12070/Ringing Endorsements

Ringing Endorsements
Date of Scene:	19 July 2022
Location:	The Velvet Room - Gardens
Synopsis:	Jessica and Chas discuss her fears and possible solutions to overcoming them. Chas proposes his own solution to her little ring problem and the mad sorcerer lying in wait within.
Cast of Characters:	Chas Chandler, Jessica Cruz

---

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas has taken to flying to clear his head. Today was one such day. While the others of the JLD were using the sitting room to discuss the current state of affairs he was using the skys around the Castle as his own personal soundboard. His large silver wings, vaguely transluscent against the dark sky of the astral plane, flap in a steady rhythm.

    As he approaches the rim of the island they flutter to slow him and he lands on the ledge of the gardens, wavering a bit to balance himself before his manages to steady his posture and the wings fold in and fade from view. He opens the gate and steps inside the confines of the well lit grounds with a sigh. "Still needs a bit of work..." he mutters to himself, his accent marking him from north-central area of England (Liverpool, if one can pick it out).

    He runs a hand over his short, but fashionably mussed hair and suddenly jerks his hand away with a start. "Still going to have to get used to that," he comments to himself with a wry grin.

Jessica Cruz has posed:
Jessica Cruz returned to the Velvet Room and makes her way back to the garden, smirking as she sees that her ring is once again inert. She nods as she returns to the garens, sighing softly. She is simply going to think about how best to plan this mission - she can't do it in reality for someone might overhear. She brought a blanket with her that she spreads out as she lays down on the grass, staring up at the weird sky - only in time to see someone flying aro und.

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas was going to go inside and have a chat but then there was someone there. He stops and peers at her. "Jessica?" he says peering at her curiously. "I haven't seen you in a day and a half!" he exclaims with a grin. "How've you been? Good to see you found this place easily enough..." To be honest it's been close to a year since he last saw the woman.

    Approaching her he notes the blanket and her position. "Stargazing, eh? Not a bad pass time. Though, I wouldn't try to memorize much up there. Changes by the day and the constellations don't line up right regardless of where you come from." He shoves his hands in the pockets of his dark jeans and rocks back on his heels a bit. "To be honest, I'm not sure if it matches any sky on Earth any more than people's imagined perceptions of what the sky -should- be at a given time."

    He eyes the woman for a moment and asks. "I don't want to be a bother though. Unless, you're up for some company?" His tone is hopeful, after all the woman is an old friend from before all the business with the angels took place and it'd be nice to have someone who doesn't associate him with what he has become since then.

Jessica Cruz has posed:
Jessica Cruz blinks. "Oh, hi..." She squints. "C-Chas? Whoa... you look... completely different. Love the wings. I was hoping to run into you. This is the only safe place I can be right now," she notes, wiggling the finger the ring's on. "My little friend is dormant here." She sighs softly. "Your name came up yesterday - was talking to Jon and Mercy and... maybe you could help me."

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas smirks a bit more and his cheeks flush some. "Yeah... seems like spending four months attached to the Gate of Heaven means you get made into an honorary angel, regardless of where you lay your head." He shrugs a shoulder. At the indication of her ring he blinks. "Really? Wow. That's... surprising and good to know." He glances at the castle for a pause, his expression curious.

    Then she's bringing up how he was mentioned. "Mercy? I don't think I've run into her yet, heard she's helping Cael though so... can't be too bad of a dame. Jon, I know well." Hard not to know your best friend. "He drops down to a knee to be more at level with her and to relax a bit. "Help you how? Not that I'm not willing, but I like to know what I'm working with before we jump into the deep end, as it were."

Jessica Cruz has posed:
Jessica Cruz nods. "I got a key to the Velvet Room - my 'roommate' didn't. I was told... that you might be able to help with my fears?" she asks softly. "If I can unpack all of that stuff, his hold on me would lessen."

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas considers the situation and nods. "That makes sense... actually..." he says with a grin. As for her plight he purses his lips. "That depends on what those fears are, obviously" he says. He drops a bit more, going into a cross-legged position on the grass. After all, her blanket is her blanket.

    "He's not... controlling you is he?" he asks, eyeing the ring on her hand. "I know that was a worry back when you first came around... but it turned out to not be too big of an issue. I'm not a psychic anymore than the next bloke, but we--angels--have a few tricks to help with a number of issues. I'm only getting a handle on the surface so... elaborate and tell me what ails you and we'll see where I can help."

Jessica Cruz has posed:
Jessica Cruz sighs softly as she gazes at you, smiling softly. "The same fear that drew the evil ring in the first place - my hiding from the mob. I saw them burying someone - they killed my friends as we ran. I've been hiding ever since - that fear is what drew the ring to me."

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas nods. "Ah... I see..." he frowns as he considers the situation. "Well" he folds his hands in his lap, his expression grave. "You're afriad they will find you do to you what they did to your friends?" he asks. "Even though, from what I gather, the ring is very intent on keeping you alive?" He peers at her, speculatively. "What do you want to do about this fear? There are a number of options, as you probably know."

