Log:On the Fence of Chaos and Order

2020/06/01 	 Radical Grimm Lords of Chaos and Order|Lazare

1

Radical give Grimm a call...as a request to back him up with a...meeting. He doesn't go into any serious detail on the message, but says to meet on top of the science building at CBSU.

Having had a good night's rest after finding out her friend was actually alive, Gabrielle agrees without hesitation. Her powers seem to have mostly restored themselves since using the harness, too. At the appointed time, Gabrielle appears on the top of the science building. She's dressed a little more colorfully than normal. A dusty lavender off-the-shoulder band t-shirt with white band script and charcoal gray jeans shorts with fraying and distressing around the legs. She's also wearing black tights and doc marten's, and a black leather cuff on her right wrist, plus the usual rings and piercings in silver. Still rocker, but more...summer appropriate.

Radical waves as Grimm arrives, "Right on time. Good to see you. Thanks for showing up."

Grimm waves and smiles warmly in return. "Of course. I wouldn't let you down. Especially when you need backup," she says. "So what's this meeting thing about?"

Radical chuckles quietly. "I wanted to meet with Lazare." As if on cue...Radical's shadow on the rooftop seems to walk away from him....and slowly pivots up, standing away from the rooftop itself, upright. And only then does Lazare step from the shadow.

Lazare

A young (mid-20s?) Caucasian man dressed in a dark suit that seems to shimmer in various colors as the light hits it from different angles. His necktie is pitch black, however. His hair looks markedly unkempt, like he's just woken up from a nap.

Lazare grins and gives a big flamboyant bow. "Gentleman. Lady. It is good to see you both. Your actions as of late have proven most entertaining to observe."

Gabrielle grimaces. "Oh boy. How much were you watching?" And how much did he see? Did he see her sobbing her heart out a few days ago? Or other touchy feely moments? These are the thoughts that worry Grimm. "And hello, Lazare," she says politely.

Radical nods to the newcomer, "Lazare, thank you for coming." The Anarch smiles some more, "Oh...only up until you closed the rift. I was interested in my professional role, and I often tend to skip the emotional bits in movies. N'razathol didn't realize that he...it?...was serving a greater power than himself in his attempts to take over."

Grimm is part relieved, but that also means Lazare had to see some of them to know to skip. She...is oddly still okay with that. She doesn't feel embarrassed for her emotions. "I guess. Which greater power was that?" She guesses chaos, but there are other odd powers at work that even she is unaware of.

Lazare frowns, "You're smarter than that, Miss Grimm. Chaos, of course. You're just pulling my leg now. Are you the sort of person who needs to have EVERYTHING said explicitly?" He waggles an eyebrow.

Radical sighs quietly.

Grimm smiles gently, keeping it friendly. "I was just hoping it'd be something else and I'd learn something new. I guess then the rift closing wasn't that great for you?" She looks to Radical and smiles apologetically, then looks back to Lazare. "Anyway...I'm not the one who called this meeting."

Lazare shrugs, "The demons' machinations weren't part of my plans anyway. Just a bonus opportunity. I suppose I could have gotten involved...made it a little harder for you...plucky...folks!" He physically skips while he says the last couple of words. "But yes...my presence here was requested. Sir Radicalization, why did you wish to speak with my august personage?"

Radical chuckles quielty. He takes a long moment, looking at the rooftop before he returns his gaze to Lazare, "I had a favor to ask, Lazare. I'm sure you've noticed that I have some facility with the magic of Order, still. But...I don't work for them any more. I'd like to balance the scales a little bit and learn some of the magic of Chaos. If you would teach it to me."

Grimm remains quiet as she awaits Lazare's answer, studying the Anarch's reaction.

Lazare blinks as he listens. "Well...THIS is an interesting turn of events. I didn't expect this from you, Professor." He starts to pace back and forth slowly...and then quickly...and then slowly... "I have to admit, I don't see much of a downside. As things stand you're currently still kind of an agent of Order, but not really. You're a wild card. If I teach you some of our magic, you'll be pulled further toward our side of the fence. I think...you'll end up on the fence itself. Which is an uncomfortable place to be, am I right?" He elbows Radical in the arm and continues his pacing.

