Spring Rolls and Sadistic Goddesses, part 1
Late night Chinese food in the Market, 1:30 AM, 5/17

The clouds had rolled in with threat, but never quite delivered. The evening was still warm enough that she was glad of the summer weight dress. Shae let Cianan lead the way towards whichever Chinese restaurant he had in mind that served food he could eat without trouble. "I've meant to ask, why did you choose to become a vegetarian?"

Cianan was escorting Shae along, quite merrily, his stomach was rumbling, and he kept walking, heading towards the restaurant. He just smiled guiding things along this way and that, "Mm. Why? It started as a way to just annoy my Matron." Cianan clucked his tongue, "Nice, and pithy, just another way for me to get under her skin, and show that she couldn't control me. Childish, yes. She was the least favorite of my cousins when she got the position, though, and got a bit head when she sat her ass on the chair of leadership." Mm. "From there? I just enjoyed it, I enjoyed finding new ways, and experimenting with a diet I've never tried before, it made me.. creative if my meals."

"The diet below ground. Much in the way of tubers and fungi, I imagine. Or were you able to grow other vegetables?" Just the talk of food was making her own stomach have noisy complaints, but she was genuinely curious. She'd not been told much about the place on a day to day cultural level.

Cianan gave a nod of his head, pointing to the chinese food restaurant in question, a nice place, hole in the wall. Somewhat busy. But, plenty of open seating. He swayed out opening the door for Shae, "Here you go," Then he continued, "Fungi. Tubers. I found some very nice mosses, too, that were a good supplement, I also started a garden, myself, in my room.. had a small bits. I was also coming up to the surface all the time, doing scouting on enemy movements, and the local elven tribes in the areas, as well as the humans, and whatever else was of interest, or hunting down escapees." The life of a Judicator, after all. Cianan took a place four seat table, and ordered up some tea, as they were to be seated.

Shae sat, quiet so as to listen to the details he provided. Her imagination pictured arguments with a Matron, both with words and more tangible things. Her mind envisioned a secret personal garden in a room without windows, regardless of accuracy. The thought brought her back to food, and the smells did plenty to help. She swallowed as Fox jumped onto the chair beside her with his nose sniffing in several directions. "I bet you got skinny, for a while there."

"I was." Cianan nodded his head, "I think I bottomed out at less than one ten." He shook his head, "But, I stuck to my guns, annoyed her. And huzzah." Hooray for petty, meaningless victories. Cianan took hold of the menu, and offered the other to Shae. "Lets see. Pork Bun for Foxxy over there." Cianan finger gunned at him, "Stir fried veggies.. and lets seem, garlic eggplant? Yes, please." Glancing over to Shae, "I'll share." He was pretty sure Antonia wouldn't eat anything without meat.

The menu was perused briefly, since the order was waiting on her. Shae was a meat lover herself. And so she injected a little bit. "Veggie Lo Mein to share, Steamed dumplings, and..." Pursing her lips thoughtfully. "Let me have some sesame chicken and brown rice."

Cianan gave her a nod of his head, she could order what she liked, there was enough there for him. He was drinking his tea. "So. What was that whole thing back at the Inn? With the.. dorky guy, and The ann..Zynn?"

Shae licked her lips, her reach for her own tea forestalled by the question. "As far as I can tell he flew off the handle because she couldn't sell him some of Cane's drugged candies. She reacted meekly, he attacked." Her hand closed on the second cup of tea to lift it for a taste, and then another when she found it pleasant.

"Ahh." Cianan nodded his head, "Well. That's kind of a pain in the ass." Cianan scoffed a bit, scratching his cheek, "So. You. How've you been doing lately?" All that fun stuff, "I think I heard you speaking Drow, and you having a Drow.. something or other?" He paused, confused, talking with that other man, who was Gem's friend. He was, curious now.

Her nose wrinkled to express distaste at the situation before brows rose in response to his questions. Amusement in her tone. "The...Drow handsign didn't clue you off to the chance that I might know the language? Or, you know, the counting in Drow when you pierced me?"

"No. I'm just old and forgetful." Cianan chuckled, "Yes, that's right. I should be more understanding about it, more light skinned people speak Drow, than the Drow do." Cianan just, pretty much refused to speak it for that reason, unless it was to Suliss'urn, or to taunt Gemethyst. He continued to drink his tea, "So, tell me about him?"

"Father. Adoptive." Sipping at that tea as she considered him. "What would you like to know about him?" Fox sat on the chair staring at the table as if willing the food to manifest before him.

"I think, I heard, that he was not like one of the Drow from my world. No.. matriarchy, no Lloth. So, tell me what your Drow were? I doubt they were the bastions and corner stone of evil that mine tended to be."

Confusion flared again. "I'm not sure where that came from. But, they had a matriarchal society. Lloth is a name unknown to me, their worship was spread between demon lords such as Abraxis and Nocticula. Racial superiority, slavery...I doubt you'd find them as foreign as you are assuming." Soft frown as she raked a hand through her hair. "He left. It was a decision which he did not see the need to explain to a curious child."

"Mm. So, not too different, then." Cianan tisked, and then the food was coming, plate after plate, stacked family style along. And a plate for Fox's porkbun, too! He just smiled towards Fox, and was waiting for everything to be set down, before he started in with his spoon, gathering this and that, "Mm. Odd. No Lloth, but abyssal lords, and all that?" Lloth had once been a demon queen, until she found her Yorthae, "So, no one really pushing for the matriarchy thing? Lloth is usually the one that mandates it. She loves her women."

It was a strange thing to be talking of while portioning out dumplings, veggies, and chicken. Fox tore into the pork bun rather quickly. "I'm given to understand, from what research I did on the culture years later, that it stems from a myth among the Drow of my world. In the deep, their ancestors awoke a god of destruction, Rovagug, who transformed them into the first drow. It was a woman who was cruel enough to seek the first Lord. And since then, the culture has placed them at the fore."

