Upstairs Apartment(#2925RAL)
This large room clearly bears evidence of having once been a storage room for the sweatshop downstairs. Walls of unfinished brick and steel girders forming the ceiling do little to contribute to the warmth of the room. A rather cheery light, however, floods into the apartment from Regan Street. Enormous pillows, futons and several large ragged rugs form a cozy nook opposite the door. Katlyn has plastered virtually every square inch of the walls with posters and playbills. The names Ken Jarr and The Bargold figure frequently in these colorful posters. One corner of the large room has a rackety bar with several barstools behind which can be found the normal accouterments of a fairly well stocked kitchen. On every square inch of space not devoted to something more constructive is arrayed an amazing variety of incredibly healthy plants.
Between the two bedroom doors is a bathroom, where a very large mirror hangs on the wall.
Contents:
Joseph
Map
Pictures(#3489Js)
Obvious exits:
Loft Bolted Doorway
Sebek alerts you of his entrance with the noisy unlatching of locks on the bolted doorway.
Sebek has arrived.
Sebek peeks inside and grins.
Joseph peers out from the Kitchen to look at the arrivals and nods. "Hey. Just a minute and I'll have some food."
Sepdet relaxes and lets go of her brother's hand as she unlocks the door, smiling as she comes in. However, her eyes immediately go to Joseph to look him over as she pulls the door shut behind them.
Sebek smiles. "Where is everyone?"
Sepdet's eyes crinkle, sniffing the air. ~Wendigo soup?~ she teases, slipping across the room to chuck her jacket in a corner.
Joseph does not see the apprehensive glance, and indeed seems at ease. The sizzling of bacon, as well as the scent coming easily to both garou.
Sebek walks to the couch and sits down heavily. He bounces for a few seconds, grinning.
Joseph grins. "I was going to make fried bread and dog soup. But.. I had no volunteers."
Joseph seems to find this very funny, though the others may be puzzled by it.
Joseph slides the bacon off to a plate, and brings them out. "Eggs, bacon and bisquits."
Sebek wrinkles his brow. ~Why would you fry a dog?~
Joseph says "You dont fry the dog. You boil him."
Joseph says "you fry the bread."
Joseph grins.
Sepdet looks faintly worried. ~It sounds like Joseph has been learning cooking from Tipper.~
Sepdet ohs. ~I think it is a joke-name for the bread. I think some Garou would not find it funny.~
Joseph sets the plates down in front of the Striders. He looks at Sepdet. "Hmm?"
Joseph scratches a chin, and nods. "You're probably right. But it /is/ the way of some of my kin."
Sepdet shakes her head at Joseph. ~It's alright,~ she grins. ~Smells good.~ She starts sniffing the plate.
Sebek shivers.
Sebek looks at the plate. ~I may have lost my appetite.~
Sepdet looks sharply at Sebek, and back at the food.
Sebek looks at the plate. He takes a piece and eats it hastily. ~Nope. Still there.~
Sebek grins and begins eating, trying very hard not to be sloppy.
Joseph watches, slightly, puzzled, but silent. He takes a seat as well, having set out cups of hot cocoa to go with the meal, plus one for himself. The Wendigo seems to really like the stuff.
Sepdet relaxes again, after Sebek starts to eat, and snags herself some of her favorite human drink. She hops up on the counter, not bothering to take her plate across the room.
Sebek eats everything ravenously, save the bacon.
Sepdet says, ~So. You said you had some news for us, kola?~
Joseph sips at the hot cocoa and says in a quiet voice. "Alexander, Dylan and I decided to go see if we could sneak back in and recover Jumps' body."
Joseph leans back with a small sigh. "The place was pretty deserted. We found no trace of her. But we did find /something/."
Sebek says, ~Oh?~
Sepdet watches Sebek covertly to make sure he's getting enough. Her face tightens with uncertainty as Joseph starts describing the raid.
Joseph nods, "Though I'm not sure I should describe it while you're eating."
Sepdet catches her lip and looks at Sebek questioningly.
