2020.05.05 - I'm Gonna Stare at the Chandelier
Afternoon at the Sylvan Court finds Ciaran dressed in his usual t-shirt and jeans, this time a white T with a leprechaun on the front and a pot of gold and rainbow on the back. He's currently leaning against one of the walls of the entryway, arms crossed over his chest, gaze focused on the chandelier and the stained-glass dome above it. Every now and then, his gaze drops to one of the people stopping by the front desk. For the most part, he seems content to just people watch and gaze at the beautiful crystal.
Taliesin is always coming and going it seems. It's either his wanderlust or just an inability to sit still, but he was out and about today running some mundane errands. As always, his guitar case is strapped over his shoulder and he's in a long sleeved grey shirt and jeans. His long hair is tied behind his neck but even the elastic band can't keep a few strands from falling in his face. He pauses when he sees Ciaran and turns to silently stand next to him and stare at the chandelier as well. After a moment he speaks up. "So... are life’s mysteries etched into the crystal, or are you just really into lights?"
Afternoon means that Lucien's eyes are concealed by a pair of dark sunglasses as he makes his way out from the interior of the Sylvan Court, coming down from his room above. He's dressed all in black, as is his wont, from the long-sleeved t-shirt to the jeans and boots on his feet and the light jacket slung over that. There's a messenger bag slung over one shoulder, and the hilt of one knife is visible in his boot. His steps slow a bit as he notices that there are other people standing around, and of course, with both of them looking up, he takes a moment to pause and glance up, too, as though expecting something to fall from the ceiling at any moment. Nope, just the chandelier.
Ciaran's voice is bright as he lets out a laugh. He hadn't noticed Taliesin coming up next to him. "It's beautiful, don't you think? I mean, imagine what the craftsmanship must have been like to make that window and that chandelier. People take things like that for granted, but it's hard for me to reconcile the pollution created outside with some of the beautiful things people can make." Leave it to nature boy to make that kind of connection. As his gaze drops once more, it comes to the individual nearby dressed all in black. "Huh," he says thoughtfully to himself. Turning to Tali, he asks "How've you been? Yesterday wasn't a bit much for you, I hope? Although you seemed to be having more fun with that conversation than I was."
"Indeed it is. Likely done by hand too, it's rare to find craftsmanship like that anymore. Everyone would rather order a box of parts and put together square furniture and call it art." Taliesin apparently has feelings about Ikea. "Do you know there is a whole Chapel in Houston filled with art by Mark Rothko? He was one of those gents who panted a whole canvas a solid color and everyone paid money for it? It's creepy and I've hung out in Winter." Taliesin’s eyes turn toward Lucien as he enters and he raises a brow. This is a new face to him, but he still raises his hand in a wave and smiles brightly. "Are you lost?" He called out to the stranger. "Oh yesterday? No that wasn't a large deal at all. I've sat on many planning meetings like that, but this was far more entertaining."
One brow creeps up just a little bit when he's asked if he's lost, but he shakes his head and says, "No." When he's close enough that he doesn't have to raise his voice to speak, he says, "Guess I live here, now... for the time being." He doesn't sound particularly certain about all of that, but he doesn't look particularly lost, either. There's a glance over his shoulder at the place for a moment and then back to the other two. "You?" Perhaps asking if they also live at the Sylvan Court. "I'm guessing there's lots of folks I haven't met." Then after another pause, he offers a hand. "Lucien."
Ciaran nods absently as Taliesin talks about some of the other art he's seen. "I haven't been near there, not much of a traveler. I suppose my idea of art's always been a bit skewed, since... well... nothing is more lovely to me than nature's bounty and beauty." As Taliesin calls out to the black-clad stranger, Ciaran tilts his head curiously. Once he wanders over to introduce himself, Ciaran gives a faint nod. Taking the hand, briefly, he responds "Ciaran. Nice to meet you. I'm in one of the rooms upstairs, yes." No surprise anymore that guests come and go from the Court. A brow cocks at Taliesin, but Ciaran doesn't speak on the other's behalf.
