Dream the Crow Black Dream

“A plus? You’re almost as eager as Stefan with that mindset.” Bair shook her head slowly, her hand slowly turning in his and lacing their fingers together. “That arsenal didn’t stop them from getting two of our own, we have to try and find preventative ways.” She sighed, the action all unnecessary but still a source of comfort. Whatever troubled her slowly ebbed away as she looked back to the Demon, the corner of her mouth turning upward slowly. “Me of all people? Why? My emotions are in check, but of course I’m constantly worrying. This is more crucial of a role than just wandering around the Cirque, we’re here to protect Castor itself, and that’s a big jump in responsibility.” Her smirk was short lived, quick to turn in to a frown. “I’m trying to be home more, I really am. It’s just that there’s a lot going on right now.”

“Is that a compliment?” Smirk would capture a single corner of his lips, then, though would melt in an instant as his dark eyes caught their joined hands. “But that arsenal got them back, didn’t it? I think you’re too hard on yourself.” Those same umber hues found the Ghost once more, softened look, through a gentle smile meant simply to offer reassurance despite the worry. “You may think they’re in check, but you can never be too careful. Just... take it in strides. You can’t save everyone, you can’t help everyone, but that isn’t your fault. You here to protect and serve, not to throw yourself into emotional torment and hinder yourself because of that.” Thus settled with a shaky sigh, and a raised eyebrow as the Demon would shake his head slowly. “Don’t worry about coming home. Just tell me when you need some decent coffee outside of the precinct--I’ll try to sort something warm for you.”

“Only you…” Blair laughed and shook her head slowly. “Only you would come up with that explanation. Yeah there are more people here, but that just means there’s more of us to protect. This isn’t like the Cirque where we had caravans and a few areas, this is an entire city and then some.” One shoulder rose and fell lazily, her hand slow to seek out his.  “It just seems now more than ever we have to be on guard, especially after what happened to Sinclair and Adah.”

An all too innocent grin had captured his lips, then. “You’re welcome, Snow Blanket. It also means we have more numbers to fight, which is a plus. C’mon, don’t worry about it. You guys have something close to an army here, and an entire arsenal to go with it.” His head had tilted to the side just slightly, dark eyes roaming to the creeping hand, before his own fingers dusted over the Ghost’s. “Perhaps. You have to allow yourself some down time, too, though. Constantly worrying and tensing seems tiring. You of all people should watch yourself, save some energy if possible.” 

“I’m sure Lilith would have a field day with all of the Sentinels if we asked to use her escorts and courtesans as distractions for the enemy.” He said with a soft chuckle, shaking his head a bit. “Though, to know my limitations saves me from losing my vessel. You have experienced the switch for the first time. It is not easy.” Looking back to Dorian and putting his work on pause, he crossed his arms loosely against his chest like usual. “Citizens fighting for a revolution is different than actually them being thrown into a battle they have no idea how to fight. If the three of us didn’t come up with that plan back at the Cirque, instead just bickered like old ladies, we wouldn’t be sitting here like we are now. Imagine if we got raided while we had patrons in the big top? It would’ve been disastrous.” Nodding at Dorian’s words about being a Pride Demon, Stefan kept his eyes on the other’s now darker pair. “It’s not a waiting game. It’s challenging yourself to see your vessels limitations. I know I had to explore it when I got this one. You should, too. It’ll be good for you, help out your Sin just a bit.”

“I’m sure she’d love it. What better time to prove your girls can use sex as power seamlessly?” Spoken with a gentle tilt of the head, subtle smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. “I suppose it just gets easier the more you’re forced to change. Let’s hope for both of us, that change isn’t soon.” That’s when a large hand had rooted through his jacket pockets, to pull out a lollipop. It was a decent exchange from cigarettes, kept the physical cravings back. After pulling the wrapping from the candy, he’d slipped it between his plump lips. “Sometimes a revolution is the next big thing, is it not? Battles are unpredictable and can quickly evolve into something far worse. When that happens, I don’t think you can rely on experience and training. Number and will power play a big part, too. Huh. Let’s not think about that. How long ago was it, anyway? Two years ago, perhaps?” Dorian only leaned back, hands squeezed between his thighs in a crude attempt at distracting the limbs from incessant tapping. “I’ll consider it. It was a little easier when we were back at the Cirque, I feel. We had less worries. Now we’re fighting against loose mouths, and anything on the outside of this place. Who knew hating a bunch of supernaturals was a common trend, huh?”

“The amount of Loose Mouths lately is alarming. I swear they’re reproducing like rabbits…” Blair sighed and slouched back in her seat, eyes shut. “The Cirque definitely wasn’t like this.”

“Should we blame them? Seems like one of the best ways to release a little pent up tension. It is Spring, after all.” The male shrugged slowly, while his head dropped to the side, heavily tilted. “It wasn’t much better at the best of times, either. At least there’s more people here.” 

Slipping his arm back into his suit, he smirked at the other’s joke before leaning back into his chair. “I can handle it, but sometimes it can be too much. I know my limitations as a fighter and as an Sentinel.” He said, nodding once. Though, he pondered over the idea of a distraction. But, even then, he couldn’t put citizens in the line of fire. “Using the escorts at the brothel wouldn’t be the best idea, seeing as how they are still citizens. As for the idea of a distraction, that is not such a bad idea.” He said, locking eyes with Dorian’s. “But I don’t want to talk about work. How are you in your new vessel? Are you taking care of it?”

Leaning against the arm of the chair, chin resting upon the heel of his palm, he seemed to lounge, all too relaxed. “I’m sure you do. It pays to know, I suppose. Doesn’t make it any less boring, though.” Full of those jokes today, it seemed. Eyes briefly drifted to a thin slit, as his mind wandered, deft fingers tapping against the clear skin of his cheek. “Sometimes citizens have to fight, too. Viva la Revolution and all that mess, and a distraction on your side isn’t a thing you should pass up lightly.” Those broad shoulders of his rose and fell then, almost gracefully, though seemingly lazed at the same time. “Of course I am. Isn’t that what being a Demon of Pride entails? It seems to be putting up well, for the time being. I guess it’s just some silent waiting game with vessels.”

Hearing Dorian’s new voice but the same accent coming out, he smirked faintly and looked up to him. “Are you talking about the Raids back at the Cirque? I had done something similar with a couple of other Sentinels.” Taking one of his arms out of his vinyl suit, he held t up for Dorian to see all of the marks from the Loose-Mouths. “They’re not like hunters, much quicker and stronger. They require a group if I don’t want to get bit.”

Having found himself a chair, it was much easier to interact while relaxed; that faint nerve coming with the Sentinels--their eyes ever watching. Likely the ex-criminal would feel on edge around the proclaimed enforcement. Those umber hues of his had scanned those markings, before stretched grin found his thick lips. “It’s nothing you can’t handle, though, I’m sure. Hell, if you guys need any help with your fight, you could always ask the escorts for help. Take a few sex workers out with you--perfect distraction, right?” An attempt at a joke never hurt anyone, he thought.

“There’s been an influx of Loose-Mouths as of late, more eye-witness reports from Castor’s citizens.” Stefan said, books strewn across his desk in the bullpen of the station, onyx hues focused on the many pages. There was a lot going on, but it wasn’t due to his social life. Work, at the moment, was intensifying.

That same Pride Demon, once so absorbed in himself, had come to the other to offer that same potent company of his. Something so rare, yet even in silence, it was better than the fleeting loneliness of realising one was truly always alone. The same had happened here, involved in keeping company, even if his company in the station was forbidden by the higher ups. “It’s a shame you can’t just go all army on those bastards. March the streets with your guns and all. Sight to see.”