2018-04-06: Watchful Ones
- Log: Watchful Ones
- Cast: Catenna, Ethius Hesiod
- Where: The CaraKin
- Date: April 6, 2018
- Summary: Catenna receives an unexpected private visit, there to discuss something she wasn't expecting....
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
The bitter cold Catenna caught after the adventure in the Zulan mountains has long since passed. She'd set out dinner for the members of the CaraKin - a curiously sweet and savoury curry made with Lunarian spices and herbs, more stew-like than what she usually cooks but still with that aromatic tendency of most of her food. Once she'd eaten, however, she'd retreated to her room.
The Owlet sits in a small basket on Catenna's dresser; it dozes among a little bundle of pale blue blankets, oblivious to Catenna pulling on her dress after a quick evening bath. She slips one strap of her garment onto her shoulder, then the other. It's not her dancer's outfit, but the two-piece, midriff-baring dress she wore most often before the joined the CaraKin.
With a quiet smile, the Shaman turns to check on the slumbering Owlet. Finding it well and truly asleep, she lets it be for now, simply stepping back and watching it with a maternal gentleness.
The bird may not be much for listening to her - in fact, getting to know it has been an exercise in frustration for her, as inferior to most Zortroa as she feels she is when it comes to taming animals. But it's her obligation, and she's trying. And her care for it, at least, is genuine.
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Ethius has grown more distant from the CaraKin since they arrived on Lunar. More disagreeable. Some would even wager that some of the incidents came within a hair's breadth of out-and-out hostility. The worst of it... he hardly ever explained himself. Matilda had warned Jay that Ethius was liable to get them all killed - to go at length about how little he knew, and how he would act out of fear of this unknown. Jay promised she would've been able to keep him under check.
Once more, he has given them all the slip.
For some bizarre reason, he spent most of today out-and-out hiding upon the CaraKin vehicle from view. He watched everyone's movements closely. When dinner came, bringing the attentions of the near-entirety of the Caravan Kinship with it, Ethius found his moment.
A short while after Catenna makes her retreat to her room - short enough that any interruption might be jarring and uncomfortable - there is a rhythmic knock at the door. Four knocks, to a rhythm without delay or change in intensity between knocks. Mechanically, eerily perfect in timing.
The one knocking does not identify themselves vocally.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
Back on Filgaia, Catenna hadn't had to hang Ethius from the ceiling. The incident had bothered her but she put it out of mind beyond a general awareness that the CaraKin's most inscrutable member was more on-edge and frustrating than he usually was.
Besides - there were more important things to worry about than someone who rarely seemed to have much to say to her. The Owlet had consumed much of her time since arriving on Lunar. So had managing things with Cyre. So had getting sick and fighting her way through the illness. On top of it all, she's been trying to learn more about Lunar, studying what books she could find along the way. She's in the process of reaching for one of those books when it comes.
The sound of knuckles on the door.
"Come in," Catenna says without thinking about it, opening her book to a place a third of the way through that she's marked out with a strip of blue silk. It's how she'd respond to any knock, and her assumption is that her visitor will be the one most likely to come to her bed in the evening: Cyre H. Lorentz.
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
The door opens with nary a squeal.
That is not Cyre H. Lorentz at the door.
That is not Cyre H. Lorentz who helps themselves inside and then swiftly closes the door behind them. The motion is done with such care and precision that not a further noise is made - that of a man who has become comfortable with the very timing and movements required to stealthily navigate the character of the CaraKin's construction to minimize his ability to cast much presence at all when he moves.
Behavior that does not match one who should call this mobile sanctuary home.
"The invitation is appreciated, Miss Catenna." Speaks one Ethius Hesiod, He Who Should Probably Hang From Ceilings More And Think About What He's Done. "My apologies for the abrupt intrusion. My window of opportunity to speak with you in privacy is fleeting." As fleeting as his manner in even indicating that this was a desire of his, for that matter. His voice is quieter in tone than usual - an indication that, perhaps, he feels what he must discuss is something that must be done in secrecy.