Taliesin smirks and nods his head. "You're not wrong, but the humans get it right sometimes. Though I suppose Rothko didn't." Taliesin shakes his head. "It's good to travel, you need to see the world and other places otherwise you get stuck in the same routine and that's how you kill creativity." When Lucien approaches them Taliesin nods and takes the offered hand. "Ah forgive me, I did not know we had another with us. I'm Taliesin Kennerick, Bard of the Autumn Court." He bows just a bit as he is wont to do when introducing himself. "I don't think I've met everyone either, but I have trouble sitting still."
Lucien lifts his head in greeting to Ciaran and then takes a step back after shaking the other's hand, shifting the bag slightly on his shoulder. Then he shakes Taliesin's hand as well in greeting. "Nothing to apologize for," he says with a shake of his head. "Only been here a couple of days. Jesse brought me by," he explains to the pair, as to how exactly he ended up here in the first place. "I know how that goes," he says with a bit of a wry smile at Taliesin. "I keep moving a lot." Then he looks back toward Ciaran and says, "I'd rather wander a beautiful garden than look at modern art any day, though. I just don't get it." Modern art, that is.
Ciaran arches a brow and looks sideways at Taliesin. Tali does a more thorough job of introducing himself, but Ciaran isn't nearly as forthcoming. The mention of Jesse causes something to soften in Ciaran's features. "Ah, so you're a friend of Jesse's? Can't be all that bad then." With a wry grin, he listens to the pair talk of travel and wandering and just shrugs. "I've done some traveling, but most of it hasn't been through cities." When Lucien mentions a garden, Ciaran's eyes light up. Almost literally, the green seeming to shimmer faintly. "Oh, you would enjoy the park then." He pauses, frowning faintly. "Though right now might not be the best time to see it. There've been, uh, a mishap or two near there. But soon!"
Taliesin mirrors the wry grin and nods his head. "Ah yes, Jesse is very welcoming." He lets the other two speak of gardens and can't help but smirk at the way Ciaran's eyes light up, literally. "Oh I don't mind a garden either, but they are far nicer when it isn't spring and the trees are keeping their pollen to themselves." He smirks butt shakes his head. "No he's right, stay out of the park for now." Turning back to Lucien he nods. "Give me a painting with a story any day. Edward Hopper does an amazing job of painting someone in the middle of something. You stare at it wondering why the woman stepped away from the theater, or why there are only two people in the diner. Those I could stare at for ages."
Lucien's smile ticks up a little at the edges when he mentions that he can't be all bad for being a friend of Jesse's. "Yeah, we met out there." He nods toward the forest. "He warned me there were some problems with uh, unruly vegetation. Probably would have been a good thing to know before I took shelter in a tree out there for the night, but hey.. any port..er.. branch.. in a storm I guess." He lets his shoulders rise and fall. "Nothing ate me. I lived." Evidently, given that he's standing there now. Though he does nod at Taliesin and says, "Something with detail in it, something that tells a story, sure. That, I can get into."
Ciaran frowns at hearing that Lucien was in the forest. "Yeah, no, not the best place to be right now. Vegetation out of control is probably on the lighter side of what could have gotten you." Leaning forward slightly, he breathes in faintly of Lucien's scent. "You don't smell completely of the city. So going to stick with not all that bad," he gives Lucien a wink. "Either way, there's something amiss in the woods right now so it's probably best if you stay out of them unless you're with a group." Pausing, he adds "Even if you are, it really should be the right kind of group." Though he doesn't say what he means by that exactly. "So, you're probably neighbors with Tali or myself."
Taliesin nods his head. "It's not wise to be out there, but I am glad you were not harmed." Taliesin replies, settling in with the subject change with ease. "You should probably just tell the poor lad what you're talking about. If Rey invited him to stay I am sure it would be useful knowledge for him. Maybe he can even help?" He did spot a knife somewhere he thinks, but isn't one to point out someone's arsenal.
There's a slight drawing back when Ciaran leans forward, but when he sniffs him, Lucien only raises a brow. Then he shrugs his shoulders and says, "It's where I grew up. It's where the work is. Doesn't mean I love it, but you do what you gotta." He grins a little over at Taliesin and says, "I can hold my own. I've tangled with some weird stuff in my life. Got the scars to prove it." He doesn't seem necessarily proud of that fact, just registering it as a fact of life. There is definitely at least one visible knife in his boot. A glance within his jacket would reveal another. There's likely more, though they're not all in plain sight. But the change in subject, he seems to flow with easily enough. "Yeah? Cool. I'm uh, out a lot, anyway. Business. And I wander a lot at night."
