2020.05.17 - Talk Magic -OR- What is a Comfort Witch
Today finds Tenebris returned to the Sylvan Court, after a few days' absence. He's dressed in a subtly sublime shirt in black and dark reds and oranges, with a single pinstripe of gold woven through the material at the right chest. It only catches the eye when it catches the light. He's wearing almost form-fitting trousers in black, and boots with a rounded heel and curved toe, which almost look like they're a part of those pants. Stylish, as usual.
A glance to the room, and the War Witch makes his way to one of the cocktail bars, taking a seat and folding one leg atop the other idly.
Noah is already at a table at the Sylvan Court's cocktail lounge, his attention on an empty wine glass in front of him. He's wearing a cute little animated cloud t-shirt, one of his favorites, his dark blue jeans that have been neatly pressed, and his black minimalist sandals, and the scent of vanilla and sandalwood seems to roll off of his soft flesh. He peeks up from his writing toward Tenebris, then waves to the fellow. "Oh, hello! Would you like to join me?" he asks, his cheeks a hint red.
Coming downstairs, Ciaran is currently adjusting the collar of his blue button-up shirt. He's not wearing a T today, deciding to dress up - just because he felt like it. As he approaches the bar to get a drink, he hears a familiar voice calling out and turns to see Noah. Who is gesturing at Tenebris. Two familiar faces! "Tenebris, fancy meeting you here!" he says by way of greeting. Although the usual warmth is in his voice, there's an almost undercurrent of tension in him. His body seems more rigid than normal and every now and then his expression changes to one that is decidedly less happy than he's trying to show. It's a subtle thing, easy to miss if you aren't looking for it.
Noah's wave catches his attention before Tenebris turns to acknowledge it with a pleasant nod. "Of course, that would be fine." He slides to his feet and pauses, once Ciaran walks into the area. When he approaches, Tenebris tilts his head slightly back, casting his eyes along the man's form and just staring for a few seconds. "It's no coincidence. What's troubling you? There's something about you that isn't quite right."
Noah smiles to Tenebris, a smile which only grows as he sees Ciaran. "Ciaran!" he says, beaming to his boyfriend. He waves, almost wildly, until he's sure the pair sees him, then settles in to finish some notes in his notebook, the empty glass of wine still resting on the table before him. "Yeah, please join me! Ciaran, how are you?" he asks sheepishly.
Ciaran arches a brow at Tenebris at his words, heading in Noah's direction as well. "Something that happened the other night," he says in a quieter voice to the witch. He looks pointedly at Noah, turning a chair around and sitting in it with his arms crossed over the back. It's very atypical for Ciaran to sit this way, and the way he hunches forward is also not normal. Letting out a sigh, a scowl touches his features. "You've missed a bit, not that I blame you. Kinda wish I had as well." He drops his forehead to the chair back and just breathes for a bit.
"It couldn't be helped," Tenebris answers, by way of explaining as he walks to the table where Noah has invited him. He doesn't sit, but he does stand just next to the table and its inhabitants. "Tell me what's happened. Judging by your aura, it's significant, and I have a feeling I'm not going to have much more opportunity to keep adjusting things."
Noah reaches out to rest a hand on Ciaran's, even as odd as it is to see him in such a way upon the chair. "I hope you'll let me know how I can help," he says softly, clearing his throat to look at Tenebris. "It is quite nice to see you," he says, his finger stroking around the rim of the glass. He doesn't say much more than that, observing the pair quietly as he listens, curious as ever.
Ciaran looks up and rests his chin on the chair back, letting out another sigh. "We ran into another one of the... things. Like the tentacles. Not quite an abomination, but more than something corrupted. It..." He trails off momentarily. "It had corrupted a pack of dogs. They were... disgusting. Too far gone to save. It was... unsettling how dark they felt. They attacked, of course. I was with the other Fae trying to figure out where this thing is hiding. I think we have a better idea of the general vicinity now, if we consider everywhere else we've come across its influence."
"And you," Tenebris briefly answers Noah, before his attention fully goes to Ciaran again. His eyes go dark, and his mien altogether very serious. His jaw sets, nostrils flare with breath, and he slowly tilts his head downwards. "Or it could be that there's another one. It may have spawned already. It would have to be recently...those...approximate dogs may just be failed attempts. You see, sometimes Abominations prefer to attempt creating life, to pass unseen until it's too late. If it did that...humans love dogs, of course. If one of those things creates a pack of dogs, there's no way any human could stop it."
