Joss | Connections and Companionship [Marcus]

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
Marcus had put on his jogging shorts, and his running shoes. He’d fumed while he did but he remembered the lessons his mother had taught him and didn’t destroy anything at the Brotherhood. The run hadn’t helped, not even running this far.

He’d found an abandoned shipping depot, and went inside. He picked up a metal piece of rebar weighing about 15 pounds, and had found an old tire that was left behind, one those that you put on a dump truck. He’d hit, and hit, and hit, and hit the thing over and over again working out his fury.

His mind was racing, no matter what he did it wasn’t going to matter. Even the people he wanted help got upset with him. He said the wrong time, something always went wrong.

He growled out as thoughts of his grandmother came into his mind, mixed with Sarah, his home he left, this place he was in, all the frustration pouring out of him as he picked up his tempo faster and faster pounding into the tire until he didn’t notice he’d dropped the piece of steel and was smashing his now bloody fists against lone cinder blocks breaking them as he went into smaller, smaller pieces.*

[Joss Lehrer]
She had gotten off the wrong bus again. She’s getting used to it though, and she’s getting more and more of th city explored because of her honest mistakes in direction. Thus, she’s walking down this street, this time, where there are abandoned buildings – and something inside creating a hell of a lot of noise that falls to quieter grunts and growls as he keeps pounding and pounding and pounding.

Joss is a curious creature, that much has been obvious, and she can’t help but peek into the door, into the building to see who may be there. She smiles when she sees Marcus, though it’s turned into concern as he beats his hands bloody. Something’s wrong. She carefully steps over debris, lifting her skirts so they don’t get snagged as she moves gracefully into the building, and leans against a wall, watching him. He’ll notice her soon enough. Till then – she waits, patient.

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He snatches up the piece of steel and strikes the wall hard with a loud yell. The building doesn’t even shake, nope, it could care less about the frustrations of some teenage Garou. There is a little chip in the cinder block wall though. But even so Building 1 – Marcus 0.

He’s not wearing a shirt, and his muscles ripple from the shockwaves of the force coming back through his arms from his strike. Joss has never seen him… well so exposed before.

His body is lean, cut, and muscular not an ounce of fat on him. Well defined six pack abs, back muscles, shoulder you name it. One thing is his chest is completely hairless. Must be genetic as Marcus doesn’t look like the type to shave it.

He has some distinctive features that she can see:

Four jagged scars on his chest. They are about four inches long spaced about an inch and a half apart, with two on each pectoral muscle. There run parallel to each other straight up and down on his chest.

On his back is a tattoo with a circle made up of eight tepees forming what looks like an eight point star, the symbol of his father’s people, the Oglala Lakota. In the middle of the circle is a tattoo of the symbol of the Get of Fenris. Together the tattoos take up most of his back with the top point of the star stopping just below the top of his spine, and the bottom part at the small of his back.

He’s huffing and puffing, and when he looks over and sees Joss, he blinks. He says “Hey…. Joss.” *Each word between two breaths. His body is slick with sweat, and his hands are raw and bloody. He unceremoniously drops the iron bar, and it makes a loud CLANG! when it hits the concrete floor.*

[Joss Lehrer]
She watches, appreciating the way he moves, the fury in the hits and stance. He is Fenrir, and this is how they deal with things, when rage is too much, when the fight is too much, when control is too hard to keep. The moon hangs heavy in the sky, and while it is not her moon, nor his, it still holds it’s sway.

Her hands are tucked into her pockets, until he drops the iron bar with a clang, and she pushes away from the wall to move closer, and steps to the old tire, stepping up on it and balancing on the rubber, bouncing lightly. She grins over at Marcus and arches a brow, curious.

“So… who pissed you off?”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He grunts a bit.* “No one… some kin girl… It’s done.” *He says in a gruff voice. His hands shake and twitch a bit, and his left hand flexes closed a little slower, but the right hand only the middle finger and the pointer do. Probably got a boxer’s fracture… No matter a shift will take care of it. Amazing how Garou could abuse their bodies, but even so it was still probably painful.*
[Joss Lehrer]
She laughs softly. “No one, some kin girl. Sure as hell don’t look done to me….” She walks around the edge of the tire, before she moves to him to and takes his hands in her own, briefly. He’s Fenrir. It’s just a scratch. “Shift up a bit, and take care of those.”

