A Requested Meeting, part 1
Shae's room, 10:30 PM, 6/8
The door to room 103 lacked visible details of distinction beyond the same aged appearance and indications of use one might expect from a long established, self-repairing temporary residence. Unlike some of the other portals, this one had not been carved into, heavily patched, or outright replaced. The most notable feature to the layperson, and some would certainly call it a feature, was silence. No sound came from beyond the door, but the flicker of light beneath the lower edge suggested that someone was in residence. Sensitive folks would recognize the hallmark flavors of warding in whatever sense let them experience things arcane.
Having spent a fair bit of time in the upper halls of the Red Dragon Inn herself, albeit once upon what seemed like forever ago, Claire had little trouble in locating the necessary room. She came to a stop in front of room one-oh-three and paused, looking down at her phone to confirm that this was, in fact, it. It was. Never fear. But there was a certain bit of danger in banging on random doors since you never knew just what you might get, so it was much better to be safe rather than sorry. At first Claire lifted a hand, her hand hovering maybe an inch and a half away from the unremarkable wood. The hair raising pull of energy was cause for pause, however short, and then she quietly rapped a pair of knuckles against the door just above the handle. "Shae? It's Claire." With her arrival announced quietly, she stepped back to afford the door room to breathe.
If there was any aggression to that energy, it was a dormant variety. Reactionary in a way that didn't dissuade approach, certainly not a simple knock. Mach and his lockpicks might find a different experience were he to take a less polite method of entry. The silence persisted for a space of seconds, then, like the popping of a bubble, Shae could be heard turning the lock."Just a second!" Muffled through the door before it swung open. Shae's smile greeted the elder sibling. "Hello Claire, do come in." Within the room, the limited sort of furniture one might expect. A chest at the foot of a bed upon which Fox was sprawled. Neat rows of glass, herb-filled bottles on the wall edge of a desk illuminated with candlesticks and lantern light. Between bed and desk a curtained window that overlooked the alley. Past the desk a door to a private bathroom. On the other side of the entry a bookcase filled with tomes already, but the primary volume bore the stamping of the Academy library. Loaners rather than personal possessions.
It felt like it had enough pop to it should one mess with it and she wholly intended to not find out just how much. The muted call through the door had her making sure she had given plenty of polite space between herself and the door so she wasn't up in Shae's face when the door was opened. "Hello! Thanks for seeing me." A quirk of a smile pulled at the edges of her lips as she stepped inside, letting the door swing shut behind her. A trio of slow blinks let her eyes adjust to the change in light between the corridor and the rented room. It held an air of familiarity obscured by the personal touches that distinguished it as Shae's for the time being. For just a moment, she looked over the bookcase, not long enough to peruse any of the titles though. Quietly she cleared her throat, "You've made much more of the space than I ever could for myself." Her chuckle was wry, limned with a touch of self-deprecation.
The sweep of her arm offered the desk chair for Claire's use. There was a soft breeze from her open window, but that ceased when Shae closed the door. In doing so, the sense of privacy returned. The woman, meanwhile, found a perch on the edge of her bed with an unceremonious shove of Fox off to the side. Rather than protest, the softly snoring canid merely rolled over to make room for Shae's jean covered backside. "Not at all, make yourself comfortable." Fingers pulled a damp braid of black hair over one shoulder. "After four months..." Glancing around with a small shrug. "Thank you." And the flash of a smile. "I'm not entirely sure where to begin." Shae admitted with a soft sigh.
There was a hint of a smile, something soft and wholly genuine for the Fox-Shae dynamic. Claire had always preferred the fluffy sorts over most humans and she knew Serah was fond of the little guy. Gladly taking the offered chair, she turned it around and straddled the seat, folding her arms on top of the back. "If there were a market for liquor bottle chic, I'd have had that down pat." Briefly she lifted a hand to drag a quick scratch to her jawline before settling in for business. "Well, as close to the beginning works, if you think it pertinent."
Although her wards had raised again, the native breeze that possessed Shae gave circulation to the air of the modest room to prevent it from becoming stuffy. "Mm. I suppose I should start by asking if you know the woman called One?"
One's name alone was enough to send a slithering chill down her spine, her response evident by her expression long before she ever opened her mouth. "Aye, unfortunately. Once known as Renna the Betrayer... One is what her latest... I don't know, incarnation? Yeah, that's a good word. Her latest incarnation calls itself One."
"Do you happen to know what her interest is in this Scion fellow?" Forward lean, her forearms supporting the weight of her torso by resting atop her thighs. "I overheard her talking to Les about him in the Inn the other day. Is she working with you?"
