Ilesha came in it smelled good. It'd had been a while since she'd head a hearty meal like this. She just usually grabbed takeout but with the storm she'd decided to do it right with homebread and it would be sandwiches for a days, but sharing it meant she would get something a bit heartier -- probably good for the cold weather.
"Yeah it's a good thing the roof won't collapse." She didn't cut the bread yet it would be better if it stayed warm a little while longer -- better with melted butter, she'd brought some different kinds -- a honey butter and just regular butter -- just in case and she knew it was spreadable and wouldn't bust the crumb.
"It smells good in here. What's in the stew?" She said standing in the door to the kitchen -- more curious and wanting to stay out of the way.
Ilesha seemed like a good person. It was nice to get to know someone here. Now he knew a few people. Nox didn’t seem like a bad sort. He was a bit paranoid, but Nora had been right. Nox had a reason to be. They kind of did too. But many of the people he had met had been channelers. Now he met Ilesha and she could too.
”Beef, carrots, potatoes, onions, and tomatoes. Spices too of course.” he stirred again. ”Just a few more minutes.”
Claude turned to face her. ”Now that we’re inside, I thought I’d let you know that it would be prudent to be careful about using your power here. I’m sure you can take care of yourself, but just be aware that it can be dangerous to use it here.”
It seemed weird how quickly he was becoming okay with using it. For a long time he had never really judged anyone before they did something wrong. So far he had seen her do nothing but help the people in this building. He didn’t outright say that it was an Atharim safe house, but he could elaborate if needed.
Ilesha nodded with a smile. "I am, and I know. I have a friend who warned me. He's a hacker friend who does all sorts of things I don't really wanna know about. He found out where I lived and passed the message through common friends. I don't think I've ever actually met him -- not really anyway. Seen him, seen him practicing on stage, but not really talked to him. So not really **my** friend."
Ilesha nodded. "You live here with someone, right? I know I've you two around. And I'm pretty sure, you are the reason I need to be careful. This is a safe house. I was told which apartments to pay attention to."
Ilesha had seen whoever she was talking about practicing on stage. It made him think she was talking about Nox, but Claude wasn’t one hundred percent sure. But she seemed to know what he was. Whoever this hacker was knew this apartment specifically was used for Atharim agents.
”Yes - I live here with my sister,” the stew was done, so he shut off the stove and placed the pan on the counter. ”I can tell you that you have nothing to fear from us.” if he had wanted her dead he could have easily done it earlier without bringing attention to the fact that he could channel too.
Mentioning Nora made him want to call her. He’d for her a little more time. He was sure she was at the Sanctuary. ”All done.” he pulled out a couple bowls and filled them, handing one to his guest as they moved to the table.
"I wasn't too worried. They can't see what I can do unless they can do what I can do. And I don't do things that they can see without it. I look strange doing things but I could just be strange."
The food was done and Ilshea helped set places and grabbed herself a bowl and some bread. "Smells wounderful."
"Is your sister like you?"
Claude grabbed some bread and smiled as she commented on the smell. ”Hope it tastes just as good.”
He grabbed the corkscrew and opened the wine, pouring them each a glass as she asked her next question. Claude and Nora didn’t talk much about what they could do. They were both sort of learning to embrace that they could do it. That in itself was a learning curve. Nora was learning from some Veilwarden or something like that at the brotherhood. He was learning from Nox. Things seemed to be working. Claude tried not to worry about Nora, but he always had. Just as she had about him. It wasn’t a bad relationship at all. But he tended to not talk about her when she wasn’t present - simply a form of respect. And the question came close to her mission at the Brotherhood and that was her deal entirely.
”That would be something to ask her when you meet,” he said. ”And I would be willing to make an introduction.” it would be good for Nora to have friends - especially ones who weren’t cultists.
Claude buttered some of the bread and took a bite. ”This is pretty good!” fresh bread was always amazing.
Ilesha nodded with her mouth full and waited until the delicious stew was gone before she covered her mouth and spoke "My grandmother's recipe -- though she did the whole kneading and baking in a real oven. I used a bread machine. I'm not really that great of a baker."
It didn't matter not really. She was just making conversation -- but the fact that he hadn't denied it probably meant she was and it wasn't his place to tell. Which meant it likely ran in the family -- it made sense it was genetic after all. And Nox had a cousin who was like him, and his twin sister too. Ilesha was pretty sure that one of the bouncers had a twin, he wondered if she could channel to.
"So your job is to hunt monsters. Is that all you've ever done?" She knew for some it was a life long gig -- born and raised into it. For others it was a calling that came well into adulthood -- or childhood if they were attacked early on. She wondered what his story was.
Ilesha didn’t press on his sister. It was something he was glad for. It wasn’t shame - it was just not his place to tell, and as an Atharim, keeping secrets was sort of a habit. It was only plain curiosity that encouraged him to reveal his ability to Ilesha. That and perhaps a desire for being around others that had this gift - a sort of safety in numbers type of deal.
”Yes, I hunt monsters,” he said after finishing a bit of stew. ”I started training at thirteen. At first mostly book learning, but beginning weapons, combat, and tactical training as well. It is certainly a unique life.” he smiled. ”And an interesting one. Can be frightening at times, but I don’t know. There’s an excitement to it too. I don’t have regrets.” Mostly because he had never actually taken out or even gone against a person.
He took a sip of his wine. ”and what about you? What’s your story? Assuming from the accent that you’re from the States. What brings an American mechanical engineer to the heart of the CCD?”
Ilesha scrapped her bowl. It was good and filling. She sat back and sipped her wine. "I came to Moscow for grad school, getting my masters and doctorate here. And I wanted to see what the big feat of power with my own eyes. I applied for a job over at the Kremlin under the department of channelers. They are interested in my research."
Every military operation was interested in her research. She wasn't trying to make armor, but if you could make bullet proof armor with less resources and lighter then the sky was the limit. It wasn't her goal -- but lightweight materials with the OP was. She was refining her methods, and well if the Ascendancy wanted to make mechs then so be it. It wasn't like it was the atomic bomb or something.
Claude listened. She hadn't opened up too much. They had both finished their bowls. Claude was good for now, but being a good host he asked,
"More?" to make sure Ilesha was done. He took his own bowl to the sink and would take hers as well if she was done.
Ilesha worked for the government then - at least she reported her work to the government. Government jobs could be wonky. She could be a type of independent contractor or advisor or something. Either way, they were interested in her research, and that specifically meant in her case the use of the power. At least he assumed so since she worked for the Department of Channelers.
"I'm sure it's exciting work," he said, his tone serious.
"I'm going to hazard a guess that since you work for the government, you can't talk much about your research, but if you can, I would be interested in hearing about it. I'm not just a hunter, but an Academic as well."
Claude enjoyed learning in general, and his knowledge of monsters had saved him before and would likely do so again. It made him a pretty formidable foe against monsters, especially if he had prep time. He was nowhere near the skill level of Nox - especially with his use of the power, but their lessons were going well. Claude was an apt pupil. Claude should check on the guy.
His wallet rang and it was Nora.
"Excuse me, I need to take this," he said, heading to another room to
speak with his sister. Nora was safe at the Sanctuary, and although she said she wasn't freaking out, she probably was. He would make sure to check on her later on.
He came back to the room.
"My apologies. That was my sister and she is safe," he told her sitting down and taking another drink of his wine.
"I believe I was asking about your research before we were interrupted?"