Jul 27 07:06:42 105

From Chronicles

The current game time is: Mon Jul 27 07:06:42 105 PA.

The front door leads to a small foyer - just a closet and a heavy steel hatrack with a few cloaks and coats on it, a second open closet with a cloth covering over it that seems to contain weapon cases and armor suits that are hanging from reinforced wall mounts.

The foyer opens to a decent sized living room - the floor covered in dark wood flooring and the walls painted a warm dark green with soft yellow trim. Two couches are angled to face a television and disc player, a reading chair is situated next to a angled lamp.

The kitchen is clean and well cared for - a dishwasher, stove and fridge and freezer, the clear doors on the cabinets showing off plates, a heavy baker's rack that stores pots and pans and some pantry items.

One door from the living room leads into a guest bath with a shower and toilet, the floors tiled. A second door leads to guest bedroom - currently also covered in that dark hardwood floor, two large desks that almost take up an entire wall with two executive chairs. One desk has a dayplanner on the surface, an old looking pocket computer to one side. The remaining wall is covered with an old bookshelf on which a dozen or so books sit - otherwise there's several stacks of legal pads covered with neat, elegant writing. There's several boxes stacked neatly around the walls, a mat on the floor near one desk has several broken part engine and mechanical parts.

The final door leads to the master bedroom suite - dark hardwood floors, the major furniture being the kingsized bed with a heavy dark brown comforter that takes up much of the room. Two nightstands with lamps, an armoire and dresser. A door from the master bedroom leads to the master bath - an antique claw foot large tub, toilet and sink.

The whole apartment has a warm, well cared for and tended to feel.

By the time Atticus returns from the hospital, Caliopa had set herself up a blanket in the livingroom, and settled there with work to do. Determined not to rest, she begins the work, cleaning a bike part. Gradually she shifts position so that she is curled against the walls, in the corner, and eventually, her eyes have drifted shut. Atticus will find her like that, asleep, cuddling the part to her, in the corner.

Atticus shakes his head as he lets himself in. Making some fresh tea and putting it within reach, with a plate of cookies and some chips and dip. He lets her sleep as he settles onto the couch with his pistol on the table within reach, reading from a pocket computer and keeping her well within sight as he does.

She barely stirs as he moves around, one hand in her hair, a strand curled around a finger, childlike. In her other hand, the part is held tightly, and she shifts slightly, making a little noise in her sleep.

Atticus lets her sleep - and if enough times goes by he even refills her tea, taking small sips from his tea as he grins over at her, asleep. He reads from his computer, making notes on his legal pad as he does.

After some time, she stirs, shifting position, sleepy brown eyes opening. She gives several slow blinks, lifting her hand and rubbing her eyes with the heel of her hand. "Atti?" Her voice is husky with sleep, and she puts the part down, uncurling and stretching cautiously.

Atticus smiles, "I'm here. Your tea is right over there. And there's some fresh cookies and some chips and dip," he notes, "You fell asleep working, i was over here getting some reading done," he notes.

Caliopa uncurls, rising to her feet, the faintest of winces as her stomach muscles pull against the movement. "Should have woken me, I wasn't 'tending to sleep." She murmurs, moving to take her tea, to curl up on the couch ,watching him.

Atticus smiles, "I know you were, but your sleep is your body telling you that you need rest, honey." he says as he puts the tea aside and settles his arm over her. "So you're gonna sleep, and that's okay," he replies.

"Body ain't got a clue what's needful." It is a soft grumble as she snuggles into his side, curling her legs beneath her. "Where'd you get to, Atti? Ain't gettin' work done at all, my eyes keep closin'."

Atticus smiles, "That's because you need rest. You're healing. that's what your body does. I just went to go see Desmond and check in on the others, then came back here," he says.

She reaches for one of the cookies, giving him a small smile, the sleep still in her face. "Desmond?" She questions, her forehead wrinkling slightly. "I ain't likin' sittin' still when I got so much to be doin'."

Atticus clears hsi throat. "Yeah. Look, you're going to find out anyway. Desmond was standing outside the shop in his arm and talking to Roulin ... and he and Katsumi were attacked. Desmond was shot in the head. But he's alive and I healed when I got the hospital, he's resting and fine. And Katsumi wasn't hurt."