Cianan just gave a nod of his head, taking it all in slowly, as he cracked open some chopsticks, and knocking off any of the cheap wood, to start gripping into the food. "Mm. I see.. I guess that makes sense. For my Drow, we have one major God. Lloth. Everything is built around her, even the other drow religions are based around fighting her, or resisting her." Mm. So, that left everything. He licked his lips, and started in, smiling as he saw Fox tearing into the pork bun. "Mm. Wonderful." About the food, as he took a bite of stir fry, smiling a bit, "So. What else then. Your adopted father was Drow, so, what about yourself?"

Shae nodded, asking: "Did you worship her, or another?" And then. "He was Drow, I'm...obviously not Drow. What about me? I'm really shoddy at talking about myself unless people have specific questions. I tend to...not really know what people find important in that regard." Her shoulders shuffle once in a shrug as she attempts the slow practice of using chopsticks, stubbornly forcing herself to learn. "If you ask something specific, though, I will answer."

"I worshipped her." Cianan nodded his head, "And her Son, who was pulled into her service, I was his follower. He worked for her, and I worked for him." It was pretty simple, "Mm. Let's see. How did you and Fox meet?" That was something specific, wasn't it? "Tell me, after that, what you were doing before you got here."

She had given her word, and though a frown now etched itself across her face, she told the story that she'd been dancing around for a few months in detail that was, while true, slightly truncated. "There was a time where I felt compelled to leave the village I grew up in. I spent several hungry days in the woods before I came upon a young Fox, or he came upon me. He watched me for a while. Brought me food. Tiny things. He was smarter than he should be, I was able to see that much." A few bites wrangled past her lips. "We formed a connection, a contract of sorts, and in time we learned to talk to one another." The frown eased slightly as she looked over to Fox who had already put the pork bun away and was licking his chops in search of more food. "Before I was here I was fighting in the city of Ravenhold. It was under attack and we were coordinating the defensive retreat."

Cianan just nodded his head, watching Shae, and then looking over towards Fox, "Well. Ain't you the nicest guy that ever came about. You've become firm friends after that, right?" Cianan gave a fleeting smile over towards Fox, who probably wouldn't hear him over pork bun, and was eating, still, slowly. "Ravenhold?" Mm. Cianan nodded his head, "I see. So. Did you just get plucked up at random? How did you find yourself here? I'm going to assume you've had a bunch of random adventures here and there, yes?"

?It took us a while, but yes. We became friends. Probably family at this point." There the flicker of a smile. This was ground she had tread before and it was easier to speak of now. "I'm not sure if it was random or just...magical error. There was an attempt to banish me, at least that's what the spell looked like. I countered and...I can't remember anything else until I woke up here." Absent gesture towards the north. "Walked until we found city lights." Another dumpling made it to her mouth to be washed down with tea. "I'm not sure I'd say random. Everything I've done has been for a purpose, even if just my own. The things I've pursued have led to some surprising events, though."

"Mm. I can see that happening." He gave a small nod of his head, considering it, "I've been across a bunch of planes, as well. I've been pushed through a bunch of dimensions as well.." He took a small breath, "That's a rather good way to do it, though. There are far worse places to end up, you might have found your way to Ravenloft, or something." Cianan shuddered, drinking more tea himself, before going after some steamed rice, adding that in with his eggplant, "I'm glad you managed to find your way here, though. You've been a lot of fun so far. Well, maybe not a lot of fun, but, you've been entertaining, and I've liked having you around." He corrected himself, "Thank you for joining me for food." A small bow of his head.

"A rather good way to do what?" She asked, followed by. "What's bad about this Ravenloft place?" In the space before he spoke up again, which had her smiling. Her voice dropped in volume, and she chewed at her lower lip before replying. "Thank you for giving me a friend here. I may know a lot of people, but it's hard to feel out who actually gives a damn, most of the time. I appreciate you -- and Antonia -- for making me feel as welcome as you have. And, well, tolerating my less fun aspects."

Cianan scoffed, "You're not too bad. You should have seen me when I first got up here. Homeless, angry, constantly bickering and starting fights. Not to mention, everyone had a chip on their shoulder about Drow." Ugh. He slumped in his chair a bit, "I was also, for a long time, one of the only Drow, or if there were more, they weren't the same as I." Mm, "Lots of upset men, determined to treat women badly for what they had been through at home, or pissy women who tried to make the world above reflect the world we came from." Both were flawed viewpoints, "I wasn't angry at women, just angry. Homeless. Struggling to find some sense, after Lloth abandoned me." He scratched at the tip of his nose, "Ravenloft.. is a realm, filled with undead, separated into different realms, each with a powerful ruler, and you pray that madness takes you before something worse does." He clicked his teeth, "And, you're welcome. I've enjoyed hanging around you, and as someone who never really fit in, I'm more than willing to befriend those that are in the same position." Unless they annoy him.


"Yes instead you've got a moody, sullen timebomb on your hands. Luckily, if Fox is around he usually gives me the verbal swat I need to snap out of whatever hole I've managed to think myself into." Hand reaching over to share a piece of chicken with the canid. "I have been, for most of my life, the only one of my kind I've ever encountered. That changed here and it has been weighing on me greatly. But perhaps it is like those you've encountered of your own kind here. The same, but...not kin to your situation, or way of thinking." She collected her thoughts for the time it took to eat a few veggies. "Still not sure what to do about that, but it will come." And then. "You're right, I am glad that I did not ever know such a place. My own was beset with troubles, but at least there were those still breathing there." After a brief pause: "If...I'm ever terribly angry...and I try to get outside. Let me. Even if we're arguing. You can yell at me more there, just let me get outside."

