Log:Balance Chaos with Order

2020/06/12 	 Radical|Connor Cartesian|Randal Grimm

1

Today's the day! Experiment time. Though not in Randal or Connor's backyard. What would the neighbors think? Still a little worried about what the results may be, Grimm offered/insisted to attend in case things went awry. She arrives on time, knocking on the door to pick up Connor. She's wearing her gray her messenger bag with some books and her tablet to keep her entertained while Connor's practicing. Since the weather's so nice, she's just wearing a white t-shirt with the band "Roll Them Bones" logo on it, and black moto leggings, with a gray plaid flannel tied around her waist.

Connor comes to the door, "Hey there. So, we're going to test away from the house a little bit. I'm afraid that the spell might cause too much of a mess in a building. Randal's by the back door." He lets Grimm inside and walks with her toward the back. "We're going to hike over into the woods at the edge of the field behind the house."

Grimm greets Connor with a bright smile when he opens the door. "Hey. Sounds good. I definitely wouldn't recommend doing that near here. I practically -just- finished helped painting the mess I made," she chuckles as she steps inside and walks along. "Good thing I got snacks if we're hiking. Though sour gummy worms aren't ideal. Hey, Randal!" she smiles and waves to him as soon as he's in sight.

Randal chuckles. "I have some protein bars, too. But it's only a couple hundred yards." He waves, "Good to see you Gabrielle. Thanks for coming along." He points out to the tree line. "There's a nice clearing back in there about 50 yards. Far enough to not be seen immediately, but not too far to walk with a cane."

"A couple hundred yards? Ohhh, I don't know. Hopefully there'll be a search party if we go missing," Gabrielle teases. "So you're coming with us?"

Randal nods, "Of course. You all need my sage advice, youngster. Now...let's get off my lawn." He smirks and steps outside.

Connor chuckles and follows along, pulling the door closed after Grimm steps out as well.

Grimm laughs and shakes her head, casting a glance back at Connor before stepping out with Randal. "Yeah, yeah, we're going," she calls to Randal in the lead.

The group crosses the open field, which is actually kept pretty short. Randal must have a riding mower or something. It's a lot of grass. Thankfully it's nice and flat, so he doesnt' have much issue with walking.

Grimm wonders if it'd be rude to offer to help him, or rude not to. She keeps silent, realizing Randal might be more offended if she said something. Besides, he's managing fine. "It's probably a good thing your neighbors are a ways off," she comments.

Randal nods. "Yeah, probably. It wouldn't be good to have other houses right nearby, given how things have gone." Connor shrugs, "Living in the country allows for a fair amount of privacy, which is nice." The group finds a small trail which you all follow to a small clearing, about 20m across. There are a few beer bottles on the ground. Randal shakes his head, "Every so often, we get some kids hiding back here to drink."

Grimm smiles a bit to herself. "I used to do stuff like that when I first started college," she admits. She walks over and crouches down to pick up some of the discarded bottles, making sure they're empty before tucking them into her messenger bag.

Connor nods. "It'll be best to pick those up, yeah. They might get picked up by the Chaos spell I know."

Connor scans the area. "I think we're good. I don't see anyone around.

Grimm frowns at the thought. "Yeah, I better check for anything else that could be dangerous," she says, casting her shadow sight around the area to look for any shards of glass, more bottles, or anything dangerous if it were to get whipped about.

Connor smiles and moves to the center of the clearing. "So...trying a chaos spell first...and then an order spell?"

Grimm steps out around the field and holds her hands down and out to her sides as she closes her eyes and senses the bits of glass, some broken, another whole bottle or two still hidden in the tall grass and dirt. She does a little twirl as black streamers start to fly towards her from various points in the field, carrying the glass shards and a spare bottle. She stops her spin and cups her hand as all the streamers come together in a ball of gathered fragments. She opens her eyes and smiles, moving off to the side. "Okay, grounds are cleared." She opens her messenger bag and puts all the items in her outer pocket, then seals it up. "Yeah, that sounds good," she says, stopping by Randal. "Unless you have another suggestion?" she asks the older gentleman.