Sebek pushes his plate away. ~Done.~
Joseph looks from Sebek to Sepdet and starts, "We found a shallow grave about a half mile behind the farm. Dylan led us there, smelling taint."
Sebek wrinkles his brow.
Sepdet slips a hand down to Sebek's shoulder, listening with an intent frown.
Joseph says "There were three bodies in it. I dont think they were the Dancers that our pack killed. They were tied, and it seemed they were ritualistically killed."
Sebek blinks.
Sebek says, ~What did they look like?~
Joseph frowns in concentration. "Hands bound, theyre feet were bare, and cut to ribbons. They were awful damn pale." he looks up, "Like they'd been drained."
Sebek shakes his head. "No, what did they _look_ like."
Sepdet's frown deepens, holding her own questions to herself for the moment.
Joseph looks up at Sebek, "Two men and a woman. One, maybe 23 with a light build, almost feminine. The other was older. Dark brown hair. A small streak of grey in it." He falls silent again, dark eyes burning.
Sepdet's hand tightens on Sebek's shoulder. ~The enemy devour each other in their own cruelty.~ Her voice is dangerously soft.
Sebek clenches his teeth, growling.
Sebek flinches his sister's hand from his shoulder as he stands up.
Joseph looks at Sepdet. "Actually, I think it was simple punishment, or purhaps a way to keep us from huntng them again."
Sebek's breath becomes laboured and ragged. ~Bastards...~ Fire burns in his eyes and his skin reddens with rage.
Joseph watches Sebek, adding, "I did what I could, because Dylan asked me. I performed the Rite of cleansing on their bodies."
Sepdet looks at him from the side. ~I am sorry, Sen. Heru avenged you before we could. Rest in that: the gods' retribution was swift.~
Joseph says "Theyre dead Sebek."
Sepdet frowns slightly at the mention of Dylan's request.
Sebek turns and growls to the two. ~They were mine to kill. My right!~
Joseph does not answer.
Sepdet lowers her gaze, not meeting her brother's anger. Her own is buried in the tight lines and chinks of her face, a dull throbbing ache rather than the flash of anger more common to Garou kind.
From afar, Sebek gestures to the moon, whistling.
You paged Sebek with 'When I described you to Anubis, he said only half-teasing that perhaps you had all of Sepdet's rage.'.
From afar, Sebek chuckles.
Sebek turns away from the two angrily. ~They were for me!~ he growls, tightly clenching his fists.
Sebek pages: Anything conveniently breakable in the room? You wouldn't miss the television, would you? :)
You paged Sebek with 'Naah.'.
You paged Sebek with 'Never watch the thing. :)'.
Sebek pages: Good.
Joseph comments in a dry voice, calming, "Theyre beyond you now Sebek, turn the rage. Turn it elsewhere."
Sebek, barely able to contain his rage, struggles nevertheless. He struggles and fails.
Sebek contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Sebek shifts and contorts, changing into Crinos.
Sepdet watches with barely more than a flinch, and makes not a move nor sound to stop him. Her wide eyes are patient and pained, in utter contrast to the fury and frustration on the face so like hers.
Sebek's clothes are, of course, ruined, ripped apart by the shift in size. He roars and strikes out, bashing the television into small shards repeatedly. ~They will pay! Mine!~ he roars, fire blazing in his eyes.
Sebek finishes trashing the television and grabs a pillow off the sofa with his massive jaws, ripping it to shreds in mere moments.
Joseph gets out of the way of the rage, watching Sebek warily. He shifts up to glabro out of pure instinct. ~Calm, brother..~
Joseph pages to Sepdet and Sebek: I heading home. be back in about 10 minutes. :)
Sepdet slips down from the counter and dances a wide circle around Sebek very slowly, her gentle movements wary and careful, keeping her gaze fixed upon him, arms bent at her sides with hands thrust slightly towards him in a wary gesture.
Sebek's gaze snaps around and he stares Sepdet in the face, his huge muzzle just inches away from her.
