Karlos Basoalto: He's checked in to a suite on the 35th floor, facing Times Square.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: On up to the room she heads, taking the steps two at a time as she goes.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: Yes, she is taking the stairs. She needs the exercise. She's in a joival enough mood, back to good old Coyote Girl...maybe turned up a ways. She gets to the top, a little out of breath, and makes her way to the door, knocking.

Karlos Basoalto: He checks the peephole when she knocks, then opens the door. He's wearing jeans and a black t-shirt with grey text that reads "Must've been my evil twin".

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She grins as she sees the shirt. "Cute. Hey." She gives him a hug, and moves in.

Karlos Basoalto: He hugs her, rubbing her back a little, then reluctantly releases her, moving to close the door. "Thanks for coming. Make yourself at home."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She moves to a chair near the window, dropping in it and putting her feet up on the sill. "How are you?"

Karlos Basoalto: "Angry, upset..." He trails off, moving past her to the window and gazing outside. He looks down at the street far below. "Frustrated."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: Her eyebrow quirks, and she watches him, concern coming to her eyes. "What over, specifically?"

Reyna Varinia Reiruno -> Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 10,6,1,3,8,6,6,

Karlos Basoalto: "Xu." He places one hand in the pocket of his jeans, the other against the glass.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno -> Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 5,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She sighs a little. "Yeah, well, there's a whole lot there to be angry, upset, and frustrated about, no argument from me."

Karlos Basoalto: "You offered a shoulder, Reyna, not judgement." He glances over his shoulder toward her.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "I'm not judging anything. I'm just as frustrated with him as you are, is all, hon. I don't blame you in any way, shape, or form for feeling the way you to." She smiles to him. "So talk to me."

Karlos Basoalto: He hesitates, then looks down to the street again. "I'm constantly being told that I don't communicate, that I keep myself private, that I keep secrets. My family is not yours, it's not Angelia's, it's not even Okami's. Before I was even adopted, I knew the vitality of being able to keep secrets secret. I'd say, if anything, I've become far more relaxed about most secrets than I was just a few years ago. I feel hurt that none of you respect my duty to Gaia as one who protects secrets."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She nods a little bit. "I think I can understand how you would feel that way, hon. I'm sorry if I've made you hurt."

Karlos Basoalto: He nods slightly. "I have to protect my own secrets too. Because if they were to become known, they could damage my reputation, my standing, the Treaty, everything. I have to present an image of togetherness when my life is falling apart. And I'm really not one for trusting all and sundry with the innermost workings of my emotional ups and downs."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She pruses her lips, nodding. "I didn't know you even had secrets like that, Kar. I just...I love you, and I wonder when you clam up, is all. And when I wonder, lately, it strays into areas I don't like to wander to. I worry about you." She shrugs a little.

Karlos Basoalto: "Xu has determined that my relationship with him must come to an end, as it is unhealthy for both of us. I believe that there is much benefit to be gained from our friendship, but..." He trails off, hand slipping down the glass a little. He clears his throat softly. "But needless to say, the friendship has been artificially ended. Yet he persists in calling me. So I have helped reinforce his desire for us to be separated by stating firmly the boundaries of our new relationship. Which, I believe, may have upset him as deeply as it upset me. I think, perhaps..." He rests his forehead against the glass. "I think perhaps he was hoping... I don't know."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Perhaps he was hoping...did you have something you were going to say there? Or should I not press that one?" She watches him calmly

Karlos Basoalto: "I think he was hoping we were friends. And I love him, but... I have to respect his wishes."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She nods. "That's the eternal problem with Xu, hon. Do we push because we think we should and can help by doing so, and potentially cross a line that hurts him more? Or do we do what he asks, even though it's not necessarily what he needs or even subconsciously wants?" She shrugs. "I thought I used to know, but I don't think I do, anymore."

Karlos Basoalto: "He wants to self-destruct," he whispers.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: A deep exhalation comes from her. "I was afraid that might be the case." She gets up suddenly, needing to just move. She walks around the room, looking at things. "Fuck."