Cianan just waved his hand, "I deal with Antonia. You're a timebomb, but you're not too bad. I don't have to worry about you trying to skin me alive." He laughed a bit, "Poison my food, or a bunch of horrible things. I've been through it all, really," He watched her, "Let you go outside. I don't really stop too many people from going where they need to go." Incase she hadn't noticed, people walk off on him often, "But, I understand. I have no such restrictions, call me an idiot wherever I am, but, I might punch you in the face." Just a warning. "I'll usually apologize afterwards, unless I don't." A small smile, "I'm guessing when you get upset, you have a small issue with the weather?"

"Yes, well. You're sleeping with Antonia. Not to put too fine a point on it, but a romantic relationship usually ups the tolerance level for that sort of nonsense." Whereas she was just a person they had known for barely a month or two. "Let me go outside." She nodded. "It shouldn't come up often, it takes a lot to push me past my breaking point of anger. It's kind of strange, really." Soft exhale from her nose. "I don't think you're an idiot. I am usually rather amused at the way others sometimes react to you, but I imagine that might have to do with a certain history of starting fights?" She set the chopsticks down and poured more tea, topping off his cup first, and then her own. "Not always." She began in regards to his guess. "Only if..." She trailed off looking towards Fox. In the end it all came back to that bond. "I've gotten better with age, but I suppose I'm missing something." Here a gesture to herself. Something hard to quantify. "Anyway, if Fox is there, it's a non-issue."

Spring Rolls and Sadistic Goddesses, part 3

Cianan gave a nod of his head, and a smile, drinking more tea, "When you dance, it's on your terms, you know what you're expecting and you know the conduct is expected from you, and the crowd, or whomever is calling." Cianan sighed a bit, "It's a different thing altogether when there are no ideas or expectations of decorum, and it's a free for all." He nodded his head, "So, I understand. I don't think it's a contradiction at all, remember, I'm the man who was living two lives. I kind of understand the need for duality at points." He gave her a warm smile, "But, you are worthy of attention outside of.. norm, so you will get it. Might want to get comfortable with that." A big smile, "Please do, I'll take a look at them in my shop, or something." Cianan clicked his teeth, he was pulling out a few bills, and offering them over to Shae to inspect, smaller ones, "If you want to exchange, I can help you with that."

"The rules are different here. Even for the dancing. I usually did it with a glamour in place." She boxed up the food that hadn't been eaten, putting any choice vegetables and meat free bits in a container for Cianan before making up her own take home box. "It's...also been a while since I just lived. Where I was staying somewhere not out of an obligation, but just for the hell of it. Not running from something or running after something." She paused for a moment to really think about it. "Fuck. It's the first time, since meeting Fox, that I've been able to just..." She trailed off with a small shrug. "I'll try to get used to attention. I haven't resorted to my usual habits yet, so I suppose I'm making progress." The offering of the bills took her attention away from closing the lid on the container. Fox stole one more piece of chicken before she corrected the oversight with the hand not tilting the bills for a better view. "Is it one for one?"

"Different denominations. One copper, one dollar." He wiggled a one out, "Ten is a silver, hundred is a gold." Or at least that's what it was, "It'll depend on what type of dollar, too. " He sighed, "There are lots of monies." Really. "Glamour in place?" He raised an eyebrow, "usual habits?" Cianan questioned, "But, that's usually how it goes. People are more or less happy with it, that way.." He shrugged his shoulders, "Most dollars have change and coin returns anyways.. they're worse less than the paper." Usually, it wasn't really worth getting into it all, "Of those smaller coins, a hundred of them makes up a one." He wiggled it. He sighed, "That's the best I can really do for you at the moment." Cianan was letting Shae have whatever she wanted, but he was getting a box of steamed rice for himself.

"I've either been overcharging or overpaying for certain things and I'm not sure which is the case." The woman was sitting on a decent chunk of silver coins, at any rate. "How much in the bills do you think I should be carrying around?" She was still getting a handle on the local economy. "Of the most popular paper money, that is." Probably some Earth currency, no doubt. She nodded to confirm. "To cover the marks on my skin." As for the usual habits. "Disguise, mostly. I know a few charms that encourage the eye to look away or forget what it sees, as well. Okay. To be fair I did use one of them to sneak onto Horam's ship. But that was just one time. The other times...he needs to improve security." Grinning as she reached for her tea.

Cianan just snorted a bit, and then laughed, "Ahh. I see. The old bull does seem to be getting calmer now that he's getting older." He scratched his cheek a bit, and smiled towards Shae, "The Kitty, that I mentioned during the game, the one who gives the 'Kitty Hugs' is his Boss. She might seem nice, but, don't mess with her stuff." Cianan tapped his nose, "Ahh. I can understand that, I use small magics for the same things, mostly when I'm being.. less than lawful." He cleared his throat with a smile. "Those marks do give you away, as mine do for me." How many scarred one eared Drow were there? Thankfully, you do just enough and the wanted ads look completely different, after they get told, and drawn.

"I don't know why everyone's so afraid of him. He's really quite tame." The Admiral made a lot of noise, but seemed judicious about his application of force. "I've seen him fight and it's not a joke, but he's not needlessly violent as far as I can tell." The woman might have different standards. "I haven't met Kitty, but I've no intentions of messing with her cargo or business. Quite the opposite. I'm set to make her ships more durable." This the reason for all her dealings with Horam. "Exactly. Tiny changes usually do the trick, but I've gone the extra mile when needed."

Cianan nodded his head, "I think I've been light skinned, tattoo free and looking like a normal elf, complete with long, flowing hair." He swayed his hand out, "It's sometimes easier than getting more dancers, if you can just.. spruce up the cast a bit, after a few cancellations." A grin, "She's nice. I care for Kitty greatly some of the others in her household, not so much, but, her? I care for." Mm, "you don't have the penchant for angering people that I seem to have."

Shae stared at him as he described it. "Easier, but if I recognize you under it I'll probably be completely unnerved." It was difficult to picture him as a 'normal' elf. It felt wrong. Then again, Shae was much more comfortable with Drow like Cianan than she was with many of his surface dwelling cousins. Something about the lack of pretentiousness, perhaps. "I should like to meet her, then. I have had little reason to question your tastes in people thus far." At least, none that she could presently recall. "Have you angered Horam before?" She paused, considered. "Would you like to know a secret?" The course of the conversation had given her the grounds to offer the small evidence of trust.