Sepdet lowers her gaze to keep it from being provocative, and retreats until her back is against the wall--not incidentally covering the two pictures, which are perhaps the only treasures in the room. ~Heya,~ she says regretfully.
Sebek's eyes are watering and the rage slowly drains from his eyes, replaced by sorrow, pain, and misery.
Sebek pages: Have you not looked, or is my adesc buggy?
l sebek
Teeth. Lots of long, sharp teeth are set upon massive and oversized jaws, larger and far more brutal-looking than any other crinos' maw. He stands at about six feet, a tiny crinos to be sure, but whatever he loses in height he makes up for with the size of his incredibly huge and long muzzle, which is scarred by four small claw marks. The fur that covers his bony and rangy body is the colour of light sand with some dark highlights along its back and tail. Atop the massive jaws sit two sad hazel eyes that bear much pain and sorrow. His tail seems longer than usual for a crinos, as well, but perhaps this is because of his small stature.
Sebek contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Sebek shifts and contorts, changing into Homid.
You paged Sebek with 'Ack.'.
Sebek slumps to the floor, sobbing.
Sebek pages: Thought you might like it...Or it might be another hint for you. :)
Sepdet moves towards him then, stonefaced. A shudder moves through her as his form ripples back to the one she knows, but she doesn't react to his strange crinos otherwise. She kneels and slips her thin arms over his shoulders, drawing him to her gently.
Sebek sobs into his hands. ~Why do people always have to hurt me?~ he asks.
Sepdet strokes his hair. ~Do we hurt you, my brother?~ she asks in real dismay. ~I'm sorry... I'm sorry.~
Sebek puts his arms around you. ~You don't hurt me. You've never hurt me...~
Sebek sobs. ~Monsters...I will have my revenge one way or another...~
Sepdet holds tightly, shivering slightly at the desperation in his tone. ~You will, Sebek.~ It is perhaps the first time she has called him by name.
Joseph remains silent, letting Sepdet comfort her brother.
Sebek holds his sister tightly in return, his sobs losing their intensity shortly, becoming shudders and shivers.
Sebek takes a deep, ragged breath. ~I'm sorry.~
Sepdet continues to hold him. ~Sen. I will see you fight them, and I will see you /safe/. I promised you this second thing, when first you came to us. They /will/ die, do not doubt that. But vengeance is not as important as you being well. We will see if we can accomplish both.~
Sebek nods mutely.
A knock sounds at the door: three raps in succession.
Joseph's eyes move to the door. He motions Sebek and Sepdet back.
Sebek's head jerks upwards and he glares at the door, crouching and balling his fists.
Sepdet blinks and looks up, her eyes glistening. She holds Sebek protectively for a moment longer, then rises and hisses softly at Joseph, sniffing.
Sepdet murmurs, ~Not Wyrm,~ in a low growl to the Wendigo.
The three sharp knocks repeat, a little louder; a young woman's voice follows. "Hope? Sepdet?"
Chloe alerts you of her entrance with the noisy unlatching of locks on the bolted doorway.
Chloe has arrived.
Joseph moves to the door, giving Sepdet a look, and then begins to unbolt the door.
Sepdet's eyes widen at the voice, but her expression, while puzzled, relaxes. She nods reassuringly to Joseph. ~It's an ally,~ she whispers.
Joseph opens it.
Sebek glances sidelong at his sister curiously, then back to the door.
The girl on the other side takes in the sight of Joseph with a little surprise, and an instant veil of caution drops over her features. She attempts tp look past him. "Sepdet? Are you all right?"
Joseph steps aside to let her in.
Sepdet nods quickly. "Fine, Chloe. What are you doing here? Is something wrong?" Her voice is curt, matter-of-fact, though the strain in her face from the night's conversation softens the edges of her words.
