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Finley is sitting in zher usual spot when at the Factory--the far end of the bar, perched on a stool. A notebook is open in front of them, that they're scribbling notes into idly, occasionally pausing to look thoughtful and stare into space for a few seconds before continuing.
Zhe looks far different from zher norm. Normally they look bland and sickly, but tonight their skin is smooth and flawlessly pale, eyes bright, hair silky and curling a bit. It's like zhe had some sort of intense make over and is wearing professional make up, but it goes past that--it's an eerie sort of beauty. There's also no mask covering zher face currently. Alas, magic doesn't help their fashion sense, which is still baggy and boring underneath zher usual oversized gray coat.
Phaedra drifts into the Elysium space, barefoot. She's dressed in a yellow sundress, her hair loose and mussed. As her eyes light on Finley, a tiny smile curls at the corner of her lips. "Well. That's been a while, hasn't it?"
The Haunt is distracted, staring down at the notes while tapping the pen against the paper, as if trying to think of a right word. Zhe blinks when Phaedra speaks, jolting a little and looking over. Embarrassment passes over zher face before their lips curl into a small, shy smile. "Um. I guess so, yeah. Hi, Phaedra." Zher lisp is far less prominent currently, but zhe still speaks naturally softly.
"Hi, Fin." She steps closer quietly, getting right up in Finley's space to look at the difference in appearance closely. "What's this one? Black goats? White calves with no blemishes? Virgins' first menstrual flow?"
It's hard to really know what the differences truly are, since usually zhe wears the mask--and Phaedra is unlikely to have seen Fin without it on, other than times like this. There's a small surgical scar that starts at zher upper lip and runs slanted to the right, stopping just below their nose. But otherwise zher face is eerily flawless.
Finley blinks as she leans in close, leaning back a bit--but looking more flustered than truly bothered by the close proximity. "U-um... No... I--I met a psychic, and they donated a little of their blood."
"Donated..." Her head tilts to one side and she blinks at zhem thoughtfully. "For this purpose specifically?"
Daniel quietly made his way into the Elysium, dressed neatly as was his wont with a dark grey scarf wrapped firmly around his neck and a brown leather messenger bag slung across one shoulder. Seeing the others already gathered he gave a polite nod, heading their way as to be in proper conversation range. "Evening."
"Oh--no!" Zher head shakes quickly. "Um, they don't... know anything about this. I just told them I was going to run some bloodtests. Which... I did, technically, I just... also used the left overs for experimentation..." Zhe glances past her towards Daniel, offering a shy smile and a tentative wave. "Evening."
Phaedra turns, skirt twirling, to offer Daniel a smile. "I've always wondered what was being 'even'ed, in evening. But you're right, it absolutely is just that."
"Fair question." Daniel smirked a touch, pausing as he got a proper look at Fin. "That's a new look...not a bad thing, mind you."
"The day and the night," comes the answer from the direction of some of the still derelict parts of the factory, as Saagochque comes striding in from that portion of the building. She has her hair back in a braid and is wearing a tunic and loose pants of a material that at least Phaedra might be familiar with -- magical spider silk, created through the use of blood sorcery, which provides more armor than one might think.
Finley's head dips embarrassedly, glancing aside. "Erm. Yeah... Thanks...?" Zhe clearly is awkward about being complimented, bordering on uncomfortable. But thankfully Saagochque coming in is a good distraction. Zhe blinks over, then looks down at the floor. "Good e-evening, Sakima..."
"Ooooh, so it's like the equinox, then. The balance of one into another, right at the edge of tipping, time slipping, off from one end to the next." She makes a gesture with her hand mid-air like a sideways figure 8. "That makes sense!"
Daniel looked towards the voice as well, giving the Sakima a respectful nod. "Good evening."
Saagochque reacts to the mild rambling from Phaedra with what seems to be patient appreciation and answers it with a short nod and a friendly, "just so. At least that's the origin of the word as I've come to understand it, though it's not my abomination of a language, so I could be wrong." She favors Finley with a smile that does nothing to make her horribly gaunt features any less disturbing. "Relax, Finley. The floor isn't that interesting." Daniel gets a nod in return. "How's your business, Daniel?"
There's absolutely no reaction from her to the change in Finley's appearance, if she's even noticed it.
