Mar 01 05:51:33 108 PA - Shopping for Magic Knowledge

From Chronicles

Mar 01 05:51:33 108 PA.

KINGSDALE MUSEUM – LIBRARY

The high windows let in the wan light of a dying afternoon, dull directionless white filtering through the snow that still blankets the earth. Just inside the door feels moist enough from the many shoes and boots that track in water from outside, but past the threshold the library is clean and dry and warm. And bustling with folk come to see the still-thriving garden, or to poke through a book they can't read and pretend so as to stay in the warm. The A/V room with computer banks and pictographs direct some to taped audio books, but Sebastien's far from there. In one of the less occupied sections, with upscale clientele. Buried in the occult/magic section, that young man replaces a book on The Peoples of the Magic Zone and frowns as he steps aside, walking back towards the card catalogue.

With another month of post-Apocalyptic world under his belt, Gabriel seems rather cheery today, even though he's carrying around a large tome with a prominent title displaying in a few different languages: "Kinds of People Who You Should Avoid." Once more, he's whistling, though obviously trying to keep it at an appropriate Library level. In fact, he breaks off his whistling to sing very, very quietly, "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord, he has...." As he's not expecting anyone, and as others are apparently buried in their own studies, he continues on his merry way toward somewhere comfortable to sit.

Terrance enters from street level, ignoring the cold outside. It hasn't hit the zero mark yet, so he's not too worried about it. But today is a good day, having just seen the doctor and gotten a full body inspection, and told all systems are go. Sky blue eyes look up at the signs marking each area, and he heads off, looking for books on methods for dealing with magic users.

Sebastien returns from the card catalogue and eyes a hole on the shelf, before looking up and peering about. His eyes fix on the whistling Gabriel, prompting a smirk, and Sebastien's head ducks as he takes a few steps to parallel the elder man, reading the spine. "Are you sure you should trust this book?" he wonders, pointing. "Whomever wrote it had a not-so-firm grasp on the American language!" He chuckles, adding, "And an editor terrible."

With a sly smile, Gabriel says, "I've found that it's often those who don't have those educational credentials who have the best wisdom and knowledge to offer. Of course," he holds out a hand to Sebastien, "I didn't have the benefit of your education, so perhaps my own experience is incorrect." With a gaze over at the other man's books whose titles he can't quite see, he asks, "What do you have? No, let me guess. The history of French pastries?"

"You know," Sebastien replies, "The language is called French, but France may as well be the Moon for all we go there. The Germans, Triax, they are able to come here, but I could certainly not go there. Not without a Death's Head transport and some SAMAS units as escorts." He lifts the book, revealing it to be 'Samuel's Custom Leather, a History.' "They've been doing custom work for a hundred and fifty years. Knights buy from him, non? We certainly do. I thought perhaps there may be a mention of them here." He flashes a brief smile, and shakes his head, noting, "Honestly, I'm not finding much. They're bogey men, little else."

Gabriel looks a little perplexed. "You studying a potential enemy by looking at their casual outfits? That's certainly a unique approach. But come over here, so I can spread this on the table. I think I've found your death heads. Or at least, some death heads." He offers a hooking, 'come here' finger and moves over to one of the tables around which various comfortable plush couches have been placed. "I don't know magic, but I know intelligence."

Sebastien laughs at that, shaking his head. "Non," he replies. "Tack. Saddles, gun leather. You can learn a lot about how someone rides, what weapons they use, how they use them, even how aggressive they are by their equipment. The saddle I have on Sara would swiftly cause spinal problems on a flesh horse, but is necessary for me to ride at sixty miles an hour without my equipment shriveling up and falling off. Do their cavalry carry pistols for faster draw while riding, or do they favor an FBI cant for fighting on foot? Do they fix larger weapons to the saddle, or on the person? Do they carry concealed, or openly? All of that is in the leather. But whether I'll see that in here, is a shot in the dark." He follows along, though, resting his book on that table and perching on the edge of one of those couches.

"Oh. Interesting approach," Gabriel allows. "I guess I've taken more of a brute-force approach, and making friends with one of the lady librarians here." Wink. As he moves around the couches, he lays out the large book on the table, crouching down slightly and opening the book to one very large page. He pokes a finger on the obvious subject. "There." It's a full-page, black-and-white inking of two upright humanoids that look like pure evil. Clearly wearing armor, but loosely, with both large swords and some kind of handgun or energy weapon. Behind them a ragged banner topped with the skull of something that used to own it. The two beings themselves are clad in demonic helmets, perhaps if a dragon had become the Devil incarnate - then gotten more twisted and evil after that. Gabriel looks over to Sebastien. "I think these are your death heads, my large friend."