Karlos Basoalto: "He wants to protect those he loves, by sending them away from him." His voice cracks, grows hoarse. "Because sooner or later, he will hurt them. Every last one. Even an innocent, like Merlin."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Yeah, I know. He seems to have a tendancy to do that, when he starts getting like this." She examines a clock on the wall, very closely. "Hell, it's part of how he and I ended up together, Kar. When he broke it off with Angelia, and I came along." She brings a hand up, to rub the bridge of her nose. "He's been brought out of it before, right? We can do it again..." She looks to Karlos suddenly.

Karlos Basoalto: "And each time we do, innocents get hurt." He bangs his head against the glass a little. "He raped her... He raped..." He breaks off, sobbing, turning to lean against the window before sliding down it.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: Eyes widen. Shit. He moves to Karlos, pulling him into a hug.

Karlos Basoalto: "She was fifteen!" He leans against her, tears rolling down his cheeks. "He interrogated her... tortured her... fucking... raped her... Fifteen!"

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She holds him to her, smoothing his hair, and just being there for him. Being a presence for him to take comfort from.

Karlos Basoalto: "He's supposed to be good," he groans. "We believe in him. We trust him."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "I know, hon. He tries so hard to be good. And we try to help him as best we can."

Karlos Basoalto: "I have a duty to protect the innocents in this city. Do you understand? It's my duty!" He shakes his head, still sobbing. "I love him. How can I let him go?"

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "I know it's your duty, Karlos." She kisses his temple, rubbing his back softly. "And I know how seriously you take it, and how much good you do. And...I know you're feeling torn, hon. If you feel you have to respect his wishes, you can respect his wishes and still help him. There's ways. We can find them."

Karlos Basoalto: "He's my friend, Reyna..." He says the word like he only has one, or maybe two, tops.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "I know he is. Which is why this is hurting you so much." She squeezes him gently. "What do you want to do? How can I help you, hon?"

Karlos Basoalto: "Nothing... Nothing. I just... I needed someone." He laughs weakly. "You were the only one I could... see myself speaking to."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She smiles a little, nodding. "All right. Well, I'm happy to help, however I can. Even as a human handkerchief."

Karlos Basoalto: 6,5,9,4,2,3,5,9,

Karlos Basoalto: He nods, collecting himself with relative ease, lifting a hand to wipe at his cheeks. "I'm sure you have things to be doing."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "More important then seeing to the emotional well-being of one of my best friends?" She considers. "No, not really."

Karlos Basoalto: He laughs a little. "Reyna, I'm not one of your best friends. You hardly even know me."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She looks at him, raising an eyebrow. "Name my friends, Kar. I think I can about count 'em on about three, maybe four fingers. You haven't cornered the market on making a habit of subtlely emotionally stiff-arming people away from you." She grins a little. "And I know you well enough. I don't know the details, no...but that's par for the course in this city, it seems. I know who you are. And I love you. Yes, you are one of my best friends."

Karlos Basoalto: "So stop nagging me for being secretive and distant." He smiles wryly, trying to lighten his own mood.

Karlos Basoalto: ((*Clunks the pause and flees to bed*))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She grins a little at that, shaking her head. "Yeah, well, I'll see what I can do on that end there."

Karlos: He smiles faintly, glancing up to her. "Thanks for coming over. I don't want to keep you if you've got things to do..."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She shrugs. "My rounds have been made today. Angelia's watching Merlin. I don't know of any plots to destroy the world that can't be put off saving for a little while, at least." She smiles a bit. "Besides, hon, we never get a chance to just hang out and talk, it seems. Spend quality time together."

Karlos: He leans in to her, looking down again. "I'm really not that interesting, I assure you." Smiles ruefully.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She purts her arm around his shoulder, squeezing gently as she chuckles. "Naah, Kar. You're downright frickin' boring, I'd say." She winks, then leans in and kisses his forehead, then sighs. "Have you gotten any better explanation on this Kami thing, by the way?"

Karlos: He shakes his head. "None. And Xu has terminated our friendship, so I guess that's that."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She sighs. "Well, Xu ain't the only person who's knowledgable on such matters, I assume. Gotta be someone out there who can give us an answer."

Karlos: "But asking the question exposes me." He smiles faintly. "I'd rather not."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "You want me to ask around? Check with some spirits, maybe...the Elders at the Sept, and the Court? I can ask in a general sense and leave your name out of it, of course."

