Green Flame Rising (Exalted vs Dresden Files)

2nd of January 2007 A.D.

There is a particular energy or lack thereof to the first Monday back to school, freshmen shuffling their feet, stuttering excuses about missing homework, seniors peering blearily at the face of the morning sun as though it had personally offended them, the two guys passing out smokes behind the gym being too loud about it and getting busted by the the vice-principal, no doubt telling himself that this time he'll get them good. He won't and he knows it but everyone makes New Years' resolutions they can't keep, like Izzy resolving to kick her soda habit and lose ten pounds, which she does not need, or Alec resolving that he's going to... join the Navy? Wait since when had that been a thing?

It turns out since last October, you had just been a bit busy freaking out over Mab at the time. Apparently he was going to try for the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Program at the University of Illinois. "What are you majoring in?" you ask, as though you somehow had not missed that.

"I'm thinking of Computer Science and Physics, there's going to be plenty of need for both on a ship I reckon and it pays well." There's a sly smile on his face as he adds. "I'd have some trouble explaining where I got some of the ideas for app and network design though. 'Alien AI' probably isn't going to cut it."

"Depends, by the time we are all in our freshmen year at College I might have spoken with some people," you admit.

That gets Izzy's attention in a hurry. "No way! Is this like the Men in Black." As much as you have seen over the past few months she is still the only person you know who can chew gum excitedly. "Are you going to Roswell... no what was that place called? Area 51. I read something about it online."

"I regret to inform you that it's probably bunk then," you offer with a shake of the head, you whisper back. "Most of the people who make policy on the spooky side, government or otherwise are old."

"Well of course they are...?" she rolls her eyes.

"More than usual, centuries old maybe." You think back to the agents from the Library, Von Trier's cold gaze measuring, weighing, the loaded choice of words. "Powerful Talents just live a long time naturally and for those less blessed there are ways and means. Think about it, if you had magic what would be one of the first things you would do with it?"

"I'm guessing not cure world hunger?" Alec jokes.

"Live longer so you can the fruits of it all the more," you answer, though before you can expand on the matter the bell goes off for Spanish.


After school you meet with Izzy and ask if she's decided where she's planning to apply for College. She has, environmental sciences here at the University of Chicago. "Not quite the marine biologist I wanted to be when I was nine, but closer than most people get," she jokes, but you can see she's struggling to keep the note light. "My parents want want me to go into psychology or 'at least' medicine, you know like an MD is something they will reluctantly take."

"You know if you wanted to observe entirely alien oceans..." you trail off.

"Don't tempt me," your friend grumbles. "So where are you going this weekend?"

"Vegas..."

"Get out!" She fakes a gasp. "How is that fair?"

"To deal with a thing," you finish, giving one more look around to make sure none of the other students streaming from the school were paying attention. "A magic thing."

"Mom wouldn't let me go to Vegas even if it was to stop Satan himself from invading," she snorts, then notices your expression. "That's a... wait, no don't explain yet. You can tell me when you come back victorious." Despite the tone it's hard to miss the worry swimming under the blue-green waters of her gaze.

What, besides school, do you do in the week before you head off to Vegas

[] The Bridges of the Spirit, continue your training with Brother Divsimar not in the ways of the spirit but the mind, the Bridge of Dreams

[] Higher Education: According to Od... that is Donar Vadderung Cambridge Massachusetts is in in a power void at the moment, one that given the power and influence certain factions of the unseen world could acquire by getting their hooks into the students early could be a lot of trouble down the road. On the other hand that very fact could be of great use to you. Check it out, see if you can establish a presence there. After all it is quite close by water.

-[] A Veil in Summer: Lilly is in a bad way, her memories of mortality, the things she loved and cherished slipping through her fingers, becoming more and more like the last Summer Lady, given what the last Summer Lady did there's more cause than just sympathy to stop her

OOC: You cannot do a Friend in need yet since the kid is due to be born on the 10th (hopefully) after you come back from Vegas. I was hoping we could do Vegas at the very start of the month, but it turns out school started on the 2nd in 2006 and I had no reason to butterfly the school year structure.