Owner Pose
Cael Becker     It's quiet and cool in the Midnight Mission - with the faint scent of incense wafting through the halls. The dormitories - where Cael is currently living - are set into the building's basement, with simple numbers hung on each door to differentiate them from each other. Cael has been housed in dormitory number one, at the left hand end of the hall. A knock on the door results in a call of, "It's unlocked!"
    There's a good reason for that. The wards Jon had built into the walls of the rooms Cael is staying in are marked with the eye of Horus in several places, including the inside of the dorm's door. They projected a barrier into the room that Cael was incapable of passing - meaning that she cannot touch the door, or the walls.
    Two more small changes have been made since Cael has moved in - and addition of a punching bag, and a treadmill, giving her something to do to work off her restless energy and help her feel a little less trapped. At the moment, she was running on the treadmill with some hispanic rap music playing in the background, her strides matching the rhythm of the song. "Oh. Robbie - hey," she says casually, reaching out to turn off the treadmill, which slows her pace to a walk, before it stops.
Robbie Reyes There is, indeed, a knock on the door. And then a distinct pause, like Robbie's trying to process what he's hearing. Is that Bad Bunny? He bops his head along to it, mouthing the lyrics as he slips inside, "Lo que no saben es que no te dejas llevar de cualquiera. Y todos te quieren probar. Lo que no saben es que hoy yo te voy a buscar-- hey, chica."

He swaps back to English seamlessly, shutting the door and wandering closer to Cael on her treadmill. "You don't feel like a hamster on that thing?" His tone is casual, but it's clear he's studying her intently. And so is Eli, for any sign of.. well, taint.
Cael Becker     "I absolutely do," Cael replies, mopping her face with her towel, and reaching for a water bottle - which she takes a swig from. For all intents and purposes, the person in front of Robbie is... Cael. Seemingly unchanged, with no more evil about her than she'd had days, weeks, or even months prior. "But I'm not comfortable going out until we're certain we know how this... works. What if there are other things that can trigger me to change, and lose control, and I'm like... out front of an elementary school?" She stares down at the floor as she asks this, a frown on her features. "Everyone seems to think I'm being ridiculous, but- I couldn't live with something like that, so... I dunno. Better safe than sorry. Better locked up for a bit until we //know// what we're dealing with."
    She lifts her head to give Robbie a small, tense smile before she adds, "I, uhh... I prefer you leave the door open by the way. The wards'll keep me in, but it's better if you have an unimpeded way out, yeah?
    "You want me to get you anything? Coffee, tea, beer? Agnes left some snickerdoodles."
Robbie Reyes Robbie takes a seat on the couch, after a moment spent taking in the decor. It's.. pleasant in here, inasmuch as it must feel like a jail cell at the moment to Cael. He sinks down with a crackle and crunch of leather, elbows braced on his spread knees, mismatched eyes on the woman who is not simply a woman, any longer.

"I don't think you're being ridiculous," he offers, low-voiced. "For what it's worth." He flicks his eyes to the door, then back to Cael. "I don't think you need to worry about doin' any damage to me that I can't handle. Unless you got some fuckin' angel sword hiding in here I don't know about." He ventures a small smile. "Uh, coffee's great."
Cael Becker     "Nice to have someone finally agree with me," Cael mutters under her breath. "I... attacked Jon's daughter. And everyone acts like... it's fine. Like that wasn't me. Like it's not big deal - it's not the full moon. I'm //harmless.//" She lets out a huff of air that's almost a laugh, though there's more pain in it than humor.
    After another draught from her bottle of water, she heads towards the kitchen to turn on the coffee machine, and get down some coffee mugs. Jon's even brought over her 'No (image of a fox) to give' coffee mug. The other mug has the Avengers logo on it. "You don't need to worry about angel stuff. I wouldn't fucking take their shit."
Robbie Reyes He furrows his brows slightly when she says she attacked Agnes, and watches her head into the kitchen. A moment later, he's on his feet and approaching at that slow, almost predatory prowl he tends to favour.

"So you really are some kind of.. werewolf, huh? I, uh. I could talk to Rien. See if she has any ideas about fixing it. If you-- if you want it to be fixed, I mean." He takes a lean against the counter nearby, still watching Cael carefully as she prepares the coffee.
Cael Becker     "Of course I want to be fixed!" Cael answers immediately, and emphatically, her hands tightening on the edge of the counter. "I attacked Agnes! I turn into a //monster.// I have no control no memory, it's- it's like I stop being me. Who would //want// that?" she asks. She shakes her head in frustration, and has to take a deep breath to calm herself, before she turns to the fridge to retrieve the milk. "I can't even trust myself to have //Bear// around me. I- hurt him. He was protecting Agnes, and I-"
    After sigh she adds, "Don't have any cream, just milk. Sorry."
Robbie Reyes The younger man's gone rather silent as Cael continues talking. Lower lip caught between his teeth, he watches her hands curl into fists, and then the shift to get the milk from the fridge. All with that guardedness that could be mistaken for impassivity.