Noah squeezes Ciaran's hand gently, a serious look on his face. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that," he murmurs softly, his cheeks warm as he leans in to kiss the back of Ciaran's hand. "I don't...really know much about what's going on with that, not the specifics, or how they work, or operate, but these Abominations....they do not belong here, which means there must be a way to get them to their own home, away from ours." Tenebris's words seem so dire, and he nibbles at his lower lip. "I...I wonder if there is a way to....stop this?"
At the moment, Ciaran is sitting at one of the lounge tables with Noah next to him. Noah's hand is on Ciaran's in a comforting manner, with Tenebris standing nearby. Ciaran looks forlorn as he speaks to Tenebris. "There was a bigger one. A wolf with two mouths. Rey was able to banish it using the magic of his sword. Same as the last time, bits of it just slowly disappeared until it was gone. The dogs were... well, I hope you're right and they were just creations. I didn't feel any life in them at all."
Shaking his head, Ciaran tries to smile and flips his hand upside down so that it's palm-up in Noah's. He strokes Noah's palm with his thumb. "It's just getting to me, I guess. The sooner these things are gone, the better." He leans back and cracks his neck, shaking his head out a little. "I hate dwelling on these kinds of thoughts. Sit down and tell me more about your magic, Tenebris? I'm curious."
"It's understandable." Tenebris slides a chair out with a boot, then lowers himself suddenly but gracefully into it. He leans back, one leg sat atop the other. "I could do with a glass of wine. Noah, if you'd be so kind?"
There's not a smile on his features for long, but Tenebris affords it to Noah out of kindness and possible concern. It seems to him like Noah's a little fragile. But anyone surely would be, in these circumstances. It's a miracle no-one's broken down yet. "What would you like to know? I'm an open book, but for the asking."
Where has Jesse been all day? Well he has been out training since before the sun rose. And not just basic training either. When he finally comes in from wherever he was. He looks like someone who has been running full steam for 12 hours and is finally finished. He at least managed to get washed up somewhere after his training at least. His hair is still wet, which is very unlike Jesse as it's always so pristine when he's out. He has his gear bag with him. The weapons that carried with him are no longer the practice stuff he usually uses. He is rather somber when he walks in. His ice blue eyes taking in the patrons of the lounge but he doesn't say anything just yet. He walks over to the person working the bar and he says something to them briefly. Then he turns and he walks over to trio as they converse. "Evening gentleman."
Noah smiles as Ciaran rubs his hand, and he looks to Tenebris as he listens to him. "Ah, yes, I can try that spell again," he says, clearing his throat as he looks around and huddles down over his empty wine glass. "Evening soft and divine, fill this glass with trickling wine," he murmurs quietly. The glass begins to bubble up from the bottom in a semi-translucent greenish-yellow liquid, which apparently surprises Noah. "Oh...uh..." He frowns and leans in, sniffing quietly. "Oh...pickle brine," he sighs, resting his forehead on his folded arm with an exasperated sigh.
Looking up, Noah smiles sheepishly toward Jesse and waves, then stands up to go fetch a glass of proper wine for Tenebris. "Jesse, Ciaran, would you like anything from the bar?"
Ciaran gives Noah a shake of his head. "Not feeling like drinking particularly, but thanks for asking." It's right at that moment that Jesse walks up to the table. Ciaran gives the other Fae a tight smile and a nod of acknowledgement. "Hi Jesse," he says softly. He then looks thoughtful for a few moments. To Tenebris, he says "Well, I know you mentioned you have that book with your library in it, but... how does demonic magic work? I've never paid much attention to that sort of stuff. Foolish, I know, since I'm Fae. But it never mattered as much to me as nature did. I mean, I can't use it so why bother. That was kind of my stance on the matter."
"I'd imagine using demonic magic would be an easy enough matter for any of the fae." Tenebris gives a sympathetic wince as Noah's spell doesn't quite work as intended. He clicks his tongue, tutting softly, and then nods a reassuring affirmation when the boy decides to go collect wine from where it's easier to be sure it's going to be wine.
