Log:Cookies and Chaos

2020/06/03 Radical|Connor Cartesian|Randal Grimm 1

In Randal's kitchen, Gabrielle's looking at the back of the bag of flour, reading the recipe for chocolate chip cookies. "I'll be damned...I never noticed this," she says in awe. She's wearing a white crop top band t-shirt and gray jean shorts, plus an apron provided by Randal.

Connor comes into the house and sets his bag down. He then comes into the kitchen, "Ah...got started already, huh?" Randal nods, "Yeah, we started with the simplest baking. Tollhome cookies."

Grimm looks up and smiles at Connor. "Yeah, figured dessert would be good for after a lunch and learn, right? You didn't call in for backup, so I figured it was safe. How'd the lesson go?"

Connor smiles. "Umm...I did learn a Chaos spell. It...would be a bad idea to cast it here. It basically causes an area of...well, chaos. Winds pick up...stuff gets thrown around." He pauses, "But...the magic does seem to impact me. I stopped by Dialydd's shop afterward, and I realized I wasn't thinking entirely clearly."

"Maybe you can find an empty field somewhere in the area to practice it," Gabrielle suggests in thought as she scratches her nose and accidentally leaves some flour smudged on the tip. She looks a little worried, glancing sideways at Randal before looking back. "Not thinking clearly? Like how?"

Randal raises a brow, "That...sounds like something to be careful about in hte future."

Connor thinks how to describe it. "My...thought process was...a mile a minute. I couldn't focus on a single thing longer than a second or two. I suspect that with more practice, I can contorl that. But if I learn other Chaos magic, that impact could be larger."

Grimm thinks a moment on that. "So...if using Chaos magic can affect you like that...does that mean casting those Order spells you relearned are also having an affect and making you more...umm...measured?"

Connor nods. "I think the odds are good? Did I seem more orderly after healing a bunch of people?"

"You always seem orderly," Gabrielle teases, and then her phone starts beeping and her eyes widen. "The cookies!" she says in alarm and rushes about trying to find the oven mits.

Connor chuckles. "Umm...hopefully less so than before, at least."

Randal smiles as Gabrielle starts to scramble, and he gets out of the way.

Grimm finally finds the mitts under a towel and slips them on, opening up the oven. The smell of fresh baked cookies wafts out. She pulls out the baking sheet and closes the oven, then sets the baking sheet on the stovetop as she marvels over the success. Of course, she had a lot of help from Randal on how to measure properly by leveling stuff. But the copious amounts of chocolate chips are her doing. She put an extra heaping in. "Definitely a lot less than before. I guess...I thought this was your baseline. You do seem a bit buttoned up in class and other places, but then you managed to cut loose at the club. I don't think I was paying enough attention to when you were casting spells to tell the difference."

Connor nods. "Well, if you notice a significant change, let me know. But I think...I don't channel enough of the Order magic to get hammered by it, since I was more or less used to it. I suspect that might also happen with the Chaos magic as I get...acclimated to it.

Grimm thinks for a moment. "Maybe? I think the only times you've used Order magic around me since losing the Cartesian mantle have been in serious circumstances, so...maybe it was just unnoticable? Like...any change to your personality was just expected under the circumstances? Chaos is a bit more noticeable. If you end up acting like Lazare, it'll stick out from what I know you're like." She thinks a moment as she uses a spatula to scoop up a goey fresh cookie onto a napkin and walks over to give Connor first bite/poisoning. "Or...maybe I just haven't had a chance to see you completely unaffected."

Randal takes a look at hte cookies. "I think those are likely done enough. They look dark enough. Nice job, Gabrielle."

Connor smiles, "No...you have seen me that way. I only recently started to learn magic on my own." He takes hte cookie and smiles. "Very nice. Thank you." He takes a bite...and pauses for a long moment, starting to make a face. Then he smiles, "It tastes great. I'm just messing with you."

Grimm's expression goes from beaming at Randal's comment, to horror at Connor's expression, to pouting at the tease. "Now I know you're affected. You pranked me," she teases back and lightly bats him in the shoulder with a mitted hand.

Connor laughs. "No. I'm not now. I think the magic is out of my system. This is the 'baseline'."

