Aerin Thomas: *Click* "Hey," He sounds...well, like Aerin always sounds. Only moreso. Pissed, stressed, tired...the Aerin trifecta.

Jez: "Oooh, judging by the stressors in your voice," says the melodic, warm, now-familiar voice, "I would say I called at a good time. I'm coming to where you are. Do you want alcohol, ice cream, or both? Or I could pick up dinner..."

Aerin Thomas: He chuckles a little. "Alcohol, please. I'm...it's been one of those few days. You can probably imagine."

Jez: "Yes, I can. Say no more, except of course where you are right now, and I'll help you forget your problems for a while," he soothes quietly.

Aerin Thomas: "Battery. Watching the boats in the marina."

Jez: "Then I'll bring a brown paper bag," he says wryly with a bit of a chuckle. "I don't think it would improve either of our moods to be arrested. See you in a few."

And some time later, the Kin saunters across the park with a brown paper grocery bag. Black nail polish on semi-long nails, thick black kohl eyeliner, the pants that look like molten silver melted onto his lower body, the pink hitops, and a black silk tank top. Reckless, indeed, and a dangerously bold statement.

Aerin Thomas: "Cool." *Click* 

He finds Aern sitting on the railing, near the east end ot the park...perched semi-precariously. His staff rests on the safer side, leaning against the railing next to him. No trench today, oddly. The man's wearing a simple black tank-top, black, with "Don't Hunt What You Can't Kill" on the back in white, and "HBK" on the front. Jeans and his steel-toed boots. His hair's pulled back into a tight ponytail, cigarette burning in his hand as he looks over the boats with a wistful look hidden behind sunglasses.

Jez: He moves up behind him and then to the side so he can notice Jez approaching. He sets the bag up on the railing, then nimbly hops up close beside Aerin. "I found Chivas Regal." Reaching out to rest a hand on his shoulder. "How are you holding up?"

Aerin Thomas: He looks over at Jez only when he touch the man's shoulder, and smiles faintly. "Long as I'm not trying killing myself to avoid murdering kinfolk who can't shut up, I'm..." He shrugs. "Just regular shitty. You?"

Jez: "She was not herself, Aerin, but few can stay cool under such provocation. You avoided bloodshed, and for that ought to be commended." He lets his hand drop and leans lightly against him, balancing on the railing as he fumbles for the bottle. "I'm still alive despite the likelihood to the contrary. In fact, there's been no alarms raised at all."

Aerin Thomas: He reaches out, putting a hand around Jez's shoulders to him him stabilize. "Easy. We're not even drunk yet." He smiles faintly, but it's brief, before he sighs, taking a drag off the smoke. "I showed her the truth of us, Jez. I showed her what she didn't understand. And she denied it. And told me I was raping her fucking mind." He snorts.

Jez: "Ah, Aerin," he sighs, handing him the bottle he opened, then leans comfortably against the Garou, a hand on his leg to help balance. "If there's one thing in life I've learned, is that some people can't handle the truth. If they don't want to know it, they will deny it to their dying breath." He reaches up with his other hand to caress Aerin's face in a comforting gesture. "You're a good man, Aerin, but there will always be opposition."

Aerin Thomas: He sighs a little, eyes shutting as he leans into that hand a bit. "I don't care if people hate me, Jez. Fuck, I'm used to it. People around the Green have been hating me for a long time now, and sometimes doing something about it. I don't give a shit. Where I draw the line is when they start fucking up those I care about."

Jez: "I don't hate you," he says solemnly. "I look up to you. And if I do, others do as well. Is someone hurting somebody you care about? Besides the Reapers, I mean."

Aerin Thomas: He smirks. "People are hurting those I care about on an almost daily basis, Jez. Myself included."

Jez: "Well," he sighs, "isn't that just the way life is? Every day is a test, some days more than ever. But if we have something to believe, something that holds us together, keeps us strong, then we are blessed. And if we have those who love us, and can love in return, then we are rich."

Aerin Thomas: He nods faintly, and looks out over the boats again...to a particular spot. "You know...I understand what that girl went through."

Jez: He blinks, attempting to follow this man's thoughts. "What...girl? The Black Fury?"

Aerin Thomas: He nods a bit, eyes distant. "Do you?"

Jez: He tenses, looking out to the boats and for a moment, he says nothing. "In a sense. I was forced once. But I didn't go through the complete terror she must have felt, not knowing if she would live or die."

Aerin Thomas: He nods. "I wasn't sure. I thought...maybe I was going to live. Perhaps. Which scared me even worse."

Jez: "To live with the violation," he says softly, "and to remember over and over the helplessness, of being powerless."

