Patch Job (meeting the pack newbies)

[just2hands]

Cont: from this thread

Well, that made things simpler. Now Anika realized what those occasional faint 'silent spots' that resonated down the clairvoyant thread that attached her to Oni had been. Because as soon as Oni had gone to wherever she was, the thread simply ended. It didn't rip, there was no sudden tear, it just - stopped.

At least Ani wouldn't have to answer to the neighbors she thought as she got the massage table out again, spreading first the plastic sheet and then the linen cloth over it after she set it up in the middle of the small livingroom floor. A trip to the SUV to get her travel med-kit, and the doctor was back in her living room and snapping on a new pair of nitrile gloves even as Oni was dragging her battle-weary companion back in from wherever they had been. And as soon as she was back, the psychic thread between her and her longtime garou sister-friend was back as well, as strong and bright as ever.

Yes, he was tall. And dark haired. That was about all she could see, at least until she got the blanket off him that he'd wrapped around his shoulders.

"Yes, I'm a doctor. And no, you aren't in my debt" Ani caught sight of the wound and her eyes widened. "But you will be. So sit down on that table, and take - no wait. Just sit there. Oni, make him sit there, I'll get my scissors. I don't want him moving that arm." Turning her head away, Dr Nuttal mouthed the words 'Holy hell!" to Onida and blinking before her face resettled into that distant, professional doctor's mask that she wore as she continued to speak to her newest patient.

"Yes, scissors. You can buy a new suit shirt later, but I need to stitch that up and I'm not about to twist a broken arm to get it off you. Hmmm, I've seen a wound like this before... no matter. If you break that table, you buy it, got that? And hold still. This will probably hurt."

Comments

[just2hands]

Anika took the garou's words in with an abrupt nod, her eyes guarded. Still, it gave her something to ponder over time. Even so, she couldn't yet look Onida in the eyes, not after what they said - not after what she, Anika had said.

"True, our names are more than a mouthful." Ani's cheeks warmed lightly, she'd never heard her name - her full name spoken like that before. "I'll try to keep your name down to one or two syllables. But no promises, alright?"

The count of three she had said. But everyone braces to hear the word 'three'. And with Nasir's strength, he'd tighten up and she would never be able to set his arm correctly. She just wouldn't be strong enough. But like everyone else, he wouldn't be ready for her to move on the count of 'two'.

It was hard, Anika could feel the bones grate against each other as she grit her teeth and set them into place. Eyes closed, she could sense the bones in alignment, she knew that - barring any complications - it would heal properly.

And then her fingers were holding his, the doctor's other hand was on Nasir's shoulder and she was looking into his eyes. "Breathe, come on. Breathe Nasir, look at me. Can you see me Nasir? Come on. Talk to me."

[naturaldisasster]

His fingers instinctively closed around hers but, by the grace of Gaia, Nasir still had just enough presence of mind to avoid squeezing too tightly. And while the first shakey breath he took seemed to rattle around in his chest, the next one came easier. The breath after that was even better, almost normal. His vision soon cleared, his eyes focusing on Ani's face. And as the grinding pain in his arm died down to a dull ache, he gradually became more aware of his surroundings-- Including her hand on his bare shoulder. Her voice saying his name.

"I see you, Anika," he breathed, his voice hoarse, "Forgive me, but I hope we don't do that again anytime soon."

The Philodox knew better than to read too deeply into the touch-- she was a doctor after all, and probably worried that he might go into shock -- and yet he made no move to withdraw his hand from hers. Nasir wanted to make a fist with his other hand, itching to move the arm she just set, but thought better of it. He cleared his throat and asked "Will I need a sling?" while, over his shoulder, he told Oni "You'd better hope I can still play guitar after this."

[just2hands]

"Nothing to forgive" Anika replied, relief evident in her voice as she drew her hand away from his shoulder, even as the other one remained resting in the Garou's hand. "If I had waited until the count of three to try and set your arm, you would have - even if it was subconscious - braced yourself against the pain. And you are considerably stronger than I am, so it would have been a struggle to twist and pull your bones back into correct position, a struggle that would've hurt much worse. You could have ended up pulling or even ripping muscles or tendons, even ligaments. So I had to misdirect you. So perhaps you are the one who should forgive me, hmm?"

"And yes, you will definitely need a sling. I'm going to wrap and brace the arm as well, even though I don't have the equipment here to put a cast on it. Probably wouldn't work anyhow; the first time you went all fur and fangs you'd break the cast and I'd have to start all over again."

The doctor directed Oni to a drawer in the closet behind her. "In the top there, next to the guaze pads, you'll find some - no, a little further to the - yes, those right there. Pick one of those slings and bring it over, ok? Any color will do."

"Nasir, like I said, I'm going to brace this. Just something to stabilize it and a soft wrap to keep it covered; and to remind you that it's there. I couldn't put a cast on until the swelling went down anyhow, and that won't be for a couple days yet."

Anika's eyebrows went up. "You play too?" There was that elusive, more personal smile brightening her face again, there - and gone. "Believe me, as long as you rest your arm and let it heal, you should have no problems reaching the frets. Your fingers will work just fine. Just don't do anything stupid to damage it further."

Damn it, she almost wanted to like this one. More than once Anika-Amadi had caught herself looking at his face and dark hair in a way that was far too personal and lacking her customary professional distance. But each time, the young mutant would find herself turning away and looking toward Onida, allowing herself once more to get a good view of what Nasir had done to her; what he had done to her friend, her chosen family

That tended to quash any sort of interpersonal notions quite well, allowing her some distance from even contemplating the subject. What she couldn't ignore was the thread between them, thin and gold, growing just a bit brighter and just a bit wider with every passing minute that her bared skin was touching his.

"After we get finished, I can find you a sweatshirt or something to wear, and maybe we can talk Oni into picking up a pizza or something for the three of us. You do eat pizza, don't you? And while she's gone we can talk about that favor you owe me."

Ani gently pulled her hand out of his, pressed the splint she'd had ready against the lower side of his arm, and began wrapping both the arm and the metal-boned brace together with wide gauze. "And before you go thinking up any lawyer's rules, Senor Philodox; you owe me for patching you up and setting your arm. And for not accidentally putting a needle through your jugular - that was tricky work."

She went on. "Just because you gave your word not to talk about me does not mean your silence was part of our deal. It just means that I trusted you enough to tell you what I could do before I did it, and I trusted you to make a reasonable decision then; and in the future not to not go back on your word once you are healed." The woman almost - but not quite - snorted. "Trust - you know, something that has been a scarce commodity around here lately."

