Behind The Veil

[Drew Johnson]

The Voices were bad again today. Spirits would communicate with the Shaman in a number of ways, but trends inevitably happened, methods fell into fashion. Recently the spirits of the neighborhood he was crashing in had begun talking to him en-mass. Worse still they wanted him to talk back to them. 

Drew was at his wits end. It was time to go. He'd packed up his Spartan belongings and hit the road. He kept walking till the ground stopped talking to him. 

When he looked up he was far away. All he could hear were the smallest spirits and a song just soft enough to confound his comprehension. Perfect. He sat at the nearest outdoor cafe, sighing as the salt and pepper shaker began to bicker before him.  

Putting the rapidly awakening furnishings to use, he asked them to welcome the source of the song to sit with him. Slowly, in their own time, the spirits spread the message. He sat back enjoying a, slightly offended by his slurping, glass of water. All he need do was wait or move on. 

[Colette Flerko]

Coerced into going out to eat, Colette didn't like it, she hated going out now, the sun, the people, too many eyes, too many faces and too many variables. It was far too easy to get tracked down and she didn't want to run again. But the entity that had had goaded her was correct- she couldn't just not eat. Her cupboards were bare, and if she died from starvation, well...yes, nothing would ever get done.

She had backed down from a fight about it all, but she had turned off the headset at the very least so she could eat in peace.

At least the restaurant she found was open air, if she needed, she could just leave some money and run if things got too scary, she looked down at the grilled club sandwich below her and gingerly cut it in half, nibbling at the edges like she wasn't quite sure what she was doing. All dressed up and no where to go, she had put on proper clothes just to eat alone, and if you asked her...that was just freaking pathetic.

Poking her dinner with dejected gloom she hummed, attempting to make herself feel better as stared off into space, at first it was nothing, just sound in a loose melodic tune, but as she kept going...the faintest twinge of smirk building on her face, she was almost sardonically singing "What a Wonderful World" to herself.

"...I see skies of blue, and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world..."

Her voice was pretty, a former practiced musician, but there was a tired blasted out quality to it, it sounded hollow but at the very least it was not without soul, it was just whatever soul Colette still had was a battered thing. Not one that could recognize the spirits around her acting up, she was blind to such superstitious notions...Technocrats were the best at selective hearing, and the former Iterator was no different, except that her paranoia did go up a little as she grew more and more aware of her surroundings, song dying on her lips as she turned to watch a man about her age...

Not unattractive, but, odd, very odd, he was alone like she was, but...acting like he had company, not talking, but there were simple quirks of his face, a gesture of a hand here and there. Like he was listening to someone or something. It caused a shiver to run up her spine. The hell was he doing? Suspicion was starting to run abound, maybe he was just another suit with a headset keeping tabs on her, or maybe he was a potentially dangerous madman with a penchant for communicating with condiments. Her brows knitted as she squinted her eyes, scrutinizing the situation, the man, and his actions...

[Drew Johnson]

First came a recognition of the melodious noise. Drew chided himself for not recognizing the popular tune. It really was a wonderful world if you took the time to talk to it. 

In distant second came the knowledge that the song was coming from a set of human lips. What a pleasant surprise. Driven by the pure novelty of human contact he took the time to look into the woman's soul. 

He didn't like what he saw. It pained his humanity to see someone bound to such terrible fear. The Spirit World was like an emotional sponge and her discomfort was making the spirits around her anxious. He had to help, if only to ease the nervous tick his chair was beginning to develop. 

Unaware of his companion's true nature Drew made his move. Trying to make it look like an accident he spilled some of the salt on his table. Licking his finger he wrote the word and concept of "friend" into the grains before throwing them over his shoulder as was custom. He felt the message infused sodium touch the woman's shoulder, transferring his intent. 

"I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there. My name is Drew. Again I'm so sorry miss...?" he said giving her his most harmless and charming smile.

[Colette Flerko]

He was up to something.

Cole watched with sharp eyes, an accident that didn't look much like an accident- especially when he threw the leavings at her. The salt touching her shoulder made her wince like she had been scalded by fire, but she didn't flip the table or make a scene, instead she just froze, like a deer in headlights as he turned to introduce himself. Big steely eyes wide as he smiled.

