[Sodium_noir] Saturday Evening - En route to the Sinclair Party

[FlameFlash]

> Jack, Aurora, Christine, Mara, Mitsuko
> Temple of the Five Dragons
>
> "Are you a doctor?" demands Christine. "'cos I'm not and neither is my
> friend, here. This man is going to die without medical attention. Is there
> anything *you* can do?"
>
> "Not a doctor." he replied. "But I think I can still help. Chinatown is a
> violent district and we've had to learn the basics as the years have worn
> on. If not, we could always call an awakened couple who used to study here.
> They are much more proficient with the healing powers than I!"
>
> She goes back into the room, to check on the three ladies.  From the tone of
> her voice, it is clear that she is irritated.  "So, what's the story here?"
> She asks.  "You going to save this guy, or stand idly by while he croaks?"
>
> The old man looks up for a brief moment, and then back to the prone man on
> the floor. Approaching softly he bends beside Jack.
>
> "I will try, but I am not a Mage, nor anything but a simple man. We really
> could do with somebody who understood the patterns of Life and how to
> manipulate them." he felt Jack's brow and peeked at the dressings. "We can
> clean his wounds and apply some herbs that will help fight the infections
> and lower his fever. Administer some other natural remedies to flush his
> system and improve his strength. But he does seem very sick."

Aurora visibly whinces here, she couldn't help it.  She felt ashamed
she hadn't studied Life further, and also nervous of what Mara would
think of the matter.  The Undead are rumored to have powers, at least
some varieties... what variety was this Mara anyway?  Something that
only operated in the late hours if her interlude with Christine at her
former office was any clue, but that still left a few different
avenues open... though not as many.
>
> Christine havers, trying to think. Seems like the Temple can maybe keep Jack
> alive a bit longer but they need outside help to actually save him. Given
> the fact that Jack is not exactly human, the help needs to be of a
> particular kind. Christine runs through the 'special' people she knows who
> might have the requisite healing abilities and realises that in this case,
> that boils down to Father Bellamy or Panic. She's pretty sure they could
> count absolutely on the priest's unconditional assistance. She's equally
> positive that no way can they count on Panic. But that doesn't stop him
> being probably the best choice in terms of skills and outlook. Especially
> given Jack's  . . . nature.  Christine's feelings about that are pretty
> mixed up but one of the threads in that tangle is a strong concern for Jack
> himself, a being whose mind she has touched, whose plight engages her
> sympathies. Another is an unwilling sense of responsibility.  She's choosing
> to help him while he's weak and pitiful but maybe he was destined to wither.
> Maybe he is an abomination, supposed to be expunged? If she is going to mess
> with his Fate, shouldn't she at least try to find out exactly what Jack is?
> Exactly what kind of threat he might become?
>
>
>
> So they were going to help him.  Problem solved, as far as she was
> concerned.  She then looks to Christine and Aurora.  "So, looks like they
> can help your friend.  Do you still want to go to the party, or are you
> going to stick around and keep an eye on the guy?"
>
> Mara's expression says she doesn't really care either way, but in the end,
> she still wanted Christine's company, no matter the price.  One last dance,
> so to speak, in hopes that it could lead to more...
>
>
> Christine glances at Mara, reads the signs of her impatience, clear as day.
> If nothing else, sheer force of habit makes it hard not to stay tuned to her
> wishes and demands. What to do? Then there is Aurora and that bloody dress
> and a stupid promise to help Danny Ithaca, the reluctant, spook caretaker of
> Market Street. Not to mention the social mess she's got herself into
> inviting Aurora and Mitsuko on Mara's invitation to this goddamned party  .
> . .
>
> Oh man, thinks Christine.  I so need a drink.
>
>
> To the Monk and Mitsuko, Christine says, "You know people who can heal Jack?
> Are they close by and available? Because I think I know someone reasonably
> local who might be able to help. Peter Faun of the Chaste Dragon. And if he
> can't, maybe the Pastor of St Bridget's would come?"
>
>
> Christine who has been avoiding Mara's dark, compelling stare, lifts her
> eyes briefly to her former Domitor's. In apology. "I feel like I should
> stay." To Witness, she doesn't add although this is what she's thinking.
> "Maybe I could join you later? I mean, you need to go, right?" Christine's
> gaze rests on Aurora and Mitsuko. "I could join you *all* later, if you want
> to go with Mara."
>
> Christine shrugs a little awkwardly. "Just because I feel connected to this.
> To him," she hunches one shoulder in the direction of the dying man, "it
> doesn't mean you have to. "

Aurora nods.  She doesn't like leaving Jack either, but a 'date' as it
were, was being disturbed and the being connected to it (she can't
really use the term, person, can she?  She wasn't sure...) was
obviously growing impatient.

She slips her bracelets on from her purse, they clash ever so slightly
with the outfit, yet somehow they also seem to add a unique mystery to
her presentation.

"I don't like it, but if you feel the need to stay," she then turns to
Mara, "And you the need to go, then I'm willing to trust the Temple
and Christine's better networking skills."  She turns back to
Christine, "I've yet to meet either of the men that you just
mentioned, and I assume that you, Mara, need to appear with at least
one person?"

She seemed very unsure of herself suddenly, as though a portion of the
confidence simply dropped to the floor as she was presented with the
prospects of trusting somebody new (she still seems human enough...
after all, aren't *I* inhuman at this point?)  Especially going
somewhere new with them.

She suddenly missed her trees and her silent wanderings in both the
real world and the Umbra.

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