Sebastien's expression says it all. A small intake of breath and his expression freezes, and the young man leans over the book to get a good look. "That's it," he affirms, and reaches out to tap at the page. "Who drew this?" he wonders. "Look at the figure on the right. That oriental-style leg protection is designed for mounted use. The arms are also lightly covered, but he has no melee weapons. Instead he's depicted with two firearms. That one," he taps the rifle. "Is magic. There aren't any dual-clip designs I know of in real guns. His friend is in heavier plate, unsuitable to riding, but has a sword. So either they choose their own specialty and equipment, or the artist was not savvy to detail."

With another nod, Gabriel turns the book slightly so that he can view it more head-on. After a few short seconds, he says, "Book says they use their own specialty armor. Make these helmets more for shock value. I mean, unless they can breathe gas or magically block it or something, they're vulnerable. Overconfidence. Before you attempt to beat the odds, be sure you could survive the odds beating you. Might be an edge. Still," he taps the odd weapon. "I admit, I've never seen a weapon like that, but NTI makes dual-magazine weapons. Stands to reason that others might, as well. Still reading up on their magic capabilities, but they say their pure combat is tough. According to the guy who wrote this book, at least."

Sebastien snaps his fingers. "True. NTI. I suppose -- I just find firearms distasteful in general, and lasers seem cleaner. I bought a shotgun from them to use against vampires, but other than that?" He shakes his head. "I can probably match them in pure combat. I may even beat them, if they don't have all magical weapons. But the magic, that is the wild card. A net, some spells to slow us down, and unless we have magic users or psychics of our own slowing them down a four to four engagement becomes four to two against us." Sebastien sits next to Gabriel, perched on the leading edge of a couch before a table in the occult section of the library. Night has recently fallen, and with it the temperature. It promises to be another icy, treacherous night.

"Which is exactly why I prefer to use firearms, of whatever type. I'm not built like you to take a pummeling. I only learned who to swing a sword for those unfortunate times that I might end up forced into close combat. Seems to me that most magic doesn't act as far as a good rifle, right?" Gabriel looks up to Sebastien for confirmation.

Jason is not long in the library before he wanders. His gas mask present at his hip, his wide brimmed hat in hand. Casually held as a familiar thing as he starts to wander the stacks. Though he does so with a soft air of disappointment by the time he starts to near the occult section. Though he doesn't notice Gabriel and Sebastien at once. Appearing at the end of a row of shelves across from their settled spot. His head turning as he rounds into the aisle to study the books that are on this side of the shelf carefully.

"Most, no," Sebastien admits. "And the idea of a rifle sometimes appeals to me. Like against those beasts, at the Ranch. The Code does not necessitate I ride out and face vermin in mutual combat. If you were to see these men, at eight hundred meters, and assuming you have had proper training and sighted in your rifle and have a quality scope and the rest, then perchance yes you may harass them from distances at which they may not reply. If they get in the woods? Or in a cornfield, or some such? Well, it's enough to make you wish for a flying platform."

Gabriel nods, appreciating the information. "Yeah. I'm assuming that we'll at least be getting into position using the ATVs. Roof gives me an elevated spot to shoot from. If they're on horseback, they'll stick up easily above even any cornfield that I've ever seen." He then grins and smiles. "I've had a long time to learn to tweak and modify weapons for best use. It's taken me a little while to get used to modern tech, but I have a good rifle. Sniping on target, heavy bursts on target. So hopefully, distance works." He looks around, probably noticing Jason, though not feeling any need to address him. "For you and possibly Erica, I think speed is the key. Fuck the magic users, they can work things out for themselves, because I know damn well they're too fucking arrogant to listen to anyone with actual military knowledge and experience." He pauses, flips a page over, and says - without looking up - "I think I have another guy for the project. Well, I know that I do. Question is whether or not to actually use him."

Jason moves closer to the two as he slowly works along the shelf, the soft frown not leaving him until he reaches the end, not too far from where they have settled. There he seems to find what he wants. A book is drawn down and he flips it open. His eyes intent on the pages as he flips through them. Written in Spanish, if the cover is looked to. And for at least a few moments he will continue to study it.

