Chief is interested to hear that Eclipse has moved on. That meant that the Silver Ladder presence in the city was practically non-existent. Too bad the local Free Council was in the shape it was in.
Chief shakes his head "We gotta un-dangerous this place, I say. Can't give those swine an inch. Gotta be just as willing to wreak havoc as the bad guys. This is war. It won't be easy but nothing worth doing ever is."
He smirks, somewhat bitterly "After that, when the guys with blades and bullets have made it safe for them, then the leaders and book-readers will start coming back to roost. Heh, probably to claim that the city is safe because of their doing."
Answering Ruby's question "Anyway, I've been working on looking for work. Was hoping to get in on some action."
Animus gives Ankh a non-committal shrug. "Maybe." Maybe I've been barking at shadows this whole time. It'd certainly make things easier.
Chief's words take him by surprise, and he studies the man for a moment. Perhaps he's as much a Libertine as I am a Thearch? "When we're ready, I'll do my best to see that you're included in our plans. But I'm not sure the city will ever stop being dangerous." It's said with a touch of sadness. "We just have to do what we can and deal with each threat as it comes."
It seems the Heirarch has ears hidden in the Gilmore.
"I'm surprised you heard about Jack. We hadn't quite decided on how we were to tell you. I didn't realize the Deacon had left us, though I suppose I'm not much surprised."
There's a surprising openness that the four seem to be sharing. Ruby wonders what it is, this atmosphere, that it seems safe to share their darkest moments together. Could it be that their worries before the Awakening seem so trivial now?
Of course, the moment doesn't last long. It's ruined by machismo, mister Chief puffing out his chest (who even knows who he's trying to impress).
"Don't worry Animus. We 'bookreaders' are always here to support you. Even if some have forgot we ain't ever left."
There's a quiet "ding" as the door to the sandwich shop opens, and a tall man in his late 20s enters the store, his short sleeves revealing arms tanned from working outdoors in the summertime. He stands there for a moment, uncertainty in his pose, before letting the door close behind him as he heads to one of the tables. The tall man stops, looking down at the four people seated and eating. It was more exposure than he wanted, but he had to start somewhere.
"Hey," Joshua says, quietly, discomfort and trepidation on his face.
Animus glances over to the door as it dings, then back to the conversation. It takes a moment later before his brain catches up to who he'd seen, and he whips around, just as the man approaches. A moment of incredulity, then --
"Joshua?! When did you get back?" Emotions flash through him, nostalgia, excitement, sadness, and Animus' movements quickly take on marked animal qualities. Two mages, the last of a fading Cabal, trying to decide how to react to an overzealous Provost. So much has happened since then, so much has changed. Am I even the same person now? ... Is he?
"Whoa, Ruby, easy, take it easy," he says, a hand on her shoulder to keep her on her seat. He's quiet, not wanting to bring more attention to them than they might already have. "It's just me. I'm not worth having a coronary over."
He always had such a way with words.
"I just got back today," he says to Animus, grabbing a chair from another table and sitting, giving Chief and Ankh a nod in greeting (dropping his eyes when he looks to Ankh, not able to meet the eyes of another Arrow). "I, uh, realized I needed to own up to my responsibility. I was passing by the mall and happened to see you guys watching and figured, what the hell. You were the first ones I was going to see anyway," he says with a look between Animus and Ruby.
"So." And he pauses, mouth open slightly, as though more words were coming but got lost somewhere.
If Animus sees the dip in Joshua's gaze, he makes no indication of it. "A lot has changed since you left. The political landscape is almost completely unrecognizeable." For a moment, it looks like he's going to elaborate, but instead he shifts gears. "How have you been doing? I'm sure there's plenty else to catch up on."
Joshua gives Chief's hand a firm shake. "Good to meet you, Chief," he says, settling back into his seat. "Yes, I'm sure there's lots to catch up on," Joshua replies to Animus. "I'm glad to see folks are in one piece still. And what about the politics? What's been going on?"
He completely dodges the "how have you been" question.
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