The Necropolis [Conway]

[Kari Muffin]

Like the kicked puppy dog that he was, the man found himself staring at the door pitifully. There was no answer from Javaid. What if something had happened while he was gone?

The sound of the chirp made him jump. His head snapped around to see the Tove. Of course she disappeared rather quickly, causing the man to droop a bit. At least he knew that the Jackal was around, though he still had no idea how he was going to react. Would he be angry? Would he be upset? Had Conway woken him up?

Another whimper escaped him as he found himself crouching in front of the doorway. He sniffed pathetically as he continued to sink to the ground. Javaid was going to be angry at him for being stupid enough to lose his hand. There was no escaping the fact.

Javaid's voice made him sit straight up. He brushed away any evidence of tears that may have slipped out. "Javaid?" he asked in return. His voice sounded worn and utterly miserable.

[Vyn]

Javaid couldn't help the smile that broke across his face when the crumbled male spoke up once more. Oh thank the fiery sands, it was him! Before he could stop himself Javaid had closed the final distance, dropped his staff and drew Conway against him in a tight hug.

"It's so good to see you again, Conway." He didn't think, he just welcomed the knowledge that Conway had come back. He felt like a fool for taking so long to realize just how attached to the wolf he'd become but now everything was fine. Conway was back and, if he left again, Javaid knew he'd return. And then the realization of what he was doing kicked in and the jackal cleared his throat awkwardly as he let the other male go and climbed back to his feet with a hand held out for Conway to do the same.

"I'm sorry I kept you waiting like that... I'll have to get you a key so that you can let yourself in -- one should never be locked out of their own home." The jackal's tail offered a light wag though his eyes still stung with tears.

[Kari Muffin]

Conway didn't particularly expect such a warm welcome. His eyes widened when Javaid hugged him, and he couldn't help but hug back. His tears were at least choked back for now.

"It's good to see you too," he said quietly in return. He watched the Jackal get up. For a moment he hesitated when the man offered his hand. He kept his newfound paw hand tucked in his pocket, reaching out with his other hand to take Javaid's.

A key? That would be nice... but he didn't particularly want to lose it. He did have the habit of losing a few odds and ends when he traveled. And if he lost something so terribly important he couldn't forgive himself. And who knew who would end up with something like that.

"T-that would be nice," the Joker said. "But uh... there's something I need to talk to you about. I did something rather stupid and...."

He couldn't hide it for long. The Joker pulled out his hand, which was now replaced by a black paw. He wiggled it to illustrate that it was, in fact, his hand.

[Vyn]

Javaid's smile faded slightly at the Joker's hesitant response, head tilting a little in confusion. Had he been wrong? Was Conway only here to tell him bad news?

And then he pulled his hand or, rather, paw from his pocket and Javaid was forced to do a double take in surprise. By the stars above, that was a strange change but it was thankfully far from any of the concerns that had been drifting through his head. "Suits, Conway... What happened?" It was a bit hard to digest at first but in the end he was more concerned for his friend than anything else.

All that really mattered was that Conway was okay and that he was here again.

"Come, come inside.. Let's talk where it's more comfortable." He stepped past the wolf and opened the door to let them inside. "I have fresh juice, if you'd like some?"

[Kari Muffin]

It was a relief that Javaid wasn't angry with him. The Joker had gone through a variety of scenarios in his head of how upset the other Hisstor would be. He had never expected for the jackal just to be surprised by the sight. He had gotten plenty of reactions in the city that were all horribly negative.

"It's a long story," the wolf said, swallowing the lump that had decided to form in his throat. It wasn't really. He had been stupid and touched something that was unlabeled. He was never going to go to that shop again, and he was going to be more careful about touching strange things in the city.

"Juice would be wonderful," Conway said. His throat was dry from all the travel, and now that the initial tension was gone he realized how thirsty and hungry he was. "And you wouldn't happen to have any of those tea cakes would you?"

[Vyn]

This was a pleasant return to normality... Though, really, it should have been the other way around. It hadn't been too long ago when his life of solitude had been the norm and having prolonged company made him awkward, but Conway had changed all that.

The jackal didn't think about it, he just focused on tending to Conway and enjoying the warmth of caring for family. The paw was a strange sight to get used to, it drew his gaze countless as Javaid gathered cups and poured juice for Conway -- it was apple today, because Javaid had decided to juice some apples himself, but he would make sure to get some orange juice from Mehdi.

