Claude had arrived at precisely 9:50.  He was a firm believer that you were on time if you were five minutes early, and late if you were on time. Of course this meant that he left even earlier to prepare for any possible delays in his travel.  At least that is what he had told himself when he left his hotel that morning to come to cafe that Nora had mentioned to him. He was anxious for this meeting.  Nora had said in her text message that she was fine, and it wasn't often he wanted to contradict his sister, but since the fire at Moscow HQ, she had gone almost completely silent.  What communication they got from her was vague.  It was very unlike the Nora he had known before the fire.  Despite her words, Claude knew something was up.

Artskaf was a unique place, nothing seemed to match, and Claude found he liked it.  It seemed to be a place where art was allowed to thrive.  Indeed there were several pieces on the wall for sale.  Claude took a table underneath the only one that wasn't - a portrait of a woman in the neoclassical style.  The golden eyes of the woman made Claude wonder if the model for the painting had been a wolfkin, and if she had been, if she was still around.  Once more, Claude thought about whether or not such people (and people they were) should simply be removed for no other reason than existing.

Claude ordered and Earl Grey tea with honey, deciding against coffee even though he had mentioned it.  His mood was different today, glad to be seeing Nora, and worried that the meeting might not be a happy one.  She had always been protective of him, and he had always returned that feeling.  Still he hoped for the best.  He steeled himself for the conversation.  She would try to convince him to leave Moscow - he was sure of it, but he was here, and had no plans on leaving.

So Cali is supposed to be a learner.

My intention with her in the Chamber of Echoes ritual was that the ritual itself (coupled with a little past life influence) was what finally guided her to channel. She had tried multiple times in the past, unsuccessfully.

At the moment she does not understand what she's done, but she will when she repeats the process, guided this time by Seraphis.

Does that work for the rules of learners? Or did she just spark?

My preference is that she remains a learner. In part because it's more symbolic for her character, but also because it means it's something that can then be discovered and allow other learners to learn.

So, did she learn or did she spark? What do you guys think?

Anna arrived early.  This wasn't a date and she knew that, but nerves would happen anyway. She wanted to get there early enough to collect herself beforehand.  She was glad for this time though.  Even though they were just friends, Anna was looking forward to spending time with Cade.  She was actually surprised that he had so quickly come up with a way for them to spend time with one another.  

Anna stood near the tarot reading booth which meant, the reader was trying to get her to pay for a reading.  It was all in good fun, so she agreed. "I'm looking for advice on a relationship I'm pursuing," Anna asked, looking around to make sure Cade wasn't around yet.

The woman, the name on the booth said Renata Vas, smiled at her. "And here for a meeting with your possible suitor, are you? We will be quiet so he doesn't overhear."

Anna nodded at her question and chuckled at her response.  She shuffled the deck and drew a card, setting it down in front of her. "Ahhh...the hanged man for the past - upright.  You are at a crossroads in your life. Patience, and possibly sacrifices, will be needed if you are to make the right choices." A second card. "The Queen of Pentacles - upright. An understanding woman. For the present, empathy, kindness, and patience need to be cultivated within you. And last." She turned the final card. "The Three of Cups - upright. A fresh start leading to success. Old ills are being resolved and you are finding a new direction." Vas faced her, talking now directly to her. "The cards are telling me that you have a good chance with your relationship, but you must exercise kindness, empathy, and above all patience.  Do not rush this. I sense in the past, your relationships have not been strong, but you want this one to be.  You're ready for that, but it is not your readiness that is important.  It is his readiness that is important. The journey to this relationship with test you, but in the end, you will be stronger for it, and possibly have an attractive man by your side."

Anna chuckled at that, thanked the woman and paid her with a tip.  Anna wasn't a believer in these sorts of things, but the reading had been spot on for the situation she was in.  She could see why people would go to readings now.  Even as a non-believer, it had brought clarity to her situation. She turned and waited for Cade to show up.

((OoC: Renata with permission))

Continued from here

Elyse hadn't meant to fall asleep, but when she felt the inevitability of sleep coming, she knowingly entered the Dream.  Elyse hated this place.  It's odd light and eerie silence made her cringe, and the place reminded her of her nightmares.  When she thought of them, she could still see them - and still vividly.  Nox had told her they would fade, but they hadn't.  She hadn't thought of them, but as she tried to recall them they were there.

