Xu: ((How long have they been gone?))

Karlos: ((Up to Albany and back))

Xu: (Was it in her post office box?)0

Xu: (color)

Xu: (color)

Genevieve: ((Nope. *G*))

Karlos: ((Either that question means "did they travel by TARDIS", or "Was the cup located in a PO box". The answer to both is "no".))

Karlos: As the car pulls up to the duplex he hops out, thanking the driver, then offers Gennie his hand.

Genevieve: She takes Karlos's hand with a faint smile and steps out of the car, looking around, the goblet still cradled in her arm.

Genevieve: She takes Karlos's hand with a faint smile and steps out of the car, looking around, the goblet still cradled in her arm.

Xu: ((Well, at least it was in Albany, like I suspected. *G*)) So, when they return, Xu is asleep in the attic, in the ritual circle left by Stoney, hair wet from the shower. He holds a dictionary against his torso like a teddy bear. He is likely either just about to enter his night terrors or has just finished with them.

Karlos: He hurries Gennie toward Stoney's house, shielding Gennie with his body. She's carrying that cup too openly for his liking. He unlocks the door and ushers her inside, locking it afterwards. "Upstairs," he murmurs.

Genevieve: She nods, moving through the house, heading up into the attic.

Karlos: He moves with her, but places a hand in front of her before she gets too close to Xu, moving in himself and gently resting a hand on his shoulder. "Xu."

Xu: (odd he's already had the terrors, even he's just going into them? Sound good? Or do you guys have a preference?)

Karlos: ((No preference *G*))

Xu: 4,

Genevieve: She's smart enough not to get too close to Xu. She knows how capable the man is. She merely watches for now.

Xu: As Karlos touches him he starts screaming. His eyes shoot open, but he doesn't appear to see them.

Xu: He screams for about five to ten minutes, his hands making weak clawing motions.

Karlos: He rubs Xu's shoulder gently. "It's all right. You're safe. It's okay." He continues to reassure the man for the ten or so minutes that he's screaming.

Genevieve: She jumps at the scream, but makes no other reaction, beyond to clutch the goblet in her hand.

Xu: When it's over, his eyelids flutter for a few moments and something...shifts in his face, the guarded mask falling away to reveal a strangely innocent malevolence. He stares at Karlos for a moment, then looks at Gen, and sits up slowly, still clutching the book.

Karlos: "Trevor," he says gently.

Genevieve: She stands there, back aways, a spectator for now.

Xu: "Moe," he says, regarding Gen intently. He clutches the book more tightly. (pronounced 'moo')

Karlos: "No, this is Gennie. She's not your mother, Trevor, I promise you." He gazes intently at the man.

Xu: He stares at Gen some more and his shoulders slump, the malvolence in his face fading to a heartbreaking look of disappointment and despair. He nods and glances away.

Genevieve: She frowns a little in confusion, looking between the two as she cradles the Cup, almost a little protectively.

Karlos: He rubs Trevor's arm soothingly. "I love you."

Xu: He sighs and lays back on his side, curling himself around the book, clutching it tightly. "Yeh zouldn't say dings yeh don't mean."

Karlos: "I do mean that I love you. No matter what Va has said." He bows his head a little.

Xu: He doesn't say anything to that, just stares at the wall miserably.

Karlos: "You don't have to believe me," he says quietly. "I'm sorry that I've let you down, but it doesn't mean I don't love you. It just means that I'm no superman. I'm not flawless. I'm just a man, Trevor."

Genevieve: She has NO idea what to do, so she just remains standing where she is, shifting a little uncomfortable.

Xu: "Who is de woman?"

Karlos: "Her name is Gennie. She's a friend."

Xu: "Dun know haar."

Genevieve: She smiles a little to Xu, giving a tiny wave. "Hi."

Karlos: "No, but your Va does. Maybe you should let him know she's here."

Xu: He scowls. "An I make hem awake, hay'll lug meh up again."

Karlos: He shrugs softly. "I just didn't want you to get hurt when he realises you didn't tell him."

Xu: This seems to wound him and he winces, gaze going far away, eyes filling up with tears. His lip quivers, but he does an admirable job of keeping the rest of his face hard. "'tis m'n birdday, also," he says, with the slightest edge of defiance. "But 'tis only hem gets de whores."

Karlos: "Gennie isn't a whore, Trevor." He strokes the man's shoulder again. "But I got you something, just for you." He reaches into his pocket and withdraws a small box of crayons, not wrapped in anything, offering them to him with a gentle smile.

Xu: He stares at the crayons, and then sighs. "Fine." He takes the crayons and hides them behind the dictionary against his chest, then resignedly closes his eyes, pulling his head down between hunched shoulders, resting his forehead on the edge of the book as he hides his face. His knees pull up into a tight fetal position.

