"Jamie!" Fist bump! It's another kinda 'meh'.

"Not a lot of luck for me so far," he comments, "Still, it's nice to meet you. Where're you from?" 

Sigh. "I'm a local. And like no offense or nothin' but I'm real antsy right now. Unless you know someone who might match 'itchy' or 'needs to be squeezed' as a backlash I'ma keep circling...?"

"Hmmm..." He knows a lot of people, but obviously not a lot of people here. "Not that I can think of, sorry. Good luck! There's so many people here, you'll probably find someone decent." 

"That's the hope! You too."

More salami, and away she goes, again.

And Jamie spots some interesting figures hanging out by the cute little desserts table, and leaves the cheese to be menaced by someone else.

Tim emerges from a handicapped restroom, deliberately choosing to believe that being an esper entitles a person to facilities that able-bodied people should believe.  He's not feeling vaguely guilty, they have the entire hotel booked, nobody who really needs a handicap restroom will be deprived because he took ten minutes in there.  Really.  He's not.

He's definitely not thinking about the reason an entire quilted rug, condom dispenser, and a box of baby wipes were strategically left in there.  Those are normal.  Anybody could need those while using the facilities.

You came here to meet partners.  Business partners.  You can't use your powers without a partner, you want to use your powers.  Just do this.  You did the hard one first, and everyone knows that a white belt is the hardest to get, not a black belt, because most people don't even show up.  Get out of your head and - there's one.

"Good afternoon, ma'am.  Would you like to test for compatibility?"  A hand outstretched, ready to offer a firm handshake, but not to close too quickly.  He's learned his lesson.

Wendy is munching on salami slices on a paper plate, not even bothering with the fancy crackers. She gives a thumbs up and holds out a fist to bump without pausing her chewing.

Simon has been an esper for four years but still insists on going to esper mixers. He says that it's important to meet new(ly awakened) espers! And because he wants to help other 'useless power espers' like himself, that aren't able to fit into the typical esper job niches of healer, constructor, dungeoneer, and support. And because he's kind of established himself as a professional partner as an adjunct to his illusion food business, and having more potential clients is good.

Damian isn't really much for esper mixers but he acknowledges that they are, indeed, good for networking. He goes with Simon to mixers in the California or nearby states (if he feels like it), but this time Damian is visiting a friend in Chicago, and it just so happened that there's a mixer planned the next day. So obviously Simon wants to go with him.

Here is a man wearing a lustrous Italian cut burgundy silk satin suit, matching tie, with neatly slicked and combed hair. He has cufflinks of ruby and silver and a white pocket square. And a chunky silver watch. He has oxblood leather shoes. Also, he has red eyeshadow on. Because he really wanted to be extra extra today. Neither he nor Simon are wearing perfume because. They forgot to bring them when they flew here. Ugh. Oh well.

He has black hair and red-violet eyes. He has on a polite smile.

And here is the man with him! They're not touching but it's obvious by the way they stand near each other that they're partners, or otherwise very close. He's a little shorter, than Damian — he's six foot nothing whereas Damian has another inch. He's wearing a black long sleeved button-down shirt buttoned all the way up, that has bright millefleur embroidery of oranges all over it. He has a cloisonné enamel bolo tie on also depicting an orange. He has loose white pants, with the shirt tucked in, and boat shoes. He has no watch but does have a small dark gray rayon messenger bag.

He has bright blonde hair and a trimmed beard and similarly bright yellow eyes. He looks cheerful and very into the food. Yay fancy meats and crackers! It's a shame all the cheese is gone but he thinks they'll restock the trays in a bit.

[Wendy, Damian, Simon, Tim breakout thread: near the fancy meats]

Jamie is over by the drinks table now, examining the soft drink offerings. Coke? Orange soda? Root beer? Sprite? So many choices, not enough time...

Tim walks in from where he impulsively hurled a man all the way in the air.  It takes a few minutes for the glances to go away, but when they do he spends a minute staring at his phone, taking photos of the business cards.  He stuff his phone into his pocket and - hey, there's a new one.  "Good afternoon.  Would you like to test for compatibility?"  Confident offer of a fistbump.  See, you knew it would be easy, and it is easy except for how you tie yourself up over it.

Jamie looks up from his newly acquired soda (he gave up on choosing, it's a monstrosity soda) and offers his fist right back, "I got a fist bump earlier, is it spreading?" 

"Seems to be, we have to hope it's not terminal."  Bump and...ehhhh.  "Not much here, not terrible."  Don't apologize it's not your fault.  "I'm Tim, by the way."  Tim will smoothly produce a single business card!

"Jamie!" Not bad, but not much for him either. "Oh well, that's been the theme of the day so far." 

He takes the business card, setting his drink down on the table, and reaches into the pocket of his vest to find one of his own. 

It says Jamie :3 on it. It also says Centerpoint Transport and Logistics, and offers a number and an email address.

The business card gets carefully examined and pocketed later.  Maybe there is something to the cardholder idea after all.  "You're an industrial esper, I take it?"

"Industrial, huh?" He snickers, "I'll take it!"

Card: in pocket, drink: in hand. 

"Mostly I move boxes around; I'm a teleporter, how about you?" 

"Professional brick.  I can share the brickishness around, too, and it comes with a little healing factor.  It's pretty cool, but not exactly as easy to monetize as teleportation.  Want to give it a try?"  Tim offers the length of copper 'rod' from before, although at this point it more resembles a ball of yarn than a rod.  He can straighten it out a bit, and if stifles a yawn it's nothing that Lyra can't take care of later.  Or Wendy.

"Ooh, sure!" He will take the ball of copper yarn curiously, noting the fingerprint dents and other signs it wasn't bent any normal way. 

"You wanna try a little teleport? My primary and secondary are both here, so I can play around a little." 

"Yes, please!"  He will stare ANXIOUSLY at the blond boy fellow coworker.  "Remember, you're stronger and tougher, but your clothes aren't.  Don't try to do too much, or you'll mess up your nice outfit. "  Wait, is that weird.  Too late, can't do anything about it.  "Stretching is a particular hazard.  You won't feel any different at first, unless you cut your finger recently or something.  Just focus on the copper.  When you're ready for the teleport, let me know so I can take the power back."  Maybe I should carry around some of those canned coffee things Maman swears by.  Stupid backlash.  No, it's not even a bad one, you shouldn't resent being lucky.  You're being stupid.

Lucky of him to have TWO partners here.

"Got it, I don't want to pop a seam," he agrees. He picks at the copper, finding an end and attempting to unravel it, "How long can you keep this up? If you're doing dungeons, you must have a decent backlash rate. Assuming you're doing dungeons," he adds, though he thinks it's a reasonable assumption.  

"At the rate we're going, probably a couple of hours before it got bad.  My power is kind of weird, it's a little bit fire-and-forget, but I can adjust how much someone's getting.  You could probably bend this wire by hand if you were patient enough and had gloves, without the gloves you'd have bruised fingertips at the end.  But it's not like it tires me out any more if someone is using it or just having a nap.  And my backlash is just that I get tired, it's not like I go blind or something, eventually I'd be fine.  But I did meet a very nice couple and the one I'm compatible with kindly offered to - " don't say hold your hand "- guide me before I go home today.

"Oh good, I was gonna offer to guide you some if you needed it, but if you've got a better option than me there's no need." 

He is making progress on the untangling. However, he shakes his head and hands it back before he can get too focused. 

"You can take it back now if you want! That was neat, I never get to be the strong tough one." 

"Sounds good.  I'm going to mingle some more.  I'm sure I'll see you around!"

"Did you want that teleport before you go?"