Or maybe he notices the sleeping owlet and is extending some base level of tact that oft seems... lacking.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
The door opens and Catenna is immediately surprised that Cyre has his pants on and is actually Ethius Hesiod.
The Shaman blinks a couple of times. An imperceptible line of tension tightens up along her neck and shoulders before she pushes out a faint breath, marking her place in her book again. She seems about to say something.
Ethius cuts her off by scuttling in and closing the door. She has to remind herself not to tense up too visibly. Whatever his faults, Ethius has gotten them out of more than a few jams, and he did take her side when it came to the Veruni.
But still....
"You are always welcome to visit," Catenna says with an incline of her head, moving to a seat on the edge of the bed. She smooths her hands over her thighs to straighten her dress, sitting with her shoulders squared and her head tilted to one side. "Is something troubling you? You have not often found occasion to seek me out personally like this, after all."
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Ethius remains standing at the door. He folds his hands behind his back as he stands erect, as if at attention. That exact same posture he took when he attended her briefing. Every so often, he turns his head as if to monitor any prospective activity that might be happening around them - but for the most part he remains motionless. Motionless in the way that seems unnatural for a living person to be.
"Circumstances out of my control prevented me from speaking with you as such." Is that a 'yes' on the 'something troubling you?' For his penchant of saying things in an overly roundabout, verbose way, that's as good a 'yes' as any. "It concerns the briefing you had given about the Veruni. I found it most informative. The level of trust you have placed in us with this is most appreciated. However..."
However...? There's a pause, as he dips his head noticeably. His eyes close. Is something the matter? Is he struggling to voice something?
...
"If I had known that you were burdened with this knowledge... this experience that had affected you so, Miss Catenna..."
...
"I would have sought you out much sooner than today."
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
There's a small part of Catenna which wonders if Ethius is here to put a knife through her and dress her corpse up in a clown costume. She dismisses the idea as too absurd even for Ethius.
He'd dispense with the costume.
The rigidity of his posture is unnatural, but also unnatural within a range of expectation for the CaraKin's least emotive personage. Catenna takes that in stride. Clasping her hands neatly at her knees, the priestess tilts her head to the side with a light blink as Ethius reveals why he's here.
Was he that bothered by it...? she can't help but wonder, raising her eyebrows as he struggles to find the words.
"It is... quite alright," she assures him with a shake of her head and a small hint of a smile. "I do not know if the knowledge is truly a burden.... It is simply something I encountered. Their actions are... unfortunate. But...."
Catenna tilts her head a little. "...you seem troubled by it," she urges him a little further. "Was there something else you wished to know?"
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
"...You understand the value of discretion with a subject most dire." Ethius continues after Catenna's query. There's another pause. He turns his head over again. Is he really that worried about others hearing? The Caravan Kinship are his friends. They might even be the closest thing he has to family, as he lacks memories beyond the last two years or so of his life.
"I have confirmation of there being at least two Veruni operatives upon Lunar... and further confirmation that there are Guardian Statues present upon this planet." This may not be so much news to Catenna herself, but it seems the combination of these factors have set this man on edge. About as on edge as the man allows himself to show, when there is a quiet tension to just about anything he says or does.
"You may be the only one I can direct such inquiries to without the threat of them knowing, Miss Catenna." A sense of vulnerability may well be radiating from these words. "One such inquiry I have... in your experience, what steps do you believe the Veruni might take to establish themselves upon Lunar?"
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
The presence of two Veruni operatives isn't a shock to Catenna. Kaguya exists, after all, and so does Ambrosius.
At the mention of Statues, though, her eyebrows rise sharply. "Guardian statues on Lunar?" she echoes. "That seems like it should be impossible. The Guardians are not followed here. In fact nobody from Lunar seemed to even know who they are."
The last question brings a frown to the lips of the priestess. She lowers her eyes to her lap and exhales. "In truth, I do not have much experience with how they would operate as a military, Ethius," she admits. "But I would assume they would do it similarly to what Ambrosius and Kaguya did among those in Ignas. They would dispatch scouts to quietly learn about the area, and once they had identified priority targets, they would quietly establish a beachhead somewhere and cut off all contact between it and the outside world. I would expect that once that happened, many humans they met would find themselves working in the mines."
