Going Shopping

Jezreel finishes her conversation with Damien, even remembering to politely say goodbye before hanging up. Then she bounds back down the stairs. "Okay," she tells Fury while still gasping for breath. "Damien'll be there. Darla had already been planning on taking him."

"So, what's next?"

"I was planning to go buy some snacks for the meeting," says Dodai, "But, I'm sure that there's something better you all could do."

"Grocery Shopping?" Jezreel asks with the same obvious enthusiasm most human girls her age would reserve for a trip to the mall. "Can we go to the big store with all the weird foods?"

"Fiesta," Dodai explains for Fury's benefit.

(Charybdis)
(OOC: At least it's Fiesta in Texas. That's probably a local chain, so feel free to substitute whatever the equivalent store would be in Canada... It's a large scale supermarket that specializes in exotic and ethnic foods, so you never know what neat things you will find there. Fiesta started out catering to the Mexican palate, but they also carry Jewish foods, soul food, Chinese foods, Korean foods, etc... You can find anything from flan to pig's feet to hunan sauce...)

"Yeah," Jezreel confirms, "Fiesta. They have all the neatest foods," she explains. "The last time we were there, Mom let me get a starfruit. And the time before that a pomegranate. And they have a fantastic bakery..." Her enthusiasm is almost contagious.

"I'd love to!" Fury says, then frowns. "...but I dunno if all of us will -fit- on my motorcycle..."

(Charybdis)
OOC: Perry -- So, what kind of car does Dodai drive? :)

Well, unless something previously written makes this moot . . . A station wagon. Not quite as "mother" as a minivan, but with only a single child, the station wagon just . . . made more sense.

"Well, I wasn't really planning on making an outing of it," Dodai say with a friendly smile, "But if everyone really wants to come along, then we could take my car."

"Cool!" Jezreel says. "I get to sit in the way back!"

"Only if you fold out the seat and put on your seat belt," Dodai says.

"But that takes all the fun out of it," Jezreel protests.

"Jezreel..." Dodai says once in a tone that makes it clear that the matter is closed.

Jezreel sighs, but says, "Oh, alright..."

Not one to let little things bother her for very long, the teenaged Seraph turns to Fury, "They've got the neatest video games at the front too. I'll show them to you when we get there." With that she grabs her dropped backpack and dart for the door. "Coming?" she asks.

"I'm right behind ya, kiddo."

"Shoes, Jezreel," Dodai reminds her exuberant daughter. "You have to wear them at the supermarket..."

"When we get there," Jezreel counters. Hoisting up her backpack, she adds, "They're in my bag... You won't have to remind me, I promise. I remember what happened last time..."

Dodai shakes her head and rolls her eyes heavenwards, but then she gives Jezreel a fond smile and says, "Alright, when we get there -- before you get out of the car."

"Thanks, Mom," Jezreel says and opens the door.

"It's no big deal," Fury says with a shrug. "If it's all the same to you, I'll follow you."

After Dodai's grabbed her purse, everyone's in their respective vehicles, and they're all well on your way . . . they get there.

True to her word, Jezreel reluctantly pulls her shoes from her backpack and makes a show of putting them on before she climbs out of the car to go to the store.

It's a bright morning in Vancouver, though this is sure to change at the day wears on (the brightness, not just the morning). After crossing the sweet-smelling parking lot, passing by the floral displays outside, they pass through the automatic doors and into the store.

It's pleaseantly busy, without a large glut of customers, but not too few either. Just right number, perhaps. The rows and rows of aisles greet them, as do the proud movie displays to the right and the video games to the left. Galaxan, Ms. Pacman, SpyHunter and others flash brightly upon their entrance.

[Dodai]
"I'm going to brouse the produce." She looks to Jezreel to see what she's doing.

Jezreel glances back and forth between the video games and the distant produce aisle, torn. Tough choice, here... Indulge in one of her favorite pastimes or seek out new pleasures?

Then Jezreel decides that she can let the normal hassle of etiquette be a guide to her here. "Want to play a round?" The young Seraph asks Fury, jingling the coins in her bag to let Fury know the game is on her. "Or would you rather have me show you around?"

The Ofanite smiles. "Why don't I watch you play? I'll get the hang of it that way. Maybe I'll play a round when you're done."

She leans up against one of the machines. "It ought to make a good contrast to what we've been doing today."

"Okay," Jezreel says, easily persuaded. Pulling a couple of quarters out of her bag, she slides them into the coin slot for whatever the newest, hottest game is. Throwing myself into the game, I pretty much tune Fury out as I do my best to beat the game.

