14011/Rainy Nights at the Candle

Rainy Nights at the Candle
Date of Scene:	31 January 2023
Location:	Candle, Booke and Belle
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Nettie Crowe, Franklin Richards, Ariah Olivie, Patience Alperen

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Nettie Crowe has posed:
    The streets of the New York Evening have descended into a rainy weather of mixed snow and rain, creating a slushy, cold mess outside the Candle, Booke and Belle.

    Inside, there was a fire going in the fireplace near the easy chairs that gave a warm and driness to the air, scented by cinnamon brooms, rose hips and the smokiness of Dragon's Blood resin. The ancient record player in the corner was tinnily broadcasting Judy Garland's version of Embracable You, the romantic swing strings humming in the air, and Nettie's Crow, Corvax was perched on one of the rafters overhead as Nettie herself putters behind the tea bar, cleaning out her apothecary drawers where she stored extras for tea, pre-bagging mixes as she hums along with the music.

Franklin Richards has posed:
It was another day, and he found himself in front of a store this time as he was wondering about looking for what to do with it. A smile crosses his face, as he remembered it from some fair though that was a few days back, and doubted he made any memorable impression on the lady he talked to so doubted she remembered him though he did her. So instead of walking past he decides today is the day, as instead today he was going to go in. He looked at the door for a moment thinking about what he would say, or ask of her before he entered. There was so much he would like to know, but he knew some of those things are secret to her, and would not be shared with a stranger.

He considered going back, meeting her in the past though the price of such a trip was a bit beyond what he wanted to pay. So instead he just looks like an akward person walking up to the door then back a few times before he just decides to enter the store taking a deep breath as while he had the spark this lady was much more knowledgable then even he was, at least in these things so it made him a bit nervious.

Fanklin is again wearing his Fantastic Four Merc with the hat, hoodie, and his shirt today was Ben, It's Clobbering time, grim. He changed who was on his shirt daily, though he would never wear his shirt as he believed it would go against the point. As he enters he just looks around intrequed with the look and feel of the place though it was also nice to get out of the rain though he was very careful to wipe his shoes at the entry as he did not want to offend quite litterally in the door. He doesn't say anything to anyone just yet as he is currently distracted looking at the place. To him it was fascinating so he would have a warm smile on his face just taking it in.

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    A full foot shorter than Franklin, a small girl, or young woman perhaps, slips in from the rain behind him. She blinks at the shadow taking up the entryway then carefully steps around him, making her way to the hearth. The small creature is wrapped up in a long cloak in dark grey with bright white fur lining it, leaving her form quite obscured for the time being. A small shiver rolls through her, though, before she settles down on the floor before the flames, letting them warm her and dry her outer attire.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    And Nettie had looked up as the door opened, giving a bright smile to Franklin and Ariah as they make an entrance.

    "Hullo duckies!" the old witch calls out, giving a wave of her hand. "Be there in a minute -- how about this /awful/ wether, mm? Swear The United States has the oddest weather." she complains sullenly, looking to Ariah as she comes to wawrm up by the fire tht's going.

    "Take your cloak off, poppet, hang it on a hook an' let it dry. You'll catch your... well. Additional death 'a' cold."

Franklin Richards has posed:
Franklin smiles and nods as he is addressed returning back to looking at the store around him he actually moves with a light, "excuse me" to Ariah as she moves past as he was in the way. He looks around a bit deciding to head to the books first. He is careful not to touch anything though as he just browses the covers with that smile. Some of the titles even makes him chuckle a bit lightly as he browses through them. He doesn't address Ariah as he doesn't really know them, and didn't want to interupt the posibility of buisness Nettie might of had by scaring off her customers.

Instead he reaches into a pocket, and pulls out some thing gloves, and puts them on as he very carefully reaches to take one of the books that were for sale. He handles it as if it were about to fall apart as he enjoyed books, but knew you had to take care of them and the fingers natrually had all kinds of things on them so the gloves were very handy. As he looked at the book he thought about it for a moment.. When did he put those in his pocket, and thinks back to when he woke up, and just instincfully grabbed them though he had no plans on coming here.

