Sid's - Sunday Night
Who: Nica, Eva, Katie, Mandy, Lizzie, Warren, Stephan, Tina, Dot
Where: Sid's
When: Sunday Night
Nica was chilling at Sid's, looking a bit less angsty. She was reading a history book.
Eva was at a booth, studying.
Katie was also lurking at Sid's, looking contemplatively into the froth of a hot cocoa as though attempting to divine the future.
Mandy was sitting by Nica.
Lizzie headed in to Sid's looking cheerful.
Warren followed, saying as he entered, "...and honestly, if I get too used to having a good cook in my basement I'll start getting ideas about locking her down there or something."
Stephan headed into the diner, got a quick look around and settled at Eva's booth. "Hi," he said.
"Well, she can come and live with me - I asked Kit, and he said okay," Lizzie said. "So if she wants to move in with me- if she's comfortable leaving the basement, she could be my roomie at the pool house."
"Sounds like a plan," Warren said, and looked around before inviting himself into a seat. "Though the help here hasn't been the same since that one lady quit, or was fired, or whatever."
"Hello." Eva said, handing Stephan a sheet of paper. "Ok, so Redox reactions, right?"
An intense-looking young man was sitting alone in a rear booth, with his back to the wall. Dividing his attention between his food and the front door, he stared searchingly whenever anyone passed by the booth.
Mandy waved to Mr Intenso.
Warren waved at Intenseman on his way past. "I know I have a nice package, you don't have to stare at it."
Stephan blinked at the sheet of paper. "Yeah, obviously."
The young man did not wave back, and make a show of ignoring Warren.
"I really hate it when strange men stare at my balls," Warren added to Lizzie.
"Oxidation... that's when a molecule loses an electron. Reduction is when it gains one. How is Reduction gaining something?" Eva looked frustrated, and set her paper down.
Lizzie blinked. "Wow... ball starer. Yeah, I hate that too."
"Well, where's it gainign one from?" Stephan asked. "Something's being reduced ... the pool of free electrons, maybe?"
Mandy walked over to the guy, and sat beside him.
Nica followed Mandy with her eyes. "Okay, hon, I'll just hold down the table," she said.
Finishing the meal, the guy made his way to the counter, paid his bill and left. He did not look back.
"Maybe he's gay?" Nica tried.
"Oh, okay." Eva said "Reduction is referring to a reducing agent..." She nodded, and started writing something "That makes more sense- I think I might understand this a little better" She had been so interested in her work, she wasn't really paying attention to anyone else.
"It's because of me." Mandy said "I didn't use Sure today, and he could tell."
Lizzie glanced through her menu.
"So what do you want to eat?" Warren asked.
"Free radicals, of course!" Eva smiled "I.. ok, I can see why I have to learn this now. Stephan, you are smart! Thanks!"
Stephan shrugged. "Yeah, glad I could help."
"Just give me another few minutes, and I should be done." Eva said
"I'm Sure you did," Nica said to Mandy. "Because you're still Powder Fresh."
Mandy glanced over to Katie for a moment, and frowned. "Yes... Powder Fresh." she took her seat again
Katie's cocoamancy came to an end when she decided to take a drink... winced, and put it back down. Still too hot.
"I'd love a steak - but are they too expensive?" Lizzie asked. Since Warren was treating tonight, she didn't want to order outside of his budget.
"Heya, Katie," Nica said. "You wanna come sit with us, or are you snagging some alone-time?"
"Ehhh... they're not too expensive, but the quality varies," Warren said. "So you might want to order it well-done."
"That's cool," Stephan said. He smiled and leaned backa little in his seat. This seemed like a pretty decent little diner.
"Alright- well-done steak and salad sounds good then," Lizzie said.
Katie looked up. "Hm? Oh... sure." She picked up her still-too-warm cocoa and headed on over.
"How're you tonight?" Nica asked with a smile.
"I saw one of my roommates tonight." Eva said, smiling "She lost her key, so I had to let her in. She won't say what happened though."
"Not bad... I'm just kinda in goth overload," Katie admitted. "Do you happen to know from Mr. Vito when it'll be safe for Tina to come outside again?"
Dot came in and settled at the booth the other guy had just left. She set her pack down on the table and pulled out a seed catalog.
"Huh ... well, it's good she madeit back, anyway," Stephan said.
Nica took out her cell phone. "One way to find out ... " She dialed.
"Vito? Yeah ... yeah, so, what's up with the lawyers from Hell? Can Tina go out and play, yet? ... Okay. Okay, thanks." Nica set her phone down. "Coast is clear, for now, he says. They probably won't mess with anybody for a while. So ... I could probably go pick her up at the club for ya."
"That'd be good... he's sure?" Katie asked.
"Yeah." Eva nodded "I was really worried about her. Now I just need Candy to return, and everything will be good again." Eva was glad not to be alone in her dorm room anymore
"He sounded pretty sue to me," Nica said. She took her car keys. "Okay ... back in a few." She ehadedoutsie to her car.
*headed outside
Katie peered out the window, and really hoped Vito was right.
Katie then looked over to Mandy.
Dot set aside the catalog and opened the menu instead.
"It's probably cool now." Mandy said
Lizzie waved to Dot after placing her order.
Warren ordered himself a double cheeseburger with fries, and settled in for a wait.
"Huh?" Katie glanced out the window again, then realized Mandy probably meant the cocoa, took a sip, and mentally agreed.
Dot waved to Lizzie, then carried on ordering.
"Quiet before the storm." Mandy said, quietly to herself. She didn't say anything else, and waited for Nica to return.
"It was a pretty good weekend, huh?" Lizzie said to Warren while they waited.
"Yeah, not too shabby," Warren agreed. "I've got the prototype almost ready, although it's a little tougher since I have to put much greater safety precautions in."
Dot finally decided on a huge mound of fries, while she figured out if she wanted anything else.
"Oh good," Lizzie said. "My main acomplishment other than spending time with you was to finish my Chemistry homework."
"Also important," Warren agreed.
"Ok, all done." Eva smiled "Hello, Stephan. How are you?"
