2023.05.27:Dinner and a Field Trip

Dinner and a Field Trip
A few mages run into each other for Dinner.
IC Date	May 27, 2023
IC Time	Dinner time
Players	Viktor, Aleysa, Alec Wrate
Location	Vieux Carre
Spheres	Mage

It's a pleasant summer evening in Prospect and who would want to be //indoors// on a night like this? Certainly not Aleysa (not like she wants to be indoor most nights), but she has decided to venture outside her own grown food for dinner tonight and found herself a little table on the courtyard of Vieux Carre. A plate full of crawfish in front of her. Not the tails, but full on crawfish which she's breaking into like a pro.

Alec is out exploring the nightlife and various places to eat in Prospect. It could be that magick, the use of probability and luck that ends up bringing him here, tonight, while Aleysa is here or it could just be dumb luck. Whatever it is, it turns out they both are here and as host takes him to a table he spots the young mage and stops, pointing in her direction and then saying, "Hey. Small world. You mind a plus one?"

Viktor stands at the courtyard entrance looking over the menu posted there. He glances up as Alec's voice cuts through the general chatter, then follows the line of his pointing to where it intersects with a familiar face. He raises a hand to wave at her, while agreeing in a quieter voice mostly aimed at himself. "Wow, small world indeed.:

"Sounds like it's a plus two, but if any more show up we may have to get a bigger table," Aleysa smiles and shifts her plates on the small table so a third seat can be dragged to make room for both guys to join. "Was New Orleans ever on your travels, Alec? And have you met Viktor?" Introductions all around along with her near permanent smile.

Alec takes a seat with a nod of thanks and then nods to the host as they slip away. When Viktor arrives he shakes his head. "No sir, I don't think we've met." Standing up he offers a hand in greeting, "I'm Alec. Crossed paths with Aleysa just a few nights ago." With introductions done he sits and then smiles wider. "New Orleans, for sure. Fun place, also... Old and magical, you know in that way places seem to seep with history and wonder."

Viktor heads over to the table, giving an apologetic smile to the host as he is party to disrupting the normal flow of things. He shakes Alex's hand before claiming another chair. "No, not yet. I'm Viktor, and pretty much the same for me. Just last week, actually. I just moved into the area recently myself."

"It seems to be the trend," Aleysa laughs for the newness and new meetings, and waves at her plate of crustaceans in case either wants to help themselves. "If I ever found myself down that way, I'd probably get lost in a bayou. Old and magical indeed. I know it's just moss, but Spanish moss does add an air of mystique to anything."

Alec waves down a server and orders a beer and a double scotch on the rocks. Nodding to Viktor and then to Aleysa he replies, "I've been around a while but I get that travel bug, you know? Wanna explore and see what's out there. So I feel new again." Grinning to them both he then adds, "I think places like that draw people. Not just for the moss."

Viktor orders a blackened catfish po'boy and a Sam Adams Lager while the server is there, then nods while listening to the others. "I've never been there, myself. New Orleans, I mean. Really I've never done very much traveling. Well, not for pleasure, anyway." His lips tighten a bit as he adds that qualifier at the end.

"The moss is it's own kind of magic! Its an epiphyte so it draws all it's nutrients from the air and water that falls on it, never needing to touch the ground. People think it's feeding off the cypress trees but they just happen to be conveniently tall," Aleysa takes a moment for a bit of a green tangent. And nods for Viktor's comment about not travelling. "Until recently, most of my travelling was on foot. Backwoods backpacking isn't for the faint of heart, but it's certainly an experience worth having."

"What drew you here?" The question is to Viktor after he speaks of not traveling much for pleasure, but also having just recently arrived locally. Alec smiles at both and then adds, "Sorry, don't mean to pry, more just making idle chatter." Pausing as his drinks arrive he nods in thanks then lifts his drink in salute to both, "To new friends, and from this conversation I suggest we have Aleysa teach us more out in the woods and paths outside of town."

Viktor accepts his beer from the server then raises his glass to the toast, his smile regaining dominance in his expression. "Oh, just needed a change of scenery, really. Or some distance, you could call it. I was living up in San Jose, and things did work out exactly as I'd hoped or planned for, and some friends of mine recommended Prospect. And it seems they knew what they were talking about so far, at least. And yeah, that doesn't sound like a bad idea. She knows her plant business, for sure."

"The woods outside of town barely even count as backwoods... especially since I have the van as well," Aleysa laughs and raises her tea to join in that little toast. "Can park at the trail head and spend all day hiking to get back to camp and have a nice little cookout under the stars."

"Up north, nice!" Alec sips his beer as he listens to the rest of what Viktor says. "Mmm, change of pace or scenery, I can dig that for real." Continuing to drink his beer he looks to Aleysa and then points in her direction, "Well, it sounds like we have a plan. I hope you know your mushrooms to help make sure we find the right kind out there."

Viktor takes a sip, decidedly not grimacing at the thought of a whole day out in the boonies with what? At best a satellite connection and all that lag time? Instead of dwelling on that though he smiles and joins back in. "I have done some walking with a pack before, I think I could manage it. As for foraging for mushrooms though... Well, usually that's not a recommended thing. But with Aleysa there, I doubt there's be any real danger."