She gave him a stern look. "And I wouldn't have told you in the first place if I didn't absolutely trust your Alpha. After all, there are some folks out there who wanted to put a price on my head, and my family's heads not long ago."

Anika could see the various emotions flash over Onida's face as the woman stood behind Nasir while Ani bandaged him. From one emotion as Anika suggested that Onida go out and leave the two of them there to speak, to her slow and growing amusement at Ani's patented 'Dr Mode' lecture. But hopefully her friend didn't catch hint of any more than that.

[naturaldisasster]

Nasir gave Anika his undivided attention, nodding to show that he understood as she went on to explain what she'd done, what she still needed to do, and why. It all made perfect sense to him, but, then again, he had no medical expertise to speak of. Meanwhile, behind him, he heard Oni riffling through her closet in search of a sling. The she-wolf came back with literally the most emasculating one she could find -- pink, with yellow smiley faces -- and she smacked her packmate in the back of his head with it. Fils de salope. The nerve of that man. She'd better hope he could still play the guitar?! Her face still hurt like a bitch, and every time her stitches itched she planned to pinch the ever-loving shit out of him.

He flinched, grinning a little to himself. So he might have actually deserved that one, but he couldn't pass up the opportunity to needle her just a little. "Yes, I do. A little toque," he said, in answer to her question. Judging by her knowledge of frets and strings, he felt it safe to assume that she played the guitar as well. Had he known that, it might've been tempting to pretend to be an amateur and ask for lessons-- But even that little bit of dishonesty didn't sit right with him. "I will try to refrain from doing anything... Stupid," he assured her, his tone amused, "How long do you think it will take to heal?"

Pizza wasn't his favorite, and he grinned ruefully, about to tell her that beggars shouldn't be choosers, but then she told him she wanted to talk. While Oni was gone. About a favor.

Both his and Oni's eyes widened in surprise.

He swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing. He didn't know Ani well enough to even try to guess what she might want from him. That she didn't want Oni to overhear it, either... Well, damned if that didn't make him sit up a little bit straighter. He hadn't realized he was still holding her hand until she slipped her fingers free of his. Predictably, the ache grew sharper as she bound his arm, but he bore the pain with barely a grimace, ignoring it in favor of the way her fingers accidentally brushed his forearm. The determined look on he face. He watched her eyes while she was focused on his brace, absorbed in what she was doing. "We're more like judges than lawyers," he gently teased, surprised that she even knew his auspice at all. That... Was something he felt he was going to have to talk to Oni about.

For her part, Oni was just glad to see someone else get the doctor treatment, for a change. She'd been on the receiving end of Ani's patented Stern Look too many times, so she wasn't terribly surprised when Nasir, (who, under normal circumstances, was perfectly happy to argue someone into submission) hardly said a word in defense of himself. At first the Philodox thought she was talking about the sept of Gaia's Bones, but as Anika went on to tell him the bounty included her family as well, he thought that didn't sound like garou. Who wanted her whole family dead? And why did the idea cause Rage to flare suddenly in the pit of his stomach?

Oni scooped up her wallet and Ani's keys, deftly hiding a smirk as she left. The Ahroun was no fool; She hadn't seen her friend smile in years -- not like that, anyway -- and so she'd make sure to take the scenic route to the pizzaria. When she was gone, and the two of them were finally left alone, Nasir took a deep breath. "I don't distrust Onida," he said softly, "But I do question her judgement."

Remembering that she wanted to talk about the favor he owed her, he gently stopped her fingers on his wrapping by reaching up and taking one of her hands in his. "What would you have me do?"

[just2hands]

Ani sighed, tried hard to hide a smirk. She should have known that Onida would find the most, well, amusing sling she could in the drawer, just to see it on Nasir. At least she hadn't found the ones printed with Snoopy or Spongebob Squarepants. Anika kept those around, just in case. However, her long time friend and confidant was sure to be at least somewhat disappointed; it was a child size sling, and wouldn't work for an adult man. However...

Ani wound the sling over the gauze, being certain to tie it off behind her patient's elbow. And then she had the garou hold it for a moment while she went for one that would fit his longer arm. "A judge, huh? Hmmm" Ani slipped an adult-sized deep green sling between Nasir's arm and his chest then wrapped it back up to tie it behind his neck, making certain that she hadn't gotten hair in the ties.

"Well" Ani paused, thinking about it. "If you're anything like the Bastet or the Bear-folk... I know they heal faster when they've changed for a while. Sometimes though, they're so injured that it's a matter of having to push them to do it." She shot him a keen look. "I doubt it will take that much urging to get you to wear Lupus, will it?"

The human doctor simply shrugged at the look he gave her, un-phased. "It's true. I do understand if you want to wait until you're home to change. After all, all I have here are some lounge pants, a few t-shirts... oh and some old scrubs. But even if you do that, you may want to wait until after dinner. However, if you actually listen to your doctor and do what she tells you? You should be good to go in a few weeks. Just don't push it."

Pausing before she finished tucking the end of the sling in behind Nasir's elbow, Ani shot Onida a grin as the woman headed out her door. Turning her head back to hear Nasir's softly spoken words, Ani thought about what she wanted to say, and what she wanted to ask for as she looked at his hands holding hers.

"Before we talk, let's get you off that make-shift gurney, and onto the couch so you can sit back and be more comfortable. And, and I have to get you a shirt or something too. Before you get cold I mean." Pulling her hand, she tugged at his gently until the Philodox rose up with her. It wasn't far, after all it was a small New York apartment, to the couch. It wasn't big, but it was comfy, covered in a plush and soft material of a soft dove grey. The couch itself was then covered with a warm, southwestern-style throw blanket and matching bright hued pillows.

Leaving her patient standing, Anika searched around in the closet once more, coming up with a blue and (strange for her) unadorned scrubs top that opened in front. With a bit of maneuvering, a couple muttered apologies, and feeling far more clumsy that she had been only 10 minutes ago; Ani managed to get it over his shoulders, across his chest. As her fingers buttoned the material up over his chest Ani looked upward, meeting Nasir's eyes. Her lips parted, she drew in a breath, then blinked and jerked her head downward, not able to look at his face any longer.

"There you go, sit down Nasir. Let's talk. Would you like some water, or j-juice or ah, well there's that bottle that Onida never drank."
Settling Nasir on one side of the couch, Anida chose the oposite side - keeping space between them as she turned to talk to him.

"Well," she said in attempt at humor "I can see that helping me move in a couple weeks is out of the question. So let's do something different. What I want for my payment is this, Nasir. It's going to be in two parts - one for each break. The throat wound I did for free. So part A?" Her voice hardened. "I understand that you question her judgement but... why this?"

