Lucien Bourikas: If Aerin's phone is still active, he will contact him and request a
meeting, somewhere they can speak openly, privately.
Aerin Thomas: Aerin's phone is active...he gives it out to a crapload of people every
time he changes it out. Lucian can SURELY get it from someone. Aerin will agree
to meet wherever Lucian would like. If he has no suggestions, Aerin suggest just
going to a hotel room.
Lucien Bourikas: Since he can't very well bring him back to the packhouse after the last
disaster visitor there, and wants to even distance his discussion with another
Garou from the pack, he accepts the hotel room. He chooses one around CP,
telling Aerin he will meet him there, then grabs his coat and heads there to
secure a room - mid type hotel room.
Aerin Thomas: He shows up on foot...his current apartment being fairly near the park.
Eyes scan the area around, to make sure there's no one watching him...almost a
paranoid bent. Once he's satisfied no one is, he makes his way inside and up to
the room in question, knocking on the door.
Lucien Bourikas: He asked particularly for a larger room, one that had even more privacy.
Hearing the knock he checks the peephole first, making sure it was the COG
before opening the door. He glances down the hall to make sure the man came
alone, then nods him in. "Thank you for coming."
Aerin Thomas: He nods to Lucian and slips inside, wearing his usual business
get-up...white dress shirt, black slacks, the trench coat over it all. First
thing he does is move to the window, looking outside, before moving away to take
a lean against the wall. "No problem. What can I do for you, Lucian?"
Lucien Bourikas: Coat on the rack, he is wearing a black pair of jeans and a knit brown
sweater.
"I want to know what happened the night you had the run in with the Spiral."
Straight to the point.
Lucien Bourikas: "At least, that is first on the list of what I wish to speak of, we can
start from there. " His tone is polite, but tight.
Lucien Bourikas: (and I have to temper this some, because it is before whatever happened
with Morgane and Aerin and them in the park last night. It would probablyhave
been sometime the day after Morgane had her breakdown.)
Aerin Thomas: "The Spiral." He nods a little bit, head tilting to the side as he
regards the man intently, eyes locked on the other. "All right. Quite simply, I
made my way down to Battery Park, and saw Alecia, a Spiral Kinfolk, around
several individuals, a couple of whom were Garou or Kin. I went to go take her
out, and her protector showed up, Grshthak, of the Poisoned Heart pack. I hope
he's their Ahroun...if that's their Theurge, we may need a couple guided missles
to take out the Ahroun." He shrugs. "I battled Grshthak. Your mate tried to take
out Alecia, along with Ntwadumela. Gshthrak wounded Mel and myself, I held the
Spiral off, and he fled. We were cleaned up, healed, and cleansed. Then I
escorted your mate and everyone else home, went home myself, sent my daughter to
my Sept Upstate, and I may or may not have slept sometime the next day. I don't
recall."
Lucien Bourikas: He frowns heavily, then attempts to mask it with that neutral _expression
of his, but doesn't quite pull it off. "I have heard three different versions
now of what happened, but yours matches one of them almost perfectly." He runs a
hand through his hair, muttering, "She is lieing to me... not telling me
things.."
Aerin Thomas: "Of course she is," he says with a nod. "You're surprised?"
Lucien Bourikas: He whirls on Aerin, rarely showing anger but it seems something has him
quite upset at the moment. "Of course she is!? You make it sound as if that is
the normal for a mate to do. We are to share our lives together, and unlike some
I try to not dictate her, she has had enough of that in her life. The only
stipulation I have ever stated is that we are honest with one another and
actually 'share' our lives. I want a mate, a helper in all things, but she is
keeping things from me!" Ah, a man in love who suddenly notices that there is a
chink in the armor.
Lucien Bourikas: "I can not 'believe' that she did not attempt to leave with the other
kinfolk. Mel, well he is used to such things, and is not my problem, although I
am glad he is alright. She told me she was merely there.. nothing else, as if
she just didn't have time to run. I thanked Mel for protecting her to his
injury, and discovered that what I thought wasn't what had happened."
Aerin Thomas: He rolls his eyes. "Wake up, Lucien. The world is not a poetic fairy tale
in which one shining fucking knight is going to swoop in and change everything
for her overnight. Your mate is an emotional mess. She, like most kinfolk, is
torn between two impossible tasks...supporting the Garou, and doing everything
they say, including our overprotective nature. We're like God...tell them to do
this, but don't do that, and they conflict. We leave them hopping from one foot
to the next, and they get confused. Morgane is obviously an emotional mess,
probably due to indoctrination from your Tribe. I know very well what Thunder
expects from his people, kin included. And it's about time you started looking
at the world in an entirely new way."
Lucien Bourikas: He bristles at Aerin's remark.
"And so, what is your suggestion, Child of Gaia? That I do like some and order
her about like a slave? I don't want a slave. I want what my parents had, and
Morgane knows this. She isn't keeping things from me because of some fear, she
is doing this to try to get me to stop her from doing things that are rash...
like allowing Ingvar to choke her in training sessions, put bruises all over her
body... I want a wife, a partner, and that isn't being off in fairy tale. You
don't know me well enough to assume that. I want, and 'demand' honestly from the
one person that I let the closest to me. She is indangering herslef, and neither
I, nor anyone in the pack that I am aware of, is expecting that of her. Ingavar...I
barely know, but I do not approve of his methods, and she is aware of this -
there is more to that than she is telling me as well. I wonder what else she is
either lieing about or keeping from me." The normally calm, restrained Galliard
is speaking way more than he realizies at the moment.
Aerin Thomas: He stares at Lucian, almost sociopathically calm throughout. "First of
all, Lucian...you adress me as 'Child of Gaia' one more time, and I'll prove to
you that the stereotype of a pacifist Child of Gaia is a generality, not
absolute fact." He's quiet for a moment, before he nods. "And my suggestion, is
that you come here, and let me show you something."
