Difference between revisions of "Talk:Czcibor Kowal/Temp"

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MT04 -- Tamarack Falls - Meetinghouse Graveyard
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MT07 - Wayhouse - Nov 25
  
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It's a couple days after Thanksgiving, and it's only chilly instead of outright cold, tonight. No snow, just grey skies not even bothering to loom threateningly-- maybe the clouds are
 +
tired or cranky or just not into it. Either way, it means the night's not pitch black, because the moon's lit the clouds up from behind, and in that strange light, everything outside is
 +
dark grey.
  
 +
In contrast, the inside of the Wayhouse is warm and warmly lit, as welcoming and community-oriented as it ever is, and there's a man present who's recently taken to holing up there with
 +
various manual projects, at the dining room table, when he wants to be ostensibly social but doesn't want to go to the effort of seeking out company or subjecting himself to crowds.
  
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One of the things that Czcibor might notice about this area, is that for whatever reason there's a bunch of bats flitting about overhead - if he's capable of seeing them at all in
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Czcibor Kowal's in jeans and a nondescript zip-up maroon hoodie with hiking boots, a newspaper spread out on the table in front of him, and he's idly reading it as he carves into a split
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the dark. They likely won't be much longer, as their food supply is quickly dwindling, and the weather grows colder. In fact, it might be surprising that they're still out at all.
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stick he's already stripped of bark. It doesn't look like it's something he's very good at, at all. But you don't get good at anything without practice, right?
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Something has them livelier than usual.
+
  
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Maybe it has something to do with the small figure that's lingering in the shadow of one of the taller obelisks, looking out over the rest of the graveyard and the church nearby.
 
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Ziv's, perhaps surprisingly, not actually bundled up for the weather. She's not even wearing shoes - though she is wearing an asymmetrical hoodie, oversized, with a very large pair
 
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of pockets and leggings. There's also a silver grey scarf for accent, down below which hangs a delicate silver snowflake pendant.
 
  
 +
Dielle comes into the Wayhouse. She's wearing that godawful sweater of hers, the one that's purple and green and scary shades of both. She doesn't have anywhere in particular she needs to
 +
be or any reason to be in the Wayhouse, she's just there because going to poke the bears in a different place doesn't sound like fun tonight. She sees Czcibor and calls out a hearty "Hey,
 +
there," to him.
  
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And it's the second place tonight that Czcibor Kowal has come to be alone and indulge in vices like misery and despair and self-loathing and temper tantrums and physical sensation,
 
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and found it already occupied by someone he knows. But-- she's winter. She's winter, she'll get it, won't she? Part of it. Or maybe she'll just make fun of him for his outburst, his
 
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chastisement at the cafe--
 
  
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The entirely mortal-looking Elemental in what is unquestionably the Captain's greatcoat hesitates, uncharacteristically indecisive. He looks up at the flying bats, scrubbing at his  
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The tin man looks up and grins. "Hey, Moon Princess," he says, setting the stick and the pen knife down, then reaching for his coffee as he looks her over-- and tries really hard not to
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eyes.
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look at her sweater. He sips his coffee, then sets it down as he tilts his head. "Captain Moon Princess, I mean. Are you okay?"
  
  
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The bats are darting about overhead - it's difficult to tell whether they're really chasing insects or not. It could be that they're just glorying in the feeling of flight and being
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Dielle chuckles. "I'm just fine, Czcibor. Had to do some shopping today. I can trek in the Hedge for hours, but one trip through Costco just drains me. And on the weekend of Black Friday,  
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alive; like when a human runs for no reason other than the sheer thrill of it. For tiny, leathery winged mammals they're incredibly agile. Occasionally among them there's a flash of
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too. This was after talkin' to a new girl, Peggy, and givin' a personal training session to an athlete" She gives a bit of a yawn and says, "How's your day been?"
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silver runes on wings - a hedgebeast, no doubt. If Kowal has seen him before, he might know the tiny fellow as Ziv's companion, Neville.
+
  
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From beneath the obelisk, Ziv calls out, "'Lo. Are you... Hey, Czcibor, is that you? Wouldn't really expect you to be out here. It's not... much of a really Spring place. Or... for
 
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types like you." Probably, she means, it's more a place you'd find Darklings a-lurking. But Ziv isn't a Darkling. Is she?
 
  
 +
"Eh," the Elemental says, wobbling his free hand and shrugging. "Quiet, which is good, I like quiet. Too much social drama and emotional friction the past few days. Really glad to just...
 +
not." He pauses, then reaches up to rub the back of his head. "I should have mentioned this before, but I-- I don't think I can go on the Ashen Hunt. I mean, if you need me there as a
 +
healer if any of our people get hurt, I can do that. I'll go as air. I don't know how they get organized around these parts, but the way they've been run in other freeholds I've been
 +
in..." He shakes his head. "Being terrifying and mob-chasing someone, or a group of someones-- mortals in this case... I just... I understand they need to die. But my brother was chased
 +
by the Wild Hunt. I can't... be the monsters that hunted him."
  
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"Typecast me already?" comes the Pole's voice with an unsteady laugh, to go with his unsteady tread as he approaches, pulling his coat closer around him, hugging his arms to
 
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himself. "Didn't expect anyone to be out here except--" His voice cracks a little bit. "--except ghosts," he tries again, still trying to sound genial, careless. Trying.
 
  
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It might fool another elemental, maybe. Ziv can tell, however, that he's not only on the edge of tears, but on the edge of losing it completely; all that high-wyrd massive presence
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Dielle says, "You don't have to, Kowal. It's entirely voluntary. If you want, we can both go and sit on the sidelines and heal our people if they need it. Well, you can, I can just heal
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is coiled up in a tightly-bound knot of horror and grief and fury and betrayal, with a scathing side of 'because of COURSE' topping it off as a fascinating little insult.
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bruises and concussions and shit. I'm all for going and talking to these guys, or getting into a nasty brawl kinda thing, but...well, I ain't Autumn and it's not my scene, precisely." She
 +
sits down, and leans on the table and looks vaguely relieved that someone else shares her sentiments. "It's not even that I feel bad for these fuckers. They're murderers. But this ain't
 +
clean."
  
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Another shaky laugh. "Ghosts are pretty good company if you can't hear them except in your memory."
 
  
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If Dielle looks relieved, Czcibor looks like her admission just took the world off his shoulders. All the hesitation drops away and he laughs, shoulders sagging, back thumping against the
 +
back of his chair. "Dzieki Bogu--! I thought it might be a requirement or something. It's-- there is a lot of Autumn that I admire fiercely. I am glad they are there to keep our lore and
 +
our magic; I am glad they are there to find ways to use the Gentry's magic against them-- but fear... fear is a blade with no hilt and no sheath. It's even easy for me to use-- and that's
 +
why it is so very important to me that I don't ''become'' it." Then he slouches down a little further and holds his mug in both hands, looking rueful. "And also, yes, it isn't clean."
  
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"...Think a lot of people would disagree, about hearing ghosts in your memory. Maybe that's the worst type of ghost, depending on what it says," offers up the small Windwing, from
 
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within the shadow of her obelisk. Dark eyes, gleaming in their depths like a nocturnal creature's, track Czcibor's movements. It might be a rather... eerie look, really. Or perhaps
 
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he doesn't notice, considering his current state of mind. "...Dunno, don't think I'd want them talking to me, too much. That's not really my type of memory-ghost, though."
 
  
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There's a small shrug, that sends a ripple through her wings. Even though she's fairly lightly dressed, the cold doesn't seem to bother her very much. "So... I guess I know that you
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Dielle smiles at Czcibor and it's a slow smile with as much relief as he has. "Don't know if it's because I'm me or because I was a unicorn. Or maybe it's the guy I'm with, and he just
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shouldn't respond too much to memory-ghosts. What's wrong, Chee?"
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makes me want to be better than I am. But I prefer a clean fight and I'm not real happy that we're not gonna get to go back and have a chat with those guys. Shooting them in the head when
 +
they refuse to change is at least giving them a chance. They can fight back. This? Yeah, I really, really don't much like it."
  
  
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"In my memory's when they were still okay," Czcibor answers. That's what he answers even when she asks what's wrong, and the last word breaks, and he brings his hands up to his face
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There's a little tilt of his head again, and Czci's smiling a small, fond, lopsided little thing at Dielle. "I think it's probably because of who you are, if it's got you on a gut level
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to scrub viciously at his eyes, silver-irised despite the presence of his Mask. He turns away from her so she can't see, which is stupid, stupid; he doesn't leave because he needs
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like this." Then the smile fades and he looks into his coffee, which may or may not be laced with alcohol. "A clean fight is always preferable to assassination, and assassination
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to tell ''someone'' and he can't tell Petra and Ziv just called him 'Chee' and that's something he misses too.
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preferable to murdering someone who's terrified and running from you because hell is literally on their heels. Because I'm ''me'', I prefer-- when possible-- alternatives to death. A
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second chance with a sword of Damocles hanging above it, perhaps. Terror used as an educational tool rather than as cruelty in and of itself, and balanced with hope and knowledge. 'This
 +
is what could be done to you, but it won't be. You won't die if you never come after us again, if you leave. Or if you help us instead.' Rehabilitation. Pledge-binding. It's worked
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before-- but this isn't where I come from; I'm new here. This isn't my season. None of this is my call, and it shouldn't be." Then he looks up at Dielle again. "But if there's no other
 +
choice, then yes, let them at least go down fighting."
  