She grins at him, and then turns to survey the damage he’d done to the cement blocks, the wall, and wander through the room. Her skirts sway against her knees, her footsteps are light, her dreads damp from an earlier rain, clinging to her shirt. “Doesn’t look quite done. Want to talk about it?”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He looks into her eyes, and swallows a bit when she touches his hand. For a moment his heart warms at her touch. It’s wrong to think such things, but… for the moment he steals the feeling and devourers it like a starving man being given just a morsel of food For the moment he doesn’t want to be a Philodox, and worry about the litany. He just wants to be a teenage boy.

He looks at her as she walks around, the sway of her hips, the way the fabric of her dress moves with body, the smell of her, the smile on her voice, the way her voice is light in the air. For a brief moment he’s completely ensnared by Joss. For moment all of his existence is focused solely on her.

He frowns, and grunts trying to banish such thoughts from his head. He says in a low voice, same shame there, but is with what happened with Maija, or what he was thinking a moment ago? Perhaps a bit of both. “No.. I made an… ass of myself and it’s done. Nothing more to say on it really.”

[Joss Lehrer]
She doesn’t seem to notice the affect she has on him, as she likely doesn’t think anyone would look at her twice, anyway. She is no great beauty, no great catch. She is simply a young Godi, who apparently smells good.

He says he made an ass of himself, and she laughs softly, as she continues to move through the room, her fingers trailing along the walls, sliding lightly, until she turns to look at him with a smile. “What kinda Foresti doesn’t want to talk? That’s like a Galliard that doesn’t want to sing. I hardly think it’s as bad as it seems – out with it.”

There’s a quit command in her voice, an encouraging smile, and a willingness to do what so few of her Tribe do – listen.

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*When she flashes that smile at him his heart skips a beat. Maybe it was just tired from all that… fury. Right now he feels almost helpless to push down these feelings that keep coming, that keep wanting to be set free into the world.

He swallows, and moves to sit down on the floor leaning against the wall.* “That’s the problem. I sometimes forget I’m not such a wise Foresti as I think I am, and it would be best to just shut my mouth and listen.”

[Joss Lehrer]
She laughs softly, and drags the old tire over closer to him, and settles to sit on the edge of it, pulling her skirts down over her knees, before leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees, her chin in her hands as she watches him. “It’s not an easy thing to learn, to keep quiet when we should, to listen where we want to talk. It comes with experience, though it’s difficult to wait for it. We are impatient creatures, by birth, even by tribe.”

She tips her head, slightly, and lifts a hand to push her dreads back over her shoulder and out of the way before falling still again. “But I won’t judge you – I’m just a Godi. I’ve no wish to judge, even if I were Foresti, but I can at least listen, and maybe figure out what really happened.”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
“I know what happened. The poor girl was in pain from losing a friend. I was trying to get her to see it wasn’t… I don’t what I was trying to do. I just wanted her to feel better but… I used my words poorly. I should’ve not said anything at all. She snapped at me, and…” *He exhales in a long slow breath.*

“And so now I am here.” *He swallows a bit and looks at the ground.*

[Joss Lehrer]
Trying to see that it wasn’t… “…the end of the world? That she wasn’t alone?” She nods, slightly, and watches him, her eyes a clear blue filled with understanding. “We’ve all put our foot in our mouth from time to time… an hate to be snapped at, called on it. Maybe she’s got more pain in her past than you know of, that would make her react that way, make her snap.”

And now he’s here. And so is she… “At least you knew enough to come here. That kind of control can be rare for our Blood. Perhaps when things cool down a bit, you can speak with her again?”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*His breathing picks up, and his voice raises.* “I don’t care if she’s Gnawer kin! She’s one of the People! Of the Nation and you don’t just throw people away because of their birth! Because of who they were born to! Garou are warriors, and warriors of Gaia defend those who can’t defend themselves!” *He says with pain, hurt coming in his voice as his face turns red from passion, using his hands pointing at an imagery person in front of him, as if he’s accusing someone.

He swallows and then leans back against the wall. Hurt by the injustice of the world, and the fact that even tonight he couldn’t gain a small victory toward ending some it. Of making things right.*

[Joss Lehrer]
[PAUSED!]
[Joss Lehrer]
He breathes heavier, his voice rises, and she watches him quietly, as his hurt and pain roll over her, as he thunks back against the wall, listening. Watching. Learning more, perhaps, from his pain over the situation than most others would.

