What Devilry Be This? [Shini]

[Lucca]

Aberforth had taken to drinking, recently.

Not alcohol, of course...that would only lead to trouble, and he refused to let anything take his sense away from him. Not again.

He had taken to drinking coffee. Now, this wouldn't seem at all odd on the surface, especially since the Police Officer regularly drank a cup of the stuff a day, at least. But now, it had become closer to eight cups a day. He knew it wasn't great for him. But, like with so many other things in his life, he didn't care.

Even his Club ability could only stave off sleep for so long, and the Goat never wanted to sleep, if he could help it. Not until he completely crashed and was able to slip into a blackness so complete, so all-encompassing, that the dreams couldn't find him.

Though he refused to acknowledge (not that anyone would know to ask him about it) the indiscretion that had taken place between himself and Dr. Price, and his memories of the night were fuzzy, at best...he still had dreams about it. And he would wake up from them, aching with a feeling he'd long since thought he'd forgotten how to feel....loneliness.

He hated it. Loathed it. And so, the legalized drugging.

Today was no different. He'd gotten off from his shift at precisely 8:30 pm, and hoofed it to the nearest cafe where he sat down and ordered himself a large coffee, black.

[Shinigami]

[ooc: Er, sorry about the delay. I had a reply half-written, and then Helen decided that she hated it.]



"To be, or not to be, that is the question. And the answer lies solely within the questioner, the person asking the question." The scent of lilacs and almonds wafted throuh the cafe as a Biped deer drifted over to Aberforth's seat, a crystal ball floating almost absently after her on its own swirl of smoke. She took no notice when it bumped into a few patrons, pausing for a second before navigating around them. "Well, the circumstances affect the answer, too. And so does whomever the questioner is asking. But you wouldn't pull off the effect well if you simply went about engaging everyone you met in philosophical discussion, now would you? There's the respect that makes calamity of so long life."

Helen set down a cup of tea in front of her that emanated a great deal of that almond scent. It appeared that she hadn't yet drunk any of it, though she did take the opportunity to swirl her spoon around in the cup a few times before tapping off the excess liquid and setting it aside. Gathering the cup close to her with something of the joyful caution that said hands were still relatively new to her, she simply held it for a long while, soaking up the heat.

[Lucca]

Normally, Aberforth just drowned out all of what was said around him unless it was directly addressed to him, no matter how odd. But something about the lilting quality of the voice just set his nerves on edge, and the strong scents made his nostrils itch. And when the intruder sat down directly next to him...well, he couldn't exactly ignore that, as much as he'd like to. He took a long drink of his coffee (already half empty, he noted) and turned, the normal, distant look in his eyes.

Though his expression didn't change, upon taking in the black, purple, and, most telling of all, gold in the fur of this mix, the Goat stiffened. A freed Torque. Bile rose in the back of his throat, heavy emotions that Aberforth wasn't used to feeling, didn't know how to deal with. His eyes narrowed, just slightly, and he lowered his horns a bit. Normally, he wouldn't reply to her philosophical meanderings. But this wasn't a normal encounter, and the Goat didn't need to notice the weird magic crystal ball hovering in the air near the Deer's head to know this.

"I have no desire to engage in any philosophical discussion with you," he said in a flat tone, and turned his head deliberately away.

[Shinigami]

"Who said anything about philosophical discussion?" She laughed delicately, her glassy purple eyes bright. "But I digress. How is your little one? His mother is happy, but it's not every day that you become a grandfather, now is it?" Helen's attitude changed from the mysterious fortune teller to something warmer in an instant, her posture relaxing and softening. The lilac scent faded away from about her, replaced with the faint scents of coffee and tea that pervaded the atmosphere. The scent of almonds didn't change though, but most of it seemed to be coming from the tea cup that she held.

"You must be very proud of your daughter,"[/b] she said softly. "After everything that happened, she still came through to give you a fine grandson."

The crystal ball finally floated close enough to settle itself on the counter next to her, floating just above the surface on an ever-regenerating wisp of smoke. It seemed almost like a small dog, content to rest near its mistresses until it was needed.

[Lucca]

Aberforth stared at the woman. She had obviously just said something about a philosophical discussion! Not two seconds ago! He began to suspect she was completely insane, in addition to being a dangerous unfettered Torque. His ears twitched back, and as she continued to speak, the Goat's eyebrows rose further and further above his eyes in an unusual outward display of emotion.

Okay, now he -knew- she was completely insane.

"Miss, I'm afraid you must have me mistaken for someone else," he said flatly, pink eyes cold. "I have no children, let alone grandchildren." In fact, he'd never even engaged in the act required to have any children, since it would mean letting someone far closer than he'd ever consider safe. Well...except for that one night with the doctor that he very carefully didn't think about. And that hadn't resulted in anything. At least...he didn't think it had.

A small tendril of doubt, icy and malicious, crept down his back and he shivered, half looking at that odd floating ball. But no...no, that hadn't been very long ago, anyway...and there were no children. There would NEVER be any children. Couldn't be. Impossible. The odds against it were astounding.