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After a moment, his voice is muffled, but it sounds so human; there's nothing echoey or resonant about it, it's just flat on the cold air like anybody else's. "And the dead ones are
 
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safe. They're safe. Maybe I failed to keep them alive, but I didn't fail in keeping them from getting Taken or taken ''back'', and I didn't fail in keeping them from ''turning
 
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into'' the monsters... and on top of every-fucking-thing else, the guy I like apparently already has a boyfriend, which is exactly what I fucking get for letting myself start
 
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falling for someone again in the first place--"
 
  
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Dielle nods at Czcibor and says, thoughtfully, "I was gonna hold off on this, but I don't think I am, based on that speech. I'm promoting you to private in the Harvestmen. You've already
 +
shown you're effective in teamwork, which is the big thing, you can take orders as well as give them, and frankly, we need that. Especially since we're gonna need another Lieutenant,
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although I'm not promoting you to that, not yet. I want to see more before I do that." She looks pretty pleased, now.
  
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Ziv's quiet for a little, and turned away Czcibor can't really see her, but then there's the scuff of her claws against the ground as she comes nearer. Until, suddenly, the batling
 
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is bringing her wings up around him and hugging him from behind. Should the wings contact skin, they're cold - and her mantle seems to drift around them, without Czcibor's mantle to
 
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push it back. With it comes the smell of a fresh winter morning, along with frost and mist, and a few snowflakes drift through.
 
  
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Haruki's never completely comfortable at the wayhouse, but he's trying to get better. He's dragged Itsuki along with him today, if just to get out of the house and do something different.
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At least it's warm in here, unlike outside. "I still haven't found the books." He admits. "There's got to be books and information and, well it's not all online. Not that I can find,
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which is just as well since anyone would be able to read it then." He trails off at the sound of other voices, as he steps in to where they are.
  
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Smol bat, attached wings-inclusive to tol soldier in enormous coat: there's not skin at first, because his hands are up by his face, but upon stealth-hug, Czcibor drops one of them
 
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down to hug Zig's arm/wing to him. He laughs a little again, and it comes out sounding wet and gets followed by a sniffle, and that just makes him laugh more. And then he gently
 
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detaches Ziv from him partway so he can turn and kneel, sort of, and she'll be taller than him by a bit, and he hugs her back and there are still things that are funny, like having
 
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his mask up means he ''can'' cry, but that also means he can get a sinus headache, but he really needs to let this one out. And in the middle of it, his face in her shoulder,
 
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there's a very muffled, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry-- you don't need this shit-- I'm sorry I snapped at you anyway-- now I'm ''really'' sorry--"
 
  
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Itsuki is dragged. The smaller Nakamura is slightly better dressed than last time anyone mighta seen him, wearing a new and comfortably warm looking oversized hoodie, and actual pants. He
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does look pretty glad at getting out of the cold, at least, shivering and looking actually interested. "Do... you think so? Is that a thing that they'd keep..." He trails off as they spot
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the other Lost. Offering a hesitant wave as he moves behind Aniki slightly.
  
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Ziv is steadier on her feet than might be expected, for being so small - for their size, bats are surprisingly strong. As Czcibor leans against her, she curls her wings up around
 
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him as a protective shield, patiently letting him get it all out for the time being. When he speaks - starts to apologize - she leans over and licks the top of his head a few times.
 
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It might be her version of a comforting head-kiss.
 
  
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"You don't need to apologize," she says, soothingly, and when she does so there's something of an echo in her voice - it's an odd quality, that he might have heard before when she
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To say that Czcibor looks... pole-axed... as the two boys are coming in would be an understatement. "I-- what, really? I feel like I just got here," he's saying to Dielle, blank eyes
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sings. "If you need to get it out... get it out... sometimes we all need a good cry. And I don't mind. It's why I'm Winter."
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wide. "I'm honored, Captain. If there's anything you--" But they're actually coming in this direction, and the Pole's eyes flicker toward Haruki and his obvious brother, then back to  
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Dielle like 'can we talk about this in front of them, is that okay?' but he's also lifting a hand in greeting, and smiling. "Is this the famed Itsy?" he calls with a laugh.
  
  
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And it's actually taken as one: he has known so many Beasts; he has known so many kinds of affection and caring--
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Dielle gives Czcibor a nod, and she says, "As far as I'm concerned, you've proven yourself, already, Kowal. Congratulations. I think...I think I'm gonna have to head up a squad myself,
 +
for a little while, but I'm gonna have to chat with Ashe and see what else I can do." She smiles and manages not to sigh. When Haruki and Itsuki walk in, she cuts herself off and turns to
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wave at them. "Hey, Haruki! How are you! And Itsuki, I haven't seen you in ages and ages! How are you both?"
  
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Czcibor takes Ziv at her word, and just cries, wrinkling her sleeves where he grips them too tightly, though he takes care not to grip her ''arms'' so. It takes him a while. It
 
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takes him maybe about thirty seconds, but thirty seconds feels like forever when you don't cry often and never let anyone see it if you do. And there's such loss in it-- but there's
 
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also such ''fury'', helpless and desperate despairing rage, boundless and echoing like his voice doesn't, right now.
 
  
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It finally winds down, and there's another laugh (how much hurt ''does'' he cover that way?) that sounds like it needs a kleenex, and there's him sitting back on his heels and
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"Czcibor, this is my baby brother, Itsuki," Haruki introduces them with a smile. "Are you okay?" He asks, concerned. "I can easy go, wander off elsewhere? We were looking for books." He  
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fishing a handkerchief out and using it for himself for once, and laughing again. "Do I hate myself enough right now to wait through getting the headache, or will I chicken out on
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smiles brightly at Dielle. "I'm good! You? It's so good to see you." He then glances at Czcibor. "Congratulations?"
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it and let my mask go?" He sounds wobbly, it's not quite gallows humor, but it's autopilot.
+
  
  
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Ziv is patient, she's busy stroking Czcibor's back and hair, like a mother might a child, while he lets it all out. When the currently mask-wearing Elemental sits back from her she
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Itsuki's nose twitches at the 'baby' brother line, but has long since started just ignoring it. Instead he waves again and then blinks at the greetings. "Famed? Uh. Hm. I guess I don't,
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lets him go, unconcerned with any possible tears and snot he might have gotten on her shirt - or maybe her fur, as well. "Or you could..." Ziv offers, with a little wave of one of
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um. Get out enough." The smaller twins offers an apologetic smile, "It's uh, nice to see you again though." This to Dielle, and then to Czcibor, "Um. It's nice to meet you, Cz..." He
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her wings, probably understanding that difference between the mask and Czcibor's usual Elemental state. "...Go somewhere warm and have something to drink and stuff."
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stumbles a little on the pronunciation of that one.
  
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The batling's head gives a small bob after this, and she reaches out to put the tip of her wing on his shoulder, the pair of fingers that make it up curving against his coat. "It's
 
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pretty cold here, and... Hot chocolate is -pretty- nice."
 
  
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"...thanks, I think," the tin man says with a wry laugh. "But no, really, I'm glad you can trust me: it means I can be more useful. And maybe later you can give me a run-down of who's
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actually in which squad, since I know the intended organization in theory, but I haven't been able to figure out who actually does what beyond yourself and Rorschach." On the table in
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front of him is a truly amateur woodcarving in progress, with chips and shavings all over the newspaper he'd spread on the dining room table in front of himself. He grins at Haruki's
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introduction, and Itsuki's continuation. "Kowal," he laughs, and it's 'KO-val'. "Generally Captain Czcibor Kowal der Landeswehr, but-- now also Private Kowal of the Harvestmen. I am very
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glad you have found your brother, and that you are close. Family is important."
  
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The Polish man -- he can't look any older than twenty-five; sometimes he acts like he's forty, sometimes he acts like ... god only knows -- gives Ziv a watery, silver-eyed smile,
 
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wavery and still upset, but heady from the ragged fit of release. "If that is a hint you would like hot chocolate, I would be happy to go get some with you. But I don't want to go
 
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someplace I can't tell you things, and I don't want to go someplace anyone else will see me."
 
  
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Dielle smiles at Czcibor and says, "I think that will be a good idea. But in the meantime, pardon me for a bit? I have to use the facilities. Sorry, everyone. Serves me right for eating
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Taco Bell." With that, she runs off into the bathroom.
  
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"I have a house. It's... also for this," says Ziv, honestly, patting her wing on Czcibor's shoulder and remaining near to him for the time being. If he wanted to, he could rather
 
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easily lay back into her. "I know... a lot don't like to be upset in public. It's okay, I don't either. Or we can stay here if you want to." Her voice is soft, and she truly doesn't
 
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sound concerned in regards to where they go - even so, there is at least concern written into the lines of her expression when she looks at him, brows drawn upwards and dark eyes
 
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wide.
 