Logically she was terrified, and there was nothing more she wanted to do than run, but she didn't or maybe she couldn't. Emotionally there was a block, a certain unlike-her amiability. He seemed friendly and she wanted to return the gesture.. But then again, it sprang to mind old biology classes about the cuckoo. How the bird would plant their eggs in anothers' nest to be cared for. It was exactly like that, only this man...this man was obviously implanting serotonin synapses instead of eggs.

She smiled, but it was crooked, almost a bit of a sneer, which didn't either expression didn't quite suit her haggard face, nor her worried eyes. "It's fine. Drew." Colette replied crisply, turning her gaze away as almost indignantly popped a fry into her mouth, chewing away and swallowing before looking back up. He was still there, and she didn't expect he'd go away simply. But he didn't seem to be one of them, so this so-called Drew was one of them. "Flerko." What the hell. The worst that could happen was that some reality deviant knew her name, which would be bad enough down the road for the poor guy. It was almost enough to make her twinge with something akin to regret, her tone softening before she spoke again.

"Join me? I don't think I can finish these fries by myself." she gestured to chair across from her, smile fading, but her expression going a more gentle neutral as he regarded him- cautious, but curious. She had never really gotten this close to one of the superstitious before. It was worth delving deeper just to in case it would be helpful somewhere down the line. "Doesn't look like you eat much." That sounded a bit more like she was scolding, but the corners of her mouth turned up ever so slightly as she made an amused sound.

[Drew Johnson]

Much to Drew's horror the woman noticed. There it was written plain as day on her soul. When the salt touched her she knew. That meant she must be...the kind of woman who invited him to sit down. After his rude introduction he was surprised by her offer of; a name, a seat, and even some fries, but beggars couldn't be chosers so he sat down immediately. 

"You're right I don't eat enough. I have problems with food more often then I'd like." he said offering a genuine glimpse into one of his deeper psychological problems. 

"I'm really sorry about the salt." he said his voice and soul-mind filling with genuine contrition.

" I just wanted to introduce myself. You looked like you could use some company. I'm sorry if I've interrupted, but your meal doesn't think you're up to anything important at the moment and you seemed afraid. Perhaps I can help, I've faced my fair share of fears." he offered failing to notice the technology about her. Had he known he was dealing with a Technocrat he might well have run for his life and soul. 

[Colette Flerko]

"First world problems." Cole brushed it off but she noted that it was a strange intimacy of information for a complete stranger to divulge. She nodded slightly, popping another fry in her mouth. "But a lot of people have...issues with food, either they have it, or they don't, Or if they do they eat too much or not at all..." Her head tilted as she talked, she could empathize with Drew about food, but...it was, by merit of society his (and her) damn fault. "It could be worse, in some parts of the world, you wouldn't have a choice, you'd just be starving. In third world countries...eating disorders are a luxury people can't afford."

She waited a moment, checking to see if he'd actually eat, but she doubted it. Instead he stumbled over apologies which was...frustrating to say the least. "No, you aren't sorry about the salt. You are sorry you got caught...about the salt." she was trying to play the tough, her melodic voice throaty and her demeanor mean, but she was hardly that sort of woman, she huffed a sigh and rolled her eyes as she tapped her fingers on the table.

Her? Frightened? Goddamn right she was. She wasn't insane. "Astute." there was more than a fair amount of sarcasm playing on her face as she smiled and leaned in. "So tell me Drew, what is it that you do know about fear?" This might be interesting, it might have even been hilarious, she almost wanted to turn her headset on so Entity One could hear it, he'd love that. Then again he always had the gallows humor out of the two of them. "I mean, you know...how to handle it."

But she didn't, instead, Cole leaned back in her chair and lifted her brows, awaiting an answer with utmost eagerness.

[Drew Johnson]

It was hard not to be insulted by the woman's trivialization of his bouts of anorexia. He thought about countering her point, but that wasn't why he was here. Her fear had bothered the spirits, her bitchiness hadn't, it was just that simple. 

"I agree that my...well anorexia period are a first world problem. Most third world countries don't have refrigerators, let alone ones possessed by a demon." he said recounting a small piece of a pain which had defined him. He took a few fries with more effort then he was proud to admit. 

