Home again, home again

[markofkaine]

[In the end, it wasn't that hard at all. One of those lanterns, like the ones Acedia had - its light could open up a portal home. Everyone made their plans, relieved to be free of the Midwestern hellhole that had kept them in its clutches for all these long days.

How strange. For once, Kaine was glad to have been proved foolish - optimism was never his strong suit, same with nursing such convenient daydreams - but now he felt unprepared for what lay ahead. A chapter was closing. What does he do with himself now?]

Comments

[markofkaine]

[Nuzzles the top of his head...]

You're here. That's all that matters t'me.

Any house rules?

[eudaimoniac]

[happy little spark of lightning from one eye]

I don't like people moving anything around in the atelier. I'm very particular about that.

[markofkaine]

Easy enough.

Tell me 'bout the city.

[HOW MUCH CRIME IS THERE]

[eudaimoniac]

What do you want to know about? The neighborhoods? The major institutions? General advice?

[markofkaine]

Law enforcement and general reaction to a man swinging around on rooftops.

[eudaimoniac]

Don't go near anyone with a large animal next to them or anyone with a metal eye. And I expect the response would be . . . hostile.

[markofkaine]

[WHAT AWWWW]

Are they common?

[unspoken: i bet i could take them]

[eudaimoniac]

It depends on which deme you're in. But. Err. I can't stress enough. That you shouldn't draw their ire.

. . . You'll meet one of them soon enough, and you'll see what I mean. I have a friend among them. A soldier.

[markofkaine]

[still does not seem particularly intimidated]

They can't be that tough.

[eudaimoniac]

Not in comparison to you. Not at all. But there are endless numbers of them, and they could make my life very difficult indeed if they connected you with me.

[markofkaine]

Ugghhhhhh........

[but how do i get my spider enrichment!!!]

[eudaimoniac]

There are very few of them in some areas, though. Those places would be safe.

[markofkaine]

This wouldn't be a problem if I had my stealth suit...

What if I wore a mask.

[eudaimoniac]

It might help.

But—it's important to me that you don't . . . kill any of them . . .

[HESITANT]

[markofkaine]

[on the one hand: fair

on the other, he can't help but feel a slight rise of indignation.]

I don't just go around killing people who get in my way.

[eudaimoniac]

No, but the Vigil sometimes do. I worry they'll provoke you.

[markofkaine]

Can I beat them within an inch of their life?

[eudaimoniac]

[:0

frames his face. hands on cheeks]

Of course.

[markofkaine]

[huffs. he can accept this compromise.]

I'll settle for that, then.

[eudaimoniac]

Thank you.

I just don't want anything to get in the way of you settling in here. You should be enjoying the Gardens, not worrying about the military . . . it took us this long to get some privacy. We earned a rest.

[markofkaine]

Yeah, but I wanna stretch my legs when I can. Feel the wind in my hair.

And there's still the question of money.

[eudaimoniac]

What kind of job do you think you'd enjoy?

[markofkaine]

You know I've never had a normal job in my life, right.

[technically he's only ever had the one. and that was being a hitman.]

[eudaimoniac]

But you might still know what you'd like? Or what you could stand.

There are plenty of jobs you'd be amazing at that require strength . . .

[markofkaine]

Wouldn't it just raise questions 'bout how I got that strength? It's not normal here, I'm pretty sure.