  
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Haruki nods at Czcibor. "Brothers are the best. Even baby ones." He moves to muss Itsuki's hair, affectionately. "This is Harvestmen things?" Is Kowal the name I should use, or Czcibor?
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I'm Nakamura Haruki, but Haruki's the name that's used." He looks curiously at the woodcarving. "What's that?" And then. "Czcibor has a hot air balloon? He's going to take me not to Oz,
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and I was going to invite Damion, because he's big and warm, and it's so cold, but Damion's busy."
  
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'I have a house' appear to be the magic words. Czcibor puts a warm -- warm despite the fact that it's ungloved, it's flesh, and it's cold out -- hand over the wingtip on his
 
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shoulder for a second, and his smile goes lopsided, looks laced with relief. "That sounds good. I mean, going to your house, not staying here. Staying here is in some ways
 
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comforting, and is in some ways merely more self-flagellation, and I am told that that's a terrible and pointless habit."
 
  
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He starts to get up laboriously, then rolls his eyes and dissipates, and a warm spring breeze curls around Ziv and ruffles her fur, smelling of roses and gunmetal and wisps of
+
Itsuki snorts, whapping as Aniki musses his already admittedly pretty messy hair, trying to look more grumpy than happy as he shrugs, "I suppose family is pretty okay." He concedes,  
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smouldering sage. His voice is a soft sussurus in that wind. "Except fuck walking, I'm too tired."
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clearing his throat and ah'ing as Dielle excuses herself. Waving and looking to the metal Pole, "Harvestmen? Are you guys like, an army?"
  
  
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"...Sooo, what are we going to do then? I'd usually fly, or are we doing something else...?" wonders Ziv, but there was a nod there when Czcibor said 'pointless habit' - as if she
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Wincing at poor Dielle's distress, Czcibor takes a sip from his doctored coffee and shakes his head at Haruki. "You can call me whatever's easiest. Czcibor is actually my middle name, and
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probably agress that self-flagellation is absolutely not going to do the Captain any good! Her nose shivers a few times, as she sniffs at the air.
+
I've had so many nicknames in my life that it really doesn't matter. Kowal is even short for Kowalewicz. Ziv calls me Chee; my oathmate calls me Czcyk sometimes. I've spent the greater
 +
part of my adult life in Vienna, where calling people by their surnames is the norm, even friends-- so I am very very accustomed to being called Kowal." He glances at the carving in front
 +
of him and laughs. "That is me deciding to try a new hobby, one that doesn't involve either Star Trek novels or waving a sword around in the Hedge." Then he smiles and shrugs a little at
 +
Itsuki. "The Harvestmen are the defensive line for Fate's Harvest. Organized fighters. An army's generally rather bigger; this is more like a militia, as I understand it."
  
  
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The swarm of bats leads the Spring Courtier on towards the eastern side of Fort Brunsett, up near the hills where there are less buildings and it's more out of the way. Over one of
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Haruki shakes his hread. "No, I should call you what you want to be called. That's so many names. I don't want to speak of more intimacy than I have with you, or be familiar if I'm not."
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the smaller ones they circle, and then settle, shadows spiraling off of Ziv as she drops back to the ground as her more humanoid self. The normal bats chitter and chatter among
+
His eyes light up. "OH! Are you watching the new star trek series? It's good to have lots of hobbies."
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themselves, staying in the air and enjoying the warmer wind brought about by Czcibor's presence. He might notice a few of them have some sort of white markings on their nose...
+
  
  
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Breeze, whoosh, drift, shoooosh, drift, follow, play. Czcibor does notice the bat-markings, but doesn't know what they mean-- and he remains air for now, letting them play in the
+
Dielle comes back and says, "Sorry about that! Don't be too quick to go in there. It's a little on the scary side. I refuse to give up meat entirely but I don't think my digestive system
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warmth, and he whispers to Ziv as he ruffles her fur, "I kind of don't want to turn back, but I also want hot chocolate. Dilemma! Hashtag elemental problems. Why do some of your
+
likes it all that much. Which is way, way more information than any of you wanted." She takes her seat back again and shuts up.
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friends have white noses?"
+
  
  
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"...Huh?" Ziv asks, in response to the hashtag comment, possibly, or something else. Her eyes lift to the bats zipping around overhead, and then she answers with, "They're... sick.
+
Itsy wrinkles his nose but looks sympathetic. "Yeah. Gave up meat before the changes anyway, but I really doubt I'd be able to handle any now. Had a few runs in just with dairy and. Um.  
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I need to find someone that can help me treat them, soon, who knows about hedgefruit tinctures or something... It's why they're with me. The winter's not going to be good for them,
+
Well. I can't eat dairy, anyway." The bun looks a bit embarrassed, looking back to the other conversation and nodding, "Oh, so you all drill and stuff? Militias aren't so much a thing
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if they don't have good access to food and stuff."
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back home."
  
  
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"Ohhhh," whispers the wind, and it resolves into a small man-sized tornado, which further resolves into a man-shaped one, and then all of a sudden finishes forming into a tin
+
"We're Veganish," Haruki says to Dielle. "My stomach doesn't agree with much. No gluten either." He admits. "So, well, I understand." He looks at Itsy. "You're not thinking of joining,
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soldier, whose Mask is no longer strengthened. Still in all black, but with dark grey metal skin and its usual shining scars and abrasions, and no hint of the tears or puffy eyes.
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are you? You'd get hurt. You're best and safest running away. You're so fast nothing can catch you."
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He does stagger a little on forming, hastily shifting all his weight to his right leg, but he doesn't pay it any mind, only looks up at the bats. "I don't know an awful lot about
+
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them, but I'm learning -- most of my healing's been through contracts. I do have a bunch of preserved fruit, though, which I'd be more than happy to give to tide them over. Can
+
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normal bats eat hedgefruit?"
+
  
  
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"I... don't know. I figure if a mortal can, they can? But these probably shouldn't. They're insectiv... Insect... they eat insects," explains Ziv with a gesture up towards the bats
+
"I don't watch a lot of TV," admits Czci, setting his coffee down and spreading his hands, then snorting at Dielle and just Not Commenting. He continues, "I'll probably binge-watch it
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overhead. She turns to move towards the door then, fishing a key out of one of her pockets. A quick glance back to Czcibor is given, and she pauses before starting to unlock the
+
when the season's over, though. I don't have the patience to wait a week between episodes. But I'm looking forward to it." He pauses, skipping over basically all the foodstuffs
−
door. "You don't want to leave your mask up? It seemed to... do you some good."
+
converstion, then squints at Haruki and Itsuki. "There ''is'' an entire squad of non-combatants. Which is amazing. It wasn't so, in Vienna. My cousin... my cousin was a bunny, too. She--
 +
got overconfident, and went off by herself. If you ''did'' join, Itsuki, I would hope you wouldn't do something like that. That you'd let the combatants take attention off you, and run,
 +
and take the information back with you."
  
  
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The tin man waves a hand, and the Mask comes back up, zooping his snowdrops and petrichor back into the magical aether from whence they came. "It came undone when I turned into
+
Dielle shakes her head. "Rorschach's squad /are/ combatants. They're all fighters, they're just better at scouting. Doesn't mean they /can't/ fight. But y'all are welcome to come train
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air," he says with a shrug. "I mostly put it up because it's easier to get hurt and it's possible to cry and I didn't want to see Spring all over the place when all I wanted to do
+
with us anyway, we got a few sparring sessions set up in the next few weeks. And a new recruit, who don't know much about fighting beyond which end of the sword to hold. Nice girl, so
−
was explode." It's all so matter-of-fact. "I still don't. But it's also just a very useful lie and I hate lying. So: pros and cons."
+
long as she remembers to keep her thumb OUTSIDE her fist when hittin' someone."
  
  
−
"Oh! Well... no spring here, at least for a while," indeed, Ziv's flower bed is quite barren at the moment, as is the window box, in preparation for the colder season. Opening the
+
"I- I don't know. I was just asking." The monochromatic bun is obviously considering it *now* at least, looking up at the Polish man's description, features softening. "Oh. I'm sorry you
−
door, she steps inside to the comparatively very warm cabin, which carries with it the faint scent of cinnamon and other spices. "This, though, is a little more homey than a
+
lost your cousin." He offers the unicorn a grin, "Might watch, at least."
−
graveyard..."
+
  
  
−
"Well," whispers the wind, a laugh in its warm voice, "I'm not invisible, I'm the air. So fly away! I'd say we could play tag, but since I don't know where we're going, I'll just
+
"If you wanted to, you could come watch it with us," Haruki offers. "If you like watching things with people. I like that. The social aspect of watching something weekly. Hanging out with
−
follow you."
+
friends, with some good food, and drink, and watching something on tv we all enjoy. The discussions and anticipation leading up to the new episode. It's so much more fun with others." He
 +
looks curious as noncombatants are mentioned.. "Could I train with you too?" He looks sympathetic and echoes Itsy. "Sorry about your cousin."
  