"I think I might have some idea where you're coming from," he offers, very quietly, when she's done. He dares, then, to touch her hand before withdrawing to his lean against the counter. "Milk's fine."
Cael Becker     There's a faint flinch in response to the touch, but she doesn't pull away completely, as she turns to study the man with a wary look on her features.
    "What's it like?" she asks. "When you go all... flaming? Do you remember what happens? Do you have any control? Because... I don't. I don't remember any of it, and I can't have had any control, or- ...I wouldn't have gone for Agnes, or for Bear. All I can remember is- I saw my fingers were changing. Longer, with claws, and starting to grow fur and I- shouted at Agnes. I yelled at her to get out. Apparently she... didn't listen, or didn't hear me or- I don't. Maybe she just didn't have enough time."
Robbie Reyes Okay, flinch noted. Cael is not a toucher. Fortunately, neither is Robbie. He looks briefly apologetic at the missed signal.

"Huh? Oh, uh.." He lifts a broad shoulder. "Sometimes. Sometimes I remember, sometimes I-- black out, and the Rider's just usin' me like a meat puppet." His lip curls in self-disgust. "It takes time. To learn to stay in control, just a little bit. I'm getting better at it." He lifts his head to watch her again. "I'm sorry this happened to you. I know you must be kickin' yourself for it, feeling guilty. But they're right that it wasn't you. You gotta remember that."
Cael Becker     "Well. ...everyone was alright this time. Will they still be saying that when I kill someone? What if I'd killed Agnes? Would they feel the same way?" Cael asks, shaking her head. "I mean. I don't intend to let it ever come to that. Now that we //do// know - if anyone dies... It's my fault."
    As the coffee finishes brewing, she pours it into the two mugs - adding only whiskey to her, and gesturing for Robbie to add milk, sugar, or whiskey as he likes.
    "What about you? Would you get rid of the Rider if you could? Is it possible?"
Robbie Reyes He shakes his head, and shifts slightly to grab the handle of his coffee cup and drag it closer. Milk and plenty of sugar seem to be his style. No whiskey. But then, if Cael's been paying attention, he never really drinks anything harder than beer.

"You're looking at it all wrong," he murmurs, leaning back and taking a sip. "It ain't *you*. Besides." He makes a little moue with his mouth. "You got all of us here to make sure that don't happen."

Then the question, which makes him frown slightly. "If it meant I could still be here to take care of Gabe. Then yeah, I would. No question."
Cael Becker     "Look - even if it ain't me - it's my responsibility. If I leave my gun lying around, and some kid picks it up and accidentally kills someone, is it the kid's fault? No. It's fucking //my fault,//" Cael declares with conviction. "So if this... thing gets loose, now that I know about it, and kills... Unless someone's removed my choices, and my protections, and set me off //deliberately//? Then yeah. I'm responsible for whatever happens. That's just... the way it is. I mean... I appreciate the help keeping this shit under control, but- ultimately. It's up to me."
    After a sip of her coffee, she regards Robbie and asks, "You think if we took the Rider out - you wouldn't be here? You'd- what? Die?"
Robbie Reyes He snorts softly at that, and sips his coffee. "Nice try, but you're still gettin' it wrong. Sure, if you leave a loaded gun lyin' around and a little kid finds it, and picks it up.." He lifts his free hand slowly, thumb 'cocked' and forefingers aimed a couple of inches from Cael's head. "And shoots someone. It's your fault. Cause you're an adult, and they're a kid."