Sebek does not look very pleased at the idea of a visitor. He takes a step back, further into the corner.
l chloe
Large, almond-shaped eyes, of a brown deep enough to glint black in most light, dominate the girl's sculpted features. The darkness of those eyes flashes against a pale-olive, unweathered complexion. High cheekbones and fine bone structure give her face a delicate beauty; masses of unruly black hair frame her expressions with chaos, untamed and usually-tangled waves falling past her shoulders to mid-back length. Though she can hardly be older than eighteen, the intuitive perception in her gaze gives her an odd wisdom, the look of one experienced beyond her scant years. She carries herself with the alluring grace of a dancer, but her movements hold a subtle tension like that of a wild or alien creature.
Well-aged jeans skim the young woman's legs, cinched tight at the waist with a wide black leather belt. Black knit shows through the rips in the denim, and the frayed hems wrinkle into the tops of scuffed combat boots. A sleeveless mock-turtleneck, of close-fitted black cotton, hugs her torso and leaves slightly wiry arms bared.
She wears, or perhaps carries, a black leather riding jacket, perhaps a little too large for her small frame. Rather than the commonly seen asymmetrical, zippered affair, it is a conservative hip-length coat reminiscent of forties biker gear. With its battered surface and aged silvery snaps, it might actually date back a decade or two. A small pewter-colored oval plate, inset on one sleeve at bicep level, bears the words 'Hein Gericke'.
A narrow braid, taken from behind her left ear, hangs over the young woman's shoulder; a long, opal-shimmering black feather hangs alongside it, tied in near the top with a scrap of leather.
Silver flashes at her left earlobe: a dangling crescent moon. A small stud of diamond or clear crystal glints in the right.
Joseph, for his part seems to stare at the visitor, seemingly fascinated.
The girl steps through, shrugging out of her jacket as she edges past the man by the door. Her black eyes scan the room, and especially the pair occupying it. Thought narrows her eyes and draws shadow into her expression. "Apparently I should apologize for my timing. I can come back... later, or tomorrow?"
Joseph does manage to check the hall, shut, and rebolt the door.
Sepdet looks between Joseph and Sebek. "It is a bad time. But..." she hesitates, eying her brother's expression worriedly. "I am hard to find now." She slips over towards Sebek, holding up her hands, speaking to him but also speaking for Joseph's ears. "Chloe is a human but not a fool. She is a theurge, of a kind. The spirits of the forest speak well of her."
Sebek frowns and grabs the torn-up pillow, holding it to his chest.
Sepdet drops her gaze before her brother. "If you do not want her here, she will leave," she says gently. "She knows this is not her place."
You paged Chloe with 'Sebek's resemblence to me is fairly obvious. I'm trying to remember if Sepdet told you she was born alone under the hope-star.'.
Joseph's eyes flash at the knowledge, looking Chloe over even more appraisingly. his eyes catch something that make them narrow and then come alive. He remains silently where he was standing by the door, but his eyes rarely move from the visitor.
Sebek shrugs, staring at the floor. His eyes, puffy and red from sobbing, close tightly and he squeezes the pillow, white cotton stuffing squeezing out the gash at the top and onto the floor.
Chloe glances toward Sebek, without leaving her eyes on him for long; she returns her attention to Sepdet in what might be an effort not to make the young man uncomfortable. "I will," she confirms, in a low and rather soft-edged voice. "If he wants me to go, Sepdet. But if there's anything I might be able to do, to help him, then please let me try."
Chloe pages to Sepdet and Sebek: Can I get a basic summary of mood/aura from y'all? Chloe's going to make a bit of a study of both emotional and physical well-being, here.
Sepdet shakes her head at Chloe. "Thanks, but no." She slips forward hesitantly and rubs her cheek against the boy's hands in a lupine nuzzle, ignoring the pillow and shreds.
You paged Chloe with 'tense, tired, and strained like someone who has been in a sensory deprivation tank for /weeks/. But still holding herself together pretty well. The emotions in her are far more intense than before: fierce protectiveness of both the people in this room. Anger. Bitterness. Worry. Towards Sebek: an incredible bond of spirit and love, newly forged, which is frayed by veiled doubts and fear. Towards Joseph: a powerful friendship that smells like love.'.