"I want to know the truth, all of it. No holding back. Why did you fight Onida tonight? I know all about the whole anywhere, anytime clause" And her tone made good work of showing how BS she thought that was "But what I want to know from you is, what were you thinking? Why Nasir?"

"Why?"

[naturaldisasster]

When Anika returned with the larger sling, he tried his best to be helpful-- Holding the sling in place, and himself as still as possible while she tied the ties. He felt immediately relieved once he could relax his elbow, but, for some reason all of his muscles ached. It was as if, in trying not to move his broken arm, he'd kept his entire body rigid.

His eyebrows shot back up as she casually name-dropped the other changing-breeds, inching up even higher when she mentioned the Lupus. Good Gaia, how much did she know? And here he'd been so careful not to mention which tribe he and Oni were from, for fear of over-sharing. Did she already know that too? "I... I could do that," he stammered, "But it will hurt my mobility."

Striders, after all, were all about running-- Often with messages too sensitive to be trusted to electronic devices. With sudden clarity, he realized that he'd have no choice but to tell the Sept... If they needed something done urgently, they'd have to look elsewhere, because the only two Silent Striders in the region were nursing wounds. Admittedly, that was a conversation that wasn't going to go smoothly.

When Anika mentioned getting a shirt for him, he glanced down at his naked chest. He had half a mind to tell her he didn't feel cold at all, but he wasn't completely obtuse. If putting on a shirt was what it took to help her feel more comfortable around him, then he'd wear it and, what's more, he'd do it without complaining.

At her gentle urging, he stood, letting her lead him by the hand to her couch-- But putting on the shirt, now that he was wearing a sling, was easier said than done. The muscles of his arms and chest bunched as he tried to help Ani pull the scrubs on, feeling every bit as awkward and uncoordinated as she surely did. He didn't notice how close they were standing until her fingers started working on the buttons, and when her lips parted, his eyes were drawn to them...

He sat down on the couch-- Dear Gaia, it smelled just like her, and he stared at some imaginary point on the ceiling for the second it took to pull himself together, wondering how often she fell asleep there. Looking down at himself, at his green sling and borrowed shirt, he had to laugh, feeling like his ego was being knocked down a healthy peg or two. Did he think he could help her move in two weeks? "You'll be the judge of that, won't you?" he murmured.

This was the moment of truth, but her question made him sigh (partly in relief, as he was half-expecting some truly dire quest.) Anika was Oni's friend, and, as such, she wasn't going to like what he had to say. "I caught up with her a little while ago. She'd been self-medicating," he said with a meaningful glance at the bottle Ani offered him only moments before, "While I talked to her, she had a panic attack."

"Up until then, I'd just assumed that she was undisciplined and impulsive... Which is bad enough. But now I can see that she's terrified-- Not of dying, or anything like that, but of losing any more of us. Her pack. Everything she does comes from this fear."

"Today, she got hurt because she wouldn't let anyone take on some of the work. I'm her peer. Freya is many years her senior. You talk about trust, but she doesn't trust any of us to handle ourselves in dangerous situations. That's not leadership."

"Was she a good Alpha, before she died? I don't know, I wasn't there. But it was a mistake to let her fall right back into that role when she's clearly still dealing with her issues. That's too much to ask of anyone, and I'm not doing her any favors by pretending she's okay. It's my responsibility to make sure the Alpha is fit for the job, because it's not just her life at stake. It's mine, Freya's, and Cromwell's too. They won't call her out for the state she's in... So the task fell to me."


((ooc: 'Cromwell' is Ashley's surname, in case it wasn't clear. XD))

[just2hands]

"Well, I'm not entirely sure there is a guidebook of what to do when you return from the dead. And yes, she had it pretty tough for a while, but again - I've never personally been on the other side, I don't know what it does to a person to come back to a world that has turned on it's head and gone on without them. Have you?"

Ani did her best to listen, even when her internal defense mechanism flared up at his criticisms of Onida. But, she wanted to say. But! Still, she kept quiet, let him speak. And in a way, she could see where Nasir was coming from, damn the man. She didn't want to, she wanted to blow all of his comments out of the water.

Instead she remained silent, thinking about his words. Finally, reaching out, she took his good hand in hers, holding it in her lap as she spoke softly.

"You're really worried, aren't you?"

"I can't pretend I know how pack life is from an inside view. I mean, when I was a med student I lived above Han's shop and worked with him and his sister there. I know Ash and Freya and the rest, but I'm not true pack. I'm just - I dunno - adopted I guess is the best word." She hastened to add. "I understand how the caern works, at least I think I do. But caerns and packs run differently I know."

"Now, before you challenged her and almost took out her eye, did you talk to the others? Is there a consensus? Is it more than just yourself, or is everyone in agreement? How do they feel about her supposed impulsiveness?
Since Ash and Freya are content to allow her time and space to resume her role, how do you think they will take this? They have been through a lot with her - I think they may know a little of what she is capable of. Or perhaps this pack just isn't like other packs you've known?"

"And, just as importantly, did you think that by challenging her you would get her to open up to you? To share the burden? To let go the reins a bit?"

"And one more thing. Since you are the judge, tell me Philodox; what is your opinion of someone who puts two of their strongest pack members out of action due to severe injuries, all to force his alpha to 'trust' him? You know as well as I do, what's really out there Nasir. And you know that the two of you together are a hell of a lot stronger than the two of you at each other's throats -
or worse - being wounded and out of action when it hits the fan."

[naturaldisasster]

"No, there isn't," he reluctantly agreed, "As far as I know, that has happened only once before." Nasir hated to admit it, but Anika had a point. He's been to the Amenti enough times to know the horror of that place, but he never had to take up residence there. And then to have to come back. He recalled their first meeting two years ago; at the time Oni had been teetering on the edge of madness. "I know she's suffered. It's not like I don't sympathize with her. I do. And I don't deny that she's made strides since then," he sighed, "But that doesn't mean she should be in the position she's in."

He was prepared for her to argue with him, but, the next he knew she was holding his hand. Nothing could have prepared him for that, or for her to understand his point of view when no one else did. "I would have said 'concerned,'" he murmured, slowly raising his eyes from their hands in her lap to her face. Nas gave her hand a little squeeze, his thumb caressing the side of her thumb, down to the inside of her wrist, "Concerned sounds manlier."

"You've seen a caern?" he asked in disbelief. Then he leaned back against the couch and laughed; Of course she has. "I don't think we have any secrets left to keep from you."

