Cease-fire, Part 1

7/30, 9PM

Text to Mach: We're overdue for a conversation, aren't we. Are you free this evening?

Text to Shae: That sounds like a badly veiled threat, this isn't a badly veiled threat is it?
Text to Shae: I kid... not sure if thinly veiled is your game >.<
Text to Shae: Is this about the this and that and such and sorts you talked with Serah about?
Text to Shae: Actually, I'll just assume yeah or something similar -.-
Text to Shae: Sure I am, just finished some paperwork. Where you wanna meet?
Text to Shae: Needs to have coffee.. maybe food too

Text to Mach: If I wanted to threaten you, I'd remind you that I still owe you a slap.
Text to Mach: Yes. It's about your situation.
Text to Mach: Is the Tomes acceptable? There's a place across the street that has more substantial food if you get hungry for more than pastries and bagels.

Text to Shae: Pft, slaps are like rain to me XP
Text to Shae: ... yeah, that doesn't really sound too good ;>.> where like rain to me?
Text to Shae: NVM
Text to Shae: My 'situation' huh, right
Text to Shae: Oh yay, a tea shop, I may just melt from all the proper culture :)~
Text to Shae: Yeah, sounds good, I'll meet you there.


Later that evening:

At the Tomes, Shae has just arrived. Fox was begging tidbits from the girl behind the counter while the witch was placing an order. She wore one of the breezy beach dresses that Serah had gifted her for Beltane. This one in black. Her hair had been swept up into a simple ponytail and bird feather earrings dangled against the sides of her neck.

The schmooze would arrive a little later as he had traveled from the satellite office for his work close to the southern edge of the city to the more centrally located tea and coffee shop. Pushing in he was dressed in that standard attire of his: collared button down with sleeves rolled up, heavy duty canvas cargo pants, and suspenders with his dual belt holding the hunters menagerie of potions and that large, odd looking sidearm which was his caster. There would be a cheery little smile and upnod to the witch as he saw her at the counter, crossing over himself as fingers snagged the attention of the barista.

"I'll take a carafe of coffee, medium, no cream or sugar and aaaa...." Blue eyes blue ticked over the menu, quickly ingesting it and making a snap decision. "Bagel turkey club and raspberry scone yeah? And whatever she's having..." A motion to Shae, a cheeky grin and wink offered. "On me."

The only extra accessory visible on Shae at this distance was the belt pouch that accompanied many an outfit. Tiny though it was, the woman had been known to break the laws of physics with what went in and out of that container. The offer to pay for her tea and chocolate chip bagel with strawberry cream cheese was met with a nod of thanks. "Getting a head start on placating me?" She asked with a hint of teasing to her tone. "Not a bad move."

She was more than willing to let him pick up the tab on this one. Even if it was simple generosity and not an attempt to forestall any violent impulse she still might harbor in his direction. Shae helped to carry the provisions towards a corner table, leaving Fox to the attention the shop girl was willing to lavish on the fluffy creature. "If you want a bit more privacy." She added as they neared the table, "I can arrange that."

A smirk escaped the man at the woman's teasing words, hands up in a motion of 'I've been caught' though the chuckle that followed spoke otherwise. The man was simply generous with his money though such was easy when one didn't really invest much in themselves and/or were good at turning a profit from gambling as the hunter was. "I like to go for the smart move when I can. Makes up for the bad moves I just happenly make otherwise." Dropping a tip in the jar he'd snag a few of the provisions before following after the woman to that corner table, setting up his stuff across from her before he moved to pull out her chair. The schmooze was rather polite it seemed when it suited him.

Once she was seated he'd move to sit down himself, a cup of coffee poured. "We'll play it by ear yeah? It's not like everything about me is a secret, just not stuff that's really talked about..." Casting his cobalt gaze about the room he'd note the distinct lack of other patrons save for the occasional bookworm tucked away off in their own world. "Though suppose first thing to figure is exactly what it is that you know of my 'situation.' Always have found gossip and second hand accounts to be kind of iffy on validity." A sip was taken of that hot coffee as he sat back now, turning his attention to the woman across from him.

"Finding balance can be difficult." She accepted the gesture of the pulled out chair without fuss, though the slight hesitation in her motion was enough to betray that it came as a bit of a surprise. Such manners were rare.