"She considers him... a contemporary of sorts. While I wouldn't exactly say I'm working with her, she is an ally of Brian Ravenlock's and she did offer assistance. He's the primary Watch Captain that was working Serah's disappearance. I guess he considers her family or something." She realized she was approaching the point of rambling and quickly cut herself off with a shake of her head. "Did she happen to say anything to Lesinda that stood out to you?"
This discharge of information was registered and added to Shae's personal understanding of the entity. "Aye. A few things. As well as how she said them. I can only assume they are in some sort of relationship, that or One exerts a degree of emotional manipulation over the green haired woman. Specifically, though. I was a bit alarmed to note that she was requesting Les get herself captured by Scion in order to acquire something from the psychopath." Pause. "Something called D'Enay." (DNA) "I didn't have the time to look it up, so I'm hoping you know what that is."
It took a few moments for all Shae said to register, primarily thanks to the mention of letting Lesinda get herself captured. "Dear gods..." She muttered quietly under her breath, pinching at the bridge of her nose as she tried to process that. At last composing herself, she took a deep breath, held it for a moment, then exhaled. "I'm not sure if they're in a legitimate relationship or if One has infected Les in some way. That said... the fact that she'd dangle Lesinda like a carrot to try and draw Scion out. For his DNA none the less." She rubbed her hand over her face and sighed. "It's, um, your genetic material that makes a living being what they are. Renna... er... One, is a fan of assimilating what she can of others with her own and if she can't take it for her own, I can't imagine what it's saved for."
"Assimilating..." The word echoed as Shae decoded this new information and made the attempt of incorporating it into her worldview. "I can see I have some research ahead of me, but I'm not entirely fond of this idea. The man feels incorrect in ways I am not fond of. His penchant for experimentation, in particular, disgusts me. There is little doubt that he has some significant power of his own. I'm assuming One 'assimilating' him might bestow that upon her. Now, I only have a limited degree of information, but I can't see that being a positive thing, really." There was a brief interlude, then she continued. "But what do I know, perhaps this is her means of helping? Her methods leave a little something to be desired. The man looks at others as if they are merely playthings and I would have a bit more care for Lesinda's safety."
"It's not a good one to be fond of. Nor do I relish the idea of One having any bit of Scion." She nodded. "But with those two it becomes a matter of the lesser of two evils. Sadly,--and here's something I never thought I'd say,-- One is the lesser of threats in this. To us, at least." It was a general 'us', denoting the so called good guys that sought Serah's safety and the neutralization of the threat that was Scionius. Claire exhaled slowly then took another breath for the next spill of information. "Lesinda's adoptive father and I have been friends nearly since I arrived here. He's very dear to me, I couldn't knowingly let his daughter put herself into such danger. No more than I'd let Serah stay with him. That said, Arthour would take quite the interest in this, as if he hasn't already." She paused thoughtfully, thumb hooked against the underside of her chin and her fingers curled over her mouth. "I have the feeling this is going to get messy..."
Shae lifts a hand to rub at her mouth. "Hm." Then came a nod. "The lesser evil I can understand. You should, of course, do what you wish with the information. It's unfortunate that there is little doubt where it will have come from, but hopefully any ire I earn as a result will not be terribly inconvenient." Her smile was rueful. "Messy seems apt. The Ravenlock fellow you mentioned, he's with the guard, correct?" ? "Yes you said that." Added after a moment. "Forgive me. I'm not sure what help I can be in this mess, but you have my aid if needed."
"No, you needn't worry too much about that. With the eyes and ears around the commons these days, it could easily come from anywhere. One is aware of that, Lesinda is as well. I promise I won't let anything befall you solely for having the gall to speak up." She gave Shae a firm nod, the conviction in her tone heavily weighing her words. "Enough people have been affected by all of this... crap... I'm going to do everything I can to prevent any further." Her nod reconfirmed what Shae affirmed for herself. "Aye, Serah worked under him for a time with the 27th Division. He's an excellent ally to have, got my ass out of a tight spot once upon a time." She realized she was off topic and shook her head. "Anyways. I'm of the opinion to play defense rather than offense. I think he wants people to come at him because it gives him control over the court. I'm afraid Serah's only talked of your kindness to her rather than any areas you might prefer or excel at, so I'm unfamiliar with what you might wish to offer. But Shadow speaks highly of your aptitude and I'd say if you were the one who put the warding on your door, that that backs it up as well. Any help will be gladly accepted and greatly appreciated."