Lucien Bourikas: He blinks at Aerin. "Well, that is your tribe, correct? I am, more often
as not, rarely referred to as Lucien, instead it is that 'Lord'. I assumed that
was the custom in this area." He frowns still, but takes a deep calming breath,
masking face finally again, and steps a bit closer. "If you wish, then, show
me."
Aerin Thomas: "My name is Aerin. Dream will also suffice, as it's my Deed Name. Or
'Rhya.'" He turns to regard the window, pointing down to the street of New York
below, and everything that goes on...the people walking by, the cars passing on
the street, and everything else one might see on a busy street. "What do you see
down there?"
Lucien Bourikas: He crosses his arms, leans against the window and stares for a moment. "A
world out of control,where people are too busy going here and there to stop and
think for a moment of those around them, or the ground beneath their feet. I see
cannon fodder for the Wyrm."
Aerin Thomas: He nods a little bit. "Fair enough. I see something different, but that's
not what matters. You see exactly what those raised to follow Thunder sees. What
do you think Morgane sees?"
Lucien Bourikas: "She is not from America, and sees things quite differently. She only
sees the Garou perspective of everything." He sets his teeth. "I believed I had
finally become close to her, that she was honest with me, but I wonder if I am
even in the right tribe or not at times. Perhaps I was a bastard child left on
someone's doorstep. She knows what is the danger, but thinks herself capable of
doing what I can do with my claws... she has a... gift, yes, but they could feed
it to her, and instead of letting me help her she deals with Ingvar. I am tired
of being the odd man out, especially in my own household. No matter what I ask
of her, it seems she ignores it."
Lucien Bourikas: Aerin might notice that he is well into his 20s, something odd for
someone that is a Cliath, and obviously has never been broken down in rank or
other punishment. Simply a 'very' late changer.
Aerin Thomas: "Of course she goes to Ingvar, Lucian. You're not a father figure. You're
the same age as her, and you're her mate. Ingvar is a father figure. He may not
be much older...but he acts older. He acts like the kind of person Morgane is
likely used to taking instruction from. She doesn't know how to deal with people
who care openly about her. People like you. She learned far more from me when I
took the hard line with her then when I was reasoning with her, because that's
what she knows. Your job is to teach her another way. And trust me. It's not an
easy task."
Aerin Thomas: "But if you care about her, you'd better get your mind set to doing it.
Because there's few within your tribe who will do it for you."
Lucien Bourikas: He stares at Aerin; not an open challenging stare, just simply an angry
man looking at another. "Perhaps, but supposedly a pack mate of mine, who also
keeps secrets concerning my mate. I do NOT appreciate that. I am not a child, I
am not Corbin, and while I was raised to be only kin that doesn't mean that I
will stand to be treated as such now. I am in a pack that I am only bonded with
by name, through our totem - Corbin is the only one I feel close too, and he is
ten years my junior. You speak as if you know of our tribe intimately. That I
doubt, but be it as it may, I have tried until I am tired. I have had enough
lies to last me a lifetime, and I had been promised that none would be
forthcoming from the one that was to be my mate. Are you standing there and
suggesting that I should simply let it go? Let her do what she wishes and get
killed? Or do I continue to worry about her to the point that I have to leave
the Sept in the middle of soemthing important simply because she is not acting
exactly right? At first, I did not mind, but it's been months, and I suppose
that nothing I have said or done means anything. Perhaps she should simply go
stay with Ingvar then, he seems so good at collecting up kinfolk."
Aerin Thomas: "Ingvar is not your packmate like Corbin is. He's your Beta. Big
difference, and you need to learn that fact, or he'll beat it into you one of
these days. Or shoot it into you." A faint smirk at that, head shaking. "And
what I suggest you do, is be patient. Don't expect this to be fixed in months.
You're young. You're naive. And you're right where I was, not so long ago. The
difference is, you have a mate who cares about you. You haven't been tarnished
to the world. I don't know quite whether to envy you or pity you at this
particular moment." He seems to consider that for just a second, and then
shrugs. "Stop seeing things in black and white, Lucian. This is not a world of
good and evil. What you should do is try to change her, and...AND. Allow
yourself to change. Because what you're doing is no better then what Ingvar is,
and it's no less damaging to her then what he is, either."
Lucien Bourikas: "Apparently your idea of packs and mine is different. Yes, he is my Beta,
but other than that I know nothing of him. Packs are supposed to support one
another, not simply ignore the others or tell them nothing. You keep speaking as
if you have intimate knowedge, and I assure you that you don't. Pack members
might not get along, and show dominance at times, but there has to be a
foundation to begin with, and I feel NONE - do you understand that?" He takes
another deep breath. "Supposedly it is being worked on, but I see no
improvement. I suppose I have made a mistake, coming to you, but I wanted the
truth. That she was indeed using her powers yet again, in public, and against
something that she had no business going up against. I spend more of my time
trying to help her, and having to run after her to watch her than anything else,
even though I have little to do at the moment. I can't CHANGE someone who
doesn't trust me, no matter how much she cares, or refuses to listen to me. As
for being like Ingvar - I have tried to give her freedom she has never had, and
a CHOICE, both in rather to be my mate and in how she wants her life to go from
here. It was her choice to lie to me, and exclude me except to come home when
she choses and try to act as if nothing is wrong outside the usual. "Oh, we met
a Spiral"...." He looks at Aerin then. "If it was YOUR kin who deliberately went
about putting themselves in harm's way, after you told them you loved them and
literally begged them not to, how would YOU feel? You speak to me of change and
my faults, what of yours?"
