Goblin Town -- Logs

The next morning, relatively early, Cinnamon is standing outside the door of Shane's little apartment. She'd intended to take this to him while he was in the hospital, but getting everything organized has been such a trial for her that he's home and recuperating by the time she's ready. She just stands and trembles in front of the door for a few minutes... but then closes her eyes, reminds herself that she is a big, scary dragon, darnit! ...and forces herself to jerkily hammer on the door. Shane answers the door wearing clothes that are somewhat un-Shane-like, though quite likely extremely comfortable: a pair of cutoff gray sweatpants sit around his hips, and he's wearing a white tank top. He looks a bit tired, but his face lights up in a smile when he sees who's outside his door. Strong arms wrap around Cinnamon automatically, "Acushla! I'm so glad to see you!"

Cinnamon squeaks startledly, wriggling in panic until Shane releases her. Her face is white as a sheet, even her lips are trembling, and she doesn't say a word. Instead, her hands are visibly shaking as she nearly shoves a piece of paper at Shane's face! It's the short paragraph asking him to promise to read the letter, not tell anyone what it's about, and then return it after he's decided. Shane looks a bit surprised -- even a little worried -- when Cinnamon reacts so oddly to a hug she'd normally welcome. He steps back and ushers her inside as he takes the piece of paper and lets his eyes scan over it. His amber eyes look a bit befuddled, but he glances at the little dragon and replies, "Of course. Anything you ask me to keep quiet, I'll keep quiet unless I have to use it in dire emergency. You know that, acushla."

Cinnamon still doesn't say anything -- she just jerkily nods once and takes the paper back. Next she hands him a badly crumpled envelope; her hands clenched tightly on it, due to anxiety, while Shane was reading. She's afraid if she opens her mouth at all, she'll explode into either incomprehensible stuttering, or tears! So she pretty much darts past Shane and into his little bathroom, closing the door and pretty much hiding there. She's quivering all over, desperately trying not to imagine all the worst case scenarios... which are, of course, all are coming way, way too clearly to mind! Shane accepts the crumpled envelope and watches Cinnamon rabbit away... then mouths, 'ohhh... kay...' silently to himself. He settles down on the couch where he'd been resting with a book and a throw blanket when she showed up -- Cinnamon missed the little red dragon statuette sitting in pride of place, right under his reading light! The half-beansidhe uses one of his small daggers to slit the envelope open and pulls out the contents to read them. Naturally, he first sees the handwritten note, crumpled and tearstained and... well... badly scrawled.

Amber eyes scan the letter obviously written by someone who was either shaking like a leaf, or trying to write through tear-bleared eyes... or both. Shane's brows draw together as he tries to make it out -- he can pick out his name -- or at least he thinks it's his name, with a capital S and probably an H after that...? His lips move, as if that might help him, and eventually he's actually reading aloud what little of it he can make out, "Ignore... afraid... lose you?... heart..." He shakes his head, confused and worried, "What the fuck...? Did I scare her that badly?" His heart starts to drop into his stomach. She's obviously hugely upset and distraught! Is she trying to say she needs to just be friends here, or what? Shane's worried fidgeting with the papers makes them shift slightly in his hands... and the other sheet comes into view -- the one that is neatly and clearly printed out. She typed it up.

Of course she typed it up.

Because she's Cinnamon.

It's with exceptional reluctance that Shane pulls the typewritten sheet out and starts reading all over again. His eyes flick back and forth more quickly across this one, though, and he... starts to blink. As he reads, the words abruptly mentally rearrange themselves, in his head, into a whole different meaning! He starts quietly reading aloud to himself, "When you got hurt, I was so afraid. I thought if we couldn't get you to Thorn in time, I might lose you, and if that happened, my heart would break!" His hand moves to his chest, laying over his own heart as he reads that part... and then he continues, "So even though it's horribly scary and even if you don't ever want to see me again, I had to tell you..." The worried expression melts off Shane's face, slowly morphing into a wide, bright smile as his heart moves out of his stomach and back into its rightful place in his chest. She's not afraid of him -- she's afraid of losing him! She's afraid he's going to think she's... Shane rubs his eyes with his fingertips, and mutters, "Oh for the sake of all the stars and stones..." He shakes his head and chuckles softly -- then launches to his feet and is at the bathroom door in just a quick stride or two. If it were anyone else, he'd just barge in. But it's Cinnamon -- and he knows better than to just crash through the door on someone who might accidentally make him beansidhe flamb� if she were badly startled! "Cinnamon? A ghr�, can you open the door, please?"

It actually takes Cinnamon almost a minute to stutter what Shane is fairly sure is: 'it's okay, door's open... come in?' She's truly, badly scared -- and sure he must now despise her, since it hasn't been anywhere near five minutes of consideration yet! Indeed, when Shane opens the door the little dragon is huddled on the closed toilet, her hands so tightly clenched in her lap that her knuckles are white. She blinks a few times as she looks up at Shane, trying to clear the terrified tears from her eyes... does he look mad or anything?

Once the door is safely open, Shane does what he wanted to do the night he decked Marcus, but refrained from in order not to freak Cinnamon out: he scoops her up into his arms, one arm settling under her rump to keep her face up at his level, and laughs with warm happiness, "I'm going nowhere, acushla! I keep telling you: wild gryphons couldn't drag me away!" He leans down and peppers kisses all over her face, starting with her eyebrows and ending up with her lips, warm and sweet and affectionate... and giving her a moment to register exactly what's happening. Cinnamon squeaks nervously, reflexively grabbing onto Shane's shoulders as she's unexpectedly lifted -- is he about to throw her out?! Wait, uhh... kisses?! But... wait, you don't kiss people you're mad at! ...do you? She rapidly realizes, though, that kisses from Shane are enormously distracting! Once the kiss breaks, Shane rubs his nose gently against Cinnamon's, adding, "I love you too, �lainn! Have for a long, long time -- since before the masquerade! Been trying not to spook you. You weren't ready to let me love you, I think."

Cinnamon is panting slightly from sheer nerves as Shane speaks to her, and her eyes are dilated with adrenaline. It takes her a few seconds to realize he's waiting for her to reply to... something? "Uhhh... huh...? That, uh... that's n-ni-... uh, w-wait -- what, please?" She pushes her askew glasses back into place and smiles shakily, nervously at Shane, "I, uh, I, I'm sorry? I m-missed anything you said there... c-could you repeat, please?" She hesitates, then -- greatly daring! -- adds shyly, "And, um... m-maybe we could... m-maybe k-k-k-kiss... a little more, after?"

Shane smiles and turns, moving to carry the stunned little dragon into the living room to sit down on the couch with her, "Cinnamon, acushla, I have been in love with you for a very, very long time -- and I will kiss you as much and as often as you like!" He gives her a slightly mischievous grin -- he is half-beansidhe, after all -- and nuzzles in to kiss the place where her neck turns into her shoulder, murmuring against her flushed skin, "-and anywhere you like!" He absolutely knows she's going to take that to mean geographically... but there's time enough later to teach her those lessons. For now, he just raises his head and leans in for another kiss against her lips.

Cinnamon sighs in shaky relief -- Shane doesn't hate her! In fact, he's actually saying he loves her! This... must be a dream? But for now... she's going to enjoy this dream, darnit, as much as she can! It's as she's absorbed in savoring another marvelously tingly-making kiss from Shane that it absently occurs to her: is this what Valentine's Day is supposed to be about? How very cool, if so, to discover today, on Valentine's Day, that her secret crush really likes her too! She eventually whispers, with happy nerves, if it's okay if she runs her fingers through Shane's hair too? She's never dared admit it previously... but she really loves the silken way it feels, and its lovely ravens-wing-black shine! Shane eventually lets that kiss break and leans back so he can look at Cinnamon, a warm and almost contented smile on his face when she asks that question, "Please do. I love having my hair played with." There's almost a purr in his voice. It's a sound he's tried to keep somewhat under wraps and in control around his acushla. He also gently shifts her toward his knees in his lap. He doesn't want to spook her.

Cinnamon beams nervously as she reaches one hand tentatively up towards Shane's head. This is so... so amazing to her! She knows he apparently said it was even okay for her to kiss him in public, where people can see... but she still has the look of someone who simply cannot believe their good fortune, and fully expects this dream to go poof! any second -- so she might as well enjoy as much as she can! Shane tips his head and murmurs with a smile, "In fact, feel free to touch my hair or any other bit of me, any time you like, acushla... so long as it doesn't put anyone in danger."