Solitude was what she wanted, and even locked in her room, she couldn't feel alone in Nox's fortress. It was full of kids mostly - strays that Nox had taken.  And there was that creepy AI watching everything.  Elyse stood and left the dream version of her room.  It was empty.  She hadn't been there long enough to make a substantial difference in the Dream.  Opening the door, she entered the hallway.  It looked like it did in the real world, bathroom across the hall where Mara's room was.

Mara. One of the few people who lived in the house she hadn't met, but was the one who intrigued Elyse the most. Elyse thought it was simply because, like her, Mara wasn't connected to the Blackthorns. Elyse probably should have been polite.  She probably should have introduced herself, but she hadn't.  She hadn't wanted to pry.

Elyse sat on the floor and couldn't help but start thinking. She had come here full of hope - come here searching for something better. She had found Nox, and their time together had been short, but happy.  Until he cheated on her - like he said he would.  It was the only time he had almost lost to the wolf. When Nox's lover ran, Elyse had wanted to give chase.  She had wanted to tear his throat out for taking what was hers. Then she found Sierra, and her happiness returned. But Sierra was gone now. Then she had come to Kallisti, found a family and a girlfriend.  Just when she was getting happy again, her father decided to kill her. Now Mae was gone - they weren't broken up -  but Elyse wasn't sure what she wanted.  Right now, she knew she didn't want to think about it.  It was still too soon.

Her father - her father had piercing blue eyes.  Perhaps her nightmares had been trying to warn her about this.  That her father would come to hunt her.  She had never really understood what they meant.  What good were prophecies if they were so vague they didn't guide decisions?

Elyse suddenly realized she was naked.  She had fallen asleep that way, she put on clothes with a thought - a pair of jeans and a yellow t-shirt.  Finally she allowed herself to cry.  She had come to the Dream for this, not knowing if her body was crying in the real world or not, but this place gave her the solitude she wanted.  No one would be looking for her here, and that's what mattered.  If she could, she'd have brought her body in here too.

Elyse knew isolation was bad.  She knew right now she should be seeking someone to talk to.  She almost had, but when she had grabbed her wallet, it had not been the number of Anna Rodriguez that she had punched in.  It had been Ana Vega. Ana had taken her in, and was almost a mother figure to Elyse. Sometimes you had to talk to your mom, but Elyse couldn't.  Her mom was dead.  Frustrated, Elyse had put her wallet back down and had fallen asleep.

"What the fuck is wrong with me??" Elyse finally screamed into the void. It didn't make her feel any better.

Hey sis! I’m in Moscow - would love to see you soon!

Hey - I think you’re cute. Not taking it back this time. I’m going to respect your boundaries though. I’m really looking forward to giving you a tour of Moscow sometime. It should be a lot of fun!

I'm flattered and grateful. And my prior comment still stands drunk or not.

Elyse was breathing hard, coming down from orgasm.  Sex with Mae was incredible.  Elyse didn't even think Mae was altering her moods any, but her ability to sense how she felt made Mae an amazing lover.  It was part of the reason why Elyse hadn't experiment with other people; Elyse was worried she'd be completely disappointed.

Mae rolled off of Elyse to lie on her back, and Elyse was happy to see she was breathing heavily too. Elyse reached for Mae's hand, interlacing her fingers with Mae's in their post-coital bliss. Elyse took deep breaths to slow her breathing and to still her heavily beating heart. Tonight was different and her heart wasn't just beating fast because of the physical exertion. She was nervous.

The past several days had been a turmoil for Elyse, mostly due to her father and it's aftermath.  Then Marta showed up in a panic attack.  Mae had been a rock for her the whole time, her unique abilities granting her the wisdom into how to best help her girlfriend.  Most of the time, it was Mae simply letting her cry while still being there, or encouraging simple tasks like getting dressed or eating. Mae had even gone with Elyse to get her new tattoo. The ouroboros was gone.

Elyses feelings for Mae had grown quickly, and Elyse had known from the moment that she had almost unconsciously let the words slip as she spoke on the phone with Mae that this wasn't just situational.  Elyse knew Mae would know it too - she'd feel it. But like the days she needed to cry, she wouldn't force it.  She'd allow Elyse to say it in her own time.

