Scene #6147: A Sorcerer Is Never Late

Owner	Pose
Doctor Strange	The relative peace of the Bar and Grill is momentarily disrupted. A line of orange sparks burns itself into existence, forming a circle. Once complete, this circle hosts a view into a spacious, well-furnished mansion. Within this mansion a man in a blue tunic and red cloak grows steadily closer. He has a thin, well-trimmed goatee, black hair with white streaks at the temples, and a pair of bright, studious green eyes. Around his neck hangs a bronze-gold medallion with an elaborate, labyrinthine pattern upon its face. This man steps through the ring of orange sparks, and with a flick of his wrist, the portal closes behind him. Doctor Stepehen Strange, Earth's Sorcerer Supreme, has invited several of his new colleagues to lunch. The meeting isn't secret, nor is the bar itself a private location. Those outside of Strange's professional circle are likely to be there, and as they will soon find out, the Doctor is nothing if not hospitable. That someone should join the Multiverse already aware of its intricacies has apparently made Strange something of a curiosity for some people. He has anticipated that, and has chosen to seat himself at a large, circular booth. Thanks to uploading a selfie from his smartphone, his co-workers should have little trouble finding him. The neutrality of the establishment, and the sorcerer's own hospitality, will see any strangers more than welcome to join. He checks his watch. Any minute now...
Thomas Alva Edison	A pair of Secret Service robots open the door, taking a moment to scan the room, before a large figure enters the room. With the head of a lion, and the body of Mayor Haggar, the man in the colors of AMERICA walks through the door, as another two Secret Service robots follow behind. They move to innoculious places in the room, and proceed to more or less blend in. They're not invisible, they just are really good (somehow) of being part of the background. The lion headed man walks towards Dr. Stephen Strange, extending a hand towards him. "Greetings, Dr. Strange I presume? I am Thomas Alva Edison. Yes it is me, do not mind the head." he says, somewhat boysterously, and sits down after the greetings are exchanged. "Thank you for inviting me out to lunch. While I do not have to eat, I still rather enjoy it still." "An interesting place, I do not think I have had the chance to visit it yet."
Evangeline	The Neuroi known as Evangeline is usually busy with drills or defense operations, but she happens to have a bit of free time and so has made her way here after receiving the invitation. Of course, she doesn't have a smartphone...or any kind of phone...but she herself is pretty similar to a computer so she didn't have any trouble finding the Doctor. There's a small chance that he might find the 'girl' unusual, since she is obviously some sort of construct and is completely black except for a few lights like those one might see on an aircraft and the glowing red panels on her small leg-wings. Oh, and the fact that she has no facial features whatsoever, like some kind of mannequin. She floats through the Bar and Grill without once touching the ground and moves to take a seat at Strange's table. The only sound she makes as she moves is a slight metallic sound similar to fingers moving across guitar strings. But, even taking a seat is relative, because she doesn't actually rest her weight in the chair. She just hovers in a seated position almost touching the chair. She is quiet for several long moments before finally tilting her head slightly at Doctor Strange and speaking in a soft, young girl's voice. "...hello...Doctor Strange...I am Evangeline, a member of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing..." Another perhaps unusual detail is that the sound is coming from a red watch with an overly large band that is around her right elbow, yet is also picked up by just about any speaker or ear-piece in the area. She looks toward Edison after that and offers a small bow in greeting. "...I have heard you on the comms...Presiking Edison, I think..?"
Orchid	The BnGatEotM is a good place to relax, to get to know someone, and be convivial. At least, that's part of the reason why Orchid came. Her own arrival is as a beam of light, flashing into a female figure in blue armor, one of Orchid's field uniforms. She steps out of the teleport chamber, and sees first the Lion of the White House (Edison is hard to miss) then the Sorcerer Supreme. She walks over with a cheery, "Hello! Mister Edison I know, and you must be Doctor Strange. I'm Orchid." She'll take a seat. "Spotter by profession, Reploid by species, and still interested in learning about magic and the multiverse." As someone else floats in, Orchid turns her head. "And hello Eva, good to see you again," she says to the odd looking female form.
Staren	Staren steps through one of the doors and doesn't find it strange at all, although he does pause briefly as he sees the people already here. He comes by the table they're seated at. "Evangeline! Long time no see." He looks between the others. "I hope things are going well... wait, reploids don't need to eat..." but as the words are leaving his mouth, he already realizes that was kind of a dumb comment. Obviously she's here to talk. Strange he gives a curious look to. "I'm Staren, Hand of the Concord. I don't believe we've met...?" He extends a hand and smiles slightly.
