|
The night air is cool and crisp. Mearc is, perhaps surprisingly, only wearing a t-shirt and bright neon pink and orange pajama pants (okay, yes, and his usual boots and messenger bag) while waiting for the change of guards to be complete, and he greets Atalo with a small wave. "Quiet night?"
Atalo, for his part, is wearing his leather armour, axe and shield on his back. Though as he currently has those concealed for perception, to most he's simply wearing a plain t-shirt and jeans. Offering a small nod in return for the wave, Atalo answers quietly, moving up to the Changeling. "Yes. I had Spicy as a partner. We're both quiet. And nothing happened to give either of us worries."
"I haven't actually met her. She was recommended by another person coordinating this matter. You found her suitable to the task?"
"I don't know." He answers with typical honesty. "We just waited and spoke, without any trouble. She seemed sensible, however."
“Sensible is good. I can take sensible. Especially beside you.” There’s a hint of tease there. “Good. Thank you for helping out here. This is...part of a greater everything.”
"I am deeply sensible." His mouth twitches ever so slightly. "And you are welcome. I'm pleased my talents are appreciated."
Mearc smiles, and gestures for Atalo to walk alongside him. “If you have thoughts on how I’m organizing this, feel free to share them. I don’t have the same level,of military experience you do. I hardly know how I ended up like this...well. Except that I had an idea for how to get a secure safehouse none of ours would know about.”
Atalo moves into step beside him. "I know how to fight Mearcstapa. But I never led forces or armies. Following an assigned role is familiar to me." He muses a moment. "I don't know details about the target, or much of the assassin aside from their possible abilities. But I have seen generals lead. The best plan for defeat rather than victory, and what they'd do in that loss. What happens if the safehouse is found, and the guards defeated? Would you accept a suggestion?"
“I would cherish a suggestion.” He lets out a soft laugh. “Though the thought of putting armor on our VIP to protect her had come up, if that’s at all where you’re going.”
He shakes his head. "If she's immobile and the guards are down, armour won't matter. No. What I'd suggest might not be possible depending on your resources, but have you considered more that one safehouse, and a number of possible targets?"
“My resources are very limited, but lucky for us, we don’t know if our VIP is actually who out attacker will target next, so there’s any number of potential targets around.” Heavy, heavy snark on those words. He pinches the bridge of his nose. “The VIP is getting such care because she can’t defend herself at all. The rest of us can move, can flee.”
"Hm." The vampire considers. "Which means it's unlikely she will be, depending on the intelligence of the attacker. They'll know she's well protected, even if they're able to discover the safehouse. If I was in their position, and I knew all my potential targets were prepared and defended, I would approach this indirectly. I'd choose a target, research their weak spot and press it to try and bring them out. A family member, a loved one, someone tangential and potentially less well shielded."
"Or, to do the same to a guard and have them do the work for me."
“Yeah. Well. That’s what we’re currently trying to anticipate. The freehold is officially on war footing, as we try to deal with the matter and mitigate potential harm our attacker could cause to anyone. But the VIP is my top priority.”
He nods, frowning in thought. "What does this person want? What are their goals and their motivations?"
“Oooh, that’s complicated.” Mearc laughs. “In the broadest sense, they see their goal as being to keep everyone in the city safe from the sort of experience all changelings have had. Their methods, however, are...scorched earth protocol. Destroy people’s lives to do what they think is right.”
He lets out a faint growl. "A fanatic, dedicated, driven and unable to see any view but their own? I believe in purity of purpose, but it has its dangers. How deep does this drive go? Would they be willing to kill themself in service to it?"
“A fanatic. A terribly intelligent fanatic who has been hiding within our society for years, learning where our weak spots are and how to exploit them.” He sighs. “Not sure if they would give their life. They’d certainly kill for it. You don’t stab a changeling with an iron knife and expect them to live.”
"Hgn. I presume you're doing all you can to find and kill them." He pauses, as if something's just occurred to him. "Are you afraid, Mearcstapa?"
That sound that's always faint in the background around Mearc grows louder, that hissing cornfield whisper. He doesn't answer immediately, but he stops walking. "I'm holding it together, Atalo."
"You are my friend." The vampire states simply. "And I am not good at making them. You know what happened with Anna-Marie and Rosalyn. Would me being closer more often be reassuring?"
"I'm not going to ask more of you, just because you're my friend. I'm already leaning on you so much. More than I should be, by most standards."