Shae took the time to stir honey into her tea once seated. She was just putting the lid back on the drink when she spoke in her blunt way. "Three years by your estimate. Degenerative almost like a disease. Probably something to do with your line of work and exposure or that little allergy of yours. How'm I so far? In the vicinity of accurate? That wasn't everything that Serah let slip, but that's the portion I'm most concerned about at the moment." The way she said it suggested that her concern was as much for him, despite his tendency to vex her, as it was for Serah. Here a bite of bagel.The air stirred. It wasn't magic, but the sound from the shop around them would seem to diminish.

"Balance huh..." The word spoken as if he were inspecting it before his very eyes. It was something that seemed to weigh on the man as his expression took on a pensive appearance while he mulled over such. There had been note of that slight hesitation though the man simply moved as if he hadn't noticed. It would have been easier to feign ignorance about the hesitation though a thought spurred by his consideration of balance would push the question from his lips. "Not used to such or not expecting such from me?" A sly little grin accompanied that question as he took a sip of his coffee.

And when Shae prattled off that list of hearsay in that blunt manner of hers? The man would listen, silent and contemplative, until she finished speaking in a manner that would almost seem she were concerned as much for him as she was for her friend. This garnered a moment's consideration of those blue eyes blue that watched the witch over the rim of his cup before finally shifting his attention off to the scone that he picked up to take a bite from. "Yeah. Paints a pretty broad stroke picture of things. Allergy bit is still wrong but..." A little shrug as he munched on the scone, chewing and swallowing before continuing. "Sounds like you two were rather busy. And most concerned about.... so there was more?"

A quirk of brow before he'd chuckle. "Do I want to know or is that stuff privy only to the female persuasion?" A teasing tone of his own as he took up his coffee to wash down that part of scone which he consumed. The man did notice the shift in the air, how it dulled the travel of sound around them. It was unnerving to the hunter but something the schmooze was okay with as he slouched some in his seat. "So, what details did you want? And what were you aiming to exchange for such?" And that grin grew as he watched the woman. "Tit for tat yeah? Learn of me learn of you?"

The woman was quiet while he pulled his thoughts together, using the lull to study him from across the table. At his first question, she offered a gentle half-curve of her lips. "You often surprise me," Shae admitted, "but not because the gesture would be one you are capable of. In this case, I assure you it's the former."

Another lull, this time with mutual observation. "I didn't expect that to be the full of the detail. I have several questions, as you might imagine. None of which you are actually obligated to answer, but for the sake of...let's call it potential friendship. For the sake of that, I'll give you honesty if you grant me the same respect." This seemed to suggest that she was more than willing to trade to get at truthful answers. "As for the other things we discussed, well, she told me that you and she had finally gotten past your individual issues and decided to attempt being happy."

There was a small sea of words she could throw at him at any given time, but she was restraining herself at the moment. An avalanche of questions would not serve her intentions. "For starters, maybe you tell me what's really going on with your health? What the source is. Prognosis. If allergy is wrong, what is the cause?"

The man watched the woman as she spoke, as she watched him in kind. It was something many people tended to forget when faced with the schmooze, that even if he were being charming beneath everything he was still the hunter. Naturally observant, naturally inclined to watch folks, to figure how they ticked and use such to his advantage; it was a bad habit but one born of many, many years of practice even before he had joined the military. Another sip of his coffee and he'd grin cheerily. "I do try to be surprising, keep folks guessing." Offered in a joking manner though they both likely knew just how true a sentiment such really was.

And when Shae spoke of honesty, of friendship? The man simply smirked, a hand lifted in an almost 'surrender' fashion of gesture. "I'll answer truthful less they question dig too deep yeah? And I'll let you know if it does. Part of the 'issues' been working through to try and find some happiness with Ser... the honesty bit. Not usually real useful to one in my line of work." He took a sip of coffee as he leaned back now, setting that cup aside to pick up the sandwich he ordered. "But then neither is humanity which is sort of needed to try and find happiness... so trying to find honesty as well."

A bite was taken and he'd chew while thinking over that first little taste of questions the woman had. Swallowing he'd work through a second bite before coming up with an answer and the nerve to provide it. "Spirita Anima Dissociative Disorder.... SAD-D. It's something that affects normies where I come from who are exposed to lots of magic... normies being folks not able to process magical energy effectively, about eighty percent of the population." Setting aside the sandwich for the moment he'd preoccupy himself with finding his pack of cigarettes. "The damage and symptoms are cumulative in nature. You start out with the syndrome which is reversible and the more you abuse yourself, the longer, then you move into the disorder stage which is non-reversible damage. I'm stage three in a four stage classification. Prognosis: poor."

