[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - The Digital, Seattle] #296

>>I'll try to look a bit more into all of those later. Maybe tomorrow. Unless there's something urgent?<< Since she's already sending messages, Cynthia sends a new one to Barbara >>You're alright? Need anything?<<

As she eats, Cynthia considers the question "You should at least send him a message to remind him of the time. And if he doesn't answer... Maybe checking in on him could be a good idea, just to make sure he isn't locked or anything..."

>>No, nothing urgent. But you have raised some questions for me. Perhaps I can do some searching in a more mundane fashion. Thank you.<<

Roger nods. "Message sent. I hope that he has not gone too far in trying to impress you."

At that moment, Eugene sighs and stirs awake. Shaking his head, he looks at both of you. "I have barely made any progress. For such a public event, there is very little hard data to find. All of the local news feeds seem to almost be reading from a script. The international feeds are parroting what they are being told by the local people. The only real difference seems to be what the different pundits are saying after close analysis of the information. I can continue digging but right now I need to use the bathroom. Excuse me."

Roger waits for him to leave then says, "Do you think we are not pushing him too hard."

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - The Digital, Seattle] #297

>>Ok, I'll look into the board of Sampson tomorrow then I think.<<

Cynthia grunts "You're the one who knows and invited him, how do you think I can judge that?" she shakes her head "If you have doubts, you can switch with him, or just say we'll stop here for the day, to rest, relax, etc." She pauses then adds "Which I must admit I kind of want to do anyway. I may have some interesting leads, but they won't disappear anytime soon."

Speaking about that, Cynthia starts some research to see what she would need to make this bread recipe she found in her pocket. Maybe some evening lessons to learn how to cook?

Roger nods. "I could use some rest as well. I have been hammering away at this for a while and I still need to get you that footage. We can call it a night here." He leans forward. "Thank you for coming. I really enjoyed you being here. Will you please make my excuses to Eugene when he returns?" He stands up and takes a stick in his right hand as a guide and leaves the table.

Your immediate research tells you that this is a Cajun recipe. While looking for where the ingredients can be found, you come across the fact that there is a small Cajun community in Seattle. Eugene returns after a few minutes, frowning when he sees that Roger has left. "I guess that is it for the night, then?"

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - The Digital, Seattle] #298

Cynthia nods "Yes, it was a long day and Roger left for the night. You should too, none of this will be solved in a few hours, so don't worry too much if you didn't find much today. I'll leave too, time to do something else. Good evening."

With that, she gets up, and leaves with a wave to the barman. On the way to her car, she looks at this Cajun community. If it's small she probably won't find cuisine lessons right now, but she can still check. Plus she doesn't have anything better to do for now anyway. Except games, and she doesn't feel like it right now.

Eugene stretches and nods, apparently not too sad to call it an evening. The drive takes you near the outskirts of the sprawl, to a place that seems out of a book. The road into the community is blocked off and only pedestrian traffic is allowed on the narrow streets. A man dressed in some sort of period costume as a lawman with a ridiculous looking tin star on a vest the stretches across an expanse of stomach that has come from too much alcohol or too much food, perhaps both, directs you to a parking lot. Your is one of only three cars on the lot at this time of day.

As you walk toward the entrance to the main street, your ears are tickled by the sound of a banjo playing softly somewhere in the distance. Going through the arch is like stepping into another place and time. Either someone has gone to great lengths to recreate something from out of a trivid or one super illusion is at work. The building all look like they are close to falling down and you can see some very large trees with what looks to you like some sort of moss hanging from their branches just behind the row of buildings. Even the smell is different; gone are the acrid odors of the city, replaced with the smells of flowers and food cooking. Some crickets and a bullfrog accompany a woman singing a song is a language you are not familiar with but think you must have heard on some vid somewhere.

The buildings are mostly dwellings, with a sprinkling of shop fronts intermixed. Giggling and laughter come from your right and you see a group of five children racing onto the street, apparently chasing a small crowd of fireflies. They are dressed in ragged clothing and are not wearing shoes, the better to fit in for the tourists. Soft candlelight filters from windows that are open to try to catch some part of the evening breeze, reminding you that the heat is a bit higher than it should be and your clothes are already sticking to your body from the humidity. Just on your left is the storefront for Mama Lini's voodoo shop, the same one on the card. the door is open and some lights and voices can be heard from inside. Across the street is what appears to be a restaurant named Sophie's Kitchen - Fine, Authentic Cajun Cuisine. This is evidently the source of the smells of food in the air. Three elderly men sit on rocking chairs on the restaurant porch, almost moving in sync with each other and smoking long pipes and drinking from large mugs at their side.