A heartbeat later, however, Cinnamon registers Shane's careful shifting of her on his lap -- and squeaks in horror as she hastily scrambles off his lap -- so fast she almost falls on her butt! "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I j-just, I forgot, it's my f-fault -- I'm sorry! I know you're still healing and recovering!" Once she catches her balance again, she hesitates... then shyly adds, "Is it okay if, um, if we... cuddle some? Like... I could sit next to you, l-like this... maybe?" She suits her actions to her words, curling up next to him on the couch -- and then (quite daringly for her) leaning up against him... and then very tentatively, cautiously laying one hand on his thigh.

Shane startles when his plan to not spook Cinnamon seems to backfire in a rather drastic way, then blinks rapidly, biting his tongue to keep from telling her: the reason he shifted her toward his knees was to avoid her getting flustered over his erection! Once he's got his face under control, though, he turns his head and nuzzles against her hair, "We can definitely cuddle. Or whatever you'd like." He tugs her quite closely against his side and makes a little humming sound as she rests her hand on his thigh.

Cinnamon sighs and relaxes against Shane when he doesn't seem upset at her... 'forwardness.' She leans her head against his shoulder and murmurs, "Mmm, this is nice..." then yawns! She hastily apologizes again, "Sorry! Sorry, just... haven't been sleeping well the last few days..." She blushes, admitting, "I... I was, um, kinda really stressed... about, um... well, about you maybe n-not wanting me, er, f-fixating on you...?"

Shane turns his head to look down at her with one brow arches, "Fixating on me... mmmmhmmm... I see. Because I've not been dogging your steps since basically the day you stepped foot on Coblyn?" He kisses the top of her head and nuzzles, breathing in her scent... then nudges her gently, "Sit up for a second." When she does, he shifts toward the end of the couch and pats his thigh, "Here. Use this as a pillow. Nap if you need to."

Cinnamon blinks a bit startledly at Shane, "Y-your, your leg!?" She winces, turning bright red at the rising squeak in her voice on her last word... then hastily covers her face with both hands and blinks through her fingers at Shane. There's embarrassed laughter in her voice as she nearly squeaks again, "Ohmygosh I am such a doofus sometimes -- I'm s-sorry!" She takes a few deep breaths, closing her eyes... then reflexively adds, "Sorry! Sorry, j-just... I, um... okay! Okay... I c-can do this..." The little dragon makes herself slide back a bit, preparatory to lying down -- but then freezes, "Wait... shouldn't you be resting too?" She glances around a bit at the tiny apartment... then shyly adds, "Y-you, ummm... you're w-welcome to come rest at, uh, at m-my place? T-too...?"

Shane smiles an shifts a little, patting his thigh again, "I can rest right here... and having you napping with your head in my lap will soothe my heart. But... if you'd very much like me to come cuddle you at your place, I'll change into some street-going clothes and come with you."

Cinnamon blinks again at Shane, just melting a little inside -- what a truly beautiful thing for Shane to say... and about her! She beams shyly at him, her heart in her eyes, "Awww! I'm happy to nap here, then, if you'd like... oh! -and then m-maybe you can come to my place and I'll make sure you get a good, hot dinner?" Her voice is hopeful, "W-would that be nice... maybe?" She thinks a moment, then adds wryly, "Though... I promised Marcus I'd do lunch with him tomorrow." She considers, then adds a bit perplexedly, "Though I'm not sure why? I mean, I sent flowers to Elm mansion to say thanks for helping with you, and hoping he healed up just fine from Hans' assault...?"

Shane has several things he wants to say about why Marcus might want to have lunch with Cinnamon, but he's not about to voice them just now. He strokes her hair instead and leans in to kiss her very gently, "I'd love the dinner with you. Do you want someone to come along for the dinner?"

Cinnamon sighs happily, her eyes closed as she enjoys just how tinglingly wonderful Shane touching her -- and kissing too, eeee! -- feels. A moment later his question percolates through the happy fog, and she blinks. He wants someone else there too? Bummer... well, no, he probably has a good reason to be inviting a friend along. They might be lonely, or hungry, or... after all, if she's going to crush hugely on a paladin, she should expect him to continue helping folks, right? She sighs softly -- she'll get plenty of chances to just snuggle alone with Shane, surely! -- then pulls a smile onto her face, "Sure, that's fine. Who did you want to invite?"

Shane smiles down at her, "I meant myself. Tomorrow. With Marcus." He's lazily combing his fingers through Cinnamon's hair, letting his fingertips trail down the nape of her neck from time to time.

"Oh!" Cinnamon considers that for a bit, though she's majorly distracted by the even more tingly feeling of Shane's fingers along her skin -- it's rather thought-derailing! She finally manages to squeak out, "I -- I think it's f-fine -- m-maybe you an' me could do d-dinner later instead?!" She sighs happily as she wriggles down to lie on the sofa next to Shane. It takes a second for her to actually bring herself to lay her head on his thigh (and she can feel her heart galloping with excitement too)... but she finally does -- then hastily asks, "I-is this okay? N-not hurty or, or anything?"

Shane shakes his head, "Not painful at all." There's that warm little sigh-purr sound to his voice again as he lays his head back against the couch, "Go ahead. Get a nap." Cinnamon sighs happily again, and closes her eyes. Shane can tell when she finally falls asleep, though... because the sheer excitement of actually touching Shane's thigh eeee! keeps Cinnamon a little tense. Thus, when she (fairly rapidly, considering how tired and relieved she is) slips off into sleep... her whole body softens a bit, going limp from exhaustion. Shane also relaxes a bit when Cinnamon does, but he doesn't fall asleep himself... just closes his eyes as he rests, a smile on his lips. He wants to chuckle -- but doesn't -- as he thinks about how pleased Aisling and his own mother are going to be about this.

The next day, the little cafe is just as charming as it was the first time the pair of them (Marcus and Cinnamon) met here -- when Cinnamon was new to Coblyn and Marcus was still very, very firmly on the reveal side of the question. This time, however, the conversation is likely to be very different! Jaeger made sure Marcus knows the whole story about what happened on Lunar New Year's night... but the young elf is still ego-bruised about the way Cinnamon treated him in the aftermath. Cinnamon herself is a bit curious about why Marcus has invited her here, but she's quite willing to be pleasant. Not only is she sincerely relieved he's better, and grateful for his help with Shane... but she's also quietly, glowingly happy inside herself: Shane likes her -- he really truly does! So she cheerfully tells Marcus he looks much better now, and she's glad he's feeling better too... then thanks him for his help on that terrible night, and apologizes for yelling at him. She was really, really scared but, as she admits to Marcus, she knows that's an explanation but not an excuse.

Marcus nods, pulling on his counselor demeanor -- the tactful but slightly detached one that allows him to actually be diplomatic. He's quietly removed his handkerchief and laid it on the table because he knows Cinnamon can be emotional and he intends to be gallant and gentlemanly when she starts crying, "Thank you. I know it must have been rather traumatic."

Cinnamon laughs ruefully, rolling her eyes, "Ohmygosh, yes! There was like the scent of blood and -- a-and the noises..." She winces and shudders, instantly (and unwantedly) remembering the dreadful sound of bony crepitus... then hastily adds, "So! Um, so... yeah. Um, what're you g-going to order?!" She smiles as she sincerely adds, "I'm really glad you're doing better too -- Butler told me, when I left the flowers."

Marcus smiles, trying to remain sympathetic, "Ah. Yes. Thank you for those." He folds his hands in front of him on the table, "They were very lovely but... unnecessary." Cinnamon tilts her head, looking slightly questioning. Hmm... oh, dear. Did she send something Marcus -- or someone else in the house -- was allergic to? She waits politely for him to explain. The beautiful bouquet of daffodils that was delivered was indeed lovely, but Marcus has decided he's had enough of being treated as second to Shane! Consequently the lovely blooms -- which to him meant 'regard and unrequited love' -- tripped more than a little irritation in him, poking his pride. His arrogance kicked in, and he decided it was time to just walk away once and for all! So today is to let Cinnamon down easily. He takes a deep breath, "I know we have had a... tumultuous relationship."

Cinnamon blinks... then pushes up her glasses. What an interesting beginning! She wonders what he's leading to... but then, when the waitress walks up, she smiles at Marcus as he pauses long enough to place orders. Once the waitress has departed, Cinnamon smiles again at Marcus, "Sorry about that. Okay, go on, please?"

Marcus has the sudden urge to reach across the table and take Cinnamon's hand, in a comforting gesture, as he breaks this news to her, "I know we've begun to rebuild bridges, but I think perhaps it best that we keep things between us friendly. After all, the plan is for Hilde and I to marry sometime not to far in the future. You and I really aren't a good match."