Karlos: He shakes his head. "No. Let it lie."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "I'm a curious coyote, Kar." She smiles. "I can just ask, 'So, what the hell's a Kami?' and not explain why. Or, gasp gasp, be 'honest' and say we came across one in Africa."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "okay. If that's what you want."

Karlos: "I have something... A request."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Shoot."

Karlos: "Stop calling me Kar?" He glances to her again. "I have nothing left from my parents but my name. Let me keep it."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She smiles a little, and nods. "Okay. Sorry, hon. I'm a compulsive pet-name-giver, 'case you haven't noticed. I'll stop doing the shortenin' thang."

Karlos: "Well give me a pet name. Just don't mess with my own."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "A'ight. Can do." She smiles a bit.

Karlos: "So what's it gonna be?" Looks to her again. "C'mon, I want to know..."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Hmmmm..." She gets the lights dancing in her eyes a little, as she considers. "I dunno...choosing an appropriate pet name is a tricky thing. See, first you go through all the obvious ones...such as Butterfly Boy, Concerto Kid, things like that, and then discard them, 'cause they're too obvious and usually too tacky." She gives that lopsided grin of hers, her one smile for when she really IS amused, as opposed to faking it at least a little. "You're a tough nut to nickname, mi amigo."

Karlos: He grins at that. "See, if you knew everything about me you'd give me some unflattering nickname like 'Rapist Boy' or 'Ghoul Guy'." He glances away once more.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Hey." She reaches out and touches his chin on the side, to gently tilt his gaze back to hers. "We've all got our secrets, our dark eras in our life. I don't know yours, and I respect that you keep yours private. I understand that. But don't forget...unless we're talking about recent events here, that's what happened in the past, not who ya are now, a'ight?"

Karlos: He chuckles a little. "Reyna..."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "What?" She raises an eyebrow.

Karlos: "I know that."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She chuckles a little. "I know you know that, hon. But you looked like you might be about to get into a funk there. Coverin' the bases, is all." She smiles. "Doesn't hurt to repeat what someone already knows, in case it's slipped their mind for a sec."

Karlos: "I just have to remember that not everyone is as comfortable with the idea of me being comfortable with my own past." He smiles a little. "Many people can't reconcile that."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "I know, hon. Whatever you've got going on in your past, though...you can tell me, or you can not. I'm cool either way." She smiles. "'cause I know you, and think you're a pretty swell guy, if you don't mind my saying so."

Karlos: He chuckles. "Naw, I don't mind. So long as you're not saying I'm evil."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "No. Britney Spears is evil. Paris Hilton is evil. That 'can you hear me now?' asshole from the Verizon commercials is fuckin' EVIL. You?" She grin. "You're like a big cuddly stuffed teddy bear. Only a teddy lion."

Karlos: "Meeyow." He smiles ruefully then exhales slowly, looking across the room. "I was born about seventy years ago. I'm not quite sure when. Jan has the details, but I kinda blanked them out when he showed me, and I've never really... felt the urge to go back to them." He purses his lips. "My name was Karlos Agustín Basoalto y Villanueva."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She tilts her head a little bit, watching him calmly. Letting him leave it at that or go on, as he wishes.

Karlos: "At some point, a vampire came into my life. A Tzimisce named Kras. He ghouled me and forced me to torture my family to death. Brothers, sister, mama and papa." He continues to gaze across the room.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: The hand around him rubs his shoulder lightly, as she listens. Just taking it in, being someone to talk to. No judgment at all in her stance, of course.

Karlos: He doesn't seem to need to talk about it. "Anyway. Cut a long story short, I spent fifty or so years running around after Kras, fetching people for him to eat, handling his funds, all that kind of stuff. I eventually started getting older, he drew the reins in tighter, I started taking my pleasure elsewhere. Screwed around. He punished me, it ended, it started again, blah blah blah."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Sounds like he was a winner. As vampires tend to be, of course..."

Karlos: "Ultimately, no. I started fucking a fifteen year old kid." He glances to Reyna.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "I see." She nods a little, remaining relaxed, smiling a bit in a supportive way.

