.: April 21st - Doran :.

She had been sneaking into the inn now and again when she felt up to it to observe the developments during her absence. She still felt tired..drained. Ran thin like butter over toast.

She did not expect Ebon's young one to wander way into the kitchen. He looked..confused. Lost..

Doran looking around the kitchen "(s) Is someone here?"

Hankered down in the shadows she blinked slowly. The shadows simply wrapped her, holding her close and hiding her. Close to second skin even. A quiet, raspy chuckle pulled from her. It surprised her and yet didn't. "(vs) How did you know I was here?"

There was no scent and no sound coming from her save her voice. Even her body was a silhouette of shadows making it ever so hard to even know who she might be or been.

Blinking towards the shadows. "(s) Who's that?"

"(vs) Stay.." The single word spilled effortlessly from her lips and once she was sure he would do just that she would step forward. The shadows followed, like a veil of fine silk. It even fell to her feet like a waterfall of fabric to cloak her. A hood shrouded her features leaving just the pale flesh of her chin and the crimson of her lips showing. "(vs) If you promise to keep your voice down I will tell you who. The moment your voice raises I will leave. Deal?"

Doran nodded. "(s) I promise. I won't let anyone know."

She inhaled slowly and reached to the lip of the hood to pull it down. Out sprung the choppy black hair, threading sparsely over green eyes that were now, and forever more, sharp. And yet even as sharp as they were there was this little smile that twitched familiar lips.

Doran's own eyes widened, then clamped shut as he forced himself to rein in his empathy before his mix of emotions spilled out in a flood that could easily overwhelm the Inn. "(s) Katt? Are you... real? Are you a ghost?"

Her own eyes closed briefly. She had a feeling she was going to be asked that a lot when the time came and her recovery was finally over. "(vs) I am no ghost, Doran." Her eyes slid open. "(vs) You may check if you wish. I know you are able and I shall allow it."

He reached out, a tendril of consciousness that stretched across to touch her and quickly withdrew, leaving a smile on the boy's face. "(s) It is you!" Though his voice was low, there was a quiet intensity of joy that she alone could hear.

A hand rose up, a single finger placed across her lips. She gave him a little wink. "(vs) Yeah it is me, kiddo. But shh. Nobody is suppose to know I am alive again. At least not yet. I am still sort of recovering." Death took a lot out of you. Specially when you are brain dead for weeks. "(vs) So you gotta keep it to yourself. I will tell your pa in time. Just not yet."

"(s) I can keep a secret." The boy nodded for emphasis.

"(vs) It is important that you do. If certain people found out I was alive..they would probably try to kill me again..Quite frankly I was damn lucky this time." Opps..pardon her french! Both hands parted, offering out a hug if he so wished it.

He took the hug offer. "(s) I looked for you, all around the city... I found all the others who'd died, but couldn't find you. Couldn't help you." Stepping back. "But that's 'cause you're alive."

She blinked down at him, seeming..well..a bit..baffled. "(vs) You..looked for me?" That was so..sweet. She smiled a bit more. How couldn't she? "(vs) No, Doran. I was very much dead. I am alive now..but I was dead for a long while.."

"(s) Oh." He gave her a quizzical look, then nodded in understanding. "Magic. Or tek-nah-low-gee. Or both. Right?"

"(vs) I am not sure to be completely honest." And she never did ask. Looking to the door her lips twitched into a slow frown. "Raven..killed me. It was slow..and painful. I remember that much." Shaking her head she glanced back down to him. "(vs) Listen to me, Doran. Promise me..Promise you will be careful around that man. Even if he seems nice to you..stay away. Stay with your father or someone you trust.."

"(s) I will. He acted nice tonight but he's... empty. I feel sad for him, but I don't trust him."

She nodded slowly. "(vs) Can you tell me..why the hell is Renna out there..and everyone being nice to her?"

"(s) Why wouldn't they be nice to her?" He had encountered Renna once before, at the tea shop, and she had not felt dangerous... she felt sad.

"(vs) That woman out there is dangerous, Doran. She is dangerous, manipulative, conniving, and she will use whoever she can to get to her goal." This spoken from someone who was used in such a way.

Frowning. "(s) Papa's dangerous, too. Ten is dangerous, Uncle Gory's dangerous, and you and Mister Andu and lots of people are dangerous. Even me. I know bad people, Katt. She didn't feel bad when I met her."

