Catherine Link Sessions

<@Peel> Okay so vlad nods off holding his yellow butterfly

<@Peel> And then concentrates, and lo! A blue door.

<@Peel> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkh-ZehNibg can be heard playing through it

<@Peel> You seem to be in a grey mist. There's a blue tint, but maybe it's just reflecting the door.

<@Peel> So in a dream.

• Vlad_Sakharov knocks on the door a bit hesistantly

<@Peel> "The Master is not to be disturbed (dream a restaurant kitchen, I'll meet you there in a few minutes)."

<Vlad_Sakharov> " . . . . "

• Vlad_Sakharov thinks about a restaurant kitchen
• Vlad_Sakharov shades in the cutting boards, the stoves, the fridges

<@Peel> Your shading is guided towards calming blues.

<Vlad_Sakharov> Blue cups, blue plates, cool blue tiles

<@Peel> What foodstuffs lie around seem a little esoteric. There's a jar of 'Desperation' on the shelf, and a chimaera steak hanging up in the freezer.

• Vlad_Sakharov pokes around when it becomes clear Catherine isn't going to instantly appear. This place is weird!

<@Peel> "We have a few minutes. He's opposed to fraternisation these days, you know. It caused some problems in the past."

• Vlad_Sakharov jumps and spins around

<@Peel> Catherine appears after a few minutes of poking around, slipping through the door.

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Ahhh . . . hi"

<@Peel> "Hello. :)"

<@Peel> "I was wondering if you would come back."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "I . . of course!"

• Vlad_Sakharov hides the butterfly behind his back

<Vlad_Sakharov> "How are you?"

<@Peel> "I'm fine, of course. How is the waking world treating you? I noticed some agitation in the Court of Swords."

<@Peel> She perches on a countertop, legs crossed.

<@Peel> "I'm always fine. Things don't change here much."

• Vlad_Sakharov shifts uneasily "This is getting more and more . .. not frightening, but there's always more layers"

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Thank you for your gift. It definately helped me - us."

<@Peel> *mysterious smile*

<@Peel> "I'm sure you'll penetrate through all of them like the brave hero you are."

<@Peel> "Shine the light of revelation on the darkness, and all that."

• Vlad_Sakharov moodily plays with a blue-handled knife, the mention of the court of swords and all the relevations they brought putting his thoughts onto a new tangent

<Vlad_Sakharov> (maybe it looks like a tiny sword!)

<@Peel> "So... did anything particular bring you here?"

<@Peel> Indeed it does! How fascinating.

<Vlad_Sakharov> "I wanted to see you again. Say thank you"

<@Peel> She looks like she's trying to make conversation while also attempting to appear inscrutable.

<@Peel> "You're welcome. I'm not supposed to prejudice, but I can always... bend the rules a little."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Does it . . . happen often? People like me?"

<@Peel> "People who actualise their Persona? Or people who come to the Velvet Room?"

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Both, I guess"

• Vlad_Sakharov realizes she missed the unspoken subtext

<@Peel> "Not very often, no... Persona users come in spates, but people who can access the Room are rare indeed. As I said... you were irregular."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "What, ahh . . . is the room?"

<@Peel> "The Velvet Room is a place to guide the soul to its destiny."

<@Peel> "It has taken many forms, although this one is unusual. Appropriate to the circumstance, though."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "I see . . . "

<@Peel> "A restaurant, where all sorts can visit and take their fill, not just a vehicle to guide one to their destination."

<@Peel> "There's a link between us now. If Igor noticed he'd get cross, but I hid it with a little makeup."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "A link?"

<@Peel> "This is... somewhat unprecedented for me."

<@Peel> "A bond between hea... minds."

• Vlad_Sakharov feels his cheeks start to get slightly warm at her comment

<@Peel> "You've noticed, haven't you? You're more powerful now than you were at the start."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "I thought that was just me getting more used to this world of forms"

<@Peel> "That helps. But the real source of human strength is others."

<@Peel> "Humans are a communal society. They built a civilisation that spanned the world by forging links with each other."

<@Peel> "Transcending the base matter of their bodies with intelligence, and passing that down through the ages with community."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Do you . . do you get to experience it, here?"

<@Peel> "Your mind gives you brute power, but your allies give you permanence and strength."

<@Peel> "Community? Not really."

<@Peel> "It's a care of humans."

<@Peel> "And that category does not necessarily include those of us who live behind the veil of thought."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Does that mean you're not human? Err . . . sorry. uh."

<@Peel> "It depends how you define 'human', doesn't it?"

<Vlad_Sakharov> "I guess . . . "

<@Peel> "I look human, I sound human, I feel human to the touch, but I am here, not in the world where you live."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "But I'm here too."

<@Peel> "You're a guest. Or an interloper. Or an invader. The Court of Swords should have taught you that much."

<@Peel> She hops off the worktop and leans into your personal space. "Even though we speak, we are worlds apart."

<Vlad_Sakharov> " . . . A world thinner than a sheet of paper"

• Vlad_Sakharov pauses for a moment.

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Would you like to see my world?"

<@Peel> She's taken aback for a moment.

<@Peel> "Well, I *can* cross the barrier. It's paper thin, like you said."

<@Peel> "But Igor frowns on fraternisation these days. And why need I? I have the whole landscape of the human mind here."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Oh."

<@Peel> You sense minute disappointment.

<Vlad_Sakharov> "I . . "

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Maybe I should ask Igor myself then"

<@Peel> She blinks in obvious surprise before composing herself.

• Vlad_Sakharov can' really believe he just said that either

<@Peel> "You do come up with the most marvellous ideas."

<@Peel> "..."