"Often." Cianan gave a nod of his head, in answer to angering Horam. He laughed a bit, and sat back, "She's a bit. Well. She has a brothel, and is the biggest distributor of pornography in Rhydin, so don't be surprised if she gives you a Kitty Hug and then asks you to pose." Cianan snorted a bit. Cianan was rather comfortable in his own skin, it was odd for him to see himself as someone else, "I would love to know a secret." Cianan leaned forward a bit, putting his elbows on the table.

"He can't hate you, he hugged you." That alone was rare enough. The Minotaur seemed peculiar about who he let touch him. "You mean she'll shove my face into her breasts until I cry mercy? Joke might be on her, I can hold my breath for a good long while." Chuckling low. Then she was leaning forward too. "You give me your word not to tell? Like the matter of my age?" She countered

Cianan cackled a bit, "I don't tell. I'll still pretend to act afraid of him, or respectful. Thank you of the secret, Shae." He gave a nod of his head, "Mm. Until you beg for mercy, but she might have a hard time hearing it, usually I come up with a gold coin or two." Cianan grinned, "So, you know, it's worth looking."

A small blink of confusion. "That wasn't the secret I had in mind, but I suppose it qualifies." She leaned back with a smile. "I was told recently that shaking one's head side to side is customary in such a situation. With the possible addition of a vibrating sound from the lips."

"Oh. Oh. I was just letting you know about Kitty." Cianan lifted his hand, "I give you the deepest promise that I can give you." Cianan nodded his head, these weren't something he gave lightly, he nodded his head, drinking more tea, "Yes, she'll love you if you do that.."

"Are you being serious or will that get me in trouble?" Regarding Kitty's reaction.

"I'm being serious." Cianan nodded his head, "Well, she liked it when I did it anyways, I'm sure she'd be very amused if other people did too. I wouldn't steer you wrong, and if something did happen, I'd step in." He promised.

"Seems a fair turnabout for having someone thrust my face into their breasts." Shae mutters quietly. Then she clears her throat and shifts in her seat. "Ah yeah. Regarding the secret I mentioned, which I have your word on!" A pause for the reminder. "I didn't have black hair until I met Fox."

"Huh." Cianan blinked a bit, "Did it come in slowly, or all at once." Cianan was looking at Fox, and then back to Shae, "Brunettes aren't your thing, are they?" Just to make sure, Cianan snorted towards Shae, "Somehow I don't think you'd mind some boobs in your face."

"All at once. He used to be black furred." Fox shrugged. After a moment, Shae added. "I don't know that I have a 'thing' for a particular hair color, but provided I like the person they're attached to I usually don't mind breasts in my face, no. It's when the person they are attached to annoys me that I'm much less receptive to such things."

Cianan gave a few small chuckles, and nodded his head, "Well, the next time I have breasts, I'll give it a shot." Cianan snorted a bit, "Just be gentle with me." He bit his lip, and tried to contain his laughing.

The statement caused her eyebrows to climb and then she was shaking her head with light laughter. "I make no promises!"

It wasn't unknown to happen, Cianan pushed the bills he had taken out earlier over towards Shae, "Here." To get her started, like baseball cards. "Just don't be mean and spank me, either." Cianan grinned a bit, "Thank you for a lovely dinner, too. Nice conversation. I'll have to dig more into your past and history at some point."

"Ah..." The bills being handed at her threw her for a small loop. "Alright. I'll figure out the exchange and get you the silver tomorrow." Because she wasn't just going to take it. "I'm not mean unless it's called for." Or funny. Or fun. "I should be thanking you for the dinner. You paid. All I did was suggest it. And I appreciate the talk, we haven't gotten quite so many opportunities to do so. I have more questions of my own for another night."

Cianan nodded his head with a smile, "You revealed a bunch of secrets, I might as well pay for them." Cianan scooted his chair back, standing up and slipped his hands into his pocket, "Mm. Did you enjoy the Chinese food at the very least?"

Shae picked up the boxes, his rice and veggies, her mishmash. Standing as Fox jumped down. "I hope you mean pay in answers and not money." Her smile wavering slightly as she offered him his take home. "I did. This isn't a bad place. I'll have to remember it."

"No. The dinner." Cianan snorted, waving his hand, his hand reached out, taking hold of his leftovers, "Thank you." A small bow at the waist, "Dinner seems to be worth a good conversation, and lovely company, with both you and Fox." He smiled at her, nice and wide, "So. It was a pleasure."

The response took a moment to settle in, but it mollified her enough to re-secure the smile that she usually carried on her face. "I'm glad you feel it was. Thank you for listening to me." Her hip bumped his as she passed, headed towards the door. "Come on then, let's get out of here. Antonia's probably missing you and I have a date with a book."

Cianan just snorted a bit, tossing an arm around Shae's shoulder, pulling her in, quickly to press a warm kiss on her cheek, "It's my pleasure, honestly. Antonia's going to be waiting for me, with a stepladder above the door, waiting to drop the cats on me." He was sure of it.

Fox headed towards the door, anyway. She was snagged and reeled back for a kiss to the cheek. Something she seemed more comfortable with, now. At least from him. "Ack. Tell her to take a picture afterwards, then. Or if you know she's waiting there you could attempt to foil her plans somehow."

"Mm." Cianan snorted, "I don't know what I'm going to do with it." He sighed! He didn't want to be clawed to hell and high water! "Alright. Have a wonderful night, Shae. I'll give you some contact on the chairs, if you still want to help me build them." From earlier.

"You have a helmet, don't you?" That would help, right? "And sure, let me know. I still warn you I'm nothing like a carpenter, but I can take direction well, maybe hand you things and keep you company." They stepped out and she shrugged. "Detail work, maybe. I don't know."

