it's another private joke.
[14:04] *** Maria has signed off IRC (Connection reset by peer).
[14:04] *** Maria has joined #stigmata.
[14:04] Maria: `op
[14:04] *** Mode change "+o Maria" for channel #stigmata by ChanServ.
[14:05] Martel: "That'll get you in trouble," he drawls, like it's another private joke.
[14:05] Maria: "What, 'curiosity killed the cat'?" She tilts her head. "'Cause you know how that ends, right?"
[14:07] Martel: "In a bar with a strange girl in her undergarments." :D?
[14:08] Maria: "--okay these are /totally not/ undergarments, I'm actually well-clothed for spring in Chicago!" She pretends to be totally annoyed by this, but is in fact not at all.
[14:08] * Martel looks skeptical. He does skeptical pretty well.
[14:11] Maria: "Hold on." She hunts around behind the bar.
[14:12] * Martel raises an eyebrow, and adopts a piously obedient pose.
[14:14] * Maria discovers an issue of Cosmo, which she offers to him very seriously. "Compared to these girls I am basically the soul of modesty. Also, discretion. And other stuff."
[14:21] * Maria tilts her head and eyes one of the models. "...also /short/. Daaamn."
[14:23] * Martel ... clearly cannot read any of the words, fyi. "My," he says, blandly. "If they spoke of this afterlife, there'd be men falling on their swords the world over."
[14:25] Maria: "Well, these girls are, you know--" She waves a hand. "Creme de la creme, for the most part. But yeah, clothes, not so much a thing where I'm from. Which is fine by me, it's hella hot out." She pauses and glances up at him. "Afterlife, huh?" Sympathetically.
[14:28] * Martel doesn't /blink/, but the idea of it is there when he looks from her back at the pictures. /What/, his expression says, rather clearly. ...but no, he's not going to get into a debate about comparative feminine beauty ideals, because he's...straight and also a mighty warrior. Fuck you. "Indeed."
[14:29] Maria: "Sorry to hear that." :\! About his...dying. Yes. "Wasn't the apocalypse, was it?" ...
[14:30] Martel: "I died that others might live," Martel says, sardonically.
[14:33] Maria: "Mm. Sucks, still. The Nexus treating you okay so far?" ... Maria don't. FUSS over /this guy/, you strange girl.
[14:35] Martel: "Ask me again tomorrow."
[14:35] Maria: "Will do." And she totally will, if she sees him. "So you /literally/ just got here. Did you see the giant robots? They're pretty awesome." EXCEPT WHEN PEOPLE SLASH THEM.
[14:35] Martel: "Giant what?"
[14:37] Maria: "Robots!" She practically--no, she totally does bounce around a little as she says this. "These like--giant dudes made out of metal, I used to hate them 'cause they aren't natural but then I met this half-robot guy Grif and got used to it."
[14:38] * Martel can watch her bounce /and/ listen to what she's saying; it's a gift. "Men of metal. My, my."
[14:39] *** Grif has joined #stigmata.
[14:40] Maria: "Seriously." She is made of enthusiasm, this one. "My folk are a little more with the nature stuff, like I said, though, so I can't really do much with that." Thank God, imagine what bizarre things she'd make if she could do robotics.
[14:41] Martel: "Your 'folk'?" ...oh. Uh. Watch it, that Machiavellian gleam is back.
[14:44] Grif: As though summoned by the slander of calling him a half-robot, a glowing green portal opens near the doors and lets in an orange-clad super-soldier. He looks around a moment, then says, "huh. Not the coordinates I thought I'd used, but oh well."
[14:45] * Maria leans back against the bar and looks up at Martel. FORTUNATELY she is also then distracted by the 'half-robot' in question. "...Grif. I was totally just talking about you!"
[14:45] * Martel ... o /helo/, that is some interesting armor. Not very aesthetically pleasing, but /interesting/.
[14:46] * Grif takes off his helmet and grins, only mildly puzzled. "Should I be worried?" He saunters over to the bar and grabs a beer.
[14:47] Maria: "Yes." No, Maria just likes...lying, apparently.
[14:47] Maria: "--oh, um, Grif, this is Martel. Martel, this is Grif. Both of you are awesome, be friends immediately."
[14:50] * Grif quickly looks Martel over, then shrugs and extends his hand. "
[14:50] Grif: "Nice to meet you, Martel."
[14:51] * Martel shakes his hand, pleasant. "And you."
[14:56] Grif: "So, Maria, just what *were* you saying about me to the gentleman here?"
[15:01] Maria: "Oh, I was talking about how you're all metaly! And robots, and how I used to be not at all a fan but now my opinion is wayyy better."
[15:04] * Grif looks down. "Yup. I guess 'metaly' does apply. And robots... some of 'em are okay, some of 'em suck."
[15:05] Martel: "I've never seen armor like yours," Martel notes, with interest.
[15:06] Maria: "Grif is a special snowflake." :3
[15:07] Grif: "heh. A special snowflake from The Future, yes." He grins.
[15:07] * Martel whistles and smiles. Look how harmlessly curious he is. :3 .................behave, Martel.
[15:09] Maria: "Have you seen Chas around, by the way? I hear he split or somethin'." She hoists herself up on the edge of the bar, which is of course where tinygirls ought to perch.
[15:09] Grif: "You've also got to be whacked up with a shitload of 26th century military super-science in order to wear it... or you'll become a very messy stain very quickly."
[15:10] * Martel has that slightly blank look of someone who may or may not have understood most of those words, but really has no idea wtf was just said to him.
[15:11] Grif: Oh, hey, surprise topic change. "Uh. Not since I got back from the long annoying story that comes after getting back from Winnipeg."
[15:11] Maria: "Fuck, I hate Winnipeg." >:E FOREVER.
[15:13] Martel: "'Winnipeg'?" :D?
[15:13] Grif: "Damn, did that shit suck. Anyway, yeah, no, I haven't seen him. Last time I mentioned his name in front of Threnody, she didn't seem so happy, either."
[15:14] Maria: "Winnipeg is...where the apocalypse was, it's a city in a country neighboring mine. Grif and...some other people stopped it--jeez, no wonder, I'd kill my man if he ditched me like that!"
[15:17] * Martel ... is pretty much content to watch and learn, for now.
[15:18] * Grif shrugs. "Not like he really consulted anyone, which is fairly typical of the way he's usually done things." His brow furrows in a thinky face. "Wonder what that means for whatever agreements he made to get this place."
[15:22] Maria: "Threnody'll probably take care of it. I hope she doesn't kick me out, she doesn't like me." >_____> For. Reasons. MOVING ON. "Anyway, I'm glad you guys got back okay. Most of you." Since Alex did not, in fact, get back okay.
[15:24] * Grif knows nothing about that, so he'll go ahead and ask, "Yeah. Wait, what? When I'd left Winnipeg, everyone was okay and on their way out too. Did I miss something?"
[15:25] Maria: "Um!" Delicious false nonchalance: have some. "D'you remember Alex?"
[15:28] *** Dane has joined #stigmata.
[15:28] Grif: "We didn't meet often, but yeah, I remember him." He's being very nice and not mentioning the trying-to-kill-her thing. "He went to Winnipeg? We never saw him."
[15:28] *** Dane is now known as DMurphy.
[15:29] Maria: "He was...there for a while. Came back in a box!" Gamely. "I'm giving the kid his first name as a middle name." Thanks for uh. Not mentioning that, Grif, because it would be entirely fair if you did.
[15:31] * Martel is...going about Casually acquiring a drink. If he looks a touch--off, perhaps, as though something is not sitting quite right...that would be accurate.
[15:33] Grif: "Huh. I'm... sorry to hear that." Well, okay, to a certain degree, he's not entirely certain it's not better for everyone, but he figures she, at least, might've liked Alex to stick around for their baby, so yeah.
[15:35] Maria: "I know most people didn't really like him," she says, fidgety, "But, you know, he was...a good guy deep down." O HELO welcome to clicheville, population: Maria. "He'd be glad to know you guys stopped what was going on there. But we should talk about less serious stuff, huh? Want a drink?"
[15:36] * Martel ................ hates both of you, blindingly, for just a few moments. FYI.
[15:36] * Grif looks at his beer, and sees that the bottle is, in fact, empty. "Sure. Glass of whiskey, please?"
[15:36] Maria: "'Course!" She slides off the bar and pads behind it to pour whiskey. "Just straight?"
[15:37] * Grif nods.
[15:39] * DMurphy has no idea what he's actually doing outside of his library, really, but was told to go out. So that's what he's done. Hello strange place and random people, have a slightly awkward man with a cigarette and a...cowboy hat joining your party.
[15:40] * Maria slides the whiskey toward Grif, and then pauses. ANOTHER new person! "Hi!" There's a young woman in a very short skirt and floaty white top waving at you, Mr. Murphy. Perhaps she works there? Or she's just nosy, whatever. "Can I get you anything? I like your hat!"
[15:42] Grif: "Thanks, Maria." Grif looks over at Dane, all 7' of orange armor, helmet resting on the bar. "Hi! You've got the confused look of someone who didn't expect a bar around that last corner, door, whatever."
[15:44] DMurphy: "Eh? Oh." No, sir, your hat is no more invisible than you are. He will just be moving himself to a seat at the bar, then, as he supposes that is the thing to do, and be as personable as he knows to be. "Thanks." Grif gets just as surprised of a look aas the bar. "I think I need a beer."
[15:46] Grif: "Well, then, you've come to the right place." He looks quietly over at Martel for a moment, mildly curious at the other man's apparent silence.
[15:46] * Martel is exploring the red wine options, a little tenser than he was before. For Dane's reference, Martel is a tall, muscular man with long white hair and clothes that probably went out of style centuries ago. He's not looking real friendly right now.
[15:47] Maria: "You're all so lucky, I haven't had anything to drink for /twenty-three weeks/." She gets a beer (dark) for Dane. "That means I can pick the music. Right?" :3?
[15:47] Grif: "Oh god." Facepalm of mild dread.
[15:49] DMurphy: "Thanks." For the beer, yes. Along with a glance around toward Martel to take closer note of surroundings, followed by a mildly worried look due to Grif's reaction to the music-choosing. The big, armored guy can't be worried for nothing.
[15:50] Martel: "Pick from what?" ...Martel, honey. You are gonna regret asking.
[15:54] Maria: "My musical taste is fucking flawless, thank you /very much/," she sasses Grif cheerfully, sauntering over to the jukebox. "I'm not gonna make you all listen to nothin' gangsta, come on, I have /some/ idea of a target audience." ........so instead she picks Prince. Um.
[15:55] * Martel starts, almost violently. "What in--" What up! It's not the music (okay, it's the music) so much as it is /where the hell is that coming from?/
[15:55] Grif: "Yyyyyyup. That's 'some idea,' all right."
[15:56] Maria: "It has discs," she informs Martel quickly, "Recorded music. Um, Mr. Cowboy Hat over there, you okay, Nexus isn't brainfucking you any?"
[15:56] * Maria is going to take care of all of you at once and you are going to just ACCEPT IT, okay. >:E
[15:56] * Martel is COMING OVER THERE wtf is this nonsense >:(
[15:57] * Martel must investigate the jukebox for himself. ...someone prevent him from taking it apart. ...okay, he might have some difficulty there anyway.
[15:58] * DMurphy will just be staring at the jukebox for a while with the sort of blank face that could say SO MANY THINGS. Oh wait. Talking to him. "Huh? Oh." Beer drinking goes here. "I've sort of...only just start wandering. So not much yet. I suppose. Name's Dane, by the way." Way to afterthought there.
[15:59] Maria: "Nice to meet you! I'm Maria. This is Martel, and Grif." She indicates each one. She is apparently unfazed by the reaction to her musical tastes.
[15:59] * Grif waves.
[16:00] * DMurphy offers a little salute sort of wave. "Pleasure all around. Hopefully."
[16:01] Maria: "I am totally a pleasure under any circumstances, ask anyone!" ............................ sorry she does this. "I don't really work here but I know the people who do, so I'm playing barmaid for the day."
[16:01] * Martel 's expression disputes that this is music, or pleasurable. (Right up until the word 'barmaid'. O rly.)
[16:02] * Grif flimberts.
[16:03] DMurphy: This look is not at all skeptical. Honest. Only it kind of is. But it's good-natured skepticism. "I'll take your word for it right now and pass my own judgement later. How's that?"
[16:04] * Maria grins at Martel, and then Dane. "Sure! I'm also basically always right so, you know, I'm not worried." ... she's also KIDDING, it's just sometimes hard to tell. "Everybody suitably liquored up? Did you all eat today." Maria.
[16:05] *** custardpringle has joined #stigmata.
[16:05] Martel: "I was busy," Martel says, dryly, patting his chest. You know. Where the sword went in.
[16:05] Maria: "Well /after/." DYING IS NOT AN EXCUSE, MARTEL.
[16:06] * DMurphy raises a hand like he's taking an oath or something. "I ate but I also cooked. So whether it was actually food or not is up for debate."
[16:06] Grif: "Yeah, I had a meal before heading out into the Nexus. Booze is usually a bit safer than food, after all."
