[Adamidas] Pegasus holds a shrine here. It's been relatively unattended for spans of time in Chicago, sometimes only tended by one person only. Other times, it falls silent, and the only people who visit are the ritesmistress and the Keeper of the Land.
Adam knows that there has never been a time in Chicago where there have been many Furies. She doesn't know of the pack that came and died and disappeared here. She knows their greatest strength, as a tribe, is their unity. Their talens, their rituals, their very society is structured around that unity. The only other Black Fury in Chicago is Penny. We digress. The focus is not on the Black Furies as a tribe, not tonight, it's the shrines-
Or, rather, who is at the shrines.
There is no moon tonight, and it does little to set the mood. To someone who wasn't a theurge, the shrines were kind of creepy in the wrong light. She's been looking for Lukas, though. When asked why, she's not been forthright. She's given no information aside from It's regarding security, I'd prefer to discuss it with him personally. Thankfully, no one's asked her why she's looking for him- Adam's taken it as the opportunity to practice her tracking skills.
This is where we open the scene, though, with a Fury entering the shrines to have a word with a Lord. There is no moon, and the temperature is dropping into autumn.
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] The Perun shrine is one of the more well-tended ones. Theirs is a large pack, and theirs is a powerful totem. The great thunder-stone, enormous, anvil-shaped and dark as the thunderheads it represents, beats with a palpable power as one draws near. Atop it, an axe cleaves into stone; clinging to its haft, roots reaching toward stone, a young oak sapling grows stronger by the day.
That's where Lukas is right now. He's not tending the shrine; he's not worshiping Perun, even. He's flat on his back on the broad top of the thunder-stone, looking at the sky. When Adamidas approaches, he turns his head. Even in darkness, his eyes are pale and clear.
[Adamidas] In contrast, there she is. Small by garou standards (average by human standards, though), female, and dark eyed. In the darkness, her eyes are black. Her hair is black. Her skin is light. Six months prior, she wouldn't have walked in and seemed like a presence. But here she is, now, aware and not governed entirely by what those invisible voices are screaming about.
"Am I interrupting?"
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] [fighting with server, sorry so slow!]
"Nope." Lukas sits up, crosslegged, a good six or seven feet off the ground at the lip of the anvil-rock. "What can I do for you, yuf?"
[Adamidas] She remembers coming to Chicago for the first time. Lukas was twelve feet tall then, too. she walks over, and cranes her neck up to see him. She reaches into her back pocket, and retrieves a folded up piece of paper. It's easier to give him the whole story, so she starts at the beginning. Adam takes two steps forward, and lifts her hand over her head to hand it to him.
"I need your help with something, but there's some things I have to explain first so it will make sense," she says.
That piece of paper, when and if it's unfolded, is a missing person alert. It has her picture, albeit younger with hollow eyes and no nosering, and it has a name. Amanda Carrick. It has all the pertinent information for someone who has gone missing, even the date- almost four years ago. The page, however, is recent. The what would she look like now composite is fairly accurate.
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Lukas looks curious as he reaches down to snag the piece of paper from Adam's outstretched hand. When he unfolds it, curiosity is replaced by a sort of understanding. And then, more curiosity.
"I did wonder what sort of parents would name their kid Adamidas," he says, wry.
[Adamidas] "According to the state of New Hampshire I'm paranoid schizophrenic and considered a danger to myself and others. I've been on Thiothixene, clozaril, zyprexa, Iloperidone, Haldol, vistaril- anyway. You get the picture... apparently, you get a look at the umbra, see a couple spirits, hear a couple voices, and do the whole I'm going to go through my first change soon thing and people think you're crazy," she plays if off like it's not something that helped shape who she was, like it is something to be flippant about. What he might know, however, is that some of the stuff she mentioned (okay, strike that, a lot of the stuff she mentioned) is some heavy duty shit. It all sounds daunting, but Adam knows her shit, rambles it off like she knows it backwards and forwards.
"I'm not crazy."
Adamant. Stated like fact. She's a theurge, though- they're all crazy. In some way, form, or fashion.