Stephan laughed. "I'm good. Apparently I freed some radicals, or something."
"It is if I want to pass chemistry," Lizzie agreed. "Some of that stuff is hard."
"Yeah, heh. I don't give two craps about chemistry, but a basic understanding is necessary to build the really fun stuff," Warren said.
"I really don't want to talk about homework right now." Eva said "So, lets talk about something else."
"Technically, you could even build your own nuclear reactor if you had the right household components and didn't mind risking life and limb in the process," Warren said.
"Okay," Stephan said. "What's your favorite band?"
Nica's car screeched to a halt outside the diner.
She didn't seem stressed, she was just maybe driving a little faster than she needed to.
"Band?" asked Eva
Dot applied liberal amounts of pepper and ketchup to her fries.
"I know what a band is, but I don't have a favorite." Eva added
Katie peered outside at the screech noise.
Nica was getting out of the car, and she waved at Katie.
"Do you own any CDs or tapes?" Stephan asked.
Katie waved back.
Tina got out of the car, and looked around. Fresh air was nice.
Eva shook her head no.
Katie headed out to give Tina a hug.
" ... seriously? DId your parents ever play music around the house when you were a kid?" Stephan asked.
"I don't know what I could make with chemistry- well, maybe a bomb," Lizzie said, pondering.
Tina hugged the Katie, happily.
"No." Eva replied "They don't listen to music."
"Bombs, rockets, napalm, all the fun things involve an understanding of chemistry," Warren said.
"You're free!" Katie said.
"Yeah." Tina smiled "Vito said that it's safe for me to go out again, so maybe the lawyers just gave up."
Lizzie grinned. "See, you should teach me some of the fun stuff."
"Hope so," Katie said. "Or maybe they're busy hiding from their bosses for failing so hard."
Warren chuckled. "I could do that. Thermite's a fun one. Melts right through a car."
Dot sighed, and put the seed catalog away. Gathering her pack and her fries, she plopped herself down next to Lizzie. "Hi!"
"Maybe" Tina agreed
"That's just ... seriously?" Stephan asked again, and chuckled. "I can't even imagine that."
"Hey you," Lizzie said, smiling and making room for Dot.
"My Father is a druggest." Eva said "And Mother is a homemaker. They really don't like stuff like that."
"So what's up?" Dot nibbled idly on a fry.
Warren waved. "Hey. We're discussing explosives."
"Come on in... I'm sorry I didn't come to the club tonight, but I kinda hit goth overload, you know? If I see one more black spiderweb dress, I'm going to be sick," Katie said, and led the way inwards.
"I understand." Tina said, heading in
Dot nodded. "I'll just sit and listen then. I'm not very well-versed in blowing things up."
"I mean, even if you're still going to be living at the club, it's nice to not have to be there all night, you know?" Katie added, returning to her cocoa.
"Ever build your own flares?" Warren asked.
"Yeah." Tina said "I hope I find someplace else to live though." she waved to Lizzie and Warren
Dot shook her head. "Nope."
"I haven't," Lizzie said. "But it sounds fun!"
Warren noted a waver, and waved.
"Will you move in with someone?" Katie asked.
"I don't know." Tina said "I really don't have anyone, or... Maybe I can- I dunno. I need to figure those things out."
"You have me... but I don't think you could live at my house." Katie frowned.
"Your mom might not like that." Tina agreed. "I never had to live on my own before, but maybe I'll have to do that."
Lizzie waved back to Tina.
"Things like ... music?" Stephan still looked baffled.
"Um..." Katie frowned. "The goth club isn't a great place to stay, but being homeless is probably worse."
"Well, not homeless." Tina said "But maybe an apartment, or something, but I'd have to pay bills and rent, and I'd need t find a job to do that."
"Yeah." Eva said "It's not really a big deal."
"It's pretty entertaining. It's basically a careful chemical mixture for the majority, plus an ignition cap. If you do it properly, it burns for a long, long time. If you do it wrong, it explodes," Warren said.
"Want to sit with Warren and Lizzie?" asked Tina "Or do you just want to sit alone?"
"That's cool, though. I figured maybe you'd grown up on a farm, or something ... " STephan said.
Dot nodded. "I like science, but biology was my favorite."
"We could go over there, if you like," Katie said. "It's up to you."
"No." Eva smiled a little "I'm not a farm girl, but I like animals."
Lizzie collected her food when it arrived, and dug into her salad. "Science is alright- I'm more of an English person, though."
"I'm more of a Weird Science person," Warren said, munching a burger.
Tina settled for sitting in a booth near Lizzie, Warren, and Dot. That way they could talk, but they weren't all crowded together
"Hey guys," Lizzie said, waving a fork.
Dot caught the attention of the waitress and ordered a turkey sandwich and a little salad.
"Hi Lizzie" Tina smiled "Hiya Warren and Dot."
Dot waved to Katie and Tina.
Katie brought her cocoa and settled in with Tina. "Hi guys."
Nica resettled by Mandy, and ordered coffee.
"Hey there," Warren said, nodding his approval of their presence.
"Ok, Nica gave me twenty dollars." Tina said, to Katie "So, what do you want to eat?"
"That was nice of her... I suppose I'll have bacon and eggs. I like getting to eat breakfast things," Katie answered.
"How's everyone doing?" Lizzie said.
"Yeah, it was." Tina said "I'm really, really good. How are you?"
"I'm okay," Katie said.
Dot nodded, since she'd been caught mid-fry.
"Pretty happy," Lizzie said. "It's been a good weekend."
"What kind of music do you like?" asked Eva, to Stephan
"Mostly classic rock," Stephan said. "Some newer stuff, but mostly 60's and 70's rock."
"I have no idea about any of that." Eva said
Lizzie munched a piece of steak, and mmmed. "This is actually pretty good."
"Good. Sometimes it isn't," Warren said.
Tina ordered a stack of pancakes for herself, and eggs and bacon for Katie.
"I'll make you a mix," Stephan said.
