Log:Wasp Venom, Scene 3

Wasp Venom 2013/08/26 	 Bard Rashmika

3

Champions Mush - Monday, August 26, 2013, 11:46 AM

Past Times Coffee

''The smell of fresh coffee is the first thing that assails you. The next is the very old style. It seems the owner has gone for the Edwardian style from early last century. Lots of imitation wood panelling and prints of old English countryside. There are many partitions between the tables, affording some privacy and the sound seems hushed in the room, this has been achieved mainly through very good design, which muffles sounds. At the counter service is quite quick and cheery, conveying a welcoming and friendly attitude. The menu boasts the fact that for a little extra real coffee is served along with light hot and cold meals and snacks. All in all a pleasant place to pass a bit of time. ''

Rashmika is sitting at a corner table, sipping tea while a helpful shaft of sunlight illuminates the stacks of papers arrayed around her.

Enter Marcus Bard. Man hunk extrodinare! Also he has his guitar with him. Going up to the counter to place his order, just water for right now. Spying the lady with the 'back problem' as she works on papers. Hmmm. to mess with, or not to mess with. that is the question.

Rashmika notices the change in background noise when Marcus enters the room and looks up to discover the cause. Elbows on the table, she laces her fingers together and rests her chin on them while she stares at the musician - but her look is calculating (as if Marcus was a potential piece in a puzzle) instead of enamored.

A small voice whispers into Rashmika's ear. "May I help you?" It's bards but for now he's just drinking water and giving the 'can people STOP staring at me' look. He can have a rather frightening presence about him when he chooses to. He seems to be looking for where he wants to sit.

Rashmika says softly, "Have you ever been to Johannesburg or wanted to?"

The small voice replies as Bard is drinking his water, "Where is that again?" Bard's voice seems interested and is wondering why he's being asked to a place he has never heard of. "And why, if I may, are you asking?"

Rashmika says, "Southern Africa. The local Hive branch there is having a problem and I was hoping your musical career meant that you had been there at some time in the past."

Bard himself will move to Rashmika's table and sit down. "I'm a busker, not a rock star. I don't travel for my career." Bard replies simply to Rashmika, using his own voice this time. "And what sort of trouble, that you'd be looking for a meta human to deal with it."

Rashmika hmms, shakes her head, and says, "Never mind then. I'm a little like Bee in that I can't look at a problem without thinking about solutions. There are other people working on this particular problem and I need to stay out of it."

"then why bring it up?" Bard asks. "Or perhaps you're just trying to get me away form here for yourself." Bard teases.

Rashmika shakes her head. "Nobody from the local Hive branch will be going." She doesn't look happy about that either.

"So you were looking to get someone over there to fix a problem for them without violating the terms you've been given?" Bard asks drinking from his water again.

Rashmika says, "And if you did not have specific useful knowledge, you could potentially be the worst choice. You don't exactly blend in and Zu is not known to be the friendliest country to visiting metas."

Bard nods. "Well aware." Bard states. "Some times, we have to begrudgingly accept there are things out of our hands. That said I hate those moments."

Rashmika nods, but her pursed lips show she still doesn't like it.

"Seems like to me, you need something to get your mind off this." Bard replies. "Perhaps you should look into something else?"

Rashmika says, "Any suggestions? Do you have a friend in rabid need of my organizing skills?"

"Afraid not. Though if you want to forget reality for a second I have ways of doing that." Bard replies. "Or perhaps a recrational hobby."

Rashmika pauses in her nervous paper shuffling as far too many meanings flood her mind. "What do you mean by 'forget reality'?" she asks cautiously.

"I can give you a fake reality to interact with for a small while." Bard says. "Unlike me affecting the reality around you, like this." The table becomes covered with tiny dancers for a small while. "I can affect the way you precieve this reality." Bard answers. "Amongst other talents. Ask your... coworker? about those. I'm certain she can answer you on them."

Rashmika shakes her head. "No, that won't work. It is my brain I need to shut off, not my perceptions."

"There may be ways to do that. I'm certain it can be arranged." Bard chuckles. "If you'd like to try some time, let me know."

Rashmika says, "How's now?""

"there are two ways we can go about this. I can simply try asking your brian to function a certain way, or make you believe something else is happening. Which do you rpefer and how'd you like to go about it. No garuntees though."

Rashmika says, "How about coma? No thoughts, no memories, not even unconscious brain activity?"

Rashmika's phone rings, but she ignores it.

"Despite the moral ramifications of doing that, I can't." Bard replies. "Further more, Coma's shouldn't be a go to to escape reality." He looks at Rashmika. "You sohuld answer that." hE says, his presence seeming to be offended by the thought of not answering the phone.

Rashmika flips open her phone says, "Unless you have a better idea, don't call." then hangs up before the party on the other end can say anything. "The problem is that, since Bee's opponent is a telepath, the more I think on this the more fuel I give the opposition. ... I'm the one that tracked down and ordered Bee's force field belt. That knowledge *alone* could potentially harm anyone going to Johannasberg. I need to be off the board on this chess match.

Bard nods. "Telepathy is something else I've been experimenting with." Bard replies. "Theoretically you could attempt to use it as a two way swtich, but I'm certain more secrets tahn the belt are in your head, so that'd be undesireable. The greatest way to stop it is a great sense of self worth and a strong resolve." Bard answers. "You could also flood them with false information in theory, but a strong telepath tunnels easily enough." Bard sighs. "I could offer help in trying to increase your resistance to it."