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #299

Cynthia frowns. Were the two cards she found in her blouse part of some kind of scam? For a moment, she considers just leaving. But then she looks around, and she doesn't want to. This place...lives. It may not be rich, but it's nice nonetheless. For a second, she loks at the Voodoo shop, but instead gets in the restaurant. She's not too hungry now - though she could be convinced to eat something - but maybe they will now someone who could teach her a bit.

As soon as she enters though, she starts to think about why she does all that. For what? Bread? Isn't that a lot of effort for something she's not even sure she wants?

Monday 11 June 2075 2010 Cajun Town Seattle



The porch creaks a bit as you step onto it. The old man closest to you removes his pipe and nods your way as you step onto the porch and walk past him, but does not stop his rocking. Inside, you see four people seated at two of the several small tables scattered about the room and another two are at the counter apparently paying for their meal. A young girl of maybe ten or eleven is clearing one of the tables but comes over to you as you enter. The apron she is wearing does little to hide the numerous patches on the dress she is wearing. "Dinner, Miss? We have a nice window table over here." She is pointing to a small table near a window that looks out over the rear of the building. There are three other empty tables if you would like a different one.

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #300

Cynthia answers with a shake of her head "No I'm..." She stops for a second, pensive, then nods "I've already eaten not too long ago but desert would be nice. That table will do yes, thanks.

She goes to sit then, looking at the activity outside. Pensive, not too sure about what she is doing here exactly, what she was hoping for. Wouldn't it be stupid to ask the staff of a.restaurant if maybe they could teach her the basics of cooking?

The girl takes you to the table and waits for you to sit down before offering you a menu. The view out of the window is almost another place and time. You see a number of the large trees with the vines and moss hanging from them and what looks like a wide river moving lazily past just beyond them. A small hut hangs over the water on stilts and a man is fishing from the building's front porch. The sound of crickets and frogs is more pronounced, but you can still hear the sound of the banjo from somewhere. The girl flips the menu over and points to the bottom of it. "The spice-bread is rather good today, Miss. Would you like some water or coffee while you decide?" The couple at the counter finish paying for their meal and leave, casting a glance your way as the walk out of the building. They are dressed better than the other four people at the tables and are probably not local to the small community. The woman behind the counter smiles at you and nods a welcome as she grabs a pot of coffee from behind her and goes to top off the other tables.

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #301

Cynthia is clearly surprised by what she sees. Sure, she's not in downtown anymore but still... She thought she knew Seattle better than that. She smiles lightly at the girl "I'll take a cup of coffee please. As for the spice bread... Yeah, I heard of it. Not sure why you give the recipe to strangers though, isn't that bad for business?"

Monday 11 June 2075 2015 Cajun Town Seattle



The girl looks confused. "I...I am sorry. I don't quite understand, Miss."

A voice comes from behind you. "It is alright, Jeanette. Take the young woman's order to Jean, please." As the girl scampers off, the other woman comes into your view. "You must have one of my spice bread recipes. And, no, I do not lose business over it, strangely enough. If someone wants to do it right, there are not many places where you can get the ingredients in Seattle unless you come here. And of course, some people are just curious about it and come to visit our community when they might not have otherwise. It is good business. You look familiar, but I do not think that you have been here before, non?"

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #302

Cynthia shakes her head "No, it's my first time. I found the recipe in my pocket this morning." she pauses, frowning, then shrugs "I thought I should check it out, who knows, I may come to like it. Of course, my main problem is that I don't know the first thing about cooking, so even if I had the ingredients, I wouldn't go far."

The woman places the tray she is carrying on the table and sits down opposite you. Her accent is heavy but you can understand her........at least most of the time. "So, do you like things a bit on the spicy side? If so, I think that you will like this. I make it special each day. And if you are truly interested in learning how to make it, you can be taught."

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #303

"I don't know." Cynthia shrugs "Most of the time I eat spicy, but that's more because it's the only thing that gives flavour to soy and grill than anything. I have no idea how I would like it on natural ingredients. Well, I would be able to bear it of course, but as for taste... I don't know."

