#kc_necropolis

"Like, officially, you mean?" He looks up from his study of the pocketwatch* "Yeah, so. Checked out the guy's book, man. Turns out, he was there was some other people, man. Some -- chicks he was attached to, this Kevin guy. Pissed off some of the pod people there, stole something of theirs." A wan smile* "Turns out, guy, I'm one of the pod people."

He sighs. Well. Fuck. Did he say what he stole?

"Some....key to something, I guess? But man, I -- like, I want to find out more, like, if I need to get this thing back, you know? But if I go around asking what exactly he stole, man, it might raise red flags, know what I'm saying?"

"Said I wouldn't tell where you guys are, man. But damn."

Ahh. So. I'll find out. He shrugs one shoulder. An' you still won't. I'll find out what happened.

"You can't tell him, man. How will you find out?"

He's restlessly pacing. The noise on the floor -- like heels on a hard surface -- might be distracting*

He snorts. I can look back or forward.

"You can't look back where he came from, if he hid it there, guy." *He shakes his head "Hard to do."

I can look back anywhere, he mutters. I promise you that.

"Trying not to tell you too much, man, but, like....this is where that guy Kevin is."

"Don't you think you would have if you could have, already?"

No, I haven't looked for Kevin. Been thinking about it. Jarrod debates me. So ... why does he call you pod people anyway?

"He didn't man." He finally drops to sitting on the cot, scratching his thigh. Furry thigh. A slight grin, now* "I did. He said 'Spirits', but like...the way he described it, man...." His voice deepens to mimick Jarrod's sonorous tones* "'They can be anywhere, look like anyone, and you'd never know it, They suck up magic, and can drive us Mage-dudes insane,'" Then the grin widens, wry amusement* "Sounded like pod-people to me, man. Tell you the truth?" He drops back on the cot, tucks his arm behind his head* "Scared the hell out of ME. Hoped I'd never meet one, you know?"

Yeah, but you're not... like someone else, and then suddenly. YOU. So can't be a pod person.

"Hey, I know I'm not a pod person, man, but I never, like, thought of Spirits and shit as having anything to do with me, either." The weed finally kicking in to stop the restless pacing. He scoots over to make room* "I'm still, like....I want answers, man. But if I ask him, he's gonna want to know what I found out."

You are SERIOUSLY overthinking this, he says idly.

"Man, I've done more thinking this past month than I have the last, like, four years. Jesus, man, sit down, you're looming."

He frowns. I don't... I wanna stand. What's wrong with that.

"Nothing, man. Just --- makes me nervous." He rolls up, and laces fingers behind his head as he paces slowly again* "Anyway, you think you can find this -- key? Is it going to fuck you up, man? Like it did to see the...thing? At the apartments?"

"He said something about burying it deep, so like, not sure if it's a real key, or like...something else."

"Know what, man? I shouldn't get you involved." He drops his hands, and smiles, uneasily* "How about we forget about all this?"

"I should go try some, like, meditation or something."

How the hell should I know if it's gonna fuck me up or not? He smirks. Slow the fuck down, man. Relax. It's FINE. It's gonna be fine.

He takes a deep breath, and bobs a nod* "Right on." He closes his eyes, taking another* "Sorry, man. This is why, like...I try to stay chill, you know? Takes work. You're right."

You can't like... just freak out over what may or may not be. Trust me. Seen ALL options. Near had a nervous breakdown. Didn't do any good.

"Yeah. It's cool. You're right, it's cool." His eyes open, and he summons a smile* "But, like...think I should just, maybe ask Deathdude. Might jog his memory, you know? Save you going grandpa."

Naw. I'd like to. Ask 'im. I need to know more about Kevin?

He sounds uncomfortable with it. He talks about 'im like an ex. And... I think it might help, having 'im around. I'll be less likely to smash him.

"I think I know a little about that, man," *Also sounding uncomfortable "Was in the book. And...not sure I want this dude back."

"Not up to me, man. But like, if what I think is right, might be kind of --"

He stops and grins, shrugging uncomfortably* "I don't know what side this dude is on."

Jarrod's on his an' Kevin's side. An' on that of the Euthanatos. He wouldn't bring risk to mages. He doesn't know what you are.

"Kevin....might, man. Is what I'm saying."

I don't... think that's the case at all. I don't think he'd be an enemy.

"I don't know, man. I'd rather find out more what this key is, why th....why it's important. before we throw another dude into the mix."

He pinches the bridge of his nose. Man, you're givin' me a headache.

"Tell you what, man. Erase your brain to the point I came in, cool? Say I just needed to talk."

"Because there's still shit I can't talk about, man. And you have no reason to trust me, you know?" He bobs his head unhappily, a nod*

You're not bein'... like you. You've been like... paranoid since you walked IN here, and it's not... you.

"It's been hell, man." His blue eyes, saddened over his grin* "Not gonna lie. Sarah-girl, she said some of -- you guys -- can see me, and I won't know it, you know? Kind of messes with a guy's head, especially when she starts saying I need to be careful, man, or they might kill me if they find out, you know? But, like, Karma. Trust fate, right? But then Joel-dude is dropping hints, and like..." He paces a little more, before leaning against the wall, crossing his arms and studying his hooves* "I talk to Deathdude, and he gives me stories of like....how he stopped this chick's heart with her own music, man. All to make a point I shouldn't trust him, and like...how unpredictable he is. Hard to keep Zen, man, after a few jam sessions with him, and then hearing that. Then I lost it with the meth, and that kind of....fucked with my head, man. The whole non-violence thing, almost out the window. He said that wasn't my fault, man, but I feel it, you know? And...yeah, I've been having to steal, man, and I don't like doing that. Didn't mean to mess up his ward, but like...couldn't resist, kind of needed it."

"But I won't leave Rain-girl, man. Don't think that."

Meth? He frowns. I thought you didn't do that shit. What sort of stealing? Feel like there's a lot more goin' on here that I missed.

"It's how she got off the meth, man. Had to show her what it does, you know? So she could heal it. I don't regret it, man, it was good for her. But I lost my shit, kind of." He shifts his weight on his hooves* "Magic, man. He was right, you know. Kind of need it, like you do, right? So I saw it in the ward, and like...took it."

He keeps his frown. I need to talk to Jarrod, he mutters.

"Don't, man. He can't change what he is, you know? And he has her best -- he's teaching her a lot, you know?" Pale eyes lift, study his face* "I'll deal, man. It's just...a test. Easy to be Zen when you don't have problems, right? Karma, man."

Yeah. She trusts him to teach her, he says, sounding more than a little annoyed. Of course. They all do.

"I can't do it, man. Compared to you guys? All I do is make music, and like...talk to plants. Which is cool, don't get me wrong, but like...I can't teach her this stuff, you know? And he has been." Pale eyes still on Nick's face, leaning back with arms still crossed* "No one's fault, man, that she just happened to bring a pod person along with her, and not...Luke, ordinary dude." A grin, at last* "So worry about Rain-girl, man, and tell me what I need to know to help out."

He looks back to Luke. Just... don't lose yourself. For anyone. She loves you for you. And if you go. She'll go with you. I know she will. He clears his throat. So just... plan carefully, yeah? You can't help me with this. You can wish me luck though.

"All right, man. And good luck. But I'm still going to talk to the dude tomorrow, so don't go old and grey, because damn, man." He's making a face* "I don't want to have to be buying you Viagra for Beltaine, man, that's just wrong."