Shae's room, 10:30 PM, 6/8
The door to room 103 lacked visible details of distinction beyond the same aged appearance and indications of use one might expect from a long established, self-repairing temporary residence. Unlike some of the other portals, this one had not been carved into, heavily patched, or outright replaced. The most notable feature to the layperson, and some would certainly call it a feature, was silence. No sound came from beyond the door, but the flicker of light beneath the lower edge suggested that someone was in residence. Sensitive folks would recognize the hallmark flavors of warding in whatever sense let them experience things arcane.
Having spent a fair bit of time in the upper halls of the Red Dragon Inn herself, albeit once upon what seemed like forever ago, Claire had little trouble in locating the necessary room. She came to a stop in front of room one-oh-three and paused, looking down at her phone to confirm that this was, in fact, it. It was. Never fear. But there was a certain bit of danger in banging on random doors since you never knew just what you might get, so it was much better to be safe rather than sorry. At first Claire lifted a hand, her hand hovering maybe an inch and a half away from the unremarkable wood. The hair raising pull of energy was cause for pause, however short, and then she quietly rapped a pair of knuckles against the door just above the handle. "Shae? It's Claire." With her arrival announced quietly, she stepped back to afford the door room to breathe.
If there was any aggression to that energy, it was a dormant variety. Reactionary in a way that didn't dissuade approach, certainly not a simple knock. Mach and his lockpicks might find a different experience were he to take a less polite method of entry. The silence persisted for a space of seconds, then, like the popping of a bubble, Shae could be heard turning the lock."Just a second!" Muffled through the door before it swung open. Shae's smile greeted the elder sibling. "Hello Claire, do come in." Within the room, the limited sort of furniture one might expect. A chest at the foot of a bed upon which Fox was sprawled. Neat rows of glass, herb-filled bottles on the wall edge of a desk illuminated with candlesticks and lantern light. Between bed and desk a curtained window that overlooked the alley. Past the desk a door to a private bathroom. On the other side of the entry a bookcase filled with tomes already, but the primary volume bore the stamping of the Academy library. Loaners rather than personal possessions.
It felt like it had enough pop to it should one mess with it and she wholly intended to not find out just how much. The muted call through the door had her making sure she had given plenty of polite space between herself and the door so she wasn't up in Shae's face when the door was opened. "Hello! Thanks for seeing me." A quirk of a smile pulled at the edges of her lips as she stepped inside, letting the door swing shut behind her. A trio of slow blinks let her eyes adjust to the change in light between the corridor and the rented room. It held an air of familiarity obscured by the personal touches that distinguished it as Shae's for the time being. For just a moment, she looked over the bookcase, not long enough to peruse any of the titles though. Quietly she cleared her throat, "You've made much more of the space than I ever could for myself." Her chuckle was wry, limned with a touch of self-deprecation.
The sweep of her arm offered the desk chair for Claire's use. There was a soft breeze from her open window, but that ceased when Shae closed the door. In doing so, the sense of privacy returned. The woman, meanwhile, found a perch on the edge of her bed with an unceremonious shove of Fox off to the side. Rather than protest, the softly snoring canid merely rolled over to make room for Shae's jean covered backside. "Not at all, make yourself comfortable." Fingers pulled a damp braid of black hair over one shoulder. "After four months..." Glancing around with a small shrug. "Thank you." And the flash of a smile. "I'm not entirely sure where to begin." Shae admitted with a soft sigh.
There was a hint of a smile, something soft and wholly genuine for the Fox-Shae dynamic. Claire had always preferred the fluffy sorts over most humans and she knew Serah was fond of the little guy. Gladly taking the offered chair, she turned it around and straddled the seat, folding her arms on top of the back. "If there were a market for liquor bottle chic, I'd have had that down pat." Briefly she lifted a hand to drag a quick scratch to her jawline before settling in for business. "Well, as close to the beginning works, if you think it pertinent."
Although her wards had raised again, the native breeze that possessed Shae gave circulation to the air of the modest room to prevent it from becoming stuffy. "Mm. I suppose I should start by asking if you know the woman called One?"
One's name alone was enough to send a slithering chill down her spine, her response evident by her expression long before she ever opened her mouth. "Aye, unfortunately. Once known as Renna the Betrayer... One is what her latest... I don't know, incarnation? Yeah, that's a good word. Her latest incarnation calls itself One."
"Do you happen to know what her interest is in this Scion fellow?" Forward lean, her forearms supporting the weight of her torso by resting atop her thighs. "I overheard her talking to Les about him in the Inn the other day. Is she working with you?"