Even knowing that Mae knew it, Elyse was still scared.  Saying the words would make her vulnerable, and even though Mae knew and was still here, it didn't mean Mae would return her feelings. It was also the first time she would say it to someone she was romantically involved with. Saying the words would make it real, and internally, Elyse was struggling to say it, but she had to.  She had to be brave.

Elyse turned to face Mae. "Mae," she said, and waited for Mae to face her. "I have to say something and you don't have to feel the same, but I need you to hear this." She emphasized the word hear, a subtle way to show she was aware Mae would know how she felt. "I love you, Mae." Elyse could feel her heart beginning to pound as she waited for Mae's response, seconds feeling like hours.

Sterling led Marta and the rest of the kids who were running about the sidewalk behind them, the little ones throwing snowballs at the older kids, but they kept their distance from Sterling and Marta. Everyone seemed to understand the space needed, and really it was only the Blackthorn girls who were overly rambunctious -- that was rich brats for you.

Nox's place was literally two buildings down from Kallilsti. And there was a new bar opening up across the street from that. A friend of Nox's who stopped by to check in on the kids -- some sort of therapist and doing a favor for Nox. Sterling didn't ask, but if Nox trusted him, then so did she. Nox didn't trust a lot of people even if it looked like he did.

Sterling pulled the glass double doors open and waved to the entrance going up stairs. "Hey Sky.  We are going downstairs."

The AI Sky spoke from her disembodied speark somewhere in the foyer. "The door is unlocked and I have placed the mechanical ball machines on lock down. Emma should be grateful."

Sterling giggled. "I'm sure we all will be much more at ease knowing we won't have to dodge flying balls."  Sterling led Marta around the corner where the elevator doors were locked close to the basement door on the other side. It wasn't visible from the doors they'd entered and she just turned the knob. Without Sky, they'd have had to wait for Liam or Liv to unlock the door. It wasn't a free for all like the foyer.

The stairs were well lit as they descended but the basement itself was dark. Even the recessed lights didn't really give off much light unless you were directly under them.  The dojo was at the far end of the building, the laundry and rec areas took up the other side. Liam made a beeline for the couch.  Everyone else filed into their usual places. The boys headed straight toward the gym area.  The girls into the spare room that Sterling was surprised anyone wanted to go into -- god only knew what Nox did in there.  

The dojo was just an empty space with six ball machines on the edge of the mat.  Nox used them to practice actual violence, which isn't what they were learning.  Maybe one day he'd let them try, but not all six at the same time. He used the power to defend himself, and he did it blind folded most of the time. He was pedantic about his training.

Sterling took off her shoes at the edge of the mat  near the far wall. "It's polite not to keep your shoes on, but if you have a thing, there are some footy covering things on the rack where we keep our shoes." Sterling showed Marta what she meant and then stepped on to the coushined mat and mobed to the center of it.  Gen stepped next to her and they both waited for Marta.

Gen tugged on Sterling's sleeve. "One Two then Three?"

Sterling smiled. "Yeah let's start with one. We might only do that depends on how Marta catches on k?"  

Gen nodded. "k"

Claude Saint-Clair

Normandy, France

Age: 21

Psychological Description: Quiet and reserved.  Extremely polite with gentlemanly ways and an aristocratic air. He harbors a hidden shame, that only his sister knows about.

Physical Description: 6’1” tall, dark eyes and hair, with a short beard.

Characters Powers and Supernatural Abilities: Channeler, Soul Bound to the Horn of Valere

Current Strength: 0 (Has Not Sparked)

Potential Strength: 20

Reborn God: Leonidas

Tattoo: A Medieval Styled Ouroboros with the words Jer 22:3 hidden within.

Biography

Claude Saint-Clair was born in 2025. In contrast to his robust older sister, Nora Saint-Clair, Claude was rather quiet and reserved. Where she would shirk her lessons to go exploring and have adventures, Claude was studious and attentive, learning his lessons and working to become an aristocratic gentleman.

Despite their differences, Claude looked up to his older sister and found her adventurous spirit intriguing.  He would find himself outside after lessons, searching for unknown paths and unique places in the area surrounding their family home. Generally, brother and sister got along well, having the typical sibling squabbles that would be in any family, but they always meant well. 

Raised in the Roman Catholic faith, Claude found a home there.  He poured himself into scriptures, attended his catechism classes, and was confirmed into the faith at the typical age of seven. As a gift he received a rosary with amethyst gems for beads. It is his most cherished possession.