Aerin Thomas: "If it was my kin? I wouldn't have had this situation occur at all,
because I have treated my kin entirely differently from day one. I expect them
to lie about things from time to time, because they are human, and they have
fears and anxieties, and make mistakes. I'm forgiving of their mistakes, and I
deal with them an entirely different way. They have their own issues, and they
also understand that I respect them more then Trueborn, as opposed to most
people in the Garou Nation, who constantly take them for granted." He looks at
Lucian a moment, considering. "You don't seem like the kind of person who does
such. Which means you have just as a hard uphill battle as me." He sighs. "You
need patience. You need far more patience then you may think you have. And you
need understanding. You need to forgive her these mistakes, and help her
realize, time and again, through every time that she'll fuck up, that you're
there for her, and you understand. Even when you don't, and you want to give up,
you can never let her see that."
Lucien Bourikas: He stares at Aerin for a long time. "And while I am doing so much to
bolster her moral, month after month, where do I get my support "Rhya?" " He
tries to not sound sarcastic in the tone. "Most of my tribe think of kin as
disposable, as I once was until if was found I was True Born. She knows all of
this, yet she will cling to others, instead of me. I need to learn many things,
but instead I feel as if I am simply caught in a flowing stream of water and
being carried down the river, with nothing to catch onto. I have forgiven more
than I have said. And from what I gathered, your thoughts weren't that different
from mine, although now your words are... perhaps I did come to the wrong
person... yet again. Mercury seems to hate our tribe, the others in the pack I
hardly know, Corbin knows nothing of this yet, so... I am on my own again. It
looks like it will end up like that. I have tried to be all I could for her, but
that is not enough, and I have responsiblities. Perhaps if I picke dher up by
the throat and tossed her across the room she would respond better to me.... but
that is not me. I want a loving relationship, but lieing is not something I can
abide by and continue to forgive time and again."
Lucien Bourikas: (BTW, he is a BOL, which explains why outisde of the first pack, he has
not had a pack)
Aerin Thomas: He shakes his head. "You need a much more intimate understanding of human
nature, Lucian, before you're going to be able to do much. She was raised for
many, many years in indoctrination. Old world indoctrination. She doesn't know
another world. It will be incredibly long and involved for you to break what,
18, 20 years of brainwashing? I did a good, strong step with her the other
night. If you want to continue it, you'll need to forgive a lot more then what
you've done to this point. It's not easy to go against the grain, but if you're
willing to put forth the effort, then maybe...MAYBE...she'll be okay." He looks
over at Lucian. "And yes, I know your pack, and I know your Tribe, far more
intimately then you may think. I think it's time you stopped looking at the
surface, and started looking a little deeper when you look at people. I've
learned more about you in this short time of discussion then you seem to have
learned about Ingvar or anyone within your pack in your entire time with them."
Lucien Bourikas: He tries to hide the smirk. "And what have you learned... Rhya?" (if he
does an Empathy roll, he'll try to counter it, he's trying to shield now)
Lucien Bourikas: As an afterthought, almost a murmur, "It seems many know my pack better
than me, which I find quite odd, but then, that's just me. I have made the
effort, perhaps it is simply not the pack for me, I don't know."
Aerin Thomas: He chuckles. "Let's see. I've learned that you didn't have your First
Change until you were fairly late, so you weren't trained from birth as a Garou.
You're young for your age...you see things in black and white. You haven't
studied enough people...you make far too many assumptions about them, as
evidenced by your belief that everyone around here calls anyone who's a Shadow
Lord 'Lord' and not their name.. You're at odds with your Tribe and your
Sept...you obviously have a lot of resentment about how your tribe treats it's
kin. You don't trust your pack, because you haven't gotten close to them enough
to let yourself in and learn about them. Your options you told me were to let it
go and do nothing or give her 100%, which further indicates your lack of
comprehension of any shades of gray, which is a common thing among younger
people. You also are more human then you are Garou, so you don't truly
understand the issues of dominance, and how when you're in control of someone,
even when you're doing something hurtful, it's for their own good. And you are
constantly spouting the Nation's party line about things, because it fits within
your poetic view of the world. Like most things, the world is not what people
say it is, you're starting to realize that, and it hurts you. Badly. You're also
feeling that either they're there for you the way you expect them to be, or
you're alone, and you don't understand that no one is there for you the way you
want. They're there for you the way you need, like I am right now. You're
unwilling to compromise your ideals, and yet you expect Morgane to compromise
for you...you have an idealized version of how things should be, based off of
what is probably a one-dimensional view, as most children have, of what your
parents had. Unfortunately, Morgane is not your mother, and she won't ever be
your mother. A lot of work will bring you to something close, perhaps, but we'll
have to see about that." He pauses, and takes a breath. "In short, you're young,
you're naive, and you have a lot to learn. You're me at your age, almost to the
T, but for Tribe and maybe Auspice...as flowery and impassioned as you're
speaking, I'm assuming you to be a Galliard. Which means you're one of the few
great hopes we have. And you have a long, hard road ahead of you as a Garou."
Aerin Thomas: "Oh. And you've given a member of the Sept of Gaia's Hand a hell of a lot
of tactical information about how the Shadow Lords are doing here in the city,
in terms of cohesiveness and ability to work together." He smirks a bit.
Lucien Bourikas: He does frown then, picking out bits and pieces from the talk.
"Wonderful. You speak to me as a child, perhaps as a Garou I am, but not as a
man. You speak of a woman that until I was with her would barely hold her eyes
up and look at you, and now is ready to attack a Spiral - that is understanding
her? You have NO idea of the hours and hours I have worked with her trying to
help her so that she didn't attack someone but tried to control it. She has
already attacked several people without having control. I"m sorry if I don't
appreciate that you speak to me as if I am a stupid child. I have roamed the
country, learning of the ways of our people and of the Garou. It has only been
here, when I have joined a pack that there seems no ties - I seemed to have
better ones when I was alone. You speak of being alone in things, but if the
pack is not tight, if not a strong union, then what can they hope to achieve?"