"A mix of what?" asked Eva
"So let's get back to this blowing things up through the power of chemistry," Lizzie said, waving a forkful at Warren. "I want to know the practical application of my boring homework."
Katie nodded thanks to Tina, and smiled. It was nice to be somewhere not-the-club with Tina again.
Dot sighed, and picked at her fries.
"Somngs," Stephan said. "Music. Some of my favorites."
"Well, if you understand chemical bonds and reactions, you can take advantage of them. You'll at least need to know basics -- like sodium + water = explosion.
"Isn't sodium salt though?" Lizzie asked, contemplating her glass of water and the salt shaker.
"Not in its pure metal form," Warren said. "Which is important, because elemental sodium is what burns when it gets wet. In fact, you have to keep it in oil at all times just so the water in the air doesn't set it off."
(Warning: Aus doesn't have a chemical engineering degree, and high school chemistry was a long time ago. So just tell the mun if Warren gets it wrong, because Warren -should- know better than the mun.)
"Oh wow," Lizzie said. "That's hardcore."
Dot blinked. "Really..."
"Ever hear the story of the kid who tried to steal some by putting it in a pants pocket?" Warren asked.
" ... ow," Nica winced.
"Sodium?" asked Tina
Lizzie winced. "I bet he didn't have a happy ending."
"No points for guessing what happened when the sweat from his leg contacted the sodium. His pants burst into flames, and he ended up severely burned," Warren said.
"Oh, that's awful," said Dot.
"Yeeeah. You really want to be careful with elemental sodium. Table salt isn't that great for your health either, but sodium is one of those convenient little things that is great for improvised fires specifically because of its tendency to go fwoom and boom." Warren grinned.
"Can you set table salt on fire?" Lizzie asked, pondering the shaker again.
"Typically... no." Warren chuckled.
Dot was listening very very closely.
"Want to know how to build a really simple firebomb?" Warren said, lowering his voice.
"Well... okay, not simple, but effective."
"Ooh, sure," Lizzie said, leaning in closer to listen.
Dot nodded, leaning in close.
Tina leaned to eavesdrop too
Nica wasn't talking, so she was probably eavesdropping.
"Okay. You know how oil floats on water, right?" Warren said.
Lizzie nodded. "Right."
Sitting at the bar, Adam overheard the conversation and turned his head to one side, having a better angle to hear as he smirked to himself.
"Well, here's what you do. You get a bottle - preferably a champagne bottle - one of those ones with the cork in it," Warren began.
Lizzie listened, intrigued.
"You empty it out entirely, and make damn sure it's completely dry inside, then you fill the very bottom with just a bit of oil," Warren continued.
"Then, you cut a chunk of sodium so that there's a groove in the center, and you tie a long segment of wire around it - then you carefully lower the sodium, still oily, into the bottle, so it can rest on the bottom. Now for the hard part," Warren continued.
"You get a small amount of wax, and you carefully melt it so that the molten wax goes directly into the bottle - ideally, without getting on the wire, either. Do this very slowly and carefully until the sodium is entirely covered by the wax plug, and let the wax solidify. On a side note, if you can make your own glass, this is much easier, but most people can't."
"That sounds complicated," Lizzie said. "What happens if you do it wrong?"
At the girl's question, Adam laughed under his breath. He knew the answer.
"Bad things." Warren chuckled. "Because after the wax solidifies, your next task is to add water to the bottle, followed by more oil."
"And then?" Lizzie asked. "Do you throw it at someone? Or light it on fire?"
"The water should set the sodium on fire if you throw it, right?" asked Tina
"Well, you remember that wire, right?" Warren said.
"What you do next is you carefully wrap the wire around the cork, then reseal the bottle. Now you've got yourself a bomb that goes off when someone, or better, something, pulls the cork out."
"Oh, I see- so they think it's a yummy bottle of celbration, and really it's a nasty bottle of death?" Lizzie asked.
"Precisely. Or, you could in turn attach the cork to something, so that when, say, a door is opened, or a tripline is triggered, it explodes. Either way, glass and fire and unpleasantness ensues." Warren chuckled.
Dot frowned. "I don't like that at all."
"And THAT is why you shouldn't try playing with chemistry," Warren warned.
"But it does make my homework more exciting," Lizzie said.
"Because there are many, many more dangerous things you can build with the right knowledge - and the right lack of common sense," Warren said.
"So, sending a few bottles of that to someone that deserved it..." Tina trailed off "But yeah, you gould really hurt yourself making that."
Katie was very quiet, because that didn't sound like something she'd ever want to try doing.
"Deserved it? Nobody deserves that," said Dot. She was actually starting to regret being social.
Warren shrugged. "Pretty much. Fuel-air explosives are another example of chemistry knowledge taken to its inevitable extreme."
Adam returned his attention to his drink, tossing back the remains of it then quickly getting the attention of the bartender for another.
"Very nasty in practice, but awesome to know for running a D&D game," Warren concluded.
Lizzie finished off her steak, and smiled. "Well, at least I know that understanding chemistry does have a practical application beyond stuff I have to do to pass my Junior year."
Dot shook her head. "I'll ..keep that in mind." Sighing, she looked around for her food. "Someone's not getting a good tip," she said.
Warren shrugged. "Hey, when you run regular campaigns where someone has 'detect magic', you learn an awful lot about mundane traps."
"I haven't played D&D in ages." Tina said
"That reminds me, I need to start a new campaign sometime," Warren added.
"I'd play if you do start one up," Lizzie said.
"I've never done anything like that," said Dot. "I don't really know too much about it."
"I'd play too." Tina said
"Well, basically, it's a thing in which you take on the role of a heroic type. Or anti-heroic, or whathaveyou. I've even run a few campaigns where the players played as the villians," Warren said.
"What's the point of being a villian?" Lizzie asked, curious. "Isn't it about slaying monsters and being heroic and all that?"
"Mostly. But sometimes people get sick of the villian always losing in fiction, or they want to play the bad guys for a change, or they just want to give taking over the world a try. Some heroic games end up going villainous when the heroes decide that maybe taking over IS the easiest way to solve their problems, and so forth," Warren replied.