She sits up, her forehead drawing into a frown as he talks. "In the head? Who by? It is over my garage?" She rubs again at her eyes, clearing the sleep from them entirely, the worry in them deepening. "Ain't no wonder you don't want folks down there."

You hear a knock on the door leading out to Kingsdale - Golden Carafe.

"Yeah, I think it was because he was so ... aggressive over things. Him and Katsumi." He rises and moves to the door, peering out before opening it. "I think it was related, yes - but I'm on it, promise."

Caliopa is curled on the sofa, her hair mussed from sleep, and a cookie in her hand. The worry in her face is obvious, readable in the brown eyes. "He killed some of them, Atti, I remember that." She gives Janus a small smile, genuinely pleased to see him, but the sunny smile makes no appearance.

Atticus is standing near the door, although he answered it with his near his belt and a pistol there. "Hey Janus, come on in. we were just resting and I was getting Cali something to eat. Come on in," he offers, shutting the door as the man is in.

Janus steps in with a nod of greeting for Atticus and his big hands folded around the stems of a bunch of paper-wrapped daisies. "Got your message," he says to the elf, despite the fact that his eyes are looking over at Cali the whole while. "Didn't even know she'd been hurt."

The daisies do bring the warm smile to her face, but she covers her mouth with her fingers, blinking rapidly. "You'll bringin' me flowers, 'n' it ain't like it ain't a piece of my own fault." She rubs her eyes again, the heel of her hand used to clear the shine from them. "Atti made cookies..."

"Flowers, thank you," Atticus says politely, moving to the kitchen for a glass and water to store them in. "And yeah, she was attacked but she's better now, just healing up. Same with the others, if I can keep people from going on the counterattack we'll be fine. Just need to talk to some folks."

Janus walks over towards the couch, peeling back the paper cone to show off the flowers along the way. "Reckon it don't matter whose fault it is, Cali." He offers her the bunch, just to hold for a bit while Atticus gets some water. Then he sets his hands on his hips and takes a step back, looking back and forth between both of them. "But what happened?"

Caliopa's gaze follows Atticus for a moment before she turns to reply to Janus, "It does matter... " She murmurs softly, leaning her head back against the couch cushions, her smile fading. "Atti 'n' me, we bought the place in the Dregs, but the gang there, it wanted us to pay protection. Atti reckons we oughtn't to, so I told them we didn't want none. Kinda went off from there."

"And the gang counterattacked after attacking Cali, and hit Katsumi and Desmond," Atticus explains as he puts the water within reach and moves to take a seat on the couch. "But as long as people don't go doing stupid things, it'll be fine. I'm setting up a meet to talk to them."

Janus carries himself back a few more steps and has a seat on the other couch. "You think talking's going to solve anything with blokes like that?" He fixes a reproachful look on Atticus, brow quirked. "They'll take your credits or maybe one of your ears as a down payment."

"They trashed the garage too." Her voice is a little mournful, the dream tarnished. "Atti'll talk them into something." She gives the elf a look of utter trust, her faith in him unshaken. A yawn overtakes her, and she covers it with her fingertips, leaning her head against the cushions. "Ain't a piece of logic to them not listenin'."

"Maybe they won't listen to talking, but it's worth a shot. For a variety of reasons. For one, we can't just fight all the time, we can't fight off every gang in the Dregs and that'll come about if we just try to take out this gang. I have some other options brewing but for now taking a few days to step back and calm down seems reasonable. And talk." he explains.

A look of sympathy and pity passes from Janus to Cali at the news of the garage. He has some idea of how much it means to her, and having everything in its place too. "Those types respect just one thing," he intones, directing his words again to Atticus. "Dealt with enough of them in my time, I have. Askin' for a parley only tells them you don't want to fight back."

She drops her gaze at the look of sympathy, blinking rapidly, the thought of her garage trashed clearly something that does upset. "There ain't 'nuff folks to fight off the gang, 'n' the ship stuff, that is a piece more important than my garage. Personal ain't the same as important, not always."

