The rest of the concert goes off without a hitch and as far as the troupe can tell it was very successful.   They all return to Ybor City knowing they have done what they could.   Before leaving, Gabriela and Flea talked about doing what they can to restore LA when the fallout has settled there.  Maybe they will have the Aid Concert in LA next year.

Gabi starts preparing for Gasparilla (Tampa's Madre Gras), which will begin February 20th this year.  She and Ursula plan the float for the parade (a dragon designed by Ursula, she's a talented artist) and Gabi concentrates on getting her "crewe" together to man it.

Gabriela employees a number of people:  Luiza and Star Veldez (mother & daughter) are her maids, Boz Stallion is her personal chef, and Ira Levin is her doorman/security (an ex-cop NYPD).  At Destare Records Oz Drake is her sound/electronics wizard (non-mage) and Gilbert Lyal is her Lawyer.  Adagio Music is managed by Jenny Floyd (28 yr old musician) and Ramon Jimez clerks.  Figaro's Curios is managed by Oscar Jimenez with Sandy Beach as the clerk. 

Gabriela gave extensive interviews for all her employees using her Mind reading abilities to hire loyal and honest people, she keeps a hand in all her businesses and checks on her people from time to time to make sure they are happy and all is well in their lives. 

Gabriela is designing a "Adoration" room in her private quarters with large pictures and paintings of herself to project her presence on the room making her the focal point.  The effect she is seeking is one of adoration for her personage.  Anyone affected will want only good and no harm to come to Gabriela.  She would invite a potential enemy here to have drinks and possibly change their intentions toward her.

Max is planning a new con, but in his free time he has been working on security for the Napolie.  [His security system role is 10-8-7-7)

In the evenings Gabriela goes to nightclubs looking for talented individuals with that certain spark, making it worth offering a recording contract to them.  She invites Ursula and the others to attend if they desire.

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When Gabriela and Ursula are looking in on the progress of their Gasparilla float they notice a stranger watching them, particularly Ursula. Gabi invites him over for a beer. He of course is a Vampire who has fled LA (he brought a few pets with him: a cat and large strange dog). 

Gabriela looks into his mind, determines he is not hostile, but then sees an image of someone eerily similar to Ursula killing people on the back alleys of LA.  She notices that Ursula has put up a mind block, so she can't link to share any of this info with Ursula now. 

The Vampire presses hard with questions on what Ursula was up to in LA. Gabi steps in to diffuse the situation by extending an invitation to the vampire, Jacek, to come to a nightclub - Cadillac Jacks - the following evening, but right now she and Ursula must leave.  He accepts the invite politely.

When they return home Gabi pays Ike a visit and asks him for a book on vampire lore, but he doesn't have the book she needs right now, he promises to look for one that will help.

At Cadillac Jacks, Gabriela takes her parakeet Figaro with her.  He rides on her shoulder or crawls in a pocket or a fold of her dress when he's tired or wishes to hide.  Figaro likes Jacek (weird huh?).  Gabriela brings a gift for Jacek, a blood red rose.  Ursula detects a Quintessential flow within Jacek (something worth investigating).

Jacek gives them his phone # and makes another date with the Mages.