"The last two will help. We can work on the first one. Who can't use a new skill?" Cianan grinned a bit, "And Fox'll get his trout."

Even though he'd just eaten a large meal, the reynard perked at the mention of the trout. "Be safe, Cianan."

"Be safe Shae." Cianan nodded his head, giving her one last squeeze around the shoulders, before releasing and heading off to the docks.

Denied Concerns, part 2

Cianan stared too, his answer, was, well, joking. But he was concerned if there had been another run-in. He just hid it behind humor to obfuscate for her, if she didn't want to tell. Or, at least that was his goal. He tilted his head back and looked towards Shae, "It was a nice offer."

Tea was set down to scrub at her face. Words muffled after a sigh into her sleeves. "Well, at least she's going back to a safe spot. Though I worry about her when she gets despondent like that."

"I do as well." Cianan tsked, turning once more to watch the door that Serah had gone through, as if he could will her back. He doubted it. Maybe. He closed an eye, and strained very hard, some of the veins bulging in his head and neck. "..Nope. I can only see naked women."

Naked women? Shae was lowering her hands from her face for that. "Wh--" But there were none. Back to the tea. The tea made sense. "I swear I understand people less every day."

"Mm. I can't strain my brain too much, or naked women just pop in. It's quite wonderful." Cianan tapped at his temple, "I used to have psionics all over trying to steal the ability."

"How did that little gift come about?" Soft snort of amusement. Fox had gone back to being a limp pile of bones and fur. Now with snoring.

"I think it came with the inclusion of a penis, to be honest." Cianan snorted a bit with a smile, rotating himself back over towards Shae, "So. How are you doing?" He hadn't checked in for a bit.


"Aside from apparently failing to grasp basic communication?" With a gesture towards the door. "I'm doing. The project is coming along. I've called in a few favors and learned that there is such a thing as a food delivery service."

"Mm. I seem to be right there with you." Cianan placed his hand on his cheek, his pinky finger slowly, tapping on his bottom lip as he observed Shae in silence as she spoke. "You're doing?" He questioned quickly, it wasn't really an answer, it sounded more like the non-answer that Cianan usually gave. "Favors? Yes. And yes, you can get just about anything delivered."

"Yes. Well. To be specific, I was offering favors in return for people bringing me food so I didn't have to leave the Inn. Until someone mentioned that certain establishments will bring the food to you if you pay them a little extra." Clearly, she thought this was genius.

"..Offering favors." Cianan stared at Shae, with an eyebrow raised, "I'm not sure what I should think of that phrase." His nose wrinkled, and he smiled, his head shaking back and forth, "Yes. It's a wonderful thing, isn't it? It makes you remarkably lazy, and prevents you from going out and making sure your social life is healthy. Regularly, Antonia orders pizza, sometimes that pizza comes with free ice cream."

"As in, I will return the favor or do something similar in the..." Shae paused. "That's another euphemism, isn't it?" She needed a dictionary of the things. "Not sexual style favors. Honest favors. Stars." Suddenly wishing her tea was spiked. How many people had thought that was what she meant? "I need the number of that place. Do you have it?"

Cianan was pulling out his phone, and after a few swiped he loaded it up, "Here you go." Cianan gave a nod of his head, "Yes." He nodded his head, "Hopefully that wasn't what people thought you meant, I don't think you're that hard up." He slid the phone closer to her. "You just ask for whatever topping you want, and the size you want. It's usually customary to tip, too."

Mug set aside, Shae manifested her own device. It was a slow plod to the contacts menu, but she was entering the number slowly. "Hard up...desperate? No. Not desperate enough for that." Poke tap poke. "What about the ice cream, just ask for a flavor?"

"Yes. They'll tell you if they have it or not." Cianan nodded his head, "Usually it's not as big as a selection as you can get in a store, or in a shop, but they are bringing it right to your door."

"Thank you." Number saved, she nudged his phone back towards him. She'd managed to do that without help. Progress. "I'll definitely be using them soon. Maybe after I get back from my shift at the library tomo-- today."

Cianan plucked up the phone and slid it back into his pocket. "Good. Make sure you keep eating. We need you at your best, and brightest."

Shae just looked at him a moment before smirking softly. "Trust me. I'm eating. This isn't some personal fascination, again. I need the energy for what I'm doing. So does Fox." Still snoring there.

Cianan nodded his head, giving a slight poke to Fox's stomach, "It's obvious that he is." Red eyes slowly crawled back to Shae, and Cianan nodded his head, "Good. Just making sure, I don't want to run you ragged."

"Keeping busy keeps me from thinking too much." Snaring her mug with two fingers to slide it closer. "Besides. The sooner I get it done, the better. I'd rather be prepared and then waiting than unprepared." Fox didn't even react to the poke. "Be nice to him, he takes on a good bit of what I do to help out."

"It's gentle chiding, that's all." Cianan smiled towards Shae, "He's still a good fox, and it just makes him look cuddlier." His head bobbed slowly, "I'm prepared to go whenever, just let me know. I can also start staking out the building, to get the shift rotations down, to know when the best time of day to strike is. One that will give me the fewest complications."

"I'll text you the information I have on the schedule at the docks, you'll probably want to double check it in case they've made changes, but the West End location definitely needs study." She was draining the last of her tea. "I'm waiting on word from Ketch about his new face before we start spreading my scribblings around. I'm almost finished what I hope will be enough."

"That's what I'm good at." Cianan nodded his head, "I have some ties on the docks I can pull on." Teeth bared in a smile, "The west end, I can take a look at myself."

It was a short trip to the sink to drop off her mug, then she was rounding through the break to the patron side to come collect her familiar. "Come the night, you're the only one we can't get back with the right sort of effort. I'm going to have something for you, alright?"

"Sometimes the night is when they're most protected." Cianan shook his head, "Or busiest. As much as I love bloodbaths, I'm growing tired." Cianan was old for a Drow, the repeated mulching of his body and bones due to trauma and life, wore on him. More so than he would ever share, "Something for me?" He paused a bit, after he made a slight adjustment to climb off the stool, and plant his feet back on the floor.

