Informal visit (For Metody)

[evillurks]

The Shadow is hard at work coordinating things from the Rettigue apartment, today. The break from hunting out Khan's activities in his alternate's world is merely an opportunity to chase criminals in his own. Unavailable to gather forces for multiple raids and without the time to head up those operations himself, he's stuck compiling information

Comments

[metody_green]

"Mmm, but I've never felt more beautiful."

He sits, hunching over a little bit and jiggling one of his feet in an absent way. As often happens when he is ill, he feels resentful towards the entire world for existing. Stupid effing world.

"Coffee, please."

On the other hand, there is now a cup of coffee in his future. How bad could things be?

[evillurks]

"...Hm." The old man gives him a long, unreadable stare, then stands and stretches, spine popping. Working hunched over at the coffee table is a terrible pose for a tall man, yet it's become a familiar habit. He has an empty coffee mug amid the folders and papers, which he retrieves for a refill.

Only when he's reached the kitchen doorway does he elaborate, over his shoulder. "You look like somebody tried to decorate you with their fists. Or possibly like you're suffering major circulatory failure." There's no venom in his tone, and only a mild hint of disapproval, but it's just possible this is his way of showing concern. He did just invite Metody over for a social visit, after all.

[metody_green]

"It's a side effect of an internal cleaning process."

That, he realizes, is probably not helpful.

"The place I used to live in, it poisons you after a few years. There are things to clean out your insides - lung washings and blood filtration and - other things. And there are medications to draw out the things that tend to lodge in fat and bone. This - " he waves his hand at himself and pauses, briefly distracted by what the motion does to his vision. "Part of it is from all that. And part of it is from - there was a ceremony before I went to do my new job, and in retrospect, I should have called for a stand-in for certain parts of it. There was a bit of a - a kind of delayed reaction."

He smiles with a sudden cheer that comes through in his voice.

"It's getting much better, though. I was completely gray a few days ago."

[evillurks]

The kitchen is not large, and The Shadow can hear his voice from the other room as he sets up the coffee maker. Metody may be able to glimpse his back as he works. As soon as the pot begins to brew, he comes to lean in the doorframe, watching the younger man with a critical eye. He has forgotten to remove his reading glasses, and is thus forced to peer over them. "You... mentioned something about that in your world. For my own lungs. This isn't a winning endorsement. Your latest reports were..." Blue eyes scan the ceiling absently while he searches for words. There are cobwebs in the corners. He hadn't noticed until now. "I would have excused you for medical reasons, you know. I'm not a slave-driver."
That point could be argued, by some of his more heavily relied-upon agents. At least he never asks any more of them than he gives.

"What kind of new job?"