Grimm knows Radical wants this. And Lazare's not wrong...it'll help nudge Radical further away from Order, which is some benefit to him. She and Lazare have definitely butted heads in the past due to her being uncompromising when it came to negotiating with demons and the like. So she wonders if her disapproval will push Lazare into agreeing. She looks at Radical. "I don't know about this. Learning chaos magic? That's going to get you in trouble with the new Cartesian," she comments while fixing Radical with a look and folding her arms over her chest, hoping he'll catch on with her intentions.

Radical takes a deep breath and sighs. This is going to require some patience. He has to remind himself of that fact. He looks back to Grimm and furrows his brow. He's already in trouble with the new Cartesian. What would this change? But he doesn't say that out loud. Instead he seems to catch on. "Yes...that's true. I'm sure I'd end up an enemy of theirs once I start learning some magic from the other side."

He catches on to her point on him already being on their naughty list. Grimm frowns more. "Well...if you're really going to try and go down this route, I don't approve. But...I owe you to back you up when Order comes for you," she sighs.

Lazare frowns, "Miss Grimm...why do you not approve? Your life is one of chaos. Everything about it."

Grimm frowns at that. He's not wrong. "Yeah...my life is full of chaos. Surrounded by it. But I spend all my effort fighting it." And she fails spectacularly at times, but why say that out loud?

Lazare grins, seemingly sensing how much it bothers her. "You shouldn't feel bad by that. Some people are more prone to it than others. Your friend Porter is well...I think you can guess which end of the specturm he falls on." He turns back to Radical. "I'll teach you. As I said...I don't think I can see a downside to it."

Grimm purses her lips and nods at that. She has no doubt Porter is unknowingly a force of pure chaos. He's certainly brought plenty of it into her life. She keeps quiet and looks to Radical. It seems to have worked out.

Radical nods. "Thank you."

Lazare grins, "I don't have time now...but I'll be in touch...probably this week? Maybe? Some time you're not teaching. We'll do lunch. Teach you the basics. And then I suspect you can take it from there. You're a smart cookie, young'un." He grins, "How's Randal, by the way? Doing well, I hope?"

Radical pauses at the mention of Randal, but he answer, "He's doing well. Thank you. I'll let him know you asked after him."

Lazare nods, "Good, good. Glad to hear it. And...before I go...Miss Grimm, keep up the good work. We need more heroes like you in the world. Many more."

Grimm stiffens a little at the mention of Randal. She expects mentioning him to be a threat, but then she's surprised Lazare seems happy that he's well. Or at last satisfied. Her lips purse again at his comments to her. "It's a shame I'm one of a kind," she laments playfully. Sadly, she's wrong on that.

Lazare turns to go...and pauses. "Are you sure on that, Miss Grimm? There may be others in the world that have a similar problem. A nexus of possibilities. A gateway to something horrible. Or greater, depending on whom you ask." He's sounding...more calm and collected now. "None of us are as unique as we think we are." He starts to steps forward toward the edege of the building, and his form seems to turn to liquid and then collapse into a puddle on the roof.

Grimm swallows hard at that. She wonders briefly if her ex-boyfriend, Jonathon Price, has had dealings with the Anarch. Their powers come from the same source, although Price focused on the more deadly aspects and delved fearlessly. She takes a breath and lets it out slowly as the Anarch disappears, then looks to Radical. "Have his people call your people?" she smiles in amusement.

Radical shrugs, "He said he'd be in touch. So I thik I'm unlikely in danger next time I see him." He chuckles, "I figured that he wouldn't have a huge issue with teaching me. It's like he's gaining an ally."

Grimm pretend frowns at that. "Yeah, it really does benefit him totally. Shall we go back to someplace he can't scry on us so we can have some words?"

Radical says, "If you're concerned, you could make mental contact with me, right?"

Grimm looks surprised. "If you'd allow it," she says, knowing that's a big step of trust between them.

Radical nods. "I'd allow it."