Randal shakes his head, "No, that sounds good." He pulls a couple of pairs of shop glasses, and offers one set to Grimm before putting on his.

Grimm takes the pair and slips them on. "Oh, good thinking." Because of course he's prepared. She smiles at him, then looks to Connor once they're ready and gives a thumbs up.

Connor goes ahead and puts his arms out to his sides...and calls forth the magic of Chaos. Almost immediately, the wind in the clearing picks up...and debris starts to fly around. Leaves. Pine needles. A few acorns. It does make it a bit difficult to see.

Grimm brushes her hair back as it starts to whip with the window, holding it out of her face. She has trouble seeing through all the debris and dust, only able to perceive with her shadow sight. "Whoa..."

Connor maintains the spell for a few seconds...and then lets the spell drop. He then says, "Okay...okay, okay. So, I dropped the spell, and while things are all green, I'm going to go ahead with an Order spell, keeping things in order, like what's right and good and shiny and happy. Okay, here goes...." He then focuses on looking into the future. His own future, not looking for anything in particular. Just a general look along his timeline.

Grimm hadn't seen Connor first-hand while affected by chaos magic. She releases her hair and cups her hand over her mouth to hide her grin. "Good and shiny and happy?" she whispers to Randal. "That's kind of cute if it weren't due to the chaotic influence."

Randal nods and says, a bit louder, "It's still his thought processes. Just a bit scrambled. And he can't hear us while that spell is going. He can't see us either."

The elder Duran keeps his eyes on Connor, evaluating the younger man's responses. Connor, for his part, seems to relax. He was clearly full of adrenaline or anxiety when the Chaos spell ended. But as he opens his eyes, finishing the precognition spell, he seems to be far calmer. "Hmm. Well, I think that answers that. The two seem to negate each other."

"Oh, right, right. So then he really does see order as good, shiny, and happy?" Gabrielle grins. "Kind of fits. Lazare made it sound like I was more chaotic leaning, and I'm none of those things," she chuckles. She looks over to Connor as he snaps out of it. "Really? That's good. So no weird interactions."

Randal chuckles and says quietly, "Not exactly those things, but close." He then nods to Connor, "I didn't see anything odd."

Grimm smiles a bit at Randal for that, then looks back to Connor, checking his magical aura as she plucks out some pine needles that got whipped into her hair. "How're you feeling now, Connor?"

Connor shivers a little bit and walks back over to them, "Maybe slightly wired. I do think it doesn't negate entirely, now that I think about it more. It mostly does, but I feel like...when you have caffeine in your system but also feel really tired. Like getting pulled in both directions. But it did counteract the massive adrenaline burst.

Grimm smiles in understanding as she sees him shiver and offers to put a hand on Connor's shoulder. "Take a few breathes and let go of that energy. You're safe. You're good," she offers.

Connor smiles as he feels her hand on his shoulder. "Thanks." And he does that...relaxing further...and letting the magic effects pass through him. "Well, I think that's a successful test overall. Thanks for the help."

"Hey, it was all you," Gabrielle smiles as she feels him relax, then gives him a pat on the shoulder before lowering her hand. "And now you know how to counteract those chaotic thoughts. So long as you can remember how in the moment. So was that your future vision spell you used to stabilize? Everything A-okay there? No new world-ending apocalypse to avert?"

Connor smiles. "I didn't look far into the future. So...I spied us sharing some scotch later."

Grimm smiles brightly, then tries to temper it with some slyness. "Well, I guess we can't avoid fate, can we?" Who would want to with that in their future?

Randal chuckles. "Though I think that means it's MY scotch that's being consumed."

Grimm laughs at Randal. "You know it!" she flashes a smile. "I mean, it's worth it, right? Connor's made his first big steps into being...I dunno, a scion of balance here."

