Pak couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, and she knew it. She was, however, musically eclectic and well versued enjoying a little of everything. Given the cadence of Kem's voice it really didn't surprise her that he'd been a classicl singer.

"Does this mean I get to drag you out when Carmen is in town?"

Not that she didn't love Kem, but well he was Kem and while a great guy not her first choice for wandering off to the opera with. Opera had a romantic side to it...

It surprised her to think of Artemis out of the blue like that, but there it was. She'd had no idea she could be so patent but he was worth waiting for. Of course Kem wouldn't know about that and he was being so good to her that right now she didn't want to add to his work.

Absently watching as he took her cup she adjusted her curl and again folded into the cushions, she could after all hear the storm but it was another flicker of the lights that had brought her fears back to the forefront. Still she felt safer here than other places.

"You can't leave me hanging. Where, when did you sing? Did I stand a prayer of seeing you or what?"

Kem hesitated at the idea of going to the opera with Pak. Not because he didn't like her; but opera houses these days had enormous high balconies that tended to take one's mind completely off the opera if one was, oh, say, afraid of heights.

"I daresay you could find a more acceptable date than me," he said with a sly grin. He was pretty certain she'd know who he meant, but if the reference passed her over, that was all right too.

When he returned with fresh coffee he was about to sidestep the issue again, but Pak just looked so darn... cute all curled up on the couch that for the moment he forgot she had a tendency to drop and/or throw heavy things on and/or at his head and obliged her.

"All over the place, and for about 20 years at a time around, hmm, the 1400 era, 1600, 1750-ish, and 1820 or so. There hasn't always been a big call for archaeologists and historians."

Kem didn't fool himself either, not on this. He had a good enough voice to make a decent career for himself during those periods. He didn't like being in the spotlight, literally or figuratively, so he hadn't always enjoyed it, but he did like to sing.

As far as Pak knew she and Artemis had been nothing but discreet, it wasn't like everyone knew they were trying to date. Still they hadn't hidden their flirting either.

"You get to explain that little comment you know."

More coffee... well coffee soothed the savage, or freaked out, programmer. It was all in her head of course as Pak didn't care if it was regular or decaf. It was a ritual and all ritual, no matter what it was, had a comforting aspect to it.

"Well spill on the 1820 business. Where and when? I'm not psych you know."

Pak was genuinely curious, she did like opera and the thought that she might have met Kem sooner was both brilliant and frustrating. How could she have missed him?

Kem offered Pak a smirk. "Little comment? Me? Let's just settle with the fact that although I've not been the most vocal member of Evenhet, I have actually been in the clan for over eight hundred years."

Let Pak assume what she wanted from that, but the point Kem had been trying to make, however subtly, was that he did know quite a few other members aside from his burrowing friend on the couch here. Pak was smart enough to put one and one together and come up with two. He and Artemis were acquainted, if not the best of buddies.

And no matter what he did she was sticking to the singing thing like a burr. "1820... That would have been a bit in England, and a bit here in America as well. As for where, all over. Any big city. With various opera and theatre companies. I didn't work for any one in particular; it made it easier to pick and choose my roles."

Kem had a habit of doing that, he supposed. It made it easier to stay anonymous, being able to move about quickly and easily, without many people asking for you. If they didn't expect you back, they wouldn't put up a fuss when you didn't come back.

One had to assume from that smirk that Kem knew something and if he'd been hanging about with Evenhet for eight hundred years... Hmmm... Pak frowned thinking for a second and finally raised an eyebrow at him.

"Sneaky bastard. But you can't say that I'm the only voyeur around here then."

Pak knew she hadn't said anything to Kem so she could only assume Artemis had. Not that there was currently much to say but still it was a little odd to know something had been.

There was no danger of having run into Kem and not noticed him then, very little any way.

"I probably should have left Siam sooner. Missed out on all the... more unique performers by staying home."

For a second she wondered if that was another aspect of cowardice. No, that was finances; primarily finances any way.

Kem raised his hands helplessly. "Not a voyeur. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Or the wrong place. Or whatever. I didn't go looking for gossip."