  
−
A nod from Ziv and then she turns to call up, trilling, into the night air. One of the bats from above responds and drifts downwards in order to land on her shoulder. It's - perhaps
+
"Ooh, good to know," Czcibor says to Dielle, giving her an eyebrows-up fingergun. "Yet another instance of us really needing to talk about what the organization actually ''is'' as opposed
−
surprisingly - not the hedge beast that's almost certainly up there. A stroke of its back and then shadows seem to wrap around Ziv, warping - and then reducing her size. A quick
+
to what it is on paper. Gonna keep my mouth shut on it until we get a chance."
−
shake, and then the 'new' bat clambers upwards to take off, winging it into the air - but not so fast that air-Czcibor can't follow.
+
  
 +
Dielle and Czcibor are sitting at the dining room table, newspaper and a terribly amateur wood carving in progress on the table in front of the tin man, and Haruki and Itsuki are both
 +
standing near them, all four of them conversing.
  
−
Air-Czcibor is, thankfully, also considerably faster than non-air Czcibor. He is only a light spring breeze in the middle of the oncoming winter chill, but it's still much more
+
"I'd-- actually really like that," the metal man says, startled at the invitation. "I haven't gotten to watch anything with people in a long time, and it's ''lots'' of fun. And-- thanks.
−
freeing than literally leaden feet. He rises up into the sky and tracks specifically Ziv-bat, focus on her, and for now, like this, he can forget how full of sorrow and anger he is,
+
It's been a lot of years, but-- like I said, family is important. So... thank you." He defers the training questions to Dielle, glancing to her.
−
and just slight in ruffling fur and providing updrafts and downdrafts and flitting along beside and around and with Ziv and her gathering.
+
  
  
−
The bats do, in fact, all turn and follow the new one that's joining them from the ground. It could almost be a specific Contract, but this likely has (for the most part) a more  
+
Dielle says to the boys, "If you want to come train with us, you're both welcome to. I mean, obviously, I'd like to keep that to Freeholders only, but just maybe it'll get us a few more  
−
natural cause. Soon there's the whole swarm of them, drifting through the spring breeze created by Czcibor. If he counts, there's about fifteen or so total - give or take.
+
people. Although, admittedly, what we need are active people." She grins at them, and says to Czcibor, "Well, in this case, I've never seen the Irregulars NOT be able to fight, so what I
 +
understand them to be doesn't necessarily have much to do with how it started."
  
  
−
The Captain lets out a distinctly embarrassed laugh. "Yes, well, when feeling gothy, where better to goth out than a graveyard?" As he steps in behind Ziv, then
+
Haruki smiles at Czcibor, brightly. "We watch, um American Gods, when it's back on. And been watching Star Trek. And Game of Thrones, of course. And sometimes we just hang out and watch
−
closes the door behind him, he's already shrugging out of his coat: it ''is'' comparatively warmer, and a renewal of the heightened sensations of a body that's not
+
movies. And I've probably forgotten somethings we watch." He nods at Dielle. "We're both oathed. Itsy runs fast as anything. I'm... well I'm me. You know I'm not that good at much."
−
made of hollow-cast lead makes for distinctions in temperature. His silver eyes soften at, indeed, the hominess of the space. "Thank you for inviting me."
+
  
  
−
There are also, currently, icicle type lights draped along the upper bannister, which casts a soft glow over the cabin even before Ziv reaches over with her wingtip
+
Ahoy! It's a Waykeeper! A real honest to god Waykeeper in the Wayhouse! Logan comes in from the cold, bringing cold air into the mud room as he continues through into the rest of the
−
to flick on the lights and illuminate the... kitchen. So it's about half illuminated, leaving the rest in soft, pleasant light that's still partially shadow. "You're
+
Wayhouse proper. Once he does, of course, he also brings a whole lot of bright light with him. He's wearing a navy blue coat over a yellow and blue rugby-style striped sweater, paired
−
welcome," she chirrups, heading along into the kitchen before starting to fish around into the refrigerator. "It's why I have a nicer home in the first place, so I
+
with blue pants and white sneakers with yellow soles. A suitably cheerful smile is given to the whole group. "Hi, everybody. It's always good to see people assembled here in the Wayhouse."
−
can have company... make yourself at home, and um... Anything you want to talk about?"
+
  
−
In the meanwhile, she's taking out some milk and putting it into mugs.
 
  
 +
There's a nod to Dielle from Czcibor as he picks up his vodka-laden coffee and sips it again. "Paper versus performance, always." Then he grins at Haruki and Itsuki. "I'd love to. My
 +
contact info's tacked to the bulletin board-- just give me a call when you're planning on doing it next, and I'm in." When the door opens and lets in daylight from the nighttime along
 +
with the chilly air, the Elemental's suddenly shifting a little uncomfortably, biting his lip. 3... 2... 1...
  
−
Czcibor's quiet for a moment, losing himself in the icicle lights. It's not quite long enough a silence to be awkward, but his voice is really quiet when he ''does''
+
"Logan I'm sorry for being a social disaster the other day!" he blurts out, putting his hands on the table and half-standing. "It was... a bad day."
−
speak. "The second problem is just... stupid. I'll get over it. The first problem-- is-- I met a girl who I think lives in Fort Brunsett? I met her in the woods when
+
−
I was working up to the catch to turn into air, and I was just sitting on the mountainside near one of the entrances to the Looptrod. I'd just been killing
+
−
briarwolves with Vorpal..." He shakes his head, then moves over to the futon and sits on the edge of it, still holding his coat. "She looked exactly like an old
+
−
friend of mine. Someone I dated on and off, back in Vienna. Almost exactly like. Physically exact. A star-wolf, my friend had called herself, part wolf and part
+
−
Telluric... she had a similar way of speaking around her teeth, she had the same constellations, the same mannerisms... but it wasn't her. She said she didn't know
+
−
the girl I was talking about. She said she looked exactly like someone who was not... the girl I was talking about, but that it was not something to talk about,
+
−
there; we'd gone back into the hedge so she could claim some of the biggest briarwolf corpse..."
+
  
 +
That said, he realizes abruptly he was just now a social disaster again, and he clunks back into his chair and his metal hand clanks on his metal face as he drags it down it, mortified.
  
−
Ziv listens to this while she stirs in one packet of powdered hot chocolate, and then puts the first mug into the microwave, letting it run for a while. A few steps
 
−
are taken to put her nearer to Czcibor, and a little further away from the hum of the microwave, so that she can hear more easily. A small pinch comes to her brows, a
 
−
line forming at the center of her forehead - it's there, but hard to see, considering her short, black fur.
 
  
−
Rather than giving her thoughts at the moment, she gestures with a wing for Czcibor to continue, dark eyes on him.
+
Dielle reaches over to pat Haruki's arm, lightly, and withdraw again. "I'm ok at a lot of things and not great at most of them and I just ended up as Captain of the Harvestmen. Then
 +
again, I'm damn fine at delegating." She looks over and waves at Logan. "HEY! How the hell have you been? I'd wondered if you were still in town, I haven't seen you much!" She grins at
 +
her fellow Dawn. (Her mantle's rather stronger than it had been.) Then she turns to look at her newest Private and snickers. "This sounds like a story."
  
  
−
"...we used to be afraid," he finally says, voice low, not the resonant hum it is normally when this quiet. Just there, in the air with them, his words and his hands
+
"They are awesome, not bad!" Haruki tells Itsy with a smile. "But yeah, not the vampires and the werewolves. And not the demonhunting brothers." He nods at Logan. "Hello Logan. You and
−
clutching the wool of his coat. "The lot of us, who were lost and new to all of this, in Vienna. We used to be afraid of what could make one of us into one of Them.
+
Itsy know eachother? Logan does magic tricks," he tells Itsuki. His eyes go wide as Czcibor apologises to Logan, and then he looks concerned. He smiles at Dielle. "Delegating is important
−
We used to be afraid of what might make one of us finally snap. And we were afraid when we saw it happen to some of us in stages, piece by piece by piece, losing
+
too. And I think you're great at so much. Like being a friend, you're a great friend."
−
their minds or their hearts, and nothing we could do could stop it. No words we could say, no hopes or havens we could offer. She-- I knew her when she was human, and
+
−
I tried to protect her from those of us who wanted to keep her locked away for her own safety, but I couldn't. She was Taken by one of Them, and I was there when she
+
−
came back one of us." He looks up at Ziv, and his face is blank, and his eyes are distant. "I watched her go from small and afraid and powerless to one of the most
+
−
powerful among us, as I lost other friends in other ways, and as we all grew in power and scope, and lost the things that we treasured. When my brother got Taken
+
−
again, and my motley went after him... when I came back, she was gone, and so was her cat-man boyfriend."
+
  
−
He lets out a breath. "This girl looks exactly like her. And she says she looks like someone who is not my friend. And she doesn't like cats. And I know that if we
 
−
lose ourselves, we become Them. What are the odds, Ziv? And that this girl should be here, in Vermont, new, just after I arrived?"
 
  
 +
Logan's eyebrows raise briefly at Czcibor's little outburst. "I don't know what you're talking about, Captain." He pats a confident hand on Czcibor's arm. "I'm sure everything's fine. How
 +
are you feeling now?" Then he flashes his grin at Dielle. "Good to see you, Dielle. Congratulations on the promotion." Haruki and Itsuki get the smile next. "And good to see you too,
 +
Haruki. I'm not sure we have met, actually. I'm Logan." A golden hand is extended to Haruki as he asks the group, "What are you all talking about? Sounds like television."
  
