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Who: Everyone! New Feathers especially.
What: New Feather welcome party!
When: Thursday, 5 pm.
Where: Battle Dome
Summary: IT'S A SUMMER PARTY
Rating: Worksafe, I reckon!
It's cold out there today, isn't it? Sure, it's not snowing but once you get into the Battle Dome, it'll be comfortably warmer. Warmer, not warm. Follow the tiny paper arrows and you'll probably find yourself in, well...summer!

It certainly looks convincing enough (a pool, a volleyball court, deck chairs, everything that you'd think you'd find at a pool party) and feels convincing enough (take off that coat! Aren't you hot?) so why not not step in? The barbecue's sizzling and there's some nice cold drinks at the cooler.

C'mon in, the water's awesome!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I can help you dress up as anything you like." There's a sly wink as he says that. All she would need to do is follow his instructions completely, and he could transform her into anything with just a little work.

Not that she would listen, and not that he would waste his time if it wasn't requested.

He gets to thinking about the library, and her coincidence with the novel. "You know? I think there's a lot of different kinds of books in there. You might be able to find something interesting. What were you looking for anyway?"

"Of that, Monsieur Lupin, I have no doubt." Especially when Adele took into account the detail and realism of Lupin's earlier disguise. If she had need of instruction, this would be the man to go to for assistance; his offer something she tucked away until she needed it. And she very well might one day.

She is distracted momentarily by a splash from the pool, far enough that they and her book were in no danger, but loud enough to warrant curiosity. "Mm? Ah, yes. I was trying to find texts on traditional Eastern Medicine. Not that I think anything other than a full course on the matter would be enough for me to perform it but I may have to work around such treatments at the clinic. I would rather not do so uninformed."

If he had to choose another profession ever in his life, He'd like to be an actor. On stage. With the lights on him and the orchestra playing tunes that simmer in his blood.

Perhaps in a different lifetime; he'd never trade his current life and career for another. Ever.

"Eastern medicine, huh?" As nerdy as he is, he's stumbled upon references to it and scraps of information from time to time. He was by no means an expert, but he was aware of the idea of it, and perhaps even a few fundamentals.

"...in a place like this, you never know. Isn't that more about balancing your 'chi' and making sure none of your 'chakras' are blocked anyway? Maybe someone with a more...i dunno, magical bent can point you in the right direction?"

"Yes. I have only encountered it once in my world and that was...not the best example of it's practitioners or the treatments available, from what I understand. I intend to clear my own misconceptions and educate myself before asking anyone to spare their time for me." Again, Adele shudders at the memory of that particular individual. But she had been assured that it was not how one usually went about things in Eastern medicine, hence the study.

"To be honest I expect the chi and chakras to have more relevance here than they would in my world, since such things are more concrete aspects of more than a few of the home worlds from which these people came." And in that respect Adele knew far too little for her own comfort.

The general human body from a world similar to hers? She knew inside and out. Any world with the supernatural or magic that was tied to a person's biology threw her badly.

"..don't discount it in general, Dellie. There are people who believe in that stuff, you know." Though he was never one to believe in something he couldn't see, he couldn't deny that there were effects on the physical world in rare instances. Goemon's occasional foresight and moments of frighteningly accurate intuition were a very clear example of that.

"If you want a good primer on things to help you understand them better, I do have an author and title for you to look for. 'Bushido', by Inazou Nitobe. It's basically translating some of the Eastern mindset on culture and life into terms that Westerner's can understand."

He understood some of it rather well, from his readings. Then again, being half Japanese probably helped influence that. Some things were just in the blood.

"I do not mind belief so long as it does not get anyone killed." Which that man may very well have done. Still, it was in the past and Adele was taking steps to understand how true and serious practitioners treat various ailments, the logic and faith behind them. "...To be honest the spirituality behind Eastern medicine fascinates me. To have that kind of faith while working within the human body- I almost envy it."

Almost. Only almost. Any kind of faith would be welcome in some situations. Adele lifts a shoulder and smooths a few loose curls back into her headband. "Bushido? I shall look for that during my next trip to the Library, then. Thank you Lupin."

After a moment she chuckles. "It is almost like being back in medical school again, with reading lists and research papers."

Any faith Lupin had was in his friends and in his own abilities; that was all he needed. For a doctor to not have faith in his or her own hands...well, that wasn't the kind of doctor that Lupin wanted to have pulling bullets out of him.

