Difference between revisions of "Logs:The Wardens Sheppard"
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− | It's fairly early in the morning that people are told to arrive for the groups going out to explore the wild Hau'ula forest reserve. The bus waits out front, parked, quiet, so that it doesn't burn more gas than it has to. Weather reports coming in of Rain, that only looks like it'll get worse, have caused most to cancel on their plans for the tour, | + | It's fairly early in the morning that people are told to arrive for the groups going out to explore the wild Hau'ula forest reserve. The bus waits out front, parked, quiet, so that it doesn't burn more gas than it has to. Weather reports coming in of Rain, that only looks like it'll get worse, have caused most to cancel on their plans for the tour, so really not many people have arrived. Still, the tour guide waits, chilling out at an outdoor table and sipping on a cup of what smelled like heavenly tea. |
The notification that Grayson had received via carrier pixie was simple. A time, a place, namely the coffee shop in this strip mall. It was an indication that the White council was asking for a meeting. Especially since the seal on the note was decidedly that of the White Council's Warden sect. | The notification that Grayson had received via carrier pixie was simple. A time, a place, namely the coffee shop in this strip mall. It was an indication that the White council was asking for a meeting. Especially since the seal on the note was decidedly that of the White Council's Warden sect. | ||
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Who else would the Adventure Guide be, if not Owen? He sat at the table outside of the little cafe in the strip mall wearing a T-shirt that was the color of crisp, green leaves and bore, quite clearly, the icon for Outdoor Adventures, Ltd. in a pale shade of cream across the chest and at each shoulder. If that weren't enough to mark him as the outdoor enthusiast that he was, he also had on a pair of khaki cargo shorts with more pockets than flat space, and the drawstring of a floppy, sun-blocking, adventurers hat was pressed along the front of his neck, holding the hat that hung down along his back between his shoulder blades. Naturally, his boots were likely a set featured in 'Outdoor Lovers' magazine within the last year, and built tough, designed for days and days of hiking without wearing down the tread or the heels of the foot. His skin had been tanned a dark, toasted, almond color from his time spent outdoors. He lifted a hand to the couple sitting at the nearby table, and his smile seemed to indicate that he recognized them. Rather than bug them, though, he took a sip of his hot tea and looked over at where Ink had arrived for the tour, despite the weather warning. "Aloha over there, are you here for the tour? You must be brave, so far everyone's cancelled on account of the rain on the Windward side." Owen's voice was warm, decidedly mid-western American, and also rather amused. It would seem that Rain stopping people from hiking all day on Hawaii made little sense to the man. | Who else would the Adventure Guide be, if not Owen? He sat at the table outside of the little cafe in the strip mall wearing a T-shirt that was the color of crisp, green leaves and bore, quite clearly, the icon for Outdoor Adventures, Ltd. in a pale shade of cream across the chest and at each shoulder. If that weren't enough to mark him as the outdoor enthusiast that he was, he also had on a pair of khaki cargo shorts with more pockets than flat space, and the drawstring of a floppy, sun-blocking, adventurers hat was pressed along the front of his neck, holding the hat that hung down along his back between his shoulder blades. Naturally, his boots were likely a set featured in 'Outdoor Lovers' magazine within the last year, and built tough, designed for days and days of hiking without wearing down the tread or the heels of the foot. His skin had been tanned a dark, toasted, almond color from his time spent outdoors. He lifted a hand to the couple sitting at the nearby table, and his smile seemed to indicate that he recognized them. Rather than bug them, though, he took a sip of his hot tea and looked over at where Ink had arrived for the tour, despite the weather warning. "Aloha over there, are you here for the tour? You must be brave, so far everyone's cancelled on account of the rain on the Windward side." Owen's voice was warm, decidedly mid-western American, and also rather amused. It would seem that Rain stopping people from hiking all day on Hawaii made little sense to the man. | ||