Rashmika says, "Long term, that is certainly a better option; but at the moment I'm worrying about the short term."

"If I was given time I'd be able to potentially create a way to rework your brain patterns, but no garuntee on how soon I'd be able to do that." bard replies.

Rashmika says, "That sounds ... abusable."

"As well as slightly immoral." Bard replies. Not that morals have ever been something he's concerned himself too terribly with

Rashmika says, "But you would consider it if somebody wanted you to?"

"Potentially. I'd certainly not do it if it was perminant." bard answers. "What it seems like you need to do is relax honestly."

Rashmika gives Marcus a 'yeah, right' look and says as if he hadn't just spoken that last sentence, "Do you forsee any side effects?"

"You mean other than organic personality change, potential to bend somoene to your unchalleneged will? The fact you'd lose a semblence of personality, as well as you'd be looking at the change to completely forget who you are what you stand for and anything of that nature?" Bard answers. "As well as the ultimate questioning of reality, wondering what the real you may be like?"

Rashmika says, "Yes. Other than the obvious."

"My advise is most telepaths need to see you. simply go some place unobserved and sit quietly waiting for this to blow over." Bard answers.

Rashmika says, "Bee's mind has already been read ... from Africa."

"How, might I ask." Bard asks.

Rashmika blinks at the question, finally caught a little off guard. "I don't know." She isn't used to being asked a question she doesn't know the answer to.

"Because there are ways to make one believe I've read their mind. Then there are ways to read minds from great distances. The latter requires extreme power and would require extensive resources, or natural ability." Bard answers. "What you are doing is charging ahead and gathering information, but it seems to me there may be something you missed in all this. Hence my suggestion to attempt relaxing, to get fresher eyes on the amtter at hand."

Marcus may be drop dead gorgeous (what Bee likes to call 'scenery'), but he is also more than a pretty face. Rasmika allowed herself to forget that, and her sudden confused stillness is proof of just how much Bard's presence has smacked her between the eyes. She *has* been rushing forward, hoping that speed will make up for any other handicaps she may be operating under, considering wilder and wilder 'solutions' to her own negative impact of the forming team. Her eyes flicker down to the pile of papers in front of her then back up to Marcus, looking to him for something more solid than her valued facts.

Bard takes out and polishes his sunglasses. "What you should first try to find out, is probably A) why bee. B) How did they get to her without her noticing. C) Then you'd want to figure out who. Who helps with A, but at the same time, sometimes you're dealing with a nobody. Figuring motive out, or potential motives allows you to be a step ahead. Then mode of operation, followed by their name. If you know what they're going for, and how they intend to do it, you'll likely figure out who before then." Bard puts his glasses back in his pocket. "No, relaxing. Try doing that."

Rashmika says, "A) She was read right after the higher-ups decided to send her, as the only actual superhero on the payroll, to deal with the problem in Johannesburg. B) She did notice C) Kagiso Adamini. ... but I get where you are going with this."

Bard nods. "Now, then, what are you going to do?" Bard asks.

Rashmika says, "Concentrate on motive. I've met Kay and didn't get that maniacal vibe off her, so if she is generating this much - if she she being this bold, there has to be a reason behind it."

"Well then if there isn't a chance for menace or mallace, what other options are on the table?" Bard answers. "Also what informatino would Bee have that would make her a primary target? How's the back?" Bard asks. "Is it possible she's being used by someone else to reach some kind of an end?"

Rashmika says, "I didn't say she couldn't be menacing, just that she likely has a reason, even if it a reason that only makes sense to her."

"Well seduction tends to be a very reliable way of getting information from people." Bard answers.

Rashmika says, "Even telepaths?"

"Would you like to see me TRY to seduce someone?"

Rashmika says, "While the thought is provacative, unless the subject is a telepath, it wouldn't prove anything either way."

"Well higher brain functions tend to give way to natural attractions. Take most men for example. Also, i've got a secret or two I can use." Bard smiles.

Rashmika lets Bard keep his secrets. She'll probably see them soon enough if his ability to keep a shirt on is any indication.

Rashmiska says, "Do you have any other suggestions?"

"There is also the less moral approach. Threats tend to work on people who are smarter. You don't have to go through as much if they honestly believe they will suffer horrifically. Not my favorite approach though. "

Rashmika frowns, "Not my style either."

"I believe you may be thinking telepaths have some great power over you. They have information based on thought. Impulses on teh other hand are not something they always have access to. I also feel I ahve half the puzzzle here. I could ask for promission to get what information from you directly from your mind, but I think you ahve more in there than you'd want to share."

Rashmika says, "My mind wasn't the one invaded, I was just considering the possibility; but I get your point"

"What I'm saying is I could help more if I knew more, and I'm getting the distinct impression you're leaving certain things out whether you realize it or not." bard states calmly, and clearly isn't bothered by this either." He shrugs. "that said, Is till think you should relax and take a break from it."

Rashmika grins, "Trust me, when it comes to understanding women, a little mystery is a good thing."

"Well then." bard says stretching a bit. "I should charge you an advisers fee." Bard teases. "And I'd love to see what makes you tick. I'd also like to see your boss again some time and double check her back. Make sure nothing ill came from that position she slept in."

Rashmika scoffs. "Have you send her bend? She can do things with her body that cause me pain to even think about. She's fine."