Cinnamon blinks at Marcus. This is so far out of left field for her that she's not sure she heard him correctly! Does he really think... she tilts her head again, this time in bemusement, "I'm sorry, I think... um, could you repeat that, please?" She's starting to unwittingly look rather... well, incredulous! Has he still not realized what that bracelet from Hilde means? Wowsers, he's really living up to Hilde's expectations of him, too -- Cinnamon sure hopes, for Marcus' sake, that he's not mentioned this to Hilde yet! She's really not sure where he got the incredible idea that he and she might be any sort of match, too -- not after he publicly dumped and humiliated her! She's been trying to be nice since he apologized, but if this is his idea of niceness... wow! She doesn't have words for how insane this sounds to her!

Marcus takes a deep breath and continues, "I'm sorry. I know I've been cruel in the past and I'm trying to remedy at least that part. I think you and I should remain friends and colleagues, but any special regard we might have had for one another was misguided. Hilde and I have had an agreement for several years, after all, and I should live up to the bracelet she gifted me."

Cinnamon is genuinely confused, so she curiously asks, "How does this 'remedy' your cruelty, Marcus?"

Now Marcus too looks confused, "By... by being gentle with this? By being honest and not letting things get confused or any further tangled?"

Cinnamon considers that for a bit... then cautiously asks, "Honest?" She's not sure precisely where Marcus is leading with this, any more... but still. Since she does care about Marcus a little bit -- though, she hastily assures herself, it's not a crush anymore, really! It's really Jaeger that she cares about, and Marcus is his son, right. So she's willing to listen carefully while he explains further. She has no idea, after all, that her bright, cheerful bundle of respectful daffodils -- which is the Japanese meaning, since she's actually studied that culture somewhat -- were misread by the European-based Marcus!

This is not going at all how Marcus expected it to! He's feeling a little off-kilter... so he takes a breath and starts over, "The flowers. The daffodils: 'regard and unrequited love'? I don't think we should go back down that path."

Cinnamon blinks confusedly at Marcus, "What? That... that's not what..." She pauses, thinking... and it finally hits her: Marcus is actually trying to warn her off of loving him?! She blinks again, swallowing the ridiculous bubble of a giggle that's trying to work its way out of her -- but her thoughts keep racing on in spite of her. Marcus has... has publicly dumped and humiliated her, yelled at her after she saved his life -- something she's actually done several times now, now that she thinks about it! -- has... what else. He also tried to avoid helping when Shane was desperately injured, and he pouted and sulked when she snapped at him about his snapping at her, and... good golly, does he actually delude himself into thinking she's in love with him... after all that?!

Cinnamon's confused gaze gets increasingly incredulous, and despite herself the utter ridiculousness of this situation starts to get the better of her... and without meaning to... she giggles! She hastily covers her mouth, but... the darned giggles keep coming! Does he think she's some kind of emotional doormat for him?! She's with Shaney -- her beautiful asthore! Admittedly, she's shy of letting that be publicly known -- she doesn't want Shane to feel pushed or rushed at all since it's been less than 24 hours yet, after all, but... but still! How deluded must Marcus be -- to believe she's at all interested in being emotionally close with him? -someone who's apparently constitutionally incapable of any sort of fidelity at all?!

Marcus is trying to be gentle and diplomatic, but he scowls a bit at the giggle, feeling just a little offended... at first -- and then he's a lot offended when the giggles keep coming! "I'm sorry. Did I say something funny?"

Cinnamon tries her best to explain, between giggles -- though she herself doesn't realize her not-quite-tearful giggles are partly due to the unexpectedly sharp pain of Marcus thinking so little of her, "Oh, Marcus, honestly... why would I want to get close to someone who can't be faithful to anyone? Heck, why would anyone want to hurt themselves that way? I don't know anyone who truly wants to be... well, abused, really, by a narcissist!" She has to stop for a gulp of water to force down her almost hysterical giggle-urge, before she can get out, "People want sweethearts who are actually kind and thoughtful and generous, Marcus! People with a heart, who truly care about others besides themselves -- not people who're always worried about how other people see them!" She smiles with forced sympathy at Marcus, "People like Josie and Shane... and your father and Elias, you know? People who love more than just themselves!" The little dragon is honestly flabbergasted at Marcus right now... and feeling deeply wounded that he brought her out to yet another lovely venue -- just so he could yet again dump her!

Marcus goes white with shock at Cinnamon's brutal honesty -- then feels himself flushing in fury. He was doing his best! He was trying! But now... now she's laughing at him? There's a ringing in his ears; he's angry and humiliated and hurt -- because he really doesn't want to admit to himself just how badly he fucked everything up. He pushes abruptly back from the table, throwing down his napkin, and his voice drops into subarctic territory, "I see. Then I'll just leave you in peace, shall I?" He stalks to the door, yanking his overcoat off the hooks by the door and storming out into the chill air of the heavily overcast, late winter day.

Cinnamon's giggling tapers off into slow, deep breathing, and she sighs. Poor Marcus. Does he really not get it at all? Hmm. Maybe not? Though... oh, crabcakes, he's left her with the bill again! She sighs again, looking over the table... and that's when she realizes he forgot his handkerchief. For a moment she considers saying nothing... but then she scolds herself: just because Marcus is being an arrogant little brat doesn't mean she needs to stop being a good person! She picks up the hankie, relieved they were seated by the window. Even though it's mostly covered with lacy curtains, she'll be able to tap on the window to get his attention, so he can come back in for his pretty embroidered handkerchief.

The little dragon glances out and spots him stalking past along the sidewalk, so she hastily taps lightly on the glass several times. When he doesn't immediately glance her way -- his chin actually lifts as he stares off into the distance -- she holds up the hankie too as she continues tapping... at least until he marches out of sight. Cinnamon blinks. Well! That was... odd. She debates hopping up to run after him -- but right at that moment the waitress arrives with their food.

Marcus notices Cinnamon trying to get his attention, of course, but his pride is too wounded to acknowledge it. Unfortunately it's not too wounded for him to be quite sure she's going to come rushing out to apologize, though. He soothes himself with a little daydream of how he's going to be kind and gracious but firm when she rushes up all flushed bright red -- and she really is rather adorable when she blushes -- but that doesn't matter! -- and she'll be all disheveled and apologetic, yes... any second now. Just... any moment... and he's so caught up in his righteous daydream that he's paying no attention at all to his surroundings.

The biggest problem right now for Marcus is himself, unfortunately. He knows how to survive in wilderness -- drop him in the center of a virgin forest two hundred miles from anywhere, and he would be fine. But the only place he's streetwise about is Coblyn Street. On Coblyn, people almost instinctively move out of his way... but not so here, out in the human world. He's shocked when he runs directly into a solid wall of... some human -- a human who has mentally tagged Marcus as a spoiled little rich boy -- easy prey. Also (and unfortunately, for Marcus), much like many big cities, no one really notices what's going on. When the guy snarls at Marcus and shoves him violently into the nearby alley -- the one Marcus was unwittingly walking way too close to -- it's easy for the rest of the little gang lying in wait to drag him deeper into the shadows... there to thoroughly mug him in metaphorical peace.

Meanwhile, back at the pretty little teahouse, Cinnamon sighs and smiles ruefully when the waitress asks where her young man is. The two women commiserate a little about ridiculously entitled, pretty young men, and Cinnamon decides now she's here, darnit, she's going to enjoy herself! The server quite agrees, obligingly packing up Marcus' order to go. The two women cheerfully agree there's no sense in wasting good food or a lovely environment -- especially when the weather's so dreadful! It's actually started snowing already, and Cinnamon is silently relieved Marcus at least remembered his greatcoat. Consequently, she takes her unworried time over the delicious little repast, chatting often with the kind-hearted server.

The little dragon ends up having a lovely time despite Marcus' rather emotionally tone-deaf behavior towards her, so she leaves a very nice tip for the sweet server who made sure she had a pleasant and delicious tea. Cinnamon is smiling and occasionally catching fat snowflakes on her tongue as she strolls slowly and contentedly back towards Coblyn Street... it's a truly beautiful night! The falling snow makes for a lovely twilight, with the various streetlights glowing warmly through the silently drifting flakes, and Cinnamon decides she'll return the handkerchief as she heads on home. After all, it's usually Butler who answers the door, so she shouldn't have to speak to Marcus again tonight... and yay! She can share all this nummy extra tea and food she's got tonight with Shane! The little dragon is strongly enough culturally-trained, too, that she knows to stay well away from dark alleyways... so she has no idea whatsoever Marcus lies unconscious and badly beaten, deep within the shadows of one particular alley...