Tomoe	Tomoe was a very common face here at the bar, and had been that way since she escaped her Death Game several years ago. Tonight she was simply chilling out and she takes note of some face she knows of otherwise just gets her attention namely Doctor Strange. She had heard him on the radio. The fairly tall woman at least by human standards approaches the table as she sees other join up. the possibly Elf from the look of her is also not clad in combat armour but something far more sedate and on the modern end of thing jacket with a stylised GU on the back, black shirt, cargo pants of all things and hiking shoes, she also had long bridged earings on her pointy elf-like ears. "Tomoe the Iron Like Vice Guild Master of the Gate Craster Union." "Evening Orchid, Staren. Mr Edison, Eva."
Mercy	Mercy shows up clutching a cup of coffee. This is entirely unsurprising from everyone who is in the Paladins. To be frank, anyone that knows how much any given doctor runs around on any given day can probably guess that this is not surprising in the absolute slightest. What is saddening is the lack of actual coffee in the cup. Finally, however, she looks up from her cup, blinks, and realizes she's not at her normal post.. mid... does she ever not-work place. "Good afternoon Presiking - Lady Tomoe." She says, faintly, sipping at her cup. She's still wearing a labcoat. It has a nametag saying 'Angela' on it.
Doctor Strange	"Yep. That's me." Strange shakes hands with Edison. The Caster can see that his hands are heavily scarred. His handshake is firm, but there is a slight trembling of his hands despite that. "Of course... Mr. Presiking." He's really trying to be polite, but /that word,/ man. Ahem. "This is the Bar and Grill at the End of the Multiverse. ...think the owner was a Douglas Adams fan. It's far away from anything important, but super easy to get to. Figured it'd be a good spot for our little... company lunch." Evangeline's arrival is noted not with confusion, but with something like academic interest. His emerald eyes study her relatively featureless construction. Her introduction takes a moment to process, but he recognizes her voice from the radio. "Right," he says, recognition evident upon his face. "Hi, Evangeline. Nice to meet you." He offers a slightly trembling hand, but retracts it if she doesn't seem to 'do' handshakes. Just based off of outward appearances, it doesn't look like she eats in the same way he does. So, he tries to be a good host, asking an open-ended question without putting too fine a point on it. "Anything I can get you?" Orchid is offered a handshake, too. "Orchid, hi," says the sorcerer. "I can give you the rundown. To an extent." He leans back in his seat. A waiter moves to begin assisting them, but Strange waves him off. "Don't sweat it, I got us." A row of portals opens up around the table, and menus for the establishment fall in place for each person seated at the table... plus one for Staren, and two more. "Relax, you're still getting a tip." Strange rises from his seat and leans over the table to shake Staren's hand. "We've met," he says. His voice might be familiar to the scientist from the radio. "Just not in person. Doctor Stephen Strange, Earth's Sorcerer Supreme. How's it going, Staren?" As others did, Staren will notice that Strange's handshake is firm, yet his hand trembles slightly. "Please," says the sorcerer, gesturing to one of the two extra menus. "Join us." Mercy takes a moment for Strange to recognize... until that accent. The nametag with her first name and the labcoat just confirm it. "Oh, Dr. Ziegler. Right?" He inclines his head slightly, raising his eyebrows inquisitively. Mercy doesn't know it yet, but he is going to be one of the few people who call her that consistently. "C'mon over, join us. Plenty of room." "...and there's our last one," says Strange upon Tomoe's entrance. "Come on, come on, don't be shy." The sorcerer beckons to Tomoe, inviting her to take a seat. He nods, upon her introduction. "I've heard of you guys. You do good work." Again, the newcomer gets a handshake. Strange returns to his seat. "Be right back, guys." Thumbs and forefingers press together, crossed over his chest. He drags them across his chest, hands making a sign that resembles an open eye. The medallion upon his chest opens up, its labyrinthine design apparently a complex, astrolabe-esque housing for a brilliantly glowing emerald. The doctor disappears in a flash of green light... For like, three seconds. He reappears shortly after as if nothing had happened. "There, that's taken care of." Causality is an exacting mistress. "Now, uh, where were we?"
Orchid	Orchid will accept the handshake, but eyerolls a bit at Staren. "Need, no, but I can taste, and draw some useful materials from food." She's not offended at him, choosing to be amused by his ability to nibble his toenails with his boots on. "Tomoe, good to see you too," she says to the other friend she knows. "And you must be Angela," she says to Mercy. Once the menus arrive, she'll order something rich in carbohydrates and oils: a large serving of the house fries. "I think we had just arrived, and were choosing a subject of discussion... And do you know anything about the undead?" she asks, completely seriously. She's come across some things she'd like to know more about.