"But yeah, since... I couldn't shift. Any of that hits my system, and I can't change... and it's a problem. It was a problem before, but I'm my pack's alpha, I'm supposed to be taking care of the Brotherhood, I'm a member of this sept and I can't afford to be out of commission like that."
She looks... uncomfortable. You don't talk weaknesses with a Shadow Lord.
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Lukas listens quietly, head tipped at that slight, listening angle. She finishes, and he's quiet a little longer. Then he folds the missing-person flyer up and hands it back to her.
"Are you worried someone's going to find you and medicate you? Did that flyer just come out?"
[Adamidas] "I found that one a week ago. I've been gone too long for an Amber alert," she tells him. The flyer goes back into her pocket, "I'm worried that, if I go back, I won't be able to get back here. And the wyrm isn't going to give a shit if I'm doped out of my mind or not, I need to be able to handle myself in the event that I have to and can't shift."
A beat passes, and is quiet.
"I wanted to ask your advice on how to deal with all of this, because it's a potential hazard to the sept."
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Lukas's brow furrows. He plants one hand on the edge of the thunder-stone and vaults off, landing softly on the earth beneath. "Go back where?" he asks. "Who put these flyers out? Your parents?"
[Adamidas] "The adopted folks put them out," she tells him, "and go back to whatever mental hospital they want to send me back to. Remember the Rite of Reawakening?"
How she shut down and panicked?
"All I know is that the way I've been dealing with this whole situation is ineffective."
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] All in all, Lukas seems a little puzzled by it all. Perhaps, never having been institutionalized or medicated until he couldn't even reach his rage, he doesn't quite understand her trouble here. He starts walking, though, his body language inviting her to follow.
They move away from the shrines, out into the caern proper with its skeletons of ships in the distance. The Shadow Lord walks with his hands laced loosely behind his back, still frowning faintly. "You have a pack," he says. "I seriously doubt they'll let you get dragged back into captivity without a fight. And even if someone did come for you ... you're a werewolf, Adamidas, and a Theurge. Couldn't you just escape into the Umbra before someone crams a pill down your throat?"
[Adamidas] She does, in fact, follow. He doesn't seem to understand the trouble, but she seems to think it important. Quite important, as a matter of fact. Like she can't wrap her head around how this could be such an easy fix.
"That would be a breach of the veil. You can't just be standing there and then, suddenly, poofpopgone and have people not flip their gourds while someone's saying hey, take this. Furthermore, usually hospitals are weaver territory. The gauntlet's-"
She looks like she has an idea, or a thought, or a plan, or something to that effect.
"You know, I think I'm good."
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "Well," Lukas is trying hard not to sound patronizing here, "maybe you just shouldn't get caught."
He pauses, then, turning to Adamidas. "What's the real problem, Adamidas? You can't possibly have come here to seek me out because you're genuinely worried that you'll be institutionalized. And more to the point, why are you seeking me out? Why aren't you talking to your pack about this?"
[Adamidas] He tries very hard to not sound patronizing, and she seems to recognize it. It explains why what he gets is a flat look and little more.
"Being institutionalized isn't the issue, Lukas, it's that if some conditions are met I can't shift. I don't know how far reaching this is. It's more than pills and sedatives, it's- do you know how many synthetic toxins, Pentex products are produced on a daily basis?"
she realizes, however, that she has an edge there. She takes a moment, takes a breath, and, "I'm sorry... The thing is, though, any Tom, Dick, Harry fomor can get a syringe half empty and stab someone with it. My larger concern isn't going back and being institutionalized, it's handling myself in a battle and being able to protect my pack in the event that I'm compromised. I'm telling you because you're the ahroun elder and war master of this sept and you're good at worst case scenarios."
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "I see." There's a sense he understand a little better now. "You're not worried about getting dragged back. You're worried that someone might take advantage of your weakness.
"Look. The only advice I can give you is this. Try to overcome your weakness if you can. Try to find some way to shift while pumped full of sedatives and antipsychotics. Get your packmates to taunt you into a frenzy if you have to. Start somewhere. Keep trying.
