The Mighty and the Doom

[Truce]

In South Sacramento in the territory of Temoins du Sud, Truce hurriedly returns to his shared Cabal's Sanctum. The disruptions at the Circle of Creation Consilium gathering had left despairing ripples in its wake. Truce's confidence too had shaken, being unable to do much of anything in his temporary role. Though he knew the next time they convened that he would official hold the seat of Councilor for his Path. Would it have gone any differently if Mace had showed up? Perhaps not.

The Necromancer turns on the lights as he enters the foyer. "I'm home," he says aloud, his soft voice only carrying so far. His eyes scan for signs of the returned Obrimos, still wondering what he hopes to say to her, the Councilor who abandoned her post.

[Einstein]

Einstein was seated on the couch in the living room. She was wearing her pajamas, her hair tied back into a simple knot for sleeping. She was reading a book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, until Truce came in. Her eyes drifted up towards him, and she dogged the ear of the page she was on, closing the book smoothly. "Welcome home."

[Truce]

"Oh," says Truce as he realizes Einstein to be out in the living room. "Thanks," he adds with a soft smile and knitted eyebrows of mild concern. He finishes taking off his coat and hanging it in the foyer closet before coming fully into the living room. His eyes met with hers a moment.

"Were you going to bed soon?" he asks, noting her attire.

[Einstein]

"Eventually. I was done going out for today and my clothes were getting uncomfortable, so I figured I'd change now and not have to deal with it later." Cool eyes watched the Moros, searching his face for clues as to why he was so interested. "Why?" The book found its way onto the coffee table, lain down quietly, before Einstein reclines into the couch, crossing her legs and entwining her fingers. Despite the fact that she was wearing cupcake-pattern clothing, she tried very hard to look regal.

[Truce]

"I was just thinking of putting on some tea," answers Truce honestly. "And perhaps we could sit and talk for a bit." He says this with some hesitation, wondering if Einstein is up for the conversation he has in mind.

Truce sets his car keys on a hook by the living room entryway, discarding any objects in his pockets with the intent of unburdening himself.

[Einstein]

Einstein blinked slightly. Of course, this conversation. "Sure. Why not." Her hand waves to indicate one of the chairs across the table from the couch. "I think it'd be easier without tea. You might not say everything you mean if it's working on you." He might not say everything he meant anyway. She'd meant what she'd said to Pepper. She wanted him in his current state, not calmed down by tea.

[Truce]

"Everything I mean?" Truce stops in his progress towards the kitchen and then slowly changes course to the chair indicated. "Do you think people mean everything they say?" he tries a smile again, hoping the word play would make for a better approach to broach the subject.

He sits, making himself more comfortable and returns his gaze to Einstein.

[Einstein]

"Of course not. Sometimes they lie, mislead, or just delude themselves." Einstein kept her gaze leveled on Truce, no smile present on her face. Her voice wasn't pleasant, but she wasn't being rude. She'd humor him until he started talking himself into a corner, or just stopped making any sense. Or his pushoverness showed up and she could tip him with a verbal poke. "Most of the time, I assume they do and move on. If you just think nobody means what they say, nothing gets done."

[Truce]

Truce's smile fades as it's clear Einstein is in no mood for pleasantries. There's really no soft way to put things that he can see.

"Are you referring to Avis?" asks Truce, curious if she has a specific example in mind. "Do you think that what she had to say was a lie?" Bringing her name up right away is perhaps more straightforward than he means to be, but it cuts to the core of what he wants to talk to her about.

[Einstein]

Einstein's face tightens up. "No. I don't. If she was lying, it would be a lot easier. Avis genuinely believes what she has to say. She's just wrong." Lying is easy to deal with. Liars know the truth, they just refuse to say it, and you just need to fix the problem that makes them want to. When people believe something wrong, especially something that hard to refute, the situation changes.