One Returns to the Lair

PATH (Keith Wilder)
*He drove down the country road toward the Lair. It had been a long drive from the reservation but he had wanted the solitude. The grief of his grandfathers loss was still fresh in his mind...enough so that he still had lapses of control over it...He would have to lay low a bit just so he did not project it to the others...As he pulled his car into the parking area and parked. He closed his eyes for a moment, mentally going through the exercises that strengthened his emotional shields, detaching himself a bit from his emotions. When he was satisfied, he exited the car and walked into the building*

UMBRA (Star Shine Reed)
*Korn blast from the speakers, of her little soundblaster, at a deafening volume. She lies on her stomach on the bed, her feet to the ceiling while she scrawls in the book in front of her...oblivious to anything else going on in the lair... besides, why would she want to be out in the main room with the local couch potatoes and loosers...this used to be a cool place, but now they were just getting some real slime in here...hell look at the creatures that Mark has brought down here and the dog was the better of the two...that human blob on that was perpetually on the couch was absolutely disgusting*

*He was thankful for his shields when he walked in, coal black eyes scanned those lounging around the main room. He ran a hand through his ebony hair, pulling a few stray locks that had escaped the pony tail, pushing them back, out of his eyes. With a sigh he turned toward his room, sniffing at the close air of the building disdainfully. The desert he had been in was much preferable to this, the scent of the sagebrush still clung to his clothes. As silent as his distant ancestors he padded down the hall towards his room, hoping that no one had noticed him enter. He had been gone for weeks and didn't want a big fuss made about his return. He had watched as his grandfather, the man who had raised him breathed his last. Dying where he wanted to be ..in the desert and was now in no mood for that much company.*

*Without really looking a hand reaches out for the can of soda on the night table. She shakes the can and looks at it disdainfully* damn! need more *with a sigh she closes the book and climbs off the bed, then opens the bedroom door only to collide with a figure as she glances back at the book* Sorry *then she looks around a the person she just ran into * Sorry Keith *She goes to get by him* Hey! I ain't seen you around in a while...what's up?

*Lugging his bag along as if it weighed nothing he is startled as a figure emerges from a door next to his and collides with him. He reaches a hand out automatically to steady her and looks closely. Again as before he grew a bit nervous around the vision of beauty he saw before him.* ....uh. .hello Star...*He shrugged noncommittally, keeping a nonchalant front* ...just out of town for a few days...Anything of interest been happening around here while I was gone? *He was not ready to speak of the loss he had just suffered just yet, uncertain of his control about the issue.*

*She glances down at the bag and smiles* you've been on a trip? Where you go? *she smiles and steps aside so he can get to his room* well we got food now, for a little while anyhow.. *she holds up the empty can of soda* I'm grabbing another. .want one?

*He also looks down at the bag and smiles slightly, shrugging. Just home...to the Reservation for a few days ..*Then he nods, realizing how thirsty he was after the long trip. He had hardly thought of food or drink when he had been away.* yeah...sure ..I could use one. It was a long drive. *He knew she had not answered his question. Perhaps nothing had happened, though knowing this group, he considered it highly unlikely. Perhaps she would tell him when she came back ..He would wait*

Cool...Put your stuff away, I'll be back...Coke or Dew? *she doesn't wait for an answer she just heads off to the kitchen to grab one of each. .complaints echo after her as she passes through the living room, purposely darkening the television ...when she returns a mischievous grin is still pasted to her lips.* which ya want? *she leans against the door frame, both cans held out in one hand* Enjoy the trip?

*Seeing her already on her way he turned away, to unlock and enter his door, tossing the heavy bag effortlessly onto the bed. He drew the shades so the night sky, such as it is this close to a city could be seen, then turned to begin the process of unpacking. Aside from his clothes, several heavy books and notebooks crowded the bag. He smirked, hearing the complaints down the hall, seeing she was up to her tricks again. When she returned he grinned for a moment and reached for the Dew.* Thanks...*The grin quickly faded though and he shook his head* Not really....*He was feeling a bit torn here. He knew to keep lying about his feelings would only make them worse, but he did not want to show her, most of all, any weakness. And he knew he was vulnerable now.*

*She cracks open the coke and takes a sip her gaze wandering briefly to the books peeking out of the bag* you didn't have a run in did you? *she looks out at the night sky then back to you* but you're here, so you didn't. .*she looks at you* what happened?

