Jul 15 04:36:51 105 PA

From Chronicles

The current game time is: Wed Jul 15 04:36:51 105 PA. Kingsdale - Kingsdale City Museum (Library)

The Kingsdale Library is a simply massive affair. It is one of the largest facilities of its kind in North America and continually draws the ire of the Coalition States for that very reason. It is the size of an entire city block and contains row after row and row after row after row of books, data disks and all sorts of information. Literally anything can be found here, from simple recepies on how to make food on up to the plans to Glitter Boy Power Armor. Magical knowledge abounds here too and it is not an exxageration to say that with time, one can find out just about anything. The actual structure of the 'room' is a giant square, with bookshelves reaching from floor to about ten feet. Librarians and other staff scuttle about to help people find things. Of note is the fact that nothing is permitted to leave the library and both electronic and magical wards make sure that this doesn't happen. Within this huge place are all shapes, sizes and colors. From operators pouring over technical manuals to mages studying spells to children researching for a school project. Rumors abound also of a secret sub level where the truly rare books and items are kept. These rumors are true, but unless someone has been invited to the sub-level by a few specific people.... magical wards prevent the entrance from being found.

Outside, the rain still falls, warm rain, but still cool when it makes a person wet. The clouds in the sky block the sun rather nicely, casting everything in a grey pall, making things look dreary and almost depressing. Etienne had come into the library only moments before, and he stands over near the door and takes off his coat to hang it on a rack there for such things. Time is afternoon, perhaps an hour after lunchtime, and though there are people in here, the crowd isn't as thick as it is during the more popular times of day. Etienne heads toward one of the stacks, running fingers a little through his hair trying to keep it out of his face. He looks rather ragged, with stubble from the previous two days upon his face. But there is no sign of bandages or any other damage upon his hands.

Hopping only a little, Caliopa is making her way through the stacks, carrying several mechanical books, hugged close to her chest with one hand. Her hair is tied back into a thick plait, which swings with each hopping step, and her mouth is curved into an amused smiles, laughing at herself, sharing the amusement with the librarian who helped her find the books. She reaches the counter, placing the books there with a warm smile for him, bright enough to turn his cheeks slightly pin,

Etienne emerges a few minutes later carrying a pair of books, both of which look to be history books, judging from the covers. One is titled The Dark Ages, and has a dark brown leather bound cover with gold colored lettering. The other one is smaller, with a black cover and silver colored letters, titled The Reneissance. He heads toward the counter to settle to one of the tables near to there. As he sets the books down on the table, he looks up and sees Caliopa. "Cali," he calls in a quiet tone of voice. "'ow're ye doin', lass?"

She takes her books from the librarian with that sunny smile, gathering them to her chest and turning at the call. The sunny smile turns warm, lighting up her eyes, her pleasure at seeing him shining on her expressive face. "I'm grand. Gettin' some readin' 'cause they ain't lettin' me work til things heal up." She casts the librarian a quick smile before moving over to Etienne, in an odd limp-hobble-hop movement that amuses her. "Whatcha readin'?"

Etienne moves away from the table and moves quickly toward the woman. He turns so he's going the same direction she is and puts an arm around her shoulders to help give stability for that foot. Unlike the previous night, his hands show no damage or anything, and no bandages cover them. Of course, from this close up, the faintly visible dark circles under his eyes are a bit more obvious. "How's th' foo' feelin'?" he asks, even as he helps her to whatever table she's going to.

She accepts the help with the warm smile that fades slightly as she examines his face this close. She gets settled at the table, dropping books before replying to his comment, "Sore but it ain't that bad. Your hands seem alright? You look rough, Etienne." The warm sympathy in her voice is reflected in her eyes and she reaches out to touch his hand lightly. "You botherin' your head over it all?"

Once the woman is settled, Etienne turns to go get his books, but pauses when she speaks. "Ye rememberin' ta change th' bandages a' leas' every day?" He lifts his hands to look at them, a faint expression of wonder coming over his face for a moment. "Uh... aye... they're fine now," he says, still almost mystified by that fact. "Isabeau... she healed 'em," he says, that mystified look still hovering about him. He blinks a little as she touches his hand, and focuses on her again. "I'm alrigh', Cali, jus' need ta ge' more sleep than I've been lately."