At the age of ten, Claude noticed a change happening in his home.  Nora was going to have her thirteenth birthday party, and Claude was not invited to attend. The hustle around the house indicated that something important was happening, and Claude was sent elsewhere with servants to take care of him.

After the party, things began to change even more.  Nora began to spend more time with Tanis Peregrym - who they usually called Grym - more and more.  Nora had always looked up to the family servant, but now they were spending a lot more time together, and Claude felt the gap between him and his sister widening.  Not because of how she treated him (in fact, she still made time to talk to him), but because he wasn’t seeing her as much.  For the next few years, Claude would become more reserved.  Any attempts at trying to find where his sister and her mentor went were met with reprimand. He became more reclusive after this and no longer adventured outside after his lessons.  Instead, he poured himself more into scripture, turning to his faith for solace. 

Claude’s drive into scripture would also cause confusion.  As he entered adolescence, he would notice the other boys his age were finding an interest in girls.  He played along, but felt nothing with regards to this, but he began to notice the interest they had in girls was the same as the interest he had in boys. As he read scripture, he saw this was wrong.  He heard the priests at church and other church members say this was wrong.  He kept those feelings buried deep, but they found a way to creep up at times - usually with an off-handed comment from a family member about him “finding a nice girl to marry.” When those occurred, he’d find a way to excuse himself and would go to his room to cry and pray that God would fix him. 

As he approached his thirteenth birthday, Claude noticed the same hustle that had precluded Nora’s thirteenth birthday.  The party, held at the ancestral Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, seemed little like a party - at least to a thirteen year old boy.  He had not been invited to Nora’s party, but Nora had been present at his. At this party, he learned the legacy of the Saint-Clair family; He learned of Jean Saint-Clair and of his battle with the Loup Garou; he saw the Dagger of Benedictus; He learned of of his family’s connection to an ancient order: the Atharim.

Familiar with the liturgy and rituals of the Church, Claude saw this gathering for what it was - a ceremony that would bring him into the fold of the order.  He respected the solemnity of it, and his pride in his family increased.  He was glad to be a part of the fight against the darkness.

It was then he understood finally why Nora had been off with Grym so often.  Unfortunately, shortly after he had been introduced to the Saint-Clair legacy, Nora was injured, and Grym was blamed and dismissed.  An Atharim hunter named Phillipe took the young Claude under his wing and began to train him. Claude was a natural and picked up combat easily.  Blades, firearms, martial arts, unarmed combat, and tactics came to him with an uncanny ease. 

Still he had to study - but included in his study were myths and legends, that he now knew were true.  Phillipe told him that the key to any victory in the hunt was understanding what you hunted, so he poured through texts of rougarou, draikana, dreykan, banniks, oni, and other monsters, learning all he could about them.

Recreation time was still granted, even if it didn’t feel like it was enough, and Claude began to make some friends. While studying and training, Claude was able to keep his homosexual feelings pressed down, but during these recreational times with friends, it was more difficult.  At fourteen, Claude met Marcel, a boy his age, and they developed a close bond.  As they began to spend more time together, Claude realized that his feelings were passing beyond friendship into something more.  It started with hands accidentally touching as they walked, causing both to turn towards each other and smile; It then moved to hand holding, and interlacing fingers. It was with Marcel that Claude shared his first kiss, and it was with Marcel that his shame grew.  He wanted this, but his faith told him he was in sin.  After Marcel would leave, Claude would go to his room and pray once more for God to forgive, and more importantly fix him.

But Marcel was hard to resist, and Claude found the same thing happening over and over.  It wasn’t until Nora had found them, that it actually ended.  It had been the same as every other day but when they had finished, Claude saw the figure of Nora walking away, and it was clear to him that she had seen him.

”I can’t do this,” Claude told Marcel and walked away.

Claude didn’t go straight back to the house.  He didn’t want to see Nora right now, but he couldn’t stay out too long, so he eventually headed back and locked himself in his room for his customary prayer.  When supper was called, he declined, feigning illness. Claude pulled out his rosary and began the ritual prayers, flinching at every sound in the hallway.  Finally he gave up, pulled out his wallet and sent Nora a message.  He had to talk to her.

”Please come talk to me.”

A knock came at his a few minutes later, and Claude muttered, tears falling from his eyes. ”Come in.”

The door opened, and Nora entered, took a seat next to him and said, ”What’s going on?”