With another chuckle he puts the book back in the spot he found it after a quick browse as things like this happened quite often and he was getting used to just having the things on him he would need later so didn't question it too much,

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    Ariah pauses, mid-sit, and slowly stands up once more. She pulls the hood of the cloak back and slides it off, slowly. "Of course, Nettie, merci," she states quietly, accent thickly French, voice soft and cold. Chilly like the outside is right now. She moves to find a hook, removing the cloak entirely, hanging it near the door. Beneath that nondescript cloak is a small woman in a dark red dress. The shock of short, white hair atop her head is contrasted by her dark cocoa skin tone.

    Mismatched eyes follow Franklin for a few moments, watching him and his book-browsing, but it's more of her simply following movement than snooping. She's soon returning to the fire, to bask in its warmth.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "Ah, and young Mr. Richards --" Nettie sets about, puttering a moment behind the bar. In goes a little pouch of something, the steam kettle pouring into milk to heat it quickly. Nettie stirs this in a mug, and not a teacup, and she wanders her way over to Ariah as she gives a smile to Franklin. "How are you sir? Still doing the hide-in-plain-sight thing." she observes, and sets the mug to Ariah. Hot chocolate. But *Red*.

    Red velvet hot chocolate. Nettie's got a sense of humor, and the short witch grabs a dry afgan off one of the chairs and drapes that over the wet dimunitive vampire if she's permitted.

    "Something on your minds that needs addressing? It's hardly a night fit for man or beast or otherwise out there."

Franklin Richards has posed:
Franklin pulls back the hood, and reveals his face as he got his looks from his mother, and the stern thinking look from his father as he smiles over at Nettie. "I am telling you it works, though I am glad you remember our last meeting was rather short. My fault things to be done." he nods as he is sure she understands that. "I am sorry to intrude on you once again, though no reading this time." he turns back to lightly move a gloved finger over one of the book spines.

"I had some questions.. And the people around me can't answer them. So here I am.." and chuckles a bit. "Though I still don't know how you always see through my disquise." though he grins at her as he too had a sense of humor. He nots to Ariah, "I do not mean to intrude... I felt it was the right time to come in, but if I am mistaken?" He looks back at Nettie that same friendly warm smile doesn't leave his face he hoped the insinuation of him returning at another time being clear. He then stops, and titles his head.. Ariah reminded him of someone, but who the though of faces flipped through his mind but none matched perhaps she had one of those faces as well.

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    The little witch blinks as she's given crimson hot cocoa, staring into it, and breathing deep the scent. She casts a small but sincere smile to Nettie, a rare treat that, before getting more settled. She cradles it in both hands, seemingly able to handle the heat just fine, though there's a slight, telltale glow underneath her dress's sleeves that might indicate some hint of magic at work. The blanket, also, is accepted and the small, white-haired woman looks positively cozy now. "..merci..." Ariah murmurs.

    Then she takes a slow, slow sip of the cocoa before addressing questions. First to Franklin, shaking her head. "...non, not any intrusion..." she says just as quietly and coldly as ever, then Nettie. "It is... to admit... a lonely night..." she explains quietly, staring back into the dancing flames. "Mind on things. Waiting on persons. Wish for... pleasant company."

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "Black magic, poppet." Nettie gives a playful little grin over to Franklin. "That and literally no one else wears *that* much Fantastic Four merchandise at once who walks in here, I figured I had a decent chance at guessing your identity." she explains with a smile, and looks to Ariah a moment.

    <Should you need help, little, do not hesitate to ask for it. Do not have stones for your supper.> she states in French to Ariah quietly, and though she refrains from touching her, she does offer her a small smile.

    "And questions deserve tea, or cocoa, or if you're one of *those*--" her nose wrinkles "... coffee."

Franklin Richards has posed:
Franklin nods, and chuckles. "I do not doubt you, your aid was quite useful last time. Though I know my question was a bit vague the answer was what I needed to hear at the time." and gives her a small nod. "So thank you, and tea would be fine." He too mvoes to sit with the others. His mother had always brought him up to drink tea as she said it helped focus the mind, and so he had gotten used to drinking it over coffee though usually just when asked. "I ask you does the posionus dart fog hide its colors?" he nods to her, "Then why should I?"