"But at the same time, you have to be ready for the eventuality that this is simply one weakness you will never overcome. And if that's the case -- then that's the case. Everyone has mortal flaws. Most people don't lose sleep over them. You'll just have to be careful. That you're aware of your own limitations is a good sign. Make sure your packmates know too. Make sure they know what to do if you are, indeed, incapacitated, kidnapped, or killed. Make sure there's someone to carry on."
Lukas starts walking again, making a slow circuit of the Caern grounds.
"If you've done your duty as Alpha, then they'll function even if you're taken out of the equation. And if they can't -- then it's your duty as alpha to get them to a point where they can."
[Adamidas] She takes two steps for his one, if for no other reason than her legs are shorter than his and her long strides aren't the same length as his strides. It's mathematics. Lukas is a foot taller than she is. That is a lot of height. A long way to go and she's not the most athletic of creatures. If it weren't for her totem, she would only be slightly above average in most regards.
And she listens. Previously, her attention would have been split a dozen different places, but right then? She is watching lukas. She is listening, and the caern could catch on fire and she might not notice. It's singular attention, unwavering attention. The kind of thing she usually focuses on the spirits.
He makes it sound easy. She knows better, but smiles anyway. Maybe she smiles because it won't be easy.
"Thanks," she says, "this... this is a good place to start."
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Lukas's smile is a little wry, as though he's not entirely certain he's been helpful at all. "Good," he says anyway. "I'll keep that issue in mind, though. And I'll avoid sending you where your flaw might endanger the group."
A few more steps and they're at the base of Maelstrom's seat. There's a Guardian up there, attentive and watchful and silent. Lukas waves in his direction, then turns back to Adamidas.
"Listen -- I've been meaning to get the war-alphas together for a training session sometime in the Battleground Realm. Should I look for you or for Harmony?"
[Adamidas] "Look for me," she tells him, "I'll be there. We're recruiting right now, so I'm pretty excited. Harmony and I are pretty tight knit, I think I might start looking for a full moon or... well.. anyone, really, who can act as an arbiter. I have a feeling we might end up becoming a little philodox-heavy, but that doesn't seem to bother Stheno, so it doesn't bother me."
She waves a Hello, and keeps walking.
"Just... unless it becomes something incredibly pertinent, I'd appreciate if you kept that to yourself, though... not the recruiting thing, the other thing."
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Lukas turns to the younger Theurge again, frowning. "Adamidas," he says, "I'm not going to tell anyone. Thank you for trusting me with the information."
He's serious there, intensely so. A moment later, he looks forward again. His tone lightens, "I'll be in touch with you, then. I think it'll be good for you guys to get an Ahroun or a Ragabash. Something physical-minded to balance out the mind and the spirit. One of my tribemates is a pretty solid Ahroun. Pariah -- she's been a little scarce lately, though. And there always seems to be an unpacked Ragabash or five underfoot."
[Christian del Piero] Christian comes back from patrols without anything to report. Walks through the Caern by himself afterward. He isn't covered in blood or dirt. It's easy to forget what he looks like when he's clean. He's usually not. The moon is dark but you can still feel him coming before you actually see him. And he still sounds like a creature twice his size when he walks. He tries to be respectful when he's here. It's hard to resist the urge to attack things that he passes. Fosterns staring at him everywhere he goes helps. He sees his alpha talking to the Black Fury Theurge. Looks around. Pauses a second to scratch the scar on his arm and walks towards them.
[Night's Reprieve] Night's Reprieve is out, he has been surveying the Bawn, talking to spirits and collecting info. He stumbled upon something most interesting, something that got his blood excited. In the back of one of the hangers, underneath a roofless patch in one of the corners, he found wyld spirits. A small tangle of weeds and other plants cracking through the concrete. Some how amongst it a small pine tree has been managing to grow, its just a sapling and doing horribly in its current environment, it won't live much longer this way. Something must be done, so its with this in mind that he stumbles upon the collection of Garou.
"Lukas.. Christian.. Adam" He nods his head to each of them in turn.