Thomas Alva Edison	"Ah...yes, a good decision," Edison agrees after a moment. People start filling in, including one he has a...tenious relationship to at best. To Evangeline, he nods, offering a small bow out of respect to her greeting, "Nice to actually meet you in person," Edison says, though noting the unnaturalness to her. Orchid is also given a wave, "Good evening, Ms. Orchid," he offers, "I see you have found time to relax. Though I admit, I tend to always want to be doing something, even if it is time I am supposed to be using to rest." He looks towards Mercy, trying not to laugh at the situation, but it's hard to hide on his face. Despite it being a head of a lion, it is awfully expressive. "Doctor, nice of you to join us." "Ms. Tomoe, nice of your to join us as well. How have you been? Also, for the moment we can just settle on Mr. Edison or Thomas." Towards Staren, he finally levels his gaze. "Mr. Staren, how is life treating you?" He asks, at least attempting politeness.
Evangeline	Evangeline looks over as Staren appears and raises one of her sleeve-like arms in greeting. "...hello Staren...it is nice to see you again..." she says in her soft voice, then holds her arm toward him. "...look...I still have your gift...I wear it every day..." she says, showing him the computer watch she was given quite a while back now. She also raises an arm toward Orchid. "...hello Orchid...did you bring any spider bots...?" she asks, looking around a bit. Dr. Strange asks her a question and Evangeline gives a small shrug. "...I can eat most anything..." she says, though how she might actually eat those things remains a mystery for now.
Staren	Recognition flashes on Staren's face when he hears the voice. "Ah, good to meet you in person, Doctor." Tomoe gets a nod and a smile, "Tomoe" and he takes the offered seat. "'Company outing'? Was this a meeting of the Paladins?" He tilts his head to one side slightly. "The undead? No more than anyone else... there are so many kinds. Viral, magical, not actually zombies but flesh golems... ghosts, vampires, ugh..." Staren smiles in reply to Thomas. "Well, I made Hand, so things are going pretty well, I think!" Evangeline provides a pleasant surprise, "I'm glad you're getting use out of it! Most people don't realize how useful they are... Theo's the only other one that really took to it, I think."
Mercy	"Angela, Doctor Zeigler-" Mercy raises an eyebrow back at Strange, but a smile crosses her lips- "Mercy. I'll respond to any of those instinctively. Unless I'm dead due to a lack of coffee. Or sleeping. The last two happen... rarely, but they do." Mercy slides into a offered seat, sipping the last of her coffee- Her gaze is on his as he does a delicate enough hand motion, watching the medallion open. She stares at the light, one eyebrow furrowing slightly, but then he disappears - she blinks - and there he is again. Her eyebrows go back to normal, but there's the considering look at him, at least until the waiter shows, at which point she orders a coffepot. Not just a cup, but the full carafe - and a clean cup. (Cream, as well.) The sugar selection is carefully taken into her hands.
Tomoe	Tomoe looks to Mercy for a moment. "Hello, Angela." With that she turns her attention to Dr Strange and shakes his hand in turn. She seems to not expecting The Doctor know who the GU are but it seems that Doctor Strange is fairly informed. "Thank you, we do as trite as it sounds try." Strange heads out for a moment as she's pretty darn sure some form of magic was used but she doesn't ask, she's hung out with Arthur and company and so many other strange folks? She knows this kinda thing just happens. "You forgot digital ones Staren. Good to see you as well Orchid." She'll make her moment to sit now as she looks at Mr. Edison. "Jobs here and there, finally got the situation with the broken quest settled and we managed to not kill anyone in the process. So I'm going to call that better than I hoped." She is talking in modern gaming terms but clearly not in a gaming context. "How have the repairs on Boston been going?"
Evangeline	Evangeline notices Doctor Strange offering a handshake, and she regards the slightly shaky hand for a moment before she extends her own arm. At first, she doesn't even seem to have a hand. But, as she leans forward to reach, fingers emerge from the end of her 'sleeve', forming into a hand that looks as though she is wearing a jacket just a bit too long for her. She grasps the doctor's hand carefully, then...shakes rather vigorously for several moments before finally releasing him again. The Doctor then displays the power of his amulet, and Evanegline actually flinches. Then she is still as stone, and is only just starting to look around when he reappears, which causes her to flinch again. "...what...happened..?"