It's maybe half an hour later that Cinnamon politely inquires as to whether Marcus has returned safely home already, as she returns the handkerchief to Butler. The man is, as always, gracious and even warm in his odd mental communication, as he lets Cinnamon know Marcus has not yet arrived back. Cinnamon feels the first little twinge of worry at Butler's headshake... but she simply thanks the man and asks if he could please let her know at some point, once Marcus has made it safely home? A few moments later, as she heads on towards her cozy little cottage -- and Shane too, eeee! -- she reassures herself: Marcus isn't stupid, just arrogant and self-centered. He'll be fine! Besides, it looks like Josie and Spice are headed for her home too -- excellent! She'll make a tasty dinner for everyone tonight, and it'll be all cozy and nice in the warm house, with the lovely snow outside -- yay!

Josie and Spice catch up with Cinnamon not too long afterward. Spice has brought a bottle of wine and Josie is wagging so hard, she's likely to bruise anyone she hits with her tail. Cinnamon laughs as she opens the door and discovers not just Shane, but Thorn there too! "Hi, you guys! Have you seen the beautiful snow outside? JoJo, Spice, c'mon in -- I'll make a nice hot dinner for all of us, okay? What's up, Thorny?"

Thorn smiles, "Just giving Shane a final check-up. Hans... well, Shane's wounds were severe, and I just wanted to make sure he'd recovered fully -- and he has! He has a clean bill of health!"

Cinnamon sighs in relief as she closes the door. After hanging up her coat, she goes to give Thorn, then Shane a warm hug, "Fantastic! I'm really glad to hear it."

Spice grins, looking from Shane to Cinnamon and clocking the expression on the half-beansidhe's face, "Fuckin' finally!"

The little dragon giggles, blushing hotly as she adds, "Also, Spice is insisting we celebrate tonight!" She takes a breath to say why... then abruptly goes tongue-tied -- what if Shane thinks she's making too big a deal about it? What if he's changed his mind?! Nope, she decides -- she's too nervous to say! As she flees for the kitchen she hastily adds over her shoulder, "-b-but you can ask her what about because, uhh... b-because I gotta cook!" Thorn hugs Cinnamon; Shane too hugs back and nuzzles into Cinnamon's hair. He's just leaning in to give her a kiss as well when she scampers away, making him laugh quietly. The healer blinks at Cinnamon's sudden tongue-tiedness as she darts into the kitchen. Cinnamon turns bright red, not able to stop the embarrassed squeak! She hastily buries herself in cooking -- very intensive, cooking, yes indeedy!

Shane grins as he actually mutters quietly enough for the folks near him -- but not Cinnamon -- to hear, "No. Kissing finally." Then he saunters into the kitchen and steps up behind Cinnamon, leaning down to kiss her shoulder and then her neck... which gets him another startled, delighted squeak! Thorn blinks a little, then smiles as he understands what Spice said, as well as Shane's reply.

It turns out to be a lovely, cheerful, cozy dinner for the five friends. They feast on Cinnamon's latest experiment -- extra rich beef bourguignon simmered all day in the crockpot, with sweet tarte aux poires for dessert -- and then just relax, contentedly full, in the little front room on the futon. When Shane asks her how the lunchtime tea with Marcus went, the little dragon grins ruefully and shakes her head, "It was... kinda weird, actually?" She tells the story, and is just finishing up her curious little tale when someone knocks on the door. Cinnamon puts down her glass and hops up, "Oh! Bet that's a note from Butler, telling me Marcus is home safe. Hang on a moment, please?" She patters over to the door, "Who is it?"

Rather than the familiar mental 'voice' of Butler, it's another familiar, deep, and melodious voice, "It's Jaeger. May I come in?"

Cinnamon blinks at that, surprised, "Oh! Of course, Jaeger!" She hastily opens the door, waving him in, "How are you? Have you eaten yet?"

Jaeger steps through the door, wearing a heavy wool overcoat. Both it and his hair are dusted with snow flurries. His face is tight with worry as his eyes scan the room quickly -- and then his shoulders fall when he sees his son isn't present, "I was hoping I'd see my son here, actually. I know the pair of you were meant to have tea together. I'd hoped it would repair some of the rift between you."

Cinnamon looks surprised as she's reaching for Jaeger's overcoat -- then laughs! "Um, no, that's... not why he invited me out, actually. According to him, he was..." She thinks about how to phrase things -- then decides to just use Marcus' words -- that's probably safest, since she doesn't want to hurt Jaeger's feelings at all! "He said we'd begun to rebuild bridges but he'd decided it was best we just stay friends instead since he was marrying Hilde soon, sir."

Jaeger nods, but he's apparently too worried to roll his eyes at his son over this, "I see. But you haven't seen him since?"

Thorn frowns, starting to feel alarmed. Going off somewhere and sulking alone, without anyone knowing, doesn't really sound like Marcus. Cinnamon hangs up the overcoat on her coat tree, then waves Jaeger on in. She sounds a bit guilty, "Er... no. No, he marched off in a huff when I laughed and told him there was no way I'd be close to someone like hi- uhh... someone who... was, um... kind of a narcissist?" Hastily she adds, "Would you, um, like something to eat or drink? I can tell you everything that happened, if you want?"

Jaeger nods and pushes his hands through his hair, "Verdammt. No. No, that's fine... the story, I mean -- but something warm to drink would be welcome. I've been up and down the whole length of the street and no one's seen him. He should have been home hours back."

Cinnamon blinks worriedly at Jaeger, pushing up her glasses, "Oh, dear. Oh -- hang on!" She dashes off into the kitchen, hastily pulling another mug of the spiced cider she and her friends have been drinking, then brings it back to the elder elf, "I'm so sorry, Jaeger! Um, let me think... the snow had just started when he left, so... maybe we can check time that way?"

Jaeger nods, "Weather can take a little longer to really start impacting here. Something about our being hidden from the satellites, I gather -- but I know when that was. When did you leave the tea shop?"

"Umm... about an hour and a half later? I stayed because the waitress walked up with the food like seconds after Marcus had left." Cinnamon thinks a moment, then shakes her head, "I didn't see him on the way home, either?"

Jaeger's brows draw together, "When did he leave the tea shop?"

Cinnamon frowns as she thinks carefully, "Okay. We were supposed to meet at one-thirty, and then we walked to the tea shop, off Coblyn. He had a reservation for two o'clock, and we were a little early but they seated us right away because it was slow. Then he started talking, but the waitress came and we ordered... and then he continued. So it couldn't have been... too much after two when he left?" She looks worriedly at Jaeger, her voice small, "D-does that help at all? I'm so sorry I didn't stop him!"

Jaeger shakes his head and puts a hand on Cinnamon's shoulder, "Don't. It's not your fault he's not come home. But I am concerned. I think we're going to have to go off the street to look for him. Would... I know you're on the outs with him, as they say, but would you all be willing to help out?"

Cinnamon nods firmly and without hesitation, "Absolutely, Jaeger! I'm not happy with him, but I don't want him hurt!" She turns to her friends, "Peeps, are you okay with just relaxing here for a bit, while I help out some?"

Thorn shakes his head, "Let me get my medical kit from the infirmary." He'd never forgive himself if they found Marcus, and Thorn didn't have the right tools to keep the elf alive! "I'll join up with you off the street."

Cinnamon stares at Thorn for a moment... then darts forward and hugs him tightly, "Thanks so much, Thorny!" She smiles up at him as she steps back, adding, "Make sure to dress real warm, okay? -and boots, if you've got them? It's supposed to snow a lot tonight, after all -- two or three inches, I heard!" Thorn hugs Cinnamon back, then nods and scampers off to the infirmary... there to get his kit and dress a bit more warmly for the Boston winter. Cinnamon adds to Jaeger over her shoulder, "Gimme a moment to change clothes, okay? Be right back!" and darts off to the ladder upstairs.

Shane, Josie, and Spice also are getting up and gathering their coats. Shane's face is set in serious lines, "He may irritate me to no end, but I'm not going to leave him to get hurt."

Josie nods sharply, "I need to change. Meet you back here in... twenty minutes?"

Cinnamon beams with gratitude, from the second floor, at her dear friends, "Thanks so much, you all! Okay, twenty minutes, yeah!" With that, she slips into her bedroom to change into warmer, bad-weather clothing. As she does so, Shane asks Jaeger quiet, serious questions about the situation. The beansidhe has tracking experience, but he's done it mostly in a nature setting. Tracking in a city is much more difficult.