“We know that she is not worthless, to be thrown away. Perhaps those who raised her didn’t, and treated her badly. That would explain her reaction to someone telling her she was valuable. A lifetime of being told she is not is hard to overcome in one conversation.”

He points at something between them, and she reaches out to take one of his hands in her own, fingers smoothing over his bloody broken knuckles. “Talk to her again – another day. Ask her what happened to her, what she knows of Garou. She might not tell you, but if you are gentle and persistent, she may open up, and give you the chance to prove that not all Garou are the same.”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He looks down at her when she touches his hand. It’s numbed up by now, the pain mostly gone, swelling the skin. Her soft hands, gently caring voice is the best thing he’s heard in a long time. He swallows when he looks into her eyes, and imagines what it would be like to kiss her, to hold her close, to feel her warm breath on his neck as they slept together, her gently moaning as she snuggled in her sleep to get more comfortable.

These he would never, could never know with Joss the way he wanted to right then. So he simply nodded to her.* “Maybe. Truthfully I wouldn’t know what to say. Perhaps it’s better this way.” *He swallows again.* “Thank for listening anyway… It… It means a lot.” *He says in a soft voice to her, his fury all but gone.*

[Joss Lehrer]
She is completely unaware of the affect she has on him, what he’s thinking. For all the teasing she does with Sandman, it’s never really crossed her mind that it might be anything more than that, for anyone. In her eyes, she is simply what she’s always been – a very average girl.

“Tell her…” she pauses, and then smiles. Maybe she thinks he is trying to get to know this kin for an entirely different reason then he is, maybe she just likes to think he’d be happy with a girl to hold for a while. “…tell her your sorry. And ask her to tell you her story, so that you can understand where she came from, why she reacted that way. Maybe it’s better that she knows she has a friend in you, instead of someone like every other person she’s known.”

He thank her, and she pats his hand with a smile. “I’ll always listen, Marcus. I’ll even fight with ya if ya want a moving target instead of a beat up old building.” She tips her head, slightly. “I could make a talen for you to give to her – so if she needs help, she can brake it and send the spirit inside to find you – you can give it as a peace making gift! What do you think?”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He smiles at her.* “Okay. If you want. I could give her that.” *As he looks at her all thoughts of morality flee his mind, and his heart is glad for her touch. It’s wrong to feel this way. He’ll anguish over it later, but for now this plain, average girl has the heart of Marcus Schwarzkopf for the taking.*
[Joss Lehrer]
She smiles and nods. “You want to help? I can make it now if we’ve something to bind the spirit in, something…” and she pulls her bag across her hip so that she can open it and dig down inside. The purse jingles and jangles and there’s a variety of things she’s picked up along the way in her travels – from little plastic toys, to glass figurines wrapped in tissue and put in a box for safe carrying, to little metal cars, to… ah. there it is.

She pulls out little wooden pendant that has – of all things – the statue of liberty etched on it. The wood is light and thin, and wouldn’t break easy, but would crack if pressure were applied evenly. It’s threaded on a small light chain, long enough that it can be hidden under the wearers shirt if need be. She hands it to him with a bright smile. “How’s this? Think she could break it?”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He smiles and nods.* “I’m sure she would find a way to break it. If you think it’ll work that’s fine then.” *He keeps his eyes focused on her, and takes a deep breath, and leans forward.* “So how are you enjoying your new home?”
[Joss Lehrer]
She smiles, and takes it. “Perfect. A little sparrow I think, they fly swift and fast. They’d find you quickly when she breaks it, and then you can be there to help her, prove that we are not all bad. I can have it ready by tomorrow – or we can do it together now… either way.”

She smiles at him, as he asks about her new home, and nods. “I like it- I sort of took over the attic, and set up a little beehive, and some lights, and some ornaments, and flower boxes… All part of the protection plans and stuff.” she looks at him with a happy grin.

“You haven’t met Decker yet, have you? He’s everything I’d heard of, and more, and his Mate – I think she likes me, as much as she likes anyone, really.” a pause. “Have you thought about joining any packs with those you’ve met so far?”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He looks at her smiling as she excitedly talks about what she’s doing, just enjoying being with her. He shakes his head.* “No I haven’t thought about it. I’m sure it will work itself out in the fullness of time.” *He says in a soft voice.