[16:07] * Martel drinks his wine. In /defiance/ of tiny women in their underwear.
[16:08] * Maria is also wearing more than underwear. Dammit. "I'm making shawarma," she announces, "Don't let it go to waste." TO THE KITCHENETTE. While shimmying to the music. Stop. That.
[16:08] * Martel continues to disbelieve that her outfit is actually acceptable clothing anywhere other than Valesia. Where he'd love to go, actually...
[16:10] *** custardpringle is now known as Kowalski.
[16:10] * DMurphy is not. Watching. Shimmying. Shut up. The only woman he sees on a regular basis spends most of her time as a cat.
[16:10] * Martel is definitely watching the shimmying.
[16:12] * Kowalski pokes his head in for the first time in approximately five mill-- no, that's a lie, it's only been four and a half million years. "Oh hey, this place still here?"
[16:13] * Maria sets up the stuff to cook and then is distracted, in a timely fashion, by a Ray! :O "RAY. Yes hi come here immediately!" Exuberance! Everywhere! She's made of it.
[16:13] Grif: "Yup."
[16:14] Kowalski: "Awesome-- oh, /hey,/ Maria." Ray grins all over the place and goes immediately like the good little boy he is.
[16:15] * Maria hugs Ray a whole bunch, because that is what she does. "I'm making food, everybody's giving me attitude about how they 'already ate' or whatever." This is clearly nonsense, they can eat /more/. "Martel, Grif, Dane, this is Ray."
[16:15] * Maria pauses. "Martel loves my taste in music." :3 SORRY DUDE, this is how she shows affection.
[16:15] * DMurphy tips up his cowboy hat to take a look at the new person. And there's another little salute sort of thing. And beer drinking. His social skills lack something. Like. Everything.
[16:15] * Grif quietly does a very tiny double-take as he sees Ray, but no, okay, there're enough differences that this is, in fact, someone new. Shirt's not as ugly. "Hi, Ray."
[16:16] Martel: "I delight in all of your delights, Maria," Martel informs her, urbanely.
[16:17] * Kowalski hugs back! And is wearing a nice plain grey t-shirt, thank you kindly very much. "Nice t'meet you all."
[16:18] * Kowalski is also gonna peer over Maria's shoulder at the shawarma. "I might have some room for that." :D?
[16:18] * Maria goes >:3 at Martel, because she's insane. "GOOD." She's going to dish it up now, in fact, and give /everyone/ a plate, whether they've agreed to it or not. "Dane can I wear your hat?"
[16:18] Grif: "I *suppose* I could find some room in my stomach for some more food. I mean, if you *insist*."
[16:19] Grif: (Yeah, no, he's not really complaining, because some things about his overeating tendencies were not just rebellious poor care.)
[16:20] * Kowalski eyes Martel-- not unfriendly, just kind of quizzical-- and takes a plate. Because yay, Maria's shawarma :9 "I think she's insisting, yeah."
[16:21] * Grif sighs a faux-long-suffering sigh. And then takes his plate and enjoys his food. :D
[16:21] * Martel returns Ray's look blandly, although wine and food are both swiftly more interesting than a staring contest with a stranger.
[16:21] * DMurphy looks a little surprised for a moment. Then looks as if he has no idea why he was surprised. But does, in fact, offer his hat. "Assuming I get it back when I leave, be my guest." Oh hey. Food. That looks kind of like...food. Novel concept!
[16:22] Maria: "So /agreeable/. I love that." Hat: get. It probably looks ridiculous on her, but that's okay with Maria. "Wow, I don't think there've been this many people in here in ages. Clearly Martel did it. Somehow."
[16:23] * Martel makes a peculiar, almost ritualistic gesture with his free hand. "I have powers beyond mortal ken, little madam."
[16:23] * Kowalski grins between mouthfuls of food. "Good timing by me, then."
[16:25] * Maria regards Martel sidelong for a second, for some reason (MYSTERIOUS), and then smiles. "It all works out just how I like it." >:3!!
[16:26] DMurphy: Looks sort of amused. But is now way too interested in food and alcohol. Hallelujah, something that doesn't taste like the spices are just there to cover up something rotten.
[16:27] Maria: "So what have I missed, huh? I've been busy being all knocked up and stuff." She's still not showing a whole bunch, but occasionally when her floaty little top moves a certain way, it's visible.
[16:30] * Kowalski shrugs. "I ain't been around in a while either. Between us we probably missed all kinds've excitement." ._. -- oh hey more food :>
[16:34] * Maria puts on another song. ...this time it's rap music. Complete with youtube! (Link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=KV9X5POZ0Gk)http://youtube.com/watch?v=KV9X5POZ0Gk "Me too, so don't feel bad! And hey, Ray, this girl's from Chicago--s'where me and Ray live at. Best damn city on earth, too." Random declarations are awesome.
[16:34] Grif: "Not a whole lot with me. Just doing the same shit I usually do."
[16:36] Maria: "Rescuing kittens from trees?" :3? "Where are the rest of you all from, anyway? Our two new people that I've stolen in the name of my cause." There is no cause. FYI.
[16:36] Martel: "No where in particular."
[16:38] * DMurphy brushes his hair a little with his hand. Because he'd been wearing the hat so long, he still feels like he's wearing it. "Belfast. Maine. Or thereabouts, anyway." Also. Putting out smoldering cigarette butt now.
[16:39] Maria: "Nowhere, population Martel people. Gotcha." She's actually not being sarcastic, this is her bizarre way of accepting a non-answer. "Cool! I've never been to Maine, I hear it's really pretty though. Way out in the country especially." A little wistful, that.
[16:40] Grif: "Well, if by 'kittens,' we mean 'Jack Harkness,' and by 'trees', we mean, 'The Scarecrow,' then yeah, I've done that once recently." He smirks. "I'm originally from Honolulu, but now I'm stationed out in the ass-end of the galaxy."
[16:40] * Kowalski is busy snarfing shawarma, give him a second here. ". . . what scarecrow now?"
[16:42] DMurphy: "I pretty much live out in the woods now. Rundown former college. Used to be a lot pretty than it is now." Bitter nostalgia, anyone? He's full of it.
[16:44] Grif: "Doctor Jonathan Crane, aka 'The Scarecrow.' Nervous weedy guy who's also some sort of supervillain. Fond of using this fear-inducing gas on people."
[16:44] * Maria focuses on Dane for a second, curious, because...apparently she must investigate bitterness, idk. "What happened to it?"
[16:45] * Martel is done with his food, and he and his half-empty wine glass are investigating the jukebox again. >:3
[16:45] * Kowalski looks at Grif. ". . . oh, /that/ Scarecrow. Right. Think I met him once."
[16:48] * DMurphy will just be lighting a fresh cigarette, if you don't mind. Not that it's actually fresh so much as slightly stale and rumpled but it'll do. "Armageddon."
[16:48] Grif: "That seems to happen a bit more often than I'd expect."
[16:49] * Maria is, fortunately, a scarywitch who can maintain her body in the Nexus, so she doesn't protest the smoking despite the baby. Also: witness her face sort of fall. ".........oh." That's. An 'oh' of familiarity.
[16:50] * Kowalski frowns, uncertainly. "Uh, sorry. About that."
[16:52] * DMurphy shrugs. "The big stuff is over. Now it's mostly just residual chaos. Zombies, demon possessions, strange monsters, mad scientists." This is all par for the course, apparently.
[16:52] * Martel causes an untimely blaring of 'Red Right Hand'. Luckily, creative...banging quiets it down again. >:E HE WILL CONQUER YOU, MACHINE.
[16:53] Maria: "Oh. Well, monsters." ......Maria doesn't actually MIND monsters, because she's a freak, but still. "Martel, what are you doing over there?" She's a tiny bit amused. Maybe.
[16:53] Grif: "That... I wouldn't have expected the mad science, among the supernatural-sounding shit, but what do I know?"
[16:53] * Martel points at the jukebox, annoyed, with his wine glass. "I can't read your heathen scratchings. Come over here and give me something with a steady beat." ...................phrasing, Martel. Also, bossy much?
[16:54] * Kowalski approves of your repair techniques, Martel.
[16:56] * DMurphy chokes a little on his smoke with the random, blaring music. He'll find Martel way too amusing when he's done coughing. "The mad scientists are mostly the people trying to fix the other problems via their own pre-apocalyptic beliefs. Or the people just mussing with it for shits and giggles."
[16:56] Maria: "Sir, yes, /sir/," she drawls at Martel, but heads on over to help him out. HERE, have some Simon & Garfunkel. ...what, Scarborough Fair is based off really old music!
[16:56] * Martel listens for a moment and you can SEE the mental 'it'll do' when he makes his mind up.
[16:58] * Grif looks like he tries to follow that line of explanation for a couple of moments... and then he shrugs, as it's apparently a bit beyond him. "Aha. Ooookay, then."
[16:59] * Maria actually really likes this song, so she takes a second to just kind of listen quietly. It's kind of sad! But pretty.
[17:00] * DMurphy also shrugs. Then goes back to finishing his food and beer.
[17:01] * Martel sets his glass down and brings his heels together and offers Maria his hand, with a terribly self-mocking expression. "Your music tastes leave something to be desired," he informs her, dry. "I'm going to teach you a dance." .............look, he /died/ a few hours ago, and things have only got more surreal. Why the fuck not.
[17:01] * Kowalski will take this quiet moment to grab a beer of his own and go sprawl out on a couch with it-- dancing, what?
[17:03] Maria: "They do not," she responds, instantly, but...why not? She takes his hand, and PS if being the only person under 25 in this room is weird for her, it will never show. She prefers this, in fact! "Okay! I'll try to learn fast." :3 "The rest of you can tell me whether I'm doing any good."
[17:05] * Kowalski pops his beer. "Sure you'll be fine."
[17:05] * Grif swivels his bar stool around, whiskey glass in hand, to observe the dancing, since he's finished his food.
[17:06] * Martel goes >:3 a little at pretty much everyone, that being how he rolls. "Good." He lifts her hand and leads her away from the jukebox; they'll...probably need more space than standing in a corner. "Follow my lead," he directs, palm to palm.
[17:06] Maria: "I can do that." And she will! ...surprisingly. /What/, she listens occasionally. When she wants to. Kind of like a cat, actually, in that she'll pretend like it was all her own idea.
[17:07] * DMurphy turns a little to sort of half-watch this little event. Everyone else is. And it's a distraction. Both good reasons.
[17:09] * Martel has only really learned the formal dances of the Elene courts, so probably the only familiarity any of them might have with the style is vague similarities to period films. The pace of the song is a little slower than he's used to, but that suits teaching (which this ostensibly is).
[17:12] * Maria will actually pick it up pretty quick, with very few missteps. This is because she is...actually a trained dancer; don't ask how she ended up strippin' for a living. "So, guys, eight point five? Nine? At least, right?" :3?
[17:13] * Kowalski grins. "Nine point, uh. Two."
[17:14] Grif: "Yeah, sure."
[17:14] * Grif wasn't aware that they were supposed to be judging, so he'll just be agreeable.
[17:15] * Maria basically just decided that they were this very second.
[17:16] Grif: "The dance itself looked like something you'd mainly find out in the Scadian Cluster, but that's not so bad."
[17:17] Martel: "The girl is quick," Martel says, light, and he lifts and twirls her as an absent-minded sort of flourish on the end -- he's always been the vainglorious dramatic creature of his peers.
[17:19] * Maria does a little happy girl noise at that, because that is just the appropriate response, okay. "I've had a little experience! Although not with this dance in particular, obviously." She pauses. "The what cluster?"
[17:19] DMurphy: Well, that's sort of a smile! Which has to say something. Even if it turns into more of a smirky, sarcastic sort of smile for Martel's little ending there. He has no idea what is or isn't good in dancing, okay? He just humors people. Like Maria.
[17:22] Grif: "The Scadian Cluster. It's a sector of space, back home, where all the planets are colonized by people who've chosen to adopt the lifestyles of various ancient eras of history. There're provisions made on most of 'em for tourists to visit, such that all the Shiny Space Shit is left behind at the spaceport and you get into the time period you're visiting."
[17:24] * Kowalski looks over at Grif, curious. "So what counts as 'ancient' where you're from?"
[17:24] * Martel will let go of Maria, now, and ... refill his glass. Excellent. :3
[17:29] *** Kowalski has joined #stigmata.
[17:29] * Grif thinks a moment. "Well, I'm originally from the 26th century. The cutoff back then was anything older than about the 18th. After the time travel -- long story -- I'm now living in the 26th, and... I don't think they moved the line, but I haven't checked."
[17:30] * Maria is apparently still in a dancey mood, so she puts on something with string instruments playing and practices going en pointe and doing turns, barefoot. While pregnant. Very little deters this girl, apparently. PS EN POINTE. BAREFOOT. Why, Verbena.
[17:30] * Kowalski rolls his shoulders and grins. "Least I don't count as ancient, then."
[17:31] * Martel leans against the bar as though he was basically born to be indolent against things and observes the continued dancing. "Apparently I do." ...except for how he's from a reality nothing like any of theirs whatsoever.