Karlos: He sits beside him, rubbing his shoulder soothingly.

Karlos: 3,6,10,

Karlos: Waking Caradoc to soothe Trevor as best as he can.

Genevieve: She looks completely lost, and she takes a seat on the foor as well. Just standing there, towering over them, makes her feel wierd.

Xu: He seems to fall into a deep sleep, from which Karlos' rubbing only rouses him in stages. He groans, his eyes fluttering open, and it takes him a few moments to realize where he is and what's happening. When he does, he rolls up to his feet, alarmed at seeing Gennie there. "Fuck, Karlos," he backs away from Gennie until he bumps his head on a roof beam.

Karlos: "You've been hurting Trevor," he says coldly.

Xu: "Oww!" He holds the back of his head, dropping the book and crayons at his feet. "Fuck."

Xu: 6,5,6,4,1,4,8,

Xu: He doesn't respond to Karlos, his gaze fixing on the Cup in Gennie's hand. He freezes, jaw dropping slightly.

Karlos: He rises to his feet, dusting himself off, turning away and heading to the steps.

Xu: 8,8,10,4,8,5,2,3,

Genevieve: She smiles a little to Xu, and looks at the cup for a moment, before holding it out toward the man.

Xu: After his initial shock his entire demeanor shifts to that focused, in control, business like Xu Gennie knows so well. He nods to her, gaze following Karlos as he heads to the steps. "You brought it."

Xu: He hesitates for a moment before taking it.

Karlos: "Gennie brought it," he says quietly. "I'll go get some water." Then he heads off down the stairs.

Xu: His other hand is still rubbing the back of his head.

Xu: "What about Peter?" he asks Gennie.

Genevieve: She hands it over to him, hands holding it for just a moment longer then necessary before pulling away. "Use it, Xu. I...can't. It's not fair for me to do so, and it's not right. So go ahead."

Xu: His jaw pulses, and he stares at the hole in the floor where the stairs descend. "He told you."

Karlos: He slips into the kitchen and washes out a small bottle, cleaning it thoroughly.

Genevieve: "Peter's gone." She looks at the floor, sighing a little as pain comes to her face. "I can't bring him back at the cost of everything else." Her gaze moves back to the stairs, and she smiles a little, through her own pain. "But I'll see him again. That's enough."

Xu: He sighs. "Have you ever heard the legend of Lady White Snake?"

Genevieve: She frowns and looks at Xu. "No, he didn't tell me anything, beyond the fact that you needed it. I've...kind of figured a few things out."

Karlos: He waves the bottle and the lid through the air, drying them out.

Karlos: Then he caps the bottle, slips it into his coat pocket, and heads to the door. He slips outside and closes it quietly behind him.

Xu: He nods to her and draws in a deep breath, exhaling and glancing around. "Does the papyrus say whether the cup will be drained if I use it? Or if someone else uses it to cure the Curse of Typhon?"

Genevieve: "No, I haven't."

Genevieve: "It...doesn't say anything about that. Entirely different ritual. Based off my research, I don't think it will, though."

Xu: He sighs and rubs his face, wiping the sleep out of his eyes. He seems somewhat groggy still. He looks at the cup in his heand and nods to her. "Thank you."

Genevieve: "You're welcome. I hope it can help you...I'm sorry I didn't give it to you sooner."

Xu: "If you...truly love Peter...there may still be a way..."

Xu: "Would you...uhm...I should get dressed. Would you care for some tea?"

Genevieve: She looks at him a long moment, struggling with that, and then shakes her head. "I'll see him again, Xu. Just not now." She nods. "It gives me something to wait for, after this life, instead of dragging him back to this one. He was becoming a good man, and now, he has a chance to start all over with a clean slate."

Karlos: He unlocks the door and slams it shut behind him, running up the stairs two at a time.

Genevieve: "Yeah, tea would be nice." She seems to have just really realized that he's naked, and she looks down with a blush. "I'll...go down and wait."

Karlos: He scrambles up the stairs to the attic, his cheeks puffed out, lips pursed tight.

Genevieve: She starts to move toward the stairs, and stops as Karlos runs up them.

Karlos: He nods to Gennie, then looks to Xu, pointing to the cup then holding his hand out for it.

Xu: His gaze moves over to Karlos as he enters.

Xu: He holds the goblet out.

Karlos: He turns his left palm into a cup shape, taking the hem of his t-shirt in his right and motioning like he's wiping the cup of his left hand clean.

Genevieve: She watches with some interest.

Xu -> Genevieve: (is there anything more to the ritual other than to put pure water into the Goblet? Any words or anything?))