She pauses, glancing out, and asks "Supposing I do like it, what would I need to learn?"

The woman laughs. "That depends on what sort of cook you are. I cook more by recipe, but I add a pinch here and there to be different. My mother, on the other hand, she is very good without the recipe, adding things by smell and instinct. My things turn out pretty much the same each time, but hers are only the same by chance. Still, she is an excellent cook, just different from me, so we argue all the time about what to add and when. Family, Yes?" She holds out a hand. "My name is Sophie, by the way. Welcome to my place. For some reason, I am sure that you look familiar, but maybe it is your style of hair."

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #304

Cynthia raises an eyebrow "You mean the "bed hair" style? I'm Cynthia." she shakes her head, chuckling, then adds "As for my "cooking skills"... Well, there no level below zero, but if there were one, that would be mine."

She shakes her head, a bit amused "So I don't have a style. Yet anyway."

Sophie laughs with you. "Perhaps that is it. Would you like to come see the kitchen? Or maybe I should let you drink your coffee in peace, non? I will leave you to eat the bread and drink the coffee then decide if you want to learn to make it. Ah, here is Jeanette." She stands as the girl comes to the table with a large mug of steaming coffee. You might not have a discerning nose for coffee, but you can tell that this is no soy product. The aroma is heavenly as it rises from the mug the girl sets in front of you. As Sophie moves off to see to her other guests, the girl gives you a serious look and says, "Jean says to tell you that the bread is warming and it will be ready in a minute or two more. Do you take sugar or creme with your coffee, Miss?"

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #305

Cynthia shrugs "For now, I think I'll take my coffee and eat my bread. Not to insult your skills, but I could dislike it after all." Looking in turn at the girl and the coffee, apparently a bit lost "I'm not sure to be honest, I always drank soycaf. What do you suggest?"

The girl puts on a very serious face. "I would try it without, just to see if you like the flavor, then add something to get it just right."

There is a small ringing sound from the kitchen area and a man's voice call out. "Bread up."

The girls looks that way then back at you. "Your bread is ready, I will be right back with it." She walks to the kitchen and reaches up to a window there to pick up a plate then brings it back to you. The aroma rising from it mixes with that of the coffee and your mouth is watering even as you look at the large platter of neatly arranged bread slices. There is a dish of butter on the plate. "The butter really goes well with the bread, but it is on the side so you can choose how much to use. Enjoy." Your young waitress walks over to finish cleaning off the other tables.

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #306

Cynthia thanks the girl, then, for a minute or two, just breathes the different odours, not touching anything. After that, she sips a mouthful of coffee, grimacing at its bitterness. With a bite of bread however, it's...interesting.

For the following minutes, Cynthia spends her time doing some experiments, coffee with sugar or not, bread alone, with a bit or a good chunk of butter, just to learn what she likes most. Thinking that she will have to spend a bit more time than usual on her run in the morning... After a while, she decides that coffee, black, and bread with just a small cut of butter is what she likes best.

Though black coffee alone... Not so much.

Monday 11 June 2075 2035 Cajun Town Seattle



By the time you have finished experimenting, the other customers have finished their meals. paid the tabs, and left the restaurant. The little girl, Jeanette, is cleaning off their tables and Sophie is placing fresh napkins and tableware on them. She looks over at you and smiles. "So? What do you think? Some people like the taste while others try it once and that is enough. I had thought it to be a particularly good batch." Her attention is caught by something over your shoulder and you can hear the boards of the floor squeak a bit as someone enters the dining area. "Welcome back, sir, your usual? I am afraid that your table is not available."

You hear a somewhat familiar voice from the door behind you. "No matter, Sophie. I can sit any..........." He stops talking as he moves into your view. It is Eugene, the man from the club. "Oh, I say. I did not know that you eat here. What a coincidence."

Sophie looks a bit confused but not Jeanette. The girl rushes to him and throws her arms about his legs. "Uncle Eugene. You are back. Did you bring me something?"

Sophie calls out, "Jeanette! That is not polite."

At the same time, Eugene bends over and picks the girl up. "Of course I did. Do you really think I would forget you? But, you can only have it if you pick the right pocket."

Jeanette scrunches up her face and thinks hard. "Jacket. Inside right."

