9271/Roland and Tyler Meet Somewhere That Hopefully Won't Have Robotic Santas!

Roland and Tyler Meet Somewhere That Hopefully Won't Have Robotic Santas!
Date of Scene:	24 December 2021
Location:	The Empire Club - Lounge
Synopsis:	Roland Livingston and Tyler Locke share some drinks and conversation, and even manage to forge an alliance of sorts.
Cast of Characters:	Tyler Locke, Roland Livingston

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Tyler Locke has posed:
Tyler has been spending more and more time at the Empire Club lately. He can often be seen here sitting at a table with his laptop pouring over research notes. This afternoon that's precisely where he is. Next to him in a chicken salad sandwich with a few bites take from it and a half-drank tallboy of draft beer. He is typing furiously into the computer, like he's angry at the keys.

Roland Livingston has posed:
When Roland enters he takes a look around before hanging up his coat and making his way into the establishment proper with a wave at the person tending bar. He's on his way there to get a drink when he catches sight of Tyler by himself at a table and heads in that direction, "Good afternoon and happy holidays!" A big smile appears on his face, "No giant death machines here, I imagine." He gestures towards one of the seats at the table, "May I join you? I thought this might be a good place to avoid being alone for a bit, until I go volunteer at a shelter tonight."

Tyler Locke has posed:
At first, Tyler doesn't seem to hear Roland. After a few extra beats of typing he blinks his eyes a few times and looks up. "Huh?" he says. "Oh. Hey man!" Tyler finally acknowledges. "From the mall the other day. That was wild!" He uses his toe to push one of the chairs away from the table to make room for Roland. "Man, I'm so sorry. I'm the worst at names. Is it Ron?"

Roland Livingston has posed:
"Roland," the Englishman corrects his acquaintance with a smile as he moves to ease himself into the chair and get into a good, relaxed position in it. "Quite a bit of excitement at the mall, wasn't there?" he chuckles. "You did quite well against that robot, if you don't mind my saying so. Damn thing seemed quite hard to stop. Glad Mike was there to teleport me into the robot's cab or whatever he did."

Tyler Locke has posed:
Tyler draws in a breath and lets it out with a slight chuckle. He takes a drink from his draft. "Yeah, you're not kidding. But you two did all the work, really. I'm just...I'm just some dude with some cool keys that's good for support work." He gives a nod to Roland, "You two jumped in like it was nothing. That kinda thing happen to you a lot?"

Roland Livingston has posed:
"I think I could have kept it busy for some time, but I'd likely have been unable to disable it or take out the pilot," Roland says with a shrug. "At least how I was armed then." His chin lifts and he asks curiously, "What's this about keys? I didn't get a close look at how you operate, but you're quite powerful." Then he chuckles, "I'm a monster hunting adventurer, I tend not to hesitate when there's danger afoot. My family would be ashamed of me if I let a rampaging mechanical monstrosity run looks where people could be killed or hurt."

Tyler Locke has posed:
With an almost dismissive wave of one hand as though he's not completely comfortable talking about himself Tyler explains, "These keys have been in my family for a couple hundred years. Records of them date back to the American Revolutionary War. They do strange things. I even forged a new one." He sits back and crosses one leg over the other. "Without them I'm just some guy." He shrugs. "Most adults can't remember the magic shortly after it's done. I'm assuming that because you do, that effect doesn't apply to people with supernatural or special leanings. It's called the Riffel Rule."

Roland Livingston has posed:
"Well, I am one of the world's foremost scholars of the arcane," Roland says to Tyler with a deep nod. "Quite impressive, however you do it, though. I've trained from childhood to handle threats." His chin lifts again, "So people won't remember how strong you got and how you melted the Santa's leg? How intriguing. I'd love to bother you about those keys someday soon. My family used to collect mystical knowledge and artifacts for several hundred years. I still like to learn whatever I can about the hidden powers in our world."

Tyler Locke has posed:
Something that Roland just said seems to have distracted Tyler as his gaze and expression become very far away suddenly. "Yeah," he says absently, like he's responding to something that was said a while ago. "Any... any time." He blinks a few times. "Arcane scholar, you say?" Tylers says as his attention returns to the here and now.

Roland Livingston has posed:
"Yes," Roland replies as he moves to flag down a server so he can order some cottage pie and a pint of lager. It doesn't take long before he's back to explaining things to Tyler, "My family has been made up of warrior scholars going back hundreds of years. We'd gather knowledge of the arcane and guard mystical artifacts. The ones we weren't actually using to help us with our side gig, which was monster hunting. But when it comes to knowledge of the occult there are few better equipped than I am. I don't use magic, myself, too much temptation, but I know quite a lot about it nonetheless."

