Alfarinn leaned his head close and nodded his agreement to Thaddeus's statement presuming that they were faced with the same accomplice that they had believed existed before. He privately thought that if this person were Sorin then there was plenty of reason for him to want both the book in his possession and Emma dead. In fact, the current Elder of the Night made more and more sense. Alfarinn held his peace on the matter and continued to listen to his companion's thoughts as he held him there on the dusty floor.
"I would agree. Which ever one of them planned this, it would seem that the book was at best a secondary objective. It does seem though that the accomplice was very much interested in it. "
Lykaios, in fact, seemed less interested in the book than the other person in the vision he had seen. It made him wonder why the murderer kept the such a priceless artifact when he could have sold it for just about anything he asked.
"It would seem to me that Lykaios was showing the book to the accomplice but it is unclear whether the purpose was to make a deal or to prove simply that it existed and that the foul deed was done. The ring would have done a better job of proving that than the book though. I do not understand why Lykaios gave the ring away when that was what he wanted and yet kept the book which the accomplice was obviously interested in. Did they perhaps try to work out an exchange and it did not meet their mutual agreement so each left with what they had? That still does not explain why Lykaios gave up the ring unless that was the deal from the beginning but it does not then make sense why he did not just trade it for the book. I suppose he could have wanted both but he then locked the book in a box and left it there."
The whole idea of having something this important, this interesting, and this old and not studying it thoroughly was completely unfathomable to him. They would have felt it if Lykaios had spent much time handling the book but they did not; therefore one must assume that he had put it away for safe keeping and never bothered to read it.
"I just don't understand it."
Forensics
Thaddeus stepped out of the limo and onto the street, looking up and down at the scene of their all too recent battle with Lykaios. They had a long evening ahead of them of investigating the brownstone for any evidence of their departed enemy's connections, and while Thaddeus did not relish the thought of being back here, he could not help but feel a morbid curiosity for what they might find inside.
There was, however, still the risk of interruption, and so Thaddeus did not linger long in his thoughts, instead reaching out to take Alfarinn's hand.
[Ready?]
He was surprised to find, when he asked Alfarinn, that he himself was quite ready to begin. The idea of sorting through evidence and making the puzzle pieces tell a story was almost relaxing to him; it was something he was skilled at and he could detach himself from everything else going on for a short time.
Alfarinn
18 years ago
Thaddeus Grey
18 years ago
Thaddeus ran his gloved hand up the spine of the book, then over the edges of the pages, listening to Alfarinn hypothesize.
“It would seem both parties walked away without the thing they truly wanted; while it is indeed possible that both Lykaios and the accomplice wanted both items, I think the ring was clearly more valuable to The Wolf while the accomplice wanted the book more than anything else. After all, the accomplice kept the ring in a box somewhere for quite a while, just as Lykaios held onto the ring.”
He nodded, sympathetic, when Alfarinn mentioned that the evidence made little sense when thinking from the perspective of a reasonable person.
“Indeed; I don’t know that we’ll ever fully understand what happened. As fascinating as this book is, for its own sake, I think its helpfulness is somewhat limited to speculation. What we need is clear proof.”
He was beginning to suspect that they could look for an age and never find anything clear, which was frustrating. He didn’t want to pursue anything on a guess, on a conclusion drawn from a possible scenario; he wanted to be certain. How often, though, did that ever happen?
“We just need some sort of break…”
Sighing, he let the hand that was straying upward to rake his fingers through his hair fall back down.
“But, what we have are theories, and we must work with what we have.”
Tilting his head to one side, he continued.
“So, here’s a theory. The book was the ace up The Wolf’s sleeve. Meaning that if this accomplice ever tried to move against him, he would bring out the book as proof of the crime they were both involved in. Of course, if that were the case he might have left it in a more easy-to-find location in case something were to happen, but I suspect Lykaios might have been a touch overconfident.
Additionally, the accomplice had the ring, which seemed to do a fair job of leading us to Lykaios. They might have been in gridlock for god only knows how long, each with something the other wanted, each with something that would expose the other.”
Thaddeus twisted around to look up at Alfarinn, squinting a little as the movement disturbed the plaster dust that had fallen in his hair.