Finding his cigarettes he'd tap one out between his lips, the pack offered to Shae just in case she had some inexplicable urge to take up smoking suddenly before he'd search now for his lighter. "The short of it is that I'm developing tolerance to magic... including my own life magic. That... isn't good. Causes the soul, the spirit, to split from the body, the anima. And when that happens for the last time.. well..." A pop sound made to indicate in a rather glib manner the end of life.

"As for the allergy bit it's more that whole business with the inability to process magic. Don't think you've ever seen me work but I can't just draw raw magic for spells like mages proper can... gotta use either my own juice or ambient stuff from others spells. Anyway, there's a lot of technical stuff about tolerance to magic and baselines and saturation and such and such and such that all boil down to keeping a balance of magic that if it gets tipped too far in one direction or another is bad." Finding his lighter he'd light that cigarette, a drag taken and released in a pleased little sigh.

Cease-fire, Part 3

The man shrugged mildly at the question of age. ?The fact that the mean life expectancy for a hunter is around thirty two?? Those words held a lighter tone than he had aimed to give them but then again the man was quite obviously not afraid or unrealistic about his own life expectancy. Still, a hand waved in an apologetic manner. ?Sorry, sorry, know it's not really something to be mirthful about. Just... an acceptance of the facts, yeah? But it does hold truth: forty was chosen as it exists at the decline of ability for hunters signaling their decrease in efficiency and productivity versus a more attainable goal for the hunters themselves. You use a tool until it becomes dangerous to use, ineffectual, or broken; not until it's gotten a well worn veneer.?

Finishing that smoke he'd pluck it from his lips, crushing the smoldering butt out into an ashtray as his other hand was already moving to snag a second. ?And the potion is sort of treatment, sort of required for rigors, and sort of required for life in general. It keeps me glued together in all manners of speaking; one of the blackest boxes of hunter tech ? the Regeneration Potion.? Popping a new cigarette between his lips he'd set it ablaze with a snap, crackle, pop of his imitation zippo. ?It allows me to regenerate, heal, shrug off damage but like all good things there's a catch. Become... reliant on it and you soon end up dependent on it. If I were to stop taking it I... would find a rather unpleasant end in about a week or so's time where my body would break down and my soul loses connection to my rotting form.?

There was a slight roll of shoulders as he figured she didn't need all the gory details of what would happen. Instead he'd take up his cup to take a sip of tepid coffee, focusing on the rest of what was said. ?I see...? A mild nod at the talk about clones, and body creation, and such. Of course he really didn't see at all but pride dictated he at least seem somewhat on board. And when she started discussing what would have to happen with him he'd focus on what he could, crunching some information and numbers. ?Nearly a quarter million Din if I got the conversion right... shit, that ain't cheap.? A low, impressed whistle escaped the man. ?But... if you clone me as is, with intact magical waveform, wouldn't that mean I'd just be dying in a different body? I don't really know the tolerances for etheric waveform comparability in such situations but I do know it's not something.... spirit transfer from one vessel to another that is... that anyone where I come from has accomplished.?

A thoughtful scratch at his cheek as he continued to consider this, the last of his coffee from that pitcher emptied into his cup. He'd let his thoughts run for a bit before something else squeaked in edgewise pulling those blue eyes blue to the witch as a cheeky grin pulled on him. ?I don't think you've much worse politics than me darling. No, I mean just being a mage. Magic corrupts, begets the use of more magic which begets more and such and such... it's a vicious cycle. And as one becomes more reliant on it the more an understanding, an empathy with those who can't starts to fade. Well, that's the basic principle behind the purity hounds that watch over my activity. Make sure I don't go all madsci psyzard all over the place cause all the power's mushed my mind.?

"Mm. So they were banking on you being dead or senile if you beat the odds and rounded off a fourth decade. How charming." Dryness in her inflection. Sarcasm suffusing her syllables. The more Shae heard, the less impressed she was with this Hunter system. It was becoming quite obvious that his government feared that which they deemed necessary. "It does, however, beg the question of why you would choose such as a career or whether it was chosen for you."

The added information about the potion he professed to need to survive was equally alarming. Registering in her expression as an upward tick of both manicured brows. "If you want me to earn the title of 'bad influence' from the standpoint of my opinions and ideas I might be able to do it now. Has it occurred to you that this potion may have drawbacks by design? If they're as leery of Hunters not working towards their goals as you imply, creating a dependency on something that would help along that lowered life expectancy isn't entirely off the table from a strategic standpoint. You stay in line, they maintain your supply." Just at the edges, those gold eyes began to seem pale.