Once the woman is settled, Etienne turns to go get his books, but pauses when she speaks. "Ye rememberin' ta change th' bandages a' leas' every day?" He lifts his hands to look at them, a faint expression of wonder coming over his face for a moment. "Uh... aye... they're fine now," he says, still almost mystified by that fact. "Isabeau... she healed 'em," he says, that mystified look still hovering about him. He blinks a little as she touches his hand, and focuses on her again. "I'm alrigh', Cali, jus' need ta ge' more sleep than I've been lately." He's not exactly lying, but he looks as though he's gotten no sleep in at least twenty four hours. From the look of him, probably more like thirty six or fourty eight hours.

She glances down in the general direction of her foot, wrinkling her nose. "I'm meant to change it?" She questions, but her attention is drawn to his hands, his comment widening her eyes. "Your wife? I thought she weren't... I mean, you was drinkin' 'cause of it..." She stops, the confusion clear on her face. "You don't look like someone lackin' a piece of sleep. You look like someone that ain't hit the pillow in days." She speaks bluntly, the only softening feature the worry in her face and eyes, written in wrinkles in her forehead and the tightening of her lips.

Etienne grimaces and makes a face. "Aye lass, ye're ta change i'! Dinna tell me ye dinna change i' a' all since Desmond pu' i' on ye??" His voice is quiet, but blue-grey eyes and tone alike are quite intense. At the comment about his wife, a bleak little smile is given, "My wife migh' as well be dead fer all tha' I can ge' ta 'er. 'twas Isabeau fixed me 'ands," he says, accent thickening as it usually does when he's troubled. Of course, it doesn't really occur to him that he doesn't sound exactly... well, sane when he talks about his wife and Isabeau in the same sentence. Especially considering his wife's name. He shrugs a little bit. He shrugs a little bit, "I'll be jus' fine lass. Dinna ye worry abou' me." He considers Caliopa for a moment before shaking his head again. "Ye need ta change tha' dressin' 'r yer foo'll ge' infec'ed. D'ye wan' tha' ta happen?" he asks. Subject change, anyone?

She shakes her head slowly to the first comment, more in bemusement than anything else. "Change it for what?" She questions, her curiousity rising and then turning to sympathy as he replies to her comment. She listens and gives him a hard stare, narrowing brown eyes at him as if he is a piece of machinery that isn't doing its job, and needs working out. "She ain't here but she fixed up your hands?" She repeats slowly, a pucker appearing between her eyebrows. "Bodies ain't my thing, I ain't got a clue how 'bout they work." She shrugs, not distracted from her puzzlement. "It don't make sense. Either she is here, or she ain't. 'Less you are seein' things."

A frown comes over Etienne's face and he shakes his head, "Nay, she's no' 'ere. 'twas Isabeau fixed me hands, no' me wife." He tries to explain, but probably winds up sounding like he's not all there in the head. Then again, considering he looks as though he hasn't slept in about two days... maybe that's not so surprising. Etienne shakes his head a little and a faint smile appears on his face, an equally faint chuckle accompanying that smile. "Aye. An infection is like... well, like when th' par's on me 'cycle star' ta rus'. Wha' happens when ye're machine ge's rus', lassie?"

The confusion on her face deepens and for once, she ignores the machine analogue. "That is like me sayin' my lover ain't here, but Atti walked me down. You ain't makin' a piece of sense over that." She points out, shifting to put her foot on the chair next to her, giving the bandage a narrow-eyed look, suspiciously. "Jus' jams up the rest of the thing, but I don't reckon my foot is rustin'." She looks likely to lean forward and unwrap it there and then to check. "Guess I'll get Atti to cover it up with summit new." She dismisses it easily, returning to the puzzle of him. "Ain't you sleepin' at all? Might be dreamin' if she ain't here but you are thinkin' she fixed you up..."