"(vs) Doran..Listen to me carefully. I know Renna. She made me think she was a good person too. Then she infected me. She used me to make me hurt the people I care about. She made me kill people. She made me hurt the man that I..I..." Her eyes drifted down and she swallowed. "(vs) I am not simply judging her. I know what I am talking about.."

"(s) Have you touched her mind? Her heart?" For an eleven-year-old boy, he was more and more adult in his attitude. "I did."

"(vs) I was apart of her. What you touched it could of been the person she is currently infecting. Not her." Part of her was hurt that he didn't listen. Just like everyone else. Nobody listened to her and in the end ..she was right. Just like with Brian. If people only listened...

"(s) She felt like some of the older children that Papa takes in sometimes, the ones who've been trapped inside themselves for a long time." Then he blinked. "Yes, that's it. Just like what you said. Like there had been someone else in her soul, but that other person was gone. All gone. That's what she felt like."

She glanced away. She didn't expect this..she didn't expect to be upset so soon. "(vs) That is how she survives. She steals peoples bodies. She takes them over. She is a virus..what you feel is not her. She is up to something while whoever she is taking over.. It is like a human suit she is hiding in.."

"(s) The Betrayer." He had heard the name before, eavesdropping on some of his father's conversations. "(s) Papa said that the Betrayer was gone from her. He warned me, too... but not about that one. About something else. Mant'core."

She looked back to him and gently nodded. "(vs) I don't believe that. I'm sorry..I can't. I won't." And it wasn't because what Renna did to her. Or what Renna did to Leo. "(vs) But I guess nobody is going to listen to me again. Which I am starting to get use to." Her hands slid down, disappearing into the cloak. She didn't want to talk about Renna anymore. She didn't want to be upset with Doran..

Sighing she closed her eyes and shook her head. "(vs) Are ..will you be going to the Beltane?"

"(s) That's okay, Katt. You're a grown-up, it's hard for you to change how you think... people don't listen to us kids much, either. And Papa says that sometimes thinking the worst is a good thing, because when it doesn't happen, it's a nice surprise." He smiled at her, letting the subject change easily. "I hope so! I want to see who gets to be Queen!"

She snorted quietly. It hardly had to do with being a grown up. It was more of being apart of Renna, against her will. But at this point it just..wasn't worth it. "(vs) I'm glad. I will be baking some things for Kid's day but shhhh." She wiggled a brow playfully at him.

He giggled. "(s) Yay." A quiet cheer, remembering his promise... and then he sighed. "(s) Katt? I think you're wrong but... I will be careful around her, just in case, because you said so. Okay? And I won't let myself be alone with her either, just like with him." 'Him' being Brian.

She shrugged. "(vs) Do what you will." She would just have to work extra hard to protect him..and others. Her eyes drifted down and she tilted her head. He was wearing the necklace she gave him? "(vs) You should go back to your father now. It was nice to see you again, Doran. I am glad to see you are well."

He was wearing it, yes. He looked towards the kitchen door, and back at Katt with a grin:: (s) He probably thinks I'm talking to a mouse that I found, or maybe the Stew, but you're right." Then he hugged her again. "(s) I'm glad you're alive. I'll see you at Beltane, I hope." Then he waved and left the kitchen.

"(vs) I will be there but nobody will know. It will still be some time before I am able to come out." She hugged him softly and kissed his brow before he darted out.

.: Issy - June 30th :.

The inn. She was there this morning and well..someone had already managed to annoy the flippity do da out of her. So instead of sticking around she started 'making rounds'. One such rounds was stopping for a smoothie at one of the merchant stalls. Peeking out of the curtain she was watching the people come and go while..ugh..staying out of the hot weather. Too freaking..hot...

In a rare turn of events, the humid heat of the summer was already bearing down on the Scathachian who had (gasp!) gone without her signature leathers today. After a run on the beach this morning, she couldn't fathom skidding into her black leather skin. Instead, she was clothed in a black tank and cotton pants. While she retained her crimson sash, her blades were left at home today. After all, Isuelt was a weapon herself, was she not?:

Even without her leathers it was hard to miss Issy. A tug and a pull was made on the sleeveless hoodie, pulling the hood up and over that mess of black hair before she pushed past the curtain and started to ..yep you bet it..she was stalking Issy. Stalk stalk!