To think just not five minutes ago he would’ve demolished the building and probably the block if he could have, but no he’s completely calm, more so then she’s ever seen.*

[Joss Lehrer]
She nods, with a grin. “Probably. You’ll need to meet Decker anyway, as he’s the Jarl here. He’s… intense. The same as I expected, but different too, more thoughtful, more… I don’t know, mature I guess? I expected the Warrior, but was surprised by the thinker, if you know what I mean…”

Then she takes a breath, and holds up the pendant, and teases “So, wanna go umbral with me? Or are you scared…”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He nods.* “The Jarl will speak to me in his own time. It is his decision if he chooses to or not.”

*He smiles.* “I won’t be scared if you’re there to protect me.” *He says playing in on the joke, trying to get her to laugh.*

[Joss Lehrer]
And laughs she does, the clear and free laughter of a teenage girl, comfortable in her own skin, her own abilities. She checks her bag to make sure she’s some birdseed – which she does, because a Godi bag is filled with many random yet wonderful things – including some little mirrored plastic disks that she will use for extra talens if more Sparrows wish to be of aid. And as an aid to slide Umbral.

She then slips her arm into his, and winks up at him. “Ready?” And without waiting for an answer, she takes a deep breath, and stops sideways, pulling him with her. Once there, she shakes off the feeling of the Gauntlet, the tug and pull that is the veil between two sides of the same coin. Here, here she is at home, as much as she is in the real, the umbral winds tugging at her dreads, whipping at her skirts as she takes a deep breath, content.

She’s not sure how much he’s dealt with or watched a Godi at work, so takes the time to explain what she’s going to do, and what she wants him to do to help. “Alright. I’m going to use my spirit drum, so that the summoning is more powerful. Take the seed…” she hands it to him “and spread some handfuls out in front of us. Sparrows can be flighty,” oh punny punny girl… “So when they come – sit very still, next to me. Alright?”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He feels the pull of the spirit world pull at him, and he shifts to his Glabro form once in the Umbra to let his hands heal, then he shifts back to his Homid form. He nods and holds out his hands for her to place the seed in them.*
[Joss Lehrer]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 4, 4, 6, 8, 8, 9 (Success x 4 at target 5)
She smiles at him as he heals up his hands nodding her approval. She then pours the bird seed into his palms, then sinks to kneel on the umbral ground. She pulls out the pendant, and lays the extras aside. Sometimes they come in droves, ready and willing. Sometimes they come one or two at a time. Sometimes they don’t come at all – she’s learned to always be prepared.

Now, she said she was going to use a drum – but she has no such thing in her bag. In fact, as she kneels there, she takes a breath, and pulls her skirt up along her thighs, exposing the perfectly placed matching set of claw marks etched into her skin. Four long marks on each thigh, the skin twisted and gnarled and roped into perfectly placed scars. it’s on these that she begins to tap out her beat, thrumming fast like the wings of the swift flying Sparrow, giving her all to establishing a connection with the drum, with the spirits she intends to call….

[spirit drum – dex+performance, diff 5
Come on baby – slap those thighs!]

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*Marcus looks over for a moment, and it doesn’t seem that strange to him banging on her “spirit drum”. He understands ritual scarification, in fact it’s on his chest. He merely gazes out into the Umbra, totally in the moment enjoying the serenity of the Godi’s call.*
[Joss Lehrer]
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 7, 9, 9 (Success x 7 at target 4)
When she feels she has found the right pattern, feels it in her blood, her bones, her flesh, only then does she send out the call, seeking little gafflings of sparrows, calling them to come to her aid…

here she is in her element, here she is doing what she was born to do, what she lives for… here if she were to see herself – even she would admit she is beautiful.

(Summoning little gafflings – TN 4. Wits+ rituals+SD = 10)
(come on lil birdies! Fly to mama!)

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*Marcus looks about and enjoys being here with Joss, to experience one the rituals of his people, in this place, a special moment that he is savoring every moment of, totally in the present.*
[Joss Lehrer]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 3, 5, 5, 5, 6 (Success x 2 at target 6) [WP]
The come. They come in DROVES. They, like the other spirits she has summoned since arrived in Chicago, they come flocking to her, to see this new godi who has come to interact with them. The sky is suddenly filled with the little birds, flying about her, tugging at her dreads, plucking at his shirt, circling them in a flutter of feathered wings. Most back off a bit, until a few come to partake of the offering, separating from the crowd and landing before them, eating their fill of the offered seed, until one stops right before Joss and Marcus, and tips his head, asking what she wishes.