"No you mistake me. I wasn't..." Soft sigh. her face buried briefly in the side of Fox. Then lifted to try again. "I will have something prepared on the night, or day, upon which we move as a contingency for you." The Drow's soul was claimed, the solution was to keep him in particular alive. "The rest of us don't have debts to deities. That I know of."

Cianan shook his head, "No contingencies, please." He waved his hand towards her, "That safety net will just.. make me lazy, or sloppy. Or, at the very least, it will take away some of my joy from doing this." What fleeting joy it was, but, joy none the less. "Worry more about Jacob. He's the more fragile of us."

"Cianan. I can put her brother back together, and I'll be keeping an eye on him anyway. You're a different matter. One I'd rather not have to explain. Please? For my peace of mind? You could still well die, it's a risk we're all taking, but at least I'd have a chance this way."

Cianan was a very, very stubborn Drow. He came around the bar, and pressed his palm to Shae's cheek, and kissed the other one. "Have more confidence in me. I need that, more than I need the magic."

"But-" Sigh as she was kissed on the cheek. Shae was also stubborn, in her own way. "I do have faith in you, you know. It's not a lack of confidence."

"If I'm killed by a bunch of gangsters, in this city." Cianan tapped his finger to her nose, "Then, I deserve to go to Lloth." In all the shame he could carry on his back.

Then she was pressing Fox's ruff to her jaw again. "Fine." Murmured through the fur. It was probably the closest thing to acceptance he was going to get from her. The concern was still there. "But I shall be terribly cross with you if that happens. Keep in mind the inconvenience you'd be putting me through by making me start a war with a despot goddess to get you back so I could thump you back into a grave again."

"You can be terribly cross at me for other things." Cianan scoffed, brushing away the whole conversation, even the notion of it with a flick of his wrist.

With a half step, Shae leaned to rest her forehead on the Drow's shoulder. "Give me a hug. I'm going to go to bed."

Cianan reached around Shae, and gave her a firm hug around the middle, resting his forehead on her neck briefly. "If you want to come up and snuggle with me a bit, fine. But knock first, so I can put on some pants."

"I wouldn't just stroll in." This was the Inn. Given her own protections on her door, she wasn't about to risk a crossbow bolt to the face by helping herself through his unannounced. Then there was the general risk of what she would find on the other side of the door if she opened it without warning. Shae gently pulled away as Fox began to squirm in protest. "Kitty not keeping you company?"

"She is. Every now and again. But, she's hungry tonight. Off to get herself something big." Cianan sighed, "Hopefully nothing prize winning."

"If I can't sleep I'll give a knock, alright?" Shifting towards the stairs with a yawn. "Be safe."

Cianan gave a nod of his head, giving one last scritch to Fox's back. He was going to go throw himself into a pile of pillows.

Sidelines, part 1
Red Dragon Inn, 2:47 AM, 6/29

An overcast evening delivered the woman back to the Inn. Her attire of dancer pants and a sweater suggesting that her late return marked an evening spent performing. At her heels, just before the door swung closed, came the padding paws of Fox. The canid made a beeline for the kitchen while Shae detoured to a couch. Her recline on the worn cushions came with an 'oof' and a sigh of relief.

Cianan glanced over towards Shae, as she flumped her way onto the couch, "Evenin' there, Foxy. Oh, And Shae." Cianan finally came out from around the bar, heading over towards the couch, and plopping down into Shae's lap, planting a big smooch on her cheek, "Antonia's awake!" She probably already knew, "I went to go visit her today." He blew, with his lips placed on Shae's cheek to make a silly noise.

Luckily she hadn't stretched herself into a strange position. The sudden weight of the Drow on her thighs warranted a muted groan of protest. Still, his repeated news was enough to mollify her. "Yes! Seems there was a small fire in her room, too." Fox's brush tail flagged for the greeting before it vanished through the kitchen door.

Cianan was kind of a bulldog. He might be small, but when he had muscle, it was surprisingly dense, and he was kind of lean, still. "Now. What good news do you have for me." Ignore the fact that Cianan was in leather. Not the kind of leather that one would wear for.. clubs, or something silly. This was combat leather.

Ignore nothing. The seam of that leather was gradually imprinting itself into her leg so she was curious. The martial cut of the attire spoke volumes about why he was wearing it. "Am I going to see interesting headlines in the paper tomorrow?" Pause. "Is Jacob still breathing?" Seemed a fair question. "Good news...good news...hmm." She made a show of tapping a finger against her other cheek. "Nothing jumps to mind."

"No." Cianan shook his head, "No. Nothing like that. Just need to wear it around for a while, to get people to think it's normal again. So, if I get spotted, it won't seem unusual. Got a few bounties to look at, too." Cianan curled his finger into Shae's hair, "Jacob's fine. He's been very odd, started giving me a hard time every time I say what I need." Cianan frowned a bit, "It's very difficult to work with.. amateurs." Cianan tilted his head to the side, staring at Shae, "Nothing at all? You were working tonight, how'd that go?"

"Mm. A decent precaution." Her nod was careful so that his twirling of her black strands wouldn't yank. The complaints about the elder Tucci sibling summoned a smirk upon her lips. "He's used to playing by different rules. And as far as I know there are no Drow where he and Antonia come from. Give him a little time." One elbow on the armrest, propping her head up with a curl of knuckles against her jaw. "I was, yes. A simple affair, albeit a long one. I had to make up for the several I recently turned down."

Cianan carefully curled his fingers in her hair, giving her enough slack to move as she needed to. His fingers brushing along her scalp, "You know, you do have an open invite to dance at my club, if you have a good routine to do. Something flashy. You can use the sword, zill, you don't need to do more than the dancing you do now."