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− | "Aloha kakahiaka," Shep extended the greeting as a matter of good natured reflex. He watched as his wife added sugar to her coffee. "Not a day over 85? I'm no so sure you need to be adding anymore | + | "Aloha kakahiaka," Shep extended the greeting as a matter of good natured reflex. He watched as his wife added sugar to her coffee. "Not a day over 85? I'm no so sure you need to be adding anymore sweeteners to your coffee, seems like you're doing just fine on your own." The man smiled as he resettled on his chair, "Because the one day I forget to ask is going to be the one day it's not there when I need it." When his eyes picked Grayson out, his brow came together in concentration. "Makes me wonder how people don't find themselves a case of spontaneous combustion... When was that? '63? Not the Pele smiting, but the Kapohoikahiola human confetti situation?" |
− | Jo gave Shep the most adorably twitterpated smile. "Remind me to repay that with a compliment you really deserve when there aren't other eyes in the immediate area, Shep." She glanced down at the bag in question, then back at Shep, eyes twinkling with good humor. "At least it's not my memory you're testing, but your own. I never was one to be against self-awareness." She looked over at Grayson when Shep called him to her attention, though she'd obviously already checked him over when he walked into the shop. She shrugged slightly, then winced and gave a little shudder. "That was a nightmare. And far worse than the Pele smiting." Jo continued to peer at Grayson as she lifted her coffee cup and took a sip, her hands steady as a rock despite the fact that she was older. "Are we taking bets on | + | Jo gave Shep the most adorably twitterpated smile. "Remind me to repay that with a compliment you really deserve when there aren't other eyes in the immediate area, Shep." She glanced down at the bag in question, then back at Shep, eyes twinkling with good humor. "At least it's not my memory you're testing, but your own. I never was one to be against self-awareness." She looked over at Grayson when Shep called him to her attention, though she'd obviously already checked him over when he walked into the shop. She shrugged slightly, then winced and gave a little shudder. "That was a nightmare. And far worse than the Pele smiting." Jo continued to peer at Grayson as she lifted her coffee cup and took a sip, her hands steady as a rock despite the fact that she was older. "Are we taking bets on timeliness today, or are we going to just accept the fact that I always win?" |
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− | While Jo was dressed comfortably in a pair of light, linen pants and a matching, linen shirt that closed with a drawstring up the front, and could fully well have been photographed for a Tai Chi company advertisement, there was still that air of awareness about her that didn't quite scream 'most relaxed | + | While Jo was dressed comfortably in a pair of light, linen pants and a matching, linen shirt that closed with a drawstring up the front, and could fully well have been photographed for a Tai Chi company advertisement, there was still that air of awareness about her that didn't quite scream 'most relaxed sexagenarian in the world'. Reaching down into her tote that had been set next to her seat, she pulled out a soft, gray, fold of fabric that seemed well worn to the point it likely felt light as a breeze. Still, that fabric was unfolded to reveal that it was a shawl, and she slid it over her shoulders, then around herself, giving Shep a grin that grew into a smirk. Jo was chuckling openly at his 'bandana' as she adjusted her long, silver and pale gray streaked hair to be out from under the gray shawl, allowing the thick, softly curling mass to settle. Upon closer inspection, the 'shawl' had symbols and runes stitched into it, small, almost invisible against the fabric as they were done in the same shade of grey. "Hanging out the welcome sign is always a good way to get things going. Especially when people are early." She looked at Grayson meaningfully after she spoke, then took another sip of her coffee. |
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Ink raises an eyebrow as he hears the distinctly English voice from Grayson, looking over for a moment and figuring it must be a meeting of the Masons or something. Looking back to Owen, his smile disappears and he nods slowly. "I were in the dodgier area at the time, got lost looking for cough syrup. You know how it is." He shrugs again, not quite willing to meet Owen's eye at this point. | Ink raises an eyebrow as he hears the distinctly English voice from Grayson, looking over for a moment and figuring it must be a meeting of the Masons or something. Looking back to Owen, his smile disappears and he nods slowly. "I were in the dodgier area at the time, got lost looking for cough syrup. You know how it is." He shrugs again, not quite willing to meet Owen's eye at this point. | ||