Doctor Strange	Strange orders a big, spicy patty melt with a side of cheese curds. The picture on the place's extensive menu makes it look only marginally less greasy than Orchid's item. The answer to her question about the undead is given like a merchant in a bazaar matter-of-factly stating his price. "I'll do 'how to destroy them,' 'benevolent examples,' or 'prevention.' 'All of the above' is okay, too." He nods at Staren. "Yeah. The /specific/ answer depends on the type you're asking about." He picks up on Edison's remark to Tomoe. That Edison is fine with being called 'Mr. Edison' in this moment seems to be a point of relief for the sorcerer. "Alright," says Strange to Evangeline. "Cool. Just wanted to make su-u-u-re." The doctor pauses, looking askance at her after that wild handshake. "Hell of a grip you've got there." He made sure she was included in those given a menu, just in case. "Oh, this?" He holds up the amulet. "Nothing, really. Just had to let someone know to expect company." Staren seems to be worried he's intruding, so the good doctor is quick to reassure him. "Nah," says the doctor with a dismissive wave of his hand. "It's lunch. You're welcome to join us," he says. "In fact, I insist." A swarm of glimmering red motes like otherworldly fireflies converge into the shape of Staren's name, then form an arrow pointing to the nearest spot in the large, circular booth. They disperse afterwards. Mercy's admission about her sleep habits earns her a doctor-to-doctor 'you know better than that' look. The sheer excess of ordering the entire pot sees it intensify slightly, with an inclination of the head and an Imperiously Arched Brow. He doesn't say anything out of professional courtesy, but she knows That Look. While he doesn't directly say anything about it, he does probe with a relatively inocuous question that could be taken for polite conversation. "Are you... Enhanced? Powered? Gifted? ...Costco member?" "Nothing wrong with being sincere." Strange says to Tomoe with a certain firmness. "Fake humility, that's another story, but I don't get that vibe from you." Pause. "Could be wrong. So, you know, no pressure."
Staren	Staren smiles at the motes of light. He would do the same, were he a sorcerer! He takes the seat and oh right, food. Staren doesn't actually look at the menu and opts for... bluefish fillet, with a side of those house fries Orchid's trying and sweet tea to drink. "Nice to meet you too, Dr. Zeigler." Staren offers her a handshake. He chuckles at Strange's question to Mercy, but his ears rotate towards her to hear her answer.
Thomas Alva Edison	Edison isn't exactly sure what Tomoe is talking about, but can at least get the basic understanding of 'something was broken, but it got fixed'. "Well, I am glad it worked out in the end, and without any casualties," Edison gives her a nod. With that, Edison orders himself a Bacon cheeseburger, medium rare, and a side of french fries. Of course, he gets a Coke Zero, because lesser beverages are not allowed to pass his lips. "I am glad to hear that, Staren." he responds to the man. "Congratulations on your promotion. I do, also, want to express my appreciation for your stand for my city. I do not think I did so, despite our strife at the time." The topic of Boston comes up, and Edison lets out a small sigh. "Clean up is underway, a lot of effort has been made. People are shaken, especially with the news about what caused it, but this is made more difficult by the fact the Mages Association is quashing it beyond our borders. Things between me and the Association is...tenious at best, especially after the incident with the magic crest." he explains. "I want to do something more with Boston, I need to build it bigger...better, safer. The next time that fish liped man comes, he will break on our walls."
Mercy	Angela gives Strange that 'yes I know better' look. She then sips the rest of the coffee she brought in with her. With that exchange of professional courtesy, her gaze flickers to his hands briefly. One eyebrow raising slightly, giving him that 'I am curious as to what happened' look, before he asks his questions of her, and she laughs into her cup. "A moment, Doctor Strange- it's a pleasure to meet you, Staren. I've heard you before the radio. A intriguing personality you have." She returns his handshakle with a good, firm grip, before releasing it. She leaves that there. "None of the above, actually. Technically I'm just very, very skilled in human biology and am capable of using streams of nanotechnology and my own surgical skills to allow people to live longer, forever, and raising people from the dead - back to who they were before, as hale and as hearty as they were before."
Orchid	Orchid chuckles. "Well, there is a collection of battlefield spirits, I'd like to help them move on from their hate and anger before they do too much damage." At Eva's question, a spider bot crawls out onto her shoulder. The design is based off a jumping spider, so it looks much more 'Lucas the' than a creepy crawlie. "Oh, I usually have a few on me," she says with a smile. "You wanted one as a pet, right? Give me a moment." She picks up the spider, and makes eye contact with it. Is she giving it silent instructions? Maybe.
Evangeline	Evangeline is quiet for a few moments after Strange's rather simple explanation for his disappearing act, but she isn't one to press such matters. She just nods lightly and picks up her menu. "...thank you..." she says quietly to his compliment of her grip before she starts ordering. She for some reason doesn't order any entrees. Just all desserts, especially desserts very high in sugar. Ice cream with lots of caramel topping and sprinkles, slices of lemon and pecan pie, and some fudge. She can't really smile, but her cat-like tail does give a little swish when Staren seems pleased to see the computer watch. She listens to the two doctors talk, then softly says, "...Major Sakamoto won't let the other Strike Witches stay up late...she says it could affect their performance in combat..." A spiderbot crawls onto her shoulder, and she turns her head slightly before tilting her head a bit as Orchid picks it up. "...they are cute..." she says, waiting to see what Orchid is doing. But while she waits she looks toward Staren again and nods in agreement with Edison. "...yes...congratulations..."