"It's not just that," Atticus says. "I, and we, have to think long term and big picture here. We turn this into a huge war and we may draw in the local constables - the law enforcement - and the military. And they'll purge the Dregs again and may not be surgical at all about it. That means innocent people die. And she's right, we have bigger things to worry about, plus, so what if we wipe this gang out - what if another bigger, badder gang is waiting in the wings? I just say we need more information and I'm working on that. We'll see what happens. For now Cali is safe."

"Right, well. I've dealt with their kind before," Janus remarks while tossing a quick look over at Caliopa that seems to suggest that he doesn't think she's safe at all. "If you're needin' someone to watch you back." He gives Atticus a nod, making his offer without actually saying as much.

Caliopa is studying the cookie in her hands, turning it over, her face reflecting her thoughts, the jumble of thoughts about the fighting, the garage, along with the weariness in her features. "I ain't fightin' for a garage when we got a town to figure out how to save. It'll likely be there after, 'n' if not, I guess there are other ones." There is a distinct lack of conviction on the last piece of that.

"It's okay. The garage isn't going anywhere and we aren't losing it," Atticus says firmly. "And I know you probably think we should attack, so does everyone else I talk to," he says to Janus with a smile. "And I'll keep that in mind, the wingman thing you were saying.'

"Reckon you won't be faulted for swatting a few flies when there's a right beast of a bear comin' down on ya," Janus drawls with a little shake of his head. "Ain't a time for playing sillybuggers and tryin' ta be diplomatic." He sits back, sinking into the couch cushions and rubbing his face with the palm of one hand. "Anyhow, came to check in on Cali, not get her all bothered again." He directs his attention back over to the girl, smiling thinly. "He taking care of you right, girl?"

She lets them discuss it, leaning her head into the cushions, her eyes half closed until Janus speaks directly to her again. She blinks then, focusing on him, "Uh, 'course. Atti fusses more 'n' I could want sometimes, but ain't never gonna neglect me." The look she gives Atticus shows her feelings clearly enough. "Ain't able to work, not proper, I fell asleep on my blanket."

Atticus grins, "She's insisting on working but keeps sleeping because she's healing. I'm keeping an eye on her and she won't be alone, and won't be spending time at the garage until we can fix this. I'll take her to and from AIM and wherever to make sure she isn't alone."

Janus nods slowly and listens. He was right: it doesn't sound like she's safe at all. "You just get your rest and get bettah. The work ain't going to run off on ya in the next few days."

The look of irritation is shared between them. "I got work to do, 'n' folks expectin' their stuff done. It ain't their problem that I got some problems goin' on." She yawns again, the words she would have uttered smothered by it.

"A few days rest isn't going to kill you or hurt them all that much. You left the hospital early, the deal was you'd rest and recuperate, not that you'd blaze into work full time," Atticus tells Cali gently. "You know the deal."

Janus claps his hands together and wipes them, matter resolved. "A deal's a deal," he tosses in his support behind Atticus. "Reckon there's someone you can ring if any of it needs getting looked after right away."

Atticus gets the full force of the irritation, the tiredness making her crankier. "You said I'd do that, I never done said that." She points out, her lower lip almost sticking out, childlike in the petulance. "'n' I don't pass on my workin'." She curls up on the couch, drawing her legs up, her eyelids obviously heavy. "Ain't much of a wound, anyhow."

"You do when you can't stay awake for an hour without sleeping," Atticus says with good humor. He yanks an afghan off the couch, settling it over the redhead and leaning over to kiss her cheek. "It is a wound, and you know it. Just rest and don't push it."

"Seems like every other time I see you there's a new hurt on you somewhere," Janus observes with an easy chuckle. "Reckon your body's been telling you to slow down for a while now. It's a good time to listen."

She snuggles beneath the afghan, brushing the fabric against her cheek and giving Atticus a smile despite the petulance. She looks between then, fighting eyelids that became made from lead. "Jus' a piece then. I got work to do." Almost before the words, blurred by sleepiness, are out, her eyelids are down, closed, the lashes dark against pale cheeks.

"Indeed, slow down," Atticus agrees. He smiles at Cali, stroking her hair as she falls asleep. "Just sleep," he murmurs as he watches her doze before he glances over at Janus. "You doing okay? Can I get you anything to drink?" he asks quietly.

