12:32 <Quaker> Ring ring. Ring ring. Someone’s calling Aster’s lab. 12:33 <Crion> "...Yeah, I--[sound of fumbling] Hey, Aster Biologics. Hello." This is not Aster. This sounds like a British teenage boy. 12:35 <Quaker> “Hello. I’m calling for Mr. Aster. Could you tell him Susana Lajas is on the line?” 12:36 <Crion> "Uh. Yes, mam." An extremely brief hold. "Which button do I--" A slightly longer one. Then, a slightly exhausted: "This is Aster." 12:38 <Quaker> Hopefully Aster recognizes the voice. Or the pseudonym. “Good evening, Aaron. This is Susana, your old friend from that recent countryside work. Are you busy tonight? I’ve got an extra reservation at Hawksmoor’s and thought it would be enjoyable to get have a friendly chat over steaks.” 12:40 <Crion> "Mmm. Well, I do love steaks. What time?" 12:40 <Quaker> “Seven sharp.” 12:41 <Crion> Aster: "Then I'll let the help go early. See you there." 12:42 <Crion> He has time to change into something crisper than work clothes, and yell at Simon Kingfisher for posting on Reddit before telling him to go home. 12:42 <Crion> He got an extra thirty minutes of clock time. Fair's fair. A DS or DCI could walk in at any minute. 12:45 <Crion> He'll be in smart slacks, a sweatervest, and a sports coat when he turns up and asks about the take in Susana Lajas's name. Or he might be able to spot her and say he's meeting a friend. Depends on her field wear and her sightlines on the host stand. 12:46 <Quaker> Badawi is waiting for him outside the steakhouse, wearing a black suit jacket, white shirt, and black flared trousers. “How’s the lab business going? Your phone answerer seemed…inexperienced. Local hire?” 12:46 <Crion> Even better. 12:47 <Crion> Aster: "Yes. College student. Trying to instigate quick turnover. Safest for them and me." 12:47 <Crion> "You get a long-term secretary and you get to know them and you have dinner with their family and, well, then there's a vampire hanging them half dead off the marble cruciform atop some great mausoleum." 12:48 <Crion> "Untidy." 12:48 <Quaker> A few minutes later, they’re seated across from each other on one side of a wide and comfortable dining room, all soft brown leather and polished brass fixtures and low light. 12:50 <Crion> Examining the menu: "Are you interested in appetizers, or should we just get right down to the Japanese beef?" 12:52 <Quaker> To the waiter: “I’ll have the herb chicken. And…” - peering at the menu - “the Tunworth mash.” 12:54 <Crion> Aster: "The A5 Wagyu Ribeye, rare, with the side salad. Thank you. Water, please." 12:54 <Quaker> “And the 2013 Zapata Malbec, please. Thank you.” 12:54 <Crion> Aster: "Actually. Two wines, two waters." 12:55 <Crion> "Yes, the same." 12:55 <Crion> "Thank you." 12:55 <Crion> Menus are presumably handed back. 12:55 <Quaker> Once theyve been left alone, Badawi relaxes a bit. “So.” 12:56 <Crion> "So." 12:56 <Quaker> “Hope you don’t mind all the work names and such.” 12:56 <Crion> "Not at all. Operational security is important." 12:56 <Crion> "I have to be a public figure, for a couple conflicting reasons." 12:56 <Crion> "That doesn't mean everyone else does, or should have to be." 12:57 <Crion> "Other than the team aristocrat, of course." 12:58 <Quaker> She smiles with her very even teeth. “I agree completely about the necessity of keeping a tight lid on things. So…how’s the lab going? Any customers yet?” 12:59 <Crion> The water arrives first, so that's what he sips. "A detective sergeant from the Greater Manchester Police dropped by. They're having a problem with golems." 12:59 <Quaker> “The Jewish rock monsters?” 13:01 <Crion> A thin smile. "The paraphenomenological output of ritual Kabbalic practice. Yes." 13:02 <Crion> "'Rock' is a severe simplification." 13:04 <Quaker> “Hm. You learn something new about magic every day. I haven’t read my Kabbalah in years.” 13:04 <Quaker> “You don’t anticipate a conflict between helping the police and doing consulting work for our more sensitive clients?” 13:04 <Crion> "An officer killed it by shooting it in the ritual stone that formed its 'heart,' in such a perfect place and angle that it added a new Hebrew letter to its name, which formed the banishing word." 13:05 <Crion> "Somehow I don't think I've heard the last of that case, or officer." 