Aerin Thomas: He nods, and then chuckles without mirth. "Well, I also wasn't sure if I was going to live and just be tortured for months, too. The thoughts of remembering came later." He sighs, taking a drag off his cigarette. "That...was even worse, yeah. Almost came close to dancing because of it."

Jez: He shudders, and without thinking about it, slips his hand into Aerin's if there's one without a cigarette, giving it a squeeze.

Aerin Thomas: He squeezes back, weakly. "She was the only one who seemed to notice there was something wrong. For days, until I finally found something to hide myself behind. No one ever noticed. Ita, Micah, Alexis...no one ever even thought anything of it." He shrugs and reaches up to rub at his face, tiredly. "This is what the Reapers are doing, Jez. Creating more people like me. And whatever you may think...that's not a good thing."

Jez: He nuzzles Aerin's arm, asking softly, "What do we do, Aerin? What can we do? I don't want to sit back and take it. I don't want to hide. I want to do something about it."

Aerin Thomas: "I don't know." He shrugs faintly and raises his arm to place it around Jez's shoulders. "They...they're going to die. I...need to kill them. But we're going to be hated for that. You know this, right?"

Jez: "Yes," he sighs, leaning into the hug, drawing comfort from it. "I suppose so. There'll be those who think that they were right, others who will think we should have let them be. But it won't dissaude me from doing what I can to set this right."

Jez: "Regardless of the challenge," he says slowly, "even if they're removed from this city...they'll just go on to another city and do the same thing. And...Lucien had a thought...that scared me..."

Aerin Thomas: "What's that?" It's murmured softly.

Jez: "The challenge is taking place outside of the park," he says quietly. "The Warder will be gone from there. There's only the Guardians to watch over it. What if...what if that's what they want?"

Aerin Thomas: He blinks, and his spine stiffens. He pauses, and then shakes his head. "No. Uh-uh. I mean...the Elders aren't all coming, are they?"

Jez: "That's what we were wondering," he says in a very subdued voice. "Is the Grand Elder going to be in the park, at the challenge, or somewhere else? I thought...I thought maybe Lucien should let Craven know, maybe they could go there instead of the challenge. But...I think he is worried about looking like an idiot if he's wrong, or that he can't go to Craven. And Eddie...well, she thinks the challenge is a prime time for the *other* Reapers to start eliminating primary targets elsewhere, while everyone's focus is on the challenge."

Jez: "And why are they even challenging?" he sighs finally, shoulders slumping. "It's *their* territory, isn't it? Why is nobody standing up and saying 'hell NO, not in OUR city?' They don't care, do they? The Reapers chose for a first target a group that not many will stand up to defend."

Aerin Thomas: He frowns. "Yeah...you've got a point there. And some of us are...but not the right people." He sneers. "People like Gavriil and the fucking Grimhilds are hiding behind the fact that Gavin and Hagen are too Goddess-damned chickenshit to take a stand, so they're following suit. No one's standing up except us, and we're not enough. Because we ARE the problem."

Aerin Thomas: That last sentance said mockingly, of course.

Jez: "I can't help thinking what if Lucien is right? What if they're ready to take the park? And in doing so, they will be the ones in power. The gate...the gate should be closed to all during the challenge...can they do that? And I'll encourage Lucien to *tell* Craven. Just in case. Eddie has to stay home...she's terrified Liam will be next."

Jez: He means the Moongate, of course.

Aerin Thomas: "I don't honestly know if they can. I'll talk to Angie and Malcolm...possibly Gavin, too. I don't like Gavin, but I'll be die before accepting Lucious over him."

Jez: "Why did they come here, Aerin? Did someone invite them? Someone in power? Someone who knew how they could, whom, and where?" Shivering, he nestles closer to the Garou.

Jez: ((could *strike*))

Aerin Thomas: He curls his arm around Jez protectively, nuzzling his temple. "I don't know. Maybe. Christ knows they have their sympathizers, but I can't imagine..." He sighs. "There a lot of things I couldn't have imagined two weeks ago. Guess this city never fails to surprise me."

Jez: "They're too open," he says softly. "They want us all to know who they are. I'm scared about what that might mean." He murmurs, "I don't want to be scared anymore." He turns his head, a light kiss to Aerin's neck. A chill runs down his spine - the Reapers could be watching them now.

Aerin Thomas: His breath catches a little bit, and he looks over at Jez, blinking at him. It's a brief surprise, quickly covered up. "You...don't have to be scared, Jez." He smiles faintly. "I promise...we can beat this. All of us...together. All right?"