It was a fascinating concept, though. Even with his relative lack of interest, he couldn't deny it. "Anything to help," he said lightly, with a humorous smile. "It's only medical school again if you treat it like that. I always found research to be kind of fun."

Faith was a strange and abstract thing, much akin to hope. Adele put stock in neither. Hope helped no one, and faith was based entirely on assumptions without facts. She never had faith in herself. She knew with a certainty that she was skilled in her occupation. What she chose to do, and did well, was never a matter of faith. But having some might be a comfort.

"Learning new methods of surgery, dissecting corpses, spending half of every other Tuesday elbow deep in entrails. It was a strange, exciting time, I suppose Luceti could be the same. Well. The research and study, not the elbow deep in entrails and dissecting corpses. I'd rather not have to do either while I'm here." As much as Adele would like to work her craft, she did not want anyone her harmed. Well. Harmed seriously. A slap upside the head could assist almost anyone now and then.

"You'll be able to keep busy one way or another. Hell, you might even want to try some of that magicky stuff yourself!"

It was a joke. He couldn't imagine himself ever trying such a thing. Even if he did, he'd never utilize it to its proper extent. Why rely on something that you plan on keeping temporary as it is?

"Though..." he frowns slightly at this, not sure how to put it. "Being elbow deep in entrails sounds a little morbid."

"I don't think I would. The first few times I felt the spirits I thought I was having a psychological breakdown. That and my first experience with magic was...less than pleasant." Adele lifts a shoulder and offers a half smile.

A half smile that grew and twisted a little bit at the next comment. "How else was I to get to his spleen? Ruptured organs are such a pain to get to, especially when the patient is morbidly obese."

She had a breakdown. He thought that the few instances he saw were the most awesome thing ever; too bad he didn't have the patience.

If she had seen his runaround with Captain Smoker, she'd probably feel the same way.

He can't help but look at her like she's crazy with her explanation, however. "Yep. That's more than a little morbid."

"It is a surgeon's work." Adele lifts a shoulder, not at all bothered by this. Morbidity was something she was accustomed to by now. "If you are disturbed by every aspect of your job, you cannot perform to the best of your ability. So you must learn to not be disturbed, yes? That is not even the most morbid thing I've had to do."

He has nothing to say about that. "I'll stick with the mafiosos, cult leaders, and mad scientists who are out to kill me, thanks."

"Do I wish to know why cult leaders wish you dead Lupin? Or should I simply assume you stole something they may have found valuable?" Adele tilts her head, inquisitive, but not overly so. If he wished to regale her with the tale, he would.

"I'm a thief, Dellie. Any assumption you have might be correct." Conversely, it also might not. He had indeed touseled with many mad men, all with various outcomes--usually their greed was their downfall.

"Just imagine the dark things that lie in the hearts of some criminals, and you have a pretty good idea why people would want to do that

"I have worked with thieves but...none so grand or talented as you." Adele lifts a shoulder and turns her head away from Lupin and his cigarette, she was quitting. Quitting meant cold turkey. And it was frustrating.

"..." At that she loses a bit of her brightness, subtly curling in on herself, shoulders hunched, hand braced over the lingering echo of a gunshot wound. "That is one thing I need not imagine Lupin. That...I know it well enough."

Adele's body language didn't go unnoticed. He's had many, many years of watching people, studying quirks and idiosyncracies to help him with his flawless mimicry. His somber words triggered something in her, that much he understood. It was unanticipated.

His smile was wry, and almost bitter. Living under the watchful gaze of lawmen and criminals alike wasn't easy. The fact that she understood even a little of that existance spoke quite a bit about her, but made him wonder how similar their worlds were when they got to the core of things.

"Adele," he said this calmly, covering any trace of bitterness. "Think of it like this: The Malnosso seemed to have been smart enough to grab mostly people with some nobility. We shouldn't have too many worries about being killed by villains while here."

He says this, but doesn't believe it himself. He, too, had his own scars from prior battles. The wounds had long since healed and were fading, but the evidence was there. There would always be darkness in the world...

But he didn't mind it.

It is a moment or two before Adele looks back over to Lupin, it takes her longer than she would like to push back the memory of that night and claw her way back to the present. To now where the sun is warm on her back, the grass soft underfoot and she is whole. For now. Still the fear and anxiety lingers in her gaze, and she remains withdrawn.

"...Forgive me if I do not put much stock in what they would consider noble traits Lupin. It may be...less likely, here. But that potential is ever present, if not more likely, for our imprisonment." Because that's what this was. The tests, the shifts, it makes Adele wonder how it was no one's gone mad and slaughtered swaths of the villagers. Even when death isn't permanent, it is still death. Still murder.