"No. It's not cheap at all, but like I said, there is the chance that some of the requirements could be mitigated by your connections, or...well. Let's explore the connections first." There a small shift in her seat. Over by the counter, Fox had eaten his fill and was now slowly meandering towards their table. "The flesh is inert until life is put into it. As I understand, it grows from your essence. The core of your essence absent injury or disease. A clone of a man who lost an arm would have both arms, if you follow. I believe you here call that Dee En Ay, that essence. It has been done where I come from, but my physiology is not yours. Your...friends could probably ascertain the viability of my options."

Fox broke into their bubble of conversation, loping towards Shae's chair and staring at her until she unfolded her arms and leaned down to lift him onto her lap. For his explanation of the corrupting influence of magical power, the witch could only shrug. "Fear often comes from a lack of understanding. Perpetual ignorance leads to mishandling. Mishandling leads to abuse of power, or loss of control. Corruption is relative to fear of the unknown. There's a cycle on either side of that argument."

Mach simply shrugged at her dry commentary and sarcasm. "Yeah, not a very warm and cuddly sort of ideology but I've yet to see any government accused of being overly kind to everyone, and particularly not to dangerous folks. But it's not like they're forcing people to be hunters, and the benefits package, life insurance, severance package for those that survive, and all that jazz is rather generous." He didn't sound overly enthused in his defense of the system, the fact that it had many shortcomings obvious even to him. But somehow the man still felt compelled to defend it, found worth in what it did and it's importance. As for the question of why he was a hunter himself? This made the man shift his gaze away as a slight tremor of tension washed over him.

?Why? Well... why not?? A thin smile offered as he smirked dully. ?It... was an escape from a crap situation. Enlisted, showed promise for the work, was dazzled by the money and...? A roll of shoulders, the rest of that story obvious. ?The joys of youth, yeah? But then that's why recruitment is always aimed at the young... get em when they're still unwise to the harshness or the beauty of the world.? The schmooze sounded equally ashamed of his youthful stupidity in both matters: his naivety and his apathy and what both were costing him now. A sip of his coffee would finally have him realize that he was actually frowning at this point. Whoops. That wasn't an expression that typically found the man in polite company.

Craning his head side to side with a soft pop of his neck he'd opt to move on to the next point though it was no more appealing to dwell on. ?Of course it has, makes a certain bit of sense. But then there is no improvement on it for others, no easy cure all regenerative medication aimed for use for the wealthy alone. This stuff's the only pony in town. As well, with how well it works it has to be doing something to you, altering you so it can be so efficient and potent. I got ripped near in two by a dragon, three inches of spine the only thing holding my legs to the rest of me.? He took a drag of his smoke. ?Four months in a vat of the stuff and I was in peak shape to go back out on the battlefield. So while yeah, it does seem fishy the dependency I'm not exactly convinced that this isn't just some natural side-effect of something that can pull off such miracles. And none of my madsci buds could find anything wrong with the potion either...? A little 'eh' shrug as he admitted to doing something that could have likely found him court martialed if not incarcerated for treason for running independent investigations in military secrets.

Another sip of coffee, another drag of cigarette as he sat back, the chair creaking slightly. ?Ah... yeah, I know about cloning based off of DNA. Also such addendumed with environmentally active RNA and microbiological flora processing as well. Still something tends to be missing from the equation etheric wise which prevents stable soul transfer... but yeah, I'll be honest, this sort of stuff puts me to sleep and hurts my head...? A cheeky little embarrassed grin at this admission. ?So yeah, probably best if a madsci hashes such out with you.? A wry little grin as he thought on something else but opted not to speak up on it instead moving on to that last part.

As she shrugged so to did he. ?Yeah, well, with magic even a handful of subversive elements can be a horrifyingly dangerous sorts. I think in their case 'ignorance' isn't really the right word so much as 'paranoid.' Know too much about folks that can have the power of an atomic in hand or the ability to subvert folks to their bidding and you start to see all your problems as nails and all your solutions as hammers.? A wry little grin at this before something occurs to him, a question of his own. ?Speaking of... or somewhat... in general maybe? Anyway. I've sort of been wondering what brought you here to Rhydin? It doesn't seem you're really the hop, skip, and jump here voluntarily sort like I sorta am.?

