Owner	Pose
Cael Becker	It's later in the evening - and Cael has spent the day at home, with Bear and with Sara, making sure her roommate was doing alright after her ordeal. The end of the world can wait for //just one day//. Well, wait for her, anyways.     She's just back from the cafeteria with some take-out containers full of everything Italian she could find. Risotto alla milanese. Cheese ravioli. Osso buco. Lasagna. She carries it all in a pair of cloth bags, Bear at her heels, wagging his tail happily, and hoping some of the delicious food he smells will be for him.     "Are you hungry, Sara?" she calls out as she starts unloading the containers onto the dining table in the small flat. "Because if you're not - Bear is. But he always is."
Sara Pezzini	Uncharacteristically, Sara had been mostly quiet. If she was talked to, she'd answer and with cheer or a smile, mood matching the questions or answer, but she seemed distant, or that her mind was distant. The one thing that remained a constant was a hand on Bear when he was in range, but she wasn't keeping him with her. Alis had confessed to checking some of her note pads and lap top for answer, which Sara had forgiven her for without pause. Answers weren't to be found there, but she understood why the teenager had looked. When Cael returns, she is sitting on the couch in a pair of jeans and a green turtleneck, her feet encased in a pair of work boots. She had her lap top resting in her lap, this how it got its name, but she wasn't typing. She was just staring blankly at the screen. The second the door open she looked up and a smile returned. "Starving actually," she answers, closing the lap top and setting it on the coffee table. "I think sleeping two days means extra hungry."
Jonathan Sims	Jon's been busy. There was a scouting mission to Thomas Jefferson Park, and two archangels and a Seraph to fight, along with a whole contingency of angels. Fortunately nobody was seriously hurt, but it was a close thing at one point.     There's a knock at the door, and Jon comes in once Cael answers. He looks a little ragged, still in his tac gear, and there's still a smear of dirt on his face. "Hey," he says. "The site's secured, we'll have to defend it tomorrow, but I thought I'd check in...?"
Cael Becker	"Well, you get first pick. I got, umm... Lasagna, and ravioli, and- umm..." Cael frowns at the containers, and then shrugs. "I grabbed Italian," she admits - before she hears the knock at the door. She opens it to find Jon, and greets him with a smile. And one the door slides closed after him - she adds to that a hug, and a brief, tender kiss.     "You're a mess, Jon. Go clean up in the bathroom, then come pick something to eat. I'll get the tea and coffee started," she promises, giving his hand a squeeze before starting for the kitchen.     Bear stays near the table, looking up at the food containers - and then over towards Sara, hopefully - as if he expects her to offer one of them to him.
Sara Pezzini	Sara was just walking to the table when Jon knocked and was greeted by Cael, and holy shit what a greeting. The last thing she had heard regarding the two was how Cael thought she had feelings or something, for Jon. A lot had happened since then of course, but the two of them hadn't talked and so this... well now she knew. Sitting down at the table, she starts looking through the containers until she finds the raviolis and Bear gets one immediately. "There's a pair of sweats in there that should fit you Jon," she offers, deliberately not looking that way for now. "Might be a little short, but comfortable." One of the ravioli it now eaten by her, and Bear gets another one.
Jonathan Sims	Jon returns both hug and kiss, then blinks down at Cael. "I'm... oh, I suppose I didn't think... I came right here after we secured the park." He gives her a sheepish grin and shrugs.     He then comes on in, and waves at Sara, cheeks a little darker than usual. He's still not /quite/ used to just... kissing Cael in front of other people. "Oh, I'm not... it'll be fine, no worries. Just... give me a moment." He disappears into the bathroom, and does a quick conjuring, a globe of water that he sends over his clothing to pick up the excess dirt and flush it down the drain. Then a puff of hot air to dry. Magic is *very* handy, when you put your mind to using it.     He comes back out looking mussed, but at least not smudged any longer. "How are you feeling, Sara?"
Cael Becker	Cael gives a snort of amusement at just how easily Jon was flustered, and gives the man a nudge with her shoulder. "It's //Sara,// Jon," she reminds him with amusement.     Once in the kitchen, she gets the kettle started, and measures coffee grounds into a fresh filter. How water is soon dripping over the grounds, as she pulls out some mugs, half 'n half, and the sugar - and adds their collection of tea bags as well.     Bear, meanwhile, is happily wagging his tail, creeping slowly closer and closer to Sara with each ravioli he's offered, tongue lolling out in a goofy, happy grin.     "I hope you like Italian?" Cael asks simply, as she slips into one of the chairs.