Ciaran taps his lower lip thoughtfully. "Maybe he can help, yeah. If you want more details, I can go into it later when we're upstairs. You... are staying upstairs, right?" I mean, the guy did say he was staying here. But best to check, just in case. "Wandering around at night is fine, I guess. I'm more a daytime kinda guy. The sun and the breeze. The moon and the stars have their own appeal, though, but you can't see them properly in the city." Shrugging one shoulder, he smiles.
"That sounds about right, you go where the work is, I know that life all too well." Taliesin smirks and nods when Lucien explains himself. "Good to know. I can hold a sword and stab people with it, but I find words cut far deeper." He looks to Ciaran and nods. "I think he mentioned that yes. In that case I do apologize for the noise coming out of my room." He won't say what noises he's talking about. "Wandering about at night should save you from most of it, though I myself am out a lot too, working where I can."
Lucien nods and says, "Sure. I mean, if it's something I can help with, then I'm down to help." He taps the edge of the sunglasses that obscure his eyes, since he was heading outside. "I see better at night. Daylight and I aren't on as good terms." Though it doesn't apparently stop him. "But yeah, my room's upstairs." He nods in that direction again and gives Taliesin a wry smile and a shake of his head, "Noise doesn't bother me." One would imagine that there's plenty of it in the city nights.
Ciaran gives Taliesin a faint smirk. "Noises? Whatever are you talking about?" He plays the innocent part very poorly, however. Acting coy is not his strong suit. Probably because he's not much of a liar. Nodding thoughtfully, he continues "I'll fill you in the next time we catch each other upstairs then. Might be you can help out after all. The more hands on deck for this particular problem, the better." As Lucien points out the sunglasses and mentions his vision, Ciaran frowns. "Not able to truly appreciate the daytime? I'm sorry to hear that. Pity."
"Excellent! Look, making new friends and gaining allies, we're already ahead of the curve, or whatever those corporate people say when they feel like they're winning business." Taliesin smirks and when Ciaran comments he gives him a knowing glance, but drops it. "Oh yes, the city is noisy enough, but not as noisy as some." He shrugs his shoulders as he leans against the wall. "Mornings are over-rated anyway, you're not missing much."
"I can appreciate it, just.. not without a bit of help," Lucien says with a little shrug and a concession toward the glasses. "It's worth it for being able to see without light." He lifts a hand and scratches a little bit behind one tapered ear. "So yeah, I'm in to help. We can talk about it later sometime." He then smiles a little wryly between the two of them and says, "City's full of those kind of noises, too. Fortunately, my hearing's not as good as my eyesight," he jokes.
Ciaran lets out a throaty chuckle at Lucien's words about hearing. "Yeah, my eyesight's fair but my other senses are a little better." He taps his nose, adding "Though I'm not the one with the expert sense of smell around here. If you haven't met Otis, you soon will. And then you won't be able to get away from him if he ever wants to track you down. He's got a better nose than a bloodhound." Looking back up at the chandelier, he lets out a little sigh. "I've seen such loveliness back home. Makes me miss it a bit." He glances sideways at the others. "How people can be full of such a need to roam around the world, I'll never know. But to each their own, hmm?"
"My senses aren't all that fancy, except when it comes to illusions." Taliesin shrugs, but the mention of Otis causes his grin to turn wicked. "Oh yes, if Otis wants to find you, he will. I'm sure you could roll yourself in horse shit and he would still find you. He's a big softie though don't let his size intimidate you." He looks at the pointed ears on Lucien’s head and smirks. "Bless your average hearing then." When Ciaran talks of roaming he gives him a sad smile. "Some of us do not have a choice in the matter."
Lucien shakes his head, "Haven't met Otis yet. You two, Jesse, Rey, and Rinne are the ones that I've met since coming here." He slides his hands into his pockets and glances around, still looking like he feels decidedly out of place in the midst of all this opulence. "Where's home?" he asks Ciaran when he mentions the loveliness of home. He smiles a little wryly, "Less the world.. more other places," he says of his own roamings. Both brows up go up a little bit as they both describe Otis and he says, "Duly noted. Never challenge the big guy to a game of hide and seek." There's a curious glance at Taliesin when he mentions not having a choice, but he says nothing, not prying into that. Instead he laughs and says, "Bless being average in some respects, indeed."