"As for fear I have many experiences in the area. The demon and my issues with food aside, I've had to face many strange beings and the fear that comes with such deeds. And of course there are the problems which the Metal Men and the spiders they serve. I fear having my soul stolen by the Metal Men, but I suppose that is a fear that all the Traditions must face." he said without a hint of irony. He assumption of VA or Etherite status still well in effect. 

"But perhaps since I shared my fears with you, you might share yours with me. I promise not to mock them. Our moods paint the world, perhaps together we can change the colors of yours." 

[Colette Flerko]

At the mention of bedeviled refrigerators, Colette's eyebrows shot up. Cynical, she was cynical but surprisingly gentle in tone, like she almost...pitied the deluded man. "You know, when I have a medical issue, I seek professional help." Perhaps she had come off bitchy before but she was trying to help, but she was no medical doctor, no psychologist. She could neither treat dementia nor anorexia.

"But I think the less I know about you, and the less you know about me...might be in both our best interests." A quick almost apologetic smile darted her face as she snagged another fry, the longer she spent with this man, the more she felt bad for him, so quick to trust...if he didn't get cut down soon she could see it in his immediate future. Digression was -at least for her- a virtue, and yet he was so quick to give up what he was to her. "Though if you're worried about spiders, I would...almost suggest looking around for webs." Awkward, she was being polite, but she wanted to maybe clue him in a little bit at his faux pas.

However there was a bit about her offended herself, stealing souls huh? Well he had no goddamn idea, and it made her bristle- she had risked her own just to save the essences of people she didn't even know. Yet he made sweeping generalizations about her? That she was a monster? The pleasantness left her face, well there was that serene quality- but a frown where the smile had once been. "Also: kindly go fuck yourself. I mean no offense, but you don't know what you're talking about."

"I mean you come to me, doing things to me against my will...a shall we say: rape. Mind rape at that. Then you come up talking about god knows what sort of crazy babble...yet it isn't me who's making sweeping assumptions now...is it? But you did."

She glowered a bit, "In fact, I'm being nicer to you then I should, given the circumstances." wringing her hands as she even considered the injustice of it all. Sure she wasn't a Technocrat anymore, but there was still a fair bit of derision that she had for the Traditions, if they were all this self-absorbed...she couldn't stomach it. Who told a stranger they should care about their problems? Who just spouted out their secrets like it mattered? It all smacked of narcissism to her. Another superstitionist (or hell just another shallow human being) thinking the world revolved around them...

Didn't this Drew know there was a world of people who weren't half as well off as he was?

Cole continued her diatribe under the veranda. "But you know why I'm not making any real assumptions about your Traditions? Because you, I would assume, like me, are an individual. Hopefully able to look outside of stereotypes and generalizations. Like any enlightened individual." There was a long pause, a stillness, as though the storm that had been within the former Iterator had passed, leaving nothing but a resolved calm within the woman- who closed her eyes for a moment...Drew could find a color to paint the world with that if it so pleased him.

Soon however, she opened one eye after another, blinking a few times before finally responding to his real question- her voice quiet and nearly melodic as she explained herself. "I doubt I need to tell you, but my fear is of the increasing ennui of the universe and the people within it."

[Drew Johnson]

Initially Drew smiled at her foolishness. As though he'd never sought help. "I went to many psychiatrists and doctors but none could help because they could not accept that the root of the problem was not within me but within the fridge itself. The Metal Men have filled their minds with so much of their own truth that it has excluded all others. How can someone who doesn't believe in spirits treat a spiritual problem?" he asked rhetorically.

He blinked a few times when she asked him to look for spider webs. The Umbra held a touch more webs then usual. A few whispered words to the table brought forth the information she was hinting at. Horror etched across his face as she continued.  He thought of running but it was already too late. 

He perked up as his pride took over. Metal Woman or not he would not stomach being called a rapist. "I am not a rapist. I made a simple introduction to your mind using salt and spirit instead of wind and words. You madam seem to trivialize many things. Anorexia is a luxury, saying hello is rape, is there anything at all which you can treat seriously?" 