− | "So... anyway, that's where I see your friend. She were negotiating to get into a club and I thought I'd hang around for a bit, make sure she were alright and that." He takes a breath, meeting Owen's eyes for a fleeting moment. "As I said, she looked strung out. | + | "So... anyway, that's where I see your friend. She were negotiating to get into a club and I thought I'd hang around for a bit, make sure she were alright and that." He takes a breath, meeting Owen's eyes for a fleeting moment. "As I said, she looked strung out. Anyway, she gets into this 'club' and points out a way for me to get in which I thought were nice of her. It were like free drugs and sex inside but with the fittest of birds. No wonder it were exclusive and all that. Could do with out the bed bugs or what ever it were though, fucking bites itch like buggery." For some reason known only to Ink, his accent is wandering away from Welsh and heading to Yorkshire territory. |
"Anyways, that were I last saw her, I remember something about get a bunk for her being important but I were otherwise distracted by a lass who were sitting in me lap." If Ink's back stiffens when he hears the word 'Warden' mentioned, he tries to hide it, the tattooed man taking a sip from his drink to calm his nerves. Turning his head, he looks to Jo, or at least her forehead and nods. "Sure, the lad could probably do with a brandy and I were going anyway. Got to see a man about a dog and all that. Nice to see you again Owen, I hope peace finds you and all that." | "Anyways, that were I last saw her, I remember something about get a bunk for her being important but I were otherwise distracted by a lass who were sitting in me lap." If Ink's back stiffens when he hears the word 'Warden' mentioned, he tries to hide it, the tattooed man taking a sip from his drink to calm his nerves. Turning his head, he looks to Jo, or at least her forehead and nods. "Sure, the lad could probably do with a brandy and I were going anyway. Got to see a man about a dog and all that. Nice to see you again Owen, I hope peace finds you and all that." | ||
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− | Owen looked at Ink, his jaw slowly dropping as he listened to the man go on about the night he'd run into Max. He stared at Ink, still gaping, his eyes having gone wide. "Wait... Maybe I'm just completely out of my element here, but NONE of that struck you as a problem?" Owen had managed to shut his gaping maw, but his eyes were still at risk of rolling into the back of his head and searching for an oncoming | + | Owen looked at Ink, his jaw slowly dropping as he listened to the man go on about the night he'd run into Max. He stared at Ink, still gaping, his eyes having gone wide. "Wait... Maybe I'm just completely out of my element here, but NONE of that struck you as a problem?" Owen had managed to shut his gaping maw, but his eyes were still at risk of rolling into the back of his head and searching for an oncoming aneurysm when he heard Shep. Turning to look at the Warden, he nodded once, though it took a moment for him to realize what he was saying yes to. As an afterthought, he managed to blink and moved to stand with a jerky movement as if he'd been surprised that his body moved at all. "Crap... so she's somewhere having sex and drugs... and the same bugs that bit you? Let me..." He looked at Ink's neck, more closely, more focused, and only then did he go completely pale under his tan, leaving himself wan and washed out against his shirt. Turning to look at Jo, then Shep, he motioned to Ink. "You probably want to talk to him, too, honestly." But he walked over after grabbing his tea, and took a seat to the right of Shep, settling his tall frame heavily into the chair, brow furrowed in thought and now liberally laced with utmost concern. |
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"People wanting to have sex with me and give me drugs is not as rare as you might think butty. I'd draw your memory back to that time on the beach and remind you that even your knickers were wet after I got moving." Ink raises his chin a little with this, looking at Owen and then his eyebrows raise as the man heads over to the other table. Not being deaf, he has at least heard some of what has been going on and Owen's reaction wasn't hard to miss either although it could be confused with concern for his friend. | "People wanting to have sex with me and give me drugs is not as rare as you might think butty. I'd draw your memory back to that time on the beach and remind you that even your knickers were wet after I got moving." Ink raises his chin a little with this, looking at Owen and then his eyebrows raise as the man heads over to the other table. Not being deaf, he has at least heard some of what has been going on and Owen's reaction wasn't hard to miss either although it could be confused with concern for his friend. | ||