It seems the subject of pack is a strong one with him. "As for wanting her for
my MOTHER? Will you get some sense, man? I don't need a mother, I need a
lifemate - someone to share my thoughts, my hopes my dreams, my fears... and to
have her do the same. I watched it happen with my parents, I know it can happen.
I woke her up to that, but she still lies to me, the ONE and only thing that I
just simply can't handle. All I ask for is truth, is that such a difficult
concept?" He smirks back a little. "As if that could hurt our reputation, Rhya?
From what I have been lead to believe, that would make some rather thrilled."
Aerin Thomas: "You're not even understanding what I'm saying, Lucien. And, like most
people of your mindset, you view the declaration of your youth as an insult."
Lucien Bourikas: (oops) "And yes, I am a Galliard, I sing the praises, the glories and the
downfalls of our people."
Lucien Bourikas: "Not an insult, but not to mean that I am stupid. I know I do not know
the ways of Garou, but I DO have a bit of experience in human relations, and
women. I know that continued lies do not build a relationship, but trust and
honesty do."
Lucien Bourikas: He rubs his eyes. "I did not come here to be censored on all my
downfalls, they are plenty, but to understand and to learn the truth. I should
have been an Ahroun, so all I care about it fighting. I am simply tired of
caring, because I am tired of being let down. I feel estranged to everyone now,
and I should perhaps simply go find somewhere to run and kill something. Simply
let the wolf lead me and have done with it."
Aerin Thomas: He looks to Lucian and shakes his head. "Lucian...if I was censoring you,
you'd know it a lot more then you think you do. I don't insult people. I tell
them the truth so that they can see their issues and get past it. You think
you're tired of caring...you haven't even begun to be tired. See what happens
when your relationship falls apart for real, instead of your belief of it
falling apart because she lied to you. Yes, even again."
Lucien Bourikas: "You are what moon, Rhya?"
Aerin Thomas: An eyebrow flicks upward as he watches the other. "I'm a Philodox."
Lucien Bourikas: A chuckles without mirth. "A half moon advising me to simply disregard
lies. Now, isn't that rich? I could understand one, or a few, but a life build
on lies? That is a house ready to fall. Or wouldn't you agree with me on that
one?"
Lucien Bourikas: "I won't say that lies are things necessary at times, but not between two
who share such a true bond. You said you started things - perhaps I should just
let you deal with Morgane then, since I obviously can not. I will not abide by
continued lies. I love her, but that is the one thing that I can not, will not
continue to endure. She will either be truthful with me, or she can find another
mate willing to play that game. Her problems, the powers... all I can help with,
but only if she is truthful with me. I catch he in another lie and it is over."
Aerin Thomas: He chuckles himself, though his eyes seem to lose a bit of warmth in
them...perhaps a bit bitter. "Your house isn't even beginning to fall, Lucien.
Yes, there's a few cracks in the foundation. The choice is yours. You can try
and fix what's there, or you can, because your mate is a sentient fucking being
with emotions all her own, and fears, and a desire to protect you just as much
as you want to protect her, give up on an incredibly strong woman and move on.
If you're too Goddess-damned lazy to do the work, then yes, you should let her
the fuck go. Let someone worthy of her stand by her. It won't be me...I wouldn't
inflict myself on Morgane. But it'll be someone." He looks at the man, his gaze
absolutely challenging. "What you need to realize here, Lucian, is that you have
to prove yourself worthy of her, as much as she needs to prove herself worthy of
you. Both of you are trying. And you're both getting there. But you want too
much, too soon. And if you don't have the patience for her, then you'll never
have the patience for anyone. And you'll be alone, forever." He shrugs. "But if
you'd rather make those kinds of ultimatums so you have an excuse to walk away
when your feelings get hurt, then you go ahead and do it. Make the ultimatum,
and walk away. Someone will stick by her. And the person who does will be the
person that's worthy."
Lucien Bourikas: He lets out a soft growl? "More worthy talk? Do you have ANY idea what
all I have gone through simply to be able to court her, to ask her to marry me?
I have proved myself time and time and time again. I have stuck by her,
regardless. I ask ONE damned thing only, and that is that she is as honest with
me as I am with her, and THAT makes me the villian? You have some rather strange
ideals for a Philodox. Others would ask much more of her, and have.. others
would demand sex, which I haven't, others would demand she act the cowering kin,
and I don't - I want to see her strong, have her own life.. I merely asked one
thing, and that is so much?"
Aerin Thomas: "You demand absoluteness," he says calmly, seeming to ignore the growl
beyond a slight narrowing of the eyes. "And that is far too much to demand in
any capacity."
Lucien Bourikas: He looks into Aerin's eyes. "And if your mate lied to you, time and
again, put themselves into danger, then lied to you about it and you found out
another way, you would just shrug it off?" Tone still elegant but with a touch
of steel.
Aerin Thomas: A warning growl, nothing soft about it, escapes his throat. "I'll thank
you to leave my mate situation out of this, Lucian. You talk far too much of
what you have done, and think nothing of what she has..or at least, you talk
nothing of it."
Lucien Bourikas: "Oh, I see... then it is perfectly acceptable for you to strip me down
without knowing me, but not for me to ask what you would do in similar
circumstances?"
