#elsewhere

"I believe, and hope, that all Lodge members are constructive and work to positive ends, Zane. Zane, what is wisdom? And what is intelligence?"

"Okay, do you realize how what you're saying sounds? Like. you're questioning tha I have those traits. You make it sound like I may NOT being constructive and positive?"

A long pause. "Then I withdraw my request for your answers."

"Sory, it maybe satyr thin skin, but the fact I can use magic on this guy, that I can lower the banality is why I thought... " A breah "KNEW I was best suited to this. I'm not torturing the thing, though I was thiking of destroying it. I have all I can learn from him. So I was going to"

"Your Da'an is yours." Frank nods.

A scrutinizing look, then "How would you handle this ?"

Frank rubs his beard thoughtfully. "I would be sensitive to the banality of the creature. I would have others nearby, physically. Watching. I would limit time with it. And I would absolutely not consider following any 'chain' to the thing's more powerful elders."

"Zane. If I am wrong, I am wrong and will admit and own it. But I cannot imagine that we wish to escalate this.... situation. DE-escalation is my goal."

"Confrontation with the Children of Lilith is not our way."

"Well, I got 2 and a half out of those" He ponders "Sir, the elder over it, he's the one who sent this one. It's like refusing to take a shot at the officer when he can just send more privates don't you think?"

"I'm not a General. I don't call the shots. I observe the Escheat."

"No sir. I'm saying the vampire I've got is the private. And his sire is the officer who can send more"

"And I'm not tellinng his guy I'm a changeling. Right of ignorance is not being violated. Right of rescue is being actively pursued"

the young man looks frustrated but is trying to put up his point of view on this

"We don't reveal ourselves. To mortals, to Prodigals. That is the Escheat." patiently.

"And I haven't. I haven't said that I'm special, or magical even and I sure haven't said I'm a changeling. He doesn't even know me except as his sire or whatever the term is because I've got him under an amazing mind scramble"

"Which is admirable." Frank says.

"I am.... not amazed but... impressed, sincerely, at your skill and mastery of the Arts, Zane."

"Well, I had my dad as a teacher for the first part of my life in Chicanery," Cautious at the shift to praise but still pleased, a breath "Fine. I'll NOT persue his sire myself. But I still want to learn what I can"

Frank thinks, nods. "What is your plan when your cantrip or control fails?"

"Well, the handcuffs can hold a strong man but yes a vampire might break that, so I also have the shotgun"

"Shotgun?"

"Yeah, Tiffany loaned it to me. It's under table between me and the vampire... got the idea from a western" He nods "Before you ask, she taught me the basics of how to fire one. " A humph "Only after she went over maintaince and safety and proper upkeep of firearms. " the satyr mimics Tiffany 'This is your shot gun, there are many like it, but this one has your finger prints on it. Without me, my shotgun is dangerous, with me, my shotgun is very dangerous. If you fire your shotgun, you must fire it true. You must shoot straight at the enemy who is trying to kill you before he can kill you, you shoot, you kill, so shoot true and only at those who truly deserve it. " A siggh "She went on like that for a long time until I told her I memorized it. "

"The shotgun... is in the house....near the vampire?"

The satyr rubs at his face "The STAKED vampire you mean? Who I STAKED when you pulled me out to talk? Who can't do anything because STAKE? Is the shot gun he doesn't know about near the guy with the sharp micro spear of wood pinning his shriveled heart near the gun? YES. But as I took the ammo out after, I don't think, if by some horrid anti-miracle , the stake vanishes, he'll be using it. "

Frank nods. "Thank you. I'm..... I have nothing else, Zane. Thank you for taking time for me.:

"Mountain, I could say you're welcome, but it wouldn't be true" A huff "Frankly this whole exchange makes me think you don't trust me without double checking everything I do. I'll get you the name of the guy's sire and I'll stay out of it from here on if that's what you want, but I was already worried about Dagmar and her folks, and not in the best mood anyway and it ticks me off to be micro managed... trolls are not the only ones who get to protect friends. And I'm gonna go now and calm down before I say something REALLY rude" He opens the rig's door

Frank does not stop him.

And off he goes

And Frank drives away.

And finds Siv wiating for him "Holy shit, Dad I'm sorry! "

"Jonas and I were visiting Piper's moms when this went down"