Finley glances up, though still doesn't quite make eye contact--more out of nervousness than any distrust. "How are you tonight?"
By Phaedra's standard, of course, that was a very mild ramble, hardly one at all. She takes a seat at the bar beside Finley, finding something to fiddle with quietly, perhaps bar straws. "English is the homunculus of language."
"Going well, thank you." He nodded at the question, smiling politely. Finley had asked what he was going to first, so he waited for the Sakima's response.
"All in all not so bad," Saagochque answers with a bit of a shrug and a slight tilt of her head to one side. She pulls up a seat at the bar and hops onto it like she's just here to shoot the shit. Definitely not the sort of thing a Prince is likely to do in many other cities, especially with as casually as she goes on. "I've been trying to figure out what's changed that has made the Changelings start crawling up our collective asses lately. Not that I'm necessarily complaining, it's not a problem exactly, it's just a marked shift in behavior." She looks around at the trio. "Have any of the rest of you noticed it, or is it just me?"
"Um..." Finley glances to Daniel and Phaedra, then back to the Sakima. "I've... only met a couple of them... But I've never even heard of them, before the past couple of weeks. I don't really know why, sorry..."
"Because it's a time of becomingness, with the city taking on people like a boat taking on people. Okay, bad metaphor. But...there's been a flux. An in-flux. Not just with them, but with us-es, also. The city's receptive, and some of what's being received is in curiosity. This is a starting point, I think. For a now."
"I couldn't say, honestly. I've only met one that I know of so far, and the main issue I've heard of is the problems caused by the good Commissioner." The note of sarcasm on the word 'good' was subtle but telling, a tact picked up from his own time in the Estate. "Has there been something else?"
"So it's not just me," Saagochque replies with some semblance of relief. "Have they wanted anything in particular, Finley, or just been somewhat extraordinary people?" She gives Phaedra a thoughtful look and says, "good observations. That's what I've wondered too. It seems like it might be a sign of some kind of shift in the city's energy, and I haven't decided if it's promising or concerning, or both. Or what we might be able to do with it. It bears observation, in case we need to adapt to sudden changes." Reference to Anna-Marie brings a frown. "Yes, her. I'm trying to remember it's actually convenient when the Invictus has absolutely no subtlety."
Finley considers a moment, then gives a little shake of zher head. "One is... a friend of mine, and I had no idea he even was one until Guy told me... The other... um..." The Haunt shifts uncomfortably. "I didn't really talk to him, but was there when others were talking to him. Um... Ms. Cordray was there, too."
"Both, always both. It's a reminder from the city-soul that it's not stagnant and things can always change. I'm wondering what else might be ready to shift, or if it's just rolling over and yawning like a bear. Hmmm." She twirls one of the bar straws into her hair idly, before looking up at the ceiling. "I haven't met Ms. Cordray yet. I wonder..."
"Something worth watching, for sure." He nodded quietly. "Indeed...sometimes having a nail that sticks up on its own makes for a good distraction."
Saagochque's dead eyes study Finley for a moment before she nods and then turns to listen to Phaedra. She seems to give the young seer's comments a brief but weighty consideration before she says, "let's hope that's what's going on, Phaedra. Anyway, by no means take this as me saying you should avoid them. I'm just curious. Have any of you been occupied with anything else interesting recently?" She gestures invitingly. "Anything you've done you're proud of, or new things you've discovered you think might be interesting to an old lady like me? I love stories."
Finley hesitates, thinking, then gives a little shake of zher head and an apologetic look. "Sorry... I've not done anything very interesting lately. I assume you've already heard of the... mermaids? Nereids."
"Fiiiin. You're bathing in psychic blood, and that's not interesting?" She gives zhem a laugh.
"Waiting to get more details on another fashion show that is in the works, but other than that mostly business as usual." The mention of mermaids and psychic blood made his eyebrow arch up a touch, giving Finley a curious look.
"Yes. Poor Clayton," Saagochque says with a suggestion of both remorse and anger. "I'm really curious what could be bringing them this far in from the sea. As far as I know we've never had them make an appearance here before, I've only heard rumors of them from kindred who came from cities directly on the coast." Psychic blood bathing? Zhe's a Galloi. It doesn't surprise her, really.