Karlos: He looks frustrated, waiting for Xu to clean all the dust out of the cup.

Genevieve -> Xu: ((Nope.))

Karlos: He takes the goblet and wipes it out himself, with his own t-shirt, then spits water into it.

Xu: He's buck naked, and not about to use Karlos' shirt to clean out the cup. He moves past them both, heading down the stairs and into the master bedroom, rinsing the cup out in the sink, and whispering something over it in Ancient Scots Gaelic.

Xu: ((DLP))

Karlos: He offers the cup back to Xu. "I took a bottle, but Mera insisted."

Xu: His jaw sets as Karlos spits water into the goblet, his gaze narrowing slightly in suspicion.

Genevieve: Whoa. That's one way to transport water. She raises an eyebrow, observing.

Genevieve: Whoa. That's one way to transport water. She raises an eyebrow, observing.

Xu: He takes the cup back and draws in a deep breath, exhaling slowly. (Spending GN, rolling for Call Spirits)

Xu: 4,9,2,3,8,

Karlos: "I'm not carrying any vitae that way." He turns and heads down the steps again.

Xu: ~SS~ "Hebeny, if you helped bring things to this, then I thank you."

Xu: "Where are you going?" he asks Karlos

Karlos: "Downstairs."

Genevieve: ~SS~ "I am glad to help, One-Who-Watches. You helped me in a great way, and I am happy to return the favor."

Genevieve: ((Obviously, that can from Hebeny, NOT Gennie. *G*)) She stays, unless Xu wants her to leave. She wants to see the item she worked so hard to protect do some good.

Xu: He sighs, and glances to Gennie, then regards the backwash in the cup dubiously. Be just his luck to have Karlos' spit bind him some strange way. But the man did bring him the cup so he supposes it's an even trade. He brings the cup to his lips and takes a deep draught.

Karlos: He moves down to the lounge and takes his usual seat, waiting in silence.

Genevieve: ((Per+Awareness is appropriate here. *S*))

Karlos: 7,9,8,7,

Xu: 8,4,2,10,8,

Genevieve -> Xu: As the liquid enters his system, Xu feels it move through like a cleansing agent, painlessly seeking out ane eliminating all the vampiric vitae in his system. It also cleanses all the taint associated with it, even Permanent, as it moves along Xu can feel Isis's hand at work, gently sweeping it out and leaving a deeply calming sensation behind in it's wake.

Genevieve: 2,9,9,7,2,7,

Genevieve: All three feel the influence of Isis spread through the room, activated deep inside the cup and flowing into Xu, cleansing him. It's a mystical, deeply calming sensation.

Karlos: He simply draws his legs up on the couch at the sensation from upstairs, and closes his eyes.

Xu: Much of the tension in him seems to flow out as gentle touch of Isis moves through him. He draws in a deep breath, the strain lifting from him, tears coming to his eyes at the sensation.

Xu: There is, however, a slight thread of grief in him, too, as if the release from the vitae has taken something precious with it, as well.

Genevieve: She gently smiles at his reaction, relaxing a lot herself, as if the look on the man's face has reaffirmed that she made the right choice.

Genevieve: Although the grief confuses her a little.

Xu: ~SS~ "Thank you, Lady of Life, maker of the sunrise, bringer of green crops, Lady of Love." His lips twist in a half smile and he opens his eyes to regard Gennie. "Thank you."

Genevieve: She nods, a soft smile to Xu. "You're welcome. I'm glad I could help."

Xu: He nods again, then looks at his hand as if trying to figure out what to do with the cup. He heads toward the stairs. "We should go downstairs. I'll...get dressed and make you that tea."

Genevieve: "All right." She stands up and heads for the stairs. She makes no motion to take the Cup, beyond a quick, fond look at it.

Xu: He heads into the master bedroom afater she's down the stairs and he's folded them up against the ceiling.

Xu: He shows up downstairs about 5 minutes later, wearing some clothes but without the cup. He moves into the kitchen to put the kettle on, glancing at Karlos on the sofa, looking somewhat bewildered at him as he passes through the living room on the way to the kitchen

Genevieve: She heads into the lounge, smiling to Karlos and nodding as she takes a seat on the couch.

Karlos: He simply remains, lotus position, eyes closed.

Karlos: But opens them slowly as he feels someone sit beside him.

Genevieve: "Hi." She relaxes into the couch, head tilting back a little, half-shutting her eyes.

Xu: "Are either of you hungry?" he asks

Karlos: "Starving," he admits quietly.

Xu: He nods and starts fixing some breakfast. Scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, that kind of thing.

Genevieve: "Yeah, starving is a good way to put it. Long trip."