Eugene places her on the floor and puts his hand into the inside right pocket of the jacket over his arm and pulls out a small wrapped package, handing it to her. She squeals in delight and runs off out of the building. Her mother calls out to the girl but to no avail, before turning to face the man. "Well, now see what you have done. I have lost her for the rest of the night." She pauses and looks at you. "So you two know each other, then?"

Eugene chuckles. "Not sure I would put it that way. We met in a cafe in Seattle just today. Isn't that right, Miss?"

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #307

Cynthia nods "It is good yes. Very good in fact, thanks. I...." As Sophie's attention is caught by her new customer, Cynthia stops, looking outside by the window, pensive. Then, as she notices the voice, she turns. Recognising Eugene, her eyebrows raise in surprise, that's clearly not something she would have expected. In fact, without Jeanette, she may well have thought he followed her here or something like that.

Catching up to the present when Eugene talks to her, she nods "Indeed. It's a small world."

Sophie looks a bit embarrassed as she looks at you and says, "Would it be terribly rude to ask you share your table. I am actually in the process of shutting the rest of the room up for the night."

Eugene looks from you to Sophie and back. "No, I am not sure I could impose. I was late looking into something or I would have been here by now. I can eat elsewhere."

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #308

Cynthia shakes her head "I don't mind. I'm done anyway so..." she shrugs, and prepares to get up. Looking at Sophie, she asks "So, what would I need to learn how to bake those breads?"

Sophie nods as Eugene takes a seat near you, one that allows him to look out the window. The woman looks about at the tables then says. "I can show you the kitchen, but give me a few minutes to finish up here, oui? Perhaps another cup of coffee while you wait?"

Eugene orders coffee and looks out the window at the vista nearly hidden in the darkness. Your ear tells you that the banjo player has been joined by some sort of fiddler and there is a bit more noise from somewhere outside. He thanks Sophie when she returns with the coffee and pours in a dollop of the milky cream before looking at you. "So, I gather that you do not come here often?"

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #309

Cynthia nods "Sure, but I can come back tomorrow if you prefer. One day won't change much..." When Eugene asks his question, she answers with a nod. After a sip from her coffee, she adds "And, I could ask you the same question, but it's pretty obvious that you are a regular here."

Eugene nods. "Actually, I live here. There is a small boarding house just down the street. The rooms are quite comfortable and the price is hard to beat. I think it must be one of the best kept secrets in Seattle. Of course, the distance to the city is a bit daunting some days. I travel a bit so am not always here, but I like the sense of coming home I get every time I return. And I do not have to worry about crime here, so that is a great selling point by itself. I have installed a couple of good antennas so can get full access to the matrix if I want. In my opinion it is hard to beat." He sips and makes a satisfied sound. "So, what brings you this far from civilization?"

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #310

Cynthia smiles ruefully "I found the recipe of the bread in the pocket of a blouse this morning. I thought I should see who used such weird advertising, and the required ingredients pointed me here so, here I am. I admit that it's worth the trouble, so I asked what I should do to learn how to bake said bread." She grimaces and adds "I don't know the first thing about cooking though, so I'm not yet sure if it's a good idea to be honest..."

She plays a bit with a cup of coffee, then asks "You're travelling for your work?"

Eugene smiles. "I think you are quite the clever woman, though, and can probably learn to cook if you wished to. I would suppose it is quite a bit like working the matrix; you need to practice and be patient. And be prepared to fail. And if my stomach is any guide, I think that Sophie is an excellent cook and could teach you a lot if you asked her too."

He sips with you and looks at you as you ask your question. He shakes his head and blushes, 'Sorry to stare, but you have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. And they enhance your face just.......um.....just perfectly. Ah, yes, travel. Yes, I travel for work. I am mostly a freelance writer, of a sort. I go places and post travel blogs and some people even read them. A lot of people, honestly. It is a bit embarrassing, to tell the truth. I could do it all on the matrix, I suppose, but it just is not the same as actually being there. At least not to me. I got wind of all this stuff in Colombia and was tolling the matrix. You see, I have just been down there and had met some of the people that died or have gone into hiding. There is something very odd going on there and I was trying to find out more when Roger tagged me. We got to talking and he invited me to meet with him and you this morning. And there you have it. I keep my living expenses low by hovelling out down here so I can afford to do the travel. Lots of people may read the blogs, but not many donate much coin to help me keep afloat. Still, that is my life and now I have completely bored you. I am sorry."