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
It should be impossible, exactly for the reasons Catenna has outlined - but if Ethius is saying so, he must be firmly confident in the source in question. He offers no further commentary to her objection, in favor of addressing the bigger problem at hand.
"I see," he says (and sees?) to her explanation in question as he brings a hand to his forehead to consider the relevant discoveries and evidence. "I am aware that Miss Matilda is part of a mercenary outfit alongside Kaguya by word of mouth." Not 'Miss' Kaguya. Just Kaguya. "The agent Ambrosius, I have managed to witness in action as part of an expedition on the continent of Glenwood. I could not ascertain what he was seeking in specific, nor why, beyond coveting older documents."
Ethius closes his eyes as he keeps resting that hand against his forehead. What could be extrapolated from this...?
"Based on these observations, and what you have just told me, it would appear that the continent of Glenwood itself may become a target for occupation. This is... troubling."
Ethius' posture slackens noticeably, as though letting out a silent sigh from the accumulated stress and tension that lends itself to the rigidity of his form and near-lack of emotional inflection in much of anything he does.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
"Yes, we met up with Matilda recently," Catenna concedes with a small frown. "I am not really surprised she would be with Kaguya... to be quite frank I am expecting her to eventually side with the Veruni should a confrontation occur, though I hope she does not."
It's not an admission she would make to anyone else, and she's not even sure she feels right admitting it to Ethius. It's especially uncomfortable because she likes Matilda. But she can see the girl being duped, as plain as day.
Ethius, at least - for all his many foibles - understood the dangers of the Veruni, even if individual Veruni could be as likeable as Riesenlied. Or Kaguya.
"Glenwood," Catenna murmurs, furrowing her brows a little and knitting her fingers together. "It may be... I do not know if the Veruni capital would be aware of Kaguya and Ambrosius being here, however. Perhaps they have a power we do not, to communicate between worlds... but if it is simply two agents being stranded here, the situation is different."
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
"Even after all that has transpired, many continue to extend freely the hand of frienship." Not just Matilda, is the implication. Ethius lowers the hand away from his forehead at last, opening his eyes anew. Though his posture has weakened, that unnerving gaze - that unyielding glare, which takes and gives back nothing in turn - levels with Catenna. "They remain far too open and trusting with information and resources, knowing they work to opposite ends. That appears to be the way they are."
Ethius straightens out again, the hand that was once on his forehead now firmly behind his back.
"I am not in agreement with their leniency in these circumstances... but it is not my place to dictate the way they live their lives among themselves." Those words aren't said with any more intensity behind them, but yet, this seems to be an admission - a confession? Maybe he is conceding defeat, on some level, as it all drifts towards the possibility of full isolation - that maybe the worst that could happen will not come to pass.
"...All the same, it is my wish that Filgaia's problems not come to Lunar. We have born witness to the disasters that have arisen when Lunar brought their own here. I cannot in good conscience," he doesn't pause here, this is a moment to disbelieve he can say those two words, 'good conscience,' with a straight face which is exactly what he's doing, "allow the risk of further escalation to come to pass."
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
As she listens to Ethius say his piece, Catenna brings her lips together in a firm line.
She doesn't agree with what Matilda's doing, either - as much as Catenna likes Kaguya personally. But she's under no illusions as to whether Kaguya sees her as an equal, and even if she does, whether her superiors see humans as equals. The Strangers, after all, view humans more like cattle than peers - as mere weaklings good only for being led.
"Yes," she says simply, momentarily surprised by Ethius's conciliatory words. "As much as I would advise them to be careful, in truth I cannot dictate to them how to make their choices... and we have seen in other cases that it can work out. Riesenlied showed that not all Hyadeans are incapable of coexistence. The same may be true of Veruni. But...."
Catenna glances to the Owlet a moment, then to Ethius once more. She blinks, then blinks once more, processing what it is he's saying.