"That being said I have wronged you with my assumptions. You are an individual and I have not treated you as such. I assumed you were a fellow traditionalist not a Metal Woman. You have not tried to change me or force your ways upon me as I had assumed a Metal Woman would. We even share a common fear. I too fear that the people within the world have fallen to ennui and even disbelief. Peoples heads are so filled with their own beliefs that they can no longer hear the world around them." he said glumly. 

"But I have not yet become so deaf. I thought you to be an individual in need of company, but if I've been wrong then will you forgive me my proverbial trespasses? If not for me then for the table." he asked, the table shaking slightly in response to his words. "I believe we've upset it."

[Colette Flerko]

"I said a professional, I didn't specify what sort."

So closed minded, she could hardly breathe spending time with him. It was...depressing really. "I'm aware that the spiritual sort have 'professionals'. Guru, holistic healers, crystal wavers...the like...You couldn't see one of them?" Cole shrugged, not wanting to fight the manner of ignorance that seemed to hang off of Drew like a stale wet rag. "And quit saying Metal-whatever, its stupid, and you sound like some sort of backwoods country clod when you say it. Its not like I'm calling you names-of course up until recently-...so stop it."

Cole rolled her eyes, feeling like she was dealing with a child, a child who was apparently her age. "Now, I am a stranger to you, why would you think I should be emotionally invested upon your eating disorder? Do you think I want that responsibility? You're just groping for pity. You have it. So stop that too. I'm sorry that you have sickness. But what can I do about it?" she tapped her fingers on the vibrating table, her fear had been such that even now she was growing dull to it...perhaps months ago, it'd have given her a fright, but now...she couldn't be bothered.

"However you did put a thought into my head against my wishes. You wanted to be my friend. And you forced that upon me. That would be unacceptable even if I'm as you say: Without a soul, that's what you said right? That people like me have no soul? Now...if I had done the same, you'd have cried foul just because of what or presumably who I am. Am I correct?" A quirk of a brow, a tilt of the lips, an inquiry she would be interested if Drew would be able to reply. "And for you information- I take everything seriously, however...I can't let it all gobble me up whole...no I have to pick my battles carefully. I'm not Atlas, I can't carry the weight of the world on my shoulders, what I have is enough. " Again she tugged at her sleeves, annoyed, she was annoyed, and maybe a bit hurt, this guy knew nothing about who she was or how she felt, but he'd be more than happy to substitute his own reality on top of hers. Without a second guess.

A sigh escaped her throat as she watched him completely miss the point, but she conceded to the flow of discussion with a quick barb. "Live and let live- however I promise, you and your 'Brave Little Toaster'-friends, I will suck your soul faster than you can blink an eye if you try that shit again. Capiche?" A bluff. She was bluffing, she really couldn't...or wouldn't do it. Cole was soft that way, but she wanted to scare him, she wanted Drew to never, ever...EVER....defile her mind again.

"But so long as we have that understanding, you are forgiven."

[Drew Johnson]

Drew look on as Colette filed through her rant. At the assumption that he wanted her pity he looked baffled. Had she not said a truly offensive thing and then failed to apologize for it? To him she had.

He almost raised his hand in protest when she indicated that she felt he'd said she had no soul. That simply wasn't true. He thought that virtually everything had a soul, including Technocracy agents, that was why it was so sad that the Union chose to ignore their own spirits. Once more he kept quiet, interrupting the Metal Woman seemed like a bad idea.

When she compared herself to Atlas he looked at her with barely concealed contempt. Of course being a Metal Woman she would compare herself to Atlas. Probably thought herself to be like the business men from Rand's book. One shrug from her over burdened shoulders would cause the world to fall. Yeah right! If she wanted to see real responsibility she should try being a Dreamspeaker. Considering the vast advantages of the Union, the Technocracy's duties were almost trivially easy. She should try supporting an invisible, but essential world with absolutely no help. The she could complain. He was just planning on how best to correct her, rather self-centered assumptions of importance when she said something that chilled him to the bone.

She would steal a soul! While the contempt had been masked his disgust was plain as day. He wasn't afraid of her, he was revolted by the idea of soul theft, and disgusted that she would suggest it. The look he gave her was usually reserved for sewage and child molesters.