Aerin Thomas: "I've already proven how well I know you...and you've shown how little
you know me." He steps up, coming an inch away from Lucien, meeting the man's
gaze with hard eyes and a curl to his lip. "I've been in that situation. I know
what you're going through, by experience. I've made harder decisions then you
can ~possibly~ even ~BEGIN~ comprehend to keep my mate safe. I've sacrificed
everything for her. Because that's what love is. It's what you're willing to do
for them...not what they're willing to do for you. And until you understand
that, you're not ready to date a tree, much less take on a mate."
Lucien Bourikas: (reposting last ICQ post)
He doesn't back down, but now stares at Aerin with a hard glint. "I didn't come
here to decide what you have or haven't done, simply to get at the truth.
Morgane NEEDS to learn to trust, to keep to the truth, at least with ONE damned
person - she needs to know and understand that type of bond. If you don't, I
could explain until I am blue in the face. Don't you EVER fucking think (this
from someone who rarely cusses) that I don't care for her. I almost died in a
trial by fire simply to have the right to court her. She means the world to me,
but I also KNOW that lies can tear a relationship apart, so I am trying to stop
them before they get out of hand. Don't you even THINK to tell me I'm not ready
to be a mate. You still haven't got the nerve to tell me what you would do if
you were in my case.... but then, perhaps you dont' mind being lied to, as long
as you get to stay with your mate. I want to discover why she lied and stop it.
We need each other and in honesty, because that might be all we have to stand
against this fucking world. I've sacrificed too, perhaps not as much as you, but
you seem awfully defensive when I ask a simple question."
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Rage: 6,2,6,9,
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: Lucian's lucky he even
gets the full comment out, as Aerin tries to throw a punch, directly at the man.
((Assuming it's Initative time. *G*))
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: Rage: 5,8,4,8,
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: : 1,
Lucien Bourikas: (oh wonderful, I already see
you've been doing the dice bot again :P)
Lucien Bourikas: (Thank goodness for Calm
Heart, or he would have lost it)
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Initative plus six: 3,
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: ((Yes, thank goodness.
*G* Going on 9))
Lucien Bourikas: (a whole 7)
Lucien Bourikas: He tries to avoid the
punch, but not expecting it.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Dex+Brawl: 10,8,4,5,3,
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: Dex/Dodge: 4,10,7,9,1,
Lucien Bourikas: (damn 1s!)
Ashton : ((Doesn't know how
to cheer for so just eats some popcorn))
AK: ((*cheers for Aerin cause I'm Biased!* *LOVES on Lucien-P though!*))
Lucien Bourikas: (*Hugs* Oh thanks loads,
AK. He was just there to find out about Morgane :P)
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: The punch just BARELY
misses, a hair's breadth away from Lucian. Aerin snarls and steps forward,
pressing his attack.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: ((And Spending 2 Rage
for Round Two.))
KF: (Kill!!!!)
Lucien Bourikas: He steps back from the
raging Garou, taking Crinos himself and snarling, not in a good mood whatsoever,
but still in control. (1 Rage this round)
Lucien Bourikas: (*Thwaps KF*)
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: ((Aerin hasn't taken
Crinos, just FYI. It was a...err. Human-sounding Snarl. *S*))
Lucien Bourikas: (ax the Crinos bit, got
confused, he is still in homid unless Aerin shifts)
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: Another fist for the
first attack, a backhand with the punch that just missed.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Dex+Brawl: 2,4,8,9,4,
Lucien Bourikas: (Lucien isn't here to fight,
so first action will be to dodge any other blow from Aerin, though he is getting
pissed)
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: Dex/Dodge: 5,8,2,8,3,
KF: (They should just
be using nerf bats on each other)
Lucien Bourikas: And again a near miss, and
he mutters. "Seems I struck a nerve, didn't I, there, Aerin?"
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: And as the blow again
misses, he steps forward, his next action a lifting of his foot to slam into
Lucien's midsecttion with forward motion, coming with the blinding speed of
Rage.
Lucien Bourikas: (*Hangs KF by the...
feet* Behave on the sidelines. *Tosses peanuts*)
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: Dex/Dodge: 1,4,6,3,8,
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Dex+Brawl (WP): 6,2,4,5,5,
Lucien Bourikas: (Second rage action, he
is still not trying to fight back)
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: Lucien again just
manages to step back, and Aerin's last action is to step forward and slam his
forehead directly into Lucian's face with a gutteral sound. He'll shut the man
up one way or another.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Dex+Brawl: 7,2,2,7,1,
Lucien Bourikas: Now that one gets him, and
he staggers back, a little spray of blood from his busted lip.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Damage: 8,4,5,8,
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: Soak: 4,4,
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: ((I like the damage I
accidentally cross-posted better. Lucien, ya lucky bastard. *G*))
Lucien Bourikas: He feels the lips swell and
the brusing on his cheek before it is even coloring. He glares at Aerin.
"Alright, Rhya.. if that's the way you want to play at it... play
holier-than-thou, but not look at yourself?"
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: "SHUT UP!!!" He
bellows it at Lucien, throwing his foot up to try and land another kick. ((1
Rage this round. The man is going on full-bore.))
Lucien Bourikas: (yep, but he's more pissed
now! lol)
Lucien Bourikas: (one more rage this time)
This time he goes to grab the leg, hoping the other man is so enraged he can get
a hold.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Dex+Brawl (WP two): 6,8,10,7,4,
Ashton : ((Each of you
take a free rage point for the 'situational emotions' building up at the
frustrations))
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: Dex/Althetcs: 6,7,5,6,5,
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: ((WHOO! *G*))
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Damage: 8,4,10,10,
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: Soak: 6,10,
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: The kick having found
it's mark, but lost impact due to Lucian's efforts, he wades in with a fist,
aimed toward the other's breastbone.