“Alright, I think I could walk through some of the holes in that story, particularly considering the theory holds to the idea that this book is supposed to –tell- us something about who the accomplice is. Everything else I’m coming up with, however, is even more nonsensical. Hard as that is to believe.”
He reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose, then realized he wasn’t taking this as well as he could.
“I swear, this feels like some sick cosmic joke; a psychotic killer taking a priceless book and hiding it in a wall of all places...it probably could tell us all sorts of things except what we need to know.” He shook his head, smiling ruefully. “I’m not asking for a signed letter in a drawer telling us who the accomplice is but…hell.”
He took a breath and turned the book over in his hand, looking over the smooth cover.
“I suppose it just…irritates me. Hiding the book away, not even reading it for himself. Biting off his nose to spite his face.” He gave a slight shrug. “At least the spine isn’t damaged; then I would really be ticked off.” With a slight roll of his eyes, he added: “Maybe that’s why he kept the book hidden; he knew it would piss people off.”
“In any case…” He leaned over, putting the book back in its box where it was still relatively clean. “…I suppose we look at what we have, keep thinking everything over, and in the meantime try to find something more conclusive.” Shrugging lightly, he turned once again to Alfarinn with one eyebrow raised. “It’s what we can do.”
“It would seem both parties walked away without the thing they truly wanted; while it is indeed possible that both Lykaios and the accomplice wanted both items, I think the ring was clearly more valuable to The Wolf while the accomplice wanted the book more than anything else. After all, the accomplice kept the ring in a box somewhere for quite a while, just as Lykaios held onto the ring.”
He nodded, sympathetic, when Alfarinn mentioned that the evidence made little sense when thinking from the perspective of a reasonable person.
“Indeed; I don’t know that we’ll ever fully understand what happened. As fascinating as this book is, for its own sake, I think its helpfulness is somewhat limited to speculation. What we need is clear proof.”
He was beginning to suspect that they could look for an age and never find anything clear, which was frustrating. He didn’t want to pursue anything on a guess, on a conclusion drawn from a possible scenario; he wanted to be certain. How often, though, did that ever happen?
“We just need some sort of break…”
Sighing, he let the hand that was straying upward to rake his fingers through his hair fall back down.
“But, what we have are theories, and we must work with what we have.”
Tilting his head to one side, he continued.
“So, here’s a theory. The book was the ace up The Wolf’s sleeve. Meaning that if this accomplice ever tried to move against him, he would bring out the book as proof of the crime they were both involved in. Of course, if that were the case he might have left it in a more easy-to-find location in case something were to happen, but I suspect Lykaios might have been a touch overconfident.
Additionally, the accomplice had the ring, which seemed to do a fair job of leading us to Lykaios. They might have been in gridlock for god only knows how long, each with something the other wanted, each with something that would expose the other.”
Thaddeus twisted around to look up at Alfarinn, squinting a little as the movement disturbed the plaster dust that had fallen in his hair.
“Alright, I think I could walk through some of the holes in that story, particularly considering the theory holds to the idea that this book is supposed to –tell- us something about who the accomplice is. Everything else I’m coming up with, however, is even more nonsensical. Hard as that is to believe.”
He reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose, then realized he wasn’t taking this as well as he could.
“I swear, this feels like some sick cosmic joke; a psychotic killer taking a priceless book and hiding it in a wall of all places...it probably could tell us all sorts of things except what we need to know.” He shook his head, smiling ruefully. “I’m not asking for a signed letter in a drawer telling us who the accomplice is but…hell.”
He took a breath and turned the book over in his hand, looking over the smooth cover.
“I suppose it just…irritates me. Hiding the book away, not even reading it for himself. Biting off his nose to spite his face.” He gave a slight shrug. “At least the spine isn’t damaged; then I would really be ticked off.” With a slight roll of his eyes, he added: “Maybe that’s why he kept the book hidden; he knew it would piss people off.”
“In any case…” He leaned over, putting the book back in its box where it was still relatively clean. “…I suppose we look at what we have, keep thinking everything over, and in the meantime try to find something more conclusive.” Shrugging lightly, he turned once again to Alfarinn with one eyebrow raised. “It’s what we can do.”