From the garden comes Desmond, sketchpad in hand. Once more he is in his 'balanced' neutral state. Face lingering in a relaxed, if stoic mask. Strides smooth and long, tail swaying in idle sweeps of contentment. As he moves into the library proper, he casts his eyes about. Considering quietly for a few moments as he takes in the books about him. His eyes linger in this activity for a bit as he moves steadily. Then his ears pick up nearby, familiar voices and his attention dips to scan. Ears flitting until they've zeroed in, his eyes falling on the two. He shifts his path to approach Cali and Eti, rumbling as he nears, "Cali. Etienne."

Etienne lets out a soft sigh. "Me wife's name is Isabeau d'Anjou. Isabeau d'An," he says, and then pauses as he realizes just how insane he sounds. "Ah fer cryin' ou' loud!" he says, the words fervent, but not too loud, for they ARE in a library, afterall. Another sigh, "Nevermind, lass. Jus' trus' me. Isabeau fixed me hands." He nods about her comment of rust, "'n when i' jams, ye take th' piece off 'n replace i', righ'? Well, do ye wan' ta have ta replace yer foo' when i' becomes infec'ed too much ta heal proper like?" Etienne raises a brow and watches to see what her reaction is going to be. "If ye like, I can change i' righ' 'ere. I've go' th' supplies ta do so." His attention shifts as he hears his name and looks up to see Desmond. He offers a nod to the large male, "Desmond. How be ye?"

She gives him that slow nod people use when they are humouring someone and her forehead wrinkles more. "If you say so." The doubt in her words lies heavy in her tone of voice, and she is about to go on when he explains more about infection. "Sure, you change it. Atti'll jus' go on 'bout healin' it and I don't do that." Her mind shows in her eyes, the logical ticking over of his words, "Like gettin' the oil leak so it don't run dry." Click, pieces fall into place. "Sure. Change it." She wiggles her toes, before Desmond's greeting distracts her and she tilts her head back, the sunny smile lighting up her face, pleasure at company obvious. "Alright, Desmond."

Desmond catches a bit of the talk as he nears, but speaks not of it, despite a mild note of curiosity in his eyes. "The day is favorable. And the night to come. Soon I hope to aid Aimee in moving her possessions to our shared abode. I only wait for her word that all is prepared." The topic one that brings a softness to his firm expression. Not a smile.. he never smiles. But the sense of pleasured contentment is there. His eyes dip to Cali's foot then and he asks her, "It heals well?"

Okay. So she doesn't believe him. It would appear that Etienne can live with that. He shrugs a little bit, "Perhaps 'twould be a good idea ta le' A'icus do jus' tha'. 'twould preven' infection, save ye pain, 'n allow ye ta ge' back ta work." Even so, he reaches down near his feet where he'd dropped his pack and drags it up so he can look into it. From within, he pulls out his own version of a medical kit, it has a few additions on the emergency one in the AIM. From within it, he pulls out some gauze, just in case the one on Caliopa's foot has gotten dirty. Along with another gauze pad and some of that sauve. He rises to move around to the chair holding her foot and pauses to look to Desmond. After a moment, he moves on around and drops to one knee next to the chair, deposting the supplies he'd brought over onto the table near to him. He starts unwrapping the gauze upon her foot. "Ge'in' married, eh?" he asks, question directed at Desmond even though Etienne happens to be looking at what he's doing.

"No. I don't let noone use magic on me." Spoken in a voice hard enough to be someone else, someone hiding behind the normally smiley Caliopa, her eyes hold enough fear flashing there to explain the harshness of the comment. "Not ever." She shakes her head, the movement dismissing the topic quickly, "You cleared cupboards for her stuff, Desmond? Girls have a load of gear, mostly." She gives him a smile, the warmth in it a little unconvincing, the tension around her eyes telling the truth. As Etienne removes the dressing, she wiggles her toes again, giving him a small apologetic smile for the snarl.

Desmond lifts his eyes to Cali's face as she makes her statement against the use of magic. A touch curious, but he speaks instead in response on the topic of Aimee. "We are bonding, yes. I have already given her the ring of engagement. In time we shall share the full ceremony. And to he honest, my possessions are slight. There is more than enough room for what she brings. Indeed, I hope that she will have many ideas on ways to decorate it. Such things.. they are not something that I know well."