Claude took a moment to compose himself, ”I know you saw…I…I…” he stuttered, trying to form the right words. ”I’ve tried…I’ve tried to like girls…Nora, I know I’m gay. I’m so confused.  They keep telling me this is wrong. God doesn’t hear my prayers and won’t fix it. I’m scared.  I’m proud to be a Saint-Clair, but scared that they’re all going to be ashamed of me like I am.”

She put an arm around his shoulder. "I'm sorry that I saw, but i'm also glad I saw. Because now we can talk about this together." She turned his face toward her with a tip of his chin, a reassuring smile on her face. "I don't know if being gay is a sin or not, but what I do know is that God created you exactly the way you are. With your fuzzy hair, your big ears, and your cute little nose. If you are this perfect on the outside, you are perfect on the inside. And if you're scared, we won't tell anyone. Not until you're ready."

”You really think so?” Claude asked, feeling a little better at her words.

"Of course. You're MY brother. And we both know that I'm completely perfect, which means you are too." She squeezed his shoulders, knowing that he would probably take her quip as a joke.

Claude laughed at her joke, and wiped his eyes, wrapping his sister in a hug. ”Thanks, Nora - for now - don’t tell anyone, please.”

Nora got serious for a moment. "Of course not. Do you want to tell me about this crush? When I was 14, I made out with this guy from school in our gazebo. He was the first boy I ever kissed. Funny thing was, I didn't even like him. I had this huge crush on another boy, but he never seemed interested in me at all even though he flirted with me so much. So I asked his best friend out, we just went for a walk on the grounds, and when we got back, we kissed. That got the first one's attention." She smiled wickedly.

Claude laughed and thanked Nora again.  Telling her he was feeling better, he went down to get some food. First he sent Marcel a message, apologizing for what happened.  They would see each other again until Marcel eventually moved away. Confiding in Nora did not remove the shame he felt at being a homosexual, but he had significantly more peace with it.

Her talk made him want to question some of his beliefs.  The core was still there, but could they be interpreting scripture wrong.  That night as he was reading his bible, he came across a verse that resonated with him differently now. 

“Thus says the Lord: Act with justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place.” - Jeremiah 22:3

Learning about the Atharim there had always been one thing that had bothered him.  They would kill reborn gods, wolfkin, and others for being a potential threat.  To Claude, that didn’t seem like justice and it felt like shedding innocent blood.  He kept these thoughts to himself. They were dangerous.

The years passed and his training continued.  Nora found a relic that had attracted even the attention of the Regus himself.  She had found a weapon - possibly one that could kill a God.  Claude kept his inner conflict on killing those who committed no crime other than existing to himself, but paid attention nonetheless.

At eighteen, Claude took his final vows at the Vatican, cementing his allegiance to the Atharim cause. He continued hunting in the area while Nora tried to find postings elsewhere.  He always made himself available for her to vent should she want to; at the very least he could tell she was frustrated.

Nora then left, but few knew her true reason.  She informed him of the rumors of Grym in the Carpathian Mountains and meant to find her, and later he received a communication that Grym was going to Moscow and she was following. The Conclave was underway, and war was brewing.

In the aftermath following the fire at the Atharim HQ in Moscow, the Saint-Clair Family heard nothing from Nora.  Months had passed and they received not a word.  Claude was summoned by his father and instructed to go to Moscow to find her. Claude hadn’t needed the instruction.  He had been uneasy in France since Nora had left, and her silence had just solidified that.  He would have gone anyway.  Being told to do it, just made it an easier choice.

Past Lives:

Third Age: King Aemon of Manetheran

Seventh Age: King Leonidas of Sparta


((OoC: Nora dialogue by Nora))

Name: Jia Xin Kao

Age: 26

Origin: Singapore

Powers: Channeler (learner)
Reborn God: Inari Ōkami - Shinto

Biography:

The jewel of the Kao crown, Jia Xin lives like a princess in the Garden City. Every whim, need, and desire is catered for – without her ever having to ask. From grand palatial residences to jetsetting tours of East Asia, she’s accustomed to living like literal royalty, both in astronomical wealth and widespread reverence wherever she goes. As a member of the Kao family she has received an impeccable education, but of course she has never had to work a day in her life – at least not in the ordinary sense. It's truly debatable whether she has any concept of what an ordinary life would be like.