−
Ziv continues to look thoughtful, not immediately answering what Czcibor says. Eventually, her voice is very soft as she answers, "I'd be... really, really careful
 
−
about this, Czcibor. In this case... it... it really sounds... fishy, in this case. Either she... could be the person and is lying, since... well." She kind of
 
−
gestures with a wing, in indication of Czcibor. What could that mean. "...It could be she doesn't remember... or it could be someone made to... look like her. To
 
−
trick you."
 
  
−
The last part is said very quiet, with an almost dire undercurrent to Ziv's tone. She seems about to continue, when the microwave chimes. That gets a blink, and then  
+
Itsuki nods, blinking out of his reverie and taking the offered hand, shaking it. "Itsuki. Nakamura Itsuki. It's nice to meet you. Um." Cheeks turn a bit silver as he looks back to  
−
she goes to take the mug out, and add another packet of hot chocolate powder to it, mixing it up with the spoon held between her thumb and the upper ridge of her
+
Haruki, processing something with a little frown as he leans in, squeezing the older Nakamura's other arm and then slipping away, "Be back in a minute!"
−
wing.
+
  
  
−
"I ''know''," the Captain says miserably, hunching over on the couch, putting his head in his hands. "You haven't even-- it's not to trick me. She's not her, and she
+
There is a little more sinking-into-chair; if Czcibor's not careful, he'll sink completely under the table. He chuffs out an echoey little laugh, then reaches out to very lightly punch
−
knows she's not her, she knows who she is. She has an accent from this area, even. I think it's worse. I think she's innocent, and that-- that the girl who was my
+
Dielle in the arm. "No story. Didn't you just hear the man? He has no idea what I'm talking about." Then he pushes himself up and waves to Itsuki, and smiles apologetically at Logan.
−
friend, she's one of Them now, and she took this girl and made her to look like her. And put her near me. I'm terrified that she might know where I am. I'm furious
+
"Yeah. I had a long talk with a friend afterwards, and she settled me out some on a problem I've been coping with. I just-- didn't want to--" He shakes his head and laughs. "It's not
−
that she might do this to an innocent girl. I'm-- I'm--"
+
important. Anyway, yeah, Haruki and his brother have invited me over to watch television with them, and it's been a while since I've gotten to do anything like that. They were just
 +
describing some of the shows they watch."
  
−
Ready to explode, as he'd said before. "She's so new. So young. This isn't her fault. She was hurt just as we were. Whoever she is, she survived it just as we did.
 
−
But she's too ''new'' to be Liane, this girl. She doesn't have the magic. But she has the same habits born of horror-- starving, being without-- and going for the
 
−
liver first if allowed at the guts. If she's a trap she doesn't know it."
 
  
 +
Dielle murmurs a quiet "Thanks" at Logan. She nods in agreement about the topic of conversation, but since she hasn't really been saying much in it, she doesn't feel like she needs to say
 +
anything more about it. She grins at the arm punch, and waves at Itsuki as he leaves.
  
−
Leaving her own mug of hot chocolate on the counter for the time being, Ziv circles around to where Czcibor is sitting and reaches out to try to take one of his
 
−
hands from him. If successful, she presses the mug into it, curling her own chilled, leathery wing around his fingers and holding it there. Her voice, when she
 
−
speaks, is incredibly soft - scarcely above a whisper but fervent. "It is -not- your fault. You... you can't control everything that happens, Chee. You can't do it...
 
−
you're just... part of this world like the rest of us. If you -could- control everything... you'd be one of Them, too."
 
  
 +
Haruki blushes at whatever Itsuki whispers at him. "Are you okay?" he asks Czcibor. He nods at Logan. "Yes. TV shows. What do you like watching?" he looks between both Logan and Dielle.
 +
He still looks curious as to what they're talking about, but doesn't pry. Then he looks over at Dielle. "You'll let us know when training is? I think it'd be good for Itsy to be able to
 +
defend himself. But I don't want him getting hurt."
  
−
The hand's successfully taken, the mug pressed into it, the wing curled around hand and mug both-- and bright, red-rimmed silver eyes, too canny, too ''aware'', and ''far'' too
 
−
present here in this moment as well as in too many others-- they look up to meet Ziv's warm gaze. "I know," he says heavily, "and that's how I get by. But sometimes it's too big.
 
−
Sometimes..."
 
  
−
He trails off and looks away, tightness around his eyes and breath caught in a lump in his throat. His voice is even quieter when he finally continues, still not looking up,
+
Logan pauses, hands in pockets, looking at Czcibor with an expression of patient amusement. His brows raise again, all sympathy as he nods his golden head. "Well. It's good to have
−
"...sometimes I think I must be part of the problem. Even-- determined as I am not to be like Them, not to ever, ever become one of Them, sometimes I think just connecting with
+
friends, isn't it?" Brilliant blue eyes linger on Czcibor's face for a moment longer before he focuses in on Haruki. "Well, I don't have as much time for teevee as I'd like, but there are
−
people at all is dangerous for them. Normal human beings and Lost ones alike. There's an entire year-- I don't remember at all. I don't know what I did, in it. I know I went mad.
+
a few things I watch. The Man in the High Castle's really good, and I also like Westworld and Mr. Robot. Guess I've always been a bit of a sci-fi fan." He laughs a little and moves to the
−
And I know I deliberately forgot why, so that I could claw my way back out. Whatever I did that was so bad... was ''that'' like Them? Did I kill someone? Did I kill someone to
+
kitchen in order to open the fridge, though he's still within earshot. Besides, he's back soon enough, a can of lemon LaCroix in hand -- which this Waykeeper always keeps stocked here.
−
prevent them from becoming one of Them? Because sometimes, in the blackest moments, it seems like that might be the only way to stop it."
+
  
−
His other hand comes up to wrap around Ziv's around his and he looks up quickly. "I wouldn't. I couldn't. Because until the moment it's too late, there's hope." And then his
 
−
expression is this horribly lost thing, falling down and battered and broken and how long has he been standing against thoughts like this? "It just keeps being too late."
 
  
 +
Dielle snickers. "I kinda mostly watch movies. And The Great British Baking Show." She looks proud of that and says, "I can't figure out how such a laidback show gets so damn TENSE."
  
−
For her part, Ziv listens, ears oriented towards Czcibor and very, very quiet while she does so. Most of it, what would she even say? It is possible, that even inexperienced as she
 
−
is, she knows what he's talking about - or understands it. Sometimes, when you've shut away entrenching yourself in higher functions, it becomes easier to understand some things.
 
  
−
"...If you did," she eventually says, very softly, keeping that melodic quality to her voice. "...You can't change it; and you probably shouldn't... all we can do is move forward.  
+
Haruki smiles at that. "Oh I watched that once. But I'm gluten free, so it was like torture. It's all the gluten everywhere." He looks at Logan. "Oh. I watched Westworld too. And I'll
−
Looking at the past is like... like being stuck in a trap. Quicksand, maybe. There isn't anything you can... really do with it, except let it hold you back. Keep you from growing.
+
maybe see the others. Only I don't want to watch nazis, not when there's so many around as it is."
−
Keep you from trying again."
+
  
−
Her tongue - mottled pink and black - slips out to wet her lips briefly before she continues, "I've... heard that you can't -really- make anyone do anything. Not really... I mean,
 
−
I guess there's certain masterminds and stuff... but on our level? We can't. There's always... part of them there that's going to do it." An ear twitch. "...You can try to save
 
−
someone. Pull them away from a path. But... if you do the best you can, and they still walk on it? It's... not your fault. Sometimes, things are just out of your hands." Which she
 
−
gives a squeeze, a strange feeling considering the spindly state of her fingers and the cold webbing between them.
 
  
 +
Patient. The idea that anyone has to be patient in dealing with him-- which is entirely his fault-- well. Czcibor shifts in his seat again. It's easier to cope with when he doesn't want
 +
someone to like him. Wanting that-- that makes everything more difficult. By stages, his mantle's gotten more confused in the presence of all the Dawn change; the flowers keep changing.
 +
Earlier spring, later spring, nearly summer, nearly winter-- and right now it's settled on snowdrops and petrichor, and he gives Logan a small, lopsided smile, and he just nods to the
 +
assertion. Then he starts cleaning up his mess, wrapping wood shavings and dust in yesterday's newspaper, and pocketing both pen-knife and terribly amateur unfinished carving. "I like My
 +
Drunk Kitchen," he says absently, "on youtube. I have to get going, though, I'm really sorry. Haruki-- call me, okay? Dielle, please please call me when you have a few minutes to go over
 +
stuff I need to know; I'll bring booze, just text me what kind you prefer. Or if you prefer something else. Logan-- good to see you again, and I definitely hope to catch you for more than
 +
a few minutes next time!" He crumples the paper, smiles, and goes to collect his coat, limping gait present but not pronounced today.
  
−
There's a very small laugh from the elemental on Ziv's couch, and he glances back up at her again, and finally, his eyes look a little less lost. He looks down at his cocoa, and
 
−
gently disentangles his hands from hers after the squeeze. "But," he says, smiling a little lopsidedly, "hot chocolate is ''not'' out of my hands."
 