Flustered, zhe sputters a second as Phaedra laughs. "I--well, that's interesting to me but I didn't... I mean, the experiments didn't have any interesting results." A beat pause. "But... um, yeah, I know a couple psychics. They're pretty fascinating..." Finley looks back to Saagochque. "Do they normally live in the sea? I've never heard of them before."
"Psychics are pretty neat, I guess, if you're into that kind of thing. Trouble they run into, though? They don't have a caucus or a covenant or a clan or a family to watch out for them. A psychic alone in the wild is just asking for to be exploited. By other humans if not by mages or worse. Humans hate a freak, and that hate twists in odd ways when the freak is useful to them." Her gaze goes distant as she speaks.
"Can't say that I've run into one...or least known about it, if anything." Daniel gave a little nod, although a small frown crossed his features at the 'freak' comment. "Sad but true..."
"My main caution when dealing with psychic humans is to be sure they don't learn too much," Saagochque says to Finley, like someone who is sharing what they've learned through unfortunate experience. "The First Tradition is important, and if their powers let them learn things they shouldn't it can have unfortunate results. Ideally we can simply make them forget, but other times the options are less pleasant. Please be careful, for their sake."
Finley focuses on Saagochque, this time actually looking at her fully. Zhe frowns, but gives a small nod in understanding. "I am being careful."
Phaedra's quiet, now, her expression pensive and still somewhat unfocused.
"My favorite way of giving advice is when the person I'm offering it to doesn't need it," Saagochque says with a smile spreading on her deathly face. She hops down off of her bar stool. "I'll let you all get back to what you were doing before I barged in. Thank you all for the brief talk." She doesn't wait around for goodbyes or anything, just waves and heads toward the exit.
"Good seeing you as always." Daniel gave the departing Haunt a polite nod before looking back to the others. "What's this about mermaids?"
Which is when Atalo enters with Cerberus in tow. Pausing to nod at the Sakima he moves further inside to glance around at those present
Finley gives a small wave to her as she goes, then exhales a long breath when she's gone, a little of zher nerves easing away. Important people are scary.
Zhe looks back to Phaedra. "Do you know any psychics...?" Then to Daniel, "I don't know the details. Clayton, the Keeper of Bala-cynwyrd was... infected? by one. They're called Nereids, apparently..."
Finley, who is currently not wearing a mask and looks strangely beautiful rather than sickly and bland, gives Atalo a small nod in greeting.
"I used to be a psychic. But I never knew any others, then." She shrugs, then glances over her shoulder at Atalo. "Good evening. You missed gossip hours with the Sakima. You'll have to share with us instead, so we can pass it along when it comes again."
"Huh...interesting." Daniel nodded, then looked to Atalo with a smile. "Evening."
"I've heard what happened to Clayton in general terms. I'm planning to do some quiet tracking, so we can hopefully contain him and undo this damage, if that's possible." He pauses. "Good evening, yes. Did you have any thoughts to share perhaps, Haurespex?" A light smile.
"Oh... Mm..." Finley frowns at Phaedra apologetically. "That makes sense. I'm sorry if I was being insensitive."
"It's fine, Fin. I don't talk about it, much--you wouldn't have known." Then she turns on her barstool to face Atalo. "You know, the Sakima brought an interesting point up. About it being weird to see the Nereids in the river here--we're not the sort of beachy place you'd get them, normally. After all, they're worshippers of something abyssal, something of-the-Depths. Which means it might be worth the looking, later, to see if there's a purpose to their here-ness. I mean, of course there is, there's got to be. But what?"
"Fair question indeed." He nodded quietly to Phaedra. "Something worth looking into, for sure."
"Then they're likely here seeking something or as heralds of a sort." He frowns. "Given this city and its nature there might be a space for them here, but not when they bring harm to our kin. If they seek conflict, I feel they'll find it. Did she say anything about informing the Changelings?"
Finley nods, but still looks a little awkward and guilty. Zhe blinks curiously as zhe listens, watching Phaedra. "Something abyssal...?"
She tilts her head at Finley. "If you go deep enough into the ocean, there is as little air and light as there is out in space. There's something about that that's powerful, don't you think?" And then Atalo gets a grin. "Not informing them, not as such, but she did ask about them, and why they're suddenly becoming a thing that's a thing for us. I gave her a guess, dunno if she liked hearing it."