Tomoe	Tomoe says "Food sounds pretty good to me and this is one of the most diverse places when it comes to getting a bite to eat. I hope I'm not full of false modesty that will get one killed eventually." it hits her that Mr. Edison might not know about what happened only after they speak. "My earth's become a bit strange due to the multiverse. Several VR games have fused with reality and a lot has changed due to that." She'll get her order in now and seems to be pretty chill for the moment she does pause to summon a menu, she taps on it and her jacket vanishes after she enters a command. The menu then vanishes much like the jacket did before it. "Working with Admiral Nagato's fleet I take it Orchid?" "Sounds like that's a serious issue with that, I take it they don't operate in America? I'm not much good at building things I'm afraid, but making ready is never a bad thing. Given the state of the multiverse can be insane. I'd advise hunting him down and finding where he drops anchor before he hooks up with someone as bad or worse than himself." She pauses for a moment looking at Mercy "...How much of a body do you need and how long can they be dead for?"
Staren	Staren nods at Edison's words, "Thank you, and you're welcome." He frowns slightly at the mention of the Mage's Association. "So you don't agree with them either?" Mercy's explanation is an incredible surprise, and a pleasant one! Staren's eyes widen and he smiles wide like... like... well, like someone else just implied that people living forvever and bringing them back from the dead are GOOD things. "That's wonderful to hear! So few people get it! If you ever need any help in your endeavors, let me know!"
Orchid	Orchid nods, and hands the spider back to Eva. "I'll let you name him, but he'll be a loyal pet to you." Said spider will, given the chance, give Eva a hug around the neck. Orchid nods to Tomoe. "Yeah, that whole business... It should be finished, but I feel sorry for those abyssals, given what they could be if they gave up on their anger." Over in Angela's direction, she supplies a smile. "I was built as a Search and Rescue agent," she admits. "Still keep a set of rubber gloves ready on me." She taps her wrist. "Sometimes humans, sometimes fellow robots."
Doctor Strange	"...Coke Zero. Well, if you have to do diet..." Still, 'the best diet drink' is like being first in line at the DMV. You're still at the DMV. "The Association can be, uh... difficult." He's pretty sure Evangeline is a child of some sort, so he doesn't say what's really on his mind. "Let me know if you need any help with them, Mr. Edison." God, that rolls off the tongue /so/ much easier. He seems to be taking the lion-head thing in stride, but you never know. He might ask one of these days. Strange's hands are the elephant in the room. He notices Angela's attention lingering upon them, and explains, since she was nice enough to give her answer. He doesn't seem to mind waiting for her, either. "Well, I never got /that/ far," he begins, impressed with her list of accomplishments. "Hippocrates would be proud." He idly drums his fingers upon the table while the waiter takes everyone's orders and menus. Once that momentary, socially obligatory bit of waiting is over, she gets her explanation. "Lamborghini Huracan," he says openly, in a tone that suggests exactly what he was doing. That car? That tone? Speeding. "Went over a guardrail. Console smashed the instruments over my hands." It would explain the scarring. Some are neat, clean, surgical. Others look like he punched through a plate glass window. The sheer amount of surgical scars mixed in with the patchwork suggests extensive procedures were necessary to even get his hands to this point--and many of them appear experimental even by her standards. He must have spent a lot of money after the accident. "Easy," says Strange to Orchid. "Empathy, listening. Something that belonged to them, if they're stubborn." He pauses, to make sure she understands, clarifying. "Sometimes it takes a personal touch to snap them out of it. I've got some books you can read. A few are, uh... a little new-agey, but there's good stuff in them between the crystal-waving. Don't worry about returning 'em. They'll come back." "Major Sakamoto's right," says Strange to Evangeline with a nod. "It's harder for them to think if they don't get enough sleep. You can tell the others it affects work /and/ play. So, y'know, the major's really doing them a favor." He smirks--and gives Mercy a smarmy side-eye. That's probably the last of it. Maybe. "It's a touchy subject," says the doctor to Staren, on the matter of immortality. "But you probably knew that already." He sounds pretty on-the-fence about it, and couldn't more clearly be trying to avoid a big drawn out argument.
Thomas Alva Edison	He listens to Tomoe, parsing the explanation together as she puts it down for him. "That sounds...very interesting, and a bit fightening, I imagine, to the normal person. Though, it is always mankinds desire to explore something new that he creates worlds to do that in. I imagine there was a responible party for the incident, and that it may have been such a man, at heart that is." Towards Staren, he shrugs. It wasn't any secret about his disapproval at the Mages Association, "Well, I did broker a deal with the Concord over the ownership of a certain magical crest. They kept it in a location without the Paladin's knowledge, and negotiated with the Concord in bad faith, apparently." "It took a lot to convince Lady Priscilla that my intentions were sincere, and I took a chance on brokering peace, than fighting it out. More to the point, should I have gone right to combat, there is no small chance that the object would have been destroyed, thus putting another lead onto the situation of our world out of our hands. I was forced to choose between my duty to our 'allies' who have acted in bad faith and against our goals, and my world...potientally dealing with someone who could cut us out. I decided to take a chance." He takes a drink of his Coke Zero, looking towards strange. "I rather like it's flavor, less sweet than normal Coke." "Yes, it is also as the Doctor says, very complicated. They are a organization entrenched in centuries of tradition, with a sorrid past. However, their masqurade is falling apart. The multiverse encroaches, and shows more interest in our world, especially with acts of what happened with the Crest. I chose to break the news on my own terms."