"I require some aid, I need to tear up some concrete.. I uh.." And his eyes lower, he seems incredibly embarrassed about what he says next.
"I don't have the claws to do it. Could someone help me?"
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] [fyi folks, mindy had to go afk! she says she'll be back in about 20 min (from now). let's post around her.]
[Night's Reprieve] [aight!]
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] They hear Christian coming long before they see him, so by the time the young Ahroun finally appears, Lukas is already looking his way. He gets a wave too; a brush of minds across the totemlink. Hey. You meet Adamidas yet?
"The new Keeper of the Land," he says, then, as Night's Reprieve appears. "Sure. What do you need?"
[Night's Reprieve] The Godi raises his eyes when Lukas speaks and he smiles, the embarrassment has passed, he stands tall and proud once more.
"There is a collection of Wyld spirits that require more room to prosper in one of the hangers. I'd like to clear out a square of concrete for them and clear some of the fallen debris that litter the area."
[Christian del Piero] Lukas gets a nod instead of a wave. He's making fists as he walks. They hadn't found anything on patrols. And he hasn't been going off alone to fight things lately. The teenager looks like he wants to hit something. He even sounds tense when he answers Lukas. Yeah. Couple weeks ago.
"-rhyas," he manages. And when the Godi arrives he listens. He looks interested. Then again...it's manual labour. It's like asking him if he wants to play a game. If given the chance to do something besides stand around and try and act proper...he leaps at it. Christian looks over at Lukas for a second. Looks back. "I'll help..."
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "Lead the way," Lukas says. "I think there might be some sledgehammers in one of the storage rooms. Might let you use your strength a little more effectively, Night's. How's the new pack going?"
[Night's Reprieve] [gonna let mindy reply]
[Adamidas] She lights up, what with Night's Reprieve talking about wyld spirits, "ohhh, they'll like that. Whatever you need help with, I'm definitely down with helping. Besides, I need some concrete. Trying to build a rapore with it and I think relocating some might be a good test of how much does it like me."
Because they were spirits. not only that, but they were Wyld spirits. this is the kind of thing that is, presumably, the teenager's bread and butter. A calling. Whatever she and Lukas had been talking about, left with a nod and affirmation of silence.
[Night's Reprieve] He gives a nod of thanks for all of them and leads them down across the bawn. It's still; deadly quiet. The silence only broken by their voices as they continue the conversation on the way.
"The Pack is doing well, thank you for asking. We have dealt with many encounters with the Wyrm since the packs forming. I think we can make a difference here Lukas'. Though, we would like to bolster our numbers. Just a matter of finding like-minded individuals. The Moot did not prove fruitful for our pack unfortunately."
He grins
"Our Fenrir brothers and sisters are scarce in this city and full of much rage. It would be a hard thing for them to follow Valkyrie, she is impatient with the fire in our blood. She does not tolerate a lack of willpower."
The light from the stars is dimmed out when he step into the hanger, its gloomy and shadows are abundant due to the chequered holes in the roof overhead. In the far corner they see the wildlife growing up out of rubble. Rusted support beams lay piled around amongst other such debris. A white chalk line has been drawn in a square around it all, obviously marking the space that Night's Reprieve has deemed necessary and he says as much.
"Christian, if you could begin clearing the steel and rubble from the area, Adam - I would appreciate another of our moons opinion on these spirits. Could you speak to them? And Lukas, I haven't been to the storage rooms yet, could you give me some directions?"
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "Consider recruiting outside your own Tribe," Lukas replies. "I know that's not how things are done in more traditional Septs, but for what it's worth, my longest-standing packmate is a Silver Fang and I wouldn't have it any other way. Sometimes it's nice to have a different perspective."
Then, shaking his head, "Don't worry about it. I'll go look myself. It's over in the hangar near the Wyrmpole -- the one with the caved-in roof, if you need to find it in the future."
The Shadow Lord turns and heads that-a-way, his feet crunching over broken concrete and rubble. Perhaps it's a little jarring for Christian to see the man moving away but hear him so clearly in his head still:
I thought of something just now. Have you been to the Battleground Realm?
