005; CLOSED. and darling, i saw it all.

[norea]

Who: The present anti-CL team.
What: Meeting to discuss.
Where: Lost Society, in the library.
When: Misdi, around midnight.
Notes: plotsss. I'll have three comment sections: one for Rhade showing up early, one for the collective group (we'll have to sort out orders since there are quite a few characters), and one for separate character interactions (one on one or whatever y'all prefer). AND... we will have to copypaste in our tags from LJ, soooo.
Warnings: idk yet.

The spell that Hasibe has worked over Lost Society means that no one is going to remember they were there; service will be a bit spotty, as a result, and the waiters on hand will seem peculiarly disinterested in whomever shows up, only providing them with drinks and necessities when deliberately prodded, but that's an aspect of the magic. She partially chose this location because it's easy to find a secluded area there, and in this case, she finds a table in the library, shrugging off her white coat to rest it on the back of her chair. She is dressed in a sleek, high-collared dark-green dress that is not too flashy, in order to keep with the discretion of the venue.

The other reason she chose this place is that they don't care if you smoke indoors. So that's what she's doing, rose-flavored Black Devil cigarette in hand, sitting back in her chair as she exhales smoke toward the ceiling. She has a couple books open on the table in front of her, and nothing in the way of food, but she does have a drink. Priorities.

Comments

[norea]

"You must be Erik," Hasibe says, in the process of setting down a drink of her own (her second, though it doesn't appear to have had any impact on her, so either her tolerance is strange or she's not drinking anything too heavy). "You are, aren't you?" As though she'd be just a little embarrassed if he weren't, though that's not really the case. She feigns uncertainty at times because it's an ingredient to charm, and to putting others at ease.

"I'm afraid there are a few of us I haven't yet met in person."

FINALLY

[magnetic]

Wonderful, someone else who knows him. It was a bit thrilling at first, as a novelty, but he has since moved through the flattery part of this phenomenon and on to feeling somewhat put out by it. This is why the smile he wears is automatic and bland as he turns to spy the woman who addresses him, his eyebrows politely raised. ...The expression is short-lived. Her little embellishment seems to have done the trick. (Among other things.) (What, he's allowed to be stuck now and then.)

"I am indeed. And you're Hasibe, correct?" He doesn't need to ask, but it's only polite.

[norea]

"Yes, that's me. And we spoke on the Network, didn't we?" But she doesn't let that question sit for long. Hasibe already knows, through a little bit of deduction, that this is the one she planned to tell about Mem and Zin--sometime, anyway. Not here, certainly. At the moment she is perched, neatly, on the edge of one of the tables, legs crossed, heels balanced on the floor. (Given the choice between a proper chair and a table or a bar top or some such thing semi-inappropriate thing, she'll almost always pick the table.)

It puts her within touching distance of one of the bookshelves, you see, and she indicates one with a slight sideways tip of her head. "I think my choice of venue is probably telling. It's good to meet you--you know, officially."

She smiles, genuine; she knows he's a friend of Ilde's, which speaks well of him, in her opinion.

[magnetic]

"Likewise." Put somewhat at ease by her manner (even somewhat can be considered an accomplishment, Erik being the way he is), he slips into a more honest expression, himself—this means the smile fades from his lips, but its vestiges linger overall among the sundry lines and angles of his face. "I much prefer a personal introduction to those made through the network."

He feels like he should be holding a drink, suddenly, but at this point he has none and so his hands slide into his pockets instead. "If I may, what was it that prompted you to arrange this gathering?"

[norea]

It's a good question, and perhaps she may be forgiven a moment of careful consideration before she answers--it's not about trust, but rather, phrasing. "I don't want to risk the possibility of any of us working against each other," she says, after that moment passes.

Also, she has a vested interest in keeping track of who's who in the group; it's telling she doesn't say anything about Jack and Bruce, but she wants to know what all of the others are up to. At least her intentions are good. "I've been 'passing' as human, and seeing one of the Candlelighters."

She is so casual and poised, as she says this, but there's a trace of gritted control somewhere in the back of her voice, like it's been sort of difficult to restrain her instinctive responses to some of the things they say and do. (She doesn't particularly like weaponizing her sexuality, but she's so good at it, you see.)

"It's offered me a little insight. A man I had undercover with me found some things, too, and they're worrying enough that I want everyone to know what's going on. Have you been following the election at all?"

[magnetic]

"Not much, no... I've been preoccupied with settling in here—" securing a place to stay, finding and losing and finding friends, trying not to lose his shit, etc. "—and have yet to catch up on the political side of things. But it's on my to-do list."

Despite the subdued delivery, that may in fact have come off a bit cheeky. (Speaking of being good at things.)

That aforementioned possibility of hers will happen regardless, he thinks—but then, Erik does not hold the highest opinion of people in general. His enduring pessimism is not a scar, but a saturation, ground in deep by black boot heels in the formative years of his life. Still, it's not a terrible idea to know who you're going to be dealing with, anyway.