01<@Ardweden> [Day: Wednesday, September 15. Time: 11:50 p.m.] 01<@Ardweden> [The half moon is shining, which (at least by Hank's reckoning) means Lunatic Fringe is open. The Square looks like it's always been, and at least right now, the storefront is as deserted and dark as ever.] 01<@Ardweden> [There's also a cool drizzle tonight, with promise of more solid rain as clouds are moving to cover the sky (and that poor half moon).] 01<@Ardweden> [Session Start.] 06* Tyler shows up dressed in black heading for the Fringe's door. 06* Javy heads into the square, wearing a plain blue windbreaker over a grey t- shirt and some jeans. He's got a green umbrella emblazoned with "Make Connecticut Green" in bold white letters on it. 06* @Tiffany shows up as well, with a light hoodie sweatshirt on that's two sizes too big for her, hoodie up. She waits outside for the gathering of people, her gaze avoiding Tyler. 06* Hank arrives via motorcycle, as par the course. He doesn't look particularly different from usual. 06* Javy goes and stands next to Tiffany as he waits. He doesn't really have much to say now. He feels kinda awkward, considering earlier today. 06* Sydney shows up just in the nick of time, umbrella in one hand, phone with GPS in the other. She's got a dark blue hoodie with an adorable skating penguin on the front. 06* Javy waves at Syd when she manages to show up. 06* Sydney waves back to Javy, then waves to the others. Yay, she didn't get lost! (Much.) 06* Tyler glances at every one but shrugs heading in, trying to stay away from Hank. 06* @Tiffany side glances over at Javy for a moment, then half waves to Sydney, when she waves to everyone, just noticing her. 06* Javy feels uncomfortable with all the silence, and says to Syd, "You, uh, you made it okay." 06* Sydney holds up her phone. "Trying not to leave home without it." 06* @Tiffany glances Sydney-ward, watching her for a little while, then finally pipes up. "Are we ready?" Let's get this over with. 06* Javy nods to Syd, then looks at Tiffany. "Is it open?" 06* @Tiffany points to Tyler, who's already tried to make his way in, with her thumb. 01<@Ardweden> [The door does not open for Tyler.] 06* @Tiffany glances at Tyler's failed entry. "Sorry. Looks like you're stuck with us for a while." 06* Javy looks at him. "It, uh, it doesn't look open." 06* @Tiffany doesn't sound apologetic at all. Eh, it's not horrible Tiff-tiff. If I got you, you got me. 06* @Tiffany rolls her eyes. "Gee. Thanks for reminding us." 06* @Tiffany takes a step away from Tyler at this point right now. 06* Javy looks down at her, but doesn't move. He's not covering her with the umbrella anymore, though. 06* Sydney checks the time on her phone. 06* @Tiffany actually doesn't move far enough away to get out from under the umbrella, but she does keep a step away from Tyler. 06* Hank knocks on the door. 06* Tyler sighs and just leans against the wall, not moving even with Hank right there. 01<@Ardweden> [Sydney's phone changes from 11:59 to 12:00, and the lights inside of Lunatic Fringe turn on.] 06* Javy looks at the two of them uneasily. Huh. Right on time. <@Tiffany> Yeah. Almost as if you could set your watch by it. 06* Tyler shrugs just waiting for the big jock to open the door. 06* Javy blinks at the sudden change in the lighting. 06* Hank does open the door, hopefully hitting Tyler with it, as he walks in. "Hello?" <@Tiffany> Welp. Time to meet our destiny. 06* @Tiffany walks on in, now stepping out from under Javy's umbrella. 06* Tyler moves out of the doors way an heads in. 06* Javy closes up his umbrella and follows the others. 06* Sydney does the same. 01<@Ardweden> ["Good evening, and welcome," says the middle aged woman behind the counter. She's seated behind the counter, her hands folded primly and her dark hair in a long braid. Like Medea and Helen, she's wearing a long, flowing dress, and she looks like she was once quite attractive.] 