Randal nod and smiles. "I think that's worth celebrating, yes."

Connor chuckles quietly. "Scion of balance. That sounds nice."

"See? You can't fight the future, Randal," Grimm says as she steps between then, slips an arm over each shoulder, and starts walking with them back to Randal's.

The trio moves to Randal's library. His former sanctum. It has three antique chairs with high backs...and he has poured everyone some good scotch. Very smooth, though the smokey aspect is pretty mild.

Grimm smiles as she accepts a scotch and takes a sip. She sits down and crosses her legs. "Wow, this is good stuff, Randal."

Randal takes a seat and smiles, "I'm glad you like it. I'm fond of scotch, but I find hte smoke can be...a little over the top sometimes. It took a while to find this one."

Connor looks around at hte various books on shelves going ot hte ceiling...and then the bay windows that look out onto the back yard before he sits down as well. "You opened the windows up. I remember you used to have the shades drawn all the time."

Grimm pays attention to the bottle label and name for future reference. "It let's in a lot of light. Why'd you have the shades down if your home was so remote? Was it for your secret identity?"

Randal nods. "Pretty much, yes. I used to perform spells in here. And while I didn't ever have anyone attack the house, I couldn't rule out someone spying on me. There also used to be more candles around." He chuckles.

"Oh, speaking of spying...Lazare was spying on us this whole time while dealing with N'zrathol," Gabrielle mentions. "Is there anything we can do about that? A warding spell? Or warding tattoos?"

Connor raises a brow. "Tattoos? Really?"

Randal nods. "Titan has a magical tattoo. It's not unheard of. Pretty permanent, though." He thinks about it. "I think I can probably come up with something. I'd need to do some research, though."

Grimm shrugs helplessly. "I don't know. Options to avoid being scryed on. I think I read something about that. Maybe an item?" she chuckles. "Harlequin has some way to avoid it."

Connor nods. "I think we can come up with an option. It'll just require some work."

"Just in case. Since he took such an interesting in us," Gabrielle suggests and sips her scotch. "Though he didn't interfere, so maybe it's not something to worry about. He's kind of your teacher now. He may take offense if you do something like that."

Connor nods. "I usually assume he's keeping tabs on me, honestly. Order probably does too, to a degree."

Grimm grins. "Probably. I don't think he ever took an interest in me before."

Randal raises a brow, "You think so? I bet he did. Your powers are connected to another dimension. And he has to be aware of the consequences of it. And of what might have happened. I honestly think that he doesn't need to take an active role, much of hte time. He can just watch humans be humans and things will naturally move toward Chaos."

Grimm frowns at the thought of it. "I...guess that's a chance. I never knew or noticed. That's...uncomfortable," she blushes and looks away awkwardly.

Connor shrugs, "While I was the Cartesian, I was told by the Anarch that Entropy is inevitable. In a way...he's right. Reducing entropy requires energy. Increasing entropy...does not. It naturally happens."

Grimm clears her throat after getting over her embarrassment. "Well, if he was scrying at certain times, I hope he got an eyeful," she grumbles, then sip her drink and looks back to Connor. "Yeah, it's like Chaos has an unfair advantage. Humans are messy and chaotic things as is."

Grimm smiles a little faintly. "I suppose he is a bit of an agent of freedom, then. That's ironic. Make sure humans are free to indulge their natures, and he gets a win."

Randal nods. "That's certainly true for humanity. But not every species in this dimension is like that. There are others out in the stars...that are the other way. Far more orderly."

Grimm purses her lips at a thought. "Do those planets have their own agents of Order and Chaos? Or...did you oversee them as well?"

Connor shakes his head, "Technically it's one per dimension. We oversaw all of them. Randal spent some time on other planets, but I stuck around here."

Grimm's eyes widen in surprise as she looks to Randal. "Wow, really? Tell us about them," she smiles excitedly. Then she snaps a look at Connor. "You could see any dimension and any planet, and you stayed here? But there's so much to see out there!"