He wasn't surprised that Anika was so upset about Oni almost losing an eye, but, in all fairness, he was the one who had been an inch from death. Then again, she was her friend. Nas supposed that put an entirely different perspective on it for her, however Philodoxes don't usually put much stock in perspective. They deal in terms of absolute truths, lines in the sand that should never be crossed. "Consensus? No, I wouldn't say there's been a consensus. Oh, they've heard me talk about it a great deal, but, whether or not they listened is up to debate. Those two... As you said, they've been through a lot with her. I think they'd rather turn a blind eye."

"Freya wasn't happy about it. I doubt Cromwell will be, when he hears of it," he sighed, "The point of challenging her wasn't to get her to open up to me, or to trust me. She won't do that. I did it so that she would step down. If she does that, then even this will have been worth it. If not? ...Then it may be that I've made a mistake."

[just2hands]

She'd only meant to hold his hand, to try to bridge a connection so that Nasir wouldn't feel attacked or condemned or criticized before they spoke. She didn't want him to think she was coming down on him, in fact Ani was really trying to be fair.

She'd never imagined that he would actually use his fingers to stroke her skin. Such a small motion of his thumb, such a huge impact on her to have someone touch her unprotected flesh like that. Ani's eyes got huge, she blinked several times and stared down at their enjoined hands, and flashed a glance over to the small table near the doorway. The table that had a bowl containing several pairs of leather, suede and satin long and half-long gloves. Don't accidentally touch. Don't get touched. Don't let skin touch skin. And now he was just roaming his thumb over her skin down to the inside of her wrist. A pulse-point....

(days later Ani would find herself on a break at work, casually sitting at her desk and realizing in shock that she had been idly tracing over the path his thumb had taken using one of her hands to stroke down the other.)

"I said worried for a reason." She replied, giving him a look. "I don't see it as masculine of feminine, it's more like having different levels. Worried is more intense than concerned I think. You can be concerned about something you are not passionate about; but it takes emotion, it takes connection to actually worry."

"Well, to be honest everyone else calls it a caern. The ones who protect it" including my new roommate, she added silently "call it a 'wellspring.' So I don't really know if it's like a real caern or not. Does that make it easier? And I'm sure there are lots of things about you that I don't know yet. Really. You still have a lot of secrets, Nasir."

Abruptly Anika giggled "You call Freya 'Freya' but him Cromwell? What does he call you, Jimenez?"

"How can you judge if you don't know the whole truth? Please understand, I'm not criticizing, I'm just curious. If you talked and they didn't listen, perhaps there are truths still left to be found before you can make a judgement." She shrugged.

"My world was full of truth's back before this gift bloomed in my blood. I never would have believed that a person could fly without wings, or change the weather, or walk through walls. It was full of truth before the plague in LA, before I met a man who couldn't be killed and another who had - quite literally - come from beyond the stars. It was filled with absolutes before I held the paw of a kodiac bear that turned back into a woman, and ruffled the hair of her son. Each time my life was filled with truth - before I learned that there were new truth's to find."

"Each time, I could have been the one to judge someone's story - someone who knew other truths than I did, someone who'd experienced something more or different than me. I could have, and would have dismissed them as delusions, as the rambling of madmen. Now I know the truth. And who knows what other truth's are left to learn?

Giving a long sigh, Ani squeezed Nasir's hand gently, then pulled her hand back. "Onida died as Alpha, she came back as Alpha. Wounding her won't stop her, it never stopped her before and it didn't stop her last time."

Anika knew her friend. Remembered how she had to get her to eat, how Onida had worn Ani's own cast-off scrubs for a while. Ani remembered it all. And she still had no doubts.

Lowering her voice, Ani spoke gently. "You'll have to kill her first, Nasir."

Leaving him then to contemplate her words, Anika rose up off the couch and headed to the kitchen/dining room right across from where he was seated. Opening the fridge, she scanned the near-empty shelves and then pulled out a gallon of orange juice. "Want some? Since I don't have a lot of alcohol here, and vitamin C is probably better for you anyhow..."

[naturaldisasster]

He quirked an amused eyebrow at her look and her differentiation between 'worried' and 'concerned.' "I have emotions," he protested, "I'm just not a slave to them." Objectivity. That was what it took to be a good Philodox-- that and detachment. It wasn't always easy, especially in a place like NYC where, like she said, there were people who could fly or punch through buildings. Sometimes the things he saw on the news and read in the papers threatened everything he thought he knew about the world, but it was those same qualities that allowed him to join the Swords of Night, and they'd served him well thus far.

"He mainly calls me 'shithead,'" he answered, grinning at the sound of her laughter. There was another one who didn't necessarily appreciate Nasir's opinions; Most days, Ashley looked like he wanted to take a swing at him.

Still, he didn't fault Ani for the way she saw the world; She couldn't believe in that principle 'Do No Harm,' and be such an effective doctor, if she were quick to judge. Her empathy for others was an essential part of how she worked her miracles. And it was undoubtedly what allowed her to treat him as a patient, when she was probably furious with him. "I'm afraid I must disagree with you. I understand... Wanting to see both sides of the matter, and I want all the facts before I make decisions, too. But I cannot make any judgements based on the things I don't know. I wish it were possible."

He felt strangely bereft when she pulled away-- Was it something he said? She certainly left him with something to think about, as she went in the other room, and he decided to consider her words very carefully. Anika knew Onida far better than he did, after all. There may be some truth to what she said. Hesitating just for a moment, Nasir stood and followed her into the kitchenette. "It was never my intention to kill Oni," he murmured softly, "I don't want that."

"Doctor's orders?" he asked, teasing her, but he accepted the offer of juice all the same. His brow furrowed, just slightly, as he looked over her shoulder at the contents of her fridge (or lack thereof!) "You're due for a shopping trip."

[just2hands]

"He calls you what? Wow, you really got on his good side I see."

"True, true. You're right about that. If I waited to have all the answers, I probably wouldn't step foot outside my apartment. After all, why cross a street? There could be a bus just around the corner coming right at you. You do have to use experience, common sense and all that as well as actual knowledge."

"All I'm saying is, in some cases? Maybe you shouldn't be so quick to carry out your judgement. Nasir, you almost took her eye, but she could have taken your throat. And she did have the presence and self control not to, after all. But hey, it's just a thought."

She opened her mouth to say something, but just sighed, accepting his comment without reply. He was right. The contents of her cooler were sparce to say the least. A box of Chinese takeout, a few yogurt cups, cream for her coffee, an unruly stack of sliced and plastic wrapped cheese, a jar of jelly and a door full of condiments both in bottles and little squeeze packets. Ani decided that it was a good thing she hadn't opened her cupboards in front of him. She knew exactly what was there as well - her stash of Slim Jims, a stash of sugar packets she'd been grabbing from work because she continually kept forgetting to buy her own, an empty jar of peanut butter and an opened box of Ritz crackers.