Venturing into the Marketplace, she looked around at the activity. Many of Rhydin's citizens were out and about and enjoying the early day before it got too warm. There was a buzz about the place as merchants sold their wares and citizens bargained for their groceries. She smirked to herself, overhearing a particularly animated woman argue the pros and cons of the cost of wool fabric in such a season. After a while, she won out and had the dyed fabric at half the asking price.

A low chuckle sat on her lips, along with a soft smile as she turned her head to the left. Out of the corner of her eye, she had seen a figure coming toward her, nearly making a beeline. The figure, while hooded, was smaller than her and all the Scathachian did was lift an eyebrow, intrigued rather than treatened. For while dangers lurked in every corner and in every unassuming place in this city, Isuelt was ready for whatever this person was ready to unleash.

She felt a roll of nervousness in her stomach. Anxious? She didn't know..didn't care. But this needed to be done. Shoes scraped at the street as she stopped a few feet from Issy. Mostly out of..well..safety. Somewhere along the line she had lost the smoothie and her hands were loose at her sides. Well..at least she looked well. Nails. Suddenly she found herself looking Issy over for something. "Hello...Issy."

Except that. That voice. She knew that voice. The Judge was stilled as her lips froze into a small o. Hope was in such short supply these days, she was petrified to use it up. While the Scathachian was referred to by many as a powerhouse, she could have been knocked over by a proverbial feather as she stared at the hooded female before her. Until she drew a sharp, shaky inhale, she hadn't been breathing and she hadn't realized it until then. Still, she stood there, lamely staring at this female, as if her prayer could possibly be answered by the heavens::

"Breath..Issy.." She offered under breath. She didn't exactly know the woman was holding her breath but she was half expecting it. Maybe a quarter. Half expecting to get a fist to the face. Up a hand went, pulling down the hood to show Issy exactly it is who she was talking to. Poof of black hair was quick to find way before her sharp, green eyes. Didn't mean she didn't keep an eye on Issy.

Her shoulders shuddered as she struggled to keep her shocked composure in check. Her eyes, however held all the hysterical gratefulness that her briefly quivering lip could afford. Thick black lashes blinked and blinked again, as if the person before her was a mirage. After what seemed like an eon, the Scathachian finally exhaled and grabbed hold of Katt in a perhaps-too-tight embrace; her fingertips nearly digging into Katt's flesh as she gripped at her form.

Or a copy Katt which..considering what Raven has been up to could be a possibility. Not that Issy knew. Oh hell! She held her ground, expecting to be punched but instead..a bear hug from a woman that could probably crush her. "Gnnnh.." Couldn't..breath! She tried to hug back but her arms were pinned. Nice and warm that hug, squeezing the life out of her!

Perhaps she sensed that Katt couldn't breathe. Or perhaps she just needed to look at her again. Isuelt released Katt, but only for an instant, as she kept hold of the girl's shoulders, keeping her within arm's length. The Judge's dark eyes simply gazed at Katt's face. Isuelt's expression of a quivering chin and a wrinkled brow was threaded together loosely by her silently moving lips. She was in awe. She was in shock. Supreme and heavenly gratitude, not to mention confusion. "K...Katt?"

Sweet air! She inhaled and blinked back a few tears, a strained smile twitching the corner of her lips. Both hands went up to touch Issy's elbows. "Yeah its me. Took a lot of doing to put me back together.." Maybe Raven was right. Maybe she was like Humpty Dumpty. Issy was going to make her cry! "It..It is good to see you .."

"How....you....b....ca...." She had to take several deep breaths, as she felt as if her legs would betray her. Finally, however, she gave in to her thanksgiving and grabbed Katt in for another hug. Scathachians don't cry in public. At least, that is the perception they put forth. And this Scathachian came extremely close to betraying her persona. For a moment, she buried her face low onto Katt's shoulder, then gracefully let her go. A million questions were swimming in her head.

Her head slowly dipped as she circled her arms around the taller woman. She didn't know what to say really. She wasn't..expecting this. "(s) Do you want to go sit down? I know a little place..very secluded.. We can get you a drink." Cause Issy probably needed it.

"Uh...sure." :Quickly gathering the scraps of her steel facade, she straightened up and nodded. Espresso gaze took a few moments to look around them, they had attracted a few sets of eyes and Katt was probably right in seeking out some privacy.