Connor holds up a finger. "I went to other dimensions. Just not other planets."

"Okay, okay," Gabrielle grins. "So which were your favorites?"

Randal smiles. "Favorite planets? Hmm. That's difficult. I think...one of the Guild planets. There's one that is basically just...one large world of scholars."

Grimm chuckles and smiles. "If scotch flowed from fountains, that'd probably be your idea of heaven."

Randal grins. "Quite probably, yes."

Grimm smiles broader. "Have you been to the Great Library? Not quite overflowing with scotch, but it has every book ever, I think?"

Randal shakes his head, "I'm afraid I haven't." Connor then speaks up. "I've been there, though. It is...pretty amazing."

Grimm looks over to Connor and tsks at him. "And you haven't shown Randal? We should totally take him. He'd love it. And we can bring our own scotch," she says enthusiastically.

Connor shrugs and smiles. "You're right. I should have asked Eleanora if it was okay. I apologize."

Grimm holds up her hand and shakes her head. "No need to apologize if you can schmooze Eleanora into allowing it. I don't see why she wouldn't allow him."

Randal smiles. "Please...do ask. I'd love to see it."

Connor nods and raises his glass, "I definitely will."

Grimm smiles and raises hers. "To a library trip!" Gabrielle sips, then pulls a face. "Okay, on the list of things I thought I'd never been excited for, that was one of them," she realizes. "What've you done to me?"

Randal smiles. "Cultured you."

Grimm cringes and clutches her heart. "How could you?"

Connor chuckles quietly. "Next you'll be listening to jazz or classical."

"Nooo," Gabrielle bemoans her fate and sinks down in her chair.

Grimm tries to pull herself together and sit back up. "We need to go to a Vurig show, STAT."

Connor chuckles. "Well, we can certainly do that. It'll give me a chance to try to loosen up again."

Grimm flashes a grin at that. "Yeah, I think we all earned a chance to loosen up after everything. And I seriously need another vacation. Somewhere nice and relaxing with no imminent threats or danger."

Grimm sips her drink thoughtfully. "In fact, no casting order or chaos spells for a few days beforehand if you can. Go cold turkey so you can balance out and really be you?" she suggests.

Connor thinks about it. "That's...probably a good idea. Thank you for suggesting it."

Grimm smiles and gives him a thumbs up. "I'm not even sure...have I seen you when you haven't been using magic for a while?"

Connor nods. "Absolutely. Right after I came up with the Radical identity. I relearned magic after that.

Grimm taps her chin. "I...don't think I really knew you much then, though."

Randal nods. "I think you two met after you were starting to relearn magic, Connor. You wanted to see your future, so you were relearning that spell."

"And even then, I only really knew you in passing," Gabrielle recalls. "Why did you want to see your future?"

Grimm chuckles thoughtfully. "I didn't even realize you were related to Randal until I came for him while the moon threat was happening."

Connor smiles and shrugs, "Umm...I think I explained it to you at one points. But there was that thing about some robot trying to kill my grandmother in the past? Well, it was supposedly to stop my child from being born. I wanted to know who that child would be...and what they would do. And...well, who the mother was going to be."

Grimm snaps her fingers. "Oh, right, yeah, you told me that. So that's why you learned it?"

Grimm swirls her drink and smiles. "Was that when you first saw Elizabeth? With the spell?"

Connor nods. "Well, that was why I relearned it. I used to be able to do that as the Cartesian. I figured the mother was likely Elizabeth Moriarty, but I don't even have confirmation of that. My vision of the future was blocked by a young girl. Someone related to Harlequin, I think." He shakes his head, "No, I ran into her the first time in the past, at an auction house in England."

Grimm raises a brow and tilts her head. "Related to Harley? I didn't realize he had any young relatives."

Connor says, "I'm not sure about who it was, honestly."