He's silent a moment. "This is not just about you and me. I've lived several lifetimes, you know that. I've seen many other vampire cities and how they operate. Where Anna-Marie would be one of dozens scheming and plotting. I'd be ignorant if I didn't think that the way of your Freehold has affected the city as a whole. And now someone acts to bring it down? Part of why I'm acting is to fight for that stability."
He lets out a bitter laugh. "If the attacker had their way, no one in the city would ever dream again, because dreams and imagination and wonder are a connection to the other side. That's...what this is about, at the core. Not just us, but the dreams of everyone human within the city. 'The Right to Dream Free is the Right to Die.' I don't know if I should be telling you this much, but...talking is helping."
There's a blink then, eyes widening slightly. "Insanity.." Atalo breaths. "True insanity." His voice, usually so calm, has an edge of horror. "I fight to remain tied to humanity. And this one wants to cut everyone off from that? How would they even achieve it?" He shakes his head. "I think you are afraid." He states softly. "I understand why now."
"They attacked Lux, with the iron knife. While they and our other partner--the one Anna-Marie tried to blackmail--were asleep in bed together." He exhales heavily. "I am terrified. But I am continuing to press forward, because I can help, here."
"And because those you love are at risk." Atalo nods. "I will do all I can. And I will press forward for the same reason as you, because I an help. Please tell me if you need more from me."
"No, no more. You're doing a lot already. Thank you for listening--and for not asking questions I can't answer for you, that helps too." He pats Atalo's shoulder lightly.
"I'm a soldier, at least in part. I'm familiar with acting without asking. But in this case, I trust the one asking me to act." He nods slightly.
"I'll try not to let you down." He nods. "So, besides you, I've got Guy and a Cory, in terms of vampires. And there's also a mage who's helping out. I've never met Cory--do you know her well?"
"I've encountered her, I believe. I couldn't tell you anything of note though. And what about this mage?"
"The mage is a healer and someone who can see into Twilight--which is a route the attacker might take for entry. Though theory is she'd need to enter physical space to stage an attack, so the mage is early warning for an attack, and will be paired with someone who I know can fight at all times."
"Hm." A flicker of rueful amusement. "i apologize. I mean, I know nothing of mages. They are sorcerers, wizards? But those abilities, perception and healing, would likely be very useful."
"I've only just started hearing about them myself. And, I mean, we do magic, changelings, but we're not willworkers, so to speak."
"Some of us have talents for magic as well, though I can't give you those details." He nods. "I'd be curious about what else you learn, however."
"Well..." Mearc looks thoughtful for a moment. And then as the pair of them walk across a shadow, Mearc simply vanishes from sight completely. Poof!
"Hgn." Atalo's nostrils flare, hand moving for his axe. And then he stills the motion, closing his eyes and going preternaturally still. Senses flare as he listens for any hint of sound. (Triggering deerstand to go utterly still and take +5 to perception checks.)
About nine seconds later, Mearc comes out of the shadow again, coalescing like he'd been part of the inky darkness completely. "Sorry, was just demonstrating for you."
He shakes the effect off, moving again. "Impressive. Ironic in fact." He turns to offer a grin. Poof! Suddenly there's no Atalo in sight either.
Mearc grins. "Alright, is that invisibility, on your part, demanifestation, entering Twilight, or some other form of vanishing?"
Returning to sight, Atalo shakes his head. "Perception. I am not invisible, but minds and senses skate over my existence. How does your own take form?"
“I can do something closer to true invisibility, but that was becoming part of the shadow. I can do the same with smoke or fog or anything else insubstantial.” He grins. “Useful talents.”
"And ones we might see put to use." Atalo nods. "Does it shock you that I've a few tricks?" Another flicker of amusement. He's certainly teasing slightly now.
“No, it doesn’t surprise me at all. You’re a dangerous man with many varied skills.” Mearc looks sidelong at Atalo.
"I'm also your friend. I would not ever want to harm you." Atalo answers, a little quickly.
“I know.” He chuckles. “I feel safer around you.”
He goes silent a moment again, then nods. "Good. Because it's true." He reaches out, lightly patting Mearc's shoulder. "It's good steps, given how things started."
Mearc leans into the touch slightly, like a cat deigning to allow himself to be petted.
A small smile shows on Atalo's face, his hand staying in place. "I am still learning, but, this is good. Thank you."
“I should get back to where I’m staying right now. And you probably need to get back to the shop. But...thank you very much.” He steps away from Atalo finally, and brushes his fingers against the vampire’s hand.
A nod, Atalo glancing at his hand before lowering it to his side. "You're welcome. I'll see you again soon, and be well." He pauses. "I plan to return there unseen. You'll do the same?"
“Of course. Be safe out there.” And he vanishes from sight again.
|