Tucked away at a small table on the courtyard tonight is Aleysa with a sweet tea and a large plate of crawfish (and steadily growing plate of shell discards), Viktor with a po' boy and a beer, and Alec going hard with a whiskey and a beer. She grins at both the guys. "I mean, if you wanted mushrooms, all you had to do was ask..."

Alec is nodding along as Viktor talks, drinking his whiskey and smiling as he seems to be a little leery of going out to hunt for mushrooms. Lowering his drink he looks like he's going to reply but then Aleysa chimes in about just asking and he laughs loudly. "Wait, you've been holding out?! We should partake right now, it'd make for a great night, I promise."

Viktor shifts his gaze to Aleysa, not sure how much of a joke the whole shroom thing is. He adds with a grin. "Uh, I'm not sure how well that would pair with this cuisine. How well does psilocybin mesh with hops, anyway?"

Aleysa glances around at the servers and then gives Alec a said shake of her head. "Pretty sure they frown on outside food and drinks. And I don't exactly have any stuffed mushrooms on me right now anyways..." A wink is given with a grin. "The other kind are also easy enough to acquire. But they don't really pair well with //most// food. Just sort of something you get through."

Alec finishes his whiskey and then points to Viktor saying, "I wanna see Viktor on shrooms. Something tells me it'd be a magical night of adventure." Grinning at the man it's said with a laugh, good-natured ribbing but also probably with some truth about how he thinks it'd be fun. Nodding to Aleysa he doesn't push to make something happen now and instead says, "We'll need to make sure we shroom on the nature adventure."

Viktor looks at Alec, shifting in his seat and feeling a bit called out. "Well, I don't know about that... I'd probably just be boring or something. Not that I'm against them or anything, I know they're not as dangerous as the DEA likes to pretend."

"You making sound like Nature Adventure isn't nearly my everyday. You two just need to decide when you'll come join me," Aleysa laughs lightly. And then a light touch onto Viktor's arm as he seems to be squirming. "Think of them more as a tool, an aid. What you get from them depends on what you put in."

"Sorry, that wasn't meant to be rude in the least. I think it would be a blast. Cut loose, and have a great time. For some reason, I think it'd be like that scene in that old movie, Young Guns." Looking between them to see if they know that movie Alec takes a break from his words to sip his beer. "There is the doctor waxing poetic. The one guy trying to kill a giant chicken only he can see. Then of course the one that uses the experience correctly." Pointing to Aleysa as the one to do it right with those words.

Viktor nods to Aleysa, relaxing in his chair a bit more. "Sure, of course. And like I said, I'm not that much of a square. I do have to admit though that I don't know that movie. What counted as doing it correctly?"

Aleysa just looks blankly expecting at Alec. The movie not ringing any bells, but she seems to expect some sort of explanation of where he's going and as he does, she gives a little ah of understanding. Then to Viktor, "I'm guessing appreciating their spiritual and medicinal uses. Be in the right state to stay in the right state. It can be enlightening."

"I'm sure I'd be the guy chasing the giant chicken..." Trailing off with a laugh there is a nod and point to Aleysa to say she's right on the money. "Though, its a fun ride every time so... Worth it."

Viktor takes a sip of his beer, thinking. Then he sets it back on its coaster with a small shrug. "It's worth trying at least once, right? But I will leave any giant poultry to you. I may be a bit out of my element at the time."

"We'll leave the giant chicken chasing to him. If you start seeing something weird or too much, I can try and help you work through it. I'm pretty good at it," Aleysa gives a friendly nudge to Viktor, and a smile to Alec. "And it may not be mushrooms, but I do have some peyote. Not like on me right now but... stashed away safe."

Alec laughs softly, "If I do start trying to kill a giant chicken no one can see, yes, please make sure I work though that." Another soft laugh is had at the thought of the exploration in the forest and adding in the sensory experience of the drugs. "I think with a proper guide though we'll all have a pleasant time." [Newbie] Helen says, “I think the points breakdown on the wiki for Conditional Magic is backwards. It's saying you get 6 points for something common up to 1 point for something unique.”

Viktor grins, glancing back and forth between the other two. "Alright, sure. And while I have learned to read a map, I'm willing to bet she's way better at being a guide than I am. So, uh... What do you do, Alec? Besides travel, of course."

"It's not hard to have a pleasant time. Just got to think happy thoughts, like Peter Pan," Aleysa tosses in her own movie quote. Or maybe it was from the actual book. "But the forests are lovely, so it's not hard to have a good time in there. Especially when the night is as clear as it has been."

Alec grins to Viktor, "Gamble, mmmm, explore locally when not traveling around. Try to meet people like you all... Hrmm, gamble some more." Motioning between them he says, "So be prepared for to make anything a game of chance, some kind of bet for stakes. For fun though, always to make things more entertaining... As for Aleysa, yes. Positive thoughts and clear nights should be the way to be successful."

Viktor smiles at Alec, swirling his beer in his glass. "Games of chance? What ever happened to skill, anyway?"