[17:32] * DMurphy is kind of fascinated by dancing, in a self-deprecating sort of way. Dude, he couldn't walk for about ten years, okay? Dancing is crazy. As is Maria. "That looks painful."
[17:32] * Grif grins back. "I think it's more that by the 20th or so, culture development slowed down a lot. Aside from specific media shit, a lot of the basics aren't much different."
[17:32] Martel: "Beautiful things often are," Martel notes, amused in an odd way.
[17:34] Maria: "Aw! Um. It is, yeah--I don't have my shoes on hand." She bites her lip, holding a turn in an odd way. "When I'm not, y'know, pregnant, I can put my leg straight up while the other is en pointe, it's a trip." For now, though, she gives up and goes to perch on the bar again.
[17:35] * Kowalski applauds briefly, because he can.
[17:37] DMurphy: "One day you'll be less pregnant and we'll cross paths just long enough for me to make you prove that." That...sounds a little weird if you think about it the wrong way.
[17:38] Martel: "Pipped at the post," Martel comments, blithely.
[17:38] * Maria beams at Ray! She kind of loves showing off her dancing in ways that...aren't to make money, haha. "You wouldn't have to 'make' me, it'd be fun!" ...and then she eyes Martel. "What does that mean?"
[17:39] * Martel affects innocence. "It's a common idiom."
[17:39] Grif: "Meaning?"
[17:39] Martel: "To be beaten by a small margin."
[17:41] Kowalski: "Sounds Canadian." . . . stfu, Ray, you say that about everything.
[17:42] * Martel gives Ray a (relatively) politely blank look. Wtf are you talking about, weirdo.
[17:42] Maria: "Does it? I'm pret-ty sure Martel's not from Canada..." Yes, MAYBE.
[17:44] Kowalski: "Yeah, well, there were big words involved."
[17:44] Martel: "Peasant?" Martel deduces, which...way to go, Martel, you're not weird enough already.
[17:45] * Maria carefully adjusts her cowboy hat and looks at the menfolk from under the brim, very seriously. "Ray's a cop! Not a...that."
[17:45] * Kowalski hmphs indignantly. "Am /not./"
[17:45] * DMurphy turns around so he's leaning back on the bar. "Since when do Canadians use big words?" He's joking. Sort of. Northerners. Bred to have a love-hate relationship with Canadia.
[17:45] * Martel looks between them and laughs, slightly.
[17:48] * Kowalski eyes Martel. "Do they still have peasants in Canada? Never heard'a that, but hey, I'd believe anything."
[17:48] Martel: "I'm not familiar with the city." ...'city'.
[17:53] * Kowalski flails a little. Someone help.
[17:53] Maria: "Canada's the country neighboring the United States, where Ray and I are from," she informs Martel, "It contains Winnipeg, among other places. Like Vancouver, which I hear is awesome!"
[17:54] Martel: "United States of what?"
[17:54] Maria: "America. 50 states, all United in being the richest, most obnoxious country on Earth." She says this a little wryly.
[17:55] * Grif picks up his helmet. "Okay, don't freak out about what I'm about to do. 'k?" And then he switches on the holoprojector in his helmet, showing a three-dimensional globe.
[17:56] * Martel is actually fine with that, Grif. Which...might be weird, but then again, his assumption is magic and not technology, and he's plenty familiar with magic. "That's your world?"
[17:56] * Maria kind of goes :[ because she's STILL NOT USED TO THAT, Grif. "Yep!"
[17:56] * Martel approaches the projection to examine it, critically.
[17:57] * Kowalski goes @_@ and points out North America, though it'd probably help more if he actually bothered to get out of his chair. "'Nthat's America."
[17:57] DMurphy: Oh hey. Holograms. This is...kind of fascinating. Even if tryint to explain the geography of Earth is kind of...uh...what?
[17:57] Grif: "Hang on, let me load some late-20th geographical data." He closes his eyes and tilts his head a bit, seemingly concentrating for a few seconds. The shape of the world stays the same, but some of the political boundaries shift to something a little more familiar to people not from The Future.
[17:59] * Martel 's expression is a little flat as he looks it over.
[18:00] DMurphy: It takes a moment for him to figure out what changed there but he just laughs a little. And smokes. "Oh, the days when global-level politics still existed."
[18:00] * Maria is vaguely concerned! It shows. ALL YOU PEOPLE B| you need taking care of.
[18:02] Grif: "Yeah, we still use some of the old borders and labels and shit, but it's mainly for convenience, 'cause everything's all been under the United Earth Government for centuries, anyway."
[18:02] * Grif doesn't seem to notice any sense that Maria might need to take care of him, beeecause he tends to think he's got himself pretty well together on his own. He usually won't say no anyway, though.
[18:03] Maria: That is probably wise for his sanity. >_>
[18:04] * Martel could use a bit of taking care of, but he is Stoic, Damn It. ...kind of. Anyway, he's just going to uh, drain his glass and think about something else! That will solve all his problems. "Really, a united government." ...what he is thinking is not actually funny to anyone in the entire universe except MAYBE him.
[18:06] Maria: "Ostensibly. It's kind of a mess right now, every four years we vote in a new leader, and right now there's all this stupid spazzing leading up to the election." Maria: describing the democratic process as 'stupid' since being able to talk.
[18:06] Martel: "Vote?" He knows the word. He's not grasping how it's connected to ruling a nation. >(
[18:07] * DMurphy isn't actually used to people's concern. Except for, like, little children who think the exorcist hermit man needs to cheer up and not be creepy. He will resist this being taken care of thing. B| ...only not. Because he fails at arguing with women. "Whereas I live in a world where the height of political power is being the one everyone turns to in one basically amounts to a camp of humanity."
[18:07] Kowalski: "Wait, election, what?" Ray blinks at Maria. "Didn't we just have one of those?"
[18:08] * Maria ...also is stretching out on the bar with Dane's cowboy hat balanced on her stomach. Good. What. "Yup! We do ballots to vote for people who are running from each party--there are a bunch, but only two really main ones--and whoever gets the most wins." She eyes Dane with undisguised worry, this time around.
[18:08] Maria: "...no? The 2008 election is coming up."
[18:09] Kowalski: "Well, good for you." . . . Ray just likes being cranky, doesn't he. "Where I come from we just got through the 1996 election."
[18:10] * Martel is just. So lost. And, as Martel tends to in situations he's not in control of and doesn't understand, getting annoyed. ...at least he's too tired to start a fight.
[18:10] Maria: "Oh. I didn't know we weren't from the same time, that's dumb." She thinks that over. "Wow, I was seven in '96. That's like, /forever/ ago." Hahah she's very young, guys.
[18:12] * Kowalski grins. "Aww, you're tiny."
[18:12] Grif: "I... don't really get a say in the political process back home, whatever it's like in the 34th, 'caaaaause my rights pretty much got summarily suspended as soon as my name came up in the draft."
[18:13] Maria: "I'm nineteen!" That's tiny. This typist is two years older than that and thinks that's tiny. "Basically politics everywhere are kerfucked?"
[18:14] * Martel is...about twenty years older than Maria. Also, he's decided fuck all y'all, he's just going to take this bottle here and ... not pay any attention to your freaky weird unnatural 'politics'.
[18:14] DMurphy: "Basically, yes." Now Maria gets a slight brow-quirky look. "You're nineteen?"
[18:15] Maria: "Yep! --don't say I look older, everyone says that and I'm worried it's gonna mean I'm looking 35 at 30." That's totally not how it works, tinyho. "Why?"
[18:17] * DMurphy shrugs. "All right. I won't say it. But I will say I'm starting to feel old."
[18:18] Maria: "...really. And you're how old?" She sits up and gives him an extremely skeptical look.
[18:20] DMurphy: "Twenty-seven. But I feel about twice that half the time." Which the smoking probably doesn't help, dude.
[18:20] Grif: "Yeah, okay, you can shut the fuck up, now." He grins, really only kidding... but yes, probably visibly older-looking, so.
[18:21] Maria: "Well, I've felt nineteen since I was about, oh, twelve. So shut up, you're not old, you're just jaded." She says this in a really /friendly/ tone, which she means, she's just also apparently really direct. "Which is an appreciable quality!"
[18:24] Grif: "i'd say I need a cane, but I suppose the armor provides all the support I need."
[18:24] * Martel makes an indelicate sound. >:(
[18:25] * Maria goes and sits next to Martel, innocently. Did you really think you could get away that easily, buddy.
[18:26] * Martel is running out of steam is all.
[18:26] * DMurphy kind of grins a little. "So everyone's old enough to be grumpy about it if they want to be. Except for Maria, who isn't allowed to be grumpy because then the bar might implode." Socialization skills. Increasing.
[18:28] * Maria grins right back. "I'm never grumpy. Because I am a girl, and therefore made of sugar, etcetera." :3
[18:29] Grif: "Something like that, I guess." He stands up and puts his glass away to be cleaned, then picks up his helmet.
[18:29] Grif: (Which has long since stopped showing the globe, since they stopped talking geography, BTW.)
[18:33] * Grif puts the helmet on. "Anyway, I gotta get going. Nice meeting you, new folks. Take it easy."
[18:34] Maria: "Byyye Grif. Be good!" :3
[18:34] * Martel salutes without looking.
[18:34] * DMurphy also salutes in his own way. "See you around maybe."
[18:34] * Grif chuckles and teleports out.
[18:34] *** Grif has left #stigmata.
[18:36] * Maria /squeaks/, suddenly, and then laughs, hand on her stomach. NEVER MIND, baby's just moving around, because 23 weeks is about when that starts happening a whole bunch.
[18:37] * Martel starts, slightly, hand moving towards a hilt that ... isn't there, but he catches himself about when she laughs. Just.
[18:37] * Kowalski waved to Grif, because his typist totally has an attention span, honest. "Wha-- oh."
[18:38] * DMurphy is a little startled by the exit but, well, he's long since decided everything's possible. So he'll just be-- Jumping at the squeak? And raises his eyebrows a little, looking amused.
[18:40] Maria: "I'm not used to the moving yet, sorry." She wiggles around. "It's very strange. As you all might imagine. Being men."
[18:41] DMurphy: "I think the closest I can get to imagining is remembering what it was like to be possessed. Hopefully, being pregnant doesn't feel like that."
[18:41] Maria: "...definitely not."
[18:41] Martel: "Not according to Aslade."
[18:42] * Martel is...agreeing with Maria. There. In case that's not clear.
[18:42] * Kowalski would rather not imagine at all o.o
[18:43] DMurphy: "Good. If pregnancy felt like possession, I'd expect the population to be dwindling." It's anyone's guess if he's joking or not.
[18:43] Maria: "I am not going to ask what possession feels like but I'm sorry it happened!" :( Stupid...whatever possessed Dane! That is not allowed. "Who's Aslade?"
[18:45] Martel: "The most beautiful woman in Elenia."
[18:45] * DMurphy shrugs. "Risks of being an exorcist, I suppose. Very rare risk, if you know what you're doing but still a risk."
[18:46] * Martel is distracted from Aslade by Dane's assertion. "Necromancy."
[18:46] Maria: "Elenia...where's that? What's she look like?" --oh, they're talking about other stuff. "You're an exorcist. Cool."
[18:48] DMurphy: "Necromancy tends to involve summoning." This is Dane's blank face. "I send them back where they belong."
[18:48] Martel: "Eosian continent." Martel gives Maria a sparse answer, watching Dane -- he's a bit too drunk for this conversation is our renegade Pandion, but whatever, that won't stop him. Much. "Related fields."
[18:49] * Martel ...is also curt. Hi.
[18:51] DMurphy: "Related in the form of contradiction." This is serious business. Also his livelihood. And obviously strikes an irritable note.
[18:52] Kowalski: "Like cops and robbers're related, I guess."
[18:52] * Martel smiiiiiles, and it's not a nice smile. "As you like." ...what up, way to be a condescending asshole.
[18:52] Maria: "Where'd you learn?" Quick! Diffuse conflict!
[18:54] * DMurphy scowls in Martel's general direction but right. Let's stay calm and civil here. "I taught myself. Someone needed to know how to do it."
[18:54] * Martel ...refrains, for once in his GODDAMN LIFE.
[18:56] Maria: "Necessity." She bites her lip, thoughtful, hand still on her stomach. "That makes sense. Some people would've taken up hunting them."
[18:58] * DMurphy snuffs out his cigarette and watches the smoke from that instead of looking at anyone. "Hunting wasn't really an option when I started. By the time it would've been, they did a pretty good job of coming to me."
[18:59] Maria: "I've never met a demon." Actually, she's been ickily flirted with by a demon. And made out with another one. But let's not get into that, 'cause she isn't even aware.
[19:01] DMurphy: "Most of the one's I've met weren't worth meeting so you're not missing much." He pauses to take on a slightly wry expression. "I did manage to sort of keep one for a pet, though. She's not too bad. Mostly just annoying."
[19:02] Maria: "...not so much with the evil? Really?"
[19:03] * Martel is getting progressively less comfortable with the topic of conversation, but it mostly manifests in white knuckles and a sardonic expression.
[19:03] * Kowalski is just lost. He kind of forgot how persistently weird it is around here.
[19:05] * Maria pauses, looks them over, and comes to a decision! "Okay, I'm gonna put on more music, requests? Or I put on stuff we play at the club."