OOC: Perry -- wanna roll for me on my Arcade Games skill? (Skill of 2, Precision of 8, TN = 10)

[Pewwy]
Sure thing! This'll be a series of rolls, starting at easy (+2) then we make our way to hard (-2) and very hard (-3) like this:
+2, +1, +/-0, -1, -2, -3, -3 to actually *beat* the game. :)

TN=12 6, 3, CD4
TN=11 6, 1, CD4
TN=10 2, 5, CD6
ok, b/c of the CD 6, your next roll will receive a +1
TN=10 3, 5, CD4
TN= 8 3, 2, CD3
TN= 7 5, 6, CD3 FAILURE

OOC: Coolies! That means I get an Essence point! (I did succeed at 3 precision-based skills in a row, even if I didn't beat the game... ) Actually, I don't remember whether or not I spent any... Wait! Yes, I did. I spent it to impress the vampire guy at the end there... Cool... I get some back, and I wasn't even really trying... :)

[Perry]
Which makes sense, if you think about it. Of course, I believe that that Rite is geared more towards the Precision based rolls which be involved in creating something carefully. Whatever. :)

[Jezreel]
OOC: Your call, Perry. It doesn't really matter to me either way. Gaining Essence wasn't why Jezreel decided to play or why I had her do it... I only really remember the whole Precision thing because I was looking up some information on Eli for a game I'm planning to try running live... So, no biggie either way...

[Perry] No! No! Yes! Yes! Of _course_ she gains Essence!! She completed a Rite! It's okay! If you'll note, in You Are Here, a Creationer owns his own arcade, and gee, I *wonder why* :)

<deep impressive voice> THE ESSENCE IS YOURS. CLAIM IT AS YOUR OWN. </deep impressive voice>

[IC] (feel free to embellish)
Jezreel plays passionately, throwing herself into the game! Joystick appears almost a blur to the unfamilar eye, the sound of clicking buttons a cacophony of noice.

This game is awesome, and Jezreel throws herself into it whole-heartedly. The game is new, so she hasn't quite had time to learn the ins and outs, so playing takes her full concentration. Grinning like a madman, the Creationist has to admire the incredible graphics and the sheer ingenuity of the designers... And for a few minutes the fledgling Seraph forgets that Fury is there watching. To be honest, she completely forgets about the shopping trip, her Assignment, even the War altogether. Her whole being seems tied to the artificial reality of the flashing lights. At some point in the midst of heavy play, the glow of Essence infuses her soul, which only adds to the excitement and sheer joy.

Unfortunately, *just* before the last level, the sheer number of obstacles becomes too great, even for Jezreel's trained abilities. Crash and burn; last life lost.

As she loses her last man, Jezreel looks up from the machine, blinking and sighs. "This one's a little tough," she confesses, as she slowly remembers that Fury is there watching. "I haven't figured out how in Heaven's name you're supposed to beat that last level. It's just so amazingly fast... And the traps and assaults change every time. But it's lots of fun! Wanna try?"

"Sure, I'll give it a spin," says the Ofanite, stepping up to the machine. "Um... do you have a quarter? All I have are twenties... and they're US dollars." Once she gets the game going, Fury plays for all she's worth... reflexes? Where we're going, we don't -need- reflexes...

[OOC: You've given me the idea for a character. Watch for it on the IN list... <:)

[IC]
"Sure thing," Jezreel says, fishing out one of her many quarters and handing it over to Fury. She watches with interest to see how Fury does, part of her feeling that an Ofanite might have an easier time with that last fast level...

[Perry OOC: Which Fury might, if she used her resonance . . .]

[OOC: Oh, right, I have to /use/ that, don't I?]

This'll be a series of rolls, starting at easy (+2) then we make our way to hard (-2) and very hard (-3) like this:,br> +2, +1, +/-0, -1, -2, -3, -3 to actually *beat* the game. :)

no skill, Precision-2 is the default

TN=5+2=7 : 6, 5, CD4

[IC]
Fury begins play, only to lose in the first five minutes . . . not as easy at Jezreel made it look!

Fury grrs at the game and glances at Jezreel questioningly. "Have another? I really need to start carrying change."

Jezreel grins at Fury. "Sure," she says, as she fished out another quarter. Told you it was a little tough," she says, though there's really no gloating in her tone. "But it *is* fun, isn't it?"