13:05 <Crion> Aster: "I anticipate all sorts of conflicts. I don't care to limit my scope prematurely, however. If the vampires or the mages want me to stop, they can buy me out." 13:06 <Quaker> “Sounds like an extraordinary coincidence brought it down. Speaking of mages.” 13:06 <Quaker> “I’ve heard they can work things like that.” 13:06 <Crion> Aster: "Yes, they're quite smug about it." 13:06 <Crion> "I've had to work with them before. On federal task forces." 13:07 <Quaker> “Pleasant time?” 13:07 <Crion> Aster: "No; they were with the Department of Homeland Security." 13:08 <Quaker> “That sounds about right. Plenty of room for experimentation and little oversight.” 13:09 <Crion> Aster: "Quite." 13:10 <Crion> "Has Bob been pesky about that rifle of yours?" 13:11 <Quaker> She nods. “He was pretty openly jealous. I told him he could have it, if he wanted. I never even picked it out, just placed the general profile I wanted and it showed up.” As the food arrives: “Maybe I’ll trade it to him in exchange for one of those custom jobs of his.” 13:12 <Quaker> “You mentioned you had some reasons for needing to be a public figure. I’m curious about that.” 13:12 <Crion> Aster: "You're aware of my previous place of employment? The Vanguard Serial Crimes Unit." 13:13 <Crion> To the waiter: "Thank you." 13:13 <Crion> Now he sips the wine. 13:14 <Quaker> “I am not, actually. I was meaning to ask about that, too.” 13:15 <Crion> A slight sigh, more about himself. "We're represented in the media. On Tumblr." 13:15 <Crion> "Have you watched the X-Files?" 13:15 <Crion> "CSI: Whatever?" 13:15 <Quaker> He’s met with a blank stare. 13:15 <Quaker> “I…uh…” 13:15 <Quaker> “I haven’t seen much American television.” 13:16 <Crion> "American popular culture loves attractive morons who can solve the case on broadcast television in 44 minutes, given the other 16 minutes for ads." 13:16 <Quaker> “I’ve seen Columbo…” 13:16 <Crion> "We, sadly, were very good at driving the Columbos out of the office and into private practice." 13:18 <Quaker> “So the Vanguard Serial Crimes Unit…” 13:18 <Crion> "Perhaps we were not the most attractive morons, but we were based in a very photogenic city, and we had a very ambitious founder. Wintergreen. Pioneer of the process by the same name. 13:19 <Crion> "Our remit was -- still is, in these degenerate nights -- habitual, repeat killers that standard policing cannot detect, as in the root word of detective. The whole package. We are the homicide investigators and then, when the creature reveals itself, the suicide--" 13:19 <Crion> He pauses. "The danger-close team." 13:20 <Crion> "I was lucky enough to be positioned on the outskirts of operations. I ran the labs." 13:21 <Quaker> “Oh…” Her face brightens. “Like in Manhunter.” 13:22 <Quaker> “So there are really serial killers like that? I thought it was more of a film convention.” 13:22 <Crion> "Indeed. You have a serial killer who is always in two places at once? That's us. You have a rabid dog that infects its victims with fluency in dead languages as well as mindless murderousness? We replace animal control. Seven families in public house have died, each one on the first Friday of the month, and the building burned down two weeks later exactly? We do our best." 13:24 <Crion> Aster snorts. "We actually had a perp who imprinted full serial killer profiles onto victims via old-style custom 8mm film reels. We had to send a tacteam in blind against him in a theater, ears plugged, eyes blinded, navigating with a VR helmet that used active sonar to both create an image for the team's eyes and cancel out suggestive aural triggers." 13:24 <Crion> "That was my idea." 13:24 <Crion> "Sadly, they gunned him down just outside the projection booth." 13:26 <Quaker> “Ah. So, Hannibal mixed with Carrie.” 13:27 <Quaker> “I’ve seen more American movies than I have television.” 13:27 <Quaker> “How did you get into that work?” 13:28 <Crion> Aster: "Temple University, then the Philadelphia Police Department. Then recruitment." 13:28 <Crion> "The money was very good." 13:28 <Crion> "Not as good as this money, of course." 13:29 <Quaker> “Then why’d you leave?” 13:29 <Quaker> “If it’s not a private subject.” 13:30 <Crion> Aster cuts into the steak. "This is A5 Wagyu Ribeye. When we settle up, I will be paying one hundred twenty nine pounds sterling for the privilege of eating it. It will not impact even my discretionary spending budget in the slightest." 