The way Shae's fingers combed through the russet fur of her familiar, absent concern for the hairs being shed onto her legs, spoke to the behavior being almost instinctual. Her ears and eyes remained on the man across the table as her nails traced gentle lines into Fox's coat and smoothed them out. The canid turned half-lidded eyes on the man, yawning to stave off his impending food coma. Shae parted her lips to speak, likely to give voice to some other objection, and then paused to glance down at the creature in her lap. Moments later, she tried again. "I see." Those two words held the impression of restraint. Her next sentence was bled dry of any lingering agitation. "I appreciate you being forthright with me, answering my questions as you have."

The space of a few breaths in which any hint of pale receded from her eyes. She was able to quietly study the way his face looked when not masked by the smile he liked to put on for the public, and it was refreshing. It was that frown, more than anything else, that decided her. "For your sake, and for the sake of Serah, I'd be willing to consult with one of these... why do you call them 'madsci' exactly?" Just a touch of hesitation attached to that question. Shae had ample reason to be less than fond of the experimenting sort, and she was beginning to feel apprehensive about what parallels she might draw between these people and those she had had so many poor experiences with. Whatever his answer, she told herself that she would try to approach such a discussion with an open mind.

When he began to talk about DNA, the majority of it went right over her head, and she didn't bother to keep the confusion out of her face, the way it gently tightened the corners of her eyes. "Right, probably best." Shae's culture didn't have words for many cellular processes, let alone some of the more complex facets of genetics. Sure, they understood breeding for certain traits, inherited diseases and the like, but the arcane went hand in hand with scientific discovery, which meant some aspects of both were stymied in the process.

"I can't fault them for having a healthy fear of what magic can do, but there's always a point where that fear escalates to measures that are harsher than necessary to 'protect' a vision of how things ought to be." One hand raised, waved as if she might physically brush the topic aside. She seized on his question as a replacement. "I'm not, as it happens. My arrival here, as far as I can determine, was an accident. Spells collided and the effects seem to have been, well..." A gesture to herself, there in the tea shop.

Mach made note of those quick little exchanges between the woman and the fox, the silent stretches, the ever so slight shifts in the woman's features so like a venetian mask yet at the same time so full of life and animation. Finishing off his coffee he'd set the empty cup aside as he pondered Shae's words, pondered her expressions, and pondered the roundish vulpine that occupied her lap now. ?Well, yeah, something I'm working to be better at for Serah, figure I may let the same sort of honesty slip to others as well.? A lazy little smile and wink offered though his expression was much friendly than glib. ?See how it goes, yeah??

Taking a drag from his cigarette he nodded mildly, pulling his phone out from his pocket and idly swiping and tapping away as he spoke. ?For my sake huh? Find something in me worth trying to save beyond happiness for Serah?? His tone mild, obviously partially distracted in his task, though there was genuine interest beneath it all. One final tap and a moment later Shae would feel her own phone go off with a message: contact information for a Reginald Orlyns. Pushing away his phone again he'd blink a moment at the woman before her question processed. ?Oh. Right. Sorry... Mad Scientist. Or politically a scientist studying Extreme Esoteric Sciences. A term for folks who... 'spark' into bouts of extreme creativity. Really intelligent, sort of amoral and psychopathic, but generally nice sorts once you learn to deal with their quirks...? He shrugged at this. He could see that hesitation, hear it in her tone and really, the schmooze was torn whether to encourage a healthy paranoia of such elements or encourage some form of understanding. The prior probably would have been better.

?The one I sent you info on lives here in Rhydin, does some work for me between TV and Computer repairs. He's a nice fellow, bit of a dreamer but easily lead back to topic. Knows a fair amount about biology and stuff like that so would probably be best to approach. I'll send him word too to expect your call and to not be too creepy.? A thought. ?I did mention they're sort of poor in the social interactions department right?? Mach would almost think to warn her about broaching topics of interest lest she get an annotated dissertation in response but he figured Shae as likely crafty enough to avoid such pitfalls... at very least after every subsequent fall.

As for her the woman's words about degrees of harshness she may have found it interesting to see the hunter nodding solemnly, his expression pensive. Though just as quick as she was to sweep that discussion under the rug was he willing to go along to another few topics of distraction. ?Ah... yeah, rebound effects on spells are a bitch yeah? Still sort of shocked when I see how many folks seem to be displaced for that very reason to here. So, how's the search for a way home's going.? An assumption but a good one he felt as well as the whimsy which spurred him to continue. ?So.those soulful gazes to Fox which look like you're subvocalizing to them... er, is that actually a true think?? A question that had been on the man's mind for a while yet.

