#kc_necropolis

A distressed expression and she shakes her head.

He waits, studying her face*

She's shut her eyes, expression strained and defeated.

"Doesn't... I can't find it. I just feel buried. Emptied out."

"I can't do it out there. It isn't... I can't be distracted, I have to pay attention."

"So why not take someone along?"

She shakes her head. "Nobody to go."

A grin, a tired one* "You help me keep my secret, chica, and like...I'll keep an eye out?"

"You don't have to. I backed off, didn't I?"

"Backed off?"

"You were pretty clear."

"Yeah. I haven't seen Jade much since." His expression closes off, and he looks back to the window*

"I told Sassy that Jade was safe with you. Tried to make that clear."

"But if I am going to be honest, chica...you say I have to tell her I might not be, right?"

"Safe."

"You wouldn't protect Jade? Put her ahead of you?"

"Of course, man. And Kevin, dude, he would probably like...die to keep her safe."

"Exactly."

"That's what I told Sassy. That I knew you'd protect Jade."

"But it's still....dude, I want to keep everyone from knowing about everyone else. And if I can't do that. I have to cut off half. To like....keep people safe, and keep my promise. Will you help?"

"And like...I'll go with you, to keep watch. Won't even smoke."

"I think cutting off half is stupid. Especially now."

A questioning look over*

((I keep thinking I need to change the pic from a sluagh to a satyr, heh))

"Rayne deserves honesty. And Sassy isn't stupid - if she figures it out, that doesn't mean you broke your promise. It does mean you're.... it... these are people you care about. Right?"

"But I have to do everything I can, chica...spirit, not just letter, right? Like your duty?"

"If she finds out, like...I have to make her think she's...wrong?"

"And the best path I see isn't this web of lies."

"Because all it's going to do is ruin trust."

"Lying, like...is against the Fourth Precept. But it's my fault she found out, so like..." He shakes his head* "Then how can they...like, the Willworkers...trust -me-?"

"If like, Fae find out about them?"

"Not saying you go tell Rayne where the freehold is, or the escheat, or... or about, say, iron, or even cantrips. Or tell Sassy all of the details of when and where and who."

He's studying her unhappily, listening*

"But we know willworkers exist. And you said they know something about us. Don't give lessons, but be honest."

"But...not Rain-girl. If Sass asks about that...man, I have to lie." He sighs, rubs hand over his eyes* "And Rain-girl knows I'm keeping secrets. But, like...I love her, man. But....if I'm being honest, chica? I don't -trust- her with the...like...knowledge."

"You can love someone, chica...and think they shouldn't know something, can't be trusted with it."

"What if her studies lead her to their lore - and she sees you were less than truthful? Tell her what you can, and if you can't tell her something, admit that it's off limits."

"I shouldn't, like....lead her off track, man? Let her learn about, like....I don't know, some other thing, and not us? Let her think she's on the right track when she isn't?"

"I don't want to lie to Sassy. I... I mean, I know. I know that... that we aren't friends anymore, or... whatever.. that it's... but it tore me up when I lost you, and then, when I was waiting in that alley, and..." her breath hitches and she closes her eyes.

"I didn't get your messages, Bird-girl. Not until too late, you know? And like...if lying is the only way...what then?" He reaches over, and takes her hand. Studying her, his own expression shifting to something pained, mirroring hers without thought* "But like...I'll be honest, man. Part of what convinced me that I need to cut things off...was you. Like....you aren't even related, you know? And look how....like, when I wanted to forget to protect us. Look how you reacted, chica...."

"And then....like, I don't know why you went and told her, when I told you she can't know...but, like...it was because of me, I know."

"So how will she react, like, when this stuff has to happen again?"

She shrinks inwards. "I never told you you forgot. Never told her."

"She... after the party, she picked me up from the bus stop."

"That doesn't matter, chica. That wasn't the important part. The important part was....I wanted to keep everything apart. Because I didn't want to have to choose, like...one or the other."

"And to keep them safe, from....like, reacting like you did...."

"And to keep my promise...." He squeezes her hand* "You know?"

She hangs her head, silent.

"If I have to Forget again, will they let me, chica? Or like....will they want to keep me safe? Like you, like...Murph-man? Even Doyle, man. Great guy, but like...he gave me Glamour, and I didn't want to take it. Guy needs it more than me."

"Can you promise that them knowing means they won't do that?"