A Day Off

[Nox]

Anna received another text not too long after the first one

Sage answered the last text. My hands are free now. Tell him I'll get in touch when I'm back in Moscow. And your welcome. Hope you enjoy the pampering.

[Cade]

Cade hadn't heard of the brotherhood, but he understood the plight though politics weren't really his thing. Religion neither. He listened and felt for Nesrin, though he wasn't sure exactly what they could do about any of it. He did agree that Moscow was the center of everything these days -- it was partially why he came after all. Moscow seemed to be the new melting pot of the world, a place were different cultures met.

Cade kept stealing glances towards the door trying to figure out what the message had meant. It was cryptic. And beyond strange. Cade was good at puzzles, why was this one difficult. What wasn't he thinking about.

[[ooc: sorry don't have much to really contribute lol ]]

[Anna]

Another chime of her wallet caught Anna’s attention. Seeing a message from Nox she was less upset with him. Sage was that tech kid that always was around Nox. Apparently he did a lot of security for the club. He also apparently read Nox’s messages and responded. Anna made a note to be careful of what she sent Nox - not that she had any real secrets to keep from him or anything.

”He says he’ll contact you when he gets back to Moscow,” she told Cade, while typing another message. Something else had come to mind while she had waited that she had wanted to ask.

Okay. I let him know. Hey I might want to work with you a bit when you get back. I’m really struggling with channeling. I can only do it when I’m nervous and I’m not nervous a lot. Could really use some help figuring this out. I’m asking Juls for help too.

Miss your face! We all do! Come home soon!”

And then she sent a message to Juls as well.

Hey Juls! I’ve been coming to your practices but I’m still really struggling. I’m unable to channel unless nervous and it’s getting really discouraging. I try to practice at home too. Not sure what I’m doing wrong. I’m asking Nox for help too - but he’s not really around right now. What am I doing wrong?

She had been going to their practices and Juls would know she had really been trying. She really wanted to learn how to use her power.

[Nesrin Aziz]

“I’m not sure whether they’re my people – at least not by blood. I never knew my mother.” She shrugged her answer away. Cade was distracted by the strange text, and Anna was still fiddling with her phone. Nesrin didn’t mind, nor did she fight the shift of subject.

“I haven’t been yet,” she answered Elyse. “Figured I’d do my research first. I’m curious - academically speaking. But the idea of worshipping a living person, it just seems…” She waved a hand like she couldn’t find the word, and ended with a shrug.

[Elyse]

Elyse smiled slightly, agreeing with Nez’s statement. ”Wrong,” Elyse said, finishing Nez’s sentence. ”We’ve spent so long as people worshipping dead gods, that when one appears amongst us, we don’t know what to make of it. Definitely a unique time to be a religious scholar.”

She sighed, finishing her cup and wondering at getting a pastry or something to eat, when that brought her back to the college student before her. She had mentioned being given a notice, and losing a place was not something good. Elyse wasn’t sure what she thought of the woman yet, surely she didn’t know her enough to bring her into her own place yet, but still she didn’t want to see anyone living in squalor.

”I hope I’m not prying too much,” she said with compassion. ”Are you going to be alright. Do you have enough time to find a new place to live, a job? Do you have enough warm clothing and food? I’d be more than willing to get you a coat or a meal if you would like.”

[Cade]

Cade was still distracted by the door and the cryptic message that he barely heard Anna relaying the message. He blinked and then grinned at her. "He's not even in Moscow?" Cade sighed and wondered where he was, but the conversation had stayed with the Ascendancy's power and his living godhood. "He can do miraculous things, but he could be doing so much more." Cade had heard of the healer. He wished he knew how all of that worked and how he could do it. To be able to heal at the drop of a hat, to fix whatever was ailing a person -- a child. His child. But that was neither here nor there, he would never be able to do that. It just wasn't in his skill-set.

Elyse seemed to have calmed down a bit and was taking matters of Ness's predicament into her own hands. He could offer, but he didn't have anything, he barely had enough credits to get here and make ends meet until he found a job.

[Anna]

Anna could sense some frustration from Cade. Impatience was a thing and he was looking for family. Ann could understand that, but still, he should relax a bit. There was nothing to do but wait. ”He can do that. We really have no idea when he’ll be back. He’s not a liar though. He’ll contact you when he can. It might be awhile though. Try to relax a bit. Get to know the city. There really is a lot here to offer you. she gave him an encouraging smile. ”And at least you made some friends.

Ann couldn’t really speak for Elyse and Nez, but she could for herself. The offer of friendship was there. Elyse seemed to be trying to make sure Nez would be taken care of in the interim. ”You know, Kallisti is always looking for help. You don’t have to dance - unless that’s your thing too. Wait staff - hell - Elyse almost joined as security.” Elyse gave a knowing smile. Anna hadn’t had the chance to see her skills, but apparently, she could kick ass.

[Nesrin Aziz]

She let them fill in the blanks left by her gesture. Nesrin had her own opinions of course, but she wanted to hear theirs. She cared less about supposed divinity than the sorts of interesting secrets a cult like the Brotherhood might hide, but none of the three here were likely to be useful to that end – they seemed too honest, too incurious. How she was going to discover if the Brotherhood had anything worth knowing was a detail she wasn’t sure of yet. Which circled her back to what Zigzag had said about hosts and worship.