Chloe studies the two for a moment, and a shadow of worry flickers over her features, there and then gone, replaced by a mask of thought. She nods slowly. "All right. I came wondering if you knew of any kin or others who might want carrying weapons. I just had four non-serialed automatics placed into my care, and I need to find them good homes."
You paged Chloe with 'The other thing is that Sepdet and Sebek's auras are as similar as their bodies, except, I think, Sebek's would be tinged with rage and anger and hate. (he'd fill you in on that better than I can. :)'.
The girl keeps her voice steady, serious, not light enough to touch the obvious tension in the room. "I could just as easily bring them in later, if you liike."
Sepdet's mouth quirks as she turns back to the mage, focussing on her words. "Later," she says simply. "My father will have more use for them than I, and he could find them 'good homes', I'd guess."
Sebek looks up. "May I have some?"
Sepdet's thin brows lift in surprise.
Sepdet looks sidelong at her brother. "I did not know anyone else of our blood used the human weapons." Her tone is faintly ashamed.
Joseph's gaze shifts to Sebek, and then to Sepdet.
Sebek glances at Sepdet. "I don't have any other weapons besides my hands."
Chloe glances toward Sebek, and then back to Sepdet; a few furrows mark her brow. "Anyone who carries these needs to be able to conceal them, and well. They're illegal, unmarked."
Sepdet opens her mouth as if about to remind him of something, then falls silent before Chloe's gaze. "Yes," she amends quickly. "He knows how to hide as I do. We don't walk the streets much in daylight, that's for sure."
From afar, Sebek chuckles. "Yeah, but he's not going to mention his other assets in front of someone he doesn't know."
Long distance to Joseph and Sebek: Sepdet . o O (Don't worry, Chloe. Sebek's hiding a feather of quetzecoatl, and you don't even know it.)
You paged Sebek with 'Hivemind. :)'.
Sebek pages to Joseph and Sepdet: And never mind that Sebek could probably have swallowed that television...
Sebek says "I'll be careful."
Chloe purses her lips, and lowers her own eyes in thought. She nods again. "I'll leave the box at the door. I think I will keep one, and let you decide where to distribute the other three, if there are places they might be useful." In the course of speaking, her gaze slips to one side and encounters Joseph; the furrows in her forehead deepen slightly, and she studies him for a moment through dark, narrowed eyes.
Sepdet nods. "I'd feel better if you were armed," she says, brushing the back of his hand. She looks back at Chloe. "Thank you. I'd rather...you didn't mention my friend here to anyone," she says, nodding towards Sebek. "My people know him, but I'd like to keep him away from eyes and others' thoughts as much as possible for now."
Joseph meets the gaze, unwavering, and still seeming to study her.
Sebek nods agreement with his sister.
Chloe looks back toward Sepdet as the Strider speaks; she gives a startled nod. "They're just down on the bike... shall I?" She glances toward the door.
Joseph comments, "I'll help."
Sepdet nods gratefully at Joseph. "Keep an eye out. We'll stay up here."
Sebek nods.
Joseph looks at Sepdet, exchanging a small but rather knowledgable look, and nods.
Joseph unbolts the door again and holds it for Chloe.
Chloe steps toward the door, meeting Joseph's gaze for a moment; she wears a fixed frown of deliberation. She steps out, and heads down the stairs.
Chloe dinks with the bolts until she is able to slip out the door and down to the street.
Chloe has left.
Joseph dinks with the bolts until he is able to slip out the door and down to the street.
Joseph has left.
Sebek smiles slightly, looking a little less stressed.
Sepdet ducks her eyes. "Sorry about her. She...you see what I mean. She /is/ human. But she helps us. She always seems to show up, just when we need help. She's saved a few lives. Her bond with the spirits helps her understand us, which is I think why she does all this for us."
Sebek sighs, standing up and walking to the sofa. "If you like her, then I guess it's okay."
Sebek pages: I really have to go soon.
Sepdet echoes his sigh and slips after to seat herself on the floor, ignoring the wreckage. "I can't trust her, exactly, because she's not Garou. But she is as close to a Seer as a human can come. And she watches the humans for dangers, warning us, sometimes, of things we don't realize because we don't understand her kind as well." She shakes her head, putting explanations to one side. "I am glad she came tonight. Somehow it did not strike me to give you a gun. Renaissance made me learn to shoot, but I am not easy with the weapons."