Karlos: He shrugs. "I don't really remember it. What drew me to him, why I wanted to hurt him." He regards her sadly. "I don't remember much of my life. First real clear memory I have is trying to escape the K-R. Apparently I'd tried to commit suicide so often I almost succeeded."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Well, call me a crazy coyote, but I'm glad there's an 'almost' in there."

Karlos: He laughs softly. "Yeah... We helped each other out. A lot. He's older than his years, I'm younger than mine. There was a lot of back and forth, but we were always there for each other."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She smiles quite sincerely at that, eyes dancing with fondness for the other. "I'm glad. You two really are the real thing. I envy the two of you, sometimes, in a wierd kind of way."

Karlos: He smiles sadly. "We've faced enmity for our love. We've faced hatred. Accusations. I mean, Christ, I looked forty, he looked fifteen, and it wasn't exactly secret what we were doing with each other. But you'd be amazed the amount of people who despised me for it. And Angelia was one of them." He shakes his head. "She's never really gotten over that."

Karlos: "Shifters were outraged that a Bastet was bowing down before a human. Even more so that I used to be a Ghoul."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Yeah, well. Much as I love Angelia to death, no one ever said the girl was perfect." She shrugs. "Maybe I woulda been the same way if I was around...can't say. I'm one of the lucky ones who just saw the aftermath, and loves the both of you. And is happy that you guys have survived all the pain and accusations and hatred. That really IS real."

Karlos: "I was everything, you know? I was evil, I was the enemy, I was a pervert... Not a single 'friend' supported us. Not a single 'friend' realised that, with each other, we were both improving."

Karlos: "We're now at the point where he can have a childhood." He gazes at her sadly.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She purses her lips a little. "Which can't be easy on you, then, I'd imagine."

Karlos: He shrugs softly. "We've both been through worse."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She nods. "It sounds like you have been, hon. Doesn't make this period any more enjoyable for you."

Karlos: He chuckles. "Reyna, life isn't enjoyable for me any more."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She looks at him sadly, and grazes his cheek with her hand. "Karlos...hon, what can I do to help? Let me know, because I really want to. I just don't know how."

Karlos: "I don't think you can. I don't think anyone can. The Sentai chooses me as its Heart, then berates me for being it. I get told over and over again by children a third my age that I know nothing, that I'm shutting myself away, that I'm doing a hundred and one things I'm not doing. Okami keeps trying to teach me to suck eggs, for crying out loud."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Karlos, I didn't know why. I think I understand a little better now." She sighs a little bit. "I've only ever wanted you to be okay. I've been worried, hon. That's all."

Karlos: "Couldn't you pick someone to be worried about who ~isn't~ okay?" He smiles at her teasingly.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She chuckles a little. "I can only base it off what I see, hon. And I thought I saw hurt. Christ knows I don't exactly have 100% accuracy on my guesses. The radar gets shaky from time to time."

Karlos: "Sure you were seeing hurt. The Sentai hurts me." He looks away again.

Karlos: "Karlos, you're doing this. Karlos, you're doing that. Karlos, we have no understanding of even the fundamentals of human psychoanalysis, but what the fuck, we're going to analyse you every time we see you and tell you whatever you're doing, you're wrong."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She purses her lips. "You're right, maybe we have. And I'm sorry, on behalf of all of us. For whatever little that's worth."

Karlos: He looks to her once more. "It's natural to want to help someone. I don't hold it against you. But I can't bear the weight of it either."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She nods a little bit, then smiles. "All right, then. From now one, how about I start trusting you to ask me when you want help, instead assuming that you do?"

Karlos: "That would be nice." He grins gently.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "All right, then. It's a deal." She winks at him, and even puts out her hand, as if she's really sealing a business proposition.

Karlos: He laughs softly, clasping her hand and shaking it gently. "Now if you can get that across to the others, too, that'd be great. Oh, and stop them acting like psychiatrists and damaging people's minds when all they have to do is actually ask me for some input? And maybe arrange a monthly meeting to all get together and spend time with each other? Oh, and I reccommend not trying to teach me anything about love, compassion, fighting evil, maintaining balance in one's own life, coping with child abuse, comporting myself with my lover, or anything else I know plenty about. The jaded among us take offence at that kinda thing."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She grins a little. "I'll see what I can do about all that, hon. Not making any promises...we've got some hard fuckin' heads in this Body o' ours...but with the right hammer and chisel, I might be able to make enough of a crack to get some of it in."