When Josie gets back, it turns out she went to 'change' not into her human form, but into one she doesn't often take. In her half-wolf form, she's enormous. In her human form, she's slightly taller than female average, and stocky. In her wolf form she's large, but not monstrously so. She's also carrying a service dog harness in her mouth, that Spice helps her get into. The search parties are made up of people that can 'pass' outside Coblyn, meaning Diarmaid and Vanya can't come, despite Vanya being a bear and having an amazing nose. Sparrow is on the rez still, so they're also out his capabilities. Cinnamon shows the group of searchers the route she and Marcus took, and is careful to do discreet tongue-flickers as she walks, trying to find any hint of Marcus' scent in the air. Snow is blanketing the ground and is still falling, but she tries her best.

Unfortunately, for all the extra abilities they have -- sharper than usual eyes, better-than-human scenting, supernatural hearing, infrared sight -- they're still stymied by the snow... which dampens all those extra senses. Further, even with the grid method all they manage to find is Marcus' torn suit jacket down the alley where he was mugged... and traces of his blood. Cinnamon watches Jaeger's face as he's handed the ripped, slightly bloody clothing... and wishes she could do more. Poor Jaeger! Poor Marcus. She leans unhappily against Shane, her arms wrapped around herself as she tries to not feel guilty. If only she'd just hopped up and run after Marcus! Jaeger looks a little haggard as he clutches the jacket, taking a deep breath, "He had an overcoat with him." He closes his eyes and takes another deep breath, murmuring something that sounds suspiciously like a prayer before he looks at everyone and adds, "It's late. We're not going to find anything else tonight. Tomorrow we'll try tracing his consciousness and his jewelry."

Cinnamon blinks confusedly, "His... consciousness?"

Jaeger nods, "Ja. It's difficult -- scrying someone's mind, essentially. It requires a lot: their true name, some of their blood or hair, a couple other things. We'll do it tomorrow."

Cinnamon nods in relief, "Oh! That should do it." She smiles unhappily up at Jaeger, "Can you let us know once he's found, though, please? I mean, I'm sure we'd all like to know he's okay!"

Shane nods solemnly as well, "I hate to call off the search, but we're not going to get much further tonight. Jaeger's right."

Thorn frowns slightly, but nods. From what he can tell, it makes sense to search for Marcus that way. He checks, "Will you need any help with the scrying?"

Jaeger hesitates, then nods briefly, "I'd like help with the tracking... as there are doubtless things hazardous to me out here."

Cinnamon replies immediately, "We'll help! I've been metal-guardian for Marcus before, after all!"

Thorn too nods, "Definitely. I'll be glad to help."

The next morning people are up early, wanting to get started as quickly as possible on the tracking. They're being helped out with a scrying spell linked to small, wooden pocket compasses. Jaeger doesn't want people to split up too much, as he wants to have Shane on-hand for both his martial prowess and his ability to truthsee. Cinnamon is glad it's a really chilly, snowy morning -- that means Jaeger will be able to wear a greatcoat, a very covering hat, and heavy gloves. Doing so means both that his pointed ears will be covered... and her job as metal-guard will be a smidge less fraught! She's startled, though, when she sees the little wooden compasses -- Jaeger must be throwing out a ton of money to find his son! Not only has he purchased a very difficult and pricey scrying spell, but he's gotten the spellcaster to also somehow link the result to more than one freshly-custom-made, complex objects! -and all of that by this morning? Great googly moogly, the poor spellcaster must have been up all night! Cinnamon is both impressed... and a little wistful. It must be nice having a dad who thinks you're that awesome.

Jaeger was only able to procure two of the compasses; he looks a little hollow-eyed and haggard as he explains, "I'm lucky I had the compasses already. The spell was hard enough to come by." He rubs his face with one gloved hand, "We use the compasses for teaching young elvenvolk navigation. We're good in forests, but sometimes not so good in other environments." Cinnamon is wearing all her lovely Icelandic woolen gear -- mukluks, mittens, beanie, and lopapeysa -- so she's unwittingly looking rather colorful! She asks if she can see one of the little wooden compasses before they're handed out. Cradling it carefully in her mittened hands, she studies it thoughtfully. Okay, her initial assessments were a bit off, which... honestly, isn't that bad? After all, it's not like this shows Jaeger cares less! She smiles at herself -- she needs to stop feeling so less-than, she thinks! Okay, Marcus is really lucky to have someone like Jaeger... but hey! She has Shaney! That lovely thought means she's beaming quietly as she hands off the compass to whomever is supposed to be carrying it.

The little dragon smiles worriedly up at Jaeger, "Okay, maybe have someone that's not you or me lead the way, but slowly, please? That way you won't be going so fast that I can't stay a bit ahead of you to check for metal. Sound good?" She wonders if Hilde or any of the 'reveal' faction will help with the search. So far all she knows are likely coming are Shane, Thorn, herself... and maybe Josie and Spice. Hilde actually is with the group, looking more stoic than normal. She may not want to handfast Marcus, but she does consider him a friend -- even if an occasionally adversarial one. Thorn meets up with the group, carrying his medkit satchel. It looks more or less like a typical hipster messenger bag, which is how he wants it to be. Spice has opted to go the cybersleuth route today, reviewing hospital check-ins and even police blotters. Josie is staying with her so there's a go-between if necessary. Cinnamon hugs Spice and Josie before they all head off. She's faintly relieved Spice thought of the on-line option of tracking Marcus -- it certainly hadn't occurred to the little dragon!

Shane volunteers to take point, not only because he is metal-immune (unless someone stabs him with some), but he's also good at blending into the human throng -- and he's fight-ready. Cinnamon nods and follows relatively close behind Shane, so she can ward Jaeger. She'd like Thorn and Jaeger to be side by side, in a way -- that'll effectively protect both of them a bit more. She wishes there were someone kinda martial to follow at the end, though. Shane, as vanguard, has one of the compasses and Jaeger has the other, though he lets Cinnamon see what it's indicating or offers to let her hold it if she wishes. Cinnamon smiles and shakes her head at Jaeger, "You carry it, please? That way I'll have a bit more time to focus on metal..." she grins shyly, "and you'll hopefully be a smidge slowed down by focusing on the compass, so I can stay ahead!" Jaeger nods and keeps the compass. Shane murmurs something about Jack Sparrow as he sets off down the mundane street outside Coblyn, making Cinnamon giggle as she patters along directly behind him as they start. She glances back at Jaeger whenever she wants him to register some particular piece of metal, pointing to it or touching it so he knows what to avoid.

The first place the compass leads them is toward another alley a few blocks down. When Shane figures out where they're being guided to, he holds up a hand to stop them and motions the little dragon forward. Cinnamon blinks in a bit of surprise, but crunches forward over the snow to Shane's side, "Yes?"

Shane's voice is quiet, "My night vision is pretty good, a ghr�, but it's a little messed up by it being bright here and dark in there... and the compass is telling me something is down that alley, but I'm not stupid enough to just go blithely trotting in there on my own. You see anyone?"

Cinnamon nods to Shane, then turns her intent gaze down the alleyway. She checks first with IR for anything alive -- since in the cold winter morning, live bodies stand out like little blotches of fire! There's a couple of dumpsters obscuring the far end of the alley, and trash can create some heat... but not enough to obscure the heat signatures of two people, one on each side of the alley behind the dumpsters. Cinnamon leans to whisper to Shane, "There's two folks down there, asthore! One on each side, behind the two dumpsters. Want me to go flush 'em out?"

Shane nods and shifts slightly, reaching a hand back over his head to tug gently at the pommel of the sword hidden down his back, "They'll think you're helpless, acushla." He leans down and gives her a quick kiss. "Go show 'em they're wrong."

Cinnamon beams sunnily up at Shane, almost singing inside her head! Shane kissed her, he really likes her, she knows it for a fact now, eeeee this is so cooool! It takes her a few seconds, in fact, to pull her gleeful thoughts back together... at which point she blushes -- oh, crabcakes, did anyone else notice her being a ditz?! Wait, wait, don't look! Just go, don't look... she blushes even more hotly, turning immediately and trying to look focused and serious and doggedly determined and, um... and not all squeaky with happiness, eeeee! She takes a deep breath, pushes up her glasses, then goes carefully crunching along the snow down the alleyway. She sings quietly to herself to keep her spirits up -- and maybe it'll cover any noise Shane's making too, if he's following?