[19:06] * Martel leans back in his chair, affecting loose-limbed laziness. "Something t hat sounds like music, for preference."
[19:06] DMurphy: "She could probably be evil if she wasn't so much like someone hit the ditzy cheerleader with a Hell-bat." Which is where he'll stop on that topic because. Music. "I've lived years mostly on the classical archives of a university library. I have no idea."
[19:07] * Maria fakes a very dramatic pout in his direction, nudges his knee with hers, and rises to go find something that might suit a dude from Medieval times as well as her own tastes. GOOD LUCK.
[19:07] * Maria shakes her head at Dane. "That's so depressing. You should come to The Admiral when I'm not all knocked up and I'm workin' again." ... no
[19:08] DMurphy: Somehow this sounds dangerous. "We'll see." Or probably not but you never know.
[19:09] Maria: "Oh, you definitely will see." 'Cause. It's a strip club--Ray, I'm so sorry you have to hear the pseudo little sister type talk to guys this way.
[19:10] * Kowalski is trying not to think about it. He's trying very very hard. >.>
[19:12] * DMurphy gives Maria a very vaguely wary look whilst standing up. To stretch. In the spine-cracks-like-a-machine-gun sort of way. He's not supposed to sit still that long.
[19:15] * Maria is briefly a little staggered by something before she rolls her shoulders and remembers to put her guard back up. MUSIC. Have some Libertines, guys.
[19:21] * Maria dances around, after the dizzy fades. "Right now I'm doing this house mom thing--it's funny, I get to mediate everyone's drama. One girl stole another girl's shoes so her boyfriend could wear them at his drag show, and then gave them back all stretched out. Scandal."
[19:23] * DMurphy blinks at this little story. Then laughs. "Entertaining."
[19:24] * Martel closes his eyes and tilts his head back.
[19:25] Maria: "Very. Makes me miss my coven, though, they weren't half as ridiculous." She leans against the jukebox.
[19:25] Martel: "Coven?"
[19:25] * Kowalski blinks. "Coven?"
[19:25] * DMurphy will apparently be the only one not to say it but he definitely looks curious.
[19:27] * Maria ...forgot she wasn't going to mention that to Ray. "Um, yeah. I had one a...few months back, group of witches, you know. All that." ........ :D?
[19:27] Martel: "Little witch." Martel laughs, quietly, unsurprised.
[19:28] Kowalski: "Witches like." Ray makes a vague gesture with his mostly-empty beer bottle and entirely fails to finish his sentence in a useful manner.
[19:28] * Martel gives Ray a lidded look intended to convey that Ray is an uneducated oaf, and probably illegitimate.
[19:28] * Maria wishes Martel would stop giving him those looks >:( EVERYONE BE NICE--this is not likely.
[19:29] * Martel is kind of a dickhead. Sorry Maria :(
[19:29] Maria: "Witches like...shit, I don't know. Not like what you see on TV or anything. Just little stuff. To help people."
[19:29] DMurphy: "Huh." After her interest in the exorcism deal, Dane's not that surprised, either. He is also still ignoring Martel so the world can continue turning mostly undisturbed.
[19:30] * Kowalski isn't liking you much either, Martel, it's okay :)
[19:30] * Martel should probably be ignored, it's for the best. But don't everyone do it; then he'll feel the need to get your attention.
[19:33] * Maria kind of flails at them all for some reason and puts on Neko Case. FOLK MUSIC. SO THERE. "If no one talks I'm going to start biting."
[19:33] Martel: "Feel free," Martel drawls.
[19:34] * Kowalski sits up a bit. ". . . rather you didn't." That counts as talking, right? :D?
[19:34] * DMurphy will just be stretching a little again and making a slightly scowly face when there is PAIN. Because pain shouldn't happen just because he fails to follow the doctor's orders. What. >:( "I'd try to talk more but I should probably head out."
[19:35] * Maria sticks her tongue out at Martel, and ...eyes Dane again. She keeps doing that. It can only bode ill. "Okay. C'mere first." She's rummaging around for something.
[19:36] DMurphy: This is further wariness. What is she doing now? "Well, I have to go there first, since you still seem to have my hat."
[19:37] Maria: "Yes I do." Get over here, not-cowboy, tinygirl is tapping her foot at you.
[19:37] DMurphy: Okay okay. Whatever the tinygirl says. Here. Have a Dane. Eyeing you as he approaches.
[19:39] * Maria ...............................WRITES HER NAME AND NUMBER ON HIS HAND IN PEN oh noes. Anyway. Then she arches up onto her tiptoes to say something in his ear. No, it's not a proposition, guys, don't get suspicious. "Thanks for letting me wear your hat!" Which she places on his head, slightly askew.
* DMurphy blinks. And...adjusts his hat. "I have a feeling I'll be losing it every time I see you." Anyway. He'll just give his typically little salute-ish thing to Ray. And continue ignoring Martel. "See you around."
* Kowalski waves to Dane. "Seeya."
Maria: "Oh, many things get lost around me." >:3!! "Byyye, Dane."
[19:46] * Martel is currently tolerating being ignored. This...may not last.
[19:47] * Maria stretches out on a sofa. "And then there were three. What should we do?"
[19:47] Martel: "I don't play well with others, little witch. It's a personal failing." ...well, he's...right.
[19:48] * Kowalski looks sheepish. "I might wanna go soon too, it's getting pretty late."
[19:48] Maria: "I dunno, I think we play pretty well together." She may actually enjoy being referred to as 'little witch'. "It is! And you probably have police officering work to do tomorrow, huh?"
[19:50] * Martel finds the idea of this guy being a policeman kind of hilarious, but he's keeping it to himself.
[19:53] * Kowalski would kick him in the face if he weren't, so that's probably a good plan. "Yeah. I got late shift tomorrow, but still. Least it's Friday."
[19:53] * Martel suspects Ray would /try/ ...anyway.
[19:55] Maria: "Definitely! Do something fun this weekend, huh?" She will come up with ideas, if necessary, and they will all be insane.
[19:56] * Kowalski actually shoves himself up out of his chair and gives Maria a grin. "I'll do my best." The empty beer bottle gets tossed neatly into a trash can several feet away, and Ray punches the air on his own behalf, because he's not-so-secretly six years old. "G'night."
[19:57] * Martel manages to wave offensively. It's the finger wiggle that does it.
[19:57] Maria: "Niiight, Ray!" STEALTH HUGGING before he goes. Everyone must be hugged :E
[19:58] * Kowalski hugs back and manages, for Maria's sake, to only glare a /little/ at Martel. Then he goes home, woo.
[19:59] Martel: "Popular, aren't we." There's something vaguely wistful to it, but it has very little -- if anything -- to do with Maria.
[20:00] Maria: "I have this tendency to foist myself on people. At some point some of them stop pretending to mind." She glances at Martel, thoughtful. "Do you want help with that, what's hurting you?"
[20:02] * Martel looks down -- not out of any kind of bashfulness, because...it's fucking Martel, guys, but rather he's looking at his shirt, as though he half-expects to see red blooming there in the wake of her question. "Excellent question, Maria. That's a very good question."
[20:04] * Maria regards him quietly, runs a hand through her hair, and sits up carefully. "I can start with the scar. If you like."
[20:07] * Martel pushes his glass away and crosses his ankles. "Why?"
[20:07] Maria: "I want to."
[20:09] Martel: "That's sweet of you, dear, but I worked hard for this." He smiles, all teeth. The scar's the least of his concerns.
[20:09] Maria: "I'm not offering to fix the scar," she clarifies, carefully, "Those are meant to be kept. Just the--pain, the healing. Either way, as you like."
[20:12] * Martel considers her, taking his time about it.
[20:14] * Maria waits, and doesn't fidget. Which is a sign of something, at least.
[20:15] * Martel chuckles, eventually, and he spreads his hands. "Do as thou wilt."
[20:18] Maria: "Oh, don't give me that much permission, trust me. Alex always said if you gave me an inch I'd take sixty miles." She casually retrieves a tiny knife, maybe the size of her pinky finger, and cuts her palm. It would actually be easier to touch the scar, but that's not on the menu today.
[20:19] * Martel watches her, outwardly placid (that might be the booze). If he twitches a little at the knife, it's minor.
[20:20] * Maria brushes her thumb against the tiny cut, wincing, sucking in her breath, annnd then he should feel better! Although she's still apparently a little hurty for such a small cut.
[20:22] * Martel breathes out, still watching her. "Thirty or fifty, I'd say," he says, eyes narrowed.
[20:24] Maria: "Hmm?" She blinks, in the middle of pressing a napkin to the cut (which she'll take home with her later ._. BLOOD IS SACRED). "Oh."
[20:27] Martel: "Rough estimate, little dear; your magic is as new to me as all the rest of this."
[20:28] Maria: "Iiit's...complicated. My folk are pretty rare, these days. Tend to be mostly women. What magic are you used to, then?" He's clearly familiar.
[20:30] Martel: "The Styric sort. They're a guarded bunch."
[20:36] Maria: "I haven't heard of them. Which is probably obvious!" She hesitates, and then leans forward, concerned with other matters. "Where are you crashing right now? If you've decided." 'Decided' seems better than 'figured it out'.
[20:38] Martel: "I haven't yet--decided." Yeah, yeah, he knows when he's being humored...and he's grateful. Privately.
[20:39] Maria: "Well, there are suggestions I can make...the Nexus is pretty good about not bothering people. Except the parts that contain me, but you know." She grins a little.
[20:39] Martel: "Thank you for the clarification," he says, dryly. "Well, then, what might you suggest?"
[20:41] * Maria rattles off...a list of places, and directions, that her typist would not know because she pays very little attention to the main Nexus proper anymore. "The good thing about this place is it has, apparently, infinite and ever-changing space."
[20:42] Martel: "It's the ever-changing that makes a man nervous," is his observation, because apparently we can't just say thank you and be grateful, but he...did clearly take that on board! Yay. ._.
[20:44] Maria: "Faair enough, seriously! There are these things called pinpoints--they can teleport people from place to place. I don't trust them entirely, but they're goddamn useful." Yay! :D
[20:45] * Martel ...remains skeptical of your weirdo sciencey gadgets, but he makes a mental note anyway. "Pinpoints. All right then." ...hopefully his mental notes will be intact when he sobers up.
[20:54] Maria: "Speaking of, you'd maaaybe better go sleep off the wine, huh? And I should get home and...actually be responsible, since apparently being out at all hours while pregnant is bad. Or something." Who'da thunk it.
[20:57] Martel: "Tiny little thing like yourself, yes indeed," Martel pushes up to his feet, regarding her from his admittedly somewhat wobbling vantage point. He does manage to refrain from unnecessary Aslade-inspired commentary about how she ought to fatten up as he sketches a bow and makes for an exit.
[20:58] * Maria is a good 12 pounds heavier than she used to be, dammit! Anyway, she smiles at him, and heads off, too. That was...productive, shockingly. \o/ GOODBYE STIGMATA.
[13:28] * Maria is...still not showing very much; more of a hint under her little strapless top than anything else. Also, she's apparently just going to wear miniskirts...forever. She meanders in and stops just by the doorway, leaning against the side. "Well, hey."
[13:29] * Martel glances over his shoulder, and then turns properly. "Hello, there." He's a tall man; probably in his late thirties, early forties at most.
[13:30] Maria: "It's...no, it's totally always this dead anymore, but it used to be lively!" She grins, cheerful, and heads for the bar. Nothing alcoholic, of course. "You want anything?" ...she doesn't work there, she just does this.
[13:32] Martel: "Not yet." ...Morals are for other people. Ohhh god don't look at the pregnant teenager. Quick, distract him with something from ~*the present*~.
[13:33] * Maria has a cell phone? :D? She is actually texting something to her boss (she's being house mom/costume girl for the remainder of her pregnancy). "Well, okay, let me know, huh? I'm buddies with the dude who own...ed this place, iunno where his broke ass is." The way she talks might be enough to be weird on its own, let's not lie.
[13:36] * Martel has been poking around the nexus a bit, so it's not the /first/ he's heard, but so far all these strange people haven't...got any less strange. Pretty much. "Poor way of running a business," he observes, although yes. Markedly more interested in the cellphone than the conversation.
[13:38] Maria: She notes the interest in the phone and holds it up, obligingly. "Extremely, but he bailed on his family, so I guess the biz was next to go, you know? You looking at this?" Her phone's background appears to be a photo she took of a very frightening plant of some kind. (She thinks it's pretty!)
[13:40] * Martel leans forward -- his hair falls with the movement and he's slightly imposing probably out of nothing more than habit. "Yes. What do you call that?" (He thinks the plant is neat. To be fair, he's probably debating the likelihood it's poisonous and potentially useful. Old habits die hard, even when you have.)
[13:43] Maria: "It's a cell phone, just a, um--remote communication device, I guess it'd be called. It sends text messages, pictures, voice conversation, stuff like that." Maria sort of notes imposing...ness in the way you'd expect her to, which is to say it's something she observes but doesn't seem to feel much. "They're pretty common in my country, anyway."