"I like the idea of saving the world," said Dot.
Warren nodded. "Most people do. It's much more fun than reality that way."
"Sometimes, you become a villian, and you dont' even know it." Tina said
Warren nodded to Tina. "And sometimes, you might find yourself a pawn of a villian's schemes, even if you're not an evil person. But overcoming adversities like that is part of why some people play."
Adam overheard Warren's last statement let out a one breath laugh. Too True.
Tina nodded in agreement
"Well, I could give it a shot, I suppose. I don't have any idea how to play, though," said Dot.
Warren nodded. "I'll see if I can work up a campaign idea, let you know when to drop in."
Lizzie heard the laugh, and glanced over to see who was listening in.
She gave a polite nod of greeting to the person in question, though he was no one she'd seen before.
"I used to have books, and dice." Tina said "I guess I'm going to have to build my collection again..."
"2.0 or 2.5?" asked TIna
Since it seemed to have grown boring for the vampire, Adam paid his tab and headed out of the restaraunt.
"Did you see who it was?" Dot asked Lizzie. "Obviously he was listening.."
"Just some guy," Lizzie said. "He just left."
"Huh. Creepy," said Dot. "Okay, I'm gonna go up there and make that silly sandwich myself." Dot got up and went counterwards to find someone to pester.
"Depends on what everyone's more comfortable," Warren said, "though I'm fond of 2 plus some of the skills and powers rules, personally."
"The service here does kinda suck." Tina said "We ordered a while ago too. And, I like 2. 2.5 is just.. kinda weird, I think, but I can play it if people like it."
Dot went looking for a waitress or anybody that could actually help her get fed.
Meanwhile, the waitress borrowed Aus's munship long enough to drop Dot's food at her table, then headed off again.
Dot returned, happy to finally get to eat. "Still not getting a good tip, though", she said, between bites.
Lizzie stretched, and settled an arm around Warren in the process.
Warren chuckled. "Yeah. I wish that Kya chick still worked here."
"She was a good waitress," Lizzie agreed. "I wonder what ever hapened to her?"
"Did I know her? I think maybe I did. She was nice, right?" Dot asked.
Warren shrugged. "Beats me. I've seen her elsewhere a couple of times, including during the day, so she's not dead."
"She lost her job," Katie offered quietly.
"She did?" Dot frowned. "Well, maybe they need to get her back, because this ..this is lacking."
"Maybe after the vampire goes away." Mandy said. She'd been pretty quiet for most of the night.
"What vampire? We could get rid of a vampire, no problem," Warren said.
"Crazy lady that wants to use her to get her boyfriend back." Mandy said "Crazier than me, even."
Katie frowned.
"Vampires have relationship problems?" Lizzie asked. "That's somewhat disappointing."
"You'd think with all that eternal life they'd suss things out."
Dot kept her mouth shut, and just listened. She'd been working hard on gathering information before she reacted.
Tina noticed Katie's frown. "Are you okay?"
"That's all I know though." Mandy said "Sorry I'm not more help."
"Yeah..." Katie frowned. "But I think I know who that is."
"Is it someone they can find?" Tina asked "Well, I can help, right?
"... maybe." Katie didn't seem to like this topic.
"Oh..." Tina frowned. She didn't want to push Katie into talking about anything she wasn'e comfortable with.
"Well, we need our waitress back," Warren said. "That's all there is to it."
"Hm.. how do you propose we go about bringing her back?" Lizzie asked.
"You should probably see if she still wants to work here," Katie suggested, still a little on edge.
"Let's offer her more money," suggested Dot.
"Good plan. Who has more money?" Warren asked.
"Um. Not me. I still think it's a good idea," said Dot.
"If I had enough money to pay a waitress, I'd pay for a live-in one," Warren said.
"I guess we could find out where she lives, and tell her we really miss her waitressing," Lizzie said. "And find out who owns this place and ask them to try and get her back because she was the best waitress."
Warren nodded. "It's a possibility."
Katie eyed her unfinished eggs, and poked at them with a fork.
Dot yawned. "Okay, let's do that."
"We can work on it this week- it'll be like a project. A quest for better service," Lizzie said.
Warren grinned. "Sounds like a plan."
"Just tell me how I can help," said Dot.
"I'll help." Tina said "But I have to go before the club closes... so, I'll see you guys in school tomorrow."
"Alright..." Katie gave Tina a hug. "Is Nica giving you a ride back?"
"Uh..." Tina looked over, at the unmunned Nica. "I'd have to wake her up. Do you have a ride home? Maybe she can give you a ride."
"I..." Katie hesitated briefly. "I don't."
"Ok, then... Warren, do you live anywhere near Katie?" Tina asked "I'm trying to make sure we have rides."
"But for now, we should be getting on," Lizzie said, and looked to Warren. "Want to go back to my place?"
"Well -- I think we're going in the opposite direction," Warren said, chuckling. "Since I'm heading over to Lizzie's."
Dot hmmed. "Hey, we can always just get back to the Sunset and figure it out from there. Right?"
"Yeah." Tina woke Nica up "We need you to be a cab driver for us... sorry."
"What? Oh, no. I was going to call a real cab! I don't want to put anybody to any trouble!" Dot also wasn't too thrilled about riding anywhere with Nica, quite yet.
Nica was fine with it.
"We don't want you to get eaten." Tina said "And I'm supposed to be back.. now, so lets go."
"Okay. Thanks!" Dot left some money on the table for her food and headed out with everybody else.
Katie hesitated again before following.
Dot hung back a little bit, and muttered "I'm not sure if she's forgiven me yet. I don't want to annoy her again so soon," to Katie.
Lizzie got up to head on out with Warren.
Nica was too tired to care right now.
"Just leave the subject alone, and she'll be fine." Mandy said "You guys have to be nice to each other."
Dot nodded. "Sorry, I didn't know anybody else could hear me! I'm not being mean, I'm just worried about causing more problems." She sighed and kept walking.
"Just leave the subject alone." Mandy said "Try to be friends, because all of you are going to need each other."
Katie absently wondered where Drusilla was.