Etienne looks up as Caliopa speaks, the tone of her voice enough to bring his eyes away from that foot. He frowns a little bit, but offers a nod in reply. "Aye, lass," he says, patting her leg gently, just above the bandage. "Nobody'll force ye, les' o' all yer A'icus." He falls silent and, after a moment, his eyes fall again and his hands start moving. He finishes unwrapping the gauze, and with care, starts to peel off the gauze Desmond had placed the previous night. Even so, it's probably not a process that's comfortable or painless.

"Atti knows how I feel 'bout it and why." She returns the look with Etienne, her jaw set in stubborn lines, the pinch around her mouth and eyes speaking more loudly of fear than anything else. She watches the dressing, the flinches on her face showing clearly enough when the bandages stick or the dried blood pulls and she turns her face away, lifting it to look at Desmond, a forced smile on her lips. "Uh, you borrowin' a truck for it? You could use mine if its needful. I ain't usin' it today."

Desmond muses Cali quietly as she and Eti speak. But he lingers in that quiet state as he does so. Of course, she will likely see his thoughtful state before her question and attention leads to him relaxing expression into something more general. "I had not considered such things.. I do not know how to pilot vehicles. There is nothing she owns that I cannot move manually as need be." For him a simple statement, backed up by.. well, who he is. "I know not if she can handle such things, but if not it will be a simple, if involved task to carry her possessions."

An absent nod is offered to Caliopa's words, but Etienne doesn't look away from what he's doing. Within moments, he peels the gauze pad the rest of the way free of her foot, and sets it aside on the old gauze wrap. He reaches up his fingers to gently touch either side of it, testing for heat and inflamation. Whatever he sees or feels, Etienne frowns, apparently not liking it one little bit. He shakes his head a little bit and rises from his knee, moving back to the open medkit he'd left sitting on the table. "I's startin' on an infection," he says, even as he starts rumaging through the medkit. It's not nearly as neatly laid out as the one at the AIM had been. Finally, his expression clears as he finds what he's looking for. A tube easily half the size of the one holding the sauve. His 'prize' in his hand, Etienne moves back over to Caliopa's foot and drops back to his knee. "Ye need ta make a visi' ta a clinic 'n ge' yerself somethin' ta keep th' inflamation down." He shakes his head a little bit, his own comment about a clinic bringing something else to mind. "I did some trailin' in th' fores'. I've found no sign o' yer doctor Kalvin."

She flinches slightly as he touches the sides of the wound, and she swallows, biting her lower lip. "Guess you get to carry her stuff, then." Her voice shows the strain, and her eyes get drawn to Etienne's activities, "Clinic?" She repeats, the idea not sitting comfortably, and causing a flare of the fear in her eyes. She aims to hide the feelings but fails miserably and it shows in the tightness around her eyes and mouth, and the slight change to pale of her already pale skin beneath the oils. "Nothin'? Nothin' at all?" The trace of hope in her voice is still there, clinging to straws.

Desmond steps forward, shifting a hand forward to rest it on Cali's shoulder. "Etienne knows of what he speaks," he rumbles lowly in his deep, steady voice. "If he thinks it proper to visit one more skilled in the ways of mending, it is a good idea. But you need not go alone, remember. The body is much like your machines. It takes one with the proper knowledge to keep it functioning." A messy analogy, but he goes for it.

Etienne happens to be actually looking up when he mentions the clinic, and so he doesn't miss the look there. He frowns. "Lass, ye need ta take care o' this foo'. A' leas' I dinna sugges' ye see a chiurgeon. I'm puttin' some o' this on, 'twill keep some o' th' inflamation down fer a time, bu' ye need some pills ta stave off th' infection." He looks to Desmond, and flashes a bit of a smile in thanks for the words, and then looks back to Caliopa. He shakes his head a little and uncaps the tiny tube. He squeezes some of it out and, oh so carefully not touching the tube's rim to the wound, squeezes some of the cream onto the wound itself. The effect should be almost immediately cooling to the angry skin. Even as he works here, he speaks. "Nay, lass. Nothin' o' yer doctor Kalvin. However," he says, even as he finishes applying the clear gel type stuff to her foot and caps the tube. "I saw signs o' them robo's yer A'icus was speakin' o'." The tube is laid aside on the table, and the small jar of salve is taken instead, the lid unscrewed and set aside onto the table. "Goin' 'r comin' from a por'al o' some sor'," he says as he takes up the piece of gauze bandage he'd gotten out.