− | Reaching under the table, Ink gets a good hold on his backpack and then gets to his feet, letting the chair slide noisily backwards as he gets his bulk upright. The offer from Shep gets little initial reaction from Ink, some confusion perhaps but he does find himself having to turn away from his gaze. Tilting his head, he looks to Jo as the offer is repeated and he has to think for a few moments before curiosity | + | Reaching under the table, Ink gets a good hold on his backpack and then gets to his feet, letting the chair slide noisily backwards as he gets his bulk upright. The offer from Shep gets little initial reaction from Ink, some confusion perhaps but he does find himself having to turn away from his gaze. Tilting his head, he looks to Jo as the offer is repeated and he has to think for a few moments before curiosity overrides his other instincts. Walking forward first hesitantly and then with more purpose, Ink smiles to those at the table as he takes a seat, his eyes flicking upwards as he racks his brains to recall his sins like a child waiting outside a headmaster's office. "Isn't this lovely?" He says with a forced smile as he settles at the table, putting on his best 'visit to the grandparents' etiquette but still finding himself reaching for a cigar from a pocket in his vest. |
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− | Owen couldn't really have gotten much paler, and it left the tan of his skin looking like an oil stain on parchment, even as he took another long swallow of his hot tea, draining the cup. "It's not that I don't think you'd get plenty of either, Ink. Not at all, it's that I can't believe you thought everything going on there was alright. And there's that part in my brain that's screaming that you left her there." He shook his head. "Not that she's in any way yours to watch or take care of, it's just that part of me that would be getting the crap slapped out of me by my mom if she'd heard I'd done the same thing." He rubbed his hand along his face, then looked at the paper Grayson had slid over, then looked at the two Wardens with a realization that literally dawned on him in such an obvious way it could have caused a cartoon | + | Owen couldn't really have gotten much paler, and it left the tan of his skin looking like an oil stain on parchment, even as he took another long swallow of his hot tea, draining the cup. "It's not that I don't think you'd get plenty of either, Ink. Not at all, it's that I can't believe you thought everything going on there was alright. And there's that part in my brain that's screaming that you left her there." He shook his head. "Not that she's in any way yours to watch or take care of, it's just that part of me that would be getting the crap slapped out of me by my mom if she'd heard I'd done the same thing." He rubbed his hand along his face, then looked at the paper Grayson had slid over, then looked at the two Wardens with a realization that literally dawned on him in such an obvious way it could have caused a cartoon light bulb to show up over his head. "No... oh. No." Disquiet danced around the young man like a cloud, palpable even if it wasn't particularly visible. "I have to go get her. I can't say for sure, but she was really mad about what had happened to those two men we found dead in the woods from the Reds. I don't think she'd take too well to being one herself. Not if she had a choice about it." Owen pulled the hat off, as if the light line across his neck was choking him. Shoving the flexible thing into his back pocket, he seemed to be trying to center himself enough to think instead of simply react. Even if he was getting blown away a little so far this morning. |
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− | "What on earth is a 'by the mouth of a river' dragon if not a water dragon, I ask you." Jo said this to Shep and shook her head, grumbling under her breath with a smile at the pure absurdity. Her fingers moved slightly and the air seemed to shimmer around them, for the | + | "What on earth is a 'by the mouth of a river' dragon if not a water dragon, I ask you." Jo said this to Shep and shook her head, grumbling under her breath with a smile at the pure absurdity. Her fingers moved slightly and the air seemed to shimmer around them, for the briefest moment, as Jo threw up a protective sheath that would garble their words and anything they were reading, just in case. "By the mouth of a river dragon..." She took a moment to have a swallow of her lightly sweetened coffee while leaning forward a little and peering at Grayson's notepad while Shep flipped through it. Jo then looked at Grayson and nodded to him. "Nicely done. And at the time, you just saw one or two, no more of the Reds? I wouldn't be shocked if there were more. They tend to congregate anywhere they can in these dingy areas. They do like the lower stratta." When Shep mentioned the twins, Jo nodded her head, then looked back at Ink. "When you left, was this girl alright? I'm sure the evening is a bit of a blur." She examined Ink's face, then reached to her plate, picked up a chocolate chip cookie, and held it out toward Ink with a gentle smile. "Have a cookie, I'm sure you need some extra sugars after giving up some of your blood." |