  
−
He takes a careful sip, and after the heat of it startles him, the taste of it is savored tremendously. He actually visibly relaxes. "This is better than stupid cognac and stupid
+
Dielle nods at Czcibor and says, "Actually, I don't drink a lotta booze, but I'll be happy to have that talk over cake or pie or somethin'. I'll even supply it." She yawns and it's a big
−
filet mignon," he observes, tension melting away by stages. "I wouldn't want to ''make'' anyone do anything anyway. And-- you're right. About the past. Most of the time-- most of
+
yawn. "I think I'm actually gonna go, too. Haruki, I'll text you with the times, ok?" She gets up and grins at Logan and says, "Be nice to Haruki, yeah?" She doesn't say that like there's
−
the time I don't even think about it. It's just that sometimes something happens and I can't help it, and it ''is'' quicksand. And I miss so many people... but all I can do is be
+
any worry about it, though. "G'night, y'all."
−
the person they believed I am."
+
  
  
−
Ziv straightens out of the kneel she'd moved into, one wing stretching towards Czcibor in order to drape the first few fingers of it over his shoulder and allow him, however
+
Haruki's gaze flicks between Czcibor and Logan, back and forth as if he's trying to add something up. "I will. Definitely. Well text if that's okay? I prefer texts." He says to Dielle.  
−
temporarily, to wear it like a half-cape. "Yeah... and I -know- it's hard. I've... not even been out, or seen as much as you have... and I still feel it, too. I kind of worry over
+
"Goodbye! Thanks. I'll see you then." He then looks at Logan. "You going too?"
−
people. Feel... certain things..."
+
  
−
Allowing that to trail off, the batling shakes her head with a small puff of breath, before pushing a smile to her dark lips. "But... you can't let yourself drown, too. Some of
 
−
them... that's even what they may want. You may have believed them your friends in the past... but they aren't now... and they will hurt you. Or try to." Her voice grows more quiet
 
−
towards the end of that, where the volume had increased prior. A small squeeze with her spindly wing-fingers is given.
 
  
−
 
+
Logan flashes his beautiful grin to the people who are leaving. Just when he got here, too! Well, it is late. "Bye," he chirps, not really punctuating that with anything else. He sips his
−
Czcibor leans into that touch a little bit, still smiling, though it's even smaller now. "I know that, too," he says very softly. "I have killed Gentry who were once my friends. I
+
LaCroix and says to Haruki, "Probably soon, since it doesn't seem like anyone needs me. By the way, I wouldn't worry too much about the Nazis in The Man With the High Castle. It's all
−
know that too late ''is'' too late. That's-- it's why I mourn for them even if they still live -- because the people who were my friends are gone as surely as if they were lying in
+
just a fantasy. Nothing like real life."
−
the ground. But--"
+
−
 
+
−
His hands curl more tightly around the mug. "But they ''were'' my friends. If I stop believing that, or if I think I was misled or lied to, that's the path that starts turning into
+
−
no trust for anyone. That's the path that leads to insanity and murder, to preemptive, preventative deaths. And I won't. I won't do that. So I will mourn for my friends, and
+
−
whenever I find out about one-- I'll either go get drunk in a graveyard or I'll rampage through the hedge and kill briarwolves until my temper's out of my system. I don't know. Or
+
−
I'll cry on you, maybe," he finishes, looking up again with a much more wry smile.
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
Ziv sinks down onto the couch next to Czcibor, tucking her claws under and outwards, knees together. Thoughtfully, she puts her wings down on her knees, looking off around the room,
+
−
"...I think that's... a good way to handle it." It's said agreeably, as she leans over to nudge her shoulder against human-Czcibor's, while the Elemental's busy allowing himself to
+
−
feel and cry and whatever else he needs to do, at the moment. "You can... remember things, and wish that they'd turned out better... because there's hope there... but when you get
+
−
stuck..."
+
−
 
+
−
One ear turns, and she nods, dark eyes moving back over onto Czcibor's face. "...Thinking about how things could have been different, being... bitter. That's when things get bad.
+
−
Yeah. Sorrow's good, but only when it's kind of... I don't know. Transparent. Like ice." Leave it to the Winter. "Instead of all... black and confused and full of cracks and
+
−
everything."
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
"Sorrow's good when it's real, and when it adds to the clarity with which you see the world," agrees Czcibor then, looking at the steam rising from his cocoa. A different, more
+
−
distantly absent smile plays at his preoccupied face. "Nobody should be ruled by one emotion, anyway. But that's a conversation I have a lot." Finally, he focuses on Ziv again, and
+
−
he smiles for real. "I don't get bitter. I don't even like black coffee. Thank you, Zivka. You just fished me out of a very awkward hole."
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
"...Zivka?" wonders Ziv, curiously, when Czcibor calls her that - one of her ears twitches. She looks to be kind of interested, though, even if it doesn't appear immediately
+
−
familiar. A broader, brighter smile is given though and she offers up in answer, "You're welcome. I... I'm happy to do it." For just a second it looks as if she might say more, but
+
−
instead the little Beast pulls her knees up, talons grasping the edge of the cushion on the futon, and she just reiterates. "You're welcome."
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
Okay, now, there's a ''bright'' smile, laughter behind it. "Diminutive. A nickname, even if it makes your name longer. Like you called me Chee." A pause, and then concern. "Is that
+
−
okay?"
+
−
 
+
−
 
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"Yes!" It might be a little overly enthusiastic when Ziv says it. She clears her throat, giving a firm nod of her head once, and leans over to bump her shoulder against Czcibor's
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again. "It's fine."
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Latest revision as of 06:38, 26 November 2017

MT07 - Wayhouse - Nov 25

It's a couple days after Thanksgiving, and it's only chilly instead of outright cold, tonight. No snow, just grey skies not even bothering to loom threateningly-- maybe the clouds are tired or cranky or just not into it. Either way, it means the night's not pitch black, because the moon's lit the clouds up from behind, and in that strange light, everything outside is dark grey.

In contrast, the inside of the Wayhouse is warm and warmly lit, as welcoming and community-oriented as it ever is, and there's a man present who's recently taken to holing up there with various manual projects, at the dining room table, when he wants to be ostensibly social but doesn't want to go to the effort of seeking out company or subjecting himself to crowds.

Czcibor Kowal's in jeans and a nondescript zip-up maroon hoodie with hiking boots, a newspaper spread out on the table in front of him, and he's idly reading it as he carves into a split stick he's already stripped of bark. It doesn't look like it's something he's very good at, at all. But you don't get good at anything without practice, right?


Dielle comes into the Wayhouse. She's wearing that godawful sweater of hers, the one that's purple and green and scary shades of both. She doesn't have anywhere in particular she needs to be or any reason to be in the Wayhouse, she's just there because going to poke the bears in a different place doesn't sound like fun tonight. She sees Czcibor and calls out a hearty "Hey, there," to him.


The tin man looks up and grins. "Hey, Moon Princess," he says, setting the stick and the pen knife down, then reaching for his coffee as he looks her over-- and tries really hard not to look at her sweater. He sips his coffee, then sets it down as he tilts his head. "Captain Moon Princess, I mean. Are you okay?"


Dielle chuckles. "I'm just fine, Czcibor. Had to do some shopping today. I can trek in the Hedge for hours, but one trip through Costco just drains me. And on the weekend of Black Friday, too. This was after talkin' to a new girl, Peggy, and givin' a personal training session to an athlete" She gives a bit of a yawn and says, "How's your day been?"


"Eh," the Elemental says, wobbling his free hand and shrugging. "Quiet, which is good, I like quiet. Too much social drama and emotional friction the past few days. Really glad to just... not." He pauses, then reaches up to rub the back of his head. "I should have mentioned this before, but I-- I don't think I can go on the Ashen Hunt. I mean, if you need me there as a healer if any of our people get hurt, I can do that. I'll go as air. I don't know how they get organized around these parts, but the way they've been run in other freeholds I've been in..." He shakes his head. "Being terrifying and mob-chasing someone, or a group of someones-- mortals in this case... I just... I understand they need to die. But my brother was chased by the Wild Hunt. I can't... be the monsters that hunted him."


Dielle says, "You don't have to, Kowal. It's entirely voluntary. If you want, we can both go and sit on the sidelines and heal our people if they need it. Well, you can, I can just heal bruises and concussions and shit. I'm all for going and talking to these guys, or getting into a nasty brawl kinda thing, but...well, I ain't Autumn and it's not my scene, precisely." She sits down, and leans on the table and looks vaguely relieved that someone else shares her sentiments. "It's not even that I feel bad for these fuckers. They're murderers. But this ain't clean."


If Dielle looks relieved, Czcibor looks like her admission just took the world off his shoulders. All the hesitation drops away and he laughs, shoulders sagging, back thumping against the back of his chair. "Dzieki Bogu--! I thought it might be a requirement or something. It's-- there is a lot of Autumn that I admire fiercely. I am glad they are there to keep our lore and our magic; I am glad they are there to find ways to use the Gentry's magic against them-- but fear... fear is a blade with no hilt and no sheath. It's even easy for me to use-- and that's why it is so very important to me that I don't become it." Then he slouches down a little further and holds his mug in both hands, looking rueful. "And also, yes, it isn't clean."