Alfarinn
18 years ago
Alfarinn listened to Thaddeus's complaint in understanding sympathy; it would seem that as soon as one portion of this mystery was solved that a dozen more questions were revealed. He began to wonder absently how many more centuries they might spend on it. A comforting portion of that thought was that they would spend the time together; imagining them zooming around in their flying sports car looking for clues to an ancient mystery amused him enough to make him grin.
Trying his best to be solemn once more, Alfarinn nodded and said.
"I agree. This is a frustrating turn of events but on the brighter side, we did not know the book had been found and now we do. Perhaps something else in the house will lead to some more of the answers that the book has raised."
Leaning back, he considered the possibility of the book as evidence to implicate the accomplice.
"I am not so sure on that score. If there is evidence with this book that would tell us who the accomplice was then it is very vague and who ever the second party is would likely be able to refute it. Something more concrete would make more sense. Like a note."
Alfarinn grinned at Thaddeus's idea but even though the thought of Lykaios leaving a note saying "In the event of my death, go hunt down Joe Blow who is guilty of these crimes." seemed a bit unlikely, the fact remained that if the book was supposed to lead to the accomplice in the case of the killer's death then the clues were alarmingly obscure.
"Why make it complicated?"
Sighing, he continued.
"Add to that the hard to find location. If we had not been...ahem, if neither of us had psychometry then we would have never known to bust through the wall."
Alfarinn blushed again slightly as he recalled their suggestive flirting which had led to touching the wall in the first place. He did sober quickly, a glance at his dust covered companion bringing another possibility to mind.
"No, I think there is a very good reason why the Wolf would want to keep the book but have no interest in reading it."
He wrapped his arms around Thaddeus tightly and held him close, speaking quietly near his lover's ear.
"You. He knew that you would hunt down Emma's killer and perhaps he could use the book as a piece of the trail to lure you into a trap. It would... there were plenty of Anantya who knew what her goal was and it would not be difficult to plant several rumors or show the book to one or two of the right people to catch your attention."
Alfarinn swallowed forcefully, pushing down the ill ease the rose up his chest and tried to rid himself of the images of Thaddeus searching alone, picking up clues and planning a meeting in the hopes of obtaining the book that would possibly lead him to Emma's killer. It could have so easily have happened that way. It might have been exactly what was planned.
"The ring was dropped and we both sensed that it was not by accident. What if the accomplice and Lykaios were not on bad terms after all? What if Mai finding the ring was just the first step in a trap?"
He suspected whoever it was in Anantya that had tried to steer Thaddeus onto a particular path of reason in this search did not understand his companion's sometimes very direct nature; Thaddeus could be most cunning when it was necessary but in every other situation he was quite straightforward and forthright. Alfarinn smiled despite his unease, those qualities were most becoming. The accomplice probably did not expect Thaddeus to go directly to one of the Elders of Evenhet and request information on the situation. Most likely it was assumed that a member of the Order of the Night would try to beguile their way to the knowledge.
'I was very beguiled, most willingly beguiled.'
The whole line of reasoning did much to remind him that there was still a great deak of danger and an unknown accomplice out there who, now more than ever, would want to see them both safely dead.
"Yes, lets see what else we can find."
Trying his best to be solemn once more, Alfarinn nodded and said.
"I agree. This is a frustrating turn of events but on the brighter side, we did not know the book had been found and now we do. Perhaps something else in the house will lead to some more of the answers that the book has raised."
Leaning back, he considered the possibility of the book as evidence to implicate the accomplice.
"I am not so sure on that score. If there is evidence with this book that would tell us who the accomplice was then it is very vague and who ever the second party is would likely be able to refute it. Something more concrete would make more sense. Like a note."
Alfarinn grinned at Thaddeus's idea but even though the thought of Lykaios leaving a note saying "In the event of my death, go hunt down Joe Blow who is guilty of these crimes." seemed a bit unlikely, the fact remained that if the book was supposed to lead to the accomplice in the case of the killer's death then the clues were alarmingly obscure.
"Why make it complicated?"
Sighing, he continued.
"Add to that the hard to find location. If we had not been...ahem, if neither of us had psychometry then we would have never known to bust through the wall."
Alfarinn blushed again slightly as he recalled their suggestive flirting which had led to touching the wall in the first place. He did sober quickly, a glance at his dust covered companion bringing another possibility to mind.