Jesse's arrival makes Tenebris turn to look to him, but it's accompanied by a brief, not quite curt, nod of acknowledgement before his focus returns instantly to Ciaran. "But there is a sort of...it's not quite a stigma, but there's a reluctance of mingling. Still, there's a very fine, very blurry line. Demonic magic tends to work off passion, vibrant feeling, the very source of life and the spice of it. It's very primal, but then you'd know how that goes, being fae yourself." He lightly reaches out to tap the glass of pickle brine. It makes a brilliant chime, ringing as he hits it just so with the tip of his fingernail. "If the Abominations are anti-life, then demons -- and close relations -- are liveliness itself."
Jesse shakes his head at the offer. "Thank you Noah. I have some food and an iced coffee on the way. But I appreciate it." He looks back to Ciaran. Examining the other Fae up and down for a moment but he says nothing just yet. Just making sure Ciaran is okay. "Demonic Magic. Definitely not on the training list at the Courts. At least where I studied. However, it isn't something we would want to ignore either." He looks Tenebris over and returns the nod. "The temptation is great with that type of magic. We can easily get lost in the power that comes from it. Hedonism and that kind of magic go hand and hand. And much of our kind are the definition of hedonistic. However, there must be a balance to it all, lest we lose ourselves. And not all demonic magic taps into that. There are quite a few types that are quite nefarious as far as I am aware." Putting down his stuff he says, "I don't believe we have formally been introduced. Although your reputation proceeds you. Ciaran does nothing but speak of you. Jesse Outono." He even offers a hand to the man.
Noah returns with a glass of sangria for himself and a glass of chardonnay for Tenebris, smiling to all those gathered. "You look prepared for some training, Jesse," he says with a giggle, taking a sip of his sangria. He hums softly, then takes a sip of his pickle juice, then another sip of sangria. "I suppose for something that didn't turn out the way I expected, it at least is properly nice brine," he says, giggling a bit further. "Demonic anything is...quite over my head, but I think I have some information on them in my book, somewhere. I generally work with energy, the elements, but also, the divine, and nature itself." He smiles to Tenebris and to Jesse, then looks over at Ciaran longingly. "You're even more handsome every time I see you," he murmurs quietly, cheeks burning up.
Ciaran actually blushes as Jesse introduces himself to Tenebris. "Jesse... I don't talk about him /that/ much. You make me sound like a schoolgirl with a crush." As the two exchange commentary on the finer points of magic, he nods thoughtfully at their words. "That makes sense. I suppose there is a certain similarity, in some ways. That would explain why my magic was so effective at removing the corruption that first time."
As Noah returns with Tenebris' drink, Ciaran rests his elbow on the table and his chin in his palm. "It'll be done with soon, at least, of that I'm sure. I may not be a seer, but I can tell that much. We're weakening it little by little, cutting off its limbs. Just the head left now, according to what that ghost said last night." He bites his lip, looking at Jesse uncertainly. He shouldn't have brought up last night, probably. Noah's last comment causes Ciaran to actually smirk. "How much have you had to drink?" he teases.
"It's a tool," Tenebris adds, to what Jesse has said, perhaps to mitigate some concern. "Depending on who puts it to use, it can be for good or evil. It's most familiar to demons, so it's not abused among them. My...coven, I suppose you could call it -- War Witches in general -- we're very well-informed in its use, and our natures are complemented by it. If it were appropriated by an unsuitable person, I would imagine any magic could be a tremendous risk to the world around it."
Tenebris turns again to Jesse, once he's made his point, and takes the hand presented with his own. He gives it a squeeze and a single pump, and then he releases it. His expression remains pleasantly neutral enough. "Oh, it's already been said, it can't be put back in the bottle!" He chuckles, a soft, songlike laugh, to lighten the mood as he turns back to Ciaran. When Noah returns with the wine, he takes it with a dip of his head. "Thank you. I should've specified red, but this looks refreshing!" Contentedly, that glass is brought to his face, and he inhales. "Mm. What ghost would this be, that has such expertise on Abominations, then? You didn't tell me about this."