[OOC: This time I'll use resonance first. ;)]

[OOC: Sure, resonance TN=7, <clatter of dice> 5, 2, CD5 and I see the Ofanite resonance as being activated for a short period of time, rather than for only the very next skill roll, so this'll apply to the entire game. :)

This'll be a series of rolls, starting at easy (+2) then we make our way to hard (-2) and very hard (-3) like this:
+2, +1, +/-0, -1, -2, -3, -3 to actually *beat* the game. :)

TN=7-2+2+5=12 <clatter of dice> 1, 6, CD1
TN=7-2+1+5=11 <clatter of dice> 3, 3, CD5
TN=7-2+0+5=10 <clatter of dice> 4, 6, CD6 => +1 to next roll TN=7-2+0+5=10 <clatter of dice> 1, 5, CD4
TN=7-2-2+5=8 <clatter of dice> 6, 3, CD4 FAILURE

OOC: I'll accept the failure, but I gotta nitpick:
You forgot the -1 level. I'd have succeeded if that had been the penalty.

Level 4 is the -1 level, and that -1 was canceled out by the +1 to lvl four you received from your CD6 in Level 3.

So, that's how that worked out.

And if you want to try again, I'm sure Fury can get more quarters. :)

[IC]
As Fury begins to play, her quick movements become slightly blurred in space as her Resonance takes effect. It's almost as though her entire body is vibrating slightly.

Unfortunately, raw speed and reflexes are not enough to overcome a lack of familiarity with the game, and Fury's game comes to end on the fifth level, not even making it as far as Jezreel.

Watching the game with real admiration, Jezreel nods as Fury finishes the game. "Much better this time," she says. "You've almost beat it... It's taken me almost a week to get this far..."

Fury grins. "Nothing beats practice and dedication." She looks around. "You wanna play again? Or should we go find your Mom?"

"Let's try just one more game," Jezreel suggests hopefully, "Head to head?" She pulls out two more quarters and offers them to you...

Fury laughs. "Sure, why not?" She plugs the quarters in and moves over to Player Two.

Grinning with obvious enthusiasm, Jezreel hits the start button... "Good luck," she says, politely.

"And to you," the Ofanite replies with uncharacteristic politeness, and then the match begins.

[OOC: Perry, Resonance again?]

Jezreel OOC: And I'll just take my usual skill roll... Arcade Games: 2 [based on Precision, base TN=10]

[OOC: HEAD-TO-HEAD God peers down at the two angels, Lucifer looks on from below. God hits Lucifer in the shoulder and tells him to mind his own damn business.

This will be a series of contexts of skill, divided into three levels, once for each life of the character in the game. (I assume this is a fighting or racing game of some sort - we haven't specified.)

[Charybdis OOC: For some reason I had thought it was a space, flying sort of game... But looking through the backlogs, I can't find any evidence to that effect, so I don't know *why* I thought that...]

[OOC: I hadn't really thought about what it was, I just figured Jezreel'd describe it and then we'd know. <laugh> But, yeah, I was thinking some sort of "flying around and shooting things", game]

OOC: So I guess it is, then :)

Each level is divided into three contests of skill. Whomever wins two out of the three (or all three) of these contests wins the level, winning two out the three levels wins the game.

Please, please please, provide what dialogue, if any, occurs between your characters throughout the game. :)

And yes, you /can/ spend Essence to alter any rolls, in this case, that buys you a REroll with a +1 to you roll. (except Fury's resonance roll, you already had a chance to boost it)

(Chris OOC: I'll lay off the Essence; I'm already raising my odds. ;) [Jezreel]
OOC: Nope, not here. Jezreel would think it a bit frivolous to spend Essence just to win a game. I mean, she's feeling like she should be saving it for more important things now that she has an actual Assignment. And besides, wouldn't that be like cheating? <g>

Fury's resonance roll TN=7 : 6, 1, CD3 => +3 to skill for the game. (Oooh, close one. You should probably raise that Perception, Chris)

[Chris OOC: I would, if I had the XP. ;) As it is, I don't think I'm using Perception enough to warrant boosting it.]

Fury's Skill rolls use TN=7-2+3=8
Jezreel's Skill rolls use TN=8+2=10

Level One : Sticks and Stones

Fury : 5,6, CD2 FAIL
Jezreel : 6,3, CD5      Jezreel wins
Fury : 2, 3, CD6
Jezreel : 3, 6, CD3      Fury wins
Fury : 2, 2, CD1
Jezreel : 1, 1, CD6      Jezreel wins

[Fury]
"This game is tougher with a ..." She stops to think for a moment, which costs her points as well. "...a live opponent."