"Crushing and ancient." Atalo intones in answer to the abyssal talk. "If the deep ocean has a will, a mind, its one that's existed long before us. I can respect worshipping that. Or maybe simply something that calls it home. But why would the land be of interest?"
Zher brows crease, considering that a moment. "Interesting. And they're... vampires? Who have been infected, somehow? I wonder... if it is some sort of disease. Or if they spread the mystical influence of this abyssal force through their bites and claws. I'd be interested in studying any samples from infected, if Clayton or someone else is recovered..."
"That's a big if at this point, sadly. Given the risks of such a fight, I'm not for recommending anyone get into one right now." She taps her lips and pulls the twisted bar straw out of her hair. "Well. There's other ways to skin a cat."
"The risks of this infection spreading?" He nods. "Aside from Clayton's own abilities, has this infection given him more?"
Finley shakes zher head. "I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt. Still..." Zhe looks dreamy-eyed for a moment at the thought of studying them. "I heard Clayton had fish scales and was able to alter his form somehow, similar to the capabilities of Protean. But I don't know anymore than that. And that he was... not acting like himself at all."
Phaedra looks up at the ceiling. "Fin, you might have been onto something. With the thought about the mystical influence of the abyssal force. I think the question I really want an answer to now is if Clayton was a target of opportunity, or deliberately chosen."
"...Possibly chosen, if the intent is to spread whatever this infection is. As a Keeper he was likely to be around Elysium and infect others?" Zher head tilts a little in thought. "But there's likely other variables we don't know about. Just a thought."
"You having samples might help." Atalo notes to Finley. "To understanding this more. I want to try and capture him and hopefully restore him, but that needs care and study. I assume you both want to know anything I discover?" His eyes glint. "I might finally have a challenging prey."
She wrinkles her nose. "Wanting to spread the infection...doesn't sit right as a motive with me, in itself. The river doesn't have the space the ocean does. This isn't where they'd want to be normally, right? So why would they want to crowd it with even more merms? There's a reason for them being here, and that's a root to this, regardless of whether Clayton was chosen due to being Keeper or something else."
Finley nods. "I'd be interested in knowing what you find. You should speak to those who were there to know what his capabilities were. But I'm not sure who it was who encountered him." Zhe looks towards Phaedra, then lifts zher shoulders. "I have no idea..."
"What they want may not be the important element. If you can determine what they follow, that might shed some light." He rubs his chin. "And I'll try to find out who was there. This modern world has some interesting creations. Maybe one of them can capture Clayton. Though staking is also a possibility. If it still works."
"If I can determine...oh, Atalo, you don't ask simple questions of me."
Finley glances between them quietly, still looking thoughtful.
"No." A toothy grin at Phaedra. Is that an actual emotion? "I respect you enough to suggest a challenge."
"It's not the seeking that's hard. It's dealing with the effects on my psyche afterward." She laughs brightly. "For when you stare into the abyss, it stares back into you, and it Knows you better than you can ever know yourself."
That brings a look of concern on zher face, frowning at Phaedra. "Please take care of yourself..."
"Dealing with deities is always a risk, yes." He agrees. "Especially one of this nature. Me studying Clayton is far safer a thing. Perhaps he can get us the answers we need."
She glances sidelong at Finley. "I can seek the answers that we need, or I can take care of myself. I can't do both, and I am Haruspex. I know my duties. If...you want to help with the lingering effects, there are ways I could use assistance, Fin."
"I'm not telling you not to do it," Finley says softly, glancing down briefly, then back up. Zhe nods. "I'll help. Just tell me what you need."
Atalo nods. "I can offer protection from physical threats, but not ones of this nature. If you focus on that then Haurespex, with Finley's help then I'll use my own skills and observe Clayton, and seek a way to capture him." A smile.
"I will tell you, once the ritual is completed." She nods slowly. "Thank you for being concerned, though. I didn't used to have much of that anywhere ever."
Finley smiles shyly towards Phaedra, looking down at zher lap. "I'm happy to help..."
A pat of Cerberus' head. "Then it seems we have a direction. I apologise if I've seemed callous." He tells Phaedra after a pause. "I do care for your welfare."