Jesse just says softly, "You do kind of have a school girl crush on him. But as long as Noah doesn't mind. Then that's all that matters." He gives Tenebris hand a firm shake. His hands are a bit cold to the touch but that's genuinely normal for him. When the shake ends, he looks at Ciaran, "Your magic promotes life. I am sure that you are an afront to the very existence of these...abominations. And as things get more desperate for them. I Think it would be best if you took a buddy with you if you were to leave the Sylvan Court." There is a bit of genuine concern in those ice cold blue eyes. "That prophecy with that spirit yesterday." He doesn't have to say it. He's afraid that Ciaran is the thing that they will lose during the battle with the corruption. "We should step up your training. Maybe work on a way to..." He ponders the right phrase. "weaponize your magic to better defend yourself. And that's why I got you some of these." He grabs a leather pouch from his bag. "From the FaeWild. I called in a favor or two. Seeds. Of various plants. Some of them particularly fast growing. I am sure that with some encouragement with your magic. Thrown on an enemy or on the ground. You could, help swing the odds back into our favor." Jesse was raised to make the best of everyone’s abilities, it's the whole basic Royalty training. Even something as passive as plant growth can be weaponized if done properly. And there are a few seeds that." He has a wicked grin. "Let's just say, you know the Snap Dragons in the Fae Wilds. And don't ask how I got them." Think of the snap dragons from Alice in Wonderland. Except the size of a humanoid thanks to Ciaran's abilities. "They are all labeled. Take your time sorting through them." He has been busy.
Noah blinks at Tenebris and frowns. "Oh! I-I can go fetch you a glass of red, then! Something like a merlot, perhaps?" Noah looks then to Ciaran and giggles at his boyfriend. "Just a sip! I cannot help that you are handsome," he says, his hand stroking over Ciaran's as he smiles warmly at him.
As Jesse mentions him, the witchboy looks toward him and shakes his head. "Tenebris is...rather crushworthy," he says, grinning toward Jesse. "You are, too. But I've been told I have a taste for Fae." Or taste of Fae, as it were, but innocent Noah wouldn't divulge that information willy-nilly! Listening to Jesse, Noah thinks and makes a few notes on his pad, sipping then at his pickle juice, and again at his sangria. "I could maybe help with that, Ciaran. I don't know that I could weaponize nature, but I know how to use that power defensively."
Ciaran accepts the seeds from Jesse with a nod. "Okay. Thank you, Jesse, I appreciate that. I'll see what you've brought me and how best to use them. Maybe Noah can help me sort them, since he's so kindly offered." Ciaran offers the little witch a smile. Then, he looks thoughtfully at Tenebris before he launches into the story. "It happened last night, Ten. Rinne called us out to the forest, he had a message for us. When we got there, he used his magic to show us a ghost. It looked like... someone from before. A hunter or warrior, tribal perhaps?" Shrugging, he goes on "It had a very cryptic message. The first part of it was that the children were gone and the sire remained. I'm assuming that means we only have the Abomination left to contend with. If it's messing with the energy in the forest, even the dead must be noticing."
Frowning, Ciaran adds "Then it said some more things that didn't really make sense. Something about seeing everything and speaking with many voices. Also, that it would try to divide us." Shrugging, he says "I think the only relevant part is the beginning." He sighs as Jesse brings up the prophecy. "There also may have been a spirit that possessed Rinne and gave us some threatening prophecy that we're going to lose something. Or someone. Or... well, some kind of loss. It wasn't clear what. Just suffering and loss and... yeah, not really the most optimistic message about our impending victory."
"My dear Noah, I wouldn't dream of it!" Tenebris lifts the glass to Noah, then tips it to his lips. Once he's let the sip he took open on his tongue, he swallows it down with a pleased smack of those lips. "Brilliant! You chose the perfect wine. I normally drink reds, but you know, this is the best Chardonnay I've had in at least fifty years. Thank you. And thank you for your kind words, too. I should say, you're rather crush-worthy yourselves, all of you here."
That's kind of a bomb to drop, but in the midst of all the other things going on at the moment, maybe it was meant to vanish into the considerable background noise of their current disaster crowding in on all of them. It's enough to make one feel claustrophobic, in any place. "Abominations *are* suffering and loss. Every time we face them, we look upon the face of despair. That's how they get in. That's how it's so easy for them. The major ones, the really fearsome ones, those usually take a ritual, or an agent. But the minor ones...all it takes is for someone to break just right."
Tenebris sets his glass down on the table, spinning it slowly with his fingertips on the stem. "On the contrary," he murmurs after a short stretch of pregnant silence, "I think the more important part is the end of that statement. If it will divide us, and if this spirit is even reliable...then what I was thinking of earlier must have already happened. It's given birth. And just like everything else they do, it's a twisted perversion of what you might see it as."