What she most definitely did not want to think about was how close he was to her, standing behind her like that. That would bring up other thoughts, and they had no place here.

"Why do you think I sent Oni for pizza?" She quipped. "I was going to go soon." Soon-ish. "Besides, I do most of my eating at work or on the go."

Pouring them both glasses of juice, Ani put the container back in the refrigerator and gestured him back to the couch with a wave of her arm. "Speaking of food, I wonder where Oni went to get the pizza - New Jersey? She's been gone a while. And do you need some aspirin, or something for the swelling? I know I have some of that."

[naturaldisasster]

"Quick? It's been almost two years," he retorted, lips twitching as he fought to keep a straight face, "And I could have taken her eye, but didn't. Don't you think that was presence and self control, too?"

There wasn't really anything she could say; The barren wasteland of cheese and processed junk spoke for itself. And she didn't need to open her cabinets for the Strider, either-- He reached over her shoulder and took a peek for himself.

That was the height of rudeness, and he knew it, but he'd had a suspicion. Now that his suspicions were confirmed, he tsked deep in his throat. "Anika," he gently chided her. It looked like she did all her eating at work, or on the go. "I thought you asked Oni to get pizza so that you could tell me what I owed you."

"Speaking of which, you haven't said what the second favor is," he added, sitting back on the couch with his glass of juice. He wasn't sure if the aspirin would help or not, with his metabolism, but he didn't want to refuse outright. "I'll take one, if you think it'll help."

[just2hands]

"You know, you're absolutely right. I underestimated your strength and self control during the fight and it was wrong of me. I apologize." Just as she started to close the door, he reached up and opened one of the cupboard doors. Ani started to object, but slammed her mouth shut when she heard him utter her name from behind her.

If she'd been a puppy, her ears would have dropped. It was that obvious. Her shoulders slumped, her head ducked down. Shutting the door, she picked up the glass of orange juice and took a sip. Giving a mental sigh, she followed Nasir back toward the couch before taking a detour and opening the door to her closet. Unlike her kitchen, the closet was stuffed with uniforms, some clothes, and boxes and boxes of medical supplies. Bringing back a bottle of aspirin, Ani sat back in her spot. Was it really worth trying to defend her bared cupboards? No, not really. So instead opened the bottle and handed him a pill, then closed the bottle and set it down on the floor beside the couch.

"About that" She began, settling back in the couch and turning to face him. One more gulp of OJ, and the glass itself was set down on the floor as well.

"Remember a little while ago, Nasir; when you told me that you had wanted to help Oni that day - but couldn't? You said that you should have been there, that you had wanted to. Well then, my favor is this."

Ani looked up, meeting his eyes, unwilling to turn away. "If it ever happens again - or more likely - the next time it happens? If you have any ability to do so, you will not let her be alone, or go alone. You will be by her side to back her up. I can't do it. I know I can't. But you can. And if you want to pay me back for what I did for you? You will do this for me."

[naturaldisasster]

"You have nothing to be sorry for," he said, dismissing her apology with a shake of his dark head.

He gratefully accepted the aspirin, washing it down with the juice-- It was a bit of a juggling act, with his one good arm, but he managed, and he listened carefully as Anika explained what she wanted him to do.

This favor would prove much more difficult than the first. Knowing Oni, it was only a matter of time before she got into trouble with authority again, and Ani was asking him to stand with her when she did. It wasn't a wholly unreasonable request... They were packmates after all, and he stood by what he said about Striders failing to support Oni after the invasion; Historically, that was when they were most vulnerable to backlashes from those garou who were less inclined to get involved in pivotal battles.

He'd have thought, after The Thing That Happened in LA, that she'd have finally gotten a little Reknown of her own, but no. Like it or not, Oni had a reputation now for being a 'Harbinger'-- Of stirring up trouble where before there was none, especially with vampires. That was all anyone ever seemed to talk about, when they weren't gossiping about the way she died or how she was brought back to life. Now scores of younger garou wanted to make a name for themselves by beating the wolf that beat Death. With a queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, Nasir realized he was going to be added to that tally of blockheads. Mierda.

"I'll do it," he sighed at last. "Only Gaia knows how, with Oni shielding us from... Everything... But I'll do my best."

[just2hands]

"I understand that it won't be easy. I didn't expect that it would be, especially given the nature of the person we're talking about." A slight smirk played over her lips as the young human bent down to reach for her drink.

"I don't understand the ins and outs of what a normal pack is like. I respect and quietly adore Freya, Han is like a brother to me - and his sister is a wonderful friend. Ash - well, we get along great when he's not being all arrogant and show-offy. But then again, he was there when we needed him, he protected us. Eyota, god I miss Eyota. And Oni is like an older sister. And as for Neph and I, we may be adopted and human, but we can contribute. We do. Because they are family."

"You say you've been around for two years, and yet this is the first time we've met? Who's benefit did Oni do that for, who do you think she was protecting? And more importantly - why? She generally doesn't do things just to be a pain, she really does think about her decisions. Even if, well, it's not clear the the rest of us."

Even if the rest of us would argue the point, or disagree with her reasons, Ani added silently.

Her hand reached out again, almost of it's own volition but at the last moment Ani paused before touching the back of Nasir's strong looking hand. Instead she pointed to his arm, then let her hand drop awkwardly into her lap.

"Look, if it's too much to ask, I understand. I just felt that, especially after talking to you; you wouldn't be happy with getting off moving a couch or something. You wouldn't appreciate a shallow or mundane type of favor because it lessens the meaning of it, as well as the favor you incurred. For you, it would have to be the real thing or nothing at all. So there you go, Nasir. I'm being real."

"And in return, if I can do so, if something happens? I won't let you be alone either. I will come for you, Nasir. You will never be lost and if you somehow get taken, I will lead the way to get you back. Because you're pack. Because family."

"I mean," she added "Unless there is some other way to repay you?"

[naturaldisasster]

"If there is such a thing as a normal pack, I haven't seen it," he grinned, though it faded somewhat at the mention of Eyota. They were all grieved over the loss of the last Croatan, but he'd made his own choices. Few knew, but Eyota was the reason Nasir joined Oni's pack; He appeared to the younger Philodox after his death, as an ancestor-spirit, explaining that he was the one Eyota had chosen to take his place-- though, as always, he kept his reasons why to himself. "But you're right. This one is certainly... Unique."