Jez: A faint smile. "I believe you. And I have my faith. I'll be alright, Aerin, I promise. No more scaredy-cat shit. I refuse to hide who I am or compromise my life." A better smile, his voice getting stronger with his conviction and he reaches up under Aerin's hair to lightly stroke the back of his neck, apparently to emphasize his words. Or something.

Aerin Thomas: He shivers lightly, eyes half-shutting. "Good. That's the last thing I would ever want you to do. You're a proud and wonderful person. Don't ever be afraid to show that."

Jez: "The same could be said of you, Aerin. We are as nature made us and life shaped us. Like your staff, we all bear the marks upon us that are the maps of our pasts. The good *and* the bad." He caresses the back of his neck gently, not doing anything else at this moment.

Aerin Thomas: His head dips forward, baring the back of his neck for Jez. "Life doesn't always give us both in balance, Jez. And sometimes...the bad is too much to come back up from. I...worry about that a lot."

Jez: "You will find your balance in faith, Aerin," he says softly, semi-long nails lightly scratching. "Faith in the goddess, faith in the gods. It is strength, conviction, and balance. Look to them for guidance, and you will find your peace, if only for a short while." The Kin speaks firmly, his voice strident despite the low volume of his voice. Jez truly *believes* in his words, and it comes through in every syllable.

Aerin Thomas: The nails scratching causes his breath to catch. "I have faith in the Goddess, Jez. I trust in her fully, and know that she has a plan for me. I'll help people. It's my purpose, and I understand my purpose very well. I just know that she doesn't have true happiness in store for me." He says it in a way that's not even really sad. It's more...accepting. Like knowing you're missing something, but not really feeling it, because you've forgotten what it was.

Jez: "I'm not so certain that is truly her design for you, to have you feel no happiness or joy. I think you might have missed something you should have realized. Do you mean that you feel no happiness when you cradle your daughter in your arms? No joy when she smiles at you and you know that you are the most important person in her life? Tori is a gift from our goddess, an anchor, a reason to keep fighting." He kisses his neck again, gently, not doing more than that.

Jez: "She *did* give you a piece of happiness," he whispers, "if you accept it as such."

Aerin Thomas: He swallows heavily, leaning forward slightly. "That's just the game, Jez. It's...enough to keep me going, until they're gone. All of them. Then it just hurts again."

Jez: "Aerin," he says quietly, a thread of anger (though not impatience or frustration) in his voice. "You are missing out on the true gift from Gaia. By turning it aside as only something temporary, you are losing. Even worse, Tori is losing. You have so much to give her, to teach her. If you honestly believe you will lose her, that she will die or something terrible will happen to her, believe me she WILL pick up on it, and so will the gods."

Aerin Thomas: He looks up, fixing his gaze on Jez's. "I've spent too much time believing the other and being proven wrong, Jez. You think I came to this decision lightly? My entire life, that's been what it is. Since long before I believed it was a pattern...long before I ~noticed~ a pattern." His teeth grit. "I love my little girl, Jez. I love her every day of my life. And I cherish every moment with her...it's a joy. And Ethan. And my pack. But it's all going away some day. That's the way it works. Always has been. And damn Karlos, because he made me WANT to curse people like that."

Jez: "Well, let me tell you, Aerin, it sure as fuck beats the alternative. I dream of having someday what you have." He suddenly bites his lip and sits up straight. "And I'm helping to jeopardize it, aren't I? You're exclusively committed?"

Aerin Thomas: He smiles faintly, and looks out over the water. "Yeah, I am. And I'm...I'm horrible to him, Jez."

Jez: "He leans on you a lot, I guess." He sighs, looking out over the water. "Well. Fuck."

Aerin Thomas: "Yeah." He nods a little bit. "I..." He looks down. "He's...kind of fucked up right now, because I was honest with him about an...incident."

Jez: "It's better to be honest." He looks down. "What kind of incident?" He slips his hand in Aerin's, entwining his fingers. "No further than this, I swear. I just need...contact."

Aerin Thomas: He cups Jez's hand in between both of his with a nod. Fingers brush gently over the back of the Lord's hand. "I saw a...certain kin handing out in a bar with a vampire. One ~she~ called ~her~ best friend...this the night after the incident at Sapphic Dreams. I was...rather tense. Especially when something else came up...not sure what. A bad dream in female form." He shivers a little bit. "Said kin dragged me off to a private area to...redirect my rage, so to speak."

Jez: "That...does work," he says in a quiet voice. "But I don't imagine Ethan was very pleased."

Jez: He also wonders further on the 'bad dream in female form' but doesn't feel he should ask quiet yet, though he ponders it.