"Just learn how to use them to keep yourself safe. If we need more. Ask Taliesin to introduce you to Ember. She and her friends helped gather the seeds for me. Just pay her in sweets." Jesse grins at Ciaran and then looks to Noah. "Well, nothing wrong with enjoying some of the finer things in life. I don't have one particular type myself. Just help train Ciaran and I will return the favor." A wink to Noah. The talk of the previous night gets him a little tense. At least the temperature in the room hasn't dropped. And just then his food arrives and it is a good distraction. A cheeseburger deluxe platter with curly fries. And his extra large iced coffee. "Oh, just in time. Thank you for that." He tips the server but doesn't seem to pay for the meal. "That whole thing was a mess. You don't fuck with spirits unless you have proper protection from them. Had I known that we were dealing with Ghosts. I would have brought an expert. Rinne needs to train more before he starts going into these things." And that seems to be all he is going to say on that topic. He bites into his burger. Because yum and also he doesn't want to talk about how bad things could have been if Noah had not been there. He goes into silence as he eats his food. He had been out the entire day without major rations. He's famished. But that doesn't mean he isn't paying attention.
Noah grins at Tenebris. "Oh, you're just saying th--fifty? D-Did you say fifty years?" The witchboy blinks a few times, then clears his throat and takes another sip of both of his drinks. Apparently, the salty, vinegary tasty of the pickle juice mixes pleasantly enough with fruity, sweet sangria he'd chosen, and it makes him quite happy. "Of course, I'll do everything in my power to help, and I'll try to teach Ciaran whatever I can," he says, perhaps mostly to answer Jesse.
There's so much handsomeness going around that Noah can't help but blush as everyone basically complements one another. "Everyone here is so nice," he says softly, clearing his throat as h looks down at his notes. "Whatever that spirit was, it was quite maleficent. Dark spirits, when untethered, generally cannot cross a line of salt. I make my own black salts from the ashes of protection spells to empower them for protection and banishments." Noah strokes his fingertip around his sangria glass's rim. "I...part of my family's duties involve helping the good Fae-folk when asked, and assisting wayward spirits. It only took having a lost, violent spirit crashing around my bedroom one night when I was fourteen to learn how to keep myself safe from such...inconveniences. I'm just...really glad things worked out last night."
Ciaran nods as Jesse talks about getting more seeds. "Okay, I'll keep that in mind. Once I figure out what all these are, I'll have a better idea of what I can do with them. And if I run out of the best ones for me, I'll be sure to do as you say and get more." Noah's words cause Ciaran to shiver in memory. "Yeah, that spirit was definitely not friendly. I'm glad Noah was there or I don't know what would have happened..."
When Tenebris shares his thoughts on the ghosts' message, Ciaran's face looks horrified at the thought. "Birth? I don't even want to imagine what that could mean." Turning the puzzle over in his mind, he frowns. "So if the children are gone, that means the weaker ones have been defeated. So this... this second one is just as strong as the first? There's going to be two of the things?!"
Standing up suddenly, Ciaran quickly spins the chair around and sits on it like a normal person would. Reaching out, he casually plucks the glasses out of Noah's hands and sets them on the table before picking the witch up and depositing him on the Fae's lap. Ciaran wraps his arms around Noah like the boy is a teddy bear and buries his face in Noah's neck. Breathing deeply, he turns his face just enough to say "I don't think I can deal with that thought right now. I'm going to bury my face in my boyfriend and pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist for a minute. Just a quick minute." And he proceeds to do exactly that, breathing deeply of Noah's scent of vanilla and sandalwood.
"If it was just...well, the closest thing to born that those things do...if that's the case, it will be weaker until it can gather enough energy to reach its edifying metamorphosis." Tenebris takes another small sip of wine, then sets the glass down again. "We can still strike early enough. We just have to be very sure to act immediately. Time, it seems, is running out."
Impulsively, Tenebris smiles again, then at once rises, looking along the others there. The affection makes him smile a little wider, a little warmer, and his glance turns to Jesse for just a moment -- still not sure how to take him -- before returning to Ciaran, even if his attention is elsewhere. "I suppose that leaves it up to me. If my Mistress can spare any assistance, I'll secure it. If not...you'll have me."
