[Lobby Sitting Room] A glass of wine calms the nerves

[redeemedripper]

Something had changed for John ever since entering the city. His mind had calmed in the last few weeks. It was as if the years of guilt were but a distant memory. He wondered if it was part of his sickness, or some ploy of the creature Helen had told him about. Perhaps it was a trick to lull him into a false sense of security. John's mind never

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[agoldengun]

Ashley was bored. Bored, and restless, and what the hell was there to do around here at this hour? Helen had her own thing going, getting the Sanctuary ready. Ash? Well, she'd handle the fieldwork training... But who did that at night? Nobody but her. So, the younger Magnus woman was sitting around with nothing to do. And, really, that didn't sit well with her.

She got herself all set up, ready with her gear. She was gonna head over to the makeshift shooting range (or something) and get her aggression out through training. She wasn't really sure how she felt about her mom having a bunch of other girls running around doing her job, even if Helen was gonna put her in charge. She was used to her mom adopting everyone - and that meant everyone - but... Something about it being girls (one of them, blond) bugged her. Got under her skin a little

[redeemedripper]

John caught sight of her just a moment after she froze, the slightest of smiles forming on his face. Slowly, John set his glass of wine down on a side table. The city had a habit of bringing people together, it seemed. John had often told himself that El Dorado might exist as a second chance for all of them. It was more than he had ever thought he deserved.

"Please. Sit."

[agoldengun]

She was tentative, but... He seemed to be harmless. And as she remembered him... well, he was back to being something of a normal person. He'd redeemed himself, to a degree. She still didn't trust him, but she didn't see any reason why she should be contrary right now. Ashley sat down, leaning back and crossing one leg over the other. "Hi."

[redeemedripper]

"Hello." He responded, keeping himself leaned back. Her hesitation was to be expected. He couldn't know just from when she was from. Perhaps in her recollection of things, he was still a monster. Had she spoken to her mother? Did she know the things he now knew about the creature inside of him?

"I trust that you're well. Or as well as one can be in a city in the sky."

[notanemptymotto]

"You seem to be enjoying yourself."

[redeemedripper]

John glanced up and gave a slight smile.

"Should I not? What more can a man do in this city than make a pleasurable existence between attempts at escape?" He gestured to the chair beside him. "Would you care to join me?"

[notanemptymotto]

She didn't answer him, but did take the seat next to him. Her legs crossed and she folded her hands on top of the bar. Despite it all she was still rather guarded around him. How could she not be? If she wasn't then he would tell her to be as it was.

"He could find something productive to do."

[redeemedripper]

"What would you suggest?" He said, setting his glass down and looking at her thoughtfully. John had always valued Helen's opinion, and in matters like this, she was far more experienced. He'd spent the greater part of his extended life doing anything but what one would call productive.

"If there's some task in which you need my assistance, you need only to say the word."

i am so sorry for tl;dr

[reasontostand]

Autumn was on a mission.

It was usually very late when he got in to sleep; being a hospital volunteer made sure that happened. Every now and then, however, he managed to get in somewhat early. Before he moved rooms, that meant he sometimes brushed shoulders with one John Druitt.

Now, don't get him wrong.

He wasn't wimpy or anything. He could demolish whole buildings if he sang "Happy Birthday". But, well, come on--someone that looked as intimidating as John was bound to have something weird going on, and Autumn's first encounter with the man left him squeaking in terror and retreating back into his safe room. Now that he was stationed downstairs, however, he didn't see him as much.

Until he was let off early, again, today. Back to the mission.

Autumn wore a bright red hoodie, and it seemed like his stomach was wrestling to get free. Or, rather, that something in the stomach of his hoodie was.

"Hey--hey, keep it down, would'ya? Shh." He muttered to the feisty rabbit in his hoodie as he carefully walked into the lobby.

no worries. im sorry for the delay in response!

[redeemedripper]

John watched the young man curiously. For a moment, he wondered if he ought to speak up at all, but there was something about Autumn that intrigued him. After a moment of silent observation, John stood and crossed the lobby, setting his drink down on a table as he moved.

"Having troubles, hmm?" He said, a slight smile on his face. "What is it that you've got? Let's see it, then."

it's okay~

[reasontostand]

Autumn and the rabbit were going to be really good friends. You could tell because they both squeaked at the same frequency. "--whoah, uh, hi. Oh, no, no troubles, nothing's in my hoodie or anything, I mean--I'm in it--" His story was promptly cut off and made false by the tiny rabbit head that popped up beneath his chin, sniffing the air and John curiously. Autumn looked down at it, keeping it still.

"You are the worst ninjarabbit ever. Okay, okay, secrets out, I've got a rabbit."

[redeemedripper]

"I doubt there's any rules against pets, considering that we're here against our will. Companionship is the least the gods could offer us in this city, I'd think." He held out his hand for the small creature to sniff. "Fragile creatures, aren't they? Soft and timid, jumping at the slightest noise." John had a slight smile on his face, easily talking about both the rabbit and it's owner.

"Does the creature have a name?"

[dontfearmebaby]

Death was on her way out, to go for a walk. She did it, almost every night. Only every once in a while did she actually sleep. Well, try to. The Endless weren't really the 'take a break' type. But, with being cut off from her world, Death had found herself with an abundance of free time.

So, she walked, wandered, and sometimes just stood at the edge, looking at the sky.

As she passed through the lobby, she noticed a tall gentlemen, and recognized him from being one of the guests at the restaurant on Valentine's Day. "Hello," she greeted, throwing up a hand, smiling kindly.

[redeemedripper]

John was growing quite amused with his afternoon of observation, and was more than thrilled to see another soul had noticed him as well. He tipped his glass in her direction, the gestured for her to come closer.

"It's turning into a rather lovely evening, isn't it?" He said, looking out the nearby window. "You wouldn't care for the company of an old man, would you? It's been a rather interesting afternoon, but I think I'd much like to get up and take a walk. And having a pretty young lady on a man's arm can make everything right in the world." He'd used similar words a hundred times for nefarious purposes, but now he meant them truly - not to woo, but to pass the time with another person. He had so few people he could call friends, after all.

[dontfearmebaby]

At his gesture, Death swiveled, starting in his direction. She stopped a few feet from his chair, her hands tucked into the pockets of her slacks.

"It is. It looks like it's going to be quite cool. And of course, I'd care," Death smiled sweetly. "Who am I to stop someone from enjoying my company?" She lifted one hand from her pocket, outstretching it towards him.

[redeemedripper]

John had not met a friendlier woman in all his years. It was refreshing. He set his glass down and reached out to take her hand, turning it over to kiss the back of it quickly before standing and offering his arm, like any proper gentleman.

"Shall we?"