After sitting he looks around at well both of them and thinks about how to start when there was so much to know. After a moment he finally asks, "I have seen a bit about this magic you use, and it seems very simmular to the thing I do." and he stops looking at her figuring honesty was the best way as he usually did, "I was thinking the best way to start to find out if learning to use it would help me learn to use my own." and gives a bit of a shrug as he really doesn't have any hidden agendas.

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    The sheen of cocoa sticks to Ariah's lips after she takes her first sip. She blinks owlishly at Nettie for a second before pursing those cocoa-sticky lips in a small, thoughtful frown. <It would not go amiss, please, if you are offering,> she states in French, <The weather makes it difficult to find willing company.> And she leaves it at that as she takes another slow sip of the cocoa. "This is very good," she says quietly in English now. "Merci, Nettie," her voice, cold as it is, is very polite and quiet.

    The talk of magic piques her interest, though, and she glances over towards Franklin, letting her mismatched eyes sweep over his form again, appraising him perhaps.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "The poisonous dart frog has a reason to be so colorful, it's a warning sign that says 'lookout, I'm poisonous'." Nettie replies ruefully to Franklin as she comes back around the corner to fix a cup of tea.

    Franklin's teacup today is decorated with a vintage pattern of very happy atomic molecules. It's filled with a smokey tea, dark in color with a red tinge. It has a distant smell of stone fruit - cherries, plums, the like.

    "And if you care to expand upon 'the thing you do', that I might hear it from yourself rather than the arcane whispers that I don't listen to anyway. They're terrible, full of bad ideas." she grins, seemingly in a good mood as she switches back to French:

    <THAT entirely depends on the company you were looking to keep tonight. I'm poisonous.>

Franklin Richards has posed:
Franklin chuckles, "Is not the best signal of danger then the same?" he takes the teacup carefully he enjoys the smell for a moment before he continue, "Perhaps it is my warning to others... Danger is near!" and grins again as he jokes lightly. "I can do..... everything." he starts a bit slowly.. "Ask if I could do something, and yes is the answer." he sighs a bit, "I was told not to resurect people even if I really care for them anymore, and well they try to slow it down with a limiter which helps." he stops and lets that sink in a bit as it was usually the best way to say it.

He puts down the cup, and holds his hand with fingers up, as on the end of each floats a small ball fire, ice, a rock out of somewhere. "That is just a small trick as I don't want to do anything to big at the start" and gives them a serious look. To the magic users it would look like he is doing 'something' that is making the Hydrogen, and Oxygen come together to make the water, and then slowing down to make ice. The rock just dust pulled together, though from somewhere, and changed material from a dust into a rocky looking supstanse perhaps transmutation. All of it would be possible, but if one can detect how much magic is being used to do such a simple thing it would be like the cosmic powers moved and made this small thing happen. To Franklin this is normal, honestly with the limitors this is nearly nothing.

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen opens the door of the shop and pauses just a moment to try and stop loose slush off her boots before tracking it into Nettie's place. She quickly slips inside and shuts out the miserable weather before it can seep inside and rob the shop of its warmth.

With a bit of a glower she pulls off a knit billed hat almost soggy from the wet snow and rain mix. Looking around, she hesitates with indecision over where to put such a gross thing so it doesn't make a mess.

Still, she glances around and smiles to Nettie and the others in the shop. "Hello" she offers quietly. Her gaze falls on the hooks near the fire. Visibly relieved at the chance to avoid a soggy mess in the shop, she crosses over to shrug off her coat and hang it on a hook. She sets the wet hat atop it and.. problem solved.

Turning her back to the fire, she stands there a moment because who doesn't like warm buns. Right?