“You are a monster. As bad as any Nephandi. In fact you're worse, because creatures like you have the dominant paradigm. The filth you believe is even taught to children! That you would even contemplate taking another being's soul is beyond the redemption of any divinity, not that you heathen's believe in sacred things. I sincerely hope that you are caught in a fire, burned terribly, but do not die, because you should live in terrible pain for years before finally dying alone, untreated and unloved. I am going to go now. If you try to stop me I will kill you, you wretched abomination!” he said, spitting the words at her as he got up to leave.

[Colette Flerko]

Cole couldn't handle it, she was strong but she was hardly bullet proof, in fact if anything she was the most delicate she had been in years, he had no idea who she was, but insulted her like he was just like any technocrat, and she started to get this feeling that all the traditionalists would be like this...and it was overwhelming, she stroked the earpiece hidden under her hair, the people there were helpless and it absolutely hopeless if she couldn't get them help.

It started with a wrinkle of the nose, a sniff, then a shiver of the lip and soon she was just sobbing, she couldn't handle it. But between the choking sounds of tears she shook her head. "You're wrong...you're wrong about me." she said to the man's back, not that it would change anything, but she wouldn't carry the guilt of a group she wasn't part of. "I tried to save everyone...but..." It didn't matter, it never did, what she did or how hard she tried, it would end but being nothing.

He probably didn't even care she went to church every Sunday, only to find that god never seemed to listen. Yet she heard something of divinity in her head, when she slept...just outside the corners of her perception.

"I'm not the inhuman one here."

She hissed between trying to dry her eyes and compose herself, but she couldn't and instead she buried her face in her sleeve and hoped that Drew would just go away faster. Just because this was not how she wanted to die...he was no doubt going to go get his friends and take her down, just like everyone else was going to.

[Drew Johnson]

The life of a shaman is not always easy. It means that the world talks to you because you are one of the few people who can hear it. It also means that the world tends to fuck with you because you are one of the few whom it can effect directly. Drew was being reminded of this lesson the hard way.

His education began as one of the newly awakened parts of the concrete developed a sudden and inconvenient tilt. The change in angle was subtle, inperceptible if you weren't already looking for it, but it was more then enough to send the Dreamspeaker crashing to the ground. Faces were there to meet him.

They existed only in the spirit world, but to him the faces were as real as the cement they seemed to rise from. They carried her words because the spirit world recognizes truths which humans often miss. In this case the umbra's citizens had decided to force those truths upon the man who'd shamed them.

“She tried to save them. Tried to save them. You saved no one, but she did. You saved no one, but she did. She tried to save them. Tried to save them. You saved no one, but she did....” the chant went on and on, the spirits gleefully tormenting their ambassador in a display of their utter dissatisfaction in his performance. He tried to rise, but it felt like tiny hands were gripping him close to the pavement. They weren't done yet.

“Drew Johnson leaves tears in his wake. Drew Johnson leaves tears in his wake. SHE TRIED TO SAVE THEM! TRIED TO SAVE THEM! YOU SAVED NO ON, BUT SHE DID! DREW JOHNSON LEAVES TEARS IN HIS WAKE!!!” the words grew louder and louder till he covered his ears hoping for relief but finding none. No hands could block the sound of pissed off souls. “DREW JOHNSON LEAVES TEARS IN HIS WAKE!!!”

“ENOUGH!” he shouted loud enough to startle a passerby on the other side of the street. Loud enough to earn him a reprieve. Feeling that he might have seen sense the pavement let him get up. Perhaps now he would deal with tears he'd caused to fall on their sister's stones.

Looking over at the Metal Woman he saw the oddest sight. She was crying. Drones didn't cry. The Weaver wouldn't let them have that much emotion. Nephandi might cry as a manipulation, but a quick look into the world around her showed her painting it blue with genuine despair. Drones and Nephandi didn't save people.

His expression hang dogged and humbled, he approached the Metal Woman with a little caution. “I....I'm sorry. I thought you meant that about stealing my soul. I really did. I don't think that anymore. I was wrong, very wrong. Who did you try to save? Please don't tell me you didn't try to save anyone because this time I'm looking out for lies. I won't hurt you Flerko, if you aren't intent on harming me, I promise, for what little that is worth.” he said his voice full of sympathy and chagrin. He'd made a mess of things, that much was clear, but mistakes were what apologies were for.