*He sighs heavily and silently prays for control, the raw feelings welling up within him as he sat on the bed in the still darkened room. All the questions about how the Lair had managed to obtain some food and what else had happened, flying out of his head for the moment. He did not look at her as he replied quietly, in an emotionless voice.* My great grandfather died..

*the music from her stereo can be faintly heard, the base vibrating the walls.......she feels your silence like a heavy cloak ..and she knows something happened, something she might not really want to know* Really? wow *she doesn't know what to say...after all she never really knew any of her grandparents, let alone a great grandparent ..even her parents she hadn't seen in years, but that was for their own good...she doesn't know what she would do if she got word that her parents had died* what happened?

*He sighed and shrugged at her reaction, the soda forgotten, unopened in his hand. How was she to know how much he had meant to Keith?* He was an old man...nearly a hundred years old…He knew it was coming. He just died of old age.. *He looked at her now and forced a small smile* ...Its all right, I'm over the worst of it...He raised me you know ..until I was found by the others here. He taught me...so much ..all about my heritage ..and ...*The pain surged as he spoke and he stopped speaking, concentrating now on trying not to broadcast it to the whole lair.* C-Can we...talk about something else? *He asked in a horse voice. He cursed inwardly. He had been afraid something like this would happen. He had returned too soon.*

*she blinks in shock* wow! that is old .. *she smiles sympathetically* that is actually sorta cool ya know...*she tumbles over her words as she realizes how it sounded* I mean like how long he lived and that ya knew him and shit...I never knew any of mine.. *she takes a sip of her coke* ya sure if ya want....*she waves the coke vaguely at her room through the wall* Ya hear the new Korn yet?

*He felt the pressure in his chest easing with her words and nodded as he realized what a gift it had been to know his great grandfather. Most people now days never knew theirs and as far as he knew none of those at the lair did. It was because of him, he had only recently realized that he had not been taken by the Guard.* ..Yes..i guess i am pretty lucky ..*He raised a dark eyebrow* ...Korn? Oh no, I don't think so....ahh ..how did the Lair happen to have so much food by the way? *He sighed in relief as he felt his grief subsiding...Useful tool that grief might be, he may use it sometime in the future. He rolled over on the bed and switched the bedside lamp on, then sat up again to looks back at her while he was listening*

Its pretty good, that's what I got going over there now...*she chuckles lightly a she takes another swig* Lyeth went shopping about two days ago *a huge smile crosses her lips *then she put a shield up to keep some moochers from getting at it too easily...*she shrugs* I give it maybe another two-three days before we are down to our own resources again

*He nods, inwardly wincing at the sounds. His style was a bit more classical or towards older rock and roll...even new age when he was into music at all. But he says nothing, duly listening to the muffled sounds* It sounds interesting...does it have good lyrics? *Who knows, maybe he would like it...though he was not in the mood for it now. He grinned and finally opened his Dew, taking a long thirsty swig, then grinning at her* .that was a good idea. I should be back at work soon, then we will have some money. *Inwardly he winced, having forgotten when he left that the lair depended partially on his income.*

Yeah they are pretty good...* she pauses a moment* I think..* a shrug lifts her shoulders* they got an excellent beat though, its great at the clubs *She shakes her head and chuckles* we aint got money probs...just stomach probs....bottomless stomachs

hmmmm.....no lyrics at all? *He looks a bit disappointed. Some of the books in his bag were poetry books. He chuckles softly and nods at your last statement, some of his guilt relieved.* You need someone to go to the store every day....*He observes mildly* ...It healthy for them to be eating ...but not this stuff...*he raises the can of soda* ...and not chips and stuff...I guess i will have to get back to cooking again.. *He found that he actually did enjoy cooking at times, though he was never willing to be a cook full time for a place like this. It was just too much work. So I take it no one has run into the Guard recently? *He asked casually, changing the subject. He was a bit embarrassed to admit to her that he liked to cook*