"Well I like takin' off
Don't like burnin' out
Every time you turn it on
Makes me want to shout..."

She mutters, "Darnit!" to herself as the ice-slick ground causes her to slip a bit, and puts a mittened hand on the nearest dumpster to steady herself... then goes to humming as she continues crunching along through the snow.

Slightly back from the mouth of the alley, Hilde (despite her worry) blinks and looks at Thorn, asking in shock, "Wha... when did that happen?!"

Jaeger's voice is a little less shocked because he's tired and worried, but he does murmur, "I'm curious as well, but perhaps it's a story for another time."

Thorn blinks at Hilde, "When did -- oh. OH!" He smiles, "Sometime in the past forty-eight hours, I believe."

Down the alleyway, there's a shifting that could be easy to miss for someone not paying attention. Just as Cinnamon clears the dumpster, a hand reaches out and yanks on her coat, trying to make her lose her footing so she'll fall behind the dumpster, out of sight of the street. Cinnamon grins a bit smugly -- bracing herself on the dumpster turns out to have been a good idea! She simply stands there, tilting her head to look down at the person behind the dumpster. Her voice is friendly, "Well, hello there! Are you okay? Do you need a hand?" She keeps her careful three-point brace -- no, actually! She braces with both mittened hands on the dumpster... because she knows there's another guy behind her. She doesn't really want to get shoved face-first into this first person -- and maybe have her glasses go flying off!

The fact that Cinnamon doesn't go ass-over-teakettle seems to disconcert the guy at first. He's in tattered jeans and a ragged puffer coat with a knitted hat pulled low over his head. He grunts and tugs at her again as his friend moves across the alley, wanting to get an arm around her neck as he snarls, "What we need is your wallet and phone, bitch!"

Cinnamon glances back at the other guy, "Um, no thank you." She doesn't dodge the arm around the neck either -- she just reaches out to take his arm and yank as hard as she can -- towards the guy still on the ground. Both men are shocked and scrambling when the second one is suddenly slipping on the icy cobbles -- most alleys in the area are still cobblestone, as are many of the streets. There's a couple of shouts and quite a bit of swearing.

Shane calls back, "Big metal dumpsters down here. Slippery!" It's just to let Jaeger know to be careful. The compass needle on the device in Shane's hand is twirling around like a top.

Cinnamon steps back once the two mugger-wannabes are piled and thrashing on top of each other, scowling. She folds her arms, her voice firm, "You are behaving very badly! Your mothers would be ashamed of you!" Then she glances back towards Shane, "Should we just shoo them off, then?"

Shane shakes his head and shows her the compass and the way the needle is spinning, "Nope. I think we're going to pat them down." He calls over his shoulder, "Hey, bossman, you wanna come check out whatever I find on these two parasites?'

Cinnamon blinks interestedly at the compass, "Ooh, cool! Gotta be some of Ma- uh, our guy's jewelry. Okay!" She beams up at Shane, then grabs the ankle of one of the toughs and hauls him back, "Here, want this one first?"

Shane grins at Cinnamon casually hauling a thug around, "That works, �lainn." He crouches and says cheerfully, "I'm going to pat you down. If you try to hurt anyone here, I will -- with no compunctions at all -- break something. We clear?" The thug is a little groggy, but Shane's smiling explanation of what's going to happen and the consequences of pushback has his eyes bugging out.

Jaeger's cool voice comes from behind Shane, "I wouldn't push him on this. He doesn't actually enjoy violence, but he's really rather quite good at it."

Cinnamon glances back at Jaeger, her voice warning, "The dumpsters are steel -- you be careful, please!" She finds herself feeling oddly protective of the elder elf.

Jaeger nods, smiling tightly and motioning that he's staying a couple feet back, "I'm just here to see if anything young James finds is... relevant."

Cinnamon nods at that, "Okay!" and turns her attention back to 'James'... and ensuring the other thug doesn't try escaping. Or attacking Shane, for that matter! Shane starts efficiently patting the thug down, finding several things of dubious legality and very unhealthy nature. He mutters something about D.A.R.E. and then finds three different wallets, some lady's jewelry and... a gold wrist cuff. He doesn't actually have to ask Jaeger about it, but he does anyway, passing it to the Elm elder. Cinnamon glances thoughtfully at it, murmuring to Shane, "Looks like Hilde's gift. Can I see that other jewelry, please?" She doesn't expect to recognize it or anything, but... maybe they can turn it in to the police or something, so the poor robbed woman can get it back? Shane hands off the rest of the jewelry. None of what else the thug is carrying belongs to Marcus, but it's clear he's mugged more than the Elm councilor.

Hilde goes pale as she recognizes the cuff, nodding stiffly, "It is... oh, goddess..."

Cinnamon studies the other stolen jewelry, rolling it back and forth across her mittened palms -- but she stops at a sudden, horrible thought and snaps at the two men, "Did you kill anybody to get all this stuff?!" She knows Shane is by her side and can see them, after all. Thorn is bringing up the rear, near Hilde. He's guessing that these two guys don't need medical attention. But if they answer in the affirmative to Cinnamon's question, he's going to probably be needed!

Both thugs vehemently deny killing anyone for the jewelry and wallets. Shane winces and mutters, "But some grievous bodily harm isn't out of the picture..." He jerks his head toward Jaeger, who's holding the wrist cuff, "And the guy you got that off? How bad was he hurt?" Thorn is relieved they didn't kill anyone, but makes note of Shane's comment. He stays near Jaeger in case the Elm elder gets too close to any metal. Cinnamon steps to block the second guy from leaving as she listens carefully as well. She's quietly relieved she doesn't recognize the jewelry she's holding... as well as that they'll be able to take steps to ensure it's hopefully returned to its true owner.

The two thugs seem either a little reluctant, or literally can't remember much about the attack on Marcus. The second guy is the one that says, "The blonde fairy?"

Cinnamon looks boggled -- how did they know?! Oh, wait, right -- his hat probably fell off. She nods, "That one, yes."

The second thug snorts, "Rog just hit him hard enough to knock him out. Little faggot like that... he was tougher than we thought."

Jaeger, who also got tense at the word 'fairy,' actually relaxes once he realizes they simply mistook his son for being homosexual. Cinnamon scowls, "You are bad men!" then adds to the second thug, "You can either hand over the things in your pockets... or we can knock you down first, then do it ourselves."

Shane says in a calm, level voice, "Don't make her angry. You wouldn't like her when she's angry." He considers, "Actually, you wouldn't like me when she's angry." He smiles cheerfully... and the second thug hastily empties his pockets. There's more jewelry and wallets, but nothing more that belongs to Marcus. Cinnamon has to cover her mouth at that -- Shane just makes her want to beam all the time! She remembers the jewelry she's holding when its coldness touches her face, so she gives that back to Shane.

Once they're checking the second guy's loot, Cinnamon studies it... then looks up and puzzledly asks, "Shouldn't there be... like, his pretty silver Elm necklace? He was wearing cufflinks too..." She turns back to the thugs, "Was it just the two of you, or were there more guys? Or... oh! Did you sell some of the stuff?" She glances worriedly at Jaeger, "Also, what about his pretty da- umm... heirlooms from his mother?" She doesn't want to describe the daggers in front of the thieves, after all.

Thug One says, "There were like... what?" He looks at his friend and then back at Cinnamon, "Five of us, I think." Jaeger swears in German as the thug goes on, "We split what we got."

Cinnamon nods slowly, "Okay... and do you have anything else from the blonde guy? Do you know where your other three friends are?" She smiles at Jaeger (accidentally?) reminding her she can use different languages. Tilting her head at him, she asks in German, "Do you know if he was wearing his daggers that day?"

Jaeger responds in German, "They're back at the Residence. He had other weapons on him, though -- I'm certain." Cinnamon sighs in quiet relief -- at least Marcus' prized heirlooms are safe! She nods to Jaeger, then turns back to the thugs, waiting for answers from them.

Thug Two says, "Who the fuck knows where the other guys are right now. Boozin'. Fuckin'. Sleepin' it off? The blonde had some more jewelry and a really wicked knife. Rog kept that."

Cinnamon tilts her head in confusion... then points at the first thug, "That's Rog?"

Thug Two shakes his head, "Nah. Rog is another dude..."

Jaeger swears. He hands the cuff off to Hilde and then looks at the two men... then to his companions, "May I have a moment alone with our friends?"

Cinnamon looks unhappily at Jaeger... then at Shane. She's starting to get a little uncomfortable about this... but she figures Shane knows better than she what the right thing to do is. Shane nods and motions toward the end of the alleyway, pausing and asking, "Are you sure?"