She blinks at Atalo, turning the whole beam of her moon-blue gaze on him. "Oh?"
Quiet again, Finley watches their interactions curiously. The notebook that has been setting out in front of zhem is finally closed up and tucked away into zher coat pocket as they watch.
"I care for your welfare." Atalo repeats quietly. Another pat of Cerberus as that gaze finds him. "I intend to prove myself as a protector for the Circle."
"You can protect me from any physical threat out there, Atalo, of that, I'm certain. It's interesting to see the seam, though." She gestures as if pointing out a line that divides Atalo's left half from his right, though not near enough to touch.
"...Seam?"
The door opens, and one of their number steps into the room, her Beast considering those present with a tangible, languid attention. Cory's dressed in street clothes- leather jacket, faded denim, boots and tee, with a couple gloves sticking out of the back of her jeans for apparent safekeeping. Cory, too, pauses a moment to look over those in the room, checking for familiar faces.
"I can." He agrees simply. "But this one isn't physical." A cant of his head as he echoes Finley. "Seam?"
Finley and Cory have met, though... Finley, as happens very rarely, is not wearing a mask--and is eerily Pretty rather than looking sickly and bland, as zhe usually does.
She laughs at the question from Finley and Atalo. "Atalo's two men, and I rarely get to see them meet in the middle. The kind man who runs a thrift shop for charity, Her hunter soaked in blood. The urge to protect me, here, is the two of them coming together, for once."
Cory steps towards the others, lifting a hand towards the group in her typical bland greeting. "Evening. How's the night treating everybody?"
Finley looks at Atalo thoughtfully for a moment. "Hm... I guess... I can see that." Zhe looks towards Cory as she comes in, a hand lifting for a shy wave. "Hey."
"I'm not kind." He admits to Phaedra. "But I'm trying to wear that skin enough I can pretend to be. And it helps ensure my hunts are only for Her, not for me." A slow nod to Cory. "Good evening."
"Would an unkind man truly care for my welfare, as you insist?" She blinks and then turns a sunny grin on Cory. "Night's good! You missed the Sakima and speculating about the Nereids and talking about the changelings and the city itself, some. Not like the buildings or the caucus, but the soul of it all and the feeling of influx and being in flux."
"Hmph," Cory snorts in faint irritation. "Nereids. Thanks to Clayton, I'm going to have to punch anything with fish scales unconscious and get them to someone who can keep them from leaving. Is Powers still KOS?" She asks before pausing. "Changelings? Like fairies? You guys have met some?"
"...I don't... think there's a difference," Finley says slowly, thoughtfully, watching Atalo. "Between being kind and choosing to do kind acts. Especially when you are doing them for the purpose of becoming kind... That sounds like you already are kind, but you don't think you deserve to be called that." Zhe looks towards Cory and nods. "A couple."
A long silence from the Hound. "This city is different." He decides. "I'm not sure of the difference but I know the importance of learned behaviour. And I've a list of sins Finley." I was... tired before I came here." He points at Phaedra." Also, you're the Haurespex. You matter."
"Ah, so it's about my utility, is it?" She laughs. "Also, don't ever call a changeling a 'fairy' unless your goal is to offend or upset them. It's inaccurate, and worse, it's mean."
"I'll remember that if I ever end up talking to one," Cory states. Her inflection is flat, but that's normal. "So no updates since Powers hucked his desk through a wall, then? That what I'm hearing? You guys know what to avoid, right?"
Finley stares at Atalo for a long moment. "If you say so," zhe replies, then looks towards Cory. "Um... fish scales and people acting strangely. Anything else?"
As attention moves from him he steps back, trying to gather his thoughts and patting Cerberus lightly.
She gives Cory a nod. "I will have updates, I'm certain. Do you want those directly from me?"
Cory winces faintly as nobody seems to know how to avoid the dangers. "Uh. Yeah. There's more. Don't let them claw or bite you. They're infectious. Infectious possession. Great way to have your eternal night subsumed by- whatever they are." She shudders. "I didn't learn that until after I'd gotten into a fistfight with Clayton. I must have made an impression- he went mist instead of taking any chances when he woke up. And I'd love any updates."