Tyler Locke has posed:
Right now, Roland has Tyler's absolutely undivided attention. The young man peers curiously at his tablemate. "I own property in Massachusetts. It's an old house and grounds that were built in the 1760s. On the property is a portal that seems to be able to capture energy and manifest demons. We've always called it the demonic portal. Five years ago, my kid brother, Bode, vanished near the portal. That sort of thing has never before been associated with it."

After a long, slow breath, Tyler drinks more of his draft. "He was ten years old when he vanished. I'm convinced he's still alive." Then a frown. "Or maybe I just have to believe he's still alive. I don...I don't know."

Roland Livingston has posed:
"Well, there are ways to find out," Roland says very seriously. "I can name a few spells, if you'd like to attempt them. Or we might be able to find some practitioners of the arcane ways to look into it."

The Englishman goes quiet for a moment, "If he's alive I'll help you retrieve him. It's been some time since I tangled with a demon, but there are very few people better suited to that sort of thing than myself." He frowns, "Terribly sorry your brother has to go through all that. We can hope that wherever he ends up time works differently so it won't feel terribly long for him."

Tyler Locke has posed:
Tyler listens intently. He's smart. He's educated. But he's out of his wheelhouse here. One thing that smart people know is that you find experts and you /listen/ to them. "How would you.. go about finding someone who is lost in that way? I mean, someone who could literally be anywhere? Or nowhere? Possibly not even in this dimension?"

Roland Livingston has posed:
"I'd find a practitioner to scry into the other realm, if they've got the ability," Roland says after a moment of thought. "Depending on where he's at it could be very difficult, however. I'll need to see if I can find you someone capable, but I believe there may be a few in this club I'm a part of."

"There are many tracking spells, as well," says Roland. "They might be able to guide us along a path that will take us to his location."

Tyler Locke has posed:
Tyler bends over at the waist, resting his elbows on his knees and his face on his palms. He lets out a long, audible breath and murmurs into his hands, "Oh my god I was giving up hope of ever finding him. God forgive me but I even thought about giving up, that he couldn't possibly still be alive."

When Tyler sits up straight again, his face is read. His eyes are glassy. He quickly drains the rest of his beer.

Roland Livingston has posed:
"I make no guarantees as to your brother's well being, only that I'll lend my expertise in retrieving him," Roland says to Tyler, watching the other man closely. "It's good that you're still searching for him even after you considered quitting. Shows you've got grit." Smiling softly, the Englishman says, "Not giving up can be the hardest part of a shitty situation. Thinking about giving up is nothing to be ashamed of when you actually do persevere."

Tyler Locke has posed:
With a nod Tyler says, "I know there are no guarantees. Especially not with this kind of thing. But you're /literally/ the first ray of hope I've had in years and that can't be a coincidence that it happens now." He lifts his empty beer glass to note to the bartender that would like another.

"For the past week I've been having dreams about Bode. Nothing specific, just images from when he was a kid, little scenes like... like... a holiday meal, or him playing a prank on me, or something like that." Tyler thanks the bartender when a new beer is brought over. He takes a sip. "I mean, I can barely ever remember my dreams. And out of nowhere I start dreaming about him and then I meet you. That...that can't be just coincidence." Of course, it surely can be just coincidence, but Tyler looks like someone who has been ground down to a nub and has just been given a shot of life.

Roland Livingston has posed:
Roland takes a drink of his beer and a bite of his food once they're brought out to him, nodding to Tyler as he chews. "We'll do everything we can to locate him. I'll put out the word that I'm looking for a wizard or sorcerer and we'll do whatever we can to locate him. It may be complex, Bode may have changed a great deal if he's still out there." A slight smile appears on his face, "But there's no giving up until we know for certain, right? I'll need to do a bit of research myself, so anything else you know about the portal could be quite important."

Tyler Locke has posed:
When Roland takes a bite of his food, Tyler realizes he has a barely touched chicken salad sandwich in front of him. He also realizes he's damned hungry. He takes a hearty bite.

"The portal seems to be an entry for demons to enter the world. When you open it and stand near, these light particles shoot out of it and try to strike someone, which...which...I don't know, infects them somehow with a demon. But if the particle misses, it hits the ground and condenses into Whispering Iron, which is the only substance that new keys can be forged from. Well, my kind of keys, I mean."

Roland Livingston has posed:
"Fascinating!" Roland exclaims. "Terrible that it leads to people getting possessed, but it sounds like the sort of thing one could study for a lifetime." He takes a gulp of beer, "And what exactly can your keys do? Do you have one to open the portal specifically?"