Drusilla was playing with Dolls, in Sunnydale, underground.
Where: Sid's
When: Sunday Night
Nica was chilling at Sid's, looking a bit less angsty. She was reading a history book.
Eva was at a booth, studying.
Katie was also lurking at Sid's, looking contemplatively into the froth of a hot cocoa as though attempting to divine the future.
Mandy was sitting by Nica.
Lizzie headed in to Sid's looking cheerful.
Warren followed, saying as he entered, "...and honestly, if I get too used to having a good cook in my basement I'll start getting ideas about locking her down there or something."
Stephan headed into the diner, got a quick look around and settled at Eva's booth. "Hi," he said.
"Well, she can come and live with me - I asked Kit, and he said okay," Lizzie said. "So if she wants to move in with me- if she's comfortable leaving the basement, she could be my roomie at the pool house."
"Sounds like a plan," Warren said, and looked around before inviting himself into a seat. "Though the help here hasn't been the same since that one lady quit, or was fired, or whatever."
"Hello." Eva said, handing Stephan a sheet of paper. "Ok, so Redox reactions, right?"
An intense-looking young man was sitting alone in a rear booth, with his back to the wall. Dividing his attention between his food and the front door, he stared searchingly whenever anyone passed by the booth.
Mandy waved to Mr Intenso.
Warren waved at Intenseman on his way past. "I know I have a nice package, you don't have to stare at it."
Stephan blinked at the sheet of paper. "Yeah, obviously."
The young man did not wave back, and make a show of ignoring Warren.
"I really hate it when strange men stare at my balls," Warren added to Lizzie.
"Oxidation... that's when a molecule loses an electron. Reduction is when it gains one. How is Reduction gaining something?" Eva looked frustrated, and set her paper down.
Lizzie blinked. "Wow... ball starer. Yeah, I hate that too."
"Well, where's it gainign one from?" Stephan asked. "Something's being reduced ... the pool of free electrons, maybe?"
Mandy walked over to the guy, and sat beside him.
Nica followed Mandy with her eyes. "Okay, hon, I'll just hold down the table," she said.
Finishing the meal, the guy made his way to the counter, paid his bill and left. He did not look back.
"Maybe he's gay?" Nica tried.
"Oh, okay." Eva said "Reduction is referring to a reducing agent..." She nodded, and started writing something "That makes more sense- I think I might understand this a little better" She had been so interested in her work, she wasn't really paying attention to anyone else.
"It's because of me." Mandy said "I didn't use Sure today, and he could tell."
Lizzie glanced through her menu.
"So what do you want to eat?" Warren asked.
"Free radicals, of course!" Eva smiled "I.. ok, I can see why I have to learn this now. Stephan, you are smart! Thanks!"
Stephan shrugged. "Yeah, glad I could help."
"Just give me another few minutes, and I should be done." Eva said
"I'm Sure you did," Nica said to Mandy. "Because you're still Powder Fresh."
Mandy glanced over to Katie for a moment, and frowned. "Yes... Powder Fresh." she took her seat again
Katie's cocoamancy came to an end when she decided to take a drink... winced, and put it back down. Still too hot.
"I'd love a steak - but are they too expensive?" Lizzie asked. Since Warren was treating tonight, she didn't want to order outside of his budget.
"Heya, Katie," Nica said. "You wanna come sit with us, or are you snagging some alone-time?"
"Ehhh... they're not too expensive, but the quality varies," Warren said. "So you might want to order it well-done."
"That's cool," Stephan said. He smiled and leaned backa little in his seat. This seemed like a pretty decent little diner.
"Alright- well-done steak and salad sounds good then," Lizzie said.
Katie looked up. "Hm? Oh... sure." She picked up her still-too-warm cocoa and headed on over.
"How're you tonight?" Nica asked with a smile.
"I saw one of my roommates tonight." Eva said, smiling "She lost her key, so I had to let her in. She won't say what happened though."
"Not bad... I'm just kinda in goth overload," Katie admitted. "Do you happen to know from Mr. Vito when it'll be safe for Tina to come outside again?"
Dot came in and settled at the booth the other guy had just left. She set her pack down on the table and pulled out a seed catalog.
"Huh ... well, it's good she madeit back, anyway," Stephan said.
Nica took out her cell phone. "One way to find out ... " She dialed.
"Vito? Yeah ... yeah, so, what's up with the lawyers from Hell? Can Tina go out and play, yet? ... Okay. Okay, thanks." Nica set her phone down. "Coast is clear, for now, he says. They probably won't mess with anybody for a while. So ... I could probably go pick her up at the club for ya."
"That'd be good... he's sure?" Katie asked.
"Yeah." Eva nodded "I was really worried about her. Now I just need Candy to return, and everything will be good again." Eva was glad not to be alone in her dorm room anymore
"He sounded pretty sue to me," Nica said. She took her car keys. "Okay ... back in a few." She ehadedoutsie to her car.
*headed outside
Katie peered out the window, and really hoped Vito was right.
Katie then looked over to Mandy.
Dot set aside the catalog and opened the menu instead.
"It's probably cool now." Mandy said
Lizzie waved to Dot after placing her order.
Warren ordered himself a double cheeseburger with fries, and settled in for a wait.
"Huh?" Katie glanced out the window again, then realized Mandy probably meant the cocoa, took a sip, and mentally agreed.
Dot waved to Lizzie, then carried on ordering.
"Quiet before the storm." Mandy said, quietly to herself. She didn't say anything else, and waited for Nica to return.
"It was a pretty good weekend, huh?" Lizzie said to Warren while they waited.
"Yeah, not too shabby," Warren agreed. "I've got the prototype almost ready, although it's a little tougher since I have to put much greater safety precautions in."
Dot finally decided on a huge mound of fries, while she figured out if she wanted anything else.
"Oh good," Lizzie said. "My main acomplishment other than spending time with you was to finish my Chemistry homework."
"Also important," Warren agreed.
"Ok, all done." Eva smiled "Hello, Stephan. How are you?"
Stephan laughed. "I'm good. Apparently I freed some radicals, or something."