She speaks to the spirit in his own language, a language as natural to her as her own, the chirps and tweets and stutters and comments are almost amusing, if not for the obvious fact the little gaffling understands. “Honored Sparrow, we are here to request a great gift from you. This Garou beside me, this mighty warrior, has a kin in need of his protection, a kinfolk he cannot be with at all times due to other responsibilities. I ask that you give us your aid, to help watch over her, so that Two Ravens can continue to fight for Gaia, without the added worry his Kinfolk friend might be in trouble and need his aid, with no way to find him. I ask that you step into this Talen, that when she breaks it, and frees you, you will fly to find him as fast as you can. For none are so swift as the wings of the Sparrows, the small but mighty Spirit of flight… Will you aid us in this cause?”

the little sparrow listens, and when asked what she will do for him, she adds again. “I have a balcony where I will keep seed in a beautiful feeder for your brethren to partake of as they need. Two Ravens will hang another from his window, so that you brethren will have feed for the next two moons.” When the sparrow nods his agreement, she smiles, and as he steps on the pendant, she focuses her will, and works to bind him to the little wooden coin.

(Binding – spending 1 gnosis, to reduce sparrows to 6, Spending wp to ensure success, rolling wp 5 diff 6.

Come on lil birdy buddy, work for me!)

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*Marcus nods to the little bird, and holds the seed out for him. He can’t help but reach out and hold out a finger to see if one of the other spirits will land and rest on it. He smiles at the life, the spirits around him.*
[Joss Lehrer]
The little sparrow slips into the pendant, and one of his friends decides not to be left behind – he’s been listening to the entire exchange, so much so that he doesn’t realize he’s actualy on the offered finger of Marcus, munching on the seed in his palm. When he does – he flys with a sqawk, and lands on the pile of extras, and finds his’s place into one of the mirrored one, slipping quickly inside it as well with a happy chirp at being accidentally chosen. Joss laughs softly, and thanks the spirits, who take wing once more and swirl about them before flying off again into the umbral night.

Joss picks up the pendant, and offers it to Marcus, while putting the second one in the front pocket of her bag, to be used another time, or set free if it is not needed. The rest of the extras she places in her bag. She makes no excuses for only ending up with two talens especially as she only needed the one.

“There. Now you’ve a gift to help keep her safe. You need only be alert for a little sparrow dive-bombing you out of the blue – and for the next two moons hang a bird feeder for them in your window.”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He nods.* “I will. Thank you.” *He slips off his Alice pack which followed him into the Umbra. He pulls out a talen of his own, a think that only a wolf-kin could come up (can’t remember the descrip). He gently takes her hand and places it in the palm of it.* “Here. I didn’t use this in battle. It will make your strikes cut deeper. I want you to have it. So when you go into battle… You will come back.” *He says softly looking into her eyes.*
[Joss Lehrer]
He pulls out the talen, and she arches a brow slightly, then smiles as he places it in her hand, folding her fingers around it. She doesn’t turn the gift away, nor would she, even if she could make something similar. The gift holds meaning behind it, a shared gift between friends. “Thank you, Marcus.”

She reaches with her free hand to touch his face, cupping his cheek, his jaw, before she turns to put the talen in with the others in the front pocket of her bag. “Just be sure that when you battle next, you return as well, despite having given it to me.” She then smooths her skirts down over her thighs again, and standing. “Ready to go back? I feel like Pizza.. my treat?”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He closes his eyes when she touches his cheek, remembering the feel of her soft hand on his jaw. When he opens his eyes he smiles.* “Okay. But only if I can buy the next one.”
[Joss Lehrer]
“Deal.” She laughs and stands, stretching her arms over her head, before she hooks her arm around his and hauls him to his feet and tugs him through realmside once more. She shakes off the trappings of the Gauntlet, which fall from her to disappear before they even hit the cement.