Bumping into an out-of-sorts Artemis on the beach did not count as voyeurism. And it had been a while ago; Kem had no idea how things were working out between the two now. He guessed the relationship was still in the starting stages though, as he imagined if it were otherwise Pak might have gone looking for a hiding spot closer to where Artemis was.

Then again, maybe not. Kem had a brief memory of his ill-fated tour of the pyramids with Aishe. He'd certainly do that differently if he ever had the chance.

At any rate, he wasn't going to speculate on Pak's relationship unless it was invited. He gave her a shrug. "All right. Maybe a bit of a sneaky bastard... but not intentionally."

He nodded at her when she mentioned leaving Siam. "That's the one thing I can't regret, really, about my turning. I'd always wanted to travel and it certainly gave me the motivation."

Being chased out of your home city would do that to you. And it was amazing how fast news could travel. It had taken him a while to find someplace that hadn't heard of his "curse" at first.

"Of course, traveling and stumbling blindly about the continent are two different things. I like to think I got over the latter quickly enough and began to enjoy the former."

He grinned at her. He wasn't about to dredge up uncomfortable facts about his past now unless she really wanted him to. He'd really liked having the freedom to travel though; that much was no lie.

"So gossip just came to you? Is that what you're trying to tell me."

Pak didn't push her luck too far, not that there was a lot to tell at this point. Although it was sort of nice to know Kem was aware of Artemis, it would be much easier to explain later. Oh hell why wait until later?

"He asked how I'd feel about meeting Morrigan."

She hadn't a clue how to feel about that, meeting his creator and all and then compound that with who she was. It wasn't causing sleepless nights or anything but it was a lot to think about.

Maybe if they both ignored why they had started traveling it would still be a good conversation. Pak was hoping so because she had liked traveling once she'd gotten around to it.

"Once I got finances in order it was brilliant. I'd never thought about traveling before being turned but you're right its one of the things I'm happy about. Where was your favorite and saying Siam would be a good thing."

Pak teased him slightly. If Kem was at all like her it would be hard to pick one place as there had been so many and all of them were fascinating for one reason or another.

"Let's just say you can run into gossip in the strangest places," Kem said with a smile. He was pretty sure Pak knew him well enough to have faith in the fact that he certainly didn't go looking for the next juicy story. The only way he could really know about them was from one or the other of them.

When she mentioned meeting Morrigan, he looked sideways at her. "So, how do you feel about meeting Morrigan?"

Tipping his head back against the couch in a pose of utter relaxation, he stretched with a satisfied growl and then picked up his coffee mug and gave a sigh of contentment. It figured that Pak enjoyed traveling as well; they had enough in common so far that he was pretty sure nothing about her would surprise him. Given that their starts in this life had been somewhat similar, she would understand the release that wandering around could provide.

"Let's see. I wasn't actually in Siam long enough to get a really good impression, to be honest. And the dialect I do know, I have a feeling is vastly outdated from the one you're speaking."

He considered for a moment. "No, unfortunately I think my favorite place is still Egypt." He didn't want to sully the mood, so he didn't explain why that was unfortunate. Pak would understand that bittersweet sort of longing. "Although I don't know, I enjoyed Japan. And Italy. I spent a long time in Italy, when it was still a collective of City-States. I worked at the University as a researcher and historian. I did a lot of translating and scribing for the other scholars. They knew I could be counted upon to travel and study for them." He smiled. "They were more interested in sitting comfortably at home and having their work done for them, and the less they saw of me the less I aroused their suspicions.

"After I joined Evenhet, too, I did a lot of traveling. Particularly when there was an artifact to be purchased. There's no better way to verify its authenticity than to get my hands on it and figure out how old it really is. It's the best use I've found for my psychometry so far, and I'm glad it could be a help."

He said it all with his eyes closed and no real expression on his face. Mostly he was talking for the sake of talking, to distract Pak if she still wanted it. He didn't mind telling her things. She was almost as easy to talk to as Aishe, so if his ramblings helped, he didn't mind offering them up.

That was sort of cute that Artemis had talked to Kem about her. Pak never would have suspected that and was forced to repress a very juvinile urge to ask why he had and what they'd talked about.

"Oh no worries at all not only 'let's meet mum' but 'by the way mum happens to be an Anantya elder'. Which is undoubtedly going to lead to my family..."