Her first statement had implied that she was taking what he told her at face value. She wanted to believe him. "Sure," lips curling vaguely upwards, "see how it goes. Might be surprising, but in a good way." The need to roll her shoulders to offset unspent tension occupied the time spent formulating a properly diplomatic reply to his deceptively simple question. "I've never hated you, you know. Even sometimes those I hate, I consider worth trying to save. You often rub me the wrong way where our mannerisms don't mesh. And yes, I have threatened you on a handful of occasions where I have found myself inconvenienced, slighted, what have you by circumstances in which you have played a part. I wouldn't have brought the topic up in the first place, any of it, if I wasn't capable of taking a step back." There were other reasons, but for now...that was enough. If she found out later that he'd been dissembling with her, well.

The vibration of her phone prompted its removal from her belt pouch to glance at the information he had sent. Just as quickly put away again. Visible, as he expanded on the 'madsci' term, was a small tic in her jawline. It only got worse as he progressed onto describing them as amoral and psychopathic. "If..." She managed after schooling her features. "If there really is no one else I could consult on the matter, fine." Just the faintest hint of gritted teeth. Then a sigh. The one he described seem tolerable, and the fact that he was local was something of a balm to her senses.

Already, the witch had one person in her life who would pursue a philosophical argument, or at least their half of it, to bitter exhaustion. She was relieved, therefore, when Eli opted to progress with her. Even if she was about to disappoint him. "It's not. Going, that is. I'm not searching for one. I was at first, but after some reflection I decided to abandon that course of action." Delivered all in a tone that would sound familiar, as quiet resignation was something he'd been projecting much of. "In order to answer that last question, I'd have to know what it is you believe a 'true think' to be."

There was a mild, humored smirk at the woman's words of believing him before he simply shook his head, a hand raising in an apologetic wave before Shae read too far into this almost absurd reaction. ?Sorry, sorry, just... not many folks willing to consider me at face value when it seems I should be. Good reason too, don't get me wrong, I know full well how I come off. It's just...? There was a little shrug as he let his gaze wander to one of the other, unoccupied tables, studying it as if there was something of interest there. ?... refreshing.? Of course he didn't believe that she was doubtless by any measure but even this amount of simple openness was something the man hadn't really had much opportunity to indulge in since his coming to Rhydin. Cobalt blue gaze would shift back to the woman. ?Thank you.? This said simply before he took a drag of his smoke as he settled back to study the woman.

At her answer about him there would be the slightest lift of a single brow. That was much more detailed than he was expecting. Mulling over what she said with a slow nod he'd let a wry grin pull on him. ?I see. Inconvenienced eh?? A slight tick of humor at this though he'd let what impish thoughts may have been brewing die back down. ?Yeah, I can see that. Sorry. Never did take you for hating me though. I've certainly never come across someone willing to sit and subject themselves to my particular brand of stupid if they truly disliked me... well, unless they were being paid to do so...? A tap of finger to chin thinking.

And at her reaction to hearing about madscis? Well, the man could almost have smiled and cursed all in one measure as it seemed the woman was properly acquainted with their type. And at that tautness in her jaw to his description he'd simply lean over now, hand reaching out to tap her chin playfully. ?I don't think such a severe look befits you.? Stated simply as he sat back. ?And really, they're not that bad. A motley crew to be sure but no worse than me. And they're very knowledgeable.? And not connected to his medical profile that listed him as far healthier than he truly was but that was another matter entirely.

?And at very least I know Fox will like Regi, the man adores animals and likes to spoil them with sausage and such.? A wry grin to the creature before the schmooze took a drag off his cigarette, listening and easily picking up on that tone of resignation. Again the man smirked softly, almost inappropriately. ?I would almost think you've some military experience with the wryness and quiet solidarity you seem to possess. And I'm sorry.... about being stranded here. I can only imagine how frustrating such must be depending how many links to home you have...? He was curious just what she had left behind so suddenly but he'd let that question stay unasked for the time being as he hardly felt he was acquainted well enough with the woman to properly inquire regarding that either.

Instead he'd ponder on just what she thought he may have said! True think? There was a moment consideration before the hunter snapped his fingers obviously figuring something out. ?Sorry. Too many questions, to little coffee.? A cheeky grin offered to the woman. ?True thought link... an actual sort of communication bond between you and Fox. Seems at times like you're being chided by or conversing with the creature.?