"No, I think there is a very good reason why the Wolf would want to keep the book but have no interest in reading it."
He wrapped his arms around Thaddeus tightly and held him close, speaking quietly near his lover's ear.
"You. He knew that you would hunt down Emma's killer and perhaps he could use the book as a piece of the trail to lure you into a trap. It would... there were plenty of Anantya who knew what her goal was and it would not be difficult to plant several rumors or show the book to one or two of the right people to catch your attention."
Alfarinn swallowed forcefully, pushing down the ill ease the rose up his chest and tried to rid himself of the images of Thaddeus searching alone, picking up clues and planning a meeting in the hopes of obtaining the book that would possibly lead him to Emma's killer. It could have so easily have happened that way. It might have been exactly what was planned.
"The ring was dropped and we both sensed that it was not by accident. What if the accomplice and Lykaios were not on bad terms after all? What if Mai finding the ring was just the first step in a trap?"
He suspected whoever it was in Anantya that had tried to steer Thaddeus onto a particular path of reason in this search did not understand his companion's sometimes very direct nature; Thaddeus could be most cunning when it was necessary but in every other situation he was quite straightforward and forthright. Alfarinn smiled despite his unease, those qualities were most becoming. The accomplice probably did not expect Thaddeus to go directly to one of the Elders of Evenhet and request information on the situation. Most likely it was assumed that a member of the Order of the Night would try to beguile their way to the knowledge.
'I was very beguiled, most willingly beguiled.'
The whole line of reasoning did much to remind him that there was still a great deak of danger and an unknown accomplice out there who, now more than ever, would want to see them both safely dead.
"Yes, lets see what else we can find."
Thaddeus Grey
18 years ago
Thaddeus raised one eyebrow and listened as his companion poked holes in his theory, which he had admitted wasn’t a very strong one. When Alfarinn offered up another suggestion, though, he felt himself go cold at the thought and moved closer, trying not to shiver. The awareness of Alfarinn’s arms around him helped provide a calming influence, though eventually he pulled away to contemplate the suggestion.
He twisted around again, looking up at Alfarinn with a mildly perplexed expression, as though his companion’s words were having trouble registering. His forehead was crinkled slightly, as though he were thinking, but it was a long moment before anything coherent crossed his mind.
“That makes sense.”
Trying to get passed his initial shock at Alfarinn’s theory, which had in fact shaken him more than he was willing to admit, he considered what such a plan might say about the accomplice they sought. The idea of the two of them working together to create a trail of breadcrumbs was an uncanny possibility and he was having trouble deciding whether the accomplice would have to know him very well or not at all in order to hatch such a plan. He concluded there were arguments on both sides of that particular fence.
“Who knew an interest in books could get a person into so much trouble.”
Knowledge, it seemed, could be a dangerous thing in and of itself, and the relentless pursuit of truth even more so. He did not allow himself to dwell long on that line of thought, though, instead pushing forward to get on his feet.
“Yes, you’re right.”
With that, he pushed himself up off the floor, offering one hand to Alfarinn before heading back over to the desk. Opening the cover once more, he paged absently through the maps with his gloved hand, still somewhat caught up in prior thoughts. He voiced them aloud in a distracted manner.
“I’m wondering, assuming you’re right…” He looked over to Alfarinn for a moment before turning back to the desk. “…what such a plan might tell us about the accomplice. On one hand,” he picked up a sheet of vellum and held it up, studying the network of lines as though it were a piece of abstract art, which was about all the meaning it held for him in his current state of mind. “Someone who knew me well would know that I’m generally…cautious. But they would also know exactly what it would take to draw me in completely. On the other hand, someone who only knew me from a distance might not realize just how many alarm bells something like this would set off for me. Either way, the accomplice was taking a gamble, it seems.”
It was difficult to try to see himself through another person’s eyes. Would a casual observer notice his tendency to get drawn into a mystery and pursue it relentlessly? Would they see how, even in his endeavors, he was always thinking of an exit plan, alternatives in case a given situation went pear shaped?
Would they know that he was so guarded because the exact situation Alfarinn described had happened before? Thaddeus shook his head at that; there were three people, aside from himself, who knew about that particular fiasco, and none who knew the tale in its entirety.