Tyler Locke has posed:
Tyler nods soberly to Roland's question. "Yes. It's called the Omega Key. The handle has an omega shape on it, which is also found on the handle of the demonic portal. I keep it in a very secure location back at Keyhouse Manor. It's too dangerous and if I knew how to destroy it I would. That portal has caused a lot of pain."

"I can take you to see if sometime if you want," Morgan offers. He can't help but quirk a little grin. "I also have a key that lets me open a passage to pretty much anywhere. I can get back to Keyhouse Manor through any door. That one is called the Anywhere Key."

Roland Livingston has posed:
"Omega Key," Roland tries the words out for himself, nodding faintly. "Haven't heard of it, but that doesn't mean anything necessarily. I'd very much like to take a look at everything involved so I can start to formulate a plan."

Then his eyes widen somewhat and his head tilts to the side, "That sound like an incredibly useful key to keep around. Certainly make traveling back home easy. I wouldn't mind seeing that at work when we're ready to start taking a closer look at things."

Tyler Locke has posed:
"Roland," Tyler starts. "If we get Bode back alive, you can have unrestricted access to Keyhouse Manor as far as I'm concerned. And I own the place. You can study all the arcane phenomenon there to your heart's content. And you can borrow all the keys you want."

This man is clearly desperate and has been taken back to one of the most dangerous places a person can be: the edge of hope.

Roland Livingston has posed:
"Thank you," Roland says to Tyler with a deep nod. "I'll do everything to get your brother back that I can, regardless of it you want to give me access to the keys. The important thing is to help people when possible. Like I said before, I might not be able to do a lot myself. I can teach you a spell or two if you'd like to give them a try in case it takes too long to find a spell caster."

Tyler Locke has posed:
Tyler wrinkles his brow. "Wait, you said teach /me/ a spell?" he asks, clearly surprised. "So just anybody can cast a spell? You don't have to be, like, I dunno, a wizard or something like that?" He smirks and actually laughs a little bit. "I mean, I'm just a muggle. I don't know the first thing about casting spells."

The hopefulness of the conversation has rekindled the man's appetite and Tyler makes short work of the rest of his chicken salad sandwich, and washes it down with a good mouthful of beer.

Roland Livingston has posed:
"Yes," Roland tells Tyler with a shrug. "I assume anyone can do a spell the same way anyone can do a science experiment. Some things you need the bloodline for it or what have you, but for ritual spells you generally need to just follow the instructions. Like baking a cake with more serious repercussions."

Roland plows through his food, sucking down some beer to wash it down, "I generally don't recommend people go about using magic the same way I don't recommend drunk people handle loaded weapons, but this might a case where the use of magic by a, as you put it, muggle, might be the right choice." There's a shrug, "Could be completely off my mark, though you seem like a level headed person who won't become some sort of evil sorcerer I need to hunt down."

Tyler Locke has posed:
"Back at the manor, I have a key called the Memory Key," Tyler says soberly. He tugs aside the neckline of his shirt to reveal a small, teardrop-shaped scar just below his right collarbone. "That's what gave me this scar," he notes as he lets the shirt flick back into place. "When you turn 18, the Riffel Rule comes into effect. You forget the magic of the keys. It's... it's... it's some kind of magical protection system. A few days before my eighteenth birthday I made the decision to left the Riffel Rule happen so I could live a normal life, find someone to settle down with, just... live. But then Bode vanished. So I used the Memory Key to override the Riffel Rule. Now for all of my days I'm stuck with what I know. And I wish that wasn't the case. So you don't have to worry about me becoming some crazy Darth Vader. I don't even want the damned magic in the first place."

Roland Livingston has posed:
"Very well," Roland says after a few seconds of thought. "I'll show you how cast a scrying spell whenever you think you're ready. I'll need a little time to gather the correct components, but it shouldn't take very long. Then we can try to see if your brother is out there and where exactly he might be. We'll need to try to get a few people together to retrieve him if he's surrounded by demons, though. I'm quite good at dealing with most sorts, but there are some out there I'm ill equipped to handle by myself."

Tyler Locke has posed:
"Mind if I ask you a question?" Tyler queries. Without waiting for a response he continues. "Why help me? This isn't your problem and you don't even know me. Why get entangled in all this?"

He lifts his glass to let the bartender know he wants yet another beer. Hopefully he didn't drive here.

Roland Livingston has posed:
"Good question," Roland replies before pausing to think about it. "I saw how you jumped into action against the robot Santa and I suppose you seem like a decent chap. No reason not to help you and your brother. I've got a soft spot for families. I was very close to much of mine. If I can reunite some siblings then why the hell wouldn't I?"