Sebastien holds up a hand, laughing softly, "Calm down. We need magic users. Or a psychic. What you're saying is akin to walking a minefield without an EOD tech. No, you don't need Disposal on hand to avoid stepping on a mine, but you'll lose more people without him. My focus is against technology. You're long-range support. Ideally you would be paired with someone else who can handle a rifle, someone who could protect you up close and keep eyes around while yours are downrange. Ideally, I would be paired with a magic user, psychic, or perhaps a cyborg if you want to brute-force it. Someone who can counter the shit they seem to be able to conjure from nowhere. For myself, I'm not crazy about the idea of going up with swords against a mounted enemy. I can't pilot a jet pack with my toes, and it's a much less stable platform to fight from than horseback. Quite simply, I won't make it on foot against a magic-using horsed opponent."

"Well, as far as I know, we don't actually have any proof yet that they're actually pointed. Just a serious concern. You know, like I said, the recon ended up being shit because of the mages. We'd stayed longer, we might have known for sure. At the time, it's just something to worry about and prepare for." Jason receives another glance, but Gabriel continues to Sebastien. He has absolutely no business pending with the other man. "Like I said, I've got another guy. If he can do what he claims, he'd be a big help alongside you in melee distances. He mentioned something about being psychic, but I didn't really have time to talk to him more last night. He's... well built, internally." Nod.

Jason does look over towards the two, a thoughtful air to his expression. And the book is closed, lifted and placed back in it's home. "Trouble ever brews," he comments casually, turning to approach the two. His hands slide behind himself, lightly joining with the hat held between them. "Good evening," he offers, a nod for each and a light familiarity to go along with it.

"Really?" Sebastien asks. "It does trouble the mind a bit that they wouldn't stay long enough to actually do what they spent so much time and effort preparing for. So, did you actually fight these knights, or.." He's broken into by Jason, and Sebastien's head lifts, eyes blinking in nonrecognition, before he spies that gas mask. "Aha," he intones. "Always ready. Good man. So, there was not the gas attack at the Alibi, but perhaps at the library, eh?"

Gabriel slams his butt into the deep sofa while simultaneously throwing up his arms in exasperation. When he speaks, it's in a mild growl." Yeah, we wish. Fight them? HA! *I* didn't even *see* them. Like I said before, everything important that I supposedly know comes from the mages recognizing some little tidbit of information. Never fucking even saw them. A spooky glow on the horizon." He sighs and calms himself and offers Jason a polite hello before continuing with Sebastien. "*I* know that I was taken to one town that by all appearances seemed fine. But again, that bitch Valeriya pulled us out too soon to be sure. *I* know that I was taken to another town that was basically destroyed. Dead civilians everywhere. A Coalition infantry platoon, mostly dead. Two battered skelebots that were barely hanging together. Those guys thought that a group from Tolkeen had hit them. But, again, the magic users and the motherfucker Bennet pulled out before Erica and I could learn anything solid." There's another annoyed shrug. "*That* is the extent of what I *know* that I know." The man doesn't look happy.

"It seems other practical uses," Jason tells Sebastien simply, a faintly amused curl to his lips."But no, I fear no danger." The faint amusement lingers some as Gabriel speaks to Sebastien, Jason listening thoughtfully to the lot of it. "So it is when you are not the one who guides a group. I would assume you will be leading this excursion you are speaking of? And I would hazard you are better to be upset with this.. Valeriya rather than all who wield unusual powers. We are not all so bad."

Sebastien pipes up, "And who is to say they are not from Tolkeen, even if they are Mystic Knights? You have it only on the word of your employer that they have been equally hit. Well, I know the helmet. So there is your confirmation, I suppose." He waves disgustedly at the helmets, and points across from himself and Gabriel. "Sit," he speaks, looking up at the young mage. "Jason, is it? It's not your kind as a whole, but rather what you can do. I suppose if I could say a few words and conjure a beast that could tackle a tank, I might be arrogant as well. If I were invulnerable to most weapons, I might not care about things like cover fire, two-man teams, and communication. So, perhaps if you're young enough, if you're not yet in your town-destroying prime, you might still learn a thing or two."