"It is if I want to pass chemistry," Lizzie agreed. "Some of that stuff is hard."
"Yeah, heh. I don't give two craps about chemistry, but a basic understanding is necessary to build the really fun stuff," Warren said.
"I really don't want to talk about homework right now." Eva said "So, lets talk about something else."
"Technically, you could even build your own nuclear reactor if you had the right household components and didn't mind risking life and limb in the process," Warren said.
"Okay," Stephan said. "What's your favorite band?"
Nica's car screeched to a halt outside the diner.
She didn't seem stressed, she was just maybe driving a little faster than she needed to.
"Band?" asked Eva
Dot applied liberal amounts of pepper and ketchup to her fries.
"I know what a band is, but I don't have a favorite." Eva added
Katie peered outside at the screech noise.
Nica was getting out of the car, and she waved at Katie.
"Do you own any CDs or tapes?" Stephan asked.
Katie waved back.
Tina got out of the car, and looked around. Fresh air was nice.
Eva shook her head no.
Katie headed out to give Tina a hug.
" ... seriously? DId your parents ever play music around the house when you were a kid?" Stephan asked.
"I don't know what I could make with chemistry- well, maybe a bomb," Lizzie said, pondering.
Tina hugged the Katie, happily.
"No." Eva replied "They don't listen to music."
"Bombs, rockets, napalm, all the fun things involve an understanding of chemistry," Warren said.
"You're free!" Katie said.
"Yeah." Tina smiled "Vito said that it's safe for me to go out again, so maybe the lawyers just gave up."
Lizzie grinned. "See, you should teach me some of the fun stuff."
"Hope so," Katie said. "Or maybe they're busy hiding from their bosses for failing so hard."
Warren chuckled. "I could do that. Thermite's a fun one. Melts right through a car."
Dot sighed, and put the seed catalog away. Gathering her pack and her fries, she plopped herself down next to Lizzie. "Hi!"
"Maybe" Tina agreed
"That's just ... seriously?" Stephan asked again, and chuckled. "I can't even imagine that."
"Hey you," Lizzie said, smiling and making room for Dot.
"My Father is a druggest." Eva said "And Mother is a homemaker. They really don't like stuff like that."
"So what's up?" Dot nibbled idly on a fry.
Warren waved. "Hey. We're discussing explosives."
"Come on in... I'm sorry I didn't come to the club tonight, but I kinda hit goth overload, you know? If I see one more black spiderweb dress, I'm going to be sick," Katie said, and led the way inwards.
"I understand." Tina said, heading in
Dot nodded. "I'll just sit and listen then. I'm not very well-versed in blowing things up."
"I mean, even if you're still going to be living at the club, it's nice to not have to be there all night, you know?" Katie added, returning to her cocoa.
"Ever build your own flares?" Warren asked.
"Yeah." Tina said "I hope I find someplace else to live though." she waved to Lizzie and Warren
Dot shook her head. "Nope."
"I haven't," Lizzie said. "But it sounds fun!"
Warren noted a waver, and waved.
"Will you move in with someone?" Katie asked.
"I don't know." Tina said "I really don't have anyone, or... Maybe I can- I dunno. I need to figure those things out."
"You have me... but I don't think you could live at my house." Katie frowned.
"Your mom might not like that." Tina agreed. "I never had to live on my own before, but maybe I'll have to do that."
Lizzie waved back to Tina.
"Things like ... music?" Stephan still looked baffled.
"Um..." Katie frowned. "The goth club isn't a great place to stay, but being homeless is probably worse."
"Well, not homeless." Tina said "But maybe an apartment, or something, but I'd have to pay bills and rent, and I'd need t find a job to do that."
"Yeah." Eva said "It's not really a big deal."
"It's pretty entertaining. It's basically a careful chemical mixture for the majority, plus an ignition cap. If you do it properly, it burns for a long, long time. If you do it wrong, it explodes," Warren said.
"Want to sit with Warren and Lizzie?" asked Tina "Or do you just want to sit alone?"
"That's cool, though. I figured maybe you'd grown up on a farm, or something ... " STephan said.
Dot nodded. "I like science, but biology was my favorite."
"We could go over there, if you like," Katie said. "It's up to you."
"No." Eva smiled a little "I'm not a farm girl, but I like animals."
Lizzie collected her food when it arrived, and dug into her salad. "Science is alright- I'm more of an English person, though."
"I'm more of a Weird Science person," Warren said, munching a burger.
Tina settled for sitting in a booth near Lizzie, Warren, and Dot. That way they could talk, but they weren't all crowded together
"Hey guys," Lizzie said, waving a fork.
Dot caught the attention of the waitress and ordered a turkey sandwich and a little salad.
"Hi Lizzie" Tina smiled "Hiya Warren and Dot."
Dot waved to Katie and Tina.
Katie brought her cocoa and settled in with Tina. "Hi guys."
Nica resettled by Mandy, and ordered coffee.
"Hey there," Warren said, nodding his approval of their presence.
"Ok, Nica gave me twenty dollars." Tina said, to Katie "So, what do you want to eat?"
"That was nice of her... I suppose I'll have bacon and eggs. I like getting to eat breakfast things," Katie answered.
"How's everyone doing?" Lizzie said.
"Yeah, it was." Tina said "I'm really, really good. How are you?"
"I'm okay," Katie said.
Dot nodded, since she'd been caught mid-fry.
"Pretty happy," Lizzie said. "It's been a good weekend."
"What kind of music do you like?" asked Eva, to Stephan
"Mostly classic rock," Stephan said. "Some newer stuff, but mostly 60's and 70's rock."
"I have no idea about any of that." Eva said
Lizzie munched a piece of steak, and mmmed. "This is actually pretty good."
"Good. Sometimes it isn't," Warren said.
Tina ordered a stack of pancakes for herself, and eggs and bacon for Katie.
"I'll make you a mix," Stephan said.
"A mix of what?" asked Eva
"So let's get back to this blowing things up through the power of chemistry," Lizzie said, waving a forkful at Warren. "I want to know the practical application of my boring homework."