"It isn't always villains that pull the trigger Lupin."

She was no Clarisse, Julia, or Maki: telling nice little lies wouldn't work! This amuses him for reasons he didn't fully understand--maybe it was that she didn't seem like the type to be so cynical and associate with scum?

Amused, he responds. "I know that. I'm one of those guys that pulls triggers sometimes, remember?" He chuckles at this. "I know death isn't cheap, better than most. I can also tell you that people do what they can. They adapt."

Says the man who's been so restless its been effecting his sleep.

"Besides, you might remember something if you ever get outta here. Wanna try to learn to shoot, so you don't need to be afraid at night?"

"Ah, a heroic thief are you? Of course you are." She huffs a laugh at this, warming a little. "A gentleman thief. You must be somewhat heroic, otherwise you would be no gentleman, yes?"

She uncurls a little from her tense posture, willing herself relaxed. Tipping her hand, that's what she's done, and it would irritate her if Lupin wasn't making such an effort to be kind about noticing. It endeared him to her somewhat, and earned him a cut of a smile. "Adapt or die, the essence of survival. And you've survived well enough here, explosions aside, yes?"

A faint turn, a dip of her head to smooth curls back and she's once again who she'd been before the memory. It lingers in her eyes, but the mask was back on. For now. "The night is not what I fear Lupin, it is those that would abuse it's cover. As for shooting, well. I am no marksman, but I can handle a gun well enough. It is the more close ranged conflicts that worry me."

True, she'd used a lead pipe, a scalpel, a shard of glass, but that was uninformed, messy, and had very likely contributed to the inevitable end of that evening. Something neater, more precious might have saved her. And Adele is painfully aware of this fact.

"The Game's not here, Adele."

He wouldn't elaborate more on his well being. If she was smart, those five words would more than suffice. Even though her compliment earned a delighted laugh, it was old habit to play his cards close to his chest.

"You know, if its physical fighting you want to learn, you should check with Captain Smoker. He runs classes.

"Actually...so does Ginia Solana." Don't think he hasn't noticed you talking with her quite a bit lately, Adele. "Okay, so she doesn't run classes, but she's damn good with a jitte and can probably win hands down in a fist fight." She was strong too, and fast, if that snowball fight with Alice was an indication. "You have plenty of options, really. Even if you don't remember, some things become instinctive after a while. The mind is a very funny thing!"

Adele considers this for a moment, running the phrase around in her mind before managing a half smile and nod of her head. Of course.

"I suppose I shall add that name to my ever growing list of contacts to make while I am here...Ginia? Hm." She turns to look back and over, watching the young woman she now lived with, somewhat puzzled. But not entirely. Perhaps she could ask Ginia later.

"...I will admit that I was unaware she was skilled but she does carry herself in that way, doesn't she?" A lightness about he step, a grace, an economy of movement. "I'd assumed it was her background in dance."

She turns back to face Lupin, eyes dimming a moment before she shakes her head. It wouldn't matter if she remembered. "You are referring to recalling skills I learn here when I return. There will be no need for them after I leave Luceti."

"Fighting. Dancing. They're the same when you get down to it." Both involved the same skill, finesse, and awareness. The fighting styles that were disguised as dance corroborated this.

Though his tone was flippant, he sobered at Adele's reaction for a second time. He didn't smile, and kept his hands carefully by his side, but watched her with dark, unflinching eyes. "Explain."

He wouldn't judge, but he couldn't guarantee sympathy.

"One involves a little more violence than the other. But only a little." She lifts a shoulder, glancing back over to Ginia once more before returning her attention to suddenly blank Lupin. In the short time she's come to know him he's always been expressive, a nuanced smirk, a maniac grin, a troubled frown but this...she wasn't certain how to react. So she laid one of her cards on the table.

She stands, hands loose at her side, trying to keep herself from resting one over where the wound should be. Where it was, weeks and a reality ago. Her voice is soft, but level. Something she knew for certain, something she'd been resigned to for days before it ever happened. "...upon my return I will bleed out in less than sixty seconds."

He wanted something. He always found a way to get what he wanted, even if it meant acting like the criminal that he was. "Are you sure?"

He asks this, but he's already crossing her off of the short list of his possible allies in Luceti.

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tagging on my phone--will be slow for today.:3

It's alright. ^_^ Take your time.

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