Lucien Bourikas: And lucky for him he
tried to grab the leg, no real damage but he will try for a flip himself, now
that Aerin is a little off balance, leg in the air.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Dex+Brawl: 2,6,9,5,4,
Lucien Bourikas: (Ashton time! lol)
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: Dex/Althetics -Brawl: 1,1,2,8,5,
Lucien Bourikas: (okay, the diceroller hates
me)
Ashton : ((Try to flip
Aerin?))
Lucien Bourikas: (Yep, but he didn't succeed,
at all!)
Ashton : (oooi! Worth a try
:) )
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Damage: 5,3,9,4,
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: Soak: 7,10,
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: ((Go, new round!
Aerin's spent 3 rage, has 5 with his extra, and he's spending his last 2 this
round.)) His ineffective punch deflecting off Lucian's breastbone, he takes
advantage of his body extenstion to launch another kick. Toward Lucian's groin.
((Ashton, call on higher diff and effect? *S*))
Ashton : (Go with with
Normal dif for a Kick)
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Dex+Brawl: 8,6,7,6,3,
Lucien Bourikas: Now truly pissed, he will
burn 2 Rage this round. First to dodge whatever Aerin tosses next.
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: Dex/Dodge (balls!): 1,5,4,8,8,
Lucien Bourikas: (uh oh...)
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Damage: 4,5,10,7,
Lucien Bourikas: (he has 1 Rage left, with
extra)
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: soak: 5,8,
Lucien Bourikas: (wrong there)
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: And, assuming that
doubles Lucian over a bit, he tries to drive Lucian's head down for a knee
strike. Utterly brutal, and completely UN-Aerin.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Dex+Brawl (WP three): 6,10,6,10,4,
Lucien Bourikas: And yeah, his balls are in
his stomach. He howls out in fury, but not much he can do except try to half-ass
dodge the next blow.
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: Dex/Dodge: 1,4,7,4,2,
Lucien Bourikas: (and what IS IT with the 1s
with me?) He doesn't block anything, takes the full brunt of Aerin's knee.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Damage: 2,3,8,7,5,9,
Lucien Bourikas: And NOW he is on the
floor, still pissed, but hurting.
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: Over Stamina: 5,1,4,7,
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: Over stamina (sorry): 3,8,
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: And for his last Rage
action, with Lucien hurt, he slams his fist hard into Lucien's spine, to take
him down.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Dex+Brawl: 4,4,2,8,5,
Lucien Bourikas: (no dodge, he's down so
last Rage action he just tries to move to avoid being paralized)
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: Dex/Dodge: 5,3,8,5,5,
Lucien Bourikas: (last Rage action in round,
not last Rage - he has 1 left)
Lucien Bourikas: (okay, do I post he
missed his actual spine or what?)
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: ((Was just trying to
determine intent there. *S* So, Lucien was taking the blow regardless...so
damage does ensue.))
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Damage: 7,5,1,
Lucien Bourikas: (Yeah, he was hurt enough to
not be able to throw aother blow - punch to the balls, oh yeah - he just didn't
want him to get his spinal column)
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: soak: 3,6,
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: The blow has no
real effect (and we move to the next round). He sneers at Lucien, and throws a
kick to the man's gut. Another attempt to finish him off.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Dex+Brawl (WP four): 7,3,9,9,8,
Lucien Bourikas: He's down, and doesn't do
much than try to protect his internal organs.
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: Dex/Dodge: 7,7,1,4,7,
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Damage: 6,9,5,6,7,8,5,
Lucien Bourikas: (and again, i swear the 1s
just HAVE to show up on me)
Lucien Bourikas:
d10: Soak: 5,3,
Lucien Bourikas: (okay, one beaten down Lord)
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: And as Lucian goes
nighty night, Aerin just smirks down. "Fuckin' Shadow Lords."
Lucien Bourikas: He goes unconscious.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: He watches the Garou
for a long moment, before reaching down and grabbing him. He picks him up and
drags him to a chair, tossing him none-too-softly into it, and starts scouring
the room.
Lucien Bourikas: Oh, if he was conscious, but
he isn't, so he gets tossed around like so much luggage in an airport.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: The bedsheets are
ripped off, and he tears it into strips. Lucien rented the room, he can pay for
damages. He makes the srips long enough so that he can roll them into something
thicker...it won't hold if the Garou takes Crinos, but it'll get the point
across. He moves to the man and binds his arms and legs to the armrests and legs
of the chair, and a couple around his chest to hold him in place. Aerin curses
to himself as he does...he needs to start carrying rope with him.
Lucien Bourikas: Gets tied up, totally
oblivious to the world for the moment.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: Once the man is bound,
he watches the Lord for a long moment, and then takes a step forward, laying his
hand on Lucian's chest. Eyes close, focusing on the contact, focusing to heal
him.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Mothers Touch: 6,5,3,10,4,1,
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: Once he's done, he takes a few steps back, watching Lucian closely.
Lucien Bourikas: (what would that leave
him at? I didn't really keep up after he was out)
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: ((He was, once the
fight ended, 4 Lethal due to the Bashing carrying over, and 3 Bashing. So the 3
Bashing is gone, leaving him at 4 Lethal.))
Lucien Bourikas: He mumbles abit, then
opens his eyes, seeing Aerin and tries to get up but can't. "Dammit..."
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: He regards Lucien for
a long moment, arms crossed over his chest. "You should be okay. I've healed you
up some. The restraints are to keep the situation from...getting out of control
again."
Lucien Bourikas: He focuses on Aerin, and
fire lights his pained eyes. "Oh yeah... the Philodox that can't answer shit...
proud of yourself, Rhya? You got to beat down a Cliath."