He does not seem willing to intrude on what you do for a living, so perhaps he is too shy or too uninterested.

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #311

"Hu, my eyes?" Cynthia seems blinks in surprise a few times, then seems to realise what Eugene is talking about "Oh frag, right." Getting her 'link, she uses its included camera to see what this is all about...to soon forget all about that when she feels...something when she touches her 'link. She hadn't paid attention this morning but now... It's as if she can feel the 'links content by just touching it.

She stays lost in the sensation for a minute, then shakes herself "Erm, sorry." With a frown, she replays the discussion, then says "I never left Seattle myself. Must be nice to be able to travel like that I suppose. But... You should probably leave what happened in Bogotá alone. This drek is... Well, let's just say that it's not your run of the mill conspiracy. The number of deaths and violence is enormous."

Eugene looks at you for a moment then leans forward a bit and when he speaks you can detect a bit of excitement in his voice and his own deep blue eyes seem to sparkle a bit. "Yes, precisely. My gut tells me that there is far more going on than an assassination and its aftermath. I was close onto something when I detected Roger's tag and wanted to know what was going on. Rookie mistake on my part to be tagged in the first place, but there you have it. By the time I was able to go back and look at what I had thought I was uncovering, it was gone. I know I can find it again, but I need the time. So, what do you know about it that you are willing to share? Perhaps we can put our heads together and come up with something more than we have solo."

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #312

Cynthia cocks an eyebrow "Well... Maybe the last days of violence in Seattle may have something to do with that too, who knows. As for the tag don't worry too much about it, he got me too." She smiles "At least until I noticed it, baited him to remove it by himself, and tagged him in turn." She chuckles proudly, then becomes more serious "If I don't know more about what you saw - or think you saw anyway - I can't help much there. What I know is pretty inconclusive at this point, and more in the domain of what I suspect. But yeah, Bogotá seems to be just a small part of what is going on. Maybe important, but a small part nonetheless."

Shaking her head, she adds "Given that these people seem ready to kill anyone that stands in their way, I'd seriously consider dropping the matter if I were you. This game is fun, but it can turn deadly fast if someone catches you."

Eugene chuckles. "That is twice you have warned me away, but I am not so easily frightened. I think I can help and am certainly willing to discuss what I found with you if you want to work together. Perhaps the two of us can compare notes and see a bigger picture than either of us can going solo."

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #313

Cynthia shrugs "You're old enough to be my dad so I suppose you can take your own decisions." She smiles amused, then looks at the window, staying silent for a moment, pensive. After a while, she says "I'm not sure I work well with others but... Ok, let's see. The most important thing about Bogota may be to know that the events there are linked to what is happening here is Seattle through a single company called Sampson Industries."

Eugene looks a bit hurt at the father comment but shrugs it off with a smile as you continue. He nods a couple of times and politely waits for you to finish. "Yes. Sampson Industries. I think they are a holding company for several others. My bit of research came up with that name, too. One of the companies they own is Liston Pharmaceuticals, which just happens to be in the middle of the public cause of the assassinations. The press is giving out that the first victim was clearly anti Liston and that those claiming responsibility are calling on the President to approve the development of a large Liston facility there. The conspiracy theorists are having a field day."

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #314

Cynthia nods "Yes, and for once, they may very well be right. In addition to Liston, Samspon owns a dozen other companies in full, companies in sectors such as food, transport, security, etc. But for now, it doesn't really help to know what this is about."

She taps the table with the tip of her fingers absent-mindedly for a moment thn adds "I think I'll dig a bit into that tomorrow. Or maybe the situation here, I'll see."

Monday 11 June 2075 2100 Cajun Town Seattle


An odd clacking noise on the floor boards behind you. Turning, you see an elderly woman enter the restaurant. If there was ever anyone who looked the part of a stereotypical voodoo priestess, she does, from her gown festooned with odd bones and small skulls, to her tattooed face. Even the two canes she uses to help her walk seem to be made of bone and the skulls at the top are not small in size. Eugene rises from his seat and goes to take her arm. "Mama Lini, let me help you. Would you like to join us? If Miss Cynthia does not mind, that is?" He looks at you and says, "Miss Cynthia, this is Mama Lini. She is the spiritual leader of the community here. Would you mind if she joined us for coffee?"

