Sophie stretched and stood up, her period of meditation over. It had been silent today, just as it had been since she started the practice at Sue's suggestion. And she didn't mind the quiet as she had before she'd spoken with Sue.

Still... would she ever have a clue as to a Tradition?

She sat on the edge of her bed and went over it again.

*Akashic Brotherhood?* I'm not that fit and I don't want to be.

*Choristers?* Nice basis, but too much organization -- too heirarchichal.

*Cult of Ecstasy?* Yeah... right. Most of what they use makes me feel ill -- and I don't even know if I'm capable of sex.

*Dreamspeakers?* I admire them, but I'm no Shaman. I've no calling.

*Euthanatos?* I haven't the strength of soul for that.

*Hermetics?* I'd rather count the number of angels on the head of a pin.

*Sons of Ether?* When I've never taken a science class?

*Verbena?* I'd have to lie. Too many of them would want my unnatural self dead.

*Virtual Adept?* Closest I've gotten to using a computer is a cash register or an adding machine. I don't think I have the brain.

Ah well. I suppose I can be an orphan. It seems appropriate.

Still, it's odd that I should have two people seem to want to interest me in the Sons of Ether. And so different. And neither Kim or Thomas seems like Ford. How strange that Thomas knew Ford and Mari.

Poor Thomas. What a welcome to Manchester. First, my fear. Then the "Thing." I found myself more comfortable dealing with a monster than with a social conversation that felt like a tight rope over boiling oil.

Yet -- it's not funny. Sue is suffering and Bea seems to have relapsed. And nothing I could do. A 'shift' in Spirit, I understand. It's not something I've any mastery of. Perhaps I'm glad, if one meets those things often.

Well, enough thoughts. Time to do something practical. Think I'll clean bathrooms.