Sepdet says gently, "If you...want to go up and rest though, I will get the guns from her. You don't have to stay in the room with her if she bothers you."
Sebek says, ~No, I want to check the weapons myself.~
Sebek says, ~Theran taught me how to shoot guns. She said it was a good way for someone to fight because bows and arrows are too obvious.~
Sepdet nods. "They stink," she says simply. "But I used one on my Rite of Passage. I have a sawed-off shotgun I use sometimes for patrol. It is under my bed upstairs."
Sebek smiles slightly.
Sebek yawns. "I'm going to go upstairs and go to sleep."
Sepdet nods. ~Okay. I'll be up soon.~ She brushes your cheek gently. ~Dream well, Sen.~
Sebek opens the door to the loft stairs and slips through.
Sebek has left.
From the loft Sebek climbs from the second floor.
Joseph alerts you of his entrance with the noisy unlatching of locks on the bolted doorway.
Joseph has arrived.
Chloe alerts you of her entrance with the noisy unlatching of locks on the bolted doorway.
Chloe has arrived.
Joseph's eyes automatically search the room for Sepdet. Seeing her, he relaxes subtly, and sets the box down.
Chloe pauses at the doorway, and cocks her head at Joseph. "You live in the city, or out of town?"
The girl eases the door shut behind her, quietly, and holds her voice low.
Sepdet gestures towards the stairs silently, looking at Joseph. "Sleeping," she murmurs.
Joseph turns the box, and steps out of the way. "Out. I dont much care for it, though I come when it's needed."
Sepdet smiles tightly at Joseph's words. "His Keeper is in the city on business, and cannot go to the forest. She needs him."
Joseph nods to Sepdet, and then smiles at the second comment.
Chloe nods evenly, and drops down to a crouch to open the metal briefcase with a small key. Four Glock handguns, packed in grey foam, fill the box; she takes one and slips it into a pocket of the coat draped over her arm. "If you need to get in touch with me, talk to the claw or to one of Raven's children. I live on the north side." She closes and locks the case as she speaks, leaving the key atop the lid; then the dark eyes flick upward to search out Joseph.
Joseph regards the guns for a moment, and then meets the girl's gaze. There seems to be a question in his darkly watchful eyes.
Sepdet looks the weapons over dispassionately, and then nods to Chloe. "Good. They won't kill Dancers...but slow them down, a bit. I'll check Toxic's stock of silver."
Chloe nods, wrenching her eyes away from Joseph's as she stands. She shrugs into the jacket, checking the fall of the coat and the placement of the gun and what must be another firearm in the inner pockets. "If you need more nine, I have some..." She frowns a little, making an inference, and looks at Sepdet. "Has there been more trouble, with the twisted ones? Are there any here in town? I haven't seen signs."
Sepdet nods at Chloe uneasily. "There is a hive. We are working on it." She sighs. "Just keep your eyes open and be careful. Unfortunately, these are the kind where it's best to hunt them subtly...not even all the caern knows, though I have told Justice."
Joseph asks, "A hive?"
Sepdet looks back at Joseph. "Well. A large group, anyway," she amends cautiously.
As Chloe listens, she frees her hair from the neck of the jacket, wrapping a fist around the tangled mass and tugging at it roughly. It finally pulls free and falls down her back, and she flips the black feather back atop the rest. Her eyes narrow and darken. "Are they aiming to take the Caern?" She looks over at Sepdet sharply. "And does Brian know?"
Sepdet shakes her head, trying to keep the bitterness out of her tone. "I have been /trying/ to contact him about this, but he seems too busy with some tribal affair to discuss it with me. But no. I do not think they are after the caern...or at least not immediately. I am not certain. For no reason I can comprehend, their chief aim seems to be me."
Sepdet grimaces.
Joseph folds his arms across his chest and leans against the wall.