"Yes," Jezreel admits, "But it's more... fun... this way... Watch out for the..." She cuts herself off as she realizes her warning to Fury is too late...

Level Two : Bad Blood

Fury : 6, 4, CD4 FAIL
Jezreel : 3, 6, CD2      Jezreel wins
Fury : 2, 1, CD3
Jezreel : 5, 5, CD6      Jezreel wins
Fury : 3, 5, CD3
Jezreel : 6, 6, CD3 FAIL Fury wins

Fury winces sympathetically, but doesn't say a word.

Catching Fury's wince in her peripheral vision, Jezreel shrugs. "Never can seem... to get... that one..."

Level Three : Winner Take All
Fury : 6, 1, CD2
Jezreel : 6, 4, CD5      Jezreel wins
Fury : 4, 1, CD4
Jezreel : 1, 4, CD1      Fury wins
Fury : 4, 4, CD2
Jezreel : 1, 2, CD4      Jezreel wins

And Jezreel takes the match; of course, this is hardly surprising.]

The tall angel shoves back on the controls in mock disgust, grinning slightly. "Good game, even if you did kick my ass." *beat* "Can I say that?"

Grinning with the excitement of the game and the win, Jezreel doesn't quite react to Fury's words until the other angel asks about them. Then, her expression sobers as she considers them quite seriously. "It's not True," she says at first, as if that were all the answer needed in the world.

Then, after a brief moment's reflection, Jezreel adds, "But it's intended as a figure of speech, isn't it? Rather than literally?" Dodai's been trying to teach her about idioms without much success.

[Fury]
"Yeah. It means you beat me pretty soundly."

Assuming that Fury confirms this somehow, Jezreel thinks about it some more and then shakes her head. "It's still not True," she says emphatically. "The expression assumes a fairly one-sided victory, and that wasn't the case. It was a very close game, much more of a challenge than I usually have with other opponents. You beat me in one round at each level..."

Fury grins. "It was still pretty one-sided, if you ask me."

"It was a good game, Fury, thank you..." Jezreel says, grinning again.

[Fury]
"Thank -you-."

"I suppose we really should go and find Mom now," the young Seraph says, changing the subject after a moment. "If we don't, she'll buy all *boring* foods..."

"Besides, the last time that Uncle Eli was here, he gave me the recipe for what he says is the best strawberry, rhu-barb pie in the world." Jezreel stumbles over the obviously unfamiliar word 'rhubarb'. "And even though I normally don't do much baking, Uncle Eli usually has a reason when he makes suggestions like that." She shrugs eloquently, "So I'd like to get some rhu-barb, so I can try it..."

Charybdis OOC: Perry -- for the record, when was the last time that Jezreel actually saw Eli? How long ago?

Perry OOC: About three months ago. Dodai had taken Jezreel to Chinatown, where she caught Eli out of the corner of her eye. He was playing a game of cards with Yves; both were in Chinese vessels. Eli pretended not to speak English in a kidding way, and Yves just smiled and answered all of Jezreel's questions in a way that didn't really answer them at all, just made her want to ask more questions.

OOC: Coolies... The number of Superiors Jezreel's met is getting to be quite impressive, especially given her youth. How many does that make? Eli, Jean. Christopher, Lithroy, *and* Yves... 5... Not bad for someone barely more than a decade old <g>

Perry OOC: Eventually, she coaxed Eli into speaking english and in was during that conversation that he gave her the recipe for Rhu-barb pie. :)

OOC: I can just picture that scene... And I can see young, everything-is-totally-black-and-white Jezreel not knowing how to handle it... Because she wouldn't really differentiate between pretending and lying... So she would likely start getting annoyed... But then she'd not know how to handle her annoyance... since it *is* Eli after all... :)

We had originally said in her background that he tends to visit her more often than most... Oh, and has Eli specifically asked her not to tell anyone when he's been around?

Perry OOC: No. Though, Jezreel would better than to do so, since she is aware of Judgement's presence in Vancouver (it /is/ a more peaceful city than most, so far as she can tell), but no, he hasn't specifically asked you to.

OOC: Then I guess he's in trouble <g>

Charybdis OOC: I just read through all the Superiors books, and it said that the Creationists are usually pretty protective of Eli and don't like to tell Judgement when he's been around. But since Jezreel really does have Revelationist leanings, I think she would answer the Judges questions --honestly and more than likely in far greater detail than they might actually want -- unless Eli expressly asked her not to.