"You are planning something, aren't you," she ventures, her voice tightening just slightly. "What is it that you are going to do?"
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
"I will be making preparations to investigate the Glenwood continent further." Ethius responds without hesitation, heedless of the well-founded suspicion of prospective mischief on his part. What else does he do other than stare, melt things, be maddeningly vague, attempt to swipe complicated-looking items out from others' noses, and occasionally murder people in cold blood? He says these words as though there is no reason for this to cast suspicion or doubt upon what he intends to do. Maybe he needs to self-reflect a bit more on his reputation when it comes to action...
He looks over his shoulder again. They may not have much time left to speak before the expected company arrives.
"I need not trouble Miss Jay and the rest with the particulars." Especially not when they seem perfectly fine and open showing their hands to prospective bad actors, might well be the implication. "I would like to also take this moment, Miss Catenna, to reassure you of the following."
He closes his eyes, nods his head once, and re-opens his eyes anew even as his posture remains as aloof and inscrutible as ever, even as his words still have that edge of simply being... rehearsed, scripted, and practiced as to be said on a specific cue as opposed to coming from any sort of conviction of the moment.
"Should the Veruni - or others - act against you and your young charge further," he must mean the owlet, "you will have my full support in rectifying the situation." If... he can do anything other than be suplexed into a crater, of which he seems to be confident of a standard to exceed.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
"Please do not hurt Matilda," Catenna says with a touch of resignation, though she's fairly sure that it's not going to be enough to dissuade the man who seems to default to 75% shady lurkin', 15% cryptic shit and 10% cold-blooded atrocities. "She really is a good person, and following her heart."
As Ethius looks over his shoulder like that, Catenna blinks a time. He's back to his usual furtiveness, she realizes. She sighs and settles back ever so slightly, her shoulders slouching.
And then Ethius makes a surprising vow. She blinks, then blinks again.
"I... I appreciate that," she says, her voice a little more subdued. She bows her head and closes her eyes for a moment, then looks up once more. "But please do not go to excess for my sake."
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Can he promise not to hurt Matilda? The man is remarkably good at keeping the same gaze on his face in conversation as much as he is moving to brutally murder someone. To her reservations and vouching for Matilda's character, he at least speaks this much: "She is as much a victim of Veruni influence as any other."
But would that be enough to dissuade him, if the time comes? (Maybe he might need another twisted shoulder as Celesdue drags him by the ear to the ceiling. Metaphorical ear, anyway.)
He looks away from Catenna one last time. "They should be finished with their dinner before long. I must impart these last words."
He presses his face against the door to get a better listen for any footsteps.
"This conversation did not happen."
He gets a hand on the door.
"If there is a visual witness, we discussed the possibility of using my Symbology to help keep the fledgling owl warm." Cyre might sniff out the fact he was here to begin with. There is often a faint whiff of dust and soot wherever this man goes, as though he embodies the very concept.
He comes shy of opening the door.
"Please exercise the utmost caution in allowing any native of Lunar to set foot or even see the CaraKin." ...A bit too late for that one... at least twice by now...
With that, Ethius moves to swiftly open the door, leave, and close it with the minimum amount of sound report physically possible, unless Catenna halts him with any last comments or questions.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
That's always what makes Catenna nervous about Ethius. She can never quite tell if he's just there to talk or there to rip out someone's spleen.
"She is a good woman," she answers simply, bowing her head and folding her hands. "Please remember that she is also our friend."
Ethius rises and starts dictating to her. An indignant part of Catenna wants to tell him off a little bit, but she just lowers her eyelids just a touch and inclines her head, nodding simply. "If that is what you prefer," she says instead, figuring it better to humour the strange man's more furtive impulses in this case - though she resolves, privately, to keep an eye on him and rat him out if it becomes necessary.
She doesn't move to stop Ethius. She just watches him go, tilting her head to one side. Only when the door closes does Catenna sigh.
"<What an odd man,>" she murmurs in her own language.
The Owlet opens one eye and peers after the mysterious man, before going back to sleep.