Pak trailed off there. Her family was not a great discussion but sooner or later she was going to have to explain it and how she'd started out in life. If anyone could identify with her not wanting to go down that road Kem could.

Maybe she should go back to her office, get some work done she must be holding Kem up from something and she wasn't helpless. She'd just about made up her mind to do so when she heard the thunder again. No, there would be no moving just yet.

Pak nodded at the idea that Egypt was still his favorite. She missed Siam but hadn't been back in over a hundred years Pak was beginning to suspect she never would go back. That idea was not a happy one.

"Japan was alright, I suppose I didn't get quite the same picture of it you did coming from one of the neighboring countries. And of course I wasn't able to be as useful as you, something about being a poor uneducated farm girl. But I still think psychometry is odd. Of course that's because I don't have to deal with and if I did I probably never would have made it to my computers and then where would we be?"

Kem nodded to Pak, but for once it was his turn to sound reasonable. he knew exactly why she wouldn't want to delve into her past. "If they're polite they won't press you. And if they do, just... well, try to be... diplomatic."

He trailed off there. Pak wasn't exactly the dimplomacy role model of the year. That was probably more his strength than hers.

"All right. At the very least do your best not to hit anyone in the head with a frying pan. That leaves a bad impression. In more ways than just one." If Pak wanted any pointers she knew she could ask him, but he was sure if she applied herself she'd be able to keep her temper in check. "And when they're finished reminding you that they're Anantya and therefore better than you in every way, you can go back home and un-stress by throwing darts at something significant."

It was the best advice he could give her; he had had limited dealings with Anantya himself, having joined Evenhet after they split and formed their own clan. Hypocritical of him to say so, but there wasn't any sense in her worrying about it for the time being. "Just take care of it when it happens. Don't dwell on it." He had to smile while he said it; dwelling on it was exactly what he would do. "Yeah, I just said that. Do exactly what I wouldn't do, and you should be fine. See, all the things you yell at me for... overthinking, overanalyzing, staying stuck on one thing and letting it repeat over and over... trust me, it doesn't lead anywhere fun. So avoid it if you can. And if you can't, then call me or email me, and we go find someplace to get you away from it all."

She'd done so for him, he was certainly capable of returning the favor. Kem was able to keep a level head when whatever the issue was, didn't involve his personal problems.

As the conversation drifted around to their travels some more, he quirked an eyebrow up at Pak. "I have a hard time seeing you as a poor uneducated farmgirl. Whatever you were in life, you became something entirely different in undeath, and it kept you going when it would have been easy to curl up and let go."

That was all he said on the topic. It was all advice she'd told him, and he was just reminding her that turnabout was fair play.

"Psychometry took some getting used to," Kem agreed. "Even now, it can make me a little disoriented. It's like a map in my mind of where and when something was, and if it's moved around a lot I usually have to take a moment when it stops, before I open my eyes. Otherwise the room is still moving. The uses far outweigh the disadvantages, however. I've been able to help Meridian by advising against some big purchases that were basically scams."

"So you're saying that bringing up that I was a prostitute for eighty years isn't going to be a good thing?"

Even if the Anantya didn't press her she was still going to have to bring all this up to Artemis, it was only fair. Maybe Kem would pick up on that and give her some suggestions. There was an issue of timing and just how to phrase it. Artemis had been very understanding so far about her mood swings but still having to bring all this up.

Oh brilliant, they were snobs. Pak had wandered clanless a long time and even after finding a home here she had limited dealings with other clans. Her work in IT made it quite possible for her to avoid them. Besides, from what she'd heard Anantya would hardly need a programmer of any kind.

"You know when he first asked it didn't seem like such a big deal but the more I think about it... You don't suppose they'd believe me if I said I was sick?"

And then going back to her travels, well hell this just wasn't going to get any better. Pak sighed and went silent. She wasn't really depressed just was just feeling small, first her fear now her background, yes small was the right word for it.

Kem sat upright at that. He'd been fighting against getting too overly protective and big-brotherly with Pak, but seeing her in a mood that suited him far better than it suited her was disturbing. He frowned, not at her, but at the idea that she might not be accepted.