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    <Unfortunate. I have a strong preference for a certain sort of company. The fairer sex. And unless I am suitably pressed or fighting someone like an agent of Hydra, the willing only. But thank you, Nettie. I will survive until one of my friends is more... available.> She's speaking French to Nettie between sips of red velvet hot cocoa, sitting before the fire. The show of Creation itself bending to Franklin's will is observed with continued interest, but in the end she decides that his method of doing 'magic' in some form is more far beyond her own to either consider for helping or being helped by. Still, could be a useful ally.

    But then Patience enters the shop. Ariah's eyes narrow and she purses her lips again, frowning deeply. Her gaze shifts over towards Nettie once more, meeting her eyes for a moment, nose wrinkling slightly. <A worse option than you, I would hazard,> she states to the lovely shop lady, <In terms of poisonous.> Of course, Ariah doesn't know that Patience /probably/ knows French.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    Nettie stops pouring tea entirely.

    She pauses a moment, and she looks at Franklin, and she points at him.

    "Lad, there is not a thing any of us could teach you, you already outstrip what some mages have spent their entire lives trying to do. Aye, most can manage some fire. Or a splash of water. But that?" she motions to his display. "That's more than /I/ can do and I've been at it for more than a century and a half." she states, and she shakes her head "I'm afraid, lad if you can do everything, why come and ask us for our lesser advising?" she questions, and then she looks up. "Ah! Patience!"

    She finishes pouring Franklin his tea, and then takes out another cup for Patience. "Welcome to Tuesday Night Conversations with Nettie. What weighs on your mind, poppets?" she gives a wry smile. Patience's teacup is red and gold and has unseasonable snowflakes on it.

    <Careful, small one, sometimes those who are in the know are also in the know.> she states quietly to Ariah, and she wrinkles her nose.

Franklin Richards has posed:
<I will keep that in mind> Franklin answers also in French and smiles as this was one of the multiple languages his father had tought him growing up. He often did not speak it as it was best not to know, and always made him chuckle when they realize he does. Of course when Patience enters the display ends and Franklin sits back quietly he glances at Patience, but is more interested in hearing her response, as he again picks up his tea to take a drink. He thinks about cutting the tension with a loud slurp, but with a smiles decides again it.

"I think you misunderstand what I am looking for..." he thinks about it for a moment, "There is no filter, it is everything or nothing.." he tries to explain a bit. "I was hoping maybe magic could help." though he nods slowly as he thinks about that. "I understand though, and I am sorry for asking it was a strange request I know." he glances over at Ariah and then back to Nettie. "At least it has brought me to some interesting people." and chuckles again.

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen couldn't help but notice the brief glimpse of magic displayed by Franklin, someone she doesn't recognize. She is curious, but hardly unsettled by the presence of magic in the shop. It _is_ Nettie's place, and the hub for all things Justice League Dark. All manner of odd things happen in here.

As the display of magic ends, the all important buns have warmed enough, the denim jeans having soaked up enough heat that she remains comfy when walking away from the fire to claim her offered cup of tea. She smiles at the colors of the cup. Nettie always seems to know. "Thank you Nettie."

When French is spoken between Nettie, Ariah and Franklin, she looks curious but doesn't say anything about it.

"Things on my mind? Mmm. Nothing pressing, Nettie. I was just sitting at home alone and thought I would come see how you were and enjoy the warmth of the shop. Your fire is always warmer than the one in my place."

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    Ariah exhales a long, quiet sigh after Nettie's warning and after Franklin speaks up. She pulls her cup of cocoa closer to herself and seems to shrink into the blanket she was given, and the chair she's moving to plop down in besides. There's a pointed effort to pull herself as far away from Patience as possible, though, that might be noticeable to all within the room. "Magecraft is not equal for all.." she speaks up, looking to Franklin, voice as soft as ever. "...I could attempt to teach you... If I am not mistaken, it is an... innate ability of yours, non? You draw upon it from within? Or...without? As opposed to..."

    She trails off, glancing around at the orbs and incense and herbs and books around. "..incantations and words of power and objects of focus...?" Then she shrugs, the little vampire in the red dress and comfy blanket staring down into her now empty mug, frowning. "...those are simply my thoughts."

