<strong>Back room of the King's Head Pub<br/><br/>Bran</strong><br/><br/>He nods and turns to Rachel who gives a professional looking smile, the kind of smile an interviewer might give.  Her quick "Good morning Bran.  I was sorry to hear about the morning you have had" did nothing to dispel that impression.<br/><br/>"As my grandfather has said, any aid rendered by his court must be, for the moment at least, not overt.<br/><br/>So let me explain.  Our opinion, largely thanks to Alf here" she nods at the one man whose name you didn't previously know, he nods at you silently "is that a significant amount of energy must have been used to, well, to create the effect.  We feel that knowing the, ah, the type of energy used would be the best first step in finding out exactly what is happening here.  Sadly, our combined knowledge isn't sufficient.<br/><br/>We do, however, know of someone who will possess that knowledge.  This individual refuses to acknowledge my grandfather's sovereignty.  We, obviously, wish him to do so.  We want to prove that we can, well, affect him whenever we see fit.  In short, Bran, we want you to aggravate this individual so that he loses his temper.  Repeatedly.  Two or three times should be sufficient.<br/><br/>What we wish is then you to confirm that you will stop doing so if he acknowledges our, my grandfather's, rule.  That is the sole thing we ask of you.  We will not, however, be stood over your shoulder.  If you choose to add additional conditions - for example, him explaining what was done to you - we will be none the wiser.<br/><br/>I am aware that potentially raises more questions than it answers, but I don't wish to overload you.  In brief, this individual gains a certain amount of power from various actions but an uncontrolled burst of rage will cause him to lose that.  We wish to demonstrate that we can create such a burst of rage whenever we see fit, thus draining him of his power and demonstrating our dominance.  He is rather vain, I suspect attacks on his appearance may well provoke him to a rage.<br/><br/>There are, Bran, skills you are not aware of.  This individual harnesses one of them.  Once we have finished this conversation I intend to show you another.  You will then have the evidence of your own eyes.<br/><br/>Irritating this individual will open up one line of enquiry - the type of person that was responsible for the thing that happened to you.  Hopefully the effect I shall show you later will open another - why it is you have been shielded.  I am aware you had a theory that it was my grandfather's and Mr Tannen's connection to the city that rendered them vulnerable but my own web searches revealed, as I imagine yours did, that wider sources have also been affected.<br/><br/>No-one here is trying to withhold information from you, but there is a lot to convey and we do not wish you to be overwhelmed.  If you have questions they will be answered, as we do not wish to appear dishonest with you.  My advice, for what little it is worth, is to wait until I have demonstrated Back Monkey.  But feel under no obligation to take this."<br/><br/>She glances over to Ronald who nods then takes over.<br/><br/>"Like the lass said, she's my Granddaughter.  This here's my sister Mabel and my brother-in-law Phillip.  Alf is, well, Alf.  I've known him since I was a lad, but.  You'll also meet my younger brother and his wife in time, like.  He's off in the library studying at the moment and she's out of town doing me a wee favour, like.  Not important what.  These people speak for me, lad.  No-one else does.  Someone claims to be giving you instructions from my mouth and they aren't one of these, they're lying.  Just so as you know where you stand, like."<br/><br/>People watch you expectantly.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><strong>Between Unit 16 and Unit 18, Fergusons Street<br/><br/>Nova</strong><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Nova</div><div class="spoiler_body">Suddenly the shock of the missing building hits you.  You're not sure how to process what's happening, why there's not a warehouse there that you <em>know</em> full well used to be.<br/><br/>You've gained a failed notch in Unnatural.  What that means for you is that your mind just takes a little holiday for a while.  That holiday takes one of three forms:<br/><br/>Paralysis - You stand, probably open mouthed, in shock and probably fear as you try to come to terms with the situation.<br/><br/>Flee - it's all too much and you run the fuck away.<br/><br/>Frenzy - it's all too much but instead of the "flight" of above the other shoe falls and you go for "fight".  You might not understand what has happened but by god you'll make it make sense or grind it to pulp trying.<br/><br/>Please pick one and use it in your next post.  Don't worry which, I've got a way of handling all of them.<br/></div></div><br/><hr/><br/><strong>McDonalds, Northumberland Street<br/><br/>Miyo, Norm, Chris</strong><br/><br/>He looks up at you with a fake McDonald's smile which breaks in to a slightly more genuine one when Norm speaks up.  "Sure, I know him."  His gaze flicks briefly between the three of you for a moment then he holds a hand up.<br/><br/>"Just wait here a moment."  He wanders over to where one of the servers is busy dealing with a harassed looking young mother - a kid held tight in each hand and a belly full of another one.  Can't be twenty one, hair up and large hoop earrings.  Shocking pink top riding up to expose a pregnant navel, black leggings straining a little under pregnant thighs.  One of the kids is crying, one picking its nose.  She's paying with nicotine stained fingers.<br/><br/>Slowly and deliberately he opens one of the happy meals and takes the toy out, dropping it in his pocket.  The mother stares open mouthed for a moment before launching into a foul mouthed tirade against him and soon enough "Pakis" in general.  He endures it with a smile and when he has a chance to get a word in mildly says:<br/><br/>"I'm Kasmiri actually.  And screaming little brats don't get a toy.  Frankly if you were any good as a parent you'd thank me but it's clear you're not.  Do you even know whose the one you're carrying is?"<br/><br/>She goes to slap him with a ringed hand but he's stepped back.  Other cashiers are carefully not noticing what's happening while customers stare in shock.  She launches into an even fouler mouthed tirade.  Apparently her boyfriend is a boxer and will be coming down here to fucking kick the shit out of him.  "Ma'am" he tries to interrupt a few times but is cut off each time.  Eventually a private security guard comes over and takes her gently by the arm, but she throws him off.  Pointing accusingly at Patveer and loudly informing the literally no-one in the place who didn't already know what has just happened.<br/><br/>The security guard takes her arm again and mutters something you don't catch in a calming voice.  She jabs a finger aggressively at Patveer but allows herself to be guided towards the door.  After a moment she turns and snatches up the two happy meals and the McChicken Sandwich with a "I'm taking these but if you think I'm paying you're fucking mistaken, eh.  When my Robert hears about this you're fucking dead" before allowing herself to be guided out of the restaurant.  People quickly pretend they hadn't been staring while he comes back over to you, rubbing his hands in glee.<br/><br/>"Yeah, I know him" he picks up as if nothing had happened "Paying the wages of half the people in here.  What does he want?"