There was no doubt in his mind that Oni was hesitant to let him meet Anika, because she feared what he would do with the knowledge once he found out about her powers. Even now, he couldn't quite wrap his brain around it -- what did 'magic in the blood' mean? -- but he understood perfectly well how the Nation would react. In the same vein that the Wars of Rage started over doubts that the other changing breeds were the works of Gaia, some wolves believed that anyone not strictly 'normal' human was abhorrent. Unnatural. Homo superior, humans with powers... That wasn't something most of the tribes were ready to accept, but he was a Strider. He'd seen things in his travels that most garou could never comprehend. "She definitely had your safety in mind. You must be wary of garou outside the pack, Anika. Some tribes... They'll make no attempt to understand."

His sharp eyes caught the aborted movement of her hand. Don't be afraid of me, he thought, praying that wasn't the reason she seemed conflicted. "I know you've only just met me, but... Trust me when I tell you that if I say I will do something, I'll do it. Oni can be difficult, si. But I'm not without my own tricks. And she hasn't gotten rid of me, yet."

It was the strangest thing. What had once seemed a vulnerability -- Anika keep an eye on his whereabouts -- now felt like a comfort. He knew now that it was her Gift, as Oni called it, that saved the she-wolf's life. Perhaps someday it would save his too. Suddenly he wondered if that wasn't too much to ask of her.

The last thing she said, and the way she said it, caught him completely off guard. Nasir bit back a tortured groan, his whole body going tight with tension again because what was he supposed to say to that? He couldn't ask to see her again, though he sorely wanted to. He finally gave into temptation and brushed his fingers across the back of her hand, slowly taking her hand in his so that she had the chance to pull away if she wanted to. "You don't owe me anything," he gruffly said, watching her face intently. With a quick glance across the room to her cabinets, he added "But maybe I'd feel better if you had more food in your kitchen."

[just2hands]

"Unique. I like that word. And they certainly are." Speaking of which; Ani closed her eyes, mentally ran her hand down a row of threads and brushing against each stream of light. So much easier this way to make certain that her family was all hale and healthy. Opening her eyes once more, Anika began to giggle "Oni is stuck in a traffic jam downtown. I have no clue why, there are decent pizza joints all around the neighborhood!

Leaning in, she lowered her voice to a half-whisper and winked as well "I hope you'll be alright with cold, or microwaved supper tonight. I don't think it's going to be very warm when it gets here. Or maybe we can store that in the fridge and go out for something else? This whole neighborhood is filled with wonderful little hole-in-the wall shops, as well as a couple good bodega's and an excellent bookstore that serves beverages and pastries."

His own tricks to keep up with Onida? Oh, now that sounded intriguing. Still, she'd just met him - would it be polite to ask? Wait just a second, she thought to herself. Nasir threw politeness out the window when he poked in her kitchen cupboards, so hey, all was fair from now on. Wasn't it?

"I only know one garou outside the pack" She confessed warily. "And he was in a unique situation, he seemed very nice. I don't go looking for them, I swear it!" Just like I don't go looking for vampires, she silently added. "Now you're talking like Mike. He said the Rokea would have a problem with me also. I guess it's only fair - normal humans would have kittens if they knew the truth about the Fera... and everything else".

"No, she hasn't gotten rid of you yet, and she's probably wanted to. So what's your secret? I get that your um," She caught herself in mid-sentence, changed 'stubborn to "tenacious. But it takes more than tenacity to keep up with her. And you don't look like you enjoy being patient. Two years, hah!" The sparkle in her eyes, the light smile on her lips, and more importantly - though she had initially looked down when he took her hand - she hadn't pulled away. Oh but then he got serious again.

"Then I'll do it because I want to" Ani squeezed his hand, as she began to speak, but paused when he continued. Anything she had to say was blown away by Nasir's comment about her lack of food supplies. "Oh come on, not fair!"

"Look, I barely live here, ok? I haven't used my bed in days, I come through the door, jump into the shower and half the time I sleep on my couch. I... " He did not look impressed at her excuse she decided, finally trailing her words off to an embarrassed silence. Hey, at least the kitchen was clean!

"Fine." Ani sniffed hard and shot him a glance. "I'll go shopping this week. But don't you get mad at me if I come home with TV dinners and pot pies and... and stuff. I just don't have time for all that, and if I buy real food? It normally goes bad before I even remember it's there."

[naturaldisasster]

Nasir thought he knew the reason why Oni elected to go somewhere farther away for their food, but, boy did he hope he was wrong. Inwardly, he grimaced, picturing the smug, knowing look his alpha was sure to give him-- If Gaia was merciful, that traffic jam would last a long, long time. Ani's laughter was infectious; Her wink and conspiratorially low tone of voice amused him to no end, pulling him out of his thoughts, "Si, we could probably eat and be back by the time Oni got here. You pick the place, my treat."

He sighed dramatically, shaking his head. Of course. Of course she knew a Rokea, whereas even he had only ever heard of them. Some day, all of this would stop being so shocking to him (at least he hoped so.) "Having kittens. That's one way of putting it," he half-laughed, half-groaned, "Mankind is not ready to know the truth about us. But, at the same time, some Fera are not prepared to learn that there's more to you humans than we ever could have guessed."

"My secret?" he hesitated. There was no precident for this. What were the rules, in this case? Was it possible to break the Litany with someone who already knew about Garou? Deciding the risk was minimal, he ducked his head, feeling as if he were being boastful somehow. "I can be patient," he assured her, with a roguish grin, "I can... Check in on her-- Not the same sense that you can. Think of it as a call she can't ignore or put on hold. Speaking of, I should probably tell her that we're going to go eat without her." Rather than reach for a phone, however, he touched his fingertips to his forehead, where the third-eye chakra was thought to be, his eyes flashing an eerie yellow color.

He was using the Gift of Mindspeak with Onida. After he relayed his message, and 'heard' her mentally-yelling "I'm driving, connard!" by way of acknowledgement, he broke the connection. "There. You should know, she's already started eating the pizza." God, that woman could eat. She must be taking very tiny bites; no wonder she 'sounded' so pissed off.

As she squeezed his hand and smiled at him, it occurred to him that she had literally no idea what she'd done to him with that one sentence. He also learned that he'd been right about her sleeping on the couch, and he laughed a little under his breath (mostly at his own expense.) "What's so unfair about it?" She was right about one thing, however -- Nasir was not buying any of her excuses. And he'd already decided that, like it or not, he was going to get some real food in here. She couldn't live off this crap, and, even if she could, why should she? Anika was about to find out that Philodox could be almost as hard-headed as Ahroun.

"Come, then. Let's get you something that isn't chinese food," he murmured, standing and gently urging her to her feet with her hand in his. Was that a jab at Han's cooking? The world may never know. "Do you eat seafood?"

[just2hands]

They were having, wait. They were having fun! Wasn't she supposed to be angry with him? Damn it, the lines were so confused now. He was her patient and he was pack, but... oh, heck with it, she'd figure it out later.