A frown shadows Chloe's face, and it takes her a moment to speak. "Please. Let me know if you feel you need help, or protection, of any kind. If there is anything I might do that goes beyond the work of a Theurge. And if anything happens..." She watches the Strider's face. "I will be able to heal what they cannot."
Sepdet bites her lip at Chloe's tone. "I remember," she says simply.
Sepdet glances at Joseph. "Remember for me. I cannot ask those who do not know Chloe to trust themselves to her hands, but if...something happens to me that you cannot repair, or that Eligio cannot...take me to her before you despair."
Chloe's voice is soft, even, without deep emotion of any kind. "Unless you object, I will ask Winter to watch over you. If you are some kind of target to them, we may have an opportunity to attack them in turn, if they come after you and we are ready."
Joseph listens to Sepdet, his eyes gauging the Strider's tone with a thoughtful flicker. He nods quietly, "I will remember, Star." and once again his gaze lingers on the girl.
Joseph faintly smiles, "I dont think I could forget it."
Sepdet considers this very carefully, then drops her eyes. "No. I wish I could accept, but he would also be watching over my friend, then." She gestures towards the loft. "And him I cannot have watched, even by a spirit that I trust. It would not be well for him. He has been badly hurt, and every time I ask him to trust someone, I am asking him to open a wound."
By the time Sepdet speaks, a faint shimmering has touched the airs before Chloe; the Strider's words bring a nod, and the silver shine of the shifting Gauntlet fades from the air. "I understand," she says quietly.
Sepdet looks regretful. "I would like to see Winter Feathers again. When this trouble is over, perhaps, and I can move freely again."
Sepdet adds, "There is one favor I will ask. Two, actually."
Chloe closes her eyes, and her lips shape a few whispered phrases; Sepdet's words, however, stop the voiceless sentence and pull the black eyes open again. "Ask," she says simply.
Sepdet's hands spread emptily at her sides. "First... I think you live near to the home of Michael's wife, the witch on Osprey drive with the cats. The Dancers targeted her once, trying to get me. We have a spirit watching over her now, and the Dancers seem to have turned their attention away, but if you pass by that way often, keep a look out for strangers watching her house."
Chloe nods, and waits expectantly.
Sepdet drops her eyes. "Please, if you see Brian, tell him to leave a message here. I need to know when I can go to him. I am mostly staying in hiding, while we plan our moves and watch for the enemy, so it will be hard for him to reach me /save/ by leaving messages with my pack. I dare not hang around in the open waiting on his doorstep; I might draw the enemy there."
The young worldbender nods again, slowly. "When I next see him, I'll let him know. And I suppose--" she manages a small, wry smile, "that we ought to add to the list 'go away and let you rest,' hm."
Sepdet drops her eyes, smiling a little. "That too. It has been...exhausting...being away from the place I tend so long. I do not envy you your city, lady."
Joseph's eyes soften distinctly as he regards Sepdet.
The curve of Chloe's lips grows darker, more ironic. "It isn't mine by any means. Not even if by some miracle I scour away the enemy." She studies Sepdet thoughtfully. "Do you need any ... help, to rest? If restful sleep is what you need, I should be able to give it to you."
Sepdet bites her lip and eases foreward to stand at Joseph's side. "No," she says quickly. "I am standing firm. And I need to stay wakeful against surprises...and for the sake of the dreams which come to me, and tell me things I must know. But thank you."
Joseph's hand slips into Sepdet's almost instinctively, giving it a squeeze.
Sepdet's hand relaxes in her friend's grasp, and a faint peace settles on her face as she stands beside him.
Chloe nods, glancing at Joseph. "Then I'll go." Her eyes rest on the Wendigo's for a moment, and she nods slightly. "If there's anything you think I should know, or anything I can do for you, let me know." She flashes a small smile to both. "And may Luna, at least, watch over you both. Since Winter can't."
Joseph looks back at Chloe, "If /I/ can be any help, please let me know."