Grimm grins and heads back to get another cookie and a napkin to serve to Randal. "Okay, Dr. Duran. I guess we need to experiment for science to check the affects sometime. If chaos magic affects you too much, casting an order spell may balance you out."

Connor nods. "I did think of that. It's possible that might work. I'm not sure. But yeah...it might be worth testing to see what the result might be."

Grimm smiles. "I can't imagine it'd be too problematic, right? How do you feel about it?"

Randal nods. "A controlled test is the way to go." He grins, "Evern if it's the orderly answer."

Grimm laughs at Randal. "Hahah, great, now we'll be extra confused."

Connor chuckles, "I...think my only concern is if it's like...taking caffiene AND alcohol. The two influences don't just negate. They add up to something...different."

Grimm stares at Connor a moment at the thought of it. She had thought of it as scales, but...he makes a very good point. "Well, I can't imagine you taking shots of Blue Bull drinks, so I have no idea how that would look on a magical scale. That could be interesting and a bit wild."

Connor nods, "I don't know of anyone using both Order and Chaos magic. Other than me. So...we don't really have anyone to ask about the impact."

Grimm gets a cookie for herself after taking off the mitts and nibbles on it. Her eyes widen in delight, then she remembers what they're talking about. "So...okay, controlled test like Randal said? Maybe avoid casting those spells for ...what, a day or so to get it out of your system? Then try chaos. Then another day of getting 'clean'. Try order, Repeat, then try a combination?" She nibbles some more. "Hmmm. But how do we test if you're getting more orderly?"

Connor shrugs, "Not sure, honestly. We could just play it by ear, I guess? I think I'd just like to check what the impact is of having both in my system at once is."

Grimm nods, finishing her cooking and already fetching a second. "I'm honestly curious to find out, too. It's never been done before! If you need someone there for support, I'll totally make time," she grins. "Want another cookie?"

Connor smiles. "Mmm...sure. Thank you." He grabs another cookie and takes a bite, "Having someone else there sounds good."

Randal also grabs one, "I've been meaning to ask: How are you holding up, Gabrielle?"

"Me? Well, Connor was right...Porter survived. Somehow. He's not even sure how. Now that I know he's okay?" Gabrielle thinks on it, looking down at her half-eaten cookie. "I'm....good. Better than I've been in a long time," she says as he looks up to the pair of them and smiles. And she has seemed different. More rested. Actually experimenting with kind of color. And starting to open up with her feelings. "Thanks to you two saving me," she says in deep appreciation.

Randal steps over and gives her a hug. "Well, you played a large part. Don't forget that."

Grimm gives Randal a big hug, smiling warmly. "I dunno. I wouldn't have been able to get through this without the two of you."

Randal grins, "You're welcome. We were both happy to help. You know that, though."

Connor smiles and grabs one more cookie. "It worked out. Almost...as well as we could have hoped, I think."

Grimm gives another squeeze. "I know," she says warmly, pulling back to smile at him. "Just...thanks for not giving up on me." She looks to Connor at that. "Almost. But it did work out. N'zrathol's back in his prison. I'm free of him and can sleep again. You're all safe."

Grimm adds, "And we got to find out Lazare was watching. Which ...we need to figure out if there's a way to stop him. Wait! Can the new Cartesian do that? Could you guys do that?"

Randal nods. "I could. Connor hadn't learned it yet. But it's possible to block scrying."

Grimm looks curious. "How can you block scrying?"

Connor smiles. "It's a spell. Basically, you can create an area which is blocked from clairsentience. I never learned it, but I know the theory behind it."

"Ah. I don't know a way to be sure I can do that with my powers. But it might be a handle spell for you to learn. The Cartesian isn't happy with you, and if she finds out you're working with Lazare," Gabrielle trails off a moment and looks worried. "I'm...just concerned about what they'll do to you. Your family already gave Order the finger twice."

Connor nods. "It might be worth learning. Something that might block them both. I'll have to do some research."

Grimm nods, this time not having objections to magical research. "Sounds good. Just in case. There may be times where you need to be sure. Is the sanctum warded?"

Randal nods, "Well, my library is now. But the other dimensional one that Connor's been using isn't, I'm afraid. We'll need to fix that."

Grimm smiles. "If I can help with that, let me know. I understand a bit of magic...at least ritual magic if that helps."