Sara Pezzini	The raviolis seem to be claimed by Sara and Bear, though she might share, Bear won't. Getting a fork now, she moves a few onto a plate, and Bear gets another one. One spoiled dog, but he's not 'on duty' so she doesn't care. "I feel fine," she once again states a half truth. "Physically, I'm great... the rest, I'm working through... any parmesan" she then asks for a subject change. The minute Cael and Jon sit however, the topic changes one more time, a mischievious grin playing on Sara's lips. "So Jon, what are your intention with my Cael?" Is asked in a completely 'over protective big sister way', though it's obvious she joking. It could have been so much worse, Cael knows just how bad... she's seen Wade and Sara together.
Jonathan Sims	"Italian's fine," Jon says softly, as he goes to sit down. He'll offer Bear pets, but ravioli is probably a lot more interesting than Jon, just now.     He peers at Sara for a long moment as he settles himself, and then says, "I... think that's up to her, really. No more and no less than she's willing." He seems genuinely confused by the question, and then adds, "I mean, I'm not... we're not..."     He looks over at Cael. "She's teasing, right? I'm not good with this... Martin didn't really have... anyone."
Cael Becker	"She's messing with us - because we're both awkward as fuck," Cael replies in a dry voice. "Don't be mean to Jon, Sara. Alis is willing to help me enact some really horrific pranks as revenge if I ask."     She opens the three remaining containers for Jon to choose from - either the lasagna, osso buco, or risotto - while she leans back in her chair, adding, "Jon's my boyfriend. Apparently."     Then with a nod she adds, "There should be a little container of shredded parmessan. I mean - it isn't Italian without the right cheese. You know?"     She's silent for a moment before adding, "So. I guess I should tell you both what Raphael said, huh?"
Sara Pezzini	Sara smirks, that Alis road goes both ways... just wait until the next time they're getting heavy and bothered, instant tean ghost in their faces. The smirk turns into a playful smile before she just nods. "I don't get why awkward happens," she offers. "Makes no sense to me at all." And then she shoves another ravioli in her mouth as Cael switches to Rapheal. Chew, swallow, "He spoke to you again?" She asks, almost stating the obvious but she had no idea, Cael doesn't tell her much these days, too busy. "Either way, yes, you probably should."
Jonathan Sims	"I wouldn't /be/ awkward if people wouldn't be... /weird/." Jon huffs and shifts, glowering a little, not seeming to know how to finish the sentence. He flushes a little more when Cael actually says 'boyfriend.' The glower fades and turns into a smile.     "Glad you're finally admitting to it," he murmurs, and takes the risotto container. "Thank you." For the risotto, presumably. Maybe for the other.     "Cael decided that summoning an archangel by yelling 'hey shithead' was a good idea... and evidently it worked." He raises a brow, peering at her.
Cael Becker	"Worked perfectly," Cael says in a bright voice - pushing herself to her feet as she moves back to the kitchen to pour two cups of coffee - and a cup of hot water. She brings all the fixings back with her, as she sets the tray out on the table. Then she claims the lasagna for herself.     "So. ... I let him know how unhappy I was that- well. That he and the other angels don't just stand up for their convictions. Still seems like bullshit to me, but- whatever. What do I know about angels?" She pokes uneasily at her food as she talks, her gaze locked down onto it as she searches for the words to explain what she was offered. "And then he took me to this cave, where there was a pendant, and he said I could... have it. Use it, in the fight against Michael. It'll make me stronger. The drawback, though, is that it can become addictive, and it will compell me to regularly seek out fights."
Sara Pezzini	"You're awkward because you let it be awkward," Sara states with a grin. "I think it's great that you're uh... a couple, a triple... what ever. I'm poly myself, so I get it and you don't need to be all uppity and awkward about it, and if someone /does/ start teasing you, I'll shove my foot up their ass. Be happy, period." With that said, she falls quiet to listen to Cael as she cuts one of the raviolis with her fork and that was the last thing she had to do with it... it went to Bear. Sitting there, staring at the cup of coffee, not bothering to add anything to it, she's just silent. "Leave it," she whispers quietly, finally reaching for the dream. "It's bait, it's giving you what you want at a price too high to pay. You're fine without it Cael," now the sugar, but she's tense, far more tense than she should be. "Trust me, please... please..." now she's almost pleading as she looks up at Cael. "Just leave it."