The fact that Sorin was one of them left Thaddeus uncertain, and he continued his musing out loud.
“I just wonder what reason the accomplice and Lykaios might have had to think that a trap like the one you described would work.” He sighed softly as he held up another map. “I’m taking this too personally. Though…hell, how else am I supposed to take it? They were trying to play off my…” He waved his free hand around in a vague gesture. “…desire to set matters right, and my own curiosity, to get me alone and vulnerable…” He looked down at the gloved hand still holding a corner of the map and realized it was shaking. With forced calm, he set it back down, in the process really looking at it for the first time.
“Alfarinn? This is of the Arch.”
Frowning, he looked more closely at the map, realizing with growing concern just how detailed it was. Down to the air vents and guard stations.
And the private rooms were drawn in perfect detail.
He twisted around again, looking up at Alfarinn with a mildly perplexed expression, as though his companion’s words were having trouble registering. His forehead was crinkled slightly, as though he were thinking, but it was a long moment before anything coherent crossed his mind.
“That makes sense.”
Trying to get passed his initial shock at Alfarinn’s theory, which had in fact shaken him more than he was willing to admit, he considered what such a plan might say about the accomplice they sought. The idea of the two of them working together to create a trail of breadcrumbs was an uncanny possibility and he was having trouble deciding whether the accomplice would have to know him very well or not at all in order to hatch such a plan. He concluded there were arguments on both sides of that particular fence.
“Who knew an interest in books could get a person into so much trouble.”
Knowledge, it seemed, could be a dangerous thing in and of itself, and the relentless pursuit of truth even more so. He did not allow himself to dwell long on that line of thought, though, instead pushing forward to get on his feet.
“Yes, you’re right.”
With that, he pushed himself up off the floor, offering one hand to Alfarinn before heading back over to the desk. Opening the cover once more, he paged absently through the maps with his gloved hand, still somewhat caught up in prior thoughts. He voiced them aloud in a distracted manner.
“I’m wondering, assuming you’re right…” He looked over to Alfarinn for a moment before turning back to the desk. “…what such a plan might tell us about the accomplice. On one hand,” he picked up a sheet of vellum and held it up, studying the network of lines as though it were a piece of abstract art, which was about all the meaning it held for him in his current state of mind. “Someone who knew me well would know that I’m generally…cautious. But they would also know exactly what it would take to draw me in completely. On the other hand, someone who only knew me from a distance might not realize just how many alarm bells something like this would set off for me. Either way, the accomplice was taking a gamble, it seems.”
It was difficult to try to see himself through another person’s eyes. Would a casual observer notice his tendency to get drawn into a mystery and pursue it relentlessly? Would they see how, even in his endeavors, he was always thinking of an exit plan, alternatives in case a given situation went pear shaped?
Would they know that he was so guarded because the exact situation Alfarinn described had happened before? Thaddeus shook his head at that; there were three people, aside from himself, who knew about that particular fiasco, and none who knew the tale in its entirety.
The fact that Sorin was one of them left Thaddeus uncertain, and he continued his musing out loud.
“I just wonder what reason the accomplice and Lykaios might have had to think that a trap like the one you described would work.” He sighed softly as he held up another map. “I’m taking this too personally. Though…hell, how else am I supposed to take it? They were trying to play off my…” He waved his free hand around in a vague gesture. “…desire to set matters right, and my own curiosity, to get me alone and vulnerable…” He looked down at the gloved hand still holding a corner of the map and realized it was shaking. With forced calm, he set it back down, in the process really looking at it for the first time.
“Alfarinn? This is of the Arch.”
Frowning, he looked more closely at the map, realizing with growing concern just how detailed it was. Down to the air vents and guard stations.
And the private rooms were drawn in perfect detail.
Alfarinn
18 years ago
Alfarinn watched in a helpless state of wonder as his companion digested the information that these people could have plotted together for, the gods knew how long, his demise. Thaddeus stood and, using that possibility, continued to theorize on what this might tell them of the accomplice. He stood up and walked over to where Thaddeus was once more looking at the vellum maps.