Ciaran responds, "The Spring Court," to Lucien when asked about home. Reaching out, he offers Lucien a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Can't miss Otis. You'll meet him soon enough, I'm sure. He handles security. And sometimes other things." Though what other things Otis handles, he doesn't go into. He doesn't make it sound lewd, though. "Average isn't so bad, at all. My hearing's a bit sharper because, well..." He flicks one of his ears and smiles mysteriously. "Not that you can see them right now. Tali's not the only one who can conjure up an illusion or two." He doesn't explain further.
"No, he's taller than I am." Taliesin laughs as he looks up. "I'm not used to that at all." Taliesin slides his hands in his pockets and he shrugs his shoulders. He zones out for a moment as they talk of the Spring Court and he does his best not to scowl at the thought of that place. "Indeed." He says when he joins back into the conversation. "What remains of my humanity gets me out of a lot of sticky situations. Oh and you make my illusions sound so tiny." He teases, not that he's shown anyone really what he can do with his powers.
When Ciaran reaches toward him to pat him on the shoulder, Lucien instinctively tenses like he did when he leaned in earlier, drawing back just slightly. He doesn't outright avoid the pat, but there's definitely the sense that he's unused to people casually touching him. "Illusions must be handy," he agrees. "I just wear a hat." He pulls nods toward his messenger bag. He doesn't seem to show any recognition when the Spring Court is mentioned at all. Ciaran may as well have said Cleveland. "I'm sure your illusions are of appropriate and adequate size," Lucien comforts, teasingly.
Ciaran doesn't miss the way Lucien flinches, and the pat is quite light as a result before he draws his hand back and lets it rest at his side. He also doesn't notice their reactions to the Spring Court. That, or he ignores them. "I'm sure Tali's skill dwarfs most people's when it comes to those..." There's a faint smile to his lips. "Though a hat is probably a much more practical solution. It's my understanding that my level of consciousness and exhaustion can play a role in, uh, undermining my attempts at being subtle." Like that one time he passed out from overextending himself and his glamour dropped.
Taliesin takes note of the flinch but doesn't call the new neighbor out on it. Instead he keeps his smile up and chuckles to himself. "Oh I assure you they are quite large. I'd show you but I really don't feel like explaining it to everyone who isn't a fae right now." That and he isn't sure how Rey feels about flashy magic used freely in his entry hall. "I think we've all pushed that button now and again, I know I have. Not as bad as I did in my teenage years, the others I was training with were always trying to outdo each other. I tend to keep it subtler these days."
Lucien smiles a little amusedly at the discussion of illusions, listening to both of them with a kind of idle interest in the topic. "Yeah, the hat definitely doesn't care whether I've got any energy or not," he chuckles. Then he glances around and says, "Yeah, probably isn't the best venue for it." Right in the doorway like that, anyway. "But still, that's pretty cool that you can do it at all. Not something I've ever been able to do."
Ciaran listens to the other speak, nodding in agreement. "Yes, best not to draw the attention or ire of our most gracious host." He then casually steers the conversation back to Lucien. "So, where do your gifts lie? You know Taliesin's now. Mine, as befitting a Fae of the Spring Court, revolve around nature. And you...?" He gestures to Lucien's person, his eyes betraying his curiosity. "Just for the sake of gauging how best to, uh, use your talents if we wander out into the forest." Yeah, that's totally it. He's not being nosy at all, nope.
"Of course, I would dare not catch his ire, his sword is very sharp and he knows how to use it." Taliesin nods and smirks at the hat. "This is also why I grew my hair out, that and finding person good enough to make this insanity look amazing takes effort that I just do not have." When Ciaran asks about Lucien's powers Taliesin turns his eyes to him equally as interested in the answer as well. That and he is very nosey, it's part of his job description.