Its got Lyrics ..just never really listened to them *she shrugs* it aint bad...*a slight chuckles emerges from her lips* anyone cooking around here is good news ..or I should say, anyone that CAN cook around here *she sighs as he changes to one of her least favorite topics* No one I've heard of anyhow ..though a few people seem to have gotten uneasy and hightailed it outta here without a word

*He nods thoughtfully, ever on the look out for good lyrics, sometimes these newer musicians surprised you with good lyrics...though not often* I guess I should listen closer sometimes.. *He hesitates a beat, then admits reluctantly* yeah, i can cook...its not that hard. *He immediately notes her change of mood and nods* That's good then. *Then frowns at her last words* ..hmmmmm.. they ran away? That is strange. I didn't detect anyone that scared the last time I scanned the place before I left.

*she chuckles* I'm not allowed near the kitchen, last time I tried to cook the place was filled iwth smoke...*she shakes her head* I dunno if it was scared, or if maybe they just got sick of the crap going around here *she shrugs* could be both, or neither...I dunno

*He stifles a chuckle and nods, tactfully not making any comment. He raises a brow at her last statements however* ....er...pardon me....what crap? ...Is there something Im not seeing? *He was pretty much a loner, that was true, but he knew enough to stay in touch with the others to know most of what went on around the Lair. He wondered if this was something that had happened while he was away or if perhaps he was a bit blind to it. He was always careful not to probe into other peoples feelings too much in the confined building, knowing it would do no one good to know some things. Unless he had a very good reason he tried not to use his powers at all.*

The lack of privacy, lack of food, *she shakes her head and nods vaguely towards the living room and the Lairs latest additions* the fact that so many new people are coming in that we don't know who is who, or who to trust...there's just too many people and not enough room...*she shakes her head* It doesn't help that a few certain people chose to throw some parties and made this place VERY public *she shrugs* a lot of us are think of moving out.. we've been damn lucky the GUARD hasn't found it so far.

*His expression turned grim and worried. He tried hard and was mostly successful at keeping the outrage out of his voice, though his words communicated it enough* Parties? Who's fool idea was that? And where are they digging up these people? ...Maybe i will suggest a sort of a halfway house for them until they can be checked out.. I'm really surprised.. *He shakes his head in disbelief* Who's in charge of that anyway? *For him the question had never come up before*

*L* from what I understand it jus sorta happened *shrugs* but, its done with now, dealt with as best we could...no, Its always been policy to take in all RUNners that we find...we can't just up and change it now...*she looks around and seems to sigh* everything comes to an end eventually

*He shakes his head, the outrage leaving him slowly* .. Maybe you are right then. This might be a good time to make a second Lair, at least that way we wont be loosing people. This just seems incredibly risky to me. Haven't they at least been checked by a telepath before being allowed to know the location of this place? *He shivered as he remembered some of the faces he saw on the way in, any of which could be a Guard agent. Perhaps it would be best if he did use his powers a bit more often around here.*

I dunno maybe sometimes they are....Most of us prefer good faith though...*the CDIn her room end and she glances down at her watch* oh damn! I gotta meet people *she looks back up at you* sorry Keith, I gotta jet.

*He nods* well sometimes good faith can get people killed. *He nods toward the door* Go ahead, I will see you later...*Then he watched as she left and closed the door. Walking to his bed, he sat down again and rubbed his face. He was so tired. He resolved he would talk to someone in the morning. Glancing at his half unpacked bag while undressing, he pulled it over to drop onto the floor, lay down on the bed and turned the light out.* towards the door* Go ahead, I will see you later...*then he watched as she left and closed the door. Walking to his bed, he sat down again and rubbed his face. He was tired. He resolved he would talk to someone in the morning. Glancing at his half unpacked bag while undressing, he pulled it over to drop onto the floor, lay down on the bed and turned the light out*