"I ain't sayin' I ain't gonna go." She replies to Desmond, a little sharper than before, the tightened lips an attempt to keep her feelings inside her, but her eyes spill out the fear clearly. "Chiurgeon? I figured one of them doctors would do it, I don't need to see no chiurgeon." The cream removes a little of the tension around her eyes, lets her shoulders relax a little, the bracing for pain easing. "Robots?" She repeats, the words not quite understood and she frowns, giving Etienne a look of confusion. "Robots comin' 'n' goin'? Oughta tell Atti that." The distraction is welcome and she sits up, as if she might leave then to do so.

Desmond is undaunted by that sharp look, meeting it with that fearless stoicism, hand lingering. But he belabors the point no more. He does cant his head slightly as Etienne speaks of sign of robots. "A sudden start or stop of tracks then?" Musing from his own modest knowledge of tracking. "Did the signs suggest what their intent was in being here? Some means to anticipate their next move? Such information would be quite useful, given the silence that has come before. A silence such as that could be thought the calm before a storm."

A smile is offered, and Etienne shakes his head, "A chiurgeon -is- a doctor, lass." To Desmond, he nods, "Aye, somethin' like tha', 'n no signs o' any vehicles o' any type. 'n some sign o' th' portals themselves. Brances, leaves, blades o' grass, thin's like tha', jus' cu in an even line." He looks to Caliopa and barks a sharp command, "Si', lass!" Again, though the tone is intense and sharp, the sound itself isn't all that loud. Wouldn't do to annoy the librarians, would it? To Desmond his attention returns after a moment, and he shakes his head, "Their inten', nay. Bu' th' tracks 're both comin' 'n goin'. They dinna seem ta lead ta anywhere o' impor'. I'll be goin' ou' ta keep lookin' a' some poin' in th' nex' few days." He looks to Caliopa again, "And aye, lass, I know A'icus needs ta know this. I'll tell 'im soon's I catch up with 'im."

Caliopa sits, almost flinching at the unexpected sharpness and her eyes widen before she tightens her mouth, ducking her head to hide her face from both, the hair falling down as a curtain. She doesn't reply to the comment about Atticus, her hands curling into her lap, fingers twisting around themselves, before she becomes aware of it, and slides her arms around her own waist, stilling them against her ribs.

"It might do, if you can, to mark their movements when you detect them. To map them out.. try and get a sense for how they mingle together," Desmond opines, for a moment fixating on the issue. "One set of tracks here, one there.. they might not provide a clear picture, but several sets taken together could speak of a bigger picture." It'll be then, as he's retreating a bit from the more serious topic, that he notes Cali's posture. His hand lingers on her shoulder and he will give her a careful, gentle squeeze with that hand, his eyes lowered towards her. Steady, expressive blues that hold what may seem a world of calm at times.

Etienne finishes with the gauze pad and settles it against the cut on the bottom of Caliopa's foot. He holds it gently in place while bringing the new gauze roll down from the table. He starts to wrap her foot, not even really noticing Caliopa's current silence while he works. He nods absently to Desmond, "Aye, tha's wha' I've been tryin' ta do. So far, they dinna make a grea' deal o' sense." He shrugs a little bit and finishes securing the gauze wrap. Only then does he look up and see the woman's face. He lets out a soft sigh, and moves a little bit, so that he's next to her, instead of next to her foot. He doesn't touch her, instead content with speaking in a soft tone, "Cali, lass, I'm sorry.. I jus' dinna wan' ye ta hur' yer foo' any further than i' already is. Forgive me? Please?"

She lifts her chin, almost desperately trying to hide her own feelings but failing miserably as each is written on her face. "I figured so. I jus' ain't good with them doctor types, I see Kalvin, 'n' there ain't so sign of him." She meets Desmond's look, her cheeks beginning to burn, embarrassed at making a fuss at all, "It ain't nothing. I'll see one." She lifts her foot from the seat, tucking it under the chair, as if she could hide the problem so easily. "Honest, it ain't nothing."