Oh if Katt was the type..she'd be tempted. Nahh. She'd grab up Issy's hand and lead her to a familiar little walk-in shop. A hand wave to the person behind the counter as she pointed Issy off to a seat at the counter. "What would you like to drink Issy. And ..stop holding back. You can ask.."

She followed Katt and sat down slowly. She stared down her calloused hands for a moment before she lifted her face to peer at Katt. "Where...where've you been?"

Hip to a seat she looked at Issy. Apparently she was going to give it straight. "Dead.." Slowly releasing a breath in the way of a sigh she shook her head. "I was fully dead for a short while but brain dead for a long while. I was taken very good care of but I don't....I don't think I was expected to wake up." Her foot tap tap tapped at the floor, trying to distract herself a bit.

Her deep brown tresses danced over her shoulders as she shook her head, still not comprehending all that had transpired. "Race....Race had said that you...that Raven..." She paused, getting her thoughts together. A deep breath before she continued. "Dead."

"Dead. Race was right." She shouldered her way out of the hoodie, the low cut shirt showing both arms and upper chest were swimming with the residue from where she had been sliced. If looked carefully enough Issy might even see the scars. "In fact I pretty much was dying in his arms. Raven had killed me..."

As if she didn't see enough red when Raven was the subject... Her jaw twitched as her lips pressed together and murder came across her vision.

"If it wasn't for Ed ..For all his care over my dead body..even when I was brain dead.." She sat slowly and shook her head. "He wasn't even sure I'd be okay. And for a while, when I woke..I wasn't sure myself.." Her eyes drifted to the side. "Still not quite sure.."

She listened, trying to soak it all in while being distracted by the fact that the voice was coming from Katt herself.

She stared at Issy and the way the woman was looking at her.

Isuelt knew, perhaps as few did, that the facilities at Batten's disposal were near miraculous in sustaining life. She had been the beneficiary of those services not too far back. Then, slowly, it dawned on her... "Ed...He's known? All this time?!" Ah, here was the fire we've come to love from the statuesque brunette.

"Yes. And don't go getting mad at him, Issy. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be standing here right now. Even if he did tell you? And what? What if I hadn't woken up or worse..relapsed back into full death? And also if he told you who else do you think would find out?" Her hand tapped center of her chest where the black markings were. Hint.

This was neither the time, nor place to take up her mounting explosion at Batten. Instead, she took a deep, calming breath and exhaled slowly:: Of course...

She was a bit taken back by this. Holy F*CK! Issy actually listened! AND AGREED! What the hell happened while she was gone. "If you want someone to be mad at be mad at me. I told him not to tell anyone when I was recovering. I am actually just starting to be able to go full swing like I use to." She scratched along her chest, trying to hide that she was kneading her knuckles against her skin. "I'm..I'm..sorry, Issy."

"Katt..." She sniffed sharply, looking down at her lap. A moment later, she chuckled to herself and lifted her eyes to Katt. "I ...I guess I am indebted to Mr. Batten for yet another unpayable sum." She smiled, genuinely and honestly. "I'm just so grateful that you are okay...that you are here. Maybe the heavens have not closed their ears to us after all."

It was true. There was no point in letting people know and it leaking out to people who would search her out..kill her while she was weak. She blinked, head canting to the side like a confused kitten. "So you aren't going to punch me?"

Blinking, she was clearly taken aback. It looked as though it was Katt who had punched Issy. "Katt... Why..why would I punch you?!"

"For deceiving you?" She held her grounds, surprisingly enough.

Her expression softened. She became the portrait that few ever saw: the other side of Scathach - the merciful protectress. With muted tones, she continued "Kathryn Rhysata. I would no sooner injure you than I would a beautiful blossom."

Very few people she had heard say her name so ..fully. Slowly her head dipped, spill of ink black falling over her eyes. "I didn't do it out of spite..out of pity..I didn't do it to hurt people.." Raising her head she scratched at the back of her head. "Honestly..I.." She stopped herself from saying what she was about to. Surely Issy WOULD hit her.. "I don't want people to be mad at Edward. I am thankful to him for what he has done for me."