"Oh, yes. I heard about that. It's fascinating to consider how this spreads, exactly... I thought you meant how to spot an infected kindred."
A nod at Cory. "Did you see any other abilities? I'm planning to look into ways to capture him."
She tilts her head at Cory. "Or to have your eternal night subsumed by what they serve. We were talking about that earlier, too. You know, that this is weird that they're here, in the river, as they are of-the-depths and worship an entity of-the-depths."
"Ah. No. Sorry, Finley. Wasn
't very clear." She moves to sit and nods to Phaedra. "Yeah. I don't know lots about the Nereids, but Powers swam down-river. So Maybe there's something here of interest to them or what they serve?" She shrugs and looks to Atalo. "High masteries of Protean and Fortitude. Most Kindred I hit don't get back up. He did. That's notable. Also some measure of celerity. Middling, I think."
Finley listens curiously, nodding a bit. "No need to apologize. Interesting..."
"So if he sees an attack coming he can avoid it. And it's likely very hard to stake him." Atalo huffs. "And containing him will be hard. Ideally, binding him in place long enough for him to be brought under domination would be ideal."
Phaedra purses her lips. "Work I'll leave to those capable of such things. You can have the glory, I'll simply stare at my tarot deck for a while."
"Hardly a poor choice of plan," Cory drolls to Phaedra. "At least you'll drastically reduce your chance of infection." She nods to Atalo, as his conclusions match hers, and offers Finley a tiny smile. Sincere but small.
"Binding him will be hard, if he can turn into mist..." Fin nods in agreement with Phaedra--no way zhe is getting involved. "I just want a blood or tissue sample, if possible, when he's caught..."
"I believe this new age has something called.. what was it? Nitrogen? If he's like me he can endure fire, but extreme cold may slow him enough." A gleam. "You wanted the bloody hunter Haurespex?" He gives Phaedra an amused look. "What you'd be doing is far more dangerous. I'm only dealing with the minion, along with others who want to join me. But I can only cloak so many from sight and I'd like one who can control Clayton's mind."
"Oh, how dangerous can it be to use blood sorcery to stare into the primeval truths behind the nature of an abyssal entity which may or may not be a deity, and is certainly being worshipped as one, trying to ascertain the motives of the servants whose forms morph in order to better be able to serve it?" She laughs aloud.
Cory frowns. "I didn't say it was safe."
A glance to Finley. "I only need to hit him once to stop him. But I do need the one."
Finley considers Cory a moment. "I recall you boasting about being being able to kill people. Hopefully you can do so without putting him to Final Death."
Finley gets a flat glare. "I said it was what I do. That isn't the same as boasting."
"And yes. It's unlikely he'd be reduced to Final Death."
"He's clan and this was done to him, so I hope so too." Atalo adds. "And I will try to get you your sample Finley." He grins at Phaedra. "I presume you already know the answer to your question quite intimately?"
She touches Atalo's sleeve lightly. "Better than I think you ever will."
"...It felt like boasting. Sorry for misunderstanding," Finley murmurs, turning away, hands burying into zher coat pockets.
"Yes." He concedes to Phaedra simply, studying her. "it's not my nature to understand such things. That's not where my value lies."
"... it's fine. Sore spot. I don't like to brag. If it was a misunderstanding, m'not mad." She nods to Finley, trying to be reassuring.
Trying.
"I was supposed to study mystical things too," Cory offers. "I did not prove talented. It's good that you are."
She looks at Cory. "I've never been any use in anything physical. Nor was I ever expected to be. I admire you for your strengths, though...I know that may not count for much, in reality."
Finley nods faintly in reply to Cory, but still looks awkward. Granted, looking awkward is easy for them. Looking Pretty doesn't really change that. "I can't fight either. So... it's not... a bad thing."
"It's not a bad thing, no." Atalo comments. "I can fight and hunt, but I lack Phaedra's understanding. I'm largely settled with my place, however."
"Nobody can do everything." Cory offers. "People like us fight battles people like you cannot. People like you fight battles people like us cannot. Simple." She looks to Phaedra. "It counts. It is one thing being appreciated for your talents. It is another being treated like they are all you have. You do not strike me as the latter."
