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*))