"It would indeed be a gamble but they could play portions of it by ear if the accomplice is someone in Anantya and might hear of your progress. If the clan member was Order of the Night then they might expect you to tell them something of your progress along the way. Judging from that they could have altered their course and method to suit either your caution or eagerness. "
He did not like the line of reasoning which made a great deal of sense to him. He was further saddened at the thought of Sorin, so much in Thaddeus's confidence, being the very one betraying him. If it was that damned Roman behind this then Alfarinn hoped for Sorin's sake that Anantya got to him first.
Coming to stand behind Thaddeus and placing an arm lightly around his waist, he said.
"Beloved, you have every right to be outraged. It is a violation. The turning of your nature against you is sinister and vile. It would take a truly cold and vicious mind to know you and do such a thing but you are not alone. Being together has held us in good stead before and will do so again. "
He thought his companion had every right to be scared as well but Thaddeus seemed so rarely that; Alfarinn felt that he was frightened enough for the both of them. The brief feeling of safety that they had felt after Lykaios's death was an illusion whose dangerous magic was only now wearing away to show them the ugly reality. They were still in danger, especially Thaddeus, and it would not be long before the accomplice knew that Lykaios was dead.
Pushing himself against Thaddeus's back, Alfarinn held him close as he leaned over and looked down at the map in his lover's trembling hand. His eyes narrowed and he tightened his hold on his companion. It was the Arch. The other had been of the House of Pain. Lykaios had been very prepared. Pushing aside his unease at seeing the places Thaddeus had gone drawn in such detail, Alfarinn spoke optimistically.
"It is but he is dead and, being a suspicious and solitary man by nature, I would imagine that he has not given this information to many people, possibly not even his accomplice. I think that they probably told each other only so much as the other needed to know. Our small sensing of them both does not suggest a tight working relationship. It is probable then that this was something he was doing for himself alone. "
Alfarinn's unspoken thought was that Sorin would not -need- such maps and he did not find that a comfort.
"It would indeed be a gamble but they could play portions of it by ear if the accomplice is someone in Anantya and might hear of your progress. If the clan member was Order of the Night then they might expect you to tell them something of your progress along the way. Judging from that they could have altered their course and method to suit either your caution or eagerness. "
He did not like the line of reasoning which made a great deal of sense to him. He was further saddened at the thought of Sorin, so much in Thaddeus's confidence, being the very one betraying him. If it was that damned Roman behind this then Alfarinn hoped for Sorin's sake that Anantya got to him first.
Coming to stand behind Thaddeus and placing an arm lightly around his waist, he said.
"Beloved, you have every right to be outraged. It is a violation. The turning of your nature against you is sinister and vile. It would take a truly cold and vicious mind to know you and do such a thing but you are not alone. Being together has held us in good stead before and will do so again. "
He thought his companion had every right to be scared as well but Thaddeus seemed so rarely that; Alfarinn felt that he was frightened enough for the both of them. The brief feeling of safety that they had felt after Lykaios's death was an illusion whose dangerous magic was only now wearing away to show them the ugly reality. They were still in danger, especially Thaddeus, and it would not be long before the accomplice knew that Lykaios was dead.
Pushing himself against Thaddeus's back, Alfarinn held him close as he leaned over and looked down at the map in his lover's trembling hand. His eyes narrowed and he tightened his hold on his companion. It was the Arch. The other had been of the House of Pain. Lykaios had been very prepared. Pushing aside his unease at seeing the places Thaddeus had gone drawn in such detail, Alfarinn spoke optimistically.
"It is but he is dead and, being a suspicious and solitary man by nature, I would imagine that he has not given this information to many people, possibly not even his accomplice. I think that they probably told each other only so much as the other needed to know. Our small sensing of them both does not suggest a tight working relationship. It is probable then that this was something he was doing for himself alone. "
Alfarinn's unspoken thought was that Sorin would not -need- such maps and he did not find that a comfort.
Thaddeus Grey
18 years ago
Thaddeus leaned into Alfarinn’s touch, calmed by his companion’s presence and feeling the worry lines in his forehead fade. Righteous indignation and fear weren’t going to be particularly helpful in their current situation and as chilling as his companion’s statements were, Alfarinn was only talking sense.
His companion was right on another count as well; they had each other in this, and that was a comfort.