Atticus comes across the library with an administrative looking man, "You should be fine now, Mister Simms," Atticus is telling the man quietly. "That particular ghost will go back. See, you just need to talk to them. And occasionally exercise your will. People should be able to go into those stacks now," he notes as he shakes the man's hand and watches him walk away. He shrugs his cloak onto his shoulders, humming to himself as he begins to head across the library.

Desmond is with Eti and Cali on this fine, if a bit rainy afternoon. Standing beside where she sits, with a hand on her shoulder, he rumbles to her, "I believe you. It might be a good idea for you to come to know a few more doctors, for one is not always available at all times. Better that you become comfortable with several." And true to his words, his expression remains in that simple, stoic area where there is no judgment shown. To Eti, who was previously working on rebandaging Cali's foot, he notes, "If you ever require assistance for such things, you need only speak to me. My own tracking skills are modest, but added eyes can occasionally help. That they may be planning something disturbs me.. but if they are coming and going without bringing battle, plotting is the next thing I would assume. Or preparing."

Etienne is just not good at interacting with women. That's really got to be it. He shakes his head as though to himself and rises to his feet. "I'll be fine, lass. Ye take care o' i', 'n i'll be fine." He lays one hand gently upon the shoulder Desmond's hand isn't already occupying, and gives it an equally gentle squeeze. He remains that way only a moment before turning back to the table to begin gathering up the few medical supplies he'd used in the rebandaging of Caliopa's foot. He nods to Desmond, considering the words before speaking. "I saw no sign o' battle o' any sor'. Jus'... half-meter deep tracks in th' fores' floor. There's nothin' i' could be bu' robo's 'r some kind o' machine. Even 'saurs arena tha' heavy," he says as he moves around Cali and Desmond to put the supplies, including the dirty bandage, back into his medkit. "I'll ge' this cleaned up fer ye 'n ge' i' back ta th' AIM, lass." A glance goes to Desmond for a moment, and then Etienne's eyes fall back to the medkit. "Aye, yer help'd be mos' appreciated. If I c'n find ye nex' time I go ou' lookin' fer sign o' Kalvin, ye're welcome ta come along. Extra eyes 're always welcome."

Atticus' voice draws Caliopa's attention like a moth to a flame, her gaze moving past the two men to find him. "Atti!" She calls, her voice holding all the eagerness of a teenager besotted. Desmond's comment pulls her attention back and she colours deeply, the flame rising in her cheeks. "Figured I knew two, 'n' that'd be enough." She mumbles, slumping in the chair, her eagerness fleeing in the path of the doctor-hate. "Ain't nothing to bother over anyhow. The AIM has loads, folk're always hurtin' themselves over stuff." She glances at Etienne, before dropping her eyes, "It ain't you, I just ain't keen on doctorin'."

Atticus looks up from where he was distracted, smiling at Cali. "Cali. Hey. Are you okay?" he asks as he hurries over, immediately dropping to a knee to try to reach for her leg and foot and try to examine it. "You still don't want me to heal it, right?" he asks - it's not a real request, it seems more the sort of gentle long running joke between two people that have been together some time.

Desmond frowns deeply at the mention of half-meter deep tracks. "Those are deep indeed," he rumbles, brow creased as he considers the potential of something that heavy. When Cali calls out to Atticus, he lifts his head and glances towards the elf, taking a slight step back and removing his hand. Clearing room, so to speak. "Atticus," he rumbles in his simple manner of greeting. He then addresses the talk of cooperation with, "I will awit, then. But if we do not cross paths again, good luck with your hunt for clues." Further talk doesn't come, his mind turning back towards what was just mentioned by Eti.

At the sound of Caliopa calling Atticus' name, Etienne glances around from his medkit, and offers a nod to the elf. He looks back to Cali and offers a nod, "I'm no' a doctor, a' leas'. I jus' know a wee bi' o' firs' aid.." He falls silent, turning back to finish closing up his medkit and put it back in the pack he'd brought with him. He nods to Desmond, "If ye wan' ta mee' me a' th' crossin' o' th' old highway 'n th' farm road, a' dawn tomorrow, we c'n do a bi' more searchin'." He looks toward Atticus, and nods, "A'icus," he says, and waits for a few minutes to give the two lovebirds time to remember others are present before speaking again.