He lowers his hand, sips again at his coffee. "You gotta think about this differently. We ain't the adult in charge, in your, uh, analogy." One corner of his mouth curves into a wry smile. "You and me, we're the gun."
Cael Becker     "I'm not an object. I think - I have choice. I have control," Cael insists. "Look - if someone- I don't know, kidnaps me, locks me in a cage, and drops me in the middle of rock concert on the full moon - then yeah. I'm the gun. But if I don't take the precautions needed to keep people safe? And //that's// why people get killed? Then it's my fault. That's the difference." She gestures around the apartment where she's trapped herself and adds, "It's not like I've lacked time to think about this. Though... I know you've been living with it longer."
    Picking up a tupperware filled with cookies, she leaves the little kitchenette - heading back to the couch, and taking a seat, leaving the cookies on a coffee table where they're easy to reach. "Anyways. Jon swore he'd find some sort of solution so- hopefully all of this is just... temporary."
Robbie Reyes "That's.. sort of what I've been tryin' to say," Robbie explains, rifling his fingers through curls that are getting slightly long. "The goal is to stay in control. Ain't easy, though." He slides her a long look. Then ambles on over to reclaim his seat at the couch, and reach for a cookie.

"Yeah? Knowing how much he cares about you, I figure he won't stop at nothing to help. Maybe I'll talk to him about it. See if he needs a hand." From a punk kid soul-bound to a sadistic rage demon? Uh huh, not likely.
Cael Becker     "Well - if you have ideas," Cael replies - giving a shrug of her shoulders. "Jon and Lydia seem to have some sort of notion for- uhh... an amulet? They think they can use some sort of runes to make something that'll help me keep control when it... happens." She frowns at the thought, then sips her coffee before adding, "Of course, that idea only works if I'm wearing the amulet. If someone takes it off me..." Then all bets are off.
    "But we could maybe tattoo the runes on me instead and- well. Wouldn't that be fun? Not a body mod I was planning on, but..." Might be worth it.
Robbie Reyes "I bet they can do all kinds of magical shit to, uh, ward it so nobody can touch it," Robbie suggests, somewhat falteringly. 'Magical shit' is clearly not his forte.

He finishes off the cookie, then washes it down with a swig of coffee. "Not a fan of ink?" He clearly is, as she may be able to tell from the Roman numerals decorating his knuckles. And who knows what else under his clothes.
Cael Becker     "That's not the problem," Cael replies with some amusement. Her fingers trace a line of flames across the back of her hand - a tattoo that's present on both of her hands - and a third tattoo of a broken wrench is clearly evident on her neck. "I just... My tattoos have meaning to me. They're there for a reason, because of something that happened to me. I guess... this would qualify as all that, it just feels like having less choice in the matter, somehow. But... yeah. Maybe we tattoo it on. We'll see." She stares at her hand for a moment, then nibbles at one of the cookies, and follows it up with a sip of coffee.
    "Tell me about one of your tattoos?" she suggests.
Robbie Reyes "Yeah, that makes sense," Robbie concedes in a thoughtful murmur. His coffee's finished off and the empty mug set aside, and he reaches over to snag another cookie. "Maybe Jon'll come up with something else. I'll ask Rien, too." He meets her gaze for a moment, offers a faint smile.

The question, though, seems to catch him off-guard. It's a minute before he extends his hand out, fingers splayed so he can show her his most obvious piece. There are symbols decorating the first knuckles in addition, and a rather intricate gear spanning the back of his hand. He explains, though, of the Roman numerals inked one to each finger, "MMXIV. 2014, the year my parents died."
Cael Becker     Cael looks at the tattoo, then back up to Robbie to meet his gaze. "That's the year Alis died," she informs him, then touching the wrench at her neck she adds, "This one is for... when I lost her, for the second time. It's where I got shot, and the way it was healed - it didn't leave any scar, or mark. And something like that should leave a mark."
    She takes a deep breath in, and lets it out slowly, looking away as she fixes her gaze on the wall across from them instead. "I'm sorry for your loss. My mom died in 2008." She takes another nibble of her cookie, then after a sip of coffee adds, "Should I let Agnes know you enjoyed the cookies?"
Robbie Reyes "I'm sorry," Robbie offers quietly, watching her face rather than the tattoo she's absently touching. He knows well enough what it looks like, by now. "Know how important she was to you." He doesn't ask how her mother died, and nor does he offer any details on his own parents' deaths.

"Could you? They're great." As he snags another one, and pushes to his feet. "I should.. get outta your hair, though. You need anything, you got my number, huh?"
Cael Becker     "Yeah. We've, uhh... Been playing video games together. On the computer - remotely - so we can still talk and- anyways. It just feels safer, you know? So yeah. I'll tell her."
    She climbs to her feet, offering a small smile as she adds, "Anyways - thanks for coming. Uhh - be sure to close the door as you go, yeah?"
Robbie Reyes "You got it." He hesitates a moment like he might say something else, but then simply crams the cookie between his teeth, lifts his hand in a lazy wave, and heads out. The door is shut, as she requested, and the slight scent of ash and brimstone lingers a little while after he's gone.