Mercy	Mercy goes down the list of responses in order, her gaze focusing on Tomoe first. "Twenty five percent of the body at a minimum I would say, I don't need to see it, and at least within a thirty meter minimum of the majority of the remains - or within three end goals of a football field, so to say." At the time, she makes a little gesture. "I don't know." She says, quietly. "I've never tried it when one has been dead for longer than some minutes; so..." Staren and Orchid: "It's lovely to hear others think the same, Staren." She says, quietly, simply. "I went into medical school before I turned legal age to care of myself: I've been a overachiever in that combination of fields for a long time." A grin at Orchid. "I am search and rescue, yes. I use a enviornmental, flight-enabled protection suit to protect myself in the process." Strange talks about what happened, and Angela winces. She's not entirely happy with what he admits too, but it's too late to scold him now. Instead, she leans back in her chair, her gaze focused on his hands - then his eyes. Her gaze is steady, before she reaches for his hand, offering hers. "A hand that is broken but continues to do good is still the hand of a healer, and you will be one, then, now, and forever."
Evangeline	Evangeline gets a spiderbot of her very own! It hugs her around the neck and she is still for a few moments before slowly wrapping her arms around it and hugging it in return. Then, she gathers it up and cradles it against her chest like some kind of plushie. "...thank you, Orchid..." she says. Her voice lacks much emotion and her face lacks it even more, but the way she is hugging that spiderbot, almost curling up with it, makes it clear that she loves it and somewhat confirms that she is some sort of child. "...I will call it...Charlotte..." Strange's words to Evangeline cause her to look his way, then toward Mercy. "...I don't have to sleep...some people say that is good...but it can be lonely when all the humans and things are sleeping and I am awake...and I can't talk to the other Neuroi..." Immortality debates are a bit above her usual level of conversation, and Stephen doesn't seem like he wants to talk about it either so Evangeline doesn't comment. The conversation of beverages does earn a comment, though. "...I...cannot drink water-based drinks...they interfere with my energy production..." she says. Mercy's words to Strange make Evangeline look between them before she tilts her head lightly. "...I thought magic was good at healing people..?" she asks just as her desserts arrive. She sets her spiderbot in her lap and picks up the spoon for her ice cream. She carefully takes a spoonful and holds it toward her head. For a moment she is still, then an opening appears where a mouth should be. Inside it is glowing with a soft red light. She pokes the spoon into her mouth and closes it, but rather than pulling the spoon free without ice cream on it...she tilts her head slightly as she pulls back only the handle of the spoon. "...ah...oops..." she says quietly...then just slides the handle in as well. "...excuse me...I need another spoon..."
Tomoe	Tomoe says "I very much so is a nightmare for someone who isn't ready to fight, it is interesting as well. The fusion was due to the multiverse quake that wrecked the Union and the Confederacy. Before that, though there was a man who trapped ten thousand people in a death game, the only way out was to beat the final boss. The man who did it is dead, fried his own brain trying to digitize himself and now his data ghost is running about the multiversal internet." She listens to Mercy, there are enough remains but when she heats the time limit she slumps a bit at it in defeat and seems to accept it. "Still an amazing power but the people I was thinking of are nearly half a decade dead." % She thinks for a moment on what Edison says. "It will likely be better for your nation's well being, in the long run, to be aware of it. As for the rest of it breaking? It could be ... a big problem. You can't hide from the multiverse forever in the end." Tomoe will pass Eva a spoon if she needs it.
Staren	Staren nods to Strange's comment on the subject, and gives a small annoyed sigh to Edison's comment about a man behind the troubles on Tomoe's world. Kayaba may not be /directly/ responsible for the merging of the VR and real worlds, but... Anyway, moving on. His eyebrows raise slightly at Edison's claim, and he stares into space for several seconds, glancing over reports. "I understand that the Mage's Association member who did that was also a Paladin?" Staren shrugs. "I guess that's the way of the new world, though. Our Captain Flint decided to support the monsters at Boston. At least we can tell you what we find out; If that isn't the information you asked for, I'll inquire about it anyway." Mercy's claims... "Search and rescue them even from death, mm? Impressive." He is sincerely impressed! "The method I've found requires an intact brain and takes some time." he shares. And speaking of medicine... he looks to Strange. "I don't suppose cybernetic hands would be compatible with the magic you practice? Or is this one of those things where the injury has made an imprint on your... Aura, and so it doesn't matter anyway?"