While Gabriel keeps his eyes averted as Sebastien speaks, and indeed, his face in another direction, others in the Library who would be taking close notice would observe a look on his face that seems... pleased? Relieved? Satisfied? Something along those lines. But as the other man draws to a close, he turns back, and will offer a cordial, non-committal nod to Jason. "I'm not saying they aren't from Tolkeen. I'm saying that that's the information that I *know,* and that's the information I've been *given.* Big difference, particularly when you don't really trust your sources. Honestly though, one thing that hasn't been brought up yet is brain-busting. I can't find any information on how that type of thing affects them, though I assume that the physical manifestation-style things still work the same." He shrugs. "Unless there's some kind of magical anti-psychic spell?"

Jason turns his head, looking towards the place indicated. Though for the moment he seems comfortable in a casual rest stance. "I am well acquainted with death and know well that no matter how powerful one is, there is someone who is stronger. Immortality is a thing that no one can claim." His lightly amused smile lingers as he adds, "Learning is what I do. Why I have traveled. And why, for now, I linger here. Even were I a.. 'town destroyer', that would hardly be my way of doing things." He then considers Gabriel for a moment before he offers to the man, "Psychics themselves tend to be more resistant to like abilities. Or so my own experience tells. Though strong willed individuals can be just as tenacious. Really, you can't be sure until you test someone's defenses. I have seen strong men crumble easily and weak men whose minds are clad in iron. Thus experience is the best teacher. Of magic, I could not say."

Speaking of magic, Leonard emerges from the the shelves, a book in hand. Experience is a good teacher, so, unlike Rasputin the night past, he keeps both eyes on the path before him. Four, even, if the black orbs of the raven upon his shoulder can be counted.

"So are you psychic, or a magic-user?" Sebastien wonders, eyeing Jason. He leans forward a touch, elbows shifting to his knees. "The latter is more useful, I think, but depending on your particular orientation being psychic might be helpful as well." He chuckles, and adds, "Have you ever met madame Celaeno?"

Gabriel grumbles to himself again, this time as Celaeno's name is brought up. If anyone could hear it, it wouldn't be nice things being grumbled about her. Still, though he keeps an ear on Sebastien and Jason, he is actually out of the conversation at the moment. After flipping another page over in his out-sized book sitting before him on the table, he manages to notice another friend, Leonard. And that creepy bird. He raises a hand in greeting, though there is no reason to shout a big hello through the library. After all, libraries have expectations and standards.

"'The mind is my playground' as someone once told me. An amusing statement, but true enough for the purposes," Jason tells Sebastien. "And my talents are potent. A boast that holds some truth." They are collected in the occult section, the two other than Jason seated, he standing at rest nearby. "How useful I might be I could not say until I know what might be needed." He pauses, looking towards Leonard as he is waved to. Considering the man before he notes, "I have not met a woman named Celaeno." His attention returns to Sebastien as he asks, "Why?"

Leonard notices the conversation, the mostly familiar faces, and the wave. The name in the discussion brings a chuckle as he approaches. "She is a very ...interesting woman. You'd definitely remember if you had met her." He nods to Gabriel before looking to the man he doesn't know, rather than Sebastien.

"Because," Sebastien replies, "She's about the perfect person to handle a mage problem, if you can get past the attitude. And the drinking. And the smell." He smirks at that, and looks up with some surprise at Leonard. "Ah, salut! It's been quite a while, I think." He smiles at Leo, then squares up again with Jason, before peering aside at Gabriel. "There's some luck. Like I said, very few mages have any psychic aptitude. One or the other. So they would be especially vulnerable to a man such as this."

When Leonard is within polite speaking distance, Gabriel will momentarily remove himself from the previous conversation - one he continues to remain interested in - so ask Leonard suddenly and out of the blue, "Hey, can you teleport things without having to go there yourself?"

Jason glances between Leonard and Sebastien, then nods his head once as he says, "I suppose I shall have to keep an eye out for the woman, then. She sounds intriguing. Pros and flaws." He glances towards Gabriel, then back to Sebastien as he notes, "As I said, the mind is not so predictable. But you are correct, few are strong in both realms. The only variable tends to be what natural strength of will they have."

Leonard is about to add another comment on the virtues of Celaeno when Gabriel moves to him. The unexpected question causes him to pause. "As in others? I could, in theory. In practice, though, that would leave the person stranded. As for just objects," he considers and shrugs his shoulders, bobbing Edgar slightly, "I've never tried to open a rift and toss anything through, if that's what you mean."