Katie nodded thanks to Tina, and smiled. It was nice to be somewhere not-the-club with Tina again.
Dot sighed, and picked at her fries.
"Somngs," Stephan said. "Music. Some of my favorites."
"Well, if you understand chemical bonds and reactions, you can take advantage of them. You'll at least need to know basics -- like sodium + water = explosion.
"Isn't sodium salt though?" Lizzie asked, contemplating her glass of water and the salt shaker.
"Not in its pure metal form," Warren said. "Which is important, because elemental sodium is what burns when it gets wet. In fact, you have to keep it in oil at all times just so the water in the air doesn't set it off."
(Warning: Aus doesn't have a chemical engineering degree, and high school chemistry was a long time ago. So just tell the mun if Warren gets it wrong, because Warren -should- know better than the mun.)
"Oh wow," Lizzie said. "That's hardcore."
Dot blinked. "Really..."
"Ever hear the story of the kid who tried to steal some by putting it in a pants pocket?" Warren asked.
" ... ow," Nica winced.
"Sodium?" asked Tina
Lizzie winced. "I bet he didn't have a happy ending."
"No points for guessing what happened when the sweat from his leg contacted the sodium. His pants burst into flames, and he ended up severely burned," Warren said.
"Oh, that's awful," said Dot.
"Yeeeah. You really want to be careful with elemental sodium. Table salt isn't that great for your health either, but sodium is one of those convenient little things that is great for improvised fires specifically because of its tendency to go fwoom and boom." Warren grinned.
"Can you set table salt on fire?" Lizzie asked, pondering the shaker again.
"Typically... no." Warren chuckled.
Dot was listening very very closely.
"Want to know how to build a really simple firebomb?" Warren said, lowering his voice.
"Well... okay, not simple, but effective."
"Ooh, sure," Lizzie said, leaning in closer to listen.
Dot nodded, leaning in close.
Tina leaned to eavesdrop too
Nica wasn't talking, so she was probably eavesdropping.
"Okay. You know how oil floats on water, right?" Warren said.
Lizzie nodded. "Right."
Sitting at the bar, Adam overheard the conversation and turned his head to one side, having a better angle to hear as he smirked to himself.
"Well, here's what you do. You get a bottle - preferably a champagne bottle - one of those ones with the cork in it," Warren began.
Lizzie listened, intrigued.
"You empty it out entirely, and make damn sure it's completely dry inside, then you fill the very bottom with just a bit of oil," Warren continued.
"Then, you cut a chunk of sodium so that there's a groove in the center, and you tie a long segment of wire around it - then you carefully lower the sodium, still oily, into the bottle, so it can rest on the bottom. Now for the hard part," Warren continued.
"You get a small amount of wax, and you carefully melt it so that the molten wax goes directly into the bottle - ideally, without getting on the wire, either. Do this very slowly and carefully until the sodium is entirely covered by the wax plug, and let the wax solidify. On a side note, if you can make your own glass, this is much easier, but most people can't."
"That sounds complicated," Lizzie said. "What happens if you do it wrong?"
At the girl's question, Adam laughed under his breath. He knew the answer.
"Bad things." Warren chuckled. "Because after the wax solidifies, your next task is to add water to the bottle, followed by more oil."
"And then?" Lizzie asked. "Do you throw it at someone? Or light it on fire?"
"The water should set the sodium on fire if you throw it, right?" asked Tina
"Well, you remember that wire, right?" Warren said.
"What you do next is you carefully wrap the wire around the cork, then reseal the bottle. Now you've got yourself a bomb that goes off when someone, or better, something, pulls the cork out."
"Oh, I see- so they think it's a yummy bottle of celbration, and really it's a nasty bottle of death?" Lizzie asked.
"Precisely. Or, you could in turn attach the cork to something, so that when, say, a door is opened, or a tripline is triggered, it explodes. Either way, glass and fire and unpleasantness ensues." Warren chuckled.
Dot frowned. "I don't like that at all."
"And THAT is why you shouldn't try playing with chemistry," Warren warned.
"But it does make my homework more exciting," Lizzie said.
"Because there are many, many more dangerous things you can build with the right knowledge - and the right lack of common sense," Warren said.
"So, sending a few bottles of that to someone that deserved it..." Tina trailed off "But yeah, you gould really hurt yourself making that."
Katie was very quiet, because that didn't sound like something she'd ever want to try doing.
"Deserved it? Nobody deserves that," said Dot. She was actually starting to regret being social.
Warren shrugged. "Pretty much. Fuel-air explosives are another example of chemistry knowledge taken to its inevitable extreme."
Adam returned his attention to his drink, tossing back the remains of it then quickly getting the attention of the bartender for another.
"Very nasty in practice, but awesome to know for running a D&D game," Warren concluded.
Lizzie finished off her steak, and smiled. "Well, at least I know that understanding chemistry does have a practical application beyond stuff I have to do to pass my Junior year."
Dot shook her head. "I'll ..keep that in mind." Sighing, she looked around for her food. "Someone's not getting a good tip," she said.
Warren shrugged. "Hey, when you run regular campaigns where someone has 'detect magic', you learn an awful lot about mundane traps."
"I haven't played D&D in ages." Tina said
"That reminds me, I need to start a new campaign sometime," Warren added.
"I'd play if you do start one up," Lizzie said.
"I've never done anything like that," said Dot. "I don't really know too much about it."
"I'd play too." Tina said
"Well, basically, it's a thing in which you take on the role of a heroic type. Or anti-heroic, or whathaveyou. I've even run a few campaigns where the players played as the villians," Warren said.
"What's the point of being a villian?" Lizzie asked, curious. "Isn't it about slaying monsters and being heroic and all that?"
"Mostly. But sometimes people get sick of the villian always losing in fiction, or they want to play the bad guys for a change, or they just want to give taking over the world a try. Some heroic games end up going villainous when the heroes decide that maybe taking over IS the easiest way to solve their problems, and so forth," Warren replied.
"I like the idea of saving the world," said Dot.