"But you're alright, other than the paw? It seems terribly awkward." Especially for someone who preferred being unseen. "And, of course. I bet you're hungry... It's a long travel between The Necropolis and well, anywhere..." He plated some of the cakes for Conway and shuffled around for some leftovers. It wasn't the best of meals but it would be enough for a late night snack.

[Kari Muffin]

Conway felt at home almost instantly. The Necropolis was safe, and there was no risk of someone walking in to find him. He didn't have to hide what he actually was, and Javaid was always so nice.

"I'm fine otherwise I suppose..." Conway said as he accepted the juice with his good hand. "It seems to have some interesting powers. It's kind of weird. I can talk to more than one person now though. And it can transform into a normal hand when I'm someone other than me or a version of me."

Which was a very good thing. He didn't want to draw attention all the time, and he could at least hide as someone else when it came down to the wire.

When Conway saw the tea cakes his eyes lit up. "Thank you," he said. He took a sip of his juice before setting it down so he could pick up the cake. That was probably the most annoying part of having a paw instead of a proper hand. After swallowing a large chunk he gave Javaid a curious look. "Nothing happened while I was gone?"

[Vyn]

That was wonderfully relieving to hear. Something strange enough to take Conway's hand and replace it with a paw usually came with awful consequences though it was beginning to seem as if the paw were the consequence of other magics.

"You can? That's wonderful! And I suppose the added ability to blend in certainly takes the edge off of having to deal with the paw." He made a small plate of tea cakes and a cup of juice for himself and joined Conway at the table. "You're very welcome and... no, I suppose nothing really has happened." He broke off a piece of cake and popped it into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully as he peered out toward the Necropolis. "I suppose my time here is pretty lonely -- a funeral from time to time and studies, mostly."

He'd requested Mehdi bring him some 'fables' about Jokers and though the feline questioned his sudden curiosity on the subject, he never seemed to connect it with Conway which was well and good. Other than that...

"I found a book in my Grandfather's library that suggests I might be able to properly cleanse the Scarab." He shrugged before continuing, "So I've been toying with some new magic but I have nothing to show of it."

[Kari Muffin]

That was mildly depressing.

But at least Javaid was okay? Conway nibbled on his cake a bit more, listening to what little had happened to the Jackal. "That's good though! The cleansing I mean."

Conway set down what was left of his cake so he could take a drink. Maybe he should transform into someone else just so he could eat properly. But he was tired and he wasn't particularly sure how Javaid would react to him changing in front of him like this.

"Have you thought about... leaving to visit Mehdi?" Conway asked. He knew the answer to the question, but maybe if Javaid was willing to leave the Necropolis he wouldn't feel as lonely when Conway had to leave again. When... why was it always a question of when rather than if? Maybe next time he could try to bring his sister....

But was she well enough to travel? Would they let him take her?

[Vyn]

Up until Conway had come into his life, Javaid had simply been oblivious to the fact that something was missing from his life. Sure, he occasionally longed for conversation but ultimately he was content to be wrapped up in funerals and studies and to wait patiently until Mehdi returned for his visits. It was not such a lonely existence, he had assured Mehdi when the feline questioned him on it, and he had far too much to do to ever be really lonely.

The feline never bought into it, but Javaid had been content. Or, he thought he was content.

And then Conway had left and Javaid had realized, with painful clarity, that something was missing and that it was terribly important. Loneliness became a specter that followed him around and Javaid's only true escape had been to submerge himself more fully in work and study than he had before. It wasn't a cure all but it made a nice temporary solution.

"It is! ...Though I wonder sometimes if my current failure has more to do with his defiance, even now, than with my own lack of skill. Broken as he is, the Scarab has an exceptionally strong will."

Javaid chewed thoughtfully on a piece cake, his thoughts momentarily returning to what he'd been working on before Conway's next question returned him to the conversation. Oh... Had he told Conway of his... No, probably not. It was terribly embarrassing when it got down to it. "I have... Though he stops by often enough, once a week usually -- sometimes twice." Well, on good weeks at least. But Javaid didn't mention that just then. Conway seemed concerned and Javaid didn't want to make that worse.