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "It's not about the filter. It's about the power. You, without casting any magic, already do everything we can do. We. Cannot. Teach You. To do. Better. At least /I/ can't." Nettie replies to Franklin. "Maybe Strange or Zatanna, or blast it all Meggan Constantine," she pauses, waiting for a lightning strike or a dramatic door opening, "... but not me." she settles a moment, and she looks to Franklin. "I'm just an old witch who's too stubborn to die." she explains.

    She turns to Ariah. "He was literally born with the ability to manipulate reality, duckie, he's pretty much a wee god." she crosses her arms, her eyebrows rising up.

    "That's because her fire is a captured firespirit. She yells at him in Welsh until he acts up." comments the crow who had been up int he rafters, and then comes down to join Patience, Ariah and Franklin in the shop proper.

    "... or because she muddled with the flue on this one, I wager." he jokes, dips his head into a packet of biscuits and flies off with a shortbread in his beak.

Franklin Richards has posed:
Franklin thinks about Ariah's question. "I think you get my meaning, and to answer inside though what you saw wasn't some ability it was tapping into a power,,," stopping as he has a hard time explaining it. He considers a moment as he listens to Nettie. "Pehaps your right, a god playing as as man." he looks around a bit as he did stay down here more and more though he sighs, "I hope that isn't true from everything I heard about them makes me want to stay here instead." and he gives a nervious chuckle at that.

He looks at Nettie, and nods as he considers what she is saying, "Well still your advice is alright, and the tea is good so I mean what more could you ask for." and gives her a nod before turning back to Ariah, "I think it depends on what magecraft is.. To my best guess you are tapping into some external power.. Something that changes reality, and time itself or you would never be able to fortell things." he shrugs, "It must come from somewhere, and from what is in me I know there are powers that science may not even know exist."

Patience Alperen has posed:
Magic is not a thing that Patience has first hand knowledge of. She has experienced it through observation. Even being the target of it; be that for good or ill. But she is hardly a witch or magicienne. The things she is tend to be viewed as the other end of the spectrum and it seems that is something Ariah has realizes.

As the vampire seeks to put distance between them, Patience watches. "I don't believe I have given you reason to be wary of me." Though they haven't met so there is always first time jitters. She offers a weak smile. "I don't have reason to wish you ill. And less so in Nettie's home. That would be horrible manners." Then she looks to Franklin and back to Ariah, "As Nettie said, I'm Patience."

With another smile, she reaches for her teacup to take a sip. She stays where she is, not interested in seeming aggressive or hostile.

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    The little(st) vampire still keeps her distance. "...your aura makes me uneasy..." she states, admitting flat-out that there is something... amiss. She shakes her head, though, and tries to figure out where to put her now-empty mug. "..but I am Ariah," she greets, then gives a shrug to Nettie. "Tiny god or non, if I can help, I can help. It is that simple to me. If you think too hard, then you will miss the simple solution..." she explains quietly, tugging the blanket around herself a little tighter before extending her arm towards Franklin.

    "...I do not... incant. Or use words. Or paper. Symbols? Sometimes... but it is... I am..." she tries to figure out the best way to explain this, to offer her help to the man. "...it is inside. I take. I store. I make. I use. Raw magic. Non time. Non reality. Non foresight. It is power." She holds her palm out to him, drawing from her internal reserves, the runes etched in her bones lighting up beneath her skin in a glowing white-blue hue. Threads slip from her fingertips and coalesce into a glowing sphere of force. Pure magical energy. Heat, light, and the stuff of the ebb and flow of the world's ley lines.

    "....you nee to learn... focus, oui? Stem the tide. Turn the rainstorm into a shower. The river to a creek. Not put your thumb on the hose while hose is on full blast, but learn to turn the water down lower..." she makes analogies, slowly splitting the larger sphere into five equal parts that sit on her fingertips and thumb, before they start to literally unravel into strands of energy that slip back into her palm. Just light and heat. And soon, nothing.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    Nettie gives a soft 'hrmph'. "Don't go into Gotham without alerting the bat, don't pester the little gods, don't go learning magic from strange and unusual trickster spirits, I'm only a hundred seventy,w hat do I know?" Nettie grumbles, though it appears to be good naturedly.