Jaeger nods, "I'll be safe and they'll not be harmed."

Shane considers and then nods. Hilde nods as well, walking slowly to the end of the alleyway. Cinnamon glances between them again, but then follows Shane... even though she's worrying internally. A heartbeat later, though, she has a sudden brainwave -- and leans to whisper to Shane, "Is this like a secret knack thingie, asthore?"

Shane nods quietly, "I think so..." He slides an arm around her shoulders and kisses her briefly again. He's been taking full advantage of that little perk! Seeing it again makes Hilde smile despite the worry. Cinnamon beams up at Shane after the kiss! Curiosity, though, makes her turn and stare down the alleyway at where Jaeger is with the two men. Can she see anything of what he's doing? He seems to be simply speaking with the two men, his voice very quiet.

It's only a handful of minutes later that Jaeger reappears, face set into grim lines, "We're good. Hilde, would you be a dear and take the cuff back to Coblyn? Otherwise, it will confuse the charms."

Cinnamon tilts her head curiously as she looks up at the tall elf when he returns, "Is it okay to ask if that was a secret knack thingie, or would that be rude?"

Jaeger smiles a bit, "You've already asked by asking if it's okay to ask. But obviously I trust you lot. It's an iteration of being charming."

Cinnamon frowns with a hint of worry, her voice uncertain, "So... it was rude, but you trust us?" She nibbles on her lower lip for a moment, then nods more decisively, "Okay, thank you for being nice, and I'll try not to do that again!" She waits until Hilde takes off with the cuff... then she grins at Shane, standing next to him so she too can see the compass he's holding, "Okay, only three guys to go, right?"

Jaeger smiles, "No, it's not rude to ask if it's a knack. But it is rude to ask if it's a hidden knack. Many of us would rather people not realize we have more than one, liebchen. Asking if it's to do with a knack is perfectly polite, but you must be prepared to be politely denied an answer."

Cinnamon smiles ruefully at Jaeger, "I'm sorry, Jaeger. I'm still working on saying things so I'm not accidentally rude, so thank you for understanding."

Jaeger nods and tucks his hands into his greatcoat pockets as they begin walking, following Shane again. He thinks a moment, then adds, "Some of the secondary knacks are a bit... they might be easy to misuse. Just as Quinn's true-speaking knack could be abused very easily."

Cinnamon nods ruefully again, "Oh, yeah. I remember clearly how terrified I initially was of Quinn. To be fair, I don't think he realized just how... um, spooky? jumpy? -- I can get when I'm already nervous."

Jaeger nods and smiles, chuckling a bit, "A stronger form of charm is persuasion."

Cinnamon tilts her head thoughtfully at Jaeger, "Persuasion? Like... like maybe persuading those two guys to... oh, maybe to report in to someone, if they found Marcus?"

Jaeger replies easily, "Like persuading those two arschl�cher that they never had a run-in with us."

"Ooh!" Cinnamon brightens with understanding, "I get it now!" She thinks for a long moment as they continue crunching quietly through the snow after Shane and the compass guidance... then she gives Jaeger a rueful glance, "Can I whisper something to you?" Jaeger simply leans his head down so Cinnamon can whisper. She hesitates, then whispers to Jaeger, "P-please don't tell anyone else... b-but, umm... remember when Marcus had that... sort of mental freeze when I was there? That wasn't anything wrong with him -- th-that was my fault -- I'm sorry! I'm so sorry -- I didn't know, before then, that I could do that... so I was afraid to do it ever again but Quinn was really nice and helped me figure it out better later." She sighs softly, adding, "So... I'm really sorry I accidentally froze Marcus in place and I won't do it again, promise!"

Jaeger's eyebrows go up and he examines Cinnamon with a smile, "Ah, I see. You have more of your grandfather in you than we knew."

Cinnamon nods, slightly pink with embarrassment, "Umm... y-yeah, that's what Elias told me. He was the one who explained to me what happened." She twists her mittened fingers together as she adds again, "I'm really sorry, Jaeger. I n-never meant to worry anyone."

Jaeger nods, then smiles his warm, avuncular smile -- which is different than his charming, roguish smile which Cinnamon has never actually had aimed her direction -- before replying, "Thank you for trusting me with that." She sighs in relief that Jaeger's not mad at her! As a consequence, her smile back at Jaeger is her brilliantly happy one that lights up her face. Jaeger is always a little stunned and caught off-guard by that amazing smile! He cups Cinnamon's cheek, "You are a treasure." She blinks shyly up at Jaeger, turning pink!

They're still following along after Shane when they arrive at a pawn shop. Cinnamon blinks up at the sign, "Oh-kaaay... maybe we'll be lucky and find ev- oh, wait. Still got to find that Rog guy... for the knife, right. Well!" She squares her shoulders with determination, then marches in. They enter the pawn shop with Jaeger putting his hands deeply in his pockets. These places are minefields of bare metal. Shane meanders up to the jewelry display case, seeming nonchalant, but he's muttering to himself. Cinnamon sighs softly, shaking her head as she detects dangerous (for Jaeger) metal all over the place! She runs her mittened fingers along the closest display cases, visually warning the elder elf of where not to lean. Then she glances over at Shane, then looks around for the store owner -- are they visible yet?

Jaeger nods and mutters about stupid steel-heavy buildings. Shane leans down to whisper to both Cinnamon and Thorn, "It's here, but it's not in the display case, whatever it is. Pawn laws usually say they can't put it on display for a certain amount of time."

Cinnamon nods to Shane, thinking for a moment... then marches over to the counter and calls, "Hello?" She wants to draw someone out of the back. Maybe just describing the missing items will cause the clerk to be helpful? Thorn frowns, and nods at Shane's comment about pawn laws.

A moment or so later, a guy dressed a bit like Elias usually dresses comes out of the back. The clothes are where the resemblance ends, however. Where Elias is an ancient vampire with a mouth full of terrifying teeth who still managers to feel like Mr. Rogers with fangs, this man has sallow skin and badly dyed black hair slicked back against his head, which just screams: 'I am a slimeball.' He smiles widely, showing teeth far too white to be real, "How can I help you, little lady?"

Cinnamon smiles politely, "Hello, we're searching for some stolen goods." She clearly and thoroughly describes the cufflinks and the silver necklace, adding, "We were told at least one of them was sold to you. Can you help us retrieve them, please?" She's about as streetwise as she is an Arctic penguin, after all, so it doesn't occur to her to do anything except the most direct way -- so as to be inside the shop for as little time as possible, for poor Jaeger!

The clerk's brows almost climb into his hairline and he does a really, really bad job of looking shocked and slightly offended, "Stolen goods? We don't deal in stolen goods here. We do everything above-board. Report everything taken in each day to the police so it can be run against anything that's been reported stolen. Any of those pieces been reported stolen?"

Shane mutters to Thorn, "Right about now is when I wish me Da was here." The half-beansidhe is rubbing his temples and wincing.

Thorn murmurs back to Shane, "Why is that?"

Shane mutters, "Because he'd have this fucker singing like a canary already instead of spewing bullshit like it's his job."

Thorn murmurs, "It almost is his job. Do you want an aspirin or should I just put the 'closed' sign on the door?

Shane shakes his head and sighs to Thorn, "If I were less moral, we could pull an Eric Draven here..."

Cinnamon gives the man a grim look, "My friend was mugged yesterday, sir, and is still missing. We're mostly trying to find him -- but we were told you had at least one of the items, which means we're hoping you can also give us some idea of where the other attackers are."

The pawnbroker puts a hand over his chest in a totally insincere show of sympathy, "I'm so sorry to hear about your friend! But surely if he was mugged, you'd've reported the crime and all his missing property, right?" Then the smug asshole smirks.

Jaeger is looking around the shop, glancing into corners and at the ceiling. His lips twitch slightly and he leans down to murmur to Cinnamon, "May I?"

Cinnamon smiles grimly at Jaeger, "Please do!"

Jaeger nods toward Shane as he murmurs to the little dragon, "Perhaps distract your sweetheart?"

"Okay?" Cinnamon looks a bit uncertain, but pads over to Shane and Thorn... who is about to reply to Shane when Cinnamon comes up to them. She murmurs to them, "Have you checked the compass for where in the shop, asthore?" She angles so their backs will be to the clerk, adding softly, "Don't want that goober to see it, though..."

Shane turns, then shows Cinnamon the compass. It seems to be pointing at the display counter, but whatever it is isn't in the display. He murmurs, "It could be under it in some kind of lockbox."