For the moment, Aleysa's attention has drifted up to the sky above the courtyard. Peering on up where there should be stars, if it weren't for all the light around blocking them out.

"Chance is the great equalizer. Everyone has that same chance to win or lose." Alex finishes his beer and then motions for another round as they all talk. Looking to Aleysa he then follows the gaze up to the sky and then looks back to the pair. "What about you Viktor, did you say what you do? Work wise whatever else?" Looking to Aleysa he grins adding, "I think we know Aleysa's gig, right?"

Viktor finishes off his beer and gets in on the re-order. "Computer work these days, mainly. Not that I've really slotted into a career, but I make some money here and there when I can with it. I used to be a medic too, but I don't have any current certification that would let me do it professionally."

"Not much of a gig," Aleysa admits with a shrug. "But I have some... somewhat likeminded friends that may be opening up a little CSA soon. That should be nice."

"Nice, good mix, IT and medical. You could get some good work in a hospital I bet." Alec nods in approval to Viktor and then shrugs to Aleysa, "Well. If you're good at this nature outing, maybe we start a business. Viktor can handle the IT side, web and commerce. Then I could be like a hype man and go out and bring people in. You do the actual wilderness part. We all get paid."

Viktor accepts his second beer from the server and takes a deep sip from it. "Wait, how would that resemble an actual business?"

Aleysa also looks a bit dubious towards Alec's proposed scheme. "I like growing //things// but I'm not sure if really growing a business like that is my jam? Taking trips through the woods should be personal. With a small group of friends, that's completely different than taking a group of strangers to the woods for profit, even if it's also educational. Kinda taints the whole experience, you know?"

Alec starts to answer Viktor, "Well people would signup and go out to learn or explore..." Trailing off he smiles, nodding and then laughing as Aleysa speaks to it not really working well. "True. True."

Viktor raises his glass, smiling. "All right, then let's just agree that some things are more important than money and profit?"

"True," Aleysa smiles to Viktor's comment about more important things. "But now you guys are making me itch to get back into the forest right now!"

Alec seems dubious, teasingly so about the more important than money. "Are you sure? More important than cash?!" Laughing he takes a big drink from his second beer. Wiping suds away from his mouth he points to Aleysa, "Let's gooooooo!"

Viktor comes back from another deep draught from his glass, looking back and forth between the other two with several rapid glances. "What? Now? For real?"

Aleysa perks up with the encouragement of Let's goooooo from Alec and for Viktor she gives a nod. "I mean, why not? I have the van. The moon is half full so plenty of light. We don't have to like go far far into the woods. Just an intro course on what you're missing when you're at your computer all the time." A wink to the VA for that one.

Alec stands and drains his beer, downs his whiskey, and then pays the bill for the table. "Boom, everything is settled. Let's go! Maybe we can find a cool spot and swim too." Checking his pockets he motions for the others, "Let's go before any of us can change our minds."

Viktor finishes his beer too, getting swept up in events faster than anticipated. He asks with a grin, already having given in. "Is changing our minds still an option at this point?"

Aleysa really wasn't kidding about the van. She does have it and it certainly isn't your normal mini-van. A cargo van outfitted with bed, kitchenette and all the basic necessities sans wifi (sorry, Viktor). She doesn't drive particularly fast, but the ride to the woods outside of town isn't particular far either. When they do get there... star gazing might not be much a possiblity as fog has begun to roll in but the frogs do have a nice chorus going. "If you look under that cabinet there, there's some extra blankets," she points as she starts gathering some more supplies from one of the top cabinet. Namely a few hand rolled joints. "Not mushrooms, but it does get the job done..."

Alec was pretty blown away by the van, obviously, he thought of some old raggedy van, not this thing. Seated in the back he can't help check everything out while being as polite as possible in not opening EVERYTHING. Shaking his head when they arrive he says to them both, "I've been missing out. If I knew they had these I'd have had one ages ago to travel around in." Spotting the joints he grins, "Ohhh yeeeesss."

Viktor looks down at the 'no signal warning' message on his phone forlornly before slipping back into a pocket where it can continue to be useless for a while. He steps out of the van, looking around at the forest and taking a deep breath to recenter himself. Then he goes around into the side of the van to recover the indicated blankets and hangs them over his arm as they figure out where they're going to settle. "Oh, no, not the devil's lettuce! Sorry, just kidding."

"But it's not the devil's lettuce," Aleysa says quite honestly, holding it out for inspection. "Well, not mostly. There's some mescaline in there with the weed... Not a lot but it'll get the job done." And a smile over towards Alec and the van inspection. "Have van, will travel. Makes it easy to not be too far away, you know?"

Stretching out in the darkness of the nearby wilderness there is a widening grin as Alec looks around. "Well, this is cool." Reaching for one of those joints it looks like he's ready to prove to Viktor they'll be safe to smoke by trying to smoke one. "Does that make it more the devil's lettuce? The extra bump of stuff?"

Viktor does the mental math on the drug effects, then looks over at Aleysa and decides to just let it slide. Everything's going to work out just fine, even if... Wait a second... "Hey, Aleysa, where did you meet Alec, anyway? I don't suppose he's a book club member?"