"She considers him... a contemporary of sorts. While I wouldn't exactly say I'm working with her, she is an ally of Brian Ravenlock's and she did offer assistance. He's the primary Watch Captain that was working Serah's disappearance. I guess he considers her family or something." She realized she was approaching the point of rambling and quickly cut herself off with a shake of her head. "Did she happen to say anything to Lesinda that stood out to you?"
This discharge of information was registered and added to Shae's personal understanding of the entity. "Aye. A few things. As well as how she said them. I can only assume they are in some sort of relationship, that or One exerts a degree of emotional manipulation over the green haired woman. Specifically, though. I was a bit alarmed to note that she was requesting Les get herself captured by Scion in order to acquire something from the psychopath." Pause. "Something called D'Enay." (DNA) "I didn't have the time to look it up, so I'm hoping you know what that is."
It took a few moments for all Shae said to register, primarily thanks to the mention of letting Lesinda get herself captured. "Dear gods..." She muttered quietly under her breath, pinching at the bridge of her nose as she tried to process that. At last composing herself, she took a deep breath, held it for a moment, then exhaled. "I'm not sure if they're in a legitimate relationship or if One has infected Les in some way. That said... the fact that she'd dangle Lesinda like a carrot to try and draw Scion out. For his DNA none the less." She rubbed her hand over her face and sighed. "It's, um, your genetic material that makes a living being what they are. Renna... er... One, is a fan of assimilating what she can of others with her own and if she can't take it for her own, I can't imagine what it's saved for."
"Assimilating..." The word echoed as Shae decoded this new information and made the attempt of incorporating it into her worldview. "I can see I have some research ahead of me, but I'm not entirely fond of this idea. The man feels incorrect in ways I am not fond of. His penchant for experimentation, in particular, disgusts me. There is little doubt that he has some significant power of his own. I'm assuming One 'assimilating' him might bestow that upon her. Now, I only have a limited degree of information, but I can't see that being a positive thing, really." There was a brief interlude, then she continued. "But what do I know, perhaps this is her means of helping? Her methods leave a little something to be desired. The man looks at others as if they are merely playthings and I would have a bit more care for Lesinda's safety."
"It's not a good one to be fond of. Nor do I relish the idea of One having any bit of Scion." She nodded. "But with those two it becomes a matter of the lesser of two evils. Sadly,--and here's something I never thought I'd say,-- One is the lesser of threats in this. To us, at least." It was a general 'us', denoting the so called good guys that sought Serah's safety and the neutralization of the threat that was Scionius. Claire exhaled slowly then took another breath for the next spill of information. "Lesinda's adoptive father and I have been friends nearly since I arrived here. He's very dear to me, I couldn't knowingly let his daughter put herself into such danger. No more than I'd let Serah stay with him. That said, Arthour would take quite the interest in this, as if he hasn't already." She paused thoughtfully, thumb hooked against the underside of her chin and her fingers curled over her mouth. "I have the feeling this is going to get messy..."
Shae lifts a hand to rub at her mouth. "Hm." Then came a nod. "The lesser evil I can understand. You should, of course, do what you wish with the information. It's unfortunate that there is little doubt where it will have come from, but hopefully any ire I earn as a result will not be terribly inconvenient." Her smile was rueful. "Messy seems apt. The Ravenlock fellow you mentioned, he's with the guard, correct?" ? "Yes you said that." Added after a moment. "Forgive me. I'm not sure what help I can be in this mess, but you have my aid if needed."
"No, you needn't worry too much about that. With the eyes and ears around the commons these days, it could easily come from anywhere. One is aware of that, Lesinda is as well. I promise I won't let anything befall you solely for having the gall to speak up." She gave Shae a firm nod, the conviction in her tone heavily weighing her words. "Enough people have been affected by all of this... crap... I'm going to do everything I can to prevent any further." Her nod reconfirmed what Shae affirmed for herself. "Aye, Serah worked under him for a time with the 27th Division. He's an excellent ally to have, got my ass out of a tight spot once upon a time." She realized she was off topic and shook her head. "Anyways. I'm of the opinion to play defense rather than offense. I think he wants people to come at him because it gives him control over the court. I'm afraid Serah's only talked of your kindness to her rather than any areas you might prefer or excel at, so I'm unfamiliar with what you might wish to offer. But Shadow speaks highly of your aptitude and I'd say if you were the one who put the warding on your door, that that backs it up as well. Any help will be gladly accepted and greatly appreciated."