01<@Ardweden> [The Fringe itself smells of incense, as usual, and the merchandise this time trends towards crafts: tapestries, woodwork, glasswork, small metal sculptures, and the like.] 06* Tyler looks around at the merchandise. 06* Sydney smiles. "Good evening!" 06* Javy looks at her for a beat. "Uh... hello." 06* @Tiffany smiles a little bit as she inhales the incense and looks at the woman. "The place smells nice." 01<@Ardweden> [The woman smiles at Tiffany's compliment. "Thank you, dear."] 06* Javy looks at the woodwork. 06* Hank glances at the items, not seeming particularly interested in anything. In particular. 06* @Tiffany gets distracted by the glasswork and runs her fingers along it carefully, making sure she doesn't knock it over. We've talked to the other two, what do you have to tell us? 06* Tyler is mostly distracted with the tapestries though.... 06* Javy looks oddly grateful for Tyler's question. 06* @Tiffany winces a bit at Tyler's lack of tact, but continues looking over the glasswork. 01<@Ardweden> [Javy finds himself looking at a carving of a leafless tree with tiny birds perched in it.] 01<@Ardweden> [And Tiffany's fingers brush against a glass snake curled around a lantern.] 01<@Ardweden> [The woman purses her lips for a moment, then says to Tyler, "That depends on what you want to know."] 06* @Tiffany blinks as she notices the snake and picks it up for a closer look. <@Tiffany> How much for this? 01<@Ardweden> ["Ah." The woman moves from behind the counter to look at the glass herself. "That... I can sell. I'd be happy to discuss price with you - would you like to before or after you ask your questions?"] 06* Javy regards the woodwork. It looks nice. He glances at the others, trying to see whether the others are going to ask things first, or if he should just jump in now. Is the price going to change based on our questions? 06* Sydney is browsing through various small metal sculptures, occasionally looking over at the others. <@Tiffany> So there's things you can't sell? 06* @Tiffany glares at Tyler suddenly. 01<@Ardweden> ["Everyone has a few things that they won't sell, Tiffany."] <@Tiffany> Yes. Most of them don't open a store though. 01<@Ardweden> [Sydney's browsing finds her a swan about to take flight through an open window, a chubby cherub complete with wings and bow, and a deadly looking spider.] 06* @Tiffany grins at the woman, able to ignore Tyler for the moment. 06* Tyler continues looking at the tapestries. He's not fully looking, but they have color. 01<@Ardweden> [The woman shrugs slightly. "'Store' is an odd term for this place, but it works as well as any other."] 06* @Tiffany tilts her head slightly. "Well, if it's not a store, what is it exactly?" 06* Sydney eyes the spider consideringly, but ultimately decides against it. 06* Javy turns from the woodwork to listen more. 01<@Ardweden> [She smiles slightly down at Tiffany. "Perhaps a haven," she says.] Clever. 06* Sydney also pauses her browsing to listen. 01<@Ardweden> [The tapestries are all quite well made, but since Tyler's not really looking, the GM is not really describing!] 06* @Tiffany snickers. "That'd make sense." She then frowns a little bit. "We met your other two sisters...but we don't know you yet." What is it a haven for? 01<@Ardweden> [She looks briefly confused at Tiffany's words, then says, "Oh. Yes. I am called Penelope." And then she looks to Tyler and tells him, "Whoever can enter."] <@Tiffany> Penelope...Penelope, Penelope....hmm... How many of ya are there? It's a nice name. Um. Penelope. 06* @Tiffany frowns a little bit. "Should be only three, right? You're...you'd be the Mother." 01<@Ardweden> [Penelope sighs. "I don't know if I am much of a mother, but I've tried in the past. And... I don't quite understand your question, Hank." 06* Hank rubs the back of his neck. "I guess... But I was expecting like... I dunno, Andromeda or somethin'." I'm confused. 06* Hank says, "I mean I never heard of you." He pauses, then says, "Uh... No offense." 01<@Ardweden> ["I have the good fortune of never having been chained to a rock," Penelope says with surprising gentleness.] 