Dielle smiles at Czcibor and it's a slow smile with as much relief as he has. "Don't know if it's because I'm me or because I was a unicorn. Or maybe it's the guy I'm with, and he just makes me want to be better than I am. But I prefer a clean fight and I'm not real happy that we're not gonna get to go back and have a chat with those guys. Shooting them in the head when they refuse to change is at least giving them a chance. They can fight back. This? Yeah, I really, really don't much like it."


There's a little tilt of his head again, and Czci's smiling a small, fond, lopsided little thing at Dielle. "I think it's probably because of who you are, if it's got you on a gut level like this." Then the smile fades and he looks into his coffee, which may or may not be laced with alcohol. "A clean fight is always preferable to assassination, and assassination preferable to murdering someone who's terrified and running from you because hell is literally on their heels. Because I'm me, I prefer-- when possible-- alternatives to death. A second chance with a sword of Damocles hanging above it, perhaps. Terror used as an educational tool rather than as cruelty in and of itself, and balanced with hope and knowledge. 'This is what could be done to you, but it won't be. You won't die if you never come after us again, if you leave. Or if you help us instead.' Rehabilitation. Pledge-binding. It's worked before-- but this isn't where I come from; I'm new here. This isn't my season. None of this is my call, and it shouldn't be." Then he looks up at Dielle again. "But if there's no other choice, then yes, let them at least go down fighting."


Dielle nods at Czcibor and says, thoughtfully, "I was gonna hold off on this, but I don't think I am, based on that speech. I'm promoting you to private in the Harvestmen. You've already shown you're effective in teamwork, which is the big thing, you can take orders as well as give them, and frankly, we need that. Especially since we're gonna need another Lieutenant, although I'm not promoting you to that, not yet. I want to see more before I do that." She looks pretty pleased, now.


Haruki's never completely comfortable at the wayhouse, but he's trying to get better. He's dragged Itsuki along with him today, if just to get out of the house and do something different. At least it's warm in here, unlike outside. "I still haven't found the books." He admits. "There's got to be books and information and, well it's not all online. Not that I can find, which is just as well since anyone would be able to read it then." He trails off at the sound of other voices, as he steps in to where they are.


Itsuki is dragged. The smaller Nakamura is slightly better dressed than last time anyone mighta seen him, wearing a new and comfortably warm looking oversized hoodie, and actual pants. He does look pretty glad at getting out of the cold, at least, shivering and looking actually interested. "Do... you think so? Is that a thing that they'd keep..." He trails off as they spot the other Lost. Offering a hesitant wave as he moves behind Aniki slightly.


To say that Czcibor looks... pole-axed... as the two boys are coming in would be an understatement. "I-- what, really? I feel like I just got here," he's saying to Dielle, blank eyes wide. "I'm honored, Captain. If there's anything you--" But they're actually coming in this direction, and the Pole's eyes flicker toward Haruki and his obvious brother, then back to Dielle like 'can we talk about this in front of them, is that okay?' but he's also lifting a hand in greeting, and smiling. "Is this the famed Itsy?" he calls with a laugh.


Dielle gives Czcibor a nod, and she says, "As far as I'm concerned, you've proven yourself, already, Kowal. Congratulations. I think...I think I'm gonna have to head up a squad myself, for a little while, but I'm gonna have to chat with Ashe and see what else I can do." She smiles and manages not to sigh. When Haruki and Itsuki walk in, she cuts herself off and turns to wave at them. "Hey, Haruki! How are you! And Itsuki, I haven't seen you in ages and ages! How are you both?"


"Czcibor, this is my baby brother, Itsuki," Haruki introduces them with a smile. "Are you okay?" He asks, concerned. "I can easy go, wander off elsewhere? We were looking for books." He smiles brightly at Dielle. "I'm good! You? It's so good to see you." He then glances at Czcibor. "Congratulations?"


Itsuki's nose twitches at the 'baby' brother line, but has long since started just ignoring it. Instead he waves again and then blinks at the greetings. "Famed? Uh. Hm. I guess I don't, um. Get out enough." The smaller twins offers an apologetic smile, "It's uh, nice to see you again though." This to Dielle, and then to Czcibor, "Um. It's nice to meet you, Cz..." He stumbles a little on the pronunciation of that one.


"...thanks, I think," the tin man says with a wry laugh. "But no, really, I'm glad you can trust me: it means I can be more useful. And maybe later you can give me a run-down of who's actually in which squad, since I know the intended organization in theory, but I haven't been able to figure out who actually does what beyond yourself and Rorschach." On the table in front of him is a truly amateur woodcarving in progress, with chips and shavings all over the newspaper he'd spread on the dining room table in front of himself. He grins at Haruki's introduction, and Itsuki's continuation. "Kowal," he laughs, and it's 'KO-val'. "Generally Captain Czcibor Kowal der Landeswehr, but-- now also Private Kowal of the Harvestmen. I am very glad you have found your brother, and that you are close. Family is important."


Dielle smiles at Czcibor and says, "I think that will be a good idea. But in the meantime, pardon me for a bit? I have to use the facilities. Sorry, everyone. Serves me right for eating Taco Bell." With that, she runs off into the bathroom.


Haruki nods at Czcibor. "Brothers are the best. Even baby ones." He moves to muss Itsuki's hair, affectionately. "This is Harvestmen things?" Is Kowal the name I should use, or Czcibor? I'm Nakamura Haruki, but Haruki's the name that's used." He looks curiously at the woodcarving. "What's that?" And then. "Czcibor has a hot air balloon? He's going to take me not to Oz, and I was going to invite Damion, because he's big and warm, and it's so cold, but Damion's busy."


Itsuki snorts, whapping as Aniki musses his already admittedly pretty messy hair, trying to look more grumpy than happy as he shrugs, "I suppose family is pretty okay." He concedes, clearing his throat and ah'ing as Dielle excuses herself. Waving and looking to the metal Pole, "Harvestmen? Are you guys like, an army?"


Wincing at poor Dielle's distress, Czcibor takes a sip from his doctored coffee and shakes his head at Haruki. "You can call me whatever's easiest. Czcibor is actually my middle name, and I've had so many nicknames in my life that it really doesn't matter. Kowal is even short for Kowalewicz. Ziv calls me Chee; my oathmate calls me Czcyk sometimes. I've spent the greater part of my adult life in Vienna, where calling people by their surnames is the norm, even friends-- so I am very very accustomed to being called Kowal." He glances at the carving in front of him and laughs. "That is me deciding to try a new hobby, one that doesn't involve either Star Trek novels or waving a sword around in the Hedge." Then he smiles and shrugs a little at Itsuki. "The Harvestmen are the defensive line for Fate's Harvest. Organized fighters. An army's generally rather bigger; this is more like a militia, as I understand it."


Haruki shakes his hread. "No, I should call you what you want to be called. That's so many names. I don't want to speak of more intimacy than I have with you, or be familiar if I'm not." His eyes light up. "OH! Are you watching the new star trek series? It's good to have lots of hobbies."


Dielle comes back and says, "Sorry about that! Don't be too quick to go in there. It's a little on the scary side. I refuse to give up meat entirely but I don't think my digestive system likes it all that much. Which is way, way more information than any of you wanted." She takes her seat back again and shuts up.


Itsy wrinkles his nose but looks sympathetic. "Yeah. Gave up meat before the changes anyway, but I really doubt I'd be able to handle any now. Had a few runs in just with dairy and. Um. Well. I can't eat dairy, anyway." The bun looks a bit embarrassed, looking back to the other conversation and nodding, "Oh, so you all drill and stuff? Militias aren't so much a thing back home."


"We're Veganish," Haruki says to Dielle. "My stomach doesn't agree with much. No gluten either." He admits. "So, well, I understand." He looks at Itsy. "You're not thinking of joining, are you? You'd get hurt. You're best and safest running away. You're so fast nothing can catch you."


"I don't watch a lot of TV," admits Czci, setting his coffee down and spreading his hands, then snorting at Dielle and just Not Commenting. He continues, "I'll probably binge-watch it when the season's over, though. I don't have the patience to wait a week between episodes. But I'm looking forward to it." He pauses, skipping over basically all the foodstuffs converstion, then squints at Haruki and Itsuki. "There is an entire squad of non-combatants. Which is amazing. It wasn't so, in Vienna. My cousin... my cousin was a bunny, too. She-- got overconfident, and went off by herself. If you did join, Itsuki, I would hope you wouldn't do something like that. That you'd let the combatants take attention off you, and run, and take the information back with you."


Dielle shakes her head. "Rorschach's squad /are/ combatants. They're all fighters, they're just better at scouting. Doesn't mean they /can't/ fight. But y'all are welcome to come train with us anyway, we got a few sparring sessions set up in the next few weeks. And a new recruit, who don't know much about fighting beyond which end of the sword to hold. Nice girl, so long as she remembers to keep her thumb OUTSIDE her fist when hittin' someone."


"I- I don't know. I was just asking." The monochromatic bun is obviously considering it *now* at least, looking up at the Polish man's description, features softening. "Oh. I'm sorry you lost your cousin." He offers the unicorn a grin, "Might watch, at least."