Jesse looks at Noah, "You're surrounded by immortals. Don't ask Rey how old he is. My father is millennia old. Probably older if you take into account the time working differently where we are from." But he does add. "Maybe you should help Rinne then. He could learn some of that. I can't begin to express how unhappy I was about how last night went down. Rinne put himself in danger." Must resist urge from going on rant. Jesse sips his coffee and he puts it down. Topic change, good idea. He looks at Tenebris as he looks at him. The blond gives an ice blue wink. To Ciaran he reassures, "We will get rid of this before it has a chance to fully develop. If not. We will call in the forces. However, with the Autumn Knight and with Tenebris. I am sure that the tides will shift in our favor as long as we work together. We have each other. That is the major advantage we have over these things. We fight with passion and love. And as such, we have more reason to fight and overcome. I have a long life to live. And I plan on having every one of my friends with me along the way." The way Ciaran reacts, it forces Jesse to be the normal upbeat and positive person he usually is. At least he was before the threat of the corruption hit the world. "Anyone want some fries?" The burger is gone.
"I don't know that there's really anything I can do to help Rinne, though. He's not really a witch, is he? He's....some sort of...ghost-fellow?" Noah pouts when his drinks are taken, and squeaks as he's pulled into Ciaran's lap. He blushes deeply and leans back against Ciaran, kissing his fae boyfriend's cheek and neck. "I'll always be here for you, Ciaran," he says with a quiet laugh. He seems perfectly content to sit on his fae boyfriend's lap, of course. To Tenebris, he hums softly and nods quickly. "I'm sure everyone's very happy for your help," he says cheerfully. "We all need as much help as we can get when dealing with....those things."
Ciaran mumbles something into Noah's neck, then realizes no one heard him. Drawing his face back, he turns his head and rests it on Noah's shoulder. He regained some of his resolve at Jesse's words and he relaxes the tight clutch he had on Noah, making sure not to let the boy slip off his lap. "I don't think I can eat right now, but thanks for the offer," he says softly to Jesse. "And I do appreciate your optimism. I'm sorry if I'm being a bit pessimistic, it's just... not what I expected when the Spring Court sent me here."
Turning to face Tenebris, Ciaran says, "Tomorrow. Let's discuss it some more tomorrow, Tenebris. If there really are two now, you're right that we can't waste any time. Otis has a phenomenal rendition of the nearby area; I'll try to get a copy of it. We can plan how to hunt this thing. We have a good idea of where, we just need to hone in on the exact spot. I'll call a few people to the cafe, same one as the last time. Hidden Grove." He smiles up at the war witch. "I appreciate your offer of assistance. We wouldn't have come as far as we have without you. Thank you, truly." He seems to be doing better, but he keeps Noah on his lap. Some people have comfort foods, some people have comfort toys -- Ciaran has a comfort witch.
"I'll be there. Tomorrow. The cafe." Tenebris nods once and turns to stride out of the lounge, lifting a hand to wave over his shoulder. Pleasant enough, but purposed. Time is short, and there are too many things for him to ready for this inevitable confrontation. It must not be as bad as feared. It must not be allowed to become as terrible as it very well could be. But all of these thoughts aren't allowed to show on his face. He doesn't even look thoughtful. If anything, his posture is casual as he leaves the room, but a darkness descends on the mantle of his face as he walks into the falling evening.
"Shinigami. Yeah, I had no idea what they were either. Don't worry about that. But he needs to practice if he's going to use powers that he doesn't seem to have a lot of experience working with. You could help set up wards and stuff and that way if he does accidentally invoke some very nasty spirit. It won't possess him and go around killing the entire house while we sleep." Yeah, Jesse said it. Even if everyone who was present yesterday was probably thinking it.
Jesse turns to Ciaran. "King Silverhand wouldn't have sent you if he didn't think that you were capable. Just remember that Ciaran. And sometimes you have to remember the best thing that we can do is to know when it is time to report in and ask for help. You have this. You know for a fact that I would not allow you to proceed if I thought that you were at risk and not capable of handling yourself. You are too special to me." He smiles again. A genuine smile. And Tenebris is leaving. Jesse offers a pleasant, "Safe travels and well met." Before he gathers his stuff. "I need to go meditate in the freezer." The saddest part is. He isn't even joking. He gathers his stuff and slips into the secret entrance to the basement.