8 October 2014 Session

This session introduced OATH bureaucrat Audrey Finch. She wanted to speak with Kelly, Jimmy, and Arthur, separately, on Monday morning, asking what exactly was all of this business about going out of their way to the Primrose Cafe, giving it special treatment -- a misuse of city resources, surely -- and what was all of this about permits on Liberty Island, which she had no intention of allowing them to have?

Kelly is Easily Flustered, so she stammered out that she'd just been asked to go to the cafe by Arthur, which made Arthur look considerably worse.

Jimmy's interview went worse. He was trying to explain that he just, you know, of course you clean up messes, and somehow things got onto the subject of baseball. Audrey knew what baseball was, of course, but clearly didn't understand its appeal.

Shocked, Jimmy told her that he had two tickets to the Yankee game. Maybe she'd like to go?

Audrey (in a voice like winter frost): Are you asking me on a date?

Jimmy (chagrined and scared): No! No! (puts the tickets on the desk) Here! You can just have them!

Naturally, this went down in Audrey's records as a bribe attempt.

Arthur didn't think he had any problem with Audrey. Sure, they didn't see eye to eye, but he was right, and he started a bureaucratic end run around her.

The taxi drivers were unhappy, as OATH, i.e., Audrey, was talking about raising licensing fees. Bernard was unhappy as there was talk of cutting back on city services like mental health, and folks like Vic Nim needed him.

Indeed, Bernard groused with the group down at Chumley's, the bar that Jimmy considered his territory. Eventually, everyone except for Jimmy left.

Then, a health inspector came in and started citing violations in Chumley's. Jimmy pointed out that it was late for him to be on duty. The inspector agreed, and wasn't happy about being stuck on duty, but continued citing violations. Jimmy punched him, knocking him out.

He got the folks at Chumley's to pour alcohol on the inspector and to move him outside, making it look as if he'd just passed out drunk.

Arthur, meanwhile, worked at being super-efficient, and succeeded. So, Audrey praised him and gave him a new task: Inspect Chumley's.

Somewhere in here, Gaylord said that Arthur's apartment had the Aspect: Did a recycling bin hit a library? This might also be phrased as: Cleanest garbage dump I've ever been in.

Arthur told Jimmy that he was going to close down Chumley's the next day. After all, he'd been told to inspect it, and the place had loads of health code violations.

Jimmy was stunned and told Arthur the story. Arthur said he'd make Chumley's his last stop of the day, at 4:30pm, so that the bar would have a chance to correct the problems.

Arthur: Here's the list -- I mention it every time I come in there.

Jimmy: I thought you were joking! I never paid attention to it!

Arthur: I said that if I ever had to inspect the place, I'd have to close it down.

Jimmy: I thought you were just joking!

He got to work at once, even considering using his Materials On Hand for the bar, rather than the ritual on Liberty Island, but he wound up not needing to do this. My notes say:

3+6=9
8->
Jukebox =? Springst
Work of Passion => Style
Appropriate music: We Build This City on Rock and Roll

Avram objected to the song, disliking it, and Josh later admitted that he should have chosen Apple Jack's "Raise This Barn" song, but it was the idea that counted.

Arthur arrived on time, with a cop.

Arthur: I understand the last inspector who inspected this place got beaten up.

Gareth, Jimmy's player, rolled a 3, I think, and found 6 points worth of Aspects to use, so that the final total was 9 vs 8, which meant Chumley's was saved.

Meanwhile, Kelly decided to scout around Audrey Finch's home. I think she went to the apartment building, but I'm not sure if she actually went inside. She did some, if not all, of her watching from the building next door, using her position as a city employee to gain access.

Somehow, Audrey Finch became aware of being watched and looked across the street. Kelley felt an unnatural sense of fear flooding into her, but was able to resist the feeling. But, she realized, I think because of being a Mage Historian and rolling well enough, that Audrey Finch was a White Court Vampire, probably from House Malvora. Audrey was trying to make people afraid by cutting goods, services, and so on.

Meanwhile, the inspector Jimmy had punched had talked to his union rep. Jimmy talked to his own union rep. The upshot of this was that Jimmy had to visit Bernard, the therapist. Bernard listened sympathetically, making it clear he didn't care for Audrey Finch either, and wrote that Jimmy had been under considerable job-related stress. He didn't expect a repeat incident, but Jimmy should take a couple of days off -- with pay, of course.

Jimmy was very grateful. Bernard now had an Aspect of An Understanding of Jimmy. This might have been an advantage or a boost. I forget which.

My notes say that the end of session Fate Point totals were:

• Arthur: Either 3 or 0, but de facto 3 for next session
• Kelly: 2, but de facto 3 for next session
• James: 4
• Kara: 4