Doctor Strange	"I wasn't one then," says Strange. "I studied, I took the oath, sure. But my intentions weren't good." The doctor withdraws his hand from hers after a moment. "I want to make up for it. So... thanks. For the vote of confidence." Before long, anyone yet to receive their order has it brought out, and Strange wastes no time digging into his patty melt. "Oh, God, that's good," he says between bites. "Gotta remember to tool around at home, see if I can figure out the recipe." The sorcerer briefly puts the melt down to wipe his mouth with a napkin. Strange is eager to talk shit about the Mages' Association--to anyone who'll listen. "The Association is only as protective as they need to be to cover their own..." A look at Evangeline, then back to Tomoe. "...involvement. They'll bend over backwards for new toys, but show up asking for goodwill and they're nowhere to be found. If you're not one of them, you're little people. Unless you have something they want. Then they'll play ball." Evangeline's display with the spider-bot warms even Strange's smarmy heart. Aside to Orchid, "I think she likes it." He goes back to eating his melt, picking up on some of Evangeline's cues. She's some sort of child, mentally, who's with other children as some sort of task force or training program. He's not sure how he feels about working with what's essentially a child soldier, but... she seems fine, in the limited interaction he's had. He'll have to ask more questions of her later. "It is," replies Strange with a nod. "I healed people with medical science, for the wrong reason. Now I can heal them with magic, for the right reason." Evangeline will find, after her little mistake, a new spoon in her ice cream. Strange nods toward it to draw her attention, then gives her an our-little-secret grin. "They'd help, absolutely, yeah," says Strange openly to Staren. "I could do my magic with /no/ hands. I could even fix these ones right now, scars and everything. I just won't. They're a... reminder of the guy I was." The sorcerer gives the scientist a meaningful look. "And an incentive to do better. To /be/ better. The shaking's a fair price to pay for that. Thanks for the offer, Staren, but I have to decline."
Orchid	"A bit further than I can do, I am impressed," Orchid says, nodding to Mercy. At Doctor Strange's offer, "Thank you, but I'll try and get them back anyway. It's a mater of personal honor." A moment to eat her fries. "But it sounds like your hands are weaker, but the person is stronger? I guess that works."
Staren	Here's the food! Staren digs into the fish, leaning over the table slightly in case it falls off of his fork. "Mm!" He nods at Strange's explanation. The doctor's not letting stubbornness hold him back, he seems confident that he doesn't /need/ the hands thanks to his magic, so... if he wants to be sentimental about them, that's alright. "Ah! It's ready." Staren says, with no explanation. Moments later, a woman with long electric-violet hair and wearing a simple black dress walks in from the door carrying a plate of foamed metal squares dusted with sugar. The way she walks and her expression says 'android', and she wordlessly sets the plate on the table in front of Evangeline, to the side of her ice cream, before giving a polite nod to those assembled and walking off again. Staren watches Evangeline's reaction.
Evangeline	Evangeline reaches over to take Tomoe's offered spoon, then looks back to find...she already has one. Her ears flick and her tail gives a swish of curiousity before she notices the grin from Strange. She tilts her head lightly before nodding slightly. But, before she can continue eating what sounds like some kind of air raid siren sound comes from her watch. She looks down quickly, a motion very noticable considering her usual motions, then at her desserts. "...I must go...there is an incoming Neuroi attack..." she says, then pushes her collection of sugary treats close together. She holds and arm out and soft beams of red light engulf the food...and it disappears in little pops like bubble wrap being popped. The light lasts only a moment. Presumably the dishes would be in danger if it lasted much longer. Staren's treats aren't simply absorbed like that, though. They are a gift, and she pauses a moment before looking at Staren. "...please...have them delivered...?" she asks. Of course, Dr. Strange could probably handle that if he so chose. Once that's done she floats up from her chair, once again hugging the little spiderbot. "...thank you for the food...it was nice to meet you all...and to see those of you I've already met..." she says and bows at the waist. The bow turns into a somersault before she turns toward the door and flies off like a rocket, that metallic whisper still the only sound she makes as she flies.
Thomas Alva Edison	To Tomoe he nods, taking his burger and biting it. Perfectly done, it's probably strange, wo watch a lion headed man eat like a normal person, though he does take slightly larger bites. I mean, it's still a lion's head. After a few fries, he speaks, "I see...I am sorry then. Though, I am happy to hear your world has people that do not constantly have to live in conflict, or did. It was a world I wanted to create, a one where man did not need to worry about the strength of arms of another man, or nation." He also nods at her accessment, "That is why I made the announcement I did. To tear the bandage off sooner, than let the infection linger. I caught flak for that almost immediately." "And yes, Staren, he is a Paladin and a member of the association. He really did not like my dealing with the Concord, he liked me dressing him down on our radio even less." He says, shaking his head. "He's a good lad, but he's drinking the kool-aid, Perhaps he has simply yet to admit to himself of either what kind of man he really is, or that the Organization is not a good one." "That is entirely correct, Doctor." he says towards Strange, looking towards him next. "Even after I assisted in cleaning up many of their messes. I think it is high time I start implimenting magical counter measures into our armed forces, both to better assist with defeating enemies that conventional armies are not prepared for, and to deal with their rampant mages who are deciding to commit Magic Crimes in the US. Also, in case they decided to enforce their silence on my people by force." He waves towards Eva as she leaves. What a nice, but really really strange, girl. "I am a man of science, it is infact very ingrained into my very being. Though I do appreciate you seem to take a schollar's approach to the art, rather than...others.."
