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[complices]

Who: Mosley (complices) and Athena Cykes (psycholawgy)
When: IC: 5:30 PM on 1/28
Where: Beginning in front of CERES HQ
What: Mosley and Athena made an appointment to play Scrabble
Rating/Warning: None! This log is the product of player and mod contact. Please feel free to contact the mods at any time if you would like to interact with the NPCs. We're always open!

---

[ Just as promised, at 5:30 PM that Wednesday, only two days after the tours, Mosley will be standing outside of CERES HQ waiting for Athena. He's in his usual suit and isn't looking much worse for the wear despite Monday's chaos. He has his CereVice open in one hand and is scrolling through it as he waits. ]

Comments

[psycholawgy]

[ Athena's pretty hurt and upset about the tours (amongst other things), but this is an opportunity that she won't skip out on! If she can possibly get some answers from Mosley as they play Scrabble, then all the better! It's called pandering.

Athena is only a few minutes late, only because she's wearing crutches and has a difficult time walking. Wanna know why? Because of the tours. THANKS, MOSLEY. Still, she puts on a cheerful face upon seeing him. ]

Mr. Mosley.

[complices]

[ Mosley slides his CereVice away into his jacket as she arrives and smiles pleasantly. He has nothing to feel guilty about, obviously. ]

Ms. Cykes. I wasn't sure if you'd make it.

[ He'll gesture to her crutches by way of explanation. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ She puffs her cheeks into a pout. ]

I'm not backing down on a challenge.

Anyway, where are we playing? Do we get to go to your place?

[complices]

My... place? We can go up to my office if you'd like, Ms. Cykes. It's just upstairs.

[ He gestures to the building behind him. You know, the same one with the tours. ]

[psycholawgy]

I-- I won't suddenly get eaten by a fish, will I?

[ She's wary now, you know. And she's closely paying attention to Mosley's manner of speech in case he may be hiding emotions! ]

[complices]

[ Unfortunately for Athena, Mosley's voice is the same steadiness it always is. For now, at least.

His mood, if anything, is "cheery". ]

Don't be silly, that was a one time thing. Frankly, it was in your benefit too so a little appreciation would not go remiss, Ms. Cykes. Nevertheless, we should get going.

[ He'll step closer to her then, only to offer his arm so he can escort her into the building. ]

[psycholawgy]

What a gentleman.

[ She'll look her free arm to his, then. ]

Were the offices part of the actual tours, by the way? We only ever got to the waste part.

[ Obviously. And this is Athena's attempt at fishing for information. ]

[complices]

[ He'll lead her through the doors, a robot opening them as they approach and through the familiar lobby they'll go. This time he's heading to the elevators instead of downstairs so no garbage for you, Athena. ]

Are you saying how we deal with waste isn't an equally important part of an office tour? I'm disappointed.

[psycholawgy]

[ She shakes her head, a bit disgusted, but at the same time, her disagreement is just there for conversation. ]

You usually show the good sides of something when you're giving people a tour.

Seriously, though, what was up with those fish?

[complices]

Think of it as a date, Ms. Cykes. Wouldn't you want your lover to know the real you? Starting a relationship based on false pretenses is just building up to a world of trouble.

[ He's watching the numbers trickle down on the elevator though at her question, he looks over her and smiles. ]

Part of the natural life here on this planet, of course. You didn't think we killed off the local fauna, did you? What a waste of resources that would be. Also, entirely politically incorrect.

[psycholawgy]

[ Athena's just started dating by the time these two play scrabble, so she just nods. Good point, Mosley! One point for you. ]

But you controlled them? The one that Miss Bulma rode is the one I'm referring to, mostly. And what was that - EMP?

[complices]

[ What excellent timing! ]

Some are aware enough that we are able to work out a mutually beneficial relationship with them. That does not mean we control them. They are on the payroll just as everyone else.

[ At her question, he pulls the same small black remote from his pocket. It's square and there's a single button in the middle. ]

Don't you know what an EMP is, Ms. Cykes? An electromagnetic pulse. I really can't believe I have to explain this to you, but electromagnetic pulses are used to short out technology within a certain area. All I did was short out the scrap heap so I could bring your group back here. That isn't CERES specific, Ms. Cykes, if that's what you're looking for.

[ There's the elevator! He leads her inside and presses for floor 162. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ She nods at Mosley's short (thank god) explanation. ] I've never had to study about it... Thanks for telling me about it.

And wow, we're pretty high up! This is where the murder happened, or do you have an office of your own?

[complices]

Oh no, it's exactly the same one.

[ He made sure to take that office because why not? :) ]

It's been cleaned thoroughly and most of the furniture has been replaced, so you need not worry about any lingering smells.

[psycholawgy]

The CEO won't mind that I'm here?

[ and because she's excited to see the room, she probably runs off on her own to check what's up, leaving mosley a few feet behind. ]

[complices]

What I do in my personal time is none of Ms. Recreare's business. Playing Scrabble with an equal fan of the game is nothing I have to alert her about. I do have my own autonomy, Ms. Cykes.

[ Oh! He looks a little startled when she pulls back but will just sigh and slowly walk towards his office. When they get there, he'll press his thumb to the keypad at the door and it scans him, greeting him with a Hello, Mosley. and the door swings open.

The office is about the same as the video but now, she can see more detail. Across from them is a big wall of windows showing Cerealia, the windowsill spanning the length of the room and holding various books and papers on the ledge. In the center, across from the door, is a desk and chair and the chair's back is to the window, facing the door they've come through. There are two chairs on the other side of the desk for guests and the other walls of the room are lined with bookshelves filled with books in various different languages. To their right is a small couch, arm chair, and coffee table. To their left, is a small bar of sorts. On the floor of the room is a big blue rug with the CERES logo.

