Making Plans (Artskaf)

[Lore]

Lore settled easily into her new life in Moscow. Jessika was insanely busy, and Lore still coordinated her diary and generally smoothed her day-to-day with efficient tweaks, but it was more a hobby than a necessary job. The new Privilege had plenty of her own people to rely on, and even if Lore obviously did a better job, it wasn’t taxing work. It was beginning to feel like perhaps Damien had just wanted her out of Mexico.

Unperturbed, Lore turned her free time to her own endeavours. In the coming days she had a meeting with Ana Vega, though it was only out of courtesy given she was in the city. She had no desire to interfere with how they would run Second Chances here, but she was eager to hear what wonderful things they had planned – to see the business really spread its wings and thrive. Similarly she had a meeting arranged with Ephraim Haart to discuss the IP she had sold on from Cyberpoint. From the portfolio she had perused, it was an exciting opportunity.

Beyond that she was busy filing and making notes on potential contacts - that was the way her mind truly flourished and started making connections. The Vasiliev’s masquerade had provided some networking openings, though mostly Lore had simply observed the glamour around her. She hadn’t even danced. A table in the cosiest coffee shop on the street alongside the company of her spreadsheets was much more her speed though. She much preferred to be prepared for speaking to people.

[Cadence]

Cadence pulled her gloves off as she entered the cafe. Since her time here with Casey, it had quickly become her favorite place to get her morning coffee and sometimes a snack. The young woman behind the counter gave her a smile. Cadence had learned her name was Katya. Cadence also knew she was a fan. Her nearly daily visits to the cafe had excited the young woman. Still she had never gone full fan-girl.

”Good morning, Katya,” she said, approaching the counter. ”How are you today?”

Katya beamed. ”Im well, Cadence. How are you? What can I get you today? Your usual?”

”Im well too. You know me - same as always!”

Katya smiled and took Cadence’s payment. ”Ummm…I had a question,” her face flushed. ”I was wondering if you’d sign one of my albums?”

Cadence gave her a chuckle. She had expected this. ”of course. I’d love to.” she went and got the album and cadence signed it with a personal message. Katya gave her thanks and returned with Cadence’s order.

Cadence found a seat near a woman who was busy with papers piled around her. She had been working at being more outgoing a bit. It was her nature, but had been suppressed from her traumatic childhood. ”Good morning,” Cadence said, just being friendly.

She turned to her drink and pastry, thinking about how the past few weeks had gone. Recording, developing a crush, finding out her best friend was a channeler, learning how to link. It had all been quite a lot, but she was handling it well. Better than she would have before. And now met with Emily Shale as well. Her orphan project was combining with an organization called Second Chances. Cadence had of course approved and had given a sizeable donation. She had appreciated Emily’s telling her though. The woman seemed to do everything above board. That was appreciated.

[Lore]

She tuned the humdrum around her out without even thinking about it, though she wasn’t entirely ignorant, just focused. Someone moved past her table, though not in a way that jostled. Lore wondered if maybe it was just one of the servers, since the place was so vibrant in her periphery – clearly a popular place. Then she used the opportune break in her thoughts to sip her coffee. Only to find it stone cold. And with that disappointing sensory realisation, suddenly alphabatising her lists slipped her mind

“Cold, actually,” she said, faintly surprised, though she didn’t glance up from a rather plaintive look down at the mug in her hand. She might easily have been talking to herself. “A cold morning. Not good at all.”

[Cadence]

Cadence was actually a bit surprised when the woman woke up from her project. She imagined she looked the same when she sat at the piano, writing songs or practicing. The rest of the world didn’t exist. All that existed were the pages in front of you. It had actually worried her parents the first time it had happened. They thought something was wrong. Cadence has just been in the zone.

The cold cup of coffee was also a familiar experience. When she was in the midst of recording more so. She lived off caffeine and sugar. It wasn’t odd to come back to your cup and realize it had been sitting there for so long it had gone cold. The woman had to be very invested in her project.

”Well, we can’t have that,” Cadence gave the woman a smile before turning her attention to Katya. ”Katya - our friend here’s drink has gone cold. Could we get a replacement. On me.”

Cadence took a sip of her beverage. ”Looks like you’re working on a big project - you will certainly need your energy.”

[Lore]

“Oh. No project. Though I supposed that is the project. A pre-project… project.” She placed the mug carefully back down on the coaster, studying the quandary a moment longer. Her eyes were tired from the screen, which perhaps suggested a break was due. Lore was dedicated but she wasn’t neglectful, and she usually used timers and alarms to keep herself on schedule. Being late was the kind of nightmare she woke up sweating from.

“Did you just buy me a coffee?” The words registered some surprise. Apparently it took Lore a moment or two to process – that being the multiple strands of thought in her brain at any given time, though most people just found her fractured. She shifted, finally looked up to the disembodied voice. Her expression was polished, welcoming, the absence tucked carefully away. Her hair was in a sleek ponytail, her make-up minimal and fresh, the blouse she wore professional with a nod to fashion. In a word, perfectly neat.

“Lore Dearborn,” she said, thrusting out a hand across the gap between tables.

“Oh. And you’re Cadence Mathis.”

Frankly she seemed more pleased to have been able to put a name instantly to the face than overwhelmed at it being the face of a very famous pop star. Not that Lore regularly tread in such celebrity circles, but she was certainly accustomed to the orbits of important people, so her introduction was undiminished.

[Cadence]

Cadence smiled. "I did - it is a time for giving, after all," she responded with a casual kindness. She had no reason not to and Cadence was feeling particularly generous today. It was only a coffee, and Cadence found this woman interesting. There was just something about someone who could remain so focused to forget about their hot beverage. Also "pre-project...project" made her hold back a chuckle.

Then Lore introduced herself with an offered hand before she recognized who she was talking to. It wasn't the typical "OMG YOU'RE CADENCE" she usually got. She seemed almost pleased to have recognized Cadence, but it wasn't overbearing - a simple statement of fact, but still polite.

"I am, indeed," Cadence said, accepting the woman's hand. "It's very nice to meet you, Lore. May I ask what it is you're working on so intently?"