It's Wednesday on Tuesday
|
Date: 04/17/2018 Time: 12:00pm EST |
Detroit, MI
|
|
Cast: | |
|
Wednesday is standing on the side of the street - East Kirby, north of the cemetery - examining an abandoned and damaged single-story house. The windows panes are long gone, there's a bit of roof damage. He has a thoughtfullook on his face, considering the house - he looks like he just noticed the place, and is about to step up into the yard to get a closer look. His wide-brimmed hat is on his head at the moment, and the breeze tugs at this and his long grey coat. Arthur is driving from the direction of downtown. Only instead of driving the Tesla, he's driving a mini service van/truck. It's a boxy older model, freshly renovated. Instead of paint, it's shining stainless steel on the exterior. Pulling up across the street from where Wednesday is, the gleaming truck comes to a stop. Out of it come a middle-aged man, bald, with a white lab coat on, and four college age kids. They get to work opening up compartments on the van, getting out tools and equipment. "Alright team," the older man starts in, "we're training with the real equipment now, let's make this right." The kids then walk off into the vacant lot, to a pool of rainwater that has formed in a depression. At the sound of the van, Wednesday turns to take a look at the vehicle - he's found it's a good idea to notice the traffic in these parts. After he registers what he saw, he doubletakes - the lack of paint catches his eye, and he ends up turning and watching the van park, and the team of scientists assemble from it. Wednesday walks down the street (and into it) a few yards, so he can watch the event, his head tilted questioningly. Arthur watches his students go to work. "Jaylen, you've got this. Lead the team." He then turns to the practical mission of watching the surroundings to ake sure nobody tries to steal the truck! Kai warned him about that, after all. So, he notices Wednesday. Squinting, he watches. Cautiously, he raises a hand, and gives a cheery wave. Seeing the wave, Wednesday shrugs noticably, and returns the wave, fully crossing the street but staying a few yards away from the lead scientist. He narrows his eye, searching for something to say, and seems to settle on "Hey. This is different, here." Though, it's not clear what precisely he's referring to. Arthur glances back briefly at the students. They are huddled together with their equipment at the pool of water, taking a sample in a test tube, and then using a machine on it, all while taking notes and timing things precisely. Arthur nods at that sight, then looks back to Wednesday, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Sure is. It's science. Or rather, I'm training these students for a real scientific experiment to be run later." Wednesday considers the man's words. Tilting his head, he looks at his just below the brim of his hat, and asks, "So, this is a class? You're a teacher?" He glances over to the students a couple of times, watching them at work. Arthur smiles. "Not quite. I'm a research engineer with a focus on public policy and large scale solutions. I do a lot of government work, and so I Bring in young people as interns. It's a win-win relationship." The big man accepts this with a nod at the end. He seems to consider this, too, to think it over before replying. "Public policy, government work. Something to help the communities out here?" He gives another doubtful look at the students. Arthur smiles. "In a manner of speaking. I'm researching the effects of possibly unusual chemicals going into the river, and having reactions with the other pollution in the river. It's time sensitive work, so I'm training the team to be able to do it right the first time." Wednesday seems to warm slightly at this. He asks with more interest, "If you find them in the river, can you and your interns clean..." he stops suddenly, grinning and shaking his head. "Sorry. Call me Wednesday," he says, stepping forward to offer a hand. Arthur pulls his hand out of his pocket, and returns the hand shake, before getting out his card to hand over. (See in +finger) "Arthur Hackenmiller-Simons," he nods. "Can we clean it? Maybe. But we have to find out what it is, before we can form a plan for that." Wednesday takes the card, looking it over back-and-front, and deposits it in a breast pocket of his coat. With a twinkle in his eye and a grin, he replies, "I suppose you're right." The expression fades a little as he continues, "If the water is unsafe, will the people out here be told? I live...around here," the grin comes back for a flash, "and if people might get sick, I want to help." Arthur