[13:45] Martel: "Clever little thing." His tone is the kind of admiration of someone who is, of course, thinking of all the different ways this could be useful to /him/. After a moment, something seems to occur to him and he smiles, just a hint of teeth. "Martel. If you'll let me greet you?" he holds out his hands, palm up, as if he expects her to give hers.
[13:47] Maria: "Oh--um, of course!" She obliges, curious. Yeah, he's giving her a certain Machiavellian vibe, but uh...really, the Nexus does sort of invite that attitude with its incredible usefulness, doesn't it? "I'm Maria."
[13:49] Martel: "Maria," he repeats, and then turns her wrists with his hands and kisses each palm -- with possibly peculiar gentleness, considering he doesn't come off as...delicate in any way, shape or form. "You're an interesting young woman in an interesting place, Maria. It's a pleasure."
[13:51] Maria: This IS a custom that is new to her, not quite the French thing (...as she thinks of it) but something else. Still, the Nexus yields all sorts of people. "Aww, thanks! Nice to meet you, too. Are you new 'round here? The Nexus, I mean, but Stigmata as well -- I know it's kind of a funny name for a bar."
[13:52] Martel: "That I am. 'Stigmata', though--I can't say I know the word." :3? Don't you want to tell him things? :3? ...no. ._.
[13:54] Maria: "Stigmata, it's...ah, from the Judeo-Christian religion where I come from--it's really common even in the Nexus, worlds that have it around--it's this phenomenon of the very devout developing wounds like Christ's. Christ's the mortal representation of God, he was martyred." She indicates her wrists. "It starts with bleeding from the wrists, since the dude got crucified."
[13:57] * Martel touches his thumbs to her wrists lightly when she indicates them, then lets his hands drop as he laughs. It's not a quiet chuckle, but it's not a belly laugh, either.
[13:58] Maria: "Okay, it can't be the blasphemy making you laugh." She raises her eyebrows, but she's smiling a little, too. "Even if that's why /I/ think it's funny." >_>
[13:59] Martel: "It wouldn't translate very well," Martel says, affecting innocence.
[14:03] * Maria sighs VERY dramatically, and totally ridiculously. "Well, okay. But I'm totally curious."
[14:04] Martel: "That'll get you in trouble," he drawls, like it's another private joke.
[14:04] *** Maria has signed off IRC (Connection reset by peer).
[14:04] *** Maria has joined #stigmata.
[14:04] Maria: `op
[14:04] *** Mode change "+o Maria" for channel #stigmata by ChanServ.
[14:05] Martel: "That'll get you in trouble," he drawls, like it's another private joke.
[14:05] Maria: "What, 'curiosity killed the cat'?" She tilts her head. "'Cause you know how that ends, right?"
[14:07] Martel: "In a bar with a strange girl in her undergarments." :D?
[14:08] Maria: "--okay these are /totally not/ undergarments, I'm actually well-clothed for spring in Chicago!" She pretends to be totally annoyed by this, but is in fact not at all.
[14:08] * Martel looks skeptical. He does skeptical pretty well.
[14:11] Maria: "Hold on." She hunts around behind the bar.
[14:12] * Martel raises an eyebrow, and adopts a piously obedient pose.
[14:14] * Maria discovers an issue of Cosmo, which she offers to him very seriously. "Compared to these girls I am basically the soul of modesty. Also, discretion. And other stuff."
[14:21] * Maria tilts her head and eyes one of the models. "...also /short/. Daaamn."
[14:23] * Martel ... clearly cannot read any of the words, fyi. "My," he says, blandly. "If they spoke of this afterlife, there'd be men falling on their swords the world over."
[14:25] Maria: "Well, these girls are, you know--" She waves a hand. "Creme de la creme, for the most part. But yeah, clothes, not so much a thing where I'm from. Which is fine by me, it's hella hot out." She pauses and glances up at him. "Afterlife, huh?" Sympathetically.
[14:28] * Martel doesn't /blink/, but the idea of it is there when he looks from her back at the pictures. /What/, his expression says, rather clearly. ...but no, he's not going to get into a debate about comparative feminine beauty ideals, because he's...straight and also a mighty warrior. Fuck you. "Indeed."
[14:29] Maria: "Sorry to hear that." :\! About his...dying. Yes. "Wasn't the apocalypse, was it?" ...
[14:30] Martel: "I died that others might live," Martel says, sardonically.
[14:33] Maria: "Mm. Sucks, still. The Nexus treating you okay so far?" ... Maria don't. FUSS over /this guy/, you strange girl.
[14:35] Martel: "Ask me again tomorrow."
[14:35] Maria: "Will do." And she totally will, if she sees him. "So you /literally/ just got here. Did you see the giant robots? They're pretty awesome." EXCEPT WHEN PEOPLE SLASH THEM.
[14:35] Martel: "Giant what?"
[14:37] Maria: "Robots!" She practically--no, she totally does bounce around a little as she says this. "These like--giant dudes made out of metal, I used to hate them 'cause they aren't natural but then I met this half-robot guy Grif and got used to it."
[14:38] * Martel can watch her bounce /and/ listen to what she's saying; it's a gift. "Men of metal. My, my."
[14:39] *** Grif has joined #stigmata.
[14:40] Maria: "Seriously." She is made of enthusiasm, this one. "My folk are a little more with the nature stuff, like I said, though, so I can't really do much with that." Thank God, imagine what bizarre things she'd make if she could do robotics.
[14:41] Martel: "Your 'folk'?" ...oh. Uh. Watch it, that Machiavellian gleam is back.
[14:44] Grif: As though summoned by the slander of calling him a half-robot, a glowing green portal opens near the doors and lets in an orange-clad super-soldier. He looks around a moment, then says, "huh. Not the coordinates I thought I'd used, but oh well."
[14:45] * Maria leans back against the bar and looks up at Martel. FORTUNATELY she is also then distracted by the 'half-robot' in question. "...Grif. I was totally just talking about you!"
[14:45] * Martel ... o /helo/, that is some interesting armor. Not very aesthetically pleasing, but /interesting/.
[14:46] * Grif takes off his helmet and grins, only mildly puzzled. "Should I be worried?" He saunters over to the bar and grabs a beer.
[14:47] Maria: "Yes." No, Maria just likes...lying, apparently.
[14:47] Maria: "--oh, um, Grif, this is Martel. Martel, this is Grif. Both of you are awesome, be friends immediately."
[14:50] * Grif quickly looks Martel over, then shrugs and extends his hand. "
[14:50] Grif: "Nice to meet you, Martel."
[14:51] * Martel shakes his hand, pleasant. "And you."
[14:56] Grif: "So, Maria, just what *were* you saying about me to the gentleman here?"
[15:01] Maria: "Oh, I was talking about how you're all metaly! And robots, and how I used to be not at all a fan but now my opinion is wayyy better."
[15:04] * Grif looks down. "Yup. I guess 'metaly' does apply. And robots... some of 'em are okay, some of 'em suck."
[15:05] Martel: "I've never seen armor like yours," Martel notes, with interest.
[15:06] Maria: "Grif is a special snowflake." :3
[15:07] Grif: "heh. A special snowflake from The Future, yes." He grins.
[15:07] * Martel whistles and smiles. Look how harmlessly curious he is. :3 .................behave, Martel.
[15:09] Maria: "Have you seen Chas around, by the way? I hear he split or somethin'." She hoists herself up on the edge of the bar, which is of course where tinygirls ought to perch.
[15:09] Grif: "You've also got to be whacked up with a shitload of 26th century military super-science in order to wear it... or you'll become a very messy stain very quickly."
[15:10] * Martel has that slightly blank look of someone who may or may not have understood most of those words, but really has no idea wtf was just said to him.
[15:11] Grif: Oh, hey, surprise topic change. "Uh. Not since I got back from the long annoying story that comes after getting back from Winnipeg."
[15:11] Maria: "Fuck, I hate Winnipeg." >:E FOREVER.
[15:13] Martel: "'Winnipeg'?" :D?
[15:13] Grif: "Damn, did that shit suck. Anyway, yeah, no, I haven't seen him. Last time I mentioned his name in front of Threnody, she didn't seem so happy, either."
[15:14] Maria: "Winnipeg is...where the apocalypse was, it's a city in a country neighboring mine. Grif and...some other people stopped it--jeez, no wonder, I'd kill my man if he ditched me like that!"
[15:17] * Martel ... is pretty much content to watch and learn, for now.
[15:18] * Grif shrugs. "Not like he really consulted anyone, which is fairly typical of the way he's usually done things." His brow furrows in a thinky face. "Wonder what that means for whatever agreements he made to get this place."
[15:22] Maria: "Threnody'll probably take care of it. I hope she doesn't kick me out, she doesn't like me." >_____> For. Reasons. MOVING ON. "Anyway, I'm glad you guys got back okay. Most of you." Since Alex did not, in fact, get back okay.
[15:24] * Grif knows nothing about that, so he'll go ahead and ask, "Yeah. Wait, what? When I'd left Winnipeg, everyone was okay and on their way out too. Did I miss something?"
[15:25] Maria: "Um!" Delicious false nonchalance: have some. "D'you remember Alex?"
[15:28] *** Dane has joined #stigmata.
[15:28] Grif: "We didn't meet often, but yeah, I remember him." He's being very nice and not mentioning the trying-to-kill-her thing. "He went to Winnipeg? We never saw him."
[15:28] *** Dane is now known as DMurphy.
[15:29] Maria: "He was...there for a while. Came back in a box!" Gamely. "I'm giving the kid his first name as a middle name." Thanks for uh. Not mentioning that, Grif, because it would be entirely fair if you did.
[15:31] * Martel is...going about Casually acquiring a drink. If he looks a touch--off, perhaps, as though something is not sitting quite right...that would be accurate.
[15:33] Grif: "Huh. I'm... sorry to hear that." Well, okay, to a certain degree, he's not entirely certain it's not better for everyone, but he figures she, at least, might've liked Alex to stick around for their baby, so yeah.
[15:35] Maria: "I know most people didn't really like him," she says, fidgety, "But, you know, he was...a good guy deep down." O HELO welcome to clicheville, population: Maria. "He'd be glad to know you guys stopped what was going on there. But we should talk about less serious stuff, huh? Want a drink?"
[15:36] * Martel ................ hates both of you, blindingly, for just a few moments. FYI.
[15:36] * Grif looks at his beer, and sees that the bottle is, in fact, empty. "Sure. Glass of whiskey, please?"
[15:36] Maria: "'Course!" She slides off the bar and pads behind it to pour whiskey. "Just straight?"
[15:37] * Grif nods.
[15:39] * DMurphy has no idea what he's actually doing outside of his library, really, but was told to go out. So that's what he's done. Hello strange place and random people, have a slightly awkward man with a cigarette and a...cowboy hat joining your party.
[15:40] * Maria slides the whiskey toward Grif, and then pauses. ANOTHER new person! "Hi!" There's a young woman in a very short skirt and floaty white top waving at you, Mr. Murphy. Perhaps she works there? Or she's just nosy, whatever. "Can I get you anything? I like your hat!"
[15:42] Grif: "Thanks, Maria." Grif looks over at Dane, all 7' of orange armor, helmet resting on the bar. "Hi! You've got the confused look of someone who didn't expect a bar around that last corner, door, whatever."
[15:44] DMurphy: "Eh? Oh." No, sir, your hat is no more invisible than you are. He will just be moving himself to a seat at the bar, then, as he supposes that is the thing to do, and be as personable as he knows to be. "Thanks." Grif gets just as surprised of a look aas the bar. "I think I need a beer."
[15:46] Grif: "Well, then, you've come to the right place." He looks quietly over at Martel for a moment, mildly curious at the other man's apparent silence.
[15:46] * Martel is exploring the red wine options, a little tenser than he was before. For Dane's reference, Martel is a tall, muscular man with long white hair and clothes that probably went out of style centuries ago. He's not looking real friendly right now.
[15:47] Maria: "You're all so lucky, I haven't had anything to drink for /twenty-three weeks/." She gets a beer (dark) for Dane. "That means I can pick the music. Right?" :3?
[15:47] Grif: "Oh god." Facepalm of mild dread.
[15:49] DMurphy: "Thanks." For the beer, yes. Along with a glance around toward Martel to take closer note of surroundings, followed by a mildly worried look due to Grif's reaction to the music-choosing. The big, armored guy can't be worried for nothing.
[15:50] Martel: "Pick from what?" ...Martel, honey. You are gonna regret asking.
[15:54] Maria: "My musical taste is fucking flawless, thank you /very much/," she sasses Grif cheerfully, sauntering over to the jukebox. "I'm not gonna make you all listen to nothin' gangsta, come on, I have /some/ idea of a target audience." ........so instead she picks Prince. Um.
[15:55] * Martel starts, almost violently. "What in--" What up! It's not the music (okay, it's the music) so much as it is /where the hell is that coming from?/
[15:55] Grif: "Yyyyyyup. That's 'some idea,' all right."
[15:56] Maria: "It has discs," she informs Martel quickly, "Recorded music. Um, Mr. Cowboy Hat over there, you okay, Nexus isn't brainfucking you any?"
