Buildings and bridges are made to bend in the wind to withstand the world...

[shealone_stands]

A car loaded with teenagers pulls up in front of the Conrad. Finding parking in downtown Chicago is never easy, and Buffy is not willing to wait. She springs out of the car and races into the lobby - only to realize that while she knows the basement is where they keep the wanderers, she has no idea how to get there. Um.

The Doctor is wandering

Comments

[astrongerbeacon]

Ah. That explains... a little, at least. Martin's never quite sure what to make of afreet - they're so rare, he doesn't see a lot of them, and a lot of the ones he does meet seem way too inclined to set him on fire, but that's just because he usually comes across them in war zones. Besides the fire thing, though, they always seemed... surprisingly un-demon-like.

"Yeah. It's... kind of obvious, huh?" Well, besides the fact that he got in a fight with a rakshasa and won, which sort of brings the whole thing to glaringly obvious.

He studies Metis for a moment. "Look. I'm guessing you're new in Chicago or something, just 'cause... I dunno. Just got that feeling. Anyway, about the treaty? I wouldn't worry too much about random archangels trying to kill you, unless they're really psychotic or visiting Barnams. The day the treaty breaks, the whole city's going to know about it, probably right away." The whole supernatural part of the city, anyway. It... may not be reassuring how Martin talks like the treaty being broken is a certainty, but he's paranoid. It's served him well, over the years.

[burnslikesnow]

It's okay, Martin. Metis is just weird.

"A little." Metis smiles wryly. "Don't know many other kinds of angels who could take a Rak. Except a First or a really pissed off Guardian, but...probability and all." He shrugs, relaxing slightly. Unless something really stupid happens, it looks like no one's gonna have to die here. Well, no one else, that is.

"Yeah...only been here a few months, haven't really had a chance to, ah...mingle with the community. But thanks for the advice." He pauses, wondering if he should pursue the topic anymore with this guy, but...hey, while he's here, might as well. "I know about Tay, but do the Barnams, uh, visit regularly?"

[astrongerbeacon]

Oh boy. Martin doesn't even know how to answer that question. Long centuries of conditioning tell him that you don't share information with demons, no matter what the issue. Martin being... well, Martin, on the other hand, urges to tell him about the probable apocalypse looming on the horizon.

He settles for a shrug, a wince at the twinge as his arm shifts, and a rueful laugh. "Not yet, though I'd be... watchful, if I were you. Having a daughter in the land of demons makes a Barnam tetchy, is all."

That is the understatement of the century, but apart from the instinct to avoid sharing intel with demons, he does not want to start a rumor that gets all the demons into a defensive panic, if this guy happens to mention it to anyone else.

[burnslikesnow]

Metis raises an eyebrow; he knows code when he hears it. Never mind that he's pretty sure Tay mentioned something like this, the time they spoke over the journals.

In any case, all signs point to crazy in the near future.

"I see. I'll keep that in mind." Yeeeeah, time to get out of here. "I, ah...should probably go."

He takes a step away. Then, as an afterthought, "Uh. Thanks for not trying to kill me, eh?"

[astrongerbeacon]

Martin snorts and nods. He can see that that little evasion didn't exactly work, but it's the best he can do. He starts to turn away, off toward the Conrad again.

"You're welcome. I guess. Thanks for not setting me on fire." He wishes he had a life where he didn't have to say things like that.