"I don't recall much odd going on to be honest. They gave me some Oxy which must have been laced with LSD or something and after that it were a wild ride but I didn't feel unsafe. There were plenty of strung out people there but no one being hurt that I could see. It were more a concert orgy, with the society folk looking for a bit of the old rough." | "I don't recall much odd going on to be honest. They gave me some Oxy which must have been laced with LSD or something and after that it were a wild ride but I didn't feel unsafe. There were plenty of strung out people there but no one being hurt that I could see. It were more a concert orgy, with the society folk looking for a bit of the old rough." | ||
− | Ink takes a settling breath, looking over to Owen and considering him for a few moments, battling with keeping his face emotionless and failing somewhat. "I suppose I could have taken her out of there but I'd have been robbing her of any agency if I'd done so, you dig? I get punks, I really do. They're kinda like hippies just more | + | Ink takes a settling breath, looking over to Owen and considering him for a few moments, battling with keeping his face emotionless and failing somewhat. "I suppose I could have taken her out of there but I'd have been robbing her of any agency if I'd done so, you dig? I get punks, I really do. They're kinda like hippies just more spiky and with a lot more gobbing. I'm hardly going to go all establishment on her, especially just because she were a lass. That sort of talk will get yer teeth rattled in the wrong circles." He says this all softly, not wanting to upset the man further and trying to emphasize that he really didn't see anything terrible going on. |
− | Ink looks over from Owen to Shep but struggles to follow the conversation, finding himself nodding along anyway much in the manner one does when trying to follow the ramblings of someone talking about their invisible friend, a mix of politeness and just enough surprise when needed. The same attention is given to Jo although Ink can't help but notice when she casts a ward. The real shock is when she mentions blood loss. "My what now?" unconsciously, he finds himself reaching for a cookie. "I remember a bit of a commotion at one point by my view were blocked by the last who were erm sitting in my lap. If anything, they seem concerned about her | + | Ink looks over from Owen to Shep but struggles to follow the conversation, finding himself nodding along anyway much in the manner one does when trying to follow the ramblings of someone talking about their invisible friend, a mix of politeness and just enough surprise when needed. The same attention is given to Jo although Ink can't help but notice when she casts a ward. The real shock is when she mentions blood loss. "My what now?" unconsciously, he finds himself reaching for a cookie. "I remember a bit of a commotion at one point by my view were blocked by the last who were erm sitting in my lap. If anything, they seem concerned about her well-being if that helps?" Taking the cookie, Ink munches on it quietly as he tries to figure out what is going on. |
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− | Owen rubbed his face and looked at Ink, his expression baleful for a moment. "Of course they're concerned about her | + | Owen rubbed his face and looked at Ink, his expression baleful for a moment. "Of course they're concerned about her well-being, because they're vampires. And she's likely either going to be dinner for however long they want to keep her, or she's going to end up one of them if they turn her. One of them bit you, left those marks on your neck, and all you can remember is a wild ride. If she turns? it's not just a wild ride, Ink, man. It's the end of her wild life as she knows it." Owen shook his head and took a moment, attempting to reduce the level of his distraught thoughts down to something he could handle at the moment. Looking at Shep, Owen just nodded his head a couple of times before he could talk. "I'd like to help, any way I can. At least she knows me, so hopefully if I went in there to help get her out she wouldn't fight me on it. Or at least not so hard." He looked around the table at those gathered, worry shading his eyes. "Wait, we are going to try to get people out first, right? Not just... " Owen waggled his fingers and made a 'fzzzzzzit' sound. "Right?" He looked over at Grayson then and nodded, licking his lips. "Thank you for that, really. I just can't help but feeling like... I'm going to break out of my skin. I guess I'm not doing so well thinking of a friend stuck in that." |