She smoothly inhaled and nodded. Isuelt was a control freak, that she knew. Still, there were many things in this world that were beyond not only her control, but her grasp as well. And there were still many more things that she had no business even trying to control. Whatever lay between Katt and Batten and their reasons for keeping this secret, she could have no part of. Instead, she resolved herself to be thankful for the true miracle that she saw before her. "As am I, Katt."

Slowly she exhaled and settled into the seat finally. "There is something else I should tell you. I am not going to tell many people but ...Well if you promise to keep it to yourself..?" Issy was one of the very few people Katt would ever trust the word 'promise' from. Those people were very few and far between..

She swallowed and set her jaw as she nodded soberly to Kat. "You have my vow of secrecy. Always."

Tilting her head she rubbed her temple. Very few people she wanted to know about this..and Issy's reaction she was sure was going to limit that even more. "Raven has done something to me, Issy. Something beyond killing me. I don't know how..don't know why..but we seem to have a connection of the mind.."

Her lips parted, but remained muted. She simply studied Katt, thinking.

Yeah this was pretty much her reaction of it. "He holds no control over me..You can rest on that. However...he does tend to talk when he wants me to ..know things. He gives new meaning to a headache." smugly.

Her dark head canted to the right as she began her quieted inquiry. "Does...Ed know this?"

"Of course. There is..There is very little I keep from him." But there was some things..At least for now.

She slowly nodded, the warrior was always thinking. "Does...does he pain you? When he makes you know things?"

A hand went up and she combed back her hair. It was a slow action that showed her stress over the questions. "(s) Yes.." To which? Both? She didn't go deeper into it.

Her brow furled protectively. "Katt..." She stalled, wondering if she should ask her next question.

"He doesn't like just throw me into pain. No he just says stuff he knows will ...get to me." Her eyes flicked up when her name was said. "Mrm?"

Inhaling, she resolved to ask. "Can...can you see things without him knowing? Or can you understand or know things about him?"

"I can know stuff without him knowing." She knew that question was going to come around.

"You know what that makes you, don't you Katt?" She lifted her dark brows and inclined her head.

"The fact I am so screwed up that nobody else could possibly be me?" She mumbled something soon after that.

"No." Her voice was firmer now. "It makes you a weapon unlike any that we already have."

She frowned a bit and looked out of the nearest window. Maybe it was the way it was said. She the words made her feel a bit..odd. "Maybe.."

"Katt, if you have this link to Raven, it's very possible that we have a way to get to him. That we have a way of finishing him. ::Despite the words leaving a bitter taste on her tongue, she knew that this was a shot she'd have to take::

Her head dipped a bit. "He has..her..Jenai.."

Her lashes flinched, not quite a blink. She could feel the air leave her lungs, and not of her choosing. It was as if she had been struck dead in the torso. A swallow, and she could breathe again. "All the better to get to him faster."

She nodded in agreement and settled her knuckles to her forehead. There was so much more. Things she didn't want to tell Issy.

"Katt?" She was watching her closely now. One brow was arched slightly "Can he see through your eyes? Know things you know?"

"Yes. But he only dives so deep. I've asked him before if he knew of what my plans were he told me no..that he didn't care to know. I think he can only dive so deep." She shrugged faintly.

Almost a scoff. "And you trust him to tell you the truth?"

"He has never lied to me. I don't think he can lie to me. I think that is why he views me as a sense of..threat. I am dangerous to him. And not only can he see through my eyes but vice versa.."

She sat back and ran a hand over her face. He had Jenai. He had once been her dear friend. He was responsible for what Katt had been through. He was a menace she wasn't sure she was ready to face.

She slid up out of her seat. "He has done something to me though..something that has me shaken..Hurt..confused..a number of other things I am not ready to face.."

"What?" She was getting ready to chalk up another reason why Raven needs to be destroyed.

She shook her head and leaned away from Issy. "I can't..I'm not..Not ready to talk about it yet. Forgive me.."

"Okay...okay." She nodded slowly. "Well...when.." She wasn't even going to finish her statement. She knew that Katt harbored a few secrets.

"In time. I ..I still haven't even told Edward." She wasn't sure how to.

She licked her lips and glanced down.

Yeah it was that bad. "You will tell the girls at the temple that I am okay? I don't think I can handle a bunch of hugs like the one you gave me." A crooked grin flashed briefly. Teasing..