06* Sydney opens her mouth for a second, then closes it. 06* Javy blinks. "That's good?" Yeah, but I mean.... Why you three? There ain't no connection between ya that ain't shared by others, is there? 01<@Ardweden> [Penelope shrugs. "Why not? We do what we will."] 06* Hank shrugs. "I dunno. Just weird is all." 06* Javy looks like he's worked something out. "But you're not... you're not really that one? Um. The one from the story." Hank, tell me exactly what part of what we are doing isn't wierd. Please. I need to know 06* @Tiffany rubs her head slightly. "Plays...." 01<@Ardweden> [Penelope looks puzzled. "Which story?"] 06* Javy looks awkward. "You know. Um. The... the Odyssey. That's..." He looks down. It sounds stupid when he says it out loud. 01<@Ardweden> [She's just watching Javy, waiting for him to say whatever it is he's going to say.] 06* Javy glances back up at her. "That... that Penelope. That one. It's... you know it? You... you knew Andromeda, and..." He looks tense. "It's... I mean, so much other stuff, it's, it's all weird, but... it's. I mean. It's the Odyssey." 06* Sydney says quietly, "I wish I'd thought to bring my notebook." 06* @Tiffany shakes her head. "We can talk about that later...." She looks at Penelope. "So you three are the keepers of the Haven then, are you?" 06* Tyler glares at hank for ignoring him and goes back to looking at the wall hangings. 06* Hank doesn't seem to care o/~ 01<@Ardweden> ["Oh." And Penelope frowns. "Honestly, Javy, I'm not certain. I haven't heard this Odyssey."] 01<@Ardweden> [She's so puzzled over Javy's question that she forgets to acknowledge Tiffany's.] 06* Javy shakes his head, embarrassed. "Um. Forget I said anything," he says quickly. 06* @Tiffany frowns. "Um. Excuse me." 01<@Ardweden> [Penelope nods distractedly.] 06* @Tiffany frowns some more. "Do I have to string a bow to get her attention?" 06* Javy gestures at Tiffany. "Yeah, uh... she had a, um, a better... question." 01<@Ardweden> [Penelope blinks. "I'm sorry?" And her attention turns to Tiffany.] 06* @Tiffany sighs. "Well, you run this place with the two others, right? Are you keepers of the Haven then?" 01<@Ardweden> [She thinks about that, then says, "That is a better term than 'sisters'."] <@Tiffany> What, others? Or keepers? 01<@Ardweden> ["Both of them. But I was referring to keepers."] <@Tiffany> On both sides? 01<@Ardweden> [Her brow furrows. "I don't personally remember being on the other side, except in my dreams."] Can... can you walk, too? How old are ya? 01<@Ardweden> [Penelope grins at Hank. "There are some questions you don't ask a woman." She turns her attention to Javy. "Not the way you do."] But not, uh, like... like a normal dreamer? 06* Hank rolls his eyes. 06* Tyler is still just staring at things. 01<@Ardweden> [She shakes her head.] Would we... have we met you there? Would, uh, we recognize you? 06* @Tiffany sighs. "Helen told us there was something wrong with the balance...is that still going on?" 06* Sydney looks to see if there are any notebooks or journals for sale. 01<@Ardweden> ["I don't know, honestly." And then she looks to Tiffany, and after a pause, she says, "Yes."] How do we fix it? 06* Tyler sighs. "Do you have advice? really? Anything? Look we got nothing." 06* @Tiffany frowns. She starts to say something, but then looks at Hank, kind of grateful. 01<@Ardweden> [Penelope frowns, and she walks back and behind the counter, coming up with some papers which she starts shuffling through. "What have you been doing?"] 06* Sydney pipes up. "Well, we've been rescuing a few people." 01<@Ardweden> ["Rescuing... you mean from sleep?"] 06* Sydney nods. "Mm-hm." Yeah. 06* @Tiffany frowns. "Well...from our understanding it's more than that. Uh...there's the Raven...and then there's this cat..." 01<@Ardweden> [Penelope mmms softly to herself and keeps sifting through the papers. "Yes?"] 06* @Tiffany frowns some more. "So....um...are we *supposed* to be delivering nightmares to people?" 