Terrance enters the library from the rather chilly outdoors, stomping his boots on the tiled foyer to rid them of the snow and frost. He's making something of a messy down there. Before he leaves the foyer though he looks around, listening for familiar voices.

"So," Sebastien replies, "I tell you what Jason. You remember my name, Sebastien, oui?" He smiles, and reaches into his shirt to pull out a small pad of paper. "Here is the number at the Knights Hospital where I may be reached. I work nights, so call after eight. Set up a time when we can meet a little more privately, and we'll talk about this little problem I have. Maybe you can help, and make a little money doing it."

Gabriel states to Leonard, "Ah. Nevermind then. C'mon, sit, we're shooting the breeze. Or go do something useful with your brain, whatever you prefer." After a smile, he turns his attention back to Sebastien. "You know, Seb, this little thing is running out of secrecy real fast, and I'm going to need some secrecy for a while, or I might end up hurt. Or not. In either case, the wiser. So you know -" he offers a little dismissive wave "- maybe keep details mute right now. Like, contacts?" He offers an expressive raise of his eyebrow as a quiet request. "I've a vested interest in secrecy right now." Terrance is noted out of the corner of his eye, but it's far too soon to wave or say hello without disturbing the rest of the Library.

Jason does listen to Sebastien as he speaks, his eyes dipping to the notebook as he prepares the offered number. "It would be hard to forget, given your taste in recreational clothing," he says. "Very well, I am always willing to listen." And he will take the number when offered, the paper lifted to be scanned briefly before it is folded and slid into a pocket within his coat. He glances towards Gabriel again and smiles as he says to Sebastien, "I think I shall continue along so you can continue the talk I so rudely interrupted." He nods his head towards the man before he turns to start moving further into the library.

"I think that I've strained my brain, and patience, enough with study for now." Leonard sets the book on a nearby table before looking between the men curiously. "A problem?" After a moment, he adds, "Nevermind. Maybe it's better I don't know." Especially since Gabriel just mentioned secrecy.

Terrance sees Gabriel, and studies him for a moment. Then he relaxes his gaze and simply approaches, moving quickly. "Gentlemen.. how are we this evening? Hey Gabe." He offers the other man, stopping nearby. He doesn't say anything more, simply watching and listening.

"It's an interview, Gabriel," Sebastien replies back with a smirk. "You know the interviewer always has all the fun." He looks up at Jason, and raises a hand. "Au revoir, monsieur Jason." He raises a hand, before settling back. He peers aside at Gabriel, and shrugs. "Listen, like I said. We need someone like him. Especially if he is who he implies he is, hence the interview later. If we like what he can bring to the table, we'll bring him in with the details. If not, no harm done. Maybe next job."

"And like *I* said, it's a good idea to get other people, but it's not so bright to stir up a lot of direct interest in the subject for a little while. I talked with a nice young guy last night who I think can help out, but I didn't send him to talk to anyone. Christ." Gabriel shakes his head a little. "We're already stirring up a hornet's nest with the nice young lady - right now, with our concerns, we need *quiet*." Ironically, the asked word "quiet" is expressed louder than the other words. Jason is waved off silently as he departs. To Leonard, "Oh, just a thought for us, and a separate job going on at the same time." Then a waved, "Afternoon, Terrance."

Leonard glances sidelong at Sebastien while a smirk grows to Gabriel. "Quiet and secrecy might be difficult concepts for some." He then lifts a hand to greet Terrance. "We're well. Yourself?" The movement is enough that Edgar leaves Leonard as a perch with a flutter. A tall shelf across the room is chosen as a better vantage point, instead.

Terrance grins at Leonard. "I'm pretty good thanks." He trails off, watching the large black bird fly off to look down on them all from a shelf nearby. "Hope he's not here for nesting material.. Librarian can be mean I'm told." He says aloud, joking but his tone is deadpan.

Sebastien blinks and stares at Gabriel, peering at him a long moment. "You're not making any sense," Sebastien replies softly, looking around at the library setting. "We need people we know to work with, but right now we don't know the right people. That nice young lady, I have in my pocket. I have her because I've cultivated a relationship there, I have some inkling of what she can do, and I know the sorts of people she's worked with in the past. I need more people like her in my pocket, so I can pull them out when I need them. We need people we can train with. We need people we can understand what they can do. We need predictable people. If you won't call it a company, call it a 'club.' People we can take into the woods and run against, make each other better." He peers at Gabriel, eyes narrowing. "Right now, what are we? A bunch of individuals. The job is less important. It'll get done, and there will be more. Networking, practicing, is the most important thing a man by himself can do. So oui, I'm going to meet him. And he'll bat me senseless with his mind a few times, I may teach him to shoot a shotgun, and he may show me the ropes in the sparring ring. If we're not doing that all the time, the guy who does? Will kill us."