"I travel the dreamscape," Lucien says, which explains a bit about his more nocturnal excursions, given that there often more sleepers during the evenings than during the day. "I can visit people in dreams, use their dreams to travel, manipulate the dreams themselves." He reaches out a hand in front of him and plucks from the air, a red ball, about the size of an apple, which appears with a slightly violet mist around it before the mist dissipates. "I can pluck things out of recent dreams, or nightmares.. just small things right now, but I'm practicing. They only last until the next sunrise but.. they're real for the duration." He tosses it up in the air and catches it before gently tossing it toward Ciaran. He doesn't seem to mind talking about what he can do. "Comes in handy as a courier. Lets me move around the city pretty fast at night, get where I need to go. And I can help people, those with nightmares." Or cause them, one might surmise. "There's some gnarly things in nightmares though. They bite." He flashes a grin.
Ciaran lets out a faint cough at Tali's remark. "Yes, he does indeed know how to wield his sword. Quite effectively." Ciaran listens with interest as Lucien explains, catching the ball tossed at him and looking closely at it. "Seems real to me. Fascinating." Tossing it to Tali so the other Fae can inspect the solid feel of the ball. "That might come in handy. I don't believe the things we're tracking have dreams, but being able to conjure like that... could come in quite handy." The whole moving through dreams bit seems to lose him somewhat. "So you can disappear here into someone's dream and sort of... hop into another and move across town?"
Taliesin tilts his head and quirks his brow. "Dreamscape traveling, that is fascinating, I do not believe I have encountered anyone who could do that. I am sure you have stories of dreams that you've seen, I would absolutely like to pick your brain about them." Taliesin catches the ball and rolls it around in his hand. "That is very handy, very handy indeed." He tosses it back in case the person wants it back in their dreams. "Oh I believe they would bite back, they bite when they happen for sure."
"Yes," Lucien says. "I could step into someone's dream, and then I use the landscape to travel, from one to the next. It's not a direct route. Sometimes I step on a train, sometimes it's a boat, sometimes I fly. It depends on the dream, and I can navigate them, from person to person. And if I've met them, I can use their dream to step back out of the dreamscape on the other side, somewhere near where they're sleeping if they're asleep, or where they normally sleep if they're awake. It's.. not an exact science, dream walking." He grins a little lopsidedly, "And while I can't really hurt anyone physically through a dream, I can take a beating since I'm actually really in there." Which makes it a little on the dangerous side. He nods to Taliesin and his smile grows a little bit crooked, "Yeah, you see some things when you wander around in people's heads." He catches the ball and spins it between his fingers once before palming it. There's a faint bit of violet smoke and it's gone again, back from whence it came.
Ciaran's eyes widen faintly at the explanation. "Wow, that sounds awesome. Not the part about it being dangerous, but all the rest of it. I can't imagine what it must be like to travel through a person's dreams like that. Do they notice you're there? Or are you more or less invisible and in the background?" A blush suddenly comes to his cheeks. "I mean, like, if you're in someone's head and they're having a particularly interesting dream do you become a part of it or are you just more of an observer?" Clearly, he's thinking of something in particular, but he won't say what as he beats around the bush. Not hard to guess, though, and Ciaran doesn't really blush that easily.
"Oh yes what does happen when you barge in on someone’s naughty dreams? I know I have had more than one that were just beyond bizarre that I might actually be a smidge embarrassed if someone else saw. Just a smidge." He smirks as he holds his finger and thumb a small distance apart. "That is handy, though I would be worried about getting trapped, and well yes, if someone was falling in their dream you could be falling too. It is a dangerous job it seems."
Lucien tilts his head a little this way and a little that, "I'm not invisible, no. They'll notice if it makes dream-sense. Like, if I'm walking through a stadium in a crowd and just keep on going outside and hail a cab, they probably wouldn't notice me there. If I streak naked across the field, yah, they're going to notice that." His lips quirk a little, obviously catching Ciaran's meaning, and chuckling at Taliesin's more direct question, "I try not to interrupt a good thing, unless they seem to want me to."
The blush slowly fades from Ciaran's cheeks, but he nods in understanding. "That's super interesting. Full disclosure, I'd appreciate it if you didn't jump into mine without asking." Pausing, he adds "I mean don't wake me up to ask or anything. So, perhaps don't wander into them unless you /have/ to. Let's go with that. Since we're going to be rooming near each other. I don't recall most of my dreams anyway. Maybe I don't even have any." Shrugging, he tilts his head back to eyeball the chandelier. "You know, I never thought I'd have such an interesting discussion as a result of starting at a dangling crystal."