[Colette Flerko]

More than happy to fester in misery, Colette kept her face buried, convinced she had heard the man walk off, a small victory. OF course that was before she heard the man yell...enough? Oh hell no, she wasn't letting some scrawny ass hobo-looking mofo tell her what to do, whipping her head up her tear streaked face seemed ready for a fight, but when she saw Drew's face well...color her surprised.

He didn't look completely like the outright prick he had before. Well maybe he was still a prick, but at least now he looked like the sort of prick who had been taken down a peg or two. She couldn't help but wonder why. But she probably didn't want to know the answer.

"Yes you were very wrong."

Cole wasn't going to coddle him, he was right in the fact he was wrong, "But I shouldn't have joked." After all, it seemed that the superstitious were just as humorless as their scientific counterparts, the irony of the situation was not lost on her. Her hands grabbed a napkin, fingers turning it over and tearing it apart as she considered what Drew said, she didn't trust him. She didn't like him. But at least he was capable of learning. Which was something.

"All those poor innocents you just accused me of deluding. Some of them my type of people, some just people...some like you." She was vague, the iterator was being vague on purpose, cautious, guarded...after all, just moments ago this man was cursing her. "Of course...I wouldn't think you'd understand...my 'wretched abomination' nature seems too alien for the likes of you." Still some barbed words, then again, she was still wiping the tears from her red, puffy face.

[Drew Johnson]

The faces had moved from chidding him to laughing at him, he decided to take this as some kind of improvement. Also on the upswing seemed to be the strange Metal Woma....Flerko's view of him. He was still uncertain if this was something that he wanted for himself or not, however he was certain, judging by the continued appearance of the laughing faces, that he had virually no say in the matter.

Rather then continue to allow it to depress him he chose to view the loss of his free will as freeing. It wasn't his decision to come back here so doing so technically didn't count as suicide or self-destructive behavior. If Flerko chose to capture him for later examination and reprogramming it would technically not be his fault. He was certain at least one of his therapists would have been impressed with his progress.

“Agreed. I was terribly wrong, including the comment about 'wretched abomination'. I have obviously misjudged you, but upon seeing that you do seem to be a reasonably good person, can we at least agree that stealing someone's soul, whether done by removing their personality or what I would call their spirit, feel free to use your own word or discount that last option entirely, is indeed a wretched abomination thing to do that neither of us is in a position or desire to do? Frankly I think this shouldn't be too hard, you really don't seem the type to be up to that sort of thing now that I take the time to really look/talk to you. I am, again, sorry that I assumed otherwise it was unkind of me.” he said trying to be agreeable but only managing to be wordy.

“So you said that some of the people you tried to save were my people and of course yours, but I can't help but notice that you didn't mention what you saved them from. I understand that trusting me at all must be a massive leap of faith on your part and not something anyone can do easily, but...but to be honest I'm desperately curious and more then a little worried that your Atlas comment might be closer to the mark then I had earlier assumed.” he said continuing to ramble to near incoherency

“Again, you have no reason whatsoever to be concerned in the slightest that I'm worried about this as I am a stranger, but at the same time I have it on good authority from psychiatrist not just crystal wavers, that keeping this sort of thing bottled up inside can be psychologically damaging. Plus I really can't help in any way if I don't know what the problem is, and I don't think that the special friends which I presume you don't believe in, again to each their own but they're real to me, are going to let me leave until I at least try to help you in some way. You've clearly done something to earn the Spirit world's respect and as their supposed friend but at the moment feeling more like a pawn,” he said aiming this last comment at the faces. They grined and laughed louder. For beings with no anus spirits could certainly be assholes, “I am oblidge to at least look into the matter or I'll be plagued for the forseeable future with no end of problems both psychological and otherwise. Yes I understand this makes me self-serving but I find most people, once they know where they stand, prefer self-serving as it's easier to predict. In short I'm not being kind so you don't have to rely on that to gain my aid, outside sources which you've already impressed with whatever it was that you did, have conspired to ensure that I will in fact help you. I wish I could have said that better, but the truth sucks.” he said trying to sound self-depricating but probably coming off as arrogant.