Janus seems rather surprised when Caliopa just dozes off and watches her sleep for a few seconds before answering Atticus with a shake of his head. "Thanks, I'm alright," he murmurs in a low, rolling voice and then pushes himself up out of the couch to stand. "I should ask if your plan's changed any from this. The big cat won't be of use with a hole in his head, I don't imagine."

Atticus rises himself, smiling, "I healed him up some. But yes, he's still in the hospital. Right now, my plan is basically what I said - take a few days, stay defensive, don't make a reactionary choice now and make sure Cali is safe. And talk to the gang leader. If everyone is right and he refuses everything but complete violence, that's fine. We'll go that route. But I don't want to," he says as he stretches, adjusting Cali's blanket slightly. "So, are you okay? If I have you with me are you going to be too emotionally invested? I don't mean to be insulting, I really do value your assistance, you have skills I could use. But it's worth asking."

Janus wonders with a notable lack of emotion, "Emotionally invested in what?" His storm grey eyes betray a flicker down at Cali's sleeping self but jump back to look at Atticus curiously. "I'd be more worried about you in that regard."

"C'mon, I haven't lived one hundred and sixty years by not being able to read someone's face," Atticus says with a gentle smile. "And that's a fair counter-point but I'm the one person -not- screaming for blood and fire raining down on this gang. So I think my objectivity is pretty solid. As for what I mean, do you want me to spell it out?" he asks softly, gesturing to the red hair. "Her. You're heads over heels for her. You don't really think I do a great job with her. Deep down, I bet, you think you could do better. It's right there on your face. If you're with me, you need to follow my lead and be objective. You can pine after her all you want, she's with me in the end, but you need to be able to make the right call for all of us. That's all I mean, friend."

Janus holds his hands up in front of himself, open and drawn back non-threateningly. "Don't know who you've been talking to, mate, but you've got me all wrong on that. She's a beaut to look at and, yeah, I care about her but it goes no farther than that. She's got her machines, she got you, and I figure the rest of the world is coming up a far distant third." He indicates the relative positions of importance as he names them. Machines over his head, Atticus near his shoulder and the rest of the world rates somewhere below his knee. "I ain't yabbering about bloody vengeance, just efficiency."

Atticus nods, "Alright. Fair enough," he says with an easy smile. "And I'll be honest,y ou're more calm about this than most people I've talked to - I've had been barging in and screaming about how I should let them starting killing people since yesterday," he notes with some dry humor. "I've felt like the little boy holding back the wall all day."

"Well," Janus responds, nodding with the least bit of surprise. "That's what you get keeping company with animals and savages. Me, I'm professional. You've got a few lifetimes on me, but I haven't made it this far wearing my emotions out on my sleeve." He shrugs, letting his hands fall to hang at his sides. "S'truth, I ain't even talkin' about killing. Just need to bloody their noses and send 'em running."

Atticus nods, "That's sort of my backup plan. But you know - you've dealt with them before, you have to do it carefully. You use too much force and you're a real threat in the Dregs and the bigger gangs come off you. You don't do enough and they swarm all over you. I just think I may be able to talk or negotiate us out of this. We'll see. Maybe not, but it doesn't hurt us anything to try."

"Maybe," Janus relents, unconvinced still and letting it show with another brief glance at Caliopa. "I'm fine staying out of it, not being paid for keeping the peace of Kingsdale, but I wanted to offer to help. Because she's my friend."

Atticus nods, "Well, I don't want her endangered anymore, but I'm hoping this is a quick way to end this. If not, I'll get her underground, somewhere safe, and we'll solve it the old fashioned way. I'd just rather not do that unless we have to."

Janus puts his hands back up in a gesture of surrender. "Your call, mate. I can do it either way," he notes with a small shrug, then adds, "or no way at all."

Atticus nods, "Definitely have to do something, can't just stick our head in the sand," he says with a grin. "But I may need you to come with me to this meeting, just to have someone watching out for an ambush - I'll be in touch when I know more."

The red hair stirs slightly, before making a tiny noise, and snuggling deeper into the adfghan. She holds it in her arms, cuddling the corner to her, her hands beneath her cheek.

"Best let her get her rest," Janus decides, nodding once to Atticus and heading through the living room back towards the front door.

Atticus nods, "Good enough, and good plan. Have a good night. Thank you for coming by, and the flowers."Tags:atticus, caliopa, janus