“To be blunt, there are very few people in the Order of the Night that I would seek out to discuss a matter like this with. Sorin, perhaps, and I know objectively speaking there are strikes against him but I don’t think this is one of them. I suppose it’s possible I’m being followed as well.”
He pulled his lower lip between his teeth, realizing that ‘because I say so’ wasn’t really a valid reason for thinking that Sorin wouldn’t take part in such a scheme. It all just seemed too overwhelmingly complicated to explain, though, and they still had work to do. He returned his gaze to the maps in front of them.
“Well, it seems there’s more where that came from.” He raked his fingers through his hair, sighing as he paged through the maps. It felt as though he should be more concerned about the fact that The Wolf seemed to have infiltrated several key locations in Nachton, but once the initial shock wore off the most he could work up to was a vague sort of worry. He wasn’t, he realized, doing a very good job of letting more disturbing concerns go and focusing on the task at hand.
“How would you feel about packing up and getting some coffee? I swear I’m not even thinking straight anymore and we should talk.”
He needed to fill in the gaps of Emma’s final days as much as he could and was generally feeling that he needed to sort his head out after their startling revelations. Looking down, however, he realized that they were both still on the messy side and wouldn’t want to appear anywhere respectable in public.
“I suppose getting cleaned up is another thing that needs to happen.”
Thaddeus was becoming more anxious to speak with Mai as well; his balance was upset from half a dozen memories and while some of them needed to be pulled up in more detail, others needed to be put back to rest.
“Of course if you want to keep going we certainly can. I don’t know that we would finish tonight even going full tilt but there’s nothing wrong with more progress.” He gave a self depreciating roll of his eyes. “I suppose I’m just not feeling my sharpest.”
His companion was right on another count as well; they had each other in this, and that was a comfort.
“To be blunt, there are very few people in the Order of the Night that I would seek out to discuss a matter like this with. Sorin, perhaps, and I know objectively speaking there are strikes against him but I don’t think this is one of them. I suppose it’s possible I’m being followed as well.”
He pulled his lower lip between his teeth, realizing that ‘because I say so’ wasn’t really a valid reason for thinking that Sorin wouldn’t take part in such a scheme. It all just seemed too overwhelmingly complicated to explain, though, and they still had work to do. He returned his gaze to the maps in front of them.
“Well, it seems there’s more where that came from.” He raked his fingers through his hair, sighing as he paged through the maps. It felt as though he should be more concerned about the fact that The Wolf seemed to have infiltrated several key locations in Nachton, but once the initial shock wore off the most he could work up to was a vague sort of worry. He wasn’t, he realized, doing a very good job of letting more disturbing concerns go and focusing on the task at hand.
“How would you feel about packing up and getting some coffee? I swear I’m not even thinking straight anymore and we should talk.”
He needed to fill in the gaps of Emma’s final days as much as he could and was generally feeling that he needed to sort his head out after their startling revelations. Looking down, however, he realized that they were both still on the messy side and wouldn’t want to appear anywhere respectable in public.
“I suppose getting cleaned up is another thing that needs to happen.”
Thaddeus was becoming more anxious to speak with Mai as well; his balance was upset from half a dozen memories and while some of them needed to be pulled up in more detail, others needed to be put back to rest.
“Of course if you want to keep going we certainly can. I don’t know that we would finish tonight even going full tilt but there’s nothing wrong with more progress.” He gave a self depreciating roll of his eyes. “I suppose I’m just not feeling my sharpest.”
Alfarinn
18 years ago
Alfarinn merely nodded and said nothing further about Sorin or someone in the Order of the Night. They would be wary and he would keep as close an eye on that particular Elder of Anantya as he could.
They needed to figure out who this person was for a certainty and he wondered how soon they could get to searching Sorin's secret apartment. Alfarinn did pause to consider the possibility that Sorin was not the accomplice or that they might not find anything condemning in this living space that the man kept hidden.
There was a lot of information to work through and quite frankly he wanted to leave this eerie quiet place with reminders of the unwholesome interest in Thaddeus all too plain and present. Alfarinn felt a need to march into Anantya and drag Sorin out but those dirty blonde curls on his head.Barring that action as impossible then he wanted to tuck Thaddeus safely away with him in the apartment until they had a chance to figure out more about this deadly puzzle.