Karlos: "Good luck with that. Let me know how it goes." His smile fades a little.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "I'll do that." Her brow furrows just a little, watching him curiously.

Karlos: "Reyna," he says irritably. "I'm fine. Just because you're not saying it doesn't mean you can look at me like that."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "I wasn't thinking you weren't fine, Karlos." She shakes her head with a sigh. "Wondering what you were thinking, is all. I'm too curious for my own good, as usual...my curse."

Karlos: "If we have sex, do you think that'll distract you?"

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She blinks at that, and laughs a little. "I suppose it probably would, yeah...but I always have to smoke immediately after sex. So alas, it can never be."

Karlos: "I get the feeling you don't want to sleep with me," he murmurs, looking mock-offended.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She shrugs in an equally mock-apologetic fashion. "Sorry, hon. I try to make a habit of never sleeping with people sexier then I am. And you're on that list, I'm afraid." A wink goes his way.

Karlos: He laughs. "It's not intentional." Leans in to kiss her cheek. "So, tell me about Reyna."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She leans into the kiss a little, smiling. "Let's see. Reyna Reiruno. Dad's last name, by the way. Born in New Mexico. Lived with my mom, fairly psedu-quasi-normal life, doing kid and teenage stuff, 'till my mom died at the bar she worked at, shot by some druggie meth-head during a robbery for all about fity bucks. Had my First Change, killed him, and THEN met my dad."

Karlos: He nods softly, stroking her hair.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She smiles a little, moving on. "He brought me into the fold with the Nuwisha business, taught me the ropes, then set me on my way...haven't seen him more then a couple times since. Which is about right for us...us coyote types don't hang with each other a whole lot. Just doesn't go well, typically. Get two pranksters in the same vicinity, and they start prankin' each other, and then, it's all out war. That's just not good."

Karlos: He chuckles, giving her a friendly cuddle. Or maybe an over-friendly one. It's a thin line with Karlos.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "So anyway, I partied hearty for a while afterward, raised some cash with my side job, then went out wandering the world, like we tend to do. Did what I could, where I could to teach Papa Coyote's ways, and spread a few lessons of humility. Made some friends, lost 'em, then moved on. 'till I finally came here."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "And might I say, this is by far the most confusing, infuriating city on the North American continent?"

Karlos: He laughs softly. "You're telling me? I'm not even from areound here."

Karlos: ((around))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "I'm not supposed to stay places." She frowns a little. "We don't DO that. Hell, about 75% of us don't even come out of the Umbra anymore...they're too busy wandering around, protecting the pure parts from the Wyrm. You know, we actually taught the Wolfies how to sidestep? Fact." The frown quickly becomes a grin again.

Karlos: He grins at her, then leans in to kiss her.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She returns the kiss, in a chaste, 'love you like a friend' manner.

Karlos: His kiss teeters on the fringe of "want to get you pregnant", then he pulls away, rising to his feet.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She raises an eyebrow and chuckles. "See, and you're a better kisser then me, too. My ego just couldn't handle that."

Karlos: He smiles down at her, waggling his eyebrows. "I could teach you."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She pulls some hair back from her face, striking a mock-young and innocent look incredibly remniscent of Dustin Hoffman, circa 1967. "Mr. Basoalto. Are you trying to seduce me?" She winks.

Karlos: He chuckles. "Would you like me to seduce you?"

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Ahh, maybe later. Right now, I think I need to stretch my legs a bit. Feelin' the need to wander, if that's a'ight witchu. I think I'll talk a stroll down to Central, race up and down the paths and annoy the puppies."

Karlos: He nods. "Okay. I'm gonna get some sleep. See if the world gets less mundane overnight."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Good luck with that." She grins, then rises up herself, hugging him. "Take care, hon. I love ya. Need me, give a jangle. A'ight?"

Karlos: He nods, hugging her gently. "You too."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Cool. See you later, hon." She pulls away from him, giving him a last smile, and heads toward the door.

Karlos: He nods and moves back to the window, gazing out across town.

Karlos: ((*cheers* Finished at last! Let the time-travel end! *lol*))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((W00t! *G*))