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #315

Cynthia shrugs "I suppose I don't. Though I don't have more coffee, and I don't really want more right now to be honest. Since I'll be gone soon enough, I don't suppose it's much of an issue so don't worry about me. Just waiting to know more about this kitchen stuff."

Eugene pulls out a chair for the old woman, who sits down. Her accent is even heavier than Sophie's as she says, "I know who your companions is, Eugene. I have seen her coming here. Please get me some coffee." She turns her eyes on you and smiles as Eugene moves off to the counter. "Welcome home, child. I have seen that you will do great things and that you are in much danger."

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #316

A less than pleasant answer hovers on the lips of Cynthia for a couple of seconds. After a while, she shrugs "I don't know for the great things, but as for danger, that's what happen when you stick your nose where it doesn't belong." She snorts "And since I like to put said nose in said places..." She grimaces "I suppose it's only a matter of time before danger catches up to me."

The old woman puts a hand inside one of the many pockets of her dress and pulls out a small leather bag with long strings attached to it and places it on the table in front of you. A faint odor of cinnamon wafts up from it. "I have prepared this for you especially, child. I have seen great and powerful enemies moving against you and this charm will help protect you. It is not a sovereign protection, so you must use your own wits and common sense as well, but it will help by concealing you on your journeys into the unnatural realm. By the magic it took to make it, I cannot force it upon you, so will you accept it freely? IF you do, please wear it."

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #317

Cynthia frowns Thinking it's just a scam of some sort, she asks "The scent is not unpleasant, but how much will this cost me?"

The woman chuckles. "I should have expected that from someone who lives in your world. There is no cost to you, child. I have made it for you and you alone and it is already yours, even if you refuse it. The magic is strong, but would be stronger yet with a piece of you. May I have but a wisp of your beautiful hair to add to the potency of the charm?"

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #318

Cynthia snorts "Look, given that someone put your card in my pocket yesterday, I don't doubt you saw that I was coming. And, you want to gift me something?" she shakes her head "Nothing is ever free." She pauses, then after a moment's thoughts, adds "And are you even a mage? I'm not even sure I'd like to hear you say yes. I met my first mage yesterday and let's say I wouldn't even entrust a potted plant to her. And you want to have a piece of me?"

"It is voodoo magic, child. The card only put it in your mind, but you came here because you wanted to come. You wanted to find out. I have seen you in your future and you will need our help, just as we will need yours. No one can survive the coming storm without help." She shrugs. "Your hair is not for me to have, it is for the charm. The charm is yours at no cost and will help you, but it will be stronger if you put a part of you in the bag. At some point in your life, you will have to learn to trust someone. I am here to help you."

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #319

Cynthia opens her mouth to reject the offer, but closes it without saying a thing. After maybe a minute, she grunts, and, plucking a strand of hair, gives it to Lini.

Mama Lini smiles at you as you offer the strand of hair. Taking it from you she carefully opens the small bag, which emits a small blue light much like a very small searchlight pointing to the ceiling. The old woman mutters a few words in a language that you think you ought to recognize but do not. When she drops the hair into the bag, you see a small puff of blue smoke rise from it before she closes off the bag and reties it. She pushes the bag across the table to you, saying, "Tie this about your neck when you visit your special spaces and it will help hide you from anyone looking for you. It will work even if you do not believe, but only if you are wearing it."

Eugene returns to the table as she says this and sets a mug of coffee on the table in front of Mam Lini before sitting down. "Ah, I see she has given you a charm. You should trust her judgement on this. And Sopie says that you may come back to the kitchen if you like."

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 10th, 2075 - Cajun Town, Seattle] #320

Cynthia ties the charm around her neck "Thanks I guess... I hope it's waterproof, otherwise it won't like my showers, but what do you mean by my special spaces?"

She shakes her head, then stands up when Eugène arrives "Nevermind, I should find Sophie..."

When you walk around the counter, you find yourself looking into the kitchen. You see Sophie talking to a rangy middle-aged man who is wearing a snood of some sort to keep his long hair out of his way and a long, apron spattered with the detritus of his cooking. They are talking rapidly in a sort of French, but as you are unfamiliar with the language, you gather nothing from the words. Then notices you and says something to Sophie, who turns to you. "Ah, Cynthia. Welcome to the kitchen. This is Jean; he helps me in here when he has time. Did you like the bread enough to learn a bit how it is made? I have time to show you if you like?"