[Christian del Piero] Christian stares at the wildlife in the corner when they get to the hangar. His head snaps around at his name. His eyes are no saner now than they were when he called his sister a liar and ran off without shoes or a shirt. But he listens. And he nods. And he starts doing as he was asked. He's small for his age and auspice - just about everything - but he's strong. Lifting even huge pieces of debris isn't a struggle.
He's starting to get used to hearing other people's voices in his head. It's not him going crazy. It's his pack. Still...he gets startled when Lukas leaves but he can still hear him. Christian almost drops the rubble he's carrying.
What's the Battleground Realm?
[Night's Reprieve] [skipping mindy she's busy]
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] It's a spirit realm in the near Umbra where every battle ever fought replays endlessly. I don't know the details or the origin, but maybe Adamidas or Night's Reprieve could tell you. I just know it because my mentor showed me. A lot of Ahrouns go there to test their skills against legendary warriors or for training. Or just to blow off steam. If you 'die' in battle, you just end up outside the realm.
Might be a good way for you to blow off some steam without needlessly endangering yourself. Good practice, too. I can show you where it is this weekend, if you're not too familiar with Umbral travel.
He's back before long, carrying two sledgehammers. Big ones. He tosses one to Christian, one to Night's Reprieve.
[Night's Reprieve] Night's Reprieve helps Christian with the steel, picking up one end of a beam and carting it to the side of the hanger before dropping it with a loud clang. It's hard messy work but by working together the two of them are able to have it cleared it a very short time. Piles of stone, rotting wood and other such rubbish gather away from the site and by the time Lukas returns it is cleared completely.
He catches the Sledgehammer in one large palm, its heavy, heavier than his spear despite his weapons greater length. It will do the job nicely.
"Careful of the plants, Christian if you want to begin in that corner" He points to the far right hand side while he himself moves to the left.
He begins right at the edge of the chalk. Mallet up, hammer down.
Crack.
After a few swings he stops to discard his shirt and he turns to Lukas with Hammer in hand.
"You know, I think you're right about the whole outside the tribe idea. I'm not used to it, it was never the way of my old Sept, but it makes sense here. I will look into it."
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] With only two hammers to go around, Lukas sticks to his claws. He strips out of his shirt and pants, neither of which are apparently dedicated. His skin is tanned with the summer; his scars are surprisingly few, given his experience, his rank, his renown. Then again, perhaps it's not so much a surprise. This is one Ahroun that's always stressed victory over glory, and seen the difference between the two.
Another moment, and he's not human anymore. Crinos-formed, he lopes forward to help his packmate and his Septmate, dragging aside the chunks of concrete and stacking it in a loose rubble-pile as the others break it.
"Any particular auspices?" The conversation carries on in a different language, far more bestial.
[Christian del Piero] His connection to the spirit world needs work. He's got barely more Gnosis now than he did before he changed. Umbral travel is beyond him. Lukas can feel him amused at the idea of going anywhere without a guide. Amused is better than angry. The Theurges can see him smile at something even as he's helping NR carry a beam.
Okay. Thanks.
He catches the sledgehammer in both hands. Hefts it to get used to the weight. He keeps his shirt on longer than the older men do. It's not until he starts sweating that he takes it off. Unlike his alpha he's a scarred mess. When he got here he only had one right over his heart. Now he's covered in them. The one over his heart is almost forgotten about. The one on his throat makes going out in public difficult. It doesn't look like he got knifed on the subway. It's like something tore him open. Christian isn't shy about them. But he knows there's a reason Lukas is in his 20s and almost untouched...and Christian is 18 and looks like he's gone through a threshing machine. He throws his shirt aside. Picks the hammer back up. Goes back to work. He doesn't talk.
[Night's Reprieve] The language that Lukas uses is far more pleasant on the Godi's ears. It's his birth tongue, his first language. He finds no trouble in communicating with that language even in this fleshy human form.
"No moons, or full moons.. either would fit well with me and my cousin. The full moons must be in control of themselves though." His eyes flicker to Christian briefly but they do not linger. He has seen the boy lose himself, he has also seen him take lead of a battle though. The jury is still out about Lukas' young packmate.