Chloe's smile widens, softening the lines of her features. "I may come looking for you." The smile fades into a thoughtful, weighing expression as she regards them for a moment. "Goodnight."
Chloe dinks with the bolts until she is able to slip out the door and down to the street.
Chloe has left.
Joseph smiles openly, pleased by that. He chuckles.
Joseph shuts the door behind Chloe and turns back to Sepdet. His expression softens again as he sees the weariness in her eeys. "You need to rest."
Sepdet leans her cheek against the young man's shoulder. ~Yes. But I am thinking about things. I have been trying to decide how much I can trust Chloe for a long, long time. She means well. But she is a very young human, and sometimes she is not very responsible...she is careless, in her wanting to help. Many Garou do not trust her. More than a few have wanted her dead.~
Sepdet looks up. ~What think you?~
Joseph's eyes shift to the door where the woman stood moments ago, his hand slips around the small Strider easily, and protectively. He considers everything with a breath and a sigh. "The rhythms are /strong/ about her, and there is much there that intrigues me.'
Sepdet nods. ~She is a...a priest. A magician. I am glad there are still some humans thus.~ She glances at Joseph. ~Be careful of her, though. She is often drawn to Garou strongly. I don't know if she does it on purpose, but she often neglects to mention she is Echen's mate, and that he will hurt people who "date" her. She did not warn Remy, or several others, and they got badly hurt by our Claw.~
Joseph blinks, "Echen's.. I see."
Sepdet sighs. ~She is just a little unreliable, because she doesn't always think her actions through: not just on that. It is frustrating. I want to be able to trust her with matters of importance. I trust her about as well as...some of the Children of Gaia who mean well but make mistakes.~
Sepdet lifts her chin. ~But she is a friend. And she is a very good healer. /That/, I have no doubt on.~
Joseph nods to Sepdet, absorbing the information with a concerned expression. "I'll be careful around her."
Sepdet shakes her head. ~I am probably being too careful, sen-n ka'i. Striders are cautious of secrets and knowledge, like the Uktena. You know.~ She smiles a little.
Joseph touches her cheek. 'I know."
Sepdet looks upstairs. ~Heya. Will you stay the night? Or shall I take Sebek back now?~
Joseph's eyes flicker with a thought, and then ettle peacefully. He nods. "I'll stay."
Sepdet ventures, ~He is still uneasy with males, especially when he lies in sleep. But I think he likes you and trusts you. I will lie beside him on the bed, and you nap in wolf-skin across the threshhold, guarding the stairs...~ her eyes crinkle, ~Like WepWawet, the great desert wolf, Opener and Guardian of the Ways.~Josephgrins. "I like that."
Joseph nods, adding softly. "Washte."
Josephpulls you toward the stairs to the loft.
Sepdet is content to let this one person out of anyone physically lead her anywhere.
u
You open the door and carefully climb the stairs.
Loft(#3580RA)
This level of the building is open for nearly the full length of the building. The roof is directly overhead, with all the exposed ducting and wiring. The floor is basic wood, worn and yellowed from age. At on end of the loft, a narrow flight of stairs leads down to the apartment on the second floor, with shelves arranged around it to provide screening between the stairs and the loft area itself.
Obvious exits:
Stairs
From below Joseph opens the door to the loft stairs and slips through.
Joseph climbs from the second floor.
Joseph has arrived.
Joseph lets her hand slip from his so she can go to her brother. He stands silouetted against the door silently.
Sepdet whispers, ~Lahela,~ (sleep well), before stripping off her pants, padding across to the bed, whispering a gentle warning in Sebek's ear, and easing herself in beside her twin. She puts her arms around the boy, unselfconsciously entwined with him like a pair of pups in a den.
Joseph does not move, but he does smile. He remains there in the door, watchin for a long time.
Sepdet takes the dreamcatcher hidden under her shirt off of its wire hook, and carefully hangs it on the edge of the bed before curling up with Sebek.
Sepdet's bright eyes meet Joseph's gaze quietly for a little while before she closes them, as sure of where he is even with them shut as before. Gradually her breathing slows into much-needed sleep.