<@Peel> "Humans, I mean."

<@Peel> "But he's angry enough as it is, I would stay far from advocating it."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "I really messed up by coming here last time, didn't I?"

<@Peel> "I wouldn't say that. He's not really angry at you. More at circumstances, so he lashes out."

<@Peel> "Maybe he's human after all." *smirk*

<@Peel> "Maybe we could divert his attention though..."

<@Peel> "...if I were to need to visit your world."

<@Peel> "You're cute, but you can always come here."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Circumstances? He gets to sit here in his cushy restaurant acti . .. huh?"

<@Peel> "Something went wrong for him. He always liked to watch humans play out their marvellous destiny, but that went wrong once and now he's bitter about it."

<@Peel> "He'll get over it, I'm sure."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "There's not much to do here . . . maybe you can see the infinite vistas of human thoughts and destinies, but to me it's just a kitchen."

<@Peel> "Well, I suppose it would be nice to sneak out. To get one over on Igor."

<@Peel> "He can be so annoying sometimes."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Wouldn't it be nice to experience, instead of living vicariously through others?"

<@Peel> She starts wandering around the kitchen.

<@Peel> "I could stand to taste a material wind sometime. A little variety in this timeless existence."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Do you have anything that you can truly call your own?"

<@Peel> "..."

<@Peel> "What a strange question."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Because . . . I brought you something"

<@Peel> "I, of course, I..."

<@Peel> "I beg your pardon?"

• Vlad_Sakharov brings the box from behind his back in its trendy little bag

<@Peel> She takes it carefully in two hands.

<@Peel> "How curious, this is..."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Open it"

<@Peel> "...oh my. Well."

<@Peel> "How sweet."

<@Peel> She takes it out and examines it.

<@Peel> "Gems, and silver, woven together in imitation of nature, as the butterfly itself imitates noble art with its patterns. Beauty in recursion."

<@Peel> "This is, er, a little unprecedented. Thankyou."

<@Peel> "Can I... see where it is from?"

<@Peel> "Perhaps that is worth visiting in the flesh."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "I'd love to take you"

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Um I have to warn you though. I sort of have my own Igor . .. "

<@Peel> "That... would be very nice indeed." She smiles a smile and forgets to make it enigmatic.

<@Peel> "Oh. I say."

<@Peel> "In... what sense, exactly?"

<Vlad_Sakharov> "My mother. Except she's the opposite. Very the opposite"

<@Peel> "A powerful archetype. It should be fascinating to meet her."

• Vlad_Sakharov squeaks out "Maybe"

<@Peel> "But how should we arrange this... excursion. I must think of a way to distract Igor, or make him relent, or..."

<@Peel> She starts pacing.

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Does he have any hobbies?"

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Other than being a cosmic observer"

<@Peel> "Card games, mostly."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Does he gamble?

<@Peel> "Not often. He has little to gamble with."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "What about . . . time with his assistant?"

<@Peel> "Are you intending to play him at cards?"

<@Peel> "With me as the prize?"

<@Peel> "Thats..."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "I . . . that sounds awful when you put it that way"

<@Peel> "Oh I do hope you win."

<@Peel> "The look on his face..."

<@Peel> "Ahem. But he is skilled. What exactly are you going to beat him at?"

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Hanafuda"

<Vlad_Sakharov> "My mother taught me well. I hope"

<@Peel> "He doesn't play that often, so I suppose it's a better choice than most..."

<@Peel> "But what will you stake?"

• Vlad_Sakharov freezes

<Vlad_Sakharov> "I . . don't know"

<@Peel> She looks from side to side. "Oh dear. Um."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "I don't know if I have anything to offer him"

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Other than my time, and I have no idea if he'd want anything from an unwelcome interloping human"

<@Peel> "He likes... he likes things to go according to plan. He likes Personae, but I could not allow that wager. He likes... human potentiality, and their challenging the unthinkable bouyed by the strength of their friends."

<@Peel> "All rather abstract."

<@Peel> "He also likes his nose, but he already has one of those. Ahaha."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Does he ever"

<@Peel> "Then maybe... er..."

<@Peel> She scratches at her chest.

• Vlad_Sakharov looks gloomy

<@Peel> She reaches inside her dress and withdraws a card. Wheel of Fortune.

<@Peel> "Maybe he will simply accept."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "But if he doesn't?"

<@Peel> "Who but a human driven by his heart would think to challenge his inscrutable cosmic observer to a card game?"

<Vlad_Sakharov> " . . . "

<Vlad_Sakharov> "I'll take that as complement"

<@Peel> "I think he might. If you catch him in a good mood."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "How would I do that?"

<@Peel> "Hmm..."

<@Peel> "He enjoys your victories, though he pretends not to."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "Well if we win when the next big shadow comes, I'll ask him. And if we don't win . . . I guess it doesn't matter"

<@Peel> "That is in a matter of days, so... good luck."

<@Peel> "I... hope I see you again."

<Vlad_Sakharov> "I do too."

<Vlad_Sakharov> " . . . you're the first girl I've ever gotten a gift for"

<@Peel> "Ium thank you."

<@Peel> "Oh, I should go, it's been a while. He will be getting suspicious."

<@Peel> She looks at the pendant

<@Peel> and places it around her neck, under her dress

<Vlad_Sakharov> "I'll see you next monday"

<@Peel> "I'll see you."

<@Peel> She slips out through the door she came in through.

• Vlad_Sakharov wakes up

<@Peel> He doesn't have a pendant anymore.

<@Peel> He does have a plan that seems crazy even in the context of being a secret shadow-hunter though

• Vlad_Sakharov heads downstairs to play a few hands of hanafuda against mother . . .