She uncurls from the chair, leaning into Atticus, drawing his attention from her foot, tucking it beneath the chair. "Etienne reckons it has got a piece of infection in it." She mentions it as if in passing, as if the infection was a piece of rust floating around in her foot. His gentle joke draws a small smile from her, responding to the gentleness in his tone. "Reckons I ought to see a doctor. There ain't no sign of Kalvin." The two comments, linked only by her, are spoken in one breath.

"You should see a doctor. I only know a bit of first aid, like Etienne here. Hi Etienne, hi Desmond," Atticus notes. "You should see a doc. We can't make you completely better and you won't let me heal you," he murmurs to Cali, leaning over to kiss her cheek. "What are you all doing today? Anyone up for food? I'm -starving-."

"I will if I can," Desmond rumbles to Etienne. "If not, good luck." He pauses and then considers the three, humans and elf, for a moment before he speaks more generally. "I should depart for now. Aimee may call soon and I wish to prepare for her and her possessions. I bed you all farewell for now." The big male moving around steadily to prepare for his departure.

Etienne leans back against the table, the two books he'd gotten sitting atop it, all but forgotten by the redheaded man. He glances to Desmond and nods, "If ye canna make i', dinna worry abou' i'. There'll be other times. 'n thank ye fer th' offer o' help." A bit of a smile, "Good luck on tha'." Meaning Aimee moving in, as that's when the comment is relayed. To Atticus he turns his attention now. "I've found no sign o' yer Kalvin. Bu' I've found half meter deep tracks I though' ye migh' wan' ta know abou'. Only machines 're heavy enough ta make tha' kind o' tracks. Comin' 'n goin' from wha' c'n only be signs o' some sor' o' por'al."

"I know that. I'll see one, you ain't gotta keep on." The snap from Caliopa to Atticus is explained by the sheen of frustrated tears in her eyes. "It ain't like Kalvin is there, is it?" She shakes her head, blinking quickly and lifting her face to Desmond with a quick, if unconvincing smile. "Good luck." She offers, listening without comment to Etienne's words about Kalvin and the tracks. Her fingers do seek Atticus' hand in silent apology for the snap.

Atticus waves to Desmond, a smile. "Take care Desmond, I'll see you soon," he notes. He settles over near the others, throwing his cloak back and looking thoughtful. "Yeah, that fits in with what we know,' he answers, nodding. 'They're still using Rifts to get in. Doctor Kelley is .. he's moved on, taking a break. So I'm taking over. I'll just need a day or two to get everything in order," he says, rubbing his jaw. 'I'll probably invite everyone over to our new business - above Cali's here - and get it all in order." He leans over, kissing Cali's cheek gently. "I know you're frustrated. So am I. We'l find him, I promise. And I bug only 'cause I love you, you know that," he murmurs to her as he squeezes her hand. "Anyway - that's good to know Etienne. Hrm."

Desmond goes without a word, his brow creased slightly as he muses what he leaves behind him, taking in the last few words heard before he passes outside of the library itself. But none of it turns him back towards them, the big male exiting without delay.

Etienne shakes his head, "Nay, Cali, I'm sorry, bu' any sign tha' migh' 'ave been found 's been lon' since erased by th' fores' 'n elemen's." He shrugs ever so slightly about that, and then nods to Atticus' words. "I'm goin' ta keep lookin', bu'... 'f there's sign ta see, 'tis hidden. Th' sign I saw, o' th' por'als, mayhaps tha' s a clue there, bu' if 'tis I dinna know. Too much time 'as passed ta be able ta tell fer sure abou' much o' anythin'. Save those tracks tha' I did find tha' dinna belon' ta anythin' human."