"Full disclosure you are free to walk into mine and I rarely turn down anyone who wishes to join into fun. Especially in my dreams. I warn you there is a whole lot of boring in mine, the typical naked on stage being embarrassing or something equally annoying that wouldn't bother me were I awake." He smirks at Ciaran and his observation and nods up to the ceiling. "There is a lot that happens under a chandelier, and I am sure this one has seen its fair share of history."
Lucien grins a little and nods his head to Ciaran, "If you're ever curious if you do, though, let me know." He then glances back up at the chandelier and says, "Interesting conversations can stem from the smallest of random things." He chuckles to Taliesin and gives a little salute. "Duly noted." He shrugs his shoulders, "I don't need someone else's to hop out once I lay down to sleep. I can use my own, so I wouldn't be hopping into anyone around here's dreams normally anyway."
Ciaran frowns in confusion at Lucien. "Wait, how can you get into your own dreams? Wouldn't that make you... I mean... if you can disappear into a dream and reappear elsewhere, what happens if you go into your own dream? Do you just kind of... drift... until you find someone's dream to pop out of and then poof your body is gone?" Glancing at Taliesin, he adds "Can you imagine it?" Looking back to Lucien, he adds "I'm going to have to ask you more about this soon. So many questions. Maybe even watch you demonstrate." Pausing, he adds "Oh wait, not much to demonstrate if I'm just watching you sleep." Snapping his fingers, he says "I know! You can wander into one of my dreams. You know, with permission. On a night that I haven't eaten late or had anything interesting happen." Yes, perfect idea.
Taliesin stares at Ciaran as he begins all of the questions and he reaches up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Your questions are making my brain hurt and they're not even directed at me." He laughs and smirks at the other two. "We're all about experimentation here, I wouldn't mind experiencing that either, it would make writing stories about you easier." That is if there are going to be stories to write. "But it's good that you can find your way back through your own body, I've heard things about astral projection that really throw things off if they're not properly tethered."
"I just vanish, so there's not a lot to watch. I'm there, I fall asleep, and then I fade out. Then I start hopping from there," Lucien grins at Ciaran. "You really wouldn't see anything at all unless you were asleep and I hopped into your dream." He laughs, "Sure, you can ask whatever you want." He doesn't seem to mind at all, his shoulders rising and falling lightly. "We'll pick a night destined for the truly most boring of dreams," he says, knowing full well that's not really how that works. He smiles at Taliesin and says, "Yeah, I can always find may way home, it's just a matter of time and sometimes the journey can be less than pleasant, depending on how things go. But, I'm all for sharing what I can if you're interested."
Ciaran is dressed in a white T with a leprechaun on the front and a pot of gold and rainbow on the back, his legs covered in his trademark jeans. He's standing near the wall, with Taliesin and Lucien gathered in a huddle talking. He looks a bit excited at the prospect of whatever he's discussing with the pair. "Sorry Tali, but this is interesting stuff. Like. Can you help people remember their dreams, too? So if you wander into one of mine and poke around a bit, can you make it so when I wake up its still lingering?" Ciaran knows nothing about astral projection, but the whole thing is clearly exciting to him.
Taliesin is leaning against a wall as they chat, nodding to the other two and just as interested in the conversation as they are. "Oh no it is interesting, I have not met someone with powers like this before, but yes I would be interested in sharing information, it can only help in the long run." He nods to Lucien.
"I can make them more vivid, more memorable, yeah. The dreams that I affect, people can usually remember, or it wouldn't really have as much effect," Lucien says to Ciaran with a nod of his head. Taliesin gets a smile, and he says, "There's a lot of things that I can do with it, but it's all," he taps his head a little bit. "It's not much use in fighting things directly, but then that's what the knives are for." He's dressed all in black, from his boots to his jeans to the long sleeved t-shirt under his light jacket. He has a messenger bag slung over one shoulder and sunglasses on even though he's indoors at midday. The sharp points of his ears are mostly concealed by his hair, but looking closely enough one might notice them.
Tonight, Tenebris happens to arrive as if he were arriving at a restaurant where he has a long-standing reservation, and he's dressed in what can only be called the world's most tantalizing bodysuit: it covers him from the neck down, but it's so form-hugging, and that is one very pleasing form underneath it. Straps wind along the shapes, seemingly at random, accenting an area here or there. Depending on the way he moves, the black matte material catches the light, though otherwise it sticks to him like a living shadow, woven into cloth. It looks durable, and he moves like it's second skin, clearly used to it.