nods, and folds his arms. Glancing back at the kids. "I don't think it'll be an immediate danger to anyone. This isn't like Flint." He hums. "But it could be something like we've never seen before. I just want to be careful before I go sounding any alarms." Wednesday's eyebrow raises at the mention of Flint. "Of course. I hadn't thought about chemicals in the borderland of the fish trap." He nods slowly. "I will watch, to see if the fish or people get sick." Arthur runs his hand over the smooth top of his head, before putting it back in his pocket. "Won't hurt to watch. The early reports I've seen suggest something VERY weird is going on. Like, some of the other chemical sin the water are being pushed to precipiate. That could have unpredictable effects." He frowns. "So it might not affect different people the same way?" Arthur purses his lips. "Oddly it could have a positive effect on people in the short run, if it's temporarily cleaning the water. But long run... who knows what a chemical that strong would do?" Wednesday's frown deepens. Mostly to himself, he grumbles, "Cities. Well, I wanted new challenges." Meanwhile, he disg through a hip pocket and pulls out a small glass bottle, twists off the cap, and downs the contents like a shot. <<DICE>> Wednesday rolls Intelligence + Esoterica, difficulty 5 <<DICE>> 2 successes (3 4 7 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No) <<DICE>> Wednesday rolls Arete, difficulty 3 <<DICE>> 3 successes (6 8 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No) <<DICE>> Arthur rolls perception + awareness, difficulty 6 <<DICE>> 3 successes (2 3 5 6 7 8, Specialty: No, Willpower: No) Arthur rubs his head again, as he watches this man take out his bottle. At first he figures it's just booze, but then... His brow furrows, and he hums. "To help you think?" Wednesday seems focused on something else for a moment, then looks up, his earlier frown melting somewhat. "To help me see." He winks...or maybe blinks? "If there are chemicals affecting the people near here, I want to...keep an eye out." HE looks quite proud of himself after that. Arthur re-folds his arms and looks at the man. Humming. Eyes on the bottle. "You mix that yourself? That doesn't look like any kind of carrot juice I've heard of." Wednesday tilts his head, bites his lower lips for a moment, and replies, "I made it, yes. It's not so simple as carrot juice - eyebright extract, in honeyjack." Arthur nods, tapping his foot. Looking very much like a professor. Glancing to his students, then back to Wednesday, his voice goes low. "And a little bit of ah, fortean experimentation applied to it?" He doesn't look sure of the words Arthur uses, but grins as he seems to slowly get the gist. Looking Arthur directly in the eye, Wednesday replies "No, just witchcraft." Arthur chuckles and nods at that. "I see. Are you part of any greater organizations, or an indepdendent, ah, witch?" Wednesday smiles more broadly at the other man's laughter and seeming acceptance. "Both? I am not part of any circle right now, but...have you heard of the Verbena? I know there are others in the city." Arthur raises a finger, and takes out another of his cards. Only on this one he writes on with a pen. On it are the words "Shadow Ministry, Sons of Ether," then handing the man the card. "We can talk later if you'd like to know more." Wednesday accepts the new card, eyebrow shooting up as he reads the words, grin becoming a silent chuckle and beaming smile. "I see. The Urd has brought me to another important meeting." Adding, "Cool," sounding completely out of place compared to how the man talks most of the time. He pockets this card, too. "I should let you work - now that we know something of each other, we can both watch the water." Arthur laughs and nods. "There's something odd going on. Doctor Ahana Varma, also of my organization, was the one who first ran into this. Speak with her if you wish to know more." "Doctor Ahana Varma," he seems to make a mental note, nodding sharply after the trial run on the name. "Well, Arthur Hackenmiller-Simons, if I have the opportunity, I will." He leans in close, and says in a stage-whisper, "You are the first of your society I've met. This is meaningful, I think." He backs away, returning to a normal tone of voice, "May your results be interesting!" he says moving to cross the street again. Arthur will then give him directions to the gun shop that Ahana runs, nodding. "Tell her I sent you, and that you were interested in the river findings. Make sure to mention your affiliation discreetly." He nods. "Well, good to meet you, Wednesday." he says as the man decides to move on. | |
