What's Enochian for "Fuck You?"

“Do you really have to do that out in the open?”

He took a step back and nodded his head. “Well, has her behavior improved?” He was curious, wondering if this woman knew tricks he had never heard of. “She seems to be the same at home, reckless and hyperactive, similar to someone I once knew.” He sighed to himself for a moment at the thought.

It was satisfying, seeing a plan work out as she’d hoped it would. “I have noticed that she is can be a bit hyperactive, but she is a child and that often comes with the territory. Recklessness as well.” She hummed, thinking through her next offer. She still wanted to let Talia play with Euclid; the hound would appreciate being able to play with someone who could keep up with him. “Other than hyperactive and reckless, how is she behaving at home?”

“——I look like an off duty cop. Like, the kind who’s in way over his head. I should audition for Law and Order or some shit.”

“You look handsome. And anyway, that’s what we’re going for, Ben. At least you don’t look like a junkie. Embrace it.”

He wanted to laugh from her words, but kept his face stern. “I see,” he said with no real emotion to his voice, “I would hope the jacket is being well taken care of?” He took her hand, shaking it a bit firmly as he waited for her answer.

“If you’d come this way, you’ll see that it’s perfectly safe.” She pulled the closet open so he could see. The jacket was on a hanger, wrapped in a large plastic bag with the end tied shut; she wasn’t kidding around about keeping the scent as pure and strong as she could manage. Claire looked up at him with a small smile, her default expression, though she was honestly seeking his approval as she spoke again. “I hope this is acceptable. Talia gets the jacket every day at nap time and then it goes back into the closet. I lock the closet door at the end of each day before I leave.” 

This encounter made him dread the parent teach conference that he was attending a week later, his hand hesitating on the door before he pulled it open and walked in. “I see my daughter hasn’t been kicked out of school yet,” he commented as he got farther in the room, “is there a certain reason for that?”

“Mister Hale,” she replied, trying to catch her breath. She smiled at him and nodded. “Of course! Your jacket worked just as I’d hoped it would. It’s not the perfect solution, but Talia is managing much better. She’s so much more focused in class and has only snapped her teeth at a classmate once this week.” She stood from her desk as she spoke and moved a step toward him, hand outstretched to shake his as she did with all the parents.

"I see," he was reaching for the door when her last words caught his attention, a scowl coming over his features. She clearly knew more than he wanted her to. "Scent marking?" He sounded disgusted and confused. "I’m not sure what you are trying to get at, but my daughter is not an animal. I will do no such thing.” And with that, he was leaving the room before she could say anything else.

For all that it hadn't gone as smoothly as she would have liked, Claire had to admit that she was glad that it had moved quickly. She shook herself out, rolled her shoulders, and put on her best smile. It wasn't ideal, not getting to recharge for a few minutes after talking to a parent, but she was good at her job and the kids counted on her to be upbeat and fun. "Ready or not," she murmured and headed out of her classroom.

"Alright, I’ll trust you for now. But when I scream it is all your fault."

"But C... Screaming's half the fun."

Hypothetically? A turtle wouldn’t handle the travelling very well. A kitten, on the other hand, would do great. But would Ulysses actually put up with another animal in the car? That’s the real question, Chloe.

"Well, I know you wanted one. Since we are in my car now I didn’t see a reason not to get you one."

"You are the best! Ahh! This is so great. I'm glad that Ulysses will be okay with a kitten."

His fingertips brushed over his scruff for a moment as he was in thought. “Let’s hope it works out that way. I’m sure I’ll be getting a call if it doesn’t.” He got up from the edge of the desk and took a few steps to the door. “Is that all?”

"It's not the ideal solution, of course, because of socialization and all that... But sometimes it is the only option." She stood as well, and moved to the door as he did, though she kept her distance. "One last thing," Claire said as he was about to leave. "If the jacket improves Talia's moods and focus, you may want to think about scent marking her in the mornings before she comes to school." There. She felt a little better letting him know that she suspected what he might be, what Talia might be, without outright saying it. 

"You do tend to have good idea’s. But I don’t know if this one counts."

"This one totally counts. Zip-lining will be a blast. Trust me. It's like flying."

He watched her rather closely, expecting a different question to fall from her lips. “A jacket?” He rose a brow but didn’t hesitate in shrugging off the leather he was currently wearing. He walked to the desk and placed it in front of her. “I’m not exactly sure how this will help. You can use this one for her. It was my father’s and she is rather attached to it like I am.” And he definitely didn’t want anything bad to happen to his property when it was in Claire or Talia’s hands.

She shifted forward a little, looking at him intently. "The comfort of having something from home, something from you, with her during the day might keep her calmer. Think of your jacket as a security blanket, something that will make her feel better when she gets stressed or overwhelmed. It may not seem like it, but I think it will make her feel less alone, more grounded, and it might help with the outbursts." At least, she hoped it would work that way. 

Turning, Ben starts to walk out not bothering to clean up the mess. Someone’ll find him. No one will find Ben. He pulls out a cigarette snapping his finger to light it as he walks happily down the dark street. Another blasphemer gone, the world should rejoice.

And right now? Ben is her purpose. She follows him silently after a quick burst of will changes the death scene into something that didn't look like the brutal murder it was. Claire doesn't know if he's aware that she's the reason he hasn't gotten caught, hasn't even been a suspect of the things he's done, but she doesn't really care. She'll follow him anyway. She just hopes that there is only one murder on tap for the evening.

"——That doesn’t look like a bed to me." He teases pulling out the rice and finding the ground beef. “Oh, we’ve got eggs! How does fried rice sound?”

"Oh my gosh, fried rice sounds amazing."  She laughed to hide her wince as she shifted against the wall. "And anywhere is a bed if you try hard enough," she added as she forced herself to relax.

Her next words made his muscles tense. “Are you threatening that my daughter will be kicked out?” That was the last thing he needed. He couldn’t teach Talia how to be a human by himself. “My family built this town and still has strong connections to those who run it. I would hate to have to call them because some school couldn’t do their job.” His eyes narrowed at her, not sure why she was looking at him so intensely. “I will put her in more classes and she will no longer be a problem.”

It was dangerous to offer, but she really did like having Talia Hale in her class. The girl was a bundle of energy, and smart to boot, and she brightened Claire's day when she was being good. "Please tell me if I'm stepping over the line asking this, but..." She cut herself off, and sat up straighter. "If you could leave a jacket, or something, for Talia during naptime, I think that would really help out. She's usually doesn't act up until she's been here for a few hours and I think she just needs something that will keep her from getting overwhelmed by everything that happens in class." 

Hypothetically? A turtle wouldn’t handle the travelling very well. A kitten, on the other hand, would do great. But would Ulysses actually put up with another animal in the car? That’s the real question, Chloe.

"He promises, and of course we can find a shelter."

"Oh my gosh, we're really getting a kitten? Ah! You're the best, Chloe!" 

"I don’t agree with most things you say…"

"Liar. You agree with me a lot. My ideas are gold."