[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/5QwpFPy.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/ZnOpQuF.png[/img] [/center] [hr] [i][b]Location: Lachance Stronghold, Henderson, NV Time: Early Morning, Before the Satellite Attack[/b][/i] [color=921111][b]”After all that time and effort I spent talking to that bitch, she just ups and leaves?! What am I, a fucking [i]agony aunt[/i] supposed to give transient assistance and aid?!”[/b][/color] Suffice to say, Kat was less than pleased at Marie’s sudden departure from the group. The sudden departure, especially hot on the heels with the encounter with the… oh, what was her name, the Ambassador? That sounded pretentious enough, that was probably it. The Ambassador probably had something to do with it… The fae were all intertwined - it was all part of their philosophy from what Kat had seen of them, all of them working in one giant inter-familial strife and conflict, like a huge dynastic squabble over who ate all the pies, and [i]how much[/i] did they pay for that troubadour. And mortals were there to be snapped up like flies in a spider’s web, mesmerised into selling what free will they had for flitting, fleeting power. Kat could only imagine how Ben was feeling - not that she needed to imagine any such thing. Exasperated at their current predicament, Kat headed back over to Ben’s room, only to hear him yell in fear and desperation. She burst through the door as he finished another sentence, and started speaking without hesitating to find out what it was he had said. [color=921111][b]”Benjamin, what’s wrong? Are you alright?!”[/b][/color] Ben abruptly stopped just outside the door. His hand pressed into the framing, steadying himself as he looked at the individual blocking his way. Confusion faded into relief when he recognized Katarina. He used his left hand to rub the sleep grit from his eyes. [color=chocolate] “Yeah, just a fucked up dream,”[/color] Benjamin stated, trying to brush off the effects. It was hard since he was sweating, pale and trembling all over. [color=921111][b]”Are you sure?”[/b][/color] Katarina, without thinking, embraced him tightly, if only to reassure him and give a material anchor… in case he thought he was perhaps [i]still[/i] dreaming. [color=921111][b]”You don’t sound alright, or feel it either. Do you need something to eat?”[/b][/color] Benjamin tried not to flinch again. Physical contact was difficult because he rarely ever encountered it as he let her hug him, using her body to balance and help him remain upright. After a few moments, he spoke. [color=chocolate] “I’m not really hungry and I feel awful. I guess we should figure out what to do next.”[/color] [color=921111][b]”The first order of business is making sure you’re okay, as far as I’m concerned… and then we can find out where that damnable witch has gone to and get some answers as to why she just decided to… up sticks, as it were. Without even so much as a by-your-leave.”[/b][/color] Kat shook her head and sighed heavily, pulling away slightly and giving Ben a lookover. [color=chocolate] “Wait...what? Marie left? When?”[/color] Ben abruptly interrupted, his expression concerned now. [color=921111][b]”Marie… left. I don’t know why, I don’t really know when, but… she’s gone. I don’t know where she’s gone or what she intends to do. We had a talk, and then, the next thing I know, she’s just… gone. But anyway, we should probably concern ourselves with ourselves. Things have been pretty rough these last couple days, right? We could plan the next course of action with your companions as well… those twins? I don’t know their names, apologies…”[/b][/color] Kat cracked her neck absent-mindedly, and looked about to see if the aforementioned companions were anywhere to be seen. [color=chocolate] “I guess,”[/color] Ben felt a churning in his middle. Suddenly an urge to leave tried to overwhelm him causing his fingers to tighten around the frame, his knuckles white and verging on ripping off the wood. Gradually he inhaled, then exhaled to stomp down his anxiety. [color=chocolate] “Ji and Yeong, I think? And yeah, the last few days have been pretty rough. We can’t really get a break, can we?”[/color] [color=921111][b]”Hey, hey, hey, it’s alright…”[/b][/color] Kat took hold of Ben’s hands and gently squeezed them, concerned at his sudden change in mood and its gravity; his reaction worried her. She had no idea that Marie’s departure would have had such an impact on him, but it… strangely made sense - Ben and Marie seemed to know each other, be familiar - were they part of the same group, that Marie had now simply abandoned? With Ji and Yeong, the twins? Could be possible. [color=921111][b]”N-no… life really could give us a break, that’s for certain. If you want, we could head out, get some fresh air - you could probably use some after all of the [i]scheisse[/i] that you’ve been through, especially after the Hounds. Sound good to you?”[/b][/color] Kat smiled as warmly as she could manage, despite her fangs perhaps lending a more bestial appearance to her features then she would have liked. She also knew that the sun would make her plan a bit more complicated than it initially appeared - though she was no Draculesti, and would not be instantly destroyed upon exposure, Katarina was still vulnerable to the light of the sun - something that she dimly remembered researching work-arounds from four hundred years ago… Wouldst if only the Crusade had not happened. [color=chocolate] “No, it’s not going to fucking help,”[/color] Ben blurted out as he moved past her. He was angry and bitter. That was much was clear to Kat while she watched him leave in a hurry, seeming to put distance between them. The elder vampire was left standing there along with her thoughts. Gradually her skin flickered with an alarm when unseen eyes raked themselves down along her spine, traveling from head to toe. As if sizing her up from behind. Kat’s figure whirled about to face the source: a small, wiry black crow. Its sharp angled head tilted to the right then left. One beady red eye always keeping watch over her. It clicked its beak a bit, softly snapping it open and shut. Before Kat could shoot off her first attempt at a counter-spell, a mist engulfed her shape. It muffled her voice causing the magic spell to disappear almost immediately. Then she was gone. On the bench where Ben had laid sat a single note, one appearing to be written by Katarina, stating she had business to take care of and she would be back. The flutter of wings was all that was heard before it vanished into thin air followed by a soft, feminine chuckle. [center][sub]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/sub] [h2]🐺[/h2] [sub]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/sub][/center]