Nope, he didn't. Jezreel's a liability to her Superior. <bigggrin> On the other hand, he /never/ had said where "he's staying" it's always just been "around"

OOC: Or maybe Eli just feels that the Judges who are stupid enough to ask a Creationist with Revelationist tendencies anything about where he is *deserve* to have to listen to her explain :)

[IC]
Fury stops -dead- -in- -her- -tracks-.

"Say that again," she says, all humor gone from her voice.

Freezing in her own tracks, Jezreel turns and looks at the older angel in askance. She catches Fury's tone and change of mood, but cannot for the life of her understand the source. Still, she has clearly been given an order, and the young Seraph obediently complies.

Her eyes slide up and to the left for a moment as she replays her own auditory memory, trying to repeat her own words fairly closely to the her original statement. "I said," Jezreel says, sounding a bit confused, "That I wanted to buy some rhu-barb because the last time Eli was here, he gave me what he said was the recipe for the world's best strawberry rub-barb pie and suggested that I make it. And since usually he has good reason for his suggestions, I wanted to get the rhu-barb as long as we were here, so that I could try it."

Then, after a beat, Jezreel adds, "By here, I mean in town, Fury, not at the supermarket..."

[Fury]
The angel nods, her face grim. She crouches next to Jezreel. "You are with Litheroy, yes?" She doesn't wait for a response. "I want you to promise me that you will tell no one else about where ... the gentleman who gave you the pie recipe is. You are a young one, Jezreel, and if any of the Questioners hears you speaking of that, they will be able to trace him. And we don't want them to find him.

"Please. Promise me that you'll tell no one else, and I'll promise that nothing bad will come of it. I know it feels strange, but in this instance, I think it's for the best." Fury looks, for an instant, as though she's made of very realistically-colored steel. ...Essence ripples through the air as Fury concentrates, and for a moment her body seems made of steel, from the tensing of her muscles to the strength of her gaze. Her skin even seems to reflect the ambient light for a moment, perfectly molded chrome with a tan. ... "I will protect you from any consequences."

OOC: Cool effect, but it doesn't shake Jezreel's resolve any... <g> So, you going to post in-character so I know how much trouble Jezreel has just gotten herself into with Fury? :)

The young Seraph studies you a long time before answering, obviously weighing her words and your request. Finally, she speaks, and when she does, it is with deliberate slowness and care. "I don't think I can give you that promise, Fury," Jezreel says with quiet dignity. And she holds up a hand to ask you to wait for her explanation before you argue.

"I am a Creationist, Fury, but I Serve Revelation. And though Eli himself Assigned me there, it was not against my wishes or my temperament. Lord Litheroy is right; there is Evil in Secrets. Young as I am, I have seen it first hand. And if you want proof, let me introduce you to my father..." She sighs deeply.

"Uncle Eli knows what he's doing, Fury. I have faith in that. He knows my loyalties and my inclinations. And *he* has not asked of me the promise you wish me to make. Surely, if he felt it necessary, he would have asked me himself. As it is, Fury, I don't think you have any worries even should I be asked the wrong questions. To be honest, there's not much I could say. I don't know where he comes from or where he goes. Any time I've asked, he just smiles and says, 'around'. And I hardly think his semi-regular visits to see me are a Secret from anyone. Judgement watches me pretty closely after all, a natural concern for me, given my relationship with my father..."

"As for the rest, Fury," Jezreel concludes. "I trust wholeheartedly in your desire to protect me from any outside threat, but in all honesty, that is the least of my concern. Making a promise such as the one you ask would be a stain on my soul, and nothing you might say or do could protect me from the taint of that. So I am afraid I must decline your request."

With that, Jezreel falls silent, her eyes locked on your own, unflinching and unapologetic.

Fury's eyes lock with Jezreel for a long minute. The Ofanite's eyes are hard as cold iron, surprisingly calm and still for an angel of motion.

Then she laughs, and stands up. "Okay. But don't say I didn't warn you."

"Of course not," Jezreel says, quiet seriously.

"My job here is to protect Shije, not Eli, although I won't think twice about going to war for him."

Jezreel smiles somewhat somberly. "I'm sure he would appreciate that, Fury," she says.

Fury smiles at the young Seraph. "Let's go find your mom, huh? I bet she's buyin' rice cakes."

Jezreel makes a face at that. "Not exactly one of mankind's better creations," she says with obvious distaste. "Though they are *almost* palatable if you drown them in enough peanut butter and honey."

With that, the young Seraph leads the way into the supermarket proper and begins looking for her mother. She'll start in produce because even if she doesn't find her mother there right away, she always finds cool things in the Fiesta produce section. And besides, she still wants to look for rhubarb.