    "Oi, Ariah, Patience is one of ours, duckie. She'll not hurt another on our side." Nettie points out, and then gives a small smile to Patience. "Worry not, Pat. SHe's an old friend of mine."

Franklin Richards has posed:
Looking over at Patience he nods, "Franklin Richards." and gives her a smile.. "And I wouldn't mind it... I been spending some time in Gotham they are all that way." nodding to her, and Alperen as he assumes her dislike is general. He puts down the tea, and offers a hand if she wants to shake it the Fantastic Four shirt showing under the fantastic four jacket he has on. He looks over at Nettie, "See.. she completly didn't reconise me so it must be working."

He stops thinking about it, but decides to leave it alone for now as not being sure how it worked... messing with it would be even worse. He then stopped as if something just occured to him.. "Wait.. if I am a god do I get followers?" and he grins at that as all his family needed was cult activity that would work out greaaat. Though it did make him chuckle he also took the hand of Ariah his grip only firm enough to make contact as he left the griping tightly to the strong types as he ha done before. He is quiet as he watches her, and he nods. "Fascinating.. Is that life energy?" he only guesses as he had no idea, "And yes in a way that is what I am looking for. We should talk another time, as I do need to consider as do you. Reality does not like being played with, and it often comes to bite people around me."

"I think I understand a bit pehaps seeing the energy will make it easier to know what I am dealing with?" he makes sure his hands are back by him before he puts his thumb, and finger about an inch apart. A dull blue color or light appears as cosmic energy flows between the two. The space around it wobbles as reality is not changing just being shaken a little bit by the energy itself. Closing his hand he turns it off again.. "Thank you for the advice." he says to Nettie, and nods to the others. "But I think it is time for me to depart..Us little gods do need our sleep." and smiles and stands to depart.

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen nods to Ariah. "I am not surprised. But I assure you I have no intention of harming you." She looks to Nettie as it is revealed she is part of the JLd and she nods with a bit of a smile. "I am pleased to meet you Ariah. Perhaps we can speak another time when it isn't unexpected and awkward. It would be good to understand each other I think?"

Looking to Franklin she smiles. "Hello Franklin." Tilting her head at the comment she didn't recognize him, she looks to the shirt. "Oh? You're one of the Fantasic Five? Four?" These teams have so many members these days it's hard to know. "I apologize if I should have. I.. don't tend to follow the myriad of heroic teams and cricles. Really just those with Justice League Dark or some of the mystical sorts in Manhattan." She does shake the hand and offer a proper introduction, "Patience Alperen."

When he excuses himself she smiles. "It was nice to meet you Franklin. Have a good evening."

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    "Everyone handles magicks differently..." Ariah muses softly, starting to peel herself out of that comfy chair. She's likely looking to make some tea now that everyone seems to have slipped away and it's just her and the holy one. Tea is good, too. "Non, we may speak. I am not adverse. Initial shock is over. There is not a stake in my chest," she teases lightly. Though with her tone, it still comes off as cold and close to deadpan. The cocoa-skinned witch is a good foot shorter than Patience, and in her dark red dress, absolutely does not cut any sort of imposing figure.

    "Better to converse while time is available, oui?" she looks over her shoulder, those mismatched eyes in silver and violet meeting the taller woman's brown set.

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen moves to settle into a chair. If only because she feels it will make her seem less aggressive than standing. She nods with a smile. "I am sorry for causing you unease. I do understand why and I don't blame you for it."

She sips at her cup of tea while Ariah makes herself a cup then she offers, "It isn't a birthright I chose. But. It is who I am and I cannot change it. I am comfortable with it now. Better than self loathing I suppose."

Then she smiles, "And I assure you, I won't be attempting to drive a stake into your personage. I.. do not see things holy and evil as things simply black or white. Jesus of Nazareth associated with tax collectors. A career that was the most despised of its time." And not much better these days!