01<@Ardweden> ["It depends," Penelope says softly as she straightens the stack on her counter, "on what you ultimately want to achieve."] <@Tiffany> What *are* we achieving? <@Tiffany> I mean...people are waking up okay and being less tired, sure...but... What WOULD that achieve? Look, we know nothing. Give us some actual info. If we are to help people... 06* @Tiffany bites her lip, fiddling with her lip ring with her tongue. 06* Javy finds himself nodding along to Tyler's comment. 01<@Ardweden> [Penelope sighs heavily. "Look, I know this is difficult for you children, but you're the only ones we can turn to. You're old enough to accept responsibility and too young to accept that certain things are impossible."] What's that mean, exactly? I'm not young enough to know you and every one else are fucking avoiding answering any questions. 06* @Tiffany stares at Penelope for a moment, then gets a scowl on her face. "We can't accept responsibility if no one will tell us what the *hell* is going *on*!" She slams her hands on the counter. 01<@Ardweden> [Penelope continues, ignoring Tyler and Tiffany's respective declarations, "By waking these people up, you struggle to maintain a balance - a balance that's being disrupted. You've already felt that disruption yourselves."] 01<@Ardweden> ["Now, if you're finished throwing a tantrum..." Oh, looks like she didn't completely ignore Tiffany.] That tells us nothing and you know it. Then why us specifically? There's tons of kids in this town. 01<@Ardweden> ["It wasn't my decision. The Raven sought you out. Medea only helped him, as he has no power outside of dreams."] So you don't know what makes us special? 06* @Tiffany kicks the side of the counter and crosses her arms. "I'm getting sick and tired of people telling me that." She frowns but looks like she's calmed down a bit, listening to Penelope. So... then, he really is on, uh, our side. Doubt it. He's on his side, mark my words. <@Tiffany> I'm with Hank on this one. 01<@Ardweden> ["More accurately, Javy, thus far you've been on his." Penelope's set her papers down and is watching the lot of you warily at this point, particularly Tiffany and Tyler.] 06* @Tiffany frowns at Penelope's look at her. "Sorry. I'm just...it's just frustrating to get this far and still hardly know anything..." 06* Tyler frowns. "What IS his side, what is the other side? Don't tell me there's more then two sides. I know that, but we need some answers." 06* Sydney pulls a pen out of her pocket and writes on her hand "Bring notebook next time." Sadly the ink will probably wash off in the rain, but at least she's trying. 06* @Tiffany frowns more. "Phobetor..." 06* Javy doesn't look like he really knows the difference. They're the same side. 06* Hank nods. "Who is Phobetor? And Scathach, fer that matter." 01<@Ardweden> ["Fine." Penelope stands again and fixes Tyler with a stare that gives him goosebumps - and not in a pleasant way. "I will answer your question, Tyler Smith. I and the other keepers are trying to maintain a balance between the waking world and the dream world. Too many are asleep, trapped, and this cannot continue."] 01<@Ardweden> ["We sought allies, and when our help was requested not by one, but by two, we would not deny their aid. This was not been the first time we've helped children walk, and it will not be the last."] 06* @Tiffany frowns. "So this has happened before?" Two? Who is the other one? 06* Javy thinks. "The Walrus?" 06* @Tiffany turns to Javy and frowns some more. "But...that doesn't make any sense...the Walrus didn't know us before any of this....did he?" The last is directed more towards Penelope. 01<@Ardweden> [Her gaze turns to Hank, and now *he* has goosebumps. "Phobetor is one of the three lords of the dream realm, the lord of nightmares who is unable to speak." Her gaze turns to Javy. "I do not know who this 'Walrus' is." Which probably makes Tiffany's question moot.] And Scathach? 01<@Ardweden> ["The name a walker has assumed for herself."] 