“I hear there’s a place not far from here with a fantastic Chicago Deep Dish…”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He laughs, and then moves to pick up his shirt.* “You know I think you eat too much greasy food. You should be careful with that. It’ll give you bad gas.” *He puts on his black t-shirt, at least he can go into a restaurant without getting too many stares being shirtless.*
[Joss Lehrer]
“Girls don’t fart.” She says with a prim grin, before she laughs and shrugs. “Like I have any one to impress. I’ll eat less when they make it taste bad instead of ohhhhhhhhh so gooooood…” She settles her bag on hip, tugging at the strap that cuts across her torso to set it more comfortably between her breasts, as she watches him put his shirt on.

“I like your tattoo…”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He chuckles at the girls don’t fart comment. He tucks in his shirt to his shorts.* “Thanks. Not many people get to see it.”
[Joss Lehrer]
“I feel special.” Her grin is infections as she tucks her hands into her pocket. “What’s it mean? And are the scars ritual?” See, she was paying attention…
[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He chuckles.* “You are special Joss. Very special.” *He says in friendly way to her. He nods.* “Yes. They are from the Sun Dance ritual of my father’s people. It’s an offering to the Great Spirit, and hopefully, if done right you can see the Tree of Life. You leave a part of your flesh behind as a sacrifice.”

*He exhales and licks his lips.* “I figured that way… There will always be apart of me that is in the land of my father’s people.”

[Joss Lehrer]
She smiles up at him, and then starts out of the building as he tells her of the scars, and what it means to him. “And did you? See the Tree of Life, I mean? I like the idea, that you left something behind with your Father’s people. It’s honorable.”
[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He shakes his head.* “No I didn’t. I only saw my father’s face. The one he had right before he died.” *He says in a matter of fact voice.*
[Joss Lehrer]
She glances at him, then watches where she walks for a few minutes as they take to the street, and head toward the pizzaria. She is quiet while she contemplates this but. “Your father was – and is – important to you. Perhaps it was more your personal Tree of Life you saw, something special to you. Spirits often come in ways we don’t expect, to teach us things we did not know we needed to learn, to see.”
[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
“He was… But I didn’t realize how much until it was too late. And then even with my… heritage it wasn’t enough to save him. So… Such is the way of existence.” *He looks down as he walks and then back straight ahead, his face going a little more stoic as he gets lost in his memories.*
[Joss Lehrer]
She hooks her arm with his as he gets lost in his memories, and lets him walk through his mind in those moments for just a while. “Perhaps it was your father appearing to you, to tell you how proud he is of you. We can’t save all of them, though that doesn’t stop us from trying. I was lucky, that my parents still live, still fight, but I mourn those I could not safe, and resolve to do better. It’s all we can do – continue to fight on the path we are given to walk.”
[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He doesn’t say anything as they walk on. He just concentrates on the weight of her arm though his, and hopes the walk to the pizzeria could last all of eternity. He looks at the ground, and his face is calm, introspective, talking in everything about the moment.*
[Joss Lehrer]
She lets him have the time to be quiet, content to walk at his side, her arm through his, completely oblivious to the effect it has on him. She leaves him to his thoughts as long as she can, and then she smiles up at him. “So. This battle you didn’t use the talen in – was it glorious?”

He’s Fenrir. Of course it was.

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He shrugs.* “It was a battle. Our enemies died, and I lived along with those who fought with me. It is not up to me to judge whether it was glorious or not.” *He says in a low voice. A humble Fenrir, now that might be a contradiction.*
[Joss Lehrer]
She laughs lightly. “That’s all? It is a good thing you are not a Skald!” She nudges him with her elbow, the tease clear in her voice. “I was stung by a bee. Twice. That’s about as close to combat as i have gotten. They’ve been keeping me busy redoing the wards and such about the Eagle packhouse.”

She pauses, and then… “Do you think me over eager to join them? Decker thought it was hero worship that brought me here… I wonder sometimes if he is correct.”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He shrugs.* “What do you think it was that brought you here?”
[Joss Lehrer]
She watches where they are going, and points ahead to the pizzaria sign up the block, as she carefully chooses her words, trying to put them together in a way that describes what she feels when she thinks of being Eagle.

“I won’t deny that it’s partly that? Who wouldn’t want to pack with the best of the best, you know? But it’s more… At Storm Hammer, I am one of many Godi, the omega in a pack that is one of many, the majority of them just as strong and capable, and ready. Here, in Chicago, there is need of a Godi of talent – not that I’m the best of the best by far, I still have much to learn. But here… they need me. I am one of many at home, and here is a place where I can make my name as well. And to prove myself worthy of Eagle, that is certainly something worth fighting for… wouldn’t you think?”