"I appreciate the offer. I would have to check with Whafyle to see if it would violate the terms of my employment. Not to mention, I'd be reluctant to agree to a slot in an evening's show and cancel in the wake of unforeseen events. It's one thing to do it to a company I have no great attachment to, it's another to do it to a friend." The hand not propping up her chin gently nudged his side. "I'll see about pulling something together in case the stars align. After all this business for Antonia, that is."

"Mm." Cianan gave a nod of his head, "If you can't, I promise I won't be put out by it." Cianan shifted off to the side, moving off of Shae's lap. "That's the great part of event planning and management. I can stack you on nights where there are multiple acts. That way, things won't break if you don't show. It'll be less money, but consistent, and a shorter work time." He left his leg in Shae's lap, his foot making slow rotations. "But, do what you need to." Cianan gave a nod of his head, "And, I'll manage."

The hand that had nudged now draped atop his shin. "Manage? I should hope so. The club isn't in trouble, is it?" Something about his wording put the concern in her mind.

Cianan shook his head, "No, no. Just because I plan and manage events, doesn't mean we're doing so dismally." Cianan chuckled a bit, "It just means I get to plan events, to have dancers, or other sorts of things." He gave her a small nudge on the shoulder with his fist.

Relief and a smile. "Good, good." And a gentle sway from the impact against her shoulder. "I'll take a look at things and we'll talk after things are settled. Who knows, maybe I can distract Antonia with planning a performance."

Cianan gave a nod of his head, "Good. Good. She'd prefer it if I dressed you, though." Cianan chuckled a bit, knowing it would be a deal breaker. He gave her a small scruff of her hair. "I want to make sure you're all set up. If you don't want to dance for me, I can find other places, too. Unless you're under an exclusive contract." Most dancing work didn't tend to have an exclusivity clause to them, unless the talent was super well known.

"Prefer it if you dressed me? What's wrong with how I dress?" Bewilderment in Shae's expression there, with a glance down to the pants she had performed in that evening. "Or are there not enough sequins on it to warrant stepping on stage at your club?" The scruff was tolerated and smoothed with a rake of fingers a few moments later. "I doubt I am, but I'd rather check first."

"Oh, no. For Antonia? She'd want your chest hangin' out." After all she talked about it. Cianan nodded his head, "I'm going to get her a dry erase board." Cianan smirked, "There should be a lot of swearing written down. You're always fine for my club. For Antonia? Nah. She'd want something special, she'd probably make everyone else leave the room." He paused, "Even me."

Sand Runs Low
2 AM, 12/01/15

It was a cold evening when they left the Inn. A walk towards the docks that saw the both of them bent close in the fading warmth Shae carried with her outside. Pointed curiosity lived on Shae?s face as she stared at the drow beside her. He?d revealed, quite accidentally, that something was troubling him. Something that sent him to consult a mage in town.

Tenaciously, she?d not let it go, and now, alone with the streetlights and the fog of their breath, he tried to shake her teeth.

Cianan grumbled to Shae as they walked, "It's complicated. Something that's been going on for a while. Don't worry too much about it."

"If you need a caster to fix something, I have to wonder if I should feel a little offended." Gentle teasing. "I know you can handle yourself. Doesn't mean I wouldn't be keen to help." She didn?t let go easily.

Cianan snorted, "No. He just had something. Something that had been handed down to him from his master that I wanted.. his master was better." He paused, "I've been tracking it for a while, as well as other methods." He glanced up into the sky, "Don't worry too much about it. I'll be alright."

Something he said struck a chord of memory and her mind turned it over a few times, worrying at the edges to try and remember how they fit. "This something to do with your arrangement with Lloth?"

"Somewhat." He gave over to her prying, knowing it wouldn?t stop. Cianan snorted, "I'm dying." He paused, "Not like, months or whatever. I don't know how long. Please, don't tell Antonia. But, my whole elven long lived thing is slowly coming to an end. Then, Lloth is cashing in." It was all so matter of fact. Cianan frowned, "I used up a lot of energy, with all the damage I've taken over the years, and all the regeneration from the rings, and healing from other sources." He exhaled, "Again, no idea how long, but it's getting.. recognizable."

One beat, two. Short spaces that felt like small eternities wherein her mind frantically churned through reactions, emotions, shock. She turned her face away, no longer seeing the street itself. Denial in every step. It wasn?t about her anymore, though she wanted to scream. Shake him. Hide him away. Not again. Not this fear again. What did he need? What could she do? When she replied it was focused practicality. "And this caster. He has what, a stop gap?"

"Stop gap. A way to hold my soul." Cianan shrugged, "Even if it's locked up, she won't get it. I've been hunting for.. other methods too. Some unpleasant."

One deep breath later she let her face angle back towards his. ?I want to help.?

?I know you do, Shae.? He sighed. ?Just. Give me time. I?m not going to drop dead tomorrow. Promise me. You won?t worry her with this??

?I promise.? It was her word, and she hated to give it, but in that moment she couldn?t deny him. She wanted to believe him. There would be a way. There was time. He would tell her.

The icy air settled into her veins, numbing her tongue and its quest for answers, and the rest of the walk was a quiet one.

Inland Debris, Part 2

There was quiet for a good while from Shae, the air of the room oddly still despite her presence. "Thanks...sorry."

"For?" Cianan blinked a bit, when she finally spoke up, his fingers went into her hair, and he scruffed slowly, trying to tame storm styled hair into something a bit more manageable, easy, and pulling back whenever and if ever he hit a snag. Not wanting to pull or force it, just easing it back into something more normal.

It was slow going to untangle that mess with fingers alone, but progress would manifest with patience. "Thanks for offering to lure me onshore with ice cream." Fox had told, apparently. "And for coming with breakfast. Sorry for making you worry when you've already got a lot on your mind."