"I've been treated that way myself, in the past." She tilts her head to one side. "I would not impose it upon another to be what they do, solely. Besides, everyone has murky waters under the surface. Though...that might be a bad metaphor right now, all things considered. Right, everyone's got fertile soil under the lawn grass, that's better."
Finley's phone goes off in zher pocket. Zhe pull it out to check, frowning. "Mm... work is calling." Zhe stands, slipping out a medical mask with cartoon teddy bears on it from zher coat pocket. Zhe takes a moment to slip it on, securing the straps around zher ears. "It was nice speaking to you all." Zher hand touches Phaedra's arm lightly. "Call me, when you need the help..." Then zhe heads to the door.
"As noted." Atalo muses. "This city is better. Elsewhere, I might be treated like an ignorant brute. Have been so, in fact, in the past." He pats Cerberus. "Take care Finley. Have a good night." He offers after a moment to find the right words. A glance at Phaedra and a quiet grunt after her comments, whatever that response means.
"Exactly." Cory nods, letting Phaedra's words suffice for her own. "Good seeing you. Be safe, Finley." To Atalo, though, she offers, "There can be advantages to being seen as less than you are."
Phaedra watches Cory thoughtfully. "If...trying again, to learn, perhaps from a teacher who doesn't have Expectations on you...if that would be interesting to you, you might let me know sometime. Okay?"
"Yes." He smiles slightly. "But I am glad neither of you, or Finley, dismissed me. So, thanks are given for that."
Phaedra laughs softly. "I'm not sure any Kindred is a person to dismiss, Atalo. There is power in the blood, and we all share that, at the very least. But you...both of you...matter. You should let yourself meet more often, at the seam."
He pauses, then Cerberus gets another pat. "I'm unsure of how." He admits quietly. "I started this new life here Phaedra, because my last one was such a vicious one. And for the most part, it works. It lets me be.. better, when I don't need to be the hunter. I'm not sure how well those two elements can mix."
Cory blinks, returning Phaedra's look, then nods.
+
"I will, if it suits. I am still working on a last few things for myself. Perhaps after that?" She offers that tiny smile again. "And no worries about being dismissed."
"After that, of course, Cory."
She nods, then looks at Atalo thoughtfully. "...you missed a thought the Sakima and I batted around earlier. About the words 'evening' and 'equinox'. Light and darkness are wholly unmeaningful in absence of one another. They define one another, and hold one another in balance. The intensity of light is meaningless without darkness to pierce. The depth of a darkness is meaningless without someone seeking to behold what lies within. And I know you know all of this as intellectual fact, but you're trying to live like brothers, not like a man with all his facets."
A slow nod. "I'm still working a lot of it out, yes." He acknowledges to Phaedra. "I'm both the shopkeeper and the hunter, and yo think both facets are equally important? m. I admit, I've more practice with the latter role." He smiles slightly. "But I am glad for the social contact my shop brings, and the feeling of doing some good.
Though dealing with Clayton and helping you are also good things."
She pauses. "Atalo, I think you're concentrating too much on Clayton himself. Forest, trees. He's at the very tiniest tip of this iceberg, you know. The one we know because he's ours, but. There's more to this."
"I don't." He disagrees simply. "I'm aware that in combating this, stopping him likely means little. But that's not why. He's clan, he's one of us, and if we can have him contained, we may be able to free him. What you're planning to do will be far more important in fighting this threat, but I can and will do my part to try and help him. It should only be a brief task to capture him, and be free to help you and the others with whatever comes next."
She purses her lips and stands. "I should prepare for ritual work. Please, have a good evening, both of you."
He frowns, but nods. "If you were captured in the same way Phaedra, I would also come for you. Be well, and I'll speak to you soon."
"I know you'd come for me. Now I need to go find out if there's any point to that at all."
"Phaedra." His tone loses some of its quietness, becoming a touch pleading. "If I've made a mistake, I don't always see it."
"What if there is no cure? No way to get your clanmate back?" She shakes her head. "You dear man. You haven't even faced that possibility head-on yet."
"I have." He nods once. "I just didn't intend to dwell on what'd be needed if there's no cure. Not until that moment comes." He dips his head. "Be well Phaedra, and thank you."
She pauses, grabbing his hand and bringing it to her lips gently. "Good evening to you. And you, Cory." And off she goes.
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