She pauses, and lifts a shoulder in a shrug. “Imogen says that my youth and eagerness is part of my challenge, to overcome it. I am not sure it’s something that must be overcome, but instead used to my advantage…”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He nods, and keeps walking with her.* “And Imogen. Do you think she is correct? Do you think there could be anything influencing her in saying that?” *He says calmly.*
[Joss Lehrer]
She laughs softly. “Imogen is… is… She’s amazing. She’s Fianna, mated to Silence. She has had songs sung of her, she has renown! She has been part of the nation a lot longer than I have, and perhaps her experience has caused her to forget youthful exhuberance, or maybe she was never so excited at all. I don’t know. I think her advise is sound, though perhaps not perfect. She says that to be Eagle, I need to not so much worry of doing what they ask of me, as that is not proving myself to them – but to.. I think she meant to take initiative, to do more, to be confident in myself and abilities.”

A pause. “…i think. She’s a hard read.”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He looks at her and says.* “When you go into battle there will be no songs in your heart, there will be no ancestors speaking to you, it is not like in the songs. What it will be is chaos, confusion, and heightened awareness. Everything slows down, and at the same time moves to quickly.

Your spirit takes over for the mind, and guides the body without thought. That is what you must strive to be if you wish to be warrior. So in a way yes she is correct. Hero worship can be dangerous, if you are star struck. But remember the world worship simply means something ascribe worth to.

You should take what you see about the Jarl. The real Jarl, both his good traits and bad. Use him as an example and take that to make yourself a better warrior then you are now.”

[Joss Lehrer]
She listens as he speaks, and laughs softly. “I have been in battle before, Marcus. For all my youth I am not a Fostern for nothing. But I see your point. ”

She pauses a moment, a few more steps taken until she continues. “The hardest part of rebuilding the wards is that they have been neglected for a long time. The last Theurge the Eagles had did not last long. I am not setting up the defenses and such simply because asked, but because the Spirits need to know there is a Godi in residence now. You saw how quickly the Sparrows came – they are eager to aid our cause. I’m pleased that they have accepted me so far.”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He nods and smiles.* “I know you are -rhya. I was just… speaking more about myself then to you.”

“I can see they respond to you. You have strong medicine.” *As says talking about the spirits.*

[Joss Lehrer]
She smiles up at him. “They are eager to come, though they are reluctant to bind. I think there has been some abuse there, but I shall do my part to honor the deals I have made. I even read Beekeeping for Beginners and made a little hive for my balcony to appease some bee gafflings that are helping at the house. It’s not exactly pretty, but it will show that I aim to honor them. That and the bruised thumb. I hammered myself a good one!”
[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He chuckles a bit.* “I’ll bet. I used to bee keep with my family when we were growing up. It’s what I had for sweets, pretty much honey.”
[Joss Lehrer]
“Really? One of the Godi’s at Storm Hammer did, but I didn’t much pay attention, though I’m grateful for his recommending the beginners book to look for. So far I’ve spoken to Sparrows, and bees and Electric Elementals, and Glass Elementals – those cut me up pretty good, I was covered in blood when I met Decker for the first time. There’s a good impression for you…”

She is laughing though, and shakes her head. “Hummingbirds and some others. They respond well to my drum, my summons. I’ll simply have to work hard for the them to willingly bind for me too.”

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*He smiles and nods.* “I’m sure you’ll do fine. If you’d like to talk about anything like that… Beekeeping or… anything about combat, or… anything else you can always come and see me.” *he says in a low voice.*
[Joss Lehrer]
She lays her head against his shoulder for a moment, as they come up on the Pizzaria. “I appreciate that. It goes both ways too. You can call me anytime you want to talk about anything.”

She lifts her head and smiles at him, than reaches for the door handle – the scent of pizza heavy in the air.

[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
*Marcus nodded to her and let her head rest against his shoulder. He reached for the handle the same time she did, and chuckled when he touched her hand. He opened the door and went inside with her.*
[Marcus Schwarzkopf]
((Thanks for the scene.))
[Joss Lehrer]
(ditto!))
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