It is very clean. Mosley gestures for Athena to take a seat on the couch. ]

Water? Coffee? Tea?

[psycholawgy]

[ She will make herself comfortable on the couch, bouncing on it to take a seat. She looks around the office with childlike curiosity, but makes sure that she isn't touching anything. Yet. The books are what grab her attention most of all... maybe she can borrow one some time? Even if she can't understand it and all. ]

Oh, tea, please.

[complices]

[ Mosley nods and heads for the small bar to prepare it. As he does, he calls out to her. ]

... Ah! Would you like any painkillers for your injuries? I know it might be quite odd to trust me for that but I assure you, they're perfectly safe. Bought them right at the pharmacy.

[ He taps his temple and smiles. ]

Headaches, you see.

[psycholawgy]

Oh, it's fine! [ She gives a cheery smile to Mosley. ] Leia Rolando, I'm sure you know her, she healed me with her magic.

The crutches are just... well, I've kind of gotten used to them.

[ And they're there in case she needs to smack Mosley. ]

Thanks, though! That's kind of you.

[complices]

That was nice of her.

[ He comes back around the bar with a small tray. A teacup, spoon, saucer, and teapot for Athena. A glass of water for himself. There's a small selection of teabags, a little pitcher of milk, and a sugar dispenser too. He'll set it on the coffee table in front of the couch and after that, plop down on the other end of the sofa. ]

Would you like to start or do you still have some questions for me?

[psycholawgy]

[ She takes the cup and adds a lot of milk and sugar to the tea before stirring. ]

I do have a lot of questions, but that's not why I am here, right?

[ For now, she sets the cup back down for the tea to cool. ]

[complices]

No, it's not. It's still my duty to offer.

[ He will pull out his CereVice then, tapping some keys on it before setting it on the table between them. Immediately after a holographic Scrabble board appears, a row of tiles in front of both Athena and Mosley, already shuffled. ]

I feel as if there should be more fanfare, honestly.

[psycholawgy]

[ She's not particularly amazed by the holograms since she's so used to these kinds of things. She is, however, psyched to start playing. ]

Alright, so, rules? Just English words, or can we put in any word from any language?

[complices]

English. I know of your proficiency in multiple languages, Ms. Cykes, but I'd rather this game not last an entire day. You may start.

[psycholawgy]

Hmm... alright, that's fine! I mean, that's the standard, anyway.

[ let's put in FOLD unless we don't want to play the words then we can just... idk... pretend they're losing/winning ]

[complices]

[ in response to FOLD, he'll inspect his tiles for a long moment before adding ORDER to her O. ]

That's right. And we truly are all about standards here at CERES. [ a razor-flash of a smile. ] Or the standard. One of the two is right, isn't it.

[psycholawgy]

What are the standards here at CERES, anyway?

[ good job making her wait, mosley. she got impatient that she's just playing whatever word she thinks of, first. at the very least, she hits a double letter with the Y in EASY when she adds the three additional tiles to mosley's E. ]

[complices]

High, terribly so. Like a skyscraper or a floating balloon.

[ He looks to his own tiles, patient as can be and to her Y, he'll add YEAST. ]

[psycholawgy]

What kind of education did you have to take to be the CEO's secretary, then? And did you work elsewhere before working for CERES?

[ mosley's smart, and athena's noticed that a while ago, but now she's just curious about him.

she plays SOUTH, using the T from YEAST this time around. she doesn't have a t... ]

[complices]

Haha. I've been subservient for quite some time now but I've always worked with CERES. As for education, well, I didn't go to college, no.

[ Mosley's looks at his tiles for a moment then to the board before tapping his fingers lightly on his tiles and adding UNICYCLE to Athena's U. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ ah... so being ever so obedient must be a trait you have to have to get into ceres. . . thanks, mosley. (you weirdo.) ]

What?!

[ she's so surprised. ] You didn't, but you're so smart!

[ not even trying to pander to him this time. she really means it. then again, there are a lot of intelligent people who didn't go to college. but she expected the best from mosley, for some reason. dashed hopes right here.

[complices]

[ No that's specifically a Mosley thing. He really likes serving (sick burns, that is).

Have a flat look, Athena. ]

I haven't had the time nor inclination, Ms. Cykes. Do I look very old to you?

[ He does look fairly young, of maybe nineteen or so. White hair, white eyelashes, bright blue eyes and ridiculously pale skin. He'll just follow with a light shrug. ]

It hasn't come up yet.

[psycholawgy]

No...? I guess not.

You don't look much older than I am.

[ but she's done with college and law school. oops. her standards may be different.

she finally plays some tiles, using mosley's L to play FALL ]

[complices]

I suppose I'm not.

[ He just shrugs and adds on to Athena's SOUTH from earlier with SUGAR. ]

[psycholawgy]

Hey, Mosley. I have an idea.

[ she plays GRUFF, adding it to her original word - FOLD ]

Loser has to do a dare.

[ this is a bad idea. ]

[complices]

[ Mosley's going to be startled enough at the suggestion that he looks at Athena, eyes wide. ]

A dare?

[psycholawgy]

Why not?

[ she seems pretty gung-ho about all this. ]

[complices]

[ He's curious, that's for sure! So much that he stops playing for a moment to ask. ]

Well, what sort of dare would this be?

[psycholawgy]

[ she hums in thought as she pokes at her earring... ]

What about a public message? And it has to be embarrassing like. . . "I'm not wearing any underwear today!"