"If you wanted to, you could come watch it with us," Haruki offers. "If you like watching things with people. I like that. The social aspect of watching something weekly. Hanging out with friends, with some good food, and drink, and watching something on tv we all enjoy. The discussions and anticipation leading up to the new episode. It's so much more fun with others." He looks curious as noncombatants are mentioned.. "Could I train with you too?" He looks sympathetic and echoes Itsy. "Sorry about your cousin."


"Ooh, good to know," Czcibor says to Dielle, giving her an eyebrows-up fingergun. "Yet another instance of us really needing to talk about what the organization actually is as opposed to what it is on paper. Gonna keep my mouth shut on it until we get a chance."

Dielle and Czcibor are sitting at the dining room table, newspaper and a terribly amateur wood carving in progress on the table in front of the tin man, and Haruki and Itsuki are both standing near them, all four of them conversing.

"I'd-- actually really like that," the metal man says, startled at the invitation. "I haven't gotten to watch anything with people in a long time, and it's lots of fun. And-- thanks. It's been a lot of years, but-- like I said, family is important. So... thank you." He defers the training questions to Dielle, glancing to her.


Dielle says to the boys, "If you want to come train with us, you're both welcome to. I mean, obviously, I'd like to keep that to Freeholders only, but just maybe it'll get us a few more people. Although, admittedly, what we need are active people." She grins at them, and says to Czcibor, "Well, in this case, I've never seen the Irregulars NOT be able to fight, so what I understand them to be doesn't necessarily have much to do with how it started."


Haruki smiles at Czcibor, brightly. "We watch, um American Gods, when it's back on. And been watching Star Trek. And Game of Thrones, of course. And sometimes we just hang out and watch movies. And I've probably forgotten somethings we watch." He nods at Dielle. "We're both oathed. Itsy runs fast as anything. I'm... well I'm me. You know I'm not that good at much."


Ahoy! It's a Waykeeper! A real honest to god Waykeeper in the Wayhouse! Logan comes in from the cold, bringing cold air into the mud room as he continues through into the rest of the Wayhouse proper. Once he does, of course, he also brings a whole lot of bright light with him. He's wearing a navy blue coat over a yellow and blue rugby-style striped sweater, paired with blue pants and white sneakers with yellow soles. A suitably cheerful smile is given to the whole group. "Hi, everybody. It's always good to see people assembled here in the Wayhouse."


There's a nod to Dielle from Czcibor as he picks up his vodka-laden coffee and sips it again. "Paper versus performance, always." Then he grins at Haruki and Itsuki. "I'd love to. My contact info's tacked to the bulletin board-- just give me a call when you're planning on doing it next, and I'm in." When the door opens and lets in daylight from the nighttime along with the chilly air, the Elemental's suddenly shifting a little uncomfortably, biting his lip. 3... 2... 1...

"Logan I'm sorry for being a social disaster the other day!" he blurts out, putting his hands on the table and half-standing. "It was... a bad day."

That said, he realizes abruptly he was just now a social disaster again, and he clunks back into his chair and his metal hand clanks on his metal face as he drags it down it, mortified.


Dielle reaches over to pat Haruki's arm, lightly, and withdraw again. "I'm ok at a lot of things and not great at most of them and I just ended up as Captain of the Harvestmen. Then again, I'm damn fine at delegating." She looks over and waves at Logan. "HEY! How the hell have you been? I'd wondered if you were still in town, I haven't seen you much!" She grins at her fellow Dawn. (Her mantle's rather stronger than it had been.) Then she turns to look at her newest Private and snickers. "This sounds like a story."


"They are awesome, not bad!" Haruki tells Itsy with a smile. "But yeah, not the vampires and the werewolves. And not the demonhunting brothers." He nods at Logan. "Hello Logan. You and Itsy know eachother? Logan does magic tricks," he tells Itsuki. His eyes go wide as Czcibor apologises to Logan, and then he looks concerned. He smiles at Dielle. "Delegating is important too. And I think you're great at so much. Like being a friend, you're a great friend."


Logan's eyebrows raise briefly at Czcibor's little outburst. "I don't know what you're talking about, Captain." He pats a confident hand on Czcibor's arm. "I'm sure everything's fine. How are you feeling now?" Then he flashes his grin at Dielle. "Good to see you, Dielle. Congratulations on the promotion." Haruki and Itsuki get the smile next. "And good to see you too, Haruki. I'm not sure we have met, actually. I'm Logan." A golden hand is extended to Haruki as he asks the group, "What are you all talking about? Sounds like television."


Itsuki nods, blinking out of his reverie and taking the offered hand, shaking it. "Itsuki. Nakamura Itsuki. It's nice to meet you. Um." Cheeks turn a bit silver as he looks back to Haruki, processing something with a little frown as he leans in, squeezing the older Nakamura's other arm and then slipping away, "Be back in a minute!"


There is a little more sinking-into-chair; if Czcibor's not careful, he'll sink completely under the table. He chuffs out an echoey little laugh, then reaches out to very lightly punch Dielle in the arm. "No story. Didn't you just hear the man? He has no idea what I'm talking about." Then he pushes himself up and waves to Itsuki, and smiles apologetically at Logan. "Yeah. I had a long talk with a friend afterwards, and she settled me out some on a problem I've been coping with. I just-- didn't want to--" He shakes his head and laughs. "It's not important. Anyway, yeah, Haruki and his brother have invited me over to watch television with them, and it's been a while since I've gotten to do anything like that. They were just describing some of the shows they watch."


Dielle murmurs a quiet "Thanks" at Logan. She nods in agreement about the topic of conversation, but since she hasn't really been saying much in it, she doesn't feel like she needs to say anything more about it. She grins at the arm punch, and waves at Itsuki as he leaves.


Haruki blushes at whatever Itsuki whispers at him. "Are you okay?" he asks Czcibor. He nods at Logan. "Yes. TV shows. What do you like watching?" he looks between both Logan and Dielle. He still looks curious as to what they're talking about, but doesn't pry. Then he looks over at Dielle. "You'll let us know when training is? I think it'd be good for Itsy to be able to defend himself. But I don't want him getting hurt."


Logan pauses, hands in pockets, looking at Czcibor with an expression of patient amusement. His brows raise again, all sympathy as he nods his golden head. "Well. It's good to have friends, isn't it?" Brilliant blue eyes linger on Czcibor's face for a moment longer before he focuses in on Haruki. "Well, I don't have as much time for teevee as I'd like, but there are a few things I watch. The Man in the High Castle's really good, and I also like Westworld and Mr. Robot. Guess I've always been a bit of a sci-fi fan." He laughs a little and moves to the kitchen in order to open the fridge, though he's still within earshot. Besides, he's back soon enough, a can of lemon LaCroix in hand -- which this Waykeeper always keeps stocked here.


Dielle snickers. "I kinda mostly watch movies. And The Great British Baking Show." She looks proud of that and says, "I can't figure out how such a laidback show gets so damn TENSE."


Haruki smiles at that. "Oh I watched that once. But I'm gluten free, so it was like torture. It's all the gluten everywhere." He looks at Logan. "Oh. I watched Westworld too. And I'll maybe see the others. Only I don't want to watch nazis, not when there's so many around as it is."


Patient. The idea that anyone has to be patient in dealing with him-- which is entirely his fault-- well. Czcibor shifts in his seat again. It's easier to cope with when he doesn't want someone to like him. Wanting that-- that makes everything more difficult. By stages, his mantle's gotten more confused in the presence of all the Dawn change; the flowers keep changing. Earlier spring, later spring, nearly summer, nearly winter-- and right now it's settled on snowdrops and petrichor, and he gives Logan a small, lopsided smile, and he just nods to the assertion. Then he starts cleaning up his mess, wrapping wood shavings and dust in yesterday's newspaper, and pocketing both pen-knife and terribly amateur unfinished carving. "I like My Drunk Kitchen," he says absently, "on youtube. I have to get going, though, I'm really sorry. Haruki-- call me, okay? Dielle, please please call me when you have a few minutes to go over stuff I need to know; I'll bring booze, just text me what kind you prefer. Or if you prefer something else. Logan-- good to see you again, and I definitely hope to catch you for more than a few minutes next time!" He crumples the paper, smiles, and goes to collect his coat, limping gait present but not pronounced today.


Dielle nods at Czcibor and says, "Actually, I don't drink a lotta booze, but I'll be happy to have that talk over cake or pie or somethin'. I'll even supply it." She yawns and it's a big yawn. "I think I'm actually gonna go, too. Haruki, I'll text you with the times, ok?" She gets up and grins at Logan and says, "Be nice to Haruki, yeah?" She doesn't say that like there's any worry about it, though. "G'night, y'all."


Haruki's gaze flicks between Czcibor and Logan, back and forth as if he's trying to add something up. "I will. Definitely. Well text if that's okay? I prefer texts." He says to Dielle. "Goodbye! Thanks. I'll see you then." He then looks at Logan. "You going too?"


Logan flashes his beautiful grin to the people who are leaving. Just when he got here, too! Well, it is late. "Bye," he chirps, not really punctuating that with anything else. He sips his LaCroix and says to Haruki, "Probably soon, since it doesn't seem like anyone needs me. By the way, I wouldn't worry too much about the Nazis in The Man With the High Castle. It's all just a fantasy. Nothing like real life."

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