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: He scowls, his jaw
pulsing a couple times, but he moves and sits down on the bed, facing Lucien. He
locks eyes with the other...not necessarily challenging. Just capturing his gaze
and holding it, his own dark green eyes burning. "Lucien...I want you to listen
to me. Very closely. Because I'm going to answer your question. You deserve that
much." He pauses a moment, watching the Galliard. "Are you ready for it?"
Lucien Bourikas: He doesn't make it more
humiating by trying to fight the restraints.He could shift and tear them, but
what then. Blood seeps from his mouth a little still and he looks at Aerin
blearily. "Sure, if you are willing to answer truthfully, but that doesn't seem
high on your list. I have no gift to check, so guess I just gotta take you at
your word, unless you want another kick while I'm tied."
Lucien Bourikas: (humiliating)
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: "I haven't once lied
to you, Lucien." He sighs, then continues. "You asked me, if in your situation,
I would allow my...mate..." A deep, intensely pained look it's his eyes, much as
his jaw stays firm, his posture tense. "...to lie to me, and I found out about
it through other means, if I would shrug it off. The answer is no. I wouldn't
shrug it off. I'd be angry and upset, and I'd be very scared for them, and
yelling would ensure. But I would not once, in my life, think about leaving
them. Because there is only one thing in this world that would make me walk away
from someone I loved. And that would be in order to protect them."
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: ((ensue))
Lucien Bourikas: He mutters, a blood
bubble from his mouth. "When did I say anything about leaving... her?"
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: "Five or six times, by
my count. You mentioned letting Ingvar have her, since he was so good at
collecting kin. You said that if you caught her in another lie, it was over.
Hell, you practically offered her to me, and I believe the quote went something
along the lines of 'perhaps I should let you deal with Morgane, since I
obviously can not.'"
Lucien Bourikas: Mutters angrily. "Like I
would allow that... you haven't proved yourself worthy, I have." There is a tone
of anger in his voice, even being tied up and hurt. "I didn't give you anything,
I simply was speaking. I had thought I could talk to you but I was wrong... I
wont' make the same mistake again."
Lucien Bourikas: The tone isn't meaning the
beating, but something else entirely.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: He snorts. "You're a
Galliard, Lucien. You need to learn that you're never 'simply speaking.' Your
words carry the weight of the Garou Nation behind them. Every single word you
use can be a healing salve...or a weapon. It can save lives, or it can start
wars. And people will take your words with a weight you don't often intend them
to. You came here angry. And you got angrier, because my words were not what you
wanted to hear. Because I don't have anything to make this better for you as
quickly as you'd like. And for what it's worth...I'm sorry that I cannot. But no
one can...it takes time, and more heartache then I think you realize." He looks
down at the ground for a moment, a hand running through his hair, to brush it
back from his face.
Lucien Bourikas: He licks the blood away with
his tongue, refusing to show any hurt to the other man. "I was speaking not to
the Nation, but to YOU. I made the mistake, not your fault, mine... for
believing in things I had heard. When I sing songs, I expect them to carry
weight, and they do, when I said private between us that is what I meant. You
act as though you are better than I... you are more rank and I respect that, but
a better man? That you can fight is no doubt, but that doesn't make your words
righteous. I do love her, and I will stand by her, but I can't abide lies, and
nothing you can say with change that, and as your moon you should understand
why. If she trusts me, she wouldn't feel the need to lie, if she lies, she
doesn't trust me, and we have nothing."
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: "It's not that black
and white. Stop thinking in absolutes." He frowns, still staring at the ground.
"I don't want you to respect my rank. I don't need or want you to like me.
I'm...not a better man." He digs in his pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes
and shaking one out.
Lucien Bourikas: "No, it IS that black and
white when it comes down to reality. Two can not love and share their lives and
everything else if there is no truth and honesty between them. Between them and
the world. If you believe differently, then so be it. And... if you had not
wanted to prove your rank, why all this?" He glances down at the bonds on him,
still not trying in the least to free himself.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: "The restraints, as I
told you, were to prevent the situation from getting out of control again." He
puts the cigarette between his lips and lights it, then holds the pack up, as if
to offer him one. "Have you ever built anything, Lucien? With your own hands?"
Lucien Bourikas: He snorts. "Getting out
of control again? You threw the first punch, not I. This only makes it easier
for you to punch me without me resisting." He sighs, and drops his head back,
seeming tired now. "Yes, a birdhouse for my mother once. Why?"
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: "If I wanted to punch
you again, I wouldn't have healed you. I would have dropped you off in Central
Park and be done with it." Assuming he doesn't want a cigarette, he stes it
aside and takes a drag off the smoke. "Did the birdhouse go instantly from nails
and wood to a solid, finished birdhouse? Or was there a process in-between,
where it slowly took form and grew into what it needed to be?"
Lucien Bourikas: Seeing that his hands are
tied, hard to take a cigarette. "It started from six pieces of wood, which I
worked at trying to get to make into something, and looked like a piece of crap
when I finally finished it, but she loved it. What are you getting at?"
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: "I'm getting at the
fact that trust is the same way. It doesn't go from a lack to just there. It
grows, and slowly takes form. Only the same kind of love and care you put into
that birdhouse will allow trust to build. Sometimes, the blueprints fail you,
and you have to start over again. It even comes out mishapen sometimes...not
what you intended it to be. But regardless, when it's complete, it's a beautiful
thing." He watches Lucian closely over the smoke of the cigarette.