[15:56] * Maria is going to take care of all of you at once and you are going to just ACCEPT IT, okay. >:E
[15:56] * Martel is COMING OVER THERE wtf is this nonsense >:(
[15:57] * Martel must investigate the jukebox for himself. ...someone prevent him from taking it apart. ...okay, he might have some difficulty there anyway.
[15:58] * DMurphy will just be staring at the jukebox for a while with the sort of blank face that could say SO MANY THINGS. Oh wait. Talking to him. "Huh? Oh." Beer drinking goes here. "I've sort of...only just start wandering. So not much yet. I suppose. Name's Dane, by the way." Way to afterthought there.
[15:59] Maria: "Nice to meet you! I'm Maria. This is Martel, and Grif." She indicates each one. She is apparently unfazed by the reaction to her musical tastes.
[15:59] * Grif waves.
[16:00] * DMurphy offers a little salute sort of wave. "Pleasure all around. Hopefully."
[16:01] Maria: "I am totally a pleasure under any circumstances, ask anyone!" ............................ sorry she does this. "I don't really work here but I know the people who do, so I'm playing barmaid for the day."
[16:01] * Martel 's expression disputes that this is music, or pleasurable. (Right up until the word 'barmaid'. O rly.)
[16:02] * Grif flimberts.
[16:03] DMurphy: This look is not at all skeptical. Honest. Only it kind of is. But it's good-natured skepticism. "I'll take your word for it right now and pass my own judgement later. How's that?"
[16:04] * Maria grins at Martel, and then Dane. "Sure! I'm also basically always right so, you know, I'm not worried." ... she's also KIDDING, it's just sometimes hard to tell. "Everybody suitably liquored up? Did you all eat today." Maria.
[16:05] *** custardpringle has joined #stigmata.
[16:05] Martel: "I was busy," Martel says, dryly, patting his chest. You know. Where the sword went in.
[16:05] Maria: "Well /after/." DYING IS NOT AN EXCUSE, MARTEL.
[16:06] * DMurphy raises a hand like he's taking an oath or something. "I ate but I also cooked. So whether it was actually food or not is up for debate."
[16:06] Grif: "Yeah, I had a meal before heading out into the Nexus. Booze is usually a bit safer than food, after all."
[16:07] * Martel drinks his wine. In /defiance/ of tiny women in their underwear.
[16:08] * Maria is also wearing more than underwear. Dammit. "I'm making shawarma," she announces, "Don't let it go to waste." TO THE KITCHENETTE. While shimmying to the music. Stop. That.
[16:08] * Martel continues to disbelieve that her outfit is actually acceptable clothing anywhere other than Valesia. Where he'd love to go, actually...
[16:10] *** custardpringle is now known as Kowalski.
[16:10] * DMurphy is not. Watching. Shimmying. Shut up. The only woman he sees on a regular basis spends most of her time as a cat.
[16:10] * Martel is definitely watching the shimmying.
[16:12] * Kowalski pokes his head in for the first time in approximately five mill-- no, that's a lie, it's only been four and a half million years. "Oh hey, this place still here?"
[16:13] * Maria sets up the stuff to cook and then is distracted, in a timely fashion, by a Ray! :O "RAY. Yes hi come here immediately!" Exuberance! Everywhere! She's made of it.
[16:13] Grif: "Yup."
[16:14] Kowalski: "Awesome-- oh, /hey,/ Maria." Ray grins all over the place and goes immediately like the good little boy he is.
[16:15] * Maria hugs Ray a whole bunch, because that is what she does. "I'm making food, everybody's giving me attitude about how they 'already ate' or whatever." This is clearly nonsense, they can eat /more/. "Martel, Grif, Dane, this is Ray."
[16:15] * Maria pauses. "Martel loves my taste in music." :3 SORRY DUDE, this is how she shows affection.
[16:15] * DMurphy tips up his cowboy hat to take a look at the new person. And there's another little salute sort of thing. And beer drinking. His social skills lack something. Like. Everything.
[16:15] * Grif quietly does a very tiny double-take as he sees Ray, but no, okay, there're enough differences that this is, in fact, someone new. Shirt's not as ugly. "Hi, Ray."
[16:16] Martel: "I delight in all of your delights, Maria," Martel informs her, urbanely.
[16:17] * Kowalski hugs back! And is wearing a nice plain grey t-shirt, thank you kindly very much. "Nice t'meet you all."
[16:18] * Kowalski is also gonna peer over Maria's shoulder at the shawarma. "I might have some room for that." :D?
[16:18] * Maria goes >:3 at Martel, because she's insane. "GOOD." She's going to dish it up now, in fact, and give /everyone/ a plate, whether they've agreed to it or not. "Dane can I wear your hat?"
[16:18] Grif: "I *suppose* I could find some room in my stomach for some more food. I mean, if you *insist*."
[16:19] Grif: (Yeah, no, he's not really complaining, because some things about his overeating tendencies were not just rebellious poor care.)
[16:20] * Kowalski eyes Martel-- not unfriendly, just kind of quizzical-- and takes a plate. Because yay, Maria's shawarma :9 "I think she's insisting, yeah."
[16:21] * Grif sighs a faux-long-suffering sigh. And then takes his plate and enjoys his food. :D
[16:21] * Martel returns Ray's look blandly, although wine and food are both swiftly more interesting than a staring contest with a stranger.
[16:21] * DMurphy looks a little surprised for a moment. Then looks as if he has no idea why he was surprised. But does, in fact, offer his hat. "Assuming I get it back when I leave, be my guest." Oh hey. Food. That looks kind of like...food. Novel concept!
[16:22] Maria: "So /agreeable/. I love that." Hat: get. It probably looks ridiculous on her, but that's okay with Maria. "Wow, I don't think there've been this many people in here in ages. Clearly Martel did it. Somehow."
[16:23] * Martel makes a peculiar, almost ritualistic gesture with his free hand. "I have powers beyond mortal ken, little madam."
[16:23] * Kowalski grins between mouthfuls of food. "Good timing by me, then."
[16:25] * Maria regards Martel sidelong for a second, for some reason (MYSTERIOUS), and then smiles. "It all works out just how I like it." >:3!!
[16:26] DMurphy: Looks sort of amused. But is now way too interested in food and alcohol. Hallelujah, something that doesn't taste like the spices are just there to cover up something rotten.
[16:27] Maria: "So what have I missed, huh? I've been busy being all knocked up and stuff." She's still not showing a whole bunch, but occasionally when her floaty little top moves a certain way, it's visible.
[16:30] * Kowalski shrugs. "I ain't been around in a while either. Between us we probably missed all kinds've excitement." ._. -- oh hey more food :>
[16:34] * Maria puts on another song. ...this time it's rap music. Complete with youtube! (Link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=KV9X5POZ0Gk)http://youtube.com/watch?v=KV9X5POZ0Gk "Me too, so don't feel bad! And hey, Ray, this girl's from Chicago--s'where me and Ray live at. Best damn city on earth, too." Random declarations are awesome.
[16:34] Grif: "Not a whole lot with me. Just doing the same shit I usually do."
[16:36] Maria: "Rescuing kittens from trees?" :3? "Where are the rest of you all from, anyway? Our two new people that I've stolen in the name of my cause." There is no cause. FYI.
[16:36] Martel: "No where in particular."
[16:38] * DMurphy brushes his hair a little with his hand. Because he'd been wearing the hat so long, he still feels like he's wearing it. "Belfast. Maine. Or thereabouts, anyway." Also. Putting out smoldering cigarette butt now.
[16:39] Maria: "Nowhere, population Martel people. Gotcha." She's actually not being sarcastic, this is her bizarre way of accepting a non-answer. "Cool! I've never been to Maine, I hear it's really pretty though. Way out in the country especially." A little wistful, that.
[16:40] Grif: "Well, if by 'kittens,' we mean 'Jack Harkness,' and by 'trees', we mean, 'The Scarecrow,' then yeah, I've done that once recently." He smirks. "I'm originally from Honolulu, but now I'm stationed out in the ass-end of the galaxy."
[16:40] * Kowalski is busy snarfing shawarma, give him a second here. ". . . what scarecrow now?"
[16:42] DMurphy: "I pretty much live out in the woods now. Rundown former college. Used to be a lot pretty than it is now." Bitter nostalgia, anyone? He's full of it.
[16:44] Grif: "Doctor Jonathan Crane, aka 'The Scarecrow.' Nervous weedy guy who's also some sort of supervillain. Fond of using this fear-inducing gas on people."
[16:44] * Maria focuses on Dane for a second, curious, because...apparently she must investigate bitterness, idk. "What happened to it?"
[16:45] * Martel is done with his food, and he and his half-empty wine glass are investigating the jukebox again. >:3
[16:45] * Kowalski looks at Grif. ". . . oh, /that/ Scarecrow. Right. Think I met him once."
[16:48] * DMurphy will just be lighting a fresh cigarette, if you don't mind. Not that it's actually fresh so much as slightly stale and rumpled but it'll do. "Armageddon."
[16:48] Grif: "That seems to happen a bit more often than I'd expect."
[16:49] * Maria is, fortunately, a scarywitch who can maintain her body in the Nexus, so she doesn't protest the smoking despite the baby. Also: witness her face sort of fall. ".........oh." That's. An 'oh' of familiarity.
[16:50] * Kowalski frowns, uncertainly. "Uh, sorry. About that."
[16:52] * DMurphy shrugs. "The big stuff is over. Now it's mostly just residual chaos. Zombies, demon possessions, strange monsters, mad scientists." This is all par for the course, apparently.
[16:52] * Martel causes an untimely blaring of 'Red Right Hand'. Luckily, creative...banging quiets it down again. >:E HE WILL CONQUER YOU, MACHINE.
[16:53] Maria: "Oh. Well, monsters." ......Maria doesn't actually MIND monsters, because she's a freak, but still. "Martel, what are you doing over there?" She's a tiny bit amused. Maybe.
[16:53] Grif: "That... I wouldn't have expected the mad science, among the supernatural-sounding shit, but what do I know?"
[16:53] * Martel points at the jukebox, annoyed, with his wine glass. "I can't read your heathen scratchings. Come over here and give me something with a steady beat." ...................phrasing, Martel. Also, bossy much?
[16:54] * Kowalski approves of your repair techniques, Martel.
[16:56] * DMurphy chokes a little on his smoke with the random, blaring music. He'll find Martel way too amusing when he's done coughing. "The mad scientists are mostly the people trying to fix the other problems via their own pre-apocalyptic beliefs. Or the people just mussing with it for shits and giggles."
[16:56] Maria: "Sir, yes, /sir/," she drawls at Martel, but heads on over to help him out. HERE, have some Simon & Garfunkel. ...what, Scarborough Fair is based off really old music!
[16:56] * Martel listens for a moment and you can SEE the mental 'it'll do' when he makes his mind up.
[16:58] * Grif looks like he tries to follow that line of explanation for a couple of moments... and then he shrugs, as it's apparently a bit beyond him. "Aha. Ooookay, then."
[16:59] * Maria actually really likes this song, so she takes a second to just kind of listen quietly. It's kind of sad! But pretty.
[17:00] * DMurphy also shrugs. Then goes back to finishing his food and beer.
[17:01] * Martel sets his glass down and brings his heels together and offers Maria his hand, with a terribly self-mocking expression. "Your music tastes leave something to be desired," he informs her, dry. "I'm going to teach you a dance." .............look, he /died/ a few hours ago, and things have only got more surreal. Why the fuck not.
[17:01] * Kowalski will take this quiet moment to grab a beer of his own and go sprawl out on a couch with it-- dancing, what?
[17:03] Maria: "They do not," she responds, instantly, but...why not? She takes his hand, and PS if being the only person under 25 in this room is weird for her, it will never show. She prefers this, in fact! "Okay! I'll try to learn fast." :3 "The rest of you can tell me whether I'm doing any good."
[17:05] * Kowalski pops his beer. "Sure you'll be fine."
[17:05] * Grif swivels his bar stool around, whiskey glass in hand, to observe the dancing, since he's finished his food.
[17:06] * Martel goes >:3 a little at pretty much everyone, that being how he rolls. "Good." He lifts her hand and leads her away from the jukebox; they'll...probably need more space than standing in a corner. "Follow my lead," he directs, palm to palm.
[17:06] Maria: "I can do that." And she will! ...surprisingly. /What/, she listens occasionally. When she wants to. Kind of like a cat, actually, in that she'll pretend like it was all her own idea.
[17:07] * DMurphy turns a little to sort of half-watch this little event. Everyone else is. And it's a distraction. Both good reasons.
[17:09] * Martel has only really learned the formal dances of the Elene courts, so probably the only familiarity any of them might have with the style is vague similarities to period films. The pace of the song is a little slower than he's used to, but that suits teaching (which this ostensibly is).
[17:12] * Maria will actually pick it up pretty quick, with very few missteps. This is because she is...actually a trained dancer; don't ask how she ended up strippin' for a living. "So, guys, eight point five? Nine? At least, right?" :3?
[17:13] * Kowalski grins. "Nine point, uh. Two."
[17:14] Grif: "Yeah, sure."
[17:14] * Grif wasn't aware that they were supposed to be judging, so he'll just be agreeable.