Cease-fire, Part 5

"Where you come from, perhaps. From what I've learned here, I'm now several generations ahead of my own homeland in purely technical knowledge." A simple shrug marked her acceptance of this truth. "Advances in different areas for different societies. As for my phone, which was a gift from Serah if you weren't aware, I'm doing well. The second case has survived far longer than the first. I've a friend who has been patiently showing me some of the features." The phone was nowhere in sight, at the moment.

The refill on her tea was nursed steadily to ease a dry throat and wash down bites of brownie. "Kittens." Repeated flatly between sips. "There's an abundance of cats in this city, I've noticed. Some more tolerable than others. They'd be interesting, certainly." In the way 'may you have an interesting life' was often viewed as a curse. "To the more relevant matter, it's probably better for both you and Sir Lemon this way. Far better than isolation, even if it's not the most warm of associations."

Shae was more than willing to accept the wordless offering of his remaining portion of the chocolate delight. "Fox and I have our share of fights, which is as close to sibling conflict as I can claim to understand. At the end of the day, I wouldn't mind some more immediate family. Even if it was a 'bastard like you'." Her fork speared the last corner of brownie, which she used to gesture with. "As a matter of fact, no. This is my first one. Not my last, though." That bite disappeared past lips that smiled for the simple enjoyment. Gone with the next sip of tea. "Mm."

There was a nod as he listened to the woman speak of her homeland and how it seemed to be one of those technologically stunted places. ?Huh, sounds like Tanga a few centuries back. Folks with the capacity for learning advance technology but not really creating such at a breakneck pace as seen on the earthrealms thanks to the ease granted by magic... maybe.? Shoulders rolled in a mild shrug as he took another sip of his coffee. ?Or so I've read. Military academies love their history.? A cheeky grin. ?But you've done well to adapt. Both to the technology and the anachronistic society built around it. Takes a certain sort of grit to survive and flourish in this crackers place.? A circling gesture to indicate Rhy'Din in general though the witches comments about the survival of her phone case did have him chuckling. ?Oh ho? Well then...? That was a plotting grin if ever there was such a thing, the expression hid poorly behind his coffee mug as he took a moment to push his thoughts back with a few greedy gulps of that liquid gold.

Of course the witches rather bland tone in regards to Sir Lemon and Magnus producing offspring had him smirking once more. ?Yes... well, we'll see. Taking things as they go for the moment. Would be nice though for Sir Lemon to lay roots.? His tone was mild but warm, an honest wish though the reasoning was likely less pleasant to consider. This was a thought that was brushed aside at the mention of goodness for the both of them. ?Maybe... maybe. It certainly is a welcome reprieve.? And another sip of coffee was taken, the pot lifted to empty the remainder of it's contents into the mug before it was set aside. Mach liked his coffee as much as the next caffeine junky but two pots was about his limit.

Letting blue eyes blue gaze study the woman as she demolished the remainder of that brownie the man couldn't help but chortle as she spoke about him as a sibling. ?Well, you could always take to calling me Brother Mach!? And a bark of laughter escaped him even if the invitation sounded perhaps half serious. It would take a bit for him to calm down enough to take a few gulps of his tepid coffee, drowning out the remainder of that humor. ?S-sorry, that probably wasn't nearly as funny as I found it but yeah, was to me. Maybe cause you sort of remind me of Bri - my intelligent and to be successful younger sister... right on down to the threats.? A simple shrug even as he seemingly just admitted to habitually provoking folks to threaten him with severe physical harm. ?But seems to me you've found yourself some good friends... I think anyway. Not really my lot of folks to hang with, seem a little yuppy and sitcomy but then again they do associate with Antonia so what do I know.? Lips cracked into a cheeky grin as he chuckle, the last of that coffee swallowed down with a content sigh.

He'd set the cup aside, fingers steepling before him as he gave her a half humored, half incredulous look. ?That's your first huh? Well, we will most certainly have to keep that remedied then. Next time you're over I can bake you and Serah my fancy dance good job brownies that are a time honored tradition I found on the back of a box back home.? A smirk at that touch of glib humor, his form shifting back in his seat as he watched the woman. ?Maybe I'll start introducing you to a whole lot of things since your rather keen on knowledge.? His smile was warm, friendly as he spoke on that.