The idea of coffee was a welcome one and Alfarinn nearly sighed in relief. Smiling at Thaddeus, he said.
"I think a shower and some coffee would be wonderful."
He flipped out his cellphone and called up the security department and asked for the Evenhet who had been placed in charge of guarding the house. They would need to come back and watch the place and a repair crew would be needed when they were finished with the rooms to leave things as they were originally.
Pausing his dialing at Thaddeus's offer to stay, he smiled gently.
"No, I think we both need a little break from this place in order to clear our heads. It will do us no good if we miss something by being in a rush."
Running a reassuring hand along Thaddeus's back, Alfarinn dialed and waited to be connected.
[Beloved, You are astounding in your ability to think even amidst personal crisis. That you are not at your sharpest is hardly a reflection on how amazing you are. ]
They needed to figure out who this person was for a certainty and he wondered how soon they could get to searching Sorin's secret apartment. Alfarinn did pause to consider the possibility that Sorin was not the accomplice or that they might not find anything condemning in this living space that the man kept hidden.
There was a lot of information to work through and quite frankly he wanted to leave this eerie quiet place with reminders of the unwholesome interest in Thaddeus all too plain and present. Alfarinn felt a need to march into Anantya and drag Sorin out but those dirty blonde curls on his head.Barring that action as impossible then he wanted to tuck Thaddeus safely away with him in the apartment until they had a chance to figure out more about this deadly puzzle.
The idea of coffee was a welcome one and Alfarinn nearly sighed in relief. Smiling at Thaddeus, he said.
"I think a shower and some coffee would be wonderful."
He flipped out his cellphone and called up the security department and asked for the Evenhet who had been placed in charge of guarding the house. They would need to come back and watch the place and a repair crew would be needed when they were finished with the rooms to leave things as they were originally.
Pausing his dialing at Thaddeus's offer to stay, he smiled gently.
"No, I think we both need a little break from this place in order to clear our heads. It will do us no good if we miss something by being in a rush."
Running a reassuring hand along Thaddeus's back, Alfarinn dialed and waited to be connected.
[Beloved, You are astounding in your ability to think even amidst personal crisis. That you are not at your sharpest is hardly a reflection on how amazing you are. ]
Thaddeus Grey
18 years ago
Thaddeus couldn’t help but smile at their easy agreement and reflected on just how alike they were. He turned in the circle of his companion’s arms, placing his hands on Alfarinn’s chest.
“It seems we have a plan, then.”
Normally modesty might prevent him from so easily accepting a compliment when he was in self deprecating mode, but at the moment he found Alfarinn’s consistently positive outlook with regard to himself to be quite welcome, even needed. He brushed his cheek against his companion’s collarbone, finding even more comfort in that gesture of affection.
Wanting to give his companion some room to make the phone call, he pulled back and moved toward the bed, carefully lifting the sheet to disturb as little dust as possible. He picked up some of the smaller items that they had decided warranted holding onto and put them into the box along with the book before locking everything up once more. The key he slipped into his pocket. The maps he could roll up and put in the laptop bag, as he was certain neither of them wanted to leave those out for the taking.
Tucking the metal box under one arm, he waited for Alfarinn to finish his phone call before opening the bedroom door and leading the way out of the house and into the night.
/ooc outie out out!
“It seems we have a plan, then.”
Normally modesty might prevent him from so easily accepting a compliment when he was in self deprecating mode, but at the moment he found Alfarinn’s consistently positive outlook with regard to himself to be quite welcome, even needed. He brushed his cheek against his companion’s collarbone, finding even more comfort in that gesture of affection.
Wanting to give his companion some room to make the phone call, he pulled back and moved toward the bed, carefully lifting the sheet to disturb as little dust as possible. He picked up some of the smaller items that they had decided warranted holding onto and put them into the box along with the book before locking everything up once more. The key he slipped into his pocket. The maps he could roll up and put in the laptop bag, as he was certain neither of them wanted to leave those out for the taking.
Tucking the metal box under one arm, he waited for Alfarinn to finish his phone call before opening the bedroom door and leading the way out of the house and into the night.
/ooc outie out out!