When the imposing witch notices a familiar face and some new ones he's yet to meet, he disregards everything and everyone else in the room and makes a line direct to them. "Good evening," he greets, with the wave of a black-gloved hand. "Ciaran, won't you introduce me to your friends?"
Ciaran smiles at the familiar voice and turns his gaze to Tenebris. "Oh, Tenebris! So good to see you." Turning to Taliesin, Ciaran adds "This is the other gentleman I mentioned last night at our get together." Directing his gaze to Tenebris, Ciaran indicates each man in turn. "These are Taliesin and Lucien. The latter of whom we have just become acquainted with." He flashes Lucien a smile. "We've just been getting to know each other, he's a guest here at the Court like us." Inclining his head slightly towards Tenebris, Ciaran says in a quieter tone, "Taliesin and I were just at a meeting yesterday with a few others. A formal invitation has been extended for us to visit Rowanwood, should we so desire." He doesn't bother trying to hide the conversation from Lucien, since the newcomer has already been clued into the goings on in the woods.
Taliesin quirks a brow at Lucien and smirks. "You can do all of that and you say you're still only training? I worry what you'll be in a century. Well I suppose worried is the wrong word if you're on our side that is." He laughs and tilts his head when the new friend arrives. "Ah yes I think we met briefly a while back, it's hard to tell as so many come and go in this place. Good to see you again." He nods his head.
Lucien doesn't seem to mind the conversation being mentioned in front of him, even though he has no idea what it means. He just seems content to hang out while the others discuss whatever business they need to discuss. He gives a nod of his head to Tenebris in greeting when the other is introduced, "Afternoon." He then flicks a glance over at Taliesin and chuckles, "Well... I'm training with the conjuring. Pulling things out of dreams is a lot harder than wandering around in them." He shrugs his shoulders, grinning a bit.
"Very pleased to make your acquaintance." Tenebris inclines his head to both Taliesin and Lucien, each in turn. "And good to see you again -- I believe we did meet, albeit briefly, the other night." This is directed to Taliesin. "You were otherwise occupied with the bear and the cook, I believe. I thought it more discrete to simply leave you to it. But yes, I recall the name -- one doesn't often run into someone with the name of a legendary bard."
Ciaran gives Lucien a smile. "Conjuration is an art that takes time and practice. I would know, although what I conjure is of the natural world instead of from dreams. A bit more limited in some capacities, but affording a certain kind of freedom in others." Tenebris has seen Ciaran's conjuration first-hand in their last fight alongside one another. Directing his attention to Tenebris, Ciaran continues "I think you should accompany the group headed to Rowanwood, Tenebris. The whole research thing is a bit outside what I'm familiar with, but the few interested in seeing the library -- well, if you guys can't nail down a way to get rid of this thing using those books, I don't know what we'll do."
"Well that does sound difficult. Granted you make dreamwalking sound easy, I'm sure I would get too distracted at watching the show." Taliesin replies with a smirk. He nods to Tenabris and shrugs. "It was a weird night for everyone, but I am sure we'll find time to catch up again. Yes my mother named me well, or perhaps she was influenced to name me this. Either way, I don't hate it, but it's a damn mouthful." He smirks and reaches into his pocket to check his phone for the time.
"Likewise," Lucien says to Tenebris with a nod of his head. He falls quiet then while the others talk, seemingly content to fade a little bit toward the background as they discuss matters of importance. Not that he isn't paying attention. No, he takes in every word, but he offers little comment for the time being.
"Just three syllables. Not that much." Tenebris breaks into a little bit of a grin, then turns back to Ciaran with the topic of Rowanwood and the library. "I have the Libris Omnis, if we should need it. If I didn't show it to you, I'll have to rectify that as soon as the opportunity presents itself. But we should absolutely go to Rowanwood. It's a glowing jewel of witchcraft, and it's worth seeing. You should consider it one of the few wonders of the world that we're supremely blessed to be given the ability to go to."