"Perhaps." Nod given as she listened to the comparison he put forth. "Arcane studies continue at speed. Arcane technologies that rely heavily on a mix of technical know how and spell work...as many useful things as utterly dangerous ones." That grin was enough to stall her casual conversation and prompt an narrowing of eyes in his direction. "Don't you be messing about with my phone. This place may present a learning curve for me, but I don't need someone to ramp up the difficulty for giggles."

The matter of intelligent kittens was passed over as he emptied the second pot. Instead, she tripped right into laughter. "I'm sorry. 'Brother Mach'? It makes you sound like a cleric, which is perhaps the very last thing I'd expect you to be." Honest even while her smile was apologetic. "Let's start with distant inlaw and work our way up from there, hmm?" At least, the smile lasted until confusion set in. "What does 'yuppy' mean? 'Sitcomy'? I don't know these words. If you're suggesting, and I'm just guessing here, that those I know are...not like Antonia. Certainly no. Antonia is one of a kind. But there is only one person I know and regularly associate with that I feel does not possess the sort of grit that life calls for. The rest of them have their sharp edges. I seem to have a habit of making friends with the sort of folk who cage their teeth from public view. Excepting Antonia, naturally. And maybe Cianan."

Her tea had come up empty and she had no desire to refill it at the present juncture. Fox's yawn saw his muzzle open wide enough that Mach could see straight past pointed fangs and across canid tongue. "I'd like that. Brownies and exposure, that is." Shae shifted her familiar to her shoulders and made to stand. "For now, though, I think it's time I left you be for a while. Perhaps we will reconvene once I've had a chance to talk to this madsci acquaintance of yours."

"Useful and utterly dangerous ones eh..." He sounded mildly distracted as he considered that, a soft snort escaping him as the man may well have found a little too much applicable personal comparison for comfort. He'd have continued that line of thought if not for the pause which prompted attention to a pair of angry Shae eyes. There was a slight quirk of brow before her explanation left him chuckling. "Nah, I wasn't going to mess with your phone. Actually was thinking of getting you a case like mine; rated against fireballs, lightening, extreme temperature shifts, and small arms fire. May just be strong enough to withstand you." And now his grin turned cheeky at that half tease, half truth.

Of course her laughter at him being in any way pious would draw out his own humor as well. "Yeah, yeah, maybe reeeeaaal distant in-law yeah? Perhaps the roommate of one." A wink and cheeky stick of tongue offered before he considered her questions with a wry grin. He really had to learn to stop using his own brand of vernacular to speak with this one! "Er... well, yuppy, yeah? Sort of like... trendy, well to do, sort of posh." He worked hard to keep the negative connotations out of his explanation as he knew the protective sort that Shae was. "Same with sitcomy.. sort of like.. well, a sitcom. You... you've never seen one of those." More a statement than a question. "If you get TV you should watch a show called 'Friends', sort of like that. Think you can YouTube that on your phone too... well, if you know how." The schmooze doubted she'd learned of the internet and all it's videos yet if only because she wasn't rambling incessantly about her discoveries as was how he figured most folks first time exposure to the internet was announced... well, that or curled up into the fetal position beneath a table.

Listening about her friends the man almost breathed a sigh of relief at the possibility of escaping the explanation hell he'd set for himself. There was a grin as she spoke of Antonia and Cianan being sorts that didn't hide their fangs. ?Only natural yeah? Keeping your cards to your chest, it's a protective measure against the great and vasty world. Though I am sorta surprised you found someone without grit... maybe be careful around that one yeah? Could be they just have a very convincing poker persona.? He spoke simply about such as if stating fact, or at very least speaking comfortably about his own personal views.

And finally when she finished her tea and stood carrying a rather sleepy looking Fox with her the schmooze rose as well in proper manner even if he were getting ready to head out himself. ?Sounds like a plan, though I request a 'don't knock it till you try it' clause as well as a 'don't knock Mach after you try it' one too in case you don't like something.? A cheery grin offered up to belay the teasing humor in that as he moved now, hand offered out to her for a shake. ?But yeah, we'll catch up later. Just... be careful around Regi yeah? He's an innocent enough sorts but that just makes him unpredictable, would hate to see anything untoward happen to either of you.?

When she'd start moving he would accompany her to the door, opening it and hold it for her with a grin and bow of head. ?Think I'll head... home... to Serah.? His expression softened just a little at those words before that grin pushed full on. ?You take care Shae!? A wave was offered as she'd move off into the night, his form remaining where it was watching after her until she disappeared into the shadows before he would head off himself, his expression turning stoic as he lost himself to his thoughts.