He slid off the couch and crouched in front of her, looking up just slightly at her face, which had been troubled since she arrived in the archives. Apparently more than the storm was bothering her. Or maybe the storm had just put her in a mindset to worry about everything else.

He rested his hands on her shoulders gently. "What I'm saying is they had better accept you for what you are, Pak, or they're not worth worrying over. Not at all. We do what we have to do to live, and if they cast judgment on you for it, you have an entire clan behind you ready to tell them where they can shove it.

We don't all get to be lucky and choose the time and the place that this happens to us, or even if it happens at all. And when it does happen, it's amazing that we can somehow get by, those of us who were left alone to solve the puzzles for ourselves, without dying or killing ourselves. You've managed to overcome everything that was against you at first. You're Evenhet now, and no matter where you came from you will always be Evenhet. Remember that."

He hadn't meant to grow so intense, but Pak's fears were, as always, so similar to his own that he couldn't help it. This insecurity didn't suit her. She was stronger than him, more self-assured than him, and if either one of them could get over it, he'd bet money on her before himself.

"As for Artemis, just tell him. He cares about you, not how you look in front of others. Holding it all back will only cause trouble. Believe me." He tilted his head at her. "Would it change anything for you, knowing that I've done some pretty... bad... things in my time? Would you be less of a friend, knowing I'm not perfect?"

Any other day she'd have been surprised at this reversal of rolls and to some extent she was still surprised at Kem's intensity. Her emotions were out of whack to begin with and so this wasn't the greatest time to think about all of this, but it was too late. Pak's eyes got a little watery but still smiled.

It was good to be reminded that she wasn't alone any more. Really she hadn't been for several decades but it was something she still had to work on remembering. Not being good a 'thank yous' Pak actually hugged Kem. She was not much on physical displays of affection but the exception seemed natural.

Sniffing slightly she tried to get herself back together, and managed mostly. Well enough that she was half inclined to turn on Kem, defend him from himself or any demons he might have. Instead she just shook her head.

"Of course not and the first person to say other wise is going to regret it."

Odd how it was easier to defend someone else than it was to defend yourself some days.

Oops. He hadn't meant to make her cry. Maybe he'd been a bit too intense, but he couldn't take any of it back. So when Pak hugged him, a surprising turn of events, he simply reached around her and hugged back, holding her tightly for a few moments. When she pulled away he resettled the blanket around her shoulders, tucking her back into a cocoon, and smiled softly when her usual spirit came through in his defense.

"No one's saying otherwise, as far as I know," he said. "We live with our pasts. Mine hasn't been pretty, any more than yours has. Even after my wreck of a turning, I was a mess for centuries and let me tell you, prostitution would have been a blessing. I've not been a saint, and there are some things I've done that aren't even worth defending, aren't worth having someone like you stick up for me over. And that alone speaks up for the kind of person you are. No one can judge you, Pak. You can judge yourself. But anyone who doesn't accept you as you are is false."

He touched her cheek and brushed away the remains of a tear. "Have faith in Artemis. Even if Morrigan doesn't accept you, he won't stand to see you hurt."

"You are worth defending."

She left off the thought 'even if your actions haven't been'. But she believed it No matter what he'd done or how long it had taken, Kem was now a good person and her friend and both were worth protecting. Even if it was from himself on occasion.

Looking quietly at Kem and his ideas about not judging others she nearly smile, it was more a concept as it ghosted across her features.

"I think we are both pretty harsh judges."

The smile became more real, yes she still had that new relationship glow. While they hadn't been able to spend much time together she had gotten that same impression of Artemis, especially when she'd tried to explain to him she was thinking about turning Aishe. He was ready to support her in that even if he had disagreed, it had meant a lot.

"You're right and I know it, but you worry from time to time."

That should go with out saying in this room, but she said it any way.

"And an Anantya elder wouldn't be rude to me, to my face any way. But purely hypothetically how much damage could I do to inter clan relations if a frying pan went out of control?"

Kem wasn't crazy enough to try and convince her otherwise. Someday he'd tell her about it, if she wanted to hear it. He didn't mind, not Pak, not Aishe. They were already privy to the deeper secrets of his life, just like Alfarinn, and he was all right with that. "As long as you think I'm worth it, I'll keep trying to be."