Tyler Locke has posed:
Tyler looks up and draws in a deep breath through his nose. That answer hit him hard and he gets control of himself. Tearing up in front of a stranger would be not a good thing. Especially an English stranger! "Thank you, Roland," he manages to say with a slight hitch in his voice. This...this...this is all I've thought about for five years. You've...you've got a friend for life."

Roland Livingston has posed:
"I can use all the friends I can get," Roland tells Tyler, grinning at him and leaning back in his seat somewhat. "I just know what it's like to lose family and if I can help someone get them back then nothing in Hell or Earth is going to stop me." He finishes his beer and signals for another one. "Tonight, though, it might be a good idea to tie one on and think of merrier times. It is Christmas, right? I'll arrange us cabs to get home so you don't need to worry about anything but enjoying yourself."

Tyler Locke has posed:
Tyler can't help but laugh. "Oh shit, is it Christmas already," he asks jokingly. "Did we just have one of these like...like a year ago or something?" He closes his laptop and slides it aside. "Man I bet the stories you can tell. A real-life supernatural hunter? That sounds like it's no joke."

Roland Livingston has posed:
"Oh, it's quite a lot of fun and adventure. Until it's not," Roland says with a bit of a smirk. "I've traveled the world in search of monsters to battle and artifacts to rescue. In fact, just the other night I dealt with a pack of chupacabras that got loose in the city. Had a little assistance with it, but the other chap and I protected a small family from the beasts." Still smiling he goes on, "I started training as a child. Kung Fu, sword fighting, archery, you name it. Just as important, however, are my studies into the mystical. I wouldn't know how to kill half the things I need to deal with without that side of my education. It also helps people like yourself."

Tyler Locke has posed:
Tyler whistles low. "That's quite a resume," he comments. "I don't have anywhere near your pedigree but I have done some training. I have a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I mean, Batman I am not but I figure in any normal situation that a non-super-hero would find himself in, it gets the job done." He drinks some more of his beer and his glassy eyes tell of a man who is not drunk, but on that road. He seems like a soul who had drank away a lot of pain in the last few years. "But I damned sure wouldn't want to fight a pack of chewbaccas!" Okay, maybe he's a little more down the road than it first seemed.

Roland Livingston has posed:
Roland lets out a hearty laugh and nods a couple of times, "It's good to be able to defend yourself and BJJ is certainly one of the better combat systems for that. I'm typically very well armed when I know I'm going after something dangerous, however. Silver bullets, holy water, wooden arrows for my bow. All depends on the target. In the city I find myself going after vampires from time to time. Not all of them are evil, necessarily. Some subsist off animals, donations or pay for blood from blood banks. There's all sorts of stuff out there, though."

Tyler Locke has posed:
Tyler's expression and tone get a bit...poignant for a moment. In not too much louder than a whisper he asks, "Roland, if you could un-know all of it and just live a quiet, normal life, would you do it?" He gesticulates in the air with one hand like semi-drunk people do. "I mean...I mean...just a thought experiment. If nothing bad would come from the decision, would you do it?" He looks intently at Roland, like this question somehow is very meaningful to him.

Roland Livingston has posed:
"No," Roland replies, shaking his head a little bit. "I know that knowing everything that I do and having experienced everything that I have has made me who I am and put me in a position to do good for people. I mean, if I could trade all my knowledge to see my family again I'd do it in a heartbeat."

Tyler Locke has posed:
He drains the rest of his most-recent beer. Dude can drink. This conversational terrain is beginning to look familiar to Tyler. Separation from family. "What happened?" he asks in a remarkably gentle tone. He flags the bartender. A dose of hope and a bit too much beer in the same evening. He might actually manage to get a real night's sleep tonight for a change!

Roland Livingston has posed:
"Evil vampire sorcerer and his army overloaded our castle's magical defenses and killed everyone while I was away on a mission," Roland says as though it's something that happens every day. One might notice, however, that he's speaking a little bit softer and a little bit slower. "Bastard is still out there. I keep killing minions, but I can't track the son of a bitch down myself. Or any of his higher ranking lieutenants. Can't even find the one I know for sure is in New York."

Tyler Locke has posed:
Tyler swallows, nodding his head. "I wanna help you," he say earnestly. "You agreed to help me find Bode. I would like to help you avenge your family, if you'll allow it. I have a lot of keys and can do some pretty extraordinary things with them. I could be an asset." He shrugs one shoulder. "Like you said, in our kind of work you can use all the friends you can get."

Roland Livingston has posed:
"Exactly," Roland says about the friend remark. "I've got a few people looking out for any sign of my enemies, but that can wait. For now, I intend to enjoy the holidays with a few more drinks."