13:30 <Crion> "As I said: not as good as this money." 13:31 <Quaker> “Oh.” 13:31 <Quaker> “I imagine working for yourself is a welcome change.” 13:32 <Crion> He either ignores the pause around that 'Oh,' or doesn't clock it. The steak is very distracting. "It is. The plan was always to get in with the local...nightlife. It was a surprise to learn how unserious they were 13:32 <Crion> ." 13:33 <Quaker> “They do seem given to theatrics.” 13:34 <Quaker> “Or….so wrapped up in their own thing that they’ve forgotten it’s a performance.” 13:34 <Crion> Aster: "They're ridden with functionaries who demand bribes at the airport. Teenagers? Seriously? Teenagers?" 13:34 <Crion> "And we're not even getting paid for it." 13:36 <Quaker> “Well, you’ve got to consider it from their perspective. Once you’ve been introduced to a secret society, everyone outside of it seems beneath you.” 13:37 <Quaker> “Masons hiring Masons, that sort of thing.” 13:37 <Crion> Aster: "If I thought becoming the equivalent of a Mason was what was lurking at the end of this road I'd be even more leery of driving out these children like St. Patrick." 13:38 <Crion> Aster: "Is that what you're in this for? I note you're trafficking with a less insanely aggravating group of individuals." 13:40 <Quaker> Badawi slams her wine back. “Yeah.” 13:41 <Crion> Somehow most of his wine, and all of his salad, has disappeared. 13:41 <Quaker> “Speaking of Masons.” 13:41 <Crion> Lot of steak left. 13:41 <Quaker> “I married into it. Or was born into it. Or both.” 13:42 <Quaker> She clears her throat. “You married? Any family over here?” 13:42 <Crion> "Mmmmm." He finishes a bite of steak. "No. And no." 13:43 <Crion> "Maybe one day." 13:43 <Crion> That has the precise cadence of having been said a hundred times before, in similar circumstances. 13:45 <Quaker> “I see.” 13:45 <Quaker> “I don’t wear a ring, but…” 13:46 <Crion> Aster pauses with a piece of steak halfway to his mouth. It's the first time a movement has seemed interrupted. 13:46 <Crion> After a moment, he completes it. 13:50 <Crion> Aster: "It can be a lonely life. I've always relied on coworkers." 13:50 <Crion> "At VASCU, that is." 13:50 <Crion> "This arrangement is a different...format." 13:50 <Quaker> “Do they worry about you? More freedom can mean more exposure.” 13:52 <Crion> Aster: "No. They don't. They keep me on an informal leash. There's a coworker I still speak to weekly so that they don't get antsy." 13:52 <Crion> "A former coworker." 13:52 <Crion> "We chat about banal things." 13:52 <Quaker> “Oh, I thought you meant romantically.” 13:52 <Crion> "I've been congratulated on being first in the phone book." 13:53 <Crion> He pauses again. "There's not really time for that in my life." 13:53 <Crion> "How would it play out?" 13:53 <Crion> "'Run away with me, to Manchester?" 13:54 <Quaker> “Or somewhere else, presumably. You’re not looking to retire soon? I imagine we’ll all have enough money to relocate comfortably in a year or so.” 13:54 <Crion> Aster, dissecting the steak: "Another ten years." 13:54 <Crion> "Then that'll be enough." 13:55 <Crion> "Not at this job of course." 13:55 <Crion> "We'll ride this minecart as long as there's track." 13:55 <Quaker> “I’ve got five years left. Then…” She shrugs. “Who knows. The quiet life.” 13:55 <Crion> "But at normal levels of accrual and valuation..." 13:56 <Crion> Aster, finishing a bite: "There's much to recommend it. But I think I'll retire near the equator." 13:56 <Crion> "I don't mind the heat. Statistically, it seems a whole lot of paraphenomena do, though." 13:56 <Quaker> “Did you travel much? In your work?” 13:57 <Crion> "No." 13:57 <Crion> "Another advantage of somewhere in the islands." 13:57 <Quaker> “Ah. I recommend it. Or I guess I just recommend having money.” 13:57 <Crion> "I've lived in Philadelphia, Laredo, Texas, London, and now Manchester." 13:58 <Quaker> “Oh, Laredo? I worked in Juarez for a while. 2008 to 2010.” 13:59 <Crion> Grimly: "I mentioned the DHS mages. They were, specifically, ICE. And I was assigned as logistical support." 13:59 <Crion> "It was a bad three years." 13:59 <Crion> "...2008 to 2011." 14:00 <Quaker> “Yes, they were. Very bad.” 14:01 <Quaker> “I’m sure it made the serial killer hunting profile framework seem quite ridiculous at times.” 