[17:15] * Maria basically just decided that they were this very second.
[17:16] Grif: "The dance itself looked like something you'd mainly find out in the Scadian Cluster, but that's not so bad."
[17:17] Martel: "The girl is quick," Martel says, light, and he lifts and twirls her as an absent-minded sort of flourish on the end -- he's always been the vainglorious dramatic creature of his peers.
[17:19] * Maria does a little happy girl noise at that, because that is just the appropriate response, okay. "I've had a little experience! Although not with this dance in particular, obviously." She pauses. "The what cluster?"
[17:19] DMurphy: Well, that's sort of a smile! Which has to say something. Even if it turns into more of a smirky, sarcastic sort of smile for Martel's little ending there. He has no idea what is or isn't good in dancing, okay? He just humors people. Like Maria.
[17:22] Grif: "The Scadian Cluster. It's a sector of space, back home, where all the planets are colonized by people who've chosen to adopt the lifestyles of various ancient eras of history. There're provisions made on most of 'em for tourists to visit, such that all the Shiny Space Shit is left behind at the spaceport and you get into the time period you're visiting."
[17:24] * Kowalski looks over at Grif, curious. "So what counts as 'ancient' where you're from?"
[17:24] * Martel will let go of Maria, now, and ... refill his glass. Excellent. :3
[17:29] *** Kowalski has joined #stigmata.
[17:29] * Grif thinks a moment. "Well, I'm originally from the 26th century. The cutoff back then was anything older than about the 18th. After the time travel -- long story -- I'm now living in the 26th, and... I don't think they moved the line, but I haven't checked."
[17:30] * Maria is apparently still in a dancey mood, so she puts on something with string instruments playing and practices going en pointe and doing turns, barefoot. While pregnant. Very little deters this girl, apparently. PS EN POINTE. BAREFOOT. Why, Verbena.
[17:30] * Kowalski rolls his shoulders and grins. "Least I don't count as ancient, then."
[17:31] * Martel leans against the bar as though he was basically born to be indolent against things and observes the continued dancing. "Apparently I do." ...except for how he's from a reality nothing like any of theirs whatsoever.
[17:32] * DMurphy is kind of fascinated by dancing, in a self-deprecating sort of way. Dude, he couldn't walk for about ten years, okay? Dancing is crazy. As is Maria. "That looks painful."
[17:32] * Grif grins back. "I think it's more that by the 20th or so, culture development slowed down a lot. Aside from specific media shit, a lot of the basics aren't much different."
[17:32] Martel: "Beautiful things often are," Martel notes, amused in an odd way.
[17:34] Maria: "Aw! Um. It is, yeah--I don't have my shoes on hand." She bites her lip, holding a turn in an odd way. "When I'm not, y'know, pregnant, I can put my leg straight up while the other is en pointe, it's a trip." For now, though, she gives up and goes to perch on the bar again.
[17:35] * Kowalski applauds briefly, because he can.
[17:37] DMurphy: "One day you'll be less pregnant and we'll cross paths just long enough for me to make you prove that." That...sounds a little weird if you think about it the wrong way.
[17:38] Martel: "Pipped at the post," Martel comments, blithely.
[17:38] * Maria beams at Ray! She kind of loves showing off her dancing in ways that...aren't to make money, haha. "You wouldn't have to 'make' me, it'd be fun!" ...and then she eyes Martel. "What does that mean?"
[17:39] * Martel affects innocence. "It's a common idiom."
[17:39] Grif: "Meaning?"
[17:39] Martel: "To be beaten by a small margin."
[17:41] Kowalski: "Sounds Canadian." . . . stfu, Ray, you say that about everything.
[17:42] * Martel gives Ray a (relatively) politely blank look. Wtf are you talking about, weirdo.
[17:42] Maria: "Does it? I'm pret-ty sure Martel's not from Canada..." Yes, MAYBE.
[17:44] Kowalski: "Yeah, well, there were big words involved."
[17:44] Martel: "Peasant?" Martel deduces, which...way to go, Martel, you're not weird enough already.
[17:45] * Maria carefully adjusts her cowboy hat and looks at the menfolk from under the brim, very seriously. "Ray's a cop! Not a...that."
[17:45] * Kowalski hmphs indignantly. "Am /not./"
[17:45] * DMurphy turns around so he's leaning back on the bar. "Since when do Canadians use big words?" He's joking. Sort of. Northerners. Bred to have a love-hate relationship with Canadia.
[17:45] * Martel looks between them and laughs, slightly.
[17:48] * Kowalski eyes Martel. "Do they still have peasants in Canada? Never heard'a that, but hey, I'd believe anything."
[17:48] Martel: "I'm not familiar with the city." ...'city'.
[17:53] * Kowalski flails a little. Someone help.
[17:53] Maria: "Canada's the country neighboring the United States, where Ray and I are from," she informs Martel, "It contains Winnipeg, among other places. Like Vancouver, which I hear is awesome!"
[17:54] Martel: "United States of what?"
[17:54] Maria: "America. 50 states, all United in being the richest, most obnoxious country on Earth." She says this a little wryly.
[17:55] * Grif picks up his helmet. "Okay, don't freak out about what I'm about to do. 'k?" And then he switches on the holoprojector in his helmet, showing a three-dimensional globe.
[17:56] * Martel is actually fine with that, Grif. Which...might be weird, but then again, his assumption is magic and not technology, and he's plenty familiar with magic. "That's your world?"
[17:56] * Maria kind of goes :[ because she's STILL NOT USED TO THAT, Grif. "Yep!"
[17:56] * Martel approaches the projection to examine it, critically.
[17:57] * Kowalski goes @_@ and points out North America, though it'd probably help more if he actually bothered to get out of his chair. "'Nthat's America."
[17:57] DMurphy: Oh hey. Holograms. This is...kind of fascinating. Even if tryint to explain the geography of Earth is kind of...uh...what?
[17:57] Grif: "Hang on, let me load some late-20th geographical data." He closes his eyes and tilts his head a bit, seemingly concentrating for a few seconds. The shape of the world stays the same, but some of the political boundaries shift to something a little more familiar to people not from The Future.
[17:59] * Martel 's expression is a little flat as he looks it over.
[18:00] DMurphy: It takes a moment for him to figure out what changed there but he just laughs a little. And smokes. "Oh, the days when global-level politics still existed."
[18:00] * Maria is vaguely concerned! It shows. ALL YOU PEOPLE B| you need taking care of.
[18:02] Grif: "Yeah, we still use some of the old borders and labels and shit, but it's mainly for convenience, 'cause everything's all been under the United Earth Government for centuries, anyway."
[18:02] * Grif doesn't seem to notice any sense that Maria might need to take care of him, beeecause he tends to think he's got himself pretty well together on his own. He usually won't say no anyway, though.
[18:03] Maria: That is probably wise for his sanity. >_>
[18:04] * Martel could use a bit of taking care of, but he is Stoic, Damn It. ...kind of. Anyway, he's just going to uh, drain his glass and think about something else! That will solve all his problems. "Really, a united government." ...what he is thinking is not actually funny to anyone in the entire universe except MAYBE him.
[18:06] Maria: "Ostensibly. It's kind of a mess right now, every four years we vote in a new leader, and right now there's all this stupid spazzing leading up to the election." Maria: describing the democratic process as 'stupid' since being able to talk.
[18:06] Martel: "Vote?" He knows the word. He's not grasping how it's connected to ruling a nation. >(
[18:07] * DMurphy isn't actually used to people's concern. Except for, like, little children who think the exorcist hermit man needs to cheer up and not be creepy. He will resist this being taken care of thing. B| ...only not. Because he fails at arguing with women. "Whereas I live in a world where the height of political power is being the one everyone turns to in one basically amounts to a camp of humanity."
[18:07] Kowalski: "Wait, election, what?" Ray blinks at Maria. "Didn't we just have one of those?"
[18:08] * Maria ...also is stretching out on the bar with Dane's cowboy hat balanced on her stomach. Good. What. "Yup! We do ballots to vote for people who are running from each party--there are a bunch, but only two really main ones--and whoever gets the most wins." She eyes Dane with undisguised worry, this time around.
[18:08] Maria: "...no? The 2008 election is coming up."
[18:09] Kowalski: "Well, good for you." . . . Ray just likes being cranky, doesn't he. "Where I come from we just got through the 1996 election."
[18:10] * Martel is just. So lost. And, as Martel tends to in situations he's not in control of and doesn't understand, getting annoyed. ...at least he's too tired to start a fight.
[18:10] Maria: "Oh. I didn't know we weren't from the same time, that's dumb." She thinks that over. "Wow, I was seven in '96. That's like, /forever/ ago." Hahah she's very young, guys.
[18:12] * Kowalski grins. "Aww, you're tiny."
[18:12] Grif: "I... don't really get a say in the political process back home, whatever it's like in the 34th, 'caaaaause my rights pretty much got summarily suspended as soon as my name came up in the draft."
[18:13] Maria: "I'm nineteen!" That's tiny. This typist is two years older than that and thinks that's tiny. "Basically politics everywhere are kerfucked?"
[18:14] * Martel is...about twenty years older than Maria. Also, he's decided fuck all y'all, he's just going to take this bottle here and ... not pay any attention to your freaky weird unnatural 'politics'.
[18:14] DMurphy: "Basically, yes." Now Maria gets a slight brow-quirky look. "You're nineteen?"
[18:15] Maria: "Yep! --don't say I look older, everyone says that and I'm worried it's gonna mean I'm looking 35 at 30." That's totally not how it works, tinyho. "Why?"
[18:17] * DMurphy shrugs. "All right. I won't say it. But I will say I'm starting to feel old."
[18:18] Maria: "...really. And you're how old?" She sits up and gives him an extremely skeptical look.
[18:20] DMurphy: "Twenty-seven. But I feel about twice that half the time." Which the smoking probably doesn't help, dude.
[18:20] Grif: "Yeah, okay, you can shut the fuck up, now." He grins, really only kidding... but yes, probably visibly older-looking, so.
[18:21] Maria: "Well, I've felt nineteen since I was about, oh, twelve. So shut up, you're not old, you're just jaded." She says this in a really /friendly/ tone, which she means, she's just also apparently really direct. "Which is an appreciable quality!"
[18:24] Grif: "i'd say I need a cane, but I suppose the armor provides all the support I need."
[18:24] * Martel makes an indelicate sound. >:(
[18:25] * Maria goes and sits next to Martel, innocently. Did you really think you could get away that easily, buddy.
[18:26] * Martel is running out of steam is all.
[18:26] * DMurphy kind of grins a little. "So everyone's old enough to be grumpy about it if they want to be. Except for Maria, who isn't allowed to be grumpy because then the bar might implode." Socialization skills. Increasing.
[18:28] * Maria grins right back. "I'm never grumpy. Because I am a girl, and therefore made of sugar, etcetera." :3
[18:29] Grif: "Something like that, I guess." He stands up and puts his glass away to be cleaned, then picks up his helmet.
[18:29] Grif: (Which has long since stopped showing the globe, since they stopped talking geography, BTW.)
[18:33] * Grif puts the helmet on. "Anyway, I gotta get going. Nice meeting you, new folks. Take it easy."
[18:34] Maria: "Byyye Grif. Be good!" :3
[18:34] * Martel salutes without looking.
[18:34] * DMurphy also salutes in his own way. "See you around maybe."
[18:34] * Grif chuckles and teleports out.
[18:34] *** Grif has left #stigmata.
[18:36] * Maria /squeaks/, suddenly, and then laughs, hand on her stomach. NEVER MIND, baby's just moving around, because 23 weeks is about when that starts happening a whole bunch.
[18:37] * Martel starts, slightly, hand moving towards a hilt that ... isn't there, but he catches himself about when she laughs. Just.
[18:37] * Kowalski waved to Grif, because his typist totally has an attention span, honest. "Wha-- oh."
[18:38] * DMurphy is a little startled by the exit but, well, he's long since decided everything's possible. So he'll just be-- Jumping at the squeak? And raises his eyebrows a little, looking amused.
[18:40] Maria: "I'm not used to the moving yet, sorry." She wiggles around. "It's very strange. As you all might imagine. Being men."
[18:41] DMurphy: "I think the closest I can get to imagining is remembering what it was like to be possessed. Hopefully, being pregnant doesn't feel like that."
[18:41] Maria: "...definitely not."
[18:41] Martel: "Not according to Aslade."
[18:42] * Martel is...agreeing with Maria. There. In case that's not clear.
[18:42] * Kowalski would rather not imagine at all o.o
[18:43] DMurphy: "Good. If pregnancy felt like possession, I'd expect the population to be dwindling." It's anyone's guess if he's joking or not.
[18:43] Maria: "I am not going to ask what possession feels like but I'm sorry it happened!" :( Stupid...whatever possessed Dane! That is not allowed. "Who's Aslade?"
[18:45] Martel: "The most beautiful woman in Elenia."
[18:45] * DMurphy shrugs. "Risks of being an exorcist, I suppose. Very rare risk, if you know what you're doing but still a risk."
[18:46] * Martel is distracted from Aslade by Dane's assertion. "Necromancy."