Grimm smiles warmly in appreciation. She uses a gentle touch. Her mental voice lacks the snark she usually has, and is warm and fond. << That worked out really well. I was worried if I looked like I was completely on board with it, he'd think it was a trap or a bad idea. I wonder how much he was really scrying on us. He probably knew I was just playing it up all along. >>

Radical nods and responds back, << He probably already knows. The man is older than both of us put together. He's not a dummy. I think it would be very, very, difficult to pull one over on him. >>

<< Darn. Well, I played it up for nothing. I'm not actually upset about this. Is Randal's place warded yet? Against the Anarch scrying?>> Gabrielle asks.

Radical shakes his head, << Not yet. Well, part of it is. His former sanctum. The library. >>

Grimm thinks on that. << Good to know if we need to talk about the Anarch behind his back and you don't want to think on it. I think you're right...you'll probably be safe learning from him. But if Order catches word of this, they're the ones you may have to worry about. If you need me on call for backup during that lunch in, I can be ready. I'd just have to attune myself to you and have a way for you to give me a signal, and I can be there in an instant.>>

Radical nods. << While I think of it...you have permission to contact my mind from now on. >>

Grimm gets a surprised look at that, but what he senses over the connection is warm feelings. In the past, one might believe she weren't capable of such. << Really? You're sure about that? >>

Radical nods, and says out loud, "I'm sure."

Radical says, "I'm generally protective and cautious. But I trust you."

Grimm smiles warmly, allowing herself to be overwhelmed with emotion. "That means a lot to me. You have no idea," she says, heartfelt.

Radical goes to give Grimm a hug without saying anything else.

Grimm is caught by surprise, but smiles and hugs him back tightly. "Thanks," she says quietly. For a brief moment, she wonders if it's a display to make Lazare avert this spying gaze. But then she just allows herself to value the moment for what it is.

Radical pulls away after a minute or so. "You're family now." He smiles, which is barely visible under the mask he's wearing.

Grimm enjoyed the long hug, smiling at him after. "You are, too," she smiles back. "Speaking of family...maybe we should have dinner over at Randal's soon. At least to tell him about all this," she gestures about the rooftop.

Radical nods. "That sounds good. I'm sure he would appreciate it."

Grimm smiles. "Great. I know he has to eat healthy foods, but I might be able to use my powers to make it taste like it's bad for him. In a delicious way," she says with some excitement at her idea.

Radical chuckles. "I think it's possible to make good-tasting healthy food, you know."

Grimm gives Radical a funny, incredulous look. "Lies," she says playfully. "Okay, I'll bite. You'll have to teach me of this 'good-tasting healthy' food."

Radical laughs again. "I'll be able to come up with something."

"You can cook?" Grimm finds that to be unexpected.

Radical chuckles. "Why are you surprised by that?"

Grimm shrugs innocently and quickly says, "No reason. I mean, I just never figured. I can't even make mac and cheese right."

Radical tils his head, "I think you'll find that most people who are good with science likely are decent at cooking." HE chuckles. "I remember hearing a quote: Baking is science for hungry people."

Grimm thinks on that. "Maybe that's why I suck at it," it dawns on her. "Wait, you can bake? Like...fresh stuff?" she asks hungrily.

Radical nods. 'Well, sure. You just follow directions. Randal can too."

Grimm still looks like he's speaking greek. "I try, but...I keep messing it up. I guess I get distracted. I should probably learn one of these days."

Radical chuckles. "I'm sure we can teach you.

"I'd appreciate it. I figure...the future's looking bright. I should start planning for it," Gabrielle smiles. "Whoever I end up settling down with, I'd hate for them to find out I can't cook," she adds, laughing.

Radical laughs. "Well, we can make sure that's not an issue.

Grimm smiles appreciatively. "Thanks. Maybe I can start with something easy. Chocolate chip cookies? Are those an easy thing?"

Radical nods. "Those are easy. No sweat. The recipe is on a package."

"It is?" Grimm asks like she's learning the secrets of deep magic.

Radical stares at her for a long moment. "Are you messing with me now?"

"What? No, I'm serious!" Gabrielle says, truly sincere. "You're blowing my mind right now."