14:02 <Crion> Aster: "That wasn't the framework anymore. Obama defunded VASCU in his 2008 budget. We were decommissioned. Scattered to the winds. I was just doing..." He waves a frustrated hand. "What it sounds like I'd be doing. Trying to backsolve a cartel into anything media-facing." 14:04 <Crion> "Thankfully VASCU got refunded before Jade Helm." 14:05 <Quaker> “I don’t know what more the Americans could get out of that place that they don’t already benefit from. I suppose better PR. “ 14:06 <Quaker> “But I was very glad to leave.” 14:06 <Quaker> “Then it was here and there for a few years.” 14:06 <Crion> Aster: "There's..." 14:06 <Crion> He's on the verge of saying something but stops. 14:06 <Crion> After a pause: "Some of them think the border is a leyline." 14:07 <Crion> "They just need to figure out how to. I don't know how this works. How to turn it on." 14:08 <Crion> "I got the hell out of Laredo as soon as I could." 14:08 <Quaker> “Did you ever come across the Ascending Ones in your work? The Alchemists?” 14:09 <Crion> Aster: "Not by that name. People of interest who loved mixing up their own homebrews were not precisely rare, but there being a schema or ideology? That was." 14:10 <Crion> "As for potions or devices which, when consumed, fundamentally changed...mainly we had Christians focused on doctrinal transubstantiation." 14:12 <Quaker> Badawi moves the last of her mash around her plate. “I wouldn’t call it an ideology. More of an obsession. If you’d like to know more, I’m sure I’ll get around to telling Haldane someday.” 14:13 <Crion> Aster: "I wouldn't mean to press. But I am interested in at least the physics of invisibility on demand." He flags the waiter. "Check, please." 14:13 <Crion> "Split our meals." 14:14 <Crion> They have the expensive point-of-sale; he will be judging their waiter on splitting this check correctly. 14:14 <Quaker> “But. Yes. I do associate with some reliable professionals. They are very good at services which are necessary in this line of work, and value discretion. Laundry services, work supplies, moving things around…an excellent way to keep the money you make. And loyal, no dramatics.” 14:15 <Quaker> “Let me know if you ever need something in that way, and I’ll see what I can do.” 14:15 <Crion> Aster: "No dramatics is good. Given Willie and Bob." 14:15 <Crion> "It's not their fault, but. They are young." 14:15 <Crion> "I'll do that." 14:15 <Quaker> Badawi’s hand unconsciously raises to her temple. “Willie wants something more than money. No idea how to fix that.” 14:16 <Crion> The waiter arrives with the check expertly split. He gets a forty pound tip, because this is a restaurant where Aster wants to be known as a good tipper. 14:16 <Quaker> “Bob does too. I think he’d do it for free if he was unconnected, honestly.” 14:16 <Quaker> “I’ve tried talking him into growing up a bit. We’ll see.” 14:16 <Crion> Aster: "Yes. They need to harden up. But life will do that to them, if they stay alive enough to live it." 14:17 <Crion> He's actually not sure what tipping etiquette is here, but he knows he'll get away with it because he's American. 14:18 <Quaker> Badawi holds the door open for him as they leave. “You know, I’ve thought about it some and I still can’t figure out what Rolf would want from this except more money and just being able to continue in the same way he’s spent his whole life. Which sounds stupid, but…” 14:18 <Crion> Aster: "I think he needs people." 14:18 <Crion> "Not in any positive sense." 14:18 <Crion> "Mainly to insult, belittle, and eventually hurt." 14:19 <Crion> "But we had men like that in the hardcases back in Philly." 14:19 <Quaker> “Well…” 14:19 <Crion> Aster: "If we can direct that outward, he'll be very useful." 14:19 <Crion> "If not, well." 14:20 <Quaker> “Five more years. And then I can be one whole instead of one half. And I can keep the Rolfs of the world outside a nice heavy gate. And you’ll be halfway to retirement.” 14:20 <Crion> "He wouldn't have gotten this far if anyone previous had had to make that decision the other way." 14:20 <Crion> Aster nods. "It's a good dream." 14:20 <Quaker> “Let’s hope Sourjack can keep it together for six months.” 14:20 <Crion> "Good night, Susana Lajas." 14:21 <Quaker> “Goodnight, Mr. Aster. See you at work. Don’t let the teens bite.” 14:21 <Crion> He smiles thinly, and steps off the curb into the night.