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− | Jo sighed softly, looking at Ink with obvious compassion. "When things like this happen, it's often something we never expect. Nor do we ever know quite how to deal with appropriately. Especially right away. You might find you have nightmares. You might find you don't. Everyone is different. But blood loss, well, it effects everyone the same on a cellular level. Your body needs sugars and hydration. It'll help you get through the | + | Jo sighed softly, looking at Ink with obvious compassion. "When things like this happen, it's often something we never expect. Nor do we ever know quite how to deal with appropriately. Especially right away. You might find you have nightmares. You might find you don't. Everyone is different. But blood loss, well, it effects everyone the same on a cellular level. Your body needs sugars and hydration. It'll help you get through the after fog, and help the the reproduction of the blood." She looked at Grayson then and smiled, giving him a solid nod. "We'll see if we can't scout out a way to get in. Are there any others in your hunting party? Or are you all we'll be seeing from your side of the fence, Jim?" She then looked back at Shep and smiled, leaning over a bit to take his hand with hers and squeeze. "At the very least Io will find it interesting, and a challenge. He always enjoys poking at them when he gets a chance without actually having to up heave the entire balance of the island. Righteousness really is his middle name. Almost as bad as a holy roller, without the big white beard behind him." Amusement had Jo's eyes crinkling at the corners and a smile on her lips, which she offered to Ink and Owen. "Don't worry Owen, you can come and help. It'll be good for you to get an idea of how some things have to work here on the island. Otherwise, I'd be far too keen on the idea of Jim's napalm. If I could do that, I would have been a happy woman long ago. I figure I've had to live this long to endure my disappointments and find pleasure in the small victories." |
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− | "Either way Owen, I'm certainly willing to help if you come up with an idea that doesn't turn me into a combination | + | "Either way Owen, I'm certainly willing to help if you come up with an idea that doesn't turn me into a combination blood bank and smack-head." Ink pauses as Grayson leaves, returning his look with a blank one of his own. |
He watches the exchange between Shep and Jo, his eyes glossing over occasionally but certain words sticking out. "Illusions and veils would certainly be an easier way. Erm..." Ink's head dips for a moment as he thinks back to that day. "A lot of the folk in there were quite out of it, I don't know if marching them all out will be easy. I mean, with Owen's friend I'm confident either him or I could get her out of town right sharpish but it might not be subtle. Although I do get that them keeping the young lass would be terrible at this point. You do all seem to know what you're doing though, so there is that.!" Ink grins with this, always happy to find the silver lining. | He watches the exchange between Shep and Jo, his eyes glossing over occasionally but certain words sticking out. "Illusions and veils would certainly be an easier way. Erm..." Ink's head dips for a moment as he thinks back to that day. "A lot of the folk in there were quite out of it, I don't know if marching them all out will be easy. I mean, with Owen's friend I'm confident either him or I could get her out of town right sharpish but it might not be subtle. Although I do get that them keeping the young lass would be terrible at this point. You do all seem to know what you're doing though, so there is that.!" Ink grins with this, always happy to find the silver lining. | ||
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"I'm obviously missing stuff here and so a beer and chat could be just what the doctor ordered. Sounds like a plan to be butty!" With perhaps more cheerfulness than her feels, Ink gets to his feet also, grabbing his backpack once more but this time slinging it over his shoulder. Taking a moment then to straighten out his shirt, he offers a nod and a smile to both Shep and Jo. "I'll be sure to let someone know if I get any especially odd cravings. It were erm... possibly twenty hours at a guess? I may have lost a day someone though, it's been emotional." Ink nods again as Shep goes on, his smile returning more genuinely now. "I'm real glad to hear it, thanks." He offers Jo a big, toothy smile. "I'll keep busy and at least for tonight, Owen has offered to keep me busy. Thank you for the cookie!" He steps back and watches as they take their belongings off, trying not to think to hard about what is in the Cricket bags. | "I'm obviously missing stuff here and so a beer and chat could be just what the doctor ordered. Sounds like a plan to be butty!" With perhaps more cheerfulness than her feels, Ink gets to his feet also, grabbing his backpack once more but this time slinging it over his shoulder. Taking a moment then to straighten out his shirt, he offers a nod and a smile to both Shep and Jo. "I'll be sure to let someone know if I get any especially odd cravings. It were erm... possibly twenty hours at a guess? I may have lost a day someone though, it's been emotional." Ink nods again as Shep goes on, his smile returning more genuinely now. "I'm real glad to hear it, thanks." He offers Jo a big, toothy smile. "I'll keep busy and at least for tonight, Owen has offered to keep me busy. Thank you for the cookie!" He steps back and watches as they take their belongings off, trying not to think to hard about what is in the Cricket bags. | ||