Cianan had time, and he wasn't giving up just yet. When he got a bit annoyed with tangled he couldn't get out, he'd just massage her scalp, "Not a problem. I think I had a box big enough to trap you in." It probably wouldn't have worked, or at least that plan, "Nah. I don't mind. Worrying about other people's stuff, gets my mind off of my stuff. I'd rather.. ignore it. I mean, that's not my intention, but it takes my head off of it, if I focus on other people, or other stuff. I'd just be worthless otherwise.. constantly obsessing, and going all hermit." He gave her a slight bump with his shoulder, "You've been a good friend, so I figure I could return the favor, right? Make sure you're alright.. at least, somewhat, whatever's in my power." He couldn't fix things. That wasn't his goal, but being there to help shoulder a burden, or distract. He could do that.

"Mm. Yeah, it usually works that way for me to." Until she bottled things up to the point of overflowing. Then, not so much. "You feel happy for a while, to make the lives of those around you better. Sometimes it gives you some perspective on the issues that are eating at you, and time to approach them from another angle." She was talking, and it was true, but it was mostly just for the sake of talking. "You've been very good to me, Cianan. Thank you. I'm glad you became my friend."

"Trust me, Shae." Cianan nudged her her again, "It's been my pleasure. You've been a kick in the ass, and a lot of fun. Without being all weird, and ultra drama stricken as a lot of people around here. I appreciate that. You've had like, one blow up." This. "But you didn't drag it in front of everyone, or throw shade.. or anything." He wished more people were like that, and he also wished he was more like that, himself. "If you've had more? I haven't really heard about them." A small shrug, "I'm glad we're friends too." It was a firm statement.

She didn't know how to follow that, except she had one question. There was always at least one question. "What is 'throwing shade'?"

Oh. Cianan snorted, "It's when you glare at someone, or think they're less than for whatever reason, and show it in your look. Hateful glares, or disapproving glances." He continued with the scalp massage, "Negative Judgement." He thought that was close to the right meaning, "It's just more random slang. I watched an odd show, where there were men, who lived, and dressed as performing women in a competition. I didn't unde.. Okay, I kind of understood why a man would want to dress as a woman, but, I think it makes more sense for my people, than for humans."

"And on this show about men disguising themselves as women, they were throwing shade?" Struggling to make a connection in what seemed to be a non sequitur.

"They throw.. shade at one another, when they disapproved of how one another dressed, acted, or performed. At least this is what the tall, dark skinned person said." Cianan shrugged his shoulders, "They were pretty.. mean to each other, honestly." Huh. He hadn't considered it before. Still, he moved his fingers away from Shae's scalp, moving it back into her hair to work on some knots again, "So. How are you? Aside from tired? Recovering at all?"

"Where I came from there was someone who dressed that way. A tailor who made a very convincing woman. Wanted to be one, actually. We brought a belt of gender change to the tailor in thanks, one day,? but that was neither here nor there. "Your story reminded me. She made such lovely clothes." Weak as she was feeling, she was content to lean there in the comfort of the attention. "Recovering, yes. It took a lot of energy. I lost control but not...it wasn't normal. See. Usually it's a small thing and I'm aware and can manage it. Or I lose control completely and it's massive and people...people die. This was something in the middle. I was aware. I wasn't in a fury. But it was like several all at one time. Fox isn't showing it but I had to lean heavily on him."

Cianan gave a slow nod of his head, "I understand. People die if I go into a fury too. It's just.. more hands on. I try to keep to a more even keel." Cianan snorted a bit, "I gave one of those belts to a friend of mine on her birthday. Her husband did not approve." His tongue curled in amusement, "I used to use it myself, actually, when I couldn't be me. I'm not a very pretty woman, though. But, when you're expecting a man, and you get a woman." It was easier to change height, and change face, by switching gender. "The Drow thing is usually a give away, but people have a hard enough time telling us apart." Unless you're as tattooed as he is, but a small glamour or cantrip usually helped out with that part.

"Yes, I can see where that would have been a very effective way to hide. Such things don't come cheaply, so it wasn't ever an option. But then, when I was younger I was very stubborn about not hiding. Tackling things head on. Hands on." Shae in fury wasn't as distant as Cianan might assume. "In any case, there was no shade to throw in the first place. There's no one to lay blame on, save perhaps myself."

Cianan snorted, "I can't hide when I'm up here, really." He scratched at his jaw with his free hand, "I'm always me. Well, usually." He extends his arm out. "Nah. People get upset. You're a people." His hand went to the back of her neck, giving a gentle squeeze, and resting there, "Give yourself a bit more.. leeway. No one got hurt. Some sailors probably lost their lunch, but that's probably not anything too bad. Some repairs to the lighthouse, but, not as bad as the market burning down, or exploding. I'm sure that's not even a dent in their repair budgets."

"I strive to be a considerate natural disaster, where possible." Drawled quietly with an echo of her normal sense of humor. "It's funny that I had to come quite so far to be told that, though." Side glance to him as she didn't want to turn her head just then. "That I'm 'a people',"

"You had to be told that?" Cianan blinked a few times, "Hell, I'm a shitty person, and I'm still a person. Most of the time." He left his hand on the back of her neck, a gentle massage too. "You weren't a people before?" He didn't sound like he believed it. It seemed odd, because he knew this Shae, and she was as people as people get. At least, to him.

"I'm used to being 'something else'. A witch, some sort of wind demon, a faerie." Gentle shrug. "I just don't hear it that often. At least, not in that context. And here, for whatever reason, it seems more genuine if only because this place is unique. I didn't have to be told that, but it's nice to hear anyway. Ideals of behavior are tiresome. Especially when applied by other people."

Cianan gave a nod of his head, "All of those things can still be people. You're a people to me, no matter what you are. You're my people." Not Drow, of course, just someone he considers people. With that the hand slid off the back of her neck, and around her shoulder, he was squeezing her once again, "It may not need to be said, but, I'll still say it." Cianan gave a snort, "Yeah. I used to be a Judicator.. so, judging other people used to be my job. It was.. tiresome." Of course, with that he got to disintegrate people with but a look. The job had perks.