"You know" Ani arched an eyebrow. "When you smile or laugh, you become a whole other person. Someone... I don't know really. But it's a good look on you. Just in case you wanted to know." Somehow she doubted that Nasir smiled a whole lot on average, and suddenly wanted to see if she could get him to laugh again. Just to see if she could. There were butterflies in her stomach, a tremble down deep - excitement?

Blinking and astonished, Ani watched as Nasir went silent, and then relayed Oni's message. "Telepathy? You have telepathy? That is amazing!
Is it Garou based, or can you do that with anyone?"

Oh, that was exciting! It even touched on something that Storm had been slowly trying to get Anika to expand and practice on the last time she was up at the school. If she could feel emotions, could Anika become strong enough to share emotions - and then thoughts as well? It was an exciting premise, but not one that Ani had thought to share with anyone until now.

And - ok, maybe now wasn't the best time. Maybe later would be better, after they ate. And speaking of which...

"I have to go change out of these scrubs if we're going to go out and eat. I look like I've just come out of surgery here. Can you give me ah, maybe 15 minutes to get washed up and dressed?" I won't be much longer than that, really." That fluttering feeling was back, nervous and exciting, but this time she just went with it.

"And yes, I eat seafood, chicken, steak... oh, oh!" Dr Nuttal gave an unusual and unprofessional squee of glee. "There is this wonderful Brazilian Barbecue a couple blocks north. Well, I think it's wonderful. It smells wonderful when I walk by. It has seafood, steak, the whole bit. Want to check it out with me?"

Fifteen minutes later, she bounced out of her bedroom in faded, close-fitting jeans with a wide brown leather belt, a bright saffron turtleneck shirt, a casual green blazer and a pair of faded brown hiking boots. Her hair, no longer braided, was held back in a pony tail by a bright orange, pink and teal blue scarf yet still flowed down her back in long, black curling waves.

"Nasir? Nas-oh!"

[naturaldisasster]

He arched an eyebrow in return, a mischievous glint in his eyes; Perhaps he didn't smile often, but that was only because he wanted to be taken seriously. That was the motivation behind the way he dressed too, and, generally, it got the desired effect. Here, in Anika's living room, he felt he didn't need to be as stern and gloomy as he usually was. Or maybe it wasn't the space. Maybe it was the person. His lips twitched, almost but not quite giving in to the smile she was after, though it was hard to resist when she was so obviously excited to be going out.

"No," he said, with an embarrassed grin, "Not telepathy. Or, I guess you could call it that, but I can only communicate with people I know fairly well, unless I have something of theirs..." He looked around for something that would suit, his eyes falling on a short length of velvet ribbon lying on the coffee table. Picking it up, he closed his eyes, focusing-- And Anika might have 'heard' his voice echoing in her mind, speaking her name like a whisper. <Anika, can you hear me?>

Normally, he'd have told her not to worry about changing, but... Yes, the blood stains on her scrubs were bound to raise some eyebrows. He would wait patiently, and find a way to distract himself from what she was doing in there. What was wrong with him? He had better self-control than that. "Entiendo," he said hoarsely, feeling like his mouth had gone dry, "Take as long as you need."

She was so excited about the restaurant, that it got the better of him, his grin widening. "Anything you want," he told her, watching her back as she retreated into her bedroom. Now what? His sharp ears could already hear the sound of cloth rustling, he knew she was getting undressed and suddenly he needed to be doing something, anything, to take his mind off the sound. He tossed out his ruined shirt. Then, looking down at himself, he realized he could do with a fresh change of clothes as well. He had some spares Dedicated to him through mystic rites -- because, for garou, nudity was an occupational hazard -- and he summoned them to himself.

Nasir discarded the borrowed shirt and removed his sling. He'd managed, through much difficulty, to put on pants, belt, and shoes by himself. The tie, vest, and jacket he draped over the back of a chair because that just wasn't happening with his broken arm; it's not like he needed them anyway. But he ran into a snag with his white pressed shirt and it was still hanging open, half-unbuttoned, by the time Anika returned. He looked up from what he was doing and froze. She looked lovely enough in scrubs, with her hair braided -- Now, she was even more beautiful.

He stopped staring and ducked his head, quietly laughing at himself, "This has proven more difficult than I thought it would be."

[just2hands]

Curious, she watched him pick up one of her ribbons, and waited to see if it would work with her, a human. But when his whisper came to her, it came not only in her mind, but - but she could hear and feel it as well coming through their thread! Her head, her heart - Anika was never sure as to where the actual center of her power was located; in her brain or in her chest. There were times that it felt like both were involved, but she'd never actually managed to figure how. So strange, so different that it caused Ani to gasp out loud. It wasn't just the sound of him in her mind, but the feel of him that she got as well.

"I heard you" She whispered, awestruck. "I heard you and I..." When she responded next, instead of just thinking it? The doctor tried to send it back to him via the thread they shared. "Can you hear me?" Joy, citrus fresh and sunlit welled up inside her, threatening to spill out. Ani's dark eyes were shining, her smile ethereal as she attempted to 'send' bacl to the Philodox.

"Nasir, are you there? Ohhh, this is so" wonderful! She finished out loud.

A few minutes later, Ani was in her room, humming as she slid on her old jeans and tied the hiking boots to her feet. The turtleneck came next, and over that a blazer. Casual but not too overdone. At the last second she decided to let her hair out of the braid, letting it flow free down her back before tying it back with one of her favorite scarves. A belt for her jeans and she was finished.

Looking in the small mirror she kept on her dresser, Ani wondered. What what about makeup? Aiee, decisions! In the end she simply chose a clear gloss after deciding that putting on makeup was far too much like actually going on a date. And they weren't doing that, they were just ah, going out to eat together while they waited for Oni. That's all. Just eating together.

In spite of her denials, Ani still reached for the ginger flower and vanilla bean fragrance oil that she had picked up on a trip down south with Wade. All natural, in a base of sweet almond, it even had a hint of pineapple to it. Yea, just right for this 'not a date'. Putting just a drop on her finger to place at the back of her neck, Anika rubbed what was left onto her wrist, rubbing both of them together before she set the ornate little Egyptian glass bottle back on the dresser.

Nasir startled Anika again when she came out of the bedroom and he was standing there in a new outfit, shoes tied and ready to go except that he had another shirt half-open. The white contrasted with his skin, and brought out brightness in his eyes and his teeth as well as the man spoke.

"Here" she sent as she came toward him "Let me help" Ani's fingers were more sure now, and quickly finished buttoning Nasir's shirt for him. "All set, Or did you want me to put your tie on you as well? She finished out lout.