“Dead gods. That’s an interesting way of putting it.” Her chin sank onto her fist. She faded into scholarly thoughtfulness.

She was actually surprised by the kindness that followed. In her experience people were usually… well, not so free with that kind of help, at least not without a catch. But Elyse had nothing to gain in it – or nothing Nesrin could easily discern. She didn’t stop the surprise from rippling across her expression, nor the faint delight she felt glow inside at the concern. It wasn’t something she was used to, at least not honestly come by. The coffee spill had not been accidental after all, but not because she’d been angling to take that kind of liberty.

“You’re not prying. I appreciate it, actually. But I’ll be okay, I’m resourceful.” Losing her rental was the truth, if it was a necessity and not the bad luck she implied. The Emissary would know about it by now, so she had to cut it loose – same as her student persona. Nesrin Aziz, as she currently existed, had to disappear – at least until one of her contingencies paid off. But if she manipulated those around her without much conscience, especially when it came to her own survival, she didn’t do it in a way likely to come back and bite her. She didn’t need generosity, and she wouldn’t take undue advantage (at least not from people she liked). But what she did need right now was some place to hide.

She quashed the urge to glance at the camera. Wicked had been among the first to place a bid on the Key. Who exactly might be interested in such a “momento” was exactly why she’d ignored Zigzag’s warnings and started the auction (he probably considered that a betrayal, even though it was a liberation from whatever punishment he feared the Emissary would have metered out for his silence). And while she remembered the way Wicked grabbed her hand and led her out of the fray at Nox’s house party, she wasn’t the sort to put all her eggs in one basket. If she was that way inclined, she would have just given the Key over to the Asquiths.

“I could always use more work, though. I mostly do waitressing at the moment. But I’ve done all sorts in the past.” She laughed a little, and there was a mischievous glint to her expression. Nesrin certainly had stories, not all of them true. “Have you ever heard of ghawazi?”

[Enrique]

Ricky headed into the coffee shop, Marta behind him. At twelve she was beginning to grow a lot. Mentally and emotionally, she was growing even stronger. Today she had a counseling appointment and her counselor remarked on her progress. She was progressing very well.

After the appointment, they went to the market. Marta found a comic book she wanted - a Wonder Woman, and to be honest it was hard to refuse the girl anything, but she deserved this. She had found a love for super heroes. And Wonder Woman would be a great influence for her. She had then asked to get some juice and that led them to the coffee shop. Enrique ordered himself a coffee with cream a sugar and Marta got a fresh squeezed orange juice.

”ELYSE!!!” Ricky heard Marta say, and sure enough he saw her when he turned around, Marta already on the way to wrap Elyse in a hug.

Elyse had moved out - needing to do so for personal reasons, still she was a friend. She visited often, and Marta was always happy to see her. Ricky smiled, glad to see the woman as well. Her new job kept her busy - Ricky had been surprised to hear she had gone into dancing. Marta had begun to talk to Elyse excitedly about something. Marta had definitely changed for the better.


((OoC: I’m not planning on keeping Ricky and Marta in thread - this is a cameo lol. I’ll post Elyse when I can - and then they’ll head on their way))

[Elyse]

Elyse considered Nez’s question, but before she could respond that she didn’t know, someone called her name. Elyse looked to see a girl running towards her. Elyse looked as Marta hugged her, making sure Ricky was around and had seen where she had gone. Marta had always been small. Ricky had told her the girl’s tragic story, but now she had grown. She had filled out in healthy way, looking less thin as she had before. Elyse also knew the girl was wolf kin like she was, but like Elyse’s, her true eye color was hidden behind contact lenses. 

”Marta! So good to see you! she said, letting go of the hug too look at her. ”How are you today?”

Elyse had barely spoken the words when Marta responded. ”Good! I had an appointment with the counselor today and the. We came here, and I got a Wonder Woman,” Marta raised the comic book to show Elyse. ”Oh! And I’m going to real school now instead of online school. And they’re having a play, so I auditioned and I got a part!”

Marta’s eyes hadn’t left Elyse the whole time, and it wouldn’t have surprised Elyse if the girl hadn’t even noticed the people around her. Marta could get tunnel vision. ”That’s great! I’m so very proud of you! You’ll have to tell me when it is so I can come see it!”

Marta beamed at her as Ricky came up behind her. ”Marta,” he said. He gave a quick glance to the table as she looked up at him.

”Oh I’m sorry to interrupt! she said looking at all the people table individually. ”I was just excited to see my friend.” Elyse noticed her gaze lingered longer on Anna. Elyse wouldn’t have been surprised if this was the first time Marta had seen another woman that looked like her since she left Mexico.

”Marta, we have to get going.

”But, dad…”

”You have homework to do and then we have to go to practice for your play,” Ricky’s voice was patient, and Elyse could see the understanding in Marta’s eyes as she nodded.  ”aalways good to see you Elyse - dinner this Sunday?” Elyse nodded to confirm. ”Have a great day - all of you!” Ricky waved a hand, the motion only a little awkward as he was holding a cup of coffee.

Marta took a cup of orange juice from Ricky. ”Bye!” Marta said, waving and looking once again at everyone at the table. Once again her gaze lingering a little longer on Anna.

The pair left, and Elyse smiled as she turned back to the group. ”Im very popular today.”