She leans into Atticus, giving him a look of apology and a small smile. "Kelley's moved on?" She echoes softly, her forehead wrinkling. "Ain't nothing left for us to follow, is there? Nothing else we can do to figure out where Kalvin is." She releases Atticus then, using her hands to push herself up from the chair. She gives both men a tight smile of apology, shaking her head. "Gonna head home." She speaks abruptly, the tightness in her face, that entered at Etienne's apology, holding her mouth so that the sunny smile can't break free. "I'll see you there, Atti, ain't no need to come." She turns then, hobbling off, her books forgotten on the desks.

Atticus nods to Etienne, "Sure thing," he says to him, looking thoughtful. "I think I need to get some whiteboards to something. Map this all out and get it all organized in my head. And ..." he trails off as Cali rises. "Alright. I'll come home with some cookies," he offers lamely.

"I've go' th' few I've found thus far mapped ou', bu' 'tis no' much ta go by. Jus' those three.. they dinna make any sense. Kinda..." He pauses, trailing off a little as Cali rises to leave. He offers her a nod. "Remember ta take care o' tha' foo', Cali, 'n change th' dressin's every day." He shakes his head and watches the woman leave. After a few minutes, he turns his attention back to Atticus. "If she's tha' worried abou' goin' ta see a doc'tor, really all she needs is somethin' ta figh' th' infection startin' in 'er foo', 'n some o' th' oin'men' I used fer th' pain. I' 'll help with th' inflamation too."

"I'll be honest. I don't understand half of what comes out of your mouth," Atticus says with an easy grin, "And I can speak dragon-speak. But, I think I know what you're saying. She just has a natural fear of doctors and healing, that's all. And she's worried about Kalvin. SHe'll be find, she's way stronger than she appears."

Etienne grins, "I ge' tha' a lo', dinna worry." He nods about the comments of Cali, and then nods again, expression sobering back to his normal more or less neutral expression. "Aye, tha' she is. She'd no' still be alive in this place 'f she wasna stronger than she looks." Spoken like a rather casual observation.

Atticus nods, "Indeed. She is. And she's quite the woman," Atticus notes with a grin. He settles back, "Like I said, we're working on some things, and I'm re-organizing things. Hopefully soon I'll be able to get things back into motion - losing Doc Kelley unfortunately really slowed us down operationally," he says.

As though realizing he's still leaning against the table, Etienne pushes away from it and moves back to the chair he'd vacated awhile ago. Taking a seat, the time is used to consider the other man's words. "Anythin' I c'n help with, I'm more than willin' ta do so. 'n like I told Cali, I'll continue searchin', bu' I dinna hold much hope o' findin' Kalvin from trackin' him. Within a week o' him disappearin', 'n there migh' 'ave been some trace, o' somethin'. Bu' now? Now there's nothin' lef' -to- be read. 'n I'll continue lookin' fer them robo' tracks. Mayhaps I'll find a pattern."

Atticus nods, "I hope so. And I think we may still be able to find some information about him. I just need to get everyone together and do some research," he notes as he settles back into a seat, looking thoughtful for a moemnt. "I think I'll do that. Get eveeryone together and we can compare notes, see if anything pops out of that colloboration."

Etienne nods in reply. Then considers. "When ye say everyone, does tha' mean ye wan' me ta come as well, 'r nay?" he asks. "I'll be th' firs' ta admi' I'm no' th' bes' a' research, bu' I've go' my observations o' th' fores' 'n tracks." It's not much, really, but every little bit counts, right? "If no' I'll a' leas' try ta ge' th' map o' those tracks ta ye."

Atticus nods, "I think you can be helpful still. And yes,. I'd love to have you attend. If you give me your name and contact information I can make sure that I can grab you for the talk?" he says. "Probably in a few days - maybe over this weekend," he notes as he shifts forward on his seat. "Once I can get it all arranged."

A nod is given to the elf's words. "Etienne Navarre, 'n if ye leave a message 'ere a' th' library with th' clerks, I'll be in town every few days ta check." Etienne looks back to the books he'd chosen and shakes his head. "I'm goin' ta go pu' these away. I need ta ge' headed back ou' ta do more searchin'." He rises and gathers the two books, both on history, ancient history, and heads for the stacks.Tags:atticus, caliopa, desmond, etienne