The First Age

After seeing Jay and reality set in, it was time to tell people who might help, or would give a fuck. But the fact was, he was incapable of doing jobs that he had been hired to do.

The first text he sent to Jacob.

Need to talk. Pick a day/time/place and I'll be there

Jacob's reply came back rather quickly

Going Hunt. Meet up afterwards

The Atharim needed to know he could no longer hunt channelers. He could but it was far more dangerous and more likely to get caught and he really didn't want to anyway.  But it was what it was and he would sit down with Jacob and they'd talk.

The second text went to his contact for the Ascendancy.

I need to debrief with the Ascendancy himself. In person. Important information to relay.

He was pretty sure that the whole thing would be a hassle and that they'd have to go in and out of negotiations on whether or  not to let him near the ascendancy. He's had ample opportunity to kill the leader of the known world he could have done it many times -- not that he'd survive the encounter,

Hours later the response came with a date and time and Nox was there at the Kremlin fifteen minutes before the appointment and walked into the Kremlin sans gun and knife even though he absolutely no protection for dying now. He unzipped his coat as he walked inside, he missed the warm bundle of baby he usually kept nestled against his chest, but now wasn't the time. 

His voice was neutral, devoid of any emotion as he walked up to the desk. "I have an appointment with the Ascendancy."  He wasn't wearing a suit like everyone else in the building. He was getting the side eye from security. He didn't care. He didn't feel anything. It wasn't like he was a stranger, he'd been here a few times before, dressed exactly the same, jeans, t-shirt except this time he work heavy hiking boots to stay warm and keep traction as he walked the streets of Moscow.  He should use the car Sage provided them, but he didn't. He could drive if he truly wanted to but it all seemed so frivolous and he didn't want to be in a car anymore than he had to. He preferred his own two feet.  Living in a car tarnished the luxury.

Nox showed the receptionist his ID and they went through the whole thing. He wondered how many hoops he'd have to jump through.

And an ordeal it was, for at least a while. An unexpected addition to his schedule would required approval from high up, if not from the Ascendancy himself. While admitting Nox Durante wasn't exactly a problem, at least not anymore given the many times he'd proven his loyalty, Nikolai thought it best that even the great Nox be reminded that he was only a cog in the machine of the Custody.

To that end, once he was admitted, he was shown to the Executive Offices. There were plenty of staffers to bear witness to Nox's appearance, but stranger things had happened than allowing a scruffy young man in jeans and a t-shirt an audience with the Ascendancy. They would spill no secret, even if they would gossip as much as they dared. 

Nikolai was working at a desk when Nox was shown in and the door closed behind him. When he looked up, he paused almost as if he was startled. Nox was hardly a business formal kind of person, but today, his appearance was even more disheveled than usual. Or perhaps it was only his expression, but something was off. Perhaps it explained the urgency in his request. 

"Nox," he said by greeting and gestured. "Have a seat. I am told you have something urgent to discuss. I hope it's not a new campaign by the Atharim."

Nox was eyed as he walked down the hall. Tongues would waggle as they always did and normally he might listen but as he walked he made sure that the song in his ear was neutral, neither content and happy nor sad and emotion and hopefully not completely devoid of all emotion, though he was sure it didn't show on his face, smiling was a chore, so he chose not to do it. He had to remember not too big, not to bright, don't frown. It was just easier to remain neutral. This was important after all.

He sat down across the desk from the Ascendancy he'd been here enough times he didn't look around. "It could become one when they find out, and they will find out since they are getting the same information sometime in the near future."

Nox was sure the Ascendancy knew his typical rambling so he kept it short. "So my ability to channel, that's what you call the power of the gods right? Yeah, it's been collectively severed from my being. I can't keep doing some of the jobs you hire me to do. I can't touch the source, I can't even feel it. Can't feel anything really, but that's only a fun side effect." He had proof and he had it on him and a copy for the Ascendancy's team to study. Though he didn't offer it up yet. First he wanted to see how Nikolai Brandon reacted to the idea.