Warren nodded. "Most people do. It's much more fun than reality that way."
"Sometimes, you become a villian, and you dont' even know it." Tina said
Warren nodded to Tina. "And sometimes, you might find yourself a pawn of a villian's schemes, even if you're not an evil person. But overcoming adversities like that is part of why some people play."
Adam overheard Warren's last statement let out a one breath laugh. Too True.
Tina nodded in agreement
"Well, I could give it a shot, I suppose. I don't have any idea how to play, though," said Dot.
Warren nodded. "I'll see if I can work up a campaign idea, let you know when to drop in."
Lizzie heard the laugh, and glanced over to see who was listening in.
She gave a polite nod of greeting to the person in question, though he was no one she'd seen before.
"I used to have books, and dice." Tina said "I guess I'm going to have to build my collection again..."
"2.0 or 2.5?" asked TIna
Since it seemed to have grown boring for the vampire, Adam paid his tab and headed out of the restaraunt.
"Did you see who it was?" Dot asked Lizzie. "Obviously he was listening.."
"Just some guy," Lizzie said. "He just left."
"Huh. Creepy," said Dot. "Okay, I'm gonna go up there and make that silly sandwich myself." Dot got up and went counterwards to find someone to pester.
"Depends on what everyone's more comfortable," Warren said, "though I'm fond of 2 plus some of the skills and powers rules, personally."
"The service here does kinda suck." Tina said "We ordered a while ago too. And, I like 2. 2.5 is just.. kinda weird, I think, but I can play it if people like it."
Dot went looking for a waitress or anybody that could actually help her get fed.
Meanwhile, the waitress borrowed Aus's munship long enough to drop Dot's food at her table, then headed off again.
Dot returned, happy to finally get to eat. "Still not getting a good tip, though", she said, between bites.
Lizzie stretched, and settled an arm around Warren in the process.
Warren chuckled. "Yeah. I wish that Kya chick still worked here."
"She was a good waitress," Lizzie agreed. "I wonder what ever hapened to her?"
"Did I know her? I think maybe I did. She was nice, right?" Dot asked.
Warren shrugged. "Beats me. I've seen her elsewhere a couple of times, including during the day, so she's not dead."
"She lost her job," Katie offered quietly.
"She did?" Dot frowned. "Well, maybe they need to get her back, because this ..this is lacking."
"Maybe after the vampire goes away." Mandy said. She'd been pretty quiet for most of the night.
"What vampire? We could get rid of a vampire, no problem," Warren said.
"Crazy lady that wants to use her to get her boyfriend back." Mandy said "Crazier than me, even."
Katie frowned.
"Vampires have relationship problems?" Lizzie asked. "That's somewhat disappointing."
"You'd think with all that eternal life they'd suss things out."
Dot kept her mouth shut, and just listened. She'd been working hard on gathering information before she reacted.
Tina noticed Katie's frown. "Are you okay?"
"That's all I know though." Mandy said "Sorry I'm not more help."
"Yeah..." Katie frowned. "But I think I know who that is."
"Is it someone they can find?" Tina asked "Well, I can help, right?
"... maybe." Katie didn't seem to like this topic.
"Oh..." Tina frowned. She didn't want to push Katie into talking about anything she wasn'e comfortable with.
"Well, we need our waitress back," Warren said. "That's all there is to it."
"Hm.. how do you propose we go about bringing her back?" Lizzie asked.
"You should probably see if she still wants to work here," Katie suggested, still a little on edge.
"Let's offer her more money," suggested Dot.
"Good plan. Who has more money?" Warren asked.
"Um. Not me. I still think it's a good idea," said Dot.
"If I had enough money to pay a waitress, I'd pay for a live-in one," Warren said.
"I guess we could find out where she lives, and tell her we really miss her waitressing," Lizzie said. "And find out who owns this place and ask them to try and get her back because she was the best waitress."
Warren nodded. "It's a possibility."
Katie eyed her unfinished eggs, and poked at them with a fork.
Dot yawned. "Okay, let's do that."
"We can work on it this week- it'll be like a project. A quest for better service," Lizzie said.
Warren grinned. "Sounds like a plan."
"Just tell me how I can help," said Dot.
"I'll help." Tina said "But I have to go before the club closes... so, I'll see you guys in school tomorrow."
"Alright..." Katie gave Tina a hug. "Is Nica giving you a ride back?"
"Uh..." Tina looked over, at the unmunned Nica. "I'd have to wake her up. Do you have a ride home? Maybe she can give you a ride."
"I..." Katie hesitated briefly. "I don't."
"Ok, then... Warren, do you live anywhere near Katie?" Tina asked "I'm trying to make sure we have rides."
"But for now, we should be getting on," Lizzie said, and looked to Warren. "Want to go back to my place?"
"Well -- I think we're going in the opposite direction," Warren said, chuckling. "Since I'm heading over to Lizzie's."
Dot hmmed. "Hey, we can always just get back to the Sunset and figure it out from there. Right?"
"Yeah." Tina woke Nica up "We need you to be a cab driver for us... sorry."
"What? Oh, no. I was going to call a real cab! I don't want to put anybody to any trouble!" Dot also wasn't too thrilled about riding anywhere with Nica, quite yet.
Nica was fine with it.
"We don't want you to get eaten." Tina said "And I'm supposed to be back.. now, so lets go."
"Okay. Thanks!" Dot left some money on the table for her food and headed out with everybody else.
Katie hesitated again before following.
Dot hung back a little bit, and muttered "I'm not sure if she's forgiven me yet. I don't want to annoy her again so soon," to Katie.
Lizzie got up to head on out with Warren.
Nica was too tired to care right now.
"Just leave the subject alone, and she'll be fine." Mandy said "You guys have to be nice to each other."
Dot nodded. "Sorry, I didn't know anybody else could hear me! I'm not being mean, I'm just worried about causing more problems." She sighed and kept walking.
"Just leave the subject alone." Mandy said "Try to be friends, because all of you are going to need each other."
Katie absently wondered where Drusilla was.
Drusilla was playing with Dolls, in Sunnydale, underground.