Ciaran nods to Tenebris. "I remember, you showed it to Noah and myself. But with everyone bringing up Rowanwood, I thought it might be worth going to, agreed. Also, the witch representing them at our meeting mentioned demonic magic. That's all you, Ten. But maybe you can find something in Rowanwood that will let you uh... let others to use something similar? To what you can?" Shrugging, he says "Just a thought. I don't know enough about the subject."
Ciaran turns his head to include Lucien in the next few things he says. "Lucien, if you're serious about helping out, I'm planning another trip out to investigate. Our meeting brought up the suggestion that we triangulate where the creature's at. I have a decent idea of where we need to look next, so I plan to take a group to scout it out. You interested?"
Taliesin smirks at Tenebris. "Four, if you're my mum and I've done something to anger her." Which it looks like that happened often with the mischievous look in his eyes. He smirks at the plan and nods his head to Lucien. "I'm sure it would be very entertaining to say the least." His phone makes a noise and he taps on it for a second. "It appears I may be summoned elsewhere. It was lovely to catch up with all of you and I look forward to working with you." He gives them all a genuine smile and a nod.
Lucien nods in answer to Ciaran's question. "I was serious about helping. And I'm definitely down for a scouting mission." He glances over at Taliesin when the man's phone makes a noise and then lifts a hand from his pockets to give him a little wave in farewell. "Nice to meet you," he says before Taliesin heads off.
"I'm sure they know about demonic magic. Plenty of witches use it." Tenebris puts a hand on his hip and glances between the participants in the conversation, shifting the weight at his hips to swing them slightly and change his posture. Of course, as he moves even slightly, the light plays on another set of contours and shadows. One hand lifts to wiggle the fingers at Taliesin, smiling quietly as he wanders off to take his call and go to where he's beckoned. Once he's out of earshot and Tenebris isn't disrupting his conversation, he eases back into the other two's. "I can provide some grimoires, if that would help. I do think triangulation is an excellent strategy to employ. It's one I've used many times myself. These things can be removed in a surgical strike, if we're good."
Ciaran gives Taliesin a two-fingered salute as the other gets summoned away. "I'll swing by your room later and let you know what's up, Tali. Take care." As the bard wanders off, Ciaran turns back to the two remaining. "Grimoires? Not really my kind of magic, but perhaps some of the others would be interested?" Shrugging, he nods to Tenebris. "Rightly so. Hence my goal to figure out if we can pinpoint where the thing is." Glancing into the club, he smiles and says "I should probably head up, too. I'm going to go ahead and make arrangements for you guys to visit Rowanwood. I didn't get that witch's number, so I'll just go through the Hotel."
"Nice to meet you," Lucien says to Ciaran when he says that he too is going to be heading out. "I'm sure I'll see you around, and let me know when you decide to go on that scouting mission. I'll be ready to go." He smiles a bit at Tenebris at the talk of grimoires, but it's not something that he personally can use, so he merely listens with interest, studying the other man until he mentions triangulation. "Can't hurt to narrow down the area."
"If you want demonic magic used, you'll want grimoires. Anyone can cast a spell who has the ability if they only follow a ritual written down. If they're not using demonic magic the rest of the time, there's no other pragmatic way to do it." Tenebris switches hands on hips and shifts his weight to the other side, which catches the light in a dazzling display all over again. The material is scintillating, but subtly enough not to be gaudy. He gives Lucien a fond smile at the voiced support. "Exactly right! If we can get it narrowed down enough, that'll minimize the impact to the environment."
Ciaran begins to wander off as well, back towards the club, giving Tenebris a final nod as he does so. "Grimoires it is, then. Please feel free to fill the others in when you guys head to Rowanwood. Although Noah might take some convincing. The little guy, Skitch, he might be good with a grimoire. Seemed sharp enough to follow a ritual. G'night!" And with that, he's gone.
Lucien watches as Ciaran heads off as well and then shifts the messenger bag on his shoulder a bit, his attention turning back toward Tenebris then. "I should probably not hold you up from whatever you were coming in for." He nods in the direction that Tenebris was heading.
Tenebris, at this, smiles softly and gives another dip of his head. "Lovely to meet you. I hope we'll be seeing more of you. Just don't take this too lightly -- what we're facing is the most horrible of things. The foulest of creatures. Don't let it get the better of you." Lifting a hand, he taps a finger to the side of his nose, then turns to continue into the lounge. "Ciao!"