Jez: ((and upon a dismal roll in the dice roller room)) He makes absolutely no connection to 'certain Kin' and Andy's come-on to Aerin in the Sept the other day.

Aerin Thomas: "Not very pleased is rather an understatement." He smiles weakly. "He was rather....ultimatum-forming. Which I guess I get." He shrugs a little bit. "I fucked up. Act, then deal with the consequences. So I'm on stage two of that plan."

Jez: "Is it what you want?" he asks curiously.

Aerin Thomas: "I don't know how to properly answer that question, Jez."

Jez: "I suppose it's rhetorical," he says quietly. "Sometimes we stay with for the wrong reasons, because we feel obligated or because it's worse to be alone. Sometimes though, we stay because it feels right to be with that one person. Only you know your heart, Aerin, I'll not pry further in that."

Jez: ((stay with *someone*, that should read))

Aerin Thomas: He nods faintly, but says nothing for a long while. His hands remains cupped around Jez's, cradling it protectively. "What if it's right for them, and you just don't think you have a right anymore? Or your right person is gone?"

Jez: "Then you do what you can to be happy with what you have, I suppose." He looks at Aerin sadly, smiling faintly but it fades. "I wish I knew the right words to say. I don't have experience to fall back on."

Aerin Thomas: "I know." he nods a little bit. "I guess that was rhetorical, too. Though I think we've both come to the same conclusion about it."

Jez: "Besides," he says with a small grin, "it's better this way. I would've made your life a living hell. But it might have been paradise for awhile." He winks, then looks out over the water with a quiet sigh, not taking his hand back.

Aerin Thomas: He looks down and chuckles a little bit. "Hell and heaven. Yeah...it's too bad, I guess." He looks over at Jez, sighing sadly. "Would have rather enjoyed that run."

Jez: He tilts his head sideways with a sly smile. "Same here. But at least I'll always have one fond memory from awhile back."

Aerin Thomas: His brow raises a little bit. "Oh? Which one?"

Jez: His lower lip pulls out in a pout. "It wasn't memorable? Me and Liam? With you? In the Dungeon of the Limelight?"

Jez: "It's why I guess I've been kind of flirting with you." KIND of???

Aerin Thomas: He blinks and then blushes bright red, chuckling a little bit. "Oh. Wow...shit." He clears his throat, remembering now. "I...wow. Yeah. I, ah...damn. No, it was very memorable." He can't help but put a hand on the small of Jez's back, almost unconscious act. A gesture of comfort and support. "I still can't believe Ethan suggested it."

Jez: He smiles, nestling comfortably against him, his cheek to Aerin's shoulder. "It was what you needed. He wanted that for you then. I just...never forgot. I always kinda wondered...well, never mind, it doesn't matter."

Aerin Thomas: He smiles a bit and nods, leaning back into Jez some. "Yeah...I know. I didn't realize I left that sort of an impression." He tilts his head, watching Jez. "And it does matter. There's one thing that I'm absolutely unapologetic about, Jez. In everything I do. I refuse to let anyone tell me who I care about, how, or why. We can't help our feelings...only our actions. ...most of the time, at least," he amends with a little, somewhat rueful chuckle.

Jez: He's smiling, his eyes on his and Aerin's hands. "Then...I always kind of wondered what my life would have been like if I was with you. Someone compassionate, who would treat me like a whole person, who, um, could really...well," he coughs, cheeks blushing scarlet. "Who could, you know, get down and dirty, be really rough in the uh, bedroom, and...you know, I'll just stop there."

Aerin Thomas: He chuckles a little bit and nudges his head against Jez's. "Probably best..." He sighs. "But hey. Who knows what the future holds, you know? I'm not...don't take that wrong. Goddess knows I think you deserve far better then me. You're a good man, and I'd have been lucky, really. Very lucky."

Jez: He smiles, reaching up his other hand to caress Aerin's cheek, then leans in, warm gentle lips brushing over his in a sweet, featherlight kiss, and he can taste a hint of the Kin, only a hint. Then moves apart, hopping down from the railing, and cool night air kisses Aerin's empty lips instead. "Goodnight, Aerin, I should get home."

Aerin Thomas: He sighs and his eyes shut, leaning into the kiss for just a second, making it perhaps more solid then Jez intended. The spirit of love that's tied to his heart wouldn't accept any less. There's something passionate there...something deep. He pulls away, though, when Jez moves back and gets off the railing. He swallows a bit and opens his eyes, looking to the kin with a soft smile. "Good night, Jez. Be safe, okay? Please."

Jez: "For you?" he murmurs. "Anything." And he disappears into the shadows of the night.