The last thing she did, after grabbing her wallet and her spare housekey was to stop by the table near the front door and reach for the bowl sitting there. Ignoring Nasir for the moment Ani sorted through the various items there, finally pulling out a pair of goatskin suede black gloves that ended just beyond the wrist. The woman was very intent as she slid them over her hands, making certain that they were on each finger completely before she continued.

"Ready? She asked, looking up to meet his eyes. "Because I'm starving."

[naturaldisasster]

Her reaction was everything he could have hoped for. He smiled despite himself, pleased that she seemed to enjoy his little demonstration, but when she sent a thought back -- No, more than that. The feeling washed over him, warmer than the summers of his youth. He inhaled sharply, eyes closed, and for a second he couldn't think of a reply to send back along their link. Her brightness blinded him momentarily, like staring directly into the sun. <Yes, I'm here. I hear you.> he finally sent back.

"It's never been like that," he breathed, swallowing thickly, "It must be you have a talent, Anika."

Even without heightened senses, he'd have caught the scent of her perfume when she stepped closer, her nimble fingers fastening the buttons on his shirt. It was spice, and floral, and even a little bit fruity, Gaia help him. His fingers twitched, palms itching to sweep her mass of black hair aside and nuzzle his face against the nape of her neck, where he could tell the scent was strongest. He'd never do something so improper to someone he'd only just met, but the impulse was there; thank goodness that didn't travel across their link.

He imagined her fingers on the collar of his shirt, that close to where his pulse was beating strongly. "Ah, no, that's okay. Gracias," he muttered, neatly tucking his shirt into his pants. Even he had his limits. Best not to try his luck.

While she reached for her gloves, he took the opportunity to put his sling back on. It was a little saddening to see her covering up, but of course it made perfect sense. He wouldn't want an accidental connection, the likes of which he'd just felt, with the kid working the counter at a cafe either. Hell, even the one she'd made with him was out of necessity; he knew she'd only done it because it was a medical emergency of a sort. "I'm ready," he said, holding open the door for her with his good arm.

He spent the short walk down to the street in silence. It was so funny-- Striders were all about speed, and make no bones about it, the boy could run, but he had that slow walking gait really tall people had, when they were used to compensating for much shorter people. Speaking of which, people didn't give him quite as wide a berth as they did with Onida, but they were still careful not to bump into him. Maybe it was the way passing headlights reflected weirdly in his eyes. "Do you like it here?" he asked, all of a sudden. And, at first, it may have seemed like he meant the block she lived on, but then he added "With all these people?"

[just2hands]

floor after floor they traveled down the stairs, each engrossed in their own thoughts. For Anika, it was time of silent contemplation mixed with both awe and wonder as she mentally felt along the clairvoyant thread connecting her to the man who led the way down to the ground floor and out into the city night. They had spoken, actually talked to each other through the thread and through his special telepathic gift. It was like a whole new world had opened up for her, and he had unlocked that key.

Out on the street, the crowd had lessened. School children and young adults carrying book bags were no longer dotting sidewalks, an older and more mature group of people now strolled up and down the sidewalks and across the crowded streets.

Stuffing her gloved hands into her pockets, Ani took a few quick steps to be at Nasir's side, and contemplated the answer to his questions.

"Well" Anika began, pausing to raise a hand and pull some strands of hair out of her face "I like the access here. The libraries and the museums and the theaters. The hospitals and the colleges - I can hear a lecture from a world-renowned doctor or philosopher just about every week of the year. The music, the street markets and street fairs. The blending of so many cultures, so many lives and so many languages. And the food!" She gave a side glance and a grin.

"But" Ani continued. "I miss" Oh, how to put this?

"I miss my alone time. I miss my privacy, my ocean walks or my hikes in the woods. I miss riding my cycle, I miss walking in the sand. I" There was a hesitant, embarrassed pause. "I miss being able to walk without layers, to not worry about getting my gloves wet because I don't have to wear gloves. I miss..."

She stopped abruptly, shook her head and turned her face away. "I'm sorry. I do tend to run on sometimes." She pointed "It's just down the end of this block and across the street, then half a block to the left."

"Do you like being here Nasir?"

[naturaldisasster]

He watched, a little too intently, as she brushed that errant lock of hair back from her face; How he'd have liked to do that for her. Earlier, he'd felt something... The werewolf lacked the words to describe the sensation, but he knew that it had something to do with Anika and her connection-- What had she called it? A thread? It resonated within him, and he coughed to hide a shudder. That was something he was going to have to learn to brace himself against, especially since Nas doubted Anika even knew she'd done it.

"You like to stimulate your mind," he nodded approvingly. More than anything, the Philodox admired the woman's intellect. In that context, he could even appreciate her enjoyment of music, food, and culture; It broadened her understanding through experience and, when she grinned, he smiled back at her.

He listened to her, as she finished answering his question, and he understood because he keenly felt the absence of nature in the City. When she cut herself off and looked away, his brow furrowed, wondering if she'd been about to tell him that there was someone else she missed. That was fine, he reasoned. He could keep his feelings to himself and still admire her from afar.

"I don't mind," he murmured softly, in response to her sudden self-consciousness. At her question, he looked around them, taking in their surroundings. Before today, he would have said that he hated the City, absolutely. Now, well... Things were less straight-forward than they had been. "I prefer the wilderness, or the freedom of the open road. In nature, there's only you and the Great Mother. And I find that my thoughts are always clearer in solitude, without all this... Noise."

"However, as fate would have it, this is where the work is. Though I wouldn't say it's all bad," he added with a suggestive smirk, "Some things are worth sticking around."

"Is this it?" he asked, gesturing with his good arm at a posh neon sign, "Rodizio Grill?"

[just2hands]

"Stagnate and die, Nasir." She replied with a half-shrug. "That applies to minds and hearts as well as bodies." Ani had come a long, long way from the medical student who would barricade herself in her room for days with nothing but books as her only companions.

"Freedom, that's it exactly! That's why I miss the west coast, it was so much easier to ride my bike out there. I still skip the highways and hit the dunes and desert when I can, for exactly that feeling." She understood his concept of clear thinking as well, and thought that he'd actually have a lot in common with her new-to-be roommate as well; as long as the two of them could get along. Well, he didn't seem like he had too many negative pre-conceived notions about other fera - or if he did, he was polite enough to keep it to himself. Hopefully that trait extended to fae as well.

"They are." Ani readily agreed, with a wink in her eye. "And great food is only part of it. Can you smell that?" Oh, of course he could. Probably better than she herself. Ani nodded enthusiastically, lengthening her long stride. "Man, my mouth is watering already. Come on!"