She shook her head as her brows lowered, she was making a mental effort to push aside all of these new revelations and remain on the most important one. Espresso eyes lifted and she simply looked at Katt. Her mouth curled into an irrepressible smile. "Katt, I'm so glad that you're here."

"Thank you, Issy. I am ..very honored to hear you say that.." Her chin dipped, briefing against her collarbone.

Her smile widened as she pulled Katt in for another hug. It was better to focus on Katt being alive than the rest of the issues brought about by her news.

She swallowed, her head settling onto Issy's shoulder. She made a small sound that could of possibly of been a sniffle.

The muscled Scathachian kissed the top of Katt's head and whispered into her hair. "Good to have you back, cher."

"(vsw) Issy.. I.." Suddenly her hands curled, clenching into Issy's top. "I'm scared to tell Edward.."

Chocolate eyes looked up as she inhaled, though she stayed where she was. "Katt, all I know of Edward Batten is that he loves you and would do anything to protect you. Tell him everything you can, he will always stand by you." She leaned back slightly so she could look at her friend. "As will I."

"I..I know. And I think that is what scares me. The last time I..I trusted someone to get that close to me..they hurt me so deep that I..I couldn't trust no more. I want to..and I do! I do trust him! And I ..I trust you.. I really.." Her eyes lowered, "(s) I really do.."

"There's nothing wrong with that, Katt. There's nothing wrong with trusting." She paused. "Nothing. If you want, I will stand with you when you tell him. He needs to be told, Katt."

Her face shifted through emotions like it was a clutch on a truck. "It..isn't that easy for me to trust. And no. No..I ..I will tell him alone. I don't.." Rubbing her face she shook her head. "I'll tell him .."

After watching Katt for a moment, she nodded with an easy smile on her lips. "Good. And Miss Rhysata? I know I don' t need to tell you that Ed's a good guy to trust. The less secrets you have between you, the better. Trust me."

She groaned when Issy called her that. "Don't call me that, Issy. Please? And I know he is a good guy. Do you think I would ..um.." Suddenly she bit her lower lip. "I've asked him how he felt about making our 'adoption' of each other ..legal. Permanent." Oh yes. She trusted the guy. Just only so much you can tell without worry it will cause problems.

Probably not understanding Katt's aversion to that name, Isuelt took it as a simple annoyance and chuckled. She nodded good-naturedly and grinned. "I think that is positively wonderful." And she meant it.

"I..yeah..Maybe." Her hand went up and over her face until her palm was resting against the back of her head. "You want to know a secret?"

"I'm pretty good at secrets." she smirked.

"Kathryn..Rhysata isn't my name." She raised her chin and looked to Issy.

"Batten, then." She figured this is where Katt was going. She grinned and nodded as she winked to her.

Her head shook, fluffing out her hair a bit. "I have no name.." Then to explain she mumbled, "You see.. My mother's name was Kathryn Rhysata. She died protecting me when I was a babe. She didn't name me because she was waiting for my father to come back so they could name me together. So..I was never given a name."

The Scathachian priestess looked at Katt as she told this terrible tale. She had had no idea.

That was just the bare of her tale. If Issy knew what followed she'd probably have to resit herself. "So calling me Miss Rhysata sounds weird. And coming from you..two times as weird!"

"I....I'm sorry. I...I didn't..." Of course she didn't know. Hence the definition of the word "secret." She silenced herself before she said something she shouldn't.

"Only three people know that. You are one." She blinked and shook her head. "No. It is okay. I mean I go by the name now but it isn't..mine. I'm weird! But hearing someone who is close to me call me 'miss'...It would be like me calling you Miss DeRomiano." Snerk.

That easy smile returned as she inclined her head. "Fair enough. Have...have you ever thought of giving yourself a new name? Or would you choose to keep your Mother's?" Isuelt thought of her own mother and only wished that she could honor her with a name; so dear was she.

"I wouldn't even know what to name myself. I am good with my mom's name. I don't..I don't think I would take Edward's last name. Not unless he asked and meant it but I dunno.." Scratching her hair forward she chuckled quietly. "Sides people might think the wrong thing and really? Ew..."

It took her a few moments, but she got it. The Judge's laugh started as a chuckle, then revved up to fruity lather.

"Ewww Issy! What are you thinking!" She knew what Issy was thinking which made her snicker. Hammer on the nail as it were.