Unfortunately, due to current content, Leonard is rudely ignored for the moment. "I'm not saying to bend over and wait to get buttfucked, Seb. I'm saying we have an issue with our employer that needs to be settled first. Your lady friend, for one, should be of great assistance. I'm telling you that I'm busy doing my own investigation, and it might take a week or so to nail things down, and I don't need him to focus any more on the subject than whatever it is that he's doing right now." Gabriel looks over at Sebastien and meets his eyes. Not angry, but obviously determined to get his point across. "You want to find people with potential? That's great. Like I said, I did last night. You want to sit down and have a dinner of pheasant and champagne with them to get to know 'em? Fine." He then holds his hands out. "I get it. Train. This is what I've done for twenty years, and I'm going to do it again. But right now? No one gets important names. Not the employer, not the woman who brought us in. One of these guys just ends up wandering around town aimlessly talking about it? That's one thing. Maybe her heard a rumor. But a guy approaches that annoying woman, or the client? That raises flags - and I don't need flags right now." He sighs and his body language is a request. "Just hold off for a little while. Time is something that we have."

"Don't worry," Leonard chuckles, "he's not nesting. Not any more than I do, here, at least. He'd much rather study the knowledge than make a bed out of it." He doesn't ignore Gabriel nor Sebastien, but he doesn't interject, either. Not unless his grin counts, though that could be from the comments on Edgar. Terrance does interject on the other hand. He turns away from Leo, and faces the two arguing men. "Just for a different point of view.. Training isn't everything. You can OVERtrain.. It's very possible. you over train and over strategize, then you don't wanna adapt when something you didn't train for comes your way. Just my professional opinion." He remarks, grinning.

"I suppose I see things differently," Sebastien replies with a smirk, "but I'll play along. I do think, though," he adds, standing while reaching for his book, "that I've had enough of studying and cryptic conversations for one night. Gabriel, as always, a pleasure. Leonard, if you're of a mind, I could use a good mage in my club. Working out how to get around spells would be as beneficial to me as, I think, the best way to trap a man like myself would be to you." He winks, and shrugs. "At worst, perhaps I can show you which end of a knife to stick into somebody." He raises a hand, giving a small wave, before easing back into the stacks. To replace his book.

Gabriel peeks an eye over at Terrance, shaking his head. "Training and adaptation are *not* mutually exclusive, if they're taught right. Apparently there's some immediate wisdom that you'll owe me a meal for after all." He winks to show friendship - and belief in the spoken fact. To Sebastien, "Apparently so. All I'm asking is a little discretion. When we know what we *need* then we know how we *need* to train. But you have a good night, my friend. If I've angered you, I'm sorry. I hate for friends to part unhappy, if it can be avoided." Leonard is again acknowledged with a polite nod, but the man keeps it short for now, as Sebastien is obviously on his way out.

Leonard turns to nod at Sebastien as the man moves off. "There's always benefit in numbers, even if just for learning. So long as the demonstration with knives doesn't involve my being stuck with one." Another amused sound as he asks Gabriel, rhetorically and amusedly, "You're making friends everywhere, I see?"

Terrance shrugs and grins at Gabriel's meal comment. "It seems so. Glad I don't know everything. I'd be bored fast." He says dryly, that smile still on his lips. He turns to Leo as he speaks up. "I take you two know each other?"

Gabriel closes the oversized book on the table before him then gets to his feet. After all, everyone else is standing, why should he be the slouch? With a grin, he then points to Leonard. "Oh yeah, we go way back. Hell, what... at least a few months! In fact, that bird of his is very kind. Whenever I feel the need for a good old fashioned clay pigeon shoot, he flits around as a good target." The older man - today, definitely the oldest in the room - grins at all, and makes a special gesture to the bird. "Don't worry Edgar, I'm just pulling your beak." After a moment, he addresses Leonard. "They say that honor is a fine quality that should never see the battlefield. It's equally true that in planning for important operations where secrecy is an equally fine quality, friendship becomes temporarily unnecessary. The point is to get the job done with minimal danger to anyone. But hey, I'm a very likeable guy." Gabriel grins - at his own knowledge that he isn't the wonderfully perfect man he just claimed to be. "What are the two of you doing here? Random research?"