− | Only when the jeep is in the distance does Ink turn back to Owen, slapping an arm around his shoulders. " | + | Only when the jeep is in the distance does Ink turn back to Owen, slapping an arm around his shoulders. "Preparation and beer sounds like a fantastic idea. Hell, we can keep each other for doing anything stupid. Okay, anything stupid with regards to down town, anything else, I'm not making any promises." Taking a last look over his shoulder, he looks back to Owen. "How fast can you run anyway?" |
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Latest revision as of 22:25, 19 June 2018
The Wardens Sheppard | |
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To handle the Reds, you need a plan. | |
Dramatis Personae | 29 May, 2009 Grayson gets a meeting with the Wardens, though others end up being involved. |
Location
Honolulu, Downtown Stripmall |
Plot(s) |
It's fairly early in the morning that people are told to arrive for the groups going out to explore the wild Hau'ula forest reserve. The bus waits out front, parked, quiet, so that it doesn't burn more gas than it has to. Weather reports coming in of Rain, that only looks like it'll get worse, have caused most to cancel on their plans for the tour, so really not many people have arrived. Still, the tour guide waits, chilling out at an outdoor table and sipping on a cup of what smelled like heavenly tea. The notification that Grayson had received via carrier pixie was simple. A time, a place, namely the coffee shop in this strip mall. It was an indication that the White council was asking for a meeting. Especially since the seal on the note was decidedly that of the White Council's Warden sect. Sitting at a table not 30 feet from the Adventure guide were two rather mellow looking individuals. They definitely seemed to be a couple, as they spoke comfortably and quietly with one another, were of similar age, had the crows feet you get from years of smiling together, and would occasionally touch one another on the hand or arm while they set up their morning coffee. Easily in their mid to late 50's, the two seemed to have taken to the Hawaiian way of life without a care, and even sat leaned back in their seats. Despite the gray hair and obvious aging, there is also a youth about the two of them that seemed to permeate the air.
Puffing away on a cigar, Ink looks quite fit for the part, although that part is possibly the villain in some sort of B movie, either way he seems to be quite relaxed as he rests against a wall, slightly off from the rest of the tour group. A small backpack lies at his feet, lunch supplies and probably some other essentials that he couldn't do with out. A pair of mirrored sunglasses does a good job at hiding his eyes but doesn't help to dissuade people that he's about to drop a hero into a crocodile put.
Ink continues to look around the square, getting a look at the others who are willing to take this trek in less than perfect weather. He does spot Grayson although that isn't too difficult, Ink's head tilting to one side as he tries to work out just how he is functioning in the island heat while wearing all black. A soft nod is offered to the man, one of recognition although to be fair, Ink is struggling to place the man, some distant memory in the past no doubt.
Leaning back in his chair, he casts his gaze around the square, getting a quick look at Shep and Jo and nodding in appreciation of their decorative scarves. "Nice that, good craftsmanship. Prefer Celtic myself though of course." Of offers them a smile before looking back to Owen. "Sorry to drop all this on you mate but I figured you should know."
"So... anyway, that's where I see your friend. She were negotiating to get into a club and I thought I'd hang around for a bit, make sure she were alright and that." He takes a breath, meeting Owen's eyes for a fleeting moment. "As I said, she looked strung out. Anyway, she gets into this 'club' and points out a way for me to get in which I thought were nice of her. It were like free drugs and sex inside but with the fittest of birds. No wonder it were exclusive and all that. Could do with out the bed bugs or what ever it were though, fucking bites itch like buggery." For some reason known only to Ink, his accent is wandering away from Welsh and heading to Yorkshire territory. "Anyways, that were I last saw her, I remember something about get a bunk for her being important but I were otherwise distracted by a lass who were sitting in me lap." If Ink's back stiffens when he hears the word 'Warden' mentioned, he tries to hide it, the tattooed man taking a sip from his drink to calm his nerves. Turning his head, he looks to Jo, or at least her forehead and nods. "Sure, the lad could probably do with a brandy and I were going anyway. Got to see a man about a dog and all that. Nice to see you again Owen, I hope peace finds you and all that."