Cinnamon frowns thoughtfully at the compass, murmuring back, "If there were two items in here, in different, um... display counters, let's say... could the compass tell? Wait, no, I'm being dense -- didn't Jaeger say the cuff with us would confuse the compasses?" She stares thoughtfully at the little item for a moment, then curiously asks, "Is it just picking up the closest thing, then?"

Jaeger ambles over to them and murmurs, "The gentleman has kindly gone to turn off the cameras and erase the last two hours of footage. Do any of you perhaps possess lockpicking skills?"

Cinnamon shakes her head, adding, "But worst comes to worst, I can... squish the lock, maybe? Oh! Quick, Shane, while the guy's gone -- where's the compass pointing to, precisely?"

Shane clears his throat, "Well... I could likely get past anything that's not an electronic keypad with some time..." He rubs the back of his neck slightly.

Jaeger nods, "The... gentleman won't be back for at least forty-five minutes. I suggested he take a nap."

Shane nods toward the case and then walks around it to the back side. He crouches down and examines it, "Aha. Storage space under here." He shakes his head with a sigh, "Not a great lock..." A bit of fiddling, and he's pulled out a couple of metal lockboxes.

Cinnamon watches with interest, and looks relieved when the lockboxes come out, "Oh, that wasn't so bad! Okay, which box needs opening -- check with the compass?"

Shane checks and finds the correct one, then puts the other back. Examination of the lock reveals that it's a combination lock -- and Shane smiles, "This is where I make an excellent, if limited, yegg. I can touch steel and I've got sidhe hearing." He lays a finger over his lips and leans his head toward the lock, slowly turning the dial until he hears something... then turns it the other way a couple of times until he hears whatever he's looking for. Finally, one more slow turn clockwise... and the box pops open.

Cinnamon watches in silent, puzzled fascination... until the box pops open -- at which point her eyebrows shoot up in surprise! She beams admiringly at Shane, "Wow, that is super-talented, asthore!"

Shane grins, "That's just me being able to hear the tumblers, acushla."

Cinnamon giggles and hugs Shane tightly -- then excitedly adds, "Okay! What've we got here?"

Inside the box, they find layers of trays with square compartments, filled mostly with mid-range silver jewelry and semi-precious stones. Both the Elm emblem necklace and the cufflinks are in there, which makes Jaeger shake his head, "This man is not very good at his job. This is mostly silver, but those cufflinks are platinum. He undervalued them."

Cinnamon sighs in relief, "Oh, fantabulous -- that's all the jewelry I remember seeing on Marcus. Now we just have to find Rog, right? Maybe we'll get lucky, and he'll have some idea of where Marcus is, too! Or wait -- this is supposed to track his consciousness too, right? So, awesome! Maybe we'll find Marcus himself next, 'cause he's maybe closer!"

Jaeger pockets the stolen jewelry, and Shane puts everything else back; since the half-beansidhe is wearing thick leather gloves, there are no fingerprints to worry about. Thanks to Jaeger being willing to show his secondary knack, there's also no record they were even here! They all head out and Jaeger takes a deep breath, "We should take these back so the compass doesn't simply spin. It will track his consciousness, yes. But it will also track the dagger."

"Oh, that's right -- I forgot they'd need to go back." Cinnamon nibbles worriedly on her lower lip as she thinks... then checks, "Um, so how long does the spell last for?"

Jaeger replies, "Forty-eight hours. We've got time to take these back to the Residence, take a quick meal, and head back out."

Cinnamon nods and beams encouragingly up at Jaeger, "We'll find him -- we're doing great so far!" As the little group heads back towards Coblyn, Cinnamon patters along at Jaeger's side. Her occasional sideways glances at the elder are worrying her -- he looks so tired! So drawn and gaunt! She wishes she knew how to cheer him up some... or at least distract him a bit. After all, as she reassures herself, Marcus isn't dumb! He's just... a little foolish and self-centered sometimes... right?

Cinnamon wracks her brains for something to say to Jaeger that isn't instantly moronic sounding, and could maybe distract him a little, so he's not worrying so much. Definitely nothing about the weather -- even if it is nice and chill, and overcast but not immediately snowing. Nothing about Marcus either -- that'd just worry the poor man more. Maybe ask if Hilde's eating lunch with... oh! At that point Cinnamon seizes on a good potential distraction: Aoi! Or rather, what Aoi said about the thirteenth chair.

Cinnamon waits until they cross the last street and are headed for Coblyn, then hesitantly asks, "So, um, Jaeger? Could I, ahh... I mean, could you tell me, please -- what was the original job of the thirteenth council chair?" She figures that might also interest Thorn, too -- she remembers him mentioning that he wanted to research the Council's history a bit, after all!

Jaeger blinks slowly, "The original job? Other than breaking ties?" Thorn's ears perk up at that, and he drifts a little closer to Cinnamon and Jaeger.

Cinnamon smiles uncertainly, "Um... yes, please? Aoi said something odd about it, and Jalil seems to want me to take on more people, so I thought... maybe find out what the chair was originally meant for, you know?"

Jaeger considers, "As I understand it, the thirteenth councilor did not always have any territories to oversee. They were, instead, completely impartial. They were there to oversee everyone... all the better to break any ties that should come up. That way they were not leaning one way or another due to having a particular territory in mind."

Cinnamon nods thoughtfully, "Okay. So why did Liam accept any territories, then? I mean... well, like the north American arctic peoples, right? They'd have belonged to... to the predecessors of Sparrow and Josie, right? So I just can't see those two being irresponsible about any of their folks, you know? So... how did Liam end up with the north American arctic indigenous, but not, say, the Russian ones?"

Jaeger muses, "Mmmm... there was a schism. Because the territories where the North American arctic peoples are now were also Norse, there was... quite a long time back, contention over which councilor should have that territory. Likewise, there was some contention about the Pacific Islands. The peoples there are offshoots of other territories; voyagers from other places. The Inuit and Aleut are very closely related to those territories, in a way. But they were so far-flung geographically... they were sort of floating in limbo. So, rather than have contention on the council, the thirteenth councilor took on responsibility for them."

Shane snorts, "So, essentially: 'If you can't play nice, I'm going to take the toys away'!"

Cinnamon giggles at that! "Okay, I can see that..." She pauses, then checks her memories carefully before adding, "Aoi said she believed Jalil's suggestions about redistributing some of the territories had merit, since some of us are overworked and some are not taking the responsibility they should." The little dragon looks up at Jaeger as she adds interestedly, "And then she said she'd wondered if perhaps the thirteenth member should oversee everyone, instead of having a territory of their own! So that made me wonder what exactly Liam's job had originally been, you know?" She blushes slightly as she adds, "Though I had to tell her right away that I, umm... I'm not really experienced enough to, er... t-to sort of like ride herd on the council?"

Jaeger smiles quietly, "But Cinnamon, you have been riding herd on them all the entire time... don't you see?" He's still quite tired and haggard looking, but the smile brings some light to his face.

Cinnamon blinks puzzledly up at Jaeger, "'Scuse me? How do you mean?"

The Elm elder replies, "You've pushed more change on the council in the short time you've been there -- brought more troublesome people to heel -- than anyone in the last two centuries has managed."

Cinnamon looks honestly boggled, "I... I have?!" She blinks, pushing up her glasses as she thinks, "But I... all I've done, really, is... the thing with Qadan? I mean, I stumbled over it, but... does that count?" She adds truthfully, "I couldn't have done it, either, without the help of everyone else!"

Jaeger nods, smiling at Cinnamon's word choice, "The 'thing with Qadan,' yes... which has snowballed -- or perhaps was simply the first domino. You've also blunted the ire between Killa and Sparrow. Before Sparrow, Lark was being pushed to her limits -- and Sparrow's grandfather was... mmm... pushing Killa. Not as a councilor, but as simply Coyote."

Cinnamon blinks interestedly, "Blunted... me? Really? Oh, good! I really hope they eventually get more friendly with each other -- or even just politely neutral, you know? 'Cause I totally believe it'd be better for the people there, you know? - if, uh, if Sparrow and Killa could help each other instead of always argue!" She sighs, adding, "Well... that's what I think, at least. I don't know if it's true..."

Shane blinks, sounding curious, "Was he pushing on behalf of Lark? I mean, as I understand it, Lark is very much a gentle being."

Jaeger smiles wryly, "Indeed, I believe he may have been. You've seen how Sparrow gets when someone threatens a person he cares about. His grandfather went by the moniker of Wren, and was very much the same."

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Last modified: 2019-Jun-12 19:53:32

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