"I don't know if people thinking that you were marrying Ed would initially evoke the nuance of "ewww!" But, now that's all I'll be able to think of! I'm sorry, Katt!" She was trying to shove her words in between fits of laughter.

"Eww! Besides! Edward is not my type!" She snerked when Issy went into fits and the tip of her tongue stuck out.

Simmering, finally, she grinned to Katt. "Does Sergei know you're alive?"

Her laughter died instantly and she glanced away. "No.. And I am almost unsure I want to tell him. He looks..happy.." Her hands found the pockets of the hoodie to stop herself from fidgeting. Last time she talked to Sergei..She wondered if he still disliked her..

She sniffed, composing herself. "You know he's going to find out, Katt. This place is worse than a small town when it comes to gossip. Don't you think you at least owe it to him to tell him yourself instead of letting him hear it in passing?"

Her chin dipped and she glanced to Issy. "I know..I just.." Sighing she shoved her hands hard down into the pockets. "I will.."

She knew that look. She'd had it herself a few times in her youth. A benefactor's smile touched her lips as she spoke up. "See why I stay clear of relationships?"

She grunted at the poke and gave Issy a look. "Yeah because I am pretty much meant to be alone." She shifted on her heels and raised a hand to the person at the far end of the counter. "Hey! My usual please. Uh..no clue what she wants." She was getting a drink to go dang it. Let anyone try to stop her.

"Relationships are messy and sap every ounce of energy, focus and dignity." Wow, denial much? She upnodded toward the tender Katt spoke to. "Whatever she's having, make it two."

"You don't believe that and I know you don't." She blinked but didn't say anything as she was handed the two smoothies. Banana strawberry. Nom nom! She'd pay for them before offering the drink over.

A flicked eyebrow at the smoothie, though she grinned. A nice change from whiskey, no? She shifted a glance to Katt. "Oh, I don't know. They sure are a lot of work. More than I've got time for. " Well, at least that was honest.

"That is because you don't give yourself time. You are almost as bad as me..The only difference is I have..a sliver of hope that maybe I'll be with someone." There was something behind her words that was better left not spoken on. Lips latched onto the straw and she gave a half-lidded, happy Katt face. Mmmm..nom nom.

"And Leo?" Was she childishly getting back at Katt for that "sliver of hope" comment? Or was she simply thinking that relationships were worth hanging onto, and prodding Katt in that same direction?

Well there went her haven. At his name her eyes closed. For some time she said nothing then slowly emptying out in a sigh, "What about him?"

She saw that reaction. She knew that reaction. She nearly ]felt that reaction. Isuelt dropped her gaze and immediately wished she could grab those words back. "Nothing." Sheepishly, she quieted and stuck the straw in her mouth.

Slowly her eyes opened and landed on Issy with one of those heavy stares. "No..Go ahead." Hell last time she talked to Leo was that night..when he left with Janie. No telling what her mind was going on with.

Might as well rip off the bandaid instead of tugging at it. "Does he know you still have feelings for him?"

"Does it matter? He doesn't even remember me having them to begin with." She took it by stride and seemed not to even budge from the question. If anything she seemed a touch..distant.

"Well, is there any rule that says you can't start over?"

"What makes you think I still have feelings for him to begin with?" She challenged instead of answering.

Dead honest "Because when I brought up his name I could almost feel you crumble."

"It is called guilt." answering with a mouth full of straw.

"Mmhmm... And guilt about what?" She slurped a bit more smoothie.

"It is my fault that he lost his memory. If I hadn't been so weak...I would of never been controlled by Renna. He would..." Her hand was tightening around the smoothie the more she spoke, "He wouldn't of lost his memory..It is my fault he got hurt.." And..pink bubbled over the top, coating over her clenching fingers.

Watching the smoothie erupt, she slowly began her words. "Katt....you think that you could curtail something that Renna wanted to do? You think that even if you weren't, as you say, "weak" that nothing would have happened to him?" She sighed. "Katt, if there is one thing I know it's that Renna is akin to a runaway avalanche. You can't blame yourself for that. Period. And who knows..." She was sneaking a bit of information that Leo had told her earlier. "....maybe this little accident afforded Leo the opportunity to start over. Not all of us are entirely proud of everything we've done in our lives. It ....it must be a luxury to be able to have that wiped and start over."

And if there are two things I know, the second would be that guilt does nothing for the soul except eat away at it until there's nothing left.