He carries scars of course, but not many. The most obvious of them is the one he received on his first night in Chicago. A ragged white line over his heart running from below his left pectoral muscle towards his shoulder. When he has his back to them they can see the tattoo of his weapon of choice. A spear, detailed perfectly from shoulder to hip, the head of which curls up the back of his neck. They see it when he crouches beside the pile of concrete, they hear cooing and ragged whispers like a musician with far too much reverb on. Adam will understand it.
[Adamidas] "If it helps," she offers, "Harmony's the first packmate I've ever had that wasn't a Black Fury. It seriously takes some getting used to, like... I have a brother now."
She says it like that's the most bizarre concept she's ever wrapped her head around. The theurge takes her time and goes to speak with the spirits instead. She's not going to go into why it's so odd that she has a boy packmate.. under a Fury totem. And has primarily males to recruit from in this sept.
She approaches the spirits, though, and gets on with making conversation. To everyone but Night's Reprieve, it's unintelligible somethings.
[Christian del Piero] (( Not a frenzy check! ))
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 2, 8, 8, 9 (Success x 3 at target 6)
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Even in Crinos, even with jet-black fur and no apparent brow-spots, it's obvious that Wyrmbreaker's eyebrow hop up. He straightens, musculature tensing in his long arms against the weight of concrete.
"If you're underhandedly insulting my packmate's control, Night's Reprieve, that's beneath your honor." The words come quietly, but they are level, and deadly serious. "I expect better from you. If you're trying to tell him that he needs to learn to master his rage, he knows that already. He'd probably benefit more from guidance and advice than from pointed comments while he's doing you a favor."
[Christian del Piero] He looks up at the word "control"...like he knows what the Godi is about to say. Christian narrows his eyes. Grinds his teeth. He wants to throw that sledge hammer right at his head. That's not what he does. There's not even a muttered curse in another language. The Ahroun tightens his hands on the sledge hammer's handle and keeps working. But he does look back up when Lukas speaks. Like he's surprised. It makes him pause for a second. A few muscles twitch. Then Christian goes back to work.
[Night's Reprieve] The Godi pauses in his labor, the head of the hammer sounds out with a clink against the concrete as he leans his palm into the handle of it.
"You mistake me Wyrmbreaker. I seek to insult nobody. Thrice have I fought beside your packmate, and each time he has proved a capable warrior. If you must have me speak of it then I will, but I speak with concern only when I say it is true that I have seen madness in his eyes. He has said things that left my bones cold, dishonouring spirits. But I also know that the words didn't come from him. They came from something else.. something plaguing him.." He speaks plainly in front of Christian, almost as if he's not there at all; and then like, he's realised this, his eyes again fall on Christian and he nods his head to him.
"You remember lad, the night in the park. There's pain inside you that seeks to tear you apart, or there was. I've seen you overcome it, the night you entered the frenzy Wyrmbreaker." And he looks to Lukas. "I spoke the truth that night when I said he lead well. And if its advice that he requires.. well.. I do not know of the situation enough to offer advice other than this:
The Rage is a part of you, it should not be fought against but be harnessed to your will. You will get nowhere scratching and clawing at yourself. I have seen it many times with Modi's from my home. I have seen it in my own Father's eyes when he thralled and had to be brought down by his pack mates. To control yourself you must first know yourself, know your limits. You must find the falsehoods that corrupt you and remove them. Pure of heart, pure of spirit. Only then can you know control."
[Adamidas] "The soil can't sustain any water like this," she says, "there's too much drainage. And they need it. And the overhead parts of the hangar don't quiet let in the rain and the sun. They need to see the stars."
She says off hand, but she doesn't... really... seem to be paying attention to what the males are talking about. or really particularly interested. Concern number one seems to be the spirits. By the time she phases back to their little portion of reality, she looks back and notices... that they're talking about something important. The Fury places her hands on her hips and purses her lips.