Jonathan Sims	Jon /looks/ at the hot water. /Looks/ at Cael. Rolls his eyes. She does this deliberately, right? Pouring the water /before/ the tea? He's /shown/ her how to do it right. But there's the hint of a smile around his lips as he takes a tea bag and, with a put-upon sigh, dunks it down into the hot water. He can lecture her about making tea properly later. Sara probably doesn't want to sit through the flirting.     Doesn't /everyone/ flirt by lecturing people about how make tea properly?     "An angel can no more deny its Purpose than you can stop breathing, Cael," Jon says quietly. "They don't have free will like we do, they can't 'stand up for their convictions.' If Raphael were to disobey a direct order from Michael, he might... I don't know, cease to exist? So they're doing what they can, in the ways they can. Jegudiel protected Peggy on the battlefield today, and made it clear she couldn't come to harm because of her baby... which just let her fight harder. Jerahmeel decided to change the terms of my deal with Michael because he thought it was unfair, so now I can attack them. I killed a Seraph." He frowns down at the risotto; he doesn't say that proudly, or gladly. It clearly bothers him.     He shakes himself and looks to Cael. "But, alright, so... Raphael offered a weapon, essentially, but... magic always comes with a price. The price, in this case, being a compulsion to use said weapon, which... makes sense, I suppose. How /much/ of a compulsion matters. Every day is a lot different than once every few weeks."     He looks to Sara for a moment, then back to Cael. "But... that means you have to make a choice, as to whether you're willing to pay that price. And not just the price of the compulsion, but the price of being able to go into battle at all. The danger you put yourself in." By his tone, he figures Cael's willing to pay /that/ price.
Cael Becker	Cael looks between Jon and Sara, and frown pulling at her lips as she tries to gather her thoughts to respond to their questions, and concerns. "From what he said - the compulsion is about once a month. Either it will force me - or if I resist it, the pendant will escape me. The chain will break, and it'll fall down a sewer grate - that sort of thing," she explains. "And apparently I can choose to lay it aside. To take it off and return it to the cave, for example."     Looking towards Sara she adds, "I don't feel strong enough. I don't feel like enough, not for this fight. Not for day after day of fighting forces of this power - if I go out and do that again and again without something to protect me... Sooner or later it'll kill me, and in the meantime, I'll accomplish less. There's nothing more important than this fight. //Nothing// - and I want to be a part of it."     She lets out a heavy sigh before she adds, "But I don't want to become someone who turns to violence as my only solution. I want to use it until Michael is defeated... and then put it back."
Sara Pezzini	Sara's blue eyes shift back to the coffee cup, the liquid inside, the way it moved against the edges of the glass. "You always think you can control it," she whispers. "That you've got the control over it, the voice constantly whispering in your head and you only listen to the parts that you think apply. But the constant desire for violence, for justice, for balance." Shaking her head, she looks up, "Once a month, every day, doesn't matter Cael, it weighs on you. It eats at you, and then... it changes everything in a heart beat and you find yourself having to live with... it." She shrugs then, shaking her head one more time. "If you think it will help you be stronger than you already are, if you think it will be something to change yourself into something you aren't but want to be, then do it. I'll help if that's what you want, but you won't like it, it won't change anything. It's an illusion of power."
Jonathan Sims	Jon shakes his head. "No, Sara... she's right. Come mid-February, normal people like Cael aren't going to be able to affect anything but the lowest tiers of angels. At all. And maybe other people could walk away from that, but she's been struggling with..."     He sighs, and runs a hand through his hair. "Even once we rid Manhattan of the angels... I'll still be fighting this war. And so will you, I presume. The battlefront may change, and the ultimate solution may not be fighting, but... she wants to be out there, with us. But this doesn't /change/ her. It gives her a weapon she should already have had."     His voice is suddenly hard. "Cael is the one who destroyed Michael the first time, do you know that? Using bullets filled with bale water that I got from Lucifer. Her idea. And she paid the price for that already. She knows more than /any/ of us what Michael is going to do to the world, and she's /already/ been fighting and struggling when she hasn't had the weapons to do so, or has to borrow them. I don't see this as anything but Raphael offering to make outwardly manifest what's already inside her--bravery like the Archive has rarely seen in the world." He looks over at Cael. "And... if you want to put it back... I'll help you make sure you do so, when we're done."     He frowns for a moment, and then his voice softens. "Sara... is something wrong, with Witchblade? Because you're... fairly clearly projecting. Have... have you... talked to anyone?"
Cael Becker	"That's what I want," Cael confirms without hesitation. "And it has to be possible - I have to be able to set it aside, because the angels can't lie. Right?" She looks to Jon for confirmation, before adding, "And I have both of you. You know me now - and Alis too - what I'm like. Who I am. If this thing starts changing me, starts making me something or something I wouldn't like... you can see it. You can tell me to put the thing back - but this fight is more important than any of us. Then //all// of us - and I can't sit it out. For so many reasons."     She glances between Jon and Sara before adding quietly, "If it's something you'd rather talk about one on one, Sara..."
