[center][h3]Jeremiah Dupree[/h3]
Physical state: Tense
Mental state: Conflicted; dubious sanity[/center]

Lichfield. Bureau of Investigation. They had hit the agent in the face, even if he might be the Agent they had been warned of. Dupree hoped the way his breathing had grown shallow was a detail gone missed by the others. Police were bad enough. He glanced to Emil first, as if unsure to be worried for the young man or of him. The revelations of the day thus far pressed heavily upon him. Surely a true delinquent would not be able to easily join Miskatonic University, nor would Arthur trust someone who was a danger, but there was that hint of impulsiveness. Arthur himself seemed to be perfectly aware of it and unbothered, which was a concern in and of itself, and why Dupree shifted his gaze to his fellow professor, awaiting his reaction and hoping they would curb the same impulsive quality that had brought them to break into their deceased colleague's office in the first place.

It was almost strange, the conspiracist being the keeper of others. It was often implied to be the other way around, even when Dupree argued he was perfectly sane. Then again, it was always a different story when police were involved. It was always a different story. [color=292929]He recalled the case similar to his own, she - he - they had been arrested, imprisoned, no one knew to this day why they had done it-[/color]
Arthur's response was about as reasonable as one would expect. No apology was offered, and that was all fine really. He was keeping the topic on the case itself, and not why they had been in there. Speaking of, Dupree finally saw the title of the book. Well. How had Atkins managed to get ahold of that? Dupree wasn't going to lie, he was actually rather jealous. Considering the author, it was difficult to get ahold of copies even with his credentials, and its reputation certainly preceded itself. It even half the things said about it was true, Dupree genuinely hoped he might be allowed a chance to read the book for himself, even if it might have been a factor in Atkins' death.

He then realized that Arthur Steiner was holding that book in front of a federal agent and debated to himself the merits of trying to slip the book out of Arthur's hand. Were it not for the likelihood it would only draw Lichfield's attention to the book if he hadn't already noticed, it might have been worth it. Instead, he focused his attention first on the agent, then on the two figures he noticed behind him in the hallway. While Lichfield was not particularly dressed for the part of a federal agent, these two were even less so. They also lacked the uniforms of the Arkham police; perhaps outsiders? But why? Dupree didn't recognize either...

Well. Maybe not. Jeremiah could feel it brushing on the edge of his memory, and it was a welcome return to the just-unseen pattern he knew wove around them all. The Agent's legal powers could be temporarily discarded, the illegal habits of his two allies mattered not, and Atkins' death was the first piece to bring together the others. Perhaps that was why he was not as fazed as he should've been? Knowing that all along, it lessened the disturbing and traumatic impulse into a fated action that, while tragic, had simply been unavoidable. And of course definitely [i]keep this all to yourself Jeremiah by the Eye of God no wonder they think you addled at times[/i].

Right.

Arthur called out to them, summarily trying to dismiss the Agent that Dupree was sure would now forever be baying at their heels as a cruel hound if not collared and leashed by someone else. And one of them introduced himself.

[i]Jeremy[/i].

Jeremiah could feel the slight brushing sensation immediately halt and, for a split second, it instead hit him as if a hammer had been taken to his skull, the bone left intact but the brain crashing into the encasement meant to protect it and crushing itself between unchecked momentum and the hardened surface, second-hardest material in the body.

"She did." He blurted out the answer before anyone had time to dwell on either man's sanity. "By name. It... was confusing at first." He glanced at the others, remembering they were there, and his shoulders tensed and drew up. "They're... supposed to be here," he offered as a vague explanation. He wasn't sure to who; did any of them particularly mind their presence? "I'm not sure if now is the best of times, but perhaps it will work nonetheless." At this point, it occurred that he wasn't sure how much Steiner really knew about what was going on. Emil, [color=ed1c24]Faye[/color] had already marked him for this fate. Surely Jeremy had somehow been contacted too, either as a passerby in the asylum that offered none, or perhaps through the other means by which she had gained her knowledge in the first place. The Agent... probably actually did not know either, as [color=ed1c24]Faye Desdemona[/color] seemed to consider him an enemy of sorts, if this was in fact the Agent. If not, then it was still unlikely he knew either. Steiner though? He was connected to both Jeremiah and Emil, and yet he tried to recall what, if anything, had been said about him.

Nothing came to mind.

If anything, the one whose presence ought to be surprising, Jeremiah mused, it would be Arthur Steiner. He was certainly a good ally at least.

"This all said-" He pondered the merits of inviting them all into Atkins' office, both for formal introductions and for determining what their purposes were for gathering here right now - beyond the obvious, naturally, it was bound to occur but there was still the question of [b]why[/b] it was bound to occur. It might allow them to keep an eye on Lichfield and earn some measure of trust and belief of cooperation, even if Dupree wasn't terribly at ease around him, but he might be alone in that line of thought. "-perhaps we ought to move this meeting to somewhere quieter, perhaps with chairs? This is hardly the most comfortable spot to be, and I suspect we have much to discuss. Would that be right, do you think?" He had an office of his own. That might not be the best second impression to make, however. For now, see what everyone thought of the idea.