Karlos: He offers Gennie his hand, glancing to her.

Genevieve: She smiles a bit to Karlos and takes the offered hand.

Karlos: He squeezes tenderly, giving her a reassuring, grateful smile. "Thank you," he murmurs softly.

Xu: He pauses to pour the kettle water into the teapot and let it steep, then finishes cooking and brings the food out on plates to the table, followed by the teapot, mugs, and flatware

Genevieve: She just gives a little nod to Karlos.

Karlos: He looks up at Xu, slowly unfurling his legs. "Did it work?" Might as well get it out.

Xu: He nods to Karlos, his own expression a bit pensive, as if he's not sure if he's dreaming or not. "It did. Didn't you feel it?"

Karlos: He nods. "Yes. I just wanted to be sure."

Xu: He nods, looking at Karlos across the table. Meeting his gaze. "Thank you."

Genevieve: She's listening quietly, an oddly thoughtful, slightly confused look on her face.

Karlos: He blinks, clearly shaken by the thanks. "You're welcome," he murmurs.

Xu: "Can you...inform the others? I don't think this is something I should...leave to a text message."

Karlos: "I will have to find Jeremy, but I can certainly advise the Sentai."

Xu: He eats slowly, actually does everything slowly, as if it takes some effort of concentration. Despite the tension being gone, he does seem to be still suffering from that lack of sleep and that weariness that's been dragging on him over the last week or so.

Xu: He nods. "Thank you. I don't...know if we should alert Travis. I'm...somewhat suspicious of those people."

Genevieve: She eats her food quietly, left to her own thoughts.

Karlos: He nods, then looks distracted a moment.

Xu: "What are your plans now, Genevieve?"

Genevieve: "I...really don't know." She shrugs a little. "I'm just now wondering that myself. Spent so long working on this, I haven't stopped to think of what I'd do after."

Karlos: Then he settles in to eat quietly.

Xu: He nods, brow furrowing. "I know the feeling." He eats in silence a bit more and then says "It will take some doing to get them to stop searching for you. It may be safer to get you out of the city for a while."

Genevieve: "I've got a place I can hide out for a while." She glances to Karlos briefly, then back to her food.

Karlos: "I'll see you to it," he murmurs softly. Protectively.

Xu: A little thread of jealousy ripples across his face at their obvious bond, and he turns his attention to his meal, cleaning his plate and rising to put it into the sink.

Xu: "Thank you both, enormously. I can't...begin to tell you how grateful I am." And how lucky the whores of NYC are, now that I'm not going to get wracked by withdrawls... He sighs, washing his plate and setting it on the rack to dry. "But I really need some sleep."

Genevieve: "Thanks." She finishes eating in silence.

Genevieve: "Of course, Xu." She nods. "I could use some sleep myself."

Karlos: He nods to Xu. "I love you," he says quietly. But it's clear he knows Xu doesn't believe it. "I'll be back as soon as I can." He rises and moves to the door, waiting there for Gennie.

Xu: He looks somewhat non-plussed that they're leaving, and slightly embarrassed that Karlos keeps saying things like that in front of Gennie but does his best not to show it.

Xu: He nods to them and clears the table, washing the dishe, as if to give himself something to distract himself from their departure. "Take care."

Genevieve: She looks up at Karlos, then blinks. She hadn't considered leaving. Her stuff is here...this is where she had completely planned on sleeping. She looks up to Xu a moment.

Xu: ((Actually Gennie's staying in the other half of the duplex next door. *G*))

Genevieve: ((Oh, yeah. Duh.))

Genevieve: ((Damn duplexes. Got me all screwed up. *Kicks the duplex* DLP)) She looks up and nods, moving over to Xu. "Thank you for helping me."

Xu: He meets her gaze, looking somewhat frightened by her approach. As if he's not sure what to do about it. He nods, concentrating on washing the plate that's already clean. "You're welcome. Thank you for...freeing me."

Genevieve: She smiles a little, then reaches out, lightly touching his shoulder. "The least I could do." She steps away, slowly, before turning to head to the door.

Xu: He smiles at the touch, but doesn't look up.

Karlos: He nods a little and slips out silently, head bowed, escorting Gennie back to Mas' half of the duplex.

Xu: ((I forgot to mention that Gennie might have observed the rolled up Trevor skin up there in the attic))

Genevieve: She heads along with him, looking back over her shoulder, a little confused by some of what she witnessed, but not questioning it.

Xu: (and I really need to fade now, thanks for the RP guys)

Genevieve: ((So alter to a LOT confused by some of what she witnessed. *S*))

Genevieve: ((Thanks, Singha!))

Karlos: ((*hugses*))