He offered her a smile, and a nod when she made her own observations about their judgment. "We are," he agreed. "I'm working on that too. I've got a long, long laundry list of issues."

Kem stood, giving her another brief hug. "Yeah, I can actually be right on occasion. I'll try not to let it go to my head if you don't tell anyone. I have a reputation to maintain, you know?"

Sitting back down on the couch, he once more crossed his legs and resumed his relaxed pose, although in truth he was busy worrying about Pak. He trusted Artemis too, though. Pak was in good hands, if she'd only just tell him how she felt.

"I don't know... somehow I think I'd be hard-pressed to come up with a believable defense on the basis that you attacked with a frying pan because you thought someone might say something out of line." He grinned... "At least try and keep out of trouble... for the first few minutes."

Even though she didn't know it, When he hugged her Pak was just as surprised as Kem had been when she'd hugged him. It occur to her it had been an odd night, but she blamed that on herself spasing out and losing control of her emotions, even slightly.

"If Evenhet had a shrink they'd make a fortune and that would only be with the two of us as clients."

Feeling better but wanting to cocoon further she wrapped the blanket more securely about her and snuggled back into the cushions. Not quite how she wanted to snuggle right now but her first choice wasn't available.

"I think I could pull it off. I mean no one would know it was me after all. But maybe a frying pan is over the top, maybe I can just get an ottoman to jump out in front of someone. You wouldn't tell would you?"

Kem scratched his head. "Evenhet does have a shrink," he said with fair certainty. "I've never been to see him though. I hate shrinks. Surprised?"

He turned to grin at her again, and saw her still looking very small and very much huddled up on his comfy break room couch. He'd done his best to be supportive. Kem wasn't used to this side of Pak. What would he have done if it were his sister there? And why was he even wondering? It was his sister there. Wasn't their clan a family?

"I wouldn't tell," he agreed. Keeping his eyes on the TV he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, looping his other arm across her front and quickly brushing a few strands of wayward hair off of her face.

"Just this once, I wouldn't tell. But that's only because you have me at a disadvantage, looking all forlorn. Otherwise I'd expect good behavior when you visit the nice Anantya."

He squeezed her gently, at that moment very much willing to, and wishing he could, take her worries and burdens on himself. He had enough years of practice; he could take it. Pak shouldn't have to.

"We have a shrink?"

It had started out as a joke but now Pak was vaguely alarmed. Of course if they had compulsory visits yet why would they start now? Either way she'd be giving who ever it was a wide berth. She nodded at Kem's inclination to dislike the mental health profession.

"What if we locked him in his office or at least put a radio collar on him so we could keep track, then we could both avoid him."

Surprised that Kem had put an arm around her she tensed for a second. It was odd reaction but only lasted half a second before she simply accepted it. This was Kem and he'd been there for her all night she shouldn't be surprised that he was still there. Pak rested her head on his shoulder.

Did she really look forlorn? Probably, she probably looked tired too. These emotional out bursts and irregularities often took a lot out of her. Pak realized she should tell Kem about her mood swings, someday, it might keep him from worrying too much .

"I promise to practice my bow and everything. I suppose I have to make a good impression for the clan's sake."

Kem couldn't help but laugh, although he tried not to let the motion disturb Pak too much. "You know, I can't even recall his... or her name. I just know psychiatric support is part of the benefits package. There's got to be something in there, you know. We're hardly likely to need the medical and dental."

He turned towards her slightly, offering a better support to lean against. He absently stroked her hair, much as he would do with Aishe, or, so long ago, with Ha-Neferet when she would come home bruised and beaten.

"I don't think they come looking for us," he said. "Probably one of those hotline things. Nothing to worry about, no shrink could read you if they tried."

Even if she was completely transparent sometimes. It was endearing. He rested his head on hers and closed his eyes briefly. "I don't think you'll need to bow. Just practice being diplomatic. Even if it's just a dream, it doesn't hurt to prepare for the eventuality that you'll someday manage it. Your clan does appreciate your sacrifice. And believe me, I am looking forward to not having to challenge an Anantya Elder to a duel for Evenhet's honor."