She comes back to reality right before that story starts. Adam looks from Night's Reprieve, to Christian, and there is some strange sort of sympathy there- though it's hard to imagine, she's not exactly the angriest of creatures. Brief, flickering, and gone in an instant.
[Christian del Piero] They came from something else...something plaguing him...
"Dude," Christian snaps - he throws down the hammer, "I'm standing right here." But he doesn't attack the Godi. NR looks at him. He's breathing heavy from the fire in his chest. Not the work they're doing. He's seen madness in his eyes. It's there now. Most people can't look him in the eye for long even when his Rage is gone. He stares at NR like he's looking right through him. He's trying to pay attention and listen to him. NR's wise. He's a jerk...but he's wise. Still. Christian's still young enough that being lectured makes him angry.
He grabs the sledge hammer. Swings the hammer so hard he grunts. His hands are going to blister. The crunching of concrete isn't loud enough to drown out the blood roaring in his ears. "Yeah, well," he says as he lifts the hammer again. "I'm not from your - " Crunch! " - home. You don't know - " Crunch! " - shit about my heart or spirit." Crunch! "Or me." He pauses. "And I don't have any pain inside me." Picks up the hammer again. "So just...leave me alone."
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] There's one point -- when Night's Reprieve speaks of falsehoods -- that Wyrmbreaker's expression stills, and his ears begin to lay back. The Godi does not, however, go on as he feared he might. There's no mention of whose body lies in the graves; who Christian may or may not believe still wandered the earth somewhere, alive and lost. Lukas doesn't want to open that can of worms. Not yet.
Christian responds as anyone might expect: angrily. He goes back to work. Lukas stays upright a moment longer, catching Night's eyes, giving a small, quelling shake of his head. The message is clear: Don't push right now.
"I believe you meant well," is all he says in the end -- and this, to Night's Reprieve. "Let's get back to work. Adamidas has an interesting suggestion. Think we should tear open the roof while we're at it?"
[alas, folks, i gotta sleep within 15-20 min!]
[Night's Reprieve] His eyes narrow on Lukas, he reads the message. It's clear as day. He just nods his head. Onto more pressing matters.. like the roof..
"I think that would be wise, I'm not sure how we will deal with the drainage problem just yet." And as if to question this, he places the sledge hammer down and his spear appears in his hand. He shoves it with incredible strength down into the exposed soil. It travels easily, pushing through like butter, going almost to the hand that grips it before the Godi stops with a clink of metal on stone.
"I would make a guess that about--" And he pulls the spear out covered in mud "This deep? There's a sheet of stone, the water is probably draining from there into one of the canals nearby. Perhaps with more plants and some additions to the soil it will retain the water for longer."
He nods his head to Adamidas.
"Thank you for speaking to them."
[Adamidas] "Lay a tarp down and put the soil back on top of it? Though that would make the water stagnate and would cause your roots to rot. Change the soil composition? Add more clay, because clay is less likely to let the water run through than the soil here. It's a hangar, so there's not a lot in the way of nutrients," she says.
Alethea Adamidas is a great many things. Apparently, master gardener is among those titles.
[Night's Reprieve] "Good suggestions, I will think on it. Perhaps a tarp with holes in it would do well. Like a giant pot plant."
[Christian del Piero] He doesn't calm down the way you would after a normal flare of temper. To look at him he just stays pissed off. But he doesn't frenzy either. Christian keeps working until the last of the concrete is cleared. When he's out of stuff to do he stands still. Waits for further instructions. There are none...talk goes to what to do about drainage. The blue blooded young man has a tan and calloused hands. He's used to working outside. His ancestors weren't. If he knows anything about gardening or landscaping he's quiet. Letting the Theurges talk. After a moment he picks up the sledge hammers. One in each hand. He carries them out of the hangar to put them back. He doesn't come back.
(( Thanks for the play all! Have to go eat! I'll be back! ))
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] For his part, as the talk turns to spirits and such, Lukas quiets, and listens. He helps where he can -- when it seems like the Theurges have gone on to more Theurgely things, the Ahroun, like his packmate, wanders off.
[bedtime for me too! night folks, thanks for the RP!]
celebration.
11 years ago