Lucien Bourikas: "You take nothing into
account of the last few months, of what she and I have shared, things you could
have no knowledge of - things, secrets we spoke of in the dark." He keeps his
head back, still seeming tired of this conversation now. "I have watched her go
from a duckling into a swan, I have helped anyway that I could, and regardless
of what you are quick to think, I know how she was raised. You still make me out
to be a terrible man because she was the one to lie to me, which makes no sense,
unless you are trying to find an acceptance in yourself in something. If the lie
was something that was truly meant to help, not harm, that would be something
else too I suppose... I understand what you are saying, I am no fool, Aerin,
whatever you think the Lords in this area, but it still does not excuse blatant
lies. It would be as if your birdhouse was made of wax nails instead of lead and
after the first few rains it would fall apart. May we now accept that we are not
going to see things the same, and I can simply leave and you can go on with your
life? I had hoped... but there is no need. I am fine as I am. I needed one
person to help me stay strong,but I think that was wrong of me too. I can stay
strong with only myself and the Grandfather."
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: "No." He was looking
down, but at that last bit, he looks up at Lucien suddenly, a fire behind his
eyes. "Don't give up on her or yourself. I'm not saying that you're at fault
her, dammit. I'm not saying what she did was right. I'm not putting blame on
anyone, for Christ's sake...don't you get that? But you can NOT walk away from
her."
Lucien Bourikas: He lets Aerin see the
fire in his eyes, despite the pain, or the bonds. "I never said I would walk
away from her. You put words into my mouth, Child of Gaia" Almost a
humorish tone in his voice at the last words.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: The realization hits
him, and he actually smiles a bit there there, shaking his head and chuckling a
bit in chagrin. "My fault...I assumed wrongly. Point made...Shadow Lord." He
smirks a bit, the point of that obviously humor, and rises to his feet to moves
toward Lucien, reaching in to lay a hand on his chest once more.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Mothers Touch (WP): 6,5,2,2,6,2,
Lucien Bourikas: He tries to shrink back
at first, perhaps not wanting to show weakness to this man, but then settles
down and lets himself be healed.
Lucien Bourikas: He takes a deep breathe,
feeling the healing. "Well, at least my privates are more happy with things
now."
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: Once the wounds are
gone, he moves to untie him. "I'm very much sorry for what...occurred between us
tonight, Lucien. And I'd like to make it up to you. I don't think that we're as
far off from each other as you'd believe...quite the opposite, actually. I think
we're a lot closer then you would believe. But I can...understand if you don't
trust me enough to try and help you. What can I do?"
Lucien Bourikas: He looks up at Aerin calmly,
as he undoes the balls. "Might help if you don't kick me in the balls again,
that isn't the best way to make allies."
Lucien Bourikas: (stuck on balls I guess! lol
balls=bonds)
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: He snickers a bit at
that...not maliciously, and not with any air of superiority. "You'd be
surprised. At least, unlike me, you didn't get it in the form of a silver
flask."
Lucien Bourikas: "You caught me by surprise,
that was all," He nods as if trying to convince himself as well as Aerin. "Do I
want to hear the story of the silver flask?"
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: "Probably. Because
it'll humiliate me, and make you feel better." He grins a bit and finishes
untying Lucien and steps away. Again, the pack of cigarettes is picked up and
offered.
Lucien Bourikas: He takes a cigarette,
although he isn't a normal smoker - a cigar occassionaly. "Does that mean it
goes into my special book of stories that aren't told at moots?"
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: "Pfft. It's fairly
well-known around the Sept anyway...or used to be. That's where I was dragged
after the fact." He moves to light the man's cigarette. "The Bone Gnawers were
laying bets as to whether I'd ever have kids again for months."
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: ((ever have kids. Not
"kids again."))
Lucien Bourikas: "Good odds, huh? I take it
that you proved them wrong?"
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: "Actually, no, not
yet. I have a daughter, but she's not biologically mine."
Lucien Bourikas: His eyes soften just a
little. "A daughter huh? I want to have kids some time. I almost didn't once,
thinking why bring them into this? But then I thought... what if my kid
is the one to discover the AIDS cure, or is the first to Venus or something."
Lucien Bourikas: "Of course, my kid would
probably simply be a hellion that liked to play a guitar, but one can always
hope."
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: "I don't think about
that, really." He smiles, a little gentler, and shrugs. "I kind of...lose all
thought when I'm with her. Just kind of let time stop."
Lucien Bourikas: He takes a long drag on the
cigarette, then flips the ashes towards an ashtray. "I can imagine... maybe I'll
learn about that some day. As for now, I suppose I should be going. I've already
thanked Mel for helping to keep Morgane safe, and I should do the same now for
you."
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: "You're welcolme. It
was my honor." He pauses and looks at Lucien. "She's a strong woman, Lucien. And
if she lied to you, based on the conversation we had the other night, I she
think she only did it because she was worried she would upset you, or was trying
to protect you from worrying and getting distracted about her...getting off your
game. It doesn't make it right, but it does have a reason."
Lucien Bourikas: "I would worry more about
her if I, like I did, discover she was doing things behind my back. Then I would
wonder about her everytime she was out of my sight... if that makes sense to
you. Trust and honesty go hand in hand." He pauses, then offers his hand to the
other man, just a slight bit of blood left on it. "I know you don't understand
me, but I hope to make her see that there isn't anything she can't bring to me
that we can't work through, but not knowing, or finding out later about things
angers me... and it ... hurts."
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: "I know, Lucien." He
reaches out and takes the man's hand, shaking it. "And I understand completely.
If you're willing, I'd like to discuss this further with you later. No punches
thrown. No insults. If you're willing. I owe you some explanation."
Lucien Bourikas: He nods and shakes the man's
hand, flexing his jaw from side to side. "That would be good, and you pack a
mean punch."
Lucien Bourikas: (and they fade for just a
few *HUGS* Thanks muchly for the scene, to you and Ashton both)
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: He chuckles a little
bit, and shrugs. "Only when I'm pissed enough. Take care of yourself, Lucien.
I'll talk to you later."
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: ((Absolutely! *Hugs*
See you in a bit!))