She was silent. Placing the glass to the side she took her time in licking her hand like a cat cleaning its paw. "Then I shouldn't hinder that starting over." If anything Issy reinforced her not want to tell Leo of what happened.

"Oh, I don't know. A fresh start is sometimes the best way to move forward." A wink to Katt. "Besides, the heavens have a way of pushing people together who are meant to be. And there's no saying that in moving forward, you have to face backwards." She arched a brow at Katt, hoping she caught her drift.

She snorted. "Last time I saw...he was pretty much into someone already. I.." She shook her head. "I should just leave him be.." Fingers flexed and she licked between. Nom nom nom.

She shrugged, not able to argue that. "If Leo's starting a new relationship, that's his business. Still, I can't imagine he wouldn't want to lose all of you. Friendship and all."

"Just because he doesn't know of how I feel for him doesn't mean he is going to lose me as a friend. Hell I've been tearing up his training hall for weeks now. I am pretty sure he wouldn't be letting me do that just because Edward said so." Yeah..destroying Leo's equipment..not going to touch that one.

"You can always let things just go their course. I've seen the most twisted and misled paths lead back to destiny." For good or ill. "So, who's Leo's new squeeze?"

"I have no clue why you think my destiny is with him." And she didn't give to what she was thinking of..the maybe.. "Janie." She answered, once again a little distant..deep in thought.

Readying to defend her stance on "destiny", she took a sip of that smoothie...but lost it in a strawberry-banana colored spray as she spit her mouthful at the mention of Janie being Leo's new love interest.

And..Katt just had a bath. Blink. What..just happened?

Reaching for and grabbing napkins, she handed them to Katt as she coughed on her laughter. "Oh, great Hera, Katt! I'm thinking that you've got brain damage! Are you f*cking serious?! Janie? And Leo? Oh, goddess, if that poor boy is hung up on her, we have serious problems."

"You just..spat on me?" Belated reaction and she looked at the front of her shirt. "Yep. Remember that night with Kain? I went back to the inn and Leo was going home with Janie." Napkin..She needed several and started wiping herself.

"For f*ck's sake, Katt, half of the men in this city have gone home with Janie. I don't think it really means anything other than I have to keep a tighter leash on her. And I actually have to say that she's been behaving better. And I've not heard hide nor hair of Leo. And believe me, I would hear. Sheryl and Vixen are horrible at keeping secrets. Besides, can you imagine him...finding out that she'd been messing around? He'd blow up the damned Sanctuary!"

Yeah that so didn't make her feel better. She shrugged it off, trying not to think of it. "Maybe he doesn't care she is messing around. Some couples are like that." Which disturbed her a bit actually. Suddenly her shoulders deflated and she sighed out.

"Katt, I really don't think that Janie and Leo are an item. She's been talking about some other guy, I don't know...Kyle something." She rolled her eyes. "I don't really care to keep up. And uh...sorry about the uh... " she pointed toward Katt's poor shirt.

Her eyes dipped to her shirt. She didn't want to admit how much it hurt to see Leo leave with Janie. She deflated on the spot. "Yeah well.." She didn't finish it off, just sort of tilted her way along, zipping the hoodie up and wiggling her arms inside. "It's fine.."

"Who cares about them. We've got you back." She stood up, leaving her smoothie on the counter and kissed Kat's smoothie-scented head. "C'mon... let's focus on the best part of today." Oooh, look at who's all glass-is-half-full today!

"(vsw) I care.." Mumble..mumble..admit.. She blinked and raised her chin while pulling off her shirt up and through the neck of the zipped up hoodie.

So quiet, it barely was uttered. But she knew that Katt heard her. "I know..." An encouraging rub to her shoulder.

She inhaled and shoved those feelings down where they belonged. Lips twitching she offered Issy a little smile. "I think I am going to head out and do a little scouting for the new Bon Bon area. Maybe some different kind of scouting.." Her voice dipped low to tease Issy, "(vsw) Nails.." Oh..she knew your dirty secret!

She blinked to Katt, hearing that name. Well, she knew that Katt was good at keeping secrets. She was sure she knew a few of Batten's for sure. A sideways smirk as she shook her dark head.

Boy wasn't Issy in for a surprise. She smiled and waved, slipping out of the shop soundlessly. By the time Issy stepped out..Katt was gone.