Reaching under the table, Ink gets a good hold on his backpack and then gets to his feet, letting the chair slide noisily backwards as he gets his bulk upright. The offer from Shep gets little initial reaction from Ink, some confusion perhaps but he does find himself having to turn away from his gaze. Tilting his head, he looks to Jo as the offer is repeated and he has to think for a few moments before curiosity overrides his other instincts. Walking forward first hesitantly and then with more purpose, Ink smiles to those at the table as he takes a seat, his eyes flicking upwards as he racks his brains to recall his sins like a child waiting outside a headmaster's office. "Isn't this lovely?" He says with a forced smile as he settles at the table, putting on his best 'visit to the grandparents' etiquette but still finding himself reaching for a cigar from a pocket in his vest.
Ink takes a settling breath, looking over to Owen and considering him for a few moments, battling with keeping his face emotionless and failing somewhat. "I suppose I could have taken her out of there but I'd have been robbing her of any agency if I'd done so, you dig? I get punks, I really do. They're kinda like hippies just more spiky and with a lot more gobbing. I'm hardly going to go all establishment on her, especially just because she were a lass. That sort of talk will get yer teeth rattled in the wrong circles." He says this all softly, not wanting to upset the man further and trying to emphasize that he really didn't see anything terrible going on. Ink looks over from Owen to Shep but struggles to follow the conversation, finding himself nodding along anyway much in the manner one does when trying to follow the ramblings of someone talking about their invisible friend, a mix of politeness and just enough surprise when needed. The same attention is given to Jo although Ink can't help but notice when she casts a ward. The real shock is when she mentions blood loss. "My what now?" unconsciously, he finds himself reaching for a cookie. "I remember a bit of a commotion at one point by my view were blocked by the last who were erm sitting in my lap. If anything, they seem concerned about her well-being if that helps?" Taking the cookie, Ink munches on it quietly as he tries to figure out what is going on.
Looking to Jo, Ink finds himself smiling, something tickling at his memories or just her manner. "You'll have to excuse me, I don't mean to be rude, I've just heard bad things over time. You really think there's more of these flop houses? It were quite nice inside, a decent shower even. Fresh towels too. I do remember that, were quite fluffy." He looks to the others at the table. "Is this not just a boot down the door and drag em into the sunlight type of thing? Or can we not go John Carpenter on them? What with the harpoons and jeeps and whatnot?"
He looks over to Shep now and listens carefully. "Oh shit, were that why she were strung out in the first place? So desperate to get in? Oh shit. This is why I avoid needles..." Ink lets out a heavy sigh and settles back in his chair, his face a mask of concern now. Listening to Jo, he looks up briefly. "It were sort of a joke but I could kind of provide something jeep sized with what you could call a lance on it, not quite a harpoon. Scuds would be someone elses department."
He watches the exchange between Shep and Jo, his eyes glossing over occasionally but certain words sticking out. "Illusions and veils would certainly be an easier way. Erm..." Ink's head dips for a moment as he thinks back to that day. "A lot of the folk in there were quite out of it, I don't know if marching them all out will be easy. I mean, with Owen's friend I'm confident either him or I could get her out of town right sharpish but it might not be subtle. Although I do get that them keeping the young lass would be terrible at this point. You do all seem to know what you're doing though, so there is that.!" Ink grins with this, always happy to find the silver lining.
Only when the jeep is in the distance does Ink turn back to Owen, slapping an arm around his shoulders. "Preparation and beer sounds like a fantastic idea. Hell, we can keep each other for doing anything stupid. Okay, anything stupid with regards to down town, anything else, I'm not making any promises." Taking a last look over his shoulder, he looks back to Owen. "How fast can you run anyway?" |