Sara Pezzini	The coffee gets set back on the table, untouched, interest in it lost as much as in the food. "I'm not projecting, I'm warning," she states, looking up at the both of them. "Everything has a price, some times you get to know what that price is, sometimes you're lied to about what the price is, and sometimes you don't to know at all. I've seen magical items, hundreds of them, used for good and bad, he's destroyed some of them because they were as dark as Chthlon. All I'm trying to say is don't let yourself feel powerless and seek power, that's the worst kind of craving and it what got Chas where he is now." Anything about Witchblade is left hanging there as she finally takes a sip of the coffee, then finally she adds, "He's fine. This isn't about me, it's about Cael and a necklace. If it's what you want Cael, then we'll go get it."
Jonathan Sims	Jon's jaw clenches. "Don't you /dare/ bring Chas into this," he growls. "He was trying to protect his /daughters/. He made a mistake, and he's paying for it. At least Cael's going in with her eyes open, and asking for help."     He stops. Takes a deep breath in, and then another out. "Angels cannot lie. Whatever Raphael said, that's the price--at least the price beyond the /normal/ cost to pick up a weapon, and use it. Fighting, battle, it brings its own costs, its own trauma. Always. Picking up a gun or picking up magic, it's all the same. It's violence, and there's /always/ a cost to that. The difference is that soon, the gun can't hurt the angels."     He sighs, and looks to Cael. "I'll help you if you want," he says quietly. "However you need. Or not, if you don't. It's up to you."
Cael Becker	Cael also stiffens at the mention of Chas - at being compared to that man. Her jaw tightens, and it's a moment before she can reply. "Chas kept what he was doing secret. He didn't ask for help. He didn't have anyone watching his back. I'm not the same as that man," she says cooly.     Looking to Jon she adds, "I already said what I need. I need my friends to keep an eye on me. I need the people who care about me to make sure that I'm still //me//. I need them to be honest, and to tell me if they think it's changing me in a way I woulldn't like." She takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly before she adds, "And I need someone to come with me. Apparently there's some sort of trial, or test - Raphael was vague - and I can bring someone with me."
Sara Pezzini	Sara nods, finishing turning things around in her mind then looks to Cael. "I'll go with you," she finally says. "If Rapheal can't lie, then the price is the truth, and that's my primary concern. We can deal with that price together when it comes, knowing what it is, and figure out from there how to deal with the trauma. I've never let you down Cael, I'm not going to do so now." She glances to Jon for a moment, like she might add something but then lets out a breath slowly to say, "You don't have a lot of time, no one does really right now. I'm not heaping on to that, I'll just write in my journal, then burn it."
Jonathan Sims	Jon sighs. "I bloody well have time," he snaps. Then takes another breath and /very/ deliberately counts backwards from ten, mentally.     Then, softer, "I have time. To go with you on this journey, Cael. To talk to you, Sara, if you need an ear. The entire reason this /started/ is that nobody had /time/ to help a friend in need. What's the point of saving the world if we're not helping each other? So, I'm here for both of you, however you need."     He looks to Cael. "At the very least..." He hesitates, and flushes. Clears his throat. "I... know your mind. I'll me able to tell if it's influencing you. I promise, okay? I've got your back."
Cael Becker	Looking between Jon and Sara, Cael remarks in a dry voice, "I can only bring one." Then more seriously she adds, "Sara - if you don't agree with this deicions, you don't have to come. I don't want you to feel complicit in something you object to." With a tight smile she adds, "And you can always talk to me about whatevers on your mind. I can't and won't //make// you. But the offers there - and you really should take //someone// up on the offer. It helps to talk to someone, it really does."     Her hand snakes out to capture one of Jon's - giving it a squeeze as she adds, "Thank you, Jon. I knew you would."
Sara Pezzini	Sara shakes her head, "Cael, you of all people know I don't make decisions lightly. I'm not complicit, I mean what I said. Choose whom you want, I'll help keep an eye on you afterwards if that's what you want." She picks up another ravioli on the fork, looking at it, before she forces herself to eat it. She may have lost her apatite, but she's not stupid, she knows she needs to eat, so she'll make herself eat. "There's a time and place," she finally says. "And me, one person, doesn't matter when we're talking about the multitude out there that need us to be... stronger and protect them. If you have time, fine... but don't say that just because you think I want to hear it. I've got the stones to hold it together if I need to, but thank you, both... for being willing."
Jonathan Sims	"One person /does/ matter. We /all/ matter. You're my /friend/, and that's what friends do. Help each other." Jon sighs. Peers at her for a moment, then says, "Sara... I'm willing to listen. /Whatever/ it is, I'm willing to listen. Okay? I mean it. Whenever you're ready."     Then he squeezes Cael's hand. "Let's eat, yeah? And we can see who's feeling up to going with you on Monday. I've got to get through this bloody seal tomorrow first, and then we'll talk?"