"He accepted others at their level and then showed them there was a better way." She pauses. "As.. the progenitor of my family lineage, I try to follow His example as much as I am able. But, unlike him, I'm not entirely perfect." A weak smile is offered to the vampire.

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    "It is a difficulty for me," the witch starts, her voice thickly accented in French. "Your blood. His blood. To my being they are... a discomfort?" she tries to explain, but once she has her tea, she moves closer. She takes up the other chair, still looking uneasy. "It is as if on a swaying ship. I do not have my footing. In time, if I am used to you, it may be so. But for our first meeting..." she nods, seeming to be satisfied with her words now.

    "I do not anticipate hostilities in either direction, we are on the same side, non? And it is not your fault that I am uncomfortable, for now, in your proximity," she says quietly, fussing with her tea as she gets cozy under the blanket again. "...but it is a cruel trick... I am in the presence of friends here, and yet, not one is 'safe' to... partake of. I will hope to feed come morning..." she muses softly, mostly to herself, as she takes a long sip of the tea she'd chosen.

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen listens and nods. "I understand, at least a little. But I'm not sure what can be done about it. I can't exactly change my blood.." she offers with a shrug of uncertainty. As Ariah says she might learn to adjust to her presence in time, a nod is offered.

"I will have to hope so. But I am sorry that the effort seems to fall upon you to learn to adapt."

Pausing she sips her tea and listens. "Yes. I'm sorry that it is like this. I'll talk to Nettie. Perhaps there is some way to ease the discomfort for you aside from simply forcing you to accept things as they are?" She offers a light shrug.

At the comment of feeding, her features tense for a moment. But then she relaxes and nods. Everyone needs to feed. To eat. To survive. And from that perspective it is really not so different.

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    "We cannot help the way we are. Though eighty years ago, it was my choice to become this. I do not regret it, not once," Ariah says quietly. "But you were born as you are, non? It is on me to adapt. My body will grow accustomed to your aura. It is as if being on a ship for a time. You find the motion soothing rather than disorienting," she says, clearly speaking from experience in that way she's using the analogy.

    But the tension is noted, and she clarifies, "...only on the willing... unless circumstances are... unique..." Another long, slow drink of the tea. "We come from all over. We are many things. But the same goal drives us, non? Dark things, dark deeds, dark places... we all carry a different light."

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen listens. She tilts her head at the admission of choosing to become a vampire. There is more to that story that she would like to hear, clearly. But right now she isn't going to pry. A sad smile is offered. "I think I get it. But I am still sorry that it is on you to learn to adjust. As friends it should be more important to try and meet in the middle. That is what friends do. But.." sometimes it doesn't work that way.

She nods to the clarification of feeding on the willing. "Darkness resides in every soul. It is the curse of Man. From the beginning when Cain killed Abel." To some it is only a cautionary tale no more real than a bed time fable.

For Patience, it is quite real. But not something she attempts to push upon others.

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    "It will be fine. This is. Unique. You are unique. We are," Ariah says quietly, shrugging. She finishes her tea and ptus the empty mug aside. She wraps up in the blanket a little more and curls up in the chair. "...it is comfortable here. And smells nice. Outside is... cold. Wet. Think I will. Remain here. Rest. Home is... a long walk..." she mumbles, closing her mismatched eyes.

    Surely she can tell stories later, but for now, perhaps the lack of 'food' and the cold outside has drained a good portion of Ariah's energy. The fire is cozy, and the location is safe. And perhaps there's enough trust there directed towards Patience that this diminutive woman is fine falling asleep with her nearby.

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen smiles weakly. "We're all unique in this group, agreed. Some certainly more than others:" she admits with a laugh. She leans back in the chair, sipping at her tea. Then she nods and agrees, "Yes. It is unpleasant out there right now. But I should probably be going." Moving to stand as she finishes with her tea, she sets the cup with the others to be washed and moves toward the fire again. She smiles as it seems her knit hat has finally dried and her coat is particularly warm inside. It earns a sigh of delight as she shrugs it on and tugs the billed cap down over her head.

"It was a pleasure to meet you Ariah. I hope to see you again soon when you're feeling a bit better. Have a safe night."