Mercy	Mercy waves a hand. "The past teaches us the lessons we use now." She says it so simply. That being said, a full on carafe of coffee - and two cups - get deposited, along with cream. Angela would purr if she were a cat. Instead, she dresses up a coffee just enough to take off the edge of straight black cafe coffee, and drinks. Coffee is love. Coffee is life. She does reach over to pat Tomoe, though. "I'm sorry." She says to the other, gently. Staren gets a nod. "Aye, I... the nanotechnology does wonders for me." Then, to Strange: "Could anyone learn the Mystic Arts you have mastered?"
Tomoe	Tomoe nods to Eva as she has to get going. "Good luck and keep safe." Once Eva has left she humm to Mr. Edison. "Felt? Ya he doesn't seem fueled by Wizard Hubris, so he has that going for him. Good to be ready, my home world's magic is more of a emulation that actual magic." She takes a bite of her meal thinks then swallows befor speaking again. "Couldn't the basic scientifc method be applied to magic? It's got it's own rules and the like of how it works?" She seem to welcome the pat. "I'll take an elected goverment ot heck an out in the open King or dicator over some shadow kabal who messes with things."
Staren	Staren nods at the request to deliver. "See you later, Evangeline!" He'll let the Paladins bring them to her if they want, of course. He also nods along with eveything Edison says about the Mage's association and the virtue of letting magic's existence be known. And also to Tomoe's observation. "Of course! Mages who don't already practice science are often opposed or at least uninterested in letting others study it so, though. He moves a forkful of home fries to his mouth and watches for Strange's reply to Mercy intently as he chews.
Doctor Strange	Strange nods at Orchid--in response to both her assurance that the books will be returned, and her understanding of his situation. "Yeah," he says. It's not inaccurate to say that Kamar-Taj can heal both the body and the soul. "I got the cure I didn't know I needed." Staren calling in a favor with an android to give Evangeline sweets elicits an impressed look from the sorcerer. "That was nice," he says. When Evangeline's watch goes off, Strange frowns--it would appear she is some sort of child soldier. He'll definitely have to talk to her later because he's /never/ heard of that working out well. Perhaps, he'll pay this Major of hers a visit. "Bye, Evangeline. Fly safe." Strange conjures a portal upon the table. With a wave of a hand, it engulfs the metal treats Staren brought, and swallows them up, leaving an empty spot. "I'll see that she gets them," he says to the scientist. Mercy's question gets a direct answer. "In the same way that anyone can be an astronaut. You have to be resourceful enough to find our centers of learning--we're not on the internet or in a phone book." He takes a moment to finish the first half of his melt. Wiping his mouth, he continues. And now that Evangeline's left, he does so without his language filter. "The journey to find us is kind of a learning experience in itself. In a lot of ways. We also turn away douchebags at the door." At that, the collar of the sorcerer's high-collared cloak reaches over and tries to stroke his cheek. He huffs as if trying to blow an errant strand of hair back into place, avoiding the cloak. "Stop," the annoyed sorcerer quietly utters. Tomoe and Edison both seem interested in the fact that he isn't spouting mystic babble and trying to deliberately mystify everything. "Absolutely," replies Strange to the former. "That's what my teacher did to help me learn. Reality's a computer, and magic is programming." Edison gets a detailed response, and an alternative take on Staren's. "Science and magic are both dense, specialized fields that someone with an exploitative mindset can hide in. Someone more concerned with getting a leg up on the other guy than academic interest or goodwill. The obscuring cloud of mystic crap is there to help us spot those personality traits and prune them if we can. It's kinda necessary to prevent a well-educated dick from becoming an even-better-educated dick." "Plus. Come on. 'The Vaulting Boots of Valtorr' is way cooler to say than 'anti-gravity boots.'" He smirks, and tears into his cheese curds like it's going out of style, finishing them within a minute, tops. "Anyway. I've gotta get back to work, but this was nice." With a wave of his hand, a portal opens up in the ceiling above him. He simply flies straight up so no one has to get up to let him out. The portal closes behind him, leaving the others to enjoy their lunch. Somehow, money to cover the meal--everyone's--found its way to the table. Either Strange is loaded or /stupid/ generous.