    He gestures idly. "You can eliminate the mob members. They are criminals after all. Lock them up or dispose of them as you see fit. All of them. As a person with power, that is well within your ability. Or you can dismiss them as no longer a threat to you. Again... you have power--great power if you can manage to control your 'roomate's' influence. As such, simple mobsters aren't going to be more than trivial in the greater scheme." He smiles softly. "It sounds like a lot of your fear is not understanding the power you posess now, Jessica."

Jessica Cruz has posed:
Jessica Cruz just blinks. "I've tried... but... he uses my meories against me so..." She frowns softly. "The ring wants me alive - he wants to be real again. He lets me use the ring but... some things are... psychological pressure points that he can use - conjuring my dead friends is... ummm... bad for me."

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas makes a silent 'ah' with his mouth. "Then your problem isn't the mob. It's what your roomate does when you try to use your power." He eyes the ring. "That's a much bigger issue, I would think and requires... a more subtle approach."

    He offers his hand to her. "May I see it?" he asks calmly. "You don't have to take it off. But I need to get a closer look if I am to get a full understanding of what I can do for you."

Jessica Cruz has posed:
Jessica Cruz nods as she extends her hand. "Oh - you can't take it off. That's the problem. it's anchored - but in the Velvet Room not sure what you can do. he's... like... asleep here, as i said.' She sighs softly. "Normally he won't even let me say his name, but here - he is poweruless against me - but... if I needed to use my powers here - they're inactive too."

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas takes the hand offered and looks at the ring. "Right..." he says. "I figured as much. But..." He frowns as he turns her small hand over in his own large ones. His fingers are weathered and rough. "I... I might have a solution but it's... dangerous." He looks at her, his own blue eyes finding her brown eyes. "I don't want you to make a decision right away..." he says, "Just... hear me out."

    He places a hand on the face of the ring. "It's possible that we could go in and neutralize him. You, me, others... but we'd be in a demense of his own creation. His turf, his sanctum, his... world. But... if we win... it's possible that you'd be in full control of what's left in the ring. Of the power that lies in here." He eyes the ring for a moment and then at Jess. "I don't know what power that is and what it would mean for you. Maybe it's a true Latern Ring. Maybe it's just a ring of magical power... but if we can defeat him on his turf..." He shrugs slightly. "It'd be yours. It'd take some work to figure out how but... I think it could be done."

Jessica Cruz has posed:
Jessica Cruz nods slowly. "That's as good of a plan as any. It's actually smoething that so unds like it could work. But if I can get over this fear, I can weaken him too... I just need to let it go - besies, I moved, and... it was two years ago. They probably have bigger fish to fry. It's not like I actually did anything to upset them other than see them dump a body..."

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas nods. "You'd be surprised what Outfits will hold a grudge about. Also depends on which outfit in the end. Russians, Italians, Japanese, Chinese, they all have their own code of honor and will hold onto the strangest things." He shakes his head and lets go of the woman's hand.

    "Now it's just a matter of finding them and seeing what they do if they see you..." he says, giving her a soft smile. "And figuring out who you want to go in with you. As well as what sort of ritual to use to allow astral travel into the ring." He smiles the last part shouldn't be too hard. "The library here is more than extensive and has tons of resources to that effect."

Jessica Cruz has posed:
Jessica Cruz nods. "That is what I have to decide. But I can only talk about it here in the Velvet Room. Normal reality would be... overheard." She nods slowly. 'So - weaken him with a stronger psyche - and go in to defeat him. Sounds like a plan - wasn't sure how to get from here to there, but that's an idea." She sighs. "Back to the mob thing... heck, if they tried to attack me, the ring wo uld acitvate to save me - he needs me to feed on so..."

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas nods. "True... you just have to decide which way you want to go about it. Ring first and then mobsters... or mobsters first and then ring." He smiles and rises. "Let me know either way... I want to help. I think it'll be good... for you and for us..."

    He gestures to the door back to the hall. "I was actually going to go look into it right now. You're welcome to come along if you want... or you can stay here. No pressure or rush." He glances up. "After all, stars are beautiful tonight."

Jessica Cruz has posed:
Jessica Cruz murmurs, "Mobsters first - if my fear is alleviated, it'll weaken C... ummm... the sorcerer." She's really scared to say his name. "Look into... what? The mobsters?" she asks. "Wow... ummmmm... not sure what to say."

Chas Chandler has posed:
    "I was actually talking about the ritual to get into the ring itself... look, when you're ready to find the group that is after you, just find me. You still have my number. It hasn't changed since I last gave it to you back last year." He smiles and places a hand on the door back to the Hall of the Velvet Room.

    "We're going to help you Jessica, because you're part of the team and we look out for our own. Not much else to say from that besides maybe a 'thanks' but that's not necessary either." He opens the door and heads in, presumably to the Library.