[18:46] Maria: "Elenia...where's that? What's she look like?" --oh, they're talking about other stuff. "You're an exorcist. Cool."
[18:48] DMurphy: "Necromancy tends to involve summoning." This is Dane's blank face. "I send them back where they belong."
[18:48] Martel: "Eosian continent." Martel gives Maria a sparse answer, watching Dane -- he's a bit too drunk for this conversation is our renegade Pandion, but whatever, that won't stop him. Much. "Related fields."
[18:49] * Martel ...is also curt. Hi.
[18:51] DMurphy: "Related in the form of contradiction." This is serious business. Also his livelihood. And obviously strikes an irritable note.
[18:52] Kowalski: "Like cops and robbers're related, I guess."
[18:52] * Martel smiiiiiles, and it's not a nice smile. "As you like." ...what up, way to be a condescending asshole.
[18:52] Maria: "Where'd you learn?" Quick! Diffuse conflict!
[18:54] * DMurphy scowls in Martel's general direction but right. Let's stay calm and civil here. "I taught myself. Someone needed to know how to do it."
[18:54] * Martel ...refrains, for once in his GODDAMN LIFE.
[18:56] Maria: "Necessity." She bites her lip, thoughtful, hand still on her stomach. "That makes sense. Some people would've taken up hunting them."
[18:58] * DMurphy snuffs out his cigarette and watches the smoke from that instead of looking at anyone. "Hunting wasn't really an option when I started. By the time it would've been, they did a pretty good job of coming to me."
[18:59] Maria: "I've never met a demon." Actually, she's been ickily flirted with by a demon. And made out with another one. But let's not get into that, 'cause she isn't even aware.
[19:01] DMurphy: "Most of the one's I've met weren't worth meeting so you're not missing much." He pauses to take on a slightly wry expression. "I did manage to sort of keep one for a pet, though. She's not too bad. Mostly just annoying."
[19:02] Maria: "...not so much with the evil? Really?"
[19:03] * Martel is getting progressively less comfortable with the topic of conversation, but it mostly manifests in white knuckles and a sardonic expression.
[19:03] * Kowalski is just lost. He kind of forgot how persistently weird it is around here.
[19:05] * Maria pauses, looks them over, and comes to a decision! "Okay, I'm gonna put on more music, requests? Or I put on stuff we play at the club."
[19:06] * Martel leans back in his chair, affecting loose-limbed laziness. "Something t hat sounds like music, for preference."
[19:06] DMurphy: "She could probably be evil if she wasn't so much like someone hit the ditzy cheerleader with a Hell-bat." Which is where he'll stop on that topic because. Music. "I've lived years mostly on the classical archives of a university library. I have no idea."
[19:07] * Maria fakes a very dramatic pout in his direction, nudges his knee with hers, and rises to go find something that might suit a dude from Medieval times as well as her own tastes. GOOD LUCK.
[19:07] * Maria shakes her head at Dane. "That's so depressing. You should come to The Admiral when I'm not all knocked up and I'm workin' again." ... no
[19:08] DMurphy: Somehow this sounds dangerous. "We'll see." Or probably not but you never know.
[19:09] Maria: "Oh, you definitely will see." 'Cause. It's a strip club--Ray, I'm so sorry you have to hear the pseudo little sister type talk to guys this way.
[19:10] * Kowalski is trying not to think about it. He's trying very very hard. >.>
[19:12] * DMurphy gives Maria a very vaguely wary look whilst standing up. To stretch. In the spine-cracks-like-a-machine-gun sort of way. He's not supposed to sit still that long.
[19:15] * Maria is briefly a little staggered by something before she rolls her shoulders and remembers to put her guard back up. MUSIC. Have some Libertines, guys.
[19:21] * Maria dances around, after the dizzy fades. "Right now I'm doing this house mom thing--it's funny, I get to mediate everyone's drama. One girl stole another girl's shoes so her boyfriend could wear them at his drag show, and then gave them back all stretched out. Scandal."
[19:23] * DMurphy blinks at this little story. Then laughs. "Entertaining."
[19:24] * Martel closes his eyes and tilts his head back.
[19:25] Maria: "Very. Makes me miss my coven, though, they weren't half as ridiculous." She leans against the jukebox.
[19:25] Martel: "Coven?"
[19:25] * Kowalski blinks. "Coven?"
[19:25] * DMurphy will apparently be the only one not to say it but he definitely looks curious.
[19:27] * Maria ...forgot she wasn't going to mention that to Ray. "Um, yeah. I had one a...few months back, group of witches, you know. All that." ........ :D?
[19:27] Martel: "Little witch." Martel laughs, quietly, unsurprised.
[19:28] Kowalski: "Witches like." Ray makes a vague gesture with his mostly-empty beer bottle and entirely fails to finish his sentence in a useful manner.
[19:28] * Martel gives Ray a lidded look intended to convey that Ray is an uneducated oaf, and probably illegitimate.
[19:28] * Maria wishes Martel would stop giving him those looks >:( EVERYONE BE NICE--this is not likely.
[19:29] * Martel is kind of a dickhead. Sorry Maria :(
[19:29] Maria: "Witches like...shit, I don't know. Not like what you see on TV or anything. Just little stuff. To help people."
[19:29] DMurphy: "Huh." After her interest in the exorcism deal, Dane's not that surprised, either. He is also still ignoring Martel so the world can continue turning mostly undisturbed.
[19:30] * Kowalski isn't liking you much either, Martel, it's okay :)
[19:30] * Martel should probably be ignored, it's for the best. But don't everyone do it; then he'll feel the need to get your attention.
[19:33] * Maria kind of flails at them all for some reason and puts on Neko Case. FOLK MUSIC. SO THERE. "If no one talks I'm going to start biting."
[19:33] Martel: "Feel free," Martel drawls.
[19:34] * Kowalski sits up a bit. ". . . rather you didn't." That counts as talking, right? :D?
[19:34] * DMurphy will just be stretching a little again and making a slightly scowly face when there is PAIN. Because pain shouldn't happen just because he fails to follow the doctor's orders. What. >:( "I'd try to talk more but I should probably head out."
[19:35] * Maria sticks her tongue out at Martel, and ...eyes Dane again. She keeps doing that. It can only bode ill. "Okay. C'mere first." She's rummaging around for something.
[19:36] DMurphy: This is further wariness. What is she doing now? "Well, I have to go there first, since you still seem to have my hat."
[19:37] Maria: "Yes I do." Get over here, not-cowboy, tinygirl is tapping her foot at you.
[19:37] DMurphy: Okay okay. Whatever the tinygirl says. Here. Have a Dane. Eyeing you as he approaches.
[19:39] * Maria ...............................WRITES HER NAME AND NUMBER ON HIS HAND IN PEN oh noes. Anyway. Then she arches up onto her tiptoes to say something in his ear. No, it's not a proposition, guys, don't get suspicious. "Thanks for letting me wear your hat!" Which she places on his head, slightly askew.
* DMurphy blinks. And...adjusts his hat. "I have a feeling I'll be losing it every time I see you." Anyway. He'll just give his typically little salute-ish thing to Ray. And continue ignoring Martel. "See you around."
* Kowalski waves to Dane. "Seeya."
Maria: "Oh, many things get lost around me." >:3!! "Byyye, Dane."
[19:46] * Martel is currently tolerating being ignored. This...may not last.
[19:47] * Maria stretches out on a sofa. "And then there were three. What should we do?"
[19:47] Martel: "I don't play well with others, little witch. It's a personal failing." ...well, he's...right.
[19:48] * Kowalski looks sheepish. "I might wanna go soon too, it's getting pretty late."
[19:48] Maria: "I dunno, I think we play pretty well together." She may actually enjoy being referred to as 'little witch'. "It is! And you probably have police officering work to do tomorrow, huh?"
[19:50] * Martel finds the idea of this guy being a policeman kind of hilarious, but he's keeping it to himself.
[19:53] * Kowalski would kick him in the face if he weren't, so that's probably a good plan. "Yeah. I got late shift tomorrow, but still. Least it's Friday."
[19:53] * Martel suspects Ray would /try/ ...anyway.
[19:55] Maria: "Definitely! Do something fun this weekend, huh?" She will come up with ideas, if necessary, and they will all be insane.
[19:56] * Kowalski actually shoves himself up out of his chair and gives Maria a grin. "I'll do my best." The empty beer bottle gets tossed neatly into a trash can several feet away, and Ray punches the air on his own behalf, because he's not-so-secretly six years old. "G'night."
[19:57] * Martel manages to wave offensively. It's the finger wiggle that does it.
[19:57] Maria: "Niiight, Ray!" STEALTH HUGGING before he goes. Everyone must be hugged :E
[19:58] * Kowalski hugs back and manages, for Maria's sake, to only glare a /little/ at Martel. Then he goes home, woo.
[19:59] Martel: "Popular, aren't we." There's something vaguely wistful to it, but it has very little -- if anything -- to do with Maria.
[20:00] Maria: "I have this tendency to foist myself on people. At some point some of them stop pretending to mind." She glances at Martel, thoughtful. "Do you want help with that, what's hurting you?"
[20:02] * Martel looks down -- not out of any kind of bashfulness, because...it's fucking Martel, guys, but rather he's looking at his shirt, as though he half-expects to see red blooming there in the wake of her question. "Excellent question, Maria. That's a very good question."
[20:04] * Maria regards him quietly, runs a hand through her hair, and sits up carefully. "I can start with the scar. If you like."
[20:07] * Martel pushes his glass away and crosses his ankles. "Why?"
[20:07] Maria: "I want to."
[20:09] Martel: "That's sweet of you, dear, but I worked hard for this." He smiles, all teeth. The scar's the least of his concerns.
[20:09] Maria: "I'm not offering to fix the scar," she clarifies, carefully, "Those are meant to be kept. Just the--pain, the healing. Either way, as you like."
[20:12] * Martel considers her, taking his time about it.
[20:14] * Maria waits, and doesn't fidget. Which is a sign of something, at least.
[20:15] * Martel chuckles, eventually, and he spreads his hands. "Do as thou wilt."
[20:18] Maria: "Oh, don't give me that much permission, trust me. Alex always said if you gave me an inch I'd take sixty miles." She casually retrieves a tiny knife, maybe the size of her pinky finger, and cuts her palm. It would actually be easier to touch the scar, but that's not on the menu today.
[20:19] * Martel watches her, outwardly placid (that might be the booze). If he twitches a little at the knife, it's minor.
[20:20] * Maria brushes her thumb against the tiny cut, wincing, sucking in her breath, annnd then he should feel better! Although she's still apparently a little hurty for such a small cut.
[20:22] * Martel breathes out, still watching her. "Thirty or fifty, I'd say," he says, eyes narrowed.
[20:24] Maria: "Hmm?" She blinks, in the middle of pressing a napkin to the cut (which she'll take home with her later ._. BLOOD IS SACRED). "Oh."
[20:27] Martel: "Rough estimate, little dear; your magic is as new to me as all the rest of this."
[20:28] Maria: "Iiit's...complicated. My folk are pretty rare, these days. Tend to be mostly women. What magic are you used to, then?" He's clearly familiar.
[20:30] Martel: "The Styric sort. They're a guarded bunch."
[20:36] Maria: "I haven't heard of them. Which is probably obvious!" She hesitates, and then leans forward, concerned with other matters. "Where are you crashing right now? If you've decided." 'Decided' seems better than 'figured it out'.
[20:38] Martel: "I haven't yet--decided." Yeah, yeah, he knows when he's being humored...and he's grateful. Privately.
[20:39] Maria: "Well, there are suggestions I can make...the Nexus is pretty good about not bothering people. Except the parts that contain me, but you know." She grins a little.
[20:39] Martel: "Thank you for the clarification," he says, dryly. "Well, then, what might you suggest?"
[20:41] * Maria rattles off...a list of places, and directions, that her typist would not know because she pays very little attention to the main Nexus proper anymore. "The good thing about this place is it has, apparently, infinite and ever-changing space."
[20:42] Martel: "It's the ever-changing that makes a man nervous," is his observation, because apparently we can't just say thank you and be grateful, but he...did clearly take that on board! Yay. ._.
[20:44] Maria: "Faair enough, seriously! There are these things called pinpoints--they can teleport people from place to place. I don't trust them entirely, but they're goddamn useful." Yay! :D
[20:45] * Martel ...remains skeptical of your weirdo sciencey gadgets, but he makes a mental note anyway. "Pinpoints. All right then." ...hopefully his mental notes will be intact when he sobers up.
[20:54] Maria: "Speaking of, you'd maaaybe better go sleep off the wine, huh? And I should get home and...actually be responsible, since apparently being out at all hours while pregnant is bad. Or something." Who'da thunk it.
[20:57] Martel: "Tiny little thing like yourself, yes indeed," Martel pushes up to his feet, regarding her from his admittedly somewhat wobbling vantage point. He does manage to refrain from unnecessary Aslade-inspired commentary about how she ought to fatten up as he sketches a bow and makes for an exit.
[20:58] * Maria is a good 12 pounds heavier than she used to be, dammit! Anyway, she smiles at him, and heads off, too. That was...productive, shockingly. \o/ GOODBYE STIGMATA.