"I wouldn't call it random," Leonard smirks, "since I'm here more than I'm not." A glance to Edgar causes his smirk to grow as he nods. With that permission given, the raven notes to Gabriel, in a layered voice of several timbres, "I could be a target for you so long as you return the favor."

Terrance shakes his head. "I dunno. Man's been a soldier longer than we've been alive. I wouldn't take him up on that offer. You might not get to shoot back." He teases Leo. "No I'm here researching magic.. I only know the very basics.. and I'll need to know more if I'm gonna be a target for a bunch of pissed of mages.. should that ever happen."

Gabriel only chuckles and speaks to Edgar. "Not sure I've ever heard you speak before. Seen a parrot speak. A parakeet, but not a raven, except in Poe's poem. But you know, I'm an expert shot, and I've got a great rifle. I really don't think it would be fair." Short pause. "To me!" Then to the humans. "Magic, all three of us intertwined at the moment, though different ways. Let me see. Leo, you're learning a new spell. Terrance, you're just getting the gist. Am I on track?" He quirks an eyebrow then adds in a dead-pan that may or may not be amusing, "I'm learning how to kill it."

Leonard can't help but chuckle. "You're wise, Gabriel. He has a few years of experience on all of us. As a species." After that, he nods. "I am, but that's hardly a daring guess. To be honest, the best defense against magic is avoidance. Try not to piss off anyone or anything that wields it. Barring that is learning to use it, yourself. Magic is one of the best tools against itself, of course."

Terrance shakes his head. "Avoidance is great.. but I'm looking for ways to disrupt magic before it's cast. Prevent spell flingers from using their power. Straight up physical versus their magic."

"Actually, Leonard, I have an genuinely important question when it comes to magic. I'm not talking about your rifting or any of that, I'm talking about things like lightning bolts, and magic nets. Fairly short ranged, right? What kind of common maximum range would be reasonable to expect? I know this is a vast generalization, but I don't think I can clear it up any further for you." Gabriel does nod and add, "I can't avoid magic entirely. I'm trying to figure out how best to avoid what I can. Hence - my question." He holds his hands out before him, palms up, inviting an answer.

"Well," Leonard considers a moment and finally shrugs, though he does answer both questions, more or less. "Range is as varied as the effect desired. Most directed energy invocations can reach at least as far as most personal weapons. Others could be more limited, but more impairing, such as nets. The simplest suggestion that I can give would be to treat it as a weapon assumed to only need drawn and fired once. Surprise, stealth, overwhelming odds, and subtlety are all useful. If you're not a target, or can't be made one... Like I said, avoidance. Not getting hit is good, but not getting shot at in the first place is even better."

Terrance regards Leo with a look that is a mix of interest and morbid curiosity. "I may need to pick your brain later.." He mutters, staring at the man blankly. He's so caught up in his thought process he doesn't even remember to make his face work as it's supposed to.

Nod, nod, nod. "Alright. How about this, let me try some more data for you. I have a problem with some people who may or may not have offensive magic capabilities - truly, I don't know. But I can reach out and touch 'em from almost half a mile away. If I can keep that distance, would that be beyond an average range? Because that's about twice the range of most firearms short of a rail-gun or a howitzer." Somewhat belatedly, Gabriel speaks to Terrance's earlier comment. "Yeah, if I could accomplish the magical version of electronic warfare, that would be great. Like... a magic jammer. I'd pay someone good money to invent that."

Leonard smirks. "You wouldn't be the first person to want to invent or own a device like that. For better or worse, magic and technology don't mix well, so I doubt there will ever be such a thing. As for your idea, it's a good one, especially if you can maintain the distance or remain unseen. Magic still must be aimed, in general." He quirks a brow at Terrance and chuckles. "Pick my brain? I thought you already were?"

After another nod, Gabriel thanks Leonard. "Hey, thanks. I'll keep that in mind, my friend. You and your bird have a good night. Don't break you brain." After a smile and wink to both Leonard and Terrance, he heads out the door, hurrying off silently on some other errand.