06* @Tiffany stops for a moment. "Wait...you said two requested your help...but there's three lords...so that means one didn't request it?" 06* @Tiffany then blinks at that. "There's another walker?" 01<@Ardweden> [Penelope inclines her head slightly. "A fair assumption. Perhaps you will earn that lantern for yourself yet."] 01<@Ardweden> ["But not tonight. You have been most demanding, and you've gotten the answers you asked for. Leave."] 06* Tyler frowns. "Wait so the fact we are trying to do a GOOD job, the right thing, and be responsable means we are too much for you? Oh fuck this." 06* Tyler turns leaving. 06* Javy looks uneasy, and waits. "Is it... but is it someone else here? Is... can we know that? At least?" 06* @Tiffany frowns. "But..." She then stops herself. "Alright." She winces again at Tyler's outburst. I got one more question, if'n ya don't mind. 01<@Ardweden> [Penelope looks at Hank.] 06* @Tiffany watches Hank. Goes back to what I said before, an' waht you said, but... We ain't the first people to help out the powers that be, and we ain't gonna be the last, right? There ain't no real reason we're here other than someone asked fer us? 01<@Ardweden> [Penelope sighs. "You were aided, Hank, and so we gave you the power to aid in return. Balance must be maintained. In all things."] 06* @Tiffany frowns a bit. She thinks she knows what Hank's getting at but doesnt' say anything. 01<@Ardweden> [Tyler walks out. IN THE RAIN. Because it's kind of a pour now.] Uh huh. An' by aiding we should do what we think's best? Since no one's tellin' us otherwise. 06* Tyler doesn't give a damn heading for his car, rain or no rain. 01<@Ardweden> [Tyler gets wet, but then he gets to the car, which is dry, so he makes it wet inside.] 06* Javy looks at Hank, not really getting exactly where he's going. 01<@Ardweden> [She shakes her head. "I could easily tell you what I think is best, but then, I already have. In the end, it's your power to do with as you see fit. Certainly, other walkers have turned from those who have aided them in the past."] 06* @Tiffany sighs. "I think we should go and let her relax." She turns to Penelope. "Um, thank you. For putting up with me. I...sorry, I really didn't mean to blow up like that. It's just a frustrating situation..." 06* Hank nods. "Aight, thanks." He turns around, looking from Tiffany to Javy. "There ya have it. Ain't no mysterious force bindin' us together. Just the will of some varment needed our help." 06* @Tiffany frowns. "I never thought there was, Hank..." 01<@Ardweden> ["I understand about pressure, dear," Penelope tells Tiffany, "but even children need to understand that all actions have consequences. Perhaps you will be ready to buy that lantern in another cycle."] 06* Javy looks warily from Hank to Penelope, and doesn't say anything. 06* @Tiffany nods to Penelope, giving her a half-smile. "As long as you hold onto it for me." 01<@Ardweden> [She nods to Tiffany, promising without promises.] 06* @Tiffany turns to leave, then sighs, glancing at Hank. "When do you want to talk about Tyler?" Tomorrow. 06* Javy looks between them, and then back to Penelope. "Uh... thanks. For your help." 01<@Ardweden> [Penelope brightens at the politeness, and all of what made her scary is gone now. "You're welcome, Javy."] 06* @Tiffany nods to Hank. "Alright." She waves to Penelope. "Thank you." She heads out the door. 01<@Ardweden> [Tiffany gets rained upon.] 06* Javy looks like he's got a lot on his mind now. "It's... so. We'll see you. Next month." He fiddles with the catch on his umbrella. 06* Hank nods to Penelope. "Thanks." He heads out. 06* @Tiffany doesn't care about the rain! Take that rain! 06* Javy goes to the door, pops open the umbrella, and makes his way out after everyone else. 01<@Ardweden> [Tiffany gets wet! Take that!] 06* @Tiffany's upset that rain wins again. ;_; 01<@Ardweden> [Sydney leaves as well, and once the door closes behind Javy, it latches with a soft click as the lights inside turn off.] 01<@Ardweden> [Session End.]